Month: April 2008

THE newly elected President of Lim- erick Chamber of Commerce 1s not only living in Clare but has identified a closer working relationship with the Banner County as a key factor in driving the future development of the mid-west Region.

Sean Lally, whose home is in Bun- ratty, 18S managing partner of the Clarion Hotel in Limerick and he succeeded Shannon Airport Author- ity member and Westpark business campus Director, Reg Freake to the Presidency.

Speaking about his upcoming year in office, Mr. Lally said one of his priorities will be to highlight the many positive aspects of the Limer- ick Shannon region from both a busi- ness and tourism perspective.

“In spite of tales of economic slow down we are seeing unprecedented levels of construction taking place in the region.

“The Shannon ‘Tunnel Project, linking Clare and Limerick at an estimated cost of €500m, is due for completion within the next two years and is the largest infrastructural de- velopment ever commissioned by the State outside the capital.”

“Throughout the year we will con- tinue to highlight critical areas that will always remain top of our agen- da. This includes priorities such as

the completion of the upgrading of the N18 to Galway by 2010 to en- sure our vision of an economic cor- ridor between Galway and Limerick becomes a reality. The urgent need for improved connectivity to Foynes Port; greater priority to be given to the completion of the Atlantic Road Corridor and the motorway from Limerick to Dublin to be delivered and completed by 2010 as prom- ised.”

“Shannon Airport is a key contribu- tor to the economic prosperity of the region. With 3.6 million passengers passing through it last year it is the second busiest airport in the state. Shannon still reports to the Dublin Airport Authority, a situation which is clearly unsatisfactory if Shannon is to compete in an aviation market that is highly competitive.”

A native of Galway, Sean Lally joined the Board of Limerick Cham- ber in 2006 and 1s also a member of the Irish Hotels Federation and is a Director of Meet Limerick Shannon Conference and Sports Bureau.

He worked in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis during the early 90s and his wife Eliane is from Bunratty where his two children Oisin (9) and Cao- imhe (4) attend the local Wells pri- mary school.

AER LINGUS plans to enter an ex- tensive codeshare partnership with Star Alliance carrier United Airlines from November has been welcomed by the Shannon Airport Authority as a major boost for the mid-west.

The codeshare, which will cover the Irish airline’s services from Shannon to Boston, Chicago and New York, will provide access to and from the west of Ireland for 200 new destina-

tions across the United States.

United Airlines will also sell seats on Aer Lingus’ transatlantic serv- ices, thereby offering Shannon as a destination from these US cities.

Commenting on the development, Shannon Airport Director Martin Moroney said that the partnership brings another major US airline to the Shannon market and will also consolidate the Aer Lingus winter schedule at Shannon.

“This is very exciting news for

Shannon Airport and this region as it opens up significant new markets across the United States, with the al- liance ensuring one-stop access to over 200 new destinations in the US. OW evi ie-U em or-DusCUir-DUhmBneNOhMEceRonn the full-onset this year of Open Skies and is another boost following the Aer Lingus deal with JetBlue Air- ways Corp earlier this year that will allow customers to book a single res- ervation between Ireland and more than 40 continental US destinations.

‘Both these alliances by Aer Lingus are complemented by the market- ing fund for west of Ireland tourism, aimed at stimulating and promoting a strong identity in the US, so these deals couldn’t have come at a better time,” said Mr Moroney.

“This development brings signifi- cant marketing benefits to Shannon and its hinterland and raises Shan- non’s profile throughout the travel industry in the United States,” said Mr Moloney.

MUNSTER’S employment outlook is holding strong according to the latest figures from workforce management solutions, Manpower Ireland.

The survey shows that 11 per cent of Munster employers are predicting they will hire more staff in the com- ing quarter. This is eight per cent up in quarter Over-quarter-results but a decrease of 11 per cent on last year’s JURA Koe

Construction industry employers anticipate an optimistic quarter-over- quarter improvement in hiring activ-

ity with an eight per cent increase during the second quarter of the year, representing a slight decline of three per cent on last year’s figures.

Conducted quarterly, the Man- power Employment Outlook Survey measures employers’ intentions to increase or decrease their workforces and gathers data from 55,199 employ- ers across the world each quarter.

Regional employment is expected to be strongest in Ulster and Mun- ster, both of which recorded an opti- mistic employment outlook of 12 per cent and 11 per cent respectively for the second quarter of the year.

The pharmaceutical industry re- corded the strongest hiring outlook of 21 per cent followed by employers in the transport, storage and commu- nication sector, who are predicting a hiring outlook of 18 per cent over the next three months.

Manpower Ireland Managing Di- rector Jason Kennedy said the results were reassuring for the Irish economy as a whole. In spite of many warnings and gloomy forecasts the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey, which speaks to employers directly, has shown that many employers are feel- ing positive about the future growth

of their companies.

Even in the construction industry which has been the focus of much controversy in the last six months, eight per cent of all employers are planning on hiring more staff in the coming quarter.

The percentage of employers ex- pecting to reduce staff in the coming months is in line with the average from previous quarters. This suggests that while the rate of job creation has dropped this will be balanced against the fact that employers are not reduc- ing their respective workforces to any greater extent than before.

THE Clare farming industry faces a €70,000 obliteration next month if the predicted 70 per cent cut in beef import tariff’s 1s sanctioned by the World Trade Organisation (WTO). That is the opinion of the IFA’s Chief Economist, Clareman Con Lu- cey, who predicts that beef output in the county will be halved in the tariff is scrapped. Beside the loss in pro- duction, this could see a mass exodus from the sector which employs al- most 5,000 people in the county. “Europe is a much higher cost re-

210n to produce in than sectors such as south America. Besides that, Eu- ropean farmers have to operate un- der much tighter health and safety conditions that farmers in other re- gions. This creates a problem if we are competing directly with places where conditions are not enforced,” said Mr Lucey.

“According to our calculations, this new tariff will bring the price of beef down to around €2 per kilogram. Where as the cost of production in Ireland is now €3 per kilogram. It would make no economic since to keep producing under these condi-

ney nce

A WTO Ministerial meeting is due to take place in mid May where a res- olution on the long running negotia- tions is expected to be arrived at.

“In terms of Clare we have more than 4,200 suckler herds. This makes Clare very very vulnerable for any proposed cut. We estimate the total farm input in Clare is about €140 million per year. We would ex- pect this to half if the agreement is passed,’ continued Con.

“Clare is a beef dominated county and there isn’t really much of an al- ternative. There is no money in sheep

and the land is not good enough for tillage so there is no alternative for EB Eeilone

“There is starting to be a greater awareness of the quality and tracta- bility of some of this imported foods. We had the ban on Brazilian beef Where most of the exports facilities there have been shut down. Last year then we had bird flu outbreak in the Thailand. One of our particular wor- ries 1s that there 1s little public debate going on on this World Trade Debate so far. This is a hugely serious situa- tion for farmers in Ireland and espe- cially farmers in county Clare.”

THE significance of Dr Hillery’s period as Minister for Education is often overlooked with credit for the modernisation of learning in Ire- land more commonly attributed to his flamboyant successor, Donagh O’ Malley.

However, Hillery, a man of im- mense intellect with a radical vision of Ireland’s future social and eco-

nomic possibilities, set out a blue- print which the energetic and forceful O’Malley prosecuted to full effect.

The extent of Hillery’s social radi- calism can be seen in a fascinating address he made to the Dail on March 23, 1960, in which he signalled his resolve to shift Irish education policy in an egalitarian direction.

His belief that the second-level system was regressive was captured in a simple but profound objective:

“Every child of sufficient talent, be they poor or rich, in any type of school should have the opportunity of climbing right to the top of the educational ladder.

“The nation needs the services of all the talent it can find.”

Hillery identified what he called “a missing rung in our educational lad- der” which denied advanced learning to those of a vocational orientation.

His idea would soon turn concrete

with the construction of the first of the country’s regional technical col- efexere

He went on to dismiss arguments against pouring money into Ireland’s under-funded universities lest it lead to too many graduates; casting aside pessimism he countered that invest- ment was “a calculated risk we must take if we believe that the country has a future”.

Later, as the first Minister for La-

bour, Hillery underpinned the link between education and Irish eco- nomic growth by instigating a policy founded on the idea that the State should help people to obtain the skills to avoid or climb out of unem- jo) Keyyaneteael

For this and other major aspects of Ireland’s educational infrastructure that have helped build the country to what it is today, Dr Hillery deserves Keeble

THE late Dr Hillery has been de- scribed by the Mayor of Clare as a consummate statesman and wonder- ful ambassador for Clare and Ire- land.

Councillor Patricia McCarthy said she was saddened to hear of the 84-year-old’s passing and that Dr Hillery would be best remembered for delivering the stability the coun- try required from the office of the President during both his terms.

“The mid-1970s was a turbulent time for the Irish Presidency. Presi- dent Erskine Childers died in of- fice in 1974 and two years later his successor, Cearbhall O’Dalaigh, re- signed the position. A stable Presi- dency was required for the country, and with Hillery’s period as E.E.C. Commissioner coming to an end, he was invited to put his name forward as the Fianna Fail candidate in the upcoming Presidential election.

Though reluctant, Dr Hillery put his country first and accepted the nomi- nation and was an immensely popu- lar President at home and abroad.

‘ Wherever he went, he brought a wonderful sense of responsibility and pride in the country he was rep- resenting. The remarkable list of hon- ours and decorations he was awarded during his two terms as President is testament to his popularity and the high regard in which he was held”, she added.

“Besides spending every summer at his family home in Spanish Point, I know that Dr Hillery was very in- terested in the exploits of Clare’s football and hurling teams. As a west Clare man he was especially delighted to see the Clare footballers win the Munster Championship in

1992. He was also very proud of the fact that Clare won the All-Ireland Hurling Championship in 1995 and 1997”, the Mayor said.

County Manager Alec Fleming said Dr. Hillery was one of Ireland’s most loved Statesmen who will always be remembered for his humility, ability to communicate with all people and, most of all, his love for his country and his native County Clare. Indeed, Clare County Council was honoured to hold a Civic reception for Dr. Hillery and for the past three years, his two terms as President have been profiled and celebrated in one of Clare Museum’s most successful ever exhibitions”.

Clare Museum Curator John Rat- tigan said that since the summer of 2000, the museum received in instal- ments, a large collection of presen- tations and gifts made to Dr Patrick Hillery while carrying out his public duties during a political career, which spanned from 1951-1990. These now form part of one of the most success- ful exhibitions ever hosted by the museum.

“Clare people have shown a great affection for and interest in Dr. Hillery’s career achievements. [| know from speaking with many of the thousands of people who vis- ited the exhibition that they are hon- oured to describe the late Dr. Patrick Hillery as one of their own”

“Personally, during my many en- counters with Dr Hillery I found him to be down to earth and approach- able. Having organised an exhibition on his life, I learned that he was also an extremely astute politician. These wonderful qualities combined made Dr Hillery an outstanding individual and President,’ concluded Mr. Rat- whee n ee

moje sultants for Clare GAA have told the

council that the new RiverSide Quar- ter could be operational by 2013.

A new Ennis Development Plan is being drawn up which will include a range of new zonings.

However, consultants for Clare GAA have told the council that it may be early 2009 by the time the process of drawing up the new de- velopment plan 1s completed. Rather than seeking to have the site rezoned as part of the plan, Clare GAA are

seeking a standalone rezoning of the site. The process could be completed in five months.

The consultants have told the coun- cil that the development of schemes for both the Cusack Park site and the new GAA stadium “are well ad- vanced”.

Taking into account appeals to An Bord Pleanala, Clare GAA are an- ticipating that the planning process in relation to the scheme will take

two years.

The consultants state that it 1s in- tended that the RiverSide Quarter will act as a landmark site, point- ing out, “If we are dependent upon the adoption of the new Ennis Plan before we can lodge the application, there is a possibility that the site will not have the benefit of planning per- mission until 2010-2011.

The consultants state, ““The sooner the planning permission is received for the development of the site, the sooner Ennis Town Council will be able to utilise the significant income derived from commercial rates and development levies.”

The consultants argue that the shorter timeframe will significantly benefit Ennis in terms of an immedi- ate improvement in the town centre and the provision of a new GAA sta- dium.

The consultants state that the de- velopment is not designed to take consumers from the existing retail centre and, in particular, the town centre but to contribute to the re- tention and consolidation of retail spending in Ennis in the face of in- creasing competition from other re- tailers and leakage of retail spending from the area.

The consultants also argue that the development of retailing in the scheme would improve the diversity in the Ennis retail offer.

THE nine members of Ennis Town Council have been told that €327 million in retail spending will be lost each year by Clare to adjoining counties if additional retail space is not provided in Ennis.

Consultants for Clare GAA, ad- vancing the case for the €350 mil- lion RiverSide Quarter in Ennis, state that currently €271 million is being lost each year to other coun- ties as consumers leave Clare to shop elsewhere.

Currently, the level of retail leakage is 62 per cent, they say. The consult- ants estimate that if additional retail Space is not provided in Ennis, this leakage will rise to 75 per cent by 2013 as aresult of the amount of new retail space coming to the greater |Biiintoule arts

However, the consultants state that if the RiverSide Quarter proceeds, the level of retail leakage to adjoin- ing counties will reduce to 30 per cent. This will translate into an ad- ditional €140 million being spent by consumers in Clare each year.

The biggest threats to Ennis are major new retail developments in Limerick, The Coonagh Cross cen- tre is set to increase its space from 20,000 sq m to 28,000 sq m, while the new Opera Shopping Centre in Limerick city centre is to provide an additional 28,000 sq m. It will start to trade in 2010.

The report also refers to the growth of the Crescent Shopping Centre which, the consultants state, has been transformed into the “regional retail attractor in the mid-west”.

The consultants estimate that there

is currently 55,000 sq m of retail Space in Ennis, but admit that the sector 1s lopsided as there has been a large expansion in retail warehous- ing.

The consultants state that the devel- opment will significantly increase the footfall in the town as it will make the whole of Ennis a destination lo- cation for shopping in the Midwest.

The document also promises easy pedestrian access from O’Connell S15 Koro e-0 016 a0) Lane] OReel ROO Kol OO suring strong commercial synergies with the existing retail facilities.

SEVERAL MEMBERS of Ennis Town Council yesterday expressed mixed views over the proposed re- zoning of Cusack Park to construct the €350 million RiverSide Quarter.

In a bid to fast-track the rezoning, the Clare GAA have submitted a rezoning application with the town council, rather than the wait for the new Ennis Development Plan to come into force in 2009.

The public will be able to make submissions on the plan over the next four weeks. After that process Ennis

Town Manager, Tom Coughlan has two months in which to draw up a re- port and present it to the council.

The nine-member council will then have a further six weeks to consider the proposed rezoning. Majority sup- port is needed for it to pass.

In financial terms and the impact it will have on Ennis, the decision by the members is set to be the biggest they will make in their time to date as councillors.

The €350 million RiverSide Quar- ter will comprise of a 15,000 sq m net retail area, a food court, ten res- taurants, an eight screen cinema, a

200-bed four-star hotel, a 100-bed budget hotel, office, 200 residential units, a civic centre and a hub for a new urban bus service. The plan also includes a riverside boardwalk, a pla- za for weekly events and markets, a creche and 1,100 car parking spaces at basement level.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind), a stead- fast opponent of the plan, re-iterated his opposition. He said that “there is no point talking about rezoning Cu- sack Park because planning cannot be got for the GAA stadium on the Quin Road as it is a flood plain.”

However, Cllr Peter Considine (FF)

said that his gut instinct was to favour the rezoning and not have further re- tail be driven to the outskirts.

He said, “We should try to retain as much commercial activity in the town centre as possible because I would have a worry about this out of town mall syndrome.”

Cllr Considine cautioned that re- zoning was no guarantee of planning permission being granted.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said that he remained open-minded in relation to the rezoning.

“However, I am not convinced that it should take place at Cusack Park.”

FARMFEST °08, the major Teagasc open day of the year was launched in Athenry on Friday. The festival in- corporating Bioenergy ‘08, will take place in Athenry, on Friday, 20 June. Announcing details of the event, Teagasc director, Professor Gerry Boyle said: It has been 10 years since a major Teagasc open day was held in Athenry. The full range of Teagasc activities in advisory, research and education will be showcased. The best technical advice for dairy, beef, sheep and tillage businesses, along with the latest research from young scientists will be available.” Professor Boyle continued: ”The Irish economy and rural Ireland has changed dramatically over the last ten years and this is reflected in the emergence of innovative rural-based

businesses right around the country. Farmfest °08 will reflect this new ru- ral Ireland, bringing together these rural innovators to display their novel range of products including many artisan foods. The rural devel- Opment opportunities are many, and visitors will have the opportunity to find out more about some of the best and most promising ideas to develop in rural Ireland in recent times at this upcoming event.”

“I am particularly pleased that Bioenergy *O08 will be a significant part of the event, and we welcome our partners, Sustainable Energy Ire- land and COFORD, to work with us in highlighting the potential of this exciting and emerging new sector,’ he concluded.

Exhibits at Farmfest *O8 will in- clude a dairy exhibit which will fo- cus On opportunities for new entrants

and expansion, a major beef breeding display, a tillage exhibit will include newly established cereal trial plots in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and an education exhibit will see all the colleges mount individual practical skills displays in an interesting for- eatele

The Teagasc national sheep re- search programme is based on the Athenry campus so the sheep exhibit will be particulalry significant.

Bioenergy ‘08 promises to be even bigger than last year’s event, bring- ing together all stages of the supply chain, from producing energy crops, through the processing stage, to the options for the final consumer.

Covering over six hectares of eround, the environment exhibit will feature the main environmental chal- lenges facing Irish agriculture, while

providing practical demonstrations for the thousands participating and interested in REPS.

Artisan food, scientific research, forestry, equine and Health and life- style together with farm safety and reducing labour and Land use op- tions including organic production, tourism and other enterprises will all play a prominent part at Farmfest ’08 which promises to comprehensively cover all aspects of Teagasc’s activi- lene