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AER LINGUS has strongly urged its shareholders to spurn the Ryanair’s take-over offer for the airline.

In a statement to the Irish Stock Exchange less than 24 hours after the publication of the offer document by Ryanair, John Sharman, Chairman of Aer Lingus said the offer from Ryanair was “without merit”.

Workers at Aer Lingus Shannon – who are among the staff whose jobs are under threat should Ryanair take over the airline – are today anxiously awaiting the shareholders’ answer to the Ryanair offer.

The statement said that Aer Lingus would “formally respond in detail when it issues its response setting out the views of the participating directors on the offer within the next 14 days”.

But the offer may well run into trouble in trying to secure the shares held under the Aer Lingus Employee Share Option Scheme Trustee Ltd (ESOP), despite offering €2.80 per share when the shares were floated at €2.20.

Ryanair’s claim that the average payment to staff would be €60,000 is being challenged by Aer Lingus, who say that €31,000 would be a more realistic figure.

Meanwhile, ESOP said that it has asked its advisers to review Ryanair’s offer document.

The ESOP said it would make no further comment on the offer document until after it had time to consider the views of its advisers.

In its takeover offer yesterday, Ryanair said it was offering €500m to the Government for its shareholding and a total of €220m to members of the airline’s employee trust.

ORTHODONTIC consultants in private practice have been accused of “driving parents to use their service” by preventing delivery of adequate orthodontics through the public sector.

Speaking in the Seanad, Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley said for a number of years it had been “recognised that there has been an effort by consultants in private practice to drive parents to use their services.

“They are using a dominant position to prevent the delivery of the service through the public service,” he said.

“That is a pity, particularly with the pressures on parents of teenage children. It is right that the State should have a proper and coherent policy on orthodontics.

“We are aware of the difficulties young people have at that vulnerable age.

Their physical appearance is most important to them,” he added.

‘”Parents are obliged to pay large fees to private consultants.”

Last week The Clare People revealed that teenagers in Clare were waiting up to five years for essential orthodontist services; while those considered less serious were forced to go private or not have their teeth treated at all.

Almost a third of the teenage population of the county require orthodontic treatment.

The HSE Mid West Consultant Orthodontist Ted McNamara has left the responsibility for the backlog squarely at the door of the Department of Health and Children and what he describes as vested interests in the dental profession.

He said parents were often told that if their child was a less serious case they should consider going private as the wait in the public sector was now so long they might never be seen.

The startling figures released by the consultant may just be the tip of the iceberg.

Many parents feel pressured into an expensive move to the private sector, but the figures for those waiting for the public service is distorted as patients are removed from the public list once they decide to go private.

Mr McNamara last week addressed members of Clare County Council and called for the recommendations of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children 2005 to be implemented immediately.

Some of the recommendations included a return to the system used in the nineties, which saw dentists trained to assist the Orthodontists in routine check ups, therefore speeding up the process.

THE break down in the Ennis town water supply, which led to the discovery of ecoli and colifrom bacteria in tap water tests last week, could happen in any water supply and there are no guarantees it will not happen again.

That’s according to Ennis Town Engineer Tom Tiernan, who said that giving a guarantee that a similar problem would not happen again was like guaranteeing that the town would not flood.

“We cannot predict the future but we are confident we are moving in the right direction,” he said.

The €2 million interim temporary filtration system installed during the summer was turned off when power returned to the system after an outage in the Drumcliff area.

The council was forced to revert to the old system, which was the subject of ongoing boil notices when cryptosporidium was discovered in the supply.

Mr Tiernan said the interim system has been up and running for the past few months and running well.

“As with any new plant there are teething problems. It takes a while to fine tune any new plant. When it is put in place quickly it does not help.”

He said, “practically all of the problem had passed through the system when the notice was called.”

The water was further analysed and tested during the weekend and all results returned have been clear for any harmful bacteria.

“The boil notice remains in place however as protocol dictates that a number of consecutive clear analyses must be returned before it is removed.

The HSE and the two local authorities will work together to decide when it is safe to drink the water without boiling again.

Consumers of the Ennis Public Water Supply should also boil the water for drinks made with water (including Baby Feeds), food preparation, brushing of teeth and making ice.

They are advised that water filters should not be used as substitute for boiling.

EXTRA difficulties are being imposed on the public due to Clare County Council departments being dispersed around Ennis.

That’s according to North Clare Councillor Martin Lafferty (Ind), who has claimed it is now harder than ever to deal with the council.

Clare County Council currently has its offices and departments spread out at locations around Ennis, while work continues on a permanent home on New Road.

In requesting a progress report on the likely completion date, Cllr Lafferty (Ind) said the current situation made it very inconvenient for the public and public representatives alike, to work with the council departments.

“I understand that the new building will be completed on time, but I want to get across the inconvenience this is causing. Anyone trying to deal with the council is experiencing extreme difficulty on account of the heavy traffic flows around Ennis”

According to County Manager Alec Fleming, construction work on a new home for the council should be completed on time and on budget by November 2007 Mr Fleming also revealed that the council was spending €83,000 renting temporary accommodation and said the costs were in no way excessive.

“We have signed a contract for €83,000. Some of the buildings are on lease from Shannon Development and this is a very reasonable agreement. As for the new building, we are on target and expect work to be completed on time”

CLARE TD Síle de Valera is standing over a statement made last February that she would not vacate her junior ministry at the Department of Education until December.

The Minister of State, who last November announced she would retire from politics at the next election, will not say however on what date she will stand down.

Several young politicians are in line for her coveted position in the run up to a General Election, but the front runner is believed to be son of the late controversial Taoiseach Charles J Haughey – Sean Haughey.

Minister de Valera had promised to go by the year’s end after the Taoiseach declared at the beginning of 2006 that there was a tradition in Fianna Fail that TDs not standing in the next election passed on their ministerial position. Minister de Valera said the time of departure had been decided when she told the Taoiseach of her retirement.

She said she “had a job of work to do” and “intended on completing it”.

The Dáil is due to rise on December 15 and if the minister decides to resign in the latter part of the month, her replacement could not be formally appointed until the Dáil next sits on January 3.

Síle de Valera was first elected to the Dáil in 1977, and has represented the Clare constituency since 1987 She has already outlined her plans to write her memoirs and study for a PhD on her retirement.

A SHANNON man has been awarded €45,000 after it was found that he was unfairly dismissed from his job for allegedly falsifying an expenses claim.

Pat Clune of Cronin Gardens in Shannon took his case to the Employment Appeals Tribunal after being fired from his post of 25 years at SPS International Ltd in Shannon Industrial Estate.

The tribunal learned that Clune was given €400 by management to take visitors and some of his own colleagues out for a meal and drinks in December 2002. But after the meal, one of the visitors paid the bill.

After being presented with an expenses sheet to fill out, Clune documented having spent €300 on a meal and €150 on drinks. Management became aware that there was a rumour that Clune had not paid for the meal and Clune was called to a meeting.

Company witnesses told the tribunal that Clune did not “come clean” about the situation and later said that the group had gone to a lap dancing club for which he could not produce receipts.

He later repaid €140 to the company.

Clune said that he had not been asked before to fill out an expenses form, nor did he get an opportunity to refute the allegations.

The tribunal found in his favour on the grounds that the company did not carry out a full and detailed investigation and that the employers treated Clune differently after evidence from another employee that he did not have to complete a claim form after travelling on company business.

SHANNON-based charter airline Eirjet has confirmed it will continue to attempt to secure funding in an effort to save the cash-strapped company, after it voluntarily suspended all its flight operations last Wednesday.

It’s thought that the ailing company needs a cash injection of €5 million following the collapse of a €20 million leasing deal in Indonesia.

A rescue plan is due to be submitted to shareholders and directors this week.

Eirjet was issued with a 10-day “temporary licence” by the Commission for Aviation Regulation on Tuesday last amid fears that the airline would cease operations before the end of the month. Eirjet, however, cancelled all flights the following day.

A company spokesman said, “We have voluntarily suspended all flights so as to minimise inconvenience to the public. We are endeavouring to secure further financial support to try and save the company and remain in negotiations with the Commission for Aviation Regulation. We are in very difficult financial circumstances at the moment. We have ceased operations but we have not ceased trading.”

The Commission for Aviation Regulation issued a temporary air carrier licence to Eirjet that will expire on Friday October 27 next. But the commission was reluctant to give any details about the move and would only confirm that it had been notified by the airline that it was “not in a position to fulfil its current obligations to its tour operator clients.”

A spokesperson for one of the airlines customers, Falcon Holidays, confirmed, “Our summer season has come to an end and we only have one flight programme with Eirjet for the 06/07 winter holiday period and that is to our new destination Cape Verde. We are monitoring developments regarding Eirjet’s future plans. As far as our summer 2007 schedule, we are in negotiations with a number of airlines at the moment.”

Eirjet commenced operations in 2004 with an inaugural flight to Agadir using an Airbus A320 jet. Another two aircraft were added in summer 2005 to cater for flights from Cork and Shannon while the airline acquired a fourth jet in July of this year.

THE achievements of Clare’s all conquering handballers along with the career of the county’s best-known journalist are to be jointly celebrated by Clare County Council.

A civic reception is to be held in honor of Clare’s handballers, who swept all before them at the World Handball Championships in Edmonton, Canada, last August.

Tuamgraney duo Diarmuid Nash and Niall Malone captured the under 15 doubles title while Clarecastle man Declan Frawley and Fermoy’s Colm Jordan teamed up to win the Men’s A Doubles title.

Others who performed with distinction included Sara and Lisa Loughnane, Ann Marie Fitzgerald along with Fergal and Gerard Coughlan.Also to be honored on the night is former Clare Champion journalist, Tony Mulvey. Mr. Mulvey who recently retired from his post, spent 47 years as a reporter chronicling life Clare. The joint-reception is expected to take place on Monday, November 20.

Councillor Richard Nagle (FF) proposed that Mr Mulvey be honoured, at last week’s monthly meeting of Clare County Council. He said Mr Mulvey along with photographer Michael John Glynne, documented countless events of local importance. Seconding the motion, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) praised work he called a great source of history.

DOONBEG Golf Club confirmed yesterday that it had secured €41 million through the sales of luxury suites at the ‘Lodge’, its €150 million golf resort at Doonbeg.

Accounts for the venture returned to the Companies Office show that in 2005, the club recorded a loss of €1.2 million, with a spokesman ascribing the loss “to the development and preparation costs associated with entered 32 sales contracts totaling the pending opening of the five star €27.6 million for these properties. lodging, golf, and hospitality faciliThe remaining 15 suites totaling ties”. €13.4 million were sold during the

The accounts also show that the early part of 2006. US investors behind the project have injected €48 million into the golf by next month,” he said. resort, while there were 270 people employed at the golf club over the mained at about the same levels as summer months in 2006. 2004, but with the opening of the

A spokesman said yesterday, “DurLodge, the spokesman said, “golf ing 2005, The Lodge at Doonbeg rounds have dramatically increased

“Almost all sales will have closed Last year, golf rounds for 2005 reTHE west Clare peninsula is in danger of losing its only remaining post office, with the people of Carrigaholt accusing An Post of using underhand means to close down the service vital to the small village and rural community.

An Post maintains however that it wants to keep the service in the small village and is hoping someone will apply for the contract. It said it is offering the same terms as other offices by 40 per cent for the current year to over 20,000 rounds”.

With green fees pitched at €185 during week days and €195 at weekends, the golf club has accumulated €3.7 million in green fees last year.

The spokesman said, “Club membership sales continue to be strong with 2005 being 39 per cent ahead of the sales levels achieved in 2004. That trend has continued in 2006 with membership sales levels beare working under – that the salary is directly related to the volume of business.

“We want to have an office there but it is dependent on someone coming forward to run it as a singular business or as part of a retail business,” a spokesperson said.

But, local people believe they are loosing their post office by stealth. Concerned parish priest Fr Patrick Culligan said that no one could be expected to work a six-day week for the sum offered. He said the person ing another 44 per cent ahead of the 2005 levels.

“There are now 430 Irish and international members. Approximately 40 per cent of members are Irish.

“Doonbeg Golf Course has now moved from number 58 in Golf World rankings in 2005 to number 47.

“Making this a banner year, the course was voted the IGTOA (Irish Golf Tour Operators Association) Golf Course of the Year in 2005.” would have to provide a premises if they were to take on the job.

Fr Culligan said that the loss of the post office dimished the social and business life of the village and affected tourists and visitors to the famous Irish College, Coláiste Uí Chomhraidhe.

General Election Candidate, Cllr Madeleine Taylor Quinn (FG) said, “Older people should not be forced to travel long distances to do their banking, not to speak of pensions and social assistance payments. Local businesses will be adversely affected.”

For almost seven months the people of Carrigaholt and the peninsula have been without the services of the local post office. Postmistress Mary Ginnane retired last July following an illness. She had hoped the position in the automated office would be filled. Four other post offices have already closed on the peninsula – Kilbaha, Cross, Doonaha and Querrin. The nearest post office is now in Kilkee, over 10 km away.

This Sunday RTÉ’s new regional and community affairs programme, Pobal will feature the plight in Carrigaholt at 5.25pm.

KINVARA received a timely boost last week when the village was awarded the second largest grant ever made available by the state for the provision of childcare services.

Last Friday’s announcement by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform of almost €1.5 million in funding for the Kinvara Community Childcare Committee to provide a new community crèche comes on the back of years of fundraising work in the locality.

“We are absolutely delighted with the announcement,” said a spokesperson for the Kinvara Community Childcare Committee.

“It has taken two and a half years of hard work to bring this about. Given the developments at Seamount it is a timely boost for the village. It will be of great benefit to the town.”

The Childcare Committee has already secured planning permission for the community crèche, which is to be located beside the Community Centre.

The crèche will cater for children between the ages of 0 and 12 and the committee believes that there could be as many as 40 children attending the centre within the first year.

The committee have also been allocated funding to provide an after-school children’s club for Kinvara.

The news was welcomed by general election candidate Ciaran Cannon (PD).

“The people of Kinvara could be forgiven for thinking that they had been forgotten about. Just this week, the only solution offered by the Minister for Education to the Seamount crisis was to farm the students off to other schools,” said Cannon.