On Wednesdays Morning Focus with gavin Grace
Insurance Ireland's calling for new measures to be introduced to stabilise pricing for consumers, particularly in the
area of motor insurance. The group says the excessive cost of claims in Ireland is leading to increases in motor premiums.
It's identified the high cost of awards in court as one of the key factors driving up the cost of insurance premiums.
Non-Life insurance manager with Insurance Ireland, Michael Horan, outlines some of the reasons behind the hike
in premiums.Pauric McNicholas from Munster Group Insurance Ennis spoke with gavin Grace about this.
A Limerick man says he and his wife were 'determined' to get an apology from the HSE following the death of
their baby 6 years ago. Caoimhe Mulcair died in 2009, shortly after being born at the then Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick.
At her inquest at Limerick Coroners Court yesterday, a jury returned a verdict of medical misadventure.
The HSE apologised for the failings in care to the Mulcairs and to baby Caoimhe, as well as the upset and distress experienced by the couple.
Caoimhe's Dad John says that they had been advised that the HSE wouldn't say sorry for what happened, but that
didn't put them off fighting on. Robert Bourke is a Partner at Holmes O Malley Sexton Solisitors Limerick and the Solicitor on behalf of the Mulcair Family. Robert spoke on behalf of the family following the verdict.
Legislation for same sex marriage is due to be brought to cabinet by the Justice Minister this morning.It's reported that proposed laws on same sex marriage could be debated in the Dail within weeks.Marriage for same sex couples was voted into the constitution last May, but its ratification was delayed due to legal challenges. Brian Sheehan, a native of Kilrush, is a director for GLEN and co director of yes Equality campaign Ireland.He spoke about the legislation coming into place after the referendum was passed in May.
The Principal of Ennis Nation School, Ray McInerney, spoke to Gavin on this mornings Morning Focus about the OECD report. The new findings suggests technology in classrooms may not have a positive impact on children's learning and is detrimental in some cases. The OECD has measured the impact of computer and internet use on test scores and found no real improvement in countries that had invested heavily in technology for education. It also found that intensive use can lead to problems like "information overload" and tends to be associated with significantly poorer student performance.
Clare nurse helps launch ‘Up the Hill for Jack & Jill’ campaign where people are asked to climb a small hill, and donate €16 to fund 1 hour of home nursing care for a sick child in their home county. Margaret Naughton is a Liason nurse with The Jack and Jill Foundation. She told Gavin that she has been with the foundation for 17 years, since 1999. She wants to get across that this is a simple fundraiser, you can register online, no need for sponsorship cards. She will find the number of children in Clare who are involved in Jack and Jill. It is for people of all ages and abilities.
Speaking on the show with Gavin was The mayor of Ennis Pat Daly. As part of Phase One works on the West Clare Railway Greenway, contractors acting on behalf of Clare County Council have reduced the road width on a two-way system in the Cloughleigh area of Ennis to accommodate new pedestrian and cycle paths. However, the narrowing of the road has been done with the old road markings in place for now, giving motorists travelling north towards Lahinch the impression that they have only a couple of feet at one point to drive their cars through on the left hand side of the road.The West Clare Railway Greenway project is a 42km cycling and walking route linking Ennis and Lahinch via Corofin and Ennistymon along the route of the dismantled west Clare railway.
A group of disabled people and campaigners have launched a three-day sit-out at the gates of Government Buildings to highlight cuts to services over seven years of austerity.The street protest, a rerun of a 2012 vigil sparked by reductions for personal assistant allowances, it was organised to raise awareness of the 160 million euro which has been slashed from services since 2008. Protesters have vowed to remain on the street for 72 hours. Dermot Hayes spoke as a representative for Clare People with Disabilities.
vet John Underhill joined Gavin from Burren Vets. He answers some of your pet queries. He spoke about serious conditions that affect muscles in our animals. People asked questions about selenium deficiency causing muscular dystrophy in calves, blackleg in calves and if time allows and myositis in small animals.
Ron Cummins has been undertaking quite a mission. Hailing from Glenamaddy in County Galway with wife Carol Brennan who is joining him on the journey of as lifetime. Having nearly completed his 2500km walk all the way around the Irish coast, foster carer and heart transplant recipient Ron Cummins will next week be walking through County Clare raising funds and awareness for the Irish Heart and Lung Transplant Association. Together with his wife Carol, Ron will also be handing out donor cards and talking to people they meet about organ donation. As they make their way around the country, Ron and Carol are relying on the kindness of friends, family and total strangers for places to stay. They got a chance to speak to Gavin as today is their rest day. Here is where they will be passing by in the next few days : Thursday 17th Doolin/Craggagh / Friday 18th Ballyvaughan/Bealaclugga.
Operation Transformation health gura Karl Henry took time out of his busy schedule to talk to the Morning Focus show. Shannon Chamber is pulling out all the stops to ensure its members and their business colleagues face into the autumn with health and fitness firmly ensconced in their minds. As part of Chamber Week 2015, which takes place from 14th to 18th of September, the Chamber has invited fitness expert, radio and TV broadcaster, author and columnist, Karl Henry, to make a presentation at Shannon Airport on Thursday, 17 September. The event, which is sponsored by Shannon Airport and GECAS, commences at 6pm in the Transit Lounge at the airport.
Diarmuid O Callaghan is a cheese maker for Burren Gold Cheese tells us about the Discover Cheese programme in the Aillwee Cave & Birds of Prey Centre, Ballyvaughan. Throughout the summer, as part of the Discover Farmhouse Cheese programme, farmhouse cheesemakers will be opening their doors and gates to the Irish public. All farm visits are free to attend but you must book your place online. The latest farm visit will take place in Aillwee Cave & Birds of Prey Centre, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare, on September 17th from 12:00am to 2:00pm. People are invited to visit the Farm shop in Aillwee Cave & Birds of Prey Centre to experience first-hand, Cheese Maker, Diarmuid O’Callaghan, make Burren Gold Cheese in their cheese factory and listen to their staff explain the process of making cheese. Visitors can also sample the Award Winning Burren Gold Cheese. The Discover Farmhouse Cheese programme is an EU co-funded campaign organised by Bord Bia, which is a celebration of farmhouse cheese in Ireland. The campaign aims to share some of the amazing stories and people behind farmhouse cheese.
It is book review time and Gavin was joined by Caroline Collins of Ennis Bookshop. The first one is a new biography called ‘Blindsided’ by Michael Lynagh. It’s about a former international rugby player who confronts a great challenge. The second book is ‘The U2 Experience’. It’s a beautiful new book on the band compiled by Brian Boyd. It’s a little different as it contains rock memorabilia including posters, backstage passes, classic flyers and rare photographic prints.
