Morning Focus began with a look at a complaint by Friends of the Irish Environment against RTE’s Prime Time for failing to show the presence of the Minister for Finance at the red carpet greeting at Shannon Airport for Donald Trump in 2014, has been rejected. In the complaint, lodged to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, about an edition of Prime Time on 31 March last – which dealt with Trump's efforts to build a sea wall at his resort in Doonbeg – FIE claimed the programme concealed from its audience the relationship between the Minister for Finance and one of the world's wealthiest businessmen. The BAI unanimously rejected the complaint, but FIE is highly critical of that decision saying the national broadcaster 'undermined the public's ability to fully understand the way in which public life is being conducted in Ireland'. Gavin was joined on the line by Tony Lowes from Friends of the Irish Environment.
Gavin then spoke about an event on housing. As everyone in the country is aware at this stage we’re somewhat in the midst of a housing crisis and the latest budget doesn’t seem to have helped much. The Clare Public Participation Network invites you to attend its newest event ‘Housing Matters – A Workshop on Housing Policy from Dr Rory Hearne’. Gavin was joined by Sarah Clancy, coordinator of the event, and by Dr Rory Hearne, keynote speaker.
Senator Martin Conway, FG spokesperson on Justice and Equality in the Seanad joined Gavin to talk about the increasingly likelihood of a strike by Gardai next Friday.
It's now nearly a month since the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes in recent years hit Haiti. As you'll heard on Clare FM, a number of people from this county have travelled to the Caribean nation to offer their help in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. The aid agency UNICEF is working to support Haiti's children, hundreds of whom have been displaced and separated from their families. UNICEF Ireland Director General Peter Power is in Haiti and he spoke to Clare FM's Fiona McGarry from the capital Port-au-Prince. He began by outlining the scale of the devastation.
We then had our weekly Garda Focus with Sgt. Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer.
Next on the show was the financial advice slot with John Lowe, Independent Financial Advisor. This week he discussed serious illness cover.
Frankie Coote, Clare County Dog Warden came on the show next for his weekly slot.
Due to the bank holiday our Monday sports panel was on Tuesday this week, joining Gavin on the show was Eoin Brennan from the Clare People, Joe Garry, football analyst with Clare FM and Robbie Hogan, manager of Ballyea hurling club.
Clare FM then turned to honour a local hero. Killaloe Coast Guard member Charlie Hennigar was recently awarded the Michael Heffernan Bronze Medal for Marine Gallantry for the courageous act of saving the lives of three people off Inisheer Pier last June. He was off-duty at the time. He joined Gavin live in studio to talk about his feat.
As many Morning Focus listeners will remember, young Ennis woman Maureen Lavery bravely battled cancer for 13 months but sadly passed away in 2012 at the age of just 27. The young beautician is sadly missed by her family and many friends throughout Ennis. To celebrate her inspirational life, they've organised a number of events including the Maureen Lavery Pink Angel Ball. The aim is to keep Maureen’s beliefs and memory alive and also to raise funds for specific local charities. Next Sunday (Nov. 6) at Hotel Woodstock an afternoon of fun and fashion has been organised with proceeds going to Slainte an Chlair and Cahercalla Hospice. The event is being hosted by Clare rose Leah Kenny and Mikie O Loughlin.
