theirishtimes--2020-09-20--Motorcyclist (50s) seriously injured in crash in Co Carlow

A motorcyclist has been seriously injured in a crash at Bunclody , Co Carlow .
Gardaí said they were investigating @ @ @ @ @ and a motorcycle on the N80 at Ravenswood , Bunclody at approximately 3.10pm on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ man in his 50s , was airlifted from the scene to St James Hospital Dublin @ @ @ @ @ life-threatening injuries .
The driver of the jeep , a man in his 40s was @ @ @ @ @ was closed temporarily for Garda Forensic Collision Investigators to conduct an examination and is now @ @ @ @ @ for anyone with information , particularly any road users who may have witnessed the collision @ @ @ @ @ to contact them at Carlow Garda Station on 059 913 6620 , the Garda Confidential @ @ @ @ @ or any Garda station .

The collision occurred on the N80 at Ravenswood, Bunclody at approximately 3.10pm on Saturday. File image: Google Maps
A motorcyclist has been seriously injured in a crash at Bunclody, Co Carlow.
Gardaí said they were investigating the collision involving a jeep and a motorcycle on the N80 at Ravenswood, Bunclody at approximately 3.10pm on Saturday.
The motorcyclist, a man in his 50s, was airlifted from the scene to St James Hospital Dublin to be treated for serious life-threatening injuries. The driver of the jeep, a man in his 40s was not injured.
The road was closed temporarily for Garda Forensic Collision Investigators to conduct an examination and is now reopen.
READ MORE
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information, particularly any road users who may have witnessed the collision or have dash-cam footage, to contact them at Carlow Garda Station on 059 913 6620, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-09-20--Civil War rape which led to pregnancy recalled in new TV documentary

A woman who was raped and became pregnant by anti-Treaty forces during the Civil War sought help from the then archbishop of Dublin to arrange her son ’ s adoption , new research reveals .
The letter written by the woman , known as Mary M , to archbishop Edward Byrne has been discovered in the archives of the Archdiocese of Dublin by the UCD historian Dr Lindsey Earner-Byrne .
It will feature in a documentary to be broadcast on TG4 on Wednesday entitled Cogadh Ar Mhná ( the women ’ s war ) which tells the story of sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revolutionary period .
The woman was raped in January 1923 by a party of men who entered her home in Moate , Co Westmeath which she shared with her blind aunt and uncle , both of her parents being dead .
In the letter sent in July 1924 , she recalled : “ During the political trouble when looting and robbing and raiding were carried on to such an extent in our country district , my trouble began .
“ In January 1923 , a party of men , armed to the teeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entrance into our house .
“ The object of their visit was money or lives and they were furious when they did not get money .
One brute satisfied his duty passion on me .
“ I was then in a dangerous stage of health and through his conduct I became pregnant .
Could any pen describe what I have gone through ?
” Mary M went on to state that she intended to take her own life but was talked out of it by a Franciscan priest .
In October 1923 she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street .
When she was told that she would have to look after the baby by herself , she asked that it be taken to heaven “ but my prayers fell on deaf ears ” .
The woman told the archbishop she was stealing from her elderly aunt to pay a Mrs Cruise from a rescue agency 25 shillings a week to mind her child .
She asked the archbishop for twenty pounds to pay the agency to arrange the private adoption of her son as otherwise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she would be exposed as an unmarried mother .
The archbishop clearly paid the money as a priest who advocated on her behalf , Father Cyprian , wrote to the archbishop on July 19th to thank him for his “ very gracious & generous charity.
” Father Cyprian was sure that “ the girl herself will write to thank his Grace for his great kindness towards her ” .
Dr Earner-Byrne said it was the first time she came across a primary source that showed there had been a rape in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carried out by both Crown forces and the IRA in the War of Independence and by pro and anti-Treaty forces in the Civil War .
In another incident during the Civil War , Eileen Biggs , a Protestant woman in Co Tipperary , was “ outraged ” on seven or eight different occasions by anti-Treaty forces who entered her home while her husband Samuel was locked in a different room .
Dr Earner-Byrne told the documentary that cases were not pursued after independence and were forgotten about “ If we look at these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can learn something about the status of women and how they re going to be treated by the new State.
” The historian Ann Matthew told the documentary that “ until such time as we discuss the reality rather than the romance , we haven ’ t matured ” .
Former army officer Dr Tom Clonan said it was an “ indefensible notion ” that the War of Independence and the Civil War would be unique among wars in having no aspect of sexual violence .
That would be a “ singular anomaly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he remarked .
Cogadh ar Mhná is broadcast on TG4 Wednesday September 23rd at 9.30pm

A woman who was raped and became pregnant by anti-Treaty forces during the Civil War sought help from the then archbishop of Dublin to arrange her son’s adoption, new research reveals.
The letter written by the woman, known as Mary M, to archbishop Edward Byrne has been discovered in the archives of the Archdiocese of Dublin by the UCD historian Dr Lindsey Earner-Byrne.
It will feature in a documentary to be broadcast on TG4 on Wednesday entitled Cogadh Ar Mhná (the women's war) which tells the story of sexual violence carried out against women during the revolutionary period.
The woman was raped in January 1923 by a party of men who entered her home in Moate, Co Westmeath which she shared with her blind aunt and uncle, both of her parents being dead.
READ MORE
In the letter sent in July 1924, she recalled:“During the political trouble when looting and robbing and raiding were carried on to such an extent in our country district, my trouble began.
“In January 1923, a party of men, armed to the teeth and calling themselves republicans, forced their entrance into our house.
“The object of their visit was money or lives and they were furious when they did not get money. One brute satisfied his duty passion on me.
“I was then in a dangerous stage of health and through his conduct I became pregnant. Could any pen describe what I have gone through?”
Mary M went on to state that she intended to take her own life but was talked out of it by a Franciscan priest.
In October 1923 she gave birth to a baby boy in the National Maternity Hospital in Holles Street.
When she was told that she would have to look after the baby by herself, she asked that it be taken to heaven “but my prayers fell on deaf ears”.
The woman told the archbishop she was stealing from her elderly aunt to pay a Mrs Cruise from a rescue agency 25 shillings a week to mind her child.
She asked the archbishop for twenty pounds to pay the agency to arrange the private adoption of her son as otherwise the child would be returned to her and she would be exposed as an unmarried mother.
The archbishop clearly paid the money as a priest who advocated on her behalf, Father Cyprian, wrote to the archbishop on July 19th to thank him for his “very gracious & generous charity.” Father Cyprian was sure that “the girl herself will write to thank his Grace for his great kindness towards her”.
Dr Earner-Byrne said it was the first time she came across a primary source that showed there had been a rape in the Civil War.
Violence against women was carried out by both Crown forces and the IRA in the War of Independence and by pro and anti-Treaty forces in the Civil War.
In another incident during the Civil War, Eileen Biggs, a Protestant woman in Co Tipperary, was "outraged" on seven or eight different occasions by anti-Treaty forces who entered her home while her husband Samuel was locked in a different room.
Dr Earner-Byrne told the documentary that cases were not pursued after independence and were forgotten about
“If we look at these cars and we explore them, we can learn something about the status of women and how they re going to be treated by the new State.”
The historian Dr Ann Matthew told the documentary that "until such time as we discuss the reality rather than the romance, we haven't matured".
Former army officer Dr Tom Clonan said it was an "indefensible notion" that the War of Independence and the Civil War would be unique among wars in having no aspect of sexual violence. That would be a "singular anomaly in the history of warfare", he remarked.
Cogadh ar Mhná is broadcast on TG4 Wednesday September 23rd at 9.30pm


theirishtimes--2020-09-20--Man shot in arms, legs in ‘paramilitary-style attack’ in Co Antrim

A man has been shot in the arms and legs in what police have described as a “ paramilitary-style attack @ @ @ @ @ targeted by a gang of three who forced their way into a house in Stranocum @ @ @ @ @ 10.20pm on Saturday .
Inspector Stephen McCafferty said police are “ treating this brutal shooting @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is despicable and should not happen in a civilised society , ” @ @ @ @ @ investigation is underway and I would urge anyone with any information to call detectives on @ @ @ @ @ of 19/09/20 .
“ Information can also be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers @ @ @ @ @ - PA

The PSNI described it as a despicable attack which should not happen in a civilised society.
A man has been shot in the arms and legs in what police have described as a “paramilitary-style attack”.
The man was targeted by a gang of three who forced their way into a house in Stranocum, Co Antrim at around 10.20pm on Saturday.
Inspector Stephen McCafferty said police are “treating this brutal shooting as a paramilitary-style attack”.
“This is despicable and should not happen in a civilised society,” he said.
READ MORE
“An investigation is underway and I would urge anyone with any information to call detectives on 101 quoting reference number 2308 of 19/09/20.
“Information can also be given anonymously through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.” - PA


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Martin ‘seriously concerned’ at Covid complacency amid pressure over church events

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has expressed concern at parishes coming under pressure to rush through First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies .
As well as running the risk of undermining public health measures , he said : “ Some efforts , often well intentioned , run the risk of reducing the administration of sacramental acts almost to the level of a supermarket in which you can drop in and ‘ get the sacrament done ’ .
“ This would reduce the Eucharist to a commodity.
” Some parents and grandparents have been voicing their displeasure in recent days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Confirmation ceremonies because of the Covid-19 restrictions .
In a statement , Archbishop Martin said he understood the disappointment of families who had been ready to undertake these events and now find them postponed .
However , he said he was worried “ about parishes taking initiatives to ‘ get First Communions and Confirmations done ’ .
“ I appreciate the pressure that families and schools can bring in parishes .
We have to remember that First Communions and Confirmations are sacramental acts and must be celebrated in an appropriate liturgical context and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sacramental acts have to be done quickly and can be done outside the normal liturgical situation is false .
There is no urgent need to celebrate these sacraments just because they fit into the school calendar.
” In his statement on Saturday , the archbishop said : “ I am seriously concerned that many people may be underestimating the seriousness of the current situation in Co Dublin and indeed now in other counties .
The spread of the virus has reached serious levels and constitutes a real risk of radically increased infection within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence of the virus being spread in worshipping communities , the measures in Dublin were appropriate at this time , he said .
He also addressed what he called the “ serious distortion ” of a Vatican document that addressed worshipping amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ I have seen reports quoting a Vatican document urging a rapid return to normal worship .
Some are using that as an indication that the official line of the Holy See is to object to restrictions .
This is a very serious distortion of what that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
strongly supports the application of restrictive measures and ‘ painful decisions even to the point of suspending the participation of the faithful in the celebration of the Eucharist for a long period ’ .
” He said : “ Places of worship must remain closed except for private prayer as well as for limited attendance at funerals and weddings.
” The statement comes just days after a Waterford priest criticised the behaviour of some Catholics who were demanding Communion on the tongue despite Covid-19 restrictions .
Fr Liam Power , former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Lismore , said such people did not seem to “ respect the danger this represented to others ” and were a cause of “ very serious embarrassment for priests , many of whom are elderly ” .
He referred to an incident in a Waterford church recently when there was a “ stand-off ” between a parishioner and a priest ” during a most sacred moment ” of Mass .
In a message to clergy on Friday , Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson said the prospect of churches closing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frustrating and frightening ” but he added : “ It is important that we face this with resilience and hope.
” The Islamic Foundation of Ireland mosque on the South Circular Road said it was now was doing Friday prayers live on Facebook when no-one was allowed in the mosque .
Dublin ’ s small Jewish community said it was hoping there would be some scope this weekend to mark Rosh Hashanah , their new year .
The community had been staying in close contact by phone and Zoom .

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has voiced concern that some are underestimating the current public health situation in Dublin. File photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has expressed concern at parishes coming under pressure to rush through First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies.
As well as running the risk of undermining public health measures, he said: “Some efforts, often well intentioned, run the risk of reducing the administration of sacramental acts almost to the level of a supermarket in which you can drop in and ‘get the sacrament done’.
“This would reduce the Eucharist to a commodity.”
Some parents and grandparents have been voicing their displeasure in recent days at the cancellation of First Communion and Confirmation ceremonies because of the Covid-19 restrictions.
READ MORE
In a statement, Archbishop Martin said he understood the disappointment of families who had been ready to undertake these events and now find them postponed.
However, he said he was worried “about parishes taking initiatives to ‘get First Communions and Confirmations done’.
“I appreciate the pressure that families and schools can bring in parishes. We have to remember that First Communions and Confirmations are sacramental acts and must be celebrated in an appropriate liturgical context and catechetical preparation.
“The idea that sacramental acts have to be done quickly and can be done outside the normal liturgical situation is false. There is no urgent need to celebrate these sacraments just because they fit into the school calendar.”
Infection risk
In his statement on Saturday, the archbishop said: “I am seriously concerned that many people may be underestimating the seriousness of the current situation in Co Dublin and indeed now in other counties. The spread of the virus has reached serious levels and constitutes a real risk of radically increased infection within the community.
While there was no evidence of the virus being spread in worshipping communities, the measures in Dublin were appropriate at this time, he said.
He also addressed what he called the "serious distortion" of a Vatican document that addressed worshipping amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I have seen reports quoting a Vatican document urging a rapid return to normal worship. Some are using that as an indication that the official line of the Holy See is to object to restrictions. This is a very serious distortion of what that document says.
“The document . . . strongly supports the application of restrictive measures and ‘painful decisions even to the point of suspending the participation of the faithful in the celebration of the Eucharist for a long period’.”
He said: “Places of worship must remain closed except for private prayer as well as for limited attendance at funerals and weddings.”
The statement comes just days after a Waterford priest criticised the behaviour of some Catholics who were demanding Communion on the tongue despite Covid-19 restrictions.
Fr Liam Power, former communications officer with the diocese of Waterford and Lismore, said such people did not seem to “respect the danger this represented to others” and were a cause of “very serious embarrassment for priests, many of whom are elderly”.
He referred to an incident in a Waterford church recently when there was a “stand-off” between a parishioner and a priest”during a most sacred moment” of Mass.
In a message to clergy on Friday, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson said the prospect of churches closing under Level 3 restrictions was "both frustrating and frightening" but he added: "It is important that we face this with resilience and hope."
The Islamic Foundation of Ireland mosque on the South Circular Road said it was now was doing Friday prayers live on Facebook when no-one was allowed in the mosque.
Dublin’s small Jewish community said it was hoping there would be some scope this weekend to mark Rosh Hashanah, their new year. The community had been staying in close contact by phone and Zoom.


theirishtimes--2020-09-22--Coronavirus: Council tenants who have parties ‘risk eviction’

Residents of local authority housing complexes risk eviction if they organise large parties on council property , Dublin City Council head of housing Brendan Kenny has warned .
A large outdoor party took place at the Oliver Bond flat complex in the southwest inner city on Saturday night .
The event , held in an area that has one of the highest coronavirus infection rates in the State , continued into the early hours of Sunday morning before eventually being brought to a close by gardaí .
A maximum of 15 people are allowed to meet outdoors during Level 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 people are understood to have attended the event that involved a marquee and music equipment , brought in on trucks to a small football pitch in the centre of the complex .
Information has been supplied to the gardaí in relation to those suspected of being involved in organising what is understood to have been a birthday party for a 19-year-old who does not live in the Oliver Bond flats but has “ associations ” with the complex , Mr Kenny said .
“ People came in here with trucks , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organised a marquee .
It ’ s mad to think this would happen in the current circumstances , with everything we know about Covid-19 .
It ’ s very depressing.
” The area is monitored by CCTV , and this is being reviewed for further identifying material , including the licence plates of the trucks involved , Mr Kenny said .
Prior to the weekend ’ s events , the council had already sent letters to Oliver Bond residents warning them against holding parties indoors or outdoors .
“ It ’ s important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Oliver Bond are fine , really decent people , but we have had a lot of complaints recently about parties , ” Mr Kenny said .
“ We did send a letter to residents , and this was before the advice changed for Dublin , advising them of the guidelines and that they are risking their tenancy if they have parties.
” Eviction would be a “ last resort ” but was a recourse open to the council , Mr Kenny said .
The complaints received had largely related to “ random @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has largely been groups of lads and girls drinking , nothing like what happened on Saturday – that was the most organised thing we ’ ve seen.
” Similar organised events have not been reported in relation to the council ’ s other estates , Mr Kenny said , but he is concerned that problems may increase as Covid-19 restrictions continue .
“ Anecdotally , anti-social behaviour does seem to be on the increase .
It is maybe inevitable when there are so little outlets for people .
In general , people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of confirmed cases in our flat complexes have been pretty low .
Our staff have been working very hard with these communities , so when something like this happens at the weekend , it is very depressing.
” Commenting on the event , Taoiseach Micheál Martin said gardaí were investigating it .
He said it appeared the message around the Covid-19 restrictions was not getting through to some people and they were still congregating in large groups .
According to the Health Surveillance Protection Centre , the electoral district that contains Oliver Bond @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 during September 1st-14th .
It had a rate of 163 cases per 100,000 of population for that time period , three times the national average .

Residents of local authority housing complexes risk eviction if they organise large parties on council property, Dublin City Council head of housing Brendan Kenny has warned.
A large outdoor party took place at the Oliver Bond flat complex in the southwest inner city on Saturday night. The event, held in an area that has one of the highest coronavirus infection rates in the State, continued into the early hours of Sunday morning before eventually being brought to a close by gardaí.
A maximum of 15 people are allowed to meet outdoors during Level 3 restrictions in the capital. More than 100 people are understood to have attended the event that involved a marquee and music equipment, brought in on trucks to a small football pitch in the centre of the complex.
Hospital Report
Information has been supplied to the gardaí in relation to those suspected of being involved in organising what is understood to have been a birthday party for a 19-year-old who does not live in the Oliver Bond flats but has “associations” with the complex, Mr Kenny said.
READ MORE
“People came in here with trucks, and we know who they are. People organised a marquee. It’s mad to think this would happen in the current circumstances, with everything we know about Covid-19. It’s very depressing.”
The area is monitored by CCTV, and this is being reviewed for further identifying material, including the licence plates of the trucks involved, Mr Kenny said.
Prior to the weekend’s events, the council had already sent letters to Oliver Bond residents warning them against holding parties indoors or outdoors.
“It’s important to say that most of the residents of Oliver Bond are fine, really decent people, but we have had a lot of complaints recently about parties,” Mr Kenny said.
“We did send a letter to residents, and this was before the advice changed for Dublin, advising them of the guidelines and that they are risking their tenancy if they have parties.”
‘Last resort’
Eviction would be a “last resort” but was a recourse open to the council, Mr Kenny said.
The complaints received had largely related to “random activities”, he said.
A screengrab from a video on social media showing the crowd at the event at the Oliver Bond flat complex in Dublin over the weekend.
“It has largely been groups of lads and girls drinking, nothing like what happened on Saturday – that was the most organised thing we’ve seen.”
Similar organised events have not been reported in relation to the council’s other estates, Mr Kenny said, but he is concerned that problems may increase as Covid-19 restrictions continue.
“Anecdotally, anti-social behaviour does seem to be on the increase. It is maybe inevitable when there are so little outlets for people. In general, people are well behaved, and the number of confirmed cases in our flat complexes have been pretty low. Our staff have been working very hard with these communities, so when something like this happens at the weekend, it is very depressing.”
Commenting on the event, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said gardaí were investigating it. He said it appeared the message around the Covid-19 restrictions was not getting through to some people and they were still congregating in large groups.
According to the Health Surveillance Protection Centre, the electoral district that contains Oliver Bond Street flats had 69 confirmed cases of Covid-19 during September 1st-14th.
It had a rate of 163 cases per 100,000 of population for that time period, three times the national average.


theirishtimes--2020-09-22--Restaurants’ role in Covid-19 transmission came as surprise to many

The assertion by a senior National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) official last Friday that restaurants were a principal driver of transmission of Covid-19 came as a surprise to many , not least the Dublin cafe-owners who had to shut down their businesses hours later under the latest round of restrictions in the capital .
But the claim by Prof Philip Nolan that public health doctors “ don ’ t need to know ” where a person got the virus also raised worrying questions about our contact tracing system which , with testing , is supposed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
“ We would like to go back and find out where people are getting the virus , but we don ’ t have the time or resources to pursue this academic exercise , ” Prof Nolan tweeted .
For months , public health officials have , without any qualifiers , published figures showing a low number of outbreaks in restaurants .
But Prof Nolan abruptly changed this narrative by saying there was “ lots of international evidence ” for the role of restaurants and bars in driving community transmission .
Later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health doctors “ would track down the source if they had the resources to do so , but they don ’ t ” .
This amounts to the same thing ; either we aren ’ t interested in , or haven ’ t the time/money/staff to investigate the ultimate source of outbreaks .
In fact , public health doctors do engage in source case investigation , but contact tracing teams who handle community cases do not .
It is perhaps understandable that in the white heat of a pandemic , the immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importance of tracing contacts and encouraging them to self-isolate , and thereby remove the risk of onward transmission , is considerable .
Contact tracing involves a particular skill-set that is adept at engaging with people and reassuring them about doing what is best for themselves and the community , infectious diseases expert Prof Mary Horgan points out .
“ Along with lab scientists , contact tracers are the unsung heroes of this pandemic , ” said Prof Horgan , who is president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland .
We have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this pandemic by now , including a prolonged lull over the summer .
There has been time to put the system on a more permanent footing , and for it to be more ambitious in its scope .
“ The system has to be capable of experimentation , ” Prof Horgan said .
“ We need to get forensic in at least some areas , to dig down into the information and establish trends , from which we can extrapolate.
” That information is a valuable resource that can tell us a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the virus is transmitting successfully and how people are adhering to the guidelines in place , according to Prof Horgan .
The HSE says that while contact tracing does include questions to all identified cases on the source of infection , “ consideration is now being given to how these processes can be further enhanced ” .
Perhaps the best example is in Japan , which majored on retrospective investigation of cases in additional to the prospective investigation of current cases that most countries do .
In prospective tracing , the close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so they can be quarantined if they show symptoms .
But Japan also tried to find out where they were infected and then monitored people who visited that site .
The aim was to catch the one in five cases who turn out to be super-spreaders .
While the process of tracing contacts and gleaning information about their movements can be laborious , data analyst David Higgins said the process of analysing this information electronically was not .
“ Contact tracers have to collect information over a long period of time , roughly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They also have to get every bit of relevant information , ” Mr Higgins , of Carraighill consultants , said .
“ Details about cases , by Eircode location , could be uploaded onto a database , and a search could throw up matches by location and other criteria.
” The resulting information could help provide real-time clues about locations where the virus was spreading and , more broadly , point to general settings which are conducive to its transmission .
Given that NPHET was making “ life and death ” decisions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the resources to ensure these were well informed , he said .
“ We ’ ll end up saving money in the long run.
” Yet it may be too late for now to widen the scope of contact tracing .
The World Health Organisation says contact tracing can be “ difficult ” when transmission of the virus is “ intense ” but should be carried out “ as much as possible ” .
For the coming weeks , fire-fighting is likely to dominate over disease detection .

Prof Philip Nolan has said there was “lots of international evidence” for the role of restaurants and bars in driving community transmission of Covid-19. File photograph: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie
The assertion by a senior National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) official last Friday that restaurants were a principal driver of transmission of Covid-19 came as a surprise to many, not least the Dublin cafe-owners who had to shut down their businesses hours later under the latest round of restrictions in the capital.
But the claim by Prof Philip Nolan that public health doctors "don't need to know" where a person got the virus also raised worrying questions about our contact tracing system which, with testing, is supposed to be the main weapon we have in this pandemic.
“We would like to go back and find out where people are getting the virus, but we don’t have the time or resources to pursue this academic exercise,” Prof Nolan tweeted.
Hospital Report
For months, public health officials have, without any qualifiers, published figures showing a low number of outbreaks in restaurants. But Prof Nolan abruptly changed this narrative by saying there was “lots of international evidence” for the role of restaurants and bars in driving community transmission.
READ MORE
Later, he clarified his remarks by saying public health doctors “would track down the source if they had the resources to do so, but they don’t”.
This amounts to the same thing; either we aren’t interested in, or haven’t the time/money/staff to investigate the ultimate source of outbreaks.
In fact, public health doctors do engage in source case investigation, but contact tracing teams who handle community cases do not.
It is perhaps understandable that in the white heat of a pandemic, the immediate takes precedence over the important. The importance of tracing contacts and encouraging them to self-isolate, and thereby remove the risk of onward transmission, is considerable.
Contact tracing involves a particular skill-set that is adept at engaging with people and reassuring them about doing what is best for themselves and the community, infectious diseases expert Prof Mary Horgan points out.
Prof Philip Nolan’s claim that public health doctors ‘don’t need to know’ where a person got the virus raised worrying questions about the contact tracing system. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
“Along with lab scientists, contact tracers are the unsung heroes of this pandemic,” said Prof Horgan, who is president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.
We have, however, been through several stages of this pandemic by now, including a prolonged lull over the summer. There has been time to put the system on a more permanent footing, and for it to be more ambitious in its scope.
“The system has to be capable of experimentation,” Prof Horgan said. “We need to get forensic in at least some areas, to dig down into the information and establish trends, from which we can extrapolate.”
That information is a valuable resource that can tell us a lot about people’s behaviour, where the virus is transmitting successfully and how people are adhering to the guidelines in place, according to Prof Horgan.
The HSE says that while contact tracing does include questions to all identified cases on the source of infection, “consideration is now being given to how these processes can be further enhanced”.
Japanese investigations
Perhaps the best example is in Japan, which majored on retrospective investigation of cases in additional to the prospective investigation of current cases that most countries do.
In prospective tracing, the close contacts of a Covid-19 case are monitored so they can be quarantined if they show symptoms. But Japan also tried to find out where they were infected and then monitored people who visited that site. The aim was to catch the one in five cases who turn out to be super-spreaders.
While the process of tracing contacts and gleaning information about their movements can be laborious, data analyst David Higgins said the process of analysing this information electronically was not.
“Contact tracers have to collect information over a long period of time, roughly the two weeks the virus spends incubating. They also have to get every bit of relevant information,” Mr Higgins, of Carraighill consultants, said.
“Details about cases, by Eircode location, could be uploaded onto a database, and a search could throw up matches by location and other criteria.”
The resulting information could help provide real-time clues about locations where the virus was spreading and, more broadly, point to general settings which are conducive to its transmission.
Given that NPHET was making “life and death” decisions for businesses, it should be given the resources to ensure these were well informed, he said. “We’ll end up saving money in the long run.”
Yet it may be too late for now to widen the scope of contact tracing. The World Health Organisation says contact tracing can be "difficult" when transmission of the virus is "intense" but should be carried out "as much as possible". For the coming weeks, fire-fighting is likely to dominate over disease detection.


theirishtimes--2020-09-22--Gardaí used spit hoods on at least 14 people with mental illness

At least 14 per cent of spit-hood deployments by gardaí since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic have involved people with obvious mental illnesses .
And a spit hood was used on at least one person with an obvious learning disability and on five children , including one who was 14 years old .
Spit hoods , or anti-spit guards as they are called by the Garda , are wire and fabric devices which are forcibly placed over the heads of suspects to stop them purposely spitting or coughing on gardaí .
Their use has been criticised by various human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has said they should be discontinued as soon as possible .
According to data released to The Irish Times , the Policing Authority has received detailed reports concerning 99 incidents of spit-hood use .
This is out of the 104 recorded incidents of their use since March when they were introduced .
Shortly after their introduction , the Policing Authority started asking gardaí to record spit-hood use under a number of headings including if suspects had learning disabilities , were intoxicated or if they were mentally ill .
In 14 incidents “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obvious signs of a mental health issue ” , the Policing Authority said .
In reality , this figure is likely to be significantly higher as in 30 incidents the mental condition of the suspects was not specified by the reporting garda .
In 51 incidents the suspect did not have a discernible mental illness .
In one incident , gardaí used a spit hood on a suspect with “ obvious signs of a learning disability ” .
Again , this figure may be significantly higher as in 31 incidents gardaí did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of incidents ( 64 of the 99 ) , the garda perceived the suspect as displaying obvious signs of intoxication .
Some detainees displayed more than one of these conditions , the Policing Authority said .
It has previously been reported that spit hoods have been used on five people under the age of 18 .
In one of these incidents the suspect was 14 , a source told The Irish Times .
In the vast majority of cases , spit hoods were used for less than 20 minutes .
However , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a suspect for five hours .
The Garda is reviewing the continued use of spit hoods with a report expected at the end of the month .
The Policing Authority has said it wants them to be discontinued .
It noted the Garda uses the same types of hoods as the PSNI which , according to Amnesty International , are “ not an effective means to prevent Covid-19 ” .
There have been 192 spitting or coughing attacks on gardaí since March .
The authority said there “ are many human rights concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the use of anti-spit hoods on vulnerable individuals is an ongoing source of concern , ” it said in its most recent report .
Executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties Liam Herrick said on Monday the new figures were “ extremely troubling ” .
“ In other parts of the world spit hoods have caused suffocation and deaths .
The risks are significantly heightened in circumstances where they are used against a person who is in crisis , or is intoxicated , or doesn ’ t fully comprehend the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda Representative Association ( GRA ) , which represents rank and file gardaí , has called for the hoods to be retained .
“ The incidents of gardaí being spat at is almost double the number of deployments of anti-spit guards , ” GRA president Jim Mulligan said .
“ Gardaí have rights as workers and are entitled to equipment that protects them in their work .
”

Spit hoods, or anti-spit guards as they are called by the Garda, are wire and fabric devices which are forcibly placed over the heads of suspects to stop them purposely spitting or coughing on gardaí. File photograph: PA
At least 14 per cent of spit-hood deployments by gardaí since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic have involved people with obvious mental illnesses.
And a spit hood was used on at least one person with an obvious learning disability and on five children, including one who was 14 years old.
Spit hoods, or anti-spit guards as they are called by the Garda, are wire and fabric devices which are forcibly placed over the heads of suspects to stop them purposely spitting or coughing on gardaí.
Their use has been criticised by various human rights bodies and the Policing Authority which has said they should be discontinued as soon as possible.
READ MORE
According to data released to The Irish Times, the Policing Authority has received detailed reports concerning 99 incidents of spit-hood use. This is out of the 104 recorded incidents of their use since March when they were introduced.
Shortly after their introduction, the Policing Authority started asking gardaí to record spit-hood use under a number of headings including if suspects had learning disabilities, were intoxicated or if they were mentally ill.
Mental health issue
In 14 incidents “the Garda member perceived the detainee to have obvious signs of a mental health issue”, the Policing Authority said. In reality, this figure is likely to be significantly higher as in 30 incidents the mental condition of the suspects was not specified by the reporting garda. In 51 incidents the suspect did not have a discernible mental illness.
In one incident, gardaí used a spit hood on a suspect with “obvious signs of a learning disability”. Again, this figure may be significantly higher as in 31 incidents gardaí did not provide enough detail.
In the majority of incidents (64 of the 99), the garda perceived the suspect as displaying obvious signs of intoxication.
Human rights bodies and the Policing Authority criticise the use of spit hoods. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Some detainees displayed more than one of these conditions, the Policing Authority said.
It has previously been reported that spit hoods have been used on five people under the age of 18. In one of these incidents the suspect was 14, a source told The Irish Times.
In the vast majority of cases, spit hoods were used for less than 20 minutes. However, in one case a hood was left on a suspect for five hours.
The Garda is reviewing the continued use of spit hoods with a report expected at the end of the month.
Ineffective
The Policing Authority has said it wants them to be discontinued. It noted the Garda uses the same types of hoods as the PSNI which, according to Amnesty International, are "not an effective means to prevent Covid-19".
There have been 192 spitting or coughing attacks on gardaí since March.
The authority said there “are many human rights concerns” about spit hoods. “Furthermore, the use of anti-spit hoods on vulnerable individuals is an ongoing source of concern,” it said in its most recent report.
Executive director of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties Liam Herrick said on Monday the new figures were "extremely troubling".
“In other parts of the world spit hoods have caused suffocation and deaths. The risks are significantly heightened in circumstances where they are used against a person who is in crisis, or is intoxicated, or doesn’t fully comprehend the situation they find themselves in.”
The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents rank and file gardaí, has called for the hoods to be retained.
“The incidents of gardaí being spat at is almost double the number of deployments of anti-spit guards,” GRA president Jim Mulligan said.
“Gardaí have rights as workers and are entitled to equipment that protects them in their work.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-22--'Worrying trends': Waiting game in play as officials monitor Covid cases

The number of people infected with Covid-19 is expected to continue to rise over the coming days with the question of further restrictions in Dublin and other counties to be considered at the end of this week and early next week .
Sources familiar with discussions between public health experts and political decision-makers say Government is in a “ waiting game ” to see if the number of infections in Dublin stabilises by the middle of next week .
If not , further restrictions are likely to be considered for the capital , they confirm .
The numbers will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , with Kildare a particular worry it is understood , as officials and Ministers consider the possibility of extending the Level 3 restrictions currently in place in Dublin .
Officials say they are particularly concerned about Louth , Waterford , Limerick , Kildare , Leitrim , Donegal , Offaly and Wicklow .
At a Covid-19 briefing at Government Buildings on Monday , assistant secretary general at the Department of Taoiseach Liz Canavan said there were now “ worrying trends in most areas ” .
Concerns are also rising over the admission rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low number of cases of Covid-19 disrupts normal procedures .
A further 188 confirmed cases of the virus were reported on Monday night by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) , 76 of them in Dublin .
This brings to 33,121 the total number of cases linked to the virus in the Republic .
No new deaths were reported , leaving the total number of deaths at 1,792 .
Of Monday ’ s cases , 25 are in Cork , 21 in Donegal , 16 in Kildare , 13 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Waterford , with the remaining 23 cases spread across 12 counties .
Men account for 96 cases and women for 90 – in two cases the data on gender was not included – while 71 per cent are aged under 45 years .
Nineteen cases were identified as community transmission and 36 per cent are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case .
The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital increased from 79 to 88 from Saturday to Sunday , when 10 new admissions occurred .
The number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at 16 .
As the numbers of people infected grows , public fears about a second wave of coronavirus and support for more stringent restrictions have grown this month , according to public opinion research published by the Department of Health .
Research carried out last week and published on Monday night shows the numbers in favour of further restrictions surpassed those against such a move in recent weeks , rising to more than half ( 52 per cent ) of all respondents to the poll .
The numbers of those opposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 29 per cent ) – meaning that a significant majority of those who expressed a view favour further restrictions .
There has been a similar movement in recent weeks in the numbers of people who believe the measures introduced by the Government are “ insufficient ” – it rose from 30 per cent to 39 per cent during the period in question .
More than half of people ( 54 per cent ) say the response has been appropriate ; only 7 per cent say it has been too extreme .
Almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) say the worst is “ ahead of us ” .
Levels of worry in the population are similar to those seen at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in April , the research says .

Government spokesperson Liz Canavan has warned of "worrying" Covid-19 trends in eight counties outside of Dublin - Louth, Waterford, Limerick, Kildare, Leitrim, Donegal, Offaly and Wicklow. Video: RTÉ
The number of people infected with Covid-19 is expected to continue to rise over the coming days with the question of further restrictions in Dublin and other counties to be considered at the end of this week and early next week.
Sources familiar with discussions between public health experts and political decision-makers say Government is in a “waiting game” to see if the number of infections in Dublin stabilises by the middle of next week.
If not, further restrictions are likely to be considered for the capital, they confirm.
Hospital Report
The numbers will be monitored closely in several counties over coming days, with Kildare a particular worry it is understood, as officials and Ministers consider the possibility of extending the Level 3 restrictions currently in place in Dublin. Officials say they are particularly concerned about Louth, Waterford, Limerick, Kildare, Leitrim, Donegal, Offaly and Wicklow.
READ MORE
At a Covid-19 briefing at Government Buildings on Monday, assistant secretary general at the Department of Taoiseach Liz Canavan said there were now “worrying trends in most areas”.
Concerns are also rising over the admission rate to hospitals, as even a relatively low number of cases of Covid-19 disrupts normal procedures.
A further 188 confirmed cases of the virus were reported on Monday night by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), 76 of them in Dublin.
This brings to 33,121 the total number of cases linked to the virus in the Republic. No new deaths were reported, leaving the total number of deaths at 1,792.
Of Monday’s cases, 25 are in Cork, 21 in Donegal, 16 in Kildare, 13 in Galway, seven in Roscommon and seven in Waterford, with the remaining 23 cases spread across 12 counties.
Men account for 96 cases and women for 90 – in two cases the data on gender was not included – while 71 per cent are aged under 45 years.
Nineteen cases were identified as community transmission and 36 per cent are associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case.
The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital increased from 79 to 88 from Saturday to Sunday, when 10 new admissions occurred. The number of patients in intensive care remained static at 16.
Public support
As the numbers of people infected grows, public fears about a second wave of coronavirus and support for more stringent restrictions have grown this month, according to public opinion research published by the Department of Health.
Research carried out last week and published on Monday night shows the numbers in favour of further restrictions surpassed those against such a move in recent weeks, rising to more than half (52 per cent) of all respondents to the poll. The numbers of those opposed to more restrictions fell to under a third (29 per cent) – meaning that a significant majority of those who expressed a view favour further restrictions.
There has been a similar movement in recent weeks in the numbers of people who believe the measures introduced by the Government are “insufficient” – it rose from 30 per cent to 39 per cent during the period in question. More than half of people (54 per cent) say the response has been appropriate; only 7 per cent say it has been too extreme. Almost half of respondents (47 per cent) say the worst is “ahead of us”.
Levels of worry in the population are similar to those seen at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in April, the research says.


theirishtimes--2020-09-22--Screen time linked to rising mental health issues in children – study

Children who spend significant amounts of time on screens are more likely to suffer declines in emotional wellbeing , and the level of harm has increased in more recent times , according to a new Irish study .
While some digital activities such as gaming , educational engagement and socialising were found to have “ small and insignificant effects ” on young children , the consumption of media such as Netflix , YouTube or other content was more likely to prove harmful , the research found .
The study , by sociologists Melissa Bohnert and Dr Pablo Gracia at Trinity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indicators Research journal , is the first to look at two cohorts of children to form a comparative analysis on effects .
They looked at the experiences of nine-year-olds in both 2008 and 2018 , drawing on data from the ongoing Growing Up in Ireland research initiative .
The paper , Emerging Digital Generations ?
, is the first examination of how digital technology use affects socio-emotional wellbeing and how these impacts have changed across two recent cohorts .
Key among the findings are how the duration and type of screen engagement affects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels of screen time on child mental health were more severe for the younger generation – those born in 2008 – compared with those born in 1998 .
Spending more than three hours a day either on digital devices or watching TV is linked with “ important declines ” in child mental health , including hyperactivity , self-regulatory problems or disruptive behaviours .
Moderate amounts of time were not found to have as detrimental an effect .
“ Spending time in media activities like watching YouTube videos , other videos or downloading apps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially when these activities do not involve socialising with others , ” the authors told The Irish Times .
“ Other digital activities , like doing homework or searching information on the internet , have neither positive nor negative associations with children ’ s mental health outcomes.
” Perhaps unsurprisingly , the study found a marked shift in how children are engaging with screens , particularly in the context of evolving content and social media .
It noted a “ marked decrease ” in those saying they used digital technologies for educational @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among the 1998 cohort to just 17 per cent 10 years later .
By contrast , children who reported engaging in media activities such as watching YouTube or streaming movies and music jumped from 28 per cent to 89 per cent .
“ This significant increase in digital media use may be explained by the proliferation of music and video-streaming platforms ( eg Netflix , YouTube , Spotify ) over the last decade , ” the study noted .
Habits changed , too , in line with technology .
The researchers found that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent of children spent over an hour watching TV , dropping to just 48 per cent in the 2008 sample .
By contrast , digital screen-time of more than an hour rose from 13 per cent to 28 per cent .
“ These findings indicate that children are moving away from traditional TV screen-time and supplanting it with time spent on digital technologies , ” particularly mobile phones and tablets .
Mobile phone ownership at the age of nine similarly increased from 61 per cent in the 1998-born cohort to 78 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the study tend to mirror those of previous work looking at children born after 2008 .
This is the first cohort to grow up entirely after the launch of smartphones to the popular market .
The research is part of a €3.5 million EU-funded project , Digymatex , examining the short- and long-term impact of children ’ s digital engagement across different demographic and socio-economic groups .

Negative outcomes associated with high levels of screen time on child mental health were more severe for the younger generation. Photograph: iStock
Children who spend significant amounts of time on screens are more likely to suffer declines in emotional wellbeing, and the level of harm has increased in more recent times, according to a new Irish study.
While some digital activities such as gaming, educational engagement and socialising were found to have "small and insignificant effects" on young children, the consumption of media such as Netflix, YouTube or other content was more likely to prove harmful, the research found.
The study, by sociologists Melissa Bohnert and Dr Pablo Gracia at Trinity College Dublin and published in the Child Indicators Research journal, is the first to look at two cohorts of children to form a comparative analysis on effects.
They looked at the experiences of nine-year-olds in both 2008 and 2018, drawing on data from the ongoing Growing Up in Ireland research initiative.
READ MORE
The paper, Emerging Digital Generations?, is the first examination of how digital technology use affects socio-emotional wellbeing and how these impacts have changed across two recent cohorts.
Key among the findings are how the duration and type of screen engagement affects children.
Negative outcomes associated with high levels of screen time on child mental health were more severe for the younger generation – those born in 2008 – compared with those born in 1998.
Spending more than three hours a day either on digital devices or watching TV is linked with “important declines” in child mental health, including hyperactivity, self-regulatory problems or disruptive behaviours. Moderate amounts of time were not found to have as detrimental an effect.
“Spending time in media activities like watching YouTube videos, other videos or downloading apps has detrimental effects on child mental health, especially when these activities do not involve socialising with others,” the authors told The Irish Times.
“Other digital activities, like doing homework or searching information on the internet, have neither positive nor negative associations with children’s mental health outcomes.”
‘Educational’ purposes
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the study found a marked shift in how children are engaging with screens, particularly in the context of evolving content and social media.
It noted a “marked decrease” in those saying they used digital technologies for educational purposes, falling from 56 per cent among the 1998 cohort to just 17 per cent 10 years later.
By contrast, children who reported engaging in media activities such as watching YouTube or streaming movies and music jumped from 28 per cent to 89 per cent.
“This significant increase in digital media use may be explained by the proliferation of music and video-streaming platforms (eg Netflix, YouTube, Spotify) over the last decade,” the study noted.
Habits changed, too, in line with technology. The researchers found that in the 1998 cohort, 73 per cent of children spent over an hour watching TV, dropping to just 48 per cent in the 2008 sample. By contrast, digital screen-time of more than an hour rose from 13 per cent to 28 per cent.
“These findings indicate that children are moving away from traditional TV screen-time and supplanting it with time spent on digital technologies,” particularly mobile phones and tablets.
Mobile phone ownership at the age of nine similarly increased from 61 per cent in the 1998-born cohort to 78 per cent in 2008-born cohort.
The overall findings of the study tend to mirror those of previous work looking at children born after 2008. This is the first cohort to grow up entirely after the launch of smartphones to the popular market.
The research is part of a €3.5 million EU-funded project, Digymatex, examining the short- and long-term impact of children's digital engagement across different demographic and socio-economic groups.


theirishtimes--2020-09-22--‘Take some time to consider the path you want to take’

What did you study and when did you graduate ?
I completed a Master ’ s degree in Management and Marketing in the University College Cork where I graduated in February 2020 .
I also undertook the Aldi Industrial Placement programme in 2019 prior to joining the company ’ s Graduate Area Manager Programme .
What did you find most challenging about the working world ?
The most challenging aspect of the transition from education to the working world was the ability to switch off from work and unwind .
In the working world where there is more responsibility , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ switch off .
The Graduate Area Manager training programme is a commitment and during my training I was so focused on learning and improving myself , I found it challenging to take down-time outside of work sometimes .
After some helpful conversations with my colleagues and mentors , I got some great advice and found new ways of switching off which has been great .
The generous holiday entitlement with the role gives you the opportunity enjoy the down time , and highlights that working with Aldi is really more than just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
If so what is their value to you ?
In my personal life my mentors are my parents .
They always offer me sound advice and put things into perspective .
Throughout my Master ’ s degree when the workload was intense , they reminded me of the importance of having a balance and also taking time away from study .
They also helped me in terms of my career choice and supporting decisions on my career path .
I got a fantastic mentor when I joined the Aldi Graduate Area Manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ training programme .
Their mentorship played a vital role in helping me to find my feet in the role and ensuring that I received all the training and advice necessary to progress .
The value of mentors in my life has been instrumental to my development .
What is the most valuable thing you have learned since you joined the workforce ?
The most valuable thing I have learned since joining Aldi as a graduate is the importance of taking responsibility and ownership of my decisions and actions .
The ability to critically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress and grow for the future .
Covid-19 has presented many economic and social challenges .
Of course , the environments that we both live and work in look very different now I finished my training in June of this year and have since taken my responsibility for my own operational area .
I am sure that everyone who works in the retail sector will agree that the past few months have been very busy , but at the same time very rewarding .
The unprecedented demand experienced across the grocery sector and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that everyone faced a huge challenge .
However , as a graduate I found the situation gave me so many unique learning opportunities which will be very valuable throughout my career .
I ’ ve had so much support from my colleagues too , which makes those tough days a little easier .
One piece of advice for new graduates ?
Don ’ t rush into a role just for the sake of it , or don ’ t be pressurised to have a job lined up straight away once you finish your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the path you want to take to reach your goals and explore the different avenues that can be taken to reach this goal .

Cian O’Connor: ‘Don’t rush into a role just for the sake of it, or don’t be pressurised to have a job lined up straight away once you finish your studies.’
What did you study and when did you graduate?
I completed a Master's degree in Management and Marketing in the University College Cork where I graduated in February 2020. I also undertook the Aldi Industrial Placement programme in 2019 prior to joining the company's Graduate Area Manager Programme.
What did you find most challenging about the working world?
The most challenging aspect of the transition from education to the working world was the ability to switch off from work and unwind. In the working world where there is more responsibility, it’s not always easy to switch off. The Graduate Area Manager training programme is a commitment and during my training I was so focused on learning and improving myself, I found it challenging to take down-time outside of work sometimes.
READ MORE
After some helpful conversations with my colleagues and mentors, I got some great advice and found new ways of switching off which has been great. The generous holiday entitlement with the role gives you the opportunity enjoy the down time, and highlights that working with Aldi is really more than just a job.
Do you have any mentors? If so what is their value to you?
In my personal life my mentors are my parents. They always offer me sound advice and put things into perspective. Throughout my Master’s degree when the workload was intense, they reminded me of the importance of having a balance and also taking time away from study. They also helped me in terms of my career choice and supporting decisions on my career path.
I got a fantastic mentor when I joined the Aldi Graduate Area Manager Programme who supported me throughout my whole training programme. Their mentorship played a vital role in helping me to find my feet in the role and ensuring that I received all the training and advice necessary to progress.
The value of mentors in my life has been instrumental to my development.
What is the most valuable thing you have learned since you joined the workforce?
The most valuable thing I have learned since joining Aldi as a graduate is the importance of taking responsibility and ownership of my decisions and actions. The ability to critically assess your decisions can allow you to progress and grow for the future.
How has Covid-19 affected you/your working life?
Covid-19 has presented many economic and social challenges. Of course, the environments that we both live and work in look very different now I finished my training in June of this year and have since taken my responsibility for my own operational area.
I am sure that everyone who works in the retail sector will agree that the past few months have been very busy, but at the same time very rewarding. The unprecedented demand experienced across the grocery sector and its importance as a frontline service meant that everyone faced a huge challenge. However, as a graduate I found the situation gave me so many unique learning opportunities which will be very valuable throughout my career. I’ve had so much support from my colleagues too, which makes those tough days a little easier.
One piece of advice for new graduates?
Don’t rush into a role just for the sake of it, or don’t be pressurised to have a job lined up straight away once you finish your studies. Take some time to consider the path you want to take to reach your goals and explore the different avenues that can be taken to reach this goal.
Jenna Clarke-Molloy


theirishtimes--2020-09-21--Safer to meet ‘200 friends in a field’ than 20 indoors, says expert

A public health expert has told young people “ if you are going to do mad stuff do it outside ” .
Anthony Staines , professor of public health systems at Dublin City University , said it was “ much safer to have 200 of your friends in a field than 20 of your friends back in your house ” .
A study published in the British Medical Journal in July found the chances of people getting Covid-19 in an indoor environment were more than 18 times higher than in an outdoor setting .
Footage emerged online on Saturday night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bond apartment complex in Dublin attended by up to 100 young people which was eventually broken up by gardaí .
Separately , Meath farmer Darragh McCullough said he was astonished to find the remnants of a rave which has held in one of his fields on Saturday night without his permission .
The rave was hosted by a number of Brazilian people who live in Dublin .
Mr McCullough estimated there was at least 100 people in attendance .
“ I am not too worried about them , ” Prof Staines told RTÉ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he condemned the antisocial nature of what happened .
“ I think the behaviour of the people around the Oliver Bond flats was disgraceful and they caused chaos , ” he said .
“ The rave in Meath , the farmer commented that they cleaned the place immaculately before they left .
“ I am not endorsing what they did , but if you want to do mad stuff , do it outside because it is much safer.
” Dublin-based GP Maitiu O ’ Tuathail said he agreed with Prof Staines that people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoors than outdoors .
“ The indoors are where the vast majority of outbreaks and clusters happen .
That ’ s very clear .
“ I would ask people to put the interests of others before their own for the foreseeable future , but we do need to come up with a liveable solution and the risk outdoors is significantly reduced , ” Dr O ’ Tuathail said .

A public health expert has told young people “if you are going to do mad stuff do it outside”.
Anthony Staines, professor of public health systems at Dublin City University, said it was "much safer to have 200 of your friends in a field than 20 of your friends back in your house".
A study published in the British Medical Journal in July found the chances of people getting Covid-19 in an indoor environment were more than 18 times higher than in an outdoor setting.
Hospital Report
Footage emerged online on Saturday night of an outdoor rave in the Oliver Bond apartment complex in Dublin attended by up to 100 young people which was eventually broken up by gardaí.
READ MORE
Separately, Meath farmer Darragh McCullough said he was astonished to find the remnants of a rave which has held in one of his fields on Saturday night without his permission.
The rave was hosted by a number of Brazilian people who live in Dublin. Mr McCullough estimated there was at least 100 people in attendance.
"I am not too worried about them," Prof Staines told RTÉ's Claire Byrne Live Show though he condemned the antisocial nature of what happened.
“I think the behaviour of the people around the Oliver Bond flats was disgraceful and they caused chaos,” he said.
“The rave in Meath, the farmer commented that they cleaned the place immaculately before they left.
“I am not endorsing what they did, but if you want to do mad stuff, do it outside because it is much safer.”
Dublin-based GP Maitiu O’Tuathail said he agreed with Prof Staines that people were significantly more likely to get Covid-19 indoors than outdoors.
“The indoors are where the vast majority of outbreaks and clusters happen. That’s very clear.
“I would ask people to put the interests of others before their own for the foreseeable future, but we do need to come up with a liveable solution and the risk outdoors is significantly reduced,” Dr O’Tuathail said.


theirishtimes--2020-09-21--Six Irish charities form alliance to respond to Covid-19 in vulnerable communities

Six of Ireland ’ s leading international charities have formed a new alliance to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and assist some of the most vulnerable communities around the world .
The Irish Emergency Alliance - made up of ActionAid , Christian Aid , Plan International , Self Help Africa , Tearfund and World Vision -will jointly raise money from the Irish public to assist countries who are “ already struggling to cope with the impact of conflict and displacement ” .
The donations , the alliance says , will go towards food , water and medical care , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ vital information ” to prevent the spread of the virus .
The coronavirus appeal will focus on vulnerable communities in Afghanistan , Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan , all coping with the impact of widescale conflict , as well as Ethiopia , Kenya , Lebanon and the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox ’ s Bazar in Bangladesh .
The alliance said it is focusing on these seven countries , as they are home to more than 17 million refugees and displaced people .
For people living in refugee camps or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice physical distancing , while a lack of soap and water inmany homes makes it harder to prevent the spread of coronavirus , the alliance added .
Helen Keogh , chairwoman of the Irish emergency alliance , said the unprecedented scale of the global coronavirus pandemic motivated the six charities to come together to help those most in need .
“ We have all seen the devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis in Ireland , so you can imagine how much harder it is for people living in countries without enough doctors or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ventilators , ” Ms Keogh said .
“ In countries without the safety net of furlough schemes , many who lost their jobs during the pandemic are now struggling to feed their families .
The situation is even more critical in countries already struggling with the impact of conflict and buckling under the strain of massive refugee and displacement crises.
” Ms Keogh added that it “ is clear ” that some of the “ world ’ s poorest people are being pushed even further into poverty ” as a result of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Development Aid and Diaspora , Colm Brophy , said he is proud to see the agencies “ combine their strengths at this critical time ” .
“ I am sure the Irish people will continue their track-record of outstanding generosity even as they overcome difficulties here at home and support the Alliance ’ s efforts , ” he added .

The donations, the alliance says, will go towards food, water and medical care, as well as providing soap, masks and “vital information” to prevent the spread of the virus. Photograph: iStock
Six of Ireland’s leading international charities have formed a new alliance to respond to the coronavirus pandemic and assist some of the most vulnerable communities around the world.
The Irish Emergency Alliance - made up of ActionAid, Christian Aid, Plan International, Self Help Africa, Tearfund and World Vision -will jointly raise money from the Irish public to assist countries who are "already struggling to cope with the impact of conflict and displacement".
The donations, the alliance says, will go towards food, water and medical care, as well as providing soap, masks and “vital information” to prevent the spread of the virus.
The coronavirus appeal will focus on vulnerable communities in Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan, all coping with the impact of widescale conflict, as well as Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon and the Rohingya refugee camps of Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh.
READ MORE
The alliance said it is focusing on these seven countries, as they are home to more than 17 million refugees and displaced people.
For people living in refugee camps or slums, it is nearly impossible to practice physical distancing, while a lack of soap and water inmany homes makes it harder to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the alliance added.
Helen Keogh, chairwoman of the Irish emergency alliance, said the unprecedented scale of the global coronavirus pandemic motivated the six charities to come together to help those most in need.
"We have all seen the devastating impact of the coronavirus crisis in Ireland, so you can imagine how much harder it is for people living in countries without enough doctors or nurses let alone enough ICU beds or ventilators," Ms Keogh said.
“ In countries without the safety net of furlough schemes, many who lost their jobs during the pandemic are now struggling to feed their families. The situation is even more critical in countries already struggling with the impact of conflict and buckling under the strain of massive refugee and displacement crises.”
Ms Keogh added that it “is clear” that some of the “world’s poorest people are being pushed even further into poverty” as a result of the pandemic.
Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora, Colm Brophy, said he is proud to see the agencies "combine their strengths at this critical time".
“ I am sure the Irish people will continue their track-record of outstanding generosity even as they overcome difficulties here at home and support the Alliance’s efforts,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-09-21--Twitter continues to be ‘toxic’ for women, Amnesty International says

Twitter continues to fail women over online violence and abuse , Amnesty International has said .
The online social media platform has implemented just one of ten concrete recommendations the human rights organisation made in a report entitled “ Toxic Twitter ” which it released two years ago .
Amnesty International said Twitter had not produced meaningful data to even gauge the scale of the problem .
Neither had it provided country-level breakdowns of user reports of abuse or abuse based on gender or race , it added .
In 2018 Amnesty interviewed 86 prominent women in the UK and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media platform which has 400 million users worldwide .
It also carried out online surveys among women in eight countries about women ’ s experiences of abuse or harassment on social media platforms more generally and its impact on women ’ s freedom of expression online as well as the psychological impact of online abuse and harassment .
It found that Twitter was a place where threats of violence and abuse against women are widespread and where inadequate remedies exist for those who experience such abuse .
In its follow up report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it had only implemented one of 10 recommendations that the organisation suggested to deal with online abuse .
It has improved the appeals process by offering more guidance to users on how it works and how decisions are made .
It has not published the data on the number of moderators it employs to deal with abuse , the types of training required and the average time it takes for moderators to respond to reports .
Neither has it published the volume of appeals and their outcomes .
Amnesty International has judged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examples of what type of behaviour rise to the level of violence and abuse and what penalties Twitter will impose have been inadequate .
Amnesty International ’ s co-director of technology Rasha Abdul Rahim said Twitter has made some progress , but is not doing enough to protect women users “ leading many women to silence or censor themselves on the platform ” .
She added : “ We have outlined clear , straightforward steps that Twitter can take to make its platform a safer place for women to express their views .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ protect women from abuse.
” Indian author and activist , Meena Kandasamy , said she had been subject to “ racist and misogynistic abuse including rape threats ” .
She said Twitter needs to do more to clean up the platform and make it a safe place for women .
In response to Amnesty ’ s analysis , Twitter has acknowledged that it needs to do more .
However , the company said its combination of human moderation and use of technology , allows it to take a more proactive response to online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by country or region stating that such data could be open to misinterpretation and also give a misleading impression of the problem .
Amnesty International said it does not accept that Twitter can not publish such information .

Twitter said its combination of human moderation and use of technology, allows it to take a more proactive response to online abuse. Photograph: iStock
Twitter continues to fail women over online violence and abuse, Amnesty International has said.
The online social media platform has implemented just one of ten concrete recommendations the human rights organisation made in a report entitled “Toxic Twitter” which it released two years ago.
Amnesty International said Twitter had not produced meaningful data to even gauge the scale of the problem.
Neither had it provided country-level breakdowns of user reports of abuse or abuse based on gender or race, it added.
READ MORE
In 2018 Amnesty interviewed 86 prominent women in the UK and the US about their experiences on the social media platform which has 400 million users worldwide.
It also carried out online surveys among women in eight countries about women’s experiences of abuse or harassment on social media platforms more generally and its impact on women’s freedom of expression online as well as the psychological impact of online abuse and harassment.
It found that Twitter was a place where threats of violence and abuse against women are widespread and where inadequate remedies exist for those who experience such abuse.
In its follow up report, Amnesty International has excoriated Twitter stating that it had only implemented one of 10 recommendations that the organisation suggested to deal with online abuse.
It has improved the appeals process by offering more guidance to users on how it works and how decisions are made.
It has not published the data on the number of moderators it employs to deal with abuse, the types of training required and the average time it takes for moderators to respond to reports. Neither has it published the volume of appeals and their outcomes.
Amnesty International has judged Twitter’s attempts to provide clearer examples of what type of behaviour rise to the level of violence and abuse and what penalties Twitter will impose have been inadequate.
Amnesty International's co-director of technology Rasha Abdul Rahim said Twitter has made some progress, but is not doing enough to protect women users "leading many women to silence or censor themselves on the platform".
She added: “We have outlined clear, straightforward steps that Twitter can take to make its platform a safer place for women to express their views. Twitter can and must do more to protect women from abuse.”
Indian author and activist, Meena Kandasamy, said she had been subject to "racist and misogynistic abuse including rape threats".
She said Twitter needs to do more to clean up the platform and make it a safe place for women.
In response to Amnesty’s analysis, Twitter has acknowledged that it needs to do more.
However, the company said its combination of human moderation and use of technology, allows it to take a more proactive response to online abuse.
Twitter declined to publish information by country or region stating that such data could be open to misinterpretation and also give a misleading impression of the problem.
Amnesty International said it does not accept that Twitter cannot publish such information.


theirishtimes--2020-09-21--We’re obsessed with university degrees in this country – but college isn’t for everyone

As the Provost of Trinity College Dublin , I ’ m often asked for advice about which university somebody ’ s daughter or son should attend , or if they should attend university at all .
The question is understandable but impossible to answer unless one knows the potential student well .
Universities may seem similar from the outside , but they differ considerably .
Like every other aspect of life , ability and temperament play a large role in determining which institution is best suited to any individual .
We all prosper in different environments and this is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that universities be allowed enough autonomy to be different from each another .
There is no one size that fits all .
Diverse approaches to teaching and research present students with a choice and allows many different types of people of flourish by picking the institution that ’ s right for them .
In my own university our stated aim is for students to think independently and act responsibly .
This has recently been adopted by the University Council as the attributes we wish our graduates to have .
Such attributes may seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students .
Recently , this philosophy caused a little concern among a minority of our students when we told them that it was their choice whether they should take up offers for Erasmus exchanges which allows students to take a semester or year abroad .
Some students felt that we should have followed the lead of several other universities and cancelled Erasmus programmes in 2020 .
However , if we want to cultivate independence of mind , we should allow students to make their own choices based on personal circumstances , the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and their prior experience of travelling and living abroad .
Do I think there is a risk in student exchanges during a pandemic ?
Of course there is , and there ’ s no right answer to the question whether or not to cancel exchanges .
I can understand why other universities chose differently but it does present an opportunity for students to learn to think for themselves .
We take the same attitude to parents incidentally .
Parents contact us from time to time to request that tutors or lecturers talk to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I ’ m afraid we don ’ t pay much attention to these sort of requests .
Our students are adults and , except in extremis , it would be wrong to facilitate helicopter parenting .
At some stage , students must be allowed to make their own mistakes , and learn from them .
Parents and guardians can provide a kind of secure base and that is of great benefit to a young person , and but also students need to use their university years to learn to take responsibility for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not always easy in this country .
Fees and accommodation costs in Ireland create an unfortunate dependency culture between adult children and parents which is unfair to both the young and the old .
One of the things I like about countries where students pay very low fees and automatically qualify for grants or loans is that students are empowered early in life to stand on their own two feet .
It is not healthy that our students ’ ability to attend college often hinges on the financial ups and downs of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain courses .
Of course , third level is not the only sensible option for school leavers .
The last few years have seen a welcome development in additional apprenticeships and traineeships .
The Programme for Government commits to increasing the number of new apprentice registrations to 10,000 a year by 2025 .
The Further Education sector is coming into its own , steered by Solas , the State agency .
The sector offers an incredible range of 25,000 courses for those looking for qualifications .
Yet the sector is often overlooked when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with their parents .
We are obsessed with university degrees in this country .
Yet university is not for everyone – that ’ s not an elitist view but stems from a belief that students should consider all options on their merits .
Convincing parents and students of this will be one task for Minister Simon Harris whose new department with its focus on further and higher education as well as science and innovation could yet be a game changer for this country .
To be clear , higher education institutions , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , especially in first year , but they are not bigger versions of secondary schools .
When I welcome this year ’ s intake of students to Trinity in September , I hope that they will see university as a place where they can develop their skills in organising study and free time , manage risk , deal with failure , develop resilience , learn the consequences of decisions and acquire greater independence of mind .
Of course , this particular intake has faced a fair number of challenges over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already shown great resilience .
There is every reason to think that they will be a fascinating and successful group and I look forward to meeting them and watching their progress in the years to come .

Third level is not the only sensible option for school leavers. The last few years have seen a welcome development in additional apprenticeships and traineeships. Photograph: PA
As the Provost of Trinity College Dublin, I'm often asked for advice about which university somebody's daughter or son should attend, or if they should attend university at all. The question is understandable but impossible to answer unless one knows the potential student well.
Universities may seem similar from the outside, but they differ considerably. Like every other aspect of life, ability and temperament play a large role in determining which institution is best suited to any individual. We all prosper in different environments and this is one reason why I think it is important that universities be allowed enough autonomy to be different from each another. There is no one size that fits all. Diverse approaches to teaching and research present students with a choice and allows many different types of people of flourish by picking the institution that’s right for them.
In my own university our stated aim is for students to think independently and act responsibly. This has recently been adopted by the University Council as the attributes we wish our graduates to have. Such attributes may seem self-evident but can be confusing for some students.
If we want to cultivate independence of mind, we should allow students to make their own choices based on personal circumstances
Recently, this philosophy caused a little concern among a minority of our students when we told them that it was their choice whether they should take up offers for Erasmus exchanges which allows students to take a semester or year abroad. Some students felt that we should have followed the lead of several other universities and cancelled Erasmus programmes in 2020.
READ MORE
Dr Patrick Prendergast reassured secondary students hoping to study at Trinity that it will welcome new students in the autumn. Photograph: Tom Honan
However, if we want to cultivate independence of mind, we should allow students to make their own choices based on personal circumstances, the country they were going to study in, and their prior experience of travelling and living abroad. Do I think there is a risk in student exchanges during a pandemic? Of course there is, and there’s no right answer to the question whether or not to cancel exchanges. I can understand why other universities chose differently but it does present an opportunity for students to learn to think for themselves.
We take the same attitude to parents incidentally. Parents contact us from time to time to request that tutors or lecturers talk to their children about their progress in college. I’m afraid we don’t pay much attention to these sort of requests. Our students are adults and, except in extremis, it would be wrong to facilitate helicopter parenting. At some stage, students must be allowed to make their own mistakes, and learn from them. Parents and guardians can provide a kind of secure base and that is of great benefit to a young person, and but also students need to use their university years to learn to take responsibility for themselves.
Taking responsibility for oneself is not always easy in this country. Fees and accommodation costs in Ireland create an unfortunate dependency culture between adult children and parents which is unfair to both the young and the old. One of the things I like about countries where students pay very low fees and automatically qualify for grants or loans is that students are empowered early in life to stand on their own two feet. It is not healthy that our students' ability to attend college often hinges on the financial ups and downs of their parents or their parents' prejudices about certain courses.
Higher education institutions provide many supports for students but they are not bigger versions of secondary schools
Of course, third level is not the only sensible option for school leavers. The last few years have seen a welcome development in additional apprenticeships and traineeships. The Programme for Government commits to increasing the number of new apprentice registrations to 10,000 a year by 2025. The Further Education sector is coming into its own, steered by Solas, the State agency. The sector offers an incredible range of 25,000 courses for those looking for qualifications.
Yet the sector is often overlooked when Leaving Cert students are considering the future with their parents. We are obsessed with university degrees in this country. Yet university is not for everyone – that's not an elitist view but stems from a belief that students should consider all options on their merits. Convincing parents and students of this will be one task for Minister Simon Harris whose new department with its focus on further and higher education as well as science and innovation could yet be a game changer for this country.
To be clear, higher education institutions, including my own, provide many supports for students, especially in first year, but they are not bigger versions of secondary schools.
When I welcome this year’s intake of students to Trinity in September, I hope that they will see university as a place where they can develop their skills in organising study and free time, manage risk, deal with failure, develop resilience, learn the consequences of decisions and acquire greater independence of mind. Of course, this particular intake has faced a fair number of challenges over the past few months and many of them have already shown great resilience. There is every reason to think that they will be a fascinating and successful group and I look forward to meeting them and watching their progress in the years to come.