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THE issue of a 24-hour ambulance service for East Clare is to be raised in the Seanad this Vorb tee

The purpose-built, state-of-the art station in Scarriff was opened in 2003, but is open for only 19 hours a day.

Senator Timmy Dooley is to claim this evening that there is no justifiable reason why East Clare should be the only ambulance base in the Midwest region without 24-hour ambu- lance.

‘There has been a spate of accidents recent- ly in the area and many of them have taken place between 7pm and 12 midnights, a time when no staff were roster to operate the lo- cal fleet of two ambulances. Critically injured

people have had to lie on the roadside for an unacceptable length of time for ambulances to come from Limerick and Ennis while two ambulances lie idle a couple of hundred yards away, the senator said.

“This can not be allowed to continue as lives are being put at an unnecessary risk. It will only be a matter of time before a delay in the arrival of an ambulance will lead to the unnecessary loss of life. I will continue to put pressure on the Minister until the funding is put in place.”

According to figures contained in the Mid Western Health Board Ambulance Service Development Plan which was sent to the De- partment of Health just over 12 months ago, Scariff is the only purpose-built station in the Mid-West area.

IT has been a fruitful but confusing week for economic statistics. First we had the end-September Exchequer Re- turns. Then we had the Central Statis- tics Office (CSO) figures for the second quarter of this year, with conflicting figures from the Economic and Socials Research Institute (ESRI) hot on their heels.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday, October 4, by the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, an Exchequer deficit of €1,123m was recorded in the first three quarters of this year. This is substantially greater than the Excheq- uer deficit of €418m for the first three quarters of 2004, but well under the budgeted deficit of €2,988m for 2005 as a whole.

The Current Account Balance at the

end of September showed a surplus of €2,238m, not much different to the sur- plus of €2,348m for the same period last year. The budgeted surplus for the full year of 2005 is €4,092m.

The Capital Account Balance at the end of September showed a deficit of €3,361m compared to a deficit of €2,/66m for the same period last year.

The budgeted deficit for 2005 as a whole is €7,080m for 2005.

The CSO then released figures for the second quarter of this year showing that the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was 4.1 per cent up on the same quarter last year, at €37,784m. The Gross Na- tional Product (GNP), which excludes the earnings of foreign-owned compa- nies, grew at 3.1 per cent for the same eau lelee

Soon afterwards, the ESRI disagreed with these figures. It said that econom-

ic growth, as measured by real GDP, would grow by 5.7 percent this year and 5 per cent next year.

“Strong economic growth will contin- ues for the foreseeable future,” it said. It based this upbeat prediction partly on the large increase in employment shown by the latest Quarterly Household Sur- oe

SW ilommcaviseet-lKOeMMolciAWiocor mech iO best IKon me ls mainly down to different interpretations of what exactly is happening to produc- tivity.

The government explanation is that productivity has fallen owing to the loss of manufacturing jobs and their re- placement by less productive work. The ESRI, on the other hand, says that there has been a large increase in the numbers employed but that it sees no evidence of a downturn in productivity.

A CLARE group is currently looking for a warehouse to store thousands of Christmas presents donated to less well off children overseas.

The local Operation Christmas Child campaign is appealing for anyone with an unused warehouse to come forward.

Almost 6,000 children in Eastern Eu- rope and Mozambique received Christmas presents last year from Clare people of all none

Approximately 5,700 of the 273,143 Christmas shoeboxes sent from Ireland to developing countries as part of Operation Christmas Child came from the Banner County.

“We receive shoe boxes from créches up to youth clubs, schools and Regina House

Kilrush to Carrigoran,’ said June O’Neill, who assists in co-ordinating the operation locally.

Operation Christmas Child began in Wales in the early 1990s when people be- gan sending shoeboxes filled with gifts and toys to orphanages in Romania. Since then, the projects, which is run by the Samaritan Purse Charity, has gone from strength-to- strength.

The shoebox appeal reached Clare in 2001, when 1,000 people sent gifts to children liv- ing in poverty throughout the world.

By 2004, the number had multiplied al- most six times, as the people of Clare re- cycled good quality, almost-new toys and bought out discount stores so that children across the world could have a present at Steinke

This year, people have until November 10

to find a shoebox, cover it with Christmas paper and fill it with gifts for children living in impoverished conditions.

Ms O’Neill recommends that anyone who cannot decide which of the six age groups to choose for a gift, to choose boys in the ten to 14 category who are often forgotten.

Participants are also reminded to consult the Operation Christmas Child leaflet when packing, as some items such as toy guns and liquid products such as bubbles are banned from the boxes.

A charge of €3 is also required to cover the transportation of the boxes. People can then drop off their gifts at the AXA offices in Ennis or Moyasta National School.

People looking for a leaflet for their boxes or further information can contact June on O86 1981591 or Margaret 6843075 or check the website www.samaritanspurse.ie.

SIPTU, representing over 500 workers at Shannon Airport and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), are on a collision course over the future of Shannon. Last month, talks between SIPTU and the DAA’s Director for Change, John Horgan broke up after Mr Horgan produced a document proposing the exiting from ca- tering and the outsourcing of the majority of functions at Shannon.

SIPTU’s National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny has proposed the parties reconvene for fresh talks this Wednesday, October 12.

However, in a strongly-worded letter to Mr Horgan outlining SIPTU’s concerns, Mr Halpenny has con- firmed to Mr Horgan that the production of the docu- ment at the union-management meeting “is unaccept- able and indeed unhelpful to the process, insofar as it is premised on the exit of catering and the outsourc- ing of what appears to be the majority of functions in Shannon’.

He said, “The undue focus on an exit package — al- beit to be “negotiated” — detracts completely from what should be the focus, the future of Shannon and the place of our members therein. We have proposed discussions based on the following: no change without consultation and agreement with the Unions; nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and no compul-

sory redundancies.”

Mr Halpenny said that a SIPTU official would meet with a DAA representative in the two days prior to the meeting to examine the financial status and projections for the airport. He added that the meeting scheduled for October 12 would agree an agenda for discussions and agree a schedule of meetings going forward.

He warned, however, “In this context, it is important to repeat we cannot accept exit from catering or out- sourcing of functions as part of that agenda.”

Mr Halpenny suggested that the parties agree to Seek the services of a Facilitator to assist them, with- out prejudice to their rights to refer disputes in the nor- mal course to the LRC, Labour Court and third party NOLO NMOS EON

The talks are taking place with the DAA, as the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) has yet to become a legal entity because a business plan for the airport has yet to be approved by Government.

Shannon is on course for a record year in 2005 with the first nine months showing passengers numbers be- ing in excess of 2.5 million — an increase of 36% – while the lucrative US troop traffic has accounted for almost a quarter of a million passengers and estimated to have generated over €25 million for the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA).

Last year, the Airport’s loss was €2.5 million on a turnover of €95 million.

THE Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has put in place addi- tional safeguards in a bid to prevent a re-occurrence of pharmaceutical plant Schwarz Pharma polluting the Shannon area.

This follows the EPA issuing a draft license to the German-owned com- pany, imposing increased controls on the company to ensure that it does not breach its Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence.

The company was one of the first fa- cilities in Ireland to secure an IPC li- cense in 1996 and a significant breach of the licence caused a dank odour to spread across Shannon for a number

of months in 2002 and 2003, prompt- ing the EPA to demand a review of its IPC licence.

The company pleaded guilty to various breaches of its [PC license in the distrist court in 2003 and the li- cence review has now culminated in the Agency giving the green-light for a new license for the company, which has spent in excess of €6 million this year on increased environmental safe- guards at the plant, where bulk active pharmaceutical ingredients are pro- duced.

The EPA has ruled that the new li- cense shall have effect for four years, having regard to the nature of the works and arrangements necessary in connection with the installation

and upgrading of plant environmental abatement and protection infrastruc- ture and plant environmental proce- elt Kee

As part of the new license, the EPA has instructed Schwarz Pharma to employ an experienced installation manager who shall be responsible for the management of the wastewa- ter treatment plant and air emission abatement equipment. The EPA has also instructed the company to estab- lish and maintain a Public Awareness and Communications Programme to ensure that members of the public are informed about the environmental performance of the installation.

In its decision, the EPA refused none of the proposed activities sought by

Schwarz Pharma — which employs 176 people — in its application.

The interim Managing Director of Schwarz Pharma, Peter Brunk, this week said that the company was still studying the licence and would prefer to comment when that process was complete.

Shannon Town Mayor, Cllr Tony Mulcahy this week welcomed the tighter controls contained in the new 36-page licence. Cllr Mulcahy told

THE construction arm of controversial US multi- national, Halliburton is set to scoop the contract to construct the €370 million Shannon tunnel.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) has iden- tified the “Direct Route” consortium, including Kellogg Brown & Root Limited as “the most eco- nomically advantageous tender” to complete the project.

As the construction subsidiary of Halliburton, KBR employs 64,000 people in 43 countries around the world and it is part of the same “Direct Route” consortium that has won the contract to construct the N8 Rathcormac-Fermoy bypass.

The other companies involved in Direct Route in- clude the Austrian company, Strabag AG involved in the Ennis by-pass; John Sisk & Son (Holdings) Limited, Lagan Holdings Limited and Roadbridge Ltd. The Texas-based Halliburton conglomerate is the biggest private contractor for American forces in Iraq and has received contracts worth some elev- en billion dollars for its work there.

US vice-President, Dick Cheney was chief execu-

tive of Halliburton in the five years immediately prior to becoming Vice President and Mr Cheney earned €45 million during his tenure at the world’s largest oil-and-gas-services company.

One of the many contracts that Halliburton has se- cured from the US Government is the €37 million deal to build prison camps in Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay for suspected terrorists — the company has had more than 35 of its contractors killed while work- ing in Iraq.

The NRA is to now proceed with discussions with Direct Route with a view to appointing it as the Provisional Preferred Tenderer. If such discus- sions prove successful and Direct Route are ap- pointed Provisional Preferred Tender, that is likely to lead to an award of the Contract for the Project in Spring 2006 with work expected to start around the same time. As part of the deal, the Direct Route consortium stands to generate €456 million in tolls from the route over a 30-year period.

The Direct Route consortium is also one of four pre-qualifying consortia for the controversial M3 Motorway, which skirts and the Hull of Tara.

THE INCREASING number of Ryanair _ flights through Shannon has played a crucial role in the air- port breaking all-time passenger records for the first nine months of this year. Figures published by Shan- non airport show that passenger numbers are expected to top three million by the end of the year.

More people used the airport during the first nine months of this year (2.5 million), than did during the whole of last year (almost 2.4 million). The figures point to a 36 per cent increase in passengers flying into and out of Shannon, when compared with the same pe- riod last year.

The largest-growing market is the UK. More than 873,000 people have travelled on UK routes since the start of the year, an increase by 68 per cent on the 2004 figure. European services have carried 518,000 pas-

sengers, which is up 41 per cent on the corresponding period last year. There was also a slight increase in transatlantic traffic – two per cent – through Shannon during the first nine months of the year.

In addition to this growth, the figures show that more people are flying to the sun from Shannon. During the first nine months of the year, 132,440 passengers flew on holiday charters from Shannon, an increase of 14 per cent on the first nine months of last year.

Airport Director Martin Moroney said the increases across the board are positive. “Ryanair has contributed greatly to this. It has played a huge role and a big part of the growth is outbound traffic. People are coming to Shannon from all over the country, to fly to various destinations all over Europe and beyond,” he said.

“Shannon is seen as an airport for the country, not just the mid-west,’ he said, adding that the two per cent increase in transatlantic traffic was particularly

satisfactory, given the difficult tourist season. Shannon airport management are particularly satis-

fied with the new Shannon/Boston flight operated by

American Airlines, which commenced in May.

“We are pleased with this daily flight, which is prov- ing very popular. American Airlines is the world’s biggest airline and we hope to expand with them in the future,” said Mr Moroney. He stressed the importance of elements in the tourism sector promoting Shannon in overseas markets in the run-up to the winter. “With ongoing co-operation between ourselves, Shannon Development and other tourism agencies, I am con- fident that we can respond to that challenge and that west of Ireland tourism will be the major beneficiary of Shannon’s record-breaking traffic performance this year,’ he added.

CLARE County Council yesterday launched a ‘zero- tolerance’ policy against those engaged in anti-social behaviour across local authority estates in the county.

In the wake of the Council securing its third exclu- sion order against unruly tenants from a Council estate in recent times, the local authority unveiled its Strate- gies in Combating Anti-Social Behaviour at its Octo- ber meeting in Ennis on Monday.

Those found dealing drugs or engaging in violence will face the Council applying to the courts fora three- year exclusion order against the entire household.

The policy document states that “anonymous com- plaints will be recorded but not investigated by the Councils, unless a pattern is seen to be occurring”.

The chair of the Council’s Housing Special Policy

Committee (SPC), Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) told

THE CEO of Ennis Chamber of Commerce has expressed concern that the installation of CCTV is not likely to be put in place in the town until early 2007.

Rita McInerney says the Chamber was led to believe that it would be put in place by the end of next year, but the Jus- tice Minister Michael McDowell has now indi- cated that there will be a further delay.

“We keep _ getting promised and we would be disappointed if it was put back to 2007. This must be the fourth oc- casion it was put back,” said Ms McInerney.

She said the issue of CCTV is a high prior- ity on the Chamber’s

agenda.

“We see it aS a pre- ULE TOA (OMB OO CerKIIDKoMEEA Ke just want to be proac- tive. Let’s get the CCTV before we have a huge problem with crime. There is a slight prob- lem of public disorder. We need to stamp that out and CCTV 1s a huge CK ere MUNM NNR USteTROR

“Windows do get bro- ken, but this could es- calate to more serious types of crime, includ- ing burglary,’ said Ms McInerney.

The need for CCTV in the town was also raised at this month’s meeting of Ennis Town Council.

Councilor Tom Glynn (FF) stated that CCTV was urgently needed to serve aS a deterrent to anti-social behavior in the town.

“If there was more CCTV it would certain- ly help to bring these culprits to justice.” Cllr Glynn who is a teach- er in Ennis National School was speaking after a number of cars were found burned out in the car park adjoining the school.

Meanwhile the De- partment of Justice has confirmed that one En- nis community group has applied from the department’s new part- funded CCTV scheme in the coming year.

Community groups had to raise at least 15% of the funding while the remainder could be sought from public bod- loa

In total, 32 groups ap- plied for funding for the schemes nationwide.

THE ‘Taoiseach has this week LoysVebuenlo(eMmBn I MER, SUL ONOTcammOer-l Mmm als continuation of acute care at the Mid West Regional Hospital En- nis “remains a Government com- mitment”’.

His strongest indication to date that Ennis’s 24-hour accident and emergency service will remain Open came in a letter to the chair- man of the Ennis General Hos- pital Development Committee (EGHDC), Peadar McNamara.

A member of the EGHDC de- scribed the letter as “political soothing noises.”

The letter stated, “…. capital investment of €20 million indi- cates the Government commit- ment to keeping a fully function- ing Accident and Emergency Department in Ennis.

“It is not just in the capital side that we have made clear our commitment to Ennis A and E. Dedicated Emergency Care phy- sicians have also been employed providing round-the-clock med1i- cal cover to Ennis A& E. A & E Consultants sessions have been introduced from July 2005.

“Eight nursing staff have been upgraded to CNMI Level at En- nis and clerical staffing at the Ennis A & E Reception has also been extended.

‘There has also been structural reconfiguration of the A & E de- partment carried out to improve patient flow; this included a new reception area.

‘T would hope that our commit- ment to acute care is clear from our investment thus far, and the continuation of this acute care remains a Government commit- ment,’ Mr Ahern continued.

‘T would also take this opportu- nity to reiterate any commitment to continued planned investment in Ennis General Hospital’s serv- ices with a programme of new hospital facilities, new consultant posts and consultant led services, and new paramedic services.”

The PRO for the EGHDC said yesterday “we can have all the political soothing noises, but we have to hear that the para- graph (referring to A & E) in the Hanley Report will not be imple- mented.”

‘There are three people in this

trinity, the Minister for Health, the Taoiseach and _ Professor Drumm. We now want to get a meeting with Professor (Brendan) Drumm, CEO of the Health Serv- ice Executive,’ he said.

The spokesperson for the lobby group also expressed annoyance that a journalist had been leaked the letter, dated October 6, be- fore the intended recipient had received it.

He called into question the Government’s “way of doing business,” describing the leak as appalling.