Home » Tag Archives: Councillor James Breen

Tag Archives: Councillor James Breen

DAA accused of scuppering new Shannon route

CLARE county councillor, James Breen has asked the boss of the Shannon Group to throw some light on a claim that the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) hindered efforts to establish a new flight between a province in China and Shannon Airport. Speaking at a Clare County Council meeting on Monday, Councillor Breen asked Shannon Group chief executive officer Matthew Thomas to confirm or deny whether the DAA had “scuppered” a new deal for a route to China. Councillor Breen said he was present in Shannon Airport in 2015, when a deal was signed in principle between representatives of Yunnan and Shannon Airport for new flights between the two destinations. Mr Thomas said he was not aware of any new deal being “scuppered” and pledged to get back to Councillor Breen with further information. Clare County Council has said that meetings that were held with Councillor Breen, elected members and local authority officials, as well as with the acting chief executive …

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Ennis Town Council on the way back?

ENNIS Town Council could be set for a return. Clare County Council CEO Pat Dowling told a meeting of Ennis councillors that in discussions taking place around the possible reintroduction of some local authority structures, “Ennis is most definitely being earmarked”. He was speaking at a meeting to consider the budgetary plan for the Ennis Municipal District. He outlined that the county capital’s position in the national planning framework strategy and its size strengthen Ennis’ position for a return of a local authority structure. Fianna Fáil has been pushing for the return of the local authorities, introducing a bill to that effect earlier this year. Town councils were abolished in June 2014 when the Local Government Reform Act was implemented in a move that drew much criticism. Meanwhile, it was also agreed at the meeting that the Ennis Municipal District would have €274,400 of discretionary funding to spend. Mr Dowling stated, “The general municipal allocation for 2017 for the Ennis …

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free stalls proposed to revive Ennis Market

A proposal to offer stalls for free at the controversial covered market in Ennis has got the backing of members of Ennis Municipal District, with calls for the much maligned development to become a “gold elephant”. Councillor James Breen has suggested that traders be encouraged to use the €1.75 million Ennis Market, with 12 months’ rent free. He said councillors are “getting it in the neck from every part of the county about the white elephant. Why not turn it into a gold elephant?” Councillor Breen continued, “It’s time we did something to make the market work. It’s not working at the moment and we all know it’s not working. We need a small bit of imagination.” Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Paul Murphy acknowledged that there are “a lot of bad vibes out there” about the market development. Councillor Johnny Flynn suggested that Ennis’ ratepayers, such as clothing shops, food producers and speciality shops, could use the spaces for free …

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Councillor James Breen

Councillor moots crash barrier for ‘dangerous’ road

AN incident on a “dangerous stretch of road” along the N85 resulted in a signpost being “split in two” and the driver having a lucky escape from serious injury. Details of the recent incident have emerged as Councillor James Breen suggested that a crash barrier be installed on the road at the entrance to his property at Ballyknock, Kilnamona. According Councillor Breen this stretch of road been the site of a number of accidents in recent years. “This is a very dangerous stretch of road; 90% of accidents between Ennistymon and Whelan’s Quarry have happened on that stretch of road. Thank God nobody has lost their life yet and I hope in the future nobody will,” he stated. He told a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District that he had “no objection” to the council installing a crash barrier on his land. He said that the recent accident in the early hours of the morning resulted in a signpost being “split …

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Lay-by potholes ‘the size of craters’

POTHOLES “the size of craters” in a lay-by along one of the busiest routes in the county are to be brought to the attention of the gardaí. Councillor James Breen has vowed to make contact with gardaí in Ennis and Ennistymon in a bid to prevent farmers and those driving heavy machinery from being prosecuted for not pulling in to allow cars pass due to the state of the lay-by. At this week’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, the councillor urged that the passing bays on the N85, both east and west of Kilnamona Cross, be upgraded. Photographs of the waterlogged potholes were presented to the council, with Councillor Breen saying that he will also be sending the images to the gardaí. Councillor Breen stated, “I was going to bring my dog with me to take the photographs to show the size of the holes. He’s a fairly big dog but I was afraid he’d get drowned.” He continued …

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Pride flag flies high

Clare County Council has joined local authorities across the country in raising a flag to coincide with the first annual LGBTQ Pride festival of 2016 which is taking place in Dublin this week. The Council is participating in the inaugural ‘Having Pride in Local Government’ initiative which is being coordinated by the Local Government Management Agency. Councillor James Breen, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council raised the Pride flag outside Clare County Council’s Corporate Headquarters at Áras Contae an Chláir on the New Road in Ennis. Councillor Breen said the raising of the flag is also a mark of respect for the victims of the shooting in Orlando, Florida earlier this month.

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Political alliance to remove poster cable ties

GETTING rival political parties together to form a government has been proving difficult enough in recent weeks. However, calls are now being made for politicians to cross the divide and come together to tackle a real bind. And their common foe? Cable ties that have been left all over the county on poles after the removal of election posters. Councillor James Breen has led the call for something to be done to remove the ties, which he says are still visible all over the county. “I took down any one I ever put up when I ran for election. What action is being taken to ensure that these are removed?” he asked. Councillor Ann Norton agreed, adding that the issue of posters being left up by candidates and even election posters re-appearing in previously checked areas is also a concern. The Clare Champion reported last month that Councillor Mary Howard had reported that up to 200 of her election posters …

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Councillor James Breen

Ennis Chamber seeks rates meeting

Ennis Chamber is seeking an independently facilitated meeting with Clare County Council to discuss the issue of the increase in commercial rates passed in the recent annual budget meeting of the local authority, and the further proposed increase for next year. This follows last week’s Day of Action by the Chamber when a large group of businesses gathered in the public gallery of Áras Contae an Chláir for the monthly meeting of Clare County Council to highlight their concerns about the rate changes. Ennis Chamber submitted a letter to the meeting and following interjections from Councillors PJ Kelly and Ann Norton as well as a number of attempts by Councillor Johnny Flynn and an adjournment, the letter was accepted by the meeting with Cathaoirleach James Breen agreeing to put it to County CEO Tom Coughlan for consideration. However according to a spokesperson for the business member organisation they are “concerned” that the local authority will “attempt to side step and …

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