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The Labour Court has thrown out complaints made by a group of east- ern European workers that they were discriminated against by well-known Clare engineering firm, Clare Civil Engineering Ltd.

The Labour Court threw out the complaints by general labourers: Lat- ivans, Vladislavs Arbuzovs, Valerijs Myjasojedovs, Sergejs Plonkins and Croat, Igor Ostojic after finding that they failed to establish the primary facts and accordingly their claim must fall at the first hurdle.

The Labour Court official dealing with the case, Caroline Jenkinson concluded that: “Documentary evi- dence reviewed by the court further showed that in some cases the com-

plainants enjoyed superior rates of pay in comparison to some of their Irish counterparts. The court there- fore cannot draw a conclusion that discrimination on grounds of race occurred in this case.”

According to the report, the claims of discriminatory dismissal by Mr. Arbuzovs, Mr. Plonkins and Mr Ostojic were withdrawn at the hear- ing of the appeal before the Labour Court on December | last, while the claim by Mr Ostojic that he suffered victimisation and a _ victimisatory dismissal was also withdrawn at that hearing.

However, the complainants’ case that each suffered discriminatory treatment on account of their race contrary to the Employment Equal- ity Act on foot of non-implementa-

tion of the Registered Employment Agreement (REA) for the Construc- tion Industry proceeded.

Counsel for the company denied the allegations of discrimination against all four complainants.

She informed the court that the company was a small family owned business with no dedicated human resources representative. She submit- ted that both Irish and non-national employees were all treated the same. At the time of the complainants’ employment they employed approxi- mately 50 staff, about 10 per cent of whom were foreign nationals.

The company submitted “that they did not issue any staff with contracts of employment and the terms and conditions of employment of all staff were dealt with in the same way.

Therefore, not issuing contracts to the complainants and not employing them in accordance with the REA and other legislation could not be seen to be discriminatory”.

She submitted that all employees were treated the same way in rela- tion to pay. Their pay was negotiated when they started on an individual net basis and was dependent on their experience.

In the report of the Labour Court officer, Caroline Jenkinson said: ‘In relation to the more specific dis- crimination claim that their race was a factor in the non-implementation of the REA, the evidence adduced at the hearing was that all workers, Whether of Irish origin or non-Irish origin, were treated in the same man- ner.”

SOME of the world’s leading edu- cation experts will speak at a major conference announced for Ennis in May.

‘When Children Learn Differently’ – aconference on teaching and learn- ing resources for difficult times, will take place at Glor from May I- 2.

Speakers already confirmed for the event include Paul Cooper, a pro- fessor of education and chartered psychologist who has developed re- search and teaching interests, along with a list of over 100 publications (including 14 authored and edited books); Suzanne Horgan, founder and director of Eating Disorders Ire- land; Dr Terry Lynch who will speak on understanding, responding to and preventing self-harm, suicidal intent and suicide in young people; and Rosemarie Mason who will give a lecture entitled ‘Understanding the many different ways children learn – an overview of the HANDLE (Holis- tic Approach to Neuro Development and Learning Efficiency) Approach’. The event is being organised by the recently formed Irish Conferences.

Born out of Orchid Book Distribu-

tors, Irish Conferences was set up with a view to organising and host- ing top-quality conferences and seminars in Ennis.

Organiser Ian Smulders said the conference will look at the area of special needs education “in the broadest possible sense”’.

“This will mean everything from the whole area of emotional educa- tion to spotting suicidal tendencies in teenagers,’ explained Jan.

Other speakers confirmed for the conference include representatives from the Blue Box Creative Learn- ing Centre, Limerick; Carmel Tier- ney, a nurse and midwife and neuro developmental therapist; and Cliona O’Rourke, Assistant Dog Trainer, for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The conference will be made up of a series of lectures and workshops. Workshops are specifically aimed at teachers.

Tickets can be purchased for individ- ual lectures and workshops. For tick- ets visit www.irishconferences.com, Creer Be contact@irishconferences. com or telephone 065 6842862. Tickets can also be purchased at the The Crow’s Feather on Woodquay, Spay AvEse

THE decision to keep the €10 travel tax after the announcement of the Finance Bill has been branded as “short sighted”.

Reacting to the publication of the Finance Bill 2010, Fine Gael’s Deputy Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Clare TD Pat Breen has slammed what he terms “the short sighted decision not to axe the €10 air travel tax”.

“This air travel tax is depressing our tourism and aviation industries. It is a disaster, especially for Shan- non Airport where the airport is set to lose several European and UK destinations. Ryanair are on the brink of transferring several of their sun routes to Cork Airport and the franchise agreement which Aer Lin- gus has signed with Aer Arann will see that airline open up several new short-haul routes from both Cork and Dublin. Iam also expecting the year- end passenger figures for Shannon Airport for 2009 to show a signifi- cant decline,” he said.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has been a vocal critic of the tax, citing its introduction as one of his reasons for decamping aircraft to other cheaper cost-base destinations in Europe.

This week, O’Leary produced fig- ures revealed by Europe’s airline monitor, showing traffic into Ireland down by 18 per cent, while in Den- mark and Spain, where charges were reduced, traffic grew by seven and

two per cent respectively.

The criticism comes as the region’s tourism concerns prepare to hear what Shannon Development, Failte Ireland and Tourism Ireland have planned for the region for the com- ing year.

The three bodies will brief tourism concerns on their plans on Thursday morning at a special conference in the Radisson Blu hotel.

“Much of the economy in Clare is

dependent on the tourism industry and with the trend in unemployment on the rise again in the county – up four per cent for January 2010, from 10,404 at the end of December 2009 to 10,818 at the end of January 2010 – this tax is affecting our competi- tiveness,” the Fine Gael spokesman renee

THE €1 million cost of refurbishing a community centre, described as “one of the best” in Clare, means En- nis Town Council is unlikely to take over the running of the building, a meeting has heard.

The future of the CYMS Commtu- nity Hall in Ennis was discussed at the February meeting of Ennis Town Council, following a motion submit- ted by Mayor of Ennis, Clir Frankie Neylon (Ind).

Cllr Neylon’s motion called on the council to state whether or not they intended to accept the offer of the CYMS Community Hall, Chapel Lane, Ennis, made to them by the Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Willie Walsh.

Cllr Neylon told the meeting that he believed the council should take over a building he said was “owned” by the people of Ennis. Highlighting the

building’s town centre location, Cllr Neylon described it as “one of the best facilities in the county”.

Responding to Cllr Neylon’s mo- tion, Town Clerk, Eddie Power stated, “As you are aware, Bishop William Walsh met with the council in relation to the Ennis Community Centre. Consultations subsequently took place between officials of the council and representatives of the Diocese in 2008. The members were subsequently briefed on these dis- cussions. The building is used for a multiplicity of purposes involving a number of different tenants.

“The council is not in a position having regard to the availability of finance to assume responsibility, for the management, maintenance or the future development of this building. It is understood that the refurbish- ment of the building would require significant capital investment in the

order of €1 million, which is not cur- rently available to the council.”

Cllr Paul O’Shea (Lab) supported the proposed takeover of the build- ing. He said, “You couldn’t ask for a better location. The youth centre has been running a very successful youth OF Nem ORONO MNS Koma

Cllr O’Shea also requested that the council provide a full report on the costs associated with running the building.

Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) said the council should not take over the building unless it is assured of “va- cant possession”.

“T don’t believe that we could run it given the way finances are at the moment. There are three or four dif- ferent organisations using it at the moment. We were told in the meet- ing with the bishop that we couldn’t get vacant possession,” he said.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) agreed

that the council would first have to be ensured vacant possession of the building before it could take owner- ship. He said money collected from development levies could be used for refurbishment. Cllr Flynn later pro- posed that the council purchase the building.

Town Manager, Ger Dollard told the meeting that it was costing the Diocese of Killaloe an estimated €150,000 a year to staff and run the building. “It’s not just a simple mat- ter of taking over the building. There are a number of complex issues as- sociated with it.”

Cllr Peter Considine (FF) warned that members should be “wary of what you wish for’, stating that itis a lot more expensive to repair a listed building than a standard one.

The proposal to purchase the build- ing was later withdrawn, pending a full report on costs.

THE NUMBER of people sign- ing on the live register in Clare last month is up a massive 2,336 on this time last year.

The latest breakdown of figures on a county-by-county basis from the Central Statistics Office shows that the numbers signing on jumped to 10,818 in Clare during January.

This is an increase of 414 on the numbers who were claiming dole in December.

The biggest increase was in Ennis, where the number signing on jumped from 10,404 in December to 10,818 in January.

The latest figures come as business agencies warn that action is needed if more jobs are not to go in the mid- west region.

New jobs in the mid-west will come from the existing base of mul- tinational companies in the region according to Bill Doherty, Chairman of the American Chamber Mid West Keres (OE

The focus of agencies such as Shannon Development and IDA Ire- land and local government should be on creating the environment which will allow companies in the region to flourish, he said.

‘The mid-west region has a higher proportion of its workforce employed in the manufacturing and industrial sector than any other region. The IDA Ireland client base in the mid- west employs in the region of 8,000 people. While it is absolutely true that Ireland must seek to become a smart economy and support knowl- edge based businesses, it must be acknowledged that core manufactur- ing is the foundation stone on which many additional investments are built,” said Mr Doherty.

SHANNON’S Senior Citizen’s Club is celebrating its 30th birthday this year by urging some not-so-senior people to get involved.

The group meets socially to organ- ise outings, art classes, swimming and offers various clinics as well as a dinner and meals on wheels serv- ice.

“We have great craic and it’s a great social outlet,” said Club PRO, Pauline Cronin.

Pauline explained that the club would love the see new members joining as well as some new volun-

teers to help out.

“We have our regular members but we would love to see some new, younger faces. We want to be sure there are people who will step up and help organise the club and take part after the older members step down.”

The club has it’s own premises at 9 Purcell Park and dinners are served there twice a week. Volunteers also bring hot dinners out to people who can’t make it to the club.

“We could do with new members and helpers. Members should be over sixty and you have to be a member for six months to take up a post on the committee so we’d love to see

people joining this end of the year,” said Pauline.

Volunteers to help serve and wrap dinners can be any age.

The club had its annual dinner dance at the weekend and now be- gins a year of fun, with walks in the Burren and outings to Galway, Knock and other destinations.

Members also arrange transport for trips into Limerick to socialise with the senior citizens club there and the club there comes out to Clare.

Members can also avail of the serv- ices of a chiropodists and a physio- therapist, both of whom have regular clinics in the clubhouse.

The newly elected committee from last week’s AGM are Kay Cosgrave, Chairperson; Tess Barry, Secretary; Treasurer, Mary Farrell and PRO, Pauline Cronin.

The chairperson thanked the outgo- ing chair, Loui Byrne for all his work of the last three years. The commit- tee also thanked the Health Service Executive for their support along with Frances Kelly who provided teams for the meals on wheels, Mar- garet McDonnell, the kitchen staff and all the volunteers. ““We’d be lost without them,’ Said Pauline.

Anyone interested in joining can contact Pauline on 061 472518.

AND so it begins.

The real beginnning of Micheal McDermott’s journey as Clare senior manager — the journey out of Divi- sion 4 where Clare have laboured these past three seasons.

That’s the aim. That’s why McDer- mott boldly told his Clare public in Christmas week “We’ve broken the season down in stages and our main focus is to win Division 4. Not get out of Division 4, but win it. There’s a cup to be won, there’s a national title to be won. Why just be happy with promotion?”

Fighting talk and festive cheer for Clare football, but McDermott knows that the practice of actions speaking louder than words begins with the throw-in at Cusack Park next Sunday.

And, McDermott has upped the ante once more by highlighting the importance of a winning start. “The display against UCC wasn’t good enough, but we have done a lot of training in the past few weeks, and looking at us in training and in chal- lenge matches, I think we can deliver a performance that the Clare public will be proud of,” he says.

“We’re going into this game after challenge matches against Roscom- mon last Thursday and Kilmurry Ibrickane on Sunday. We’re going in the right direction — we still have a lot of work to do for the year but

we’re pleased where we are at this present point of time.

‘The first match is going to be the one that Clare need to win to set the team up for the rest of the league campaign. We always said that and that’s the way we’re approaching the Wicklow game.

“Wicklow are a top quality side, there’s no doubt about that but the league is the league and it’s early in the year and I’d say that Wicklow are in the same place as we are as regards preparation for 2010.

“Going into the game there is no form to judge either team on — that’s

why it’s important to do everything to try and get those two points under our belts. We feel quite confident that we ll put up a very good performance and if that’s good enough to win the two points, great,” he adds.

And, McDermott has pledged a dif- ferent style of football in 2010 when

compared to previous years, eschew- ing short-passing for a more direct and traditional approach.

“In previous years Clare ran the ball a lot — I wouldn’t disagree with those styles, but this year it’s about moving the ball much faster and get- ting it into the full-forward line much quicker and our half-forward line be- ing in position to support the full-for- ward line quickly to get the scores,” |temr-Ke C6 Kp

“Our game is going to be based around intensity. We’re looking to play good football, quick ball into our forwards and looking to get scores on the board. We’ve been working on scoring power in training and if we can hit ten or 12 points we’ll be there or thereabouts winning the game. I think we’re capable of that and capa- ble of taking the two points.

“We want the players to buy into this style and if that produces a per- formance and a victory on Sunday, the players will really start believ- ing in the system that we’re trying to eNe

“It’s such an important match that you can’t under-emphasise it and say it enough. The first game and we’re playing at home and for the support- ers of Clare we want to give them hope for the year.”

Eimhins team crowing with pride at nomination

this week, it seems as though Wicklow could be in for some winter time blues as they build towards the main business of championship.

“Our supporters will have great expectations for the league, but it’s tried and trusted that Micko is more a championship man than a league man. He seems to turn into a differ- ent man altogether once the champi- onship comes,” said O’Brien.

‘“We’ve blooded a few players in the O’Byrne Cup and will be blooding a few more on Sunday and will be hav- ing areal go to collect a few points, but at the moment we’re aiming at the championship. Having said that it would be nice to get a run in the league.

“We’ll take it as it comes. You nev- er send out any team to lose, that’s for certain. Micko always says that the championship is the main goal, but if we were to make progress in the league and get a settled team wed be happy — at the end of the

day the league is the league because come a winter’s day you can’t match the championship to the league, even though we’ll be going down and trying to get those two points,” he added.

Former All-Star and All-Ireland Club winner with Baltinglass in 1990, O’Brien is in his fourth year as a selector under Mick O’Dwyer, yet still marvels at his boss’ enthusiasm for football that has raised the coun- ty’s football stock to its highest ever

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‘““Micko wants to improve Wicklow right across the board, whether that’s the seniors, under 21s or minors. Even after we gathered on Sunday, Micko was heading off to talk to the Wicklow Vocational Schools team that beat Dublin in the Leinster sem1- final to reach the final.

“He puts the work in with all teams at all ages in the county and with Micko it doesn’t feel like work go- ing out training and he’s full of en-

thusiasm. It’s his fourth year but with Micko every year 1s a new year — where he gets the enthusiasm from, I don’t know, but he’s infectious, loves the game and loves being part of it and it rubs off on everyone.”

And, even allowing for O’Dwyer’s indifference to league _ football, O’Brien is hopeful of making the long journey home to Baltinglass with two league points.

“Both teams are relatively close — conditions in the game two years ago

in Cusack Park were extreme and it was lucky that the game went ahead. Clare were that bit stronger than us on the day.

“With the way the weather has been we wouldn’t be as prepared for the first match as we would have been last year, but the lads we have have been on the panel for the last few years so we hope things work out on the day. We know it will be tough. Clare have new management and they will be hoping to get off to a winning start.”

THE seaside town of Kilkee, received another blow this week with news that its tourist office is to close.

Despite falling tourism figures the popular holiday town had continued to fight to attract visitors to the area, with such projects as the redevelop- ment of the Sweeney Memorial L1i- brary now underway.

The West Clare Economic Task Force has also been working to en- courage tourists west next summer.

However Shannon Development confirmed that the tourist office, which opens during the summer months, will remain closed perma- eA

An information point is to be in- stalled in its place.

The decision to close what has been described as a “valuable resource for the seaside resort and the surround- ing region’, has been made due to NESE DEED RokI Ne BE SLICE

Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said he has written to those responsible in regional tourism to urge them to re- consider this decision.

“T do not believe that now is the time for us to be removing or scal- ing back on our tourist product. This is not a good long-term decision for Kilkee or the region in general, and I would ask Shannon Development to reconsider the closure of this of- fice. The tourist office in Kilkee is a

vital source of information on what to do and see in the area as well as a way for local business, such as ho- tels, guesthouses and restaurants, to promote their products. It’s removal and closure will have an adverse fi- nancial effect on the local region. It is not a good day for west Clare tour- ism,” he said.

‘The wider picture here is one of Government’s inability to properly fund and develop Ireland’s tourist product. A 12 per cent drop in tour- ist visitors to Ireland last year is very worrying. This coupled with the on- going uncertainty over both Ryanair and Aer Lingus and their business through Shannon Airport are placing huge pressure on the tourist industry

in County Clare. This region was promised a marketing fund post open skies to help sustain and develop our tourist sector. Yet that fund has never materialised. With tourist office now closing on this Government’s watch, it gives some indication of the pres- sures the mid-west region is facing.

“Notwithstanding the difficulties the sector faces, I do not believe that closing the Kilkee Tourist Of- fice will have a net gain for the tax- payer in the long run. Symbolically, the closure of this office will undo much good work that has been done in promoting Kilkee in recent years. I would urge Shannon Development to reconsider this announcement,” he said.