INITIAL indications show funds being collected from street sellers around the country for Daffodil Day are significantly lower than previous years, making it unlikely that the Irish Cancer Society will reach its ambitious target of €3.4 million.

GARDAÍ are not aware of any on-street prostitutes working in Clare and have described the industry in the county as “off street”. Clare gardaí are aware of a number of premises that are being used by transient prostitutes on a week-to-week basis. The fact that these women move from county to county and come back to different locations creates challenges with detection and prosecution. “These premises are being used on a weekly basis and change each week. It makes it difficult to prosecute too because you have to build a case that there’s a brothel operating from the location. We can do surveillance but without evidence of prostitution going on there or without the evidence that the landlord knew what was going on there, it is difficult to prosecute,” a spokesperson said. He added that gardaí are aware of hotels being used by prostitutes in Clare and have a good working relationship with the hotels to eliminate this activity. The …

Speaking about the organisation’s experience of working with prostitutes in Limerick, many of whom also advertise off-street services online, Doras Luimní’s anti-trafficking officer Patricia Stapleton, said more than 80% of those working in prostitution are of Eastern European nationality and are typically aged between 18 and 24. “We would have a concern as we’re not entirely sure if they have complete control over their own earnings. There are very visible signs of control and sometimes coercion. There are always people around watching and monitoring,” she said. Also of concern is the age of those involved, as Ms Stapleton said “they are all quite young”. “We’re talking 18 to 24 and a few in their late 20s. Seventeen is legal age of consent so they are over that age for the most part and I think the gardaí are very much on the ball about that in that they do check IDs. But we are concerned of the fact that some …

Elaine Dalton of Clare Women’s Network explained they have got behind the Turn Off The Red Light campaign as part of their policy work. Ms Dalton said she was surprised by a number of aspects that came out during the submission process to the review committee. “Clare Women’s Network identifies as a feminist organisation and we’ve no difficulty with that; feminism to us is about equality issues. I was surprised to find out that feminist organisations are also lobbying against the introduction of this legislation. “There are groups who are saying no to it, that it is a woman’s choice to work in the sex industry and that surprised me. The Turn Off The Red Light lobby has been told that this opposing lobby is very strong and I wonder where that strength is coming from,” she said. “I would have always had an awareness of prostitution in Clare. I might have at some point lent myself to the argument …

Councillors in North Clare have called for a change in legislation to allow for immediate removal of “illegal encampments”.

While TJ Cunningham has had specialist keyhole surgery to treat infantile spasm in Detroit, his parents Leah and Tony need to raise another €80,000 to fund further treatment. Two Ennis-based hair stylists are delighted with the support they have already received for the Hollywood Glam night in aid of TJ Cunningham at Barcode, Ennis on April 13 at 8pm. Ann Marie Commane, Clarecastle, and Katrina Cullen, whose sister, Anna, was one of Leah’s bridesmaids, were two of the stylists who participated in Salon Sunday on Sunday. Three hair stylists, three beauticians, two nail technicians and a barber provided their services free of charge for an event, which raised €1,330 for the fund. “It is heartbreaking to see the battle TJ has endured with his condition. His parents had to give up work to look after him,” Katrina said. “While TJ is on the road to recovery and is in rehabilitation, he will a lot of further physical therapy, special therapy …

Mr Cawley, who is less flamboyant than his immediate superior but still very blunt, spoke to The Clare Champion last Thursday, after launching the new Shannon-Alicante service with Rose Hynes, Shannon Airport Authority chairperson. When it was put to him that in 2012 there were concerns the DAA would use its influence to prevent Shannon dropping its prices post-separation, Mr Cawley said those fears were groundless. “Well they have [reduced costs]. It’s happened. Dublin and Shannon are somewhat in competition but not really. Clearly what you can’t have is Dublin and Shannon at the same price.” He said forcing Shannon to charge the same prices as Dublin, which was the case until the start of this year, was “off the wall. Madness.” “It’d be like saying that Annacotty Rovers or Ennis United could go into the Champions League and survive. That’s how unrealistic it is. That’ll tell you what the Dublin guys thought about Shannon. They didn’t give a damn. …

A NEW Ryanair Shannon-Alicante service was launched in Limerick last Thursday, something of a reverse on the trend of the last few years.