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ORDER, order in the school. The transition years students from Lis- doonvarna’s Mary Immaculate Sec- ondary School have been opening up their minds to the Irish legal system in recent weeks through their par- ticipation in the Public Access Law Day.

Indeed, the school was one of just 25 schools from all over Ireland picked to take part in the latter stages of the competition which took place in Dublin’s Four Courts over the weekend.

They placed sixth of the 25 schools narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

Eighteen students from the school travelled to Dublin where they pit- ted their legal wits against other schools.

“We were given three differ- ent cases to contest with the other schools. We had to be the prosecu- tion on the first case, but for the other two we were defending it. The bar- risters have to make opening and closing arguments and question two witnesses,” said transition year stu- CCS al me-b aXe Moy DUR Ki Ko) mm COME MCE Dh Aa WI EDITS STi

“Each school put forward 18 stu- dents to take part in the trial. These include two barristers, four witness- es, the jury, solicitors and reserves.”

The students have been working

overtime over the last number of months and have been well prepared by Galway based solicitor James Fahy.

‘Firstly, we had a barrister in talk- ing to us about the legal system and how it all works. It was really very educational and very very interest- ing. He thought us about a lot of things and helped us to prepare for Dublin,” continued Aisling.

‘He spoke to us about how the legal system works here in Ireland, about our own rights and how the consti- tutions works. We also had a mock trial and learned how all the differ- ent parts of the court work.

‘In the court it’s about having basic manners, knowing how to conduct

yourself and how to express yourself without being biased.

“We have learned an awful lot. Not just about the legal system, but also about our own legal rights. I have also learned a lot about speaking in public and expressing myself clearly to other people.”

Four schools go forward from the competition to compete in the All- Ireland Final which takes place in the Four Courts on April 21.

NORTH Clare County Councillors yesterday slammed the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources over its inaction 1n relation to a new sewage system in Doolin, describing it as ‘disrespectful’ and ‘uncaring’. The local area council is to write to all six Clare Oireachtas members, requesting that they use their influ- ence to speed up the process.

Five of the six councillors repre- senting north Clare raised question relating to the delay at yesterday’s meeting of the North Clare Area in Ennistymon. The delay surrounds getting a foreshore licence from the department in order to commence oyetsinmeleinceyee

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stopped the council from performing essential footpath and road repairs in the area which is now considered a hazard.

“It is a matter of extreme annoy- ance that the foreshore licence has not be given. It has been with the de- partment for three years, this delay is not Clare County Council’s fault.

“They cannot finalise the purchase of that land until the licence has been issued.

“The people of Doolin and Bally- vaughan have been waiting for three years now.

“It needs to be dealt with by the department and dealt with urgently,’ said Councillor Richard Nagle (FF).

A public meeting will take place on this matter in Doolin’s Russell Cen- tre next Monday, April 2, at 8pm.

THE state of Ennis’ unsightly lane- ways has led to calls for Ennis Town Council to raise the matter with En- nis Chamber of Commerce.

Thursday’s monthly meeting of the council heard renewed condemna- tion of the litter problems that exist in the town’s laneways.

Independent Councillor Tommy Brennan urged the council to write to Ennis Chamber of Commerce in an attempt to solve the problem.

“Some of the laneways in the town are a scandal. Maybe it’s about time we wrote a letter to the President of the Chamber of Commerce to get

him to raise the issue with his mem- bers. It is very unsightly.”

Cllr Mary Coote Ryan (FG) was also critical of the laneways and re- peated calls for the removal of the bottlebank outside Tesco.

“The laneways are a disgrace. Tes- co 1s especially bad. I would love to see that bottlebank removed. There is a little path coming from the Clon- road and there is so much dumping going on there that people can’t use Lar Te Na ssle) kone

Town Engineer Tom Tiernan said the bottlebank would be removed from its current position.

“We might be able to move it into the Francis Street pumping station. There

would be holes coming out of the wall where people could put glass in”.

Cllr Frankie Neylon (Ind) called for ereater enforcement of litter pollution laws. “If they won’t stop it, we should get cameras in. Up in the Turnpike, there were six or seven plastic bags of cans dumped on the green. They were removed and a week later they were back again. That wasn’t done by kids.”

Mayor of Ennis Joe Reidy (FF) welcomed the findings of the report of the council’s activities for 2006.

“I’d like to compliment the work carried out by staff in the environ- mental section. And the work done by resident’s associations.”

HOPES are high that movement on the long awaited new sewage treat- ment plants for Feakle, Scariff and Quilty will clear the way for fore- shore licences to be issued in relat- ing to three major projects in north Ore

Corofin based Minister Tony Kil- leen (FF) said last week that the Department of the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources was currently considering two foreshore licences which were essential to the commencement of works on schemes in Ballyvaughan, Corofin and Doo- the

“The difficulties associated with the issuing of a foreshore licence for the proposed Quilty sewage works delayed the Feakle and Scarif ele- ments of the €12.2 million scheme and have underlined the lengthy process involved in progressing such infrastructure projects,’ the Minister Cr HOn

“The delays can be attributed to the detailed consideration that must be given to the potential effects that issuing such licences would have on the local marine environment and fu- ture impact on the areas concerned.

“However, I am confident that the Department of the Communications, Marine and Natural Resources along

with the Department of the Environ- ment, Heritage and Local Govern- ment will issue the necessary licenc- es for the Ballyvaughan and Doolin sewerage works, therefore allowing works to proceed at Corofin.

“These licenses will enable Clare County Council to invite tenders for the construction of the necessary in- frastructure. ”

The general election candidate said that the provision of a new sewerage scheme in Ballyvaughan, Corofin and Doolin would bring similar benefits to those experienced in Lis- doonvarna and surrounding areas following the completion of the local sewage and water schemes.

“For many years, the lack of ad- equate infrastructure in north Clare had led to pressure being placed on rural areas in relation to develop- ment with more and more people applying to the county council for permission to build and to provide their own Septic tank and water sup- ply,” he said.

“I believe that the approval of foreshore licences allowing for the commencement of work on _ the Ballyvaughan, Corofin and Doolin Sewerage Scheme will relieve much of this pressure and provide for the rural regeneration and _ sustained economic development of the north OTK arse) sae

NEW bylaws are to be introduced in the next few months to govern all trading done in public areas in En- nistymon, Lisdoonvarna and Mil- town Malbay.

These bylaws will effect all year- round trading taking place, such as the Tuesday market in Ennistymon, as-well-as one off events such as the Willie Clancy Festival in Miltown and the Matchmaking in Lisdoon- VeNe IT

A new licensing system will be set up to limit the amount of space taken up by the casual traders. The laws will also make a permanent provision for the traders and prevent members of the public from parking in the areas provided during desig- nated trading hours.

Seven year round trading licenses will be made available for Ennisty- mon, while Miltown Malbay and Lis- doonvarna will get three apiece. The

licenses will cost €400 annually and each trader will be allowed to pur- chase a maximum of two licenses.

“IT would be supportive of limiting the amount of places available,’ said Councillor Martin Conway (FF).

“One of the traders has taken out substantial leverage over the council the last two or three years.”

It is hoped that the new system of regulation will help ease traffic con- gestion at busy times in the three towns as-well-as bring more order to the areas where people trade.

Traders will still be allowed to ap- ply for a special event licence to trade during occasions such as the Willie Clancy Summer School in Miltown Malbay and the Matchmaking Fes- tival in Lisdoonvarna, but locations earmarked for year-round traders will be preserved for them during iW STonoMm BUDO

A condition on the year-round li- cence also states that traders must be in a position to trade before 10am or

cars can freely park on the spot.

Councillor Joe Arkins (FG) also proposed that the trading stands be required to face the footpath rather than the road, thus allowing people to shop without being an obstacle to traffic. This idea was shelved, how- ever, as it was felt that pedestrians may then be forced to use the road if the footpaths became over crowded.

Clare County Council’s move to place closer regulations on casual traders comes in the aftermath of a six month impass between the local authority and traders over the right to trade and busk at the Cliffs of Moher Visitors Centre. This long running dispute was eventually decided in favour of the local authority in the courts last month.

FIANNA Fail Oireachtas members in Clare have refuted claims that the weekend Ard Fheis is merely a talk- ing shop.

Senator Brendan Daly admitted, however, that a lot of the work is done on the sidelines.

“It is a useful opportunity for peo- ple to meet the ministers first-hand so they hear the issues.” ;

He said that he felt the 7Ist Ard Fheis was particularly successful as

a number of people from Clare met with different ministers to discuss 1s- sues from the hospital to the Doolin Coast Guard.

The west Clare politician said that as many of the motions have been submitted long in advance they are often dated, so highlighting the is- sues and meeting the policy-makers is where a lot of the work is done.

Fellow senator Timmy Dooley be- lieves there has been “progressive change” at the Ard Fheiseanna.

‘The whole media presentation has

changed so there is a much greater fo- cus on communicating with the peo- ple that don’t attend the Ard Fheis.

“The Ard Fheis one time was very much focused on the delegates and the people who attended and 1s still very much that, but now there is a much greater effort to communicate with the people who don’t attend and maybe the people who are not neces- sarily Fianna Fail members around the country.

“I think there is a great opportu- nity for the cumann members around

County Clare to come and meet ministers, go to the work shops, put forward motions initially and have them debated in an open and frank way in front of the senior politicians, the ministers and the Taoiseach. That gives them a sense of satisfaction,’ he said.

He added that having the issues de- livered directly to the minister from the people is very effective.

Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen has been going to the Ard Fheis for 30 years and is equally positive about the process.

He believes there is a lot of business done during the weekend.

“A good few ministers have an ear for a policy idea. I found some of the suggestions to be very helpful. Sometimes when you hear something it has been raised previously, and it has either been put on the long finger or it has been dismissed as an idea for whatever reason. When circum- stances change, then ideas can have reached their time,” he said.

The workshop is better for distilling an idea that the usual motions put by delegates according to the minister.

A lot of the motions are by their nature topical, and as a result have often been dealt with before the elec- tion, he told

THE Equality Tribunal has ordered a Traveller couple to pay €400 ex- penses, after they failed in an equal status claim against Clare County Council.

Last week, the Equality Tribunal dismissed five claims made against the council under Equal Status legis- lation, stating that the complainants had not established a prima facie case of discrimination.

The couple who were ordered to pay the €400 expenses claimed that

the council discriminated against them and that they were harassed, contrary to the Equal Status Act.

The Equality Tribunal also dis- missed claims brought by four other couples who are members of the Traveller community.

Summarising the case against the first couple, the inspector said that every opportunity had been afforded by the Tribunal to the complainants to have their case heard.

“IT am of the view that the com- plainants wilfully abused the oppor- tunities provided.

“T am concerned that the council turned up with their legal representa- tives on all occasions when the case was listed, thereby incurring legal costs and expenses.

“IT am also conscious that there is a cost to the public, in that the Tri- bunal’s time has been wasted on a number of occasions and unneces- sary costs have been incurred, all resulting from the complainants’ be- haviour and non-appearance,” stated the report. On the couple’s interac- tion with the tribunal, the inspec- tor accepted that their baby was in

hospital during one of the scheduled hearings on October 16, 2006 and that the mother could not attend.

“However, I have also noted that the baby was discharged from hospi- tal on October 18 and was collected by the parents on October 19.

The father did not attend the hear- ing as directed on October 20 when the baby was out of hospital.

“He left a hearing without a valid reason during the course of cross examination, resulting in the hear- ing being adjourned to the following morning, when he could only attend

for a short period and his wife did not attend. They were required by me to attend the Tribunal on September 22, 2006. The wife did not attend and the husband left after a short time, despite having walked out on the Tr1- bunal the previous day.

“Both complainants were notified to attend on January 15, 2007 and they failed to appear and again failed to turn up the following day when their case was scheduled for hearing. No valid explanation was provided for their non-attendance’’, added the report.

, was compiled and edited by Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology lecturer and Shell to

Sea spokesperson, Mark Garavan.

“The book is very much in the words of the men themselves. I inter- viewed all five of the men at length and this is the end product,” said Mr Gre Nee

“T think a lot of people may buy it out of a sense of sympathy or loyalty but when they began to read it they will be struck by the real power that is in the men’s story.

“This was an ongoing struggle for the men for five years before they ever went to prison. They had been struggling with this for a long with no attention being paid by politicians or the media.

“Prison was very difficult for them. You have to realise that they were men of the country. Three of them

were farmers who were used to open spaces and one f them had never even left the area before. The experience of being confined was one that was very powerful and emotional experi- ence for them,’ he continued.

“There is no end point at all yet, they all say that the campaign con- tinues. For them it is a health and safety issue, nothing else. They are all prepared to go back to prison again if that 1s what it takes.”

The Rossport Five and Mark Gara- van will be in the Sceal Eile Book- shop in Ennis to launch the book this Friday, March 30, at 6pm.

NOMINATED members of Clare County Council will meet with plan- ners to discuss lifting restrictions in the County Development Plan.

Members agreed to delay adoption of a motion tabled by three Fianna Fail councillors, at the adjourned March meeting of Clare County Soiree

Councillors Bernard Hanrahan, Pe- ter Considine and Pat Daly proposed a variation to the County Develop- ment Plan to include a provision that any person that owned a site for 10 years or over would automatically

qualify as a local.

Cllr Daly said current guidelines laid out in the plan were too restric- tive. “I know of many people that bought sites 10 years ago, at a time when they weren’t in a position to build, but they are now.”

Cllr Considine said the motion had been put forward because of the frus- trating situations that people were JUUNCOUDOTSamO eles pane) AVonws DOR

“Td certainly suggest that each case be taken on its merits. There are cer- tainly a lot of people who have found themselves in this situation and they haven’t a notion what to do.”

Cllr Hanrahan said, “It is impera-

tive we do something for people who have bought sites and couldn’t afford to build and were not deemed a lo- cal person. I can see reading the re- ply that it’s all negative. All we are looking for is that variation be put in place.”

Responding, senior planner Liam Conneally, said the proposal contra- vened existing Government policy.

“Ownership of land, albeit over a period of time, does not indicate any attachment to the land, local residen- cy, employment or involvement with a rural community, and is clearly contrary to the Ministerial Guide- lines on Rural Settlement policy”.

Green Party councillor Brian Meaney said, “The reply makes it clear that the motion “would be in contra- vention with the act’. If it’s challenged it would fail at An Bord Pleanala. We should be talking to the minister to amend the guidelines instead of tak- ing up our time with this.”

Cllr Colm Wiley (FF) said the move might restrict new buyers entering the market. Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) called for an inventory system to determine suitable applicants to avoid sparking rampant property speculation.

NO TOT too troublesome – that’s the attitude of a group of young east Clare people who are offering a ba- bysitting service to raise money for a CrT-NeLAVmOlUDUCNDOTomoeCe)um

The 25 members of The Fishbowl Youth Club in Scariff plan to travel to New Orleans under the auspices of the international Habitat agency, which organises building projects in the Third World and in places where natural disasters have left people homeless.

The group needs to raise more than €50,000 between them to take part in the trip and have already got a number of fund-raisers under their caps.

“What we are offering is a service where people can ring for a babysit- ter and we’ll organise one for them from a pool of volunteers.

“The money we’re paid will go into the kitty for the trip,” said Fia- cra Kenny, one of the fund-raising ea cele toy

The babysitters are from Mount- shannon, Scariff, Tulla and Bodyke

and will travel even further afield within reason, so long as they have the means to get there.

It’s just one of a number of novel fundraisers the youngsters have un- dertaken.

“In February, we made and sold St Brigid’s crosses and on St Patrick’s Day, we busked in Galway, playing music and face painting. It was pretty cold, but we made some money,” said jwrlone

The Fishbowl Club has more than 30 members and the group hoping to travel are aged between 16 and 20, as

well as adult club leaders.

It will take a lot of babysitting, bag- packing and painted faces to raise Salen eel OF

Fiacra and his fellow club members are hoping that individual donors or businesses will come on board to help them raise the cash before July.

Anyone who needs a break from the kids can hire the Fishbowl serv- ices by contacting Fiacra on 087 7486370.

Anyone who would like to help out with sponsorship can also contact Fiacra on that number.