On today’s Morning Focus John Cooke was joined by local councillors ahead of their travels to the USA for St. Patrick’s Day. Ennis Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney and Mayor of Kilrush and Independent Councillor Mairead O’Brien discussed their plans and who they hope to meet while in the states. They spoke of the importance of promoting Co. Clare to potential tourists and business interests. The Mayor of Clare meanwhile, says he feels money spent on sending local representatives and Council officials to the US for St. Patrick’s Day is well spent. Ennis Councillor Pat Daly is to visit Chicago and New York this week, along with the county manager. The total cost is expected to be just over €6,000.
Ennis Town Council Labour Councillor – Paul O’Shea also joined John in studio to talk about how he is calling on the Health Minister to implement a 20 week anomaly scan for all pregnant women in Ireland as part of the routine ante-natal screening process. He maintains that presently these scans are only provided at the discretion of the obstetrician or through private healthcare providers. In a statement to Clare FM from the HSE , the service says “maternity services in the Mid West are not in a position to provide a 20 week "anomaly" scan as a routine measure. However, far from it being provided at the discretion of a consultant, women with a high risk of an anomaly are referred for a 20 week detailed anatomy ultrasound which is provided by a cohort of our Obstetricians / Gynaecologists who specialise in foetal medicine. There are four such consultants in the Mid West. This service is not provided on a private basis”.
Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy, from Shannon, also joined the show to discuss how Clare emigrants, who have returned from a life of work in Britain, could be eligible for UK Winter Fuel Payment of £100-£300. Senator Mulcahy has highlighted that 131,000 Irish people returned from a lifetime of work in the UK could be eligible for the UK Winter Fuel Payment Allowance – worth up to €350 per year. The news follows a ruling by the European Court of Justice which ruled that the scheme must be extended to people who worked all their lives in the UK but did not avail of the allowance when living there.
Racing Pundit Rupert Bell also spoke to John today on day 2 of Cheltenham. The second day of the Cheltenham Festival will go ahead as planned after the track was passed fit to race. An inspection was scheduled at 8 o’clock, but clerk of the course Simon Claisse has given the meeting the go-ahead. The days card begins at one thirty with the feature race the Queen Mother Champion chase away at twenty past three. The Nicky Henderson trained Sprinter Sacre, one of the best young steeplechasers of the modern era is red hot favourite to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He won the Arkle Chase a year ago and remains unbeaten over fences. He’ll be ridden by Barry Geraghty. Ireland’s hopes of an upset rest on Sizing Europe, the winner 2 years ago and controversially edged out in the race a year ago. He’s trained by Henry de Bromhead.
Bishop Willy Walsh, the Former Bishop of Killaloe was also a guest of Morning Focus today. Bishop Walsh discussed his thoughts on a new pontiff and also on Pope Benedict’s legacy. The second day of the conclave to elect a new Pope has begun. Four rounds of voting will take place today – two after about half past eight this morning – and two more in the afternoon. Yesterday’s first vote yielded no winner. The longest a conclave has ever lasted was five days.
Paul Wolfe of the Clare Citizens’ Information Service was also in studio to answer your queries. If you have a question for our Citizen’s Information feature each Wednesday please email them to [email protected]. Alternatively you can email [email protected] or call them on 0761 075260 at their offices in Bindon Lane, Bank Place, Ennis.
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