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THE St Vincent de Paul charity shop in Ennis has seen a 25% fall in donations, with other charity shops believed to be in a similar situation, as efforts are made to beat bogus collectors. Fred Hannaford, shop manager of the St Vincent de Paul on Parnell Street said well-meaning people are being duped into making donations to bogus collectors that are not going to charity. A nationwide campaign has been launched by the Irish Charity Shops Association asking the public to donate unwanted clothes and household goods to their local charity shop. From Friday, registered charity shops will be displaying Choose Charity Shops First signs in their shop windows. Among those will be the St Vincent de Paul. According to Mr Hannaford, “Our donations, like many other charity shops, are reduced by 25% and this is becoming a concern not just to us but to all charity shops. One of the reasons for this are bogus collectors who put …

THE revelation that 10 Clare farmers shared almost €839,000 between them last year under the Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFP) has sparked a huge debate among farming organisations concerning the proposed reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).With additional payments under REPS, now the Agri-Environmental Option Scheme (AEOS) and the Suckler Cow Scheme, some Clare farmers received over €100,000 through the post.The Clare Champion revealed last week that one farmer, with a combination of SFP, REPS and AEOS, collected over €130,000 in 2012. This was in sharp contrast to one farmer who received less than €82 in SFP.Deeply concerned by the anomalies in the current system, the United Farmers’ Association has published its blueprint for CAP reform.UFA Clare chairman, Joe Corbett, believes it is absurd to suggest the quality of land and stocking density are the reasons for the “differences between the top 10 and bottom 10 recipients of SFP in Clare”.Citing official figures, Mr Corbett insists there is no …

CPC.IE and their founder and managing director, Tony Hynes are this year celebrating a quarter of a century delivering their award-winning and internationally acclaimed CP courses.Cpc.ie will train an incredible 15,000 drivers this year alone. However, for those who have experienced the quality and professionalism of their training, this is really no surprise. Should you care to visit cpc.ie, you will read thousands of outstanding and impressive testimonials that their students have provided.Always innovating, cpc.ie have created and sponsored Ireland’s first and only reality TV series in search of Ireland’s most professional truck driver and all four episodes of this fascinating competition can be viewed on the home page of their website. Cpc.ie are currently running a new competition seeking Ireland’s most professional truck driver 2013 and this new series will be aired on TV3 in May.Not surprising then that cpc.ie are now Ireland’s foremost transport management and driver CPC trainer. They have successfully put thousands of students through their …

“Having heard all of this you may choose to look the other way but you can never again say that you did not know.” William Wilberforce. (1759 – 1833) TEN years ago this month, the invasion of Iraq was launched. Millions protested all over the world.   They were ignored. Shannon Airport gained a lucrative revenue stream through facilitating the increase in military traffic. Thousands of American people, young and old, passed through the duty free on their way to fight, die, maim and kill on the orders of their government with the permission of ours. Protestation with regard to the moral implications of such facilitation were laughed off by the Irish Government of the time. Fianna Fáil was the main custodian of power so this is hardly surprising, given that party’s somnambulism in the moral aspects of financial acquisition. Late last week, Amnesty International published a report detailing what has gone on in that distant Gulf state since the …

LAST Thursday’s Clare Federation of People with Special Needs AGM heard a presentation that outlined how self-advocacy would benefit people with intellectual disabilities. The report was compiled by service users Joe McGrath (Scariff), chairperson of the Independent National Advocacy Platform and Ger Minogue (Miltown Malbay), along with service professionals Rob Hopkins and Marie Woulfe. “If people depend on an organisation to do your advocating for you, you’re going to end up depending on an individual to start sorting some of your requirements,” Mr McGrath explained. “If people can speak independently and speak on their own behalf, they will go farther but we also have to keep in mind the people who are not so lucky to be able to advocate for themselves,” he added. Joe feels working in the community helps people with intellectual disabilities to meaningfully integrate. He works with Seedsavers in Scariff. “If you’re out working in the community and you’re holding down a job, the job gives …

The most recent figures from the National Cancer Registry of Ireland (NCRI) show that approximately 3,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer in Ireland every year, with 78 of those being in Clare. The positive news is that survivorship figures are improving with 93% of men surviving five years post diagnosis. This year, in keeping with its ethos of making cancer less frightening by enlightening, the Marie Keating Foundation’s Get Men Talking health campaign will put particular emphasis on survivorship and how men can go on to live full and whole lives following cancer diagnosis and treatment. Speaking at the launch of the campaign, Lillian McGovern, CEO of the foundation, said, “The incidence of prostate cancer in Ireland is similar to that of breast cancer but the breast cancer issue definitely seems to garner more attention. “Through our Men’s Health Month, we at the foundation hope to help to remedy that.“By catching the disease early, you give yourself more treatment …

Minister of State for Tourism, Michael Ring, has said that tourism in Clare would be a natural beneficiary if Irish people continue to take more breaks at home. The minister was launching Fáilte Ireland’s new home holiday campaign in Dublin. The campaign emphasises the variety of festivals and events taking place both in Clare and around the country during 2013, the year of The Gathering. The new home holiday campaign incorporates an animated series of TV ads, radio and print promotion. The national tourism development agency also rolled out a revamped and upgraded Discover Ireland App to accompany an initiative providing free Wi-Fi in tourist information offices around the country. “With visitors from all over the world coming to Ireland this year for The Gathering, there’s every reason for Irish people themselves to stay around and join in with the festivities,” Minister Ring said.“Over the last few years, the tourism sector has served up improved value while maintaining great quality. …

Fianna Fáil’s Justice spokesperson has called for reforms in the free legal aid system and sentencing laws to address re-offenders taking advantage of the free legal aid scheme and inconsistencies in judicial sentences.Deputy Niall Collins explained to the large gathering at the Auburn Lodge Hotel, Ennis, a meeting similar to others across the country, that the free legal aid system was something that frustrates and “exercises people a lot”. Deputy Collins outlined the average budget for the free legal aid scheme is in the region of €50 million, which comes out of the taxpayers’ pocket.“We have a lot of issues of re-offenders availing of the free legal aid system and they seem to be availing of it on a repetitive basis. A lot of people are evading the payment of fines, when you quiz the powers-that-be they tell them that they don’t have the wherewithal to deduct the fines from source, or a contribution towards free legal aid. But the …