On Wednesday's Morning Focus, John Cooke was joined by Clare Fine Gael TD's Pat Breen and Joe Carey, as well as Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley. The three were responding to the damning HIQA report which describes Limerick's A and E as unfit for purpose, and this week's apology from Hospital CEO Ann Doherty for long waits and undignified situations faced by patients on trollies. The Clare TD's agreed they didn't need a report to tell them about the situation in Limerick but expressed hope that HIQA's findings would prompt immediate action to improve standards there. With with the new A and E not due to be complete until 2017, Clare County Councillors have issued a cross-party call, looking for the immediate return of 24-hour A&E care in Ennis. Clare's Fine Gael TDs said they'll be discussing these issues with Health Minister James Reilly who has yet to make any comment on the damning HIQA report.
Speaking the programme Pat Breen and Joe Carey both said that a range of options need to explored, including the fast-tracking of a new Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick, and the restoration of emergency cover in Ennis, while Fianna Fáil's Timmy Dooley said Minister Reilly cannot ignore HIQA's criticisms of the region's main hospital.
John Cooke was joined in studio by Paddy Waldron of the Kilrush Historical Society to speak about the Mother and Baby home that was located in Kilrush.Very little is actually known locally about this Mother and Baby home. Paddy says it has virtually been written out of history. He has been looking into this and cannot find a lot of information. He believes the only way the truth will be known is to go back through the births and deaths records for the time. He does know that there is a grotto area in Kilrush where people can recall going to pray for ‘the little babies’ and as the home was demolished in 1936 there is very little first hand information on it.
Also on Wednesday's Morning Focus was Kathleen O'Meara of the Irish Cancer Society as they have said it is a landmark in public health in Ireland. The publication of the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 will eliminate the last marketing tool of the tobacco industry and discourage young people from taking up the habit that kills 5,200 Irish people every year.“The Irish Cancer Society has fought very hard for the introduction of plain packaging of tobacco,” says Kathleen O’Meara, Head of Advocacy & Communications. “Ten years on from the workplace smoking ban, Ireland will once again be taking a massive step to improving public health. It will be the second country, after Australia to introduce plain packs.“In order to maintain profits, the tobacco industry needs 50 new smokers every day in Ireland to replace those dying or quitting. Eight in ten smokers begin before they turn 18-years old. Plain packaging has been shown to reduce the appeal of tobacco by young people, and to increase negative feelings towards tobacco.”Between 1998 and 2010, the smoking prevalence rate among 15-year olds had halved, from 33% to 17%. This government has set a target, that Ireland will be tobacco-free by 2025. This goal can only be achieved with the introduction of plain packaging.
Also on the programme was Fine Gael's Johnny Flynn and Independent Councillor James Breen. Johnny Flynn was unanimously elected to chair the new Ennis Municipal District of Clare County Council yesterday afternoon. Kilnamona's James Breen also received unanimous support in his election as the new deputy Mayor. It was the first meeting of the five men and the three women councillors will oversee the running of Clare's county town and surrounding areas following on from the abolition of Ennis Town Council.
Hilda Moloney is a Garda in Killaloe and is also the Western Region Representative of the law enforcement torch run. 2014 the Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run is being held in the midwestern region. Its aim is to raise awareness of the 2014 Special Olympics Ireland Games which will be taking place from 12th to 15th June at a range of venues throughout Limerick, Clare and Tipperary. Over 1,500 athletes from throughout Ireland will participate in the games and it is anticipated that over 6000 family members and supporters will attend the games which will be organised by a team of 3000 volunteers.The torch run team will be made up of members of An Garda Siochana and the PSNI. Today they visited schools in Killaloe and tomorrow they will visit Ennis.
John was also joined by Paul Wolfe of the Clare Citizens Information Service and he answered many of your queries. If you would like Paul to answer your query you can call the Clare Citizens Information Service on 0761 07 5260 or you can email queries to [email protected]
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.
