theirishtimes--2020-04-20--‘There’s no certainty’: Cork publican hopes end in sight after 37 days closed

John Scanlon is the third generation of his family to run Scanlon ’ s Bar in Newmarket in north Cork .
He and his parents , Michael and Joan , who run the pub with him , have never seen anything like the coronavirus crisis .
“ My late grandparents , John Joe and Joan Scanlon bought the pub in 1976 – it was Lane ’ s Hotel before we bought it and it goes back to the early 1900s but no one can remember anything like this sort of a shutdown .
“ The only time we ever close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re still closing on Good Friday despite the change in the licensing laws but today is our 37th day closed now and we ’ ve never seen anything like that before.
” John says the pub would usually have good trade at weekends , attracting people from Newmarket and surrounding areas .
“ We ’ d have a good broad range of customers – our age profile would be from 18 to 80 and older and talking to some of the older customers who are cocooning , they are finding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I can imagine people living by themselves finding it massively difficult – having contact with people is huge – 95 per cent of people who come into us come in for the chat and the social aspect , the drinking is secondary for a lot of them .
“ We would have some fellows living alone – they might be working on a farm or whatever and they would come in and you ’ d know they wouldn ’ t be in for the drink , they ’ d come in for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come in and you could have a bunch of them sitting in the corner and you ’ d know the crack and routine of fellows and with that no longer around , it must be difficult for people , mental health wise.
” For John and his parents who live adjacent to the pub , it ’ s an eerie feeling seeing the bar cloaked in darkness every night rather than hearing it buzzing to the sound of people enjoying themselves .
John says his main suppliers , Diageo and Heineken Ireland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We had just got in our St Patrick ’ s Day stock from both Diageo and Heineken when the government announced the shutdown – the Friday night of St Patrick ’ s weekend was decent enough but the Saturday was quieter .
“ And then of course we lost out completely on St Patrick ’ s Day which would be a big day for us in a town like Newmarket with people coming in after the parade and maybe to watch a match so we lost out on a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Diageo and Heineken have been very good – they credited our accounts that Monday after the closure for the kegs they gave us – we cleaned the taps but they came around and cleaned the taps as well , to be fair.
” Others too have been supportive with Sky Sports delaying their subscription charges while Cork County Council delayed the collection of rates but he fears it may all ultimately make for a perfect storm .
“ All three of us working here , myself and my parents are getting the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t know how long the Government is going to be able to keep paying that to people .
“ And of course , the longer pubs are closed , it ’ s going to become more difficult to reopen and whenever you do , you could be hit with all these delayed payments together and people with cash-flow issues could be in real trouble.
” “ It ’ s the snowballing effect worldwide that ’ s most worrying , along with the uncertainty of all it – we know people ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and rightly so but if there was an end in sight , you could plan but there ’ s no certainty .
“ Simon Harris ’ s comments at the weekend that people should not expect a significant lifting of restrictions were a bit out of the blue – did he jump the gun or was he simply telling it as it is but it didn ’ t make for pleasant reading.
” John says there is “ no blueprint ” for how it will all play out but he ’ s hopeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing in the future , he and other publicans will be able to resume business sooner rather than later .
“ I can see people going back out socialising when this is over – it won ’ t be on the scale it was , at least not for a while , and they ’ ll be wary of social distancing but it might be easier in rural areas where you don ’ t have the crowds .
“ Hopefully as publicans , we can create a safe environment to bring people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing shoulder to shoulder in pubs may be gone but we still need to create an atmosphere for people to enjoy a social drink .
”

John Scanlon is the third generation of his family to run Scanlon's Bar in Newmarket in north Cork. He and his parents, Michael and Joan, who run the pub with him, have never seen anything like the coronavirus crisis.
"My late grandparents, John Joe and Joan Scanlon bought the pub in 1976 – it was Lane's Hotel before we bought it and it goes back to the early 1900s but no one can remember anything like this sort of a shutdown.
“The only time we ever close is Christmas Day and Good Friday – we’re still closing on Good Friday despite the change in the licensing laws but today is our 37th day closed now and we’ve never seen anything like that before.”
John says the pub would usually have good trade at weekends, attracting people from Newmarket and surrounding areas.
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“We’d have a good broad range of customers – our age profile would be from 18 to 80 and older and talking to some of the older customers who are cocooning, they are finding the lockdown and the social isolation difficult.
“I can imagine people living by themselves finding it massively difficult – having contact with people is huge – 95 per cent of people who come into us come in for the chat and the social aspect, the drinking is secondary for a lot of them.
“We would have some fellows living alone – they might be working on a farm or whatever and they would come in and you’d know they wouldn’t be in for the drink, they’d come in for the chat.
“Some fellows might come in and you could have a bunch of them sitting in the corner and you’d know the crack and routine of fellows and with that no longer around, it must be difficult for people, mental health wise.”
Scanlon’s Bar in Newmarket. ‘The only time we ever close is Christmas Day and Good Friday.’ Photograph: Barry Roche
For John and his parents who live adjacent to the pub, it’s an eerie feeling seeing the bar cloaked in darkness every night rather than hearing it buzzing to the sound of people enjoying themselves.
John says his main suppliers, Diageo and Heineken Ireland, have both been supportive to the trade.
“We had just got in our St Patrick’s Day stock from both Diageo and Heineken when the government announced the shutdown – the Friday night of St Patrick’s weekend was decent enough but the Saturday was quieter.
“And then of course we lost out completely on St Patrick’s Day which would be a big day for us in a town like Newmarket with people coming in after the parade and maybe to watch a match so we lost out on a lot of trade that day.
“But both Diageo and Heineken have been very good – they credited our accounts that Monday after the closure for the kegs they gave us – we cleaned the taps but they came around and cleaned the taps as well, to be fair.”
The days of people standing shoulder to shoulder in pubs may be gone
Others too have been supportive with Sky Sports delaying their subscription charges while Cork County Council delayed the collection of rates but he fears it may all ultimately make for a perfect storm.
“All three of us working here, myself and my parents are getting the Covid-19 payment which is a help but I don’t know how long the Government is going to be able to keep paying that to people.
“And of course, the longer pubs are closed, it’s going to become more difficult to reopen and whenever you do, you could be hit with all these delayed payments together and people with cash-flow issues could be in real trouble.”
“It’s the snowballing effect worldwide that’s most worrying, along with the uncertainty of all it – we know people’s health has to be the priority and rightly so but if there was an end in sight, you could plan but there’s no certainty.
“Simon Harris’s comments at the weekend that people should not expect a significant lifting of restrictions were a bit out of the blue – did he jump the gun or was he simply telling it as it is but it didn’t make for pleasant reading.”
John says there is “no blueprint” for how it will all play out but he’s hopeful that even if pubs have to implement social distancing in the future, he and other publicans will be able to resume business sooner rather than later.
“I can see people going back out socialising when this is over – it won’t be on the scale it was, at least not for a while, and they’ll be wary of social distancing but it might be easier in rural areas where you don’t have the crowds.
“Hopefully as publicans, we can create a safe environment to bring people in again – the days of people standing shoulder to shoulder in pubs may be gone but we still need to create an atmosphere for people to enjoy a social drink.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-20--Coronavirus: Fatality predictions in North revised downwards to 1,500

The number of people now expected to die in Northern Ireland from the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak has been revised down to 1,500 , following the recording of 13 hospital deaths on Monday .
So far , 207 people have died there in hospitals , though the numbers succumbing in nursing and residential homes are not reported daily , as happens in the Republic .
Forty people are now in intensive care beds because of the virus , while 88 more people were admitted to hospitals on Sunday , Northern Ireland ’ s health minister , Robin Swann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice indicates that “ under the reasonable worst-case scenario we would be looking at in the region of 1,500 deaths in the first 20 weeks of the epidemic ” , he said .
That figure is half the number predicted on April 1st , while the original assessment a month ago warned that up to 15,000 could die in Northern Ireland in the “ worst-case nightmare scenario ” .
Saying the new figure of 1,500 is a “ significant revision on the previous modelling total ” , Mr Swann cautioned , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or a forecast ” but a “ clear indication that social distancing is working ” .
He warned that “ complacency will kill ” and said that “ thinking this is over or that the risk is diminishing will cost lives ” .
The chief medical officer , Dr Michael McBride , said it would be “ premature ” to suggest Northern Ireland was “ through the worst ” of the coronavirus outbreak .
The relaxation of social distancing measures , or the failure to adhere to the ones in place , would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus and we will then see the health service come under pressure ” .
Saying that it is equally premature to talk of exit strategies , Dr McBride warned that “ social distancing will be with us for a significant period of time ” .
Meanwhile , Mr Swann did not rule out the reuse of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , after health workers and unions raised concerns over official coronavirus guidance from Public Health England which approved the reuse of PPE where there are acute shortages and where it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Department of Health “ has not asked anyone to reissue or reuse PPE , but there may become a point when we do so .
I hope it doesn ’ t happen , ” he said .
Everyone is working “ strenuously to avoid this ” .
Moving elderly people currently living in care homes into hotels in order to protect them from coronavirus outbreaks is “ not a route that we are currently going down ” , said Mr Swann .
While “ nothing was off the table ” , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time we have no intention of using hotels to replace the accommodation and support that is provided in care homes ” .
The chief nursing officer , Prof Charlotte McArdle , said PPE was now flowing into care homes “ in large quantities ” , and 1.9 million pieces of equipment were delivered to care homes and domiciliary care settings last week .
She also said measures had been put in place to cover coronavirus-related absences among staff in care homes , including directing some new healthcare recruits directly into the care sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were announced on Monday by the chief medical officer .
From this week , there will be random testing of individuals who present at GP surgeries with respiratory symptoms , and from April 28th , there will be similar testing at emergency departments .
All patients who are being transferred from hospitals to care homes will also now be tested before discharge .
More than 1,000 businesses in Northern Ireland applied for help from a £25,000 business grant scheme open to the retail , hospitality , tourism and leisure sectors after the online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The website was unavailable for a time due to a “ technical issue ” , but is now working normally .

Northern Ireland’s health minister Robin Swann: the new death figure of 1,500 is a “significant revision on the previous modelling total” of double that. Photograph: Peter Morrison/PA
The number of people now expected to die in Northern Ireland from the first wave of the coronavirus outbreak has been revised down to 1,500, following the recording of 13 hospital deaths on Monday.
So far, 207 people have died there in hospitals, though the numbers succumbing in nursing and residential homes are not reported daily, as happens in the Republic.
Forty people are now in intensive care beds because of the virus, while 88 more people were admitted to hospitals on Sunday, Northern Ireland's health minister, Robin Swann, said.
The most recent modelling advice indicates that “under the reasonable worst-case scenario we would be looking at in the region of 1,500 deaths in the first 20 weeks of the epidemic”, he said.
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That figure is half the number predicted on April 1st, while the original assessment a month ago warned that up to 15,000 could die in Northern Ireland in the “worst-case nightmare scenario”.
Saying the new figure of 1,500 is a “significant revision on the previous modelling total”, Mr Swann cautioned, however, that it was “not a prediction or a forecast” but a “clear indication that social distancing is working”.
He warned that “complacency will kill” and said that “thinking this is over or that the risk is diminishing will cost lives”.
‘Re-emergence’ fears
The chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, said it would be “premature” to suggest Northern Ireland was “through the worst” of the coronavirus outbreak.
The relaxation of social distancing measures, or the failure to adhere to the ones in place, would “rapidly see a re-emergence of this virus and we will then see the health service come under pressure”.
Saying that it is equally premature to talk of exit strategies, Dr McBride warned that “social distancing will be with us for a significant period of time”.
Meanwhile, Mr Swann did not rule out the reuse of personal protective equipment (PPE), after health workers and unions raised concerns over official coronavirus guidance from Public Health England which approved the reuse of PPE where there are acute shortages and where it is safe to do so.
NI's Department of Health "has not asked anyone to reissue or reuse PPE, but there may become a point when we do so. I hope it doesn't happen," he said. Everyone is working "strenuously to avoid this".
Moving elderly people currently living in care homes into hotels in order to protect them from coronavirus outbreaks is “not a route that we are currently going down”, said Mr Swann.
Protective equipment
While “nothing was off the table”, he said, “at this moment in time we have no intention of using hotels to replace the accommodation and support that is provided in care homes”.
The chief nursing officer, Prof Charlotte McArdle, said PPE was now flowing into care homes “in large quantities”, and 1.9 million pieces of equipment were delivered to care homes and domiciliary care settings last week.
She also said measures had been put in place to cover coronavirus-related absences among staff in care homes, including directing some new healthcare recruits directly into the care sector.
A number of new testing measures were announced on Monday by the chief medical officer. From this week, there will be random testing of individuals who present at GP surgeries with respiratory symptoms, and from April 28th, there will be similar testing at emergency departments.
All patients who are being transferred from hospitals to care homes will also now be tested before discharge.
More than 1,000 businesses in Northern Ireland applied for help from a £25,000 business grant scheme open to the retail, hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors after the online application form was launched on Monday.
The website was unavailable for a time due to a “technical issue”, but is now working normally.


theirishtimes--2020-04-20--Quarry loses claim it is beyond reach of environmental directives

A quarry operating in Co Meath for almost 150 years has lost its High Court claim it is beyond the reach of EU environmental directives and does not have to seek development consent .
The gravel and sand quarry at Murrens , Olcastle , which began operating in 1875 , was registered in 2005 with Meath County Council under section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 .
In 2005 , its total area was 36.4 hectares , including an extraction area of 25.4 hectares , and it had traffic averaging 100 HGV trips per day .
A planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by at least 13.5 hectares since 1990 and she considered development carried out on dates after 1990 and 1997 , when the Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Directives were respectively transposed into Irish law , would have required assessments under those Directives but such were not done .
Under Section 261 , a quarry owner or operator must provide the planning authority with information including the quarry area , the material being extracted or processed , hours of operation , traffic and noise levels and planning permissions .
Meath County Council had in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the quarry ’ s future operations and gave a permission duration of 20 years .
In 2012 , the Council , as required under section 261A ( as amended in 2010 ) , conducted a review and directed the quarry to apply for substitute consent on foot of findings including , having regard to the scale and characteristics of the quarrying development since 1990 and 1997 , it was likely to have had significant effects on the environment .
It said an EIA , and an Appropriate Assessment , under the Habitats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the site ’ s proximity to the White Lough , Ben Loughs and Lough Doo candidate Special Areas of Conservation .
The quarry operator - JJ Flood & Sons ( Manufacturing ) Ltd and David Food , a director of that company - argued the Council ’ s decision was invalid .
They claimed a quarry which stays within its pre-1964 use does not require development consent and , as a result , is not subject to the two Directives .
After An Bord Pleanála in June 2013 upheld the Council decision , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a judgment on Monday , Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh dismissed the appeal .
She disagreed a quarry which commenced operations before 1964 which stays within its pre-1964 use is by virtue of that automatically rendered immune from the Directives .
Insofar as government guidelines published in 2012 suggested otherwise , those were “ erroneous ” .
“ If you fall within the Directives , you need development consent , ” she said .
EU law imposes “ a positive obligation ” on member states to ensure domestic law complies with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2012 to direct the applicants under section 261A to apply for substitute consent even where it previously imposed conditions which envisaged quarrying for another 20 years , she held .
The purpose of Section 261A was “ to remedy ” the State ’ s own failures in transposing the Directives .
The statutory scheme on substitute consent is premised on the view a developer may be operating lawfully under domestic law but the situation may be defective from an EU law perspective and development consent therefore needs to be obtained retrospectively .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ it did not provide for adequate procedures in a process which , it was claimed , wrongly and unfairly removed rights “ vested ” in the quarry pre-1964 .
A direction under Section 261A to apply for substitute consent amounted to a decision the quarry was not in compliance with EU law as set out in the Directives and , in order to comply , it must apply for substitute consent , she said .
A section 261A direction did not amount to a finding of unauthorised development and rather gave an operator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning status of the lands .

A quarry operating in Co Meath for almost 150 years has lost its High Court claim it is beyond the reach of EU environmental directives and does not have to seek development consent.
The gravel and sand quarry at Murrens, Olcastle, which began operating in 1875, was registered in 2005 with Meath County Council under section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000.
In 2005, its total area was 36.4 hectares, including an extraction area of 25.4 hectares, and it had traffic averaging 100 HGV trips per day.
A planning inspector reported the extraction area had increased by at least 13.5 hectares since 1990 and she considered development carried out on dates after 1990 and 1997, when the Environmental Impact Assessment and Habitats Directives were respectively transposed into Irish law, would have required assessments under those Directives but such were not done.
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Under Section 261, a quarry owner or operator must provide the planning authority with information including the quarry area, the material being extracted or processed, hours of operation, traffic and noise levels and planning permissions.
Meath County Council had in 2007 imposed 23 conditions under section 261 on the quarry’s future operations and gave a permission duration of 20 years.
In 2012, the Council, as required under section 261A (as amended in 2010), conducted a review and directed the quarry to apply for substitute consent on foot of findings including, having regard to the scale and characteristics of the quarrying development since 1990 and 1997, it was likely to have had significant effects on the environment.
It said an EIA, and an Appropriate Assessment, under the Habitats Directive, was required for reasons including the site’s proximity to the White Lough, Ben Loughs and Lough Doo candidate Special Areas of Conservation.
The quarry operator - JJ Flood & Sons (Manufacturing) Ltd and David Food, a director of that company - argued the Council’s decision was invalid. They claimed a quarry which stays within its pre-1964 use does not require development consent and, as a result, is not subject to the two Directives.
After An Bord Pleanála in June 2013 upheld the Council decision, the applicants appealed to the High Court.
In a judgment on Monday, Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh dismissed the appeal.
She disagreed a quarry which commenced operations before 1964 which stays within its pre-1964 use is by virtue of that automatically rendered immune from the Directives. Insofar as government guidelines published in 2012 suggested otherwise, those were “erroneous”.
“If you fall within the Directives, you need development consent,” she said.
EU law imposes “a positive obligation” on member states to ensure domestic law complies with the Directives.
The Council was entitled in 2012 to direct the applicants under section 261A to apply for substitute consent even where it previously imposed conditions which envisaged quarrying for another 20 years, she held.
The purpose of Section 261A was “to remedy” the State’s own failures in transposing the Directives. The statutory scheme on substitute consent is premised on the view a developer may be operating lawfully under domestic law but the situation may be defective from an EU law perspective and development consent therefore needs to be obtained retrospectively.
She disagreed section 261A is unconstitutional because it did not provide for adequate procedures in a process which, it was claimed, wrongly and unfairly removed rights “vested” in the quarry pre-1964.
A direction under Section 261A to apply for substitute consent amounted to a decision the quarry was not in compliance with EU law as set out in the Directives and, in order to comply, it must apply for substitute consent, she said. A section 261A direction did not amount to a finding of unauthorised development and rather gave an operator a “gateway” to regularising the planning status of the lands.


theirishtimes--2020-04-21--Kerry shop sells €9.8m Lotto ticket days after a €500,000 Euro Millions winner

Saturday night ’ s Lotto jackpot of almost €10 million was bought in a Co Kerry shop just days after it sold a Euro Millions ticket worth half a million .
The National Lottery confirmed the weekend winner was purchased at Daly ’ s Supervalu in Killarney .
It is believed that because of coronavirus movement restrictions that the ticket was probably bought by a regular customer , narrowing speculation .
The winning €9.8 million Quick Pick jackpot prize was bought on the day of the draw and the winner has yet to come forward to claim their windfall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lotto jackpot .
Speaking after receiving his second phone call from the National Lottery in the space of a few days , shop owner John Daly said he was still in shock at the unlikely double which was a bit of welcome good news .
“ Lottery wins are like buses - you wait over 30 years for one and then two come along at once !
, ” he said .
“ It really is a magical story for everybody in the community here in Killarney .
It ’ s the bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now and we ’ re absolutely chuffed to bits for these two winners .
“ With travel restrictions currently in place , it means that we don ’ t have any tourists in the town which makes it extra special to know that one of our loyal local customers may have won this prize.
” Mr Daly noted the prize news came in an unusual time - his staff had spent “ a tough number of weeks ” implementing safety systems for infection control .
“ We ’ ll organise a proper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these restrictions have been lifted , ” he said .
The National Lottery has urged anyone who played to check their ticket for the winning numbers : 04 , 09 , 15 , 27 , 29 , 34 and bonus number 17 .
It has reminded players that it has extended the period of time winners can collect prizes to encourage people to stay at home and not require them to make any unnecessary journeys during the public health emergency .
This means any winners of Lotto games including Euro Millions between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an extra three months in which they can claim their prize .

The winning €9.8 million Quick Pick jackpot prize was bought on the day of the draw.
The ticket for Saturday night’s Lotto jackpot of almost €10 million was bought in a Co Kerry shop just days after it sold a Euro Millions ticket worth half a million.
The National Lottery confirmed the weekend winner was purchased at Daly's Supervalu in Killarney.
It is believed that because of coronavirus movement restrictions that the ticket was probably bought by a regular customer, narrowing speculation.
The winning €9.8 million Quick Pick jackpot prize was bought on the day of the draw and the winner has yet to come forward to claim their windfall. It is Kerry’s biggest ever Lotto jackpot.
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Speaking after receiving his second phone call from the National Lottery in the space of a few days, shop owner John Daly said he was still in shock at the unlikely double which was a bit of welcome good news.
“Lottery wins are like buses - you wait over 30 years for one and then two come along at once!,” he said.
“It really is a magical story for everybody in the community here in Killarney. It’s the bit of good news that we all need right now and we’re absolutely chuffed to bits for these two winners.
“With travel restrictions currently in place, it means that we don’t have any tourists in the town which makes it extra special to know that one of our loyal local customers may have won this prize.”
Mr Daly noted the prize news came in an unusual time - his staff had spent “a tough number of weeks” implementing safety systems for infection control.
“We’ll organise a proper celebration to celebrate the win when all of these restrictions have been lifted,” he said.
The National Lottery has urged anyone who played to check their ticket for the winning numbers: 04, 09, 15, 27, 29, 34 and bonus number 17.
It has reminded players that it has extended the period of time winners can collect prizes to encourage people to stay at home and not require them to make any unnecessary journeys during the public health emergency.
This means any winners of Lotto games including Euro Millions between January 9th and July 5th will have an extra three months in which they can claim their prize.


theirishtimes--2020-04-21--Volcano watch aims to improve eruption forecasting in order to save lives

Volcanoes have erupted without warning and killed people living on , or near them , since the dawn of human history .
The Vesuvius eruption of AD 79 killed at least 1,000 people , while the 1815 Tambora eruption in Indonesia had a global impact causing a “ year without a summer ” and killed 80,000 .
There are no volcanoes directly threatening Ireland , but eruptions can still impact on us here .
For example , the April 2010 eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull , caused disruption to air travel across Europe .
This could happen again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that any large eruption in Iceland – 880km to the northwest – will carry ash over Ireland .
The world ’ s 20 or so super-volcanoes in places such as Yellowstone , US ; Toba , Indonesia ; and Rabaul , Papua New Guinea are a threat to all life on Earth through their ability to cause rapid climate change .
These monsters don ’ t have a visible cone .
It ’ s been blown right off by during the last eruption .
In its place there ’ s a caldera , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all vented out .
Chris Bean , professor of geophysics at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies ( DIAS ) , uses seismometres and sensors to measure earthquakes , large and small .
The signals help him to read the pulse of an volcano and forecast for eruptions in a manner similar to how a cardiologist looks at a cardiogram in order to check for heart attack risk .
“ There are long whistles , staccato signals – a whole range of signals – that the earth sends once a volcano starts to growl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are developing theoretical and computer models , and using field experiments to get us a better warning when volcanoes will erupt.
” Italy and Iceland are two countries famous for their volcanoes .
Bean and his fellow researchers have installed sensors around some of their most famous peaks .
The data from the sensors feed into volcano forecasting .
Dr Laura Sandri of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Rome lives in the shadow of some of world ’ s most dangerous volcanoes , including Vesuvius and Campi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Flegrei which 35km to the west of Naples and has been showing signs of activity .
Sandri and Bean have worked together since 2004 .
In Italy , which is home to some of the highest risk volcanoes on the Earth , Sandri says , this is important work .
He explains the difference between predicting and forecasting eruptions by comparing a shooting bullet and a rolling dice .
“ It is easy to predict where the bullet will land and in what time , whereas rolling the dice is more unpredictable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dice ; how high it goes and what ’ s its speed ?
Volcanoes are more like a dice.
” The uplift of land around Campi Flegrei in recent years has caused concern that magma might be on the move up from deep up towards the surface – which can be a prelude to eruption .
The lives of 400,000 people living inside Flegrei ’ s caldera depend on forecasting precision , as these people must all be moved a few days before an eruption happens .
Scientists are struggling to distinguish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ super eruptions ” .
However , even if researchers could predict a super eruption , the evacuation plans for Naples are not designed to cope with one .
Fortunately , mega super eruptions at Flegri occur only about every 13,000 years or so .
Geologists say that while Vesuvius remains active – and a threat – the large volcanic complex at Campi Flegrei is a far more immediate and dangerous threat due to the uplifts of ground measured there in recent years .
Such uplifts can often be a sign of magma moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Volcano forecasters do not like to use the word prediction , as they say that science can not predict precisely when a volcano will erupt , where and with what strength .
The situation is like weather forecasting , they say , where science forecasts the probability of what might happen over time .
And scientists fear the consequences of making a false forecast triggering an evacuation plan for Naples .
“ If you have forecasts that are not viable , people lose faith in your ability to inform them what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s more dangerous as people will tend not to move next time.
” Magnús Tumi Gudmundsson , professor of geophysics at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland , works closely with Bean on volcano forecasting .
Volcanoes are central to Icelandic life , Gudmunsson says , as they provide heat and electricity and draw tourists .
Iceland , sits on the mid Atlantic ridge , running down the middle of the ocean between Europe and North America , which emerged out of the north Atlantic during repeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Today it has about 30 volcanic systems , with one big central volcano connected through stretches of cracks and faults in the rock that extend out 80 to 100km .
In Iceland , despite 24-hour monitoring , scientists might only see clear signals of an eruption 30 minutes in advance .
The seismometres set up by Prof Bean in Iceland pick up earth-shaking signals before , during and after the event .
This data can help scientists to pick out the earliest eruption signals .
“ This is our ear on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Automatic systems determine where the earthquake happened and how big it was , and that allows get information in real time .
That is very important.
” Scientists love data .
The more data they can get hold of , the more they can see patterns and make forecasts of what might happen .
Yet , when it comes to erupting volcanoes data is hard to come by .
This is because active volcanoes such as Vesuvius might only have a major eruption every 2,000 years .
To better forecast eruptions it makes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of data during the pre-eruption phase .
The Mount Etna volcano near Catania in Sicily fits the bill .
“ It is in eruption quite often ; there are regular eruptions , ” Bean points out .
“ It is not as dangerous as Vesuvius but it could impact the town of Catania , so it ’ s closely monitored.
” Volcanoes such as Etna have become tourist attractions , Bean says , with visitors prepared to take more chances to get near the summit than locals .
The tourists bring in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a fine line for the authorities to draw between public safety and promoting tourism .
Etna , like Vesuvius , is on a 24-hour watch .
This happens in a control room , which resembles an air traffic control scenario , with lots of screens and data constantly flowing in from the volcano .
There are protocols agreed well in advance by scientists about when to move up the alert levels , when parts of the volcano need to be closed to the public , and when to evacuate people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ business , Bean says , with fluids , gases , stresses and rock strengths among the many variables .
“ It is very hard to say , well if we put this amount of gas in , then this failure will occur .
It is not like dealing with human engineered materials , ” he adds .
Another issue is that forecasts are built around the likely possibility of what might happen .
They do not factor in the chance that a real event – an eruption – might occur that is bigger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it kills somebody , such as a tourist .
This makes forecasters very cautious .
There is debate about where volcano forecasting science is headed .
One school aims to better understand the physics of eruptions , and to run ever better computer simulations of eruptions using that knowledge .
Another group is focused on getting more data from eruptions , and using artificial intelligence and machine learning to recognise eruption signals in the data .
The best way forward , Bean believes , may be a combination of machine learning with physics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea is to use some simulated data to train the AI systems to try and understand how the volcano will behave under a range of conditions .
This is pattern recognition with physics.
” The challenge is to forecast eruptions more than three days out in places such as Naples where it takes more than three days to evacuate the population .
Scientists like Bean want to use seismology to better identify false alarms and real eruptions .
Millions of lives there depend on an accurate five-day eruption forecast , but forecasting eruptions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ With the weather , you can see the storm coming on the satellite image , ” Bean notes .
“ We don ’ t have that luxury .
You might have something that looks like it ’ s going to erupt then somehow quietens down .
”

Volcanoes such as Etna have become tourist attractions, with visitors prepared to take more chances to get near the summit than locals
Volcanoes have erupted without warning and killed people living on, or near them, since the dawn of human history. The Vesuvius eruption of AD 79 killed at least 1,000 people, while the 1815 Tambora eruption in Indonesia had a global impact causing a "year without a summer" and killed 80,000.
There are no volcanoes directly threatening Ireland, but eruptions can still impact on us here. For example, the April 2010 eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull, caused disruption to air travel across Europe.
This could happen again, as prevailing west to east winds means that any large eruption in Iceland – 880km to the northwest – will carry ash over Ireland.
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 3 Image shows White Island (Whakaari) volcano, as it erupts, in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, in December 2019. Photograph: Michael Schade/EPA
The world's 20 or so super-volcanoes in places such as Yellowstone, US; Toba, Indonesia; and Rabaul, Papua New Guinea are a threat to all life on Earth through their ability to cause rapid climate change. These monsters don't have a visible cone. It's been blown right off by during the last eruption. In its place there' s a caldera, or crater, left after the magma all vented out.
READ MORE
Chris Bean, professor of geophysics at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies (DIAS), uses seismometres and sensors to measure earthquakes, large and small. The signals help him to read the pulse of an volcano and forecast for eruptions in a manner similar to how a cardiologist looks at a cardiogram in order to check for heart attack risk.
“There are long whistles, staccato signals – a whole range of signals – that the earth sends once a volcano starts to growl and become active,” Bean says. “We are developing theoretical and computer models, and using field experiments to get us a better warning when volcanoes will erupt.”
Italy and Iceland are two countries famous for their volcanoes. Bean and his fellow researchers have installed sensors around some of their most famous peaks. The data from the sensors feed into volcano forecasting.
Highest risk
Dr Laura Sandri of the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Rome lives in the shadow of some of world's most dangerous volcanoes, including Vesuvius and Campi Flegrei – Europe's only super-volcano. Flegrei which 35km to the west of Naples and has been showing signs of activity.
Sandri and Bean have worked together since 2004. In Italy, which is home to some of the highest risk volcanoes on the Earth, Sandri says, this is important work. He explains the difference between predicting and forecasting eruptions by comparing a shooting bullet and a rolling dice.
“It is easy to predict where the bullet will land and in what time, whereas rolling the dice is more unpredictable. There is the initial roll of the dice; how high it goes and what’s its speed? Volcanoes are more like a dice.”
The uplift of land around Campi Flegrei in recent years has caused concern that magma might be on the move up from deep up towards the surface – which can be a prelude to eruption.
The lives of 400,000 people living inside Flegrei’s caldera depend on forecasting precision, as these people must all be moved a few days before an eruption happens.
Scientists are struggling to distinguish seismic signals for large, or “super eruptions”. However, even if researchers could predict a super eruption, the evacuation plans for Naples are not designed to cope with one. Fortunately, mega super eruptions at Flegri occur only about every 13,000 years or so.
Geologists say that while Vesuvius remains active – and a threat – the large volcanic complex at Campi Flegrei is a far more immediate and dangerous threat due to the uplifts of ground measured there in recent years. Such uplifts can often be a sign of magma moving up from deep to the surface.
Volcano forecasters do not like to use the word prediction, as they say that science cannot predict precisely when a volcano will erupt, where and with what strength. The situation is like weather forecasting, they say, where science forecasts the probability of what might happen over time.
Dangerous
And scientists fear the consequences of making a false forecast triggering an evacuation plan for Naples. “If you have forecasts that are not viable, people lose faith in your ability to inform them what’s happening,” Bean says. “That’s more dangerous as people will tend not to move next time.”
Magnús Tumi Gudmundsson, professor of geophysics at the Institute of Earth Sciences at the University of Iceland, works closely with Bean on volcano forecasting. Volcanoes are central to Icelandic life, Gudmunsson says, as they provide heat and electricity and draw tourists.
Iceland, sits on the mid Atlantic ridge, running down the middle of the ocean between Europe and North America, which emerged out of the north Atlantic during repeated eruptions 18 to 20 million years ago.
Today it has about 30 volcanic systems, with one big central volcano connected through stretches of cracks and faults in the rock that extend out 80 to 100km.
In Iceland, despite 24-hour monitoring, scientists might only see clear signals of an eruption 30 minutes in advance. The seismometres set up by Prof Bean in Iceland pick up earth-shaking signals before, during and after the event. This data can help scientists to pick out the earliest eruption signals.
“This is our ear on the ground,” Gudmundsson says. “Automatic systems determine where the earthquake happened and how big it was, and that allows get information in real time. That is very important.”
Scientists love data. The more data they can get hold of, the more they can see patterns and make forecasts of what might happen. Yet, when it comes to erupting volcanoes data is hard to come by. This is because active volcanoes such as Vesuvius might only have a major eruption every 2,000 years.
To better forecast eruptions it makes sense to study volcanoes that produce a lot of data during the pre-eruption phase. The Mount Etna volcano near Catania in Sicily fits the bill.
“It is in eruption quite often; there are regular eruptions,” Bean points out. “It is not as dangerous as Vesuvius but it could impact the town of Catania, so it’s closely monitored.”
Volcanoes such as Etna have become tourist attractions, Bean says, with visitors prepared to take more chances to get near the summit than locals. The tourists bring in money to the local economy, so there is a fine line for the authorities to draw between public safety and promoting tourism.
Protocols
Etna, like Vesuvius, is on a 24-hour watch. This happens in a control room, which resembles an air traffic control scenario, with lots of screens and data constantly flowing in from the volcano.
There are protocols agreed well in advance by scientists about when to move up the alert levels, when parts of the volcano need to be closed to the public, and when to evacuate people.
Assessing the eruption threat is a complicated business, Bean says, with fluids, gases, stresses and rock strengths among the many variables. “It is very hard to say, well if we put this amount of gas in, then this failure will occur. It is not like dealing with human engineered materials,” he adds.
Another issue is that forecasts are built around the likely possibility of what might happen. They do not factor in the chance that a real event – an eruption – might occur that is bigger than the probable forecasts, and that it kills somebody, such as a tourist. This makes forecasters very cautious.
There is debate about where volcano forecasting science is headed. One school aims to better understand the physics of eruptions, and to run ever better computer simulations of eruptions using that knowledge.
Another group is focused on getting more data from eruptions, and using artificial intelligence and machine learning to recognise eruption signals in the data.
The best way forward, Bean believes, may be a combination of machine learning with physics – a hybrid approach. “The idea is to use some simulated data to train the AI systems to try and understand how the volcano will behave under a range of conditions. This is pattern recognition with physics.”
The challenge is to forecast eruptions more than three days out in places such as Naples where it takes more than three days to evacuate the population. Scientists like Bean want to use seismology to better identify false alarms and real eruptions.
Millions of lives there depend on an accurate five-day eruption forecast, but forecasting eruptions is even harder than forecasting the weather.
“With the weather, you can see the storm coming on the satellite image,” Bean notes. “We don’t have that luxury. You might have something that looks like it’s going to erupt then somehow quietens down.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-21--Supporters of John Waters and Gemma O’Doherty crowd into Four Courts

More than 100 supporters of John Waters and Gemma O ’ Doherty crowded into the Four Courts Round Hall on Tuesday before a mention of their High Court action challenging laws introduced by the State in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
From about 10.30am , more than 40 supporters went into court number one , where the case was due to be mentioned at 11am , and were seated close together .
More people continued to arrive into the Four Courts complex and by 11am more than 100 people were gathered closely together in the Round Hall of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms O ’ Doherty and Mr Waters who urged people to “ take back the country ” .
By 11am , courtroom number one was cleared of supporters and only Mr Waters and Ms O ’ Doherty remained for the mention of the case before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy .
In their judicial review proceedings against the State and the Minister for Health , Mr Waters and Ms O ’ Doherty are seeking to have various pieces of recently enacted legislation declared null and void by a judge of the High Court .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act , the 2020 Emergency Measures in the Public Interest ( Covid-19 ) Act and the 1947 Health Act ( Affected Areas ) Order 2020 .
Their proceedings are aimed at striking down temporary restrictions introduced by the Government .
Ms O ’ Doherty and Mr Waters represented themselves in court last week when applying for permission to bring their challenge .
The matter was mentioned on an ex-parte basis , where only one side was represented in court , before Mr Justice Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legislation was “ unconstitutional ” , “ improperly enacted ” and “ very flawed ” .
The judge said the court was only concerned about the legality of the legislation challenged and not about any Government policy .
He directed the application for permission to bring the challenge be made on notice to the State respondents and adjourned the matter to today .

A view of supporters of John Waters and Gemma O’Doherty outside the Four Courts Photograph: Tom Honan
The State is to oppose a High Court challenge by John Waters and Gemma O’Doherty aimed at striking down laws introduced by the State arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Waters and Ms O’Doherty claim the laws are flawed and unconstitutional.
In judicial review proceedings against the Minister for Health, Ireland and the Attorney General they seek to have certain recently enacted legislation declared null and void by a judge of the High Court.
The legislation at issue includes the 2020 Health Preservation and Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, the 2020 Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act Covid-19 Act and the 1947 Health Act (Affected Areas) Order.
READ MORE
Their proceedings are also aimed at striking down temporary restriction regulations brought in under the 1947 Health Act.
Last week, the High Court directed the application for permission to bring the challenge should be heard on notice to the State respondents and the matter was returned for mention before Ms Justice Deirdre Murphy on Tuesday morning.
Prior to the hearing, more than 100 supporters of the plaintiffs gathered in the Four Courts complex. Some went into courtroom number one of the Four Courts while others congregated in the Round Hall outside the courtroom.
A small number of gardaí monitored the situation and cleared supporters from the courtroom before the judge came onto the bench just after 11am arising from social distancing guidelines introduced by the Chief Justice and the Presidents of the Courts arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Gerard Meehan BL, for the State, told the judge it will oppose the application for leave to bring the challenge and asked for a two week adjournment to allow his side prepare a sworn statement in response to the “quite substantial” challenge.
While the State has been working on its response, things were taking longer to get done in the current climate, particularly when dealing with persons in the Department of Health, counsel said.
Given that part of the challenge concerns how the laws in question were enacted, the Dáil, the Seanad and the Ceann Comhairle would have to be added to the proceedings as notice parties, counsel added.
Mr Waters and Ms O’Doherty, represented themselves. While not not objecting to the addition of the notice parties, they expressed strong concerns about the adjournment application and said the leave application needed to be heard as soon as possible.
Mr Waters said the State parties were attempting to “filibuster”, “procrastinate” and delay a “very important” matter.
Outlining the nature of the action, Ms O’Doherty said what was happening regarding the lockdown was “outrageous”.
She said people were being held under mass house arrest or fear being interrogated by gardaí if they leave their homes.People should be allowed go about their business and normal life must be allowed resume, she said.
The vast majority of people are unaffected by Covid-19 which, she said, was “no threat to life”. The Irish people should be allowed to go outside and “build up a herd immunity”, she said.
Ms O’Doherty said expert medical evidence supporting her claims will be presented to the court as part of the case.
Ms Justice Murphy told Ms O’Doherty the court was not at this stage considering what were substantial arguments in the action but was making directions with a view to getting the application heard.
The judge said she accepted the leave application raised issues that needed to be heard and the leave hearing should be heard in two weeks time. The judge adjourned the matter for a week when it will again be mentioned for the purpose of an update on progress.
Earlier, both applicants raised issues with the judge as to whether the proceedings were being held in public. An application to let some or all of the applicants supporters into the courtroom was dismissed by the judge.
The judge said the case was being heard in public and was being reported on by bona fide members of the media. She said not everyone could fit into a courtroom and wondered, if a larger than capacity group wished to attend a hearing, should the court have to move to the National Convention Centre.
The applicants expressed their dissatisfaction over the judge’s decision. The judge said a digital audio recording of Tuesday’s proceedings should be made available to the applicants.


theirishtimes--2020-04-21--Driver tests positive for cannabis and opiates during routine Garda traffic stop

A driver has tested positive for cannabis and opiates during a routine Garda traffic stop after a botched effort to hide cocaine valued at €21,000 being carried in his car .
The incident occurred in Galway on Monday evening when one of the passengers in the car fled from it on foot when he saw the gardaí .
While the man with the cocaine tried to hide the packages of drugs in a gap in a nearby wall he was spotted by gardaí and the drugs were found and seized .
The man driving the car was then tested for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opiates .
Both the driver and his passenger who tried to evade gardaí with the cocaine packages were arrested .
Gardaí said the routine traffic stop was performed by members of Galway ’ s Roads Policing Unit at Bushy Park , Galway City , at about 7pm .
“ There were two men in the car and the passenger , a man in his early 20s , got out of the car and fled on foot .
He was seen placing a white package into a gap in a wall , ” a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was recovered and is believed to contain approximately €21,000 worth of cocaine , pending analysis.
” Both men were arrested and detained at the Garda ’ s North Western regional headquarters in Murrough , Co Galway , under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) Act .
The driver of the car , a man in his 30s , remained in custody on Tuesday .
The other arrested man , who is in his 20s , was released without charge pending further investigations .
While a number of searches were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two suspects nothing of evidential value was found .

A driver has tested positive for cannabis and opiates during a routine Garda traffic stop after a botched effort to hide cocaine valued at €21,000 being carried in his car.
The incident occurred in Galway on Monday evening when one of the passengers in the car fled from it on foot when he saw the gardaí.
While the man with the cocaine tried to hide the packages of drugs in a gap in a nearby wall he was spotted by gardaí and the drugs were found and seized.
The man driving the car was then tested for intoxicants and was positive for cannabis and opiates. Both the driver and his passenger who tried to evade gardaí with the cocaine packages were arrested.
READ MORE
Gardaí said the routine traffic stop was performed by members of Galway’s Roads Policing Unit at Bushy Park, Galway City, at about 7pm.
“There were two men in the car and the passenger, a man in his early 20s, got out of the car and fled on foot. He was seen placing a white package into a gap in a wall,” a Garda spokesman said.
“The package was recovered and is believed to contain approximately €21,000 worth of cocaine, pending analysis.”
Both men were arrested and detained at the Garda’s North Western regional headquarters in Murrough, Co Galway, under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act.
The driver of the car, a man in his 30s, remained in custody on Tuesday. The other arrested man, who is in his 20s, was released without charge pending further investigations.
While a number of searches were carried out at addresses linked to the two suspects nothing of evidential value was found.


theirishtimes--2020-04-21--Coronavirus: June’s €8m Ironman Ireland in Co Cork cancelled

The organisers of the largest-ever triathlon event in Ireland , which is estimated to be worth around €8 million to the local economy , have taken the decision to cancel the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
The second ever Ironman Ireland event was due to take place in Youghal in East Cork on June 21st but the organisers , Ironman Ireland , with the support of Cork County Council , have decided to cancel the event .
Last year ’ s event , which attracted some 2,670 entrants , over half of whom were from overseas , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the local East Cork economy and this year ’ s event was projected to provide a similar boost .
Last year , participants came from some 62 different countries including the USA , Australia , Canada , Japan , Mexico , Russia , Germany , Spain , France , Denmark , Belgium , the Netherlands and the UK as well as Ireland .
Cork County Council CEO , Tim Lucey said that while the council acknowledged that the decision would be greeted with disappointment by many , it felt that the decision was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever changing Covid-19 situation .
“ This is the only decision that could be made in these unforeseen circumstances .
Efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19 have meant disruptions and cancellations to sporting events around the world.
” Mr Lucey said planning has already begun for the following year ’ s Ironman Ireland event , which will take place in Youghal on August 15th 2021 when it ’ s hoped that most of those registered for this year ’ s event will participate “ It is regrettable and disappointing for everyone involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in East Cork this summer but we can now look forward with anticipation to the 2021 Ironman Ireland , Cork race , ” said Mr Lucey .
Mayor of the County of Cork , Cllr Ian Doyle , acknowledged cancellation of this year ’ s event was disappointing for many involved but people should start to focus on next year ’ s event which promises to be a great success .
“ I know many people have worked hard towards this .
Ironman , Ireland is a hugely important event for Youghal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Cllr Doyle .
“ People are bound to be disappointed with the news , but it ’ s great to have the date for next summer agreed and we can look forward to working together to create an amazing spectacle and unforgettable event for Ironman 2021 .
”

The organisers of the largest-ever triathlon event in Ireland, which is estimated to be worth around €8 million to the local economy, have taken the decision to cancel the event due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The second ever Ironman Ireland event was due to take place in Youghal in East Cork on June 21st but the organisers, Ironman Ireland, with the support of Cork County Council, have decided to cancel the event.
Last year’s event, which attracted some 2,670 entrants, over half of whom were from overseas, was estimated to be worth €8 million to the local East Cork economy and this year’s event was projected to provide a similar boost.
Last year, participants came from some 62 different countries including the USA, Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Germany, Spain, France, Denmark, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK as well as Ireland.
READ MORE
Cork County Council CEO, Tim Lucey said that while the council acknowledged that the decision would be greeted with disappointment by many, it felt that the decision was the right one in light of the ever changing Covid-19 situation.
“This is the only decision that could be made in these unforeseen circumstances. Efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19 have meant disruptions and cancellations to sporting events around the world.”
Mr Lucey said planning has already begun for the following year’s Ironman Ireland event, which will take place in Youghal on August 15th 2021 when it’s hoped that most of those registered for this year’s event will participate
“It is regrettable and disappointing for everyone involved that this event cannot go ahead in East Cork this summer but we can now look forward with anticipation to the 2021 Ironman Ireland, Cork race,” said Mr Lucey.
Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Ian Doyle, acknowledged cancellation of this year's event was disappointing for many involved but people should start to focus on next year's event which promises to be a great success.
"I know many people have worked hard towards this. Ironman, Ireland is a hugely important event for Youghal, East Cork and the county generally," said Cllr Doyle.
“People are bound to be disappointed with the news, but it’s great to have the date for next summer agreed and we can look forward to working together to create an amazing spectacle and unforgettable event for Ironman 2021.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-21--Care homes crisis: ‘There will be people who crumble after this is over’

Every afternoon , Anne Cadwallader stands on a box and talks to her husband through the two-inch gap in his care home window .
“ It ’ s absolutely awful .
I can ’ t reach him , I can ’ t hold him , I can ’ t comfort him , I can ’ t reassure him.
” On Easter Sunday , she found she was one of many .
“ Every single window on the ground floor had children and sons and daughters with their noses pressed up against the window shouting and trying to be understood , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a terribly , awfully sad sight to see all those people desperately trying to communicate and reassure their loved ones inside .
I ’ d never seen anything like it in my life.
” Cadwallader ’ s husband , Gerry O ’ Hare ( 79 ) , is a resident in Fruithill Nursing Home in west Belfast .
He was diagnosed with Parkinson ’ s disease 15 years ago , and moved there when she could no longer look after him at home .
Like all care homes , it has been closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ I ’ m living from minute to minute .
Every time the phone goes , I ’ m expecting to hear that Gerry ’ s got it , because you read about it going through nursing homes like wildfire , ” says Cadwallader .
“ He ’ s very weak .
He had pneumonia last June , and I ’ d be terrified if he gets it , he won ’ t survive it.
” There are 483 care homes in Northern Ireland , caring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As of Sunday , outbreaks of coronavirus have been identified in 53 of them ; in some there have been a number of deaths .
It is not clear exactly how many residents have died from the virus .
The numbers released daily by the Public Health Agency record only those who have tested positive for the virus , and who have died in hospital ; according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency , as of April 10th there were at least 39 suspected coronavirus-related deaths , the majority in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not included in the PHA figures .
“ It ’ s very important for the people who have passed away in care homes that their passing is recognised as much as anyone else in society , wherever they live , ” the North ’ s Commissioner for Older People , Eddie Lynch , told BBC Radio Ulster .
Cadwallader agrees .
“ Some people seem to take the attitude , Oh well , you ’ ve had your life , you ’ re expendable , it ’ s time for you to shuffle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annoying and extremely patronising , and a callous way to treat and think about people.
” O ’ Hare is well known .
He is a former member of the IRA , who was interned and was imprisoned in Mountjoy prison for a time before going on to become a journalist and deputy news editor of the Irish Press .
When it went bust he founded the travel newspaper Travel Extra , which is still running 25 years later .
In Fruithill two residents with coronavirus have died in hospital ; others have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was disappointed when I heard the [ daily ] figures weren ’ t reflecting all deaths , ” says Seon MacStiofain , the nurse manager at Fruithill Nursing Home .
“ It ’ s sort of like when the health secretary in England [ Matt Hancock ] said four medics had died but then he couldn ’ t say how many nurses had died or how many care workers .
“ To them it ’ s nothing , but to us it ’ s everything.
” Life has changed at the home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedures mean residents are self-isolated in their bedrooms ; if someone displays symptoms of coronavirus , the infection is managed in their room , and extra personal protective equipment [ PPE ] is made available for staff .
There has been testing “ since the start ” , says MacStiofain .
According to the North ’ s Department of Health , all care home residents and staff who display symptoms are now being tested .
Trade union Unison has said there must be an immediate programme of testing for all care home residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ executive of the representative organisation the Independent Health and Care Providers , says that although supplies of PPE have now been distributed , testing is being unevenly applied .
She urges a deeper consideration of the statistics , including on “ those people in care homes who do recover ” .
“ There ’ s always this underlying [ assumption ] that people in care homes have died of neglect , and that ’ s unfair , ” she says .
MacStiofain has seen first hand the practical effort and also the emotional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to be a lot of people who crumble after this is over and there needs to be support and help for them .
“ The government and society also needs to step back and look at how we are going to fund healthcare , and that ’ s inclusive of social care.
” Yet there are also positives .
In 30 years as a nurse , MacStiofain says , “ I have never experienced this level of support .
“ There are family members who live locally who use their daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the home and clap .
“ We ’ re very proud of them for allowing us to take care of their loved ones.
” Cadwallader shows her appreciation too .
“ On Thursday night I stood outside and I banged a pot with my wooden spoon along with all my neighbours up and down the street , hoping that the staff in there know that we all appreciate what they ’ re doing .
“ There ’ s nothing else we can do except hope and pray .
”

Anne Cadwallader talks to her husband, Gerry O’Hare, from outside the window of his room in Fruithill Nursing Home in Belfast. Photograph: Stephen Davison
Every afternoon, Anne Cadwallader stands on a box and talks to her husband through the two-inch gap in his care home window.
“It’s absolutely awful. I can’t reach him, I can’t hold him, I can’t comfort him, I can’t reassure him.”
On Easter Sunday, she found she was one of many. “Every single window on the ground floor had children and sons and daughters with their noses pressed up against the window shouting and trying to be understood,” she says.
“It was a terribly, awfully sad sight to see all those people desperately trying to communicate and reassure their loved ones inside. I’d never seen anything like it in my life.”
READ MORE
Cadwallader's husband, Gerry O'Hare (79), is a resident in Fruithill Nursing Home in west Belfast. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease 15 years ago, and moved there when she could no longer look after him at home. Like all care homes, it has been closed to visitors for the past month as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“I’m living from minute to minute. Every time the phone goes, I’m expecting to hear that Gerry’s got it, because you read about it going through nursing homes like wildfire,” says Cadwallader.
“He’s very weak. He had pneumonia last June, and I’d be terrified if he gets it, he won’t survive it.”
There are 483 care homes in Northern Ireland, caring for a maximum of about 16,000 residents. As of Sunday, outbreaks of coronavirus have been identified in 53 of them; in some there have been a number of deaths.
"Some people seem to take the attitude, Oh well, you've had your life, you're expendable, it's time for you to shuffle off"
It is not clear exactly how many residents have died from the virus. The numbers released daily by the Public Health Agency record only those who have tested positive for the virus, and who have died in hospital; according to the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, as of April 10th there were at least 39 suspected coronavirus-related deaths, the majority in care homes or hospices, that were not included in the PHA figures.
"It's very important for the people who have passed away in care homes that their passing is recognised as much as anyone else in society, wherever they live," the North's Commissioner for Older People, Eddie Lynch, told BBC Radio Ulster.
Cadwallader agrees. “Some people seem to take the attitude, Oh well, you’ve had your life, you’re expendable, it’s time for you to shuffle off, and that’s very annoying and extremely patronising, and a callous way to treat and think about people.”
IRA member
O'Hare is well known. He is a former member of the IRA, who was interned and was imprisoned in Mountjoy prison for a time before going on to become a journalist and deputy news editor of the Irish Press. When it went bust he founded the travel newspaper Travel Extra, which is still running 25 years later.
In Fruithill two residents with coronavirus have died in hospital; others have been diagnosed with the virus.
“I was disappointed when I heard the [daily] figures weren’t reflecting all deaths,” says Seon MacStiofain, the nurse manager at Fruithill Nursing Home.
"It's sort of like when the health secretary in England [Matt Hancock] said four medics had died but then he couldn't say how many nurses had died or how many care workers.
“To them it’s nothing, but to us it’s everything.”
Life has changed at the home since the lockdown. Additional infection control procedures mean residents are self-isolated in their bedrooms; if someone displays symptoms of coronavirus, the infection is managed in their room, and extra personal protective equipment [PPE] is made available for staff. There has been testing “since the start”, says MacStiofain.
"There's always this underlying [assumption] that people in care homes have died of neglect, and that's unfair"
According to the North's Department of Health, all care home residents and staff who display symptoms are now being tested. Trade union Unison has said there must be an immediate programme of testing for all care home residents and staff.
Pauline Shepherd, chief executive of the representative organisation the Independent Health and Care Providers, says that although supplies of PPE have now been distributed, testing is being unevenly applied. She urges a deeper consideration of the statistics, including on "those people in care homes who do recover".
“There’s always this underlying [assumption] that people in care homes have died of neglect, and that’s unfair,” she says.
Emotional strain
MacStiofain has seen first hand the practical effort and also the emotional strain among healthcare workers.
“There are going to be a lot of people who crumble after this is over and there needs to be support and help for them.
“The government and society also needs to step back and look at how we are going to fund healthcare, and that’s inclusive of social care.”
"There are family members who live locally who use their daily time for walking to come up outside the home and clap"
Yet there are also positives. In 30 years as a nurse, MacStiofain says, “I have never experienced this level of support.
“There are family members who live locally who use their daily time for walking to come up outside the home and clap.
“We’re very proud of them for allowing us to take care of their loved ones.”
Cadwallader shows her appreciation too. “On Thursday night I stood outside and I banged a pot with my wooden spoon along with all my neighbours up and down the street, hoping that the staff in there know that we all appreciate what they’re doing.
“There’s nothing else we can do except hope and pray.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-21--Keelings asks fruit pickers to segregate in ‘family units’

Fruit pickers at Keelings have been placed in “ family units ” segregated from other workers in a bid to reduce any risk of spreading coronavirus , company documents show .
Keelings , which came under fire for bringing in Bulgarian workers on chartered flights , set out guidelines on how staff should associate with others , including members of the public .
Its policy , based on guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre , also tells employees they may be expected to move family and can not congregate in groups of more than 49 people .
“ As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be rostered to jobs together , travel together , use the canteen together and share accommodation facilities , ” a company document states .
“ Social distancing guidelines should be followed at all times where reasonably practicable , however in buses and canteens , the 2m social distancing guidelines must apply between different family groups or individuals.
” On board buses , family units must sit together and leave an empty bench space between themselves and the next group .
“ You should know at all times what Family Unit you belong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required to change Family Unit , ” the document sets out .
The company did not respond to requests for clarity on the nature of accommodation it provides to workers , who have also been asked to practise 2m distancing in public spaces .
There has been some concern among residents of a Co Louth town where 111 of the Keelings employees are being housed , given that they have been circulating in the area .
However , deputy mayor of Drogheda Cllr Michelle Hall said much of the earlier anxiety had eased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not part of the group that arrived in Ireland last week .
Ms Hall , who has maintained contact with the company , previously outlined her discomfort that workers “ are being put at risk by living together in such high numbers ” .
In a statement Keelings said the 189 recent arrivals were adhering to HSE guidance on restricted movement and that groceries were being delivered to them .
Company management declined to be interviewed .
The north Dublin company is reliant on about 900 seasonal labourers and is unable to source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applicants to fill the roles .
It is estimated to be one of the biggest such producers in the country .
However , many other farms employ seasonal workers from abroad and the practice is common in other EU countries .
According to the Irish Farmers ’ Association , Germany is accepting 80,000 during April and May .
The UK is reliant on a similar number , and farmers and recruiters there have also begun to use charter flights .
Seasonal workers must be paid the minimum wage in Ireland , although it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about €15 an hour .
It is unclear how much Keelings pays its workers , although the role of crop walker – which includes monitoring growth – earns €10.80 per hour , according to documents .
An industry source said seasonal workers came to Ireland early this year in order to comply with rules on restriction of movement on arrival .
Although Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested the Government would look at how Irish workers might fill seasonal jobs , the source said harvesting without imported labour would be unmanageable .
“ These people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

‘Social distancing guidelines should be followed at all times where reasonably practicable.’ Photograph: Alan Betson
Fruit pickers at Keelings have been placed in “family units” segregated from other workers in a bid to reduce any risk of spreading coronavirus, company documents show.
Keelings, which came under fire for bringing in Bulgarian workers on chartered flights, set out guidelines on how staff should associate with others, including members of the public.
Its policy, based on guidance from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, also tells employees they may be expected to move family and cannot congregate in groups of more than 49 people.
“As a ‘Family Unit’, you will be rostered to jobs together, travel together, use the canteen together and share accommodation facilities,” a company document states.
READ MORE
“Social distancing guidelines should be followed at all times where reasonably practicable, however in buses and canteens, the 2m social distancing guidelines must apply between different family groups or individuals.”
On board buses, family units must sit together and leave an empty bench space between themselves and the next group.
“You should know at all times what Family Unit you belong to. You may at times be required to change Family Unit,” the document sets out.
The company did not respond to requests for clarity on the nature of accommodation it provides to workers, who have also been asked to practise 2m distancing in public spaces.
There has been some concern among residents of a Co Louth town where 111 of the Keelings employees are being housed, given that they have been circulating in the area.
However, deputy mayor of Drogheda Cllr Michelle Hall said much of the earlier anxiety had eased when it was discovered those residents were not part of the group that arrived in Ireland last week.
Ms Hall, who has maintained contact with the company, previously outlined her discomfort that workers “are being put at risk by living together in such high numbers”.
Groceries delivered
In a statement Keelings said the 189 recent arrivals were adhering to HSE guidance on restricted movement and that groceries were being delivered to them. Company management declined to be interviewed.
The north Dublin company is reliant on about 900 seasonal labourers and is unable to source anything near the sufficient level of local applicants to fill the roles. It is estimated to be one of the biggest such producers in the country. However, many other farms employ seasonal workers from abroad and the practice is common in other EU countries.
According to the Irish Farmers' Association, Germany is accepting 80,000 during April and May. The UK is reliant on a similar number, and farmers and recruiters there have also begun to use charter flights.
Seasonal workers must be paid the minimum wage in Ireland, although it is understood they can earn up to about €15 an hour. It is unclear how much Keelings pays its workers, although the role of crop walker – which includes monitoring growth – earns €10.80 per hour, according to documents.
An industry source said seasonal workers came to Ireland early this year in order to comply with rules on restriction of movement on arrival.
Although Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested the Government would look at how Irish workers might fill seasonal jobs, the source said harvesting without imported labour would be unmanageable.
“These people are critical elements of the harvest.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-21--Four die at Jesuit nursing home in Dublin

Three retired and former Jesuit priests and a Jesuit brother died at the congregation ’ s Cherryfield Lodge nursing home in Dublin ’ s Milltown last week .
The first Covid-19 case there was confirmed on Monday of last week , since when HSE protocols have been applied .
With a capacity for 20 , Cherryfield currently has 12 residents .
Confirming the deaths , a spokeswoman for the Jesuits said : “ Our hearts go out to the grieving families , friends and fellow Jesuits , and we offer them our deepest condolences , ” adding that “ it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who need round-the-clock care ” .
“ Each resident has their own room and there are now 12 there .
Many of the nursing and auxiliary staff have been in Cherryfield for a considerable time and are particularly saddened at the recent deaths .
They are doing heroic work in these difficult circumstances.
” The Jesuits run three of the best known fee-paying schools in Ireland – Clongowes Wood College in Co Kildare , as well as Belvedere College and Gonzaga in Dublin .
Meanwhile , it is believed the deaths of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ghost ) priests who died in Dublin this month were Covid-19 related .
They are among eight Spiritan priests who have died in recent weeks , a death rate equal to all Spiritan deaths in Ireland between January and June of last year .
A Spiritan spokesman said that “ regarding deaths of Spiritans in Ireland , we had eight in the period January to June of 2019 ” .
“ In 2020 , we have reached the equivalent number by mid-April , with all but one of the 2020 deaths happening since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understood that at least one of the recent Spiritan Covid-19 related deaths was confirmed post-mortem .
Marian House , the Spiritan-run nursing home in Dublin ’ s Kimmage , was in a “ winding down ” phase from mid-2018 .
Residents were transferred to Nazareth House nursing home on the Malahide Road , run by the Sisters of Nazareth , earlier this year .
A spokesman for the Spiritans said on Monday that “ in 2018 we took up the option of a block of rooms in Nazareth House on the Malahide Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We currently have 20 residents in Nazareth House.
” Of that number , 15 are believed to be in their 90s .
Among the leading fee-paying schools in Ireland run by the Spiritan congregation in south Dublin are Blackrock College , St Michael ’ s College on Merrion Road , St Mary ’ s College in Rathmines and Templeogue College .
They also run Rockwell College in Co Tipperary .
Generally , and with an average age of 73 , a significant majority of members of male and female religious and missionary congregations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in nursing homes .

Clongowes Wood College in Co Kildare is run by the Jesuits, as well as Belvedere College and Gonzaga in Dublin.
Three retired and former Jesuit priests and a Jesuit brother died at the congregation's Cherryfield Lodge nursing home in Dublin's Milltown last week.
The first Covid-19 case there was confirmed on Monday of last week, since when HSE protocols have been applied. With a capacity for 20, Cherryfield currently has 12 residents.
Confirming the deaths, a spokeswoman for the Jesuits said: “Our hearts go out to the grieving families, friends and fellow Jesuits, and we offer them our deepest condolences,” adding that“it’s a small nursing home for people who need round-the-clock care”.
“Each resident has their own room and there are now 12 there. Many of the nursing and auxiliary staff have been in Cherryfield for a considerable time and are particularly saddened at the recent deaths. They are doing heroic work in these difficult circumstances.”
READ MORE
The Jesuits run three of the best known fee-paying schools in Ireland – Clongowes Wood College in Co Kildare, as well as Belvedere College and Gonzaga in Dublin.
Spiritan community
Meanwhile, it is believed the deaths of at least two elderly Spiritan (Holy Ghost) priests who died in Dublin this month were Covid-19 related. They are among eight Spiritan priests who have died in recent weeks, a death rate equal to all Spiritan deaths in Ireland between January and June of last year.
A Spiritan spokesman said that “regarding deaths of Spiritans in Ireland, we had eight in the period January to June of 2019”.
“In 2020, we have reached the equivalent number by mid-April, with all but one of the 2020 deaths happening since the end of March.”
It is understood that at least one of the recent Spiritan Covid-19 related deaths was confirmed post-mortem.
Marian House, the Spiritan-run nursing home in Dublin's Kimmage, was in a "winding down" phase from mid-2018. Residents were transferred to Nazareth House nursing home on the Malahide Road, run by the Sisters of Nazareth, earlier this year.
A spokesman for the Spiritans said on Monday that “in 2018 we took up the option of a block of rooms in Nazareth House on the Malahide Road for Spiritans requiring nursing home care. We currently have 20 residents in Nazareth House.”
Of that number, 15 are believed to be in their 90s.
Among the leading fee-paying schools in Ireland run by the Spiritan congregation in south Dublin are Blackrock College, St Michael's College on Merrion Road, St Mary's College in Rathmines and Templeogue College. They also run Rockwell College in Co Tipperary.
Generally, and with an average age of 73, a significant majority of members of male and female religious and missionary congregations in Ireland are now being cared for in nursing homes.


theirishtimes--2020-04-20--‘A great experience’: Dublin student’s team wins University Challenge

A Dubliner studying for a PhD in computer science at Imperial College , London , was the member of the four-man team that won the final of the BBC ’ s University Challenge on Monday .
Conor McMeel , who is currently studying from home in Lucan while his university remains closed during the Covid-19 pandemic , said he had thoroughly enjoyed the experience of taking part in the popular quiz show .
On Monday night he watched the final of the competition from his home in Dublin .
“ My family knew we had won ahead of time but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” His father was actually sitting in the live audience when his son ’ s team took on students from Corpus Christi , Cambridge for the final which was recorded before coronavirus restrictions came into effect .
“ It was intimidating at first when you see all the lights come on and you realise you ’ re the focus of the camera , ” said the 26-year-old .
“ I panicked a bit .
Jeremy Paxman does have that aura of being able to intimidate but he ’ s actually very nice .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ episode to settle in but after that it was a lot of fun.
” While his expertise lie in computer science and maths ( he has an undergraduate from Trinity College and a Masters from Oxford in Maths ) Mr McMeel says he felt confident answering questions on a wide range of topics .
His team also prepared by focusing on subjects they knew the least about ahead of the competition .
“ I try and read a lot and I spent a lot of time on Wikipedia .
English was my second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve always liked things apart from maths .
Our team , we gathered together after we were selected and decided to read a lot on the topics we were bad at.
” In order to be selected for the competition , Imperial College , which last won University Challenge in 2001 , held a written examination followed by a mock quiz tournament .
McMeel was recently involved in setting the examination for next year ’ s team .
Around 150 students apply to take part and this is narrowed down to 20 students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on-campus quiz .
The top four students go on to represent the university on the BBC .
Mr McMeel returned to Ireland a few weeks ago following a research trip to Japan which was cut short because of the spread of Covid-19 .
He plans to stay in Ireland with his family until the worst of the pandemic had passed .
“ I live in Chelsea which is very much in the centre of London so it ’ s nice to be here and not in a cramped flat .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seemed safer on all fronts .
”

A Dubliner studying for a PhD in computer science at Imperial College, London, was a member of the four-man team that won the final of the BBC's University Challenge on Monday.
Conor McMeel, who is currently studying from home in Lucan while his university remains closed during the Covid-19 pandemic, said he had thoroughly enjoyed the experience of taking part in the popular quiz show.
On Monday night he watched the final of the competition from his home in Dublin. “My family knew we had won ahead of time but they loved watching it back on TV.”
His father was actually sitting in the live audience when his son’s team took on students from Corpus Christi, Cambridge, for the final which was recorded before coronavirus restrictions came into effect.
READ MORE
"It was intimidating at first when you see all the lights come on and you realise you're the focus of the camera," said the 26-year-old. "I panicked a bit. Jeremy Paxman does have that aura of being able to intimidate but he's actually very nice. It took me most of the first episode to settle in but after that it was a lot of fun."
While his expertise lies in computer science and maths (he has an undergraduate from Trinity College and a Masters from Oxford in Maths), Mr McMeel says he felt confident answering questions on a wide range of topics. His team also prepared by focusing on subjects they knew the least about ahead of the competition.
“I try and read a lot and I spent a lot of time on Wikipedia. English was my second choice on the CAO so I’ve always liked things apart from maths. Our team, we gathered together after we were selected and decided to read a lot on the topics we were bad at.”
In order to be selected for the competition, Imperial College, which last won University Challenge in 2001, held a written examination followed by a mock quiz tournament.
McMeel was recently involved in setting the examination for next year’s team. Around 150 students apply to take part and this is narrowed down to 20 students who are invited to participate in the on-campus quiz. The top four students go on to represent the university on the BBC.
Mr McMeel returned to Ireland a few weeks ago following a research trip to Japan which was cut short because of the spread of Covid-19. He plans to stay in Ireland with his family until the worst of the pandemic had passed. “I live in Chelsea which is very much in the centre of London so it’s nice to be here and not in a cramped flat. It’s also a lot less stressful being here and seemed safer on all fronts.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-22--Coronavirus: Government may ease restrictions in stages from May 5th

Restrictions introduced to deal with Covid-19 may be eased in stages every two to three weeks if efforts to tackle the virus are successful , under plans being considered by the Government .
However , well-placed sources said any easing of restrictions at the end of the current period of the lockdown on May 5th would be very limited .
Ministers and officials are working on a plan to ease restrictions but there is anxiety within the Government about acting too hastily and then having to reintroduce strict measures .
The first phase of restrictions to be lifted will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one source , who added that even returning to the measures that were in place before an effective lockdown was introduced on April 12th may be “ too drastic ” .
Speaking on RTÉ ’ s Prime Time on Tuesday night , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government would outline its plan before May 5th and it would be considered by Cabinet by the end of April .
He said he hoped to ease restrictions after May 5th but did not want to give false assurances .
He said the plan would lay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy and society would be reopened .
“ I think everyone understands it won ’ t be done in one go , in one fell swoop , ” he said .
In advance of any such move , the Government on Tuesday announced it was extending a ban on mass licensed gatherings of more than 5,000 people until the end of August , giving event organisers notice that concerts and other festivals were off for the summer .
Although the move did not strictly apply to sports gatherings , numerous Ministers said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurling series would not take place this summer .
“ It will become quite clear that they can ’ t go ahead , ” said one Minister .
On the back of the announcement , the Galway Races announced its public meetings would not go ahead , while the Football Association of Ireland sought clarity from the Government on soccer fixtures .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) on Tuesday night said that more than 9,000 people in Ireland who tested positive for Covid-19 had successfully recovered from the disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – 18 males and 26 females – diagnosed with Covid-19 had been reported on Tuesday by NPHET .
There have now been 730 Covid-19 related deaths confirmed by laboratory tests in the Republic .
However , a further 108 probable or suspected deaths in care settings was reported by NPHET on Tuesday .
NPHET also reported 388 new confirmed cases .
The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 16,040 .
It is understood that an option being considered by the Government is an easing of restrictions every two to three weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 5th .
This would allow for an assessment of how any changes were affecting the spread of the virus .
Some easing of cocooning measures for the over-70s , as well as the re-opening of DIY stores , are seen as the likeliest options for the first wave , as well as clarity on how schools could partially reopen .
People may also be allowed travel further to exercise , it was suggested .
Minister for Education Joe McHugh on Tuesday night said the Leaving Certificate could start on July 29th .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there was general anxiety about moving too quickly and having to re-introduce restrictions , as well as worry about a potential second wave of Covid-19 .
Although a gradual easing every two to three weeks was seen as desirable , one senior source said it was highly likely that people would be told at some point over the summer that a hoped-for lifting of restrictions would not go ahead because of insufficient progress in tackling the virus .
The majority of Ministers at Cabinet on Tuesday were said to be in favour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues on North-South co-operation , Mike Tomlinson , emeritus professor of social policy at Queen ’ s University Belfast writes in Wednesday ’ s Irish Times : “ It is reasonable to assume that the North ’ s higher death rates result from lower rates of testing , the lack of contact tracing and the slower application of lockdown measures compared with the Republic .
“ The evidence underlines the case for co-ordinated action across the island to hunt down the virus through high levels of testing and contact tracing and for stronger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaks to the media during a visit to Civil Defence headquarters in Dublin on Monday. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Restrictions introduced to deal with Covid-19 may be eased in stages every two to three weeks if efforts to tackle the virus are successful, under plans being considered by the Government.
However, well-placed sources said any easing of restrictions at the end of the current period of the lockdown on May 5th would be very limited.
Ministers and officials are working on a plan to ease restrictions but there is anxiety within the Government about acting too hastily and then having to reintroduce strict measures.
The first phase of restrictions to be lifted will be “very, very limited” said one source, who added that even returning to the measures that were in place before an effective lockdown was introduced on April 12th may be “too drastic”.
READ MORE
Speaking on RTÉ’s Prime Time on Tuesday night, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government would outline its plan before May 5th and it would be considered by Cabinet by the end of April. He said he hoped to ease restrictions after May 5th but did not want to give false assurances.
He said the plan would lay out “in different steps” how the economy and society would be reopened.
“I think everyone understands it won’t be done in one go, in one fell swoop,” he said.
In advance of any such move, the Government on Tuesday announced it was extending a ban on mass licensed gatherings of more than 5,000 people until the end of August, giving event organisers notice that concerts and other festivals were off for the summer.
Although the move did not strictly apply to sports gatherings, numerous Ministers said events such as the All-Ireland football and hurling series would not take place this summer.
“It will become quite clear that they can’t go ahead,” said one Minister.
On the back of the announcement, the Galway Races announced its public meetings would not go ahead, while the Football Association of Ireland sought clarity from the Government on soccer fixtures.
Recovery
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on Tuesday night said that more than 9,000 people in Ireland who tested positive for Covid-19 had successfully recovered from the disease.
The deaths of another 44 patients – 18 males and 26 females – diagnosed with Covid-19 had been reported on Tuesday by NPHET.
There have now been 730 Covid-19 related deaths confirmed by laboratory tests in the Republic. However, a further 108 probable or suspected deaths in care settings was reported by NPHET on Tuesday.
NPHET also reported 388 new confirmed cases. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 16,040.
It is understood that an option being considered by the Government is an easing of restrictions every two to three weeks after a possible initial easing off from May 5th. This would allow for an assessment of how any changes were affecting the spread of the virus.
Some easing of cocooning measures for the over-70s, as well as the re-opening of DIY stores, are seen as the likeliest options for the first wave, as well as clarity on how schools could partially reopen. People may also be allowed travel further to exercise, it was suggested.
Minister for Education Joe McHugh on Tuesday night said the Leaving Certificate could start on July 29th.
Ministers attending Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting said there was general anxiety about moving too quickly and having to re-introduce restrictions, as well as worry about a potential second wave of Covid-19.
Although a gradual easing every two to three weeks was seen as desirable, one senior source said it was highly likely that people would be told at some point over the summer that a hoped-for lifting of restrictions would not go ahead because of insufficient progress in tackling the virus.
The majority of Ministers at Cabinet on Tuesday were said to be in favour of a cautious approach.
As discussion continues on North-South co-operation, Mike Tomlinson, emeritus professor of social policy at Queen’s University Belfast writes in Wednesday’s Irish Times: “It is reasonable to assume that the North’s higher death rates result from lower rates of testing, the lack of contact tracing and the slower application of lockdown measures compared with the Republic.
“The evidence underlines the case for co-ordinated action across the island to hunt down the virus through high levels of testing and contact tracing and for stronger public-health surveillance at points of entry.”