| Letters To The Editor |
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| The Clare People | |||||
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Meningitis aware Sir - I AM writing to say thank you to everyone in Ireland who supported the Meningitis Trust during 2008. It’s only with the help of local communities that we are able to continue our vital work helping to rebuild lives shattered by meningitis. The Meningitis Trust is a national charity and relies entirely on voluntary donations, which means support from individuals, families, schools, nurseries and businesses is fundamental to its survival. Meningitis can strike anyone, of any age, at any time. Those who survive can be left with devastating after-effects including loss of hearing and sight, brain damage and, where septicaemia (blood poisoning) has occurred, loss of limbs. These after-effects last a life time and impact all aspects of day-to-day life for the individual as well as their family, friends and colleagues. This time of the year is particularly relevant for talking about meningitis as cases of the disease rise in the winter. The Meningitis Trust urges people to be vigilant of the signs and symptoms and to trust their instincts. Symptoms can include, fever, headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, drowsiness, joint pain, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in some cases but not all, a rash that doesn’t fade under pressure. For more information, readers can call the Trust’s freephone 24-hour nurse-led helpline on 1800 523 196 or log on to its website www.meningitis-trust.ie. Thank you all once again and best wishes for 2009. Carole Nealon, General Manager The Meningitis Trust Heartless comment Sir - THE remarks by local Fianna Fáil TD and 26 County Administration Defence Minister Willie O’Dea that the threat to manufacturing jobs at the Dell plant may “involve a certain dislocation” to the Limerick region must be condemned. The comments indicated a certain coldness for the fate of the workers at the Raheen plant. This is a type of side of the mouth speak that is popular with some politicians trying to lessen the impact of bad news and distance themselves from it. The fact that Willie O’Dea can coldly talk about a “certain dislocation” in regard to the jobs and futures of Limerick workers show how far he and Fianna Fáil are removed from the economic reality of local people. A “certain dislocation” is a painless way of saying that people will lose their jobs, will have to go on the dole and will have to struggle for financial survival. A “certain dislocation” is also a cheap way of saying that mortgage payments will be missed, houses will be repossessed by the banks and children may go hungry and face an uncertain future. The minister should be ashamed of himself for using such language to describe what for many will be a human tragedy. The irony is that among the many men and women who will lose their jobs will be those who voted for Willie O’Dea. His words certain dislocation are cold comfort for them at this time in Limerick facing into the new year when fear of the future hangs over them. The minister must do the right thing and withdraw such a heartless comment. Des Long, 52 Shannon Banks, Corbally, Limerick
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To whom it may concern, I am writing this letter in relation to an article that was published in the paper on Tuesday the 7th October under the heading "State building-A hang out for thugs". I would like to strongly disagree with the spokewoman for the Corofin and District Development Limited who stated that the building has become a local hangout for thugs and delinquents who take drugs . Where is this womans evidence that this type of behaviour is going on. Yes maybe the windows are broken and the shed was burned down over two years ago but she has no right to presume this building has become a local hangout for thugs or delinquents and these are her words not mine, or presume that there is people taking drugs in or around that building. I have lived in Newtown Corofin all my life and I am appalled that anyone would make such a statement and I would like to know who she is calling a drug taking thug or delinquent to. |
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