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FORMER leader of the Green party and the newest member of the De- partment of Agriculture, Trevor Sar- gent, this week made his first official statement since entering government by urging consumers to look at or- ganic foods.

Speaking at the launch of Bord Bia’s “Think Organic” summer cam- paign, the newly appointed Minister for Food and Horticulture at the De- partment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, reminded consumers that everyone benefits from buying pro- duce in season.

“The benefits to the consumer and

the Irish producer are obvious, but there is also a much wider effect in terms of worldwide sustainabil- ity and reducing unnecessary food miles which are a significant factor in climate change,” he said.

“Consumers have an important role also in supporting organic produc- tion. When shopping it is important to buy in season organic food but also to check that produce has a label from one of the three registered Irish organic certification bodies as well as a producer licence number, Irish organic farmers operate to the high- est standard.”

The campaign, which runs un- til July 15, aims to continue rais-

ing consumer awareness of organic food, how to recognise it when shop- ping and where to buy it. Market- ing activities during the campaign will include outdoor advertising and consumer information leaflets with tips and recipes as well as informa- tion about local farmers market, box scheme deliveries and farm shops.

“The development of the organic sector 1S a priority in the new Pro- eramme for Government,” continued Sargent.

“A key objective is to grow the amount of certified organic produc- tion in Ireland from less than 1 per cent to 5 per cent of overall agricul- tural output. As 75 per cent of organ-

ic food consumed here is imported much of this growth will also mean many opportunities for import sub- stitution.”

Minister Sargent also confirmed that National Organic Week will be held this year from Monday, October PIR KOW Ze

“The success of the National Or- ganic Week depends upon the full involvement at local and regional level of as many organic producers and processors as possible,’ he con- tinued. “I’m calling on all organic producers and processors to play their part this year to make the very most of it.”

FARM safety took centre stage this week with a number of organisation launching awareness campaigns aim- ing at preventing tragedies on Irish farms over the summer months.

Despite the weather, summer work on farms across the county has been continuing into late in the evening with farmers anxious to take advan- tage of any break in the weather.

Last week the IFA and the Road Safety Authority got together to launch a joint road safety strategy aimed at ensuring the safety of farm- MASP IMCLENN OTN oe

All road users were warned to ex- pect an increase in the number of agricultural vehicles using the roads

over the next few months and the IFA and RSA have called for increased vigilance for all.

‘I am advising farmers to be safety conscious whenever bringing a farm vehicle onto the public road,” said IFA President, Padraig Walshe

‘Farmers should be aware of traf- fic building up behind them and keep left where possible to allow other vehicles pass safely. I would appeal to other road users to show patience when encountering farm machinery on the road. With understanding on both sides, the roads can be safer for everybody’, he added.

Road users are being advised to watch out for tractors, trailers and other farm machinery exiting from fields and farm yards and to exercise

caution when travelling behind or meeting such vehicles on the public road.

Drivers of agricultural vehicles are also being reminded that they are governed by road traffic laws on driver licensing, insurance, standards in relation to vehicle roadworthiness, vehicle lighting and motor tax.

“Your driving mirror must provide an adequate view of the road to the rear.

“Do not carry a passenger unless the tractor is equipped to carry one and the trailer should not be used for transporting people unless it has pro- vision for carrying them,” said Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority.

“All agricultural vehicles must have proper working brakes on both trac-

tor and trailer units and must be fit- ted with lights, reflectors and indica- tors. In addition a vehicle should not be loaded in such a way that would make it unstable on the road, and beware of low bridges, overhanging trees, overhead cables and uneven road surfaces which could cause the load to shift and possibly overturn.”

Meanwhile, an internationally re- nowned expert on accident preven- tion will speak at the forthcoming National Seminar on Occupational Safety and Health in Agriculture.

Dr Juha Suutarinen of Agrifood Research, Finland will outline the key findings of a major study in Fin- land on the relationships between farm management and causes of farm accidents.

“THERE 1s no doubt that the Hanley proposals are alive and well and that the people of Clare are its first vic- anon

Those were the words of Clare Deputy Pat Breen (FG) in the Dail on Wednesday after news broke that there would no longer be a mammog- raphy service in the county.

“IT am reliably informed that unit was fully installed and ready to be recommissioned. The problem with the service is simply that there was no consultant radiologist employed at the hospital who was willing to

interpret and report on the mammo- grams, he said

“Prior to the refurbishment, this work was carried out by the HSE in Limerick Regional Hospital, but the service was discontinued. Why was the HSE not up-front with the peo- ple of Clare before the election?” he AIS .Cor6 B

“The HSE said this decision would cause inconvenience for the women of Clare but that those in north Clare could avail of services in Galway rather than make the long journey to Limerick. Did the HSE give any consideration to the women of west Clare, who will have to travel up to

100 miles to avail of the new serv- ice?” he asked.

Clare minister for state Tony Kil- leen (FF) said he was prepared to argue the case for retention of such services at acute hospitals rather than centralising services.

“Tam concerned about the loss of breast screening services at Ennis General Hospital and the impact it will have on the level of service be- ing received by Clare patients.

‘Any evidence I have seen, on the one hand, saying the centralisation of services is best is more than coun- tered by alternate evidence suggest- ing that the provision of local serv-

ices 1s best.

“IT am not entirely convinced that this decision will benefit the people of Clare in the long term”, added Minister Killeen.

Fianna Fail TD Timmy Dooley said that the HSE needed to clearly set out how it planned to manage the trans- fer to Galway and Limerick of some 400 women each year.

“It’s now time the HSE set out clearly the measures it intends to take to upgrade procedures in Limerick and Galway, particularly in light of a recent failure in Limerick to diag- nose a previous screened patient with breast cancer.”

THE General Secretary of the Psy- chiatric Nurses’ Association (PNA) staunchly defended the standards and staff at Cappahard Lodge during the heated radio debate last Friday.

Des Kavanagh said: “We are talk- ing here about a unit that the health service 1s particularly proud of.”

He added that PNA nurses wel- comed any investigation “as an op- portunity to prove to all and sundry that the care we provide is of the op- timum”’.

He also criticised Ms Flanagan’s

decision to go public with her com- plaint before the investigation was finished.

“We have felt for a long time that we are caught in the middle of an in- ter-family row… what Ms Flanagan is doing is trying to use information and rumour to create an impression of Cappahard that is totally inappro- wrANKon

It is unfair to people who have family members there because it puts concerns in their minds that their relatives are under stress or duress or threat and there 1s nothing further from the truth.”

THE HSE ordered an external inde- pendent review into the treatment of patients at Cappahard Lodge, Ennis last May following concerns raised by a number of parties including Sree

A separate Garda investigation is also under way following complaints made by family members of Kilrush man Gerard Finn relating to his treat- ment and care at the home.

The 69-year-old, who died last month, was admitted to the home in December 2005 with Alzheimer’s

and angina.

During an “extended period of time” some of his family members made a number of complaints to the HSE regarding his care at Cappahard Lodge.

The complaints were investigated by the Clinical Director and Direc- tor of Nursing, Clare Mental Health Services under the HSE Trust in Care policy document which is designed to deal with allegations of abuse.

The first part of this investigation process began on September 5 last year and concluded on January 8 last. The complainants were informed of

the findings.

This “screening process” found that no abusive actions had taken place and that “nursing and medical care provided for Mr. Finn was ap- propriate”.

The HSE said that as a result no further investigation was warranted:

“These findings were communicat- ed to the family members together with the appeal procedures and con- tact details of the appeals officer. The appeal process was not availed of by family members,’ the HSE said in a lengthy statement.

Following the Trust in Care inves-

tigation the HSE continued to re- ceive complaints from some family members, however, in relation to Mr. Finn’s ongoing treatment and care.

An external review was then com- missioned prior to Mr Finn’s death in June.

‘Those members of Mr Finn’s fam- ily wishing to make submissions to the review team will be contacted and will be invited to do so,” said a HSE spokesperson.

The HSE said it would also be co- operating fully with the Garda inves- tigation.

Cappahard Lodge on the Tulla Road

is a community residence providing long term care for clients of Clare Mental Health Services. The home is inspected by the Mental Health Commission on an annual basis.

The review will be chaired by Dr Donald Lyons, Mental Welfare Com- mission of Scotland and will involve an examination of “Processes and Protocols relating to both the clini- cal and administrative management of the unit’.

Relatives and other stakeholders are to be contacted and asked to make TU leyseb hwy Oy ele

A NEW International Tour of Ireland Cycle Race was officially launched on Friday by Mayor of Ennis, Tom- my Brennan, at a reception held in the Town Hall.

The race, which passes through Ennis on Friday 24th August, will complete stage 3 of the route at Sta- tion Road near the Old Ground Ho- tel. Stage 3 will also bring cyclists through Kilaloe, Tuamgraney and Moymore.

Approx 112 riders will compete in this five-day nationwide event, tak- ing place from 22nd -26th August. The 864 km race begins in Kilkenny

and will pass through areas of Cork, Kerry and Clare before moving on through Galway.

The event will also bring the cy- clists through many other parts of the South, West and Midland Ireland before, on the 26th August, the vic- torious winner will arrive at Dublin’s Merrion Square.

The event, promoted by The Events Group in association with Shade Tree Sports and substantially funded by Failte Ireland as a means of show- ing the countryside of Ireland as a world class sport and tourism venue, will be covered live on television in a number of countries and will feature some of the top teams and riders in

the world. The race has been ranked 2.1 on the European Tour by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), the world governing body for cycling.

Top European teams have already signed up to enter the inaugural tour including David O’Loughlin and Ci- aran Power (both Navigators Insur- ance), and the successful Irish based Murphy and Gunn team. Invitations have also been extended to other Irish professionals who are part of successful professional teams in Eu- rope and in the USA including Philip Duignam and Nicolas Roche (Crédit Agricole), David McCann (Coalvita) and current Irish road race champi- on, Paul Griffin (Giant Asia).

TWO. separate developments op- posed by local residents in Doolin have been refused planning permis- sion.

Clare County Council refused plan- ning permission to Finbarr Tierney to develop six permanent homes. The planning authority also expressed “serious concerns” in relation to a proposed hotel extension in Doolin.

In their opposition against the planned 20 bedroom extension to the existing Tir Gan Ean Hotel, which also includes four new holiday homes, local residents stated that ad- ditional holiday homes in the village would result in a “dead” settlement for much of the year.

The objection also claimed that “there 1s no need for more holiday homes or for more long term rental properties in Doolin at present. There are already 65 holiday homes built or in the process of being built.”

‘Further development is premature in the absence of public sewage sys- tem… acting on the precautionary principle, the development is prema- ture. We have no objection in princi- ple to the hotel extension when the public sewage system is installed,” it added.

In putting the proposal on hold,

the council stated: “The planning authority has serious concerns with regard to the design and height of the proposed development and its proxi- mate location to the adjacent build- ings to the south-west. Please submit revised plans.”

Separately, the council refused planning for six permanent homes at Coogyulla in Doolin, which was also opposed by local residents who claimed that the proposal was premature in the absence of public sewerage facilities. Residents also argued that there is an over-supply of holiday homes in the area.

The proposal was refused on a number of grounds including con- cerns “with regard to the high water table and the poor percolation prop- erties of the soil on this site, it 1s con- sidered that the proposed develop- ment site would be unsuitable for the disposal of domestic effluent.

“Having regard to the suburban design and layout of the proposed dwelling units, it is considered that the proposal would be out of charac- ter with the existing pattern of devel- opment in the vicinity and of future occupants.’

The council also ruled that the “proposed development would set an undesirable precedent for other such developments in the area”.

THE knee was heavily bandaged, but it didn’t cost Gerry Quinn a thought as he took on the role of sideline mo- tivator as this game went down to the wire.

Sligo’s Eamon O’ Hara did the same in the Connacht football final the fol- lowing day – kicking every ball after injury forced him from the fray.

Quinn pucked every ball, just like he had when he was out on the field. It was the Corofin/Clarecastle game all over again. That day Quinn was immense at centre-back — he was the same on this day as Clare finally drew a line under the controversies that have dogged their years so far.

That was the gospel according to the vice-captain after the game as he reflected on a new dawn for the team. “After everything that’s happened this year, that win out there was a great boost for ourselves. That vic- tory has put all the past and what’s happened behind us, it’s onwards and upwards.

“We have our fan base again, peo- ple are back behind us and I think beating Galway in the park couldn’t have been much sweeter for us.

“We didn’t perform against Cork in the Munster championship and we knew that there was a lot more in us. Today proved that we have a good team and we’re still in the champion- ship. That’s for sure.

“Going into the game we knew we had nothing to fear from Galway. There’s nothing there that we hadn’t seen before. There’s nothing new We uer

“Overall we knew we were every bit as good as them. The goals came at the right time for us, especially Gilly’s goal.

“We’re aiming high. There’s no reason not to. We are among the top three or four teams in the country. Who knows where we can go from here. We still have a lot of work to do, but it was much better from us. Now we have to finish the job on Sat- urday and beat Laois.”

Quinn aims to be there, wounded knee or not.

A NEW survey by BT Ireland sug- gests that many Clare men and wom- en are living secret online lives visit- ing websites, but hiding it from their family and partners.

The survey of browsing habits claims that 10 per cent of Irish men and 7 per cent of Irish women hide the websites which they visit from their loved ones.

The survey revealed that seven per

cent of men hid the fact that they were viewing pornographic material online from their partners while only two per cent of women admitted to secretly visited adult websites. How- ever, two per cent of women admit- ted to buying clothes and other goods online without the knowledge of their partners. The survey was carried out

by BT Ireland during May. ‘This research has thrown up some really interesting findings,” said

Emer Kennedy, spokesperson for BT

Ireland. “While men and women are spending more and more time online and seem to share a lot of the same interests, they are also very different in terms of the amount of time spent on the internet, the sites they use and the things they buy.

“While the internet has clearly im- proved the quality of life of all those who use it regularly, it is interesting to see males and females developing different habits, many of which will be familiar to the growing number of

regular internet users in Ireland.” Almost 30 per cent of females ad- mitted to using networking sites such as Bebo and Myspace, twice the percentage of males using similar websites. Also 17 per cent of males and 13 per cent of females claimed to be secretly ashamed of things they had done on the internet with online gambling being one of the main rea- sons. According to the survey more than 80 per cent of Irish adults use the internet at least twice a week. It

also claims that 56 per cent of people use the internet every day, with a fur- ther 30 per cent of males and 26 per cent females using the internet every second day or twice weekly.

The research was carried out among a sample of 200 men and women over the age of 18. More than 44 per cent of those surveyed were between 18 and 24 years, 22 per cent were aged between 25 and 34 years, 18 per cent between 35 and 44 and the remainder were 45 years old and over.

TONY CONSIDINE was drinking furiously from a small plastic bottle that contained one of those pro-biot- ic potions. Danone Actimel it was — strawberry or blackberry in flavour.

Thing is, the lifelong and devoted non-drinker could have been forgiv- en if this particular potion contained a thimble or two of Bushmills’ finest whiskey. Some malt even.

All because this hurling game was thirsty and stressful work and with each pro-biotic swig Considine was restoring some normal service and colour to his cheeks. His words be- trayed this — his team had just en- dured a rocky ride before securing the win.

“Relieved,” he says in the Case- ment Park corridor outside Clare’s dressing room. “They’re the words. Relieved, because we were on a hid- ing to nothing coming up here. To win was great. They put it up to us for a very long time.

“You can see that Antrim are no bad team. They’re well able to hurl and I was a happy man when Gilly buried that ball. It was looking dicey there for a while. I only relaxed when Gilly put that ball away.

“We said at half-time that there was going to be a period in the second half when we were going to have to really battle. They came at us and we showed a bit of character. It was the most important game I’ve had since being manager of Clare. It looked scary at times but 3-21 isn’t a bad score, no matter who you’re playing,” adds Considine.

Another swig of his pro-biotic po- tion, before Considine nods in the direction of Galway in Cusack Park. “The win colours up everything,” he says “and we know we still have a lot to do because we’re up against a good team next week.”

Then back to Antrim: “A win was important here, going home with the two points. If it was two points to one, we’d have been happy enough.

You could say that we were in trouble but they held on.

‘“Boc (Brian O’Connell) was tre- mendous at midfield and took the game to them all through. Diarmuid McMahon got great scores. It’s lead- ership we wanted and they showed leadership. There were leaders all over the field. Gerry Quinn, Conor Plunkett and Brendan Bugler who gave a great display.

“It was also an apprenticeship for the lads that came in. Those lads are going to be involved with Clare when I’m long gone. That’s what the game is about. It’s not about managers and coaches — it’s about fellas coming on, young players coming on and fight- ing for the cause of the jersey.”

They’ fight on their backs on Sat- urday next. They’ll have to when two Eee Te MOF E aoe miele. qmsi ments game of the weekend.