Tag Archives: Councillor Mary Howard

An Ennis councilllor, whose family was involved in the drinks industry for many years, has welcomed the proposals contained in the heads of The Public Health (Alcohol) Bill 2015. These proposals are long overdue and the bill contains far reaching measures to tackle the widespread problem of alcohol misuse in this country, according to Coucillor Mary Howard. Ms Howard is very familiar with the licensed trade, as a daughter of the late Senator Michael Howard, who owned and operated the One Mile Inn in Ennis for many years. Senator Howard was also a past president of the Vintners Federation of Ireland. “I particularly welcome the proposal to make it illegal to sell alcohol at a price below a set minimum price. The minimum unit price will be set at a level which evidence shows will reduce the burden of harm from alcohol. “This is the most far-reaching legislation on the matter of alcohol. This legislation addresses alcohol as a public health measure. …

Ennis needs to capitalise on its rail connectivity, local councillor Mary Howard said this week. Councillor Howard has highlighted the potential of increasing footfall in Ennis by providing incentives for the population in the hinterland of the Limerick Galway rail line to travel to Ennis and shop on the run up to Christmas. Ms Howard has requested a strategy that would seek to entice the estimated 300,000 people that live within a five mile commute to rail stations along the Limerick to Galway rail line. She recommends the provision of an easily accessible bus freely available to those willing to travel from the rail station to a number of stops in Ennis town centre. “Ennis has a lot to offer if it is properly marketed. “Ennis is situated practically half way between a population of 57,000 in Limerick and 75,000 in Galway and it offers a completely different shopping experience to the large retail outlets in both those cities,” she …

The publication of the Heads of the Sexual Offences Bill, which criminalises the purchase of sex, has receive the seal of approval of Councillor Mary Howard, a long time campaigner on the issue. Councilllor Howard said, “I warmly welcome the publication of a Bill, which will target the source of the demand for the sex trade.” The Cabinet has given the go ahead to Minister For Justice, Frances Fitzgerald to prepare the necessary legislation. Ms Howard is a stong supporter of TORL (Turn Off The Red Light). TORL is made up of Irish Civil Society Organisations, trade unions, NGOs and individuals working together to raise awareness about the damage of prostitution and sex trafficking, and lobby the Government to legislate to put an end to the exploitation of women and children in the Irish sex industry.

Ennis will host the very first Light Up The Night safety campaign event on this Thursday evening. The main focus of this campaign is to educate all vulnerable road users on how to be visible to traffic. The campaign is to ensure that all road users not only wear high visibility clothing but clothing that is reflective also. The campaign will begin at 6pm with a Light Up Your Bike safety workshop on the ground floor of Unit 1 , Westgate Business Park , Kilrush Road (across from World of Wonder). The RSA will be providing free high visibilty and reflective gear, as well as a free set of lights to all vulnerable road users. The workshop will be followed by a cycle of Ennis by-pass or the N85 Western Relief Road. “We are asking the runners and walkers of the Ennis area to put on your high visibility reflective gear and come out  and support this idea and help …

Serious concern about the exploitation of women relating to the sex industry was expressed by a local councillor this week. In a motion presented to Clare County Council, Councillor Mary Howard asked that “this council recognises that the trafficking, exploitation and abuse of women and girls is taking place in County Clare and throughout the country within and as a direct result of prostitution. This council understands prostitution to be a form of men’s violence against women that affects individuals, communities, and society as a whole and that human trafficking for sexual exploitation is a modern form of slavery and an abuse of human rights”. In the motion, which was strongly endorsed, she said, “This council calls on the Minister for Justice and Equality to implement the Justice Committees unanimous recommendations to introduce laws, which make it an offence to pay for sex and is seeking such laws. This legislation must criminalise the demand for paid sex, decriminalise the seller …

“THEY’RE not going home to shave their legs and they’re not making omelettes”, was the message of one councillor to Ennis business people as she urged that them not to sell eggs and shaving foam to youngsters during events such as St Patrick’s Day. Councillor Mary Howard at this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council called on the local authority in association with other agencies such as An Garda Siochana, traders, Ennis Chamber and schools to devise a “code of conduct”. She outlined that this should deal with identifiable perennial events, “particularly antisocial behaviour on certain days by young teenagers”, on days to include St Patrick’s Day, the last day of school and festivals. She stated that there is a problem with antisocial behaviour among young people in the town on certain days of the year. And she said that she was told on St Patrick’s Day from 12 and 13 year olds that it was “too scary” in town …