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THE smaller parties continue to keep the faith that they will be in the final shake-up when it comes to announcing Clare’s four TDs for the 30th Dail.

With the Green Party’s Brian Meaney tipped by many to be one of the contenders for the coveted “fourth seat”, the Barefield na- tive says that if “all of the positive feedback we’ve been getting trans- lated into first-preference votes, I’d have two quotas”.

“T think Clare people will recog- nise that I’m a safe pair of hands,” he said. Meaney feels the Green agenda is an idea whose time has fey nner

“The economic realities have en- sured there is a move towards the Green agenda. You only have to look at the cost of fuel. People see this and are seeing that the Green agenda makes economic sense.”

Labour candidate Pascal Fitzger- ald is also staying positive.

“IT am going out to win a Seat. People won’t make up their mind

until the day of the election,” he Said.

The Clare councillor is aware of the disadvantage of living just out- side the Clare constituency, in the Limerick east constituency, but believes this campaign will help raise his profile.

“Everyone had Bhamjee written off and we saw what happened there,” he said.

Progressive Democrat candidate, Murt Collins said on the canvass in Kilrush that he is getting “very positive feedback” on the door-

steps. “The future of the hospital and the state of the roads are is- sues that come up a lot, as does the creation of jobs in west Clare.” Collins said that it is “important to get a good vote. I’m looking for- ward to strong support on election day. A lot of people have promised me their number one or two.”

Sinn Féin’s Anna Prior has been experiencing a “very positive reac- tion’ for a new candidate, accord- ing to her spokesman. “The issues people are bringing up are the fu- ture of the hospital and healthcare

generally as well as maintaining the rural environment, provid- ing transport and services such as broadband.”

The spokesman said that the “northern situation doesn’t come up very much and when it does, people are pleased with the devel- opments there.”

In terms of party politics, the Sinn Féin candidate believes that people “are interested in who they can trust to deliver on the impor- tant issues. There is a lot of disil- lusion out there.”

THE IFA has reignited the war of words between farmers and factories this week by launching a blistering attack on the beef factories for the price paid to winter finishers.

IFA President, Padraig Walshe, lashed factories, describing it as “an outright disgrace and a body blow” inflicted by factories on the coun- try’s best and most committed beef producers.

Beef finishers have taken a ham- mering this spring and there was now a serious question mark over beef factories’ commitment to a 52-

week supply from Irish farmers.

The IFA President said the big play- ers now had significant investment in Brazil and he was highly suspicious that price manipulation was taking place, not just in the Irish market, but across Europe including Italy, which has always been a high-priced outlet for beef and cattle.

‘Factories that had talked up cat- tle prices in November and Decem- ber were now gone to ground and messing farmers around getting cat- tle killed, and at bad prices,” said Walshe.

“Tam so angry at factories that to- day I have called on Minister Cough-

lan to put a stay on the €50 million government grants she announced for the industry some weeks ago, un- til law and order 1s restored.

“T am demanding that the Depart- ment of Agriculture publish the weekly kill for each factory. This in- formation is available in the Depart- ment and I’ve repeatedly asked for it to be published in the interests of transparency.

“The Minister for Agriculture must stop the foot—dragging. If factories have nothing to hide, then the figures will make it quite clear that the beef leaving the plant was slaughtered under the supervision of the Depart-

ment’s vets in that plant.”

The IFA President said that unless the meat factory owners put forward real and coherent marketing plans to lift the price of Irish beef, there is no reason the government should fund their Irish plants and allow them in- vest their own capital in Brazil.

“IT am also calling on the Minister to ban trade in imported beef by li- censed exporters to preserve the integrity and good name of Irish beef, both at home and in our export markets. A factory with an export h- cence should not be allowed import or handle South American beef on the same premises,’ he added.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT is the main is- sue concerning people in the Shannon and Sixmilebridge areas, according to a survey undertaken locally.

The Shannon Community Network has concluded that people living in the area are most concerned about lack of suitable transport.

They believe that the re-opening of the railway station in Sixmilebridge 1s long overdue, while the frequency of bus services serving the area is insutf- ne toele

Secretary of the Shannon Commu- nity Network, Richard Cahill said the transport issue was identified at the re-

cent AGM.

“The main topic people wanted in- formation on was when will the train station be re-opened. Public transport was the main issue,” he said.

In response to the feedback, the Net- work has now organised a meeting on transport in Sixmilebridge next month (Thursday June 7, at Teach Cuirte, Sixmilebridge). Iarnr6d Eireann’s Re- gional Manager Jim Meade and the Regional Manager of Bus Eireann Paddy McGuinness will attend, as will Laura Ward of East Clare Accessible Transport (ECAT).

They will give powerpoint presenta- tions and will be the focus of a ques- tions and answers session, where issues

of concern will be addressed.

“We have asked politicians running in the election will they commit to come along, if elected,” said Mr Cahill.

The Bridge Complex provides a bus service for senior citizens, who travel from Sixmilebridge to the daycare cen- tre in Clarecastle every week. While this service 1s welcome, there 1s a need for additional bus services for people of AV Toe

‘People want more than that. For the past four years, ECAT has echoed that it would be wonderful to have services around the train station in Sixmilebri- dge,” he said.

He said that locals are also concerned about the state of access roads into and

out of Sixmilebridge.

‘The roads are poor. At best they are regional roads, with just enough room for a car and truck. If two trucks meet, one has to pull in so the other can pass,” he said.

sixmilebridge councillor John Crowe (FG) is hopeful, meanwhile, that the railway station will be built within the next year.

“The money has been allocated by the Government, Clare County Coun- cil now has to allocate funding for the development of a car park. The land has been sterilised for the car park. It is badly needed and we are hoping it will be started within the next year,” said Cllr Crowe.

THE inadequate public sewerage in- frastructure in the greater Ennis area is beginning to halt residential devel- opment on the outskirts of the town.

Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council jointly refused plan- ning permission for a development that would have opened up lands at Bunnow, Doora, Skehanagh and Clar- eabbey for housing development.

The council refused to grant plan- ning permission to Gareth Kelly on

four grounds. One of these is that the council “is not satisfied that there is sufficient capacity for the existing Clareabbey treatment plant to ac- commodate the proposed develop- nates Laan

It is understood that a new €50 mil- lion plant may not be in place for two to three years and further planning applications may be refused, pending the completion of the new plant.

Mr Kelly had lodged plans seeking planning for a sewerage and water supply scheme to facilitate the devel-

opment of the lands 1n question.

The proposal was said to be “pre- mature, pending the completion of an integrated sewerage design scheme to serve the general locality”.

Mr Kelly applied to have a total of 150 acres of land in those areas re- zoned from low-density housing to residential/commercial and remove the flood risk designation as part of the review of the Ennis and Environs Development Plan.

A further impediment to future housing growth around Ennis has

also been identified with the council refusing planning permission pend- ing the completion of a flood risk study of lands around Ennis.

The council pointed out that the proposed development encroaches on an area of land zoned as “flood risk” in the 2003 Ennis and Environs De- velopment Plan- the role and future of which is under review at present.

The council also ruled that it is not satisfied that the applicant has demonstrated sufficient legal inter- est to enable him to carry out the de-

velopment and that the route of the proposed Quin Road to Skehanagh roundabout ‘link road’ is not in ac- cordance with part of the develop- ment plan.

The Department of the Environ- ment and the National Roads Au- thority (NRA) also raised concerns about the application.

The department stated that a major development in this low-lying coastal floodplain area could create a need for upgraded flood defences in the OUTRUN Kon

THE Shannon Airport Authority is seeking a significant cash injection from the Dublin Airport Authority to upgrade the airport.

In an interview with Shannon Com- munity Radio Jet-FM this week, Ex- ecutive Chairman Pat Shanahan ad- mitted that the airport has suffered from under-investment in recent years.

“Shannon needs some equity now. Up until fairly recently, it was loss- making but with the restructuring we have made it profitable and it will be able to sustain its capital programme

into the future.”

“We have catch-up investment to put into the airport and it is impor- tant we consolidate that and Shannon gets a significant equity injection and moves into an environment where it is profitable and can pay for its own capital programme.

“We are now talking to the DAA about that. It is about putting the company on a good financial footing So it can invest in infrastructure,” he added

Mr Shanahan said the airport has offered discount deals for airlines operating transatlantic services over the winter.

“We are doing our bit from a com- petitive point of view so that these airlines are making money year round in Shannon and if they are making money year round, they will continue to serve Shannon.”

Mr Shanahan also revealed that a customs and borders protection fa- cility will be in place in Shannon by April 2008, when the ending of the Shannon stop-over will be complete.

Explaining the significance of the move, he said airlines could fly into any domestic terminal in the US, without going through international hubs. Shannon would be the first air- port in Europe to have that facility.

ILLEGAL parking outside SkyCourt in Shannon is being addressed and offenders are being hit with fines.

This was revealed to councillors last week, during a meeting with lo- cal garda representatives.

Inspector Tom Kennedy and Ser- geant Dermot O’Connor met with Shannon-based county councillors, Where the issue of unauthorised parking was top of the agenda.

Councillors expressed concern about cars being parked on double yellow lines, close to Xtra Vision and the pass machine, outside SkyCourt.

The mayor of Shannon, Cllr Tony McMahon said the traffic situation is becoming “hazardous” outside the shopping centre.

‘There seems to be a difficulty with applying the law to the problems that arise here. I fear there is going to be a serious accident in that area,’ he Sr AKOE

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Independ- ent) said the issue of unauthorised parking is of huge concern.

‘There are Road Traffic Acts there. If they are being broken, they should be enforced,’ she said.

Inspector Kennedy said, “It would seem to me that there is a danger by people parking there. We will con- tinue to enforce the Road Traffic Act.”

Sergeant O’Connor said the issue had been discussed previously.

‘“T understood there were plans in place to put in parking bays. The gardai are issuing several tickets

there in relation to illegal parking. If people continue to park there, they will continue to be fined,’ he said.

Councillors rose a number of other issues with the gardai, at the meet- ing.

Councillor Gerry Flynn (Independ- ent) said there was a need for Shan- non Garda Station to be upgraded, Where a Superintendent would be located, permanently.

Currently, Superintendent John Scanlan, who is based in Ennis, is responsible for the running of Shan- neve

Cllr Flynn said the addition of the garda bicycles in Shannon has been welcome, adding, “You might see fit to get a motorbike too.”

He also expressed concern that the majority of gardai who are attached

to Shannon garda station live outside the area.

“The percentage of gardai liv- ing locally has changed and that is a backward step. There have been a few forward steps, but there also have been backward steps,” said Cllr ahaa

SC NINe mo. qo) Keniore CONC UI UTR te tion to drinking in public in Drum- geely. This, he said, stopped one family from walking in the area.

Cllr Tony Mulcahy (FG) said there is a problem in relation to speeding between Clonmoney and Sixmilebri- dge and between Sixmilebridge and Cratloe.

“It is unbelievable. The speed go- ing down that road is phenomenal . . well in excess of 120kph,” said Cllr WZ TUN Core N ahve

can reveal.

Folklore, which is being developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, is scheduled for a worldwide release in October of this year and is set in a fantasy version of the north Clare AUN ETSXon

Little is presently known about the game but it 1s believed to be a “dark fantasy” inspired by fairy tales and ancient adventure stories.

The game’s version of Doolin is de- scribed as a “mysterious town” where it is said that the living can speak to the dead. It follows the story of two strangers, Keats and Ellen, who are drawn together to uncover a myster1- ous legend of the town, which serves as a gateway between Earth and a number of fantastic other worlds in- habited by creatures, fairies, spirits

and monsters.

“Doolin is a worldwide tourist at- traction and it doesn’t surprise me that Playstation would decide to model a game on the town,” said lo- cal councillor, Martin Conway (FG).

“It is a unique spot, there is a magi- cal feel about the place. I think that Doolin itself is the best attraction for tourists but this could also be a help, not just for Doolin but for the whole north Clare region.

“With Fine Gael going into Gov- ernment, I would be fighting to see supports put in place for more projects like this as well as films and TV to be promoted in the area. Look at the boost that Fr Ted had for the area when it was shot here. It was a brilliant boost, especially as it came in off season times of the year.”

Folklore is due for release on the PS3 later this year.

A COMPANY which did not allow a 17-year-old employee adequate rest periods between shifts has been prosecuted.

Clare Brook Properties Ltd, trad- ing as The Oakwood Arms Hotel, Mount Kennett Place, Henry Street, Limerick, was accused of offences relating to dates last August.

Defending solicitor Louis Kerin told Shannon District Court that his chent was pleading guilty, relating to six Summonses.

Caroline Hayes, of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employ- ment, told the court that a 17-year- old boy worked between 12.06pm and 12.09am, on August 5 last year.

This was 12 hours and three min- utes and was longer than should have

been allowed.

On August 10, he worked between 5.30pm and 11.5l1pm, when he should not have worked after 10pm.

Ms Hayes pointed out that a person aged between 16 and 18 was entitled to a minimum rest of 12 hours be- tween shifts and this was not given.

On one occasion, the boy had a rest period of less than eight hours.

She said when she visited the

premises, the employer wasn’t there and she met the payroll clerk.

‘Legislation in relation to the pro- tection of young persons wasn’t be- ThOrcmreKOl ates us10 KO MMMESJOLoMCT-BLOE

Mr Kerin said the case arose from a “routine inspection’.

“My client co-operated fully. You have assisted them with instructions, to ensure it won’t happen again,” said Mr Kerin.

He said the 17-year-old boy has sought weekend work and his super- visor didn’t realise he was under the age of 18.

‘He was given as many hours as he wanted,’ said the solicitor.

Mr Hayes said this occurred during the summer holidays and the boy was going back to school after the break.

Judge Aneas McCarthy imposed fines totalling €1,600.

THE water in Shannon is being moni- tored on an ongoing basis, to ensure chlorine levels do not reach an unsat- isfactory or unsafe level.

That was the message delivered by Clare County Council last week, in the wake of complaints regarding chlorine levels in the town’s water supply.

The issue was raised by Independ- ent councillor Gerry Flynn, who said he has received complaints regarding chlorine levels in the water.

“There is quite a distinct smell of chlorine in the water in Shannon from

time to time,” he said.

Clare County Council senior engi- neer Walter Walsh said the issue arose in Smithstown a few years ago, when the council took over the running of the town. As a result, there was “quite intensive’ monitoring of water in the area. He said the current chlorine lev- els in the water are acceptable and it Thee ae LOyeH KO) Kerem ucscaUNE-NU RVs

“Ultimately we have to be satisfied that the water we are supplying is safe. The water in Shannon 1s perfect- ly safe to drink, currently,” he pointed out.

In reply, Cllr Flynn said, “We are delighted in Shannon that we are one

of the few areas we can drink water from our taps.”

Councillor Patricia McCarthy (In- dependent) said it appeared that there were high levels of chlorine in some areas and not others.

S)itomeeD om oLe)PelCole Melt MnO eT LMU SOMA Cols pressure was lower at night-time than during day-time. She said many peo- ple living in Shannon work on shifts during the night and need the use of water prior to leaving for work at 3am or 4am.

Mr Walsh replied, “As a matter of policy we would see it as a proper thing to do to reduce the pressure at night, when the water isn’t used,” he

said. He added however that ensuring the people of the town had enough water was a priority.

“There was excessive pressure on the system and it was resulting in the bursting of the mains. We have people looking at that all the time,” he said.

The mayor of Shannon, Council- lor Tony McMahon asked were there many complaints made to the council about an odour emanating from the water in Shannon.

Mr Walsh said he was not aware of odour-related issues with the water supply and said there was no prob- lems regarding quality with the Shan- non water supply.

A TOTAL of 578 patients from County Clare have been treated un- der the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) since 2002.

The NTPF has arranged treat- ment for more than 75,000 people nationwide since it was established, including just over 115 people from OA a aero

According to its annual report launched this week, the average waiting times for the most common surgical procedures are two to five months, in comparison with waiting times of two to five years in 2002.

Since its establishment, the NTPF has provided operations in every specialty area, with the largest number of 9,536 in the ear, nose and throat category.

This is followed by ophthalmology

with 8,481 operations and general surgery with 8,064 operations.

The most common procedures in 2006 included hip and knee replace- ments, cataract surgery and tonsil extraction.

The number of patients calling the NTPF’s lo-call number 1890 720820 more than doubled to 20,000 en- quiries in 2006, showing a growing awareness of the fund’s work and greater empowerment of patients to self-refer.

Speaking at the report launch, NTPF Chief Executive Pat O’Byrne said, “Our message to patients is simple — there really is no reason to wait a long time for an operation.

“Anyone who has been waiting longer than three months for an in- patient operation can contact us d1- rectly and in most cases treatment can be arranged within weeks.”