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QUESTIONS have been raised over the long-term viability of a pro- posed wastewater treatment plant for Byer LeNOnee

Independent councillor Patricia McCarthy told yesterday’s meeting of Clare County Council that the project was flawed and would fail to meet future requirements.

Speaking after Walter Walsh, senior engineer with water services, defend- ed the process, Cllr McCarthy said “I am not happy with the response. It is basically an admission that the plant will not meet requirements in the fu- ture. It is a shortsighted policy. If the Government are serious about pro- tecting the environment then maybe they should put aside the money for ra

“It’s a false economy. We will be back here in the 30 years time bat- tling with the department for more money,’ added Cllr McCarthy.

Mr Walshe defended the project, saying that despite financial con- straints, the plant would have suffi-

cient capacity to meet any demands arising from a growth in population.

‘There is provision enough to meet the present demand and a certain amount of extra capacity would be available. This would be a very good development for Broadford”’.

Fianna Fail councillor Tony O’Brien said the project should be progressed in order to stimulate development in the area.

He said, “I would be anxious that we don’t constrict development. We should get the best possible water treatment plant for Broadford”.

“We’re talking about areas that have stagnated and didn’t see any benefit from the Celtic Tiger. I wouldn’t like the message to go out there that we are holding back development in Broadford”.

JUST two months into his steward- ship of the Department of Agricul- ture and Minster Brendan Smith is already in open conflict with the Irish Farmers Association.

A huge row erupted last week fol- lowing the decision by the minister to reveal that farmers paid an average of just £1,895 in tax last year, com- pared to €4,943 by PAYE employees and €12,927 by the self-employed.

IFA President Padraig Walshe re- acted angrily to the revelation, de- scribing 1s as mischievous and mis- leading. “The average family income from farming is a mere €18,100

a year, compared to the €48,300 earned by public-sector workers. There is no mystery about the low tax yield from farmers,” he said.

“The real problem is low incomes and the minister should face up to this. Presenting income-tax pay- ments as a measure of farmers’ con- tribution to the economy is mischie- vous and misleading.”

Smith reacted by rejected the IFA presidents claims, saying that pub- lishing the figures in this was was standard practice as part of the De- partment’s Annual Review and Out- look for Agriculture.

He also pointed out that at the time of the publication of the Annual

Review and Outlook, he drew par- ticular attention to the value of the agri-food sector, accounting for 8 per cent of employment and 10 per cent of exports.

Minister Smith also took the oppor- tunity to highlight the huge impor- tance of farming and the agri-food sector to the economy, both from an employment point of view and also as a major contributor to regional development. The minister outlined the further employment opportuni- ties that can be created in the overall biosector.

Indeed the minister also pointed out that, on the same day as he published the Annual Review and Outlook, he

also published a report showing that the agri-food sector contributes ap- proximately one-third of the net flow of funds into the economy generated by manufacturing exports which the minister noted he described as pro- viding “a timely and accurate indica- tion of the importance of the sector to the economy”.

The minister concluded by say- ing that the Department’s Annual Review and Outlook was a compre- hensive and valuable report, detail- ing the performance of the agri-food sector and providing a range of use- ful statistical data and confirmed that he had no plans to significantly change its content or presentation.

PEOPLE involved in the tourism business in east Clare have been celebrating, having — successfully completed a rural tourism course. The participants in the course were drawn from various sectors and were presented with their certificates at a special ceremony.

Meanwhile, the east Clare tourism organisation has welcomed the de- cision to extend the boundary of a tourism tax incentive scheme to take in the Lough Derg area as far as Kil- EW eyon

‘Tourism is an important part of our rural economy and we need eve- ry support we can get, particularly in the current challenging climate so

we were very pleased that this part of Clare is now included and quali- fies under the scheme,’ said Teresa Browne of the East Clare Tourism.

Taoiseach Brian Cowen has just launched a new tax relief scheme for certain tourism facilities in the mid-Shannon area which includes areas in counties Clare, Tipperary, Offaly, Galway, Roscommon and Westmeath.

The scheme is being managed by Failte Ireland and Shannon De- velopment. Projects eligible under the new scheme include; education tourism facilities, visitor attractions, cultural facilities, wellness and self development facilities and amenities, facilities for water-sports activities, outdoor activity centres, equestrian

facilities, certain restaurants and cafés, boat rental and inland cruising facilities, training facilities for ad- venture centres and registered holi- day camps. They can be new projects or refurbishment to existing ones.

Relief is available by way of capital allowances over seven years for qual- ifying construction and refurbish- ment expenditure. Capital allowance will be granted at a rate of I5 per cent per year for the first six years and 10 per cent for the seventh year. The qualifying period of the scheme is three years, but applications must be made within one year of the start of the scheme.

During the launch event the Taoi- seach announced a new board to assess projects submitted under the

new scheme. The board includes John King and Joan Reynolds, both of Shannon Development.

Full details on the new scheme can be found in guidelines issued by the Minister for Arts, Sports and Tour- ism in consultation with the Muinis- ter for Finance which can be viewed and downloaded at www.arts-sports- tourism.gov.ie, www.shannondevel- opment.ie; and www.failteireland.ie.

PASCHAL Carmody told the trial he successfully treated his dying broth- er at his east Clare clinic.

He said that he elongated his broth- er Peter’s life, with his cancer return- ing only after he discontinued the treatment.

Carmody, of Ballycuggaran, Kil- laloe, was accused of 25 separate charges of obtaining ©80,172 from six terminally ill cancer patients and their families by deception between September 2001 and October 2002.

Judge Rory McCabe told the jury on Wednesday that he would be di- recting them to find the accused not guilty on all charges relating to three patients and one charge relating to John Sheridan, due to insufficient evidence.

Mr Carmody told the court that he first became involved in compli- mentary medicine when he saw the benefits of bone setting to one of his patients.

He then went to England to study muscle and joint pain. In the 1980s he went to Germany and “was shocked” by the approach to medicine where the whole body was treated rather Wet 0 MN LORSI MW OComr-BUCorel (10 Mr: B uct

At this time he also worked on the principal of immunise enhancement therapy. He said the first cancer pa- tient he treated was a friend of his brother-in-law who was given one month to live.

“After much argument I agreed I would endeavour to get him one month extra. I put together what I could from the limited information | had at the time,” he said.

He put together a programme of

bio-oxidated treatments, photother- apy, hypertherapy and intravenous immunotherapy.

‘He survived two years. He went from six stone weight up to his own weight of 13.5 stone,” he said.

Mr Carmody said he had reserva- tions about treating Mark Hadden who was in his 20s and told his fa- ther that it was beyond his abilities. He suggested treatment in Germany.

This treatment proved costly and money raised in a fundraiser quickly sec) ome) 0 Lm

Mr Carmody said he then went to Germany and purchased the equip- ment needed to treat Mark and began treating the young man “for almost no cost”’.

He said that while Mark never “looked the healthiest”, his quality of life improved greatly.

The court heard last week that Mr Hadden who was given three months to live in 1996 died just weeks before Welom BME Dm olorer- 00

In 1998 he treated Maggie Porter for breast cancer.

A year later her husband Dr Wil- liam Porter came with Maggie to see Dr Carmody.

Paschal Carmody said they were interested in the work he was doing. He offered them a room in his own clinic, which they renovated them- TO AVone

Mr Carmody said that as Dr Porter had experience with lasers, “it made more sense for him to become in- volved with patients”.

“T would assess them and with him doing laser I could take on more pa- tients. My purpose was to assess pa- tients. If they were suitable I would prescribe a photosensitiser.”

PLANS for a €10 million retail park for Miltown Malbay have been with- Oe hate

In order for planning permission to be granted to the proposal, three quarters of the 32 members of Clare County Council were needed to vote to contravene the Clare County De- velopment Plan.

The council’s planning department signalled that it is ready to give the go-ahead to the plan which will de- liver 100 jobs to the town through the provision of a new Supervalu outlet.

The council has ruled that the plan would materially contravene the County Development Plan which states that the land should be retained for residential purposes.

However, due to the number of lo- cal objections, the proposed develop- ment didn’t have the support of all the six north Clare councillors and

the developer, local supermarket owner John Jones, withdrew the ap- plication.

The development was to have in- cluded seven shops, 18 apartments and offices and the plan was subse- quently revised in response to further information sought by the council and objections lodged against the proposal.

The plan was opposed by other businesses in Miltown with one busi- ness owner telling the council that the scale of the project was so large that it threatened the existing busi- ness ecology of the town.

“*T estimate that the retail space pro- posed is in excess of the entire retail floor space currently occupied by all the other businesses in the town,” the objector stated.

“In effect, this development would constitute a new town centre. it is on the scale and design of a modern shopping centre suitable for a large

town or city but is not compatible with a village. The development of an American-style shopping mall is not compatible with this vision. The attraction to tourists of a bustling vil- lage with traditional shop fronts and small individually owned businesses would be lost,’ the objection stated.

Speaking in relation to the project last year, John Jones said, ““Miltown needs something like a Supervalu and it will mean more business for Miltown. People go into Ennis and Limerick to shop, but having more services in Miltown will make sure that Miltown is a bigger draw for shoppers.”

Mr Jones said his family have been Operating a business in Miltown since the 1830s.

“We have a proud tradition here and we are well qualified to be in line to put in a new shop and we should be allowed opportunity to do it,’ he said.

’s Co- lin Davey and three times UK Sports Photographer of the Year, Bob Mar- tin who selected the top 146 photo- graphs for inclusion in Assignments 3. The book was published to coin- CHT ALAM Neem COP INCOIMWZO OI BKMo.c pected to attract over 200,000 view- ers over its six week run in London.

The two photographs selected from Eamon’s portfolio were a study of Kilfenora boxer Mark Clancy before his fight in Madison Square Gardens on St Patrick’s Day last year and a

photograph of scorekeeper Flan Mc- Namara at Cusack Park in Ennis.

Commenting on his latest success, the 36-year-old Coonagh man said it was a great honour to have two of his photographs considered good enough to be included among the best press photographs from the last year.

“Many of the photographers whose work is included in

IF EVER Guinness goes out of busi- ness, barman Joe Sciascia will be worth a fortune.

Joe would be the first to tell you he’s more of a collector than a bar- man, and he has what must be one of the largest collections of original Guinness and old advertising signs in the country.

He’s lost count, but there are up- wards of 5,000 pieces of advertising memorabilia, between signs, ciga- rette cartons, tobacco tins and other items passed over bar counters in years gone by.

So vast is his collection, that Joe quips that the Old Mill Bar in

O’Briensbridge, which he runs with his wife Kathleen and step-daugh- ter Clodagh “was bought so I would have somewhere to put it”.

The Old Mull recently won the Licensing World magazine’s, Bar Awards, in the Best Country Bar cat- OMe

Joe claims no glory for the win, “It’s the hard work that Kathleen and Clodagh put in – I’m no great shakes this side of the bar.”

Whatever about his bar skills, as a collector you wouldn’t doubt Joe. He started 25 years ago and has been scouring car-boot sales, markets and second-hand shops ever since.

“I find stuff everywhere and cus- tomers bring things in as well. I have

my own little museum here.”

Joe’s imagination was caught by the old advertising and he particu- larly loves his collection of “original – not reproductions” of the John Gil- roy Guiness ads, featuring the “See What One or Toucan Do” and “Guin- ness is good for you” themes.

Some of his signs are now almost a century old.

“Advertising and packaging was far more decorative before TV. It had to make a visual impression. It’s not like that anymore. You wouldn’t col- lect most of the packaging they use Old

Joe and Kathleen took over the pub ten years ago and since have invested €300,000 to bring it back to it’s old

(ey ule meso ate

“The old pubs are dying out. We wanted to keep the old character here and the old ads and signs fit in with that,’ said Joe.

The family is delighted with the AEN KOR

“It’s not one of these that you can go online and buy – there are a lot of those out there. The judges liked the place, though I’m surprised they saw anything, there were so many peo- ple here at the time. They arrived on Sunday when we were doing lunch.”

PASCHAL Carmody insisted that he never promised any of his patients that he would cure them of cancer.

‘“T never use the word ‘cure’ in any care, with any patient,’ he told the trial, during cross-examination on Friday morning.

He disputed evidence given earlier in the trial by the widow of one of his former patients.

Bernadette Gallagher, from Mullin- gar, County Westmeath, lost her hus- band JJ through cancer of the liver in September 2002.

He underwent photodynamic treat-

ment at Paschal Carmody’s East Clinic in Killaloe in February of that year.

Mrs Gallagher said Mr Carmody told her husband the treatment was ‘just like magic’ and they thought it was too good to be true.

However, Mr Carmody told the court he didn’t say this and also de- nied that he had promised to cure Mr Gallagher.

He also denied saying to the Gal- laghers that when people found out about the treatment for cancer that it would be “like the days of Lazu- rus, they will be banging down the doors.”

He said that his recollection of events relating to Mr Gallagher were very fresh in his mind, as Mrs Gal- lagher went public on the issue in 2002 on RTE’s Prime Time.

“My recollection of events are ex- actly as I describe,” he said.

Referring to another of his former patients, John Sheridan, Mr Carmo- dy was asked had he promised to get him through his illness, as had been claimed previously.

“T don’t recall those words,’ he Cr HOR

Asked by Prosecutor Denis Vaughan-Buckley had he promised a cure for Mr Sheridan, he replied,

“There was no question of a cure. I did not promise a cure for John. I do not use that word in communica- nto) ei

He denied that he had led the Sheridans to believe he would cure John.

Mr Carmody also denied that he had promised to cure Conor O’Sullivan – a 15-year-old boy from Wexford who died from cancer in November 2002 – or at worst, keep him alive.

This was the claim made by Conor’s mother Christina, earlier in the trial.

“No. I didn’t use the word ‘cure.’ I may have put my hand on his shoul- der to reassure the young man and say

‘Pll do my best for him’,” he said.

When it was put to him that he had made a lot of money from pho- todynamic treatment, he said to the Prosecutor, “Since you have started your examination, you’ve repeatedly referred to income without outlay. I want the jury to know the substantial outlay involved was far greater than the income.”

Mr Vaughan-Buckley then asked Paschal Carmody was he telling the jury that he had lost money on the photodynamic treatment (PDT), to which Carmody replied, “I’m telling the jury there was substantial outlay in setting up the PDT centre.”

THERE are almost 1,000 more peo- ple signing on the dole in the mid- west now than there were in the eco- nomic slump of 1985.

The region has seen a jump of al- most 5,000 in numbers signing on the dole in the last 12 months.

The latest figures from the Cen- tral Statistics Office to the end of last month show there are 19,537, in comparison with 14,559 in June of last year.

Despite reassurances that the cur- rent slow-down is nothing like the bleak economic outlook which Ire- land faced in the ‘80s, that number 1s higher than for June 1985 when there were 18,629 signing on.

Between January and June 2008,

Clare suffered the loss of 463 jobs, three per cent of the national total.

The losses put Clare in the mid- range on the redundancy scale, with counties such as Kerry and Mayo registering 383 and 295 job losses respectively. Neighbouring Limerick suffered a higher toll, with the loss of 916 jobs.

What shocked many were the high- profile companies who announced redundancies, ceased trading or had to impose short-time working. Some of the cuts have yet to be counted, with 57 workers at the Shannon based company Avocent to go and 15 jobs lost in north Clare with fears that German company Stubben Ltd may cease manufacturing at it’s En- nistymon factory.

In a double blow to Ennistymon,

the town’s largest employer, Data Display, confirmed that they had to have workers on a four day week for a period to avoid letting staff go. The factory employs 250.

Three weeks earlier, the closure of Shannon-based technology company Buffalo Technology Ireland was an- nounced with 48 job losses. This was closely followed by Kiely’s Electri- cal, with a further five jobs being axed.

Shannon based interior fit-out busi- ness Ashcoin, which employed 100 people, also ceased trading in the ETS meslenieee

A LITTLE-KNOWN _— Shannon- based aircraft engine leasing firm employing just 22 people recorded a net profit of $84 million last year.

According to accounts filed to the companies office, Shannon Engine Support Ltd (SES) increased its net profit by 42 per cent on the $59 mil- lion net profit enjoyed in 2006.

The accounts show that the 22 em- ployees received an average salary of $109,000 with the overall salary payout being $2.4 million.

Of the 22 staff, eight work in cus- tomer support, five in marketing, five in finance and four in admuinistra- none

The returns show that the compa- ny’s profits have been rising steadily from $24.2 million in 2003 to $84 million last year.

The $84 million profit enjoyed last year has resulted in the company

now having accumulated profits of $316 million.

SES is a wholly owned subsidiary of CFM International, a company shared jointly between the French- owned Snecma and General Electric Company.

The accounts show that the largest proportion of the company’s busi- ness is carried out in Europe, where last year it recorded sales of $60 mil- lion.

This compares to sales of $29 mil- lion in Asia Pacific and $39 million in the US.

A breakdown of its turnover shows that $125 million has come from “aircraft engine support” and $13 million from “future engine mainte- TEEN eee eo Ee

The accounts confirmed that the company did not pay a dividend in 2005. Under the heading of direc- tors’ emoluments, $212,995 was paid through salary and bonus.

The board is made up of three US and three French directors and one Irishman, managing director, Pat Bergin who was appointed last Feb- Ura

The company’s total assets are val- ued at $567 million, including $35 million cash at hand in bank.

SW slemereynnlor-venas ines shcechexore OOM Nelo Ker vision of a range of aircraft engine management services to the interna- tional civil aviation industry centred on the provision of comprehensive spare engine support and allied serv- Tee

It expects that the business will continue to develop and states that it is well positioned to benefit from any upturn in the aviation industry.

“The principal risk that the busi- ness faces is a sudden downturn in the global aviation industry, in par- ticular, a slowdown in global passen- ger traffic as a result of an economic slowdown or an external shock.”