Dublin, , 29th March 2007 - The long-awaited new ‘Health and Safety Authority (HSA) Code of Practice on Workplace Bullying’ will be launched by Mr Tony Killeen, Minister for Labour Affairs at the offices of Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, Kildare Street, Dublin on Wednesday next (10am, April 4th 2007).  The publication follows less than a year after Minster Killeen recommended that the Health and Safety Authority update the current Code and bring it in line with the ‘2005 Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act’.

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, 27th March 2007 – The upcoming Easter Bank Holiday Weekend marks the first in a series of workshops aimed at encouraging County Clare’s teenagers to develop and maintain their interest in traditional music.  The Arts Office of Clare County Council has confirmed that three of ’s leading traditional musicians - Michael ‘Blackie’ O’Connell, Kevin Crawford and Edel Fox - will participate in the monthly sessions, the first of which takes place at Glór Irish Music Centre in Ennis on Saturday 7th April next.

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, 27th March 07 – The results of a comprehensive audit of more than 80 Early Christian, Medieval and Celtic ecclesiastical buildings in County Clare will be presented at Clare Museum, Ennis this evening.  The presentation will coincide with the official launch of ‘Rian na Manach - A Guided Tour of Ecclesiastical Treasures in Co. Clare’ by Dr. Peter Harbison, the noted Irish archaeologist and antiquarian.  The publication provides background historical, architectural and archaeological information to 33 of the audited sites, as well as access and directional knowledge to the public.

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, 26th March 2007 – New regulations governing the planning application process in County Clare will come into effect on Saturday next, 31st March 2007.  As a result, Clare County Council will host a Seminar for agents on the amended legislation at the West County Hotel, Ennis this Wednesday 28th March 2007 at 9.00am.  The planning and development regulations include the introduction of an on-counter validation process and a new generic planning application form, applicable to all local authorities.

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26th March 2007 - Clare County Council’s Waste Enforcement Unit, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána, established road checkpoints on a number of primary and secondary roads in the county over the weekend.  The checkpoints, situated along the Limerick-Clare border, were for the purpose of monitoring the collection and movement of waste material around the County. 

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, 26th March 07 - Minister for Labour Affairs and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen has welcomed the news that the Slieve Aughty Mountains in Clare and Galway are to be shortly designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA).  The Minister said that the designation would allow for sustainable forestry management and the increased protection of the hen harrier species.

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, 26th March 07 – 49 historical maps dating back to the early 1700s have been made available online by Clare County Library via www.clarelibrary.ie.  The David Rumsey Historical Map Collection features the first maps to make reference to the West Clare Railway while others provide information on historic landmarks and tribal settlements.  The Library service said that the extensive online collection, dating from 1736 to 1922, would support personal and academic users in their learning, teaching and research of historical issues relating to Clare. 

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Shannon, , 23rd March 07 - Clare County Council has rejected suggestions that there has been a misappropriation of public monies in relation to its handling of the NeighbourWood Scheme at Tullyvarraga, Shannon.  The accusation is one of what the Local Authority has described as a “series of ridiculous misleading statements” made by local Councillor, Gerry Flynn at the March meeting of the Shannon Electoral Area Committee.

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, 22nd March 2007 – Minister for Labour Affairs and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen said today’s approval of a draft ‘open skies’ agreement between the EU and the US marked the beginning of a new phase of opportunities for Shannon Airport.  Minister Killeen added that the County Clare airport would be well positioned to address the new challenges presented under Open Skies and would continue to experience growth in transatlantic and European business.

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Shannon, , 21st March 2007 – Minister for Labour Affairs and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen said that the reaching of a provisional agreement on a revised cost-cutting plan at Shannon Airport had enabled management and workers to develop and market the facility in partnership.  The Minister said he was hopeful that deal would shortly lead to full services, including bars, shops and restaurants, being fully operational and available to passengers using the airport.

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