Ministers Varadkar and Bruton are set to make a long awaited announcement on the future of Shannon Airport later this morning
On Wednesday’s Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Deputy Joe Carey of Fine Gael to get his view ahead of the announcement
They also spoke about fears for up to 200 part time staff at Roche in Clarecastle after the pharmaceutical giant pulled the plug on a trial drug due to be manufactured at the Clare site
Yesterday the Swiss pharmaceutical company announced it was terminating the clinical trials of Dalcettrapib due to poor early results. The drug was to be made at the company’s Clare facility
In a statement to Clare FM, Managing Director of Roche Ireland Sven Hauptmann described the news as disappointing for patients and for workers
He went onto say that they appreciate this causes uncertainty for staff, though he has outlined that other products will continue to be made at Clarecastle
Deputy Carey was adamant that the future of the plant needs to be secured now.
Deputy Eamon O’Cuiv announced yesterday that he is remaining a member of Fianna Fail
The Galway West TD said the leadership of the party is not his aim, but he believes with "all his heart and mind" that the EU fiscal treaty referendum is a "mistake"
Clare’s Fianna Fail Deputy Timmy Dooley said the party is now firmly focussed on theforthcoming EU Fiscal Treaty Referendum
O’Cuiv- the party’s only backbench TD – has promised not to utter another word on the fiscal treaty, after receiving a letter from the party whip, requesting that he refrain from taking part in media interviews on the fiscal treaty
Deputy Dooley says the issue is now firmly in the past- he also expressed his concerns ahead of today’s impending announcement on Shannon Airport’s split from the DAA.
Founder of The Irish Citizens Party Jim Connolly of Kilbaha had a word ahead of the first public meeting of the new party tomorrow in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis at 8pm
Find out more and download the party’s manifesto on www.irishcitizensparty.com
In response to Mick Murtagh of O’Briensbridge Community Council’s concerns on the newly erected crash barrier in the town -aired on this programme yesterday- Hugh McGrath Senior Executive Engineer with Clare County Council responded saying that they approved the installation of safety barriers as the drop of over 2m from the ramp meant that an errant vehicle or debris as a result of errant driving was putting the public at risk of injury.
Tom McEvoy from Roselvan is the local organiser for the Ennis Darkness into Light Walk in aid of Pieta House
Tom’s brother Adrian took his own life through suicide in 2007 while staying with Tom’s family in Roslevan, causing a devastating impact for relatives here in Ennis and the rest of his family in Dublin
In dealing with their grief, the family also had to face the unbearable thought of losing another member through suicide when one family member showed signs of suicidal thoughts or tendencies
Thankfully through the help and support of Pieta House – that family member is now leading a normal life and the family is slowly trying to get back to normal following the loss of Adrian in 2007
The annual fundraising Darkness into Light Walk takes place in Lees Road Ennis this Saturday at 4am – registration begins at 2.30am on the morning
Register this Thursday in Lees Road carpark at 7pm- 9pm or online at http://dil.pieta.ie/
Farm safety continues to be a huge issue on farms nationwide, with 22 fatalities recorded in 2011
Now that the summer has begun, children will be spending more time on the farm and in the countryside during the busiest time of the farming year, and child safety must be at the forefront of everybody’s mind
Agri Aware, in association with FBD, the IFA and ESB Networks have just launched a Farm and Countryside Safety educational initiative which will run from May to December this year, the project aims to increase awareness of potential dangers on the farm and to reduce the number of farm accidents
Bernard Donohue, Chairman of Agri Aware, spoke with John.
Anne Marie O’Reilly of Clare Citizens’ Information Service joined John to answer your social welfare, employment and consumer law queries.
If you have a story for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
