Month: April 2007

CLARE’S four Fine Gael general election candidates are confident that between them they can bring home two seats for their party.

At the weekend’s Ard Fheis, Councillor Joe Carey raised the is- sue of Open Skies when he spoke on a motion on regional develop- eetoolm

He told a packed room that the present Government were using a “scattergun” approach to regional development.

“Did anyone ask Dell or any of the multinationals in the west whether they will stay in Ireland when Shannon no longer has year round daily flights to the US after Open Skies? This Government is giving no supports to Shannon,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cllr Pat Breen says that his party’s emphasis on health and law and order issues at the con- ference comes from the feedback from the electorate.

“Just look at Ennis General Hos- pital. We still don’t know whether were going to have a 24-hour A&E department. We’re told plan- ning permission has been lodged, but it’s obvious nothing is going to be done before the election.”

The Clare councillor added that he is “looking forward to the elec-

tion campaign” and said he is con- fident of Fine Gael taking two seats in Clare.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy said that he believes Fine Gael are now ready to provide “credible opposition” to the Fianna Fail/PD coalition.

Cllr Mulcahy also believes that Shannon is among the important issues in Clare and wants to see Shannon supported into a position where it can break away debt free.

“Once there is an agreement in place with the unions what is vital in securing European business is an early morning and late evening connection with Dublin. We need same day accessibility. I don’t see why Shannon could not avail of a re- gional grant for that route under the Public Service Orders funding.”

Madeleine Taylor Quinn said it was “a most energetic, enthusiastic and positive Ard Fheis”.

She added that Enda Kenny gave “a commitment by Fine Gael to bring our public services up to the standard of the economy, its lays out exactly what the people of Ire- land can expect from a Fine Gael Government”.

The Fine Gael leader believes it is time to end the era of broken prom- ises, and for politicians to step up to the line and take responsibility for their actions in Government.”

FINE Gael leader, Enda Kenny, told his party delegates that the Fianna Fail/PD coalition is a Gov- ernment of waiting. Waiting for hospital beds, waiting for care for people with disability, waiting for justice for victims of crime.

But on his first public appearance at the Ard Fheis in Citywest at the weekend, it was Enda who kept the faithful waiting.

To a tremendous build-up from the podium and a standing ovation from the delegates, the doors of the conference chamber were thrown wide open for Enda to make a grand

entrance. And there he was, gone!

The only form which filled the doorway was that of a startled hotel waiter, who was all but blinded by press photographers’ flash bulbs as they tried to capture what should have been a dramatic moment.

The leader had missed his cue to bound purposefully through the door. Eh…..opps!

To ripples of embarrassed laugh- ter, the doors were closed again and the paparazzi re-focused. It was to be another three minutes before the Fine Gael boss actu- ally arrived to deliver his opening speech on how, in Government, he would put an end to waiting.

yester- day that the statement put forward by east Clare organisation Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) was both “inaccurate and misrepresents Coillte’s position’. “The reality is that Coillte are cur- rently conducting a comprehensive

and detailed review of the sustaina- bility of its forestry activities on sen- sitive western peatlands in a project called the Western Peatland Project,” he said.

“The results from this review clearly show that the vast majority of coniferous plantations owned and managed by Coillte along the west coast of Ireland are in fact commer- cially, socially and environmentally sustainable.”

“These plantations will continue to provide much needed sources of income and work to local rural com- munities now and in the future.

“The review also indicates that a significant area of coniferous planta- tions along the west coast of Ireland are on sensitive western peatlands and may be more suited to alterna- tive management practices which do not involve commercial timber pro- duction.

“Research in this area is ongoing and definitive decisions regarding Coullte policy will only be made in the light of increased scientific knowledge and in consultation and agreement with the Forest Service, other relevant statutory bodies and stakeholders.”

RELIEF is in sight for residents of Aughanteeroe after Ennis Town Council approved a flood protection scheme for the area.

Residents living in the area had cam- paigned for a barrier to be installed at the rear of the estate. This followed concerns over the ease of access to a section of the river Fergus.

The new measures were unani- mously approved by members at last night’s monthly meeting of the coun- cil. They include the construction of an embankment or reinforced con- crete wall to facilitate flood defence requirements along the boundary of the Aughanteeroe housing scheme

along the River Fergus. The 450-me- tre structure will include the provision of a new railing along the top of the proposed embankment.

The report prepared by Barry and Partners indicates that the project is necessary to protect the housing es- tate and environs from the estimated design flood.

The council received one submis- sion from Mr John O’Connor who proposed that the “western end of the new barrier should be a reinforced concrete wall topped with a steel fence similar to that used in other parts, thereby preventing children from ac- cessing the river’. He also queried whether the “contractor engaged to cut grass be reluctant to bring equip-

ment on the embankment”.

In response, the council stated that “the two points made are reasonable and, pending approval of the scheme, the two points will be raised with the consultants who are dealing with the detailed design of the scheme with a view to dealing with them as effec- tively as possible”’.

Town Engineer ‘Tom Tiernan told members that the project would go to tender as soon as possible.

He said, “We will monitor from time to time, even though it is not in the public charge. We will keep an eye on it.”

Councillor Frankie Neylon (ind) praised the positive response of the council to the matter.

THE Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Michael Starrett, has called for the immediate introduction of a management plan for the Burren.

Mr Starrett was reacting to a report outlining the damage being done both to the ecosystem and archaeol- ogy of the Burren as a result of the marked increase in scrub encroach- ment in the area over the last number of decades.

“IT am calling for the urgent intro- duction of a national landscape man- agement plan for places like the Bur- ren, The Tara Skryne Valley and the Cooley Peninsula,’ said Mr Starrett.

“Urgent action needs to be taken to manage these changes as they have an incremental effect which is dev- astating to the delicate landscape and ecosystems of the Burren.”

According to the report hazel and blackthorn scrub encroachment in the Burren is increasing at an esti- mated annual rate of 4.4 per cent. The report also found that scrub was found to be damaging sites at a structural and sub-surface level and putting historically and environmen- UIA ARo PRSTLO ROMS Ihr: B LSS

The study called for a proper land- scape-level management plan for the archaeology of the Burren to be put in place and a full archaeologi-

cal survey of the Burren to be con- ducted at an estimated cost of €1.25 million.

At present the BurrenLIFE organi- sation is undertaking the largest ever clearance of scrub ever undertaken in the Burren.

Meanwhile, the Burren Trust has called for a more strategic approach to the management of the Burren to be taken.

The organisation has this week is- sued a call for submissions on the merits of a more integrated, long term, strategic approach to the man- agement of the Burren.

The conservationist organisation is calling on locals to review a docu- ment entitled

ESSENTIAL road safety work and the creation of a park-and-ride serv- ice for Doolin were the main topics up for discussion at a public meeting held in the village last night.

Local politicians and non-elected members of Clare County Coun- cil were invited to attend the meet- ing, which was organised by Doolin Tourism Committee.

Speaking ahead of last night’s meet- ing, Niall O’Dwyer of the Doolin Tourism Committee outlined some of the main topics up for discussion.

“There is a huge volume of tourists coming to Doolin every year, far more than a lot of people would believe. We have been neglected by Clare County Council,” said Mr O’ Dwyer.

“There is a need in the short term

for some emergency road works to take place. The roads are very dan- gerous, some areas have no speed limit and tourists are afraid to walk on the roads in the evenings. There has been a number of near misses.”

Clare County Council are currently awaiting the granting of a foreshore licence from the Department of the Environment before work can com- mence on a planned sewage system in Doolin.

A three-year delay in the granting of the licence has prevented the local authority from undertaking repairs on the Fisher Street area of Doolin where damage to footpaths and roads is now causing a health and safety hazard.

“We are waiting to speak to the council and see what their view on it is,’ continued Mr O’Dwyer, before last night’s meeting.

‘There are plans for the creation of a park-and-ride service from Doolin and Liscannor to the Cliffs of Moher and we want to see what the council’s views are on that and how it will be operated.”

The Doolin group has received Support from a number of local county councillors who have asked representatives of the group to make a presentation to the next local area meeting of Clare County Council.

“I would be calling on the council to put temporary works in place, for the safety of locals and tourists,” said Cllr Martin Conway (FG). Regardless of whether they will have to be dug up again in 12 or 18 months, some essential works are needed now.”

For a full report on last night’s public meeting, check out

THE 220 people who attended the Ennis Chamber Annual President’s Dinner in Dromoland Castle on Fri- day night heard a spirited defence of Shannon Airport from Chamber President John Madden.

Mr Madden called on all public representatives and election candi- dates to secure from the Govern- ment the promised debt-free status for the airport, along with the nec- essary marketing budget to allow the airport to succeed in an Open Skies environment.

He said he is hopeful that airport staff will accept the revised restruc- turing offer. He stated that if the restructuring package is agreed, Government must then guarantee that Shannon is properly and rapidly constituted as an independent entity with debt-free status, as promised in crystal-clear language by the former Transport Minister, Seamus Brennan.

“The marketing plan proposed by the Mid West Regional Authority must then be agreed by Government. This includes the provision of €44 million for marketing the airport and a further €9 million for route devel- opment,’ he added.

He also said that the Chamber is actively promoting the concept of a Festival Co-ordinating office for En- nis, and expressed concern about re-

cent closures of businesses in Ennis.

Guest speaker was Mary Ann O’Brien, of Lily O’Brien’s Choco- lates, who was awarded the title of Image Businesswoman of the Year this February.

Ms O’Brien spoke about the work of the Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation,

which she and her husband Jonathan Irwin set up to provide help for fami- lies with children up to the age of four who have severe developmental delay and require extended care.

The Foundation, a registered char- ity, raises money to provide care and acts as an advocate for the families.

The inspiration for the Foundation came from their son Jack Irwin, who was born healthy in 1996, but suf- fered an invasive trauma two days later. There were no services to care for him, and the family looked after him at home with the help of many JGuLOILO KS

In the past 10 years, the Foundation has helped over 700 children. Cur- rently it is assisting eight children in Clare and 11 in Limerick.

Auctioneer Philip O’Reilly spoke about the work of Gorta, the Free- dom from Hunger Council of Ireland, which his company 1s supporting.

Mr O’Reilly then held an auction to raise funds for both charities. In the space of a few minutes, the eight items donated by local and other companies were disposed of for €6,500.

GARDA resources during the Wil- lie Clancy music festival last year were “grossly inadequate” as just six gardai were on duty on a night when 1,700 people were in the town.

That was the view expressed by a judge, who heard details of an assault case in court last week.

Judge Joseph Mangan made the comments at Kilrush District Court, in the case of three men who were

charged with assault, arising out of a series of incidents in Miltown Mal- bay on a night in July last year.

Two of the three were convicted, while a charge against the third ac- cused was dismissed. Brian Sexton (18), of Spanish Point, Miltown Malbay, was convicted of three as- sault charges. David Halley (22), of Woodfield, Ballynote, Kilrush, was convicted of a charge of assault, causing harm. A charge of assault against David Kelly, of High Street,

Kilrush, was dismissed.

Sergeant Joe Hehir told the court the incident happened during Willie Clancy week. Judge Joseph Mangan asked how many patrons were in the town that night and was told there were between 1,000 and 1,700.

He then asked, “How many gardai?” and was told there were six.

The judge said, “Sergeant Hehir has stated there were up to 1,700 patrons in Miltown Malbay on this night. S1x gardai on patrol in that situation

is grossly inadequate. It’s not fair to the people of Miltown Malbay and it’s not fair to the majority of patrons who went there to enjoy themselves and, above all, it is not fair to the six members of the gardai,” he said.

He imposed a three-month deten- tion sentence on Sexton and fined Halley €500. He fixed recognisances in the event of an appeal, for both young men. Halley’s solicitor Eu- gene O’Kelly told the court his cli- ent thought his friend was in trouble

on the night and went to rescue him. “He didn’t go to Miltown to cause trouble,” said Mr O’ Kelly.

Sexton’s solicitor Joe Moloney said his client came from a decent family and his mother was in court with him. Judge Mangan said, “Mr Sexton instigated and initiated all of the trouble on the night. If it weren’t for him, there wouldn’t have been any trouble. His words and his ac- tions led to mayhem on the night and he has to face the consequences.”