theirishtimes--2020-05-08--New rules on reopening workplaces in face of Covid-19 include ban on handshakes

Ireland ’ s workplaces will change beyond recognition as Covid-19 restrictions ease , under an agreement reached between the Government , employers and trade unions Handshakes will be banned .
Temperature testing will be carried out in line with public health advice .
Workers will not be allowed to share pens , bottles or cups .
Vulnerable at-risk workers must be “ preferentially supported ” to maintain physical distancing , and where possible , be supported by their employers to work from home .
Workers will be organised into small teams that consistently work and take breaks together and must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all staff should be encouraged to stay working from home .
Workers will have to sign a form three days before a return to their workplace to certify “ to the best of their knowledge ” they do not have Covid-19 symptoms , that they are not self-isolating , or waiting for test results .
The new rules will be monitored by the Health and Safety Authority , which will have powers to overturn poor behaviours , or even to close premises that are not complying .
Social distancing rules will have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on all except essential face-to-face meetings .
Employers should set up one-way systems for staff entering and leaving buildings .
Business travel is discouraged .
Canteens must close unless social distancing can be obeyed .
If they can comply , then they should be opened for longer and meal breaks should be staggered to ensure queues are avoided .
Cash payments are discouraged .
Where keeping people two metres apart is not possible , such as production lines , alternative measures should be put in place , such as plastic sneeze guards , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distance of one metre ” .
Each workplace should have at least one worker representative charged with ensuring that Covid-19 measures are adhered to strictly .
Employers must identify an isolation area to deal with suspected Covid cases found at work .
Meanwhile , workers sharing accommodation as part of their duties must be housed in groups “ that are as small as is reasonably practicable and consist of individuals who also work together ” .
Each team should have their own washrooms , kitchens and communal rooms to avoid other shifts using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ necessity to clean between occupancy by different teams ” .
Workers should sleep in single-bed rooms , while suspected infected individuals must be isolated at the earliest possible opportunity , according to the protocol seen by The Irish Times .
The protocol also maintains that employers must provide personal protective equipment and protective clothing to workers in accordance with identified Covid-19 exposure risks and in line with public health advice .
It also says that employers should eliminate physical interaction between workers and customers as much as is reasonably practicable through revised working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or phone orders , contactless delivery or managed entry .

Handshakes will be banned. Temperature testing will be carried out in line with public health advice. Workers will not be allowed to share pens, bottles, or cups. Photograph: Alex Welsh/New York Times
Ireland’s workplaces will change beyond recognition as Covid-19 restrictions ease, under an agreement reached between the Government, employers and trade unions.
Handshakes will be banned, temperature testing will be carried out in line with public health advice and workers will not be allowed to share pens, bottles or cups.
Vulnerable at-risk workers must be “preferentially supported” to maintain physical distancing, and where possible, be supported by their employers to work from home.
Workers will be organised into small teams that consistently work and take breaks together and must limit interactions with other colleagues, while all staff should be encouraged to stay working from home.
READ MORE
Workers will have to sign a form three days before a return to their workplace to certify “to the best of their knowledge” they do not have Covid-19 symptoms, that they are not self-isolating, or waiting for test results.
The new rules will be monitored by the Health and Safety Authority, which will have powers to overturn poor behaviours, or even to close premises that are not complying.
Meanwhile it has emerged that civil servants in the Department of Transport have been told it is likely large numbers of them will be working from home for the rest of the year.
The secretary-general of the department, Graham Doyle, wrote to all staff "it is likely that most of us will be working from home (to a greater or lesser extent) for the remainder of 2020".
Mr Doyle’s email points out that remote working will remain in place for those who can do so until, at a minimum, August under the Government’s Covid-19 road map. Mr Doyle said he expects a staggered return to work “will likely involve a maximum of 25 per cent of staff being present in any of our offices at any one time”.
Details of the National Return to Work Safely Protocol are due to be announced today after it was considered by the Cabinet yesterday . It will mean social distancing rules will have to be rigidly enforced, including a ban on all except essential face-to-face meetings. Employers should set up one-way systems for staff entering and leaving buildings while business travel is discouraged.
Canteens must close unless social distancing can be obeyed and meal breaks should be staggered. Where keeping people two metres apart is not possible, such as production lines, alternative measures should be put in place, such as plastic sneeze guards, or by maintaining “at least a distance of one metre”.
The protocol also maintains that employers must provide personal protective equipment and protective clothing to workers in accordance with identified Covid-19 exposure risks and in line with public health advice.
Meanwhile 10 outbreaks of Covid-19 have been identified in meat processing plants and 566 staff have been infected, according to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
HSE outbreak control teams have been sent into each plant to try to control the outbreaks, according to chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan.
The deaths of another 27 patients were announced by the NPHET at its briefing yesterday. There have now been 1,429 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic. Some 156 new cases of the disease were reported by NPHET. The new cases bring the total number of cases to 22,541.
Compliance with restrictions introduced to curb the spread of the virus remains very high, according to Dr Holohan.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Reforms of Scouting Ireland’s governance ‘satisfactory’ - report

Governance reforms in Scouting Ireland introduced on foot of a highly critical report have been “ implemented satisfactorily ” , according to a review commissioned by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone .
A “ dysfunctional ” culture in the youth organisation and lack of transparency had led to previous safeguarding failings , a report by former senator Jillian van Turnhout concluded in June 2018 .
Ms van Turnhout ’ s report made a series of recommendations for the reform of the organisation , which has also been dealing with a major historic child sex abuse scandal .
Brigid McManus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was commissioned by Ms Zappone to examine if promised reforms had been followed through on .
Reforms included changes to the make-up of the organisation ’ s board , such as appointing independent directors .
Ms McManus found the recommendations had been “ implemented satisfactorily ” and Scouting Ireland had completed “ significant work ” in improving its governance .
The new board had “ delivering significant changes ” to the governance and structure of the organisation , Ms McManus said .
Safeguarding issues in Scouting Ireland were first brought to light in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the details of a confidential review that found the organisation ’ s handling of a rape allegation was “ deeply flawed ” .
The ensuing controversy led to the organisation twice having its State funding suspended by Ms Zappone over governance concerns .
It has also been dealing with the fallout of a historic child sex abuse scandal , with over 400 allegations of abuse that took place in legacy scouting bodies from the 1940s to 1990s .
There were a number of outstanding issues to be resolved by the youth organisation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scouting Ireland and trust companies which held properties such as scouts dens and national camping centres was “ unclear ” , the report said .
The “ lack of clarity is very undesirable from a governance perspective and needs to be resolved ” , it said .
Scouting Ireland has committed to an external review of its current safeguarding practices at the end of this year , which Ms McManus recommended be shared with the Department of Children .
The report recommended Scouting Ireland provide the department with an update on the status @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a statement , Ms Zappone said she welcomed the independent assurance that governance and safeguarding issues at Scouting Ireland “ are now largely addressed ” .
Anne Griffin , Scouting Ireland chief executive , said the youth organisation was “ greatly encouraged ” by the conclusions of the McManus report .
“ Transforming governance in our organisation over the past two years has not been without its challenges but it is necessary and has strengthened Scouting Ireland for the future , ” Ms Griffin said .
“ We are also collaborating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working relations with Tusla , An Garda Síochána , Gateway and the PSNI .
”

Anne Griffin, Scouting Ireland chief executive, said the youth organisation was ‘greatly encouraged’ by the conclusions of the McManus report. File photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
Governance reforms in Scouting Ireland introduced on foot of a highly critical report have been "implemented satisfactorily", according to a review commissioned by Minister for Children Katherine Zappone.
A "dysfunctional" culture in the youth organisation and lack of transparency had led to previous safeguarding failings, a report by former senator Jillian van Turnhout concluded in June 2018.
Ms van Turnhout’s report made a series of recommendations for the reform of the organisation, which has also been dealing with a major historic child sex abuse scandal.
Brigid McManus, former Department of Education secretary general, was commissioned by Ms Zappone to examine if promised reforms had been followed through on. Reforms included changes to the make-up of the organisation's board, such as appointing independent directors.
READ MORE
Ms McManus found the recommendations had been “implemented satisfactorily” and Scouting Ireland had completed “significant work” in improving its governance.
The new board had “delivering significant changes” to the governance and structure of the organisation, Ms McManus said.
Safeguarding issues in Scouting Ireland were first brought to light in early 2018 when The Irish Times reported the details of a confidential review that found the organisation’s handling of a rape allegation was “deeply flawed”.
The ensuing controversy led to the organisation twice having its State funding suspended by Ms Zappone over governance concerns. It has also been dealing with the fallout of a historic child sex abuse scandal, with over 400 allegations of abuse that took place in legacy scouting bodies from the 1940s to 1990s.
There were a number of outstanding issues to be resolved by the youth organisation, Ms McManus said.
The relationship between Scouting Ireland and trust companies which held properties such as scouts dens and national camping centres was “unclear”, the report said.
The “lack of clarity is very undesirable from a governance perspective and needs to be resolved”, it said.
Scouting Ireland has committed to an external review of its current safeguarding practices at the end of this year, which Ms McManus recommended be shared with the Department of Children.
The report recommended Scouting Ireland provide the department with an update on the status of outstanding reforms in six months time.
In a statement, Ms Zappone said she welcomed the independent assurance that governance and safeguarding issues at Scouting Ireland “are now largely addressed”.
Anne Griffin, Scouting Ireland chief executive, said the youth organisation was "greatly encouraged" by the conclusions of the McManus report.
“Transforming governance in our organisation over the past two years has not been without its challenges but it is necessary and has strengthened Scouting Ireland for the future,” Ms Griffin said.
“We are also collaborating with State agencies and have established good working relations with Tusla, An Garda Síochána, Gateway and the PSNI.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--A fortnight ago McHugh said predicted grades were ‘biased’. What changed?

Two week ago Minister for Education Joe McHugh held a live question and answers session with Leaving Cert students on Instagram .
When asked why he was not considering the option of predicted grades , he ruled it out in stark terms .
There was , he said , “ too much inherent bias ” in the system , and it would not be fair given the nature of our close-knit society .
“ There ’ s the practicality of teachers grading nieces , nephews , sons or daughters , or teachers who are easy markers or hard markers ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of predicted grading is a fair system.
” On Friday he announced a stunning reversal .
Students would , after all , receive predicted or “ calculated ” grades in which teachers and schools will play a central role .
Anyone unhappy with their results would have the chance to sit the written exams at a much later and unspecified date .
So what changed so dramatically in that time ?
Mounting pressure and growing uncertainty was piling on the Department of Education with every passing day .
The decision to defer the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date – July 29th – subject to public health advice – only fuelled doubt over the status of the exams .
Opinion polls showed a growing majority of student and parents opposed to the idea of extending the exams into late summer given the mental health toll and health risks .
Teachers were also raising grave concerns in private over the potential risks to staff and students .
Some senior department officials were keen to make a call early on to cancel the exams .
Higher education sources were also sceptical from as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever go ahead .
However , McHugh and some close to him , according to well-placed sources , were keen to ensure the exams would go ahead at all costs .
Public health advice , however , was alarming .
Some of it indicated that just one major exam could be held each day .
Exams might have to be truncated to just an hour and a half .
The exams themselves may have ended up being staged over the course or a month or more and into early September .
It soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was to go ahead it would be nothing like the regular exam .
With pressure building , plans to hold the exams finally crumbled .
A decision to cancel the exams came last Friday , say sources .
The clues were there to see : there was no reference to the exams in the Government ’ s roadmap for easing Covid-19 restrictions ; Leo Varadkar made a passing reference to the idea of predicted grades on The Late Late Show .
Fianna Fáil ’ s education spokesman Thomas Byrne made a telling intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be cancelled the following day .
While work on a “ plan B ” had been taking place in the background over recent weeks , there was a flurry of activity in recent days to get teachers onside and fine-tune the details .
Some education sources grumbled that a more decisive call earlier on to cancel the exams would have avoided much of the stress and anxiety over the shifting status of the exam .
However , McHugh was also faced with a series of bad options .
If he was to cancel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan B ” in place , according to those close to him .
This , they say , took time to get over the line .
Was it the right call ?
Could the exams have been held in the same way as they are being in about a dozen European countries ?
There are contrasting views on all of this .
There are still many unanswered questions over the fairness and transparency of the calculated grades system , as well as legal vulnerabilities which may come back to haunt the Government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and parents are just relieved there is finally some certainty .

It soon became clear that if the Leaving Cert was to go ahead it would be nothing like the regular exam. Photograph: Getty Images
Two week ago Minister for Education Joe McHugh held a live question and answers session with Leaving Cert students on Instagram.
When asked why he was not considering the option of predicted grades, he ruled it out in stark terms. There was, he said, “too much inherent bias” in the system ,and it would not be fair given the nature of our close-knit society.
“There’s the practicality of teachers grading nieces, nephews, sons or daughters, or teachers who are easy markers or hard markers... we don’t feel the policy of predicted grading is a fair system.”
On Friday he announced a stunning reversal. Students would, after all, receive predicted or “calculated” grades in which teachers and schools will play a central role. Anyone unhappy with their results would have the chance to sit the written exams at a much later and unspecified date.
READ MORE
So what changed so dramatically in that time ?
Mounting pressure and growing uncertainty was piling on the Department of Education with every passing day.
The decision to defer the June exams and eventually announce a new date – July 29th – subject to public health advice – only fuelled doubt over the status of the exams.
Opinion polls showed a growing majority of student and parents opposed to the idea of extending the exams into late summer given the mental health toll and health risks.
Teachers were also raising grave concerns in private over the potential risks to staff and students.
Some senior department officials were keen to make a call early on to cancel the exams.
Higher education sources were also sceptical from as early as mid-March that the exams could ever go ahead. However, McHugh and some close to him, according to well-placed sources, were keen to ensure the exams would go ahead at all costs.
Alarming
Public health advice, however, was alarming. Some of it indicated that just one major exam could be held each day. Exams might have to be truncated to just an hour and a half.
The exams themselves may have ended up being staged over the course or a month or more and into early September.
It soon became clear that if the Leaving Cert was to go ahead it would be nothing like the regular exam.
With pressure building, plans to hold the exams finally crumbled. A decision to cancel the exams came last Friday, say sources.
The clues were there to see: there was no reference to the exams in the Government's roadmap for easing Covid-19 restrictions; Leo Varadkar made a passing reference to the idea of predicted grades on The Late Late Show.
Fianna Fáil's education spokesman Thomas Byrne made a telling intervention when he called for the exams to be cancelled the following day.
While work on a “plan B” had been taking place in the background over recent weeks, there was a flurry of activity in recent days to get teachers onside and fine-tune the details.
Some education sources grumbled that a more decisive call earlier on to cancel the exams would have avoided much of the stress and anxiety over the shifting status of the exam.
However, McHugh was also faced with a series of bad options. If he was to cancel the exams he needed a rock-solid “plan B” in place, according to those close to him. This, they say, took time to get over the line.
Contrasting views
Was it the right call? Could the exams have been held in the same way as they are being in about a dozen European countries? There are contrasting views on all of this.
There are still many unanswered questions over the fairness and transparency of the calculated grades system, as well as legal vulnerabilities which may come back to haunt the Government.
For now, though, most students and parents are just relieved there is finally some certainty.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--High Court to hear more remote cases as part of increased hearings plan

The High Court is to increase remote hearings as part of a new plan for court sittings published on Friday .
The Courts Service and the judiciary published their plans for increased court sittings from May 18th .
Chief Justice Frank Clarke said the new measures may well be in play until the second half of 2021 .
Important as they are , he said , the measures will not allow a throughput of cases on the scale that operated prior to restrictions being put in place .
“ It remains unrealistic to anticipate that all courtrooms in all courthouses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near the level which existed prior to the crisis.
” The High Court , which last week began to hold a small number of remote sittings , is to increase the type and number of cases being heard and is to sit through the Whit vacation , where the court normally rises for ten days .
“ Three courts will be available for remote hearings daily , and seven other courts in the Four Courts complex will be available for physical hearings daily , ” the President , Mr Justice Peter Kelly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be possible to hear cases which involve oral testimony.
” Courtroom interiors are being adapted to allow for safe physical hearings while the Covid crisis continues .
In addition to the urgent cases which have been heard since the emergency began , Mr Justice Kelly has authorised hearings in a range of new areas , including all family law , commercial , chancery , and non-jury lists , and Criminal Asset Bureau cases .
The President of the Circuit Court , Judge Patricia Ryan , said jury trials are to resume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
The holding of jury trials is considered the most difficult challenge facing the courts system as long as social distancing requirements remain necessary .
Prior to the crisis , the wait for a criminal trial in the Circuit Court was approximately 18 months .
In the Supreme Court , it is hoped the new measures will ensure that “ almost all cases in respect of which leave to appeal was granted before the end of April of this year , will have been heard by the end of July ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that aim is met it will , I hope , be possible to say that the Supreme Court is up to date and that no backlog will have ensued from the crisis.
” He pointed out that the challenge being faced by the Supreme Court was different to that facing other courts , particularly the trial courts .
Chief executive of the Courts Service , Angela Denning , said the use of video conferencing between prisons and courts has dramatically increased to facilitate defendants in custody in relation to bail and remand hearings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference calls between courts and prisons , representing an increase of 400 per cent on the number of such calls in the same month last year , she said .
President of the District Court Judge Colin Daly said the court ’ s practice of hearing urgent matters would be extended to a range of new areas including where an accused person is in custody on the charges before the court , and prosecutions for alleged breaches of domestic violence orders that have occurred during the emergency period .
President of the Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court is to continue and increase the number of cases it is hearing remotely .
It is also to sit through the Whit vacation .
The details of the new plans for the various courts can be accessed on the Courts Service website .

Chief Justice Frank Clarke said the new measures will not allow a throughput of cases on the scale that operated prior to restrictions being put in place. File photograph: Alan Betson/ The Irish Times
The High Court is to increase remote hearings as part of a new plan for court sittings published on Friday.
The Courts Service and the judiciary published their plans for increased court sittings from May 18th.
Chief Justice Frank Clarke said the new measures may well be in play until the second half of 2021.
Important as they are, he said, the measures will not allow a throughput of cases on the scale that operated prior to restrictions being put in place.
READ MORE
“It remains unrealistic to anticipate that all courtrooms in all courthouses will be able to operate at or near the level which existed prior to the crisis.”
The High Court, which last week began to hold a small number of remote sittings, is to increase the type and number of cases being heard and is to sit through the Whit vacation, where the court normally rises for ten days.
"Three courts will be available for remote hearings daily, and seven other courts in the Four Courts complex will be available for physical hearings daily," the President, Mr Justice Peter Kelly, said.
“Until further notice it will not be possible to hear cases which involve oral testimony.”
Courtroom interiors are being adapted to allow for safe physical hearings while the Covid crisis continues.
In addition to the urgent cases which have been heard since the emergency began, Mr Justice Kelly has authorised hearings in a range of new areas, including all family law, commercial, chancery, and non-jury lists, and Criminal Asset Bureau cases.
The President of the Circuit Court, Judge Patricia Ryan, said jury trials are to resume in most courts in September of this year.
The holding of jury trials is considered the most difficult challenge facing the courts system as long as social distancing requirements remain necessary.
Prior to the crisis, the wait for a criminal trial in the Circuit Court was approximately 18 months.
In the Supreme Court, it is hoped the new measures will ensure that “almost all cases in respect of which leave to appeal was granted before the end of April of this year, will have been heard by the end of July”, the Chief Justice said.
“If that aim is met it will, I hope, be possible to say that the Supreme Court is up to date and that no backlog will have ensued from the crisis.”
He pointed out that the challenge being faced by the Supreme Court was different to that facing other courts, particularly the trial courts.
Chief executive of the Courts Service, Angela Denning, said the use of video conferencing between prisons and courts has dramatically increased to facilitate defendants in custody in relation to bail and remand hearings.
During April there were 5,080 video conference calls between courts and prisons, representing an increase of 400 per cent on the number of such calls in the same month last year, she said.
President of the District Court Judge Colin Daly said the court's practice of hearing urgent matters would be extended to a range of new areas including where an accused person is in custody on the charges before the court, and prosecutions for alleged breaches of domestic violence orders that have occurred during the emergency period.
President of the Court of Appeal Mr Justice George Birmingham said the court is to continue and increase the number of cases it is hearing remotely. It is also to sit through the Whit vacation.
The details of the new plans for the various courts can be accessed on the Courts Service website.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Teachers up against the clock to decide on Leaving Cert grade

Second-level teachers will have weeks to determine the “ calculated grade ” each student will secure in a school-based , nationally standardised , assessment process .
They will be expected to carry out this work as an expression of professionalism , in support of their students .
The context in which they will exercise judgment will be governed broadly by past performance of the previous three years of Leaving Certs .
In the case of new schools where such data will be unavailable , Junior Cert results of each student may end up being used as a guide .
Moreover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an option of sitting the exams when it becomes feasible remains open to students .
How will this model play out in your typical second-level school ?
The most important consideration for teachers applying the new assessment process will be the cards provided them by their principal .
For example , how many H1s and H2s they have at their disposal based on the school ’ s previous performance .
In the case of a minority-subject teacher , where there is one class , it will be a matter for that teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the group .
In mainstream subjects such as Irish , English and Maths , teachers will have to agree how high-achievement scores are distributed among the entire year group .
This will be a new experience for all teachers .
And it will require them to look collectively at the data generated by the school in relation to each student and agree on the most deserving .
Parents spend their lives encouraging and supporting children to reach their potential .
So it will be unsurprising if parents seek to influence teacher judgment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In fee-paying and private-grind schools , where costs are substantial , processes to be put in place to protect teachers need to be watertight .
All schools must ensure teachers will be indemnified against litigation a student might take in pursuit of additional grades to secure a desired CAO place .
Given the parochial nature of Irish society , the coming weeks may be very uncomfortable for teachers , particularly in circumstances where they live in the same community as their school .
After the teacher submits estimated grades , they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn they will be submitted to the Department of Education to process the data and operate “ national standardisation ” .
There will be losers in this teacher-based assessment process .
Thousands of students are studying subjects outside of school and there are hundreds of students of eastern European decent who traditionally sit the Leaving Cert in their native language without recourse to any teacher .
These students have traditionally secured H1s and H2s in these languages and also met their third-language requirements for college entry .
Without a teacher to determine an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process , it is difficult to see how these people can be accommodated .
Overall , the decision to postpone Leaving Cert 2020 and put the new assessment process in place is the best option available considering the public health risk .

Leaving Cert 2020: There are sure to be losers in this teacher-based assessment process. File photograph: The Irish Times
Second-level teachers will have weeks to determine the “calculated grade” each student will secure in a school-based, nationally standardised, assessment process.
They will be expected to carry out this work as an expression of professionalism, in support of their students.
The context in which they will exercise judgment will be governed broadly by past performance of the previous three years of Leaving Certs.
In the case of new schools where such data will be unavailable, Junior Cert results of each student may end up being used as a guide.
READ MORE
Moreover, and in the spirit of fairness, an option of sitting the exams when it becomes feasible remains open to students.
Performance
How will this model play out in your typical second-level school? The most important consideration for teachers applying the new assessment process will be the cards provided them by their principal. For example, how many H1s and H2s they have at their disposal based on the school’s previous performance.
In the case of a minority-subject teacher, where there is one class, it will be a matter for that teacher alone to build a table of achievement for the group.
In mainstream subjects such as Irish, English and Maths, teachers will have to agree how high-achievement scores are distributed among the entire year group.
This will be a new experience for all teachers. And it will require them to look collectively at the data generated by the school in relation to each student and agree on the most deserving.
Parents spend their lives encouraging and supporting children to reach their potential. So it will be unsurprising if parents seek to influence teacher judgment on what grade to award their child.
Watertight
In fee-paying and private-grind schools, where costs are substantial, processes to be put in place to protect teachers need to be watertight.
All schools must ensure teachers will be indemnified against litigation a student might take in pursuit of additional grades to secure a desired CAO place.
Given the parochial nature of Irish society, the coming weeks may be very uncomfortable for teachers, particularly in circumstances where they live in the same community as their school.
After the teacher submits estimated grades , they will be approved by the principal. In turn they will be submitted to the Department of Education to process the data and operate “national standardisation”.
The department will, ultimately, finalise grades.
Losers
There will be losers in this teacher-based assessment process. Thousands of students are studying subjects outside of school and there are hundreds of students of eastern European decent who traditionally sit the Leaving Cert in their native language without recourse to any teacher. These students have traditionally secured H1s and H2s in these languages and also met their third-language requirements for college entry.
Without a teacher to determine an appropriate grade under the newly devised assessment process, it is difficult to see how these people can be accommodated.
Overall, the decision to postpone Leaving Cert 2020 and put the new assessment process in place is the best option available considering the public health risk.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Cafes and restaurants to be allowed use pedestrianised Dublin streets

Cafes and restaurants will be allowed put more tables and chairs outdoors under new Dublin City Council proposals for the pedestrianisation of streets throughout the city centre .
The council plans to close College Green to traffic , and pedestrianise a significant number of streets after 11am each day under plans to reopen the city centre as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted .
The “ temporary mobility plan ” will be introduced over the next three to six months , with measures likely to remain in place for at least 12-18 months , with some retained on a permanent basis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s report was “ released with no consultation with the Dublin ’ s business community ” and that banning cars after 11am “ shows no consideration to the economic impact on the city ” .
However , the council said the changes it is proposing will “ assist businesses to re-open by allowing more on-street space for tables and chairs and also for waiting areas ” .
Previously the use of outdoor furniture was strictly regulated and policed by the council .
More than 100 submissions requesting additional safety measures for pedestrians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been made to the council due to coronavirus concerns .
The council is assessing the areas of highest footfall in the city with a view to widening footpaths and adding protective barriers to cycle lanes , to prevent cars from driving or parking in them .
It has already begun development of a segregated cycle path on the north quays of the Liffey and a contraflow cycle lane on Nassau Street .
It is in the process of installing bollards at a number of cycle lanes , including at Camden Street and Westland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human barrier to try to prevent parking .
The council began preparing plans for a pedestrian and cycle plaza at College Green five years ago .
However the project was rejected by An Bord Pleanála in 2018 , largely due to concerns about the “ significantly negative impacts ” it would have on bus transport and traffic in the city .
The council does not plan to seek permission from the board for its new pedestrian and cycle proposals , but instead will implement them , using its own traffic management powers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( NTA ) .
While bus movements through College Green are already being significantly reduced as part of the network redesign , the council will be seeking the sanction of the NTA to reroute remaining buses on to the Dawson Street/Kildare Street corridor , and in both directions on Winetavern Street , which is currently one way .
The council ’ s powers as a roads authority allow it to introduce “ traffic calming measures ” which can include preventing or restricting access to a road .
The council could have used this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applying to An Bord Pleanála , but chose to apply to the board due to the possible wider environmental impacts of the measure , and because it was constructing a “ plaza ” rather than solely banning traffic .
The council may still reapply to the board for the plaza element of the plan at a later date .

Cafes and restaurants will be allowed put more tables and chairs outdoors under new Dublin City Council proposals for the pedestrianisation of streets throughout the city centre.
The council plans to close College Green to traffic, and pedestrianise a significant number of streets after 11am each day under plans to reopen the city centre as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
The “temporary mobility plan” will be introduced over the next three to six months, with measures likely to remain in place for at least 12-18 months, with some retained on a permanent basis.
Business organisation Dublin Town said the council's report was "released with no consultation with the Dublin's business community" and that banning cars after 11am "shows no consideration to the economic impact on the city".
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However, the council said the changes it is proposing will “ assist businesses to re-open by allowing more on-street space for tables and chairs and also for waiting areas”. Previously the use of outdoor furniture was strictly regulated and policed by the council.
More than 100 submissions requesting additional safety measures for pedestrians and cyclists in Dublin city centre have been made to the council due to coronavirus concerns.
Cycle lanes
The council is assessing the areas of highest footfall in the city with a view to widening footpaths and adding protective barriers to cycle lanes, to prevent cars from driving or parking in them.
It has already begun development of a segregated cycle path on the north quays of the Liffey and a contraflow cycle lane on Nassau Street. It is in the process of installing bollards at a number of cycle lanes, including at Camden Street and Westland Row, where campaigners regularly form a human barrier to try to prevent parking.
The council began preparing plans for a pedestrian and cycle plaza at College Green five years ago. However the project was rejected by An Bord Pleanála in 2018, largely due to concerns about the "significantly negative impacts" it would have on bus transport and traffic in the city.
The council does not plan to seek permission from the board for its new pedestrian and cycle proposals, but instead will implement them, using its own traffic management powers, in consultation with the National Transport Authority (NTA).
While bus movements through College Green are already being significantly reduced as part of the network redesign, the council will be seeking the sanction of the NTA to reroute remaining buses on to the Dawson Street/Kildare Street corridor, and in both directions on Winetavern Street, which is currently one way.
The council’s powers as a roads authority allow it to introduce “traffic calming measures” which can include preventing or restricting access to a road. The council could have used this power to pedestrianise College Green instead of applying to An Bord Pleanála, but chose to apply to the board due to the possible wider environmental impacts of the measure, and because it was constructing a “plaza” rather than solely banning traffic. The council may still reapply to the board for the plaza element of the plan at a later date.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Teenager faces first juvenile court prosecution over Covid-19 restrictions

A 17-year-old boy , who was allegedly “ travelling nationwide ” and putting the public at risk , has become the first juvenile to face court charged with breaking the new Covid-19 movement restriction laws .
The boy , who can not be named because he was a juvenile , was charged on Friday with three counts of breaching the Health ( Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest ) Act , 2020 .
Members of his family have been infected with the coronavirus , the Dublin Children ’ s Court was told .
The breaches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread of the coronavirus are alleged to have occurred in Clondalkin and Blanchardstown in Dublin , on April 28th and three days earlier , and in Co Limerick on April 27th .
Garda Gary Farrell objected to bail and cited the teen ’ s 18 bench warrants for failing to turn up to court for other cases , from February 2017 until March this year .
He told Judge Brendan Toale the teenager ’ s family has been affected by the pandemic but the boy was driving around the country “ posing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with ” .
He is travelling nationwide in MPVs ( mechanically propelled vehicles ) , causing risk to the public not only by travelling but by spreading Covid-19 , he said .
Defence solicitor Sandra Frayne said those charges were subsumed with other matters and he had the presumption of innocence .
He also faces 26 other new charges of theft , cannabis possession , dangerous driving , and motoring offences such as having no licence or insurance .
These offences allegedly happened between March 12th and April 27th this year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ granted to the teenager whose mother was present for the hearing .
She asked the judge to note that all his bench warrants had been sorted out and there were none “ live ” at present .
He has found a previous one-week stint in custody difficult because he was the only foreign national there at that time .
He was also aware of the consequences of the pandemic which had affected his own family , she submitted .
The teenager ’ s record of coming to court far outweighed the amount of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come on three out of every four of his court dates , she estimated .
Judge Toale granted bail but ordered the teenager to remain within five kilometres from his home and to comply with Covid-19 guidelines for the duration of the health emergency .
He can not drive a motor vehicle and must obey a 10pm to 6am curfew at his home .
The case resumes in two weeks when the court will decide whether his bail will be revoked for breaking bail terms – by repeatedly breaching curfew and driving a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other theft charges .

A 17-year-old boy, who was allegedly “travelling nationwide” and putting the public at risk, has become the first juvenile to face court charged with breaking the new Covid-19 movement restriction laws.
The boy, who cannot be named because he was a juvenile, was charged on Friday with three counts of breaching the Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Act, 2020.
Members of his family have been infected with the coronavirus, the Dublin Children’s Court was told.
The breaches of the new laws aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus are alleged to have occurred in Clondalkin and Blanchardstown in Dublin, on April 28th and three days earlier, and in Co Limerick on April 27th.
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Garda Gary Farrell objected to bail and cited the teen’s 18 bench warrants for failing to turn up to court for other cases, from February 2017 until March this year.
He told Judge Brendan Toale the teenager’s family has been affected by the pandemic but the boy was driving around the country “posing a danger for everyone he is in contact with”.
He is travelling nationwide in MPVs (mechanically propelled vehicles), causing risk to the public not only by travelling but by spreading Covid-19, he said.
Defence solicitor Sandra Frayne said those charges were subsumed with other matters and he had the presumption of innocence.
He also faces 26 other new charges of theft, cannabis possession, dangerous driving, and motoring offences such as having no licence or insurance. These offences allegedly happened between March 12th and April 27th this year.
His solicitor pleaded for bail to be granted to the teenager whose mother was present for the hearing.
She asked the judge to note that all his bench warrants had been sorted out and there were none “live” at present. He has found a previous one-week stint in custody difficult because he was the only foreign national there at that time.
He was also aware of the consequences of the pandemic which had affected his own family, she submitted. The teenager’s record of coming to court far outweighed the amount of non-appearances by the boy. He had come on three out of every four of his court dates, she estimated.
Judge Toale granted bail but ordered the teenager to remain within five kilometres from his home and to comply with Covid-19 guidelines for the duration of the health emergency.
He cannot drive a motor vehicle and must obey a 10pm to 6am curfew at his home.
The case resumes in two weeks when the court will decide whether his bail will be revoked for breaking bail terms – by repeatedly breaching curfew and driving a car while banned – in connection with other theft charges.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Covid-19: Over 560 staff at meat-processing plants infected, says NPHET

Ten outbreaks of Covid-19 have occurred in meat-processing plants and 566 staff have been infected , according to the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) .
HSE outbreak-control teams have been sent into each plant to try to control the outbreaks , according to chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan .
The deaths of another 27 patients were announced by NPHET at its briefing on Friday .
There have now been 1,429 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
Some 156 new cases of the disease were reported by NPHET .
The new cases bring the total number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to curb the spread of the virus remains very high , according to Dr Holohan , who presented a variety of data on car traffic , heavy goods vehicle movements , public transport numbers , ATM usage and personal activity as measured by Google .
“ All together , this data says the population is complying very well and that this compliance is being maintained , ” he said .
Over-85s account for 10.2 per cent of all cases , and 45.6 per cent of deaths , according to a breakdown of older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Out of a total of 22,915 cases , there were 771 among 65-69 year-olds , 910 among 70-74 year-olds , 974 among 75-79 year-olds , 1,241 among 80-84 year-olds and 2,329 among over 85-year-olds .
Out of 1,429 deaths , 69 occurred among 65-69 year-olds , 128 among 70-74 year-olds , 180 among 75-79 year-olds , 304 among 80-84 year-olds and 652 among over 85-year-olds .
Consideration is being given to testing all residents of direct-provision centres , where 149 cases in 12 clusters have been reported , he said .
Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is unable to self-isolate is entitled to use the isolation facility at Citywest , officials clarified .
Asked whether the Department of Education had made the right decision in cancelling this year ’ s Leaving Cert , Dr Holohan said it had followed public health advice .
He said he hoped to see schools resuming activity in the autumn “ if things go well for us ” but “ it is impossible to make certain predictions about where we will be at the beginning of September ” .
NPHET was still considering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full or partial at first , he said .
An analysis of the 1,429 deaths so far shows 521 ( 40 per cent ) occurred in hospital including 69 ( 4.8 per cent ) in intensive care .
Some 1,232 patients ( 86 per cent ) had underlying conditions .
There were 719 deaths of men and 710 of women .
The median age of deaths was 84 and the mean was 82 .
Changes to the case definition for testing for the disease , as well as the requirement for people seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , have resulted in a doubling of referrals through GPs , Dr Holohan said , but this was “ well within predictions ” .
A total of 378 people with Covid-19 have been admitted to intensive care , of whom 74 remain there .
Two new patients were admitted over the last 24 hours .
There are now 412 clusters of the disease in residential care settings , including 238 in nursing homes .
Six more clusters were reported in residential care facilities in the previous 24 hours , and three more in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in residential care facilities , up 109 in a day .
This includes 4,393 in nursing homes , up 84 .
Some 899 deaths are associated with residential care facilities , 63 per cent of all deaths ; this figure includes 777 deaths associated with nursing homes , or 54 per cent of all deaths .
The number of cases associated with healthcare workers has risen further to 6,586 .
Speaking on Friday at the opening of a Covid-19 assessment hub for vulnerable groups at the Mater Hospital in north Dublin , Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being made in nursing homes to fight the spread of Covid-19 but it remains an “ area of concern ” .
Mr Harris said it is “ a tragic fact ” that many people have died of the virus in Ireland and “ many of them have been in nursing home facilities ” .
Mr Harris said he was encouraged by the large-scale testing programme of staff and residents at long-term residential care facilities and that he is continuing to engage with Nursing Homes Ireland and Hiqa .
Marginalised groups and other “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new frontline of the battle against Covid-19 .
Some 58 per cent of Roma who have undergone testing , and 43 per cent of Travellers , have had a positive result , according to official figures .
.
The new hub includes a mobile unit to test and treat marginalised groups across the inner city , and will be able to deliver test results in under an hour .
Mr Harris said the HSE now has capacity to do 12,000 tests a day , and that this figure will be ramped up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said there were encouraging signs in terms of hospital and ICU admissions but warned “ this virus hasn ’ t gone away ” .
“ It is continuing to wreak havoc on the lives of many people , it is continuing to cost lives in this country and it is continuing to make people very sick .
It would not take much for us to slip backwards , ” he said .
The Minister said that anyone currently flying into the State is required to fill out a passenger locator form and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclose where they are self-isolating .
“ At the moment that ’ s being done on an administrative basis and we are now looking at putting that on a regulatory footing so that it becomes mandatory , ” he said .

Ten outbreaks of Covid-19 have occurred in meat-processing plants and 566 staff have been infected, according to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
HSE outbreak-control teams have been sent into each plant to try to control the outbreaks, according to chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan.
The deaths of another 27 patients were announced by NPHET at its briefing on Friday. There have now been 1,429 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic.
This graph shows traffic information. Selected points around the road network pick up traffic movements. This level of compliance has been maintained, right up to 6 May.
2/6 pic.twitter.com/cnwwa7ZzL7 — Department of Health (@roinnslainte) May 8, 2020
Some 156 new cases of the disease were reported by NPHET. The new cases bring the total number to 22,541.
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Compliance with restrictions introduced to curb the spread of the virus remains very high, according to Dr Holohan, who presented a variety of data on car traffic, heavy goods vehicle movements, public transport numbers, ATM usage and personal activity as measured by Google.
“All together, this data says the population is complying very well and that this compliance is being maintained,” he said.
Over-85s account for 10.2 per cent of all cases, and 45.6 per cent of deaths, according to a breakdown of older age groups provided for the first time.
Out of a total of 22,915 cases, there were 771 among 65-69 year-olds, 910 among 70-74 year-olds, 974 among 75-79 year-olds, 1,241 among 80-84 year-olds and 2,329 among over 85-year-olds.
Out of 1,429 deaths, 69 occurred among 65-69 year-olds, 128 among 70-74 year-olds, 180 among 75-79 year-olds, 304 among 80-84 year-olds and 652 among over 85-year-olds.
Direct provision
Consideration is being given to testing all residents of direct-provision centres, where 149 cases in 12 clusters have been reported, he said.
Any asylum-seeker in direct provision who has Covid-19 and is unable to self-isolate is entitled to use the isolation facility at Citywest, officials clarified.
Asked whether the Department of Education had made the right decision in cancelling this year’s Leaving Cert, Dr Holohan said it had followed public health advice.
He said he hoped to see schools resuming activity in the autumn “if things go well for us” but “it is impossible to make certain predictions about where we will be at the beginning of September”.
NPHET was still considering whether a re-opening of schools would be full or partial at first, he said.
An analysis of the 1,429 deaths so far shows 521 (40 per cent) occurred in hospital including 69 (4.8 per cent) in intensive care.
Some 1,232 patients (86 per cent) had underlying conditions. There were 719 deaths of men and 710 of women. The median age of deaths was 84 and the mean was 82.
Changes to the case definition for testing for the disease, as well as the requirement for people seeking testing to belong to a priority group, have resulted in a doubling of referrals through GPs, Dr Holohan said, but this was “well within predictions”.
A total of 378 people with Covid-19 have been admitted to intensive care, of whom 74 remain there. Two new patients were admitted over the last 24 hours.
There are now 412 clusters of the disease in residential care settings, including 238 in nursing homes. Six more clusters were reported in residential care facilities in the previous 24 hours, and three more in nursing homes.
There are 5,594 cases in residential care facilities, up 109 in a day. This includes 4,393 in nursing homes, up 84.
Some 899 deaths are associated with residential care facilities, 63 per cent of all deaths; this figure includes 777 deaths associated with nursing homes, or 54 per cent of all deaths.
The number of cases associated with healthcare workers has risen further to 6,586.
The breakdown of Covid-19 cases and related deaths by age
Nursing homes
Speaking on Friday at the opening of a Covid-19 assessment hub for vulnerable groups at the Mater Hospital in north Dublin, Minister for Health Simon Harris said progress is being made in nursing homes to fight the spread of Covid-19 but it remains an "area of concern".
Mr Harris said it is "a tragic fact" that many people have died of the virus in Ireland and "many of them have been in nursing home facilities".
Mr Harris said he was encouraged by the large-scale testing programme of staff and residents at long-term residential care facilities and that he is continuing to engage with Nursing Homes Ireland and Hiqa.
Marginalised groups and other “challenging” sectors are to become a new frontline of the battle against Covid-19.
Some 58 per cent of Roma who have undergone testing, and 43 per cent of Travellers, have had a positive result, according to official figures. .
The new hub includes a mobile unit to test and treat marginalised groups across the inner city, and will be able to deliver test results in under an hour.
Mr Harris said the HSE now has capacity to do 12,000 tests a day, and that this figure will be ramped up to 15,000 by the middle of May.
He said there were encouraging signs in terms of hospital and ICU admissions but warned “this virus hasn’t gone away”.
“It is continuing to wreak havoc on the lives of many people, it is continuing to cost lives in this country and it is continuing to make people very sick. It would not take much for us to slip backwards,” he said.
The Minister said that anyone currently flying into the State is required to fill out a passenger locator form and asked to self-isolate for two weeks and disclose where they are self-isolating.
“At the moment that’s being done on an administrative basis and we are now looking at putting that on a regulatory footing so that it becomes mandatory,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--New return to work rules will see no handshaking or sharing of cups

Ireland ’ s workplaces will change beyond recognition as Covid-19 restrictions ease , under an agreement reached between the Government , employers and trade unions .
Launching the Government ’ s Return to Work Safely Protocol on Saturday , Minister Heather Humphreys has said inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority ( HSA ) will be able to shut down workplaces which do not comply with new safety measures aimed .
Handshakes will be banned , temperature testing will be carried out in line with public health advice and workers will not be allowed to share pens , bottles or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ preferentially supported ” to maintain physical distancing , and where possible , be supported by their employers to work from home .
Workers will be organised into small teams that consistently work and take breaks together and must limit interactions with other colleagues , while all staff should be encouraged to stay working from home .
Workers will have to sign a form three days before a return to their workplace to certify “ to the best of their knowledge ” they do not have Covid-19 symptoms , that they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The new rules will be monitored by the Health and Safety Authority , which will have powers to overturn poor behaviours , or even to close premises that are not complying .
She said : “ HSA inspectors will be able to take appropriate enforcement actions under the health and safety act 2005 .
This means if a business does not co-operate and comply with public health guidelines after been asked to make improvements , the HSA will be able to order them to shut down the workplace.
” It will mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rigidly enforced , including a ban on all except essential face-to-face meetings .
Employers should set up one-way systems for staff entering and leaving buildings while business travel is discouraged .
Canteens must close unless social distancing can be obeyed and meal breaks should be staggered .
Where keeping people two metres apart is not possible , such as production lines , alternative measures should be put in place , such as plastic sneeze guards , or by maintaining “ at least a distance of one metre ” .
The protocol also maintains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protective clothing to workers in accordance with identified Covid-19 exposure risks and in line with public health advice .
Speaking ahead of the launch , Ictu general-secretary Patricia King said every employer “ has an absolute duty to adhere to the rules ” .
“ The battle against Covid-19 demands an unambiguous policy in relation to health and safety , ” she added .
“ There can be no shortcuts or opt-outs when it comes to matters of life and death .
Covid-19 does not discriminate and every worker in every sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protocol .
“ This pandemic has impacted severely on every part of our society and economy , and this document represents an important milestone.
” Meanwhile it has emerged that civil servants in the Department of Transport have been told it is likely large numbers of them will be working from home for the rest of the year .
The secretary-general of the department , Graham Doyle , wrote to all staff “ it is likely that most of us will be working from home ( to a greater or lesser extent ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Doyle ’ s email points out that remote working will remain in place for those who can do so until , at a minimum , August under the Government ’ s Covid-19 road map .
Mr Doyle said he expects a staggered return to work “ will likely involve a maximum of 25 per cent of staff being present in any of our offices at any one time ” .
Elsewhere ten outbreaks of Covid-19 have been identified in meat processing plants and 566 staff have been infected , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreak control teams have been sent into each plant to try to control the outbreaks , according to chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan .
The deaths of another 27 patients were announced by the NPHET at its briefing yesterday .
There have now been 1,429 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
Some 156 new cases of the disease were reported by NPHET .
The new cases bring the total number of cases to 22,541 .
Compliance with restrictions introduced to curb the spread of the virus remains very high , according @ @ @ @

The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will be able to shut down workplaces which do not comply with new safety protocols aimed at preventing the spread of Covid-19, the Minister for Business Heather Humphreys has warned.
Ms Humphreys also said if workers are concerned about practices in their workplace they should report them to the HSA.
Ms Humphreys launched the ‘Return to Work Safety Protocol’ at Government Buildings on Saturday. It sets out a range of measures employers and their employees will have to undertake in order to re-open over the coming weeks.
“Where needed, HSA inspectors will be able to take appropriate enforcement action under the Health Safety and Welfare at Work Act 2005,” Ms Humphreys said.
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“This means if a business doesn’t cooperate and comply with the public health guidelines after being asked to make improvements the HSA will be able to order them to shut down the workplace.”
Employers will have to ensure their employees answer a survey before they return to work, and confirm whether or not they have Covid-19 symptoms or if they have been in contact with someone displaying symptoms.
Workers will also have to undertake induction training to ensure they are up to speed with public health advice.
Workplaces will also have to appoint at least one worker representative who will work with the employer to ensure measures are being strictly adhered to.
Handshakes will be banned, temperature testing will be carried out in line with public health advice and workers will not be allowed to share pens, bottles or cups.
Vulnerable at-risk workers must be “preferentially supported” to maintain physical distancing, and where possible, be supported by their employers to work from home.
Workers will be organised into small teams that consistently work and take breaks together and must limit interactions with other colleagues, while all staff should be encouraged to stay working from home.
Canteens must close unless social distancing can be obeyed and meal breaks should be staggered. Where keeping people two metres apart is not possible, such as production lines, alternative measures should be put in place, such as plastic sneeze guards, or by maintaining “at least a distance of one metre”.
The protocol also maintains that employers must provide personal protective equipment and protective clothing to workers in accordance with identified Covid-19 exposure risks and in line with public health advice.
Ms Humphreys said businesses should avail of current Government schemes and grants to implement the measures.
“A lot of what’s in the protocol is actually common sense. It’s not going to cost businesses anything to tell their employees not to shake hands, not to use the same pens, to stagger tea breaks or lunch breaks,” she said.
“Of course there are other aspects which will have costs for example the provision of hand sanitiser, disinfectant wipes...I’d like to encourage businesses to avail of the many supports that Government has to help them with Covid-19.”
The Minister also said the protocol is “a living document” and that as advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team evolves, “measures may also change”. She said aspects of the document “will vary from workplace to workplace”.
“What’s practical in a small shop will be different to what’s needed in a large manufacturing factory,” she said.
Ms Humphreys said specific sectors may need to introduce “additional safeguards” and that the protocol “sets the minimum measures required in every workplace”.
“Many sectors have already developed detailed return to work measures which capture most if not all of the measures in the protocol,” she added.
Dr Sharon McGuinness, chief executive of the HSA said there have been over 400 onsite inspections since early March and that every complaint made to the authority is followed up.
The deaths of another 27 patients were announced by the NPHET at its briefing yesterday. There have now been 1,429 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic. Some 156 new cases of the disease were reported by NPHET. The new cases bring the total number of cases to 22,541.
Compliance with restrictions introduced to curb the spread of the virus remains very high, according to Dr Holohan.


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--Luck of the gods: Jupiter sparkles in ground-breaking photography

Astronomers have captured some of the highest-resolution images of Jupiter ever obtained from the ground using a technique known as “ lucky imaging ” .
The observations , from the Gemini North telescope on Hawaii ’ s dormant volcano , Mauna Kea , reveal lightning strikes and storm systems forming around deep clouds of water ice and liquid .
The images show the warm , deep layers of the planet ’ s atmosphere glowing through gaps in thick cloud cover in a “ jack-o-lantern ” -like effect .
“ The Gemini data were critical because they allowed us to probe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a regular schedule , ” said Michael Wong of University of California , Berkeley , who led the research team .
“ We used a very powerful technique called lucky imaging.
” The technique involves obtaining a large number of very short exposure images and then only using the sharpest ones , when the Earth ’ s atmosphere is briefly stable , and discarding the rest .
The latest observations provide some of the sharpest infrared images of Jupiter ever obtained from the ground .
“ These images rival the view from space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Guardian

Astronomers have captured some of the highest-resolution images of Jupiter ever obtained from the ground using a technique known as “lucky imaging”.
The observations, from the Gemini North telescope on Hawaii's dormant volcano, Mauna Kea, reveal lightning strikes and storm systems forming around deep clouds of water ice and liquid. The images show the warm, deep layers of the planet's atmosphere glowing through gaps in thick cloud cover in a "jack-o-lantern"-like effect.
"The Gemini data were critical because they allowed us to probe deeply into Jupiter's clouds on a regular schedule," said Michael Wong of University of California, Berkeley, who led the research team. "We used a very powerful technique called lucky imaging."
The technique involves obtaining a large number of very short exposure images and then only using the sharpest ones, when the Earth’s atmosphere is briefly stable, and discarding the rest. The latest observations provide some of the sharpest infrared images of Jupiter ever obtained from the ground. “These images rival the view from space,” said Mr Wong. – Guardian


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--Leaving Cert: Teachers seek safeguards against parental pressure on grades

One of the country ’ s biggest teachers ’ union is calling for clear “ safeguards ” to prevent pressure being applied to teachers from parents over Leaving Cert calculated grades .
Minister for Education Joe McHugh announced on Friday that the State exams will not go ahead this summer for the first time in almost 100 years .
Instead , students will have the option of receiving grades calculated by teachers based on their school work or going on to sit written exams in late 2020 or early 2021 , subject to public health advice .
The Teachers ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called for “ safeguards to ensure that the professional integrity of teachers is protected ” under the new system .
John MacGabhann , TUI general secretary , said guidelines were needed about what would constitute individuals , such as parents , attempting to compromise the process of calculating a student ’ s grades .
“ There needs to be a clear sign that any form of pressure is simply inappropriate and won ’ t work , ” he told The Irish Times .
This would include “ benign ” or “ soft ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department needed to clearly set out what would constitute parents “ overstepping , ” he said .
Guidelines on how the calculated grade system will work state teachers “ must not under any circumstances discuss with any student , or with the parents or guardians of any student , the estimated marks that the school is submitting.
” The guidelines state allowing discussion would “ interfere ” with the process being carried out “ properly and fairly.
” Following a meeting on Friday the TUI executive committee approved engaging with the calculated grade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ union said students “ have a right to advance to the next stage of their lives ” , and needed a “ mechanism ” to allow them to do this without the traditional exams .
“ Implementation of these measures on an emergency basis will not and can not be regarded as a precedent or as agreement to operate such measures in future years , ” the statement said .
The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland ( ASTI ) executive body met on Friday evening and is continuing discussion of the plans on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were deep reservations , there was also a recognition that there was no viable alternative .
School principals , meanwhile , said they were prepared to support the move given that there was no “ perfect solution ” , while students ’ representatives said the move finally gave exam candidates much-needed clarity .
The Government is concerned over its exposure to legal action by students who may miss out on college places following its decision to replace the Leaving Cert with a system of “ calculated grades ” .
Mr McHugh has admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new plan , while the Attorney General is understood to have briefed Ministers on areas of concern .
These are understood to relate to students ’ legitimate expectations to be able to sit an exam , as well as their right to take up a college place after sitting the Leaving Cert .
Under the plan , students who undertake the written exams will not be able to take up their college places in the coming academic year and will have to wait until next year .
1 .
Teachers will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student ’ s likely Leaving Cert grades based on their work completed in school over the past three years .
2 .
The school principal will approve the estimated scores provided and the rankings of each student in each subject in the school .
3 .
A special unit is being established within the Department of Education to process the data provided by each school and operate “ national standardisation ” to ensure fairness among all students .
4 .
The Department of Education will finalise the grades for each student which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional date in mid-August .
Formal State certification will also be provided .

Minister for Education Joe McHugh announced on Friday that the State exams will not go ahead this summer for the first time in almost 100 years. Photograph: iStock
One of the country’s biggest teachers’ unions is calling for clear “safeguards” to prevent pressure being applied to teachers from parents over Leaving Cert calculated grades.
Minister for Education Joe McHugh announced on Friday that the State exams will not go ahead this summer for the first time in almost 100 years as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Instead, students will have the option of receiving grades calculated by their teachers based on their school work or going on to sit written exams in late 2020 or early 2021, subject to public health advice.
Following the announcement, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) has called for “safeguards to ensure that the professional integrity of teachers is protected” under the new system.
READ MORE
John MacGabhann, TUI general secretary, said guidelines were needed about what would constitute individuals, such as parents, attempting to compromise the process of calculating a student’s grades.
“There needs to be a clear sign that any form of pressure is simply inappropriate and won’t work,” he told The Irish Times.
This would include “benign” or “soft” efforts to influence teachers, and the Department of Education needed to clearly set out what would constitute parents “overstepping”, he said.
Guidelines on how the calculated grade system will work state that teachers “must not under any circumstances discuss with any student, or with the parents or guardians of any student, the estimated marks that the school is submitting”.
The guidelines state that allowing discussion would “interfere” with the process being carried out “properly and fairly”.
Approval
Following a meeting on Friday the TUI executive committee approved engaging with the calculated grades system.
In a statement, the union said students “have a right to advance to the next stage of their lives”, and needed a “mechanism” to allow them to do this without the traditional exams.
“Implementation of these measures on an emergency basis will not and cannot be regarded as a precedent or as agreement to operate such measures in future years,” the statement said.
The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) executive body met on Friday evening and is continuing discussion of the plans on Saturday. Sources said that while there were deep reservations about the plans, there was also a recognition that there was no viable alternative.
School principals, meanwhile, said they were prepared to support the move given that there was no “perfect solution” to the situation, while students’ representatives said the move finally gave exam candidates much-needed clarity.
The Government is concerned over its exposure to legal action by students who may miss out on college places following the decision to replace the Leaving Cert with the system of calculated grades.
Mr McHugh has admitted there are “legal vulnerabilities” with the new plan, while the Attorney General is understood to have briefed Ministers on areas of concern in relation to it.
These are understood to relate to students’ legitimate expectations to be able to sit an exam, as well as their right to take up a college place after sitting the Leaving Cert.
College places
Under the plan, students who undertake the written exams will not be able to take up their college places in the coming academic year and will have to wait until the following year.
Labour Party education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has called on the Government to publish both the legal and public health advice behind the decision to cancel the previously scheduled written exams.
“There are several legal issues outstanding with the Government’s decision on the Leaving Certificate,” Mr Ó Ríordáin said on Saturday.
It was “unclear” if the calculated grade system would meet legal requirements, he said.
“Students need to be assured that their results of Leaving Cert 2020 will have exactly the same status as previous years,” he said.
Mr McHugh needed to publish the legal advice given to Government on the decision “so we can be absolutely assured that the legal criteria is indeed satisfied”, he said.
“I think it would be beneficial for the Government to publish the health advice they received on cancelling the exams. It will give schools a greater insight into how they can expect to open schools in late August as per the Government’s roadmap,” Mr Ó Ríordáin said.
How ‘calculated grades’ will work:
1. Teachers will be asked to provide a professional judgment of student’s likely Leaving Cert grades based on their work completed in school over the past three years.
2. The school principal will approve the estimated scores provided and the rankings of each student in each subject in the school.
3. A special unit is being established within the Department of Education to process the data provided by each school and operate “national standardisation” to ensure fairness among all students.
4. The Department of Education will finalise the grades for each student, which will be as close as possible to the traditional results date in mid-August. Formal State certification will also be provided.


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--Gardaí seize €40,000 worth of counterfeit cigarettes in Co Donegal

Some €40,000 worth of counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco products have been seized by gardaí in Co Donegal .
Gardaí discovered @ @ @ @ @ and several kilogrammes of tobacco during searches in the Ernedale Heights area of Ballyshannon .
@ @ @ @ @ Ballyshannon Garda station and from the armed support unit , took place on Friday night @ @ @ @ @ also seized counterfeit clothing with an estimated value of €3,500 .
No arrests have been @ @ @ @ @ find but gardaí and Revenue are jointly investigating .

No arrests have been made in connection with the find but gardaí and Revenue are jointly investigating. Photograph: Garda
Some €40,000 worth of counterfeit cigarettes and tobacco products have been seized by gardaí in Co Donegal.
Gardaí discovered the haul of 60,000 cigarettes and several kilogrammes of tobacco during searches in the Ernedale Heights area of Ballyshannon. The operation, with officers Ballyshannon Garda station and from the armed support unit, took place on Friday night at about 8pm.
Gardaí also seized counterfeit clothing with an estimated value of €3,500.
No arrests have been made in connection with the find but gardaí and Revenue are jointly investigating.


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--Darkness into Light marked across the country

Hundreds of people across the country have marked the Darkness into Light campaign for mental health charity Pieta House .
Last month , the annual Darkness Into Light fundraiser was postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis , resulting in a loss of approximately €6 million .
The charity asked people to rise before dawn “ to join united in the fight against suicide and self harm ” “ Darkness Into Light is a moment of hope and solidarity .
To those who may be in crisis or those that have lost loved ones to suicide , ” it said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media of the sunrise and early morning walks under the hastag # DIL2020 .
On Friday the Late Late Show raised €1.6 million in public donations for Pieta House .
The charity which recently announced salary cuts of up to 30 per cent and 28 redundancies for clinical support workers due to a “ very significant funding gap ” .
The show was dedicated entirely to raising funds for the charity and featured appearances from a number of celebrities calling for donations including actor Pierce Brosnan and musicians Mary Black , Sharon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Electric Ireland , offered an additional donation of €100,000 , bringing the total amount raised for the charity to €1.7million .
Tom McEvoy , funding and advocacy manager for Pieta House , told The Irish Times last week that the charity was “ very vulnerable ” as 80 per cent of its funding comes from public donations .
Show host Ryan Tubridy said he initially hoped to raise €250,000 for the charity , which provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm , with suicidal ideation , or bereaved by suicide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ donated €752,000 .
Elaine Austin , chief executive of Pieta House described the volume of donations from the public as “ truly amazing ” .
“ I was sitting in the green room watching and what I had in my head is .
.
.
‘ The light boats are coming ’ .
The Irish people have got Pieta in their hearts , ” she added .
Ms Austin said there has been a “ massive jump ” in calls to the helpline from 6,000 throughout February , March and April in 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
“ We have to consider that that ’ s associated with Covid-19 .
That ’ s associated with people feeling isolated , those cocooning , there is a level of fear and anxiety out there that we ’ ve never experienced before , ” she said .
Pieta House can be contacted on 1800 247247 or by texting HELP to 51444

Mental health charity Pieta House is bolstering itself for a further surge in calls over the coming weeks and months as lockdown measures are eased and people struggle to cope with new circumstances.
Tom McEvoy, funding and advocacy manager with the charity, said it was already dealing with an “unprecedented” increase in calls since February, the figure having “at least doubled” to more than 14,000 on the same period last year.
“It is not to be unexpected that this period of lockdown is causing raised anxiety in our community,” he said.
Walkers in the Clontarf area of Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Walkers in the Clontarf area of Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
“People are in crisis, depending on their own personal circumstances, and some are perhaps not equipped to manage and deal with this unusual period we are going though, and that is what we are there for, offering that helping hand to them to get through this period.”
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Pieta House provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide.
Mr McEvoy said the charity is preparing itself to be “needed more than ever before” in the weeks ahead.
“We feel in the not too distant future, when people start coming out of the lockdown that there will a further increase in raised anxiety,” he said.
“We are preparing for that with our service, and we hope we will be able to cope with that.”
The charity was forced last month to postpone its annual Darkness Into Light fundraiser because of the Covid-19 crisis, resulting in a loss of around €6 million.
However, it expects a “sunrise appeal” in which thousands of people got up before dawn on Saturday “to join united in the fight against suicide and self harm” could raise €3 million.
“It has just been overwhelming, the support that has come in,” said Mr McEvoy.
“We are so thankful to the Irish community. They came out in their droves. We weren’t sure where this event would bring us.”
Walkers in the Clontarf area of Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Walkers in the Clontarf area of Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
People around the country gathered – socially distanced – at beaches, harbours, parks and on streets while others walked or ran to mark the sunrise, many posting spectacular pictures of the dawn on social media.
Up to €2 million of the €3 million was raised through a special Late Late Show on Friday night – featuring appearances by actor Pierce Brosnan and musicians Mary Black, Sharon Shannon, Frances Black and Mary Coughlan – which was dedicated to the charity.
Electric Ireland contributed a donation of €100,000.
Pieta House recently announced salary cuts of up to 30 per cent and 28 redundancies for clinical support workers due to a “very significant funding gap”.
“We are struggling for funding, we are looking at a huge huge gap, so this weekend has really helped to bring in funding we wouldn’t have otherwise received,” said Mr McEvoy.
Pieta House can be contacted on 1800 247247 or by texting HELP to 51444


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--Man and woman arrested in connection with assault in Limerick

A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with an assault in Limerick .
The incident occurred at @ @ @ @ @ Thomondgate .
A man in his 40s sustained head injuries and was taken to University @ @ @ @ @ are not believed to be life-threatening .
A man and a woman in their 30s @ @ @ @ @ later and are being detained at Henry Street Garda station under Section 4 of the @ @ @ @ @ – PA

A man has been charged in connection with an assault in Limerick on Friday.
A man in his 30s has been charged in connection with an assault in Limerick on Friday.
The man and a woman in her 30s were arrested on Saturday in connection with the assault of a man in his 40s in Thomondgate at about 6.30pm on Friday. The woman has since been released without charge.
The man is due to appear before a special sitting of Limerick District Court on Sunday at 4pm.


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--Man who allegedly rammed Garda car refused bail to attend sister’s wedding

A man charged with endangerment after he allegedly rammed a Garda Armed Support Unit at a checkpoint in Cork has failed in his bid to be released on bail to attend his sister ’ s wedding next week .
Andrew Cash ( 28 ) from Harper ’ s Lane , Portaoise , Co Laois applied at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to be released on bail to allow him attend the wedding of his sister who is getting married in Dublin on Monday .
Mr Cash is charged with three counts of endangerment , including one that he collided with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carhoo , Old Mallow Road , Cork on May 11th , 2018 .
He is also charged with two counts of criminal damage , as well 16 road traffic offences , including dangerous driving , driving without insurance and driving without a driving licence at various locations in Cork on the same date .
Mr Cash ’ s barrister , Paula McCarthy BL , told Judge Helen Boyle that her client wanted to attend his sister ’ s wedding and was willing to abide by whatever conditions gardaí were seeking in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said that he was willing to sign on at his local Garda station as frequently as gardaí required , while he would abide by any curfew that gardaí would seek , as well as surrender his passport and refrain from taking any intoxicants .
But Det Sgt Niall O ’ Connell of Anglesea Street Garda Station said that gardaí were opposed to Mr Cash getting bail because of the seriousness of the charges against him and their belief that he posed a flight risk if granted bail .
He said that state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the prosecution case against Mr Cash , stating that the state had strong evidence linking him to the various offences with which he was charged .
He said the State would allege that , at 3.30pm on May 11th , 2018 , Mr Cash encountered a Garda checkpoint on the Old Mallow Road in Cork but seeing the checkpoint , reversed his car , striking a parked car belonging to a civilian .
He said the State would allege that Mr Cash then rammed a garda patrol car belonging to the Garda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worth of damage before taking off at high speed in the direction of Carrignavar .
He said the State would allege that while driving dangerously through Carrignavar at speed and when overtaking on the wrong side of the road , he struck a 16-year-old pedestrian on the arm and failed to stop .
He said two gardaí identified Mr Cash as the driver of the car and gardaí obtained CCTV footage from Kilmeaden in Co Waterford from earlier that day where Mr Cash was wearing the same jumper he was seen wearing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepted Mr Cash had strong family ties with Portlaoise where his wife and two children lived but she said the charges against him were serious ones and there appeared to be strong evidence against him .
She said that she accepted the Garda contention that Mr Cash was a flight risk given the seriousness of the charges against him and she refused him bail , remanding him in custody to appear in court again on June 16th .

The man is also charged with two counts of criminal damage, as well 16 road traffic offences
A man charged with endangerment after he allegedly rammed a Garda Armed Support Unit at a checkpoint in Cork has failed in his bid to be released on bail to attend his sister’s wedding next week.
Andrew Cash (28) from Harper's Lane, Portaoise, Co Laois applied at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to be released on bail to allow him attend the wedding of his sister who is getting married in Dublin on Monday.
Mr Cash is charged with three counts of endangerment, including one that he collided with a garda patrol car containing two gardaí at Carhoo, Old Mallow Road, Cork on May 11th, 2018.
He is also charged with two counts of criminal damage, as well 16 road traffic offences, including dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving without a driving licence at various locations in Cork on the same date.
READ MORE
Mr Cash's barrister, Paula McCarthy BL, told Judge Helen Boyle that her client wanted to attend his sister's wedding and was willing to abide by whatever conditions gardaí were seeking in order to get bail to attend the nuptials.
She said that he was willing to sign on at his local Garda station as frequently as gardaí required, while he would abide by any curfew that gardaí would seek, as well as surrender his passport and refrain from taking any intoxicants.
But Det Sgt Niall O’Connell of Anglesea Street Garda Station said that gardaí were opposed to Mr Cash getting bail because of the seriousness of the charges against him and their belief that he posed a flight risk if granted bail.
He said that state was grounding its objection in the strength of the prosecution case against Mr Cash, stating that the state had strong evidence linking him to the various offences with which he was charged.
He said the State would allege that, at 3.30pm on May 11th, 2018, Mr Cash encountered a Garda checkpoint on the Old Mallow Road in Cork but seeing the checkpoint, reversed his car, striking a parked car belonging to a civilian.
He said the State would allege that Mr Cash then rammed a garda patrol car belonging to the Garda Armed Support Unit, causing some €20,000 worth of damage before taking off at high speed in the direction of Carrignavar.
He said the State would allege that while driving dangerously through Carrignavar at speed and when overtaking on the wrong side of the road, he struck a 16-year-old pedestrian on the arm and failed to stop.
He said two gardaí identified Mr Cash as the driver of the car and gardaí obtained CCTV footage from Kilmeaden in Co Waterford from earlier that day where Mr Cash was wearing the same jumper he was seen wearing in the car.
Judge Boyle said she accepted Mr Cash had strong family ties with Portlaoise where his wife and two children lived but she said the charges against him were serious ones and there appeared to be strong evidence against him.
She said that she accepted the Garda contention that Mr Cash was a flight risk given the seriousness of the charges against him and she refused him bail, remanding him in custody to appear in court again on June 16th.


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--Coronavirus: Staff shortages and test delays fuelled Dundalk home outbreak

Testing delays and staff shortages exacerbated a major coronavirus outbreak in a privately run Dundalk nursing home , which has seen 23 residents die since early April , mostly from Covid-19 .
Dealgan House is an 84-bed private nursing home in Dundalk , Co Louth , and one of the worst hit care homes in the country .
Internal correspondence , seen by The Irish Times , shows management at the home cited testing delays , staff shortages , and a lack of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) as key factors behind the outbreak .
Despite several appeals for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home did not receive any shipments from the HSE until after their first confirmed case in early April .
On March 6th , Nursing Homes Ireland ( NHI ) , which represents private and voluntary nursing homes , advised facilities to ban visitors .
Dealgan House limited residents to one visitor per day , but did not impose a full ban until March 13th .
Tom Mulholland ( 84 ) was one of the 23 residents in the care home who died in the past five weeks .
“ We ’ d be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least three visitors a day , once they went into lockdown it was very hard to get in touch , ” his daughter Roisin Duffy told The Irish Times .
In the week after the facility had its first Covid-19 case on April 4th the family “ heard nothing ” about Mr Mulholland ’ s condition .
“ You could call maybe seven times and not get through , ” Ms Duffy said .
By April 10th , three residents had tested positive for Covid-19 , with several others showing symptoms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatives in a written update that test results were “ very slow ” coming back .
“ The absence of testing for staff showing symptoms has been a major difficulty , ” he said , as staff were out of work for 14 days self-isolating .
“ During March we ordered and stockpiled as much PPE as we were able to get , ” but sourcing medical grade gear was difficult , the correspondence said .
The home did not receive PPE from the HSE “ despite multiple orders ” until after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Late on April 12th , the Mulholland family received a call to inform them an ambulance had been called for their father , and six of the eight siblings rushed to the home to see the ambulance take him out .
“ He looked so poorly , all masked up .
I will never ever get that image out of my head , ” Ms Duffy said .
The following Tuesday he tested positive for Covid-19 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital , Drogheda , and was being treated for kidney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , his wife of over 50 years , was unable to visit him in the hospital and he died on April 20th .
There was a “ lack of communication ” about the scale of the outbreak and the deterioration in her father ’ s condition , Ms Duffy said .
“ There ’ s no blame game here , it ’ s gone beyond that , we want to know the sequence of how it happened , ” she said .
In an email to relatives on April 17th , Mr Farrelly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to Covid-19 had “ affected our communication capacity.
” The outbreak had affected a “ significant proportion ” of staff , with remaining workers focused on caring for residents .
At that stage Dealgan House was receiving “ significant assistance from the HSE to address the staffing and equipment constraints , ” he said .
Management believed the outbreak had “ passed the worst point ” and was being brought under control , he said .
However , later that day the Royal College of Surgeons ( RCSI ) Hospital Group took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Farrelly was unavailable for interview .
On Thursday he issued a statement saying Dealgan House “ offers our sincere sympathies ” to the families of the 23 residents who had died .
The support of additional personnel from RCSI would be “ wound down gradually ” as the nursing home ’ s staff returned to work , he said .
The Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) announced on Friday it would be conducted an inspection of Dealgan House “ in the near future ” .

Tom Mulholland (84) was one of the 23 residents in the care home who died in the past five weeks.
Testing delays and staff shortages exacerbated a major coronavirus outbreak in a privately run Dundalk nursing home, which has seen 23 residents die since early April, mostly from Covid-19.
Dealgan House is an 84-bed private nursing home in Dundalk, Co Louth, and one of the worst hit care homes in the country.
Internal correspondence, seen by The Irish Times, shows management at the home cited testing delays, staff shortages, and a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) as key factors behind the outbreak.
Despite several appeals for PPE gear throughout March the privately run home did not receive any shipments from the HSE until after their first confirmed case in early April.
READ MORE
On March 6th, Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), which represents private and voluntary nursing homes, advised facilities to ban visitors. Dealgan House limited residents to one visitor per day, but did not impose a full ban until March 13th.
Tom Mulholland (84) was one of the 23 residents in the care home who died in the past five weeks.
“We’d be in an awful lot, he had at least three visitors a day, once they went into lockdown it was very hard to get in touch,” his daughter Roisin Duffy told The Irish Times.
In the week after the facility had its first Covid-19 case on April 4th the family “heard nothing” about Mr Mulholland’s condition. “You could call maybe seven times and not get through,” Ms Duffy said.
By April 10th, three residents had tested positive for Covid-19, with several others showing symptoms.
Eoin Farrelly, managing director, told relatives in a written update that test results were "very slow" coming back. "The absence of testing for staff showing symptoms has been a major difficulty," he said, as staff were out of work for 14 days self-isolating.
“During March we ordered and stockpiled as much PPE as we were able to get,” but sourcing medical grade gear was difficult, the correspondence said.
The home did not receive PPE from the HSE “despite multiple orders” until after the first case on April 4th, he said.
Late on April 12th, the Mulholland family received a call to inform them an ambulance had been called for their father, and six of the eight siblings rushed to the home to see the ambulance take him out.
“He looked so poorly, all masked up. I will never ever get that image out of my head,” Ms Duffy said.
The following Tuesday he tested positive for Covid-19 in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, and was being treated for kidney failure.
Margaret Mulholland (76), his wife of over 50 years, was unable to visit him in the hospital and he died on April 20th.
There was a “lack of communication” about the scale of the outbreak and the deterioration in her father’s condition, Ms Duffy said.
“There’s no blame game here, it’s gone beyond that, we want to know the sequence of how it happened,” she said.
In an email to relatives on April 17th, Mr Farrelly said the absence of key management staff due to Covid-19 had “affected our communication capacity.”
The outbreak had affected a “significant proportion” of staff, with remaining workers focused on caring for residents.
At that stage Dealgan House was receiving “significant assistance from the HSE to address the staffing and equipment constraints,” he said.
Management believed the outbreak had "passed the worst point" and was being brought under control, he said. However, later that day the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSI) Hospital Group took over the running of the facility.
Mr Farrelly was unavailable for interview. On Thursday he issued a statement saying Dealgan House “offers our sincere sympathies” to the families of the 23 residents who had died.
The support of additional personnel from RCSI would be “wound down gradually” as the nursing home’s staff returned to work, he said.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) announced on Friday it would be conducted an inspection of Dealgan House “in the near future”.