theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Storm Jorge on track to hit Ireland amid flood and wind warnings

An orange wind warning is in place for seven counties from Saturday as Storm Jorge is set to batter Ireland .
The warning is in place for counties Galway , Mayo , Clare , and Kerry from 6am on Saturday until 3am on Sunday .
A separate warning is in place for Donegal , Leitrim and Sligo from midday on Saturday until 3am on Sunday .
Met Éireann has warned of gusts of between 110 and 130km/h , with possibly higher speeds in exposed areas “ with an elevated risk of coastal flooding ” .
A status yellow wind warning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cavan , Monaghan , Roscommon , Cork , Limerick , Tipperary and Waterford between 9am on Saturday and 3am on Sunday .
Separately , a status yellow rainfall warning is in place for Munster , Connacht and Donegal from midnight on Thursday until midnight on Saturday .
Rainfall accumulations of between 20 and 30mm are expected during Friday and Saturday generally but 40 to 50mm of rain could fall in mountainous areas with a continuing risk of flooding .
The National Emergency Coordination Group is due to convene on Friday morning .
Its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operations to deal with floods may have to be suspended during Storm Jorge .
Local authorities and the Defence Forces have been working with affected communities for the last number of weeks he told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland .
“ During the height of the storm , it may not be possible to continue all those operations .
It may be a case of suspending them for a period and resuming them at first light on Sunday morning when conditions improve.
” Mr Leonard advised people to be vigilant and check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned there could be widespread power cuts and advised people to charge their mobile phones ahead of time and for motorists to be careful if driving through water .
The Road Safety Authority ( RSA ) has asked all road users to “ exercise caution ” over the coming days .
Motorists , cyclists , pedestrians and motorcyclists in areas affected by the orange warnings are advised to check local traffic and weather conditions before setting out on a journey , Today will be a cloudy day with rain extending countrywide this morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , particularly in the west and south , with localised flooding possible .
There is the possibility of some sleet or snow in parts of Ulster this morning .
It will become drier in the afternoon for a time before another band of rain extends from the southwest in the evening .
Highest afternoon temperatures will be between seven and 11 degrees .
Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will continue in most parts of the country early on Friday night , turning heavy at times .
The rain will clear away to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colder conditions with scattered showers in the west and south .
It will be mild early in the night , but will get gradually colder , with lowest temperatures of one to three degrees as it approaches dawn .
Met Éireann says Storm Jorge will bring strong winds and heavy rain on Saturday .
There will be scattered heavy showers in western areas in the morning and more persistent rain will spread eastwards throughout the day .
There will be a risk of hail and thunder and the possibility of some falls of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ become very windy as the day goes on , with strong and gusty west to southwest winds and gales in the west and northwest , with highest temperatures of between just four and seven degrees .
It will be a cold and frosty night , with lowest temperatures of between one to three degrees .
There will be bright spells and further wintry showers on Sunday with the best of the dry spells in the east and southeast .
Some showers may be heavy with a risk of hail and thunder .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ westerly breezes with highest afternoon temperatures between four and seven degrees Sunday night will be cold and frosty with clear spells and wintry showers mainly in the west and north .
Temperatures will drop to between minus one and two degrees overnight .

Drone footage captures the extent of flooding in Clonlara, Co Clare. Video: Alan O'Reilly/Carlow Weather
A status red weather warning has been issued for counties Galway and Clare for Saturday afternoon as Storm Jorge crosses the country.
Status red weather warnings are rarely issued and call on people to take “necessary action” to protect themselves and their properties.
Met Éireann has said people should "stop everything" and stay indoors during the red alert.
Forecaster Gerry Murphy told RTÉ Six One news that people should take "full precautions" during the storm which will bring "extremely strong winds" and "extremely damaging gusts" across the country.
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“The red level warning is the highest level warning, it is a warning to basically stop any activities and stay out from the weather,” said Mr Murphy. “Most especially in the western half of Galway, especially in the coastal areas, those winds will be extremely severe.”
Storm Jorge is set to bring stronger winds than storms Dennis and Ciara which hit the country earlier this month.
These “very severe winds” are expected to reach mean speeds of 85 to 100km/h in places on Saturday afternoon and gusts of 130 to 145km/h.
There will also be an elevated risk of coastal flooding, said the forecaster.
Met Éireann’s red wind warning is valid for Galway and Clare from 1pm on Saturday until 4pm on Saturday.
The red alert is one of several weather warnings issued by the forecaster for this weekend. There are also orange wind warnings for several counties as well as a status yellow rainfall warning for Munster, Connacht and Donegal.
The public has been warned of the prospect of coastal and further inland flooding, thousands of power outages and fallen trees as Storm Jorge is due to batter the country.
An orange wind warning has been issued for counties Galway, Mayo, Clare, and Kerry from 6am on Saturday until 3am on Sunday while a separate orange warning is in place for Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo from midday on Saturday until 3am on Sunday.
A status orange wind warning is in place for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford which is valid between 1pm and 7pm on Saturday.
Status orange weather warnings are given when conditions could “significantly impact people, property and activity in an area,” according to Met Éireann. “People in the affected areas should prepare appropriately now for the anticipated conditions.”
Separately, a status yellow rainfall warning is already in place for Munster, Connacht and Donegal and is valid until midnight on Saturday.
A second status yellow wind warning has also been issued for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford which is valid from 9am to 1pm on Saturday and again from 7pm on Saturday until midnight on Saturday.
Rainfall accumulations of between 20 and 30 millimetres are expected during Friday and Saturday generally but 40 to 50 mm of rain could fall in mountainous areas with a continuing risk of flooding.
Wettest month on record
A status red marine warning is in place with southwest gale force eight to nine winds developing on Friday night on coastal waters from Mizen Head to Slyne Head to Rossan Point.
A park bench in flood water in Athlone, Co Westmeath. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
Winds will veer westerly on Saturday morning and increase to storm force 10 and occasionally to “violent storm force 11”.
Keith Leonard, national director for fire and emergency management, said "life safety" remains the "key priority" over the next 48 hours.
Mr Leonard was speaking following a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination group on Friday. He urged the public to take heed of warnings from local authorities and to check in on "vulnerable and isolated neighbours" before the storm commences.
Evelyn Cusack, head of forecasting at Met Éireann said there has been twice the average amount of rainfall for February, and in some places up to three times the average.
"It's the wettest February on record so far at several of our stations, including the Phoenix Park, which goes back to the 1800s and several stations in Mayo and Limerick as well," she said.
Ms Cusack said Saturday will be “a stormy day” with heavy showers as well as a “big drop” in temperatures.
Snowfall
Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said people in coastal areas need to "stay back, stay high and stay dry".
“We’re going to see stormy conditions on land across the country with snowfall in places as well as thunderstorms,” he said. “Damaging gusts are possible anywhere. This means that trees could be down anywhere.”
Paddy Mahon, chief executive of Longford County Council said 11 commercial properties and 25 homes are inaccessible in Co Leitrim due to recent flooding. He said there are "a number of properties" also inaccessible in Co Offaly.
“The water level of the Shannon seems to have flat lined over the last week,” he said.
“Hopefully it doesn’t get any higher, if it does there could be serious issues.”
Derek Hynes from ESB Networks said additional crews will be deployed to Galway, Clare, Limerick and Athlone this weekend. Mr Hynes said the last three storms resulted in 10,000 to 40,000 power outages and they are "expecting something similar".
PJ Claffey from the Health and Safety Authority said local authority staff and other personnel had been manning pumps "24/7" in recent weeks and that tiredness and exhaustion is "a big issue".
The Defence Forces has deployed 209 personnel around the country since February 24th to assist local authorities with flooding. There are 29 personnel currently deployed in the Castleconnell area of Co Limerick.
Superintendent Liam Geraghty warned the public against "trying to get that fantastic photograph for social media".
He appealed to people “to reassess your plans for this weekend” and not to make unnecessary journeys.
River rising
Westmeath County Council said on Friday evening that water levels in the River Shannon are continuing to rise in the Athlone area, albeit at a slower rate than previous days.
“The council is in receipt of an ESB forecast of river levels for the next four days and this is indicating that the River Shannon in Athlone will continue to rise up to Sunday ... the highest predicted level is ... approximately 4cm above current levels,” it said.
“The combination of permanent and temporary flood defences in Athlone town is proving to be effective in preventing significant flooding and it is anticipated that the predicted rise of 6cm by Sunday 1 March will not cause major difficulties in the town,” it added.
“However, the inundation of rural areas adjacent to the Shannon is causing major issues for rural residents and farmers. Assistance is being provided to people in these areas and this will be widened as the need arises in terms of transport and other services over the coming days”.
Water dam
Galway City Council said on Friday evening it has put various measures in place including reactivating the inflatable water dam at Spanish Parade and will close car parks at Toft Park and the promenade in Salthill throughout Saturday.
“The promenade will remain open only as long as it is safe and will almost certainly be closed to traffic during the status red period,” it said in a statement.
It added that various Galway City Council facilities will be closed on Saturday including Leisureland, cemeteries at Rahoon and Bohermore, Galway City Museum at Spanish Parade, and all Galway City Council playing pitches and community centres will cease operation from 12.30pm.
Druid Theatre Company’s matinees performance at the Black Box Theatre scheduled for 3pm has been cancelled. The evening performance at 8pm will go ahead.
The Road Safety Authority urged road users not to make any non-essential journeys in the affected areas during the storm window from 1pm -4pm Saturday.
It also urged road users to be on guard for dangers posed by hazards following the extreme weather such as downed pylons lines, trees and branches.
Closed
The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht announced a number of national parks will be closed due to the weather warnings. These include:
Connemara National Park;
Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park;
Derryclare Nature Reserve;
Old Head Nature Reserve;
Knochma Wood, near Tuam, Co Galway;
Laughil Wood, near Pontoon, Co Mayo;
Killarney House and Gardens, Co Kerry;
Muckross House, Co Kerry;
Coole/Garryland Nature Reserve;
Dromore Woods Nature Reserve, Co Clare;
Burren National Park.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has asked that the public for personal safety reasons to avoid wooded areas of Killarney National Park in particular and to exercise caution in other areas of the park for the duration of the current wind warning.
The public is also asked not to visit Wicklow Mountains National Park or the following Woodland Nature Reserves while the warning is in place:


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Dispute over timing of secondary school teacher meetings escalates

A dispute between secondary teachers and the Department of Education over the timing of professional collaboration meetings has escalated into a major stand-off which is threatening tuition hours for thousands of pupils .
It follows a circular being issued by the department this week which gives teachers a number of options for holding these meetings in a way that does not impact on tuition time .
However , it says teachers who insist on the meetings taking place during normal tuition time will lose “ professional time ” and may end up teaching for up to eight hours longer over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In addition , schools where teachers continue to hold professional collaboration meetings during normal tuition hours face the risk of losing teaching posts .
The Association of Secondary Teachers , Ireland ( ASTI ) said the circular was “ unacceptable ” and pledged to maintain its directive that staff must not attend meetings outside normal tuition hours .
The Teachers ’ Union of Ireland ( TUI ) , in contrast , is permitting its members to attend these Subject Learning and Assessment Review ( Slar ) meetings outside normal teaching hours .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald claimed the circular was at variance with arrangements agreed between teachers ’ union dating back to 2015 .
She said it would result in increased workload for teachers and that inadequate additional teaching resources were being made available to facilitate the meetings .
She confirmed that the ASTI has confirmed that the union will maintain its directive to members to only attend meetings held during school time .
Individual schools have been given up to March 16th to confirm how the plan to schedule their meetings .
These Slar meetings – typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place after students undertake classroom-based assessments linked to the new junior cycle .
These meetings are aimed at providing an opportunity for subject teachers to share and discuss samples of their students ’ work and achieve consistency in grading .
Most full-time teachers who teach two subjects would be expected to attend up to eight hours of these meetings over the course of a school year .
However , secondary school managers say the ASTI ’ s stance is resulting in a “ staggering ” loss of tuition hours for pupils and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
To facilitate teachers engaging in Slar meetings and other curriculum changes , the department has provided secondary teachers with “ professional time ” .
This is a reference to the 40 minutes a week – or 22 hours a year – of non-teaching time given to teachers involved in delivering the junior cycle .
This professional time has been facilitated by the department by hiring almost 700 additional teachers .
Sources say the department is prepared to cut teacher allocations on the basis that it will not “ pay on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using paid-for substitution to cover Slar meetings on foot of the ASTI stance , .
Well-placed education sources say this could lead to a reduction of up to 260 full-time teaching posts across voluntary secondary schools , which are mostly staffed by members of the ASTI .

A dispute between the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) and the Department of Education over the timing of professional collaboration meetings has escalated into a major stand-off which is threatening tuition hours for thousands of pupils. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times.
A dispute between secondary teachers and the Department of Education over the timing of professional collaboration meetings has escalated into a major stand-off which is threatening tuition hours for thousands of pupils.
It follows a circular being issued by the department this week which gives teachers a number of options for holding these meetings in a way that does not impact on tuition time.
However, it says teachers who insist on the meetings taking place during normal tuition time will lose “professional time” and may end up teaching for up to eight hours longer over the course of a school year.
In addition, schools where teachers continue to hold professional collaboration meetings during normal tuition hours face the risk of losing teaching posts.
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The Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) said the circular was "unacceptable" and pledged to maintain its directive that staff must not attend meetings outside normal tuition hours.
The Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI), in contrast, is permitting its members to attend these Subject Learning and Assessment Review (Slar) meetings outside normal teaching hours.
In a statement, ASTI president Deirdre Mac Donald claimed the circular was at variance with arrangements agreed between teachers' union dating back to 2015.
Workload
She said it would result in increased workload for teachers and that inadequate additional teaching resources were being made available to facilitate the meetings.
She confirmed that the ASTI has confirmed that the union will maintain its directive to members to only attend meetings held during school time.
Individual schools have been given up to March 16th to confirm how the plan to schedule their meetings.
These Slar meetings – typically up to two hours long – take place after students undertake classroom-based assessments linked to the new junior cycle.
These meetings are aimed at providing an opportunity for subject teachers to share and discuss samples of their students’ work and achieve consistency in grading.
Most full-time teachers who teach two subjects would be expected to attend up to eight hours of these meetings over the course of a school year.
‘Impossible position’
However, secondary school managers say the ASTI’s stance is resulting in a “staggering” loss of tuition hours for pupils and is putting schools in an “impossible position”.
To facilitate teachers engaging in Slar meetings and other curriculum changes, the department has provided secondary teachers with “professional time”.
This is a reference to the 40 minutes a week – or 22 hours a year – of non-teaching time given to teachers involved in delivering the junior cycle.
This professional time has been facilitated by the department by hiring almost 700 additional teachers.
Sources say the department is prepared to cut teacher allocations on the basis that it will not “pay on the double” by hiring additional staff and using paid-for substitution to cover Slar meetings on foot of the ASTI stance,.
Well-placed education sources say this could lead to a reduction of up to 260 full-time teaching posts across voluntary secondary schools, which are mostly staffed by members of the ASTI.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Gardaí investigate alleged sexual assault on teenage girl in Dublin

Gardaí are investigating an alleged sexual assault on a female youth in south Dublin earlier this month .
The alleged @ @ @ @ @ occurred in Dublin 22 on Friday 14th February 2020 .
Gardaí could not confirm that @ @ @ @ @ a hotel , or that the victim was a 15-year-old girl .
A Garda spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ made and investigations are ongoing .

As the matter came to the attention of the garda within 24 hours, detectives identified the hotel room where the attack is said to have taken place and raided it. They took away items for examination as part of the investigation.
Gardaí are investigating an alleged sexual assault by two men on a teenage girl in a Dublin hotel room.
Video footage said to be of the attack was recorded on a mobile phone and was sent around a group of people on the Snapchat app.
A male known to the girl was among those who received the unsolicited video and when he recognised the girl the alarm was raised.
As the matter came to the attention of the garda within 24 hours, detectives identified the hotel room where the attack is said to have taken place and raided it. They took away items for examination as part of the investigation.
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It is understood gardaí have seized clothing, which may provide forensic evidence to corroborate the girl’s allegations.
A number of mobile phones have also been seized and gardaí were examining social media contact between the girl and the man she said invited her to the hotel where the attack is alleged to have taken place two weeks ago.
Gardaí believe the girl, aged 15 years, was in contact via social media with a Dublin-based man for a prolonged period. Detectives are working on the theory that this contact led to her agreeing to meet the man in the hotel in west Dublin.
When she arrived it is alleged she was sexually assaulted by two men. The girl has been interviewed by the Garda, has given a statement and was also medically examined.
Gardaí have confirmed they were investigating an alleged attack in a hotel in Dublin 22 on February 14th.
The two male suspects are based in Dublin and were described as young adult males. While there have been no arrests to date the investigation was progressing and was focused on known suspects.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Man charged with impeding Keane Mulready-Woods murder inquiry

A 50-year-old man has appeared in court charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another person in connection with the death of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready-Woods ( 17 ) .
Gerard McKenna with an address at Rathmullen Park , Drogheda faced a single charge when he appeared at Drogheda District Court on Friday .
The charge put to Mr McKenna alleges the offence took place on a date unknown between January 12th and 14th , 2020 in the vicinity of 31 Rathmullen Park .
“ Whereas another person having committed an arrestable offence , namely the murder of Keane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the said person to be guilty of the said offence or some other arrestable offence , did without reasonable excuse an act with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of the said person ” , the charge read .
The offence is contrary to section 7 ( 2 ) and ( 4 ) of the Criminal Law Act .
When the case was called at Drogheda District Court , Det Sgt Peter Cooney gave evidence of charging Mr McKenna at 9.15pm on Thursday .
In reply to the charge , after caution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ no thanks no ” .
Solicitor David Thompson said there was no application for bail and court presenter , Garda Sgt Ray Brady , asked for him to be remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court sitting on the March 5th .
Sgt Brady asked that gardaí be given 48 hours ’ notice of any bail application .
Judge Eirinn McKiernan directed he receive any necessary medical attention while in custody .
She remanded Mr McKenna in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on the March 5th at 10.30am .
Keane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen alive by his family on the evening of Sunday , January 12th .
Gardaí believe he was killed almost immediately after he was last seen alive and his body was later dismembered .

Gerard McKenna (50) of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, is brought from Drogheda Garda station to Drogheda District court on Friday. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
A 50-year-old man has appeared in court charged with impeding the apprehension or prosecution of another person in connection with the death of Drogheda teenager Keane Mulready-Woods (17).
Gerard McKenna with an address at Rathmullen Park, Drogheda faced a single charge when he appeared at Drogheda District Court on Friday.
The charge put to Mr McKenna alleges the offence took place on a date unknown between January 12th and 14th, 2020 in the vicinity of 31 Rathmullen Park. “Whereas another person having committed an arrestable offence, namely the murder of Keane Mulready-Woods, you knowing or believing that the said person to be guilty of the said offence or some other arrestable offence, did without reasonable excuse an act with intent to impede the apprehension or prosecution of the said person”, the charge read.
The offence is contrary to section 7 (2) and (4) of the Criminal Law Act.
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When the case was called at Drogheda District Court, Det Sgt Peter Cooney gave evidence of charging Mr McKenna at 9.15pm on Thursday.
In reply to the charge, after caution, the court heard McKenna said, “no thanks no”.
Solicitor David Thompson said there was no application for bail and court presenter, Garda Sgt Ray Brady, asked for him to be remanded in custody to Cloverhill District Court sitting on the March 5th.
Sgt Brady asked that gardaí be given 48 hours’ notice of any bail application.
Judge Eirinn McKiernan directed he receive any necessary medical attention while in custody. She remanded Mr McKenna in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on the March 5th at 10.30am.
Keane Mulready Woods (17) was last seen alive by his family on the evening of Sunday, January 12th. Gardaí believe he was killed almost immediately after he was last seen alive and his body was later dismembered.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--‘Children’s needs have to be at the centre . . . otherwise, it’s pointless’

One boy ’ s access to a special needs assistant ( SNA ) has transformed his education over recent years , according to his mother .
Hunter , who is 12-years-old and has autism , used to regularly feel overwhelmed , frustrated and anxious in class .
“ He is high functioning , so it was quite late into his schooling – third class – before he got a diagnosis , ” says Rachael Prendergast Spollen .
“ At the time , his behaviour was spiralling .
He was finding it difficult socialising with his peers and to cope and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point where mothering or a teacher ’ s intervention could help.
” After his diagnosis , Hunter was allocated a SNA .
The impact , Ms Prendergast Spollen says , has been life-changing .
“ His SNA is an incredible woman who ’ s so in tune with the children she works with .
She is able to understand , really and truly , where he needs supports , ” she says .
“ She steps in when he gets overwhelmed ; if she has problems understanding what ’ s going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a simple game of ball in the yard can be very challenging , upsetting and can lead to him misinterpreting other children ’ s intentions .
“ She understands and supports him to have a good day , rather than being frustrated , upset and anxious because he doesn ’ t understand what ’ s going on around him.
” In recent times , Ms Prendergast Spollen has grown increasingly concerned that Hunter ’ s access to this resource has been diluted .
It started out with three children in one class sharing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s six children across two different classrooms sharing the same resource .
With changes due to come into force in the way SNAs are allocated from next September , she is increasingly worried that these supports will be diluted further .
“ There are an awful lot of children losing out as things stand .
The current allocations aren ’ t meeting children ’ s needs .
This new system is being rushed , with no proper consultation and there is lots of confusion , ” Ms Prendergast Spollen , who is co-chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said .
“ We don ’ t know what his secondary school will be able to provide , and they don ’ t know either , which is causing parents and schools massive stress .
“ Children ’ s needs have to be at the centre of these decisions .
Otherwise , it ’ s pointless .
”

One boy’s access to a special needs assistant (SNA) has transformed his education over recent years, according to his mother.
Hunter, who is 12-years-old and has autism, used to regularly feel overwhelmed, frustrated and anxious in class.
“He is high functioning, so it was quite late into his schooling – third class – before he got a diagnosis,” says Rachael Prendergast Spollen.
“At the time, his behaviour was spiralling. He was finding it difficult socialising with his peers and to cope and manage in class. It was beyond the point where mothering or a teacher’s intervention could help.”
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After his diagnosis, Hunter was allocated a SNA. The impact, Ms Prendergast Spollen says, has been life-changing.
“His SNA is an incredible woman who’s so in tune with the children she works with. She is able to understand, really and truly, where he needs supports,” she says. “She steps in when he gets overwhelmed; if she has problems understanding what’s going on, she interprets it.
“Even a simple game of ball in the yard can be very challenging, upsetting and can lead to him misinterpreting other children’s intentions.
“She understands and supports him to have a good day, rather than being frustrated, upset and anxious because he doesn’t understand what’s going on around him.”
Increasing worry
In recent times, Ms Prendergast Spollen has grown increasingly concerned that Hunter’s access to this resource has been diluted.
It started out with three children in one class sharing the same SNA; now it’s six children across two different classrooms sharing the same resource.
With changes due to come into force in the way SNAs are allocated from next September, she is increasingly worried that these supports will be diluted further.
“There are an awful lot of children losing out as things stand. The current allocations aren’t meeting children’s needs. This new system is being rushed, with no proper consultation and there is lots of confusion,” Ms Prendergast Spollen, who is co-chair of Kids Behinds the Cuts campaign group, said.
“We don’t know what his secondary school will be able to provide, and they don’t know either, which is causing parents and schools massive stress.
“Children’s needs have to be at the centre of these decisions. Otherwise, it’s pointless.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Opposition grows among school groups to plans for changes of SNA allocation system

Opposition is growing to plans to change the way special needs assistants ( SNAs ) are allocated to support tens of thousands of vulnerable schoolchildren .
The Department of Education is planning to automatically “ frontload ” more than 10,000 SNAs to mainstream schools in advance of the school year that begins in September .
It says the move means parents will no longer need to pay for a diagnosis of a disability and schools will not require a formal application in order to access support .
However , a number of groups representing parents , principals , teachers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for at least a year to ensure children do not lose out .
The Catholic Primary School Management Association , which supports more than 2,800 schools , said it would also welcome a delay in the planned changes .
“ We would strongly urge a pause to allow for a full evaluation of the current pilot [ programme ] and to ensure the lessons of the pilot inform the implementation of the new model of SNA allocation , ” its general secretary Seamus Mulconry said .
“ The whole idea of a pilot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unnecessary errors , make improvements to what is proposed and ensure as smooth and effective roll-out as possible.
” The National Association of Principals and Deputies said that while it supported the aim of the proposed model , a proper evaluation of the pilot programme was needed .
“ Our members are sceptical of the HSE ’ s ability to have the required resources available to support schools .
They fear it will put major pressure on principals and it could be a case of parents who shout loudest getting the resources , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Needs Parents Association also said there was a serious risk that system for SNA supports for vulnerable children could end up being diluted .
Lorraine Dempsey , the organisation ’ s spokeswoman , said : “ The new model is supposed to be part of a wider reorganisation of special education supports which were supposed to be in place , but they ’ re not.
” Down Syndrome Ireland , which also wants the changes paused , said one of its key concerns was a lack of clarity on whether there would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents whose children are not granted the support they need .
“ These reviews will need to be external or independent – nothing else will do from our point of view , ” said the group ’ s head of education , Fidelma Brady .
Many individual schools have also expressed concern that the current system is falling short in meeting their needs and worry that a new system could make it worse .
Some newer schools fear they stand to lose out as the new system for allocating SNAs will be linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teaching allocations , which is based on school profiles .
North Wicklow Educate Together secondary school , for example , has calculated that its special education teaching allocation has dropped by 50 per cent in real terms under this model .
“ It has utterly failed new and growing schools .
This has resulted in overworked teachers , under resourced Special Education Needs departments and - most importantly – it has disadvantaged the neediest of our young people during some of their most crucial years , ” the school said , in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning to meet education groups next week to discuss the plans , insists no school will lose out on SNA access in the first year of the new model .
In addition , it says , will benefit children by ensuring SNAs will be available in schools before children begin school .
However , Miriam Hurley , principal of the Dalkey School Project national schools , said many vulnerable pupils are missing out on supports under the current system .
“ We have a lot of schools which are overstretched with inadequate SNA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a new system where it will be guesswork to figure out what new children ’ s needs are .
”

The Department of Education says the move means parents will no longer need to pay for a diagnosis of a disability and schools will not require a formal application in order to access support.
Opposition is growing to plans to change the way special needs assistants (SNAs) are allocated to support tens of thousands of vulnerable schoolchildren.
The Department of Education is planning to automatically “frontload” more than 10,000 SNAs to mainstream schools in advance of the school year that begins in September.
It says the move means parents will no longer need to pay for a diagnosis of a disability and schools will not require a formal application in order to access support. However, a number of groups representing parents, principals, teachers and schools want the changes to be paused for at least a year to ensure children do not lose out.
The Catholic Primary School Management Association, which supports more than 2,800 schools, said it would also welcome a delay in the planned changes.
READ MORE
"We would strongly urge a pause to allow for a full evaluation of the current pilot [programme] and to ensure the lessons of the pilot inform the implementation of the new model of SNA allocation," its general secretary Seamus Mulconry said.
“The whole idea of a pilot is to learn so we can avoid unnecessary errors, make improvements to what is proposed and ensure as smooth and effective roll-out as possible.”
Pilot programme evaluation
The National Association of Principals and Deputies said that while it supported the aim of the proposed model, a proper evaluation of the pilot programme was needed.
“Our members are sceptical of the HSE’s ability to have the required resources available to support schools. They fear it will put major pressure on principals and it could be a case of parents who shout loudest getting the resources,” a spokesman said.
The Special Needs Parents Association also said there was a serious risk that system for SNA supports for vulnerable children could end up being diluted.
Lorraine Dempsey, the organisation's spokeswoman, said: "The new model is supposed to be part of a wider reorganisation of special education supports which were supposed to be in place, but they're not."
Down Syndrome Ireland, which also wants the changes paused, said one of its key concerns was a lack of clarity on whether there would be a robust and independent appeals system for parents whose children are not granted the support they need.
"These reviews will need to be external or independent – nothing else will do from our point of view," said the group's head of education, Fidelma Brady.
Many individual schools have also expressed concern that the current system is falling short in meeting their needs and worry that a new system could make it worse.
‘Utterly failed’
Some newer schools fear they stand to lose out as the new system for allocating SNAs will be linked to a new model for special education teaching allocations, which is based on school profiles.
North Wicklow Educate Together secondary school, for example, has calculated that its special education teaching allocation has dropped by 50 per cent in real terms under this model.
“It has utterly failed new and growing schools. This has resulted in overworked teachers, under resourced Special Education Needs departments and - most importantly – it has disadvantaged the neediest of our young people during some of their most crucial years,” the school said, in a statement.
The department, which is planning to meet education groups next week to discuss the plans, insists no school will lose out on SNA access in the first year of the new model. In addition, it says, will benefit children by ensuring SNAs will be available in schools before children begin school.
However, Miriam Hurley, principal of the Dalkey School Project national schools , said many vulnerable pupils are missing out on supports under the current system.
“We have a lot of schools which are overstretched with inadequate SNA access and now being asked to take on a new system where it will be guesswork to figure out what new children’s needs are.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--iPads in school experiment gets fail mark as kids go shopping and gaming

A highly critical report into the mandatory use of iPads in schools has found that students are frequently distracted by the devices and used them for gaming , shopping and social media instead of class-based work .
The findings are contained in a report by a team of experts commissioned by Ratoath College , a 1,000-pupil school in Co Meath which recently decided to drop its iPad-only policy and reinstate the use of schoolbooks .
The report , seen by The Irish Times , is likely to be influential in shaping how other secondary schools incorporate technology in the classroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theme which emerged from the review , with teachers and parents reporting that monitoring iPad use in class was an ongoing challenge .
“ From the teachers ’ perspective , many reported that when they are at the top of the classroom the student ability to switch from class-based work on iPads to recreational activities such as gaming , shopping and engaging with social media was a matter of concern , ” the report states .
It quotes one parent , who stated about her son : “ He is totally distracted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to study from .
Can ’ t confiscate iPad .
.
.
Wifi needed for my job full-time from home , therefore can not switch it off.
” It also found that an issue raised by teachers was parents messaging their children during classtime .
In addition , students who were surveyed also cited distraction as an issue , with more than one-third of respondents stating it was a problem .
The report ’ s authors note that the short time students spent on the online survey was “ indicative of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the survey typically took 15 minutes to complete , many students spent between three and five minutes on it .
A small number of parents noted that they felt their children were enjoying use of the iPad and that it had enhanced their learning .
The report also highlights poor access to digital resources and e-books on the devices .
In many cases , it found that teachers were forced to hand out “ copious amounts of photocopies and notes ” .
Also , it was often reported that the students ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographs they took of writing on the classroom whiteboard .
The report endorses its findings by quoting international research , which has found that a “ rapid , indiscriminate move away from paper is not without negative consequences ” .
Some parents reported that they ended up organising private grinds for their children in subjects where there was little appropriate digital content for children .
The report quotes international research which backs this finding up , noting that while “ printed texts afford numerous stable anchors for memorising , digital texts are much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concern highlighted in the report is the high cost of the devices , increased levels of screentime and conflict at home over digital curfews .
On a more positive note , it found there were no flagged instances of cyberbullying associated with the devices or of access to “ inappropriate content ” .
The “ independent digital review group ” issued its report to Ratoath College ’ s board of management last month .
Among its recommendations are that first-year students should no longer be required to buy an iPad .
In future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be based on a “ blended approach ” that involves textbooks and technology .
The review group included Dr Ann Marcus Quinn , an expert in technical communication and instructional design at the University of Limerick ; former school principal Cora Dunne , and former Department of Education inspector Dr Carl Ó Dálaigh .
The school had been at the centre of controversy following a vocal campaign by some parents who were concerned over the amount of time their children were spending on screens .

A student from Ratoath College, Co Meath, which recently decided to drop its iPad-only policy. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
A highly critical report into the mandatory use of iPads in a school has found that students were frequently distracted by the devices and used them for gaming, shopping and social media instead of class-based work.
The findings are contained in a report by a team of experts commissioned by Ratoath College, a 1,000-pupil secondary school in Co Meath which recently decided to drop its iPad-only policy and reinstate the use of schoolbooks.
The report, seen by The Irish Times, is likely to be influential in shaping how other secondary schools incorporate technology in the classroom.
“Distraction” is a key theme which emerged from the review, with teachers and parents reporting that monitoring iPad use in class was an ongoing challenge.
READ MORE
“From the teachers’ perspective, many reported that when they are at the top of the classroom the student ability to switch from class-based work on iPads to recreational activities such as gaming, shopping and engaging with social media was a matter of concern,” the report states.
It quotes one parent, who stated about her son: “He is totally distracted . . . no backup of books for him to study from. Can’t confiscate iPad . . . Wifi needed for my job full-time from home, therefore cannot switch it off.”
Messaging
It also found that an issue raised by teachers was parents messaging their children during classtime.
In addition, students who were surveyed also cited distraction as an issue, with more than one-third of respondents stating it was a problem.
The report’s authors note that the short time students spent on the online survey was “indicative of the distraction that the iPad affords”.
While the survey typically took 15 minutes to complete, many students spent between three and five minutes on it.
A small number of parents noted that they felt their children were enjoying use of the iPad and that it had enhanced their learning.
The report also highlights poor access to digital resources and e-books on the devices.
In many cases, it found that teachers were forced to hand out “copious amounts of photocopies and notes”.
Also, it was often reported that the students’ only records of classwork were poor quality photographs they took of writing on the classroom whiteboard.
The report endorses its findings by quoting international research, which has found that a “rapid , indiscriminate move away from paper is not without negative consequences”.
Grinds
Some parents reported that they ended up organising private grinds for their children in subjects where there was little appropriate digital content for children.
The report quotes international research which backs this finding up, noting that while “printed texts afford numerous stable anchors for memorising, digital texts are much reduced in this respect”.
Another concern highlighted in the report is the high cost of the devices, increased levels of screentime and conflict at home over digital curfews.
On a more positive note, it found there were no flagged instances of cyberbullying associated with the devices or of access to “inappropriate content”.
The “independent digital review group” issued its report to Ratoath College’s board of management last month.
Among its recommendations are that first-year students should no longer be required to buy an iPad.
In future, teaching and learning at the school should be based on a “blended approach” that involves textbooks and technology.
The review group included Dr Ann Marcus Quinn, an expert in technical communication and instructional design at the University of Limerick; former school principal Cora Dunne, and former Department of Education inspector Dr Carl Ó Dálaigh.
The school had been at the centre of controversy following a vocal campaign by some parents who were concerned over the amount of time their children were spending on screens.


theirishtimes--2020-02-27--Coronavirus: ‘Viruses don’t recognise boundaries or borders’

The first suspicion that Ireland had a case of coronavirus came shortly after 6pm on Thursday when the North ’ s Public Health Agency ( PHA ) released a note about a 7pm press conference for an “ important update ” on Covid-19 .
Despite the short notice , there was a big press attendance at the PHA ’ s office on Linenhall Street in central Belfast , where the chief medical officer , Dr Michael McBride , confirmed a patient had tested positive .
He described the test as a “ presumptive positive ” , saying full confirmation would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratories in England .
There seemed little doubt that such confirmation would follow , however .
Dr McBride confirmed too that the patient had flown from northern Italy into Dublin Airport and travelled onwards to Northern Ireland .
It is understood the sufferer travelled north by public transport , but Dr McBride would make no such confirmation .
Neither would he reveal if the patient a man or a woman , or what was his or her current condition .
Pressed that it was surely in the public interest for the public to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in contact with , as he or she made their way to an unspecified location for isolation treatment , Dr McBride – in the interests of “ patient confidentiality ” – would not be more forthcoming .
Public health officials were making strenuous efforts to contact all those who had been in close contact with the individual .
“ People who have had casual passing contact are not at high risk of contacting this virus , ” he said .
Dr McBride described close contact as “ closer than two metres for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ viruses don ’ t recognise boundaries or borders ” , while adding that his first responsibility as chief medical officer was to “ ensure that we take steps , working with our colleagues in the public health industry , working with colleagues in the HSE in the Republic of Ireland , to protect the population ” .
While he was loath to provide much detail , he was anxious to try to provide assurances .
He said : “ There is ongoing co-operation and liaison between he respective public health bodies in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republic of Ireland so the public can take confidence that we are working in a collective way to ensure an appropriate and proportionate response.
” He wanted to avoid causing unnecessary public concern and anxiety .
He said “ at this point in time ” a “ small number ” of those in contact with the patient had been identified as at risk .
“ This is very much a very active contact tracing investigation , ” he said .
In terms of people flying into Ireland while potentially carrying the virus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve got to appreciate the degree of interconnectedness that there is across the world in terms of fast rail links , flights .
.
.
You know , we are a global village.
” And notwithstanding that interconnectedness , Dr McBride went back to the basics of explaining how to try to avoid the virus .
He said : “ We are urging people to follow the steps that we recommend for similar illnesses such as cold and flu – catch , bin it , kill it .
“ Always carry tissues to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the tissue as soon as possible after using it , and clean your hands as soon as you can as germs can spread to every surface you touch.
” Dr McBride added : “ Our advice to the public remains the same .
Members of the public who have visited affected regions and have symptoms are advised to self-isolate at home and contact their GP in the first instance .
Advice will then be given on next steps , including testing if required.
” He couldn ’ t say if coronavirus would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a distinct possibility but it is by no means inevitable , ” he said .
In the meantime the work of “ containment ” would continue “ to try to stop the virus in its tracks ” .
Dr Adrian Mairs , the PHA ’ s acting director of public health , also offered assurances , saying : “ Northern Ireland has well-prepared and rigorously tested plans for dealing with infectious diseases , and these have been activated .
“ This will help ensure that the patient receives appropriate care , and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would like to reassure the public that the risk to the wider population remains low , ” he added .
Meanwhile , two of Ireland ’ s leading professional cyclists , Sam Bennett and Eddie Dunbar , were being checked for the virus in the United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) on Thursday night , where they were riding the seven-stage UAE Tour .
The cyclists had completed five stages and were set to race two more stages , on Friday and Saturday .
However , as more cases of coronavirus were confirmed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final two stages would not go ahead – an unprecedented move in cycling .
Irish champion and Giro d ’ Italia triple-stage winner Bennett , from Carrick-on-Suir , Co Tipperary , and Banteer , Co Cork man Dunbar , who is a member of the world ’ s best professional squad Team Ineos , were being checked for the virus at their team hotels , as were all of the riders and staff on the race .

Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride (centre) with Dr Philip Veal and Dr Miriam McCarthy: “People who have had casual passing contact are not at high risk of contacting this virus.” Photograph: Pacemaker
The first suspicion that Ireland had a case of coronavirus came shortly after 6pm on Thursday when the North’s Public Health Agency (PHA) released a note about a 7pm press conference for an “important update” on Covid-19.
Despite the short notice, there was a big press attendance at the PHA’s office on Linenhall Street in central Belfast, where the chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, confirmed a patient had tested positive.
He described the test as a “presumptive positive”, saying full confirmation would have to come after further tests at laboratories in England. There seemed little doubt that such confirmation would follow, however.
Dr McBride confirmed too that the patient had flown from northern Italy into Dublin Airport and travelled onwards to Northern Ireland.
READ MORE
It is understood the sufferer travelled north by public transport, but Dr McBride would make no such confirmation. Neither would he reveal if the patient a man or a woman, or what was his or her current condition.
Pressed that it was surely in the public interest for the public to know who this patient might have been in contact with, as he or she made their way to an unspecified location for isolation treatment, Dr McBride – in the interests of “patient confidentiality” – would not be more forthcoming.
Close contact
Public health officials were making strenuous efforts to contact all those who had been in close contact with the individual.
“People who have had casual passing contact are not at high risk of contacting this virus,” he said.
Dr McBride described close contact as “closer than two metres for a period of time”.
He said “viruses don’t recognise boundaries or borders”, while adding that his first responsibility as chief medical officer was to “ensure that we take steps, working with our colleagues in the public health industry, working with colleagues in the HSE in the Republic of Ireland, to protect the population”.
While he was loath to provide much detail, he was anxious to try to provide assurances. He said: “There is ongoing co-operation and liaison between he respective public health bodies in Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland so the public can take confidence that we are working in a collective way to ensure an appropriate and proportionate response.”
He wanted to avoid causing unnecessary public concern and anxiety. He said “at this point in time” a “small number” of those in contact with the patient had been identified as at risk. “This is very much a very active contact tracing investigation,” he said.
‘Global village’
In terms of people flying into Ireland while potentially carrying the virus, Dr McBride said: “We’ve got to appreciate the degree of interconnectedness that there is across the world in terms of fast rail links, flights . . . You know, we are a global village.”
And notwithstanding that interconnectedness, Dr McBride went back to the basics of explaining how to try to avoid the virus. He said: “We are urging people to follow the steps that we recommend for similar illnesses such as cold and flu – catch, bin it, kill it.
“Always carry tissues to catch your cough or sneeze, dispose of the tissue as soon as possible after using it, and clean your hands as soon as you can as germs can spread to every surface you touch.”
Dr McBride added: “Our advice to the public remains the same. Members of the public who have visited affected regions and have symptoms are advised to self-isolate at home and contact their GP in the first instance. Advice will then be given on next steps, including testing if required.”
Containment continues
He couldn’t say if coronavirus would become a pandemic. “That is a distinct possibility but it is by no means inevitable,” he said. In the meantime the work of “containment” would continue “to try to stop the virus in its tracks”.
Dr Adrian Mairs, the PHA’s acting director of public health , also offered assurances, saying: “Northern Ireland has well-prepared and rigorously tested plans for dealing with infectious diseases, and these have been activated.
“This will help ensure that the patient receives appropriate care, and the likelihood of spread is minimised. I would like to reassure the public that the risk to the wider population remains low,” he added.
Meanwhile, two of Ireland’s leading professional cyclists, Sam Bennett and Eddie Dunbar, were being checked for the virus in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday night, where they were riding the seven-stage UAE Tour.
The cyclists had completed five stages and were set to race two more stages, on Friday and Saturday. However, as more cases of coronavirus were confirmed in UAE, it was decided the final two stages would not go ahead – an unprecedented move in cycling.
Irish champion and Giro d’Italia triple-stage winner Bennett, from Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, and Banteer, Co Cork man Dunbar, who is a member of the world’s best professional squad Team Ineos, were being checked for the virus at their team hotels, as were all of the riders and staff on the race.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Coronavirus global risk warning raised to ‘very high’

The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) has raised its global risk assessment for coronavirus to “ very high ” from “ high ” as countries struggle to contain the virus .
The illness could reach most “ if not all countries ” , the organisation warned after more confirmed cases emerged with the largest country in Africa , Nigeria , recording the first case in sub-Saharan Africa .
Elevating the risk level to very high is intended to spur countries to step up their responses to the spread of the virus , said Dr Mike Ryan , the Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emergencies programme .
He said health officials globally needed to be ready to isolate patients and carefully trace their contacts to keep the disease from spiralling out of control .
“ This is a reality check for every government .
The window of opportunity is closing .
Wake up , ” he said in Geneva yesterday .
The list of affected countries is edging towards 60 with Mexico , Belarus , Lithuania , New Zealand , Azerbaijan and the Netherlands all reporting cases yesterday , all with a travel history connected to epicentres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second Latin American country to register the virus , after Brazil .
Britain saw its first death from the disease yesterday , of a man who contracted it on a cruise ship moored in Japan .
Officials said the most recent person to be infected was the first to have caught the virus in Britain , rather than during a trip abroad .
It comes after a woman in Northern Ireland , who had travelled from northern Italy through Dublin Airport , was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Thursday .
Health authorities north @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reassure the public yesterday that everyone who was in close contact with the woman had now been identified .
The cabin crew on the Aer Lingus flight to Dublin on which the woman had travelled have been placed in self-isolation for 14 days as a “ precautionary measure ” , the airline said yesterday .
The director of the State ’ s Health Protection Surveillance Centre , John Cuddihy , said if people had not been contacted they had no need to be concerned .
Dr Jillian Johnston , consultant in health protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agency , said “ members of the public who have travelled between Dublin and Belfast using public transport need not be concerned ” .
Minister for Health Simon Harris said everything that could be done from a public health point of view in Ireland to deal with the coronavirus was being done .
He said protocols in place for handling a positive case , including contact tracing and links between health authorities on both sides of the Border , had worked very well .
Head of the HSE Paul Reid said the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the virus including looking at ways of increasing intensive care facilities across the health system .
It was also looking at arrangements to test people at home for the coronavirus .
The Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor and the Dublin archdiocese are suspending the shaking of hands for the sign of peace at Masses and administering Communion into the hands only .
Meanwhile , world shares were on course for their largest weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis .
Shares listed on the Iseq index in Dublin have shed more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
The latest WHO figures indicate 2,700 deaths in China and 57 deaths in 46 other countries .

South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear spray disinfectant as part of preventive measures against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, at Dongdaegu railway station in Daegu on Saturday. Photograph: Yonhap/AFP/Getty Images
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its global risk assessment for coronavirus to “very high” from “high” as countries struggle to contain the virus.
The illness could reach most "if not all countries", the organisation warned after more confirmed cases emerged with the largest country in Africa, Nigeria, recording the first case in sub-Saharan Africa.
Elevating the risk level to very high is intended to spur countries to step up their responses to the spread of the virus, said Dr Mike Ryan, the Irish man who runs the WHO's emergencies programme.
He said health officials globally needed to be ready to isolate patients and carefully trace their contacts to keep the disease from spiralling out of control. "This is a reality check for every government. The window of opportunity is closing. Wake up," he said in Geneva yesterday. The list of affected countries is edging towards 60 with Mexico, Belarus, Lithuania, New Zealand, Azerbaijan and the Netherlands all reporting cases yesterday, all with a travel history connected to epicentres in Italy and Iran. Mexico is the second Latin American country to register the virus, after Brazil.
READ MORE
UK cases rise
Britain saw its first death from the disease yesterday, of a man who contracted it on a cruise ship moored in Japan. On Saturday, three more patients from England tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of UK cases to 23, chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty has said. Health officials are tracing anyone who has been in contact with a coronavirus patient who became the first to catch the illness within the UK. Prof Whitty said it was not clear if the patient had contracted the virus “directly or indirectly” from somebody who had recently travelled abroad.
In Northern Ireland, a woman who had travelled from northern Italy through Dublin Airport, was diagnosed with Covid-19 on Thursday. Health authorities north and south of the Border moved to reassure the public on Friday that everyone who was in close contact with the woman had now been identified. The cabin crew on the Aer Lingus flight to Dublin on which the woman had travelled have been placed in self-isolation for 14 days as a "precautionary measure", the airline said yesterday.
Protocols in place
The director of the State's Health Protection Surveillance Centre, John Cuddihy, said if people had not been contacted they had no need to be concerned. Dr Jillian Johnston, consultant in health protection at the North's Public Health Agency, said "members of the public who have travelled between Dublin and Belfast using public transport need not be concerned".
Minister for Health Simon Harris said everything that could be done from a public health point of view in Ireland to deal with the coronavirus was being done. He said protocols in place for handling a positive case, including contact tracing and links between health authorities on both sides of the Border, had worked very well.
Staff handing out advice leaflets at the Coronavirus/COVID-19 stand in Dublin Airport. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins
Health service
Head of the HSE Paul Reid said the health service was making significant preparations to deal with the virus including looking at ways of increasing intensive care facilities across the health system. It was also looking at arrangements to test people at home for the coronavirus.
The Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor and the Dublin archdiocese are suspending the shaking of hands for the sign of peace at Masses and administering Communion into the hands only.
Meanwhile, world shares were on course for their largest weekly fall since the 2008 financial crisis. Shares listed on the Iseq index in Dublin have shed more than a tenth of their value this week.
The latest WHO figures indicate about 2,700 deaths in China and 57 deaths in 46 other countries.
Medical staff wearing protective gear take samples from a driver with suspected symptoms of the Covid-19 coronavirus, at a “drive-through” virus test facility in Goyang, north of Seoul. Phottograph: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images
Deaths and bans of public gatherings
Deaths in Iran from coronavirus have hit 43, the highest number outside China, and the total number of infected people has risen to 593, an Iranian health official said on Saturday.
The country is at the epicentre of the outbreak in the region, with several countries in the Middle East reporting cases of the coronavirus stemming from Iran.
South Korea urged citizens on Saturday to stay indoors as it warned of a “critical moment” in its battle on the coronavirus after recording the biggest daily jump in infections, as 813 new cases took the tally to 3,150.
The French government banned public gatherings with more than 5,000 people on Saturday as France reported 16 new cases. Health minister Olivier Veran said the number of confirmed cases had risen to 73 and that there had been no new deaths.
US cases
California health officials confirmed a second personin the US who did not travel internationally has tested positive for the strain of coronavirus known as Covid-19.
Health officials in San Jose said the patient was an older adult woman with chronic health conditions who does not have a travel history or any known contact with a traveller or infected person.
It comes a day after state officials said a woman hospitalised in Sacramento had contracted the illness after no known contact.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--Thinking Anew – Lead us not into temptation

Temptation .
The word evokes myriad opinions , feelings , thoughts and memories in our heads .
Those of us old enough to remember the terror of hearing about the many ways the devil had for tempting us have spent our lives trying to banish such thoughts .
The devil and his fire , his long forked-like iron bar scared the living daylights out of thousands of small children .
No wonder we don ’ t want to know of him these days .
Was that the idea , to scare the living daylights out of us ?
If we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , their parents would be up in arms .
And rightly so , too .
Back in the 1980s I often heard stories about an elderly priest , who at every conversation would interrupt the flow of talk to tell the assembled group that the devil was under the table .
The devil is in the detail .
He ’ s always a nasty piece of work .
I think we can agree that temptation plays a significant part in all our lives .
Whether it ’ s to smoke or not , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much sugary food , to drive a motorbike too fast , to slander someone , we all know what it means to be tempted .
We all know that human beings are capable of extraordinary goodness , but we also know we are all capable of doing great harm and evil .
Oscar Wilde amused many when he said he could resist anything except temptation .
Wilde ’ s clever wordplay often contains a nugget of wisdom .
And then there are grades of goodness and badness .
We turn the perpetrators of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disassociate them from human beings like us .
Every day ’ s news , national and international , brings us face to face with acts of good and evil deeds .
You might say it ’ s the way of the world .
Tomorrow is the first Sunday in Lent .
In the Gospel ( Mt 4 : 1-11 ) we read the well-known story of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil .
While the devil tries his tricks on Jesus , Jesus tells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a long-held tradition that Lent is an opportune time to arm ourselves against the ways and temptations of the devil .
Lent is a good time to do battle with our own egos .
In the days before Ash Wednesday I was talking to a psychologist .
We were discussing how it is so easy for our egos to run riot with us .
She gave examples of how extremely wealthy people never seem happy with what they have , always wanting more .
Power and wealth play havoc with all of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a national newspaper the death of a man .
I recognised his name .
Some years ago , he resigned from an organisation after details emerged of how monies had been misappropriated .
The report of the man ’ s death carried his photograph .
The newspaper report , and all that it entailed , evoked in me a terrible sense of loneliness , sadness and emptiness .
Looking at the bigger picture it was an illustration of the pointlessness of chasing rainbows .
Soon afterwards there was another report of ill-gotten gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to it .
A millionaire drug-dealer who managed to accumulate over €53 million lost the codes to his bitcoin accounts .
He carefully hid the account numbers in his fishing rod , which in turn was either lost or stolen .
Without the codes , his access to the money is gone .
You might call it rough justice .
Every time we give in to our egos , we start down a road that does nothing for us or those who are close to us , or indeed , society as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story about good and evil .
Sometimes it ’ s a literal explanation , at other times it might be metaphorical .
But it is always the same story , advising , admonishing us to stay away from wrongdoing , not to allow ourselves to be tempted to do what ’ s not good for us , for our family , for our society .
Lent gives us an opportunity to think about where we stand regarding our – at times – all-conquering egos .
It ’ s a good time to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and not they .
And there ’ s a place too for a healthy understanding of the role guilt can play in our lives .
But most of all we need to reassure ourselves of the love that God has for us .
God is love .

Some extremely wealthy people never seem happy with what they have, always wanting more. Power and wealth play havoc with all of us. Illustration: iStock
Temptation. The word evokes myriad opinions, feelings, thoughts and memories in our heads. Those of us old enough to remember the terror of hearing about the many ways the devil had for tempting us have spent our lives trying to banish such thoughts. The devil and his fire, his long forked-like iron bar scared the living daylights out of thousands of small children. No wonder we don’t want to know of him these days. Was that the idea, to scare the living daylights out of us? If we showed such images to small children today, their parents would be up in arms. And rightly so, too.
Back in the 1980s I often heard stories about an elderly priest, who at every conversation would interrupt the flow of talk to tell the assembled group that the devil was under the table. The devil is in the detail. He’s always a nasty piece of work.
I think we can agree that temptation plays a significant part in all our lives. Whether it’s to smoke or not, to drink alcohol, to eat too much sugary food, to drive a motorbike too fast, to slander someone, we all know what it means to be tempted. We all know that human beings are capable of extraordinary goodness, but we also know we are all capable of doing great harm and evil. Oscar Wilde amused many when he said he could resist anything except temptation. Wilde’s clever wordplay often contains a nugget of wisdom.
And then there are grades of goodness and badness. We turn the perpetrators of great evil into monsters so as to disassociate them from human beings like us. Every day’s news, national and international, brings us face to face with acts of good and evil deeds. You might say it’s the way of the world.
READ MORE
Tomorrow is the first Sunday in Lent. In the Gospel (Mt 4: 1-11) we read the well-known story of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. While the devil tries his tricks on Jesus, Jesus tells him where to go. There is a long-held tradition that Lent is an opportune time to arm ourselves against the ways and temptations of the devil. Lent is a good time to do battle with our own egos. In the days before Ash Wednesday I was talking to a psychologist. We were discussing how it is so easy for our egos to run riot with us. She gave examples of how extremely wealthy people never seem happy with what they have, always wanting more. Power and wealth play havoc with all of us.
Some days earlier I spotted in a national newspaper the death of a man. I recognised his name. Some years ago, he resigned from an organisation after details emerged of how monies had been misappropriated. The report of the man’s death carried his photograph. The newspaper report, and all that it entailed, evoked in me a terrible sense of loneliness, sadness and emptiness. Looking at the bigger picture it was an illustration of the pointlessness of chasing rainbows.
Soon afterwards there was another report of ill-gotten gains. This one had a funny side to it. A millionaire drug-dealer who managed to accumulate over €53 million lost the codes to his bitcoin accounts. He carefully hid the account numbers in his fishing rod, which in turn was either lost or stolen. Without the codes, his access to the money is gone. You might call it rough justice.
Every time we give in to our egos, we start down a road that does nothing for us or those who are close to us, or indeed, society as a whole.
Christianity offers us a great story about good and evil. Sometimes it’s a literal explanation, at other times it might be metaphorical. But it is always the same story, advising, admonishing us to stay away from wrongdoing, not to allow ourselves to be tempted to do what’s not good for us, for our family, for our society.
Lent gives us an opportunity to think about where we stand regarding our – at times – all-conquering egos. It’s a good time to tell our egos that we are in charge and not they. And there’s a place too for a healthy understanding of the role guilt can play in our lives. But most of all we need to reassure ourselves of the love that God has for us. God is love.


theirishtimes--2020-02-29--A magical pre-dawn vigil rewarded by sight of the rare goosander

If you are not too averse to rising early , the hour before sunrise is a special time .
On the slopes above the upper lake in Glendalough , Co Wicklow , it can be very special indeed : there is the promise of seeing a natural drama , unique in this country , unfold before your eyes .
It starts with staring into a black void .
Inky water is almost indistinguishable from cliffs that you can only sense , rather than see , above the lake .
A squall skittering across the surface whips up flashes of silvery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s increasingly tempting to impose the shape of the slim white birds you are seeking on to these brief flickers of light .
It gets colder every moment you stand still .
The thought of hot coffee indoors threatens to overwhelm your commitment to this vigil .
About 45 minutes before sunrise , it is your ears , not your eyes , that confirm the wait will be worthwhile .
Once , twice , and then again , a haunting flute-like call echoes around the lake , followed by prolonged clicking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes before you can actually separate a white bird from white wavelets .
Even then , you could not swear in court that you are looking at a goosander .
This oddly-named bird is a newcomer to Ireland , a secretive and strikingly beautiful duck .
They are fresh-water cousins of the red-breasted merganser , common enough on our coasts and estuaries .
Both species are called saw-bills for the “ teeth ” on their long bills , which help them catch slippery fish .
About two dozen of them , probably most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this lake , once chosen by St Kevin for solitary meditation , as their regular night-time sanctuary from land-based predators .
Light is seeping into the valley quickly now , and you can begin to distinguish the glossy green heads of the males from the duller , but attractively crested , rusty heads of the females , whose grey bodies keep them invisible longer .
Goosander swim low in the water and , though larger than a mallard , they can vanish abruptly in the choppy water , just when you think you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Twenty years ago , you could hardly have got a fix on them them at all , at least not in this country .
For centuries , the goosander ’ s European range was restricted to Scandinavian latitudes .
In 1871 , they began breeding in Scotland , slowly spreading to England , and then more recently to Wales .
Individuals began to show up here in winter , as great rarities on Lough Neagh and the Craigavon lakes , in the 1960s .
Then young were hatched in Donegal in 1969 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there for a decade , then vanished .
But six goosander together were spotted on the Avonmore , one of Wicklow ’ s fast-flowing , wooded rivers , their ideal habitat , in 1993 .
Dick Coombes of BirdWatch Ireland finally found a female with ducklings in tow in 1995 .
Since then , numbers have grown only slowly .
The highest count on the Glendalough roost is 25 birds .
They are such secretive breeders that even Coombes , a highly skilled and dedicated local observer , can only hazard a guess @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , up to four dozen pairs in the county .
They are also showing up in Carlow , but apparently not breeding there .
Coombes says there is no obvious explanation for the goosander ’ s expansion from its previously well-defined range .
Like the spread of the collared dove from Turkey , westward all the way to Achill in the later 20th century , he describes it as “ one of our great bird mysteries ” .
The early morning ritual in Glendalough is one more reason why Wicklow has become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was always good for winter wildfowl , and for some rare woodland birds in summer .
But it now offers the remarkable spectacle of a big , colourful bird of prey – the red kite , reintroduced very successfully in 2007 – displaying and roosting in dozens near Avoca village on any clear winter afternoon .
Meanwhile , the great spotted woodpecker , absent for at least four centuries , chose Wicklow ’ s oak forests as its bridgehead to colonising the country .
They arrived just over a decade ago .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so characteristic of European forests , is now part of the Wicklow woodland spring soundtrack .
But back to our Glendalough vigil : with each new pulse of light , the goosander get more flighty , more excited .
Some rise right up on their rear ends till they are almost vertical , beating the air with their wings .
They sometimes chase each other briefly .
Then the whole little flock is moving in one direction – until the leader suddenly turns sharply and swims back through the others .
Each individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is as though the group were constantly reweaving itself .
Just before the sun breaks the horizon , one bird suddenly rises right off the water and four more follow it .
They circle the lake rapidly , but gain height only slowly , moving as a squadron in tight formation , black and white wings flashing as they reach the brighter air .
On their third circuit , now nearly as high as the clifftops , they head off into the mountain river system for the day .
The pattern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sunlight touches the lake directly , there is not a goosander left on the water .
Goosander in Ireland are very shy .
That ’ s what makes the dawn display in Glendalough such a great opportunity to get good views of them .
Stay hidden though , even in the dark , because if they see you , they ’ ll be gone .
If you are lucky , you may also find them on rivers like the Avonmore , Avonbeg , Avoca and Clohoge , but it ’ s likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flight .
The bridge at Rathdrum , the white bridge near the Avoca mines , and the Meeting of the Waters are promising spots .
Their courtship and mating , very rarely observed here , is a model of mutual seduction that could teach our species a thing or two .
And if you are extremely fortunate , in springtime you just might catch an even rarer sight : a mother , swimming , with piebald ducklings on her back .
Goosander are well worth getting up for .
They are not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope in an era shadowed by extinctions .
To the water and the wild Dick Coombes of Birdwatch says that the fish in Wicklow ’ s mountain rivers must suit the goosander ’ s diet very well .
“ If prey was limited , they would be long gone.
” But their numbers are now barely increasing , despite some human help .
Ann Fitzpatrick of the National Parks and Wildlife Service says that , as soon as breeding was established , the service put up nest boxes for them .
“ They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trees and there are not many left on these rivers.
” Some nest boxes are used every year , but soon the National Parks and Wildlife Service found they were also being occupied by a predator , the pine marten .
This is a native species that has made a strong comeback in the county recently and is well equipped to take eggs and young birds .
So Fitzpatrick and her colleagues now put metal sleeves around the trees under the boxes , too slippery for the marten to climb .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biodiversity crisis that , with populations so low , the success of one species threatens the survival of another , at speeds far faster than normal evolutionary competition .

If you are not too averse to rising early, the hour before sunrise is a special time. On the slopes above the upper lake in Glendalough, Co Wicklow, it can be very special indeed: there is the promise of seeing a natural drama, unique in this country, unfold before your eyes.
It starts with staring into a black void. Inky water is almost indistinguishable from cliffs that you can only sense, rather than see, above the lake. A squall skittering across the surface whips up flashes of silvery foam; as the minutes pass, it’s increasingly tempting to impose the shape of the slim white birds you are seeking on to these brief flickers of light.
It gets colder every moment you stand still. The thought of hot coffee indoors threatens to overwhelm your commitment to this vigil.
About 45 minutes before sunrise, it is your ears, not your eyes, that confirm the wait will be worthwhile. Once, twice, and then again, a haunting flute-like call echoes around the lake, followed by prolonged clicking coughs.
READ MORE
It’s several more minutes before you can actually separate a white bird from white wavelets. Even then, you could not swear in court that you are looking at a goosander.
This oddly-named bird is a newcomer to Ireland, a secretive and strikingly beautiful duck. They are fresh-water cousins of the red-breasted merganser, common enough on our coasts and estuaries. Both species are called saw-bills for the “teeth” on their long bills, which help them catch slippery fish.
About two dozen of them, probably most of the Irish population, have picked this lake, once chosen by St Kevin for solitary meditation, as their regular night-time sanctuary from land-based predators.
Light is seeping into the valley quickly now, and you can begin to distinguish the glossy green heads of the males from the duller, but attractively crested, rusty heads of the females, whose grey bodies keep them invisible longer. Goosander swim low in the water and, though larger than a mallard, they can vanish abruptly in the choppy water, just when you think you’ve got a fix on them.
Twenty years ago, you could hardly have got a fix on them them at all, at least not in this country. For centuries, the goosander’s European range was restricted to Scandinavian latitudes. In 1871, they began breeding in Scotland, slowly spreading to England, and then more recently to Wales. Individuals began to show up here in winter, as great rarities on Lough Neagh and the Craigavon lakes, in the 1960s.
Then young were hatched in Donegal in 1969. One or two pairs hung on there for a decade, then vanished. But six goosander together were spotted on the Avonmore, one of Wicklow’s fast-flowing, wooded rivers, their ideal habitat, in 1993. Dick Coombes of BirdWatch Ireland finally found a female with ducklings in tow in 1995.
Since then, numbers have grown only slowly. The highest count on the Glendalough roost is 25 birds. They are such secretive breeders that even Coombes, a highly skilled and dedicated local observer, can only hazard a guess that there are, at the outside, up to four dozen pairs in the county. They are also showing up in Carlow, but apparently not breeding there.
Coombes says there is no obvious explanation for the goosander’s expansion from its previously well-defined range. Like the spread of the collared dove from Turkey, westward all the way to Achill in the later 20th century, he describes it as “one of our great bird mysteries”.
The early morning ritual in Glendalough is one more reason why Wicklow has become a honeypot for bird watchers. The county was always good for winter wildfowl, and for some rare woodland birds in summer. But it now offers the remarkable spectacle of a big, colourful bird of prey – the red kite, reintroduced very successfully in 2007 – displaying and roosting in dozens near Avoca village on any clear winter afternoon.
Meanwhile, the great spotted woodpecker, absent for at least four centuries, chose Wicklow’s oak forests as its bridgehead to colonising the country. They arrived just over a decade ago. The sound of their “drumming”, so characteristic of European forests, is now part of the Wicklow woodland spring soundtrack.
But back to our Glendalough vigil: with each new pulse of light, the goosander get more flighty, more excited. Some rise right up on their rear ends till they are almost vertical, beating the air with their wings.
They sometimes chase each other briefly. Then the whole little flock is moving in one direction – until the leader suddenly turns sharply and swims back through the others. Each individual swings around and follows as he passes. It is as though the group were constantly reweaving itself.
Just before the sun breaks the horizon, one bird suddenly rises right off the water and four more follow it. They circle the lake rapidly, but gain height only slowly, moving as a squadron in tight formation, black and white wings flashing as they reach the brighter air. On their third circuit, now nearly as high as the clifftops, they head off into the mountain river system for the day.
The pattern repeats itself until, 10 minutes before the sunlight touches the lake directly, there is not a goosander left on the water.
Goosander in Ireland are very shy. That’s what makes the dawn display in Glendalough such a great opportunity to get good views of them. Stay hidden though, even in the dark, because if they see you, they’ll be gone.
If you are lucky, you may also find them on rivers like the Avonmore, Avonbeg, Avoca and Clohoge, but it’s likely you’ll glimpse them only in flight. The bridge at Rathdrum, the white bridge near the Avoca mines, and the Meeting of the Waters are promising spots.
Their courtship and mating, very rarely observed here, is a model of mutual seduction that could teach our species a thing or two. And if you are extremely fortunate, in springtime you just might catch an even rarer sight: a mother, swimming, with piebald ducklings on her back.
Goosander are well worth getting up for. They are not only exceptionally beautiful, but a sign of hope in an era shadowed by extinctions.
To the water and the wild
Goosander success limited by return of a native
Dick Coombes of Birdwatch says that the fish in Wicklow’s mountain rivers must suit the goosander’s diet very well. “If prey was limited, they would be long gone.”
But their numbers are now barely increasing, despite some human help. Ann Fitzpatrick of the National Parks and Wildlife Service says that, as soon as breeding was established, the service put up nest boxes for them.
“They nest in holes in big, old trees and there are not many left on these rivers.”
Some nest boxes are used every year, but soon the National Parks and Wildlife Service found they were also being occupied by a predator, the pine marten. This is a native species that has made a strong comeback in the county recently and is well equipped to take eggs and young birds.
So Fitzpatrick and her colleagues now put metal sleeves around the trees under the boxes, too slippery for the marten to climb.
It’s one of the painful consequences of the biodiversity crisis that, with populations so low, the success of one species threatens the survival of another, at speeds far faster than normal evolutionary competition.


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Photographs of the year: PPAI awards selection

Mark Condren was named Press Photographer of the Year at an awards ceremony in Dublin on Friday night .
Condren was awarded first prizes in the politics , portrait and multimedia categories .
It is the Independent News and Media photographer ’ s fifth time to win the award .
He previously won in 2009 , 2011 , 2013 and 2016 .
Awards were presented across nine categories – news , daily life & people , nature & the environment , politics , sports action , sports feature , portrait , art & entertainment and reportage , alongside a dedicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photographs by Tom Honan and Dave Meehan won the news and arts & entertainment categories , while Irish Times photographers Alan Betson and Dara Mac Dónaill featured in the top three in the sports action , arts and entertainment , and sports feature categories .
Crispin Rodwell also featured in the reportage category for his Irish Times commissioned photo essay of deer-tagging in the Phoenix Park .
NEWS 1 Tom Honan ( for The Irish Times ) Girl in the Black Cap 2 Sam Boal rollingnews.ie For everyone in the audience 3 Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A nod and a wink DAILY LIFE 1 Marc O ’ Sullivan Summer shower 2 Marc O ’ Sullivan Presidential portrait pressure 3 Clodagh Kilcoyne Reuters Ellie REPORTAGE 1 Niall Carson PA Images In the heat of the night 2 James Crombie Inpho Betting ring 3 Crispin Rodwell ( for The Irish Times ) .
Phoenix fawn-tagging

Mark Condren was named Press Photographer of the Year at an awards ceremony in Dublin on Friday night.
Condren was awarded first prizes in the politics, portrait and multimedia categories. It is the Independent News and Media photographer’s fifth time to win the award. He previously won in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2016.
Awards were presented across nine categories – news, daily life & people, nature & the environment, politics, sports action, sports feature, portrait, art & entertainment and reportage, alongside a dedicated award for multimedia.
Irish Times commissioned photographs by Tom Honan and Dave Meehan won the news and arts & entertainment categories, while Irish Times photographers Alan Betson and Dara Mac Dónaill featured in the top three in the sports action, arts and entertainment, and sports feature categories. Crispin Rodwell also featured in the reportage category for his Irish Times commissioned photo essay of deer-tagging in the Phoenix Park.
READ MORE
PHOTOGRAPHER OF YEAR
Mark Condren Independent
NEWS
1 Tom Honan (for The Irish Times) Girl in the Black Cap
2 Sam Boal rollingnews.ie For everyone in the audience
3 Tom Honan (For The Irish Times) A nod and a wink
DAILY LIFE
1 Marc O'Sullivan Summer shower
2 Marc O'Sullivan Presidential portrait pressure
3 Leon Farrell Photocall Ireland Getting ready for Spice Girls
SPORTS ACTION
1 Tommy Dickson Inpho photography. Wet in Wexford
2 Alan Betson The Irish Times Beach race
3 Dan Sheridan Inpho photography. Dive right in
POLITICS
1 Mark Condren Independent Stormy times
2 Domnick Walsh Eye Focus Election Kerry 2019
3 Dara Mac Dónaill The Irish Times. Teething tie
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
1 Dave Meehan (for The Irish Times) Electric Picnic 2019
2 Dara Mac Dónaill The Irish Times. Presidential unveiling
3 Lorraine Teevan. Beat at Bealtaine
SPORTS FEATURE
1 Ryan Byrne Inpho Friday night lights
2 Morgan Treacy Inpho Shadow play
3 Dara Mac Dónaill The Irish Times. Bridging time – 100 years of Liffey swim
NATURE AND ENVIRONMENT
1 Niall Carson PA Images On reflection
2 Marc O’Sullivan Drops
3 Paul Nicholls Irish Daily Star Peek a boo
PORTRAIT
1 Mark Condren Independent Head above water
2 Naoise Culhane. Winter worship
3 Clodagh Kilcoyne Reuters Ellie
REPORTAGE
1 Niall Carson PA Images In the heat of the night
2 James Crombie Inpho Betting ring
3 Crispin Rodwell (for The Irish Times). Phoenix fawn-tagging
MULTIMEDIA
1 Mark Condren Independent


theirishtimes--2020-02-28--Trinity students crowned team champions of 60th Irish Times Debate

Trinity College Dublin students Eoghan Quinn and Aislinn Carty were crowned team champions of the 60th Irish Times Debate competition at the event ’ s grand final on Friday night .
The individual speaker ’ s award went to Rachael Mullally representing UCD Law .
Speakers were competing for the Demosthenes Trophy for best team , and the Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy for best individual , as well as a place on a month-long tour of the US for the three winning speakers .
The grand final of the competition took place before an audience including former winners and finalists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Public Theatre .
The motion up for debate , “ This house believes that the Irish criminal justice system is too weak on crime ” , resulted in combative and entertaining contributions from teams representing UCD , Trinity , NUI Galway and the Law Society of Ireland .
The final of the debate , the country ’ s longest third-level debating competition , was chaired by the Chief Justice , Mr Justice Frank Clarke , a former finalist .
The adjudication panel included Irish Times editor Paul O ’ Neill ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; Ambassador Maeve Collins ; Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC ; chair of communications at Carroll College Montana Prof Brent Northup ; former debate winner Aislinn Tully ; and former finalist Ross McGuire .
The judging panel noted the particularly high quality of debate this year and how little separated the winning teams and runners-up .
This year ’ s runner up was the UCD Law team of Mark Smyth and Cora Keegan .
The individual runner-up was Harry Hogan of TCD Phil .
Other speakers at Friday night ’ s final , hosted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cormac O ’ Brien , Shannon Buckley Barnes and Eamonn Burke of the Solicitors ’ Apprentice Debating Society of Ireland ( Sadsi ) ; Ruairc O ’ Leary , Lucille McKnight of Trinity ’ s Phil ; and Simeon Burke of NUI Galway ’ s Lit and Deb .
This year ’ s competition kicked off last October , with 162 third-level students vying to be crowned champions .
Paired into teams of two , they faced off in the debating chambers of universities throughout the country including Queen ’ s University Belfast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , each producing one team and one individual winner , were held earlier this month to decide the finalists for the grand final .
The competition has been an early proving ground for many who have gone on to forge distinguished careers in law , medicine , theatre , media and politics .
Former winners and finalists include presidents past and present ( Michael D Higgins and Mary Robinson ) , politicians ( Eamonn McCann , Mary Harney , Brian Lenihan and Rónán Mullen ) , broadcasters ( Henry Kelly , Derek Davis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ servants and judges ( Adrian Hardiman , Frank Clarke and Donal O ’ Donnell , ) .

The Irish Times Debate 2020: Team champions Aislinn Carty and Eoghan Quinn of TCD Phil and individual winner Rachael Mullally of UCD Law.
Trinity College Dublin students Eoghan Quinn and Aislinn Carty were crowned team champions of the 60th Irish Times Debate competition at the event's grand final on Friday night.
The individual speaker’s award went to Rachael Mullally representing UCD Law.
Speakers were competing for the Demosthenes Trophy for best team, and the Christina Murphy Memorial Trophy for best individual, as well as a place on a month-long tour of the US for the three winning speakers.
The grand final of the competition took place before an audience including former winners and finalists stretching back over six decades at Trinity’s Public Theatre.
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The motion up for debate , "This house believes that the Irish criminal justice system is too weak on crime", resulted in combative and entertaining contributions from teams representing UCD, Trinity, NUI Galway and the Law Society of Ireland.
Eoghan Quinn with Aisling Carty, TCD Phil at the Irish Times Debate Finals at TCD. Photograph: John Ohle Photography
The final of the debate, the country's longest third-level debating competition, was chaired by the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Frank Clarke, a former finalist.
The adjudication panel included Irish Times editor Paul O'Neill; former pro-chancellor of TCD Prof David McConnell; Ambassador Maeve Collins; Caoilfhionn Gallagher QC; chair of communications at Carroll College Montana Prof Brent Northup; former debate winner Aislinn Tully; and former finalist Ross McGuire.
The judging panel noted the particularly high quality of debate this year and how little separated the winning teams and runners-up.
Harry Hogan of TCD Phil. Photograph: Bryan Meade
This year's runner up was the UCD Law team of Mark Smyth and Cora Keegan. The individual runner-up was Harry Hogan of TCD Phil.
Other speakers at Friday night's final, hosted by Trinity's Hist society, included Cormac O'Brien, Shannon Buckley Barnes and Eamonn Burke of the Solicitors' Apprentice Debating Society of Ireland (Sadsi); Ruairc O'Leary, Lucille McKnight of Trinity's Phil; and Simeon Burke of NUI Galway's Lit and Deb.
This year’s competition kicked off last October, with 162 third-level students vying to be crowned champions.
Paired into teams of two, they faced off in the debating chambers of universities throughout the country including Queen’s University Belfast, UCC and UCD.
Four semi-finals, each producing one team and one individual winner, were held earlier this month to decide the finalists for the grand final.
The competition has been an early proving ground for many who have gone on to forge distinguished careers in law, medicine, theatre, media and politics.
Former winners and finalists include presidents past and present (Michael D Higgins and Mary Robinson), politicians (Eamonn McCann, Mary Harney, Brian Lenihan and Rónán Mullen), broadcasters (Henry Kelly, Derek Davis and Marian Finucane), senior civil servants and judges (Adrian Hardiman, Frank Clarke and Donal O'Donnell, ).