This article is from page 16 of the 2008-03-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
CALLS have been made for an all- out ban on jet skis on Clare beaches in order to protect the safety of swim- mers, surfers and other water users. These calls follow recommenda- tions made by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board last week in which it was suggested that jet skis should be licensed and those using them should have to undergo mandatory mecbnepeNtes Last Thursday, the board published its report into the death of jetskier Alan Joyce in Mayo in 2006. “IT have been ap- proached on numer- ous occasions over the last 18 months by swimmers, mostly on Lahinch beach, as well as people in west Clare, about the dangers of jet skis. They are rid- ing roughshod in the water and not showing respect to people swimming or to surfers,” said north Clare Coun- ty Councillor, Martin Conway (FG). “It has been suggested that there should be a jet ski licence for any- one who wants to use a jet ski and in order to get the licence you have to go through a certain amount of train- ing. I would go one step farther. We also need to take cognisance of the people who are swimming and surf-
ing and whose safety is being put in jeopardy as a result of these jet skis.
“The jet skis should be banned from areas where people are known to swim and to surf. Really we should have designated areas for jet skies where they wouldn’t be compromis- ing the areas of people who are in- volved in other water sports.”
Cllr Conway suggests that desig- nated areas should be set up where
jetskiers can use the water. “Putting a jet ski into a place where there are a lot of swimmers and surfers is akin to putting a motorbike into a_ playground. If someone is swim- ming and they get hit by a jet ski, they’re gone. There is no second chance with these things,” he continued.
“If you look at Ballyvaughan, there are jet-skis everywhere. Maybe Bal- lyvaughan might be an appropriate place for jet skis. Maybe harbours are a more appropriate place for jet skis but I know that they are also very prevalent in Fanore and Bally- vaughan as well. When you have a situation like that, you have to regu- late it. We have had these by-laws for the dogs on the beach but this is a much more lethal piece of equipment and there don’t seem to be any regu- lations on them.”