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THE Irish asylum system treats emigrants like “prisoners” and is need of urgent reform. That is the opinion of North Clare Senator and Fine Gael spokesperson on Justice in the Seanad, Martin Conway, who visited two direct provision centres last week. Conway, who is also heading up Seanad group of reform of the Irish asylum system, believes that delays in the speed at which applications are processed is creating major difficulties for asylum seekers and increasing costs for the State. “I found that the management in the centres were doing their best to deal with problems as they arose and the residents said that they felt like they were in jail. There could be six residents in one room in these facilities and eventually, living like that, they become worn down,” he said. “Their big issue is that they don’t know the length of time they will spend in the facility. Some of them could be there waiting for 10 years before their cases to be heard and that is not acceptable.” The cost of providing direct provision centres for asylum seekers in Ireland is drastically higher than in it in many of our EU neighbours. The Portuguese system costs just over € 1 million to run each year compared to € 55 million in Ireland. “While the Portuguese system is not perfect, the big difference between here [Ireland] and Portugal is that the most a person will be kept is a centre over there is six to 12 months, while in Ireland people are kept for anything up to ten years before their case is heard. “We need to get our act together on this issue. Million of Irish people have emigrated over the years, some were treated appallingly and other were treated very well. As a country with this history we need to do the right thing for the people who come into this country, especially asylum seekers. “If the system worked better and quicker it would certainly be cheaper. No one seems to be happy with the system. There is a better way of managing this situation and I think we have a duty of care to people which is not being met in this system.”

A LIMERICK man has received a 12-month prison sentence for his role in a spate of burglaries in Shannon earlier this year.

Joseph Mulcahy (21) broke into six homes in the Shannon area between January 11 and March 24 stealing items including cash and jewellery, while ransacking homes.

Mr Mulcahy pleaded guilty to burglaries at Tullyvarraga, Tullyglass Hill, Inis Sioda, Tullyglass Crescent and Dun na Óir, at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Mr Mulcahy, with an address at Riverview, Ballyhahill, Limerick, was visiting friends in Shannon when he and a group of others broke into and ransacked the houses.

Detective Garda Andrew Hayes of Shannon Garda Station told the court that in many instances the houses burgled belonged to elderly and retired people.

Jewellery valued at € 5800 was stolen from one house.

In another case, a retired couple re- turned home to find their savings of € 3200 had been stolen.

Mr Mulcahy told gardaí he was not involved in that theft.

The accused also pleaded guilty to two public order offences at Topaz petrol station, Shannon on September 20 (2012).

The man’s solicitor said his client, a father of one, was dependent on alcohol and drugs when the offences were committed.

He said Mr Mulcahy’s early plea obviated the need for a detailed forensic investigation into the spate of Shannon crime scenes.

Judge Patrick Durcan said he felt sorry for Mr Mulcahy, as his difficulties had affected his life.

He said he had sympathies for the victims who had their homes violated.

“I absolutely detest this type of carry on”, Judge Durcan added.

He imposed sentences totaling 12 months.

“The message must go out that anybody who breaks into a house will face lengthy sentences,” Judge Durcan said.

A NORTH Clare student, whose third-level education was put in jeopardy because of changes to the student grants system, received the Dean’s Award when she graduated from NUI Galway last week.

Ballyvaughan student, Medb McCarthy, was one of three students used by the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) to launch a judicial review into changes made in the qualification criteria for the Non-Adjacent Maintenance Grant last year.

The review, which has still to be ruled on by the Supreme Court, is based around an increase in the distance from a third-level institution that a student has to live before they are classified as “non-adjacent”.

It meant that even though Medb lived outside Ballyvaughan, with no realistic opportunity to commute to or from college in Galway, she was still considered an “adjacent” or local student when it came to her grants payments.

“It was very difficult in final year. I managed to find accommodation in Galway that wasn’t expensive but it certainly wasn’t easy getting by in that last year. If it wasn’t for my parents I would have been able to afford it. There is doubt about that,” she said.

“I didn’t work [outside of college] in my final year. I knew a lot of people who worked in their final year and it really effected their results and I didn’t want that to happen to me.”

Medb was awarded the the Dean’s Award, which goes to this highest achieving student in each course, jointly with Eric Brockie. The pair received the award in the subject of Information Technology, after they designed an educational children’s computer game based on Homer’s Odyssey.

“We wanted to make a game for kids. I have a niece and nephew who are three and six years old and I know that age group well. I also studied Classics and for that reason I decided to loosely base the game on the Odyssey,” continued Medb.

“Eric, who made the game with me, studied Spanish so we also made a Spanish language version of the game. It was a lot of work but great fun too.”

A WEST Clare farmer facing animal cruelty charges has been ordered to remove electric fences from his land and provide adequate feed to cattle after the Department of Agriculture expressed concern for the animals’ welfare.

Patrick Shannon (59) was ordered to comply with all directions of the Department of Agriculture after details of a recent inspection of his farm at Carnaculla, Kilrush were heard at Ennis District Court on Tuesday.

Supt Seamus Nolan of Kilrush Garda Station said while he did not want to prejudice the case against the accused, the court should hear from the Department as gardaí had ongoing concerns.

Veterinary Inspector Vincent Lambert told the court he found cattle confined behind electric fences on bare ground with no supplementary feed, when he visited the farm on Friday, October 18.

Mr Lambert said some cattle were on their knees trying to eat grass outside the fence.

The court heard in some cases the animals’ water trough was left outside the electric fence.

Mr Shannon, with an address at Carnaculla, Kilrush, has between 75 and 77 bovine dry and dairy stock, the court heard.

Mr Lambert said the Department had concerns for the animal’s welfare.

He requested Mr Shannon provide his stock with continuous access to food, water and shelter.

He said the Department was also seeking the removal of all electric fences from the land.

Solicitor for Mr Shannon, John Casey, said these terms were acceptable to his client.

Judge Patrick Durcan granted liberty to the Department of Agriculture liberty to inspect the farm at 24 hours notice.

“I want these fences removed today”, added Judge Durcan. Mr Shannon told the court he would remove the fences.

Judge Durcan told Supt Seamus Nolan the charges could be re-entered in any court on any day of the week, if the directions are not complied with.

Mr Shannon appeared in court charged with cruelly, ill-treating animals by failing to provide adequate feed, water and shelter to bovines on his lands and farmyard at Carnaculla, Kilrush on three dates – November 1 (2012); November 2 (2012) and December 11 (2012).

The alleged offences are contrary to the Protection of Animals Act as amended.

Judge Patrick Durcan said while he totally abhors cruelty to animals, Mr Shannon remains an innocent man.

The case was adjourned to November 12 to Kilrush District Court.

A BURREN based political artist staged a public art demonstration in Ennistymon last week which she hopes will help end the process of fluoridation of water in Ireland.

Doolin-based artist Marianne Slevin staged the public art event outside the Ennistymon Library, which involved arranging a number of leaves with messages on them concerning the process of water fluoridation.

The issue of fluoridation of Irish water has become contentions in recent months with a bill to end the practice due to come before Dáil Éireann later this year.

“It is certainly a political activity. I think art can be very transformative, and sometimes issues that can be difficult to talk about or can cause conflict are best approached from an artistic medium,” said Marianne.

“I think this is a way that people can hear about an issue and approach it in own way. People can come to the subject in their own way. I mean, I hate confrontation, I’d do anything to avoid confrontation, so this a way of talking about an issue without forcing my views on them.

“I had brought leaves with some writing on them with me, and after that I started to improvise. I set myself up outside the library and built a place to work there. When I was finished I just walked away and let people discover the leaves and the messages themselves.”

Marianne has also been interacting with people on the streets Ennis and Ennistymon in recent week asking people to pretend that they are asleep or hypnotized. Marianne’s husband, professional photographer James Slevin, then takes picture of the scene which will become part of a future exhibition.

“We talk about it [water fluoridation] if people are interested to talk about it, or we just take pictures with them if that is what they are comfortable with. Later we do hope to have an exhibition of this when it is finished,” continued Marianne.

Marianne and James operate the Secret Gallery in Doolin. The gallery, which is located in their own home, is open to members of the public who happen to find it.

DURING the Fine Gael selection convention for the Ennis Municipal Area at the Auburn Lodge Hotel, a councillor of almost three decades retired, leaving way on the ticket for the youngest local election candidate to date.

Five Fine Gael candidates in total were selected to contest the eightseater constituency in the 2014 Local Elections, with no decision yet if another candidate is to be added.

Former Deputy Mayor Cllr Sonny Scanlon announced his retirement from the council and withdrew his nomination at the convention, as three other sitting county council- lors were returned to contest the first ever election for the new look local authority.

Cllr Paul Murphy, Cllr Johnny Flynn, and Cllr Tony Mulqueen were nominated and selected, along with Ennis town councillor Mary Howard and newcomer to elected politics 23year-old Cillian Griffey.

The Michael Howard Ennis Branch of Fine Gael nominated Cllr Johnny Flynn, Cllr Tony Mulqueen and Cllr Mary Howard. Cllr Paul Murphy was nominated by the Clarecastle/Ballyea branch and election newcomer, Cillian Griffey was nominated by the Barefield and Quin Fine Gael Branches as well as the Clare Young Fine Gael branch.

There were no other nominations on the night. Fine Gael Party Headquarters had directed that five candidates would be selected for the Ennis area which meant no vote would have to take place and all five remaining nominees were selected to run in the new Ennis area.

The guest chairperson for the Ennis convention was Senator Hildegarde Naughton from Galway.

AN Ennis woman has been told she will be sent to jail if she makes any more enquiries about her ex-boyfriend.

Judge Patrick Durcan issued the warning to Siobhan Downes (34) at Ennis District Court on Wednesday.

Ms Downes, with an address at Childer’s Road, Ennis, is alleged to have breached the terms of her bail conditions.

The former air-hostess was granted bail earlier this month at Ennis District Court after being charged with breaching a protection order on October 3 by allegedly going to her former boyfriend’s home.

Last month, Ms Downes avoided a jail sentence after pleading guilty to six separate breaches of a protection order originally imposed by the court in February.

At the time, the court heard Ms Downes’ former partner secured the order after the breakdown of the couple’s relationship.

The court heard Ms Downes had been unable to get over her infatuation with her former boyfriend resulting in the successive breaches.

On Wednesday, Garda Margaret Leahy of Ennistymon Garda Station told the court it is alleged Ms Downes approached a woman at work on October 21.

It is alleged Ms Downes asked the woman if her daughter is still going out with the accused’s ex-boyfriend.

Garda Leahy told the court:

“She’s making enquiries about the injured party and who he is going out with and that would be a concern.”

Inspector Tom Kennedy told the court this represented a breach of the order.

“I find it nothing short of astonishing that we are here today discussing another alleged breach,” Inspector Kennedy said.

Defence solicitor Turlough Herbert said the enquiries did not represent a breach of his client’s bail terms.

Mr Herbert said Ms Downes has numerous appointments and it is critical she attends them.

Judge Durcan told Mr Herbert, “If your client wants her freedom today, I want a sworn undertaking.”

Ms Downes gave a sworn undertaking she would not make contact with the injured party and not make enquiries of him.

“If there is any breach of the word or spirit of the bail conditions, I will revoke that bail,” added Judge Durcan.

Judge Durcan also apologized to Ms Downes for a remark he made previously where he told her the courts are not a “crèche for middleaged people.”

He told the 34-year-old she does not fall into that age category.

Ms Downes was remanded on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on December 4

CILLIAN Griffey is the youngest candidate in the country so far nominated to contest the local elections.

The Fine Gael young gun will run for the first time ever in the Ennis Municipal Area alongside four more seasoned campaigners.

Putting his name forward to seek a place on the Fine Gael ticket did not come easy for the 23 year-old from Ballymaley.

“It wasn’t an easy decision to make but I am passionate about the party and about the community I want to represent,” he said.

“Recent events have shown us all that we need to fight for our nation’s future. I, like you all, am angered and sickened by the plight of unemployment and emigration. My single resolve is to contribute to the re-energising of the values and passion for public service that our party stands for.

“I joined the party in 2005 when I thought we needed a change. The Government was getting stale. I felt there were not enough young people in politics. By me doing this I hope to encourage more young people,” he told The Clare People .

From a farming family he was instrumental in setting up the Ennis Macra na Feirme branch, as well as extending the Young Fine Gael East Clare Branch to include the whole county.

The business support manager at HR Locker in Lahinch has no illusions about how difficult it will be to complete in an election as the new kid on the block.

“I am realistic. As I am not as well known I need a bit of a head start,” he said.

The Doora Barefield clubman is also secretary of the Ballyalla Lake Working Group and has volunteered with the Clarecare Homework Club.

LOCAL representatives are blaming companies in Shannon for causing the foul smell which has been present in the town for the last four weeks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which have been testing in Shannon for the last three weeks, briefed local representatives last Wednesday and concluded that the Shannon sewage treatment and local sewage system was the source of the odour. The sewage plant, which will cost in excess of € 20 million to upgrade, services local residences as well as a number of large businesses in the Shannon area. A number of local representatives, including Fine Gael councillor Sean McLoughlin, believe that the run off from some local businesses may be to blame. “The Shannon treatment plant is similar to treatment plants in towns of a similar size all around Ireland and they don’t have a problem like this smell,” he told The Clare People yesterday. “The EPA are saying that the treat ment plant is not up to scratch, but what a number of us are questioning is the different materials which are going into the treatment system. The people of Shannon produce as much waste as the people any where else in the country so you have to look at the common denominator, which is the industries in Shannon.” Cllr McLoughlin said that the smell has been like receiving as “punch in the nose” each morning. “The smell has been very bad in Shannon for the past four weeks but it has been an ongoing problem for a long time. People describe in in different ways but to me it is like a very intense sulfur smell. I walked out of my house one morning last week and it was like getting a punch in the nose,” he said. “It will cost a lot of money to upgrade the treatment plant but something has to be done. The people of Shannon cannot continue to live with this smell.” The Environmental Protection Agency were called into investigate the odour in early October. The agency have concluded that while the smell is of public annoyance, it does not at present poise any immediate threat to people’s well being.

OLDER Clare farmers are facing fresh banking difficulty this winter with the news that ACC Bank is to close all its branches and switch to online-only banking.

The bank, which lends primarily to farmers and small businesses, said in a statement that its agri-division will continue to be a regulated entity and will support its customers in the farming sector.

With the average age of a Clare farmer now 55, fears have been expressed that many of the county’s farmers may not be technologyminded enough to access their accounts and may be forced to transfer loans to other lenders and a higher interest rate.

While many Clare farmers look to have dodged a second successive winter fodder shortage following the longer than expected summer, many farmers could still find themselves in need to credit to purchase feed if we get a repeat of this year’s poor spring in 2014.

Clare ICMSA chairman Martin McMahon said the announcement will cause “huge difficulties” for older Clare farmers and will also increase rural isolation.

“This is another example of rural life being eroded away. A lot of Clare farmers, especially the older ones, just won’t be able to switch to online banking. When your age profile of farmers in Clare this is going to create a lot of difficulty,” said the O’Callaghan’s Mills farmer.

“It’s okay for the younger generation. But the older farmers will have no choice but to move their accounts if they can. If they have loans, their interests rates will certainly go up. Some farmers might not be able to transfer their loans to other banks and I’m not sure what they will do,” he said.

“Thankfully the worst of the fodder crisis may be behind us. But if we have another late summer next year then farmers will be looking for credit with banks to buy feed. Who knows how this change with ACC Bank will affect this,” the chairman added.