theirishtimes--2020-07-05--‘This is simply disgusting’: Holidaymakers struggle amid mixed messages

Reader complaints and concerns about travel have not slowed even slightly as the country has eased its way out of lockdown and , if anything , we are getting more complaints now as some travel operators continue to let themselves down when it comes to communicating with their customers and offering them comfort at a time of great distress .
The Government and various arms of the State – with their endlessly mixed messages of telling us that the summer is not lost and promising us air bridges to the sun on the one hand while saying we should stay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid a second wave of Covid-19 – have not made things any easier for people .
Last week consumer advocate Dermott Jewell told Pricewatch that he believed Irish holidaymakers were having their rights “ trampled over ” with thousands of people told to forfeit thousands of euro or “ risk their own health and the health of others ” by travelling overseas in the weeks ahead .
“ The reality is consumers have been left in a no-man ’ s land and have seen their rights trampled over without any consideration for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trips with all that money now held by airlines and travel companies , ” he said .
He said the situation has now “ worsened with airlines saying that if their flights are not cancelled people will not get a refund despite the fact that if people take those flights they will be doing so in direct contravention of the advice from the State ’ s top medical authority.
” “ What we are seeing now is an absolute mockery of the rights of people [ and Irish authorities and officials at an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and seem exclusively focused on getting business back in business and giving consumers nothing.
” While the Government is willing to strengthen its warnings about travelling abroad it seems unlikely to tell airlines to cancel flights or ban foreign travel in the face of warnings from senior public health officials about the dangers of holidaymakers coming here or returning from trips abroad .
There is set to be a full Cabinet meeting today , which will decide on what happens next .
In the meantime , consumers continue to be thrown under the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just some more of the stories we have heard from readers who are confused and concerned as they stand to lose money , sometimes thousands of euro , as a result of a crisis , which is still a long , long way from being over .
Tim O ’ Shea and his family booked with Aer Lingus to travel to Boston on July 9th , but as a result of the pandemic they cancelled the flight .
“ We received an email from Aer Lingus saying it was happy to offer us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he wrote .
He also enclosed a copy of that email that was sent to him on May 5th .
“ Each week since then I have phoned Aer Lingus to enquire about this voucher to be told that all was good and that I would receive the voucher in due course.
” However , early last week he phoned the airline again “ and waited the required 50 minutes ” before his call was answered .
“ I was told by the supervisor in Aer Lingus that I am not going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seven family members that were due to travel at a cost of approximately €7,000.
” In response to this query an Aer Lingus spokeswoman said records had been checked and no voucher application had been found .
She said our reader was “ entitled to a voucher for the full value of his ticket.
” Staying with Aer Lingus , we then heard from a would-be passenger called Eddie Wall .
“ One aspect of the whole Covid travel thing that is ignored is the way Aer Lingus are creating a catch-22 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his mail started .
Although we were somewhat miffed that he had not read our voluminous coverage of this very topic in recent months , we read on .
“ Aer Lingus insist that my flight to Chicago on July 16th is not cancelled , ” he wrote , although the official advice from the Government is not to fly .
He also points out that his VHI travel insurance policy would be voided if he ignored the official advice and flew anywhere .
“ And the US government will not let me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Dublin I can not even get to the plane to board , ” he said .
Despite all that Aer Lingus is still saying the flight “ is there for me and is not cancelled .
This is simply disgusting.
” He then outlined some details of his experience in recent weeks and contrasts the good with the bad .
He and his family booked their US road trip in January .
It was due to last 19 days and see them staying in 12 different hotels .
They also paid for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chose ‘ non-cancellable ’ hotel booking , economy car and economy flight bookings , ” he says , adding that he has had travel insurance from the VHI travel for nearly 10 years , which is auto-renewed each year .
The trip was due to start on July 16th but “ between US not letting people in and the whole Covid-19 issue , we decided it was best to look at cancellation options and that is where the surprised good and bad popped up , ” he wrote .
First the good .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ right thing and facilitated us in every way possible contrary to their inflexible reputation and clear terms and conditions , ” Eddie said .
“ All but one of the “ non-cancellable ” hotels have offered and given a full refund .
The last one is not yet contactable .
Exceptional circumstances and all that .
The car rental – no problems – full refund .
Exceptional circumstances and all that , ” he said .
And the bad ?
“ Irish companies are sticking to the debatable fine print to make life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clients and extra profitable for themselves , ” he said .
“ Aer Lingus say that at the moment it is flying and even if the US do not let you in , you are not entitled to any refund as it is an economy ticket .
When it comes to the VHI auto-renewed travel insurance , it renewed in May after Covid-19 was “ known ” and all new policies are not covered .
So I am not covered for any refunds of any type.
” Mary Jenkins made contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of the pandemic and outlines the price she has had to pay .
She sent a mail as she was “ getting nowhere with Aer Lingus in relation to a claim ” she made at the end of March for a refund on a repatriation flight booked with the airline .
Her saga started in August 2019 when she booked flights to Lanzarote for four adults with a departure date of February 25th last and a return flight on March 24th .
“ On Friday 13th and Saturday 14th of March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Lanzarote due to cases of coronavirus and the news coming from Ireland , we made a decision to return early to Ireland , ” she wrote .
So at 10.20am on Sunday , March 15th they changed the flights for four adults to return to Ireland on March 21st – three days earlier than planned .
“ We were charged a flight differential of €900+ , ” she wrote .
“ At 6pm that same evening of Sunday , March 15th , Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney went on RTÉ instructing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before March 19th on repatriation flights , ” she wrote .
The whole party is in their 70s and considered vulnerable so they went back on to the Aer Lingus site at 7.10pm and changed the flights that were booked earlier that day to return instead on March 19th .
“ There were no flights available on earlier dates .
To our horror we were charged another flight differential of €700+ for the four of us .
€1,600 in charges in 10 hours !
” They felt that they had no choice but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get a refund on at least the second lot of flights when we got home .
Just as well we had a Visa card , ” she said .
Just over three hours later she got an email from Aer Lingus relating to the Government advice .
It said there would be no flight differential charges for changed flights .
“ I completed an online claim form when I returned and after several robot responses eventually received a personal response rejecting my claim .
I have gone back to [ Aer Lingus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were not going to levy flight differential charges.
” We sent these reader stories to Aer Lingus but at the time of writing we had heard nothing back .
We did hear from Mary Jenkins late last week after we had been in touch with the airline to say that she had just been contacted by the airline and had been told she would be refunded €760 within the week .
‘ Are we the only family in this situation ?
’ Of course it isn ’ t just Aer Lingus that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meadbh Hayes booked a 10-day trip to Spain for her family with a departure date of July 28th .
Flights and half of the Airbnb accommodation were paid for , coming to a total of €2,500 with final payment on accommodation due mid-July .
“ As yet , Ryanair have not cancelled our flights and , having spent endless time on hold with them , they can not update me on the flight status .
Our host in Spain has told us that Airbnb will only refund if our flight is cancelled , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very nervous about travelling with children though they are not babies and also what would happen if we , parents , fell ill in Spain ?
Are we the only family in this situation ?
We are stuck in the position where we are being advised by the Government not to take non-essential travel and yet risk losing a serious chunk of money.
” Then there was Ursula Byrne who had a slightly different dilemma and , while not as costly , it was still quite frustrating .
She booked a flight with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on June 27th .
It was subsequently cancelled due to Covid-19 .
“ I applied for a refund for this flight but I wasn ’ t given the option of applying for a refund for the car parking that I also booked as an extra and it wasn ’ t an option in manage my booking on the Ryanair website , ” she wrote .
So Ursula contacted the DAA to cancel the car park booking but was told they couldn ’ t cancel it and refund her as the booking was made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They advised me that Ryanair would be in touch with me by email to refund my parking , but I received no such email .
I then contacted Ryanair customer services again and was told they can ’ t cancel parking as it ’ s the DAA ’ s responsibility to deal with parking on Ryanair ’ s behalf.
” She said her issue was neither Ryanair or the DAA would cancel and refund her her €52 for the car parking for a cancelled flight .
She said her two friends were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryanair and received the following statement : “ This customer received the refund for the car parking fee in the overall voucher , which was issued on 29th May .
The car parking booking was cancelled in the system along with the flights , and therefore a voucher was issued for the total amount of the booking.
” We then heard back from Ursula who said she had received a phone call from a lady in Ryanair “ to confirm that I would receive a refund of not only my flight but of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 missed calls on my phone before I picked up the call.
” ‘ We do not want to lose €4,733 ’ While Ursula Byrne only stands to lose just over €50 , Keith Lawler had a lot more money on the line when he made contact with us .
All told , he and 13 family members had booked a trip to Almeria for last Saturday for his mother-in-law ’ s 70th birthday .
The group ranges in age from three months to 71-years-old .
“ Our flight has not been cancelled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government ’ s advice against ‘ non-essential travel ’ .
Myself and my partner booked all the flights with Ryanair in February to the tune of €4,733.84 !
We obviously will not be travelling but do not want to lose all that money , ” he wrote .
He said he is prepared to postpone the trip until next year and had done a lot of research into his rights on multiple websites .
“ I ’ m sure you are well aware of the impossible task of contacting Ryanair , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 minutes on hold to a 0818 number .
I am also on their online ‘ chat ’ waiting for a rep since 10am.
” He sent the mail at 11.06am .
He has also looked at flights for next June for himself , his partner and their son .
“ Our flights would be €354 cheaper than what we have already paid and the difference is non-refundable according to the Ryanair policy , ” he said .
“ But if the difference was higher , we would have to pay it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ us is €280 .
Less than what they would owe us and they can keep the balance.
” We did ask Ryanair about this but the company did not respond .
And then there was Catherine Coakley .
She had a return flight to Carcassonne booked with Ryanair for July 6th .
“ Now the Government and Dr Tony Holohan are asking people not to travel overseas , ” she wrote .
“ I don ’ t wish to travel while Covid-19 is still so prevalent and apart from not wanting to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t want to bring it back to anybody here .
Also , the VHI say they will not cover me for travel insurance while a travel advisory is in place .
The flight to Carcassonne is going ahead from Cork Airport .
“ Am I entitled to get my money back or a credit note from Ryanair ?
I emailed the airline but have received no reply .
How can I avoid forfeiting my €282.12 ?
There must be many others in this situation , who , like myself , are caught between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are many , many people in the same position .
And too many have been abandoned by the authorities and by the airlines and , unless there has been a dramatic turn of events over the course of the weekend or maybe today , then we are still a long way from the end of the road .

Reader complaints and concerns about travel have not slowed even slightly as the country has eased its way out of lockdown and, if anything, we are getting more complaints now as some travel operators continue to let themselves down when it comes to communicating with their customers and offering them comfort at a time of great distress.
The Government and various arms of the State – with their endlessly mixed messages of telling us that the summer is not lost and promising us air bridges to the sun on the one hand while saying we should stay where we are if we want to avoid a second wave of Covid-19 – have not made things any easier for people.
Last week consumer advocate Dermott Jewell told Pricewatch that he believed Irish holidaymakers were having their rights “trampled over” with thousands of people told to forfeit thousands of euro or “risk their own health and the health of others” by travelling overseas in the weeks ahead.
“The reality is consumers have been left in a no-man’s land and have seen their rights trampled over without any consideration for the fact that they paid in advance for trips with all that money now held by airlines and travel companies,” he said.
READ MORE
He said the situation has now “worsened with airlines saying that if their flights are not cancelled people will not get a refund despite the fact that if people take those flights they will be doing so in direct contravention of the advice from the State’s top medical authority.”
“What we are seeing now is an absolute mockery of the rights of people [and Irish authorities and officials at an EU level ]are doing very little and seem exclusively focused on getting business back in business and giving consumers nothing.”
While the Government is willing to strengthen its warnings about travelling abroad it seems unlikely to tell airlines to cancel flights or ban foreign travel in the face of warnings from senior public health officials about the dangers of holidaymakers coming here or returning from trips abroad. There is set to be a full Cabinet meeting today, which will decide on what happens next.
In the meantime, consumers continue to be thrown under the bus or simply ignored. Here are just some more of the stories we have heard from readers who are confused and concerned as they stand to lose money, sometimes thousands of euro, as a result of a crisis, which is still a long, long way from being over.
‘Where’s my voucher?’
Tim O'Shea and his family booked with Aer Lingus to travel to Boston on July 9th, but as a result of the pandemic they cancelled the flight. "We received an email from Aer Lingus saying it was happy to offer us a voucher plus 10 per cent," he wrote. He also enclosed a copy of that email that was sent to him on May 5th. "Each week since then I have phoned Aer Lingus to enquire about this voucher to be told that all was good and that I would receive the voucher in due course."
However, early last week he phoned the airline again “and waited the required 50 minutes” before his call was answered. “I was told by the supervisor in Aer Lingus that I am not going to receive a voucher. There are seven family members that were due to travel at a cost of approximately €7,000.”
In response to this query an Aer Lingus spokeswoman said records had been checked and no voucher application had been found. She said our reader was “entitled to a voucher for the full value of his ticket.”
Staying with Aer Lingus, we then heard from a would-be passenger called Eddie Wall.
“One aspect of the whole Covid travel thing that is ignored is the way Aer Lingus are creating a catch-22 to avoid claims on transatlantic flights,” his mail started. Although we were somewhat miffed that he had not read our voluminous coverage of this very topic in recent months, we read on.
"Aer Lingus insist that my flight to Chicago on July 16th is not cancelled," he wrote, although the official advice from the Government is not to fly. He also points out that his VHI travel insurance policy would be voided if he ignored the official advice and flew anywhere. "And the US government will not let me into the USA and as that happens in Dublin I cannot even get to the plane to board," he said.
Despite all that Aer Lingus is still saying the flight “is there for me and is not cancelled. This is simply disgusting.”
He then outlined some details of his experience in recent weeks and contrasts the good with the bad. He and his family booked their US road trip in January. It was due to last 19 days and see them staying in 12 different hotels. They also paid for car hire and flights. “We chose ‘non-cancellable’ hotel booking, economy car and economy flight bookings,” he says, adding that he has had travel insurance from the VHI travel for nearly 10 years, which is auto-renewed each year.
The trip was due to start on July 16th but “between US not letting people in and the whole Covid-19 issue, we decided it was best to look at cancellation options and that is where the surprised good and bad popped up,” he wrote.
First the good. “Basically the American companies did the right thing and facilitated us in every way possible contrary to their inflexible reputation and clear terms and conditions,” Eddie said. “All but one of the “non-cancellable” hotels have offered and given a full refund. The last one is not yet contactable. Exceptional circumstances and all that. The car rental – no problems – full refund. Exceptional circumstances and all that,” he said.
And the bad? “Irish companies are sticking to the debatable fine print to make life as costly and difficult as possible for the clients and extra profitable for themselves,” he said. “Aer Lingus say that at the moment it is flying and even if the US do not let you in, you are not entitled to any refund as it is an economy ticket. When it comes to the VHI auto-renewed travel insurance, it renewed in May after Covid-19 was “known” and all new policies are not covered. So I am not covered for any refunds of any type.”
‘€1,600 in charges in 10 hours’
Mary Jenkins made contact with a story that captures the panic at the beginning of the pandemic and outlines the price she has had to pay. She sent a mail as she was "getting nowhere with Aer Lingus in relation to a claim" she made at the end of March for a refund on a repatriation flight booked with the airline.
Her saga started in August 2019 when she booked flights to Lanzarote for four adults with a departure date of February 25th last and a return flight on March 24th.
"On Friday 13th and Saturday 14th of March following the shutdown of the entire island of Lanzarote due to cases of coronavirus and the news coming from Ireland, we made a decision to return early to Ireland," she wrote.
So at 10.20am on Sunday, March 15th they changed the flights for four adults to return to Ireland on March 21st – three days earlier than planned. "We were charged a flight differential of €900+," she wrote. "At 6pm that same evening of Sunday, March 15th, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney went on RTÉ instructing Irish people to return home on or before March 19th on repatriation flights," she wrote.
The whole party is in their 70s and considered vulnerable so they went back on to the Aer Lingus site at 7.10pm and changed the flights that were booked earlier that day to return instead on March 19th. “There were no flights available on earlier dates. To our horror we were charged another flight differential of €700+ for the four of us. €1,600 in charges in 10 hours!”
They felt that they had no choice but to book the flights and “try to get a refund on at least the second lot of flights when we got home. Just as well we had a Visa card,” she said.
Just over three hours later she got an email from Aer Lingus relating to the Government advice. It said there would be no flight differential charges for changed flights. “I completed an online claim form when I returned and after several robot responses eventually received a personal response rejecting my claim. I have gone back to [Aer Lingus] arguing the point about the fact they were not going to levy flight differential charges.”
We sent these reader stories to Aer Lingus but at the time of writing we had heard nothing back. We did hear from Mary Jenkins late last week after we had been in touch with the airline to say that she had just been contacted by the airline and had been told she would be refunded €760 within the week.
‘Are we the only family in this situation?’
Of course it isn't just Aer Lingus that has upset readers. In February, Meadbh Hayes booked a 10-day trip to Spain for her family with a departure date of July 28th. Flights and half of the Airbnb accommodation were paid for, coming to a total of €2,500 with final payment on accommodation due mid-July. "As yet, Ryanair have not cancelled our flights and, having spent endless time on hold with them, they cannot update me on the flight status. Our host in Spain has told us that Airbnb will only refund if our flight is cancelled," she wrote.
“We are very nervous about travelling with children though they are not babies and also what would happen if we, parents, fell ill in Spain? Are we the only family in this situation? We are stuck in the position where we are being advised by the Government not to take non-essential travel and yet risk losing a serious chunk of money.”
Then there was Ursula Byrne who had a slightly different dilemma and, while not as costly, it was still quite frustrating. She booked a flight with Ryanair to travel from Dublin to Milan on June 27th. It was subsequently cancelled due to Covid-19. "I applied for a refund for this flight but I wasn't given the option of applying for a refund for the car parking that I also booked as an extra and it wasn't an option in manage my booking on the Ryanair website," she wrote.
So Ursula contacted the DAA to cancel the car park booking but was told they couldn't cancel it and refund her as the booking was made through a third party – Ryanair. "They advised me that Ryanair would be in touch with me by email to refund my parking, but I received no such email. I then contacted Ryanair customer services again and was told they can't cancel parking as it's the DAA's responsibility to deal with parking on Ryanair's behalf."
She said her issue was neither Ryanair or the DAA would cancel and refund her her €52 for the car parking for a cancelled flight. She said her two friends were in a similar situation.
We contacted Ryanair and received the following statement: “This customer received the refund for the car parking fee in the overall voucher, which was issued on 29th May. The car parking booking was cancelled in the system along with the flights, and therefore a voucher was issued for the total amount of the booking.”
We then heard back from Ursula who said she had received a phone call from a lady in Ryanair “to confirm that I would receive a refund of not only my flight but of my parking cost too. I had 5 missed calls on my phone before I picked up the call.”
‘We do not want to lose €4,733’
While Ursula Byrne only stands to lose just over €50, Keith Lawler had a lot more money on the line when he made contact with us. All told, he and 13 family members had booked a trip to Almeria for last Saturday for his mother-in-law's 70th birthday. The group ranges in age from three months to 71-years-old.
“Our flight has not been cancelled but you are well aware of the Government’s advice against ‘non-essential travel’. Myself and my partner booked all the flights with Ryanair in February to the tune of €4,733.84! We obviously will not be travelling but do not want to lose all that money,” he wrote.
He said he is prepared to postpone the trip until next year and had done a lot of research into his rights on multiple websites.
“I’m sure you are well aware of the impossible task of contacting Ryanair,” he continued. “I have just spent 30 minutes on hold to a 0818 number. I am also on their online ‘chat’ waiting for a rep since 10am.” He sent the mail at 11.06am.
He has also looked at flights for next June for himself, his partner and their son. “Our flights would be €354 cheaper than what we have already paid and the difference is non-refundable according to the Ryanair policy,” he said. “But if the difference was higher, we would have to pay it. The change fee for the three of us is €280. Less than what they would owe us and they can keep the balance.”
We did ask Ryanair about this but the company did not respond.
‘I’ve received no reply’
And then there was Catherine Coakley. She had a return flight to Carcassonne booked with Ryanair for July 6th. "Now the Government and Dr Tony Holohan are asking people not to travel overseas," she wrote . "I don't wish to travel while Covid-19 is still so prevalent and apart from not wanting to get the virus myself, I don't want to bring it back to anybody here. Also, the VHI say they will not cover me for travel insurance while a travel advisory is in place. The flight to Carcassonne is going ahead from Cork Airport.
“Am I entitled to get my money back or a credit note from Ryanair? I emailed the airline but have received no reply. How can I avoid forfeiting my €282.12? There must be many others in this situation, who, like myself, are caught between a rock and a hard place.”
There are many, many people in the same position. And too many have been abandoned by the authorities and by the airlines and, unless there has been a dramatic turn of events over the course of the weekend or maybe today, then we are still a long way from the end of the road.


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Recruitment plan for Defence Forces ‘allowed to fail’

A year after a government plan to tackle recruitment and retention problems in the Defence Forces was published , military officers have said the initiative “ has been allowed to fail ” .
The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers ( RACO ) said there were about 300 fewer personnel in the Defence Forces than there were when the plan was put in place 12 months ago .
The organisation said the high-level plan was failing long before anyone had heard of Covid-19 , and that it was cynical to blame the pandemic for delays in implementation .
It said personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reassigned and this effectively meant winding down implementation of the plan .
The then government last year put in place a €10 million package of allowances arising from a report of the Public Service Pay Commission .
There were also a series of other pay and non-pay measures in the plan .
On Sunday , the organisation said : “ The high-level implementation plan , Strengthening our Defence Forces , is failing to meet its agreed timelines in over half of its assigned projects .
“ This would be wholly unacceptable at any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurring at a time when the Defence Forces have been responding quickly and effectively to an unfolding public health emergency , in spite of the retention crisis , is unconscionable .
“ We are now a full year into the implementation of the plan , and at this point , with Defence Forces ’ strength having fallen to just over 8,400 , the plan has been allowed to fail , and members feel betrayed yet again by those charged with their welfare.
” The establishment strength of the Defence Forces is 9,500 personnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key elements of the plan was to have been a review of pay structures with an expected aim of “ putting more money in the pockets of permanent Defence Force members ” .
Paul Keogh , the former minister with responsibility for defence , said last month that some initial preliminary work had commenced on this project but that the “ main body of work will be done as part of a wider review of public sector pay arrangements ” .
“ The Covid-19 emergency has impacted project time frames for the remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resources were necessarily reassigned to matters relating to the Covid-19 response and where other essential work necessarily took priority , ” Mr Keogh said .
The organisation said the time frame for this wider pay review had not been confirmed .

Paul Kehoe (right), the former minister with responsibility for defence, said last month that some initial preliminary work had commenced on the review of pay structures. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw /The Irish Times
A year after a government plan to tackle recruitment and retention problems in the Defence Forces was published, military officers have said the initiative "has been allowed to fail".
The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO) said there were about 300 fewer personnel in the Defence Forces than there were when the plan was put in place 12 months ago.
The organisation said the high-level plan was failing long before anyone had heard of Covid-19, and that it was cynical to blame the pandemic for delays in implementation.
It said personnel in the programme management office had been reassigned and this effectively meant winding down implementation of the plan.
READ MORE
The then government last year put in place a €10 million package of allowances arising from a report of the Public Service Pay Commission. There were also a series of other pay and non-pay measures in the plan.
On Sunday, the organisation said: “The high-level implementation plan, Strengthening our Defence Forces, is failing to meet its agreed timelines in over half of its assigned projects.
“This would be wholly unacceptable at any juncture but to consider that it is occurring at a time when the Defence Forces have been responding quickly and effectively to an unfolding public health emergency, in spite of the retention crisis, is unconscionable.
“We are now a full year into the implementation of the plan, and at this point, with Defence Forces’ strength having fallen to just over 8,400, the plan has been allowed to fail, and members feel betrayed yet again by those charged with their welfare.”
The establishment strength of the Defence Forces is 9,500 personnel.
Pay review
The organisation said one of the key elements of the plan was to have been a review of pay structures with an expected aim of “putting more money in the pockets of permanent Defence Force members”.
Paul Keogh, the former minister with responsibility for defence, said last month that some initial preliminary work had commenced on this project but that the " main body of work will be done as part of a wider review of public sector pay arrangements".
“The Covid-19 emergency has impacted project time frames for the remaining non-pay related projects. For some projects resources were necessarily reassigned to matters relating to the Covid-19 response and where other essential work necessarily took priority,” Mr Keogh said.
The organisation said the time frame for this wider pay review had not been confirmed.


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Ictu warns Varadkar of ‘consequences’ for construction workers

The recent High Court ruling striking down parts of industrial relations legislation may have “ grave implications ” for the pay , terms and conditions of construction workers in particular , the trade union movement has told the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment Leo Varadkar .
The High Court last month found parts of the legislation allowing for the making of sectoral employment order covering minimum terms and conditions were unconstitutional .
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions ( Ictu ) in a letter to Mr Varadkar said the Government should appeal this ruling of the High Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patricia King , said in the letter : “ We are also strongly of the view that primary legislation can be enacted to address the deficiencies identified by the High Court .
There is nothing in this judgment to prevent the Oireachtas enacting primary legislation in the same terms as the sectoral employment order previously in force.
” Some contractors had warned that abiding by provisions in sectoral employment orders in the electrical sector would have forced them to lay off staff .
“ We believe that there are strong and compelling reasons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this judgment stands , it will impact on the legislative process over a wide field and not just in relation to employment , ” Ms King said .
“ As you know , normally , the initiation of an appeal automatically acts as a stay on the decision under appeal .
However , that does not apply in the case of a declaration of unconstitutionality .
”

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions in a letter to Minister for Enterprise and Employment Leo Varadkar said the Government should appeal the ruling of the High Court. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
The recent High Court ruling striking down parts of industrial relations legislation may have "grave implications" for the pay, terms and conditions of construction workers in particular, the trade union movement has told the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise and Employment Leo Varadkar.
The High Court last month found parts of the legislation allowing for the making of sectoral employment order covering minimum terms and conditions were unconstitutional.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) in a letter to Mr Varadkar said the Government should appeal this ruling of the High Court.
The general secretary of Ictu, Patricia King, said in the letter: "We are also strongly of the view that primary legislation can be enacted to address the deficiencies identified by the High Court. There is nothing in this judgment to prevent the Oireachtas enacting primary legislation in the same terms as the sectoral employment order previously in force."
READ MORE
Some contractors had warned that abiding by provisions in sectoral employment orders in the electrical sector would have forced them to lay off staff.
“We believe that there are strong and compelling reasons why it should do so. If this judgment stands, it will impact on the legislative process over a wide field and not just in relation to employment,” Ms King said.
“As you know, normally, the initiation of an appeal automatically acts as a stay on the decision under appeal. However, that does not apply in the case of a declaration of unconstitutionality.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Spread of invasive false widow spider ‘makes bites more likely’

An invasive species of spider which is spreading throughout Ireland is more aggressive and more dangerous than experts have suggested , an Oxford zoologist has suggested .
The noble false widow spider was first spotted in Ireland in 1998 and has been multiplying in number .
It is found in most urban areas and has been spotted in 22 counties on the island .
It is also spreading rapidly in the UK and is regarded as an invasive species , most likely originating in the Canary Islands .
False widow spiders are so called because they resemble the deadly black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found in the US , Australia and parts of Asia .
In a study covering Britain and Ireland , Clive Hambler of Oxford ’ s zoology department , said he could no longer agree with the view of the British Arachnological Society that “ being bitten by a spider is very unlikely in this country in normal circumstances ” .
He suggested the abundance of the noble false widow ( Steatoda nobilis ) means that more people will be bitten by spiders in the future and not all will be aware of it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reluctant to use the word “ aggressive ” to describe the false widow because of its emotive connotations .
However , reports that the false widows were docile and slow moving were “ erroneous and potentially misleading ” and the false widow could be considered to be an aggressive spider , he said .
Mr Hambler said there was a need to improve communication between arachnologists , clinicians , and public health authorities , in order to gauge more accurately the risks from false widows .
Some people who have been bitten by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the bite site , but do not report it to doctors .
He suggested spider bites were “ greatly under-reported ” in the media or to medics compared with their actual frequency .
“ After widespread media publicity in 2018 and the evidence in this paper , I predict the number of reported serious suspected bites will now increase substantially , as will the number verified with specific effects , ” he writes .
Mr Hambler also suggests that untreated or unrecognised bites could lead to a “ low but non-trivial risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one incident last year , a Co Waterford woman spent six days in hospital after being bitten by a false widow spider which ran up the inside leg of her jeans .
Since a public appeal was made three years ago , about a dozen cases in Ireland of false widow spider bites which needed medical treatment have been brought to the attention of researchers in NUI Galway .
Symptoms of a false widow spider bite include severe pain at the bite site , stiff limbs , redness and swelling .
In some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A study published last month by scientists at NUI Galway and the University of Liège in Belgium also found the false widow was more venomous than was first believed .
Researchers used cutting-edge genetic and protein-based methods to identify the toxins responsible for these symptoms .
Out of a total of 140 toxins recovered , 111 were also found in their infamous cousins the “ true ” black widows , including latrotoxins , the compounds known to disrupt the central nervous system of vertebrates , including humans .

The false widow spider is more venomous, lives longer and breeds faster than the common house spider in Ireland.
An invasive species of spider which is spreading throughout Ireland is more aggressive and more dangerous than experts have suggested, an Oxford zoologist has suggested.
The noble false widow spider was first spotted in Ireland in 1998 and has been multiplying in number. It is found in most urban areas and has been spotted in 22 counties on the island.
It is also spreading rapidly in the UK and is regarded as an invasive species, most likely originating in the Canary Islands.
False widow spiders are so called because they resemble the deadly black widow spider, which are more commonly found in the US, Australia and parts of Asia.
READ MORE
In a study covering Britain and Ireland, Clive Hambler of Oxford's zoology department, said he could no longer agree with the view of the British Arachnological Society that "being bitten by a spider is very unlikely in this country in normal circumstances".
He suggested the abundance of the noble false widow (Steatoda nobilis) means that more people will be bitten by spiders in the future and not all will be aware of it.
Mr Hambler stressed that arachnologists were reluctant to use the word “aggressive” to describe the false widow because of its emotive connotations.
However, reports that the false widows were docile and slow moving were “erroneous and potentially misleading” and the false widow could be considered to be an aggressive spider, he said.
Mr Hambler said there was a need to improve communication between arachnologists, clinicians, and public health authorities, in order to gauge more accurately the risks from false widows.
Some people who have been bitten by false widows experience immediate pain and swelling at the bite site, but do not report it to doctors.
He suggested spider bites were “greatly under-reported” in the media or to medics compared with their actual frequency.
“After widespread media publicity in 2018 and the evidence in this paper, I predict the number of reported serious suspected bites will now increase substantially, as will the number verified with specific effects,” he writes.
Mr Hambler also suggests that untreated or unrecognised bites could lead to a “low but non-trivial risk of necrosis or sepsis”.
In one incident last year, a Co Waterford woman spent six days in hospital after being bitten by a false widow spider which ran up the inside leg of her jeans.
Swelling
Since a public appeal was made three years ago, about a dozen cases in Ireland of false widow spider bites which needed medical treatment have been brought to the attention of researchers in NUI Galway.
Symptoms of a false widow spider bite include severe pain at the bite site, stiff limbs, redness and swelling. In some cases the victim can feel feverish.
A study published last month by scientists at NUI Galway and the University of Liège in Belgium also found the false widow was more venomous than was first believed.
Researchers used cutting-edge genetic and protein-based methods to identify the toxins responsible for these symptoms.
Out of a total of 140 toxins recovered, 111 were also found in their infamous cousins the “true” black widows, including latrotoxins, the compounds known to disrupt the central nervous system of vertebrates, including humans.


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Electric car drivers will soon have to pay to use ‘slow’ chargers

The ESB is to introduce charges for its standard or “ slow ” car charging network “ within weeks ” , bringing to an end a decade of free service for owners of electric vehicles .
Charges for the utility ’ s network of about 75 rapid or “ fast ” chargers were introduced last November , but the slower chargers are far more prevalent with about 1,000 across the Republic and Northern Ireland .
The slow chargers are mainly placed at roadsides in cities , towns and villages and offer charging at up to 22kW per hour .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charge at a slow charger but the speed also depends on the equipment in the car .
The fast charging network offers 50kW and is generally located along national routes .
These chargers can typically charge vehicles up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes .
ESB eCars is working on a new , faster network offering charging at 150kW which is due to come on stream later this year .
In an email to registered users in recent days ESB eCars said pay for use would be extended to the “ standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chargers “ in the coming weeks ” .
However , ESB eCars said it would pass on a VAT reduction recently agreed with the Revenue Commissioners to its customers in the Republic .
The reduction is from 23 per cent to 13.5 per cent .
Beginning this month , all transactions will have the lower VAT rate applied so the cost of charging for customers who can not reclaim VAT will reduce .
For example , the membership rate for fast charging will reduce from 29c to 26.8c while the pay-as-you-go rate will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ membership subscription , overstay fee – for remaining at a charge point after your vehicle is fully charged – and the cost to purchase an ESB charge point access card , have also been reduced in line with the change in VAT rate .
Separately , eCars will recalculate VAT charged on all transactions since the introduction of fees last November , using the reduced rate .
Credits will be applied to all customer accounts for any difference in VAT rates .
Charging remains free at both fast and slow chargers in Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ESB under eCars Northern Ireland branding .
EasyGo , a private commercial network , have a complement of more than 400 charging machines in the Republic , both fast and slow .
In addition , some supermarket chains including Lidl and Tesco have installed chargers without cost for customers .

Charges for the utility’s network of about 75 rapid or ‘fast’ chargers were introduced last November. File photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
The ESB is to introduce charges for its standard or “slow” car charging network “within weeks”, bringing to an end a decade of free service for owners of electric vehicles.
Charges for the utility’s network of about 75 rapid or “fast” chargers were introduced last November, but the slower chargers are far more prevalent with about 1,000 across the Republic and Northern Ireland.
The slow chargers are mainly placed at roadsides in cities, towns and villages and offer charging at up to 22kW per hour. It typically takes about six hours to fully charge at a slow charger but the speed also depends on the equipment in the car.
The fast charging network offers 50kW and is generally located along national routes. These chargers can typically charge vehicles up to 80 per cent in 30 minutes.
READ MORE
ESB eCars is working on a new, faster network offering charging at 150kW which is due to come on stream later this year.
In an email to registered users in recent days ESB eCars said pay for use would be extended to the “standard”, otherwise known as slow, chargers “in the coming weeks”.
However, ESB eCars said it would pass on a VAT reduction recently agreed with the Revenue Commissioners to its customers in the Republic.
The reduction is from 23 per cent to 13.5 per cent. Beginning this month, all transactions will have the lower VAT rate applied so the cost of charging for customers who cannot reclaim VAT will reduce.
For example, the membership rate for fast charging will reduce from 29c to 26.8c while the pay-as-you-go rate will be 30.5c reduced from 33c.
A membership subscription, overstay fee – for remaining at a charge point after your vehicle is fully charged – and the cost to purchase an ESB charge point access card, have also been reduced in line with the change in VAT rate.
Separately, eCars will recalculate VAT charged on all transactions since the introduction of fees last November, using the reduced rate. Credits will be applied to all customer accounts for any difference in VAT rates.
Charging remains free at both fast and slow chargers in Northern Ireland, which are operated by the ESB under eCars Northern Ireland branding.
EasyGo, a private commercial network, have a complement of more than 400 charging machines in the Republic, both fast and slow.
In addition, some supermarket chains including Lidl and Tesco have installed chargers without cost for customers.


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Two brothers die in ‘tragic accident’ while diving in Co Tipperary

Two brothers died while diving in a quarry in Co Tipperary on Sunday afternoon .
The incident occurred at the Portroe Dive Centre , at Portroe Quarry , at around 1.30pm .
The deceased were named locally on Sunday night as Fergus Brophy ( 43 ) and Philip Brophy ( 34 ) from Ballybrittas , Co Laois .
Philip Brophy had been living in Portarlington , Co Laois .
The two men ’ s bodies were taken to University Hospital Limerick where postmortems are expected to take place later .
Killaloe Coast Guard , gardaí , and ambulance personnel were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A Garda spokesman said : “ Gardaí attended an incident in Portroe , Co Tipperary where two males have drowned.
” “ The males are believed to have been diving when they got into trouble at approximately 1.30pm.
” Garda sources said they were treating the incident as a “ tragic accident ” .
A separate source said : “ They were experienced divers but what exactly happened I can ’ t say for sure .
A lot of divers come from around the country to attend the dive centre in Portroe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members locally but a lot of people visit .
It ’ s known as a good place to practise diving.
” According to reports one of the men got into difficulty in the water and his sibling entered the water to try to help , however both men lost their lives .
Local Independent councillor Seamus Morris described the incident as “ a tragedy for the men ’ s families and all involved at the dive centre ” .
“ As a dive centre , it ’ s used by local divers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Obviously , my sympathies go to the men ’ s families and the dive club .
“ I don ’ t know what happened , but diving is a sport that , unfortunately , has serious consequences if things don ’ t go right.
” Parish priest of Portarlington Fr Tom Dooley said : “ The family are devastated and can ’ t believe this is happened .
They are a very sound , very solid family.
” According to Portroe Dive Centre ’ s Facebook page it was due to reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in line with Covid-19 public health guidelines on social distancing .
A spokesman for the dive centre was not available for comment .
According to the dive centre ’ s website , Portroe quarry is “ one of the best inland dive locations in Ireland ” and is “ always diveable regardless of weather conditions ” .
“ Portroe slate quarry opened up five years ago as a dive centre , ” it said .

The quarry in Portroe, Co Tipperary, where two bodies were discovered on Sunday. Photograph: Press 22
Two brothers died while diving in a quarry in Co Tipperary on Sunday afternoon.
The incident occurred at the Portroe Dive Centre, at Portroe Quarry, at around 1.30pm.
The deceased were named locally on Sunday night as Fergus Brophy (43) and Philip Brophy (34) from Ballybrittas, Co Laois. Philip Brophy had been living in Portarlington, Co Laois.
The two men’s bodies were taken to University Hospital Limerick where postmortems are expected to take place later.
READ MORE
Killaloe Coast Guard, gardaí, and ambulance personnel were involved in the search and rescue operation.
A Garda spokesman said: “Gardaí attended an incident in Portroe, Co Tipperary where two males have drowned.”
“The males are believed to have been diving when they got into trouble at approximately 1.30pm.”
Garda sources said they were treating the incident as a “tragic accident”.
A separate source said: “They were experienced divers but what exactly happened I can’t say for sure. A lot of divers come from around the country to attend the dive centre in Portroe.
“There are a lot of members locally but a lot of people visit. It’s known as a good place to practise diving.”
According to reports one of the men got into difficulty in the water and his sibling entered the water to try to help, however both men lost their lives.
Local Independent councillor Seamus Morris described the incident as “a tragedy for the men’s families and all involved at the dive centre”.
“As a dive centre, it’s used by local divers and it has always been very professionally run. Obviously, my sympathies go to the men’s families and the dive club.
“I don’t know what happened, but diving is a sport that, unfortunately, has serious consequences if things don’t go right.”
Parish priest of Portarlington Fr Tom Dooley said: “The family are devastated and can’t believe this is happened. They are a very sound, very solid family.”
According to Portroe Dive Centre’s Facebook page it was due to reopen on Saturday, after closing last March, in line with Covid-19 public health guidelines on social distancing.
A spokesman for the dive centre was not available for comment.
According to the dive centre’s website, Portroe quarry is “one of the best inland dive locations in Ireland” and is “always diveable regardless of weather conditions”.
“Portroe slate quarry opened up five years ago as a dive centre,” it said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Coronavirus: No further deaths reported as doctor warns second wave ‘weeks away’

The Department of Health reported no additional deaths from coronavirus and 18 confirmed new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday .
This is the fifth day of no reported daily deaths since the wave of infections peaked in mid-April and the first this month .
The death toll remains at 1,741 .
The 18 new cases , the highest number of daily new infections in six days , brings the total number of known cases in the State to 25,527 .
The HSE has said that it was working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread .
The Government ’ s latest figures on Covid-19 show that there were three admissions of infected people to hospital and one admission to a hospital intensive care unit in the last 24 hours .
One infected person was discharged from hospital .
There were 22 cases of the disease in hospital and 11 confirmed cases in ICUs .
The number of clusters – each defined as two cases or more – in private houses stands at 1,070 , including 718 in the east of the country , according to the latest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease .
The bulk of these outbreaks occurred in March and April .
Meanwhile , a doctor has said he believes the country is “ weeks away ” from a second wave of coronavirus after witnessing large crowds gathered outside pubs in Dublin city centre on Saturday night .
Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail , the former president of the National Association of General Practitioners ( NAGP ) , said the city centre felt like “ All Ireland football final night ” and found it “ profoundly upsetting ” to see the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finished working with the ambulance service at 10pm on Saturday and decided to drive through the city after hearing from colleagues that “ town was mobbed ” .
“ The best way I could describe it was it felt like All Ireland football final night and it felt like Dublin had won , that was the vibe in Dublin city last night , it was just completely rammed , ” he told the Brendan O ’ Connor show on RTÉ Radio One on Sunday .
“ There were guards everywhere and they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completely rammed.
” Dr Ó Tuathail said there was “ a festival atmosphere ” in the city centre and it felt like “ a slap in the face to those that have broken their backs trying to keep the country working over the last three months ” .
“ I really felt that way and it was really anxiety inducing .
Those on the front line have been psychologically traumatised by what they have experienced over the last three months and they ’ re just not ready to face into it again , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night I really think we ’ re weeks away from a second wave and my colleagues on the front line are just not ready for it psychologically.
” Dr Ó Tuathail said he was not trying to be “ a killjoy ” and that his own father was a publican in Co Galway who had been planning for the last two months how to reopen his own bar .
“ I ’ m as keen as the rest of us to go and have a pint in my local but the vast majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s the few that won ’ t that will ruin it for the rest of us and the rest of the industry , ” he said .
Dr Ó Tuathail also said the risks associated with foreign travel were “ huge ” and urged holidaymakers to stay in Ireland this summer rather than go abroad .
“ It ’ s very simple in my mind , what we ’ re asking people to do is sacrifice one summer holiday abroad this year and to put their country and their loved ones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s all we ’ re asking people to do , ” he said .
“ This is a once-in-a-lifetime event .
I think you would be completely bananas , to put it mildly , to go on holidays abroad this year .
”

The Department of Health reported no additional deaths from coronavirus and 18 confirmed new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday.
This is the fifth day of no reported daily deaths since the wave of infections peaked in mid-April and the first this month. The death toll remains at 1,741.
The 18 new cases, the highest number of daily new infections in six days, brings the total number of known cases in the State to 25,527.
The HSE has said that it was working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread.
READ MORE
The Government’s latest figures on Covid-19 show that there were three admissions of infected people to hospital and one admission to a hospital intensive care unit in the last 24 hours. One infected person was discharged from hospital.
There were 22 cases of the disease in hospital and 11 confirmed cases in ICUs.
The number of clusters – each defined as two cases or more – in private houses stands at 1,070, including 718 in the east of the country, according to the latest Health Protection Surveillance Centre daily report on the disease. The bulk of these outbreaks occurred in March and April.
‘Profoundly upsetting’
Meanwhile, a doctor has said he believes the country is “weeks away” from a second wave of coronavirus after witnessing large crowds gathered outside pubs in Dublin city centre on Saturday night.
Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail, the former president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), said the city centre felt like "All Ireland football final night" and found it "profoundly upsetting" to see the streets packed with people.
Dr Ó Tuathail finished working with the ambulance service at 10pm on Saturday and decided to drive through the city after hearing from colleagues that “town was mobbed”.
"The best way I could describe it was it felt like All Ireland football final night and it felt like Dublin had won, that was the vibe in Dublin city last night, it was just completely rammed," he told the Brendan O'Connor show on RTÉ Radio One on Sunday.
“There were guards everywhere and they were doing their best but it was just completely rammed.”
Dr Ó Tuathail said there was “a festival atmosphere” in the city centre and it felt like “a slap in the face to those that have broken their backs trying to keep the country working over the last three months”.
“I really felt that way and it was really anxiety inducing. Those on the front line have been psychologically traumatised by what they have experienced over the last three months and they’re just not ready to face into it again,” he added.
“After last night I really think we’re weeks away from a second wave and my colleagues on the front line are just not ready for it psychologically.”
Dr Ó Tuathail said he was not trying to be “a killjoy” and that his own father was a publican in Co Galway who had been planning for the last two months how to reopen his own bar.
“I’m as keen as the rest of us to go and have a pint in my local but the vast majority of pubs will do this safely but it’s the few that won’t that will ruin it for the rest of us and the rest of the industry,” he said.
Dr Ó Tuathail also said the risks associated with foreign travel were “huge” and urged holidaymakers to stay in Ireland this summer rather than go abroad.
“It’s very simple in my mind, what we’re asking people to do is sacrifice one summer holiday abroad this year and to put their country and their loved ones before themselves for once. That’s all we’re asking people to do,” he said.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime event. I think you would be completely bananas, to put it mildly, to go on holidays abroad this year.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--NI parties to bring motion seeking apology from O’Neill

Four of the five parties in government in Northern Ireland will this week call in the Assembly for an apology from the Deputy First Minister following the controversy over her presence at the funeral of Belfast republican Bobby Storey .
It is understood the motion , which could come before the Assembly as early as Tuesday , will express their disappointment at Sinn Féin Ministers who breached public health guidance and effectively asks for an explanation for their actions .
Michelle O ’ Neill was among a number of senior party figures who attended the funeral of the former IRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The funeral appeared to breach both social distancing guidelines and the coronavirus regulations in a number of respects , including the limit on the number of people allowed inside the church for Requiem Mass .
Ms O ’ Neill said on Friday that she was sorry for any additional hurt her presence had caused to grieving families , but she was “ confident I can stand over the fact that I worked within the guidelines , that I worked within the regulations in terms of attending a Requiem Mass , which was allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funeral cortege of up to 30 people.
” This has been rejected by the other four parties in the Northern Executive – the DUP , SDLP , Ulster Unionists and Alliance – with First Minister Arlene Foster saying that the apology “ falls short ” .
The other party leaders were “ very clear that the Deputy First Minister had broken the guidance and the regulations.
” Speaking on the BBC ’ s Sunday Politics show , the North ’ s Minister for Justice and leader of the Alliance Party , Naomi Long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an explanation ” and she hoped the credibility of the Northern Executive had not been damaged .
Ms O ’ Neill ’ s apology , she said , was “ somewhat short ” of what was required “ in that it didn ’ t acknowledge the responsibility for her actions .
“ It wasn ’ t just that she attended an event which got out of control in terms of numbers .
This was a Sinn Féin-organised event , the stewards were from Sinn Féin , so they knew it was going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she made a conscious choice to be there when it was contrary to the regulations and to the advice.
” The issue , Ms Long said , was “ about confidence between the public and the Executive in terms of the things we may have to ask of them again later this year .
“ If there ’ s a second spike , will they treat the regulations and the advice and guidance with the same respect they have to date ?
“ I hope they will , but it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acknowledgement of that from Michelle and I think an apology for the damage done , but also I think we need to find a way forward , ” she said .
However , the party leaders have been clear the crisis will not threaten the survival of the Executive .
“ We have to be able to rebuild trust , ” said Ms Long .
“ The Executive has gone off the rails before because people threw up their hands in despair and walked away .
We can ’ t afford to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ afford for us to do that .
”

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, former leader Gerry Adams, and Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill at the funeral of senior Irish republican Bobby Storey in west Belfast. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Four of the five parties in government in Northern Ireland will this week call in the Assembly for an apology from the Deputy First Minister following the controversy over her presence at the funeral of Belfast republican Bobby Storey.
It is understood the motion, which could come before the Assembly as early as Tuesday, will express their disappointment at Sinn Féin Ministers who breached public health guidance and effectively asks for an explanation for their actions.
Michelle O’Neill was among a number of senior party figures who attended the funeral of the former IRA member in west Belfast on Tuesday.
The funeral appeared to breach both social distancing guidelines and the coronavirus regulations in a number of respects, including the limit on the number of people allowed inside the church for Requiem Mass.
READ MORE
Ms O’Neill said on Friday that she was sorry for any additional hurt her presence had caused to grieving families, but she was “confident I can stand over the fact that I worked within the guidelines, that I worked within the regulations in terms of attending a Requiem Mass, which was allowed, and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people.”
A crowd listens to former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams speak during the funeral of senior Irish republican Bobby Storey at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
This has been rejected by the other four parties in the Northern Executive – the DUP, SDLP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance – with First Minister Arlene Foster saying that the apology "falls short". The other party leaders were "very clear that the Deputy First Minister had broken the guidance and the regulations."
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday Politics show, the North's Minister for Justice and leader of the Alliance Party, Naomi Long, said the Assembly was "owed an explanation" and she hoped the credibility of the Northern Executive had not been damaged.
Ms O’Neill’s apology, she said, was “somewhat short” of what was required “in that it didn’t acknowledge the responsibility for her actions.
“It wasn’t just that she attended an event which got out of control in terms of numbers. This was a Sinn Féin-organised event, the stewards were from Sinn Féin, so they knew it was going to be a large gathering before she went and she made a conscious choice to be there when it was contrary to the regulations and to the advice.”
The issue, Ms Long said, was “about confidence between the public and the Executive in terms of the things we may have to ask of them again later this year.
“If there’s a second spike, will they treat the regulations and the advice and guidance with the same respect they have to date?
“I hope they will, but it is a problem, and I think we need acknowledgement of that from Michelle and I think an apology for the damage done, but also I think we need to find a way forward,” she said.
However, the party leaders have been clear the crisis will not threaten the survival of the Executive.
“We have to be able to rebuild trust,” said Ms Long. “The Executive has gone off the rails before because people threw up their hands in despair and walked away. We can’t afford to do that, Northern Ireland can’t afford for us to do that.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--More than 63,000 end claims for Covid unemployment payment

About 63,000 people have closed their claim for the Government ’ s Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the last week .
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said last week had seen the highest number of people returning to work since the Covid-19 crisis began in March .
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said 412,900 people would this week receive the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment .
It said this represented a decrease of 26,100 on the figures for last week .
“ Since last week ’ s payment , 63,000 people have closed their claim for a Pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving their final payment tomorrow with the reduction in numbers receiving the payment being reflected in next week ’ s figures.
” The department said the main areas in which employees were returning to work this week were accommodation and food services , sectors such as .
hairdressing and barbers and wholesale and retail trade , motor vehicle repair as well as construction .
The largest cohort returning to work are aged 35 to 44 .
In addition to those receiving the pandemic unemployment payment there are also an estimated 410,000 people working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supported by the Government ’ s separate Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme .
There were also 220,800 people on the Live Register as of the end of June .
The standard €350 pandemic unemployment payment will be re-structured this week with a two-tier system being put in place .
About 110,400 people , or 25 per cent of those receiving a payment this week , will receive a new lower amount of €203 .
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said the majority of people ( 75 per cent ) will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payment .
” Employees whose average weekly earnings in 2019 or January and February 2020 ( whichever is the higher ) were less than €200 gross will receive a weekly Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €203 a week .
This equates to the standard jobseeker rate of payment and as it is higher than the person ’ s prior earnings will still mean that people , who receive €203 per week , are in receipt of a higher income than they had prior to being laid-off due to Covid-19 .
“ Employees with average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to receive €350 Pandemic Unemployment Payment .
Three out of four recipients will continue to receive €350 per week .
The payment to self-employed people has been assessed based on their 2018 returns to the Revenue Commissioners ( Returns for 2019 are not due until later in 2020 ) .
” Ms Humphrey said the new figures showed that the re-opening of the economy was picking up pace .
“ Some 63,000 people closed their claim in the last week alone which is very encouraging .
With Phase 3 of Re-opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of businesses are now beginning to start back again .
In the last week we have seen the highest number of people return to work in a single week , since the crisis commenced .
”

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys: said last week had seen the highest number of people returning to work since the Covid-19 crisis began in March. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill
About 63,000 people have closed their claim for the Government’s Pandemic Unemployment Payment in the last week.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said last week had seen the highest number of people returning to work since the Covid-19 crisis began in March.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said 412,900 people would this week receive the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. It said this represented a decrease of 26,100 on the figures for last week.
“Since last week’s payment, 63,000 people have closed their claim for a Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Some 44,800 will be receiving their final payment tomorrow with the reduction in numbers receiving the payment being reflected in next week’s figures.”
READ MORE
The department said the main areas in which employees were returning to work this week were accommodation and food services, sectors such as. hairdressing and barbers and wholesale and retail trade, motor vehicle repair as well as construction.
The largest cohort returning to work are aged 35 to 44.
In addition to those receiving the pandemic unemployment payment there are also an estimated 410,000 people working for about 63,000 employers having their pay supported by the Government’s separate Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
There were also 220,800 people on the Live Register as of the end of June.
The standard €350 pandemic unemployment payment will be re-structured this week with a two-tier system being put in place.
About 110,400 people, or 25 per cent of those receiving a payment this week, will receive a new lower amount of €203.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said the majority of people (75 per cent ) will continue to receive the €350 rate of payment.
”Employees whose average weekly earnings in 2019 or January and February 2020 (whichever is the higher) were less than €200 gross will receive a weekly Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €203 a week. This equates to the standard jobseeker rate of payment and as it is higher than the person’s prior earnings will still mean that people, who receive €203 per week, are in receipt of a higher income than they had prior to being laid-off due to Covid-19.
“Employees with average earnings of €200 or more a week will continue to receive €350 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Three out of four recipients will continue to receive €350 per week. The payment to self-employed people has been assessed based on their 2018 returns to the Revenue Commissioners (Returns for 2019 are not due until later in 2020).”
Ms Humphrey said the new figures showed that the re-opening of the economy was picking up pace.
"Some 63,000 people closed their claim in the last week alone which is very encouraging. With Phase 3 of Re-opening Ireland Roadmap underway, an increasing number of businesses are now beginning to start back again. In the last week we have seen the highest number of people return to work in a single week, since the crisis commenced."


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--Belfast Council apologises to families unable to attend cremation of loved ones

Belfast City Council has apologised to eight families who were not allowed to attend the cremation of their loved ones on the same day 30 people were present at the cremation of the former IRA member Bobby Storey .
The council said it was an “ error of judgement ” and it was in the process of contacting the families affected .
“ We are deeply sorry for how this error will have affected them and any hurt and distress caused , ” it said in a statement on Monday .
Changes to the coronavirus regulations , which came into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relaxed the restriction on the numbers allowed to gather outdoors from 10 to 30 people .
The City of Belfast Crematorium , which is located in Roselawn Cemetery and is operated by Belfast City Council , had been closed to mourners since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak .
Up to 10 people were allowed to attend burials , but nobody could be present at a service after a cremation .
The change in the regulations meant up to 30 people could be present at an outdoor committal service following the cremation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the council said it had been informed about the change in the regulations on Monday afternoon , enabling it to start communications with funeral directors .
“ This is normal practice , ” the council said .
“ This was a rapidly changing environment as has been the case during the response to Covid-19 , as rules change frequently.
” The council said an “ operational decision was made that for cremations the new procedures would apply from the cremation of Bobby Storey on the afternoon of Tuesday June 30th , onwards.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s was the only one of the nine cremation services which took place at Roselawn on June 29th which had mourners in attendance .
However , of the four burial services which took place in Roselawn on Tuesday , all had up to 30 people present .
A motion is to come before the North ’ s Assembly this week calling on the deputy first minister , Michelle O ’ Neill , and the finance minister , Conor Murphy , to apologise for attending Mr Storey ’ s funeral .
They were among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including the party leader , Mary Lou McDonald , who attended the funeral in west Belfast on June 30th .
Ms O ’ Neill faced calls to resign following the funeral , which appeared to breach both social distancing guidelines and the coronavirus regulations in a number of respects , including the limit on the number of people allowed inside the church for Requiem Mass .
The motion , which could be debated as early as Tuesday , has been signed by the other four parties in the Northern Executive and expresses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidance .
The first minister , Arlene Foster , told BBC Radio Ulster that “ people are understandably very angry , people are frustrated , they ’ re deeply disappointed by recent events , and it ’ s important that the Assembly is able to recognise that anger and frustration even if Sinn Féin isn ’ t prepared to recognise that .
“ I think it will send a clear signal that there can not be a toleration of double standards , ” she said .
Last week Ms O ’ Neill said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any additional hurt her presence had caused to grieving families , but she was “ confident I can stand over the fact that I worked within the guidelines , that I worked within the regulations in terms of attending a Requiem Mass , which was allowed , and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people.
” This has been rejected by the other four parties in the Northern Executive – the DUP , SDLP , Ulster Unionists and Alliance – with the first minister , Arlene Foster , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and the other party leaders were “ very clear that the deputy first minister had broken the guidance and the regulations.
” Belfast City Council previously admitted there were no further cremations or burials at Roselawn on June 30th , and said an “ operational decision ” had been made to “ to hold the last three cremation slots of the day .
“ This decision was made in order to ensure that there were no other cremations later that day – in order to protect the privacy of other members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Belfast City Council did not know whether to anticipate high numbers or otherwise and therefore planned for all instances .
This would be normal practice in the event of a high profile cremation .
“ There is currently no waiting list at Roselawn Crematorium and no cremations were cancelled .
“ Operational decisions like these , made by Belfast City Council are made impartially in what is often a complex and difficult political environment , ” the council said .
However in response to claims that a number of council staff were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead on the site , the council said stewards “ appointed by the family ” were present to ensure only those permitted were present , which it said was “ no different to what would normally be the case in a high profile cremation or one that would potentially attract high numbers of people or media.
” The council said 15 members of staff remained present , but some non-cremation staff did go home early to avoid staff being photographed , “ as has happened with other high profile funerals or sensitive cremations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the council did not know how many people might be present – to allow staff who did not need to be present to leave “ before potential volumes of traffic and media arrived .
”

A crowd listens to former Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams speak during the funeral of senior Irish Republican and former leading IRA figure Bobby Storey at Milltown Cemetery in west Belfast. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Belfast City Council has apologised to eight families who were not allowed to attend the cremation of their loved ones on the same day 30 people were present at the cremation of the former IRA member Bobby Storey.
The council said it was an “error of judgement” and it was in the process of contacting the families affected. “We are deeply sorry for how this error will have affected them and any hurt and distress caused,” it said in a statement on Monday.
Changes to the coronavirus regulations, which came into effect at 11pm on June 29th, relaxed the restriction on the numbers allowed to gather outdoors from 10 to 30 people.
The City of Belfast Crematorium, which is located in Roselawn Cemetery and is operated by Belfast City Council, had been closed to mourners since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. Up to 10 people were allowed to attend burials, but nobody could be present at a service after a cremation.
READ MORE
The change in the regulations meant up to 30 people could be present at an outdoor committal service following the cremation of a loved one.
In its statement, the council said it had been informed about the change in the regulations on the afternoon of Monday, June 29th, enabling it to start communications with funeral directors.
“This is normal practice,” the council said. “This was a rapidly changing environment as has been the case during the response to Covid-19, as rules change frequently.”
The council said an “operational decision was made that for cremations the new procedures would apply from the cremation of Bobby Storey on the afternoon of Tuesday June 30th, onwards.”
Services
This meant that Mr Storey’s was the only one of the nine cremation services which took place at Roselawn on June 30th which had mourners in attendance.
However, of the four burial services which took place in Roselawn on Tuesday, all had up to 30 people present.
The North's first minister, Arlene Foster, said on Monday that the council had "a lot of questions to answer" and the DUP intended to pursue the matter through its councillors.
Brought before the Assembly on Monday to answer an urgent question from Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader Jim Allister, the deputy first minister, Michelle O’Neill, repeated her apology to grieving families who had been hurt by her presence at Mr Storey’s funeral.
“I would never compound any family’s grief, and I’ve said that I’m sorry for that,” she said.
She also said the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had not spoken directly to her as part of their investigation.
A motion is to come before the North's Assembly this week calling on Ms O'Neill, and the finance minister, Conor Murphy, to apologise for attending the funeral.
They were among a number of senior Sinn Féin figures, including the party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, who attended the funeral in west Belfast on June 30th.
Ms O’Neill faced calls to resign following the funeral, which appeared to breach both social distancing guidelines and the coronavirus regulations in a number of respects, including the limit on the number of people allowed inside the church for Requiem Mass.
The motion, which could be debated as early as Tuesday, has been signed by the other four parties in the Northern Executive and expresses their disappointment that ministers breached public health guidance.
The first minister, Arlene Foster, told BBC Radio Ulster that “people are understandably very angry, people are frustrated, they’re deeply disappointed by recent events, and it’s important that the Assembly is able to recognise that anger and frustration even if Sinn Féin isn’t prepared to recognise that.
“I think it will send a clear signal that there cannot be a toleration of double standards,” she said.
Sorry
Last week Ms O’Neill said on Friday that she was sorry for any additional hurt her presence had caused to grieving families, but she was “confident I can stand over the fact that I worked within the guidelines, that I worked within the regulations in terms of attending a Requiem Mass, which was allowed, and also to walk in a funeral cortege of up to 30 people.”
This has been rejected by the other four parties in the Northern Executive – the DUP, SDLP, Ulster Unionists and Alliance – with the first minister, Arlene Foster, saying that the apology “falls short” and the other party leaders were “very clear that the deputy first minister had broken the guidance and the regulations.”
Belfast City Council previously admitted there were no further cremations or burials at Roselawn on June 30th, and said an “operational decision” had been made to “to hold the last three cremation slots of the day.
“This decision was made in order to ensure that there were no other cremations later that day – in order to protect the privacy of other members of the public and their cremation services.
“Belfast City Council did not know whether to anticipate high numbers or otherwise and therefore planned for all instances. This would be normal practice in the event of a high profile cremation.
“There is currently no waiting list at Roselawn Crematorium and no cremations were cancelled.
“Operational decisions like these, made by Belfast City Council are made impartially in what is often a complex and difficult political environment,” the council said.
Claims
However in response to claims that a number of council staff were sent home and Sinn Féin marshals were instead on the site, the council said stewards “appointed by the family” were present to ensure only those permitted were present, which it said was “no different to what would normally be the case in a high profile cremation or one that would potentially attract high numbers of people or media.”
The council said 15 members of staff remained present, but some non-cremation staff did go home early to avoid staff being photographed, “as has happened with other high profile funerals or sensitive cremations in the past” and - given that the council did not know how many people might be present – to allow staff who did not need to be present to leave “before potential volumes of traffic and media arrived.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-06--‘We are worried’: Taoiseach warns plan to reopen all pubs on July 20th may be delayed

People who go to pubs and fail to keep social distancing , as witnessed in some parts of Dublin over the weekend , could force the Government to delay the full reopening of pubs on July 20th , Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned .
Mr Martin said the Government was deeply concerned over the scenes in some places , such as Dame Street and Temple Bar , where people were observed failing to following social distance guidelines while socialising on the street .
“ As you know the full opening was to take place on July 20th … it could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behave .
We will get advice from the public health officials but we are worried about it , ” he said .
“ Some of the scenes that we witnessed are very worrying because social distancing was not being complied with at all during a number of the inspections and the opening hours weren ’ t being adhered to either.
” Speaking on The Opinion Line on Cork ’ s 96FM , Mr Martin revealed that gardaí had carried out about 5,500 inspections of pubs and restaurants over the weekend as part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vast majority of publicans and restaurateurs were adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines , it was a worry that a small minority were failing to manage things properly and breaking the rules .
Mr Martin agreed with host PJ Coogan that “ everyone needs to cop themselves on ” or the next stage may not happen .
“ That ’ s a fair assessment , we just can ’ t risk it , ” he said .
“ The only way we can get the economy back is if we keep the community transmission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t need a second wave – a second wave would be a disaster for the country in terms of the finances .
“ But there is an obligation on everybody to behave here and indeed on ourselves , the public too .
Individual responsibility matters – it ’ s been the key from the very beginning of this virus.
” Mr Martin said at beginning of the spread of Covid-19 people complied in terms of maintaining social distancing and hand washing etiquette , but people were no longer adhering to the guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s slipping a bit because as the numbers go down , people are getting complacent but we have seen what has happened in some European countries such as Portugal and Spain where numbers went back up , ” he said .
Asked about when the Government will publish a list of “ green ” countries where it will be safe for Irish people to travel , Mr Martin said the matter was under constant review because the situation is changing very rapidly .
“ The travel advisory for the last while had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not advisable to travel overseas .
“ We have to put public health first .
That is the overarching issue .
“ Today the Cabinet will meet and make a formal decision on travel .
We had a Cabinet sub-committee on Covid on Friday .
The public health advice is extremely cautious now in relation to opening up for travel.
” He said the Government is drawing up a green list of countries , which the government believes it is safe to visit , but he cited the example of how volatile the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the US and Catalonia .
“ We have countries that would have made the safe list two weeks ago wouldn ’ t make it today so the overarching objective is to suppress the virus and keep it down .
There is a fear international travel could reignite the virus.
” Mr Martin said it was vital that Ireland continues to suppress the virus as a second surge would be disastrous for the country given that it has already cost the state something in the region of €25 billion plus in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two most urgent specific objectives in relation to Covid-19 .
“ To me , the two immediate priorities on the Covid side are to get our schools safely open and get as many schools fully open as possible , and that will take up a lot of effort over the next number of weeks , ” he said .
`` If , for example , there was to be a spike over the next number of weeks , that could jeopardise that objective.
” Mr Martin said the second priority was people suffering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that have had their diagnoses and treatments delayed because the health system was focussed on dealing with Covid cases and that needs to be addressed urgently .
“ We are down to about 13 people in critical beds nationally in critical care beds which is very significant progress and a big achievement – we need to get moving and keep that capacity to enable us to deal with non-Covid diseases .
”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: ‘Social distancing was not being complied with at all during a number of the inspections (of pubs and restaurants)’. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA Wire
People who go to pubs and fail to keep social distancing, as witnessed in some parts of Dublin over the weekend, could force the Government to delay the full reopening of pubs on July 20th, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned.
Mr Martin said the Government was deeply concerned over the scenes in some places, such as Dame Lane and Dame Court, where people were observed failing to following social distance guidelines while socialising on the street.
“As you know the full opening was to take place on July 20th … it could be delayed if they don’t behave -–we will get advice from the public health officials but we are worried about it,” he said.
Gardai walking around the streets in Dublin City Centre to make sure pubs are not breaking the guidelines on social distancing, serving food or time limits etc
Yet this is allowed on Dame Lane..... pic.twitter.com/4inEgsY2Rm — Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) July 4, 2020
“Some of the scenes that we witnessed are very worrying because social distancing was not being complied with at all during a number of the inspections and the opening hours weren’t being adhered to either.”
READ MORE
Speaking on The Opinion Line on Cork’s 96FM, Mr Martin revealed that gardaí had carried out about 5,500 inspections of pubs and restaurants over the weekend as part of Operation Navigation.
He said while the vast majority of publicans and restaurateurs were adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines, it was a worry that a small minority were failing to manage things properly and breaking the rules.
Mr Martin agreed with host PJ Coogan that “everyone needs to cop themselves on or the next stage may not happen”. “That’s a fair assessment, we just can’t risk it,” he said.
“The only way we can get the economy back is if we keep the community transmission of the virus down. We don’t need a second wave – a second wave would be a disaster for the country in terms of the finances.
“But there is an obligation on everybody to behave here and indeed on ourselves, the public too. Individual responsibility matters – it’s been the key from the very beginning of this virus.”
Mr Martin said at the beginning of the spread of Covid-19 people complied in terms of maintaining social distancing and hand washing etiquette, but people were no longer adhering to the guidelines as faithfully or diligently.
"That's slipping a bit because as the numbers go down, people are getting complacent but we have seen what has happened in some European countries such as Portugal and Spain where numbers went back up," he said.
Asked about when the Government will publish a list of “green” countries where it will be safe for Irish people to travel, Mr Martin said the matter was under constant review because the situation is changing very rapidly.
“The travel advisory for the last while had been strong – that it’s not advisable to travel overseas.
“ We have to put public health first. That is the overarching issue.
“Today the Cabinet will meet and make a formal decision on travel. We had a Cabinet sub-committee on Covid on Friday. The public health advice is extremely cautious now in relation to opening up for travel.”
He said the Government is drawing up a green list of countries, which the government believes it is safe to visit, but he cited the example of how volatile the issue is as evidence by recent surges in the US and Catalonia.
“We have countries that would have made the safe list two weeks ago wouldn’t make it today so the overarching objective is to suppress the virus and keep it down. There is a fear international travel could reignite the virus.”
Mr Martin said it was vital that Ireland continues to suppress the virus as a second surge would be disastrous for the country given that it has already cost the state something in the region of €25 billion plus in terms of supports.
The Taoiseach said there are two most urgent specific objectives in relation to Covid-19.
“To me, the two immediate priorities on the Covid side are to get our schools safely open and get as many schools fully open as possible, and that will take up a lot of effort over the next number of weeks,” he said.
If for example there was to be a spike over the next number of weeks, that could jeopardise that objective.”
Mr Martin said the second priority was people suffering from non Covid related illness and ailments that have had their diagnoses and treatments delayed because the health system was focussed on dealing with Covid cases and that needs to be addressed urgently.
“We are down to about 13 people in critical beds nationally in critical care beds which is very significant progress and a big achievement – we need to get moving and keep that capacity to enable us to deal with non Covid diseases.”