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GARDAÍ are investigating the theft of two kayaks from the seaside resort of Lahinch.

The kayaks were stolen from a trailer that was parked in the layby on the Miltown Malbay Road between 4am and 1pm last Sunday. One is described as red in colour with ‘Diesel 65’ written on it, while the other is green in colour with the word ‘Allstar’ inscribed.

A car that was parked outside The Honk bar in Newmarket-on-Fergus was stolen between 11.30pm and midnight on Saturday. The 08 registered Open Zafira was parked outside the premises when it was taken.

A car parked at Cluainin, Shannon, was vandalised overnight on Saturday when car windows were smashed.

Gardaí in west Clare are investigating the theft of bags of timber blocks from a yard of a house on Moore Street, Kilrush, at around 2.40am last Wednesday. The thief was disturbed and fled the scene. Loose blocks were found in a field adjoining the house.

Gardaí in east Clare are appealing for information after a new mains fencer was stolen from a pumphouse on lands at Kilnoe, Bodyke, between 10am last Tuesday and 12 noon on Saturday.

A quad bike was the target in Kilmaley between teatime on Thursday and teatime on Friday. The red and black bike was stolen from a shed in a wood at Letteragh.

The number plates from a Blue Ford Mondeo car were stolen from outside a house on the Tulla Road in Ennis in the early hours of Thursday. The incident occurred at around 2.30am.

In Ballina, a pub was broken into after thieves forced open a side door between 5.30am and 6am yesterday (Monday) morning. A small amount of money was taken in the break-in.

A house in Lifford, Ennis, was broken into between 7am and 9.50am last Tuesday. The culprits broke through the back door and ransacked the house, taking an assortment of jewellery, a digital camera, US dollars in $50 and $20 denominations.

Anyone with information on any of the crimes is asked to contact their local garda station or Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100.

SHANNON Airport would not be viable entity if its split from the Dublin Airport Authority, given its independence and forced to compete openly with Dublin and Cork for business.

This warning has been handed down by Fianna Fáil transport spokesperson Timmy Dooley in his submission to Booz and Company, which is set to deliver a report to government on the airport’s future by the end of the year. In the submission, secured by The Clare People this week, Deputy Dooley says it would be “unwise to consider changes to the ownership and management of the airport without having regard for the depressed state of the world economy”. Instead, Fianna Fáil, whose State Airport Act of 2004 sought to establish Dublin, Cork and Shannon as three separate competing state airports, has proposed the establishment of a new state company to have overall responsibility for the three airports.

“This company would operate as an umbrella structure similar to the CIE model and would ensure that a fair and competitive environment existed in which the three state airports could survive,” says Deputy Dooley.

“This company would be a state owned company with shares vested under the control of the Minister for Transport. A board of directors would be appointed by the Minister to give effect to such a mandate.

“Fianna Fáil suggests that separate trading entities be established at each individual airport and a clear memorandum of understanding be established between the Irish Airport Authority and the individual airport entities at Dublin, Cork and Shannon.

“Each individual trading company would be responsible for the management of the airport facility at the respective locations. Each company would have a separate board appointed by the minister and the shares vested under the control of the Minister for Transport.

“The mandate of these entities would focus on the necessity to provide vital connectivity to support and promote passenger access and cargo facilities to the respective regions having regard to long-term sustainability of the individual airports.

“It is recognised that a significant land bank asset exists at all three airports and it should be the responsibility of the respective trading companies to formulate plans for their development in consultation with local and regional State agencies and authorities,” Deputy Dooley’s submission adds.

SHANNON Airport will not be privatised by way of a radical plan for the State to enter into a lease arrangement with local business interests for a period of between 15 and 35 years.

That’s the message that has been delivered by Clare’s four members of Dáil Éireann this week ahead of this Thursday’s deadline for submissions to the team of consultants hired by the Government to engage with stakeholders in Shannon ahead of a New Year announcement on the airport’s future. The Clare People can reveal that none of the TDs have come out and supported the controversial privatisation plan, which was part of the submission made by Shannon Airport Authority chairman, Brian O’Connell, to Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar in August.

The privatisation plan was rubbished by deputies Timmy Dooley (FF) and Michael Michael McNamara (Lab) as early as last September, and now Fine Gael TDs, Pat Breen and Joe Carey have followed suit and railed against the move that would see Shannon taken out of State hands for the first time in its 75-year history.

Instead, all four TDs are now back ing a move to make Shannon inde- pendent of Dublin Airport Authority control, while remaining firmly under government control as a key strategic State asset.

“The airport must be independent,” said Deputy Joe Carey in his submission to the Booz and Company team of consultants.

“Setting up an independent Shannon Airport Authority is the most desirable option for the future success of our airport.

“I am not saying independent of State ownership. State Ownership is critical to the well being of Shannon Airport.

“I advocate this enhancement of ownership to broaden the empower- ment and responsibility of the local community with a view to strengthening the local support for the Airport,” added Deputy Carey.

“I believe that it is important that the Airport remains under state ownership,” says Deputy Pat Breen. “To support the Airport’s efforts to return to growth under State ownership a review of our national aviation policy should be undertaken to strengthen that role.

“The governance and management structures of Shannon, will have to be changed to give greater local control for operations, financial and business developments. Shannon Airport can not be left paralysed as it has been by the previous administration,” adds Deputy Breen.

These comments have been echoed by Fianna Fáil transport spokesperson Timmy Dooley, whose has stated in his submission that he was “opposed to any privitisation of any of the State airports or part privitisation or concession agreements or long lease arrangements with whom so ever”.

In rubbishing the privatization plans, Labour’s Michael McNamara has said that “I hope that we don’t ever see the situation whereby there is a short-term effort to turn a buck at Shannon to the detriment of the longterm development of the region”.

GOVERNMENT funding from the sale of a key strategic asset that was inspired by the Shannon Airport story should be pumped into the development of the former transatlantic hub as it bids to chart a new future for itself from 2012.

That’s one demand thrown down by local Fine Gael TD Joe Carey to the Fine Gael-led government, with the Clarecastle representative claiming that Shannon has “intellectual” rights to millions of euros in funds from any sale of Aer Rianta International.

According to Deputy Carey, the proceeds of the sale of this key strategic State asset should be ploughed into Shannon, funds that could help clear the airport’s crippling debt as well as play for a new development programme for Clare’s international airport.

“There is a very strong feeling that the Aer Rianta International project, which was the brainchild of Shannon Management under the astute leadership of Liam Skelly, was in the first place developed with the need to generate reserves to underpin the future viability of Shannon,” says Deputy Carey in his submission to Booz and Company.

“ARI before being subsumed into the DAA was the intellectual capital of Shannon Airport. While I understand the Government may be considering the sale of ARI, the revenue from any such disposal should in the first place be ring-fenced to cover the funding of the future capital requirements of a newly structured Shannon,” he adds.

Aer Rianta International was established in 1988 on the back of Shannon Airport’s connection with Aeroflot – a connection that dated from 1973 when the Russian carrier used Shannon as a refuelling stop to support its transatlantic services between Moscow and Havana.

Aeroflot then developed its own fuel-farm at Shannon in 1980, while eight years later a joint-venture between Aer Rianta and Shannon saw the opening of Aer Rianta International’s first duty free shop in Moscow.

Aer Rianta International now operates modern retail centres at major airports in Europe, Eastern Europe, North America and the Middle East.

“It is of concern that significant funds from the ARI basket have been gifted to Dublin Airport to reduce the cost of the new terminal and yet some people tell me that ARI funds cannot be allotted to Shannon. This is clearly placing Shannon at a significant disadvantage,” adds Deputy Carey in calling for a change in government and DAA policy.

RATEPAYERS in both Clare and Limerick would gladly stump up the cash to help “redevelop their own airport” that would be independent of Dublin Airport Authority interference.

That’s the claim made by local Fine Gael deputy Joe Carey, as he identified hard-pressed ratepayers as a source of investment for Shannon as part of a broader vision to put the airport on a sound financial footing for the future.

As part of this radical blueprint submitted to Shannon Airport customs, Deputy Carey has said that both local and national government investment should be a pre-requisite for the future, even though Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar has revealed that “no more government money” will be pumped into the ailing airport.

“While recognising the critical financial constraints placed on government, the new entity govern- ing Shannon Airport will require Government support,” says Deputy Carey.

“The strongest expression of that support will be the putting in place of the appropriate structures. The new entity will have to be managed in a way that will in a relatively short time allow it to cover its own costs, however, in the short term it may well be that Government financial support will be necessary.

“The exchequer in the short term may well be required to contribute to both capital investment and working capital requirements. The cost here are miniscule in a national context – e.g. the necessary expenditure on the Bunratty/Latoon section of road development would keep Shannon operational for the next 30 years.

“It would not be unreasonable for any such funding requirement to be generated from a Local Government Contribution.

“This could be generated by a ringfenced contribution from the current local rate (local rate payers are cur- rently greatly burdened but I believe the ratepayers of Clare and Limerick would gladly commit a contribution to redevelop their own airport).

“In discussing the matter with local business people, I have been told that a vibrant busy airport generates up to 25 per cent extra turnover in particularly the tourism service industry.

“It is critical, in that the only way that the funding models cited can be successful is if Shannon Airport is locally owned and run,” adds Deputy Carey.

PUTTING special procedures in place to entice more military traffic through Ireland has been held up as a short-term plan to boost traffic through Shannon Airport, one submission to the consultative process being undertaken on the airport has said.

This proposal to look to US military personnel has been sounded out by Fine Gael deputy, Pat Breen, who has identified troop traffic en route and returning from Afghanistan and Iraq as having “a key role” in Shannon’s well-being, not only in the past decade, but into the future as well.

In his submission on Shannon that has been forwarded to the Booz and Company team of consultants, Deputy Breen has said that “getting additional troop carriers” through Shannon should be part of the new airport blueprint for the future, the exact details of which will be unveiled by his party colleague and Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, in January.

“The use of Shannon Airport by US military personnel has played a key role in sustaining the airport’s bottom line,” said Deputy Breen in his submission.

“This business has generated significant revenue for the airport particularly in commercial and catering related activities.

“Although US President Barrack Obama has signalled the early return of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan; military transit traffic is important business for Shannon Airport. “US Customs Pre Clearance should be extended to include Troop Pre Clearance. Availability of Troop Pre Clearance could attract additional troop carriers to use Shannon Airport and this additional business would assist the airport during this transitional period,” he added. Deputy Breen’s comments come in the wake of recent figures released by the US military which revealed that between 2001 and 2011 there have been 12,154 stopovers in Shannon en route to US war fronts, carrying 2,300,925 troops, while 11,995 return flights have accounted for 2,029,365 military personnel. And, additional figures secured by The Clare People have revealed that 407 commercial flights carrying military personnel have passed through the airport from January to June of this year. The 2001 to 2011 figures have revealed that the peak period of Shannon’s use in US military operations came in 2005, when 1,973 flights passed through the airport, carrying 335,847 passengers, over double the amount that had passed through the previous year. The build-up of troop maneuvers started in 2003, before and after President Bush ordered an invasion of Iraq on March 19 of that year.

THE first stage of a local campaign for better services in Doolin will be kicked off this Thursday when a public meeting takes place at the Russell Centre in the village.

Concern that Doolin is being left behind when compared to other areas across the county when it comes to essential services has prompted what has been advertised as a Community Meeting.

The meeting has its origins in a meeting of Doolin Tourism, which recently hosted its annual general meeting were concerns were raise about the need for radical improvements to the local infrastructure.

“Issues arose at the meeting around – issues like roads, sewerage and lighting and signage,” a spokesperson for the Community Meeting told The Clare People .

“There is a feeling some services in Doolin are inadequate. Some work has been done but a lot more needs to be done There is a new sewerage system in Lisdoonvarna, but people want that extended to Doolin.

“When those issues were raised it was decided that we would take these issues to the local community as a whole and organised a public meeting so that people can come and air their views about what they feel should be done for Doolin, This is the first step in that process,” the spokesperson added.

The meeting gets underway at 9pm.

TWENTY full-time and part-time jobs will be provided when a Roslevan pub re-opens on Friday.

The Grove bar and restaurant opens under new management on December 2.

New manager Donagh Vaughan has been working in the pub trade in Clare for more than 20 years.

Despite the tough economic conditions, Donagh is looking forward to the challenge.

He said, “It is a good time to be opening, November is gone and we’re just getting into Christmas. We want to provide a good local pub to the local area.”

He added, “Roslevan is a massive area. And we want to try and serve it. It’s a spot that always had a good local pub.”

Donagh said the business would provide 10 full-time and 10 part-time jobs.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be available at The Grove.

“Food is a very important part of the pub business now,” Donagh said.

There will also be a strong emphasis on screening live sport.

“We want to give people a good service – good value and good customer service.”

Donagh added, “We’re hoping to get a lot of repeat business, a lot of families. It’s important that you get to know people’s names and get to know the people who are living in the area.

“It’s very much available for parties and we cater for large groups of up to 25 people. We’re here to help people. It will be a very hands-on approach.”

Donagh and the staff are looking forward to opening night.

“We want to let the locals see the renovations. We think it will be a big change for them. We want to see what they think and we’ll roll on from there,” he said.

SHANNON Airport losses over the past three years could be as high as € 25m but, according to one government TD in Clare, the airport should not be required to turn a profit to justify its existence.

Labour’s Michael McNamara has told the team of consultants hired by the Government to map out a new future for the airport that it should not be about profit, but instead maintaining mid-west’s key piece of infrastructure.

“The airport should not be required to make a profit, although this would be a bonus,” says Deputy McMamara in his submission to the team of consultants.

“If a government subvention is required to maintain a publiclyowned airport, then so be it,” he adds in the wake of a meeting with the consultants in the company of Jan O’Sullivan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

This is despite the fact that Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar has said “there aren’t subsidies available for the airport, there wasn’t during the boom and there certainly isn’t now”, while Shannon Airport Authority chairman Brian O’Connell has said “it is not sustainable for any business to continue in a loss-making mode”.

“Shannon Airport should remain in state ownership and control in one form or another. Possible synergies with state undertakings par- ticularly those which manage key regional transport infrastructures, should be considered,” says Deputy McNamara. “Shannon should be viewed as a key piece of infrastructure in the mid-west like railways and motorways. “I expressed the strong view that marketing the airport and the region needs to be improved to that end,” he adds.

SHANNON Airport can only be given its independence from the Dublin Airport Authority if its debts are completely cleared, part-cleared or taken on by another entity, which would then allow Clare’s international airport begin a new chapter with a clean slate.

The prospect of such a landmark move for the airport that recently celebrated the 75th anniversary of the turning of the first sod in Rineanna in 1936, has been hinted at by Transport Minister, Leo Varadkar.

On a visit to Clare to participate in the 23rd staging of the national tourism conference organised by Clare Tourist Council and Clare County Council, Minister Varadkar confirmed that Shannon’s debts that are now running at € 100m must be confronted as part of any restructuring of the airport.

Speaking in Ennistymon, Minister Varadkar said that Booz & Company – the team of international consultants hired by his department to plot a new future for Shannon will “looking at how much of a debt Shannon could reasonably carry”.

“That is very important at the moment, because Shannon has a very large debt ascribed to it, because of the investment that’s been incurred there and also because of the losses that have been built up over the years.

“It would be very hard to see Shannon work on its own, if it’s to carry all that debt. Part of the work they [Booz & Company] are doing for me is working out what level of debt would be sustainable,” added Minister Varadkar.

In late October, Booz & Company, a leading global management consult- ing firm, that helps businesses and governments and has branches in 39 countries worldwide was given the job of “consulting as widely as possible with the stakeholders in Shannon” ahead of a proposal being put to government that will chart a new future for the 75-year-old airport.

“The consultants haven’t come back to me yet,” Minister Varadkar told The Clare People . “They are going to come back to me at the end of November and I expect to bring a memo to government in January.”

He said that the terms and conditions of Shannon’s “new start” all depended on “what comes out of the (consultation) process. It is not predetermined. What I’ve asked them to do is look at a number of options.

“One of the things that’s clear is there will be no government money given to Shannon. The Government doesn’t give money to Shannon – what happens at the moment is that the profits from Dublin and Aer Rianta International are used to subsidise Shannon and Cork. However, Dublin’s profits are diminishing and that money isn’t there anymore,” Minister Varadkar added.