theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Man caught with loaded handgun had previously pointed a weapon at gardaí

A man who was caught with a loaded handgun by members of the Armed Response Unit had previously pointed a loaded shotgun at gardai and held a taxi driver at gunpoint during an attempted getaway following an armed robbery .
Trevor Byrne ( 40 ) , of Cappagh Road , Finglas , Dublin 11 faces a minimum of five years in prison having pleaded guilty at the three-judge Special Criminal Court to possession of a loaded 9mm Luger-caliber Radom 35 firearm at his home in Woodford Grove , Clondalkin , Dublin 22 on November 15th 2019 .
Byrne went on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month but six days into the trial he decided to plead guilty to possession of the handgun and the plea was accepted by the State .
Two charges of possession of ammunition and another of possession of cash that he was reckless towards , or knew to be , the proceeds of crime , will be taken into account by the judges when they pass sentence on December 21st next .
At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday morning Detective Superintendent Derek Maguire told prosecuting counsel John Byrne SC that Trevor Byrne has 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in April 2005 when he was convicted of various offences including possession of a loaded double-barrel shotgun , unlawful seizure of vehicles and robbery of an off-licence .
The superintendent said Byrne had robbed an off-licence in Santry and was pursued by gardaí .
When Garda cars managed to block him in he pointed a gun at gardai and got into an unmarked garda car in a bid to escape .
He also held a gun to a taxi-driver ’ s head during the pursuit but was eventually stopped and arrested by gardai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eight years for those offences and was released in November 2009 .
In relation to the offence currently before the court , the superintendent said gardai received information on November 15th , 2019 that Byrne had a firearm at a house in Clondalkin .
Having obtained a warrant , members of the Armed Response Unit forced entry to the house and found Byrne and another man sitting on a couch in a cabin to the rear of the property .
Byrne did not cooperate or comply with directions when gardaí ordered him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not answer questions when arrested , detained and interviewed at Clondalkin Garda station .
Gardaí who searched the house discovered the handgun underneath the couch where Byrne had been sitting .
His DNA was subsequently matched to DNA found on the gun and to DNA found on a balaclava and gloves that were on the couch .
His fingerprint was also present on a shoebox which contained two further rounds of ammunition that were designed for use in the same handgun .
The handgun contained five rounds plus one in the barrel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ballistics experts said the gun and ammunition were in good condition and the gun had been recently cleaned .
There is , the superintendent said , no lawful means in Ireland to obtain or possess the handgun and ammunition that were seized .
When Byrne ’ s pockets were checked they contained €3,050 which gardai say is the proceeds of crime and should be forfeit to the State .
During Byrne ’ s first five interviews he did not respond to questions and during his sixth interview gardai used special provisions under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to draw inferences from an accused person ’ s failure to answer certain questions .
When questions were put to him he still did not respond , the superintendent said .
John Byrne SC for the State said the minimum sentence for the offence is five years imprisonment and the maximum is 14 years .
He said the DPP considers the offence in the middle range and therefore the headline sentence should be set at seven to ten years .
Byrne ’ s defence lawyer Conor Devally SC will outline mitigating factors to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sentencing .
Mr Justice Tony Hunt , presiding , with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh , said he doubted whether “ it would be possible to dispute ” the headline sentence suggested by the DPP .

Byrne went on trial at the Central Criminal Court last month but six days into the trial he decided to plead guilty to possession of the handgun and the plea was accepted by the State. Photograph: iStock
A man who was caught with a loaded handgun by members of the Armed Response Unit had previously pointed a loaded shotgun at gardai and held a taxi driver at gunpoint during an attempted getaway following an armed robbery.
Trevor Byrne (40), of Cappagh Road, Finglas, Dublin 11 faces a minimum of five years in prison having pleaded guilty at the three-judge Special Criminal Court to possession of a loaded 9mm Luger-caliber Radom 35 firearm at a house in Woodford Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on November 15th 2019.
Byrne went on trial at the Central Criminal Court last month but six days into the trial he decided to plead guilty to possession of the handgun and the plea was accepted by the State. Two charges of possession of ammunition and another of possession of cash that he was reckless towards, or knew to be, the proceeds of crime, will be taken into account by the judges when they pass sentence on December 21st next.
At a sentencing hearing on Wednesday morning Detective Superintendent Derek Maguire told prosecuting counsel John Byrne SC that Trevor Byrne has 40 previous convictions.
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The most relevant occurred in April 2005 when he was convicted of various offences including possession of a loaded double-barrel shotgun, unlawful seizure of vehicles and robbery of an off-licence. The superintendent said Byrne had robbed an off-licence in Santry and was pursued by gardaí. When Garda cars managed to block him in he pointed a gun at gardai and got into an unmarked garda car in a bid to escape.
He also held a gun to a taxi-driver’s head during the pursuit but was eventually stopped and arrested by gardai. He received sentences ranging from two to eight years for those offences and was released in November 2009.
In relation to the offence currently before the court, the superintendent said gardai received information on November 15th, 2019 that Byrne had a firearm at a house in Clondalkin. Having obtained a warrant, members of the Armed Response Unit forced entry to the house and found Byrne and another man sitting on a couch in a cabin to the rear of the property.
Byrne did not cooperate or comply with directions when gardaí ordered him to get on the ground and he did not answer questions when arrested, detained and interviewed at Clondalkin Garda station. Gardaí who searched the house discovered the handgun underneath the couch where Byrne had been sitting.
His DNA was subsequently matched to DNA found on the gun and to DNA found on a balaclava and gloves that were on the couch. His fingerprint was also present on a shoebox which contained two further rounds of ammunition that were designed for use in the same handgun.
The handgun contained five rounds plus one in the barrel that was ready to be fired. Ballistics experts said the gun and ammunition were in good condition and the gun had been recently cleaned. There is, the superintendent said, no lawful means in Ireland to obtain or possess the handgun and ammunition that were seized. When Byrne's pockets were checked they contained €3,050 which gardai say is the proceeds of crime and should be forfeit to the State.
During Byrne’s first five interviews he did not respond to questions and during his sixth interview gardai used special provisions under the Criminal Justice Act that allow a court to draw inferences from an accused person’s failure to answer certain questions. When questions were put to him he still did not respond, the superintendent said. John Byrne SC for the State said the minimum sentence for the offence is five years imprisonment and the maximum is 14 years. He said the DPP considers the offence in the middle range and therefore the headline sentence should be set at seven to ten years.
Byrne’s defence lawyer Conor Devally SC will outline mitigating factors to the court on December 21 ahead of sentencing. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Michael Walsh, said he doubted whether “it would be possible to dispute” the headline sentence suggested by the DPP.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Brexit: ‘Grace period’ agreed to ease imports for trusted traders in North

A trusted trader scheme has been agreed for Northern Ireland with the aim of easing food imports after January 1st and offering a grace period for the implementation of some Brexit-related checks on goods , The Irish Times understands .
If no deal can be reached on a free trade agreement between the EU and the UK , supermarkets in the North had feared they would have to pay tariffs up front on imports from Britain , only to claim the cost back later in rebates .
There were concerns the sheer paperwork would drive up costs of basic goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Britain unfeasible .
Under the new scheme , importers deemed trusted traders will be able to skip the procedure , with goods expected to carry a label stating they are for sale only in Northern Ireland .
The scheme is expected to cover the vast majority of imports on goods intended for the Northern Irish market from Britain , with the rest able to claim back tariffs under the original system .
There will be a sunset clause of 3½ years on the arrangement , meaning the EU could pull the plug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smuggling into the single market .
This review by the joint UK-EU committee on the protocol would happen just before the Northern Ireland Assembly would be due to have a vote on whether to continue the protocol arrangements .
In addition , there will be a grace period of implementation of export health certificates on agrifood products brought into the North from Britain , a costly procedure also feared to have implications on the viability of food imports across the Irish Sea as it would require individual inspections for goods such as ham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no provision for the import of high-risk goods such as fresh , unfrozen meat or ready meals into the single market from outside the EU , potentially barring imports into the North from Britain .
On this issue , there will also be a grace period of implementation to allow supermarkets to adjust supply chains to source such goods elsewhere .
The text outlining the details has yet to be publicly released , but some aspects have emerged from internal briefings by the co-chairs of the joint committee charged with implementing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maros Sefcovic and British cabinet minister Michael Gove .
Mr Gove said on Wednesday the deal struck with the European Commission on the implementation of the withdrawal agreement “ puts the people of Northern Ireland first ” .
Mr Gove said there would be no additional requirements placed on Northern Ireland businesses .
He told the House of Commons : “ This deal protects unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to their most important market as the prime minister underlined .
“ This had to be protected in full and that meant removing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain .
“ As for what our agreement will do , there will be no additional requirements placed on Northern Ireland businesses with a very limited and specific exception of trade in endangered species and conflict diamonds.
” He said that businesses in Northern Ireland would be free of all tariffs on imports from Britain .
He told MPs : “ The deal safeguards Northern Ireland ’ s place in the UK customs territory .
As recently as July , the commission had envisaged a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I quote , ‘ all goods brought into Northern Ireland would be considered to be at risk are as such subject to the common customs tariff ’ .
“ If that had been implemented , that would have raised the prospect of a 58 per cent tariff on a pint of milk going from Scotland to a supermarket in Strabane or 96 per cent on a bag of sugar going from Liverpool to the shops of Belfast .
“ As we ’ ve repeatedly made clear , this could never have been an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m pleased to say that under the agreement that we ’ ve reached , Northern Ireland businesses selling to consumers or using goods in Northern Ireland will be free of all tariffs .
“ Whether that ’ s Nissan cars from Sunderland or lamb from Montgomeryshire , internal UK trade will be protected as we promised whether we have a free trade agreement with the EU or not.
” The British government and European Commission reached the agreement this week on how to practically implement arrangements for Northern Ireland agreed last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contentious laws overriding the withdrawal agreement .
There will be an estimated 15 EU officials based in Northern Ireland to ensure the protocol is enforced , and controls can take place without prior notification , at any time , according to an internal EU briefing .
The British side has not agreed to a permanent EU headquarters for them to work from – a politically contentious issue – but there are expected to be workarounds such as the use of offices in another building .
EU institutions will have remote access to UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedures from afar , and share this data with member states to ensure trust that the defacto Irish Sea border of the single market is being effectively controlled .
Border checks on goods from Britain entering Northern Ireland will take place at four border control posts , understood to be Port of Larne , Foyle port , Belfast harbour and Warrenpoint port .
Two of them are yet to be completed but will operate as temporary structures , and will inspected by the European Commission .
The British government has set out a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Additional reporting : PA

British cabinet minister Michael Gove said there would be no additional requirements placed on Northern Ireland businesses. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images
A trusted trader scheme has been agreed for Northern Ireland with the aim of easing food imports after January 1st and offering a grace period for the implementation of some Brexit-related checks on goods.
If no deal can be reached on a free trade agreement between the EU and the UK, supermarkets in the North had feared they would have to pay tariffs up front on imports from Britain, only to claim the cost back later in rebates. There were concerns the sheer paperwork would drive up costs of basic goods in the North and make some imports from Britain unfeasible.
Under the new scheme, importers deemed trusted traders will be able to skip the procedure, with goods expected to carry a label stating they are for sale only in Northern Ireland.
The scheme is expected to cover the vast majority of imports on goods intended for the Northern Irish market from Britain, with the rest able to claim back tariffs under the original system.
READ MORE
There will be a sunset clause of 3½ years on the arrangement, meaning the EU could pull the plug if they believe it is leading to smuggling into the single market. This review by the joint UK-EU committee on the protocol would happen just before the Northern Ireland Assembly would be due to have a vote on whether to continue the protocol arrangements.
In addition, there will be a grace period of implementation of export health certificates on agrifood products brought into the North from Britain, a costly procedure also feared to have implications on the viability of food imports across the Irish Sea as it would require individual inspections for goods such as ham sandwiches.
Under EU rules, there is no provision for the import of high-risk goods such as fresh, unfrozen meat or ready meals into the single market from outside the EU, potentially barring imports into the North from Britain.
On this issue, there will also be a grace period of implementation to allow supermarkets to adjust supply chains to source such goods elsewhere.
The text outlining the details has yet to be publicly released, but some aspects have emerged from internal briefings by the co-chairs of the joint committee charged with implementing the agreement, the European Commission's Maros Sefcovic and British cabinet minister Michael Gove.
Mr Gove said on Wednesday the deal struck with the European Commission on the implementation of the withdrawal agreement "puts the people of Northern Ireland first".
Mr Gove said there would be no additional requirements placed on Northern Ireland businesses.
He told the House of Commons: “This deal protects unfettered access for Northern Ireland businesses to their most important market as the prime minister underlined.
“This had to be protected in full and that meant removing any prospect of export declarations for Northern Ireland goods moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain.
“As for what our agreement will do, there will be no additional requirements placed on Northern Ireland businesses with a very limited and specific exception of trade in endangered species and conflict diamonds.”
He said that businesses in Northern Ireland would be free of all tariffs on imports from Britain.
He told MPs: “The deal safeguards Northern Ireland’s place in the UK customs territory. As recently as July, the commission had envisaged a default tariff scenario in which, and I quote, ‘all goods brought into Northern Ireland would be considered to be at risk are as such subject to the common customs tariff’.
"If that had been implemented, that would have raised the prospect of a 58 per cent tariff on a pint of milk going from Scotland to a supermarket in Strabane or 96 per cent on a bag of sugar going from Liverpool to the shops of Belfast.
“As we’ve repeatedly made clear, this could never have been an acceptable outcome. So, I’m pleased to say that under the agreement that we’ve reached, Northern Ireland businesses selling to consumers or using goods in Northern Ireland will be free of all tariffs.
“Whether that’s Nissan cars from Sunderland or lamb from Montgomeryshire, internal UK trade will be protected as we promised whether we have a free trade agreement with the EU or not.”
The British government and European Commission reached the agreement this week on how to practically implement arrangements for Northern Ireland agreed last year, allowing Downing Street to scrap plans for contentious laws overriding the withdrawal agreement.
There will be an estimated 15 EU officials based in Northern Ireland to ensure the protocol is enforced, and controls can take place without prior notification, at any time, according to an internal EU briefing.
The British side has not agreed to a permanent EU headquarters for them to work from – a politically contentious issue – but there are expected to be workarounds such as the use of offices in another building.
EU institutions will have remote access to UK databases, allowing them to monitor customs procedures from afar, and share this data with member states to ensure trust that the defacto Irish Sea border of the single market is being effectively controlled.
Border checks on goods from Britain entering Northern Ireland will take place at four border control posts, understood to be Port of Larne, Foyle port, Belfast harbour and Warrenpoint port.
Two of them are yet to be completed but will operate as temporary structures, and will inspected by the European Commission. The British government has set out a construction schedule for their completion.
In the House of Commons on Wednesday, Labour said the documents released by the UK government suggested there would be a “range of checks” coming in on goods moving between Britain and the North and that there could be further upheaval in the new year.
Rachel Reeves, Opposition shadow minister to Mr Gove, said: “Could the minister explain why today’s documents confirm that on trade from GB-NI, there will indeed be a range of checks and indeed the trusted trader scheme will be removed after 3½ years and reviewed then, with further uncertainty at that point.
“And indeed the exemption of agri-food checks are only available for three months. So can the minister tell us what guarantees there are with prices and availability of fresh food supplies in Northern Ireland after April 1st, and will custom checks be required just three months into 2021?
“This all begs the question, did the prime minister actually know what he had signed up to last year and gave false assurances to this House or did he simply not care?” – Additional reporting: PA


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Most Irish consumers say they will shop locally this Christmas

The vast majority of Irish consumers want to shop locally this Christmas to support businesses in their community and more than half say they will do most if not all of their shopping close to home this year .
According to new research from Visa 76 per cent of consumers plan to make a conscious effort to shop local following the relaxing of restrictions to Level 3 last week .
It also says that 86 per cent of consumers are worried about the future of local businesses in their community and express concern that the impact of the pandemic might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent say they will do most , if not all , of their shopping with local stores this Christmas with many shoppers keen to repay local businesses for going above and beyond during lockdown .
The survey shows that 76 per cent of the public praise shops for providing support to their community while 79 per cent hailed shops in their community for delivered essential food and items to vulnerable customers during the crisis .
The research suggests that two thirds of Irish people have noticed local businesses adapting services to offer online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures , with three quarters saying they had increased peace because local shops had adopted measures such as plexiglass screens and mask wearing .
Consumers appear keen to support local businesses wherever possible , with 75 per cent of people saying they feel better about themselves when shopping locally , as they are supporting a store in their community .
A third of those polled said they prefer to shop local because they know where their money is going while a similar number said the personal touch they receive is the reason the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While , for many of us , shopping locally is simply a convenient way to purchase goods and services , for local business owners , it ’ s the lifeline they rely on , especially in these challenging times , ” said Visa ’ s Ireland manager Philip Konopik .
He said Christmas was a crucial trading period and it was asking the public “ to consider doing more of their Christmas shopping with local businesses , either in-store or online , and help to provide a vital boost to our local communities @ @

The research suggests that two thirds of Irish people have noticed local businesses adapting services to offer online shopping as well as investing in safety measures. Photograph: iStock
The vast majority of Irish consumers want to shop locally this Christmas to support businesses in their community and more than half say they will do most if not all of their shopping close to home this year.
According to new research from Visa 76 per cent of consumers plan to make a conscious effort to shop local following the relaxing of restrictions to Level 3 last week.
It also says that 86 per cent of consumers are worried about the future of local businesses in their community and express concern that the impact of the pandemic might hurt their local communities.
52 per cent say they will do most, if not all, of their shopping with local stores this Christmas with many shoppers keen to repay local businesses for going above and beyond during lockdown.
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The survey shows that 76 per cent of the public praise shops for providing support to their community while 79 per cent hailed shops in their community for delivered essential food and items to vulnerable customers during the crisis .
The research suggests that two thirds of Irish people have noticed local businesses adapting services to offer online shopping as well as investing in safety measures, with three quarters saying they had increased peace because local shops had adopted measures such as plexiglass screens and mask wearing.
Consumers appear keen to support local businesses wherever possible, with 75 per cent of people saying they feel better about themselves when shopping locally, as they are supporting a store in their community.
A third of those polled said they prefer to shop local because they know where their money is going while a similar number said the personal touch they receive is the reason the have started to shop locally.
"While, for many of us, shopping locally is simply a convenient way to purchase goods and services, for local business owners, it's the lifeline they rely on, especially in these challenging times," said Visa's Ireland manager Philip Konopik.
He said Christmas was a crucial trading period and it was asking the public “to consider doing more of their Christmas shopping with local businesses, either in-store or online, and help to provide a vital boost to our local communities.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Pandemic-linked fall in emissions will have negligible impact on climate, UN report finds

The world is still heading for a temperature rise in excess of 3 degrees this century despite a dip in carbon emissions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic , according to the UN Environment Programme .
Such a rise would make much of the planet unliveable .
A “ green pandemic recovery ” , however , could cut up to 25 per cent off predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions , the annual UNEP emissions gap report finds .
This would bring the world closer to meeting the 2-degree goal of the Paris climate agreement .
If governments invest in climate action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerging net-zero commitments with strengthened pledges at the UN climate talks in Glasgow next November , they can bring emissions to levels “ broadly consistent with the 2-degree goal ” .
But a large gap between the action countries have pledged and emissions cuts needed to meet the goals remains – and major economies are not even on track to deliver on promised measures .
By combining a green recovery with swift moves to include new net-zero commitments in updated nationally determined contributions ( NDCs ) under the Paris Agreement , and backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , governments could still in time attain the more-ambitious 1.5-degree goal ” , it concludes .
“ 2020 is on course to be one of the warmest on record , while wildfires , storms and droughts continue to wreak havoc , ” said Inger Andersen , UNEP ’ s executive director .
“ However , UNEP ’ s emissions gap report shows a green pandemic recovery can take a huge slice out of greenhouse gas emissions and help slow climate change.
” She urged governments to back a green recovery in the next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significantly their climate ambitions in 2021 .
The UN is staging a global summit on Saturday to allow governments declare their scaled-up ambitions going into a critical year for the agreement .
The report assesses the gap between anticipated emissions and levels consistent with the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global warming this century to well below 2 degrees and pursuing 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial era levels .
Total emissions in 2019 , including land-use change , reached a new high of 59.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent .
Global emissions have grown 1.4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average , with a more rapid increase of 2.6 per cent in 2019 due to a large increase in forest fires .
As a result of reduced travel , lower industrial activity and lower electricity generation this year due to Covid-19 , emissions are predicted to fall by up to 7 per cent .
However , this dip only translates to a 0.01 degree reduction of global warming by 2050 .
A green recovery , however , can cut up to a quarter of emissions likely in 2030 based on pre-Covid policies – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , instead of the predicted 59 gigatonnes – “ far outstripping emission reductions foreseen in unconditional NDCs ” , which based on predicted emissions in 2030 would leave the world on track for a 3.2-degree rise .
It would also put emissions within the range that gives a 66 per cent chance of holding temperatures to below 2 degrees , though would be insufficient to achieve the 1.5 degree goal , it finds .
The UNEP report calls for “ direct support for zero-emissions technologies and infrastructure ; reducing fossil fuel subsidies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nature-based solutions – including large-scale landscape restoration and reforestation ” .
It finds action on a green recovery has been limited so far .
Around one-quarter of G20 members have dedicated shares of their spending , up to 3 per cent of GDP , to low-carbon measures .
The report , nonetheless , finds the growing number of countries – including Ireland – committing to net-zero emissions by mid-century is a “ significant and encouraging development ” .
To remain feasible and credible , however , these commitments “ must be urgently translated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflected in NDCs ” , it adds .
Levels of ambition to meet the Paris Agreement “ still must be roughly tripled for the 2-degree pathway and increased at least five-fold for the 1.5-degree pathway ” .
Shipping and aviation sectors , accounting for 5 per cent of global emissions , require attention , the UNEP warns .
Improvements in technology and operations can increase fuel efficiency , but projected increases in demand mean this will not result in decarbonisation and absolute reductions of CO2 .
“ Both sectors need to combine energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fossil fuel.
” Stronger climate action must include changes in consumption behaviour by the private sector and individuals .
Around two-thirds of emissions are linked to private households , when using consumption-based accounting .
The mobility , residential and food sectors each contribute about 20 per cent of lifestyle emissions .
The wealthy bear greatest responsibility , it underlines ; emissions of the richest 1 per cent of the global population account for more than twice the combined share of the poorest 50 per cent .
“ This group will need to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay in line with the Paris Agreement targets.
” To ensure lower carbon consumption , it suggests “ replacing domestic short haul flights with rail , incentives and infrastructure to enable cycling and car-sharing , improving the energy efficiency of housing and policies to reduce food waste ” .
To date , the opening for using recovery measures to accelerate a green transition has largely been missed , it says .
Too many NDCs are “ woefully inadequate ” .
“ Unless this is reversed , the Paris Agreement goals will slip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warns .
The pandemic is “ a warning from nature that we must act on climate change , nature loss and pollution ” , it concludes , yet it provides opportunity for a recovery that puts the world on a 2-degree pathway .
A total of 126 countries covering 51 per cent of global emissions have adopted , announced or are considering net-zero goals .
If the US adopts a net-zero target by 2050 , as suggested in the Biden-Harris climate plan , the share would increase to 63 per cent , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note on the growing number of countries committing to net-zero emissions goals by mid-century – “ the most significant climate policy development of 2020 ” – in contrast to the wildfires , droughts , storms and glacier melt which intensified this year .

The world is still heading for a temperature rise in excess of 3 degrees this century despite a dip in carbon emissions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the UN Environment Programme. Such a rise would make much of the planet unliveable.
A “green pandemic recovery”, however, could cut up to 25 per cent off predicted 2030 greenhouse gas emissions, the annual UNEP emissions gap report finds. This would bring the world closer to meeting the 2-degree goal of the Paris climate agreement.
If governments invest in climate action as part of the recovery and solidify emerging net-zero commitments with strengthened pledges at the UN climate talks in Glasgow next November, they can bring emissions to levels "broadly consistent with the 2-degree goal".
But a large gap between the action countries have pledged and emissions cuts needed to meet the goals remains – and major economies are not even on track to deliver on promised measures.
READ MORE
By combining a green recovery with swift moves to include new net-zero commitments in updated nationally determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement, and backing this with “rapid, stronger actions, governments could still in time attain the more-ambitious 1.5-degree goal”, it concludes.
"2020 is on course to be one of the warmest on record, while wildfires, storms and droughts continue to wreak havoc," said Inger Andersen, UNEP's executive director. "However, UNEP's emissions gap report shows a green pandemic recovery can take a huge slice out of greenhouse gas emissions and help slow climate change."
Global summit
She urged governments to back a green recovery in the next stage of Covid-19 fiscal interventions and raise significantly their climate ambitions in 2021. The UN is staging a global summit on Saturday to allow governments declare their scaled-up ambitions going into a critical year for the agreement.
The report assesses the gap between anticipated emissions and levels consistent with the Paris Agreement goals of limiting global warming this century to well below 2 degrees and pursuing 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial era levels.
Total emissions in 2019, including land-use change, reached a new high of 59.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent. Global emissions have grown 1.4 per cent per year since 2010 on average, with a more rapid increase of 2.6 per cent in 2019 due to a large increase in forest fires.
As a result of reduced travel, lower industrial activity and lower electricity generation this year due to Covid-19, emissions are predicted to fall by up to 7 per cent. However, this dip only translates to a 0.01 degree reduction of global warming by 2050.
A green recovery, however, can cut up to a quarter of emissions likely in 2030 based on pre-Covid policies – putting emissions in 2030 at 44 gigatonnes, instead of the predicted 59 gigatonnes – “far outstripping emission reductions foreseen in unconditional NDCs”, which based on predicted emissions in 2030 would leave the world on track for a 3.2-degree rise.
It would also put emissions within the range that gives a 66 per cent chance of holding temperatures to below 2 degrees, though would be insufficient to achieve the 1.5 degree goal, it finds.
The UNEP report calls for “direct support for zero-emissions technologies and infrastructure; reducing fossil fuel subsidies, no new coal plants, and promoting nature-based solutions – including large-scale landscape restoration and reforestation”.
G20 spending
It finds action on a green recovery has been limited so far. Around one-quarter of G20 members have dedicated shares of their spending, up to 3 per cent of GDP, to low-carbon measures.
The report, nonetheless, finds the growing number of countries – including Ireland – committing to net-zero emissions by mid-century is a "significant and encouraging development".
To remain feasible and credible, however, these commitments “must be urgently translated into strong near-term policies and action and reflected in NDCs”, it adds. Levels of ambition to meet the Paris Agreement “still must be roughly tripled for the 2-degree pathway and increased at least five-fold for the 1.5-degree pathway”.
Shipping and aviation sectors, accounting for 5 per cent of global emissions, require attention, the UNEP warns. Improvements in technology and operations can increase fuel efficiency, but projected increases in demand mean this will not result in decarbonisation and absolute reductions of CO2. “Both sectors need to combine energy efficiency with a rapid transition away from fossil fuel.”
Stronger climate action must include changes in consumption behaviour by the private sector and individuals. Around two-thirds of emissions are linked to private households, when using consumption-based accounting. The mobility, residential and food sectors each contribute about 20 per cent of lifestyle emissions.
Richest v poorest
The wealthy bear greatest responsibility, it underlines; emissions of the richest 1 per cent of the global population account for more than twice the combined share of the poorest 50 per cent. “This group will need to reduce its footprint by a factor of 30 to stay in line with the Paris Agreement targets.”
To ensure lower carbon consumption, it suggests “replacing domestic short haul flights with rail, incentives and infrastructure to enable cycling and car-sharing, improving the energy efficiency of housing and policies to reduce food waste”.
To date, the opening for using recovery measures to accelerate a green transition has largely been missed, it says. Too many NDCs are “woefully inadequate”.
“Unless this is reversed, the Paris Agreement goals will slip further out of reach,” it warns.
The pandemic is “a warning from nature that we must act on climate change, nature loss and pollution”, it concludes, yet it provides opportunity for a recovery that puts the world on a 2-degree pathway.
A total of 126 countries covering 51 per cent of global emissions have adopted, announced or are considering net-zero goals. If the US adopts a net-zero target by 2050, as suggested in the Biden-Harris climate plan, the share would increase to 63 per cent, the UNEP finds.
It strikes an optimistic note on the growing number of countries committing to net-zero emissions goals by mid-century – “the most significant climate policy development of 2020” – in contrast to the wildfires, droughts, storms and glacier melt which intensified this year.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Dublin’s Iveagh Market ‘repossessed’ by member of Guinness family

The Iveagh Market in Dublin ’ s south inner city was repossessed by Lord Iveagh on Tuesday , Dublin City Council has said .
The council was notified by representatives for Lord Iveagh , a member of the Guinness family , that he had invoked the “ reverter ” clause contained in the original Deed of Conveyance dated July 1906 .
“ The council was informed that as the Iveagh Market building has ceased to be used as a market for a considerable number of years , Lord Iveagh has , in accordance with the terms contained in the Deed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning and notified the Council accordingly , ” a spokesman for the council said .
“ The council is considering the matter with its legal advisors.
” The market , which was built in the early 20th century by the Guinness family , has been derelict for more than 20 years and the subject of a legal battle between the council and businessman and hotelier Martin Keane .
An application from Mr Keane to redevelop the site in the Liberties was declared invalid by the council last January .
He lodged an application @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street into a European-style food hall , restaurants , a distillery , a brewery and crafts workshops in December 2019 .
In a report to councillors in January , the council ’ s head of planning Richard Shakespeare said the council was not satisfied Mr Keane had “ secured the appropriate funding ” for the project , and his application had been lodged “ without the council ’ s consent as landowner ” .
Mr Keane “ claims to hold the freehold interest in the property which is untrue in relation to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr Shakespeare said .
The council had advised Mr Keane it is “ terminating all communication with him , and that it is taking the necessary steps to repossess the property from him ” .
The council “ will defend this action in the courts if necessary ” , said Mr Shakespeare .
The market was built to house street traders who had been displaced by the construction of the nearby Iveagh Trust housing development on Patrick Street , and was handed over in trust to Dublin Corporation .
By the 1980s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it eventually closed in the 1990s .
In 1996 , the council announced it was seeking a private developer to regenerate the market .
The following year Mr Keane secured the tender , with an agreement that the title of the market would transfer to him once the redevelopment was completed .
However , the development became mired in an ownership row between the corporation and the Guinness family-controlled Iveagh Trust .
The dispute was not resolved until 2004 .
Mr Keane applied for planning permission , which was granted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he could act on it the recession hit .
In 2012 , he secured a five-year extension of planning permission , which expired in 2017 .
That year the council voted to take back control of the market from Mr Keane .
The council subsequently commissioned a report on the condition of the building from conservation architects Howley Hayes , which found that “ essential structural repairs ” alone would cost €13 million .
Mr Shakespeare last year told councillors the council did not have the money and the “ most efficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be for Mr Keane to redevelop it .

The Iveagh Market in Dublin’s south inner city was repossessed by Lord Iveagh on Tuesday, Dublin City Council has said. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times.
The Iveagh Market in Dublin's south inner city was repossessed by Lord Iveagh on Tuesday, Dublin City Council has said.
The council was notified by representatives for Lord Iveagh, a member of the Guinness family, that he had invoked the “reverter” clause contained in the original Deed of Conveyance dated July 1906.
“The council was informed that as the Iveagh Market building has ceased to be used as a market for a considerable number of years, Lord Iveagh has, in accordance with the terms contained in the Deed of Conveyance, repossessed the property this morning and notified the Council accordingly,” a spokesman for the council said.
“The council is considering the matter with its legal advisors.”
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The market, which was built in the early 20th century by the Guinness family, has been derelict for more than 20 years and the subject of a legal battle between the council and businessman and hotelier Martin Keane.
Food hall
An application from Mr Keane to redevelop the site in the Liberties was declared invalid by the council last January. He lodged an application to turn the Edwardian building on Francis Street into a European-style food hall, restaurants, a distillery, a brewery and crafts workshops in December 2019.
In a report to councillors in January, the council's head of planning Richard Shakespeare said the council was not satisfied Mr Keane had "secured the appropriate funding" for the project, and his application had been lodged "without the council's consent as landowner".
Mr Keane “claims to hold the freehold interest in the property which is untrue in relation to the Iveagh Markets element of the application”, Mr Shakespeare said.
The council had advised Mr Keane it is “terminating all communication with him, and that it is taking the necessary steps to repossess the property from him”.
The council “will defend this action in the courts if necessary”, said Mr Shakespeare.
Displaced traders
The market was built to house street traders who had been displaced by the construction of the nearby Iveagh Trust housing development on Patrick Street, and was handed over in trust to Dublin Corporation.
By the 1980s the building had become very run down, and it eventually closed in the 1990s. In 1996, the council announced it was seeking a private developer to regenerate the market. The following year Mr Keane secured the tender, with an agreement that the title of the market would transfer to him once the redevelopment was completed.
However, the development became mired in an ownership row between the corporation and the Guinness family-controlled Iveagh Trust.
The dispute was not resolved until 2004. Mr Keane applied for planning permission, which was granted by An Bord Pleanála in 2007, but before he could act on it the recession hit.
In 2012, he secured a five-year extension of planning permission, which expired in 2017. That year the council voted to take back control of the market from Mr Keane.
The council subsequently commissioned a report on the condition of the building from conservation architects Howley Hayes, which found that "essential structural repairs" alone would cost €13 million.
Mr Shakespeare last year told councillors the council did not have the money and the “most efficient way” forward for the market would be for Mr Keane to redevelop it.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Shipping company fined €850,000 over accident in which welder died

A shipping company , whose breach of health and safety laws resulted in a workplace accident in which an experienced welder died , has been fined €850,000 .
James Byrne was killed instantly on June 6th , 2018 when a 6m steel column fell on top of him shortly after he had been using a blow torch to separate it from a larger metal structure .
An investigation was carried out by the Health and Safety Authority ( HSA ) , which subsequently brought charges against the Doyle Shipping Group Unlimited with an address at Ocean Pier , Alexandra Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failing to manage work activities , specifically the dismantling of a steel hopper at the McKearns Yard , at Ocean Pier , in a way to ensure the safety and health of employees , as a consequence of which Mr Byrne suffered personal injury and died .
Passing sentence on Wednesday , Judge Pauline Codd said the employer breached its obligation to ensure employees are not put at unnecessary hazard .
She said the absence of planning the task meant that equipment was not utilised as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the case was aggravated by there being a fatality and the devastating effect of this loss on the victim ’ s family , the risk being “ obvious ” and “ significant ” , the over reliance on one employee effectively left to assess risks himself and the failure to ensure equipment was utilised to secure the columns .
She placed the offence as being in the middle of the mid-range for offending of this nature .
She said in the absence of mitigation the appropriate fine would be one of €1.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors in this case were the guilty plea , the co-operation with the investigation , the good safety record and lack of previous convictions , the “ significant expenditure ” to ensure this does not happen again and the remorse shown by continuing to pay the victim ’ s salary .
She said the appropriate sentence in this case was a fine of €850,000 .
At a previous sentencing hearing , the court heard that a steel hopper is a large metal construction larger than a typical house and used in the offloading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been given the job of dismantling the hopper in the shipping yard and had been doing this since April 2018 .
HSA inspector Frank Kearns told the court Mr Byrne was an experienced welder and had dismantled a different hopper in Drogheda and later rebuilt it in Dublin .
On the day before the accident he had dismantled two 6m uprights support bars , or stanchions , from a 10m by 10m metal lattice .
The following day he was working on a third stanchion and had to use a blow torch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bar welded to the grid .
Insp Kearns said he assumed “ he thought that would enable him to bring it down safely ” .
The court heard that Mr Byrne then stood up and was walking towards his van when the column fell over and struck him .
The inspector told the court that the weight of the bar “ couldn ’ t be held by what remained of the frame ” .
A number of co-workers ran to the scene and tried to lift the bar but were unable to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ method used to dismantle the bars had made it necessary for Mr Byrne to work in “ a danger zone ” .
Insp Kearns said it would have required more than one man to carry out the work in a safe manner and the dismantling was later finished using three men .
Mr Byrne died as a result of catastrophic internal injuries , including injuries to his heart .
Shane Murphy SC , defending , told the court that the company was stunned by the fatality .
He said Mr Byrne was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regarded as a person of immense experience .
He said a verbal plan was put in place for the dismantling of the hopper .
He said there was “ an element of mystery ” as to how the column came to fall directly and with such “ rapidity ” on Mr Byrne .
He said the company has since made extensive investments to ensure an accident never happens again , including purchasing a crane simulator to train staff in using cranes and initiating a system of weekly safety management meetings .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ father of two was held in , the company continued to pay his salary and overtime to his partner .
Mr Byrne ’ s sister Rachel read out a victim impact statement on behalf of the family in which she described the devastation her brother ’ s death has wrought on everyone .
She said he was a kind , caring , hard-working man .
She said his parents were inconsolable , and “ nothing can fill the hole in their hearts ” .
“ We all think about him every day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” she said .
Mr Murphy said he was instructed by his client to apologise to the family for their sorrow and distress and the role of the company in Mr Byrne ’ s untimely death .

In a victim impact statement, James Byrne’s sister Rachel said he was a kind, caring, hard-working man. His parents were inconsolable, and ‘nothing can fill the hole in their hearts’, she said. Photograph: Dave Meehan/The Irish Times
A shipping company, whose breach of health and safety laws resulted in a fatal workplace accident in which an experienced welder died, has been fined €850,000.
James Byrne was killed instantly on June 6th, 2018 when a 6m steel column fell on top of him shortly after he had been using a blow torch to separate it from a larger metal structure.
An investigation was carried out by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which subsequently brought charges against the Doyle Shipping Group Unlimited with an address at Ocean Pier, Alexandra Road, Dublin 1.
The company pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to failing to manage work activities, specifically the dismantling of a steel hopper at the McKearns Yard, at Ocean Pier, in a way to ensure the safety and health of employees, as a consequence of which Mr Byrne suffered personal injury and died.
READ MORE
Passing sentence on Wednesday, Judge Pauline Codd said the employer breached its obligation to ensure employees are not put at unnecessary hazard. She said the absence of planning the task meant that equipment was not utilised as it should have been.
Judge Codd said the case was aggravated by there being a fatality and the devastating effect of this loss on the victim’s family, the risk being “obvious” and “significant”, the over reliance on one employee effectively left to assess risks himself and the failure to ensure equipment was utilised to secure the columns.
She placed the offence as being in the middle of the mid-range for offending of this nature. She said in the absence of mitigation the appropriate fine would be one of €1.5 million.
Judge Codd said the mitigating factors in this case were the guilty plea, the co-operation with the investigation, the good safety record and lack of previous convictions, the “significant expenditure” to ensure this does not happen again and the remorse shown by continuing to pay the victim’s salary.
She said the appropriate sentence in this case was a fine of €850,000.
Speaking on behalf of the deceased’s family outside the Criminal Courts of Justice building following the sentence being passed, Mr Byrne’s partner Paula Murray said their lives would never be the same as “we feel there is a piece of us all missing”.
Ms Murray said her partner Mr Byrne was “a father, a partner, a brother, an uncle, a best friend and a mentor.” She said he had a smile that “would light up any room he went into”.
“We as a family will never get over the loss of James,” Ms Murray said. “He will never be replaced and he will always be in our hearts.”
Ms Murray described her partner as “highly skilled” and “a very-hard worker” who loved his job. She said she hoped nothing like this ever happened to any other family.
“I would never ever want any family to go through what we have gone through,” Ms Murray said.
At a previous sentencing hearing, the court heard that a steel hopper is a large metal construction larger than a typical house and used in the offloading of grain from ships. Mr Byrne had been given the job of dismantling the hopper in the shipping yard and had been doing this since April 2018.
HSA inspector Frank Kearns told the court Mr Byrne was an experienced welder and had dismantled a different hopper in Drogheda and later rebuilt it in Dublin.
On the day before the accident he had dismantled two 6m uprights support bars, or stanchions, from a 10m by 10m metal lattice. The following day he was working on a third stanchion and had to use a blow torch to cut through the part of the bar welded to the grid.
Insp Kearns said he assumed “he thought that would enable him to bring it down safely”. The court heard that Mr Byrne then stood up and was walking towards his van when the column fell over and struck him.
The inspector told the court that the weight of the bar “couldn’t be held by what remained of the frame”. A number of co-workers ran to the scene and tried to lift the bar but were unable to do so.
The HSA investigation found the method used to dismantle the bars had made it necessary for Mr Byrne to work in “a danger zone”. Insp Kearns said it would have required more than one man to carry out the work in a safe manner and the dismantling was later finished using three men.
Mr Byrne died as a result of catastrophic internal injuries, including injuries to his heart.
Shane Murphy SC, defending, told the court that the company was stunned by the fatality. He said Mr Byrne was a very highly valued and respected employee and regarded as a person of immense experience.
He said a verbal plan was put in place for the dismantling of the hopper. He said there was “an element of mystery” as to how the column came to fall directly and with such “rapidity” on Mr Byrne.
He said the company has since made extensive investments to ensure an accident never happens again, including purchasing a crane simulator to train staff in using cranes and initiating a system of weekly safety management meetings.
He said as a mark of the esteem the father of two was held in, the company continued to pay his salary and overtime to his partner.
At the previous sentencing hearing Mr Byrne’s sister Rachel read out a victim impact statement on behalf of the family in which she described the devastation her brother’s death has wrought on everyone.
She said he was a kind, caring, hard-working man. She said his parents were inconsolable, and “nothing can fill the hole in their hearts”.
“We all think about him every day. No words can express the pain,” she said.
Mr Murphy said he was instructed by his client to apologise to the family for their sorrow and distress and the role of the company in Mr Byrne’s untimely death.
The HSA investigation also found that the use of a forklift to shake the bars loose from the lattice was “uncontrolled” and the stanchions could fall in any direction.
Insp Kearns said the negligence on the part of the company arose from Mr Byrne working at the base of the unsupported stanchions where the stanchions were unsecured.
An immediate short term prohibition notice was imposed on the day and an external company was later subcontracted to finish the dismantling. Three men, including a supervisor, were involved by this company in dismantling the remaining parts of the hopper and a forklift was also utilised.
The court heard that the company had taken the decision to dismantle the hopper and sell it for scrap following an unrelated workplace accident in Belfast in which an inherent instability was uncovered in this particular type of hopper.
This instability did not play any part in Mr Byrne’s fatal accident.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Pamela Anderson urges Taoiseach to ban hare coursing

Pamela Anderson has written to the Taoiseach to urge him to ban hare coursing in Ireland .
The former Baywatch actor said coursing , which involves hares being chased by greyhounds , was “ cruel and reckless ” and was at odds with the “ warmth and goodwill ” that the country was known for .
Hare coursing is already banned in Northern Ireland and in Britain .
Coursing events were recently suspended in Ireland due to Covid-19 restrictions .
Anderson , who said the suspension should be permanent , has written to Micheál Martin as part of her role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ) .
It is not the first time the Canadian-born star , who is the honorary US director of Peta , has reached out to a taoiseach on animal welfare issues .
In the past , Anderson urged Enda Kenny to ban wild animal circuses and called on Leo Varadkar to prohibit fur farming .
The Government has since banned wild animal circuses and has committed to phasing out fur farming .
In her latest letter , the actor wrote : “ As a long time animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alongside my friends at Peta after writing to your predecessors and hearing that Ireland had banned wild-animal circuses and would be moving toward ending fur farming .
“ But there ’ s still more to be done .
Will you please be the Taoiseach who finally lays cruel hare coursing to rest ?
“ The novel coronavirus has taught us the devastating consequences of messing with wildlife .
And your government can heed that lesson by banning this so-called ‘ sport ’ , in which gentle , sensitive hares — wild animals — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they can be chased by hounds for someone ’ s twisted idea of amusement .
“ Hare coursing is reckless — and it ’ s cruel .
Many hares die when they are captured , transported , and held captive before meets .
Some endure stress-induced heart attacks or other organ damage , or they collapse and die of sheer exhaustion while desperately fleeing from the dogs .
“ This blood sport is at odds with the warmth and goodwill that people around the world know and love Ireland for .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions , and you can help ensure that it ’ s not allowed to resume .
It ’ s time — past time — that Ireland consigned hare coursing to the history books , where it belongs.
” In September , Rise TD Paul Murphy tabled a private members ’ Bill in the Dáil in a bid to ban hare coursing .
Previous attempts to change the law have failed .
– PA

Pamela Anderson called on the Taoiseach to maintain the ban on hare coursing which was introduced because of Covid-19 restrictions. Photograph: Isa Foltin/Getty Images
Pamela Anderson has written to the Taoiseach to urge him to ban hare coursing in Ireland.
The former Baywatch actor said coursing, which involves hares being chased by greyhounds, was “cruel and reckless” and was at odds with the “warmth and goodwill” that the country was known for.
Hare coursing is already banned in Northern Ireland and in Britain.
Coursing events were recently suspended in Ireland due to Covid-19 restrictions.
READ MORE
Anderson, who said the suspension should be permanent, has written to Micheál Martin as part of her role with animal rights organisation Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).
It is not the first time the Canadian-born star, who is the honorary US director of Peta, has reached out to a taoiseach on animal welfare issues.
In the past, Anderson urged Enda Kenny to ban wild animal circuses and called on Leo Varadkar to prohibit fur farming.
The Government has since banned wild animal circuses and has committed to phasing out fur farming.
In her latest letter, the actor wrote: “As a long time animal rights advocate, I’ve celebrated alongside my friends at Peta after writing to your predecessors and hearing that Ireland had banned wild-animal circuses and would be moving toward ending fur farming.
“But there’s still more to be done. Will you please be the Taoiseach who finally lays cruel hare coursing to rest?
“The novel coronavirus has taught us the devastating consequences of messing with wildlife. And your government can heed that lesson by banning this so-called ‘sport’, in which gentle, sensitive hares — wild animals — are torn from their natural homes so that they can be chased by hounds for someone’s twisted idea of amusement.
“Hare coursing is reckless — and it’s cruel. Many hares die when they are captured, transported, and held captive before meets. Some endure stress-induced heart attacks or other organ damage, or they collapse and die of sheer exhaustion while desperately fleeing from the dogs.
“This blood sport is at odds with the warmth and goodwill that people around the world know and love Ireland for. The practice is currently banned because of lockdown restrictions, and you can help ensure that it’s not allowed to resume. It’s time — past time — that Ireland consigned hare coursing to the history books, where it belongs.”
In September, Rise TD Paul Murphy tabled a private members' Bill in the Dáil in a bid to ban hare coursing.
Previous attempts to change the law have failed. – PA


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Two men arrested over death of man found outside Kerry hotel

Two men were arrested on Wednesday morning as part of an investigation into the unexplained death of a man in @ @ @ @ @ Killarney , Co Kerry .
Darragh Sheehan ( 26 ) , from Doneraile , Co @ @ @ @ @ shortly before midnight outside the Gleneagle Hotel on the Muckross Road on August 29th .
@ @ @ @ @ but he died shortly after he was found .
Two men , aged in their @ @ @ @ @ being detained under the provisions of section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , 1984 @ @ @ @ @ .
Two other men arrested on Tuesday as part of the investigation have been released @ @ @ @ @ is now being prepared for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP @ @

The scene outside the Gleneagle Hotel on the Muckross Road in Killarney, Co Kerry, where Darragh Sheehan was found unconscious on August 29th. Photograph: Eye Focus Ltd
Two men were arrested on Wednesday morning as part of an investigation into the unexplained death of a man in his 20s last August in Killarney, Co Kerry.
Darragh Sheehan (26), from Doneraile, Co Cork, was found unconscious shortly before midnight outside the Gleneagle Hotel on the Muckross Road on August 29th.
The emergency services were called but he died shortly after he was found.
Two men, aged in their 20s and 40s, are being detained under the provisions of section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at Killarney Garda station.
READ MORE
Two other men arrested on Tuesday as part of the investigation have been released without charge. A file is now being prepared for the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Covid-19: Rise in infections ‘inevitable’ as people mix over Christmas

Increased Covid-19 infections will be an “ inevitable ” consequence of people mixing more over Christmas but case numbers alone will not dictate if the State needs a further period of severe restrictions in January , the Tánaiste has said .
Leo Varadkar said a rise in cases after Thanksgiving gatherings in the US and Canada gave some indication of the impact the festive period might have on the spread of the disease in Ireland .
“ I think it is likely that we will see an increase in cases , ” he said .
“ That is inevitable when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t just about foreign travel , it is about people mixing again over Christmas.
” Referring to the “ Thanksgiving effect ” in the US and Canada , the Fine Gael leader said “ it is likely that cases will rise again ” in Ireland in January .
“ We ’ ve never ruled out the possibility that we would need to reintroduce restrictions for a short period in January , ” he told RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland .
But Mr Varadkar said the need for or severity of any such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on the rate of transmission and pressures on the health services and that people should not concentrate too much on the daily case numbers .
Projections from the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) suggest that if the R number , which estimates how fast the disease is spreading , grows to 2.0 from December 22nd to January 6th , between 300 and 450 cases per day could be seen by New Year ’ s Day , and 800 to 1,200 per day by the second week of January .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State above the point at which Nphet estimates that a three-week intervention would be required to bring cases back under control .
The Tánaiste described the provision of the first vaccinations outside of trials in the North and Britain on Tuesday as “ a day of hope ” .
“ I think with the vaccine , with mass testing , with increased knowledge of how we treat and prevent this disease , we will see the end of the pandemic in 2021.
” Ireland has made advance purchase agreements for six different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Friday , a Government taskforce charged with overseeing a mass vaccination plan for the State will present its action plan , which will go before the Cabinet next Tuesday for approval .
Mr Varadkar told RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland that “ no one knows exactly ” what percentage of the population would need to receive a jab to reach herd immunity - enough people immunised to prevent further spread .
“ The intention is to vaccinate everyone , to offer it to everyone , free of charge , not compulsory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best estimate is probably around 70 per cent ( of the population vaccinated ) is what you would need to achieve herd immunity.
” Mr Varadkar said there will be a “ very strong campaign ” to encourage people to get vaccinated , but he warned against any attempts to “ browbeat or patronise ” people into it , saying it was better to reassure them that vaccines are safe and effective .
This year has given people a taste of what the world was like before vaccines , he said , describing @ @ @ @ @ @

A care home group managing director receives the Covid-19 vaccine in Cornwall, England on Wednesday. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has described the provision of the first vaccinations outside of trials in the UK as ‘a day of hope’ in the battle against the disease. Photograph: Hugh Hastings/Getty Images.
Wednesday saw eight new admissions to hospital intensive care units (ICUs) for treatment of Covid-19, “the most in a 24-hour period since the spring time”, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned.
Five further deaths and 227 new Covid-19 cases were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Wednesday.
This brings to 2,102 the number of Covid-19 related deaths in the State, and 74,900 the total number of confirmed cases.
As of 2pm on Wednesday, 224 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, of whom 38 were in ICU. There were 14 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.
READ MORE
Dr Holohan said Ireland had managed to suppress Covid-19 to the lowest incidence levels in the EU in recent weeks, as people kept up “safe” behaviours and worked to protect each other throughout the pandemic.
“If we do not continue to suppress the disease through the actions we have learned over recent months, we will very quickly see a surge in infections leading to an increase in hospitalisations, ICU admissions and, tragically, deaths.
“We are actively planning to begin vaccinating people in early 2021. We cannot afford to drop our guard now.”
Northern Ireland’s department of health recorded 12 more Covid-19 deaths, taking the North’s death toll to 1,085.
There were 483 new cases of coronavirus bringing the total since the outbreak of the pandemic in Northern Ireland to 56,278.
Currently there are 425 patients receiving Covid-19 treatment in Northern Ireland hospitals. Some 31 are in intensive care with 24 of them on ventilators.
Earlier members of the Oireachtas transport committee called for the relaxation of advice on non-essential travel around Christmas in order to support the aviation sector.
On Wednesday, the committee launched a report calling for an increased role for testing to allow for greater resumption of travel, including closer examination of cheaper antigen – or saliva – tests in airports.
Speaking at the launch of the report on Wednesday, Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe said that the “mantra” of essential travel only “has to change”.
“This essential travel totally cripples our tourism sector, our travel agents who have been here also giving testimony, and it ensures that aviation stays on lockdown, shut down for many months to come.”
Sinn Féin transport spokesman Darren O’Rourke said getting testing and tracing right at airports would be a key part of relaxing restrictions. “And if we achieve that, I think there is real opportunity to expand the scale of foreign travel and reconsider the public health advice,” he said.
There was some relief announced on Wednesday for the live entertainment sector with musicians and performers set to benefit from an increase in earnings they will allowed to make before their pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) is affected.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys announced that PUP recipients can now earn up to €960 over an eight-week period and keep the weekly €350 social welfare payment.
Currently recipients can engage in limited self-employment and earn up to €480 over a four-week period and continue to maintain entitlement to PUP, a provision introduced on budget day.
Ms Humphreys accepted amendments from Sinn Féin and Independent Joan Collins to the Social Welfare Bill, which will allow musicians and others accept casual gigs without having their payment affected.
The Bill gives effect to provisions announced in the budget with a record €25.1 billion allocated to social protection, more than €4 billion extra than in last year’s budget.
The Bill also provides for keeping the state pension age at 66 pending the outcome of a newly established pensions commission which will report in a year.
Thanksgiving
Earlier on Wednesday, the Tánaiste said increased Covid-19 infections will be an “inevitable” consequence of people mixing more over Christmas, but case numbers alone will not dictate if the State needs a further period of severe restrictions in January.
Leo Varadkar said a rise in cases after Thanksgiving gatherings in the US and Canada gave some indication of the impact the festive period might have on the spread of the disease in Ireland.
“I think it is likely that we will see an increase in cases,” he said. “That is inevitable when people are mixing again. This isn’t just about foreign travel , it is about people mixing again over Christmas.”
Referring to the “Thanksgiving effect” in the US and Canada, the Fine Gael leader said “it is likely that cases will rise again” in Ireland in January.
“We’ve never ruled out the possibility that we would need to reintroduce restrictions for a short period in January,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
But Mr Varadkar said the need for or severity of any such restrictions would be decided at the time based on the rate of transmission and pressures on the health services and that people should not concentrate too much on the daily case numbers.
Projections from Nphet suggest that if the R number, which estimates how fast the disease is spreading, grows to 2.0 from December 22nd to January 6th, between 300 and 450 cases per day could be seen by New Year’s Day, and 800 to 1,200 per day by the second week of January.
An increase of this sort would see the State above the point at which Nphet estimates that a three-week intervention would be required to bring cases back under control.
The Tánaiste described the provision of the first vaccinations outside of trials in the North and Britain on Tuesday as “a day of hope”.
“I think with the vaccine, with mass testing, with increased knowledge of how we treat and prevent this disease, we will see the end of the pandemic in 2021.”
Ireland has made advance purchase agreements for six different vaccines, amounting to 8 million doses.
On Friday, a Government taskforce charged with overseeing a mass vaccination plan for the State will present its action plan, which will go before the Cabinet next Tuesday for approval.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Kerry nursing home where nine died with Covid-19 to close today

A nursing home in Co Kerry that the HSE took over last month after inspectors found it in “ chaos ” during an outbreak of Covid-19 will close on Wednesday .
Residents at Oaklands Nursing Home near Listowel are being transferred to other facilities with just three of the 23 residents awaiting placement .
That transfer will be finalised later on Wednesday .
Oireachtas members had been told the home was due to close at the end of the week .
The HSE was directed to take over the running of the private nursing home “ and make alternative arrangements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November 18th .
Nineteen residents and staff had contracted Covid-19 , and nine died .
The HSE has been working with families to find accommodation to allow people settle into their new facilities in advance of Christmas , it said .
It said it could not run the home on a permanent basis .
According to Hiqa there are 12 registered nursing homes in the area – four in Listowel , Tralee , 25 minutes from Listowel , and Newcastlewest , 30 minutes away in Co Limerick .
Three residents have been placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is understood .

An ambulance outside Oaklands Nursing Home in Listowel, Co Kerry, on November 4th. Photograph courtesy of Kerry’s Eye
A nursing home in Co Kerry that the HSE took over last month after inspectors found it in “chaos” during an outbreak of Covid-19 will close on Wednesday.
Residents at Oaklands Nursing Home near Listowel are being transferred to other facilities with just three of the 23 residents awaiting placement.
That transfer will be finalised later on Wednesday.
Oireachtas members had been told the home was due to close at the end of the week.
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The HSE was directed to take over the running of the private nursing home “and make alternative arrangements” for residents by court order on November 18th.
Nineteen residents and staff had contracted Covid-19, and nine died.
The HSE has been working with families to find accommodation to allow people settle into their new facilities in advance of Christmas, it said.
It said it could not run the home on a permanent basis.
According to Hiqa there are 12 registered nursing homes in the area – four in Listowel, Tralee, 25 minutes from Listowel, and Newcastlewest, 30 minutes away in Co Limerick.
Three residents have been placed temporarily in the community hospital in Listowel, it is understood.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Calls for help over domestic violence increase by 17%, Garda says

There has been a 17 per cent increase in calls for assistance from people in domestic violence situations , An Garda Síochána has said .
The force reported the year on year increase as it said a total of 217 prosecutions have commenced since April 1st under Operation Faoiseamh for breaches of orders issued under the 2018 Domestic Violence Act .
The operation was established in response to violence in the home while movements were restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
The Garda said that since October 28th last , 110 prosecutions related to investigations carried out under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence orders .
20,699 contacts or attempts at contacting victims of domestic abuse were recorded in respect of incidents reported between January 1st and October 12th .
Gardaí said on Wednesday that Operation Faoiseamh will continue over the Christmas period and while restrictions on movement are in place .
The Garda National Protective Service Bureau ( GNPSB ) is overseeing the initiative .
Det Chief Supt Declan Daly from the bureau said gardaí are mindful of the “ fear and concern some in our community have during Covid restrictions ” .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to victims of domestic abuse , and to all vulnerable victims .
An Garda Síochána will continue to ensure your safety and I encourage anyone who feels threatened or is in fear to contact us and we will respond quickly and vigorously , ” he said “ If you are a victim of abuse or you know of a family member or friend who is a victim of such abuse , that information is important to us and I ask that you make contact with An Garda Síochána .
If you require urgent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 112 , we are there to listen to help and to protect .
”

Operation Faoiseamh was established in response to violence in the home while movements were restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photograph: iStock
There has been a 17 per cent increase in calls for assistance from people in domestic violence situations, An Garda Síochána has said.
The force reported the year on year increase as it said a total of 217 prosecutions have commenced since April 1st under Operation Faoiseamh for breaches of orders issued under the 2018 Domestic Violence Act.
The operation was established in response to violence in the home while movements were restricted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Garda said that since October 28th last, 110 prosecutions related to investigations carried out under the operation had commenced for breaches of domestic violence orders.
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20,699 contacts or attempts at contacting victims of domestic abuse were recorded in respect of incidents reported between January 1st and October 12th.
Gardaí said on Wednesday that Operation Faoiseamh will continue over the Christmas period and while restrictions on movement are in place. The Garda National Protective Service Bureau (GNPSB) is overseeing the initiative.
Det Chief Supt Declan Daly from the bureau said gardaí are mindful of the "fear and concern some in our community have during Covid restrictions".
“We continue to robustly provide assistance and support to victims of domestic abuse, and to all vulnerable victims. An Garda Síochána will continue to ensure your safety and I encourage anyone who feels threatened or is in fear to contact us and we will respond quickly and vigorously,” he said
“If you are a victim of abuse or you know of a family member or friend who is a victim of such abuse, that information is important to us and I ask that you make contact with An Garda Síochána. If you require urgent assistance or support, please call 999 or 112, we are there to listen to help and to protect.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Garda fines system for face mask breaches comes online

Gardaí are now able to issue fines of €80 to people for failing to wear a face covering in certain places , six weeks after the introduction of the legislation , according to an internal memo .
Gardaí have this week received a direction from headquarters that the payment system for on-the-spot fines for breaches of Covid-19 regulations is now active , allowing officers to issue fines of €80 per offence .
However , as of now gardaí can only issue fines for the offence of failing to wear a face covering .
The fines system for other offences introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limits and hosting house parties , is still not active .
It is understood there is reluctance to introduce on-the-spot fines , known as Fixed Charged Penalty Notices ( FCPN ) , for these offences given the changing nature of government regulations over the Christmas period .
During Level 5 restrictions , gatherings of more than one household and non-essential travel beyond 5km were banned .
Both restrictions are being relaxed this month .
Gardaí were advised on Monday that people are obliged to wear masks on public transport and in most types @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exceptions including for people who can not wear a mask due to “ physical or mental illness , impairment or disability or without severe distress.
” Fines should only be issued as a last resort , with gardaí told to give people several chances to comply before taking action .
“ Remember that enforcement should only be used when necessary and proportionate , ” the memo states .
Gardaí are advised they have “ discretion ” on whether to issue a fine and do not have to consult the Director of Public Prosecutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under 13 do not have to wear a mask while children between 13 and 18 should be dealt with through the juvenile diversion programme , gardaí were told .
People will be able to appeal the issuing of fines and should be directed to the Garda website for information .
As of Tuesday evening the website had not been updated to take account of the new fines and the appeal process .
The memo also details the differences in the law regarding public transport and public premises .
On public transport , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver , has legal authority to tell someone to wear a mask .
They can then tell the passenger to leave if they refuse .
The Garda should only be called if the person refuses to leave or wear a mask .
The passenger can then be fined for “ failing to comply with the request of a relevant person ” .
On the other hand , retail workers and others working in public premises can only “ advise ” people to wear a mask .
They have no lawful authority to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the person continues to refuse and can issue a fine for failing to wear a face covering .
According to the memo these premises include : shops , shopping centres , libraries , cinemas , theatres , concert halls , bingo halls , museums , nail salons , hairdressers , tattoo and piercing studios , travel agents , laundries , dry cleaners , bookmakers , train stations and bus stations .
Two weeks ago the Government recommended people also wear masks in crowded workplaces , places of worship and in busy or crowded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gather together .
However , these are guidelines only and breaches will not be an offence .

On public transport, a “relevant person”, has legal authority to tell someone to wear a mask. Photograph: iStock
Gardaí are now able to issue fines of €80 to people for failing to wear a face covering in certain places, six weeks after the introduction of the legislation, according to an internal memo.
Gardaí have this week received a direction from headquarters that the payment system for on-the-spot fines for breaches of Covid-19 regulations is now active, allowing officers to issue fines of €80 per offence.
However, as of now gardaí can only issue fines for the offence of failing to wear a face covering. The fines system for other offences introduced in October, such as breaching travel limits and hosting house parties, is still not active.
It is understood there is reluctance to introduce on-the-spot fines, known as Fixed Charged Penalty Notices (FCPN), for these offences given the changing nature of government regulations over the Christmas period.
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During Level 5 restrictions, gatherings of more than one household and non-essential travel beyond 5km were banned. Both restrictions are being relaxed this month.
Gardaí were advised on Monday that people are obliged to wear masks on public transport and in most types of public premises. There are several exceptions including for people who cannot wear a mask due to “physical or mental illness, impairment or disability or without severe distress.”
Fines should only be issued as a last resort, with gardaí told to give people several chances to comply before taking action. “Remember that enforcement should only be used when necessary and proportionate,” the memo states.
Gardaí are advised they have "discretion" on whether to issue a fine and do not have to consult the Director of Public Prosecutions or a senior officer beforehand.
Children under 13 do not have to wear a mask while children between 13 and 18 should be dealt with through the juvenile diversion programme, gardaí were told.
People will be able to appeal the issuing of fines and should be directed to the Garda website for information. As of Tuesday evening the website had not been updated to take account of the new fines and the appeal process.
The memo also details the differences in the law regarding public transport and public premises. On public transport, a “relevant person”, typically the driver, has legal authority to tell someone to wear a mask. They can then tell the passenger to leave if they refuse.
The Garda should only be called if the person refuses to leave or wear a mask. The passenger can then be fined for “failing to comply with the request of a relevant person”.
On the other hand, retail workers and others working in public premises can only “advise” people to wear a mask. They have no lawful authority to make a demand.
Gardaí can intervene if the person continues to refuse and can issue a fine for failing to wear a face covering.
According to the memo these premises include: shops, shopping centres, libraries, cinemas, theatres, concert halls, bingo halls, museums, nail salons, hairdressers, tattoo and piercing studios, travel agents, laundries, dry cleaners, bookmakers, train stations and bus stations.
Two weeks ago the Government recommended people also wear masks in crowded workplaces, places of worship and in busy or crowded outdoor spaces where a lot of people gather together. However, these are guidelines only and breaches will not be an offence.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Covid-19 has had ‘devastating effect’ on cancer services

The performance of some cancer services is getting worse , not better , due to historical underfunding , a lack of capacity in the system and an under resourced and incomplete workforce , the Irish Cancer Society has said .
In an opening statement to the Oireachtas committee on health , the society says that while cancer services received substantial additional resources in the budget this year , “ the scale of the challenge is immense and , while increased funding is absolutely vital , money alone will not solve all the problems ” .
Covid-19 has had “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many years , had insufficient capacity to be able to assure people that they would get diagnosed and treated for their cancer as fast as they should ” , it says .
“ Insufficient hospital capacity , inbuilt inefficiencies and too few healthcare professionals , plus an increase in cancer cases of 3-4 per cent annually , has led to lengthy and growing waiting lists .
Longer waiting lists mean delays in diagnosis and treatment .
Delayed diagnosis and treatment can mean worse patient outcomes.
” Prof Risteard Ó Laoide , director of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his opening statement ahead of a hearing on Wednesday says that Covid-19 posed significant challenges to cancer services , particularly during the first wave .
Dr Nóirín Russell , clinical director of CervicalCheck , is to tell the committee that by the end of this month it will have issued a first invite letter to everyone due screening this year .
“ We have issued over 270,000 invites in 2020 and screened over 117,000 people in primary care , “ she says in an opening statement .
“ While we continue to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on screening , I can also tell you that evidence shows that because of the typically slow progression of cervical cancer ( 5-15 years ) the beneficial outcomes don ’ t reduce if screening is delayed for six months.
” Dr Russell says in her statement that it is important that society acknowledged an uncomfortable truth about screening programmes .
“ No screening programme will pick up all potential cancer cases ; none are designed to do so .
When a potential case of cancer is not detected in screening , this does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed .
It illustrates the boundaries of the test , ” she says .
“ Furthermore , when these women go on to get cancer and their cytology slides are reviewed retrospectively , there is a 4 in 10 chance that abnormalities will be seen that were not seen at the time of screening .
This is called retrospective bias .
It is important that as a society we acknowledge this uncomfortable truth.
” Prof Ó Laoide will say that during the initial pandemic wave in March and April there was a reduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attendances at rapid access clinics for breast , lung and prostate cancers and in the number of patients undergoing treatment .
“ Reduced cancer presentations were likely related to an understandable fear with regard to Covid infection and a response to the restrictions in place at that time .
Since then there has been a gradual recovery in all metrics , a recovery which has continued despite the second autumn pandemic wave , ” he says in his statement .
“ There was a decrease in the number of cancers diagnosed at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There has , however , been an increase since then , and at the end of September , the year to date number of primary cancers diagnosed at these clinics was approximately 90 per cent compared to 2019 .
“ It is expected that this percentage figure will continue to increase for the remainder of the year with a consequent reduction in the number of ‘ lost cancer ’ diagnoses.
” The Irish Cancer Society will say that access to care was being rationed by waiting lists “ and until these are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcomes , will be compromised ” .

The Oireachtas health committee was told that no screening programme would pick up all potential cancer cases and none were designed to do so. Photograph: iStock
The CervicalCheck programme will not be able to catch up on the number of women who were unable to undergo screening this year due to the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, its clinical director has said.
Dr Noírín Russell told the Oireachtas health committee on Wednesday that CervicalCheck had resumed screening on July 6th and that more than 270,000 invites had been sent out this year. She said more than 117,000 women had been screened in primary care up to the end of November.
She said CervicalCheck forecast that by the end of the year it would have screened about 50 per cent of the number of women it would have expected if there had been no Covid-19 pandemic.
Asked by David Cullinane of Sinn Féin how long it would take to catch up to deal with women who had missed out on screening, she said this would not be achievable.
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Dr Russell said catch up would mean doing double the work and screening twice as any women per month as normal. She said due to Covid -19 there was reduced capacity across the programme and it would not be possible to catch up.
“That pause is going to be a permanent pause.”
Dr Russell also strongly maintained that no screening programme would pick up all potential cancer cases and none were designed to do so.
“When a potential case of cancer is not detected in screening, this does not mean that the screening test has failed. It illustrates the boundaries of the test. Furthermore, when these women go on to get cancer and their cytology slides are reviewed retrospectively, there is a four-in-10 chance that abnormalities will be seen that were not seen at the time of screening. This is called retrospective bias. It is important that as a society we acknowledge this uncomfortable truth.”
She said she had been a doctor on the frontline who dealt with women who had undergone screening and who had subsequently developed cancer.
She said this was a difficult and absolutely challenging place to be as a woman.
However, she said the smear test would never detect all cancers and every year there would be women who have an interval cancer, that is women who develop cancer after having had a normal screening test.
She said the Supreme Court had found that screening tests were not expected to detect 100 per cent of cancers. She said the Supreme Court had also outlined that a competent screener could be doing their job to the best of their ability with the tools that they have and a cancer may still not be detected.
Dr Russell said there were questions for broader Irish society.
“Do we accept as a society that we continue with screening because for the majority it reduces the risk of developing cancer?
“If we do that we have to acknowledge there will be women who are screened for cervical cancer who will have a negative result and who will go on to develop cancer. That is a minority but it is really, really tough as a woman if you end up in that minority. And we as a society have to decide how we look after women in that minority. We also have to decide whether we are going to treat some people with cancer differently than others.”
Dr Russell said every year 24,000 people in Ireland were diagnosed with cancer and that about 22,600 received their diagnosis on foot of symptoms.
She said 1,400 people were diagnosed with cancer on foot of a screening programme.
Separately, the Irish Cancer Society told the committee that the performance of some cancer services was getting worse due to historical underfunding, a lack of capacity in the system and an under resourced and incomplete workforce.
It said while cancer services received substantial additional resources in the budget this year, “the scale of the challenge is immense and, while increased funding is absolutely vital, money alone will not solve all the problems”.
Covid-19 has had “a devastating effect on a system that for many years, had insufficient capacity to be able to assure people that they would get diagnosed and treated for their cancer as fast as they should”, it said.
Prof Risteárd Ó Laoide, director of the National Cancer Control Programme said there had been a decrease in the number of cancers diagnosed at the rapid access clinics during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, he said there had been an increase since then, and at the end of September, there had been about 90 per cent as many primary cancers diagnosed at these clinics as in the same period last year.