theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Scramblers and quad bikes in frame for big Kildare bog fire

Gardaí believe youths on quad bikes and scramblers may have caused a massive blaze which continues to burn on bogland in Co Kildare .
The fire beside the Bord Na Móna Drehid waste management disposal plant started on Friday .
It was brought under control by several units of Kildare Fire Service with the aid of Air Corps helicopters which used “ bambi buckets ” to drop water on the flames .
However the fire flared up again on Sunday due to high winds in the area , raising local fears it would spread to the landfill site and cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blaze is under control but will continue to burn for some time , said Kildare ’ s assistant chief fire officer Ben Woodhouse .
“ It ’ s quite the spectacle , he said , shortly after returning from the scene on Monday .
Several units remain in the area to ensure it remains contained .
The landfill is not in danger but the fire is still emitting large amounts of smoke which is blowing in a southwesterly direction .
Mr Woodhouse advised locals who are elderly or who have breathing difficulties to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started on bogland which is covered by scrub , tress and gorse .
“ It has damaged a lot of flora and fauna and I ’ m sure a lot of wildlife habitat , ” Mr Woodhouse said .
The land , which is located in Killinagh upper near Carbury , is owned by Bord Na Móna and is private property .
The company has made a complaint to gardaí .
A Garda source said young people on scramblers and quad bikes are believed to have started the fire inadvertently with their vehicles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drinking and riding bikes around the area in recent weeks .
“ They ’ re going up there from Dublin where it ’ s relatively isolated to avoid the { Covid-19 ] checkpoints and patrols on the roads , ” said a garda .
It is thought the bikes ’ engines , chains or exhausts may have ignited the dry underbrush Mr Woodhouse said he can not say if the vehicles were responsible but that firefighters saw “ up to 12 scramblers and quad bikes in and around the area of the lands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Na Móna staff had previously asked the young people to leave the area as it is private property .
Scramblers and quad bikes are a fire risk , said Mr Woodhouse , particularly given the “ very , very dry conditions after six weeks of dry weather ” .
He appealed to people not to use the bikes in the area .
Local Social Democrat Cllr Aidan Farrelly said there was a lot of local concern over the weekend about the environmental impact of the fire and the risk of toxic fumes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ by these bikes ] , at a time like this that is .
.
.
irresponsible.
” The Drehid landfill plant extracts gas from municipal waste and can produce up to 5.6 megawatts of renewable power – enough to power 8,500 homes .
Drehid is one of the State ’ s largest landfill sites in the country , with a 120,000 tonnes per annum capacity and a 25,000 tonnes per annum composting facility .

The fire flared up again on Sunday due to high winds in the area. File photograph: Getty
Gardaí believe youths on quad bikes and scramblers may have caused a massive blaze which continues to burn on bogland in Co Kildare.
The fire beside the Bord Na Móna Drehid waste management disposal plant started on Friday. It was brought under control by several units of Kildare Fire Service with the aid of Air Corps helicopters which used "bambi buckets" to drop water on the flames.
However the fire flared up again on Sunday due to high winds in the area, raising local fears it would spread to the landfill site and cause the emission of toxic fumes.
The blaze is under control but will continue to burn for some time, said Kildare's assistant chief fire officer Ben Woodhouse. "It's quite the spectacle, he said, shortly after returning from the scene on Monday. Several units remain in the area to ensure it remains contained.
READ MORE
The landfill is not in danger but the fire is still emitting large amounts of smoke which is blowing in a southwesterly direction. Mr Woodhouse advised locals who are elderly or who have breathing difficulties to keep their windows closed.
The fire started on bogland which is covered by scrub, tress and gorse. “It has damaged a lot of flora and fauna and I’m sure a lot of wildlife habitat,” Mr Woodhouse said.
The land, which is located in Killinagh upper near Carbury, is owned by Bord Na Móna and is private property. The company has made a complaint to gardaí.
A Garda source said young people on scramblers and quad bikes are believed to have started the fire inadvertently with their vehicles. Groups of youths have been seen drinking and riding bikes around the area in recent weeks.
“They’re going up there from Dublin where it’s relatively isolated to avoid the {Covid-19] checkpoints and patrols on the roads,” said a garda.
It is thought the bikes’ engines, chains or exhausts may have ignited the dry underbrush
Mr Woodhouse said he cannot say if the vehicles were responsible but that firefighters saw “up to 12 scramblers and quad bikes in and around the area of the lands which were on fire”.
‘Six weeks of dry weather’
Bord Na Móna staff had previously asked the young people to leave the area as it is private property.
Scramblers and quad bikes are a fire risk, said Mr Woodhouse, particularly given the “very, very dry conditions after six weeks of dry weather”. He appealed to people not to use the bikes in the area.
Local Social Democrat Cllr Aidan Farrelly said there was a lot of local concern over the weekend about the environmental impact of the fire and the risk of toxic fumes from the landfill
“If it was caused [by these bikes], at a time like this that is . . . irresponsible.”
The Drehid landfill plant extracts gas from municipal waste and can produce up to 5.6 megawatts of renewable power – enough to power 8,500 homes.
Drehid is one of the State’s largest landfill sites in the country, with a 120,000 tonnes per annum capacity and a 25,000 tonnes per annum composting facility.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Q&A: Coronavirus risks and returning to work

I ’ m going back to work on Monday but how will I know what I should and shouldn ’ t be doing ?
Well that ’ s up to your employer .
From the outset , the Government ’ s Return to Work Safety Protocol document says all infection control prevention measures – and there will be plenty of them – should be communicated and explained to staff , visitors and contractors .
Employers must also have a Covid-19 response plan in place .
A number of employees will be appointed to take the lead but how tricky this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear from next week .
Indeed Maeve McElwee , director of employer relations at Ibec , said the biggest challenge is likely to be the scale of the challenge .
But how can I be sure none of my colleagues have the virus ?
Well there ’ s a lot that both employers and employees are expected to do to rule that out .
Crucially workers will have to fill out a form three days in advance saying they have no symptoms , have not been told to self-isolate or are waiting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worried because I have an underlying health condition .
Well the good news on this front is that if you are deemed an “ at risk or vulnerable ” worker who can not do their job from home then your employer must put preferential supports in place to keep you 2m from others .
But the Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association ( Isme ) , which represents 3,000 companies , says the need for employers to know personal details about someone ’ s health is problematic and the Data Protection Commissioner should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else to give me some peace of mind ?
Temperature checks .
Remember those images from other countries where people line up to have their temperatures taken ?
Well that looks like the future here too and employees “ must ” consent .
Again though , there are some concerns .
Isme points to questions around what type of equipment is deemed suitable , who should do it and how expensive they are to buy .
What happens if someone refuses ?
“ This just puts employers into an area that they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said chief executive Neil McDonnell .
Well that ’ s all well and good but what if someone develops symptoms while in work ?
This must also be planned for , and in some detail according to the Government .
Workplaces are told to appoint an appropriate manager for dealing with suspected cases and considerable emphasis has been put on setting up an isolation area behind a closed door .
Protocols also recommend additional isolation areas to deal with multiple cases and say employers should arrange transport home or to hospital for medical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employers have understandable concerns .
Isme points out that many small businesses don ’ t have a spare space for isolation , never mind a number of them .
In my job I ’ m close to people .
I ’ m not too confident things will change .
Well physical distancing is a key aspect of the Government ’ s plans for people to get back to work but of course there are concerns about how this might work in reality .
Ibec has identified this as a challenge and Isme say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available space .
Nevertheless , among a long detailed list of demands on employers , there should be no handshaking , workers should be confined to team units where possible , canteens should be closed or staggered , meetings conduct should be tightly controlled and of course gathering of workers is out .
On second thoughts , I ’ m just going to work from home .
Can I do that ?
Well that might depend on who you ask .
The Government document says office work “ should continue to be carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Employers should develop home-work policy in conjunction with staff and unions .
An NUI Galway survey found that 83 per cent of workers expressed interest in continuing to work remotely , so you ’ re not alone .
Of those who had never worked remotely , 78 per cent said they would like to for at least some of the time once the crisis is over .

I’m going back to work on Monday but how will I know what I should and shouldn’t be doing?
Well that’s up to your employer. From the outset, the Government’s Return to Work Safety Protocol document says all infection control prevention measures – and there will be plenty of them – should be communicated and explained to staff, visitors and contractors. Employers must also have a Covid-19 response plan in place. A number of employees will be appointed to take the lead but how tricky this all proves to be will only become clear from next week.
Indeed Maeve McElwee, director of employer relations at Ibec, said the biggest challenge is likely to be the scale of the challenge.
But how can I be sure none of my colleagues have the virus?
Well there’s a lot that both employers and employees are expected to do to rule that out. Crucially workers will have to fill out a form three days in advance saying they have no symptoms, have not been told to self-isolate or are waiting on test results.
But I’m worried because I have an underlying health condition.
Well the good news on this front is that if you are deemed an "at risk or vulnerable" worker who cannot do their job from home then your employer must put preferential supports in place to keep you 2m from others. But the Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association (Isme), which represents 3,000 companies, says the need for employers to know personal details about someone's health is problematic and the Data Protection Commissioner should be consulted.
READ MORE
Are they doing anything else to give me some peace of mind?
Temperature checks. Remember those images from other countries where people line up to have their temperatures taken? Well that looks like the future here too and employees “must” consent. Again though, there are some concerns. Isme points to questions around what type of equipment is deemed suitable, who should do it and how expensive they are to buy. What happens if someone refuses? “This just puts employers into an area that they are not [trained] for,” said chief executive Neil McDonnell.
Well that’s all well and good but what if someone develops symptoms while in work?
This must also be planned for, and in some detail according to the Government. Workplaces are told to appoint an appropriate manager for dealing with suspected cases and considerable emphasis has been put on setting up an isolation area behind a closed door. Protocols also recommend additional isolation areas to deal with multiple cases and say employers should arrange transport home or to hospital for medical assessment, avoiding public transport. But employers have understandable concerns. Isme points out that many small businesses don’t have a spare space for isolation, never mind a number of them.
In my job I’m close to people. I’m not too confident things will change.
Well physical distancing is a key aspect of the Government’s plans for people to get back to work but of course there are concerns about how this might work in reality. Ibec has identified this as a challenge and Isme say many small businesses will struggle because of available space. Nevertheless, among a long detailed list of demands on employers, there should be no handshaking, workers should be confined to team units where possible, canteens should be closed or staggered, meetings conduct should be tightly controlled and of course gathering of workers is out.
On second thoughts, I’m just going to work from home. Can I do that?
Well that might depend on who you ask. The Government document says office work "should continue to be carried out at home, where practicable". Employers should develop home-work policy in conjunction with staff and unions. An NUI Galway survey found that 83 per cent of workers expressed interest in continuing to work remotely, so you're not alone. Of those who had never worked remotely, 78 per cent said they would like to for at least some of the time once the crisis is over.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Sophisticated structure of Kinahan gang laid bare

It is surprising how infrequently the Kinahan gang is mentioned before Irish courts given the amount of misery and death caused by its members .
Despite the many cases involving the gang coming before the courts in the last four years , detectives tend to not use its name when giving evidence .
Perhaps this is to avoid adding to the Kinahans ’ already substantial public profile .
Or perhaps it is to hide the extent of the Garda ’ s knowledge of how the group operates .
That changed on Monday when Det Supt David Gallagher of the Garda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Special Criminal Court , in extensive detail , the inner workings of the gang which has been responsible for well over a dozen murders since 2016 as part of its feud with the Hutch gang .
For the first time a court in public session heard of the sophisticated cell structure of the gang , a structure which bears striking resemblances to those employed by dissident and jihadi terrorist organisations .
Gallagher was giving evidence in the sentencing hearing of Mark Capper ( 31 ) of Cappagh Green , Finglas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparations for the murder of Patrick “ Patsy ” Hutch in early 2018 .
Capper , who will be sentenced later , pulled out of the murder plot before it was put in motion .
During previous sentencing hearings for others involved in the murder attempt , the superintendent described the plotters as acting on behalf of an organised crime gang which was targeting rivals “ for assassination ” .
On Monday , Gallagher stated explicitly that the men were working for the Kinahan gang which he said was involved in murder , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group is organised in a hierarchical structure which is made up of sub-cells , he said .
These sub-cells operate independently , meaning at any one time a sub-cell may not know what the other sub-cells are doing .
This means if one sub-cell is caught , as happened in the case of the Patsy Hutch plotters , there is little they can tell the Garda about the wider gang ’ s operations , even if investigators hold out inducements like reduced charges .
The sophisticated nature of the gang was also evident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder .
A surveillance operation revealed the 10-man cell was well aware that the Garda had a protection post set up near Hutch ’ s home on Champions Avenue in Dublin 1 in the expectation that he would be a target .
This post was taken into account in the gang ’ s planning .
The plot involved three stages , Gallagher said .
First the criminals were to set up a “ staging post ” , a Ford van , two minutes ’ walk from Hutch ’ s house .
Then they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s property to lure him from his house at which point a “ looker ” would signal to the hit team to move in .
The assassins would travel from the van on a motorbike , which would be left at the scene afterwards .
After the murder , the gang was to make its escape through a pedestrian tunnel to a waiting car .
Fortunately for Hutch , the Garda were aware of every stage of the plan .
Shortly before its activation , the three-man hit team was pulled out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Emergency Response Unit .
The trio were later sentenced to a total of 36.5 years .
Gardaí were already well aware of the highly compartmentalised structure of the Kinahan gang when they started listening in on Patsy Hutch ’ s would-be killers .

For the first time a court in public session heard of the sophisticated cell structure of the Kinahan gang. Photograph: Dave Meehan
It is surprising how infrequently the Kinahan gang is mentioned before Irish courts given the amount of misery and death caused by its members.
Despite the many cases involving the gang coming before the courts in the last four years, detectives tend to not use its name when giving evidence. Perhaps this is to avoid adding to the Kinahans’ already substantial public profile. Or perhaps it is to hide the extent of the Garda’s knowledge of how the group operates.
That changed on Monday when Det Supt David Gallagher of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau described to the Special Criminal Court, in extensive detail, the inner workings of the gang which has been responsible for well over a dozen murders since 2016 as part of its feud with the Hutch gang.
For the first time a court in public session heard of the sophisticated cell structure of the gang, a structure which bears striking resemblances to those employed by dissident and jihadi terrorist organisations.
READ MORE
Murder plot
Gallagher was giving evidence in the sentencing hearing of Mark Capper (31) of Cappagh Green, Finglas, who pleaded guilty to taking part in preparations for the murder of Patrick "Patsy" Hutch in early 2018. Capper, who will be sentenced later, pulled out of the murder plot before it was put in motion.
During previous sentencing hearings for others involved in the murder attempt, the superintendent described the plotters as acting on behalf of an organised crime gang which was targeting rivals “for assassination”.
On Monday, Gallagher stated explicitly that the men were working for the Kinahan gang which he said was involved in murder, drugs trafficking and gun smuggling.
The group is organised in a hierarchical structure which is made up of sub-cells, he said. These sub-cells operate independently, meaning at any one time a sub-cell may not know what the other sub-cells are doing.
This means if one sub-cell is caught, as happened in the case of the Patsy Hutch plotters, there is little they can tell the Garda about the wider gang's operations, even if investigators hold out inducements like reduced charges.
The sophisticated nature of the gang was also evident in the painstaking preparations for the Hutch murder. A surveillance operation revealed the 10-man cell was well aware that the Garda had a protection post set up near Hutch’s home on Champions Avenue in Dublin 1 in the expectation that he would be a target. This post was taken into account in the gang’s planning.
The plot involved three stages, Gallagher said. First the criminals were to set up a “staging post”, a Ford van, two minutes’ walk from Hutch’s house.
Assassins
Then they were to damage some of Hutch’s property to lure him from his house at which point a “looker” would signal to the hit team to move in.
The assassins would travel from the van on a motorbike, which would be left at the scene afterwards.
After the murder, the gang was to make its escape through a pedestrian tunnel to a waiting car.
Fortunately for Hutch, the Garda were aware of every stage of the plan. Shortly before its activation, the three-man hit team was pulled out of the van by heavily armed members of the Emergency Response Unit. The trio were later sentenced to a total of 36.5 years.
Gardaí were already well aware of the highly compartmentalised structure of the Kinahan gang when they started listening in on Patsy Hutch’s would-be killers.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Pub outdoor areas should be non-smoking zones when bars re-open, doctors warn

All outdoor areas in pubs should become non-smoking zones when they re-open in order to protect public health , the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland ( RCPI ) has said .
The proposal should be implemented as part of the country ’ s re-opening strategy and the easing of restrictions .
The college ’ s policy group on tobacco said non-smokers and bar staff needed to be protected from second-hand smoke .
And it warned that the Department of Health should not inadvertently allow another public health crisis develop as a consequence of implementing social distancing policies .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Health , chair of the policy group Professor Des Cox noted the engagement between the licensed trade and the Department of Health about how and when pubs should re-open .
“ Currently the outdoor areas of the majority of public houses are designated smoking areas , ” he said .
“ If outdoor areas are to be used to facilitate social distancing when bars open up again , then smoking should be prohibited from all areas of all pubs when they reopen .
“ Customers who are seated in the outdoor areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second hand smoke .
If bar staff are providing table service to all customers - including customers seated in the outdoor areas - they too will be exposed to second hand smoke.
” Professor Cox , a paediatric respiratory consultant said there was “ no risk-free level of second hand smoke and we need to protect the general public and in particular bar staff from the well-recognised health implications of second hand smoke.
” The letter highlights the additional difficulties from Covid-19 faced by smokers .
“ The latest evidence suggests that smokers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 infection .
“ In addition , the very act of smoking involves fingers touching lips , which increases the possibility of virus transmission .
For these reasons alone , smoking in any setting during the Covid-19 pandemic should be strongly discouraged.
” The policy group on tobacco states that “ while we welcome the reopening plan for Ireland and support businesses in their proposals to change their working conditions to protect public health , we ask that the Department of Health does not inadvertently allow for another public health crisis to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policies.
” The RCPI also pointed out that smoking is still the biggest public health issue in Ireland and 17per cent of the population are smokers .
“ Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland , with almost 6,000 smokers dying each year from tobacco related diseases.
” Speaking on Monday Professor Cox said “ we want to try to help the pubs to open up safely ” but “ we don ’ t want it to happen that suddenly all the people are out in the smoking areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to second hand smoke ” .
He said bars should be allowed to open with social distancing in place but “ the smoking should be banned from these areas until such time as social distancing is no longer needed ” .
He said “ smokers are more likely to be vulnerable to Covid-19 infection .
So if they do get sick with Covid-19 infection they ’ re more likely to get sicker .
That ’ s been shown in a few different studies coming from China.
” The act of smoking “ involves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increases the risk of viral transmission .
If you ’ re allowing an activity in a crowded area that could potentially increase the risk of viral transmission .
“ So in the setting of a pandemic those activities should be discouraged and we would strongly recommend that people speak to smoking cessation services such as quit.ie .
”

“If outdoor areas are to be used to facilitate social distancing when bars open up again, then smoking should be prohibited from all areas of all pubs when they reopen,” Professor Des Cox noted in a letter to the Minister for Health. Photograph: Getty Images
All outdoor areas in pubs should become non-smoking zones when they re-open in order to protect public health, the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) has said.
The proposal should be implemented as part of the country’s re-opening strategy and the easing of restrictions.
The college’s policy group on tobacco said non-smokers and bar staff needed to be protected from second-hand smoke.
And it warned that the Department of Health should not inadvertently allow another public health crisis develop as a consequence of implementing social distancing policies.
READ MORE
In a letter on Monday to the Minister for Health, chair of the policy group Professor Des Cox noted the engagement between the licensed trade and the Department of Health about how and when pubs should re-open.
“Currently the outdoor areas of the majority of public houses are designated smoking areas,” he said. “If outdoor areas are to be used to facilitate social distancing when bars open up again, then smoking should be prohibited from all areas of all pubs when they reopen.
“Customers who are seated in the outdoor areas of bars should not be exposed to second hand smoke. If bar staff are providing table service to all customers - including customers seated in the outdoor areas - they too will be exposed to second hand smoke.”
Professor Cox, a paediatric respiratory consultant said there was "no risk-free level of second hand smoke and we need to protect the general public and in particular bar staff from the well-recognised health implications of second hand smoke."
The letter highlights the additional difficulties from Covid-19 faced by smokers. “The latest evidence suggests that smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to Covid-19 infection.
“In addition, the very act of smoking involves fingers touching lips, which increases the possibility of virus transmission. For these reasons alone, smoking in any setting during the Covid-19 pandemic should be strongly discouraged.”
The policy group on tobacco states that “while we welcome the reopening plan for Ireland and support businesses in their proposals to change their working conditions to protect public health, we ask that the Department of Health does not inadvertently allow for another public health crisis to develop as a consequence of implementing social distancing policies.”
The RCPI also pointed out that smoking is still the biggest public health issue in Ireland and 17per cent of the population are smokers. “Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in Ireland, with almost 6,000 smokers dying each year from tobacco related diseases.”
Speaking on Monday Professor Cox said “we want to try to help the pubs to open up safely” but “we don’t want it to happen that suddenly all the people are out in the smoking areas and they’re also being exposed to second hand smoke”.
He said bars should be allowed to open with social distancing in place but “the smoking should be banned from these areas until such time as social distancing is no longer needed”.
He said “smokers are more likely to be vulnerable to Covid-19 infection. So if they do get sick with Covid-19 infection they’re more likely to get sicker. That’s been shown in a few different studies coming from China.”
The act of smoking “involves your hands touching your face. That increases the risk of viral transmission. If you’re allowing an activity in a crowded area that could potentially increase the risk of viral transmission.
“So in the setting of a pandemic those activities should be discouraged and we would strongly recommend that people speak to smoking cessation services such as quit.ie.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--City council approves €34m borrowings to fund central depot

Dublin city councillors have approved €34 million in borrowing to fund the construction of a facility in Ballymun for outdoor staff and equipment , following a €20 million overrun in the cost of the project .
In June 2018 the council estimated the cost of the new operations depot at €54 million .
However , council chief executive Owen Keegan said , following a “ difficult tender process ” the cost has risen to €74 million .
The council had planned to cover the cost of the project by selling smaller depot sites , with the workers and equipment redeployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Any shortfall would have been funded through the council ’ s revenues .
The council has now devised a plan to lease nine sites to approved housing bodies ( AHBs ) who will develop the land for social housing .
However , Mr Keegan said it is anticipated this will generate only €40 million for the council .
“ On this basis , I am recommending that the balance of the required €74 million funding , ie €34 million be borrowed.
” Mr Keegan will now seek a 30-year loan from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some €1.5 million annually to repay .
But he said he would consider if , following the pandemic , the council should go to tender again for the project .
At least 745 social homes could be built at sites in Rathmines , the Liberties , and the Tenters , on the southside of the city , and Portland Row , Stoneybatter , Cabra , Ballybough , Coolock and Collins Avenue on the north side .
Where previously the council transferred land to housing organisations for free , it plans to lease the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the market value .
The meeting on Monday night was the first monthly city council meeting held since the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions .
But all 63 councillors did not attend and instead a representative group of 17 met in Dublin Castle instead of City Hall .
Councillors largely welcomed plans to close College Green to traffic , and pedestrianise a significant number of streets , as part of a strategy to reopen the city centre as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted .
The “ temporary mobility plan ” will be introduced over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But measures likely to remain in place for at least 12 to 18 months , with some retained on a permanent basis .
However , Labour Cllr Alison Gilliland asked if there had been consultation with those who have parking spaces in the city and said some people will not want to use public transport “ because of contagion ” .
Sinn Féin ’ s Micheál Mac Donncha said there was a “ slight air of unreality ” and a “ lot of confusion over what is temporary and what will be ongoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said “ car park operators don ’ t have the interests of the city at heart ” .
Mr Keegan said there would be an ongoing requirement for social distancing .
“ These are temporary , but temporary could be there for quite a long time.
” Meanwhile the number of families in emergency accommodation in Dublin has hit a three-year low .
According to the council there are 1,103 families in emergency accommodation in Dublin , the lowest number since May 2017 .
A total of 216 families entered emergency accommodation for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 , compared to 276 in 2019 and 293 in 2018 .
“ This welcome reduction in family homelessness results mainly from a gradual decrease in new presentations over recent months and a continuing increase in exits into tenancies , ” said the council ’ s head of housing Brendan Kenny .

The council had planned to cover the cost of the project by selling smaller depot sites.
Dublin city councillors have approved €34 million in borrowing to fund the construction of a facility in Ballymun for outdoor staff and equipment, following a €20 million overrun in the cost of the project.
In June 2018 the council estimated the cost of the new operations depot at €54 million. However, council chief executive Owen Keegan said, following a "difficult tender process" the cost has risen to €74 million.
The council had planned to cover the cost of the project by selling smaller depot sites, with the workers and equipment redeployed to the new large depot in Ballymun. Any shortfall would have been funded through the council’s revenues.
The council has now devised a plan to lease nine sites to approved housing bodies (AHBs) who will develop the land for social housing. However, Mr Keegan said it is anticipated this will generate only €40 million for the council.
READ MORE
“On this basis, I am recommending that the balance of the required €74 million funding, ie €34 million be borrowed.”
Mr Keegan will now seek a 30-year loan from the Housing Finance Agency, which will cost some €1.5 million annually to repay. But he said he would consider if, following the pandemic, the council should go to tender again for the project.
At least 745 social homes could be built at sites in Rathmines, the Liberties, and the Tenters, on the southside of the city, and Portland Row, Stoneybatter, Cabra, Ballybough, Coolock and Collins Avenue on the north side.
Where previously the council transferred land to housing organisations for free, it plans to lease the sites to the AHBs at a reduction on the market value.
The meeting on Monday night was the first monthly city council meeting held since the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions. But all 63 councillors did not attend and instead a representative group of 17 met in Dublin Castle instead of City Hall.
Councillors largely welcomed plans to close College Green to traffic, and pedestrianise a significant number of streets, as part of a strategy to reopen the city centre as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
The “temporary mobility plan” will be introduced over the next three to six months. But measures likely to remain in place for at least 12 to 18 months, with some retained on a permanent basis.
‘Air of unreality’
However, Labour Cllr Alison Gilliland asked if there had been consultation with those who have parking spaces in the city and said some people will not want to use public transport "because of contagion". Sinn Féin's Micheál Mac Donncha said there was a "slight air of unreality" and a "lot of confusion over what is temporary and what will be ongoing".
Fine Gael Cllr James Geoghegan said "car park operators don't have the interests of the city at heart".
Mr Keegan said there would be an ongoing requirement for social distancing. “These are temporary, but temporary could be there for quite a long time.”
Meanwhile the number of families in emergency accommodation in Dublin has hit a three-year low. According to the council there are 1,103 families in emergency accommodation in Dublin, the lowest number since May 2017.
A total of 216 families entered emergency accommodation for the first time between January and March 2020, compared to 276 in 2019 and 293 in 2018.
"This welcome reduction in family homelessness results mainly from a gradual decrease in new presentations over recent months and a continuing increase in exits into tenancies," said the council's head of housing Brendan Kenny.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--North and South keeping Covid-19 policy cards close to chest

In Northern Ireland , some politicians and officials are finding it difficult to “ decode ” what is Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ’ s – and indeed the Irish Government ’ s – attitude to North-South co-operation over coronavirus .
There is a Covid-19 memorandum of understanding between the Government and Northern Executive while politicians on both sides of the Border have talked about the great co-operation between the chief medical officers , doctors Tony Holohan and Michael McBride and between the Minister for Health Simon Harris and Robin Swann .
Yet , at two key moments during this crisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left largely in the dark over Dublin ’ s big plans for dealing with coronavirus .
On March 12th , when Mr Varadkar in Washington announced the beginning of the lockdown in the Republic , the Executive , as First Minister Arlene Foster said at the time , was not given a proper advance briefing .
“ We were just made aware , I think , about 10 minutes before the statement was made by the Taoiseach , ” she said .
“ We did not know what the content of that statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that is disappointing that it is the case but , however , he made his decision and he has to carry through with that.
” With such a curt and rather hurt response , there was a reasonable expectation that when the next important announcement came on Friday , May 1st , about the easing of the lockdown that Ms Foster , Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill and other Ministers would have been notified in advance .
But , again , no briefing .
The Monday after the announcement Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advance sight of the plan .
This has caused considerable puzzlement and some annoyance in Northern Ireland .
Matters were not helped by what many nationalist politicians saw as very unfortunate comments by the Taoiseach about Fine Gael having “ overseas members ” in Belfast .
Some umbrage also was taken by Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty saying that the “ most important task .
.
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was to tell Irish people ” about the roadmap out of Covid .
Mr Varadkar apologised for his “ overseas ” comments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not resist taking a swipe at Sinn Féin by adding , “ In the interests of goodwill all round , I do hope Sinn Féin figures stop referring to the State as the ‘ South of Ireland ’ , ‘ Free State ’ or the ‘ Southern State ’ .
” In the same newspaper Ms O ’ Neill wondered was Mr Varadkar being “ opportunistic ” and was all this related to the Taoiseach ’ s attempt to form a government “ to the exclusion of Sinn Féin ” .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stormont was that whatever about the “ overseas ” gaffe that the failure to apprise the Executive of both the lockdown and the five-stage relaxation of the rules appeared to be calculated – but to what purpose , he just could not fully figure .
“ It is grand that the chief medical officers are working together but there does not seem to be a political alignment , ” he said .
The same non-Sinn Féin source , like Ms O ’ Neill , wondered was it part of some tactic to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It is straining relationships and it puts nationalists in a difficult position because we are trying to make the argument that we should be aligning more closely with what the South is doing , and they just keep taking the ball and walking away with it , ” he said .
“ It is really hard to decode , we just can ’ t detect what is motivating it.
” Ostensibly , relationships between Dublin Ministers and Stormont colleagues appear good , while Dublin sources repeatedly insist that strong co-operation exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mr Varadkar fears that information shared in advance with Stormont would be exploited quickly by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald “ before Leo stands up to speak ” .
But , in the same breath , one source who believes that contradicted himself by saying that Dublin surely briefs Opposition leaders in Dublin ahead of significant news .
Perhaps , it is more cock-up than conspiracy , he suggested .
However , information can travel two ways – or not .
Ms Foster and Ms O ’ Neill will present their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday afternoon .
However , the detail of the changes that will be made to the lockdown restrictions are not going to be shared ahead of time with Government Buildings in Dublin , or No 10 Downing Street .
“ It is the intention of the Executive to bring its recovery plan before the Assembly tomorrow ahead of sharing it with both governments , ” said a spokesperson for the Executive .
Which sounded suspiciously like the Executive saying , “ Well , if you won ’ t share your information , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or in layman ’ s terms “ what ’ s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander ” .

While chief medical officer Tony Holohan is seen as co-operating well with the North, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is accused of not sharing information in advance. Photograph: Dave Meehan
In Northern Ireland, some politicians and officials are finding it difficult to "decode" what is Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's – and indeed the Irish Government's – attitude to North-South co-operation over coronavirus.
There is a Covid-19 memorandum of understanding between the Government and Northern Executive while politicians on both sides of the Border have talked about the great co-operation between the chief medical officers, doctors Tony Holohan and Michael McBride and between the Minister for Health Simon Harris and Robin Swann.
Yet, at two key moments during this crisis, the Northern Executive complained that it was left largely in the dark over Dublin’s big plans for dealing with coronavirus.
On March 12th, when Mr Varadkar in Washington announced the beginning of the lockdown in the Republic, the Executive, as First Minister Arlene Foster said at the time, was not given a proper advance briefing.
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“We were just made aware, I think, about 10 minutes before the statement was made by the Taoiseach,” she said. “We did not know what the content of that statement was going to be. And I think that is disappointing that it is the case but, however, he made his decision and he has to carry through with that.”
With such a curt and rather hurt response, there was a reasonable expectation that when the next important announcement came on Friday, May 1st, about the easing of the lockdown that Ms Foster, Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill and other Ministers would have been notified in advance.
But, again, no briefing. The Monday after the announcement Ms Foster said the Executive was not given advance sight of the plan.
This has caused considerable puzzlement and some annoyance in Northern Ireland.
Unfortunate comments
Matters were not helped by what many nationalist politicians saw as very unfortunate comments by the Taoiseach about Fine Gael having "overseas members" in Belfast.
Some umbrage also was taken by Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty saying that the "most important task . . . was to tell Irish people" about the roadmap out of Covid.
Mr Varadkar apologised for his “overseas” comments in Monday’s Irish News but could not resist taking a swipe at Sinn Féin by adding, “In the interests of goodwill all round, I do hope Sinn Féin figures stop referring to the State as the ‘South of Ireland’, ‘Free State’ or the ‘Southern State’.”
In the same newspaper Ms O’Neill wondered was Mr Varadkar being “opportunistic” and was all this related to the Taoiseach’s attempt to form a government “to the exclusion of Sinn Féin”.
A senior political source said the feeling at Stormont was that whatever about the "overseas" gaffe that the failure to apprise the Executive of both the lockdown and the five-stage relaxation of the rules appeared to be calculated – but to what purpose, he just could not fully figure.
“It is grand that the chief medical officers are working together but there does not seem to be a political alignment,” he said.
The same non-Sinn Féin source, like Ms O’Neill, wondered was it part of some tactic to try to make life difficult for Sinn Féin.
‘Hard to decode’
“It is straining relationships and it puts nationalists in a difficult position because we are trying to make the argument that we should be aligning more closely with what the South is doing, and they just keep taking the ball and walking away with it,” he said. “It is really hard to decode, we just can’t detect what is motivating it.”
Ostensibly, relationships between Dublin Ministers and Stormont colleagues appear good, while Dublin sources repeatedly insist that strong co-operation exists.
However, some in Stormont believe that Mr Varadkar fears that information shared in advance with Stormont would be exploited quickly by Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald “before Leo stands up to speak”.
But, in the same breath, one source who believes that contradicted himself by saying that Dublin surely briefs Opposition leaders in Dublin ahead of significant news. Perhaps, it is more cock-up than conspiracy, he suggested.
However, information can travel two ways – or not. Ms Foster and Ms O'Neill will present their own five-stage roadmap to the Stormont Assembly on Tuesday afternoon.
However, the detail of the changes that will be made to the lockdown restrictions are not going to be shared ahead of time with Government Buildings in Dublin, or No 10 Downing Street.
“It is the intention of the Executive to bring its recovery plan before the Assembly tomorrow ahead of sharing it with both governments,” said a spokesperson for the Executive.
Which sounded suspiciously like the Executive saying, “Well, if you won’t share your information, we won’t share ours”, or in layman’s terms “what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Hiqa calls for talks to begin on reopening nursing homes to visitors

Same-day Covid-19 testing and restriction on visitor times and numbers could allow the State ’ s nursing homes to reopen safely to visitors , the representative group , Nursing Homes Ireland , has said .
The nursing homes regulator , the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , has urged health officials to begin talks to reopen nursing homes to visitors after one home warned that elderly residents could “ die of loneliness ” rather than coronavirus .
Nursing homes have been closed to visitors since March .
Tadhg Daly , chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 per cent of the State ’ s 577 nursing homes , said same-day Covid-19 test results would be required before homes could reopen to visitors .
Strict visitor times and numbers , the wearing of personal protective clothing and nominated visitors for residents initially are among the proposals being considered .
“ We didn ’ t move as a sector to restrict visitors lightly and equally we shouldn ’ t move lightly to lift restrictions , ” he said .
The State ’ s chief medical officer , Dr Tony Holohan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of nursing homes completed last week had shown the rate of transmission of the virus in homes had slowed .
Health officials are now looking at “ the nature of the testing programme that we need to keep in place to continue to give us assurance that we are protecting that particular sector ” , he said .
Elderly care and congregated residential settings for older people have been the worst-hit by the pandemic with people aged 75 and over accounting for 78 per cent of all deaths .
The latest figures on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fatalities at 798 , or 54.4 per cent of all 1,467 deaths .
The number of Covid-19 cases among nursing home residents rose by 50 in a day to 4,519 , or one in every five confirmed cases .
Susan Cliffe , Hiqa ’ s deputy chief inspector , told The Irish Times that Hiqa had asked the Department of Health and the Covid-19 emergency team to consider a plan to reopen homes , even in limited circumstances , because of concerns around the welfare of elderly residents .
Mr Daly said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s comments that Perspex and “ prison-type visiting scenarios ” could be considered , since such equipment could cause distress for residents with dementia , he added .
Some private nursing homes have raised concerns about reopening before there is testing of nursing home residents who go back to those homes after spending time in general hospitals for treatment .
Dr Colm Henry , the HSE ’ s chief clinical officer , said on Sunday there was “ no routine testing ” for people not showing Covid-19 symptoms or suspected of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Older people in nursing homes were more vulnerable , he said .
Two-thirds of nursing home residents have shown “ atypical ” Covid-19 symptoms beyond a fever , a cough or shortness of breath .
“ We now know more about the transmission that we didn ’ t know before , ” he said .

Latest figures put the number of nursing home fatalities at 798, or 54.4 per cent of all 1,467 deaths.
Same-day Covid-19 testing and restriction on visitor times and numbers could allow the State's nursing homes to reopen safely to visitors, the representative group, Nursing Homes Ireland, has said.
The nursing homes regulator, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), has urged health officials to begin talks to reopen nursing homes to visitors after one home warned that elderly residents could “die of loneliness” rather than coronavirus.
Nursing homes have been closed to visitors since March. Tadhg Daly, chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, which represents privately owned homes accounting for 80 per cent of the State's 577 nursing homes, said same-day Covid-19 test results would be required before homes could reopen to visitors.
Strict visitor times and numbers, the wearing of personal protective clothing and nominated visitors for residents initially are among the proposals being considered.
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“We didn’t move as a sector to restrict visitors lightly and equally we shouldn’t move lightly to lift restrictions,” he said.
The State's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said on Monday that the mass testing of nursing homes completed last week had shown the rate of transmission of the virus in homes had slowed.
Health officials are now looking at “the nature of the testing programme that we need to keep in place to continue to give us assurance that we are protecting that particular sector”, he said.
Worst-hit age group
Elderly care and congregated residential settings for older people have been the worst-hit by the pandemic with people aged 75 and over accounting for 78 per cent of all deaths. The latest figures on Monday put the number of nursing home fatalities at 798, or 54.4 per cent of all 1,467 deaths.
The number of Covid-19 cases among nursing home residents rose by 50 in a day to 4,519, or one in every five confirmed cases.
Susan Cliffe, Hiqa's deputy chief inspector, told The Irish Times that Hiqa had asked the Department of Health and the Covid-19 emergency team to consider a plan to reopen homes, even in limited circumstances, because of concerns around the welfare of elderly residents.
Mr Daly said he was “surprised” at Ms Cliffe’s comments that Perspex and “prison-type visiting scenarios” could be considered, since such equipment could cause distress for residents with dementia, he added.
Some private nursing homes have raised concerns about reopening before there is testing of nursing home residents who go back to those homes after spending time in general hospitals for treatment.
Dr Colm Henry, the HSE's chief clinical officer, said on Sunday there was "no routine testing" for people not showing Covid-19 symptoms or suspected of Covid-19 returning from hospitals to nursing homes.
Older people in nursing homes were more vulnerable, he said. Two-thirds of nursing home residents have shown “atypical” Covid-19 symptoms beyond a fever, a cough or shortness of breath. “We now know more about the transmission that we didn’t know before,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Ian Bailey extradition case: French legal submissions request ‘unprecedented’

A request from French authorities to see the legal submissions concerning Ian Bailey ’ s proposed extradition is “ unprecedented ” and “ unorthodox ” , his lawyers have told the High Court .
Mr Bailey is facing a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier and a three-day hearing where he will contest the request for his surrender was Tuesday scheduled to commence in the High Court on July 15th .
Mr Bailey denies any involvement in the mother-of-one ’ s death .
Ronan Munro SC , for Mr Bailey , said a request @ @ @ @ @ @ @ view the legal submissions from both the State and Mr Bailey ahead of the extradition hearing .
He noted that the issuing of such documents seemed to be outside the statutory procedure .
Mr Munro further stated that he was not aware of any “ free-wheeling ” statutory right which the issuing state had to ask for this .
“ I can say to the court with confidence that it is an unorthodox application , ” he added .
The letter from the French authorities was handed into court and Mr Justice Paul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter from the French authorities requesting submissions from both parties , which was nothing to do with the court .
However , Leo Mulrooney BL for the State , said that the Minister for Justice would not release the submissions without a ruling from the court .
Mr Justice Burns said he would need to hear legal argument concerning the matter .
Mr Munro said he had reservations and he wanted the proper statutory provisions followed .
“ In my experience it is unprecedented , ” he added .
In reply , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not happened before but this did not mean that it was not allowed .
The case was listed for mention next Monday .
Mr Bailey was not present in court for today ’ s list management procedure .
He was remanded on continuing bail until July 15th .
Last February , the High Court fixed May 5th as the start-date for the three-day hearing .
However , the Covid-19 pandemic placed many court cases in doubt .
The President of the High Court previously gave a general practice direction that only urgent business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of people attending court .
This is the third time French authorities are seeking Mr Bailey ’ s surrender in relation to the death of Ms du Plantier , whose badly beaten body was found outside her holiday home in Schull in December 1996 .
The 63-year-old Englishman , with an address at The Prairie , Liscaha , Schull , west Cork , was convicted of the French woman ’ s murder in his absence in a Paris court in May 2019 .
The three-judge Cour d ’ Assises in Paris accordingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bailey in his absence .
Mr Bailey denies any involvement in Ms du Plantier ’ s death .
He did not attend the French court and had no legal representation in the proceedings , which he has described as a “ farce ” .
His senior counsel , Mr Munro , previously told the High Court that they will be opposing surrender on grounds related to “ fundamental rights ” and that the authorities ’ previous two extradition attempts were “ relevant ” to their points of objection to the present attempt .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bailey swore an affidavit setting out certain factual matters , particularly in relation to his health .
The Supreme Court refused to extradite Mr Bailey in 2012 holding that surrender was prohibited because the alleged offence was committed outside French territory and Irish law does not allow prosecution for the same offence when committed outside its territory by a non-Irish citizen .
A second French extradition request in respect of My Bailey was dismissed as an “ abuse of process ” by the High Court in 2017 .
On that occasion , Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique features ” of the case justified “ termination ” of the proceedings .
Mr Justice Hunt said Ireland ’ s Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) had concluded “ long ago that there is no basis for either ( a ) charge or trial on this matter in this jurisdiction , and unusually , a comprehensive statement of reasons for this prosecutorial decision came into the public domain during the previous Supreme Court ” case .

The letter from the French authorities was handed into court and Mr Justice Paul Burns said it seemed to be a letter from the French authorities requesting submissions from both parties, which was nothing to do with the court. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times
French authorities have made an “unprecedented” and “unorthodox” request to view the legal submissions on Ian Bailey’s objections to his extradition there, the High Court has heard.
Mr Bailey is facing a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of filmmaker Sophie Toscan du Plantier and a three-day hearing where he will contest the request for his surrender was on Tuesday scheduled to commence before the High Court on July 15th.
Mr Bailey denies any involvement in the mother-of-one’s death.
Ronan Munro SC with Marc Thompson BL, for Mr Bailey, said the legal submissions were very close to finalisation and came to around 40 pages in length. He would need around two weeks to finalise them, he added.
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However, Mr Munro explained that a request had been received from French authorities to view the submissions from both the State and Mr Bailey ahead of the extradition hearing. He noted that the issuing of such documents seemed to be outside the statutory procedure.
Mr Munro further stated that he was not aware of any “free-wheeling” statutory right which the issuing state had to ask for this. “I can say to the court with confidence that it is an unorthodox application but the court is well able to deal with it,” he said.
Counsel for the Minister for Justice, Leo Mulrooney BL, said two letters, dated March 18th and April 14th, have been received from the French authorities. These were handed into the court.
Mr Justice Paul Burns said they seemed to be letters from the French authorities requesting submissions from both parties, which was nothing to do with the court.
However, Mr Mulrooney said that the Minister for Justice would not release the submissions without a ruling from the court.
The case was listed for mention next Monday and Mr Justice Burns said he would need to hear legal argument concerning the matter. The judge said the Minister for Justice could decide what his position was in relation to the request in the meantime.
Mr Munro said he had reservations about the request and he wanted the proper statutory provisions followed. “In my experience it is unprecedented. I can’t think of a case where an executing State has sought this,” he added.
In reply, Mr Justice Burns said that although “this certainly had not happened before” it did not mean that it was not allowed.
Mr Bailey was not present in court for Tuesday’s list management procedure. He is not required to attend court next Monday and was remanded on continuing bail until July 15th.
Last February, the High Court fixed May 5th as the start-date for the three-day hearing but it was adjourned due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The President of the High Court previously gave a general practice direction that only urgent business should be dealt with to minimise the number of people attending court.
This is the third time French authorities are seeking Mr Bailey’s surrender in relation to the death of Ms du Plantier, whose badly beaten body was found outside her holiday home in Schull in December 1996.
The 63-year-old Englishman, with an address at The Prairie, Liscaha, Schull, west Cork, was convicted of the French woman’s murder in his absence in a Paris court in May 2019. The three-judge Cour d’Assises in Paris accordingly imposed a 25-year prison sentence on Mr Bailey in his absence.
He was arrested at the Criminal Courts of Justice Building in December last year and remanded on bail after a High Court judge endorsed the third European Arrest Warrant seeking his extradition to France.
Mr Bailey denies any involvement in Ms du Plantier’s death. He did not attend the French court and had no legal representation in the proceedings, which he has described as a “farce”.
His senior counsel, Mr Munro, previously told the High Court that Mr Bailey will be opposing surrender on grounds related to “fundamental rights” and that the authorities’ previous two extradition attempts were “relevant” to their points of objection to the present attempt.
The court has also heard that Mr Bailey swore an affidavit setting out certain factual matters, particularly in relation to his health.
The Supreme Court refused to extradite Mr Bailey in 2012 holding that surrender was prohibited because the alleged offence was committed outside French territory and Irish law does not allow prosecution for the same offence when committed outside its territory by a non-Irish citizen.
A second French extradition request in respect of Mr Bailey was dismissed as an “abuse of process” by the High Court in 2017. On that occasion, Mr Justice Tony Hunt held that the “unique features” of the case justified “termination” of the proceedings.
Mr Justice Hunt said Ireland’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had concluded “long ago that there is no basis for either [a] charge or trial on this matter in this jurisdiction, and unusually, a comprehensive statement of reasons for this prosecutorial decision came into the public domain during the previous Supreme Court” case.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Independent Michael McNamara appointed chair of Covid-19 committee

Independent TD Michael McNamara has been appointed chair of the Covid-19 committee .
The Clare TD was propped up by Green Party TD Ossian Smyth .
Earlier the committee voted by 12 votes to six against Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane for chair of the committee .
Mr McNamara had abstained in the vote .
Mr Cullinane was nominated by the party ’ s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty .
The newly elected chair thanked the 19 member committee for selecting him and said he hoped the committee could operate on a collegial manner .
Fine Gael , Fianna Fáil and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee and each of the other parties and groups has one member .
The committee has been established to scrutinise and review the actions of the Government , State authorities and other agencies in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic .
The first meeting will be taken up with developing a programme of work for what are expected to be two to three two-hour sessions each time it meets .
The first witnesses expected to come before the committee are Minister for Health Simon Harris and Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan .

Three senior health officials are the first witnesses to be questioned by the new Oireachtas Covid-19 committee when it meets next week.
After a lengthy debate in private session, the 19 members of the committee agreed at their first meeting that Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan, director general of the HSE Paul Reid and secretary general of the Department of Health Jim Breslin would be the first witnesses to appear before the committee over two two-hour sessions.
They will be questioned about the issue of testing and tracing and Covid-19 in congregated settings, as well as plans for a return to work for sectors of the economy, including the construction industry, from next Monday.
In the third session, the Construction Industry Federation, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the Health and Safety Authority will be invited to attend to answer questions in relation to the opening up of the construction and other related sectors.
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The following week the committee is expected to discuss nursing homes and other care settings.
However the work programme has to go before the Dáil business committee which will decide if it can safely run three two-hour sessions on one day in the Dáil chamber, given the requirements to air the room. The business committee had originally approved two sessions but committee members said they would like to have three.
All parties and groups in the committee will be sending further proposals for the committee’s consideration.
Earlier, Independent TD Michael McNamara was appointed chair of the Covid-19 committee without a vote.
Commenting on the meeting which met for almost four hours, mainly in private session, Sinn Féin health spokeswoman Louise O’Reilly said “it is good that we will have a focus on those areas that are the most concerning – testing and tracing, congregated settings and the construction sector”.
Ms O’Reilly said she was particularly interested in making sure the voices of workers’ representatives from construction and healthcare were heard.
Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall welcomed the focus on the public health response and the “road map” for reopening the economy.
“There was a suggestion that we might have political people in first, Ministers and possibly the Taoiseach but most other members were strongly of the view that we needed to deal with those other issues first because they are the most pressing,” she said.
Speaking about his party’s support for newly elected chairman of the committee Michael McNamara, Labour Party TD Duncan Smith said the party wanted somebody in opposition “and we were very open to David Cullinane or Róisín Shortall. But McNamara rang last night and obviously we have a history with him.
“He is a barrister with a legal background and I was happy to support him but there was no discussion to keep Sinn Féin out. I’d have been happy to proceed with David as chair.”
Fianna Fáil health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said he was glad that “there is at least a Dáil committee back. The vacuum of political scrutiny is nobody’s fault but it’s very dangerous given the scale of decisions, social, civil liberties, health and economic that are being made”.
Fine Gael TD Fergus O’Dowd said it was a long meeting but “a lot of us are beginning to understand the perspective that individuals have and what their priorities are”.
Mr McNamara was proposed as chairman by Green Party TD Ossian Smyth.
The committee voted by 12 votes to six against Sinn Féin TD David Cullinane for chair of the committee. Mr McNamara had abstained in the vote. Mr Cullinane was nominated by the party's finance spokesman Pearse Doherty.
The newly elected chair thanked the 19 member committee for selecting him and said he hoped the committee could operate on a collegial manner.
Mr McNamara (46) is a former Labour TD who served from 2011 to 2016 when he lost his seat, but regained it in 2020.
A barrister and farmer based in Scarriff in Co, Clare he joined the Independent group of TDs in the the current Dáil. This is one of three groups of Independents and it comprises Mr McNamara, Marian Harkin, Joan Collins, Catherine Connolly, Thomas Pringle and Michael Fitzmaurice.
Mr McNamara, Ms Harkin and Mr Fitzmaurice represented the group in a two hour-meeting on government formation with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and described it afterwards as constructive but preliminary. Among the issues the group was pushing for were reform of the civil service and increased oversight of local government.
He had expressed an interest in becoming Ceann Comhairle but withdrew from the contest before the nominations closed.
The Clare TD was expelled from the parliamentary Labour party in 2015 when he voted against the government on the sale of Aer Lingus shares. It was his third time to vote against the party, but he was re-admitted the following year. He resigned from the party last year.
In November 2018 he won an appeal against a conviction for dangerous driving following an incident in December 2016.
He is married to fellow barrister Sarah Hillery, granddaughter of former president Paddy Hillery. Mr McNamara contested the 2011 general election against his father-in-law Dr John Hillery of Fianna Fáil.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Five-stage plan for exiting lockdown published in North

Northern Ireland will begin its exit from coronavirus lockdown starting with people encouraged to return to their workplace and ending with the opening of restaurants , cafes and pubs , it was announced on Tuesday .
First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill outlined in the Northern Assembly on Tuesday their five-stage plan for ending the coronavirus restrictions .
Unlike the Republic , the recovery plan does not set out dates for each of the five steps .
Executing the steps will be “ led by science and not by the calendar ” .
Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear that moving from stage to stage will hinge on the level of the transmission remaining below R1 – the level of transmission of the illness , also known as Covid-19 , which currently at 0.8 in the North - and the capacity of the health and social care services to deal with the virus .
In step one people who are unable to work from home will be encouraged to return to work on a phased basis .
Large outdoor retails centres such as garden centres will be allowed open .
Groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors subject to social distancing and , with the exception of people who are shielding , visits to immediate family will be allowed indoors , again where distancing is being followed .
Drive through church services will be permitted and churches can be open for private prayer .
Outdoor spaces and public sport amenities are to open while people can undertake activities such as walking , running , cycling , golf and tennis and some water activities .
Drive through cinemas also can open .
Non-food retail stores can open while groups of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Team sports training can resume on a non-contact basis in small groups .
Indoor activities involving limited contact of less than 10 minutes in duration will be permitted .
Outdoor activities of less than 10 minutes involving small groups of less than 10 people where it may be difficult to maintain social distancing will be permitted .
Public transport will continue but in order to avoid crowded trains and buses people will be encouraged to walk and cycle for short journeys .
The definition of “ key workers ” will be extended so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attend school .
There will be a phased return to office and onsite work .
On a part-time basis more children of “ priority cohorts ” will attend school .
In terms of family and community there can be gatherings of up to 30 people where distancing is maintained .
Indoor activities involving “ larger ” numbers of individuals who do not share a household connection will be allowed .
There will be a resumption of team sports training on a non-contact basis ; museums , galleries and libraries will open and concert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More retail centres can open such as hairdressers , fitness studios and tattoo/piercing businesses .
Schools will open for all children “ on a part time basis with a blended learning approach involving a combination of in-school and remote learning ” .
A wider range of gatherings will be permitted including church services .
There will be a resumption of competitive sports behind closed doors or “ with limitations on the number of spectators ” .
Leisure centres and other indoor facilities will open and outdoor concerts will be allowed on a restricted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with remote working still strongly encouraged and maintained where possible .
Restaurants , cafes and pubs can open “ subject to risk assessment , on a limited basis to start with ” .
Early years schools provision to be expanded to full-time basis .
People can meet in extended groups subject to social distancing .
There will be a resumption of close physical contact sports ; a return to competitive sport and full use of sporting facilities ; spectators can attend live events on a restricted basis ; and nightclubs and concerts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indoor gatherings of large numbers , and or more than ten minutes , where social distancing can not be easily maintained , will be permitted .

First Minister Arlene Foster (left) and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill arrive at Stormont prior to announcing the Executive’s approach to coronavirus decision-making. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Northern Ireland will begin its exit from coronavirus lockdown starting with people being encouraged to return to their workplace and ending with the opening of restaurants, cafes and pubs, it was announced on Tuesday.
First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill outlined in the Northern Assembly on Tuesday their five-stage plan for ending the coronavirus restrictions.
Unlike the Republic, the recovery plan does not set out dates for each of the five steps. Executing the steps will be “led by science and not by the calendar”.
Ms Foster and Ms O’Neill made clear that moving from stage to stage will hinge on the level of transmission remaining below R1 – the “R” value currently stands at 0.8 in the North – and the capacity of the health and social care services to deal with the virus. The R value refers to the number of people, on average, each person with the virus goes on to infect.
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The Ministers issued their plan on a day when the Department of Health reported that nine more people have died in Northern Ireland with the virus, also known as Covid-19, bringing the total number of fatalities to 447.
The department also reported that 44 more people tested positive for the virus, leaving the total number of confirmed cases at 4,193.
STEP 1
In step one people who are unable to work from home will be encouraged to return to work on a phased basis.
Large outdoor retail centres such as garden centres will be allowed to open.
Groups of four to six people can meet outdoors subject to social distancing and, with the exception of people who are shielding, visits to immediate family will be allowed indoors, again where distancing is being followed.
Drive-through church services will be permitted and churches can be open for private prayer.
Outdoor spaces and public sport amenities are to open while people can undertake activities such as walking, running, cycling, golf and tennis and some water activities. Drive-through cinemas can also open.
STEP 2
Non-food retail stores can open while groups of up to 10 can meet outdoors. Team sports training can resume on a non-contact basis in small groups.
Indoor activities involving limited contact of less than 10 minutes in duration will be permitted. Outdoor activities of less than 10 minutes involving small groups of less than 10 people where it may be difficult to maintain social distancing will be permitted.
Selected libraries and open-air museums can open.
Public transport will continue but in order to avoid crowded trains and buses people will be encouraged to walk and cycle for short journeys.
The definition of “key workers” will be extended so that more children of these workers can attend school.
STEP 3
There will be a phased return to office and onsite work.
On a part-time basis more children of “priority cohorts” will attend school.
In terms of family and community there can be gatherings of up to 30 people where distancing is maintained.
Indoor activities involving “larger” numbers of individuals who do not share a household connection will be allowed.
There will be a resumption of team sports training on a non-contact basis; museums, galleries and libraries will open and concert and theatre rehearsals will start again.
STEP 4
More retail centres can open such as hairdressers, fitness studios and tattoo/piercing businesses.
Schools will open for all children “on a part-time basis with a blended learning approach involving a combination of in-school and remote learning”.
A wider range of gatherings will be permitted including church services. There will be a resumption of competitive sports behind closed doors or “with limitations on the number of spectators”.
Leisure centres and other indoor facilities will open and outdoor concerts will be allowed on a restricted basis.
STEP 5
Everybody expected to return to work with remote working still strongly encouraged and maintained where possible.
Restaurants, cafes and pubs can open “subject to risk assessment, on a limited basis to start with”.
Early years school provision to be expanded to full-time basis.
Public transport operating a full service but “subject to ongoing risk assessment”.
People can meet in extended groups subject to social distancing.
There will be a resumption of close physical contact sports; a return to competitive sport and full use of sporting facilities; spectators can attend live events on a restricted basis; and nightclubs and concerts can resume on a limited basis.
Indoor gatherings of large numbers, and or more than 10 minutes, where social distancing cannot be easily maintained, will be permitted.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: Martin calls for test-and-trace system to be ‘considerably shortened’

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for the turnaround time for Covid-19 testing and contact tracing to be “ considerably shortened ” as they are key elements in the reopening of society .
When asked about the statistics for Covid-19 in other countries Mr Martin said he was not one for pillorying others , but that lessons could be learned from other countries .
“ We are not where we need to be yet for the reopening of the economy , ” he told Newstalk ’ s Pat Kenny Show on Tuesday morning .
Testing people for Covid-19 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average of about nine days , according to the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) , a multiple of the time most experts say the process needs to be to stop the virus spreading .
The median time from referring a person for a test to sending the result for contact tracing is five days , according to David Walsh , HSE national director of community operations .
The average time taken to then trace all the contacts of a confirmed case is four days , Mr Walsh told a National Public Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ although “ straightforward ” cases are dealt with more quickly .
Mr Walsh said this was “ an improving figure ” and would shorten with the automation of the process in relation to negative results .
Prof Mary Codd , an epidemiologist at University College Dublin ( UCD ) and head of the contact tracing centre on the campus , said it was vital test results for Covid-19 were turned around within 48 hours by the time people return to work next week .
The entire testing process must come to within 48 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 72 , in order to cut out the spread of the virus in the population , she said .
“ Otherwise actually we are likely to be looking at these sporadic outbreaks that may not be able to be contained.
” The process of sampling , testing , communication of results to a positive case , contact tracing and quarantine of contacts needs to be done within 72 hours , immunologist Dr Tomas Ryan of Trinity College Dublin has also said .
The Mental Health Commission said on Monday that mental health services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin , were awaiting test results from up to two weeks ago , while services in the northwest , southeast and south Dublin/Kildare were waiting more than a week .
On Monday , the president of the Irish College of General Practitioners ( ICGP ) , Dr Mary Favier , said last month test turnaround times were often more than two weeks .
Mr Walsh said the HSE ’ s target for testing turnaround times was “ three days or below ” .
By the end of this week , the time it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and process improvements would then be undertaken to reduce it further .
The figure could also be improved if people experiencing symptoms responded earlier by seeking a test , according to Dr Holohan .
He said an average of four days passed between the time a person experienced symptoms consistent with Covid-19 and the time a sample was taken .
The deaths of another 15 patients were announced by NPHET at its briefing on Monday , the second-lowest figure in over six weeks .
There have now been 1,467 Covid-19 related deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the disease were also reported , including 60 notifications in the past 24 hours .
The new cases bring the total number of cases to 23,135 .
On the issue of masks , Mr Martin said his sister in Singapore had been “ metaphorically screaming ” at him for some time to wear a facemask .
There was a different system in place there , he said with far more transparency and considerable compliance .
This was probably because of their experience with Sars after which they were much more experienced with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
NPHET is developing guidelines on the wearing of face-coverings in some settings but Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said the proposals would not be mandatory .
Meanwhile , World Health Organisation ( WHO ) spokeswoman Dr Margaret Harris has said that all countries need to ramp up their Covid-19 testing and contact tracing as they are essential parts of the puzzle of coping with the virus .
Dr Harris told RTÉ ’ s Today programme that masks were not the chief protection against the virus and the WHO had not said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about research conducted for the Department of Health which indicated that 43 per cent of the Irish population believed the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic is over , she said the virus can continue to do “ very , very bad things to us ” if the public does not heed the warnings the virus has sent ” .
While staying at home was important , everyone would now have to learn to live in a new way that stops the virus from causing harm .
Good overall hygiene , proper hand washing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ methods of protection , she said .
Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he is “ very concerned ” about the Department of Health ’ s study .
“ I very much get it , this is something that ’ s been with us for quite a period of time , ” he told the Dermot and Dave Show on Today FM on Tuesday .
“ We ’ ve seen a lot of progress made by people around the country , and as a result the country is in a much better @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been .
The Irish people have saved thousands of lives .
However , that doesn ’ t mean that anybody can say that we ’ re through the worst of it because quite frankly , an awful lot is still not known about this virus .
We need to mark the progress because we all need hope , but we can ’ t get a bit cocksure of ourselves because that would be really dangerous.
” Mr Harris said he is hopeful about the easing of restrictions some of which are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few weeks and months will depend a lot of individual behaviour .
He said he is concerned about “ some anticipatory behaviour in advance of next week .
If we start getting ahead of ourselves , the risk is that we ’ ll put the whole plan in jeopardy .
”

The World Health Organization (WHO) says "extreme vigilance" is needed as countries begin to exit from coronavirus lockdowns to avoid a second wave of infections. Germany has reported an increase in new infections after easing restrictions.
The chief medical officer has indicated there may be a role for wearing face masks in retail settings, on public transport and elsewhere that social distancing is challenging.
Speaking at the daily briefing on Covid-19 on Tuesday evening, Dr Tony Holohan said more information on guidelines for use of facemasks will be forthcoming on Thursday, after the scheduled meeting of the National Public Health Advisory Team (NPHET).
“There will be a role for face coverings that are not of a medical grade,” he said, “perhaps in retail environments, public transport and so on.”
He was speaking after the Department of Health confirmed a further 24 deaths, bringing the total number of people who have died with Covid-19 to 1,488. A further 107 new cases were confirmed in the State, bringing that total to 23,242. The number of new cases was the lowest for several weeks, and represented a growth rate of just 0.5 per cent.
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Dr Holohan said he was “hopeful” that measures can be further relaxed next Monday, but he would not make a final decision on this until later in the week. “We want to see further progress, and we would still point to the fact we have over 70 people in intensive care units and almost 600 people in hospitals with this disease.”
The number of tests done for Covid-19 in the State is now 258,808, an increase of 44,047 in the last week. Of tests carried out in that time, 1,466 were positive, giving a positivity rate of 3.3 per cent.
Giving an update on the number of clusters of infection in different settings across the State, Dr Holohan said there were 428 clusters in residential care, 245 of which in nursing homes. Some 937 residents have died, of which 815 were in nursing homes. Of that figure, 171 people from long term residential facilities have died in hospital, of which 143 were from nursing homes.
There are five clusters in prisons, three clusters inthe Roma community and five clusters among the Travellinng community. In direct provision centres, there are 12 clusters, accounting for 149 cases, and in meat processing plants, there are also 12 clusters, accounting for some 500 cases.
The NPHET representatives defended the progress made on testing and tracing, where average times to process cases and conduct contact tracing still lag significantly behind the recommendations of experts who say the entire process should be completed within about three days.
“We know we need to get better but it’s a huge improvement on where we were,” said Dr Cillian De Gascun, head of the National Virus Reference Laboratory (NVRL) and a member of NPHET.
Dr De Gascun also indicated the criteria for testing could be loosened again, as recent changes haven’t “ swamped the system as it has in the past”.
“We’ve still plenty of spare capacity, probably gives us a little bit of room in the coming weeks to broaden out the case definition some more,” he said.
Colm Henry, chief clinical officer at the HSE, warned that the health system will profoundly change due to the impact of Covid-19 and these changes would have to be made to work alongside the virus in the future. “It will never be business as usual again,” he said. Asked about the likely resumption of screening programmes such as BreastCheck and CervicalCheck, he cautioned it would be some time before they resumed, and that the impact of the crisis would result in changes to the systems.
Meanwhile the latest HSE figures show the number of confirmed and suspected hospitalisations over coronavirus has increased.
As of 8pm on Monday evening there were 826 patients hospitalised over coronavirus, 529 patients were hospitalised with confirmed cases while 297 were suspected cases.
On Sunday there were 791 patients in hospital over coronavirus; 545 confirmed cases and 246 suspected cases. The latest HSE report shows Dublin hospitals have the highest number of confirmed cases on site with the Mater hospital having 79, followed by Tallaght Hospital (69), St James’s Hospital (62) and Beaumont Hospital (51). University Hospital Limerick has the highest number of confirmed cases outside of Dublin with 47 and has the highest number of suspected cases in the countryat 67, followed by St James’s Hospital (37) and Letterkenny Hospital at 18.
Testing and tracing
Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin has called for the turnaround time for Covid-19 testing and contact tracing to be "considerably shortened" as they are key elements in the reopening of society.
When asked about the statistics for Covid-19 in other countries Mr Martin said he was not one for pillorying others, but that lessons could be learned from other countries.
“We are not where we need to be yet for the reopening of the economy,” he told Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show on Tuesday morning.
Testing people for Covid-19 and tracing all their contacts is taking an average of about nine days, according to the Health Service Executive (HSE), a multiple of the time most experts say the process needs to be to stop the virus spreading.
The median time from referring a person for a test to sending the result for contact tracing is five days, according to David Walsh, HSE national director of community operations.
The average time taken to then trace all the contacts of a confirmed case is four days, Mr Walsh told a National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) briefing, although "straightforward" cases are dealt with more quickly.
Mr Walsh said this was “an improving figure” and would shorten with the automation of the process in relation to negative results.
Prof Mary Codd, an epidemiologist at University College Dublin (UCD) and head of the contact tracing centre on the campus, said it was vital test results for Covid-19 were turned around within 48 hours by the time people return to work next week.
The entire testing process must come to within 48 hours, or certainly no longer than 72, in order to cut out the spread of the virus in the population, she said. “Otherwise actually we are likely to be looking at these sporadic outbreaks that may not be able to be contained.”
The process of sampling, testing, communication of results to a positive case, contact tracing and quarantine of contacts needs to be done within 72 hours, immunologist Dr Tomas Ryan of Trinity College Dublin has also said.
Department of Health Study
Meanwhile, World Health Organisation (WHO) spokeswoman Dr Margaret Harris has said that all countries need to ramp up their Covid-19 testing and contact tracing as they are essential parts of the puzzle of coping with the virus.
Dr Harris told RTÉ’s Today programme that masks were not the chief protection against the virus and the WHO had not said that they should be compulsory.
Asked about research conducted for the Department of Health which indicated that 43 per cent of the Irish population believed the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic is over, she said the virus can continue to do “very, very bad things to us” if the public does not heed the warnings the virus has sent”.
While staying at home was important, everyone would now have to learn to live in a new way that stops the virus from causing harm. Good overall hygiene, proper hand washing and social distancing continued to be important methods of protection, she said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-12--Coronavirus: INMO urges increase in nursing college places, warns of staff pressures

Ireland will face “ even more severe ” staffing pressures in the health service if the number of nursing and midwifery undergraduate places are not increased , the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) has warned .
The call comes on International Day of the Nurse , a day to celebrate the conribution of those working in the profession .
Of the 3,700 nurses and midwives who joined the nursing and midwifery register in Ireland last year , 13 per cent had trained elsewhere in the EU , with nearly half – 1,189 – having trained outside of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) The organisation warns the global pandemic means a likely drop in overseas recruitment , resulting in extra pressures in nursing and midwifery staffing in coming years .
To combat this , the union is calling for an urgent increase in the number of undergraduate nursing and midwifery places and a clear message that a moratorium , pause or any other measure to slow down recruitment can not be countenanced .
There are roughly 1,800 spaces on nursing and midwifery courses available each year .
In 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as their first-preference choice in the CAO .
Phil Ní Sheaghdha , INMO general secretary , said they are “ deeply humbled by the strong public support ” of its members .
“ We must ensure that frontline staff are given the support and resources they need to do their job .
To provide safe care , we need to build up our staffing levels , ” she said .
“ Ireland must continue to recruit staff from around the world but also to train more ourselves .
We train far fewer nurses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we know that thousands more want to join the nursing family.
” Ms Ní Sheaghdha said the new government can increase undergraduate places and that the parties negotiating to form a government will also need to look at structure and retention .
“ We ’ re saying to government – this isn ’ t something that can wait or else we ’ re going to be in serious trouble this winter , ” she told Newstalk Breakfast .
“ Every winter there is pressure on the health service with normal illnesses , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it also looks like we ’ re going to be running two services.
” Hospitals now have two services – Covid and non-Covid , with emergency departments now divided in two – and this meant that more staff would be required , she said .
President Michael D Higgins has commended nurses and said their work “ is often invaluable ” .
“ Theirs is a fundamental role , and currently it is a critical role , as countries around the world are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and its tragic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There can be no doubt that working in a profession such as nursing brings profound responsibilities , and is demanding physically , intellectually and emotionally .
To embark on such a career requires certain qualities in order for it to be a fulfilling and enriching experience for both patient and professional.
” He said it is a role people choose to fill because the have “ the strength of character , the compassion and the commitment to make such a positive contribution to society ” .
The President said : “ Having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knowledge and skills to relieve a person ’ s suffering is such a positive contribution to make , and one we have come to appreciate more fully in recent times.
” The Day of the Nurse also falls on the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale , known as the founder of modern nursing .

Ireland will face "even more severe" staffing pressures in the health service if the number of nursing and midwifery undergraduate places are not increased, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has warned.
The call comes on International Day of the Nurse, a day to celebrate the conribution of those working in the profession.
Of the 3,700 nurses and midwives who joined the nursing and midwifery register in Ireland last year, 13 per cent had trained elsewhere in the EU, with nearly half – 1,189 – having trained outside of the EU, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO)
The organisation warns the global pandemic means a likely drop in overseas recruitment, resulting in extra pressures in nursing and midwifery staffing in coming years.
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To combat this, the union is calling for an urgent increase in the number of undergraduate nursing and midwifery places and a clear message that a moratorium, pause or any other measure to slow down recruitment cannot be countenanced.
There are roughly 1,800 spaces on nursing and midwifery courses available each year. In 2019, 5,324 students put nursing or midwifery as their first-preference choice in the CAO.
Phil Ní Sheaghdha, INMO general secretary, said they are “deeply humbled by the strong public support” of its members.
“We must ensure that frontline staff are given the support and resources they need to do their job. To provide safe care, we need to build up our staffing levels,” she said.
“Ireland must continue to recruit staff from around the world but also to train more ourselves. We train far fewer nurses and midwives than we need, but we know that thousands more want to join the nursing family.”
Ms Ní Sheaghdha said the new government can increase undergraduate places and that the parties negotiating to form a government will also need to look at structure and retention.
“We’re saying to government – this isn’t something that can wait or else we’re going to be in serious trouble this winter,” she told Newstalk Breakfast.
“Every winter there is pressure on the health service with normal illnesses, that’s not going to change, but it also looks like we’re going to be running two services.”
Hospitals now have two services – Covid and non-Covid, with emergency departments now divided in two – and this meant that more staff would be required, she said.
President Michael D Higgins has commended nurses and said their work "is often invaluable".
“Theirs is a fundamental role, and currently it is a critical role, as countries around the world are dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic crisis and its tragic consequences,” said Mr Higgins.
“There can be no doubt that working in a profession such as nursing brings profound responsibilities, and is demanding physically, intellectually and emotionally. To embark on such a career requires certain qualities in order for it to be a fulfilling and enriching experience for both patient and professional.”
He said it is a role people choose to fill because the have “the strength of character, the compassion and the commitment to make such a positive contribution to society”.
The President said: “Having a career in which you use your knowledge and skills to relieve a person’s suffering is such a positive contribution to make, and one we have come to appreciate more fully in recent times.”
The Day of the Nurse also falls on the 200th birth anniversary of Florence Nightingale, known as the founder of modern nursing.