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A LIMERICK-based medical technology company has announced an investment of €100 million in its existing plant which will potentially create 80 new jobs. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Ireland UC, a global leader in eye health and part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, today announced an expansion of its existing facility in Plassey, Limerick. The €100 million investment has the potential to create 80 new jobs and will support the company’s ambition to redefine healthy sight for life for more people around the world. The Johnson & Johnson Vision¹ site in Limerick is one of the largest contact lens manufacturing facilities in the world. The investment will expand the facility’s manufacturing capacity, with the installation of fully automated flexible manufacturing lines built with industry-leading technology. This will support the future growth of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care’s ACUVUE® Astigmatism product family and deliver the company’s future new product introduction pipeline. Construction is currently underway with production expected to commence in …

A NUMBER of councillors in West and North Clare have raised concerns about the impact of tourist vehicles using smaller roads and boreens in the district. The Green Party’s Liam Grant was first to raise the matter at a meeting of councillors, in a motion stating, “A number of bus operators are using unsuitable roads to travel to tourist attractions in North Clare. I call on Clare County Council to write to the National Transport Authority and request stricter enforcement of the allocated routes. “I would also request that the Cliffs of Moher consider not allowing bus operators, who do not take the allocated routes, park at the visitor centre.” The finger was also pointed, however, at GPS navigation systems, which routinely point drivers towards the quickest, most direct routes, regardless of the state of the road. Later in the meeting, Councillor Ian Lynch had a motion which asked for signs to be put up in certain places, urging people …

IN perhaps a fitting end for somebody planning on joining the priesthood, Councillor Mark Nestor’s final Ennis Municipal District meeting saw him raise issues relating to a religious grotto and Drumcliffe graveyard. Before announcing he was stepping down from his role as an elected official the Fianna Fáil councillor raised two final motions at the September Ennis Municipal District meeting. The Cloughleigh-based councillor requested works be carried out on the steps beside the grotto in nearby Hermitage “to ensure they are safe for use for residents in the area”. Ian Chaplin, acting senior executive engineer, told the meeting the location has been assessed by Ennis Municipal District. “The steps leading up to the grotto are in an accessible condition including steel handrails to aid access to the grotto itself. The concrete base and mosaic style tile used at the top of the grotto has become fractured. “We will request the Rural Development Officer to engage with the residents association to …

A CELT Woodlands Open Day, will be held in the Slieve Aughty Centre, Loughrea next Sunday September 11 from 10am to 6pm. It is a fully hosted free event, sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The Centre for Environmental Living and Training (CELT) is opening its doors once again to celebrate Ireland’s native forests and the very many benefits of trees to ecologies, the economy and wellbeing. Morning talks on Agroforestry and Riparian Woodland Management will be particularly geared to land owners, farmers, and anyone interested in the continuation and expansion of native woodlands. Hosted walks will be held to demonstrate forest bathing, foraging, Brehon tree laws and Ogham alphabet as well as a medieval roundhouse. Crafters and demonstrations will be held in bushcraft skills, archery, leather work, wood turning and much more. There will be a forest school segment for youngsters and organic lunches will be provided. A special screening of “Call of the Forest: …

THE case of a man accused of using a hatchet to assault a man during an alleged incident in Kilkee is to proceed in the circuit court. At Ennis district court this week, Judge Alec Gabbett refused jurisdiction to hear the case against Andre Donegan (30). After hearing a summary of the alleged facts, Judge Alec Gabbett said, “I’m slow enough to accept jurisdiction where there is a hatchet. We may need the benefit of a jury. I’m going to refuse jurisdiction.” “It’s a serious matter, chasing a man down the street with a hatchet,” Judge Gabbet added. In the case, Andre Donegan, with an address at Smith’s Gardens, Kilkee, is charged with assault causing harm to Brian Clancy. Donegan is further charged with the production of hatchet during the course of a dispute, in a manner likely to intimidate or cause injury. Both charges arise from an alleged incident at St Patrick’s Terrace, Kilkee, on June 1, 2019. Donegan …

SIPTU members working in early childhood care and education have welcomed the establishment of an Employment Regulation Order (ERO) that sets minimum pay rates for the sector, and comes into effect this Thursday, September 15.  The pay deal, negotiated by SIPTU Organisers and activists on behalf of the union’s 6,000 members in the sector, and which was signed off by the Government last week. will set legally binding rates of pay.  The minimum rates contain in the ERO are as follows: Early Years Educator: €13.00 Lead Educator: €14.00 Graduate Lead Educator: €15.50 Deputy Manager: €15.70 Manager: €16.50 Graduate Manager: €17.25 Early Years teacher and SIPTU activist, Claire Casey said: “The signing of this ERO by Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English, marks an historic day for our profession. “After years of campaigning, we finally have our first pay deal. Thousands of Early Years Professionals will see a pay increase that will end poverty wages and set us on a path to professional …

An investigation is expected to be launched into an incident at Shannon Airport early today when a helicopter suffered difficulties while landing. The incident occurred at around 6.20am as the Eurocopter EC155B was about to land at a small aircraft park at the airport. It’s understood the helicopter landed heavily but the pilot managed to maintain control of his aircraft and keep it upright. It’s believed the pilot had been cleared to land on a taxiway from where he would then taxi to the light aircraft park. As the helicopter was setting down on the taxiway the pilot experienced difficulties and the aircraft appeared to land heavily. The incident occurred about 100 metres from the airport fire station so crews were able to respond very quickly. Airport crash crews mobilised the short distance to the scene and found that pilot was uninjured. It’s not yet clear whether the helicopter was carrying passengers at the time. Operations at Shannon Airport were …

A CLARE construction company has appealed against a €70,000 condition attached by Clare County Council to the granting of permission for a Shannon housing development. Woodhaven Developments Ltd has appealed against the condition attached to its recent permission for a 55-unit housing development at Smithstown. The condition in question stated that before work begins a Special Development Contribution would be paid to the local authority towards the upgrading of a section of the L-3172 as well as a contribution towards lighting a section of it. In line with Clare County Council’s provisions, the current cost would be €70,000. The appeal document states, “No justification or breakdown of the works or associated costs are available on the Council online portal as regards the planning file. “No location identified, no drawings submitted, no scope of works set out, no detail costings submitted (Bill of Quantities). The basis for the calculation of the condition is not explained in the planning decision.”