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  COMMENT MICHAEL O’Leary’s tactics as Ryanair boss haven’t exactly endeared him to those in the airline industry who operate to more conventional, conservative business methods. However, the darling of the flying public that has come to enjoy and take for granted the option of low fares, is not one to care a whit about what others think. Michael O’Leary’s bottom line is all about passenger numbers and operating only on profitable routes. He makes a lot of demands and is good to his word when he says he will or will not do something. He has shown this by chopping and changing services at Shannon, Dublin, London and several continental airports to take full advantage of more lucrative destinations.For a long time, the Ryanair boss has been complaining bitterly about the Government’s €10 travel tax and the airport charges imposed at Shannon. He wants the removal of the tax, which is levied on passengers at all Irish airports and …

COMMENT I can confidently predict that the old-age pension will not be reduced in the Budget next month. While other Social Welfare payments will certainly be cut, the Government is going to shy away from touching pension payments to the elderly. There may be strong arguments in favour of cutting the old-age pension by up to 10%. The Government, for example, can point to the fact that the cost of living has been reduced by about 6.5% in the past year, thus improving the real value of people´s incomes. And while Social Welfare payments, including old-age pensions, increased at rates ahead of inflation during the boom years, they should be reduced now in line with the rate of deflation. But it won’t happen. No Government would be stupid enough to reduce the pension. It would be political suicide. And even if the Government wanted to do so, Fianna Fáil backbenchers would revolt and refuse to back such an unpopular move. …

COMMENT ONCE again, we have come tantalisingly close to a global deal on climate change. Not in the actual sense of course, that feels as far away as it ever has. While the shredded principles of Kyoto danced in the wind, world leaders had designated the forthcoming climate summit in Copenhagen Denmark as the place where real change would be agreed. The impression that has been widely cultivated is that finally, real targets and figures would be agreed and that at last, the world might move to tackle the ever-worsening crisis. In the last week and half, however, this fallacy has been exposed. Denmark has mobilised ministers to tell the world not to get their hopes up, as it is unlikely that any real agreement will be reached. What will be arrived at, we are told, is “political agreement”. Of course, political agreement is needed before any real progress can be made but in light of what is ultimately needed, …

THOUSANDS of home owners in Clare with septic tanks could be subjected to a new licensing and more stringent inspection system for wastewater treatment, following a recent European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruling, a local Green Party councillor has claimed.Official figures from the last census revealed that 16,815 dwelling houses in Clare have septic tanks out of a total of 38,026, which represent 44% of this housing stock and is 4% higher than the national average.The Clare Champion understands that the Department of the Environment is considering the introduction of a new national licensing and inspection system for septic tanks, following a public consultation period.In his own assessment of the ECJ judgement, Councillor Brian Meaney said the Department of the Environment may be left with no option but to introduce a licensing system. His warning coincides with a new more stringent code of practice for septic tanks and other on-site wastewater treatment systems issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), …

AGAINST the background of job losses in the small business sector, the Ennis Development Forum has called for a 7.5% reduction in business rates in the county capital for 2010.The increase in rates, which was approved by Ennis Town Council last year, led to widespread dissatisfaction in the business community, culminating in a protest meeting attended by representatives of 250 local businesses at Waterpark House.“Since last year, small businesses have had to significantly cut overheads in order to survive, unfortunately including effecting cuts in staff numbers,” explained forum chairman, Michael Leahy.Last year’s decision to increase rates at a time when business was undergoing a severe downturn was a cause of huge disillusionment in the business community and was seen as a serious miscalculation, particularly given the efforts that small businesses have made to promote Ennis and to provide employment, according to Mr Leahy.“While rates were a relatively small proportion of a business overhead during the Celtic Tiger years, they have …

CLARE’S four deputies have defended their right to make an estimated 400 written representations to the local authority housing section, following claims that these letters are effectively worthless.Green Party Councillor, Brian Meaney incurred the wrath of local Oireachtas members when he proposed  at the Clare County Council meeting on Monday that they should cease the practice of acting as “social workers” on local authority issues instead of acting as legislators.“I don’t believe deputies have any more influence on this matter than a Shetland dog but they are putting it around that they have,” he said.Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Tony Killeen, said it was up to Clare people whether they wanted a councillor or a deputy to make a representation on their behalf to the local housing department.In his own case, Deputy Killeen pointed out that constituents had the option of requesting his constituency secretary, Councillor Pat Daly to contact the department if they wished or himself.He …

RETAIL vacancy rates in Clare are lower than the national average, a new survey has shown.Figures released by Experian, a global information services company, showed that the vacancy rate in the county is 13.1%, compared to the national average of 14.7%.Clare was at the lower end of the spectrum of retail vacancy levels, with Offaly topping the list at 27.1%.Rita McInerney of Ennis Chamber said it was important to keep promoting the centre of the county town in order to avoid high vacancy rates. “As a chamber, it has been our policy to support town centre developments, it’s key to keep business in the town centre. The figures for Clare could be a lot worse. “A lot of areas have had out-of-town developments but we haven’t seen that to the same degree in Ennis. “The fact that business has been kept in the town contributes to the fact that the vacancy rate isn’t above average.”She said that while there have …