theirishtimes--2020-11-13--Minister to pursue changes to law on naming child crime victims

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has signalled her intention to pursue changes to legislation following a court ruling that bans the naming of a deceased child victim of crime .
Last month the Court of Appeal rejected an application by several media outlets to allow them identify a woman who killed her three-year-old child .
She was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity following a short trial last year .
Before the trial began , two High Court judges ordered that the victim should not be identified .
Consequently , the woman could not be named .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had requested the order , holding that Section 252 of the Children Act 2001 makes it an offence to publish anything that could identify a child who is an alleged victim of an offence , including a deceased child .
The Court of Appeal upheld that interpretation .
Mr Justice George Birmingham said that while its ruling might be of surprise to the media , it was not possible to read Section 252 “ as not including a deceased person who was a child at the time of death ” .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear and unequivocal ” and if change was required , it would be a matter for the Oireachtas to consider .
The issue technically remains before the courts as the period for filing an appeal to the Supreme Court has not expired .
However , Ms McEntee has given a strong indication the matter could progress to the legislature .
A spokesman for the Minister said while the ruling remains under review by officials at the Department , she is “ committed to finding suitable means to progress any necessary legislative changes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to concerns that have been raised ” .
The Minister is also open to hearing the views of anyone affected by the ruling , particularly a bereaved parent or relative .
To date , one such submission has been received .
Concerns arising from the ruling relate to the ability of the press to report in detail on criminal cases and on the right of those affected , such as victims and family members , to have their views heard and expressed in their name .
The ruling also means that when a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the prohibition would remain in place .
This would prove consequential in cases of rape or sexual abuse , for instance , where a victim wishes to waive their right to anonymity in order to allow for the identification of the perpetrator and , potentially , to make a public statement , as often occurs .
Tom O ’ Malley , senior law lecturer at NUI Galway and a member of the Irish Law Reform Commission , said that while the Court of Appeal had to interpret the law by giving it plain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s correct in its interpretation , the Government should review the section in order to determine precisely which class of persons it is designed to protect ” .
He said a revision of the law might allow , for example in the case of murder , that the child ’ s identity could be revealed unless the court has good reason for ruling to the contrary .
“ In delayed prosecutions for childhood sexual abuse , the revised law could confirm that the victim , if an adult at the time of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their name revealed.
” Mr O ’ Malley also said he agreed with a separate interpretation by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court that the prohibition need not apply where a victim was a child when the offence was committed but who is an adult , and perhaps well into adulthood , when the proceedings take place .

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee: a spokesman said she is ‘committed to finding suitable means to progress any necessary legislative changes as expeditiously as possible in order to respond to concerns that have been raised’. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has signalled her intention to pursue changes to legislation following a court ruling that bans the naming of a deceased child victim of crime.
Last month the Court of Appeal rejected an application by several media outlets to allow them identify a woman who killed her three-year-old child.
She was found not guilty of murder by reason of insanity following a short trial last year.
Before the trial began, two High Court judges ordered that the victim should not be identified. Consequently, the woman could not be named.
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Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions had requested the order, holding that Section 252 of the Children Act 2001 makes it an offence to publish anything that could identify a child who is an alleged victim of an offence, including a deceased child.
The Court of Appeal upheld that interpretation. Mr Justice George Birmingham said that while its ruling might be of surprise to the media, it was not possible to read Section 252 "as not including a deceased person who was a child at the time of death".
He said the language in the statute is "clear and unequivocal" and if change was required, it would be a matter for the Oireachtas to consider.
Strong indication
The issue technically remains before the courts as the period for filing an appeal to the Supreme Court has not expired. However, Ms McEntee has given a strong indication the matter could progress to the legislature.
A spokesman for the Minister said while the ruling remains under review by officials at the Department, she is “committed to finding suitable means to progress any necessary legislative changes as expeditiously as possible in order to respond to concerns that have been raised”.
The Minister is also open to hearing the views of anyone affected by the ruling, particularly a bereaved parent or relative. To date, one such submission has been received.
Concerns arising from the ruling relate to the ability of the press to report in detail on criminal cases and on the right of those affected, such as victims and family members, to have their views heard and expressed in their name.
The ruling also means that when a child victim of crime turns 18, the prohibition would remain in place. This would prove consequential in cases of rape or sexual abuse, for instance, where a victim wishes to waive their right to anonymity in order to allow for the identification of the perpetrator and, potentially, to make a public statement, as often occurs.
Interpret
Tom O'Malley, senior law lecturer at NUI Galway and a member of the Irish Law Reform Commission, said that while the Court of Appeal had to interpret the law by giving it plain and ordinary meaning, "if it's correct in its interpretation, the Government should review the section in order to determine precisely which class of persons it is designed to protect".
He said a revision of the law might allow, for example in the case of murder, that the child’s identity could be revealed unless the court has good reason for ruling to the contrary.
“In delayed prosecutions for childhood sexual abuse, the revised law could confirm that the victim, if an adult at the time of the conviction, may consent to having their name revealed.”
Mr O'Malley also said he agreed with a separate interpretation by Mr Justice Tony Hunt at the Central Criminal Court that the prohibition need not apply where a victim was a child when the offence was committed but who is an adult, and perhaps well into adulthood, when the proceedings take place.


theirishtimes--2020-11-13--Call for all-island plan as Covid-19 cases rise in Donegal

An all-island plan is now “ the only way ” to tackle the high number of Covid-19 cases occurring on both sides of the Border , public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally has said .
Calling for an emergency summit of Dublin and Stormont ministers , Mr Scally declared : “ Sit in a room and hammer out an agreement about how we ’ re going to control this virus , ” he said .
A “ unified approach ” should have been taken from the beginning , he complained .
“ We ’ re paying the price for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are obviously paying the price for that.
” He said he “ did not know of any benefits ” that had resulted from the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed between the Republic and Northern Ireland .
“ Certainly , I can see no harmonisation that has taken place as a result , and very limited if any integrated working , whereas we should have had an agreed approach across the whole island , ” Dr Scally said .
Asked why the Covid-19 figures in Donegal continue to remain so high , despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scally said : “ The Irish border has always been porous and people have always moved across it , ” he said .
“ It ’ s 310 miles of the most permeable border in Europe , probably .
.
.
which is why it has always been a nonsense to have different approaches to responding to the virus between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
” Donegal ’ s case numbers are now twice the national average , according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) .
It has had 479 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equivalent to 300.9 cases per 100,000 there .
Dr Denis McCauley , a GP based in Stranorlar , Co Donegal and chair of the Irish Medical Organisation ’ s GP committee , blamed 25 cases in the county on a wake that took place close to the Border .
“ Generally speaking , in the south and west of the county , it is generally quiet .
The east remains busy probably because of cross-border transfer , ” Dr McCauley told The Irish Times .
Letterkenny University Hospital has cancelled planned surgeries as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All but one bed in the hospital has been filled in the last 48 hours .
Currently , it is treating 25 Covid-19 patients .
Garda checkpoints have not been as visible as previously , said Dr McCauley : “ Our incidence rate is reflective of being beside a part of Northern Ireland that has the highest incidence , that ’ s Tyrone and Derry , ” he added .
“ The figures last night show that they are the most pronounced area in Northern Ireland .
So we ’ ll always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are some exceptional issues , which is the hospital and wake.
” Donegal TD Joe McHugh said there needs to be a “ better understanding of where the issues are ” within the county and that the Border is presenting “ a massive problem ” .
“ Altnagelvin Hospital [ in Co Derry ] is at capacity and it ’ s not a question of equipment .
A doctor who spoke this morning was saying it was a question of actually having enough staff to deal with their level of demand .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Derry , it acts as a hospital for Inishowen as well , ” said Mr McHugh , who feared for the consequences of any near-term easing of Northern Ireland ’ s measures to tackle the virus .
“ The region is so intrinsically linked in terms of work , commuting .
Buncrana is effectively a satellite town of Derry city and that ’ s going to be a major problem if the North relax their rules even further.
” Cross-border commuting in both directions is driving the numbers , said Jimmy Stafford , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , pointing to the Letterkenny-based multinationals Pramerica , Zeus and Optum .
“ Between them they employ over 4,500 people , ” he said , though he accepted that many of them are working from home .
“ That ’ s happening both ways .
We ’ ve people in Donegal who work over the border .
”

Dr Gabriel Scally: ‘We’re paying the price for the failure, and particularly the Border counties are obviously paying the price for that.’ Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
An all-island plan is now "the only way" to tackle the high number of Covid-19 cases occurring on both sides of the Border, public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally has said.
Calling for an emergency summit of Dublin and Stormont ministers, Mr Scally declared: “Sit in a room and hammer out an agreement about how we’re going to control this virus,” he said.
A “unified approach” should have been taken from the beginning, he complained. “We’re paying the price for the failure, and particularly the Border counties are obviously paying the price for that.”
Hospital Report
He said he "did not know of any benefits" that had resulted from the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed between the Republic and Northern Ireland.
READ MORE
“Certainly, I can see no harmonisation that has taken place as a result, and very limited if any integrated working, whereas we should have had an agreed approach across the whole island,” Dr Scally said.
‘Porous’
Asked why the Covid-19 figures in Donegal continue to remain so high, despite falls elsewhere in the State, Dr Scally said: "The Irish border has always been porous and people have always moved across it," he said.
"It's 310 miles of the most permeable border in Europe, probably . . . which is why it has always been a nonsense to have different approaches to responding to the virus between Northern Ireland and the Republic."
Donegal’s case numbers are now twice the national average, according to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). It has had 479 cases in the last 14 days – equivalent to 300.9 cases per 100,000 there.
Dr Denis McCauley, a GP based in Stranorlar, Co Donegal and chair of the Irish Medical Organisation's GP committee, blamed 25 cases in the county on a wake that took place close to the Border.
“Generally speaking, in the south and west of the county, it is generally quiet. The east remains busy probably because of cross-border transfer,” Dr McCauley told The Irish Times.
Letterkenny University Hospital has cancelled planned surgeries as it struggles to cope with the numbers. All but one bed in the hospital has been filled in the last 48 hours. Currently, it is treating 25 Covid-19 patients.
Garda checkpoints have not been as visible as previously, said Dr McCauley: “Our incidence rate is reflective of being beside a part of Northern Ireland that has the highest incidence, that’s Tyrone and Derry,” he added.
“The figures last night show that they are the most pronounced area in Northern Ireland. So we’ll always have a blow-back to that but there are some exceptional issues, which is the hospital and wake.”
‘Better understanding’
Donegal TD Joe McHugh said there needs to be a “better understanding of where the issues are” within the county and that the Border is presenting “a massive problem”.
“Altnagelvin Hospital [in Co Derry] is at capacity and it’s not a question of equipment. A doctor who spoke this morning was saying it was a question of actually having enough staff to deal with their level of demand.
“Altnagelvin is not just a hospital for Derry, it acts as a hospital for Inishowen as well,” said Mr McHugh, who feared for the consequences of any near-term easing of Northern Ireland’s measures to tackle the virus.
"The region is so intrinsically linked in terms of work, commuting. Buncrana is effectively a satellite town of Derry city and that's going to be a major problem if the North relax their rules even further."
Cross-border commuting in both directions is driving the numbers, said Jimmy Stafford, president of the Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, pointing to the Letterkenny-based multinationals Pramerica, Zeus and Optum.
“Between them they employ over 4,500 people,” he said, though he accepted that many of them are working from home. “That’s happening both ways. We’ve people in Donegal who work over the border.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-13--John and Pat Hume Foundation to be launched on Friday

A foundation to promote the legacy of John Hume and his wife , Pat , is to be officially launched in a virtual ceremony on Friday .
The John and Pat Hume Foundation aims to “ inspire the next generation of peacemakers ” and will draw inspiration from the Humes ’ values to “ support our young people to navigate the profound challenges of their time ” , said the foundation ’ s chairman , Prof Seán Farren .
Among the patrons will be former US senator George Mitchell , who chaired the talks that led to the Belfast Agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Members of the Hume family are also closely involved .
The registered charity will be funded by donations .
It will be based in the Humes ’ home city of Derry , but future launch events are planned for Dublin , Brussels and Washington .
Martin Luther King III will give its first lecture , on leadership for peaceful change , on November 19th .
The Humes ’ youngest son , John jnr , said the Hume family was “ hugely supportive ” of the foundation and were “ very thankful to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort to get it this far ” .
He explained that the foundation would take its inspiration not just from his parents ’ work to create peace in Northern Ireland but also from their principles of social and economic justice , self-help and education .
“ There are a lot of very simple but important issues or messages that were very much part of dad ’ s political thinking that are as important today in the new world that we live in , ” he said .
“ Dad would say it himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was one of the greatest things he did because it pulled so many people out of poverty .
The idea of the whole community helping itself was very much central to everything he set out to achieve and that will be very much reflected in the programme , ” said John jnr , as would the “ sheer power of education and how it can transform society ” .
The foundation ’ s work could also include scholarships that would share lessons of Northern Ireland with other areas of conflict around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , John jnr said , that the foundation had been named after both his parents .
“ They were very much a team , they found inspiration and determination from each other and I don ’ t think dad would have achieved a fraction of what he did without mum behind him.
” Since his father ’ s death in August , he said , “ the thousands of messages that mum , myself , all of us have received have really touched us in many ways , and I know from my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a huge comfort to her ” .
He said it was “ great to hear ” US president-elect Joe Biden talking about protecting the Belfast Agreement at this critical time .
“ The fact that he is prepared to say that so openly and so prominently in his first days in office I think shows how much these prominent figures in America actually do care .
It does matter to them .
”

A foundation to promote the legacy of John Hume and his wife, Pat, is to be officially launched in a virtual ceremony on Friday.
The John and Pat Hume Foundation aims to "inspire the next generation of peacemakers" and will draw inspiration from the Humes' values to "support our young people to navigate the profound challenges of their time", said the foundation's chairman, Prof Seán Farren.
Among the patrons will be former US senator George Mitchell, who chaired the talks that led to the Belfast Agreement, and former president Mary McAleese. Members of the Hume family are also closely involved.
The registered charity will be funded by donations. It will be based in the Humes' home city of Derry, but future launch events are planned for Dublin, Brussels and Washington. Martin Luther King III will give its first lecture, on leadership for peaceful change, on November 19th.
READ MORE
The Humes’ youngest son, John jnr, said the Hume family was “hugely supportive” of the foundation and were “very thankful to the many people who have made a huge effort to get it this far”.
He explained that the foundation would take its inspiration not just from his parents' work to create peace in Northern Ireland but also from their principles of social and economic justice, self-help and education.
“There are a lot of very simple but important issues or messages that were very much part of dad’s political thinking that are as important today in the new world that we live in,” he said.
John Hume jnr speaks at the funeral of his father at St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry. Photograph: Stephen Latimer/PA Wire
John Hume overlooking the Bogside in Derry. Photograph: Leif Skoogfors/Getty
“Dad would say it himself: the likes of the credit union was one of the greatest things he did because it pulled so many people out of poverty. The idea of the whole community helping itself was very much central to everything he set out to achieve and that will be very much reflected in the programme,” said John jnr, as would the “sheer power of education and how it can transform society”.
North’s lessons
The foundation's work could also include scholarships that would share lessons of Northern Ireland with other areas of conflict around the world.
It was “hugely important”, John jnr said, that the foundation had been named after both his parents.
“They were very much a team, they found inspiration and determination from each other and I don’t think dad would have achieved a fraction of what he did without mum behind him.”
Since his father’s death in August, he said, “the thousands of messages that mum, myself, all of us have received have really touched us in many ways, and I know from my mother’s perspective it’s been a huge comfort to her”.
He said it was "great to hear" US president-elect Joe Biden talking about protecting the Belfast Agreement at this critical time. "The fact that he is prepared to say that so openly and so prominently in his first days in office I think shows how much these prominent figures in America actually do care. It does matter to them."


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--‘Unedifying’ week in Stormont as parties row over lockdown extension

“ You must be depressed today listening to these two , ” Alliance Party Assembly member Kellie Armstrong remarked to host William Crawley on BBC Radio Ulster ’ s Talkback programme on Wednesday afternoon .
She was referring to an on-air wrangle between the Sinn Féin and DUP representatives sent out to bat for their respective parties as the increasingly acrimonious row within the North ’ s Executive over whether or not to extend the existing “ circuit breaker ” lockdown spilled over onto the airwaves .
At the risk of stating the obvious , this is not without precedent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re in the midst of this typical chaotic spat , really , ” was how Crawley summed it up .
“ Shitshow ” was the more industrial language employed by one Stormont source to sum up the week .
That , certainly , was the feeling of many watching , not least business owners in the hospitality and so-called “ close contact ” sectors who called repeatedly for certainty over whether they would be able to open this weekend .
As another day passed without agreement , a small group of hairdressers gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ We want answers.
” The answers came , eventually , on Thursday evening when it was agreed the current restrictions would continue for another week followed by a phased reopening .
The breakthrough came in a paper tabled by the Minister for the Economy , the DUP ’ s Diane Dodds .
It was essentially a compromise put together by the Minister for Justice , the Alliance Party leader Naomi Long , that was itself essentially an amalgam of two earlier papers .
These earlier papers were from Dodds – suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and from the Minister for Health , the Ulster Unionist Robin Swann , requesting a one-week extension , his fall-back position after an initial paper on Monday advocating a two-week extension was blocked by the DUP .
The DUP ’ s use of a contentious Stormont mechanism – a cross-community vote – to effectively veto both Swann ’ s proposals angered the other parties , who all supported the two-week extension which the chief medical officer was clear was needed to avoid “ excess deaths ” .
The DUP , for its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis of agreement last weekend and accused Sinn Féin of “ somersaulting ” , citing as proof a BBC interview with the Deputy First Minister , Michelle O ’ Neill , on Sunday in which she said the Executive was considering ways of “ opening things up perhaps without alcohol ” .
DUP sources are adamant Sinn Féin changed direction under instruction from Dublin , which was uncomfortable with the party appearing to advocate a different strategy North compared to South – a claim which Sinn Féin is equally adamant is without foundation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of deflection .
“ We always said any movement had to be based on medical advice , ” a senior source said .
All of this added up to tense and sometimes angry exchanges at the Executive table .
It was reported that at one stage on Thursday Arlene Foster told her Sinn Féin counterparts : “ I won ’ t be taking any lectures from Sinn Féin on excess deaths.
” All the while the clock ticked down to what industry , politicians and the public at large understood to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the relevant legislation would simply fall away without a deal .
The clarification – by the Department of Health following legal advice that the deadline was really Friday midnight – felt like a fitting coda to the week .
“ This week has not been edifying , I don ’ t think , for anybody , ” Ms O ’ Neill told the BBC after agreement was eventually reached on Thursday evening .
That said , she emphasised , “ there is now a decision and what we need to do is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ask the public again to try to work with us.
” Others were less diplomatic .
The SDLP MLA Matthew O ’ Toole on Twitter accused the DUP of using a public health crisis as “ an opportunity to create yet another haggling spectacle in order to satisfy the backwoodsmen ” ; Alliance and the Ulster Unionist Party made clear they had supported Dodds ’ s proposal only to avoid a cliff-edge scenario on Friday night .
Yet government in the North is based on a five-party mandatory coalition , as was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are well used to having to get on with it , ” was how one politician put it .
Further pressure points will lie ahead , not least in regard to Christmas , and what might happen once this new deadline expires .
Already looking ahead was Naomi Long .
A repeat of this “ debacle ” in two weeks ’ time “ would be unconscionable .
It is now incumbent on us all to ensure that will not happen .
”

‘There is now a decision and what we need to do is tell the public what that decision is and ask the public again to try to work with us.’ Photograph: Jonathan Porter/PressEye
"You must be depressed today listening to these two," Alliance Party Assembly member Kellie Armstrong remarked to host William Crawley on BBC Radio Ulster's Talkback programme on Wednesday afternoon.
She was referring to an on-air wrangle between the Sinn Féin and DUP representatives sent out to bat for their respective parties as the increasingly acrimonious row within the North’s Executive over whether or not to extend the existing “circuit breaker” lockdown spilled over onto the airwaves.
At the risk of stating the obvious, this is not without precedent in Northern Ireland. "We're in the midst of this typical chaotic spat, really," was how Crawley summed it up.
Hospital Report
"Shitshow" was the more industrial language employed by one Stormont source to sum up the week.
READ MORE
That, certainly, was the feeling of many watching, not least business owners in the hospitality and so-called “close contact” sectors who called repeatedly for certainty over whether they would be able to open this weekend. As another day passed without agreement, a small group of hairdressers gathered outside Stormont in the rain holding placards: “We want answers.”
The answers came, eventually, on Thursday evening when it was agreed the current restrictions would continue for another week followed by a phased reopening.
The breakthrough came in a paper tabled by the Minister for the Economy, the DUP's Diane Dodds. It was essentially a compromise put together by the Minister for Justice, the Alliance Party leader Naomi Long, that was itself essentially an amalgam of two earlier papers.
Phased reopening
These earlier papers were from Dodds – suggesting a phased reopening of the relevant sectors – and from the Minister for Health, the Ulster Unionist Robin Swann, requesting a one-week extension, his fall-back position after an initial paper on Monday advocating a two-week extension was blocked by the DUP.
The DUP’s use of a contentious Stormont mechanism – a cross-community vote – to effectively veto both Swann’s proposals angered the other parties, who all supported the two-week extension which the chief medical officer was clear was needed to avoid “excess deaths”.
The DUP, for its part, said there had been the basis of agreement last weekend and accused Sinn Féin of “somersaulting”, citing as proof a BBC interview with the Deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill, on Sunday in which she said the Executive was considering ways of “opening things up perhaps without alcohol”.
DUP sources are adamant Sinn Féin changed direction under instruction from Dublin, which was uncomfortable with the party appearing to advocate a different strategy North compared to South – a claim which Sinn Féin is equally adamant is without foundation.
Sinn Féin sources accused the DUP of deflection. “We always said any movement had to be based on medical advice,” a senior source said.
All of this added up to tense and sometimes angry exchanges at the Executive table. It was reported that at one stage on Thursday Arlene Foster told her Sinn Féin counterparts: "I won't be taking any lectures from Sinn Féin on excess deaths."
Ticked down
All the while the clock ticked down to what industry, politicians and the public at large understood to be a cliff-edge deadline at midnight on Thursday, when the relevant legislation would simply fall away without a deal. The clarification – by the Department of Health following legal advice that the deadline was really Friday midnight – felt like a fitting coda to the week.
“This week has not been edifying, I don’t think, for anybody,” Ms O’Neill told the BBC after agreement was eventually reached on Thursday evening. That said, she emphasised, “there is now a decision and what we need to do is tell the public what that decision is and ask the public again to try to work with us.”
Others were less diplomatic. The SDLP MLA Matthew O'Toole on Twitter accused the DUP of using a public health crisis as "an opportunity to create yet another haggling spectacle in order to satisfy the backwoodsmen"; Alliance and the Ulster Unionist Party made clear they had supported Dodds's proposal only to avoid a cliff-edge scenario on Friday night.
Yet government in the North is based on a five-party mandatory coalition, as was frequently remarked on this week. “We are well used to having to get on with it,” was how one politician put it.
Further pressure points will lie ahead, not least in regard to Christmas, and what might happen once this new deadline expires.
Already looking ahead was Naomi Long. A repeat of this “debacle” in two weeks’ time “would be unconscionable. It is now incumbent on us all to ensure that will not happen.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Irish teenagers drink and smoke less than European peers, study shows

Alcohol use among Irish 16-year-olds is below the average for 35 European countries , including 25 in the EU , as is cigarette smoking .
However their figures for illicit drug use , while low , are slightly above the European average for use of drugs such as cannabis , ecstasy , cocaine and crack .
The figures are provided in the latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs which took place in spring and autumn last year and involved 99,647 students .
It found that 31 per cent of Irish 16-year-olds had smoked ( 33 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while 14 per cent had smoked in the pervious 30 days ( 16 per cent boys , 13 per cent girls ) .
The average for the 35 countries was 40 per cent for those who had smoked and 20 per cent for those who had done so in the previous 30 days .
Similarly with alcohol , of the Irish 16-year-olds 72 per cent ( 73 per cent boys/72 per cent girls ) had taken a drink , with 41 per cent ( 42 per cent boys/ 41 per cent girls ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days .
Of the Irish teenagers , 16 per cent ( 15 per cent boys/17 per cent girls ) said they had been drunk , with slightly more girls than boys saying they had been .
The European average was higher in two instances , with 79 per cent saying they had taken a drink and the 47 per cent who said they had done so in the previous 30 days .
However 13 per cent of European 16 year olds said they had been drunk , three per cent lower than their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most popular tipple among the Irish teenagers is beer followed by cider .
When it came to illegal drug use , 20 per cent ( 25 per cent boys/15 per cent girls ) of Irish 16-year-olds said they had taken some .
Of those , 19 per cent ( 25 per cent boys/15 per cent girls ) had smoked cannabis while 2.8 per cent ( 3.7 per cent boys/2.0 per cent girls ) had tried ecstasy .
In the 35 countries surveyed , 17 per cent of 16 year olds said they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tried cannabis and 2.3 per cent ecstasy .
When it came to cocaine and crack use , 3.3 per cent ( 4.6 boys/2.0 girls ) among the Irish teenagers said they had tried cocaine , while 1.8 per cent ( 2.4 boys/1.2 girls ) had tried crack .
The European average was 1.9 per cent for cocaine and 1.1 per cent for crack .
On social media , 94 per cent of all the 16-year-olds said they had used it in the previous seven days , for an average of 2 to 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hours on a non-school day .
Of the Irish , 37 per cent ( 36 per cent boys/37 per cent girls ) of 16-year-olds spend 2 to 3 hours per school day on social media while , on a non school day , 39 per cent ( 34 per cent boys/44 per cent girls ) can spend more than 6 hours on social media .

Far and away the most popular drink among Irish teenagers is beer followed by cider.
Alcohol use among Irish 16-year-olds is below the average for 35 European countries, including 25 in the EU, as is cigarette smoking. However their figures for illicit drug use, while low, are slightly above the European average for use of drugs such as cannabis, ecstasy, cocaine and crack.
The figures are provided in the latest European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs which took place in spring and autumn last year and involved 99,647 students.
It found that 31 per cent of Irish 16-year-olds had smoked (33 per cent boys/30 per cent girls), while 14 per cent had smoked in the pervious 30 days (16 per cent boys, 13 per cent girls).
The average for the 35 countries was 40 per cent for those who had smoked and 20 per cent for those who had done so in the previous 30 days.
READ MORE
Similarly with alcohol, of the Irish 16-year-olds 72 per cent (73 per cent boys/72 per cent girls) had taken a drink, with 41 per cent (42 per cent boys/ 41 per cent girls) having done so in the previous 30 days. Of the Irish teenagers, 16 per cent (15 per cent boys/17 per cent girls) said they had been drunk, with slightly more girls than boys saying they had been.
The European average was higher in two instances, with 79 per cent saying they had taken a drink and the 47 per cent who said they had done so in the previous 30 days. However 13 per cent of European 16 year olds said they had been drunk, three per cent lower than their Irish equivalents.
Far and away the most popular tipple among the Irish teenagers is beer followed by cider.
When it came to illegal drug use, 20 per cent (25 per cent boys/15 per cent girls) of Irish 16-year-olds said they had taken some. Of those, 19 per cent (25 per cent boys/15 per cent girls) had smoked cannabis while 2.8 per cent (3.7 per cent boys/2.0 per cent girls) had tried ecstasy.
In the 35 countries surveyed, 17 per cent of 16 year olds said they had tried illicit drugs, 16 per cent tried cannabis and 2.3 per cent ecstasy.
When it came to cocaine and crack use, 3.3 per cent (4.6 boys/2.0 girls) among the Irish teenagers said they had tried cocaine, while 1.8 per cent (2.4 boys/1.2 girls) had tried crack. The European average was 1.9 per cent for cocaine and 1.1 per cent for crack.
On social media, 94 per cent of all the 16-year-olds said they had used it in the previous seven days, for an average of 2 to 3 hours per school day and over 6 hours on a non-school day.
Of the Irish, 37 per cent (36 per cent boys/37 per cent girls) of 16-year-olds spend 2 to 3 hours per school day on social media while, on a non school day, 39 per cent (34 per cent boys/44 per cent girls) can spend more than 6 hours on social media.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Potential therapies for rheumatoid arthritis discovered by Irish scientists

A team of Irish scientists has pinpointed two potential avenues for developing treatments of rheumatoid arthritis – a painful inflammatory disease affecting an estimated 350 million people worldwide .
Led by Dr Achilleas Floudas and Prof Ursula Fearon from Trinity College Dublin ’ s Molecular Rheumatology group , the team discovered “ a new cell population that is especially troublesome in people living with the disease , and also learned how these cells accumulate in the joints ” .
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis , affecting 1 to 2 per cent of Irish people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , damage and disability , which severely impacts a patient ’ s quality of life .
There is currently no cure and , contrary to popular belief , it is not a disease of older people .
Disease onset occurs in adults between 35 to 45 years of age , and it also afflicts children .
“ B cells ” are key cells of the immune system , which are responsible for the production of antibodies that fight infections .
However , with rheumatoid arthritis , these B cells – for reasons not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend from foe and thus attack the joints , Dr Floudas explained .
This leads to the tell-tale joint inflammation that causes such pain in patients .
Their work puts two potential new therapeutic targets for the disease on the radar , Dr Floudas added .
The research has been published in the journal JCI Insight .
“ We discovered a novel population of B cells in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis , and these cells are more inflammatory and invasive than those we knew before , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ specific coded messages , in the form of proteins called cytokines , and energy pathways within the cells which essentially maintain their activation .
Basically , they “ switch on ” , cause inflammation , and are maintained within the environment of the inflamed joint .
“ We also discovered a new mechanism by which these B cells accumulate in the joint , by pinpointing the protein that seems to be responsible for attracting them to the joints , ” he said .
They were some way away from a therapeutic solution but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeting these B cells and/or the protein that attracts them to the joints , “ we can one day hope to develop a therapy that could impact positively on millions of people.
” Prof Douglas Veale from St Vincent ’ s University Hospital , Dublin , along with specialists in TCD ’ s School of Engineering , Centre for Biomedical Engineering , and School of Biochemistry and Immunology contributed to the research .
Other collaborators included researchers and clinicians from St Vincent ’ s ; UCD ; Tallaght University Hospital and Janssen Research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was funded by the HRB and Arthritis Ireland .
Meanwhile Dr Paulina Szklanna has won the 2020 UCD AbbVie Innovation Award for the potential within her research to develop an affordable clinical tool based on blood-borne biomarkers to track progression of multiple sclerosis over time .
MS is an inflammatory and neurodegenerative condition that is the most common cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults .
Some 9,000 Irish people are currently living with MS and their individual disease progression is highly variable .
Clinically predicting the course of the disease remains a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help in this effort .

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, affecting 1 to 2 per cent of Irish people. Photograph: iStock
A team of Irish scientists has pinpointed two potential avenues for developing treatments of rheumatoid arthritis – a painful inflammatory disease affecting an estimated 350 million people worldwide.
Led by Dr Achilleas Floudas and Prof Ursula Fearon from Trinity College Dublin's Molecular Rheumatology group, the team discovered "a new cell population that is especially troublesome in people living with the disease, and also learned how these cells accumulate in the joints".
Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, affecting 1 to 2 per cent of Irish people. It is characterised by progressive joint inflammation, damage and disability, which severely impacts a patient’s quality of life.
There is currently no cure and, contrary to popular belief, it is not a disease of older people. Disease onset occurs in adults between 35 to 45 years of age, and it also afflicts children.
READ MORE
"B cells" are key cells of the immune system, which are responsible for the production of antibodies that fight infections. However, with rheumatoid arthritis, these B cells – for reasons not yet fully understood – fail to recognise friend from foe and thus attack the joints, Dr Floudas explained. This leads to the tell-tale joint inflammation that causes such pain in patients.
Their work puts two potential new therapeutic targets for the disease on the radar, Dr Floudas added. The research has been published in the journal JCI Insight.
“We discovered a novel population of B cells in the joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, and these cells are more inflammatory and invasive than those we knew before,” he said.
Their damaging effects rely on production of specific coded messages, in the form of proteins called cytokines, and energy pathways within the cells which essentially maintain their activation. Basically, they “switch on”, cause inflammation, and are maintained within the environment of the inflamed joint.
“We also discovered a new mechanism by which these B cells accumulate in the joint, by pinpointing the protein that seems to be responsible for attracting them to the joints,” he said.
They were some way away from a therapeutic solution but if they could find a way of targeting these B cells and/or the protein that attracts them to the joints, “we can one day hope to develop a therapy that could impact positively on millions of people.”
Prof Douglas Veale from St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin, along with specialists in TCD's School of Engineering, Centre for Biomedical Engineering, and School of Biochemistry and Immunology contributed to the research. Other collaborators included researchers and clinicians from St Vincent's; UCD; Tallaght University Hospital and Janssen Research & Development in Pennsylvania. The research was funded by the HRB and Arthritis Ireland.
Meanwhile Dr Paulina Szklanna has won the 2020 UCD AbbVie Innovation Award for the potential within her research to develop an affordable clinical tool based on blood-borne biomarkers to track progression of multiple sclerosis over time.
MS is an inflammatory and neurodegenerative condition that is the most common cause of non-traumatic disability in young adults. Some 9,000 Irish people are currently living with MS and their individual disease progression is highly variable. Clinically predicting the course of the disease remains a huge challenge and biomarkers are urgently required to help in this effort.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Mother, father and son die of Covid-19 within a fortnight

Three members of a family have died from Covid-19 within a fortnight .
Tony Doherty , a married man in his 50s , died on Wednesday after being sick with Covid-19 .
His mother , Angela and father , Owen died on October 29th and November 1st respectively also from the disease .
Mr Doherty lived in Banbridge , Co Down and was from west Belfast .
He worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast .
The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said he worked with its patient and client support services .
The trust posted a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our team , but more importantly , he was our friend.
” The statement added : “ Tony was a larger than life figure with a heart of gold who made an instant and lasting impression on everyone he met .
We all shared many laughs and good times with Tony and we hope these memories can provide some comfort to everyone in the days and weeks ahead.
” Jim Brady , a former colleague of his , said Mr Doherty had been a porter in the hospital .
“ I worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Royal , then the Belfast Trust .
He was a dedicated worker and a great guy full of fun never let the team down in the old post room then in the portering team .
During major incidents he never declined any request I asked of him , ” he posted on Facebook .
Mr Doherty is survived by his wife Deborah his son Conor , brothers Owen , Stephen and Kieran and sister Sinead .
His funeral takes place on Saturday after requiem mass to St Patrick ’ s Church , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Milltown cemetery .

Tony Doherty, who died of Covid-19 within a fortnight of his parents, was from west Belfast and worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital (pictured) in the city. Image: Google Streetview.
Three members of a family have died from Covid-19 within a fortnight.
Tony Doherty, a married man in his 50s, died on Wednesday after being sick with Covid-19. His mother, Angela and father, Owen died on October 29th and November 1st respectively also from the disease.
Mr Doherty lived in Banbridge, Co Down and was from west Belfast. He worked at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
The Belfast Health and Social Care Trust said he worked with its patient and client support services. The trust posted a statement describing him as a “valued member of our team, but more importantly, he was our friend.”
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The statement added: “Tony was a larger than life figure with a heart of gold who made an instant and lasting impression on everyone he met. We all shared many laughs and good times with Tony and we hope these memories can provide some comfort to everyone in the days and weeks ahead.”
‘Great guy’
Jim Brady, a former colleague of his, said Mr Doherty had been a porter in the hospital.
"I worked with Tony for over 15 years in the Royal, then the Belfast Trust. He was a dedicated worker and a great guy full of fun never let the team down in the old post room then in the portering team. During major incidents he never declined any request I asked of him," he posted on Facebook.
Mr Doherty is survived by his wife Deborah his son Conor, brothers Owen, Stephen and Kieran and sister Sinead.
His funeral takes place on Saturday after requiem mass to St Patrick's Church, Dromore Street in Banbridge with burial afterwards to Milltown cemetery.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--More than 1,200 hares held for coursing released back into the wild

More than 1,200 hares , which had been held in captivity for future coursing meetings , have been released back into the wild , the Department of Housing , Local Government and Heritage has announced .
Clubs affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club had previously captured 1,270 hares for coursing activities .
However , the activity has been suspended under Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions and the hares had remained in captivity since .
A statement from the Department said it formally requested the clubs to release all of the captive hares due to the importance of “ the welfare and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Department noted that by December 1st , the current duration of level 5 restrictions , the hares would have been held in captivity for at least six weeks , and in some cases for much longer .
It is also not clear at what point after December 1st it may be permissible for coursing to recommence , it added .
Minister Darragh O ’ Brien said hares are a protected species and are “ better off being in the wild rather than being held in captivity in large groups ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervention in seeking the release of hares would result in them being hunted illegally by others .
It has been claimed that this measure will make it easier for illegal hunters , as they would now know the location of high numbers of hares , ” he said .
“ I would point out that after every coursing meeting hares are released in any case , and these hares were in the wild until recent weeks .
I see no reason why they should have been held for the duration that coursing was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Parks and Wildlife Service and the gardai have made a number of prosecutions in relation to illegal hunting of hares in recent years .
“ Finally , there have been a number of erroneous claims on social media that the National Park and Wildlife Service publish the release locations of hares by ICC clubs .
That is absolutely not the case and such claims are misleading and designed solely to serve an agenda supporting the retention of the hares in continuing captivity , ” he added .
Minister of State for Heritage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added that the recently-announced dedicated wildlife crime unit will ensure a “ strategic and standardised approach to dealing with illegal persecution of wildlife ” .

More than 1,200 hares, which had been held in captivity for future coursing meetings, have been released back into the wild, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has announced.
Clubs affiliated to the Irish Coursing Club had previously captured 1,270 hares for coursing activities. However, the activity has been suspended under Covid-19 Level 5 restrictions and the hares had remained in captivity since.
A statement from the Department said it formally requested the clubs to release all of the captive hares due to the importance of “the welfare and conservation of a protected species”.
The Department noted that by December 1st, the current duration of level 5 restrictions, the hares would have been held in captivity for at least six weeks, and in some cases for much longer.
READ MORE
It is also not clear at what point after December 1st it may be permissible for coursing to recommence, it added.
Minister Darragh O'Brien said hares are a protected species and are "better off being in the wild rather than being held in captivity in large groups".
“There have been some claims that my intervention in seeking the release of hares would result in them being hunted illegally by others. It has been claimed that this measure will make it easier for illegal hunters, as they would now know the location of high numbers of hares,” he said.
“ I would point out that after every coursing meeting hares are released in any case, and these hares were in the wild until recent weeks. I see no reason why they should have been held for the duration that coursing was suspended.”
The Minister said that the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the gardai have made a number of prosecutions in relation to illegal hunting of hares in recent years.
"Finally, there have been a number of erroneous claims on social media that the National Park and Wildlife Service publish the release locations of hares by ICC clubs. That is absolutely not the case and such claims are misleading and designed solely to serve an agenda supporting the retention of the hares in continuing captivity," he added.
Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan, added that the recently-announced dedicated wildlife crime unit will ensure a "strategic and standardised approach to dealing with illegal persecution of wildlife".


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Dublin street traders slate ‘unfair’ ban on Christmas stalls

Casual traders who sell goods on Dublin ’ s Henry and Mary Street in the run up to Christmas have criticised Dublin City Council ’ s decision not to allow stalls to operate this year on health and safety grounds .
Sadie Grace , chair of the Committee for Casual Trading , said the group had been negotiating with the council for weeks about how to safely sell their wares and felt the final decision was “ unfair ” and “ shortsighted ” .
The council confirmed on Thursday that the traditional Christmas trading on Henry Street and Mary Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Covid-19 restrictions .
It said the decision had been made to protect the health and safety of traders , the general public and council staff .
“ Christmas traders are a huge part of the festive season in Dublin and we realise that many people will be disappointed , ” said a statement from the council .
“ We are too , but safety must come first.
” Ms Grace , who said she has been selling goods from a Christmas stall for “ over 60 years ” , said the traders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issue since the summer and were willing to take all the necessary measures to protect themselves and the public .
“ I don ’ t want to stand at my stall and get Covid , I want to keep myself safe .
No one would be welcome at my stall without a mask , ” she said .
“ I ’ ve never missed a Christmas in my whole life .
My mother used to sell out there and my uncle got his first licence for selling holy pictures about 80 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard work but it ’ s lovely.
” The committee , she said , feels the Henry Street and Mary Street stall owners have been singled out as other Christmas markets may still go ahead .
“ Let ’ s be fair , if I have to tell my traders we can ’ t trade then nobody should be allowed to trade this Christmas.
” She argued that the council ’ s report on footfall , which helped inform the decision to halt casual trading , was based on last Christmas and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the city centre during a pandemic .
She also said the traders ’ offer to forfeit one week of sales in order to allow more time for planning was rejected .
“ This is a vital income for people during challenging times .
We just want a fair hearing , why are we treated like this ?
It ’ s because we ’ re at the lower scale of the economy.
” Gráinne Quinn , head of the Irish Organisation of Markets and Street Traders , said she was very disappointed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to wait another couple of weeks and make a final decision in early December based on Covid-19 case numbers .
Traders have been selling their wares at Christmas “ since they were in prams with their parents ” , she said .
“ These traders will be losing out on a lot more than just money , there ’ s the social aspect .
The older generation won ’ t know what to do with themselves .
We have members who are in their 70s and they want to go out and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already set to lose out on the stock they bought earlier in the year in anticipation of selling this Christmas , said Ms Quinn .
“ This is a great boost for people to earn a few bob for the Christmas period , this has never happened before .
The council said they wanted to make the decision as early as possible so people wouldn ’ t buy stock but it ’ s too late for that .
”

Casual traders who sell goods on Dublin’s Henry and Mary Street in the run up to Christmas have criticised Dublin City Council’s decision not to allow stalls to operate this year on health and safety grounds. File photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times.
Casual traders who sell goods on Dublin’s Henry and Mary Street in the run up to Christmas have criticised Dublin City Council’s decision not to allow stalls to operate this year on health and safety grounds.
Sadie Grace, chair of the Committee for Casual Trading, said the group had been negotiating with the council for weeks about how to safely sell their wares and felt the final decision was “unfair” and “shortsighted”.
The council confirmed on Thursday that the traditional Christmas trading on Henry Street and Mary Street would not take place this December due to Covid-19 restrictions. It said the decision had been made to protect the health and safety of traders, the general public and council staff.
“Christmas traders are a huge part of the festive season in Dublin and we realise that many people will be disappointed,” said a statement from the council. “We are too, but safety must come first.”
READ MORE
Ms Grace, who said she has been selling goods from a Christmas stall for “over 60 years”, said the traders had been engaging with the council on the issue since the summer and were willing to take all the necessary measures to protect themselves and the public.
“I don’t want to stand at my stall and get Covid, I want to keep myself safe. No one would be welcome at my stall without a mask,” she said.
“I’ve never missed a Christmas in my whole life. My mother used to sell out there and my uncle got his first licence for selling holy pictures about 80 years ago. It’s always been hard work but it’s lovely.”
Singled out
The committee, she said, feels the Henry Street and Mary Street stall owners have been singled out as other Christmas markets may still go ahead.
“Let’s be fair, if I have to tell my traders we can’t trade then nobody should be allowed to trade this Christmas.”
She argued that the council’s report on footfall, which helped inform the decision to halt casual trading, was based on last Christmas and not the projected numbers who would go shopping in the city centre during a pandemic.
She also said the traders’ offer to forfeit one week of sales in order to allow more time for planning was rejected.
“This is a vital income for people during challenging times. We just want a fair hearing, why are we treated like this? It’s because we’re at the lower scale of the economy.”
Gráinne Quinn, head of the Irish Organisation of Markets and Street Traders, said she was very disappointed with the council’s decision and urged them to wait another couple of weeks and make a final decision in early December based on Covid-19 case numbers.
Losing out
Traders have been selling their wares at Christmas “since they were in prams with their parents”, she said.
“These traders will be losing out on a lot more than just money, there’s the social aspect. The older generation won’t know what to do with themselves. We have members who are in their 70s and they want to go out and chat with people.”
Many traders are already set to lose out on the stock they bought earlier in the year in anticipation of selling this Christmas, said Ms Quinn.
“This is a great boost for people to earn a few bob for the Christmas period, this has never happened before. The council said they wanted to make the decision as early as possible so people wouldn’t buy stock but it’s too late for that.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Ian Bailey denies drug driving and cannabis possession charges

Former journalist Ian Bailey failed a drug driving test when gardaí tested him after finding a small tin of cannabis on his person during a search after he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving in west Cork , a court has heard .
Mr Bailey ( 63 ) , of the Prairie , Liscaha , Schull , denies charges of possession of cannabis , permitting the possession of cannabis in a car under his control and driving a car while having cannabis in his system at Schull on August 25th , 2019 .
He also denies a charge of possession @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same date .
Sgt Kevin Heffernan told Bantry District Court that he was operating a checkpoint in Schull on the evening in question and noticed that Mr Bailey was not wearing his seatbelt .
He said that in the course of speaking to him , he detected a strong smell of intoxicating liquor .
Mr Bailey said he had a pint earlier with a meal and was tired .
When he was tested at the roadside , he failed a breathalyser test and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took a further test , which he passed .
However , he was found to have a small tin containing suspected cannabis on his person when he was searched at the station .
He later told gardaí in an interview under caution that somebody had left the tin for him at his market stall and he assumed it was cannabis .
Gardaí took a blood sample from Mr Bailey to test for cannabis and he was found to have 2.7ng/ml for D9 Tetrahydrocannabinol ( cannabis ) where the limit is 1ng/ml and 19.5ng/ml @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limit is 5ng/ml .
Judge John King adjourned the case until December 10th for written submissions after Mr Bailey ’ s barrister , Emmet Boyle BL , raised a number of issues over how garda procedures were followed , including in relation to gardaí forming the opinion that Mr Bailey had driven under the influence of drugs .
Mr Boyle submitted that under Section 13 ( A ) of the Road Traffic Act , a garda was required to form the opinion that Mr Bailey was driving under the influence of drugs at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He argued that the opinion was formed retrospectively and the subsequent drugs test was not admissible .

A file photograph of Ian Bailey, who appeared at Bantry District Court on Thursday charged with drug driving, cannabis possession and two other charges. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times.
Former journalist Ian Bailey failed a drug driving test when gardaí tested him after finding a small tin of cannabis on his person during a search after he was arrested on suspicion of drink-driving in west Cork, a court has heard.
Mr Bailey (63), of the Prairie, Liscaha, Schull, denies charges of possession of cannabis, permitting the possession of cannabis in a car under his control and driving a car while having cannabis in his system at Schull on August 25th, 2019. He also denies a charge of possession of cannabis at Bantry Garda station on the same date.
Sgt Kevin Heffernan told Bantry District Court that he was operating a checkpoint in Schull on the evening in question and noticed that Mr Bailey was not wearing his seatbelt. He said that in the course of speaking to him, he detected a strong smell of intoxicating liquor.
Mr Bailey said he had a pint earlier with a meal and was tired. When he was tested at the roadside, he failed a breathalyser test and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving. He was brought to Bantry station where he took a further test, which he passed.
READ MORE
Small tin
However, he was found to have a small tin containing suspected cannabis on his person when he was searched at the station. He later told gardaí in an interview under caution that somebody had left the tin for him at his market stall and he assumed it was cannabis.
Gardaí took a blood sample from Mr Bailey to test for cannabis and he was found to have 2.7ng/ml for D9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) where the limit is 1ng/ml and 19.5ng/ml for 11-nor-9-carboxy-D9-tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis) where the limit is 5ng/ml.
Judge John King adjourned the case until December 10th for written submissions after Mr Bailey’s barrister, Emmet Boyle BL, raised a number of issues over how garda procedures were followed, including in relation to gardaí forming the opinion that Mr Bailey had driven under the influence of drugs.
Mr Boyle submitted that under Section 13 (A) of the Road Traffic Act, a garda was required to form the opinion that Mr Bailey was driving under the influence of drugs at the time of the alleged offence. He argued that the opinion was formed retrospectively and the subsequent drugs test was not admissible.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Buncrana’s Covid-19 incidence rate running at almost four times national average

Buncrana in Co Donegal continues to have the highest 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in the State , running at almost four times the national average .
The latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) for the two weeks from October 27th to November 9th examines the number of people infected per 100,000 of population by area , giving a better understanding of the rate of transmission than straight case numbers .
Buncrana recorded a rate of 536.5 cases per 100,000 , down from almost 595 on November 2nd .
The second highest rate was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which had a rate of 409.5 cases per 100,000 .
The national rate has been decreasing gradually since the move to tighter restrictions and stood at 135 as of Thursday , down from a peak of 310 .
Speaking on Thursday , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan highlighted Donegal as he said not every part of the State has experienced the same reduction in cases since the latest lockdown began .
Four electoral areas - Lismore in Co Waterford , Ballinamore in Co Leitrim , Corca Dhuibhne in Co Kerry and ManorHamilton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than five cases of Covid-19 , resulting in a 14-day incidence rate of 0 .
In Dublin , the local electoral areas with the highest incidence rates were Tallaght South ( 310.2 ) , Swords ( 288.1 ) and Ballymun-Finglas ( 272.2 ) .
On the lower end of the scale in the capital were Killiney-Shankill ( 47.3 ) , Blackrock ( 68.2 ) and Dundrum with ( 69.4 ) .
Electoral areas that recorded some of the lowest 14-day incidence rates included Rosslare in Co Wexford ( 32.5 ) , Carrickmacross-Castleblayney in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Co Wicklow ( 34.4 ) .
Meanwhile , other areas with high rates included Listowel in Co Kerry ( 404.5 ) , Newcastle West in Co Limerick ( 331.9 ) and Cardonagh in Co Donegal ( 312.4 ) .
The data is recorded according to local electoral areas of which there are 31 in Dublin and a total of 166 nationally .
By county , Donegal recorded the highest 14-day incidence between October 29th and November 11th at 281 per 100,000 .
This was followed by Limerick with 197.5 , Roscommon at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties with the lowest rates were Wexford with 49.4 , Leitrim at 53.1 , Wicklow at 72.3 and Kildare , which had an incidence rate of 93.9 .

Buncrana in Co Donegal continues to have the highest 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in the State, running at almost four times the national average. Image: Google Streetview.
Buncrana in Co Donegal continues to have the highest 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 in the State, running at almost four times the national average.
The latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for the two weeks from October 27th to November 9th examines the number of people infected per 100,000 of population by area, giving a better understanding of the rate of transmission than straight case numbers.
Buncrana recorded a rate of 536.5 cases per 100,000, down from almost 595 on November 2nd. The second highest rate was also in Co Donegal, in Letterkenny, which had a rate of 409.5 cases per 100,000.
The national rate has been decreasing gradually since the move to tighter restrictions and stood at 135 as of Thursday, down from a peak of 310.
READ MORE
Speaking on Thursday, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan highlighted Donegal as he said not every part of the State has experienced the same reduction in cases since the latest lockdown began.
Zero rate
Four electoral areas - Lismore in Co Waterford, Ballinamore and Manorhamilton in Co Leitrim and Corca Dhuibhne in Co Kerry - each recorded fewer than five cases of Covid-19, resulting in a 14-day incidence rate of 0.
In Dublin, the local electoral areas with the highest incidence rates were Tallaght South (310.2), Swords (288.1) and Ballymun-Finglas (272.2).
On the lower end of the scale in the capital were Killiney-Shankill (47.3), Blackrock (68.2) and Dundrum with (69.4).
Electoral areas that recorded some of the lowest 14-day incidence rates included Rosslare in Co Wexford (32.5), Carrickmacross-Castleblayney in Co Monaghan (32.7) and Baltinglass in Co Wicklow (34.4).
Meanwhile, other areas with high rates included Listowel in Co Kerry (404.5), Newcastle West in Co Limerick (331.9) and Cardonagh in Co Donegal (312.4).
The data is recorded according to local electoral areas of which there are 31 in Dublin and a total of 166 nationally.
By county, Donegal recorded the highest 14-day incidence between October 29th and November 11th at 281 per 100,000. This was followed by Limerick with 197.5, Roscommon at 172 and Westmeath at 167.8.
The counties with the lowest rates were Wexford with 49.4, Leitrim at 53.1, Wicklow at 72.3 and Kildare, which had an incidence rate of 93.9.
Search the table with this story to see how your area is coping with Covid-19. If you are reading this on The Irish Times app and can't see the searchable table, go here.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--More than 3,000 businesses ‘gone bust’ since March, Dáil told

More than 3,000 businesses have “ gone bust ” since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic but Brexit has probably contributed to the failure of some , the Dáil has been told .
There were also warnings of unexpected consequences when Brexit takes effect from January 1st “ some serious possibly , some not so serious ” .
But Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said among the certainties was that “ there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland and common travel arrangement will continue to apply ” , which included the freedom to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Byrne also advised traders seeking to get goods to continental Europe to switch now to direct ferry services to mainland Europe as a “ matter of trial ” .
He said that in the past year direct services had increased and more were coming on-stream .
The warnings and advice came as the Dáil debated legislation aimed at lessening the impact of Brexit , including measures to safeguard the Irish-UK Common Travel Area .
Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín said that , in a parliamentary reply , Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar told him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gone bust in the State largely due to Covid .
But some of the Brexit changes are probably having an effect on those businesses ” .
Mr Tóibín said the figure was probably an underestimation because most businesses going under this year would not be known about until the tax year in 2021 .
Mr Byrne said “ things will happen in the New Year that perhaps we weren ’ t expecting , some serious possibly , some not so serious ” and people should be prepared for that .
Meanwhile , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefing note by officials that disruption at ports and airports due to Brexit in the New Year are likely to be exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic .
Covid-19 “ will have an impact on the timetable for work at both Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort ” , it notes .
Government officials say an assessment is being undertaken in relation to the impact of Covid-19 on the operation of checks and controls “ so these can be carried out in a way that is safe from a public health perspective ” .
Extra @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airports because of Brexit , mainly for customs , sanitary and phytosanitary ( SPS ) controls and health checks .
According to the briefing document , the infrastructure which is needed at Dublin Airport for Brexit controls is now complete while “ work to further enhance the facilities and Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort for the long-term is well advanced ” .
It cited further concerns about the UK landbridge , currently the fastest and cheapest route between Ireland and continental Europe for importers and exporters , with most drivers using Holyhead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government has worked with our EU partners on addressing challenges in EU ports for transit landbridge traffic , there is little we can do to address delays and blockages at UK ports , ” officials said .
“ The Government has pointed out for some time now including in our readiness plans in 2019 and 2020 that there will likely be delays at ports immediately after the end of the transition period with Dover-Calais identified as a particular likely bottleneck.
” It said : “ Traders should consider switching to direct route options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Government was “ aware ” of reports that Northern Ireland ports would not have the necessary infrastructure in place by the end of December .
“ We understand that the authorities in Northern Ireland are working closely with the European Commission Task Force on temporary measures and arrangements to ensure that the SPS aspects of the Protocol can be implemented in full from January 1st 2021.
” Earlier , Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued a fresh warning about the damage likely to be caused by a no-deal Brexit .
With 49 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no agreement yet on a post-Brexit trade deal , Mr Martin gave an interview to the BBC saying : “ We ’ ve all had a very significant shock to our economic system because of Covid-19 — the last thing we need now across all of our respective economies is a second major shock.
” He said failing to secure a deal would be “ ruinous ” for the UK , and that Ireland would also suffer .
Mr Martin also said the UK needed to be “ very careful that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the politics of Northern Ireland ” , and that no deal past the transition period could lead to “ tensions that are unnecessary ” .

A Government briefing document says ‘traders should consider switching to direct route options where feasible’ to continental Europe given expected delays with the UK landbridge from January 1st. Photograph: Getty Images
More than 3,000 businesses have "gone bust" since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic but Brexit has probably contributed to the failure of some, the Dáil has been told.
There were also warnings of unexpected consequences when Brexit takes effect from January 1st “some serious possibly, some not so serious”.
But Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne said among the certainties was that “there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland and common travel arrangement will continue to apply”, which included the freedom to move goods north and south.
Mr Byrne also advised traders seeking to get goods to continental Europe to switch now to direct ferry services to mainland Europe as a “matter of trial”. He said that in the past year direct services had increased and more were coming on-stream.
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The warnings and advice came as the Dáil debated legislation aimed at lessening the impact of Brexit, including measures to safeguard the Irish-UK Common Travel Area.
Aontú TD Peadar Tóibín said that, in a parliamentary reply, Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar told him that up to August “3,236 businesses have gone bust in the State largely due to Covid. But some of the Brexit changes are probably having an effect on those businesses”.
Mr Tóibín said the figure was probably an underestimation because most businesses going under this year would not be known about until the tax year in 2021.
Mr Byrne said “things will happen in the New Year that perhaps we weren’t expecting, some serious possibly, some not so serious” and people should be prepared for that.
Meanwhile, the Government has been warned in a briefing note by officials that disruption at ports and airports due to Brexit in the New Year are likely to be exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Covid-19 “will have an impact on the timetable for work at both Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort”, it notes.
Extra infrastructure
Government officials say an assessment is being undertaken in relation to the impact of Covid-19 on the operation of checks and controls “so these can be carried out in a way that is safe from a public health perspective”.
Extra infrastructure will be needed at ports and airports because of Brexit, mainly for customs, sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls and health checks.
According to the briefing document, the infrastructure which is needed at Dublin Airport for Brexit controls is now complete while “work to further enhance the facilities and Dublin Port and Rosslare Europort for the long-term is well advanced”.
It cited further concerns about the UK landbridge, currently the fastest and cheapest route between Ireland and continental Europe for importers and exporters, with most drivers using Holyhead, Liverpool and Dover.
“While the Government has worked with our EU partners on addressing challenges in EU ports for transit landbridge traffic, there is little we can do to address delays and blockages at UK ports,” officials said.
“The Government has pointed out for some time now including in our readiness plans in 2019 and 2020 that there will likely be delays at ports immediately after the end of the transition period with Dover-Calais identified as a particular likely bottleneck.”
It said: “Traders should consider switching to direct route options where feasible.”
The briefing also says that the Government was “aware” of reports that Northern Ireland ports would not have the necessary infrastructure in place by the end of December.
“We understand that the authorities in Northern Ireland are working closely with the European Commission Task Force on temporary measures and arrangements to ensure that the SPS aspects of the Protocol can be implemented in full from January 1st 2021.”
Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin issued a fresh warning about the damage likely to be caused by a no-deal Brexit.
With 49 days until the UK leaves the EU, and no agreement yet on a post-Brexit trade deal, Mr Martin gave an interview to the BBC saying: “We’ve all had a very significant shock to our economic system because of Covid-19 — the last thing we need now across all of our respective economies is a second major shock.”
He said failing to secure a deal would be “ruinous” for the UK, and that Ireland would also suffer.
Mr Martin also said the UK needed to be “very careful that they do not do anything that could destabilise the politics of Northern Ireland”, and that no deal past the transition period could lead to “tensions that are unnecessary”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--‘We’re the heartbeat of the community’: Small schools battle to stay alive

A few years ago pupil numbers at Derryoober National School in Co Galway dwindled to just single figures .
With just one teacher left , it seemed a matter of time before the 160-year-old school shut its doors for good .
“ I had no teaching colleagues , ” says principal Pádraig Lohan .
“ I had to teach the children how to use my mobile phone in the event of anything happening to me .
I just told them my security code.
” Dozens of schools like Derryoober have closed or amalgamated in recent years .
Lohan , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep the school open .
“ The school is the last bastion of identity in the rural area , it ’ s the heart-beat of the community ” says Lohan “ We lost the pub , our GP , the local centre , we ’ ve lost an awful lot ... ” New Department of Education projections on school enrolments make bleak reading for small schools .
Enrolments are forecast to drop by about 20 per cent between now and 2034 , leading to fears of far more closures .
Ireland has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe .
Nearly half have four teachers or fewer .
However , they account for just 15 per cent of the primary school population .
Most of these schools are in the west where local populations tend to be static or falling , and getting older .
There are also local dynamics at play , such as commuting and job patterns .
In a statement , the Department said the new enrolment projections will be used in assessing teacher demand and supply modelling , along with forward planning of school buildings .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at ensuring any surplus teachers are re-located to other schools which have vacancies .
Its official policy is that schools close only with the consent of parents or a board of management .
Labour ’ s education spokesman Aodhan O Riordain has called for a commitment from the Government that schools will be protected .
“ We need assurances that the overall number of teachers employed in the primary school system will be maintained , and not allowed to fall , ” he said .
At second level , a projected increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of challenges .
The Teachers ’ Union of Ireland , which represents secondary teachers , said additional teachers will be required in the face if a teacher supply crisis which it says is due to lower pay scales introduced in 2011 .
The Irish Primary Principals ’ Network said the figures also show the urgent need to boost supports for small schools to ensure their survival .
“ We need to look at ideas such as clustering supports or teachers across groups of small schools to ensure they are sustainable into the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clerkin .
At Derryoober National School , they have done just that .
Lohan says the community came together a few years ago and , instead of accepting closure , they pledged to keep the school alive .
A childcare and after-school facility was built that summer to encourage commuting parents to use it .
It operates under licensing agreement with the school patron , the Bishop of Clonfert .
It has had a transformative effect .
By the following September eight children started school , which got numbers above the threshold for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enrolment has risen to 26 children .
He is hopeful the numbers can rise to 30 or so in the coming years .
“ All our parents both work .
That ’ s the profile .
We ’ re open from 7.40am and the after-school goes on until about 5.45 pm , ” says Lohan .
There is a breakfast club .
There is a hot dinner for the afterschool at about 3pm .
The childcare facility stays open during the holidays.
” The death of rural primary schools is not a given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come full circle now and people are delighted the school is open .
We have people actually coming back to the community .
”

A few years ago pupil numbers at Derryoober National School in Co Galway dwindled to just single figures.
With just one teacher left, it seemed a matter of time before the 160-year-old school shut its doors for good.
“I had no teaching colleagues,” says principal Pádraig Lohan. “I had to teach the children how to use my mobile phone in the event of anything happening to me. I just told them my security code.”
Dozens of schools like Derryoober have closed or amalgamated in recent years.
READ MORE
Lohan, however, is battling alongside the local community to keep the school open.
“The school is the last bastion of identity in the rural area, it’s the heart-beat of the community” says Lohan “We lost the pub, our GP, the local centre, we’ve lost an awful lot ...”
New Department of Education projections on school enrolments make bleak reading for small schools.
Enrolments are forecast to drop by about 20 per cent between now and 2034, leading to fears of far more closures.
Ireland has the highest proportion of small schools in Europe. Nearly half have four teachers or fewer. However, they account for just 15 per cent of the primary school population.
Most of these schools are in the west where local populations tend to be static or falling, and getting older. There are also local dynamics at play, such as commuting and job patterns.
In a statement, the Department said the new enrolment projections will be used in assessing teacher demand and supply modelling, along with forward planning of school buildings.
A department spokesman said teacher redeployment schemes are aimed at ensuring any surplus teachers are re-located to other schools which have vacancies.
Its official policy is that schools close only with the consent of parents or a board of management.
Labour's education spokesman Aodhan O Riordain has called for a commitment from the Government that schools will be protected.
“We need assurances that the overall number of teachers employed in the primary school system will be maintained, and not allowed to fall,” he said.
At second level, a projected increase in student numbers poses a different set of challenges.
The Teachers’ Union of Ireland, which represents secondary teachers, said additional teachers will be required in the face if a teacher supply crisis which it says is due to lower pay scales introduced in 2011.
The Irish Primary Principals’ Network said the figures also show the urgent need to boost supports for small schools to ensure their survival.
"We need to look at ideas such as clustering supports or teachers across groups of small schools to ensure they are sustainable into the future," said network chief executive Pairic Clerkin.
At Derryoober National School, they have done just that.
Lohan says the community came together a few years ago and, instead of accepting closure, they pledged to keep the school alive.
A childcare and after-school facility was built that summer to encourage commuting parents to use it. It operates under licensing agreement with the school patron , the Bishop of Clonfert.
It has had a transformative effect.
By the following September eight children started school, which got numbers above the threshold for a second teacher.
This year, enrolment has risen to 26 children. He is hopeful the numbers can rise to 30 or so in the coming years.
“All our parents both work. That’s the profile. We’re open from 7.40am and the after-school goes on until about 5.45 pm,” says Lohan. There is a breakfast club. There is a hot dinner for the afterschool at about 3pm. The childcare facility stays open during the holidays.”
The death of rural primary schools is not a given, he says.
“It has come full circle now and people are delighted the school is open. We have people actually coming back to the community.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Jobpath scheme costs €11,000 per successful participant, TD says

The Government ’ s flagship activation scheme for the long-term unemployed was costing €11,000 per successful participant , the Public Accounts Committee ( PAC ) heard on Thursday .
The “ cost per job ” was claimed by a number of PAC members based on data provided by the Department of Employment and Social Protection showing Jobpath had cost €244 million since it opened in 2015 .
Jobpath , which is operated by two companies on behalf of the Department , provides advice and mentoring to jobseekers .
Participants are referred randomly by the Department .
Since 2015 about 285,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these 64,000 found jobs .
About 22,000 of these were still in work 12 months later .
Matt Carthy , TD ( Sinn Féin ) said these figures meant “ it works out per those 22,000 jobs , at a cost of about €11,000 per job .
“ The question is , is there any possibility that another route could ensure we create a greater number of jobs at less than a cost of €11,000 per job ?
” Chair of the committee , Brian Stanley TD ( Sinn Féin ) said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jobpath in his Laois-Offaly constituency “ just over 1,000 ” were in employment “ which would seem very , very low ” .
The two companies contracted to provide Jobpath - Seetec and Tuas Nua - were paid €311 for each referral and up to €3,718 if they secured employment that is sustained for a least a year .
People in part-time work had had to give up their jobs to keep up with meetings they had to attend on the scheme .
Failure to attend meetings could result in loss of welfare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Stanley , had had to give up teaching to attend Jobpath meetings , he claimed .
“ Jobpath is a flawed system and has helped push me out of the teaching profession , something I have worked for , ” the teacher had told him .
“ When you look at what ’ s being spent and the cost per individual…it is a really , really serious concern that there ’ s a huge amount of public money being spent here , ” said deputy Stanley .
John McKeon , secretary general @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the comparisons were made between the cost of the scheme and jobs secured , but it was the “ wrong comparison , ” he insisted .
“ Jobpath is not an employment creation scheme…The purpose of Jobpath is to provide an employment advisory service to people , to help them compete for jobs that are there .
“ So the question is , what is the cost of that advisory service per person .
It costs about €880 , ” he said .
“ Cost parameters indicate it is a good service .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Jobpath is informed by very bad press that happened in the UK [ about activation schemes ] .
” Catherine Murphy TD ( Social Democrats ) said she had been getting “ the same feedback ” as other members about Jobpath .
“ People having to give up part-time jobs to go on Jobpath…If there ’ s any kind of media coverage on this we are going to get a whole raft of additional people making contact with us about it .
”

Matt Carthy said the figures meant ‘it works out per those 22,000 jobs, at a cost of about €11,000 per job’. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill
The Government's flagship activation scheme for the long-term unemployed was costing €11,000 per successful participant, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) heard on Thursday.
The “cost per job” was claimed by a number of PAC members based on data provided by the Department of Employment and Social Protection showing Jobpath had cost €244 million since it opened in 2015.
Jobpath, which is operated by two companies on behalf of the Department, provides advice and mentoring to jobseekers. Participants are referred randomly by the Department.
Since 2015 about 285,000 people had been directed to participate and of these 64,000 found jobs. About 22,000 of these were still in work 12 months later.
READ MORE
Matt Carthy, TD (Sinn Féin) said these figures meant "it works out per those 22,000 jobs, at a cost of about €11,000 per job.
“The question is, is there any possibility that another route could ensure we create a greater number of jobs at less than a cost of €11,000 per job?”
Chair of the committee, Brian Stanley TD (Sinn Féin) said of the 13,500 who had gone through Jobpath in his Laois-Offaly constituency “just over 1,000” were in employment “which would seem very, very low”.
The two companies contracted to provide Jobpath - Seetec and Tuas Nua - were paid €311 for each referral and up to €3,718 if they secured employment that is sustained for a least a year.
People in part-time work had had to give up their jobs to keep up with meetings they had to attend on the scheme. Failure to attend meetings could result in loss of welfare entitlements. A substitute teacher, said Mr Stanley, had had to give up teaching to attend Jobpath meetings, he claimed.
“Jobpath is a flawed system and has helped push me out of the teaching profession, something I have worked for,” the teacher had told him.
“When you look at what’s being spent and the cost per individual…it is a really, really serious concern that there’s a huge amount of public money being spent here,” said deputy Stanley.
John McKeon, secretary general at the department said he understood why the comparisons were made between the cost of the scheme and jobs secured, but it was the “wrong comparison,” he insisted.
“Jobpath is not an employment creation scheme…The purpose of Jobpath is to provide an employment advisory service to people, to help them compete for jobs that are there.
“So the question is, what is the cost of that advisory service per person. It costs about €880,” he said. “Cost parameters indicate it is a good service. I think sometimes people’s attitude to Jobpath is informed by very bad press that happened in the UK [about activation schemes].”
Catherine Murphy TD (Social Democrats) said she had been getting "the same feedback" as other members about Jobpath. "People having to give up part-time jobs to go on Jobpath…If there's any kind of media coverage on this we are going to get a whole raft of additional people making contact with us about it."


theirishtimes--2020-11-12--Third-level students to receive €250 refunds in coming weeks

Thousands of third-level students are due to get refunds or credit notes worth up to €250 over the coming weeks .
The once-off payments – worth a total of€50 million – are aimed at compensating students for the move towards greater online learning this year .
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris told an Oireachtas education committee on Thursday that those eligible for the refunds would be undergraduate students who have paid the €3,000 student registration fee or who are in receipt of Susi grants .
He said he hoped a top-up grant would be made available to students on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Details are still being worked out on how the payment will be issued to other students , but it may take the form of a fees rebate or credit note .
Mr Harris is due to bring proposals to Cabinet next week with details on how the scheme will operate .
The Minister also confirmed that more than 2,000 additional higher education course places that were created in order to ease CAO points pressure last September would be retained in the system over the coming years .
This development will help ease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leaving Cert students , who are due to sit State exams next June .
“ It wasn ’ t a once-off blip .
We ’ ve banked those places , if you like , which is important , ” Mr Harris said .
“ This year was a horrific year for students , but I hope one of the good things to come out of it will be a very significant investment in expanding higher education places.
” In addition , he said , funding has been provided for 2,700 undergraduate college places @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Harris is encouraging colleges to prioritise on-campus activity for first-year and final-year students , assuming Covid-19 restrictions ease .
The move is aimed partly at addressing concerns that student drop-out rates could rise due to the emphasis on remote learning .
“ I am really worried about the mental health and wellbeing of students and about drop-out rates , ” he said .
“ If , God willing , we get back to Level 3 , that does mean more activity on campus than at Level 5 … It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ massive investment we are making to the university sector for helping them with Covid , that we say we want to see an expansion of on-site campus activity , subject to public health advice.
” Minister for Education Norma Foley also told the Oireachtas education committee that about half a billion euro was being invested in keeping schools open and supporting ICT and remote learning .
She also confirmed that €55 million in minor works grants for primary and post-primary schools would be paid in early December .
Ms Foley said the earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a good lead-in period for planning and undertaking works next year .
The grant is aimed at assisting schools to enhance ventilation , purchase furniture or adapt toilet areas to help deal with the Covid-19 threat .
In the case of primary schools , funding will consist of a €5,500 basic grant plus funding per student ranging from €18.50 per mainstream pupil to €74 per pupil with special needs attending a special school or special class .
For example , a 60-pupil primary school would receive about €6,610 and a 300-pupil school about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secondary school , this would consist of a €10,000 basic grant plus €55 per mainstream student and€220 per student in a special class .
For example , a 50-student school would receive €37,500 and a 1,000-student school would receive €65,000 .

Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris: ‘I am really worried about the mental health and wellbeing of students.’ Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Thousands of third-level students are due to get refunds or credit notes worth up to €250 over the coming weeks.
The once-off payments – worth a total of€50 million – are aimed at compensating students for the move towards greater online learning this year.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris told an Oireachtas education committee on Thursday that those eligible for the refunds would be undergraduate students who have paid the €3,000 student registration fee or who are in receipt of Susi grants.
He said he hoped a top-up grant would be made available to students on Susi grants before Christmas, if possible.
READ MORE
Details are still being worked out on how the payment will be issued to other students, but it may take the form of a fees rebate or credit note.
Mr Harris is due to bring proposals to Cabinet next week with details on how the scheme will operate.
The Minister also confirmed that more than 2,000 additional higher education course places that were created in order to ease CAO points pressure last September would be retained in the system over the coming years.
This development will help ease points pressure for this year’s Leaving Cert students, who are due to sit State exams next June.
“It wasn’t a once-off blip. We’ve banked those places, if you like, which is important,” Mr Harris said.
“This year was a horrific year for students , but I hope one of the good things to come out of it will be a very significant investment in expanding higher education places.”
Drop-out rates
In addition, he said, funding has been provided for 2,700 undergraduate college places next year to address demographic growth pressure.
Mr Harris is encouraging colleges to prioritise on-campus activity for first-year and final-year students, assuming Covid-19 restrictions ease.
The move is aimed partly at addressing concerns that student drop-out rates could rise due to the emphasis on remote learning.
“I am really worried about the mental health and wellbeing of students and about drop-out rates,” he said.
“If, God willing, we get back to Level 3, that does mean more activity on campus than at Level 5 … It is not unreasonable that, in return for the massive investment we are making to the university sector for helping them with Covid, that we say we want to see an expansion of on-site campus activity, subject to public health advice.”
Minister for Education Norma Foley also told the Oireachtas education committee that about half a billion euro was being invested in keeping schools open and supporting ICT and remote learning.
She also confirmed that €55 million in minor works grants for primary and post-primary schools would be paid in early December.
Ms Foley said the earlier payment of these grants would gives schools a good lead-in period for planning and undertaking works next year.
The grant is aimed at assisting schools to enhance ventilation, purchase furniture or adapt toilet areas to help deal with the Covid-19 threat.
In the case of primary schools, funding will consist of a €5,500 basic grant plus funding per student ranging from €18.50 per mainstream pupil to €74 per pupil with special needs attending a special school or special class .
For example, a 60-pupil primary school would receive about €6,610 and a 300-pupil school about €11,050.
In the case of a secondary school, this would consist of a €10,000 basic grant plus €55 per mainstream student and€220 per student in a special class.
For example, a 50-student school would receive €37,500 and a 1,000-student school would receive €65,000.