Waterford Today | Waterford's free weekly newspaper

Commenting on the publication by the Central Statistics Office of crime statistics for the first quarter of 2008, the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy has highlighted the need for a renewed partnership between gardaí and the community in tackling crimes such as burglary and theft.

"The figures published by the CSO today show an increase in the crimes of burglary, theft and robbery which have a very real impact on the quality of life in our community. Gardaí will continue to target the people who are committing these crimes with intelligence-led, focused operations. Given that burglaries and thefts, in particular, are opportunistic crimes, we would appeal once again to people to take care of their property and not leave their homes and property vulnerable to criminals who are looking for an easy profit."

The Commissioner's comments follow on from a nationwide crime prevention

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Waterford based, Property Seekers T/A IonProp has been announced as one of the finalists in the early stage category for the South East Enterprise Platform Programme (SEEPP) Enterprise Awards 2008, sponsored by Ulster Bank South East Business Centre and Ernst & Young.

SEEPP, a one year programme in WIT, provides a range of support to start-up businesses in the South-East. The awards are split into two categories – start ups (entrepreneurs currently studying on the South East Enterprise Platform Programme), and early stage (business people who have studies the Programme in the last three years).

Property Seekers T/A IonProp are at an advanced stage in developing a new business concept which will change the traditional way people search for property. IonProp will extract information from all property resource sites to produce the most comprehensive property listing database website in Ireland. It

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All the stops are being pulled out by the YES proponents to secure a convincing win in the Lisbon Treaty Referendum. The picture of Taoiseach Brian Cowen, Eamon Gilmore, Labour leader and Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael sitting down together over a cup of tea in a shopping centre last Thursday was the clearest indication yet that the major political parties are aware that they have a fight on their hands to secure the 'yes' vote. The Fine Gael leader had a diary appointment in Cork but made it clear that he will be joining up with both Fianna Fail and the Labour Party in the final stages of the campaign. With just eight days to go to the referendum date of June 12 the outcome is still in favour of the Yes vote but there are a considerable percentage of

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Mayflies

The business of Mayflies has a language all of its own. Along with the butterflies, dragonflies and some families of larger moths, they are exceptional in that they all have common names and remain one of the only Orders of insects with this distinction. This is largely due to the fact that Mayflies are not as well known to scientists compared to anglers and fishermen who fish the many streams, rivers and lakes of Ireland and of Waterford. Unlike the butterflies and dragonflies, the common names of Mayflies are not yet standardised and so, different names for the same species can be encountered even in closely located districts. Anglers can not only identify the particular species involved, but also the stage of development of the insects with names that have now largely been adopted by the scientific world such as

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In a submission to the Joint Committee on European Affairs in Leinster House, Concern welcomed many of the principles relating to overseas development and humanitarian aid included in the Lisbon Treaty. Concern said these principles have the potential to improve the lives of the people in developing countries but stressed that their effective implementation was key.

"The Lisbon Treaty clearly states that the reduction and eradication of poverty is the primary objective of the EU's development policy. It also provides the basis for Europe to further improve its contribution to peace, security and sustainable development in developing countries." said Mr Tom Arnold, Chief Executive of Concern.

"The Treaty not only reaffirms the EU's commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and to reaching the target of giving 0.7 per cent of GNP to overseas development but creates for the first time

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Former IFA President, MEP and leading member of the Irish Alliance for Europe, Alan Gillis, has called on all farmers to vote YES to the Lisbon Treaty on 12th June.

"The backing of Irish farmers for the Treaty on June 12th is essential for it to pass, and to ensure that Europe is made stronger and more effective for all its peoples. By supporting the Treaty with a YES vote, Irish farmers will consolidate their position and influence within Europe, and demonstrate their support again for an Irish and European agriculture which is based on family farming and quality food production.

Mr. Gillis criticised Peter Mandelson's actions at the WTO. He said: "Ireland cannot support a WTO deal that does not put Ireland's interests first. However, the time for tactical positioning on all sides is now over."

Mr. Gillis said: "A YES

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The Workers' Party have said that the 1937 Constitution was far more accessible to the general public during the referendum of that year than the current Lisbon Treaty is.

Padraig Mannion, Campaign Manager of the Workers' Party, which is campaigning for a No vote on Lisbon, said that a series of government advertisements in the national press on June 23rd, 1937 notified the public that the Draft Constitution was available for a price of 2 old pence from every bookshop and post office and could be read, without purchasing, at every Garda Station, public library or District Court office throughout the country.

Mr. Mannion contrasted that with the current Lisbon Treaty document which has a cost price of €42 and is not readily available to every voter.

"It is incredible that over seventy years ago, in the depths of the Great Depression

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Do you like visiting gardens, discussing plants with the gardener, perhaps having a cup of tea or picking up a rare plant? If so you will be welcome at any of the 13 gardens participating in the South East Garden Trail which runs from June 7th to June 13th. Full details and brochures from Margaret Power, Abbeyroad Gardens , Ferrybank Waterford on receipt of S.A.E. or telephone 051851111.

Aer Arann announces flying for a lot less lolly!

Get the Summer off to a flying start for a lot less lolly. Book from 26th May to June 11th and get fares as low as €25 including all taxes and charges. Travel period is year-round and the sale is available on all routes. Over 500,000 seats are available between now and the end of the year on the Aer Arann network. Forget the price

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Compensation for flights

What compensation am I entitled to if I am denied boarding to a flight?

Answer: Intending passengers can sometimes be refused boarding on a flight even though they have valid tickets, have met the requirements to confirm the flight, and have arrived at check-in on time. This can happen when airlines sell more tickets for a scheduled flight than there are seats available because they expect that some passengers will not show up.

In this situation you are entitled to compensation under European law. The airline must give you:

• A choice of either a refund of your ticket (with a free flight back to your initial point of departure when relevant) or,• Alternative transport to your final destination and• (Depending on the length of the delay) refreshments, meals, hotel accommodation, transport between the airport and hotel, two free

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Local action groups and farmers urged to apply for Leader funding

After a nine month delay, the latest round of rural development funding has been announced by Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon O Cuív.

A total of €425 million will be administered between now and 2013 by local LEADER development groups around the country. 55% of funding comes from the EU, with the remaining 45% supplied by the Irish taxpayer.

Speaking at the launch last week, Minister O Cuív said he was confident that the initiative had the capacity to create 10,000 new jobs and attract investment of over €1 billion euro into rural Ireland.

Advertisements have already appeared in national and local papers calling for proposals from rural action groups to supervise funding in their locality across a range of activities, including business creation, tourism, village renewal,

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Colin McGookin talks to Waterford Today's Andrew Doyle

Waterford Chamber elected Colin McGookin of Waterford Crystal as their new President for the year at their AGM last Monday week and he will take the chain at what will be a comparitively tougher economic time on the international, national and local stage.

Colin McGookin spoke to Waterford Today last Friday about his new role, having been Vice-President previously but knowing sometime beforehand that the Chamber would be looking to him to fill the year-long post which is likely to see a conclusion to the WIT application to the government and the KRM planning development.

On whether the AGM would was a more sober affair due to the economic climate of rising oil costs, talks of NDP cutbacks and uncertainty over jobs, McGookin said: "I think it was an interesting AGM. I think

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Waterford based pharmaceutical company, Eir Gen Pharma, have been shortlisted in the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year Award 2008 in the Emerging category of the competition.

Eir Gen Pharma are one of a total of 24 shortlisted companies from 115 initial nominees and this nomination comes off the back of them winning the David Manley Entrepreneurial Award in November of last year.

The company is the newest company in the Ernst and Young 'emerging category', having been formed in 2005 and will be competing against seven other enterprises, five from Dublin and two from Northern Ireland.

Eir Gen Pharma was formed by Brennan and Carney, who were doing the MBA's the year before setting up the business and Mr. Brennan serves as Technical Director and Carney fills the role as Managing Director.

Chair of the Judging panel is Denis

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Glanbia's new major moves on the Board of the plc have been made of South East natives with their new Chairman and Vice-Chairman farming from Waterford.

The Board of the international company, who have a new focus in the area of Cheese and nutrtional ingredients, have elected Waterford's Liam Herlihy as their new chairman.

Mr. Herlihy is succeeding Michael Walsh, who has retired, according to an announcment by the company last week.

Mr. Herlihy was previously vice-chairman of the board, a position he held since 2001 and in addition to the new role as Chairman, he also takes on the responsibility of Chair of the Glanbia Co-operative Society Ltd.

The new chairman's previous position is also taken by a Waterford man, Mr John Fitzgerald, who farms out of Kilmeaden, as their new Vice-Chairman.

Two non-executive directors were also appointed, Anthony

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Waterford Pharmacist Bernard Leddy was appointed as the new President for the Pharmacy Industry regulator, the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) after being elected by the PSI council.

Leddy, who is also a Lismore Town councillor, was vice-president of the organisation and was present with PSI registrar, Ambrose McLaughlin, when the legislation, which gave a statutory footing to the PSI, presented to Waterford pharmacists last October as part of a nationwide campaign.

When speaking on his appointment, Dr. Leddy said that his term as president, set to last one year, will be a 'very big commitment of time' while he will also be functioning in his current role as Director and General Manager of pharmacy chain, Mari Mina Pharmacies.

Speaking further his new appointment, Dr. Leddy said that the main priority for the PSI will be the implementation of the

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Waterford newsThe war years 1939-46

When the Lights failed (contd.)

Humour element

The situation in the main front office was not without its element of humour. Here it was no uncommon sight to see candles being passed from hand to hand to aid writers of telegrams or last-minute correspondence in the completion of their messages.

The scene within the sorting office (as viewed from the street outside) was one that had to be witnessed to be really appreciated. Candles, in abundant number, were perched on top of partitions, dividing the various "walks", and in the restricted lighting available, it was rather remarkable to observe the efficiency and dispatch with which the sorters got through their task - an achievement, no doubt, born of long experience in the handling of our city mails.

And as with the Post Office, so it was with practically all

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