theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Government funding needed to keep public transport on the road

The Government seems likely to have to stump up considerable sums of money to keep key public transport services on the road .
Passenger numbers on bus and rail services have been very badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic over recent weeks , and social distancing measures mean they are unlikely to return to the pre-crisis position any time soon .
Many bus and rail services are financially supported by government because they could not operate on a commercial basis .
They receive what is known as public service obligation funding .
Close to €300 million was allocated for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the three State-owned CIÉ companies has been supported , according to informed sources , by the provision of this public service obligation funding .
The CIÉ group said at the weekend its companies had been told that the National Transport Authority ( NTA ) would be “ assuming revenue risk for such public service obligation services ” .
However , the Government has been warned that the level of public service obligation funding currently available could run out within weeks , possibly by the end of June .
The board of the CIÉ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ross last week that its companies were now facing a very serious financial position .
Senior sources have described the financial situation facing public transport operators as “ dire ” .
It is expected the Cabinet will consider the matter in the coming weeks with a decision to provide additional funding anticipated .
Mr Ross on Sunday evening pledged that the Government would support key public transport across the country .
He said “ the Government is determined that there will be no interruption to subvented public transport operations as a result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take whatever measures are necessary to support these essential transport services.
” The Minister ’ s comments indicated the exchequer was likely to have to boost spending on transport at a time when it is already spending €4.5 billion on wage supports .
This comes just as the Health Service Executive warned it would need well in excess of €1 billion for personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for staff and to operate testing and contact tracing services .
The comments about protecting subvented transport services are likely to raise questions about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Expressway inter-city network , which is considered to be a commercial operation .
Unions have for some time argued that the Expressway service should be regarded as essential and not a commercial operation as it serves dozens of towns between cities and does not simply run point-to-point services along motorways .
The financial position of the service is understood to be particularly worrying within the CIÉ group .
The company is understood to have commissioned external management consultants to carry out a review of the inter-city bus service , including an examination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Éireann did not comment on reports that Expressway , which has about 500 staff , was currently losing about €750,000 a week or answer questions about the consultancy report .
Any job losses at a State transport company would be fiercely resisted by unions .
Bus Éireann stressed on Sunday that the Expressway service received no State funding and said its business had been heavily impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic .
The company said there had been a “ significant reduction in passenger numbers ” .
However , it said any details around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commercially sensitive .
The CIÉ group said the NTA had advised the operating companies , based on public service obligation contracts , that it would be assuming revenue risk for such public service obligation services .

Bus Éireann said its Expressway business had been heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Government seems likely to have to stump up considerable sums of money to keep key public transport services on the road.
Passenger numbers on bus and rail services have been very badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic over recent weeks, and social distancing measures mean they are unlikely to return to the pre-crisis position any time soon.
Many bus and rail services are financially supported by government because they could not operate on a commercial basis. They receive what is known as public service obligation funding. Close to €300 million was allocated for this purpose last year.
Cash flow in the three State-owned CIÉ companies has been supported, according to informed sources, by the provision of this public service obligation funding.
READ MORE
The CIÉ group said at the weekend its companies had been told that the National Transport Authority (NTA) would be "assuming revenue risk for such public service obligation services".
However, the Government has been warned that the level of public service obligation funding currently available could run out within weeks, possibly by the end of June.
The board of the CIÉ transport group advised Minister for Transport Shane Ross last week that its companies were now facing a very serious financial position.
Senior sources have described the financial situation facing public transport operators as “dire”. It is expected the Cabinet will consider the matter in the coming weeks with a decision to provide additional funding anticipated.
Mr Ross on Sunday evening pledged that the Government would support key public transport across the country. He said “the Government is determined that there will be no interruption to subvented public transport operations as a result of Covid-19”.
“We will continue to take whatever measures are necessary to support these essential transport services.”
Supports
The Minister’s comments indicated the exchequer was likely to have to boost spending on transport at a time when it is already spending €4.5 billion on wage supports. This comes just as the Health Service Executive warned it would need well in excess of €1 billion for personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff and to operate testing and contact tracing services.
The comments about protecting subvented transport services are likely to raise questions about the future of Bus Éireann’s Expressway inter-city network, which is considered to be a commercial operation. Unions have for some time argued that the Expressway service should be regarded as essential and not a commercial operation as it serves dozens of towns between cities and does not simply run point-to-point services along motorways. The financial position of the service is understood to be particularly worrying within the CIÉ group.
The company is understood to have commissioned external management consultants to carry out a review of the inter-city bus service, including an examination of existing routes and job numbers.
Bus Éireann did not comment on reports that Expressway, which has about 500 staff, was currently losing about €750,000 a week or answer questions about the consultancy report.
Any job losses at a State transport company would be fiercely resisted by unions. Bus Éireann stressed on Sunday that the Expressway service received no State funding and said its business had been heavily impacted during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The company said there had been a “significant reduction in passenger numbers”. However, it said any details around the finances of the Expressway business were commercially sensitive.
The CIÉ group said the NTA had advised the operating companies, based on public service obligation contracts, that it would be assuming revenue risk for such public service obligation services.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Postmortems done on just five confirmed Covid-19 fatalities

The remains of just five people who have died with confirmed Covid-19 have been the subject of postmortem examinations , according to official figures .
The number of autopsies being carried out generally this year has fallen as the epidemic has spread , despite an increase in the overall number of deaths .
The Dublin District Coroner is directing that autopsies be performed in circumstances where they are mandated by law , it told The Irish Times .
Five such autopsies on Covid-19 deceased were carried out in Dublin in the first four months of the year , the office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork University Hospital ( CUH ) , the other location equipped to handle autopsies on infectious bodies .
By Sunday night , there were 1,458 Covid-19-related deaths .
There is no county breakdown of deaths , but half of all cases have been reported in Dublin .
An autopsy can show whether a person died from the virus ( ie that it was the immediate cause of death ) , or with the virus ( ie that it was a factor along with others such as underlying conditions ) .
In other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how the virus causes serious illness in some patients .
They have also revealed earlier cases of the disease than had been officially recorded .
A total of 106 postmortems were carried out in April , compared to 143 in the same month in 2019 , according to the Dublin District Coroner .
The number of online death notices in April – a preliminary indicator of excess mortality – almost doubled compared to the same month in 2019 .
The postmortem figures for Dublin in March were 123 ( 137 in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year earlier ) and for January 134 ( 179 in 2019 ) .
A spokesman for CUH said “ as of yet we have not yet needed to perform a postmortem on a deceased person with confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 ” .
The overall number of postmortems carried out in Cork in the first four months of the year was 252 , down from 291 in the same period of 2019 , despite the increase in deaths .
According to CUH , with the onset of Covid-19 , an arrangement was made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the coroner and pathology staff that “ each case would be adjudicated on its own individual merit ” .
As Covid-19 positive cases remain infectious for a period after death , the only two locations where autopsies can safely be performed are Dublin City Mortuary and CUH mortuary .
Postmortems are sometimes performed in the larger hospitals but these do not have the facilities to cater for Covid-19 examinations .
Last month , Dublin City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane warned not all Covid-19 deaths were being reported as required by law .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other locations who are responsible for completing death certificates , saying they must comply with the requirement to report “ any death in the context of proven or suspected ” Covid-19 to her office .
In March , the coroners ’ service ruled that postmortems on people who had died with coronavirus would not be necessary in most cases , unless there were “ other circumstances present ” .

A total of 106 postmortems were carried out in April, compared to 143 in the same month in 2019, according to the Dublin District Coroner. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The remains of just five people who have died with confirmed Covid-19 have been the subject of postmortem examinations, according to official figures.
The number of autopsies being carried out generally this year has fallen as the epidemic has spread, despite an increase in the overall number of deaths.
The Dublin District Coroner is directing that autopsies be performed in circumstances where they are mandated by law, it told The Irish Times. Five such autopsies on Covid-19 deceased were carried out in Dublin in the first four months of the year, the office said.
None has been performed in Cork University Hospital (CUH), the other location equipped to handle autopsies on infectious bodies.
READ MORE
By Sunday night, there were 1,458 Covid-19-related deaths. There is no county breakdown of deaths, but half of all cases have been reported in Dublin.
Underlying conditions
An autopsy can show whether a person died from the virus (ie that it was the immediate cause of death), or with the virus (ie that it was a factor along with others such as underlying conditions).
In other countries, autopsies have uncovered new research information about how the virus causes serious illness in some patients. They have also revealed earlier cases of the disease than had been officially recorded.
A total of 106 postmortems were carried out in April, compared to 143 in the same month in 2019, according to the Dublin District Coroner.
The number of online death notices in April – a preliminary indicator of excess mortality – almost doubled compared to the same month in 2019.
The postmortem figures for Dublin in March were 123 (137 in 2019), for February 118 (136 a year earlier) and for January 134 (179 in 2019).
A spokesman for CUH said “as of yet we have not yet needed to perform a postmortem on a deceased person with confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19”.
The overall number of postmortems carried out in Cork in the first four months of the year was 252, down from 291 in the same period of 2019, despite the increase in deaths.
Infectious remains
According to CUH, with the onset of Covid-19, an arrangement was made with the office of the State pathologist, the coroner and pathology staff that “each case would be adjudicated on its own individual merit”.
As Covid-19 positive cases remain infectious for a period after death, the only two locations where autopsies can safely be performed are Dublin City Mortuary and CUH mortuary.
Postmortems are sometimes performed in the larger hospitals but these do not have the facilities to cater for Covid-19 examinations.
Last month, Dublin City Coroner Dr Myra Cullinane warned not all Covid-19 deaths were being reported as required by law.
She wrote to medical staff in hospitals and other locations who are responsible for completing death certificates, saying they must comply with the requirement to report “any death in the context of proven or suspected” Covid-19 to her office.
In March, the coroners’ service ruled that postmortems on people who had died with coronavirus would not be necessary in most cases, unless there were “other circumstances present”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--State funding for bulk of public transport could run out next month

State funding for running the bulk of Ireland ’ s public transport services could run out as early as next month , the Government has been warned .
It is understood that the board of the CIÉ group of transport companies advised Minister for Transport Shane Ross in a letter last week that the companies were now facing a very serious financial position due to plummeting passenger numbers caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
Bus Éireann said that as a result of Covid-19 , passenger demand across the public transport network has reduced by up to 90 per cent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as Dublin Bus and train services run by Irish Rail receive money from the State known as public service obligation funding .
This is on the basis that they could not be operated on a commercial basis , and last year the State provided €287 million in such funding .
It is understood that to assist with cash flow in the three State companies , payments have been frontloaded this year .
However , senior sources believe this funding could run out by the end of June .
When asked for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government is determined that there will be no interruption to subvented public transport operations as a result of Covid-19 .
We will continue to take whatever measures are necessary to support these essential transport services.
” Sources have said the financial situation for Irish Rail , Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus is now “ dire ” , and a significant injection of State funding could be required in the coming weeks .
It is understood that public transport operators have availed of the Government ’ s wage subsidy scheme , and sources expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Further concerns have been raised by public transport providers about the knock-on consequences of social distancing when restrictions are lifted as more buses and trains may be needed in order to comply with guidelines .
The financial position at Bus Éireann ’ s Expressway service is considered to be particularly worrying within the CIÉ group .
Expressway is considered to be a commercial operation and receives no State funding .
The company is understood to have commissioned external management consultants to carry out a review of Expressway , including an examination of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not comment on reports that Expressway is currently losing some €750,000 per week .

Sources have said the financial situation for Dublin Bus, Irish Rail and Bus Éireann is now ‘dire’, and a significant injection of State funding could be required in coming weeks. Photograph: Getty Images
State funding for running the bulk of Ireland’s public transport services could run out as early as next month, the Government has been warned.
It is understood that the board of the CIÉ group of transport companies advised Minister for Transport Shane Ross in a letter last week that the companies were now facing a very serious financial position due to plummeting passenger numbers caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Bus Éireann said that as a result of Covid-19, passenger demand across the public transport network has reduced by up to 90 per cent.
Many routes operated by Bus Éireann as well as Dublin Bus and train services run by Irish Rail receive money from the State known as public service obligation funding. This is on the basis that they could not be operated on a commercial basis, and last year the State provided €287 million in such funding.
READ MORE
It is understood that to assist with cash flow in the three State companies, payments have been frontloaded this year. However, senior sources believe this funding could run out by the end of June.
When asked for comment, Mr Ross said: “The Government is determined that there will be no interruption to subvented public transport operations as a result of Covid-19. We will continue to take whatever measures are necessary to support these essential transport services.”
Sources have said the financial situation for Irish Rail, Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus is now “dire”, and a significant injection of State funding could be required in the coming weeks.
It is understood that public transport operators have availed of the Government’s wage subsidy scheme, and sources expect this to reduce any potential rescue bill.
Guidelines
Further concerns have been raised by public transport providers about the knock-on consequences of social distancing when restrictions are lifted as more buses and trains may be needed in order to comply with guidelines.
The financial position at Bus Éireann’s Expressway service is considered to be particularly worrying within the CIÉ group. Expressway is considered to be a commercial operation and receives no State funding.
The company is understood to have commissioned external management consultants to carry out a review of Expressway, including an examination of routes and job numbers.
Bus Éireann did not comment on reports that Expressway is currently losing some €750,000 per week.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Fears over ‘swell’ in evictions due to rent arrears after Covid crisis

Housing charity Threshold has warned of a “ swell ” in tenants facing eviction notices after the coronavirus crisis on the back of mounting rent arrears .
The charity said that if rent supplements were not provided quickly and efficiently there was a risk of rent arrears accruing and “ the risk of homelessness becomes real once the emergency period ends ” .
Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said the Government has commissioned an ESRI report on rent arrears which would “ guide further decisions that may need to be made ” .
“ Some of those who were laid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to recover any rent arrears that they will have built up over the period , and we do not want to push a problem of a notice to quit , or something else , further down the line as that will not help them get on their feet , ” Mr Murphy told the Dáil last Thursday .
The Government passed emergency legislation on March 27th to prevent rent increases and evictions for a three-month period up to the end of June .
People who have lost their jobs due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent can avail of the pandemic unemployment scheme , seek a rent reduction from their landlord or apply for a rent supplement or housing assistance payment .
Threshold said if these housing supports were provided without delay then “ rent arrears do not have to accrue to unmanageable levels ” .
However , if landlords refuse to reduce rent , if rent supplement applications are not processed efficiently or if HAP tenants ’ differential rent ( the remainder of the rent which the tenant must pay after receiving the State payment ) is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a “ swell in termination notices for rent arrears ” once the emergency period ends .
Sinn Féin ’ s housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said “ not enough is being done ” to promote the rent supplement scheme , and as a result many people may not be aware they qualify for it .
The rent supplement scheme provides short-term support to people who at the beginning of their tenancy could afford their rent but due to a substantial change in their circumstances can no longer afford it .
In response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broin , Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty said out of a total of 18,200 people in receipt of the rent supplement , some 3,000 of them had been approved since March 14th .
Ms Doherty said the application process had been streamlined , with the form now five pages instead of 22 and additional staff assigned to deal with the increased demand .
She acknowledged some claims could be “ complex or unclear ” , and “ delays can occur where additional information is required ” .
Mr Ó Broin proposes establishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crisis ends , where an independent adjudicator would decide what happens to any rental debt .

Housing charity Threshold has warned of a "swell" in tenants facing eviction notices after the coronavirus crisis on the back of mounting rent arrears.
The charity said that if rent supplements were not provided quickly and efficiently there was a risk of rent arrears accruing and “the risk of homelessness becomes real once the emergency period ends”.
Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy said the Government has commissioned an ESRI report on rent arrears which would “guide further decisions that may need to be made”.
“Some of those who were laid off first in the crisis will not be able to recover any rent arrears that they will have built up over the period, and we do not want to push a problem of a notice to quit, or something else, further down the line as that will not help them get on their feet,” Mr Murphy told the Dáil last Thursday.
READ MORE
The Government passed emergency legislation on March 27th to prevent rent increases and evictions for a three-month period up to the end of June.
People who have lost their jobs due to coronavirus and can no longer afford their rent can avail of the pandemic unemployment scheme, seek a rent reduction from their landlord or apply for a rent supplement or housing assistance payment.
Threshold said if these housing supports were provided without delay then “rent arrears do not have to accrue to unmanageable levels”.
However, if landlords refuse to reduce rent, if rent supplement applications are not processed efficiently or if HAP tenants’ differential rent (the remainder of the rent which the tenant must pay after receiving the State payment) is not revised the charity fears there could be a “swell in termination notices for rent arrears” once the emergency period ends.
Sinn Féin’s housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said “not enough is being done” to promote the rent supplement scheme, and as a result many people may not be aware they qualify for it.
The rent supplement scheme provides short-term support to people who at the beginning of their tenancy could afford their rent but due to a substantial change in their circumstances can no longer afford it.
Streamlined
In response to a parliamentary question from Mr Ó Broin, Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty said out of a total of 18,200 people in receipt of the rent supplement, some 3,000 of them had been approved since March 14th.
Ms Doherty said the application process had been streamlined, with the form now five pages instead of 22 and additional staff assigned to deal with the increased demand.
She acknowledged some claims could be “complex or unclear”, and “delays can occur where additional information is required”.
Mr Ó Broin proposes establishing a rent arrears mediation process after the crisis ends, where an independent adjudicator would decide what happens to any rental debt.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Cancer survivor says people should not fear contacting GPs during Covid-19 crisis

Cancer survivor Redmond Maguire has said it is “ scary ” that people with potential signs or symptoms of the disease are putting off going to their GP due to coronavirus .
Mr Maguire ( 56 ) , from Midleton , Co Cork , was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017 .
He had visited his GP the previous year about his blood pressure when a locum doctor noticed in his medical notes that he suffered with headaches for a long time .
“ The headaches had nothing to do with my diagnosis but she said to me would I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various respiratory , heart and kidneys tests .
Somewhere along the line , something showed up on an X-ray .
I went for an MRI scan , then a biopsy .
From the biopsy it was confirmed as pancreatic cancer , ” he said .
Mr Maguire underwent surgery , known as the Whipple procedure which removed part of his pancreas and then completed six months of chemotherapy .
He was given the all-clear earlier this year .
“ It was purely my going to the doctor and the insistence of the doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s how there was a diagnosis , I had no symptoms whatsoever of being ill .
I didn ’ t feel any different and was working right up until the right before my operation , ” he added .
The HSE ’ s National Cancer Control Programme has urged anyone with potential signs and symptoms of cancer to telephone their GP .
The average number of patients with suspected breast , lung , prostate and skin cancer being referred weekly to hospital clinics dropped by 57 per cent following the introduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there has been a “ slight increase ” in the numbers being referred in the past week but it remains concerned people are not contacting their GPs as they may be fearful of attending healthcare services .
“ It is scary to see people are holding off , ” Mr Maguire said .
“ I understand they are conscious and afraid of going into surgeries or into hospitals but everything is in place , everyone is doing their best .
It shouldn ’ t really stop anyone going and visiting the GP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are very few symptoms and when symptoms do raise their head , it ’ s too late in a lot of cases and it ’ s gone into the organs too far and treatment is a hard thing to go through .
“ I was one of the lucky ones and it was purely due to the insistence of the locum doctor in Ballycotton that I went for the test and from there that it showed up.
” The Irish Cancer Society ’ s support line ( 1800 200 700 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for anyone who has a concern .

Cancer survivor Redmond Maguire has said it is “scary” that people with potential signs or symptoms of the disease are putting off going to their GP due to coronavirus.
Mr Maguire (56), from Midleton, Co Cork, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2017. He had visited his GP the previous year about his blood pressure when a locum doctor noticed in his medical notes that he suffered with headaches for a long time.
“The headaches had nothing to do with my diagnosis but she said to me would I go for tests. I went for various respiratory, heart and kidneys tests. Somewhere along the line, something showed up on an X-ray. I went for an MRI scan, then a biopsy. From the biopsy it was confirmed as pancreatic cancer,” he said.
Mr Maguire underwent surgery, known as the Whipple procedure which removed part of his pancreas and then completed six months of chemotherapy. He was given the all-clear earlier this year.
READ MORE
Diagnosis
“It was purely my going to the doctor and the insistence of the doctor to get the headaches checked out. That’s how there was a diagnosis, I had no symptoms whatsoever of being ill. I didn’t feel any different and was working right up until the right before my operation,” he added.
The HSE’s National Cancer Control Programme has urged anyone with potential signs and symptoms of cancer to telephone their GP. The average number of patients with suspected breast, lung, prostate and skin cancer being referred weekly to hospital clinics dropped by 57 per cent following the introduction of Covid-19 restriction measures.
The HSE said there has been a “slight increase” in the numbers being referred in the past week but it remains concerned people are not contacting their GPs as they may be fearful of attending healthcare services.
Afraid
“It is scary to see people are holding off,” Mr Maguire said. “I understand they are conscious and afraid of going into surgeries or into hospitals but everything is in place, everyone is doing their best. It shouldn’t really stop anyone going and visiting the GP.
“In terms of pancreatic cancer, there are very few symptoms and when symptoms do raise their head, it’s too late in a lot of cases and it’s gone into the organs too far and treatment is a hard thing to go through.
“I was one of the lucky ones and it was purely due to the insistence of the locum doctor in Ballycotton that I went for the test and from there that it showed up.”
The Irish Cancer Society’s support line (1800 200 700) is open seven a days a week for anyone who has a concern.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Siteserv case: Request for extension to end of year denied

The judge leading the State commission investigating loan write-offs at the former Anglo Irish Bank has had a request for an extension to the end of the year denied .
Mr Justice Brian Cregan has heard from the final witnesses in the first module , which is focused on the sale of building services company Siteserv , now called Actavo , to Isle of Man company Millington , which is controlled by businessman Denis O ’ Brien , for €45 million in 2012 .
The judge made his request for an extension at the end of February when he submitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Department of the Taoiseach .
However , at the end of March , the Taoiseach granted an extension only until the end of June , the department confirmed .
A spokesman for the department said the decision only to give the shorter extension was due to “ the need to consult other Oireachtas parties , the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and continuing negotiations on formation of a new government .
A decision on publication of the commission ’ s seventh interim report will be taken after consultations have been completed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advanced the consultation with other parties is .
Prior to taking decisions about the future of the inquiry , Fine Gael ’ s Leo Varadkar has consulted other leaders .
However , sources who have traditionally been consulted at this phase said no contact has yet taken place .
The commission was set up in June 2015 to examine transactions that led to a loss of €10 million or more to the State-owned Irish Banking Resolution Corporation ( IBRC ) , which was formed from the remains of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the financial crisis .
Originally it was intended that the commission issue its final report by the end of that year .
However , the investigation has been hampered by legislative limitations that required new laws to be passed , as well as cost overruns and time delays .
It was originally intended to be completed for just €4 million , but the latest estimate is that the first module , focused solely on the sale of Siteserv , will cost up to €14 million .
Mr Varadkar has said the final @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The commission was established after Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy raised questions about the deal and Mr O ’ Brien ’ s finances in the Dáil .
She has refused to testify at the commission , citing concerns that she will be forced to reveal the sources of her information on the businessman ’ s finances .
A letter sent to the commission by the office of the parliamentary legal adviser , on behalf of Ms Murphy , raised complex legal concerns around the constitutional protection given to statements made in the Dáil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were to attend , she would be cross-examined by lawyers acting for other witnesses on “ the source or sources ” of her information .
The commission has already heard more than 200 days of evidence , including from Mr O ’ Brien , as well as from former senior Department of Finance officials , corporate lawyers and company executives .
Its most recent interim report said the commission was not in a position to make any interim findings or conclusions , despite such a request from the Taoiseach .

The commission was established after Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy raised questions about the deal and Denis O’Brien’s finances in the Dáil. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The judge leading the State commission investigating loan write-offs at the former Anglo Irish Bank has had a request for an extension to the end of the year denied.
Mr Justice Brian Cregan has heard from the final witnesses in the first module, which is focused on the sale of building services company Siteserv, now called Actavo, to Isle of Man company Millington, which is controlled by businessman Denis O’Brien, for €45 million in 2012.
The judge made his request for an extension at the end of February when he submitted the commission’s seventh interim report to the Department of the Taoiseach.
However, at the end of March, the Taoiseach granted an extension only until the end of June, the department confirmed.
READ MORE
A spokesman for the department said the decision only to give the shorter extension was due to “the need to consult other Oireachtas parties, the impact of the Covid-19 crisis and continuing negotiations on formation of a new government. A decision on publication of the commission’s seventh interim report will be taken after consultations have been completed”.
It is not clear how advanced the consultation with other parties is. Prior to taking decisions about the future of the inquiry, Fine Gael’s Leo Varadkar has consulted other leaders. However, sources who have traditionally been consulted at this phase said no contact has yet taken place.
The commission was set up in June 2015 to examine transactions that led to a loss of €10 million or more to the State-owned Irish Banking Resolution Corporation (IBRC), which was formed from the remains of Anglo Irish Bank and Irish Nationwide Building Society after both institutions collapsed during the financial crisis.
Cost overruns
Originally it was intended that the commission issue its final report by the end of that year. However, the investigation has been hampered by legislative limitations that required new laws to be passed, as well as cost overruns and time delays. It was originally intended to be completed for just €4 million, but the latest estimate is that the first module, focused solely on the sale of Siteserv, will cost up to €14 million. Mr Varadkar has said the final cost could rise to €30 million.
The commission was established after Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy raised questions about the deal and Mr O’Brien’s finances in the Dáil. She has refused to testify at the commission, citing concerns that she will be forced to reveal the sources of her information on the businessman’s finances.
A letter sent to the commission by the office of the parliamentary legal adviser, on behalf of Ms Murphy, raised complex legal concerns around the constitutional protection given to statements made in the Dáil, and also argued that if she were to attend, she would be cross-examined by lawyers acting for other witnesses on “the source or sources” of her information.
The commission has already heard more than 200 days of evidence, including from Mr O’Brien, as well as from former senior Department of Finance officials, corporate lawyers and company executives. Its most recent interim report said the commission was not in a position to make any interim findings or conclusions, despite such a request from the Taoiseach.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Covid-19: Irish dairy in peril as vital export markets dry up

Alan Jagoe ( 37 ) might appear to live an idyllic existence , farming in Nohoval , Co Cork , spending his working day out on a 240-acre holding in rolling green hills that look out on to a deep blue sea .
Even here , however , a shadow has been cast by the Covid-19 crisis .
He lives on the farm with his wife , Helen , and three young children , Laura ( 5 ) , Rebecca ( 3 ) and Amy ( 1 ) .
Together with his brother , George , and helped by their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s partner , Kiera , the Jagoes milk 240 Holstein Friesians , supplying Dairygold with 1.7 million litres annually .
Dairygold cut the price of milk by two cent a litre last month , with another two cent cut forecast for April : “ For every one cent drop in price per litre across the year , we are losing €17,000 , ” Jagoe says .
The situation for the Jagoes and every other farmer could get much worse .
A Dairy Industry Ireland report recently predicted a 10-20 per cent fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , milk averaged 32 cent a litre .
If it averages 30 cent a litre this year then that ’ s a net loss of €34,000 to our farm but it looks like it is going to be even worse because of Covid-19 , which has closed off milk and cheese [ markets ] .
” The price fall could not come at a worse time , as farmers throughout the State enter their busiest months .
Cows produce about 50 per cent of their annual milk yield in April , May , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be timed with peak prices .
“ That ’ s what enables you to clear the bills from the winter and spring and provides you with a bit of a buffer going into the autumn , which is used to pay tax and other costs such as fertiliser , veterinary , electricity , ” says Jagoe .
Teagasc estimates that milk costs 30 cent a litre to produce , and that is excluding the farmer ’ s own labour , which means that farmers need to get upwards of 34-35 cent a litre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If milk stays below 30 cent a litre , which the analysts are forecasting it will do , it puts huge pressure on a lot of dairy farmers , particularly those who borrowed to expand when quotas were lifted in 2015 , ” Jagoe adds .
“ When the years are good , you need to put something aside for the bad years .
While 2018 was a good dry year for most [ non-farmers ] , the drought cost farmers a huge amount of money .
We spent most of 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear the bills and create a bit of a buffer , ” he said .
This year was supposed to be better .
“ Instead Covid-19 comes , ” he says , “ Plus , we have no idea what the future holds and when we are going to come out of it .
And its impacts are worldwide , so it ’ s completely uncharted territory for us.
” The Jagoes are among Ireland ’ s 18,000 concerned dairy farmers .
“ We really don ’ t know what the full impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chairman of the Irish Farmers ’ Association National Dairy Committee , Tom Phelan .
He is urging more European Union supports .
“ Looking down the road , we don ’ t know whether the recovery will be V-shaped or will it be longer term and what impact it will have on consumption globally.
” Ninety-two per cent of Ireland ’ s dairy farmers ’ produce is sold abroad .
However , international dairy markets were rapidly brought to a halt by Covid-19 as sales to restaurants , hotels and airlines dried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is now switching into powders and butters , but this has led to a glut that threatens the livelihoods of the 46,000 people dependent directly and indirectly on dairy , warns Dairy Industry Ireland director Conor Mulvihill .
Dairy output this year could fall by €2.3 billion .
“ Irish dairy is an engine of the rural and the national economy , and it is vital that the necessary steps be taken quickly to enable the industry to be in a position to contribute to the national economic reboot when it occurs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dairy Industry Ireland urged the European Commission to open up its Private Storage Aid ( PSA ) option to stabilise the market , whereby companies are paid to store product , but they continue to own it ( unlike old-style intervention where it is bought , and more expensively so , by the European Commission ) .
Late last month , EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski announced an €80 million PSA aid package for farmers , but such sums can only be “ a first step ” if farmers are to be helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mulvihill .
“ It ’ s designed to take some 330,000 tonnes of dairy product into storage – there ’ s €6 million for 90,000 tonnes of skim milk , €14 million for 140,000 tonnes of butter and €10 million for 100,000 tonnes of cheese .
“ So it ’ s not a lot and the rates are a lot lower than when we had a PSA in 2016 and the cost of storage has gone up a lot since then , plus availability of refrigerated storage is very tight at the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing for Brexit , many Irish food companies had already put product into storage , which leaves them with few independent options , and they are competing now with others who need refrigerated storage .
However , Irish dairy is better placed than others to survive , says Mulvihill .
Much of its production goes into butter , cheese , skim milk powder , sports nutrition , while farmers in other parts of the EU are dependent “ more or less on a fresh market ” that “ has virtually collapsed ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began , food sales in shops have grown by a fifth .
Though this is welcome , Mulvihill points out that it does not compensate for the 80-90 per cent drop in sales that has occurred elsewhere in the food market .
“ PSA is only a temporary solution – it ’ s taking product off the market and putting it to one side and hoping it will be able to come back on to a better market later in the year , ” he says .
Sooner or later , that product @ @ @ @ @ @

Alan Jagoe (37) might appear to live an idyllic existence, farming in Nohoval, Co Cork, spending his working day out on a 240-acre holding in rolling green hills that look out on to a deep blue sea.
Even here, however, a shadow has been cast by the Covid-19 crisis. He lives on the farm with his wife, Helen, and three young children, Laura (5), Rebecca (3) and Amy (1).
Together with his brother, George, and helped by their parents, Edward and Agnes and George’s partner, Kiera, the Jagoes milk 240 Holstein Friesians, supplying Dairygold with 1.7 million litres annually.
Dairygold cut the price of milk by two cent a litre last month, with another two cent cut forecast for April: “For every one cent drop in price per litre across the year, we are losing €17,000,” Jagoe says.
READ MORE
The situation for the Jagoes and every other farmer could get much worse. A Dairy Industry Ireland report recently predicted a 10-20 per cent fall in milk prices.
“Last year, milk averaged 32 cent a litre. If it averages 30 cent a litre this year then that’s a net loss of €34,000 to our farm but it looks like it is going to be even worse because of Covid-19, which has closed off milk and cheese [markets].”
The price fall could not come at a worse time, as farmers throughout the State enter their busiest months. Cows produce about 50 per cent of their annual milk yield in April, May, June and July. Peak production should be timed with peak prices.
“That’s what enables you to clear the bills from the winter and spring and provides you with a bit of a buffer going into the autumn, which is used to pay tax and other costs such as fertiliser, veterinary, electricity,” says Jagoe.
If milk stays below 30 cent a litre, which the analysts are forecasting it will do, it puts huge pressure on a lot of dairy farmers
Teagasc estimates that milk costs 30 cent a litre to produce, and that is excluding the farmer’s own labour, which means that farmers need to get upwards of 34-35 cent a litre to ensure bills can be paid.
“If milk stays below 30 cent a litre, which the analysts are forecasting it will do, it puts huge pressure on a lot of dairy farmers, particularly those who borrowed to expand when quotas were lifted in 2015,” Jagoe adds.
“When the years are good, you need to put something aside for the bad years. While 2018 was a good dry year for most [non-farmers], the drought cost farmers a huge amount of money. We spent most of 2019 and a bit of 2020 trying to clear the bills and create a bit of a buffer,” he said.
This year was supposed to be better. “Instead Covid-19 comes,” he says, “Plus, we have no idea what the future holds and when we are going to come out of it. And its impacts are worldwide, so it’s completely uncharted territory for us.”
Exports dry up
The Jagoes are among Ireland's 18,000 concerned dairy farmers. "We really don't know what the full impact of Covid-19 will be,"says the chairman of the Irish Farmers' Association National Dairy Committee, Tom Phelan.
He is urging more European Union supports. "Looking down the road, we don't know whether the recovery will be V-shaped or will it be longer term and what impact it will have on consumption globally."
Ninety-two per cent of Ireland’s dairy farmers’ produce is sold abroad. However, international dairy markets were rapidly brought to a halt by Covid-19 as sales to restaurants, hotels and airlines dried up.
"Irish dairy is an engine of the rural and the national economy"
Milk destined for such customers is now switching into powders and butters, but this has led to a glut that threatens the livelihoods of the 46,000 people dependent directly and indirectly on dairy, warns Dairy Industry Ireland director Conor Mulvihill.
Dairy output this year could fall by €2.3 billion. “Irish dairy is an engine of the rural and the national economy, and it is vital that the necessary steps be taken quickly to enable the industry to be in a position to contribute to the national economic reboot when it occurs,” he says.
Last month, Dairy Industry Ireland urged the European Commission to open up its Private Storage Aid (PSA) option to stabilise the market, whereby companies are paid to store product, but they continue to own it (unlike old-style intervention where it is bought, and more expensively so, by the European Commission).
Storage problems
Late last month, EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski announced an €80 million PSA aid package for farmers, but such sums can only be "a first step" if farmers are to be helped out of the crisis, says Mr Mulvihill.
“It’s designed to take some 330,000 tonnes of dairy product into storage – there’s €6 million for 90,000 tonnes of skim milk, €14 million for 140,000 tonnes of butter and €10 million for 100,000 tonnes of cheese.
“So it’s not a lot and the rates are a lot lower than when we had a PSA in 2016 and the cost of storage has gone up a lot since then, plus availability of refrigerated storage is very tight at the moment as well.”
Irish dairy is better placed than others to survive. Farmers in other parts of the EU are dependent "more or less on a fresh market" that "has virtually collapsed"
Because they were already preparing for Brexit, many Irish food companies had already put product into storage, which leaves them with few independent options, and they are competing now with others who need refrigerated storage.
However, Irish dairy is better placed than others to survive, says Mulvihill. Much of its production goes into butter, cheese, skim milk powder, sports nutrition, while farmers in other parts of the EU are dependent “more or less on a fresh market” that “has virtually collapsed”, he said.
Since the Covid-19 crisis began, food sales in shops have grown by a fifth. Though this is welcome, Mulvihill points out that it does not compensate for the 80-90 per cent drop in sales that has occurred elsewhere in the food market.
“PSA is only a temporary solution – it’s taking product off the market and putting it to one side and hoping it will be able to come back on to a better market later in the year,” he says. Sooner or later, that product will have to be sold.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Consumers not obliged to accept vouchers for cancelled flights

Traveller rights across the European Union remain unchanged despite the blanket cancellation of flights and holidays in recent weeks , Europe ’ s leading cross-border consumer group has confirmed .
March and April were the busiest months for queries and complaints the European Consumer Centre has ever had .
Over the past two months , across the centre ’ s entire EU-wide network of offices , consumer contacts jumped about 100 per cent .
Almost all complaints coming from passengers anxious to establish how their rights were affected by Covid-19 travel disruptions and border closures .
The surge in queries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of April .
Some 43 per cent of contacts were in relation to air travel as the commercial aviation industry experienced the most significant disruption in its history .
A further 22 per cent involved hotel reservations cancelled in the aftermath of the widespread stoppage of travel and transport options and the imposition of border closures .
The European Consumer Centre said package holidays represented 19 per cent of queries while other issues were concerned with land and sea transport and cancelled events – mostly festivals , sporting events and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the impossibility of travel and passengers ’ attempt to understand what their rights were as a result , but this was followed by a wave of complaints “ directly related to the changing policies of various companies and countries in responding to the cancellations of transport and tourism services ” .
A spokeswoman for the Irish branch of the centre said that in April and May most queries both in Ireland and Europe “ pertained to difficulties encountered in securing cash refunds for cancelled package holidays , accommodation , flights , ferries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recreational and sport events ” .
She said the company was working to resolve disputes between consumers and traders but was also involved in “ monitoring new changes to travel and transport companies ’ policies and also coronavirus-related legislative changes in various EU member states , where national governments have introduced new emergency temporary rules of reimbursement ” .
She stressed that while the coronavirus crisis was an “ unprecedented situation … consumer air travel entitlements have not changed ” .
If a consumer has booked a flight directly with an airline , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a booking engine or travel operator , and the flight was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions , the airline is no longer required to pay compensation .
But it is still obliged to respect the other basic air passenger rights – even under extraordinary circumstances , such as Covid-19 – including reimbursement .
She said airlines were required to refund passengers within seven days of the flight cancellation .
She said consumers who did not receive a refund within this time scale should submit a complaint to the airline and then to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the Commission for Aviation Regulation .
It deals with such matters on its dedicated website , flightrights.ie .
She stressed that under the provisions of Regulation EU 261/2004 , when a passenger chooses a refund , this can be processed in cash or in vouchers , “ but it is up to the consumer to accept the voucher or not ” .
However , she also pointed out that Greece , Italy and Netherlands have implemented measures establishing an exceptional regime that allows air carriers to offer air passengers vouchers instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully refundable if not used during their validity period , which is usually 12 months .
Minister for Transport Shane Ross is considering a similar change here .

Traveller rights across the European Union remain unchanged despite the blanket cancellation of flights and holidays in recent weeks, Europe's leading cross-border consumer group has confirmed.
March and April were the busiest months for queries and complaints the European Consumer Centre has ever had.
Over the past two months, across the centre’s entire EU-wide network of offices, consumer contacts jumped about 100 per cent. Almost all complaints coming from passengers anxious to establish how their rights were affected by Covid-19 travel disruptions and border closures.
The surge in queries started in mid-February and reached a peak at the end of April. Some 43 per cent of contacts were in relation to air travel as the commercial aviation industry experienced the most significant disruption in its history. A further 22 per cent involved hotel reservations cancelled in the aftermath of the widespread stoppage of travel and transport options and the imposition of border closures.
READ MORE
The European Consumer Centre said package holidays represented 19 per cent of queries while other issues were concerned with land and sea transport and cancelled events – mostly festivals, sporting events and concerts.
Initially, the queries focused on the impossibility of travel and passengers’ attempt to understand what their rights were as a result, but this was followed by a wave of complaints “directly related to the changing policies of various companies and countries in responding to the cancellations of transport and tourism services”.
A spokeswoman for the Irish branch of the centre said that in April and May most queries both in Ireland and Europe "pertained to difficulties encountered in securing cash refunds for cancelled package holidays, accommodation, flights, ferries, bus transfers, car rentals, recreational and sport events".
Emergency rules
She said the company was working to resolve disputes between consumers and traders but was also involved in “monitoring new changes to travel and transport companies’ policies and also coronavirus-related legislative changes in various EU member states, where national governments have introduced new emergency temporary rules of reimbursement”.
She stressed that while the coronavirus crisis was an “unprecedented situation … consumer air travel entitlements have not changed”.
If a consumer has booked a flight directly with an airline, or via a third party such as a booking engine or travel operator, and the flight was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions, the airline is no longer required to pay compensation. But it is still obliged to respect the other basic air passenger rights – even under extraordinary circumstances, such as Covid-19 – including reimbursement.
She said airlines were required to refund passengers within seven days of the flight cancellation. She said consumers who did not receive a refund within this time scale should submit a complaint to the airline and then to the national enforcement body, which in Ireland is the Commission for Aviation Regulation. It deals with such matters on its dedicated website, flightrights.ie.
She stressed that under the provisions of Regulation EU 261/2004, when a passenger chooses a refund, this can be processed in cash or in vouchers, “but it is up to the consumer to accept the voucher or not”.
However, she also pointed out that Greece, Italy and Netherlands have implemented measures establishing an exceptional regime that allows air carriers to offer air passengers vouchers instead of cash refunds, provided the vouchers are fully refundable if not used during their validity period, which is usually 12 months. Minister for Transport Shane Ross is considering a similar change here.


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--HSE warns of ‘massive’ long-term Covid-19 bill

The State faces a “ massive ” healthcare bill running to well in excess of €1 billion to pay for the long-term battle against the Covid-19 pandemic , Health Service Executive chief executive Paul Reid has warned .
The HSE faces an annual bill of €1 billion for personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for health workers and a “ similar very significant cost ” to establish a testing and tracing system to find infected contacts of new cases in order to release the country from pandemic restrictions , Mr Reid said .
The State will require a “ future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ war-time model ” set up in the past 10 weeks in response to the outbreak of the deadly virus , he added .
The new testing and tracing operation would cost several hundred million euro , according to senior health service sources .
The death toll from coronavirus rose by a further 12 reported fatalities on Sunday to 1,458 .
This was the lowest daily total since March 30th .
A further 236 people were diagnosed with the disease , bringing total confirmed cases to 22,996 .
Mr Reid said at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing and tracing were “ two key enablers ” to “ unlocking society ” and the cost would be “ at a scale that nobody could have foreseen ” .
“ The trade-off of not investing in this is the cost to society either through increased transmission of the disease or further restrictions which have a cost as well .
“ It is still going through Government at the minute and we are still working through some of the issues around the costings and the ongoing fixed cost of what ’ s involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has to sign-off on the plan and is examining costs based on levels of demand for the remainder of the year , said a senior health source .
The HSE planned to introduce a 24-hour turnaround target to trace and inform the contacts of any newly infected people from this week , a spokeswoman for the service said .
This would be reduced from an average of 36 hours currently for a “ non-complex case ” and would apply to about 80 per cent of all newly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the point of being able to contact someone in a truly timely fashion , there is still work to be done .
It ’ s not timely enough yet , ” said Mary Codd , an epidemiology professor at UCD .
The nursing homes regulator , the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , has urged State health officials to start discussions on a plan to reopen nursing homes to visitors as one home operator warned that elderly residents would “ die of loneliness ” rather than Covid-19 , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a further development , The Irish Times has established there have been postmortem examinations on the remains of just five people who died from confirmed Covid-19 .

The HSE faces an annual bill of €1 billion for personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers and a “similar very significant cost” to establish a testing and tracing system.
The State faces a "massive" healthcare bill running to well in excess of €1 billion to pay for the long-term battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, Health Service Executive chief executive Paul Reid has warned.
The HSE faces an annual bill of €1 billion for personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers and a “similar very significant cost” to establish a testing and tracing system to find infected contacts of new cases in order to release the country from pandemic restrictions, Mr Reid said.
The State will require a “future model” of testing and tracing beyond the “war-time model” set up in the past 10 weeks in response to the outbreak of the deadly virus, he added.
The new testing and tracing operation would cost several hundred million euro, according to senior health service sources.
READ MORE
The death toll from coronavirus rose by a further 12 reported fatalities on Sunday to 1,458. This was the lowest daily total since March 30th.
A further 236 people were diagnosed with the disease, bringing total confirmed cases to 22,996.
Unforeseen scale
Mr Reid said at the HSE’s weekly briefing that testing and tracing were “two key enablers” to “unlocking society” and the cost would be “at a scale that nobody could have foreseen”.
“The trade-off of not investing in this is the cost to society either through increased transmission of the disease or further restrictions which have a cost as well.
“It is still going through Government at the minute and we are still working through some of the issues around the costings and the ongoing fixed cost of what’s involved,” Mr Reid said.
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has to sign-off on the plan and is examining costs based on levels of demand for the remainder of the year, said a senior health source.
Nursing home visits
The HSE planned to introduce a 24-hour turnaround target to trace and inform the contacts of any newly infected people from this week, a spokeswoman for the service said.
This would be reduced from an average of 36 hours currently for a “non-complex case” and would apply to about 80 per cent of all newly confirmed Covid-19 cases.
"To get to the point of being able to contact someone in a truly timely fashion, there is still work to be done. It's not timely enough yet," said Mary Codd, an epidemiology professor at UCD.
The nursing homes regulator, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), has urged State health officials to start discussions on a plan to reopen nursing homes to visitors as one home operator warned that elderly residents would "die of loneliness" rather than Covid-19, according to Hiqa deputy chief inspector Susan Cliffe.
In a further development, The Irish Times has established there have been postmortem examinations on the remains of just five people who died from confirmed Covid-19.


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Allcamps creates a Catch 22 situation for its customers

The holiday plans of hundreds of thousands of Irish people have been thrown into disarray in recent weeks .
We are continuing to get a huge volume of complaints and queries in connection with travel and the summer ahead with some companies accused of putting people into impossible situations .
One such company is the Dutch-based camping operator Allcamps .
Brian Flanagan booked a camping holiday to Union Lido near Venice for July with Allcamps .
“ Basically they ’ ve put us in a real Catch 22 situation , ” he writes .
“ We ’ ve already paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to pay the remaining balance of €1,800 on May 28th .
Obviously we have no intention of going and it ’ s unlikely the Aer Lingus flight will take off anyway , ” he says .
“ However , Allcamps are proving extremely difficult to deal with .
They are refusing to answer calls and through email they will only refer to the Corona FAQ on its website , ” he says .
“ If I pay the €1,800 on May 28th , I ’ m taking a chance that the campsite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem if I can ’ t get there .
There is no engagement with customers from Allcamps .
They are also washing their hands of any situation where customers can ’ t get to their location because of cancelled flights , ” he says .
“ If they do cancel the holiday , they will issue a voucher valid only within one year after the date of issue , which is unlikely to carry into next summer .
Also , who knows what the situation will be like next summer anyway ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She has a holiday booked with Allcamps to another campsite near Venice and was due to arrive on July 4th .
But travel restrictions in this country look almost certain to prohibit her from travelling .
She has paid €700 as a deposit and the balance was due at the end of last week .
She was advised by the company to pay the balance of €1,800 and if they have to cancel her holiday , she will get a Corona voucher .
“ This may be okay , if we can manage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times are tough due to reduced work hours , etc , so we will struggle and would prefer to take a voucher for the €700 deposit only , ” she says .
She also wonders what happens if she pays the balance , and somehow , Italy does open its campsite in July .
“ We can not travel so what happens our full €2,500 then ?
Do we lose that ?
As that would be devastating.
” We had a look at the Allcamps website and the news was pretty bleak for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment , no final decision has yet been taken on borders in Europe for the period after May , but we understand that this question is with you , ” the site says .
It adds that it and all its partners and campsites are “ also fully reflecting on the impact of possible entry and exit restrictions .
Closed borders can be a reason for a campsite or tour operator to stay closed and not make the accommodations available to foreign guests .
In that case , we will cancel your holiday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” However , if the campsite and accommodation is open and but travel restrictions still apply – which they almost certainly will for our readers , this is what Allcamps says : “ You have booked a mobile home or tent at a campsite in Europe .
We are responsible for the implementation of this part of your holiday .
This means that you are responsible for the trip to the campsite .
Here is a difference with package holidays .
If there are travel restrictions because borders have not yet been fully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation may arise for you .
Unfortunately , this is also beyond our control and the risk for the journey lies with the customer .
In this situation , we can deliver what you have booked with us : the accommodation on the campsite .
In this case , you would have lost your [ down ] payment.
” That seemed very harsh to us .
We tried to contact Allcamps without success but yesterday we heard some good news from Emma .
“ They are letting us transfer our €700 deposit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are some conditions but we don ’ t have to pay the balance until next year so I am happy with that .
”

The holiday plans of hundreds of thousands of Irish people have been thrown into disarray in recent weeks. We are continuing to get a huge volume of complaints and queries in connection with travel and the summer ahead with some companies accused of putting people into impossible situations. One such company is the Dutch-based camping operator Allcamps.
Brian Flanagan booked a camping holiday to Union Lido near Venice for July with Allcamps. "Basically they've put us in a real Catch 22 situation," he writes. "We've already paid a hefty deposit of €750 and are due to pay the remaining balance of €1,800 on May 28th. Obviously we have no intention of going and it's unlikely the Aer Lingus flight will take off anyway," he says.
“However, Allcamps are proving extremely difficult to deal with. They are refusing to answer calls and through email they will only refer to the Corona FAQ on its website,” he says.
“If I pay the €1,800 on May 28th, I’m taking a chance that the campsite will open and it will be my problem if I can’t get there. There is no engagement with customers from Allcamps. They are also washing their hands of any situation where customers can’t get to their location because of cancelled flights,” he says.
READ MORE
“If they do cancel the holiday, they will issue a voucher valid only within one year after the date of issue, which is unlikely to carry into next summer. Also, who knows what the situation will be like next summer anyway?”
Corona voucher
Emma Larkin had a similar story. She has a holiday booked with Allcamps to another campsite near Venice and was due to arrive on July 4th. But travel restrictions in this country look almost certain to prohibit her from travelling. She has paid €700 as a deposit and the balance was due at the end of last week. She was advised by the company to pay the balance of €1,800 and if they have to cancel her holiday, she will get a Corona voucher.
“This may be okay, if we can manage to get this payment together, but times are tough due to reduced work hours, etc, so we will struggle and would prefer to take a voucher for the €700 deposit only,” she says.
She also wonders what happens if she pays the balance, and somehow, Italy does open its campsite in July. "We cannot travel so what happens our full €2,500 then? Do we lose that? As that would be devastating."
Bleak news
We had a look at the Allcamps website and the news was pretty bleak for both our readers.
"At this moment, no final decision has yet been taken on borders in Europe for the period after May, but we understand that this question is with you," the site says.
It adds that it and all its partners and campsites are “also fully reflecting on the impact of possible entry and exit restrictions. Closed borders can be a reason for a campsite or tour operator to stay closed and not make the accommodations available to foreign guests. In that case, we will cancel your holiday and you will receive a Corona voucher.”
However, if the campsite and accommodation is open and but travel restrictions still apply – which they almost certainly will for our readers, this is what Allcamps says: “You have booked a mobile home or tent at a campsite in Europe. We are responsible for the implementation of this part of your holiday. This means that you are responsible for the trip to the campsite. Here is a difference with package holidays. If there are travel restrictions because borders have not yet been fully opened, we understand that a difficult situation may arise for you. Unfortunately, this is also beyond our control and the risk for the journey lies with the customer. In this situation, we can deliver what you have booked with us: the accommodation on the campsite. In this case, you would have lost your [down] payment.”
That seemed very harsh to us. We tried to contact Allcamps without success but yesterday we heard some good news from Emma. “They are letting us transfer our €700 deposit to a holiday with them next year. There are some conditions but we don’t have to pay the balance until next year so I am happy with that.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Pricewatch: Confusion over travel insurance in time of coronavirus

Kieran O ’ Leary made contact and raised an interesting point about travel insurance in the time of coronavirus .
In a travel-related online Q & A we wrote last week , we pointed out that anyone who took out travel insurance after the middle of March is almost certainly not going to be covered for any coronavirus-related cancellations as all the insurance companies moved very quickly to exclude that from their cover .
Many companies will already have had a clause – buried deep in the terms and conditions – stating that they do not cover pandemics .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was worth checking your travel insurance if you have had it since before the crisis began .
That prompted Kieran to contact his travel insurer .
“ I had already scrutinised the policy documents so I knew that Covid/pandemics were not excluded by my policy , but what I heard on the phone was somewhat surprising and it may be worth letting others know about , ” he says .
“ I ’ ve had an annual travel insurance policy with AIG for the past few years .
We booked this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Covid was on the horizon for most of us .
As the concerns around Covid increased I was reassured that I was lucky to have a policy that did not exclude pandemics so was feeling very confident that if things went against us I would get my money back through my insurance and would not need to worry about the uncertainty of credit notes , ” he says .
But his policy expires in June and his holiday is in August and when he rang his insurer he was told that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy expires .
“ If I renew , my policy will have a clause to exclude cancellations due to Covid and I would not be entitled to make a claim on the basis I am not covered for cancellations caused due to Covid.
” He says his option now is to continue making payments for the holiday – two ferry companies and two campsites in France “ and see how things pan out between now and August .
In which case if we can ’ t travel , then take credit notes/refunds as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancel the holiday before my current policy expires , but AIG can not guarantee they will pay out as they evaluate each claim on a case-by-case basis.
” He says he was surprised to be caught out like this and even more surprised that there was nothing he could have done to avoid the situation he is in .
“ I asked that should I , in hindsight , have taken out a new policy on the day I booked my holiday , but they said that would not have given me a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ current one .
It feels highly unfair , and I wonder whether others have the same false sense of security that I had a few hours ago !
” Meanwhile , a reader by the name of Ray got in touch about Ryanair and refunds .
He and his wife were due to fly to Spain at the end of March with the airline .
The flight was cancelled and the couple were promised a refund by email .
“ Then two weeks later we were asked for patience as the airline said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he says .
About a week or two later he got another email and was offered a voucher .
You have probably heard a version of this story before .
You may even have told us a version of this story .
“ Now , I ’ m not unreasonable and travel frequently with Ryanair and others and would indeed take a voucher , ” Ray says .
“ But I was told that the voucher would only last for one year and not five as is the current legal situation in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result , I will not take the voucher as the Covid thing might still be with us .
However , if the voucher was to last for five years I would accept it .
The advantage for Ryanair is that the cost of the pandemic would be spread over a much longer period and the airlines would not be under the same pressure for cash refunds.
” Ray is making a good point when it comes to extending the period in which vouchers can be redeemed to five years .
He was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 12-month expiry limit which seems to run contrary to the law .
It doesn ’ t .
We got on to the Department of Enterprise about this and were told that a clause in the law says vouchers that are not “ supplied , marketed , provided or otherwise made available to be given as a gift ” are excluded from the new rules .

Anyone who took out travel insurance after the middle of March is almost certainly not going to be covered for any coronavirus-related cancellations.
Kieran O’Leary made contact and raised an interesting point about travel insurance in the time of coronavirus.
In a travel-related online Q&A we wrote last week, we pointed out that anyone who took out travel insurance after the middle of March is almost certainly not going to be covered for any coronavirus-related cancellations as all the insurance companies moved very quickly to exclude that from their cover. Many companies will already have had a clause – buried deep in the terms and conditions – stating that they do not cover pandemics.
In that Q&A we pointed out that it was worth checking your travel insurance if you have had it since before the crisis began. That prompted Kieran to contact his travel insurer. “I had already scrutinised the policy documents so I knew that Covid/pandemics were not excluded by my policy, but what I heard on the phone was somewhat surprising and it may be worth letting others know about,” he says.
"I've had an annual travel insurance policy with AIG for the past few years. We booked this year's holiday in early January before Covid was on the horizon for most of us. As the concerns around Covid increased I was reassured that I was lucky to have a policy that did not exclude pandemics so was feeling very confident that if things went against us I would get my money back through my insurance and would not need to worry about the uncertainty of credit notes," he says.
READ MORE
But his policy expires in June and his holiday is in August and when he rang his insurer he was told that he only has cover until the date my policy expires. “If I renew, my policy will have a clause to exclude cancellations due to Covid and I would not be entitled to make a claim on the basis I am not covered for cancellations caused due to Covid.”
He says his option now is to continue making payments for the holiday – two ferry companies and two campsites in France "and see how things pan out between now and August. In which case if we can't travel, then take credit notes/refunds as offered by ferries and campsites. Or cancel the holiday before my current policy expires, but AIG cannot guarantee they will pay out as they evaluate each claim on a case-by-case basis."
He says he was surprised to be caught out like this and even more surprised that there was nothing he could have done to avoid the situation he is in. “I asked that should I, in hindsight, have taken out a new policy on the day I booked my holiday, but they said that would not have given me a new policy as I already had a current one. It feels highly unfair, and I wonder whether others have the same false sense of security that I had a few hours ago!”
Ryanair vouchers
Meanwhile, a reader by the name of Ray got in touch about Ryanair and refunds. He and his wife were due to fly to Spain at the end of March with the airline. The flight was cancelled and the couple were promised a refund by email. "Then two weeks later we were asked for patience as the airline said the demand on their service was huge, he says. About a week or two later he got another email and was offered a voucher.
You have probably heard a version of this story before. You may even have told us a version of this story.
"Now, I'm not unreasonable and travel frequently with Ryanair and others and would indeed take a voucher," Ray says. "But I was told that the voucher would only last for one year and not five as is the current legal situation in Ireland for vouchers.
“As a result, I will not take the voucher as the Covid thing might still be with us. However, if the voucher was to last for five years I would accept it. The advantage for Ryanair is that the cost of the pandemic would be spread over a much longer period and the airlines would not be under the same pressure for cash refunds.”
Ray is making a good point when it comes to extending the period in which vouchers can be redeemed to five years. He was not alone in wondering what Ryanair could impose a 12-month expiry limit which seems to run contrary to the law. It doesn’t. We got on to the Department of Enterprise about this and were told that a clause in the law says vouchers that are not “supplied, marketed, provided or otherwise made available to be given as a gift” are excluded from the new rules.


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Pricewatch: Problems with banks prove perennial amid pandemic

We were almost relieved last week to get a couple of queries from readers that had little or nothing to do with Covid-19 .
They had to do with our old friends , the banks .
First up was an absurd story from a reader by the name of Davin .
He got in touch with a story he aptly describes as “ a memory of times gone by , when malfunctioning ATMs and stonewalling banks seemed like something to worry about ” .
Davin ’ s tale of woe started on February 4th when he went to a Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Green Centre , and tried to take out €100 from the machine by the door .
“ And then it mugged me , ” he writes .
He put his card in and then he keyed in his number and selected the amount he wanted .
All was going well .
“ The ATM made its whirring sound but no cash came out , and as there was another man on the phone near the machine looking a bit anxious , I had a sudden bad feeling .
I whipped out my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man then told me the machine had withheld cash from him , ” he writes .
“ No cash came out of the machine for me either and then the ‘ out of service ’ sign popped up on the screen.
” Davin sent us a video of this unwelcome development so we can see clearly that events unfolded as he said .
He was still pretty relaxed about it all .
“ This can happen occasionally , but usually no money is withdrawn from your account , ” he continues .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inkling about the whole thing , so I checked my Ulster Bank app and the money was indeed gone from my account .
I called Ulster Bank immediately and they assured me the money would be back in my account within 48 hours .
I went about my business in the Stephen ’ s Green Centre , but passed by again about 10 minutes later .
The other victim of the ATM was still there , looking very distressed , and a member of Stephen ’ s Green Centre security was there too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ATM and said someone from Bank of Ireland was on their way , but that we had to contact our own banks for a refund.
” “ You can probably guess where this is going , ” our correspondent writes .
Yes , yes we can .
The money was not refunded to him after 48 hours .
“ So I called up Ulster Bank again , a bit vexed , and they opened a ‘ retail dispute ’ via Visa .
While that dispute was pending , the €100 was refunded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He thought that would be the end of it but then on St Patrick ’ s Day as we all waited to hear Leo ’ s address to the nation – that seems like a long time ago now , right ?
– Davin got an email saying that the retail dispute had been found in Bank of Ireland ’ s favour .
“ It seems the ATM ’ s log recorded the cash being dispensed , ” he says .
So he called up Ulster Bank again and explained that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving him any money “ which they eventually acknowledged might be useful .
Furthermore , whatever sort of technical malfunction occurred ( or possible fraud , I guess ) , I imagined there was some corroborating evidence , such as the claim presumably made by the other man , a record of the call-out to a technician , or more money being allegedly dispensed by the machine than it possessed , that sort of thing.
” He figured that would be the end of it .
“ This ATM mugger was caught red-handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alas no.
” He mailed us last week after he got another email .
This is what it said .
“ We do sympathise with your predicament but it is with regret that we are not able to continue your dispute through Visa dispute resolution .
We have taken into consideration the details of your claim and the response from the retailer .
Under the Visa dispute rules we have no further line of enquiry.
” As he wrote , the refund was about to be deducted from his account again “ and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Standards Authority or Citizens Advice Bureau they may be able to advise you further ’ .
Better yet , I thought , why not send this to Pricewatch , ” he says .
He pointed out that “ at this stage , with a pandemic forcing unwelcome perspective on us , the €100 is hardly the point – but I do wonder how often these incidents occur , and how many people are being ripped off like this ” .
For the sake of full disclosure , Pricewatch would like to point out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ours and we are pretty sure he would not go to these great lengths to try to extract €100 from his bank .
An Ulster Bank spokesperson said : “ We take all customer ATM disputes very seriously and follow a standard industry process to investigate what happened .
We acknowledge the specific circumstances of this dispute , which involved another bank ’ s ATM , and we are in the process of resolving it for our customer.
” We also heard back from Davin who said he had been told the €100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Bank of Ireland – which owned the ATM – maintains that it dispensed the cash .
Then there was a reader called Peter who recently embarked on a quest to find better-value banking , recently having been prompted to do so after getting an email from the price-comparison website Bonkers .
What happened to him when he did that can , appropriately enough , be described as bonkers .
“ As a Bank of Ireland customer I looked into my options on their website , ” his mail starts .
He found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contained this nugget : “ As you enter a new chapter in your life , we can help make financial and digital tasks easier.
” The same page asked readers a straightforward question : “ Are you or your partner 66 years or older ?
If so , you can apply for a joint Golden Years account and save on fees and charges.
” So , since Peter is over 66 , he logged on to the bank ’ s 365 Online system to see what he could do to avail of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obvious there , so I submitted an online question asking what I needed to do to convert my account to a Golden Years account .
The reply duly came back saying I must go into a branch to do this .
So that ’ s my first gripe right there – why in this day and age and especially in these Covid times must I travel to a branch to be told there that I need to fill out a form ?
” But after jumping through the hoops that the bank insisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more annoyed .
“ Having spent about 30 minutes in the branch queuing to get the form and fill it out , I was told that both parties to a joint account must be over 66 to avail of Golden Years .
Now clearly that is not what is stated on the website and when I subsequently queried online whether the person I was dealing with was mistaken , I was told that was not the case.
” He was then directed not to the user-friendly page but to the dreaded terms and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people may have a joint Account , if both people are 66 years of age or older and you apply to us for it.
” He points out that Bank of Ireland “ certainly didn ’ t ‘ help make financial and digital tasks easier ’ for me !
From my very first query it should have been obvious , if they cared to look , that my joint account did not qualify under their rules and whilst it may well be in the terms and conditions , nothing in the website blurb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We contacted Bank of Ireland and it held its hands up and said sorry to our reader .
“ We would like to apologise to Peter for his experience and for the lack of clarity on our website , which we will fix , ” a spokesman said .
“ We generally upgrade current accounts to Golden Years accounts annually in a batch .
Customers can also do so in branch but we will review this process in light of Covid-19 to ensure customers don ’ t need to come in .
”

We were almost relieved last week to get a couple of queries from readers that had little or nothing to do with Covid-19. They had to do with our old friends, the banks.
First up was an absurd story from a reader by the name of Davin. He got in touch with a story he aptly describes as “a memory of times gone by, when malfunctioning ATMs and stonewalling banks seemed like something to worry about”.
Davin’s tale of woe started on February 4th when he went to a Bank of Ireland ATM in the Stephen’s Green Centre, and tried to take out €100 from the machine by the door. “And then it mugged me,” he writes.
He put his card in and then he keyed in his number and selected the amount he wanted. All was going well. “The ATM made its whirring sound but no cash came out, and as there was another man on the phone near the machine looking a bit anxious, I had a sudden bad feeling. I whipped out my phone and started filming, and the man then told me the machine had withheld cash from him,” he writes.
READ MORE
“No cash came out of the machine for me either and then the ‘out of service’ sign popped up on the screen.”
Davin sent us a video of this unwelcome development so we can see clearly that events unfolded as he said. He was still pretty relaxed about it all.
“This can happen occasionally, but usually no money is withdrawn from your account,” he continues. “However, I just had a bad inkling about the whole thing, so I checked my Ulster Bank app and the money was indeed gone from my account. I called Ulster Bank immediately and they assured me the money would be back in my account within 48 hours. I went about my business in the Stephen’s Green Centre, but passed by again about 10 minutes later. The other victim of the ATM was still there, looking very distressed, and a member of Stephen’s Green Centre security was there too – he’d just cordoned off the ATM and said someone from Bank of Ireland was on their way, but that we had to contact our own banks for a refund.”
“You can probably guess where this is going,” our correspondent writes. Yes, yes we can.
This ATM mugger was caught red-handed on camera
The money was not refunded to him after 48 hours. “So I called up Ulster Bank again, a bit vexed, and they opened a ‘retail dispute’ via Visa. While that dispute was pending, the €100 was refunded to my account,” he says.
He thought that would be the end of it but then on St Patrick’s Day as we all waited to hear Leo’s address to the nation – that seems like a long time ago now, right? – Davin got an email saying that the retail dispute had been found in Bank of Ireland’s favour. “It seems the ATM’s log recorded the cash being dispensed,” he says.
So he called up Ulster Bank again and explained that he had video evidence of the machine not giving him any money “which they eventually acknowledged might be useful. Furthermore, whatever sort of technical malfunction occurred (or possible fraud, I guess), I imagined there was some corroborating evidence, such as the claim presumably made by the other man, a record of the call-out to a technician, or more money being allegedly dispensed by the machine than it possessed, that sort of thing.”
He figured that would be the end of it. “This ATM mugger was caught red-handed on camera, after all – but alas no.”
He mailed us last week after he got another email.
This is what it said.
“We do sympathise with your predicament but it is with regret that we are not able to continue your dispute through Visa dispute resolution. We have taken into consideration the details of your claim and the response from the retailer. Under the Visa dispute rules we have no further line of enquiry.”
As he wrote, the refund was about to be deducted from his account again “and they advise me that ‘the Trading Standards Authority or Citizens Advice Bureau they may be able to advise you further’. Better yet, I thought, why not send this to Pricewatch,” he says.
He pointed out that “at this stage, with a pandemic forcing unwelcome perspective on us, the €100 is hardly the point – but I do wonder how often these incidents occur, and how many people are being ripped off like this”.
For the sake of full disclosure, Pricewatch would like to point out that Davin is a former colleague of ours and we are pretty sure he would not go to these great lengths to try to extract €100 from his bank.
An Ulster Bank spokesperson said: “We take all customer ATM disputes very seriously and follow a standard industry process to investigate what happened. We acknowledge the specific circumstances of this dispute, which involved another bank’s ATM, and we are in the process of resolving it for our customer.”
We also heard back from Davin who said he had been told the €100 was his to keep. We understand that Bank of Ireland – which owned the ATM – maintains that it dispensed the cash.
Golden years
Then there was a reader called Peter who recently embarked on a quest to find better-value banking, recently having been prompted to do so after getting an email from the price-comparison website Bonkers.
What happened to him when he did that can, appropriately enough, be described as bonkers.
“As a Bank of Ireland customer I looked into my options on their website,” his mail starts. He found a promising lead – a page which contained this nugget: “As you enter a new chapter in your life, we can help make financial and digital tasks easier.” The same page asked readers a straightforward question: “Are you or your partner 66 years or older? If so, you can apply for a joint Golden Years account and save on fees and charges.”
So, since Peter is over 66, he logged on to the bank’s 365 Online system to see what he could do to avail of this offer.
“There was no help obvious there, so I submitted an online question asking what I needed to do to convert my account to a Golden Years account. The reply duly came back saying I must go into a branch to do this. So that’s my first gripe right there – why in this day and age and especially in these Covid times must I travel to a branch to be told there that I need to fill out a form?”
But after jumping through the hoops that the bank insisted upon, he was left feeling even more annoyed. “Having spent about 30 minutes in the branch queuing to get the form and fill it out, I was told that both parties to a joint account must be over 66 to avail of Golden Years. Now clearly that is not what is stated on the website and when I subsequently queried online whether the person I was dealing with was mistaken, I was told that was not the case.”
He was then directed not to the user-friendly page but to the dreaded terms and conditions where it says: “Two people may have a joint Account, if both people are 66 years of age or older and you apply to us for it.”
He points out that Bank of Ireland “certainly didn’t ‘help make financial and digital tasks easier’ for me! From my very first query it should have been obvious, if they cared to look, that my joint account did not qualify under their rules and whilst it may well be in the terms and conditions, nothing in the website blurb on Golden Years makes that clear.”
We contacted Bank of Ireland and it held its hands up and said sorry to our reader. “We would like to apologise to Peter for his experience and for the lack of clarity on our website, which we will fix,” a spokesman said. “We generally upgrade current accounts to Golden Years accounts annually in a batch. Customers can also do so in branch but we will review this process in light of Covid-19 to ensure customers don’t need to come in.”