Category: Uncategorized

THE European Ombudsman, Ni- kiforus Diamandouras, last week agreed to examine complaints made by the Fairness for Farmers in Eu- rope (FFE) in relation to the impor- tation of Brazilian beef.

The FFE complaint alleges that the European Commission failed to ban beef imports into the European Un- ion by Brazil, notwithstanding evi- dence that such imports pose a risk to human and animal health.

‘Although this is a positive step, it should be borne in mind that it is also just a first step in a long process,” said Malcolm Thompson, President

of the ICSA.

Meanwhile, the IFA this week re- peated its call for a complete ban on Brazilian beef. IFA National Live- stock Chairman, John Bryan, called on the EU Commission to imme- diately impose a ban on Brazilian beef imports as they fail to meet EU standards in the critical area of resi- due testing and food safety.

“If European consumers were aware of the full extent of the failure of Brazilian beef to meet EU standards on residue testing, veterinary medi- cines control and associated food safety issues, they would be horrified and demand full accountability from Commissioner Kyprianou and the

EU Commission,” he said.

“I am horrified to see that beef which fails to meet proper standards is accepted by the EU from Brazil, Whereas it would automatically be skipped in Ireland by the vets and controls in our meat plants”.

The IFA Munster Vice President, Sean O’Leary, welcomed the com- mitment from Brian Crowley MEP, that he and his fellow Fianna Fail MEPs will put forward a joint request this week to the European Commis- sion, that Brazil should be given one month to get their meat traceability standards up to the equivalent EU- required standards, or face an out- right ban by the EU.

Mr. Crowley gave the commitment to Munster IFA Officers at a meeting with them last week in Cork, which was specially convened on the issue.

Crowley was told by the IFA Of- ficers that they were appalled by the double-standards approach that is currently being adopted by Minis- ter for Agriculture, Mary Coughlan TD, when she was prepared to act immediately to ban the import of all fresh meat from the UK because of one outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, yet she can see no problem with continuing to import beef from Brazil, where the disease 1s rampant, and traceability on livestock is non- econ

MANAGEMENT at Tesco Shannon have moved to reassure locals and staff that they have no intention of deserting the town.

The supermarket chain’s recent announcement that they are closing up their store in the centre is due to the fact that they cannot extend their lease any longer.

“We would like to reassure our customers and staff that we are fully committed to having a Tesco store in Shannon,’ a spokesman for manage- ment said.

“With our current lease due to ex- pire in March 2008, we have been ex- amining a number of short and long term options for a store in Shannon. These include temporary, replace-

ment and new store possibilities. We are currently working through these options with the appropriate author1- ties,” he added.

There were concerns in the town this week that Tesco might be pull- ing out altogether. Concerns were also raised for the jobs of the 50 staff working in the store, but manage- ment said they will be given other options.

“Staff in Shannon will be offered the chance to transfer to other stores in the locality, such as Coonagh Cross. We will be discussing these options with staff and their repre- sentatives over the coming weeks,” the management spokesman said.

The company is also “planning to develop an alternative new store at Shannon as soon as it becomes pos-

sible”’.

‘Following over 30 years of loyal support from our customers and staff in Shannon, Tesco Ireland would like to reiterate our long term com- mitment to the town,’ a statement from the company read.

Commenting on Tesco Ireland’s announcement in relation to the fu- ture of its Shannon store, Eoin Hoc- tor, Shannon Chamber President said, “Shannon Chamber is sorry to see a short term loss of shopping facilities. However, we are delighted to see in Tesco’s statement that there is a long-term commitment by Tesco to maintain a presence in the Shan- non area.

“Shannon chamber would urge all interested parties, Tesco Ireland, SkyCourt and Clare County Coun-

cil to ensure that the transition is a smooth one.”

He added that the development “highlights the need for a quick resolution in respect of the masterp- lan for Shannon Town Centre 2 and Town Centre 3”.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Patricia Mc- Carthy, contacted the chain and was told “that in the event of deciding to opt for building a new store it would not be ready before mid 2008. In that event they would be looking at the possibility of applying for planning permission for a temporary store”’.

‘I intend to do everything possible to ensure that the employees will continue to have security of employ- ment and that the store will be able to continue trading in Shannon,’ she said.

THE people of Clare have rallied be- hind the campaign to save Shannon Airport’s Heathrow slots with almost 12,000 people signing up to an on- line petition in just six days.

As of 6pm last night, Monday, Au- gust 20, 11,463 people had signed the petition to save the Heathrow slots on Www.petitiononline.com. This equates to one official signature eve-

ry 45 seconds since the petition was started last Tuesday, August 14.

The online petition, which is ad- dressed to the board of Aer Lingus, also allows signatories to post a comment on the site, with a number of people calling for a boycott of Aer Lingus should the slot be transferred to Belfast.

“The decision to pull out of Shan- non is an absolute disgrace. I have used the convenient Shannon to Hea-

throw route more times than I can remember and will not put myself to the bother of going to Dublin or Cork to fly to London, but will use another carrier instead. I will give serious consideration as to whether I will ever use Aer Lingus again for any travel if this proceeds,’ said one respondent.

Signatories have also been very critical of the role played by the Gov- ernment in the dispute.

“This is an absolute disgrace that our Government can say nothing, do nothing and allow the whole mid- west to collapse in one fell swoop,’ said another respondent.

‘The management in Aer Lingus are mono-visioned and bereft of sound ideas, similar to the management style of the HSE. I will not be flying Aer Lingus for some time to come, even if they overturn their decision.

“Amazingly, they didn’t cut flights out of Dublin or Cork but they knew that the Government would have act- ed sooner if that happened.”

The site also includes a number of testimonials from local business people who illustrated the damage that the loss of the slots will have on the local economy.

‘As a telecoms consultant based in Ennis, I use the Shannon-Heathrow route regularly to allow me to travel to international destinations. If this link is to go, I will never fly Aer Lin- gus again,’ said one respondent.

One signatory, who claimed to be a coach operator, commented that, “The decision will have very nega- tive effects on our business with overseas clients”.

To sign the petition to retain Shan- non’s Heathrow slots, log onto www. petitiononline.com/EISNNLHR/pe- tition. html

AN African country struggling to deal with an AIDS epidemic is set to benefit from money raised by staff at Ennis General Hospital.

Through a series of fundraising initiatives, hospital staff collected money for the Faraja Centre in the Singida region of Tanzania.

The money will go towards alle- viating problems facing the Singida communities 1n relation to the spread of the AIDS and the increased bur- den on family resources, especially grand parents and parents struggling to look after young children.

Staff member Teresa Conlon re- cently visited the region to observe first hand the work done by volun- teers a the Faraja Centre.

Connie O’Halloran is one such per- son who has spent the past two years working in Tanzania. She praised the efforts of Teresa and her colleagues, saying the contribution would pro- vide a major boost in halting the spread of AIDS in the region.

“T have been working as a volunteer in the Faraja project, Singida, Tanza- nia for almost two years and I was overwhelmed with the generosity of the people of Clare who supported fundraising activities for the project. The fundraising events which were organised by Teresa Conlon were supported by our friends and Teresa’s colleagues at Ennis General Hospi- tal’”’.

Tanzania 1S experiencing a gener- alised AIDS epidemic, with 10 per cent of the population directly af-

fected. This constitutes not only a health crisis but also a development crisis for the country.

In Singida Town ‘Tanzania, the Faraja centre operated by the Med1- cal Missionaries of Mary offers vol- untary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV/AIDS.

VCT is vital to the early diagnosis and therefore treatment of those suf- fering from HIV/AIDS. Early diag- nosis of HIV infection is crucial for two reasons; this support can go a long way towards reducing the risk of the transmission of the diseases to others.

It also provides an opportunity to initiate treatment early to prolong survival and improve quality of life. The centre offers a wide range of methodologies to implement their

programme, to educate and to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS”.

In the Singida community in which the Faraja centre operates, people can come freely to be tested for HIV/ AIDS and take control of their health status and avail of this continuum of oF Kes

Connie added, “We at the Faraja Centre sincerely wish to thank eve- ryone that attended and supported Teresa’s parents – your efforts and generosity are greatly appreciated by all here in Faraja.

A special thank you to all who donated spot prizes for the draw at Ennis General Hospital. Also a big thank you to my friends and Teresa’s friends who cooked various dishes for the meal at her house and all who donated so generously”.

O’DOLAN & Partners, Ennis have taken on what they describe as “a fan- tastic opportunity to acquire a thriv- ing business, in a prime location, in the heart of Ruan village”. The prop- erty 1s guiding at €900,000.

The property in question is “Dal- cassain Shopping Centre’, which comprises a bar, supermarket, filling station, post office and residential ac- commodation.

“This attractive and productive business is ideally located in the heart of the community, next door to all local amenities including the

church, school, and sports facilities,” said Diane Kelly of O’Dolan & Part- ners.

“Ruan village continues to show positive growth and this business handles a thriving daily trade. The traditional style pub is well estab- lished and draws a loyal local cli- entele and the whole complex com- mands a prominent trading position in the expanding village. This is a turn key business, well managed with potential for further develop- ment,” she said.

“Turnover figures as well as health and safety and fire certificates are all available upon written request.”

The accommodation comprises a public bar (6,130 sq ft), sub divided into three separate areas. There’s also a cold room, keg room and la- dies and gents toilets. The ground floor accommodation is completed with a kitchen. Upstairs there are four bedrooms at first floor level and two further converted attic rooms on the second floor. To the rear of the bar is a yard, which includes a smok- ing area.

The main supermarket also in- cludes a post office. The grocery business encompasses a cold meat Section, frozen food section and an off licence section, together with a

news agency.

Also included in the sale is a filling station to the side of the supermar- ket. There are two petrol pumps and a diesel pump with overhead canopy. The fuel yard to the rear of the fore- court has an enclosed high block wall and industrial gate for added se- curity. The business is an appointed agency for Calor Kogas, as well as being solid fuel merchants, and the vendors supply many farming goods to the surrounding farming commu- UIA

For full details on this property contact 065 6844395.

WEST Clare beauty Grainne Larkin has been crowned “Maiden of the Mourne’.

Grainne won the coveted title at the Warrenpoint Festival last weekend.

The 22-year-old Kilkee woman staved off competition from as far afield as America, Northern Ireland and Russia to secure the title for the Banner County.

Grainne won the Clare Maiden of

the Mourne title in Limerick during the summer.

Forty girls in total competed on that night for five titles – Miss Clare, Miss Limerick, Miss Universe repre- sentative and Maiden of the Mourne for Clare and Limerick.

The Limerick “maiden” was unable to travel to the final leaving Grainne as the only representative from the Republic of Ireland.

The Kilkee beautician enjoyed her first trip to Northern Ireland for the

festival, and could not believe she won the international competition.

“T nearly lost my life when they an- nounced the winner, my legs were shaking, I couldn’t believe it,’ she Sr HLGe

“It was definitely the best experi- ence of my life getting that crown,’ she said.

The Clare woman enjoyed the week of the festival, which is very similar to the Rose of Tralee.

“It was excellent. It was a really

good experience. We were not al- lowed to go out very late and were just allowed one glass of wine. They were every good to us and treated us like little princesses.”

The ten contestants were up every morning at 7.30am to begin their very busy schedule that went on until 10.30pm.

As well as touring Northern Ire- land, the girls were brought to Stor- mount, where Grainne’s claim to fame was sitting on First Minister Jan Paisley’s chair.

The girls also took part in a parade, visited senior citizens and youth projects, as well as paying visits to their many sponsors.

As well as the banquet ball, the contestants also had to go through numerous interviews before the Sat- urday night public interview on stage at the town hall.

Grainne was second after the break to speak to UTV news presenter Paul Clarke in front of a packed crowd. The talented woman also sang the Christy Moore song “Ride On”.

During her reign as Maiden of the Mourne, the Kilkee woman will have to return to Warrenpoint to turn on the Christmas lights, be part of the St Patrick’s Day festivities and other official functions.

Among the many prizes she re- ceived was Newbridge silverware jewellery, a designer dress and every girls’ favourite, a designer handbag.

She also received €750 on the night and will receive a second cheque for the same amount when her year is completed.

Grainne is the daughter of Delia and Patrick Larkin and has one sister Roisin.

Formerly a pupil of St Joseph’s Community College, OT rer Grainne now manages the beauty el- ement at the Sentosa Spa at the Kul- kee Bay Hotel.

IN a glum summer for estate agents across the county, Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Kilrush, has bucked the trend by achieving €1,000,000 for Chif Cottage, Kilkee, which was auctioned on August 16.

This success needs to be appreci- ated in the context that the property carried a guide price of €/00,000,

so exceed its value by €300,000.

The old-fashioned detached stone- built cottage enjoys a wonderful location, directly on the cliff top, accessed from George’s Head drive and within a stone’s throw of the cen- tre of Kilkee.

While the house is in need of con- siderable moderisation and _ refur- bishment — its selling point was un- doubtedly its enviable location.

KILRUSH is on the crest of a wave as yachts man Ger O’Rourke has won the prestigious and hotly con- tested Rolex Fastnet Race for the local club.

The Limerick native has long been associated with the Kilrush Western Yacht Club and has owned a number of both very large and small racing yachts.

Chieftain sails under the flags of the Western Yacht Club and under her nominated homeport of Kil- rush Ireland, and thanks to her suc- cess the club and Kilrush are being brought to the attention of a world- VA Celomr- LOCO BCA ron

Last week the Cookson 50, was declared the overall winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race and its captain presented with the Fastnet Chal- lenge Cup and a Rolex Yacht master timepiece at the prize giving on Fri- day at the historic Royal Citadel in Plymouth.

The Farr-designed carbon fibre yacht finished Wednesday night at 19:43:44 local time with an elapsed sailing time of 55:04:43.

Ger O’Rourke previously brought honour to the local yacht club by winning the Cork Dry Gin Sailor of the Year 2006 and the Cork Dry Gin Sailor of the Month for January, 2006.

Ger is the director of the Limerick

based Civil Engineering and Con- struction Company Chieftain Con- struction Ltd and is a mechanical engineer with a marketing degree.

The engineer is an avid competi- tive sailor and has taken part in yacht racing for a number of years including the 2004 BMW Round Ireland Race in which he finished well up the field.

However in 2005 Ger decided to have his own custom built yacht and put a programme in place to achieve that ambition.

He planned a Cookson 50 racing yacht with a canting keel built and awarded the construction contract to a boatyard in New Zealand.

The result of this endeavour was

the now famous Chieftain. With it he took part in the internationally renowned Southern Hemisphere, Sydney, Australia to Hobart, Taz- mania Race in December 2005 and won the event, which was a most auspicious start to his racing ca- KsLo

Following the yacht’s success in the Southern Hemisphere, Chief- tain came north and in 2006 won a string of major races in North- ern Europe and the Mediterranean. Chieftain was named as the Irish Cruising Racing Association Yacht of the Year for 2006.

Chieftain is sailed with a crew of 12 to 15 people depending on race requirements.

A QUESTION mark has been thrown over an ambitious proposal by a County Clare construction company to develop a strategic site in Ennis.

Ennis couple Vincent and Ann Coffey of Clonroad, Ennis lodged an appeal to An Bord Pleanala against a plan by Galvin Construction Ltd to build a retail outlet on Ennis’s Fran- cis Street.

In 2004, it emerged that the Cof- feys withdrew their objection against a €20 million housing scheme at the Quin Road, Doora by Luxury Homes (Galway) Ltd after the company paid them £85,000 (€107,930) and gave them two free sites.

A letter to the board from the Cof- feys stated that at no time did they approach the developers with the in- tention of securing payment of mon- ey, gifts or consideration of other in- ducement by any person.

An Bord Pleanala has already up- held the Coffeys’ concerns in relation to the Galvin Construction Francis Street proposal by refusing planning permission to the development last year.

The Coffeys property is adjacent to the Galvin development and the building company re-lodged plans to develop the Francis Street site.

Ennis Town Council gave the com-

pany the go-ahead and now the Cof- feys have appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanala.

Consultants for the Coffeys state, “The proposed development will devalue our client’s property by vir- tue of its proximity along the lateral ere) UbALe rN AYA

“It will result in overshadowing, loss of amenity and privacy. The wrap-around balcony at second-floor level, if permitted, will directly over- look our client’s property…

“We would respectfully submit that this application should be refused pending a more appropriate design solution for the site.” A decision is due on the appeal later this year.

The appeal stated that “the current planning application involves the de- velopment of part of one of the most important sites in Ennis town centre, situated at the junction of Francis Street and Clonroad and, whilst the Site 18 vacant, it 1s deemed suitable for a mixture of uses”.

“The council will recognise that this stand-alone proposal jeopard- ises the potential for the proper plan- ning and development of the entire area and must be assessed in those ACCU N AHEAD Gree

“An overall proposal is required for the entire area to ensure that the land’s true potential is exploited,” the appeal stated.

TAOISEACH Bertie Ahern has bro- ken his silence on the Shannon/Hea- throw crisis to announce the setting up of a group to study the options for the airport and the region.

The news comes after a weekend protest in which almost 6,000 people took to the streets and marched along the Shannon dual carriageway to de- mand that the decision be reversed.

In his first public announcement since the controversial decision to axe the Heathrow flights at Shannon 14 days previously, the Taoiseach promised that an interdepartmen-

tal group of senior government of- ficials will be asked to examine all the available options for airline con- nectivity.

He repeated his reassurances yes- terday afternoon at a meeting with Brian O’Connell, Chairman of the Atlantic Way, regarding Shannon- London connectivity.

He stated that the report to be pre- pared for Government should clearly set out the options for supporting aviation connectivity for Shannon, the level of investment in the Shan- non region in the National Develop- ment Plan and Transport 21, and the implications of aviation connectivity

for companies.

O’Connell said that the message he brought the Taoiseach was one of “deep anger and concern” but that the meeting was “positive and construc- tive…this is a vital first step towards addressing the key issue of the slots and also the wider context of Shan- non’s global connectivity,” he said.

Ennis, Galway, Limerick and Shan- non chambers of commerce today gave a preliminary welcome to the Taoiseach’s announcement.

The four Chambers, who collec- tively represent 1,600 businesses with over 100,000 employees, said they will work closely with the group

but added that “the current decision by Aer Lingus, although question- able from a commercial and political point of view, is also the result of a much broader issue; the overall lack of regional up-to-date infrastructure which should have been in place at least three years ago.

“If the Government was truly com- mitted to balanced regional develop- ment, then the region would not be in this position today,” a spokesman Sr HKOe