This article is from page 4 of the 2006-05-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
CLIFFS of Moher trader Gerry Cahill has hit out at the Director of Services at Clare County Council, Gerard Dollard, for refusing to meet with traders and buskers about the ongoing situation at the cliffs.
Mr Cahill, who is a spokesperson for their group, told The Clare People that despite a number of attempts to arrange a meeting with Mr Dollard, they received no response.
“The man will never talk to me unless he has to go on the radio,” said Mr Cahill, who is one of the 19 buskers and traders who were served with notices by the council last Thursday.
“I absolutely believe that the way to sort out anything like this is to sit down and talk about it. Every human being should have that right at least, but we have never been given it.”
The Limerick-based trader hand delivered a letter to the offices of Clare County Council, in which he outlined the problems for the buskers and traders at the Cliffs and requested a meeting, but received no response.
“I even made sure that the letter was signed for at the council, but I received no response, never mind a meeting of any kind,” continued Mr Cahill. “There are problems with some of the traders and buskers at the cliffs and that is why we want regulation. We want the highest standard to be set.”
Mr Cahill has also spoken out about what he describes as the “misperception” that the traders and buskers are not willing to accept regulation from Clare County Council.
“We have no problem whatsoever with regulation and standards being set for the quality of produce,” said Mr Cahill.
“Every area of business has to be regulated, but the way to do it is not to go to court and push everyone out.”