theirishtimes--2020-06-22--There is a better way to ensure all students have a fair shot at third level

There is no other country in the world where the final exam at second level dominates public discourse as much as in Ireland .
Newspapers analyse why a certain poet did or did not appear on a particular paper while talk radio can guarantee to get listeners going by mentioning any possible changes .
The Leaving Certificate has effectively grown into the entrance exam to higher education and to perceived opportunities in adult life .
Asked about how a student performed in the exam , the answer is more likely to be expressed in the number of points acquired rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for the first time since 1925 , tens of thousands of learners have not had to attempt to regurgitate information in a format that has changed little in almost a century .
While used as the determinant of entry to our universities , institutes and colleges , it has been criticised for decades as being inadequate to prepare students for third level and for life .
The 1967 Commission on Higher Education expressed concern about it as a mechanism for college entry and pointed out that that this lack of preparedness was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failure in first year .
The 1999 Points Commission warned of the negative impact on students ’ personal development .
The evidence also continues to show that students from more affluent backgrounds continue to do better in the Leaving Certificate and consequently are more likely to go to college and indeed , dominate the “ high points ” courses .
A report by the Higher Education Authority ( HEA ) last year found that , for example , 36 per cent of the medical student enrolment came from “ affluent ” backgrounds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” backgrounds ( and those figures did not include Trinity College ) .
The HEA has also observed that of students who achieve Leaving Certificate points in the 500 - 600 range ( top marks ) , 28 per cent are from affluent backgrounds compared to just four per cent from disadvantaged backgrounds .
This contrasts with the figures for those scoring below 200 points – 22 per cent are from disadvantaged backgrounds compared to 7 per cent classified as affluent .
Someone from an affluent background can expect a mean Leaving Cert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mean of 368 points coming a disadvantaged position – a 78-point difference .
( About one in seven of the population generally can be classified as “ affluent ” and a similar portion as “ disadvantaged ” ) .
Students from fee-paying schools account for three in every 10 Irish undergraduates at UCD and Trinity while the proportion of students from DEIS ( “ disadvantaged ” ) schools is at 8 per cent in Trinity and 6 per cent in UCD .
The Institutes of Technology , by contrast , have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at large .
The decision to replace the Leaving Certificate this year with predictive grading is perhaps the least worst option in the circumstances .
The health and safety of students and staff must be paramount .
But it has given rise to many other concerns , particularly as we have never tried this before .
The Department of Education guidelines make reference to a process of standardisation which will mean that school results will be “ examined and adjusted at a national level to ensure comparability across different schools and that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines continue : “ ... the school sourced data will be combined with historical data through a process called standardisation in order to generate the calculated grade for the students in the subject ” .
This is the “ bell curve ” that will be crucial in determining the final result that schools and students receive .
If “ historical data ” such as that cited above is used , then there is a real risk that students with real ability but who happened to attend schools with traditionally lower Leaving Cert results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1997 , the then governor , George W Bush , signed into law what is commonly referred to as the “ top 10 per cent rule ” .
This provides that the top 10 per cent of every high school graduating class is guaranteed a place in a state-funded university .
So , no matter how “ disadvantaged ” your school , if you are in the top decile , you will be offered a college place .
The evidence has suggested that students admitted under this rule have performed at least @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( this is also true here of students admitted under specific programmes such as Hear and Dare ) .
It has also resulted in a more racially and socially diverse student body .
In Ireland , it is the higher education institutions that determine the admission criteria for their courses .
To allay concerns that the predictive marking bell curve may discriminate against those from disadvantaged schools , why not be innovative and guarantee a particular number of places to each school ?
This would be a particular challenge to the universities but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for a more diverse student intake .
In the long run , would it not be better for society if we have more doctors , lawyers and those in business who come from less affluent backgrounds ?
For a long time , we have allowed a bonus of up to 10 per cent for students who sat their exams through Irish .
This was in part an acknowledgment of the lack of resources available to those studying in the first national language .
We have also awarded bonus points for higher level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject .
To recognise the success of students studying in schools that do not have the advantages of those that are fee paying , we should consider making similar allowances .
We also need to stress that while the “ predictive grades ” Leaving Certificate is one route of entry to third level , that there are others , and additionally , there have never been as many opportunities in further education and training .
Whatever happens , every student this year , given what they are going through and no matter their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is understanding and generous .
They have to continue to be at the centre of all decision making .

Research shows that students from more affluent backgrounds continue to do better in the Leaving Certificate and consequently are more likely to go to college and indeed, dominate the ‘high points’ courses. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
There is no other country in the world where the final exam at second level dominates public discourse as much as in Ireland. Newspapers analyse why a certain poet did or did not appear on a particular paper while talk radio can guarantee to get listeners going by mentioning any possible changes.
The Leaving Certificate has effectively grown into the entrance exam to higher education and to perceived opportunities in adult life. Asked about how a student performed in the exam, the answer is more likely to be expressed in the number of points acquired rather than the actual results.
This year, for the first time since 1925, tens of thousands of learners have not had to attempt to regurgitate information in a format that has changed little in almost a century.
While used as the determinant of entry to our universities, institutes and colleges, it has been criticised for decades as being inadequate to prepare students for third level and for life. The 1967 Commission on Higher Education expressed concern about it as a mechanism for college entry and pointed out that that this lack of preparedness was probably responsible for a high rate of failure in first year. The 1999 Points Commission warned of the negative impact on students’ personal development.
READ MORE
The evidence also continues to show that students from more affluent backgrounds continue to do better in the Leaving Certificate and consequently are more likely to go to college and indeed, dominate the “high points” courses.
Disadvantaged backgrounds
A report by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) last year found that, for example, 36 per cent of the medical student enrolment came from "affluent" backgrounds and just 3.5 per cent from "disadvantaged" backgrounds (and those figures did not include Trinity College).
The HEA has also observed that of students who achieve Leaving Certificate points in the 500 - 600 range (top marks), 28 per cent are from affluent backgrounds compared to just four per cent from disadvantaged backgrounds.
This contrasts with the figures for those scoring below 200 points – 22 per cent are from disadvantaged backgrounds compared to 7 per cent classified as affluent. Someone from an affluent background can expect a mean Leaving Cert score of 446 points in comparison to a mean of 368 points coming a disadvantaged position – a 78-point difference. (About one in seven of the population generally can be classified as “affluent” and a similar portion as “disadvantaged”).
Students from fee-paying schools account for three in every 10 Irish undergraduates at UCD and Trinity while the proportion of students from DEIS (“disadvantaged”) schools is at 8 per cent in Trinity and 6 per cent in UCD. The Institutes of Technology, by contrast, have a much more representative profile of the population at large.
The decision to replace the Leaving Certificate this year with predictive grading is perhaps the least worst option in the circumstances. The health and safety of students and staff must be paramount. But it has given rise to many other concerns, particularly as we have never tried this before.
The Department of Education guidelines make reference to a process of standardisation which will mean that school results will be “examined and adjusted at a national level to ensure comparability across different schools and that a common national standard is applied.”
The guidelines continue: “...the school sourced data will be combined with historical data through a process called standardisation in order to generate the calculated grade for the students in the subject”.
This is the “bell curve” that will be crucial in determining the final result that schools and students receive. If “historical data” such as that cited above is used, then there is a real risk that students with real ability but who happened to attend schools with traditionally lower Leaving Cert results could lose out.
Evidence
In Texas, in 1997, the then governor, George W Bush, signed into law what is commonly referred to as the "top 10 per cent rule". This provides that the top 10 per cent of every high school graduating class is guaranteed a place in a state-funded university. So, no matter how "disadvantaged" your school, if you are in the top decile, you will be offered a college place. The evidence has suggested that students admitted under this rule have performed at least as well as the general student body (this is also true here of students admitted under specific programmes such as Hear and Dare). It has also resulted in a more racially and socially diverse student body.
In Ireland, it is the higher education institutions that determine the admission criteria for their courses. To allay concerns that the predictive marking bell curve may discriminate against those from disadvantaged schools, why not be innovative and guarantee a particular number of places to each school? This would be a particular challenge to the universities but would be a clear recognition of the need for a more diverse student intake. In the long run, would it not be better for society if we have more doctors, lawyers and those in business who come from less affluent backgrounds?
For a long time, we have allowed a bonus of up to 10 per cent for students who sat their exams through Irish. This was in part an acknowledgment of the lack of resources available to those studying in the first national language. We have also awarded bonus points for higher level maths to incentivise students to study that subject. To recognise the success of students studying in schools that do not have the advantages of those that are fee paying, we should consider making similar allowances.
We also need to stress that while the “predictive grades” Leaving Certificate is one route of entry to third level, that there are others, and additionally, there have never been as many opportunities in further education and training.
Whatever happens, every student this year, given what they are going through and no matter their background, deserves an educational system response that is understanding and generous. They have to continue to be at the centre of all decision making.
Malcolm Byrne is a Fianna Fáil Senator from Wexford


theirishtimes--2020-06-22--Where next for the Leaving Cert?

Where next for the Leaving Cert?

“ Teachers will predict the grades of their own students and there will be no Leaving Cert exam ” – if you ’ d suggested this at the start of 2020 , teachers , unions , parents , students and the Department of Education would have assumed you were sleep-talking through a far-fetched Leaving Cert dream .
The Covid-19 crisis changed everything .
The cancellation of 2020 ’ s Leaving Cert exams came in the middle of an ongoing process of senior cycle reform which has seen students , teachers , parents , unions , education officials and policymakers acknowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bang terminal exam needs to change .
So , could all of this be the final nail in the coffin for the Leaving Cert as we know it ?
“ The pandemic has shown there is a capacity to be flexible and agile when it comes to policy , ” says Dr Emer Smyth , research professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute , which worked with teachers and parents across 42 pilot schools to gather views on the Leaving Cert and senior cycle .
This process ran alongside research carried out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assessment ( NCCA ) which gathered student views .
“ Parents and teachers see positives in the current senior cycle including subject choice and transition year , ” says Smyth .
“ The challenges are well rehearsed : stress , the high-stakes nature of the exam , the lack of follow-through from the junior cycle programme , the neglect of life skills and the emphasis on academics which can squeeze out more authentic forms of teaching and learning that don ’ t cater for special educational needs or less academic students.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unions – the Teachers ’ Union of Ireland and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland – have indicated an openness to change but insisted that whatever happens , future exams must remain State-certified and externally assessed , while students must also have anonymity to protect against conscious and unconscious marking bias .
After the long battle over teachers refusing to assess their own junior cycle – a battle they won – there ’ s no real appetite on the part of education authorities to push back here .
The unions have a written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backed up by the caretaker Government , that teachers are providing predicted grades on a one-off basis only because of the current pandemic , and that they won ’ t be expected to do so in normal circumstances .
And yet , the general consensus from union officials , teachers and school principals is that calculated grades have gone relatively smoothly .
“ It was a response to an unprecedented threat , ” says Prof Damian Murchan , head of the school of education at Trinity College Dublin .
“ The pandemic will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We know that there is faith in the transparency and fairness of the system , notwithstanding challenges around rote learning and pressure on students .
I think there will be alterations but perhaps nothing too fundamental .
“ Open-book exams with longer time limits or modifying exams into assignments have happened at third-level and for school end-of-term exams but could they happen for State exams ?
I doubt it : State exams are higher-stakes than teacher-made tests and instituting them online would be difficult.
” Ultimately , only a new education minister will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implement permanent changes .
“ We were already moving towards a different type of Leaving Cert and the pandemic has shown that the current approach is not sustainable , ” says one highly-placed education source .
Another senior figure points out , however , that this year ’ s approach was agreed between students , teachers and parents and a reformed senior cycle should have the same level of engagement and consensus .
In this regard , the pandemic has cemented the centrality of the student voice through their representative body , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student voice was strong , coherent and expressed in an articulate and considered way , ” the insider says .
“ The ISSU were very effectively represented by [ president ] Ciara Fanning and [ student voice development manager ] Alison Dervan .
“ Their stance was not merely positional ; they properly participated in the deliberative process .
And it shows that , whatever reform comes about , the Department of Education has learned from the junior cycle debacle : it [ reform ] won ’ t come after a battle but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might move like a glacier , but glaciers never stop moving.
” Grade expectations : what a reformed senior cycle might look like Students and their representatives say that the pandemic has highlighted the need for a permanently changed assessment system , but what could this look like ?
John MacGabhann , general secretary of the TUI , says the current Leaving Cert is trusted because it is anonymous and externally assessed , but that consideration could be given to spreading assessment out , possibly through sixth year – as long as that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean students have more marks banked before the written exam .
The oral exams could possibly happen long before Easter of sixth year .
But there have been evolutionary changes to the Leaving Cert outside this reform process , with major changes to subjects like engineering and design & communication graphics.
” There appears to be a widespread acceptance that a reformed senior cycle should break the strict distinction between the Leaving Cert Applied and the traditional Leaving Cert .
“ The programme has been let down by society , ” says MacGabhann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a holding pen for students who might otherwise leave school .
Numbers are dropping because employers – including public sector employers – have failed it by not carrying it through.
” Andrew Brownlee , chief executive of Solas , the further education and training agency , says that in schools where 100 per cent of students go directly to higher education , there must be some who are more suited to a vocational route or apprenticeship .
“ In Scotland , further education colleges offer vocational modules , such as nursing studies , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integrated part of the senior cycle .
Here , this would change our higher-education , CAO points focused approach and give every student a chance to try out different approaches without any stigma.
” One of the most radical suggestions comes from Cathal MacSwiney Brugha , emeritus professor of decision analytics at UCD ’ s College of Business .
In the context of this crisis , he proposes trying a new approach : don ’ t use the Leaving Cert to allocate college places at all .
“ Students could do a ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ institute of technology , with screening for college places and other career courses taking place at the end of this year .
This community college approach works in the US , would allow secondary schools to focus more on good basic education , level the playing field and allow students more time to choose their career .
Colleges will need some months to consider such a new system , but now is the time to discuss it.
” Before senior cycle reform ploughs ahead , incoming sixth years have a more pressing concern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school , so will any allowances be made when – or if – they sit the exam in 2021 ?
“ Every classmate I have talked to has the same worries , ” says Alice Matyshchenko ( 17 ) , a student at Coláiste Pobal Setanta , Dublin 15 .
“ We ’ re worried about the silence from the Minister for Education when we have missed nearly three months of school , a semester without access to teachers .
I ’ m lucky that our school is advanced in terms of IT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas or schools that haven ’ t used IT before ?
Most teachers have been amazing but we have fallen behind.
” An Instagram post from “ 5th Years not Forgotten ” has received over 16,000 likes while , at time of writing , a petition has nearly 15,000 signatures .
Adam Lambe ( 17 ) from Monaghan , and Roksana Segiet ( 17 ) and Ríona Nolan ( 17 ) both from Carlow are on SpunOut.ie ’ s youth action panel .
They all say that fifth years are on edge and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help them .
Lambe says that many think calculated grades may be used next year if the virus resurges .
Sieget says that ongoing assessment should be introduced from September and form a key part of a revised senior cycle beyond that .
Nolan says the department needs to engage with schools and listen to them .
“ The full curriculum can ’ t be delivered if students don ’ t have full access to workshops and labs , ” says John MacGabhann , TUI general secretary .
“ A plan needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later .
Do we decide not to deliver a particular element of a course ?
If so , what about those that have concentrated on that element up to now ?
Or will they modify the structure of papers to allow for a greater element of choice so those who have done that element are not disadvantaged ?
“ This solution would recognise the autonomy of teachers to approach the course in the way that best meets their students ’ needs .
A statement from the Department of Education said it is aware @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students at this time .
“ In the context of schools reopening in September , guidance will [ be issued ] to schools on the logistical and curricular arrangements to be put in place .
This will include advice to schools on how to provide for the learning needs of all year groups including fifth-year students as they continue their studies in September .
”

“Teachers will predict the grades of their own students and there will be no Leaving Cert exam” – if you’d suggested this at the start of 2020, teachers, unions, parents, students and the Department of Education would have assumed you were sleep-talking through a far-fetched Leaving Cert dream.
The Covid-19 crisis changed everything. The cancellation of 2020’s Leaving Cert exams came in the middle of an ongoing process of senior cycle reform which has seen students, teachers, parents, unions, education officials and policymakers acknowledge that the current system of one big bang terminal exam needs to change. So, could all of this be the final nail in the coffin for the Leaving Cert as we know it?
"The pandemic has shown there is a capacity to be flexible and agile when it comes to policy," says Dr Emer Smyth, research professor at the Economic and Social Research Institute, which worked with teachers and parents across 42 pilot schools to gather views on the Leaving Cert and senior cycle.
This process ran alongside research carried out by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) which gathered student views.
READ MORE
“Parents and teachers see positives in the current senior cycle including subject choice and transition year,” says Smyth. “The challenges are well rehearsed: stress, the high-stakes nature of the exam, the lack of follow-through from the junior cycle programme, the neglect of life skills and the emphasis on academics which can squeeze out more authentic forms of teaching and learning that don’t cater for special educational needs or less academic students.”
In the reform process, the two teacher unions – the Teachers’ Union of Ireland and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland – have indicated an openness to change but insisted that whatever happens, future exams must remain State-certified and externally assessed, while students must also have anonymity to protect against conscious and unconscious marking bias.
After the long battle over teachers refusing to assess their own junior cycle – a battle they won – there’s no real appetite on the part of education authorities to push back here.
The unions have a written guarantee from the Department of Education, backed up by the caretaker Government, that teachers are providing predicted grades on a one-off basis only because of the current pandemic, and that they won’t be expected to do so in normal circumstances.
And yet, the general consensus from union officials, teachers and school principals is that calculated grades have gone relatively smoothly.
"It was a response to an unprecedented threat," says Prof Damian Murchan, head of the school of education at Trinity College Dublin.
“The pandemic will concentrate minds on senior cycle reform. We know that there is faith in the transparency and fairness of the system, notwithstanding challenges around rote learning and pressure on students. I think there will be alterations but perhaps nothing too fundamental.
“Open-book exams with longer time limits or modifying exams into assignments have happened at third-level and for school end-of-term exams but could they happen for State exams? I doubt it: State exams are higher-stakes than teacher-made tests and instituting them online would be difficult.”
Ultimately, only a new education minister will have the authority to drive forward and implement permanent changes.
“We were already moving towards a different type of Leaving Cert and the pandemic has shown that the current approach is not sustainable,” says one highly-placed education source.
Another senior figure points out, however, that this year’s approach was agreed between students, teachers and parents and a reformed senior cycle should have the same level of engagement and consensus.
In this regard, the pandemic has cemented the centrality of the student voice through their representative body, the Irish Second-Level Students Union.
"The student voice was strong, coherent and expressed in an articulate and considered way," the insider says. "The ISSU were very effectively represented by [president] Ciara Fanning and [student voice development manager] Alison Dervan.
“Their stance was not merely positional; they properly participated in the deliberative process. And it shows that, whatever reform comes about, the Department of Education has learned from the junior cycle debacle: it [reform] won’t come after a battle but after wide consultation and consensus. It might move like a glacier, but glaciers never stop moving.”
Grade expectations: what a reformed senior cycle might look like
Students and their representatives say that the pandemic has highlighted the need for a permanently changed assessment system, but what could this look like?
John MacGabhann, general secretary of the TUI, says the current Leaving Cert is trusted because it is anonymous and externally assessed, but that consideration could be given to spreading assessment out, possibly through sixth year – as long as that assessment remains external.
“This would mean students have more marks banked before the written exam. The oral exams could possibly happen long before Easter of sixth year. But there have been evolutionary changes to the Leaving Cert outside this reform process, with major changes to subjects like engineering and design & communication graphics.”
There appears to be a widespread acceptance that a reformed senior cycle should break the strict distinction between the Leaving Cert Applied and the traditional Leaving Cert.
“The programme has been let down by society,” says MacGabhann. “It’s treated as a holding pen for students who might otherwise leave school. Numbers are dropping because employers – including public sector employers – have failed it by not carrying it through.”
Andrew Brownlee, chief executive of Solas, the further education and training agency, says that in schools where 100 per cent of students go directly to higher education, there must be some who are more suited to a vocational route or apprenticeship.
"In Scotland, further education colleges offer vocational modules , such as nursing studies, hospitality and so on, as an integrated part of the senior cycle. Here, this would change our higher-education, CAO points focused approach and give every student a chance to try out different approaches without any stigma."
One of the most radical suggestions comes from Cathal MacSwiney Brugha, emeritus professor of decision analytics at UCD’s College of Business. In the context of this crisis, he proposes trying a new approach: don’t use the Leaving Cert to allocate college places at all.
“Students could do a ‘college progression year’ in the local institute of technology, with screening for college places and other career courses taking place at the end of this year. This community college approach works in the US, would allow secondary schools to focus more on good basic education, level the playing field and allow students more time to choose their career. Colleges will need some months to consider such a new system, but now is the time to discuss it.”
Fifth-year students fret as Leaving Cert 2021 considered
Before senior cycle reform ploughs ahead, incoming sixth years have a more pressing concern: they’ve missed months of school, so will any allowances be made when – or if – they sit the exam in 2021?
"Every classmate I have talked to has the same worries," says Alice Matyshchenko (17), a student at Coláiste Pobal Setanta, Dublin 15. "We're worried about the silence from the Minister for Education when we have missed nearly three months of school, a semester without access to teachers. I'm lucky that our school is advanced in terms of IT, but what about students in rural areas or schools that haven't used IT before? Most teachers have been amazing but we have fallen behind."
An Instagram post from "5th Years not Forgotten" has received over 16,000 likes while, at time of writing, a petition has nearly 15,000 signatures.
Adam Lambe (17) from Monaghan, and Roksana Segiet (17) and Ríona Nolan (17) both from Carlow are on SpunOut.ie's youth action panel.
They all say that fifth years are on edge and want to see provisions put in place to help them. Lambe says that many think calculated grades may be used next year if the virus resurges. Sieget says that ongoing assessment should be introduced from September and form a key part of a revised senior cycle beyond that. Nolan says the department needs to engage with schools and listen to them.
“The full curriculum can’t be delivered if students don’t have full access to workshops and labs,” says John MacGabhann, TUI general secretary. “A plan needs to be in place sooner rather than later. Do we decide not to deliver a particular element of a course? If so, what about those that have concentrated on that element up to now? Or will they modify the structure of papers to allow for a greater element of choice so those who have done that element are not disadvantaged?
“This solution would recognise the autonomy of teachers to approach the course in the way that best meets their students’ needs.
A statement from the Department of Education said it is aware of the challenges faced by fifth year students at this time. “In the context of schools reopening in September, guidance will [be issued] to schools on the logistical and curricular arrangements to be put in place. This will include advice to schools on how to provide for the learning needs of all year groups including fifth-year students as they continue their studies in September.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-22--My daughter thinks she won’t get the points for medicine. Should she reconsider?

My daughter was hoping to study medicine in September but has just received a disappointing Hpat result .
She is now unsure how to proceed with her CAO application as she has to complete it in time for the July 1st deadline .
What would you advise ?
You did not indicate what score your daughter received in her Hpat test , so I ’ m not certain she is totally out of the reckoning to secure an offer this year .
If anything , there are a few reasons to be a bit more hopeful this year compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of undergraduate CAO places on offer for medicine is capped - at around 483 - this number is enhanced by the numbers of international students who annually register as medical students in our five medical faculties .
With many of these students unlikely to arrive this year , it will be a matter for the Higher Education Authority ( HEA ) to decide whether to increase the numbers of medical places made available to domestic students , on a one-off basis , to bring class numbers up to their normal levels .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a significant number of this year ’ s CAO applicants may have reservations about commencing third level in 2020 due to the restricted nature of college life .
If this becomes a reality , CAO entry points for courses could drop .
Many people are under the misapprehension that CAO points are set or predetermined by faculties or colleges .
In reality , it is determined by the supply and demand of places .
From your daughter ’ s perspective , one negative may be that the ability to fill seats in lecture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be able to plan for in September .
In medicine , as in many other paramedical , nursing , scientific , computing , architectural and engineering , etc .
courses , the centrality of practicals and laboratory work will mitigate against offering increased numbers of places .
I can assure her that if her heart is truly set on becoming a doctor , a modest Hpat result should not deter her ambitions .
Numerous medical deans have confirmed to me that being a successful doctor has no relationship to Hpat performance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ used in Ireland , even though it has been abandoned in many other parts of the world .
Your daughter can always decide to pursue another degree of her choice , preferably scientific based ; provided she secures a 2:1 , she can apply to study medicine over four years through the graduate route .
She might also consider a medical degree at a European university .
Those in northern Italy are attracting a growing number of Irish applicants .
All lectures are through English and fees are quite modest .
See eunicas.ie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she should cover all eventualities in her list of ten CAO course choices by July 1st next .

There are a few reasons to be hopeful that points for some high-demand courses may fall this year. Photograph: iStock
My daughter was hoping to study medicine in September but has just received a disappointing Hpat result. She is now unsure how to proceed with her CAO application as she has to complete it in time for the July 1st deadline. What would you advise?
You did not indicate what score your daughter received in her Hpat test, so I’m not certain she is totally out of the reckoning to secure an offer this year. If anything, there are a few reasons to be a bit more hopeful this year compared to others.
Firstly, even though the number of undergraduate CAO places on offer for medicine is capped - at around 483 - this number is enhanced by the numbers of international students who annually register as medical students in our five medical faculties. With many of these students unlikely to arrive this year, it will be a matter for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to decide whether to increase the numbers of medical places made available to domestic students, on a one-off basis, to bring class numbers up to their normal levels.
A second reason for hope is that a significant number of this year’s CAO applicants may have reservations about commencing third level in 2020 due to the restricted nature of college life. If this becomes a reality, CAO entry points for courses could drop.
READ MORE
Many people are under the misapprehension that CAO points are set or predetermined by faculties or colleges. In reality, it is determined by the supply and demand of places.
From your daughter’s perspective, one negative may be that the ability to fill seats in lecture theatres is the last thing that colleges will be able to plan for in September. In medicine, as in many other paramedical, nursing, scientific, computing, architectural and engineering, etc. courses, the centrality of practicals and laboratory work will mitigate against offering increased numbers of places.
I can assure her that if her heart is truly set on becoming a doctor, a modest Hpat result should not deter her ambitions.
Numerous medical deans have confirmed to me that being a successful doctor has no relationship to Hpat performance. Its just a test which is still used in Ireland, even though it has been abandoned in many other parts of the world.
Your daughter can always decide to pursue another degree of her choice, preferably scientific based; provided she secures a 2:1, she can apply to study medicine over four years through the graduate route.
She might also consider a medical degree at a European university. Those in northern Italy are attracting a growing number of Irish applicants. All lectures are through English and fees are quite modest. See eunicas.ie for more details.
Whatever she does, she should cover all eventualities in her list of ten CAO course choices by July 1st next.


theirishtimes--2020-06-22--Gardaí seek help finding woman (72) missing from Dun Laoghaire area

Gardaí are seeking the public ’ s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a 72-year-old woman missing from the Dun @ @ @ @ @ Friday last .
Deirdre Kuntz is described as being 5 ’ 2 ” in height @ @ @ @ @ brown hair .
Anyone with any information on her whereabouts , or can assist in @ @ @ @ @ to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda station on 01 6665000 , the Garda Confidential Line on @ @ @ @ @ Garda station .

Deirdre Kuntz has been missing since last Friday. Photograph: An Garda Síocána
Gardaí are seeking the public’s assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a 72-year-old woman missing from the Dun Laoghaire area of Dublin since Friday last.
Deirdre Kuntz is described as being 5' 2" in height, of slight build with brown hair.
Anyone with any information on her whereabouts, or can assist in locating her, is asked to contact Dun Laoghaire Garda station on 01 6665000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-06-22--Ryanair flies from Dublin to Milan as European air routes start to re-open

Ryanair has flown its first passenger flight in more than three months from Dublin to Milan in northern Italy .
It ’ s understood the flight , which departed from Dublin airport at 6pm on Monday , was the first Italian-bound flight since the airline suspended all international flights in and out of Italy in mid-March .
While the flight ’ s destination is described as Milan , the airport used by Ryanair is in the city of Bergamo , about 50km northeast of Milan and one of the worst affected areas in Italy during the coronavirus pandemic .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday night , arriving into Dublin airport at 11.30pm .
Ryanair , which has continued to operate a small number of flights between Ireland and the UK throughout the health crisis , will start re-opening more routes in the coming days .
Live flight departure information on the Dublin Airport website shows the airline has scheduled flights to Malaga , Rome , Faro , Copenhagen , Birmingham , London , Glasgow and Manchester for Tuesday , June 23rd .
Aer Lingus , which has also continued to operate a reduced schedule of flights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled to fly to Amsterdam , London , Chicago and New York on Tuesday .
Neither Aer Lingus nor Ryanair responded to a request for comment on their plans for re-opening routes over the coming days .
Some 4,000 inbound and outbound passengers passed through Dublin airport on Sunday , up 800 people on Saturday .
However , the number of people passing through the airport is still down 97 per cent on June 21st 2019 when 115,000 passengers flew in and out .
A Dublin Airport Authority ( DAA ) spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slightly ” in recent days when compared to April when traffic was down by 99 per cent and May when it was down 98 per cent .
DAA has said it is “ strongly recommending ” that passengers wear face masks and face coverings at all times when inside airport buildings or in car park shuttle buses and says the recommendation applies to both arriving and departing passengers .
Ryanair has previously said it planned to restore 40 per cent of its flight schedules from July 1st including 139 routes from the Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be offering daily flights from countries all over northern Europe , including Ireland , from the start of July .
Ryanair rejected claims last week that it was putting profits above passenger safety and flouting aviation safety guidelines issues by the British authorities .
UK guidelines call for airlines to offer a reduced food and drink service and limit the sale of duty-free and other non-essential items .
However , Ryanair is continuing to sell food and drink , although it offers only pre-packed items .

Ryanair, which has continued to operate a small number of flights between Ireland and the UK throughout the health crisis, will start re-opening more routes in the coming days. Photograph by Crispin Rodwell/The Irish Times
Ryanair has flown its first passenger flight in more than three months from Dublin to Milan in northern Italy.
It’s understood the flight, which departed from Dublin airport at 6pm on Monday, was the first Italian-bound flight since the airline suspended all international flights in and out of Italy in mid-March.
While the flight's destination is described as Milan, the airport used by Ryanair is in the city of Bergamo, about 50km northeast of Milan and one of the worst affected areas in Italy during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Milan flight was scheduled to return on Monday night, arriving into Dublin airport at 11.30pm.
READ MORE
Ryanair, which has continued to operate a small number of flights between Ireland and the UK throughout the health crisis, will start re-opening more routes in the coming days.
Live flight departure information on the Dublin Airport website shows the airline has scheduled flights to Malaga, Rome, Faro, Copenhagen, Birmingham, London, Glasgow and Manchester for Tuesday, June 23rd.
Aer Lingus, which has also continued to operate a reduced schedule of flights to European and north American destinations, is scheduled to fly to Amsterdam, London, Chicago and New York on Tuesday.
Neither Aer Lingus nor Ryanair responded to a request for comment on their plans for re-opening routes over the coming days.
Some 4,000 inbound and outbound passengers passed through Dublin airport on Sunday, up 800 people on Saturday. However, the number of people passing through the airport is still down 97 per cent on June 21st 2019 when 115,000 passengers flew in and out.
A Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) spokesman confirmed that passenger numbers had "increased slightly" in recent days when compared to April when traffic was down by 99 per cent and May when it was down 98 per cent.
DAA has said it is “strongly recommending” that passengers wear face masks and face coverings at all times when inside airport buildings or in car park shuttle buses and says the recommendation applies to both arriving and departing passengers.
Ryanair has previously said it planned to restore 40 per cent of its flight schedules from July 1st including 139 routes from the Republic. The airline has said it will be offering daily flights from countries all over northern Europe, including Ireland, from the start of July.
Ryanair rejected claims last week that it was putting profits above passenger safety and flouting aviation safety guidelines issues by the British authorities. UK guidelines call for airlines to offer a reduced food and drink service and limit the sale of duty-free and other non-essential items. However, Ryanair is continuing to sell food and drink, although it offers only pre-packed items.


theirishtimes--2020-06-22--Government launches online visa renewal system for foreign students in Dublin

Foreign students studying in Dublin will no longer have to visit the visa registration office in person when renewing their permission to reside here and instead can complete the process online , the Department of Justice has said .
The Government announced on Monday a new online visa renewal system for non-EEA students based in Dublin , saying it was hoped the process would offer “ greater certainty to applicants that their permissions will be renewed on time ” .
Under the system , students must complete their renewal form online , upload copies of supporting documents , pay the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and current Irish Residence Permit ( IRP card ) by post .
Previously , Dublin-based students had to secure an appointment online and then present in person at the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service ( INIS ) office on Burgh ’ s Quay to renew their papers .
While the online application process will offer some relief to foreign students in the capital , the system remain unavailable to students living outside Dublin or other foreign nationals seeking to renew visas .
The department said it would keep the system under review with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other applicants in the coming months .
Foreign nationals , including students , have repeatedly criticised the Government in recent years for its poor online appointment system which has seen numerous unregulated operators block booking slots which they then sell on at a profit .
Before the pandemic , applicants said it had become near impossible to secure a slot on the Government website with many handing over sensitive personal data to third parties in order to get an appointment before their visa expired .
In a statement , Minister for Justice Charlie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced difficulties in obtaining an appointment ” but said the new process would allow officials to process visa renewals “ more efficiently ” .
The new online system will also “ relieve pressure ” at the Dublin visa registration office at Burgh Quay which , when it re-opens , will focus exclusively on first time student registrations , said Mr Flanagan .
The Burgh Quay has been closed since March as part of Covid-19 restrictions .
English language students stuck in Ireland because of the pandemic are allowed to remain here as long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the remainder of the academic year , under measures introduced by the Government in late May .
An estimated 1,000 foreign language students were left thousands of euro out of pocket following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic , with many living in overcrowded settings and with no means of securing an income because of the closure of so many pubs , restaurants and shops .
English language teacher Fiachra Ó Luain , co-founder of the English Language Student Union ( ELSU ) , warned last week that foreign language students were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , criminality and suicidal ideation ” as their schools have refused to provide refunds on courses .
The ELSU has called for all international students and workers in Ireland to be granted a year ’ s extension to their visas and fees paid for in-person classes to be returned .
“ It is incumbent upon Ireland , as we prepare for our seat on the Security Council , to lead by example and issue the refunds and visa extensions that will stop this hidden humanitarian crisis unfolding within our own shores , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the International Organisation for Migration .

Visa renewal applicants protested last year outside the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service office on Burgh’s Quay. File photograph: Nick Bradshaw/ The Irish Times
Foreign students studying in Dublin will no longer have to visit the visa registration office in person when renewing their permission to reside here and instead can complete the process online, the Department of Justice has said.
The Government announced on Monday a new online visa renewal system for non-EEA students based in Dublin, saying it was hoped the process would offer “greater certainty to applicants that their permissions will be renewed on time”.
Under the system, students must complete their renewal form online, upload copies of supporting documents, pay the applicable fee and then submit their passport and current Irish Residence Permit (IRP card) by post.
Previously, Dublin-based students had to secure an appointment online and then present in person at the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) office on Burgh’s Quay to renew their papers.
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While the online application process will offer some relief to foreign students in the capital, the system remain unavailable to students living outside Dublin or other foreign nationals seeking to renew visas.
The department said it would keep the system under review with the intention of rolling it out to other applicants in the coming months.
Foreign nationals, including students, have repeatedly criticised the Government in recent years for its poor online appointment system which has seen numerous unregulated operators block booking slots which they then sell on at a profit. Before the pandemic, applicants said it had become near impossible to secure a slot on the Government website with many handing over sensitive personal data to third parties in order to get an appointment before their visa expired.
In a statement, Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan acknowledged that applicants had "historically experienced difficulties in obtaining an appointment" but said the new process would allow officials to process visa renewals "more efficiently".
The new online system will also “relieve pressure” at the Dublin visa registration office at Burgh Quay which, when it re-opens, will focus exclusively on first time student registrations, said Mr Flanagan. The Burgh Quay has been closed since March as part of Covid-19 restrictions.
English language students stuck in Ireland because of the pandemic are allowed to remain here as long as they re-enrol in an online course for the remainder of the academic year, under measures introduced by the Government in late May.
An estimated 1,000 foreign language students were left thousands of euro out of pocket following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, with many living in overcrowded settings and with no means of securing an income because of the closure of so many pubs, restaurants and shops.
English language teacher Fiachra Ó Luain, co-founder of the English Language Student Union (ELSU), warned last week that foreign language students were being driven into "hunger, prostitution, criminality and suicidal ideation" as their schools have refused to provide refunds on courses.
The ELSU has called for all international students and workers in Ireland to be granted a year’s extension to their visas and fees paid for in-person classes to be returned.
"It is incumbent upon Ireland, as we prepare for our seat on the Security Council, to lead by example and issue the refunds and visa extensions that will stop this hidden humanitarian crisis unfolding within our own shores," said Mr Ó Luain in a letter to the International Organisation for Migration.


theirishtimes--2020-06-22--Q&A: What do the public health experts say about hugging during Covid-19?

As restrictions come down , social contacts will increase .
Often , this will mean family members from outside the same household seeing each other for the first time in months .
That can be a cause for celebration , but also , can bring its own set of difficult decisions and choices , especially around older family members .
Hugging your grandparent , or comforting a crying grandchild , is now a public health issue , not just a personal one .
What does the public health advice say ?
Amid a lot of rapid change to the timeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the over-70s , and the medically vulnerable , has remained consistent : you should stay home as much as you can , maintain social distancing with visitors , use allotted times for shopping and use face coverings during visits , in shops or in busy public areas .
The government advice is to “ use your judgement to decide how best to apply ” this health advice .
Some will be frustrated by this , wanting a clear definition of what can and can ’ t be done , but that is unlikely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for every circumstance , nor would it make a law against hugging grandparents .
However , it would be irresponsible to encourage it during the pandemic of a highly transmissible disease which disproportionately impacts the elderly .
So , public health rules , which provide a framework for decision making , are devised .
What do public health experts say ?
Prof Mary Codd , an epidemiologist at the UCD School of Public Health , says that , despite temptations , an abundance of caution must govern physical interactions with people from different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short of the close hugs – I know it ’ s very hard for children and grandparents [ but ] we need to maintain that distance.
” She says that the evidence is that risk of contracting Covid-19 was many times higher for the over-65s in residential facilities like nursing homes , whereas those in the same cohort living in the community didn ’ t face a higher risk of catching the disease .
This , she says , is evidence that cocooning for the over-70s worked , and worked well .
Reducing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to older or medically vulnerable people remains a core strategy for limiting its impact .
“ I just think we all need to be double conscious ” .
So what about in the future ?
While the guidelines for the over-70s have not changed as quickly as other aspects of the roadmap , Prof Sam McConkey , head of the school of infectious diseases at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , says we need to find ways of maintaining close bonds in the time of Covid-19 .
“ We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more responsibility , ” he says .
This could involve individuals conducting their own risk assessment of the circumstances around an encounter , with strict hand-washing and respiratory etiquette – as well as self-isolation for the symptomatic – at its core .
If someone is living in an area where there has been no cases for a period of weeks , that could also come into the reckoning .
“ We do need to maintain our human relationships , to build strong relationships of trust within and across families , and that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical expression of tenderness , and love , really , ” he says .
“ We need to find ways of doing that which are safe .
”

As restrictions come down, social contacts will increase. Often, this will mean family members from outside the same household seeing each other for the first time in months.
That can be a cause for celebration, but also, can bring its own set of difficult decisions and choices, especially around older family members.
Hugging your grandparent, or comforting a crying grandchild, is now a public health issue, not just a personal one.
What does the public health advice say?
Amid a lot of rapid change to the timeline for unwinding restrictions, the guidance for the over-70s, and the medically vulnerable, has remained consistent: you should stay home as much as you can, maintain social distancing with visitors, use allotted times for shopping and use face coverings during visits, in shops or in busy public areas.
READ MORE
The government advice is to “use your judgement to decide how best to apply” this health advice. Some will be frustrated by this, wanting a clear definition of what can and can’t be done, but that is unlikely to happen – no government can legislate for every circumstance, nor would it make a law against hugging grandparents.
However, it would be irresponsible to encourage it during the pandemic of a highly transmissible disease which disproportionately impacts the elderly.
So, public health rules, which provide a framework for decision making, are devised.
What do public health experts say?
Prof Mary Codd, an epidemiologist at the UCD School of Public Health, says that, despite temptations, an abundance of caution must govern physical interactions with people from different households.
“I personally would stop short of the close hugs – I know it’s very hard for children and grandparents [but] we need to maintain that distance.”
She says that the evidence is that risk of contracting Covid-19 was many times higher for the over-65s in residential facilities like nursing homes, whereas those in the same cohort living in the community didn’t face a higher risk of catching the disease.
This, she says, is evidence that cocooning for the over-70s worked, and worked well. Reducing the opportunity for the virus to transmit to older or medically vulnerable people remains a core strategy for limiting its impact. “I just think we all need to be double conscious”.
So what about in the future?
While the guidelines for the over-70s have not changed as quickly as other aspects of the roadmap, Prof Sam McConkey, head of the school of infectious diseases at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, says we need to find ways of maintaining close bonds in the time of Covid-19.
“We’re moving the debate more towards individuals taking more responsibility,” he says. This could involve individuals conducting their own risk assessment of the circumstances around an encounter, with strict hand-washing and respiratory etiquette – as well as self-isolation for the symptomatic – at its core. If someone is living in an area where there has been no cases for a period of weeks, that could also come into the reckoning.
“We do need to maintain our human relationships, to build strong relationships of trust within and across families, and that’s what a hug is; a physical expression of tenderness, and love, really,” he says. “We need to find ways of doing that which are safe.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-22--Confusion remains among restaurateurs around reopening guidelines

With restaurants set to reopen in less than a week , confusion persists about exactly how guidelines for the sector unveiled by Fáilte Ireland last week will operate in practice .
According to the tourism authority , restaurants should have at least one metre between tables , with the same distance maintained between guests not from the same household , even if they are sharing a meal .
There will also be a two-hour maximum time slot for reservations , including 15 minutes for cleaning , along with a host of other measures .
The chief executive of the Restaurant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the guidelines will be policed or if they are enforceable either legally or practically .
While staff members will have to be delegated to ensure the new guidelines are being followed , there is no official oversight , which leaves questions over how they will be managed .
Mr Cummins said he had spent several days trying to establish how the new measures will work in practice .
“ No one can give me a straight answer , ” he told The Irish Times .
“ Will someone walk into a restaurant and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and then tell them to leave if they have been there for longer than 105 minutes ?
” He was similarly sceptical as to how restaurants could police rules on social distancing for people not from the same households .
“ Staff are not going to be asking diners about the relationships they have with each other , or if they share a home or who is sleeping with who , ” he said .
“ What we need is a common-sense approach and we need to get back to some sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a traumatic experience for us all , but what is needed now is for people to relax a little bit and get the doors open and keep the tables apart and then we will have to continue to do as we have always done in terms of food hygiene and safety .
We have always been best in class in terms , in that regard , and that needs to continue , ” Mr Cummins said .
He also said there were reservations about how cafés might be expected to operate as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wondered how they would be expected to contact trace .
“ Cafes can not afford to have a staff member greeting people to enter , ” he said .
Despite the uncertainty that continues to surround the re-opening of the sector from next Monday , Mr Cummins said it was good to have guidelines in place as a starting point even if they a “ long way from perfect ” .
A Fáilte Ireland spokeswoman confirmed that its guidelines were not legally enforceable but were “ provided to assist businesses with safe re-opening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre/Health Service Executive.
” She stressed that restaurant would be expected to “ apply the guidelines appropriately as our consumer research states visible health etiquette and safety are of paramount concern to people as they plan their leisure activities ” .

With restaurants set to reopen in less than a week, confusion persists about exactly how guidelines for the sector unveiled by Fáilte Ireland last week will operate in practice.
According to the tourism authority, restaurants should have at least one metre between tables, with the same distance maintained between guests not from the same household, even if they are sharing a meal. There will also be a two-hour maximum time slot for reservations, including 15 minutes for cleaning, along with a host of other measures.
The chief executive of the Restaurant Association of Ireland Adrian Cummins questioned how the guidelines will be policed or if they are enforceable either legally or practically.
While staff members will have to be delegated to ensure the new guidelines are being followed, there is no official oversight, which leaves questions over how they will be managed.
READ MORE
Mr Cummins said he had spent several days trying to establish how the new measures will work in practice.
“No one can give me a straight answer,” he told The Irish Times. “Will someone walk into a restaurant and ask what time did each customer come in and then tell them to leave if they have been there for longer than 105 minutes?”
He was similarly sceptical as to how restaurants could police rules on social distancing for people not from the same households.
“Staff are not going to be asking diners about the relationships they have with each other, or if they share a home or who is sleeping with who,” he said. “What we need is a common-sense approach and we need to get back to some sort of normality.
“This has been a traumatic experience for us all, but what is needed now is for people to relax a little bit and get the doors open and keep the tables apart and then we will have to continue to do as we have always done in terms of food hygiene and safety. We have always been best in class in terms, in that regard, and that needs to continue,” Mr Cummins said.
He also said there were reservations about how cafés might be expected to operate as they do not typically take reservations.
He wondered how they would be expected to contact trace. “Cafes cannot afford to have a staff member greeting people to enter,” he said.
Despite the uncertainty that continues to surround the re-opening of the sector from next Monday, Mr Cummins said it was good to have guidelines in place as a starting point even if they a “long way from perfect”.
A Fáilte Ireland spokeswoman confirmed that its guidelines were not legally enforceable but were “provided to assist businesses with safe re-opening in accordance with the Government’s public health advice from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre/Health Service Executive.”
She stressed that restaurant would be expected to “apply the guidelines appropriately as our consumer research states visible health etiquette and safety are of paramount concern to people as they plan their leisure activities”.


theirishtimes--2020-06-22--Murder accused told New York bar tender he killed a garda, court hears

A man accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe told a bar tender on three separate occasions that he shot a garda , the Central Criminal Court has heard .
Daniel Cahill , giving evidence on Monday via video link from a building in New York , told the 13-person jury that Aaron Brady “ ranted ” after he was punched in the eye during a bar fight about having shot a garda .
On another occasion Mr Brady was drinking heavily and “ broke down ” at the bar , telling Mr Cahill that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that led to him shooting a garda .
Mr Brady ( 28 ) from New Road , Crossmaglen , Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25th , 2013 at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth .
Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location .
Daniel Cahill ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prosecution that he comes from Dublin 13 and moved to New York in 2013 when he was 20 years old .
He started working in the Coachman ’ s Bar on Katona Avenue in the Bronx in December of that year and over the following two years saw Mr Brady at the bar on most weekends .
He described Mr Brady as not very tall , “ definitely on the heavier side ” , with dark , gelled hair and a pale complexion .
He said Mr Brady did not stand out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him much mind the first couple of times I met him.
” The Coachman ’ s , he said , could be “ a bit rough ” and had its “ shady characters ” .
At least once every week he would require help with some sort of altercation , he said , adding : “ Working in a bar in the Bronx with a pool table you ’ d better get a thick skin.
” It would be “ nothing out of the ordinary , ” he said , to have people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He recalled that on one night Mr Brady was punched by another man and suffered a gash above his eye that bled heavily .
The person who threw the punch left the bar and Mr Brady went to the bathroom where the witness followed him to make sure he was alright .
Mr Cahill asked Mr Brady what had happened but Mr Brady “ just ranted about what he was going to do now ” .
He added that Mr Brady was “ shook and erratic and emotional ” and kept saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man .
Mr Brady , speaking into the bathroom mirror as he cleaned the blood from his face and hands , said people knew what he had done and what he was capable of .
The witness remembered him saying he would shoot the other man and it wouldn ’ t be the first person he had shot .
Mr Cahill added : “ He said he [ the other man ] should know better because he had shot a member of An Garda Síochána in Ireland and it was a stupid thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The witness described Mr Brady as “ almost hyperventilating ” and as being “ recklessly aggressive ” .
He repeated multiple times that he was “ going to kill him , going to shoot him , ” before the witness offered him a glass of water and sent him on his way .
Mr Cahill couldn ’ t recall precisely when this happened but thought it was 2014 .
He remembered the conversation because what Mr Brady told him was “ not normal ” .
People often argued over the pool table , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Aaron said to me was a lot more serious than what I was used to dealing with.
” The witness remembered a second occasion in the Coachman ’ s when Mr Brady arrived in the evening after work and was drinking heavily until the early hours .
He was down , the witness said , and stopped Mr Cahill to talk to him about things he said he didn ’ t feel right about and “ things he had done in his life which were going to come back on him.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had I ever killed anyone.
” Mr Cahill told him he hadn ’ t and wouldn ’ t know how that feels .
Mr Brady “ broke down ” for 90 minutes to two hours and asked multiple questions that the witness thought were strange .
“ He referenced killing people and how he felt about it.
” At the time Mr Cahill didn ’ t know about Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and didn ’ t know if Mr Brady was “ talking nonsense ” .
Mr Brady was upset , at times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ putting his head on the bar .
The witness said : “ He seemed to want to talk to me about these things .
Every time I walked up to him he would ask if I had done things he had done and how I couldn ’ t comprehend what it was like.
” Mr Brady told him he had nightmares .
He also told him that he was involved in a “ robbery gone wrong that had led to him shooting someone .
A member of An Garda Síochána.
” The witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times that he had shot a garda in the course of this robbery.
” By the end of the night Mr Cahill felt that Mr Brady was “ beyond the point of being conscious ” and “ completely inebriated ” .
The witness described a third incident in 2015 while he was still working at the Coachman ’ s .
One night some customers invited him to a house party after he had finished his shift .
When he arrived at the house , he met Mr Brady and three other men .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to outdo each other ” in what he described as a “ pissing contest ” to see who was the one you would not want to get on the wrong side of .
He said Mr Brady “ decided he had the most experience because he was the only person there who had killed someone.
” As the conversation went on the witness said he heard Mr Brady say he was the only person who had ever used a gun to kill someone .
Mr Cahill said : “ He said that everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had done and the crimes he had committed and this was why nobody wants to get on the wrong side of him.
” He said he also heard him say that he shot a garda and while talking about his feelings said that it “ takes a certain type of person to manage these feelings well ” .
Mr Cahill felt that Mr Brady wasn ’ t drunk and was “ owning that he had done something or was capable of something , like we should look at him in a different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group that it was a big burden to carry around and that he had nightmares , “ dreams where he sees bangs , guns shots , people screaming.
” Mr Cahill left the party after less than 30 minutes .
It wasn ’ t a place where he wanted to spend a lot of time , he said .
After leaving the Coachman ’ s , Mr Cahill worked in the Brazen Fox in White Plains , New York .
One night in summer 2016 after leaving work after 2am he was driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a group of people standing outside Behan ’ s Bar on Katona Avenue .
Mr Cahill was stopped at a traffic light when he said Mr Brady came to his car and flagged him down .
He said Mr Brady told him he thought he was going to go to prison and that he was “ in the papers in Ireland ” .
He said Mr Brady showed him an article on his phone with a headline saying something to the effect that a man who was on the run having shot a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in New York .
He said Mr Brady told him that he was the subject of the article and that a picture used as part of the feature was taken from Mr Brady ’ s social media .
Mr Brady showed Mr Cahill the original social media picture , the witness said .
Mr Cahill said he believed Mr Brady was tyring to intimidate people or “ make people think he was someone important .
I didn ’ t understand why he was saying this to me.
” During cross-examination Justin McQuade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he was saying to the jury that they can trust him because he is a “ good citizen ” .
Mr Cahill said that he thinks he is an “ outstanding citizen ” and that he had been trying to improve himself since leaving Ireland .
He said that he has many police officers who are friends and who would vouch for him and his character and that he does a lot of work for his community .
He added : “ You come to my community and speak to the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me.
” He said that if someone had information about a police officer being killed he would hope they would “ step up ” .
He accepted that he had “ done my fair share of things I wish I didn ’ t do and I take full responsibility for them.
” He agreed that when Homeland Security first called to his house in July 2019 that he hid in his attic .
He said he had been asleep and was frightened by a loud bang on the door and didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through a latch in the ceiling .
When Mr McQuade asked why an outstanding citizen would hide in the attic when law enforcement knocked on the door he said he didn ’ t know it was law enforcement and was scared and that he startles easily due to things that have happened in his life .
At the time agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) were deporting people , he said .
The cross examination will continue tomorrow in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of @ @ @ @ @ @

Aaron Brady (28) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe on January 25th, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Photograph: Collins
A man accused of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe told a bar tender on three separate occasions that he shot a garda, the Central Criminal Court has heard.
Daniel Cahill, giving evidence on Monday via video link from a building in New York, told the 13-person jury that Aaron Brady "ranted" after he was punched in the eye during a bar fight about having shot a garda.
On another occasion Mr Brady was drinking heavily and “broke down” at the bar, telling Mr Cahill that he was involved in “robbery gone wrong” that led to him shooting a garda.
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe who was shot during robbry at the Lordship Credit Union at Bellurgan, near Dundalk, Co Louth in January, 2013. Photograph: Garda/PA Wire
Mr Brady (28) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25th, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth.
READ MORE
Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of stealing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.
Daniel Cahill (28) told Brendan Grehan SC for the prosecution that he comes from Dublin 13 and moved to New York in 2013 when he was 20 years old.
He started working in the Coachman's Bar on Katona Avenue in the Bronx in December of that year and over the following two years saw Mr Brady at the bar on most weekends.
He described Mr Brady as not very tall, “definitely on the heavier side”, with dark, gelled hair and a pale complexion. He said Mr Brady did not stand out.
“I didn’t pay him much mind the first couple of times I met him.”
The Coachman’s, he said, could be “a bit rough” and had its “shady characters”.
At least once every week he would require help with some sort of altercation, he said, adding: “Working in a bar in the Bronx with a pool table you’d better get a thick skin.”
It would be “nothing out of the ordinary,” he said, to have people “swinging digs” at one another.
He recalled that on one night Mr Brady was punched by another man and suffered a gash above his eye that bled heavily. The person who threw the punch left the bar and Mr Brady went to the bathroom where the witness followed him to make sure he was alright.
Mr Cahill asked Mr Brady what had happened but Mr Brady “just ranted about what he was going to do now”. He added that Mr Brady was “shook and erratic and emotional” and kept saying he was going to kill the other man.
Mr Brady, speaking into the bathroom mirror as he cleaned the blood from his face and hands, said people knew what he had done and what he was capable of. The witness remembered him saying he would shoot the other man and it wouldn’t be the first person he had shot.
Mr Cahill added: "He said he [the other man] should know better because he had shot a member of An Garda Síochána in Ireland and it was a stupid thing to retaliate or mess with him."
The witness described Mr Brady as “almost hyperventilating” and as being “recklessly aggressive”. He repeated multiple times that he was “going to kill him, going to shoot him,” before the witness offered him a glass of water and sent him on his way.
Mr Cahill couldn’t recall precisely when this happened but thought it was 2014. He remembered the conversation because what Mr Brady told him was “not normal”.
People often argued over the pool table, he said, “but the stuff that Aaron said to me was a lot more serious than what I was used to dealing with.”
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe who was shot during robbry at the Lordship Credit Union at Bellurgan, near Dundalk, Co Louth in January, 2013. Photograph: Garda/PA Wire
The witness remembered a second occasion in the Coachman’s when Mr Brady arrived in the evening after work and was drinking heavily until the early hours. He was down, the witness said, and stopped Mr Cahill to talk to him about things he said he didn’t feel right about and “things he had done in his life which were going to come back on him.”
He added: “He asked me had I ever killed anyone.”
Mr Cahill told him he hadn’t and wouldn’t know how that feels. Mr Brady “broke down” for 90 minutes to two hours and asked multiple questions that the witness thought were strange. “He referenced killing people and how he felt about it.”
At the time Mr Cahill didn’t know about Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe and didn’t know if Mr Brady was “talking nonsense”. Mr Brady was upset, at times putting his face in his hands or putting his head on the bar.
The witness said: “He seemed to want to talk to me about these things. Every time I walked up to him he would ask if I had done things he had done and how I couldn’t comprehend what it was like.”
Mr Brady told him he had nightmares. He also told him that he was involved in a “robbery gone wrong that had led to him shooting someone. A member of An Garda Síochána.”
The witness later said: “He mentioned multiple times that he had shot a garda in the course of this robbery.”
By the end of the night Mr Cahill felt that Mr Brady was “beyond the point of being conscious” and “completely inebriated”.
The witness described a third incident in 2015 while he was still working at the Coachman’s. One night some customers invited him to a house party after he had finished his shift. When he arrived at the house, he met Mr Brady and three other men.
He said these men were “trying to outdo each other” in what he described as a “pissing contest” to see who was the one you would not want to get on the wrong side of.
He said Mr Brady “decided he had the most experience because he was the only person there who had killed someone.”
As the conversation went on the witness said he heard Mr Brady say he was the only person who had ever used a gun to kill someone.
Mr Cahill said: “He said that everyone around knows who he is and what he had done and the crimes he had committed and this was why nobody wants to get on the wrong side of him.”
He said he also heard him say that he shot a garda and while talking about his feelings said that it “takes a certain type of person to manage these feelings well”. Mr Cahill felt that Mr Brady wasn’t drunk and was “owning that he had done something or was capable of something, like we should look at him in a different manner.”
Mr Brady had told the group that it was a big burden to carry around and that he had nightmares, “dreams where he sees bangs, guns shots, people screaming.”
Mr Cahill left the party after less than 30 minutes. It wasn’t a place where he wanted to spend a lot of time, he said.
After leaving the Coachman’s, Mr Cahill worked in the Brazen Fox in White Plains, New York.
One night in summer 2016 after leaving work after 2am he was driving home when he saw Mr Brady and a group of people standing outside Behan’s Bar on Katona Avenue.
Mr Cahill was stopped at a traffic light when he said Mr Brady came to his car and flagged him down. He said Mr Brady told him he thought he was going to go to prison and that he was “in the papers in Ireland”.
He said Mr Brady showed him an article on his phone with a headline saying something to the effect that a man who was on the run having shot a police officer was “living it up” in New York.
He said Mr Brady told him that he was the subject of the article and that a picture used as part of the feature was taken from Mr Brady’s social media. Mr Brady showed Mr Cahill the original social media picture, the witness said.
Mr Cahill said he believed Mr Brady was tyring to intimidate people or “make people think he was someone important. I didn’t understand why he was saying this to me.”
During cross-examination Justin McQuade BL for the defence asked Mr Cahill if he was saying to the jury that they can trust him because he is a “good citizen”.
Mr Cahill said that he thinks he is an “outstanding citizen” and that he had been trying to improve himself since leaving Ireland.
He said that he has many police officers who are friends and who would vouch for him and his character and that he does a lot of work for his community. He added: “You come to my community and speak to the people and ask them what they think of me.”
He said that if someone had information about a police officer being killed he would hope they would “step up”. He accepted that he had “done my fair share of things I wish I didn’t do and I take full responsibility for them.”
He agreed that when Homeland Security first called to his house in July 2019 that he hid in his attic. He said he had been asleep and was frightened by a loud bang on the door and didn’t know who it was so he jumped through a latch in the ceiling.
When Mr McQuade asked why an outstanding citizen would hide in the attic when law enforcement knocked on the door he said he didn’t know it was law enforcement and was scared and that he startles easily due to things that have happened in his life. At the time agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were deporting people, he said.
The cross examination will continue tomorrow in front of Mr Justice Michael White and a jury of six men and seven women.


theirishtimes--2020-06-23--Jean Eagers murder: Gardaí await medical clearance to interview chief suspect

Gardaí investigating the murder of 57-year-old mother-of-two Jean Eagers in her Dublin home at the weekend were on Tuesday night still waiting to interview the chief suspect in the case .
The man , who is aged 60 and was known to the dead woman , was arrested on Sunday morning at the crime scene , immediately after the killing came to light .
However , when he was taken into custody he had sustained a number of injuries necessitating medical treatment .
As a result , his questioning was suspended and he was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment since being taken to hospital early on Sunday afternoon and gardaí are awaiting clearance from medical staff to begin interrogating him .
The suspect was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice which allows for him to be questioned for up to 24 hours without charge once his interrogation resumes .
It is understood the suspect ’ s injuries were self-inflicted .
A number of weapons , including a Samurai sword and meat cleaver , were taken from the house when the murder occurred as gardaí suspect they were used during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead in her home on Willow Wood Grove , Hartstown , west Dublin , at about 11.30am on Sunday .
A young man , aged around 20 years , was in the house at the time and is believed to have witnessed the attack on Ms Eagers or its aftermath before running to a nearby house to raise the alarm .
When gardaí arrived at the scene the suspect was inside and refused to come out , with gardaí forcing their way into the house and arresting him .
Paramedics tried to resuscitate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the scene .
The victim and the suspected killer were well known to each other for decades and gardaí are not looking for anyone else in relation to the murder .
Ms Eagers had two adult children and worked in Marks & Spencers in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre .
She had lived for many years at the house where she was murdered .

Flowers at the scene following the fatal assault of Jean Eagers on Willow Wood Hartstown, Dublin. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Gardaí investigating the murder of 57-year-old mother-of-two Jean Eagers in her Dublin home at the weekend were on Tuesday night still waiting to interview the chief suspect in the case.
The man, who is aged 60 and was known to the dead woman, was arrested on Sunday morning at the crime scene, immediately after the killing came to light.
However, when he was taken into custody he had sustained a number of injuries necessitating medical treatment.
As a result, his questioning was suspended and he was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown.
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He has remained, undergoing medical treatment since being taken to hospital early on Sunday afternoon and gardaí are awaiting clearance from medical staff to begin interrogating him.
The suspect was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice which allows for him to be questioned for up to 24 hours without charge once his interrogation resumes.
It is understood the suspect’s injuries were self-inflicted.
Jean Eagers
A number of weapons, including a Samurai sword and meat cleaver, were taken from the house when the murder occurred as gardaí suspect they were used during the killing.
Ms Eagers was found dead in her home on Willow Wood Grove, Hartstown, west Dublin, at about 11.30am on Sunday.
A young man, aged around 20 years, was in the house at the time and is believed to have witnessed the attack on Ms Eagers or its aftermath before running to a nearby house to raise the alarm.
When gardaí arrived at the scene the suspect was inside and refused to come out, with gardaí forcing their way into the house and arresting him.
Paramedics tried to resuscitate Ms Eagers but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim and the suspected killer were well known to each other for decades and gardaí are not looking for anyone else in relation to the murder.
Ms Eagers had two adult children and worked in Marks & Spencers in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.
She had lived for many years at the house where she was murdered.


theirishtimes--2020-06-23--Estate of late FG councillor John Bailey secures injunction over alleged trespass

The estate of deceased Fine Gael Councillor John Bailey has secured a temporary High Court injunction preventing an alleged trespasser on farmland spreading “ poisonous weedkiller ” there .
The personal representative of Mr Bailey ’ s estate has brought proceedings against Francis Tiernan in relation to 100 acres at Castlewarden on the Dublin-Kildare border .
Darren Lehane BL , instructed by solicitor Richard Hammond , for the estate , said the lands belong to Mr Bailey but Mr Tiernan has been trespassing on it since April last .
Counsel told Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Tuesday the dispute had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a €4.6m sale of the lands had been entered into between the parties in 2006 but the sale was never completed .
That lead to High Court proceedings for alleged breach of contract , being brought against Mr Tiernan .
In 2013 , the court ordered Mr Bailey be paid €1.2m damages by Mr Tiernan , counsel said .
In 2018 , Mr Tiernan sued Mr Bailey and filed a legal claim with the Property Registration Authority in respect of the lands .
That action has not been progressed by Mr Tiernan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tiernan unlawfully entered the lands which he says have been used by another party , with consent of the late Mr Bailey , to graze sheep .
Counsel said Mr Tiernan has refused to leave the property , has used machinery to carry out works and in recent days has also burned scrub on the lands .
Counsel said a sign was also erected on the lands directing that all animals and feeding equipment be removed as Mr Tiernan was going to “ spray weed killer which may be poisonous ” in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of week killer could have “ disastrous consequences for the lands ” , counsel said .
Mr Tiernan had not responded to the estate ’ s demands to leave the property , counsel said .
The court also heard that the name of Mr Tiernan , with addresses at Longfield Road , Forkhill , Newry , Co Armagh ; Ann Street , Dundalk , Co Louth and Swanward Court , Parnell Road , Dublin 12 , had featured at the Smithwick Tribunal .
Arising out of the references made about Mr Tiernan at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Mr Tiernan , counsel said .
That tribunal considered events surrounding the IRA killing of senior RUC officers Harry Breen and Robert Buchanan as they crossed the border in 1989 .
The tribunal heard Mr Tiernan , along with former Detective Owen Corrigan , were kidnapped and beaten by the IRA in 1995.The tribunal concluded the two were abducted “ because of a business transaction with the Provisional IRA which turned sour ” .
The tribunal also said Mr Tiernan was believed to be involved in “ large-scale smuggling ” and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Counsel said , while the estate was only seeking an interim order preventing the defendant spraying the land with weed killer , it intends to seek further orders at a later stage .
These include an order restraining Mr Tiernan from entering the lands , damages for trespass and declarations he is not allowed to enter or use the property .
The temporary injunction preventing the lands being sprayed was granted , on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Quinn .
The judge said he was satisfied to make the temporary order based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including that a sign had been put up stating the lands were to be sprayed .
The judge adjourned the matter to early July .
Killiney-based Mr Bailey , who died in July 2019 following a long illness , was a well known Fine Gael Councillor who served on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown , County Council for many years .
He was also the Chairman of the Dublin GAA County Board for a decade and a former intercounty referee .
One of his children is the former FG TD for Dun Laoghaire , @ @ @

The temporary injunction preventing the lands being sprayed was granted, on an ex-parte basis.
The estate of deceased Fine Gael Councillor John Bailey has secured a temporary High Court injunction preventing an alleged trespasser on farmland spreading "poisonous weedkiller" there.
The personal representative of Mr Bailey's estate has brought proceedings against Francis Tiernan in relation to 100 acres at Castlewarden on the Dublin-Kildare border.
Darren Lehane BL, instructed by solicitor Richard Hammond, for the estate, said the lands belong to Mr Bailey but Mr Tiernan has been trespassing on it since April last.
Counsel told Mr Justice Michael Quinn on Tuesday the dispute had a long history.
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A contract for a €4.6m sale of the lands had been entered into between the parties in 2006 but the sale was never completed.
That lead to High Court proceedings for alleged breach of contract, being brought against Mr Tiernan. In 2013, the court ordered Mr Bailey be paid €1.2m damages by Mr Tiernan, counsel said.
In 2018, Mr Tiernan sued Mr Bailey and filed a legal claim with the Property Registration Authority in respect of the lands. That action has not been progressed by Mr Tiernan, counsel said.
Last April, Mr Tiernan unlawfully entered the lands which he says have been used by another party, with consent of the late Mr Bailey, to graze sheep.
Counsel said Mr Tiernan has refused to leave the property, has used machinery to carry out works and in recent days has also burned scrub on the lands.
Counsel said a sign was also erected on the lands directing that all animals and feeding equipment be removed as Mr Tiernan was going to “spray weed killer which may be poisonous” in the coming days.
The estate fears application of week killer could have “disastrous consequences for the lands”, counsel said.
Mr Tiernan had not responded to the estate’s demands to leave the property, counsel said.
The court also heard that the name of Mr Tiernan, with addresses at Longfield Road, Forkhill, Newry, Co Armagh; Ann Street, Dundalk, Co Louth and Swanward Court, Parnell Road, Dublin 12, had featured at the Smithwick Tribunal.
Arising out of the references made about Mr Tiernan at that inquiry, the estate has concerns about Mr Tiernan, counsel said.
Spraying
That tribunal considered events surrounding the IRA killing of senior RUC officers Harry Breen and Robert Buchanan as they crossed the border in 1989.
The tribunal heard Mr Tiernan, along with former Detective Owen Corrigan, were kidnapped and beaten by the IRA in 1995.The tribunal concluded the two were abducted “because of a business transaction with the Provisional IRA which turned sour”.
The tribunal also said Mr Tiernan was believed to be involved in “large-scale smuggling” and was suspected of being involved in fraud.
Counsel said, while the estate was only seeking an interim order preventing the defendant spraying the land with weed killer, it intends to seek further orders at a later stage.
These include an order restraining Mr Tiernan from entering the lands, damages for trespass and declarations he is not allowed to enter or use the property.
The temporary injunction preventing the lands being sprayed was granted, on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Quinn.
The judge said he was satisfied to make the temporary order based on the evidence put before the court, including that a sign had been put up stating the lands were to be sprayed.
The judge adjourned the matter to early July.
Killiney-based Mr Bailey, who died in July 2019 following a long illness, was a well known Fine Gael Councillor who served on Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, County Council for many years.
He was also the Chairman of the Dublin GAA County Board for a decade and a former intercounty referee. One of his children is the former FG TD for Dun Laoghaire, Maria Bailey.