You may not have contacted Clare County Council directly but you may still be availing of many of the council’s services e.g. roads, council water supply, Ennis Leisure Centre, register of electors etc.

Ennis Chamber would encourage all its members to express their views in relation to the services they receive from Clare County Council such as Water and Waste Water Treatment and Roads Infrastructure. If your business is based outside of the Ennis Town Council area, there is a wider range of services which Clare County Council is responsible for in relation to your business such as Planning and Development.

Persons who complete the survey will be included in a draw for a €500 gift cheque. Staff employed by Clare Local Authorities will not be eligible for inclusion in this draw.

Please note that only one entry will be accepted per person.

The closing date for the survey is Friday 30th July 2010

Complete the survey online: http://www.clarecoco.ie/your-council/customer-services/quality-of-service-survey-2010/survey.aspx

The members of the group were:
- Pat McLoughlin, Chief Executive, Irish Payment Services Organisation and former Deputy Chief Executive of the HSE (Chairperson)
- Donal McNally, Second Secretary General, Department of Finance
- John O’Hagan, Professor of Economics, Trinity College
- John Quinlivan, former County Manager
- Ian Talbot, Chief Executive, Chambers Ireland; and
- Geraldine Tallon, Secretary General, Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government

To read the Recommendations of the Report, please click here Local Government Efficiency Review Group Recommendations

Tracy Tamaris, IIAA Training Director, presents Keri Flynn, Manager Medi C Spa Ennis, with the IIAA "Salon of the Year" award in London

The International Institute for Anti-Ageing (iiaa) celebrated its annual Salon of the Year awards with a fabulous champagne reception and lunch at the chic St Martin’s Lane Hotel in London.  Trophies and certificates were presented to the most successful stockists of the jane iredale and Environ brands.

 Training Director Tracy Tamaris presented the Environ Salon of the Year Award for Ireland was Medi CSpa from Ennis, Co. Clare.

 Keri Flynn, manager of the Irish award winning Medi CSpa has seen sales build due to a high level of recommendations, regular ‘product of the month’ promotions and through offering clients advanced skin analysis.  This analysis shows the areas that need addressing with certain products and later demonstrates the improvements the products and treatments have made. 

 She believes the reason the skincare range sells so well is “Simply because it works.”  She adds, “Most of our new clients come through word of mouth. People love the products, they go home and tell their sisters and their daughters. Then they come in to have their skin analysed and to buy.  Our clients range from 17 to 60.

 “We use our own skin analysis equipment and also have events hosted by Environ, using their own machine  When clients see the same evidence of the results in their skin from using the products using two very different systems, it speaks for itself. It’s brilliant.”

There is a brief summary of the Food Waste Regulations in our Spring /Summer newsletter ‘Managing Waste in Business‘ which is available on our website.

Also of note is a new website encouraging the reduction of food waste at home, www.stopfoodwaste.ie. The website includes plenty of tips on avoiding food waste, as well as advice on home composting.

If you need further information, please contact:

Margaret Murphy, Waste Minimisation Officer

Regional Waste Management Office

Lissanalta House

Dooradoyle Road

Limerick

Tel 061 496596

Fax 061 583955

Web www.managewaste.ie

Email MargaretMInternal@limerickcoco.ie

Both Ministers said unless our banks lend to viable businesses, our economic recovery will be stunted.

“The overriding objective of Government is to ensure that the economic recovery that is now underway sustains existing jobs and creates new jobs. To achieve that objective, it is vital that credit is provided to Small and Medium Sized Enterprises which will be the key drivers of job growth,” said Minister Lenihan.

He welcomed the lending plans of Bank of Ireland and Allied Irish Bank which outline how they will achieve the target of €3 billion lending each over each of the next two years. “These plans have been reviewed by John Trethowan and both his Office and my Department will receive monthly progress reports from the two banks which will allow us to ensure they deliver on the strong commitments given in their plans to support viable businesses in all sectors of the economy and in every area of the country.”

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O’Keeffe TD, said:

“The submission of the banks’ tailored lending plans, together with the new internal appeals mechanism and credit review office, are significant steps the Government has insisted on taking on behalf of small businesses-owners who rightly demand a credit return on the investment they have made in our banking institutions.

I look forward to working closely with the credit reviewer and with the Minister for Finance in sustaining pressure on the banks to lend to viable small businesses so that jobs can be protected and created and our economic recovery secured.”

The Ministers also welcomed the inclusion in the lending plans a range of measures help foster business demand and to improve the service banks provide to their smaller business customers.

Credit Review Office

The Minister said that Mr Trethowan’s findings in his first quarterly report would enlighten the debate about the availability of credit to business. He noted that Mr Trethowan had found no evidence of constraints in the supply of credit to any sector of the SME / Farm markets in his review of the banks’ policies and guidelines. Mr Trethowan also found evidence of a lack of experience among some front line bank staff in dealing with SMEs and helping them with loan applications

“I am particularly pleased that the establishment of the Credit Review Office has led to a significant improvement in the banks’ own internal appeal mechanisms, which resulted in 20% of cases being successful although the numbers involved are still small. I would urge SMEs who are refused credit to invoke the internal appeals procedures followed if necessary by the Credit Review Office.”

The Minister set out the work of the Credit Review Office to date:

• The Office operates a web site which received hits from over 2000 different users. The helpline has received almost 200 calls to date.
• Mr Trethowan has completed six reviews. He agreed with the bank in three of them, sided with the borrower in two cases and considered that more work was required by both the borrower and the bank in the other case. A further five applications are proceeding through the process.
• Mr Trethowan also worked with the two banks on placing their internal appeal mechanisms on a more formal basis. Of a total of 49 internal appeals completed between the two banks, 10 resulted in the refusal being overturned or sanctioned with conditions.

Although only a small number of reviews have been completed, the Minister said he was satisfied with the positive impact of the Credit Review Office which has given an independent right of appeal to businesses seeking credit and has resulted in the reversal of some credit refusals.

The low level of reviews to date may reflect a lack of awareness of the Credit Review Office but the Office has publicised its services through the media and in presentations to representative organisations. The two banks are required to make borrowers who are refused credit aware of the existence of the Credit Review Office and have been provided with leaflets on the Office for distribution to borrowers.

The full text of the report and the banks summary plans are available on the Department’s website at www.finance.gov.ie.

The campaign comprises:
- print ads in regional papers and the Irish Times
- radio ads on regional stations Listen to our ad here
- Irish Rail offers

Chamber President, Guy Flouch, commented that “Saturday shopping has been droppiong significantly in town centres accross the country, as shoppers desert to anonymous shopping centres. This promotion is part of our strategy to bring business back to the town centre at weekends”

Ennis Chamber has been asked to invite interested retailers to participate in Feargal Quinn’s Retail Therapy television programme.  This is a six part series for RTÉ One where retail innovator Feargal Quinn offers advice to retailers who are struggling to stay afloat in the current economic climate.  The series is looking to champion independent Irish retailers who represent individuality on the streets of Ireland’s towns and cities.  Feargal is passionate about helping businesses who are putting it up to the multinationals and offering Irish consumers something different than they would get anywhere else in the world.  Feargal will help these businesses to eradicate their weaknesses, exploit their strengths and identify a unique selling point which will make them stand out from the competition and attract customers to their door. 

Last year’s series was a great ratings success and the businesses involved have reported an improvement in both sales and staff morale as a result of their involvement in the programme.  

The series will be on air at the beginning of 2011 and we will be filming over the next six months. 

The makers of the series, Animo Television are looking for all kinds of shops so anyone who is interested should get in touch either by emailing retailtherapy@animo.ie or calling Laura on 01 6468246.

Martin Guerin

Are you an Employer?
Are you a Trustee of your company Pension Scheme?

Mandatory training for Trustees of pension schemes has been introduced from 1^st February 2010 under the Pensions Act.  In many pension arrangements, the employer acts as Trustee.  Many concerns have been expressed on the impact on these schemes.

 Firstly let us deal with the new requirements, which broadly are:

 Employers are required to arrange appropriate training for the Trustees of the pension scheme, unless the Trustee is a Professional Pensions Trustee or Pensioneer Trustees (who are regarded as having specialist pension knowledge and who are expected to arrange their own training.).

For existing Trustees at 1^st February 2010 – the training must be completed within 2 years i.e. completed before 31^st January 2012 and at least every 2 years after that.

• Trustees appointed after 1^st February 2010 must complete Trustee training within 6 months of their appointment and at least every 2 years after that.
•  Where a scheme must produce a Trustee Annual Report, the report must include confirmation as to whether the Trustees have completed the required training.
•  Employers who breach their obligation to arrange appropriate training may be prosecuted.
•  Trustees who fail to undertake appropriate training may be subject to an on-the-spot fine
• Trustees of schemes providing Death in Service Benefits only are not required to complete training.

Basically as Trustees look after money i.e pensions on behalf of employees, they must have certain knowledge of pensions, administration and must have systems in place to protect the members. 

What to do now?
Employers acting as the Trustee of a pension arrangement need to consider the implications of mandatory Trustee training for them.  While the timescale for existing company directors to complete Trustee Training is 2 years, new directors must complete the training within 6 months of their appointment.  Employers intending to make alternative arrangements for Trusteeship need to review their options sooner rather than later, so that there is sufficient time to complete these arrangements. ]]> http://www.ennischamber.ie/mandatory-training-requirement-on-pension-scheme-trustees/feed/ 0 http://www.ennischamber.ie/youth-and-sunshine-at-ennis-chamber-golf-classic/ http://www.ennischamber.ie/youth-and-sunshine-at-ennis-chamber-golf-classic/#comments Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:53:53 +0000 Ennis Chamber http://www.ennischamber.ie/?p=672 The 2010 Ennis Chamber Golf Classic in association with the Clare Youth Service, was held in glorious sunshine at Dromoland Castle Golf & Country Club on Friday the 21^st of May.  A very enjoyable day was had by all in these pristine surroundings of great golf and wonderful hospitality.

The results of Ennis Chamber Golf Classic 2010 were as follows:
1^st – 87 points – AAA Taxi: Martin White, Seamie Kelly, Brian Hassett and David Woods
2^nd – 84 points – Microsemi: Aidan Mulcahy, Jim Young,…

The 2010 Ennis Chamber Golf Classic in association with the Clare Youth Service, was held in glorious sunshine at Dromoland Castle Golf & Country Club on Friday the 21^st of May.  A very enjoyable day was had by all in these pristine surroundings of great golf and wonderful hospitality.

The results of Ennis Chamber Golf Classic 2010 were as follows:
1^st – 87 points – AAA Taxi: Martin White, Seamie Kelly, Brian Hassett and David Woods
2^nd – 84 points – Microsemi: Aidan Mulcahy, Jim Young, Ray O’Neill and Paul O’Brien
3^rd – 83 points – Ulster Bank: Paul Mullane, Colm O’Shea, Patrick Roughan and Conor Quinlan
4^th – 83 points – Flatley Engineering: Vincent O’Regan, Niall O’Regan, Andy Carr and Tom Ryan
Winning Ladies Team – Clare Youth Service: Rose Hally, Eileen Corry, Mary T. Real, Betty O’Reilly
Nearest to Pin Mens: Patrick Roughan, Ulster Bank
Longest Drive Mens: Andy Carr, Flatley Engineering
Longest Drive Ladies: Valerie Hassett, Temple Gate

 Prizes were sponsored by newly established business The Golf Arena, Quin Road Business Park who made a special presentation to Ray O’Neill of Microsemi for his Eagle on the Par 5 4^th hole.  Ray Hallahan of The Golf Arena was on hand to showcase the virtual golf experience they have to offer through the impressive mobile simulator at the start of the course.  There was also a Nearest the Pin simulator competition which the men’s was won by Finbarr Brougham, Shannon Development and the ladies by Valerie Hassett, Temple Gate.

 The 2010 Golf Classic gave an opportunity for the Clare Youth Service to highlight the range of crucial facilities and supports on offer through their displays and promotional material to the wider business community.  Staff and participants from Clare Youth Service assisted with the operation of the event and to answer and enquiries, with Chairperson Rose Hally and CEO Margaret Slattery, on hand throughout the day to explain the work of this vital organisation.  In presenting the Prizes to the winners, Chairperson Rose Hally welcomed this opportunity to communicate to the Business Community on the extensive work of the Clare Youth Service and to extend links with the Business Community by sowing the seeds for exploring mutually beneficial initiatives.

 In concluding the Presentation of Prizes, Ennis Chamber President Guy Flouch and Golf Committee Chairperson Paddy Darmody thanked all the teams who participated as well as those who sponsored tees or greens.  Such support is greatly appreciated in these challenging economic times, yet these events are vital in continuing to develop networks, recognise the contribution of staff and reward customers as well as building team spirit.

Clare Youth Service and The Golf Arena presenting 1st Prize

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