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NON-ENNIS residents could have their say on the make-up of Ennis Town Council in next year’s local Here w Oy I TSE

Ennis Town Council is considering a proposal that would allow business owners with premises in Ennis, but not actually living in Ennis, to cast a vote in local elections next year.

Members of Fermoy Town Council have written to their counterparts in Ennis requesting that they support a motion, passed in the Fermoy Coun- cil chamber in July.

The motion states, “This council calls on the Government to enact legislation whereby any individual who pays rates or service charges to a local authority be entitled to vote in that local authority’s elections and that we circulate details of the mo- tion to councils countrywide to seek their support.”

At yesterday’s meeting of Ennis Town Council, Fianna Fail coun-

cillor Tom Glynn called on his col- leagues in the chamber to support the motion.

“It is a merited proposition,” said Cllr Glynn, “If a person is a member of the business community in En- nis he or she should be entitled to a vote.”

Cllr Glynn said many people op- erating businesses in Ennis were not residents in the town. “There are lots of people from outside the town who have businesses in Ennis. I agree with the sympathy of the motion and J think we should support it.”

Town Clerk Eddie Power said problems existed regarding the pro- posal. The council is to write to the Minister for the Environment, John Gormely after members sought fur- ther clarification on the matter.

Meanwhile, members have also outlined their preferred measures for the control of postering for elections and referenda.

The proposals put forward by the Department of Environment, Herit- age and Local Government involve limiting posters to designated bill- boards or temporary hoardings, limiting the number of posters per candidate and introducing a code of practice on issues such as maximum poster size, bio-degradability of ma- terials and poster ties.

Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine said he didn’t see the value of elec- tion posters and that he won’t be using them during next year’s cam-

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that the project was never a moneymaking venture but about changing people lives for the better.

The €4 million etown project is the first of its kind in Ireland and con- struction work on the 12 combined home/work units in the scheme was completed early this year with Shan- non Development taking ownership

in April.

“There has been a lot of activity with the show house,” said Mr Ryan.

The e-towns initiative allows peo- ple to work from home and has been designed as an innovative way of helping people find a better quality O) Ms BB Kee

This unique integrated development combines living and office space with high-tech broadband access.

The current property downturn has had an affect on the sale of the hous- es and units in Miltown Malbay but as the economy continues to change Mr Ryan believes that the e-town

concept will become an even more valuable part of modern life.

“We believe in the concept. The time is right. More people will want to live close to work as the price of oil and petrol gets more expensive.”

“We see this as a long term invest- ment and we are not in it for the money,’ said the Shannon Develop- ment employee. “It is about changing quality of life for the best.”

So committed to the concept, Shan- non Development is preparing to Open its second etown to the public ONS To) O)Ko08 elo aoe

The eight-unit homework space is

situated on 1.3 acres inside the walls of an old mill. From there the sem1- state company plans to build similar etowns in Offaly, north Tipperary and County Limerick.

Among the many attraction likely to entice people to the west Clare etown and the nine primary schools and secondary school in the area.

It also has a vibrant community, surfing, golf, drama, Irish music classes, créche facilities, 15 bars and a dozen restaurants within a few of miles, and of course the sea. It is also just 30 minutes from Ennis and un- der an hour from Shannon Airport.

THE ICMSA has called for an im- mediate and co-ordinated response from Government to the recent floods in terms of the health and safety is- sues involved.

ICMSA Rural Development Com- mittee Chairman John O’Donnell said the piecemeal approach current- ly favored to what is rapidly becom- ing a matter of national emergency is completely inadequate to the scale of the threat posed.

“We have to be much more sys- tematic, both in terms of short term actions to repair damaged infra- structure and longer term measures to lessen the effects of the flooding that all the forecasters are saying 1s going to become a permanent feature of our lives,’ he said.

Mr O’Donnell pointed out that me- dia and official attention tended to focus on the damage floods inflicted on urban environments with rural areas receiving much less attention and, consequently, much less aid.

‘There has been considerable dam- age done in both towns and country areas with biting losses suffered by farmers through damaged crops and saturated land.

“While a lot of the media attention is focused on urban areas, people should not forget that many people living in country areas have also seen their houses flooded as well as ruinous income losses through the inability to farm because of the flooding.

“It is clear, as well, that there are massive health and safety issues as- sociated with flooding and it is es- sential that the Government address these as a matter of priority and not simply forget them once the floods have subsided,’ pointed out Mr O’Donnell.

“A great deal of the damage relat- ing to these floods stems from out- dated infrastructure, such as bridges, culverts, and various types of debris obstructing rivers and the failure to maintain rivers in an appropriate condition — and that failure is the

clear responsibility of the Govern- ment and its agencies.

“It is ICMSA’s view that a special fund should be established to address these infrastructure deficits immedi-

ately in a way that will minimise the Stress and losses to families, who are facing the prospects of this type of chaos every year,’ concluded the IC- MSA Chairman.

FEARS that low-cost airline, Rya- nair might axe routes at Shannon have been calmed, with a spokesman for the Shannon board saying they hope to do business with the O’ Leary outfit “well into the future”.

Ryanair has warned that if the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) changes the costs on its five year deal at Shannon, there will be repercus- SIONS.

But yesterday, a spokesman for the board said that the Ryanair deal is doing well, with the airline perform- ing beyond expectations.

“We have a very strong and posi-

tive working relationship with Rya- nair. They are valued customers and we look forward to this continuing to be the case well into the future,’ the spokesman said.

According to Ryanair’s deputy chief executive, Michael Cawley the airline has a fixed cost deal at Shan- non and it is working.

He added however, “If by any chance there is an attempt by the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) — which we don’t anticipate — to change those costs for sure will there will be repercussions.”

Mr Cawley said, “We will hon- our our deal in Shannon so as long as Shannon honours their deal with

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Mr Cawley was making his com- ments in the wake of Ryanair pulling two routes out of Cork Airport to the UK arising from a dispute with the Cork Airport Authority (CAA) over airport costs.

Mr Cawley said, “Unlike Cork, Shannon made an independent deci- sion in 2004 to do a five year long term low cost deal with Ryanair. We have delivered up to 1.7 million to the end of April at Shannon and are on target to do 1.9 million to the end of April next year.”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said yesterday, “I would expect Shannon to adhere to the deal.”

Cllr McCarthy said that the current deal will expire in 2010. She said, “Ryanair has been good to Shannon and Shannon has been very good to Ryanair.

She added, “Shannon has been made cost competitive with the loss of 250 jobs and in the negotiations, but sides will know how far they can go and the facilities provided at Shannon Airport have to be paid for.”

Earlier this year, Ryanair warned that its multi-million euro deal with the Shannon Aijrport Authority (SAA) may not be renewed if the air- port does not further reduce its cost pe Ioe

The maintenance of the five year deal — worth €300 million to the west of Ireland according to the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) — is key to the airport’s survival and is up for renewal in two years time.

Shannon Airport has become in- creasingly reliant on Ryanair since it established its base at Shannon in 2005 with the airline now flying to 32 destinations and accounting for over two million or two-thirds of passengers at Shannon.

Underlining Ryanair’s dominance at Shannon, the company has recent- ly erected a ‘Welcome to Ryanair Country’ billboard at the entrance to Welomr-Nby Olea

that dumping has escalated to a completely unacceptable level.

“The current warden is doing a

fine job but it’s a big area to cover,

spreading from Westbury all the way into Clare. He can’t be working twenty four hours a day, seven days a week,” the Labour councillor said.

Cllr Fitzgerald, who runs a food business 1n the Westbury Centre, says there has been a marked increase in illegal dumping in recent months.

“T come in in the morning and my bin has bags of other people’s rub- bish in it. Householders in the area ring me angry that they put out their bins for collection and overnight, other people come along and fill the

bins up. At every bottle bank, you see cardboard boxes dumped and drive out to Broadford and there’s rubbish just dumped at the side of the road.”

The councillor believes that people are dumping at night and at week- ends, knowing that the litter warden can’t work every weekend.

“IT saw a pick-up truck drive past me last Sunday loaded down with bags of rubbish. That was at 2pm on a Sunday. The truck drove towards Clare and I saw it coming back at

3.30pm empty. Now where did those bags of rubbish end up? There was no official landfill or recycling place open on Sunday.”

Cllr Fitzgerald said he is also ask- ing the director of services to tell him how many fines and court pros- ecutions there have been for littering in the east Clare area.

‘People are dumping because they know they won’t be caught or penal- ised. We need more than one person to enforce this legislation. It’s getting out of hand.”

CLARE IFA members were among the large crowd of milk suppliers who marched in protest to the Kerry group headquarters in Tralee last week to express their dissatisfac- tion at the group’s failure to lift its June and July milk price, and at Ker- ry’s slippage down the milk price league.

Addressing the suppliers, IFA Dep- uty President Derek Deane said the

protest was being staged to ensure that the Kerry Group clearly under- stood their anger at Kerry’s recent milk price policy.

“Kerry used to be a milk price leader, setting the pace for the in- dustry, and always paying a top price. They have since fallen back to ninth position out of 13 in the 2007 Farmers Journal/KPMG audit. This July, Kerry has slipped once again, and is paying its suppliers less than the other two big milk purchasers,

Dairygold and Glanbia. Kerry’s own suppliers now feel their company is more committed to the stock market than it is to them,’ he added.

‘Kerry has scale, efficiency and a diversified, high value product mix that puts it in an strong position to pay a leading milk price – indeed it used to have a proud record of doing so in the past. Kerry must immedi- ately pay an extra 2c/I for July milk, and commit to pay a leading milk price for the rest of 2008 and for the

future,’ Derek Deane said.

IFA National Dairy Committee Chairman Richard Kennedy added, “Kerry is letting its suppliers down at the worst possible time. Farmers are now faced with massive cost in- creases threatening their profitabil- ity, which they are in no position to pass back. Now more than ever they need Kerry to deliver the strong- est possible milk price – but Kerry is deliberately dragging its heels on the July price, paying 1.6c/l less than

Glanbia (allowing for their recent 2c/ | top up), and Ic/I less than Dairy- gold.”

“Kerry milk producers are sending a clear message to all the directors of the PLC board today: Kerry must ur- gently revise its milk pricing policy. Kerry suppliers are demanding to be back at the top of the price league. Kerry must pay an additional 2c/l for July, and regain its once proud place as a strong milk price leader,” Rich- ard Kennedy concluded.

STAFF at Aer Lingus in Shannon expect a wait of several tense weeks before they hear anything from man- agement on proposals to deal with the airline’s operating losses.

There has been no direct communi- cation with SIPTU, the union repre- senting the majority of airline staff at the Clare airport since the company announced losses of more than €22 pep NOBlOyee

Soaring fuel prices are being blamed for the losses in the first six

months of the year.

Chief Executive of Aer Lingus, Dermot Mannion, said the cost of fuel, coupled with slowing economic erowth and the weakness of the dol- lar and sterling will continue to af- fect the airline in the remaining six months of the year.

“Even with the reduction in fuel prices over the last few weeks, com- petitive pressure on fares and vol- umes will continue and we are at best expected to break even in the second half, delivering a loss for the full year,” he said.

Airport sources say that the air- line’s 400 staff were worried by the announcement of a “root and branch” review of the airline’s costs.

But SIPTU’s Tony Carroll said that the union is “not pre-empting” any management moves and does not ex- pect to hear anything in the immedi- ate future.

He said that staff have “stepped up to the plate on every occasion there has been a problem in the past. I don’t see what more they can do. It is the price of oil which is causing problems.”

Staff costs might seem an obvi- ous target for achieving savings but nationally, union leaders are saying their members need not be the ones to take the pain.

SIPTU Branch Organiser Teresa Hannick said that the union acknowl- edges the difficult trading conditions in the aviation sector due to rising fuel costs but the company in turn must acknowledge the tremendous contribution by staff to its continued viability.

“SIPTU members have already contributed savings worth €11 mil-

lion a year to the airline,” she said in response to the company’s half yearly results issued to the Stock Ex- change last week.

“We can currently assessing these results and any impact they may have on the airline.

“As we demonstrated earlier this year, making savings and improv- ing competitiveness can be achieved without pay cuts,” she said.

A spokesman for IMPACT, which represents 2,000 cabin crew and pi- lots said their members are “natural- ly worried” about job losses.

THERE were victory celebrations in Tulla last week as the young musi- cians who made their mark at the All Ireland Fleadh were feted.

In a parade through the streets, led by the Tulla Pipe Band, Aisling Hunt carried the Enna Doocey Shield which she won in the Accordion Class, ul2 group. Aisling Lyons won her second successive All-Ireland ul2 title in the harp and she proud- ly carried the Caesar Cup. Eimear Coughlan brought the Mayo Ireland Ltd cup for winning the All Ireland ul5 harp. Gearoid McNamara was second in the whistle ul2 competi- tion and Geard Coughlan was sec- ond in the ccompaniment and Harp VERE

After the celebration parade, the winners and Comhaltas members went to Minogues where a party got into full swing.

Tulla Comhaltas is now _ busy putting the final touches to prepa- rations for the Tulla Trad Festival, which will start on September

The classes will be led by some of the very best musicians. Topping the list is Liz Carroll the renowned fid- dle player based in the U.S. who is doing a fiddle workshop in the morn- ing and giving a masterclass in the afternoon. Flute player Catherine McEvoy is the tutor at the flute work- shop and masterclass.

Whistle students will be delighted to hear top whistle player Mary Ber- gin perform, while harp players will have well known harpist Kathleen

Loughnane.

Micheal O’Raghallaigh on concer- tina is back again this year and Ann Conroy-Burke and her husband Joe Burke are both master accordion- ists. Anne, who will be in charge of the accordion workshop and master class, will be joined by Joe at the ‘Masters in Town Concert’ on the Saturday night.

Among the extra workshops includ- ed this year are uileann pipes and percussion. Piper Mick O’Brien will be giving the uileann pipes classes.

Limerick born Tommy Hayes who came to fame when he became part of Stockton’s Wing is giving the per- cussion class. John Carty will take banjo.

Popular traditional singer, Nora Butler is doing the traditional sing-

ing class and Maire Ni Chéileachair will be teaching sean nos singing, while Aidan Vaughan from Miltown Malbay will be teaching steps for Sets.

Sean nos dancers will be able to see Seosamh O’Neachtain stepping out in the sean nos style from his native Connemara. Seosamh will be giving morning classes and evening master classes and like most of the master musicians will also be performing at the ‘Masters in Town Concert’.

Sr Eibhlin Ni Challanain and Caitlin Ni Mhaoldomnaigh. are the muinteoiri at the Comhra Gaeilge classes.

THE ICSA has joined in a protest against a requirement from Tesco that farmers should disclose detailed and sensitive information from their accounts, as part of the supermarket group’s new contract stipulation.

The protest, which involved farm- ing organisations that are part of the FFE umbrella (Fairness for Farm- ers in Europe), was held outside the Tesco group headquarters outside London last Tuesday.

According to ICSA president Mal- colm Thompson, “this new contract clause, which currently applies to British farmer milk suppliers to Tes- co UK, 1s the thin end of the wedge. ICSA is deeply concerned that this clause must be opposed before it be- comes the norm for all suppliers of farm produce to Tesco, not just in the UK but in Ireland as well.”

“T want to send a very clear signal to Tesco and other retailers that Irish farmers will not wear any such de- mands. It is absolutely unacceptable that Tesco should demand the disclo- sure of detailed information on costs and profitability from a farmer’s accounts to any third party agency. The clear implication is that Tesco is looking for justification to squeeze

farmer margins even more. Such in- formation is a private matter for farm families and is commercially sensi- tive.

“I don’t see Tesco offering open

and transparent information on how much margin they are making on farm products such as milk, beef or lamb. But we do know that the farm- er’s share of the final retail price has

dropped substantially over the past 25 years and this is the primary reason why so many farmers are no longer able to make a fair living. For ex- ample, in the case of beef, Irish farm-

ers were obtaining over 75 per cent of the final retail price in 1973, the figure now is about one-third. This indicates clearly that farmers’ mar- gins have been squeezed to the point of no return and this trend coincides with the increasing dominance of the retail trade across Europe by a hand- ful of very dominant multinationals.

‘There is no need for Tesco or any other retailer to obtain such sensi- tive information from individual farmers. If Tesco want a handle on farming profitability, they can eas- ily get overall industry figures from sources such as the Teagasc National Farm Survey which will demonstrate the tight margins that farmers oper- ate on. In the case of beef and lamb, farmers are actually losing money on production and are using their Single Farm Payment to survive. This is not sustainable.

“ICSA will not stand for such inva- sive clauses in contracts and we are determined that this approach will not be allowed to be mainstreamed into Irish retailing. Today is the first step in our declaration of opposition to this,’ he concluded.

THE nursing home operator headed up by Shannon Airport Authority Chairman Pat Shanahan increased the size of its business by almost one third and returned to profit last year.

According to recent returns to the Companies Office, Mowlam Health- care increased its turnover from €14.2 million to €18 million.

The country’s largest nursing home operator — which is to open a new nursing home and retirement village in Ennis and Kilrush shortly — re- turned a pre-tax profit of €680,000 .

This followed losses of €387,000 in 2006 and €335,462 in 2005. Last year’s profit allowed the company re- duce accumulated losses from €1.29 million to €678,000.

Mowlaw Healthcare operates 12 nursing homes providing long-term, convalescent and respite care for the elderly throughout Ireland. The new retirement villages in Kilrush and Ennis are set to create 100 new jobs.

During 2006, Mr Shanahan in- creased his shareholding in Mowlam from 22.5 per cent to 33.3 per cent and last year he resigned his post as executive chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority.

This was in protest over the fail- ure of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to inform him and the SAA

of Aer Lingus plans to end the Shan- non-Heathrow route.

Two years ago, Mowlam Health- care secured €100 million funding to increase the number of homes in its ownership to 20, with more than 1,000 beds in total.

In 2005, the company employed 430 and this increased to 525 last year with staff costs amounting to €10.6 million. Directors’ aggregate emolu- ments were last year £100,000.

Pairc na Coille retirement village is located in Drumbiggle, Ennis and has 27 houses, 35 apartments and a 60 bed nursing home. Riverwood re- tirement village, located in Kilrush consists of 15 houses, 16 apartments and a 46 bed nursing home.

Mr Shanahan, who formerly worked as Vice President of the US owned Tellabs in the Shannon Free Zone said, “We are really proud of the standard of all our homes and re- tirement villages, and Riverwood is no exception.

“It is located in beautifully land- scaped grounds, designed with the residents’ enjoyment, security, and CLOyenieneu lose Ceromm un mpeenenlen

“We are committed to enhancing the quality of life for all our resi- dents, and deliver high-quality care which is focused on those who live in Riverwood and in our other homes throughout the country.”