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A JUDGE has expressed the view that the State has failed a young man who requires treatment for drug ad- diction, but has not received it.

Gerard O’Connor (18), of Chapel Street, Killaloe, has pleaded guilty to more than 20 charges, including burglary and criminal damage of various business premises in Kil- laloe between September 2006 and February 2007.

When he appeared in court last month, he was refused bail amid fears from a judge he would re-offend. Defending solicitor Daragh Hassett

said his client had been in custody in Limerick prison for a fortnight.

‘He is prepared to stay in Limerick prison and hopefully take up a place in in-house residential in autumn,” he said. “He 1s agreeing to comply with the Probation report and stay in cus- tody. It is hoped he will get a place NOW aWAONODOM EN aUllcAUNc mmr My oLeeaFDURIMUUODL for young people. He is prepared to stay in custody on the basis he will get the help,” he said.

Judge Joseph Mangan said he would no longer penalise the young ner-VO MAUD MN Elo) m

“It is unsatisfactory this treatment is not available. I’m not willing to

penalise him further. We will see on the 20th of July,” said the judge.

Inspector Michael Gallagher said, “We all agree he needs treatment.”

The judge replied, “It appears to me the State is failing him.”

Mr Hassett said, “He has been promised assessment in Il weeks time and he has decided to stay where he is. That’s assessment, not treatment. It isn’t good enough in this day and age.”

The judge remanded him to appear bOmecel vou mm pOmULEUR YA

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field identification of cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) at sea and from remains washed up on shore including skull characteristics. The course, on at the Shannon Dol-

phin and Wildlife Centre on Mer- chants Quay in Kilrush, will also look at ways of recording cetaceans and the validation procedure for ac- cepting records.

The centre has a large collection of skulls, bones and other interesting cetacean on display and the work- shop will also examine these.

Dr Simon Berrow of the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation and IWDG co-ordinator will lead the workshop and he explained what people could expect to see.

‘The group has a large sighting and

stranding project so we do courses all over the country. I recently saw a minke whale and a basking shark off Loop Head. This time of year there could be dolphins, porpoises, hump- back or killer whales.”

He added that he hoped that ordi- nary people would “contribute to knowledge and conservation” by voluntarily reporting and recording information.

The workshop will start at 10am in the centre with introductory infor- mation and weather permitting, will include an afternoon trip to Loop

Head and Kilcredaun Head to prac- tice whalewatching in the field. The workshop ends at around 5pm.

Participants are asked to bring bin- oculars or a telescopes if they own them as well as any interesting bones or material they might have found washed up on the shore.

The cost of the course is €25 for members of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and €40 for non members

For more details contact Dr Simon Berrow on 086 8545450 or email si- mon.berrow@1wdg.ie.

“The Green Party are not using a demand for an end to troop stops at Shannon as a pre-condition for enter- ing coalition. There was never going to be pre-conditions.”

Green Party policy states the party is “committed to ending the use of Shannon Airport by US military forces involved in the war in Iraq and insists that any aircraft suspected of involvement in illegal movements of prisoners must be searched”.

Party chairman and spokesperson on foreign affairs, John Gormley TD, was in the vanguard of opposition to troop landings at the airport, even before war was declared by President Bush in March 2003.

In January of that year, Deputy Gormley visited Shannon in solidar- ity with those who had established a peace camp on the perimeter of the airport, while as late as this Febru- ary he stated that “Shannon Airport is now, for all intents and purposes, a US military airport”.

However, Deputy Gormley’s ad- mission that he “couldn’t stand five more years of opposition” is one of the factors in the abandonment of the Shannon Airport policy.

The first break with party policy came in Clare when election candi- date, Councillor Brian Meaney said, “I personally believe that allowing the use of Shannon would be in the best interests of getting the Ameri- cans out of the mess they have cre- ated in Iraq”.

Now, as negotiations on the forma- tion of the Government reach their critical stage, the Green leadership have taken Cllr Meaney’s lead.

EXPERIENCE has made way for youth, with two Clare young guns securing positions on the national political stage.

Fianna Fail’s Timmy Dooley, at 38 and Fine Gael’s Joe Carey, 31, were among the youngest TDs elected in last week’s general election.

Former poll topper James Breen (Ind) and veteran politician Sena- tor Brendan Daly (FF) were forced to reconsider their political futures,

having been defeated in the final ODEN aE

In contrast, the two young guns are anticipating their progression to the DEE

Deputy Dooley, who has spent the past five years in the Seanad, said he felt young people showed a great interest in politics in the run-up to the election and this translated into votes.

“Clare will be well represented in the younger stakes. We have to look at demographics in the county.

Joe and I will be able to look after a young County Clare. No doubt we both benefited from the young vote,” he said.

Fine Gael’s newest TD in Clare, Joe Carey 1s not going to be overawed by the presence of older, more experi- enced members of the Dail.

“Tis a young man’s or woman’s game now. I will bring a new energy, enthusiasm and vigour as anew TD,” he said.

He said he will be sad to vacate his seat on Clare County Council, after

eight years.

“T have great friends in the council. I got great support from councillors in the chamber. I will be sad to let it go, but I have progressed politically,” he said.

Mr Dooley believes that Clare is in with a healthy chance of getting a senior ministerial post, despite not securing a third Fianna Fail seat in the county.

“We haven’t the three but Tony Killeen has done a very good job in the Department of Labour. It would

be no harm to freshen up the Cabi- net with someone like Tony. We need somebody in the mid-west to west.

“It was disappointing we didn’t take the third (seat), but you’ve got to take ability into account too,” he said. Speaking shortly after his elec- tion on Friday, his party colleague Tony Killeen said, “Our situation in the county would be a lot better ob- viously if we had three candidates. I think the judgement made nationally about the performance of Fianna Fail in Clare won’t be positive.”

PRESSURE is mounting on the Eu- ropean Commission to introduce an all out ban on Brazilian beef follow- ing an IFA survey into the South American beef sector.

IFA President, Padraig Walshe, presented the results of the study to EU Commission officials in Brussels last Thursday which he claims in- cludes “extensive factual evidence” that raises major questions over sec- tor.

During the 7-day visit to Brazil, a team from the IFA and the Farmers Journal visited 15 farms in the states of Parana, Mato Grosso de Sol and Mato Grosso. In addition, the team observed farming practices on a fur-

ther 27 farms on their travels.

‘Based on the evidence we found of non existent cattle traceability, wide- spread illegal removal and cutting out of tags, totally inadequate move- ment and FMD controls and the use of hormone growth promoters, the only conclusion for the EU Commis- sion is to immediately impose a total ban on all Brazilian beef imports into Europe,” said IFA national livestock chairman John Bryan, who was part of the Brazilian trip.

Bryan went on to accused the EU Commission, particularly ‘Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson and Consumer Protection Commissioner Markos Kyprianou, of pursuing a politically-motivated trade agenda on Brazilian beef imports.

“On the few farms where there were tags, we found routine and widespread removal and cutting out of the official SISBOV tags in order to facilitate illegal movement,” he SrHTOR

“It is clear from our visit that the movement of cattle from FMD re- stricted states into unrestricted clear states 1s widespread.

“This explains why actual imports into the EU have fallen by only 2 per cent, despite restrictions on states which accounted for over 60 per cent of EU imports before the FMD crisis new lO ey

“We saw evidence of large scale cattle movement across state borders driven by higher prices in the unre- stricted states.”

Bryan went on to say that Irish and European farmers operated to the highest international standards of food safety, animal identification and traceability and strict controls on animal medicines and residue KRU NTS

‘European consumers expect that all beef on sale in the EU meet these standards. Producers and consum- ers rely on the Commission to up- hold European standards across the board,’ he continued.

“By accepting Brazilian beef im- ports, which clearly fall below Euro- pean standards, the EU Commission are failing in their duty to European consumers and undermining Euro- pean producers.”

PLANS have been put in place for the fifth annual Sixmilebridge Sum- mer Festival, which will take place from Friday, July 13 to Sunday, July iy

The highlight of this year’s festival will be a performance by American country singer Robert Muizzell, on Saturday night.

Among the other performances scheduled to take place are the Kil- fenora Ceili Band and Dublin band Prison Love.

Organiser of the festival, Vicky Ward said this is the first year that there is a major concentration on pa LUESSLen

With this in mind, a 2,400 square foot marquee has been hired and will be in place on the old soccer pitch on the Shannon Road in Sixmileb- ju (ener

This is a change from previous fes- tivals, which were mainly focused in the pubs and the school field.

‘This year we decided to get a big marquee. The whole weekend will be focused there. It will be the big- gest and best festival ever,” said Ms Ward.

The festival will kick off on a col- ourful note on Friday night, with the helium balloon race. Some 500 bal- loons will be released and the bal- loon that travels the furthest will be the winner.

“We placed tags on the balloons and the owner of the balloon that travels furthest will receive a €100 toy voucher. Last year, the furthest balloon went to Scotland and its tag was read, six days later,’ said Ms Ward.

There will be a mixed bag on Sat- urday, with events such as road kart racing, children’s workshops and a car boot sale poised to attract sev- eral people.

The family day will take place on Sunday. There will be a country theme, with best dressed cowboy competitions, along with various family attractions such as wheel of fortune, bouncy castles, clowns and magicians.

Sunday should attract several hun- dred families, pending weather con- ditions.

Organisers are hopeful that people will travel to the festival, from all over the county and beyond.

The organising committee is in- debted to the local business commu- nity, which has come on board again this year.

“We can always rely on the local businesses to help out,” said Ms AWETKCE

Tickets for the concerts are avail- able in advance from The Bridge Complex, phone 061 713666.

The Robert Muizzell tickets cost €15 each and weekend tickets are available, at a cost of €25.

WEST Clare may not have returned a local TD to represent it in the 30th Dail but it can take heart that one of its own was among the 166 Dail deputies elected on Thursday.

Kilrush native, Dr Mary Upton was re-elected to the Dail for Dublin South Central after a long drawn-out count in the capital.

The Labour TD was elected on the ninth count to the five-seater con- stituency.

A qualified microbiologist and

former lecturer at University College Dublin, Dr Upton won her first Dail seat in the 1999 by-election follow- ing the death of her brother, Pat.

She was re-elected in 2002, and ap- pointed Labour Party spokesperson on Agriculture and Food.

Among her other achievements in politics was her appointment to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food from 2002 to 2007.

She is also a board member of Fa- tima Mansions Regeneration Board and of James’ Street CBS.

The 60-year-old Kilrush woman was chairperson of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland and the National Council for Educational Awards.

She previously held the portfolio of food safety, consumer affairs and health promotion.

Her academic background and her quietly spoken articulate manner saw her comments in these roles respect- ed and rarely challenged.

Dr Upton was educated in Colaiste Mhuire, Ennis, before attending Un1- versity College, Galway and Univer-

sity College Dublin.

The newly returned TD now lives in Dundrum. She was the third TD to be returned to the hotly contested Dublin constituency, with a first pref- erence vote of 5,987 and a surplus on the ninth count of 1,261 votes.

The transfers were not enough how- ever to bring in running mate Eric Byrne.

Byrne lost out in a lengthy battle with sitting TD, Aengus O Snodaigh (SF), who eventually took the seat by 69 votes after a recheck of ballot papers.

A CD, featuring the main highlights of last year’s traditional music fes- tival in Quin, 1s to be launched next month. ;

The third annual Seisidn na hEire- ann took place in pubs in Quin last September. Dozens of bands travelled from all over the country to take part.

The festival was a huge boost to the local economy and plans are well underway for this year’s event. The organising committee is in need of finance to organise the event and have put together a CD, featuring last year’s concert.

This CD features last year’s win- ners, Tigh Coili from Galway, along with six other finalists. These includ- ed a local group from Quin, along with groups from Dublin, Offaly and a young group of traditional musi- cians, representing Norrie Henchy’s in Clooney. The CD was recorded live at the grand finale concert at Quin Com- munity Centre and will be officially launched at Glor, Ennis, on Saturday, June 9, at 8pm.

Organiser Jackie McCarthy is ap- pealing for people to show support and buy a copy of the CD.

“The main purpose of the CD launch is to sell it and raise funds. We are a

voluntary set up and we are trying to inspire people to buy the CD and make the festival bigger and better and attract first class musicians,’ said Ms McCarthy.

‘The atmosphere was truly electri- fied with the standard of music dance and singing on offer. This CD, whilst an amateur production, certainly cap- tured the live experience from that oc- casion and the fitting celebration of the entire festival weekend,’ she added.

“The festival is still in its infancy, being only in its fourth year this year. The unique essence of the festival, that of the session competition, has attracted the finest musicians from

all over the country and also some international groups. The competitive element between the various groups ensure that every session whether morning, afternoon or evening is a great session with the mix of music dance scenes lighten the public, the likes of which has never before been seen in Quin,” she said.

‘There was a good mix of young and experienced musicians at the festival,” Satemcye 50m

Renowned musicians including Des- sie O’Halloran, Don Stiff, Johnny Ringo McDonagh, Ian McKillop, Denis Liddy and Dermot Lernihan feature on the CD.

VETERAN politician Brendan Daly is remaining tight lipped on whether he’ll run for election to the Seanad.

Senator Daly said he would first have to speak to the Fianna Fail par- ty in Kilrush and discuss a strategy for the future of Fianna Fail in west SEK

“We don’t want to leave the west without a representative,” he said.

Fellow west Clare politician Cllr Madeleine Taylor-Quinn was also remaining tight lipped on a possible Seanad election.

The former TD and Senator said

that it was too soon after her defeat in the general election for such a con- sideration.

“It is early days to make an assess- ment on the Seanad. We are only over One campaign.”

CUT RA U leer Olesbsvemny-lmme om se(om@ntle tural and Educational Panel from 1997 to 2002.

The two Fine Gael senators on the five person panel, Brian Hayes and Noel Coonan, were both elected to the Dail at the weekend.

But Cllr Taylor-Quinn would be the first to admit this does not auto- matically mean she will be returned to one of the most hotly contested

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Meanwhile, some of Clare county councillors are also considering a term in the upper house.

Ennis County Councillor Pat Daly has already been proposed by the GRA for selection by the Irish Con- ference of Professional and Service Association as one of its Seanad nominations.

The meeting on June 6, will see the association appoint their candidates for the Labour Panel, of which FI1- anna Fail Senator Brendan Daly is currently a member.

Cllr Bill Chambers (FF) said he was also considering his options.

The Cooraclare man said he believed that the west of the county needed representation at national level. But he added that he would wait to see the position of other candidates be- fore deciding.

Fine Gael’s Cllr John Crowe has also actively been seeking a nomina- tion from different bodies.

But he said he was conscious that his nomination would not clash with another candidate.

Other names being bandied about within their parties as possible Sea- nad candidates are Fine Gael’s Mar- tin Conway and Tony Mulcahy, and Fianna Fail’s Pat Hayes.

MILTOWN Malbay may have to wait for five years before much needed re- surfacing work can take place, it was revealed yesterday at the local area meeting of Clare County Council in Ennistymon.

Responding to a motion put for- ward by Councillor Richard Nagle (FF), Senior Executive Engineer in Ennistymon, Hubert Newell said that road works couldn’t be completed until planned sewage work takes je e-leror

“Does this mean that nothing can happen in Miltown Malbay for the next five years?” asked Cllr Nagle.

“T wouldn’t mind if the develop- ment was near, but this is years away. There has to be some work done in the meantime.”

Lisdoonvarna-based — Councillor Martin Lafferty (Ind) pointed to a lack of confidence in the local au- thority felt by some people in Mil- town Malbay.

“We cannot wait for this to happen because it will take years upon years. There is a problem in Miltown Mal- bay, that the people of the town feel agerieved. They feel that if they had a councillor that he could wave his

magic wand and everything would be finished.”

Meanwhile, local tourism is being put under pressure because of Clare County Council’s inability to provide a passing out bay on the roads at the top of Corkscrew Hill. Responding to a motion put forward by Cllr Laf- ferty, Mr Newell said that a bay could not be put in place until the comple- tion of a diameter pipeline between Lisdoonvarna and Ballyvaughan.

“It is mitigating against tourism,’ said Cllr Lafferty. “The buses have to continually reverse in order to get by each other.”

Buses and tourists stopping at the Cliffs of Moher could soon be clamped if they fail to park in the official parking lot as the council is to regularise the double yellow lines at the site following the construction of the multi-million euro interpretive centre. A number of new car park- ing places are to be made available in north Clare in the coming months with 20 space being created on coun- cil property and 30 spaces on private property in Ennistymon while the council plans to double the capacity of the Miltown Road parking lot in Lahinch to some 120 cars.