theirishtimes--2020-11-12--‘Wet wipes ban needed’ to combat storm water overflows, raw sewage discharges

Ireland ’ s recurring problem of raw sewage and storm water flowing into seas , rivers and estuaries requires immediate measures , including a wet wipes ban , according to the director of Coastwatch .
Commenting on the latest Environmental Protection Agency report on urban wastewater , Karin Dubsky said that apart from the obvious need for more sewage treatment capacity , a range of easily implementable actions were urgently needed in the meantime – including a ban on wet wipes , which the Government had committed to .
She said she favoured a ban on wet wipes , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use and reduce improper disposal – the scale of which was evident in the environmental group ’ s recent national survey of coastlines .
The main problem was wet wipes were clogging up sewage treatment systems – which meant they systems were less efficient , she said .
This in turn was leading to increased build-up in storm water tanks , and leading to overflows and increased raw sewage discharges .
Ms Dubsky said she favoured the ban , but a “ pilot tax ” could be immediately imposed in the same way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wet wipes contained plastic that was being recirculated in marine environments , she added .
There should be prompt public warning when there is a storm water overflow – possibly on local radio or on beaches.ie as that already has maps , was easily accessed on mobile phone and had a good following , she said .
Broadcasting a warning to people would also make them realise “ if you are not putting wet wipes into the system , there would be less of these incidents ” .
It also would enable people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south Dublin Bay where there was a persisting problem , she said – rather than encountering raw sewage and wet wipes on the shoreline , which at this time of Covid-19 frequently includes potentially infectious material .
There was also a need to issue public warnings on bleach use , Ms Dubsky believed .
“ It is being advertised every day with no caution .
Bleach use appears to have shot up during Covid .
It compromises the sewage treatment capacity of treatment plants.
” The Sustainable Water Network ( SWAN ) called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ improve Ireland ’ s wastewater infrastructure .
“ The report highlights raw sewage from 35 towns and villages flows into our water every day and wastewater treatment in 19 urban areas fails to meet minimum legal standards .
Sewage is the main source of pollution in 48 areas and is the primary reason these waters are unhealthy and failing mandatory standards under the EU Water Framework Directive , ” it added .
EU law required these polluted areas be restored by 2021 , yet Irish Water had no clear action plan for almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 48 , SWAN noted .
Last year the European Court of Justice found Ireland was failing to meet obligations of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive , and the State was at risk of incurring significant fines if the situation is not remedied swiftly .
The network of 25 environmental organisations highlighted decades of under investment and lack of political will as the root cause of this failure to deliver a most basic public service vital for the protection of public health and the environment .
SWAN coordinator Sinéad O ’ Brien said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still being discharged into our rivers , lakes and sea is completely unacceptable .
Lack of effective wastewater treatment is damaging our water environment and posing a significant public health risk.
” Treating human waste adequately so it could be safely released to the environment was one of the most fundamental requirements of a modern state ; “ yet more than 25 years after this most basic obligation was enshrined in EU and Irish law , we are still failing to deliver it , ” she added .

Karin Dubsky, director of Coastwatch, has called for a ban on wet wipes in order to alleviate the issue of storm water overflows and raw sewage discharges.
Ireland’s recurring problem of raw sewage and storm water flowing into seas, rivers and estuaries requires immediate measures, including a wet wipes ban, according to the director of Coastwatch.
Commenting on the latest Environmental Protection Agency report on urban wastewater, Karin Dubsky said that apart from the obvious need for more sewage treatment capacity, a range of easily implementable actions were urgently needed in the meantime – including a ban on wet wipes, which the Government had committed to.
She said she favoured a ban on wet wipes, though an eco-tax would also help restrict their use and reduce improper disposal – the scale of which was evident in the environmental group’s recent national survey of coastlines.
The main problem was wet wipes were clogging up sewage treatment systems – which meant they systems were less efficient, she said. This in turn was leading to increased build-up in storm water tanks, and leading to overflows and increased raw sewage discharges.
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Ms Dubsky said she favoured the ban, but a “pilot tax” could be immediately imposed in the same way the plastic bag tax was introduced. Wet wipes contained plastic that was being recirculated in marine environments, she added.
There should be prompt public warning when there is a storm water overflow – possibly on local radio or on beaches.ie as that already has maps, was easily accessed on mobile phone and had a good following, she said.
Broadcasting a warning to people would also make them realise “if you are not putting wet wipes into the system, there would be less of these incidents”.
It also would enable people to avoid particular areas, such as south Dublin Bay where there was a persisting problem, she said – rather than encountering raw sewage and wet wipes on the shoreline, which at this time of Covid-19 frequently includes potentially infectious material.
There was also a need to issue public warnings on bleach use, Ms Dubsky believed. “It is being advertised every day with no caution. Bleach use appears to have shot up during Covid. It compromises the sewage treatment capacity of treatment plants.”
The Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) called for immediate action from Government to dramatically improve Ireland’s wastewater infrastructure.
“The report highlights raw sewage from 35 towns and villages flows into our water every day and wastewater treatment in 19 urban areas fails to meet minimum legal standards. Sewage is the main source of pollution in 48 areas and is the primary reason these waters are unhealthy and failing mandatory standards under the EU Water Framework Directive,” it added.
EU law required these polluted areas be restored by 2021, yet Irish Water had no clear action plan for almost half of them – 23 out of 48, SWAN noted. Last year the European Court of Justice found Ireland was failing to meet obligations of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, and the State was at risk of incurring significant fines if the situation is not remedied swiftly.
The network of 25 environmental organisations highlighted decades of under investment and lack of political will as the root cause of this failure to deliver a most basic public service vital for the protection of public health and the environment.
SWAN coordinator Sinéad O’Brien said: “The fact that raw sewage is still being discharged into our rivers, lakes and sea is completely unacceptable. Lack of effective wastewater treatment is damaging our water environment and posing a significant public health risk.”
Treating human waste adequately so it could be safely released to the environment was one of the most fundamental requirements of a modern state; “yet more than 25 years after this most basic obligation was enshrined in EU and Irish law, we are still failing to deliver it,” she added.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Ring of Kerry 32km greenway on disused railway line approved

The go-ahead has been given by An Bord Pleanala to construct a 32 kilometre paved greenway on a disused railway line skirting the N70 Ring of Kerry .
Kerry County Council also got clearance to compulsory purchase more than 220 landholdings from just under 200 landowners across 27 townlands .
The land reverted to private ownership after the railway line was abandoned in 1960 .
First mooted by local development bodies , the “ iconic greenway ” was announced in 2014 on the Gleesk railway viaduct over Kells Bay and it was to be a flagship project for the network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Transport .
Running to over €20 million , the greenway will face considerable engineering challenges .
Some of the most impressive structures that characterised the old line , with its panoramic views over the Atlantic - the Caherisveen Railway bridge , the Gleensk viaduct and the Drung Hill Tunnels are to be repaired .
Underpasses of the N70 Ring of Kerry as well as a new bridge will also be constructed .
The application by Kerry County Council under the Roads Act is build a 3 metre-wide paved surface , along with fencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carparks mainly along the rail corridor .
It had run to a lengthy oral hearing a year ago in Tralee .
Objectors included a number of landowners as well as environmentalists .
The use of compulsory purchase , under the powers of the Housing Acts for a greenway , proved a particular sticking point .
The Irish Farmers ’ Association ( IFA ) vigorously opposed the use of the compulsory purchase orders ( CPO ) , arguing an amenity cycle and pathway was not public infrastructure in the normal sense of the term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reach agreement .
An Bord Pleanala have confirmed the CPO saying it was for the interest and benefit of the public and community .
There was a need “ to provide a catalyst for the economic regeneration of the area , ” it said .
It also had regard for “ the increased provisions for a range of non-motorised road users to be achieved from use of the acquired lands , ” it said .
The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council , Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteen has welcomed decision of An Bord Pleanála @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boost for the county and for south Kerry in particular .
The Great Southern Railway from Killorglin to Caherciveen in 1893 provided access for farmers and the fishing sector to markets within and outside of the county .
It quickly became a tourist route and served as a major economic driver for the local economy in south Kerry for almost seventy years .
Decline in population and industry followed its closure .
Iveragh and its communities from Glenbeigh to Cahersiveen is now one of the economic blackspots in Co Kerry .
The council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the old railway was similar to the initial objective in the late nineteenth century — to revitalise the area economically and socially with the huge interest there is now in cycling and walking .
There are 11 conditions attached to the grant of planning and many concern environmental matters including that some of the scheme affecting the Valentia estuary be omitted .
An ecologist must be employed to oversee species including the Kerry slug , the freshwater pearl mussel and other protected species like the badger , lesser horsehoe bat and otter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the board said stipulated cattle grids are to to combine with chicane gates at intersections with access roads and driveways ; and the steep gradients of some sections of the Ring of Kerry cycleway are to be well signalled .
Speed limits are to be reduced in some sections of the N70 .
The IFA in a statement said consultation and the employment of an agronomist remained the best way forward .
IFA national environment chairman Paul O ’ Brien said he expects this episode would lead to a new approach for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a voluntary land acquisition strategy , which would present alternative options to landowners .
“ Unfortunately , the approach in south Kerry has been more adversarial , where they did not value the goodwill of the farmers ; sought to impose the statutory legal process ; and failed to engage agronomists at the route design stage , ” he said .

The Gleesk Viaduct which is part of the proposed greenway will require repair. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
An Bord Pleanála's approval for a 32km Ring of Kerry greenway on a disused railway line between Glenbeigh and Renard near Cahersiveen has been warmly welcomed in the region.
However, the accompanying approval for the compulsory purchase order (CPO) by Kerry County Council of more than 220 landholdings across 27 townlands has led to a note of caution from the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA).
The land, once part of the Great Southern Railway, reverted to private ownership after the line was abandoned in 1960. The line was used to provide access for farmers and the fishing sector to markets in and outside the county.
The greenway project was announced in 2014 and was to be a flagship project for the network of cycleways promoted by the Department of Transport. The project is expected to cost more than €20 million and construction will involve some considerable engineering challenges.
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Some of the most impressive structures that characterised the old rail line – the Caherisveen Railway bridge, Gleensk Viaduct and Drung Hill Tunnels – will need to be repaired. Underpasses of the N70 Ring of Kerry as well as a new bridge will also be built.
The application by the council under the Roads Act is for a 3m-wide paved surface, fencing, buildings, entrances and exits and carparks mainly along the rail corridor.
A lengthy oral hearing on the project took place last year and objectors included some landowners and environmentalists. The use of compulsory purchase orders proved a particular sticking point.
The IFA vigorously opposed the use of such orders, arguing the greenway was not public infrastructure in the normal sense of the term and the council had failed to engage fully with landowners.
An Bord Pleanála has approved the use of the orders, saying the greenway was in the interest and benefit of the public and community. It said there was a need "to provide a catalyst for the economic regeneration of the area".
County council chairman Cllr Patrick Connor-Scarteenwelcomed the decision. He said it would provide an enormous boost for south Kerry, while local Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Cahill has called it “a game changer”.
What about the Kerry slug?
The council told the oral hearing its motivation was to revitalise the area economically and socially, given the increased interest in cycling and walking.
Eleven conditions were attached to the planning approval, many concerning environmental matters, including that some of the scheme affecting the Valentia estuary be omitted. An ecologist must be employed to oversee species including the Kerry slug, the freshwater pearl mussel and other protected species like the badger, lesser horsehoe bat and otter.
There are several conditions related to road safety also, with cattle grids to be combined with chicane gates at intersections with access roads and driveways; and the steep gradients of some sections of the Ring of Kerry cycleway are to be well signalled. Speed limits are to be reduced on some sections of the N70.
The IFA said it is studying the implications of the decision and will be consulting with landowners. Projects such as this were important for tourism and the rural economy, said the IFA. However CPOs for greenways should be avoided and the approach in south Kerry had been “adversarial”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Crackdown on outdoor drinking in Blackrock after street furniture attracts crowds

Signs forbidding outdoor drinking are to be erected around Blackrock in south Dublin following large gatherings in the village centre last weekend with little sign of social distancing .
Ironically , the success of popular on-street furniture added by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council as part of its response to Covid-19 , is thought to be the reason so many people congregated , purchasing takeaway pints from local pubs .
The activity on both Friday and Saturday night prompted some local irritation at an apparent disregard for public health measures and gardaí intervened .
They are also understood to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local business community .
Ahead of this weekend , the local authority said it “ is working with the gardaí to tackle these matters and will be providing signs to remind the public that it is against bylaws to drink in public spaces/streets ” .
It said enforcement of any alleged breaches of licensing laws , anti-social behaviour or public health measures is a matter for gardaí .
“ The public seating provided during the pandemic has brought many positive benefits and is extensively used by young and old , ” it said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infrastructure would be respected by all citizens and will be a valuable addition to town and village centres for years to come.
” One well-placed source claimed gardaí had suggested the furniture be temporarily removed but said this would not sit well with the community .
Gardaí did not respond to requests for comment .
Footage that emerged of the outdoor drinking is the latest to show tensions around ongoing lockdown measures - where some wish to socialise , others are put out by what they consider irresponsible behaviour .
Under Level 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ takeaway drinks .
No organised outdoor gatherings are permitted but there is no indication last weekend ’ s activity was planned .
“ Young people who really have nowhere to go ; in fairness to them , from what I can gather from talking to people they [ were ] all either in couples or in small groups , ” said local councillor and former government minister Mary Hanafin , stressing there were no large individual groups .
“ But there are so many of them there that it ’ s not possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fáil TD for Dun Laoghaire Cormac Devlin said the street furniture had become a de facto lounge for some of the local establishments .
“ I do have great sympathy for them because many of them have closed , ” he said , echoing widely held concerns for the town ’ s business community .
Mr Devlin said such gatherings were also apparent in other parts of south Dublin .
On social media , the village was dubbed by one person as “ the new Temple Bar ” but public reaction appears mixed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other measures in the area enjoyed by families and the wider community .
“ I think Blackrock is doing a lot better than other villages just because of the public realm changes that have been made , ” said Green councillor Séafra Ó Faoláin .

Large groups of people gathering in Blackrock village can be see on the weekend, getting takeaway pints and drinking them on the street, highlighting the trouble of maintaining social distancing.
Signs forbidding outdoor drinking are to be erected around Blackrock in south Dublin following large gatherings in the village centre last weekend with little sign of social distancing.
The popularity of on-street furniture, placed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council as part of its response to Covid-19, has been blamed for people congregating to purchase takeaway drinks from local pubs.
The activity seen last Friday and Saturday night in the village prompted some local irritation at an apparent disregard for public health measures and gardaí intervened. They are also understood to have raised their concerns with members of the local business community.
Ahead of this weekend, the local authority said it “is working with the gardaí to tackle these matters and will be providing signs to remind the public that it is against bylaws to drink in public spaces/streets”.
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It said enforcement of any alleged breaches of licensing laws, anti-social behaviour or public health measures is a matter for gardaí.
“The public seating provided during the pandemic has brought many positive benefits and is extensively used by young and old,” it said. “We would hope that this infrastructure would be respected by all citizens and will be a valuable addition to town and village centres for years to come.”
Removed
One well-placed source claimed gardaí had suggested the furniture be temporarily removed but said this would not sit well with the community.
Gardaí did not respond to that claim but said they were aware of reports of a number of people drinking in public and are liaising closely with the local council, agencies and businesses.
"An Garda Síochána has and will use appropriate legislation where necessary," a spokesman said.
At one point in mid-September, with 35 cases per 100,000 people over a 14 day period, Blackrock recorded the lowest incidence rate of Covid-19 in Dublin. Data earlier this month indiciated Blackrock’s rate was the seventh lowest out of 31 areas in the capital.
However, footage of people gathering to drink outdoors has caused tensions amid ongoing lockdown measures, with some wishing to socialise and others put out by what they consider irresponsible behaviour.
Under Level 5 Covid restrictions pubs are permitted to sell takeaway drinks. No organised outdoor gatherings are permitted and there is no indication last weekend’s activity was planned.
‘Nowhere to go’
"Young people who really have nowhere to go; in fairness to them, from what I can gather from talking to people they [were] all either in couples or in small groups," said local councillor and former government minister Mary Hanafin, stressing there were no large individual groups.
“But there are so many of them there that it’s not possible for them to socially distance.”
Fianna Fáil TD for Dún Laoghaire Cormac Devlin said the street furniture had become a de facto lounge for some of the local establishments.
“I do have great sympathy for them because many of them have closed,” he said, echoing widely held concerns for the town’s business community.
Mr Devlin said such gatherings were also apparent in other parts of south Dublin.
On social media, the village was dubbed by one person as “the new Temple Bar” . Many praised the recently installed furniture and other measures in the area enjoyed by families and the wider community.
“I think Blackrock is doing a lot better than other villages just because of the public realm changes that have been made,” said Green councillor Séafra Ó Faoláin.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Man admits trying to pervert course of justice in coercive control case

A man convicted of coercive control and multiple assaults of his former partner has pleaded guilty to trying to pervert the course of justice by getting her to withdraw her statements to gardaí .
During the 52-year-old man ’ s trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court the jury heard that the man threatened to circulate naked videos of the woman to her family and on the internet if she didn ’ t withdraw her allegations against him .
The man who can not be named for legal reasons , was convicted on Wednesday in the first circuit court trial for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Thursday morning he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a separate charge of intending to pervert the course of justice in the period between March and July 2020 .
The charge outlines that he engaged in telephone contact with the woman with the intention of encouraging her to withdraw her statements .
Judge Elma Sheahan remanded him in continuing custody until January 12th next .
On Wednesday , following a four week trial , the jury returned guilty verdicts on coercive control , intimidation and multiple assault charges .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman began a relationship in which he became controlling , answering her mobile phone and isolating her from friends and family .
He threatened to drown her in a river and said he would kill her family and make her watch .
He told the woman he was “ willing to do time ” for her and described how he would kill her father and brother .
The woman described multiple acts of violence , including where the man broke her arm after stamping on her arm and head , dragging her around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cutting her face and neck with a pizza slicer .
The jury acquitted him of a charge of assault causing harm relating to an incident where it was alleged he had pushed his former partner down the stairs .
The jury also returned a not guilty verdict on a single count of endangerment which related to an allegation that he had pushed and lifted the woman towards the railings of a bridge , creating a substantial risk of death or harm to her .
During their relationship , the woman said she spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After the man broke her arm , hospital staff alerted gardaí and she gave a statement to them .
She testified that he told her he would circulate naked images and videos he had of her on the internet and send them to her family if she didn ’ t withdraw the allegations against him .
Judge Sheahan continued an order , made during the trial , which prohibits publication of any details which might identity the man or the complainant in either the trial or this separate offence .

The trial heard the man threatened to drown the woman in a river and said he would kill her family and make her watch. File photograph: The Irish Times
A man convicted of coercive control and multiple assaults on his former partner has pleaded guilty to trying to pervert the course of justice by getting her to withdraw her statements to gardaí.
During the 52-year-old man’s trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court the jury heard that the man threatened to circulate videos of the woman naked to her family and on the internet if she didn’t withdraw her allegations against him.
The man who cannot be named for legal reasons, was convicted on Wednesday in the first circuit court trial for offences under the 2018 Domestic Violence Act.
On Thursday morning he pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a separate charge of intending to pervert the course of justice in the period between March and July 2020.
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The charge outlines that he engaged in telephone contact with the woman with the intention of encouraging her to withdraw her statements.
Judge Elma Sheahan remanded him in continuing custody until January 12th next.
On Wednesday, following a four week trial, the jury returned guilty verdicts on coercive control, intimidation and multiple assault charges.
The trial heard the man and the woman began a relationship in which he became controlling, answering her mobile phone and isolating her from friends and family.
He threatened to drown her in a river and said he would kill her family and make her watch. He told the woman he was “willing to do time” for her and described how he would kill her father and brother.
The woman described multiple acts of violence, including where the man broke her arm after stamping on her arm and head, dragging her around the floor by her hair, and cutting her face and neck with a pizza slicer.
The jury acquitted him of a charge of assault causing harm relating to an incident where it was alleged he had pushed his former partner down the stairs.
Risk of death
The jury also returned a not guilty verdict on a single count of endangerment which related to an allegation that he had pushed and lifted the woman towards the railings of a bridge, creating a substantial risk of death or harm to her.
During their relationship, the woman said she spent periods in Women’s Aid shelters. After the man broke her arm, hospital staff alerted gardaí and she gave a statement to them.
She testified that he told her he would circulate on the internet naked images and videos he had of her and send them to her family if she didn’t withdraw the allegations against him.
The judge continued an order, made during the trial, which prohibits publication of any details which might identity the man or the complainant in either the trial or this separate offence.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Covid-19: Cork, Shannon airport centres ‘can test thousands daily’

New privately run Covid-19 testing centres at Cork and Shannon airports have the potential to test thousands of people daily , according to the entrepreneur behind the project .
RocDoc chief executive David Rock said that he was confident that the Covid 19 test centres at those airports could scale up to cater for demand from travellers in the coming weeks following the introduction of the EU wide ‘ traffic light ’ this month .
This would assist with getting the Irish aviation industry back to more sustainable levels in time for Christmas , Mr Rock said .
Under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from at risk regions have to undergo a pre-departure test for Covid-19 , and the RocDoc system meets the necessary requirements in terms of providing passengers with clearance to fly within the stipulated 72 hours , he said .
Speaking at the opening of the RocDoc Covid-19 test centre in a car park at Cork Airport , Mr Rock said people can book a test online and then turn up at the appointed time at the drive-through centre for a swab test of their choice , with different return times for the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today in Cork , and we will open in Shannon this afternoon , but already we have bookings coming in – at the moment it ’ s for people who need to travel for industry and business rather than holidaymakers , but we will be ramping up our capacity over the coming weeks .
“ People will drive up to our test centre with a print-out of their booking on their window – we scan the barcode through the window so there is no contact and then we have three drive-through bays where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swabs from the person – it takes about five minutes , ” Mr Rock said .
“ The way we have built this is that we ’ ve done it on a modular basis so each bay can do 25 to 30 tests an hour , and we plan to have three bays here in Cork and then ramp that up as the bookings increase , but a thousand a day here would not be an issue for us.
” Mr Rock said RocDoc will provide three different types of swab tests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Products Regulatory Authority approved .
The basic PCR ( Polymerase Chain Reaction ) test , with results available within 24 to 72 hours , will cost €129 .
A faster test using LAMP ( Loop Medicated Isothermal Amplification ) technology , where the results are available on the same day , costs €149 .
An express service again using LAMP technology , where the results are available within a few hours , costs €199 .
People will get an email telling them to log on to the RocDoc portal for their results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can either show their live certification – stating they are clear to travel – on the RocDoc portal on their phone or they can present a PDF print-out .
Those who test positive for Covid-19 will receive a phone call from a health professional from RocDoc ’ s team of doctors , nurses and paramedics and be advised on what they should do while they will also contact the person ’ s GP and the HSE to allow contact tracing begin , he said .
Mr Rock said the testing centres will also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry who are not travelling abroad but need to be tested quickly and for those who may wish to visit sick or vulnerable relatives in hospitals and nursing homes .
Cork Airport managing director Niall McCarthy welcomed the opening of the testing centre at the airport , saying the introduction of the testing centre was an important step on the road to recovery for the aviation sector .
“ Airports and airlines alike hope that widespread testing will give passengers greater confidence to travel , ” said Mr McCarthy , who was among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the test centre in Cork when he got swabbed from his car .
“ As a result of this initiative , passengers flying from Cork Airport can now get a test in advance of travel to prove they have tested negative for coronavirus for any health authorities that require it for Irish originating traffic .
”

New privately run Covid-19 testing centres at Cork and Shannon airports have the potential to test thousands of people daily, according to the entrepreneur behind the project.
RocDoc chief executive David Rock said that he was confident that the Covid 19 test centres at those airports could scale up to cater for demand from travellers in the coming weeks following the introduction of the EU wide ‘traffic light’ this month.
This would assist with getting the Irish aviation industry back to more sustainable levels in time for Christmas, Mr Rock said.
Under the EU traffic light system all passengers travelling from at risk regions have to undergo a pre-departure test for Covid-19, and the RocDoc system meets the necessary requirements in terms of providing passengers with clearance to fly within the stipulated 72 hours, he said.
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Speaking at the opening of the RocDoc Covid-19 test centre in a car park at Cork Airport, Mr Rock said people can book a test online and then turn up at the appointed time at the drive-through centre for a swab test of their choice, with different return times for the results.
“We’ve just opened today in Cork, and we will open in Shannon this afternoon, but already we have bookings coming in – at the moment it’s for people who need to travel for industry and business rather than holidaymakers, but we will be ramping up our capacity over the coming weeks.
“People will drive up to our test centre with a print-out of their booking on their window – we scan the barcode through the window so there is no contact and then we have three drive-through bays where our staff will take throat and nasal swabs from the person – it takes about five minutes,” Mr Rock said.
“The way we have built this is that we’ve done it on a modular basis so each bay can do 25 to 30 tests an hour, and we plan to have three bays here in Cork and then ramp that up as the bookings increase, but a thousand a day here would not be an issue for us.”
Mr Rock said RocDoc will provide three different types of swab tests for Covid-19, all of which are Health Products Regulatory Authority approved. The basic PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, with results available within 24 to 72 hours, will cost €129.
A faster test using LAMP (Loop Medicated Isothermal Amplification) technology, where the results are available on the same day, costs €149. An express service again using LAMP technology, where the results are available within a few hours, costs €199.
People will get an email telling them to log on to the RocDoc portal for their results, and those who test negative for Covid can either show their live certification – stating they are clear to travel – on the RocDoc portal on their phone or they can present a PDF print-out.
Those who test positive for Covid-19 will receive a phone call from a health professional from RocDoc’s team of doctors, nurses and paramedics and be advised on what they should do while they will also contact the person’s GP and the HSE to allow contact tracing begin, he said.
Mr Rock said the testing centres will also be available for people working in the industry who are not travelling abroad but need to be tested quickly and for those who may wish to visit sick or vulnerable relatives in hospitals and nursing homes.
Cork Airport managing director Niall McCarthy welcomed the opening of the testing centre at the airport, saying the introduction of the testing centre was an important step on the road to recovery for the aviation sector.
“Airports and airlines alike hope that widespread testing will give passengers greater confidence to travel,” said Mr McCarthy, who was among the first to avail of the drive through the test centre in Cork when he got swabbed from his car.
“As a result of this initiative, passengers flying from Cork Airport can now get a test in advance of travel to prove they have tested negative for coronavirus for any health authorities that require it for Irish originating traffic.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Boxer Carl Frampton settles legal battle with ex-manager Barry McGuigan

Former world champion boxer Carl Frampton has settled his multi-million pound legal battle with ex-manager Barry McGuigan .
All litigation and counterclaims were stayed on confidential terms at the High Court in Belfast .
The action ended after a marathon 19 days of evidence on the breakdown of a once-close relationship between two Irish legends in the sport .
Mr Frampton ( 33 ) sued his ex-manager for alleged withheld earnings from big bouts staged in Northern Ireland , England and the United States .
He was claiming up to £6 million ( €6.69 million ) against Cyclone Promotions UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a director — over purse fees , broadcasting rights , ticket sales and merchandising .
Lawyers for the Belfast fighter alleged that he had been signed up to a “ slave contract ” .
In a counter suit , Mr McGuigan claimed a one-time protege he had treated like a son was in breach of contract by quitting his Cyclone organisation in August 2017 .
Both men denied any wrongdoing throughout the case .
A resolution in their acrimonious legal dispute was reached following the discovery of more than 10,000 emails potentially relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously told the electronic messages had either been lost or deleted from the Cyclone account .
But in an unexpected development , it emerged that masses of archived emails were found on the company ’ s systems last week .
Proceedings were adjourned to allow a “ mammoth ” trawl through all the newly-located material continued .
Mr Justice Huddleston was then notified last night that a settlement had been reached by consent .
An order drawn up today confirmed : “ All further proceedings in these actions and counterclaims be stayed upon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dated document entitled ‘ Settlement of McGuigan v Frampton Litigation ’ .
” No direction was made on the costs of the case .
Mr Frampton and McGuigan enjoyed huge success before their eight-year partnership turned sour .
Nicknamed The Jackal for his exploits in the ring , the fighter won world titles in two different weight divisions .
He claimed , however , that Mr McGuigan promised him a 30 % share of profits as an incentive to end a previous promotional arrangement with boxing giant Matchroom and sign up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2013 .
In evidence , Mr Frampton alleged that he was never paid as a director of that company .
He then vowed never to fight for Mr McGuigan again after the taxman called at his home with a bill for nearly £400,000 ( €446,000 ) , the court was told .
The boxer ’ s case centred on an alleged conflict of interest over Mr McGuigan ’ s dual role as manager and promoter of some fights .
But any suggestion that money had been stolen from him was categorically denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the fighter that he was no “ little boy lost ” , instead having a major say in what his purses would be .
Mr McGuigan had sacrificed the chance to make a fortune out of Mr Frampton ’ s title contests in America for the boxer ’ s own good , it was claimed .
The court also heard how the atmosphere between the two men in their final days working together was described as “ toxic ” .
A manager at a gym where Mr Frampton completed preparations for hometown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told an associate that the boxer was “ finished ” and had only one fight left in him .
In his evidence Mr McGuigan denied ever promising a 30 per cent profit cut or concealing money from the fighter .
He repeatedly stressed how the fighter was among the best ever paid in his division , and explained that he treated him “ like he was one of my boys ” .
One of Mr McGuigan ’ s sons also spent five days in the witness box .
Musician turned promoter Blain McGuigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Frampton ’ s achievements and earnings .
He also rejected claims that expenses from one the boxer ’ s biggest contests were “ inflated ” to £75,000 ( €83,500 ) in a bid to reduce profits .
Ultimately , however , a resolution was reached on all areas of dispute without the need for any judicial determination .

Former world champion boxer Carl Frampton has settled his multimillion pound legal battle with former manager Barry McGuigan.
All litigation and counterclaims were stayed on confidential terms at the High Court in Belfast.
The action ended after 19 days of evidence on the breakdown of a once-close relationship between the two men.
Mr Frampton (33) sued Mr McGuigan for alleged withheld earnings from big bouts staged in Northern Ireland, England and the United States.
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He was claiming up to £6 million (€6.69 million) against Cyclone Promotions UK Ltd – of which Mr McGuigan was a director – over purse fees, broadcasting rights, ticket sales and merchandising.
Lawyers for the Belfast fighter alleged that he had been signed up to a “slave contract”.
In a counter suit, Mr McGuigan claimed a one-time protege he had treated like a son was in breach of contract by quitting his Cyclone organisation in August 2017.
Both men denied any wrongdoing throughout the case.
A resolution in their acrimonious legal dispute was reached following the discovery of more than 10,000 emails potentially relevant to the case.
The court was previously told the electronic messages had either been lost or deleted from the Cyclone account.
But in an unexpected development, it emerged that masses of archived emails were found on the company’s systems last week.
Proceedings were adjourned to allow a “mammoth” trawl through the material.
Mr Justice Huddleston was then notified last night that a settlement had been reached by consent.
An order drawn up on Thursday confirmed: “All further proceedings in these actions and counterclaims be stayed upon the terms set out in the signed and dated document entitled ‘Settlement of McGuigan v Frampton Litigation’.”
No direction was made on the costs of the case.
Huge success
Mr Frampton and Mr McGuigan enjoyed huge success before their eight-year partnership turned sour.
The fighter, nicknamed The Jackal for his exploits in the ring, won world titles in two different weight divisions.
He claimed, however, that Mr McGuigan promised him a 30 per cent share of profits as an incentive to end a previous promotional arrangement with boxing giant Matchroom and sign up with Northern Irish-based Cyclone, set up in 2013.
In evidence, Mr Frampton alleged he was never paid as a director of that company.
He then vowed never to fight for Mr McGuigan again after the tax authorities called at his home with a bill for nearly £400,000 (€446,000), the court was told.
The boxer’s case centred on an alleged conflict of interest over Mr McGuigan’s dual role as manager and promoter of some fights.
But any suggestion that money had been stolen from him was categorically denied.
During cross-examination it was put to the fighter that he was no “little boy lost”, instead having a major say in what his purses would be. Mr McGuigan had sacrificed the chance to make a fortune out of Mr Frampton’s title contests in the US for the boxer’s own good, it was claimed.
The court also heard how the atmosphere between the two men in their final days working together was described as “toxic”.
In his evidence Mr McGuigan denied ever promising a 30 per cent profit cut or concealing money from the fighter.
He repeatedly stressed how the fighter was among the best-paid ever in his division, and explained that he treated him “like he was one of my boys”. Ultimately, however, a resolution was reached on all areas of dispute without the need for any judicial determination.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Irish coming home face €200 Covid-19 test bill to cut quarantine period

People planning on returning home to Ireland this Christmas will have to pay up to €200 for a private Covid-19 test if they want to reduce their quarantine period .
The Cabinet has agreed that arrivals from EU “ red ” countries from midnight on November 29th will not have to restrict their movements for the full 14 days if they produce a negative PCR test at least five days after their arrival .
The Polymerase Chain Reaction ( PCR ) test is considered the gold standard in testing for Covid-19 .
Covid testing is only free for people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not for those who are travelling to and from other countries or want to shorten their period of movement restriction .
A number of medical centres and other companies are offering PCR tests for between €160 and €190 , with varying turnaround times .
Procedures will vary but , typically , if you do a PCR test you can expect to get a clearance certificate to allow you move about freely .
Centric Health in Dublin 4 is offering PCR tests for €185 , with results available within 24 to 48 hours .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for €180 with a next day turnaround time .
The Tropical Medical Bureau are offering PCR tests for €180 which includes the travel clearance certificate with a general turn around time of between 36 and 48 hours .
Meanwhile , an at-home testing company , LetsGetChecked , has begun offering Covid-19 tests to Irish customers .
Customers can order the PCR test from LetsGetChecked and perform the lower nasal swab at home before returning it to the company .
LetsGetChecked will deliver results within 24 to 72 hours of the sample being received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orange ” regions will be allowed come into Ireland without restricting their movements as long as they have proof of a negative PCR test that was done no longer than three days before their arrival .
Travellers from green regions will not need to restrict their movements when they arrive in another country .
Under the EU traffic light system , the map of green , orange , red and grey regions will be updated every Thursday based on EU epidemiological data and the changes will be applied in Ireland the following Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coloured grey if there is insufficient data on testing and incidence rates can be found .
The Government has said it would keep travel from the US under review but the same “ red ” country arrangements would apply to travellers from there .
( Read Conor Pope ’ s Q & A on the new arrangements for travel ) Last Christmas around 1.2 million people arrived into and departed from Dublin Airport over the festive period .
Passengers using Dublin Airport will be able to be pay for a test pre-flight for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exemption for a privately run testing facility at the airport .
The airport testing will allow Irish travellers to go to regions classified as “ orange ” under the EU traffic-light system for international travel where , if they have a negative test , they will not be required to restrict their movements for 14 days .
Two drive-in Covid-19 test centres will also open at Cork and Shannon airports on Thursday , with tests understood to be priced from €149 .

People should not travel home to Ireland for Christmas due to the threat posed by Covid-19, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has advised. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins.
People should not travel home to Ireland for Christmas due to the threat posed by Covid-19, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has advised.
“Travel that would normally happen at Christmas would have to be regarded as non-essential this Christmas,” he told reporters at a National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) briefing on Thursday evening.
Nphet reported a further 395 cases of Covid-19 and one related death on Thursday. A total of 1,965 deaths from the disease have been recorded in the State since the pandemic began and a total of 66,632 cases have been confirmed.
Around one third (132) of the latest cases were in Dublin with 31 in Cork, 27 in Donegal, 27 in Limerick and 27 in Galway, with the remaining cases spread across 18 counties. The median age of those infected was 35 years.
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The department said that of 2pm on Thursday a total of 279 Covid-19 patients were in hospitalis across the State, with 39 people in intensive care.
Dr Holohan said he was concerned about the picture in the rest of Europe, due to high and rising rates of Covid-19 in many countries.
Many of the countries affected were ones the Ireland has a close travel relationship with, he said, and the importation of cases was one of the most significant risks the State faces, he said.
“People potentially coming back for the Christmas period are experiencing a much higher level of infection. That will be one of most significant risks for us if we make the progress we hope to make,” Dr Holohan added.
Ireland now has the second lowest incidence of the virus in Europe, behind Finland, according to deputy chief medical officer Dr Desmond Hickey.
With case numbers declining in only four European countries over the past two weeks, Ireland has recorded the biggest drop in incidence, at 53 per cent.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar earlier advised Irish people intending to come home from abroad for Christmas not to book their flights at the moment due uncertainty related to the pandemic.
Ireland is half way through a six-week Level 5 lockdown, which is due to end on December 1st. The Government may then ask the public to limit their close contacts to family only over the Christmas period.
Mr Varadkar said in the Dáil: “I know that’s difficult. I know that’s tough but Christmas is six weeks away and it’s too soon for people to be booking flights to come home.”
Internal travel
Asked about internal travel at Christmas, he said Nphet would give formal consideration to its future recommendations in two weeks’ time, shortly before the current Level 5 measures are due to end.
However, he warned that large-scale social events involving alcohol, office parties and large family get-togethers “are not going to be possible”.
He said the challenge from the virus would be with us through the Christmas period and the best way to counter it was by complying with public health advice.
A 5km travel limit is currently in place, he pointed out, as well as restrictions confining activity outside the home. If this is to change, “the situation has to improve from where it is, and we’re hopeful it will improve”.
Prof Philip Nolan, chair of Nphet’s epidemiological modelling advisory group, said the case numbers and Covid-19 reproduction number show “we’re exactly where we need to be”.
“But there’s no head-room, no wriggle-room, so the next three weeks (of Level 5 restrictions) will have to be same as the last three weeks if we’re going to be where we need to be.”
Prof Nolan said there have been significant continued improvements in the main trends over the past week. Daily case numbers have fallen to 400 from a peak of 1,200 but this was only “halfway down the curve”.
With an average of 20 hospital admissions a day, “we’re not out of the woods”, he added. He said he remained concerned about the number of cases among older people and said the incidence of the disease remains “persistently high” in Donegal.
However, Dublin, where the decline in cases had been slower, was now falling at the same rate as the rest of the country apart from Donegal.
Prof Nolan warned that in some parts of the country restrictions on mobility might have to be kept in place longer in order to bring the disease under control.
NI restrictions
Northern Ireland's Department of Health earlier said a further 15 people had died and 548 positive tests were recorded in the previous 24 hours. Stormont's parties on Thursday evening came to a compromise to extended the current curbs for a further week.
For now, those planning to return to the State for Christmas face having to pay up to €200 for a private Covid-19 test if they want to reduce their quarantine period.
The Cabinet has agreed that arrivals from countries with a “red” rating in the EU-wide traffic light system from midnight on November 29th will not have to restrict their movements for the full 14 days if they produce a negative PCR test at least five days after their arrival.
Travellers from “orange” regions will be allowed come into Ireland without restricting their movements as long as they have proof of a negative PCR test that was done no longer than three days before their arrival.
Travellers from “green” regions will not need to restrict their movements when they arrive in another country.
Under the EU traffic light system, the map of green, orange, red and grey regions will be updated every Thursday based on EU epidemiological data and the changes will be applied in Ireland the following Monday.
A country or region will be coloured grey if there is insufficient data on testing and incidence rates can be found.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--North’s Covid restrictions to expire 24 hours later than planned as Stormont talks continue

Circuit-breaker restrictions on hospitality and close contact services in Northern Ireland will not expire until midnight on Friday , 24 hours later than had been understood , as talks to break the deadlock on Covid-19 restrictions continue .
Stormont failed to agree new coronavirus restrictions for the third day in a row on Wednesday night .
Current ‘ circuit-breaker ’ regulations are due to expire at midnight on Thursday , with many businesses in the dark on whether they will be able to open or not .
However , it has since emerged that the current restrictions around hospitality and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midnight on Friday , 24 hours later than had been understood .
Businesses and politicians had been working on the assumption that the current restrictions around hospitality and close contact services would expire at midnight on Thursday , but the North ’ s Department of Health said on Thursday that it had sought legal advice to clarify the position .
Firms have strongly criticised the lack of clarity around whether they can reopen , with many arguing that it is now too late to put supply chains and staffing in place even if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the weekend .
Four of the five parties in the Executive - Sinn Féin , the SDLP , Alliance and the Ulster Unionist Party - backed a proposal tabled by the Minister for Health to extend the current regulations for two weeks .
This was on the advice of the North ’ s Chief Medical Officer , who is understood to have advised that any easing of the restrictions would cause “ excess deaths ” .
However , a contentious Stormont mechanism - a cross-community vote - was used by the DUP to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert Dr Gabriel Scally has criticised the DUP ’ s stance on the lifting of restrictions in Northern Ireland as “ just appalling.
” Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast , Dr Scally said he could not see how the DUP ’ s position “ ties up ” with Unionism .
He queried their “ denialist view ” that the economic difficulties that would be caused “ when ” the virus got out of hand would be worse than the virus itself .
“ That is just something I can ’ t accept .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at this point and that is just absolutely appalling .
The death toll has been high enough in Northern Ireland as it is.
” However , the DUP ’ s Jeffrey Donaldson has said that he believes the Northern Ireland Executive will reach an agreement on Thursday about Covid-19 restrictions .
Mr Donaldson said an outcome that was proportionate was necessary as people needed to be able to return to work , he told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland .
Meanwhile , Deputy first minister Michelle O ’ Neill said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - extend the restrictions for two weeks , but the DUP was ignoring the advice of the chief medical officer .
Ms O ’ Neill said a range of options were on the table , but they all had to be looked at in the context of public health advice .
“ The chief medical officer gave us a stark warning.
” Not extending the restrictions would lead to deaths .
“ It ’ s a game changer when the chief medical officer is saying that to do anything else will cost lives.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Herron has warned that there will be “ total , total chaos ” if restrictions are lifted .
“ It feels like complete and utter madness ” to open up , Dr Herron told RTE radio ’ s Today with Claire Byrne show .
The health service was managing the numbers of patients so far , but if restrictions were lifted , numbers would increase and put pressure on the system .
Dr Herron also said that a time scale should not be put on when restrictions could be lifted .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it until we know the numbers of people in the community with the virus drop to a safe level .
We need to look at the figures ” .
With regard to hospitals in Northern Ireland , she said that at Altnegevin Hospital the ICU wards were “ saturated ” and that Covid patients were being treated in respiratory wards by nurses who had been “ trained up.
” The issue was not bed space , it was having enough staff to treat patients .
“ We ’ re managing the number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she warned that if restrictions were lifted , numbers could go up which would mean “ total , total chaos.
” Ms O ’ Neill acknowledged that a two week extension would have an impact on people ’ s lives , but she said a two week extension was the public health advice .
Mr Donaldson said that the different parties in the Executive had different views on the proposals and they were trying to come to a consensus .
He said the DUP was acting in the interests of everyone and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportionate .
There should be an increase in testing in care settings and no change with regard to restrictions in social settings , he said .
However , it was important that people be able to return to work safely .
“ I don ’ t want people dying from the coronavirus .
We need to protect and focus where the risk is the highest.
” The DUP will look very carefully at what is being proposed by the other parties in the Executive and they will work to achieve consensus , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will reach agreement today.
” The Executive had demonstrated , over the past nine months , its capacity to achieve consensus and to reach decisions , he said .
That takes time on occasion .
“ Sometimes we have to work harder to achieve consensus .
”

Hand sanitiser in the reception area at the White Horse Hotel on the outskirts of Derry on November 5th. Photograph: Paul Faith/Bloomberg
The Northern Executive has agreed to a one-week extension of Covid-19 restrictions, following days of bitter division among ministers over whether to allow the hospitality industry to reopen.
Hairdressers, beauty parlours and driving instructors will be able to go back to work on November 20th, but by appointment only. Cafes will be allowed to open until 8pm from the same day, but alcohol sales are banned.
Pubs, bars and hotels will be permitted to sell sealed off-sales from November 20th and reopen fully a week later – even though licensed premises south of the Border will stay closed.
The Stormont ministerial briefing paper, seen by The Irish Times, includes pledges of extra help for hospitality businesses, though Stormont departments are also to do more to ensure that businesses comply with the changed rules.
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The DUP, Alliance and the Ulster Unionist Party voted for the one-week extension of restrictions, followed by a relaxation of the rules, but the SDLP abstained and Sinn Féin voted against.
Minister for Health Robin Swann, of the Ulster Unionist Party, said it was “no secret” that he had wanted a different outcome, but backed the proposal in an attempt to avoid all Covid-19 restrictions lapsing first thing on Saturday.
Condemning the outcome, Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O’Neill said the Executive had been clearly told by the North’s chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, that a further fortnight of restrictions was needed to prevent deaths.
‘Appalled’
“I, in all good conscience, could not support a proposal that falls short of that,” said Ms O’Neill. “I am appalled at the actions of the DUP this week, to use a cross-community vote when they did not get their own way.”
Dr Tom Black, chairman of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, expressed concern over the easing of restrictions, saying that "our health service is under the most pressure it has ever been and I am not sure these measures will address that".
He was also cautious over the possibility of a December start date for Covid-19 vaccinations, describing it as “exceptionally optimistic”.
The agreement, which came after four days of meetings and rancour, built on an earlier proposal from Minister for Justice and Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, who recommended setting a definite restart date for hospitality businesses.
Explaining the SDLP’s abstention, leader Colum Eastwood said his party could not in good conscience support measures that fell short of protecting against “plunging us into more restrictions just before Christmas – even two weeks would have risked that”.
The North on Thursday added 15 more to its Covid-19 death toll, which now stands at 825, along with 548 more positive cases. Seven of 12 of Northern Ireland’s hospitals now have no free beds. There are currently 435 Covid-19 patients in hospital, 46 of them in intensive care.
Defending her party’s actions, DUP Minister for the Economy Diane Dodds said the Executive had to “bring certainty to people in their lives in the run-up to Christmas” and had agreed a “balanced and proportionate” decision.
Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, welcomed the fact a decision had been reached.
“This brings to a conclusion a period of uncertainty and will hopefully result in thousands of jobs and businesses being saved,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Almost 5 million smartphones discarded in Ireland, new study shows

A global build-up of discarded but not defunct smartphones is highlighted in an index of 27 countries , which analyses current levels of reuse and recycling .
Published on Thursday , the data confirms in many developed states the mobile phone has become “ the most disposable form of technology ” , where more “ shelved phones ” are discarded than they have people living in the country – notably in Sweden , Finland and the UK .
Ireland ranks 14th out of 27 with 1.01 shelved mobile phones per capita , but is in fifth place on recycling and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent .
The Republic ’ s overall national rate for all recyclable materials is 41 per cent .
Whereas in the past , the majority of e-waste included products which had broken or become obsolete , technology trends and the pressure to have the “ latest ” tech , particularly with mobile phones , means growing volumes of e-waste are products which have gone “ out of fashion ” rather than defunct , it notes .
Sweden has the most “ shelved ” mobile phones per capita , at 1.31 ; “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dust in their homes than they have citizens ” – in Ireland the figure is 1.01 .
The US has the highest number of shelved mobile phones at 223 million , followed by Germany , at 84.7 million , and the UK at 83.1 million – the Irish equivalent is 4.9 million smartphones .
In the first analysis of its kind the research makes a country-by-country comparison of estimated mobile phone e-waste , and of potential environmental and economic value of old models if recycled .
It is largely based on official national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phones for the 27 countries equates to a sales value of €1.9 billion in precious metals such as gold , silver , palladium , platinum and copper .
Not only are mobiles one of the most popular forms of technology , they have become the most “ disposable ” , according to reBuy , the German used electronics online shop , which commissioned the research .
The total e-waste generated by the countries is 23,964 tonnes , “ equivalent to more than 54 Boeing 747-8 aeroplanes at maximum take-off weight ( 442 tonnes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blue whales ( 173 tonnes each ) ” .
Ireland generates 155 tonnes of smartphone e-waste annually , it estimates .
Chief executive of reBuy Philipp Gattner said : “ With this index , we want to educate people about e-waste and help everyone to consider buying refurbished tech products to give technology a second-life .
Or if they do invest in new electronics , to make sure that they properly recycle their old items by looking up their local e-waste recycling facility , instead of throwing them onto landfill .
“ Almost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ material such as plastic , glass and metal , and by correctly recycling electronics , you reduce the amount of dangerous toxic chemicals such as lead and chromium leaking into our soil , resulting in a healthier , safer world , ” he added .
The data is based on the EU framework for calculating e-waste , complemented by online survey data to create comparative data sets .
The number of mobile phones in each country was determined including those which are actively used and those “ shelved ” , meaning models that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disposed of .
The analysis looked at how many of those used models were second-hand and calculated the total number of shelved mobile phones which could be recycled or resold .
It finds 28 per cent of mobiles per Irish household are used .
The study also looked at mobile phone disposal , calculating how many handsets were regifted or resold , the amount of e-waste generated by improper disposal of mobile phones , and the recycling and reuse rate , which looks at the percentage of phones correctly disposed of in electronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The average smartphone contains 30 different elements while some high-end models at as many as 75 .
Tantalum , yttrium , gallium , indium and arsenic are all key ingredients that could run out within 100 years .
Indium is crucial to both touchscreens and solar panels .
It ’ s transparent , adheres to glass but has no other known use .
It is one of the rarest elements on Earth ; a by-product of zinc mining .
To get a few milligrams of Indium a kilogram of zinc has to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , energy-intensive and often leaves toxic waste in its wake .
The vast majority of rare-earth metals are mined in China , where their extraction has polluted major water sources .
“ Rare earths ” are a specific category of 17 different minerals .
Like other key tech ingredients – such as cobalt , tin , tungsten and gold – they have also been linked to exploitative operations that use child labour and fund conflict in Africa , and to respiratory diseases among miners .
E-waste , known as WEEE , is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the developed world though improved regulation of collection , recycling and disposal has come through an EU directive , to which Ireland has fully signed up .

A global build-up of discarded but not defunct smartphones is highlighted in an index of 27 countries, which analyses current levels of reuse and recycling.
Published on Thursday, the data confirms in many developed states the mobile phone has become "the most disposable form of technology", where more "shelved phones" are discarded than they have people living in the country – notably in Sweden, Finland and the UK.
Ireland ranks 14th out of 27 with 1.01 shelved mobile phones per capita, but is in fifth place on recycling and reusing mobiles with a rate of 84 per cent. The Republic's overall national rate for all recyclable materials is 41 per cent .
Whereas in the past, the majority of e-waste included products which had broken or become obsolete, technology trends and the pressure to have the “latest” tech, particularly with mobile phones, means growing volumes of e-waste are products which have gone “out of fashion” rather than defunct, it notes.
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Sweden has the most “shelved” mobile phones per capita, at 1.31; “Swedes have more discarded phone models gathering dust in their homes than they have citizens” – in Ireland the figure is 1.01.
The US has the highest number of shelved mobile phones at 223 million, followed by Germany, at 84.7 million, and the UK at 83.1 million – the Irish equivalent is 4.9 million smartphones.
In the first analysis of its kind the research makes a country-by-country comparison of estimated mobile phone e-waste, and of potential environmental and economic value of old models if recycled. It is largely based on official national data.
The total number of shelved phones for the 27 countries equates to a sales value of €1.9 billion in precious metals such as gold, silver, palladium, platinum and copper.
Not only are mobiles one of the most popular forms of technology, they have become the most "disposable", according to reBuy, the German used electronics online shop, which commissioned the research.
The total e-waste generated by the countries is 23,964 tonnes, “equivalent to more than 54 Boeing 747-8 aeroplanes at maximum take-off weight (442 tonnes each), or more than 138 blue whales (173 tonnes each)”. Ireland generates 155 tonnes of smartphone e-waste annually, it estimates.
Chief executive of reBuy Philipp Gattner said: "With this index, we want to educate people about e-waste and help everyone to consider buying refurbished tech products to give technology a second-life. Or if they do invest in new electronics, to make sure that they properly recycle their old items by looking up their local e-waste recycling facility, instead of throwing them onto landfill.
“Almost all e-waste contains some type of recyclable material such as plastic, glass and metal, and by correctly recycling electronics, you reduce the amount of dangerous toxic chemicals such as lead and chromium leaking into our soil, resulting in a healthier, safer world,” he added.
Methodology
The data is based on the EU framework for calculating e-waste, complemented by online survey data to create comparative data sets.
The number of mobile phones in each country was determined including those which are actively used and those “shelved”, meaning models that are not in use, nor yet disposed of.
The analysis looked at how many of those used models were second-hand and calculated the total number of shelved mobile phones which could be recycled or resold. It finds 28 per cent of mobiles per Irish household are used.
The study also looked at mobile phone disposal, calculating how many handsets were regifted or resold, the amount of e-waste generated by improper disposal of mobile phones, and the recycling and reuse rate, which looks at the percentage of phones correctly disposed of in electronic recycling centres or return-to-seller collection schemes.
The average smartphone contains 30 different elements while some high-end models at as many as 75. Tantalum, yttrium, gallium, indium and arsenic are all key ingredients that could run out within 100 years.
Indium is crucial to both touchscreens and solar panels. It’s transparent, adheres to glass but has no other known use. It is one of the rarest elements on Earth; a by-product of zinc mining. To get a few milligrams of Indium a kilogram of zinc has to be mined.
Extracting these metals is costly, energy-intensive and often leaves toxic waste in its wake. The vast majority of rare-earth metals are mined in China, where their extraction has polluted major water sources.
"Rare earths" are a specific category of 17 different minerals. Like other key tech ingredients – such as cobalt, tin, tungsten and gold – they have also been linked to exploitative operations that use child labour and fund conflict in Africa, and to respiratory diseases among miners.
E-waste, known as WEEE, is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the developed world though improved regulation of collection, recycling and disposal has come through an EU directive, to which Ireland has fully signed up.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Drop in school pupil numbers could threaten small schools

The number of children attending primary school is set to drop by about 20 per cent – more than 100,000 pupils – over the next 15 years , according to Department of Education projections .
The sharp reduction may lead to surplus numbers of teachers at primary level and could threaten the future of some small schools .
However , schools leaders say the decline is an opportunity to reduce class sizes in the State , which surveys show are among the highest in Europe .
Official projections show enrolment at primary level peaked last year and is likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partly based on a projected decline in the average number of children born to women of child-bearing age .
This measurement has fallen sharply , from just over two children in 2010 to about 1.77 last year .
The report projects it will fall to 1.6 by 2031 and hold steady thereafter .
The impact of Covid-19 on births is unknown and has not been factored into the model , it adds .
By contrast , enrolment at secondary school is forecast to rise sharply within the next four years , reaching a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to a population bulge which is passing from the primary sector and into second level .
The decline in pupil numbers at primary level , however , is likely to raise fresh concerns over the future of small schools .
Almost half , 44 per cent , of primary schools have four teachers or fewer .
They account for just 15 per cent of the pupil population .
Those schools considered most at risk are one or two teachers – of which there are about 550 – and are based mostly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Irish Primary Principals ’ Network said the figures show the urgent need to boost supports for small schools to ensure their survival .
“ We need to look at ideas such as clustering supports or teachers across groups of small schools to ensure they are sustainable into the future , ” said network chief executive Pairic Clerkin .
The department ’ s official policy is that schools are closed only with the consent of parents or a board of management .
The prospect of hundreds of surplus teachers in the event of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending review by the Department of Public Expenditure .
However , the Irish National Teachers ’ Organisation said the drop in numbers represented a “ huge opportunity ” to reduce class sizes .
“ Holding our teacher numbers at primary will reduce class sizes at no additional cost .
This is a demographic dividend allowing Ireland to achieve smaller classes like our EU neighbours , ” said a union spokesman .
In a statement , the Department said report findings will be used in assessing teacher demand and supply modelling , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department spokesman said teacher redeployment schemes are aimed at ensuring any surplus teachers are re-located to other schools which have vacancies .
The report says the sharpest enrolment falls will be between 2022 and 2027 , with pupil numbers set to drop by 11,000 per year .
Following the low point in 2034 , it projects that enrolments will rise more slowly in 2035-2036 .
At second level , it says enrolments have risen by 8 per cent over the past five years and are projected to peak in 2024 with just over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At Leaving Certificate level , the numbers are projected to climb from 60,955 pupils this year and peak at just under 70,000 in 2026 .
The fall in pupil numbers after 2024 will be more gradual with numbers falling steadily each year .
In a statement , the department said the report ’ s findings will be used in assessing teacher demand and supply modelling , along with forward planning of school buildings .
A spokesman said the projected fall in enrolments will vary in different parts of the country and that teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surplus teachers are relocated to other schools which have vacancies .

The decline in primary school pupils is an opportunity to reduce class sizes in the State, according to schools leaders. File photograph: Getty
The number of children attending primary school is set to drop by about 20 per cent – more than 100,000 pupils – over the next 15 years, according to Department of Education projections.
The sharp reduction may lead to surplus numbers of teachers at primary level and could threaten the future of some small schools.
However, schools leaders say the decline is an opportunity to reduce class sizes in the State, which surveys show are among the highest in Europe.
Official projections show enrolment at primary level peaked last year and is likely to decline until 2034. This fall-off is partly based on a projected decline in the average number of children born to women of child-bearing age.
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This measurement has fallen sharply, from just over two children in 2010 to about 1.77 last year. The report projects it will fall to 1.6 by 2031 and hold steady thereafter. The impact of Covid-19 on births is unknown and has not been factored into the model, it adds.
By contrast, enrolment at secondary school is forecast to rise sharply within the next four years, reaching a record high of 410,000. This is due to a population bulge which is passing from the primary sector and into second level.
The decline in pupil numbers at primary level, however, is likely to raise fresh concerns over the future of small schools.
Almost half, 44 per cent, of primary schools have four teachers or fewer. They account for just 15 per cent of the pupil population. Those schools considered most at risk are one or two teachers – of which there are about 550 – and are based mostly in rural areas on the western seaboard.
The Irish Primary Principals’ Network said the figures show the urgent need to boost supports for small schools to ensure their survival.
“We need to look at ideas such as clustering supports or teachers across groups of small schools to ensure they are sustainable into the future,” said network chief executive Pairic Clerkin.
The department’s official policy is that schools are closed only with the consent of parents or a board of management.
‘Huge opportunity’
The prospect of hundreds of surplus teachers in the event of declining enrolments was raised in a 2018 spending review by the Department of Public Expenditure. However, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said the drop in numbers represented a “huge opportunity” to reduce class sizes.
"Holding our teacher numbers at primary will reduce class sizes at no additional cost. This is a demographic dividend allowing Ireland to achieve smaller classes like our EU neighbours," said a union spokesman.
In a statement, the Department said report findings will be used in assessing teacher demand and supply modelling, along with forward planning of school buildings.
The department spokesman said teacher redeployment schemes are aimed at ensuring any surplus teachers are re-located to other schools which have vacancies.
The report says the sharpest enrolment falls will be between 2022 and 2027, with pupil numbers set to drop by 11,000 per year. Following the low point in 2034, it projects that enrolments will rise more slowly in 2035-2036.
At second level, it says enrolments have risen by 8 per cent over the past five years and are projected to peak in 2024 with just over 410,400 pupils, a record high.
At Leaving Certificate level, the numbers are projected to climb from 60,955 pupils this year and peak at just under 70,000 in 2026.
The fall in pupil numbers after 2024 will be more gradual with numbers falling steadily each year.
In a statement, the department said the report’s findings will be used in assessing teacher demand and supply modelling, along with forward planning of school buildings.
A spokesman said the projected fall in enrolments will vary in different parts of the country and that teacher redeployment schemes are aimed at ensuring any surplus teachers are relocated to other schools which have vacancies.


theirishtimes--2020-11-11--Raw sewage flowing into rivers and sea in 35 places across Ireland

Raw sewage from 35 towns and villages across the State continues to be discharged into nearby waters , according to an Environmental Protection Agency report which is highly critical of Irish Water ’ s delivery of new treatment plants .
In a report on urban wastewater treatment for 2019 , the agency accuses the utility of pushing back deadlines and of having “ no clear plan ” for 23 of the towns and villages on the list .
In all , 33 places are unlikely to receive treatment until an undetermined date after 2021 , it warns – including Arklow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population of 32,000 .
Meanwhile , treatment at 19 of of the State ’ s 172 large towns and cities , including Dublin and Cork , failed to meet European Union pollution standards – although this is down from the 28 places registered previously .
Some improvements are evident , the report accepts .
Raw sewage discharges have stopped in one town , while improvements to wastewater treatment have been made in nine towns and villages .
However , Irish Water has “ repeatedly revised its plans and extended the timeframe to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are discharging raw sewage ” , it says .
Director of the agency ’ s Office of Environmental Enforcement Dr Tom Ryan said raw sewage discharges pose an unacceptable risk to the environment and public health .
Growing uncertainty in Irish Water ’ s planning and delivery of critical projects is undermining confidence in its ability to reduce public health and environment risks quickly , he added .
Defending the utility ’ s record , Irish Water managing director Niall Gleeson said €308 million was spent in 2019 improving wastewater treatment – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We are making real and tangible progress , ” he said .
The amount of untreated and inadequately treated wastewater being discharged has fallen by half since 2014 , he said , while planning issues had delayed some other projects .

The EPA report notes that 33 places are unlikely to receive treatment until an undetermined date after 2021. File photograph: Getty
Raw sewage from 35 towns and villages across the State continues to be discharged into nearby waters, according to an Environmental Protection Agency report which is highly critical of Irish Water’s delivery of new treatment plants.
In a report on urban wastewater treatment for 2019, the agency accuses the utility of pushing back deadlines and of having “no clear plan” for 23 of the towns and villages on the list.
In all, 33 places are unlikely to receive treatment until an undetermined date after 2021, it warns – including Arklow and Cobh, which have a combined population of 32,000.
Meanwhile, treatment at 19 of of the State’s 172 large towns and cities, including Dublin and Cork, failed to meet European Union pollution standards – although this is down from the 28 places registered previously.
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Some improvements are evident, the report accepts. Raw sewage discharges have stopped in one town, while improvements to wastewater treatment have been made in nine towns and villages.
However, Irish Water has “repeatedly revised its plans and extended the timeframe to provide treatment for towns and villages including those that are discharging raw sewage”, it says.
Director of the agency's Office of Environmental Enforcement Dr Tom Ryan said raw sewage discharges pose an unacceptable risk to the environment and public health.
Reducing risks
Growing uncertainty in Irish Water’s planning and delivery of critical projects is undermining confidence in its ability to reduce public health and environment risks quickly, he added.
Defending the utility's record, Irish Water managing director Niall Gleeson said €308 million was spent in 2019 improving wastewater treatment – up by €78 million from 2018. "We are making real and tangible progress," he said.
The amount of untreated and inadequately treated wastewater being discharged has fallen by half since 2014, he said, while planning issues had delayed some other projects.


theirishtimes--2020-11-13--Covid-19: Irish abroad should abandon plans to come home for Christmas, Holohan says

Irish people living abroad should not plan to travel home for Christmas due to the risk of importing Covid-19 , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has advised .
Christmas visits home will be regarded as non-essential travel and are not recommended , he said .
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had earlier on Thursday advised people intending to come home from abroad for Christmas not to book flights “ at the moment ” due to the uncertainty from the pandemic .
However , Dr Holohan went further , bluntly ruling out such Christmas travel even on compassionate grounds .
“ Travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be regarded as non-essential this Christmas , ” he told a briefing by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) on Thursday evening .
Expressing concern about high rates of the virus in most European countries , he said the reimportation of cases through foreign travel was one of the most significant risks the State faced .
“ People potentially coming back for the Christmas period are experiencing a much higher level of infection .
That will be one of the most significant risks for us if we make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He also warned that “ things are going to be different this Christmas ” and it was “ too early ” for people to be making plans for the festive season .
Large-scale social events involving alcohol and other activities that would happen in a “ normal ” Christmas , such as office parties and large family get-togethers , “ are not going to be possible ” , he warned .
With case numbers dropping by half in the past fortnight , the State has the fastest declining incidence of Covid-19 in Europe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Level 5 coronavirus restrictions , officials said all indicators were positive but added that “ we ’ re only halfway down the curve ” .
Nphet will meet on November 26th to decide what measures it will recommend to the Government to put in place from December , when some restrictions are likely to be eased .
One further death from Covid-19 and 395 new cases were reported on Thursday evening .
Meanwhile , large Covid-19 outbreaks in hospitals in Naas , Letterkenny and Limerick have severely disrupted services .
Some 161 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Naas and 55 in Letterkenny are out of work due to infection or being contacts of positive cases , forcing the closure of wards and the postponement of elective work .
Health bosses considered closing Naas General Hospital , where only critical care services are being provided , but decided not to because of the knock-on effect on other hospitals , it is understood .
The outbreaks in the hospitals “ haven ’ t completely stabilised ” , Dr Vida Hamilton , HSE hospitals group lead , said , but they were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday agreed to a one-week extension of current Covid-19 restrictions , following days of bitter division amongst Ministers .
Cafes , hairdressers and beauty parlours will be able to reopen in the North from November 20th .
Asked whether he would advise against cross-Border travel given the higher Covid-19 incidence in Northern Ireland and the planned easing of restrictions there from next week , Dr Holohan pointed out that a 5km travel limit was in force in the State “ whether you ’ re close to the Border or hundreds of miles from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the North were making “ great progress ” in reducing infections and he hoped the decision by the Northern Executive would “ underscore ” this improvement .

Chief medical officer, Tony Holohan, has said that non essential travel 'will include the Christmas period'. Video: RTE
Irish people living abroad should not plan to travel home for Christmas due to the risk of importing Covid-19, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has advised.
Christmas visits home will be regarded as non-essential travel and are not recommended, he said.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar had earlier on Thursday advised people intending to come home from abroad for Christmas not to book flights "at the moment" due to the uncertainty from the pandemic.
Hospital Report
However, Dr Holohan went further, bluntly ruling out such Christmas travel even on compassionate grounds.
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“Travel that would normally happen at Christmas would have to be regarded as non-essential this Christmas,” he told a briefing by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Thursday evening.
Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, is pictured at a Covid-19 update press conference at the Department of Health on Thursday. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
Expressing concern about high rates of the virus in most European countries, he said the reimportation of cases through foreign travel was one of the most significant risks the State faced.
“People potentially coming back for the Christmas period are experiencing a much higher level of infection. That will be one of the most significant risks for us if we make the progress we hope to make.”
‘Things will be different’
He also warned that “things are going to be different this Christmas” and it was “too early” for people to be making plans for the festive season.
Large-scale social events involving alcohol and other activities that would happen in a “normal” Christmas, such as office parties and large family get-togethers, “are not going to be possible”, he warned.
With case numbers dropping by half in the past fortnight, the State has the fastest declining incidence of Covid-19 in Europe.
Halfway through the current six-week period of Level 5 coronavirus restrictions, officials said all indicators were positive but added that “we’re only halfway down the curve”.
Nphet will meet on November 26th to decide what measures it will recommend to the Government to put in place from December, when some restrictions are likely to be eased.
One further death from Covid-19 and 395 new cases were reported on Thursday evening.
Hospital outbreaks
Meanwhile, large Covid-19 outbreaks in hospitals in Naas, Letterkenny and Limerick have severely disrupted services.
Some 161 hospital staff in Limerick, 77 in Naas and 55 in Letterkenny are out of work due to infection or being contacts of positive cases, forcing the closure of wards and the postponement of elective work.
Health bosses considered closing Naas General Hospital, where only critical care services are being provided, but decided not to because of the knock-on effect on other hospitals, it is understood.
The outbreaks in the hospitals "haven't completely stabilised", Dr Vida Hamilton, HSE hospitals group lead, said, but they were being managed appropriately.
The Northern Executive on Thursday agreed to a one-week extension of current Covid-19 restrictions, following days of bitter division amongst Ministers. Cafes, hairdressers and beauty parlours will be able to reopen in the North from November 20th.
Asked whether he would advise against cross-Border travel given the higher Covid-19 incidence in Northern Ireland and the planned easing of restrictions there from next week, Dr Holohan pointed out that a 5km travel limit was in force in the State "whether you're close to the Border or hundreds of miles from it".
He said his colleagues in the North were making “great progress” in reducing infections and he hoped the decision by the Northern Executive would “underscore” this improvement.


theirishtimes--2020-11-13--Appointment of judges remains a haphazard, opaque process

Few public appointment processes are more important , yet none is more haphazard or opaque .
Governments have wide discretion in selecting judges for appointment by the President , and while attempts have been made in recent decades to formalise the process , it remains cloaked in secrecy .
Apart from the key Cabinet members involved – usually the Minister for Justice , Attorney General , Taoiseach and , in a coalition , Tánaiste – even most Government Ministers tend not to see how it works .
The only formal route into the judiciary is the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Chief Justice and includes the other heads of courts , as well as representatives of the legal profession and two government nominees .
The JAAB was a rushed response to a political crisis faced by a Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition in 1994 , when the government came close to collapse over the so-called Whelehan affair , a row over the nomination of the then attorney general Harry Whelehan as president of the High Court .
The shape of the system was hammered out in a hotel in Co Wicklow by four men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brendan Howlin and Noel Dempsey – whose brief was to restore trust in the fractured coalition .
Cowen himself admitted later that the process was “ a charade ” designed to fix “ a temporary political problem ” .
The JAAB advertises vacancies , considers applications from barristers and solicitors and makes recommendations to Government .
But the list of caveats is long .
The board can recommend multiple candidates and often puts forward a lengthy list of names without ranking them , resulting in lobbying of ministers by lawyers who make it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who don ’ t ) .
The board can interview candidates but has never done so , and while its procedures have shifted a little over time , it has long been regarded as a filter that removes only clearly unsuitable candidates .
Ultimately , the Government is not required to pay any heed to the board ’ s recommendations ; it is free to select someone who hasn ’ t even applied .
A second type of appointment is the promotion of a sitting judge .
This is by far the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Court of Appeal , the State ’ s highest courts .
Serving judges do not go through the JAAB and there is no equivalent application process for them .
In 2013 , in an attempt to bring more clarity to promotions and clamp down on lobbying of ministers , the then chief justice Susan Denham agreed with the Fine Gael-Labour coalition that judges seeking promotion could write to the attorney general “ expressing an interest ” in a position .
The practice has been for those expressions of interest to be forwarded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is responsible for bringing judicial nominations to Cabinet .
Under the “ Denham protocol ” , the judges ’ letters are kept on file and considered along with any names recommended by the JAAB and any other eligible judges .
In the seven years since the Denham protocol was introduced , according to two sources , the procedure at Cabinet has varied .
On some occasions , the name of the recommended nominee has been accompanied , in the memorandum for government , by a list of all names put forward by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who have expressed interest in promotion .
In recent years , however , it has become the norm for the memorandum to contain only one name – the preferred candidate – for each vacancy .
Ministers in successive administrations – most recently Shane Ross , minister for transport in the last cabinet – say there is almost no discussion of appointments at the Cabinet table .
By that stage , the decision has been made .

Few public appointment processes are more important, yet none is more haphazard or opaque.
Governments have wide discretion in selecting judges for appointment by the President, and while attempts have been made in recent decades to formalise the process, it remains cloaked in secrecy. Apart from the key Cabinet members involved – usually the Minister for Justice, Attorney General, Taoiseach and, in a coalition, Tánaiste – even most Government Ministers tend not to see how it works.
The only formal route into the judiciary is the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB), which is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes the other heads of courts, as well as representatives of the legal profession and two government nominees.
The JAAB was a rushed response to a political crisis faced by a Fianna Fáil-Labour coalition in 1994, when the government came close to collapse over the so-called Whelehan affair, a row over the nomination of the then attorney general Harry Whelehan as president of the High Court. The shape of the system was hammered out in a hotel in Co Wicklow by four men – Ruairí Quinn, Brian Cowen, Brendan Howlin and Noel Dempsey – whose brief was to restore trust in the fractured coalition. Cowen himself admitted later that the process was "a charade" designed to fix "a temporary political problem".
READ MORE
The JAAB advertises vacancies, considers applications from barristers and solicitors and makes recommendations to Government. But the list of caveats is long. The board can recommend multiple candidates and often puts forward a lengthy list of names without ranking them, resulting in lobbying of ministers by lawyers who make it through the JAAB process (and some who don’t). The board can interview candidates but has never done so, and while its procedures have shifted a little over time, it has long been regarded as a filter that removes only clearly unsuitable candidates. Ultimately, the Government is not required to pay any heed to the board’s recommendations; it is free to select someone who hasn’t even applied.
Promotion
A second type of appointment is the promotion of a sitting judge. This is by far the most common route into the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal, the State's highest courts. Serving judges do not go through the JAAB and there is no equivalent application process for them. In 2013, in an attempt to bring more clarity to promotions and clamp down on lobbying of ministers, the then chief justice Susan Denham agreed with the Fine Gael-Labour coalition that judges seeking promotion could write to the attorney general "expressing an interest" in a position. The practice has been for those expressions of interest to be forwarded to the Minister for Justice, who is responsible for bringing judicial nominations to Cabinet.
Under the “Denham protocol”, the judges’ letters are kept on file and considered along with any names recommended by the JAAB and any other eligible judges. In the seven years since the Denham protocol was introduced, according to two sources, the procedure at Cabinet has varied. On some occasions, the name of the recommended nominee has been accompanied, in the memorandum for government, by a list of all names put forward by the JAAB along with the names of judges who have expressed interest in promotion. In recent years, however, it has become the norm for the memorandum to contain only one name – the preferred candidate – for each vacancy.
Ministers in successive administrations – most recently Shane Ross, minister for transport in the last cabinet – say there is almost no discussion of appointments at the Cabinet table. By that stage, the decision has been made.