theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Changes to Leaving Cert model disadvantaged good students at top schools, court told

Changes made by the Minister for Education to the model used to assess calculated Leaving Certificate grades systematically disadvantaged good students attending high performing schools , the High Court has been told .
Feichín McDonagh SC , for student Freddie Sherry , said expert evidence will show the Minister ’ s decision not to use historical data on school ’ s past performances in the Leaving Cert resulted in a disproportionate reduction in the grades his client had received from his teachers .
This was because Mr Sherry attended a Dublin fee-paying school , Belvedere College , which consistently scores @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools nationally in relation to Leaving Cert results , counsel said .
The Minister ’ s changes resulted in disproportionately reducing grades of good students in schools where there were clusters of students achieving top grades in high level subjects .
The result the change in how grades were calculated meant , had Mr Sherry attended a different school which did not have many high performing students , it was likely his marks would not have been reduced to the same extent , counsel submitted .
Mr Sherry ’ s case , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the lead challenge over the calculated grades process and awarding of college places for 2020 .
About 50 other cases are on hold pending the outcome .
In opposing the case , the State and the Minister say the challenge should be dismissed on all grounds .
They deny he was treated unfairly and argue there is no basis for saying the model used to calculate his grades was unlawful .
Mr Sherry , of Newtown , Celbridge , Co Kildare , claims the Minister ’ s decision last August to remove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process resulted in him being unfairly downgraded in five subjects by 55 points in his Leaving Cert .
He says he was hugely disappointed when his teachers ’ estimated CAO points total of 542 for him was reduced to 487 under the process and that he missed out on his first course choice , pharmacy in TCD .
He claims the Minister ’ s direction interfered in the calculated grades process overseen by an independent steering committee was unlawful .
Counsel said Tom Doyle , a deputy principal of Belvedere College , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Minister had significant effect and resulted in over 80 of its students having their grades reduced .
Mr Doyle said the total points awarded to those students following their assessment by their teachers were lowered under the process by between 20 to 50 points and this had “ undermined confidence in the system.
” The Minister and State claim that students in Belvedere College received , on average , higher scores in 2020 compared to the 2017-19 period and there is no basis for any assertion Mr Sherry would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school .
They also maintain there is no reason to believe Mr Sherry would be in an improved position if historical school data was included .
They deny the Minister breached any commitments regarding the fairness and comparability of the 2020 grades and plead the action is non-justiciable and vague .
Mr Sherry was treated the same as every other student sitting the examinations and the respondents were entitled to change to model used to estimate grades , they say .
The system of calculated grades was brought in at short notice as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examination which had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and , in the formulation of the system , steps were taken to balance the rights of all students , they say .
It is also argued any attempt to reinstate school historical data would be inappropriate or disproportionate as it would cast doubt on the results of significant numbers of students and their entitlement to college places .
The hearing , before Mr Justice Charles Meenan continues .

Changes made by the Minister for Education to the model used to assess calculated Leaving Certificate grades systematically disadvantaged good students attending high performing schools, the High Court has been told.
Feichín McDonagh SC, for student Freddie Sherry, said expert evidence will show the Minister’s decision not to use historical data on school’s past performances in the Leaving Cert resulted in a disproportionate reduction in the grades his client had received from his teachers.
This was because Mr Sherry attended a Dublin fee-paying school, Belvedere College, which consistently scores in the top 10 per cent of schools nationally in relation to Leaving Cert results, counsel said.
The Minister’s changes resulted in disproportionately reducing grades of good students in schools where there were clusters of students achieving top grades in high level subjects.
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The result the change in how grades were calculated meant, had Mr Sherry attended a different school which did not have many high performing students, it was likely his marks would not have been reduced to the same extent, counsel submitted.
Mr Sherry’s case, which entered its second day on Wednesday, is the lead challenge over the calculated grades process and awarding of college places for 2020. About 50 other cases are on hold pending the outcome.
In opposing the case, the State and the Minister say the challenge should be dismissed on all grounds. They deny he was treated unfairly and argue there is no basis for saying the model used to calculate his grades was unlawful.
Mr Sherry, of Newtown, Celbridge, Co Kildare, claims the Minister’s decision last August to remove school historical records in the calculated grades process resulted in him being unfairly downgraded in five subjects by 55 points in his Leaving Cert. He says he was hugely disappointed when his teachers’ estimated CAO points total of 542 for him was reduced to 487 under the process and that he missed out on his first course choice, pharmacy in TCD. He claims the Minister’s direction interfered in the calculated grades process overseen by an independent steering committee was unlawful.
Counsel said Tom Doyle, a deputy principal of Belvedere College, has said in an affidavit the changes implemented by the Minister had significant effect and resulted in over 80 of its students having their grades reduced.
Mr Doyle said the total points awarded to those students following their assessment by their teachers were lowered under the process by between 20 to 50 points and this had “undermined confidence in the system.”
The Minister and State claim that students in Belvedere College received, on average, higher scores in 2020 compared to the 2017-19 period and there is no basis for any assertion Mr Sherry would have been treated more favourably in another category of school. They also maintain there is no reason to believe Mr Sherry would be in an improved position if historical school data was included.
They deny the Minister breached any commitments regarding the fairness and comparability of the 2020 grades and plead the action is non-justiciable and vague.
Mr Sherry was treated the same as every other student sitting the examinations and the respondents were entitled to change to model used to estimate grades, they say.
The system of calculated grades was brought in at short notice as an alternative to the 2020 Leaving Certificate examination which had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and, in the formulation of the system, steps were taken to balance the rights of all students, they say.
It is also argued any attempt to reinstate school historical data would be inappropriate or disproportionate as it would cast doubt on the results of significant numbers of students and their entitlement to college places. The hearing, before Mr Justice Charles Meenan continues.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Joanne Hayes seeks declarations over ‘untrue’ contents of Kerry Babies Tribunal

Joanne Hayes , who was wrongly accused of murdering an infant over 35 years ago , and her siblings , want the High Court to declare all findings of wrongdoing made against them by the Kerry Babies Tribunal were unfounded and incorrect .
They are also seeking damages .
Ms Hayes , and her siblings Edmund , Kathleen and Michael Hayes , seek the declarations in a bid to finalise matters relating to events during the mid 1980s and to vindicate the family ’ s good name .
Ms Hayes and members of her family were arrested in 1984 by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born baby with multiple stab wounds in Cahersiveen , in south Kerry , some 80km from Ms Hayes ’ home in Abbeydorney in north Kerry .
The parents of that child , called baby John , have never been identified , nor has his killer .
Joanne Hayes was accused of being baby John ’ s mother and of murdering him while her family were accused of concealing the birth of a child .
After their arrest in May 1984 , Ms Hayes and her family say , following wrongful acts by gardaí @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confessions admitting the killing of baby John , which they later withdrew .
The charges of which they were all innocent were dropped in October 1984 .
Ms Hayes had given birth to a baby boy , named Shane , on April 13th , 1984 on the family farm but that child died and was buried on the family farm .
She claims a proper Garda investigation of the matter would have eliminated her and her family as persons of interest .
Their arrest , interrogation and charge were improper after a blood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was not the mother of baby John , she says .
She was also at one point in the investigation accused by gardaí of having given birth to twins which , she says , was used for the purpose of malicious and continued prosecution of them before the tribunal .
A tribunal of inquiry , known as the Kerry Babies Tribunal was established and conducted by the then Mr Justice Kevin Lynch .
It heard evidence in late 1984 and early 1985 .
Ms Hayes and her family say the tribunal report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ untrue , unfounded , not supported by any evidence , and purely speculative .
The findings included that Ms Hayes had assaulted her new born son Shane with a bath brush and choked him to death .
She says this finding was completely unsubstantiated and was made despite the fact the former State Pathologist Dr John Harbison , who performed an autopsy , was unable to determine the cause of Shane ’ s death .
The family claim the Tribunal also wrongly found they lied to the tribunal , were involved in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death and had lied to and made false allegations against gardaí .
They say the tribunal also inferred , without an explanation , that the false confessions made by the family arose out of a guilty conscience .
The family say there was no basis for these findings .
Ms Hayes claims , during the hearings , the tribunal showed bias and a lack of fair procedures by allowing gardaí to imply she was “ promiscuous ” , “ a woman of loose morals ” , make unfounded statements about her relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and about her sexual history .
She says an inappropriate analogy which the Tribunal allowed to be used was an argument that Joanne Hayes had given birth to twins by two different fathers , in circumstances which medical evidence from other parties said was baseless .
She also claims the tribunal also showed bias when it permitted the public airing of testimony by medical experts about Ms Hayes private health and gynaecological details , when it had a power to do so in private .
During the tribunal , it is claimed gardaí @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of the Hayes family were stressed or upset during their interrogations , and the questioning was unrelated to baby John but rather Ms Hayes ’ own pregnancy .
In 2018 , Ms Hayes from Tralee in Co Kerry received apologies over her treatment from then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar , on behalf of the State , and the then acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin .
The siblings have brought High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner , the Minister for Justice , Ireland and the Attorney General where she seeks various declarations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the investigation , as well as her questioning , arrest , charge and prosecution on dates between April and October 1984 were unfounded and in breach of her constitutional rights .
She also seeks a declaration that any finding of wrongdoing contained in the 1985 report of the Tribunal inquiry into the Kerry Babies Case are unfounded and incorrect and in breach of her constitutional rights .
The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court on Wednesday afternoon when Liam Reidy SC , for Ms Hayes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ongoing discussions between the family and the State defendants .
If the declarations are made by the court , the defendants have agreed to prominently attach the relevant orders to all copies of the report of the 1985 Tribunal of Inquiry , the court heard .
The judge granted permission to serve short notice of the applications for the formal declarations and returned the matter to next week .

Joanne Hayes, who was wrongly accused of murdering an infant over 35 years ago, and her siblings, want the High Court to declare all findings of wrongdoing made against them by the Kerry Babies Tribunal were unfounded and incorrect. They are also seeking damages.
Ms Hayes, and her siblings Edmund, Kathleen and Michael Hayes, seek the declarations in a bid to finalise matters relating to events during the mid 1980s and to vindicate the family’s good name.
Ms Hayes and members of her family were arrested in 1984 by gardaí following the discovery of a new born baby with multiple stab wounds in Cahersiveen, in south Kerry, some 80km from Ms Hayes’ home in Abbeydorney in north Kerry. The parents of that child, called baby John, have never been identified, nor has his killer.
Joanne Hayes was accused of being baby John’s mother and of murdering him while her family were accused of concealing the birth of a child. After their arrest in May 1984, Ms Hayes and her family say, following wrongful acts by gardaí, they were forced into making false confessions admitting the killing of baby John, which they later withdrew. The charges of which they were all innocent were dropped in October 1984.
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Ms Hayes had given birth to a baby boy, named Shane, on April 13th, 1984 on the family farm but that child died and was buried on the family farm. She claims a proper Garda investigation of the matter would have eliminated her and her family as persons of interest. Their arrest, interrogation and charge were improper after a blood test in May 1984 made it clear she was not the mother of baby John, she says.
She was also at one point in the investigation accused by gardaí of having given birth to twins which, she says, was used for the purpose of malicious and continued prosecution of them before the tribunal.
Untrue findings
A tribunal of inquiry, known as the Kerry Babies Tribunal was established and conducted by the then Mr Justice Kevin Lynch. It heard evidence in late 1984 and early 1985. Ms Hayes and her family say the tribunal report contained numerous findings against them that were untrue, unfounded, not supported by any evidence, and purely speculative.
The findings included that Ms Hayes had assaulted her new born son Shane with a bath brush and choked him to death. She says this finding was completely unsubstantiated and was made despite the fact the former State Pathologist Dr John Harbison, who performed an autopsy, was unable to determine the cause of Shane’s death.
The family claim the Tribunal also wrongly found they lied to the tribunal, were involved in an attempted cover up regarding Shane’s death and had lied to and made false allegations against gardaí. They say the tribunal also inferred, without an explanation, that the false confessions made by the family arose out of a guilty conscience. The family say there was no basis for these findings.
Ms Hayes claims, during the hearings, the tribunal showed bias and a lack of fair procedures by allowing gardaí to imply she was “promiscuous”, “a woman of loose morals”, make unfounded statements about her relationship with Jeremiah Locke, her former partner, and about her sexual history.
She says an inappropriate analogy which the Tribunal allowed to be used was an argument that Joanne Hayes had given birth to twins by two different fathers, in circumstances which medical evidence from other parties said was baseless. She also claims the tribunal also showed bias when it permitted the public airing of testimony by medical experts about Ms Hayes private health and gynaecological details, when it had a power to do so in private.
During the tribunal, it is claimed gardaí took false and unjustifiable positions by stating none of the Hayes family were stressed or upset during their interrogations, and the questioning was unrelated to baby John but rather Ms Hayes’ own pregnancy.
In 2018, Ms Hayes from Tralee in Co Kerry received apologies over her treatment from then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, on behalf of the State, and the then acting Garda Commissioner Dónall Ó Cualáin . The siblings have brought High Court proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice, Ireland and the Attorney General where she seeks various declarations and damages.
They seek declarations that the investigation, as well as her questioning, arrest, charge and prosecution on dates between April and October 1984 were unfounded and in breach of her constitutional rights. She also seeks a declaration that any finding of wrongdoing contained in the 1985 report of the Tribunal inquiry into the Kerry Babies Case are unfounded and incorrect and in breach of her constitutional rights.
The matter was briefly mentioned before Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds at the High Court on Wednesday afternoon when Liam Reidy SC, for Ms Hayes, said it was being made as part of ongoing discussions between the family and the State defendants.
If the declarations are made by the court, the defendants have agreed to prominently attach the relevant orders to all copies of the report of the 1985 Tribunal of Inquiry, the court heard. The judge granted permission to serve short notice of the applications for the formal declarations and returned the matter to next week.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Man (60s) dies in single-vehicle crash in Co Waterford

A man in his 60s has died after a single-vehicle crash near Dungarvan , Co Waterford .
The man was @ @ @ @ @ he crashed just after 6am on Wednesday morning in the Ringcrehy area .
The body @ @ @ @ @ local morgue and a postmortem will be conducted at a later date .
A technical @ @ @ @ @ has been completed and the road has reopened .
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to @ @ @ @ @ from road users who may have camera footage of the incident .
Anyone with information @ @ @ @ @ Garda Station on 058 48600 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 , @ @ @ @ @

The body has been taken to the local morgue and a postmortem will be conducted at a later date
A man in his 60s has died after a single-vehicle crash near Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
The man was driving an articulated tanker when he crashed just after 6am on Wednesday morning in the Ringcrehy area.
The body has been taken to the local morgue and a postmortem will be conducted at a later date. A technical examination by Forensic Collision Investigators has been completed and the road has reopened.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to come forward and for help from road users who may have camera footage of the incident.
READ MORE
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dungarvan Garda Station on 058 48600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Children of Cork farmer who died by suicide at family grave ask sufferers to seek help

The family of a farmer who died by suicide at the grave of his mother and a brother who passed away as a child has appealed to those who experience emotional distress to reach out to charities such as Pieta House .
Father-of-four Paddy McCarthy ( 59 ) of Cloncouse , Ballinadee in Co Cork was a humorous and kind husband and father who took great pride in his farm and his family .
He loved Bruce Springsteen , dancing and parties , his family recalled .
This week Cork County Coroner ’ s Court , sitting in Bandon , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1st of this year Paddy carried out on jobs on the family farm alongside his daughter Rachel .
Like all of his children , she had a close bond with her father .
In her statement read to the court , she said that they had finished some chores around 9am .
He told her about a few other things that needed to be done , which left her thinking that they should sit down in the kitchen and draw up a list .
Instead , she saw her father leave in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what was to follow ” and presumed he had left to buy cattle feed .
Later that morning , she learned that he had been found dead .
Her father had been one of triplets .
Another one of the triplets , Tom , who died in a farming accident in 1968 , is buried in the grave , alongside his and Mr McCarthy ’ s mother , who died three years ago .
Two witnesses , an elderly woman and a young mother , gave evidence of stumbling across the body of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as they came to visit their own relatives ’ burial plots .
Saying she quickly realised that it was Paddy McCarthy , who she “ knew to see ” , the elderly lady said she called a nearby younger woman .
A priest and paramedics were quickly called , but Mr McCarthy was pronounced dead .
In his evidence , Garda David Barrett , who was at the graveside before noon , told Coroner Frank O ’ Connell that a note written by Mr McCarthy had been found later at the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Connell , having heard the evidence of the case , said that he did not think he had ever presided over a “ sadder one ” .
Offering his heartfelt condolences to the family , Mr O ’ Connell said Mr McCarthy “ must have been suffering ” .
The local community , he told them , felt their pain .
Since his death , the McCarthy family has raised over €32,000 for mental health charity , Pieta House .
“ Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem and leaves such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mr McCarthy ’ s daughter Rachel said .
Appealing to people who are in emotional pain , and who offer wear psychological “ masks ” to disguise their difficulties , Ms McCarthy said : “ There are so many people out there who can provide help.
” “ I want people to know that they are heard and that others are struggling too .
It is up to my generation to break the taboo around mental health .
The brain is just like other parts of the body .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it .
We go to the gym to work on our bodies so where is there a stigma around working on our mental health ?
” she told The Irish Times , speaking after the inquest .
Her brother Thomas , who made a 23-hour journey during lockdown to travel back to Ireland to be with his grieving family from his home in Vancouver , Canada , said there were no warning signs leading up to the suicide .
Simply put , his father was “ great fun ” , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loved dancing .
He just loved life .
That is why it is such a shock .
He really loved the farm .
You think , ‘ How could he leave behind something he loved so much ?
’ ” Throughout his life , his father had worked long , hard hours .
“ It is such an isolating job anyway .
They might have the mart once a week or some social event once a week .
It is important that they go speak to someone or talk to someone .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or talk , they are the ones who do it [ suicide ] .
You think , ‘ How could I not have seen it ?
How could I not have done anything ?
But sure there is no way you could have known.
” During the first Covid-19 lockdown earlier in the year , the McCarthys took part in Pieta House ’ s Darkness into Light , walking down to the family ’ s local church and back in memory of their father .
The funeral itself was hard , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People couldn ’ t really come over to the house or come to the church .
But we are very lucky that we have a great support system with great family and neighbours and friends and cousins we are close to , ” Thomas McCarthy said .
Since his passing , the McCarthys have tried to keep busy , partly by converting an old double decker bus into an Airbnb , which they hope to have up and running by next spring .
It was “ something different ” to do during lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would , he was sure , be delighted by the commercial side of the idea , if bemused by the notion itself : “ Give a farm to young people and what is the first thing they do ?
That ’ s what he ’ d be saying , ” his son laughed .
“ We wanted to do something different to keep ourselves occupied during lockdown .
We wanted to be productive .
We wanted to do something together because we are impulsive and creative.
” Mr McCarthy is survived by his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Rachel and Niall , along with surviving triplet Gus and other siblings .
The family has asked for donations to be made to Pieta House .
Donations can be made at www.pieta.ie The Mind Our Farm Families is a dedicated suicide and self-harm phone line 1890 130 022 between IFA and Pieta House .
The phone line for IFA members will put farmers and their families in direct contact with a Pieta House-trained therapist .
Members of the public who need emotional support are asked to contact the Samaritans on 116 123 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People in distress can also text the word Help to Pieta House on 51444 .

The McCarthy family from Ballinadee, Co Cork: The late Paddy McCarthy is in the centre at the back. Also pictured, left to right, are his son Thomas, son Niall, daughter Anna, wife Ann and daughter Rachel. Photograph: courtesy of Rachel McCarthy
The family of a farmer who died by suicide at the grave of his mother and a brother who passed away as a child has appealed to those who experience emotional distress to reach out to charities such as Pieta House.
Father-of-four Paddy McCarthy (59) of Cloncouse, Ballinadee in Co Cork was a humorous and kind husband and father who took great pride in his farm and his family. He loved Bruce Springsteen, dancing and parties, his family recalled.
This week Cork County Coroner's Court, sitting in Bandon, heard that on the morning of May 1st of this year Paddy carried out on jobs on the family farm alongside his daughter Rachel. Like all of his children, she had a close bond with her father.
Paddy McCarthy, whose inquest in being held in Bandon. Paddy died unexpectantly on May 1st 2020. Pic supplied by family to Olivia Kelleher
In her statement read to the court, she said that they had finished some chores around 9am. He told her about a few other things that needed to be done, which left her thinking that they should sit down in the kitchen and draw up a list.
READ MORE
Instead, she saw her father leave in his car. She “had no idea what was to follow” and presumed he had left to buy cattle feed. Later that morning, she learned that he had been found dead.
Her father had been one of triplets. Another one of the triplets, Tom, who died in a farming accident in 1968, is buried in the grave, alongside his and Mr McCarthy’s mother, who died three years ago.
Witnesses
Two witnesses, an elderly woman and a young mother, gave evidence of stumbling across the body of Mr McCarthy at the County Cork graveyard, as they came to visit their own relatives’ burial plots.
Saying she quickly realised that it was Paddy McCarthy, who she “knew to see”, the elderly lady said she called a nearby younger woman. A priest and paramedics were quickly called, but Mr McCarthy was pronounced dead.
In his evidence, Garda David Barrett, who was at the graveside before noon, told Coroner Frank O’Connell that a note written by Mr McCarthy had been found later at the family’s farmhouse.
Mr O’Connell, having heard the evidence of the case, said that he did not think he had ever presided over a “sadder one”.
Offering his heartfelt condolences to the family, Mr O’Connell said Mr McCarthy “must have been suffering”. The local community, he told them, felt their pain.
Since his death, the McCarthy family has raised over €32,000 for mental health charity, Pieta House. “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem and leaves such destruction and devastation behind for families,” Mr McCarthy’s daughter Rachel said.
Appealing to people who are in emotional pain, and who offer wear psychological “masks” to disguise their difficulties, Ms McCarthy said: “There are so many people out there who can provide help.”
Struggling
“I want people to know that they are heard and that others are struggling too. It is up to my generation to break the taboo around mental health. The brain is just like other parts of the body.
“It is a muscle and we need to work on it. We go to the gym to work on our bodies so where is there a stigma around working on our mental health?” she told The Irish Times, speaking after the inquest.
Her brother Thomas, who made a 23-hour journey during lockdown to travel back to Ireland to be with his grieving family from his home in Vancouver, Canada, said there were no warning signs leading up to the suicide.
Simply put, his father was “great fun”, he said. “He loved music. He loved dancing. He just loved life. That is why it is such a shock. He really loved the farm. You think, ‘How could he leave behind something he loved so much?’”
Paddy McCarthy, whose inquest in being held in Bandon. Paddy died unexpectantly on May 1st 2020. Pic supplied by family to Olivia Kelleher
Throughout his life, his father had worked long, hard hours. “It is such an isolating job anyway. They might have the mart once a week or some social event once a week. It is important that they go speak to someone or talk to someone.
“The ones who don’t speak, or talk, they are the ones who do it [suicide]. You think, ‘How could I not have seen it? How could I not have done anything? But sure there is no way you could have known.”
Lockdown
During the first Covid-19 lockdown earlier in the year, the McCarthys took part in Pieta House’s Darkness into Light, walking down to the family’s local church and back in memory of their father.
The funeral itself was hard, with only 10 in the crematorium. “People couldn’t really come over to the house or come to the church. But we are very lucky that we have a great support system with great family and neighbours and friends and cousins we are close to,” Thomas McCarthy said.
Since his passing, the McCarthys have tried to keep busy, partly by converting an old double decker bus into an Airbnb, which they hope to have up and running by next spring. It was “something different” to do during lockdown, Thomas McCarthy said.
His father would, he was sure, be delighted by the commercial side of the idea, if bemused by the notion itself: “Give a farm to young people and what is the first thing they do? That’s what he’d be saying,” his son laughed.
“We wanted to do something different to keep ourselves occupied during lockdown. We wanted to be productive. We wanted to do something together because we are impulsive and creative.”
Mr McCarthy is survived by his wife Ann and children Anna, Thomas, Rachel and Niall, along with surviving triplet Gus and other siblings. The family has asked for donations to be made to Pieta House.
Donations can be made at www.pieta.ie
The Mind Our Farm Families is a dedicated suicide and self-harm phone line 1890 130 022 between IFA and Pieta House. The phone line for IFA members will put farmers and their families in direct contact with a Pieta House-trained therapist.
Members of the public who need emotional support are asked to contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or Pieta House on 1800 247 247. People in distress can also text the word Help to Pieta House on 51444.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Cannabis herb and cash worth €125,000 seized in Galway

A man has been arrested after gardaí seized cannabis herb and cash worth €125,000 at a house in Galway on @ @ @ @ @ Drugs Unit in Galway carried out the search in the Renmore area of the city @ @ @ @ @ a large quantity of cannabis herb worth about €90,000 .
Gardaí also seized more than @ @ @ @ @ house .
One man in his late 20s was arrested and detained at the North @ @ @ @ @ Galway under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) @ @ @ @ @ since been released from custody .
A file is now being prepared for the Director @ @ @ @

A man has been arrested after gardaí seized cannabis herb and cash worth €125,000 at a house in Galway on Tuesday evening.
The Divisional Drugs Unit in Galway carried out the search in the Renmore area of the city at 7pm.
They located a large quantity of cannabis herb worth about €90,000. Gardaí also seized more than €34,500 in cash at the house.
One man in his late 20s was arrested and detained at the North Western Regional Garda Headquarters in Galway under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996. He has since been released from custody. A file is now being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Man charged with theft after Garda inquiry into pandemic payment fraud

A man ( 44 ) has been remanded on bail after he was charged with the theft of over €11,000 following an investigation by gardaí into fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Payments ( PUP ) .
Bashiru Aderibige of Banogue in Midleton was arrested by gardaí from the National Economic Crime Bureau , seconded to the Department of Social Protection .
On Wednesday at Mallow District Court , Det Garda Eimear Keeshan gave evidence of how she charged Mr Aderibige with a total of 21 offences of theft , contrary to Section 18 of the Criminal Justice ( Theft and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda Keeshan gave evidence of arrest , charge and caution in relation to Mr Aderibige and told the court that he made no reply to any of the 21 charges when they were put to him after caution following his arrest in Midleton .
The 21 charges allege that Mr Aderibige stole a total of €11,673.80 on 21 separate occasions on a variety of dates between July 21st 2020 and August 11th 2020 at nine separate locations around the country .
The State alleges that 11 of the offences happened at either the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland ATM in Midleton , Co Cork , two occurred at an ATM in Dooradoyle in Limerick , two at an Ulster Bank ATM at Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin and two at an AIB ATM in Cobh in Co Cork .
The State also alleges that the remaining four thefts occurred at four other locations including one each at an ATM in Barrack St in Waterford , an Ulster Bank ATM on Patrick St in Cork , an Ulster Bank ATM on Winthrop St in Cork and an ATM in Centra in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keeshan said that gardaí had no objection to Mr Aderibige obtaining bail once he abided by a number of conditions , including that he would reside at his home address and sign on daily at Midleton Garda Station between 9am and 9pm .
Gardaí were also seeking that Mr Aderibige , who was born in Nigeria but is now a naturalised Irish citizen , would surrender any travel documents that he has and undertake not apply for any new travel documents and that he would also provide gardaí with a mobile phone number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said Det Garda Keeshan .
Defence barrister , Paula McCarthy BL said her client was willing to abide by such bail term .
Insp Tony Sullivan then applied to have Mr Aderibige remanded on bail to appear again at Midleton District Court on January 21st 2021 for the DPP ’ s directions .
Judge Brian Sheridan granted the application and he remanded Mr Aderibige on his own bond of €1,000 while he also granted him free legal aid and appointed solicitor , Eddie Burke to represent him .

A man (44) has been remanded on bail after he was charged with the theft of over €11,000 following an investigation by gardaí into fraudulent claims for Pandemic Unemployment Payments (PUP).
Bashiru Aderibige of Banogue in Midleton was arrested by gardaí from the National Economic Crime Bureau, seconded to the Department of Social Protection.
On Wednesday at Mallow District Court, Det Garda Eimear Keeshan gave evidence of how she charged Mr Aderibige with a total of 21 offences of theft, contrary to Section 18 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
Det Garda Keeshan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr Aderibige and told the court that he made no reply to any of the 21 charges when they were put to him after caution following his arrest in Midleton.
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The 21 charges allege that Mr Aderibige stole a total of €11,673.80 on 21 separate occasions on a variety of dates between July 21st 2020 and August 11th 2020 at nine separate locations around the country.
The State alleges that 11 of the offences happened at either the Ulster Bank ATM or the Bank of Ireland ATM in Midleton, Co Cork, two occurred at an ATM in Dooradoyle in Limerick, two at an Ulster Bank ATM at Jervis Shopping Centre in Dublin and two at an AIB ATM in Cobh in Co Cork.
The State also alleges that the remaining four thefts occurred at four other locations including one each at an ATM in Barrack St in Waterford, an Ulster Bank ATM on Patrick St in Cork, an Ulster Bank ATM on Winthrop St in Cork and an ATM in Centra in Carrigtwohill in Co Cork.
Det Garda Keeshan said that gardaí had no objection to Mr Aderibige obtaining bail once he abided by a number of conditions, including that he would reside at his home address and sign on daily at Midleton Garda Station between 9am and 9pm.
Gardaí were also seeking that Mr Aderibige, who was born in Nigeria but is now a naturalised Irish citizen, would surrender any travel documents that he has and undertake not apply for any new travel documents and that he would also provide gardaí with a mobile phone number at which he could be contacted 24/7, said Det Garda Keeshan.
Defence barrister, Paula McCarthy BL said her client was willing to abide by such bail term. Insp Tony Sullivan then applied to have Mr Aderibige remanded on bail to appear again at Midleton District Court on January 21st 2021 for the DPP's directions.
Judge Brian Sheridan granted the application and he remanded Mr Aderibige on his own bond of €1,000 while he also granted him free legal aid and appointed solicitor, Eddie Burke to represent him.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--Personal trainer held cocaine to pay off €15,000 gambling debt, court hears

A personal trainer who held cocaine in order to pay off a €15,000 gambling debt has been remanded on continuing bail pending sentence .
Elmir Habibovic ( 31 ) of Woodvale Avenue , Hartstown , Dublin 15 , pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having €25,500 worth of cocaine at his home for sale or supply on April 19th , 2018 .
He has 11 previous convictions for public order and road traffic offences , which were all dealt with in the District Court .
He has not come to Garda attention since and previously had not offended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Neill told Kieran Kelly BL , prosecuting , that Habibovic ’ s home was searched after a warrant was secured following a garda tip off .
The cocaine was found in a drawer in a dining table along with almost €6,000 found in three separate envelopes in his bedroom .
Habibovic and a second man , who had been living in the house , were arrested but Habibovic took full responsibility for the drugs .
He said he had been holding the drugs for around five days for someone else in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt .
Habibovic told gardaí he had been “ messing with money ” and trying to make money from gambling and again repeated that he had been minding the drugs to get €1,000 off his debt .
Det Gda O ’ Neill agreed with Ronan Munro SC , defending , that Habibovic immediately made admissions so others living in the house were not held responsible for having the drugs .
He further accepted that Habibovic has “ been off the garda radar ” and “ has faded from view ” since his arrest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he has since “ disassociated from his peers ” at the time .
Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case to January next for sentence .
She remanded Habibovic on continuing bail and acknowledged that , as he is a self-employed personal trainer , he would need some time “ to get his affairs in order ” .
Mr Murno handed in a large amount of testimonials to the court which he said outlined the contribution his client has made to his local community assisting many clubs with free strength and conditioning training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ client is not opposing the forfeiture to the State of the €6,000 found in his home and acknowledged that he was “ gaining financially ” from holding the drugs .

Habibovic as 11 previous convictions for public order and road traffic offences, which were all dealt with in the District Court. Photograph: Dave Meehan
A personal trainer who held cocaine in order to pay off a €15,000 gambling debt has been remanded on continuing bail pending sentence.
Elmir Habibovic (31) of Woodvale Avenue, Hartstown, Dublin 15, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to having €25,500 worth of cocaine at his home for sale or supply on April 19th, 2018.
He has 11 previous convictions for public order and road traffic offences, which were all dealt with in the District Court. He has not come to Garda attention since and previously had not offended since July 2009.
Detective Garda Mark O’Neill told Kieran Kelly BL, prosecuting, that Habibovic’s home was searched after a warrant was secured following a garda tip off. The cocaine was found in a drawer in a dining table along with almost €6,000 found in three separate envelopes in his bedroom.
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Habibovic and a second man, who had been living in the house, were arrested but Habibovic took full responsibility for the drugs. He said he had been holding the drugs for around five days for someone else in order to a clear a €15,000 gambling debt.
Habibovic told gardaí he had been “messing with money” and trying to make money from gambling and again repeated that he had been minding the drugs to get €1,000 off his debt.
Det Gda O’Neill agreed with Ronan Munro SC, defending, that Habibovic immediately made admissions so others living in the house were not held responsible for having the drugs.
He further accepted that Habibovic has “been off the garda radar” and “has faded from view” since his arrest. Counsel submitted that his client instructed that he has since “disassociated from his peers” at the time.
Judge Elma Sheahan adjourned the case to January next for sentence. She remanded Habibovic on continuing bail and acknowledged that, as he is a self-employed personal trainer, he would need some time “to get his affairs in order”.
Mr Murno handed in a large amount of testimonials to the court which he said outlined the contribution his client has made to his local community assisting many clubs with free strength and conditioning training.
He told Judge Sheahan that his client is not opposing the forfeiture to the State of the €6,000 found in his home and acknowledged that he was “gaining financially” from holding the drugs.


theirishtimes--2020-12-09--An Post sets deadline for retailers due to record Christmas demand

An Post has warned that the unprecedented volume of parcels it is handling due to the surge in online shopping means it can not guarantee large Irish and multinational retailers pre-Christmas delivery unless it has parcels by December 14th .
A spokeswoman said that while parcels it receives from larger companies “ will probably be delivered in time ” she stressed that “ probably is not good enough if something has to be there for Christmas morning ” .
She added that a record volume of online shopping had prompted An Post to issue the alert that it would only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of e-commerce parcels received into its processing system by close of business on December 14th ” .
“ This deadline applies only to An Post ’ s large-scale ecommerce retailers and shippers .
It does not affect personal customers posting parcels and packages , ” she said .
“ Ireland has never seen volumes like this .
We ’ re running a full capacity in recent weeks , delivering 3.3 million parcels , up from 1 million at the same time last year , ” she continued .
She said An Post had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ e-commerce retailers “ are fully aware of the impact of Christmas volumes on processing and delivery times during this Covid pandemic , so as to avoid disappointment for shippers and shoppers alike .
We prefer to be upfront so that these major online sellers can plan their operations and advise their customers accordingly.
” She stressed that everything that has been ordered already would be delivered and she said customers had definitely heeded the advice to get organised for Christmas early this year , with huge increases in parcel volumes since the announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Friday , December 11th will be latest date to ensure Christmas delivery of cards to the US while Saturday 12th will be the last date for people to post parcels to Europe with the deadline for cards set at December 17th .
December 18th is the last date for cards and parcels going to England , Scotland and Wales while the 19th will be the key date for post going to Northern Ireland .
The latest date for posting cards and parcels within the Republic is December 21st .

An Post had duty to ensure that its large e-commerce retailers ‘are fully aware of the impact of Christmas volumes’. Photograph: Bryan O’Bryan
An Post has warned that the unprecedented volume of parcels it is handling due to the surge in online shopping means it cannot guarantee large Irish and multinational retailers pre-Christmas delivery unless it has parcels by December 14th.
A spokeswoman said that while parcels it receives from larger companies “will probably be delivered in time” she stressed that “probably is not good enough if something has to be there for Christmas morning”.
She added that a record volume of online shopping had prompted An Post to issue the alert that it would only be able to “guarantee pre-Christmas delivery of e-commerce parcels received into its processing system by close of business on December 14th”.
“This deadline applies only to An Post’s large-scale ecommerce retailers and shippers. It does not affect personal customers posting parcels and packages,” she said.
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“Ireland has never seen volumes like this. We’re running a full capacity in recent weeks, delivering 3.3 million parcels, up from 1 million at the same time last year,” she continued.
She said An Post had a duty to ensure that its large e-commerce retailers “are fully aware of the impact of Christmas volumes on processing and delivery times during this Covid pandemic, so as to avoid disappointment for shippers and shoppers alike. We prefer to be upfront so that these major online sellers can plan their operations and advise their customers accordingly.”
She stressed that everything that has been ordered already would be delivered and she said customers had definitely heeded the advice to get organised for Christmas early this year, with huge increases in parcel volumes since the announcement of the Level 5 restrictions in mid-October.
Friday, December 11th will be latest date to ensure Christmas delivery of cards to the US while Saturday 12th will be the last date for people to post parcels to Europe with the deadline for cards set at December 17th. December 18th is the last date for cards and parcels going to England, Scotland and Wales while the 19th will be the key date for post going to Northern Ireland.
The latest date for posting cards and parcels within the Republic is December 21st.


theirishtimes--2020-12-10--Two more men arrested in Keane Mulready Woods investigation

Gardaí have arrested another two men for questioning over the murder of teenager Keane Mulready Woods in Drogheda , Co Louth , in January .
After the killing the 17-year-old ’ s remains were dismembered and dumped in different locations in Dublin though some parts of his body are still unaccounted for .
A man in his 20s was arrested at 7am on Thursday and was being questioned at Dundalk Garda station in Co Louth .
He was being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act , which is used for offences linked to organised crime and allows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to seven days without charge .
Another man in his 20s was arrested at 10am on Thursday and was taken to Mountjoy Garda station in Dublin ’ s north inner city .
He was being detained under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act , which allows gardaí to arrest a prisoner who is serving a sentence or awaiting trial .
The arrests of the two men in separate operations on Thursday morning in Dublin and Louth followed the arrest of a man in his 40s on Tuesday morning .
He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday afternoon under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act .
Gardaí believe Keane Mulready Woods was a low-level figure in a Drogheda-based drugs gang that has been at odds with another faction in the north-east for the past 2½ years .
Known as the “ Drogheda feud ” , the gangland dispute involves criminals across the north-east and some in Dublin and has so far claimed four lives .
One of the men suspected of being centrally involved in the murder and dismembering of Keane Mulready Woods was himself shot dead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Robbie Lawlor ( 35 ) was shot dead outside a house on Etna Drive in the Ardoyne area on Saturday , April 4th .
However , while Lawlor was regarded as the key suspect behind the murder of Mulready Woods in January , gardaí believe others were also involved in the killing , the dismembering of the body and transportation of the remains to Dublin .
Gardaí have also identified a number of suspects they believe took on tasks to clean up the murder scene and conceal the murder conspiracy .
Woods was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drogheda where he lived on the evening of Sunday , January 12th .
Gardaí believe he was murdered , probably by stabbing to the torso , almost immediately after he was last seen alive by his family .
Late the following night , Monday , January 13th , his limbs were found in a bag dumped on a pavement in Coolock , north Dublin .
And in the early hours of Wednesday , January 15th , his hands , feet and head were found in a stolen car that was on fire in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inner city though his torso was never found .
Gardaí suspect the teenager ’ s body parts were to be dumped outside the homes of leaders of the Drogheda crime gang the teenager was aligned with as a warning to them .
Gardaí also suspect that plan was abandoned because those transporting the body parts came close to encountering gardaí at or near the locations where they intended to leave them .

A man arrested for questioning over the murder of teenager Keane Mulready Woods in Drogheda, Co Louth in January has been released without charge.
A file is to be prepared on the man, aged in his early 20s, for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He was arrested on Thursday and detained at Mountjoy Garda station in Dublin’s north inner city under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí to arrest a person who is serving a sentence or awaiting trial.
A second man, also in his 20s, detained as part of the investigation is still being detained at Dundalk Garda station, a Garda spokesman said on Friday night.
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He was being detained under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, which is used for offences linked to organised crime and allows for a suspect’s detention for up to seven days without charge.
Their arrests in separate operations on Thursday in Dublin and Louth followed the arrest of a man in his 40s on Tuesday. He was still being detained at Drogheda Garda station on Friday under Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act.
Keane (17) was killed in January and his remains were dismembered and dumped in different locations in Dublin, though some parts of his body are still unaccounted for.


theirishtimes--2020-12-10--Woman held after Russian mortar launcher seized at Dublin Port

A woman has been arrested after attempting to bring a decommissioned Russian mortar launcher through Dublin Port on Thursday .
Revenue and customs officers discovered the weapon while carrying out a routine search of incoming traffic through the port at 1am .
A van with an Eastern European registration was stopped for an inspection , at which point officers found a mortar launcher inside the vehicle .
The Army bomb disposal unit was called to the scene , and following an inspection deemed the decommissioned mortar launcher to be safe .
There was no ammunition accompanying the launcher .
Gardaí @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stations attended also the scene .
The weapon , a Russian manufactured 82mm KRH 36Y mortar launcher , was seized for further inspection by the ballistics section of the Garda Technical Bureau .
A Garda spokesman confirmed the driver of the vehicle , a woman in her 20s , was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939 .
She is currently detained and being questioned at Store Street Garda station .
At present gardaí are satisfied there was “ no criminal intent ” in importing the launcher , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to have been intended for a private collection in Northern Ireland .
Gardaí are in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) in order to confirm this .
“ An Garda Síochána continues to investigate the importation of this firearm into this jurisdiction , ” the spokesman said .

Revenue and customs officers discovered the weapon while carrying out a routine search of incoming traffic through Dublin Port at 1am. Photograph: iStock
A woman was arrested after attempting to bring a decommissioned Russian mortar launcher through Dublin Port on Thursday.
Revenue and customs officers discovered the weapon while carrying out a routine search of incoming traffic through the port at 1am.
A van with an Eastern European registration was stopped for an inspection, at which point officers found a mortar launcher inside the vehicle.
The Army bomb disposal unit was called to the scene, and following an inspection deemed the decommissioned mortar launcher to be safe. There was no ammunition accompanying the launcher.
READ MORE
Gardaí from the special detective unit and local stations attended also the scene.
The weapon, a Russian manufactured 82mm KRH 36Y mortar launcher, was seized for further inspection by the ballistics section of the Garda Technical Bureau.
A Garda spokesman confirmed the driver of the vehicle, a woman in her 20s, was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act 1939.
She was questioned at Store Street Garda station before being released on Thursday evening. Gardaí said enquiries were ongoing.
At present gardaí are satisfied there was “no criminal intent” in importing the launcher, the spokesman said. The device appeared to have been intended for a private collection in Northern Ireland.
Gardaí are in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) in order to confirm this.
"An Garda Síochána continues to investigate the importation of this firearm into this jurisdiction," the spokesman said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-10--A no-deal Brexit is on the cards, but what would that mean for everyday life?

Another Brexit deadline has been set – this time for Sunday .
With big gaps remaining , both sides are warning about the risk of no-deal outcome .
Whatever happens , there will be disruption and change on January 1st , but if there is no trade deal it would be significantly worse .
1 .
What might it look like in January if there is no trade deal ?
We are likely to be looking at TV pictures of big queues at ports as the new system for trade between EU and UK is introduced .
This may happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but is likely to be worse without one as it would introduce the need for more checks and mean co-operation between the two sides to smooth things out is less likely.The worst queues are likely entering UK ports like Dover as trucks head for the continent , as they will face new checks as they leave and as they enter continental ports .
Combined with the need for new checks at Irish ports , the knock on from this could lead to significant tailbacks heading out of Irish ports and on to main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If there are delays in France , you ’ ll see it sooner or later on the M50 at Finglas , ” one Irish source observed .
In the event of no deal , would the EU try to find some way to avoid this and prolong the talks ?
Legally this would be difficult and would require the UK to sign up to an extension , which it has said it won ’ t .
But you would be surprised if somewhere , quietly , this wasn ’ t being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU published plans today to try to deal with a no-deal scenario ?
Yes .
But they are fairly basic .
Because the airline safety and regulation regime for flights between the EU and UK would fall if there is no agreement , the Commission has agreed a six-month extension to allow something to be worked out .
The same applies for rules covering road hauliers and coaches moving across the English Channel .
But there is no suggestion of any leeway on implementing new customs rules or tariffs from Brussels – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on movements between Britain and Northern Ireland agreed under a separate protocol ( read our explainer on the Northern Ireland protocol here ) .
And it is the customs and tariff changes between the EU and UK which will complicate things for businesses and lead to costs and delays , The EU has also proposed continued reciprocal access to fishing waters on both sides for a period .
Whether further contingency measures might come if there is no agreement remains to be seen .
3 .
So will there be delays in deliveries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could indeed be disruption for a period – and this would be likely to be worse if there is no trade deal .
Major companies , including those in time sensitive sectors like the grocery trade , have been planning for this , supply chains have been reorganised and warehouses are full with stockpiled goods .
But you can ’ t stockpile fresh food and many other products have a shelf life .
You would hope this would be temporary and new direct ferry routes from Ireland to the Continent should help , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost is a problem in many cases .
There could also be problems in some specific food areas due to regulatory problems , for example for some prepared meals .
This is an area where there is a significant difference in a no trade deal scenario .
This is because it would lead to the imposition of tariffs , or special import duties , on goods entering Ireland from Britain , particularly food and grocery items .
An ESRI report has estimated that if these tariffs are passed on to consumers – and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the costs coming from new delays and customs procedures , grocery bills could go up by up to €1,360 a year , a rise of more than 3 per cent in prices .
Less well-off households , who spend proportionately more on grocery products , would suffer most .
Increases would be seen in the price of cereals , meat , processed foods , jams , confectionery , chocolate , coffee and a range of other items .
There are also tariffs on clothing and shoes – pushing up prices of UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shop online from UK outlets .
The unprecedented nature of Brexit make it hard to judge , but the Government estimates that in a no-deal situation growth next year would be three percentage points lower than it would otherwise be , mainly because exports to the UK would be lower .
The Government budget for 2021 is based on a no-deal assumption .
This cost is around €10.5 billion in cash terms and estimates by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council are that the longer-term costs could be about twice this .
Brexit will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notably the beef sector .
Tariffs will be applied on Irish goods entering the UK , cutting profits and in some cases pushing Irish products out of the market .
Tariffs on beef can exceed 70 per cent in some cases.The Department of Agriculture believes the hit to jobs will be largely confined to agrifood and some manufacturing sectors , though it is hard to say .
Some companies are very reliant on UK supply chains so disruption here could have a cost too .
6 .
What will the Government do ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans soon enough unless the talks are on track .
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said plans are being put in place to help affected companies , though won ’ t say yet what they are .
An extension of wage subsidies paid to firms hit by the pandemic look certain , and other supports will also be rolled out .
The Government will also be trying to grab a share of a €5 billion EU Brexit fund .
Expect to hear a lot from food , fisheries and farming representatives looking for State @ @

Boris Johnson has said Britain “will have a solution that's much more like an Australian relationship with the EU, than Canadian ”. Australia, unlike Canada, has no comprehensive trade deal with the EU, leaving its trade mostly subject to tariffs.
Another Brexit deadline has been set – this time for Sunday. With big gaps remaining, both sides are warning about the risk of no-deal outcome. Whatever happens, there will be disruption and change on January 1st, but if there is no trade deal it would be significantly worse.
1. What might it look like in January if there is no trade deal?
We are likely to be looking at TV pictures of big queues at ports as the new system for trade between EU and UK is introduced. This may happen even if there is a deal, but is likely to be worse without one as it would introduce the need for more checks and mean co-operation between the two sides to smooth things out is less likely.The worst queues are likely entering UK ports like Dover as trucks head for the continent, as they will face new checks as they leave and as they enter continental ports. Combined with the need for new checks at Irish ports, the knock on from this could lead to significant tailbacks heading out of Irish ports and on to main routes like Dublin's M50 road. "If there are delays in France, you'll see it sooner or later on the M50 at Finglas, " one Irish source observed.
2. Hasn’t the EU published plans today to try to deal with a no-deal scenario?
Yes. But they are fairly basic. Because the airline safety and regulation regime for flights between the EU and UK would fall if there is no agreement, the Commission has agreed a six-month extension to allow something to be worked out. The same applies for rules covering road hauliers and coaches moving across the English Channel. But there is no suggestion of any leeway on implementing new customs rules or tariffs from Brussels – bar an agreement to phase in changes on movements between Britain and Northern Ireland agreed under a separate protocol (read our explainer on the Northern Ireland protocol here). And it is the customs and tariff changes between the EU and UK which will complicate things for businesses and lead to costs and delays, The EU has also proposed continued reciprocal access to fishing waters on both sides for a period. Whether further contingency measures might come if there is no agreement remains to be seen. Would the EU try to find some way to avoid chaos at the ports? Legally this would be difficult as the transition period cannot be extended. But you would be surprised if somewhere, quietly, the options wern't at least being examined.
3. So will there be delays in deliveries to Ireland and empty shelves?
There could indeed be disruption for a period – and this would be likely to be worse if there is no trade deal . Major companies, including those in time sensitive sectors like the grocery trade, have been planning for this, supply chains have been reorganised and warehouses are full with stockpiled goods . But you can’t stockpile fresh food and many other products have a shelf life. You would hope this would be temporary and new direct ferry routes from Ireland to the Continent should help, albeit that the additional time taken and cost is a problem in many cases. There could also be problems in some specific food areas due to regulatory problems, for example for some prepared meals.
READ MORE
4. What about prices?
This is an area where there is a significant difference in a no trade deal scenario. This is because it would lead to the imposition of tariffs, or special import duties, on goods entering Ireland from Britain, particularly food and grocery items. An ESRI report has estimated that if these tariffs are passed on to consumers – and generally tariffs are – then in addition to the costs coming from new delays and customs procedures, grocery bills could go up by up to €1,360 a year, a rise of more than 3 per cent in prices. Less well-off households, who spend proportionately more on grocery products, would suffer most. Increases would be seen in the price of cereals, meat, processed foods, jams, confectionery, chocolate, coffee and a range of other items. There are also tariffs on clothing and shoes – pushing up prices of UK imports here, including for those who shop online from UK outlets.
5. And the economy ?
The unprecedented nature of Brexit make it hard to judge, but the Government estimates that in a no-deal situation growth next year would be three percentage points lower than it would otherwise be, mainly because exports to the UK would be lower. The Government budget for 2021 is based on a no-deal assumption. This cost is around €10.5 billion in cash terms and estimates by the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council are that the longer-term costs could be about twice this.
Brexit will hit specific sectors – including agri-food and notably the beef sector and products like cheddar cheese. Tariffs will be applied on Irish goods entering the UK, cutting profits and in some cases pushing Irish products out of the market. Tariffs on beef can exceed 70 per cent in some cases.The Department of Agriculture believes the hit to jobs will be largely confined to agrifood and some manufacturing sectors, though it is hard to say. Some companies are very reliant on UK supply chains so disruption here could have a cost too.
6. What will the Government do ?
The Government will unveil its no-deal contingency plans soon enough unless the talks are on track. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said plans are being put in place to help affected companies, though won't say yet what they are. An extension of wage subsidies paid to firms hit by the pandemic look certain, and other supports will also be rolled out. The Government will also be trying to grab a share of a €5 billion EU Brexit fund – the only specifics mentioned by the EU today on the fund are that one of the sectors it will target is fisheries, where France will look for funds but Ireland could too. Expect to hear a lot from food, fisheries and farming representatives looking for State assistance if there is a no deal.


theirishtimes--2020-12-10--Appeal for information after protected bird shot dead in Co Laois

The National Parks and Wildlife Service ( NPWS ) has issued an appeal for information after a protected bird was found dead on the side of a road in Co Laois .
The buzzard was perched on a tree when it was shot with a shotgun at 7.50am last Saturday .
The firearm was discharged from the R422 , south of Emo village .
The NPWS , along with An Garda Síochána in Portlaoise and State forestry company Coillte , is investigating the illegal killing and is seeking any information regarding a vehicle or people acting suspiciously on the morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranger said a member of the public heard a shot and subsequently found the dead buzzard and a spent shotgun cartridge on the road .
“ The National Parks and Wildlife Service is interested in information relating to a vehicle that was recorded in the area on CCTV .
It is believed that individuals may be driving around looking for buzzards perched on the roadside and then shooting them from a vehicle , ” the ranger said .
The common buzzard is a protected species under the Wildlife Acts .
The medium-sized bird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland by the early 20th century but recolonised after a significant absence , according to BirdWatch Ireland .
Anyone with information on the matter is asked to contact the regional manager Ciara O Mahony through the NPWS regional office at ( 0761 ) 002667 or at ciara.omahony_at_chg.gov.ie .

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has issued an appeal for information after a protected bird was found dead on the side of a road in Co Laois.
The buzzard was perched on a tree when it was shot with a shotgun at 7.50am last Saturday. The firearm was discharged from the R422, south of Emo village.
The NPWS, along with An Garda Síochána in Portlaoise and State forestry company Coillte, is investigating the illegal killing and is seeking any information regarding a vehicle or people acting suspiciously on the morning of December 5th.
The investigating wildlife ranger said a member of the public heard a shot and subsequently found the dead buzzard and a spent shotgun cartridge on the road.
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“The National Parks and Wildlife Service is interested in information relating to a vehicle that was recorded in the area on CCTV. It is believed that individuals may be driving around looking for buzzards perched on the roadside and then shooting them from a vehicle,” the ranger said.
The common buzzard is a protected species under the Wildlife Acts. The medium-sized bird of prey was driven to extinction in Ireland by the early 20th century but recolonised after a significant absence, according to BirdWatch Ireland.
Anyone with information on the matter is asked to contact the regional manager Ciara O Mahony through the NPWS regional office at (0761) 002667 or at ciara.omahony_at_chg.gov.ie.


theirishtimes--2020-12-10--Fifth arrest as investigation intensifies into man’s death outside Kerry hotel

A fifth man has been arrested for questioning as gardaí in Co Kerry have intensified their investigation into the death of a man outside a hotel in the county in August .
Darragh Sheehan died from asphyxiation after he was restrained during an altercation outside the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney out a night out on Saturday , August 29th .
The 26-year-old from Doneraile , Co Cork , had been out socialising in the period before his death outside the Gleneagle Hotel on Muckross Road , where he was staying .
Gardaí believe he had been placed in a restraint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case is still being treated by gardaí as one of “ unexplained death ” , though a criminal investigation has been under way and five people have been arrested by the investigation team in recent days .
The latest person to be questioned by the investigation team is a man in his 30s , who was arrested in Thursday morning .
He has been taken to Killarney Garda station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , which allows for his detention for up to 24 hours without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their 20s and 40s , were arrested on Wednesday morning and have since been released without charge as the investigation into Mr Sheehan ’ s death continues .
Another two men were detained on Tuesday morning and they have also been released without charge .
The responses to Garda questions from all four of the men arrested and released without charge to date were set to be added to the criminal file on the case for submission to the Director of Public Prosecution ( DPP ) .
On receipt of the file @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided who , if anyone , should face criminal charges in the case and the nature of those charges .
Mr Sheehan , who played for Doneraile GAA , was a graduate of IT Tralee , where he studied mechanical engineering .
He was engaged to be married at the time of his death .
Fr Aidan Crowley from Doneraile said Mr Sheehan ’ s family and friends had been “ heartbroken ” at the news of his death .
He was survived by his fiancée , Karen , as well as his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kevin and sister Fiona .
Mr Sheehan was staying in the Gleneagle Hotel on the weekend that he died and it appears he became involved in an altercation as he had left the hotel and was going back inside after 11pm on the night in question .
Gardaí have already interviewed some people who were on the scene of Mr Sheehan ’ s death have been asked about what happened .
CCTV recorded in the environs of the hotel was also sought by the investigation team .
Gardaí were also examining the response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sheehan when it became clear he was in distress .
The results of a postmortem carried out on Mr Sheehan ’ s remains at University Hospital Kerry have not been released for “ operational reasons ” .
However , it is understood asphyxiation was at the centre of the cause of death and that the deceased had been restrained during an altercation shortly before he died .

Gardaí investigating the death of Darragh Sheehan from Doneraile in Co Cork outside the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney. Photograph: Eye Focus
A fifth man has been arrested for questioning as gardaí in Co Kerry have intensified their investigation into the death of a man outside a hotel in the county in August.
Darragh Sheehan died from asphyxiation after he was restrained during an altercation outside the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney out a night out on Saturday, August 29th.
The 26-year-old from Doneraile, Co Cork, had been out socialising in the period before his death outside the Gleneagle Hotel on Muckross Road, where he was staying. Gardaí believe he had been placed in a restraint position just before he died.
The case is still being treated by gardaí as one of “unexplained death”, though a criminal investigation has been under way and five people have been arrested by the investigation team in recent days.
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The latest person to be questioned by the investigation team is a man in his 30s, who was arrested in Thursday morning. He has been taken to Killarney Garda station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows for his detention for up to 24 hours without charge.
Two other men, aged in their 20s and 40s, were arrested on Wednesday morning and have since been released without charge as the investigation into Mr Sheehan’s death continues.
Another two men were detained on Tuesday morning and they have also been released without charge. The responses to Garda questions from all four of the men arrested and released without charge to date were set to be added to the criminal file on the case for submission to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
On receipt of the file from the Garda, the DPP will decided who, if anyone, should face criminal charges in the case and the nature of those charges.
Mr Sheehan, who played for Doneraile GAA, was a graduate of IT Tralee, where he studied mechanical engineering. He was engaged to be married at the time of his death.
Fr Aidan Crowley from Doneraile said Mr Sheehan's family and friends had been "heartbroken" at the news of his death. He was survived by his fiancée, Karen, as well as his parents Tom and Hannah, his brother Kevin and sister Fiona.
Mr Sheehan was staying in the Gleneagle Hotel on the weekend that he died and it appears he became involved in an altercation as he had left the hotel and was going back inside after 11pm on the night in question.
Gardaí have already interviewed some people who were on the scene of Mr Sheehan’s death have been asked about what happened. CCTV recorded in the environs of the hotel was also sought by the investigation team. Gardaí were also examining the response times of those present in assisting Mr Sheehan when it became clear he was in distress.
The results of a postmortem carried out on Mr Sheehan’s remains at University Hospital Kerry have not been released for “operational reasons”. However, it is understood asphyxiation was at the centre of the cause of death and that the deceased had been restrained during an altercation shortly before he died.


theirishtimes--2020-12-10--Labrador adopted after eight year wait with Dogs Trust

An 11-year-old Labrador called Oscar has been adopted from Dogs Trust after eight years waiting for a new home , the animal rescue charity has said .
Cheryl Monaghan , one of the Dogs Trust canine carers who looked after Oscar , said the black Labrador had become a favourite at the rehoming charity over the years .
“ As a carer you try not to get too attached to a dog because you hope before long they will find their forever home , ” she said .
“ Each year would pass , and Oscar would still be overlooked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then sadly , too old , ” she said .
Last year Ms Monaghan said the rescue charity wrote a letter to “ Santa Paws ” on Oscar ’ s behalf , asking for a new owner to adopt him .
This Christmas the wish came true in the form of Brian Lahiff , who recently adopted Oscar , after his own dog died .
“ After losing my dog , and best friend Jake , I knew I wanted to give another dog a second chance at happiness , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for one reason , and one reason only , Oscar had spent eight years waiting to be adopted .
He deserved a chance to spend his final years on the outside looking in , rather than the inside looking out , ” Mr Lahiff said .
“ Although I was broken-hearted when Jake passed , I knew he would like me to adopt one of his buddies in Dogs Trust and give another dog a taste of the happy life that he and I spent together , ” he said .
His last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dog adopted from Dogs Trust .
Mr Lahiff visited the Dogs Trust centre every day for a number of weeks to build up a bond with Oscar before taking him to his new home .
“ You might think adopting a long-term dog like Oscar is a big commitment , but it ’ s one of the most rewarding experiences you could ever hope to have , ” he said .
“ This Christmas is an extra special one for both Oscar and me .
It ’ s our first one together so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up for the Christmases he missed in a home , ” Mr Lahiff said .

Oscar’s new owner Brian Lahiff said adopting an older dog is “one of the most rewarding experiences you could ever hope to have”. Photograph: Dogs Trust
An 11-year-old Labrador called Oscar has been adopted from Dogs Trust after eight years waiting for a new home, the animal rescue charity has said.
Cheryl Monaghan, one of the Dogs Trust canine carers who looked after Oscar, said the black Labrador had become a favourite at the rehoming charity over the years.
“As a carer you try not to get too attached to a dog because you hope before long they will find their forever home,” she said.
“Each year would pass, and Oscar would still be overlooked for being too strong, too big, and then sadly, too old,” she said.
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Last year Ms Monaghan said the rescue charity wrote a letter to “Santa Paws” on Oscar’s behalf, asking for a new owner to adopt him.
Dogs Trust Ireland’s longest resident Oscar with his canine carer Cheryl Monaghan. Photograph: Dogs Trust
This Christmas the wish came true in the form of Brian Lahiff, who recently adopted Oscar, after his own dog died.
“After losing my dog, and best friend Jake, I knew I wanted to give another dog a second chance at happiness,” he said.
“I chose Oscar for one reason, and one reason only, Oscar had spent eight years waiting to be adopted. He deserved a chance to spend his final years on the outside looking in, rather than the inside looking out,” Mr Lahiff said.
“Although I was broken-hearted when Jake passed, I knew he would like me to adopt one of his buddies in Dogs Trust and give another dog a taste of the happy life that he and I spent together,” he said. His last dog Jake had also been a rescue dog adopted from Dogs Trust.
Mr Lahiff visited the Dogs Trust centre every day for a number of weeks to build up a bond with Oscar before taking him to his new home.
“You might think adopting a long-term dog like Oscar is a big commitment, but it’s one of the most rewarding experiences you could ever hope to have,” he said.
“This Christmas is an extra special one for both Oscar and me. It’s our first one together so I’ll make sure to make up for the Christmases he missed in a home,” Mr Lahiff said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-10--Calls for relaxation of Christmas air travel are wrong, Minister says

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly , has claimed the Oireachtas Transport Committee was wrong to call for a relaxation of advice on non-essential aviation travel around Christmas .
Mr Donnelly said the Government and public health experts remained concerned about the need to “ keep our shape and keep our discipline ” and limit social interaction over the holiday period .
The transport committee had called on Wednesday for testing at airports to allow for a greater resumption of air travel .
However , Mr Donnelly explained his concerns were based on the daily reports of the 14-day incidence rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase five days ago .
The minister said the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) had advised him that there would be “ serious exponential growth ” in infection rates if the R number ( reproductive rate ) for Covid-19 increased above 1.2 .
“ It is something that nobody wants because it puts the hospitals at risk .
It puts lives at risk , It puts the nursing homes at risk ” he observed .
Speaking on Newstalk FM ’ s Breakfast , Mr Donnelly said one of the big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning to Ireland for Christmas .
He pointed out that most countries in Europe were now branded red for travel purposes which meant anyone coming back for the holidays would have to quarantine for two weeks unless they got a negative PCR test after being back five days .
“ What I ’ m saying , what the Government is saying and I think much more importantly what the public health experts are saying is if you need to come home for Christmas , of course come home , ” the minister said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people also understood that the antigen tests proposed for use in airports were not as accurate as PCR tests .
The minister said public health experts had very serious concerns about such tests and pointed out that no country was using antigen tests for mass testing at airports .
Mr Donnelly said Nphet had advised him that Covid-19 tests at airports could give people “ a false sense of security ” .
The Ministers concerns about numbers travelling home to Ireland for the Christmas holidays were also supported by public health expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RTÉ ’ s Radio 1 ’ s Today with Claire Byrne show , Dr Scally said calls for an easing on travel restrictions over the holiday period were not helpful in the fight to combat the spread of Covid-19 .
“ I see it as a real recipe for a disastrous January and February , ” he observed .
Dr Scally , professor of public health at the University of Bristol , said a lot of events and situations around Christmas posed additional risks such as increased social interaction , colder weather and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issue of whether people should travel home to Ireland for Christmas , he observed : “ I think we need to keep our guard up.
” He claimed increasing the risk of spreading the virus was not a good Christmas present to give family and friends .
Dr Scally said there was every likelihood of a further lockdown in early 2021 because of activities around the Christmas holidays .
Mr Donnelly also defended the Government ’ s priority list for the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine which he said was based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee .
He said the objective of the list was to save as many lives as possible and prevent as many serious illnesses as possible .
On the issue of allergic reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine , Mr Donnelly said he did not believe there was any reason for the public to be concerned as it was not unusual for people to have a reaction .
Separately , a leading medical expert has claimed the advice by the UK health authorities that people with a history of significant allergic reactions should not avail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ relatively normal ” .
The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority in the UK issued the warning on Wednesday after two NHS workers experienced anaphylactoid reactions after receiving a dose of the new vaccine .
Professor Ultan Power , professor of molecular virology at Queen ’ s University Belfast , said the fact that the two healthcare staff had been carrying epi-pens showed they were aware they had significant allergic reactions in the past .
Prof Power noted that trials on the Pfizer vaccine had also excluded anybody with a severe allergic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It ’ s relatively normal to have reactions to all vaccines , ” said Prof Power .
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1 ’ s Morning Ireland , he said doctors administering the vaccine should also be aware of their patient ’ s medical history in relation to any allergic reactions .
Prof Power said there was no evidence to date that there would be any problem with the vaccine for people with mild reactions such as hay fever .
“ This information will become more clear as the rollout happens , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also unclear at this stage if some of the various Covid-19 would cause more allergic reactions than others .
However , he said the vaccine being provided by Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine was being delivered by a virusand Oxford so its reactions might be different .
Prof Power said the two NHS staff who suffered the reaction should be studies to see if the vaccine could be reformulated to remove the part that caused the reaction .

A total of 60 cases were detected in schools last week following mass testing of 2,368 students and staff in primary, post primary and special education schools
The deaths of a further 15 patients with Covid-19 have been reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet).
This brings to 2,117 the total number of deaths in the pandemic.
Nphet also reported 310 confirmed cases of the disease on Thursday evening, bringing the total number of cases to 75,203.
Hospital Report
As of 2pm today, 202 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 36 are in ICU. Some 15 additional hospitalisations have taken place in the past 24 hours.
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Dr Tony Holohan, chief medical officer at the Department of Health, said: “Tomorrow marks 14 days to Christmas Day. To ensure the safest possible interaction with your family over Christmas, consider restricting your movements now.
“Risk assess the environments you plan to be in over the next two weeks; are they compliant with public health measures? Can you keep a two metre distance? Are people wearing face coverings?
“Now is the time to make decisions about what interactions are necessary and pose the lowest risk to you, your family and friends over Christmas.”
Professor Philip Nolan, chair of the Nphet epidemiological modelling advisory group, said the reproduction number, or R rate, is now close to 1 nationally.
“Please be mindful that this remains a very dangerous virus, especially for vulnerable and older persons,” he said.
The R rate measures the average number of people infected from one other person.
Separate figures on Thursday show an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases detected in schools.
A total of 60 cases were detected in schools last week following mass testing of 2,368 students and staff in primary, post primary and special education schools.
The previous week 38 cases were detected following mass testing of 2,178 pupils and staff.
The latest figures indicate a 63 per cent increase in the number of positive cases in tested schools over the past week, with the positivity rate rising from 1.7 per cent to 2.5 per cent.
Despite this increase, the transmission of the virus remains low across schools. Health experts previously described the positivity rate of 2.3 per cent in mid-October as “reassuring” and said numbers indicated efforts to prevent the spread of the virus had been “very successful”.
The vast majority of cases detected over the last week were in primary schools (55 cases) while just five cases were found in secondary schools. There were no cases found in special education schools.
Nearly 90 per cent of cases were recorded among students or under-18s with just 11 per cent of cases recorded among staff or over-18s. The testing was carried out in 61 primary schools, 42 secondary schools and four special education schools.
The latest HSE data also shows 463 Covid-19 cases were recorded among children of school-going age in the wider community between November 29th and December 5th.
An additional 17 cases were detected in childcare facilities last week out of the total 505 children and staff who were tested, according to the HSE’s weekly Covid-19 mass testing report.
This is more than double the number (8) that tested positive during the previous week’s mass testing.
The HSE numbers only reflect cases identified through mass testing and do no include the “index case” which is the previously identified case in the school community which leads to mass testing in the first place.
As a result, the total number of people with Covid-19 in schools or childcare facilities is likely to be significantly higher.
Christmas travel
Earlier, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the Oireachtas Transport Committee was wrong to call for a relaxation of advice on non-essential aviation travel around Christmas.
Mr Donnelly said the Government and public health experts remained concerned about the need to “keep our shape and keep our discipline” and limit social interaction over the holiday period.
The transport committee had called on Wednesday for testing at airports to allow for a greater resumption of air travel.
However, Mr Donnelly explained his concerns were based on the daily reports of the 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 infection which had begun to increase five days ago.
The minister said Nphet had advised him that there would be “serious exponential growth” in infection rates if the R number (reproductive rate) for Covid-19 increased above 1.2.
“It is something that nobody wants because it puts the hospitals at risk. It puts lives at risk, It puts the nursing homes at risk” he observed.
Speaking on Newstalk FM’s Breakfast, Mr Donnelly said one of the big potential vectors for the disease was people returning to Ireland for Christmas.
He pointed out that most countries in Europe were now branded red for travel purposes which meant anyone coming back for the holidays would have to quarantine for two weeks unless they got a negative PCR test after being back five days.
“What I’m saying, what the Government is saying and I think much more importantly what the public health experts are saying is if you need to come home for Christmas, of course come home,” the minister said.
Mr Donnelly said it was important that people also understood that the antigen tests proposed for use in airports were not as accurate as PCR tests.
The minister said public health experts had very serious concerns about such tests and pointed out that no country was using antigen tests for mass testing at airports.
Mr Donnelly said Nphet had advised him that Covid-19 tests at airports could give people “a false sense of security”.
The Ministers concerns about numbers travelling home to Ireland for the Christmas holidays were also supported by public health expert, Dr Gabriel Scally.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Radio 1’s Today with Claire Byrne show, Dr Scally said calls for an easing on travel restrictions over the holiday period were not helpful in the fight to combat the spread of Covid-19.
“I see it as a real recipe for a disastrous January and February,” he observed.
Dr Scally, professor of public health at the University of Bristol, said a lot of events and situations around Christmas posed additional risks such as increased social interaction, colder weather and lots of movement of people.
Dr Scally said there was every likelihood of a further lockdown in early 2021 because of activities around the Christmas holidays.
Vaccine
Mr Donnelly also defended the Government’s priority list for the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine which he said was based on the advice of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee.
He said the objective of the list was to save as many lives as possible and prevent as many serious illnesses as possible.
On the issue of allergic reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine, Mr Donnelly said he did not believe there was any reason for the public to be concerned as it was not unusual for people to have a reaction.
Separately, a leading medical expert has claimed the advice by the UK health authorities that people with a history of significant allergic reactions should not avail of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine is “relatively normal”.
The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority in the UK issued the warning on Wednesday after two NHS workers experienced anaphylactoid reactions after receiving a dose of the new vaccine.
Professor Ultan Power, professor of molecular virology at Queen’s University Belfast, said the fact that the two healthcare staff had been carrying epi-pens showed they were aware they had significant allergic reactions in the past.
Prof Power noted that trials on the Pfizer vaccine had also excluded anybody with a severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine.
“It’s relatively normal to have reactions to all vaccines,” said Prof Power.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio 1’s Morning Ireland, he said doctors administering the vaccine should also be aware of their patient’s medical history in relation to any allergic reactions.
Prof Power said there was no evidence to date that there would be any problem with the vaccine for people with mild reactions such as hay fever.
Prof Power said the two NHS staff who suffered the reaction should be studied to see if the vaccine could be reformulated to remove the part that caused the reaction.


theirishtimes--2020-12-10--95,000 summonses awaiting listing date at District Court

There are currently 95,000 summonses awaiting a listing date at District Court level .
The sharp reduction in the cases coming before the court since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the Republic in March , led to an unprecedented backlog of cases that were waiting for a listing date .
The majority of the summonses that are in the backlog relate to alleged traffic offences , a spokesman for the Courts Service said .
They also involve alleged minor offenses involving such matters as drug possession or assault .
A new focus on addressing the backlog has led to a reduction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the number of summonses awaiting a listing , the spokesman said .
Prior to the drive to reduce the backlog , the number of summonses waiting to be listed had reached 122,000 .
It is not uncommon for there to be up to 30,000 summonses waiting for a listing , the spokesman said .
The Courts Service receives 4,600 new summons applications for hearings in the District Court every week .
The service now has 47,000 summonses scheduled for court hearings from July to mid-October The Courts Service began the processing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July .
At the time there were approximately 101,000 awaiting a scheduled date .
Working with An Garda Síochána , the service “ put huge efforts and energy into ensuring the inevitable delays did not become an immovable backlog heading into 2021 , ” the spokesman said .
There is capacity within the court system in terms of court room time and staff to accommodate increased levels of summons applications while maintaining a safe environment for those attending court , he said .
Although the listing of summonses restarted in late July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained directed at dealing with criminal and family law cases which needed urgent attention , the spokesman said .
At the start of Covid-19 restrictions large amounts of non-urgent cases had to be block adjourned to maintain the operation of courts safely .

It is not uncommon for there to be up to 30,000 summonses waiting for a listing, the Courts Service has said. Photograph: iStock
There are currently 95,000 summonses awaiting a listing date at District Court level.
The sharp reduction in the cases coming before the court since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the Republic in March led to an unprecedented backlog of cases that were waiting for a listing date.
The majority of the summonses that are in the backlog relate to alleged traffic offences, a spokesman for the Courts Service said.
They also involve alleged minor offences involving such matters as drug possession or assault.
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A new focus on addressing the backlog has led to a reduction over the past seven weeks of 27,000 in the number of summonses awaiting a listing, the spokesman said.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee told the Dáil huge work had been done to clear the backlog which had reached 122,000 summonses at its peak.
She told Sinn Féin justice spokesman Martin Kenny that “97,000 cases have been heard since July in this particular area”.
Discussions are ongoing about expanding the hours of sittings within the District Court “to try and make sure as many cases as possible are heard”.
During question time in the Dáil, she also said that up to November 27th “1,941 hearings have been conducted remotely across all jurisdictions”.
In addition “remote hearing equipment will be installed in 43 more court rooms over the next few months which will allow more cases to be heard and further reduce the backlog”, the Minister said.
Ms McEntee added that “we need to see if there are enough judges and invest in digital technology”.
The Government allocated €5 million to the Courts Service in the July stimulus package and €1.7 million of that “will be invested before year end in ICT to install video technology systems to support holding remote courts”.
The Minister said this is part of her “overall plan to digitalise the justice sector in general and obviously the courts is a huge part of that”.
Highlighting the tens of thousands of cases caught in a bottleneck because of the pandemic, Mr Kenny said “there are up to 95,000 now in a backlog and about 4,500 summonses are being generated a week on top of that”.
Mr Kenny called for more investment to ensure more staff as case numbers were dramatically cut for social distancing reasons.
He said cases caught up in the backlog that “some of it is family issues and others are small cases of criminal matters which normally would not be something that would be overbearing on people”.
But he said “because it is going on for so long and it’s hanging over them and can’t be dealt with and continue to be deferred it is causing a lot of pressure”.
The Sligo-Leitrim TD added that there was also pressure on solicitors and the legal profession who have expressed frustration at the delays and trying to get access for their clients to the courts.
Ms McEntee acknowledged that there were 122,000 summonses “in terms of the initial backlog and huge work has been done to clear that and 97,000 cases have been heard since July in this particular area”.
She said that courts have continued to sit on priority matters, particularly in the area of family law and similar matters, especially cases involving people in custody, bail, urgent injunctions and domestic violence cases.
The Minister added that the courts “have shown impressive innovation and adaptability during the pandemic in maintaining vital services”.
The Courts Service spokesman said it was not uncommon for there to be up to 30,000 summonses waiting for a listing.
The Courts Service receives 4,600 new summons applications for hearings in the District Court every week.
The service now has 47,000 summonses scheduled for court hearings from July to mid-October.