Morning Focus Thursday 17th April

On Thursdays Morning Focus John began by discuss The five-year Fire And Emergency Operations Plan for Clare.  The document was adopted by Clare County Council earlier this week; a move which fire personnel say threatens their safety, and that of the public.  Clare fire fighters have expressed grave concerns, with some even expressing their frustrations through social media.  In a statement to Clare FM, the SIPTU trade union claims the new plan means there will be 4 crew on a fire appliance, rather than 6 which they say is best practice nationally and locally.  John began was joined by Adrian Kelly, Clare’s Chief Fire Officer and Michael Wall, SIPTU Sector Organiser – Local Authority Sector to chat about the current situation.   David woods an Ennis fire fighter has been in the fire service since 2006.  He says fire fighters in Clare are upset over these new rules. 

Up next a listner got in touch with Morning Focus.  Bebhinn McMahon from Tuamgraney wanted to speak to John as her daughter and herself were travelling in their car yesterday morning on their way swimming when they were run off the road.  They were just passed Tulla cross when a dark car veered across the road causing her to swerve off the road and smash into 4 concrete posts. The dark car never stopped.  Bebhinn is appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.   

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The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) has today published the first ‘What’s Left’ tracker ‘of 2014. The research, which has been running since the beginning of 2011, is now in its fourth year. Since its inception in 2011, the tracker has followed how ordinary people around the country have been impacted by austerity and recession and recorded the huge impact the shift in the economy has had on family finances and the day to day struggle to make ends meet. In 2013, the tracker began to look in more depth at family finances – what is coming into a household versus what is being paid out. This continues in the 2014 research.  Speaking about the April 2014 tracker results with John, Kieron Brennan, CEO, ILCU said: “Over the past 12 months we have begun to see the first signs of possible economic recovery. 

Kieran Hartley is a Fianna Fail European candidate for Ireland South he came into the Clare FM studio to speak to John about his campaign.  Mr Hartley has been one of the most vocal opponents to the Government's controversial pylons plans, which he claims will put the health of rural residents at risk.

The Government has this week signed off on a Bill to set up the new Shannon Group commercial State PLC company on a statutory basis, as part of a plan to deliver new routes and new jobs for the region.   Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation Richard Bruton and Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar welcomed Government approval to publish the Bill and called it an important development for the mid west region. John spoke to Minister Bruton about the development and the future for job creation here in Clare. 

Finally John Underhill of Burren Vets was in studio to answer listeners' livestock and pet queries.

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.