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A 30-YEAR-OLD man was arrested in connection with an arson attack on a house near Kilkee in the early hours of Sunday.

A vacant house at Lisdeen, Kilkee, was set alight at around 2am. Substantial damage was caused to the interior of the house, causing damage worth several thousand euro.

A man from west Clare was arrested a short time later. He was detained at Kilrush Garda Station, before being released without charge. A file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

There was no-one in the house at the time. One unit of Kilkee fire brigade attended the scene. It took firefighters almost two hours to quench the blaze.

Gardaí say they are not looking for anyone else in relation to the incident.

“The house was completely destroyed by smoke inside and we are satisfied it was set on fire maliciously,” said a Garda spokesperson.

“The man we arrested is from the area and is known to gardaí,” added the spokesperson.

Gardaí believe that diesel was used to light the premises.

Separately, gardaí are investigating a fire that caused extensive damage to a forest in Lissycasey on Sunday.

The fire broke out at lunchtime and raged for several hours, before being brought under control at around 8pm. Four units of the fire brigade and a water tanker fought the blaze throughout the evening.

Gardaí are appealing for members of the public who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area on Sunday to contact them.

THE construction arm of controversial US conglomerate, Halliburton, has withdrawn from plans to construct the €375m Shannon tunnel.

Kellogg Brown & Root Limited (KBR) was part of the “Direct Route” consortium that was identified as having “the most economically advantageous tender” to complete the public-private partnership (PPP) project last year.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday identified “Direct Route” as the “preferred tenderer” for the project.

Construction work on the scheme – which will involve the construction of a €100 million 900-metre tunnel under the River Shannon – is due to start later this year.

In the toll scheme adopted by the NRA for the project, car drivers are to be charged €1.60 to access the tunnel. Truck-drivers will have to pay €5.46.

This is the biggest infrastructural scheme being undertaken by the NRA outside Dublin.

KBR employs 64,000 people in 43 countries around the world and as part of the Direct Route consortium would have received a portion of the estimated €456 million that would be generated in tolls from the tunnel over the first 30 years of its operation.

The other companies involved in the “Direct Route” consortium include the Austrian company, Strabag AG; 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 $18 billion dollars for its work there.

US Vice-President, Dick Cheney was chief executive of Halliburton in the five years immediately prior to taking office. He earned €45 million during his tenure at the world’s largest oil-and-gasservices company.

One of the many contracts that Halliburton has secured from the US Government is the €37 million deal to build prison camps in Cuba’s Guantánamo Bay for suspected terrorists. The company has had more than 35 of its contractors killed while working in Iraq.

Irish firm Roughan and O’Donovan has replaced KBR in the tunnel consortium. Construction is expected to take four years.

“He has gone through the normal

process. The decision was one of the GARDA Pat Keating, who was last Assistant Commissioner,” he said. month acquitted of threatening his Keating, a father-of-one, had deformer girlfriend, has been reinstatnied, during the Circuit Court trial, ed to his duties at Shannon Garda threatening his ex-girlfriend over the station. phone.

Eavan Drysdale told the jury she The 33-year-old, who hails from

felt her life was in danger due to a west Clare, went on trial at Ennis

threat from him. She said he told her Circuit Court, accused of threaten-

on the phone on August 18, 2004 ing mother-of-two Eavan Drysdale,

that she was the next Geraldine Kisover the phone, in August 2004. He

sane – a woman who was shot dead had been suspended from the force

by her ex-boyfriend in Shannon in since the allegations were made.

2001, before he then turned the gun The decision to reinstate him was

on himself. made last week by the Assistant Garda Commissioner in charge of Ms Drysdale said Garda Keating personnel, Catherine Clancy. It is had also phoned her to say: “I’m understood he will return to his dugoing down and you’re going down ties at Shannon Garda station tomorwith me.” row (Wednesday) evening, where he However Garda Keating said the has been based for most of his 10 allegations were “lies” and shattered years in the force. his career and his life.

A source close to Keating told The “She made a promise, going back Clare People that he was “delighted to day one that she was going to deto be returning to Shannon Garda stroy me. Regardless of what hapstation, having been under suspenpens here in court today or any day, sion for the past 19 months.” my career is in ruins.

His colleagues in the Garda Rep “My life is in ruins. She has been resentative Association (GRA) had successful,” he told the court in evicalled for his return to the force, in dence. the wake of the trial. They said it was Arising out of a separate incident, his right, given that he was acquitted Keating will appear before Ennis of the charge before the court. District Court next month, accused

Clare Chief Superintendent Liam of a public order offence in Shannon, Quinn confirmed to The Clare Peoin March 2004. That is a less serious ple this week that Garda Keating charge than that which he faced in had been reinstated. the Circuit Court.

THE Irish Concrete Federation (ICF) has secured High Court judicial review proceedings against Clare County Council’s contentious Development Contribution Scheme.

As a result, a freeze has been imposed on any development charges that the council has imposed on quarry operators who have secured planning permission since the High Court granted the judicial review.

Last month, the council ordered that Whelan Limestone Quarries Ltd pay €239,000, as a result of securing a large-scale extension to its Fountain operation.

The payment is now frozen, though a final decision has yet to be made on the application as all parties have appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

The chief executive of the ICF, John Maguire, confirmed that the Federation had secured High Court judicial review proceedings.

It is the second challenge to planning related issues against Clare County Council in the space of 12 months. Last year, the Whelan Group was successful in a High Court action to have Cahercon pier de-listed on the Clare County Development Plan.

It is understood that the basis for the ICF action is not charges, but the lack of consultation carried out by Clare County Council in establishing the charges.

The ICF is also taking action against Louth County Council on similar grounds.

Grounding affidavits have been lodged with the High Court and the case is expected to come before the High Court before the Summer.

The ICF is expected to tell the High Court that it wasn’t consulted at all by the council on the charges being set. The practice with other local authorities was to provide for a six week consultation period after setting the charges for each sector.

Mr Maguire said that the charges set by Clare County Council in relation to quarries were higher than average, pointing out that a small number of local authorities set no charges against quarries.

The council’s Director for Planning, Bernadette Kinsella, told The Clare People that she could “confirm that the ICF have initiated High Court judicial review proceedings in relation to our Development Contribution Scheme.”

She declined further comment.

CAHERCALLA Community Hospital and Hospice has secured planning permission for a €2.3 million upgrade of its hospital in Ennis.

If funding could be secured, it would mean 10 extra hospice beds and 10 nursing home beds at the 10year-old facility.

The hospital will now look to the statutory agencies including the Health Service Executive (HSE) to help fund the expansion of the services provided at Cahercalla, according to the Chairman of the Directors of the hospital, Fr Harry Bohan.

“Cahercalla provides an invaluable service to the community and we would like the State to look at ways it can help us to fund the new hospice,” said Fr Bohan.

“The population is growing at a huge rate and unfortunately terminal illness has taken some grip in the community. We are all the time looking at ways to expand the facility.

He said that he expected work to commence on the project during the year.

Fr Bohan added that Cahercalla was very unique in that it provided three different services under the one roof: nursing home, day surgery unit and a seven bed hospice.

He said that the ground floor of the new unit would be totally dedicated to hospice care and would consist of 10 large private ensuite bedrooms, a medical room, with a medical Jacuzzi bath where the patient could receive treatment, a sitting room and sleeping facilities for relatives who wanted to be near their relative, a number of rooms for patient activities such as music, reading, painting etc., and a conservatory overlooking the gardens.

Profits at the community-owned hospital dropped dramatically last year in the face of rising costs.

According to accounts recently returned to the Companies Office, Cahercalla recorded a profit of €50,147 last year, in contrast to the €200,533 profit achieved in 2003.

However, the facility’s financial position has dramatically improved in recent years with its accumulated debt being reduced from €888,391 in 2002 to the 2004 figure of €536,630. Cahercalla has a capital reserve of €2.539 million and total appeal fund contributions of €2.125 million.

This has left a positive balance sheet balance of €4.127 million. The accounts show that the hospital’s net income was marginally down from €1.056 million to €1.051 million last year.

IT is totally unacceptable that Clare County Council is proposing to increase development contributions on the builders of one-off homes in the county.

That is the view of the chair of the Council’s Special Policy Committee (SPC), Councillor Richard Nagle (FF).

He said that it already cost €10,000 alone for individuals to lodge planning applications arising from architecture fees and environmental specialists.

Cllr Nagle made his comment in response to a council document which stated that the development contributions to the council must be reviewed due to the increasing demand for projects such as road improvements, footpaths and lighting.

Currently, the council charges €3,570 per house in rural areas in the county and €4,330 per home in urban areas.

In the document circulated by the council, the Planning Authority is proposing a range of charges for houses with various square metres, rather than calculation by square metre over 200 square metres.

The council is also seeking to increase the rates for commercial and industrial developments “as the amount sought for funding of projects that road improvements, footpaths and public lighting are creating a greater demand than the present level of charge will provide.”

Cllr Nagle said, “It is totally unacceptable that charges on one-off homes would be further increased as those home-owners don’t have the benefit of footpaths or lighting.”

Cllr Nagle also said that the document including the proposed revisions should be circulated to all councillors to allow a debate to take place in the full council on the issue.

UNIONS at Shannon Airport and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) management are to meet for talks at the Labour Court this week over the Authority’s €30 million “survival plan” for the airport.

The DAA’s Director for Change, John Horgan confirmed to The Clare People that the two sides were to meet at the Labour Court next Friday.

“I would not expect the talks to last more than one day and the Labour Court would be expected to issue its recommendation in a number of weeks, so I’m hopeful that the workers at Shannon will be able to vote on the deal sometime in April,” said Mr Horgan.

All Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) workers are to benefit in the deal. Those workers who opt not to take voluntary redundancy and remain with the company are to also receive “substantial payments” from the DAA.

“I believe that the majority of workers will vote in favour of the deal. It is a very attractive offer,” said Mr Horgan.

“This has been the most frustrating industrial relations issue that I have ever been involved in.

“The unions know and we know that most of the workers will vote in favour of the deal and we have had many employees come to us directly to say that they are in favour of the package,” he said.

In a recent letter to union members, SIPTU’s National Industrial secretary, Mick Halpenny criticised the company’s plans to outsource.

“We have already advised the company that we will not be party to such an Irish Ferries type fiasco, and our steadfast opposition to the company’s outsourcing/displacement programme should come as no surprise to anyone and we offer no apologies for that.”

AN Ennis electrical services installation company has reached the latest international standard for quality management and quality assurance systems. Managing Director of RSEL, Ray Staunton and his team at the Clonroadmore Business Park have been presented with the ISO9001:2000 Quality Management System Certificate by Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen.

“To reach this quality standard was tough – and at times even gruelling – but really worth it,” said Staunton.

“We are very proud here at RSEL as the award is indicative of the commitment and professionalism of the dedicated team that made it possible. At a practical level, it puts RSEL at the forefront of the electrical services industry and I am confident that it will tip the balance in our favour for future installation contracts,” he added.

Presenting the award Minister Killeen said, “ISO 9000 certification is rapidly becoming a must for any company as it is a harmonised European and international standard which opens up the international market through the identification of a quality registered company.”

Ray Staunton Electrical Ltd was established in 1991 and currently employs over 140 people throughout Munster and Connaught. Their head office is located at Clonroadmore Business Park in Ennis with another office at Dominick St in Galway.

Many of RSEL’s employees work in skilled positions ranging from commercial, financial, marketing and contract management, electrical services installation and apprenticeship.

Although the company’s primary geographic areas of operation are in Munster and Connaught, they have recently completed and are currently contracted to carry out a number of projects in Leinster.

RSEL has completed a range of electrical installation projects in education, health, office and residential sectors as well as in the hotel and leisure, industrial and retail areas. They also have completed contracts for the public sector.

ENNIS-BASED real estate agency Paddy Browne and Co, with the help of award-winning local web design specialists magico.ie, today went live with a new website and online property promotion system.

The new system provides much more than just a modern, professional website. Behind the calm and clear façade seen by clients and the public lies a comprehensive estate agent solution – MagiREAL ESTATE – built around an internal property database. The system allows staff to; • upload properties onto the website at the click of a button. • automatically inform potential customers of new properties via email. • produce property brochures simply and quickly. • update the website content immediately and easily – reducing time spent on website administration. • view how well the site is doing via in-built visitor statistics.

The project took 11 weeks from start to finish. Liam Browne, partner and negotiator, explained the reasons behind the IT investment.

“Our objective is to drive the business forward – to increase the number of properties on our books and raise the volume of enquiries coming in from potential buyers. We are also hoping to reduce the time involved in the day-to-day business operations by automating some of the tasks we are handling manually.

“We didn’t feel the existing website really sold us, or our clients’ properties. We were unhappy with the overall look and feel and felt it could be far easier to use. We wanted our site to reflect much more obviously our links with the Real Estate Alliance, and we were also finding it costly and laborious to keep the site updated on a regular basis.

“The new website conveys the quality of the service we offer and the professionalism of our team. Its design and ease of use is crucial – we want to encourage visitors to spend more time on the site looking at properties and to make as much information available online as possible, improving the experience of our customers,” he said.

Paul Montwill, Managing Director of magico.ie, said, “The MagiREAL ESTATE system was born out of the frustrations we ourselves felt with the whole property searching experience when we moved to Clare in 1999. Paddy Browne and Co is the latest in a string of real estate agents using the solution and I’m delighted it’s proving such a success. Hopefully anyone looking to move to Clare will find the process that little bit easier now.”

Staff at Paddy Browne and Co Real Estate Alliance are delighted with the outcome. Frank Cullinan, Valuer/Negotiator and the project manager for the implementation, said, “The website itself looks much cleaner and more professional than our previous site. It’s far easier to use for our customers, who can now interact with us 24/7 rather than having to wait until the office is open. And for us, it’s much less time consuming to keep updated – as soon as each property is ready to be marketed we can get information on that property onto the website for viewing, rather than having to wait for the information to be printed and sent out.”

For further information on the work of Paddy Browne & Co. Real Estate Alliance please visit www. pbrowneauctioneers.ie or call Frank Cullinan or Liam Browne on 065 6841755. For information on magico. ie, please visit www.magico.ie.

A TOURISM promotional hat-trick has been scored for the Shannon Region last week as three major US radio station broadcast live from Limerick City.

The initiative was organised for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week by Tourism Ireland’s US team, Delta Air Lines, Fáilte Ireland, and Shannon Development, and thanks to it almost 20 million US radio listeners had the opportunity to hear about the Shannon Region and Ireland.

“We are delighted to be playing our part in this innovative campaign which gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the Shannon Region as a premier international tourism destination. This initiative complements our overseas marketing programme for 2006 and we will be working hard to ensure that a strong tourism message is delivered during the broadcasts,” says John King, Heritage and Tourism Director, Shannon Development.

The visit to Limerick City was coordinated by Shannon Development and the three US radio crews broadcast their regular shows from the Clarion Hotel in Limerick City over three days.