MORNING FOCUS DECEMBER 2ND

MORNING FOCUS DECEMBER 2ND

Over 350000 secondary school teachers began the first day of a planned two day strike earlier today. Students across the county and country remained at home as a result of today's protests. Teachers are striking over what they consider to be unworkable changes to the Junior Cert cycle reform. John spoke with Peter Quinn of the ASTI and teacher in St Flannan's  in Ennis and the TUI representative for Clare Don Ryan of the Limerick College of Further Education.

An association of Clare natives in the USA is expressing scepticism about plans for immigration reform and what it will mean for the illegal Irish.As the Taoiseach urges the US President to be flexible regarding the Irish and their hopes of travelling home, The Clare Association in Chicago says he may be asking too much of a plan that may not even succeed.Under President Obama's plans undocumented immigrants whose children are legally resident to be protected against deportation for three years and to return to their countries of origin in certain circumstances without being banned from re-entry.It offers some hope to thousands of illegal Irish in the states but Cooraclare native Martin Falsey, who's a director of the Clare Association in Chicago says much more detail is required. Martin spoke to John about the new guidelines and what they mean to the illegal Irish living in the states.

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The death has been announced of a local standing Clare Councillor.John Minogue represented the Killaloe area from 1960 to 1991 as an Independent politician – he ran and was elected in five separate election campaigns.  Described as a quite unassuming man – John was well known across the region as is his pub Minogues of Tulla. Jim McInerny  of Tulla GAA and neighbour and friend of John’s and Gerry Lynch a Family Friend and former Tulla GAA committee member and assistant County Board Treasurer  joined John to remember  the very popular  late publican and  former county councillor,

The money doctor John Lowe was with us to discuss listeners personal finance questions, amongst the topics he looked at were  ..Christmas bonus returns for 1.2m welfare recipients, Property tax may be set against Consumer Price Index Survey finds 20% of tenants spend almost half of income on rent, Rise in health insurance premiums hits families for €200 and  One in eight can't get on property ladder due to lending cap.

Returning to the teachers strike, Clare FM’s Aisling O’Rourke was on hand to report from the picket line; John spoke to Aisling from outside St Caimins Secondary school in Shannon

The History and Heritage Group in Killinaboy, North Clare have just put together a booklet transcribing all the grave stones and slabs in both Killinaboy and Coad Graveyards along with a brief history. They are planning to launch the book on Wednesday 3rd December. Members of the Killnaboy History and Heritage group and Michael Lynch and Frank O'Grady discussed the project with John.

Finally today.Clare Dog Warden Frankie Coote joined John for his regular slot with advice on proper animal care and animal owners' legal responsibilities. Contact Clare Animal Shelter on 065 6820393 .Frankie was joined in studio by Martina O’Flaherty of the baby dog rescue shelter in Ennis.

If you have a story, comment or query for Morning Focus email [email protected] or write to us – Morning Focus, Clare FM, Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.