Category: Uncategorized

THE Shannon Airport Authority and the Department of Transport have declined to make any comment about the suspension of a member of the airport’s Police Fire and Rescue Service, following an incident dur- ing arecent security audit at the air- sour

Sources have confirmed that the suspension is not related to the much publicised security breach at Shannon last May, when an inspec- tor from the Transport Department managed to carry a Swiss Army knife undetected through the main passenger security check.

The airport police officer at the centre of that incident has not been reprimanded.

Well-informed airport sources have confirmed that one of the two inspectors who carried out last May’s audit, and who is a regular visitor to Shannon, recently observed an

airport police officer conducting a search of a trolley used by a contract cleaning company at the airport.

The search was carried out prior to the contract worker and the trol- ley, which contained cleaning mate- rials and towels, being allowed enter a secure area.

It 1s understood that the inspec- tor was not happy with the search, as She observed it. As a result, the of- ficer has been suspended from duty.

An airport source said, “really, the officer was suspended for something which did not happen, but should have, as opposed to something which did happen. It is not related to any breach of security as such. He just didn’t search the trolley prop- erly. Nothing was found in the trol- ley in fairness, but we all have to be careful.”

In a statement, the Shannon Air- port Authority stated, “the Author- ity does not comment on specifics of security matters at the Airport, nor

on internal disciplinary matters.

“We continue to treat all aspects of security at Shannon Airport with the utmost seriousness.”

A Department for ‘Transport spokesperson said, “It is entirely a matter for the Shannon Airport Au- thority. We would have no comment to make on such matters.”

Meanwhile, it has emerged that at least one airport police officer has been asked by management to ex- plain how a well-known Mid-West- based anti-war activist managed to drive undetected through a security post on the main road leading to the airport, before he was observed in the vicinity of the terminal build- ing.

The activist, who is well known to gardai and airport police officers, is understood to have driven through the checkpoint on several occa- sions in recent weeks without being stopped or recognised.

THE Tanaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney will launch a €1.6 million one-stop-shop for children with disabilities, in En- eh

Minister Harney will officially open the newly refurbished Teach Boru on the grounds of St. Joseph’s Hospital, on Friday. Teach Boru has been equipped with state-of- the-art facilities to help identify and support children with special needs. The one-stop-shop service is doing away with the practice of

multiple appointments in count- less locations for children with disabilities and their families.

‘In the past, parents who were concerned about their child’s de- velopment have been left to run round a variety of services, both state and voluntary, in a number of different locations. Follow- ing national and international research and consultation with parents and professionals, we decided on a one-stop-shop ap- proach to provide a seamless service for children from birth to six years,’ said Margaret Galvin,

Project Manager of the Regional SBD Ae) yelolmeoascocmeeUl the professionals now see a child at the same time, in the same room, in Teach Boru. The team also operates an outreach service in Kilrush.

Six early intervention teams will provide services for children from birth to six with develop- mental delay. These will include clinical psychologists, occupa- tional therapists, early interven- tion specialists, physiotherapists and speech and language thera- pists.

THE Chairman of the Clare County Board said it was an “an easy decision to appoint Michael Brenann and Donie Buckley” as joint managers of the Clare Senior Footabllers.

The decision was ratified at a meeting of the Clare County Board on Wednesday night. Their names were put forward after a seven man committee had spent the last month deliberating over who should suc- ceed John Kennedy. Noel Welsh, who seconded the appointment af- ter Robert frost had proposed the motion, said Michael Brennan de- served to be viewed in “the same category as John Maughan”. Both

men currently reside within the county and have previously worked together at NUIG. Michael Bren- nan, a retired army officer, is an ex- Galway footballer who featured in the 1983 All-Ireland final against Dublin. Originally from Kerry, Donie Buckley has been closely in- volved with Clare football for the past 15 years.

He has enjoyed good success as a manager winning county cham- pionships with Miltown Malbay in 1990 and the Faughs in 1994. He also guided Eire Og to an interme- diate championship in 1995. The decision brings to an end weeks of speculation about who was going to be in the Clare hotseat for next term. Ever since Clare’s defeat to

Sligo in the All-Ireland qualifying Series, it had been unclear whether John Kennedy was going to remain in the job. Kennedy stepped down last week, and is now being heavily linked with the vacant managers position in Limerick.

Michael McDonagh paid _trib- ute to Kennedy for his service to Clare football over the past three years. “He was a gentleman from the top of his head to his toes and along with his fellow selectors, we were very lucky to have men who were sO committed to Clare foot- ball”. His sentiments were echoed by John Keane who said that John Kennedy had “made history with Clare by lifting the Tommy Mur- phy Cup in Croke Park”.

RESIDENTS in East Clare have expressed their anger over the dangerous condi- tion of the Athlunkard Road, through Clonlara.

Around 50 local residents carrying placards attended a protest at Clancy’s Cross in

Clonlara, on Monday morn- ing, to highlight what they said was the road’s treacher- ous condition.

The road is to be re-sur- faced following six months of construction work. Last Autumn, Clare Civil Engi- neering commenced work on the laying of pipes for water

mains. Work was expected to be completed by May. But the road has yet to be completely resurfaced.

Locals claim that the road has been made extremely hazardous for pedestrians. According to one resident, cars are forced to drive in the middle of the road in order to avoid potholes.

The poor driving condi- tions have also resulted in a number of accidents and damage to cars, they said. In one instance over €800 worth of damage was done to a car.

Locals also complained that traffic lights were placed at inconvenient positions dur- ing the construction process, and that they were treated in a discourteous manner. The job of resurfacing the road was left out when the original contract for the project was drawn up, and has only come up for tender this summer.

“We wanted to show our solidarity with the residents of East Clare on this issue,” said Cllr Cathal Crowe who attended the protest along with fellow councillors John McInerney, Pascal Fitzgerald and Pat Breen TD and John O’Sullivan TD Limerick East

PLANS to build the long-delayed €25m sewage plant at Clareabbey, Ennis, have taken a major step for- ward, it was confirmed this week.

A developer has dropped a series of objections against Compulsory Purchase Orders for the plant, made by Clare County Council.

The new plant will replace the creaking system already serving Ennis’s fast-increasing population and help reduce pollution into the River Fergus. It will cater for a pop- ulation of 50,000.

Earlier this year, the bid to de-

velop the sewage treatment plant was Stalled after the Killaloe Di- ocesan Trust and local landowner, Peter Anthony Liddy objected to the CPO in its current form going ahead.

The Trust subsequently sold 35 acres of land to a property devel- oper for €8.5 million and the de- veloper took on the objection.

The objections lodged resulted in An Bord Pleanala calling an oral hearing into the case held on Tues- day, September 6. However, County Engineer Tom Carey confirmed this week that the two objections were withdrawn at the oral hearing.

Mr Carey said that it was hoped that work would proceed on the new system next year. Currently, the contract documents are with the Department of the Environment and the Council is awaiting their go-ahead to proceed.

With the 35 acres of land being sold for €8.5 million, it is expected to cost the Council over €2 million to compulsorily acquire the lands.

The Environmental Impact State- ment (EIS) into the scheme was published at the end of 2002 and planning permission was secured for the proposal last year.

The EIS states that a ‘do noth-

ing’ option in relation to the current sewage works “is not viable” and “the existing problems will be ex- acerbated over the next few years as increasing demands are put on the drainage system and treated plants due to expanded environment”.

The EIS also point out that the failure to put in place the proposed new water treatment plant will re- sult in the Council contravening the EU Council Directive concering waste-water treatment.

In his objection, Peter Anthony Liddy described the Council’s CPO as “ill-conceived, uninformed and Ure ALN koe

THERE was no playing politics with the Clare County Council Play Pol- cy when it came before the members of the council yesterday.

Supporting the policy, the council- lors present suggested that the play- ground plan could reduce a prevalent ‘“yob culture’ and prevent anti-social behaviour in the future.

The plan includes a long awaited and much welcomed Skateboard Park for the town of Ennis.

The county council plans to apply to the Department of the Environ- ment for funding for the Skateboard Park in the Lees Road Sports and Amenity Facility, in Ennis.

A representative group of parents of skateboarders must in the interim develop a safe solution as part of the application.

The play policy, which was pre- sented to the council by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), also states funds of up to €2 million should be provided for playgrounds over the next four years.

Some €300,000 of the annual budget will go towards a playground in each of the electoral areas, while

the remaining €200,000 will ensure playgrounds for areas in need.

The new policy also proposes that in residential developments of more

than six houses, developers should be required to make provision for a hard surface play area and for active recreation.

This met with some concern from the County Manager, who said that the burden of this section of the poli- cy “might just be a little to high.”

Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) was adamant however, that the funding should be found and the policy in its entirety, implemented. She said the council had shied away from such a policy for too long.

The Shannon councillor said that anti-social behaviour was getting worse. Early intervention with such facilities would help prevent a “yob culture”.

‘We have to go for it and hope we meet our aspirations,” she said.

Meanwhile, the council is to apply for funding through a department playground grant scheme.

Should this funding become avail- able the council considers Bally- vaughan and Kildysart play ground committees in a position to respond immediately to the funding. If these two communities are not in a position to draw down the possible funding, it will go to Lisdoonvarna, in the case of Ballyvaughan being unable to ac- cept, and Sixmilebridge, if Kildysart is not in a position to avail of it.

A PROSECUTION be- ing taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) against a Shannon- based = pharmaceutical plant has been adjourned to October for the service of a Book of Evidence.

The | German-owned Schwarz Pharma firm is accused of nine separate breaches of its Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) licence.

State solicitor Martin Linnane told Shannon District Court that the Book of Evidence is not yet ready and the case can, on consent, be ad- journed to the October Ota Mae te te

Initially, the prosecu- tion against the company was being taken by the Environmental — Protec- tion Agency (EPA). How- ever, after Judge Joseph Mangan heard an outline of the evidence against the company in March, he deemed the case too serious to be heard in the

district court.

As a result, the prose- cution is now being taken by the DPP and the mat- ter will be heard in the Circuit Court, where the company faces fines of up to €10 million.

At the company’s ini- tial court appearance in March, the court was told Schwarz Pharma would be pleading guilty to the nine alleged breaches.

The court was told that air emissions from the plant in August 2004, oyale-NeenbarS suspected cancer-causing substanc- es, were found to be 36 times the legal limit.

The company is also facing two __ separate charges of breaching air emission limits in rela- tion to an organic solvent that can affect the central nervous system and cause irritation and headaches.

The company is also accused of filing mis- leading reports with the EPA between November 21, 2003 and August 24,

ples

Six days after the dis- trict court appearance in March, Schwarz Pharma decided on a voluntary basis to suspend certain production ROCA ers which could give rise to emissions exceeding the levels in its Integrated Pollution Control (IPC) granted by the Environ- mental Protection Agen- OVA @ 8) 0 ¥P

The partial shutdown lasted for six weeks be- fore the company recom- menced production in April. To-date, this year, the company has spent €6 million on enhanced environmental controls.

This includes €3 mil- lion on putting in place liquid scrubbers on its pharmaceutical plant and an additional €3 million Spent on a new waste wa- ter treatment plant.

The company currently has an application with the EPA for an updated Integrated Pollution Con- trol (IPC) and a decision is due later this month.

after Shannon town councillors called for a superintendent to be based in the town. Ennis-based Supt John Kerin currently has responsibility

for Shannon.

A letter circulated to councillors from the Department of Justice stated that local Garda management in Clare did “not believe that the necessity exists for the creation of a fifth district headquarters station” in the Clare division. It added that local management was satisfied that the existing available resources at Shannon (53 gardai) were adequate to meet the present policing needs of the town.

Chief Supt Quinn said, “Shannon now has a population equivalent to other areas served by a superintendent and that is where the argument comes from. However other factors come into play and the situation is unlikely to change at the moment.

‘When it comes to making decisions like that, statistics and logistics would influence that decision. It has been raised and examined and con- sidered. We have an inspector – Tom Kennedy – who has responsibility for Shannon, which we don’t have in any of the other stations,” said Chief Supt Quinn.

He accepted that there were anxieties about the lack of a superintend- ent in Shannon. But he said, “It wouldn’t necessarily improve the service there.”

However, Cllr Gerry Flynn said it was “absolutely ludicrous” that the second biggest town in the county did not have a superintendent based in the area and so operated as a sub-district, rather than a district.

Cllr Tony McMahon agreed, “We need to be upgraded to a district sta- tus. We don’t have a courthouse here. We don’t have anything”’.

Cllr Greg Duff said, “Because of increased US military travelling through Shannon in the past six months, the airport is a priority and because of the commitment to the airport, we need more people.” If there was an air-rage incident at Shannon Airport, six gardai would be sent in to deal with it, he said.

Cllr Patricia McCarthy said the town had lost quality gardai who left the town when they saw no opportunities for promotion.

‘Kilrush had a long history of gardai staying for a while and the prob- lems there got out of control,” she said.

THE success of the book, ‘Name your place’— the brainchild of Club na Sionna — which was printed last year has prompted an updated second edition to be published.

6,000 copies of the book, which is based on placenames (logain- mneacha) were printed last year and an additional 15,000 copies of the second edition will be printed shortly.

Club na Sionna, which incorpo- rates Conradh na Gaeilge and Glor na nGael in Shannon, 1s responsible for the publication.

A large group of people from the Shannon area were involved in the publication of the book, with La- bhras O Donghaile and his wife Sorcha to the fore.

The book is bilingual — the in- troduction in written mainly in English, while the logainmneacha (placenames) are explained in Eng-

lish, throughout the book.

“We have been involved in pla- cenames since 1973,’ said Sean O Nuanain, chairman of Club na Sionna. “People are very interested in placenames, household names and names of businesses and office blocks,” he added.

“There was a great demand, among builders, councillors and es- tate agents. The second edition will include a wider number of business names,” added Mr O Nuanain.

It will be available shortly at branches of Glor na nGael, County Councils, estate agents, tidy towns committees, gaelscoileanna and all Irish organisations throughout Ire- land.

Meanwhile, the Ciorcal Com- hra meets every week at the Wolfe Tones’ clubhouse between 8.45 and 9.45pm. Everyone is being encour- aged to get involved and use the cu- pla focail. The theme is ‘Don’t lose it — use it.’

A CLARE County Council demand that a 5,000 year old bog oak tree that forms part of a sculpture be cut by one metre, was described as “impractical and crazy’, this week.

The criticism came from the Kilballyowen Development Association, which has defiantly refused to reduce the height of the tree to three neo b Rene

The sculptor of the piece, rural-rights cam- paigner, Jim Connolly said this week: “The tree can’t be reduced. I have never heard the likes of it in my life. I hope the Council accept the sense of what I had to say.”

The tree is to be complimented by two three- quarter size bronze figures of Diarmuid and

Grainne. It forms part of a twin-memorial ded- icated to the memory of five west Clare men, who lost their lives just off Loop Head in 1862, and ties with west Clare. The men were all pi- lots who helped navigate ships up the Shannon estuary in the 19th century.

Kilballyowen association chairman, John Bonfil explained this week: “The pilots went out in a currach to a ship that was about to come up the estuary. It was a case of whoever got to the ship first, would get the bounty in steering the ship Unfortunately, they all lost their lives.”

A song, “The Five Pilots” had been written in their memory.

In response to the association’s planning

proposal for the monument, the council raised concerns over the height of the proposed struc- tures on the boat house site and the Diarmuid and Grainne site. The Council stated: “Please reduce height of both structures to three as well.”

In the initial documents lodged with the Council, no mention was made by the appli- cants of the age of the tree. It formed part of the Diarmuid and Grainne display, which was initially on show at Shannon Airport. It was removed due to major renovations at Shannon, according to Mr Connolly.

In May, the applicants lodged a photomon- tage of the memorial, stating that the Diarmuid and Grainne display was 5 metres. In August,

they stated that the memorial was now 4 metres high and refused to go lower.

Mr Bonfil said this week: ““We are confident that the proposed memorial will get planning permission. It is a community-based project. It is a positive for the community.

“We have received €20,000 for the two me- morials through Leader and also a contribution from the Foynes Harbour Authority. We hope to unveil the memorials at the 3rd annual Loop Head Gathering Festival next July.

“Both the Shannon Airport Authority, who commissioned the sculpture, and Jim Con- nolly the sculpture who created the piece, have agreed to donate the work to the community in Kilbaha to form part of the proposed develop- ment of the area,” he said