Liam Herrick of the Irish Penal Reform Trust spoke to Clare FM’s Gavin Grace about recommendations made by the group to tackle over crowding in our prisons. Prisoners jailed for less than five years should be freed after serving half their sentence, says radical proposals to tackle overcrowding and cut time spent behind bars. Drug traffickers, gunmen, and killers of gardaí will also be allowed to apply for temporary release under the recommendations from the Irish Penal Reform Trust. Under its proposals, sex offenders should be included in supervised early release schemes. The lobby group is also asking the Government to consider making those guilty of the murder of gardaí, prison staff, and politicians — who currently serve a minimum period of 40 years — eligible for parole along with all serious offenders.
Niall Wall is the regional representative for Educate Together. Parents in a number of selected areas are being asked what patrons they would like to see running their local primary schools. Parents in five towns are being polled, in the first part of an initiative to divest patronage of schools where there is a stable population and a demand for diversity of school types. Shannon is one of the 44 areas around the country where this is set to occur. The new has been welcomed by the Educate Together group.
Clare FM’s Stephen McDermott was in studio to talk about how the wait is almost over for Ireland’s Bond fans. The latest instalment in the movie franchise ‘Skyfall’ gets its world premiere in London tonight, and will be released here on Friday. Daniel Craig plays 007 once again, and this time his Bond girl is Naomie Harris. The famous franchise is fifty years old this month.
Also on today’s show we asked the question – would you consider online dating? Stephen McDermott was out and about the county getting your opinions on relationships and dating. Also taking part in the discussion was Rena Maycock of Intro.ie – a new online matchmaking service. Rena set up the service and discussed how dating and meeting prospective partners has changed in Irish society and how online dating can be an alternative way to meet like minded people. She also discussed some of the market research her company undertook, they found that approx. 75% of people lied about their height on their online profiles, others lied about their levels of fitness and about their relationship status.
John Keane is the son of the late Willie Keane, who will be commemorated once again at this weekend’s Willie Keane Memorial Weekend in Doonbeg. The annual musical weekend is a must for all trad musicians, singers, dancers and fans. There’ll be traditional sessions, sean nos workshops, ceili’s and lot’s more besides. For all details of events see their website www.williekeanememorialweekend.com
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