MORNING FOCUS TUESDAY 10TH DECEMBER
The IBTS is concerned that blood supplies will be difficult between now and Christmas – New Year period and is urging donors to make a special effort to give blood during this time. The IBTS needs 15,000 donations over the coming weeks to maintain the blood supply.Also under new guidelines to be introduced by Minister For Health Leo Veradkar homosexuals will no longer be banned from donating blood. Paddy Bowler Director of Operations, IBTS (Irish Blood Transfusion Service) spoke to John about he need for donations.
The Health Minister says he'll bring a plan to Government in the New Year to cut the number of people on trolleys in emergency departments. Leo Varadkar says the ongoing issue of overcrowding is "frustrating" – and won't be "easy to resolve".The Minister says he'll be sitting down with the HSE and professionals from across the health sector to work on a strategy in the coming months. Mary Fogarty the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation Mid-West Industrial relations officer joined John to discuss Health Ministers plans.
Ireland South MEP Deirdre Clune, a member of the European Transport committee, has welcomed a political agreement between the European Parliament and EU member states on mandatory installation of 'eCall' in European cars, a system for sending automated emergency calls from cars in the event of a crash. The deal requires new models of car launched in the EU from 31 March 2018 to be fitted with the system. Separate legislation, already agreed by the European institutions requires member states to put in place the infrastructure to handle eCalls. Deirdre outlined the new imitative aimed at saving lives with John.
IFA president, Eddie Downey has paid tribute to Tom Cahill one of the nine central figures in the historic Farmers' Rights campaign of 1966, who passed away last night. Tom Cahill, from Ballyportry, Corofin, was the last surviving member of the nine farmers who led more than 40,000 farmers in a march to Dublin after which Tom, along with eight other selected representatives, made their way to the Department of Agriculture to meet with the minister.When the minister refused to speak with the group, they staged a sit-in on the steps outside Government Buildings, which lasted 21 days, before the Government backtracked and agreed to discuss the concerns of the farming community. Michael O'Donoghue former Chairman of Calre IFA / formerly NFA shared his memories of the late Mr Cahill with John
As Clare moved into the orange weather warning category Gerry Murphy from Met Eireann was with us to outline what we can expect weather wise over the next couple of days.
And finally to celebrate the International Human Rights day 2014, Intercultural and Diversity Education Centre – Ireland (IDEC-Ireland) will host its fifth conference in the 'Humanising Rights and Responsibilities Series' The theme of the 2014 IDEC-Ireland Conference, Diversity – Creating Community Well-Being, highlights the importance of diversity within society, recognising its value, its potential to influence everyone's life in a positive way and its capacity to create well-being in communities. Elaine Dalton Coordinator of Clare Women's Network and Alphonse Basogomba of the Clare Intercultural Network were in studio ahead of the conference.
