theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Coronavirus: Hundreds of medicine students fast-tracked into fight against Covid-19

Earlier this month Anthony Javed Machikan was studying hard for his final year medical exams that take place in May .
Then the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ( RCSI ) announced it was fast-tracking the exams due to the coronavirus threat , cutting study time from seven weeks to just seven days .
“ It was immense stress , ” says Machikan .
“ It was a case of studying for 16-hours each day .
.
.
thankfully , I passed it .
In fact , the majority of us did.
” The RCSI and NUI Galway brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students to ensure they are ready to play a crucial role in the frontline of the fight against Covid-19 .
In all , about 1,300 students will graduate from the country ’ s six university schools of medicine , many of who will be ready to work in the health service from as early as next month .
“ People often talk about young people being snowflakes or self-centred , ” says Prof Hannah McGee , dean of the RCSI ’ s faculty of medicine and health sciences .
“ Yet , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a risk of not getting the grades they wanted , and there has been no sense of ‘ woe is us ’ .
“ There ’ s is a general sense among them that what ’ s happening is bigger than any of us .
They are committed to playing their part.
” At the RCSI , for example , students were given a chance to vote on whether to introduce earlier exams or stick with the original exam schedule ; in the end , the vast majority opted for earlier exams .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think 310 opted for the early exams , ” says Machikan ( 23 ) .
“ It was a lot of stress , but there is a sense of solidarity with other workers in the health system .
“ Most of us , including the international students , have chosen to stay in Ireland .
We know there is a tsunami coming and the system needs all the support it can get .
“ We feel we can help alleviate the burden .
It ’ s time for us to do our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been training for over the last five years .
To abandon ship now just wouldn ’ t be right.
” A spokeswoman for NUI Galway said its school of medicine adjusted the timing of exams and was preparing its final-year medical students for entry into the healthcare settings .
“ Providing additional capacity to the health service is a matter of priority to the school and the final-year students will enter the workforce at a time that is agreed with relevant national clinical and training bodies.
” While the HSE normally places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July , well-placed sources say there are plans to do this two months earlier in an effort to help the system cope .
As well as boosting the supply of junior doctors into the health service , the move to rush the exams over recent days has freed up hundreds of academic clinicians - who would have been tied up in education duties - to focus on the needs of the health service .
Health authorities have also announced a recruitment drive for retired or former health staff to return to the sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be a surge in demand on frontline services .
For Machikan , who is from St Augustine , a town in northwest Trinidad , it is a worrying time back home too .
He has lots of elderly relatives he would like to see ; the country has also recorded its first batch of Covid-19 cases and is taking similar steps to Ireland , such as closing down public areas , bars and restaurants .
In the meantime , his focus is on the final online exam next month .
He doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health service he will be assigned to .
Either way , the coronavirus threat will dominate everything .
“ We ’ re eagerly looking forward to graduation so that we can alleviate the burden on our healthcare colleagues in this fight against Covid 19 , ” he says .
“ We hope the HSE chooses to use all available doctors as soon as they become available .
The most frustrating thing we can experience as final-year students is being so close to becoming doctors and not yet being able to assist our brave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frontline of this outbreak .
”

Earlier this month Anthony Javed Machikan was studying hard for his final year medical exams that take place in May.
Then the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) announced it was fast-tracking the exams due to the coronavirus threat, cutting study time from seven weeks to just seven days.
“It was immense stress,” says Machikan. “It was a case of studying for 16-hours each day . . . thankfully, I passed it. In fact, the majority of us did.”
The RCSI and NUI Galway brought forward summer exams for hundreds of medical students to ensure they are ready to play a crucial role in the frontline of the fight against Covid-19.
READ MORE
Final year medicine students at the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) Anthony Javed Machikan and Shivran Singh are studying for exams which will take place six weeks earlier than expected.
In all, about 1,300 students will graduate from the country’s six university schools of medicine, many of who will be ready to work in the health service from as early as next month.
“People often talk about young people being snowflakes or self-centred,” says Prof Hannah McGee, dean of the RCSI’s faculty of medicine and health sciences. “Yet, they have taken on early exams, with a risk of not getting the grades they wanted, and there has been no sense of ‘woe is us’.
“There’s is a general sense among them that what’s happening is bigger than any of us. They are committed to playing their part.”
At the RCSI, for example, students were given a chance to vote on whether to introduce earlier exams or stick with the original exam schedule; in the end, the vast majority opted for earlier exams.
“Out of about 340 students, I think 310 opted for the early exams,” says Machikan (23). “It was a lot of stress, but there is a sense of solidarity with other workers in the health system.
"Most of us, including the international students, have chosen to stay in Ireland. We know there is a tsunami coming and the system needs all the support it can get.
“We feel we can help alleviate the burden. It’s time for us to do our part. This is what we’ve been training for over the last five years. To abandon ship now just wouldn’t be right.”
A spokeswoman for NUI Galway said its school of medicine adjusted the timing of exams and was preparing its final-year medical students for entry into the healthcare settings.
“Providing additional capacity to the health service is a matter of priority to the school and the final-year students will enter the workforce at a time that is agreed with relevant national clinical and training bodies.”
While the HSE normally places new graduates into the health service in July, well-placed sources say there are plans to do this two months earlier in an effort to help the system cope.
As well as boosting the supply of junior doctors into the health service, the move to rush the exams over recent days has freed up hundreds of academic clinicians - who would have been tied up in education duties - to focus on the needs of the health service.
Health authorities have also announced a recruitment drive for retired or former health staff to return to the sector to help prepare for what is set to be a surge in demand on frontline services.
For Machikan, who is from St Augustine, a town in northwest Trinidad, it is a worrying time back home too.
He has lots of elderly relatives he would like to see; the country has also recorded its first batch of Covid-19 cases and is taking similar steps to Ireland, such as closing down public areas, bars and restaurants.
In the meantime, his focus is on the final online exam next month. He doesn’t know yet where in the health service he will be assigned to. Either way, the coronavirus threat will dominate everything.
“We’re eagerly looking forward to graduation so that we can alleviate the burden on our healthcare colleagues in this fight against Covid 19,” he says.
“We hope the HSE chooses to use all available doctors as soon as they become available. The most frustrating thing we can experience as final-year students is being so close to becoming doctors and not yet being able to assist our brave doctors, nurses and pharmacists on the frontline of this outbreak.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Coronavirus: A message from Irish Times Editor Paul O’Neill

We ’ ve been doing things differently in recent days and , unusually , we ’ d be happier if you haven ’ t noticed any changes .
Since the middle of last week , irishtimes.com has been produced entirely from the homes of Irish Times journalists , and yesterday ’ s newspaper followed suit .
This is the first time in more than 160 years we have published a newspaper without an office or alternative base .
That span of history has included world wars and revolution so this new milestone says much about the extraordinary times we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one of our colleagues has contracted Covid-19 .
I ’ m glad to say that person is making progress .
Our thoughts are with them .
In common with all of you , our first concern is the health of our families , friends and colleagues .
And , like many other workplaces , all three are to be found at The Irish Times .
We closed our offices on Tara Street in Dublin on Sunday night to allow for a process of deep sanitation .
That is complete but we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responding to this disruption – and I ’ m conscious that our task is modest compared with the extreme challenges facing many others – we will strive to provide you , our readers and customers , with the very best service we can .
The Irish Times is the sum of the parts of everyone who contributes to it .
Those parts are a little more far flung now but , with the help of technology , ingenuity and no small amount of determination , we will continue to combine them via irishtimes.com @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newspaper .
In such unprecedented circumstances , you may notice some changes in due course .
That is inevitable .
The newspaper is likely to have fewer pages as most news , beyond that associated with Covid-19 , dries up .
Sports and culture calendars are on hold , and that is extending to other sectors .
The world as we know it is transformed .
But , in responding for as long as is necessary , our commitment is to continue to bring you the essential information and insight you can trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and false information that you can not .
That ’ s the goal of the whole Irish Times team – from colleagues in Dublin and throughout this island to our correspondents around a world that has never seemed smaller .
We will strive to reflect the complete picture from home and away ; from health editor Paul Cullen in Dublin to Peter Goff in China where it all began .
We will convey it to you through the pages of the newspaper – via retailers and , in many areas , home delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Irish Times app , podcasts , video and the ePaper .
Whichever way you choose to access us , our aim is to be there for you with journalism you can trust .

We’ve been doing things differently in recent days and, unusually, we’d be happier if you haven’t noticed any changes. Since the middle of last week, irishtimes.com has been produced entirely from the homes of Irish Times journalists, and yesterday’s newspaper followed suit. This is the first time in more than 160 years we have published a newspaper without an office or alternative base. That span of history has included world wars and revolution so this new milestone says much about the extraordinary times we are living in.
As you probably know, one of our colleagues has contracted Covid-19. I’m glad to say that person is making progress. Our thoughts are with them. In common with all of you, our first concern is the health of our families, friends and colleagues. And, like many other workplaces, all three are to be found at The Irish Times. We closed our offices on Tara Street in Dublin on Sunday night to allow for a process of deep sanitation. That is complete but we will continue working remotely for now.
In responding to this disruption – and I’m conscious that our task is modest compared with the extreme challenges facing many others – we will strive to provide you, our readers and customers, with the very best service we can. The Irish Times is the sum of the parts of everyone who contributes to it. Those parts are a little more far flung now but, with the help of technology, ingenuity and no small amount of determination, we will continue to combine them via irishtimes.com, The Irish Times app and the newspaper.
In such unprecedented circumstances, you may notice some changes in due course. That is inevitable. The newspaper is likely to have fewer pages as most news, beyond that associated with Covid-19, dries up. Sports and culture calendars are on hold, and that is extending to other sectors. The world as we know it is transformed. But, in responding for as long as is necessary, our commitment is to continue to bring you the essential information and insight you can trust amid a torrent of rumours, inaccuracies and false information that you cannot.
READ MORE
That's the goal of the whole Irish Times team – from colleagues in Dublin and throughout this island to our correspondents around a world that has never seemed smaller. We will strive to reflect the complete picture from home and away; from health editor Paul Cullen in Dublin to Peter Goff in China where it all began. We will convey it to you through the pages of the newspaper – via retailers and, in many areas, home delivery – as well as on irishtimes.com, The Irish Times app, podcasts, video and the ePaper. Whichever way you choose to access us, our aim is to be there for you with journalism you can trust.
Please stay safe.


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Non-payment of court fines up threefold since curbs on jailing

The number of people not paying fines has trebled since new legislation was brought in to curb the numbers being jailed for non-payment .
Newly obtained figures show 31,997 people failed to pay court-imposed fines from the start of January to the end of November 2019 .
The number is a threefold rise since 2016 , when the Fines ( Payment and Recovery ) Act came into force .
Former minister for justice Frances Fitzgerald commenced the legislation in January that year , in response to “ the inappropriateness of imprisonment as the automatic response ” to unpaid fines .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unavailable options for judges to recover money or penalise offenders for non-payment .
Under the laws , judges can make an order for money to be deducted from an offender ’ s wages , appoint a receiver to recover fines in excess of €500 or impose community service if neither of the first two options work .
Imprisonment is a last resort if none of the other three options can be imposed .
In 2016 , 10,505 people failed to pay court-order fines , rising to 27,567 in 2017 and up again to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year , the figures show .
In recent weeks , Chief Justice Frank Clarke said Ireland ’ s fines system has “ broken down ” because the laws introduced four years ago have no mechanism to ensure people turn up in court .
Court Service figures , obtained by Independent TD Noel Grealish , show 39 people were handed an order deducting fines from their wages since the laws were brought in .
The same number had a receiver appointed to recover the debts , while 824 community service orders have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,120 people were handed an imprisonment order since 2016 over unpaid fines , but none of them went to jail , according to Angela Denning , chief executive officer of the Court Service .
The imprisonment orders were made by one court where defendants did not appear , but the State brought applications to set aside the orders “ and none of the individuals concerned was subsequently imprisoned ” , Ms Denning wrote to Mr Grealish .
Jim O ’ Callaghan , Fianna Fáil ’ s justice spokesman , said the Fines ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clearly deficient and not working ” .
“ It is failing in practice , as was predicted by the judiciary , ” he said .
“ If imposed fines are not being collected it means there is no deterrent to or punishment for the commission of certain crimes .
This undermines the rule of law and needs to be addressed by the next government.
” Mr O ’ Callagahan said if fines were to be imposed a mechanism must be put in place to ensure they would be paid .
“ We also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punishments for the commission of summary offences , ” he added .
Also , over the past three years , there have been more than 20,000 bench warrants handed down by courts over unpaid fines .
Bench warrants are most commonly issued by district courts after a person has failed to appear at a hearing .
Latest figures show more than 4,000 bench warrants issued over unpaid fines remain outstanding .
Speaking at the Irish Times Debate final at Trinity College Dublin at the end of February , Chief Justice Clarke said large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their absences for relatively minor offences .
“ They then get a notice telling them to come along to debate what should happen .
They don ’ t turn up , ” he said .
“ Unless the guards are going to spend all their time going out , executing warrants to arrest people for very minor offences like not paying their TV licence , and not detecting serious crime , then that system won ’ t work .
We said it wouldn ’ t work .
And it isn ’ t working @ @

Chief Justice Frank Clarke: Ireland’s fines system has “broken down” because laws introduced four years ago have no mechanism to ensure people turn up in court. Photograph: Alan Betson
The number of people not paying fines has trebled since new legislation was brought in to curb the numbers being jailed for non-payment.
Newly obtained figures show 31,997 people failed to pay court-imposed fines from the start of January to the end of November 2019.
The number is a threefold rise since 2016, when the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act came into force.
Former minister for justice Frances Fitzgerald commenced the legislation in January that year, in response to "the inappropriateness of imprisonment as the automatic response" to unpaid fines.
READ MORE
It brought in a number of previously unavailable options for judges to recover money or penalise offenders for non-payment.
Under the laws, judges can make an order for money to be deducted from an offender’s wages, appoint a receiver to recover fines in excess of €500 or impose community service if neither of the first two options work.
Imprisonment is a last resort if none of the other three options can be imposed.
In 2016, 10,505 people failed to pay court-order fines, rising to 27,567 in 2017 and up again to 30,840 in 2018, before rising again last year, the figures show.
In recent weeks, Chief Justice Frank Clarke said Ireland's fines system has "broken down" because the laws introduced four years ago have no mechanism to ensure people turn up in court.
Wage deductions
Court Service figures, obtained by Independent TD Noel Grealish, show 39 people were handed an order deducting fines from their wages since the laws were brought in.
The same number had a receiver appointed to recover the debts, while 824 community service orders have been imposed for non-payment of fines.
Some 1,120 people were handed an imprisonment order since 2016 over unpaid fines, but none of them went to jail, according to Angela Denning, chief executive officer of the Court Service.
The imprisonment orders were made by one court where defendants did not appear, but the State brought applications to set aside the orders “and none of the individuals concerned was subsequently imprisoned”, Ms Denning wrote to Mr Grealish.
Jim O’Callaghan, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman, said the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Act is “clearly deficient and not working”.
“It is failing in practice, as was predicted by the judiciary,” he said. “If imposed fines are not being collected it means there is no deterrent to or punishment for the commission of certain crimes. This undermines the rule of law and needs to be addressed by the next government.”
Mr O’Callagahan said if fines were to be imposed a mechanism must be put in place to ensure they would be paid.
‘Non-custodial punishments’
“We also need to explore new and effective non-custodial punishments for the commission of summary offences,” he added.
Also, over the past three years, there have been more than 20,000 bench warrants handed down by courts over unpaid fines.
Bench warrants are most commonly issued by district courts after a person has failed to appear at a hearing.
Latest figures show more than 4,000 bench warrants issued over unpaid fines remain outstanding.
Speaking at the Irish Times Debate final at Trinity College Dublin at the end of February, Chief Justice Clarke said large numbers of people were being fined in their absences for relatively minor offences.
“They then get a notice telling them to come along to debate what should happen. They don’t turn up,” he said.
“Unless the guards are going to spend all their time going out, executing warrants to arrest people for very minor offences like not paying their TV licence, and not detecting serious crime, then that system won’t work. We said it wouldn’t work. And it isn’t working.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Rates and rent freeze will see Dublin city run out of money, Keegan warns

Dublin City Council will not have enough money to run the city if a blanket moratorium on commercial rates and social housing rents is implemented during the coronavirus pandemic , council chief executive Owen Keegan has warned .
Council chief executive Owen Keegan has urged city councillors not to call for a rates freeze for business or a blanket suspension of rent collections from council tenants .
Retail Excellence Ireland chief executive David Fitzsimons said yesterday non-essential business should be shut and rates payments should be stopped .
“ Business needs to cease all rents and rates payments .
When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their doors there can be no legacy bills , ” he said .
No rates should be payable “ for a year ” he added .
Labour group leader on the council Dermot Lacey had earlier called on council management to defer collection of commercial rates for March and for as long as the Covid-19 crisis continues to support small business .
Mr Keegan said income from rates , and rents from the council ’ s almost 25,000 tenants , is essential to keeping the city running .
“ There have been calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a moratorium on payment of commercial rates , rents etc .
I would strongly caution against this approach if we are to maintain city council services , ” he said .
However , he said the city council recognises the “ very difficult trading conditions that exist for certain businesses , especially small businesses , as a consequence of Covid-19-related developments ” .
Any ratepayer “ experiencing difficulties in meeting their rates liabilities should contact their rate collector to discuss the matter and agree an appropriate arrangement ” .
The contact details of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ referenced on each rates bill he said .
In relation to social-housing rents , the council operates a “ differential rent scheme ” which means tenants pay rent based on their incomes .
Almost half of the city council ’ s tenants are charged the minimum rent of €25.65 weekly .
These are largely people whose income is provided directly through State supports .
Tenants with jobs are generally charged extra rent , depending on their individual circumstances .
The current highest weekly charge paid by any tenant is €265.87 , while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24,574 tenancies is €69.41 a week .
For those who have lost jobs as a result of the pandemic , their rents could be reduced , Mr Keegan said , as it would if they became unemployed in the normal course of events .
“ If any social housing tenant experiences a reduction in income they should make contact with the rents section , ” he said , “ and their rent can be adjusted accordingly .
This flexibility is built into the system already ” .
He added households with mortgage loans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop in income should contact the council ’ s housing loans unit .

Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan ‘strongly cautioned’ against a moratorium on commercial rates and social housing rents ‘if we are to maintain city council services’.
Dublin City Council will not have enough money to run the city if a blanket moratorium on commercial rates and social housing rents is implemented during the coronavirus pandemic, council chief executive Owen Keegan has warned.
Council chief executive Owen Keegan has urged city councillors not to call for a rates freeze for business or a blanket suspension of rent collections from council tenants.
Retail Excellence Ireland chief executive David Fitzsimons said yesterday non-essential business should be shut and rates payments should be stopped. "Business needs to cease all rents and rates payments. When they come back, when they open their doors there can be no legacy bills," he said. No rates should be payable "for a year" he added.
Labour group leader on the council Dermot Lacey had earlier called on council management to defer collection of commercial rates for March and for as long as the Covid-19 crisis continues to support small business.
READ MORE
Mr Keegan said income from rates, and rents from the council’s almost 25,000 tenants, is essential to keeping the city running.
“There have been calls by a number of elected members for a moratorium on payment of commercial rates, rents etc. I would strongly caution against this approach if we are to maintain city council services,” he said.
However, he said the city council recognises the “very difficult trading conditions that exist for certain businesses, especially small businesses, as a consequence of Covid-19-related developments”.
Any ratepayer “experiencing difficulties in meeting their rates liabilities should contact their rate collector to discuss the matter and agree an appropriate arrangement”.
The contact details of the council’s rate collectors was referenced on each rates bill he said.
In relation to social-housing rents, the council operates a “differential rent scheme” which means tenants pay rent based on their incomes.
Almost half of the city council’s tenants are charged the minimum rent of €25.65 weekly.
These are largely people whose income is provided directly through State supports.
Tenants with jobs are generally charged extra rent, depending on their individual circumstances. The current highest weekly charge paid by any tenant is €265.87, while the average rent across the council’s 24,574 tenancies is €69.41 a week.
For those who have lost jobs as a result of the pandemic, their rents could be reduced, Mr Keegan said, as it would if they became unemployed in the normal course of events.
“If any social housing tenant experiences a reduction in income they should make contact with the rents section,” he said, “and their rent can be adjusted accordingly. This flexibility is built into the system already”.
He added households with mortgage loans from the council that have experienced a drop in income should contact the council’s housing loans unit.


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Irish lawyer Fergal Gaynor appointed to top post on Cambodia inquiry

An Irish barrister has been appointed to one of the most senior prosecution positions at the Cambodia Tribunal in Phnom Penh , set up in 1997 to try leaders of the Khmer Rouge who ruled the country between 1975 and 1979 .
Fergal Gaynor ( 48 ) has been appointed Reserve International Co-Prosecutor at the tribunal after being nominated by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres and approved by King Norodom Sihamoni .
The tribunal is run jointly by the Cambodian government and the United Nations .
Because of its hybrid structure , the tribunal has a senior legal staff comprising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Gaynor will stand in as required for current international co-prosecutor Brenda Hollis .
She is an American lawyer who was previously chief prosecutor at the UN ’ s Special Court for Sierra Leone , which jailed former Liberian president Charles Taylor for 50 years in 2012 .
Mr Gaynor was senior assistant prosecutor at the Phnom Penh tribunal in 2015 and 2016 , before which he worked at the International Criminal Court ( ICC ) , the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Lebanon .
He was lead counsel for the victims in the ICC case against Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta between 2012 and December 2014 when charges were withdrawn due to lack of evidence .
Most recently he has represented 82 victims in hearings related to the controversial ICC investigation into alleged mass killings by the Taliban , allegations of torture by US forces including the CIA ; and Afghan troops in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2014 .
Mr Gaynor was born in Malawi , southeast Africa , where his father , Frank , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His father and his mother , Monica , hail from small farming backgrounds in Co Westmeath .
He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and Cambridge University and is also a member of the Bar of Ireland .
Mr Gaynor said he is deeply honoured by the appointment to the tribunal which had made “ an enormous contribution to the pursuit of justice for the millions of Cambodian victims who suffered and died during the Pol Pot regime ” .

Fergal Gaynor said he is deeply honoured by the appointment to the tribunal. File photograph: Photograph: Clara Sanchiz
An Irish barrister has been appointed to one of the most senior prosecution positions at the Cambodia Tribunal in Phnom Penh, set up in 1997 to try leaders of the Khmer Rouge who ruled the country between 1975 and 1979.
Fergal Gaynor (48) has been appointed Reserve International Co-Prosecutor at the tribunal after being nominated by UN secretary general Antonio Guterres and approved by King Norodom Sihamoni. The tribunal is run jointly by the Cambodian government and the United Nations.
Because of its hybrid structure, the tribunal has a senior legal staff comprising national and international prosecutors and judges.
Mr Gaynor will stand in as required for current international co-prosecutor Brenda Hollis. She is an American lawyer who was previously chief prosecutor at the UN's Special Court for Sierra Leone, which jailed former Liberian president Charles Taylor for 50 years in 2012.
READ MORE
Mr Gaynor was senior assistant prosecutor at the Phnom Penh tribunal in 2015 and 2016, before which he worked at the International Criminal Court (ICC), the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and the Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. He is also counsel at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
He was lead counsel for the victims in the ICC case against Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta between 2012 and December 2014 when charges were withdrawn due to lack of evidence.
Most recently he has represented 82 victims in hearings related to the controversial ICC investigation into alleged mass killings by the Taliban, allegations of torture by US forces including the CIA; and Afghan troops in Afghanistan between 2003 and 2014.
Mr Gaynor was born in Malawi, southeast Africa, where his father, Frank, was a teacher with the Kiltegan Fathers. His father and his mother, Monica, hail from small farming backgrounds in Co Westmeath.
He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and Cambridge University and is also a member of the Bar of Ireland. Mr Gaynor said he is deeply honoured by the appointment to the tribunal which had made "an enormous contribution to the pursuit of justice for the millions of Cambodian victims who suffered and died during the Pol Pot regime".


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Derry school with suspected case of Covid-19 not allowed to close

A primary school in Northern Ireland with a suspected case of coronavirus in one of its pupils has been denied permission to close by the North ’ s Department of Education , the school ’ s principal has said .
The pupil at Ebrington Primary and Nursery School in Derry displayed no symptoms at school last week but became unwell over the weekend .
The student has not been tested as tests are carried out in the North only when a patient is hospitalised .
In a letter to parents which was published on the school ’ s website , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department for two exceptional closure days on Thursday and Friday .
“ I have been unsuccessful and these have been denied , ” he wrote .
This , he said , was “ a similar story to many other primary schools in our city who had applied for the same ” .
Thorough cleaning of the school will take place on Wednesday , and the school will be open from Thursday .
“ I totally understand and respect your decision to protect your children and families , ” Mr Guthrie wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ what you feel is right for your own individual circumstances.
” The Irish Times approached the Department of Education for comment on Tuesday night .
The Minister for Education , the DUP MLA Peter Weir , previously said the time was not yet right to close schools .
When that decision is made , he has said , it will be on the basis of medical and scientific advice .
An increasing number of schools in the North have decided to close until the end of the week to allow staff time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In an open letter to the Minister of Education , the Catholic Principals ’ Association called for schools to close and said parents had “ already started making your decisions for you by keeping children at home ” .
The First Minister and Deputy First Minister will on Wednesday chair a meeting of the Civil Contingencies Group ( NI ) to lead the response of the public sector to the coronavirus outbreak .
Ten new cases of coronavirus , also known as Covid-19 , were diagnosed in Northern Ireland on Tuesday , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Businesses in the North on Tuesday called for clarity and for financial support to prevent widespread job losses .
The chief executive of Hospitality Ulster , Colin Neill , called for clear instructions as to whether businesses in the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland should close , and for support for the up to 65,000 workers affected .
“ I have had grown men in tears , ” he told BBC Radio Foyle , “ telling me they have no choice , that their businesses will go to the wall.
” Queen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Belfast ’ s Lyric Theatre – which remained open throughout the Troubles – have announced that they would close to attempt to halt the spread of the virus .
Businesses in the North will not pay rates for the next three months , after the Minister of Finance , the Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy , announced £100 million of emergency funding last night .
The North can also expect to benefit from the £330 billion of emergency funding announced by the UK chancellor on Tuesday .

Minister for Education Peter Weir said previously that the time was not yet right to close schools. Photograph: Colm Lenaghan/ Pacemaker
A primary school in Northern Ireland with a suspected case of coronavirus in one of its pupils has been denied permission to close by the North's Department of Education, the school's principal has said.
The pupil at Ebrington Primary and Nursery School in Derry displayed no symptoms at school last week but became unwell over the weekend. The student has not been tested as tests are carried out in the North only when a patient is hospitalised.
In a letter to parents which was published on the school's website, Brian Guthrie said he had applied to the department for two exceptional closure days on Thursday and Friday.
“I have been unsuccessful and these have been denied,” he wrote.
READ MORE
This, he said, was “a similar story to many other primary schools in our city who had applied for the same”.
Thorough cleaning of the school will take place on Wednesday, and the school will be open from Thursday.
“I totally understand and respect your decision to protect your children and families,” Mr Guthrie wrote. “You should, therefore, do what you feel is right for your own individual circumstances.”
The Irish Times approached the Department of Education for comment on Tuesday night.
The Minister for Education, the DUP MLA Peter Weir, previously said the time was not yet right to close schools. When that decision is made, he has said, it will be on the basis of medical and scientific advice.
An increasing number of schools in the North have decided to close until the end of the week to allow staff time to prepare for any future school closures.
In an open letter to the Minister of Education, the Catholic Principals’ Association called for schools to close and said parents had “already started making your decisions for you by keeping children at home”.
The First Minister and Deputy First Minister will on Wednesday chair a meeting of the Civil Contingencies Group (NI) to lead the response of the public sector to the coronavirus outbreak.
Ten new cases of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, were diagnosed in Northern Ireland on Tuesday, bringing the total number of cases to 62.
Job losses
Businesses in the North on Tuesday called for clarity and for financial support to prevent widespread job losses.
The chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill, called for clear instructions as to whether businesses in the hospitality industry in Northern Ireland should close, and for support for the up to 65,000 workers affected.
“I have had grown men in tears,” he told BBC Radio Foyle, “telling me they have no choice, that their businesses will go to the wall.”
Queen's University Belfast, Ulster University and Belfast's Lyric Theatre – which remained open throughout the Troubles – have announced that they would close to attempt to halt the spread of the virus.
Businesses in the North will not pay rates for the next three months, after the Minister of Finance, the Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy, announced £100 million of emergency funding last night.
The North can also expect to benefit from the £330 billion of emergency funding announced by the UK chancellor on Tuesday.


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Testing delays a dangerous obstacle in battle against coronavirus

Long delays in the time it takes to test people for coronavirus and then tell them their result threaten to undermine our strategy for fighting the disease at one of the first steps .
Take the experience of these patients .
The first fell ill last Thursday and was brought to hospital for swabbing the following day .
By Tuesday , he still had not received the results of his test and was told by a nurse to expect them on Wednesday , six days after symptoms .
“ Epidemiologically speaking , the most important purpose of testing for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sick , and through contact tracing identify those other people who could spread the virus further in the community , so they can be informed and instructed to remove themselves from circulation as soon as possible , ” the patient , a trained scientist , says .
“ Secondarily , it is to identify those who may need specific medical monitoring or care .
“ The tests and all the associated effort are utterly worthless if results are not determined much more quickly than this.
” Why so ?
Because if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the other close contacts I have had over the 14 days prior to becoming symptomatic are being traced ” , he says .
“ The many people I spent time with during the period in which I may have been shedding the virus , could themselves be shedding the virus in the community right now as a result of their contact with me , and nothing is being done to identify them .
By now , there actually is no point .
In terms of isolation , it ’ s too late.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for two days to ring “ jammed doctors ’ phone lines and out-of-hours clinics which were inundated ” for two days but couldn ’ t get through .
“ And even though they may have answered the phone at four in the morning , I couldn ’ t call them then because I was already on another planet , concentrating on staying alive.
” Doctors told her it was 98 per cent certain she had the virus and ordered a test .
Later , she was told only GPs could order a test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not care less for a test , it wouldn ’ t change my treatment and I only wanted medical help.
” “ My GP registered me on the new system for a community test .
The system crashed .
I have yet to get an appointment for a test.
” Thankfully , both patients are recovering , but their stories show the system is struggling .
There have been glitches , “ pinch-points ” and shortages of equipment , along with an avalanche of queries , some from the “ worried well ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , health service leaders say .
The next seven days will be crucial in the battle against coronavirus , we have been told .
If things are to go our way , it is vital these issues are dealt with quickly .

A security guard at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, where the stadium is being used as a testing facility for Covid-19. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
Long delays in the time it takes to test people for coronavirus and then tell them their result threaten to undermine our strategy for fighting the disease at one of the first steps.
Take the experience of these patients. The first fell ill last Thursday and was brought to hospital for swabbing the following day. By Tuesday, he still had not received the results of his test and was told by a nurse to expect them on Wednesday, six days after symptoms.
“Epidemiologically speaking, the most important purpose of testing for the virus is to quickly identify and isolate the sick, and through contact tracing identify those other people who could spread the virus further in the community, so they can be informed and instructed to remove themselves from circulation as soon as possible,” the patient, a trained scientist, says. “Secondarily, it is to identify those who may need specific medical monitoring or care.
“The tests and all the associated effort are utterly worthless if results are not determined much more quickly than this.”
READ MORE
‘Too late’
Why so? Because if he tests positive, “then as-yet none of the other close contacts I have had over the 14 days prior to becoming symptomatic are being traced”, he says.
“The many people I spent time with during the period in which I may have been shedding the virus, could themselves be shedding the virus in the community right now as a result of their contact with me, and nothing is being done to identify them. By now, there actually is no point. In terms of isolation, it’s too late.”
A second patient says she tried for two days to ring “jammed doctors’ phone lines and out-of-hours clinics which were inundated” for two days but couldn’t get through.
“And even though they may have answered the phone at four in the morning, I couldn’t call them then because I was already on another planet, concentrating on staying alive.”
Struggling system
Doctors told her it was 98 per cent certain she had the virus and ordered a test. Later, she was told only GPs could order a test.
“By this stage I could not care less for a test, it wouldn’t change my treatment and I only wanted medical help.”
“My GP registered me on the new system for a community test. The system crashed. I have yet to get an appointment for a test.”
Thankfully, both patients are recovering, but their stories show the system is struggling. There have been glitches, “pinch-points” and shortages of equipment, along with an avalanche of queries, some from the “worried well”. The problems are being ironed out, health service leaders say.
The next seven days will be crucial in the battle against coronavirus, we have been told. If things are to go our way, it is vital these issues are dealt with quickly.


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Independent body to investigate ‘unresolved’ Troubles fatalities

A new , independent body is to be created to investigate all “ unresolved ” Troubles deaths , the UK government has announced .
It said this would mean an “ end to the cycle of reinvestigations that has failed victims and veterans for too long ” and would ensure British army veterans who were deployed in Northern Ireland “ receive equal treatment to their counterparts who served overseas ” .
No further detail on the proposals was provided on Tuesday night , but it is understood more information will be forthcoming later on Wednesday .
A commitment to introduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2015 Stormont House Agreement within 100 days was one of the pledges of the New Decade , New Approach deal that restored the Northern Ireland Assembly in January .
Among the measures in the 2015 deal was the creation of a Historical Investigations Unit to investigate outstanding Troubles-related fatalities .
How to handle the legacy of the past has long been a contentious issue in Northern Ireland .
A small number of former soldiers – including Soldier F , who is accused of two counts of murder and five of attempted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1972 – are facing prosecution for Troubles-era killings .
British prime minister Boris Johnson has pledged to end what he has described as “ vexatious prosecutions ” against former servicemen , who argue they are being unfairly pursued many years later .
What are the proposals ?
This is rejected by victims ’ s families and groups who argue that the vast majority of cases involving servicemen were either not investigated , or were not considered adequately .
The UK government said “ reconciliation and information recovery for victims ” would be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A new independent body will conduct swift , final examinations of all the unresolved deaths .
Only those cases where there is new compelling evidence and a realistic prospect of a prosecution will be investigated , ” said the government .
“ Once cases have been considered there will be a legal bar on any future investigation occurring .
This will end the cycle of reinvestigations for the families of victims and veterans alike.
” Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis said the UK government would now begin “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland political parties , and the Irish Government , to discuss these proposals in detail ” .

British prime minister Boris Johnson has pledged to end what he has described as ‘vexatious prosecutions’ against former servicemen, who argue they are being unfairly pursued many years later.
A new, independent body is to be created to investigate all “unresolved” Troubles deaths, the UK government has announced.
It said this would mean an "end to the cycle of reinvestigations that has failed victims and veterans for too long" and would ensure British army veterans who were deployed in Northern Ireland "receive equal treatment to their counterparts who served overseas".
No further detail on the proposals was provided on Tuesday night, but it is understood more information will be forthcoming later on Wednesday.
A commitment to introduce legislation for implementing provisions on legacy outlined in the 2015 Stormont House Agreement within 100 days was one of the pledges of the New Decade, New Approach deal that restored the Northern Ireland Assembly in January.
READ MORE
Among the measures in the 2015 deal was the creation of a Historical Investigations Unit to investigate outstanding Troubles-related fatalities.
How to handle the legacy of the past has long been a contentious issue in Northern Ireland.
A small number of former soldiers – including Soldier F, who is accused of two counts of murder and five of attempted murder in Derry on Bloody Sunday in 1972 – are facing prosecution for Troubles-era killings.
British prime minister Boris Johnson has pledged to end what he has described as "vexatious prosecutions" against former servicemen, who argue they are being unfairly pursued many years later.
What are the proposals?
This is rejected by victims’s families and groups who argue that the vast majority of cases involving servicemen were either not investigated, or were not considered adequately.
The UK government said “reconciliation and information recovery for victims” would be a “key part of the proposals”.
“A new independent body will conduct swift, final examinations of all the unresolved deaths. Only those cases where there is new compelling evidence and a realistic prospect of a prosecution will be investigated,” said the government.
“Once cases have been considered there will be a legal bar on any future investigation occurring. This will end the cycle of reinvestigations for the families of victims and veterans alike.”
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis said the UK government would now begin "an intensive period of engagement with the Northern Ireland political parties, and the Irish Government, to discuss these proposals in detail".


theirishtimes--2020-03-17--Coronavirus: 'Many of you are feeling scared' - full text of Varadkar speech

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made a special televised address to the nation on St Patrick ’ s Day , speaking about the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on Ireland This is a Saint Patrick ’ s Day like no other .
A day that none of us will ever forget .
Today ’ s children will tell their own children and grandchildren about the national holiday in 2020 that had no parades or parties , but instead saw everyone staying at home to protect each other .
In years to come , let them say of us , when things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at our best .
Our country is making big demands of our healthcare staff , big demands of every single one of us .
Tonight I want you to know why these actions are being taken and what more needs to be done .
We are in the midst of a global and national emergency – a pandemic – the likes of which none of us has seen before .
So far the number of cases in Ireland has been relatively small .
However , we believe that number will rise to fifteen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the month and rise further in the weeks thereafter .
The vast majority of us who contract Covid-19 will experience a mild illness , but some will be hospitalised and sadly some people will die .
We can not stop this virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back .
We can , as you have heard by now , flatten the curve .
But only if everyone takes sustained action .
Nothing less will do .
We all need to take steps to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus is spread .
Not just at public gatherings or public places but also in our own homes places of leisure and work .
Large public gatherings are cancelled .
All pubs and bars are shut .
We have also asked people to curtail or cancel social gatherings like parties , weddings and other celebrations .
I know these choices won ’ t be easy , but they are necessary .
More will be required in the coming weeks to reduce the spread of the virus .
At all times we will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expert advice , from our Public Health Emergency Team led by the Chief Medical Officer .
We will always put your life and your health ahead of any other concern .
All resources that we have , financial and human , are being deployed to serve this great national effort .
We are watching what ’ s happening around the world and will learn from the experience of other countries affected by Covid-19 before us – what works and what doesn ’ t .
We know the best strategies focus on testing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that is our strategy .
We will keep our essential services , supply chains and utilities operating .
Many of you want to know when this will be over .
The truth is we don ’ t know yet .
This Emergency is likely to go on well beyond March 29th .
It could go on for months into the summer so we need to be sensible in the approach we take .
We will deploy our full resources to ensure that essential shops , workplaces and public transport can continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy goods and avail of personal services in the weeks and months ahead .
However , to do so , we need your co-operation and that of business and industry to make social distancing workable .
This may mean changing how you do your business… but we will work with you to find safe and creative ways to do this .
This may mean adjusted opening hours , staggering breaks , phone calls rather than meetings , and if possible working from home .
As you plan your life it will mean avoiding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses and getting things delivered rather than physically going to the premises .
In short – we are asking people to come together as a nation by staying apart from each other .
The most basic messages of washing your hands properly and practicing good hygiene around sneezing and coughing are still the most important .
And , if you have a new cough that isn ’ t going away or a high temperature… stay at home and phone your doctor .
A test will be arranged for you .
At a certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who have a long-term illness to stay at home for several weeks .
We are putting in place the systems to ensure that if you are one of them , you will have food , supplies and are checked on .
We call this “ cocooning ” and it will save many lives , particularly the most vulnerable , the most precious in our society .
It ’ s going to be very difficult to stay apart from our loved ones .
Most grandparents just want to give their grandkids a hug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as this is , we need to keep our physical distance to stop the virus .
Technology can help – check in with your loved ones on Skype or Facetime and promise them you ’ ll see them again soon .
We ’ ve already seen our fantastic community spirit spring into action .
Phone your neighbours , see if they need help , and make sure those who are living alone are not left alone .
To all the young people watching – I know you are bored and probably a bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your friends and you might even be wishing you were back at school .
You ’ re going to have to wait a while longer for that .
I hope you remember that this time is tough on your parents as well .
So I ’ m asking you to ask your parents at least once a day what you can do to help them .
Keep up your schoolwork and call your grandparents .
Keep up your schoolwork , call your grandparents and try not to fight with your brothers and sisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoken about little else in recent days .
My partner , my two sisters , and both their husbands are working in the health service – here in Ireland and in the UK .
They are all apprehensive .
They have heard the stories from China and Italy of hospitals being overwhelmed and medical staff getting sick .
I am so proud of all of them .
Not all superheroes wear capes , some wear scrubs and gowns .
All of our healthcare workers need us to do the right thing in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals are being tooled up .
Essential equipment is on the way .
Retired staff are returning to service .
People are training for changed roles .
This is the calm before the storm – before the surge .
And when it comes – and it will come – never will so many ask so much of so few .
We will do all that we can to support them .
I am also grateful to the many people who have joined this great national effort .
Not just our healthcare staff but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ civil servants who are learning how to do contact tracing .
The early education and childcare workers offering to look after the children of our front line staff so they can go to work .
The teachers and lecturers finding new innovative ways to teach students on-line and putting together contingency plans for the Leaving Cert and College exams .
The people who are stocking our shelves every day , and those who are serving customers .
Our hauliers , who leave their families on a Sunday evening and travel across the continent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , medicine and equipment that we need .
All who have kept our supply chain moving , we thank them , a different kind of frontline service .
Our journalists and broadcasters who are helping to inform and educate .
All are deserving of our respect and thanks .
Coronavirus is already having a deep impact on jobs and economic activity and will continue to do so .
Some people watching will have seen their jobs lost , businesses closed or their working hours reduced .
More will be worried that this might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do not know when the Emergency will end .
I know this is causing huge stress to you and your families on top of fear of the virus .
While we do not have all the answers now we are doing and will do all we can to help you through the time ahead .
You will receive income support as quickly and efficiently as possible and when we are through the worst , we will work as hard as possible to get people back to work and get business open again @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solidarity in this time of national sacrifice .
For those who have lost their jobs and had their incomes reduced temporarily , there must be help and understanding from those who can give it , particularly the banks , government bodies and utilities .
We went into this crisis with a strong economy and the public finances in good order .
We have the capacity and credit rating to borrow billions if we need to .
I am confident that our economy will bounce back , but the damage will be significant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it may take years to pay it .
The Government has already signed off a 3 billion euro package for health , social welfare and business – we will take further action as needed .
Tonight I know many of you are feeling scared and overwhelmed .
That is a normal reaction , but we will get through this and we will prevail .
We need to halt the spread of the virus but we also need to halt the spread of fear .
So please rely only on information from trusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HSE , from the World Health Organisation and from the national media .
Do not forward or share messages that are from other , unreliable sources .
So much harm has already been caused by those messages , and we must insulate our communities and the most vulnerable from the contagion of fear .
Fear is a virus in itself .
Please take regular breaks from watching news and media , and from consuming social media .
Constantly scrolling on your phone or obsessively following the latest developments is not good for anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-being as well as your physical health .
Tonight on our national holiday I also want to send a message around the world that we are all in this together .
To the people of China , Spain and Italy who have suffered untold heartbreak and loss – we are with you .
To all of those across the world who have lost a loved one to this virus – we are with you .
To all those living in the shadow of what is to come – we are with you .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ race , nationality or gender .
They are the shared enemy of all humanity .
So it will be the shared enterprise of all humanity that finds a treatment and a vaccine that protects us .
Tonight I send a message of friendship and of hope from Ireland to everyone around the world this Saint Patrick ’ s Day .

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the country that this St Patrick’s Day is a day no one will ever forget. Video: RTÉ
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar made a special televised address to the nation on St Patrick’s Day, speaking about the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic on Ireland
Lá Fhéile Pádraig shona daoibh!
This is a Saint Patrick’s Day like no other.
A day that none of us will ever forget.
READ MORE
Today’s children will tell their own children and grandchildren about the national holiday in 2020 that had no parades or parties, but instead saw everyone staying at home to protect each other.
In years to come, let them say of us, when things were at their worst, we were at our best.
Our country is making big demands of our healthcare staff, big demands of every single one of us.
Tonight I want you to know why these actions are being taken and what more needs to be done.
We are in the midst of a global and national emergency – a pandemic – the likes of which none of us has seen before.
So far the number of cases in Ireland has been relatively small.
However, we believe that number will rise to fifteen thousand cases or more by the end of the month and rise further in the weeks thereafter.
The vast majority of us who contract Covid-19 will experience a mild illness, but some will be hospitalised and sadly some people will die.
We cannot stop this virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back.
We can, as you have heard by now, flatten the curve. But only if everyone takes sustained action. Nothing less will do.
We all need to take steps to reduce close human contact. That is how the virus is spread. Not just at public gatherings or public places but also in our own homes places of leisure and work.
Large public gatherings are cancelled. All pubs and bars are shut.
We have also asked people to curtail or cancel social gatherings like parties, weddings and other celebrations. I know these choices won’t be easy,but they are necessary.
More will be required in the coming weeks to reduce the spread of the virus. At all times we will be guided by, and take the expert advice, from our Public Health Emergency Team led by the Chief Medical Officer.
We will always put your life and your health ahead of any other concern. All resources that we have, financial and human, are being deployed to serve this great national effort.
We are watching what’s happening around the world and will learn from the experience of other countries affected by Covid-19 before us – what works and what doesn’t.
We know the best strategies focus on testing, contact tracing and social distancing. So, that is our strategy.
We will keep our essential services, supply chains and utilities operating.
Many of you want to know when this will be over.
The truth is we don’t know yet.
This Emergency is likely to go on well beyond March 29th. It could go on for months into the summer so we need to be sensible in the approach we take.
We will deploy our full resources to ensure that essential shops, workplaces and public transport can continue to operate. People will still need to buy goods and avail of personal services in the weeks and months ahead.
However, to do so, we need your co-operation and that of business and industry to make social distancing workable. This may mean changing how you do your business… but we will work with you to find safe and creative ways to do this.
This may mean adjusted opening hours, staggering breaks, phone calls rather than meetings, and if possible working from home.
As you plan your life it will mean avoiding unnecessary journeys. Shopping online from local businesses and getting things delivered rather than physically going to the premises.
In short – we are asking people to come together as a nation by staying apart from each other.
The most basic messages of washing your hands properly and practicing good hygiene around sneezing and coughing are still the most important.
And, if you have a new cough that isn’t going away or a high temperature… stay at home and phone your doctor. A test will be arranged for you.
At a certain point we will advise the elderly and people who have a long-term illness to stay at home for several weeks. We are putting in place the systems to ensure that if you are one of them, you will have food, supplies and are checked on.
We call this “cocooning” and it will save many lives, particularly the most vulnerable, the most precious in our society.
It’s going to be very difficult to stay apart from our loved ones.
Most grandparents just want to give their grandkids a hug and a kiss – but as hard as this is, we need to keep our physical distance to stop the virus.
Technology can help – check in with your loved ones on Skype or Facetime and promise them you’ll see them again soon.
We’ve already seen our fantastic community spirit spring into action.
Phone your neighbours, see if they need help, and make sure those who are living alone are not left alone.
To all the young people watching – I know you are bored and probably a bit fed up. You want to see your friends and you might even be wishing you were back at school.
You’re going to have to wait a while longer for that.
I hope you remember that this time is tough on your parents as well.
So I’m asking you to ask your parents at least once a day what you can do to help them. Keep up your schoolwork and call your grandparents.
Keep up your schoolwork, call your grandparents and try not to fight with your brothers and sisters.
Like you, my family has spoken about little else in recent days.
My partner, my two sisters, and both their husbands are working in the health service – here in Ireland and in the UK. They are all apprehensive. They have heard the stories from China and Italy of hospitals being overwhelmed and medical staff getting sick.
I am so proud of all of them.
Not all superheroes wear capes, some wear scrubs and gowns.
All of our healthcare workers need us to do the right thing in the weeks ahead.
Our community services and hospitals are being tooled up.
Essential equipment is on the way.
Retired staff are returning to service. People are training for changed roles.
This is the calm before the storm – before the surge.
And when it comes – and it will come – never will so many ask so much of so few.
We will do all that we can to support them.
I am also grateful to the many people who have joined this great national effort.
Not just our healthcare staff but also our army cadets, librarians and civil servants who are learning how to do contact tracing.
The early education and childcare workers offering to look after the children of our front line staff so they can go to work.
The teachers and lecturers finding new innovative ways to teach students on-line and putting together contingency plans for the Leaving Cert and College exams.
The people who are stocking our shelves every day, and those who are serving customers.
Our hauliers, who leave their families on a Sunday evening and travel across the continent to ensure that we have the products, medicine and equipment that we need. All who have kept our supply chain moving, we thank them, a different kind of frontline service.
Our journalists and broadcasters who are helping to inform and educate. All are deserving of our respect and thanks.
Coronavirus is already having a deep impact on jobs and economic activity and will continue to do so.
Some people watching will have seen their jobs lost, businesses closed or their working hours reduced. More will be worried that this might happen to them too, especially as we do not know when the Emergency will end.
I know this is causing huge stress to you and your families on top of fear of the virus.
While we do not have all the answers now we are doing and will do all we can to help you through the time ahead.
You will receive income support as quickly and efficiently as possible and when we are through the worst, we will work as hard as possible to get people back to work and get business open again.
Everyone in our society must show solidarity in this time of national sacrifice. For those who have lost their jobs and had their incomes reduced temporarily, there must be help and understanding from those who can give it, particularly the banks, government bodies and utilities.
We went into this crisis with a strong economy and the public finances in good order.
We have the capacity and credit rating to borrow billions if we need to.
I am confident that our economy will bounce back, but the damage will be significant and lasting. The bill will be enormous and it may take years to pay it.
The Government has already signed off a 3 billion euro package for health, social welfare and business – we will take further action as needed.
Tonight I know many of you are feeling scared and overwhelmed. That is a normal reaction, but we will get through this and we will prevail.
We need to halt the spread of the virus but we also need to halt the spread of fear.
So please rely only on information from trusted sources. From Government, from the HSE, from the World Health Organisation and from the national media.
Do not forward or share messages that are from other, unreliable sources. So much harm has already been caused by those messages, and we must insulate our communities and the most vulnerable from the contagion of fear.
Fear is a virus in itself.
Please take regular breaks from watching news and media, and from consuming social media. Constantly scrolling on your phone or obsessively following the latest developments is not good for anyone.
Look after your mental health and well-being as well as your physical health.
Tonight on our national holiday I also want to send a message around the world that we are all in this together.
To the people of China, Spain and Italy who have suffered untold heartbreak and loss – we are with you.
To all of those across the world who have lost a loved one to this virus – we are with you.
To all those living in the shadow of what is to come – we are with you.
Viruses pay no attention to borders, race, nationality or gender.
They are the shared enemy of all humanity.
So it will be the shared enterprise of all humanity that finds a treatment and a vaccine that protects us.
Tonight I send a message of friendship and of hope from Ireland to everyone around the world this Saint Patrick’s Day.
Lá Fheile Pádraig shona daoibh!
Oíche mhaith.


theirishtimes--2020-03-17--Coronavirus: Varadkar addresses nation and says crisis may last months

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said elderly citizens and those with long term illnesses will be asked to stay at home for several weeks as the Government grapples with the mounting crisis posed by coronavirus .
In a rare televised address , Mr Varadkar warned that the disruption to everyday life could last into the summer .
The Government is now moving to put in place systems to ensure that elderly people who are asked to “ cocoon ” will have access to food and supplies .
“ At a certain point we will advise the elderly and people who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for several weeks .
We are putting in place the systems to ensure that if you are one of them you will have food , supplies and are checked on .
We call this ‘ cocooning ’ and it will save many lives , particularly the most vulnerable , the most precious in our society.
” Mr Varadkar acknowledged that while many will find it difficult to stay apart from their loved ones , people need to keep their physical distance in order to stop the spread of the virus .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the coronavirus crisis would be over , “ the truth is we don ’ t know yet.
” “ This emergency is likely to go on well beyond March 29th .
It could go on for months into the summer so we need to be sensible in the approach we take.
” Mr Varadkar warned that we are “ in the midst of a global and national emergency , a pandemic the likes of which none of us has seen before ” as he also cautioned that it will take years to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that our economy will bounce back but the damage will be significant and lasting .
The bill will be enormous and it may take years to pay it.
” “ Coronavirus is already having a deep impact on jobs and economic activity and will continue to do so.
” The Government has , to date , signed off a €3bn package for health , social welfare and business and says it will take further action if needed .
The State is moving to deploy “ full resources to ensure that essential shops , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operate , ” Mr Varadkar said .
“ People will still need to buy goods and avail of personal services in the weeks and months ahead.
” “ This is the calm before the storm , before the surge .
And when it comes , and it will come , never will so many ask so much of so few.
” In his speech he said that the country had witnessed “ a St Patrick ’ s Day like no other , a day that none of us will ever forget .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and grandchildren about the national holiday of 2020 that had no parties , no parades but instead saw everyone staying at home to protect each other.
” '' Tonight I know many of you are feeling scared and overwhelmed .
That is a normal reaction , but we will get through this and we will prevail , `` Mr Varadkar added .
Meanwhile , the Health Service Executive says it is confident it can overcome delays in carrying out coronavirus tests and reporting results that threaten to derail the strategy of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With patients reporting waits of up to six days for results , the HSE says new supplies of testing equipment due to arrive this week and an expansion of lab capacity will improve turnaround times .
A further 69 coronavirus cases were confirmed last night , the biggest daily increase yet recorded , bringing the total number to 292 .
The HSE ’ s Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) said on Tuesday that the latest Covid-19 cases involved 29 males and 40 females .
Of these , 48 were in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in south , five were in the northwest and three were in the west .
Another 10 cases were diagnosed in Northern Ireland yesterday , giving a total of 62 confirmed cases there .
Mr Varadkar warned again that the number of cases could rise to 15,000 by the end of the month with further rises in the weeks thereafter .
“ We can not stop this virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back.
” He said this could only be done “ if everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the country that this St Patrick’s Day is a day no one will ever forget. Video: RTÉ
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said elderly citizens and those with long term illnesses will be asked to stay at home for several weeks as the Government grapples with the mounting crisis posed by coronavirus.
In a rare televised address, Mr Varadkar warned that the disruption to everyday life could last into the summer. The Government is now moving to put in place systems to ensure that elderly people who are asked to “cocoon” will have access to food and supplies.
“At a certain point we will advise the elderly and people who have a long-term illness to stay at home for several weeks. We are putting in place the systems to ensure that if you are one of them you will have food, supplies and are checked on. We call this ‘cocooning’ and it will save many lives, particularly the most vulnerable, the most precious in our society.”
Mr Varadkar acknowledged that while many will find it difficult to stay apart from their loved ones, people need to keep their physical distance in order to stop the spread of the virus.
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He said that while the public wanted to know when the coronavirus crisis would be over, “the truth is we don’t know yet.”
“This emergency is likely to go on well beyond March 29th. It could go on for months into the summer so we need to be sensible in the approach we take.”
Economic hit
Mr Varadkar warned that we are “in the midst of a global and national emergency, a pandemic the likes of which none of us has seen before” as he also cautioned that it will take years to recover economically.
“I am confident that our economy will bounce back but the damage will be significant and lasting. The bill will be enormous and it may take years to pay it.”
"Coronavirus is already having a deep impact on jobs and economic activity and will continue to do so."
The Government has, to date, signed off a €3bn package for health, social welfare and business and says it will take further action if needed.
The State is moving to deploy “full resources to ensure that essential shops, workplaces and public transport can continue to operate,” Mr Varadkar said.
“People will still need to buy goods and avail of personal services in the weeks and months ahead.”
“This is the calm before the storm, before the surge. And when it comes, and it will come, never will so many ask so much of so few.”
In his speech he said that the country had witnessed “a St Patrick’s Day like no other, a day that none of us will ever forget. Today’s children will tell their own children and grandchildren about the national holiday of 2020 that had no parties, no parades but instead saw everyone staying at home to protect each other.”
"Tonight I know many of you are feeling scared and overwhelmed. That is a normal reaction, but we will get through this and we will prevail, " Mr Varadkar added.
Virus testing
Meanwhile, the Health Service Executive says it is confident it can overcome delays in carrying out coronavirus tests and reporting results that threaten to derail the strategy of the health service in fighting the disease.
With patients reporting waits of up to six days for results, the HSE says new supplies of testing equipment due to arrive this week and an expansion of lab capacity will improve turnaround times.
A further 69 coronavirus cases were confirmed last night, the biggest daily increase yet recorded, bringing the total number to 292.
The HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) said on Tuesday that the latest Covid-19 cases involved 29 males and 40 females. Of these, 48 were in the east of the State, 13 were in south, five were in the northwest and three were in the west.
Another 10 cases were diagnosed in Northern Ireland yesterday, giving a total of 62 confirmed cases there.
Mr Varadkar warned again that the number of cases could rise to 15,000 by the end of the month with further rises in the weeks thereafter.
“We cannot stop this virus but working together we can slow it in its tracks and push it back.” He said this could only be done “if everyone takes sustained action. Nothing less will do.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Woman (71) dies following two-vehicle collision in Cork

A 71-year-old woman has died in Co Cork after a collision involving a car and a cement mixer .
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses following the fatal incident on the main Cork-Limerick N20 near Mallow at 10am on Wednesday .
The 71-year-old woman , who was driving the car , was pronounced dead at the scene .
The car and the cement mixer were travelling in opposite directions when the collision occurred .
The driver of the cement mixer , a 49-year-old , was uninjured but was treated for shock at the scene .
The body of the woman , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Toyota car , was removed to Cork University Hospital for a postmortem examination .
Gardaí closed off the road and diversions were put in place to allow a Garda forensic crash investigator examine the scene of the collision .
Gardaí have appealed for anyone travelling the road at the time and who witnessed the collision to contact them at Mallow Garda station on 022-31450 .
The death is the second on Cork roads in the space of two days , following the death of a pedestrian in a hit and run on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Michael Burke ( 35 ) was killed when he was struck by a car as he was walking on the N25 near Cobh Cross just outside Carrigtwohill at 1.50am .

A 71-year-old woman has died in Co Cork after a collision involving a car and a cement mixer. File photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
A 71-year-old woman has died in Co Cork after a collision involving a car and a cement mixer.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses following the fatal incident on the main Cork-Limerick N20 near Mallow at 10am on Wednesday.
The 71-year-old woman, who was driving the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. The car and the cement mixer were travelling in opposite directions when the collision occurred.
The driver of the cement mixer, a 49-year-old, was uninjured but was treated for shock at the scene.
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The body of the woman, who was the sole occupant of her Toyota car, was removed to Cork University Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Gardaí closed off the road and diversions were put in place to allow a Garda forensic crash investigator examine the scene of the collision.
Gardaí have appealed for anyone travelling the road at the time and who witnessed the collision to contact them at Mallow Garda station on 022-31450.
The death is the second on Cork roads in the space of two days, following the death of a pedestrian in a hit and run on the N25 in east Co Cork on Tuesday.
Michael Burke (35) was killed when he was struck by a car as he was walking on the N25 near Cobh Cross just outside Carrigtwohill at 1.50am.


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--More than 50,000 applications have been made for new pandemic payment

Fear and confusion is growing among the poorest working families that they will be the hardest hit if they are laid off because of the coronavirus crisis , advocacy organisations are warning .
The Society of St Vincent de Paul , One Family and SPARK ( Single Parents Acting for the Rights of our Kids ) have written to the Minister for Social Protection , Regina Doherty seeking clarification on several issues .
Most pressing is whether working poor families will continue to receive the Working Family Payment ( WFP ) in the event of being laid off .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supplement or FIS ) is paid to families with children where they are on very low incomes , to bring them to a minimal threshold .
It is worth about €60 per child per week , depending on how much the recipient is earning .
To qualify for the WFP the person must work at least 38 hours per fortnight .
Minister Doherty said on radio on Monday where a breadwinner was laid off because of the crisis they would be entitled to a new emergency payment , the Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will be available for six weeks .
Already more than 50,000 applications have been made for this payment .
On the one page application form for it , however , there is nowhere to detail child or adult dependents .
It means families with children will receive just €203 per week regardless of the size of their family .
A particularly vulnerable cohort are those receiving the WFP , about half of whom are headed by lone parents .
They may be working , for example , 20 hours a week to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event they are laid off they will have neither their paid employment nor the WFP .
“ Some lone parents will see their incomes halved overnight , ” said Louise Bayliss , coordinator of Spark .
“ People are really terrified .
They are hearing different stories about whether they will still get the WFP .
There is so much confusion and lack of clarity.
” In the letter to the minister the organisations said it was “ critical that normal payments of the WFP continue ” even if parents are unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per week due to decreased availability of work as well as because of childcare requirements with schools closed .
The Department did not yet provide a response to The Irish Times on the issue .
However in a statement on Wednesday night detailing how it has received more than 50,000 claims from people who have been laid-off for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments it said the level of applications showed the huge impact that the pandemic is having “ on our economy and on our people ” .
Ms Doherty said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is an extraordinary time .
There is great uncertainty and much anxiety about what lies ahead .
The loss of a job and an income increases this anxiety and stress .
We are doing all we can to help people through this anxiety .
The new payment we introduced is just one measure and it means that we can get people into payment as quickly as possible .
Hopefully this will provide some measure of reassurance to people unfortunate to be laid-off .
We are also calling on banks , landlords , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with regard to payments of mortgages , rent and utility bills.
” She also paid tribute to staff at her department .
“ Processing 50,000 claims represents close to two months normal jobseeker claim-load .
This was managed in a two day period for a new payment that didn ’ t exist a week ago , on new systems that had to be developed and implemented and on the basis of new legislation that is going before the Oireachtas tomorrow .
It required a huge commitment and very long hours of work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the staff of the Department .
”

The Society of St Vincent de Paul, One Family and SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of our Kids) have written to the Minister for Social Protection, Regina Doherty seeking clarification on several issues. File photograph: iStock/Getty Images
Fear and confusion is growing among the poorest working families that they will be the hardest hit if they are laid off because of the coronavirus crisis, advocacy organisations are warning.
The Society of St Vincent de Paul, One Family and SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of our Kids) have written to the Minister for Social Protection, Regina Doherty seeking clarification on several issues. Most pressing is whether working poor families will continue to receive the Working Family Payment (WFP) in the event of being laid off.
The WFP (formerly known as Family Income Supplement or FIS) is paid to families with children where they are on very low incomes, to bring them to a minimal threshold. It is worth about €60 per child per week, depending on how much the recipient is earning. To qualify for the WFP the person must work at least 38 hours per fortnight.
Minister Doherty said on radio on Monday where a breadwinner was laid off because of the crisis they would be entitled to a new emergency payment, the Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment. It is worth €203 a week and will be available for six weeks. Already more than 50,000 applications have been made for this payment.
READ MORE
On the one page application form for it, however, there is nowhere to detail child or adult dependents. It means families with children will receive just €203 per week regardless of the size of their family.
A particularly vulnerable cohort are those receiving the WFP, about half of whom are headed by lone parents. They may be working, for example, 20 hours a week to work around school hours. In the event they are laid off they will have neither their paid employment nor the WFP.
"Some lone parents will see their incomes halved overnight," said Louise Bayliss, coordinator of Spark. "People are really terrified. They are hearing different stories about whether they will still get the WFP. There is so much confusion and lack of clarity."
In the letter to the minister the organisations said it was “critical that normal payments of the WFP continue” even if parents are unable to work all of the required nineteen hours per week due to decreased availability of work as well as because of childcare requirements with schools closed.
The Department did not yet provide a response to The Irish Times on the issue.
However in a statement on Wednesday night detailing how it has received more than 50,000 claims from people who have been laid-off for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payments it said the level of applications showed the huge impact that the pandemic is having “on our economy and on our people”.
Ms Doherty said: “The measures taken already are extraordinary but this is an extraordinary time. There is great uncertainty and much anxiety about what lies ahead. The loss of a job and an income increases this anxiety and stress. We are doing all we can to help people through this anxiety. The new payment we introduced is just one measure and it means that we can get people into payment as quickly as possible. Hopefully this will provide some measure of reassurance to people unfortunate to be laid-off. We are also calling on banks, landlords, utility providers and others to exercise forbearance with regard to payments of mortgages, rent and utility bills.”
She also paid tribute to staff at her department. “Processing 50,000 claims represents close to two months normal jobseeker claim-load. This was managed in a two day period for a new payment that didn’t exist a week ago, on new systems that had to be developed and implemented and on the basis of new legislation that is going before the Oireachtas tomorrow . It required a huge commitment and very long hours of work, and I couldn’t be prouder of the staff of the Department.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Coronavirus: 22% of first 271 cases were community transmission

A further 74 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Wednesday night .
The new cases involve 29 women and 45 men .
The total number of cases in the Republic is now 366 .
It also published an analysis of the first 271 cases .
Of these , 40 per cent involved men and 59 per cent are female , with 23 clusters .
To date 42 per cent of cases are travel-related ; 22 per cent are associated with community transmission ; 17 per cent are as a result of local transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation .
Two-thirds of cases were among people aged under 55 years , with almost one in four aged 35 to 55 .
One baby aged under one contracted the virus , but no children aged one to four years .
There were four cases among children aged five to 14 years .
One case in five involved a healthcare worker , and one-third of these cases were associated with travel .
Dublin has the highest number of cases with 129 , followed by Cork ( 48 ) and Limerick ( 14 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severity .
Of the 271 cases , 84 ( 31 per cent ) saw the patient hospitalised ; this figure is artificially high because at the start of the outbreak all patients were sent to hospital , even if their symptoms were mild .
Six patients have required treatment in intensive care ; this is 2 per cent of the overall number .
There have been two confirmed deaths , giving a case fatality rate of 0.7 per cent .
Leitrim , Laois and Monaghan were the only counties not to record a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fewer than five cases .
There has been an “ extraordinary level of compliance ” with the social distancing measures introduced last week , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan told a media briefing .
People were showing a “ high degree of understanding ” in relation to symptoms , and the importance of self-isolation for people showing symptoms .
“ You see it every day , ” Dr Holohan said , adding that he had counted just 11 passengers on six buses on his way to work .
He said as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors have started to notice that the number of contacts of confirmed cases has grown smaller .
However , he said it was too early to know if the measures were having the desired impact , and it might be “ towards the end of the month ” before this would be known .
“ We ’ re not expecting it at this point in time , but after that we ’ re hoping to see a slower rate of growth [ in cases ] than the exponential growth we ’ re having.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ prediction of 15,000 cases by the end of the month represented an “ unmitigated situation ” , and he was hopeful a lower number of cases would be observed as a result of the measures taken .
Asked about reports online of a third death from the disease on Wednesday , Mr Holohan said he did not have any notification of this but it can take time for cases to “ come through ” in processing .

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan during a press briefing on Wednesday at the Department of Health. Photograph Nick Bradshaw
A further 74 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Wednesday night. The new cases involve 29 women and 45 men. The total number of cases in the Republic is now 366.
It also published an analysis of the first 271 cases. Of these, 40 per cent involved men and 59 per cent are female, with 23 clusters.
To date 42 per cent of cases are travel-related; 22 per cent are associated with community transmission; 17 per cent are as a result of local transmission; and 20 per cent remain under investigation.
Two-thirds of cases were among people aged under 55 years, with almost one in four aged 35 to 55. One baby aged under one contracted the virus, but no children aged one to four years. There were four cases among children aged five to 14 years.
READ MORE
One case in five involved a healthcare worker, and one-third of these cases were associated with travel.
Dublin has the highest number of cases with 129, followed by Cork (48) and Limerick (14).
The cases were also analysed by severity. Of the 271 cases, 84 (31 per cent) saw the patient hospitalised; this figure is artificially high because at the start of the outbreak all patients were sent to hospital, even if their symptoms were mild.
Six patients have required treatment in intensive care; this is 2 per cent of the overall number. There have been two confirmed deaths, giving a case fatality rate of 0.7 per cent.
Leitrim, Laois and Monaghan were the only counties not to record a case, while 15 other counties recorded fewer than five cases.
Compliance
There has been an "extraordinary level of compliance" with the social distancing measures introduced last week, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan told a media briefing. People were showing a "high degree of understanding" in relation to symptoms, and the importance of self-isolation for people showing symptoms.
“You see it every day,” Dr Holohan said, adding that he had counted just 11 passengers on six buses on his way to work.
He said as the measures have taken effect, public health doctors have started to notice that the number of contacts of confirmed cases has grown smaller.
However, he said it was too early to know if the measures were having the desired impact, and it might be “towards the end of the month” before this would be known.
“We’re not expecting it at this point in time, but after that we’re hoping to see a slower rate of growth [in cases] than the exponential growth we’re having.”
He said the Taoiseach’s prediction of 15,000 cases by the end of the month represented an “unmitigated situation”, and he was hopeful a lower number of cases would be observed as a result of the measures taken.
Asked about reports online of a third death from the disease on Wednesday, Mr Holohan said he did not have any notification of this but it can take time for cases to “come through” in processing.


theirishtimes--2020-03-18--Post offices to open from 8am to cater for elderly people

An Post has outlined a series of measures designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic including the opening of post offices for periods of time specifically to cater for the elderly .
It said on Wednesday that the majority of post offices will open from 8am on Friday to facilitate OAPs who wish to conduct their business ahead of other customers .
People impacted by Covid-19 may nominate a “ temporary agent ” to act on their behalf by completing , in advance , a form available at post offices and online at anpost.com/tempagent .
It said post @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures to safeguard customers and staff .
Post office staff will also capture customer details directly , avoiding the need for people to handle counter equipment such as signing pads and pens .
Display boards , floor signs and staff will remind customers to remain apart from other people while in post offices .
An Post said it would endeavour to maintain collection and delivery services for as long as possible .
“ In the interest of everyone ’ s health and safety , we ask that householders and businesses include their letterbox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their regular cleaning and disinfecting routine , ” it said .
People are no longer being asked to sign for mail deliveries requiring signature , rather the delivery person will sign to confirm the delivery in the presence of the customer .
It added that flight cancellations to and from an-ever growing number of countries are seriously impacting international services .
An Post chief executive David McRedmond said : “ The focus of everyone in An Post now is on doing all we can to help customers through this difficult period and playing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain Covid-19 .
”

Post offices have introduced social distancing and other measures to safeguard customers and staff.
An Post has outlined a series of measures designed to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic including the opening of post offices for periods of time specifically to cater for the elderly.
It said on Wednesday that the majority of post offices will open from 8am on Friday to facilitate OAPs who wish to conduct their business ahead of other customers.
People impacted by Covid-19 may nominate a “temporary agent” to act on their behalf by completing, in advance, a form available at post offices and online at anpost.com/tempagent.
It said post offices have introduced social distancing and other measures to safeguard customers and staff.
READ MORE
Post office staff will also capture customer details directly, avoiding the need for people to handle counter equipment such as signing pads and pens.
Display boards, floor signs and staff will remind customers to remain apart from other people while in post offices.
An Post said it would endeavour to maintain collection and delivery services for as long as possible.
“In the interest of everyone’s health and safety, we ask that householders and businesses include their letterbox, doorbell and exterior door handles in their regular cleaning and disinfecting routine,” it said.
People are no longer being asked to sign for mail deliveries requiring signature, rather the delivery person will sign to confirm the delivery in the presence of the customer.
It added that flight cancellations to and from an-ever growing number of countries are seriously impacting international services.
An Post chief executive David McRedmond said: “The focus of everyone in An Post now is on doing all we can to help customers through this difficult period and playing our part in the national effort to contain Covid-19.”