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A PRELIMINARY report of the cir- cumstances surrounding a_ helicopter crash last month in south Galway, which claimed the lives of two businessmen, has revealed that the aircraft’s “speed reduced significantly” prior to the col- lision, in the Slieve Aughty Mountains near Gort.

Data from the aircraft radar at Shan- non confirmed that the helicopter main- tained its track while passing over the mountains near Derrybrien at 10.45am on Saturday, July 9. However, according to the initial report of the Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport, the helicopter’s speed re- duced significantly, after “the final ra- dar returns showed a sharp turn to the right and the signal then disappeared.”

Two Galway businessman, publican Mark Reilly and Damien Bergin who was involved in the construction indus- try, died in hospital following the crash. A third man was seriously injured. The three were returning to the helicopter’s base near Galway Airport, having spent the night in New Ross, Co Wexford.

The investigation has also established

that shortly before the accident, pilot Damien Bergin was in radio commu- nication with another helicopter at Gal- way airport. According to the AAIU, the call was routine in nature, but was the last known communication from the helicopter.

It has also been confirmed that Dam- ien Bergin used a mobile phone to raise the alarm as he lay fatally injured in the wreckage. Two Galway-based helicop- ters flew to the scene following the call, as did the Shannon-based Irish Coast- guard chopper and ground-based emer- gency services. The casualties were located and evacuated to hospital about one hour after the accident, the report SP HKG

A preliminary examination of the helicopter wreckage showed no evi- dence of pre-impact failure, although there were several reports received by the investigation team indicating poor visibility and low cloud in the area at the time of the accident.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit probe into the crash is continuing and the unit has yet to publish a full report.

JOE Duffy’s public phone lines were hopping last week with disgruntled citizens calling to register their disgust.

The parent conglomerate of NCT Service (NCTS) Ltd, the company which runs the Na- tional Car Test (NCT) service in the Republic, had just publicised it’s profits for the fiscal year, and the sums mentioned upset the right-think- ing members of Irish society.

They were complaining of course, because the company was returning exorbitant profits, because they regarded the test as fussy, and be- cause they were suspicious about the degree of fortune, which seemed to be required to pass the test.

Many even made the direct assumption that the entire service amounted to a scam whereby the company could extract hard cash from an unsuspecting Irish public by failing vehicles for trivialities.

No one mentioned that the cost of the Irish NCT is the second lowest in Europe, when compared to similar national testing schemes across the continent.

But aren’t these gestures a little late?

Only last May, members of the public on a national basis, were given the opportunity to suggest changes to the National Car Test (NCT) at a series of road shows held in Dublin, Sligo, Galway, Cork, Kilkenny and Longford.

Six public consultation meetings took place, and the general public were asked to give their views on the NCT and suggest how the service could be improved.

It’s strange that complaints now seem so prevalent, because the consultation process,

well publicised by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the Department of Transport, only at- tracted 250 public attendees in total. Bizarre.

If the general public were harbouring such fervent views on the matter, why didn’t they then make their feelings known? Instead they choose to air their lop-sided views on the mat- ter to anyone who will listen three months Eire

As with everything people fear that which they don’t understand. These people aren’t concerned about pesky EU directives, or about jalopy’s held together with bailing twine cruis- ing around.

A famous anecdote among NCT testers is the one about the woman who arrived at her test centre with her certificate of registration, con- firmation letter and car keys, but no car. Then there was the man from the border area who demanded that the vehicle inspector reimburse him for the petrol used by the testers driving his car from one end of the centre to the oth- er. There was another innocent who believed that a little divine intervention might help. A man in Cavan suggested that a church could be erected beside the test centre so that customers could go in and say a prayer for their car while Weloava eI Kole

Typical.

If mandatory car testing had not been made compulsory by EU directive, it would argu- ably never have been introduced here at all. As it was, we were the last EU member state to introduce it, even though it was desperately required since between 1990 and 2000 the vol- ume of cars on our roads increased by 60%.

The NCT was introduced five years ago when new EU legislation made such car testing com-

pulsory in member states.

Testing is carried out at 43 centres across the country under a ten-year contract awarded by the government to afore mentioned company.

AA Ireland independently monitor these test centres and while they suggest that some as- pects of the test could be improved, they re- gard the system as considerably better than the British MOT. According to AA Ireland, if you maintain your car reasonably well, it should sail through the test.

And so once again for anyone who wasn’t lis- tening five years ago.

The testing of privately owned vehicles be- gan in the Republic on January 4, 2000.

It was introduced to improve road safety, en- vironmental protection and to comply with the EU Directive 96/96/EC, which makes car test- ing compulsory in all EU member states.

The test fee is €49.00 and a re-test costs €27.50 (both fees are inclusive of VAT).

There are 57 elements to each test, which endeavour to assess the roadworthiness of ve- hicles and identify any defects, such as faulty brakes, unbalanced wheels and thread worn tyres. Detected defects must be repaired and the vehicle must pass a re-test before the car owner will be issued with an NCT Certificate.

Advantages?

The NCT is conducted on any given vehicle every 2 years and this regular evaluation will result in more frequent car servicing, which will provide better fuel economy, reduce over- all repair costs, increase reliability, and lower the risk of breakdowns.

The NCT will ensure that second hand cars are roadworthy. As with all eligible cars for testing, second hand cars will have to display

an NCT disc as proof that they have passed their NCT. This should improve overall indus- try standards and enhance air quality by reduc- ing emissions.

National car testing is likely to reduce the number of road accidents, which may as a con- sequence result in potentially lower insurance premiums.

GAMA Construction Ltd this week received a double boost in its plans to progress the €190 million Ennis bypass, by securing planning per- mission for two quarries to serve the project.

Clare County Council granted planning to the Turkish company, in spite of Department of the Environ- ment concerns over the impact that one of the quarries might have on ie uom Oye 1 ic

The quarry at Knockanean is lo- cated between two bat roosts, includ- ing the ‘secret’ €100,000 bat-house on the route.

However, a bat survey carried out

by Inis Environmental Services did not detect the presence of the pro- tected Lesser Horseshoe Bat in the area.

The planner ruling on the case, found that the impact of the quarry on bats was not considered signifi- cant if all the mitigation measures were put in place.

The Council ruled that in relation to the nature and scale of the propos- al and the intended use of the lands, the proposal would not seriously in- jure the amenities of the area.

There are 27 houses within 500 metres of the proposed quarry. Lo- cal man, PJ Williams lodged an ob- jection against the proposal. He told the council, “I operate a stud-farm

close-by and I will hold the Council responsible for any damage, injury to

animals or loss, if planning permis- sion 1s granted.

The Department of the Environ- ment claims the cumulative impact of the three quarries currently before the council will impact on the local environment.

However, in the case of the Knock- anean proposal, the council’s plan- ner concluded, “it is considered that as the proposal is for a temporary quarrying activity required to facili- tate the completion of a major infra- structural project for the county and for the wider western corridor, it 1s broadly acceptable in principle.”

A spokesman for GAMA Construc- tion Ireland Ltd said would proceed taking all of the planning conditions

made by Clare County Council into account.

Howard Williams, senior consult- ant with Inis Environmental Serv- ices said, “the strict planning con- ditions that have been imposed will ensure that this development will be managed in an environmentally friendly way.

‘However it is felt that to impose a €56,024 fee for use of public infra- structure and facilities benefiting the development is excessive as no pub- lic roads or any other infrastructure will be used.”

A council decision on the third quarry 1s expected later this month.

AN Bord Pleanala this week ended any prospect of a new McDonalds outlet opening in Ennis in 2005, when it post- poned a decision on a new 85-seater driv-thru restaurant until October next.

The appeals board was due to make a decision on sepa- rate appeals by Green party councillors, Brian Meaney and Donal O’Bearra on Mon- Ch Ws

However, the appeals board has now adjourned any deci- sion until October 12.

The board postponing the decision coincided with Cllr Meaney denying that his op- position to the McDonalds proposal was fuelled by pub- licity-seeking.

Cllr Meaney denied the charge, as it emerged that plans were recently lodged with Ennis Town Council in the Lifford area of Ennis for

a fast-food outlet, but on this occasion, Cllr Meaney did not object to the proposal.

Cllr Meaney said, “I was acting in the public interest in appealing the McDonald’s decision to An Bord Pleanala and it would be marvellous if other public representatives were as pro-active as myself.

“My opposition to the pro- posal stems from McDonalds targeting children in_ their marketing campaigns and the applicant of this other Ennis outlet I’m sure would not have engaged in that type of strat- a Ae

In the application by Don- nacha Keane to convert the former Quality Meats into a fast-food outlet, the Council refused planning.

It stated that due to the close proximity of the premises to nearby houses, the proposed development would result in a material increase in problems of noise and nuisance and

general disturbance for neigh- bouring residents, particularly Lm ESA OL

Last year, the McDonalds’ proposal sparked a national

debate on the impact of fast food on diets, after the Mid- Western Health Board’s Health Promotion Department objected because of concerns

about children’s health.

The Department demanded that McDonalds carry out an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) into possible health impacts on the local population before the applica- tion could be further consid- eee

However, the Health Board soon distanced itself from this objection with the then chief executive, Stiofan de Burca declaring that the objection was a personal statement by the community dieticians fesse ileee

A planning report released by the Town Council earlier this year confirmed that an EIS was not requested.

Cllr Meaney’s appeal con- centrates on the health as- pects of the proposal, while Cllr O’Bearra is concerned with the proposal allegedly breaching the provisions of the Ennis and Environs De- velopment Plan.

HAVING already cele- loye-1 Kore Mec Merey et elecersCeyeMmyaine| the man that captured Sadam Hussein, there was further excitement this week when it was discovered that the pilot of the Discovery Shuttle is of West Clare origin.

Space hero Eileen Col- lins 1s proud of her Irish heritage. The 49-year- old’s grandmother Marie Reidy emigrated from West Clare and settled in a railroad town of Elmira decades ago.

She later married a man named Collins from Cork.

Two generations in 1956 Eileen was born.

Although Eileen was 19 years of age before she was even on a plane, she became the American Air Force’s first female test pilot.

“Eileen Collins is sim- ply the best commander we have,” Nasa senior as- tronaut told Good Morn- ing America.

On ‘Tuesday last she proved her extraordinary ability when she safely guided the spacecraft STS 114, better known as Discovery, to Earth.

Although travelling at 18 times the speed of light, this mother of two

does not believe what she does is dangerous.

““T think it is much safer than what my Irish ances- tors did, travelling across the Athlantic Ocean in a leaky old ship,” she told an Irish American maga- zine.

During her time in the military she earned the rank of lieutenant colonel and several services med- als, but always dreamt of joining the space pro- eramme.

Finally, after 12 years in the army, Nasa invited Eileen to be its first fe- male pilot in 1990.

The rest 1s Space his- Ke) ars

that he was calling for the extra gardai, drafted in from Ennis over the past fort- night, to be maintained permanently in

the west Clare town.

“We still have the extra resources and I will be looking for those resources in the long-term in the Kilrush area,” he said.

However West Clare-based Senator Brendan Daly believes there are suf- ficient resources available in Kilrush and said those responsible for attacking the young women must be charged as a matter of urgency.

“The general belief is that there is sufficient evidence that would enable

charges to be brought against the peo- ple involved in the incident . The time for talking is over and action must be taken. Gardai must allay the fears of the public and press charges. They must take action very soon before it turns into a situation where lives will be lost. There is no place for anarchy in Kil- ruth

Another prominent member of the local community, who did not wish to be named, compared Kilrush to ‘Little Belfast’ and said a group of youths were continuing to intimidate people to pre- vent them making statements against Weloseee

The Garda Representative Associa- tion (GRA) in Clare has called for an additional ten gardai to be deployed to Kilrush permanently and will raise the issue at the GRA Executive meeting next month.

“Obviously there are not enough re- sources in Kilrush. Gardai have been temporarily transferred there, but the trouble starts when they are not left there. Gardai are badly needed in Kil- rush, but we need what we have in En- nis,’ said GRA spokesman Tom Keane.