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THE IFA have launched a major of- fensive against the bureaucracy in- volved in on farm inspections this week by circulating a 66 page docu- ment which they claim contain all the possible questions which could be posed to farmers during inspec- tions.

The document, which was circu- lated to a range of politicians and member of the media, is designed to show exactly how much bureaucracy faced by farmers.

According to IFA President, Pa- draig Walshe, the IFA is taking the

bureaucratic Department inspection checklist to all TDs, Senators and political candidates in a nationwide information campaign which he says is gaining reactions of shock and dis- belief.

“Political representatives cannot believe that the Department of Ag- riculture would subject any farmer to a checklist which runs to 66 pages, covering 1,450 different questions, sections and permutations, and re- quires the Department inspectors signatures in 28 different places,” he said.

“When Franz Fischler agreed the new Single Payment system, it was

never intended that 135,000 farmers in Ireland would live in daily fear of an unannounced inspection,’ the IFA President continued.

The Minister for Agriculture must realise that young people will not pursue a future in farming knowing that they will spend their life looking over their shoulder for a Department inspector.”

The IFA believe that the require- ments in the current Department checklist are incomprehensible to farmers and the checklist goes way beyond a reasonable interpretation of the EU regulations.

“In 2006, over 7,500 thousands

farmers were targeted for on-the-spot inspections by the Department under the SPS,” he said. “Over 30 per cent of farmers inspected were deemed to be in breach of the requirements by the Department of Agriculture and 1,389 farmers were penalised finan- GEUINA

“Many 2006 inspections by the De- partment involved no notice whatso- ever to the farmer, more than one 1n- spector and return visits to the farm. The IFA is determined to secure fair play and full recognition of the rights of farmers under the Depart- ment of Agriculture farm inspection 1uss:a bas onl

late last year, Mr Aiken told of his ambi- tion to bring big-time musical enter- tainment back to Lisdoonvarna.

“To revive the old festival would be impossible. It would be just too hard to get planning. But there is no reason why a new festival can- not be designed. If Paddy Doherty and Christy Moore came on board, I would be more than ready to listen.

“We did attempt to revive the old Lisdoonvarna Festival, but it is very

difficult. But look at the likes of Bruce Springsteen and his new al- bum. If he decided to do a folk festi- val and someone asked me where to go with it, | would say Clare.”

Lisdoonvarna festival organiser, Paddy Doherty, paid tribute to the support that Aiken gave to the festi- val over the years.

“When we started off in 1978, Jim Aiken was the big promoter in the country,’ said Mr Doherty. “I always remember him calling up and wish- ing us the best. We were just two guys from down the country and it meant a lot for him to do that.

“I have great respect for him and have worked closely with him down the years and up as far as last Christ- mas. We have an ongoing associa- tion with Aiken Promotions and we would be looking to continue this relationship for any future Lisdoon- varna Festivals.”

Born on October 4, 1932, Jim Aik-

en was a physics and maths teacher for a number of years in Belfast, be- fore turning his attention to music promotion.

He finished teaching in 1965 to set up Aiken Promotions, which helped place Ireland on the international map for music over the last four dec- ades.

His other business interests in- cluded radio – he was involved in FM104 and Red FM – as well as music shops, and he was part of the consortium which brought HMV to Ireland.

Jim is survived by his wife, Anne, and his five children, Claire, Susan, Cathy, Joan and Peter who now runs Aiken Promotions.

A SHANNON teacher has received the major honour of being granted a Fellowship to study for her Masters Degree at a US University.

Sarah Burke (25), from Tullyvarra- ga, Shannon, is a teacher at St Tola’s national school in her home town. She graduated with a BA (English and Geography) and Graduate D1- ploma in Education from Mary Im- maculate College in Limerick two years ago. Her outstanding results in the Graduate Diploma caught the at- tention of Frostburg State University in Maryland, who chose her to study

for her Masters in Education there. She is the only Irish person to have been selected by the University to spend a year there.

The University will also pay all of her fees, during her year-long stud- ies. Her studies will commence in August and she will be given the choice between Special Needs Edu- cation or Children’s Literacy, as her specialist area.

“The course is fully recognised by the Department of Education and I was chosen based on rank, order and merit. It is all to do with where you finish in the class and your work throughout the Graduate Diploma in

Education,” she said.

Sarah is hoping to use this oppor- tunity to do a bit of travelling around the States, but admits she will miss her parents Catherine and Albert. However she is hopeful that they will take some time out to visit her during the 12-month spell.

“I was delighted, but shocked to be chosen. I am a little bit nervous. I haven’t travelled for any extensive time before. A year away is daunt- ing, but itis an opportunity I couldn’t refuse. Everyone is delighted for me. I really want to make the most of this,’ she said.

Sarah is currently in her second

year teaching at St Tola’s, where she has secured permanent employment, and has been delighted that she can take a year out from teaching, to travel overseas.

“I teach 28 junior infants and love Tola’s. The job will still be here after the year,’ she said.

She has received fantastic support from the principal at Tola’s, Kevin Hehir, and all the staff at the school, who have supported her.

‘The staff are so proud. They think this is great and are delighted for me. They have been brilliant. This is such a great opportunity to see so many different places,” said Sarah.

ADARE 10k Road Race and 10k fun walk will take place this Sunday, March 11, in the village of Adare starting at 1.30pm with the fun walk and road race at 2pm.

This race is organised by West Lim- erick AC and entries will be taken in the village hall from noon. There will be t-shirts to the first 250 entries with spot prizes and refreshments af- ter the race. Race entry will be €5 for juniors and walkers and €10 for all senior athletes. Any queries can be directed to Willie Costello, West Limerick AC, at 061 396532.

There will be big number of Clare athletes taking part and the course record is 30.34mins and that was set in 2003 by Seamus Power, Kil- murry Ibrickane/North Clare, and the ladies course record is 34.34mins and that was set by Valeria Vaughan, Blarney/Iniscarra.

Clare athletes have been very suc- cessful at this venue with James McIntyre and James Liddane, Tul- la, again expected to be among the leading contenders along with Gerry Ryan, Galway City Harriers, Dermot Galvin, St John’s, Jason Fahy, Olym- pic Harriers, Brian Murphy, Mar-

ian, Thomas Walsh, Tulla, lan Egan Galway City Harriers, with Eugene Moynihan, Marian, contesting the masters title along Michael Harvey, James Kenny, Kilmurry I[brickane/ North Clare, Pat and Mick O’Shea, Iveragh in Kerry, Jeffrey O’Looney Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare,

and Gerard Mullane, Bilboa.

In the team competition Galway City Harriers will once again do bat- tle with Bilboa, Tulla, Desmond Cur- rans, Ballynonty, and the host Club West Limerick.

The ladies contest will see Valerie Vaughan, Blarney/Iniscarra, who set a course record of 34.33mins a few years ago, challenge Rosemary Ryan, Bilboa, and Clare athlete, Ve- ronica Colleran, Ennis Track Club, for the title.

The Clare Cross Country Champi- on could be the athlete to cause a big surprise here and not too far off the pace will be Marie Foley, Limerick, Mary Sweeney, and Mary Murphy, St Finbar’s, Mary Sheehan, Blarney, along with Tracy Guilfoyle.

SIPTU 1s to ballot its members for in- dustrial action at Shannon Airport.

Crunch talks are to take place to- morrow (Wednesday) at the airport between management and unions. The talks will centre on the thorny issue of staffing the security opera- tion at Shannon.

Already, 23 of the 90 temporary workers at Shannon have been told that their contracts will not be re- newed on March 23 next.

This follows the rejection by unions of the €35 million restructuring plan put forward by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), which involved the voluntary redundancy of 200

workers.

The meeting tomorrow between the Executive Chairman of the Shannon Airport Authority, Pat Shanahan, the airport director, Martin Moroney and senior union officials is seen as crucial to any alternative package that might be agreed.

However, SIPTU Industrial Or- ganiser, Tony Carroll confirmed in a letter circulated at Shannon, that the union was proceeding to a protective ballot for industrial action.

“The Labour Relations Commis- sion (LRC) convened a meeting of the three unions in Dublin Airport Authority Shannon last Wednesday to look at ways of involving the 1m- passe in the stalled cost reduction

programme at Shannon Airport,” the letter states.

“SIPTU and the union sought a reversal to the status quo situation relating to decisions made and an- nounced by the airport management including the giving of a terminal notice and contract workers to finish on March 23, 2007.

“SIPTU has now decided to pro- ceed to issue notice of its intention to ballot its members on a protective ballot for industrial action to be im- plemented in the event of the DAA proceeding to impose change unilat- erally which may affect in anyway on our members and/or in breach of our procedural agreements.

“The protective ballot for indus-

trial action in no way diminishes our commitment to engage with the DAA management through the LRC in trying to secure a settlement of all TSS UC ehe

“This ballot would not have been necessary had the company agreed to revert to the status quo as request- ed at the LRC while we processed the dispute through the normal pro- cedures. In the meantime, you may be approached by management to discuss matters, you are under no ob- ligation to talk to management as all these issues are 1n process.”

Already, the stalemate has resulted in the closure of the Marsh Point bar and the curtailment of restaurant hours.

THE people of Sixmilebridge and Kilmurry are being encouraged to attend the parish mission which will get underway on Sunday.

The six-day programme will spring into action on Sunday evening and will continue through until Friday. A number of events for young and old people will be part of the programme throughout the week.

According to the organisers, the event is about welcome, renewal and

community in Sixmilebridge and aims to involve everybody. A group of 50 people gathered last week and they were divided into groups, where they travelled to homes in the par- ish and encouraged people to attend some of the events throughout the ete

Organiser David Deighan said there have been huge changes in the parish in recent years and this will be reflected during the mission.

“So many new people have come to live in the parish, while others

have lived in the parish all their lives, or come here over the years. It is all about bonding together, in an annual event. We have a new par- ish priest – Fr Harry Bohan – and the church has been redeveloped in re- cent years. A lot of things have hap- pened,” he said.

The mission will be led by Fr Tony Flannery and teacher Ann O’Toole. Fr Flannery is a Redemptorist priest who is well known for his human- ity and is a man gifted in connect- ing Christian values to real life. Ms

O’Toole is a young person who has taken time away from the classroom to participate in the mission work.

“The Mission guarantees at least a welcome to all to come. Every per- son in the parish is invited to take a little time out and come a along,’ said Mr Deighan.

“Hopefully we will have a full church every night,” he added.

The mission will start on Sunday evening with an opening celebration and welcome. Christ the Healer is the title of Monday’s event, while the

Rite of Reconciliation will take place on Tuesday evening. Young people are being encouraged to attend Youth Night on Wednesday while the par- ish’s deceased will be remembered on Thursday night. There will be a finale and close of mission on Friday night. All of the events will start at 7.30pm, with the final night’s events getting underway at 7pm.

During the Mission Week there will be daily morning Mass in Sixmileb- ridge Church at 7am and 10am and in Kilmurry Church at 8.30am.

THE ATHLETICS Association of Ireland in association with Sligo AC will stage the National Senior and Junior Inter Club Cross Country on Saturday, March 10.

There will be four races on the programme starting at lpm with the junior ladies 6,000 metres, followed by the junior men’s 8,000 metres, at

1.30 pm, the senior ladies 8,000 me- tres at 2.15pm the final race of the afternoon will be the senior men’s 12,000 metres at 2.45pm.

The senior ladies will see a big number of new names 1n action with local athlete, Mary Cullen, Sligo AC, taking on the new up and coming star, Fionualla Britton, Sli Chulainn AC, Wicklow. She was the European U23 silver medal winner in Spain

last December and she will be the big pre-race favourite.

Also contesting the title will be Jolene Byrne, Donore Harriers, Rosemary Ryan, Bilboa, Marie Mc- Cambridge, Dundrum South Dublin, Niamh O’Sullivan, Riocht, and Orla O’ Mahoney from Ennis now running with Raheny Shamrocks, Dublin.

The senior men’s race will be the highlight of the day with all the

top middle distance athletes going to the starting line. Mark Christie, Mullingar Harriers, will start as fa- vourite along with Garry Murray, St Malachy’s, David Kelly, Sligo, Mark Kenneally, Clonliffe Harriers, and two former national champions, Seamus Power, Kilmurry Ibrickane/ North Clare, and Peter Matthews, Dundrum South Dublin, also look- ing for top spots.

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