Elective surgery for patients across the Midwest, including here in Clare, was cancelled at the region’s main hospital yesterday as it struggled to cope with extreme overcrowding
As of this morning there are 32 waiting in Emergency Department, Dooradoyle, for beds, six beds are blocked by norovirus- or the winter vomiting bug
The HSE are repeating yesterday’s appeal to the public to come to ED only in real emergency situations and visiting restrictions remain in force
On Wednesday’s Morning Focus Marian Egan spoke with Mary Fogarty of the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation said bed closures in Clare have added to the problem which they fear will only get worse when further services are transfered from Ennis.
The FSAI say it’s the food industry’s responsibility to put safe and honest food on the market
They are moving to allay fears about beef burgers – after a study by the Authority found traces of horsemeat in burgers on sale in Irish supermarkets
Says it’s the industry and not the Department of Agriculture’s responsibility to make sure honest food makes it to the shelves and there may be an entirely understandable explanation
Dr Wayne Anderson, Director Of Food Science and Standards at the Food Safety Authority of Ireland spoke with Marian.
Meanwhile the ICSA is very concerned at the FSAI statement that horse DNA was detected in certain products including beef burgers produced by Liffey Meats and Silvercrest Foods
While it is too early to say how this has come about, it has to be stressed that there is no safety issue but it is clearly unacceptable if there is any doubt about the provenance or the content of a beef burger
There is some suggestion from the FSAI that DNA traces emanate from raw materials imported from other EU countries
It would be totally outrageous if meat factories have tried to cut corners rather than using 100% Irish beef in their products
Marian spoke with Cratloe farmer Eddie Punch, ICSA General Secretary.
At Shannon Town Council’s meeting yesterday Councillor Sean McLoughlin called the Ministers for Finance and Communications, Energy & Natural Resources to scrap all TV Licenses
He explained that he thinks people are sick of hearing that some people employed by the national broadcaster are on six figure sums – he doesn’t feel that people get value for this money and with all of the other new taxes and cuts he feels it’s time to abolish this altogether
The motion passed 6-3 votes.
Ian Taylor is a mountaineer, and until recently managed Lahinch Seaworld
He was a friend of Ian McKeever’s and attended his funeral
The funeral of the 42-year-old adventurer McKeever took place on Saturday at the St. Laurence O’Toole Church in Roundwood, Co. Wicklow
The Irish Climber Ian McKeever died after being hit by lightning, while leading a group up Mount Kilimanjaro almost two weeks ago
Ian described McKeever’s death as deeply shocking and a huge loss.
The Oireachtas Agriculture Committee heard yesterday afternoon about the importance of the retention of a key scheme for farmers in North Clare
Representatives from Burren Life and the local branch of the IFA are to explain to Committee members the value of the scheme, which rewards farmers for farming in a manner which protects the world-famous landscape of the Burren
Around 200 farmers are members of the program, which has been worth 1.5m euro the local economy, but there are fears it could be cut if Ireland’s EU support drops under the new CAP deal
Dr Brendan Dunford of Burren Beo Trust was one of the delegation that presented- he spoke to Marian about how they got on.
The Clare Orla History and folklore group presents, ‘Come here till I tell ya’, a folklore Listening Room at The Meadow, Kilmihil this evening at 7.30pm
Hear the voices, memories, custom and lore of Kilmihil and Clare’s oldest citizens – all are welcome as Jackie Elger of Cuimhneamh an Chláir explained
Stella O’Gorman from the Kilmihil Active Retired Association, who are facilitating the event, had a word with Marian also
They will be working with on a local collection project over the coming year.
Anne Marie O’Reilly ofClare Citizens’ Information Service joined Marian in studio to answer listeners’ social welfare, employment and consumer law queries
Contact Clare Citizens’Information Service office on 076 107 5260
If you have a story, comment or query for the Morning Focus team email [email protected]
