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CLARE’S Citizens Information Centre is encouraging consumers to be aware of risks associated with gift vouchers and to spend them quickly. According to Paul Woulfe, manager of the service based in Ennis, “Many people at this time of the year forget to use their gift vouchers that they received as presents following the festive activities, only discovering them months later at the bottom of the drawer. “We receive frequent enquiries around what happens with a gift voucher issued by a business that has ceased trading. In these difficult economic times. Unfortunately, gift vouchers do not benefit from any special protections in the event of the closure of a business. In the current difficult trading circumstances, we strongly urge consumers holding or receiving gift vouchers to use them quickly.”He went on, “Consumers who purchased gift vouchers over the Christmas need also to be conscious of the risks where the retailer issuing them may be in trading difficulty and to check expiry …

RETAILERS across the county can expect a boost in the coming days as post-Christmas bargain hunters hit the shops. Retail Excellence Ireland, the largest retail industry trade body, reported an increase in the number of consumers for the sales, which began in many places on St Stephen’s Day. This is likely to filter out to towns in Clare this weekend and next week, according to REI. Figures from the organisation show Christmas 2012 saw an increase in the number of consumers out shopping and early figures indicate sales are up overall when compared to Christmas 2011. Clare-based CEO of REI, David Fitzsimons said, “Turnout of shoppers for the Christmas season is well ahead of expectations with retailers offering the very best value and service to consumers. It is also welcome to see a return of consumer confidence, based on the increase in consumers, and we can only hope that this will remain throughout 2013.”

“Tread there at our peril”. That is the stark warning of one Ennis councillor, who has voiced his strong opposition to a call for the development of a car park on the Post Office Field.

The death of former Shannon Airport and Limerick Irish Times correspondent, Arthur Quinlan, on December 22 represents the end of an area for aviation reporting in the Mid-West. Acknowledged as the doyen of journalists in the region during his long career, Mr Quinlan commanded respect and admiration nationally and internationally for his journalistic skills. Mr Quinlan (92) who was raised in Quin, reported on the flight of the first aircraft connecting Boston and Rineanna [Shannon] on October 24, 1945 by American Airlines. He also enjoyed the distinction of being the first Irish journalist to complete a transatlantic flight from Rineanna to New York in a single passenger seat of 707-120 jet from New York in October 1958. Struggling to earn a good living in Dublin, he moved to Limerick in October 1945 to carve out his own niche as an aviation reporter in the busy Rineanna and the last days of the old transatlantic flying boats in Foynes, County Limerick. …

The director of the Samaritans in Clare, Gerry Dobbin, who is stepping down at the end of this month following a three-year term, believes that the national suicide rate is higher than official figures suggest.

A SPOKESMAN for Shannon Airport last week indicated that 2012 is likely to see the lowest passenger numbers there since 1988, almost a quarter of a century ago.

CHILDLINE, the ISPCC’s listening service for all young people in Ireland, was busy on Christmas Day as volunteers heard and responded to 1,212 calls, texts and messages from children and young people.

SHANNON company, Chemifloc has yet to comment after an incident last Thursday which saw eight people hospitalised.