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Dr Schranz said he was a permanent

radiologist assigned to Portiuncula General Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital at the time.

‘I was only requested to report, on an urgent basis, … by the manager of Ennis General Hospital … (on) a number of casualty and GP films which had been outstanding for four to five weeks, some of which (not Ms Moriarty’s) were labelled as “ur- gent”,” the letter read.

Dr Schranz said he was sure of the date of the incident as it was his 40th birthday and he had to cancel plans since the situation “with outstand- ing x-ray reporting in Ennis was de- scribed to me as critical.

“On the day, I found the x-ray of Ms Moriarty was a single film amongst a pile in one of the offices. The request form simply said “fever” with no mention of the patient’s past history of breast carcinoma and extensive left breast reconstruction.”

“This radiograph was dated June 11, but the first time I saw this radio- graph was in July.”

He went on to say the way Ms Mo- riarty was positioned for the x-ray was technically limiting.

The consultant radiologist said that he dictated his report onto a tape and Sam Lm Comma gop batee

“IT was not asked to cross-check

the final typed report before it was sent out. I have no way of veritfy- ing whether what was typed into the report was what I actually said on Fe olen

“My report said that the x-ray was grossly abnormal with a large shad- ow seen in the left lung,” he said.

There was no reference to this in an internal investigation into Ms Mor1i- arty’s case, or if this report was re- layed to the physician’s team.

In his letter, Dr Schranz said there was no mention in the hospital re- port of a chest x-ray performed, or an investigation performed prior to her discharge from St James’ when

she was given the all clear in April, two months before she presented in Ennis with a fever. At the very least, these should have include an ultra- sound exam and CT scan. If these were clear then it is highly improba- ble that such a large metastatic lesion would have formed in a six week pe- riod between April and June 11.”

Dr Schranz also told the Minister that he was not informed of the inci- dent or the inquiry into it until it was over. “I fail to understand why I was never interviewed with regards to this inquiry, since I could have shed a lot of light into what actually hap- pened,’ he said.

THEY maybe one of Ireland’s big- gest employers, but Intel Ireland isn’t too big for a bit of DIY at one local primary school.

Staff from Intel’s factory in Shan- non dropped by Ennis National School on Thursday to help out with a bit of maintenance work.

The school is undergoing a bit of a make over, and as part of Intel’s serv- ice in the community scheme staff were only too happy to help out.

Staff from the electronics firm and parents rolled up their sleeves and got out their paintbrushes and lad- ders for two days last week. David

Casey, Chairperson of the Board of Management at Ennis National, said the school was delighted to receive the support of Intel.

“They do a lot of community schemes and have put an awful lot back into the community in Ireland. We were delighted when we heard they wanted to come along and help out on the day. We do this sort of thing every year, just painting, a few repairs here and there, cutting the hedges things like that. So we are de- lighted to have them here. It’s great that they would come to the school and work with us on this.”

Intel Ireland has two facilities in Ireland located in Leixlip and Shan-

nee

Intel Shannon with more than 160 employees hosts both the Shannon Development Center and the Shan- non Business Center. The Shannon Development Center is the Euro- pean research and development arm of Intel’s Digital Enterprise Group (DEG). The site hosts a number of divisions focusing on server chipset, security and communication silicon and software design.

The Shannon Business Center pro- vides business, technical and mar- keting support for European custom- ers and field sales. Shannon is the European base for the embedded businesses of DEG and home to the

technical marketing and business de- velopment teams.

According to the IDA, the Intel Ire- land operation employs 5,000 people CUT ererW hYamr- NaC Mm DOOD usLOlN AAD UI MRC) ITcaN Ooo te ing, technical and operational activi- Woe

PARENTS in- Knockerra have warned the council that lives will be lost 1f the speed limit outside the lo- cal national school is not reduced.

Three years after the parents as- sociation in St Senan’s National School, Knockerra, first started to lobby Clare County Council to ob- tain a temporary speed limit restric- tion, parents are maintaining nothing has been done.

‘A reduced speed limit just during certain times, is not a lot to ask,” said one parent.

As far back as 2005 the senior staff officer in transport and infrastructure at Clare County Council responded, ‘A 50 kilometres per hour speed lim- it in this location would be contrary to the general advice contained in the Department of Transport guide- lines for speed limits and, in practice would be unenforceable.”

In May 2006, the local Garda su- perintendent said he would have no objection to reducing the speed limit in Knockerra village from 80 km/ph to 50 km/ph. The senior engineer in Clare County Council responded to the parents association saying, “It is

likely that such a special speed limit will be introduced in the vicinity of Knockerra School and this will op- erate for appropriate periods during school hours.”

It states “the introduction of speed limits in most such areas, unless they can be strictly enforced is not alone pointless but brings the whole speed limit process into disrepute.”

There are now flashing lights on both approaches to the school but no road markings. “This is a very sorry state of affairs; the gardai are behind the initiative, but the county coun- cil seemingly don’t care. Schools in

other parts of the county have been successful in having the speed limits reduced. In Knockerra, the ball was started three years ago. Does it take a fatality for the council to wake up and see that indecision is putting a generation in danger?” an angry par- nlm (6

This road is used by traffic going to the Killimer ferry and Money- point Generating Station. It has also become a rat run for people who try to shave five minutes off their jour- ney time. Trucks and lorries also pass as parents bring their children to school.

THE proposed outsourcing of cabin crew on Aer Lingus transatlantic flights will not directly affect the number of American tourists who use Shannon Airport, according to a leading tourism spokesman.

This outsourcing, which is part of the massive cost saving plan pro- posed by management last week, would see American based cabin crew employed on the flights with only pilots to be based in Shannon.

According to Lahinch hotelier and local spokesperson for the Irish Ho-

tel federation, Michael Vaughan the proposal may have impacted on the old Aer Lingus model, but will not adversely affect the new low-cost model.

“Aer Lingus has always used the image of being an Irish airline to attract business, especially from America. | think if outsourcing of cabin crew does take place then they really won’t be able to say that any- more,’ he said.

“They have adopted the low cost model and one of the assumptions of this model is that the person re- ally doesn’t mind who brings them to

their destination as long as they can get there for the price they want. In the older model for Aer Lingus this might have been an issue but I’m not sure that if will have an impact Ce) A

Mr Vaughan believes that the worst case scenario for tourism in the re- gion is if no agreement is reached between unions and the airline and a “wind down” of services comes into effect.

“I see this as a HR issue for Aer Lingus. They have to get their cost base right and negotiate with the un- ions. At present we don’t believe that

there is any threat to their transatlan- tic service out of Shannon barring a situation where we cannot come to some agreement. If this is the situa- tion I would assume that there will be some sort of wind down of serv- ices and that would have a damaging effect on the region, there is no doubt about that,’ he continued.

“That said it is quite possible that other airlines would see a possible opportunity in that. I know that Delta and Continental are quite happy with their activity of late and may just see an opportunity for themselves there.

“T am always conscious of the fact

that there are people’s jobs at stake here in Shannon, but in my position I must take a wider view. We have been hostages to fortune in Shannon for so long now. It’s like there has been a sword hanging over us for years now and there is a feeling within the busi- ness community that it is time to get the house in order in Shannon and go forward positively into the future in- stead of going forward with a chip on our shoulder about one thing or the other. In a perverse sort of way this may be a golden opportunity to en- Sure proper services in Shannon for the future.”

CLARE beef farmers will save hun- dreds of euro next year following the decision to introduce the new 48-month rule for BSE testing. The new approach to BSE testing was an- nounced by the Department of Ag- riculture last month but it was last week announced that the new testing regime would be introduced from January 1, 2009.

The news was welcomed by east Clare farmers and Chairperson of the ICMSA Beef and Cattle Com- mittee, Martin McMahon, who says that it will have a major impact on

ie Ve silo ae

“This definite commencement date brings to an end a period of regret- table uncertainty and false starts and we estimate that the savings to farm- ers could be of the order of €8 mil- lion per annum,” he said.

“The new 48-month rule is further concrete evidence that the BSE prob- lem is now firmly in the past and also represents full recognition by the Commission of the excellent system of cattle identification and tractabil- ity which operates in Ireland.

“The new rule removes an unnec- essary cost and irrelevant age cut- off point and provides farmers with

more flexibility regarding the mar- keting of their cattle.”

Speaking on the issue when it was initially announced, Clare TD, Tony Killeen, said that the move would deliver significant savings to farmers who currently pay to have healthy slaughtered animals over 30 months tested for BSE.

“The current testing requirements are unjustified when one considers the significant progress made in re- ducing the incidence of the disease in Ireland, from a high of 333 cases in 2003 to 25 last year and 12 to date in 2008,” he said.

“Tam confident, based on the reduc-

tion in the disease in Ireland and the extensive controls in place, that Ire- land’s application will be approved and that the new testing regime may even be in place from early 2009.

“From the outset of his appoint- ment Minister Brendan Smith has continually identified the increase in the age limit for BSE testing as a priority. One of the first things he did as minister was to write to the EU Commissioner and he has taken every opportunity since to press the Commissioner to increase the age limit, particularly when he had met Commissioner Vassiliou at meetings of the EU Agriculture Council.”

TWO contentious infrastructural projects for Ennis have been shelved as government funding streams start to dry up.

The proposed redevelopment of the market and the Ennis Library project have both been deferred, according to Ennis Town Council’s report on capital projects.

In the case of the market redevel- opment, the report states that “the ouncil has been advised by the De- partment of the Environment that all local authority loans previously sanctioned but which have not been drawn down, have been withdrawn’’.

The report continues, “The impact of this at local level means that the redevelopment of the market must be

deferred. Local authorities have been advised that loan approval can be ap- plied for in 2009″.

The proposal to build a new two- storey library at the post office field has also hit a roadblock. According to the report, Ennis Town Council has been informed “that all library projects which have not reached ten- der approval stage cannot proceed at this time. A new Capital Funding Programme is being prepared by the Department of the Environment for library projects”.

In the past there has been staunch opposition to the re-development of the Post Office Field, a green-field currently zoned amenity, from local community groups and local coun- I oyace

The report states that a concept

plan has been prepared for the Post Office Field.

The re-development of the market, meanwhile, courted opposition from traders operating in the area.

However there has been some movement on seven capital projects. The report states that the completion of the Ennis inner relief road has been “accorded first priority” and has been forwarded to tender stage.

The development of Tim Smythe Park and Clonroad Park has also proceeded to tender stage. Work in the development of the a youth café in Cloughleigh, an indoor facility at Lees Road and the redevelopment of O’ Connell square, has also pro- eressed, though all three projects are subject to government finance.

Meanwhile, the report states “the

acquisition of additional housing stock in 2009 will depend on avail- ability of additional capital funding from the Department of the Environ- ment in 2009”

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said he was disappointed with the delays and with the loss of funding for the market re-development.

Cllr Joe Reidy (FF) said he too was disappointed with the delays but add- ed that it was good to see progress on other projects.

Cllr Tom Glynn (FF) urged the council to formulate a clear and defi- nite plan for the Post Office Field. Town clerk Eddie Power said the council expected to have funds for Tim Smythe Park and the youth café but that funding for Lees Road is “some way down the line”.

NORTH Tipperary County Council have secured a number of undertak- ings from protesters who had been maintaining a blockade close to a house allocated to a ten member family from the travelling commu- nity, the High Court heard yesterday.

The High Court was told that un- dertakings had been given by a group of residents from the town of Ballina that they would not intimidate or as-

sault Council employees or the fam- ily, nor would they interfere with the access to or trespass on the house.

On Monday Mr Justice Paul Gilli- gan, after being informed of the un- dertakings, agreed to adjourn gener- ally injunction proceedings against a number of residents from Cullenagh, Ballina, County Tipperary, from con- tinuing with a blockade of the house fesse u ieee

The protest began early last month when residents discovered that a

house at Cullenagh had been ac- quired by the Council for the purpose of housing the O’Reilly family.

Last week the Council was granted permission by the High Court to no- tify those individuals involved in the blockade of their intention to seek an injunction aimed at restraining the protesters from interfering and tres- passing on the property.

Mr David Kennedy SC for the Council told the court the situation had become very inflamed. He said

glue had been placed in the house’s locks, the electricity had been cut off and the council employees attending the property were in fear of being in- timidated by those maintaining the blockade.

The O’Reilly family consists of the parents and their eight children, some of whom had special needs and were currently residing in a mobile home on the side of the road with no toilet facilities and no electricity.

The family are from the locality

and have been on the housing list since 2000.

Since the dispute began last Sep- tember a number of residents had en- tered the council’s offices in Nenagh and verbally abused people there resulting in the gardai being called. The residents had been outside the house at Cullenagh since September Rees

The council intends to have the family move into the house as soon as possible.

CALLS have been made for the hugely successful duty-free compa- ny, Aer Rianta International, (ARI) to plough back some of its profits to market Shannon Airport, where the duty-free concept was born.

As the airport faces the loss of 280 Aer Lingus jobs, a former senior management figure with ARI has said it’s payback time for the com- pany, which made pre-tax profits of €291 million in the 12 months to the end of 2007.

This was a huge increase on the €17.5 million filed with the compa- nies office for the previous year.

The company, which is based at Shannon Airport, paid ©230 million in dividends last year to its parent group, the Dublin Airport Authority and repaid €98 million to the DAA. Sales from ARI’s duty free shops in Russia, the Middle East, Europe and North America rose by 58 per cent to €69 million.

The Commonwealth of Independ- ent States – Russia and it’s former territories – accounted for €64.8 million of ARI’s turnover and their next biggest revenue contributor, the Middle East, generated sales of €2.4 million. Europe brought in €1.6 mil- lion of sales and North America was last in line with sales of €214,000.

Now a former senior management

figure, who was closely involved in setting up much of ARI’s business, has called for some of the money to be ploughed back into marketing the airport where the duty-free concept Veh o0) 60

He believes that “between 10 and 20 per cent” of ARI’s profits should be used to help Shannon in these troubled times.

There was no-one from the DAA available to comment on the proposal but it is understood that the authority would not see any compunction on ARI to contribute to any Shannon airport marketing drive.

The ARI is a company in it’s own right and apart from being based at Shannon has no other direct connec- tion with the airport.

Another company is responsible for running the duty-free shops at Shan- non, Dublin and Cork airports.

However, many supporters of the airport would see the ARI’s success as being at least in part due to the Clare facility being the first home of duty free.

In 1951 the first airport duty-free liquor shop was opened. It started as a ship’s store where airline stewards purchased supplies for re-sale to pas- sengers when the aircraft became ~Npuee) uae

Later, passengers were allowed to buy drink and tobacco at duty-free prices on a restricted basis.

CLARE dairy farmers turned out in force for two farm walks last week held on the farms of Paddy Harvey, Brisla, Cooraclare and Patrick Mur- phy, Cornmallow, Quin. The two farmers were selected as new moni- tor farms this year, and serve an es- sential role in recording production data and costs trends on farms as part of the Teagasc/Kerry Agribusiness focus on farm profit programme.

The main theme of the walks was centered on performance and costs on the farms, as well as managing grass and grazing under difficult conditions as fodder budgeting for the coming winter.

Ger Courtney, Teagasc monitor farm programme coordinator, gave an in-depth run down on perform- ance of the farms in terms of milk supplied, costs of production and the breeding within the herds with particular attention to the herd’s EBI and calving patterns.

He also explained how farmers can estimate their own fodder situation and gave advice on how supplemen- tation can be used to ensure adequate feed is available for the upcoming winter period.

Aidan Bugler, Local Dairy Adviser covered the area of grass budgeting on each farm illustrating the impor- tance of having a plan for managing grass in the autumn with the aim of

keeping grass in the cows diet for as long as possible, while at the same time ensuring enough grass is car- ried over for next spring.

He acknowledged that the weather conditions this autumn have made building up grass very difficult. How- ever he was anxious to show how the two farms had taken corrective action early by feeding some silage and meal which will help maximize OF Acer Nimes ehh

Tom Gleeson, Local Dairy Advis- er, covered the area of soil fertility and stressed the need for regular soil sampling as a must if farmers are to have any chance of keeping costs un- der control. This he said is particu- larly true this year considering that

the costs of fertilizers have increased so dramatically in recent times. The need to keep soils limed and maxi- mizing the benefits of slurry were seen by Tom as an essential part of nutrient management on farms.

Rina Sayers, MVB Moorepark, covered the area of herd health with particular emphasis on BVD and IBR infections in herds. Her main message was prevention is better than cure and she stressed the need for on farm biosecurity measures as the best way to protect your herd from infection.

THE East Clare Community Co- op, which has been largely closed for some time for improvements and building work, is making great strides towards being up and running again.

Located behind Brian and Joe’s Café, the co-op has been the home of a myriad activities from learning boat building and getting involved in a community garden project to expe- riencing Shiatsu, taking singing les- sons and learning yoga.

The co-op closed temporarily in January so that disability access

could be installed throughout the building. However, it soon became apparent that more work was needed than had been budgeted for.

Work was needed to bring the build- ing up to health and safety standards, including a complete rewiring of the building and a fire alarm system. AI- though the refurbishment was grant- aided, the co-op ran into a number of snags along the way to unveiling the new and improved facility.

‘There were a number of things to sort out and it has taken a bit longer that anyone had originally thought but the various elements are com- ing together now and we’re moving

ahead”, a spokeswoman for the co-op said.

The Community Co-op, has been the launching pad for many initia- tives locally including the Raheen Wood School, the Grainey whole- food store, East Clare Telecottage and the Clare Women’s Network.

The co-op has also been at various times home to youth club activities, the Citizens’ Information Service, the Centre for Environmental Training and Living (CELT) the Letts Trading system, where people exchange work and skills as an alternative to cash, the Dandelion Puppet Theatre Com- pany, and Brian and Joe’s Café, sup-

ported by the Brothers of Charity.

When the co-op reopens, it will be ready to roll out four new part-time Pobail-funded jobs for a gardener, caretaker, administrator and cleaner.

A number of activities are still go- ing ahead in the co-op. Last week a group came together under the aus- pices of the Brothers of Charity to build a currach.

The community garden project is also underway each Wesdnesday be- tween | and 3pm.

New gardeners are welcome, and children are particularly welcome to come and experince the fun of plant- ing and growing.