A PROMINENT casino consultant has questioned the sustainability of the proposed €460 million casino and leisure complex in rural Tipperary — saying he personally would not invest in such a project.

SO An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for the construction of a €460 million, 800-acre “Las Vegas-style” sports and leisure complex in Co Tipperary complete with a 500-bedroom five-star hotel, a 6,000sq m casino, an all-weather racecourse, a greyhound track and a golf course.

BUSINESSMAN Richard Quirke unveiled his grand vision for what was quickly dubbed a “Las Vegas-style” development in October 2009 — not the most auspicious of times for the start of a €460 million investment in the middle of Co Tipperary.

SURFERS have thrown into doubt Clare County Council’s plans for a €6 million pier at Doolin for summer 2012.

AN Taisce was last night labelled a secret society.

THE most derided pillar in Irish public administration, the quango, has come to symbolise what is wrong with our bureaucracy.

THE HSE has requested that a baseline health study be completed around Cork Harbour before An Bord Pleanála consider sanctioning a toxic incinerator in Ringaskiddy.

BUSINESS associations along with independent traders’ body, RGDATA, and An Taisce are opposing plans for a €40 million retail park on the outskirts of Clare’s county town.

AN oral hearing to discuss objections to a planned super casino in Tipperary is set to take place on March 8.

THE intensification of use of a contentious quarry would fail to protect the tourism and amenity resources of west Clare, An Bord Pleanála said.

THE redevelopment of a public pier in Doolin is crucial to the tourist industry in the Clare village.

A PUBLIC hearing is to be held to examine a planned €460 million casino and leisure development for Co Tipperary.

PLANS for a revised €6 million pier at Doolin in Co Clare will pose a significant health and safety threat to surfers along with damaging the world famous wave environment at the location.

AS 30,000 objectors in Cork, along with their democratically elected county council, near the tenth anniversary of their struggle against toxic incineration in Cork Harbour, we are alarmed to find no mention of incineration in the Fine Gael manifesto.

THE body that represents almost 1,000 businesses in Cork has called on the incoming Government to adopt its pro-business proposals and introduce sweeping reforms to secure jobs and competitiveness.