theirishtimes--2020-12-30--Cabinet set to impose full Level 5 restrictions after record new Covid-19 cases

The Cabinet will meet on Wednesday afternoon to consider returning the State to a full Level 5 lockdown after the confirmation of 1,546 new cases of Covid-19 in the Republic , the highest daily number recorded during the nine months of the pandemic .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) on Tuesday night confirmed the figure , which surpasses the previous record of 1,296 recorded on St Stephen ’ s Day , along with a further nine deaths of coronavirus patients .
Wednesday ’ s meeting of Ministers was hastily arranged at mid-morning on Tuesday following what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in the number of cases , the highest number of hospitalisations since May and a massive rise in referrals of suspected cases in the past week .
Minsters said they expected numbers to continue to grow sharply over the coming days reflecting increased social contacts at Christmas .
“ This is perhaps the most dangerous moment for the country since Covid-19 began , ” said one Minister , speaking on the basis of anonymity .
The Cabinet is expected to reintroduce all Level 5 restrictions including the closure of non-essential retail as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restricted to within 5km of their homes .
It will also end two days early the concession that allowed two families socialise in one home until December 31st .
This is being done to reduce the opportunities for New Year ’ s Eve celebrations .
Government wants schools to remain open , although primary teachers ’ union the INTO has called for a delay in reopening primary and special schools .
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said Ireland found itself in a “ dark and worrying place ” in relation to Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across a number of indicators in recent days , he said he “ would not be surprised ” if there were more than 2,000 cases a day by New Year ’ s Day .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly also pointed to the near doubling of hospitalisations in the past week as a significant concern , and said he did not want to see the health service overwhelmed .
Ireland is set to receive an additional one million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine after the EU responded to surging case numbers by ramping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has so far authorised .
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the bloc had decided to take an additional 100 million doses of the vaccine , on top of the 200 million already ordered .
The extra supplies may compensate for delays in the approval of other vaccines Ireland was slated to receive .
It emerged on Tuesday that the roll-out of the Oxford University-Astra Zeneca vaccine is unlikely to go ahead as hoped in January after a senior official in the European Medicines Agency said regulators did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland has ordered 3.3 million doses of this vaccine .
It has also ordered 3.3 million doses of the Sanofi/GSK vaccine , but this is delayed until late 2021 .
Meanwhile , seven cases of the new , more transmissible variant of Covid-19 first identified in the UK have been sequenced in the Republic , along with one in Northern Ireland , according to a new risk assessment from the European Centre for Disease Control .
It says that although there is no information that infections with the new strain are more severe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of the virus is assessed as high in terms of hospitalisations and deaths .
Annie Lynch , a 79-year-old Dublin grandmother , on Tuesday became the first person in the Republic to be vaccinated against Covid-19 .
She was among 2,000 people , mostly frontline health workers , who received the first supply of the vaccine in four hospitals in Dublin , Galway and Cork .
Despite supply difficulties with the vaccine arising in some other EU states , the HSE said there was no delay in the delivery of vaccine doses @ @ @ @ @

Clinical nurse manager Deborah Cross gives Annie Lynch the Covid-19 vaccination at St James’s Hospital in Dublin 8. The 79-year-old Dublin grandmother was the first person in the Republic to receive the vaccine. Photograph: Marc O’Sullivan
The Cabinet will meet on Wednesday afternoon to consider returning the State to a full Level 5 lockdown after the confirmation of 1,546 new cases of Covid-19 in the Republic, the highest daily number recorded during the nine months of the pandemic.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Tuesday night confirmed the figure, which surpasses the previous record of 1,296 recorded on St Stephen’s Day, along with a further nine deaths of coronavirus patients.
Wednesday’s meeting of Ministers was hastily arranged at mid-morning on Tuesday following what was described as an “exponential” increase in the number of cases, the highest number of hospitalisations since May and a massive rise in referrals of suspected cases in the past week.
Hospital Report
Minsters said they expected numbers to continue to grow sharply over the coming days reflecting increased social contacts at Christmas. “This is perhaps the most dangerous moment for the country since Covid-19 began,” said one Minister, speaking on the basis of anonymity.
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The Cabinet is expected to reintroduce all Level 5 restrictions including the closure of non-essential retail as well as the reimposition of people being restricted to within 5km of their homes. It will also end two days early the concession that allowed two families socialise in one home until December 31st. This is being done to reduce the opportunities for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Government wants schools to remain open, although primary teachers’ union the INTO has called for a delay in reopening primary and special schools.
‘Dark and worrying place’
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said Ireland found itself in a “dark and worrying place” in relation to Covid-19.
Given the evidence of exponential growth across a number of indicators in recent days, he said he “would not be surprised” if there were more than 2,000 cases a day by New Year’s Day.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly also pointed to the near doubling of hospitalisations in the past week as a significant concern, and said he did not want to see the health service overwhelmed.
Ireland is set to receive an additional one million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine after the EU responded to surging case numbers by ramping up orders for the one treatment it has so far authorised.
EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday the bloc had decided to take an additional 100 million doses of the vaccine, on top of the 200 million already ordered.
The extra supplies may compensate for delays in the approval of other vaccines Ireland was slated to receive.
It emerged on Tuesday that the roll-out of the Oxford University-Astra Zeneca vaccine is unlikely to go ahead as hoped in January after a senior official in the European Medicines Agency said regulators did not have enough information about the vaccine.
Ireland has ordered 3.3 million doses of this vaccine. It has also ordered 3.3 million doses of the Sanofi/GSK vaccine, but this is delayed until late 2021.
New variant
Meanwhile, seven cases of the new, more transmissible variant of Covid-19 first identified in the UK have been sequenced in the Republic, along with one in Northern Ireland, according to a new risk assessment from the European Centre for Disease Control.
It says that although there is no information that infections with the new strain are more severe, because of increased transmissibility, the impact of the virus is assessed as high in terms of hospitalisations and deaths.
Annie Lynch, a 79-year-old Dublin grandmother, on Tuesday became the first person in the Republic to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
She was among 2,000 people, mostly frontline health workers, who received the first supply of the vaccine in four hospitals in Dublin, Galway and Cork.
Despite supply difficulties with the vaccine arising in some other EU states, the HSE said there was no delay in the delivery of vaccine doses to Ireland at present.


theirishtimes--2020-12-29--Met Éireann issues yellow warning for snow and ice over three counties

A snow and ice warning is in place in the north of the country on Wednesday .
The yellow warning is in place from 6am on Wednesday to 7am on Thursday morning in Donegal , Leitrim and Sligo .
Earlier , another yellow warning was in place for Cork , Tipperary and Waterford .
This ended at midday .
A snow and ice warning issued by the UK Met office is also valid in Derry , Armagh , Antrim , Fermanagh , and Tyrone until midnight on Wednesday .
Wednesday will be very cold with frost and icy conditions gradually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sleet , mostly due in Munster , and snow clearing in late morning .
It will be brighter in other parts of the country with scattered wintry showers , especially in northern and western coastal counties .
Highest temperatures will be between just two and three degrees .
Showers , some wintry , will continue in northern and western coastal counties on Wednesday night , while the rest of the country will remain relatively clear .
Showers will become more frequent towards dawn on Thursday in the north and northwest with sleet or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minus two and zero degrees with a moderate northwest breeze .
Thursday will be breezy with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers , some turning wintry in places .
There is a risk of hail and isolated thunderstorms .
Showers will become more frequent in the afternoon , especially along eastern coasts .
Highest temperatures will be between three and six degrees but feeling colder with fresh and gusty northerly winds .

Met Éireann has warned parts of Ireland may be hit with snow. A snow-covered Croagh Patrick in Westport. File photograph: Paul Mealey
A snow and ice warning is in place in the north of the country on Wednesday.
The yellow warning is in place from 6am on Wednesday to 7am on Thursday morning in Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.
Earlier, another yellow warning was in place for Cork, Tipperary and Waterford. This ended at midday.
A snow and ice warning issued by the UK Met office is also valid in Derry, Armagh, Antrim, Fermanagh, and Tyrone until midnight on Wednesday.
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Wednesday will be very cold with frost and icy conditions gradually clearing throughout the day. Rain and sleet, mostly due in Munster, and snow clearing in late morning.
It will be brighter in other parts of the country with scattered wintry showers, especially in northern and western coastal counties.
Highest temperatures will be between just two and three degrees.
Showers, some wintry, will continue in northern and western coastal counties on Wednesday night, while the rest of the country will remain relatively clear.
Showers will become more frequent towards dawn on Thursday in the north and northwest with sleet or snowfalls.
Lowest temperatures will be between minus two and zero degrees with a moderate northwest breeze.
Thursday will be breezy with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, some turning wintry in places. There is a risk of hail and isolated thunderstorms.
Showers will become more frequent in the afternoon, especially along eastern coasts. Highest temperatures will be between three and six degrees but feeling colder with fresh and gusty northerly winds.


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Third nationwide lockdown to last until at least the end of January

The country will on Thursday enter a third nationwide lockdown to last until at least the end of January following the rapid spread of coronavirus .
Schools will remain closed until January 11th in order to give families 10 days to minimise their social contacts .
All non-essential retail will close from Thursday night while social gatherings or visitors in the home are no longer permitted .
The public is being told to stay at home and not travel beyond a five-kilometre limit .
Indoor and outdoor sports such as in gyms , as well as tennis and golf , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Government Buildings following a special Cabinet meeting , Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the virus is “ spreading at a rate that has surpassed the most pessimistic models available to us ” .
It is understood that Tánaiste Leo Varadkar warned the Cabinet it is unlikely many of the restrictions will be lifted after the mooted end date of January 31st , while Ministers were also warned of the significant impact the move will have on the economy .
Mr Varadkar said on Wednesday night the decision to enter a stricter lockdown represented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and employers alike ” .
The pandemic unemployment payment will remain in place at current rates until the end of March at least , under a memo to be brought to Cabinet next week by the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys .
Some 40,000 additional workers will be laid off in the coming weeks in light of the tightened restrictions .
Businesses forced to close from Thursday will be given a double payment for two weeks under the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme ( CRSS ) .
The Taoiseach warned , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scarring effect ” on the economy .
“ The economic cost is significant .
The concern we would have is around the impact on certain sectors and companies in terms of a long-term scarring effect , so we will continue to evaluate that.
” While Mr Martin said schools will reopen on January 11th , a Government statement said there would be a “ further review on the precise situation in advance of that date ” .
“ Public health has been consistent in saying schools are safe places for children .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days [ off ] in some schools or two extra days in others .
By extending the break you are giving families an opportunity to put in place measures to ensure contacts are minimised and children can return safely to school.
” The Taoiseach said it is “ fair to say quite a number of these restrictions will continue beyond the end of this month ” .
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the ban on travel from Britain will be extended until January 6th while a separate ban on travel from South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same date after a similar new strain of Covid-19 was found there .
For the second day in a row , a new record for additional cases of the virus was set , with 1,718 positive tests reported .
Another 13 Covid-related deaths were also confirmed .
Public health officials responded to the worsening figures by telling people to “ stay home ” so transmission of the virus can be limited .
They also warned of up to 3,000 new cases a day and 1,200 patients in hospital by the end of January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said Ireland was once again in a mitigation phase , meaning resources should be focused on those who are sickest .
The Health Service Executive ( HSE ) warned the testing and contract tracing system is approaching maximum capacity .
Continued exponential growth in cases will challenge the system and reduce the marginal benefit it provides , officials said .
The benefit of individuals taking action to prevent infection “ far outweighs ” what testing and tracing can currently achieve , HSE chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most indicators of the disease have sharply deteriorated in the past week , with a 41 per cent increase in testing and a 129 per cent rise in contact-tracing calls .
The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital increased to 455 on Wednesday , up from 411 the previous day .
ICU numbers rose slightly to 37 , up three .
The reproduction number , a measure of the extent to which the virus is transmitting , is currently estimated at 1.6-1.8 , and case numbers are doubling every seven to 10 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are available , including 55 critical care beds .

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has announced the return of Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions for "at least one month", warning that measures to combat the spread of coronavirus are likely to continue after January 31st. Video: AFP
The country will on Thursday enter a third nationwide lockdown to last until at least the end of January following the rapid spread of coronavirus.
Schools will remain closed until January 11th in order to give families 10 days to minimise their social contacts.
All non-essential retail will close from Thursday night while social gatherings or visitors in the home are no longer permitted.
Hospital Report
The public is being told to stay at home and not travel beyond a five-kilometre limit. Indoor and outdoor sports such as in gyms, as well as tennis and golf, will also not be permitted.
READ MORE
Speaking at Government Buildings following a special Cabinet meeting, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the virus is “spreading at a rate that has surpassed the most pessimistic models available to us”.
It is understood that Tánaiste Leo Varadkar warned the Cabinet it is unlikely many of the restrictions will be lifted after the mooted end date of January 31st, while Ministers were also warned of the significant impact the move will have on the economy.
Mr Varadkar said on Wednesday night the decision to enter a stricter lockdown represented a “very hard blow for workers and employers alike”.
The pandemic unemployment payment will remain in place at current rates until the end of March at least, under a memo to be brought to Cabinet next week by the Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys. Some 40,000 additional workers will be laid off in the coming weeks in light of the tightened restrictions. Businesses forced to close from Thursday will be given a double payment for two weeks under the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS).
‘Scarring effect’
The Taoiseach warned, however, that there will be a long-term “scarring effect” on the economy.
“The economic cost is significant. The concern we would have is around the impact on certain sectors and companies in terms of a long-term scarring effect, so we will continue to evaluate that.”
While Mr Martin said schools will reopen on January 11th, a Government statement said there would be a "further review on the precise situation in advance of that date".
“Public health has been consistent in saying schools are safe places for children. In some cases this will be three extra days [off] in some schools or two extra days in others. By extending the break you are giving families an opportunity to put in place measures to ensure contacts are minimised and children can return safely to school.”
The Taoiseach said it is “fair to say quite a number of these restrictions will continue beyond the end of this month”.
Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the ban on travel from Britain will be extended until January 6th while a separate ban on travel from South Africa has also been announced until the same date after a similar new strain of Covid-19 was found there.
For the second day in a row, a new record for additional cases of the virus was set, with 1,718 positive tests reported. Another 13 Covid-related deaths were also confirmed.
Public health officials responded to the worsening figures by telling people to “stay home” so transmission of the virus can be limited.
Partial reduction
They also warned of up to 3,000 new cases a day and 1,200 patients in hospital by the end of January, even with partial reduction in transmission of the virus.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said Ireland was once again in a mitigation phase, meaning resources should be focused on those who are sickest.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) warned the testing and contract tracing system is approaching maximum capacity.
Continued exponential growth in cases will challenge the system and reduce the marginal benefit it provides, officials said.
The benefit of individuals taking action to prevent infection "far outweighs" what testing and tracing can currently achieve, HSE chief executive Paul Reid told a briefing.
Most indicators of the disease have sharply deteriorated in the past week, with a 41 per cent increase in testing and a 129 per cent rise in contact-tracing calls.
The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital increased to 455 on Wednesday, up from 411 the previous day. ICU numbers rose slightly to 37, up three.
The reproduction number, a measure of the extent to which the virus is transmitting, is currently estimated at 1.6-1.8, and case numbers are doubling every seven to 10 days.
The HSE says 650 hospital beds are available, including 55 critical care beds.


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Video of fatal Garda shooting of man to be investigated

Garda Ombudsman investigators are to examine a video capturing the fatal Garda shooting of a man in his front garden in west Dublin on Wednesday .
George Nkencho ( 27 ) was shot at least three times by members of the Blanchardstown Armed Support Unit ( ASU ) while allegedly brandishing a knife and threatening gardaí .
A 13-second mobile phone video shot by a passerby and confirmed by The Irish Times shows a man in a blue jumper surrounded by ASU members outside Mr Nkencho ’ s family house on Manorfields Drive in Clonee .
A gunshot can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen swinging his arm towards the officers .
It is not clear from the footage if there is something in his hand .
Another four shots are then heard .
The man appears to stumble before falling to the ground on the fifth shot .
The footage was taken from the other side of a green area in front of the house .
Sources say the shots all came from an official Garda weapon .
At least three hit Mr Nkencho .
ASU members administered first aid before Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics arrived @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by ambulance to James Connolly Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later .
The Garda said in a statement it implemented “ a graduated policing response ” after being threatened with a knife .
It is understood this involved the use of pepper spray followed by the firing of two Taser guns .
Gardaí also verbally ordered the deceased to drop the knife several times before using force , one source said .
The incident began just after midday when , according to eyewitnesses , Mr Nkencho entered the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a manager in the face , injuring the victim ’ s nose .
Mr Nkencho then produced a large knife from his pocket and brandished it towards staff .
He then walked into the post office section of the supermarket as unarmed gardaí began to arrive .
The supermarket manager was taken to hospital for treatment .
At least 12 unarmed gardaí followed Mr Nkencho out of the shop and through several housing estates while instructing him to drop the knife .
By the time Mr Nkencho arrived in his front garden at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blanchardstown Garda station and took over the operation .
This is when the fatal shots were fired .
The deceased and his family are originally from Nigeria but had been living in the area for many years .
Some family members were in the house at the time .
They have since been relocated to a friend ’ s house .
Gardaí have obtained the video of the shooting which will be passed on to investigators from the Garda Ombudsman Commission ( Gsoc ) .

A group of demonstrators have gathered at Blanchardstown Garda station to protest following the fatal shooting of George Nkencho (27) in Clonee, Dublin. Video: Collins
Garda Ombudsman investigators are to examine a video capturing the fatal Garda shooting of a man in his front garden in west Dublin on Wednesday.
George Nkencho (27) was shot at least three times by members of the Blanchardstown Armed Support Unit (ASU) while allegedly brandishing a knife and threatening gardaí.
A 13-second mobile phone video shot by a passerby and confirmed by The Irish Times shows a man in a blue jumper surrounded by ASU members outside Mr Nkencho's family house on Manorfields Drive in Clonee.
A gunshot can be heard before the man in blue is seen swinging his arm towards the officers. It is not clear from the footage if there is something in his hand.
READ MORE
Another four shots are then heard. The man appears to stumble before falling to the ground on the fifth shot.
The footage was taken from the other side of a green area in front of the house.
Sources say the shots all came from an official Garda weapon. At least three hit Mr Nkencho. ASU members administered first aid before Dublin Fire Brigade paramedics arrived and began CPR. He was taken by ambulance to James Connolly Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
George Nkencho was fatally shot by gardaí in the Manorfields area of Clonee, west Dublin, on Wednesday.
A protest was held outside Blanchardstown Garda station on Thursday following the man’s death. Several hundred protesters holding placards and chanting "justice for George” gathered for approximately two hours.
The Garda said in a statement it implemented “a graduated policing response” after being threatened with a knife. It is understood this involved the use of pepper spray followed by the firing of two Taser guns.
Gardaí also verbally ordered the deceased to drop the knife several times before using force, one source said.
The incident began just after midday when, according to eyewitnesses, Mr Nkencho entered the Eurospar supermarket in Hartstown were he punched a manager in the face, injuring the victim's nose. Mr Nkencho then produced a large knife from his pocket and brandished it towards staff.
Officers at the scene in Clonee, west Dublin, following the fatal Garda shooting. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Unarmed gardaí
He then walked into the post office section of the supermarket as unarmed gardaí began to arrive. The supermarket manager was taken to hospital for treatment.
At least 12 unarmed gardaí followed Mr Nkencho out of the shop and through several housing estates while instructing him to drop the knife.
By the time Mr Nkencho arrived in his front garden at 12.30pm, the ASU had arrived from Blanchardstown Garda station and took over the operation. This is when the fatal shots were fired.
The deceased and his family are originally from Nigeria but had been living in the area for many years. Some family members were in the house at the time. They have since been relocated to a friend's house.
Gardaí have obtained the video of the shooting which will be passed on to investigators from the Garda Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc).


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Review of allowances should look at other student groups as well as nurses – Siptu

The Government is expected to look at backdating any changes recommended by a review group to allowances for student nurses to the start of the college year .
An interim review of the allowances for first- to third-year student nurses , as well as the situation for those in fourth year who receive a pro-rated salary , is scheduled to be given to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Thursday .
This review will look at the current position in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic .
A second review to be completed in the weeks ahead will examine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , the trade union Siptu has argued that the Government should introduce paid allowances for students in other healthcare disciplines such as radiography in addition to nurses and midwives .
In its submission on the review Siptu said its terms of the reference were “ quite limited ” , and that it fully backed students across all grades being paid for their clinical placements in the health service .
It said students on placement did not have access to sick leave and could lose out financially if they had to isolate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected Covid-19 case .
The union suggested that the Government should consider introducing temporary healthcare assistant contracts for students across all grades .
The Government announced the reviews of allowances after it came under strong pressure in recent weeks from the Opposition and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) over payments for student nurses who were on placement in hospitals and in relation to what they were being asked to do while on their placement .
The Opposition maintained that students were effectively being asked to carry out work – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the regular roster during their placement rather than it being an opportunity for them to learn .
The INMO declined to comment on its submission to the new review .
Last spring the then government appointed student nurses and midwives to paid healthcare assistant posts , a scheme that cost €41 million .
Siptu argued strongly at the time that more than 50 student radiographers , who were working on the frontline in hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic , should receive equal treatment .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil earlier this month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be tolerated .
He said student nurses who were rostered for work should be paid .
He said personal experiences of individual nurses during their placement , which had been raised in the Dáil , should be sent to the HSE and Department of Health for investigation .
The HSE said last week that at senior management level it had not received any complaints from student nurses .
It said details of all supports available had been brought to the attention of the students .
It is understood that the Minister is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dáil about the experiences of student nurses during their placements .
It is unclear as to whether this report will be carried out by the HSE or by an independent third party .

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil earlier this month that any exploitation of student nurses would not be tolerated. Photograph: Getty images
The Government is expected to look at backdating any changes recommended by a review group to allowances for student nurses to the start of the college year.
An interim review of the allowances for first- to third-year student nurses, as well as the situation for those in fourth year who receive a pro-rated salary, is scheduled to be given to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Thursday.
This review will look at the current position in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. A second review to be completed in the weeks ahead will examine the situation in the medium to longer term.
Meanwhile, the trade union Siptu has argued that the Government should introduce paid allowances for students in other healthcare disciplines such as radiography in addition to nurses and midwives.
READ MORE
In its submission on the review Siptu said its terms of the reference were “quite limited”, and that it fully backed students across all grades being paid for their clinical placements in the health service.
It said students on placement did not have access to sick leave and could lose out financially if they had to isolate due to contact with a confirmed or suspected Covid-19 case.
The union suggested that the Government should consider introducing temporary healthcare assistant contracts for students across all grades.
The Government announced the reviews of allowances after it came under strong pressure in recent weeks from the Opposition and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) over payments for student nurses who were on placement in hospitals and in relation to what they were being asked to do while on their placement.
The Opposition maintained that students were effectively being asked to carry out work – without pay – similar to nurses on the regular roster during their placement rather than it being an opportunity for them to learn.
The INMO declined to comment on its submission to the new review.
Equal treatment
Last spring the then government appointed student nurses and midwives to paid healthcare assistant posts, a scheme that cost €41 million. Siptu argued strongly at the time that more than 50 student radiographers, who were working on the frontline in hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic, should receive equal treatment.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil earlier this month that any exploitation of student nurses would not be tolerated.
He said student nurses who were rostered for work should be paid. He said personal experiences of individual nurses during their placement, which had been raised in the Dáil, should be sent to the HSE and Department of Health for investigation.
The HSE said last week that at senior management level it had not received any complaints from student nurses. It said details of all supports available had been brought to the attention of the students.
It is understood that the Minister is seeking a report into claims made in the Dáil about the experiences of student nurses during their placements. It is unclear as to whether this report will be carried out by the HSE or by an independent third party.


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Taoiseach told of student nurses’ concerns as early as last summer

Shortly after 3.30pm on September 2nd , Taoiseach Micheál Martin sent an email to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly .
He was following up on correspondence received from a student nurse who expressed concern about unpaid placements in hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic .
Martin wanted Donnelly to have the student ’ s points examined and to let him know what he found out .
That student nurse , like many others , had previously had a part-time job as a healthcare assistant , in this case in a hospice .
However , given the potential danger of cross-infection between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the hospice , this arrangement could not continue .
The student told Martin that on making enquiries to “ social welfare offices/citizens ’ information ” on the situation , it was suggested “ that maybe I could take out a low-credit loan for the weeks I am on placement ” .
“ If there are no paid placements or financial supports available to student nurses this year , particularly because we are being expected to work on the frontline during a pandemic , I have pondered deferring my nursing career as financially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put myself through a year of college and placement without a wage coming in , ” the student said .
Ministers ’ offices receive representations on a very regular basis , and the Department of Health was at the forefront in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis .
However , the correspondence shows that while the whole row over student nurse placements and payments did not really ignite until weeks later , the issue had reached the top level of Government by September .
At the heart of this controversy are two separate but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State during their hospital placements , and what student nurses are being asked to do while they are there .
Ironically , it was the Taoiseach who was centrally involved in establishing the university-based training system for nurses when he was minister for health 20 years ago .
Up to that point an apprenticeship-style system was in place under which nurses were paid while they trained in hospitals .
Nursing students now divide their time between universities and hospitals .
In the first three years they complete placements ranging from around nine to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do a 36-week paid internship .
They receive the equivalent of an annual rate of €22,229 in the psychiatric service and €21,749 in other nursing disciplines .
Those in other years receive supports including an accommodation allowance of up to €50.79 per week , if they are away from home , as well as a refund of their travel expenses .
However , unions maintain that the payment of these allowances is not uniform .
Many student nurses supplemented these payments by working shifts , for example , in nursing homes .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant these arrangements had to stop .
Donnelly ’ s predecessor in health , Simon Harris , last spring moved to strengthen the workforce by offering student nurses and midwives paid roles as healthcare assistants .
For fourth-year students this effectively meant a pay rise as the healthcare assistant rate was higher than what they received for internships .
About 1,350 students in first to third year took on the paid roles , with the initiative costing €41 million .
In April and May , 17 student nurses contracted Covid-19 , a figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , by the late summer academic nursing courses were re-commencing and Harris ’ s initiative came to an end .
It was at that point that many students realised they would be left without their part-time shifts in nursing homes while they would no longer receive the healthcare assistant pay .
This was the backdrop to the letter sent by the student nurse to the Taoiseach on August 24th .
In mid-October , the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) went public after unsuccessful behind-the-scenes talks with the Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midwives are being exploited during Covid , ” the union claimed , adding that those on placement were being effectively asked to work as staff for no pay .
The department said on October 16th that it supported a revision of allowances paid to student nurses , “ and expects to conclude this revision in the coming days ” .
The INMO briefed Opposition parties about the student nurses ; however , it says it was not involved in devising or co-ordinating their political strategy .
Its campaign purposely featured student nurses telling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media to highlight their experiences .
For the Opposition , the narrative of student nurses working for free in hospitals during a pandemic presented a golden opportunity to criticise the Government .
Just as in the case of the Debenhams workers , who were fighting to secure the implementation of a better redundancy package that they had agreed with the retailer a number of years before it went out of business , the nurses ’ issue started with the trade unions but quickly became a political campaign .
Donnelly arranged for student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avail of the pandemic unemployment payment ( PUP ) .
However , the story had moved on to what the students said they were being asked to do in hospitals .
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald , Rise TD Paul Murphy and Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit read testimonies of student nurses in the Dáil .
“ We start our shifts at 7:30 am .
By 8am , we are rushing around carrying out observations , helping patients with toileting and washes .
This will bring us up to 10:30/11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do medications , blood sugars , feeds and toileting .
After lunch we try and get some documentation done , call doctors , check blood results and other tasks .
Teatime comes and we are back assisting with feeds , toileting and medication , ” explained one .
Another said : “ I have dressed and laid out babies who have passed away to be shown to their parents for the first time .
I have cried with women who have been told that their baby has died while they are alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin maintained strongly that no form of exploitation would be tolerated .
“ First-year students are not meant to be treating Covid patients , and they are not meant to be treating patients full stop .
Their education in clinical placements should be protected .
If it is not protected , it is unacceptable.
” He said student nurses who were rostered for work should be paid and the personal experiences raised in the Dáil should be sent to the HSE and department for investigation .
The HSE said that at management level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is understood that the Minister wants a report to be drawn up into the claims by student nurses , but it is unclear if this will be carried out by the HSE or an outside reviewer .
An initial review of allowances paid to student nurses is to be completed by the end of December .
A second examination of longer-term issues beyond the pandemic will commence early in the new year .

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly: In mid-October, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) went public after unsuccessful behind-the-scenes talks with the Department of Health. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Shortly after 3.30pm on September 2nd, Taoiseach Micheál Martin sent an email to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
He was following up on correspondence received from a student nurse who expressed concern about unpaid placements in hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Martin wanted Donnelly to have the student’s points examined and to let him know what he found out.
That student nurse, like many others, had previously had a part-time job as a healthcare assistant, in this case in a hospice. However, given the potential danger of cross-infection between placement in the hospital and a role in the hospice, this arrangement could not continue.
The student told Martin that on making enquiries to “social welfare offices/citizens’ information” on the situation, it was suggested “that maybe I could take out a low-credit loan for the weeks I am on placement”.
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“If there are no paid placements or financial supports available to student nurses this year, particularly because we are being expected to work on the frontline during a pandemic, I have pondered deferring my nursing career as financially I simply would not be able to put myself through a year of college and placement without a wage coming in,” the student said.
Ministers' offices receive representations on a very regular basis, and the Department of Health was at the forefront in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis.
However, the correspondence shows that while the whole row over student nurse placements and payments did not really ignite until weeks later, the issue had reached the top level of Government by September.
At the heart of this controversy are two separate but linked issues: the payment from the State during their hospital placements, and what student nurses are being asked to do while they are there.
Ironically, it was the Taoiseach who was centrally involved in establishing the university-based training system for nurses when he was minister for health 20 years ago. Up to that point an apprenticeship-style system was in place under which nurses were paid while they trained in hospitals.
Divide
Nursing students now divide their time between universities and hospitals. In the first three years they complete placements ranging from around nine to 12 weeks. Students in fourth year do a 36-week paid internship. They receive the equivalent of an annual rate of €22,229 in the psychiatric service and €21,749 in other nursing disciplines. Those in other years receive supports including an accommodation allowance of up to €50.79 per week, if they are away from home, as well as a refund of their travel expenses.
In April and May, 17 student nurses contracted Covid-19, a figure that would rise to 31 by November
However, unions maintain that the payment of these allowances is not uniform. Many student nurses supplemented these payments by working shifts, for example, in nursing homes. However, the dangers posed by Covid-19 effectively meant these arrangements had to stop.
Donnelly's predecessor in health, Simon Harris, last spring moved to strengthen the workforce by offering student nurses and midwives paid roles as healthcare assistants. For fourth-year students this effectively meant a pay rise as the healthcare assistant rate was higher than what they received for internships.
About 1,350 students in first to third year took on the paid roles, with the initiative costing €41 million.
In April and May, 17 student nurses contracted Covid-19, a figure that would rise to 31 by November.
However, by the late summer academic nursing courses were re-commencing and Harris’s initiative came to an end. It was at that point that many students realised they would be left without their part-time shifts in nursing homes while they would no longer receive the healthcare assistant pay. This was the backdrop to the letter sent by the student nurse to the Taoiseach on August 24th.
In mid-October, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) went public after unsuccessful behind-the-scenes talks with the Department of Health.
“Student nurses and midwives are being exploited during Covid,” the union claimed, adding that those on placement were being effectively asked to work as staff for no pay.
Revision
The department said on October 16th that it supported a revision of allowances paid to student nurses, “and expects to conclude this revision in the coming days”.
The INMO briefed Opposition parties about the student nurses; however, it says it was not involved in devising or co-ordinating their political strategy. Its campaign purposely featured student nurses telling their stories, while others separately used social media to highlight their experiences.
For the Opposition, the narrative of student nurses working for free in hospitals during a pandemic presented a golden opportunity to criticise the Government. Just as in the case of the Debenhams workers, who were fighting to secure the implementation of a better redundancy package that they had agreed with the retailer a number of years before it went out of business, the nurses' issue started with the trade unions but quickly became a political campaign.
First-year students are not meant to be treating Covid patients, and they are not meant to be treating patients full stop
Donnelly arranged for student nurses who lost their part-time jobs to avail of the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP). However, the story had moved on to what the students said they were being asked to do in hospitals.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, Rise TD Paul Murphy and Richard Boyd Barrett of People Before Profit read testimonies of student nurses in the Dáil.
“We start our shifts at 7:30 am. By 8am, we are rushing around carrying out observations, helping patients with toileting and washes. This will bring us up to 10:30/11. Twelve o’clock comes and we do medications, blood sugars, feeds and toileting. After lunch we try and get some documentation done, call doctors, check blood results and other tasks. Teatime comes and we are back assisting with feeds, toileting and medication,” explained one.
‘Passed away’
Another said: “I have dressed and laid out babies who have passed away to be shown to their parents for the first time. I have cried with women who have been told that their baby has died while they are alone in hospitals with the current restrictions.”
Martin maintained strongly that no form of exploitation would be tolerated.
“First-year students are not meant to be treating Covid patients, and they are not meant to be treating patients full stop. Their education in clinical placements should be protected. If it is not protected, it is unacceptable.”
He said student nurses who were rostered for work should be paid and the personal experiences raised in the Dáil should be sent to the HSE and department for investigation.
The HSE said that at management level no complaints had been received. It is understood that the Minister wants a report to be drawn up into the claims by student nurses, but it is unclear if this will be carried out by the HSE or an outside reviewer.
An initial review of allowances paid to student nurses is to be completed by the end of December. A second examination of longer-term issues beyond the pandemic will commence early in the new year.


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Ireland’s climate: A year of extremes, from wettest February to driest spring

Any notion Ireland in 2020 escaped the effects of global heating that is triggering more extreme weather events does not tally with Met Éireann ’ s data for the year .
Looking at those figures , and trends over many years , the fate of Ireland in terms of facing into more variable weather patterns with potential for extremes could not be clearer , according to Met Éireann ’ s senior climatologist Keith Lambkin .
His verdict on the year is emphatic : “ In Ireland , 2020 is on course to be the 10th consecutive year of above-normal temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spring in places led to flooding followed by a national hosepipe ban .
These are extremes that we expect to see more of as our climate continues to change.
” There are enough standout figures to indicate there are no grounds for complacency in relation to extreme weather , though “ there might not have been as much damage as other years – and thankfully no deaths ” , he says .
For starters , Lambkin points to 2.5 times more rainfall in February – 16 of 25 monitoring stations recorded their wettest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during “ a very unseasonal Storm Ellen ” in August .
What ’ s more , 19 of the 20 years of this century have had an above-normal temperature .
The picture globally is more obvious in terms of extremes .
2020 has been marked by a record hurricane season in the Atlantic ; wildfires across the planet , from Siberia to the Americas to Australia ; accelerating melting ice sheets in polar regions and record temperatures in a great many pockets of the planet .
In contrast , Ireland is in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he describes it .
We have variable weather normally , which will continue , Lambkin adds , but with potential for more extreme events , where roofs may come off stadiums and flood defence walls are broken .
So while there may be a perception that 2020 was a relatively benign year , the picture from the perspective of a climatologist looking at trends over a longer period is “ very consistent ” .
That means wetter winters and drier springs including droughts than we have been used to .
So rainfall will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but how that manifests itself will be the critical factor .
A complex interaction of rain , winds and tides will often combine , resulting in extreme weather events that will be increasingly evident .
In the case of February , it was the amount of rain that fell which was the standout feature .
That was quickly followed an extended drying period .
“ So 2020 is a great example of that trend , ” Lambkin explains .
Huge variation this year was typified in the switch from record rainfall to parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on record .
Countrywide , only 58 per cent of normal rainfall fell in March , April and May .
During August , sustained wind and gust records were broken during Storm Ellen .
As 2020 draws to a close , the world has experienced the warmest decade on record and one of the three hottest years ever measured , according to the World Meteorological Organization .
This is in spite of a La Niña event , Lambkin says – when natural weather patterns cool global temperatures .
This is expected to peak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the early part of next year .
Record warm years usually coincide with a strong El Niño event – when surface water in the equatorial Pacific becomes warmer than average and east winds blow weaker than normal , as was the case in 2016 .
We are now experiencing a La Niña , which has a cooling effect on global temperatures , but has not been sufficient to put a brake on this year ’ s heat , Lambkin confirms .
And despite Covid-19 lockdown , global concentrations of greenhouse gases continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complex , but the message is clear : to reduce the extremes , we must reduce the warming , ” he adds .
“ The warming we see globally is also observed here in Ireland and it is this warming that increases the risk of more extreme weather events.
” Of most concern , this warming is “ on an accelerating path , and there is no real slowing the trend downwards ” .
A report by Christian Aid shows extreme weather events occurred in all continents during 2020 , many of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The report – Counting the cost 2020 : a year of climate breakdown – details the most destructive climate disasters of the year .
Ten of those events cost $ 1.5 billion or more , with nine of them causing damage worth at least $ 5 billion .
Most of these estimates are based only on insured losses , meaning the true financial costs are likely to be higher .
Among them is Storm Ciara , which struck Ireland , the UK and other European countries in February , costing $ 2.7 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report focuses on financial costs , which are usually higher in richer countries because they have more valuable property , some extreme weather events were devastating in poorer countries , though the price tag was lower .
South Sudan experienced one of its worst floods on record , which killed 138 people and destroyed the year ’ s crops .
Some of the disasters hit fast , such as Cyclone Amphan , which struck the Bay of Bengal in May , fuelled by record warm temperatures in nearby seas , and caused losses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a few days .
Other events unfolded over months , such as floods in China and India , costing an estimated $ 32 billion and $ 10 billion respectively .
Six of the 10 most costly events took place in Asia , five of them associated with an unusually rainy monsoon .
And in Africa , huge locust swarms ravaged crops and vegetation across several countries , causing damage estimated at $ 8.5 billion .
The outbreak has been linked to wet conditions brought about by unusual rains fuelled by climate change .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ciara and Alex , had a combined cost of almost $ 6 billion ( €4.88 billion ) , while the US suffered from both a record-breaking hurricane season and a record-breaking fire season adding up to more than $ 60 billion ( €48.82 billion ) in damage .
Some less-populated places also suffered the consequences of a warming world .
In Siberia , a heatwave during the first half of the year set a record in the city of Verkhoyansk , with temperatures reaching 38 degrees .
Heat and drought drove the fires @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brazil .
While there were no human casualties reported from these events , it had a terrible impact on biodiversity and the planet ’ s capacity to respond to a warmer world .
While climate disruption may have influenced these events , many of the countries that bear little responsibility for global warming were affected , the report underlines .
“ Whether it be floods in Asia , locusts in Africa or storms in Europe and the Americas , climate change has continued to rage in 2020 , ” said report author Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate policy lead .
“ It is vital that 2021 ushers in a new era of activity to turn this tide .
With president-elect Biden in the White House , social movements across the world calling for urgent action , post-Covid green recovery investment and a crucial UN climate summit hosted by the UK , there is a major opportunity for countries to put us on a path to a safe future .
”

Photographs taken from drones showing the extent of widespread flooding in the Shannon river catchment during February 2020, due to 252 per cent of normal rainfall. Photomontage: Paul Scott/Irish Times Graphics Studio
Any notion Ireland in 2020 escaped the effects of global heating that is triggering more extreme weather events does not tally with Met Éireann's data for the year.
Looking at those figures, and trends over many years, the fate of Ireland in terms of facing into more variable weather patterns with potential for extremes could not be clearer, according to Met Éireann's senior climatologist Keith Lambkin.
His verdict on the year is emphatic: “In Ireland, 2020 is on course to be the 10th consecutive year of above-normal temperatures. A record-breaking wet February and dry spring in places led to flooding followed by a national hosepipe ban. These are extremes that we expect to see more of as our climate continues to change.”
There are enough standout figures to indicate there are no grounds for complacency in relation to extreme weather, though “there might not have been as much damage as other years – and thankfully no deaths”, he says.
READ MORE
For starters, Lambkin points to 2.5 times more rainfall in February – 16 of 25 monitoring stations recorded their wettest February ever – and records being broken during “a very unseasonal Storm Ellen” in August. What’s more, 19 of the 20 years of this century have had an above-normal temperature.
The picture globally is more obvious in terms of extremes. 2020 has been marked by a record hurricane season in the Atlantic; wildfires across the planet, from Siberia to the Americas to Australia; accelerating melting ice sheets in polar regions and record temperatures in a great many pockets of the planet.
In contrast, Ireland is in a “longer burner” scenario, as he describes it. We have variable weather normally, which will continue, Lambkin adds, but with potential for more extreme events, where roofs may come off stadiums and flood defence walls are broken.
So while there may be a perception that 2020 was a relatively benign year, the picture from the perspective of a climatologist looking at trends over a longer period is “very consistent”.
Droughts
That means wetter winters and drier springs including droughts than we have been used to. So rainfall will increase by some 10 per cent, but how that manifests itself will be the critical factor. A complex interaction of rain, winds and tides will often combine, resulting in extreme weather events that will be increasingly evident.
In the case of February, it was the amount of rain that fell which was the standout feature. That was quickly followed an extended drying period. “So 2020 is a great example of that trend,” Lambkin explains.
Huge variation this year was typified in the switch from record rainfall to parts of the east having their driest spring on record. Countrywide, only 58 per cent of normal rainfall fell in March, April and May. During August, sustained wind and gust records were broken during Storm Ellen.
As 2020 draws to a close, the world has experienced the warmest decade on record and one of the three hottest years ever measured, according to the World Meteorological Organization.
This is in spite of a La Niña event, Lambkin says – when natural weather patterns cool global temperatures. This is expected to peak in intensity in coming weeks and continue through the early part of next year.
The warming we see globally is also observed here in Ireland and it is this warming that increases the risk of more extreme weather events
Record warm years usually coincide with a strong El Niño event – when surface water in the equatorial Pacific becomes warmer than average and east winds blow weaker than normal, as was the case in 2016.
We are now experiencing a La Niña, which has a cooling effect on global temperatures, but has not been sufficient to put a brake on this year’s heat, Lambkin confirms.
And despite Covid-19 lockdown, global concentrations of greenhouse gases continue to rise. “The science is complex, but the message is clear: to reduce the extremes, we must reduce the warming,” he adds. “The warming we see globally is also observed here in Ireland and it is this warming that increases the risk of more extreme weather events.”
Of most concern, this warming is “on an accelerating path, and there is no real slowing the trend downwards”.
The global picture
A report by Christian Aid shows extreme weather events occurred in all continents during 2020, many of which caused death and widespread economic damage.
The report – Counting the cost 2020: a year of climate breakdown – details the most destructive climate disasters of the year.
Ten of those events cost $1.5 billion or more, with nine of them causing damage worth at least $5 billion. Most of these estimates are based only on insured losses, meaning the true financial costs are likely to be higher.
Among them is Storm Ciara, which struck Ireland, the UK and other European countries in February, costing $2.7 billion and killing 14 people.
While the report focuses on financial costs, which are usually higher in richer countries because they have more valuable property, some extreme weather events were devastating in poorer countries, though the price tag was lower. South Sudan experienced one of its worst floods on record, which killed 138 people and destroyed the year's crops.
Some of the disasters hit fast, such as Cyclone Amphan, which struck the Bay of Bengal in May, fuelled by record warm temperatures in nearby seas, and caused losses valued at $13 billion in just a few days. Other events unfolded over months, such as floods in China and India, costing an estimated $32 billion and $10 billion respectively.
Six of the 10 most costly events took place in Asia, five of them associated with an unusually rainy monsoon. And in Africa, huge locust swarms ravaged crops and vegetation across several countries, causing damage estimated at $8.5 billion. The outbreak has been linked to wet conditions brought about by unusual rains fuelled by climate change.
Hurricane season
In Europe, two extra-tropical cyclones, Ciara and Alex, had a combined cost of almost $6 billion (€4.88 billion), while the US suffered from both a record-breaking hurricane season and a record-breaking fire season adding up to more than $60 billion (€48.82 billion) in damage.
Some less-populated places also suffered the consequences of a warming world. In Siberia, a heatwave during the first half of the year set a record in the city of Verkhoyansk, with temperatures reaching 38 degrees.
Whether it be floods in Asia, locusts in Africa or storms in Europe and the Americas, climate change has continued to rage in 2020
Heat and drought drove the fires in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. While there were no human casualties reported from these events, it had a terrible impact on biodiversity and the planet's capacity to respond to a warmer world.
While climate disruption may have influenced these events, many of the countries that bear little responsibility for global warming were affected, the report underlines.
"Whether it be floods in Asia, locusts in Africa or storms in Europe and the Americas, climate change has continued to rage in 2020," said report author Dr Kat Kramer, Christian Aid's climate policy lead. "It is vital that 2021 ushers in a new era of activity to turn this tide. With president-elect Biden in the White House, social movements across the world calling for urgent action, post-Covid green recovery investment and a crucial UN climate summit hosted by the UK, there is a major opportunity for countries to put us on a path to a safe future."


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Nursing home residents testing positive after return from hospitals, Hiqa warns

Nursing home residents are picking up the coronavirus while in hospitals and then testing positive after being transferred back into care homes , the State healthcare regulator recently told the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) .
The transfer of patients from acute hospitals into nursing homes was believed to be one reason behind the spread of the virus into the care facilities during the start of the pandemic in March .
A senior Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) official recently warned the HSE that acute hospitals were again responsible for confirmed cases in nursing homes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of social services , escalated concerns about the issue to the HSE in a November 19th email .
“ There have been a number of incidents where residents who tested negative prior to return from hospital subsequently test positive after being identified as a close contact of a Covid-detected patient in the acute hospital , ” he said .
Mr Colfer said stricter procedures were needed around residents returning from hospitals to nursing homes .
While patients were tested for Covid-19 before being admitted and transferred back from hospital , nursing homes were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discharge , he said .
Mr Colfer said several nursing homes were also reporting they were losing staff as a result of HSE recruitment , and that agency staff were not included in recurring testing of nursing home residents and staff .
“ Notably staff are leaving the nursing home to join contact-tracing teams .
These jobs are offered and staff are advised that they have to take up the post within a week , significantly impacting on the nursing homes , ” he said .
“ We have been advised that agency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home are not included in serial testing of staff , ” he added .
The correspondence between Hiqa and the HSE was released to The Irish Times following a request under the Freedom of Information Act .
In a statement , the HSE said it had engaged with private nursing homes since early 2020 to assist them during the pandemic .
“ This has been both nationally , through their representative body , Nursing Homes Ireland , and locally through individual providers and the community healthcare organisation network.
” Supports provided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPE ) and other supplies , infection control advice , help sourcing extra staff , and in some cases direct reassignment of HSE staff into facilities , it said .
“ The HSE does not want to deplete any health services employees in the private or public sector and is not targeting staff from nursing homes .
The HSE advertises posts in a transparent and open way and candidates who consider they meet the criteria are eligible to apply , ” it said .
“ The vast majority of HSE recruitment is through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and also through local and national recruitment by the HSE , ” it added .
The roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine to the more than 70,000 residents and staff in nursing homes is to begin on a small scale next week , before ramping up from January 11th .
It is hoped all 580 nursing homes will be covered by two doses of the vaccine by February 28th .
However , the HSE has warned possible outbreaks in some nursing homes may delay this timeline .

The roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine to the more than 70,000 residents and staff in nursing homes is to begin on a small scale next week, before ramping up from January 11th. Photograph: iStock
Nursing home residents are picking up the coronavirus while in hospitals and then testing positive after being transferred back into care homes, the State healthcare regulator recently told the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The transfer of patients from acute hospitals into nursing homes was believed to be one reason behind the spread of the virus into the care facilities during the start of the pandemic in March.
A senior Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) official recently warned the HSE that acute hospitals were again responsible for confirmed cases in nursing homes.
Hospital Report
Finbarr Colfer, Hiqa deputy chief inspector of social services, escalated concerns about the issue to the HSE in a November 19th email.
READ MORE
“There have been a number of incidents where residents who tested negative prior to return from hospital subsequently test positive after being identified as a close contact of a Covid-detected patient in the acute hospital,” he said.
Mr Colfer said stricter procedures were needed around residents returning from hospitals to nursing homes.
While patients were tested for Covid-19 before being admitted and transferred back from hospital, nursing homes were seeking testing seven and 10 days post discharge, he said.
Mr Colfer said several nursing homes were also reporting they were losing staff as a result of HSE recruitment, and that agency staff were not included in recurring testing of nursing home residents and staff.
“Notably staff are leaving the nursing home to join contact-tracing teams. These jobs are offered and staff are advised that they have to take up the post within a week, significantly impacting on the nursing homes,” he said.
“We have been advised that agency staff working lines of duty in a nursing home are not included in serial testing of staff,” he added.
The correspondence between Hiqa and the HSE was released to The Irish Times following a request under the Freedom of Information Act.
In a statement, the HSE said it had engaged with private nursing homes since early 2020 to assist them during the pandemic.
“This has been both nationally, through their representative body, Nursing Homes Ireland, and locally through individual providers and the community healthcare organisation network.”
Supports
Supports provided to nursing homes included personal protective equipment (PPE) and other supplies, infection control advice, help sourcing extra staff, and in some cases direct reassignment of HSE staff into facilities, it said.
“The HSE does not want to deplete any health services employees in the private or public sector and is not targeting staff from nursing homes. The HSE advertises posts in a transparent and open way and candidates who consider they meet the criteria are eligible to apply,” it said.
“The vast majority of HSE recruitment is through local campaigns in hospitals and the community, and also through local and national recruitment by the HSE,” it added.
The roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine to the more than 70,000 residents and staff in nursing homes is to begin on a small scale next week, before ramping up from January 11th.
It is hoped all 580 nursing homes will be covered by two doses of the vaccine by February 28th. However, the HSE has warned possible outbreaks in some nursing homes may delay this timeline.


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Garda begin seizing highly-potent cannabis

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has begun seizing a highly-potent cannabis product that is about four times stronger than regular herbal cannabis .
The concentrated substance , which has been found during gangland drugs searches , is known as “ cannabis shatter ” or “ weed shatter ” .
Some 490g of the drug , valued at about €32,000 , was seized by the bureau during its operations in the first 11 months of the year , figures provided to The Irish Times show .
The drug had never been seized by the Garda before this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or hash , which was once the most popular drug in the State , was not found during any searches by the bureau in the period to the end of November .
Garda sources said it had been almost completely displaced by herbal cannabis or weed on the Irish drugs market .
Up until about 15 to 20 years ago cannabis resin , a crumbly substance sprinkled into tobacco and rolled up , dominated the Irish drugs trade and had a tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ) rate of about 7 per cent .
THC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cannabis herb , a dried plant that is smoked , often has a THC rate of about 20 per cent .
However , cannabis shatter often has a THC rate of 80 per cent .
Some advertisements for cannabis shatter , which is legal in parts of the United States , claim to have THC rates above 95 per cent .
Cannabis shatter resembles honey in colour but is solid like toffee .
It is made from trichomes , or fluff-like growth , on the outside of cannabis plants which are separated from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trichomes are gathered and heated to remove the butane .
The resulting substance is then mixed to a creamy or thick liquid texture and solidifies into thin slabs known as “ shatter ” .
The substance is consumed by users by heating it and inhaling the smoke .
It is sometimes referred to as “ the crack of cannabis ” as it is smoked in a similar way to crack cocaine , often in a pipe .
Cannabis shatter can lead to poisoning , especially when consumed by people who are not experienced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cannabis possession for personal use was added to the adult caution system in December , meaning a first-time offence will not lead to a conviction , that measure only applies to cannabis resin and herbal cannabis .
Cannabis shatter or other cannabis products are not included .

The Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau has begun seizing a highly-potent cannabis product that is about four times stronger than regular herbal cannabis.
The concentrated substance, which has been found during gangland drugs searches, is known as “cannabis shatter” or “weed shatter”.
Some 490g of the drug, valued at about €32,000, was seized by the bureau during its operations in the first 11 months of the year, figures provided to The Irish Times show. The drug had never been seized by the Garda before this year, senior sources said.
Cannabis resin or hash, which was once the most popular drug in the State, was not found during any searches by the bureau in the period to the end of November.
READ MORE
Garda sources said it had been almost completely displaced by herbal cannabis or weed on the Irish drugs market.
THC rate
Up until about 15 to 20 years ago cannabis resin, a crumbly substance sprinkled into tobacco and rolled up, dominated the Irish drugs trade and had a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) rate of about 7 per cent. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Cannabis herb, a dried plant that is smoked, often has a THC rate of about 20 per cent.
However, cannabis shatter often has a THC rate of 80 per cent. Some advertisements for cannabis shatter, which is legal in parts of the United States, claim to have THC rates above 95 per cent.
Cannabis shatter resembles honey in colour but is solid like toffee. It is made from trichomes, or fluff-like growth, on the outside of cannabis plants which are separated from the plant using butane gas.
The trichomes are gathered and heated to remove the butane. The resulting substance is then mixed to a creamy or thick liquid texture and solidifies into thin slabs known as “shatter”.
‘Crack of cannabis’
The substance is consumed by users by heating it and inhaling the smoke. It is sometimes referred to as “the crack of cannabis” as it is smoked in a similar way to crack cocaine, often in a pipe.
Cannabis shatter can lead to poisoning, especially when consumed by people who are not experienced with smoking or consuming cannabis.
While cannabis possession for personal use was added to the adult caution system in December, meaning a first-time offence will not lead to a conviction, that measure only applies to cannabis resin and herbal cannabis. Cannabis shatter or other cannabis products are not included.


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Microscopic metal particles in air pollution linked to brain disease

In a playground in Manchester , next to a busy road , Dr Barbara Maher captures air samples to bring back to her lab at Lancaster University .
In a thimble full of air she records hundreds of thousands of microscopic particles , some rich in iron .
Others are pieces of soot from traffic fumes , but up to one-fifth are metal .
There is growing evidence that these often strongly magnetic particles can worm into our brains and set in motion what looks worryingly like the early stages of Alzheimer ’ s and Parkinson ’ s disease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ special microscope at slivers of human brain .
Inside cells she observes clumps of bright metal particles , rich in iron and aluminium , sometimes titanium too .
“ The cytotoxicity of those metals is well known , ” she explains , meaning they are poisonous to our cells .
Close by these metal clumps she and her medical colleagues detected damage in brain stem tissue and misfolded proteins , hallmarks of diseases such as Alzheimer ’ s .
Maher believes these particles originated from pollution .
The postmortem brain tissue in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Mexico City .
Metal-bearing nanoparticles are abundant in the air of Mexico City , with more than half containing iron , lead or zinc .
Maher found metal nanoparticles in almost all samples of the brainstem she examined , including young adults .
Where these particles were there tended to be damage to neurons , she says , “ even in individuals as young as 11 months of age.
” The same quantities were not in people from a cleaner Mexican city .
In ongoing work Maher is finding such metal-rich particles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lived in Manchester , though fewer of them .
Crucially , most of the particles in the brain measure just 20 to 30 nanometres across .
Red blood cells are giants in comparison , spanning eight microns ( 0.008 mm ) or 400 times the size of the nanoparticles .
Being so small turns out to be significant – and concerning .
“ We know that these particles can access the brain by routes you wouldn ’ t ordinarily think of , ” says Dr Deborah Cory-Slechta , environmental scientist at the University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ When you breathe it in , that air pollution hits the top of your nose and the ultrafine particles are taken up and transported directly into the brain.
” Another route , she says , is down the trigeminal nerve , the largest nerve in our head , which sends signals for facial expressions and chewing .
This allows the particles to bypass the blood brain barrier , a moat of cells blocking toxins from crossing into our brains from the body .
Cory-Slechta is troubled by pile-ups of iron particles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brain with age , but more so in the diseased brain .
“ There ’ s always excess iron in the brain for all the neurodegenerative diseases I ’ ve looked at so far.
” She believes that for many people , exposure to metal pollutants begins in the womb , and continues throughout their life .
She also blames air pollution .
Iron is “ frequently found at unusually high concentrations in ultrafine air pollution , though often with other metals such as copper and zinc ” .
Normally iron is chaperoned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so tightly controlled .
Unlike a metal such as gold , iron is reactive and can strip electrons from our proteins .
This can lead to “ oxidative stress ” in our brains , says Cory-Slechta .
“ It is not really clear that the brain has a way to get rid of iron if there ’ s too much , ” she adds .
A study in Nature Communications this year from China found nanoparticles in blood samples and also in fluid from the lungs of people living in polluted areas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ metal-containing nanoparticles sitting within damaged mitochondria , the “ power stations ” that generate energy in our cells .
“ To see clusters of iron-rich particles sitting inside these structures is not normal .
We find them associated with titanium and aluminium , and these metals definitely should not be in the brain.
” Maher suspects that inhaled metal particles eventually overwhelm the brain ’ s protective mechanisms , so cells die , which triggers inflammation .
However , it is not proven that metal particles we breathe injure our brains and lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s .
“ The concept of particulate matter accumulating in the brain and driving the pathology is a neat concept , ” says Dr Matthew Campbell , neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin .
But he is unconvinced that the evidence is strong enough to show that particles are causing brain conditions such as Alzheimer ’ s .
“ What you see may not be the cause of the disease , ” he says , regarding the postmortem brain tissue .
A scientific journal editor suggested to Maher that one way to prove the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expose primates to pollution and monitor their brains , something Maher does not want to do .
Campbell agrees that such evidence is needed .
He would “ want to see multiple animal species being exposed to particulate matter and driving the pathology that mimics or is like Alzheimer ’ s disease.
” Maher is convinced that there is enough evidence for policy-makers to consider actions .
It is known that living close to major roads is linked to higher risk of dementia .
“ Seeing all these particles directly associated with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , is strongly suggestive that we need to be doing something to reduce their abundance in the air that we are breathing , ” she says .
Early signs of damage are seen in young , highly exposed people , including behavioural issues , cognitive impairment and balance problems , says Maher , and intervening in elderly people is already too late .
For Campbell it makes sense to reduce particulate matter pollution anyway , including for cardiovascular health .
“ Nobody wants to be breathing in particulate matter.
” Corey-Slechta has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in her lab in upstate New York .
She takes in outside air and extracts the smallest particles .
The ultrafine pollution is then pumped into the cages of mice , so that she can see effects from inhaling these particles .
When she looks at the brains of young mice “ I ’ m finding increased levels of two proteins that are very characteristic of Alzheimer ’ s disease , beta-amyloid and tau.
” She has lots of questions , such as what happens if the mice are exposed early in life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which she hopes to answer .
While enormous efforts are rightly taken to prevent deaths and illness from Covid-19 , air pollution is an unseen menace that is impacting almost everyone and probably causing harm to brain health .
Earlier this year Maher and researchers in Trinity College Dublin linked open-fire use in Ireland with poorer test scores in fluency and recall .
The link was stronger among women , which the scientists blamed on them breathing in more fire particles by spending more time at home than men , on average .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ particles above 2.5 microns in diameter – larger than the ultrafine metal particles .
In November a study in Lancet Planet Health showed that living in areas with higher levels of PM2.5 was significantly linked to an increased risk of hospital admission for Parkinson ’ s , Alzheimer ’ s and related dementias .
The US study showed that there was no safe level where PM2.5 pollution causes no harm .
PM2.5 is monitored and regulated .
The smallest more numerous particles are not .
Further , the only metal regulated in air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a strong case to track and regulate metals such as iron in the air , says Cory-Slechta .
These metal-rich particles often spew out from cars , trucks and buses , but have no odour and can not be seen .
“ Metals come from brake wear , engine exhaust and engine wear , ” says Maher .
“ Aluminium and iron are also very common in smokestack emissions from burning coal.
” She says studies show that urban air pollution is especially harmful , possibly due to metal nanoparticles .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially where cars are braking and accelerating .
Maher predicts that electric cars will generate fewer metal particles , not just by having no exhaust fumes but because they use regenerative braking , rather than friction .
Which is good news .
Scientists say adults should try to reduce exposure to metal nanoparticles by not walking or cycling along busy roads .
Or driving on them , says Maher .
“ Anything you can do to reduce the amount of times you are exposed in this way is a good thing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brains are still developing .
”

Studies show that urban air pollution is especially harmful, possibly due to metal nanoparticles. The highest concentrations waft along our busiest roads, especially where cars are braking and accelerating. Photograph: Getty Images
In a playground in Manchester, next to a busy road, Dr Barbara Maher captures air samples to bring back to her lab at Lancaster University. In a thimble full of air she records hundreds of thousands of microscopic particles, some rich in iron.
Others are pieces of soot from traffic fumes, but up to one-fifth are metal. There is growing evidence that these often strongly magnetic particles can worm into our brains and set in motion what looks worryingly like the early stages of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
On another day Maher looks down a special microscope at slivers of human brain. Inside cells she observes clumps of bright metal particles, rich in iron and aluminium, sometimes titanium too. “The cytotoxicity of those metals is well known,” she explains, meaning they are poisonous to our cells.
Close by these metal clumps she and her medical colleagues detected damage in brain stem tissue and misfolded proteins, hallmarks of diseases such as Alzheimer’s. Maher believes these particles originated from pollution.
READ MORE
The postmortem brain tissue in the study is from 186 individuals who lived in Mexico City. Metal-bearing nanoparticles are abundant in the air of Mexico City, with more than half containing iron, lead or zinc.
Maher found metal nanoparticles in almost all samples of the brainstem she examined, including young adults. Where these particles were there tended to be damage to neurons, she says, “even in individuals as young as 11 months of age.”
The same quantities were not in people from a cleaner Mexican city. In ongoing work Maher is finding such metal-rich particles in the brains of people who had lived in Manchester, though fewer of them.
Crucially, most of the particles in the brain measure just 20 to 30 nanometres across. Red blood cells are giants in comparison, spanning eight microns (0.008 mm) or 400 times the size of the nanoparticles.
Concerning
Being so small turns out to be significant – and concerning.
“We know that these particles can access the brain by routes you wouldn’t ordinarily think of,” says Dr Deborah Cory-Slechta, environmental scientist at the University of Rochester medical centre in New York. “When you breathe it in, that air pollution hits the top of your nose and the ultrafine particles are taken up and transported directly into the brain.”
Another route, she says, is down the trigeminal nerve, the largest nerve in our head, which sends signals for facial expressions and chewing. This allows the particles to bypass the blood brain barrier, a moat of cells blocking toxins from crossing into our brains from the body.
Cory-Slechta is troubled by pile-ups of iron particles, which seem to accumulate in the brain with age, but more so in the diseased brain.
“There’s always excess iron in the brain for all the neurodegenerative diseases I’ve looked at so far.”
She believes that for many people, exposure to metal pollutants begins in the womb, and continues throughout their life.
She also blames air pollution. Iron is “frequently found at unusually high concentrations in ultrafine air pollution, though often with other metals such as copper and zinc” .
Normally iron is chaperoned around the body by proteins, and so tightly controlled. Unlike a metal such as gold, iron is reactive and can strip electrons from our proteins. This can lead to “oxidative stress” in our brains, says Cory-Slechta.
“It is not really clear that the brain has a way to get rid of iron if there’s too much,” she adds.
Blood samples
A study in Nature Communications this year from China found nanoparticles in blood samples and also in fluid from the lungs of people living in polluted areas.
Looking in brain cells, Maher saw metal-containing nanoparticles sitting within damaged mitochondria, the “power stations” that generate energy in our cells. “To see clusters of iron-rich particles sitting inside these structures is not normal. We find them associated with titanium and aluminium, and these metals definitely should not be in the brain.”
Maher suspects that inhaled metal particles eventually overwhelm the brain’s protective mechanisms, so cells die, which triggers inflammation. However, it is not proven that metal particles we breathe injure our brains and lead to brain disease such as Alzheimer’s.
"The concept of particulate matter accumulating in the brain and driving the pathology is a neat concept," says Dr Matthew Campbell, neuroscientist at Trinity College Dublin. But he is unconvinced that the evidence is strong enough to show that particles are causing brain conditions such as Alzheimer's. "What you see may not be the cause of the disease," he says, regarding the postmortem brain tissue.
A scientific journal editor suggested to Maher that one way to prove the link between pollution and brain disease is to expose primates to pollution and monitor their brains, something Maher does not want to do.
Campbell agrees that such evidence is needed. He would “want to see multiple animal species being exposed to particulate matter and driving the pathology that mimics or is like Alzheimer’s disease.”
Maher is convinced that there is enough evidence for policy-makers to consider actions. It is known that living close to major roads is linked to higher risk of dementia. “
Seeing all these particles directly associated with neurological damage, even in very young people, is strongly suggestive that we need to be doing something to reduce their abundance in the air that we are breathing,” she says.
Balance problems
Early signs of damage are seen in young, highly exposed people, including behavioural issues, cognitive impairment and balance problems, says Maher, and intervening in elderly people is already too late.
For Campbell it makes sense to reduce particulate matter pollution anyway, including for cardiovascular health. “Nobody wants to be breathing in particulate matter.”
Corey-Slechta has been studying the effect of ultrafine pollution in her lab in upstate New York. She takes in outside air and extracts the smallest particles. The ultrafine pollution is then pumped into the cages of mice, so that she can see effects from inhaling these particles.
When she looks at the brains of young mice “I’m finding increased levels of two proteins that are very characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, beta-amyloid and tau.”
She has lots of questions, such as what happens if the mice are exposed early in life, and then repeatedly during life, which she hopes to answer.
While enormous efforts are rightly taken to prevent deaths and illness from Covid-19, air pollution is an unseen menace that is impacting almost everyone and probably causing harm to brain health.
Earlier this year Maher and researchers in Trinity College Dublin linked open-fire use in Ireland with poorer test scores in fluency and recall. The link was stronger among women, which the scientists blamed on them breathing in more fire particles by spending more time at home than men, on average.
Particles
PM2.5 is a category of pollution with particles above 2.5 microns in diameter – larger than the ultrafine metal particles.
In November a study in Lancet Planet Health showed that living in areas with higher levels of PM2.5 was significantly linked to an increased risk of hospital admission for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and related dementias. The US study showed that there was no safe level where PM2.5 pollution causes no harm.
PM2.5 is monitored and regulated. The smallest more numerous particles are not. Further, the only metal regulated in air for now is lead. Yet there is a strong case to track and regulate metals such as iron in the air, says Cory-Slechta.
These metal-rich particles often spew out from cars, trucks and buses, but have no odour and cannot be seen.
“Metals come from brake wear, engine exhaust and engine wear,” says Maher. “Aluminium and iron are also very common in smokestack emissions from burning coal.”
She says studies show that urban air pollution is especially harmful, possibly due to metal nanoparticles.
The highest concentrations waft along our busiest roads, especially where cars are braking and accelerating. Maher predicts that electric cars will generate fewer metal particles, not just by having no exhaust fumes but because they use regenerative braking, rather than friction. Which is good news.
Scientists say adults should try to reduce exposure to metal nanoparticles by not walking or cycling along busy roads.
Or driving on them, says Maher. “Anything you can do to reduce the amount of times you are exposed in this way is a good thing, especially pregnant women or young children whose brains are still developing.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-31--Council takes court action over O’Rahilly house demolition

Dublin Editor Dublin City Council has initiated court action over the demolition of 40 Herbert Park , the former home of Michael Joseph O ’ Rahilly , the only leader to have been killed fighting during the 1916 Rising .
The council has written to the District Court seeking a hearing date to prosecute Derryroe Ltd for carrying out “ unauthorised development ” at the site beside the Herbert Park Hotel in Ballsbridge .
The house was demolished last September to make way for a 12-storey apartment and hotel development .
While the council was pursuing action against the developers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make them rebuild the house .
Derryroe Ltd , owned by the McSharry and Kennedy families , who own the Herbert Park Hotel , was last September granted permission by An Bord Pleanála for the demolition and redevelopment scheme .
However , the council said the company had failed to comply with the conditions of planning permission before beginning work .
“ Our solicitors have written to the District Court Office requesting a date for hearing for a prosecution in respect of the carrying out of unauthorised development in advance of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the council ’ s assistant chief executive Richard Shakespeare said in a letter to councillors .
“ Summonses will be issued once this date is secured.
” The council has issued an enforcement notice to the developers ordering all work on the site to stop .
“ Until all pre-commencement conditions have been complied with , works can not recommence , ” Mr Shakespeare said .
Joint motion Councillors in October approved a joint Sinn Féin and Green Party motion calling for “ the immediate restoration of the house ” .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was “ no apparent legal basis for calling for the restoration of the structure ” given it was not on the city ’ s Record of Protected Structures and , while councillors had voted to initiate this process , it had not formally begun .
Councillors , An Taisce , relatives of 1916 leaders , including O ’ Rahilly ’ s grandson Proinsias Ó Rathaille , and local residents objected to the hotel and apartment development , which included the demolition of the house .
The Pembroke Road Association has initiated judicial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to grant permission for the scheme .
Derryroe Ltd did not respond to requests for comment .

Dublin Editor Dublin City Council has initiated court action over the demolition of 40 Herbert Park, the former home of Michael Joseph O'Rahilly, the only leader to have been killed fighting during the 1916 Rising.
The council has written to the District Court seeking a hearing date to prosecute Derryroe Ltd for carrying out "unauthorised development" at the site beside the Herbert Park Hotel in Ballsbridge.
The house was demolished last September to make way for a 12-storey apartment and hotel development. While the council was pursuing action against the developers, it said it had no powers to make them rebuild the house.
Derryroe Ltd, owned by the McSharry and Kennedy families, who own the Herbert Park Hotel, was last September granted permission by An Bord Pleanála for the demolition and redevelopment scheme. However, the council said the company had failed to comply with the conditions of planning permission before beginning work.
READ MORE
"Our solicitors have written to the District Court Office requesting a date for hearing for a prosecution in respect of the carrying out of unauthorised development in advance of the pre-commencement compliance conditions being agreed," the council's assistant chief executive Richard Shakespeare said in a letter to councillors. "Summonses will be issued once this date is secured."
The council has issued an enforcement notice to the developers ordering all work on the site to stop. “Until all pre-commencement conditions have been complied with, works cannot recommence,” Mr Shakespeare said.
Joint motion Councillors in October approved a joint Sinn Féin and Green Party motion calling for “the immediate restoration of the house”. However, in his letter, Mr Shakespeare said there was “no apparent legal basis for calling for the restoration of the structure” given it was not on the city’s Record of Protected Structures and, while councillors had voted to initiate this process, it had not formally begun.
Councillors, An Taisce, relatives of 1916 leaders, including O’Rahilly’s grandson Proinsias Ó Rathaille, and local residents objected to the hotel and apartment development, which included the demolition of the house. The Pembroke Road Association has initiated judicial review proceedings of the An Bord Pleanála decision to grant permission for the scheme.
Derryroe Ltd did not respond to requests for comment.