Morning Focus opened with a look at the gap in pay between men and women.
A research team at University of Limerick has called on the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, to introduce legislation that would require employers to disclose the gender pay gap in their organisations.
The researchers made the call at the Gender Equality in Decision-Making (GEM) conference hosted in Dell EMC’s Cherrywood Campus in Dublin today (Thursday, September 22).
The call follows moves by the British Government to introduce legislation forcing employers with more than 250 employees to publish, on an annual basis, the difference between women’s and men’s earnings.
Gavin was joined by Dr. Christine Cross; GEM Project Principal Investigator and Senior Lecturer in Personnel and Employment Relations at University of Limerick.
The show then looked at road safety after another bad week on Irish roads.
Gavin was joined by Ireland South MEP, and member of the EU Transport committee, Deirdre Clune, has said it looks likely that 2016 will be a bad year for deaths on Irish roads, with 20 more deaths this year already than at the same time last year.
The Ireland South MEP criticised the European Commission for delays in bringing out a revised roads package, which she claims will introduce new life saving technologies, which could help prevent road deaths across Ireland and the EU.
On the eve of Minister Denis Naughten’s address at the annual Environment Ireland conference last week (conference was on 22nd September), Stop Climate Chaos has sharply criticized the Government for what the campaigning coalition called its "singular failure to act" to reduce Ireland's climate pollution.
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced Ireland would fall 70% short of achieving its 2020 emissions target. Luxembourg is the only other EU member on track for failure.
Gavin was joined by Eamon Meehan Executive Director of Trocaire.
Gas Networks Ireland have begun work on a compressed natural gas re-fuelling station Clean Ireland Recycling’s Natural Gas Vehicles in Shannon last Thursday morning.
The filling station located at the Clean Ireland Recycling premises at Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co. Clare is the beginning of Gas Network’s Ireland’s work on a major network of CNG filling stations across the country. The build will be completed within 12 weeks and the Shannon site will be the first of three to be developed by the network operator in 2016.
This strategic station in Shannon is part of the company’s business strategy to further develop a market for compressed natural gas (CNG) as a transport fuel. As an alternative transport fuel, CNG will allow businesses to reduce harmful emissions and generate fuel cost savings of up to 35%.
Worldwide there are 19 million natural gas vehicles (NGVs) in operation across the world, and of these, 1.9 million are in Europe.
Gavin spoke with Dan FitzPatrick Commercialisation Manager.
The Department of Social Protection Jobs Week 2016 will take place from Monday 26 September. There are over 150 events taking place across the country during Jobs Week, which will highlight the range of services, supports and products provided by the Department of Social Protection for both job seekers and employers, which have been broadened and enhanced since 2012 through the development of the Department’s Intreo services.
Over 14,000 jobseekers participated in Jobs Week last year and a similar level of interest and participation is expected this year. The Jobs Week events include Jobs Fairs, Career Advice Workshops, Job shadowing initiatives, networking events with employers and briefings for employers on the services offered by the Department of Social Protection.
Gavin spoke with Mary Penny, Employment Liaison Officer – Department of Social Protection
A meeting in Spanish Point this Friday will focus on how we can take “a positive approach to mental health”
The event at the Belbridge House Hotel will be attended by a number of high-profile speakers including the Minister of State responsible for Mental Health, Helen mcEntee, and also Conor Cusack.
The former Cork hurler has spoken publicly of his own experiences of depression and he joined Gavin on the line.
We heard an interview by Clare FM's Ronan Moyles with the new Bishop of Killaloe, Fintan Monahan.
The Monday Sports Panel was made up of Derrick Lynch, Clare FM Sport and David O'Brien, Former Clare Ladies Football Manager
The Kilrush and District Historical Society monthly lecture series continues on Tuesday September 27th with a lecture entitled “1916 & 1956” The Irish & Hungarian Revolutions – similarities & differences"
Ireland in 1916 and Hungary in 1956 were two small nations which both rebelled against their colonial overlords. Both rebellions were heroic failures.
An impressionable teenager in 1956, Bryan Comerford followed every shot of the Hungarian Revolution on radio and in newsprint and he told Gavin about his memories.
Burrenbeo’s October walk will be around the western edge of the Burren at Kilshanny, The walk will be led by Pius Murray who is a leader with Clare Pilgrim Way. The Clare Pilgrim Way has been marking out a pilgrim route linking ancient monastic sites, holy places and cultural centres around the County and a small section of South Galway. While this will not be a strenuous walk you should wear good walking shoes and bring waterproofs and warm clothes as required. There will be an optional stop at Kilshanny House for tea and scones for an extra donation afterwards.
The walk takes place on Sunday 2nd October at 2pm. Meet at Kilshanny Church.
Gavin discussed the event with Richard Morrison, co-ordinator.
