MORNING FOCUS TUESDAY 21ST OCTOBER

MORNING FOCUS TUESDAY 21ST OCTOBER

UP to 1000 people protested at the weekend over implementation of water meter charges. This comes on the back of last weekends march in Dublin where over 50000 protesters from around the country voiced their disapproval about the new charges. We had reaction from the Ennis march yesterday.Following on from this today  Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley and Fine Daels Pat Breen debated the issue with Marian.

Catholic gay rights groups have described the rejection by bishops of proposals for wider acceptance of gay people as "very disappointing".At the end of a two week synod in Rome, the Vatican failed to get the required two-thirds majority to back its initial draft document.After the initial draft was released on Monday, conservative bishops vowed to change the language on gays. Marian was joined by Fr Bernard Lynch Fr Lynch is an Ennis native who  was born the eldest of six in 1947, joined the Society of African Missions in 1965 and was ordained in 1971. He is best known for his work with Aids victims in New York and for coming out as a gay priest. He was married to husband Billy Desmond in 1998 by a Cistercian priest in London and had a civil ceremony in 2007 .

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The Money Doctor John Lowe joined us for his bi-weekly slot. This mornoong John  looked at the budget and how first time buyers can get mortgages after the retsaints put on bank lendings in Budget 2015The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) has today, the 20th of October, stated that the protest action in Dublin Port this morning is just phase one of the Associations efforts to bring about a rate reduction on commercial vehicle road tax.The action in the Port yesterday  morning, while involved IRHA Council members on foot, created considerable traffic difficulties inside and outside of the Port complex. The Association decided to take this action at a Council meeting on Saturday evening following the lack of industry recognition in the recent budget.Eoin Gavin IRHA President spoke to Marian about his Unions stance on the issue.

Charity cycle this weekend for Sean Maguire .Sean was working in the US and was walking along the park one day and collapses in what later turned out to be a brain tumour. Sean is in a coma since the incident in September. His family have been travelling over and back to make sure someone is with him all the times. Sean  is living in Kilkee with his family  prior to going to New York to find work.

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 .

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.