Author: admin

in one hour & eliminate the addiction to smok- ing forever! Call now for free in- formation pack 061-409575

available for hard work. Everyday Labourer, Painter, Gardener or Farm worker. Contact 086-0889847

IRONING SERVICE

IRONING SERVICE

ensuite to let. Quiet country surroundings, Ruan area. Suitable to all amenities, non-smoker. Tel 087-6852678

OVER 5,500 drivers in Clare have acquired penalty points since the points system was in- troduced three years ago, the vast majority of which have been for speeding.

Out of penalty points issued to 5,677 Clare motorists, 5,140 were for speeding; 478 were for drivers not wearing seatbelts; 24 were issued as a result of chil- dren in front seats of cars not wearing seatbelts; and 34 were for children in back seats not

wearing seatbelts.

There were no points issued to drivers with addresses in Clare for careless driving, or driving without insurance.

The head of the Clare traffic corps, Inspector Kevin Moyni- han, said that despite repeated warnings, drivers were continu- ing to speed. “People are still speeding and the number of fines imposed for speeding are certainly on a par with last year. There have been well over 400 fines for non-wearing of seatbelts so far this year,’ said Inspector

Moynihan. Figures obtained by

SHANNON-BASED pharmaceutical firm, Schwarz Pharma incurred a loss of over €6 million in its most recent accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office.

The loss arose from €11 million the company spent on financing a restructuring programme, which in- volved the redundancy of 70 staff in a programme launched two years ago.

The accounts for 2003 show that the company had an operating profit of just under €5 million on a turnover of €36 million. This was marginally up on the €4.63 million figure for 2002. However, profit was wiped out with the restructuring costs totalling €11.207 million.

The loss of €6 million was the first loss that Schwarz Pharma made in a number of years, during which the company accumulated profits of €33 million.

However, when accounts for 2004/5 are published, the profits are expected to be hit by the company in- vesting €6 million in new technology aimed at im- proving the company’s environmental performance.

The spend follows the company shutting down its production processes for six weeks earlier this year,

in response to local concerns over air emissions from the plant. The company is now compliant with its Inte- erated Pollution Control (IPC) licence.

The accounts also show that the company’s intan- gible assets are valued at €157 million at the end of 2003 — a massive increase of €84 million on the 2002 figure. Tangible assets stood at €35 million in 2003.

In an attached note, it’s stated that milestone pay- ments were made on the achievement of certain results involving research and development.

The company is in the process of a €70 million in- vestment at its plant over the next five years. The com- pany’s Director of Environment and Health and Safety, Dermot Hanrahan recently said that clinical trials in relation to new drugs “are going very well”.

It is upgrading its treatment plant and spending over €10 million on new equipment and the upgrading of existing equipment for new products.

Shannon owns the intellectual property and, corre- spondingly, the distribution rights for some of the new products and is currently preparing for the launch of these products. The first new product launched will be for the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease and is sched- uled for the end of 2005.

THE maritime town of Kilrush will delve back into its history this Sun- day, when the Western Yacht Club rerun a race first staged in the 1800s. In 1827, members of the then new yacht club decided to hold an all- encompassing __ regatta over a week on the Shan- non Estuary. The regatta started over a weekend at Kilrush and finished the following weekend in Limerick, with races held each day at the various ports on the Estuary. One of the major events at the time, was the long distance race known as the Glin Castle Race. It

started and finished at the castle. Usually, most of the Yachts would com- plete the course in some 12 to 14 hours.

This Saturday, the Western Yacht Club will re-run this “race”, with all its tidal challenges. Racing will follow the ISA Racing Rules, with first gun at 11.00 am Due to the time constraints of modern life, the course will be adjusted accord- ingly to suit wind, tide and yacht classes, so that yachts will finish at Glin Castle sometime around 4.30 pm. Staying with tradition, the presenta- tion will be at the castle that evening.

RESIDENTS of Inch _ have pledged to fight any attempt by telecommunications firm 02 to get planning permission for the construction of a phone mast in the area.

At a meeting of a newly formed campaign committee, local people expressed their staunch opposition to any pro- posed development. Residents also accused 02 of deliberately

advertising planning permis- sion on July 27, at the start of the Bank Holiday weekend and are concerned at the proposed sites proximity to the local pri- mary school.

“This campaign has all the hallmarks of a calculated at- tempt to minimize the likeli- hood of local people finding out about the proposed tower,” said Andrea Martin, committee secretary.

‘No one knows for sure what

the long term effects of expo- sure to non-ionizing radiation (NIR) will be. If mobile phones and base stations were pharma- ceutical drugs, they wouldn’t be licensed for use because not enough research has been car- ried out’, she said.

The community hopes that by raising awareness of the development, they will receive support from residents of sur- rounding communities.

“We’re committed to fighting

this the whole way if necessary, for the sake of our children, our families and our local environ- ment”, said Committee chair- man, John Devany.

A spokesperson for 02 stated ‘“‘we have tried to plan to locate in the best possible area in order to meet the demands of our cus- tomers and the concerns of local residents. The issue of safety is taken very seriously by 02 and we comply with all Irish, EU and Industry regulations”

A DUTCH tourist, Hen- drik Borduin, had a nar- row escape on Saturday night, when a large boul- der was thrown through the tent he was sleeping in, narrowly missing his head.

The boulder struck the tent’s central pole, which smashed and landed on Mr Borduin along with the heavy rock. He re- ceived injuries to his right leg and required medical

Pace elaleyee

Mr Borduin had been travelling through the Burren on bicycle and set up camp in Corofin late on Saturday evening. He was woken from his sleep at approximately mid- night by loud shouting from outside his tent.

“IT heard load voices and a young man sSay- ing ‘there is a bike over here’,’ he said. “There was 30 seconds of silence and then the boulder

crashed through the tent. I was luck that I had faced the tent the way I did, if it had hit my head I prob- ably would have died.”

“My experience in Ireland has been very positive up to this and the people in the B&B were very helpful. I don’t think this would put me off coming back to Ire- land but I will be nervous when I have to sleep in the tent again.”

The attack was reported to Gort Garda station.