theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Woman who killed partner fails to get Christmas release from jail

A woman who killed her partner during a drunken row has been refused permission to spend Christmas with her mother .
Maura Thornton ( 38 ) from Inverin , Connemara , Co Galway was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with the final three suspended in 2013 after she was found guilty of the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce ( 59 ) outside her apartment in Salthill in Galway on July 31st , 2011 .
The Central Criminal Court previously heard that Thornton was granted early release in February 2018 but has since breached the conditions of her partly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ barrister , Blaise O ’ Carroll SC , said she “ may have gone over to drink ” as a result of a feeling of isolation due to Covid-19 public health measures .
On Wednesday , Thornton appeared before the court via video link from the Dochas Women ’ s Centre at Mountjoy prison .
She did not speak during the hearing but Mr O ’ Carroll told Mr Justice Paul McDermott that she has been having regular meetings with health professionals who say she is “ open , insightful and realistic ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counsel said , engaging with prison services .
Mr O ’ Carroll suggested that it might be “ more beneficial to her psyche ” if she could spend Christmas at home with her mother .
Mr Justice McDermott said he has a number of concerns and is not amenable to releasing her for Christmas .
He said he wants a “ structured plan ” drawn up for her ongoing treatment and adjourned the case until February 9th to allow that to happen .
During Thornton ’ s Central Criminal Court trial , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had involved heavy drinking .
On the night of the killing she had been drinking when he entered the rooftop area of her apartment by climbing up an emergency stairwell .
A stand-off ensued and when Mr Joyce refused to leave , Thornton stabbed him 18 times .
She called gardaí and said she had stabbed someone but when gardaí arrived they were unable to interview her due to her state of intoxication .
Mr Justice Barry White suspended three years of her sentence to give her an incentive to rehabilitate .

Maura Thornton (38) from Inverin, Connemara, Co Galway was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy.
A woman who killed her partner during a drunken row has been refused permission to spend Christmas with her mother.
Maura Thornton (38) from Inverin, Connemara, Co Galway was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with the final three suspended in 2013 after she was found guilty of the manslaughter of her former partner Kevin Joyce (59) outside her apartment in Salthill in Galway on July 31st, 2011.
The Central Criminal Court previously heard that Thornton was granted early release in February 2018 but has since breached the conditions of her partly suspended sentence by drinking alcohol.
Her barrister, Blaise O’Carroll SC, said she “may have gone over to drink” as a result of a feeling of isolation due to Covid-19 public health measures.
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On Wednesday, Thornton appeared before the court via video link from the Dochas Women’s Centre at Mountjoy prison.
She did not speak during the hearing but Mr O’Carroll told Mr Justice Paul McDermott that she has been having regular meetings with health professionals who say she is “open, insightful and realistic” about her situation. She is, counsel said, engaging with prison services.
Structured plan
Mr O’Carroll suggested that it might be “more beneficial to her psyche” if she could spend Christmas at home with her mother.
Mr Justice McDermott said he has a number of concerns and is not amenable to releasing her for Christmas. He said he wants a “structured plan” drawn up for her ongoing treatment and adjourned the case until February 9th to allow that to happen.
During Thornton’s Central Criminal Court trial, it emerged that her relationship with Kevin Joyce had involved heavy drinking.
On the night of the killing she had been drinking when he entered the rooftop area of her apartment by climbing up an emergency stairwell.
A stand-off ensued and when Mr Joyce refused to leave, Thornton stabbed him 18 times. She called gardaí and said she had stabbed someone but when gardaí arrived they were unable to interview her due to her state of intoxication.
Mr Justice Barry White suspended three years of her sentence to give her an incentive to rehabilitate.


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Til death do us Dart: Train driver says ‘I choo’ after platform proposal

At the end of a year most people would prefer to forget , one enterprising man lifted everybody ’ s spirits by proposing to his train driving girlfriend as she pulled into the station .
Conor O ’ Sullivan was waiting at Pearse Station in Dublin on Tuesday night at 9pm with a ring , a bunch of flowers and a bottle of champagne in hand .
To reinforce the message he had a sign “ will you marry me ?
” placed on the station platform and the tannoy played their “ song ” James Blunt ’ s You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for station staff and for passengers on the train , his girlfriend Paula Carbó Zea who was driving a Dart train to Fairview , said yes .
“ I was expecting something maybe for Christmas , but definitely not like that .
I was so surprised , ” she said .
Irish Rail staff were in on the surprise and installed a Go Pro camera in her cab to record her reactions .
Ms Carbó Zea from Barcelona moved to Ireland three years ago in answer to a call from Irish Rail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trained engineer and said she always had a hankering to be a train driver , a job that has traditionally been a male-dominated profession .
“ In Spain , it is more normal , ” she said .
The couple met a month after she arrived in Ireland and they have been going out together since then .
They live together in Blanchardstown .
“ I wanted to improve my English , then I met him and I have stayed here .
I love Ireland , but I wish it would rain less.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the summer of 2022 .
Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny said they were delighted to facilitate the happy event .
“ It was all arranged last minute yesterday , but arranged very well , ” he said .

Conor O’Sullivan was waiting at Pearse Station to propose when Paula Carbó Zea drover her Dart train into the station. Photograph: Clodagh Maher/Twitter
At the end of a year most people would prefer to forget, one enterprising man lifted everybody’s spirits by proposing to his train driving girlfriend as she pulled into the station.
Conor O’Sullivan was waiting at Pearse Station in Dublin on Tuesday night at 9pm with a ring, a bunch of flowers and a bottle of champagne in hand.
To reinforce the message he had a sign “will you marry me?” placed on the station platform and the tannoy played their “song” James Blunt’s You Make Me Better.
Didn’t think anything could perk me up after a busy 13hr shift, and some Gent goes and PROPOSES to his GF driving the incoming train at pearse station. @IrishRail #PearseProposal 1/2 pic.twitter.com/wIN0JHPvzV — Clodagh Maher (@Clodagh1990) December 15, 2020
Fortunately for him, for station staff and for passengers on the train, his girlfriend Paula Carbó Zea who was driving a Dart train to Fairview, said yes.
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“I was expecting something maybe for Christmas, but definitely not like that. I was so surprised,” she said.
Irish Rail staff were in on the surprise and installed a Go Pro camera in her cab to record her reactions.
Ms Carbó Zea from Barcelona moved to Ireland three years ago in answer to a call from Irish Rail for train drivers.
She is a trained engineer and said she always had a hankering to be a train driver, a job that has traditionally been a male-dominated profession. "In Spain, it is more normal," she said.
The couple met a month after she arrived in Ireland and they have been going out together since then. They live together in Blanchardstown.
“I wanted to improve my English, then I met him and I have stayed here. I love Ireland, but I wish it would rain less.”
She does not anticipate getting married until the summer of 2022.
Irish Rail spokesman Barry Kenny said they were delighted to facilitate the happy event.
“It was all arranged last minute yesterday, but arranged very well,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--‘Like nothing seen in nature before’: Scientists discover strange dinosaur

About 110 million years ago along the shores of an ancient lagoon in what is now northeastern Brazil , a two-legged chicken-sized Cretaceous-period dinosaur made a living hunting insects and perhaps small vertebrates such as frogs and lizards .
On the inside , it was ordinary with a skeleton similar to many small dinosaurs from the preceding Jurassic period , scientists said on Tuesday .
On the outside , it was anything but .
This dinosaur , called Ubirajara jubatus , possessed a mane of hair-like structures while also boasting two utterly unique , stiff , ribbon-like features probably made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ makes up hair and fingernails – protruding from its shoulders .
“ There are plenty of other strange dinosaurs , but this one is unlike any of them , ” said paleobiology professor David Martill of the University of Portsmouth in England , who helped lead the study published in the journal Cretaceous Research .
Ubirajara ’ s hair-like structures appear to be a rudimentary form of feathers called protofeathers .
This was not actual hair , an exclusively mammalian feature .
Many dinosaurs had feathers .
In fact , birds evolved from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago .
“ Likely from a distance it looked hairy rather than feathery , ” Prof Martill said .
“ Likely it had hair-like protofeathers over much of its body but they are only preserved along its neck , back and arms .
The ones on its back are very long and give it a sort of mane that is unique for dinosaurs.
” Ubirajara ’ s ribbon-like structures may have been used for display , possibly to attract mates or intimidate adversaries or in intermale rivalry , he added .
Such displays @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think of a peacock ’ s elaborate tail feathers – leading Prof Martill to make an “ educated guess ” that this Ubirajara individual was male .
“ The ribbons that seem to come from the shoulders are like nothing I have seen in nature before , ” Prof Martill said .
While it is impossible to know from the fossil , Prof Martill said Ubirajara may have been colourful .

A depiction of Ubirajara jubatus, which lived along the shores of an ancient lagoon in what is now northeastern Brazil about 110 million years ago. Image: Twitter
About 110 million years ago along the shores of an ancient lagoon in what is now northeastern Brazil, a two-legged chicken-sized Cretaceous-period dinosaur made a living hunting insects and perhaps small vertebrates such as frogs and lizards.
On the inside, it was ordinary with a skeleton similar to many small dinosaurs from the preceding Jurassic period, scientists said on Tuesday. On the outside, it was anything but.
This dinosaur, called Ubirajara jubatus, possessed a mane of hair-like structures while also boasting two utterly unique, stiff, ribbon-like features probably made of keratin – the same substance that makes up hair and fingernails – protruding from its shoulders.
“There are plenty of other strange dinosaurs, but this one is unlike any of them,” said paleobiology professor David Martill of the University of Portsmouth in England, who helped lead the study published in the journal Cretaceous Research.
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Protofeathers
Ubirajara’s hair-like structures appear to be a rudimentary form of feathers called protofeathers. This was not actual hair, an exclusively mammalian feature. Many dinosaurs had feathers. In fact, birds evolved from small feathered dinosaurs about 150 million years ago.
“Likely from a distance it looked hairy rather than feathery,” Prof Martill said. “Likely it had hair-like protofeathers over much of its body but they are only preserved along its neck, back and arms. The ones on its back are very long and give it a sort of mane that is unique for dinosaurs.”
Ubirajara’s ribbon-like structures may have been used for display, possibly to attract mates or intimidate adversaries or in intermale rivalry, he added. Such displays often are made by male animals – think of a peacock’s elaborate tail feathers – leading Prof Martill to make an “educated guess” that this Ubirajara individual was male.
“The ribbons that seem to come from the shoulders are like nothing I have seen in nature before,” Prof Martill said.
While it is impossible to know from the fossil, Prof Martill said Ubirajara may have been colourful.
“I bet it was,” he added. – Reuters


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Covid-19: Challenges facing Ireland’s vaccine roll out ‘unparalleled’

The challenge of rolling out a Covid-19 vaccination programme is “ unparalleled ” either in Ireland or around the world , due to the “ scale , complexity and desire for speed ” involved , an Oireachtas committee has been told .
In his opening statement , the chair of the Covid-19 vaccination taskforce , Prof Brian MacCraith , told Oireachtas health committee that the team set up to plan the rollout will be kept on and will play an “ ongoing role ” in overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the vaccination programme .
“ Successful roll out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and precise coordination , ” he said , between state agencies , the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) and a wide range of advisory , regulatory and other actors spanning both private and public sector bodies .
The taskforce will ensure that the rollout is “ coordinated within a single integrated work programme ” , Prof MacCraith said in his opening statement , “ and it will play an ongoing role in the oversight and monitoring of programme implementation ” with input from the wide cast of bodies represented on it – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Defence Forces .
He said that due to the range of actors involved and the “ level of responsiveness that will be required ” as the programme progresses “ there will be a need to augment and support existing arrangements ” .
He outlined the complex arrangements , which govern planning for the rollout , with different roles being played by the Department of Health , the HSE , the National Immunisation Advisory Committee ( NIAC ) and units of the HSE such as the National Immunisation Office and the Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Regulatory Authority and the National Public Health Emergency Team also are involved , the committee was told The challenge of devising and implementing a vaccination programme “ of this scale , complexity and desire for speed is unparalleled here and around the world , ” Prof MacCraith said .
The taskforce has been structured into seven different workstreams , each with a senior responsible officer , who combine with him and a programme director to form a working group , which ultimately reports to the Government .
Activity is “ well advanced ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taskforce , which is set to meet again on Wednesday afternoon , has drawn up a strategy document and an implementation plan , which will change over time “ as required to serve the overall goals of the programme ” .
Prof Karina Butler , chair of the NIAC , told the committee a redress scheme for those who have adverse reactions to the vaccines would be developed .
“ A further challenge is to finalise the development of a national injury redress programme to provide support and care in the event that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reaction as recommended by the The World Health Organisation , ” she said .
Prof Butler added that the speed at which vaccines had been developed was “ inconceivable ” but “ has not been rushed or reckless ” .
She said ongoing monitoring of the vaccine is needed , and that the efficacy recorded in trials of the vaccines may drop a little in the “ real world ” roll out .
Prof Butler said that some side effects , including short term reactions , can be anticipated , but that reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant safety concerns ” .

Prof Brian MacCraith, chair of the Covid-19 vaccination taskforce, said successful roll out of the vaccination programme is dependent upon careful and precise coordination. File photograph:Gareth Chaney/Collins
All nursing home residents and staff could be vaccinated by the mid to late Febuary, according to provisional modelling, the chair of the State’s Covid-19 vaccine taskforce has said.
Prof Brian MacCraith told the Oireachtas health committee that while this was not a goal or target modelling, had been undertaken of different rates of vaccine arrival, staff available to administer the vaccines, and the number of people in residential care settings in the State - a category which includes nursing homes.
He said there are almost 600 such facilities in the country, with some 78,000 residents and staff living within them.
“If you look at those numbers, and you look at that initial cohort of vaccinators, you can start to think that that cohort might complete their vaccinations by mid-to-late February, for example,” he told Fine Gael TD Colm Burke, emphasising that this in turn would be dependent on the numbers of vaccines arriving.
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Prof MacCraith also confirmed that the current expectation is that several “shippers” of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine would be arriving in the State before the end of the year, each containing some 5,000 doses. While he said there wasn’t “absolute confirmation” on the numbers, when pushed by Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane, he said that before the end of the calendar year it is expected “small multiples” of that number would be delivered.
“If you take that 4,875 (doses) per shipper, and we would expect a small number of shippers. It may be one, it may be two. We don’t know exactly that yet, it hasn’t been confirmed”.
He said quarterly allocations there would be “hundreds of thousands” of doses allocated. Prof MacCraith told the committee that they did not have firm information beyond that there is likely to be a small supply of vaccines delivered before the end of December.
He said the taskforce has seen “indicative schedules” but they have been “shifting” as the situation develops. “The only strong indication we have is a small supply of initial quantity of vaccines is likely to be delivered before the end of December to us”.
Premature complacency
Despite positive news on the vaccine, Dr Ronan Glynn, the deputy chief medical officer, said there is a “risk of premature complacency” setting in as people will react to recent developments and “see hope and light on the horizon”.
He warned that the State is "looking at a number of months before we see a vaccine having a significant effect on how we manage this disease in Ireland. "
Dr Glynn said the situaition in Northern Ireland is of “real concern” and that the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) would be discussing it at its meeting on Thursday. In the Republic, he said the situation is “very fragile, we’ve seen numbers tick up in recent days, and the indications are we have bottomed out… and we’re beginning to see a deterioration again”. The deputy CMO said there is no plan in place for mandatory vaccination of anyone in the state, and that the key to vaccine uptake is “information, trust, confidence and engagement”.
Prof MacCraith also warned against “conflation” between a vaccine certificate and an immunisation passport, which he said is something “very different”. What is currently being examined, he said, is a “simple record of vaccination”. The committee heard that more information was needed about, among other things, how the vaccines interrupt transmission before an immunisation passport or similar approach could be mapped out.
The committee heard that there are up to 15 potential sites for mass vaccination centres being considered around the country, including the National Exhibition Centre and Citywest in Dublin, and third level institutions such as Waterford Institute of Technology, NUI Galway and the University of Limerick. Dr Henry told the committee, however, that the initial phase of vaccination would “lean into” existing teams of vaccinators such as those involved in the school vaccination programme.
Pregnancy
Prof Karina Butler, the chair of the Naitonal Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) said that there would be advice produced on immunisation for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, as well as women considering becoming pregnant. She said it would be produced once conditional marketing approval for vaccines was given by the European Medicines Agency, but told Social Democrats co-leader Roisin Shortall that it may not be definitive when it is produced, as there is a lack of data on the impact on pregnancy. It is generally seen as unethical to include pregnant women in vaccine trials.
Ms Shortall also raised issues around obtaining informed consent from those who are incapacitated, which would include some in nursing homes and other long term residential facilities. Dr Henry told her that for those who lack capacity, family networks or those involved in a person’s care would be involved in obtaining informed consent, and that there would be efforts to help those who are not computer literate or are of limited capacity through the self-registration system which will be used to sign up to be vaccinated.
The Committee also heard there were “solid alliances” between the health service, Nphet and GP groups which had been developed over the course of the pandemic. With GP groups recently raising concerns over clarity on their role in vaccine rollout plans, Dr Colm Henry told the committee that a group has been established to furnish GPs with real-time information, and that the GPs will be particularly important as the phased rollout scales up.
The challenge of rolling out a Covid-19 vaccination programme is “unparalleled” either in Ireland or around the world, due to the “scale, complexity and desire for speed” involved, the Committee was earlier told.
Successful rollout
In his opening statement, the chair of the Covid-19 vaccination taskforce, Prof Brian MacCraith, told Oireachtas health committee that the team set up to plan the rollout will be kept on and will play an “ongoing role” in overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the vaccination programme.
“Successful roll out of the vaccination programme is dependent upon careful and precise coordination,” he said, between state agencies, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and a wide range of advisory, regulatory and other actors spanning both private and public sector bodies.
The taskforce will ensure that the rollout is "coordinated within a single integrated work programme", Prof MacCraith said in his opening statement, "and it will play an ongoing role in the oversight and monitoring of programme implementation" with input from the wide cast of bodies represented on it – from government Departments, to the HSE and the Defence Forces.
He said that due to the range of actors involved and the “level of responsiveness that will be required” as the programme progresses “there will be a need to augment and support existing arrangements”.
He outlined the complex arrangements, which govern planning for the rollout, with different roles being played by the Department of Health, the HSE, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and units of the HSE such as the National Immunisation Office and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. The Health Products Regulatory Authority and the National Public Health Emergency Team also are involved, the committee was told
The challenge of devising and implementing a vaccination programme “of this scale, complexity and desire for speed is unparalleled here and around the world,” Prof MacCraith said.
The taskforce has been structured into seven different workstreams, each with a senior responsible officer, who combine with him and a programme director to form a working group, which ultimately reports to the Government. Activity is “well advanced” across each of the workstreams.
The taskforce, which is set to meet again on Wednesday afternoon, has drawn up a strategy document and an implementation plan, which will change over time “as required to serve the overall goals of the programme”.
Prof Karina Butler, chair of the NIAC, told the committee a redress scheme for those who have adverse reactions to the vaccines would be developed.
“A further challenge is to finalise the development of a national injury redress programme to provide support and care in the event that any vaccine recipient develops a serious vaccine reaction as recommended by the The World Health Organisation,” she said.
Prof Butler added that the speed at which vaccines had been developed was “inconceivable” but “has not been rushed or reckless”.
She said ongoing monitoring of the vaccine is needed, and that the efficacy recorded in trials of the vaccines may drop a little in the “real world” roll out.
Prof Butler said that some side effects, including short term reactions, can be anticipated, but that reports from regulatory agencies overseas “raised no significant safety concerns”.


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Covid ferry outbreak: Over 320 passengers bound for Ireland stranded overnight

More than 300 passengers were stranded overnight on a ferry bound for Belfast from Liverpool due to some crew members coming down with Covid-19 .
The port health authorities at Liverpool instructed that the Stena ferry , the Edda , must be held at Birkenhead , across the River Mersey from Liverpool , as a precaution .
There were 322 passengers and 53 crew on board .
Stena said that the six crew members who tested positive for coronavirus were “ being cared for and are doing well , with only mild symptoms ” .
Fifteen close contacts also were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Line is liaising closely with public health authorities on this matter who have advised us that we should disembark the vessel in Birkenhead , ” Stena said in a statement .
“ The welfare of our passengers and crew is paramount at this time .
The passengers are being catered for and we will assist them with alternative travel arrangements , ” the company added .
Later on Wednesday morning Stena said that it had got the all-clear to transfer the passengers to another vessel , the Mersey for a crossing later in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the passengers should not face any danger of contracting Covid-19 from crew members as the six who were tested positive were not “ customer-facing ” and had no direct dealings with passengers .

The port health authorities at Liverpool instructed that the Stena Line’s Irish sea ferry Stena Edda must be held at Birkenhead, across the River Mersey from Liverpool, as a precaution. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
More than 300 passengers were stranded overnight on a ferry bound for Belfast from Liverpool due to some crew members coming down with Covid-19.
The port health authorities at Liverpool instructed that the Stena ferry, the Edda, must be held at Birkenhead, across the River Mersey from Liverpool, as a precaution.
There were 322 passengers and 53 crew on board.
Stena said that the six crew members who tested positive for coronavirus were “being cared for and are doing well, with only mild symptoms”.
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Fifteen close contacts also were identified and were self-isolating.
“Stena Line is liaising closely with public health authorities on this matter who have advised us that we should disembark the vessel in Birkenhead,” Stena said in a statement.
“The welfare of our passengers and crew is paramount at this time. The passengers are being catered for and we will assist them with alternative travel arrangements,” the company added.
Later on Wednesday morning Stena said that it had got the all-clear to transfer the passengers to another vessel, the Mersey for a crossing later in the day to Belfast.
A spokesman said the passengers should not face any danger of contracting Covid-19 from crew members as the six who were tested positive were not “customer-facing” and had no direct dealings with passengers.


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Vaccine certificates part of implementation plan, says Donnelly

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said it will be necessary to see what impact vaccines have on transmission of Covid-19 in Ireland before certificates of vaccination will be used .
“ The vaccine certificate is part of the implementation plan and what we need to see is exactly what impact these vaccines will have , ” Mr Donnelly told RTÉ ’ s radio ’ s Morning Ireland .
Mr Donnelly said he had heard that airlines had been “ floating the idea ” that passengers would need a vaccination certificate to be able to fly .
It would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine on levels of transmissibility – if it protected only the person vaccinated or if it prevented transmission of the virus , he explained .
“ Then we will be able to make an informed judgment.
” Last month , Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said he believed it would be mandatory for passengers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 before boarding international flights with the Australian airline .
He said he expected other airlines to implement similar rules .
Ryanair has said it does not believe air passengers travelling across Europe will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Government ’ s implementation plan says the design of a vaccine certificate and “ the scope of how it will be delivered ( eg physically , digitally or both ) is currently being progressed with a number of stakeholders , including the EU ” .
The head of the Government ’ s vaccination taskforce , Prof Brian MacCraith , told a press briefing on Tuesday the idea was being explored .
“ It ’ s being explored at the moment the very nature of it , whether it ’ s physical or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very careful .
It ’ s a vaccination certificate of proof of vaccination , nothing else , ” he said .
“ There are also discussions at an EU level of perhaps a single model across the EU 27 for example , but it ’ s under consideration within the IT infrastructure discussions and as you might imagine it ’ s not a particularly challenging thing to create in its simplest configuration .
”

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said a “low volume” of vaccinations could take place later this month. Video: PA/Pool
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said it will be necessary to see what impact vaccines have on transmission of Covid-19 in Ireland before certificates of vaccination will be used.
“The vaccine certificate is part of the implementation plan and what we need to see is exactly what impact these vaccines will have,” Mr Donnelly told RTÉ’s radio’s Morning Ireland.
Mr Donnelly said he had heard that airlines had been “floating the idea” that passengers would need a vaccination certificate to be able to fly.
It would be necessary to determine the impact of the vaccine on levels of transmissibility – if it protected only the person vaccinated or if it prevented transmission of the virus, he explained.
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“Then we will be able to make an informed judgment.”
Last month, Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said he believed it would be mandatory for passengers to be vaccinated against Covid-19 before boarding international flights with the Australian airline. He said he expected other airlines to implement similar rules.
Ryanair has said it does not believe air passengers travelling across Europe will have to prove they have been vaccinated.
The Government’s implementation plan says the design of a vaccine certificate and “the scope of how it will be delivered (eg physically, digitally or both) is currently being progressed with a number of stakeholders, including the EU”.
The head of the Government’s vaccination taskforce, Prof Brian MacCraith, told a press briefing on Tuesday the idea was being explored.
“It’s being explored at the moment the very nature of it, whether it’s physical or digital, but the language being used is very careful. It’s a vaccination certificate of proof of vaccination, nothing else,” he said.
“There are also discussions at an EU level of perhaps a single model across the EU 27 for example, but it’s under consideration within the IT infrastructure discussions and as you might imagine it’s not a particularly challenging thing to create in its simplest configuration.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Governments should ask families to postpone Christmas gatherings, says Scally

The Stormont Executive should close restaurants and bars , restrict shopping and tell people that there will not be a “ five-day free for all ” over Christmas , a public health expert has said .
Dr Gabriel Scally said Northern Ireland should not have lifted Covid-19 restrictions last Friday .
It was “ a crazy thing to do ” , he told RTÉ radio ’ s Today with Claire Byrne show .
Earlier on Twitter , Dr Scally said the handling of the pandemic in the North “ beggars belief ” .
He wrote : “ The health service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but efforts to prevent growth in cases have been relaxed .
Shops , coffee shops , restaurants and bars serving food all open .
Disaster looms.
” He told the programme if politicians can not sort themselves out then “ they ’ re lost in the North ” .
Dr Scally , of the Royal Society of Medicine , said the Irish and UK governments should ask families to postpone Christmas family gatherings to the summer solstice next June .
He said two extra bank holidays should be offered in June 2021 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their distance from their family over the coming holiday season .
By then the vaccine rollout would have helped enormously .
He added political divisions were getting in the way of tackling the virus and must stop .
“ There must be a unified , preventative approach , rather than the current reactive one , ” he said .
Dr Scally comments came after up to 17 ambulances were forced to queue outside a hospital in Co Antrim on Tuesday .
Wendy Magowan , the director of operations with the Northern Health Trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside Antrim Area Hospital on Wednesday morning , but there were 43 patients in the emergency department awaiting admission to wards .
She told RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland the current situation was “ completely different ” from April and May when the Northern Health Trust had a lot more bed capacity .
A further six coronavirus-related deaths and 486 confirmed cases were reported in Northern Ireland on Tuesday .
The hospital network was operating at over capacity , with 104 per cent of beds occupied , according to the North ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the British Medical Association ( BMA ) in Northern Ireland has warned that the health service in the North is facing into a nightmare over the next few weeks because of a “ failure of leadership ” in the Executive .
Dr Tom Black told RTÉ radio ’ s News at One that further restrictions would not make a difference at this stage .
“ The die is cast.
” Dr Black said the BMA was now going “ above the politicians ” to talk directly to the public to encourage them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contacts .
There was a real concern about the issues that will face the health service in the coming weeks , he said , particularly in intensive care departments where there was a fear that doctors would be asked to make “ moral and ethical decisions ” for which they were not trained .
The public in the North had “ given up ” because of the “ lack of clarity ” in decisions taken by political leaders at Stormont , he said .
Virtually every hospital in the North was coping with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were no beds , he said .
When asked if the health service in the North would have to seek assistance from the Republic , he said it was “ an inevitable consequence ” .
He believed there had been a failure of leadership in the North .
Looking to the south people could see Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin working together and the public responding to calls on restrictions .
“ That ’ s where we should have been , ” he said .
Anne O ’ Connor , the HSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health service in the Republic was “ not in terrible trouble ” , but warned that as there was an increase in cases in the community , in a matter of weeks , such cases would translate into “ issues in our hospitals ” and then into critical care .
She added : “ There is no doubt our system will be under pressure in January.
” On Tuesday , the North ’ s Minister of Health said he would put new proposals to the Executive aimed at limiting the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swann told the Assembly he would bring forward a paper on Thursday with a “ number of recommendations ” .
He declined to elaborate .
Northern Ireland emerged from a two-week “ circuit-breaker ” lockdown on Friday .
From December 22nd to 28th , people in the North will be permitted to travel anywhere in the UK , and “ bubble ” with up to three other households from December 23rd to 27th .

Medical staff attending to two patients in an ambulance, at Antrim Area Hospital on Tuesday. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned that the Covid-19 crisis in the North could happen in the State “if we allow things to go out of control”.
The latest figures from the North's Department of Health showhospital bed occupancy in Northern Ireland is now at 105 per cent.
Expressing solidarity with Northern Ireland where patients were being treated in rows of ambulances outside hospitals because of the lack of beds and increasing incidence of the virus, Mr Martin said the situation there was "very, very worrying and concerning".
Dr Gabriel Scally, President of the Epidemiology and Public Health section of the Royal Society of Medicine. He said the handling of the pandemic in the North ‘beggars belief’. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
The handling of COVID-19 in Northern Ireland beggars belief. The health service is on the brink of being overwhelmed, but efforts to prevent growth in cases have been relaxed. Shops, coffee shops, restaurants and bars serving food all open. Disaster looms https://t.co/98KLGELo96 — Dr Gabriel Scally (@GabrielScally) December 16, 2020
He said the issue would be discussed at the North-South ministerial Council meeting on Friday and “we will work with our colleagues in the Northern Executive”.
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He believed the North's Minister for Health Robin Swann had led well throughout the crisis as he faced a challenging situation.
“It’s a multi- party Executive and that does create its own challenges,” he said.
Mr Martin added that “it also illustrates the exponential growth of the virus once it gets to a certain critical level and we in the Republic need to take note of what’s happening in the North in terms of how we behave collectively and individually”.
Warning that “every contact matters”, he said “what we’re witnessing in Northern Ireland could happen here if we allow things to go out of control - which we’re not going to do”.
With increasing pressures on the Northern Ireland health service due to Covid-19 and general winter pressures the North’s health department also reported on Wednesday afternoon that currently 457 patients are receiving treatment for coronavirus in hospitals .
Of these 32 patients are being treated in intensive care with 25 of them on ventilators.
The department also recorded eight more Covid-19 deaths taking the total to 1,143. There were 510 new cases of the virus, bringing the total to 59,631 cases.
On Tuesday pressure was so great at Antrim Area Hospital that 17 ambulances were queued up outside the hospital with no room inside to treat the patients. Instead medical staff assessed them in the ambulances.
The Northern Trust, which manages the hospital, reported that on Wednesday morning there were no ambulances waiting outside the emergency department (ED) at Antrim Area Hospital.
“The hospital remains under severe pressure with a total of 49 people in the ED, 42 who are waiting to be admitted. Thirty two of those people have been waiting for more than 12 hours,” said a spokeswoman for the trust.
“This is not a situation that anyone wants to see and we sincerely apologise to the patients affected and their families. Staff are working very hard to try to manage the situation and maintain flow,” she said.
A joint statement is expected later on Wednesday from the British government and the administrations in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales on whether, as planned, there will be extra relaxation of the Covid regulations in the period from December 23rd to December 27th.
Close Restaurants
However a public health expert has said the Stormont Executive should close restaurants and bars, restrict shopping and tell people that there will not be a “five-day free for all” over Christmas,.
Dr Gabriel Scally said Northern Ireland should not have lifted Covid-19 restrictions last Friday. It was "a crazy thing to do", he told RTÉ radio's Today with Claire Byrne show.
Earlier on Twitter, Dr Scally said the handling of the pandemic in the North “beggars belief”.
He wrote: “The health service is on the brink of being overwhelmed, but efforts to prevent growth in cases have been relaxed. Shops, coffee shops, restaurants and bars serving food all open. Disaster looms.”
He told the programme if politicians cannot sort themselves out then “they’re lost in the North”.
Dr Scally, of the Royal Society of Medicine, said the Irish and UK governments should ask families to postpone Christmas family gatherings to the summer solstice next June.
He said two extra bank holidays should be offered in June 2021 as an incentive for people to keep their distance from their family over the coming holiday season. By then the vaccine rollout would have helped enormously.
He added political divisions were getting in the way of tackling the virus and must stop. “There must be a unified, preventative approach, rather than the current reactive one,” he said.
‘Nightmare’
The chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Northern Ireland has warned that the health service in the North is facing into a nightmare over the next few weeks because of a “failure of leadership” in the Executive.
Dr Tom Black told RTÉ radio’s News at One that further restrictions would not make a difference at this stage. “The die is cast.”
Dr Black said the BMA was now going “above the politicians” to talk directly to the public to encourage them to restrict their movements and reduce their social contacts.
There was a real concern about the issues that will face the health service in the coming weeks, he said, particularly in intensive care departments where there was a fear that doctors would be asked to make “moral and ethical decisions” for which they were not trained.
The public in the North had “given up” because of the “lack of clarity” in decisions taken by political leaders at Stormont, he said.
Virtually every hospital in the North was coping with ambulances queuing outside with patients for whom there were no beds, he said.
When asked if the health service in the North would have to seek assistance from the Republic, he said it was “an inevitable consequence”.
He believed there had been a failure of leadership in the North. Looking to the South people could see Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin working together and the public responding to calls on restrictions. “That’s where we should have been,” he said.
Anne O’Connor, the HSE’s chief operations officer said that the health service in the Republic was “not in terrible trouble”, but warned that as there was an increase in cases in the community, in a matter of weeks, such cases would translate into “issues in our hospitals” and then into critical care.
She added: “There is no doubt our system will be under pressure in January.”
Northern Ireland emerged from a two-week “circuit-breaker” lockdown on Friday. From December 22nd to 28th, people in the North will be permitted to travel anywhere in the UK, and “bubble” with up to three other households from December 23rd to 27th.


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--‘We were very lucky’: Relief as Cork city escapes heavy flooding

Traders and home owners in Cork city centre are breathing a huge sigh of relief on Wednesday morning as high tide in the city passed off without flooding .
Luckily , gale force winds dropped earlier than predicted and the city was spared a repeat of the devastation that it hit it just a month ago .
Cork City Council had issued a warning on Tuesday to business people and homeowners in the low-lying city centre to put up sandbags and other protective measures as Met Éireann forecast gale force eight winds coinciding with a high tide in the river @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that such a combination of high tide and strong winds , veering south east to south west , would lead to a storm surge in both the north and south channels of the river , which could lead to flooding of the South Mall and businesses along Oliver Plunkett Street and adjacent streets .
But Cork City Council director of operations David Joyce .
who was in the city centre since 5am , explained that gale force winds dropped earlier than expected and had passed by the time high tide happened at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than predicted .
“ We were very lucky – the change in the wind saved us – the gale force winds that Met Éireann had predicted would last until 7am dropped earlier so while there was a storm surge , it didn ’ t materialise at high tide so thankfully we didn ’ t have a repeat of the October flooding , ” he said .
“ The winds dropped between 4am and 5am , and while there was a storm surge with waters being driven up in the river by the wind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was lower and by the time the tide was at its peak at 6.21am in the river , the surge had reduced.
” Mr Joyce said it had been predicted that the storm surge would reach between 0.5 and 0.75 metres but , because of the change in the wind , it never reached more than 0.35 metres .
“ The high tide this morning topped out at 2.45 metres – that ’ s almost 400mm lower than the high tide on October 20th so that ’ s a difference of over a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city centre escaping this morning , unlike in October when the storm surge sent water flooding into the city centre , ” he said .
In October , the high tide came off Morrison ’ s Island and Fr Mathew Quay on to the South Mall and down the side streets leading to Oliver Plunkett Street , which flooded badly as did Pembroke Street , Winthrop Street and Caroline Street with more than 20 businesses suffering flood damage , he said “ We did have some flooding this morning but it didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Island – most of Morrison ’ s Island was flooded up to the level of the footpaths but it didn ’ t go down Fr Mathew Street and it didn ’ t get out on to South Mall or into Oliver Plunkett Street .
“ We did have some localised flooding at the junction of Union Quay and South Terrace , and further up the south channel at Sharman Crawford Street and Wandesford Quay and at Lavitt ’ s Quay on the north channel , where roads were down to one lane but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had up to 100 staff from various departments on standby from 5am to assist with flood protection measures while Cork City Fire Brigade , Cork City Civil Defence and An Garda Síochána were also out in significant numbers to try and prevent serious flooding .
Cork City Council had also carried out a leaflet drop to some 500 premises in the city centre on Tuesday , alerting business people and home owners of the need to put up flood protection on Tuesday night to try while also telling them where they could collect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Joyce said : “ Surprisingly , a lot of businesses didn ’ t protect their businesses with sandbags – I walked Oliver Plunkett St early this morning and at least one third of the buildings had nothing out , which was surprising given the amount of publicity we ’ ve done over the last couple of days.
” Meanwhile , Cork County Council had also issued a warning to property owners in coastal areas and in some towns to secure their property as the combination of high tides and strong winds was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bantry , Clonakilty , Kinsale and Midleton in East Cork .
But the county also escaped any serious flooding incidents with high tide in Bantry causing some surface flooding in the Square in Bantry , but properties were not damage and the Square drained once high tide passed in the West Cork town .

A member of the public walks past members of the Civil Defence as high tide passed in Cork city on Wednesday morning. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Traders and home owners in Cork city centre are breathing a huge sigh of relief on Wednesday morning as high tide in the city passed off without flooding. Luckily, gale force winds dropped earlier than predicted and the city was spared a repeat of the devastation that it hit it just a month ago.
Cork City Council had issued a warning on Tuesday to business people and homeowners in the low-lying city centre to put up sandbags and other protective measures as Met Éireann forecast gale force eight winds coinciding with a high tide in the river Lee at 6.21am.
The council had warned that such a combination of high tide and strong winds, veering south east to south west, would lead to a storm surge in both the north and south channels of the river, which could lead to flooding of the South Mall and businesses along Oliver Plunkett Street and adjacent streets.
Cork city centre on Wednesday morning after avoiding major flooding. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
But Cork City Council director of operations David Joyce. who was in the city centre since 5am, explained that gale force winds dropped earlier than expected and had passed by the time high tide happened at 6.21am so the storm surge was less than predicted.
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“We were very lucky – the change in the wind saved us – the gale force winds that Met Éireann had predicted would last until 7am dropped earlier so while there was a storm surge, it didn’t materialise at high tide so thankfully we didn’t have a repeat of the October flooding,” he said.
“The winds dropped between 4am and 5am, and while there was a storm surge with waters being driven up in the river by the wind, it happened earlier when the river was lower and by the time the tide was at its peak at 6.21am in the river, the surge had reduced.”
Mr Joyce said it had been predicted that the storm surge would reach between 0.5 and 0.75 metres but, because of the change in the wind, it never reached more than 0.35 metres.
“The high tide this morning topped out at 2.45 metres – that’s almost 400mm lower than the high tide on October 20th so that’s a difference of over a foot and that was key to the city centre escaping this morning, unlike in October when the storm surge sent water flooding into the city centre,” he said.
Cork city centre on Wednesday morning after avoiding major flooding. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
In October, the high tide came off Morrison's Island and Fr Mathew Quay on to the South Mall and down the side streets leading to Oliver Plunkett Street, which flooded badly as did Pembroke Street, Winthrop Street and Caroline Street with more than 20 businesses suffering flood damage, he said
“We did have some flooding this morning but it didn’t really get off Morrison’s Island – most of Morrison’s Island was flooded up to the level of the footpaths but it didn’t go down Fr Mathew Street and it didn’t get out on to South Mall or into Oliver Plunkett Street.
"We did have some localised flooding at the junction of Union Quay and South Terrace, and further up the south channel at Sharman Crawford Street and Wandesford Quay and at Lavitt's Quay on the north channel, where roads were down to one lane but they were passable."
Cork City Council had up to 100 staff from various departments on standby from 5am to assist with flood protection measures while Cork City Fire Brigade, Cork City Civil Defence and An Garda Síochána were also out in significant numbers to try and prevent serious flooding.
Cork City Council had also carried out a leaflet drop to some 500 premises in the city centre on Tuesday, alerting business people and home owners of the need to put up flood protection on Tuesday night to try while also telling them where they could collect sand bags and gel bags.
But Mr Joyce said: “Surprisingly, a lot of businesses didn’t protect their businesses with sandbags – I walked Oliver Plunkett St early this morning and at least one third of the buildings had nothing out, which was surprising given the amount of publicity we’ve done over the last couple of days.”
Meanwhile, Cork County Council had also issued a warning to property owners in coastal areas and in some towns to secure their property as the combination of high tides and strong winds was predicted to cause flooding in towns like Bantry, Clonakilty, Kinsale and Midleton in East Cork.
But the county also escaped any serious flooding incidents with high tide in Bantry causing some surface flooding in the Square in Bantry, but properties were not damage and the Square drained once high tide passed in the West Cork town.


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Clearing hospital waiting lists exacerbated by Covid-19 could cost €1bn - ESRI

The cost of clearing public hospital waiting list backlogs exacerbated by Covid-19 could amount to more than €1 billion , according to projections by the Economic and Social Research Institute ( ESRI ) .
Spending requirements for public hospitals overall are expected to double in the next 15 years , it says , rising from about €6 billion to as high as €14.4 billion .
A report published on Wednesday explains that wage costs will be the main driving factor , and will account for between €2 billion and €4.1 billion by 2035 when the population rises by almost one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we project gross expenditure requirements for public acute hospital care of between €10.8bn and €14.4bn by 2035 , compared to expenditure of €5.9bn in 2018 , ” it says .
That will represent an increase of between 3.6 per cent and 5.4 per cent on average every year .
The report – Projections of Expenditure for Public Hospitals in Ireland , 2018–2035 – covers both acute hospitals and adult psychiatric in-patient services and contains , according to its authors , the “ most comprehensive mapping of Irish public hospital expenditure to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ population will increase by up to 920,000 by 2035 , with the share of those aged 65 and over rising from one-in-seven to one-in-five .
Increases in demand and the cost of delivering care will help drive the escalation in spending .
“ We estimate that the cost to the public acute system of tackling waiting-list backlogs , exacerbated by Covid-19 , and maintaining manageable waiting times , would be €1.1bn over 5 years .
This could be partially offset through shifting certain appropriate care , currently delivered in public hospitals , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could have implications on the policy side .
The ESRI says it would affect capital investment , staffing and resource planning , but some of this could be offset by improving productivity .
“ Certain care currently delivered in hospitals could , in line with current Sláintecare reform proposals , be more appropriately delivered in the community , ” it says .
Among other cost increases are emergency departments , rising from €420 million in 2018 to between €680 million and €880 million .
Outpatient department attendances is estimated at €680 million , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion ; and public acute adult psychiatric services from estimated €180 million to between €300 million and €400 million .
“ This report examined the drivers of projected public acute hospital expenditure in terms of both demand and cost , ” said lead author Dr Conor Keegan .
“ Projected changes to the size and structure of the population will increase demand for hospital services while the labour-intensive nature of healthcare delivery means the cost of delivering these services will be particularly sensitive to future trends in pay .
”

Spending requirements for public hospitals overall are expected to double in the next 15 years.
The cost of clearing public hospital waiting list backlogs exacerbated by Covid-19 could amount to more than €1 billion, according to projections by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
Spending requirements for public hospitals overall are expected to double in the next 15 years, it says, rising from about €6 billion to as high as €14.4 billion.
A report published on Wednesday explains that wage costs will be the main driving factor, and will account for between €2 billion and €4.1 billion by 2035 when the population rises by almost one million people.
“In nominal terms, we project gross expenditure requirements for public acute hospital care of between €10.8bn and €14.4bn by 2035, compared to expenditure of €5.9bn in 2018,” it says.
READ MORE
That will represent an increase of between 3.6 per cent and 5.4 per cent on average every year.
The report – Projections of Expenditure for Public Hospitals in Ireland, 2018–2035 – covers both acute hospitals and adult psychiatric in-patient services and contains, according to its authors, the “most comprehensive mapping of Irish public hospital expenditure to have been published”.
It predicts the population will increase by up to 920,000 by 2035, with the share of those aged 65 and over rising from one-in-seven to one-in-five. Increases in demand and the cost of delivering care will help drive the escalation in spending.
“We estimate that the cost to the public acute system of tackling waiting-list backlogs, exacerbated by Covid-19, and maintaining manageable waiting times, would be €1.1bn over 5 years. This could be partially offset through shifting certain appropriate care, currently delivered in public hospitals, to the community over time.”
Such numbers could have implications on the policy side. The ESRI says it would affect capital investment, staffing and resource planning, but some of this could be offset by improving productivity.
“Certain care currently delivered in hospitals could, in line with current Sláintecare reform proposals, be more appropriately delivered in the community,” it says.
Among other cost increases are emergency departments, rising from €420 million in 2018 to between €680 million and €880 million.
Outpatient department attendances is estimated at €680 million, rising to between €1.1 billion and €1.4 billion; and public acute adult psychiatric services from estimated €180 million to between €300 million and €400 million.
“This report examined the drivers of projected public acute hospital expenditure in terms of both demand and cost,” said lead author Dr Conor Keegan.
“Projected changes to the size and structure of the population will increase demand for hospital services while the labour-intensive nature of healthcare delivery means the cost of delivering these services will be particularly sensitive to future trends in pay.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh ‘keen’ to take Covid-19 vaccine

Veteran sports commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh says he is keen to take the Covid-19 vaccine whenever his turn comes and he will follow expert health advice on taking it .
The 90-year-old retired broadcaster , who has cocooned during the pandemic , says people should listen to the recommendations of doctors and public health specialists on the vaccine .
“ I would be keen to take it , whenever it is not a problem doing it , ” he said .
As part of the vaccination strategy , the Government intends to identify “ people of trust to act as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ó Muircheartaigh led a campaign this year to encourage older people cocooning to exercise more but feels advice on the vaccine is best left to the doctors .
“ I support the principle , ‘ leave it to the experts ’ , the same as unless you have faith in a manager of a team , it is not going to work , ” he said .
“ If you listen to the experts the same as all the Limerick players listened to their managers they had and the other people they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success .
I think it will get a good response , ” he said , referring to last weekend ’ s victorious All-Ireland hurling champions .
He believes people will accept the priority order that the vaccine is being given and will “ get good advice from their own doctors ” rather than “ anti-vaxxers ” who spread misinformation .
“ The vast majority of people believe in what the experts say and I go by that , ” he said .
The Kerry man , who has limited his movements during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he preferred the Irish phrase “ ag clutharú ” – “ being comfortable or sheltered ” – to “ cocooning ” .
He applauded the GAA ’ s decision not to permit the Liam MacCarthy cup return to Limerick , after the county won the All-Ireland hurling championship at an empty Croke Park on Sunday , until a safe homecoming can take place , in light of the risks from coronavirus .
He could visualise a “ massive presentation ” before a game in May that “ will be remembered forever ” given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Mr Ó Muircheartaigh , who has attended 77 All-Ireland finals and replays since his first in 1948 , says he will miss this weekend ’ s football championship decider between “ raging favourites ” Dublin and Mayo , which he says , has “ an influx of young players who could make a difference ” .
“ I won ’ t mind that .
I would love to be there and to be there early in the morning , like I always was , but it is not to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am going by the doctors and the people in charge .
The onus is on them to come up with the best ideas and it is good to see the faith that most people have in them .
”

Veteran sports commentator Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh says he is keen to take the Covid-19 vaccine whenever his turn comes and he will follow expert health advice on taking it.
The 90-year-old retired broadcaster, who has cocooned during the pandemic, says people should listen to the recommendations of doctors and public health specialists on the vaccine.
“I would be keen to take it, whenever it is not a problem doing it,” he said.
As part of the vaccination strategy, the Government intends to identify “people of trust to act as ambassadors for the vaccine”. Mr Ó Muircheartaigh led a campaign this year to encourage older people cocooning to exercise more but feels advice on the vaccine is best left to the doctors.
READ MORE
“I support the principle, ‘leave it to the experts’, the same as unless you have faith in a manager of a team, it is not going to work,” he said.
“If you listen to the experts the same as all the Limerick players listened to their managers they had and the other people they had in the background, that will bring success. I think it will get a good response,” he said, referring to last weekend’s victorious All-Ireland hurling champions.
Misinformation
He believes people will accept the priority order that the vaccine is being given and will “get good advice from their own doctors” rather than “anti-vaxxers” who spread misinformation.
“The vast majority of people believe in what the experts say and I go by that,” he said.
The Kerry man, who has limited his movements during the pandemic because of his age, said he preferred the Irish phrase “ag clutharú” – “being comfortable or sheltered” – to “cocooning”.
He applauded the GAA’s decision not to permit the Liam MacCarthy cup return to Limerick, after the county won the All-Ireland hurling championship at an empty Croke Park on Sunday, until a safe homecoming can take place, in light of the risks from coronavirus.
He could visualise a “massive presentation” before a game in May that “will be remembered forever” given the unusual year 2020 has been, he said.
‘Raging favourites’
Mr Ó Muircheartaigh, who has attended 77 All-Ireland finals and replays since his first in 1948, says he will miss this weekend’s football championship decider between “raging favourites” Dublin and Mayo, which he says, has “an influx of young players who could make a difference”.
“I won’t mind that. I would love to be there and to be there early in the morning, like I always was, but it is not to be,” he said.
“I am going by the doctors and the people in charge. The onus is on them to come up with the best ideas and it is good to see the faith that most people have in them.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Ireland's vaccination plan a major step, but there's a long road ahead

The publication of the State ’ s plans for introducing Covid-19 vaccines marks a major step towards the resolution of the crisis caused by the pandemic .
There is still a long way to go , but at least now there is a roadmap for administering the vaccines to the bulk of the Irish population over 2021 .
An hour before the Government-appointed taskforce published its plans , the European Medicines Agency announced it was bringing forward final consideration of the first vaccine under development , from Pfizer/BioNTech , by a week to next Monday .
Within days , therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 vaccine will be authorised for use in the EU , just as it already is in the UK and the US .
The need to get organised quickly could not be more pressing .
The document has plenty of “ known and unknown unknowns ” .
Many of these are not particular to Ireland and have been well canvassed – relating , for example , to the effectiveness of particular vaccines or the risk of rare side effects .
But others are within our gift to monitor and control , and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we do not yet know what our initial allocations of doses will be , even though the first of these may be administered before the end of the month .
Ireland is slated to receive 1.11 per cent of the total quantity of each vaccine for which a purchase agreement has been signed by the EU on behalf of member states .
However , most of these 14.4 million doses will not arrive until later in 2021 .
Earlier this month the UK said it planned to administer 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BionNTech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 25 million people , or 40 per cent of the population , in the first phase of its vaccination programme .
There is no breakdown of this kind , for any of the vaccines , in the Irish document , which talks of three phases – initial roll-out , mass ramp-up and open access – without specifying any dose quantities or dates .
Perhaps it will suffice for now for the blanks to be filled in as time passes , but it would be good to know how much of the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days ’ time .
Officials told the briefing they had “ yet to hear ” from Pfizer on this issue and that delivery schedule has yet to be “ closed out ” .
Another area of concern relates to the IT needed to back up this mammoth project .
Ireland is an outlier in Europe in not having a unique health identifier for everyone , despite plans going back five years .
The HSE ’ s IT systems , despite some improvements in recent years , are dated and fragmented .
So a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be integrated into existing systems .
IBM and Salesforce have been engaged to do this , but contract negotiations have not been finalised .
The HSE says it has a back-up if the new system is not ready by year ’ s end as planned .
The experience this year with other vaccination programmes – too little supplies of the flu vaccine to meet demand and too much of the children ’ s flu vaccine because parents remained unaware of it – is also a source of concern .
On the other hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inoculated without any mishaps .
There are still many uncertainties around the delivery of vaccines next year .
We are lucky to have so many jabs so far advanced in development so quickly , but each have different characteristic and handling requirements .
Pfizer/BionNTech is attractive because it came first , AstraZeneca/Oxford has the least demanding storage requirements , and Johnson & Johnson requires only one dose .
And that ’ s before we consider their relative merits in terms of safety , effectiveness , target groups and duration of protection .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year to bring some clarity to this situation .
What is clear right now is that there will be no-let up in the requirement for social distancing , masks and other measures to protect against the virus , not for many months .
Depending on the level of transmission of infections , that may also mean further restrictions , even lockdowns , to keep Covid-19 under control .

The publication of the State’s plans for introducing Covid-19 vaccines marks a major step towards the resolution of the crisis caused by the pandemic.
There is still a long way to go, but at least now there is a roadmap for administering the vaccines to the bulk of the Irish population over 2021.
An hour before the Government-appointed taskforce published its plans, the European Medicines Agency announced it was bringing forward final consideration of the first vaccine under development, from Pfizer/BioNTech, by a week to next Monday.
Within days, therefore, it is highly likely that a Covid-19 vaccine will be authorised for use in the EU, just as it already is in the UK and the US. The need to get organised quickly could not be more pressing.
READ MORE
The document has plenty of “known and unknown unknowns”. Many of these are not particular to Ireland and have been well canvassed – relating, for example, to the effectiveness of particular vaccines or the risk of rare side effects.
But others are within our gift to monitor and control, and this is somewhat concerning. For example, we do not yet know what our initial allocations of doses will be, even though the first of these may be administered before the end of the month.
Ireland is slated to receive 1.11 per cent of the total quantity of each vaccine for which a purchase agreement has been signed by the EU on behalf of member states. However, most of these 14.4 million doses will not arrive until later in 2021.
Earlier this month the UK said it planned to administer 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BionNTech vaccine initially, but was targeting more than 25 million people, or 40 per cent of the population, in the first phase of its vaccination programme.
There is no breakdown of this kind, for any of the vaccines, in the Irish document, which talks of three phases – initial roll-out, mass ramp-up and open access – without specifying any dose quantities or dates.
Delivery schedule
Perhaps it will suffice for now for the blanks to be filled in as time passes, but it would be good to know how much of the first vaccine we can expect in probably 10 days’ time. Officials told the briefing they had “yet to hear” from Pfizer on this issue and that delivery schedule has yet to be “closed out”.
Another area of concern relates to the IT needed to back up this mammoth project. Ireland is an outlier in Europe in not having a unique health identifier for everyone, despite plans going back five years. The HSE’s IT systems, despite some improvements in recent years, are dated and fragmented.
So a new system is needed, which must be integrated into existing systems. IBM and Salesforce have been engaged to do this, but contract negotiations have not been finalised.
The HSE says it has a back-up if the new system is not ready by year’s end as planned.
The experience this year with other vaccination programmes – too little supplies of the flu vaccine to meet demand and too much of the children’s flu vaccine because parents remained unaware of it – is also a source of concern. On the other hand, those programmes saw 1.2 million people inoculated without any mishaps.
There are still many uncertainties around the delivery of vaccines next year. We are lucky to have so many jabs so far advanced in development so quickly, but each have different characteristic and handling requirements.
Pfizer/BionNTech is attractive because it came first, AstraZeneca/Oxford has the least demanding storage requirements, and Johnson & Johnson requires only one dose. And that’s before we consider their relative merits in terms of safety, effectiveness, target groups and duration of protection.
It will take the early months of next year to bring some clarity to this situation. What is clear right now is that there will be no-let up in the requirement for social distancing, masks and other measures to protect against the virus, not for many months.
Depending on the level of transmission of infections, that may also mean further restrictions, even lockdowns, to keep Covid-19 under control.


theirishtimes--2020-12-16--Covid-19 vaccine: Ireland could get 5,000 doses by end of year

Thousands Irish people could get the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine before the new year , depending on authorisation from medicines regulators .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly yesterday predicted a “ low volume ” of vaccinations could take place this month after the European Medicines Agency brought forward its final assessment of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine by more than a week .
If the agency authorises the vaccine at an exceptional meeting , now scheduled for next Monday , final approval from the European Commission , which is binding on Ireland and other member states , is expected to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive several thousand doses of the vaccine initially as part of its 1.11 per cent share of supplies negotiated by the EU on behalf of member states .
But because the vaccine is shipped in consignments of 975 vials , each containing five doses , our initial supply will be almost 5,000 doses .
Authorities say they will need to hold back half of those in order to administer the second dose three weeks later .
This means 2,500 people could be in the first cohort of those getting the jab before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approved will be rolled out in three phases , under the plans published by a Government-appointed taskforce yesterday .
An initial rollout will be followed by a mass ramp-up and finally open access .
No dates were given for each of the phases , due to uncertainties around the authorisation process and the supply and logistical challenges for each vaccine that is ultimately authorised .
Not every drug company would be able to follow through with the delivery of vaccines after regulatory approval as quickly as Pfizer , according to a source involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a longer “ lag ” between approval and vaccines being widely available , with some not coming on stream until the second half of 2021 .
Under the plans , the highest priority groups – those over 65 in long-term care facilities , and healthcare workers in direct contact with patients – will receive the vaccine first .
Vaccines will be administered in long-term care facilities and hospitals and other healthcare sites in the first phase , and then in mass vaccination clinics , GP surgeries and community pharmacies in the two later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of risks , including delays in the approval process , IT challenges and a shortage of staff to carry out vaccinations .
A “ third peak ” of the virus could also affect the number of staff available and the ability of particular groups to access the vaccine , the plan warns .
Low adoption rates in some groups and ineffective communications are also seen as risks , along with the emergence of “ a very unforeseen event ” .
Up to 14 million doses of six different vaccines will ultimately be available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish people free of charge .
IBM and Salesforce have been engaged to provide an IT system that will underpin the vaccination programme .
Pfizer said it aimed to start a first shipment as soon as possible , “ possibly within hours ” of authorisation being received from the EMA .
Irish supplies will be shipped from Belgium via Germany to the HSE ’ s supply centre in Citywest .
The challenge of rolling out a Covid-19 vaccination programme is “ unparalleled ” due to the “ scale , complexity and desire for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chairman of the vaccination taskforce , Prof Brian MacCraith .
The team set up to plan the rollout will be kept on and will play an “ ongoing role ” in overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the programme , he will tell an Oireachtas committee today .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines would in part be determined by drug companies ’ capacity to produce doses , as well as authorisation timelines .

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said a “low volume” of vaccinations could take place later this month. Video: PA/Pool
Thousands Irish people could get the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine before the new year, depending on authorisation from medicines regulators.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly yesterday predicted a “low volume” of vaccinations could take place this month after the European Medicines Agency brought forward its final assessment of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine by more than a week.
If the agency authorises the vaccine at an exceptional meeting, now scheduled for next Monday, final approval from the European Commission, which is binding on Ireland and other member states, is expected to follow within days.
Hospital Report
Ireland is due to receive several thousand doses of the vaccine initially as part of its 1.11 per cent share of supplies negotiated by the EU on behalf of member states. But because the vaccine is shipped in consignments of 975 vials, each containing five doses, our initial supply will be almost 5,000 doses.
READ MORE
Authorities say they will need to hold back half of those in order to administer the second dose three weeks later. This means 2,500 people could be in the first cohort of those getting the jab before the new year.
Whatever vaccines are approved will be rolled out in three phases, under the plans published by a Government-appointed taskforce yesterday.
An initial rollout will be followed by a mass ramp-up and finally open access. No dates were given for each of the phases, due to uncertainties around the authorisation process and the supply and logistical challenges for each vaccine that is ultimately authorised.
Longer lag
Not every drug company would be able to follow through with the delivery of vaccines after regulatory approval as quickly as Pfizer, according to a source involved in planning the rollout, who predicted a longer “lag” between approval and vaccines being widely available, with some not coming on stream until the second half of 2021.
Under the plans, the highest priority groups – those over 65 in long-term care facilities, and healthcare workers in direct contact with patients – will receive the vaccine first.
Vaccines will be administered in long-term care facilities and hospitals and other healthcare sites in the first phase, and then in mass vaccination clinics, GP surgeries and community pharmacies in the two later phases.
The plan foresees a number of risks, including delays in the approval process, IT challenges and a shortage of staff to carry out vaccinations.
A “third peak” of the virus could also affect the number of staff available and the ability of particular groups to access the vaccine, the plan warns.
Low adoption rates in some groups and ineffective communications are also seen as risks, along with the emergence of “a very unforeseen event”.
Free of charge
Up to 14 million doses of six different vaccines will ultimately be available, if they are authorised, to Irish people free of charge.
IBM and Salesforce have been engaged to provide an IT system that will underpin the vaccination programme.
Pfizer said it aimed to start a first shipment as soon as possible, “possibly within hours” of authorisation being received from the EMA. Irish supplies will be shipped from Belgium via Germany to the HSE’s supply centre in Citywest.
The challenge of rolling out a Covid-19 vaccination programme is “unparalleled” due to the “scale, complexity and desire for speed” involved, according to the chairman of the vaccination taskforce, Prof Brian MacCraith.
The team set up to plan the rollout will be kept on and will play an “ongoing role” in overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the programme, he will tell an Oireachtas committee today.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said yesterday the rollout of Covid-19 vaccines would in part be determined by drug companies’ capacity to produce doses, as well as authorisation timelines.


theirishtimes--2020-12-17--Busking left ‘decimated’: The Christmas the music died due to Covid

One of the greatest pleasures of Christmas shopping in Dublin city centre is the atmospheric sound of buskers .
This festive season , however , will be vastly different as artists will not be permitted to perform on the streets due to public health guidelines .
Buskers were not permitted to perform on streets during the initial lockdown , and as restrictions were lifted during the summer they gradually returned to the capital ’ s streets .
However , as further restrictions were implemented their permits were again suspended .
In a letter to street performers , dated November 27th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to public health reasons Dublin City Council can not lift the temporary suspension of your street performers permit until further notice .
.
.
stay safe and stay well and we hope to welcome you back to the streets of Dublin in the not too distant future.
” David Owens , a pianist and street performer , said the sector has effectively been “ decimated ” this year , and this Christmas would be very different for him .
“ We all busk a lot over Christmas .
A lot of us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 12th or so until when the kids go back to school .
Even on Christmas Eve and Christmas day , and that ’ s how you make enough money to get by because there ’ s nothing in January or February usually.
” He said income from busking in December was around double that of a normal month , meaning they could spread the money out over the quieter months to sustain themselves .
Even when they were allowed to perform earlier this year , Owens said things were very different from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back after the first lockdown , and they gave us some guidelines on what to do .
They encouraged contactless payments .
I use a Revolut sign and a card machine to try and have less cash .
And you weren ’ t allowed big crowds , which was fine ; you ’ d just have to stop when there was a big crowd and disperse them.
” He was “ lucky ” to be able to pivot and teach piano online in order to have another income source .
Most street performers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with many leaving the sector .
Full-time busker Dylan Harcourt temporarily moved to Berlin in August in the hope he would get more business there .
“ Usually Berlin is better for me anyway but it still wasn ’ t where it usually was .
People are scared .
Even the idea of approaching a case to put money in is probably scary for people , so it definitely affected the money we make .
It [ Covid ] has damaged the pockets of all buskers in some way.
” Dublin City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to pass an emergency motion to come up with a “ creative solution ” to support street performers affected by the continued suspension of performance licences .
However , Harcourt feels it is unlikely busking will return to profitability until international tourism resumes .
“ Tourists are money-makers .
I have Irish people tip me but they ’ re definitely not the majority of people tipping me or buying CDs .
A lot of tourists buy CDs for keepsakes .
Even if things get back , tourism is where the strength is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follow suit and move abroad , but thinks it is an important part of Irish culture .
Many top Irish musicians , including Dermot Kennedy and Glen Hansard , began their careers busking on Irish streets .
Allie Sherlock , a 15-year-old busker who has more than 4 million subscribers on YouTube and who appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show in 2018 , said her career would not exist if it wasn ’ t for busking .
“ Busking has been such a big part of my life , it ’ s got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many other artists .
It ’ s not only a great starting platform to get higher in the music industry , but it ’ s also a great way to build up your confidence as well .
It has so many great things about it.
” She still receives income through her YouTube account but acknowledges other buskers are not that lucky .
“ I feels so bad for those buskers whose only income is busking .
.
.
it ’ s been difficult for them .
“ When I walk up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing .
It fills the silence .
I love the sounds of the musicians playing Christmas songs and then the Christmas lights .
I think , definitely , it will take away some of the festivity .
”

One of the greatest pleasures of Christmas shopping in Dublin city centre is the atmospheric sound of buskers. This festive season, however, will be vastly different as artists will not be permitted to perform on the streets due to public health guidelines.
Buskers were not permitted to perform on streets during the initial lockdown, and as restrictions were lifted during the summer they gradually returned to the capital’s streets. However, as further restrictions were implemented their permits were again suspended.
In a letter to street performers, dated November 27th, Dublin City Council said "unfortunately due to public health reasons Dublin City Council cannot lift the temporary suspension of your street performers permit until further notice . . . stay safe and stay well and we hope to welcome you back to the streets of Dublin in the not too distant future."
'Busking has been such a big part of my life, it's got me to where I am today and so many other artists'
David Owens, a pianist and street performer, said the sector has effectively been "decimated" this year, and this Christmas would be very different for him.
READ MORE
“We all busk a lot over Christmas. A lot of us kind of do it every day from the 12th or so until when the kids go back to school. Even on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, and that’s how you make enough money to get by because there’s nothing in January or February usually.”
He said income from busking in December was around double that of a normal month, meaning they could spread the money out over the quieter months to sustain themselves.
Even when they were allowed to perform earlier this year, Owens said things were very different from pre-Covid times.
“They let us back after the first lockdown, and they gave us some guidelines on what to do. They encouraged contactless payments. I use a Revolut sign and a card machine to try and have less cash. And you weren’t allowed big crowds, which was fine; you’d just have to stop when there was a big crowd and disperse them.”
He was “lucky” to be able to pivot and teach piano online in order to have another income source. Most street performers didn’t have this option, with many leaving the sector.
Scared
Full-time busker Dylan Harcourt temporarily moved to Berlin in August in the hope he would get more business there.
“Usually Berlin is better for me anyway but it still wasn’t where it usually was. People are scared. Even the idea of approaching a case to put money in is probably scary for people, so it definitely affected the money we make. It [Covid] has damaged the pockets of all buskers in some way.”
Dublin City Council agreed at its recent monthly council meeting to pass an emergency motion to come up with a “creative solution” to support street performers affected by the continued suspension of performance licences.
Allie Sherlock performing on Grafton Street. Photograph: Mark Sherlock
However, Harcourt feels it is unlikely busking will return to profitability until international tourism resumes.
"Tourists are money-makers. I have Irish people tip me but they're definitely not the majority of people tipping me or buying CDs. A lot of tourists buy CDs for keepsakes. Even if things get back, tourism is where the strength is in busking."
He believes other buskers might follow suit and move abroad, but thinks it is an important part of Irish culture. Many top Irish musicians, including Dermot Kennedy and Glen Hansard, began their careers busking on Irish streets.
Other artists
Allie Sherlock, a 15-year-old busker who has more than 4 million subscribers on YouTube and who appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show in 2018, said her career would not exist if it wasn't for busking.
“Busking has been such a big part of my life, it’s got me to where I am today and so many other artists. It’s not only a great starting platform to get higher in the music industry, but it’s also a great way to build up your confidence as well. It has so many great things about it.”
She still receives income through her YouTube account but acknowledges other buskers are not that lucky.
“I feels so bad for those buskers whose only income is busking . . . it’s been difficult for them.
"When I walk up Grafton Street I love to hear musicians playing. It fills the silence. I love the sounds of the musicians playing Christmas songs and then the Christmas lights. I think, definitely, it will take away some of the festivity."


theirishtimes--2020-12-17--Irish concerns over delays at ports: ‘If it is bad now, it will be standstill in January’

Long tailbacks of lorries at English Channel ports caused by Brexit stockpiling has cost Irish transport firms lost time , heavier overheads and valuable delivery slots , industry insiders said .
Irish lorries have been caught up in road-side “ stacking ” of vehicles over the past week and logistics businesses fear that traffic gridlock around the Kent ports of Dover and Folkestone and at Calais in France are a foretaste of more severe disruptions once Brexit checks start in January .
Laurence O ’ Toole , managing director of Co Galway-based O ’ Toole Transport , said he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for next-day deliveries of seafood from Ireland and Scotland to France because of seven-hour delays at the ports .
This has added costs of up to 40 per cent and reduced productivity at his firm , which transports produce to and from a major seafood distribution hub in Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France .
“ God help us if we ever get some conclusion to these Brexit talks .
Our fear is that hours of delays are going to turn into days from January , ” he said .
“ We are transporting fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be in France the following morning and the value is going down every day it is out of the water.
” Mr O ’ Toole said that his supply model relies on the UK “ landbridge ” route to mainland Europe .
Taking direct ferries from Ireland to France would add a day to the supply , reducing the value of the produce .
“ The market starts at 5am and if we miss the market for traffic reasons , the customers don ’ t want to know about it .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a hold-up , it is their fish at stake , ” he said .
Although the landbridge route is only part of his business , he is concerned that the systems at the French ports are not set up to expedite Irish lorries through green channels .
“ We are not so concerned about it now because it is not even a day [ of a delay ] , but we do fear that in January the process will become two days , ” he said .
Aidan Flynn , general manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that transport companies were booking on to ferries from the UK into other French ports to avoid the “ pinch point ” of Calais .
“ Everybody is trying to react to it and divert before they are caught up on it , ” he said .
Mary Mullins , business development manager at Rosslare-based logistics company Baku GLS , said the company was losing a day of delivery time for every driver as a result of the delays .
“ Drivers have been stuck on the side of the road for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toilet facilities and no food facilities .
We are not getting the same round-trips , ” she said .
“ It has a knock-on effect .
If we are not getting the in-bound loads from mainland Europe , that means we can not fulfill our out-bound loads.
” Ms Mullins expects the additional customs declarations and border controls paperwork – “ 15 steps extra which we don ’ t have to do today ” – to add significantly to the disruption from January 1st .
She thinks many companies will book on to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid England and EU-UK border checks after Brexit in the first half of next month .
“ If it is bad now , it will just be standstill in January , ” she said .
Irish Road Haulage Association president Eugene Drennan anticipates far more severe disruptions once the customs declarations are required on EU-UK transport of goods , even if the EU and UK agreed a post-Brexit trade deal .
“ It is going to be chaos if there is a deal and total chaos if there is not , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be the need for additional warehouse space .
“ People will have to store more goods because supply lines are going to get slow , ” he said .
Mr O ’ Toole said that he has had a “ huge ” number of requests for space in his Irish warehouse in order to stockpile ahead of the Brexit checks .
“ It has been like this on every Brexit deadline but this deadline is coinciding with Christmas and the end of the year .
With Brexit coming on top of that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
David McArdle , whose Dublin-based firm DG McArdle International transports goods through Dover and Calais , said the delays were adding a day and a half on return trips to Europe and adding to his costs because of the strict daily limits on tachograph driving hours for hauliers .
“ This is only minor , ” he said .
“ It is only a blip as to what is going to happen with Brexit .
”

Trucks queue for the port of Dover: Irish lorries have been caught up in road-side “stacking” of vehicles over the past week. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Long tailbacks of lorries at English Channel ports caused by Brexit stockpiling has cost Irish transport firms lost time, heavier overheads and valuable delivery slots, industry insiders said.
Irish lorries have been caught up in road-side “stacking” of vehicles over the past week and logistics businesses fear that traffic gridlock around the Kent ports of Dover and Folkestone and at Calais in France are a foretaste of more severe disruptions once Brexit checks start in January.
Laurence O’Toole, managing director of Co Galway-based O’Toole Transport, said he had to hire extra drivers in the UK for next-day deliveries of seafood from Ireland and Scotland to France because of seven-hour delays at the ports.
This has added costs of up to 40 per cent and reduced productivity at his firm, which transports produce to and from a major seafood distribution hub in Boulogne-sur-Mer in northern France.
READ MORE
“God help us if we ever get some conclusion to these Brexit talks. Our fear is that hours of delays are going to turn into days from January,” he said.
“We are transporting fresh seafood on those routes and that has to be in France the following morning and the value is going down every day it is out of the water.”
A lorry operated by Galway-based O’Toole Transport stuck in a traffic jam waiting for access to Folkestone
Pinch point
Mr O’Toole said that his supply model relies on the UK “landbridge” route to mainland Europe. Taking direct ferries from Ireland to France would add a day to the supply, reducing the value of the produce.
“The market starts at 5am and if we miss the market for traffic reasons, the customers don’t want to know about it. They aren’t forgiving; if there is a hold-up, it is their fish at stake,” he said.
Although the landbridge route is only part of his business, he is concerned that the systems at the French ports are not set up to expedite Irish lorries through green channels. “We are not so concerned about it now because it is not even a day [of a delay], but we do fear that in January the process will become two days,” he said.
Aidan Flynn, general manager of the Freight Transport Association Ireland, said that transport companies were booking on to ferries from the UK into other French ports to avoid the “pinch point” of Calais.
“Everybody is trying to react to it and divert before they are caught up on it,” he said.
Mary Mullins, business development manager at Rosslare-based logistics company Baku GLS, said the company was losing a day of delivery time for every driver as a result of the delays.
“Drivers have been stuck on the side of the road for between nine and 10 hours with no toilet facilities and no food facilities. We are not getting the same round-trips,” she said. “It has a knock-on effect. If we are not getting the in-bound loads from mainland Europe, that means we cannot fulfill our out-bound loads.”
Ms Mullins expects the additional customs declarations and border controls paperwork – “15 steps extra which we don’t have to do today” – to add significantly to the disruption from January 1st.
She thinks many companies will book on to direct ferries between Ireland and France to avoid England and EU-UK border checks after Brexit in the first half of next month. “If it is bad now, it will just be standstill in January,” she said.
Brexit checks
Irish Road Haulage Association president Eugene Drennan anticipates far more severe disruptions once the customs declarations are required on EU-UK transport of goods, even if the EU and UK agreed a post-Brexit trade deal.
“It is going to be chaos if there is a deal and total chaos if there is not,” he said.
A knock-on consequence of delays will be the need for additional warehouse space. “People will have to store more goods because supply lines are going to get slow,” he said.
Mr O’Toole said that he has had a “huge” number of requests for space in his Irish warehouse in order to stockpile ahead of the Brexit checks. “It has been like this on every Brexit deadline but this deadline is coinciding with Christmas and the end of the year. With Brexit coming on top of that, it is creaking all over,” he said.
David McArdle, whose Dublin-based firm DG McArdle International transports goods through Dover and Calais, said the delays were adding a day and a half on return trips to Europe and adding to his costs because of the strict daily limits on tachograph driving hours for hauliers.
“This is only minor,” he said. “It is only a blip as to what is going to happen with Brexit.”