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The impact of the devastation caused in the USA on September 11 2001 rippled across the Atlantic. And Air Traffic Control Officer, Aidan McEnroe and his colleagues in the IAA Control Centre at Shannon quickly felt the fallout OUR team at the IAA Control Centre is responsible for managing the safe passage of over 1,000 aircraft that fly to and from the USA into Irish airspace as they head for their destinations in Ireland, UK, Europe and Asia. These flights usually arrive in Irish Airspace from 3am and their return flights start from 11 am. Aidan recalls that fateful day as an Air Traffic Control Officer on duty on 11th September 2001. We always came back early from lunch to try and fit a quick game of snooker or to use the Internet. Lunch normally meant most of the team heading down to Shannon airport to dine in the airport terminal restaurant. The previous few hours at work were forgettable, …

GARDAÍ are continuing to seek the public’s help in tracing the whereabouts of a 61-year-old man who is known to frequent West Clare. John ‘Jack’ Keane is missing from his home in Athea, County Limerick since Wednesday, September 15. John is described as approximately 5ft 7” in height, of slim build, bald with some grey hair and blue eyes. When last seen he was wearing a red and black rain jacket, black trousers and brown boots. He usually wears a baseball cap and carries a stick. He is known to frequent the West Limerick, North Kerry and West Clare areas. John’s family and Gardaí are concerned for his welfare. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Newcastle West Garda Station on 069 20650, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

GARDAI are seeking help from members of the public in their investigations into a spate of thefts from parked cars across the county. Last Friday afternoon around 1.20pm, two cars that were parked at Bunratty Folk Park were broken into. The window of one car was smashed and a blue Michael Kors handbag containing a black Apple iPhone and passports was stolen and a wallet was stolen from the second car. A red Renault Clio hatchback car was seen leaving the area after the break-ins. Following an intelligence lead operation, Gardaí arrested two males in connection with this incident. Some property has been recovered and a male in his 30s was brought before a sitting of the Ennis District Court charged with offences linked to this incident. An Garda Síochána are asking for the public’s assistance in relation to any observations or dash cam footage they may have that might assist Gardaí in this investigation and would ask them to …

Our environmental column with Bridget Ginnity explores ways you can heat your home more sustainably THE nights are drawing in, and it won’t be long before we are switching on the heating and sitting by a blazing fire. As Ireland is a temperate climate, you’d imagine that we would have lower carbon emissions from heating than most of Europe. In fact, it’s about 60% above the EU average. It’s because we use more energy than average and use mainly fossil fuels – oil, gas, coal and turf. Any step we can take to eliminate or reduce the use of fossil fuels in home heating is a step in the right direction to reduce the damage we are doing to the earth. And it gives a warmer home and lower bills so it’s win-win-win, warmer-cheaper-greener. If your house was built prior to 2010, it probably has a Building Energy Rating (BER) of C or worse. Definitely a “could do better” grade. …

AN URGENT meeting between the Tånaiste and Deputy Joe Carey is expected to take place, to discuss supports for homeowners affected by pyrite and mica.  The Clarecastle-based TD is one of three Fine Gael deputies to seek the meeting, after a briefing on Tuesday night from members of a Working Group set up to review the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme.  The group, who are seeking an increase in the grant from 90 to 100% of remediation costs, voiced alarm at comments from the Fine Gael leader this week on controlling the impact on public finances. Following the online briefing, Deputies Carey, Alan Dillon (Mayo) and Joe McHugh (Donegal) contacted Leo Varadkar to ask for a meeting. “In Clare, we are still trying to get access to the scheme,” Deputy Carey said. “I would expect that we will, but the scheme must be fit for purpose and provide the necessary finance. At the moment, the scheme doesn’t do that. As …

THE Minister for Housing has said that any changes to or extension of the existing defective concrete block scheme will require consideration in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of the Attorney General, writes Owen Ryan. Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien was responding to a parliamentary question from Deputy Joe Carey that asked when Clare will be incorporated into the defective concrete block scheme. Responding, Minister O’Brien said, “My department received correspondence from Clare County Council in October 2020, requesting the extension of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant scheme to Clare. A comprehensive reply was subsequently issued to the Council in November 2020. “My department informed the council that before any extension of the scheme could be considered, the same rigorous analysis as that put in place prior to the rollout of the scheme to the counties of Donegal and Mayo would have to be undertaken. “Following further discussions between my Department and Clare …

HOPES are high the government will allocate funding to facilitate the planning and design stages for the eagerly-awaited Scariff Regeneration Project, writes Dan Danaher. Clare County Council has lodged a Category 2 application with the Department of Rural and Community Development for funding under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund. If successful, the funding would enable the local authority to proceed with the design and planning stages of the project before submitting a Category 1 funding application to deliver the works. A decision on the application is expected during November. This project has been described by Deputy Michael McNamara as the “biggest infrastructure investment in the town in a generation”. Deputy McNamara this week wrote to Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, to pledge his support for the project. He said it would have “long lasting positive implications for the community and economy of the town and surrounding area”. The Independent Deputy said the proposed delivery of an …

VISITOR restrictions have been introduced on two wards at University Hospital Limerick following an outbreak of Covid-19. Contact tracing and testing of staff and patients is underway and staff are now, in line with the national guidance, putting into effect all the appropriate infection control measures to mitigate the risk to patients and staff. Visiting on the two affected wards has now been restricted to compassionate grounds only and relatives and loved ones have been informed of same. Visiting on other inpatient wards is unaffected and is facilitated by prior arrangement. University Hospital Limerick is now facilitating scheduled timed visiting slots for in-patients and their visitors, during the hours of 2- to 4pm and 6 to 9pm daily. These slots are coordinated by clinical nurse managers and ward clerks in consultation with patients and their families and loved ones. These scheduled visiting slots are for inpatients only. The Emergency Department, Acute Surgical Assessment Unit, and Acute Medical Assessment Unit at …