Month: June 2008

IRISH food producers appear to be winning the battle against unwanted food contaminants appearing in the Irish food chain.

According to new research released last week just 24 positives cases of food residue contamination were re- corded last year. These positive cases were taken from more than 30,000 overall samples and represent a 0.08 per cent contamination rate. This represents a 50 per cent decrease on the 0.17 per cent recorded in 2006.

Of the 24 positive samples, 14 taken in the poultry sector contained residues of a feed additive approved

for use in poultry production.

Both the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and the Department of Agriculture declared themselves satisfied that these positives cases did not pose a specific risk for con- sumers of poultry meat.

Of the remaining ten positives, nine contained residues of author- ised veterinary medicines, while an individual sample of wild game was positive for an environmental con- ieDeaupar-balm

In the milk sector, where 1,134 samples in total were taken, two samples or 0.18 per cent contained residues at levels above the MRL for Anthelmintics, which are medicines

approved for the treatment and con- trol of parasites.

Of the two positives, one related to cows milk, while the other related to goats milk and were due to failure to comply with requisite post-treatment withdrawal periods.

Another reassuring aspect of the 2007 results for consumers is that no traces of banned medicines or growth promoters covered by the hormone ban were found in any samples.

This reflects the fruits of the robust approach taken by the department in the past as well as a responsible ap- proach taken by the farming sector. Notwithstanding this good outcome, the department will continue to be

vigilant in monitoring activities both at farm and slaughter house/process- ing plant level.

Meanwhile in the aquaculture sec- tor more than 650 tests for 2,219 de- terminants were carried out on 161 samples of farmed fin fish for a range of residues. As in 2006, no positive results were detected in the national monitoring programme for farmed finfish in 2007.

The Food and Veterinary Office (F VO) of the European Commission, as part of its ongoing programme of inspections in EU member states and in third countries, carried out an au- dit of Ireland’s national residue plan during April 2008.

AFTER just a few years in exist- ence Macra Na Feirme’s Know Your Neighbours weekend has already grown into one of rural I[reland’s most important social and cultural events.

Last week the young farmers or- ganisation announced more details of the event watch by a star-studded gallery including GAA personality Micheal O Muircheartaigh, Mary Davis, CEO of Special Olympics Ire- land, and Clare TD Tony Killeen.

This year’s Know Your Neighbour Weekend will take place on July 12 and 13 and is aimed at encouraging people to do more to get to know their neighbours.

“While we’ve seen increased pros- perity in Ireland in recent years,

many people are now also faced with the increased pressures that come hand-in-hand with modern living,” said Macra na Feirme’s national president Catherine Buckley.

“Long hours at work, ever-increas- ing commute times, family and other commitments mean that people are spending less and less time involved in community-based activities.

“All too often we hear people say- ing that they don’t even know their own neighbours. This initiative is a great way of encouraging people who don’t know anybody living in their local area to really do something to rectify that situation. Only you can get to know your neighbour.

“Vd encourage anyone interested in organising an activity or event to order their organiser’s pack straight away and start planning for the

weekend of July 12 and 13.”

Also attending the event was Gov- ernment Chief Whip Pat Carey.

“T am delighted to be here to launch the third Know Your Neighbour weekend,” he said.

“The initiative is a great way of encouraging people to do something about the disconnectedness they may feel from community, or people’s lack of belonging to an area.

“There is no magic wand for ener- gising communities but I look for- ward, as Minister for Active Citizen- ship, in working with organisations like Macra to make real progress in communities right around the coun- ae

The initiative is being driven by Macra na Feirme with the support of ESB Customer Supply.

“ESB Customer Supply is once

again delighted to partner with Mac- ra Na Feirme in sponsoring the ini- tiative for the third successive year,” said Pat Fenlon, General Manager ESB Customer Supply.

“ESB has over the decades con- tributed to the development of every community in Ireland, rural and urban, and 1s committed to further enhancing this with support for com- munity based initiatives.”

has achieved since its launch in June 2005.

To confirm the paper’s dominance, senior journalists Emer Connolly, TJ Flynn and Claire Gallagher won awards for their work with the pa- per.

TJ won the award for best sports writer on the strength of an article on the Clare football Munster final suc- cess in 1992 at the Mid-West Arts,

Media and Culture awards. This was published in the first issue of

THE largest ever private housing de- velopment proposed for Kilrush has received planning permission.

Kilrush Town Council granted per- mission to developer Tom Gallahue for 205 houses on the Cooraclare Road.

The development comprises 134 Semi-detached homes, 68 terraced homes, 18 apartments, two detached homes, a two-storey neighbourhood centre, 17 warehousing units and a creche.

The lands are zoned “other settle- ment land” which permits limited

residential development.

The council granted planning per- mission for the proposal, finding that it would “be acceptable in terms of traffic and in the interest of proper planning and sustainable develop- ment”.

The 2006 Census shows that the Kilrush urban area experienced a downturn in population from 2,699 in 2002 to 2,630 in 2006.

Mr Gallahue must contribute €526,000 towards the provision of public facilities in Kilrush and an ad- ditional €50,000 towards footpaths. The money represents a major boost to Kilrush Town Council’s finances.

Unlike his counterparts in Ennis, Mr Gallahue does not have to con- tend with local authority limitations on large developments because of over-stretched infrastructure. Kil- rush has adequate public infrastruc- ture whereas in Ennis the council has placed a moratorium on new develop- ments until 2012 when the new sew- erage system becomes operational.

“This decision represents a great vote of confidence in Kilrush and west Clare,” said Clr Tom Prendev- ile (FF) who is based in the town.

“The current climate is not condu- cive to the construction industry but the Kilrush Housing Strategy antici-

pates that there will be a 25 per cent increase in population by 2014 and this development should allow for a 33 per cent increase in population,” Jatemncy-H (6

Cllr Prendeville added that the town council was anxious that the first phase of the development would commence as soon as possible.

“Young people are the lifeblood of a community and I would hope that the houses would be reasonably priced. There is quite a demand from young couples in the area for social and affordable housing and I would anxious that they would be catered for,’ he added.

FOUR of west Clare’s petrol station owners are claiming that Tesco’s §ar- rival in their market will threaten the existing network of stations.

Many local jobs will be lost if Tesco gets planning permission to establish one of its stations in Kilrush, accord- ing to local businessmen Vincent Crowley of Ennis Road, Kilrush; Ol- iver O’Shea of High Street, Kilrush; John Daly of Cooraclare and Michael Fitzpatrick of Kilmihil.

The four have lodged a joint ob-

jection against Tesco developing a four-island petrol filling station ad- jacent to its recently opened store in Reta

“Competition already exists with four retailers located within such a small area,” according to the objec- tion which planning consultant Tim O’Brien lodged on behalf of the sta- tion owners.

“The addition of another petrol retailer in this small geographical area with the economic and market- ing power of Tesco will only serve to undermine the viability of the exist-

UITSMB Kol R-DULo RCM DOLOMAUDUNSMONLOKe IONMNOLS Tesco store as a competing centre to the town centre.”

Mr O’Brien points to the town manager’s report which states that new petrol filling stations will only be permitted “where the need for an additional petrol station can be demonstrably justified and where it will not result in over concentration of single uses in one area”.

The consultant said that there was already an over-concentration with four petrol stations servicing a small geographical area, including two

within metres of the proposed devel- e)yetorle

Mr Fitzpatrick, in a separate objec- tion, states that there are “many fill- ing stations lying derelict all over the country due to Tesco serving cheaper brands of fuel…

“Temploy 12 people full time. With a drop off in sales it will mean that I will have to let people go.

Mr Crowley, in his objection, also says forecourt jobs at his station will go if Tesco arrives.

A decision is due on the application next month.

CLARE TD and Minister of State with Special Responsibilities for Fisheries, Tony Killeen, last week joined Agriculture Minister, Brendan Smith, in a meeting with EU Fisher- ies Commissioner, Joe Borg, where the difficulties being experienced by fishermen across Europe was the main topic for discussion.

While the meeting was the first face-to-face meeting between the ministers and the commissioner, it followed a lengthy telephone con- versation recently between Minister Smith and the commissioner.

In the course of the meeting, the ministers, as they had undertaken to do during a meeting with the Fed-

eration of Irish Fishermen on Friday last, impressed upon the commis- sioner the serious difficulties and the depth of feeling of Irish fishermen and also the urgent need to bring forward an EU-funded package of measures to alleviate the concerns of TeKemensaouensee

Minister Smith also indicated to the commissioner his intention to press, at next week’s Fisheries Council, for the adoption of new EU regulations to prevent the import of illegal, un- regulated and unreported fish into the EU market which are undermin- ing the markets for legally caught ne

He is also seeking the early adop- tion of new conservation measures to reduce discards and juvenile fish

protection measures in the waters around Ireland.

Minister Killeen emphasised to Commissioner Borg the priority that would have to be attached to the Irish fishing fleet in any EU package and also raised the issue of the re- quested adjustment of the Celtic Sea Cod TAC.

The ministers welcomed the pro- posals outlined by the commissioner, which were published last week, but highlighted the absence of a provi- sion for additional EU funding to underwrite the proposals.

Commissioner Borg indicated that he was still undertaking an exercise within the DG Mare to explore all possibilities for the identification of some additional funding for the

package.

Minister of State Killeen said that as many of the issues were also of concern to fishermen in other mem- ber states, he and Minister Smith would continue to press, with their colleagues at next week’s Council of Fisheries in Luxembourg, for a pack- age of measures and additional EU- funding which would be required to address the difficulties being expe- rienced by fishermen across the EU and particularly in Ireland.

Following a full discussion on the range of issues affecting the indus- try at next week’s council, Commis- sioner Borg will propose a definitive set of proposals for presentation to the Fisheries Council of Europe on ith ey

THE potential of Clare as a gen- erator of wood energy was further TORO) STARVE oLO MNO OURS ( oto) GEAWA LOO MNO omE- Date nouncement by Teagasc that Irish farm forestry has the potential to

replace a huge 58 million litres of home heating oil per annum.

The new Teagasc research indicates that private investment in forestry provides a massive opportunity for the wood energy sector in Ireland. Thinnings from privately-owned for-

ests could help to reduce the depend- ence of domestic and commercial consumers on oil for their heating needs.

With nearly 60,000 hectares of Irish forestry now more than 15 years of age, research indicates that

two-thirds of these plantations are ready for thinning. Annual output from the private sector has the po- tential to rise from its current level of just 100,000 cubic metres per an- num, up to 1.1 million cubic metres per annum by 2015.

‘Because of the nature and composi- tion of farmer-owned plantations,the wood energy market offers farmers the opportunity to sell their produce to new and growing markets, partic- ularly in areas where no market op- portunities previously existed,” said Teagasc forestry researcher Niall Sek IML (cle) .@

“This also offers farmers the op- portunity to have their plantations thinned. In order to realise this po- tential it is crucial that farmers thin plantations where appropriate.”

Private planting of forests increased in the 1990s and these are now ma- turing for harvest. It is anticipated that half of the landowners will opt to thin, which could lift the annual output to 550,000 cubic metres per annum by 2015.

A high percentage of this thinning volume – 340,000 cubic metres – has the potential to supply the wood en- ergy market. This energy resource is equivalent to 2.24 million giga joules, or 58 million litres of home terlmusremeyee

That is enough energy to heat 58,000 houses based on an average size house using 1,000 litres of home heating oil each year.

New research, sponsored by CO- FORD and presented last week at Bioenergy ‘08 in Athenry, will in- vestigate the structures to quantify, locate and market timber for forest owners. It is planned to develop a framework for the optimal quanti- fication of the wood resources from farm forests using clustering tech- niques.

Clare, alongside Donegal, has al- ready started to use the produce of first thinning to supply the wood en- ergy market for local and municipal heating requirements.

KILRUSH Chamber of Commerce has asked its members not to pay rates to Kilrush Town Council until questions about the sale and payment of new civic offices are answered.

After weeks of controversy sur- rounding the purchase of the former site of the Inis Cathaigh hotel by Kilrush Town Council and Clare County Council for civic offices, the chamber of commerce has issued a statement outlining its stance of the whole issue.

Prior to this business people in the town had raised concerns about how the money would be found to pay for the €1.4 million site and later for the estimated €5 million necessary to refurbish it.

The issue was discussed in depth at the chamber’s monthly meeting on June 5 and following on from that meeting a motion was passed ask- ing all the chamber members to de- fer payment of their rates to Kilrush Town Council until questions raised in recent letters from the chamber to the local council were answered in full and to the organisation’s satis- faction.

“Kilrush Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of a large group of business people in Kilrush and the surrounding areas, who have the social and economic develop- ment of Kilrush at the top of their list of priorities,’ the statement issued by president of the chamber Paul Coady read.

“We welcome and applaud the pro-

posal to provide the Kilrush Munici- pal Area with New Civic Offices, but have major concerns as to how such a project would be funded. To date we have asked the Kilrush Town Council three pertinent questions re- lating to this proposed development in a letter dated May 17: what is the likely impact of this project on the rate payers of Kilrush?; what provi- sion for parking will be made, if any, in the proposed development?; what is to become of our fine town hall building?”

The chamber of commerce said that the reply received on June 3, made it “none the wiser and failed to shed any light on developments, in fact it has clouded the issue further”.

At its June meeting the chamber also agreed that as many members as

possible would attend the next Kil- rush Town Council meeting on June 12, to show support and solidarity for Kilrush Chamber of Commerce and its concerns regarding the project. This highly charged meeting was at- tended by a large contingent of con- cerned members and ratepayers.

Members of the chamber have also written individually to the town clerk and town manager seeking a reply to the questions asked.

“Kilrush Chamber of Commerce has had a long standing, good work- ing relationship with Kilrush Town Council and calls on Kilrush Town Council to answer the questions raised in a forthright and transpar- ent manner before this project is pro- gressed any further,’ the statement concluded.

RESIDENTS of Island View estate in Kilrush are this week rejoicing with the council members’ decision to complete works on their trouble- some gardens.

The back gardens in the housing es- tate have flooded every year prevent- ing children from playing in them and adults enjoying them.

After years of complaining to the local authority and making political representations, chairperson of the local residents association Christine Murphy brought the issue directly to the Kilrush town councillors.

During a presentation to this month’s meeting of the council Ms Murphy said, “This is not the first

time we brought this problem to the council.”

She said that when she and her fam- ily became residents of Island View in February 2005 they did not realise the garden was going to be a problem until the following winter.

She said that the garden, like most of her neighbours’, flooded and was not fit for human use.

Ms Murphy explained that the resi- dents were told on three separate oc- casions to collect the names and ad- dresses of the householder that had this problem. When they did nothing was done, she said.

“I don’t know if it is the council making donkeys out of us but there are no donkeys in Island View,” she nee

She said that some people became so frustrated at the delay in an ad- equate response to their plight from the council, that they fixed the gar- den themselves at a cost of more than €2,000.

“It 1s a council problem. They are beautiful houses but the gardens are a joke,” she said.

“In the open plan garden in the front we are not allowed by the coun- cil to put up anything to protect our children at the front. The only place we have to put our children is in the water logged back garden.”

Senior engineer Derek Troy ex- plained that there was no soakage at the back of the houses.

There is also a slant towards some houses, he explained.

He said he would prepare a report on the issue for the next meeting of the council.

Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) asked the council for their support in get- ting the issue resolved.

Cllr Marian McMahon Jones (FG) said that the money should be pro- vided for the work.

She said the local authority had al- ready spent money on the new civic offices and were expected to find more, so there should be no problem providing the relatively smaller fund for the work in Island View.

THE former St Senan’s Church of Ireland in Kilrush was alive once again to the sound of music on Mon- day when it was officially opened as Teach Cheoil, Chill Rois by Senator Labhras O’Murchu.

The Ard Stiurthoir of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann told those at the cermony, “our cultural assets should be an enriching part of the lives of Irish people everywhere, particularly our young people. They should be a living, highly visible and vibrant part of society. They should be eas- ily accessible to all and their unique social, cultural and economic ben- efits should be fully realised by com- munities and individuals throughout

the country and in Irish communities abroad. St Senan’s Church of Ireland, Kilrush now to be known as “Teach Cheoil Chill Rois’ will have a central role in this cultural vision.”

The local branch of comhaltas “Inis Cathaigh Chill Rois” provided musi- cal entertainment for those who at- tended the opening. Kilrush is now a major beneficiary under the new De- velopment Programme of Comhaltas Ceoltdiri Eireann, which is being funded by the Government.

In 2007, Kilrush Community De- velopment Ltd signed over the lease of St Senan’s Church of Ireland to Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.

Kilrush Community Development Ltd (KCDL) operated in Kilrush as a voluntary sector development or-

ganisation for 15 years.

One of the strategic projects under- taken by the group was the restora- tion of St Senan’s Church of Ireland, off Grace Street in Kilrush. The group acquired St Senan’s building from the representative church body of the Church of Ireland for the ben- efit of the community of Kilrush and west Clare. Restoration work was initially undertaken over a number of years through a FAS Community Youth Training Project, sponsored by KCDL.

The remainder of the works have now been completed by comhaltas including the restoration of the mag- nificent stain glass windows.

Teach Cheoil Chill Rois now serves as an outreach centre from Cois na

hAbhna, the Comhaltas Regional Resource Centre in Ennis.

According to Senator O Murchu, “While Comhaltas are conscious of respecting the integrity of this build- ing I feel it is equally important that the facility will be embraced by the local community of Kilrush and west Clare and that appropriate communi- ty groups will have access to it.”

The building has a capacity of 130 seated with a stage area and a small tea/coffee facility.

The board of Teach Cheoil Chill Rois are now planning a programme of events for Summer 2008, which will commence with Seisitin on AYA(ee DaTerXe Eh IVORY APAMO LoS KSTLUD OMRON Mm Batoae take place every Wednesday night through the summer months.