Month: June 2007

HIS success in the general election was phenomenal, but Clare’s new Fianna Fail TD has no intention of seeking a place in cabinet for at least five years – but would eventually rel- ish the Transport Minister’s portfo- 1bTey

As Timmy Dooley prepares for his first day in the Dail this week, he said he 1s prepared to sit among the backbenchers for his first few years and would be open, then, to a promo- tion to the front benches.

Deputy Dooley’s priorities as a TD will be to improve tourism infra- structure in east Clare, secure an up- gerade of Ennis General Hospital and ensure Shannon airport does not suf- fer, with the advent of Open Skies.

“In politics, you serve your appren- ticeship. I’ve served five years in the Seanad, There are 30 ministerial positions. A junior ministerial post – certainly not. It’s virtually unheard of to have a first time TD appointed to any government post. In the future I would be interested,’ he said.

‘For somebody to be appointed to high office, the first time being elect- ed would be a disadvantage, given the amount of time a minster spends out of the constituency. Willie O’Dea was a poll-topper long before he be- came a minister. Brian Cowen was the same,” he said.

“From a county like Clare, tourism

and transport are two areas I would be interested in. I’ve been transport spokesman in the Seanad for five years. You would be delighted to serve in any role,” he added.

Mr Dooley doesn’t want to stand out from the other 165 TDs entering the 30th Dail on Thursday.

“I won’t be trying to stand out. Over the next five years I’ll try to do the job to the best of my ability,” he said.

The Mountshannon man has been perceived to be well acquainted with his party leader, but is slow to ad- mit this. “Bertie Ahern is an iconic

figure. He is a person young people really get behind. How close is any- body to Bertie Ahern? He’s a very private man,” he said.

He believes that the west Clare electorate cost Fianna Fail a third Seat, as votes went in the direction of Fine Gael’s Pat Breen.

“TI think the problem was Brendan Daly’s vote in west Clare – Kilrush and Kilkee – fell by over 500 votes. Unfortunately people in that area didn’t vote for Brendan as they had in the past. If they did, Brendan would be a TD today, regardless of anything else. Pat Breen took Fianna Fail votes in west Clare. He hoovered up,’ he said.

Deputy Dooley’s profile has grown over the past five years. He points to two crucial factors in his campaign, which led him to win the seat.

“I noticed the profile growing all the time. I noticed an increase in the number of calls I got when Sile de Valera announced her retirement. It grew again after the Fianna Fail Convention in April 2006, when I got through,” he said.

Looking ahead, Mr Dooley said he will leave “no stone unturned” in an effort to ensure Ennis General Hos- pital is upgraded.

He said the delays have been “mind numbing,’ but cannot provide a time- frame for the progression.

“I can’t because I don’t control the process,’ he said.

CONFIDENCE in politics can be a dangerous thing, very dangerous. Tanaistes, ministers and party lead- ers can lose their seats — Michael McDowell was all three but was still rejected at the polls.

This volatility, or at the very least awareness of it, is why Tony Killeen and others refused to be drawn on their cabinet credentials in the run up to the election to the 30th Dail.

“IT was looking to retain my seat first off,’ says Deputy Killeen. “All that could be done up to now was get elected. I’ve done that.”

Success makes him open up more — free to talk of his ambition. Two and a half years a junior minister in the Department of Labour. Now he wants more, a message he hopes wins the ear of Bertie Ahern if he’s elected Taoiseach for a third term.

“lm happy with what I have achieved during that time. There are elements of it that I would like to have the opportunity to advance further. There are other jobs that I would love the challenge of doing.

“At this stage when we don’t know what parties will form the govern- ment, it’s difficult to know what posi- tions the Taoiseach will be in a posi- tion to offer. Three seats would have guaranteed a full ministerial post for Clare.

“I’m not hung at all on the honour of being a senior minister but I do be-

lieve that the benefits for the county of having someone at the Government meeting every Tuesday morning and hearing at first hand the plans of their

colleagues is highly significant.

“IT have no doubt that it is the big- gest political advantage to any coun- ty or constituency to have someone

in those meetings and party to deci- sion-making. I would like to have a position — I would relish the chal- lenge. If I’m offered a position I will

be more than happy to take it.”

And, being at the top table is how Killeen reckons his wish list for the lifetime of the 30th Dail can best be served. The old chestnuts of Ennis’ hospital and Shannon Airport — the rocks on which many election cam- paigns have been built.

“IT suffered electorally on the Shan- non Airport issue because I told the truth — that Open Skies was inevita- ble and that the state airline model wasn’t sustainable and that part pri- vatisation was inevitable.

“I’m happy that the package of measures that Martin Cullen has been putting in place is the right way to go. That’s only a part of it. The re- mainder of the job is for the airport management and marketing people on one level, but also for the hotel federation people to play a proactive role in doing a co-operative market- ing venture with the airport and the tourism wing of Shannon Develop- ment. I have no doubt but that the government will be forthcoming with the kind of finance that has been mentioned for Shannon Airport.”

Tony Killeen would love to be sit- ting beside Minister Cullen at the cabinet table when he makes the funding announcement for Shannon.

IRONY is lost on the ill. Joe Carey, Clare’s youngest deputy, sits up in his hospital bed in Ennis on Monday morning and takes another phone call. The mobile has been buzz- ing away these past few hours and a sharp dose of chicken pox isn’t an adequate excuse to turn his back to the world.

Last Tuesday, he woke with a hint of pain and it stole up on him through- out the day.

By evening, he was feeding himself with medicine and creams but neither seemed to work and, on Friday, his doctor referred him to Ennis General Hospital.

By now, he knows those three words like he knows his own breathing rhythms. And this week he knows a little more — the nuances of hospital life and the internal ward workings that can only be garnered from ac- tual experience.

One of the last motions Carey put forward as a Clare councillor was re- lated to the hospital. He looked for the protected status on the current building to be lifted and it received unanimous backing.

When he lands in Dublin on Thurs- day, for his first sitting as a Clare deputy, he reckons it won’t be too long until he brings the issue to the national stage.

He’s now recognised around Clare as the fresh-faced new deputy who could change the future of health services in Clare. Those photographs of him in a hospital bed surrounded by a bevvy of nurses and that one of him in a hard hat and a sledgeham- mer have struck their own chords.

In its own strange, gothic way, this

little stint in hospital completes the cycle. Provides the last ounce of background.

But by Thursday and the debut in the Dail, he should have regained most of his strength.

“In an ideal world, I’d be flying fit for the first day, but Il be going on a lot on adrenaline anyway, so it

shouldn’t be a problem. I’m looking forward to it and I’m planning to drive up on Thursday morning.” He’ll take the hopes of the county with him. Carey campaigned vigor- ously on the hospital issue and, over the course of his term in Dublin, he hopes to secure some concrete plans. Others who climbed that health bull

during their campaign were bucked off shortly after. Carey knows as much and is set to hit the ground uUbauenberee

A review of the Ennis and Environs plan is set to be completed in the coming months and he’s planning to make contact with councillors in a bid to prove that re-zoning the present site would create a potential cash cow for a new hospital.

“T’ve been saying it for a while but I really believe a greenfield site is the best way forward. I plan to push this all the way when I get to Dublin. If the hospital is re-zoned for houses, then we’re talking about a piece of eround that would increase dramati- cally in value. This would self-fi- nance a greenfield site. Then we’d have the space to develop and expand into a modern hospital with great ac- cess. That’s the target.”

From his hospital bed on Monday, he could see that bullseye down the line. In his dream world, a housing estate would occupy the space where his head rests. Five years to make it happen. The clock starts ticking on Thursday.

RECENTLY published CSO figures show the average population density in Clare is 32 people per square kilo- metre, with Dublin City having over 4,300 people per square kilometre. And, according to Western Devel- opment Commission CEO Gillian Buckley, this could be one of the rea- sons why over 8,000 people a month, or nearly 100,000 a year, are logging on to the www.lookwest.ie website.

Ms. Buckley, who was speaking at the launch of the WDC’s latest Look- West.ie campaign, aimed at attract- ing people to relocate to the coun- try’s Western Region, also pointed out that according to the census over 4,000 people have moved to Clare over the past four years.

‘There has been a lot of talk recent- ly about lifestyle issues and there’s no doubt that it is the hot topic. Our message is simple — the western re- gion offers relocators an excellent work/life balance,’ she said.

“Nearly everyone living in the re- gion has family and friends who have moved away. By encouraging them

to consider moving back to avail of the opportunities here, everyone can help to further develop the region

and Clare. That’s one of the reasons why LookWest.ie advertising will also target local media — to prompt

local people to persuade friends and family to consider moving back. “And interest 1s not just coming

from Dublin. Our analysis of the website traffic shows that, though the bulk of inquiries are coming from Ireland, there’s interest from as far away as Australia. Website visits from the US are particularly high, which may be due to the WDC’s participation in a Fas employment exhibition that was held in New York late last year. Many of those who attended the US event had no con- nection with Ireland but yet were at- tracted by the lifestyle that the west of Ireland had to offer.”

“The latest advertising campaign is also aimed at a national and interna- tional audience. The campaign posi- tions the region and Clare as an at- tractive location to live, work and set up a business. Investment in infra- structure in the region is continuing. Recently, the Ennis bypass has been opened and this should open the way for the next phase of the county’s de- velopment,” Ms Buckley added.

CLARE County Council has refused planning permission for contentious plans to establish a “casino-style” business in Shannon.

Former Clare hurling captain, Bri- an Lohan and incoming Clare mayor, Cllr. Patricia McCarthy (Ind) had called the plans into question.

An observation submitted on be- half of the double All-Ireland win- ning hurler claims that the proposed “new use is incompatible with the designated office and retail use of devRmolUODCennsToaae

The submission pointed out that Mr Lohan was occupying the “EBS

financial services and Brian Lohan Auctioneering’ businesses at the ground floor of the proposed club.

The submission claimed that the club would not create desirable syn- ergies and also, would introduce un- desirable congregations of people in the vicinity of Mr Lohan’s property therefore damaging his business and other businesses around.

In her submission, Cllr. McCarthy claimed that the “the use of the term ‘members club’ without defining e1- ther the membership, their role or proposed activities is an attempt at subterfuge and further is plainly also an attempt to circumvent the rights of the public to know what the ulti-

mate function and activities of the development is.

“The proposed development lacks clarity and is open to a number of different interpretations. The pro- posed development as submitted by reason of lacking in specifics cannot be judged or its potential effect on the surrounding area determined.”

Developer, John O’Donovan re- vealed that the club would contain a number of adult amusement ma- chines and live card tables super- vised by a club director.

He stated, “This club’s primary function is to attract the large tour- ist base in the area and especially an American market that are familiar

and look for this type of adult en- tertainment and can only be a great benefit to tourism in the Shannon region.”

However, the council refused plan- ning permission having regard to the nature of the proposed development and character of the surrounding area. It ruled that the proposal would reduce the attractiveness of the area and would impact negatively on the residential amenities of the adjacent properties.

The council also ruled that the loca- tion of the proposed facility outside Shannon would materially contra- vene the South-East Clare Develop- ment Plan.

MEMBERS of Clare County Coun- cil last night railed against new Gov- ernment measures that could sound the deathknell for extensions to graveyards around the county.

New legislation requires volun- tary groups to secure consent from the National Monuments section of the Department of the Environ- ment to extend graveyards. Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) said last night that the prohibitive cost of carrying out Surveys was stopping graveyard ex- tensions from proceeding.

Receiving support from all sides of the council chamber in Inagh last night, Cllr Prendeville said that vol- untary groups were “being caught in a Straitjacket of red tape and bureaucracy in seeking to extend eae NONE DKO ae

Cllr Prendeville said that the leg- islation came from an EU Directive. Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said, “This stupid legislation is being nod- ded through the Oireachtas without thinking of the consequences. Com- mon sense has to prevail.”

Cllr Michael Kelly (FF) said that there was an instance of the local people in Kilnaboy seeking to carry out works to their graveyard but be- fore they could do anything, they had to carry out an archaeological survey at a cost of €30,000.

Cllr Prendeville said that it was ironic in this day and age that ar- chaeologists could be made available for road building but not available for graveyards, while Cllr Pat Keane (FF) said, “I fear that these measures will result in the deathknell of grave- yard extensions around the county.”

Cllr Martin Conway (FG) said, “It is an appalling situation. Voluntary groups should be able to reclaim the costs of the surveys from Clare County Council and funding should be made available from national gov- ernment to councils on the issue. If we cannot respect our dead, we don’t have respect for ourselves’.

In his response, county engineer Tom Carey said he agreed with eve- rything that was said by councillors and agreed to the suggestion that a Department of the Environment rep- resentative attend a council meeting.

MEMBERS of Clare County Coun- cil last night agreed to extend the town boundary of Shannon to facili- tate the expansion of the town.

County manager Alec Fleming rec- ommended the extension apart from the inclusion of a townland, Clon- money West, in anticipation of the population of Shannon and its envi- rons tripling by 2011.

Mr Fleming laid out the grounds cited for the extension in a document that went before the council’s June meeting in Inagh.

The document is to also go be- fore the members of Shannon ‘Town Council.

Mr Fleming said that the residents of Shannon town and its environs were to be brought under a single ad- ministration with devoted electoral representation for all communities within the expanded town.

The proposed expanded town would be better able to deal adminis- tratively with the future development of the town.

He said that Shannon town resi- dents had no significant input into the running of the affairs of Shan-

aCe em KO). a0e

Mr Fleming also stated that an expanded Shannon town would be better able to promote the social, economic, sporting and cultural fa- cilities and amenities and integrated os ATA CCL IB UOTE A OLoeEs Bote B

The document anticipates that the lands in the extension area could provide an additional 3,027 housing units that would satisfy the primary demand for accommodation in Shan- non town during the life of the cur- rent plan and to 2020.

However, Mr Fleming has ruled out an extension into the townland of

Clonmoney West.

He said: “Given the existing capac- ity of the zoned lands within Shan- non town, there would appear to be no valid reasons for the extension of Shannon town into such townlands save for the possible addition of 172 acres to the north.

“The incorporation of the town- lands into Shannon town would create unsustainable expectations amongst property owners that such areas would be identified for future short to medium term development.

“The development of these lands would be contrary to national poli-

cies and should be retained for agri- cultural and rural type uses.

Mr Fleming has conceded the as- sessment had not taken into account the financial consequences of the re- allocation of rates or capital contribu- tion income to the respective parties and the availability of transportation and infrastructural services.

He added that these issues were critical to the success or failure of the application and required more detailed information. But he rec- ommended the boundary extension apart from the Clonmoney West sec- won

ENNIS Town Council is seeking a meeting with Clare’s most senior Garda to discuss crime related issues in the town including anti-social be- neha col eue

Members invited Chief Superin- tendent Gerry Mahon to address the council at the June monthly meeting of Ennis Town Council.

Figures from Ennis Town Council show a major drop in the number of prosecutions for people consuming alcohol on streets and public places in the three-year period from 2003

to 2005.

In 2003, there were 73 prosecutions while in 2004 that figure fell to 12. Figures for 2005 show that only two people were prosecuted by the coun- ote

The issue was raised in the cham- ber by Green Party councillor Donal O’Bearra who asked that the council provide a report in relation to the suc- cess or otherwise of the Ennis Town Council Prohibition of Consumption of Intoxicating Liquor on Streets and in Public Byelaws 2000.

Cllr O’Bearra said he had noticed increased numbers of people drink-

ing on the streets.

“T put forward this motion because it seems to me that there are more and more people strolling around the town with cans. In the interest of public safety, I would be very con- cerned at the number of people on the street with alcohol. I would like us to be able to meet with the Gaurds on a regular basis to discuss issues like this.”

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon suggested that the council meet with Chief Superintendent Ma- teva

“It would be a very beneficial for us

to get a picture of what is going on in the town. We could invite the chief Superintendent to come in and meet with the council.”

Independent councillor Tommy Brennan supported the proposal and said he had heard of inequalities in the present system of bylaws.

“I would definitely support that suggestion. It would be a useful ex- ercise. Its not always the lads that are drinking that are the ones caught. I know of a case of someone up by me where there was a load of lads drink- ing on his land and he ended up be- ing brought to court over it.”

A YOUNG mother who stole five bottles of aftershave from an Ennis pharmacy was jailed for four months after a court heard that she had sev- eral previous convictions for theft.

Andriena Williams (25), of Doneen Road, Woodview, Limerick, admit- ted stealing four bottles of aftershave from Cassidy’s pharmacy, Ennis, on May 19. She also pleaded guilty to stealing another bottle of aftershave, earlier that day.

Inspector Tom Kennedy told Ennis District Court that the defendant was in the pharmacy with her five-year old son.

She was seen leaving the premises with one bottle of aftershave. She was not apprehended at the time.

Some 30 minutes later, she was seen leaving the same shop with four more bottles. She was stopped by security and the four bottles were recovered.

Defending solicitor, Daragh Has- Sett, said his client wanted to come

up with compensation. He said he believed the case was suitable for the ake): IHNEN MA CoKy

“She has a bad record. She is plead- ing on the first available date,’ said the solicitor.

Judge Joseph Mangan imposed a four month jail term and fixed a bond of €600 in the event of an appeal.

Mr Hassett said his client wouldn’t be able to meet the bond and he asked the judge to reduce it.

He said if the court would agree, his chent would “submit herself to

the gates of Limerick Prison next Wednesday”.

Judge Mangan reduced the bond to €500 and Mr Hassett said that was still very high.

The judge replied, “It’s not a very high sum, considering the offences and she has a string of previous con- victions.”

The woman then apologised to the court. The judge told her, “You shouldn’t have used the child in the commission of those offences. You did. Now face the consequences.”

AN AIR Accident Investigation Unit inquiry into a “very serious in- cident” involving an Aer Lingus jet has blamed the faulty installation of a cargo door seal for pressurisation problems which forced the aircraft to declare an emergency return to Shannon Airport.

The inquiry concluded that a cargo door seal had been fitted incorrectly by an engineer at Dublin Airport who had never carried out a cargo door seal replacement on an A330 previously. The seal in this case was fitted inside out and upside down.

The incident occurred on August 18, 2005 after the Aer Lingus Air- bus A330-301 aircraft left Shannon for JFK Airport in New York.

Shortly into the flight, the captain declared an emergency due to pres- surisation problems. The aircraft made an emergency descent from 35,000 ft and the captain requested a diversion to Shannon. A normal approach was executed and the air- craft, although overweight, landed safely at 4.23pm.

Earlier, when the flight first ar- rived at Shannon, the captain was forced to abort his first landing af- ter reporting a pressurisation prob-

lem. The plane landed safely on the second attempt.

The door seal was fitted inside out and upside down which, according to the report, “would indicate that neither the crew leader nor crew- members understood how the seal functioned in flight. Taken collec- tively, they all had adequate experi- ence but obviously none were aware of the significance of the inflation holes.”

According to the investigation unit report, the incident should sig- nal the need for a review of the con- tractor’s initial and ongoing train- ing system.

The report cited mitigating cir- cumstances, however, stating that the crew leader’s attention was di- vided between two aircraft. There was also the length of time taken to acquire a seal, the time spent on the job as a consequence, the move- ment of the aircraft to another stand and the encroaching darkness.

Had the new seal been fitted at the time of the damaged seal removal, its correct orientation in the door might have been obvious to the crew who might also have noted that the inflation holes were on the incorrect side and facing out from the door centre.