THE operation of the soon to be decommissioned Derrybrien Wind Farm could be be transferred to a local authority to salvage something from what has become a costly debacle. Deputy Michael McNamara suggested a county council could make a new planning application with the explicit undertaking that any and all profits made from the controversial windfarm go back into protecting the environment of Slieve Aughty. That was one of the suggestions made by the Clare Deputy to salvage some positive dividend for the taxpayer amid claims the total overall loss to the state could be as high as €70 million. Following a lump sum fine of €5 million and a daily fine of €15,000 plus legal costs imposed by the European Court of Justice ruling in November 2019, the Derrybrien Wind Farm may exceed an estimated €18 million depending on when the EU decides Ireland has fully complied with its ruling. The penalties were levied after it found Ireland had …

AN O’Brien’sbridge community activist is pulling out all the stops to try and get a ten year-old boy battling a rare form of brain cancer to appear on the Late Late Toy Show. Tracy Howard has organised a series of fundraising ventures and drive-bys to show the huge support in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina for Joey Moran, who lives in the neighbouring village of Portroe. In a bid to give a “courageous warrior” a huge boost, Tracy joked she is “stalking” Ryan Tubridy and using every contact she has to get Joey on the Late Late Show. “I have emailed the Toy Show, I have emailed Ryan Tubridy himself and his radio show. I have a cousin who hopes to seek him out at an event he is attending in a few weeks. However, I do it, I want him on the Toy Show. If I have to sleep outside Ryan Tubridy’s house in Dublin, I will …

FUTUREPROOF Clare has called for a public inquiry into seven payments totalling €4,103,625 by Shannon LNG since 2009 to Kerry County Council for a development that now looks unlikely to be built on the banks of the Shannon Estuary in view of a new government review. A new controversy has emerged concerning plans to develop a €650m liquefied natural gas (LNG) project for the Shannon Estuary between Tarbert and Ballylongford, which have been lodged to An Bord Pleanála. Last December, the entire 600-acre site of the proposed LNG terminal strategic public land in North Kerry was sold by the Shannon Group State Body to Shannon LNG for €25 million. Shannon LNG previously had an ‘option to purchase’ agreement on the site, which was agreed with Shannon Development in 2006. The project to build a major gas terminal, importing frozen gas and liquefying it then feeding it onto the Shannon Foynes gas pipeline is almost 20 years old. Shannon LNG has …

PLANS to cease burning coal to generate electricity in Moneypoint Power Station in 2025 may be delayed unless renewable sources of energy are delivered quicker than expected. Deputy Michael McNamara recently asked Climate Action and Environment Minister Eamon Ryan to outline the Government’s position regarding the operation of Moneypoint in view of ongoing energy security challenges. Minister Ryan confirmed the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) currently has a programme of actions underway to ensure the security of Ireland’s electricity supply over the coming winters. These actions include: procurement of new, enduring capacity through a number of capacity auctions; procuring additional temporary generation; extending the availability of existing generation capacity; additional use of grid scale batteries; and improved demand-side measures. Margins will remain tight during this coming winter period. “In line with the Government’s policy statement on security of electricity supply published in November 2021, it is appropriate that existing conventional electricity generation capacity, including existing coal, should be retained …

HOPES are high the government will announce a multi-million Euro investment package in Budget 2023 to facilitate the transfer of Shannon Heritage tourism sites to Clare County Council following a statement from a senior council official. Clare County Council has drafted a 600-page report outlining the extensive due diligence it has undertaken to take on four key visitor attractions. However, this is contingent on the government providing funding to support the upgrading and maintenance of these sites for three years. Councillors were told the council has received positive vibes that state funding will be provided to facilitate this transfer. In fact, Rural Development Director, Leonard Cleary, said the council is hopeful of an announcement confirming this funding on Budget Day and would be “very disappointed” if it was let down by the government. If funding isn’t approved, Mr Cleary stressed this isn’t really an option for Clare or regional development. Mr Cleary said the transfer is one of the examples …

Ireland chef d’equipe Michael Blake speaks to Dan Danaher and looks back at his riding career, what he had to do to buy his first pony, setting the world bareback championship record, and guiding Ireland’s showjumpers to a string of successes   MICHAEL Blake has made history by bringing the Aga Khan trophy back to Tuamgraney following a very successful showjumping year that included qualifying for the Olympics less than seven days before the thrilling jump-off against France in the RDS. On paper, Michael knew he didn’t have the riding pedigree to become Ireland’s Showjumping Manager. However, through hard graft and precise planning, the Tuamgraney man put himself firmly in the hunt for selection. From 2012 to 2016, Michael took over the Ireland Youth Showjumping team and helped young riders to an impressive haul of medals. In 2017, the senior riders asked him to get involved so he became Development Manager and started working with Chef d’Equipe, Rodrigo Pessoa. This …

UL Hospitals Group, Chief Executive Officer, Professor Colette Cowan has apologised to every patient that has experienced excessive wait times or a poor care environment in UHL. Professor Cowan made the apology during a three-hour discussion between senior officials in the UL Hospitals Group, national HSE officials and Mid-West Oireachtas representatives during a joint Health Committee meeting in Dublin on Wednesday. Responding to Deputy Maurice Quinlivan’s question about what management was doing to relieve chronic waiting times in the UHL emergency department, shr said, “We don’t feel comfortable about patients waiting for treatment in the ED, but it is a capacity issue. “We have looked at developments in our community and are developing the Enhanced Community Care Programme, which will create alternatives for elderly people, apart from the ED. “UHL is a very busy hospital. All our patients tell us the care is good, the difficulty is getting through the ED door. We need another second 96-bed block, which would …

CONCERN has been expressed about the delay in the scheduled time frame when the new multi-million Euro Ennis Primary Care Centre will be fully operational. Deputy Michael McNamara recently asked the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly when the Ennis Primary Healthcare Centre at Station Road Ennis will be fully operational. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said that HSE Estates has advised that the centre is scheduled to become operational during the third quarter of the year. “The opening of the Station Road centre will be a significant development in the delivery of community-based health services for the people of Ennis and the surrounding area,” Minister Donnelly explained. However, Deputy McNamara is concerned about the latest delay after he was informed by Mid-West Primary Care Manager, Carmel McLaughlin the HSE Estates Department has advised this centre will become operational “in the latter part of 2022”. “The centre is currently being equipped and services will commence operation on a phased basis,” she stated. As …