News

Investigations are being carried out into a number of burglaries across the county over the past week. The Dairygold Co-op at Clonmoney, ­Bunratty, was broken into between 3am and 4am on Friday, February 15. Nothing appears to have been stolen but two bags of four-stone Dairygold rolled nuts, bags of beef and dog nuts and hydraulic oil were found abandoned outside the building. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, between 6.45pm and 9.45pm on Friday, February 15, a house in Tullyvarraga Crescent, Shannon was broken into by forcing open the rear window. A sum of money was stolen. Anyone with information is asked to contact Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900. In Ennis, gardaí are appealing for witnesses following the burglary of a house in Kincora Park last Friday. It occurred between 9.30am and 7.30pm by forcing the rear window and although the house was disturbed, nothing was taken. At around 2.30pm a dark-coloured car was parked in the driveway and …

Calls have been made to promote and develop the quay and marine facilities in Clarecastle as a centre for tourism. Members of Clare County Council were issued with a draft submission in relation to draft Strategic Integrated Framework Plan (SIFP) for the Shannon Estuary at Monday’s meeting. The submission was drafted following a workshop held for members on the SIFP and points out that a company has sought to enter consultation with An Bord Pleanála for the development of an inter-continental container transhipment hub port in the Shannon Estuary. The location proposed is to the west of Moneypoint Power Station and according to the draft document is the type and scale of project that is a desired outcome of the SIFP process and is fully supported in principle by Clare County Council. The members request that the location be favourably considered for zoning as a strategic site for marine related industry. The members’ request that land adjoining Mountshannon Point/Mountshannon Wood …

“I, as Taoiseach, on behalf of the State, the Government and our citizens, deeply regret and apologise unreservedly to all those women for the hurt that was done to them and for any stigma they suffered, as a result of the time they spent in a Magdalene Laundry.” That’s the key sentence in an emotional address by Enda Kenny in respect of the McAleese Report into State involvement in the Magdalene Laundries in Dáil Éireann on Tuesday evening. After delivering his speech, during which he made regular eye contact with Magdalene survivors and their families in the public gallery, there was a standing ovation from them and all TDs in the Dáil chamber.Mr Kenny then went a step further, in going to the gallery to talk to the women, to whom the apology meant so much.In his address, the Taoiseach paid tribute to Dr Martin McAleese and his team for their excellent work on the report. He also acknowledged the …

There is going to be increased pressure on the two Government parties to ease up on austerity and most of the pressure is going to come from within their own ranks. So far, however, all appeals – from inside and outside the parties – to lighten the burden on those who can least afford to pay for the bad debts of the banks, have fallen on deaf ears. Fine Gael and Labour appear to have been more concerned about how they are perceived in Brussels than how they are seen here at home.So is it any wonder that Fianna Fáil is now the most popular party in the State? Or, perhaps I should say, the least unpopular party because none of them is getting very high marks in the popularity stakes.An opinion poll in The Irish Times two weeks ago that put Fianna Fáil ahead of Fine Gael for the first time in years was widely dismissed because the poll …

There is going to be increased pressure on the two Government parties to ease up on austerity and most of the pressure is going to come from within their own ranks. So far, however, all appeals – from inside and outside the parties – to lighten the burden on those who can least afford to pay for the bad debts of the banks, have fallen on deaf ears. Fine Gael and Labour appear to have been more concerned about how they are perceived in Brussels than how they are seen here at home.So is it any wonder that Fianna Fáil is now the most popular party in the State? Or, perhaps I should say, the least unpopular party because none of them is getting very high marks in the popularity stakes.An opinion poll in The Irish Times two weeks ago that put Fianna Fáil ahead of Fine Gael for the first time in years was widely dismissed because the poll …

CLARE County Council doesn’t have the resources to take on all the unfinished estates in its functional area, it was claimed at this week’s council meeting.Councillor Joe Arkins put forward a motion asking for information on the number of housing estates that have been completed or partially completed that haven’t been taken in charge. He also sought information on estates that developers have applied to have taken in charge, the number of requests for taking in charge that the council has received from affected residents under Section 180 of the planning act and if the council has sought legal advice on the risks of not complying with such requests.In his reply, director of services Ger Dollard stated, “At present there are 142 housing estates in the county that the planning authority has an active interest in. These vary from estates which are substantially complete and the council is in receipt of Taking in Charge/Section 180 requests to unfinished housing developments …

LIKE many other people in Europe, I have a preconception about Sweden and the Swedish political system. From the health service to the education and social protection services, the perception around the continent is one of a progressive and enviable approach to citizen protection. It was interesting therefore to go to Stockholm last weekend to visit some friends and hear and see, first hand, the reality on the ground, which is a little different from these preconceptions. Stockholm is a city built on the many islands which make up the archipelago where it is situated. Although the temperature hovered around a fresh zero degrees during the day, the various waterways that snake through the city were solid with a thick layer of ice. One of the first things that strikes you about the city is how clean it is. Litter does not seem to be a problem. This can seem very odd to someone who lives in Edinburgh and grew …

HUNDREDS of thousands of euros were spent by Clare County Council on legal fees in 2012, according to figures presented at this week’s meeting of the local authority.Michael P Houlihan Solicitors were the biggest beneficiaries. The council paid them a total of €421,492 over the year, an average of well over €1,000 a day.Dermot Flanagan SC received close to €100,000, James Connolly SC received €59,339 while Patrick G Quinn received €49,740.Numerous solicitors received payments following the acquisition of wayleaves and land.According to the document, getting advice on the Shannon Bridge Crossing led to expenses of €134,614, while advice in relation to extinguishing rights of way led to an overall cost of €93,000. Legal advice relating to Traveller accommodation cost the council just under €90,000.The full list is: Shannon Bridge Crossing 134,614; Extinguishment of Right of Way 93,006; Traveller Accommodation 89,726; Ennis Water Treatment Settlement 76,073; Land / Wayleave Acquisitions 63,038; Civil Claim Water Services 58,203; Planning Enforcement 34,405; Water Services …