On Wednesdays Morning Focus Marian began by speaking to Fiach Kelly Political correspondent with The Irish Times as the Fianna Fáil has expelled its only M-E-P from its parliamentary party. Brian Crowley was expelled after a meeting of the parliamentary party in Leinster House. The motion was passed unanimously and no vote was needed. It's understood that the party considered Mr Crowley to have removed himself from the parliamentary party, when he left Fianna Fáil's liberal European grouping to join the Eurosceptic E-C-R group.
The coalition's being told it can ease up on austerity – by more than half in October's budget. The Nevin Economic Research Institute says the coalition can achieve the targets with a budget of just 800 million euro – and not the two billion suggested by other bodies. It also says there's room for at least a one billion euro stimulus package next year. Marian spoke to Clare man and Senior Researcher with the Nevin Economic Research Institute Micheal Collins to discuss the findings. Clare FM took to the streets of Ennis yesterday, asking people if Ireland can handle further tax hikes and spending cuts, we hear from many of these people on a vox pop.
Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail has launched the 2014 programme for The Journey's on Us, an initiative to support organisations and groups in the voluntary, comm unity, sporting and charity sector. "The Journey's On Us", will provide 100 groups with a free group travel return journey for up to 50 people per group during 2014, meaning 5,000 free journeys are on offer across the company's services. The travel facilities will be ideal in particular for organisations bringing a group to a special event, or as part of a specific support to the members of the group which requires travel. Marian spoke to Rita Butterly, Corporate Communications with Iarnród Éireann about how people can access this programme and get involved.
Thomas Heavey, father of cancer sufferer Emma Naughton Heavey both joined Marian in studio as the Ireland Heads West for Emma Classic and Vintage Car Tractor and Steam Engine Show taking place this weekend at the Ballybrit race course. The event is to raise money to support the treatments taking place in the USA for the very rare cancer that Emma is battling at the moment. The event aims to be the largest outdoor event of its type in Ireland with Sunday been an open day with hundreds of additional cars travelling to the Racecourse to supplement those already on display. Emma suffers from a rare cancer that when first diagnosed in Ireland at the age of sixteen at the time she was given a poor prognosis. Following intensive and extensive research and advice from Emma's oncologist in Galway Thomas Heavey contacted the best expert in this cancer who is having lots of success treating the cancer and is based in Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital New York. During 2013 Emma made 4 trips to meet Dr Abou Alfa in New York and her situation was closely monitored a new treatment was considered however in the end it was decided surgery was the best option.
Glenstal Abbey Gardens is a seventeenth century Italian-style, walled terraced garden, which was laid out between 1679 and 1681 Fr. Brian Murphy is a Benedictine monk at Glenstal. He has written a book titled Glenstal Abbey Gardens which is a beautifully illustrated piece that goes through the history of the gardens. Fr. Murphy spoke to Marian about the book and his work at Glenstal.
Paul Wolfe of the Clare Citizens' Information Service was in studio to answer listeners' social welfare, employment and consumer law queries.
Contact Clare Citizens' Information Service on 076 1075260.
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.
