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A CLARE senator has suggested a register of SIM cardholders should be established to help prevent cyberbullying.

Fine Gael senator Martin Conway’s comments came at a public meeting in Ennis on Friday that heard schools in Clare are struggling to deal with the spread of bullying through social networking sites such as Facebook and Ask.fm.

Jim Harding, director of the antibullying service, Bully 4 U, told the meeting a recent survey carried out by the service found that 85 per cent of respondents using Facebook are under 13.

He said all the complaints received by his company “are directed towards Facebook.

“Primary school teachers are dealing with Facebook issues on a daily basis. They are tearing their hair out,” added Mr Harding.

He also warned that new forms of social media such as Snapchat are being used to bully. He said vulnerable teenagers are receiving threatening images of ropes and knives.

He said there is a growing concern that online Chat Roulette rooms are being used by pedophiles to make contact with primary school children.

“These are mainly middle aged, naked men who are encouraging them [children] to take their clothes off so they can video and record them,” he explained.

“Mobile phones are the cause of most [online] bullying, the vast amount,” added Mr Harding. Senator Martin Conway told the meeting that the sale of SIM cards – a form of data storage for mobile devices – should be subject to tighter control. “Nobody should be able to walk into a shop and buy a SIM card for a tenner. You should have to produce your passport and there should be a register,” he explained. Dr Patricia Mannix McNamara of the University of Limerick’s Depart- ment of Education and Professional Studies, told the meeting cyber bullying is a major issue in Irish schools. “Schools are in crisis and they are struggling,” she said. Dr Mannix McNamara explained the relationships that foster cyber bullying are often happening in the schools. “Our schools are in crisis. We need our guidance counsellors to be talking to our children but we have so few guidance counsellors,” she said. Researcher Sharon Moynihan said a recent study of children in four counties found that 36 per cent of students admitted to posting hurtful comments or images on social networking sites. Ireland South MEP Sean Kelly hosted the a Cyber-Bullying Forum in the Temple Gate Hotel, in order to raise awareness and inspire action to prevent online bullying. “Cyber bullying, or bullying by social media, is a problem of epidemic proportions affecting mostly young people. It is a very serious challenge for parents, teachers, mental health and youth/community workers. It has fuelled a national and Europewide debate on how to best to tackle the issue,” he said.

TWO County Clare hotels owned by West Clare hotelier John Burke received the highest accreditation available under the Green Hospitality Awards (GHA) programme.

As a result of the award this week, Clare is now the leading county for the Green Hospitality Awards programme, with almost half the country’s ‘green hotels’ in the county.

The Armada Hotel in Spanishpoint and Hotel Doolin successfully reduced their energy consumption by almost a third and reduced the amount of waste going to landfill by more than 60 per cent.

The Clare hotels join an elite group of just seven Irish hotels who possess Platinum accreditation under the hospitality sector’s only environmental accreditation programme, which is supported by the EPA through the National Waste Prevention programme.

The programme inspectors who judged both businesses noted that jointly they reduced water consumption by 38 per cent per guest, cut the amount of waste going to landfill by 62 per cent, and reduce electricity per guest by 28 per cent since joining the programme two years ago.

“The green programme has led to a consequential reduction in operating costs at both hotels and in doing so has enabled us to offer the best possible value to locals and tourists, which is critical in order to compete in the current marketplace,” explained Mr Burke.

“Furthermore this programme has a rigorous way of inspecting our approach to greater environmental issues such as reducing our carbon footprint and landfill waste levels, to our social responsibility approach to more local issues like how we contribute to local charitable and voluntary causes, and the support we show for local food suppliers. Our efforts over the past 12 months have seen us significantly improve on our Silver accreditations in 2012 for the Armada and Hotel Doolin.”

Clare is currently the leading county for the Green Hospitality Awards programme, with Dromoland hav- ing also achieved Platinum status in 2011. Three of the seven Irish hotels now in receipt of the GHA Platinum accreditation are Clare-based.

COUNTY solicitor John Shaw takes up the role this week as President of the Law Society in Ireland, effectively head of the legal profession in Ireland, an organisation that has 14,000 members countrywide. He is the first Clare-based solicitor to hold the post since Michael Houlihan was elected president back in 1983.

Originally from Dundalk in Co Louth, John Shaw has practiced in Ennis since he qualified in 1984. He is currently a partner in the law firm Michael Houlihan & Partners and serves as solicitor to Clare County Council. He is also a former President of the Bar Association in Clare.

“I’m both delighted and honoured to be elected President of the Law Society of Ireland,” John told The Clare People this week. “I think it is also fitting that 30 years after Michael Houlihan held the presidency that it returns to Clare,” he added.

“During my year I will be based in Ennis and will probably spend a day or two a week in Dublin. There are many challenges facing the legal profession in Ireland and in particular I hope to liaise with the Minister for Justice on the Legal Services Regulation Bill which is currently being finalised.

“Thankfully I have huge support from Michael Houlihan and Partners, with 12 solicitors and five partners we are able to make arrangements to allow me carry out all my functions of the office and of course online technology will also make it easier. I am grateful too to county manager Tom Coughan who has also offered his co-operation towards my dual role,” John told us.

Married to Mary Nolan, herself a solicitor with Nicholas & Nolan Solicitors in Ennis, John, who lives in Ballybeg on Ennis’s Gort Road, has three children, Hannah, Ellen and Julie. Oldest daughter Hannah (23) is currently studying law at Blackhall Place in Dublin, continuing the family tradition, while Ellen (20) is studying physiotherapy in Trinity, with youngest daughter Julie (16) attending Rice College in Ennis.

Although hailing from Co Louth John has many Clare connections. He is a nephew of the late PJ and Ella Garvey (who passed away earlier this year) from Corrovorrin Green in Ennis. John is a noted sports follower and is a member of Lahinch Golf Club. He will serve a one-year term in the role up until November 2014.

CLARE County Council intends to carry out work to upgrade a section of the Rocky Road to allow for greater pedestrian access to the Ballybeg area of Ennis.

Yesterday’s meeting of councillors in the Ennis East Electoral Area heard the council is looking to repave the road from the Rocky Road roundabout to Ballybeg.

Senior executive Engineer Eamon O’Dea told the meeting the council intends to improve of pedestrian access along the walking route.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said the route would be used if work was carried out to repair it.

Cllr Johnny Flynn said the route could also be popular with cyclists.

Mr O’Dea made the announcement of the council’s plans to upgrade the Rocky Road following discussion on a motion tabled by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG). The Clarecastle councillor requested the council “prioritise completing the footpath from Rockmount Cross to where it currently ends on the Kilrush Road and to also provide a pedestrian crossing”.

Cllr Murphy told the meeting he received a petition containing the signatures of 300 people living in the area.

“There are a lot of kids walking to school (new Ennis National School) in the area and a lot of residents are very concerned about how busy the road is,” he added.

Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said the area is a “fierce busy road”. “It is important the NRA provide the money for the footpaths,” he added.

Mr O’Dea said funding would have to be sought from the National Roads Authority (NRA) as the section of footpath is on a national secondary road.

He continued, “The cost of providing a footpath and public lighting would be in excess of € 80,000. There is uncontrolled pedestrian crossing at the Kilrush Road roundabout on the N68. There is an alternate pedestrian access in daylight hours to Ballybeg by using the Rocky Road and the pedestrian pelican crossing at the Rocky Road roundabout on the N85.”

Earlier, town manager and director of Service, Gerard Dollard told a meeting of councillors in the Ennis West Electoral Area, that discussions are ongoing with Airtricity on the provision of public lighting in the Beechpark housing estate.

Mr Dollard said the works could cost up to € 25,000 and the council would have to decide on how to fund it.

GARDAÍ in Shannon say they have not received any reports of bank accounts being illegally accessed following the discovery of a skimming device at a town centre ATM last month.

Gardaí were alerted after the insertion of the skimming device set off an internal alarm in the machine.

Gardaí have not received any reports of bank accounts being hit as the device may have been discov- ered before it was put to use.

It comes as a man in Ennis saw almost € 300 illegally removed from his account at the start of the month.

The man was informed by two banks – AIB and Bank of Ireland – that money from his accounts was used for a series of online transactions. Not all of the transactions were successful.

The amounts, which varied from € 10 to € 30, were used to purchase products from Apple’s iTunes website and Hostelworld.

The banks detected the series of “unusual transactions” which took place on a Sunday morning. The man was waiting to hear from the bank last night to know if his debit card accounts had been illegally accessed online or through other means. The man’s sister, who also lives in Ennis, also was also the victim of a recent similar fraud.

“It was from two separate accounts. The bank got in touch with me to say they had noticed a few unusual transactions on my account. They’ve said I’m going to be re- funded so I’m going to be talking to them,” he explained.

Cash machines in Limerick and Galway have recently been targeted in an ATM scam.

Gardaí in Shannon discovered a skimming device at a town centre cash point on October 11 but have received no reports so far of accounts being affected.

In August, the Irish Payment Services Organisation reported that almost € 30,000 had been stolen through an ATM scam in a single week.

CUSTOMERS of a Clare-based company that operates a loyalty rewards business have been warned that there was a breach in its data security, but there is no evidence as yet if any personal information was compromised. The cyber attack on LoyaltyBuild in Ennis could affect up to 43,000 customers who booked getaway breaks through the Clare born com- pany which recorded pre-tax profits of € 4.5 million last year. The company was sold in 2008 by businessmen Dominic Considine, Domhnal Slattery and Sean Lyne for € 25 million to American company Affinion. LoyaltyBuild operates loyalty schemes on behalf of three companies – Super Valu, Axa and Stena Line – and said that customers who booked breaks in the last three months may be affected. Credit and debit card details belonging to customers may have been compromised following the cyber attack however the company stressed that CVV (Card Verification Value) numbers – generally needed to complete online transactions – were not stored. Suspicion about a possible breach emerged on Friday, October 25, and a team of “expert forensic investigators” was appointed to determine what had happened. On Wednesday, October 30, it emerged that a breach may have occurred and it contacted the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC) on the Friday. A spokesman for the Data Protection Commission said its systems were encrypted, and it was not clear how much information had been taken. “The systems were encrypted, including credit card and contact numbers. They [LoyaltyBuild] took the step of notifying individuals just in case,” the office said. Customers were advised however to monitor credit card use on their accounts or take measures to alter their details like PIN numbers, or seek advice from their credit card provider. It is understood it may take up to a fortnight to determine how much information was taken.

ALMOST one in five Clare homes tested were found to have high levels of cancer-causing radon gas.

According to the figures released by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII), one home in Ennis had 10 times the acceptable level of this potentially killer gas equivalent to 2, 500 chest X-rays per year.

In addition to the home in Ennis with the highest level, a home in Clonlara had more than five times the acceptable level of the radioactive gas.

A further 14, seven in Ennis and one each in Clonlara, Corofin, Killaloe, Kilnaboy, Newmarket-onFergus, Quin and Sixmilebridge, had levels of radon above the acceptable level.

In its latest publication of results from completed radon tests in the past year and a half, more than 430 homes from across the country have been identified by the RPII as having high levels of radon.

Radon is the second larget cause of lung cancer after smoking and is directly linked to more than 200 lung cancer deaths each year in Ireland.

In Clare, 87 tests for radon gas were completed in the past year and a half and of these 16, or approximately one in five, were found to be above the acceptable level.

David Fenton, Senior Scientist at the RPII, said, “We know that Clare has a particular problem with radon and yet only a fraction of homeowners have tested. Our research shows that, of the homes already tested, there is a large percentage with high radon levels.”

“Tens of thousands of homeowners in Clare have yet to test for radon and among them are many thousands that are unknowingly being exposed to this cancer causing gas. It is really important for people to test their home for radon as this is the only way of protecting your family,” said Mr Fenton.

THE Office of Public Works is to be requested to boost the profile of the historic Ennis Friary by erecting new signs.

The 13th century building reopened to the public last year following an extensive restoration project.

The purpose of the estimated € 100,000 works project was to provide protection for the collection of carved features which survive at Ennis Friary.

A roof was installed over the 18th century church in order to provide protection for the collection of carved features, which survive at Ennis Friary. The OPW also aimed to improve visitor access to the site.

Entry to one of the town’s top tourist attractions was free when the Friary re-opened in June 2012.

At yesterday’s meeting of councilors in the Ennis East Electoral Area, Cllr Johnny Flynn called on the OPW to retain free entry and provide improve signage for one of Ennis’ most popular tourist attractions.

Cllr Flynn (FG), a member of Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council, says a record 22,000 people passed through the doors of the Friary this year.

He is calling on the OPW to retain the free entry as a means of maintaining high visitor numbers.

He states free entry would also “give Ennis town centre a boost following the necessary but disruptive Flood scheme”.

In a motion tabled at the meeting, Cllr Flynn also called for the OPW to permit greater cultural, musical and educational uses of the Friary.

Town clerk Leonard Cleary stated the opening of the Friary for greater public use “is a manner for the OPW in the management of the facility”.

Mr Cleary said in relation to new signs, “Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council are currently working with the Office of Public Works in relation to the provision of new signage for the old Ennis Friary. This matter will have to have regard to road signage regulations.”

Cllr Flynn also called on the OPW provide more funding for improved tourist services including guided tours at Quin Abbey. Mr Cleary stated the council would discuss with the Office of Public Works “if such a proposal were to emerge”.

Town manager Gerard Dollard said Cllr Flynn’s proposals would be sent to the OPW.

Cllr Sonny Scanlan (FG) backed calls for improved facilities at Quin Abbey.

FINE Gael selected two further candidates for 2014 Local Elections last night (Monday), as the two nominees from the Shannon area were added to the ticket.

There are just two nominees for the Shannon Selection Convention as Clare county councillors John Crowe and Sean McLoughlin were both nominated and selected without the need for an election.

It is now understood that the Fine Gael executive will add at least one if not two more candidates to contest the six-seat election.

On Friday night the party will select candidates for the new eight-seat West Clare constituency, with the Killaloe convention taking place on Monday next.

Fine Gael is the first of the political parties in Clare to select candidates for the local elections next May, with Labour stating it will hold its conventions by the end of the month.

Sinn Fein said that it is in the process of selecting candidates but has no dates or names as yet.

Fianna Fáil is expected to select its candidates between the end of November and the first week in January, beginning in the Shannon Municipal Area.

It is understood that the three councillors from the area will be nominated alongside newcomer Louise McNamara. Candidates will have until two weeks before the convention to put forward any nominees.

To be nominated for convention the candidate must have the support of one cumann or five individual members of the party.

In Ennis there are already up to 10 names being suggested as possible contenders for the party in the eightseat constituency, with a new look Killaloe area opening up possibilities for former councillors to return.

In West Clare the executive has suggested that the convention be divided into two separate district selection process to avoid the majority of the candidates coming from either the old Kilrush Electoral Area or Ennistymon Electoral Area.

Once again there is much speculation as to who will be put forward for convention.

The father of the council PJ Kelly has yet to decide if he will go before convention in a bid to serve for a fifth decade on the council. New names such as former GAA county board chairman Michael O’Neill and Ennis Chamber of Commerce CEO Rita McInerney are also been spoken about as possible contenders in West Clare for the party.

A LIMITED policy of pedestrianisation will be in effect in Ennis during December after a meeting heard a lack of support exists among businesses for a longer period of pedestrianisation.

The council had previously proposed pedestrianising O’Connell Street on December 7 (Saturday), December 14 (Saturday), December 21 (Saturday), December 22 (Sunday), December 23 (Monday) and December 24 (Tuesday).

At yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, Town Clerk Leonard Cleary said the council had sought the views of business people, rate payers and property owners in the town.

He said Ennis Chamber had proposed closing O’Connell Street to traffic on the final two Saturdays and the days leading up Christmas Day.

“A larger December pedestrianisation policy does not seem to be gaining currency at the moment,” explained Mr Cleary.

Under the 2013 policy, O’Connell Street will be pedestrianised from December 21 to 24. Town manager Gerard Dollard told the meeting the on / off nature of pedestrianisation had created difficulties around it.

He said until such time as the council makes a decision on whether proceed with a longer trial of pedestrianisation, the council would have to manage the existing approach.

Cllr Peter Considine said he was “disappointed” with the shorter period but agreed to support the proposal.

Welcoming the decision, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) expressed concern “organised begging” could undermine the council’s attempts to create a festive atmosphere in the town centre in December.

Cllr Michael Guilfoyle (Ind) called for the council to take action against so called ‘chuggers’ who have set up in front of Dunnes Stores.

Cllr Guilfoyle said pedestrians are being forced out onto the street by people collecting money for charity. He told the meeting it was only a matter of time before someone is hurt.

Councillors agreed to a limited pedestrianisation as the council announced details of a free car-parking initiative for Christmas.

Town clerk Leonard Cleary stated, “Following the success in recent years, Ennis Town Council has developed and researched a Christmas Parking Initiative 2013. A recent consultation was held between representatives of Ennis business com- munity and Ennis Town Council with the key task of promoting shopping in Ennis over the Christmas and New Year period.”

Free parking will be in place up to 12 noon daily during December to January 6 both on street and off street. Parking will be free in Cloughleigh car park until January 6. The council is also encouraging staff of shops and business owners to free up spaces close to the town centre by using alternative spaces.

Mr Cleary said the council will promote the initiative online and through media. “The business community is also taking an active involvement promoting the initiative.”