A round-up of today's regional news stories in brief
Farm death seminars held in 'blackspots'
As farm workplace deaths for the first 10 weeks of the year hit nine – almost one a week – special seminars are to be held in "blackspots" across the State, writes Seán Mac Connell.
The first of the farm health and safety seminars will be held on Monday, March 22nd, in Killarney, Co Kerry, in response to a death toll now almost equal to all of 2009.
Pat Griffin, Health and Safety Authority senior inspector, said he was extremely concerned that the deaths had nearly equalled 2009’s level of 11 fatalities.
Other seminars will be held in Tipperary town (March 23rd) and in Dundalk, Co Louth (March 25th).
Opposition to river water extraction
The South Western Regional Fisheries Board has said it is strongly opposed to Kerry County Council plans to abstract up to 2,500 cubic metres of water a day from the lower Sheen river, a pristine salmon river near Kenmare, to help address the town's water shortage issues, writes Anne Lucey.
The warning comes as the board notes rivers in Cork and Kerry are at their lowest levels in up to 50 years.
The row over where to get water to supplement supplies to Kenmare has been ongoing. New pipes have been laid and a treatment plant is on hold until the source is decided. The Sheen is favoured by council engineers because of cost and environmental and engineering considerations.
Alert over increased risk of forest fires
The public and forest-owners have been warned about increased risk of forest fires because of recent weather conditions, writes Seán Mac Connell.
Minister of State for Agriculture Tony Killeen said: “I would like to remind landowners of the greater danger of fire this year . . . The areas at highest risk from wildfire tend to be located adjacent to or within moorland areas.”
The Minister reminded all landowners it was an offence under the Wildlife Act to burn growing vegetation between March 1st and August 31st.
Two remanded over drugs seizure
Two men were remanded yesterday after they appeared in court charged in connection with a drugs seizure on the outskirts of Limerick city last Saturday.
Gardaí recovered 6kg of amphetamines at Ballysimon Road. John Buckley (29) of Kincora Park, Limerick and Gerard Hickey (23) of Deercourt, Carew Park, Limerick, are accused of having the drugs, worth about €90,000, for sale or supply.
Polish man died 'by misadventure'
A verdict of “death by misadventure” has been returned in the case of a Polish fisherman who was washed into the sea along with another man on October 29th, 2006 but whose body has never been recovered.
At a coroner’s inquest held in Kilrush, Co Clare this week, evidence was given that Piotr Bedzlowicz (35), and his friend, Prezemyslaw Szczpak, had been washed into the sea by a freak wave.