Across:
8 Individual (PERSON) takes Chianti out of container ship (takes ‘Chianti’ out of ‘container ship’ = onersp = PERSON),
9 Women’s Institute (Irish Countrywomen’s Association = ICA = ACI-) switches (= reversal indicator) channel (-D RAIN) (ACID RAIN) for the weather forecast – it’s an environmental issue (ACID RAIN),
10 Some of the local stick (BOSS is part of hurley stick) for the one in charge (BOSS),
11 Put away (put away/ lock up = COMMIT-) in the swinger’s bag, of course (-TEES = supports/pegs on golf course), (COMMITTEES), for meeting groups (COMMITTEES),
12 Scott leaves combat boots (‘Scott’ leaves ‘combat boots’ = mbaboo = BAMBOO) in grass (BAMBOO),
14 Pines (LONG S-) for something stolen locally (-HOT) (LONG SHOT) and has no chance of success (LONG SHOT),
15 Most of 11 across (most of ‘committees’ = COMMITTEE) and 8 across (“person” = PERSON) (COMMITTEE PERSON) produced by treasurer (COMMITTEE PERSON),
18 Fade (DA-FE) away (= anagram indicator) after (positional indicator) one for the road (AUTO-) (AUTO-DA-FE) – it’s typical outcome after an inquisition (AUTO-DA-FE),
20 Frenchman (Monsieur = -M-) gets locked in Back (= reversal indicator) Lounge (bar = RA-B-) with the foreign (the = -LE) (RAMBLE) tramp (tramp/hike = RAMBLE),
22 Fresh (NEW) fire (ZEAL-) on rural area (land) didn’t start (l) (‘land’ without ‘l’ = -AND) (NEW ZEALAND) in the country (NEW ZEALAND),
24 Prepare for a number of courses (DINE) in readiness (in readiness = DINE),
25 She clued (she clued = SCHEDULE) puzzle (= anagram indicator) to plan (SCHEDULE),
26 It’s standard (standard/flag = ENSIGN) to conceal children’s ignorance (conceal ‘children’s ignorance’ = ENSIGN).
Down:
1 That’s old hat perhaps (FEDORA) to Iron (iron = FE-) Lady (-DORA) (FEDORA),
2 Contemplates (muses) losing the head (m) (“muses” without “m” = USES) with exercises (USES),
3 Criticise (KNOCK -) contest (bout) starting off (b) (‘bout’ without ‘b’ = -OUT) (KNOCKOUT) with decisive blow (KNOCKOUT),
4 Some coat of arms (some ‘coat of arms’ = FARM) one associates with a number of animals (FARM),
5 Ghost (VISION) picture? (VISION),
6 Opening toast (opening ‘toast’ = T-) with Ruth’s (-RUTH S-) Oriental (east = -E-) spirit (-RUM) (TRUTH SERUM) – that’ll sincerely get them talking (TRUTH SERUM),
7 Advice from the Grim Reaper (TIME TO GO) could mean we’re done here (we’re done here! = TIME TO GO),
13 Deceived (BAMBOOZLED) 12 across (“bamboo” = BAMBOO-) with last letter (-Z-) from the foreign (the = -LE-) department (-D) (BAMBOOZLED),
14 Perjury (LIE-), for example, (e.g. = -GE) raised (= reversal indicator) (LIEGE) by old lord of the manor (LIEGE),
16 Flawed (= anagram indicator) coup (coup = OPU-C-) takes in the French (the = -LE-) Nationalist (-N-) going to Spain (-E) (OPULENCE) with great wealth (OPULENCE),
17 Makes fun of (PARODIES) music (‘rap’ music = PAR-) backtrack (= reversal indicator) on lyrical poetry (-OD-ES) cover single (-I-) (PARODIES),
19 Has an influence on the count (ABACUS), as what’s monitored is not in sodium carbonate (‘monitored’ is not in ‘sodium carbonate’ = sucarba = ABACUS),
21 Genial (genial = LINAGE) doctor (= anagram indicator) is a concern for the editor (LINAGE),
23 Rig leaves Algiers (‘rig’ leaves ‘Algiers’ = ales = ALES) destined for the public houses (ALES),
24 Medicinal amount (DOSE) from bottle of Calvados exhibited (bottle of ‘Calvados exhibited’ = DOSE).