On today’s edition of Morning Focus John Cooke spoke with Clare Labour TD Michael McNamara and Independent Councillor James Breen. Deputy McNamara has welcomed the commitment given by Minister for the Environment, Phil Hogan T.D that he will contact Returning Officers next week in order to encourage the recruitment of polling clerks from the Live Register for the November 10th referendum. Cllr Breen has been raising the issue of polling station staff for some time and is delighted that the recruitment of people from the live register is being encouraged to fill the posts of returning officers for the upcoming referendum
Darragh O’Connor of Texaco in Shannon also joined the show to discuss how business owners from the Shannon area are holding a meeting in the Oakwood Arms Hotel tonight to discuss the amount of money that Clare County Council are charging for commercial rates and water rates. They will also discuss their views on the way the council are treating the business owners that can’t afford to pay. Organisers say this originally started off as a platform for Shannon business owners but as word has spread they are finding a lot of interest from business owners all over the county. The businesses think the current valuations are based on Celtic tiger economic times and are unfair in this environment. The event takes place in the Oakwood Arms tonight at 7pm.
Sarah Wetherald is the Regional Programme Manager of the Age Friendly County Programme (West). She spoke to John Cooke about a special event for older people today. In May, Clare’s Age Friendly County held 5 county wide consultations with Older People. The aim of these consultations was to identify issues and priorities for older people in County Clare and to ascertain, through discussion, what would make County Clare the best county to grow old in. Today from 2:30 to 5pm older people who participated and those new to the process are invited to attend an event in the Woodstock Hotel, Shanaway Rd, in Ennis. The purpose of the event is to inform Older People of the findings from the consultations including key areas identified during the consultations and to provide information and seek nominations to Co. Clare’s Older People’s Forum.
John Lowe – The Money Doctor discussed AIB rate increases, the investigation into mis-sold payment protection insurance by numerous financial institutions and he answered your listener queries. If you have a question on personal finance for The Money Doctor please email them to [email protected] or see www.moneydoctor.ie
Mary O’Donnell is the Chairperson of the Burren Sub Aqua Club and Maura Brooks is the group’s PRO. They joined John Cooke in studio ahead of their upcoming “try-a-dive”. Diving is taking off and they are once again inviting interested parties to come and have a go and see if they’d like to join the club. They are having an open night on Wednesday in Shannon. All are welcome to an information session in the Oakwood Hotel at 7pm and then onto Shannon pool for a ‘try-a-dive’ at 8pm. If you’d like more information please email [email protected]
John Murphy of the Clare branch of Birdwatch Ireland joined the show to answer your bird and wildlife queries. He also discussed how a Black Swan was found dead on the Clonlara side of the River Shannon last week, it’s understood the swan had been strangled.
If you have a comment or query for Morning Focus please email the show at [email protected] or text Clare FM followed by your message and name to 53030
