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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

eye ke

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.

THE students and staff of St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon raised almost €10,000 for Trocaire, during Lent.

The entire school got behind the Lenten project, which involved a number of initiatives. Central to the fundraising was a 24 hour fast, while they also received fantastic support during a flag day in Shannon Town Oilanes

The students also used their en- terprise skills as they sold Trdcaire brooches in the school and this also contributed to the overall collection Ome

School chaplain, Cora Guinnane

said everybody was keen to get in- volved in the initiative.

“A lot of the students were involved in the 24 hour fast on March 10. The first years did a 12 hour fast and the older students did the 24 hours. We put a big drive on in the school,’ said Ms Guinnane.

Everybody was encouraged to raise what he or she could. Some students just raised small sums, while others raised up to €300.

“The emphasis was on creating awareness. Some people are less well off than others. Every little bit makes a difference. Some students may have come in with €5, with oth- ers raising €300,” she said.

In its national campaign, Trocaire

highlighted the rights of females and St Caimin’s staff also encouraged the students to be aware of this.

“We highlighted this in all of our religion classes. The parents also played a role. It would not be pos- sible to do it without their support,” said Ms Guinnane.

“We were thrilled with the support of everybody. They did tremendous work,” she said.

The school has an impeccable record for involvement in charity work. Every year it is involved in the St Vincent de Paul Food Ap- peal, along with the Green Schools initiative. The county dog warden and members of the gardai visit the school every year, which gives stu-

dents an awareness of the importance of the environment around them.

This is Ms Guinnane’s first year at the school and she is delighted with the success of the Trdcaire project.

“It was brilliant, getting to know the students on a different level. They see that there is a lot more to life than academia and this was great fun too. We all spent two days col- lecting money in the town centre and we received a fantastic reception,’ said Ms Guinnane.

Now that the hard work has been done, the money has been counted. Trocaire’s Mary Sweeney, who is the schools co-ordinator, will visit St Caimin’s this week, where she will be presented with a cheque.

OUTGOING Minister for Defence, Willie O’Dea, has topped the poll in Limerick East with a whopping 19,082 first preference votes- making him more popular than the Taoiseach in voting terms.

The other four seats were filled in order by Michael Noonan (FG), Peter Power (FF), Jan O’Sullivan (LAB) and Kieran O’Donnell (FG). Pharmacist Tim O’Malley (PD) was the most high profile casualty.

If Fianna Fail form the next Gov- ernment, O’Dea’s victory puts him in contention for a high profile ministry such as justice- a post he recently ex- pressed an interest in and left free as outgoing minister for justice Michael McDowell has lost his seat.

Noonan, former Fine Gael leader and long serving TD, came in a not so close second on the second count with 8,484 votes.

O’Dea’s huge surplus of more than double the quota of 8,320, guaran- teed fellow Fianna Fail TD Peter Power the third seat as the marathon race for the remaining slots began.

Count after count followed at Lim- erick Racecourse in Patrickswell as Labour education spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan, young councillor Kieran O’Donnell and PD Minister of State, Tim O’Malley, led the field.

Votes from Trish Forde-Brennan (GP), Maurice Quinlivan (SF) and Noreen Ryan (FF) were added to tallies along with various eliminat- ed Independent candidates such as

prominent solicitor John Devane (the highest polling Independent with 469 votes total).

It took eight counts before O’Sullivan reached the quota and

O’Donnell, son of well known TD and MEP Tom O’Donnell, edged ahead of O’ Malley to be elected. The pro-O’Donnell roar was deat- ening as the results were announced

and as Noonan said in his speech, it sounded the end of an era for the Pro- gressive Democrats in their former stronghold of Limerick East.

The cousin of party founder Des

O’ Malley and nephew of former edu- cation minister Donagh O’Malley, said that he was “bitterly disappoint- ed” to lose his seat, conceding that politics is not for the “faint hearted”’.

His parting shot, “This is not the end for the PDs,’ echoed the defiant stance of many party members na- tionally as the PDs suffered massive losses including leader McDowell and deputy leader, Liz O’ Donnell.

Noonan added that Fine Gael’s vote management system had secured his party the same number of seats as Fi- anna Fail despite being 23 per cent below them overall in the constitu- STAY

It was 3.30am before the candidates had finished thanking supporters and election staff- a full eight hours after the count for Limerick West finished at the same venue. The west result of two Fianna Fail candidates and one for Fine Gael mirrors the east and so it seems that the voting trend for Limerick is clear.

MANAGEMENT and unions at Shannon Airport are to meet under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) this Thursday to resolve any outstanding issues over the €36 million ‘survival plan’ at Shannon.

However, the LRC will not be deal- ing with the thorny issue of discount travel for those who will be taking voluntary redundancy. That is being dealt with by the Labour Court.

The delay, which is clarifying the various issues connected to the re- structuring plan, is holding up two new private companies coming in to assume control of the ground cater- ing and in-flight catering at Shan- Wey F

Also, it 1s understood that secu- rity staff at the airport won’t allow ex-catering staff take up their new positions in the security sector un- less they receive the first part of the €16,000 sum that will be provided for each of the 350 staff members that are staying on.

Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) staff have enjoyed free and discount- ed Aer Lingus flights while working for the company and after retire-

ment. In the 10-page document, no mention is made of the discounted flights. The ensuing row resulted in unions and management meeting un- der the auspices of the Labour Rela- tions Commission.

It is understood that over 185 staff members have signed up to take the voluntary redundancy programme.

Prior to the package been put on of- fer to the airport’s 550 workers, the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) stated that 200 voluntary redundan- cles were needed in order for the Shannon deal to be viable.

While the SAA may not reach the 200 target, it is believed that the high number taking up the offer will be enough for the deal to go through.

As part of the deal with the air- port’s workers, the SAA is to exit completely from catering. It is be- lieved that the rates offered by the two catering firms that will provide eround catering and in-flight cater- ing have disappointed workers.

In the deal, those workers with 24 years experience or more who opt to leave the SAA will receive over €100,000, while the 350 who remain are to receive a payment of €16,000. The deal is expected to save the SAA €10 million per annum.