The Clare People Archive

CONCERNS have been raised about the proposed format of a joint polic- ing committee for Ennis.

According to the Department of Justice, the committees, proposed for 114 local authority areas, are being established to provide a forum for Gardai, local authorities, Oireacthas members, and community interests to meet and address issues related to crime locally and to make recom- mendations.

However, at last week’s meeting of

Ennis Town Council, councilors dis- missed the 19-person structure of the committee as unworkable.

Accepting that the committee al- lowed for broad representation of different stakeholders, Mayor of Ennis Peter Considine (FF) said it was unlikely, given the size of the committee, that consensus could be achieved on crime related matters.

Councilor Tom Glynn (FF) echoed these concerns saying “you couldn’t get a whole lot done with a commit- tee of 19 people”.

Councillor Joe Reidy (FF) said,

“the last thing we need is more meet- ings and more talking shops. At the end of the say we have to know what effect it will have for the general pub- lic.

Town Clerk Eddie Power told the meeting that pilot schemes had al- ready been launched in Ballinasloe, Naas and Galway City and that the committee presented an opportunity to examine the reasons for anti-social behaviour and social disorder.

“I think they want to avoid as much as possible is it becoming another talking shop,” added Mr Power.

CUlr Johnny Flynn (FG) said that any measure which looks at “ad- dressing the anti-social behaviour in this town deserves to be given as good a run as possible”’.

Cllr Tommy Brennan called for meetings to be arranged with partici- pants from the pilot schemes before any decision is taken on the matter.

‘We should look for a meeting with the delegation from Naas. I’d like to go behind the scenes and see what is happening on the ground with this thing. Then you’ll get the right re- sponse.”

CLARE dairy farmers turned out in force for two farm walks last week held on the farms of Paddy Harvey, Brisla, Cooraclare and Patrick Mur- phy, Cornmallow, Quin. The two farmers were selected as new moni- tor farms this year, and serve an es- sential role in recording production data and costs trends on farms as part of the Teagasc/Kerry Agribusiness focus on farm profit programme.

The main theme of the walks was centered on performance and costs on the farms, as well as managing grass and grazing under difficult conditions as fodder budgeting for the coming winter.

Ger Courtney, Teagasc monitor farm programme coordinator, gave an in-depth run down on perform- ance of the farms in terms of milk supplied, costs of production and the breeding within the herds with particular attention to the herd’s EBI and calving patterns.

He also explained how farmers can estimate their own fodder situation and gave advice on how supplemen- tation can be used to ensure adequate feed is available for the upcoming winter period.

Aidan Bugler, Local Dairy Adviser covered the area of grass budgeting on each farm illustrating the impor- tance of having a plan for managing grass in the autumn with the aim of

keeping grass in the cows diet for as long as possible, while at the same time ensuring enough grass is car- ried over for next spring.

He acknowledged that the weather conditions this autumn have made building up grass very difficult. How- ever he was anxious to show how the two farms had taken corrective action early by feeding some silage and meal which will help maximize OF Acer Nimes ehh

Tom Gleeson, Local Dairy Advis- er, covered the area of soil fertility and stressed the need for regular soil sampling as a must if farmers are to have any chance of keeping costs un- der control. This he said is particu- larly true this year considering that

the costs of fertilizers have increased so dramatically in recent times. The need to keep soils limed and maxi- mizing the benefits of slurry were seen by Tom as an essential part of nutrient management on farms.

Rina Sayers, MVB Moorepark, covered the area of herd health with particular emphasis on BVD and IBR infections in herds. Her main message was prevention is better than cure and she stressed the need for on farm biosecurity measures as the best way to protect your herd from infection.

CLARE beef farmers will save hun- dreds of euro next year following the decision to introduce the new 48-month rule for BSE testing. The new approach to BSE testing was an- nounced by the Department of Ag- riculture last month but it was last week announced that the new testing regime would be introduced from January 1, 2009.

The news was welcomed by east Clare farmers and Chairperson of the ICMSA Beef and Cattle Com- mittee, Martin McMahon, who says that it will have a major impact on

ie Ve silo ae

“This definite commencement date brings to an end a period of regret- table uncertainty and false starts and we estimate that the savings to farm- ers could be of the order of €8 mil- lion per annum,” he said.

“The new 48-month rule is further concrete evidence that the BSE prob- lem is now firmly in the past and also represents full recognition by the Commission of the excellent system of cattle identification and tractabil- ity which operates in Ireland.

“The new rule removes an unnec- essary cost and irrelevant age cut- off point and provides farmers with

more flexibility regarding the mar- keting of their cattle.”

Speaking on the issue when it was initially announced, Clare TD, Tony Killeen, said that the move would deliver significant savings to farmers who currently pay to have healthy slaughtered animals over 30 months tested for BSE.

“The current testing requirements are unjustified when one considers the significant progress made in re- ducing the incidence of the disease in Ireland, from a high of 333 cases in 2003 to 25 last year and 12 to date in 2008,” he said.

“Tam confident, based on the reduc-

tion in the disease in Ireland and the extensive controls in place, that Ire- land’s application will be approved and that the new testing regime may even be in place from early 2009.

“From the outset of his appoint- ment Minister Brendan Smith has continually identified the increase in the age limit for BSE testing as a priority. One of the first things he did as minister was to write to the EU Commissioner and he has taken every opportunity since to press the Commissioner to increase the age limit, particularly when he had met Commissioner Vassiliou at meetings of the EU Agriculture Council.”

Dr Schranz said he was a permanent

radiologist assigned to Portiuncula General Hospital and Roscommon County Hospital at the time.

‘I was only requested to report, on an urgent basis, … by the manager of Ennis General Hospital … (on) a number of casualty and GP films which had been outstanding for four to five weeks, some of which (not Ms Moriarty’s) were labelled as “ur- gent”,” the letter read.

Dr Schranz said he was sure of the date of the incident as it was his 40th birthday and he had to cancel plans since the situation “with outstand- ing x-ray reporting in Ennis was de- scribed to me as critical.

“On the day, I found the x-ray of Ms Moriarty was a single film amongst a pile in one of the offices. The request form simply said “fever” with no mention of the patient’s past history of breast carcinoma and extensive left breast reconstruction.”

“This radiograph was dated June 11, but the first time I saw this radio- graph was in July.”

He went on to say the way Ms Mo- riarty was positioned for the x-ray was technically limiting.

The consultant radiologist said that he dictated his report onto a tape and Sam Lm Comma gop batee

“IT was not asked to cross-check

the final typed report before it was sent out. I have no way of veritfy- ing whether what was typed into the report was what I actually said on Fe olen

“My report said that the x-ray was grossly abnormal with a large shad- ow seen in the left lung,” he said.

There was no reference to this in an internal investigation into Ms Mor1i- arty’s case, or if this report was re- layed to the physician’s team.

In his letter, Dr Schranz said there was no mention in the hospital re- port of a chest x-ray performed, or an investigation performed prior to her discharge from St James’ when

she was given the all clear in April, two months before she presented in Ennis with a fever. At the very least, these should have include an ultra- sound exam and CT scan. If these were clear then it is highly improba- ble that such a large metastatic lesion would have formed in a six week pe- riod between April and June 11.”

Dr Schranz also told the Minister that he was not informed of the inci- dent or the inquiry into it until it was over. “I fail to understand why I was never interviewed with regards to this inquiry, since I could have shed a lot of light into what actually hap- pened,’ he said.

THE husband of a woman who died from breast cancer after being given the all clear at Ennis General Hospital has appealed for people to speak to the HIQA investigation, as the number of misdiagnosis claims reaches six.

Karl Henry said that those con- cerned about cancer examinations and misdiagnosis at the Clare hosp1- tal should avail of the investigation by the state’s health service watchdog into the quality and safety of patient care at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Ennis.

Mr Henry made the appeal as more cases of misdiagnosis come to light. The latest case is a woman from north Clare who died in June last year.

The 50-year-old mother of two had two scans at Ennis General Hospital.

Last month Mr Henry highlighted the case of his late wife Ann Mor1- arty who died despite repeatedly be- ing told she was not ul.

Despite claims that this was an 1so- lated case, the case of 26-year-old Edel Kelly from Kilrush emerged days later. The young mother of two also died despite been given the all clear following a biopsy.

A third case of an unidentified woman emerged last month, while last week the fourth case involv- ing the late Eva Corry (66) came to light.

Mr Henry said that he is also aware of a Kilkee woman who lost her life in 2001, months after she was given the all clear.

‘There were tears running down her husband’s face as he told me. Seven years later, he is still distraught. It would go a long way with him com- ing to terms with his loss if he knew why his wife died.”

Mr Henry said there is a perception that the investigation is only looking into female cancers and breast can- Coe

Referring to mistakes made with his late wife’s blood tests, he said this was not true, as blood tests can be taken for many cancers.

‘This leaves the investigation open to all sorts of cancers,’ he added.

Meanwhile, a Clare man who was wrongly given the all-clear for breast cancer at Galway’s University Col- lege Hospital a number of years ago has now been told he will require surgery.

Following a review of tests carried out at the hospital the man, who does not wished to be identified, received a letter from the hospital explaining

the mistake.

Although rare, breast cancer also affects men. The man in question will now undergo a bilateral mastec- reyeene

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KILRUSH Town councillors were thinking votes and revenue as they considered the possibility of extend- ing the town boundary.

At Thursday’s monthly meet- ing of the local authority Cllr Tom Prendeville (FF) proposed that the council call on the Minister for En- vironment, Heritage and Local Gov- ernment to establish an independent commission in the adequacy of ex- isting legislation to simplify the pro- cedures for extending town bounda- ries.

“All towns are expanding and in Kilrush we too have experienced a building a boom. New housing es- tates have grown up around the pe-

riphery of the town and we have new communities living there who do not come under the town council remit. If we are to build a sense of belong- ing for people who live in these es- tates, it behoves us to make them feel part of our community,” he said.

“The existing legislation exiles these people within the wider county council framework. We need amend- ed legislation to bring these periph- eral suburban areas under the urban remit. I call on the minister to pro- vide for this eventuality when he is drawing up his proposal on the Re- form of Local Government.”

Cllr Stephen O’Gorman (FF) told the meeting that his daughter who lives in Kilrush is just outside the town boundary.

Come June the young woman will not be able to vote for her father in the local election.

““T remember there was a candidate outside the area who ran in the elec- tion and couldn’t vote for himself,’ said Cllr Collie Sweeney (Ind).

The mayor of Kilrush Liam O’Looney believed that a boundary change would also have a positive af- fect on the revenue of the town.

“Tesco and a lot of these businesses are outside the town boundary and there are a lot of levies from these outside the town,’ he said.

FUNDS from development contribu- tions are down by almost 90 per cent since 2006 and the drop will mean serious deficits for the local author- ity next year, a county councillor has warned.

Cur Martin Conway (FG) had asked for details about how much the council had collected in development funding this year to date.

He was told that in 2006, develop- ers paid out €12,012,654.90, while 2007 saw €11,300,295.95 come into council coffers in the fund.

But to date this year, moneys which are used to fund roads and services amount to just €1,164,509.92 and €1.5 million is the figure expected as the final one for 2008.

“This 1s a every serious situation and the council is likely to go into overdraft because of it,’ Cllr Con- way said.

‘This will mean cut-backs which I would totally oppose. Instead we are gong to have to look at efficiencies and maybe bonuses for senior man- agement and directors of services’, said Cllr Conway, who is a member of the Council’s Audit committee.

GREEN Party and Fianna Fail councillors clashed yesterday over a proposed motion calling for Clare County Council to oppose the “anti- rural housing” proposals of Minster for the Environment, John Gormley.

Councilor Michael Kelly (FF) put forward the motion at yesterday’s council meeting, claiming that Min- ster Gormely was against rural re- generation.

He claimed the minster was taking

authority away from local elected representatives.

‘Minister Gormley has taken away powers and decided to rule on his own where people should live and where they should not live.

‘He has adopted this one cap fits all approach. I think this is a dangerous situation that is developing, if these proposals go to legislation. I am dis- appointed he has removed powers from local people’”’.

Councillor Richard Nagle (FE) supported his party colleague saying

that greater freedom should be given to local democracy.

These comments prompted a strong response from Councillor Brian Meaney (GP) who accused Fianna Fail councillors of electioneering and paying “lip service” to rural commu- nities on planning matters.

‘When the Greens went into Gov- ernment with Fianna Fail we were told that they take every opportunity to blame us for policies’, he said.

Cllr Meaney said many of the re- strictions imposed on rural housing

had been introduced in legislation by successive Fianna Fail governments. Minster Gormley was abiding by di- rectives handed down by the EU.

Addressing Fianna Fail council- lors, he said “Ye have gone into these meetings on rural development in paces like Kilbaha and given lip service to the rural communities there, I have seen ye do it”.

Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind) said the current body of planning legislation had been introduced by Fianna Fail howe

Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) said plan- ning was a decision taken by the en- tire cabinet. Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) said councillors on “this side of the chamber” would support Cllr Kelly’s rneKela(eyee

Members eventually agreed to sup- port an amended motion, co-signed by Cllr Gerry Flynn (ind), Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind) and Cllr Martin Lafferty (Ind), calling for council- lors in the mid-west to oppose the anti-rural hosing proposals of the Irish Government.

RESULTS are expected today from further lead analysis test carried out on the Ennis water supply.

The tests were carried out in old- er residential areas of Ennis; those houses built before the 1960s and would include homes in the Hermit- age and St Michael’s Villas areas . County Council Director of Serv- ices, David Timlin, said the council was currently engaged in a continu-

ous programme of lead testing.

Clean water taps have been pro- vided to residents of Marian Avenue, an area where the water supply was identified as most at risk from lead contamination.

Mr Timlin advised people living in affected areas to continue to take precautions when using water. He said the council was continuing to monitor lead levels in the water and that the level of testing had been ex- panded to other parts of Ennis.

“We would be asking people in those areas not to drink the water. The programme of continuous test- ing has been expanded to other, older areas of the town.”

Clare County Council and Ennis Town Council are advising people who stay or live in homes built be- fore the 1960s to flush their pipes as a precaution by running the cold water from the kitchen tap until the sink 1s full, before consuming water.

Even if homes have lead service

pipes, the water is considered safe for bathing, showering, brushing teeth, washing dishes, and clothes. Boiling is not appropriate to deal with lead exceedances. Lead is only picked up as water passes through pipes and household plumbing fittings and fix- tures that contain lead.

This advice applies particularly first thing in the morning or if the water has been unused in the pipes for longer than six hours. Consumers particularly at risk include children

under six, and pregnant women.

Elevated levels of lead were discov- ered in four areas around the county last week. The areas affected in En- nis were Connolly Villas and Marian Avenue, with Patrick Street in Clare- castle and parts of Sixmilebridge also affected.

There have been calls from local councilors for medical services to be provided for people, particularly old- er members of the community, living in the areas identified.

CLARE County Council is being held to ransom by it’s own elected members who are refusing to ap- prove a review of the Development Contribution Scheme until a number of questions regarding planning are addressed by County Manager, Alec Jaa (senbbaree

With the local authority currently facing a hefty budget deficit, the council had hoped to review the Development Contribution Scheme to raise extra revenue. However, a

number a councillors, led by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF), have blocked this process until 17 specific queries are answered by the county manager.

“If there is a delay, don’t blame us, blame the manager. The shortfall has been brought about by the failure of this authority to grant planning permission. If a small shop was go- ing out of business do you think they would save themselves by doubling the price of bread? No, they would put themselves out of business alto- gether,’ said Cllr Kelly.

‘There is list of 17 problems on the

manager’s desk which should have been sorted out long before this. If the manager can get these sorted out we can deal with the review in the adjourned meeting.”

Green Party Cllr Brian Meaney, said the Development Contributions Scheme is how this council funds a great deal of it’s day-to-day activi- Woe

“We have a €10 million shortfall this year between what we are bring- ing in and what is going out. This is a necessary part of the funding for this local authority and this review needs

to take place. It is simply not meet- ing the need of this council funding at present,’ he said.

County Manager Alex Fleming, said he hoped to have all 17 queries dealt with by the next council meet- ing later this month.

“They have to do with interpreta- tion of the Development Plan and we have solved most of the issues,” he said.

“T have no problem with this stay- ing over until after the budget so we can see what is the situation at that point.”