Morning Focus began with a look at Minister for Health Simon Harris officially opening the €16.5 million Leben Building at University Hospital Limerick. The six-storey building has been developed by the HSE in conjunction with three charitable partners: CF Ireland; the Parkinson’s Association and the MidWestern Hospitals Development Trust. The visit comes against the backdrop of consistent overcrowding at the ED at UHL; the Nurses say they're broken and demoralised – and are warning of an all out strike. The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation says its members cannot cope any longer with reduced salaries, unpaid additional hours and unsafe staffing levels. The union says it will ballot its members for industrial action if its demands aren't met. INMO General Secretary Liam Doran says nurses are at breaking point. He then joined Gavin on the line.
Gavin then spoke about the American Presidential debate. Last night saw the second of three live debates between America's presidential candidates. In what's being described as one of the most bitter exchanges to-date, Hillary Clinton said Trump's recently-revealed comments about women show he's unfit to be president. Donald Trump threatened that, if he became president, he'd jail Hillary Clinton over her use of a private email account while she was US Secretary of State. There's no doubt that this campaign has captured the imagination as few others have done. To get a sense of how people in Clare feel about this controversial contest, Morning Focus researcher Michael Glynn took to the streets of Ennis.
Morning Focus then turned to figures just released by the organsiation representing our retail grocers suggest that Ireland's notorious 'compo culture' could be back with a vengeance. RGDATA is reporting an unprecedented level of personal injury claims over the last 12 months with more than one third having faced at least one new claim over that period. The incidents document by RGDATA include one in this region where a shop closure was attributed to the increasing level of claims and insurance costs – and in that instance 40 jobs were lost. Gavin was joined on the line by Tara Buckley, Director General RGDATA.
We then had our Garda Focus with Sgt. Joe Downey, Crime Prevention Officer.
There's no doubt that family disputes can be particularly upsetting and difficult to deal with. Sometimes, these arguments end up before the courts – often leaving long-term animosity and bitterness. One alternative is mediation and on this Mediation Awareness Week (Oct. 10-15), we're going to look now at what services can be accessed in this region. Gavin was joined on the line by Tracey McGee, Mediator, Limerick office of Family Mediation Service.
Gavin’s next guest came live in studio to tell us about a battle with a dark force in her life, and how turning to playwriting has helped her to overcome it. Eva O'Connor's drama 'Overshadowed' tells the story of Imogene – a girl who was once sparkly vivacious, and outgoing. She used to fancy lads, have curves and love chips. The play traces her transformation into someone withdrawn, gaunt, and obsessed with exercise, as well as her new best friend 'Caol' [KWAIL]. It's a dramatic interpretation of anorexia which Eva herself has learned to overcome.
Morning then spoke about the countdown is on for the biggest multi species airlift ever from Ireland and one of the biggest in the world after aid agency Bóthar confirmed its 25th anniversary ‘Ark’ will take flight from Shannon Airport this evening. Complete with a live cargo of 40 in-calf dairy cows, 260 pigs, 200 dairy goats and 1,000 chicks, the Bóthar Ark will be bound for Rwanda where it will be divided among widows of the horrific genocide of the mid-1990s. **Shannon Airport will be the official aviation partner for the airlift from Shannon. The historic flight marks the 25th anniversary of the first Bóthar flight, which left the same airport 25 years ago with a cargo of just 20 cows. Gavin was joined by Dave Moloney, CEO Bóthar.
We then had The Monday Sports Panel where Gavin was joined by Derrick Lynch, Clare FM and Peter O'Connell, The Clare Champion.
Druid's production of 'The Beauty Queen of Leenane' is opening in the Lime Tree, Limercik, on tomorrow (Tue. Oct. 11) and runs until Saturday next (Oct. 15) Outside of Galway it only tours to Limerick, Cork and Dublin The production has garnered rave reviews. Gavin was joined by Marie Mullen, co-founder of Druid and also plays ‘Mag’ in the Beauty Queen.
Morning Focus ended with a look at a man so taken aback by the kindness and beauty of Clare that he decided to live on the Burren’s edge for the past 30 or so years. Gordon D’Arcy has just written a book entitled ‘The Breathing Burren’ he looks to share his love of the unique region with everyone. Gorodn will be talking about his book as part of Burrenbeo’s Winter Tea Talks, you can catch it at Tubber Village Hall, Tubber, Clare on Wednesday 12 at 8.30pm, the event is free for Burrenbeo members and a suggested donation of €5 for non-members. Gavin was joined by Gordon D’Arcy, environmental writer, artist and educator.
