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CLARE TD, Joe Carey (FG), last week questioned the status of the F1- anna Fail Government’s pre-Lisbon Treaty Referendum commitment to using Ireland’s veto in the case of WTO proposals that would sell out Irish farming.

“The WTO talks are entering a critical phase and recent days have seen EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson express optimism about a deal. While the Commissioner said yesterday that Europe can’t and won’t accept a deal it cannot defend at home, this will not inspire confi- dence in farmers who are well aware of Mandelson’s long-time stance,’ he

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“Meanwhile, the Minister for Agri- culture has been complaining about the proposals but is failing to put his money where his mouth 1s. If the Minister is as concerned and worried as he says he is about the latest WTO negotiating document on agriculture, then he must unequivocally state that the deal on the table is unacceptable and will be vetoed.

“That was the commitment given by the Taoiseach Brian Cowen in the dying days of the Lisbon Treaty cam- paign and Minister Brendan Smith must confirm it is what he is prepar- ing to do.”

Meanwhile, speaking from Geneva last Thursday, the Tanaiste and Min-

ister for Enterprise, Trade and Em- ployment, Mary Coughlan, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith and the Minister for Trade and Commerce, John McGuin- ness, called for a comprehensive, ambitious and balanced outcome to the current negotiations.

The Ministers confirmed that they have been engaged in robust nego- tiations with key players defending and promoting Irish interests in what are proving to be very difficult trade rec

All three Ministers have been at- tending daily meetings of the EU General Affairs Council (GAERC) as well as a series of bilateral meet- ings with other countries, including

the French EU Presidency, and the EU Commission.

On a joint statement the Ministers said that the had “very real concerns on Agriculture while working for positive outcomes on manutfactur- ing industry and services which will deliver opportunities for Irish manu- facturing and services companies through better access to world mar- kets and in so doing will secure Irish jobs for years to come.”

Speaking earlier in the week Min- ister Smith said that the WTO ne- gotiations in Geneva were very ac- tive, with a large number of intense meetings and informal contacts, but that there was no guarantee as to the outcome.

CAMERA enthusiasts in Clare can get clicking thanks to the formation of the Ennis Camera and Photo- graphic Society.

Patrick Ryan, Tina Walker and Ni- all Considine established the society as a forum for professional and ama- teur photographers from Ennis, west Clare and north Clare.

All three share a keen interest in photography and were eager to cater for the needs of similar enthusiasts.

Club president Patrick Ryan became aware of the need for a photographic society through discussions with fel- low photographers and artists.

Patrick explained, “Much of pho- tography takes its roots from tradi-

tional art – thus many artists evolve into excellent photographers. They felt that if they had a forum to talk about the more technical aspects of photography – that they too could bring the artistic flair to the group which would benefit everyone”’.

This has certainly proven to be true – with over 20 regular members at- tending the fortnightly meetings. There is an excellent mix of pho- tographers at all levels – from pro- fessionals to members who are just thinking of buying a camera and tal- ented artists.

This has provided for some lively debate during the sessions around the various artistic and technical as- pects of photography.

Club secretary Tina Watkins, her-

self an artist and budding photog- rapher, said, “Having the discussion across all elements of photography from composition to finishing has helped in learning new skills which I can apply to photography and paint- ing alike.’The club is not strictly confined to digital based photogra- phy either. Several members shoot photographs using film and many of the members who have never used film are very keen to understand this traditional approach and apply it to the new digital era.

Members also meet regularly for field trips throughout Clare. The aim is to implement shared ideas and techniques in a real life. Recent outings included visits to Dromore Woods and the Aran Islands. An ex-

hibition of work is also planned for later in the year. It 1s also hoped that the club will play an active role in lo- cal community groups and organiza- tions or centres of learning that are interested in photography.

Many of the members’ work can be viewed at www.enniscameraclub. Lovee mem UOercmaalNemAlbus sme LUO NGlolF-RULE The club meets every two weeks on a Tuesday night in Clarecastle GAA Club House at 8pm, all new mem- bers, regardless of skill or technical ability, are welcome.

The next meeting takes place tonight (Tuesday July 29). Further details are available from Niall Considine at the Ennis Fuji Centre on O’Connell Square, email:niall@photocart.ie or or IR Ole merer-cle eee

YOUNG Brazilians in Gort are be- ing denied access to third level edu- cation in what amounts to an educa- tional apartheid.

Fears have been raised locally that the integration of young Brazilian children could be severely hampered if provisions are not made to allow them to continue their education af- ter the Leaving Certificate.

At present, non-EU nationals must be in full-time residence in the state for a minimum of five years before they can even begin the application process for Irish citizenship.

In addition to this, all non-EU citi- zens must pay fees of up to €3,000 per year to attend university in Ire- land and are not eligible for any form of grant assistance.

This situation has led to a growing number of Gort’s Brazilian commu- nity being forced out of the education system – despite completing their Leaving Certficate and being full- time legal residents in the country.

“What’s going to happen to the kids who are leaving school now – are they going to have to wait for four or five years until their residence can be sorted out? These guys are ready to go, they have worked really hard,

got really good Leaving Certificates and then they are in a dead end situa- tion,” said Frank Murray of the Gort Brazilian Association.

“These kids are the first members in their families to get any education. They are grabbing it with both hands and doing so well in school. This situation just puts them back into a cycle of family poverty.”

Fears have also been raised deny- ing these young Brazilians access to education could have a very negative effect on the integration which is taking place in the community.

“The single best area for cultures to mix is in school. The Brazilian kids

and the locals have been hanging out, playing sports together and getting on the last six years. There are mixed relationships where a Gort youngster will be off to college and their girl- friend of boyfriend just won’t be able to,’ continued Mr Murray.

“We are already creating toler- ance and understanding through the schools and it is working well. Some of these kids have been together for nine years, all their best friends are getting ready to go on to third level and all of a sudden they are told that “we don’t want you”.

“They are being separated and seg- regated and it makes no sense.”

AS the World Trade Organisation talks continue to struggle on this week, the Irish farming organisa- tions have been united in their call for European farmers not to bear the brunt of forcing through a deal.

Speaking over the weekend Irish Farming Association President, Pad- raig Walshe said that the deal should never have even been attempted.

“I think that the conditions never really existed for an agreement in the first place and I think that it is ridicu- lous that this meeting was even held. The approach from the very begin-

ning was wrong,’ he said.

“It looks like it’s on the verge of col- lapse, I believe that it is on the verge of collapse because the condition just don’t exist for an agreement.

These comments were echoes by Macra na Feirme national president Catherine Buckley who said that said young Irish farmers will face extinc- tion under a bad WTO.

‘Mandelson is determined to pur- sue a cavalier strategy to maximise market access for European compa- nies involved in industry and servic- es, while at the same time selling out the EU agricultural sector,” she said.

ICSA president Malcolm Thomp-

son last week said that the EU’s disastrous negotiating tactics at the WTO talks were forcing farmers to give everything and get nothing.

“We need much tougher talk from the Irish government, as part of the Gl4 grouping, to set the record straight,” he said.

“While behind-the-scenes diplo- macy is important, it is vital that the key message is not lost, namely that we are looking at a totally unbal- anced and unacceptable deal.

“So far, Commissioners Mandelson and Fischer Boel have interpreted the lack of a unified, unequivocal and uncompromising statement from the

G14 as giving them a carte-blanche to carry on unhindered with the process of selling out the Irish and EU livestock sectors.”

The ICSA President said that he was absolutely flabbergasted at fail- ure of the General Affairs Council to put the breaks on Peter Mandelson.

“The tentative support offered to the Commission by the Council is in effect giving the go ahead to the WTO sell-out.,’ he said.

“In the current economic circum- stances, any WTO deal will be ca- lamitous not just for farmers but for the country as a whole. At all costs it must be stopped.”

SOME new and some familiar faces return to lead Ennis Musical Society through another season on the stage.

The society recently held its An- nual General Meeting and following that, the new committee reconvened and appointed the following officers.

Chairperson, Anna Monahan; Sec- retary, Jonathan Hopper; Tresurer and PRO, Feargus McEveney; Min- utes secretary, Geraldine Westwood; Patrons secretary, Valerie Torpay; Membership, Jean O’Gara; Librar-

ian, Mary Kelly; Committee mem- bers, Maretta O’Hehir and Paddy Smyth.

The committee chose the ever- popular Show Boat as it’s musical for March 2009 and appointed Con Hughes as producer. The other mem- bers of the production team are Cor- mac McGuinness as musical direc- tor, Mary Curley as chorus mistress and Leon Walsh will act as rehearsal pianist.

Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and lyr- ics by Oscar Hammerstein II and is

based on a best-selling 1926 novel of the same name by Edna Ferber. “Ol’ man river’ and ‘Can’t help lovin’ dat man’ are just two of the more well- known songs associated with Show atoy-lm

This is a big show with a beautiful musical score, a strong story line and plenty of scope for individual and chorus participation.

The society is already busy prepar- ing the groundwork for next year and a recruitment drive for new members will commence once the summer is over.

Anyone who is interested in being associated with the show be it on stage or backstage, with costumes or sets, can make contact with any member of the committee.

Meanwhile, Ennis Musical Soci- ety will host a fund raising flag day on Saturday, September 6, when the new season will be launched and work will begin in earnest.

In the meantime, all members and supporters are urged to enjoy what is left of the summer and come back ready and refreshed to go in the New Year.

THE discovery of a rare and endan- gered plant along the route of the proposed Gort-Crusheen bypass now looks unlikely to seriously delay the progress of the road.

A rare Wood Bitter-Vetch was last week discovered on the outskirts of Gort, however the National Roads Association (NRA) and National

Parks and Wildlife Officials have examined the rare plant and now believe it can be relocated without causing any undue harm.

The plant was discovered at Kilter- nan outside Gort and is now likely to be relocated. “We take a great deal of care in situations like this. We have our own experts who examine plants to determine if they are of any signif- icance and we also work in tandem

with a team from the National Parks and Wildlife Service to ensure that the correct measures are taken,’ said Sean O’Neill of the NRA.

“We have done a great deal of re- Search into the Wood Bitter-Vetch and we have determined that it is Okay to remove it at this time of the year without doing any undue harm to the plant itself.

“We will be relocating the plant to

a nearby location shortly. It hasn’t cause a big delay in the project.”

The Wood Bitter-Vetch or (Vicia orobus) is a bush shaped plant which produces small purple flowers. A rare and protected plant in Ireland it is be- lieved to be more common in some parts of the UK, especially Wales.

Behind the scenes work is ongoing on the Gort-Crusheen bypass and the NRA are hopeful that contracts will

be signed on the Ennis to Gort sec- tion of the road before the end of this year with work to start early in the new year.

Meanwhile, Minister for Trans- port, Noel Dempsey confirmed that funding had been ringfenced for the construction of the Gort-Crusheen bypass saying that the Government would be appraising all current capi- tal schemes before the year’s budget.

CLARE has gone from being one of the counties least strangled by debt to being the county with the highest average debt.

That’s happened in just five years according to a recently published re- port by Business Pro, a Dublin com- pany which records court actions taken by people chasing up unpaid debts. The massive surge does not take account of mortgage debts.

The report found that in 2003, the

average debt to land a Clare person in court was €6,159.

This has rocketed in 2008 to €20,596 – a jump of 234 per cent. The debts which find their way into the report include unpaid personal loans, utility and tax bills.

Five years ago, just two counties had average debts of €10,000. That number has risen to seven today, with Clare topping the league followed by Kilkenny, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Monaghan and Roscommon.

The Clare indebtedness figures are

against a national average of €8,900, the figure for which debtors are tak- en to court having failed to pay their bills or repay loans.

“There has been so much easily available and cheap credit in Ireland over the last five years that a lot more people have been borrowing money,” said James Treacy, managing direc- tor of Business Pro.

‘A certain percentage of those loans will always go bad. That is one of the reason debt will go up over the next 12 months.”

A BUSY few weeks of fun and games drew to aclose last week with the end of this summer’s Clare Federation for Special Needs summer camp.

Based in St Clare’s School, Gort road Ennis, the camp ran for a three week period since throughout July, catering for children with special needs and young people from ages five to 18 years.

The camp is funded by the Clare Federation for Special needs who employed 12 young people to run the camp in conjunction with the group leaders, Helen O’ Neill and Sharon Malone.

Key funding and organisational sup- port for the highly popular summer camp was also provided by Eileen Williams, Chairperson of the Clare Federation, and Bridgid O’ Mahony, secretary of the Clare Federation. Principal of St Clare’s Anne Walshe oversaw the activities at this year’s camp. The summer camp runs along- side the July provision, a system that provides for extra schooling for stu- dents with certain disabilities.

The summer camp was instigated at St Clare’s five years ago to cater for the students who are not eligible for the July provision.

The summer camp has grown from strength to strength and this year 1s

providing three full weeks of ac- tivities and social interaction for 25 children and young people. Many of the students attending were from St Clare’s, but this year organisers have been delighted to open the doors of St Clare’s and welcome students from other schools for the three- week period.

Students had their hands full with the fun filled programme. Activities included swimming, bowling, week- ly visits to Tumble Towers, bouncy castle, cookery, art and sports.

One of the most popular attractions at this year’s camp was the school’s sensory garden.

Opened in 2007 by Bishop of Kil-

laloe Dr Willie Walsh, the garden is specifically designed to allow chil- dren uninhibited access. The design of the garden is such that certain ar- eas are specially planted to appeal to the sense of sound, while other areas appeal to the sense of touch.

The garden and the school’s new play area provided the ideal setting to make new friends. Already, children and teachers are looking forward to next year’s Summer camp.

THE race for the Clare Cup heats up this week as four out of the six re- maining fixtures in the top three d1- visions have relevance to the fight for the four semi-final places.

In Division 1, leaders Sixmileb- ridge will top the group if they can overcome Crusheen but even if they lose, they could still guarantee a spot in the penultimate stages if either Cratloe or Newmarket-on-Fergus lose to Clooney-Quin or Clarecastle respectively. The only game at the

weekend saw St Joseph’s record a comprehensive victory over Eire Og, relegating the Ennis side in the proc- ess along with Kilmaley.

The sole remaining fixture in Divi- sion 2A — Inagh/Kilnamona v Scariff – has connotations at both ends of the table with the Combo topping the di- vision if they win and thus claiming the semi-final spot while a win for a revitalised Scariff would guarantee a relegation play-off with neighbours Whitegate to see who will join Kil- lanena in Division 2B next year. Tulla were the big winners at the weekend

as they completed their fifth succes- sive league victory to jump to the summit and gain promotion but it will all depend on the Combo’s last outing to decide the group.

In Division 2B Clonlara secured the top spot with a four point win over Feakle, thus becoming the first Clare Cup semi-finalist while the other winners at the weekend, Ogonnelloe and Broadford will have to wait until Wednesday to realise their fate when Smith O’Briens take on Corofin. A win for the East Clare side would guarantee promotion but a draw or

defeat would mean a three way play- off to see who gains promotion.

In Division 3, Ennistymon and Clarecastle will contest the interme- diate league final after both won at the weekend with Ennistymon guar- anteeing the Magpies place after a late goal saw them surprise Meelick.

The Division 4 final between Eire Og and Newmarket-on-Fergus’ sec- ond strings is fixed for Sixmilebridge on Saturday while in Division 5, Bal- lyea will play Sixmilebridge’s third team in the first of the semi-finals in Clareabbey on the same day.

LATEST Government figures show that crime in Clare is on the decrease with provisional figures from the first quarter of this year showing a major decline in a number of areas of crime.

The figures show that there was 34 sexual offences reported last year and this year the figure from January to the end of March was two.

The number of serious assaults 1s also down. Where last year there were 68 assaults causing harm, for the first quarter this year the figure was 12.

Other assaults have also shown a drop. Where the numbers recorded to date this year were 53, this com- pares to 222 for the whole of 2007.

The trend in homicides is also on the way down with none to date re- corded in January to March of this year. This compares to 16 in the last three years and this figure includes charge of dangerous driving causing ler taee

The figures also show that public order offences are proportionally down with 363 public order offences recorded in January to March and this compares to 1,530 in 2007.

Figures relating to disorderly con-

duct are also down on last year with 310 recorded offences compared to Pett Atlee

The area of drug enforcement also showed a drop with 85 recorded drug offences in the first three months and this compares to 358 for the 12 months last year.

One of the only areas which is showing a potential increase by year end is child neglect where five report offences were recorded in the first quarter and this compares to 18 such cases in 2007.

The statistics show that to date this year, there has been no abduction of any person under 15 and this com-

pares to two last year.

According to Green Party council- lor, Brian Meaney who sourced the figures, “the figures are very encour- aging, but before we can get compla- cent in any way, we should be aware of the seasonal factors involved. For example in the area of public order, the number of public order offences are generally higher in the summer months and around Christmas.

“However, it is very encouraging in relation to the rates of homicide, robbery and sexual offences where there are significant drops and that is to be welcomed,’ added Councillor Meaney.