Category: News

THE search is on for the next Clare Rose and entries are now being invited to choose our representative in the Kerry Festival.

Entrants can complete an application form and return it to Clare Rose, c/o Clare FM, Francis Street, Ennis with a sponsorship fee of €200.

Clubs, societies, associations, businesses, family or friends are invited to nominate contestants. The Gala Rose Selection will be held at the West County Hotel, on May 12, and the new Clare Rose will contest the Irish Regional Final in Tralee on June 9 and 10.

Eligibility criteria for the International Rose of Tralee contest include that entrants must be aged between 18 and 28 years, be of Irish birth or ancestry and be single without children. Closing date for applications is Friday, April 28.

A YOUNG man has been charged with assaulting a woman in the accountant’s office where she worked.

Patrick Hall (20), of 8 Beech Park, Kilrush, is charged with assaulting Bernadette Adams and with burglary, at Francis Street, Kilrush, last Thursday, April 6.

Detective Garda Michael McDonagh said he arrested the accused at lunchtime on Friday. After charges, the accused replied, “I did not do it.”

Ms Adams said she was working upstairs at Leahy’s accountants, last Thursday.

She went to the toilet and while there, heard footsteps.

She was then confronted by two youths. She said they tried to push her forward and she ended up at the bottom of the stairs. She was taken to hospital for treatment and was discharged later that night.

“I am in great pain. I have never been confronted like this before and I find it very distressing,” she said.

Defending solicitor, William Cahir applied for bail, saying his client was willing to surrender his passport. Inspector Tom Kennedy said he was opposing that application, based on the “seriousness of the charges and the weight of the evidence against the defendant.” He said there would be a fear of intimidation and a fear the witness would abscond. The solicitor said, however, that there was no basis for the fears of intimidation.

Det Gda McDonagh said he was aware that the accused purchased sterling in the last few days and planned to visit his mother in the UK. Det Sergeant Dave Sheedy told Judge Mangan that he could not understand why so many members of the defendant’s family were in court.

“It is obviously distressing and intimidating for the witness,” he said.

The judge said he was refusing bail, based on the seriousness of the charges, the weight of evidence against the accused and the fears that he may abscond.

“I have to confess I have an open mind on the intimidation issue at this stage,” he said. He ordered six members of the Hall family, who were in court, not to contact the witness and to stay out of Leahy’s shop, until the case is finalised.

A MAN who was “caught red handed” with ten Rohypnol tablets claimed in court that he took them to come down off another drug.

Josef Duna (39), of Pineview Estate, Killarney, and who is originally from the Czech Republic, admitted possessing the Rohypnol tablets – commonly known as the date rape drug – and three wraps of speed, in Ennis, in July 2005.

The court was told the street value of the drugs was €110.

Defending solicitor, Tara Godfrey, said her client paid over money to the alleged supplier when gardaí arrived on the scene.

She said her client, a father-ofthree and a kitchen porter, moved to Ireland six years ago. He hadn’t taken drugs for five years before this incident and was not a regular drug user, she said. The solicitor pointed out that one of the uses for Rohypnol was for an acute sleep disorder.

“The speed he was found with is a particularly potent form of speed. The Rohypnol tablets were to come down off the speed,” she said.

She said her client was in a position to offer money to the court poorbox and that he was at a low risk of reoffending.

Judge Joseph Mangan adjourned the case, to allow for a professional report on drug and alcohol abuse to be carried out.

LONG serving Fianna Fáil politician Senator Brendan Daly has warned his Government colleagues that unless they address some of the ongoing contentious issues in the county, they can firmly rule out a third seat for the party in the next general election.

“I am concerned that issues not being dealt with by the Government would exacerbate an already contentious situation,” he said.

The west Clare Senator referred to the ongoing delays in securing an adequate sewerage scheme for Mullagh, Quilty and other smaller villages in west Clare, local concerns about the future of the accident and emergency department in Ennis General Hospital and the future of Shannon Airport.

“Unless there are serious commitments given on these issues the possibility of three seats in Clare is remote in the extreme,” he said.

The former minister, who did not make it onto the party ticket at last week’s convention, said he was now considering his future in politics.

He consulted with his local Comhairle Cheantar in Kilrush last evening on the issue. He is to take a few more days before announcing if he is available for the next election.

A spokesperson for the Fianna Fáil Party admitted that the four times minister and junior minister was the favourite to be added to the Clare ticket, along with Senator Timmy Dooley and Junior Minister Tony Killeen.

When asked by The Clare People if a contingency plan had been put in place to find a candidate should Senator Daly retire, the spokesperson said “it hasn’t been thought that far through”.

Just days before the Fianna Fáil convention, the party’s headquarters directed that the Clare delegates select just two candidates to represent the county in the General Election. The party would later add a third candidate.

Speaking following the convention, Junior Minister Tony Killeen reminded delegates that he was defeated at the last convention and was later added to the ticket by headquarters. He then went on to top the poll for the party in Clare.

Minister Killeen also admitted that a candidate was needed in West Clare. Having been selected on to the ticket on the first count, Senator Timmy Dooley told the convention delegates that “we have lost out in the last four years since Minister de Valera was taken from the cabinet table.”

He said it was critical for the party to return three seats if Clare was to have a representative in cabinet.

THE first phase of the new Cliffs of Moher Visitors’ Experience was officially opened by Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Tony Kileen last Friday. The €31.5 million project represents the biggest capital expenditure on a single tourism project ever in the history the county.

Phase one on the project incorporates some 300 metres of cliff edge pathways, viewing platforms and seating areas looking out over the cliffs facade and is now open to the public.

Opening the first phase, Minister Killeen was highly complementary of the work that has been done.

“I think it is fair to say that the project fully respects the natural environment of the Cliffs and is in keeping with the overall integrity of the site,” said the Minister.

The new viewing platform provides views from the Cliffs of Moher to Hags Head in the south, as well as the vista over Liscannor Bay. The platform, which is paved with Liscannor stone and faced with limestone, has been specially designed with multiple seating terraces to allow for visitor seating.

The existing cliff pathways have been extended to the south and a new raised platform allows views to the north towards O’Brien’s Tower and the Aran Islands. This platform also provides a vantage point to view Goat Island, the low grassy promontory below the tower, which is home to one of the largest puffin colonies in Ireland.

The cliff’s famous Liscannor slab walls have been restored and extended and the grassy areas outside the walls have been made into an ecological reconstruction. The cliff edge has been sanctioned a Special Area of Protection (SAP) under the European Union Birds and Habitats directives.

Ealls have been designed to make it more difficult for visitors to go out on the extreme cliff edge.

THE failure of the Industrial Development Authority (IDA) to create any new jobs in Clare or the midwest in 2005 was yesterday branded a disgrace.

Fine Gael deputy, Michael Noonan, said the IDA were doing “very badly in the Mid-West,” in terms of creating jobs.

The agency provided no grants for new jobs last year in Clare and the mid-west and only 25 the previous year.

There were 23 visits by potential overseas investors organised by the IDA to Clare and the Mid-west. In all, since 2002, there had been 97 visits.

Shannon Development organised 84 visits by potential investors to the Shannon Free Zone since 2002 with 22 visits last year.

The figures were revealed in the course of a Dáil reply by Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister, Micheal Martin, to a question tabled by Deputy Noonan.

Minister Martin said that the number of potential expansion jobs approved for assistance was 254 in existing companies last year and 332 the previous year.

“From 2002 to 2005 a total of 15 projects were approved for assistance by IDA Ireland in the Midwest. These projects had the potential to create over 1,900 jobs in both new and expanding enterprises.

“Also, in the period 2002 to 2005, a total of 1,950 jobs were created in IDA supported companies in the region,” he said.

However, Deputy Noonan said yesterday that the mid-west was not getting its fair share.

“The main economic Ministries are elsewhere and that is where a lot of the jobs are going,” he said.

“There needs to be more attention on the Midwest. To have created no new jobs last year and only 25 new jobs in 2004 is disgraceful.”

Deputy Noonan also claimed that the number of site visits by potential investors to Clare and the mid-west was “a problem.”

“Two site visits to date this year is very meagre. Inward investment has dried up in the mid-west and this should be acknowledged and it must become a political issue”.

Deputy Noonan said that the continuing uncertainty over Shannon Development was not helping the situation.

Last July, Minister Martin announced a new mandate for the company, but it has yet to be implemented due to union opposition.

“I thought it was a bad idea at the time, but in order to bring certainty to the situation, the new mandate should now be implemented,” said Mr Noonan.

ONE of the longest established companies in the Shannon Free Zone has recorded a large increase in sales.

Element Six – formerly De Beers Industrial Diamonds – increased its turnover from $185 million in 2003 to $237 million in 2004.

The most recent accounts filed to the Companies Office, also show that the company increased its gross profit from €83 million in 2003 to $123 million in 2004.

The profit increase can be linked to an increase in the size of Element Six’s sales and marketing division, which almost doubled its personnel, from 25 people to 48, in 2004.

However, the accounts also show the company’s pension fund for employees was deficient by $59.7 million. The company says there are proposals to remedy the deficit.

Element Six is the world’s leading supplier of high quality superabrasives and industrial diamond materials.

The principal activity at Shannon is the manufacture and sale of industrial diamonds.

According to the Directors Report, the company made a net profit of $15 million in 2004.

“We expect the general level of activity to improve in the foreseeable future,” the directors’ state.

The accounts also show that Element Six – which re-branded from De Beers in 2002 – paid a dividend of $89 million in 2004, which followed a dividend of $20 million in 2003.

In 2004, Element Six employed 530 people at the Shannon plant, an increase of four on the previous year.

Underlining the importance of Element Six to the Clare economy, staff salaries and associated costs amounted to $42.5 million in 2004. This represented an increase on the 2003 figure of €34.9 million.

The accounts also show that loans have been advanced to three Element Six directors, “to assist with the acquisition of housing and are interest free”.

The company accounts state that the loans “are repayable on retirement, or when the directors leave the company”.

The accounts record that at the end of 2004, MC Sexton, Dr TA Spooner and EA Brooks had loans of $43,000 each, amounting to a total of $129,000.

On its pensions deficit, the company state in the accounts statement the trustees have formulated a funding proposal to the Pension Board to address the deficit.

“The proposal involves increasing the contribution rate and reducing certain scheme benefits.”

CLARE County Council’s controversial €8 million landfill site near Inagh will be around for another 30 years, if the current disposal levels at the facility are maintained.

But that’s because disposal rates of waste have plummeted in recent months, to 42 per cent of their permitted levels, according to a council report.

If this continues, the landfill will have a licensed capacity that will allow it remain open until 2036.

The landfill is licensed to receive 900,000 tonnes, or 56,500 per annum. If the landfill were used to its maximum capacity, it would be closed by 2018 and the council would have to locate a new landfill elsewhere in Clare.

However, in the first 11 weeks of 2006, the Inagh facility accepted just 5,002 tonnes of waste, the equivalent to 23,645 tonnes per annum.

The dramatic fall off occurred after the landfill’s biggest customer opted to go elsewhere, in search of cheaper prices.

“The number of options now available to waste collectors is such that there is no guarantee that any particular collector will use any particular facility,” said Senior Engineer, Sean Ward, in a report to council.

“Collectors will dispose of their residual wastes at the landfill which is most benefit for them commercially, having first minimized the quantity to be landfilled.”

At the adjourned March Council meeting last night (Apr 3rd), councillors were told that a total of 15 non-compliance notices, incorporating 38 items of non-compliance had been served on the council from the EPA, since work started on the project in November 2001.

“All the non-compliance items in 2002 were related to construction activity rather than operation of the facility,” said the Director for the Environment, Ger Dollard, in his report

“It is impossible to guarantee that a landfill accepting a mix of municipal waste will never emit an odour, but the highest possible standard has to be aimed at.

“The most effective means of mitigating fresh waste odour are to keep the area of the active landfilling face as small as possible. The face area has at all times been kept as small as possible.

“The foregoing demonstrates that the council has been and remains committed to sourcing the best cover materials, in consultation with, and where applicable in compliance with the instructions of the EPA.

VETERAN politician, Senator Brendan Daly and Clare County Counillor, Pat Hayes, are reassessing their political future, after they missed out on selection at last night’s party selection convention for next year’s general election.

Senator Timmy Dooley, who topped the poll, was elected on the first count, at the convention in the West County Hotel, Ennis.

Minister of State, Tony Killeen, had to wait until the third count, before he was elected to join Senator Dooley, on the Fianna Fáil ticket.

Following the convention, Senator Daly said the convention “made a decision and I will take it into account before making any further decisions.”

Councillor Hayes said he would be back and would support the Fianna Fáil team.

Earlier, chairman of the Clare Comhairle Dáil Cheantar, Denis Hayes, opened the selection process by making reference to a direction from headquarters, last week, that the convention select two candidates, one less than expected.

He appealed to the members to use their Comhairle Cheantar and Cumman to air any grievances and not to go “running to the media”.

The directive had set rumours in train that a third name was to be added by party chiefs in Dublin, much to the annoyance of some within the party in Clare.

Concerns were also expressed that the convention would follow the fate of the Galway West convention, overseen by Clare Minister for State, Tony Killeen. That convention was suspended when Galway delegates refused to follow headquarters’ directions.

But Clare was to handle its affairs differently according to Mr Hayes.

“The last few days have been traumatic and people have been understandably upset, including myself,” he said.

He admitted that “things could have been handled better”, but told the delegates that they were “going to handle things with dignity and decorum”.

After the four candidates agreed to the term of the convention, the four candidates, Senator Brendan Daly, Senator Timmy Dooley, Councillor Pat Hayes and Minister for State, Tony Killeen, were asked to leave the conference room, while their political futures were voted upon.

Visibly under pressure, the four left the podium and the room, knowing just two of them were going to be successful. Seconds before the election, seasoned delegates were still unable to call the result, adding to the tension.Delegates called by name to vote by secret ballot, did so without protest, debate or “running to the media”.

A NEW policy has lessened the threat of council tenants being evicted from their homes.

The document aims to assist tenants and tenant purchasers, who may find paying rent difficult to maintain.

It was one of three policies launched last Friday in Ennis.

The second policy focuses on combating anti-social behaviour in housing estates. Its objective is to reduce the number of anti-social complaints and to initiate a prompt response to them.

The third policy aims to stamp out illegal dumping in local authority housing estates.

This is based on a number of principles, including the creation of partnerships with residents associations, community and environmental groups.

Chairman of the Housing and Social Policy Strategic Policy Committee, Councillor Joe Arkins (FG), said under the initiative, residents would be provided with a better level of support.

Resident participation in estate management should also become much greater, he said.

“There are 24 residents associations established throughout the county in council estates. We are aware that the needs of the residents vary significantly, having regard to the demographic size of the estates,” he said.

“The councils are committed to ensuring that peaceful occupation of each tenant will prevail, in all estates. There is only one acceptable level of anti-social behaviour and that is zero . . . zero tolerance,” said Cllr Arkins.

Chief Superintendent Liam Quinn, Ennis, said the opportunity was one to be proud of.

“Certain members of the population engage in crime, in drugs and in violence, which impact on the community,” he said.

The appointment of a Juvenile Liaison Officer (JLO) in Clare late last year has doubled the number of staff dealing with young offenders, while further steps were been taken, he said.

“Kilrush and Newport (Tipperary, which is in the Clare Garda Division) are working with local authorities to develop JLO programmes, similar to that in Ennis, which has proved very successful,” said Chief Supt Quinn.

Tim Ryan, who represented the Health Services Executive at the launch, said multi-agency cooperation could lead to huge successes.

“This is an example of what joinedup thinking can achieve,” he said.

“One of the most serious impact on any family is financial stress,” he said, referring to the policy document on rent/tenant purchase.

The document was a tribute to those behind it, but the real challenge lay in converting theory into reality and achieving on-the-ground success, he said.