THE RIGHT CONNECTIONS

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce and Venturepoint ( Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board) are the people behind the new Business Connect initiative which was launched recently by An Tainiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Mary Harney TD. The initiative aims to encourage local companies to source goods and services from within the county. "Business Connect will operate along the same lines as 'Buy Irish' and aims to redirect £3million back into the county. This redirection of money will help the further development of the local economy and save companies time, expense and trouble" say the Chamber of Commerce.

Some heavyweights have put their weight behind the initiative,among them AIB plc, BOI, Esat Telecom, ESSO Ireland Ltd Stillorgan, Microsoft European Operations Centre, Smith Kline Beecham, Hibernian Group plc, Stena Line and a host of other equally impressive names. By putting their name to an initial Charter of Commitment , which states that their first choice would be to purchase goods and services locally, provided that the supplier guarantees best quality at the best price and best service. Each supporting company will be given a copy of the Charter as a tangible and visible demonstration of their commitment to business linkage in the county. As more companies agree to support Business Connect they too will get a Charter of Commitment.

'Recently launched, the Dun Laoghaire Business Directory is an integral part of the scheme and will be enhanced by the development of an extensive database of companies in the area. Another aspect of Business Connect will involve networking evenings and tabletop exhibitions' a press release from the Chamber of Commerce states.

When it came to publishing and printing the glossy directory of companies in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area however the Chamber of Commerce did not themselves use the services of companies within the area. The Directory was published by Dyflin Publications Ltd, 58, North Great Georges St Dublin 1, and was printed by The Kilkenny People. Greag Purcell, Chief Executive of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce explained why this anomaly occured . " The project was handed to Dyflin Publications because I know they do a good job".

A number of local publishing and printing companies are capable of producing this directory but unfortunately none were even asked to tender for it. Said John Hicks of Brookfield Printing, Blackthorn Ave, Stillorgan Industrial Park," we were never approached at all by the Chamber of Commerce to even tender for this job. As a company that has been in the area since 1989 we find this very disappointing. We employ a total of 45 people from within the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area and are open 16 hours a day . We most definitely would have the capacity to provide a very competitive price for this production. As for quality, Brookfield Printers were voted Best Colour Printer of The Year 1998, Best Overall Publisher of the Year in 1997 and Best Magazine Publisher in 1996. " When asked to comment on this fact Mr Purcell stated "Brookfield Printers are not members of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce. Where possible we have used local companies for our printing needs, people such as Arrowprint and Martello Print to name but two" . However, when asked by Alice Sheridan,Editor of South Dublin Life & Leisure if Dyflin Publications were members of the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Chamber of Commerce at the time the Directory was published, Mr Purcell answered "no".

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BREATHNACH OPPOSES ROSEPARK PLANS

Coming out in support of local residents Niamh Breathnach, has strong objections to the proposed plans for the Rosepark Hotel. Having been invited to examine the planning application by near-by residents of the Hotel, her objections are made on a number of grounds.

"The property is located on the residential side of Kill Avenue, adjacent to a concentration of houses whose residents have had a difficult history with previous management of this outlet. The present application will I believe, introduce an element of night-life that will interfere once again with the residential quality of this settled neighbourhood. On examination of the plan, I would suggest that this appears to be an attempt to re-open a night-club under the guise of a hotel development. The small number of bedrooms hardly qualify it as a hotel. Function room space dominates the proposal, at basement and at ground level.

The inclusion of an off-licence outlet is totally unsuitable for that location, given the residential nature of the immediate neighbourhood. Concern must be expressed at the suggestion in the application that car-parking will be available at an adjacent location. Late night patrons crossing Kill Avenue to retrieve cars parked in the Church car park is just not on. Pressure will be put on the Church authorities to prevent this and enclose their land at the Parish Centre.

In the interest of proper planning and development in this area I believe that this particular application be rejected by the councillors and planners" said Ms Breathnach.

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CALL FOR DEMOCRACY ON THE DART LINE

Barry Conway, candidate in this year's local elections in the Blackrock electoral area, has called on the Government to establish a DART users advisory group. It would be envisaged that this group, which would be representative of commuters and other users of the DART service, would have the right to make representations to Iarnrod Eireann. There would also be an obligation on Iarnrod Eireann to consult regularly with this group, who in turn could make representations to Iarnrod Eireann on all matters relevant to the DART service.

Such matters would include a fares pricing structure, overcrowding on the DART, security at DART stations, particularly at night, car-parking and other facilities, safety issues, and timetables.

Barry Conway believed that the DART service is operated without sufficient regard to the wishes and concerns of commuters and other users of the service. The establishment of such an advisory group would help to remedy this situation. "There is already a precedent for such a group in relation to a public utility. A number of years ago the Government established a telephone users advisory group to ensure that the concerns of consumers of telephone services were heard by Telecom Eireann. The establishment of a similar group in relation to public transport could ensure that commuters and other users of public transport including the DART, would have a greater say in the provision of those services" said Mr Conway.

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DLCC TENDER FOR MARINA MANAGEMENT

The Dun Laoghaire Combined Clubs has submitted a tender for the management of the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company's new 680 berth marina development. DLCC represents six clubs which have been involved in Dun Laoghaire Harbour, some for over 150 years. The decision to submit a proposal to the Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company was primarily based on DLCC's objective to support the sport of sailing and to offer more affordable leisure and water sports facilities in the new marina than any of the other bidders. It also offers the unrivalled opportunity for the Harbour Company to utilise the considerable expertise already on the ground.

DLCC believes that the clubs in Dun Laoghaire are best placed to operate a marina which would be focused on the needs and interests of sailing. A DLCC marina would be a public marina. It would be dedicated to encouraging the development and growth of sailing and other water sports. This marina would be available to all, whether club members, other boat owners or newcomers to sailing.

The Dun Laoghaire Clubs have a long and impressive record as was highlighted by Martin Crotty Chairman of DLCC at a press briefing recently when he said, "Our expertise will ensure a seamless and painless changeover to a marina operation with people totally familiar with and committed to the business. Our priority is to offer the very best marina facility and operation anywhere on these islands. The ethos of the DLCC proposal is to support the sport of sailing. It is to be completely equal in terms of offerings to the members or non-members of clubs; there will be no preferential treatment for members. Same berth prices, same access to facilities, same potential for becoming involved in training, championships, events and promotions for everyone who is interested in leisure activities in Dun Laoghaire.

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HOLFIELD GROUP IN SECOND PLACING

Richie Holfield used the BTRADA's Wyedean Rally to shakedown his new Ralliart Germany Team Co-ord Sport Mitsubishi Lancer RS Evo V on Saturday, the Dublin driver bringing the factory supported car into second place in Group N and 16th overall at the end of nine gravel stages in South Wales.

Holfield and his Blackburn based co-driver, Ian Grindrod, experimented with suspension settings during the event and despite two spins, one each on the first and fourth stages, the Stillorgan businessman was delighted with the car, describing it as more powerful and much better on the brakes. The duo was joint fastest on the second eight mile stage and were then tremendously encouraged by taking the fastest time in Group N on the final 2.5 mile stage.

"I used the event to explore the limits of the Penthouse supported car" said Holfield. "Following two spins we decided to slacken off the dampers, which turned out to be a retrograde step as we lost another 20 seconds on stages five six and seven. Then for the final two stages, we hardened the suspension back up and were immediately back on the pace, taking the fastest time on stage nine, which really pleased me". With additional support from Holpack Packaging Pumpsets and Mitsubishi Ireland, Holfield added, "The car is everything it is made out to be from Ralliart Germany. The settings of the differential also make a huge difference and with additional power from the engine, I have to really get on top of this car and not let it drive me."

The Wyedean, although a gravel event, uses a substantial amount of clay and sand surfaces, which are by and large very smooth. With the stages relatively short and sharp, and therefore difficult to make up any lost time, Holfield and Grinrod had to settle for second in Group N behind Mark Perrott in another Mitsubishi Evo V. Holfield now looks forward to the opening of the Mintex British National Championship, the mixed surface Bournemouth based Sunseeker Winter Rally, which takes place at the end of the month on February 27th. With valuable mileage experience, Richie said he will be aiming for Group N honours in the UK with the new Ralliart Germany Lancer RS.

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SNOOKER GLORY FOR ST MICHAEL'S CYMS

The Dun Laoghaire Club was full to capacity when the local community came out in force to see the final of the King Laoghaire Snooker Perpetual Trophy Final. Contesting the final, after six long weeks of tough competition between all the local clubs, were The British Legion Club and St Michael's CYMS. Both teams were very evenly matched having beaten off stiff competition to reach the final and after almost four hours of play CYMS emerged victorious. The presentations were followed by a dinner dance and by all accounts the craic was mighty.

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DARAGH BOLTON WINS BRITISH TITLE

At the recent international Martial Arts Tournament in Doncaster, Daragh Bolton Head Instructor in the Stillorgan TaeKwon-Do School Kilmacud took the AIMAA British Championship Title in the patterns section after also winning the AIMAA Irish Champion Title in the AIMAA National

Championships in Wexford in '98. The six man squad representing the Action International Martial Arts Association Ireland, led by the coach Mr Peter Byrne 4th Degree Black Belt from Aughrim Co Wicklow, returned victorious yet again from the AIMAA British Championships in Doncaster England. The Ireland Regional Director for AIMAA Mr John Darcy, who was in the USA training with the Head Instructor and founder of AIMAA based in New Mexico Grand Master Hee il Cho 9th Degree Black Belt, was also very happy with the team performance. The Irish team are now looking forward to the World Championships in Las Vegas in the year 2000 and are training hard in order to achieve top performances at what promises to be a very tough event with over 15 countries competing. For the coming year the entire association of almost 800 students nationwide are looking forward to the visit of Grand Master Cho in June for Black Belt testing and seminars. Anyone interested in joining the Stillorgan TaeKwon-Do junior or senior classes should contact Daragh Bolton at 087-2711767.