sluggerotoole--2020-05-21--Social Security and Covid-19: An inadequate response to crisis…

Lockdown due to the Covid-19 global pandemic has had far reaching consequences for life as we know it .
The economic repercussions will be huge – recent analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility ( OBR ) has shown a 10 percent spike in unemployment , equating to around 2 million more people out of work in the UK .
In the three weeks to 9 April , 45,000 new claims were made for Universal Credit ( UC ) in Northern Ireland putting unprecedented pressure on the social security system .
The situation has also led to renewed debate about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its ability to provide an adequate safety net for citizens .
The digital nature of UC has supported the system to make a majority of payments on time ( around 93 % ) .
This achievement should not be overlooked .
Indeed , Nicholas Timmins , has gone as far as saying that “ this may be the moment when the country becomes grateful for UC ” .
It is true that the digitalised administration and the automated aspects of the system has quite effectively supported the mass payment of claims – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legacy system .
However , this competency should not overshadow the fundamental problems that remain with UC and more broadly , the difficulties that certain groups are having in accessing any form of support during the current crisis .
The Child Poverty Action Group ( CPAG ) , Early Warning System ( which gathers information and case studies from welfare rights advisors about the impact of welfare reform on children and families across the UK ) , has identified the gaps in current provision .
The following groups are completely excluded from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of income as a result of the Covid-19 measures .
• Students who have lost their jobs due to the crisis are not eligible to claim UC if they do not have disabilities or children ; • Couples where one person has lost their job and their partner has their own income or savings ; • Those with no recourse to public funds ; • EU nationals that do not have a right to reside and therefore can not claim means tested benefits ; • Those who are stuck in the UK or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups have no choice but to rely on charitable provision and discretionary welfare schemes which further legitimises and embeds charitable provision , such as foodbanks , into the welfare state ( Garthwaite , 2016 ) .
Furthermore , reality seriously undermines the idea that each member of society should be entitled to at least a “ modicum of economic welfare and security ” ( Marshall and Bottomore , 1992 ) .
Government response to concerns raised by the Westminster Work and Pensions Committee largely invoked now familiar rhetoric on the safety net being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most ” .
This is highly problematic as it overlooks the increased and serious hardship that those who can ’ t access the social security system are very likely to face and flies firmly in the face of the Chancellor ’ s call for “ a collective national effort , with a role for everyone to play – people , businesses and government ” .
Department for Work and Pensions Ministers have put much emphasis on the increase to the standard allowance in UC by £20 per week , bringing the rate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
However , as CPAG and others have highlighted , those who are subject to the Benefit Cap will not see any increase in their income .
The Resolution Foundation has predicted that a couple with two children in a three bedroom property will be affected by the cap in 107 of 152 local areas in England in Wales .
In Northern Ireland , the Minister for Communities confirmed that all current welfare reform mitigation measures will continue , including mitigation payments in respect of the Benefit Cap .
The £23 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the annual budget has been assessed by Reed and Portes ( 2019 ) as insufficient .
They put the cost of offsetting just the Bedroom Tax and the Benefit Cap at £25 million pounds .
It ’ s also important to note that their economic modelling was carried out pre-crisis and does not take into account the significant increase in UC claims .
Reflecting on the mitigation package , UN Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty , Philip Alston ( 2018 ) said “ mitigation comes at a price and is not sustainable…every pound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from other vital services ” .
Despite an admission by UC Director , Neil Couling , that it was not difficult to raise the level of the Benefit Cap , the government has not yet announced any plans to do so , therefore Northern Ireland will have to continue to pay a price to protect those impacted and it ’ s unclear how far the budget will stretch as this cost will undoubtedly be pitted against competing priorities in the wake of the crisis .
The new social security measures have brought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those already claiming UC and those who have more recently had to claim due to Covid-19 .
For example , those who recently claimed UC will feel the benefit of the £20 uplift if they previously earned £570 or more per month for at least 12 months .
This is because they will have a nine month “ grace period ” , before the cap applies .
As Mark Simpson points out “ the government continues to play off the interests of ‘ undeserving ’ benefit claimants against ‘ hard-working taxpayers ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ contribute to the labour market are considered a little more deserving .
They still have to weather the “ five week wait ” , but Ministers were keen to point out to the Work and Pensions Committee that 30 % of new claimants were opting to take an Advance Payment ( a loan which is deducted from subsequent payments ) , indicating a reduction in uptake – it is normally around fifty percent .
DWP representatives explained that new claimants were more likely to have their own financial safety net and did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which seems to more neatly fit the Conservative claimant mould .
However , this group ’ s current virtuous status may be short lived as restrictions are eventually lifted and the government ’ s emphasis on the importance of gainful employment conditionality measures return .
Looking ahead , and beyond the government ’ s approach , Peter Taylor Gooby has contemplated that the rise in claimants who have not previously relied on the social security system , may change overall attitudes to benefit claimants as they directly experience trying to survive on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might support a case for change as more people become aware of the difficulties that those at the bottom of society encounter .
Collective action from the public is needed to highlight the consequences of not mitigating increased inequalities that are likely to result from the current crisis .
It is crucial that we , as social scientists , play our part in creating a ground-swell for change .
Bothwell , E. ( 2020 ) ‘ Could welfare state research rise from the rubble of Covid-19 ?
’ Times Higher Education , 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 29 April ] Child Poverty Action Group , Early Warning System ( 2020 ) ‘ Mind the Gaps : Reporting on Families ’ Income During the Pandemic ’ , 16 April : https : //cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/policypost/CPAG-mind-the-gaps-briefing-16-April.pdf [ accessed , 29 April 2020 ] Department for Communities ( 2020 ) , Statement to Assembly Covid-19 Ad Hoc Committee : Minister for Communities , Deirdre Hargey MLA , 9 April : https : //www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/statement-assembly-covid-19-ad-hoc-committee-minister-communities-deirdre-hargey-mla [ accessed , 29 April 2020 ] Office of the High Commissioner , UNHR ( 2018 ) ‘ Statement on Visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philip Alston , United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights ’ , 16 November : https : //www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx ?
NewsID=23881 & LangID=E [ accessed , 29 April 2020 ] Reed , H. and Portes , J .
( 2019 ) ‘ Cumulative impact assessment of tax and social security reforms in Northern Ireland ’ Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission , https : //www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx ?
NewsID=23881 & LangID=E [ accessed , 29 April 2020 ] Speech by Rishi Sunak , Chancellor of the Exchequer on coronavirus , 20 March 2020 https @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 ] Timmins , N. ( 2020 ) ‘ Coronavirus is giving Universal Credit its moment in the sun ’ Institute for Government , 2 April : https : //www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/universal-credit-coronavirus [ accessed , 29 April 2020 ] Work and Pensions Committee ( 2020 ) , ‘ DWP ’ s response to the coronavirus crisis ’ Parliament TV , 23 April : https : //www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/86ed5d4f-9daf-40b0-9b97-384ddc6cc897 [ accessed , 29 April 2020 ] Ciara Fitzpatrick is a lecturer at Ulster University , School of Law .
She previously worked as Policy and Research Officer at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contemporary social security system .
Photo by aitoff is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

By Ciara Fitzpatrick, Ulster University, School of Law
Lockdown due to the Covid-19 global pandemic has had far reaching consequences for life as we know it. The economic repercussions will be huge – recent analysis by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has shown a 10 percent spike in unemployment, equating to around 2 million more people out of work in the UK. In the three weeks to 9 April, 45,000 new claims were made for Universal Credit (UC) in Northern Ireland putting unprecedented pressure on the social security system. The situation has also led to renewed debate about the limits of our social security system and its ability to provide an adequate safety net for citizens.
The digital nature of UC has supported the system to make a majority of payments on time (around 93%). This achievement should not be overlooked. Indeed, Nicholas Timmins, has gone as far as saying that “this may be the moment when the country becomes grateful for UC”. It is true that the digitalised administration and the automated aspects of the system has quite effectively supported the mass payment of claims – which would not have been possible under the legacy system. However, this competency should not overshadow the fundamental problems that remain with UC and more broadly, the difficulties that certain groups are having in accessing any form of support during the current crisis.
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), Early Warning System (which gathers information and case studies from welfare rights advisors about the impact of welfare reform on children and families across the UK), has identified the gaps in current provision. The following groups are completely excluded from claiming UC despite experiencing a sudden loss of income as a result of the Covid-19 measures.
Students who have lost their jobs due to the crisis are not eligible to claim UC if they do not have disabilities or children;
Couples where one person has lost their job and their partner has their own income or savings;
Those with no recourse to public funds;
EU nationals that do not have a right to reside and therefore cannot claim means tested benefits;
Those who are stuck in the UK or abroad due to travel restrictions.
These groups have no choice but to rely on charitable provision and discretionary welfare schemes which further legitimises and embeds charitable provision, such as foodbanks, into the welfare state (Garthwaite, 2016). Furthermore, reality seriously undermines the idea that each member of society should be entitled to at least a “modicum of economic welfare and security” (Marshall and Bottomore, 1992). Government response to concerns raised by the Westminster Work and Pensions Committee largely invoked now familiar rhetoric on the safety net being reserved for “those who need it most”. This is highly problematic as it overlooks the increased and serious hardship that those who can’t access the social security system are very likely to face and flies firmly in the face of the Chancellor’s call for “a collective national effort, with a role for everyone to play – people, businesses and government”.
Department for Work and Pensions Ministers have put much emphasis on the increase to the standard allowance in UC by £20 per week, bringing the rate in line with Statutory Sick Pay (SSP). However, as CPAG and others have highlighted, those who are subject to the Benefit Cap will not see any increase in their income. The Resolution Foundation has predicted that a couple with two children in a three bedroom property will be affected by the cap in 107 of 152 local areas in England in Wales. In Northern Ireland, the Minister for Communities confirmed that all current welfare reform mitigation measures will continue, including mitigation payments in respect of the Benefit Cap. The £23 million pounds allocated by the Department of Finance in the annual budget has been assessed by Reed and Portes (2019) as insufficient. They put the cost of offsetting just the Bedroom Tax and the Benefit Cap at £25 million pounds. It’s also important to note that their economic modelling was carried out pre-crisis and does not take into account the significant increase in UC claims. Reflecting on the mitigation package, UN Rapporteur for Extreme Poverty, Philip Alston (2018) said “mitigation comes at a price and is not sustainable…every pound spent on off-setting cuts means taking away from other vital services”. Despite an admission by UC Director, Neil Couling, that it was not difficult to raise the level of the Benefit Cap, the government has not yet announced any plans to do so, therefore Northern Ireland will have to continue to pay a price to protect those impacted and it’s unclear how far the budget will stretch as this cost will undoubtedly be pitted against competing priorities in the wake of the crisis.
The new social security measures have brought to the fore a new dividing line between those already claiming UC and those who have more recently had to claim due to Covid-19. For example, those who recently claimed UC will feel the benefit of the £20 uplift if they previously earned £570 or more per month for at least 12 months. This is because they will have a nine month “grace period”, before the cap applies. As Mark Simpson points out “the government continues to play off the interests of ‘undeserving’ benefit claimants against ‘hard-working taxpayers”. Those who have recently been unable to contribute to the labour market are considered a little more deserving. They still have to weather the “five week wait”, but Ministers were keen to point out to the Work and Pensions Committee that 30% of new claimants were opting to take an Advance Payment (a loan which is deducted from subsequent payments), indicating a reduction in uptake – it is normally around fifty percent. DWP representatives explained that new claimants were more likely to have their own financial safety net and did not need additional financial assistance – a group which seems to more neatly fit the Conservative claimant mould. However, this group’s current virtuous status may be short lived as restrictions are eventually lifted and the government’s emphasis on the importance of gainful employment conditionality measures return.
Looking ahead, and beyond the government’s approach, Peter Taylor Gooby has contemplated that the rise in claimants who have not previously relied on the social security system, may change overall attitudes to benefit claimants as they directly experience trying to survive on a very low income. This in turn might support a case for change as more people become aware of the difficulties that those at the bottom of society encounter. Collective action from the public is needed to highlight the consequences of not mitigating increased inequalities that are likely to result from the current crisis. It is crucial that we, as social scientists, play our part in creating a ground-swell for change.
References:
Bell, T. (2020) ‘Exiting the economic show’, Resolution Foundation, 10 April: https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/comment/exiting-the-economic-shock/ [accessed, 29 April]
Bothwell, E. (2020) ‘Could welfare state research rise from the rubble of Covid-19?’ Times Higher Education, 28 April: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/could-welfare-state-research-rise-rubble-covid-19 [accessed, 29 April]
Child Poverty Action Group, Early Warning System (2020) ‘Mind the Gaps: Reporting on Families’ Income During the Pandemic’, 16 April: https://cpag.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/policypost/CPAG-mind-the-gaps-briefing-16-April.pdf [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Department for Communities (2020), Statement to Assembly Covid-19 Ad Hoc Committee: Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey MLA, 9 April: https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/news/statement-assembly-covid-19-ad-hoc-committee-minister-communities-deirdre-hargey-mla [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Garthwaite, K. (2016) Hunger Pains, Policy Press: Bristol
Marshall, T.H. and Bottomore, T. (1992) Citizenship and Social Class, Pluto Press: London
Office for Budget Responsibility (2020), ‘Coronavirus reference scenario: The OBR’s coronavirus analysis’, 14 April 2020 https://obr.uk/coronavirus-reference-scenario/ [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Office of the High Commissioner, UNHR (2018) ‘Statement on Visit to the United Kingdom, by Professor Philip Alston, United Nations Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights’, 16 November: https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23881&LangID=E [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Reed, H. and Portes, J. (2019) ‘Cumulative impact assessment of tax and social security reforms in Northern Ireland’ Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, https://www.ohchr.org/en/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=23881&LangID=E [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Simpson, M. (2020) ‘The Social Security Response to Covid-19: Read the Small Print’ Discovering Society, 2 April: https://discoversociety.org/2020/04/02/the-social-security-response-to-covid-19-read-the-small-print/?fbclid=IwAR1ItcUWukKoa4NmT9wxJwcgEq73ffCV2YAn2ybCuddlmul8bHL2dHrTpUA [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Speech by Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer on coronavirus, 20 March 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/the-chancellor-rishi-sunak-provides-an-updated-statement-on-coronavirus [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Timmins, N. (2020) ‘Coronavirus is giving Universal Credit its moment in the sun’ Institute for Government, 2 April: https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/universal-credit-coronavirus [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Work and Pensions Committee (2020), ‘DWP’s response to the coronavirus crisis’ Parliament TV, 23 April: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/86ed5d4f-9daf-40b0-9b97-384ddc6cc897 [accessed, 29 April 2020]
Ciara Fitzpatrick is a lecturer at Ulster University, School of Law. She previously worked as Policy and Research Officer at Law Centre NI. She researches the contemporary social security system.
ARK Feature Number 14 May 2020 www.ark.ac.uk
Photo by aitoff is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-05-22--Time for a ‘whole of government’ approach to ending paramilitary criminality?

More than a year after the slaughter of Lyra McKee in Derry , Kieran Wylie was shot dead in his home in Lenadoon this week in front of his two daughters .
At the same time , journalists are getting threats from loyalist and dissident paramilitaries .
He ’ s not the first to be gunned down like this .
Without anyone being consulted we seem to have arrived at a latter-day policy of an ‘ acceptable level of violence ’ as regards a paramilitary culture that continues to thrive in our most disadvantaged communities .
Instead of direct government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of condemnation ’ just so long as the violence stays in the impoverished heartlands which bred the original this culture of ‘ resistance ’ in the first place .
The search for Lyra ’ s murderer remains a distant hope .
The Independent Reporting Commission in its first and second reports outlines clear “ criminal justice responses needed to end paramilitarism and criminality ” .
It recommends targeting criminals , rather than disrupting the lives of their victims .
To echo a former Labour Prime Minister it boils down to tackling paramilitaries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IRC recommends both supportive measures such as tackling poor education outcomes but also more direct putative measures .
It also points out that it needs a whole of government approach with someone senior in Stormont being accountable for the restoration of normal justice procedures , on a basis of criminality rather than under the heading of political suppression .
When police deliver a threat against journalists or indeed many others their lives are turned upside down .
But , as we ’ ve seen in the past , when the police do go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political cover from politicians who represent such areas .
When it gets serious , some politicians have a pronounced tendency to run for the hills and let the cops take the flack .
Yet these “ coercive controllers ” are not popular with the communities in which they operate , whether loyalists or dissident republicans .
It ’ s can ’ t be left to good bottom-up community work .
The IRC recommends top-down pressure via recovery of assets , unexplained wealth orders , and new offences to tackle organised crime alongside a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the business .
If there ’ s no policy , there ’ s no political will nor any serious intent to tackle the misery that the good people in many of Northern Ireland ’ s most deprived wards struggle to get through on a day by day basis .
Perhaps it is time to put the whole of government approach we ’ ve witnessed to Covid 19 to other long term issues from one of the most shaming legacies of the Troubles and unfinished business of the Belfast Agreement ?
Or we could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Photo by Alexas_Fotos is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA

More than a year after the slaughter of Lyra McKee in Derry, Kieran Wylie was shot dead in his home in Lenadoon this week in front of his two daughters. At the same time, journalists are getting threats from loyalist and dissident paramilitaries.
He’s not the first to be gunned down like this. Without anyone being consulted we seem to have arrived at a latter-day policy of an ‘acceptable level of violence’ as regards a paramilitary culture that continues to thrive in our most disadvantaged communities.
Instead of direct government action, we have the ‘politics of condemnation’ just so long as the violence stays in the impoverished heartlands which bred the original this culture of ‘resistance’ in the first place. The search for Lyra’s murderer remains a distant hope.
The Independent Reporting Commission in its first and second reports outlines clear “criminal justice responses needed to end paramilitarism and criminality”. It recommends targeting criminals, rather than disrupting the lives of their victims.
To echo a former Labour Prime Minister it boils down to tackling paramilitaries, and the causes of paramilitaries. The IRC recommends both supportive measures such as tackling poor education outcomes but also more direct putative measures.
It also points out that it needs a whole of government approach with someone senior in Stormont being accountable for the restoration of normal justice procedures, on a basis of criminality rather than under the heading of political suppression.
When police deliver a threat against journalists or indeed many others their lives are turned upside down. But, as we’ve seen in the past, when the police do go direct they run the risk of losing political cover from politicians who represent such areas.
When it gets serious, some politicians have a pronounced tendency to run for the hills and let the cops take the flack. Yet these “coercive controllers” are not popular with the communities in which they operate, whether loyalists or dissident republicans.
It’s can’t be left to good bottom-up community work. The IRC recommends top-down pressure via recovery of assets, unexplained wealth orders, and new offences to tackle organised crime alongside a transition process for those wanting out of the business.
If there’s no policy, there’s no political will nor any serious intent to tackle the misery that the good people in many of Northern Ireland’s most deprived wards struggle to get through on a day by day basis.
Perhaps it is time to put the whole of government approach we’ve witnessed to Covid 19 to other long term issues from one of the most shaming legacies of the Troubles and unfinished business of the Belfast Agreement? Or we could at least try to have the debate.
Photo by Alexas_Fotos is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA


sluggerotoole--2020-05-22--Slugger TV – the devolved nations fightback episode

This month , in episode 38 , Slugger O ’ Toole ’ s deputy editor David McCann talks to Irish @ @ @ @ @ Andersontown News columnist Andrée Murphy about the performance of the Northern Ireland Executive , the @ @ @ @ @ strategies to ease the COVID-19 lockdown , and the Irish Government ’ s lack of @ @ @ @ @ .
Edited by Alan Meban and also broadcast ( as a slightly shorter 30 minute @ @ @ @ @ s community TV channel NvTv tonight at 20:35 .

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sluggerotoole--2020-05-22--Playlist: Whatever gets you through the lockdown night…?

For us , this is a special ‘ giving birth ’ tune , and listening to it tonight brought back @ @ @ @ @ a parent ( again ) .
If you ’ re happy to do so , @ @ @ @ @ whatever tunes or music has helped you get through these strange days… “ Tango de @ @ @ @ @ Emociones – San Rafael ” by Ministerio de Cultura de la Nación is licensed under @ @


sluggerotoole--2020-05-22--Preventing the Millennials becoming ‘Generation Unemployment’

Everyone is massively inconvenienced and distressed by the impact of the coronavirus .
The consequences for our health workers and other essential workers have been immense .
I hope that as we go forward we will ensure they are properly valued , supported and paid .
But I am also very worried about the prospects for our young adults .
Those people leaving school to seek work this summer , and those finishing at college and university , are facing the most severe challenges of any generation since the Second World War .
After the recession a decade ago , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then entering the labour market to get to somewhere near where they would have been without the recession .
In earlier recessions , some of the school leavers became permanently disadvantaged in the labour market – unable to ever obtain good jobs that were well paid .
There is more than enough proof of that across the north today amongst people who are no longer young .
Entering the labour market during a recession is likely to permanently damage an individual ’ s pay .
There is no simple solution to this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults looking to enter the labour market today is – don ’ t .
Instead , they should seek new training and education courses , which build their skills while also delaying entry into the weakest labour market in living memory .
Possibly worse even than during the terrible days of the Troubles .
So we need the Northern Ireland Executive and the Department for the Economy to recognise the need for more training facilities for young adults .
They need to work closely with our colleges , universities and schools to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to strengthen their skills base , giving them a better chance of a good job at the end of this crisis .
And this should include apprenticeships .
Too often in Northern Ireland , we focus on degrees and academic ambitions , overlooking the desperate need for better vocational skills .
Northern Ireland ’ s large businesses are required to pay into the UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy , yet Northern Ireland does not get its fair share of spending on apprenticeships .
This has to be a priority for government here immediately as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apprenticeships provide an opportunity for young adults – and older workers – to earn while they learn .
This opportunity must be grasped .
The Covid-19 crisis has been a time for us all to reflect on what we value .
One of the few benefits of the crisis has been the reduction in environmental damage caused by modern society .
That , in turn , underlines the importance of one of the SDLP ’ s core policy priorities – the Green New Deal .
We want the Green New Deal as an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make them more environmentally efficient , reducing the cost as well as the harm from heating buildings .
We have the opportunity today to use this crisis to create training programmes that are part of the Green New Deal , improving our housing stock while building skills in our young adults .
We know from our own history what happens when young people become disenchanted and overlooked .
We must build a better future for them .
That means we have to be focused on what is best for our young adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is our young adults that are the future .
Let us do right by them .

Everyone is massively inconvenienced and distressed by the impact of the coronavirus. The consequences for our health workers and other essential workers have been immense. I hope that as we go forward we will ensure they are properly valued, supported and paid.
But I am also very worried about the prospects for our young adults.
Those people leaving school to seek work this summer, and those finishing at college and university, are facing the most severe challenges of any generation since the Second World War. After the recession a decade ago, it took eight years for the generation then entering the labour market to get to somewhere near where they would have been without the recession.
In earlier recessions, some of the school leavers became permanently disadvantaged in the labour market – unable to ever obtain good jobs that were well paid. There is more than enough proof of that across the north today amongst people who are no longer young. Entering the labour market during a recession is likely to permanently damage an individual’s pay.
There is no simple solution to this, but the best advice to those young adults looking to enter the labour market today is – don’t. Instead, they should seek new training and education courses, which build their skills while also delaying entry into the weakest labour market in living memory. Possibly worse even than during the terrible days of the Troubles.
So we need the Northern Ireland Executive and the Department for the Economy to recognise the need for more training facilities for young adults. They need to work closely with our colleges, universities and schools to provide additional opportunities and facilities for young adults to strengthen their skills base, giving them a better chance of a good job at the end of this crisis.
And this should include apprenticeships. Too often in Northern Ireland, we focus on degrees and academic ambitions, overlooking the desperate need for better vocational skills. Northern Ireland’s large businesses are required to pay into the UK-wide Apprenticeship Levy, yet Northern Ireland does not get its fair share of spending on apprenticeships. This has to be a priority for government here immediately as we seek to improve our skills base.
Apprenticeships provide an opportunity for young adults – and older workers – to earn while they learn. This opportunity must be grasped.
The Covid-19 crisis has been a time for us all to reflect on what we value. One of the few benefits of the crisis has been the reduction in environmental damage caused by modern society. That, in turn, underlines the importance of one of the SDLP’s core policy priorities – the Green New Deal.
We want the Green New Deal as an investment into our society and our homes to make them more environmentally efficient, reducing the cost as well as the harm from heating buildings. We have the opportunity today to use this crisis to create training programmes that are part of the Green New Deal, improving our housing stock while building skills in our young adults.
We know from our own history what happens when young people become disenchanted and overlooked. We must build a better future for them. That means we have to be focused on what is best for our young adults – despite everything else that is happening.
It is our young adults that are the future. Let us do right by them.
Sinead McLaughlin MLA
SDLP spokesperson for the economy


sluggerotoole--2020-05-23--If I had to do lockdown again, I would cut back on media…

In my younger years , I used to backpack around the world .
One time I met an Australian girl who mentioned that she never consumed any news at all .
This has always stuck in my mind .
I was amazed and asked her was she not worried about missing out on anything important ?
Her insightful reply was that if it were important enough people would tell her .
She gave the example of 9/11 .
The day after 9/11 , someone said to her ‘ Did you hear what happened ?
’ , and filled her in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is true : people do have an urge to share news with other people .
I have been thinking about her sage-like advice over the past few weeks .
I feel utterly burned out .
My self-analysis is it is not the stress of dealing with the virus but following the media all around it that has melted my head .
I have overdosed on media like a starlet at a cocaine party .
I subscribed to the Irish News , The New York Times , The Irish Times , The Economist .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ sites like the BBC and The Guardian .
Don ’ t get me started on Twitter .
I have had an account there for over ten years now .
I always avoided getting sucked into the void as I could always see its addictive potential .
Twitter is crack cocaine for news junkies – non-stop hits perfectly designed to target your dopamine receptors .
You feel like a rat pressing the lever in a skinner box .
As the saying goes using Twitter is like trying to take a drink from a firehose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marketing ; I know how all this works .
I know all about variable rewards .
Twitter is a slot machine of news – pull the lever and watch the dials spin .
I have read Indistractable and Digital Minimalism .
I know what I am meant to do , but there is nothing like a pandemic to make you fall off the wagon .
Being well-read and up on the news is a massive part of our cultural capital .
It is seen as the mark of a good citizen to always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be up to date with what is going in the world .
But like most things , you can have too much of a good thing .
The issue is the sheer quantity of news and information in the modern world .
We get more news fired at us every day than our grandparents would have gotten in a year .
As humans , we are designed to always to be looking at our environment .
Looking for threats – but the daily information tsunami is overwhelming us .
TV News is particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV in over ten years now ; we just stream the things we want to watch .
Occasionally I will be in my parent ’ s house , and I will catch the news if they are watching it .
When you go back to the news after not watching it for a while , you soon see it looks feckin ’ terrifying .
Dramatic music , fast cuts , the slow deep tones of the presenters telling you the latest doom .
You could get PTSD just from watching it .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to turn off the firehose .
When I get up in the mornings now I make a cup of tea and read a book .
I don ’ t look at the internet at all for at least two hours .
My general goal is to reduce the noise .
We are at a non-stop all you can eat buffet – our goal is to resist the temptation not to overeat .
It is probably unrealistic to avoid all media but you can try an information diet for a week .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off social media .
If you can ’ t give up Twitter , try setting a daily limit or only looking at it at a fixed time , e.g .
for ten minutes after your dinner .
You can use the screentime controls on your phone to enforce limits .
• Don ’ t read any online news .
You can still read Slugger because we only have a few posts a day .
• Buy a physical paper .
A newspaper does a great job of digesting the news and giving it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It does not have the breaking news !
Real-time updates !
of the internet and it is all the better for it .
• Listen to podcasts – I prefer to listen to someone calmly explain their views over an hour-long podcast rather than the rushed approach of traditional media .
• Read a magazine – like a paper , a magazine can be more reflective and informative .
• Listen to music – nothing like a good tune to calm the soul .
• Go for lots of walks – walking clears @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firehose of information , you will be amazed by how calmer you feel after a few days .
Your goal is to improve your focus so you can read a book for more than five minutes without reaching for your phone .
Paradoxically you will feel more informed by reducing your information intake .
Too much information and choice have a paralysing effect , as anyone who has ever tried to pick an ice cream flavour from the 30 on offer at Maud ’ s knows .
Giving your brain time to process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the trees .
Even if you think you have a healthy approach to media , give the information diet a try .
You might be surprised by the results .
“ Abstraktes Bild ( Nº 635 ) ( 1987 ) – Gerhard Richter ( 1932 ) ” by pedrosimoes7 is licensed under CC BY

In my younger years, I used to backpack around the world. One time I met an Australian girl who mentioned that she never consumed any news at all. This has always stuck in my mind. I was amazed and asked her was she not worried about missing out on anything important? Her insightful reply was that if it were important enough people would tell her.
She gave the example of 9/11. The day after 9/11, someone said to her ‘Did you hear what happened?’, and filled her in with all the key details. It is true: people do have an urge to share news with other people.
I have been thinking about her sage-like advice over the past few weeks. I feel utterly burned out. My self-analysis is it is not the stress of dealing with the virus but following the media all around it that has melted my head.
I have overdosed on media like a starlet at a cocaine party. I subscribed to the Irish News, The New York Times, The Irish Times, The Economist. This is on top of following free sites like the BBC and The Guardian.
Don’t get me started on Twitter. I have had an account there for over ten years now. I always avoided getting sucked into the void as I could always see its addictive potential. Twitter is crack cocaine for news junkies – non-stop hits perfectly designed to target your dopamine receptors. You feel like a rat pressing the lever in a skinner box. As the saying goes using Twitter is like trying to take a drink from a firehose.
I work in the Internet and Marketing; I know how all this works. I know all about variable rewards. Twitter is a slot machine of news – pull the lever and watch the dials spin.
I have read Indistractable and Digital Minimalism. I know what I am meant to do, but there is nothing like a pandemic to make you fall off the wagon.
Being well-read and up on the news is a massive part of our cultural capital. It is seen as the mark of a good citizen to always be involved in public discourse and to be up to date with what is going in the world. But like most things, you can have too much of a good thing.
The issue is the sheer quantity of news and information in the modern world. We get more news fired at us every day than our grandparents would have gotten in a year. As humans, we are designed to always to be looking at our environment. Looking for threats – but the daily information tsunami is overwhelming us.
TV News is particularly harmful. I have not had live TV in over ten years now; we just stream the things we want to watch. Occasionally I will be in my parent’s house, and I will catch the news if they are watching it. When you go back to the news after not watching it for a while, you soon see it looks feckin’ terrifying. Dramatic music, fast cuts, the slow deep tones of the presenters telling you the latest doom. You could get PTSD just from watching it.
The past week I have been making an effort to turn off the firehose. When I get up in the mornings now I make a cup of tea and read a book. I don’t look at the internet at all for at least two hours. My general goal is to reduce the noise. We are at a non-stop all you can eat buffet – our goal is to resist the temptation not to overeat.
It is probably unrealistic to avoid all media but you can try an information diet for a week. It is simple to try:
Don’t watch any TV news
Don’t listen to radio news or debate shows
Stay off social media. If you can’t give up Twitter, try setting a daily limit or only looking at it at a fixed time, e.g. for ten minutes after your dinner. You can use the screentime controls on your phone to enforce limits.
Don’t read any online news. You can still read Slugger because we only have a few posts a day.
Do:
Buy a physical paper. A newspaper does a great job of digesting the news and giving it to you in a calmer style. It does not have the breaking news! Real-time updates! of the internet and it is all the better for it.
Listen to podcasts – I prefer to listen to someone calmly explain their views over an hour-long podcast rather than the rushed approach of traditional media.
Read a magazine – like a paper, a magazine can be more reflective and informative.
Listen to music – nothing like a good tune to calm the soul.
Go for lots of walks – walking clears the head.
By turning down the firehose of information, you will be amazed by how calmer you feel after a few days. Your goal is to improve your focus so you can read a book for more than five minutes without reaching for your phone.
Paradoxically you will feel more informed by reducing your information intake. Too much information and choice have a paralysing effect, as anyone who has ever tried to pick an ice cream flavour from the 30 on offer at Maud’s knows. Giving your brain time to process things helps you see the wood from the trees.
Even if you think you have a healthy approach to media, give the information diet a try. You might be surprised by the results.
“Abstraktes Bild (Nº 635) (1987) – Gerhard Richter (1932)” by pedrosimoes7 is licensed under CC BY


sluggerotoole--2020-05-23--The coronavirus remote working boom has made many modern offices obsolete and the impact on the econ

The coronavirus remote working boom has made many modern offices obsolete and the impact on the economy will be profound

The announcement this week by Facebook that they would begin to allow most employees to work remotely was among many this week from technology companies announcing similar moves towards remote working .
The coronavirus outbreak has seen a massive increase in the number of people working from home .
In 2019 , only 5 % of the UK workforce worked exclusively from home .
In April 2020 , 39 % of workers worked only at home , and whilst this has fallen to 33 % over the last couple of weeks the high rate of home working can be expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The pivot to remote working amongst technology companies is likely to have a significant impact on Ireland , and Dublin in particular .
Dublin has approximately 3.7 million m2 of office space , up from around 1 million m2 in 1990 .
Technology companies have driven the majority of take up of office space in Dublin over the last few years ( 56 % in 2019 ) , and much of the growth in office take-up has been driven by large transactions such as Facebook ( 81,000 m2 ) , Salesforce , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The move to remote working is likely to have a significant impact on demand for new office space in the city .
Over one in five of the 2.4m workers in the Republic of Ireland work in Dublin , with 6 % of the working population commuting to Dublin for work .
The growth of employment opportunities in Dublin city has contributed towards a massive increase in the cost of living in the city , with the average cost of a property in Dublin having increased by 56 % over the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the largest issue facing voters in Dublin at the recent general election , with 49 % of respondents to a Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll in the city listing housing as their number one priority , ahead of health ( 27 % ) , climate change ( 10 % ) and the economy ( 8 % ) .
The housing issue has been a key driver behind the rise of Sinn Féin as an electoral force .
The abrupt spike in remote working caused by the coronavirus pandemic has caused many years ’ worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and an increase in new jobs being available to remote workers could lead to a decrease in demand for housing and commuting to large cities .
There are several reasons why this could be a welcome development .
Ireland has significant problems with rural depopulation .
A campaign by a village in County Cavan to attract families to move is symptomatic of population decline in many rural areas .
The increasing available of fast broadband will increasingly make it less necessary for jobs to require physical proximity to large cities , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the country , reducing carbon emissions from commuting , decreasing the cost of living in cities and improving the quality of life for those who have to commute long distances to work .
However , the rise of remote work could start to bring increased competition for employment opportunities between countries as well as between regions .
Facebook have announced that they will be adjusting pay for those who choose to live in less expensive areas than San Francisco ’ s Bay Area , and as many more roles become geographically flexible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where employees live is likely to become more prevalent .
On a worldwide basis , salaries in Ireland and the UK are high .
A typical annual salary for a Data Scientist might be $ 135,000 in San Francisco , $ 70,000 in Dublin , $ 13,000 in India and $ 5,000 in Nigeria .
Increasingly , middle class professionals in developed economies will find themselves increasingly afflicted by the same issues faced by their blue-collar counterparts .
The forces of globalization could start to see more high skill work migrate from developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of traditional industries has driven a rise in populist politics in countries such as the United States and the UK , and the remote working boom could well exacerbate these forces .
There are other problems with a mass move to remote working that will need to be addressed .
For example , the remote working boom could exacerbate problems with gender equality ; data has shown that women do three times more housework than men where both partners work full-time , and women who work remotely spend more hours per week on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
The coronavirus pandemic may well be looked back on as an inflection point in history .
Over the space of just a few weeks , huge swathes of the world economy have been put on ice , and many aspects of the pre-2020 economy may simply never return .
The rise of remote working will pose fundamental questions regarding how we live our lives and how the economy is structured .
Whether a better society emerges from the ashes of the pre-pandemic economy will require rapid solutions to questions that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poses a far greater existential threat to our civilization than the pandemic .
However , the response to the crisis will likely dictate whether we will be able to pull together to crush the carbon emission curve , or whether we will descend into fractious squabbling as our way of life plunges towards the abyss .
“ File : Man Working at his Laptop on the Couch Cartoon Vector.svg ” by VideoPlasty is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

The announcement this week by Facebook that they would begin to allow most employees to work remotely was among many this week from technology companies announcing similar moves towards remote working.
The coronavirus outbreak has seen a massive increase in the number of people working from home. In 2019, only 5% of the UK workforce worked exclusively from home. In April 2020, 39% of workers worked only at home, and whilst this has fallen to 33% over the last couple of weeks the high rate of home working can be expected to remain high for some time.
The pivot to remote working amongst technology companies is likely to have a significant impact on Ireland, and Dublin in particular. Dublin has approximately 3.7 million m2 of office space, up from around 1 million m2 in 1990.
Technology companies have driven the majority of take up of office space in Dublin over the last few years (56% in 2019), and much of the growth in office take-up has been driven by large transactions such as Facebook (81,000 m2), Salesforce, and LinkedIn (both around 40,000 m2). The move to remote working is likely to have a significant impact on demand for new office space in the city.
Over one in five of the 2.4m workers in the Republic of Ireland work in Dublin, with 6% of the working population commuting to Dublin for work. The growth of employment opportunities in Dublin city has contributed towards a massive increase in the cost of living in the city, with the average cost of a property in Dublin having increased by 56% over the last ten years.
Housing was by far the largest issue facing voters in Dublin at the recent general election, with 49% of respondents to a Irish Times/Ipsos MRBI poll in the city listing housing as their number one priority, ahead of health (27%), climate change (10%) and the economy (8%). The housing issue has been a key driver behind the rise of Sinn Féin as an electoral force.
The abrupt spike in remote working caused by the coronavirus pandemic has caused many years’ worth of social change to happen virtually overnight, and an increase in new jobs being available to remote workers could lead to a decrease in demand for housing and commuting to large cities.
There are several reasons why this could be a welcome development. Ireland has significant problems with rural depopulation. A campaign by a village in County Cavan to attract families to move is symptomatic of population decline in many rural areas.
The increasing available of fast broadband will increasingly make it less necessary for jobs to require physical proximity to large cities, which could have positive developments for spreading wealth across the country, reducing carbon emissions from commuting, decreasing the cost of living in cities and improving the quality of life for those who have to commute long distances to work.
However, the rise of remote work could start to bring increased competition for employment opportunities between countries as well as between regions. Facebook have announced that they will be adjusting pay for those who choose to live in less expensive areas than San Francisco’s Bay Area, and as many more roles become geographically flexible the trend of salaries varying depending on where employees live is likely to become more prevalent.
On a worldwide basis, salaries in Ireland and the UK are high. A typical annual salary for a Data Scientist might be $135,000 in San Francisco, $70,000 in Dublin, $13,000 in India and $5,000 in Nigeria. Increasingly, middle class professionals in developed economies will find themselves increasingly afflicted by the same issues faced by their blue-collar counterparts. The forces of globalization could start to see more high skill work migrate from developed economies to poorer countries.
The decline of traditional industries has driven a rise in populist politics in countries such as the United States and the UK, and the remote working boom could well exacerbate these forces.
There are other problems with a mass move to remote working that will need to be addressed. For example, the remote working boom could exacerbate problems with gender equality; data has shown that women do three times more housework than men where both partners work full-time, and women who work remotely spend more hours per week on childcare than those who work at an office.
The coronavirus pandemic may well be looked back on as an inflection point in history. Over the space of just a few weeks, huge swathes of the world economy have been put on ice, and many aspects of the pre-2020 economy may simply never return.
The rise of remote working will pose fundamental questions regarding how we live our lives and how the economy is structured. Whether a better society emerges from the ashes of the pre-pandemic economy will require rapid solutions to questions that have barely been pondered yet.
Climate change poses a far greater existential threat to our civilization than the pandemic. However, the response to the crisis will likely dictate whether we will be able to pull together to crush the carbon emission curve, or whether we will descend into fractious squabbling as our way of life plunges towards the abyss.
“File:Man Working at his Laptop on the Couch Cartoon Vector.svg” by VideoPlasty is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0


sluggerotoole--2020-05-23--Slugger Podcast – Chris Donnelly on the challenges to education during Covid-19…

For episode two of our new Podcast series , I take to Slugger contributor Chris Donnelly .
More know to @ @ @ @ @ insights , Chris is also a headteacher of Holy Child Primary School in Belfast .
@ @ @ @ @ the challenges of trying to teach during the pandemic as well as other issues such @ @ @ @ @ future of education .
Have a listen and let me know what you think .
@ @ @ @ @ Slugger Podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts or Spotify The YouTube version below has @ @ @ @ @ CC button .

For episode two of our new Podcast series, I take to Slugger contributor Chris Donnelly. More know to Slugger readers for his political insights, Chris is also a headteacher of Holy Child Primary School in Belfast. In the podcast we discuss the challenges of trying to teach during the pandemic as well as other issues such as the 11plus and the future of education.
Have a listen and let me know what you think.
You can subscribe to the Slugger Podcast on Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts or Spotify
The YouTube version below has subtitles, just click the CC button.


sluggerotoole--2020-05-24--The benefits of growing your own fruit and veg…

In the current climate of lockdown we are moving into the slow lane and finding it offers time to focus , observe and maybe start hobbies that we perhaps didn ’ t have time for until now .
One of those is definitely gardening and growing your own food .
I had previously grown salad veg in my garden and have fruit trees .
I always enjoyed being able to eat something freshly picked , there ’ s nothing quite like the homegrown taste .
And yet gardening even on a basic scale is on the big list of “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up ” due to chronic illness .
We have fruit trees and they ’ re easy to maintain , also I have daffodils that a friend planted for me a few years ago .
All very low-fi .
I ’ m in process of changing my garden to try and make it easier to maintain and also to put my own stamp on it .
On bad days it really warms my heart to look out at it .
But I thought that ’ s as far as it would go .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ m not interested in manicured lawns and flowerbeds and anyway I couldn ’ t maintain it .
I ’ m not exactly Percy Thrower .
I used some old decking that was rotting to make a bug hotel with a special bee annex .
It was only when it was moved to a new spot did I see the variety of critters making themselves at home/eating each other in it .
The circle of life , eh ?
Slowly a transformation has been taking place .
I realised that having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go .
Also an old Belfast sink is now a wildlife pond , awaiting its first visitors .
Dead flies are amassing and whatever gets in first will have a quare feast .
A recent post in a local Facebook group piqued my interest in a new grow your own initiative .
I applied to be a recipient and a bag of goodies was delivered to me , all FOC .
We were given a bag of peat free compost , pots and seeds and an information was sent by email .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to disability but Nigel , one of the organisers , put my mind at rest and assured me that if I needed help I would get it .
So having identified that my role would be one of telling the teenagers what to do , we set about planting our seeds .
It ’ s early days yet and of course the sunflowers are the first to show .
I am surprised at the impact this is having on me .
Yes , I know all the theory about green therapy and how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us .
But this , this is something quite different .
I spend a lot of time indoors , lockdown isn ’ t that big a change for me .
In the past I found if was able to get out then any worries seemed to diminish and I would find the right perspective .
I could almost see any stresses shrink in size .
Gardening does the same thing .
This is new to me .
I can ’ t partake in any exertion but I can potter , dead head , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the blossoms fall .
The garden calls me outside ; at the start I had no confidence to do anything and I haven ’ t managed to kill anything , although it ’ s early days .
My sister-in-law Caroline has rather optimistically given me some seedlings to care for .
There ’ s now also a give and take stall in Castlewellan , thanks to Mal McCann for the photos .
I hear there are a few of these around in other towns .
Of course there was a dissenting voice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ garden centres but I hear they are coming on board by donating some pots to a new stall in Newcastle .
But don ’ t just take my word for how good this project has been for the participants so far .
Following Nigel ’ s suggestion I put a call out on the group page for feedback and photos and here they are .
We are growing our own together .
We are growing veg for the first time because 10 weeks ago it was obvious that there might be few available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re using salvaged fish boxes found on beaches and have filled them with a combination of bought and home-made compost .
The spuds are from old sprouting ones in our kitchen .
We didn ’ t do anything except put them in the compost and water them daily , often with leftover washing up water .
We ’ ve been saving it because these long dry weeks mean empty reservoirs later and once you start to notice waste you tend to think more about squandering clean , treated water .
I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life ’ and had hoped to get growing during our time in lockdown – I ’ d even bought packets of seeds but had no real idea where to start or motivation to just go and do .
The lockdown kit and learning challenge gave me the incentive to actually get started on my growing journey .
I was also able to embed it with the kids to include in their home learning plans and to build their life skills and hopefully pride as we all impatiently await the sight and the tastes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not only did the kit give us the ways and means but it also gave us access to a supportive network of growers – both amateur and fledging as well as experienced and expert in our local community .
Getting some raspberry and Brussels sprouts seedlings ready to drop down .
I loved it as each year when I thin out my plants I would usually just throw these in the compost , but it was great to know they ’ d be going to new homes .
Also gave me a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop over pots and other bits and bobs I ’ d accumulated but don ’ t use .
Doesn ’ t look like much but very small , north facing garden , poor soil , south side no garden and battered by high winds and full sun , add in a puppy and cats this called for innovative thinking .
Decided to make an ‘ area ’ using trellis , Tesco crates , and an old table and bench .
Puppy can ’ t dig anything up and it also gives a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ old basins for planters .
Rosemary and lavender in garden beds and managed to sneak in some potatoes which puppy hasn ’ t found , yet .
Toms in front porch with herbs in pots .
I am a complete novice at growing veg , my husband passed away in Nov i was still going through the grieving process when lockdown came about my daughter picked up a few plants at the stall for me and it all started from there , it has helped me so much in just getting me outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smitten now , watching youtube on different methods of planting etc .
Lucy kindly getting seeds ready to leave at the stall for others to use .

In the current climate of lockdown we are moving into the slow lane and finding it offers time to focus, observe and maybe start hobbies that we perhaps didn’t have time for until now. One of those is definitely gardening and growing your own food.
I had previously grown salad veg in my garden and have fruit trees. I always enjoyed being able to eat something freshly picked, there’s nothing quite like the homegrown taste.
And yet gardening even on a basic scale is on the big list of “things I’ve had to give up” due to chronic illness. We have fruit trees and they’re easy to maintain, also I have daffodils that a friend planted for me a few years ago. All very low-fi. I’m in process of changing my garden to try and make it easier to maintain and also to put my own stamp on it. On bad days it really warms my heart to look out at it. But I thought that’s as far as it would go. I wanted to make my garden wildlife friendly, I’m not interested in manicured lawns and flowerbeds and anyway I couldn’t maintain it. I’m not exactly Percy Thrower. I used some old decking that was rotting to make a bug hotel with a special bee annex. It was only when it was moved to a new spot did I see the variety of critters making themselves at home/eating each other in it. The circle of life, eh?
Slowly a transformation has been taking place. I realised that having things growing in pots was the way to go. Also an old Belfast sink is now a wildlife pond, awaiting its first visitors. Dead flies are amassing and whatever gets in first will have a quare feast.
A recent post in a local Facebook group piqued my interest in a new grow your own initiative. I applied to be a recipient and a bag of goodies was delivered to me, all FOC. We were given a bag of peat free compost, pots and seeds and an information was sent by email. I did have some initial reservations due to disability but Nigel, one of the organisers, put my mind at rest and assured me that if I needed help I would get it. So having identified that my role would be one of telling the teenagers what to do, we set about planting our seeds. It’s early days yet and of course the sunflowers are the first to show.
I am surprised at the impact this is having on me. Yes, I know all the theory about green therapy and how being outdoors in nature is good for us. But this, this is something quite different. I spend a lot of time indoors, lockdown isn’t that big a change for me. In the past I found if was able to get out then any worries seemed to diminish and I would find the right perspective. I could almost see any stresses shrink in size. Gardening does the same thing. This is new to me. I can’t partake in any exertion but I can potter, dead head, observe the fruit starting to show promise as the blossoms fall. The garden calls me outside; at the start I had no confidence to do anything and I haven’t managed to kill anything, although it’s early days. My sister-in-law Caroline has rather optimistically given me some seedlings to care for.
There’s now also a give and take stall in Castlewellan, thanks to Mal McCann for the photos. I hear there are a few of these around in other towns. Of course there was a dissenting voice about possibly harming business for the local garden centres but I hear they are coming on board by donating some pots to a new stall in Newcastle.
But don’t just take my word for how good this project has been for the participants so far. Following Nigel’s suggestion I put a call out on the group page for feedback and photos and here they are. We are growing our own together.
Grainne and Andy
We are growing veg for the first time because 10 weeks ago it was obvious that there might be few available workers to harvest crops. We’re using salvaged fish boxes found on beaches and have filled them with a combination of bought and home-made compost. The spuds are from old sprouting ones in our kitchen. We didn’t do anything except put them in the compost and water them daily, often with leftover washing up water. We’ve been saving it because these long dry weeks mean empty reservoirs later and once you start to notice waste you tend to think more about squandering clean, treated water.
Christine, Dylan and Zara
I’ve always dreamed of living the ‘good life’ and had hoped to get growing during our time in lockdown – I’d even bought packets of seeds but had no real idea where to start or motivation to just go and do. The lockdown kit and learning challenge gave me the incentive to actually get started on my growing journey. I was also able to embed it with the kids to include in their home learning plans and to build their life skills and hopefully pride as we all impatiently await the sight and the tastes of the fruits of our labour. Not only did the kit give us the ways and means but it also gave us access to a supportive network of growers – both amateur and fledging as well as experienced and expert in our local community.
Brenda’s strawberries coming on well.
Helen
Getting some raspberry and Brussels sprouts seedlings ready to drop down. I loved it as each year when I thin out my plants I would usually just throw these in the compost, but it was great to know they’d be going to new homes. Also gave me a great motivation to clear out my shed to drop over pots and other bits and bobs I’d accumulated but don’t use.
Jill
Doesn’t look like much but very small, north facing garden, poor soil, south side no garden and battered by high winds and full sun, add in a puppy and cats this called for innovative thinking. Decided to make an ‘area’ using trellis, Tesco crates, and an old table and bench. Puppy can’t dig anything up and it also gives a bit of shelter to seedlings. Also collected old basins for planters. Rosemary and lavender in garden beds and managed to sneak in some potatoes which puppy hasn’t found, yet. Toms in front porch with herbs in pots.
Donna
I am a complete novice at growing veg, my husband passed away in Nov i was still going through the grieving process when lockdown came about my daughter picked up a few plants at the stall for me and it all started from there, it has helped me so much in just getting me outside in the fresh air. I am smitten now, watching youtube on different methods of planting etc.
Lucy kindly getting seeds ready to leave at the stall for others to use.


sluggerotoole--2020-05-24--The Foster/O’Neill relationship is one that is important for us all.

SKY News Ireland Correspondent , David Blevins held a joint interview with Arlene Foster and Michele O ’ Neill which was aired this morning .
RTE ’ s Tommie Gorman has an interesting piece online today about the relationship between the two and some of the previous power-sharing bids in the past which is worth a read .
When devolution returned in January this year , there was no fan fare .
On that rainy Saturday standing in the Great Hall , all of us who are nerds were watching but out in the public , people simply shrugged their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time that MLAs got back to work .
I will admit to watching the new ministers walk out of the chamber to meet their new civil servants and wondering just how this was all going to work out .
The former Governor of New York , Mario Cuomo once said “ you campaign in poetry , you govern in prose ” .
In early January , nobody was talking about Coronavirus , rather we were counting down the clock towards Brexit and focusing on the growing crisis in our health service .
Within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on an effective war footing with the academic year being up ended and large scale re-organisations of hospitals , that in a normal environment would take years , happened within weeks .
Arlene Foster and Michelle O ’ Neill found themselves as the leaders of Northern Ireland ’ s response to the greatest health challenge that the planet has faced in a century .
Hard to imagine that the last time the world faced something on this scale , Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic didn ’ t even exist as entities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make radical changes and shift the direction of government policy .
The Executive has already made changes that will pose questions for the structure of our health service , education system , transport network and welfare system .
How this all works out in the longer term , I am not sure but one thing has happened and that ’ s the working relationship between Foster and O ’ Neill .
The two have been able to disagree with one another and keep the show on the road , but more importantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a crisis , we would go months with few decisions being taken along with some very unproductive periods for the Executive .
In contrast , during the month of March it was hard to keep up with the scale of decisions coming out of Stormont and the flurry of activity that has continued since .
Aided by some able ministers sitting around the table , there has been a steady pace of announcements and responses for the particular needs of sections of our society .
They have not been perfect by any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as care homes , poverty and employment for the future .
But on the whole , there has not been paralysis within the Executive and they have grappled with big decisions , instead of not deciding at all .
If you think for a moment we have had half of it with a direct rule minister , you are kidding yourself .
The Executive will have more challenges ahead , navigating a recession and Brexit .
But i have always believed that if devolution handled this crisis well , it would bed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five party Executive are going to disagree ( it would be odd if they didn ’ t ) , but the process of taking decisions and executing policies is the key .
The period of devolution fell because it was plagued with paralysis .
As Tony Blair once observed , people will forgive a wrong decision , but they won ’ t forgive not deciding .
If a functioning Executive with decisions being taken and responses being developed are what was meant by “ no return to the status quo ” then sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Arlene and Michelle is an important one for us all and here ’ s hoping it keeps developing in the years head .

SKY News Ireland Correspondent, David Blevins held a joint interview with Arlene Foster and Michele O’Neill which was aired this morning.
RTE’s Tommie Gorman has an interesting piece online today about the relationship between the two and some of the previous power-sharing bids in the past which is worth a read.
When devolution returned in January this year, there was no fan fare. On that rainy Saturday standing in the Great Hall, all of us who are nerds were watching but out in the public, people simply shrugged their shoulders and thought that it was about time that MLAs got back to work. I will admit to watching the new ministers walk out of the chamber to meet their new civil servants and wondering just how this was all going to work out.
The former Governor of New York, Mario Cuomo once said “you campaign in poetry, you govern in prose”. In early January, nobody was talking about Coronavirus, rather we were counting down the clock towards Brexit and focusing on the growing crisis in our health service. Within just two months the new Executive was on an effective war footing with the academic year being up ended and large scale re-organisations of hospitals, that in a normal environment would take years, happened within weeks.
Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill found themselves as the leaders of Northern Ireland’s response to the greatest health challenge that the planet has faced in a century. Hard to imagine that the last time the world faced something on this scale, Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic didn’t even exist as entities.
A crisis is often the best time to make radical changes and shift the direction of government policy. The Executive has already made changes that will pose questions for the structure of our health service, education system, transport network and welfare system. How this all works out in the longer term, I am not sure but one thing has happened and that’s the working relationship between Foster and O’Neill. The two have been able to disagree with one another and keep the show on the road, but more importantly keep it functioning. Before when there was a crisis, we would go months with few decisions being taken along with some very unproductive periods for the Executive.
In contrast, during the month of March it was hard to keep up with the scale of decisions coming out of Stormont and the flurry of activity that has continued since. Aided by some able ministers sitting around the table, there has been a steady pace of announcements and responses for the particular needs of sections of our society. They have not been perfect by any means, there are challenges around issues such as care homes, poverty and employment for the future. But on the whole, there has not been paralysis within the Executive and they have grappled with big decisions, instead of not deciding at all. If you think for a moment we have had half of it with a direct rule minister, you are kidding yourself.
The Executive will have more challenges ahead, navigating a recession and Brexit. But i have always believed that if devolution handled this crisis well, it would bed down roots for a generation. The five party Executive are going to disagree (it would be odd if they didn’t), but the process of taking decisions and executing policies is the key. The period of devolution fell because it was plagued with paralysis. As Tony Blair once observed, people will forgive a wrong decision, but they won’t forgive not deciding.
If a functioning Executive with decisions being taken and responses being developed are what was meant by “no return to the status quo” then sign me up. This working relationship between the Arlene and Michelle is an important one for us all and here’s hoping it keeps developing in the years head.


sluggerotoole--2020-05-25--Theresa Villiers U- turn! Arch Brexiteer opposes free trade deal with US  as ” threat to the Union”

An intriguing little Brexit story .
At a post- referendum conference in 2016 I watched flinching as Ireland ’ s most eminent public servant Peter Sutherland , former Attorney General , former EU commissioner , first head of the World Trade Organisation , chairman of BP etc.etc ( now sadly dead ) , tore into the UK ’ s decision to leave the EU as insane , disastrous etc.
, giving chapter and verse .
As he finished he admitted with a grin he ’ d been ranting .
Batting for Britain was former NI secretary Theresa Villiers .
Poor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t be able to cope with an onslaught like this .
We had known her as a dry stick SoS , waving away the very idea that Brexit could possibly harm Northern Ireland ; Sutherland had surely shaken her to pieces .
Not a bit of it .
Theresa trotted out her Brexit mantra unmoved without answering a single one of Sutherland ’ s demolition points , then sat back self satisfied .
Grudgingly I had to admire her for sheer nerve although qualified by a chronic lack of imagination , a stereotype @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Later Theresa came back as Environment secretary and must have learned something about agriculture .
Because blow me down , there she was on the Today programme this morning opposing the outline of a trade deal with America hyped by the gaspingly ambitious International Trade secretary Liz Truss on the grounds that it would destroy UK agriculture and threaten the Union , the very point she kept blankly denying when she was ensconced in Hillsborough .
Her interview has provoked a mild twitter storm Theresa Villers just confirmed that everything that she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and probably break up the union .
Hilarious .
Leading Tory anti European Theresa Villers now complaining that free trade in food with US means giving up food standards with UK livestock farmers going under .
But that is what Dominic Cummings wants and pro Brexit economists insist is reason for quitting EU .
This is too much !
Arch Brexiteer Theresa Villiers on @ BBCr4today just as the Mail , yes ex-Brexit BOTH PLEADING DESPERATELY with the government not to let Brexit mean lower US food standard imports and the death of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ split with Theresa supporting the anti- Brexit line for a change .
Free trade in everything may not be all its cracked up to be after all .
Boris Johnson has told ministers that the government “ must not let our farmers down ” amid a cabinet split over plans for a US trade deal .
Liz Truss , the international trade secretary , is said to have clashed with George Eustice , the environment secretary .
Mr Eustice is understood to be concerned that the UK could be flooded with cheap US @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of business .
Ms Truss has insisted that she has no intention of lowering standards .
In cabinet a fortnight ago Mr Johnson said : “ We must not let our farmers down .
One of the reasons for leaving the EU is we can do things differently and better on things like animal welfare.
” Ms Truss said that she would not do a trade deal with the US if it “ does not benefit every sector of UK agriculture ” .
This month The Financial Times reported that the government was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US agricultural imports to advance progress on a trade deal .
Officials said that the Department for International Trade ( DIT ) was preparing a “ big concessions package ” to US negotiators in coming months to reduce the cost of some agricultural imports .
Mr Eustice and Michael Gove , the minister for the Cabinet Office , were said to have led opposition to the move .
If this is carried further it may mean the UK ’ s position will be closer to the EUs than generally thought .

An intriguing little Brexit story. At a post- referendum conference in 2016 I watched flinching as Ireland’s most eminent public servant Peter Sutherland, former Attorney General, former EU commissioner, first head of the World Trade Organisation, chairman of BP etc.etc ( now sadly dead), tore into the UK’s decision to leave the EU as insane, disastrous etc., giving chapter and verse. As he finished he admitted with a grin he’d been ranting. Batting for Britain was former NI secretary Theresa Villiers. Poor woman I thought, she won’t be able to cope with an onslaught like this. We had known her as a dry stick SoS, waving away the very idea that Brexit could possibly harm Northern Ireland; Sutherland had surely shaken her to pieces. Not a bit of it. Theresa trotted out her Brexit mantra unmoved without answering a single one of Sutherland’s demolition points, then sat back self satisfied.
Grudgingly I had to admire her for sheer nerve although qualified by a chronic lack of imagination, a stereotype of the academic lawyer she is.
Later Theresa came back as Environment secretary and must have learned something about agriculture.
Because blow me down, there she was on the Today programme this morning opposing the outline of a trade deal with America hyped by the gaspingly ambitious International Trade secretary Liz Truss on the grounds that it would destroy UK agriculture and threaten the Union, the very point she kept blankly denying when she was ensconced in Hillsborough. Her interview has provoked a mild twitter storm
Theresa Villers just confirmed that everything that she had been campaigning for will trash UK farming and probably break up the union.
From former Labour Euro minister Denis McShane
Hilarious. Leading Tory anti European Theresa Villers now complaining that free trade in food with US means giving up food standards with UK livestock farmers going under. But that is what Dominic Cummings wants and pro Brexit economists insist is reason for quitting EU.
This is too much ! Arch Brexiteer Theresa Villiers on
@BBCr4today just as the Mail, yes ex-Brexit BOTH PLEADING DESPERATELY with the government not to let Brexit mean lower US food standard imports and the death of British farming
The Times reports a cabinet split with Theresa supporting the anti- Brexit line for a change. Free trade in everything may not be all its cracked up to be after all.
Boris Johnson has told ministers that the government “must not let our farmers down” amid a cabinet split over plans for a US trade deal.
Liz Truss, the international trade secretary, is said to have clashed with George Eustice, the environment secretary. Mr Eustice is understood to be concerned that the UK could be flooded with cheap US products that may drive British farmers out of business. Ms Truss has insisted that she has no intention of lowering standards. In cabinet a fortnight ago Mr Johnson said: “We must not let our farmers down. One of the reasons for leaving the EU is we can do things differently and better on things like animal welfare.”
Ms Truss said that she would not do a trade deal with the US if it “does not benefit every sector of UK agriculture”.
This month The Financial Times reported that the government was drawing up plans to cut tariffs on US agricultural imports to advance progress on a trade deal. Officials said that the Department for International Trade (DIT) was preparing a “big concessions package” to US negotiators in coming months to reduce the cost of some agricultural imports.
Mr Eustice and Michael Gove, the minister for the Cabinet Office, were said to have led opposition to the move.
If this is carried further it may mean the UK’s position will be closer to the EUs than generally thought.


sluggerotoole--2020-05-25--“Most people believe social care should be free, but there’s a lot of confusion out there”

Social care must be reformed .
If it wasn ’ t clear before the Covid-19 pandemic , it has become tragically obvious over recent weeks .
So this is an opportune time to hear in the latest Holywell Trust Forward Together podcast from Deirdre Heenan , professor of social policy at Ulster University and joint author nine years ago of a major study into Northern Ireland ’ s health and social care system .
“ The vast majority of people accept and want the NHS to be free at the point of delivery , ” argues Deirdre .
“ Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or feel that the taxation system needs to be changed so that we can adequately fund the system – and have transfers within the system to support those less able to pay .
“ Most people also believe that social care should be free , but there ’ s a lot of confusion out there… We know that health care is free at the point of delivery .
We ’ re just not really sure about social care.
” Without adequate funding “ we have a system that ’ s not fit for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We really need to think about how the system can be completely transformed and what principles will underpin that.
” There is also unhappiness , argues Deirdre , about the lack of transparency in the system and in how resources are allocated between the differing demands across the health and social care system .
“ It seems to me that much of the resource distribution happens at a high level : it happens at a central level .
We have this commissioning through the health and social care board .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , how you can appeal decisions , and then how families can make their decisions around who ’ s going to do what .
What level of additional care will we need ?
What level of care will we need to buy in ?
Because it isn ’ t clear who ’ s going to get what for how long.
” Much of this comes down to the lack of clarity about whether social care should be regarded as a public or a private service – or , if a mix of both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support from the public purse .
“ Most people believe that the NHS should be a universal service free at point of delivery .
They ’ re slightly more confused about the issue of social care , ” observes Deirdre .
Too often , social care is overlooked in terms of political priorities , leading to it being categorised as the ‘ Cinderella ’ service .
Much of the sector has been privatised in recent years , with a parallel process of pay cuts .
“ If we are serious about wanting people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give social care prestige , to have career progression , we have to think about the level of professionalization , ” Deirdre stresses .
All these pressures have come to a head during the Covid-19 pandemic and are much more deep-seated than the lack of personal protection equipment , which has put workers ’ , as well as residents ’ , lives at risk .
There is also the parallel challenge of an aging population , more people living longer with serious disabilities and the new complication that many survivors of Covid-19 may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that need ongoing care and support .
So how will social care be funded in the future ?
Should people ’ s lifetime assets be used for later years ’ care ?
Should families contribute from their collective assets ?
Should a wealth tax be imposed ?
Should people be expected to contribute in advance through a mandatory social care insurance system ?
“ People struggle with issues around fairness and equality when those sorts of examples are put before them , ” says Deirdre .
“ So I think we have got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is how much you will get from the state regardless of your income.
” She adds : “ What we do know now is that it ’ s this mix between the private , the formal , the informal and the public sector .
And unless we discuss it , what we ’ re going to end up with is the worst of all worlds .
I think now is the time to have the honest discussion about how we fund this in the future .
The very worst thing is people sitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to happen to them , or indeed what ’ s going to happen to their loved ones.
” A citizens ’ assembly considered these challenges in the context of Northern Ireland .
“ I thought the idea was good , ” comments Deirdre .
“ But to be honest , I think those debates around social care need to be led by experts .
You need to have people who are at the forefront of policymaking .
You need to have the organizations that are advocating for older people .
And whilst the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think you need to have the right voices there who understand that you can not just wish for motherhood and apple pie… I just think that a lot of people here are talking about social care , are well-meaning , but may not be that well informed about what the realities of the system are.
” This latest podcast in the second Forward Together series is available here on the website of peace and reconciliation charity Holywell Trust .
It is funded by the Community Relations Council ’ s Media Grant Scheme Disclaimer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council which aims to promote a pluralist society characterised by equity , respect for diversity , and recognition of interdependence .
The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Community Relations Council .

Social care must be reformed. If it wasn’t clear before the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become tragically obvious over recent weeks. So this is an opportune time to hear in the latest Holywell Trust Forward Together podcast from Deirdre Heenan, professor of social policy at Ulster University and joint author nine years ago of a major study into Northern Ireland’s health and social care system.
“The vast majority of people accept and want the NHS to be free at the point of delivery,” argues Deirdre. “Many are happy to pay increased taxation, or feel that the taxation system needs to be changed so that we can adequately fund the system – and have transfers within the system to support those less able to pay.
“Most people also believe that social care should be free, but there’s a lot of confusion out there… We know that health care is free at the point of delivery. We’re just not really sure about social care.”
Without adequate funding “we have a system that’s not fit for purpose,” says Deirdre. “We really need to think about how the system can be completely transformed and what principles will underpin that.”
There is also unhappiness, argues Deirdre, about the lack of transparency in the system and in how resources are allocated between the differing demands across the health and social care system. “It seems to me that much of the resource distribution happens at a high level: it happens at a central level. We have this commissioning through the health and social care board. It’s just not clear how decisions are made, how you can appeal decisions, and then how families can make their decisions around who’s going to do what. What level of additional care will we need? What level of care will we need to buy in? Because it isn’t clear who’s going to get what for how long.”
Much of this comes down to the lack of clarity about whether social care should be regarded as a public or a private service – or, if a mix of both, what the criteria should be for support from the public purse. “Most people believe that the NHS should be a universal service free at point of delivery. They’re slightly more confused about the issue of social care,” observes Deirdre.
Too often, social care is overlooked in terms of political priorities, leading to it being categorised as the ‘Cinderella’ service. Much of the sector has been privatised in recent years, with a parallel process of pay cuts. “If we are serious about wanting people to go into social care, to give social care prestige, to have career progression, we have to think about the level of professionalization,” Deirdre stresses.
All these pressures have come to a head during the Covid-19 pandemic and are much more deep-seated than the lack of personal protection equipment, which has put workers’, as well as residents’, lives at risk. There is also the parallel challenge of an aging population, more people living longer with serious disabilities and the new complication that many survivors of Covid-19 may themselves be left with new life-threatening problems that need ongoing care and support.
So how will social care be funded in the future? Should people’s lifetime assets be used for later years’ care? Should families contribute from their collective assets? Should a wealth tax be imposed? Should people be expected to contribute in advance through a mandatory social care insurance system? “People struggle with issues around fairness and equality when those sorts of examples are put before them,” says Deirdre. “So I think we have got to have that conversation to say this is how much you will get from the state regardless of your income.”
She adds: “What we do know now is that it’s this mix between the private, the formal, the informal and the public sector. And unless we discuss it, what we’re going to end up with is the worst of all worlds. I think now is the time to have the honest discussion about how we fund this in the future. The very worst thing is people sitting around worrying about what’s going to happen to them, or indeed what’s going to happen to their loved ones.”
A citizens’ assembly considered these challenges in the context of Northern Ireland. “I thought the idea was good,” comments Deirdre. “But to be honest, I think those debates around social care need to be led by experts. You need to have people who are at the forefront of policymaking. You need to have the organizations that are advocating for older people. And whilst the principles may have been right, I think you need to have the right voices there who understand that you cannot just wish for motherhood and apple pie… I just think that a lot of people here are talking about social care, are well-meaning, but may not be that well informed about what the realities of the system are.”
This latest podcast in the second Forward Together series is available here on the website of peace and reconciliation charity Holywell Trust. It is funded by the Community Relations Council’s Media Grant Scheme
Disclaimer: This project has received support from the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council which aims to promote a pluralist society characterised by equity, respect for diversity, and recognition of interdependence. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Community Relations Council.


Fergus on Monday

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sluggerotoole--2020-05-25--The United Kingdom now tops the global table for weekly COVID-19 deaths per capita

With the Dominic Cummings saga dominating the front pages of British newspapers , data from Our World In Data indicates that the UK has overtaken Sweden and Belgium to become the country with the most COVID-19 deaths per capita for the week ending the 23rd of May .
The chart below shows deaths per capita by week for countries that have been most severely impacted by the pandemic .
Data for the most recent week ( ending 23rd May ) was estimated for Northern Ireland as the NISRA Weekly Deaths data has not yet been published for this period .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Brazil could see the UK being overtaken , at the time of writing it tops the table for deaths per capita , on the same week that the government intends to continue relaxing lockdown restrictions and begin the reopening of schools .
In Northern Ireland , the five-day average of new cases has increased , with an average of 30 new cases per day for the five days to the 24th of May , compared with 26 new cases per day for the five days ending the 19th of May .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in cases in the Causeway Coast and Glens council area , which is now the council area in Northern Ireland with the highest number of new cases .
Across the island of Ireland , the Derry City & Strabane and Fermanagh & Omagh council areas are among the regions with the fewest new cases on a five-day average basis ; only County Kerry ( 0.14 cases per day ) and County Sligo ( zero new cases ) had fewer .
The table below shows the five day average number of new cases per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ending on the 22nd of May ( before the recent jump in new cases on the north coast ) .
With the credibility of the British government ’ s efforts to combat the epidemic now in tatters , the situation in Great Britain is grim ; it now leads the world in terms of deaths per capita and it hasn ’ t been able to crush the curve in the way that other European countries have .
Northern Ireland has fared better than Great Britain , and in most areas the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day .
By global standards , however , the situation is still poor .
Northern Ireland came perilously close to exceeding its ICU capacity at the height of the pandemic , which is among the lowest in the developed world , and the crisis is nowhere near coming to an end .

With the Dominic Cummings saga dominating the front pages of British newspapers, data from Our World In Data indicates that the UK has overtaken Sweden and Belgium to become the country with the most COVID-19 deaths per capita for the week ending the 23rd of May. The chart below shows deaths per capita by week for countries that have been most severely impacted by the pandemic.
Data for the most recent week (ending 23rd May) was estimated for Northern Ireland as the NISRA Weekly Deaths data has not yet been published for this period.
Whilst the rapidly worsening situation in Peru and Brazil could see the UK being overtaken, at the time of writing it tops the table for deaths per capita, on the same week that the government intends to continue relaxing lockdown restrictions and begin the reopening of schools.
In Northern Ireland, the five-day average of new cases has increased, with an average of 30 new cases per day for the five days to the 24th of May, compared with 26 new cases per day for the five days ending the 19th of May. This is primarily driven by a large increase in cases in the Causeway Coast and Glens council area, which is now the council area in Northern Ireland with the highest number of new cases.
Across the island of Ireland, the Derry City & Strabane and Fermanagh & Omagh council areas are among the regions with the fewest new cases on a five-day average basis; only County Kerry (0.14 cases per day) and County Sligo (zero new cases) had fewer. The table below shows the five day average number of new cases per day across Ireland for the five days ending on the 22nd of May (before the recent jump in new cases on the north coast).
With the credibility of the British government’s efforts to combat the epidemic now in tatters, the situation in Great Britain is grim; it now leads the world in terms of deaths per capita and it hasn’t been able to crush the curve in the way that other European countries have.
Northern Ireland has fared better than Great Britain, and in most areas the number of new cases has decreased to a handful a day. By global standards, however, the situation is still poor. Northern Ireland came perilously close to exceeding its ICU capacity at the height of the pandemic, which is among the lowest in the developed world, and the crisis is nowhere near coming to an end.