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BRAZILIAN beef products are not wanted in Ireland, according to the first survey conducted on public at- titudes towards imports from the Yells Waverouervemeeleilias

More than 90 per cent of people want Minister for Agriculture Mary Coughlan to secure a ban on Brazil- ian beef imports into Europe, ac- cording to a survey carried out by the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).

The survey, which was conducted by second-year agricultural science students from Gurteen College in Tipperary, was completed by 1,340 people. More than 94 per cent of those surveyed believe Brazilian beef fails to meet EU standards on

traceability, Foot and Mouth disease and food safety controls.

“The results of this survey sends a resounding message to Minister Coughlan and the EU Commission that people reject the double stand- ards that allow Brazilian beef 1m- ports into Europe,” said IFA Presi- dent Padraig Walshe.

IFA National Livestock Chairman John Bryan described the results of the survey as a landslide rejection of the EU Commission’s position on Brazilian beef.

Mr Bryan said Mary Coughlan could not ignore the depth of public feeling on the patent failure of Bra- Zilian beef to meet EU standards and she must immediately ramp up pres- sure on the Commission and call for

an outright ban. Meanwhile, the IFA has launched a major attack on the EU Commission over what it calls the ‘cover-up’ regarding the Brazil- ian beef problem.

Padraig Walshe said the EU policy was untenable and the clear message from the public and farmers at the National Ploughing Championship was that the EU should impose a total ban on Brazil.

This follows some shocking events at the championships, when an- ery livestock farmers challenged the EU representatives outside the Commission forum over the failure of the Commission to take decisive action to protect the European Union against the risks posed by Brazilian beef imports.

While all this is going on, Robin Smith, the Irish Cattle & Sheep Association Beef Chairman, has expressed anger at news that the Brazilian government is_ seeking even more time to get their house in order on traceability.

Reports indicate that Brazil- lan agriculture minister Reinhold Stephanes is travelling to meet with the EU this month to seek more time to conclude the implementation of their traceability system, which is known as Sisbov.

“The ICSA cannot believe that any more time can be given to the Brazil- lans – they are due an FVO inspec- tion on November 5 and either they have things right or they don’t,” Mr Sees lHeMy-vlee

BULLYING 1s a subject which is of- ten touched upon but seldom hight- lighted. With the mushrooming of technology in recent years, this problem has increased dramatically but still gets insufficient attention in Ireland.

This was one of the factors that prompted the Ballynacally Develop- ment Association in conjunction with the Ballynacally National School Parents Council to hold an Anti-Bul- lying Awareness Day last Thursday, culminating with an information evening at the Woodstock Hotel.

Attended by both adults and chil- dren, the meeting was arranged to raise awareness of the problem and used various innovative methods in order to emphasise the plight of the victims involved in bullying, ranging from live readings from the victims and their families to role-playing video clips featuring teenage actors from both sides of the bullying di- vide.

As well as general bullying statis- tics, the committee also organised bullying questionaires which were sent to various schools and work- places around the county.

Probably the most alarming statis- tic mentioned on the night was that out of 165 children questioned in the

five schools in the Ballynacally area, a staggering 111 of those questioned said that they had been the victims of bullying at some stage in their Thee

This statistic really hit home to the local crowd in attendence and was key to the first speaker presentation on dealing with bullying in Clare. Pauline McAllister, a community children’s worker with Clarecare, runs an anti-bullying programme in Clare. In her presentation, she ana- lysed what exactly bullying is, why it happens, how it affects the victims and how it can be lessened or allievi- roe

The main speaker on the night was John Lonergan, Governor of Mount- joy Prison, whose vast experience in this field was invaluable to the largely young audience. In his ad- dress, he dealt with adult bullying as well as child bullying, an area which is often overooked. He also stressed that the biggest difficulty in trying to deal with bullying is the lack of hard evidence and that rushing in to ac- cuse someone without hard evidence can often lead to even more prob- lems. Silence was another factor he dwelt on, explaining that silence and the victim’s inability to deal with the problem on their own often leads to more serious consequences such as breakdown or even suicide.

CLONLARA woman Trisha Mason confirmed her status as one of the rising stars of Irish kickboxing by claiming victory at the recent John Hoban Kickboxing tournament.

Mason was part of the Ennis Kick- boxing Club that travelled to Limer- ick to take part in one of the newest tournaments on the Irish kickboxing calendar.

While club members performed with distinction at the tournament, the real glory of the day belonged to Mason who achieved a near flaw-

less victory over the experienced and highly fancied Cliona Goodwin.

Ennis Kickboxing Clubs quickest rising star boasts an impressive near- ly flawless fight record of six fights five wins and on controversial split decision. Mason’s preparation for the bout was far from ideal.

The east Clare woman took her fight at just one hours notice against a heavier and much vaunted oppo- nent. But that proved far from dis- ruptive for Mason, who produced an assured and confident performance that ranks among the best in her fledgling career.

From the moment the bell went, the Clonlara Cyclone was a whirlwind of devastating hand and leg combi- nations that her opponent had no an- Swer to.

The fight ended as a (TKO) techni- cal knockout when the stunned Clio- na Goodwin simply could no longer defend herself against the much stronger and skillful Mason, who is now well on her way to challenging at the very top for the ladies 60kg Irish Kickboxing Federation title.

Mason wasn’t the only Clare com- petitor who performed well in Lim- erick as two of her Ennis teammates

achieved notable success as well.

Adam Leyden re-affirmed his po- sition as one of Ireland’s best young kickboxers when he retained his title and status as Ireland’s number one 60kg

Fighter Seamus Geoghegan, anoth- er fighter from the Ennis kickboxing stable, ensured a good day for the club when he also added yet another victory to his fight record.

Anyone wishing to join these fighters, martial arts and fitness enthusiasts please contact Tony O’Donnell on O87 2796401 or enniskickboxing@hotmail.com.

AROUND 160 businesspeople from the region attended the first Mid West Entrepreneur Showcase, held in the Enterprise Acceleration Centre, Limerick Institute of Technology on Thursday last (October 4).

Among the innovative ideas on show were two from County Clare.

Eugene Crimmuins, Director, The Irish Bread Mix Company Ltd, which is based at Crimmins Bakery in Newmarket-on-Fergus, exhibited his easy-to-bake, additive-free bread mixes.

Although the company is at an early stage, the mixes are already selling to tourists in Bunratty Folk Park and at the Cliffs of Moher.

Liam Fahy of Fahy Analytical in Doora showcased his creative solu- tions to process problems in the med- ical and electronics areas. His com- pany provides cleaning for medical implants, and recycling services for used sandblast products. It also sup- plies lettering sand to stone masons.

Both men are participants in the Limerick Enterprise Acceleration Platform (LEAP) programme at EAC. As well as LEAP participants, other new and young companies in the mid-west exhibited. There were also stands for developments agen- cies, business associations, account- ants, banks, investors and other ad- visers.

The Showcase featured a half-day

seminar entitled “Funding for New and Established Start-Ups’.

Jerry Kennelly, the Kerry entre- preneur and founder of Stockbyte, which was sold in April 2006 for €110 million euro, gave a blow-by- blow account of how the business developed.

‘From a state support, infrastruc- ture, tax and can-do perspective, there has never been a better time to start a global business from Ireland,” | stemncyeB(Gm

David Boland, Managing Director of Documatics, revealed that his de- termination to set up his own busi-

ness was fuelled by having to work at a boring job during school holidays.

Documatics have developed a Busi- ness Process Management system using the Microsoft .NET platform.

Damian Young, head of the Small Business segment in Bank of Ireland, said that the environment for new businesses remains positive.

Drew O’Sullivan, an Investment Manager with 4th Level Ventures spoke on ‘Funding your Early Stage Venture – from BES to finding the right VC’.

Martin Corry, development advi- sor in Enterprise Ireland, said that the Showcase highlighted the range of business innovation in the region. He paid tribute to the late Dr Tony Ryan.

Dr Maria Hinfelaar, Director of LIT, who chaired the meeting, stated Merle MN ODM AYANOTSARCO1HuS OKC NENT. eee) tte omy could deliver a range of eco- nomic, regional and social benefits for Ireland.

The meeting was sponsored by Limerick based audit, tax and advi- sory providers, MGM Mulcahy Gor- man Mulcahy, and was part of Lim- erick Business Week.

THE trial of jockey Kieren Fallon, who is accused of race fixing has heard the Ballinruan native was part of a plot to throw races to make mon- ey for a crooked betting syndicate.

The opening day of his trial at the Old Bailey yesterday heard allega- tions that businessman Miles Rodg- ers bet £2.12m (€3m) on various internet accounts that 27 horses – rid- den by Fallon and two other jockeys – would lose.

Fallon stood in the dock yesterday. It’s alleged he was involved, with others, in a conspiracy between De- cember 2002 and September 2004 to defraud Betfair customers and other punters. All deny the charges

Jonathan Caplan, QC, prosecuting, said it would be alleged that one of the accused, Miles Rodgers (38) of Silkstone, South Yorkshire had been tipped off by the riders just before the various races. Seventeen of the horses were ridden by Fallon. But he won five of the races, losing the syn- dicate around half-a-million pounds, said Caplan.

The day after a race at Newmar- ket on July 23, 2004, there was an exchange of text messages between Fallon and Philip Sherkle (42) of Tamworth Staffordshire, said to be the go-between.

The court heard that Fallon texted, “They will take my licences off me if they drift like that last night. They PROM cKO) OUNOTSAN DOC om

On July 27, Sherkle wrote, “I am away weds morning just text as nor- mal make sure u do please I don’t want any grief from them when I get back thanks.”

An undated message from Fallon to Sherkle read, “no, I can’t chance it”’.

Mr Caplan said Rodgers’ records showed Fallon’s losses for the syndi- cate were £436.579.

Mr Caplan said there was no evi- dence that Fallon ever received any money or benefit from Rodgers or anyone else connected with the con- spiracy. But it was the prosecution case that he held himself accountable for losses that cost the conspirators about £500,000.

The trial continues today and is ex- pected to last several months.

MORE than 300 people turned out to witness the induction of four leg- endary east Clare musicians to the Tulla Comhaltas roll of honour.

To coincide with the 50 year anni- versary of Tulla Comhaltas, Paddy Canny, Kathleen Moloney, Martin Hayes, Seamus Connolly, Vincent Griffin and Mary MacNamara were all recognised for their significant contributions to Irish music and dance.

Each musician was presented with a token by Senator Labhras O’ Murch, Ardstiurthoir of Comhaltas Ceoilte- oiri Eireann.

Paddy Canny, who won the senior

all-Ireland fiddle in 1953 and recent- ly celebrated his 88th birthday, was honoured for a lifetime contribution to traditional Irish music.

Kathleen Moloney, who has won four all Ireland set dancing titles, was recognised for her teaching of set dancing in the east Clare area over a 20 year period, and giving every young child in the area the chance to learn the Caledonian set.

Indeed, many of her students have gone on to win county, provincial and national awards of their own.

Vincent Griffin was recognized for his marvellous contribution to the teaching of Irish music over the past 40 years. Vincent, who is still teach- ing music in the Ennis and south

Galway areas, is also the holder of a Senior All Ireland medal for the fid- dle and for the slow airs.

Mary MacNamara was recognised for her wonderful achievements with the teaching of Irish music. Today the Tulla ‘Music Room’ is full of as- piring young and not-so-young mu- sicians all learning her lovely east OES AY (or

Many of her students have had great successes at provinical and all Ire- land fleadh’s. Mary won all Ireland senior solo Concertina tile in 1979 and duet with Martin Hayes.

Both Martin Hayes and Seamus Connolly were honoured for their in- ternational contribution to Irish Mu- sic by putting it on the world stage.

Martin and Seamus are all Ireland senior fiddle champions.

The Tulla Céili band received their award in recognition of their contri- bution to Ceili music over the last 60 years. Mark Donnellan accepted the award on behalf of the great Tulla Céili band.

The Tulla Ceili and all musicians mentioned above will appear on RTE Radio’s Céili House with Kieran Hanrahan on Saturday, November 17. The show will be broadcast from St Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla as part of the 50 year celebrations.

A book based on the musical her- itage of east Clare entitled The Hu- mours of Tulla was also launched on the night and is available locally.

THE STATE of walls in many of the county’s graveyards is becom- ing a danger to life and limb for the bereaved, a meeting of Clare County Council heard last night.

Councillor Michael Kelly (FF) had asked to have a report prepared on the cost of repairs to environmen-

tally sensitive walls and buildings in the county’s graveyards.

He said that concerning a short sec- tion of wall in a cemetery in his own area, he had been told it would cost anything up to €250,000 to repair.

‘This is the most outrageous quote – a quarter of a million for one lit- tle corner of a wall, which should cost €10,000, at the outside. There

should be an itemised explanation of these costs so the taxpayer knows where the money is going,’ he said. Councillor Gerry Flynn (Ind) said that in some cases “people cannot get near their loved one’s graves be- cause some of these old buildings are literally falling down. If it’s a matter of health and safety and they can’t be repaired, they should be removed.”

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In a reply to Councillor Kelly, the council officials said that in line with the department’s requirements, the council is mindful of the social and archaeological history of the county graveyards and because of this renovation work is always going to cost more than the normal build- ing costs.

CONSTRUCTION work is expected to begin on some of the long awaited west Clare sewerage scheme within the next few months, while more await approval from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

According to Clare County Coun- cil officials it is expected that con- struction of the Cooraclare Sewerage Scheme will begin in Spring 2008.

Work will only begin however sub-

ject to land being purchased in the area for the local authority project.

Cooraclare was “debungled” from Labasheeda and Carrigaholt last year, as the later two villages had extra requirements including an off shore licence adding to their costs.

A revised cost proposal for the La- basheeda and Carrigaholt schemes are now under consideration by the Department of the Environment.

According to the council the con- struction of these schemes are ex- pected to begin in nine to 12 months

following approval by the Depart- ment of the Environment.

Once again this will be subject to planning and land purchase.

It was good news for Quilty and Mullagh as the sewerage network for the villages and surrounding area 1s expected to begin in the next two to four months.

The scheme must also get the ap- proval of the Department of the Envi- ronment for the tender recommended by Clare County Council.

The scheme will preserve water

quality at local beaches and rivers and will allow development to take place to facilitate growth and expan- sion in the residential, commercial and tourism sector, according to the Department of the Environment.

The plant will be built under a single design, “build and operate contract” incorporating Scariff and Feakle.

Meanwhile Kilrush and Kilkee are still awaiting approval for their schemes. The department requested extra information about these two schemes from the council last July.

MEMBERS of Clare County Council have re-iterated their support for the retention of a 24-hour accident and emergency service at Ennis General Hospital, but not before clashing over the role of the Ennis Hospital Devel- opment Committee.

Speaking at last night’s meeting, Mayor of Clare Patricia McCarthy (Ind) said people in Clare deserved an A&E service that was on a par with service offered by their local

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Cllr McCarthy said, “We are ex- tremely mindful that we don’t want a service that is less than what we would get from our GP. I would con- sider a service led by junior doctors to be less than that. I would consider a nurse led service to not be the same as what would be offered by my GP.”

But tensions flared late on as the meeting drew to a close.

Independent councillor Martin Laf- ferty, who tabled the joint motion with Cllr Christy Curtin calling on

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to remember commitments he made to the Ennis Hospital Committee, said he was dis- appointed by what he called attempts to “denigrate” the Ennis Hospital Sroyebenvliraen

He said, “I am disappointed that politics has been brought into this debate. What I see is the worst type of spin and the worst type of effort to denigrate the Ennis Hospital Com- Pe bLAKoLonie

After a meeting with Cllr McCa- rthy, the mayors of Kilrush, Kilkee

and Shannon and Minster Harney, Independent councillor Tommy Brennan hit out at the committee.

“T take great exception to being directed by the Ennis Hospital De- velopment Committee on what ques- tions to ask, where I should go, and where we should go to pose for a picture. How can any committee tell the five mayors of this county what to do.”

Fianna Fail councillor Pat Daly said he was disappointed at the anti-Fi- anna Fail sentiment expressed at last

week’s hospital rally. CUr Daly said he was also confident a 24-hour serv- ice would be retained at the hospital. Cllr Gerry Flynn (Ind) said, “This is the Government that put the Hanly report in place, that put the HSE in place and are insisting on putting pri- vate hospitals in public facilities.” Cilr Curtin said, “I would invite Mary Harney to come down to Mike Crotty’s house in Loop Head and time how long it takes to drive to En- nis. People in Clare need Ennis and they need acute services in Ennis.”

A NEW creche is to be built in the grounds of Kilrush Adult and Com- munity Education Centre on the Co- oraclare road which served as the Kilrush Vocational School for many years.

The existing creche operates in prefab units and the new facility will provide a permanent base for this much needed community facility.

Clare Vocational Education Com- mittee Chief Executive, George O’Callaghan, announced at the com- mittees’ monthly meeting that over

€600,000 in funding has been se- cured from Pobal for the project.

“This will be a state of the art modern facility of similar design and scale as the one being built in the grounds of West Clare Resource Centre in Miltown Malbay by the lo- cal Spraoi Group,’ he added.

The funding body, Pobal, is a non-profit company that manages programmes on behalf of the Gov- ernment and EU. Its mission is to promote social inclusion, reconcilia- tion and equality through integrated social and economic development within communities.

Meanwhile, an opportunity for early school leavers to continue their education presents itself at the Mil- town Malbay Youthreach Centres

The Vocational Education Com- mittee runs the centre and is inviting applications for places at the Mil- town centre.

Early school leavers over 15 years interested in taking part in the Youthreach Programme can study for the Leaving Certificate Applied and Further Education and Training Awards Council of Ireland certifica- tion. They can also learn a range of new skills including art and crafts,

music, stained glass, cookery, leath- erwork, woodwork and sport. Career guidance is available to all students.

Successful candidates receive a training allowance that includes a subsidy towards travel and meal costs from Clare Vocational Educa- tion Committee.

Youthreach programmes in Clare have proved particularly worthwhile over the years, leading many persons into gainful employment and some into self-employment. Further infor- mation is available from Josephine or Enda at the Miltown Malbay Youth- reach project at 065-708 4774.