Month: October 2007

PHARMACIES in Clare will close as a result of the decision of the HSE to alter the basis on which it pays phar- macies for dispensing medicines.

That is according to the President of the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (I[PU), Michael Guckian, who said the Government expected pharma- cists to dispense medicines to medi- cal cardholders for amounts nine per cent lower than they bought it.

“The HSE announcement means that many pharmacists will have to stop supporting the State medicine schemes because they want us to sell medicines ata loss. Others will close

and the loser will be patients up and down the country.”

Three weeks ago, the HSE an- nounced that it was altering the sys- tem of paying pharmacists from De- cember lI.

“The HSE decision was taken with- out regard for how it will impact on patients and on viability of local pharmacies in Clare,” said Mr Guck- Te nOe

Clare Pharmacist Feidhlim Hillery of Sean Hillery Pharmacists, Shan- non Airport, said “The HSE’s deci- sion, if implemented, will make the medical card scheme unviable for pharmacists to deliver from Decem- roan

“There are 34,552 medical card pa- tients in Clare. This is very worrying for local pharmacists. It will have a negative impact on patient care.

‘I have reviewed the impact of this decision on my business and I simply would not be in a position to provide medicines to patients at a loss from December,” he said.

Pharmacists are asking the HSE to reverse this decision and to get into meaningful talks on a new pharmacy contract with their trade union, the Irish Pharmaceutical Union.

“The HSE decision may lead to closures of pharmacies in many ru- ral and marginalised communities, which tend to have a higher propor-

tion of medical card patients. It will mean job losses in these communi- ties and longer distances for patients to travel to get their medicines if their local pharmacy closes down.

“For the pharmacies that do sur- vive, patients may also have to en- dure reduced opening hours and longer waiting times, as pharmacies may have to let staff go.

“Many medicines, such as insu- lin for diabetics, may no longer be as widely available as pharmacists would have to have to provide such medicines at a loss from December 1,” according to the IPU.

Many pharmacies have a huge dependence on the Medical Card

Scheme [GMS] or the Drug Pay- ments Scheme [DPS]. Government dictates whether the pharmacist can apply any margin to medicines sold under these schemes. In the case of the GMS, which accounts for about 76 per cent of medicines sold under the State schemes, the Government allows the pharmacist to earn no margin. Instead the Government pays the pharmacist a fee of €3.26 for each medicine dispensed.

In the case of drugs dispensed un- der the DPS, the Government pays a eross margin of 33 per cent on the cost of the drug – but this accounts for only about 25 per cent of the med- icines dispensed by pharmacists.

A CLARE councillor has asked the local authority to get legal advice on whether structures that don’t normal- ly need planning permission could be up for demolition if they are built on an indicative road line.

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) said that those with land crossed by a line that effectively sterilises that land for future road development are left in limbo when it comes to planning.

‘The northern distributor road in- dicative line runs through my area and there have been a number of applications refused on the basis of dake

Cllr Crowe said that there are farm- ers in areas like Clonlara who cannot expand or build structures such as slatted sheds, which would normally be exempt from planning permis- sion, because they don’t know what will happen later on.

He added that the council “needs to follow up and keep people informed when we have a public consultation on a road line. A line can be moved and I know a number of people who have gone to the trouble and expense of applying for permissions only to be refused because there 1s an indica- tive line through their land.”

Senior Executive Planner, Liam Conneally told the meeting that there is legislation which covers future in- frastructure development.

“If people need to know whether or not planning permission 1s required,

they can apply to the local authority and the process 1s speedy,” he said.

He added that there is good news in the offing in that the first phase of the Northern Distributor Road will begin shortly, with Limerick County Council taking the lead.

Cllr Crowe said he would like as- surances that the council will fol- low through thoroughly after public consultation meetings and that legal

advice would be taken on whether exempt structures can be demolished if they are on such sterilised land.

But Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia McCarthy, said she was sounding a warning bell about the legal advice.

She said it was not up to the coun- cil to pay to get legal advice for in- Cn aTAeLUE Tice

COUNCILLORS angry at what they describe as planning inconsistencies demanded to know last night “how long is a piece of ribbon?”’.

Cllr John Crowe (FG) had asked that a “detailed criteria for ribbon de- velopment in all areas be put before the council for its consideration”.

He said that there “appears to be no consistency in what defines ribbon development and people are being refused permission because of it.

‘For instance, when there 1s an 1n-

fill site that hasn’t been developed, a genuine local rural person should be able to build.

“The bottom line, is that local ru- ral people should be entitled to build homes.”

Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) said that, “In some places, people are told five houses is ribbon development. In other cases, they are told that it’s four. And in some cases, house number seven might be going in and ribbon CLAYeA Le) oy eatornlmp ye mon (oO ONSNLBLOITeOr

“Tt’s totally unfair. What I want to know is how long is a piece of rib-

bon?”

Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) seconded Cllr Kelly’s motion.

He said that a “guideline is not a rule and it is definitely not a policy. J am aware of two people who are homeless in my area because of rib- bon development guidelines.

“They were refused permission to build and now they are on the coun- cil’s housing list.”

Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) said that it needs to be made clear that the “council is not responsible for the legislation on this – it’s our TDs up in

the Dail who are responsible.”

Members of the council asked to know, apart from numbers of hous- es, what other guidelines affect the eranting or denying of planning permissions to avoid ribbon develop- ment.

Council officials told the meeting that ribbon development is not to be encouraged as it is not in the interests of best planning.

Issues such as an excess of septic tanks and public health had to be considered. If a ribbon development oexexey ae (onc er-MVONT- DUMB Reco MUMBO oM NNN T(EN lc

of nowhere, then pressure comes on to provide public lighting and serv- ices where it is not economical to do so, councillors were told.

Cllr John Crowe said that his con- cern is for the inconsistencies with which the definition was being ap- plied, as this was affecting people’s ability to build homes and live in their own areas.

“If we are going to have a definition then it should be interpreted with consistency – the bottom line is that a genuine local rural person should be able to build.”

CLARE County Council is to pay tribute to one of the county’s most decorated sporting heroes.

Gymnast William Loughnane from Knockanovra, Clooney/Quin won six gold medals and one bronze at the Special Olympics World Games in Shanghai, China last week, and the local authority has agreed to pay him the ultimate local hour — a civic reception on November 12.

Loughnane also won bronze in the vault beating stiff competition from Russian gymnasts.

Councillors Pat Hayes (FF) and Pat Daly (FF) proposed that the man who won gold for Ireland in five cat- egories — including rings, pommel horse, parallel bars, horizontal bars and floor — be honoured.

“It is a huge achievement for Wil- liam and his family, continuing on from his success in the 2004 Olym- pics in Dublin,” said Cllr Daly.

William’s medal haul at the 2007 games equals the number of med- als he won at the 2004 games, which were held in Ireland.

William’s parents, Liam and Rose joined him in China and were among

a large Irish representation at the games.

Cllr Daly and Hayes also paid trib- ute Patrick O’Leary from Inagh who was a member of the five-a-side soc- om cre b eee

The team just missed out on a medal as they were beaten in the third place play-off by Mauritania from Africa.

The Irish contingent in Shanghai consisted of 141 athletes, 55 coaches, 200 volunteers and over 400 family members.

William qualified for the games in Belfast just over a year ago. Since then he concentrated on his prepara-

tion for the challenge in China.

The champion gymnast hopes to coach gymnastics himself in the fu- ture and puts a large part of his suc- cess down to St Clare’s School in Ennis where he learned his trade as a gymnast.

IT WAS justified. It was relentless. And most of all, for Lissycasey, it was historic.

The game itself wasn’t a pretty thing to watch, but with the cloak of success falling over them for the first time, that won’t matter to the new champions.

Perhaps the familiarity bred the dour nature of the game or maybe Lissycasey just got it right on the day. This was the third champion- ship meeting between the two in only twelve months and it was clear who had learned more in that time and who hungered more over the past year.

From the start, Lissycasey were

like lions targeting a gazelle. They sped out of the dressing rooms with- out a care for the usual pre-match sit down and smile for the camera. And coming back out after the half-time breather, their substitutes lined the entrance and roared their 15 back onto the field.

It was a frenzied approach and they compressed the life out of their op- ponents, pythonesque.

Throughout the field, the focus re- mained constant. With a couple of minutes left, Martin Daly turned to the umpire and asked how long till the final whistle. Daly believed there was still a quarter of an hour to ride out and couldn’t understand the game was nearly over. That was the sort of concentration and application

Wd eLoavaer-KOn

“Last year was a massive motiva- tion,’ said Declan Conway from a perch underneath the stand. “The pain we felt standing here last year, looking up at Alan [Malone] lifting the cup. That hurt us. It’s been on our minds ever since. But these boys stuck with it. They gave it everything, had the belief and got their reward.”

For those who gave the breakaway club life back in the early ‘60s, this was a day to savour. A day they de- To Mio1em

Men and women had _ travelled home from far afield to watch this one, undeterred by the county final of 2006. They’ll go back to their new lands later in the week happy with the knowledge that the club is

in good hands. Progressive and ready to be fed by the new breed of young- sters who fill the homes on their side of the parish.

Just after he held the Jack Daly cup over his head, the first Lissycasey clubman to do so, James Kelly said this band of footballers were no long- er the whipping boys of Clare.

To be fair, they never were, but Sunday’s win puts them among the county’s elite and now, they’ve a de- cent chance of scalping Kerry side Kilcummin in the Munster champi- onship at a Clare venue on November oF

THE threatened stoppage which would have grounded all Aer Lingus flights from today has been averted after marathon talks in the Labour Relations Commission.

The pilots had threatened to down tools in a row over pay and condi- tions for staff at the airline’s new bases in Belfast.

The agreement, reached early yes- terday, still has to be voted on but union bosses have said they will be recommending the deal.

The package also provides a frame- work for the opening of future bases on local terms and conditions, ac- cording to Aer Lingus.

The deal was reached after more than 20 hours of continuous negotia- tions at the LRC.

The two sides have reached an agreement on pension conditions and promotions based on seniority for pi- lots at the Belfast hub.

Had the 48 hour action gone ahead, passengers bound for and return- ing from to New York and Chicago would have been stranded.

As he left the talks, Labour Rela- tions Commission Chairman Kieran Mulvey said it was up to both sides to consider the proposals.

Aer Lingus Chief Executive Der- mot Mannion said he was delighted with the outcome of the talks, par-

ticularly for passengers.

Michael Landers, Assistant Gen- eral Secretary of IMPACT, said on balance it was a deal which could be recommended to its members.

Meanwhile, Ryanair has comment- ed on the European Commission’s confirmation that it has properly re- jected Aer Lingus’ request to force Ryanair to sell its stake in Aer Lin- gus on the basis that Ryanair has no influence or control in Aer Lingus.

“Given that Aer Lingus has twice rejected Ryanair’s request for an EGM, it is impossible for Aer Lingus to claim that Ryanair have any influ- ence or control over them. We pre- sume this initiative was designed to cover Aer Lingus’ embarrassment at a current share price of €2.35, which is 20 per cent less than Ryanair’s of- fer of €2.80 almost one year ago” the airline said in a statement.

The statement continued “sadly, Aer Lingus passengers continue to suffer higher fares and increased fuel surcharges as a result of the EU Commission’s prohibition of Rya- nair’s offer for Aer Lingus, which guaranteed to deliver those passen- gers lower fares and to remove fuel surcharges.”

can reveal as part of a Spe- cial Investigation into gay issues in the county.

According to the first nationwide survey ever conducted into gay men in Ireland, as many as 3,000 Clare men have left the county and settled in bigger centres of population.

Clare men numbered less than half a percent (0.467) of the total respond-

ents to the online survey while, according to the most recent census fig- ures, Clare people make up almost three percent (2.75) of the total popu- FE TaTone

Responses to the sur- vey, Which was conducted by Sigma Research and part funded by the English Department of Health and Welsh Assembly, were drawn from the users of a number of Irish gay NOLO Moy. QTV OCsre DUNN MA ULol ONS [Kote

These figures suggest that more

than 50 per cent of GE ccecm on OOO ack: tomethy population may have left the county. “Many gay people have moved away from Clare – to Dublin, Cork and Galway – so that they can live more openly some- where else. This leaves the remain- ing gay population in Clare largely invisible,” said Franciscan Brother Cathal, who runs the GIFT support group for gay men in women in En- he

Reports of homophobic violence have also become more common in the county.

‘The violence that is in this town is unbelievable, the violence that is in Ennis and in County Clare. Physical violence towards gay people, I have experienced it. My partner, who I have been in a committed relation- ship with for 10 years, he has expert- enced it. He was nearly killed in this town,’ said Alan*, a gay man, born in west Clare who now lives in En- ahs

AROUND 160 businesspeople from the region attended the first Mid West Entrepreneur Showcase, held in the Enterprise Acceleration Centre, Limerick Institute of Technology on Thursday last (October 4).

Among the innovative ideas on show were two from County Clare.

Eugene Crimmuins, Director, The Irish Bread Mix Company Ltd, which is based at Crimmins Bakery in Newmarket-on-Fergus, exhibited his easy-to-bake, additive-free bread mixes.

Although the company is at an early stage, the mixes are already selling to tourists in Bunratty Folk Park and at the Cliffs of Moher.

Liam Fahy of Fahy Analytical in Doora showcased his creative solu- tions to process problems in the med- ical and electronics areas. His com- pany provides cleaning for medical implants, and recycling services for used sandblast products. It also sup- plies lettering sand to stone masons.

Both men are participants in the Limerick Enterprise Acceleration Platform (LEAP) programme at EAC. As well as LEAP participants, other new and young companies in the mid-west exhibited. There were also stands for developments agen- cies, business associations, account- ants, banks, investors and other ad- visers.

The Showcase featured a half-day

seminar entitled “Funding for New and Established Start-Ups’.

Jerry Kennelly, the Kerry entre- preneur and founder of Stockbyte, which was sold in April 2006 for €110 million euro, gave a blow-by- blow account of how the business developed.

‘From a state support, infrastruc- ture, tax and can-do perspective, there has never been a better time to start a global business from Ireland,” | stemncyeB(Gm

David Boland, Managing Director of Documatics, revealed that his de- termination to set up his own busi-

ness was fuelled by having to work at a boring job during school holidays.

Documatics have developed a Busi- ness Process Management system using the Microsoft .NET platform.

Damian Young, head of the Small Business segment in Bank of Ireland, said that the environment for new businesses remains positive.

Drew O’Sullivan, an Investment Manager with 4th Level Ventures spoke on ‘Funding your Early Stage Venture – from BES to finding the right VC’.

Martin Corry, development advi- sor in Enterprise Ireland, said that the Showcase highlighted the range of business innovation in the region. He paid tribute to the late Dr Tony Ryan.

Dr Maria Hinfelaar, Director of LIT, who chaired the meeting, stated Merle MN ODM AYANOTSARCO1HuS OKC NENT. eee) tte omy could deliver a range of eco- nomic, regional and social benefits for Ireland.

The meeting was sponsored by Limerick based audit, tax and advi- sory providers, MGM Mulcahy Gor- man Mulcahy, and was part of Lim- erick Business Week.

BRAZILIAN beef products are not wanted in Ireland, according to the first survey conducted on public at- titudes towards imports from the Yells Waverouervemeeleilias

More than 90 per cent of people want Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan to secure a ban on Brazil- ian beef imports into Europe, ac- cording to a survey carried out by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).

The survey, which was conducted by second-year agricultural science students from Gurteen College in Tipperary, was completed by 1,340 people. More than 94 per cent of those surveyed believe Brazilian beef fails to meet EU standards on

traceability, Foot and Mouth disease and food safety controls.

“The results of this survey sends a resounding message to Minister Coughlan and the EU Commission that people reject the double stand- ards that allow Brazilian beef 1m- ports into Europe,” said IFA Presi- dent Padraig Walshe.

IFA National Livestock Chairman John Bryan described the results of the survey as a landslide rejection of the EU Commission’s position on Brazilian beef.

Mr Bryan said Mary Coughlan could not ignore the depth of public feeling on the patent failure of Bra- Zilian beef to meet EU standards and she must immediately ramp up pres- sure on the Commission and call for

an outright ban. Meanwhile, the IFA has launched a major attack on the EU Commission over what it calls the ‘cover-up’ regarding the Brazil- ian beef problem.

Padraig Walshe said the EU policy was untenable and the clear message from the public and farmers at the National Ploughing Championship was that the EU should impose a total ban on Brazil.

This follows some shocking events at the championships, when an- ery livestock farmers challenged the EU representatives outside the Commission forum over the failure of the Commission to take decisive action to protect the European Union against the risks posed by Brazilian beef imports.

While all this is going on, Robin Smith, the Irish Cattle & Sheep Association Beef Chairman, has expressed anger at news that the Brazilian government is_ seeking even more time to get their house in order on traceability.

Reports indicate that Brazil- lan agriculture minister Reinhold Stephanes is travelling to meet with the EU this month to seek more time to conclude the implementation of their traceability system, which is known as Sisbov.

“The ICSA cannot believe that any more time can be given to the Brazil- lans – they are due an FVO inspec- tion on November 5 and either they have things right or they don’t,” Mr Sees lHeMy-vlee

IRISH people spend more on alcohol in off-licences than on food, accord- ing to the Irish Creamery Milk Sup- pliers Association President Jackie OF TTeR

Speaking at last week, the farm- ing leader stated that the impact of increased milk and grain prices on food costs is being grossly exagger- ated by politicians and commercial interests and that the “so-called food inflation is nonsense”.

“Politicians and others should stop misleading consumers on this mat- ter. We do accept that there will be an increase in food prices reflecting

the new realities of production and, in this regard, it is important that the current increasing farm price for milk is at least maintained,” he said.

“That is precisely why the sug- gestion for a quota increase would warrant very detailed considera- tion. People who are calling for an increased quota at European level after a few months of improved milk prices – improvements which were long overdue and were critical for the continuation of profitable dairy farm productions – should pause for thought.

“Their energy might be better used in ensuring that the Irish retail food sector returns a higher market

to both the processor and farmer, reflecting the increased international food commodity prices.”

Mr Cahill said the reality of the situation is that food spending amounts to 11 per cent of total con- sumer spend. In the past, food prices increased despite falling farm prices and decreasing food commodity prices internationally.

“Milk and cheese account for a mere 1.2 per cent of total spend, even if the price of these were to increase by 50 per cent, it would add a mere 0.6 per cent to the cost of living,” he continued.

“Irish people now spend more on alcoholic drink than on food and that

off-licence sales of alcoholic drink alone – at 6 per cent – amount to more than the cost of bread and cereals, dairy products and meat.

“These official facts, as published by the Central Statistics Office, show the complete lack of a foundation to so-called food inflation. Comments alleging food inflation are now reg- ularly trotted out for political and CLoyrabeenet-i must hKieeke

“The tightening of world supply in food commodities, increased energy costs and climate change food will result in further commodity price increases, but that the impact of this increase on actual food prices in the shop would be low.”