theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Drew Harris says putting Jackie Healy-Rae on policing committee not a matter for him

The appropriateness of a councillor , with a recent conviction for assault , sitting on a Joint Policing Committee ( JPC ) in Kerry was not a matter for him , Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said .
Addressing a question about Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae , who sits on the JPC at a meeting of the committee in Tralee on Friday , Mr Harris said the appointment was a matter for the committee itself .
Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae , 24 , son of Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae was one of three men convicted late last year of assault causing harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Co Kerry , on December 28th , 2017 in a dispute which arose near a chip van .
He was elected to Kerry County Council in May 2019 and was appointed , unopposed , by his fellow councillors to the Kerry JPC at the council annual general meeting in June .
At the JPC meeting on Friday , Mr Healy-Rae told Mr Harris , he wished to raise Garda leaks to the press “ when it comes to different cases investigated by the gardaí ” .
The councillor asked how it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by appointment to be interviewed , it could be that the very next day that would be on the front page of a national newspaper .
He also asked how at each and every turn of an investigation members of the media – some of whom were present – could ring someone up and tell them when they were due to be in court – “ when the person doesn ’ t know themselves ” .
The leaks were not necessarily from the Kerry Division , he said .
Challenged by Cllr Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was referring to his own case and if this was a conflict of interest , Mr Healy-Rae said he was referring to “ different cases ” .
Mr Harris said it was not appropriate for gardaí to leak information and it was a breach of discipline and in some cases of Data Protection legislation .
Gardaí who did so , were putting their own careers and livelihoods in jeopardy , he said .
Also at the meeting , Mr Harris said he had confidence in the commitment and quality of Kerry gardaí .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement of all law , including licensing law , was acceptable .
He was reacting to concerns about alleged long-standing Garda failure to implement the licensing laws in tourist town Killarney .
Among the allegations to emerge in recent days were that as many as 30 premises had no licences and operated as “ shebeens ” in 2012 .
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission , independent of the Gardaí , had been mandated to carry out an investigation , Mr Harris said .
“ If people have information , they should take that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They are mandated in law to conduct this investigation and in time we will learn their conclusions.
” A “ previous ” investigation , in 2016 , on foot of a separate internal Garda complaint– known locally as vouchergate — into whether gardaí were being offered vouchers by a publican , was also referred to GSoc , and the commissioner said he would check the status of that and enquire if it could be revisited .
Referring to the allegation that 30 of the town ’ s 130 premises did not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FG ) and said this meant they were operating as “ shebeens ” .
Some premises in Killarney could serve into the early hours , he also said .
“ This is something reminiscent of the Wild West.
” The most important thing is that we have an assurance that whatever happened in the past standards were upheld and the law is operated without fear or favour , he said .
Mr Harris said having met with Kerry gardaí during his visit , he could give the reassurance and he added he had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kerry gardaí and in their commitment to law enforcement .

Mr Healy-Rae told Mr Harris, he wished to raise Garda leaks to the press ‘when it comes to different cases investigated by the gardaí’. Photograph: Don MacMonagle
The appropriateness of a councillor, with a recent conviction for assault, sitting on a Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in Kerry was not a matter for him, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has said.
Addressing a question about Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae, who sits on the JPC at a meeting of the committee in Tralee on Friday, Mr Harris said the appointment was a matter for the committee itself.
Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae, 24, son of Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae was one of three men convicted late last year of assault causing harm to 30-year-old Englishman Kieran James in Kenmare, Co Kerry, on December 28th, 2017 in a dispute which arose near a chip van.
He was elected to Kerry County Council in May 2019 and was appointed, unopposed, by his fellow councillors to the Kerry JPC at the council annual general meeting in June.
READ MORE
At the JPC meeting on Friday, Mr Healy-Rae told Mr Harris, he wished to raise Garda leaks to the press “when it comes to different cases investigated by the gardaí”.
The councillor asked how it was that when a person made an arrangement by appointment to be interviewed, it could be that the very next day that would be on the front page of a national newspaper.
He also asked how at each and every turn of an investigation members of the media – some of whom were present – could ring someone up and tell them when they were due to be in court – “when the person doesn’t know themselves”. The leaks were not necessarily from the Kerry Division, he said.
Challenged by Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) about whether he was referring to his own case and if this was a conflict of interest, Mr Healy-Rae said he was referring to “different cases”.
Mr Harris said it was not appropriate for gardaí to leak information and it was a breach of discipline and in some cases of Data Protection legislation. Gardaí who did so, were putting their own careers and livelihoods in jeopardy, he said.
Also at the meeting, Mr Harris said he had confidence in the commitment and quality of Kerry gardaí. He also said nothing less than the enforcement of all law, including licensing law, was acceptable.
Shebeens
He was reacting to concerns about alleged long-standing Garda failure to implement the licensing laws in tourist town Killarney.
Among the allegations to emerge in recent days were that as many as 30 premises had no licences and operated as “shebeens” in 2012.
The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, independent of the Gardaí, had been mandated to carry out an investigation, Mr Harris said.
“If people have information, they should take that to GSoc,” he said.
“They are mandated in law to conduct this investigation and in time we will learn their conclusions.”
A “previous” investigation, in 2016, on foot of a separate internal Garda complaint– known locally as vouchergate — into whether gardaí were being offered vouchers by a publican, was also referred to GSoc, and the commissioner said he would check the status of that and enquire if it could be revisited.
Referring to the allegation that 30 of the town’s 130 premises did not have licences in 2012 Senator Paul Coghlan (FG)and said this meant they were operating as “shebeens”. Some premises in Killarney could serve into the early hours, he also said.
“This is something reminiscent of the Wild West.”
The most important thing is that we have an assurance that whatever happened in the past standards were upheld and the law is operated without fear or favour, he said.
Mr Harris said having met with Kerry gardaí during his visit, he could give the reassurance and he added he had confidence in the quality and calibre of Kerry gardaí and in their commitment to law enforcement.


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Number of patients waiting for outpatient appointment falls by 10,000

The head of the Health Service Executive has defended his and the organisation ’ s response to the worst ever emergency department overcrowding seen this week .
Asked whether he thought Irish hospitals were safe places to be over the past week , Paul Reid said they were , but they would be “ much safer when we ’ re not dealing with the numbers we were dealing with ” .
The first week of the new year has been the worst ever for hospital overcrowding , according to figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the week , as trolley numbers hit a new daily record of 760 on both Monday and Tuesday .
This figure slightly exceeded the previous overcrowding record of 3,122 patients on trolleys set during the “ Beast from the East ” storm in March 2018 .
There were 482 patients waiting for admission to hospital on Friday morning .
Mr Reid said he knew he was going to be dealing with a crisis in the winter from the moment he was appointed seven months ago .
The HSE recognised early on that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hard ” and made good progress until the last weeks of the year when the system took a “ massive hit ” particularly due to a surge in frail , older patients .
Mr Reid said it was impossible for a system operating already at 95 per cent capacity to move up to 110 per cent capacity and still maintain the flow of patients through it .
While it would be “ remiss ” of him to say the worst was over , “ we ’ re in a much better place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he told The Irish Times .
He denied this week ’ s record overcrowding was caused by spending controls he imposed in his first weeks in his post last May , which impacted on the supply of home-help hours , step-down care and agency staff levels .
“ Just for the record , we haven ’ t put in any cuts anywhere .
In fact , we ’ ve came in over our budget by €325 million .
I ’ m confident what we ’ ve done for the health service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , the national health service had a “ significantly bad time ” this week due to a winter surge in patient demand , he pointed out .
Mr Reid said achieving “ financial predictability ” strengthens the HSE ’ s case for extra funding for a “ pipeline ” of 2,500 more beds .
“ No , I haven ’ t got the commitments [ from Government ] just yet but I ’ m clearly saying that ’ s what ’ s needed.
” Mr Reid says he would be misleading people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be able to deal with next winter ’ s surge .
He wants the Government to front-load a plan to employ an additional 1,000 health staff in the community .
This year ’ s winter plan was criticised for having no provision for extra beds until funding was provided late last year .
Mr Reid says additional beds need to be funded earlier in the year for the next winter plan .
He believes the HSE can make significant savings through greater use of biosimilar drugs , while the forthcoming designation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centre could free up other hospitals for elective work .
Meanwhile , the number of patients waiting for an outpatient appointment fell in December by 10,000 , the biggest single-month drop seen in several years .
There were 553,434 outpatients on the waiting list at the end of the month , while the inpatient waiting list remained unchanged at 66,563 , according to the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund .
The fall in outpatient numbers will offer some relief to Minister for Health Simon Harris following record overcrowding in hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a motion of no confidence from backbench TDs next month .
The ED overcrowding has forced the curtailment of other services in many hospitals .
As a result , the outpatient list for this month may rise again .
The fall in outpatient numbers in December is the result of massive investment by Government in outsourcing measures channelled through the NTPF , which has a €100 million budget this year for such initiatives .
Two-thirds of outsourced work is being performed in the private sector .
According to the latest figures , 172,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointment for more than 12 months .
More than 9,000 of those on the inpatient list have been waiting more than 12 months for a procedure .
No patient has been waiting more than a year for a procedure in hospitals in Wexford , Cavan , Louth , Drogheda , Bantry , Clonmel , Kerry and Ennis .
The outpatient list grew by more than 37,000 during 2019 , while the inpatient list fell by over 3,000 .
Both Galway University Hospitals and the Mater hospital in Dublin have almost 43,000 patients waiting @ @ @

According to the latest figures, 172,000 patients have been waiting for an outpatient appointment for more than 12 months.
The head of the Health Service Executive has defended his and the organisation’s response to the worst ever emergency department overcrowding seen this week.
Asked whether he thought Irish hospitals were safe places to be over the past week, Paul Reid said they were, but they would be “much safer when we’re not dealing with the numbers we were dealing with”.
The first week of the new year has been the worst ever for hospital overcrowding, according to figures released by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation on Friday.
Some 3,143 patients went without beds during the week, as trolley numbers hit a new daily record of 760 on both Monday and Tuesday.
READ MORE
This figure slightly exceeded the previous overcrowding record of 3,122 patients on trolleys set during the “Beast from the East” storm in March 2018.
There were 482 patients waiting for admission to hospital on Friday morning.
Mr Reid said he knew he was going to be dealing with a crisis in the winter from the moment he was appointed seven months ago.
‘Massive hit’
The HSE recognised early on that the flu in circulation “hits early and hard” and made good progress until the last weeks of the year when the system took a “massive hit” particularly due to a surge in frail, older patients.
Mr Reid said it was impossible for a system operating already at 95 per cent capacity to move up to 110 per cent capacity and still maintain the flow of patients through it.
While it would be “remiss” of him to say the worst was over, “we’re in a much better place now at the end of the week,” he told The Irish Times.
He denied this week’s record overcrowding was caused by spending controls he imposed in his first weeks in his post last May, which impacted on the supply of home-help hours, step-down care and agency staff levels.
“Just for the record, we haven’t put in any cuts anywhere. In fact, we’ve came in over our budget by €325 million. I’m confident what we’ve done for the health service is the right thing.”
In the UK, the national health service had a “significantly bad time” this week due to a winter surge in patient demand, he pointed out.
Mr Reid said achieving “financial predictability” strengthens the HSE’s case for extra funding for a “pipeline” of 2,500 more beds.
“No, I haven’t got the commitments [from Government] just yet but I’m clearly saying that’s what’s needed.”
Mr Reid says he would be misleading people if he were to promise the HSE would be able to deal with next winter’s surge. He wants the Government to front-load a plan to employ an additional 1,000 health staff in the community.
This year’s winter plan was criticised for having no provision for extra beds until funding was provided late last year. Mr Reid says additional beds need to be funded earlier in the year for the next winter plan.
He believes the HSE can make significant savings through greater use of biosimilar drugs, while the forthcoming designation of one Dublin hospital as a major trauma centre could free up other hospitals for elective work.
Outpatient appointments
Meanwhile, the number of patients waiting for an outpatient appointment fell in December by 10,000, the biggest single-month drop seen in several years.
There were 553,434 outpatients on the waiting list at the end of the month, while the inpatient waiting list remained unchanged at 66,563, according to the latest figures from the National Treatment Purchase Fund.
The fall in outpatient numbers will offer some relief to Minister for Health Simon Harris following record overcrowding in hospital emergency departments. Mr Harris is facing a motion of no confidence from backbench TDs next month.
The ED overcrowding has forced the curtailment of other services in many hospitals. As a result, the outpatient list for this month may rise again.
Outsourcing measures
The fall in outpatient numbers in December is the result of massive investment by Government in outsourcing measures channelled through the NTPF, which has a €100 million budget this year for such initiatives. Two-thirds of outsourced work is being performed in the private sector.
According to the latest figures, 172,000 patients have been waiting for an outpatient appointment for more than 12 months. More than 9,000 of those on the inpatient list have been waiting more than 12 months for a procedure. No patient has been waiting more than a year for a procedure in hospitals in Wexford, Cavan, Louth, Drogheda, Bantry, Clonmel, Kerry and Ennis.
The outpatient list grew by more than 37,000 during 2019, while the inpatient list fell by over 3,000.
Both Galway University Hospitals and the Mater hospital in Dublin have almost 43,000 patients waiting for appointments.


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Investigators view ‘incredibly damning’ messages by Boeing staff

Boeing employees mocked federal rules , talked about deceiving regulators and joked about potential flaws in its Boeing 737 Max as it was being developed , according to confidential messages delivered to US Congress investigators .
Faced with ever-mounting criticism , the company expressed regret at the embarrassing communications , including one that said : “ This airplane is designed by clowns , who are in turn supervised by monkeys.
” Two Boeing 737 Max aircraft crashed in five months over 2018 and 2019 , killing 346 people – including Lahinch , Co Clare-born Michael Ryan – which has resulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ messages are highly embarrassing for the Seattle-based firm , which has already lost its chief executive , Dennis Muilenburg , and faces the prospect of multibillion dollar fines and compensation claims .
In one 2018 email , suggesting that employees concealed problems with simulator training machines from the Federal Aviation Authority ( FAA ) , an employee said : “ I still haven ’ t been forgiven by God for the covering up I did last year.
” In another exchange between employees before the crashes occurred , an employee said : Would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simulator trained aircraft ?
I wouldn ’ t. ” In a third , employees questioned the design of the Max , and even denigrated their own colleagues in exchanges during the course of 2017 .
“ This airplane is designed by clowns , who are in turn supervised by monkeys , ” wrote one .
In a fourth , an employee warned in March 2018 that he would not lie to the FAA , saying : “ Will leave that to people who have no integrity.
” Replying , a superior said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not acceptable .
Your integrity is priority 4.
” Peter DeFazio , the Democratic chairman of the House committee on transportation and infrastructure , said : “ These newly released emails are incredibly damning .
They paint a deeply disturbing picture of the lengths Boeing was apparently willing to go to in order to evade scrutiny from regulators , flight crews and the flying public , even as its own employees were sounding alarms internally.
” Responding , Boeing said “ some of the sentiments ” expressed in the messages did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ This will ultimately include disciplinary or other personnel action once the necessary reviews are completed.
” On Tuesday , Boeing finally recommended simulator training for 737 Max pilots instead of relying on software programmes .
Simulator training costs hundreds of dollars per hour and can dissuade airlines from buying certain aircraft .

Boeing said “some of the sentiments” expressed in the messages did not match the company’s values. Photograph: Getty Images
Boeing employees mocked federal rules, talked about deceiving regulators and joked about potential flaws in its Boeing 737 Max as it was being developed, according to confidential messages delivered to US Congress investigators.
Faced with ever-mounting criticism, the company expressed regret at the embarrassing communications, including one that said: “This airplane is designed by clowns, who are in turn supervised by monkeys.”
Two Boeing 737 Max aircraft crashed in five months over 2018 and 2019, killing 346 people – including Lahinch, Co Clare-born Michael Ryan – which has resulted in a worldwide grounding order.
The messages are highly embarrassing for the Seattle-based firm, which has already lost its chief executive, Dennis Muilenburg, and faces the prospect of multibillion dollar fines and compensation claims.
READ MORE
In one 2018 email, suggesting that employees concealed problems with simulator training machines from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), an employee said: "I still haven't been forgiven by God for the covering up I did last year."
In another exchange between employees before the crashes occurred, an employee said: Would you put your family on a Max simulator trained aircraft? I wouldn’t.”
“No,” a colleague responded.
In a third, employees questioned the design of the Max, and even denigrated their own colleagues in exchanges during the course of 2017. “This airplane is designed by clowns, who are in turn supervised by monkeys,” wrote one.
In a fourth, an employee warned in March 2018 that he would not lie to the FAA , saying: “Will leave that to people who have no integrity.”
Replying, a superior said: “I’m sorry, that is not acceptable. Your integrity is priority 4.”
Disturbing picture
Peter DeFazio, the Democratic chairman of the House committee on transportation and infrastructure, said: “These newly released emails are incredibly damning. They paint a deeply disturbing picture of the lengths Boeing was apparently willing to go to in order to evade scrutiny from regulators, flight crews and the flying public, even as its own employees were sounding alarms internally.”
Responding, Boeing said "some of the sentiments" expressed in the messages did not match the company's values. "This will ultimately include disciplinary or other personnel action once the necessary reviews are completed."
On Tuesday, Boeing finally recommended simulator training for 737 Max pilots instead of relying on software programmes. Simulator training costs hundreds of dollars per hour and can dissuade airlines from buying certain aircraft.


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--School secretaries: Talks could resume if McHugh offers new pay deal

School secretaries have signalled they would be prepared to re-enter talks with the Government to resolve the current dispute over pay if the Minister for Education was willing to adopt a more flexible position and look at a new remuneration model .
About 1,000 school secretaries staged a one-day strike on Friday and are set to resume a work-to-rule from next week .
The trade union Fórsa , which represents the school secretaries , said on Friday that it would be prepared to go back to Workplace Relations Commission ( WRC ) -brokered talks , if the Government demonstrated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ its rigid commitment to a 40-year-old two-tier pay system ” .
The union said Minister for Education and Science Joe McHugh had , in radio interview on Friday , asked Fórsa to go back to the WRC , and implied that there would be a new flexibility from his department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform ( DPER ) if talks were to resume .
The union called on the Minister and his officials “ to confirm the Government ’ s willingness to discuss an entirely new pay structure to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The union said that , under the existing two-tier pay system , most school secretaries earned just €12,500 a year , with irregular , short-term contracts that forced them to sign on during the summer holidays and other school breaks .
The union said that , while a minority of school secretaries were directly employed by the Department of Education and had public service employment status , the majority had their pay and conditions determined by school management boards .
Andy Pike , the head of Fórsa ’ s education division , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WRC if the Government side was prepared to negotiate a new pay model to end the two-tier system , and signalled a willingness to use the existing Department of Education clerical officer pay scale as the starting point for this .
He also insisted that , under new reforms agreed , school secretaries would no longer be laid off at the end of each school term , and that basic employment rights such as paid holidays and sick leave should be introduced .
Mr Pike said : “ In his media statement yesterday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Minister McHugh seemed to suggest that the Government would move off its rigid position if we were to re-engage at the WRC .
While this has not been our experience during the talks that took place between October and December , we are prepared to re-engage on this basis , if only to see if there is any real movement on the Government side .
“ I hope that Minister McHugh , his officials , and his Government colleagues will note the solid determination that school secretaries have shown on Friday and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incredible levels of support and respect they have earned from parents , school colleagues and management , and the wider public .
He should be in no doubt that there will be a swift return to industrial action if it turns out that his comments yesterday and today were not made in good faith .
”

School secretaries have signalled they would be prepared to re-enter talks with the Government to resolve the current dispute over pay if the Minister for Education was willing to adopt a more flexible position and look at a new remuneration model.
About 1,000 school secretaries staged a one-day strike on Friday and are set to resume a work-to-rule from next week.
The trade union Fórsa,which represents the school secretaries, said on Friday that it would be prepared to go back to Workplace Relations Commission (WRC)-brokered talks, if the Government demonstrated that it was willing to move away from "its rigid commitment to a 40-year-old two-tier pay system".
The union said Minister for Education and Science Joe McHugh had, in radio interview on Friday, asked Fórsa to go back to the WRC, and implied that there would be a new flexibility from his department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) if talks were to resume.
READ MORE
The union called on the Minister and his officials “to confirm the Government’s willingness to discuss an entirely new pay structure to replace the existing two-tier system”.
The union said that, under the existing two-tier pay system, most school secretaries earned just €12,500 a year, with irregular, short-term contracts that forced them to sign on during the summer holidays and other school breaks.
The union said that, while a minority of school secretaries were directly employed by the Department of Education and had public service employment status, the majority had their pay and conditions determined by school management boards.
Clerical officer scale
Andy Pike, the head of Fórsa's education division, said the union would go back to the WRC if the Government side was prepared to negotiate a new pay model to end the two-tier system, and signalled a willingness to use the existing Department of Education clerical officer pay scale as the starting point for this.
He also insisted that, under new reforms agreed, school secretaries would no longer be laid off at the end of each school term, and that basic employment rights such as paid holidays and sick leave should be introduced.
Mr Pike said: “In his media statement yesterday, and in a radio interview today, Minister McHugh seemed to suggest that the Government would move off its rigid position if we were to re-engage at the WRC. While this has not been our experience during the talks that took place between October and December, we are prepared to re-engage on this basis, if only to see if there is any real movement on the Government side.
“I hope that Minister McHugh, his officials, and his Government colleagues will note the solid determination that school secretaries have shown on Friday and throughout this campaign – as well as the incredible levels of support and respect they have earned from parents, school colleagues and management, and the wider public. He should be in no doubt that there will be a swift return to industrial action if it turns out that his comments yesterday and today were not made in good faith.”


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Three people injured following road traffic collision in Finglas

Three people have been injured following a serious road traffic collision in north Co Dublin on Thursday evening .
At @ @ @ @ @ traffic incident occurred between a van and three pedestrians on St Margaret ’ s Road @ @ @ @ @ .
The pedestrians , two men aged in their 30s and one man in his @ @ @ @ @ Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown .
One man , aged in his 30s , is understood to @ @ @ @ @ .
The driver of the van , a man aged in his 20s , was @ @ @ @ @ appealing for anyone with information , particularly any road users who may have dash-cam footage @ @ @ @ @ in Finglas on 01 666 7000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 @

Gardaí have appealed for anyone with information to come forward. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Three people have been injured following a serious road traffic collision in north Co Dublin on Thursday evening.
At approximately 5:10pm, a road traffic incident occurred between a van and three pedestrians on St Margaret's Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.
The pedestrians, two men aged in their 30s and one man in his 20s, were taken to Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown. One man, aged in his 30s, is understood to be in a critical condition. The driver of the van, a man aged in his 20s, was not injured.
Investigations are ongoing, a Garda spokesman added.
READ MORE
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information, particularly any road users who may have dash-cam footage available, to contact gardaí in Finglas on 01 666 7000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Former Armagh club footballer charged in relation to attempted ATM robbery

A former Armagh club footballer has been charged in relation to the attempted theft of an ATM machine in Virginia @ @ @ @ @ .
Daniel O ’ Callaghan ( 30 ) with an address at Monog Road , @ @ @ @ @ District Court on Friday morning .
The defendant covered his face with a white sheet @ @ @ @ @ at the courthouse .
Appearing before Judge Denis McLoughlin he was charged with the attempted @ @ @ @ @ on Main Street , Virginia on August 14th last year and being in possession of @ @ @ @ @ same date .
He was also charged with entering the Lake House , Virginia as @ @ @ @ @ date between August 14th and 17th last year , with intent to commit an offence @ @ @ @ @ .
The court heard that when the charges were put to him just before midnight @ @ @ @ @ made no reply .
No application for bail was made and he was remanded in @ @ @ @ @ District Court again on January 17th .

Daniel O’Callaghan hides his face as he is escorted into Virginia Courthouse on Friday morning.
A former Armagh club footballer has been charged in relation to the attempted theft of an ATM machine in Virginia, Co Cavan last year.
Daniel O'Callaghan (30) with an address at Monog Road, Crossmaglen, appeared before Virginia District Court on Friday morning.
The defendant covered his face with a white sheet of paper as he arrived at the courthouse.
Appearing before Judge Denis McLoughlin he was charged with the attempted theft of the ATM machine on Main Street, Virginia on August 14th last year and being in possession of a stolen digger on the same date.
READ MORE
He was also charged with entering the Lake House, Virginia as a trespasser on an unknown date between August 14th and 17th last year, with intent to commit an offence or interfere with the building.
The court heard that when the charges were put to him just before midnight on Thursday night, he made no reply.
No application for bail was made and he was remanded in custody to appear before Harristown District Court again on January 17th.


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Slain general Suleimani was Iran’s Michael Collins, says Iranian ambassador

Iran ’ s ambassador to Ireland has ruled out Shannon Airport or Donald Trump ’ s golf resort in Co Clare becoming potential targets for Iran in any military escalation with the United States .
Speaking to reporters in Dublin , Masoud Eslami likened the top Iranian general Qassem Suleimani , killed by the United States on January 3rd , to revolutionary Michael Collins when trying to describe “ the pain and sorrow ” that Iranians feel about the slain Iranian general .
“ I may refer to the kind of feeling and respect that the people of Ireland have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ icon of resistance and bravery who devoted his life to fight against foreign domination and foreign-sponsored terrorism , ” he said .
On the question of whether Shannon could be targeted by Iran in response to US military action against Tehran , Mr Eslami said : “ I would rule that out for the time being .
This is a very far speculation .
We are very far from such a situation.
” Mr Eslami called on the Irish Government to reconsider Shannon Airport being used by American troops transiting through Ireland as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country ’ s military bases in the Middle East .
“ In principle , we would ask the authorities to reconsider the use of Shannon Airport to facilitate military action by the US , which has been an issue at the local level , at the national level in Ireland , ” the diplomat told reporters at the Iran ’ s embassy in south Dublin .
Asked to elaborate on what other similarities there were between Gen Suleimani and Collins , the ambassador said both had fought for the interests of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They have devoted their life , and they have been icons of resistance and bravery in repelling the foreign intervention , which undermined their security , their prosperity .
There are a lot of similarities that should be drawn upon , ” said Mr Eslami .
He urged the Government to help ease tensions between the US and Iran following the US killing of Gen Suleimani .
“ We would like to see positive gestures from the Irish Government to anything that they consider to contribute to deescalation , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any response against the US in retaliation over the Trump administration ’ s killing of Gen Suleimani to the Middle East and the region around Iran where it could be vulnerable to military assaults by the US , the envoy said .
Attacking Mr Trump ’ s private property interests in Ireland or Shannon Airport over its use by US troops was “ not in the interest of Iran , ” Mr Eslami said .
“ I can assure you targeting personal properties of Trump or places like Shannon Airport are not considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retaliations or measures that are going to be taken against the deliberate attacks by the United States , ” Mr Eslami told reporters .
The ambassador played down concerns that Mr Trump ’ s personal properties could be targeted after Hesameddin Ashena , a top adviser to Iran ’ s president , posted a link to a Forbes magazine article listing the US president ’ s properties around the world , including in Ireland , after Gen Suleimani ’ s killing .
He dismissed reports that Mr Ashena ’ s tweet carried an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I described this as a baseless fable .
This is something absolutely not true .
Absolutely , categorically .
The tweet is there but a fable has been made out of it by media , ” he said .
“ It has not been intended to do so to this effect , to threaten personal properties of Trump anywhere , and it is definitely not going to be the case in Ireland.
” The envoy said that he did not think it would be warranted for the Irish Government to follow the UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran .
The Department of Foreign Affairs has warned travellers to Iran to maintain a “ high degree of caution ” - a level below telling Irish people to “ avoid all non-essential travel.
” It has urged Irish citizens in Iran to remain vigilant , avoid all demonstrations and protests across Iran , and refrain from photographing or videoing them .
It has said foreign nationals visiting or living in Iran could be targeted , detained or arrested at such events .
Mr Eslami said that there was no reason for Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Iran in light of the tensions with the United States .
“ They will be definitely safe in the country .
This resentment and this anger of our people are not by any means directed at ordinary people of any country , particularly when it comes to a friendly country like Ireland , and Irish tourists are going routinely to Iran , ” he said

Iran’s ambassador to Ireland has ruled out Shannon Airport or Donald Trump’s golf resort in Co Clare becoming potential targets for Iran in any military escalation with the United States.
Iran's ambassador to Ireland has ruled out Shannon Airport or Donald Trump's golf resort in Co Clare becoming potential targets for Iran in any military escalation with the United States.
Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Masoud Eslami likened the top Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, killed by the United States on January 3rd, to revolutionary Michael Collins when trying to describe "the pain and sorrow" that Iranians feel about the slain Iranian general.
“I may refer to the kind of feeling and respect that the people of Ireland have towards general Michael Collins as a legendary icon of resistance and bravery who devoted his life to fight against foreign domination and foreign-sponsored terrorism,” he said.
On the question of whether Shannon could be targeted by Iran in response to US military action against Tehran, Mr Eslami said: “I would rule that out for the time being. This is a very far speculation. We are very far from such a situation.”
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Mr Eslami called on the Irish Government to reconsider Shannon Airport being used by American troops transiting through Ireland as they travel between the United States and the country's military bases in the Middle East.
“In principle, we would ask the authorities to reconsider the use of Shannon Airport to facilitate military action by the US, which has been an issue at the local level, at the national level in Ireland,” the diplomat told reporters at the Iran’s embassy in south Dublin.
Asked to elaborate on what other similarities there were between Gen Suleimani and Collins, the ambassador said both had fought for the interests of their people and taken chances and risks.
“They have devoted their life, and they have been icons of resistance and bravery in repelling the foreign intervention, which undermined their security, their prosperity. There are a lot of similarities that should be drawn upon,” said Mr Eslami.
He urged the Government to help ease tensions between the US and Iran following the US killing of Gen Suleimani.
“We would like to see positive gestures from the Irish Government to anything that they consider to contribute to deescalation,” he said.
Iran’s military would direct any response against the US in retaliation over the Trump administration’s killing of Gen Suleimani to the Middle East and the region around Iran where it could be vulnerable to military assaults by the US, the envoy said.
Attacking Mr Trump’s private property interests in Ireland or Shannon Airport over its use by US troops was “not in the interest of Iran,” Mr Eslami said.
“I can assure you targeting personal properties of Trump or places like Shannon Airport are not considered to be targeted in Iran’s retaliations or measures that are going to be taken against the deliberate attacks by the United States,” Mr Eslami told reporters.
The ambassador played down concerns that Mr Trump's personal properties could be targeted after Hesameddin Ashena, a top adviser to Iran's president, posted a link to a Forbes magazine article listing the US president's properties around the world, including in Ireland, after Gen Suleimani's killing.
He dismissed reports that Mr Ashena’s tweet carried an implied threat against the properties.
“I described this as a baseless fable. This is something absolutely not true. Absolutely, categorically. The tweet is there but a fable has been made out of it by media,” he said.
“It has not been intended to do so to this effect, to threaten personal properties of Trump anywhere, and it is definitely not going to be the case in Ireland.”
The envoy said that he did not think it would be warranted for the Irish Government to follow the UK by warning citizens not to travel to Iran.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has warned travellers to Iran to maintain a “high degree of caution” - a level below telling Irish people to “avoid all non-essential travel.”
It has urged Irish citizens in Iran to remain vigilant, avoid all demonstrations and protests across Iran, and refrain from photographing or videoing them. It has said foreign nationals visiting or living in Iran could be targeted, detained or arrested at such events.
Mr Eslami said that there was no reason for Irish citizens to be worried about their safety in Iran in light of the tensions with the United States.
“They will be definitely safe in the country. This resentment and this anger of our people are not by any means directed at ordinary people of any country, particularly when it comes to a friendly country like Ireland, and Irish tourists are going routinely to Iran,” he said


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Ants attracted by magnets and vegan diet scrutinised at Young Scientist event

Ants are considered fiends when they cause infestations or revered as an essential part of nature , depending on your perspective .
But two students from St Aloysius College in Carrigtwohill , Co Cork , believe ultimately they get an unfair press .
Transition year students Amy Morrissey and Anna Ring wanted to find a way to get them to move on when they infest an area in domestic buildings , by avoiding standard killer powders or crude forms of extermination .
They have concluded magnets can do the trick .
Proof of this , backed by video evidence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scientist & Technology Exhibition ( BTYSTE ) in Dublin ’ s RDS on Friday .
Magnets work because ants have a magnetic compass for directional purposes , Amy explained .
“ They are a common problem is households , yet they play a vital role in nature , being essential to the food chain , so we want to deal with them in a sustainable way.
” In a series of experiments recorded on video they have shown weaker magnets have little effect but stronger magnets , notably one named N52 , had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online how an active mobile phone with its electromagnet effect had a dramatic effect , “ this is where we want to extend our research , ” she said .
“ We think the electromagnet , such as that found in a mobile phone , could increase the effect by a factor of 20 , ” Anna added .
Supporting genuine sustainability in diets and purchasing habits prompted Kaitlyn Ryan from Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed in Thurles , Co Tipperary , to compare vegan and omnivore diets in the Irish context .
There is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products are bad for the environment and that a vegan diet is much better in that regard .
“ I wasn ’ t really convinced .
I questioned that , ” she added .
While vegans have to ensure they get adequate protein , this is often by relying on food imports that have high carbon miles attached to them , she noted .
So she decided to compare a vegan diet based on recommended daily allowances on key nutrients and the omnivore diet which is based on the food pyramid which includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the carbon footprint and factored in the food miles because so much of the products involved are imported into Ireland .
This month alone , broccoli , lettuce and beetroot imported from France and Spain were dominating Irish supermarket shelves when they could be grown in Ireland with a significantly reduced carbon footprint .
“ Supermarkets are not supporting local growers , ” Kaitlyn added , but there was also a knowledge deficit among Irish consumers .
“ People don ’ t know the [ CARBON ] impact of importing food.
” Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own , “ even if it ’ s just a window box ; it has a big impact.
” In addition , “ people should not worry about the appearance of the food , especially when half the food and veg grown globally is thrown out because of its appearance.
” The winners of the 2020 BTYSTE will be announced on Friday night , while the exhibition is open to the public up to 5.30 pm on Saturday - more information is at www.btyoungscientist.com

Ants are considered fiends when they cause infestations or revered as an essential part of nature, depending on your perspective. But two students from St Aloysius College in Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, believe ultimately they get an unfair press.
Transition year students Amy Morrissey and Anna Ring wanted to find a way to get them to move on when they infest an area in domestic buildings, by avoiding standard killer powders or crude forms of extermination. They have concluded magnets can do the trick.
Proof of this, backed by video evidence, was on display at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) in Dublin’s RDS on Friday.
Magnets work because ants have a magnetic compass for directional purposes, Amy explained. “They are a common problem is households, yet they play a vital role in nature, being essential to the food chain, so we want to deal with them in a sustainable way.”
READ MORE
In a series of experiments recorded on video they have shown weaker magnets have little effect but stronger magnets, notably one named N52, had a considerable repellent effect. Having observed online how an active mobile phone with its electromagnet effect had a dramatic effect, “this is where we want to extend our research,” she said.
“We think the electromagnet, such as that found in a mobile phone, could increase the effect by a factor of 20,” Anna added.
Supporting genuine sustainability in diets and purchasing habits prompted Kaitlyn Ryan from Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed in Thurles, Co Tipperary, to compare vegan and omnivore diets in the Irish context.
Kaitlyn Ryan from Coláiste Mhuire Co-Ed in Thurles, Co Tipperary, compared vegan and omnivore diets in the Irish context and factored in carbon miles. Photograph: Kevin O’Sullivan
There is a widespread perception that meat and dairy products are bad for the environment and that a vegan diet is much better in that regard. “I wasn’t really convinced. I questioned that,” she added.
While vegans have to ensure they get adequate protein, this is often by relying on food imports that have high carbon miles attached to them, she noted. So she decided to compare a vegan diet based on recommended daily allowances on key nutrients and the omnivore diet which is based on the food pyramid which includes meat and dairy.
She then tracked the carbon footprint and factored in the food miles because so much of the products involved are imported into Ireland. This month alone, broccoli, lettuce and beetroot imported from France and Spain were dominating Irish supermarket shelves when they could be grown in Ireland with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
“Supermarkets are not supporting local growers,” Kaitlyn added, but there was also a knowledge deficit among Irish consumers. “People don’t know the [CARBON ]impact of importing food.”
Her research backs the case for growing your own, “even if it’s just a window box; it has a big impact.” In addition, “people should not worry about the appearance of the food, especially when half the food and veg grown globally is thrown out because of its appearance.”
The winners of the 2020 BTYSTE will be announced on Friday night, while the exhibition is open to the public up to 5.30 pm on Saturday - more information is at www.btyoungscientist.com


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Business leaders urge politicians to agree deal to restore Assembly

Business leaders in Northern Ireland have urged the politicians to restore the North ’ s power-sharing Assembly as soon as possible by backing the draft deal published by the Irish and British governments late last night .
Irish language advocacy organisation Conradh na Gaeilge said that while the Irish language legislation was “ undoubtedly an historic advancement for our community ” , the proposals fell short .
“ The complete omission of visibility and signage is hugely frustrating and will undoubtedly be a source of tension , and will expose major fault-lines on contested cases of signage in the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bhéin .
The DUP leader , Arlene Foster , has given her party ’ s support to the deal .
The other four parties are meeting today to consider their responses .
The Speaker of the House , Robin Newton , could reconvene a sitting of the North ’ s Assembly as early as today if he “ hears positively from the parties.
” Trade NI – which represents the industry bodies Retail NI , Manufacturing NI and Hospitality NI – said the parties should “ sign the deal today and get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was among a number of business organisations which on Friday urged the North ’ s politicians to agree the deal .
The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce said that “ after three years of paralysis , we now have a workable deal that will allow an Executive to start addressing the problems within our health service and education system .
“ We therefore encourage the five main political parties to progress it urgently .
Business , health and education can not wait any longer – failure is not an option.
” But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious concerns ” about the draft deal published by the two governments , which it said have been released with a “ purposely narrow window for meaningful consideration ” .
In a statement , the Order said the draft deal was “ clearly far-reaching in its provision for the Irish language and its subsequent future role in the political and civic life of Northern Ireland .
“ In contrast to the detailed list of measures to promote the Irish language , references to Ulster Scots/Ulster-British culture are ambiguous - lacking meaningful detail or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in the United Kingdom , we have a complex and multi-layered identity which in many areas is wider than simply ‘ Ulster Scots ’ .
“ We remain unconvinced that the cultural traditions and identity of the Orange family will be meaningfully promoted or safeguarded by these proposals.
” A delegation of civil and business leaders which met the parties on Thursday evening , shortly before the draft text was published by the two governments , said the mood was “ buoyant ” .
The “ coalition of Northern Ireland society ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had told politicians “ this deal needs to be done .
This needs to happen , and we ’ re here to support you.
” The Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster , Colin Neill , said this was the “ best chance to bring the devolved government back to life .
“ Our message to the party leaders is clear , we support you in your endeavours and encourage you to get the New Decade , New Approach agreement over the line today.
” Tina McKenzie , Policy Chair with the Federation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reach agreement “ so that we can begin to address the many issues affecting our economy and society .
“ The next Executive must move quickly to deliver on the myriad issues which have been left unaddressed for far too long , ” she said .
“ In order to begin to address these issues , the parties must put pragmatism first and get back around the Executive table.
” The draft text was also welcomed by the North ’ s Chief Constable , Simon Byrne , who said there was much in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policing ” .
“ Clearly the support for boosting the strength of the PSNI to 7,500 police officers will be at the heart of our aspiration to invest significantly in community policing across Northern Ireland in the months ahead , ” he said .
“ We welcome plans to reform and streamline our outdated criminal justice processes and also address the issue of legacy investigations which drain our focus on policing the issues of here and now .
“ A fresh emphasis on tacking the scourge of paramilitary crime and intimidation , supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sits four square with our operational priorities.
” The Police Federation said it welcomed “ many of the proposals in this draft deal ” , particularly the commitment to increase officer numbers to 7,500 .
However it said it continued to have “ serious reservations ” about legacy proposals .
Thousands of health workers represented by the Royal College of Nursing and Unison are on strike again in Northern Ireland today in an ongoing dispute over pay and staffing levels .
Unison regional secretary Patricia McKeown , said that while there may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not there yet .
“ We await further developments today at Stormont .
Should the political process fail , we will pursue Julian Smith to act in the public interest , make the resources available and instruct the Department of Health to restore pay parity .
“ If the money is there , it should be released without delay , ” she said .
– Additional reporting PA

Business leaders in Northern Ireland have urged the politicians to restore the North's power-sharing Assembly as soon as possible by backing the draft deal published by the Irish and British governments late last night.
Irish language advocacy organisation Conradh na Gaeilge said that while the Irish language legislation was “undoubtedly an historic advancement for our community”, the proposals fell short.
“The complete omission of visibility and signage is hugely frustrating and will undoubtedly be a source of tension, and will expose major fault-lines on contested cases of signage in the coming period,” said Ciarán Mac Giolla Bhéin.
New PSNI Chief Constable, Simon Byrne, pictured after a public meeting at the Policing Board in Belfast. Photograph: Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press
The DUP leader, Arlene Foster, has given her party's support to the deal. The other four parties are meeting today to consider their responses.
READ MORE
The Speaker of the House, Robin Newton, could reconvene a sitting of the North's Assembly as early as today if he "hears positively from the parties."
Trade NI – which represents the industry bodies Retail NI, Manufacturing NI and Hospitality NI – said the parties should “sign the deal today and get the Assembly back up and running.”
It was among a number of business organisations which on Friday urged the North’s politicians to agree the deal.
The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce said that “after three years of paralysis, we now have a workable deal that will allow an Executive to start addressing the problems within our health service and education system.
“We therefore encourage the five main political parties to progress it urgently. Business, health and education cannot wait any longer – failure is not an option.”
Concerns
But the Orange Order said it had “very serious concerns” about the draft deal published by the two governments, which it said have been released with a “purposely narrow window for meaningful consideration”.
In a statement, the Order said the draft deal was “clearly far-reaching in its provision for the Irish language and its subsequent future role in the political and civic life of Northern Ireland.
"In contrast to the detailed list of measures to promote the Irish language, references to Ulster Scots/Ulster-British culture are ambiguous - lacking meaningful detail or delivery mechanisms.
“As British citizens living in the United Kingdom, we have a complex and multi-layered identity which in many areas is wider than simply ‘Ulster Scots’.
“We remain unconvinced that the cultural traditions and identity of the Orange family will be meaningfully promoted or safeguarded by these proposals.”
‘Buoyant’
A delegation of civil and business leaders which met the parties on Thursday evening, shortly before the draft text was published by the two governments, said the mood was “buoyant”.
The “coalition of Northern Ireland society”, said Derry businessman Gavin Killeen, had told politicians “this deal needs to be done. This needs to happen, and we’re here to support you.”
The Chief Executive of Hospitality Ulster, Colin Neill, said this was the "best chance to bring the devolved government back to life.
“Our message to the party leaders is clear, we support you in your endeavours and encourage you to get the New Decade, New Approach agreement over the line today.”
Tina McKenzie, Policy Chair with the Federation of Small Businesses NI, said parties should reach agreement “so that we can begin to address the many issues affecting our economy and society.
“The next Executive must move quickly to deliver on the myriad issues which have been left unaddressed for far too long,” she said.
“In order to begin to address these issues, the parties must put pragmatism first and get back around the Executive table.”
The draft text was also welcomed by the North's Chief Constable, Simon Byrne, who said there was much in the document which was "good for policing".
“Clearly the support for boosting the strength of the PSNI to 7,500 police officers will be at the heart of our aspiration to invest significantly in community policing across Northern Ireland in the months ahead,” he said.
Legacy investigations
“We welcome plans to reform and streamline our outdated criminal justice processes and also address the issue of legacy investigations which drain our focus on policing the issues of here and now.
“A fresh emphasis on tacking the scourge of paramilitary crime and intimidation, supported by legislation to tackle unexplained wealth, sits four square with our operational priorities.”
The Police Federation said it welcomed “many of the proposals in this draft deal”, particularly the commitment to increase officer numbers to 7,500. However it said it continued to have “serious reservations” about legacy proposals.
Thousands of health workers represented by the Royal College of Nursing and Unison are on strike again in Northern Ireland today in an ongoing dispute over pay and staffing levels.
Unison regional secretary Patricia McKeown, said that while there may be some hope of resolution, “we are not there yet.
"We await further developments today at Stormont. Should the political process fail, we will pursue Julian Smith to act in the public interest, make the resources available and instruct the Department of Health to restore pay parity.
“If the money is there, it should be released without delay,” she said. – Additional reporting PA


theirishtimes--2020-01-10--Bill to tackle ‘vexatious’ court challenges to planning proposals will backfire – legal experts

Government attempts to tackle “ vexatious ” court challenges to planning proposals , including major infrastructure projects , are set to backfire , according to legal specialists who fear they are likely to lead to more lengthy and costly litigation .
Barrister Oisín Collins , who specialises in planning law , said the recently published heads of a reform Bill would also row back on legal entitlements for community groups , non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) and citizens won with the help of EU law over the past decade .
Public consultation on the heads of the Housing and Planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a deadline of January 13th , but after opposition to such a narrow timeframe – notably from environmental NGOs – Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy extended the deadline to January 27th .
The changes are a retrograde step , especially as law was increasingly moving into environmental issues , Mr Collins told a briefing by the Planning , Environmental and Local Government Bar Association of Ireland .
The Bill ’ s intentions were not clear .
There was “ an implication applicants are wasting everybody ’ s time ” with little justification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes would lead to challenges in the High Court or judicial review proceedings with inevitably high costs attached , as they would necessitate additional hearings before going to full hearing .
Only those who win cases would be entitled to costs but “ often you have to travel a very long ( and costly ) road to win , ” Mr Collins said .
The so-called reforms , he said , were “ a model of confusion ” , which indicated “ now is the time for a planning court ” to properly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Áine Ryall who is based at University College Cork said the proposals were in conflict with responsibilities to ensure wide access to justice rights under EU law and the Aarhus Convention , that is “ fair , equitable , timely and not prohibitively expensive ” .
The changes would “ make it almost impossible ” for environmental NGOs and local groups to bring challenges .
The timing by the Government , she added , was alarming , when more robust overview of planning and environmental decision making was needed at a time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We need to see clearly are there really unnecessary judicial reviews and , if so , how many ?
And if there are delays in the system , what ’ s causing these delays ?
” Dr Ryall added .
She warned the Government to “ be careful with what you wish for ” as the proposed changes were unlikely to speed up the system and will “ trigger more litigation ” .
It should instead look to improve the quality of decision making by better resourcing An Bord Pleanála and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a timely and efficient manner .
Mr Murphy ’ s department has indicated the move is to speed up legal proceedings following an increase in legal challenges in the High Court that is causing backlogs and associated delays to large infrastructure projects .
Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said he had “ huge concerns ” about the proposals .
The Oireachtas housing committee was due to begin pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill in January but needed independent legal analysis of the Bill and on judicial reviews to do this properly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see the legislation being adopted before the general election , but believed the Department of Housing , Planning and Local Government wanted to put the Bill into the system , so an in-coming government could proceed with it quickly .
Environmental Law Officer at the Irish Environmental Network , Attracta Uí Bhroin , sent an email to Mr Murphy last week urging him to extend the consultation given what was envisaged was an “ extermination of environmental democracy and oversight ” .
“ The proposed Frankenstein-like monster legislation would kill off access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the worst practices elsewhere and putting them all together in a bid to obstruct the rights of citizens and concerned NGOs to challenge bad and unlawful planning decisions , ” she added .

The changes would lead to challenges in the High Court or judicial review proceedings with inevitably high costs attached, says barrister Oisín Collins
Government attempts to tackle “vexatious” court challenges to planning proposals, including major infrastructure projects, are set to backfire, according to legal specialists who fear they are likely to lead to more lengthy and costly litigation.
Barrister Oisín Collins, who specialises in planning law, said the recently published heads of a reform Bill would also row back on legal entitlements for community groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and citizens won with the help of EU law over the past decade.
Public consultation on the heads of the Housing and Planning Development Bill was launched earlier this month with a deadline of January 13th, but after opposition to such a narrow timeframe – notably from environmental NGOs – Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy extended the deadline to January 27th.
The changes are a retrograde step, especially as law was increasingly moving into environmental issues, Mr Collins told a briefing by the Planning, Environmental and Local Government Bar Association of Ireland. The Bill's intentions were not clear. There was "an implication applicants are wasting everybody's time" with little justification for this, he said.
READ MORE
The changes would lead to challenges in the High Court or judicial review proceedings with inevitably high costs attached, as they would necessitate additional hearings before going to full hearing. Only those who win cases would be entitled to costs but "often you have to travel a very long (and costly) road to win," Mr Collins said.
The so-called reforms, he said, were “a model of confusion”, which indicated “now is the time for a planning court” to properly and efficiently expedite planning cases.
Dr Áine Ryall who is based at University College Cork said the proposals were in conflict with responsibilities to ensure wide access to justice rights under EU law and the Aarhus Convention, that is "fair, equitable, timely and not prohibitively expensive".
The changes would “make it almost impossible” for environmental NGOs and local groups to bring challenges. The timing by the Government, she added, was alarming, when more robust overview of planning and environmental decision making was needed at a time of “a climate and biodiversity crisis”.
“We need to see clearly are there really unnecessary judicial reviews and, if so, how many? And if there are delays in the system, what’s causing these delays?” Dr Ryall added.
She warned the Government to “be careful with what you wish for” as the proposed changes were unlikely to speed up the system and will “trigger more litigation”. It should instead look to improve the quality of decision making by better resourcing An Bord Pleanála and local authorities to process development applications in a timely and efficient manner.
Mr Murphy’s department has indicated the move is to speed up legal proceedings following an increase in legal challenges in the High Court that is causing backlogs and associated delays to large infrastructure projects.
Sinn Féin housing spokesman Eoin Ó Broin said he had "huge concerns" about the proposals. The Oireachtas housing committee was due to begin pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill in January but needed independent legal analysis of the Bill and on judicial reviews to do this properly.
He said he would find it hard to see the legislation being adopted before the general election, but believed the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government wanted to put the Bill into the system, so an in-coming government could proceed with it quickly.
Environmental Law Officer at the Irish Environmental Network, Attracta Uí Bhroin, sent an email to Mr Murphy last week urging him to extend the consultation given what was envisaged was an "extermination of environmental democracy and oversight".
“The proposed Frankenstein-like monster legislation would kill off access to justice in Ireland, drawing from the worst practices elsewhere and putting them all together in a bid to obstruct the rights of citizens and concerned NGOs to challenge bad and unlawful planning decisions,” she added.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Garda search of biker gang premises in Crumlin continues

The search of a premises in Crumlin linked to a group of bikers continued on Saturday following the arrests of four men on the M7 on Thursday who remain in detention at various Garda stations in Wexford .
Some member of the biker group are suspected of involvement in organised crime in Dublin while at least four of the men are believed to have threatened two men in Wexford on Thursday during which a gun or replica gun was produced .
A large team of detectives from Crumlin accompanied by the Crumlin district drugs unit , community police and members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau began a search of the premises used by the biking club on Friday .
The search , which is being conducted under Section 29 of the offences against the state act 1993 , continued on Saturday morning .
A sum of cash and electronic devices have already been seized .
The ongoing search follows the arrest of four men , aged between 30 and 60 , on Thursday on suspicion that they travelled to Co Wexford to threaten a number of people earlier that day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went into a garage in the Clonroche area armed with what witnesses described as a handgun and threatened staff members , with two men based in the area the apparent targets of the group .
The men then left the scene in a silver Hyundai car and , while no shots were fired and no injuries were reported , the incident was reported to gardaí and a search operation began .
The same vehicle was later observed by gardaí on the M9 motorway and it was eventually intercepted by members of the ERU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kildare .
The four suspects were subsequently arrested arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms at the scene after their car was rammed by gardaí .
Members of the same biker group led the cortege during the funeral of David Byrne , the Crumlin man who was shot dead in the 2016 shooting at the Regency Hotel , north Dublin , as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud .
In the past , swords , knives and replica guns along with small quantities of cash and drugs have been found at a premises linked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gardaí believe some members of the group are close to the Byrne organised crime group ; the Dublin-based gang that is effectively the Irish unit of the wider international Kinahan crime cartel .
Some members of the group are suspected of carrying out debt collection on behalf of criminals involved in organised crime , often using threats and violence to extort money from their victims .

Two motorcycles, a van, a quantity of cannabis and €135,000 in cash have been seized from a house in the Windmill Road area of Crumlin as part of a search of premises linked to a group of bikers in Dublin.
The raid follows the arrests of four men, aged between 30 and 60, on the M7 on Thursday who remain in detention at various Garda stations in Wexford. No further arrests have been made.
Some members of the biker group are suspected of involvement in organised crime in Dublin, while at least four of the men are believed to have threatened two men in Wexford on Thursday during which a gun or replica gun was produced.
A large team of detectives from Crumlin accompanied by the Crumlin district drugs unit, community police, members of the armed Emergency Response Unit and the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau began a search of the premises used by the biking club on Friday.
READ MORE
The search, which is being conducted under Section 29 of the offences against the state act 1993, continued on Saturday. A sum of cash and electronic devices were also seized.
The ongoing search follows the arrest of four men, aged between 30 and 60, on Thursday on suspicion that they travelled to Co Wexford to threaten a number of people earlier that day.
In one incident, four men went into a garage in the Clonroche area armed with what witnesses described as a handgun and threatened staff members, with two men based in the area the apparent targets of the group.
The men then left the scene in a silver Hyundai car and, while no shots were fired and no injuries were reported, the incident was reported to gardaí and a search operation began.
The same vehicle was later observed by gardaí on the M9 motorway and it was eventually intercepted by members of the ERU on the M7 near Naas, Co Kildare.
The four suspects were subsequently arrested on suspicion of possession of firearms at the scene after their car was rammed by gardaí.
Members of the same biker group led the cortege during the funeral of David Byrne, the Crumlin man who was shot dead in the 2016 shooting at the Regency Hotel, north Dublin, as part of the Kinahan-Hutch feud.
In the past, swords, knives and replica guns along with small quantities of cash and drugs have been found at a premises linked to the same group of bikers.
Gardaí believe some members of the group are close to the Byrne organised crime group; the Dublin-based gang that is effectively the Irish unit of the wider international Kinahan crime cartel.
Some members of the group are suspected of carrying out debt collection on behalf of criminals involved in organised crime, often using threats and violence to extort money from their victims.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--‘Things will never be the same’ - Father speaks of son’s death from sepsis

The father of a 15-year-old boy who died of sepsis two years ago has said “ things will never be the same again ” .
Seán Hughes , from Finglas , north Dublin collapsed at his home in January 2018 , having shown flu-like symptoms for a number of days .
He was rushed to Temple Street Hospital but died in the early hours of January 12th .
Speaking ahead of the teenager ’ s two-year anniversary on Sunday , his father Joe Hughes said “ nothing is ever the same again ” .
“ I know life goes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us here in this house and in this family ...
I ’ m sitting in a room and all I have around me is the photographs to remind me of my son , ” he told The Irish Times .
Seán is survived by his father , mother Karen Phoenix and his older sister Zoe .
An event to celebrate the student ’ s life is taking place in the Mansion House on Saturday .
Mr Hughes said his son was “ the life and soul of the party ” .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he would go out of his way to help people , ” he said .
“ Since Seán passed away we ’ ve had people coming up and telling us stories about him ... One guy told us Seán used to walk him home when he was being bullied to make sure he was ok. Seán never told us anything about that .
He was one in a million.
” Mr Hughes and his partner Ms Phoenix launched a sepsis awareness campaign , ‘ Lil Red ’ s Legacy ’ , following their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were shocked to find out that only 28 per cent of the Irish public had an accurate understanding of what sepsis was or is .
None of our family or friends had ever heard of sepsis , ” Mr Hughes said .
“ Our campaign started up as a social media page and now we go around the schools and colleges giving a sepsis awareness presentation .
We ’ ve been to a couple of corporate gigs giving the presentation as well.
” He added : “ We ’ re not medical experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be .
We ’ re just a concerned family that are doing all that we can to raise awareness so another family doesn ’ t have to go through what we ’ re going through.
” Sepsis is the body ’ s abnormal response to infection that results in the body ’ s own immune system attacking its own tissues and organs and can be life threatening .
It can develop from any infection and can affect anyone , but it is more common in the very young , the elderly , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a weakened immune system .
Symptoms can include slurred speech , excessive drowsiness , muscle or joint pain , severe breathlessness and pale or discoloured skin .
The HSE ’ s 2018 Sepsis Report shows there were 14,639 cases detected in Ireland ’ s health system .
The condition kills 3,000 people in Ireland annually .

Seán Hughes, collapsed at his home in January 2018, having shown flu-like symptoms for a number of days.
The father of a 15-year-old boy who died of sepsis two years ago has said “things will never be the same again”.
Seán Hughes, from Finglas, north Dublin collapsed at his home in January 2018, having shown flu-like symptoms for a number of days. He was rushed to Temple Street Hospital but died in the early hours of January 12th.
Speaking ahead of the teenager's two-year anniversary on Sunday, his father Joe Hughes said "nothing is ever the same again".
“I know life goes on for everyone but it stands still for us here in this house and in this family...I’m sitting in a room and all I have around me is the photographs to remind me of my son,” he told The Irish Times.
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Seán is survived by his father, mother Karen Phoenix and his older sister Zoe. An event to celebrate the student's life is taking place in the Mansion House on Saturday.
Mr Hughes said his son was “the life and soul of the party”. “He was a rapper, an entertainer, he would go out of his way to help people,” he said.
“Since Seán passed away we’ve had people coming up and telling us stories about him... One guy told us Seán used to walk him home when he was being bullied to make sure he was ok. Seán never told us anything about that. He was one in a million.”
Mr Hughes and his partner Ms Phoenix launched a sepsis awareness campaign, ‘Lil Red’s Legacy’, following their son’s death.
“We were shocked to find out that only 28 per cent of the Irish public had an accurate understanding of what sepsis was or is. None of our family or friends had ever heard of sepsis,” Mr Hughes said.
“Our campaign started up as a social media page and now we go around the schools and colleges giving a sepsis awareness presentation. We’ve been to a couple of corporate gigs giving the presentation as well.”
He added: “We’re not medical experts and we’re not claiming to be. We’re just a concerned family that are doing all that we can to raise awareness so another family doesn’t have to go through what we’re going through.”
Sepsis is the body’s abnormal response to infection that results in the body’s own immune system attacking its own tissues and organs and can be life threatening.
It can develop from any infection and can affect anyone, but it is more common in the very young, the elderly, and people with pre-existing medical conditions or those with a weakened immune system.
Symptoms can include slurred speech, excessive drowsiness, muscle or joint pain, severe breathlessness and pale or discoloured skin. The HSE's 2018 Sepsis Report shows there were 14,639 cases detected in Ireland's health system. The condition kills 3,000 people in Ireland annually.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Cannabis plants worth €400,000 seized in Co Donegal

Cannabis plants worth an estimated €400,000 have been seized following a Garda operation in Co Donegal .
The plants were @ @ @ @ @ a premises in Drumrooske , which began at about 9.45am on Friday .
During the @ @ @ @ @ located and between 450 and 500 cannabis plants – pending analysis – were discovered .
@ @ @ @ @ stages of growth , according to gardaí .
Gardaí say the search was carried out @ @ @ @ @ Misuse of Drugs Act as part of an ongoing operation in the Donegal Town area @ @ @ @ @ made and investigations are ongoing .

Gardaí discovered a grow house during a search operation in Co Donegal on Friday morning. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Gardaí have seized an estimated €700,000 worth of cannabis in two separate operations in Co Donegal and Co Cork.
Cannabis plants worth an estimated €400,000 were discovered during a search at a premises in Drumrooske, Co Donegal, which began at about 9.45am on Friday.
During the search a grow house was located and between 450 and 500 cannabis plants – pending analysis – were discovered. The plants were at varying stages of growth, according to gardaí.
Gardaí discovered a grow house during a search operation in Co Donegal on Friday morning. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Gardaí say the search was carried out under Section 26 of the Misuse of Drugs Act as part of an ongoing operation in the Donegal Town area.
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In a separate operation on Friday carried out at various locations in the Bantry area, Co Cork, gardaí seized a large quantity of cannabis herb valued at about €300,000.
Gardaí discovered a grow house during a search operation in Co Donegal on Friday morning. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
The search was carried out as part of an ongoing Garda operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the Bantry area.
No arrests have been made in connection with either seizure and investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Man arrested after fatal assault in Co Waterford

A man in his 20s has been arrested following a fatal assault in Waterford on Saturday morning .
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a serious assault in the Portlaw area of Waterford in the early hours .
A 48-year-old man was taken to University Hospital Waterford where he was later pronounced dead .
The incident began when a row broke out between the deceased and a 21-year-old man – who was known to him – outside a pub in Portlaw at about 2am , sources said .
The row seemed to have ended and both parties went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a second row broke out between the parties inside the house .
The older man suffered a serious injury to the head and local medics were called before he was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford .
Efforts to resuscitate the man at the hospital proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead just before 4am .
The scene will be examined by Garda technical experts on Saturday .
The arrested man is being held Tramore Garda Station for questioning about the assault .
He is being held under Section 4 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detain suspects for 24 hours .
Gardaí have requested the services of the State Pathologist ’ s Office and a post mortem is expected to take place in Dublin on Saturday .

The scene of the fatal assault at Brown Street, Portlaw, Co Waterford. Photograph: Patrick Browne
A man in his 20s has been arrested following a fatal assault in Waterford on Saturday morning.
Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of a serious assault in the Portlaw area of Waterford in the early hours. A 48-year-old man was taken to University Hospital Waterford where he was later pronounced dead.
The incident began when a row broke out between the deceased and a 21-year-old man – who was known to him – outside a pub in Portlaw at about 2am, sources said.
The row seemed to have ended and both parties went to a house in Brown Street but a second row broke out between the parties inside the house.
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The older man suffered a serious injury to the head and local medics were called before he was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Waterford.
Efforts to resuscitate the man at the hospital proved unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead just before 4am.
The scene will be examined by Garda technical experts on Saturday.
The arrested man is being held Tramore Garda Station for questioning about the assault. He is being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, which allows gardaí detain suspects for 24 hours.
Gardaí have requested the services of the State Pathologist’s Office and a post mortem is expected to take place in Dublin on Saturday.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--Did one of Santa's reindeer end up in our garden? Readers' nature queries

I found this creature alive in a packet of raspberries that I purchased before Christmas .
The country of origin was Morocco – Anne Healy , New Ross , Co Wexford .
It ’ s a seed bug , Spilostethus pondurus , which is common in Mediterranean countries .
They are a pest of cultivated crops .
The newly opened walk around Wicklow Head has caves , coves , beaches and inlets .
From one cove I saw a sizeable yellow oil can bobbing in the tide .
Then a seal came up and started to nudge it with her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 minutes I watched them play with the can , batting it with their flippers , poking it with their noses and even attempting to climb on it .
– Paddy Demery , Kilcoole , Co Wicklow On a cold , bright morning in early December I saw 20 waxwings – a museum , I believe – of feathered jewels feeding on the berries of a rowan tree .
– Paul Grant Letterkenny , Co Donegal I saw this gorgeous fungus growing on trees near Killaloe , Co Clare , and wondered what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reilly , Dooradoyle , Limerick .
It ’ s yellow brain fungus , which grows on dead wood of broadleaved trees .
We were very excited before Christmas to see that Santa sent one of his reindeer to our back garden to check that our children were being good .
– Andrew Synnott , Brittas Bay , Co Wicklow Santa probably couldn ’ t spare one of his sleigh reindeers and deputised one of the local Sika to check .
This amazing structure is a wasps ’ nest in the wood shed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beige colour rather than grey , and paper light .
The wasps didn ’ t look like the common wasp and were slightly smaller .
– Deirdre Rowsome , Killaloe , Co Clare .
There are two wasps in this country that would build nests of that size : the common wasp and the German or European wasp .
The latter is slightly smaller than the common wasp .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ please .

I found this creature alive in a packet of raspberries that I purchased before Christmas. The country of origin was Morocco – Anne Healy, New Ross, Co Wexford.
It’s a seed bug, Spilostethus pondurus, which is common in Mediterranean countries. They are a pest of cultivated crops.
The seed bug; Spilostethus pondurus, which is common in Mediterranean countries
The newly opened walk around Wicklow Head has caves, coves, beaches and inlets. From one cove I saw a sizeable yellow oil can bobbing in the tide. Then a seal came up and started to nudge it with her nose. A bull followed and for 20 minutes I watched them play with the can, batting it with their flippers, poking it with their noses and even attempting to climb on it. – Paddy Demery, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow
On a cold, bright morning in early December I saw 20 waxwings – a museum, I believe – of feathered jewels feeding on the berries of a rowan tree. – Paul Grant Letterkenny, Co Donegal
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I saw this gorgeous fungus growing on trees near Killaloe, Co Clare, and wondered what it was. – Maeve O'Reilly, Dooradoyle, Limerick.
It's yellow brain fungus, which grows on dead wood of broadleaved trees.
Yellow brain fungus, which grows on dead wood of broadleaved trees
We were very excited before Christmas to see that Santa sent one of his reindeer to our back garden to check that our children were being good. – Andrew Synnott, Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow
Santa probably couldn’t spare one of his sleigh reindeers and deputised one of the local Sika to check.
Sika deer are our most common non-native deer
This amazing structure is a wasps' nest in the wood shed. It's about 3ft by 2ft, beige colour rather than grey, and paper light. The wasps didn't look like the common wasp and were slightly smaller. – Deirdre Rowsome, Killaloe, Co Clare.
There are two wasps in this country that would build nests of that size: the common wasp and the German or European wasp. The latter is slightly smaller than the common wasp.
A European wasps’ nest.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address, please.


theirishtimes--2020-01-11--On a frosty morning 40 years ago, I saw a group of dolphins playing tag

On a frosty morning after Christmas in our first winter in the west more than 40 years ago , I went walking north along the shore .
An early stretch , once I ’ d left the strand , was an obstacle course of rocky headlands and ravines , an old grass road scalloped on eroding cliffs and hurdled with the tangled ends of fences .
But the whole arc of mountains from Achill to Renvyle were gleaming with snow .
And at Carrowniskey Strand , with the wet sand as a mirror , Clare Island floated offshore like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the deep , its long terraces of breakers piling up into crests that today bring many surfers to this shore .
But the shiny black backs that came curving along the waves behind me were those of bottlenose dolphins , out for their own kind of fun .
“ Then came half a dozen more , ” I reported in this column , “ cavorting in the wintry surf as if Mayo were in west Africa.
” Which tells how much I knew about bottlenose dolphins – or “ Huzza Porpoises ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proclaimed .
I had borrowed that phrase from Melville ’ s Moby Dick and his term for the “ hilarious shoals ” that so often shadowed his whaler .
“ If you yourself can withstand three cheers at beholding these vivacious fish , ” he wrote , “ then heaven help ye ; the spirit of godly gamesomeness is not in ye.
” My own godless spirit was , indeed , exalted by the exuberance of the “ porpoises ” playing tag among the breakers and leaping from the water in glittering founts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deliberate , a performance for the solitary human figure on the shore , Then they calmed down and swam on .
My use of “ porpoises ” is still mortifying , but I had yet to learn about the mammals of the sea .
Porpoises are the commonest and by far the smallest of Ireland ’ s 24 species of cetacean , and their shoals have little aspiration to hilarity .
Some big Scottish bottlenoses even beat them up .
My magical visitors , I know today , were from a large social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Connemara and west Mayo .
Some 200 have been photographed for the IWDG ’ s photo ID catalogue .
But 40 years ago , cetacean wildlife was almost blanked from Irish natural history .
Before marine scientists and fellow enthusiasts formed the IWDG ( Irish Whale and Dolphin Group ) in December 1990 , the variety and extent of our cetacean life was held in random records of stranded corpses and in the logbooks of a small Norwegian whaling enterprise based briefly on the Mullet , in north Mayo .
Today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building the story of cetacean biology , lifestyle and pathology .
This action for conservation was implicit in Charles Haughey ’ s 1991 declaration of Ireland ’ s pioneering whale and dolphin sanctuary .
Just a few weeks ago came results of a study by Galway Mayo Institute and the Marine Institute .
It analysed blubber samples from three killer whales , or orcas , stranded dead in Galway , Mayo and Waterford , and from a near-term calf inside one of them .
The tests were part of intensive global monitoring of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chemicals and pesticides .
The chemical concentrations in the Irish blubber were disturbingly high , but still far from those found in some parts of the Mediterranean and elsewhere .
In an earlier world-wide survey of dolphins and porpoises , bottlenoses resident in the Shannon Estuary showed the lowest concentrations of all .
As top predators in the ocean , the dolphins , of which orcas are the biggest , accumulate the most man-made toxic pollutants , in particular the persistent polychlorinated biphenyls ( PCBs ) .
Their “ biomagnification ” in cetacea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when PCBs were still widely used in insulation of electrical equipment .
They were phased out in the EU in the mid-1980s , to good immediate effect , but their persistence is still echoed in the dolphins .
Reproduction can be suppressed and females pass PCBs into their offspring .
One pod of orcas , living between northwest Scotland and Ireland , has not produced a calf in 19 years of observation .
Meanwhile , Ireland ’ s best-known bottlenose , the loyal Fungie of Dingle Harbour , was admitted last September to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longest-lived “ solitary-sociable ” dolphin on record .
He first appeared off Dingle in 1983 , which puts him as the earliest of 114 living , solitary and mostly bottlenose dolphins engaging with humans on shores around the world .
The report on them , Lone Rangers , was prepared by Marine Connection , a UK-based animal welfare charity ( at marineconnection.org ) .
Much less eager for human encounters and lately gashed by a boat propeller , Fungie is nearing the 40 years reckoned as the limit to the lifespan for his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been remarkably free of the misunderstandings , sometimes sexual or aggressive , that have marked some Irish bottlenose encounters .
For the IWDG , even sociable wild dolphins are best left to wild lives .

The shiny black backs that came curving along the waves behind me were those of bottlenose dolphins, out for their own kind of fun. Picture: Michael Viney
On a frosty morning after Christmas in our first winter in the west more than 40 years ago, I went walking north along the shore. An early stretch, once I’d left the strand, was an obstacle course of rocky headlands and ravines, an old grass road scalloped on eroding cliffs and hurdled with the tangled ends of fences.
But the whole arc of mountains from Achill to Renvyle were gleaming with snow. And at Carrowniskey Strand, with the wet sand as a mirror, Clare Island floated offshore like a great white sail.
Carrowniskey shelves slowly into the deep, its long terraces of breakers piling up into crests that today bring many surfers to this shore. But the shiny black backs that came curving along the waves behind me were those of bottlenose dolphins, out for their own kind of fun.
“Then came half a dozen more,” I reported in this column, “cavorting in the wintry surf as if Mayo were in west Africa.” Which tells how much I knew about bottlenose dolphins – or “Huzza Porpoises”, as the headline boldly and ignorantly proclaimed.
READ MORE
My magical visitors were from a large social community of bottlenoses based off the coast of Connemara and west Mayo
I had borrowed that phrase from Melville’s Moby Dick and his term for the “hilarious shoals” that so often shadowed his whaler. “If you yourself can withstand three cheers at beholding these vivacious fish,” he wrote, “then heaven help ye; the spirit of godly gamesomeness is not in ye.”
My own godless spirit was, indeed, exalted by the exuberance of the “porpoises” playing tag among the breakers and leaping from the water in glittering founts of spray. Their play seemed quite deliberate, a performance for the solitary human figure on the shore, Then they calmed down and swam on.
My use of “porpoises” is still mortifying, but I had yet to learn about the mammals of the sea. Porpoises are the commonest and by far the smallest of Ireland’s 24 species of cetacean, and their shoals have little aspiration to hilarity. Some big Scottish bottlenoses even beat them up.
My magical visitors, I know today, were from a large social community of bottlenoses based off the coast of Connemara and west Mayo. Some 200 have been photographed for the IWDG’s photo ID catalogue. But 40 years ago, cetacean wildlife was almost blanked from Irish natural history.
Before marine scientists and fellow enthusiasts formed the IWDG (Irish Whale and Dolphin Group) in December 1990, the variety and extent of our cetacean life was held in random records of stranded corpses and in the logbooks of a small Norwegian whaling enterprise based briefly on the Mullet, in north Mayo.
As top predators in the ocean, the dolphins, of which orcas are the biggest, accumulate the most man-made toxic pollutants
Today’s research cruises and postmortems have been building the story of cetacean biology, lifestyle and pathology. This action for conservation was implicit in Charles Haughey’s 1991 declaration of Ireland’s pioneering whale and dolphin sanctuary .
Just a few weeks ago came results of a study by Galway Mayo Institute and the Marine Institute. It analysed blubber samples from three killer whales, or orcas, stranded dead in Galway, Mayo and Waterford, and from a near-term calf inside one of them.
The tests were part of intensive global monitoring of the impact on cetaceans of toxic industrial chemicals and pesticides. The chemical concentrations in the Irish blubber were disturbingly high, but still far from those found in some parts of the Mediterranean and elsewhere. In an earlier world-wide survey of dolphins and porpoises, bottlenoses resident in the Shannon Estuary showed the lowest concentrations of all.
As top predators in the ocean, the dolphins, of which orcas are the biggest, accumulate the most man-made toxic pollutants, in particular the persistent polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Their “biomagnification” in cetacea was first detected in the 1960s, when PCBs were still widely used in insulation of electrical equipment.
They were phased out in the EU in the mid-1980s, to good immediate effect, but their persistence is still echoed in the dolphins. Reproduction can be suppressed and females pass PCBs into their offspring. One pod of orcas, living between northwest Scotland and Ireland, has not produced a calf in 19 years of observation.
Meanwhile, Ireland's best-known bottlenose, the loyal Fungie of Dingle Harbour, was admitted last September to the Guinness Book of Records as the longest-lived "solitary-sociable" dolphin on record. He first appeared off Dingle in 1983, which puts him as the earliest of 114 living, solitary and mostly bottlenose dolphins engaging with humans on shores around the world. The report on them, Lone Rangers, was prepared by Marine Connection, a UK-based animal welfare charity (at marineconnection.org).
Much less eager for human encounters and lately gashed by a boat propeller, Fungie is nearing the 40 years reckoned as the limit to the lifespan for his kind. His relationship with people has been remarkably free of the misunderstandings, sometimes sexual or aggressive, that have marked some Irish bottlenose encounters.
For the IWDG, even sociable wild dolphins are best left to wild lives.