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PERMISSION from government to resume the sale of animals at marts, under strict new regulations, has been welcomed in Clare. Concerns had been voiced by farming leaders after all marts were shut down last week in response to the Covid-19 crisis. After intensive talks about how livestock trading can continue at a time when hundreds of thousands of animals need to be sold, the Department of Agriculture has agreed to allow marts to resume operations on a limited basis. It is understood that marts will oversee the weighing, buying and selling of animals without crowds being allowed to attend. Each mart will be required to submit operating protocols for approval before being allowed to conduct any business. “Farmers in Clare are under pressure to sell animals on at this time,” said ICMSA County Chairperson Martin McMahon. “We’re a productive county and cattle from here go to the midlands and East and at least if the marts are available to match …

A QATAR Airways Boeing 777 cargo plane carrying vital medical equipment from China landed at Shannon Airport on Thursday afternoon (April 2). The plane touched down at Shannon at 4.25pm. Among the medical equipment on board were ICU ventilators and hospital beds for distribution to hospitals around Ireland in the fight against COVID-19. Qatar Airways is one of the world’s largest cargo operators and has an extensive network of more than 160 destinations using both freighters and passenger flights. The airline resumed flights to China on 30th March to support the global supply chain, which includes the transportation of urgent medical relief aid essential to the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Commenting on the flight Mary Considine, CEO Shannon Group, which operates Shannon Airport said: “We were delighted to facilitate the arrival of this much welcomed consignment of medical supplies. As an essential service our airport remains open to facilitate cargo and repatriation flights at this unprecedented time.”  

TWO Clare candidates have lost out in their bid to secure a place on the Industrial and Commercial Panel of Seanad Éireann. The development means that former Fianna Fáil TD, Timmy Dooley, has failed in his bid to return to the Oireachtas. The Mountshannon native was one of the surprise casualties of February’s General Election, and having formerly been a member of the Upper House, was thought to have been in with a strong chance of taking a Seanad seat. While he secured 35 first preference votes from the Industrial and Commercial Panel electorate which is comprised of local authority members, he was eliminated on the twenty-first count on a total of 52 votes. Also seeking election to that panel was prominent Clare hotelier and former President of the Irish Hotels Federation, Michael Vaughan. The Lahinch man, a first-time candidate, was eliminated on the fifth count. Counting for the Administrative Panel continues today with two Clare candidates in contention, for …

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 14 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died. ·        10 deaths were located in the east and four in the South ·        The patients included seven females and seven males. ·        Eight patients were reported as having underlying health conditions. There have now been 85 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. The median age of deaths in Ireland is 82. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 212 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as at 1pm, Wednesday April 1. There are now 3,447 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The HSE is now working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Today’s data from HPSC, as of midnight, Monday 20th March (2,990 cases), reveals: ·        48% are male and 50% are female, …

MINISTER for Agriculture Michael Creed has confirmed the opening of a new telephone helpline to assist farmers with their queries in relation to current COVID-19 restrictions in place. The information line phone number is 076 1064468  and  will be open from 9.30am to 12.30pm and from 2pm to 5pm  Monday to Friday. In addition, the department has also published a set of Frequently Asked Questions on the Coronavirus /COVID 19 section of the Department’s website at https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/customerservice/coronaviruscovid-19/ The Minster commented: “my department is fully engaged with the whole of Government response to COVID-19.  I have now put in place a dedicated helpline for farmers to seek advice on the practical queries that they may have as they continue to fulfill their essential role in maintaining the food supply chain.  This helpline aims to assist farmers in addressing the challenges they may face on a day to day basis.”

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that 17 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died. There were six new confirmed cases in Clare today, bringing the figure to 40. ·        Eight deaths were located in the east, three in the south, three in the north-west and three in the west of the country ·        Patients included four females and 13 males ·        Median age of today’s reported deaths is 84 ·        Eight patients were reported as having underlying health conditions There have now been 71 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 325 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as at 1pm today, Tuesday. There are now 3,235 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The HSE is now working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to …

A dedicated community support helpline (1890 252943) has been established in Clare County Council to assist at risk members of the public in accessing non-emergency and non-medical supports and advice during the current public health emergency.  The helpline and support email (covidsupport@clarecoco.ie) are operational seven-days-a-week from 8am to 8pm. The confidential phoneline service has been established by the new COVID-19 Clare Community Support Response Forum, which includes over a dozen agencies and organisations. The Helpline is focused primarily on ensuring that vulnerable members of the community or those living alone can access deliveries of groceries, medicine and fuels. The role of the Forum is to ensure that there is a co-ordinated community response and to enable all voluntary statutory agencies to collaborate in support of our communities and particularly of our most vulnerable members. Included in the COVID-19 Clare Community Response Forum are: Clare County Council Health Service Executive (HSE) An Garda Síochána An Post Community Welfare Service Community Champion Tusla and FRCs Clare Volunteer …

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been informed that eight patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Ireland have died. However no new case of Covid-19 has been reported in Clare. ·         Six deaths are located in the east, one in the south and one in the west of the country. ·        The patients included five females and three males. ·        The median age of today’s reported deaths is 86. ·        Six patients were reported as having underlying health conditions. There have now been 54 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has been informed of 295 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland, as at 1pm, Monday 30 March. There are now 2,910 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The HSE is now working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Today’s …