Chamber rejects claim president was in China

Ennis Chamber has refuted suggestions parking charges couldn’t be reduced on a once-off basis to coincide with the recent retail discounts on ‘Super Tuesday’ because its president, John Dillane, wasn’t available for consultation with Ennis Town manager, Ger Dollard.
Former Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Frankie Neylon claimed at a public meeting organised by the Ennis Chamber on Tuesday night that when the town manager was asked if he could remove parking charges on Super Tuesday, he replied he couldn’t make a decision because the Chamber president was in China.
Having clarified the issue, Chamber chief executive officer Rita McInerney told The Clare Champion on Wednesday neither the Chamber or Mr Dillane was contacted or asked their views about this issue.
Ms McInerney pointed out Mr Dillane was on annual leave but wasn’t in China and had returned to Clare on September 3 and was back to work on Monday, September 4, the day before Super Tuesday.
While the Chamber always welcomed consultation ­before any decision taken by the town council affecting local traders, she admitted the first she had heard about this alleged difficulty was at the meeting on Tuesday night.
She also stressed the Chamber supported Super Tuesday and had received very positive feedback about the discounts provided on a wide range of goods and services in the town on the day.
The town manager said the idea of a Super Tuesday was an example of fresh thinking and Ennis Town Council was always happy to engage in a positive way on initiatives. No formal discussions had taken place either with the elected members of Ennis Town Council or with the Chamber on such an initiative.
“The deputy mayor has approached me regarding the Super Tuesday idea on a number of occasions.
“I have pointed to the need for a structured approach with all the relevant parties so that an overall package could be developed.
“The summer period and the absence of many of the parties on leave – including myself to China attending a UN Forum on behalf of Ennis Town Council – hasn’t facilitated a detailed discussion on the Super Tuesday idea.
“Any package of measures including any change to current parking arrangements would require to be fully considered at a formal meeting of Ennis Town Council,” Mr Dollard said.
Councillor Neylon made his comments during a discussion about the need to reduce the price of car-parking charges in the town centre.
The Ennis coal merchant told the meeting the provision of free parking for one day would help identify the number of people who were interested in coming into town.
Before Super Tuesday, Councillor Neylon said he was contacted by people who told him they would not come into Ennis that day because they were fined €80 previously for parking in a disabled parking spot. He told the meeting parking was a big issue in Ennis, despite the fact they had a car park near the Temple Gate Hotel that was not being fully utilised.
Councillor Johnny Flynn said the town council needed about €11 million to run the town, of which €1.5 million came from parking charges.
Councillor Flynn said he voted against the increase of parking fees from €1 to €1.209 and put down a number of motions concerning this issue but was told the council had to impose this particular increase because of an EU directive on VAT.
Praising the provision of Super Tuesday, he proposed the town council should consider providing free parking on Saturdays to boost trading.
Stating traders provided €5 million in commercial rates for the council, Ms McInerney said that the introduction of free parking in Limerick before Christmas last year boosted business and supported this proposal for Ennis.
Another trader suggested the introduction of free parking for two hours would encourage customers to visit Ennis and spend much longer in the town.