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INDUSTRY heads and business moguls are visiting the county without the knowledge of the Clare County Council executive.

According to yesterday’s meeting of the council’s strategic policy committee on plan- ning and economic development, officials are not being informed of visits to the county of possible investors.

Should they be made aware of such visits, they could make representations on behalf of the county, the members of the SPC argued.

The IDA also came under attack for its in- ability to meet the council executive on mat- ters of industry for the county.

A senior member of the council executive, acting Director of Services Liam Conneally, revealed that the council “found it difficult to get an audience and then be listened to.”

Within the last number of years the county manager’s function has been extended to al- low him become the prime driver of tourism and commercial interests in the county.

The current county manager, Alex Fleming has been credited by many with securing the Coca Cola plant in Mayo during his tenure NKR

Members of the SPC described it as a “dis- grace’ that the IDA and other bodies were “unable” to meet with him on at least two oc- casions.

Ennis County Councillor Peter Considine

said it was worrying, and he proposed writing to the Minister for Enterprise to ask him to “instruct he IDA to make himself or herself available to the executive of the council.”

Chairman of the SPC Cllr Richard Nagel told the meeting “There is a perception out there that, because of the Shannon Industrial Zone, that Clare is doing quiet well.”

He said any suggestions that attempts be made to get industry to the smaller towns was ignored but said it was important to at least get industry to the county town as a start.

Cllr Considine that the “glib answers” sug- gesting that Ennis and such areas are too near the BMW area can no longer be accepted.

“Tt is critical that the County Manager and executive have input,” he added.

Meanwhile the first meeting of the forum for all tourist groups to encourage tourism in the county will take place on December 9.

Members of the SPC warned that this would only work if all sides get involved.

Funding for the work of the forum was dis- cussed with hotelier John Madden suggesting that the council look at the rates as a means of supporting the work.

Mayor Pat Keane felt that the rates “always seem to be a target.”

He suggested that as a lot of tax rates had been given to holiday homes in the last number of years, and the increase in tourism would benefit the owners, that this area be tar- geted instead.