Tag Archives: ESB

DESPITE the phased re-opening of inland fisheries around the region, some in the Clare angling community believe that it could be 2021 before any major competitions can go ahead. Last week, on advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) re-opened their facilities, with the exception of those in Galway and on the Moy. The ESB also re-opened fisheries, including those on the Shannon. In line with the NPHET road map for the reopening of the country, anglers can currently access waterways with 5km of their homes. From next Monday, angling in groups of up to four will be permitted. From June 8, subject to targets that underpin the road map, people will be allowed to travel 20km. At all stages of the re-opening, people must comply with social distance guidelines. In the east of the county, Anthony Weir of the Tulla and District Angling Club, said that while the re-opening of fisheries was a …

WORKERS at Moneypoint have been warned that the only way the plant can remain viable as a coal burning station even until 2025 is if they quickly accept the terms being offered to them, which would see at least 106 employees made redundant. A letter, sent by station manager Seán Hegarty to the workers, warned that the plan must be in place in just over two months. “The survival plan for Moneypoint is time-bound and has a limited shelf life. If this survival plan is rejected, there is not sufficient time for another process to conclude in time for the October 31 deadline, when this Voluntary Severance Scheme is closed and in time for bidding costs into the T-1 and T-2 auctions that give us a chance of success later in the year. In the absence of this survival plan, the existing costs of Moneypoint are not sustainable and will not continue.” The letter, which is extremely frank, also stated, …

WHILE a document is going to Moneypoint workers with proposals for major cost cutting, union members at the plant are very likely to reject it. It is understood that a general meeting of staff, with union officials attending, took place at the plant last Friday. A substantial document has been completed but one worker said that its contents are “just sh*te” from an employee’s perspective and that workers will not accept its terms. A ballot is due to conclude by early September but it is expected that these initial proposals will be rejected comprehensively. One of the major flaws in it, from the workers’ perspective, is a perceived lack of clarity about how people would be selected for redundancy. The ESB plans to lay off around 106 workers later this year, retaining just 86. However, there are fears that under the current document, people who wish to stay could be made compulsorily redundant and people who would like to avail …

IN a document sent by Moneypoint Shop Stewards to management, they claim that the goal of having the significant cost cutting, which involves over 100 redundancies at the West Clare plant, complete by October is “unrealistic”. They declined to attend a briefing as they claimed “there is not a complete range of options to be discussed.” Their email made four points; that they are of the view that there should be no compulsory redundancies, that maximum employment should be maintained at the plant, that terms and conditions for workers should be maintained, and that there should be a specific voluntary service scheme for Moneypoint. They stated that they are willing to engage with management, but need to have a situation where “a complete suite of options” has been communicated, in advance.   Owen Ryan

IT is understood that workers at Moneypoint are today being informed of major job losses at the plant. When contacted this afternoon the ESB said that they will be making a statement, but that its employees must be briefed first.   More to follow…

MORE contractors are set to cease employment at Moneypoint within weeks and there are genuine fears that after their departure, permanent ESB staff will be the next targets. Councillor Ian Lynch said on Wednesday that he understood the remaining contractors are to leave at the end of this month. “I have spoken to a lot of people and I’m quite annoyed over the whole thing,” the Kilrush man said. He said that he believes management are looking to cut jobs now, but that Moneypoint will not be closing and in the future those who are let go will be replaced by lower paid workers. “Anyone who thinks that Moneypoint is going to be gone for the future is not with it, they have spent quite a lot of money in upgrading the emissions and that hasn’t paid for itself yet, so the facility will stay going until that’s paid for. They have now refurbished all three turbines, following the issues …

Approximately 500 houses and some businesses across Clare experienced overnight power cuts following strong winds in the early hours of Sunday morning. Most of the power cuts were experienced in West Clare, Sixmilebridge and parts of North Clare. Outage updates are available on powercheck.ie

CLARE’S Independent TD has called on Minister Richard Bruton to clarify what exactly is planned for Moneypoint, when it comes to the end of its operating life in 2025 as a coal burning power station. Dr Michael Harty has written to the Minister for Communication, Climate Action and Environment to express his concerns about the future of the power station. Dr Harty said there is a lack of any hard information in the Department’s 2018 Annual Transition Statement other than it is Government policy that coal-fired electricity generation should cease at Moneypoint by 2025 and that any final decision to replace coal-fired electricity generation must be consistent with stated Government energy and climate policy. “Although Moneypoint is owned by semi-state ESB Power Generation, Government must set the agenda on behalf of the citizens of the country. I ask the minister to clarify what exactly is planned for Moneypoint when it comes to the end of its operating life in 2025 …