Longford–Westmeath

There's a lovely message here which I think is important to say to you here.

This person says, I was a candidate in the 2016 general election for Longford Westmeath during the People's Debate Town Hall, which were the shows he did for TV3 at the Greville Arms in Mullingar.

Several local detractors aggressively attacked me claiming I was only there on a gender ticket.

Before I could even process the hostility, Vincent Browne fiercely stepped in.

And that has knock on effects for independent living, because again, um when we think about uh independent living is all about having the support required for us to exercise our choice our control and our spontaneity as well and unfortunately and i say this on this podcast cast because i'm really really um passionate about it at the moment and i've actually tried to i've lined up a ministerial meeting myself and like i'm conscious as well that I'm speaking on my behalf and there is other organisations out there that do this collectively.

But I think it's important that we all put our foot to the pedal here because this is something that's happening in my region in Longford Westmeath.

I'm sure it's happening elsewhere.

And there is a real concern there now that We need to ensure that we get to hold on to our services and to ensure that they are directed the way that we want.

And secondly, that when they did then start making semi-frantic offers of negotiation and talk, that they were entirely disingenuous and too late.

We're joined by Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment, and Fine Gael TD, TD for Longford-Westmeath.

Peter Burke, this is essentially your fault.

It is absolutely not the government's fault.

But he's been so open about it, and he's really encouraged others right throughout society who have a disability or have an illness that there is a place for you at the very top level of government, and that should absolutely continue to be the place because if we're a society that's closed to that, that would speak very poorly for us.

Peter, thank you very much.

Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment, and Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath.

53106 if you wanna text the show, or 087-1400-106.

RTÉ's Director General, Kevin Backer, said he was shocked and dismayed at Media Minister Patrick O'Donovan's decision to withhold funding, but the minister said the decision was down to his dissatisfaction with RTÉ's progress in implementing promised reforms.

I'm joined by NUJ, uh, National Union of Journalist General Secretary, Laura Davison, and by Micheál Carrigy, Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath, and a member of the Oireachtas Media Committee.

Uh, you're very welcome, uh, both of you.

Thanks for joining us.

Okay.

Laura Davison, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, thank you indeed for joining us.

I'm also joined, as I said, by Micheál Carrigy, Fine Gael TD for Longford-Westmeath, who is a member of the Oireachtas Media Committee.

Good morning, Micheál.

Yeah.

I do have a clip of Minister for Enterprise, Tourism, and Employment, uh, Peter Burke from Longford-Westmeath- Speaking about this very matter earlier today, let's see if this brings us any, any clarity.

Pop on your headphones there, Enda.

We'll see, does this clarify?