theirishtimes--2020-08-18--Pressure mounts for change to calculated Leaving Cert grading system

The Government is coming under pressure to change its calculated grading system for Leaving Cert students after similar “ standardisation ” measures in the United Kingdom were scrapped amid controversy on Monday .
Opposition parties last night called for a review of the Government ’ s plan after the British government made a U-turn on A-level results , abandoning its standardisation process when students learned that up to 40 per cent of the grades estimated by their teachers had been marked down by the process .
The Government has a similar process for estimating grades , taking into account the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a series of other factors including a school ’ s previous results .
Sinn Féin and the Labour Party urged Minister for Education Norma Foley to explain how the Irish system would not mean the same level of grades being marked down .
Sources said that the Opposition parties were briefed on the process for estimating grades two weeks ago but were only offered general assurances about the system .
Sinn Féin ’ s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said the UK experience “ raises enormous questions for the calculated grades process here ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean students from disadvantaged schools that have a history of lower results “ are very worried that they will have their results dragged back because of where they are or what school they went to ” .
Labour spokesman for education Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the Government was operating an “ it ’ ll be grand ” approach to calculated grades and schools reopening .
Following controversies in Britain there was now a “ galloping momentum ” to review the calculated grades process in Ireland , said Mr Ó Ríordáin .
“ What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is why our system won ’ t have the same problems as the UK system , ” said Mr Ó Ríordáin .
He said Ms Foley should appear at the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee this week to answer questions about the system .
A spokesman for the Department of Education said Ms Foley was aware of the policy developments around grades in the UK on Monday , but reiterated the Irish system “ will treat students fairly and equitably ” .
The Irish process was working from estimated percentage marks provided by teachers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the spokesman .
This would give officials working on the standardisation of results “ considerably more detailed information about students for use in the calculated grades process ” , he said .
“ Strong measures have been put in place to identify and reward exceptional students from schools that typically in the past would have performed at average or below average levels.
” Meanwhile , a full Cabinet meeting has been scheduled for this morning at short notice , leading to speculation that further restrictions to combat the recent rise in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ source suggested new enforcement measures may be on the cards , requiring the approval of the full Cabinet .
However , it is understood there will be no further county lockdowns arising from the meeting .
It was previously expected that only the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 would meet would meet on Tuesday to discuss the latest recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team , which held a lengthy meeting on Monday to discuss the recent increase in case numbers and the merits of any new restrictions .
Political sources said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be introduced , while trends in testing , and current outbreaks in meat plants and other facilities are also set to be on the Cabinet agenda .
It has also emerged that about 28,000 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will receive no benefit from Tuesday after failing to confirm their continued eligibility for the scheme .
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said the payment continued to be a “ vital source of income ” for thousands of individuals , but “ resources are not unlimited and we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people and families who genuinely need it ” .

Sinn Féin and the Labour Party urged Minister for Education Norma Foley to explain how the Irish system would not mean the same level of grades being marked down. File photograph: Getty
The Government is coming under pressure to change its calculated grading system for Leaving Cert students after similar "standardisation" measures in the United Kingdom were scrapped amid controversy on Monday.
Opposition parties last night called for a review of the Government’s plan after the British government made a U-turn on A-level results, abandoning its standardisation process when students learned that up to 40 per cent of the grades estimated by their teachers had been marked down by the process.
The Government has a similar process for estimating grades, taking into account the teachers’ predicated grades, but also a series of other factors including a school’s previous results.
Sinn Féin and the Labour Party urged Minister for Education Norma Foley to explain how the Irish system would not mean the same level of grades being marked down.
READ MORE
Sources said that the Opposition parties were briefed on the process for estimating grades two weeks ago but were only offered general assurances about the system.
Sinn Féin’s Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said the UK experience “raises enormous questions for the calculated grades process here”.
He warned that the Irish system could mean students from disadvantaged schools that have a history of lower results “are very worried that they will have their results dragged back because of where they are or what school they went to”.
Labour spokesman for education Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said the Government was operating an “it’ll be grand” approach to calculated grades and schools reopening.
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: “I absolutely believe we will recover from this and we will have better days again,” he said
Following controversies in Britain there was now a “galloping momentum” to review the calculated grades process in Ireland, said Mr Ó Ríordáin.
“What we need to know from the Minister is why our system won’t have the same problems as the UK system,” said Mr Ó Ríordáin. He said Ms Foley should appear at the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee this week to answer questions about the system.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said Ms Foley was aware of the policy developments around grades in the UK on Monday, but reiterated the Irish system “will treat students fairly and equitably”.
A student wearing a mask takes part in a final secondary school exam in Hong Kong. Photograph: Kin Cheung/AP
The Irish process was working from estimated percentage marks provided by teachers, rather than grades as in the UK, said the spokesman. This would give officials working on the standardisation of results “considerably more detailed information about students for use in the calculated grades process”, he said.
“Strong measures have been put in place to identify and reward exceptional students from schools that typically in the past would have performed at average or below average levels.”
Coronavirus restrictions
Meanwhile, a full Cabinet meeting has been scheduled for this morning at short notice, leading to speculation that further restrictions to combat the recent rise in cases could be introduced. One political source suggested new enforcement measures may be on the cards, requiring the approval of the full Cabinet.
However, it is understood there will be no further county lockdowns arising from the meeting.
It was previously expected that only the Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 would meet would meet on Tuesday to discuss the latest recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team, which held a lengthy meeting on Monday to discuss the recent increase in case numbers and the merits of any new restrictions.
Political sources said that further restrictions on nursing home visits could be introduced, while trends in testing, and current outbreaks in meat plants and other facilities are also set to be on the Cabinet agenda.
It has also emerged that about 28,000 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will receive no benefit from Tuesday after failing to confirm their continued eligibility for the scheme.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said the payment continued to be a “vital source of income” for thousands of individuals, but “resources are not unlimited and we need to ensure that this money goes to the people and families who genuinely need it”.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Sense of powerlessness a great danger, says archbishop

A great danger facing society today is a sense of powerlessness , the idea that the world is spinning out of control and that problems are too great to solve , Catholic Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary has said .
“ The capacity for hope is very much at issue in our society today .
Hopelessness is prevalent and powerful in so many areas , ” he said .
“ We have experienced a loss of the structured , reliable world that gave meaning and coherence and we find ourselves in a context where the most treasured and trusted symbols @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trivialised , ” he said .
“ At this time of year many students and their families are very anxious about the future , securing the course of their choice at third level and making arrangements for accommodation .
“ At the more general level we have the uncertainty which is brought about by Covid-19 , the fear about employment and the economic situation .
All of us feel vulnerable , fragile , wonder and worry about what the future has in store , ” he said .
People needed “ reasons for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and face the future rather than resort to a form of nostalgia , ” he said .
Speaking at a Mass in Knock Shrine in Co Mayo , he said that “ hope is not a false optimism .
It does not underestimate the challenges we face or ignore the setbacks we experience .
Hope enables us to adopt an honest and critical analysis of where we find ourselves today.
” Hope also “ commits us to pursuing the truth and does not leave us enslaved by our own failures or the decadence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future is open and there will be further developments that look forward to new opportunities ” , he said .

Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary at Knock Shrine at the time of the papal visit in summer 2018. File photograph: James Forde
A great danger facing society today is a sense of powerlessness, the idea that the world is spinning out of control and that problems are too great to solve, Catholic Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary has said.
“The capacity for hope is very much at issue in our society today. Hopelessness is prevalent and powerful in so many areas,” he said.
“We have experienced a loss of the structured, reliable world that gave meaning and coherence and we find ourselves in a context where the most treasured and trusted symbols of faith and hope are disregarded and trivialised,” he said.
“At this time of year many students and their families are very anxious about the future, securing the course of their choice at third level and making arrangements for accommodation.
READ MORE
“At the more general level we have the uncertainty which is brought about by Covid-19, the fear about employment and the economic situation. All of us feel vulnerable, fragile, wonder and worry about what the future has in store,” he said.
People needed “reasons for hope if we are to go forward and face the future rather than resort to a form of nostalgia,” he said.
Speaking at a Mass in Knock Shrine in Co Mayo, he said that "hope is not a false optimism. It does not underestimate the challenges we face or ignore the setbacks we experience. Hope enables us to adopt an honest and critical analysis of where we find ourselves today."
Hope also “commits us to pursuing the truth and does not leave us enslaved by our own failures or the decadence of society. Hope reminds us that the future is open and there will be further developments that look forward to new opportunities”, he said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Tender process for six higher education buildings due ‘immediately’

A programme for the construction of six higher education buildings has progressed and will go out to tender “ immediately ” , the Department of Higher Education has said .
Under Project Ireland 2040 , the Government has pledged to deliver 11 higher education buildings across the country , which will facilitate an additional 8,000 student places upon completion .
The tender for the first bundle under this Public Private Partnership ( PPP ) programme – which includes six projects in the eastern and southern regions and in the midlands – will proceed to tender immediately .
The projects are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blanchardstown campuses ; in Cork IT and IT Tralee , which will merge to create the new Munster Technological University in January 2021 ; in the Institute of Art , Design and Technology , Dún Laoghaire ; and in Athlone Institute of Technology .
Following a “ pre-qualification process ” , three construction companies have been shortlisted and are invited to tender for the bundle .
The shortlisted companies are BAM Building Ltd , JJ Rhatigan and John Sisk & Son .
Announcing the progress , Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a “ very ambitious programme of investment ” .
“ Such investment has never been more important .
The higher education sector , and within that our new Technological Universities and our Institutes of Technology , have an essential role to play in driving recovery across Ireland ’ s regions and in preparing for the opportunities and challenges of a changing economy , ” Mr Harris said .
The buildings will have “ a strong focus ” on supporting practice-based learning , including laboratories , workshops and studios , he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adapt to changing teaching and learning needs , and to support hybrid and remote learning , ” he added .
The second bundle of five projects includes investments in the southeast , west and in northwest , and is expected to go to tender in early 2021 , the department added .
The projects are located in Waterford IT and IT Carlow , which are part of the consortium seeking to establish a technological university for the southeast ; in Galway-Mayo IT and Letterkenny IT , which are part of the Connacht @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which has formed a consortium with Athlone IT .
The department said it is envisaged the PPP will operate on a Design , Build , Finance and Maintain ( DBFM ) contract .
The successful tenderer for each of the bundles will construct the buildings using private finance , and will then operate and maintain the buildings over a period of 25 years .
Payment by the department will be by way of monthly unitary charge payments over the 25-year operational period , which will start when construction has been completed , @ @ @ @

The projects are located in the TU Dublin Tallaght and Blanchardstown (above) campuses; in Cork IT and IT Tralee; in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire; and in Athlone Institute of Technology. File photograph: itb.ie
A programme for the construction of six higher education buildings has progressed and will go out to tender “immediately”, the Department of Higher Education has said.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has pledged to deliver 11 higher education buildings across the country, which will facilitate an additional 8,000 student places upon completion.
The tender for the first bundle under this Public Private Partnership (PPP) programme – which includes six projects in the eastern and southern regions and in the midlands – will proceed to tender immediately.
The projects are located in the TU Dublin Tallaght and Blanchardstown campuses; in Cork IT and IT Tralee, which will merge to create the new Munster Technological University in January 2021; in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Dún Laoghaire; and in Athlone Institute of Technology.
READ MORE
Following a "pre-qualification process", three construction companies have been shortlisted and are invited to tender for the bundle. The shortlisted companies are BAM Building Ltd, JJ Rhatigan and John Sisk & Son.
Announcing the progress, Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris said it is a "key milestone" in a "very ambitious programme of investment".
Essential role
“Such investment has never been more important. The higher education sector, and within that our new Technological Universities and our Institutes of Technology, have an essential role to play in driving recovery across Ireland’s regions and in preparing for the opportunities and challenges of a changing economy,” Mr Harris said.
The buildings will have “a strong focus” on supporting practice-based learning, including laboratories, workshops and studios, he said.
“They will also have significant flexibility to adapt to changing teaching and learning needs, and to support hybrid and remote learning,” he added.
The second bundle of five projects includes investments in the southeast, west and in northwest, and is expected to go to tender in early 2021, the department added.
The projects are located in Waterford IT and IT Carlow, which are part of the consortium seeking to establish a technological university for the southeast; in Galway-Mayo IT and Letterkenny IT, which are part of the Connacht Ulster Alliance; and in Limerick IT, which has formed a consortium with Athlone IT.
The department said it is envisaged the PPP will operate on a Design, Build, Finance and Maintain (DBFM) contract.
The successful tenderer for each of the bundles will construct the buildings using private finance, and will then operate and maintain the buildings over a period of 25 years.
Payment by the department will be by way of monthly unitary charge payments over the 25-year operational period, which will start when construction has been completed, the department added.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Sudden closure of Sisters of Charity homes takes staff, residents, and nuns by surprise

Joe Brabazon ( 83 ) has never received such a shock .
His wife Kay ( 81 ) , who suffers with Alzheimer ’ s disease , was in St Mary ’ s nursing home on Dublin ’ s Merrion Rd for almost 12 months when he was told it was to close and she had to be moved .
“ I was completely shocked .
I just couldn ’ t get over it .
It was a terrible thing to happen .
I was disgusted.
” Last month the Sisters of Charity-owned home was placed in liquidation .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , St Monica ’ s at Belvedere Place in Dublin city centre , as was Caritas , a convalescent home of their ’ s located beside St Mary ’ s .
Caritas was closed last March .
At that time two of its 64 staff were confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 and it was felt uneconomical for it to provide facilities there which met socially-distanced requirements .
Decisions to close St Monica ’ s and St Mary ’ s followed critical inspection reports from healthcare watchdog the Health Information and Quality Authority ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had capacity for 46 residents with more than 60 employees while St Mary ’ s had 60 staff and 35 female residents , whose families were informed on June 3rd it would close by the end of the year .
The decision to appoint liquidators last month and close the homes took staff , as well as residents , and relatives of residents , by surprise .
The Health Service Executive also said it was surprised .
It was involved in discussions around “ financial and infrastructural challenges at St Mary ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close , said a spokeswoman .
Further meetings “ were planned when the HSE became aware that the board of management of St Mary ’ s were intent on closing the nursing home element of the service ” , she said .
The HSE had also advised the board of St Mary ’ s “ that it was willing to engage jointly with Hiqa ” to review a timeframe for implementation of its ( latter ’ s ) recommendations .
Also surprised at the June 3rd announcement that all three homes were to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself , an informed source insisted .
It was pointed out that each home is run by an independent board , with two Sisters of Charity on the board of St Mary ’ s , one sister on the board of St Monica ’ s , and two sisters on the board of Caritas .
There are 330 Sisters of Charity in Ireland , average age 81 .
It is claimed that those Sisters sitting on relevant boards felt bound by confidentiality from discussing goings on at their particular board with the congregation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who sat on the boards of the other two companies .
The almost simultaneous decision to close all three homes was described to The Irish Times as “ a perfect storm.
” So Mr Brabazon would appear to be occupying a somewhat crowded space in his surprise at the recent abrupt announcement that St Mary ’ s is to close .
He was very happy with the care his wife Kay received there and with the staff who were “ excellent , so friendly .
They were perfect .
And they kept it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incensed by the whole idea.
” He and other relatives were given until Monday , August 17th , to find another nursing home for their St Mary ’ s resident .
Luckily , and in desperation , he has been able to secure a place in another nursing home for Kay .
“ But I didn ’ t want to move Kay .
My first school was with nuns and I have no bad memories , ” he said .
“ I had respect for nuns but it is greatly diminished.
” Feeling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother Kay ( Mountaine ) Martin ( 77 ) has been at St Mary ’ s since 2017 with advanced Alzheimers .
The situation was “ extremely upsetting ” , she said .
She had found out from staff that she would have to find another nursing home for her mother and soon , she said .
She has yet to find another place for her mother .
To compound her anger was Kay ’ s history of raising funds for the Sisters of Charity , as did Kay ’ s own mother @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Variety Club of Ireland of which both were members .
“ They helped build the swimming pool at St Mary ’ s , ” said Trish .
“ Their names are on a plaque there , ” she added .
And so they are , along with other life members such as Éamon de Valera , Seán Lemass , Bing Crosby , his wife Kathryn , Dublin comedian Jack Cruise , Butch Moore , Paddy Cole , and other members of the Capitol Showband .
“ St Mary ’ s and the Sisters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their principles , ” said Trish Healy “ and are seriously compromising our mum ’ s health ” .
It was “ all very , very rushed and I ’ ve sent a letter to the management and board [ of St Mary ’ s ] telling them they will be held culpable if Kay gets Covid-19 ” , she said .
Two advocacy groups for older people have also expressed concern at the decision to move residents from both nursing homes during a Covid-19 pandemic .
Celine Clarke of Age Action said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ living in nursing homes are in a vulnerable situation during Covid-19 so the stress associated with a relocation is now exacerbated both for the residents and their families ” .
Mervyn Taylor of Sage Advocacy spoke of “ growing concern ” at the closure of St Mary ’ s .
“ Whatever the strategic importance of this valuable site for others in the future its real importance lies in the fact that the current residents see it as their home , ” he said .
He noted how in 2017 the Sisters of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the specific purpose of the development/reconfiguration ” of facilities at St Mary ’ s to meet Hiqa recommendations , and how in its 2018 annual report directors indicated the company would “ continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future ” .
According to that annual report , in 2018 St Mary ’ s made a profit of €239,427 on an income of €5,975,458 and expenditure of €5,736,031 .
In that same year also St Monica ’ s on Belvedere Place made a profit of €26,397 on an income of €3,089,243 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too the Caritas Convalescent Centre made a profit of €396,861 , on an income of €4,208,804 and expenditure of €3,812,043 .
Where the two nursing home were concerned , the Sisters of Charity said last month they were “ extremely disappointed to learn that there may not be enough funds to pay statutory redundancy to the staff ” , at St Mary ’ s or St Monica ’ s .
Last Thursday week , August 6th , the liquidators moved into St Mary ’ s and a majority of staff were given until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of those staff hadworked at St Mary ’ s for many decades .
A selected few were retained to facilitate the wind-down .
The liquidator told them by email on August 6th ( seen by The Irish Times ) : “ It is with regret that the Company does not have the financial resources to continue to pay the vast majority of its employees.
” It continued : “ As your assistance will not be needed post-7 August , you will be put on lay-off without pay for the remainder of the consultation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be required to attend for duty or carry out your role during this time but we will continue to engage with your representatives or directly with you ( if you are a non-unionised employee ) until the end of the ongoing consultation process.
” The staff were advised “ return all Company property in your possession by close of business Friday 7 August and provide any password or login details to your computer.
” Staff who spoke to The Irish Times were reluctant to go on the record , despite their deep sense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as the liquidator is also “ preparing and submitting claims on your behalf to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection ” as he said in the Thursday , August 6th , email .
It means more than 20 staff have been left with no access to social welfare benefits as they have been informed this would have a negative impact on their redundancy claim to the department .
Also being moved on are the 19 people with various disabilities who live independently in units beside St Mary ’ s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there for most of their lives .
Among those already moved from St Mary ’ s are 11 elderly Sisters of Charity .
“ They were moved pretty rapidly after the June [ 3rd closure ] announcement , ” said a source .
All were relocated to the same nursing home in Drumcondra .
“ It ’ s not easy to get 11 beds at such short notice , ” added the source .

Protesters for the Campaign to save St Mary’s Nursing Home on Merrion Road outside the High Court. File photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times.
Joe Brabazon (83) has never received such a shock. His wife Kay (81), who suffers with Alzheimer's disease,was in St Mary's nursing home on Dublin's Merrion Rd for almost 12 months when he was told it was to close and she had to be moved.
“I was completely shocked. I just couldn’t get over it. It was a terrible thing to happen. I was disgusted.”
Joe Brabazon whose wife Kay was a resident in St Mary’s Nursing Home. Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times.
Last month the Sisters of Charity-owned home was placed in liquidation. So too was another of their nursing homes, St Monica's at Belvedere Place in Dublin city centre, as was Caritas, a convalescent home of their's located beside St Mary's.
Caritas was closed last March. At that time two of its 64 staff were confirmed to have contracted Covid-19 and it was felt uneconomical for it to provide facilities there which met socially-distanced requirements.
READ MORE
Decisions to close St Monica’s and St Mary’s followed critical inspection reports from healthcare watchdog the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).
St Monica’s had capacity for 46 residents with more than 60 employees while St Mary’s had 60 staff and 35 female residents, whose families were informed on June 3rd it would close by the end of the year.
The decision to appoint liquidators last month and close the homes took staff, as well as residents, and relatives of residents, by surprise.
The Health Service Executive also said it was surprised. It was involved in discussions around “financial and infrastructural challenges at St Mary’s” when the centre announced it would close, said a spokeswoman.
Further meetings “were planned when the HSE became aware that the board of management of St Mary’s were intent on closing the nursing home element of the service”, she said.
The HSE had also advised the board of St Mary’s “that it was willing to engage jointly with Hiqa” to review a timeframe for implementation of its (latter’s) recommendations.
Also surprised at the June 3rd announcement that all three homes were to close was the Sisters of Charity leadership itself, an informed source insisted.
It was pointed out that each home is run by an independent board, with two Sisters of Charity on the board of St Mary’s, one sister on the board of St Monica’s, and two sisters on the board of Caritas.
There are 330 Sisters of Charity in Ireland, average age 81.
It is claimed that those Sisters sitting on relevant boards felt bound by confidentiality from discussing goings on at their particular board with the congregation’s leadership or with those Sisters who sat on the boards of the other two companies.
The almost simultaneous decision to close all three homes was described to The Irish Times as “a perfect storm.”
So Mr Brabazon would appear to be occupying a somewhat crowded space in his surprise at the recent abrupt announcement that St Mary’s is to close.
He was very happy with the care his wife Kay received there and with the staff who were “excellent, so friendly. They were perfect. And they kept it Covid-19 free. I’m still incensed by the whole idea.”
He and other relatives were given until Monday, August 17th, to find another nursing home for their St Mary’s resident. Luckily, and in desperation, he has been able to secure a place in another nursing home for Kay.
“But I didn’t want to move Kay. My first school was with nuns and I have no bad memories,” he said. “I had respect for nuns but it is greatly diminished.”
Feeling as aggrieved is Trish Healy. Her mother Kay (Mountaine) Martin (77) has been at St Mary's since 2017 with advanced Alzheimers. The situation was "extremely upsetting", she said. She had found out from staff that she would have to find another nursing home for her mother and soon, she said.
Trish Healy with mother Kay.
‘Names on a plaque’
She has yet to find another place for her mother.
To compound her anger was Kay's history of raising funds for the Sisters of Charity, as did Kay's own mother Kathleen Mountaine too, also through the Variety Club of Ireland of which both were members.
"They helped build the swimming pool at St Mary's," said Trish. "Their names are on a plaque there," she added. And so they are, along with other life members such as Éamon de Valera, Seán Lemass, Bing Crosby, his wife Kathryn, Dublin comedian Jack Cruise, Butch Moore, Paddy Cole, and other members of the Capitol Showband.
“St Mary’s and the Sisters [of Charity] have failed in their principles,” said Trish Healy “and are seriously compromising our mum’s health”. It was “all very, very rushed and I’ve sent a letter to the management and board [of St Mary’s] telling them they will be held culpable if Kay gets Covid-19”, she said.
Two advocacy groups for older people have also expressed concern at the decision to move residents from both nursing homes during a Covid-19 pandemic.
Celine Clarke of Age Action said "we have seen that many people living in nursing homes are in a vulnerable situation during Covid-19 so the stress associated with a relocation is now exacerbated both for the residents and their families".
Mervyn Taylor of Sage Advocacy spoke of "growing concern" at the closure of St Mary's. "Whatever the strategic importance of this valuable site for others in the future its real importance lies in the fact that the current residents see it as their home," he said.
He noted how in 2017 the Sisters of Charity provided unrestricted funding of €632,052 “ for the specific purpose of the development/reconfiguration” of facilities at St Mary’s to meet Hiqa recommendations, and how in its 2018 annual report directors indicated the company would “continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future”.
According to that annual report, in 2018 St Mary’s made a profit of €239,427 on an income of €5,975,458 and expenditure of €5,736,031. In that same year also St Monica’s on Belvedere Place made a profit of €26,397 on an income of €3,089,243 and expenditure of €3,062,846.
In 2018 too the Caritas Convalescent Centre made a profit of €396,861, on an income of €4,208,804 and expenditure of €3,812,043.
Where the two nursing home were concerned, the Sisters of Charity said last month they were “extremely disappointed to learn that there may not be enough funds to pay statutory redundancy to the staff”, at St Mary’s or St Monica’s.
Financial resources
Last Thursday week, August 6th, the liquidators moved into St Mary’s and a majority of staff were given until the next day to leave. Some of those staff hadworked at St Mary’s for many decades. A selected few were retained to facilitate the wind-down.
The liquidator told them by email on August 6th (seen by The Irish Times): “It is with regret that the Company does not have the financial resources to continue to pay the vast majority of its employees.”
It continued: “As your assistance will not be needed post-7 August, you will be put on lay-off without pay for the remainder of the consultation process. Accordingly, you will not be required to attend for duty or carry out your role during this time but we will continue to engage with your representatives or directly with you (if you are a non-unionised employee) until the end of the ongoing consultation process.”
The staff were advised “return all Company property in your possession by close of business Friday 7 August and provide any password or login details to your computer.”
Staff who spoke to The Irish Times were reluctant to go on the record, despite their deep sense of injustice and anger at this treatment, as the liquidator is also “preparing and submitting claims on your behalf to the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection” as he said in the Thursday, August 6th, email.
It means more than 20 staff have been left with no access to social welfare benefits as they have been informed this would have a negative impact on their redundancy claim to the department.
Also being moved on are the 19 people with various disabilities who live independently in units beside St Mary’s, many of them who have been living there for most of their lives.
Among those already moved from St Mary's are 11 elderly Sisters of Charity. "They were moved pretty rapidly after the June [3rd closure] announcement," said a source. All were relocated to the same nursing home in Drumcondra. "It's not easy to get 11 beds at such short notice," added the source.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Mother (48) died after anaphylactic reaction to penicillin

An open verdict was recorded by a coroner at an inquest into the death of a 48-year-old woman who died in hospital from a heart attack caused by an anaphylactic reaction to an injection of Augmentin ( penicillin ) .
The deceased , Philomena Nolan , with an address at Glenbrook , Knock , Co Mayo , was admitted to Mayo University Hospital on January 7th last with acute cholecystitis ( inflammation of the gallbladder ) .
After being administered Augmentin intravenously , she became seriously ill .
In the words of her daughter , Hazel , who was by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she became “ pale as a ghost ” .
She was resuscitated but died 10 days later after life-support equipment was switched off with the agreement of her family .
Hazel Nolan told the inquest on Monday into her mother ’ s death that after the injection of Augmentin via intravenous line her mother said “ she felt tingly all over her body and had a weird taste in her mouth ” and that she “ didn ’ t feel right ” .
Her daughter said that on about the eighth day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained that her mother was extremely brain damaged and that her reaction was due to the penicillin .
Eimear Lyons , a solicitor with Dillon Leetch and Comerford , suggested the coroner return a verdict of misadventure .
Rejecting both suggestions , the coroner returned an open verdict in what he described as a “ very tragic and sad case ” involving the death of a young mother .
The medical cause of death was earlier outlined to the inquest by Dr Fadel Bennani , consultant pathologist , as cardiopulmonary arrest due to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The coroner returned an open verdict in what he described as a “very tragic and sad case” involving the death of a young mother.
An open verdict was recorded by a coroner at an inquest into the death of a 48-year-old woman who died in hospital from a heart attack caused by an anaphylactic reaction to an injection of Augmentin (penicillin).
The deceased, Philomena Nolan, with an address at Glenbrook, Knock, Co Mayo, was admitted to Mayo University Hospital on January 7th last with acute cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder).
After being administered Augmentin intravenously, she became seriously ill. In the words of her daughter, Hazel, who was by her bedside, her body went limp and she became “pale as a ghost”.
She was resuscitated but died 10 days later after life-support equipment was switched off with the agreement of her family.
READ MORE
Hazel Nolan told the inquest on Monday into her mother's death that after the injection of Augmentin via intravenous line her mother said "she felt tingly all over her body and had a weird taste in her mouth" and that she "didn't feel right".
Her daughter said that on about the eighth day in the intensive care unit a consultant explained that her mother was extremely brain damaged and that her reaction was due to the penicillin.
Eimear Lyons, a solicitor with Dillon Leetch and Comerford, suggested the coroner return a verdict of misadventure.
However, Ruth Finnerty, a solicitor with Ronan Daly Jermyn Solicitors, recommended a narrative verdict.
Rejecting both suggestions, the coroner returned an open verdict in what he described as a “very tragic and sad case” involving the death of a young mother.
The medical cause of death was earlier outlined to the inquest by Dr Fadel Bennani, consultant pathologist, as cardiopulmonary arrest due to an anaphylactic reaction to Augmentin injection.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Calls for ‘complete review’ of St John Ambulance safeguarding standards

Abuse survivor organisations have called for a “ complete review ” of child protection standards in St John Ambulance , following revelations of past child abuse within the paramedic organisation .
Three survivors spoke to The Irish Times about the abuse they suffered at the hands of a former senior member of the organisation in its Old Kilmainham division , in incidents dating from the 1990s .
The allegations made against the man have been deemed to be founded , following an investigation by Tusla , the child and family agency .
The abuser , who can not be named @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the voluntary organisation from the 1950s until at least 2000 , and left under pressure to resign .
Maeve Lewis , executive director of survivor support charity One in Four , called for “ a complete review of current child protection policies ” in the organisation , in response to the article .
The past response to the abuse within the organisation was “ reminiscent of so many other scandals over the years ” she said .
Similarities included weak child protection policies and a failure to properly follow up on allegations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeared to have been “ to protect the reputation of the organisation ” , Ms Lewis said .
While the abuser had been removed at some point in the early 2000s , the organisation had failed to address “ the huge damage ” he had caused up to that point .
St John Ambulance , which provides first aid at sporting , music and community events , has said it is “ aware of historic allegations relating to a former volunteer ” but could not comment due to an ongoing legal case .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case against both the organisation and the abuser .
Gardaí had investigated the allegations against the man and sent files on the three cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions , who in July 2018 directed that no prosecution be taken , as it did not feel there was sufficient evidence to secure a conviction .
In a short message to members on Monday , the organisation ’ s commissioner John Hughes said to comment on the abuse allegations while the civil case was ongoing “ would be inappropriate ” .
Mr Hughes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the vulnerable is and will remain our first priority ” and that the organisation was “ fully committed to providing a safe environment ” .
In response to further queries on the historic abuse , a spokesman for the organisation said it would not be commenting further .
Minister of State with responsibility for disability Anne Rabbitte previously met the three abuse survivors when she was Fianna Fáil ’ s spokeswoman for children in Opposition .
Speaking on Monday , Ms Rabbitte said there had to be “ clear accountability ” in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current “ silence ” from St John Ambulance could not continue .
Ms Rabbitte said a “ concrete response ” was needed from the organisation to provide assurances of safeguarding standards .
Dr Conor O ’ Mahony , the Government ’ s special rapporteur on child protection , described the survivors ’ experience of abuse as “ harrowing ” .
Minister for Children Roderic O ’ Gorman said last year Tusla had reviewed St John Ambulance ’ s child safeguarding statement , which details its policies to keep children safe , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tusla had also reviewed its records in the Dublin Mid-Leinster region and “ is satisfied that no other allegations of a similar nature against persons associated with St John Ambulance were received in that region ” , he said .
Mr O ’ Gorman praised the courage of the three survivors for reporting the abuse and speaking publicly about their experiences .

St John Ambulance: the organisation has been urged to review its child protection standards. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Abuse survivor organisations have called for a "complete review" of child protection standards in St John Ambulance, following revelations of past child abuse within the paramedic organisation.
Three survivors spoke to The Irish Times about the abuse they suffered at the hands of a former senior member of the organisation in its Old Kilmainham division, in incidents dating from the 1990s.
The allegations made against the man have been deemed to be founded, following an investigation by Tusla, the child and family agency.
The abuser, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was a member of the voluntary organisation from the 1950s until at least 2000, and left under pressure to resign.
READ MORE
Maeve Lewis, executive director of survivor support charity One in Four, called for "a complete review of current child protection policies" in the organisation, in response to the article.
The past response to the abuse within the organisation was “reminiscent of so many other scandals over the years” she said. Similarities included weak child protection policies and a failure to properly follow up on allegations reported, she said.
The priority appeared to have been “to protect the reputation of the organisation”, Ms Lewis said. While the abuser had been removed at some point in the early 2000s, the organisation had failed to address “the huge damage” he had caused up to that point.
‘Historic allegations’
St John Ambulance, which provides first aid at sporting, music and community events, has said it is “aware of historic allegations relating to a former volunteer” but could not comment due to an ongoing legal case. The three survivors are taking a civil case against both the organisation and the abuser.
Gardaí had investigated the allegations against the man and sent files on the three cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions, who in July 2018 directed that no prosecution be taken, as it did not feel there was sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
In a short message to members on Monday, the organisation's commissioner John Hughes said to comment on the abuse allegations while the civil case was ongoing "would be inappropriate".
Mr Hughes told members “the safeguarding of children and the vulnerable is and will remain our first priority” and that the organisation was “fully committed to providing a safe environment”.
In response to further queries on the historic abuse, a spokesman for the organisation said it would not be commenting further.
‘Concrete response’
Minister of State with responsibility for disability Anne Rabbitte previously met the three abuse survivors when she was Fianna Fáil's spokeswoman for children in Opposition.
Speaking on Monday, Ms Rabbitte said there had to be “clear accountability” in response to the past abuse, and the current “silence” from St John Ambulance could not continue.
Ms Rabbitte said a “concrete response” was needed from the organisation to provide assurances of safeguarding standards.
Dr Conor O’Mahony, the Government’s special rapporteur on child protection, described the survivors’ experience of abuse as “harrowing”.
Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman said last year Tusla had reviewed St John Ambulance's child safeguarding statement, which details its policies to keep children safe, and the agency deemed it to be compliant.
Tusla had also reviewed its records in the Dublin Mid-Leinster region and “is satisfied that no other allegations of a similar nature against persons associated with St John Ambulance were received in that region”, he said.
Mr O’Gorman praised the courage of the three survivors for reporting the abuse and speaking publicly about their experiences.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Serial fraudster on the run from UK authorities is arrested in Dublin

Gardaí have arrested a notorious fraudster who had fled to Ireland while on the run amid a trial in London in which she was convicted and sentenced in her absence .
Farah Damji ( 53 ) , also known as Farah Dan , was born in Uganda and is the daughter of South African-born millionaire property tycoon Amir Damji .
She has a long and storied criminal career stretching back to the early 1990s , when she ran an art gallery in New York and East Hampton .
She was convicted in February on two counts of breaching a restraining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , she had absconded during that trial and came to Ireland , where she has been at large ever since .
Following her conviction in her absence , she was sentenced in March to 27 months in jail and a European Arrest Warrant was issued for her by Judge Michael Gledhill at Southwark Crown Court .
Her conviction related to her continued harassment of a police officer she was banned from naming in any correspondence under a restraining order .
She broke that restraining order by writing to the Multi-Agency Public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offenders in the UK , and claiming the police officer she was not permitted to name anywhere had scared her mother and had also stalked her .
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau unearthed information about two months ago suggesting Damji was in Dublin and began an investigation into her with a view to locating her .
On Monday a search was carried out at a block of apartments in Dublin ’ s north inner city , close to Bachelor ’ s Walk , where she was located and arrested .
Members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found false IDs they believe she had been using in Dublin , where she has presented herself as an Icelandic national .
A credit card in the same name as the false IDs was also recovered by gardaí , as well as two laptops that were seized for examination .
Damji was taken before the High Court in Dublin on Monday afternoon , where she was remanded in custody to the Dóchas Centre , the women ’ s prison on the Mountjoy campus on Dublin ’ s North Circular Road .
Gardaí also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrest , and she was set to be extradited to serve her sentence there .
In 2016 she was jailed in Britain for five years for stalking a church warden she had met through online dating .
While in prison she raised £5,000 , through an appeal on Twitter , to pay for a barrister so she could appeal her conviction .
As well as the police officer she was banned from mentioning in any comments , Damji is also prohibited from naming in comments other individuals , including people who have investigated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and published comments described as character assassinations .
As well as having stalking-related convictions and convictions for breaking restraining orders , she also has a number of convictions relating to cheque fraud and taking other people ’ s credit cards and running up large bills .
She has also used forged documents to present herself as a judge and a member of the Crown Prosecution Service – Britain ’ s DPP – in a bid to ensure witnesses did not turn up in court or to have possessions of hers returned to her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of investigations into her frauds .

Gardaí have arrested a notorious fraudster who had fled to Ireland while on the run amid a trial in London in which she was convicted and sentenced in her absence.
Farah Damji (53), also known as Farah Dan, was born in Uganda and is the daughter of South African-born millionaire property tycoon Amir Damji. She has a long and storied criminal career stretching back to the early 1990s, when she ran an art gallery in New York and East Hampton.
She was convicted in February on two counts of breaching a restraining order, in April and June 2018. However, she had absconded during that trial and came to Ireland, where she has been at large ever since.
Following her conviction in her absence, she was sentenced in March to 27 months in jail and a European Arrest Warrant was issued for her by Judge Michael Gledhill at Southwark Crown Court.
READ MORE
Her conviction related to her continued harassment of a police officer she was banned from naming in any correspondence under a restraining order. She broke that restraining order by writing to the Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements, which manages some criminal offenders in the UK, and claiming the police officer she was not permitted to name anywhere had scared her mother and had also stalked her.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau unearthed information about two months ago suggesting Damji was in Dublin and began an investigation into her with a view to locating her.
On Monday a search was carried out at a block of apartments in Dublin’s north inner city, close to Bachelor’s Walk, where she was located and arrested.
Members of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau also found false IDs they believe she had been using in Dublin, where she has presented herself as an Icelandic national.
A credit card in the same name as the false IDs was also recovered by gardaí, as well as two laptops that were seized for examination. Damji was taken before the High Court in Dublin on Monday afternoon, where she was remanded in custody to the Dóchas Centre, the women's prison on the Mountjoy campus on Dublin's North Circular Road.
Gardaí also informed the authorities in Britain of her arrest, and she was set to be extradited to serve her sentence there.
Stalking conviction
In 2016 she was jailed in Britain for five years for stalking a church warden she had met through online dating. While in prison she raised £5,000, through an appeal on Twitter, to pay for a barrister so she could appeal her conviction.
As well as the police officer she was banned from mentioning in any comments, Damji is also prohibited from naming in comments other individuals, including people who have investigated her, but has ignored those orders and published comments described as character assassinations.
As well as having stalking-related convictions and convictions for breaking restraining orders, she also has a number of convictions relating to cheque fraud and taking other people’s credit cards and running up large bills.
She has also used forged documents to present herself as a judge and a member of the Crown Prosecution Service – Britain’s DPP – in a bid to ensure witnesses did not turn up in court or to have possessions of hers returned to her after they had been seized as part of investigations into her frauds.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Residents in nursing home facing closure ‘particularly vulnerable’

Residents in a south Dublin nursing home and disability centre , which faces closure under High Court liquidation proceedings , were particularly vulnerable , a solicitor told Mr Justice Garrett Simons on Monday .
“ I represent both employees and residents , some of whom are in their twilight years and some of whom are blind and I will have to travel to meet many of them , ” solicitor Gary Daly told the court when he was granted an adjournment to facilitate the preparation of evidence on their behalf .
St Mary ’ s Centre ( Telford ) nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St Vincent ’ s Hospital on Merrion Road in Dublin , and last month the High Court appointed provisional liquidators Dessie Morrow and Neil Hughes to deal with the winding up of the management company .
The nursing home has in recent years been the subject of critical inspection reports from the healthcare watchdog , the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) .
Barrister Ross Gorman , counsel for the liquidators , told the judge they had prepared a report for the court outlining that the company consisted of a nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ residential care for 31 patients currently requiring 24-hour care .
The disability centre consisted of assisted living houses and apartments currently for 19 residents .
Many had significant visual impairment and would be legally termed blind , while others had special needs and required high levels of care and support .
The liquidators told the court the facilities were closing due to an inability to meet statutory and regulatory requirements to operate at full capacity or fund costs .
Concerns over the long-term viability of the centre had arisen over funding levels following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Health Service Executive .
Their report stated there had been an increase in operating costs arising from a reduction in the centre ’ s capacity and increases in staff ratios to comply with regulatory requirements imposed by Hiqa .
The court learned that the main asset in the liquidation was the bank accounts with combined balances of about €1.145 million – funds received in respect of pension money and allowances due to residents and utilised to discharge the cost of care for residents .
Any other allowances received by the company were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stated there were also balances due to some former residents which was contained in the overall sum of €1.145 million and the liquidators were currently liaising with the company ’ s finance department to obtain a reconciliation of all funds due to former residents .
There had been meetings and consultations with staff and their union representatives over redundancy and , should the liquidators ’ appointment be confirmed , it was their intention to clarify the position as regards employee entitlements .
The HSE , represented in court by Conor Dignam SC , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existing agreements .
The liquidators told the court they had already met the 31 residents or their representatives and had addressed queries and concerns they had regarding their appointment as joint provisional liquidators .
Some of the residents had been living at the centre for a significant period of time ( more than 70 years in one case ) or had been a resident from a very young age .
The judge said he accepted that the patients at the centre were vulnerable people and he allowed an adjournment into early September to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exchanged between the parties .
Ross Lavelle , counsel for the St Mary ’ s Centre , told the court that the provisional liquidators would remain in place in the meantime .

The liquidators told the High Court the facilities were closing due to an inability to meet statutory and regulatory requirements to operate at full capacity or fund costs. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni/Collins
Residents in a south Dublin nursing home and disability centre, which faces closure under High Court liquidation proceedings, were particularly vulnerable, a solicitor told Mr Justice Garrett Simons on Monday.
"I represent both employees and residents, some of whom are in their twilight years and some of whom are blind and I will have to travel to meet many of them," solicitor Gary Daly told the court when he was granted an adjournment to facilitate the preparation of evidence on their behalf.
St Mary's Centre (Telford) nursing home is situated on a campus beside St Vincent's Hospital on Merrion Road in Dublin, and last month the High Court appointed provisional liquidators Dessie Morrow and Neil Hughes to deal with the winding up of the management company.
The nursing home has in recent years been the subject of critical inspection reports from the healthcare watchdog, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).
READ MORE
Barrister Ross Gorman, counsel for the liquidators, told the judge they had prepared a report for the court outlining that the company consisted of a nursing home and a disability centre which provided residential care for 31 patients currently requiring 24-hour care.
Visual impairment
The disability centre consisted of assisted living houses and apartments currently for 19 residents. Many had significant visual impairment and would be legally termed blind, while others had special needs and required high levels of care and support.
The liquidators told the court the facilities were closing due to an inability to meet statutory and regulatory requirements to operate at full capacity or fund costs. Concerns over the long-term viability of the centre had arisen over funding levels following changes to the existing funding model by the Health Service Executive.
Their report stated there had been an increase in operating costs arising from a reduction in the centre’s capacity and increases in staff ratios to comply with regulatory requirements imposed by Hiqa.
The court learned that the main asset in the liquidation was the bank accounts with combined balances of about €1.145 million – funds received in respect of pension money and allowances due to residents and utilised to discharge the cost of care for residents. Any other allowances received by the company were paid over to residents.
The report stated there were also balances due to some former residents which was contained in the overall sum of €1.145 million and the liquidators were currently liaising with the company’s finance department to obtain a reconciliation of all funds due to former residents.
Consultations
There had been meetings and consultations with staff and their union representatives over redundancy and, should the liquidators’ appointment be confirmed, it was their intention to clarify the position as regards employee entitlements. The HSE, represented in court by Conor Dignam SC, would provide continued funding in accordance with existing agreements.
The liquidators told the court they had already met the 31 residents or their representatives and had addressed queries and concerns they had regarding their appointment as joint provisional liquidators. Some of the residents had been living at the centre for a significant period of time (more than 70 years in one case) or had been a resident from a very young age.
The judge said he accepted that the patients at the centre were vulnerable people and he allowed an adjournment into early September to allow for affidavits to be prepared and exchanged between the parties.
Ross Lavelle, counsel for the St Mary's Centre, told the court that the provisional liquidators would remain in place in the meantime.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Call for immediate closure of pubs, hotels in ‘flagrant breach’ of rules

The law should change so that pubs , restaurants and hotels found to be in “ flagrant breach ” of the Covid-19 rules can be closed immediately , representatives of the restaurant and pub sectors have said .
They also said they would like to see the names published of those businesses found to be in breach of the rules , in the same way that the names of food outlets that have been closed are named by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland .
“ We don ’ t want to get back to the place where our industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adrian Cummins , chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland .
“ I would like to see the naming and shaming of those found not to be in compliance.
” There are hundreds of environmental health officers who can close down a food outlet if they believe it is not in compliance with the food safety laws .
But hotels , restaurants and pubs that are found not to be in compliance with the Covid public health rules can not be closed immediately and in the same way .
Mr Cummins suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanded to include compliance with the Covid rules .
He also said that sometimes gardaí have a different understanding of the rules to his members .
In one recent case a Garda had said that soup and a sandwich did not qualify as a “ substantial meal ” under the guidelines “ but it does if it costs more than €9 ” , he said .
Donall O ’ Keeffe , chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association ( LVA ) , said many of its members were inspected by gardaí a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has to be consequences for those found not to be following the guidelines , including objections to the renewal of their licences in September.
” Licences to sell alcohol are renewed every September and An Garda Síochána can object to the renewal of particular licences if they believe the court should not do so .
Mr O ’ Keeffe would like to see outlets that are “ flagrantly ” in breach of the Covid guidelines to face being “ shut down immediately.
” Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said on RTÉ radio on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visited more than 6,000 premises at the weekend , and that of the nearly 3,000 restaurants that were operating , only 26 had been found to be non-compliant .
Files were being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in those instances , he said .
However , a spokesman for the Garda Press Office said : “ An Garda Síochána did not publish these figures .
An Garda Síochána will as per normal publish updated Operation Navigation figures on Wednesday.
” It is understood the gardaí check approximately 2,500-3,000 hospitality businesses every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where problems have been identified have closed when asked .
A prosecution can be brought if a premises is found to be serving alcohol but not food , but there is no power to prosecute businesses where social distancing and other guidelines are not being observed .
Earlier , Mr Donnelly described the scenes at a Dublin city venue at the centre of a controversy over alleged breaches of coronavirus guidelines at the weekend as “ reckless ” and “ a slap in the face ” to people who had made huge sacrifices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who confirmed he had spoken to his Cabinet colleague Minister for Justice Helen McEntee about the matter , said “ behaviour like that poses a threat to life .
We ’ re not messing around here ” .
The proprietor of Berlin D2 , Jay Bourke , said he was “ appalled , very unhappy and embarrassed ” at video footage that emerged on social media over the weekend in which customers were shown crowding around a bar as a man dancing on it , while wearing a mask , poured drink into @ @ @

The law should change so that pubs, restaurants and hotels found to be in “flagrant breach” of the Covid-19 rules can be closed immediately, representatives of the restaurant and pub sectors have said.
They also said they would like to see the names published of those businesses found to be in breach of the rules, in the same way that the names of food outlets that have been closed are named by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
"We don't want to get back to the place where our industry is closed down again,"said Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland.
“I would like to see the naming and shaming of those found not to be in compliance.”
READ MORE
There are hundreds of environmental health officers who can close down a food outlet if they believe it is not in compliance with the food safety laws. But hotels, restaurants and pubs that are found not to be in compliance with the Covid public health rules cannot be closed immediately and in the same way.
Mr Cummins suggested environmental health officers could have their roles expanded to include compliance with the Covid rules.
He also said that sometimes gardaí have a different understanding of the rules to his members.
In one recent case a Garda had said that soup and a sandwich did not qualify as a “substantial meal” under the guidelines “but it does if it costs more than €9”, he said.
Donall O'Keeffe, chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), said many of its members were inspected by gardaí a number of times a week.
“There has to be consequences for those found not to be following the guidelines, including objections to the renewal of their licences in September.”
Licences to sell alcohol are renewed every September and An Garda Síochána can object to the renewal of particular licences if they believe the court should not do so.
Mr O’Keeffe would like to see outlets that are “flagrantly” in breach of the Covid guidelines to face being “shut down immediately.”
Garda inspections
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said on RTÉ radio on Monday that he believed the Garda had visited more than 6,000 premises at the weekend, and that of the nearly 3,000 restaurants that were operating, only 26 had been found to be non-compliant.
Files were being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in those instances, he said.
However, a spokesman for the Garda Press Office said: “An Garda Síochána did not publish these figures. An Garda Síochána will as per normal publish updated Operation Navigation figures on Wednesday.”
It is understood the gardaí check approximately 2,500-3,000 hospitality businesses every week and have found that most premises where problems have been identified have closed when asked.
A prosecution can be brought if a premises is found to be serving alcohol but not food, but there is no power to prosecute businesses where social distancing and other guidelines are not being observed.
‘Slap in the face’
Earlier, Mr Donnelly described the scenes at a Dublin city venue at the centre of a controversy over alleged breaches of coronavirus guidelines at the weekend as “reckless” and “a slap in the face” to people who had made huge sacrifices during the pandemic.
The Minister, who confirmed he had spoken to his Cabinet colleague Minister for Justice Helen McEntee about the matter, said “behaviour like that poses a threat to life. We’re not messing around here”.
The proprietor of Berlin D2, Jay Bourke, said he was “appalled, very unhappy and embarrassed” at video footage that emerged on social media over the weekend in which customers were shown crowding around a bar as a man dancing on it, while wearing a mask, poured drink into their mouths.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Chair of Covid-19 committee criticised over ‘hysteria’ comment

Members of the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee have criticised its chair for claiming there has been “ hysteria ” over escalating coronavirus case numbers .
Clare TD Michael McNamara told the Brendan O ’ Connor show on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday , that there is a “ hysteria ” about cases going up .
“ Our health system is not being overrun , we know the numbers in hospitals are not rising , we know the numbers of deaths thankfully are not rising , and they are the important barometers we should be looking at , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdowns and travel restrictions .
Labour TD for Fingal and Committee member Duncan Smith said he did not think the use of the word hysteria was “ helpful ” .
“ People are still cautious and concerned and feeling their way through the pandemic .
The use of that word is something I would have a big difference with him on , ” Mr Smith said , adding that he thought Mr McNamara had been “ very good ” as committee chair so far .
Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be “ dangerous ” to second guess scientific or medical advice .
Mr McNamara said on RTÉ that he saw “ no scientific or evidential basis ” for the ongoing closure of pubs and some other businesses , and that he did not “ understand the scientific basis for the decision to shut down Offaly , Laois and Kildare ” .
While Mr Cullinane said it was reasonable for the chair to have his own opinion , he added : “ I don ’ t think the response has been hysterical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when politicians start second guessing the sincere advice given by medical and scientific experts.
” During his appearance on the show , Mr McNamara also said Irish travel restrictions were more “ strict and draconian ” than anywhere else in the EU , and suggested the restrictions were due to concerns over the frailty of the Irish health system .
“ When this whole crisis started we said we would flatten the curve to make sure our health system was not overrun… we successfully did that , now we ’ re entering into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rising in Ireland , as they are in every other country in Europe , ” he said .
Responding to the criticism , Mr McNamara said he had listened respectfully to all experts who had appeared before the committee .
“ My views have been informed by those experts but I note that there was not agreement or consensus between them .
I have found some scientific and medical arguments more convincing that others ...
It ’ s not a matter of second guessing the science when scientists and world-leading medics and academics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He added that he wanted the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn to come before the committee “ particularly given the apparently unquestioning reliance placed by the Government on his advice and that of Nphet , which he leads.
” Fine Gael TD and committee member Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the State had “ seen the benefit of trusting in the science .
We have more to do collectively , it hasn ’ t gone away .
But let ’ s keep taking our lead from science , not speculation @ @

Members of the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee have criticised its chair for claiming there has been "hysteria" over escalating coronavirus case numbers.
Clare TD Michael McNamara told the Brendan O'Connor show on RTÉ Radio 1 on Sunday, that there is a "hysteria" about cases going up.
“Our health system is not being overrun, we know the numbers in hospitals are not rising, we know the numbers of deaths thankfully are not rising, and they are the important barometers we should be looking at,” he said.
He also criticised the rationale for local lockdowns and travel restrictions.
READ MORE
Labour TD for Fingal and Committee member Duncan Smith said he did not think the use of the word hysteria was "helpful".
"People are still cautious and concerned and feeling their way through the pandemic. The use of that word is something I would have a big difference with him on," Mr Smith said, adding that he thought Mr McNamara had been "very good" as committee chair so far.
Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane, who is also on the committee, said it would be "dangerous" to second guess scientific or medical advice.
Mr McNamara said on RTÉ that he saw “no scientific or evidential basis” for the ongoing closure of pubs and some other businesses, and that he did not “understand the scientific basis for the decision to shut down Offaly, Laois and Kildare”.
While Mr Cullinane said it was reasonable for the chair to have his own opinion, he added: “I don’t think the response has been hysterical. It’s a dangerous road when politicians start second guessing the sincere advice given by medical and scientific experts.”
During his appearance on the show, Mr McNamara also said Irish travel restrictions were more “strict and draconian” than anywhere else in the EU, and suggested the restrictions were due to concerns over the frailty of the Irish health system.
"When this whole crisis started we said we would flatten the curve to make sure our health system was not overrun… we successfully did that, now we're entering into a period of hysteria because cases are rising in Ireland, as they are in every other country in Europe, " he said.
Responding to the criticism, Mr McNamara said he had listened respectfully to all experts who had appeared before the committee. “My views have been informed by those experts but I note that there was not agreement or consensus between them. I have found some scientific and medical arguments more convincing that others... It’s not a matter of second guessing the science when scientists and world-leading medics and academics have widely differing views,” he said.
He added that he wanted the Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn to come before the committee “particularly given the apparently unquestioning reliance placed by the Government on his advice and that of Nphet, which he leads.”
Fine Gael TD and committee member Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said the State had "seen the benefit of trusting in the science. We have more to do collectively, it hasn't gone away. But let's keep taking our lead from science, not speculation."


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Minister orders investigation into controversial Dublin eviction

The Minister for Housing has asked the Residential Tenancies Board ( RTB ) to investigate the circumstances surrounding a controversial eviction that took place in Dublin last week .
Nine tenants were evicted from a house in Phibsborough after several men wearing all black , face coverings , caps and sunglasses entered the premises and instructed the tenants to leave before boarding up the front door and windows .
In a letter to the chair of the RTB , Darragh O ’ Brien said he is “ deeply concerned about the treatment of the tenants concerned and wants to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and within the confines of protections provided in the Residential Tenancies Acts ” .
He directed the RTB to “ fully investigate this incident and to make a report to me , with relevant recommendations , as soon as possible ” .
He has asked that the RTB consider starting an investigation under its powers and also that it would “ prioritise any dispute that may be brought to you by the affected tenants in relation to this termination ” .
“ On receipt of your report I will swiftly consider it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will further protect tenants ” .
Video footage taken at the event shows it was attended by a number of gardaí .
There have been calls for investigations into the force ’ s role in the eviction .
The Garda has said it will undertake an urgent review of all the circumstances surrounding an eviction in Dublin last Wednesday .
In a statement released on Saturday , An Garda Síochána said it was “ very aware of current public discourse ” around the incident on Berkeley Road and that as an organisation gardaí @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiences ” .
The force is “ committed to delivering a professional policing and security service with trust , confidence and support ” , said the statement .

Residents stand outside their home on Berkeley Road, Dublin last Wednesday evening following their eviction. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
The Minister for Housing has asked the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) to investigate the circumstances surrounding a controversial eviction that took place in Dublin last week.
Nine tenants were evicted from a house in Phibsborough after several men wearing all black, face coverings, caps and sunglasses entered the premises and instructed the tenants to leave before boarding up the front door and windows.
In a letter to the chair of the RTB, Darragh O'Brien said he is "deeply concerned about the treatment of the tenants concerned and wants to ensure that they are treated fairly, respectfully and within the confines of protections provided in the Residential Tenancies Acts".
He directed the RTB to “fully investigate this incident and to make a report to me, with relevant recommendations, as soon as possible”.
READ MORE
He has asked that the RTB consider starting an investigation under its powers and also that it would “prioritise any dispute that may be brought to you by the affected tenants in relation to this termination”.
“On receipt of your report I will swiftly consider it and move to implement any relevant recommendations that will further protect tenants”.
Garda attendance
Video footage taken at the event shows it was attended by a number of gardaí. There have been calls for investigations into the force’s role in the eviction.
The Garda has said it will undertake an urgent review of all the circumstances surrounding an eviction in Dublin last Wednesday.
In a statement released on Saturday, An Garda Síochána said it was "very aware of current public discourse" around the incident on Berkeley Road and that as an organisation gardaí must "listen and learn from our experiences".
The force is “committed to delivering a professional policing and security service with trust, confidence and support”, said the statement.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--Almost 28,000 lose eligibility for pandemic unemployment payment

About 28,000 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will receive no benefit from tomorrow , after failing to confirm their continued eligibility for the scheme , the Department of Social Protection has said .
The number of people claiming the payment fell to 232,400 this week , a decrease of 61 per cent from the peak of 598,000 in early May .
The scheme , which provides €350 per week for most recipients , was introduced in March to aid those who lost their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic .
In recent weeks , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking them to confirm their continuing eligibility for the payment .
At the beginning of last week , about 29,000 had not confirmed their continued eligibility “ despite having received personal notifications on four separate occasions ” up to August 9th , the department said .
By Friday , August 14th , about 1,000 confirmed their eligibility for the PUP , and they will continue to receive their payment .
The remaining 28,000 will not receive a payment as their PUP claim is now deemed closed .
However , anybody who is eligible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deadline can have their payment restored by re-applying online .
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys , said the payment continues to be a “ vital source of income ” for thousands of individuals and families .
“ Our resources are not unlimited and we need to ensure that this money goes to the people and families who genuinely need it , ” Minister Humphreys said .
“ My Department has made every effort to contact every person receiving the payment in recent weeks in order to confirm their continued eligibility .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded and will continue to receive their payment as normal.
” The Minister added that she “ want [ S ] to stress ” that if there were “ extenuating circumstances ” which prevented any person from confirming their eligibility , then all they need to do is re-apply online and their payment will be restored .
On Monday , the Department of Social Protection issued payments valued at €72.2m to 232,400 people for the PUP , representing a decrease of 30,100 on the 262,500 people paid last week .
The top three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work this week are accommodation and food services ; wholesale and retail trade , repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles ; and construction .
The largest cohort returning to work is in the under 25 age group , the department said .
Of those receiving the PUP this week , 61,750 will receive the lower rate of €203 , based on their pre-pandemic earnings being below €200 , while the majority ( 170,650 ) will continue to receive the higher rate of €350 .

About 28,000 people in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will receive no benefit from tomorrow, after failing to confirm their continued eligibility for the scheme, the Department of Social Protection has said.
The number of people claiming the payment fell to 232,400 this week, a decrease of 61 per cent from the peak of 598,000 in early May. The scheme, which provides €350 per week for most recipients, was introduced in March to aid those who lost their jobs as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In recent weeks, the department had contacted around 390,000 PUP claimants asking them to confirm their continuing eligibility for the payment.
At the beginning of last week, about 29,000 had not confirmed their continued eligibility “despite having received personal notifications on four separate occasions” up to August 9th, the department said.
READ MORE
By Friday, August 14th, about 1,000 confirmed their eligibility for the PUP, and they will continue to receive their payment.
The remaining 28,000 will not receive a payment as their PUP claim is now deemed closed. However, anybody who is eligible but did not confirm their eligibility by the deadline can have their payment restored by re-applying online.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys, said the payment continues to be a "vital source of income" for thousands of individuals and families.
“Our resources are not unlimited and we need to ensure that this money goes to the people and families who genuinely need it,” Minister Humphreys said.
“My Department has made every effort to contact every person receiving the payment in recent weeks in order to confirm their continued eligibility. The vast, vast majority of people responded and will continue to receive their payment as normal.”
The Minister added that she “want[S] to stress” that if there were “extenuating circumstances” which prevented any person from confirming their eligibility, then all they need to do is re-apply online and their payment will be restored.
On Monday, the Department of Social Protection issued payments valued at €72.2m to 232,400 people for the PUP, representing a decrease of 30,100 on the 262,500 people paid last week.
The top three sectors in which employees are returning to work this week are accommodation and food services; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles; and construction.
The largest cohort returning to work is in the under 25 age group, the department said.
Of those receiving the PUP this week, 61,750 will receive the lower rate of €203, based on their pre-pandemic earnings being below €200, while the majority (170,650) will continue to receive the higher rate of €350.


theirishtimes--2020-08-17--‘A good day for Northern Ireland’: North to reinstate A-level grades after outcry

Northern Ireland school leavers who received a final mark lower than that predicted by their teachers are to have their grades reinstated , the North ’ s Minister for Education announced on Monday .
The significant shift in policy by DUP Minister Peter Weir was followed just hours later by a similar move in England .
A- and AS-level students will now be awarded either the grades predicted for them by their school or college , or the official grade they were awarded by the exam board last week , based on whichever is the highest .
GCSE results – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be based only on the predicted grades supplied by teachers .
There has been widespread controversy over this year ’ s exam results in the UK , with students , parents , teachers and politicians complaining of a statistical “ anomaly ” that has downgraded marks at A and AS levels .
According to the exam board , the Council for the Curriculum , Examinations and Assessment ( CCEA ) , 37 per cent of estimated A- and AS-level grades were lowered during the standardisation process .
Speaking at a press conference at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said his “ prime concern ” was to “ ensure that the young people in Northern Ireland are in no way disadvantaged compared to their peers elsewhere .
“ This approach [ based on predicted grades ] is now being adopted across all of the UK , and that is why I ’ ve made this decision today.
” Approximately one-fifth of second-level students in the North receive qualifications from English and Welsh exam boards .
“ We couldn ’ t in Northern Ireland go on some level of solo run in relation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant then there would have been disadvantage and disparity between students within Northern Ireland , ” Mr Weir said .
Mr Weir , who until Monday afternoon had defended the A- and AS-level grades awarded to students last week , rejected the suggestion that he had bowed to political pressure on the issue , saying there was “ no perfect solution ” to replacing exams cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic , but the overriding concern had been to ensure that “ as much as possible we ’ re fair to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was working to release the revised A- and AS-level results to candidates as quickly as possible .
“ This is fantastic news , ” said Michael Allen , the principal of Lisneal College in Derry .
“ We asked you to listen and you did .
A good day for Northern Ireland.
” The president of the National Association of Head Teachers , Geri Cameron , said the move was the “ only sensible and just thing ” the Minister could have decided , and it was “ extremely good news for students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , whose lives have been on hold for the last few days ” .
The SDLP ’ s education spokesman , the West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan , welcomed the announcement as “ a win for our teachers and their professional judgment , but most importantly , a win for our young people ” .
He called on the Minister to offer a “ full and genuine apology ” to students for the distress caused , and to teachers “ for the way their professional judgment was cast aside ” , and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grades awarded last week should be made public so “ lessons are learnt from this debacle ” .
Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan said the move was “ the right decision and was the only sensible response to the problems which were evident last week ” , but added that the Minister “ should have taken the action earlier and on the merits of the arguments rather than waiting on the approach of ministers in London ” .
Mr Weir ’ s announcement came amid a similar U-turn by the British government , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results in England were to be revised and based solely on teachers ’ assessments .
The controversy over this year ’ s exam grades is to be debated by MLAs at Stormont on Tuesday , after all parties , with the exception of the DUP , backed a motion to recall the North ’ s Assembly from summer recess .
Later , the British education secretary Gavin Williamson announced the U-turn there after acknowledging that there were “ real concerns ” about results .
Mr Williamson said he decided to allow results in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ predicted grades , rather than an algorithm devised by Ofqual , after he became aware of data from the regulator days after A-level results were published .
Mr Williamson has apologised for the distress caused by the debacle following mounting criticism from students , heads and dozens of Tory MPs .
Prime minister Boris Johnson and Mr Williamson had previously defended the “ robust ” system , which saw almost 40 per cent of grades reduced from teachers ’ predictions .
- Additional reporting PA

A-level student Ruben Hughes protests in Belfast on Monday over the handling of this year’s final grades. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
Northern Ireland school leavers who received a final mark lower than that predicted by their teachers are to have their grades reinstated, the North's Minister for Education announced on Monday.
The significant shift in policy by DUP Minister Peter Weir was followed just hours later by a similar move in England.
A- and AS-level students will now be awarded either the grades predicted for them by their school or college, or the official grade they were awarded by the exam board last week, based on whichever is the highest.
GCSE results – which are released on Thursday – will be based only on the predicted grades supplied by teachers.
READ MORE
There has been widespread controversy over this year’s exam results in the UK, with students, parents, teachers and politicians complaining of a statistical “anomaly” that has downgraded marks at A and AS levels.
According to the exam board, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), 37 per cent of estimated A- and AS-level grades were lowered during the standardisation process.
Speaking at a press conference at Stormont on Monday afternoon, Mr Weir said his "prime concern" was to "ensure that the young people in Northern Ireland are in no way disadvantaged compared to their peers elsewhere.
“This approach [based on predicted grades] is now being adopted across all of the UK, and that is why I’ve made this decision today.”
Approximately one-fifth of second-level students in the North receive qualifications from English and Welsh exam boards.
“We couldn’t in Northern Ireland go on some level of solo run in relation to this, because that would have meant then there would have been disadvantage and disparity between students within Northern Ireland,” Mr Weir said.
Mr Weir, who until Monday afternoon had defended the A- and AS-level grades awarded to students last week, rejected the suggestion that he had bowed to political pressure on the issue, saying there was “no perfect solution” to replacing exams cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the overriding concern had been to ensure that “as much as possible we’re fair to everybody”.
He said the CCEA was working to release the revised A- and AS-level results to candidates as quickly as possible.
‘Fantastic news’
"This is fantastic news," said Michael Allen, the principal of Lisneal College in Derry. "We asked you to listen and you did. A good day for Northern Ireland."
The president of the National Association of Head Teachers, Geri Cameron, said the move was the "only sensible and just thing" the Minister could have decided, and it was "extremely good news for students, parents, teachers and head teachers, whose lives have been on hold for the last few days".
The SDLP’s education spokesman, the West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan, welcomed the announcement as “a win for our teachers and their professional judgment, but most importantly, a win for our young people”.
He called on the Minister to offer a “full and genuine apology” to students for the distress caused, and to teachers “for the way their professional judgment was cast aside”, and said the algorithm used to work out the grades awarded last week should be made public so “lessons are learnt from this debacle”.
Sinn Féin MLA Karen Mullan said the move was "the right decision and was the only sensible response to the problems which were evident last week", but added that the Minister "should have taken the action earlier and on the merits of the arguments rather than waiting on the approach of ministers in London".
Mr Weir’s announcement came amid a similar U-turn by the British government, which announced on Monday afternoon that A-level results in England were to be revised and based solely on teachers’ assessments.
The controversy over this year’s exam grades is to be debated by MLAs at Stormont on Tuesday, after all parties, with the exception of the DUP, backed a motion to recall the North’s Assembly from summer recess.
Later, the British education secretary Gavin Williamson announced the U-turn there after acknowledging that there were “real concerns” about results.
Mr Williamson said he decided to allow results in England to be based on teachers’ predicted grades, rather than an algorithm devised by Ofqual, after he became aware of data from the regulator days after A-level results were published.
Mr Williamson has apologised for the distress caused by the debacle following mounting criticism from students, heads and dozens of Tory MPs.
Prime minister Boris Johnson and Mr Williamson had previously defended the “robust” system, which saw almost 40 per cent of grades reduced from teachers’ predictions. - Additional reporting PA


theirishtimes--2020-08-18--Positive Covid-19 test in Co Kilkenny nursing home

A member of staff has tested positive for Covid-19 in a nursing home in Mooncoin , Co Kilkenny , near the border with Co Waterford .
The nursing home , the Mooncoin Residential Care Centre has been testing regularly for Covid-19 .
This is the first time a test has proven positive , according to the management of the centre .
It is understood the case was confirmed on Friday and the member of staff who tested positive is now at home self-isolating .
Co-owner of the nursing home Kieran O ’ Reilly said the person who tested positive has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Local Radio ( WLR ) , Mr O ’ Reilly said it ’ s the first positive case confirmed .
“ This round of testing is our sixth round , ” he said .
“ Unfortunately this time we returned one positive test from a staff member , all other tests came back ‘ not detected ’ .
Straight away we were able to put preventative measures and extra monitoring processes in place to protect residents.
” He said that people need to be aware that the virus has not gone away .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone ’ s best interests all over the country that everybody is made aware of what ’ s occurring in relation to Covid in their communities so everyone can do what they ’ re supposed to do to protest themselves .
”

The Mooncoin Residential Care Centre has been testing regularly for Covid-19; this is the first time a test has proven positive.
A member of staff has tested positive for Covid-19 in a nursing home in Mooncoin, Co Kilkenny, near the border with Co Waterford.
The nursing home, the Mooncoin Residential Care Centre has been testing regularly for Covid-19. This is the first time a test has proven positive, according to the management of the centre.
It is understood the case was confirmed on Friday and the member of staff who tested positive is now at home self-isolating.
Co-owner of the nursing home Kieran O’Reilly said the person who tested positive has shown no symptoms.
READ MORE
Speaking to Waterford Local Radio (WLR), Mr O’Reilly said it’s the first positive case confirmed.
“This round of testing is our sixth round,” he said. “Unfortunately this time we returned one positive test from a staff member, all other tests came back ‘not detected’. Straight away we were able to put preventative measures and extra monitoring processes in place to protect residents.”
He said that people need to be aware that the virus has not gone away.
“We believe it’s in everyone’s best interests all over the country that everybody is made aware of what’s occurring in relation to Covid in their communities so everyone can do what they’re supposed to do to protest themselves.”