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FINE GAEL leader, Enda Kenny is due to visit Clare next week to dis- cuss the Shannon crisis with party representatives.

Fine Gael’s western parliamentary party members and Clare councillors are meeting in the Park Inn today to formulate their response to the situ- ation.

“We are planning a private mem- bers motion for the return of the Dail,” said Deputy Pat Breen.

“This study group is a typical Ber- tie quick-fix solution. We had a re- view group set up after Open Skies was announced and, a year on, that report is still lying on a desk.

“Not one euro has been spent in preparation for Open Skies,’ said Do etiaa isore

Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey said the Taoiseach’s intervention “‘illus- trates his lack of understanding of the issue. I believe the only solution is to re-instate the Shannon-Heath- row slots. Connection to hubs such as Paris and Amsterdam, while wel- come, would not address this issue. These connections would not be financially viable for an airline to operate and would not provide the required frequency for the business traveller’.

Deputy Carey has also called for the Cabinet meeting of August 29 to meet in Shannon, as a sign of the

Government’s commitment to the re- ion.

“If the Cabinet met here in Shannon next week, they could hear directly from those affected by the decision by Aer Lingus to remove the Shan- non-Heathrow slots.”

Meanwhile, Independent MEP, Marian Harkin has questionned the strategy behind the retention of the Government share in Aer Lingus if it was “not prepared to act when an action by Aer Lingus seriously dam- aged the economic and social fabric of an entire region”’.

She added that the “Government’s continued refusal to pressure Aer Lingus on the Shannon issue begs the question as to whether its share

in Aer Lingus is merely a blocking mechanism to be used in the event of a take over bid”.

A meeting of Fianna Fail politi- cians in Shannon last week called for the Government to take whatever ac- tion has the best chance of restoring the slots to Shannon.

Junior Miunister, Tony Killeen, who attended the meeting, said that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Trans- port Minister, Noel Dempsey are “extremely annoyed at the manner in which Aer Lingus pulled this par- ticular stroke”.

‘What we need out of this is an out- come that guarantees Shannon’s con- nectivity with London well into the future, through London Heathrow.”

COMMERCIAL organic farmers will now be able to benefit from funding outside of the main REPS portfolio following the launch of a new scheme by former Green Party leader and Minister of State with responsibility for Food and Horticul- ture, Trevor Sargent, last week.

The new scheme will be co-funded by the EU and the Irish taxpayer and is part of Ireland’s Rural Develop- ment Programme 2007-2013.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Sargent, said that the objective of the

new scheme is to deliver enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits and to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food.

Organic farmers can participate in REPS as well this scheme, but for the first time they have a choice.

“I see this as an important change. Up to now, organic farmers had to be in REPS to get support payments. Some farmers might have consid- ered the organic option, but didn’t find that joining REPS as well would have suited their particular situa- tion,” he said.

‘These would include producers of foods for which consumer demand is greatly in excess of what the Irish organic sector can supply at present. These would be small-scale horti- cultural producers, for example, or large-scale conventional tillage pro- ducers who might be interested in converting part of their land to or- ganic cereal production to meet the big demand for organic feed.

“The majority of producers will continue to participate in both REPS and the Organic Farming Scheme and we will be encouraging them to do so in order that they avail of the

maximum level of payments.”

In line with the latest round of so- cial partnership, the payment rates will be increased by 17 per cent com- pared to the previous programme. This means that between REPS 4 and the new Organic Farming Scheme an organic farmer will now be able to qualify for up to €21,650 during the conversion period and €15,860 a year with full organic status.

An organic producer who chooses not to join REPS will still qualify for up to €11,660 during the conversion period and €5,830 a year once he or she has full organic status.

THE regional director of cancer serv- ices in the west, Professor Rajnish K Gumpta, has said that the progress in developing the network of cancer cen- tres “is hampered by the lack of re- sources and the employment ceiling”. As a result, he believes that patients and their GPs are seeking access to tests for breast cancer through routes other than the Specialist Breast Unit and a multi-disciplinary team.

Last month, the HSE announced that the mammography unit at Ennis Gen- eral Hospital would remain closed as it had decided to concentrate all mam- mography services for the mid-west at the Regional Specialist Breast Unit in the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick, claiming more than 1,000 mammograms a year were necessary for the maintenance of the required level of professional skills in read- ing the x-rays. Professor Gumpta now says these units are not being properly resourced.

He was speaking after a second woman from the mid-west was mis- takenly given the all-clear for breast cancer. The case of this Tipperary woman is “Separate to the circum- stances and investigation” involving Killaloe woman Rebecca O’ Malley, who was also mistakenly cleared of breast cancer.

She went through a mastectomy and removal of glands and referred to Professor Gumpta in April and is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy.

“Although I accept…that there was

a diagnostic error in the Pathology Laboratory at University Hospital Galway, this lady should have been referred to aregional specialist breast unit and a multi-displinary team at her original presentation in 2005,” said Prof Gumpta.

“Personally I am extremely disap- pointed, sad, angry and concerned that this has happened, was allowed to happen and I/we did not stop this from happening,’ he said. “I have raised concerns about the treatment of patients with cancer outside spe-

cialist units and regional hospitals for at least the last three years.”

Minister for Health, Mary Harney has apologised to the lady and an in- dependent review has been commis- sioned into pathology services at the hospital, which is being conducted, by the Health Information and Qual- ity Authority.

SWIMMERS braved the cold waters of Liscannor Bay to take part in the Lahinch/Liscannor swim to raise much needed money for the Burren Chernobyl Project on Sunday. Lahinchman, Pat Conway, leads the annual swim each year. “It’s a huge help to the Burren Chernobyl] Project and we are so grateful to Pat and to everyone who took part. The money will be used to help the children and adults in Belarus whose lives have been affected by the Chernobyl dis- aster,’ said Mary Cosgrove of the

Burren Chernobyl Project.

“We try to focus on on-going sus- tainable projects. Two of the orphan- ages we have been dealing with for years are the children’s facilities in Cherven and Goradiche. We also do a lot of work in Tarasaki and Kyl which are adult institutions for peo- ple of 18 years and up.”

The vast majority of work un- dertaken by the Burren Chernobyl Project involves helping to ease the suffering of people living in vast and under-resourced government institu- tions.

Many of these people are suffer-

ing both mentally and physically as a result of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. In recent times however, the Burren Chernobyl Project has been exploring ways in which day- care can be provided for the affected people, allowing them to live in their own home and travel to centres dur- ing the day.

“In Minsk we now have a drop-in day centre, which has received fund- ing from the Government as well as Roche Ireland, Clarecastle. As well as the funding, staff from Roche have gone out there and helped with building work in Minsk,” continued

Mary.

She added, “A lot of the workers who went over have stayed involved with the project.”

The Burren Chernobyl Project is based in Ennistymon and was estab- lished more than 20 years ago to help those affected by the Chernobyl Nu- OTTO N TN Kolm

If you wish to donate money or offer some support, contact the Burren Chernobyl Project at the Old Monastery Building in En- nistymon on 065 7071130, email office@burrenchernobyl.ie or check out www.burrenchernobyl.ie

THE Mayor of Shannon, Cllr Sean McLoughlin, has warned that the battle to retain the Shannon-London link 1s only just beginning.

Shannon’s first citizen is now ask- ing people from across the west and particularly from Clare to join a solidarity walk this Friday evening, from the Drumline roundabout to the Ballymurtagh roundabout, start- ing at 7pm.

The Drumline roundabout is lo- cated on the flyover at the off ramp of the main Limerick to Ennis road,

which leads into Shannon and the airport.

The Ballymurtagh roundabout 1s located at the end of the dual car- riageway at the interchange for Shan- non Town Centre, the airport and the turnoff for the Newmarket-on-Fer- gus road.

‘We are asking anybody who wish- es to show solidarity with the cam- paign to bring the necessary pressure to bear on both our government and the Aer Lingus management team to withdraw plans to cease the air-link between Shannon and London Hea- throw.

“The walk is about one mile in length and we will welcome peo- ple from all over who feel that they would like to do something positive to ensure our vital link with London Heathrow is maintained,’ he said.

“We invite people of all ages, from senior citizens to parents and chil- dren, to demonstrate that the residents of the west of Ireland have the power to gather as one and walk shoulder to shoulder in a dignified and peaceful manner to overturn this commercial decision and hold onto our right of passage to London Heathrow and thus the rest of the world.”

THE HSE has this week admitted that there is an internationally recog- nised difficulty in recruiting medical scientists with a specialty in cytology, vital in accessing cervical screens.

The admission comes as a Limerick woman, Elaine Price, reported how she had to wait 19 weeks for the re- sults of a follow-up smear in autumn 2006.

During a routine smear in 2005, CN2 cells (pre-cancerous cells) were found and she was told she would re- quire a colposcopy — a scraping of the cervix. Her doctor told her that an appointment would take weeks so she went private. Her follow-up smear in September 2006 took 19 weeks for a result. Both smears were sent to the cytology laboratory at University Hospital Galway.

All smears taken at the Mid West- ern Regional Hospital Limerick are sent to University Hospital Galway for analysis, while a portion of GPs from the mid-west send smears from their patients to the same hospital. The remaining GPs in the mid-west are directed to send the smears to Dublin.

A spokesperson for the HSE said that last year the cytology labora- tory at University Hospital Galway converted from the conventional cer- vical smear technology to a liquid-

based technology.

“This technology is in keeping with best international practice. This con- version involved a significant body of work and commitment from eve- ryone working in the laboratory. The process to convert the technology was a complicated one and it began in February 2006 and was complet- ed ahead of schedule at the end of paul etes

“All staff in the laboratory required training in the use of this new tech- nology and for the period of that training last year there was on aver- age a turn-around time of 10 to 12 weeks at the most. That has now been reduced and cervical smears are reported on within the four-week timeframe.”

The cytology laboratory at UHG is currently located in a prefabricated building which, according to the health service, “is of no relevance in terms of its functionality. The hospi- tal is at present finalising a brief for the development of a new laboratory for submission to the HSE Capital Projects Steering Group.

“The national required turnaround time is four weeks for a cervical Smear, from the time it 1s received in the laboratory to when the report on the smear is issued. Since the end of June 2007, smears . . . are reported on within this four-week timeframe,’ mel END a elereR

THE people of Wisconsin will be dancing to the sounds and rhythms of Gort, this winter as the Changing Colours CD has been included in an elite group of Irish music productions which will be added to the Milwau- kee Library of Music.

The CD, which features musicians and vocalists from all of Gort’s eth- nic groups, was produced by Coole Records to mark Gort’s first multi- cultural music festival, which took place in May.

The Changing Colours Festival, which was organised by the Gort Regional Alliance for Community and Environment (GRACE), proved a great success and is now likely to

become an annual event.

“We want to showcase quality products and the Changing Colours CD is really stunning,’ said Marilyn Goughan, Galway County Council’s Art Officer.

“The production quality on the CD is fantastic and it really manages to encompass the cultural diversity that has become such a great part of Gort and Galway as whole.

“We have collected CDs and bro- chures from festivals all over the county and will be giving them to people who are attending the Mil- waukee Irish Fest. A number of cop- ies of the Changing Colours CD will also be left in the Music Archive in Milwaukee,” added Marilyn.

‘People from a number of Ameri-

can festivals will be in attendance and the hope is that we will be able to attract people to our festivals and also to forge links between festivals on both sides of the Atlantic,’ she SrHLGe

Coole Records was set up by GRACE founder Niamh Clune, as a community music label which aims at drawing together the best of lo- OF NEE: NCoelemr-bee mm oynO da leubercammelcssemaualaemee| platform for success.

The label is backed by a wealth of musical experience and talent in- cluding locals Tim Howarth, Hayato, Aleisha Shimizu and Niamh Clune herself.

Tim has been writing and record- ing music professionally for over 10 years and also does sound recording

for the BBC in the UK. Hayato has featured in bands at festivals around the UK and has a wealth of recording experience in bass, double bass, flute and guitar.

Aleisha is a contemporary vocal- ist, song-writer, producer and vo- cal teacher. She also holds a ‘Music with Visual and Performance Art’ honours degree from University of Brighton.

Niamh enjoyed a successful musical career in London in the *70s working with a range of successful producers including Mutt Lange (Shania Twain and AC/DC), Tony Clarke (Moody Blues) and Todd Rundgren (Tom Robinson).

The Changing Colours CD can be found on www.coolerecords.com

THE decision by Aer Lingus to halt its Shannon-Heathrow service and transfer to Belfast’s Aldergrove Air- port has been described as the “dying kick for the midwest”.

Mayor of Ennis, Tommy Brennan was speaking at a special meeting of Ennis Town Council convened to discuss the implications of Aer Lin- gus’s controversial decision.

He also said that cross-party politi- cal support was critical to securing the future of Shannon as a strong in- CLUE Neon aKSe

Councillors present at the meeting said unless the Heathrow service was retained, there would be dire conse- quences for industry and ancillary Services in the mid-west.

The council will also write to the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey and Aer Lingus to protest the move.

Cllr Brennan said, “None of the Dail can be found. This was made up with Paisley and there is nothing that suggests otherwise. We cannot afford to lose the flight to Heathrow, otherwise we might as well close down the mid-west and west coast

completely.”

Fianna Fail councillor Tom Glynn said, “We have to protect those slots in Heathrow.

“They have an obligation to cus- tomers and businesses who helped set up industry in the region.”

Fine Gael councillor Mary Coote- Ryan said it was a “black day for Shannon”.

Cllr Taiwoo Matthew questioned the decision to terminate the profit- able Shannon-Heathrow route.

“I don’t see the economic benefit for Aer Lingus to go from a position Where they had a monopoly to one

where they will be in competition. It could be devastating for the region,” he said.

Independent councillor Frankie Neylon challenged the Green Party to stand up to Fianna Fail.

“When it comes to birds and by- passes, the Greens are everywhere. But now they don’t seem to want to know about it. They were going to be the watchdogs for Fianna Fail. Now it’s time for them to prove their eyKeyee none

Fianna Fail councillor Peter Con- sidine questioned the legality of the decision to transfer to Belfast.

THE Miunister for Transport, Noel Dempsey, has been accused of reneg- ing on a statement by his predecessor who said Heathrow had a “unique role in ensuring connectivity to and from Ireland.”

“This connectivity is fundamental both to provide connections to and from Dublin as well as to and from the regions,” Minister Martin Cullen said in a statement within the Arti- cles of Association of Aer Lingus.

“The Minister for Transport will not recommend that the Minister for Finance seek to convene an extraor- dinary general meeting to approve

a Slot disposal unless the disposal would result in the slots at London Heathrow falling below the level that is critical to ensuring connectivity to and from Ireland,’ the statement Sr ALGe

Supporters of the airport say that the removal of the flights from Shan- non is removing all connectivity to the west of Ireland and the rest of the ONG b

Legal council for the campaign op- posing the Aer Lingus decision to move the Shannon Heathrow service to Belfast are considering taking le- gal action after studying the Articles of Association.

Lawyers retained by the campaign

are to give an opinion on whether a legal challenge to the decision is fea- sible later in the week.

According to the articles “The Minister for Transport considers that the four London Heathrow slot pairs for service to and from Cork and that four (summer season) and three (winter season) for service to and from Shannon would each be criti- cal to ensuring connectivity to these airports because this is the mini- mum necessary to ensure a spread of flights throughout the day.

“On this the Minister for Finance as a Shareholder in the company (Aer Lingus), acting on the advice of the Minister for Transport, is unlikely to

support a proposed disposal of any slot pair such that there would be less than the existing London Heathrow slots pairs that relate to service be- tween London Heathrow and Cork or Shannon and is likely to request the convening of an extraordinary general meeting, as provided for the Articles of Association, to consider such matter.”

Disposal transaction in defined in the articles of association as “a trans- action pursuant to which any member of the group proposed to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of” the slots.

The transport minister said last week that the four slots at Heathrow were not the be-all and end-all.

THE hills of North Clare will once again be alive to the sound of music this September, as the 14th annual Burren Ramble takes to the moun- tains around Fanore.

Bad musical puns aside, this year’s ramble will feature a very special treat for walkers, as the ‘Lismora- haun Tenors’ will perform at the foot of Slieve Elva.

Following the success of a perform- ance last year by the “Lismorahaun Singers’ in a natural amphitheatre in the heart of the Burren, the ‘Lis- morahaun Tenors’ will take up the

mantle of musical entertainment, entertaining the walkers while they stop for lunch.

The Tenors feature rising star Pe- ter O’Donghue, and special guest Soprano, Naomi O’Connell, both of whom are natives of north Clare, and learned their trade under Archie Simpson with the Lismorahaun Sing- ae

‘Base camp’ for this year’s ramble is O’Donohue’s Pub, Fanore. Regis- tration stars at 12.30pm and the walk will set out around 1.30pm. It’s about a six mile walk in total and this year we will be making our way to Sheve Elva,” said organiser Joe Queally.

“There is a great contrast on the walk between the Burren stone and the bogs.

“The walking route takes in great views over Galway Bay and the Aran Islands. It 1s a very relaxed walk, something that everyone would be able for and it will take in parts of the Burren that most people will nev- er have seen”.

Over the years the Ramble has raised more than €300,000 for the Royal National Lifeboat Institu- tion (RNLI). “All proceeds from the walk will all to help support the work of the RNLI. There has been so many tragedies and near tragedies

along the Clare coast over the last 12 months and the RNLI really do great work at these times. The sup- port that the RNLI has received from the people of Clare over the years has been great. If you look at someone like Tomsie Sullivan from Lahinch who has been a devoted member of the organisation for 43 years now,’ Loy eT Ube LeCsre MN Letom

Anyone interested in taking part in this year’s ramble can contact Joe for sponsorship cards at 087 6260301. The Burren Ramble takes place on September 9 and is being organised by the Ennis and Lahinch branches of the RNLI.