theirishtimes--2020-05-14--What was the food culture in Ireland before the potato?

A five-year inter-disciplinary study into the diet and eating habits of Irish communities in the 16th and 17th century aims to bust some myths about the Irish being an inward-looking people while shedding light on a period of history not well researched in terms of its food .
The European Research Council-funded Food Cult project brings together history , archaeology , science and information technology researchers whose knowledge and skills will be combined to test theories and analyse data about what people in Ireland ate from 1550 to 1650 .
“ We will be asking questions like was there a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
What was the impact of war on diet ?
Did the lower classes eat as the elite said they did ?
” says Dr Susan Flavin , associate professor of early modern history at Trinity College Dublin .
Flavin is the lead researcher on the €1.5 million funded Food Cult project ( foodcult.eu ) whose partner institutions are University College Dublin , the Institute of Technology in Sligo , Maynooth University and the University of Bristol , the University of Durham in the UK .
“ We want to understand what and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how they developed their identities through it .
We want to look at the impact of globalisation on the Irish diet , or how new ideas about manners or health or religion ( eg the demise of the Lenten fast after the Reformation ) changed the diet of Irish communities .
“ We know there was trade from France and Spain with the west of Ireland , but the Gaelic Irish didn ’ t keep records of this , ” Flavin adds .
Using food as a way of exploring the past is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but what marks out this project is the cross-referencing of knowledge and data that will be used to find out more about how people lived in this period .
So , for example , the household records of Dublin Castle or Christchurch Cathedral will be used to understand what foods were purchased for consumption .
These historical records will be cross-referenced with molecular analysis of human skeletons ( and/or teeth ) and animal bones , and chemical analysis of pots from the period to discover who ate which foods .
“ We want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than meat by analysing the animal bones to see if the cattle were dry stock or dairy .
We want to understand how stone masons could drink 14 pints of beer and build cathedrals , ” adds Dr Meriel McClatchie , associate professor of archaeology and director of the Ancient Food Research Group at UCD .
Beer was a source of nutrition across Europe in the 16th and 17th century .
Historical records show that English soldiers were allocated eight pints of beer a day , while those doing manual labour were allocated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have made beer from heritage grains and reproductions of the equipment used at the time [ made by artisans following images from woodcuts ] to find out how much alcohol was in it , ” says Flavin .
Meanwhile , Prof Janet Montgomery from the archaeology department at Durham University will do chemical analysis of different skeletal remains to identify different concentrations of alcohol at different locations .
The Food Cult researchers are also interested in finding out if the daily diet varied depending on whether people lived in coastal or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was an influx of people into Ireland during the Elizabethan colonisation , so we want to find out about the impact of Irish diet on English practices as well , ” says Flavin .
Historical records point out that Irish people didn ’ t eat much meat – they ate salty bacon , peas , beans , butter and cheese [ this period pre-dates the widespread use of potatoes in Ireland ] but was that based on bias or observation ?
” shes asks .
How children were fed in this period is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Infant nutrition has never been looked at for this period .
There is evidence that infant feeding bottles came to Ireland in the late 16th century , and settlers might not have wanted to give their babies to Irish wet nurses [ women who breastfed the babies of other women ] as humoral theory [ an early medical theory which defined the body according to four humours , hot , dry , wet and cold ] suggested a suckled baby might take on part of the nature of the woman who fed her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period , she adds , elite groups wanted to distinguish themselves from the peasants , and food was one of the ways to do so .
“ Historical records point to these elite groups eating ‘ white foods ’ which included all kinds of domesticated fowl and wild birds , ” she says .
“ The 16th century was a period of war and destruction .
There was scorched earth warfare in which [ opposing sides ] burned crops and killed each other ’ s animals .
Siege warfare in towns meant that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Flavin adds .
New scientific techniques can now identify and date seeds from fruits , the shells from nuts and different cereal grains .
And researchers at McClatchie ’ s archeobotany laboratory at UCD will collate research on these foods from previous excavations .
Environmental archaeologist Dr Ellen O ’ Carroll will create the Food Cult project ’ s dietary map of everything that links different communities to what they ate during the period .
“ We will be able to extract information on hops , barley , cooking pots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information all over Ireland , ” she says .
This data , which will be drawn from thousands of archaeological digs carried out in Ireland over the past 20 years , will then be statistically analysed by Prof Andrew Parnell from the department of mathematics and statistics and Maynooth University .
He will search for new patterns in diet and eating habits which – the researchers hope – will bring new knowledge about food history .
The database , and results , will be available to future researchers once the project is complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look at what people were eating in Thurles in the 17th century , what pots they used and what foods they cooked , look at comparisons with neighbouring counties , and understand the extent of new forms of consumption across Ireland , ” says McClatchie .

A 16th century brewhouse at the Weald and Downland museum in West Suxxex. “We want to understand how stone masons could drink 14 pints of beer and build cathedrals”
A five-year inter-disciplinary study into the diet and eating habits of Irish communities in the 16th and 17th century aims to bust some myths about the Irish being an inward-looking people while shedding light on a period of history not well researched in terms of its food.
The European Research Council-funded Food Cult project brings together history, archaeology, science and information technology researchers whose knowledge and skills will be combined to test theories and analyse data about what people in Ireland ate from 1550 to 1650.
"We will be asking questions like was there a food culture in Ireland before the potato? What was the impact of war on diet? Did the lower classes eat as the elite said they did?" says Dr Susan Flavin, associate professor of early modern history at Trinity College Dublin.
Flavin is the lead researcher on the €1.5 million funded Food Cult project (foodcult.eu) whose partner institutions are University College Dublin, the Institute of Technology in Sligo, Maynooth University and the University of Bristol, the University of Durham in the UK.
READ MORE
“We want to understand what and when people ate certain foods, and how they developed their identities through it. We want to look at the impact of globalisation on the Irish diet, or how new ideas about manners or health or religion (eg the demise of the Lenten fast after the Reformation) changed the diet of Irish communities.
"We know there was trade from France and Spain with the west of Ireland, but the Gaelic Irish didn't keep records of this," Flavin adds.
Using food as a way of exploring the past is in itself a new research area, but what marks out this project is the cross-referencing of knowledge and data that will be used to find out more about how people lived in this period.
So, for example, the household records of Dublin Castle or Christchurch Cathedral will be used to understand what foods were purchased for consumption. These historical records will be cross-referenced with molecular analysis of human skeletons (and/or teeth) and animal bones, and chemical analysis of pots from the period to discover who ate which foods.
"We want to understand if dairy was more important than meat by analysing the animal bones to see if the cattle were dry stock or dairy. We want to understand how stone masons could drink 14 pints of beer and build cathedrals," adds Dr Meriel McClatchie, associate professor of archaeology and director of the Ancient Food Research Group at UCD.
Nutrition
Beer was a source of nutrition across Europe in the 16th and 17th century. Historical records show that English soldiers were allocated eight pints of beer a day, while those doing manual labour were allocated 14 pints of beer a day.
“We have made beer from heritage grains and reproductions of the equipment used at the time [made by artisans following images from woodcuts] to find out how much alcohol was in it,” says Flavin.
Meanwhile, Prof Janet Montgomery from the archaeology department at Durham University will do chemical analysis of different skeletal remains to identify different concentrations of alcohol at different locations.
The Food Cult researchers are also interested in finding out if the daily diet varied depending on whether people lived in coastal or inland parts of Ireland. “There was an influx of people into Ireland during the Elizabethan colonisation, so we want to find out about the impact of Irish diet on English practices as well,” says Flavin.
Historical records point out that Irish people didn’t eat much meat – they ate salty bacon, peas, beans, butter and cheese [this period pre-dates the widespread use of potatoes in Ireland] but was that based on bias or observation?” shes asks.
How children were fed in this period is another area of potential discovery.
“Infant nutrition has never been looked at for this period. There is evidence that infant feeding bottles came to Ireland in the late 16th century, and settlers might not have wanted to give their babies to Irish wet nurses [women who breastfed the babies of other women] as humoral theory [an early medical theory which defined the body according to four humours, hot, dry, wet and cold] suggested a suckled baby might take on part of the nature of the woman who fed her,” says Flavin.
During this period, she adds, elite groups wanted to distinguish themselves from the peasants, and food was one of the ways to do so. “Historical records point to these elite groups eating ‘white foods’ which included all kinds of domesticated fowl and wild birds,” she says.
“The 16th century was a period of war and destruction. There was scorched earth warfare in which [opposing sides] burned crops and killed each other’s animals. Siege warfare in towns meant that populations were often starved before they died,” Flavin adds.
Seeds and shells
New scientific techniques can now identify and date seeds from fruits, the shells from nuts and different cereal grains. And researchers at McClatchie’s archeobotany laboratory at UCD will collate research on these foods from previous excavations.
Environmental archaeologist Dr Ellen O’Carroll will create the Food Cult project’s dietary map of everything that links different communities to what they ate during the period. “We will be able to extract information on hops, barley, cooking pots, knives, clay pipes and plot this information all over Ireland,” she says.
This data, which will be drawn from thousands of archaeological digs carried out in Ireland over the past 20 years, will then be statistically analysed by Prof Andrew Parnell from the department of mathematics and statistics and Maynooth University. He will search for new patterns in diet and eating habits which – the researchers hope – will bring new knowledge about food history.
The database, and results, will be available to future researchers once the project is complete.
"Researchers will be able to look at what people were eating in Thurles in the 17th century, what pots they used and what foods they cooked, look at comparisons with neighbouring counties, and understand the extent of new forms of consumption across Ireland," says McClatchie.


theirishtimes--2020-05-14--How to get the message across during a pandemic

You are doing your PhD on communications in pandemics , what perfect timing !
“ It is .
It is not a surprise that we have had another pandemic ; they are a given considering the emerging rate of novel infectious diseases since the 1980s .
But , yes , the Covid-19 pandemic coincides well with my research .
What are you looking at ?
I want to better understand how you get people to do what you need them to do when a health emergency happens .
Initially I had been doing a case study of the swine flu @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analysing newspaper reports and policy development with regards to responses and how it was covered in the media .
Now I am also looking at the communication responses that are developing during Covid-19 .
What have you been finding ?
There are a lot of differences between 2009 and today .
More people have a platform now to share their thoughts , especially on social media , and there is an abundance of disinformation , misinformation and conflicts of information .
A trend we are finding online is the policing of information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ even specialist journalists with large online followings have unwittingly amplified misinformation , or interpreted research findings inaccurately .
But due to policing of information by specialist sources , [ the journalist ] will take responsibility , apologise and correct when they realise their error .
People are also giving commentary on the pandemic even though it is outside of their research area , and in general scientists are facing huge challenges communicating in this environment .
What about the science communication ?
The science is moving quickly , and we are seeing research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is causing problems , though , because sometimes research findings are being discussed without the proviso that it is a preprint as opposed to peer-reviewed research .
What I find interesting is that in Ireland we have both the politicians and the medical and scientific experts out front at the press conferences and on media , trying to balance the developing science with the public recommendations .
That is an unusual situation , and I think we are seeing a mix of the public here being “ given ” the information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while also being engaged on topics like attitudes towards restrictions .
So it is very much a hybrid approach to science communication .
How did you come to be doing this research ?
My original degree was in physiology .
I studied at Queen ’ s University Belfast , and then I did a masters in public relations at Dublin Institute of Technology [ now Technological University Dublin ] and I then worked in PR roles .
I wanted to go back and study using my experience in communication and my background @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PhD with an Irish Research Council Scholarship .
What is your advice for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic ?
Everyone is asking when it will all stop , but I think we should instead be thinking about what we can do if this is ongoing for a protracted period , what can we do to live this way and how to communicate this effectively .
My thinking in the past few months is how we need a cross-disciplinary approach to effective pandemic communication as issues have arisen especially in relation to restrictions , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique and specialised , and needs to be supported not just by health and science communicators but by psychologists , neuroscientists , sociologists , sociobiologists and other disciplines too .
”

Barbara Gormley: “I want to better understand how you get people to do what you need them to do when a health emergency happens”
You are doing your PhD on communications in pandemics, what perfect timing!
“It is. It is not a surprise that we have had another pandemic; they are a given considering the emerging rate of novel infectious diseases since the 1980s. But, yes, the Covid-19 pandemic coincides well with my research.
What are you looking at?
I want to better understand how you get people to do what you need them to do when a health emergency happens. Initially I had been doing a case study of the swine flu H1N1 pandemic in Ireland in 2009, analysing newspaper reports and policy development with regards to responses and how it was covered in the media. Now I am also looking at the communication responses that are developing during Covid-19.
READ MORE
What have you been finding?
There are a lot of differences between 2009 and today. More people have a platform now to share their thoughts, especially on social media, and there is an abundance of disinformation, misinformation and conflicts of information.
A trend we are finding online is the policing of information. Due to the rapid rate of information-sharing even specialist journalists with large online followings have unwittingly amplified misinformation, or interpreted research findings inaccurately.
But due to policing of information by specialist sources, [the journalist] will take responsibility, apologise and correct when they realise their error. People are also giving commentary on the pandemic even though it is outside of their research area, and in general scientists are facing huge challenges communicating in this environment.
What about the science communication?
The science is moving quickly, and we are seeing research studies being published extremely rapidly as pre-prints. This is causing problems, though, because sometimes research findings are being discussed without the proviso that it is a preprint as opposed to peer-reviewed research.
What I find interesting is that in Ireland we have both the politicians and the medical and scientific experts out front at the press conferences and on media, trying to balance the developing science with the public recommendations.
That is an unusual situation, and I think we are seeing a mix of the public here being “given” the information in a top-down manner about the science, while also being engaged on topics like attitudes towards restrictions. So it is very much a hybrid approach to science communication.
How did you come to be doing this research?
My original degree was in physiology. I studied at Queen's University Belfast, and then I did a masters in public relations at Dublin Institute of Technology [now Technological University Dublin] and I then worked in PR roles. I wanted to go back and study using my experience in communication and my background in science, so I started this PhD with an Irish Research Council Scholarship.
What is your advice for dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic?
Everyone is asking when it will all stop, but I think we should instead be thinking about what we can do if this is ongoing for a protracted period, what can we do to live this way and how to communicate this effectively.
My thinking in the past few months is how we need a cross-disciplinary approach to effective pandemic communication as issues have arisen especially in relation to restrictions, complacency and fatigue.
Pandemic communication is unique and specialised, and needs to be supported not just by health and science communicators but by psychologists, neuroscientists, sociologists, sociobiologists and other disciplines too.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-14--‘Big avalanche’ of people rebooking holidays for 2021, say travel agents

There has been “ a big avalanche ” of people rebooking holidays for summer 2021 , the Irish Travel Agents Association has said .
Pat Dawson , chief executive of the association , said people who had booked holidays for this summer have either pushed their breaks back until the autumn or to next year .
“ People who had booked holidays for May , June and July are doing either of two things – pushing them out until September , October , November or switching their holidays until next year , ” Mr Dawson told The Irish Times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ avalanche of bookings , surprisingly , people booking for summer 2021.
” Mr Dawson said travel agents are “ the worst off ” industry due to Covid-19 .
“ I don ’ t think any travel agent in Ireland has taken in any money from March 1st and certainly we don ’ t visualise any money until September or October , not one cent , at the earliest , ” he said .
“ Now people pay a deposit but that deposit then goes , it doesn ’ t go to the travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airline or straight to a deposit on a cruise ship or whatever it is.
” Mr Dawson said without the Government ’ s wage subsidy scheme half of the country ’ s travel agents “ would be gone overnight ” .
“ We have to stay open because we have to keep the customer informed , flights are cancelled or being changed , resorts are closing .
We ’ re all working behind the scenes ... Travel agents are talking to their customers every hour of the day , ” he added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Travel Extra magazine , said “ everything is currently focused around changing and rebooking ” .
“ Everybody is looking at existing bookings , mostly for the summer , and saying where am I going to move that to .
Until really only this week they only really had the option to move that to September , October , and that wasn ’ t much help to them , ” he said .
“ But for the first time , about a quarter or a third of the schedule for Ryanair has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would do the big routes , like Ireland to London , they ’ re actually loading them for sun routes and that ’ s created the first outlet , the first little chance for people to do a serious rescheduling of a holiday.
” Mr Corry said many people had been in touch with him , worried about holidays they had booked for November and December .
“ It ’ s now dawning on people that this isn ’ t going to go away as quickly or as cleanly as we expected , @ @ @ @

‘Everything is currently focused around changing and rebooking,’ Eoghan Corry of Travel Extra magazine says. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
There has been "a big avalanche" of people rebooking holidays for summer 2021, the Irish Travel Agents Association has said.
Pat Dawson, chief executive of the association, said people who had booked holidays for this summer have either pushed their breaks back until the autumn or to next year.
“People who had booked holidays for May, June and July are doing either of two things – pushing them out until September, October, November or switching their holidays until next year,” Mr Dawson told The Irish Times.
“There has certainly been a big avalanche of bookings, surprisingly, people booking for summer 2021.”
READ MORE
Mr Dawson said travel agents are “the worst off” industry due to Covid-19.
"I don't think any travel agent in Ireland has taken in any money from March 1st and certainly we don't visualise any money until September or October, not one cent, at the earliest," he said.
“Now people pay a deposit but that deposit then goes, it doesn’t go to the travel agent, it goes straight to the airline or straight to a deposit on a cruise ship or whatever it is.”
Mr Dawson said without the Government’s wage subsidy scheme half of the country’s travel agents “would be gone overnight”.
‘Behind the scenes’
“We have to stay open because we have to keep the customer informed, flights are cancelled or being changed, resorts are closing. We’re all working behind the scenes...Travel agents are talking to their customers every hour of the day,” he added.
Eoghan Corry, travel writer and publisher of Travel Extra magazine, said "everything is currently focused around changing and rebooking".
“Everybody is looking at existing bookings, mostly for the summer, and saying where am I going to move that to. Until really only this week they only really had the option to move that to September, October, and that wasn’t much help to them,” he said.
"But for the first time, about a quarter or a third of the schedule for Ryanair has been loaded for summer. Normally they would do the big routes, like Ireland to London, they're actually loading them for sun routes and that's created the first outlet, the first little chance for people to do a serious rescheduling of a holiday."
Mr Corry said many people had been in touch with him, worried about holidays they had booked for November and December.
“It’s now dawning on people that this isn’t going to go away as quickly or as cleanly as we expected,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Covid-19: Testing delays will not impact decision on easing restrictions, Holohan says

Delays in reducing the time it takes to test and trace the contacts of new Covid-19 cases will not affect the decision on whether to ease lockdown restrictions next Monday , the State ’ s chief medical officer has said .
Technical issues have delayed the time it takes to test infected people and trace their contacts , but Dr Tony Holohan insisted that this would not be a factor in the decision of the State ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team on sanctioning the first wave of lockdown relaxations .
“ I am not anticipating that we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is going to limit us in terms of easing restriction , ” he said at the Department of Health Covid-19 briefing on Wednesday .
The department announced that 10 more people have died in the State from Covid-19 , the lowest daily death toll since late March , and that there were 159 new cases of the virus .
These latest figures brought overall coronavirus-related fatalities here to 1,497 , of which 55 per cent , or 818 people , were nursing home residents .
There are now 23,401 confirmed cases of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has proposed allowing up to four people not from the same household to meet outdoors from Monday and the reopening of some retail outlets such as garden centres , but health officials will make a final decision on sanctioning this based on infection rates and hospital figures .
Dr Holohan pointed to continuing improvements in relation to testing and contact tracing over the coming days and that the “ trajectory ” of improvement will continue “ all the way up to Monday ” .
In a setback to the Government ’ s Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone on Wednesday night announced the scrapping of a scheme to provide temporary childcare to healthcare workers – launched just last week to provide childcare at home for front-line medics – due to the low take-up by childcare providers .
Only six providers signed up to be part of the service , with owners citing difficulties with insurance cover and concerns over possible transmission of the virus for the low number .
The HSE will pledge in a new plan to be unveiled on Thursday that Covid-19 test results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within 72 hours – down from a nine-day average turnaround time that health specialists say is not fast enough to fight the pandemic .
The plan , aimed at supporting the process of gradually easing restrictions from Monday , will set out a series of key performance indicators , including the number of tests per week , the turnaround time for results and the targets for faster contact tracing .
Dr Holohan dismissed the possibility of schools reopening earlier than planned , playing down the Taoiseach ’ s enthusiasm that this could happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday that reopening schools for children “ over the next couple of months ” was “ among the safest things ” that the State could do in light of latest medical research .
Dr Holohan said that there was “ a very small number of studies ” on the issue involving “ small numbers of children ” , but insufficient evidence to change official advice on reopening schools .
No consideration had yet been given to the wearing of face coverings in classrooms when schools are due to reopen in September , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taoiseach ’ s intention had been to put the education system on notice that schools would reopen in September and to combat claims that this may not be possible .
Sources suggested schools could reopen earlier , by about a week or so , to allow children with special needs to reacquaint themselves with the school setting before term starts , while teachers and staff could be allowed back in the opening phases to prepare for the school year .
Dr Holohan said he was still advising against non-essential travel in or out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing for borders to reopen in order to revive travel in the June-August holiday season .

Delays in the testing and tracing system for Covid-19 will not affect the decision on whether to ease lockdown restrictions next Monday, the State’s chief medical officer has said. File photograph: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
Delays in reducing the time it takes to test and trace the contacts of new Covid-19 cases will not affect the decision on whether to ease lockdown restrictions next Monday, the State’s chief medical officer has said.
Technical issues have delayed the time it takes to test infected people and trace their contacts, but Dr Tony Holohan insisted that this would not be a factor in the decision of the State's National Public Health Emergency Team on sanctioning the first wave of lockdown relaxations.
"I am not anticipating that we will be in a situation whereby that performance is going to limit us in terms of easing restriction," he said at the Department of Health Covid-19 briefing on Wednesday.
The department announced that 10 more people have died in the State from Covid-19, the lowest daily death toll since late March, and that there were 159 new cases of the virus.
READ MORE
These latest figures brought overall coronavirus-related fatalities here to 1,497, of which 55 per cent, or 818 people, were nursing home residents. There are now 23,401 confirmed cases of the virus in the country.
The Government has proposed allowing up to four people not from the same household to meet outdoors from Monday and the reopening of some retail outlets such as garden centres, but health officials will make a final decision on sanctioning this based on infection rates and hospital figures.
Dr Holohan pointed to continuing improvements in relation to testing and contact tracing over the coming days and that the “trajectory” of improvement will continue “all the way up to Monday”.
Childcare scheme
In a setback to the Government's Covid-19 response, however, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone on Wednesday night announced the scrapping of a scheme to provide temporary childcare to healthcare workers – launched just last week to provide childcare at home for front-line medics – due to the low take-up by childcare providers.
Only six providers signed up to be part of the service, with owners citing difficulties with insurance cover and concerns over possible transmission of the virus for the low number.
The HSE will pledge in a new plan to be unveiled on Thursday that Covid-19 test results and contact tracing will be turned around within 72 hours – down from a nine-day average turnaround time that health specialists say is not fast enough to fight the pandemic.
The plan, aimed at supporting the process of gradually easing restrictions from Monday, will set out a series of key performance indicators, including the number of tests per week, the turnaround time for results and the targets for faster contact tracing.
Schools reopening
Dr Holohan dismissed the possibility of schools reopening earlier than planned, playing down the Taoiseach’s enthusiasm that this could happen sooner.
Leo Varadkar had said earlier on Wednesday that reopening schools for children "over the next couple of months" was "among the safest things" that the State could do in light of latest medical research.
Dr Holohan said that there was “a very small number of studies” on the issue involving “small numbers of children”, but insufficient evidence to change official advice on reopening schools.
No consideration had yet been given to the wearing of face coverings in classrooms when schools are due to reopen in September, he said.
Government sources suggested the Taoiseach’s intention had been to put the education system on notice that schools would reopen in September and to combat claims that this may not be possible.
Sources suggested schools could reopen earlier, by about a week or so, to allow children with special needs to reacquaint themselves with the school setting before term starts, while teachers and staff could be allowed back in the opening phases to prepare for the school year.
Dr Holohan said he was still advising against non-essential travel in or out of the country, despite the EU pushing for borders to reopen in order to revive travel in the June-August holiday season.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Scouting Ireland to publish final report into historic child abuse

Scouting Ireland is to publish a final report on Thursday into historic child sex abuse that took place in legacy scouting organisations , completed by child protection expert Ian Elliott .
The report is understood to be around 50 pages in length and makes 12 recommendations , as well as detailing several case studies .
Scouting Ireland is to make an “ organisational apology ” to all survivors of past abuse in response to the report ’ s publication .
Mr Elliott , who also acted as Scouting Ireland ’ s interim safeguarding manager for several months , has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
The report , titled “ Historical Sexual Abuse in Scouting : A Learning Review ” , was sent to Scouting Ireland ’ s board of directors several weeks ago .
The board initially delayed publication due to concerns over the impact on abuse survivors potentially isolated and cocooning due to the coronavirus , sources said .
The historic child sexual abuse scandal relates to Scouting Ireland ’ s predecessor organisations , the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland ( CBSI ) and the Scout Association of Ireland ( SAI ) , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To date 321 alleged victims have been identified , 247 alleged perpetrators , and a further 70 victims of alleged youth-on-youth abuse .
The alleged abuse primarily occurred between the 1960s and 1990s , with evidence of elements of a cover-up involving senior figures at the time .
In advance of the report ’ s publication Scouting Ireland chief executive Anne Griffin and board chairman Adrian Tennant met Minister for Children Katherine Zappone on Wednesday .
Several staff members will be posted to a dedicated helpline in Larch Hill , the organisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin , to respond to potential calls from survivors on Thursday .
The abuse revelations were first disclosed by the organisation at an Oireachtas committee hearing in November 2018 .
Evidence of the abuse was uncovered following an initial review by Mr Elliott including an audit of historic files , interviews with former staff and senior volunteers , and information provided by survivors coming forward .
On foot of the revelations Mr Elliott was commissioned by the organisation to complete a full report into the scale and nature of the past abuse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have called for a statutory inquiry to be held into the historic abuse .
Speaking in the Dáil last November , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government would consider a “ commission of investigation or a statutory inquiry of some nature ” into the scandal .
Safeguarding issues in Scouting Ireland were first revealed over two years ago .
In February 2018 The Irish Times reported a confidential review had found the organisation ’ s handling of a rape allegation concerning two adult volunteers to be “ deeply flawed.
” The youth organisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone over governance concerns in response to the controversy .
Scouting Ireland has more than 50,000 members , including 12,000 adult volunteers .
Last week , a separate report by Brigid McManus , former Department of Education secretary general , found governance reforms in Scouting Ireland had been “ implemented satisfactorily .
”

Ian Elliott has been investigating the historic abuse for over a year. Photograph Nick Bradshaw for The Irish Times
Scouting Ireland is to publish a final report on Thursday into historic child sex abuse that took place in legacy scouting organisations, completed by child protection expert Ian Elliott.
The report is understood to be around 50 pages in length and makes 12 recommendations, as well as detailing several case studies. Scouting Ireland is to make an “organisational apology” to all survivors of past abuse in response to the report’s publication.
Mr Elliott, who also acted as Scouting Ireland’s interim safeguarding manager for several months, has been investigating the historic abuse for over a year.
The report, titled “Historical Sexual Abuse in Scouting: A Learning Review”, was sent to Scouting Ireland’s board of directors several weeks ago. The board initially delayed publication due to concerns over the impact on abuse survivors potentially isolated and cocooning due to the coronavirus, sources said.
READ MORE
The historic child sexual abuse scandal relates to Scouting Ireland's predecessor organisations, the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI) and the Scout Association of Ireland (SAI), which merged to form one association in 2004.
To date 321 alleged victims have been identified, 247 alleged perpetrators, and a further 70 victims of alleged youth-on-youth abuse. The alleged abuse primarily occurred between the 1960s and 1990s, with evidence of elements of a cover-up involving senior figures at the time.
In advance of the report's publication Scouting Ireland chief executive Anne Griffin and board chairman Adrian Tennant met Minister for Children Katherine Zappone on Wednesday.
Several staff members will be posted to a dedicated helpline in Larch Hill, the organisation’s head office in south Co Dublin, to respond to potential calls from survivors on Thursday.
The abuse revelations were first disclosed by the organisation at an Oireachtas committee hearing in November 2018. Evidence of the abuse was uncovered following an initial review by Mr Elliott including an audit of historic files, interviews with former staff and senior volunteers, and information provided by survivors coming forward.
On foot of the revelations Mr Elliott was commissioned by the organisation to complete a full report into the scale and nature of the past abuse.
However, several survivors and opposition politicians have called for a statutory inquiry to be held into the historic abuse.
Speaking in the Dáil last November, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government would consider a “commission of investigation or a statutory inquiry of some nature” into the scandal.
Safeguarding issues in Scouting Ireland were first revealed over two years ago. In February 2018 The Irish Times reported a confidential review had found the organisation’s handling of a rape allegation concerning two adult volunteers to be “deeply flawed.”
The youth organisation’s State funding was twice suspended by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone over governance concerns in response to the controversy.
Scouting Ireland has more than 50,000 members, including 12,000 adult volunteers. Last week, a separate report by Brigid McManus, former Department of Education secretary general, found governance reforms in Scouting Ireland had been “implemented satisfactorily.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--One-way traffic system to be introduced in south Dublin’s Blackrock

A one-way traffic system is to be put in place in the south Dublin village of Blackrock by the end of the month in order to ensure safe public distancing during the Covid-19 emergency .
On Wednesday , Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said it had taken the decision to facilitate safe physical distancing , mobility and the re-opening of local businesses .
The installation of a temporary one-way traffic system will see space reallocated for pedestrians and cyclists .
“ The Council are working on this initiative with the support of the Blackrock Business Network .
The details of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will be finalised next week , ” it said in a statement .
“ It is envisaged that the temporary changes will be implemented in the village from Wednesday , 27th May.
” It said whatever emerges will not adversely affect public transport serving the village and any temporary materials would be “ both functional and sympathetic to the public realm ” .
The council is in the process of preparing a county-wide plan of temporary measures to address the challenges presented by Covid-19 including public safety , mobility and the recovery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It should completed in the next two weeks .
Skirted by the N31 , a major road artery , Blackrock is a sizeable village with a main street and numerous commercial premises bordered to the east by the sea and the north by a large park .
It is also surrounded by extensive suburban environs with a considerable population .
In response to the announcement , the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Cycling Group said it believed the plan would likely include a contra-flow lane for cycling , improving safe access to the village @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an exercise here ” .
That remains unverified .
Reaction on social media to changing the layout of the commercial village was generally positive .
“ There are five car parks in Blackrock , plus on street parking just off Main Street , ” one post noted .
“ I think it ’ s great that the council are looking at ways to make the village safer for pedestrians & cyclists as the footpaths are so narrow and there are no bike lanes.
” Green Party councillor Séafra Ó Faoláin tweeted that full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local business community and residents “ for putting the proposal together ” .

Skirted by the N31, a major road artery, Blackrock is a sizeable village with a main street and numerous commercial premises.
A one-way traffic system is to be put in place in the south Dublin village of Blackrock by the end of the month in order to ensure safe public distancing during the Covid-19 emergency.
On Wednesday, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council said it had taken the decision to facilitate safe physical distancing, mobility and the re-opening of local businesses.
The installation of a temporary one-way traffic system will see space reallocated for pedestrians and cyclists.
“The Council are working on this initiative with the support of the Blackrock Business Network. The details of the plan are currently being worked on and will be finalised next week,” it said in a statement. “It is envisaged that the temporary changes will be implemented in the village from Wednesday, 27th May.”
READ MORE
It said whatever emerges will not adversely affect public transport serving the village and any temporary materials would be “both functional and sympathetic to the public realm”.
The council is in the process of preparing a county-wide plan of temporary measures to address the challenges presented by Covid-19 including public safety, mobility and the recovery of the local economy, it said. It should completed in the next two weeks.
Skirted by the N31, a major road artery, Blackrock is a sizeable village with a main street and numerous commercial premises bordered to the east by the sea and the north by a large park. It is also surrounded by extensive suburban environs with a considerable population.
In response to the announcement, the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Cycling Group said it believed the plan would likely include a contra-flow lane for cycling, improving safe access to the village “to the many families who shop an exercise here”. That remains unverified.
Reaction on social media to changing the layout of the commercial village was generally positive.
“There are five car parks in Blackrock, plus on street parking just off Main Street,” one post noted.
“I think it’s great that the council are looking at ways to make the village safer for pedestrians & cyclists as the footpaths are so narrow and there are no bike lanes.”
Green Party councillor Séafra Ó Faoláin tweeted that full credit for the move went to the local business community and residents “for putting the proposal together”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Girl (10) dies in farm accident in Co Donegal

A 10-year-old girl has died in a farm accident in Co Donegal .
It is understood the incident involved a @ @ @ @ @ but details are unclear .
The girl was pronounced dead at the scene which is @ @ @ @ @ the county and her body was removed to the Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Co Derry @ @ @ @ @ and have sealed the scene for examination .
The Health and Safety Authority ( HSA @ @ @ @ @ work place fatalities , has been notified .

Gardaí attended the farm and the Health and Safety Authority were notified.
The girl who died in a farming accident in Co Donegal on Wednesday has been named locally as Louise Colhoun (10).
She died from injuries she suffered as a result of being struck by a tractor on the family farm on the Inishowen peninsula.
She was one of three children of local farmer, Robert Colhoun and his wife, Sarah Jo, and was a pupil at Urblereagh National School in Malin Head.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor, Martin McDermott, expressed his condolences to the family and said people living in the area were shocked to learn of Louise’s death.
READ MORE
“Everyone in the community is devastated by the news. It is an awful tragedy and just one of those freak accidents,” said Mr McDermott, who is cathaoirleach of the Inishowen municipal district.
“Every death like this is a tragedy but particularly so when it involves the death of a young child.”
The girl was pronounced dead at the scene on Wednesday and her body was removed to the Altnagelvin Area Hospital in Co Derry.
Gardaí attended the farm and sealed the scene for examination. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA), which deals with work place fatalities, has been notified.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Coronavirus: Childcare scheme for healthcare workers cancelled

A scheme to provide temporary childcare for essential healthcare workers has been cancelled when only six providers volunteered to participate in it .
The scheme was set up in response to requests from those who were being asked to work long hours on the frontline with nobody at home to mind their children .
The provision of childcare for essential health workers has been a major issue for staff and trade unions over recent weeks since the closure of schools and creches .
A HSE survey last month indicated that up to 8,000 staff either had or forecast they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was designed in response to a request from the Department of Health and the HSE to put emergency childcare in place for essential health workers .
It envisaged childcare practitioners working on an outreach basis in the homes of health workers , with childcare providers and their staff being paid for the service .
The funding allowed for payment of an average wage of €15 per hour for childcare practitioners , in addition to associated employer costs , as well as a management overhead to provide for supervision and support .
The service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per week and could cover 5,000 families .
In a statement the Department of Children and Youth Affairs said a fear of getting an infection , fears over insurance cover and difficulties in meeting employer responsibilities in relation to breaks and rest periods may be responsible for the low take-up of the scheme .
The Department also acknowledged that many of the 27,000 mostly women involved in professional childcare themselves had issues looking after their own children because of the closure of schools and creches .
“ The Minister noted that the challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a difficult one given the important public health restrictions in place , ” it said in a statement .
“ While the home based approach met public health requirements , the provision of this type of model raised other difficulties , and the sector were concerned generally about potential health impacts amidst continued strict social distancing rules .
“ The Minister acknowledged the efforts both within her own Department and externally to get the scheme up and running .
She had sincerely hoped that it would be possible to deliver such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the burden on our frontline health workers .
Unfortunately this has not proved to be the case .
”

The provision of childcare for essential health workers has been a major issue for staff and trade unions over recent weeks since the closure of schools and creches. Photograph: iStock
A scheme to provide temporary childcare for essential healthcare workers has been cancelled when only six providers volunteered to participate in it.
The scheme was set up in response to requests from those who were being asked to work long hours on the frontline with nobody at home to mind their children.
The provision of childcare for essential health workers has been a major issue for staff and trade unions over recent weeks since the closure of schools and creches.
A HSE survey last month indicated that up to 8,000 staff either had or forecast they would soon have childcare difficulties.
READ MORE
The scheme was designed in response to a request from the Department of Health and the HSE to put emergency childcare in place for essential health workers.
It envisaged childcare practitioners working on an outreach basis in the homes of health workers, with childcare providers and their staff being paid for the service.
The funding allowed for payment of an average wage of €15 per hour for childcare practitioners, in addition to associated employer costs, as well as a management overhead to provide for supervision and support.
The service was expected to cost about €4.7 million per week and could cover 5,000 families. In a statement the Department of Children and Youth Affairs said a fear of getting an infection, fears over insurance cover and difficulties in meeting employer responsibilities in relation to breaks and rest periods may be responsible for the low take-up of the scheme.
The Department also acknowledged that many of the 27,000 mostly women involved in professional childcare themselves had issues looking after their own children because of the closure of schools and creches.
“The Minister noted that the challenge of introducing childcare provision at this time is a difficult one given the important public health restrictions in place,” it said in a statement.
“While the home based approach met public health requirements, the provision of this type of model raised other difficulties, and the sector were concerned generally about potential health impacts amidst continued strict social distancing rules.
“The Minister acknowledged the efforts both within her own Department and externally to get the scheme up and running. She had sincerely hoped that it would be possible to deliver such a scheme successfully and so ease some of the burden on our frontline health workers. Unfortunately this has not proved to be the case.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--War of Independence grenade discovery closes Dublin city bridge

Harold ’ s Cross bridge in south Dublin city was closed off on Wednesday evening while gardaí and members of @ @ @ @ @ a grenade dating from the War of Independence .
The grenade was found in the @ @ @ @ @ bridge and was taken from the water.Gardaí closed the bridge to road and pedestrian traffic @ @ @ @ @ team arrived at the scene around 8.30pm and assessed the device .
It was found @ @ @ @ @ grenade used during the War of Independence which took place between 1919 and 1921 .
@ @ @ @ @ the scene and the road has since reopened .
The bomb disposal unit left the @ @ @ @ @

Harold’s Cross bridge in south Dublin city was closed off on Wednesday evening while gardaí and members of the Defence Forces dealt with a grenade dating from the War of Independence.
The grenade was found in the Grand Canal close to the bridge and was taken from the water.Gardaí closed the bridge to road and pedestrian traffic. The army bomb disposal team arrived at the scene around 8.30pm and assessed the device.
It was found to be a mills type grenade used during the War of Independence which took place between 1919 and 1921. It was made safe at the scene and the road has since reopened. The bomb disposal unit left the area at about 10.30pm.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Locals take legal action to close direct provision centre in Cahersiveen

Legal proceedings are being taken by locals in Cahersiveen to shut down the direct provision centre to which 105 people @ @ @ @ @ during the pandemic .
The matter is to come before the Circuit Court in Tralee @ @ @ @ @ of Renard , Cahersiveen has instructed solicitor Padraig O ’ Connell to proceed to take @ @ @ @ @ of the centre at the Skellig Star Hotel , the solicitor has confirmed .
It @ @ @ @ @ business people in Cahersiveen will join in the proceedings , Mr O ’ Connell said @ @ @ @ @ as well as local people have been campaigning to close it down .
At least @ @ @ @ @ have now tested positive for Covid-19 since arriving in Cahersiveen .

Welcome signs on the windows of the Skellig Star Hotel ahead of the arrival of the refugees. Photograph: Alan Landers
Legal proceedings are being taken by locals in Cahersiveen to shut down the direct provision centre to which 105 people seeking international protection were transferred during the pandemic.
The matter is to come before the Circuit Court in Tralee next week.
Ciaran Quinlan of Renard, Cahersiveen has instructed solicitor Padraig O’Connell to proceed to take an injunction against the operator of the centre at the Skellig Star Hotel, the solicitor has confirmed.
It is expected other individuals and business people in Cahersiveen will join in the proceedings, Mr O’Connell said.
READ MORE
Residents of the centre as well as local people have been campaigning to close it down. At least 25 people within the centre have now tested positive for Covid-19 since arriving in Cahersiveen.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Airlines furious at EU’s stance that passengers cannot be forced to accept vouchers

Airlines have reacted with fury to the European Commission ’ s fresh demand that passengers must be given cash refunds for cancelled flights , and can not be forced to accept vouchers instead .
The EU ’ s executive body had been under pressure to ease passenger rights to allow airlines withhold cash refunds by a group of member states and business lobbies concerned about a collapse of the aviation industry due to coronavirus .
However , the lobbying failed , and the commission is now threatening to move against member states for failing to implement EU law if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airlines to account .
“ If you have lost your job , if this is your entire holiday budget for travelling that sits in these tickets you can not use any more , then you need a refund .
And that is why we say this is your right , full stop , ” said commissioner Margrethe Vestager .
A letter will be sent to all EU states to “ ensure respect of passenger rights ” , and to outline suggestions to make vouchers more attractive if airlines want more passengers to accept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued jointly by the International Air Transport Association ( IATA ) and Airlines For Europe ( A4E ) – an umbrella group representing Air France-KLM , EasyJet , IAG , Lufthansa and Ryanair – as well as other airline groups decried the “ lack of leadership ” from the commission .
It said the measures would “ not alleviate and could even contribute to the financial distress of airlines and the wider tourism industry ” , adding that the “ unclear and non-binding EC recommendations will create further confusion for airlines and passengers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulatory action is urgently needed ” .
That managing director of A4E , Thomas Reynaert , said that “ while passengers have a clear right to reimbursement of their tickets , we believe refundable vouchers , or a delayed reimbursement , represents a fair and reasonable compromise given the unprecedented liquidity situation airlines are currently facing ” .
Rafael Schvartzman , IATA ’ s regional vice-president for Europe , said that “ at a time when airlines are facing the greatest crisis in their history , we are disappointed and astonished that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority of member states for a temporary amendment to Regulation 261/2004 ” .
“ Millions of jobs are at risk if airlines collapse .
Action from the commission now would safeguard consumer protection , and help airlines through the current crisis.
” The commission stressed that the rules can not be changed , and suggested that if airlines want fewer passengers to seek cash refunds they should make vouchers more attractive , for example by adding perks or making them transferable or redeemable for cash if unused by an expiry date .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voucher or would like to support the businesses by taking a voucher , this can be made attractive , ” Ms Vestager said , adding that long delays before reimbursement were “ not what is supposed to happen ” .
Roughly 15 EU states – including Ireland – had backed airlines in asking that the rules be relaxed , and as many as 12 are thought to have been allowing airlines to hold off on paying refunds to passengers .
The European Consumer Centre in Ireland welcomed the recommendations which , it said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ package travel rights remain unchanged ” .
A spokeswoman stressed that the commission ’ s communication made it clear that while consumers can be offered vouchers , “ it is entirely their decision to accept these or not ” .
Pan-European consumer organisation BEUC also welcomed the report , saying it “ came after a co-ordinated effort from almost 20 EU countries to try to temporarily amend the travellers rights ’ legislations to suspend the right to a refund established in EU legislations and impose vouchers ” .
“ This is good and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general Monique Goyens .
“ It is precisely in times of crisis such as these that travellers should be able to rely on strong consumer rights .
Trying to make consumers bail out transport and travel companies through cheap credit in the form of vouchers is unacceptable : consumers are not banks .
”

A letter will be sent to all EU states to “ensure respect of passenger rights”, and to outline suggestions to make vouchers more attractive if airlines want more passengers to accept them instead of refunds. Photograph: Getty Images
Airlines have reacted with fury to the European Commission’s fresh demand that passengers must be given cash refunds for cancelled flights, and cannot be forced to accept vouchers instead.
The EU’s executive body had been under pressure to ease passenger rights to allow airlines withhold cash refunds by a group of member states and business lobbies concerned about a collapse of the aviation industry due to coronavirus.
However, the lobbying failed, and the commission is now threatening to move against member states for failing to implement EU law if they fail to enforce passenger rights and hold airlines to account.
"If you have lost your job, if this is your entire holiday budget for travelling that sits in these tickets you cannot use any more, then you need a refund. And that is why we say this is your right, full stop," said commissioner Margrethe Vestager.
READ MORE
A letter will be sent to all EU states to “ensure respect of passenger rights”, and to outline suggestions to make vouchers more attractive if airlines want more passengers to accept them instead of refunds.
A statement issued jointly by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Airlines For Europe (A4E) – an umbrella group representing Air France-KLM, EasyJet, IAG, Lufthansa and Ryanair – as well as other airline groups decried the "lack of leadership" from the commission.
It said the measures would “not alleviate and could even contribute to the financial distress of airlines and the wider tourism industry”, adding that the “unclear and non-binding EC recommendations will create further confusion for airlines and passengers at a time when clear, decisive regulatory action is urgently needed”.
Compromise
That managing director of A4E, Thomas Reynaert, said that "while passengers have a clear right to reimbursement of their tickets, we believe refundable vouchers, or a delayed reimbursement, represents a fair and reasonable compromise given the unprecedented liquidity situation airlines are currently facing".
Rafael Schvartzman, IATA's regional vice-president for Europe, said that "at a time when airlines are facing the greatest crisis in their history, we are disappointed and astonished that the commission has ignored the request from the majority of member states for a temporary amendment to Regulation 261/2004".
“Millions of jobs are at risk if airlines collapse. Action from the commission now would safeguard consumer protection, and help airlines through the current crisis.”
The commission stressed that the rules cannot be changed, and suggested that if airlines want fewer passengers to seek cash refunds they should make vouchers more attractive, for example by adding perks or making them transferable or redeemable for cash if unused by an expiry date.
“If one can afford to take a voucher or would like to support the businesses by taking a voucher, this can be made attractive,” Ms Vestager said, adding that long delays before reimbursement were “not what is supposed to happen”.
Hold off
Roughly 15 EU states – including Ireland – had backed airlines in asking that the rules be relaxed, and as many as 12 are thought to have been allowing airlines to hold off on paying refunds to passengers.
The European Consumer Centre in Ireland welcomed the recommendations which, it said, “confirmed that EU passenger and package travel rights remain unchanged”.
A spokeswoman stressed that the commission’s communication made it clear that while consumers can be offered vouchers, “it is entirely their decision to accept these or not”.
Pan-European consumer organisation BEUC also welcomed the report, saying it “came after a co-ordinated effort from almost 20 EU countries to try to temporarily amend the travellers rights’ legislations to suspend the right to a refund established in EU legislations and impose vouchers”.
"This is good and important news," said BEUC director general Monique Goyens. "It is precisely in times of crisis such as these that travellers should be able to rely on strong consumer rights. Trying to make consumers bail out transport and travel companies through cheap credit in the form of vouchers is unacceptable: consumers are not banks."


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Unifil mission for 350 Irish troops extended until July

Some 350 Irish troops serving in Lebanon will have to spend an extra six weeks in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
The troops were originally due home in the middle of May but this was thrown into doubt when UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres banned rotations of all UN peacekeepers until June 30th to prevent the spread of Covid-19 .
Since then negotiations have been ongoing between the Irish Government and UN headquarters in New York to secure an exemption for the Irish troops on the Unifil mission in Lebanon who have been in the middle-eastern country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , family members received news on Wednesday that the troops will not return until the end of June , adding another six weeks to their mission .
Defence sources suggested there is a small chance this date could be brought forward pending further negotiations .
The 350 soldiers are likely to be rotated home on two flights , one at the end of June and one at the start of July .
The Defence Forces is expected to charter a flight to rotate the troops .
Once back in Ireland they will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks per HSE and UN guidelines .
Furthermore , their replacements will be sent into quarantine in a Defence Forces training facility , most likely in the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow , from the middle of June until they deploy two weeks later .
Last month , Irish special forces troops were rotated home from Mali on time , despite the UN ’ s request for a delay .
About 14 Army Ranger Wing personnel were flown home with the help of the German Air Force .
The Spanish Air force @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a separate mission in Mali a week previously .
Defence sources say it was much easier to rotate those missions on time due to the small numbers of troops involved .
The UN order affects about 100,000 troops around the world .
Officials in New York drew up the order amid fears of a repeat of the UN mission to Haiti in 2010 when peacekeepers brought in cholera , which went on to kill some 10,000 .
The Department of Defence said the Lebanon rotation will take place in two phases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The indications at present are that the first chalk will take place in the latter part of June and the second in early July .
However , contacts with the UN in New York are continuing about the scope to possibly bring these dates forward , ” it said in a statement .
“ The Minister [ of State of Defence Paul Kehoe ] acknowledges the impact the UN decision has had on Defence Force members , as well as the anxiety that this has caused for families.
” “ In recognition of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Defence Forces have had extensive engagement with the UN and UNIFIL headquarters in order to ensure these rotations take place as early as possible.
” “ Confirmation of the precise dates is expected very shortly and will be communicated in the first instance by the military authorities to both contingents ( the contingent coming home and that going out to Lebanon ) .
”

Some 350 Irish troops serving in Lebanon will have to spend an extra six weeks in the country due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The troops were originally due home in the middle of May but this was thrown into doubt when UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres banned rotations of all UN peacekeepers until June 30th to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Since then negotiations have been ongoing between the Irish Government and UN headquarters in New York to secure an exemption for the Irish troops on the Unifil mission in Lebanon who have been in the middle-eastern country for the last six months.
However, family members received news on Wednesday that the troops will not return until the end of June, adding another six weeks to their mission.
READ MORE
Defence sources suggested there is a small chance this date could be brought forward pending further negotiations.
The 350 soldiers are likely to be rotated home on two flights, one at the end of June and one at the start of July. The Defence Forces is expected to charter a flight to rotate the troops.
Once back in Ireland they will be forced to remain in quarantine for two weeks per HSE and UN guidelines. Furthermore, their replacements will be sent into quarantine in a Defence Forces training facility, most likely in the Glen of Imaal in Co Wicklow, from the middle of June until they deploy two weeks later.
Mali
Last month, Irish special forces troops were rotated home from Mali on time, despite the UN's request for a delay. About 14 Army Ranger Wing personnel were flown home with the help of the German Air Force.
The Spanish Air force assisted in rotating another seven Irish troops from a separate mission in Mali a week previously.
Defence sources say it was much easier to rotate those missions on time due to the small numbers of troops involved.
The UN order affects about 100,000 troops around the world. Officials in New York drew up the order amid fears of a repeat of the UN mission to Haiti in 2010 when peacekeepers brought in cholera, which went on to kill some 10,000.
The Department of Defence said the Lebanon rotation will take place in two phases, known as “chalks”.
“The indications at present are that the first chalk will take place in the latter part of June and the second in early July. However, contacts with the UN in New York are continuing about the scope to possibly bring these dates forward,” it said in a statement.
“The Minister [of State of Defence Paul Kehoe] acknowledges the impact the UN decision has had on Defence Force members, as well as the anxiety that this has caused for families.”
“In recognition of these impacts, the Departments of Defence, Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Defence Forces have had extensive engagement with the UN and UNIFIL headquarters in order to ensure these rotations take place as early as possible.”
“Confirmation of the precise dates is expected very shortly and will be communicated in the first instance by the military authorities to both contingents (the contingent coming home and that going out to Lebanon).”


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Staggered starts, temperature checks, face masks: the Leaving Cert that never was

A “ military precision ” queuing system for Leaving Certificate candidates , a two-metre rule between students , and the staggering of papers between July 29th and September 5th were among the measures planned for the now abandoned State exams .
“ Delivering the 2020 Leaving Certificate Examinations ” , a document prepared for a Department of Education advisory group on May 1st , shows just how daunting the scale of organising the exams was going to be against the backdrop of a pandemic .
It raised the possibility of temperature checks and face masks prior to entry to exam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be capped at 90 minutes , about half the normal duration .
The document also raises searching questions around just how schools will manage to reopen in September while keeping staff and pupils safe .
The State Examinations Commission ( SEC ) was charged with developing a model that would allow the Leaving Cert proceed in schools “ as close to normal as possible ” .
However .
the document shows that what was being planned would have been nothing like any exams held in the 95-year history of the Leaving Cert .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ State exams are a mammoth undertaking .
They involve more than 60,000 students across 800 schools and other settings with thousands of exam superintendents , attendants , principals , deputies and other school staff .
The document says “ attrition ” was likely in the number of superintendents “ due to age profile ” and some would be “ likely to be unwilling to travel ” outside their area to exam halls given the public health conditions .
Simply getting to the exams was flagged as a key issue .
The document states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use school transport to get to the exams and that public transport may be limited .
These students would need alternative transport over a potentially protracted exam period , impacting particularly on rural students , disadvantaged students , those lacking parental support .
Physically accommodating students was also set to be a challenge , with the growth in recent years of so-called special centres for students with additional needs .
As exams are already a huge source of pressure , the document states there would be increase demand for these centres in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to unsustainable levels ” .
The document proposed “ two rules of thumb ” for accommodating students in exams halls .
One was that no more than 10 students would be permitted in a classroom and 40 in a gym .
Another was “ one student , one desk ” , with candidates obliged to use the same desk for the duration of the exams .
No attendance would be permitted by any students or staff who was ill , quarantining or living with a family member who was self-isolating .
Its public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials , requiring regular routine sanitising and cleaning .
The SEC would have duty of care to superintendents to provide hand sanitiser , antiseptic wipes/sprays ; masks , gloves ; school authorities to put in place ; while school authorities would be required provide similar access for students .
The document also poses a series of questions , such as : What happens if a student or superintendent falls ill after the examination has started ?
Can the session continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that centre ?
What arrangements will be possible for students unable to able to attend due to bereavement or illness ?
The document concludes by saying “ as close to normal as possible is nothing close to normal ” .
It says following the plan would require a “ complete re-engineering and reconfiguration of tried and tested methods for the secure distribution of exam papers to schools and students ” .
This , it says , would have minimised health risks but greatly increased security and integrity risks .

A “military precision” queuing system for Leaving Certificate candidates, a two-metre rule between students, and the staggering of papers between July 29th and September 5th were among the measures planned for the now abandoned State exams.
“Delivering the 2020 Leaving Certificate Examinations”, a document prepared for a Department of Education advisory group on May 1st, shows just how daunting the scale of organising the exams was going to be against the backdrop of a pandemic.
It raised the possibility of temperature checks and face masks prior to entry to exam halls, and proposed that exams would be capped at 90 minutes, about half the normal duration.
The document also raises searching questions around just how schools will manage to reopen in September while keeping staff and pupils safe.
READ MORE
The State Examinations Commission (SEC) was charged with developing a model that would allow the Leaving Cert proceed in schools "as close to normal as possible".
However. the document shows that what was being planned would have been nothing like any exams held in the 95-year history of the Leaving Cert.
Even in a normal year, the State exams are a mammoth undertaking. They involve more than 60,000 students across 800 schools and other settings with thousands of exam superintendents, attendants, principals, deputies and other school staff.
The document says “attrition” was likely in the number of superintendents “due to age profile” and some would be “likely to be unwilling to travel” outside their area to exam halls given the public health conditions.
Simply getting to the exams was flagged as a key issue. The document states that students might not be able to use school transport to get to the exams and that public transport may be limited.
Transport
These students would need alternative transport over a potentially protracted exam period, impacting particularly on rural students, disadvantaged students, those lacking parental support.
Physically accommodating students was also set to be a challenge, with the growth in recent years of so-called special centres for students with additional needs.
As exams are already a huge source of pressure, the document states there would be increase demand for these centres in the midst of the pandemic , “possibly to unsustainable levels”.
The document proposed “two rules of thumb” for accommodating students in exams halls.
One was that no more than 10 students would be permitted in a classroom and 40 in a gym. Another was “one student, one desk”, with candidates obliged to use the same desk for the duration of the exams.
No attendance would be permitted by any students or staff who was ill, quarantining or living with a family member who was self-isolating.
Its public health advice was that the virus could remain viable for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials, requiring regular routine sanitising and cleaning.
Duty of care
The SEC would have duty of care to superintendents to provide hand sanitiser, antiseptic wipes/sprays; masks, gloves; school authorities to put in place; while school authorities would be required provide similar access for students.
The document also poses a series of questions, such as: What happens if a student or superintendent falls ill after the examination has started? Can the session continue? What about remainder of the exams in that centre?
What arrangements will be possible for students unable to able to attend due to bereavement or illness ?
The document concludes by saying “as close to normal as possible is nothing close to normal”.
It says following the plan would require a “complete re-engineering and reconfiguration of tried and tested methods for the secure distribution of exam papers to schools and students”. This, it says, would have minimised health risks but greatly increased security and integrity risks.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--No plans to reopen schools before September

The Department of Education says it is not planning to reopen schools prior to September despite latest research showing children are not substantially contributing to the spread of Covid-19 .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday that “ among the safest things ” the State can do in the coming months is to reopen schools for children , raising fresh questions over the time-line for reopening schools and childcare facilities .
His comments followed a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) which found there was nothing to indicate children transmit the virus at substantially higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesman for the department on Wednesday evening said that decisions in relation to schools reopening and operating in September would be underpinned by the ongoing advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team .
“ Engagement is under way with stakeholders in the education sector to develop contingency plans for the reopening and operation of schools in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements , ” the spokesman said .
He added that this work would be based on a new national return to work safely protocol , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and experience from other jurisdictions .
“ A core objective of the contingency plans will be to ensure that schools and other education settings can reopen and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice , ” the department spokesman added .
Issues around school reopening are being considered by a primary education forum which includes stakeholders in the sector such as teachers and school managers , as well as a second-level advisory group .
Groups who were present at the latest meetings , held on Wednesday , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to school than had been planned to date .
The Irish National Teachers ’ Organisation ( INTO ) said it was still working on the basis of a September return to school .
The INTO ’ s general secretary , John Boyle , said its primary concern was the safety of staff and pupils , and that it would work with the department and others bodies to draw up guidelines for how schools would operate .
The Irish Primary Principals Network also said reopening schools was a “ complex project ” which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of management and school leaders over the coming weeks and months .
Earlier on Wednesday , Mr Varadkar said he was conscious of the fact that some countries in Europe never fully closed their schools , and some never fully closed their childcare facilities .
“ I think it wouldn ’ t be a good reflection on us as a society for us to be the last people who are able to reopen our schools and reopen our childcare facilities .
“ But we need to make sure we do it safely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the childcare sector to make sure that it ’ s possible .
“ But it is encouraging that there is growing evidence that those who are at least risk from the virus are children , young people , and on like , for example with influenza , they don ’ t appear to be super-spreaders .
And I think that is very significant.
” Hiqa deputy chief executive and director of health technology assessment Dr Máirín Ryan said : “ While the evidence is limited it appears that children are not substantially contributing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ household or in schools.
” While there was high transmission of Covid-19 among adults aged 25 years or older , she pointed out one study which showed transmission was lower in younger people , particularly in those under 14 years of age .

The Department of Education said that decisions in relation to schools reopening and operating in September would be underpinned by the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team. Photograph: Getty Images
The Department of Education says it is not planning to reopen schools prior to September despite latest research showing children are not substantially contributing to the spread of Covid-19.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said on Wednesday that "among the safest things" the State can do in the coming months is to reopen schools for children, raising fresh questions over the time-line for reopening schools and childcare facilities.
His comments followed a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) which found there was nothing to indicate children transmit the virus at substantially higher levels to other age categories.
A spokesman for the department on Wednesday evening said that decisions in relation to schools reopening and operating in September would be underpinned by the ongoing advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team.
READ MORE
“Engagement is under way with stakeholders in the education sector to develop contingency plans for the reopening and operation of schools in an environment that may require social distancing and other public health requirements,” the spokesman said.
He added that this work would be based on a new national return to work safely protocol, and would also be informed by guidance and experience from other jurisdictions.
“A core objective of the contingency plans will be to ensure that schools and other education settings can reopen and operate in a safe manner that is consistent with public health advice,” the department spokesman added.
Advisory group
Issues around school reopening are being considered by a primary education forum which includes stakeholders in the sector such as teachers and school managers, as well as a second-level advisory group.
Groups who were present at the latest meetings, held on Wednesday, said there was no indication of an earlier return to school than had been planned to date.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said it was still working on the basis of a September return to school.
The INTO's general secretary, John Boyle, said its primary concern was the safety of staff and pupils, and that it would work with the department and others bodies to draw up guidelines for how schools would operate.
The Irish Primary Principals Network also said reopening schools was a “complex project” which would involve support and guidelines for boards of management and school leaders over the coming weeks and months.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Varadkar said he was conscious of the fact that some countries in Europe never fully closed their schools, and some never fully closed their childcare facilities.
“I think it wouldn’t be a good reflection on us as a society for us to be the last people who are able to reopen our schools and reopen our childcare facilities.
“But we need to make sure we do it safely, and work with the education sector and the childcare sector to make sure that it’s possible.
“But it is encouraging that there is growing evidence that those who are at least risk from the virus are children, young people, and on like, for example with influenza, they don’t appear to be super-spreaders. And I think that is very significant.”
Household
Hiqa deputy chief executive and director of health technology assessment Dr Máirín Ryan said: “While the evidence is limited it appears that children are not substantially contributing to the spread of Covid-19 in their household or in schools.”
While there was high transmission of Covid-19 among adults aged 25 years or older, she pointed out one study which showed transmission was lower in younger people, particularly in those under 14 years of age.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Care order granted for child trafficked into Ireland

An interim care order has been granted for a girl who was trafficked into Ireland for forced labour , in the first ‘ virtual hearing ’ of a case at the District Court .
The case , held in recent weeks , was heard in camera and parties ‘ attended ’ by video conference .
It is the first case , held under Covid-19 restrictions , reported on and published by the Child Care Law Reporting Project ( CCLRP ) .
The project was established in 2012 under the Child Care Act to report on and examine child-care proceedings before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held under current restrictions as they arise rather than waiting for its usual mid-year publication of numerous reports in July .
It is also commenting on how Covid-19 is impacting on vulnerable children .
Among issues raised is the absence of structures to allow these children interact with people outside their household .
“ There appears to be no plan to engage in a structured face-to-face manner with vulnerable children over the coming four-month period until schools re-open on a phased basis from September .
In the context of child protection and welfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inadequate State response , ” says the project .
It suggests schools could be used as settings for professionals to interact with these children .
The case , details of which were published on Wednesday , concerned a teenage girl who had arrived into Ireland this year from a Middle Eastern country .
Her social worker said she had been referred to Tusla by the international protection office , which accepts and examines applications for asylum , and which said she needed to be taken into care .
She said she had “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for ” in the Middle East , who had brought her to Ireland , the CCLRP report says .
“ She and her family were immigrants to that country , and she worked for the family four days a week , returning to her family at weekends .
One weekend she returned home to find her family had disappeared , which , according to the social worker , was apparently not unusual in that country.
” The family made her work seven days ’ a week and told her they were bringing her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to a country she now knew to be Ireland , where she continued to work seven days a week until she managed to escape.
” Tusla and the Red Cross had been unable to contact her family and Tusla was concerned she could be brought back to the Middle East for exploitation .
The judge enquired about the girl ’ s health needs , and the social worker said that she had been admitted to Temple St hospital with an illness , but this was being appropriately managed with diet and medication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interim care order should be made , and the application for a full care order adjourned .
She said she was satisfied .
.
.
was a vulnerable young person , that she was the age she said she was , that she had arrived in Ireland as described , and that the agency had taken the appropriate steps to protect her.
” Tusla said efforts to locate her parents or family were continuing .

Tusla and the Red Cross had been unable to contact the girl’s family, the court heard.
An interim care order has been granted for a girl who was trafficked into Ireland for forced labour, in the first 'virtual hearing' of a case at the District Court.
The case, held in recent weeks, was heard in camera and parties ‘attended’ by video conference. It is the first case, held under Covid-19 restrictions, reported on and published by the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP).
The project was established in 2012 under the Child Care Act to report on and examine child-care proceedings before the courts. It will publish cases held under current restrictions as they arise rather than waiting for its usual mid-year publication of numerous reports in July.
It is also commenting on how Covid-19 is impacting on vulnerable children. Among issues raised is the absence of structures to allow these children interact with people outside their household.
READ MORE
“There appears to be no plan to engage in a structured face-to-face manner with vulnerable children over the coming four-month period until schools re-open on a phased basis from September. In the context of child protection and welfare, we believe this to be an inadequate State response,” says the project. It suggests schools could be used as settings for professionals to interact with these children.
The case, details of which were published on Wednesday, concerned a teenage girl who had arrived into Ireland this year from a Middle Eastern country.
Her social worker said she had been referred to Tusla by the international protection office, which accepts and examines applications for asylum, and which said she needed to be taken into care.
She said she had “escaped from the family she was working for” in the Middle East, who had brought her to Ireland, the CCLRP report says.
“She and her family were immigrants to that country, and she worked for the family four days a week, returning to her family at weekends. One weekend she returned home to find her family had disappeared, which, according to the social worker, was apparently not unusual in that country.”
Family
The family made her work seven days’ a week and told her they were bringing her on holiday.
“She travelled with them to a country she now knew to be Ireland, where she continued to work seven days a week until she managed to escape.”
Tusla and the Red Cross had been unable to contact her family and Tusla was concerned she could be brought back to the Middle East for exploitation.
The judge enquired about the girl’s health needs, and the social worker said that she had been admitted to Temple St hospital with an illness, but this was being appropriately managed with diet and medication.
“The judge ruled that an interim care order should be made, and the application for a full care order adjourned. She said she was satisfied . . . was a vulnerable young person, that she was the age she said she was, that she had arrived in Ireland as described, and that the agency had taken the appropriate steps to protect her.”
Tusla said efforts to locate her parents or family were continuing.


theirishtimes--2020-05-13--Covid-19 unemployment payment will end before wage subsidies, says Varadkar

The €350 weekly Covid-19 unemployment payment will come to an end before the Government scheme which helps companies pay the wages of their workers , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said .
Mr Varadkar said the intention would also be to withdraw the €350 unemployment payment if someone refused to go back to work if a job was offered to them .
The Government introduced two schemes to help people and businesses through the crisis : the €350 welfare payment and the wage support scheme which sees the State generally pay up to 70 per cent of wages of affected employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially due to last three months but Mr Varadkar and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe have said they will be extended but may be amended .
The UK government earlier this week said it was extending a similar scheme to October .
Mr Varadkar was speaking as talks on government formation between Fine Gael , Fianna Fáil and the Green Party turned to budgetary affairs on Wednesday .
The Taoiseach confirmed that the State would “ probably ” borrow €30 billion this year , which was at the outer limits of the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than a month ago .
The Stability Programme Update in mid-April said the deficit would be €23 billion , but Mr Donohoe said this could rise to €30 billion if economic recovery was delayed .
Numerous Government figures , as well as those involved in coalition talks , said a deficit of €30 billion was now the likeliest scenario .
Meanwhile , the Social Democrats on Wednesday night ruled themselves out of entering government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael , saying any such deal would amount to “ business as usual ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ larger parties , co-leaders Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy argued high-quality public investment would require “ significant investment ” .
The said answers supplied by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to a series of questions they submitted “ don ’ t add up ” .
“ We are strongly of the view that trying to continue on with more of the same and a business as usual approach will inevitably be damaging to the vast majority of ordinary households in Ireland , ” said Ms Shortall .
Ms Murphy said : “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken the decision to disengage from the process and instead commit to participating in the next Dáil as a constructive opposition party.
” Earlier , Mr Varadkar told the Dermot and Dave show on Today FM : “ There are examples of people who are actually getting more on the pandemic unemployment payment than they got when they were working part-time .
Some employers are telling us they are finding it hard to recruit and get people back to work because of that .
“ Having said that , I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it at the middle of June .
We will have to go beyond that .
People have to be given the opportunity to return to work and there are lots of businesses who won ’ t be able to reopen at the middle of June .
We do intend to extend it .
I can ’ t say how long we ’ ll extend it .
“ One thing we will probably do is extend the temporary wage subsidy scheme longer than then pandemic unemployment payment because we will be encouraging employers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the pandemic unemployment payment to the wage subsidy scheme .
“ So when you are offered your job back , if you refuse it you actually lose your pandemic unemployment payment but your employer will be able to take you back on the wage subsidy scheme.
” The Government is also to examine a range of new supports for the jobs market as the pandemic unemployment payment and temporary wage subsidy schemes start to wind down .
Encouraging employers to take people off the pandemic payment and on to their books will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected that an extension of a current short-time working scheme will be considered as part of this .
Currently designed to support employees put on short-time work , it may be refocused to apply when an employer takes on someone from the Live Register or the pandemic payment scheme on a part-time basis initially .
This recognises that in some cases as the economy restarts , the company may not initially be able to afford to pay full-time wages , meaning the employee would receive top-up State payments for a period .

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: Encouraging employers to take people off the pandemic payment and on to their books will be a key goal. Photograph: PA
The €350 weekly Covid-19 unemployment payment will come to an end before the Government scheme which helps companies pay the wages of their workers, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.
Mr Varadkar said the intention would also be to withdraw the €350 unemployment payment if someone refused to go back to work if a job was offered to them.
The Government introduced two schemes to help people and businesses through the crisis: the €350 welfare payment and the wage support scheme which sees the State generally pay up to 70 per cent of wages of affected employees up to certain limits.
Both were initially due to last three months but Mr Varadkar and Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe have said they will be extended but may be amended.
READ MORE
The UK government earlier this week said it was extending a similar scheme to October.
Mr Varadkar was speaking as talks on government formation between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party turned to budgetary affairs on Wednesday.
The Taoiseach confirmed that the State would “probably” borrow €30 billion this year, which was at the outer limits of the Government’s worst case scenario calculations less than a month ago.
The Stability Programme Update in mid-April said the deficit would be €23 billion, but Mr Donohoe said this could rise to €30 billion if economic recovery was delayed.
Numerous Government figures, as well as those involved in coalition talks, said a deficit of €30 billion was now the likeliest scenario.
Meanwhile, the Social Democrats on Wednesday night ruled themselves out of entering government with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, saying any such deal would amount to “business as usual”.
In a letter to the two larger parties, co-leaders Róisín Shortall and Catherine Murphy argued high-quality public investment would require “significant investment”. The said answers supplied by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to a series of questions they submitted “don’t add up”.
“We are strongly of the view that trying to continue on with more of the same and a business as usual approach will inevitably be damaging to the vast majority of ordinary households in Ireland,” said Ms Shortall.
Ms Murphy said: “We we have, as a party, taken the decision to disengage from the process and instead commit to participating in the next Dáil as a constructive opposition party.”
Supports
Earlier, Mr Varadkar told the Dermot and Dave show on Today FM: “There are examples of people who are actually getting more on the pandemic unemployment payment than they got when they were working part-time. Some employers are telling us they are finding it hard to recruit and get people back to work because of that.
“Having said that, I don’t think it would be possible to discontinue it at the middle of June. We will have to go beyond that. People have to be given the opportunity to return to work and there are lots of businesses who won’t be able to reopen at the middle of June. We do intend to extend it. I can’t say how long we’ll extend it.
“One thing we will probably do is extend the temporary wage subsidy scheme longer than then pandemic unemployment payment because we will be encouraging employers to take people back on and transition them from the pandemic unemployment payment to the wage subsidy scheme.
“So when you are offered your job back, if you refuse it you actually lose your pandemic unemployment payment but your employer will be able to take you back on the wage subsidy scheme.”
The Government is also to examine a range of new supports for the jobs market as the pandemic unemployment payment and temporary wage subsidy schemes start to wind down.
Encouraging employers to take people off the pandemic payment and on to their books will be a key goal. It is expected that an extension of a current short-time working scheme will be considered as part of this.
Currently designed to support employees put on short-time work, it may be refocused to apply when an employer takes on someone from the Live Register or the pandemic payment scheme on a part-time basis initially.
This recognises that in some cases as the economy restarts, the company may not initially be able to afford to pay full-time wages, meaning the employee would receive top-up State payments for a period.