theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Greens’ coalition partners: ‘Now we know not to count them into our figures’

Members of a Government voting against its own legislation always sets nerves jangling ; even more so when those involved are a party ’ s chief whip and a Minister of State .
But the Green Party ’ s very public crisis of conscience over the Residential Tenancies Bill has led some among the ranks of their coalition partners to question the party ’ s interest in , or ability to , make hard political calls .
“ It speaks for itself , doesn ’ t it ?
” said one Fine Gael Minister of State .
“ Government is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ palatable or not … If you don ’ t have the mettle for that , then you shouldn ’ t be in government.
” The fact that Neasa Hourigan and Joe O ’ Brien ’ s actions come after weeks of crises for the Government hasn ’ t endeared them to some colleagues .
“ There is no doubt we got off to a very shaky , rocky start , ” said a Fianna Fáil Minister of State on Friday .
“ Last night added to the fiasco.
” However , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their coalition partners .
“ I ’ m delighted they did it now rather than on the budget , because now we know we just don ’ t count them into our figures , ” says the same Fianna Fáil source .
“ At least we know where we stand when we come back.
” Others in Fianna Fáil , in particular , pointed to the quiet but relatively steadfast support for the Government from the rural Independent group as a potential emergency vote reserve .
The failure of the two Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will bring added pressure come budget time , sources say .
This , in particular , will put an onus on Eamon Ryan to identify early on those issues that his parliamentary party may object to .
“ Eamon Ryan has to be able to calibrate the mood of the budget , and if there ’ s something he knows that he can ’ t deliver his membership on , he has to inform the other two leaders , ” remarks a source .
The idea that Green concerns may have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of discontent in some quarters , especially given Ryan ’ s relatively light punishment of his two deputies .
“ If that was Fine Gael , Joe O ’ Brien would not be in position any more , ” says a source in that party .
“ There ’ s no incentive there not to do it again.
” A Fianna Fáil TD said the eight-week suspension of speaking rights should not kick in until the Dáil resumes .
“ As an elected representative , the worst thing you can tell any of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the TD said .
“ The three large parties have black-and-white procedures for people who vote against the party position , ” says another Fianna Fáil source .
“ When it comes to discipline they ’ re 40 shades of Green.
” There is also a feeling that further stumbling blocks will emerge before the budget .
Opposition figures believe that alongside Hourigan , TDs like Francis Noel Duffy and Patrick Costello could be equally shaky on measures they believe fall short .
Promised legislation on affordable housing in September may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where everything from local cycling infrastructure to major investments in roads projects could spark conflict .
As another Fianna Fáil junior minister said : “ I think we have a few windy ones in the Greens , and it was the first taste of windiness .
”

‘If that was Fine Gael, Joe O’Brien would not be in position any more.’ Photograph: Alan Betson
Members of a Government voting against its own legislation always sets nerves jangling; even more so when those involved are a party’s chief whip and a Minister of State.
But the Green Party’s very public crisis of conscience over the Residential Tenancies Bill has led some among the ranks of their coalition partners to question the party’s interest in, or ability to, make hard political calls.
"It speaks for itself, doesn't it?" said one Fine Gael Minister of State. "Government is about making tough decisions where they are palatable or not … If you don't have the mettle for that, then you shouldn't be in government."
The fact that Neasa Hourigan and Joe O'Brien's actions come after weeks of crises for the Government hasn't endeared them to some colleagues. "There is no doubt we got off to a very shaky, rocky start," said a Fianna Fáil Minister of State on Friday. "Last night added to the fiasco."
READ MORE
However, there is also a degree of acceptance among some of their coalition partners. “I’m delighted they did it now rather than on the budget, because now we know we just don’t count them into our figures,” says the same Fianna Fáil source. “At least we know where we stand when we come back.”
Others in Fianna Fáil, in particular, pointed to the quiet but relatively steadfast support for the Government from the rural Independent group as a potential emergency vote reserve.
The failure of the two Green TDs to support the Government, however, will bring added pressure come budget time, sources say. This, in particular, will put an onus on Eamon Ryan to identify early on those issues that his parliamentary party may object to.
“Eamon Ryan has to be able to calibrate the mood of the budget, and if there’s something he knows that he can’t deliver his membership on, he has to inform the other two leaders,” remarks a source.
Light punishment
The idea that Green concerns may have to be managed more closely has sparked rumblings of discontent in some quarters, especially given Ryan’s relatively light punishment of his two deputies.
“If that was Fine Gael, Joe O’Brien would not be in position any more,” says a source in that party. “There’s no incentive there not to do it again.”
A Fianna Fáil TD said the eight-week suspension of speaking rights should not kick in until the Dáil resumes. “As an elected representative, the worst thing you can tell any of us to do is not talk,” the TD said.
“The three large parties have black-and-white procedures for people who vote against the party position,” says another Fianna Fáil source. “When it comes to discipline they’re 40 shades of Green.”
There is also a feeling that further stumbling blocks will emerge before the budget.
Opposition figures believe that alongside Hourigan, TDs like Francis Noel Duffy and Patrick Costello could be equally shaky on measures they believe fall short. Promised legislation on affordable housing in September may be the next flashpoint. Ditto transport, where everything from local cycling infrastructure to major investments in roads projects could spark conflict.
As another Fianna Fáil junior minister said: "I think we have a few windy ones in the Greens, and it was the first taste of windiness."


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Swimming ban issued for beaches in west Clare

Swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water at a number of beaches in west Clare due to @ @ @ @ @ water .
In a statement Clare County Council said a “ do not swim ” @ @ @ @ @ Lahinch beach while a temporary prohibition on swimming was in place at Spanish Point and @ @ @ @ @ .
The news is a setback for the area coming on the first day of @ @ @ @ @ is traditionally a busy period for seaside resorts .
It also said exiting warnings remained @ @ @ @ @ the front beach at Quilty .

People have been told not to swim at Lahinch, Co Clare due to the level of bacteria in the water. Photograph: Getty
Swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water at a number of beaches in west Clare due to high bacteria levels in the water.
In a statement Clare County Council said a "do not swim" warning was in place for Lahinch beach while a temporary prohibition on swimming was in place at Spanish Point and White Strand in Miltown Malbay.
The news is a setback for the area coming on the first day of the August bank holiday which is traditionally a busy period for seaside resorts.
It also said exiting warnings remained in place at Kilkee and the front beach at Quilty.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Medical officers for nursing homes urged by Oireachtas committee

Acknowledgement that a lack of statutory clinical oversight in private nursing has been “ one of the biggest weaknesses ” exposed by the Covid-19 health crisis has been welcomed by an organisation supporting older people and patients .
Sage Advocacy singled out the observation by the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee on Friday .
The committee published an interim report setting out a series of recommendations on nursing homes whose residents were disproportionately affected by the outbreak .
The document calls for the appointment of a designated medical officer in every nursing home .
Sage executive director Mervyn Taylor said his organisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long-term support and care of older people which was “ biased towards congregated settings ” .
“ We have to urgently address the complete lack of clinical oversight of nursing homes and ensure that measures are put in place to integrate private nursing homes into the wider framework of health and social care , ” he said .
“ The firm recommendation of the Oireachtas Committee in support of a single tier system of social care for older people is to be celebrated.
” The report contains 19 recommendations .
These include that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staffing and infection control is in place ahead of any second wave .
It says no patients should be discharged from hospitals to nursing homes with substandard infection control and that , more broadly , there is a need to develop independent living models for older people .
Committee chairman Michael McNamara said the fact nursing home deaths have accounted for 56 per cent of the overall total shows the extent to which the older and most vulnerable were disproportionately affected .
“ The committee is strongly of the opinion that the lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residents in the private nursing home sector is one of the biggest weaknesses exposed by Covid-19 , ” he said .
The process focused on whether residents in nursing homes were adequately protected and the extent to which the crisis has highlighted the need for a different model of care – particularly one where more people would be cared for at home or in their communities .
“ It is evident that , if there is a second wave of the virus , different measures will be taken , ” said Mr McNamara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that the discharge of patients from acute hospitals to nursing homes has been tightened up through testing and isolation procedures , which is welcome .
However , the fact that the HSE still facilitates the placement of older persons in a nursing home with known infection control risks is , in the view of the committee , indefensible .
This practice must end.
” This committee is due to continue its work in September once it has examined a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will also look to a forthcoming Expert Advisory Panel study .
Mr McNamara said it will then be in a position to determine whether a public inquiry is necessary to examine the fate of residents from March to May 2020 .
Nursing Homes Ireland chief executive Tadgh Daly said the report “ finds the public health authorities were slow to respond to the threat ” .
He said it was “ absolutely vital ” that recommendations for a comprehensive system of testing and tracing among nursing home staff continues along with stockpiling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broad criticism of official planning for the sector , Mr Daly said questions remained as to why nursing homes “ were not a bigger priority in the preparations for the pandemic ” .
“ The Committee needs to set a roadmap for Government to support a long-term sustainable model of care for older people in Ireland , ” he said .
The Irish Nurses and Midwifes Organisation said it supported the committee ’ s recommendation that staff ratios needed to be better regulated and based on the number of patients and their specific @ @

Residents in nursing homes accounted for more than half of all Covid-19 related death. Photograph: iStock
Acknowledgement that a lack of statutory clinical oversight in private nursing has been “one of the biggest weaknesses” exposed by the Covid-19 health crisis has been welcomed by an organisation supporting older people and patients.
Sage Advocacy singled out the observation by the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee on Friday. The committee published an interim report setting out a series of recommendations on nursing homes whose residents were disproportionately affected by the outbreak.
The document calls for the appointment of a designated medical officer in every nursing home. Sage executive director Mervyn Taylor said his organisation had highlighted a two-tier approach to the long-term support and care of older people which was "biased towards congregated settings".
“We have to urgently address the complete lack of clinical oversight of nursing homes and ensure that measures are put in place to integrate private nursing homes into the wider framework of health and social care,” he said.
READ MORE
“The firm recommendation of the Oireachtas Committee in support of a single tier system of social care for older people is to be celebrated.”
The report contains 19 recommendations. These include that health authorities take steps to ensure adequate staffing and infection control is in place ahead of any second wave.
It says no patients should be discharged from hospitals to nursing homes with substandard infection control and that, more broadly, there is a need to develop independent living models for older people.
Committee chairman Michael McNamara said the fact nursing home deaths have accounted for 56 per cent of the overall total shows the extent to which the older and most vulnerable were disproportionately affected.
“The committee is strongly of the opinion that the lack of statutory clinical oversight of care for residents in the private nursing home sector is one of the biggest weaknesses exposed by Covid-19,” he said.
The process focused on whether residents in nursing homes were adequately protected and the extent to which the crisis has highlighted the need for a different model of care – particularly one where more people would be cared for at home or in their communities.
“It is evident that, if there is a second wave of the virus, different measures will be taken,” said Mr McNamara.
“We know, for instance, that the discharge of patients from acute hospitals to nursing homes has been tightened up through testing and isolation procedures, which is welcome. However, the fact that the HSE still facilitates the placement of older persons in a nursing home with known infection control risks is, in the view of the committee, indefensible. This practice must end.”
This committee is due to continue its work in September once it has examined a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) on the impact of Covid-19 on nursing homes. It will also look to a forthcoming Expert Advisory Panel study.
‘Absolutely vital’
Mr McNamara said it will then be in a position to determine whether a public inquiry is necessary to examine the fate of residents from March to May 2020.
Nursing Homes Ireland chief executive Tadgh Daly said the report "finds the public health authorities were slow to respond to the threat".
He said it was “absolutely vital” that recommendations for a comprehensive system of testing and tracing among nursing home staff continues along with stockpiling of personal protection equipment.
In a broad criticism of official planning for the sector, Mr Daly said questions remained as to why nursing homes “were not a bigger priority in the preparations for the pandemic”.
“The Committee needs to set a roadmap for Government to support a long-term sustainable model of care for older people in Ireland,” he said.
The Irish Nurses and Midwifes Organisation said it supported the committee's recommendation that staff ratios needed to be better regulated and based on the number of patients and their specific needs.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Number of people listed as homeless falls to four-year low

The number of people registered in the State as homeless is at the lowest level in four years , according to new figures .
Almost 1,500 people exited homelessness during the period covered by the lockdown , the figures show .
The monthly homeless report for the second quarter of 2020 ( from April 1st to June 30th ) shows 1,467 adults and their dependants secured rented accommodation and are no longer listed as homeless .
The monthly report for June also shows that 8,699 individuals were accessing emergency accommodation in June , a reduction of 177 compared to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level since August 2016 .
However , the latest figures come against the backdrop of the death of 10 people on the streets in less than a month , including six in Dublin .
On Thursday morning a young homeless man was found in a car park at Drury Street .
Minister for Housing Darragh O ’ Brien said the homeless figures were “ simply too high , ” despite the recent reduction .
He said progress had been made to help homeless people secure secure a tenancy and this had reduced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Brien said he wanted to source more one-bedroom homes as 70 per cent of those registered as homeless were single adults .
The Dublin Simon Community welcomed the Minister ’ s pledge to source additional one-bedroom homes .
Focus Ireland also welcomed the reduction but warned that new rental legislation , passed by the Government on Friday , will lead to a “ new surge in homelessness ” .
The charity ’ s director of advocacy Mike Allen said the legislation neglected to deal with the largest single cause of family homelessness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or to replace the tenants with a member of the landlord ’ s family .
Simon Communities Ireland also predicted the Residential Tenancy and Valuations Bill 2020 will lead to more evictions .
National spokesman Wayne Stanley said : “ This will see more families having to enter homelessness in the months ahead , reversing the really progressive trend we have all worked so hard to achieve in the last months .
In turn , homeless services will be stretched given public health requirements around social distancing .
”

Ten people who were rough sleeping have died this month, including six in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The number of people registered in the State as homeless is at the lowest level in four years, according to new figures.
Almost 1,500 people exited homelessness during the period covered by the lockdown, the figures show.
The monthly homeless report for the second quarter of 2020 (from April 1st to June 30th) shows 1,467 adults and their dependants secured rented accommodation and are no longer listed as homeless.
The monthly report for June also shows that 8,699 individuals were accessing emergency accommodation in June, a reduction of 177 compared to the May report.
READ MORE
This is the lowest level since August 2016.
However, the latest figures come against the backdrop of the death of 10 people on the streets in less than a month, including six in Dublin.
On Thursday morning a young homeless man was found in a car park at Drury Street.
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien said the homeless figures were "simply too high," despite the recent reduction.
He said progress had been made to help homeless people secure secure a tenancy and this had reduced the numbers accessing emergency accommodation.
Mr O’Brien said he wanted to source more one-bedroom homes as 70 per cent of those registered as homeless were single adults.
The Dublin Simon Community welcomed the Minister's pledge to source additional one-bedroom homes.
Focus Ireland also welcomed the reduction but warned that new rental legislation, passed by the Government on Friday, will lead to a "new surge in homelessness".
The charity's director of advocacy Mike Allen said the legislation neglected to deal with the largest single cause of family homelessness; evictions to allow landlords to sell or to replace the tenants with a member of the landlord's family.
Simon Communities Ireland also predicted the Residential Tenancy and Valuations Bill 2020 will lead to more evictions.
National spokesman Wayne Stanley said: "This will see more families having to enter homelessness in the months ahead, reversing the really progressive trend we have all worked so hard to achieve in the last months. In turn, homeless services will be stretched given public health requirements around social distancing."


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Coronavirus Q&A: What is behind the spike in cases in Ireland? Should we be concerned?

Should we be concerned about a spike in Covid-19 cases this week ?
Well , acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn , Ireland ’ s most senior public health official , said he is “ very concerned ” .
Announcing 85 new cases on Thursday - dramatically pushing the daily average up from around 20 to the low 30s - Dr Glynn said the coming days will be crucial in understanding whether this was just a “ blip ” or whether the spread of the virus is starting to escalate again after weeks of remaining stable .
“ Clearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
A further 38 new cases were confirmed on Friday , bringing to 123 the number of cases confirmed over the past two days .
A survey of GP ’ s has indicated that the vast majority of patients who had contacted them with Covid-like symptoms in the past week had not been self-isolating since the onset of their symptoms , which is a further concern .
What is behind the surge in new cases ?
84 of the 123 cases are linked to known outbreaks or clusters or are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These included family homes and building sites but also , notably , a pet food factory in Co Kildare .
More than a fifth of the 85 newly confirmed cases on Thursday were among workers at Irish Dog Foods in Naas .
The factory , which employs around 200 people , closed down a week ago for a deep clean while workers who tested positive for the coronavirus were ordered to self-isolate .
A Health Service Executive ( HSE ) outbreak control team was also assigned to the plant .
Overall 44 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Kildare , 33 are in Dublin , 11 in Clare , 10 in Laois , eight in Limerick and the remaining 17 are located across 10 counties .
Why was there an outbreak at the pet food factory ?
Public health officials have yet to get more detail on the transmission of the disease through workers .
In May , there was a wave of clusters at meat factories around the country , where employees work in prolonged close proximity to each other , increasing the risk of transmitting the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full range of measures in place including appropriate PPE ( personal protection equipment ) , enhanced cleaning and hygiene regimes , social distancing measures , temperature screening and regular staff health and hygiene training and communications to help combat the virus.
” Are there any other factors at play in the surge ?
A number of the workers were living in direct provision centres , where residents often share bedrooms , washing facilities and other areas which makes it difficult to socially distance .
HSE outbreak control teams have been dispatched to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where the virus spread from workers at the pet food factory .
Residents were mass tested on Wednesday at The Eyre Powell Hotel , in Newbridge , which has around 134 residents , according to Lucky Khambule , of Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland .
So far , 20 have tested positive and have been moved to isolation facilities at Citywest , Co Dublin , while others are awaiting results , he said .
The Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin , which has around 89 residents , has been less affected , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ill , to date , but the strain of living among a cluster was taking its toll on residents ’ mental health , he said .
“ It is a very stressful time , it ’ s alarming , it is scary for everyone .
You can ’ t social distance when there isn ’ t the space .
Strangers being grouped together is asking for trouble .
You don ’ t know where the other person has been during the day , and when they come back they are lying right next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or six months into the pandemic we are still talking about the overcrowding in direct provision.
” Nick Henderson , of the Irish Refugee Council , said the latest outbreaks unfortunately vindicate its warning that centres are not suitable for social distancing .
“ The legal advice we have received states that the government is obliged to provide accommodation for those in direct provision where they can not distance or isolate .
At the moment there are at least 1,600 people in centres who are still sharing bedrooms.
” Mr Henderson said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centres remains higher than in other parts of society .
Furthermore , he said there are “ ongoing issues ” that factory bosses need to address in relation to workplace safety to make sure staff who live in direct provision can continue to work .
So , is it just factories and direct provisions that are the problem ?
No .
Dr Glynn said it “ wouldn ’ t be unreasonable ” to assume some of the clusters over the past week arose from people gathering in restaurants , bars and other settings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he pleaded with the public to keep up social distancing and hygiene measures to make sure Ireland doesn ’ t “ go the direction of other countries.
” “ This isn ’ t going away , it hasn ’ t gone away .
We can see what has happened in other countries if restrictions are relaxed .
Ironically , the lower the number of cases , the more we have to work to keep it down.
” Of the 123 cases confirmed over the past two days at least 19 have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain under investigation .
“ We may be beginning to see more cases which we can not link to outbreaks or close contacts , '' Dr Glynn said .
Is travel also an issue ?
Dr Glynn said a minority of cases detected in the Republic were linked to international travel including just two of the 85 cases reported on Thursday .
There was a risk that debate about Irish people going on foreign holidays could detract from the “ core message ” of each individual having power to control the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @

The coronavirus “hasn’t gone away . We can see what has happened in other countries if restrictions are relaxed. Ironically, the lower the number of cases, the more we have to work to keep it down,” said acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn
Should we be concerned about a spike in Covid-19 cases this week?
Well, acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn, Ireland's most senior public health official, said he is "very concerned". Announcing 85 new cases on Thursday - dramatically pushing the daily average up from around 20 to the low 30s - Dr Glynn said the coming days will be crucial in understanding whether this was just a "blip" or whether the spread of the virus is starting to escalate again after weeks of remaining stable. "Clearly we need to watch this closely," he said. A further 38 new cases were confirmed on Friday, bringing to 123 the number of cases confirmed over the past two days.
A survey of GP’s has indicated that the vast majority of patients who had contacted them with Covid-like symptoms in the past week had not been self-isolating since the onset of their symptoms, which is a further concern.
What is behind the surge in new cases?
84 of the 123 cases are linked to known outbreaks or clusters or are close contacts of other confirmed cases. These included family homes and building sites but also, notably, a pet food factory in Co Kildare. More than a fifth of the 85 newly confirmed cases on Thursday were among workers at Irish Dog Foods in Naas. The factory, which employs around 200 people, closed down a week ago for a deep clean while workers who tested positive for the coronavirus were ordered to self-isolate. A Health Service Executive (HSE) outbreak control team was also assigned to the plant.
Overall 44 cases over the past two days are located in Kildare, 33 are in Dublin, 11 in Clare, 10 in Laois, eight in Limerick and the remaining 17 are located across 10 counties.
READ MORE
Why was there an outbreak at the pet food factory?
Public health officials have yet to get more detail on the transmission of the disease through workers. In May, there was a wave of clusters at meat factories around the country, where employees work in prolonged close proximity to each other, increasing the risk of transmitting the virus.
Irish Dog Foods said it has “a full range of measures in place including appropriate PPE (personal protection equipment), enhanced cleaning and hygiene regimes, social distancing measures, temperature screening and regular staff health and hygiene training and communications to help combat the virus.”
Are there any other factors at play in the surge?
A number of the workers were living in direct provision centres, where residents often share bedrooms, washing facilities and other areas which makes it difficult to socially distance. HSE outbreak control teams have been dispatched to two direct provision centres in Co Kildare, where the virus spread from workers at the pet food factory. Residents were mass tested on Wednesday at The Eyre Powell Hotel, in Newbridge, which has around 134 residents, according to Lucky Khambule, of Movement of Asylum Seekers Ireland. So far, 20 have tested positive and have been moved to isolation facilities at Citywest, Co Dublin, while others are awaiting results, he said.
The Hazel Hotel in Monasterevin, which has around 89 residents, has been less affected, said Mr Khambule. No-one has been seriously ill, to date, but the strain of living among a cluster was taking its toll on residents' mental health, he said.
“It is a very stressful time, it’s alarming, it is scary for everyone. You can’t social distance when there isn’t the space. Strangers being grouped together is asking for trouble. You don’t know where the other person has been during the day, and when they come back they are lying right next to you. Even now, five or six months into the pandemic we are still talking about the overcrowding in direct provision.”
Conditions at direct provision centres don’t sound ideal for controlling a pandemic?
Nick Henderson, of the Irish Refugee Council, said the latest outbreaks unfortunately vindicate its warning that centres are not suitable for social distancing.
“The legal advice we have received states that the government is obliged to provide accommodation for those in direct provision where they can not distance or isolate. At the moment there are at least 1,600 people in centres who are still sharing bedrooms.”
Mr Henderson said the risk of Covid-19 outbreaks in direct provision centres remains higher than in other parts of society. Furthermore, he said there are “ongoing issues” that factory bosses need to address in relation to workplace safety to make sure staff who live in direct provision can continue to work.
So, is it just factories and direct provisions that are the problem?
No. Dr Glynn said it “wouldn’t be unreasonable” to assume some of the clusters over the past week arose from people gathering in restaurants, bars and other settings. Going into the bank holiday weekend, he pleaded with the public to keep up social distancing and hygiene measures to make sure Ireland doesn’t “go the direction of other countries.”
“This isn’t going away, it hasn’t gone away . We can see what has happened in other countries if restrictions are relaxed. Ironically, the lower the number of cases, the more we have to work to keep it down.”
Of the 123 cases confirmed over the past two days at least 19 have been identified as community transmission while 20 cases remain under investigation. “We may be beginning to see more cases which we cannot link to outbreaks or close contacts," Dr Glynn said.
Is travel also an issue?
Dr Glynn said a minority of cases detected in the Republic were linked to international travel including just two of the 85 cases reported on Thursday.
There was a risk that debate about Irish people going on foreign holidays could detract from the “core message” of each individual having power to control the spread of the virus, he added.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Court’s quashing of climate plan a cause for international embarrassment

The Supreme Court has made a decisive intervention into what many would argue is the most significant challenge facing the political establishment , and has done so in a way that is a cause for international embarrassment .
The Government has the role under the separation of powers of deciding on policy , not the courts , but the the Supreme Court has quashed the Government ’ s statutory plan for tackling climate change .
The reason for this is that it is a statutory plan .
The plan was adopted under the provisions of the Climate Action and Low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oireachtas in 2015 .
As explained by Chief Justice Frank Clarke : “ The question of whether a plan actually does comply with the statute in such regard is a matter of law rather than a matter of policy.
” So the reason the courts have a role in what one of the richest countries in the world plans to do to help avert climate catastrophe is because the Oireachtas and the Government chose to make it so .
Under the 2015 law , an interested member of the public is entitled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meet its objectives in relation to climate change .
An interested member of the public can not assess the statutory plan , however , if the plan does not contain specifics .
“ The 2015 Act requires that the public have sufficient information from the plan to enable them to reach such conclusions as they wish , ” the Chief Justice noted .
He characterised some aspects of the plan as being “ excessively vague or aspirational ” .
When choosing examples to illustrate what he meant , he noted some from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A timeline as to how we got to this stage is helpful in assessing how the court ’ s ruling may affect the Government .
The Act was introduced in 2015 , and the statutory plan was adopted in July 2017 .
The Act envisages a series of plans , and the 2017 one was to run for five years , but was open to being altered .
The Friends of the Irish Environment challenged the plan in 2017 , and the case was heard in the High Court in 2019 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court .
In 2018 , while the High Court case was waiting to be heard , the government proposed a new climate plan , which became the Climate Action Plan 2019 .
As this plan was not formulated using the provisions of the 2015 Act , it is not a statutory plan .
The 2019 plan , which some argued was itself a response from the then government to the court action , included a proposal to introduce amendments to the 2015 Act .
The heads – or general outline – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late last year .
The current coalition ’ s programme for government , agreed in June , includes a commitment to introduce a climate amendment Bill in its first 100 days .
This aspect of the Government ’ s programme is a very challenging one .
The coalition is committed to an average 7 per cent per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions , from next year to 2030 , and to zero emissions by 2050 .
“ The 2050 target will be set in law by the Climate Action Bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the first 100 days of government alongside a newly established Climate Action Council , ” the programme states .
“ The Bill will define how five-year carbon budgets will be set , ” Those within the Government pressing for legally binding specifics to be included in a new statutory plan , can now argue that further international embarrassment , and the Four Courts , await any failure to adequately do so .

The Supreme Court has made a decisive intervention into what many would argue is the most significant challenge facing the political establishment, and has done so in a way that is a cause for international embarrassment.
The Government has the role under the separation of powers of deciding on policy, not the courts, but the the Supreme Court has quashed the Government’s statutory plan for tackling climate change.
The reason for this is that it is a statutory plan. The plan was adopted under the provisions of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act, introduced by the Oireachtas in 2015.
As explained by Chief Justice Frank Clarke: "The question of whether a plan actually does comply with the statute in such regard is a matter of law rather than a matter of policy."
READ MORE
So the reason the courts have a role in what one of the richest countries in the world plans to do to help avert climate catastrophe is because the Oireachtas and the Government chose to make it so.
Under the 2015 law, an interested member of the public is entitled to know what Ireland intends to do to meet its objectives in relation to climate change. An interested member of the public cannot assess the statutory plan, however, if the plan does not contain specifics.
“The 2015 Act requires that the public have sufficient information from the plan to enable them to reach such conclusions as they wish,” the Chief Justice noted.
He characterised some aspects of the plan as being “excessively vague or aspirational”. When choosing examples to illustrate what he meant, he noted some from the agricultural sector.
How we got here
A timeline as to how we got to this stage is helpful in assessing how the court’s ruling may affect the Government.
The Act was introduced in 2015, and the statutory plan was adopted in July 2017. The Act envisages a series of plans, and the 2017 one was to run for five years, but was open to being altered.
The Friends of the Irish Environment challenged the plan in 2017, and the case was heard in the High Court in 2019. The environmental group lost, but appealed to the Supreme Court.
In 2018, while the High Court case was waiting to be heard, the government proposed a new climate plan, which became the Climate Action Plan 2019.
As this plan was not formulated using the provisions of the 2015 Act, it is not a statutory plan.
The 2019 plan, which some argued was itself a response from the then government to the court action, included a proposal to introduce amendments to the 2015 Act.
The heads – or general outline – of this proposed amending Bill were published late last year.
The current coalition’s programme for government, agreed in June, includes a commitment to introduce a climate amendment Bill in its first 100 days.
This aspect of the Government’s programme is a very challenging one. The coalition is committed to an average 7 per cent per annum reduction in overall greenhouse gas emissions, from next year to 2030, and to zero emissions by 2050.
“The 2050 target will be set in law by the Climate Action Bill, which will be introduced in the Dáil within the first 100 days of government alongside a newly established Climate Action Council,” the programme states. “The Bill will define how five-year carbon budgets will be set,”
Those within the Government pressing for legally binding specifics to be included in a new statutory plan, can now argue that further international embarrassment, and the Four Courts, await any failure to adequately do so.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Bus Éireann warns of capacity issues over bank holiday weekend

People intending to travel on public transport over the bank holiday weekend have been asked to remember the health advice is still to only travel for essential purposes .
The National Public Health Emergency Team has warned of the potential for the spread of Covid-19 over the bank holiday weekend and said elements of Phase 4 of the reopening due on August 10th , may depend on the spread of the virus over the bank holiday .
For those who are planning an outing this weekend Met Éireann has said it will be cloudy with some heavy showers of rain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sunny spells ” on Monday .
Those planing to use public transport should remember it is mandatory to wear face masks and capacity on trains and buses is still restricted .
Bus Éireann in particular has warned that peak travel time in now “ sometime mid-afternoon ” .
It asked people to avoid travelling on Expressway services from noon to 7pm , particularly on routes between Dublin and Limerick , Galway and Cork .
Eleanor Farrell , chief commercial officer with Bus Éireann said capacity on buses was limited to 50 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available daily , compared with 16,000 before Covid-19 restrictions .
Most commercial operators have not yet returned to the road , meaning that total capacity available on many routes is much less than 50 per cent of pre-Covid19 levels , she said .
“ While only seven per cent of our services overall have demand that exceeds capacity , the issue is more acute on certain routes , ” she said .
“ We recognise that the fact that it is a small minority of services that are oversubscribed is not much consolation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ms Farrell said Bus Éireann staff are unable to assess the nature of customer journeys .
“ We would like people to take into consideration that their journey may prevent an essential worker reaching their place of employment , or someone attending a healthcare appointment , ” She said Twitter was being used to provide live service updates for people wishing to travel from an intermediary stop along a route .
Irish Rail said it would expand services from Tuesday , as it continues to work towards a full restoration of pre-Covid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The company reiterated much of the advice from Bus Éireann about essential travel , face masks and capacity .
The company published the following schedule : * Sunday August 2nd : current revised schedules will operate , with some revisions to Intercity services * Monday August 3rd : Dart , Northern and Maynooth Commuter will operate a Sunday service , with additional early morning services .
Heuston Commuter and Phoenix Park Tunnel services are suspended and reduced and revised Kildare Commuter services will be in place .
For Heuston and Connolly Intercity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ customers should check times at irishrail.ie , a spokesman said .
Luas said services would run as normal on Saturday and Sunday , with Bank Holiday Monday services operating to a Sunday schedule .

Bus Éireann asked people to avoid travelling on Expressway services from noon to 7pm over the coming weekend. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
People intending to travel on public transport over the bank holiday weekend have been asked to remember the health advice is still to only travel for essential purposes.
The National Public Health Emergency Team has warned of the potential for the spread of Covid-19 over the bank holiday weekend and said elements of Phase 4 of the reopening due on August 10th, may depend on the spread of the virus over the bank holiday.
For those who are planning an outing this weekend Met Éireann has said it will be cloudy with some heavy showers of rain on Saturday and Sunday, with “sunny spells” on Monday.
Those planing to use public transport should remember it is mandatory to wear face masks and capacity on trains and buses is still restricted. Bus Éireann in particular has warned that peak travel time in now “sometime mid-afternoon”.
READ MORE
It asked people to avoid travelling on Expressway services from noon to 7pm, particularly on routes between Dublin and Limerick, Galway and Cork.
Eleanor Farrell, chief commercial officer with Bus Éireann said capacity on buses was limited to 50 per cent which meant Expressway had just 8,000 seats available daily, compared with 16,000 before Covid-19 restrictions.
Most commercial operators have not yet returned to the road, meaning that total capacity available on many routes is much less than 50 per cent of pre-Covid19 levels, she said.
“While only seven per cent of our services overall have demand that exceeds capacity, the issue is more acute on certain routes,” she said.
“We recognise that the fact that it is a small minority of services that are oversubscribed is not much consolation for customers needing to access those routes.”
Ms Farrell said Bus Éireann staff are unable to assess the nature of customer journeys.
“We would like people to take into consideration that their journey may prevent an essential worker reaching their place of employment, or someone attending a healthcare appointment,”
She said Twitter was being used to provide live service updates for people wishing to travel from an intermediary stop along a route.
Irish Rail said it would expand services from Tuesday, as it continues to work towards a full restoration of pre-Covid service levels by the end of August.
The company reiterated much of the advice from Bus Éireann about essential travel, face masks and capacity.
The company published the following schedule:
* Saturday August 1st: current revised schedules will operate as normal.
* Sunday August 2nd: current revised schedules will operate, with some revisions to Intercity services
* Monday August 3rd: Dart, Northern and Maynooth Commuter will operate a Sunday service, with additional early morning services. Heuston Commuter and Phoenix Park Tunnel services are suspended and reduced and revised Kildare Commuter services will be in place.
For Heuston and Connolly Intercity routes and Cork Commuter revised schedules, customers should check times at irishrail.ie, a spokesman said.
Luas said services would run as normal on Saturday and Sunday, with Bank Holiday Monday services operating to a Sunday schedule.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Former prisoner to get one third of €1m legal costs of taking case

A former prisoner will get just one third of the estimated €1m legal costs of his action in which he got €7,500 damages over his conditions of detention in Mountjoy Prison in 2013 , including having to slop out , the Supreme Court has ruled .
The fact Gary Simpson might , “ hypothetically ” end up owing obligations to his lawyers “ is entirely due to his own decisions and conduct ” , Mr Justice John McMenamin said .
He urged a “ common sense ” approach by all sides concerning how some 1,500 other cases over conditions of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases involving a clear violation of constitutional protections , it might be appropriate for the State to establish , and parties to avail of , formal or informal procedures to vindicate rights , he remarked .
In this case , while Mr Simpson had succeeded on the conditions issue and parts of his claim were “ ultimately indisputable ” , dishonesty and exaggeration by him in aspects of his evidence was so serious he must pay a “ significant penalty ” in reduced costs .
A “ just and proportionate ” response was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adjudicated costs of the 30 day High Court case , he ruled .
After 30 days in the High Court , and two in the Supreme Court , there “ must be a question mark whether there was a real correlation between the means adopted to achieve justice and the end achieved in this case ” , the judge added .
He also said describing Mr Simpson ’ s case as a “ slopping out ” case was “ misleading ” because his claim concerned a range of features which previously led the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and duties .
Those concerned a range of issues “ of which in-cell sanitation was but one factor , albeit an important one ” .
The State previously agreed Mr Simpson was entitled to his costs of the Supreme Court appeal because that had determined the general principles applicable to such cases .
In his 2017 High Court judgment on Mr Simpson ’ s case , Mr Justice Michael White found Mr Simpson ’ s conditions of detention over seven and a half months in Mountjoy in 2013 breached his constitutional right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right not to be subject to inhuman and degrading treatment .
Those findings were made in the context of the particular circumstances of Mr Simpson ’ s imprisonment - a protected prisoner doubled up in a single cell with no in-cell sanitation and on 23 hour lock-up .
Damages were refused because of the judge ’ s finding that Mr Simpson told some lies and grossly exaggerated some of his evidence .
He also refused Mr Simpson his legal costs against the State but did not order him to pay the State ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s criticism of matters including limited access to showers for prisoners on 23 hour lock up .
Both sides appealed aspects of the High Court findings .
Last November , the Supreme Court declared Mr Simpson ’ s constitutional right to protection of his person was violated by his conditions of detention over the seven and a half months in 2013 , including lack of in-cell sanitation , and he was entitled to €7,500 compensatory damages because the conditions to which he , a protection prisoner , was exposed fell “ seriously below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison in the year 2013 ” .
In its reserved costs ruling on Friday , Mr Justice MacMenamin stressed prisoners , or former prisoners , who bring cases over “ very substandard ” conditions are entitled to a fair hearing , which Mr Simpson received , and issues of credibility arise in a wide variety of cases .
In deciding costs , he took into account the High Court findings , case law , the nature of the “ hard fought ” case and Mr Simpson ’ s conduct .
He said key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case lay largely with Mr Simpson , he must bear a significant sanction for dishonesty in a number of areas , he had not proven some aspects of the case and the damages were far below the High Court ’ s jurisdiction .
Countervailing features included the case may have some precedential value and assist in establishing principles or guidelines , that the Supreme Court had varied the declaration in Mr Simpson ’ s favour and the High Court ’ s dismissal of a “ vast ” range of procedural and legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, where Gary Simpson was a protected prisoner doubled up in a single cell with no in-cell sanitation and on 23 hour lock-up.
A former prisoner will get just one third of the estimated €1m legal costs of his action in which he got €7,500 damages over his conditions of detention in Mountjoy Prison in 2013, including having to slop out, the Supreme Court has ruled.
The fact Gary Simpson might, "hypothetically" end up owing obligations to his lawyers "is entirely due to his own decisions and conduct", Mr Justice John McMenamin said.
He urged a “common sense” approach by all sides concerning how some 1,500 other cases over conditions of detention should be dealt with.
In cases involving a clear violation of constitutional protections, it might be appropriate for the State to establish, and parties to avail of, formal or informal procedures to vindicate rights, he remarked.
READ MORE
In this case, while Mr Simpson had succeeded on the conditions issue and parts of his claim were “ultimately indisputable”, dishonesty and exaggeration by him in aspects of his evidence was so serious he must pay a “significant penalty” in reduced costs.
A "just and proportionate" response was to award him one third of the adjudicated costs of the 30 day High Court case, he ruled.
After 30 days in the High Court, and two in the Supreme Court, there “must be a question mark whether there was a real correlation between the means adopted to achieve justice and the end achieved in this case”, the judge added.
He also said describing Mr Simpson’s case as a “slopping out” case was “misleading” because his claim concerned a range of features which previously led the court to conclude an infringement of rights and duties. Those concerned a range of issues “of which in-cell sanitation was but one factor, albeit an important one”.
The State previously agreed Mr Simpson was entitled to his costs of the Supreme Court appeal because that had determined the general principles applicable to such cases.
In his 2017 High Court judgment on Mr Simpson's case, Mr Justice Michael White found Mr Simpson's conditions of detention over seven and a half months in Mountjoy in 2013 breached his constitutional right to privacy and his dignity but not his right not to be subject to inhuman and degrading treatment.
Those findings were made in the context of the particular circumstances of Mr Simpson’s imprisonment - a protected prisoner doubled up in a single cell with no in-cell sanitation and on 23 hour lock-up.
Damages were refused because of the judge’s finding that Mr Simpson told some lies and grossly exaggerated some of his evidence.
He also refused Mr Simpson his legal costs against the State but did not order him to pay the State’s costs because of the judge’s criticism of matters including limited access to showers for prisoners on 23 hour lock up.
Both sides appealed aspects of the High Court findings.
Last November, the Supreme Court declared Mr Simpson’s constitutional right to protection of his person was violated by his conditions of detention over the seven and a half months in 2013, including lack of in-cell sanitation, and he was entitled to €7,500 compensatory damages because the conditions to which he, a protection prisoner, was exposed fell “seriously below those to be expected in an Irish prison in the year 2013”.
In its reserved costs ruling on Friday, Mr Justice MacMenamin stressed prisoners, or former prisoners, who bring cases over “very substandard” conditions are entitled to a fair hearing, which Mr Simpson received, and issues of credibility arise in a wide variety of cases.
In deciding costs, he took into account the High Court findings, case law, the nature of the “hard fought” case and Mr Simpson’s conduct.
He said key factors were that the extended scope of the case lay largely with Mr Simpson, he must bear a significant sanction for dishonesty in a number of areas, he had not proven some aspects of the case and the damages were far below the High Court’s jurisdiction.
Countervailing features included the case may have some precedential value and assist in establishing principles or guidelines, that the Supreme Court had varied the declaration in Mr Simpson’s favour and the High Court’s dismissal of a “vast” range of procedural and legal objections by the respondents to the claim.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Solicitor facing theft charges wants to ‘reclaim reputation’, court hears

A criminal defence solicitor accused of theft and perverting the course of justice wants to meet the case head on and “ reclaim his reputation ” , a court has heard .
Cahir O ’ Higgins ( 45 ) appeared briefly before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday in order to set a trial date .
Mr O ’ Higgins has been charged with stealing €400 , the property of Raul Sanz Quilis , at Londis , Parkgate Street , Dublin on July 30th , 2016 .
He has also charged with four counts of perverting the course of justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda Colm Kelly a copy of notes purportedly made on July 30th , 2016 when he knew they were not made on that date .
Mr O ’ Higgins , with an address at his company on Parkgate Street , Dublin , was seeking the earliest trial date possible , his barrister Karl Monahan BL told the court .
“ This prosecution has had a devastating impact on his personal and professional life , ” Mr Monahan said .
“ He wants to meet the case head on and reclaim his reputation.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a backlog of “ dozens ” of custody cases , which must take precedence over those who are on bail while awaiting trial .
He set a trial date for April 4th , 2022 , with a pre-trial hearing on March 10th , 2022 .
Due to the Covid crisis and the backlog of cases before the courts , only cases involving senior counsel are being given pre-trial hearings .
Mr O ’ Higgins will be defended by Michael O ’ Higgins SC , the court heard , while Ronan Kennedy SC is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for leave to mention the case in October should “ another matter ” arise .
Judge Nolan agreed .

Cahir O’Higgins arriving at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street in Dublin for a court appearance on Friday. Photograph: Collins Courts
A criminal defence solicitor accused of theft and perverting the course of justice wants to meet the case head on and “reclaim his reputation”, a court has heard.
Cahir O'Higgins (45) appeared briefly before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday in order to set a trial date.
Mr O'Higgins has been charged with stealing €400, the property of Raul Sanz Quilis, at Londis, Parkgate Street, Dublin on July 30th, 2016.
He has also charged with four counts of perverting the course of justice in December 2017, by giving Detective Garda Colm Kelly a copy of notes purportedly made on July 30th, 2016 when he knew they were not made on that date.
READ MORE
He denies the charges.
Mr O'Higgins, with an address at his company on Parkgate Street, Dublin, was seeking the earliest trial date possible, his barrister Karl Monahan BL told the court.
“This prosecution has had a devastating impact on his personal and professional life,” Mr Monahan said. “He wants to meet the case head on and reclaim his reputation.”
Judge Martin Nolan said that there was a backlog of "dozens" of custody cases, which must take precedence over those who are on bail while awaiting trial.
He set a trial date for April 4th, 2022, with a pre-trial hearing on March 10th, 2022.
Due to the Covid crisis and the backlog of cases before the courts, only cases involving senior counsel are being given pre-trial hearings. Mr O’Higgins will be defended by Michael O’Higgins SC, the court heard, while Ronan Kennedy SC is prosecuting the case.
Mr Kennedy asked for leave to mention the case in October should “another matter” arise. Judge Nolan agreed.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Rapist Patrick Nevin has jail term increased by 2½ years

Rapist and serial sex offender Patrick Nevin has had one of his jail terms increased by 2½ years , after the State appealed the undue leniency of his sentence .
The now 38-year-old attacked three women he met on Tinder in July 2014 .
The sentencing court for two of these attacks heard that he had a preoccupation with sex and hostility towards women and was at a high risk of re-offending .
The computer programmer had pleaded guilty to raping one woman at Bellewstown , Co Meath July 12th , 2014 , and to sexual assault four days later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place in Co Meath .
The father-of-two had been due to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court , but changed his pleas to guilty following a legal ruling , which would allow the prosecution to introduce evidence from a third woman who was assaulted by Nevin on another date .
The court heard that the rapist , previously of Meadowlands Court , Mounttown Road , Dún Laoghaire and Dundalk , Co Louth , met both women in this case on Tinder .
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon had imposed a 14-year sentence on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the sexual assault charge .
Both were to run concurrently , with the final two years suspended .
Nevin had already been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for the sexual assault of the third victim at the UCD campus on July 23rd , 2104 .
He appealed that conviction , but subsequently withdrew it .
On Thursday , Cathleen Noctor SC appealed the undue leniency of the 14-year sentence for the other cases on behalf of the DPP .
She submitted to the Court of Appeal that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an appropriate starting point at a significantly higher level than the 15 years she set before considering mitigation .
Ms Noctor said that the judge had not considered a number of aggravating factors .
These included that there was a campaign of offences just days apart , his tricking the victims into positions of vulnerability by driving them in his car to remote locations , the fact that he had carried out the attacks while under a suspended sentence for possession of a firearm and his premeditation .
Another aggravating factor not reflected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was his previous convictions for causing serious harm and threatening to kill a female , for which he had been sentenced to seven years .
“ This clearly brings this offence well into the category of between 15 years and life , ” she submitted .
“ It ’ s the director ’ s position that a headline sentence more significant than 15 years should have been identified.
” Ms Noctor also noted that the sentences for the crimes against both women were made concurrent .
She submitted that , as these were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ either given a greater sentence or imposed some degree of consecutive sentencing .
She said that the recording of 44 minutes of one of the attacks on Nevin ’ s phone was an aggravating factor .
“ It ’ s degrading and humiliating of itself , ” she said , noting that the woman in question had become aware of it in the course of the recording .
She said no reason had been given for making this recording .
Michael Bowman SC made counter arguments on behalf of Nevin .
He referred @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women into positions of vulnerability by having them get into his car .
He noted that they had not been taken against their will .
“ This is unfortunately a factor common in cases where people meet on websites of this nature , ” he said .
Counsel said that the judge had contextualised the offending behaviour .
He submitted that this headline sentence was actually inappropriate and excessive .
Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy , who sat with Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh , delivered an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact on each is nothing short of devastating , ” she said of his victims .
She noted that Nevin had received a net sentence of 12 years in prison and said that the judge had erred in identifying 15 years as the pre-mitigation sentence .
“ It called for the imposition of sentences on a consecutive basis , ” she said .
“ We conclude that the net sentence of 12 years for both offences is too low.
” The court did not intervene on the eight-year sentence for the sexual assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rape charge .
Ms Justice Kennedy explained that , although they were reducing the sentence for the rape , they were making both sentences consecutive , resulting in an indicative sentence of 18 years .
They suspended the final 3½ of that 18 years , bringing Nevin ’ s net sentence up from 12 years to 14 ½ years .
The terms of the suspension were similar to those set out at his original sentence hearing : that he would remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for five years post-release @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hearings remotely .
Their attacker also attended remotely from a room at Arbour Hill Prison , where he is serving his sentence .

Rapist and serial sex offender Patrick Nevin has had one of his jail terms increased by 2½ years, after the State appealed the undue leniency of his sentence.
The now 38-year-old attacked three women he met on Tinder in July 2014.
The sentencing court for two of these attacks heard that he had a preoccupation with sex and hostility towards women and was at a high risk of re-offending.
The computer programmer had pleaded guilty to raping one woman at Bellewstown, Co Meath July 12th, 2014, and to sexual assault four days later of a second woman at an unknown place in Co Meath.
READ MORE
The father-of-two had been due to stand trial at the Central Criminal Court, but changed his pleas to guilty following a legal ruling, which would allow the prosecution to introduce evidence from a third woman who was assaulted by Nevin on another date.
The court heard that the rapist, previously of Meadowlands Court, Mounttown Road, Dún Laoghaire and Dundalk, Co Louth, met both women in this case on Tinder.
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon had imposed a 14-year sentence on the rape charge and an eight-year sentence on the sexual assault charge. Both were to run concurrently, with the final two years suspended.
Nevin had already been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for the sexual assault of the third victim at the UCD campus on July 23rd, 2104. He appealed that conviction, but subsequently withdrew it.
On Thursday, Cathleen Noctor SC appealed the undue leniency of the 14-year sentence for the other cases on behalf of the DPP.
She submitted to the Court of Appeal that the judge had erred in failing to identify an appropriate starting point at a significantly higher level than the 15 years she set before considering mitigation.
Ms Noctor said that the judge had not considered a number of aggravating factors. These included that there was a campaign of offences just days apart, his tricking the victims into positions of vulnerability by driving them in his car to remote locations, the fact that he had carried out the attacks while under a suspended sentence for possession of a firearm and his premeditation.
Another aggravating factor not reflected in the sentence, she said, was his previous convictions for causing serious harm and threatening to kill a female, for which he had been sentenced to seven years.
“This clearly brings this offence well into the category of between 15 years and life,” she submitted. “It’s the director’s position that a headline sentence more significant than 15 years should have been identified.”
Ms Noctor also noted that the sentences for the crimes against both women were made concurrent. She submitted that, as these were individual offences, the judge should have either given a greater sentence or imposed some degree of consecutive sentencing.
She said that the recording of 44 minutes of one of the attacks on Nevin’s phone was an aggravating factor. “It’s degrading and humiliating of itself,” she said, noting that the woman in question had become aware of it in the course of the recording. She said no reason had been given for making this recording.
Michael Bowman SC made counter arguments on behalf of Nevin. He referred to Nevin’s tricking of the women into positions of vulnerability by having them get into his car. He noted that they had not been taken against their will.
“This is unfortunately a factor common in cases where people meet on websites of this nature,” he said.
Counsel said that the judge had contextualised the offending behaviour. He submitted that this headline sentence was actually inappropriate and excessive.
Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, who sat with Court President Mr Justice George Birmingham and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, delivered an extempore judgment on Friday.
“The impact on each is nothing short of devastating,” she said of his victims. She noted that Nevin had received a net sentence of 12 years in prison and said that the judge had erred in identifying 15 years as the pre-mitigation sentence.
“It called for the imposition of sentences on a consecutive basis,” she said. “We conclude that the net sentence of 12 years for both offences is too low.”
The court did not intervene on the eight-year sentence for the sexual assault, but substituted a 10-year sentence on the rape charge.
Ms Justice Kennedy explained that, although they were reducing the sentence for the rape, they were making both sentences consecutive, resulting in an indicative sentence of 18 years. They suspended the final 3½ of that 18 years, bringing Nevin’s net sentence up from 12 years to 14 ½ years.
The terms of the suspension were similar to those set out at his original sentence hearing: that he would remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for five years post-release.
Nevin’s victims had attended the hearings remotely. Their attacker also attended remotely from a room at Arbour Hill Prison, where he is serving his sentence.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Man arrested after gun and ammunition seized in Dublin

Gardaí in Dublin have seized a Glock pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition after they stopped and searched a car @ @ @ @ @ was stopped on the Neilstown Road at 7.20pm on Friday night .
They searched a @ @ @ @ @ found a Glock pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition .
A man is his early @ @ @ @ @ scene and is being held at Ronanstown Garda Station .
The gun and ammunition have @ @ @ @ @ the Garda Ballistics Unit .
– PA

The gun and ammunition have been sent for analysis to the Garda Ballistics Unit.
Gardaí in Dublin have seized a Glock pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition after they stopped and searched a car in Clondalkin.
The car was stopped on the Neilstown Road at 7.20pm on Friday night.
They searched a bag in the car and found a Glock pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition.
A man is his early 20s was arrested at the scene and is being held at Ronanstown Garda Station.
READ MORE
The gun and ammunition have been sent for analysis to the Garda Ballistics Unit. – PA


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Meath gardaí seek public help in tracing missing teenager

Gardaí are seeking the public ’ s help in tracing the whereabouts of a teenaged boy who who went missing @ @ @ @ @ Co Meath last Thursday evening .
Reece Atkinson ( 16 ) is described as being @ @ @ @ @ in height with a slim build , blue eyes , and short , dark blonde @ @ @ @ @ to frequent the Castlebellingham and Drogheda areas of Co Louth .
Anyone with any information @ @ @ @ @ to contact Navan Garda Station on ( 046 ) 907 9930 , the Garda Confidential @ @ @ @ @ or any Garda station .

Reece Atkinson (16) went missing from Carlanstown, Kells, Co Meath last Thursday evening. Photograph: Garda Press Office
Gardaí are seeking the public’s help in tracing the whereabouts of a teenaged boy who who went missing from Carlanstown, Kells, Co Meath last Thursday evening.
Reece Atkinson (16) is described as being approximately 5 ft 8 in in height with a slim build, blue eyes, and short, dark blonde hair.
He is known to frequent the Castlebellingham and Drogheda areas of Co Louth.
Anyone with any information on his whereabouts is asked to contact Navan Garda Station on (046) 907 9930, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--New cultural officer seeks to boost Germany’s image of Ireland

Ireland ’ s image in Germany is “ positive but limited ” , with ingrained ideas of hard-drinking wild Celts playing traditional music , says Candice Gordon , as she holds court in a Berlin cafe near a noisy coffee roasting machine From now on , it is the job of Gordon , the newly-appointed and first full-time cultural officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA ) , to bring that image into a new era based in the Irish embassy in Berlin .
“ It ’ s important to honour that heritage but I ’ m keen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more adventurous , progressive direction , ” she tells The Irish Times .
Gordon is the first in a series of cultural officer appointments being made in seven locations around the world .
New York and London will follow shortly , followed later by Beijing , Tokyo , Paris and Los Angeles .
Cultural diplomacy is an intriguing change of change of pace for the northside Dubliner who , aged 12 , discovered her love of performing with busking .
She then ran away with a circus to France before returning to song-writing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political salons .
Nearly a decade after she moved to Berlin , she is anxious to help other Irish artists discover the opportunities and potential she has found in Germany .
Collectively , she hopes to refashion how Ireland is viewed in Germany - and vice versa .
The idea of a full-time cultural officer was first mentioned in a 2018 report about how Ireland could develop a “ wider , deeper ” footprint with its largest EU partner .
Much on the to-do list has been achieved , from a new consulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meetings .
Another key recommendation was that serious cultural spending is not an optional extra but a prerequisite for a more enriching , sustainable relationship with Germany .
While Ireland sells itself as the island of saints and scholars , Germany pitches itself as a nation of thinkers and poets .
So Gordon ’ s new job , likely to require the patience of a saint , will be to match Irish and German scholars , thinkers , poets , singers , painters , dancers - and more .
“ Cultural diplomacy is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries , not forcing things down people ’ s throats , ” she says .
Her three-year role , she says , will make a contribution to shifting the relationship from fuzzy mutual regard to deeper mutual understanding .
Whether Kerrygold or the Kelly Family , many Irish-themed successes in Germany have their roots in the “ Irish Journal ” by Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll in 1957 .
Nearly seven decades on , Gordon sees ample room to expand that romantic-nostalgia view of Ireland , fixed in many German minds , by highlighting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ film and animation capabilities - as well as considerable talent pools in opera , dance and the visual arts .
Pushing into Germany ’ s cultural landscape , though , presents Gordon ’ s second challenge : to reshape often limited Irish attitudes to Germany .
The country ’ s vast , decentralised structure of 16 federal states means even regional cities have full orchestras , opera houses and arts schools .
In a country of 83 million , says Gordon , even fringe interests have festivals and loyal followers .
The new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Global Ireland plan running to 2025 , is co-ordinated from Dublin by Eugene Downes , cultural director of the DFA , in close partnership with Culture Ireland .
The DFA ’ s new cultural unit was established a year ago amid the realisation that , despite punching above its weight internationally on culture , Ireland ’ s cultural diplomacy is underdeveloped in many key countries , particularly Germany .
No figures are available on how much money will be earmarked for the new cultural push in Germany , though a key priority is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2011 Imagine Ireland year in the US .
As Brexit reshapes Ireland ’ s relationship with its closest neighbour , leading figures in the arts and German-Irish community have welcomed the chance to build new cultural bridges .
“ There has never been more interest in this than now , from both Germany and Ireland , ” said Dr Gisela Holfter , director of the University of Limerick ’ s Centre for Irish-German Studies .
“ But this opportunity needs to be seized and followed up at all levels and special attention needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research into bilateral relations.
” With performance , partnerships and salon-style events , Gordon hopes to give all voices a platform in the coming years .
“ It ’ s important there is freedom to do events with a critical view of Ireland , ” she said .
“ And it ’ s appealing to do that here in Germany , where it is almost part of their cultural identity to look at the shadows .
I think they would really appreciate it if we do the same thing .
”

Candice Gordon, first full-time cultural officer for the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, based in the Irish embassy Berlin: “Cultural diplomacy is about opening dialogue and finding connections between countries, not forcing things down people’s throats.” she says. . Photograph: Tom Taylor
Ireland's image in Germany is "positive but limited", with ingrained ideas of hard-drinking wild Celts playing traditional music, says Candice Gordon, as she holds court in a Berlin cafe near a noisy coffee roasting machine
From now on, it is the job of Gordon, the newly-appointed and first full-time cultural officer in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), based in the Irish embassy in Berlin, to bring that image into a new era.
“It’s important to honour that heritage but I’m keen to bring our image forward in a more adventurous, progressive direction,” she tells The Irish Times.
Gordon is the first in a series of cultural officer appointments being made in seven locations around the world. New York and London will follow shortly, followed later by Beijing, Tokyo, Paris and Los Angeles.
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Cultural diplomacy is an intriguing change of pace for the northside Dubliner who, aged 12, discovered her love of performing with busking. She then ran away with a circus to France before returning to song-writing and composing, with a sideline in political salons.
Nearly a decade after she moved to Berlin, she is anxious to help other Irish artists discover the opportunities and potential she has found in Germany. Collectively, she hopes to refashion how Ireland is viewed in Germany – and vice versa.
The idea of a full-time cultural officer was first mentioned in a 2018 report about how Ireland could develop a “wider, deeper” footprint with its largest EU partner.
Much on the to-do list has been achieved, from a new consulate in Frankfurt to regular high-level Irish-German ministerial meetings. Another key recommendation was that serious cultural spending is not an optional extra but a prerequisite for a more enriching, sustainable relationship with Germany.
While Ireland sells itself as the island of saints and scholars, Germany pitches itself as a nation of thinkers and poets. So Gordon’s new job, likely to require the patience of a saint, will be to match Irish and German scholars, thinkers, poets, singers, painters, dancers – and more.
“Cultural diplomacy is about opening dialogue and finding connections between countries, not forcing things down people’s throats,” she says.
Her three-year role, she says, will make a contribution to shifting the relationship from fuzzy mutual regard to deeper mutual understanding.
‘Nostaglic view’
Whether Kerrygold or the Kelly Family, many Irish-themed successes in Germany have their roots in the Irish Journal by Nobel laureate Heinrich Böll in 1957.
Nearly seven decades on, Gordon sees ample room to expand that romantic-nostalgia view of Ireland, fixed in many German minds, by highlighting the island’s technological prowess, film and animation capabilities – as well as considerable talent pools in opera, dance and the visual arts.
Pushing into Germany’s cultural landscape, though, presents Gordon’s second challenge: to reshape often limited Irish attitudes to Germany.
The country’s vast, decentralised structure of 16 federal states means even regional cities have full orchestras, opera houses and arts schools. In a country of 83 million, says Gordon, even fringe interests have festivals and loyal followers.
The new cultural diplomacy strategy, part of the Global Ireland plan running to 2025, is co-ordinated from Dublin by Eugene Downes, cultural director of the DFA, in close partnership with Culture Ireland.
The DFA’s new cultural unit was established a year ago amid the realisation that, despite punching above its weight internationally on culture, Ireland’s cultural diplomacy is underdeveloped in many key countries, particularly Germany.
No figures are available on how much money will be earmarked for the new cultural push in Germany, though a key priority is a large-scale cultural year similar to the 2011 Imagine Ireland year in the US that cost €5 million.
As Brexit reshapes Ireland’s relationship with its closest neighbour, leading figures in the arts and German-Irish community have welcomed the chance to build new cultural bridges.
"There has never been more interest in this than now, from both Germany and Ireland," said Dr Gisela Holfter, director of the University of Limerick's Centre for Irish-German Studies. "But this opportunity needs to be seized and followed up at all levels and special attention needs to be paid to language learning and research into bilateral relations."
With performance, partnerships and salon-style events, Gordon hopes to give all voices a platform in the coming years.
“It’s important there is freedom to do events with a critical view of Ireland,” she said. “And it’s appealing to do that here in Germany, where it is almost part of their cultural identity to look at the shadows. I think they would really appreciate it if we do the same thing.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Kildare community ‘devastated’ after man (34) dies in assault

A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal assault which took place in Co Kildare last night .
A man ( 34 ) was discovered with serious injuries at Glenaree Bridge , Rathangan , Co Kildare shortly after 9pm on Friday .
He was taken by ambulance to Naas General Hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead .
A post-mortem is scheduled to take place at a later date and will be conducted by the State Pathologist .
Following inquiries by gardaí , a man in his 20s was later arrested .
He is being detained at Kildare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Justice Act , 1984 .
The scene is currently preserved and the services of the Garda Technical Bureau has been requested .
Local Fianna Fail councillor Anne Connolly said : “ It ’ s just absolutely devastating for the community and the families involved , it ’ s very sad .
It will be very tough for all involved .
“ The community is devastated .
It is generally a quiet area .
There might be small bits of anti-social behavior at times but nothing of late .
“ We have never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think that ’ s why everyone is so shocked .
My sympathies are with the two families .
”

Roy Hopkins (34) was taken by ambulance to Naas General Hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead. Photograph: Instagram
A man has been arrested in connection with a fatal assault which took place in Co Kildare last night.
A man (34) was discovered with serious injuries at Glenaree Bridge, Rathangan, Co Kildare shortly after 9pm on Friday.
He was taken by ambulance to Naas General Hospital where he was subsequently pronounced dead.
A post-mortem is scheduled to take place at a later date and will be conducted by the State Pathologist.
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Following inquiries by gardaí, a man in his 20s was later arrested. He is being detained at Kildare Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
The scene is currently preserved and the services of the Garda Technical Bureau has been requested.
Local Fianna Fail councillor Anne Connolly said: “It’s just absolutely devastating for the community and the families involved, it’s very sad. It will be very tough for all involved.
“The community is devastated. It is generally a quiet area. There might be small bits of anti-social behavior at times but nothing of late.
“We have never had anything to that extreme. I think that’s why everyone is so shocked. My sympathies are with the two families.”
Local Fine Gael councillor Mark Stafford said: “The incident, where we believe it occurred, was in Glenaree, which is a very quiet, rural area along the banks of the Grand Canal in Rathangan. It would be very popular for walkers and recreational users.
“It’s a very picturesque, rural part of Rathangan, where the proposed [Barrow] blueway will traverse.
“There is just total shock and disbelief in the community this morning.”
Garda investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Court rules in favour of developer in Raheny housing scheme case

A developer has won its High Court challenge over An Bord Pleanála ’ s refusal of permission for a controversial development of 536 housing units on lands near St Anne ’ s Park in Raheny .
In a 125 page judgment on Friday , Mr Justice David Barniville upheld the challenge by Crekav Trading GP Ltd , part of Pat Crean ’ s Marlet group .
He held that the board ’ s reasons for its September 2018 decision to refuse permission , and its reasons for disagreeing with its own inspector ’ s recommendation that permission be granted , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific orders should be made arising from his conclusions will be decided on a later date after lawyers for the sides have considered the judgment .
Crekav sought permission for the development under the 2016 Planning and Development ( Housing and Residential Tenancies ) Act 2016 , the fast track process for strategic housing developments .
Its proposal was for construction of 536 residential units , 104 houses and 432 apartments , and ancillary works , on a site which previously formed part of the lands of St Paul ’ s College , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The proposed site was bound to the east , south and north by St Anne ’ s Park .
The board had in 2018 granted permission for the proposed development but its decision was challenged , in three separate sets of proceedings by Clonres CLG , a local residents group ; environmentalist Peter Sweetman ; and environmentalist John Conway and the Louth Environmental Group .
The board ultimately conceded those proceedings after accepting there was an error in how it recorded the test applied by it in carrying out an Appropriate Assessment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Directive .
Mr Justice Barniville subsequently remitted the matter to the board for reconsideration .
Having reconsidered the matter , the board had in September 2018 made a fresh decision refusing permission for the proposed development for reasons relating to screening for an AA and lack of adequate qualitative analysis in respect of the light-bellied Brent goose .
Crekav challenged that decision by the board on various grounds .
In his judgment , Mr Justice Barniville found in favour of the developer on the ground of adequacy of the board ’ s reasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grounds concerning the alleged powers of the board to seek further information for an applicant for permission under the strategic housing act and the board ’ s treatment of “ mitigation ” matters in its decision .
Last June , in separate proceedings , the board consented to an order quashing its permission to Crekav for a development of 657 apartments on the St Paul ’ s lands .
That consent order was made on the basis the board had not adequately addressed requirements of the Habitats Directive in relation to an AA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feeding grounds of the light-bellied Brent goose and other protected bird species in Dublin Bay .
That planning application was remitted to the board to be determined “ in accordance with law ” from the time the board received a report in December 2019 from the chief executive of Dublin City Council ( DCC ) .
The DCC report recommended permission be refused for reasons including a Natura Impact Statement from the developer had not demonstrated the development would not impact on the populations of protected Brent goose , the black-tailed godwit or @ @ @ @ @

In separate proceedings, the board last June consented to an order quashing its permission to Crekav for a development (illustrated) of 657 apartments.
A developer has won its High Court challenge over An Bord Pleanála’s refusal of permission for a controversial development of 536 housing units on lands near St Anne’s Park in Raheny.
In a 125 page judgment on Friday, Mr Justice David Barniville upheld the challenge by Crekav Trading GP Ltd, part of Pat Crean’s Marlet group. He held that the board’s reasons for its September 2018 decision to refuse permission, and its reasons for disagreeing with its own inspector’s recommendation that permission be granted, were inadequate.
The matter of what specific orders should be made arising from his conclusions will be decided on a later date after lawyers for the sides have considered the judgment.
Crekav sought permission for the development under the 2016 Planning and Development (Housing and Residential Tenancies) Act 2016, the fast track process for strategic housing developments.
READ MORE
Its proposal was for construction of 536 residential units, 104 houses and 432 apartments, and ancillary works, on a site which previously formed part of the lands of St Paul’s College, a boys secondary school, in Raheny. The proposed site was bound to the east, south and north by St Anne’s Park.
The board had in 2018 granted permission for the proposed development but its decision was challenged, in three separate sets of proceedings by Clonres CLG, a local residents group; environmentalist Peter Sweetman; and environmentalist John Conway and the Louth Environmental Group. The board ultimately conceded those proceedings after accepting there was an error in how it recorded the test applied by it in carrying out an Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the EU Habitats Directive.
Mr Justice Barniville subsequently remitted the matter to the board for reconsideration. Having reconsidered the matter, the board had in September 2018 made a fresh decision refusing permission for the proposed development for reasons relating to screening for an AA and lack of adequate qualitative analysis in respect of the light-bellied Brent goose. Crekav challenged that decision by the board on various grounds.
In his judgment, Mr Justice Barniville found in favour of the developer on the ground of adequacy of the board’s reasons for its decision. He rejected its grounds concerning the alleged powers of the board to seek further information for an applicant for permission under the strategic housing act and the board’s treatment of “mitigation” matters in its decision.
Last June, in separate proceedings, the board consented to an order quashing its permission to Crekav for a development of 657 apartments on the St Paul’s lands. That consent order was made on the basis the board had not adequately addressed requirements of the Habitats Directive in relation to an AA of the impact of the development on feeding grounds of the light-bellied Brent goose and other protected bird species in Dublin Bay.
That planning application was remitted to the board to be determined “in accordance with law” from the time the board received a report in December 2019 from the chief executive of Dublin City Council (DCC). The DCC report recommended permission be refused for reasons including a Natura Impact Statement from the developer had not demonstrated the development would not impact on the populations of protected Brent goose, the black-tailed godwit or curlew of Dublin Bay.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Driver in serious condition following Dublin crash

A man in his 30s is in a critical condition in hospital after a single vehicle crash near Dublin Airport @ @ @ @ @ incident occurred at 10pm on the R108 road .
The driver of the car was @ @ @ @ @ his condition is currently described as critical .
Two male passengers , aged in their @ @ @ @ @ also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries .
The road was closed for @ @ @ @ @ by forensic collision investigators but has since reopened .

The incident occurred at 10pm on the R108 road near Dublin Airport.
A man in his 30s is in a critical condition in hospital after a single vehicle crash near Dublin Airport on Friday night.
The incident occurred at 10pm on the R108 road. The driver of the car was taken to Beaumont Hospital where his condition is currently described as critical.
Two male passengers, aged in their 20s and 30s, were also taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The road was closed for a time for an examination by forensic collision investigators but has since reopened.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--New judges appointment to the proposed CervicalCheck tribunal

Two judges have been appointed to the CervicalCheck tribunal set up to investigate negligence in the State ’ s cervical check screening programme .
The tribunal was established to allow an alternative to going to court for claims arising out of the CervicalCheck controversy .
There are 203 active claims in relation to CervicalCheck along with eight that have been resolved .
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic , no start date has yet been agreed for the tribunal .
The controversy over the screening programme was sparked by Limerick woman Vicky Phelan , who has cervical cancer , settling a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the misreading of her smear test .
It later emerged that potentially hundreds of women were not informed of an audit which revised their earlier , negative smear tests .
Ms Justice Ann Power , who is a serving judge of the Court of Appeals , will be the chairwoman of the tribunal and High Court judge Mr Justice Tony O ’ Connor has also been appointed .
They will join Mr Justice Brian McGovern who is the third member of the tribunal .
The new appointments will replace the previous chair Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peart who have both dropped out .
Ms Justice Irvine did not take up her role because she was made President of the High Court in June .
Mr Justice Peart did not give his reasons for dropping out .
The tribunal was set up following Mr Justice Charles Meenan ’ s report on an alternative system for dealing with claims arising out of the CervicalCheck programme .
He suggested that a tribunal be established under statute that would facilitate the hearing of claims arising from CervicalCheck in private and in a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go to court .
Announcing the new appointments , the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he hoped the tribunal will allow women to “ progress their cases in a sensitive manner ” .
The CervicialCheck tribunal became law in July 2019 and was due to start in March 2020 .
It has been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic .

The tribunal was established to allow an alternative to going to court for claims arising out of the CervicalCheck controversy.
Two judges have been appointed to the CervicalCheck tribunal set up to investigate negligence in the State’s cervical check screening programme.
The tribunal was established to allow an alternative to going to court for claims arising out of the CervicalCheck controversy.
There are 203 active claims in relation to CervicalCheck along with eight that have been resolved.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, no start date has yet been agreed for the tribunal.
READ MORE
The controversy over the screening programme was sparked by Limerick woman Vicky Phelan, who has cervical cancer, settling a High Court action in April 2018 over the misreading of her smear test.
It later emerged that potentially hundreds of women were not informed of an audit which revised their earlier, negative smear tests.
Ms Justice Ann Power, who is a serving judge of the Court of Appeals, will be the chairwoman of the tribunal and High Court judge Mr Justice Tony O'Connor has also been appointed.
They will join Mr Justice Brian McGovern who is the third member of the tribunal.
The new appointments will replace the previous chair Ms Justice Mary Irvine and Mr Justice Michael Peart who have both dropped out.
Ms Justice Irvine did not take up her role because she was made President of the High Court in June. Mr Justice Peart did not give his reasons for dropping out.
The tribunal was set up following Mr Justice Charles Meenan’s report on an alternative system for dealing with claims arising out of the CervicalCheck programme.
He suggested that a tribunal be established under statute that would facilitate the hearing of claims arising from CervicalCheck in private and in a more timely and less adversarial manner than having to go to court.
Announcing the new appointments, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said he hoped the tribunal will allow women to "progress their cases in a sensitive manner".
The CervicialCheck tribunal became law in July 2019 and was due to start in March 2020. It has been delayed because of the Covid-19 pandemic.