Fine Gael has officially launched its campaign for a Yes vote in the upcoming Children’s Rights referendum
The long-awaited vote to address the issues of a child’s rights and protection will take place on Saturday November 10th
The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been joined by the Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald and the Justice Minister Alan Shatter for the event in Dublin this afternoon
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar is Fine Gael Director of Elections for the Children’s Referendum – he joined John Cooke on Wednesday’s Morning Focus
A major reform of local government structures was announced by Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment and Local Government yesterday
He said the reform plans will save the taxpayer 420 million euro in four years
We heard reaction from representatives of Clare’s four town councils set to be abolished
Peter Considine, Mayor of Ennis Town Council; Mairead O’Brien, Mayor of Kilrush Town Council; Mike Fleming, Mayor of Shannon Town Council and Claire Haugh, Mayor of Kilkee Town Council who all expressed bitter disappointment and disgust at the Minister’s plans
Senator Martin Conway of Fine Gael says he thinks the time had come for an overhaul of local government, in order to make financial savings
While the plans have been criticised by some of Clare’s local representatives, Senator Martin Conway told John the government is delivering what it had promised before last year’s general election
Councillor Gerry Flynn and Councillor Patricia McCarthy voiced their concerns about the new measures and Clare Fianna Fail Deputy Timmy Dooley said he thinks this is an unfortunate and retrograde step by the government
Brian Mooney of the Clare Three Legged Stool Poets joined John in studio
The Clare poetry group has been chosen to host a gathering of poets and musicians from Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Norway , the Shetlands, Ouessant, Corsica, Sardinia and Ireland in Carron beginning this Friday until Sunday
This is all part of the New Atlantis / Aspire Project – one of the aims of this is to develop relations between these areas.
Anne Marie O’Reilly of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service was in studio to answer listeners social welfare, employment and consumer law queries.
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