theirishtimes--2020-07-22--Barge owners afraid to make waves for fear of eviction

The interior of Gary Long ’ s barge on the Grand Canal in Dublin is quite a surprise .
It is panelled and floored with pale wood , the brightness in contrast to the vessel ’ s metallic black exterior .
The kitchen table is fashioned from two planks from fallen beech trees on his family ’ s land in Co Limerick .
His coffee table is a slab of oak , its legs plain black metal bars .
At one end of the cavernous open space is a double bed .
Between the kitchen and sitting areas is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his dog Kimba warm in the winter .
The three inches of spray foam insulation behind the timber planks helps too .
Long ( 34 ) wants to open a rooftop cafe on his barge , something he says would be an attraction to the Portobello area , where he normally moors .
He paid €70,000 for the barge and got permission from Waterways Ireland to lift it into the water by crane .
He brought it to Portobello where he spent about €50,000 on a fit-out , doing much of the work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the water .
He has been told by Waterways Ireland that , as he is currently in an illegal mooring site , he is in breach of bylaws and risks his boat being confiscated .
The agency , which has authority over Ireland ’ s canals , says it will not comment on individual cases but notes it is bound by certain regulations .
It says it has planning permission for the existing 20 “ liveaboard ” moorings in Grand Canal Dock and eight more at Shannon Harbour for people who want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beyond that , there are “ no residential moorings available ” .
Anyone moored outside these areas is doing so illegally , it says .
As such , Long and many of his fellow liveaboards – who can regularly be seen moored along the Grand Canal at Hazelhatch , Lowtown and Sallins and on the Royal Canal at Castleknock – currently exist in an unauthorised twilight zone .
At least six liveaboards , including Long , were recently given notice by Waterways Ireland to move on or face having their boats lifted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those notices were stalled last week following the intervention of Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan , but the boat owners are still apprehensive .
Luís Gómezcala , who is moored at the 12th Lock near Castleknock , said liveaboards have always been loathe to raise their heads looking for services , for fear of being evicted .
However , he says he recently notified Waterways Ireland that he and others proposed to hire a private refuse operator to collect their domestic rubbish as well as the rubbish they pick out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Within four hours the authority responded , telling Gómezcala that he needed a valid residential Extended Mooring Permit to remain .
It also said there are no berths available , even if he had a permit .
This tough stance is a long way from what the then chief executive of Waterways Ireland Dawn Livingstone told a Dáil committee in 2018 , when she said liveaboards were “ definitely part of a vibrant canal network and we can have communities that flourish ” .
She said liveaboards were something that “ we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustainable way that meets the requirements of planning authorities ” .
Long and Gómezcala insist that people who live on their vessels are very much in favour of environmental regulation and fees covering waste removal and water supplies .
They say they would welcome the chance to regularise their situation and argue that properly managed moorings would be an attractive addition to city life .
Reg McCabe , a spokesman for the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland , which represents users of the country ’ s canals and rivers , says the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made years ago .
He notes Dublin City Council is about to redraft its development plan and says this is an opportunity to identify sites for marinas and draw up guidelines for how they should be environmentally managed .
He says Waterways Ireland does not even need to do this itself .
“ They could grant a concession for the Grand Canal basin to a company in the morning , ” argues McCabe .
But Long is not optimistic this will happen .
“ The body responsible for canal boating doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he says , ruefully .

The interior of Gary Long’s barge on the Grand Canal in Dublin is quite a surprise. It is panelled and floored with pale wood, the brightness in contrast to the vessel’s metallic black exterior. The kitchen table is fashioned from two planks from fallen beech trees on his family’s land in Co Limerick. His coffee table is a slab of oak, its legs plain black metal bars.
At one end of the cavernous open space is a double bed. Between the kitchen and sitting areas is a solid fuel stove which keeps Long and his dog Kimba warm in the winter. The three inches of spray foam insulation behind the timber planks helps too.
Long (34) wants to open a rooftop cafe on his barge, something he says would be an attraction to the Portobello area, where he normally moors. He paid €70,000 for the barge and got permission from Waterways Ireland to lift it into the water by crane. He brought it to Portobello where he spent about €50,000 on a fit-out, doing much of the work himself.
Gary Long with his dog, Kimba, on his barge moored on the Grand Canal in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
But all is not calm on the water. He has been told by Waterways Ireland that, as he is currently in an illegal mooring site, he is in breach of bylaws and risks his boat being confiscated.
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The agency, which has authority over Ireland’s canals, says it will not comment on individual cases but notes it is bound by certain regulations.
It says it has planning permission for the existing 20 “liveaboard” moorings in Grand Canal Dock and eight more at Shannon Harbour for people who want to make boats their homes; but, beyond that, there are “no residential moorings available”. Anyone moored outside these areas is doing so illegally, it says.
Twilight zone
As such, Long and many of his fellow liveaboards – who can regularly be seen moored along the Grand Canal at Hazelhatch, Lowtown and Sallins and on the Royal Canal at Castleknock – currently exist in an unauthorised twilight zone.
At least six liveaboards, including Long, were recently given notice by Waterways Ireland to move on or face having their boats lifted and potentially sold to recover costs. Those notices were stalled last week following the intervention of Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan, but the boat owners are still apprehensive.
Luís Gómezcala, who is moored at the 12th Lock near Castleknock, said liveaboards have always been loathe to raise their heads looking for services, for fear of being evicted.
However, he says he recently notified Waterways Ireland that he and others proposed to hire a private refuse operator to collect their domestic rubbish as well as the rubbish they pick out of the canal on their regular clean-ups.
They argue that properly managed moorings would be an attractive addition to city life
Within four hours the authority responded, telling Gómezcala that he needed a valid residential Extended Mooring Permit to remain. It also said there are no berths available, even if he had a permit.
This tough stance is a long way from what the then chief executive of Waterways Ireland Dawn Livingstone told a Dáil committee in 2018, when she said liveaboards were “definitely part of a vibrant canal network and we can have communities that flourish”.
She said liveaboards were something that “we are keen to manage and grow in a sustainable way that meets the requirements of planning authorities”.
Waste removal
Long and Gómezcala insist that people who live on their vessels are very much in favour of environmental regulation and fees covering waste removal and water supplies. They say they would welcome the chance to regularise their situation and argue that properly managed moorings would be an attractive addition to city life.
Reg McCabe, a spokesman for the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, which represents users of the country’s canals and rivers, says the case for properly controlled moorings or marinas was made years ago.
He notes Dublin City Council is about to redraft its development plan and says this is an opportunity to identify sites for marinas and draw up guidelines for how they should be environmentally managed. He says Waterways Ireland does not even need to do this itself. “They could grant a concession for the Grand Canal basin to a company in the morning,” argues McCabe.
But Long is not optimistic this will happen. “The body responsible for canal boating doesn’t seem to want boating on the canals,” he says, ruefully.


theirishtimes--2020-07-22--Reprieve for those living on boats as Minister deflects standoff

Hundreds of people living in unauthorised boats on the State ’ s canals , rivers and lakes will not be evicted , the Minister of State for Heritage has said .
Malcolm Noonan , who has recently intervened in a dispute between “ liveaboards ” on Dublin ’ s canals and Waterways Ireland , said all enforcement would be halted pending the delivery of a new strategy aimed at creating “ vibrant communities of people living aboard their vessels ” .
Six boat-owners who were living on the Grand Canal were last month given final notices warning that unless they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by crane , stored and potentially sold .
Waterways Ireland estimates that there are more then 170 boats in breach of various regulations at Grand Canal Dock , Portobello , Hazelhatch , Sallins and at Castleknock on the Royal Canal .
Smaller numbers of “ liveaboards ” are located on the Shannon Navigation at Portumna , Athlone , and Carrick-on-Shannon among other locations .
It is estimated there are about 400 people living on vessels on inland waterways .
Last week Mr Noonan met Waterways Ireland acting chief executive John McDonagh .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sanction .
Speaking in advance of Wednesday ’ s meeting , Mr Noonan , a Green Party TD , said he has offered “ genuine ” liveaboards participation in a “ collaborative process ” on future usage of the waterways .
He said his policy would focus on creating floating communities which would preserve the biodiversity and environment of the canals , as well as discouraging anti-social behaviour in urban areas .
Mr Noonan said he had seen some of “ fabulous facilities ” which Waterways Ireland had set up for boaters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see similar developments elsewhere .
It is understood Waterways Ireland raised concerns about a regulation free-for-all , but Mr Noonan said a “ collaborative approach ” had been agreed and bylaws on leaving or abandoning boats would continue to be enforced .
He said he was seeking to set up “ participatory planning ” for sustainable use of the State ’ s waterways .
Mr Noonan said there was much that could be learned from a detailed study of how the situation of “ liveaboards ” was managed in other countries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Shannon , Erne , Shannon-Erne Waterway , the Lower Bann , the Barrow river and the Royal and Grand canals .
Since 1998 it has invested significantly in Ireland ’ s waterways , adding floating jetties , supplying water and power , as well as providing toilet , shower and laundry blocks .
It also manages navigation markers and pumping facilities for waste water , and has added attractions such as the 80-berth marina at Lough Key Forest Park and a network of “ blueways ” – multi-activity recreational trails based @ @ @ @ @ @

It is estimated there are about 400 people living on vessels on inland waterways. Photograph: Getty Images
Hundreds of people living in unauthorised boats on the State’s canals, rivers and lakes will not be evicted, the Minister of State for Heritage has said.
Malcolm Noonan, who has recently intervened in a dispute between “liveaboards” on Dublin’s canals and Waterways Ireland, said all enforcement would be halted pending the delivery of a new strategy aimed at creating “vibrant communities of people living aboard their vessels”.
Six boat-owners who were living on the Grand Canal were last month given final notices warning that unless they moved on their vessels would be lifted by crane, stored and potentially sold.
Waterways Ireland estimates that there are more then 170 boats in breach of various regulations at Grand Canal Dock, Portobello, Hazelhatch, Sallins and at Castleknock on the Royal Canal.
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Smaller numbers of “liveaboards” are located on the Shannon Navigation at Portumna, Athlone, and Carrick-on-Shannon among other locations. It is estimated there are about 400 people living on vessels on inland waterways.
Last week Mr Noonan met Waterways Ireland acting chief executive John McDonagh. Today, he will meet the boat-owners facing sanction.
Speaking in advance of Wednesday’s meeting, Mr Noonan, a Green Party TD, said he has offered “genuine” liveaboards participation in a “collaborative process” on future usage of the waterways.
He said his policy would focus on creating floating communities which would preserve the biodiversity and environment of the canals, as well as discouraging anti-social behaviour in urban areas.
Mr Noonan said he had seen some of “fabulous facilities” which Waterways Ireland had set up for boaters in Co Leitrim, and he now wanted to see similar developments elsewhere.
It is understood Waterways Ireland raised concerns about a regulation free-for-all, but Mr Noonan said a “collaborative approach” had been agreed and bylaws on leaving or abandoning boats would continue to be enforced.
He said he was seeking to set up “participatory planning” for sustainable use of the State’s waterways.
Other countries
Mr Noonan said there was much that could be learned from a detailed study of how the situation of “liveaboards” was managed in other countries.
Waterways Ireland is a cross-Border body responsible for the Shannon, Erne, Shannon-Erne Waterway, the Lower Bann, the Barrow river and the Royal and Grand canals.
Since 1998 it has invested significantly in Ireland’s waterways, adding floating jetties, supplying water and power, as well as providing toilet, shower and laundry blocks .
It also manages navigation markers and pumping facilities for waste water, and has added attractions such as the 80-berth marina at Lough Key Forest Park and a network of “blueways” – multi-activity recreational trails based on or alongside the waterways.


theirishtimes--2020-07-22--Shannon pipeline cost ‘likely to exceed’ €1.3bn

The cost of a major pipeline project aimed at increasing water supply to the Greater Dublin Area is “ likely to exceed ” the estimated €1.3 billion cited in the National Development Plan ( NDP ) , Irish Water has said .
The Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region , more commonly known as the Shannon pipeline , will abstract water from the lower river Shannon at the Parteen Basin in Co Tipperary , with water treatment at the nearby village of Birdhill .
The treated water would then be piped 170km to a termination point reservoir at Peamount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would also be available for connection to midlands communities along the route .
In a meeting between Ervia and the Department of Housing , Planning and Local Government on December 4th , 2019 , representatives from Irish Water said due to “ upward pressure on costs ” the project is “ likely to exceed indicative NDP estimate of €1.3 billion ” .
The presentation from the meeting , obtained under the Freedom of Information Act , said a revised estimate would be available in the first quarter of this year .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ estimated cost of the project when asked by The Irish Times .
A spokeswoman for Irish Water said the project was still in the early planning stages and “ detailed costs for this project will be made available on completion of the tender process ” .
The utility added that the increase in costs has arisen due to “ significant progress ” being made , which has “ greatly improved the understanding of the project risks and issues and informed the cost estimation process ” .
The timeline for the project states that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four-year period , commencing in 2023/2024 , subject to “ successful and timely outcomes to the associated planning and abstraction applications ” .
However , the statutory consultations of the plan have been delayed due to restrictions imposed by Covid-19 , the spokeswoman added .
The issue of the country ’ s water supply has been highlighted in recent times , with Irish Water implementing a water conservation order – or hosepipe ban – last month as a result of “ unseasonably dry ” weather in May .
In its meeting with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pipeline project was “ needed to address capacity issues in the region to ensure that the supply is fit for purpose in the event of extreme weather such as droughts and storms and to address climate change ” .
About 85 per cent of Dublin ’ s water supply comes from the river Liffey which is the “ maximum sustainable abstraction ” and “ at risk from climate change ” , Irish Water said .
The utility added that fixing leaks alone is “ not enough to meet future demand and resilience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition from two campaign groups – Fight the Pipe and the River Shannon Protection Alliance – who say that the project will result in the “ destruction of 2,000 acres ” of farmland , and branded it as “ simply wrong ” .
The project has been in development since the mid-1990s , originally under Dublin City Council , and under Irish Water Management since 2014 .
It is the first comprehensive upgrade of Ireland ’ s water infrastructure in more than 60 years .

The Shannon pipeline will abstract water from the lower River Shannon at the Parteen Basin in Co Tipperary, with water treatment at the nearby village of Birdhill. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
The cost of a major pipeline project aimed at increasing water supply to the Greater Dublin Area is "likely to exceed" the estimated €1.3 billion cited in the National Development Plan (NDP), Irish Water has said.
The Water Supply Project Eastern and Midlands Region, more commonly known as the Shannon pipeline, will abstract water from the lower river Shannon at the Parteen Basin in Co Tipperary, with water treatment at the nearby village of Birdhill.
The treated water would then be piped 170km to a termination point reservoir at Peamount in south Co Dublin. Treated water would also be available for connection to midlands communities along the route.
In a meeting between Ervia and the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government on December 4th, 2019, representatives from Irish Water said due to “upward pressure on costs” the project is “likely to exceed indicative NDP estimate of €1.3 billion”.
READ MORE
The presentation from the meeting, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, said a revised estimate would be available in the first quarter of this year. However, Irish Water did not detail the new estimated cost of the project when asked by The Irish Times.
A spokeswoman for Irish Water said the project was still in the early planning stages and “detailed costs for this project will be made available on completion of the tender process”.
The utility added that the increase in costs has arisen due to “significant progress” being made, which has “greatly improved the understanding of the project risks and issues and informed the cost estimation process”.
The timeline for the project states that construction will be carried out over a four-year period, commencing in 2023/2024, subject to “successful and timely outcomes to the associated planning and abstraction applications”.
However, the statutory consultations of the plan have been delayed due to restrictions imposed by Covid-19, the spokeswoman added.
The issue of the country’s water supply has been highlighted in recent times, with Irish Water implementing a water conservation order – or hosepipe ban – last month as a result of “unseasonably dry” weather in May.
In its meeting with the department last December, the utility said the pipeline project was “needed to address capacity issues in the region to ensure that the supply is fit for purpose in the event of extreme weather such as droughts and storms and to address climate change”.
River Liffey
About 85 per cent of Dublin’s water supply comes from the river Liffey which is the “maximum sustainable abstraction” and “at risk from climate change”, Irish Water said. The utility added that fixing leaks alone is “not enough to meet future demand and resilience”.
The project has faced public opposition from two campaign groups – Fight the Pipe and the River Shannon Protection Alliance – who say that the project will result in the “destruction of 2,000 acres” of farmland, and branded it as “simply wrong”.
The project has been in development since the mid-1990s, originally under Dublin City Council, and under Irish Water Management since 2014. It is the first comprehensive upgrade of Ireland's water infrastructure in more than 60 years.


theirishtimes--2020-07-22--‘Embarrassing’ system of oaths and affirmations to be abolished

Witnesses will no longer be required to swear before God or make an affirmation when filing affidavits under proposals agreed by Cabinet on Tuesday .
Instead they will be able to make what will be known as a “ statement of truth ” and will face a maximum one year prison term for breaking it .
The proposals will put an end to the “ embarrassing ” practice of a witness having to indicate their religious faith when making an affidavit , the Law Society said .
The proposal is one of a raft of reforms contained in the Civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) Bill 2020 which outlines both temporary measures to help the courts during the coronavirus pandemic and long-term reforms of the justice system .
These include allowing a wider range of court cases to take place over video-link and granting the Government power to rapidly increase the number of coroners in an area to deal with coronavirus or another mass fatality event .
The Law Reform Commission recommended the abolition of system of oaths and affirmations thirty years ago .
Since then various court judgments have upheld the necessity for an oath or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 1909 .
Affidavits are a way of swearing a statement of evidence outside court which saves the witness having to give live evidence .
About 150,000 are filed every year , according to the Courts Service .
Under the present system , witnesses must swear upon a Bible or other religious book before a solicitor or notary public that the contents of their affidavits are true .
A non-religious litigant can make an affirmation which does not mention a higher being but only after they explicitly decline to take a religious oath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can make a non-religious “ statement of truth ” , without having to declare if they believe in a god or not .
This will be done remotely without having to appear before a solicitor or notary public .
Welcoming the proposal , Law Society director general Ken Murphy said the oath and affirmation system places witnesses “ in a position of embarrassment and indignity ” and is “ contrary to the right to privacy ” .
Jurors and witnesses appearing in court will still have to take an oath or affirm and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swear before God .
Mr Murphy said , “ given the diverse nature of contemporary Ireland ” it would have been better to replace the oath-based system in its entirety .
Lying to the court can be dealt with using criminal penalties , he said .
“ It does not need to rely on a professed , or in many cases pretended , fear of suffering a penalty in an afterlife.
” Other reforms outlined in the Bill include granting the Minister for Justice the power to rapidly increase the number of coroners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulting from the pandemic or help clear the backlog of inquests which has built up due to the lockdown .
The Minister will also be able to assign temporary coroners to deal with other mass casualty events .
The Bill also vastly expands the use of video-links in courts .
Currently video-links are mainly used for prisoners in custody for routine case management hearings .
Under the proposals , courts will be able to sentence convicted criminals over video-link , including those on bail .
However , criminal trials will still take place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also allows remote hearings of non-court tribunals such as the Workplace Relations Commission .
Non-incorporated bodies , such as GAA clubs , will also be able to hold remote agms .

Witnesses will no longer be required to swear before God or make an affirmation when filing affidavits under proposals agreed by Cabinet on Tuesday.
Instead they will be able to make what will be known as a “statement of truth” and will face a maximum one year prison term for breaking it.
The proposals will put an end to the "embarrassing" practice of a witness having to indicate their religious faith when making an affidavit, the Law Society said.
The proposal is one of a raft of reforms contained in the Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2020 which outlines both temporary measures to help the courts during the coronavirus pandemic and long-term reforms of the justice system.
READ MORE
These include allowing a wider range of court cases to take place over video-link and granting the Government power to rapidly increase the number of coroners in an area to deal with coronavirus or another mass fatality event.
The Law Reform Commission recommended the abolition of system of oaths and affirmations thirty years ago. Since then various court judgments have upheld the necessity for an oath or affirmation under the Oaths Acts of 1888 and 1909.
Live evidence
Affidavits are a way of swearing a statement of evidence outside court which saves the witness having to give live evidence. About 150,000 are filed every year, according to the Courts Service.
Under the present system, witnesses must swear upon a Bible or other religious book before a solicitor or notary public that the contents of their affidavits are true.
A non-religious litigant can make an affirmation which does not mention a higher being but only after they explicitly decline to take a religious oath.
Under the proposed system, witnesses can make a non-religious “statement of truth”, without having to declare if they believe in a god or not. This will be done remotely without having to appear before a solicitor or notary public.
Welcoming the proposal, Law Society director general Ken Murphy said the oath and affirmation system places witnesses "in a position of embarrassment and indignity" and is "contrary to the right to privacy".
Jurors and witnesses appearing in court will still have to take an oath or affirm and newly appointed judges will still have to swear before God.
Mr Murphy said, “given the diverse nature of contemporary Ireland” it would have been better to replace the oath-based system in its entirety.
Lying to the court can be dealt with using criminal penalties, he said. “It does not need to rely on a professed, or in many cases pretended, fear of suffering a penalty in an afterlife.”
Temporary coroners
Other reforms outlined in the Bill include granting the Minister for Justice the power to rapidly increase the number of coroners in an area to deal with deaths resulting from the pandemic or help clear the backlog of inquests which has built up due to the lockdown.
The Minister will also be able to assign temporary coroners to deal with other mass casualty events.
The Bill also vastly expands the use of video-links in courts. Currently video-links are mainly used for prisoners in custody for routine case management hearings. Under the proposals, courts will be able to sentence convicted criminals over video-link, including those on bail. However, criminal trials will still take place in a live setting.
The Bill also allows remote hearings of non-court tribunals such as the Workplace Relations Commission. Non-incorporated bodies, such as GAA clubs, will also be able to hold remote agms.


theirishtimes--2020-07-22--Hiqa report reveals trauma of nursing home residents and staff

A nursing home resident has vowed not to leave their bedroom until a Covid-19 vaccine is discovered , the State ’ s health watchdog disclosed in a stark report on how the pandemic left those in care living in fear .
The Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) also says it was warned that hardest-hit staff overwhelmed by the coronavirus crisis had taken leave and were unlikely to ever return to work .
In a 45-page report , Hiqa details widespread breaches of regulations – mainly management failings , staff shortages and lack of infection control measures – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with confirmed cases since May .
The watchdog was so concerned about the residents of one home – the Donore nursing home in Bray , Co Wicklow – that it got an emergency closure order from the courts to shut it down and transfer 16 residents into Health Service Executive homes .
Residents reported being “ fearful , confused , angry , frustrated and lonely ” during the lockdown , with the isolation and constant fear of an outbreak only serving to “ amplify these emotions ” .
“ One resident remarked that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ their ] room again until a vaccine was found ’ , ” the watchdog said .
But there was anger and frustration among others at being “ largely confined to their own bedrooms ” which created “ a sense of abandonment and isolation that many found difficult to cope with ” .
One relative of a resident told Hiqa : “ My dad is a broken man , he misses his family more than anything.
” The watchdog found “ inconsistencies ” across nursing homes over visits , with some being innovative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” while others were “ completely closed to the surrounding community ” .
Many staff too have been left struggling with “ feelings of guilt ” at being too stretched to better comfort and reassure residents .
Most inspectors reported management and staff becoming “ overwhelmed with emotion when speaking about how they managed during the pandemic ” .
“ Some exhibited signs of extreme stress , fatigue , exhaustion and anxiety in trying to come to terms with what was happening around them , ” said Hiqa .
One inspector was told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are still out and it is likely they will never return , such is their upset .
”

Hiqa’s 45-page report details management failings, staff shortages and lack of infection control measures found during dozens of inspections at homes with Covid-19 cases since May.
A nursing home resident has vowed not to leave their bedroom until a Covid-19 vaccine is discovered, the State’s health watchdog disclosed in a stark report on how the pandemic left those in care living in fear.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) also says it was warned that hardest-hit staff overwhelmed by the coronavirus crisis had taken leave and were unlikely to ever return to work.
In a 45-page report, Hiqa details widespread breaches of regulations – mainly management failings, staff shortages and lack of infection control measures – uncovered during dozens of inspections at homes with confirmed cases since May.
The watchdog was so concerned about the residents of one home – the Donore nursing home in Bray, Co Wicklow – that it got an emergency closure order from the courts to shut it down and transfer 16 residents into Health Service Executive homes.
READ MORE
‘Frustrated and lonely’
Residents reported being “fearful, confused, angry, frustrated and lonely” during the lockdown, with the isolation and constant fear of an outbreak only serving to “amplify these emotions”.
“One resident remarked that they were ‘not going to leave [their] room again until a vaccine was found’,” the watchdog said.
But there was anger and frustration among others at being “largely confined to their own bedrooms” which created “a sense of abandonment and isolation that many found difficult to cope with”.
One relative of a resident told Hiqa: “My dad is a broken man, he misses his family more than anything.”
‘Window visits’
The watchdog found “inconsistencies” across nursing homes over visits, with some being innovative and arranging outdoor or “window visits” while others were “completely closed to the surrounding community”.
Many staff too have been left struggling with “feelings of guilt” at being too stretched to better comfort and reassure residents.
Most inspectors reported management and staff becoming “overwhelmed with emotion when speaking about how they managed during the pandemic”.
“Some exhibited signs of extreme stress, fatigue, exhaustion and anxiety in trying to come to terms with what was happening around them,” said Hiqa.
One inspector was told: “We have some staff that are still out and it is likely they will never return, such is their upset.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Septic tanks not being maintained or desludged spark concern

Half of the 1,160 septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems failed inspections by local authorities during 2019 , according to the Environmental Protection Agency In its evaluation of inspections completed last year , the agency noted the problem is ongoing .
It said 27 per cent of systems that failed inspections during the 2013-2019 period “ are still not fixed ” .
Lack of maintenance and desludging was identified as a key issue .
With 500,000 septic tanks and other forms of domestic waste water treatment systems operating in Ireland , “ householders with private wells in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from faulty septic tanks ” , it warned .
Local authorities identified serious issues with nearly 300 systems “ where they were found to be a risk to human health or the environment ” .
Co Mayo had the worst failure rate at 85 per cent ; followed by Longford ( 73 per cent ) , Roscommon ( 72 per cent ) , Wexford ( 70 per cent ) , Kilkenny ( 67 per cent ) and Kerry ( 65 per cent ) .
Wexford , however , carries out the most inspections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consistent enforcement , with 81 per cent of systems that failed in the county fixed , the report noted .
The agency said it hoped a grant scheme for septic tanks recently expanded to cover specific areas where work was being focused to improve water quality under the national river basin management plan would help address the problem which was mostly in rural areas .
Director of the EPA ’ s office of environmental enforcement Dr Tom Ryan said : “ If you do not maintain your septic tank , it can contaminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , putting your health at risk and that of your family and neighbours .
“ It may also pollute your local stream or river .
You can take simple steps to maintain your septic tank by cleaning it out regularly and by making sure it is not leaking , ponding or discharging to ditches.
” The Government ’ s expanded septic tank grant scheme broadens availability of grants and increases the maximum available to €5,000 , he said , noting that grants were also available for addressing issues with household wells .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ still not fixed , local authorities needed to take action to make sure householders fixed them , the EPA report said .
It was important that householders fixed systems where problems were detected and be aware they could pose a serious health risk , said EPA senior inspector Noel Byrne .
“ While there has been an improvement in the number of systems fixed , there are still many systems where faults are not addressed over a number of years .
This requires increased engagement and enforcement by local authorities to address remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the development and implementation of a national inspection plan for domestic waste water treatment systems .
Under the plan , local authorities are required to undertake a minimum of 1,000 inspections each year , distributed across the country based on risk .
The report , Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections and Enforcement 2019 , is available at epa.ie

The Government’s expanded septic tank grant scheme broadens availability of grants and increases the maximum available to €5,000.
Half of the 1,160 septic tanks and other domestic waste water treatment systems failed inspections by local authorities during 2019, according to the Environmental Protection Agency
In its evaluation of inspections completed last year, the agency noted the problem is ongoing. It said 27 per cent of systems that failed inspections during the 2013-2019 period “are still not fixed”. Lack of maintenance and desludging was identified as a key issue.
With 500,000 septic tanks and other forms of domestic waste water treatment systems operating in Ireland, "householders with private wells in rural areas are particularly vulnerable to pollution from faulty septic tanks", it warned.
Local authorities identified serious issues with nearly 300 systems “where they were found to be a risk to human health or the environment”.
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Co Mayo had the worst failure rate at 85 per cent; followed by Longford (73 per cent), Roscommon (72 per cent), Wexford (70 per cent), Kilkenny (67 per cent) and Kerry (65 per cent).
Grant scheme
Wexford, however, carries out the most inspections, backed by a high level of consistent enforcement, with 81 per cent of systems that failed in the county fixed, the report noted.
The agency said it hoped a grant scheme for septic tanks recently expanded to cover specific areas where work was being focused to improve water quality under the national river basin management plan would help address the problem which was mostly in rural areas.
Director of the EPA's office of environmental enforcement Dr Tom Ryan said: "If you do not maintain your septic tank, it can contaminate your own or your neighbour's well, putting your health at risk and that of your family and neighbours.
“It may also pollute your local stream or river. You can take simple steps to maintain your septic tank by cleaning it out regularly and by making sure it is not leaking, ponding or discharging to ditches.”
Household wells
The Government’s expanded septic tank grant scheme broadens availability of grants and increases the maximum available to €5,000, he said, noting that grants were also available for addressing issues with household wells.
On systems that failed inspections that were still not fixed, local authorities needed to take action to make sure householders fixed them, the EPA report said.
It was important that householders fixed systems where problems were detected and be aware they could pose a serious health risk, said EPA senior inspector Noel Byrne. "While there has been an improvement in the number of systems fixed, there are still many systems where faults are not addressed over a number of years. This requires increased engagement and enforcement by local authorities to address remaining failures."
The EPA is responsible for the development and implementation of a national inspection plan for domestic waste water treatment systems. Under the plan, local authorities are required to undertake a minimum of 1,000 inspections each year, distributed across the country based on risk.
The report, Domestic Waste Water Treatment Systems Inspections and Enforcement 2019, is available at epa.ie


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Number of homeless families in Dublin hotels lowest in five years

The number of homeless families living in Dublin hotels has hit a five-year low , according to a new report from Dublin City Council .
However , concerns are emerging over the council ’ s ability to accommodate rough sleepers in the winter period , with the loss of 500 hostel beds due to coronavirus restrictions .
The use of hotels to accommodate families is heading towards levels last seen before the crisis in family homelessness emerged .
There are 413 families now in hotels – the lowest number since August 2015 and less than half the peak number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s head of housing , Brendan Kenny , said improved availability of rental accommodation , including Airbnb lets ; the moratorium on evictions ; and a fall in the number of people leaving the family home , have all contributed to the reduction .
“ The Dublin Region Homeless Executive ( DRHE ) has secured leases on short-term rental properties , including Airbnb-type holiday accommodation and student accommodation.
” The leases are currently for 12 months , and in the two-month period from March to May , when coronavirus restrictions were initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hotels to self-contained apartments .
Mr Kenny said these families are still included in the emergency accommodation figures , but he hopes many of these rental agreements could be made permanent .
“ Owners and landlords probably thought at the time the Covid-19 restrictions would only be short lived , but as time goes on , having permanent tenancies and a certainty of funding is something we think will be more attractive to them.
” The number of families seeking emergency accommodation is also dropping .
Between January and May , 255 families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During the same period in 2019 , 437 families became homeless , and in that period in 2018 the figure was 507 .
Some 94 families sought emergency accommodation in January , 80 in February , 42 in March , 14 in April and 25 in May .
The moratorium on evictions resulted in fewer people leaving private rental accommodation , Mr Kenny said , adding that fewer people were citing family breakdown as a reason for becoming homeless .
“ In the months pre-Covid it was about 50:50 people citing evictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needing emergency accommodation , ” he said .
“ We are seeing less family breakdown with people being more reluctant to leave the family home .
Intergenerational families are perhaps becoming more tolerant of each other.
” However , he said , while the situation for families was improving significantly , the outlook for single homeless adults “ is not so good ” , he said .
“ We need to source a significant further amount of emergency accommodation to cater for an increasing demand and with an eye on the upcoming winter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the region of 500 hostel places as a result of pandemic health guidelines .
Three facilities , where distancing measures could not be implemented had to be closed at Merchant ’ s Quay , Ellis Quay and Aungier Street , while numbers had to be reduced at other hostels .
The DRHE was working to replace these numbers and secure another 200 bed spaces , Mr Kenny said .

There are 413 families now in hotels – the lowest number since August 2015 and less than half the peak number of 871 in March 2017. File photograph: Cyril Byrne
The number of homeless families living in Dublin hotels has hit a five-year low, according to a new report from Dublin City Council.
However, concerns are emerging over the council’s ability to accommodate rough sleepers in the winter period, with the loss of 500 hostel beds due to coronavirus restrictions.
The use of hotels to accommodate families is heading towards levels last seen before the crisis in family homelessness emerged. There are 413 families now in hotels – the lowest number since August 2015 and less than half the peak number of 871 in March 2017.
The council's head of housing, Brendan Kenny, said improved availability of rental accommodation, including Airbnb lets; the moratorium on evictions; and a fall in the number of people leaving the family home, have all contributed to the reduction.
READ MORE
Hopes
“The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) has secured leases on short-term rental properties, including Airbnb-type holiday accommodation and student accommodation.”
The leases are currently for 12 months, and in the two-month period from March to May, when coronavirus restrictions were initially introduced, 77 families were moved from hotels to self-contained apartments.
Mr Kenny said these families are still included in the emergency accommodation figures, but he hopes many of these rental agreements could be made permanent.
“Owners and landlords probably thought at the time the Covid-19 restrictions would only be short lived, but as time goes on, having permanent tenancies and a certainty of funding is something we think will be more attractive to them.”
The number of families seeking emergency accommodation is also dropping. Between January and May, 255 families entered emergency accommodation for the first time. During the same period in 2019, 437 families became homeless, and in that period in 2018 the figure was 507.
Some 94 families sought emergency accommodation in January, 80 in February, 42 in March, 14 in April and 25 in May.
The moratorium on evictions resulted in fewer people leaving private rental accommodation, Mr Kenny said, adding that fewer people were citing family breakdown as a reason for becoming homeless.
“In the months pre-Covid it was about 50:50 people citing evictions and family breakdown as the reason for needing emergency accommodation,” he said.
“We are seeing less family breakdown with people being more reluctant to leave the family home. Intergenerational families are perhaps becoming more tolerant of each other.”
Increasing demand
However, he said, while the situation for families was improving significantly, the outlook for single homeless adults “is not so good”, he said.
“We need to source a significant further amount of emergency accommodation to cater for an increasing demand and with an eye on the upcoming winter period.”
The council has lost in the region of 500 hostel places as a result of pandemic health guidelines. Three facilities, where distancing measures could not be implemented had to be closed at Merchant’s Quay, Ellis Quay and Aungier Street, while numbers had to be reduced at other hostels.
The DRHE was working to replace these numbers and secure another 200 bed spaces, Mr Kenny said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Disadvantaged children and those with special needs most affected by restrictions

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be felt the most by young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs , a new report has found .
The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic for Policy in Relation to Children and Young People report , conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute ( ESRI ) , draws on existing and emerging Irish and international research on the effects of the pandemic restrictions on children and young people .
The researchers concluded that school closures and the lack of face-to-face interaction with peers and broader family networks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of children and young people .
Researchers said the available evidence in Ireland and internationally suggested that pre-Covid-19 inequalities documented by the Growing Up in Ireland and other studies have grown in the wake of the pandemic .
The negative effects on wellbeing and mental health have been more apparent among those from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as among younger adults .
The impact is also gendered , with women more likely to report feelings of depression , anxiety or sadness during the period of restrictions .
The ESRI identified a need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negative impact for learners , families and teachers .
The researchers said that specific measures were especially important for those in the most marginalised groups – such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds , children with special educational needs , migrants and refugees – who lack the resources or skills to engage with home schooling .
Merike Darmody , one of the report ’ s researchers , said actions must be taken to not only address the short-term impact of the pandemic but also longer-term issues .
“ The disruption of learning is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially for more disadvantaged children and young people , ” she said .
“ While short-term measures are important to address the immediate needs of children and young people , the actions taken need to be underpinned by policies addressing larger structural inequalities.
” Minister for Children Roderic O ’ Gorman said the report , which was produced in partnership with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs , was a “ vital resource ” for policy-makers as the country reopened .
“ The report points to the need to address inequalities , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the need to assist young people whose transition into the labour market has been disrupted .
“ We know that children and young people have been among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic .
This report will be a vital tool as we work to address that impact , making clear the need to tackle inequalities , support wellbeing and re-engagement with education , and help young people back into the labour market .
”

The researchers concluded that school closures and the lack of face-to-face interaction with peers and broader family networks were having direct effects on the lives of children and young people
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic will be felt the most by young people from more disadvantaged backgrounds and those with special educational needs, a new report has found.
The Implications of the Covid-19 Pandemic for Policy in Relation to Children and Young People report, conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), draws on existing and emerging Irish and international research on the effects of the pandemic restrictions on children and young people.
The researchers concluded that school closures and the lack of face-to-face interaction with peers and broader family networks were having direct effects on the lives of children and young people.
Researchers said the available evidence in Ireland and internationally suggested that pre-Covid-19 inequalities documented by the Growing Up in Ireland and other studies have grown in the wake of the pandemic.
READ MORE
The negative effects on wellbeing and mental health have been more apparent among those from disadvantaged backgrounds as well as among younger adults.
The impact is also gendered, with women more likely to report feelings of depression, anxiety or sadness during the period of restrictions.
The ESRI identified a need for schools to implement measures to counter the negative impact for learners, families and teachers.
The researchers said that specific measures were especially important for those in the most marginalised groups – such as those from disadvantaged backgrounds, children with special educational needs, migrants and refugees – who lack the resources or skills to engage with home schooling.
Merike Darmody, one of the report's researchers, said actions must be taken to not only address the short-term impact of the pandemic but also longer-term issues.
“The disruption of learning is likely to have long-term consequences for many, especially for more disadvantaged children and young people,” she said.
“While short-term measures are important to address the immediate needs of children and young people, the actions taken need to be underpinned by policies addressing larger structural inequalities.”
Vital resource
Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman said the report, which was produced in partnership with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, was a "vital resource" for policy-makers as the country reopened.
“The report points to the need to address inequalities, support educational re-engagement and wellbeing, and the need to assist young people whose transition into the labour market has been disrupted.
“We know that children and young people have been among the hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. This report will be a vital tool as we work to address that impact, making clear the need to tackle inequalities, support wellbeing and re-engagement with education, and help young people back into the labour market.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Woman sues after allegedly slipping on a muffin in Londis store

A woman who claims she has become ‘ an invalid ” after allegedly slipping on a muffin or a piece of cake in a Londis store has sued for damages in the High Court .
Olivia Harte Lynch “ has been rendered an invalid ” as a result of the accident eight years ago when her legs went from under her and she landed on her back on the floor of the shop , her counsel Peter Bland SC said .
It is admitted Ms Harte Lynch fell in the Londis supermarket and the issue in the case is whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , counsel said .
Mr Justice Bernard Barton was told on Tuesday the action could take two weeks and may not finish before the end of this court term at the end of July .
Ms Harte Lynch ( 46 ) , Skreeney , Manorhamiliton , Co Leitrim has sued JNF McGoldrick Ltd trading as McGoldrick ’ s Londis , Main Street , Dromahair , Co Leitrim as a result of the accident on August 23rd , 2012 .
It is claimed there was failure to remove the cake or muffin from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not constitute a trap or a source of danger .
It is further claimed there was failure to ensure the floor was cleaned and to erect a warning sign or cordon off the area until it was rendered safe .
Londis denies the claims or that Ms Harte Lynch fell due to negligence .
Jonathan Kilfeather SC , for Londis , told the court there is no doubt Ms Harte Lynch slipped and fell but the issue is whether the fall was due to any alleged negligence .
Counsel told the court there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was staged “ and he said that was not the way the defendants were approaching the case .
There is a vast array of medical evidence on both sides which was “ diametrically opposed.
” He told the court there is also an issue in relation to the nature of the injuries suffered and the sequelae .
Mr Kilfeather said the defendants were anxious the case proceed .
Adjourning the matter , Mr Justice Barton said he preferred to take “ so contentious a hearing ” in one sitting and will inform the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

A woman who claims she has become ‘an invalid” after allegedly slipping on a muffin or a piece of cake in a Londis store has sued for damages in the High Court.
Olivia Harte Lynch “has been rendered an invalid” as a result of the accident eight years ago when her legs went from under her and she landed on her back on the floor of the shop, her counsel Peter Bland SC said.
It is admitted Ms Harte Lynch fell in the Londis supermarket and the issue in the case is whether the fall was due to alleged negligence, counsel said.
Mr Justice Bernard Barton was told on Tuesday the action could take two weeks and may not finish before the end of this court term at the end of July.
READ MORE
Ms Harte Lynch (46), Skreeney, Manorhamiliton, Co Leitrim has sued JNF McGoldrick Ltd trading as McGoldrick’s Londis , Main Street, Dromahair, Co Leitrim as a result of the accident on August 23rd, 2012.
It is claimed there was failure to remove the cake or muffin from the floor so as to ensure it would not constitute a trap or a source of danger. It is further claimed there was failure to ensure the floor was cleaned and to erect a warning sign or cordon off the area until it was rendered safe.
Londis denies the claims or that Ms Harte Lynch fell due to negligence.
Jonathan Kilfeather SC, for Londis, told the court there is no doubt Ms Harte Lynch slipped and fell but the issue is whether the fall was due to any alleged negligence. Counsel told the court there was no allegation that the fall “was staged “ and he said that was not the way the defendants were approaching the case.
There is a vast array of medical evidence on both sides which was “diametrically opposed.” He told the court there is also an issue in relation to the nature of the injuries suffered and the sequelae.
Mr Kilfeather said the defendants were anxious the case proceed.
Adjourning the matter, Mr Justice Barton said he preferred to take “so contentious a hearing” in one sitting and will inform the court how the case should proceed today .


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Health workers reporting for duty while sick during pandemic a ‘big problem’

Healthcare workers reporting for duty while sick during the Covid-19 pandemic is a “ big problem ” , but is “ in the Irish healthcare worker ’ s psyche ” , a high-ranking health official has said .
It comes as the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly warned that all workers should stay at home if they have any symptoms of illness .
Dr Kevin Kelleher , assistant national director of the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) said on Tuesday that healthcare workers “ have such a work commitment that they come in regardless , sometimes , of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the current circumstances , actually having an infection and having the symptoms of an infection should mean that people do not come into work .
That is a big problem because that is not in the Irish healthcare worker ’ s psyche , ” he told the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 .
On Tuesday night , Mr Donnelly warned that workers “ should not go to work , no matter where you work , if you are ill ” .
“ Our healthcare workers have done extraordinary work throughout this pandemic and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should stay at home if they have symptoms , ” Mr Donnelly said .
“ There is no judgement , and you should not feel guilty for catching this virus of feeling unwell.
” It comes after unions warned on Tuesday that healthcare professionals had been coming into work despite exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus infection because they were worried about losing out on overtime and other supplemental payments .
Speaking at the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee , Dr Kelleher said the issues is “ a big problem for us .
.
.
because there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Irish healthcare worker ’ s approach that he or she comes into work when they are not well enough.
” Unfortunately we have got to bridge that significant cultural issue as a consequence .
It is a problem for us with this , ” he said .
The Irish Medical Organisation also warned in a recent paper submitted to the committee that adequate rostering arrangements must be put in place to cover workers who are absent with the virus , or are excluded as potential close contacts of a case .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of working when ill - staff going to work while symptomatic with Covid-19 because of their perceived obligations to their colleagues and weak exclusion policies in some workplaces - contributed to larger outbreaks , ” the group wrote .
Dr Kelleher said a “ big cultural change ” was needed in the health service , and that higher levels of absenteeism may need to be tolerated in order to suppress the virus in the healthcare system .
“ I do not mind an absenteeism rate of six per cent or seven per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming into hospitals to infect other workers in the hospital system or patients .
It is a difficult thing to get over , ” he said .
Earlier on Tuesday , Lynda Sisson , national clinical lead in workplace health with the HSE , told the committee that a lack of awareness of social distancing , or the capacity to do so , had helped the virus spread , along with the presence of asymptomatic patients within the hospital system .
“ The other piece that we have noticed was the inability or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our hospitals in the very beginning .
.
.
Some of our hospitals don ’ t lend themselves to physical distancing , ” she said .
She said that as the pandemic progressed , the health service introduced several measures which curtailed the spread , including the introduction of Covid and non-Covid treatment pathways , and the closing of canteens .
The trade union Siptu told the Oireachtas committee that some healthcare workers may have failed to declare symptoms of coronavirus to their employers out of fear of losing additional overtime or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to self-isolate for 14 days .
Siptu said it did not have details regarding the numbers involved .
The union ’ s deputy general secretary for the public service John King said the policy of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform of not including overtime and premium payments to those health workers who had to go on sick leave was “ wrong ” .
“ The point of putting ( this assertion ) into the submission was to draw attention to the fact that this was a policy that did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Department of Public Expenditure declined to comment on Tuesday .
Anne Marie Hoey , the HSE national director of human resources , said that the service “ would not be aware of as being an issue ” that healthcare workers attended work while sick in order to preserve their income .
“ The public health advice was very clear in relation to staff and their responsibility to isolate when they became unwell.
” Asked about whether top-up payments should be made to those off sick in order to disincentivise attendance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue for the wider public and civil service .
.
.
it does come back to a public pay policy issue and the Department of Public Expenditure are the lead in that regard .
”

Dr Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director of the HSE said on Tuesday that healthcare workers ‘have such a work commitment that they come in regardless, sometimes, of their own health status’.
Healthcare workers reporting for duty while sick during the Covid-19 pandemic is a “big problem”, but is “in the Irish healthcare worker’s psyche”, a high-ranking health official has said.
It comes as the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly warned that all workers should stay at home if they have any symptoms of illness.
Dr Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director of the Health Service Executive (HSE) said on Tuesday that healthcare workers "have such a work commitment that they come in regardless, sometimes, of their own health status".
However, in the current circumstances, actually having an infection and having the symptoms of an infection should mean that people do not come into work. That is a big problem because that is not in the Irish healthcare worker's psyche," he told the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19.
READ MORE
On Tuesday night, Mr Donnelly warned that workers “should not go to work, no matter where you work, if you are ill”.
“Our healthcare workers have done extraordinary work throughout this pandemic and they are incredibly dedicated, but they should stay at home if they have symptoms,” Mr Donnelly said. “There is no judgement, and you should not feel guilty for catching this virus of feeling unwell.”
Warning from unions
It comes after unions warned on Tuesday that healthcare professionals had been coming into work despite exhibiting symptoms of coronavirus infection because they were worried about losing out on overtime and other supplemental payments.
Speaking at the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee, Dr Kelleher said the issues is “a big problem for us . . . because there has always been this great element of the Irish healthcare worker’s approach that he or she comes into work when they are not well enough.”
Unfortunately we have got to bridge that significant cultural issue as a consequence. It is a problem for us with this," he said. The Irish Medical Organisation also warned in a recent paper submitted to the committee that adequate rostering arrangements must be put in place to cover workers who are absent with the virus, or are excluded as potential close contacts of a case.
“Given the [healthcare worker] culture of working when ill - staff going to work while symptomatic with Covid-19 because of their perceived obligations to their colleagues and weak exclusion policies in some workplaces - contributed to larger outbreaks,” the group wrote.
Dr Kelleher said a “big cultural change” was needed in the health service, and that higher levels of absenteeism may need to be tolerated in order to suppress the virus in the healthcare system. “I do not mind an absenteeism rate of six per cent or seven per cent if we are stopping people with infections coming into hospitals to infect other workers in the hospital system or patients. It is a difficult thing to get over,” he said.
Social distancing in hospitals
Earlier on Tuesday, Lynda Sisson, national clinical lead in workplace health with the HSE, told the committee that a lack of awareness of social distancing, or the capacity to do so, had helped the virus spread, along with the presence of asymptomatic patients within the hospital system.
“The other piece that we have noticed was the inability or the lack of awareness around social distancing in our hospitals in the very beginning . . . Some of our hospitals don’t lend themselves to physical distancing,” she said.
She said that as the pandemic progressed, the health service introduced several measures which curtailed the spread, including the introduction of Covid and non-Covid treatment pathways, and the closing of canteens.
The trade union Siptu told the Oireachtas committee that some healthcare workers may have failed to declare symptoms of coronavirus to their employers out of fear of losing additional overtime or premium payments they relied on if they had to self-isolate for 14 days.
Siptu said it did not have details regarding the numbers involved.
The union's deputy general secretary for the public service John King said
the policy of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform of not including overtime and premium payments to those health workers who had to go on sick leave was "wrong".
“The point of putting (this assertion) into the submission was to draw attention to the fact that this was a policy that did not work because it served as a disincentive.”
The Department of Public Expenditure declined to comment on Tuesday.
Anne Marie Hoey, the HSE national director of human resources, said that the service "would not be aware of as being an issue" that healthcare workers attended work while sick in order to preserve their income. "The public health advice was very clear in relation to staff and their responsibility to isolate when they became unwell."
Asked about whether top-up payments should be made to those off sick in order to disincentivise attendance, she said that it was an “issue for the wider public and civil service . . . it does come back to a public pay policy issue and the Department of Public Expenditure are the lead in that regard.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Some young people viewed gardaí as being on ‘power trip’ during lockdown - report

Some young people viewed gardaí as being on a “ power trip ” during the lockdown and treating them differently to adults , the Policing Authority has said .
In its sixth and last dedicated report on the Garda response to the pandemic , the Policing Authority was broadly complimentary on how the organisation has handled the crisis to date .
In particular , it praised the Garda ’ s response to domestic violence and said that in several cases the Garda apparently averted possible domestic homicides by intervening in time .
The Authority said there is a belief “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the best it has ever been in Ireland ” .
However it raised concerns about Garda treatment of young people during the pandemic .
It said young people viewed themselves as being treated differently to adults by police .
“ Words like ‘ power trip ’ were used to describe some young people ’ s experience of policing during Covid-19.
” Young people reported feeling perceived as “ inconvenient ” and “ reckless ” .
Such views were common irrespective of “ social class , ethnicity , sexuality or location in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Organisations working with youths drew attention to the long term consequences of a break-down in trust between young people and the Garda .
The Authority said social media means young people can now compare their experiences “ within a global context , ” an apparent reference to the police brutality protests which have swept the US .
“ The Garda Síochána enjoys significantly high levels of trust with the public but organisations cautioned against any assumption that this would naturally follow into the next generation , ” it said .
Chairman Bob Collins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the good-will and experience it has built up during the pandemic .
The organisation must “ capture that new approach , that new openness , that greater respect and understanding and to make it a permanent part of the life and work of all in the organisation.
” The Policing Authority repeated concerns it has about the Garda use of spit-hoods during the pandemic .
It noted reports from other police forces , including the PSNI , that the hoods are not effective in preventing disease .
Spit-hoods have been used 86 times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic , including six times in the last month .
Most uses lasted for less than twenty minutes but on one occasion a spit-hood was left on a suspect for five hours .
About 85 per cent of suspects were male and half were intoxicated .
There have also been 144 spitting or coughing attacks on gardaí during the crisis , including 22 in the last month .
According to the report , there have been 188 Covid-19 related complaints to the Garda Ombudsman to date , some of which have been deemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gardaí not wearing PPE .

Gardai check motorists destinations and reasons for travelling at a Garda Checkpoint on the N11 Dublin in March. Photograph: Bryan O Brien / The Irish Times
Some young people viewed gardaí as being on a "power trip" during the lockdown and treating them differently to adults, the Policing Authority has said.
In its sixth and last dedicated report on the Garda response to the pandemic, the Policing Authority was broadly complimentary on how the organisation has handled the crisis to date.
In particular, it praised the Garda’s response to domestic violence and said that in several cases the Garda apparently averted possible domestic homicides by intervening in time. The Authority said there is a belief “that the policing response to domestic abuse is the best it has ever been in Ireland”.
However it raised concerns about Garda treatment of young people during the pandemic. It said young people viewed themselves as being treated differently to adults by police.
READ MORE
“Words like ‘power trip’ were used to describe some young people’s experience of policing during Covid-19.”
Young people reported feeling perceived as “inconvenient” and “reckless”. Such views were common irrespective of “social class, ethnicity, sexuality or location in the country,” the Authority said.
Organisations working with youths drew attention to the long term consequences of a break-down in trust between young people and the Garda.
The Authority said social media means young people can now compare their experiences “within a global context,” an apparent reference to the police brutality protests which have swept the US.
"The Garda Síochána enjoys significantly high levels of trust with the public but organisations cautioned against any assumption that this would naturally follow into the next generation," it said.
Chairman Bob Collins called on the Garda to capitalise on the good-will and experience it has built up during the pandemic. The organisation must "capture that new approach, that new openness, that greater respect and understanding and to make it a permanent part of the life and work of all in the organisation."
The Policing Authority repeated concerns it has about the Garda use of spit-hoods during the pandemic. It noted reports from other police forces, including the PSNI, that the hoods are not effective in preventing disease.
Spit-hoods have been used 86 times by garda since the start of the pandemic, including six times in the last month. Most uses lasted for less than twenty minutes but on one occasion a spit-hood was left on a suspect for five hours.
About 85 per cent of suspects were male and half were intoxicated.
There have also been 144 spitting or coughing attacks on gardaí during the crisis, including 22 in the last month.
According to the report, there have been 188 Covid-19 related complaints to the Garda Ombudsman to date, some of which have been deemed inadmissible. The majority of complaints relate to gardaí not wearing PPE.


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Ireland’s latest EuroMillions winner hits €49.5m jackpot

The winning ticket in Tuesday night ’ s €49.5 million EuroMillions jackpot was sold in Ireland , the National Lottery has said .
The identity of the winner is not yet known .
It is Ireland ’ s 16th EuroMillions jackpot win since the game began in 2004 and the second jackpot win in Ireland this year .
The National Lottery has appealed to EuroMillions players all over the State to check their tickets to see if they have won .
The winning numbers were : 14 , 15 , 24 , 29 , 42 and the Lucky Stars are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Limerick , was Ireland ’ s first and biggest EuroMillions winner , scooping over €115 million in July 2005 .
A family syndicate won €175.4 million on a ticket sold in Reilly ’ s Daybreak in Naul , Co Dublin .
In June 2013 , a winning ticket sold in Beaumont , Dublin shared a EuroMillions jackpot worth over €187 million with another ticket-holder .
A Dublin work syndicate claimed the €88.5 million EuroMillions jackpot in January 2017 .
The winning ticket was sold at the Applegreen Service Station on the M1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @

It is Ireland’s 16th EuroMillions jackpot win since the game began in 2004 and the second jackpot win in Ireland this year. Photograph: PA
The winning ticket in Tuesday night's €49.5 million EuroMillions jackpot was sold in Ireland, the National Lottery has said.
The identity of the winner is not yet known.
It is Ireland’s 16th EuroMillions jackpot win since the game began in 2004 and the second jackpot win in Ireland this year.
WOWA lucky #EuroMillions player has WON tonight's amazing Jackpot of €49,564,586..This is the 6th largest jackpot ever won in Ireland Players check your tickets https://t.co/una0XXn1k6#ItCouldBeYou pic.twitter.com/PAGHxI3pCi — The Irish National Lottery (@NationalLottery) July 21, 2020
The National Lottery has appealed to EuroMillions players all over the State to check their tickets to see if they have won.
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The winning numbers were: 14, 15, 24, 29, 42 and the Lucky Stars are 02, 04.
Dolores McNamara, from Limerick, was Ireland's first and biggest EuroMillions winner, scooping over €115 million in July 2005.
A family syndicate won €175.4 million on a ticket sold in Reilly's Daybreak in Naul, Co Dublin.
In June 2013, a winning ticket sold in Beaumont, Dublin shared a EuroMillions jackpot worth over €187 million with another ticket-holder.
A Dublin work syndicate claimed the €88.5 million EuroMillions jackpot in January 2017. The winning ticket was sold at the Applegreen Service Station on the M1 Northbound in Lusk, Co Dublin.


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Judge queries if woman had adequate notice of wardship application

A High Court judge has adjourned a petition aimed at making an intellectually disabled woman a ward of court after expressing concerns about the application .
Ms Justice Niamh Hyland questioned whether the woman had been given an adequate opportunity , as envisaged under the European Convention on Human Rights , to express her views on the application .
The judge said that seeking to have a person made a ward of court is a “ very serious ” application as taking an individual into wardship affects their liberty in all sorts of ways .
She told a solicitor moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a family member that the court required more information in connection with the application .
She also observed that a report from a court-appointed medical visitor expressing the view the woman met the criteria for wardship in that she lacked capacity to make decisions about her person and finances was “ very slim ” , running to two pages .
She also noted no application had been brought to have a guardian ad litem appointed by the court to represent the woman ’ s interests in the proceedings and that the wardship petition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a summons server who did not know her .
The judge said that , given that no guardian had been appointed , the court needs more information concerning the notice given to the woman of the application and how her rights were protected .
She accepted there are capacity issues in relation to the woman and that she is getting “ excellent ” care from a family member , the judge added .
She could see the reasons for seeking wardship but needed more information .
The judge adjourned two other wardship petitions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those had been given adequate notice of the petitions .

Ms Justice Niamh Hyland questioned whether the woman had been given an adequate opportunity, as envisaged under the European Convention on Human Rights, to express her views. File Photograph: Collins Courts
A High Court judge has adjourned a petition aimed at making an intellectually disabled woman a ward of court after expressing concerns about the application.
Ms Justice Niamh Hyland questioned whether the woman had been given an adequate opportunity, as envisaged under the European Convention on Human Rights, to express her views on the application.
The judge said that seeking to have a person made a ward of court is a “very serious” application as taking an individual into wardship affects their liberty in all sorts of ways.
She told a solicitor moving the petition on Tuesday on behalf of a family member that the court required more information in connection with the application.
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She also observed that a report from a court-appointed medical visitor expressing the view the woman met the criteria for wardship in that she lacked capacity to make decisions about her person and finances was “very slim”, running to two pages.
She also noted no application had been brought to have a guardian ad litem appointed by the court to represent the woman’s interests in the proceedings and that the wardship petition had been explained to the woman by a summons server who did not know her.
The judge said that, given that no guardian had been appointed, the court needs more information concerning the notice given to the woman of the application and how her rights were protected.
She accepted there are capacity issues in relation to the woman and that she is getting “excellent” care from a family member, the judge added. She could see the reasons for seeking wardship but needed more information.
The judge adjourned two other wardship petitions due to similar concerns whether the subjects of those had been given adequate notice of the petitions.


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Dublin creche one of the first to report case of Covid-19

A creche in north Dublin has become one of the first childcare facilities to report a case of Covid-19 since they reopened three weeks ago .
Parents whose children attend the childcare facility received a memo last week stating that a member of staff had tested positive for the virus .
The memo states that the person “ was present in the creche for only one day ” .
According to the email , the childcare worker was working in the creche on Monday , July 13th and was asymptomatic .
“ The purpose of this email is to reassure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Tusla have been followed , ” the email states .
“ Most importantly all parents whose children have been in contact with the asymptomatic educarer have been phoned personally and appropriate testing has been arranged.
” “ Likewise , the small number of staff members who were in direct contact with the educarer in question are being tested and while awaiting results will not be in attendance at creche.
” The childcare facility , which remains open , did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Ronan Glynn warned on Monday that workplaces were the “ new frontline ” in the fight against coronavirus .
Several workplaces , including building sites , supermarkets and fast-food outlets , had reported new cases among staff in recent days , Dr Glynn said .
The HSE said it can not comment on individual cases or activations “ to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the businesses and the people who work there ” .
Speaking generally , a spokeswoman for the HSE said where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is contacted by the HSE public health team who conduct an assessment of the facility .
Based on this assessment , the public health team will then issue advice on the management of children and staff who came in contact with the case , the spokeswoman added .
Minister for Children Roderic O ’ Gorman , commenting on the case in the Dáil , said all the supports were being provided for “ any person impacted and to ensure the necessary actions were being taken to prevent any spread of the virus ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could not comment on any individual cases but “ the HSE and Tusla have been involved and all appropriate action has been taken ” .
He said the guidance provided by the HPSC , the regulator , Tusla and his department “ have proven valuable in ensuring the appropriate management of the case ” .
Creches and childcare facilities across the State reopened their doors on June 29th , having been closed since mid-March .
Among the protocols in place to stop the spread of Covid-19 in childcare facilities are the division of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , increased cleaning regimes and social distancing between staff .
In the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) guidance on coronavirus in childcare settings , it states that confirmed Covid-19 cases should continue to self-isolate at home for a minimum of 14 days and should not return to the childcare setting until they are advised that it is safe to do so .
The guidance adds that close contacts of a confirmed case should go home and restrict their movements for 14 days and should not attend the facility during that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are offered testing for Covid-19 and will need to stay away from the childcare centre for 14 days even if the virus is not detected on the tests .
This is because some people who are infected do not have a positive test at the time the test was taken , the guidance states .

The HSE said where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 in a childcare setting, the facility is contacted by the HSE public health team who conduct an assessment of the facility. Photograph: iStock
A creche in north Dublin has become one of the first childcare facilities to report a case of Covid-19 since they reopened three weeks ago.
Parents whose children attend the childcare facility received a memo last week stating that a member of staff had tested positive for the virus.
The memo states that the person “was present in the creche for only one day”. According to the email, the childcare worker was working in the creche on Monday, July 13th and was asymptomatic.
“The purpose of this email is to reassure you that all protocols from the HSE and Tusla have been followed,” the email states. “Most importantly all parents whose children have been in contact with the asymptomatic educarer have been phoned personally and appropriate testing has been arranged.”
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“Likewise, the small number of staff members who were in direct contact with the educarer in question are being tested and while awaiting results will not be in attendance at creche.”
The childcare facility, which remains open, did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.
The news comes after acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn warned on Monday that workplaces were the "new frontline" in the fight against coronavirus.
Several workplaces, including building sites, supermarkets and fast-food outlets, had reported new cases among staff in recent days, Dr Glynn said.
The HSE said it cannot comment on individual cases or activations “to protect the privacy and confidentiality of the businesses and the people who work there”.
Speaking generally, a spokeswoman for the HSE said where there is a confirmed case of Covid-19 in a childcare setting, the facility is contacted by the HSE public health team who conduct an assessment of the facility.
Based on this assessment, the public health team will then issue advice on the management of children and staff who came in contact with the case, the spokeswoman added.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman, commenting on the case in the Dáil, said all the supports were being provided for “any person impacted and to ensure the necessary actions were being taken to prevent any spread of the virus”.
Mr O’Gorman said he could not comment on any individual cases but “the HSE and Tusla have been involved and all appropriate action has been taken”.
He said the guidance provided by the HPSC, the regulator, Tusla and his department “have proven valuable in ensuring the appropriate management of the case”.
Creches and childcare facilities across the State reopened their doors on June 29th, having been closed since mid-March. Among the protocols in place to stop the spread of Covid-19 in childcare facilities are the division of children into pods, staggered drop-off times, increased cleaning regimes and social distancing between staff.
In the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidance on coronavirus in childcare settings, it states that confirmed Covid-19 cases should continue to self-isolate at home for a minimum of 14 days and should not return to the childcare setting until they are advised that it is safe to do so.
The guidance adds that close contacts of a confirmed case should go home and restrict their movements for 14 days and should not attend the facility during that time.
Close contacts of confirmed cases are offered testing for Covid-19 and will need to stay away from the childcare centre for 14 days even if the virus is not detected on the tests.
This is because some people who are infected do not have a positive test at the time the test was taken, the guidance states.


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Pilgrims warned off Croagh Patrick to prevent Covid-19-linked ‘chaos’

St Patrick allegedly banished snakes while standing on Ireland ’ s holiest mountain , Croagh Patrick , but keeping eager pilgrims away this year has proven to be as a difficult a task .
Thousands of climbers arrive at the Co Mayo mountain each year for the last Sunday of July but , amid a global pandemic , they are being asked to stay away in the interest of public health .
Saying that “ tremendous ” numbers have already come , local Frank McCarrick , chairman of the Murrisk Development Association , said Reek Sunday “ could bring about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It is definitely a concern that so many people are coming to the village .
There are crowds of people here every day .
Even as I look outside my window now I can see quite an amount of traffic , ” he said .
“ People are concerned .
There are elderly residents and they are particularly vulnerable .
All of my neighbours have been very careful about cocooning and not travelling .
We have not had the virus .
We ’ d like to keep it that way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traffic chaos every year to Murrisk , but this year could be worse since they will be without the usual overflow car park , or the 60 to 70 volunteers who annually provide assistance to pilgrims .
“ There is a continuous line of cars parked along the footpath .
People are not observing social distancing , ” complained McCarrick about those who have already come to scale Croagh Patrick .
The 1,500-year-old tradition of pilgrimage was called off once before in 2015 due to torrential rain .
However , many then ignored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This time round , local gardaí are hopeful that people have heard the message “ loud and clear ” that the pilgrimage is off , though they will be on duty on all approaches to enforce current public health guidelines .
Local Mayo Mountain Rescue volunteer Cameron Clotworthy is concerned , too : “ Normally we would have people on different sections of the mountain ready to help .
We won ’ t be on the mountain this year .
“ People should bear that in mind if they are climbing it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we get multiple callouts , ” he said , adding that volunteers must wear personal protective gear when they are on duty .
“ It is impossible to treat a casualty when you are socially distanced .
We have to clean down all the equipment afterwards and that limits the number callouts we can do , ” Mr Clotworthy told The Irish Times .
Volunteers have their own families to mind , too , he said : “ Every time we get a callout we are not just risking our own health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That is something for people to bear in mind , ” he said .
The Catholic administrator in Westport , Fr Charlie McDonnell , is “ genuinely heartbroken ” to see the pilgrimage cancelled .
“ It doesn ’ t sit well with me at all , but we have done everything we can to be responsible.
” In normal times , he said he is “ awe ” of the climbers : “ For some people the church has become musty and priests have become stale , but there is something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mountain .
“ People who genuinely want to climb the mountain , they can climb on other days if they want to do so carefully .
On Sunday , we would encourage people to visit their local church or go for a walk and take their rosary beads with them .
”

St Patrick allegedly banished snakes while standing on Ireland's holiest mountain, Croagh Patrick, but keeping eager pilgrims away this year has proven to be as a difficult a task.
Thousands of climbers arrive at the Co Mayo mountain each year for the last Sunday of July but, amid a global pandemic, they are being asked to stay away in the interest of public health.
Saying that "tremendous" numbers have already come, local Frank McCarrick, chairman of the Murrisk Development Association, said Reek Sunday "could bring about chaos" if warnings were not heeded.
“It is definitely a concern that so many people are coming to the village. There are crowds of people here every day. Even as I look outside my window now I can see quite an amount of traffic,” he said.
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“People are concerned. There are elderly residents and they are particularly vulnerable. All of my neighbours have been very careful about cocooning and not travelling. We have not had the virus. We’d like to keep it that way,” he said.
Volunteer absence
Reek Sunday brings traffic chaos every year to Murrisk, but this year could be worse since they will be without the usual overflow car park, or the 60 to 70 volunteers who annually provide assistance to pilgrims.
“There is a continuous line of cars parked along the footpath. People are not observing social distancing,” complained McCarrick about those who have already come to scale Croagh Patrick.
The 1,500-year-old tradition of pilgrimage was called off once before in 2015 due to torrential rain. However, many then ignored the severe weather warning and climbed anyway.
This time round, local gardaí are hopeful that people have heard the message “loud and clear” that the pilgrimage is off, though they will be on duty on all approaches to enforce current public health guidelines.
Local Mayo Mountain Rescue volunteer Cameron Clotworthy is concerned, too: "Normally we would have people on different sections of the mountain ready to help. We won't be on the mountain this year.
“People should bear that in mind if they are climbing it. They might have to wait longer if we get multiple callouts,” he said, adding that volunteers must wear personal protective gear when they are on duty.
‘Genuinely heartbroken’
“It is impossible to treat a casualty when you are socially distanced. We have to clean down all the equipment afterwards and that limits the number callouts we can do,” Mr Clotworthy told The Irish Times.
Volunteers have their own families to mind, too, he said: “Every time we get a callout we are not just risking our own health but also the health of our families. That is something for people to bear in mind,” he said.
The Catholic administrator in Westport, Fr Charlie McDonnell, is "genuinely heartbroken" to see the pilgrimage cancelled. "It doesn't sit well with me at all, but we have done everything we can to be responsible."
In normal times, he said he is “awe” of the climbers: “For some people the church has become musty and priests have become stale, but there is something very special, still, about this mountain.
“People who genuinely want to climb the mountain, they can climb on other days if they want to do so carefully. On Sunday, we would encourage people to visit their local church or go for a walk and take their rosary beads with them.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Collective decision-making by Northern Executive undermined by Bill, ex-adviser claims

A former senior DUP special adviser has expressed disquiet that a Bill currently going through the Northern Assembly could undermine collective decision-making by the Northern Executive .
The Executive Committee ( Functions ) Bill passed the consideration stage on Tuesday without debate or formal vote notwithstanding concern voiced by Richard Bullick , a former special advisor to DUP First Ministers Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster .
The proposed legislation change is stated to be designed to free-up the decision-making process by Ministers to make the planning process more efficient .
The Bill would provide Ministers with more power to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the entire Northern Executive for endorsement .
Mr Bullick however has described the proposed law change as “ the most significant rolling back of the St Andrews Agreement and will significantly undermine the ability of the Executive to prevent Ministers acting without collective agreement ” .
The 2006 St Andrews Agreement amended elements of the 1998 Belfast Agreement to limit the ability of individual Ministers to take decisions without referral to the Northern Executive .
This largely flowed from a decision by the late Martin McGuinness , when he was education minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test from primary to secondary school without reference to other Ministers .
First Minister Ms Foster has rejected Mr Bullick ’ s interpretation of the law , insisting that any significant or controversial matters would have to be referred to the Executive for consideration and decision .
The proposed law change follows from a 2018 court judgment which found that the granting of planning permission for a contentious waste incinerator plant in north Belfast was unlawful .
In the three-year absence of Stormont between 2017 and 2020 a senior civil servant gave permission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was called the Buick judgement that decision was overruled with the court deciding that it was a “ cross-cutting matter ” where it was for Northern Executive to decide the issue .
During previous discussion earlier this month of the new legislation in the Assembly DUP , Sinn Fein , SDLP and Alliance MLAs argued that it was designed to deliver “ quicker governance ” .
Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan also said the current legislation had created some problems and was “ taking bureaucracy to a ridiculous degree ” by suggesting that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than be decided by the Department for Infrastructure .
Mr Bullick , who left Stormont in 2017 to take up a senior position with the MCE public relations firm in Belfast , argued that the proposed law change would undermine the elements of the St Andrews Agreement designed to prevent Ministers taking “ solo runs ” on important legislation .
Ms Foster however has rejected those concerns insisting she was comfortable with the contents of the Bill .
She previously said that there would still be a provision for any three ministers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision be brought to the Executive .
As the DUP has four Ministers the DUP argument is that it has the power to refer any significant matters to the Executive .
Mr Bullick in turn said no such power exists under the proposed law change .
Asked on Monday if the Bill was paving the way for more Ministerial solo runs Ms Foster told the Press Association , “ No , it most certainly is not.
” Assembly members have until Wednesday morning to propose any amendments to the Bill before it proceeds @ @ @ @ @ @

A former senior DUP special adviser has expressed disquiet that a Bill currently going through the Northern Assembly could undermine collective decision-making by the Northern Executive.
The Executive Committee (Functions) Bill passed the consideration stage on Tuesday without debate or formal vote notwithstanding concern voiced by Richard Bullick, a former special advisor to DUP First Ministers Peter Robinson and Arlene Foster.
The proposed legislation change is stated to be designed to free-up the decision-making process by Ministers to make the planning process more efficient.
The Bill would provide Ministers with more power to take individual decisions without having to take them to the entire Northern Executive for endorsement.
READ MORE
Mr Bullick however has described the proposed law change as “the most significant rolling back of the St Andrews Agreement and will significantly undermine the ability of the Executive to prevent Ministers acting without collective agreement”.
The 2006 St Andrews Agreement amended elements of the 1998 Belfast Agreement to limit the ability of individual Ministers to take decisions without referral to the Northern Executive. This largely flowed from a decision by the late Martin McGuinness, when he was education minister, to abolish the 11 Plus transfer test from primary to secondary school without reference to other Ministers.
First Minister Ms Foster has rejected Mr Bullick’s interpretation of the law, insisting that any significant or controversial matters would have to be referred to the Executive for consideration and decision.
The proposed law change follows from a 2018 court judgment which found that the granting of planning permission for a contentious waste incinerator plant in north Belfast was unlawful.
In the three-year absence of Stormont between 2017 and 2020 a senior civil servant gave permission for the incinerator. But in what was called the Buick judgement that decision was overruled with the court deciding that it was a "cross-cutting matter" where it was for Northern Executive to decide the issue.
During previous discussion earlier this month of the new legislation in the Assembly DUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP and Alliance MLAs argued that it was designed to deliver "quicker governance".
Sinn Fein MLA Pat Sheehan also said the current legislation had created some problems and was "taking bureaucracy to a ridiculous degree" by suggesting that all planning decisions must go the Executive rather than be decided by the Department for Infrastructure.
Mr Bullick, who left Stormont in 2017 to take up a senior position with the MCE public relations firm in Belfast, argued that the proposed law change would undermine the elements of the St Andrews Agreement designed to prevent Ministers taking “solo runs” on important legislation.
Ms Foster however has rejected those concerns insisting she was comfortable with the contents of the Bill.
She previously said that there would still be a provision for any three ministers to ask that any significant or controversial decision be brought to the Executive. As the DUP has four Ministers the DUP argument is that it has the power to refer any significant matters to the Executive.
Mr Bullick in turn said no such power exists under the proposed law change.
Asked on Monday if the Bill was paving the way for more Ministerial solo runs Ms Foster told the Press Association, “No, it most certainly is not.”
Assembly members have until Wednesday morning to propose any amendments to the Bill before it proceeds to its next Assembly stage.