Tag Archives: protests

AROUND 300 people will be accommodated at the new centre for refugee accommodation in the Shannon Free Zone, it has now emerged. While the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth had been very reluctant to reveal any details about their Shannon plans, in a statement which was passed onto Clare TD Cathal Crowe it said, “The Department is working with the OPW to develop proposals/design to use a state owned property in Shannon Free Zone to accommodate circa 300 International Protection Applicants. This engagement is ongoing and final details will be disclosed when designs and contract with a provider to operate the facility is finalised. Timelines are indicative but it is anticipated that the property will come online later in the year.” The information was provided to Deputy Crowe only after he made an official complaint to the Ceann Comhairle’s office, around the Department’s decision not to share information with elected representatives.

ENDA Kenny is to face protests when he comes to Clare on Monday, with the revised water charges still the subject of much public anger. Gardaí met earlier this week to make plans for Monday, when the Taoiseach is set to visit TTM Healthcare at Ballymaley, speak at the Shannon Chamber president’s lunch in Dromoland and open Genworth’s new business centre in Shannon. There is speculation that jobs will be announced at TTM Healthcare and while there were reports that new jobs would also be announced at Genworth, a company spokesman told The Clare Champion this is not the case. It is understood that another Shannon company, which is due to take on new staff in 2015, are also hopeful that the Taoiseach will visit them. At a so-called street meeting in Shannon on Tuesday night, representatives of the We Won’t Pay anti-water charges campaign said they have plans to protest when the Taoiseach is in Clare. They also said …