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The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald has welcomed the monthly unemployment figures for June published by the Central Statistics Office, showing that the official unemployment rate has fallen from 6.4% in May to 6.3% in June and from 8.3% in June 2016. The statistics also show: On a seasonally adjusted basis 900 fewer people were unemployed in June compared to May 42,100 fewer people were unemployed in June compared with twelve months earlier Commenting on the figures the Tánaiste said, “Once again we are seeing the unemployment rate going in the right direction, with the unemployment rate at 6.3% and a decrease from 8.3% this time last year. It is heartening to see the unemployment rate continuing to decline and we are moving closer to full employment. As Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, I will continue with the Government policies that have proven successful in creating the right environment for continued job growth right across the …

AN Garda Síochána has today (Tuesday) issued a warning about motor insurance scams and outlined measures that can be taken to avoid becoming a victim. “Ghost Broking is a term given to two possible types of fraud relating to false Insurance documents. Policies are bought from legitimate insurance companies using false information and then changed before being sold on to customers. Fake policy documents designed to look like they have been issued by legitimate insurance companies are created and sold on to customers, or supplied at the inception process. Proposal forms are being put through a third party before submission to a legitimate insurance company,” a garda spokesman explained. “The net effect of this is that the purchaser has not purchased a valid certificate of Insurance and has no motor insurance whatsoever and is liable for any damage caused or offence committed as a result of having no motor insurance,” the spokesman added. There are two ways to obtain a valid …

The Tánaiste and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation, Frances Fitzgerald, along with Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton, have today (Monday) hosted a joint stakeholder dialogue on “Enterprise Skills Needs and Brexit” in the Aviva in Dublin. This event is part of the Government’s ongoing dialogue with stakeholders in relation to the impacts of the UK’s decision to leave the EU. It provides an opportunity to hear the voices of those affected by Brexit, both directly and through representative groups. The event is of considerable interest to Mid-West businesses and industries that are heavily dependent on links with the UK. Noting that action to improve the skills base represents one of the most practical and effective domestic responses to Brexit, the Tánaiste said “Government is well prepared for the negotiations around the UK exit from the EU but we need to be ready on all fronts to deal with the implications of Brexit and the skills area is …

A-techSYN Ltd, an innovative R&D company engaged in fixed-wing Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) development, has signed Heads of Terms with Shannon Group plc’s International Aviation Services Centre (IASC) for a premises in the Shannon Free Zone business park. Pilot US, Shannon Aviation Cluster The company will not only transfer the development and production of its leading-edge ‘PilotUS’ autopilot hardware and software to the Shannon facility, but also plans to start providing drone flight services. Welcoming A-techSYN to the Shannon Aviation Cluster, Patrick Edmond, IASC’s Managing Director, said that UAV technology was a very significant growth area in the aviation Industry. “UAVs are a real growth area and the technology is evolving rapidly. We’re delighted to welcome an innovative company such as A-techSYN as part of our aviation cluster, and this further confirms Shannon as a leader in this industry sector. Our flexibility is a big part of our success: in this case, Shannon Group’s property arm Shannon Commercial Properties was …

A CLARE brother and sister, hailed as heroes after saving a swimmer from a rip current in Spanish Point, have revealed it was “lucky” circumstances that resulted in them being in the right place at the right time. Bernard and Róisín Cahill from Clarecastle dashed from their car after spotting a swimmer in trouble in the sea off the West Clare beach.  The quick-thinking off-duty lifeguards leapt into action, using a borrowed kayak to rescue the middle-aged man and bring him to safety. “We would never normally be coming through Spanish Point that late. The circumstances that surrounded us being there – you couldn’t make it up, it was so lucky. And any other people in the car driving past that situation mightn’t have even spotted him.  It’s mad,” said Bernard. After spending the day working as a lifeguard on Lahinch beach, he and a colleague travelled to White Strand to pick up Róisín, who had also been working as …

THE managers of the last two county senior football champions have confirmed to The Clare Champion that withdrawing county players from Saturday’s All-Ireland qualifier against Laois was a live option. County champions and Cusack Cup holders, Kilmurry-Ibrickane, along with their neighbours, St Joseph’s Miltown, are furious that Clare County Board imposed a €200 fine on them and handed the points to O’Curry’s and Doonbeg respectively, after Cusack Cup fixtures were not played on the weekend of June 3. Clondegad and Éire Óg have also suffered a similar fate, with the points awarded to Lissycasey and St Breckan’s. All four fined clubs had refused to line-out without their inter-county footballers in the sixth round of the Cusack and Garry cups. “We are very upset over it. We got a lot of support from the county players but we felt that the nuclear option wasn’t feasible after all the hard work these guys have put in and their long years of service,” …

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Timmy Dooley has said that the proposed new bin charging regime must be frozen pending the establishment of an independent waste regulator. Deputy Dooley was commenting after Minister Naughten’s announcement that from July 1 waste collection operators will be allowed to provide either pay by weight or pay by lift services all over the country. “There is deep unease and concern right across the country, in both urban and rural communities that this change will lead to rocketing prices. This is of special concern to consumers who are on fixed incomes or those who have considerable waste output as a result of medical concerns. “Many feel that the current offer of €75 per year for people with excessive waste usage due to medical issues is too low. Minister Naughten must explain how this level of support was calculated, and should, we believe, ensure that hard pressed families with a large number …

THE estuary village of Labasheeda was hit by tragedy on Tuesday night, when a local man, Michael McGrath, died following a farming accident. Mr McGrath, who is in his early 50s, was loading slurry on his farm in the townland of Ballina, when the accident happened between 7.15pm and 7.30pm. Ambulances, the fire service and Kilrush gardaí attended the scene, where the man was pronounced dead. He was well-known in the area and lived in Labasheeda with his partner and their four year-old daughter. The tractor involved in the accident has been removed for inspection and separate enquiries are being carried out by the gardaí and the Health and Safety Authority. This fatality brings to 14 the number of confirmed deaths on Irish farms in 2017. Last week, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed appealed to farmers to prioritise farm safety during this busy period. Peter O’Connell