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Outrage over autism claims

Controversial claims by a well-known Irish psychologist that parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may be in some way responsible for this disorder have been strongly rejected by Clare psychologists.Dr Tony Humphreys, who worked in County Clare for a number of years, has drawn a storm of protest from parents and national and international health experts, who have dismissed a number of assertions he made in a recent Irish Examiner article.In his article, Dr Humphreys stated, “In studies in 1997 and 2001 it was found that the children and grandchildren of engineers were more likely to be autistic and that mathematicians had higher rates of autism than other professions. What is shocking is that Professor Simon Baron-Cohen [director of the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University] and the team of researchers are one: assuming that autism is a scientific fact and, two: missing the glaringly obvious fact that if the adults they researched live predominantly in their heads …

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By the time you get to Phoenix…

ONE Ennis family could become the next stars of reality TV and have a once in a lifetime opportunity to go on an all expenses paid trip to the county capital’s twin town of Phoenix, Arizona.UK production company, Knickerbockerglory, are currently casting for a new prime time series where families from twinned towns swap lives for a week and they are looking one family from Ennis to take part in the show and live the life of a family from Phoenix.The reality show will be broadcast on Sky Atlantic and families looking to take part would need to be available for a week between April 16 and June 31.“At the moment we are at the casting process and we are looking for quirky families to get involved,” said Rebecca Hamed, researcher with the London-based production company.“The show will be called Twin Towns and we will be taking families and swapping them for a week. They will live in each other’s …

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Ennis development decision appealed

THE developers behind controversial proposals to construct a €34 million retail development on the outskirts of Ennis have appealed the town council’s decision to refuse the development planning permission. Michael Lynch Limited has requested that An Bord Pleanála hold an oral hearing to decide the fate of the project.In January, Ennis Town Council refused planning permission for the development on a site at the Limerick Road/Tobarteascain Road, considering the proposal to be “premature” pending the upgrade of the wastewater treatment plant at Clareabbey and the implementation of the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme.The proposed development was opposed by a number of groups including Ennis Chamber, businesses and traders associations and residents, with fears that it could lead to a ‘doughnut effect’. According to an appeal lodged by Tony Bamford Planning on behalf of Michael Lynch Ltd, “The application was refused for two technical reasons and both can be readily overcome through a series of appropriate and effective engineering solutions.”   …

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€1million boost for Burren farming

NEARLY €1 million will begin issuing to North Clare farmers this Friday as part of the second year of payments under the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (BFCP).One-hundred-and-forty-three farmers are to benefit from an average of €6,800 under the scheme which the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney said “has already generated significant environmental benefits”.“I am delighted to confirm the issuing of payments averaging €6,800 to 143 farmers under the BFCP to support high environmental value farming in the Burren, which is one of Ireland’s outstanding landscapes and is known worldwide,” he said. Minister Coveney emphasized, “In the particularly tough financial climate, it is essential that funding is focused on programmes delivering, identifiable and verifiable agri-environmental measures. Without doubt the BFCP guarantees excellent value for money – farmers are paid on the basis of work done and outputs generated and all works are co-financed by the farmer and are improving the biodiversity, water quality, cultural and landscape …

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From the Great Wall to the Cliffs of Moher

ONE of the world’s most significant political figures, Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping, will spend much of this weekend in Clare.Mr Xi is expected to take over as president next year and he will arrive at Shannon Airport at 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon, where he will be met by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore. He will then go to Shannon Development’s headquarters, where he will be greeted by CEO Dr Vincent Cunnane. That evening, he will attend a banquet at Bunratty and spend the night at Dromoland.On Sunday morning, he will visit a farm at Sixmilebridge and go to the Cliffs of Moher before flying to Dublin. There, he will meet with both the Taoiseach and President Michael D Higgins, visit Croke Park and see a performance of Riverdance at Belvedere College before flying out on Monday afternoon. Mr Xi will be visiting Ireland on the back of a trip to the US during which he met with President Obama this week.In America, …

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