theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Coronavirus: People to be allowed to travel anywhere in their county from Monday as Ireland moves to

Coronavirus: People to be allowed to travel anywhere in their county from Monday as Ireland moves to exit lockdown

People are to be allowed to travel anywhere within their county from Monday next as the Government moves to implement a dramatic escalation of the roadmap to reopen Ireland .
It is understood people will be able to go up to 20km into another county under the revised restrictions .
An increase in the travel limit from 5km to 20km was due to come into effect on Monday .
The Cabinet was on Friday meeting to give the green light to moving to phase two of easing coronavirus restrictions but is also considering accelerating entire phases of the existing plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also set to re-open at the end of the month under the acceleration discussed by Cabinet and the reduction of the two-meter social distancing rule these businesses is being considered .
The Government is also considering the possibility that some pubs will open earlier than planned and the total lifting of travel restrictions earlier than planned is also being discussed .
Well-placed sources have said the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) has asked if it should examine if entire phases can be brought forward or merged .
It is understood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to be done before this could be deemed to be possible .
Ministers were considering such a move at their meeting on Friday which began at 10am .
It is also understood that shopping centres will be able to re-open on June 15th , provided people do not congregate in areas such as foodhalls .
The number of people allowed to visit another person ’ s home from next Monday will increase to six , instead of the initially planned four .
The numbers allowed gather outside will also rise to six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resume training - although it is understood contact will not be allowed .
Summer camps will also be permitted in similar circumstances , while cocooners will also be told they can do most of what everyone else is permitted to do but will be given extra guidance .
On Friday , Minister for Business Heather Humphreys confirmed the message would be changing from stay at home to stay local .
“ It will be stay local and I would also ask people to shop local and stay safe , ” she told RTÉ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which starts on Monday , the travel limit was due to increase from 5km to 20km and groups of up to four people - changed to six on Friday - can visit other homes , as long as they observe social distancing .
It was also planned that small numbers of people should be allowed visit the homes of those over 70 , or medically vulnerable , wearing gloves and face coverings .
Nphet has also signed off on additional restrictions being lifted in the second phase of lockdown relaxations .
The opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought forward and will see some bigger shops open from Monday , though Penneys has said it will not be in a position to do that .
Other measures singed off by Nphet include further measures to help children with special needs and a return to some educational and summer camp activities along with the reopening of playgrounds - subject to supervision and cleaning .
It also signed off on changes to allow visitors into nursing homes in certain circumstances but with strict guidelines on who will be permitted while ensuring visitors observe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from residents .
Most nursing homes have restricted visitors since March apart from exceptional circumstances .
Monday will also see funerals with up to 25 people allowed .
A number of other measures may also be accelerated including the lifting of the travel limit altogether .
The 20km limit was initially intended to apply until the end of phase 3 on July 20th , when people would be allowed travel around the country , but it is now expected to be lifted on June 29th , at the end of phase 2 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tourism - also initially planned to open on July 20th - are now to be allowed to open at the same time .
June 29th will also see the reopening of museums and galleries and the return of religious services .
Meanwhile , hundreds of pubs are also expected to reopen weeks earlier than anticipated at the end of the month as they have restaurant licences .
Sources have said the Government will give the green light for the move in the coming days following meetings with industry figures .
Chief executive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keeffe said while his group was awaiting final clarification , hundreds of pubs are in “ full-scale active planning ” for reopening .
Under the Government ’ s roadmap for reversing Covid-19 restrictions , pubs were not due to reopen until phase 5 which starts on August 10th .
A senior source confirmed that those with restaurant licences will be permitted to open their doors on June 29th .
Mr Harris cautioned that moving from one phase to the next was “ not inevitable and not guaranteed ” .
And he said there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing guidelines from two metres to one .
It comes as a further five deaths of people diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by Nphet on Thursday .
This brings to 1,664 the total number of deaths in the Republic .
Nphet also reported another 38 new cases of the disease , bringing the total number of cases to 25,142 .
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan warned that house parties are being organised “ with abandon , as though we weren ’ t in the midst of a pandemic ” .
There were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things ” not to happen at present , he said , adding indoor activities would be permitted in later phases of the Government ’ s roadmap .
Meanwhile , the scheme which sees the State subsidise the wages of about half a million workers is expected to be extended until the end of the summer by the Government .
The Cabinet is also expected to extend the special Covid-19 unemployment payment for the same period , although it will be split into two bands .
Those earning less than €200 will be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a week , in line with unemployment benefit , and those earning above €200 will still receive the current €350 payment .
A memo for the Cabinet meeting says the temporary wage subsidy scheme and the unemployment payment will remain in place until the end of August , with a decision on what to do at that point expected to be made by the next Government .
Retailers are warning of “ rumblings ” among them that shops will defy the Government ’ s roadmap on easing lockdown restrictions by reopening early as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months long closure .
Business group Retail Excellence said it was lobbying Government to bring forward the reopening of shopping centres from August 10th to July 29th so that it “ can still control ” the easing of restrictions .
The group ’ s deputy chairwoman Jean McCabe also claimed a limited reopening of shops on Monday , under phase two of the road map , will lead to a “ pent up demand on a smaller shopping footprint ” which , she said , would make social distancing more difficult .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ store full of summer sandals , and you were watching your competitor sell out his stock for the next two months while you remain closed , ” she told RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland .
“ Some retailers just can not wait , they have been closed for such a period of time , and there are rumblings that some just won ’ t wait .
“ So we are urging Government to reconsider that ( date ) , and bring it back , ” she said .
Ms Humphreys suggested “ mitigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping centres could be considered as part of a plan to reopen them .
“ I fully understand the concerns of retailers in shopping centres .
I understand the points they are making and have been engaging with them .
Obviously I will be making the case for them , ” she said .
“ But on the other side there is a public health concern around people congregating in confined spaces .
Maybe we can look at mitigating measures that we can take to deal with that.
” Ms Humphreys said she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday .
She said she didn ’ t have any estimate for the number of businesses that will collapse as result of the lockdown , but urged any small retailers reopening on Monday to apply for the Government ’ s restart grant and wage subsidy scheme .

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the Dáil that he is confident that phase two of the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions will go ahead as planned on Monday, June 8th. Video: Oireachtas TV
People are to be allowed to travel anywhere within their county from Monday next as the Government moves to implement a dramatic escalation of the roadmap to reopen Ireland.
The Cabinet met on Friday to give the green light to moving to phase two of easing coronavirus restrictions but also considered accelerating entire phases of the existing plan.
An increase in the travel limit from 5km to 20km was due to come into effect on Monday but now under revised restrictions people will also be allowed to travel anywhere within their own county, even if that is more than 20km from their home.
Hotels and B&Bs are also set to re-open at the end of the month under the acceleration discussed by Cabinet and the reduction of the two-metre social distancing rule these businesses is being considered.
READ MORE
The Government is also considering the possibility that some pubs will open earlier than planned and the total lifting of travel restrictions earlier than planned is also being discussed.
Well-placed sources have said the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has asked if it should examine if entire phases can be brought forward or merged. It is understood, however, that significant work would have to be done before this could be deemed to be possible.
It is also understood that shopping centres will be able to re-open on June 15th, provided people do not congregate in areas such as foodhalls. The number of people allowed to visit another person’s home from next Monday will increase to six, instead of the initially planned four.
The numbers allowed gather outside will also rise to six and sports teams may be able to resume training - although it is understood contact will not be allowed.
Summer camps will also be permitted in similar circumstances, while cocooners will also be told they can do most of what everyone else is permitted to do but will be given extra guidance.
Ministers were considering the easing restrictions at their meeting on Friday which began at 10am. The Cabinet, in recommending that people be allowed travel within their counties and allowing shopping centres to re-open, is understood to have gone beyond the advice of Nphet.
On Friday, Minister for Business Heather Humphreys confirmed the message would be changing from stay at home to stay local.
“It will be stay local and I would also ask people to shop local and stay safe,” she told RTÉ Morning Ireland.
Under phase two, which starts on Monday, the travel limit was due to increase from 5km to 20km and groups of up to four people - changed to six on Friday - can visit other homes, as long as they observe social distancing. It was also planned that small numbers of people should be allowed visit the homes of those over 70, or medically vulnerable, wearing gloves and face coverings.
Nphet has also signed off on additional restrictions being lifted in the second phase of lockdown relaxations.
The opening of larger retail stores is to be brought forward and will see some bigger shops open from Monday, though Penneys has said it will not be in a position to do that.
Other measures singed off by Nphet include further measures to help children with special needs and a return to some educational and summer camp activities along with the reopening of playgrounds - subject to supervision and cleaning.
It also signed off on changes to allow visitors into nursing homes in certain circumstances but with strict guidelines on who will be permitted while ensuring visitors observe appropriate hand hygiene and maintain physical distancing from residents. Most nursing homes have restricted visitors since March apart from exceptional circumstances.
Monday will also see funerals with up to 25 people allowed.
June 29th
A number of other measures are also set to be accelerated including the lifting of the travel limit altogether. The 20km limit was initially intended to apply until the end of phase 3 on July 20th, when people would be allowed travel around the country, but it is now expected to be lifted on June 29th, at the end of phase 2.
Hotels, B&Bs and other tourism - also initially planned to open on July 20th - are now to be allowed to open at the same time. June 29th will also see the reopening of museums and galleries and the return of religious services.
Meanwhile, hundreds of pubs are also expected to reopen weeks earlier than anticipated at the end of the month as they have restaurant licences.
Sources have said the Government will give the green light for the move in the coming days following meetings with industry figures. Chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association Donall O'Keeffe said while his group was awaiting final clarification, hundreds of pubs are in "full-scale active planning" for reopening.
Under the Government’s roadmap for reversing Covid-19 restrictions, pubs were not due to reopen until phase 5 which starts on August 10th. A senior source confirmed that those with restaurant licences will be permitted to open their doors on June 29th.
Mr Harris cautioned that moving from one phase to the next was “not inevitable and not guaranteed”. And he said there were no current plans to change the social distancing guidelines from two metres to one.
It comes as a further five deaths of people diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by Nphet on Thursday. This brings to 1,664 the total number of deaths in the Republic.
Nphet also reported another 38 new cases of the disease, bringing the total number of cases to 25,142.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan warned that house parties are being organised "with abandon, as though we weren't in the midst of a pandemic".
There were good public health reasons for “these things” not to happen at present, he said, adding indoor activities would be permitted in later phases of the Government’s roadmap.
Pandemic payment
Meanwhile, the scheme which sees the State subsidise the wages of about half a million workers is expected to be extended until the end of the summer by the Government.
The special Covid-19 unemployment payment will be extended for the same period, although it will be split into two bands.
Those earning less than €200 will be on the first band and will receive €203 a week, in line with unemployment benefit, and those earning above €200 will still receive the current €350 payment.
The reduced payment for part time workers will take effect from June 29th.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Make face masks compulsory in shops, public transport - Immunology expert

Face coverings should be mandatory in Ireland for anyone shopping or travelling on public transport , an immunology expert has said .
Kingston Mills , professor of experimental immunology at Trinity College Dublin , said England has “ done the right thing ” in making masks compulsory on public transport as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus .
Passengers will not be allowed on buses , trams , trains , coaches , aircraft and ferries without a face mask from June 15th , it was announced this week .
The British Medical Association has already said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to all areas where social distancing is not possible .
Prof Mills pointed to a study published in the medical journal The Lancet this week which found face mask use could result in a “ large reduction in risk of infection ” .
“ Face masks have a large part to play as we open up , in terms of more back to work and more shopping , ” he said .
“ There is no doubt wearing face masks is beneficial .
They ’ re not 100 per cent foolproof ... but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mills suggested a government directive on face coverings “ would really help ” efforts to contain the pandemic and that he would “ advocate it becoming a sort of mandatory measure in shopping centres , department stores , shopping in general , but also public transport.
” While there were concerns about supply – and health care staff suffering from shortages – early in the crisis , that is “ no longer an issue ” .
“ They are now readily available , ” he added .
Part of the reason so many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public is the “ mixed messages ” they are getting , said Prof Mills .
“ Some in this government are very much in favour of it , and yet it hasn ’ t come out and said it is a requirement , ” he told RTÉ Radio One .
Prof Mills said “ nobody wants to go back into lockdown ” and there are three ways to mitigate against the threat of a resurgence in infections : wearing face masks ; quick and efficient testing and tracing ; and restrictions on air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of infections .

Face coverings should be mandatory in Ireland for anyone shopping or traveling on public transport, an immunology expert has said. Photograph: iStock
Face coverings should be mandatory in Ireland for anyone shopping or travelling on public transport, an immunology expert has said.
Kingston Mills, professor of experimental immunology at Trinity College Dublin, said England has "done the right thing" in making masks compulsory on public transport as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus.
Passengers will not be allowed on buses, trams, trains, coaches, aircraft and ferries without a face mask from June 15th, it was announced this week.
The British Medical Association has already said the order should be extended beyond public transport to all areas where social distancing is not possible.
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Prof Mills pointed to a study published in the medical journal The Lancet this week which found face mask use could result in a “large reduction in risk of infection”.
“Face masks have a large part to play as we open up, in terms of more back to work and more shopping,” he said.
“There is no doubt wearing face masks is beneficial. They’re not 100 per cent foolproof ... but they can significantly reduce transmission.”
Prof Mills suggested a government directive on face coverings “would really help” efforts to contain the pandemic and that he would “advocate it becoming a sort of mandatory measure in shopping centres, department stores, shopping in general, but also public transport.”
While there were concerns about supply – and health care staff suffering from shortages – early in the crisis, that is “no longer an issue”.
“They are now readily available,” he added.
Part of the reason so many in Ireland do not wear masks in public is the “mixed messages” they are getting, said Prof Mills.
“Some in this government are very much in favour of it, and yet it hasn’t come out and said it is a requirement,” he told RTÉ Radio One.
Prof Mills said “nobody wants to go back into lockdown” and there are three ways to mitigate against the threat of a resurgence in infections: wearing face masks; quick and efficient testing and tracing; and restrictions on air travel from countries that have high levels of infections.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Twitter ordered to reveal who is behind parody Fastway Couriers account

The High Court has ordered Twitter to provide information to Fastway Couriers aimed at identifying the operator of a parody account , allegedly abusive and damaging to the courier company , for the purpose of suing them .
The account first appeared on Twitter in late 2019 , was most recently renamed Fartway Deliveries Ireland and was deactivated by the unidentified controller ( s ) after Fastway initiated proceedings in late April .
The account featured abusive tweets suggesting Fastway drivers were “ incompetent , with no regard for customers and their packages ” , drivers had Covid-19 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and “ non-essential areas ” to which Fastway would not deliver .
Twitter ’ s lawyer David Holland SC had said it was “ mute ” on the Fastway application and takes seriously both freedom of expression and the principles of law but would comply if the court made the order .
In his judgment on Friday , Mr Justice Senan Allen ordered Twitter to disclose , within seven days , such information as it has relating to the identity of those who created and/or controlled the account on condition that information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than to redress the wrongs complained of in this case .
The judge said , whatever the initial impression of the parody site might have been , he considered that no one who read the entries posted by @ fastwayIRE “ could sensibly have believed ” the account was operated by the plaintiff companies - Parcel Connect Ltd , trading as Fastway Couriers and A & G Couriers Ltd. For example , the postings in response to apparently genuine enquiries about when parcel deliveries might be expected suggested parcels had been “ flung @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , left in caves for a few weeks , and the contents eaten by drivers , he said .
“ Apart from such silliness , many of the entries were crass and vulgar.
” The judge noted , after Fastway ’ s solicitors wrote to Twitter in early April 2020 , the account was suspended for a few days but then restored and Twitter had declined to identify the parody account holder to Fastway .
Twitter also notified Fastway on April 11th 2020 it had investigated the complaint about the account and determined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s terms of service or rules .
The name of the parody account was initially Fastway Couriers Ireland and was changed to Fastway Couriers Ireland ?
on April 14th , to Fastwah ?
Couriers Ireland on April 20th and to Fartway Couriers Ireland on April 28th .
Fastway , represented by Donogh Hardiman BL , initiated its case on April 29th .
Mr Justice Allen said he was “ entirely unconvinced ” about Fastway ’ s argument the parody account owner has been masquerading as , and using the voice of , Fastway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might , until its name changed on April 20th , and possibly April 28th , have had the impression it was associated with Fastway , any such impression would have been “ immediately dispelled by a cursory reading ” of the entries .
He was not persuaded Fastway had made out , to the requisite standard , a case the posting meant Fastway and its staff use foul and abusive language but was persuaded Fastway had sufficiently made out a case the postings mean it and its staff are incompetent and inefficient and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ridicule .
There may ultimately be an issue the words amounted to no more than “ vulgar abuse ” but , for this application , the case was sufficiently made out , he said .
Fastway ’ s complaint that the use of its name and logo infringes its registered trademark was also “ sufficiently justified ” , he said .
He was satisfied a “ strong prima facie case ” had been made out the goodwill in its name and mark had been damaged by its use on the parody account and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the username associated with the account .
On claims the account wrongly interfered with Fastway ’ s business and contractual relations , he found it difficult to believe any misapprehension the account was operated by Fastway could have survived the answers given by the parody account operator to queries from the public .

The High Court ordered Twitter to disclose, within seven days, such information as it has relating to the identity of those who created and/or controlled the account. File photograph
The High Court has ordered Twitter to provide information to Fastway Couriers aimed at identifying the operator of a parody account, allegedly abusive and damaging to the courier company, for the purpose of suing them.
The account first appeared on Twitter in late 2019, was most recently renamed Fartway Deliveries Ireland and was deactivated by the unidentified controller(s) after Fastway initiated proceedings in late April.
The account featured abusive tweets suggesting Fastway drivers were “incompetent, with no regard for customers and their packages”, drivers had Covid-19, and parts of the country were “holes” and “non-essential areas” to which Fastway would not deliver.
Twitter’s lawyer David Holland SC had said it was “mute” on the Fastway application and takes seriously both freedom of expression and the principles of law but would comply if the court made the order.
READ MORE
In his judgment on Friday, Mr Justice Senan Allen ordered Twitter to disclose, within seven days, such information as it has relating to the identity of those who created and/or controlled the account on condition that information is not used for any purpose other than to redress the wrongs complained of in this case.
The judge said, whatever the initial impression of the parody site might have been, he considered that no one who read the entries posted by @fastwayIRE "could sensibly have believed" the account was operated by the plaintiff companies - Parcel Connect Ltd, trading as Fastway Couriers and A & G Couriers Ltd.
For example, the postings in response to apparently genuine enquiries about when parcel deliveries might be expected suggested parcels had been “flung over the rainbow” and into fields, left in caves for a few weeks, and the contents eaten by drivers, he said. “Apart from such silliness, many of the entries were crass and vulgar.”
The judge noted, after Fastway’s solicitors wrote to Twitter in early April 2020, the account was suspended for a few days but then restored and Twitter had declined to identify the parody account holder to Fastway.
Twitter also notified Fastway on April 11th 2020 it had investigated the complaint about the account and determined the material did not violate Twitter’s terms of service or rules.
The name of the parody account was initially Fastway Couriers Ireland and was changed to Fastway Couriers Ireland? on April 14th, to Fastwah? Couriers Ireland on April 20th and to Fartway Couriers Ireland on April 28th.
Fastway, represented by Donogh Hardiman BL, initiated its case on April 29th.
Mr Justice Allen said he was “entirely unconvinced” about Fastway’s argument the parody account owner has been masquerading as, and using the voice of, Fastway.
While someone stumbling on the account might, until its name changed on April 20th, and possibly April 28th, have had the impression it was associated with Fastway, any such impression would have been “immediately dispelled by a cursory reading” of the entries.
He was not persuaded Fastway had made out, to the requisite standard, a case the posting meant Fastway and its staff use foul and abusive language but was persuaded Fastway had sufficiently made out a case the postings mean it and its staff are incompetent and inefficient and wrongly and maliciously hold them up to ridicule.
There may ultimately be an issue the words amounted to no more than “vulgar abuse” but, for this application, the case was sufficiently made out, he said.
Fastway’s complaint that the use of its name and logo infringes its registered trademark was also “sufficiently justified”, he said.
He was satisfied a “strong prima facie case” had been made out the goodwill in its name and mark had been damaged by its use on the parody account and by association with the comments posted using the username associated with the account.
On claims the account wrongly interfered with Fastway’s business and contractual relations, he found it difficult to believe any misapprehension the account was operated by Fastway could have survived the answers given by the parody account operator to queries from the public.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Eight dogs worth €5,000 seized by gardaí in Co Tipperary

Eight dogs believed to be worth about €5,000 were seized by gardaí while they were carrying out a speed check @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardaí were carrying out the check on the M8 at Ashill , Thurles when @ @ @ @ @ the speed limit .
The van was stopped and while speaking with the driver , @ @ @ @ @ Policing Unit heard dogs barking in the rear of the van .
Gardaí searched the @ @ @ @ @ that are believed to be worth about €5,000 .
The driver and passenger could give @ @ @ @ @ of the dogs , which were also not microchipped , gardaí said .
No arrests @ @ @ @ @ said their investigations are ongoing .

While speaking with the driver, gardaí heard the dogs barking in the rear of the van. Photograph: An Garda Síochána Tipperary Facebook Page
Eight dogs believed to be worth about €5,000 were seized by gardaí while they were carrying out a speed check in Co Tipperary on Thursday.
Gardaí were carrying out the check on the M8 at Ashill, Thurles when they saw a van exceeding the speed limit.
The van was stopped and while speaking with the driver, gardaí from the Thurles Roads Policing Unit heard dogs barking in the rear of the van.
Gardaí searched the van and found eight dogs that are believed to be worth about €5,000.
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Photograph: An Garda Síochána Tipperary Facebook Page
The driver and passenger could give no explanation as to ownership of the dogs, which were also not microchipped, gardaí said.
No arrests have been made and gardaí said their investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--HSE says contacts of confirmed cases four times more likely to get Covid-19

Contacts of confirmed cases of Covid-19 are four times more likely to test positive for the disease , according to new figures from the Health Service Executive .
The vast majority of close contacts who are testing positive have no symptoms , it has also emerged .
Meanwhile , the numbers attending hospital emergency departments are almost back to “ normal ” levels , and activity is higher than usual for over-75s , the HSE says .
Emergency departments are busier treating older people than they were last year for the first time since the pandemic began , HSE chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Both attendances and admissions of over 75-year-olds to emergency departnents were up almost 4 per cent last week on the same period in 2019 , she said .
For all patients , attendances are now within 9 per cent of last year ’ s figures , and admissions within 6 per cent , Ms O ’ Connor told the weekly HSE briefing on Covid-19 .
Last week , 21,000 people were tested for the virus , with 1.7 per cent proving positive ; the total capacity is 100,000 tests a week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are “ significant outliers ” in the figures , HSE chief executive Paul Reid acknowledged .
The median “ end-to-end ” turnaround time from testing to contact tracing improved to 2 days last week , from 3.2 days the week before .
For hospital cases , this figure is 1.7 days , while in the community it is 2.3 days .
The HSE has a target to report 90 per cent of tests within three days but this was achieved in only 82 per cent of cases last week .
Mr Reid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us back ” .
Since May 19th , contacts of confirmed cases are being tested regardless of whether they are symptomatic or not .
Over the last week , 322 close contacts were tested , with a positivity rate of 7.2 per cent .
This means the rate of positive tests among close contacts is four times the level in the general population , Mr Reid pointed out .
Of the 24 contacts who tested positive , 87 per cent were asymptomatic , and only 13 per cent were showing symptoms of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoped to launch its contact tracing app later this month once it had received Government approval .
The attorney general has approved the data protection aspects of the app , which are currently under consideration with the office of the data protection commission , he said .
As controls are eased , the public needs to strengthen their personal vigilance for the virus , Mr Reid urged .
This involved “ doing the simple things well ” , including social distancing , respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene .
“ We owe it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever , ” Mr Reid said .
There were 140 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in hospital on Friday morning , 85 per cent down from the peak in mid-April , and many hospitals now have no confirmed cases .
ICU numbers stand at 37 , down 77 per cent on the peak on April 9th .
Four out of five beds are now occupied by non-Covid patients , and the rest by patients with the disease .
However , while non-Covid services were returning , these would be less efficient than in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control , and would be managed in a different way , Mr Reid said .
Mr Reid said 21 outbreaks of Covid-19 were reported last week , compared to 49 the previous week .
This was the lowest number of outbreaks since mid-March .
Two-thirds of meat plant workers infected with the virus have now returned to work , public health doctor Mary Mannix told the briefing .
A total of 1,054 cases in 20 meat plants have been reported , and 15 of these remain under active investigation , she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight plants due to the level of transmission of the disease .
While all workplace contact tracing has been completed , about 90 per cent of tracing in the community has been completed , she said .
In one facility , this figure was at 60-70 per cent .
In some cases , the number provided for contacts was incorrect , or no-one answered , she said .

Contacts of people confirmed to have Covid-19 are four times more likely to test positive for the disease, Health Service Executive (HSE) figures show.
Since May 19th, contacts of confirmed cases have been tested regardless of whether they are showing symptoms of Covid-19 or not, with 322 close contacts were tested in the past week, with a positivity rate of 7.2 per cent. Of the 24 contacts who tested positive, 87 per cent were not showing symptoms.
Speaking at a media briefing in DCU on Friday, HSE chief executive Paul Reid said some 21,000 people were tested for the virus last week, with 1.7 per cent proving positive. This meant the rate of positive tests among close contacts was four times the level in the general population, he said.
As restrictions introduced to slow the spread of the disease are eased, Mr Reid the public needed to strengthen vigilance for the virus. He said this involved “doing the simple things well” such as maintaining social distance and following respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene advice.
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“We owe it to everyone to take personal responsibility more than ever.”
There were 140 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in hospital on Friday morning, down 85 per cent from the peak in mid-April, and many hospitals now have no confirmed cases. The number of people in intensive care units stood at 37, down 77 per cent on the peak on April 9th.
The HSE said tere is now capacity to carry out 100,000 tests a week. While turnaround times for these have significantly improved, there are “significant outliers” in the figures which were “pulling us back”, Mr Reid acknowledged.
The median “end-to-end” turnaround time from testing to contact tracing improved to two days last week from more than three the previous week. For hospital cases, this figure is 1.7 days, while in the community it is 2.3 days.
The HSE has a target to report 90 per cent of tests within three days but this was achieved in only 82 per cent of cases last week.
Mr Reid said 21 outbreaks of Covid-19 were reported last week, down from 49 the previous week. This was the lowest number of outbreaks since mid-March.
Two-thirds of meat plant workers infected with the virus have now returned to work, public health doctor Mai Mannix told the briefing.
She said 1,054 cases in 20 meat plants have been reported, and 15 of these remain under active investigation. Mass testing has been carried out in eight plants due to the level of transmission of the disease.
While all workplace contact tracing has been completed, about 90 per cent of tracing in the community has been completed, she said. In one facility, this figure was at 60-70 per cent. She said in some cases the number provided for contacts was incorrect, or no-one answered the call.
Mr Reid said the HSE hoped to launch its contact tracing app later this month once it had received Government approval. The Attorney General has approved the data protection aspects of the app, which are currently being considered by the Data Protection Commissioner, he said.
Meanwhile, the numbers attending hospital emergency departments are almost back to “normal” levels, and activity is higher than usual for over-75s.
Emergency departments are busier treating older people than they were last year for the first time since the pandemic began, HSE chief operations officer Anne O’Connor said, with attendances and admissions of over 75s up almost 4 per cent last week on the same period last year.
Four out of five beds are now occupied by non-Covid patients, and the rest by people with the disease. While non-Covid services were returning, these would be less efficient than in the past due to the need for infection control, and would be managed in a different way, Mr Reid said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Over half of NI Covid-19 fatalities are among care home residents

New figures show that deaths of care home residents continues to account for more than half of all fatalities from coronavirus in Northern Ireland .
In its weekly bulletin published on Friday , the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ( Nisra ) reported that 36 people died from Covid-19 in the week ending May 29th bringing the total of virus-related deaths to 757 .
The comparative number of deaths reported daily by the Department of Health up to that date was 528 .
The Nisra figure is close to one-third higher than the departmental figure .
The department statistics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive for the virus whereas the NISRA figures are based on the information entered on death certificates completed by medical professionals .
Of the Nisra total , 381 deaths ( 50.3 per cent ) took place in hospitals , 328 ( 43.3 per cent ) in care homes , eight ( 1.1 per cent ) in hospices and 40 ( 5.3 per cent ) at residential addresses or other locations .
The 336 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 78 separate establishments .
Nisra further reported that of the 396 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to May 29th , 82.8 per cent ( 328 ) occurred in a care home , with the remaining 68 occurring in hospital .
“ On this basis , deaths of care home residents account for 52.3 per cent of all Covid-19 related deaths .
However , no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease , ” said Nisra .
Nisra also reported that the provisional number of total deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending May 29th 2020 was 316 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 279 .
Over the last nine weeks in total , 939 “ excess deaths ” ( deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years ) were registered in Northern Ireland , with the number of “ excess deaths ” in the year to date to May 29th totalling 680 .
People aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds of all deaths and 80 per cent of Covid-19 related deaths registered this calendar year up to May 29th .

Friends and relatives stand in the car park observing social distancing as they talk to the residents at Gracewell residential care home in Adderbury near Banbury, west of London. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images
New figures published on Friday show that the deaths of care home residents, whether in a home or in hospital, continue to account for more than half of all fatalities from coronavirus in Northern Ireland.
The Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) in its weekly bulletin reported on Friday that 36 people had died from Covid-19 in the week ending May 29th, bringing the total number of virus-related deaths in the North to 757.
The comparative total number of deaths reported by the North's Department of Health up to that date was 528. The Nisra figure is close to one-third higher than the departmental figure.
The department statistics are based on patients having previously tested positive for the virus, whereas the Nisra figures are based on the information entered on death certificates completed by medical professionals.
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Of the Nisra total, 381 deaths (50.3 per cent) took place in hospital, 328 (43.3 per cent) in care homes, eight (1.1 per cent) in hospices and 40 (5.3 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations.
The 336 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 78 separate establishments.
Explaining how more than half of deaths were of care home residents, Nisra further reported that of the 396 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 up to May 29th, 82.8 per cent (328) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 68 occurring in hospital.
“On this basis deaths of care home residents account for 52.3 per cent of all Covid-19-related deaths. However, no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease,” said Nisra.
Total deaths
Nisra also reported that the provisional number of total deaths registered in Northern Ireland in the week ending May 29th was 316, 37 more than the five-year average of 279.
Over the last nine weeks in total, 939 “excess deaths” (deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years) were registered in Northern Ireland, with the number of “excess deaths” for the year to date to May 29th totalling 680.
People aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds of all deaths and 80 per cent of Covid-19-related deaths registered this calendar year up to May 29th.
The Department of Health’s daily report for Friday showed that one more person has died from Covid-19 in the North, bringing the department’s total death toll up to 536.
The department also reported that just three more people tested positive for the virus, taking the number of confirmed cases in the North to 4,776. So far 57,007 people have been tested for the virus in Northern Ireland.
Black Lives Matter protests
Meanwhile, with Black Lives Matter rallies planned for Northern Ireland this weekend, including in Belfast and Derry, First Minister Arlene Foster urged people to "find different ways to protest".
The PSNI indicated that no action is to be taken against the organisers of the Black Lives Matter demonstration held outside Belfast City Hall on Wednesday which was attended by an estimated crowd of up to 2,000 people. Many of those at the protest were accused of not observing social distancing rules.
Ms Foster said that people observing the Covid-19 regulations had cancelled large gatherings such as funerals and the Twelfth of July parades.
Urging those concerned to find alternative ways to protest, she told BBC Radio Ulster that "police need to be very clear with people that mass gatherings are against the law".
The North’s chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, said the right to protest must be balanced against combatting the spread of Covid-19. He said there was “no cause that this virus respects”.
PSNI assistant chief constable Alan Todd also urged the organisers of the rallies to reconsider their plans. "These are not ordinary times; this is in the middle of a healthcare pandemic and therefore my sincere appeal to those people seeking to organise events this weekend is that they should not do so," he said.
Later on Friday evening Mr Todd welcomed decisions to cancel protests in Newry, Portadown and Omagh.
He said police were continuing to liaise with organisers of other parades.
“Protesting against the unnecessary and unjustifiable death of a person in the United States risks the unnecessary and unjustifiable deaths of people in Northern Ireland who could contract the virus as a result,” added Mr Todd.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Three men arrested after firearm and drugs worth €360,000 seized in Dublin

Three men have been arrested following the seizure of a firearm and drugs worth €360,000 in Ballyfermot in Dublin on @ @ @ @ @ worth an estimated €360,000 , a glock pistol , ammunition and cash were discovered at @ @ @ @ @ part of an operation led by members of drugs units based at Sundrive Road and @ @ @ @ @ drugs distribution networks .
The three men – aged in their late 20s , 30s @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday and are currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice ( Drug @ @ @ @ @ They can be held for up to seven days under this act .
Investigations into @ @ @ @ @

The three men – aged in their late 20s, 30s and 50s – are currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. Photograph: iStock
Three men have been arrested following the seizure of a firearm and drugs worth €360,000 in Ballyfermot in Dublin on Thursday evening.
MDMA tablets worth an estimated €360,000, a glock pistol, ammunition and cash were discovered at a residence in Ballyfermot as part of an operation led by members of drugs units based at Sundrive Road and Crumlin Garda stations targeting local drugs distribution networks.
The three men – aged in their late 20s, 30s and 50s – were arrested on Thursday and are currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. They can be held for up to seven days under this act.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--‘Up to 40%’ of close contacts of meat plant workers with Covid not traced

Independent TD Denis Naughten has criticised the failure to trace close contacts of all meat plant workers who contracted coronavirus after it was confirmed up to 40 per cent may not have been identified .
Minister for Health Simon Harris said in the Dáil on Thursday evening that between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of close contacts had been traced .
He was responding after Mr Naughten claimed that in some cases “ only about one third of the close contacts of those who have been identified as positive within the meat industry have been followed up ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been confirmed in meat processing plants , 123 of them in the past week , with 27 workers hospitalised .
Mr Naughten said it was “ completely unacceptable ” so many close contacts had not been traced after 1,048 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed .
Contact tracing aims to identify those close to someone confirmed with the disease so they will self-isolate for 14 days to prevent further community transmission .
Mr Harris said his information was that “ the amount of contact tracing is much higher than one third and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 cent although there are a number of cases in which there are contact and communications difficulties ” .
Mr Naughten said he had raised concerns about meat plants directly with the HSE six weeks ago and was still waiting for answers to very serious question from the Minister and the HSE .
The Minister said he would organise a briefing for Mr Naughten from the chair of the national outbreak team .

More than 1,000 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in meat processing plants
Independent TD Denis Naughten has criticised the failure to trace close contacts of all meat plant workers who contracted coronavirus after it was confirmed up to 40 per cent may not have been identified.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said in the Dáil on Thursday evening that between 60 per cent and 70 per cent of close contacts had been traced. He was responding after Mr Naughten claimed that in some cases “only about one third of the close contacts of those who have been identified as positive within the meat industry have been followed up”.
More than 1,000 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in meat processing plants, 123 of them in the past week, with 27 workers hospitalised.
Mr Naughten said it was “completely unacceptable” so many close contacts had not been traced after 1,048 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed.
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Contact tracing aims to identify those close to someone confirmed with the disease so they will self-isolate for 14 days to prevent further community transmission.
Mr Harris said his information was that “the amount of contact tracing is much higher than one third and is between at least 60 per cent and 70 cent although there are a number of cases in which there are contact and communications difficulties”.
Mr Naughten said he had raised concerns about meat plants directly with the HSE six weeks ago and was still waiting for answers to very serious question from the Minister and the HSE.
The Minister said he would organise a briefing for Mr Naughten from the chair of the national outbreak team.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--More than 200 Syrians cleared to travel to Ireland once restrictions lifted

More than 200 Syrian refugees currently living in Beirut have been cleared to travel to Ireland once Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted , the head of the Irish Refugee Protection programme ( IRPP ) has said .
Speaking as part of a webinar on the national statuses of migrants in Ireland and the European Union , IRPP director Eibhlin Byrne said 227 people in Lebanon – all Syrian families – had been interviewed and selected for resettlement in Ireland .
An Irish mission travelled to the Lebanese capital in early 2020 with a view to selecting around 400 people for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the outbreak of the coronavirus and Irish officials conducting interviews in Beirut flew home .
However , before leaving , the team had already selected a group of Syrian families who will travel to Ireland once restrictions have been lifted .
It ’ s understood the families will not travel until after the now required two-week quarantine period is lifted .
The selection of families for resettlement is part of the second phase of the IRPP which was announced last December and commits to welcoming up to 2,900 Syrian refugees into Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed in September 2015 to accept 4,000 people into the country as part of the first phase of the IRPP and in response to the Mediterranean migrant crisis .
Some 3,788 people had arrived in Ireland by December 2019 when phase one closed .
Under phase two , the Government has said it will resettle 650 people in 2020 , 700 in 2021 , 750 in 2022 and 800 in 2023 .
The arrivals for the first two years will mostly be Syrians currently living in Jordan and Lebanon , while a small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also be accepted .
Ms Byrne told last week ’ s European Migration Network webinar , which was organised in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Institute ( ESRI ) , that there were now eight families , comprising 30 individuals , living in Dunshaughlin , Lismore , Carrigtwohill , Middleton , Clane , Kinsale , Rathgar and Kells as part of the community sponsorship strand of the IRPP .
The Government has said it plans to house about 100 refugees each year between now and 2023 through community sponsorship arrangements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The programme appeals very much to the volunteering tradition in Ireland , it ’ s a really unique way of allowing people to engage in a world problem , ” said Ms Byrne .
A number of Irish communities who were awaiting the arrival of a Syrian family in early 2020 have been forced to put the project on hold because of Covid-19 , she added .
Ms Byrne acknowledged that the lack of housing supply in Ireland continued to pose a problem for refugee resettlement .
However , houses in six counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who will move from the emergency reception and orientation centres ( EROCs ) where they are currently living to these homes once virus restrictions are further lifted , she said .
Enda O ’ Neill , head of the UN Refugee Agency in Ireland , told the webinar countries who had closed their borders because of the pandemic should make “ an explicit exemption for asylum seekers ” .
He said there had been a 35 per cent drop in applications for asylum to Ireland between January and March of this year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health crisis , but urged the State to continue processing claims to avoid a backlog in applications .
Trinity law professor Patricia Brazil , who presented to the webinar on the Irish asylum process , noted the increase in numbers of people being granted permission to remain in the country under Section 49 of the 2015 international protection act .
Permission to remain is considered on humanitarian grounds when a person has applied for international protection but receives negative decisions through the refugee and subsidiary protection strands of the process .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain in Ireland including 60 people from Zimbabwe , 60 from Albania , 60 from Pakistan , 40 from Nigeria and 30 from Malawi , according to data presented by Ms Brazil .
In 2018 , 238 people were granted permission to remain and in 2017 there were 72 people granted status under the new system .

More than 200 Syrian refugees currently living in Beirut have been cleared to travel to Ireland once Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted, the head of the Irish Refugee Protection programme (IRPP) has said.
Speaking as part of a webinar on the national statuses of migrants in Ireland and the European Union, IRPP director Eibhlin Byrne said 227 people in Lebanon – all Syrian families – had been interviewed and selected for resettlement in Ireland.
An Irish mission travelled to the Lebanese capital in early 2020 with a view to selecting around 400 people for resettlement. The mission was cut short by the outbreak of the coronavirus and Irish officials conducting interviews in Beirut flew home.
However, before leaving, the team had already selected a group of Syrian families who will travel to Ireland once restrictions have been lifted. It’s understood the families will not travel until after the now required two-week quarantine period is lifted.
READ MORE
The selection of families for resettlement is part of the second phase of the IRPP which was announced last December and commits to welcoming up to 2,900 Syrian refugees into Ireland between 2020 and 2023.
The Government committed in September 2015 to accept 4,000 people into the country as part of the first phase of the IRPP and in response to the Mediterranean migrant crisis. Some 3,788 people had arrived in Ireland by December 2019 when phase one closed.
Under phase two, the Government has said it will resettle 650 people in 2020, 700 in 2021, 750 in 2022 and 800 in 2023. The arrivals for the first two years will mostly be Syrians currently living in Jordan and Lebanon, while a small cohort of 150 Eritreans residing in Ethiopia will also be accepted.
Ms Byrne told last week’s European Migration Network webinar, which was organised in collaboration with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), that there were now eight families, comprising 30 individuals, living in Dunshaughlin, Lismore, Carrigtwohill, Middleton, Clane, Kinsale, Rathgar and Kells as part of the community sponsorship strand of the IRPP.
The Government has said it plans to house about 100 refugees each year between now and 2023 through community sponsorship arrangements with Irish towns and cities. “The programme appeals very much to the volunteering tradition in Ireland, it’s a really unique way of allowing people to engage in a world problem,” said Ms Byrne.
A number of Irish communities who were awaiting the arrival of a Syrian family in early 2020 have been forced to put the project on hold because of Covid-19, she added.
Ms Byrne acknowledged that the lack of housing supply in Ireland continued to pose a problem for refugee resettlement. However, houses in six counties have been made available for 59 families who will move from the emergency reception and orientation centres (EROCs) where they are currently living to these homes once virus restrictions are further lifted, she said.
Enda O'Neill, head of the UN Refugee Agency in Ireland, told the webinar countries who had closed their borders because of the pandemic should make "an explicit exemption for asylum seekers".
He said there had been a 35 per cent drop in applications for asylum to Ireland between January and March of this year, reflecting the international barriers to travel during the health crisis, but urged the State to continue processing claims to avoid a backlog in applications.
Trinity law professor Patricia Brazil, who presented to the webinar on the Irish asylum process, noted the increase in numbers of people being granted permission to remain in the country under Section 49 of the 2015 international protection act.
Permission to remain is considered on humanitarian grounds when a person has applied for international protection but receives negative decisions through the refugee and subsidiary protection strands of the process.
In 2019, 435 people received permission to remain in Ireland including 60 people from Zimbabwe, 60 from Albania, 60 from Pakistan, 40 from Nigeria and 30 from Malawi, according to data presented by Ms Brazil.
In 2018, 238 people were granted permission to remain and in 2017 there were 72 people granted status under the new system.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--OPW reverses Phoenix Park gate opening plan

The gates of Dublin ’ s Phoenix Park , which have been closed since March in response to coronavirus travel restrictions , will not be reopened on Monday as planned , the Office of Public Works ( OPW ) has said .
Following the introduction of the 2km travel restrictions the OPW closed the park gates to traffic with the exception of the Castleknock and Parkgate Street entrances .
These gates remained open to allow the continued use of Chesterfield Avenue as a through-road , and to maintain access for park residences , such as Áras an Uachtaráin and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as Garda Headquarters .
However , all car parking in the park was banned .
In line with the Government ’ s roadmap for the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions , the OPW reopened some car parks , including the facility beside the papal cross , on May 18th , but parking remain banned on Chesterfield Avenue with the hard shoulder instead converted into cycle lanes .
It had planned to reopen all the gates from 10am on June 8th , in line with phase two of the roadmap , but following consultation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay the reopening until June 29th and will be keeping this under review , a spokeswoman said .
In addition to the new cycle lanes on Chesterfield Avenue , the peripheral roads of the park have become heavily used by cyclists and walkers , particularly young families , since the gates were closed , and the side roads have largely remained free of traffic , even with the reopening of some of the car parks .
Green Party councillor Michael Pidgeon , who has campaigned against the use of the park as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was very welcome .
“ It is fantastic news .
It was very hard to see what need the reopening of the peripheral gates was serving .
People who do need to access the park by car have still been able to do so over the last number of weeks , but having the peripheral gates closed has freed up those smaller roads for families and for kids learning to cycle , and keeping them closed is a reflection of how people are now using the park.
” Labour senator Marie Sherlock also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would allow space to be maintained for social distancing .
“ We have a sustainable situation in the Phoenix Park right now where people who need to use cars do have access .
It is an experiment that has worked and I think there is a strong case to keep the perimeter gates closed in perpetuity .
”

The OPW has decided to delay the reopening of perimeter gates into Phoenix Park until June 29th and will be keeping this under review. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
The gates of Dublin's Phoenix Park, which have been closed since March in response to coronavirus travel restrictions, will not be reopened on Monday as planned, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has said.
Following the introduction of the 2km travel restrictions the OPW closed the park gates to traffic with the exception of the Castleknock and Parkgate Street entrances.
These gates remained open to allow the continued use of Chesterfield Avenue as a through-road, and to maintain access for park residences, such as Áras an Uachtaráin and the US ambassador’s residence, as well as Garda Headquarters. However, all car parking in the park was banned.
In line with the Government’s roadmap for the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions, the OPW reopened some car parks, including the facility beside the papal cross, on May 18th, but parking remain banned on Chesterfield Avenue with the hard shoulder instead converted into cycle lanes.
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It had planned to reopen all the gates from 10am on June 8th, in line with phase two of the roadmap, but following consultation with the Garda has now decided to delay the reopening until June 29th and will be keeping this under review, a spokeswoman said.
In addition to the new cycle lanes on Chesterfield Avenue, the peripheral roads of the park have become heavily used by cyclists and walkers, particularly young families, since the gates were closed, and the side roads have largely remained free of traffic, even with the reopening of some of the car parks.
Green Party councillor Michael Pidgeon, who has campaigned against the use of the park as a throughway for traffic, said the decision was very welcome.
“It is fantastic news. It was very hard to see what need the reopening of the peripheral gates was serving. People who do need to access the park by car have still been able to do so over the last number of weeks, but having the peripheral gates closed has freed up those smaller roads for families and for kids learning to cycle, and keeping them closed is a reflection of how people are now using the park.”
Labour senator Marie Sherlock also welcomed the OPW decision and said it would allow space to be maintained for social distancing.
“We have a sustainable situation in the Phoenix Park right now where people who need to use cars do have access. It is an experiment that has worked and I think there is a strong case to keep the perimeter gates closed in perpetuity.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Covid-19: Wage subsidy and unemployment payment extended to end of summer

The scheme which sees the State subsidise the wages of about half a million workers is expected to be extended until the end of the summer by the Government .
The Cabinet is also expected to extend the special Covid-19 unemployment payment for the same period , although it will be split into two bands .
Those earning less than €200 will be on the first band and will receive €203 a week , in line with unemployment benefit , and those earning above €200 will still receive the current €350 payment .
A memo for the Cabinet meeting says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment payment will remain in place until the end of August , with a decision on what to do at that point expected to be made by the next Government .
Meanwhile , hundreds of pubs are expected to reopen weeks earlier than anticipated at the end of the month as they have restaurant licences .
Sources have said the Government will give the green light for the move in the coming days following meetings with industry figures .
Chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association Donall O ’ Keeffe said while his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pubs are in “ full-scale active planning ” for reopening .
Under the Government ’ s roadmap for reversing Covid-19 restrictions , pubs are not due to reopen until August 10th .
A senior source confirmed that those with restaurant licences will be permitted to open their doors on June 29th .
The State ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) has also signed off on additional restrictions being lifted in the second phase of lockdown relaxations due to come into effect on Monday .
The opening of larger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will see some bigger shops open from next Monday , though Penneys has said it will not be in a position to do that .
The lifting of travel restrictions from 5km to 20km will also proceed as planned from Monday .
Minister for Health Simon Harris said on Thursday night that “ all the indicators look good ” in relation to moving to the next phase of easing restrictions .
“ I expect tomorrow I will hopefully be in a position to proceed with phase two , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ phase to the next was “ not inevitable and not guaranteed ” .
And he said there were no current plans to change the social distancing guidelines from two metres to one .
It comes as a further five deaths of people diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by NPHET on Thursday .
This brings to 1,664 the total number of deaths in the Republic .
NPHET also reported another 38 new cases of the disease , bringing the total number of cases to 25,142 .
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan warned that house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as though we weren ’ t in the midst of a pandemic ” .
There were good public health reasons for “ these things ” not to happen at present , he said , adding indoor activities would be permitted in later phases of the Government ’ s roadmap .

The Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Regina Doherty, says the Government will not be cutting wages as changes to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment scheme are announced. Video: RTÉ
The scheme which sees the State subsidise the wages of about half a million workers is expected to be extended until the end of the summer by the Government.
The Cabinet is also expected to extend the special Covid-19 unemployment payment for the same period, although it will be split into two bands.
Those earning less than €200 will be on the first band and will receive €203 a week, in line with unemployment benefit, and those earning above €200 will still receive the current €350 payment.
A memo for the Cabinet meeting says the temporary wage subsidy scheme and the unemployment payment will remain in place until the end of August, with a decision on what to do at that point expected to be made by the next Government.
READ MORE
Meanwhile, hundreds of pubs are expected to reopen weeks earlier than anticipated at the end of the month as they have restaurant licences.
Sources have said the Government will give the green light for the move in the coming days following meetings with industry figures. Chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association Donall O’Keeffe said while his group was awaiting final clarification, hundreds of pubs are in “full-scale active planning” for reopening.
Restaurant licences
Under the Government’s roadmap for reversing Covid-19 restrictions, pubs are not due to reopen until August 10th. A senior source confirmed that those with restaurant licences will be permitted to open their doors on June 29th.
The State’s National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has also signed off on additional restrictions being lifted in the second phase of lockdown relaxations due to come into effect on Monday.
I expect tomorrow I will hopefully be in a position to proceed with phase two
The opening of larger retail stores is to be brought forward and will see some bigger shops open from next Monday, though Penneys has said it will not be in a position to do that.
The lifting of travel restrictions from 5km to 20km will also proceed as planned from Monday.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said on Thursday night that “all the indicators look good” in relation to moving to the next phase of easing restrictions.
“I expect tomorrow I will hopefully be in a position to proceed with phase two,” he said.
Social distancing
But he cautioned that moving from one phase to the next was “not inevitable and not guaranteed”. And he said there were no current plans to change the social distancing guidelines from two metres to one.
It comes as a further five deaths of people diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by NPHET on Thursday. This brings to 1,664 the total number of deaths in the Republic.
NPHET also reported another 38 new cases of the disease, bringing the total number of cases to 25,142.
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan warned that house parties are being organised “with abandon, as though we weren’t in the midst of a pandemic”.
There were good public health reasons for “these things” not to happen at present, he said, adding indoor activities would be permitted in later phases of the Government’s roadmap.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Coronavirus: Testing capacity there but faster results and tracing needed

Even in advance of the decision to be taken at Friday ’ s Cabinet meeting , it is clear Ireland has done enough to be able to move to the second phase of the Government ’ s roadmap next Monday .
The number of new cases each day has remained under 100 for the last 12 days .
The knock-on effect of this reduction in cases is that fewer patients are being hospitalised – fewer than 40 were in intensive care on Wednesday .
We are well within our capacity to cope within the health system at present .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of other people a case goes on to infect , has risen , but it remains well below 1 .
When the reproduction number is below 1 , an epidemic dies out ; when it goes above that number – when the average case infects more than one other person – it takes off .
The increase in the reproduction number was to be expected , given the increased activity allowed for in the first phase of easing , which began late last month .
As we move around more , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more too .
Yet we have flattened the curve rather than crushing it , as many experts would have preferred .
Almost 40 per cent of the admittedly smaller daily number of cases involve community transmission , meaning we don ’ t know where they originated .
The other 60 per cent arise from close contact with cases , which means they can be followed up .
But as we move around , the number of contacts we have will increase , and so the potential for more spread arises .
Throughout the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the epidemic , the focus is likely to be on extinguishing any new flare-ups of the disease while slowly trying to get back to normal in society , or at least the “ new normal ” of socially distanced life .
It ’ s a delicate balance , christened “ the hammer and the dance ” by one US analyst .
The virus can not be controlled unless we test people with symptoms promptly ( and we could also test some groups of people who are not displaying symptoms ) and then trace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnaround times for testing and tracing still don ’ t seem to be up to scratch .
It is taking an average of 1.3 days at present to be referred for a testing appointment ; one in six people has to wait more than 48 hours .
Then , the average wait from the time a swab is taken to the lab result is 1.4 days .
But even this figure masks a big difference in the turnaround time between hospitals and in the community .
Staff and patients in hospital are waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a result ; those in the community have to wait almost three times as long – 46.3 hours .
Minister for Health Simon Harris had to wait for three days after his test last week for a result ; this writer waited four days , from Monday to Friday , also last week .
If the result is negative , the delay is just personally inconvenient .
But if the test is positive , the ensuing process of contact tracing is delayed , potentially leaving the virus free to circulate for longer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Service Executive figures , it is taking all of 5.2 days on average to trace all the contacts of a known case .
The median wait is just one day , and the median number of contacts per case has been between two and three since April , so it is likely a small number of complex contact tracings , which are taking many days , is pushing up the average .
The latest international evidence points to the outsized role played by a minority of “ superspreaders ” in transmitting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of five people who have contracted the disease , say four might play little or no role in passing it on , while the fifth will be responsible for most of the spread .
Why this is the case is not clear as yet .
We can expect the average number of contacts per case to rise as we get out and about more , so the need to speed up testing and tracing becomes even more urgent ; some experts say the entire process needs to be completed within 24 hours in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This will become even more challenging if tourism restarts and cross-Border contact tracing is required .
At least the capacity to test more people is there ; currently , less than one-fifth of the 15,000 per day capacity in the system is being used .

Henry Street in Dublin: It is taking 1.3 days to be referred for a testing appointment. The average wait from the time a swab is taken to the lab result is 1.4 days. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
Even in advance of the decision to be taken at Friday's Cabinet meeting, it is clear Ireland has done enough to be able to move to the second phase of the Government's roadmap next Monday.
The number of new cases each day has remained under 100 for the last 12 days. The knock-on effect of this reduction in cases is that fewer patients are being hospitalised – fewer than 40 were in intensive care on Wednesday. We are well within our capacity to cope within the health system at present.
The reproduction number, a measure of the number of other people a case goes on to infect, has risen, but it remains well below 1. When the reproduction number is below 1, an epidemic dies out; when it goes above that number – when the average case infects more than one other person – it takes off.
The increase in the reproduction number was to be expected, given the increased activity allowed for in the first phase of easing, which began late last month. As we move around more, the virus has the potential to move around more too.
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Yet we have flattened the curve rather than crushing it, as many experts would have preferred. Almost 40 per cent of the admittedly smaller daily number of cases involve community transmission, meaning we don’t know where they originated.
The other 60 per cent arise from close contact with cases, which means they can be followed up. But as we move around, the number of contacts we have will increase, and so the potential for more spread arises.
Delicate balance
Throughout the summer, in this middle phase of the epidemic, the focus is likely to be on extinguishing any new flare-ups of the disease while slowly trying to get back to normal in society, or at least the “new normal” of socially distanced life.
It’s a delicate balance, christened “the hammer and the dance” by one US analyst. The virus cannot be controlled unless we test people with symptoms promptly (and we could also test some groups of people who are not displaying symptoms) and then trace their contacts promptly.
Unfortunately, the turnaround times for testing and tracing still don’t seem to be up to scratch.
It is taking an average of 1.3 days at present to be referred for a testing appointment; one in six people has to wait more than 48 hours. Then, the average wait from the time a swab is taken to the lab result is 1.4 days.
But even this figure masks a big difference in the turnaround time between hospitals and in the community. Staff and patients in hospital are waiting an average 16.8 hours from swabbing to a result; those in the community have to wait almost three times as long – 46.3 hours.
Minister for Health Simon Harris had to wait for three days after his test last week for a result; this writer waited four days, from Monday to Friday, also last week.
Inconvenience vs danger
If the result is negative, the delay is just personally inconvenient. But if the test is positive, the ensuing process of contact tracing is delayed, potentially leaving the virus free to circulate for longer than is necessary.
According to the latest Health Service Executive figures, it is taking all of 5.2 days on average to trace all the contacts of a known case. The median wait is just one day, and the median number of contacts per case has been between two and three since April, so it is likely a small number of complex contact tracings, which are taking many days, is pushing up the average.
The latest international evidence points to the outsized role played by a minority of “superspreaders” in transmitting the virus. Researchers have found that out of five people who have contracted the disease, say four might play little or no role in passing it on, while the fifth will be responsible for most of the spread. Why this is the case is not clear as yet.
We can expect the average number of contacts per case to rise as we get out and about more, so the need to speed up testing and tracing becomes even more urgent; some experts say the entire process needs to be completed within 24 hours in order to stifle any further surges. This will become even more challenging if tourism restarts and cross-Border contact tracing is required.
At least the capacity to test more people is there; currently, less than one-fifth of the 15,000 per day capacity in the system is being used.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Coronavirus causes childcare access disputes over face masks and Zoom calls

Coronavirus has caused disputes over access to children in family law cases and complaints about face masks , physical distancing and foster parents listening in on Zoom calls .
Complications caused by the pandemic in family law proceedings and proposed novel solutions to cope are revealed in details of three cases highlighted by the Child Care Law Reporting Project , led by Dr Carol Coulter , which analyses childcare proceedings before the courts .
The project found coronavirus restrictions were having “ an unanticipated impact on children in care or requiring protection and support ” for Tusla , the Child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a father refused to wear a face mask – as directed by the agency – because he had asthma , anxiety and ADHD and it could cause a panic attack .
The court was told that the parents were “ very stressed ” and in particular the father because he has not had access with his child since March .
The father rejected a suggestion that he could watch his child play at a playground because “ he would not want a grown man standing outside of a playground watching his child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him to have to do that in order to see his child ” .
A social worker said that the father and the mother had made threats against social workers and access workers involved with the family .
The worker said that in response to the pandemic , Tusla has prepared a risk assessment outlining how families could have access in line with Government guidelines to help reduce the risk for households and vulnerable people .
She told the court that the plan included requiring all parties to wear face masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents have access separately .
This particular case involved vulnerable people at a greater risk from the virus such as the mother , who is pregnant , and the foster mother , who has asthma , the court heard .
In another case , a mother with an alcohol addiction , who has been sober for 10 months , complained about only having access to her daughter via Zoom calls because the child ’ s foster father ’ s health condition prevented visits due to the risk posed to him from the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her daughter , who is of primary school age , was unreasonably restricted during the lockdown .
She told the court that “ the foster family listened in to the Zoom calls and would not give her and her daughter space ” .
The mother told the court that while she was denied face-to-face contact with her daughter due to the foster father ’ s health condition , her daughter told her that the man ’ s brother had visited the house several times and that the foster father was back at work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told her that she had visited the beach , a cafe and a chipper with the family .
This led to the matter being investigated , the solicitor for Tusla told the court .
Face-to-face access was later resumed in a park but the mother complained that everyone was required to wear masks and gloves and her daughter was not permitted to eat food she bought .

Coronavirus has caused disputes over access to children in family law cases and complaints about face masks, physical distancing and foster parents listening in on Zoom calls.
Complications caused by the pandemic in family law proceedings and proposed novel solutions to cope are revealed in details of three cases highlighted by the Child Care Law Reporting Project, led by Dr Carol Coulter, which analyses childcare proceedings before the courts.
The project found coronavirus restrictions were having “an unanticipated impact on children in care or requiring protection and support” for Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.
In one case, a father refused to wear a face mask – as directed by the agency – because he had asthma, anxiety and ADHD and it could cause a panic attack.
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The court was told that the parents were “very stressed” and in particular the father because he has not had access with his child since March.
The father rejected a suggestion that he could watch his child play at a playground because “he would not want a grown man standing outside of a playground watching his child play and that it was not right for him to have to do that in order to see his child”.
Threats
A social worker said that the father and the mother had made threats against social workers and access workers involved with the family.
The worker said that in response to the pandemic, Tusla has prepared a risk assessment outlining how families could have access in line with Government guidelines to help reduce the risk for households and vulnerable people.
She told the court that the plan included requiring all parties to wear face masks, that distancing be maintained and that the parents have access separately. This particular case involved vulnerable people at a greater risk from the virus such as the mother, who is pregnant, and the foster mother, who has asthma, the court heard.
In another case, a mother with an alcohol addiction, who has been sober for 10 months, complained about only having access to her daughter via Zoom calls because the child’s foster father’s health condition prevented visits due to the risk posed to him from the virus. The mother felt that access with her daughter, who is of primary school age, was unreasonably restricted during the lockdown.
She told the court that “the foster family listened in to the Zoom calls and would not give her and her daughter space”.
The mother told the court that while she was denied face-to-face contact with her daughter due to the foster father’s health condition, her daughter told her that the man’s brother had visited the house several times and that the foster father was back at work in an office.
Her daughter also told her that she had visited the beach, a cafe and a chipper with the family. This led to the matter being investigated, the solicitor for Tusla told the court.
Face-to-face access was later resumed in a park but the mother complained that everyone was required to wear masks and gloves and her daughter was not permitted to eat food she bought.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Dublin nursing home to close as it ‘cannot meet regulatory requirements’

A south Dublin nursing home is closing because it is unable to meet its statutory and regulatory requirements to operate at full capacity or fund the costs needed to meet them .
St Mary ’ s Centre ( Telford ) on Merrion Road said the Covid-19 pandemic had no bearing on the decision to close and that the home , which has 35 residents , has remained free of the disease .
The care home said the “ current and projected levels of funding from the HSE mean that the nursing home will not be able to meet the necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 per cent capacity ” and that it was currently operating at 60 per cent capacity .
“ This decision was reached by the board following a number of meetings and detailed reviews concerning the funding of the nursing home , the necessary implications for the viability of the nursing home and its capacity to meet statutory and regulatory requirements , ” said the home .
St Mary ’ s said in a statement it could not recruit and retain staff needed “ to provide the high standard of care of the residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure full compliance with the requirements sought by State watchdog the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) .
The facility is located on a campus beside St Vincent ’ s hospital and is governed and run under the ethos of the Sisters of Charity .
“ We have taken this extraordinarily difficult decision to wind down the operations of the nursing home in a careful and considered manner , ” the home said .
“ We have not been able to secure capital funding to address necessary infrastructure issues or revenue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs so we have no alternative but to close.
” St Mary ’ s was the subject of a highly critical report in 2017 by Hiqa whose inspectors found it had failed to respond effectively to the needs of frail and highly dependent residents .
A follow-up inspection by Hiqa in 2018 found that the home was still not complying with some regulations .
The home said the closure is being planned and organised over “ the necessary period of time ” , and that it intends to consult staff , residents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure the transfers of residents happen “ as smoothly as possible and with the minimum of disruption ” .
Mervyn Taylor , executive director of Sage Advocacy , a support service for vulnerable adults , said the closure of St Mary ’ s was a concern .
He called for further research to assess the strength of the nursing home sector to cope in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ We hope that this is not the start of a process of other closures and we think that some resilience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assess the level of risk in the event that more nursing homes , particularly smaller providers , want to get out of the market , ” he said .

St Mary’s Centre (Telford) on Merrion Road said the home, which has 35 residents, has remained free of Covid-19.
A south Dublin nursing home is closing because it is unable to meet its statutory and regulatory requirements to operate at full capacity or fund the costs needed to meet them.
St Mary’s Centre (Telford) on Merrion Road said the Covid-19 pandemic had no bearing on the decision to close and that the home, which has 35 residents, has remained free of the disease.
The care home said the “current and projected levels of funding from the HSE mean that the nursing home will not be able to meet the necessary statutory and regulatory requirements to operate at 100 per cent capacity” and that it was currently operating at 60 per cent capacity.
“This decision was reached by the board following a number of meetings and detailed reviews concerning the funding of the nursing home, the necessary implications for the viability of the nursing home and its capacity to meet statutory and regulatory requirements,” said the home.
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St Mary’s said in a statement it could not recruit and retain staff needed “to provide the high standard of care of the residents to which the board aspires” or ensure full compliance with the requirements sought by State watchdog the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).
The facility is located on a campus beside St Vincent’s hospital and is governed and run under the ethos of the Sisters of Charity.
“We have taken this extraordinarily difficult decision to wind down the operations of the nursing home in a careful and considered manner,” the home said.
“We have not been able to secure capital funding to address necessary infrastructure issues or revenue funding to meet current and anticipated operative costs so we have no alternative but to close.”
St Mary’s was the subject of a highly critical report in 2017 by Hiqa whose inspectors found it had failed to respond effectively to the needs of frail and highly dependent residents. A follow-up inspection by Hiqa in 2018 found that the home was still not complying with some regulations.
Transfer of residents
The home said the closure is being planned and organised over “the necessary period of time”, and that it intends to consult staff, residents and their families and keep in regular contact to ensure the transfers of residents happen “as smoothly as possible and with the minimum of disruption”.
Mervyn Taylor, executive director of Sage Advocacy, a support service for vulnerable adults, said the closure of St Mary's was a concern. He called for further research to assess the strength of the nursing home sector to cope in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We hope that this is not the start of a process of other closures and we think that some resilience study of the sector is required post-Covid to assess the level of risk in the event that more nursing homes, particularly smaller providers, want to get out of the market,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--European court considering TDs’ case over swearing ‘to almighty God’

The European Court of Human Rights ( ECHR ) is considering a case taken by two TDs and others against the State over the constitutional requirement that the president and Council of State members must make a religious declaration before taking office .
The Strasbourg-based court has asked the parties to make efforts to reach a “ friendly settlement ” prior to any hearing taking place .
The case concerns articles of the Constitution which provide , that before taking office , the president and members of the Council of State must swear a declaration “ in the presence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Róisín Shortall , Sinn Féin TD John Brady , Independent Senator David Norris , former Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay and Trinity College chancellor David McConnell in October 2018 asked the ECHR to admit their case alleging the declarations breach their rights .
The applicants claim article 12.8 and article 31.4 exclude conscientious non-Christians , non-believers and those who do not wish to violate their consciences from the Office of President and membership of the Council of State .
They claim that as prominent politicians and members of Irish civil society , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or being appointed to the council .
The ECHR informed solicitor Colm MacGeehin , for the applicants , earlier this month that it has decided to write to the Government to give notice of the complaints about the declarations .
It has also asked the parties to consider two questions .
Firstly , whether the applicants can claim to be “ victims ” , within the meaning of article 34 of the ECHR , of the alleged violation of article 9.1 of the convention as a result of the requirements .
Article 34 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any person claiming to be a victim of a violation of the rights set out in the convention .
Article 9.1 provides everyone has the right to freedom of thought , conscience and religion .
Question two asks whether the requirements of article 12.8 and article 31.4 breach the applicants rights under article 9.1 .
The parties have until November 25th next to discuss the terms of a “ friendly settlement ” , without prejudgment of the outcome of the case should the negotiations prove unsuccessful .
If no settlement is reached , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case will start and the parties will be asked to exchange their observations on the admissibility of the case and its merits .
The Government will have 12 weeks from then to submit a statement of facts and its written observations on the admissibility and merit of the complaints concerning the declarations .

The case concerns articles of the Constitution which provide, that before taking office, the president and members of the Council of State must swear a declaration ‘in the presence of almighty God’. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is considering a case taken by two TDs and others against the State over the constitutional requirement that the president and Council of State members must make a religious declaration before taking office.
The Strasbourg-based court has asked the parties to make efforts to reach a “friendly settlement” prior to any hearing taking place.
The case concerns articles of the Constitution which provide, that before taking office, the president and members of the Council of State must swear a declaration “in the presence of almighty God”.
Social Democrats TD Róisín Shortall, Sinn Féin TD John Brady, Independent Senator David Norris, former Barnardos chief executive Fergus Finlay and Trinity College chancellor David McConnell in October 2018 asked the ECHR to admit their case alleging the declarations breach their rights.
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The applicants claim article 12.8 and article 31.4 exclude conscientious non-Christians, non-believers and those who do not wish to violate their consciences from the Office of President and membership of the Council of State.
They claim that as prominent politicians and members of Irish civil society, they can legitimately aspire to being elected president or being appointed to the council.
The ECHR informed solicitor Colm MacGeehin, for the applicants, earlier this month that it has decided to write to the Government to give notice of the complaints about the declarations. It has also asked the parties to consider two questions.
Violation
Firstly, whether the applicants can claim to be “victims”, within the meaning of article 34 of the ECHR, of the alleged violation of article 9.1 of the convention as a result of the requirements.
Article 34 provides the ECHR may receive applications from any person claiming to be a victim of a violation of the rights set out in the convention. Article 9.1 provides everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Question two asks whether the requirements of article 12.8 and article 31.4 breach the applicants rights under article 9.1.
The parties have until November 25th next to discuss the terms of a “friendly settlement”, without prejudgment of the outcome of the case should the negotiations prove unsuccessful.
If no settlement is reached, the “contentious” part of the case will start and the parties will be asked to exchange their observations on the admissibility of the case and its merits. The Government will have 12 weeks from then to submit a statement of facts and its written observations on the admissibility and merit of the complaints concerning the declarations.