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WARNING bells have been sounded about rogue recruitment agencies who lie to applicants about why they didn’t get a job, send on their CVs without per- mission and bill employers for ‘ghost’ staff they never employed.

A major agency with offices in Gal- way, Cork, Sligo, Dublin and Athlone this week lashed out at, “falling stand- ards, unscrupulous behaviour in an already fragmented and unregulated Th eveLbrsiam Yaa

SUeteBrceuelianets sme ClUbamlOm bKorTN OMI: booming under a national skills short- age in a range of professions and indus- tries. Now the managing director of one of Ireland’s longest established recruit- ment consultancies, Collins McNicho- las, Colman Collins, has been lobbying for nearly seven years for the industry to pep Ker MUI IKeen

“I firmly believe that new legislation is urgently needed if the recruitment industry is ever to be recognised as a provider of professional services.

“The current situation is reaching crisis point. What we have now is a erowing number of agencies — 707 by December 2006 — chasing a reducing number of candidates.

‘This is a recipe for disaster, with em- ployers and job seekers both being short changed in the process.”

Among the horror stories which are brought to the agency are those of cli-

ents whose CVs are sent to firms with- out their permission and who are then bullied by the agency, which demands to represent them.

In other cases, employers complain that some agencies lie to clients about why they didn’t get a job, falsify refer- ence checks or change the client’s email address to get around employers’ IT tracking systems that would otherwise recognise that they already have a cli- ent’s CV.

Several employers have complained that some agencies present invoices for fictional candidates who were never hired by the employer.

One employer who contacted Col- lins McNicholls said that submitting an invoice in excess of the agreed agency rates was a regular tactic of one particu- lar agency.

While many agencies maintain scru- pulous dealings, Collins said, “Every week, one of my consultants tells me a horror story of an employer or a job seeker, about the unprofessional behav- iour and practices of some recruitment agencies.’

Collins said that a “recruitment agen- cy in Ireland can be established with great ease by anyone really, with no formal qualification required and very little monitoring of activities, so the re- sults of the present situation are not only predictable but inevitable…Legislation is the only answer and the sooner the eres wae

RESIDENTS near Sixmilebridge are angered by the practice adopted by a refuse collecting service in Wales buAN Gore

A number of households at Cl- onnanass have been told that the refuse collector, Mr Binman, can no longer collect their rubbish from outside their homes as the road in the area 1s too narrow.

The four householders, who are customers of Mr Binman, say they are now being forced to bring their wheelie bins a half mile from their homes, or use an alternative method

of disposing of their refuse.

One resident, Richard Cahill said he now has no option but to store his waste in a shed.

“I have no way of bringing it down the road. One man physi- cally brings his bin down the road and another lady tows the bin on the back of her car,” he said.

Mr Cahill said he joined Mr Bin- man, as a customer last December. At that stage, he said he was led to believe the bin would be collected outside his gate.

“We clarified at the point of order of the service that the bin would, indeed, be collected from our gate.

We were assured that this was not a problem, and took them at their word,” he said.

‘Transporting the bins is not a possibility for some and is a danger to those who are already doing so under duress. We feel we deserve to have our rubbish collected at our own homes,” he added.

Pat Neville, who also lives in the area, said he has been forced to change his family’s method of dumping rubbish. He has stopped using a wheelie bin and has re- placed this with a small bin.

“We have decided to get rid of our Wheelie bin and get a normal bin

and drop it down to the head of the road, every two to three weeks. That is Our way around it. We shouldn’t have to do it,” said Mr Neville.

“IT don’t see why we should have to bring the bins down. There is no real danger on the road and there is no reason in the world why they can’t come up the road. It is a total inconvenience. When I was build- ing my house, there were 40 foot trucks coming up the road,” he added.

Despite numerous efforts, at the time of going to print

THE Labour Relations Commis- sion (LRC) is set to put an improved ‘survival plan’ for Shannon before unions this week that is expected to secure the approval of the 550 work- ers at the airport.

The talks between union and man- agement at Shannon continued until 4am on Friday morning, with steady progress made on agreeing a deal.

Negotiations commenced on Wednesday and continued all day through Thursday.

Chief executive of the LRC, Ki- eran Mulvey is expected to present a package to unions possibly as early as today (Tuesday) at Shannon.

The deadline for any progress be- ing made in the current round of talks is this coming Friday, when the first round of lay-offs will commence among the airport’s 90 temporary SENeR

Twenty-three staff are due to lose their jobs in the first round and the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) has also told a second group of tem- porary workers that they will lose their jobs next month.

However, the lay-offs and industri- al action promised if they go ahead, will be diverted if the LRC — as ex- pected — produces a deal that 1s ac- ceptable to both unions and manage- ment.

Executive Chairman, Pat Shana-

han and Airport Director, Martin Moroney along with Head of Hu- man Resources (HR) at the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Damien Lenagh headed up the talks on be- half of management, while Pat Fit- zgerald and Tony Carroll represented SOF A source close to the talks told

THE importance of Shannon airport being used by US tourists flying in to Ireland was stressed by the mayor of Shannon, during a visit to New Jer- oN SMA (e151.

Councillor Tony McMahon (La- bour) accompanied Shannon Town Clerk Tomas MacCormaic to Eliza- beth, a town in New Jersey, during a four-day visit. While there, they at- tended two St Patrick’s Day parades – one in Elizabeth and the other in Woodbridge – and met several Clare people living in the US.

A relationship between Shannon and this particular area of New Jer- sey was forged over a decade ago. The link was initially developed between firemen at Shannon airport and the policemen’s association in Elizabeth and the communication has continued over the years.

A delegation from Shannon has been invited to visit the annual pa- rade in Elizabeth, each year.

Mr McMahon and Mr Mac Cor- maic attended a number of Irish- American gatherings, during their visit. Up to 40,000 attended one of the parades, while almost 60,000 at-

tended the other parade.

“It was a great experience and was useful and beneficial. Good contacts were built up during the trip,” said Cllr McMahon.

“IT had an opportunity to address the organising committees of the parades. I stressed the importance of visiting Ireland and using the Shan- non stop,” he said.

‘They were very positive, when I explained the situation to them. I _Wucd VCore MO OTs Imm MeL eam oN LO Ni moley lean Ceat-0 MU OND ets. for American tourists was to fly in to Clare. The Cliffs of Moher, Bunratty Castle and other areas in the west

and south west are very accessible from Shannon,” he added.

He also encouraged the Americans to look favourably on the campaign by Irish illegal immigrants.

The mayor met a number of Clare men and women who have settled in the US. He was particularly pleased to re-acquaint himself with a neigh- bour from his native Flagmount, Michael Williams, who emigrated almost 40 years ago.

SW alomm enki) umrctelCmm coy sme) (<0 Gru BAVere! back on Shannon soil last week, in time for the Shannon St Patrick’s Day parade on Saturday.

STRONGER commitments regard- ing the delivery of broadband serv- ices in Ennis are being sought amid claims Clare could be missing out on thousands of jobs.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of Clare County Council, Councillor Joe Carey stated that many homes in Ennis still had no access to broad- band services.

He called for the council to provide a full report with regard to broad- band services in the county indicat- ing which areas have been enabled and what plans Clare County Coun- cil have to expand the network.

He said, “In reality there is a large part of Ennis that is still without broadband services. No commitment has been given to when it’s going to

start up.”

Responding, Director of Services Community and Enterprise, Tom Coughlan said the council had al- ready submitted proposals for Ennis and Shannon to be included in the Metropolitan Area Networks Pro- eramme (MAN).

“The responsibility for the rollout of broadband services nationally lies with the Department of Communica- tions, Marine and Natural Resourc- oe

“To co-ordinate the delivery of broadband in the Shannon region, Shannon Broadband Company Ltd was established in 2003. This com- pany comprises the six local authori- ties in the mid-west region including Shannon Development.”

Mr Coughlan continued, “The de- partments strategy for broadband

connectivity nationally since 2002 has been on two fronts, The Metro- politan Area Networks Programme (MANs) and the Group Broadband Scheme (GBS). MANs deals with the provision of infrastructure to strategic towns in the country with a population greater than 1500.

“GBS includes towns and commu- nities with a population of less than 1500. Proposals have also been sub- mitted for Ennis and Shannon.

“Government approval and excheq- uer funding will be required for this development. It is anticipated that these projects should be at the plan- ning stage by the end of this year”’

An inadequate broadband infra- structure could also mean that Clare iS missing out on thousands of jobs. That’s according to the Managing Director of Magico.ie, the Ennis

based web design and software de- velopment company.

Paul Montwill said a growing dig- ital divide had emerged between rural and urban areas resulting in a loss of investment, job creation and competitiveness.

Montwill said, “In light of the re- cent significant job losses in the mid- west region, the Government should now look to ways of creating new employment opportunities’.

He continued, “Numerous studies have shown that the development of an advanced communications infra- structure can lead to job creation and retention, increased business effi- ciency, improved education systems, faster industrial growth, increased start-up and entrepreneurial activi- ties, and more productive research and development.”

A PILOT plastic collection scheme, conducted in conjunction with Clare County Council last year, 1s to be ex- tended to the rest of the country and could provide the solution to the farm plastic issue which has plagued Irish farmers for the last number of years. The Irish Farm Film Producer Group (IFFPG) and the Irish Farmers As- sociation (IFA) have announced the agreement of a major deal with the Minister for the Environment and Local Government, Dick Roche, to

clear the accumulated backlog of plastic all over the country.

Over the next seven week services will begin in seven new counties, Cork west, Cavan, Donegal, Kilken- ny, Meath, Sligo and south Tipperary, which will see farmers bringing bale wrap and silage covers to designated local authority collection centres.

There will be no charge for this service and the accumulated plas- tics will be delivered to authorised recycling facilities. The scheme will be extended to farms in Cork east, Kerry, Limerick, Laois, Monaghan,

Westmeath and Wexford during June and July.

The final phase of the project will focus on Dublin, Kildare and Louth during September and October.

“The scheme to date has been rolled out on a phased basis because we know there are significant back- logs to be collected. It also gives local authorities sufficient notice to agree and put in place the necessary arrangements for collections in their areas,’ said Minister Roche.

Under the Spring Clean project, each local authority listed will organ-

ise, on a once-off basis, special open days to allow farmers in those coun- ties to deposit their stockpiled farm plastic. This service will be free to the farmer and funding to assist the local authorities will be made avail- able from the Environment Fund.

The IFFPG have been having dif- ficulty collecting all of the plastic waste produced by Irish farmers over the last number of years. The prob- lem is a result of illegally imported plastic which is not subject to a levy which goes to the IFFPG to support the proper disposal of the plastic.

WALKING around the narrow halls of Ennis National School the one thing you quickly notice are the pic- tures. There’s quite a few of them.

Old grey images, which chart the school’s achievements through the years, be they sporting or other 8 Ion

Grouped among various teamshots of hurlers, footballers, basketballers, soccer players and the few youth- ful, but instantly recognisable faces of future All-Ireland winners, are photos of the Ennis National School band.

Founded by former teachers Sean McDermott and Michael Collins, the band nurtured and encouraged many

aspiring young musicians.

This year marks the 30th anniver- sary of the band’s formation and to celebrate the occasion a special con- cert will be held in Glor this Wednes- day (March 21).

Two schools from Clare; Knocka- nean National School and Ennis National School will be joined by students from Limerick’s Milford National School for a school band’s spectacular. The students will also share the stage with local piper, Michael Coyne.

This is the second year of the event, which was last year held in the con- cert hall of the University of Limer- ee

Organisers decided it would be ap- propriate to acknowledge the contri-

bution made by Sean McDermott to promoting music in the school.

Teacher Fiona de Buitleir explained how the band developed in the early days.

“We only just realised that the band would be going for 30 years this year. When Sean started the band with another teacher at the time Michael Collins, they didn’t know how to play themselves so they were teach- ing themselves as they were teaching the kids.

“They used to say they were one note ahead of the band while they were playing. At that time they didn’t have a set room, so they used to prac- tice in the hallway.”

Ms de Buitleir said the school band was one of the few forums available

Where children could learn to play music.

“If you think about it, 30 years ago there was no maoincheoil or other eroups where kids could go to play.

“It gave the opportunity to children who weren’t necessarily the best at sport or other areas a chance in the limelight, so from that point of view it was important.

“The band has performed in pa- rades and I| think they got to play in Cusack Park one year.”

The full timetable for the concert is: llam – Knockanean; 11.15am – Milford; 11.30am – Ennis national school during which time the 30 years will be acknowledged.

The grand finale will take place at 11.45am.

MARY Shannon’s decision to go public last week and her call for mandatory sentences for rapists re- kindled memories for several other rape victims.

One Clare rape victim recalled horrific memories of her own or- deal, at the hands of her former partner.

The woman, who is from west Clare and who wished to retain her anonymity, said she was repeat- edly raped over a period of a long number of years but was too afraid to take a case against her attacker.

After going through prolonged pain for several years, she eventu- ally left him, five years ago.

“If he wasn’t raping me, he was beating me. I would refuse to have sex with him but he would force himself on me. I would get a belt anyway. I would lie to the doctor about my injuries.

‘“T reported it to gardai, but I didn’t go any further with it, because I felt I was the one that was in the wrong. I have been feeling guilty all my life,’ she said.

Not only was she afraid to make a statement to gardai, but she was also in fear of telling her family

what she was going through.

“IT was afraid to make a statement in case I hurt his feelings. He had a hold over me. It was up to me to walk away but I couldn’t,” she said.

She eventually managed to tear herself away and she fled.

“It was very hard to walk away from it. He cut my breasts and that was the end of it,” she said.

She attended counselling at the Rape Crisis Centre, but believes the psychological effects of her ordeal will remain with her forever.

She said that Mary Shannon’s de- cision to go public has inspired con- fidence in her and, in hindsight, she

regrets not pressing charges against her attacker.

“T regret not going ahead with it. I always get angry when I hear some- thing like this (Mary Shannon’s case). I have come a long way, but you have to get help,” she said.

“My advice to other women would be to report incidents like this… fast. You never forget. You start drinking or using drugs to dull the pain. It works for a while, but then you become addicted and you are worse. The biggest thing I felt was anger and I would feel angry again when something like this happens again,” she said.

THE cool dudes from Mullagh know what is good for them.

Everyday during the month of March they are eating their greens and devouring their fruit as part of Bord Bia’s Food Dudes programme.

The programme, launched by Mary Coughlan, Minister for Agriculture and Food and Mary Hanafin, Minis- ter for Education and Science aims to permanently increase consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables among primary school children both in the school and at home.

Mullagh National School is just one of 50 schools nationwide selected to take part in the programme.

This programme, which was devel- oped by the University of Wales, has delivered effective and long-lasting

results across the primary age range, regardless of gender, school size, and geographic and socio-economic fac- tors.

It is ultimately designed to enable children enjoy healthy diets, and to create a healthy eating culture within schools.

Two of the teaching staff, Mrs Connie Sexton and Ms Brid Keane, of Mullagh National School have attended Department of Education in-service in relation to the delivery of this programme and are currently overseeing its implementation in the school.

The pupils enjoy fruit and vegeta- bles on a daily basis as well as talks and videos explaining the benefits of fruit and vegetables within a healthy hte

More than 30,000 children will

participate in the programme over a three-year period.

The implementation of this pro- gramme was one of the recommen- dations in the recent report from the National Obesity Task Force.

Speaking about the programme in Mullagh National School, Minister Coughlan said, “The results of the National Children’s Food Survey 2005 tell us that currently in Ireland, some one in five children are over- weight or obese. It is therefore impor- tant that we encourage our children to eat healthily and fruit and vegeta- bles are key in that regard. The Food Dudes programme is designed to encourage children to develop a lik- ing for fruit and vegetables through repeated tasting and to maintain this behavioural change over time.”

School principal Séan McMahon

welcomed the initiative.

“Food Dudes is proving to be pop- ular with both parents and children. It has been successful in increasing consumption of fruit and vegetables among children in Mullagh. I see it as a central element of the schools approach to promoting a healthy en- vironment and seeking to instill in pupils a health conscious approach to diet, which will stay with them throughout their lives.

Mar a deir an seanfhocail “Is fearr an slainte na na tainte,” he said.

that they “join with the community in offering support to

Mary Shannon during this traumatic time, for her and her family”’.

The statement continued that those involved in the organisation felt that the three-year suspended sentence served on her perpetrator “was nel- ther fair nor consistent with other rape sentences. This man pleaded not guilty to rape, thus forcing Mary to give evidence of her experience. He was found guilty by a jury, yet the fact remains his crime goes unpun- ished”.

The statement said that it is “ex- tremely difficult for women to come forward and report rape or domestic abuse. It is worrying that the outcome of this trial will discourage women

from disclosing rape and abuse, thus leaving them in a potentially danger- ous situation and undoing all of the good work and practices that many agencies in this country have striven hard to achieve”.

The Clare Haven statement added that they “commend Mary on her courage to waive her anonymity and in her determination to challenge the system, and we offer her our full sup- port now and in the future”.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Rape Crisis Centre in Limerick said they were “horrified” at the sen- tence.

She said there was a “huge swell of phone calls from women after the

sentence and every one of them ex- pressed support for Mary. The other thing that most of them said was that if they were raped, what would be the point in reporting it?”

The centre recently ran a major me- dia campaign under the title of “An- other Silent Night”, urging victims of rape and sex abuse to speak out, report the crime and seek help.

“Tt is so difficult to convince wom- en to report rape, it’s so hard to get a rape case as far as court, and then When you do get a conviction, the rapist gets a suspended sentence. It’s sending out the message to perpetra- tors that it’s fine – go ahead and do it. After all, what will they do to you?”