Greens give McDonald’s red light over health fears

A GREEN PARTY spokesman is opposing planning permission for a McDonald’s outlet in Ennis because he is worried about children’s diets in the town.

Ennis Town Council was urged yesterday to ascertain the health impacts on its children arising from a McDonald's restaurant proposal before further considering the application.

Last month, the fast food giant which has operated in Ireland for the past 26 years lodged plans with Ennis Town Council to establish its 68th outlet.

However, spokesman for the Clare Green Party, Brian Meaney yesterday said he was "fundamentally opposed" to consideration being given to the plan unless the Council seeks an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from McDonald's on any health impacts the 90-seater drive-thru restaurant could have on Ennis's children.

In a formal objection lodged with the council against the development, Mr Meaney said the plan "to establish a McDonald's restaurant, if granted, will mark a significant departure in the nature of fast food retailing in the Ennis area".

"The town is well served by a variety of locally owned and operated fast food businesses, who do not engage in the child orientated marketing that by passes parents and targets children."

Mr Meaney claims that the "this application if granted will influence the diet of children in the Ennis area and I ask the planning authority to determine what effect this influence will have in the area under their planning control".