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THE Midwest could be staring down the barrel of a €42 million bill for polluting unless we clean up our act.

A leading renewable energy asso- ciation has claimed that the Midwest is living beyond its means, in terms of its impact on the environment.

Renewable Energy Skills (RES) has based the claim on figures from the European Environment Agency showing that Ireland currently has a carbon footprint of 5.0 global hec-

tares per person, more than double the global average.

The ecological footprint or carbon footprint is an environmental ac- counting tool that measures the land area required to support an individ- ual, business, community or nation, providing for its needs and absorb- ing its wastes.

It is quantified by calculating the land area required to produce the re- sources needed and dispose safely of wastes produced.

Cllr Johnny Flynn, Chairperson of RES and Ennis town councillor said

that “energy emissions in Clare are above the Kyoto target by 300,000 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide.

“This figure could rise to over 490,000 tonnes by 2010 leaving the county to face a bill of over €17 mil- lion in carbon levy.”

Meanwhile, Limerick county and city energy emissions are above the Kyoto target by 409,000 tonnes of CO2. By 2010, Limerick could be 713,000 tonnes over and face a bill of over €25 million in carbon levy.”

Meanwhile, the Limerick Clare Energy Agency, said that a number

of target actions aimed at reducing carbon emissions were included in the recently launched Government White Paper.

“Some of the targets for renewable energy production will be well with- in the abilities of coastal counties such as Limerick and Clare,’ said Pat Stephens, Manger of LCEA.

Mr Stephens, who has worked in building services design and energy management for more than 15 years and in the construction industry for more than 25 years, added, “to achieve our national targets, some

local targets will have to be more ambitious.

‘This includes the provision of bio- mass firing at Moneypoint generat- ing station by 2010 and ten per cent biofuels penetration by 2020.”

Other targets outlined by the Lim- erick Clare Energy Agency include the use of Pure Plant Oil (PPO) in local authority and public bodies ve- hicle fleets, a review of the National Building Regulations in 2008 and the introduction of smart metres for all electricity consumers over next five years.

yesterday that it would be a very different story if the election was not so close.

“I don’t see any point in the PDs pulling out now, not at this stage. We don’t know what has gone on yet, maybe it will come out before the election and maybe it won’t,” he said.

‘As a PD, I believe we were elected to hold up honesty and integrity in government.

“But at this late stage, I don’t see any advantage in collapsing the Gov- ernment just for the sake of it.”

The Fianna’ Fail/PD coalition looked destined to collapse over the weekend when a meeting of the Pro- gressive Democrats’ high brass was called to discuss revelations con- cerning the personal finances of the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.

Mr Ahern’s then partner, Celia Larkin, is reported to have received £30,000 from Manchester business- man Michael Wall in 1996 towards

the renovation of a property.

This property, which was owned by Mr Wall, was rented to Ahern at a nominal fee.

Tm stcKmoeeoe mer Mbsom\y Eble tence businessman bequeathed the prop- erty to Mr Ahern in his will.

“It’s a difficult position for Mc- Dowell to be in. He is going to be criticised no matter what position he takes on this.

“We should hold a firm position on this. Only for it is so close to the election, it could be a very different StOry.

‘The grassroots members and gen- eral election candidates haven’t been

informed of what information Mc- Dowell has yet.

“This is a decision that will be made at ministerial level.”

Meanwhile, the Green Party yes- terday put pressure on Michael Mc- Dowell to put the information he has about the Taoiseach’s finances into the public domain.

“Michael McDowell also has a re- sponsibility in the national interest to put the information he has into the public domain, so that the statement from Bertie Ahern can be judged in the context of what Michael McDow- ell knows,” said party leader Trevor Sergeant yesterday.

SHANNON company, Peach Re- cruitment, will give local people a run for their money to benefit four charities with their third annual 10k run in the town on Sunday after- noon.

As this is the last time that the company will organise the Peach 10k Shannon run it is hoped that this year’s event will raise over €35,000, to reach an accumulated target of € 100,000.

Derek Barrett, Managing Director of Peach Recruitment, said that the event has been enormously success- ave

“The first time around we raised

€38,000 and over the past two years this event has raised in excess of €65,000 for charity, which is a phe- nomenal achievement for a locally organised event. For many partici- pants, this is the perfect opportunity to contribute to charity work on both a local and national scale. Our ab- solute priority for the run will be to raise as much awareness and money for each nominated charity as possi- ble. People are extremely generous,” he said.

This year’s nominated charities are local branches of Multiple Sclerosis and Children with Special Needs as well as Milford Hospice in Limerick and Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Dublin.

The company ensures that money raised locally stays locally.

‘We have supported lots of differ- ent charities but they are all chosen because people have been involved with them in some shape or form. For example, there is funding available for multiple sclerosis but not enough and we’ve specifically asked that the money will be spent on physiothera- py in the Shannon area,’ he added.

Runners can also nominate their own charities and they are asked to register with the company so that an official record can be kept of dona- tions.

Mr Barrett hopes that another eroup or company will keep carry- ing the 10k torch.

“We decided to finish up because we felt that we had dipped into the same well for three years running. We all help with stewarding and or- ganisation and people dig deep. Now someone else has a chance to get in- volved and contribute to charity.”

The Peach 10k Shannon Run will start at 1.30pm from Wolfe Tones GAA Club (where changing facili- ties will be open) and will continue around Shannon town before return- ing to the club for refreshments.

People can print off registration forms from www.peach.ie or call into the office in Peach House for forms and sponsorship cards. For further information telephone O61 362000.

CLARE senator and general elec- tion candidate, Timmy Dooley (FF), yesterday criticised his party leader, Bertie Ahern, over the decision to hold the general election on a Thurs- day.

Senator Dooley, who alongside Tony Mulcahy (FG) and James Breen (Ind) was given a five star rating by the National Youth Council of Ire- land, said he would like to have seen the election take place closer to the weekend to accommodate students

living away at third level institu- tions.

“Personally I am _ disappointed. I haven’t made a big issue out of it but personally I would have liked to have seen the election take place on a Friday or even on a Saturday,’ said Senator Dooley.

“It is a situation creating a balance between the students who want to vote and the people in the cities who would be going down the country for the weekend.”

Dooley was one of only five Clare general election candidates to re-

spond to a survey on young people’s issues conducted by the National Youth Council of Ireland. Each can- didate was rated according to their answers to a series of youth related question and given a Star rating.

Senator Dooley received a maxi- mum five star rating along with Tony Mulcahy and James Breen, while Madeleine Taylor-Quinn (FG) and Brian Meaney (Green) received four Star ratings.

Each of the respondents, except for Madeleine Taylor-Quinn, responded ‘yes’ when asked should the vote be

given to 16 and 17 year olds.

‘“T have had the view for a long time that children are more educated now than they were 20 or 30 years ago. With the improvements in technol- ogy and communications they know more about voting and politics than ever before,’ said Dooley.

“I would argue that giving them the vote at an early age would get them more involved and make them more interested in politics. If people were allowed to vote from 16 it would goa long way to tackling the problem of apathy in a lot of voters.”

A CLARECASTLE woman its seek- ing damages from the State and the Garda Commissioner over her al- leged false imprisonment at Ennis Garda Station five years ago.

The woman is also seeking dam- ages in respect of a Garda making an “unfounded” complaint to the Mid- Western Health Board over the care she provided for her then four year old daughter who was also detained at the station.

The woman’s partner was stopped at a Garda road checkpoint in Clare in August 2002. The woman and her daughter were also in the car.

The partner admits that he turned

his car in the direction of Limerick before he was stopped by a Garda patrol vehicle. The man _ refused to give the garda his address. The Garda found that the tax disc and the insurance disc were apparently out of date. The partner was physically restrained, arrested and brought to Ennis Garda Station.

The woman and her daughter were brought to Ennis Garda Station in a separate Garda vehicle. The man was processed at the station and then placed in a cell, while the woman and her daughter were placed in another room. Legal documents allege that although the woman wasn’t arrested, she was detained at Ennis Garda Sta- tion for a number of hours.

“Arising from the foregoing, the woman was improperly and unlaw- fully detained and falsely imprisoned by the Gardai.”

The affidavit lodged by the woman notes that the State denies that the woman was unlawfully arrested.

Two months later, the woman was contacted by a social worker from the Health Board, setting out that gardai had made contact with the health board outlining concerns they had regarding the woman’s care of her daughter.

In October, the Health Board in- terviewed members of the partner’s family, the woman’s doctor and teachers in her daughter’s school. They interviewed the woman and her

partner on a number of occasions.

The woman subsequently found out that the Garda who made the com- plaint was the Garda who stopped the car driven by her partner the pre- vious August.

The woman claims that the allega- tion made by the Garda was mali- cious and without foundation. She also claims that the allegation was an abuse of position.

The woman is seeking damages for the alleged breach of constitutional rights, damages for abuse or misuse of public position and damages for defamation.

The case is due to come before the civil sittings of Ennis Circuit Court today (Tuesday).

A KILKEE woman will lead four cyclists on the long Bothar from Stillorgan to Clare on May 5 in sup- port of the third world development ZIXeBLOas

Ann Power said that she decided to do something for charity and a “coast to coast” cycle jumped out at her even though she was a not a regu- lar cyclist.

“I’m from Kilkee so I thought I would see if I could cycle the 180 miles down and I asked a few peo- ple if they would be interested. The

others would have a bit more experi- ence. One of them was in a club and has cycled a good bit. I started train- ing in October especially for this.”

Ann, a nurse who has lived in Dub- lin for 13 years, outlined the team’s eruelling training regime.

“It has been very tough. I had to buy a new bike and everything. I work Monday to Friday and I get up every Sunday at 8am to train. We’ve gone as far as Naas a few times on the old N7 road. I watch the signs and when you see the kilometres going down it is a great incentive. It keeps you go- ing,” she said.

The self-confessed amateurs – Ann’s husband Mick Vine and col- leagues Theresa McEvoy and Im- elda Redmond – will cycle as far as Nenagh on the day before continuing to Kilkee on May 6. Ann said that the support from family and col- leagues has been brilliant.

“My parents and everyone down in Clare think it’s a great thing we’re doing. Lots of people are amazed by it because they reckon it will be quite tough with the winds coming from the west. How it goes will de- pend on the weather. That will be a huge factor.”

“We will definitely finish it, no mat- ter what. I would never do something like this if 1t wasn’t a challenge. You just have to get motivated. But I am looking forward to hanging up my bike for a few weeks and staying in on Sundays.

‘“Bothar is a great charity and very hands on. We haven’t counted up what we’ve raised so far but there was no target so anything will be a bonus,” she added.

If you would like to support the coast to coast cycle, donations can be made to Bank of Ireland account number 65862912, sort code 901335.

A BOYKE girl who is afraid of fly- ing and heights has conquered both by jumping out of an airplane for a good cause.

18-year old Lorraine Lynch and three friends decided to take on the challenge of a 10,000 foot parachute drop to help the childrens’ charity, UNICEF.

And in doing so, the plucky psy- chology student raised €600 for the oon

“We saw leaflets for the jump one day and we decided we’d go for it,” said Lorraine, who made the drop along with three of her fellow stu- dents at Sligo college.

“IT wanted to do something for the charity and people were very sup- portive in helping me with sponsor- ship,” she said.

Jacko’s Pub in Scariff and publican Eamon Moloney helped by putting sponsorship cards out for Lorraine and her friends and family rallied round also.

Customers and _ colleagues at Shaney Macs shop, where Lorraine works, also helped out.

When the day came, she travelled to the aptly named Airfield parachute centre where she was teamed up with an experienced jump-buddy and then taken 10,000 feet aloft.

“I did get nervous just beforehand. When we were at one thousand feet,

I thought ‘this is it — this 1s as high as we have to go’. Then they told me we were climbing another 9,000 feet. My heart skipped a few beats all right.”

At the zenith of the flight, Lorraine said, she “didn’t have time to think about it — you’re at the door of the plane and the next thing you’re out. When we were up there, it was very peaceful above the clouds”.

After 30 seconds of free-fall at 120 mph, the parachute opened and Lor- raine had a leisurely seven minutes of floating towards the ground with a chance to enjoy the view.

“The people who jump with you and the photographers who jump at the same time are just amazing. The man who jumped with me has made

more than 3,000 jumps,” said Lor- een b alee

Describing the jump as “a really amazing experience’, newly initi- ated adrenalin junkie, Lorraine, says she now plans to do another charity jump, this time from the highest alti- tude available to non-qualified jump- ace

‘“l’m going to the States for the sum- mer and in San Diego, they have the highest jump in the world at 13,000 so myself and a friend are planning to do that one. I can’t wait to do it eee 0

CLARE Heritage Office, in associa- tion with the Notice Nature campaign and the Clare Biodiversity Group, held the first ever Clare biodiversity seminar at Clare Museum last week.

The event features discussions on a range of issues from designated sites in Clare, native trees and hedgerows, and biodiversity at a local and na- tional level.

Newly-appointed Clare Biodiver- sity Officer, John Murphy opened the seminar with an introduction to biodiversity in the county.

Following that, renowned ecologist Janice Fuller addressed those in at- tendance about ‘Buds of the Banner: A Guide to Growing Native Trees

and Shrubs in Clare’, which was recently published by Clare County Council in conjunction with Rural Resource Development.

The seminar also featured Lorraine Fitzgerald of the Notice Nature cam- paign and David Lyons, Acting Dis- trict Conservation Officer (ADCO) and ranger with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), who will provide a presentation on the various designated biodiversity sites in Clare.

“This biodiversity event aims to outline the unique combination of wild places, beautiful scenery and all life forms that make Clare a unique county that is enriched with biodiversity,’ said Clare Biodiversity Officer, John Murphy.

“Biodiversity provides us with a ereat variety of products and serv- eLearn

“It gives us food, fuel, medicines, building materials and our beautiful countryside, landscapes and ocean. It also helps to purify our air and wa- ter, and to stabilise our soil.

“It provides for tourism and rec- reational activities, walking, cy- cling, angling, boating and bird- and whale-watching. The conservation of biodiversity is life enhancing and is of economic, cultural social and health value.”

Clare became the first county in Ireland to produce a local biodiver- sity action plan when the Clare Bio- diversity Action Plan was launched in May 2006.

Clare 1s also the first county to have a local biological records centre and has been acknowledged as the lead- ing example for biodiversity protec- tion and promotion.

“The interest in biodiversity issues has been growing steadily in County Clare over the last number of years. This is particularly evident in the amount of individuals and commu- nity groups now actively engaged in its protection and promotion,’ said Tomas Mac Conmara, the acting heritage officer with Clare County Council.

The seminar provides an oppor- tunity to discuss biodiversity on a broad level and also to disseminate awareness about issues concerning biodiversity in the county.”

THE trial of a man accused of mur- dering Ennis hackney driver Liam Moloney will enter its fourth day at the Central Criminal Court today. Anthony Kelly, a 54-year-old na-

tive of Ruan, has denied murdering the father of four, at Portlecka, Ruan, on February 11, 2005.

He has admitted the killing, but claims he was of diminished re- sponsibility at the time. It is the prosecution case that the killing was

“planned and executed” and that the victim was lured to his death.

Mr Moloney was struck 17 times to the head and his throat was then cut from side to side. According to the prosecution, the motive was robbery and the accused went to his victim’s

flat in Ennis a short time after and stole cash.

The accused told gardai he felt “possessed” when he hit Mr Molo- ney, who he had met through a mutu- al friend some months beforehand.

THE line-up for this year’s Inishceal- tra Festival of the Arts is all but final- ised and it will provide entertainment for every taste and promises to attract hoards of visitors and business into the village.

Music, drama, poetry, film and even performance food are all on the bill this year for the festival, which kicks off on May 25 and runs until June 4 in the lakeside town.

One of the most novel evenings in the festival will be provided by the

Performance Dinner, which will be staged on May 29 in Liam’s Restau- rant in the village.

This will be a musical and theatri- cal performance by local artists and gardeners who will entertain their audience with the live preparation of a three-course meal. The audience is invited to bring an appetite.

International award-winning Irish group, Zrazy are the main line-up for Staurday, May 26, while fans of harp music will have a treat on Sun- day when the “Time of O’Carolan” concert will be held in St Caimen’s

church, starring harpist, Janey Har- bison.

May 30 is devoted to a poetry evening an on May 31, the local na- tional school is hosting a convention of European teachers.

There will be an art exhibition in the Aistear and the Fishbowl Youth Club will be presenting their short films.

There’s comedy with ‘Snatch Com- edy’ from Cork on June | and Kiul- dare poet, Mary O’Donnell will host a writers’ workshop on June 2.

A mini ‘eco-village’ is being set up in the Aistear and there will be fun

events, including a puppet show and lessons in making shadow puppets and kites.

Singing sessions trad and folk ses- sions, sean-nos dancing, adult art classes and even a festival walk are all on the programme.

One of the highlights of the event will be the outdoor concert and evening spectacular at the harbour, with Holy Island and the lake as a backdrop on Sunday, June 3.

The Lismorahaun singers and Daghda Dance are among the stars of these events.