theirishtimes--2020-07-04--‘Only a civil servant’ could have come up with ‘unenforceable’ pub regulations

A publican in Cork has said he is not re-opening under Covid-19 restrictions because they would turn his bar “ into a crime scene ” and believes he would alienate customers .
Con Dennehy , who owns the Venue in Ballintemple , is one of the 60 per cent of Cork publicans who opted not to re-open until July 20th , saying that he didn ’ t believe the current regulations where customers must book a slot and have a meal were particularly practical .
“ No , I haven ’ t reopened -I didn ’ t want to turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tape and screens everywhere and I didn ’ t want to alienate people I know and respect by telling them that they have to leave after 90 minutes or 105 minutes , ” he told The Irish Times .
“ To my mind , it ’ s only civil servants who could have made up these regulations because they are totally impractical and totally unenforceable - I ’ d rather stay closed until September if needs be to open properly for my locals and not end up alienating them with these regulations.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open on July 20th and when he does , he trusts his customers to be responsible regarding social distance and keeping one metre apart of their own volition , rather than he or his staff having to go around and asking people to keep apart .
“ Who is going to police social distancing ?
The gardaí hardly want to get involved in it , that ’ s a HSE job and do they have the personnel to police it ?
I think people should look after their own interest and do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having to be told .
“ If any fellow is iffy about going into a pub , he shouldn ’ t go in - I saw fellows coming in March before we closed down and they were taking their pint off the counter and stepping back and they were keeping their own social distance , they didn ’ t have to be asked so it was working back then.
” The majority of pubs in Cork have opted not to re-open until July 20th but those that have re-opened and are serving food @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expressing satisfaction with business , according to the Chair of the Cork Vintners Federation of Ireland , Michael O ’ Donovan .
Mr O ’ Donovan said that approximately 40 per cent of the 208 pubs in the city and suburbs re-opened last Monday , serving substantial meals to customers who have to make a booking at the pub and generally it seemed to be working out reasonably well .
“ A few bars had some teething problems with people coming in and asking for a drink and the bar staff or management @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are really operating as a restaurant and they have to have food and they then can have a drink to accompany it.
” Mr O ’ Donovan said the majority of customers have been very co-operative even though some of the bars are finding the 105-minute limit too restrictive , particularly when they are serving customers a three course meal which is being made to order in the pub .
He said there did not appear to be any major problem with people turning up without bookings even though individual pubs operated different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people can book while others are allowing the customers to choose a time and then booking a slot at that time .
“ All the bars have people at the door particularly in the evening so when people come to the door if they have capacity , they take them but if they are full they are moving on - what is noticeable that people are having multiple bookings , some in the same venue or some in other venues.
” He said that all bars are operating social distancing and most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has heard of one or two cases where people have tried to pull tables together but once management explained that this wasn ’ t allowed , they accepted it .
Mr O ’ Donovan , who runs the Castle Inn on South Main Street in the heart of Cork city , said that he would be waiting until July 20th as he does not serve food in the bar and like many of the 60pc of bars who have opted to wait until July 20th , he does not have a booking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 28 people with one metre social distancing when we re-open on July 20th but if the Government introduce a booking system on July 20th , a lot of bars will remain close because they don ’ t have a booking engine .
”

A publican in Cork has said he is not re-opening under Covid-19 restrictions because they would turn his bar "into a crime scene" and believes he would alienate customers.
Con Dennehy, who owns the Venue in Ballintemple, is one of the 60 per cent of Cork publicans who opted not to re-open until July 20th, saying that he didn't believe the current regulations where customers must book a slot and have a meal were particularly practical.
“No, I haven’t reopened -I didn’t want to turn the bar into a crime scene with tape and screens everywhere and I didn’t want to alienate people I know and respect by telling them that they have to leave after 90 minutes or 105 minutes,” he told The Irish Times.
“To my mind, it’s only civil servants who could have made up these regulations because they are totally impractical and totally unenforceable - I’d rather stay closed until September if needs be to open properly for my locals and not end up alienating them with these regulations.”
READ MORE
Mr Dennehy said that he expects to open on July 20th and when he does, he trusts his customers to be responsible regarding social distance and keeping one metre apart of their own volition, rather than he or his staff having to go around and asking people to keep apart.
“Who is going to police social distancing? The gardaí hardly want to get involved in it, that’s a HSE job and do they have the personnel to police it? I think people should look after their own interest and do the sensible thing and keep their distance without having to be told.
“If any fellow is iffy about going into a pub, he shouldn’t go in - I saw fellows coming in March before we closed down and they were taking their pint off the counter and stepping back and they were keeping their own social distance, they didn’t have to be asked so it was working back then.”
‘Very co-operative’
The majority of pubs in Cork have opted not to re-open until July 20th but those that have re-opened and are serving food in line with Government guidelines are generally expressing satisfaction with business, according to the Chair of the Cork Vintners Federation of Ireland, Michael O’Donovan.
Mr O’Donovan said that approximately 40 per cent of the 208 pubs in the city and suburbs re-opened last Monday, serving substantial meals to customers who have to make a booking at the pub and generally it seemed to be working out reasonably well.
“A few bars had some teething problems with people coming in and asking for a drink and the bar staff or management having to explain to them that they are really operating as a restaurant and they have to have food and they then can have a drink to accompany it.”
Mr O’Donovan said the majority of customers have been very co-operative even though some of the bars are finding the 105-minute limit too restrictive, particularly when they are serving customers a three course meal which is being made to order in the pub.
He said there did not appear to be any major problem with people turning up without bookings even though individual pubs operated different systems with some pubs having set times that people can book while others are allowing the customers to choose a time and then booking a slot at that time.
“All the bars have people at the door particularly in the evening so when people come to the door if they have capacity, they take them but if they are full they are moving on - what is noticeable that people are having multiple bookings, some in the same venue or some in other venues.”
He said that all bars are operating social distancing and most people are being very co-operative even though he has heard of one or two cases where people have tried to pull tables together but once management explained that this wasn’t allowed, they accepted it.
Mr O’Donovan, who runs the Castle Inn on South Main Street in the heart of Cork city, said that he would be waiting until July 20th as he does not serve food in the bar and like many of the 60pc of bars who have opted to wait until July 20th, he does not have a booking service.
“We will have capacity for 28 people with one metre social distancing when we re-open on July 20th but if the Government introduce a booking system on July 20th, a lot of bars will remain close because they don’t have a booking engine.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Guinness Cork Jazz Fesival cancelled because of Covid-19

The Lord Mayor of Cork has warmly welcomed confirmation by international alcohol beverage giant Diageo that it is fully committed to hosting the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in 2021 after it was forced to cancel this year ’ s event because of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Cllr Joe Kavanagh said that it was disappointing that this year ’ s festival , scheduled to take place from October 22nd to October 26th , had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic but Cork people could look forward to a vibrant festival returning to the city in 2021 .
Speaking to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that it was important that Diageo had committed to hosting a festival in 2020 given that the festival attracts approximately 40,000 visitors annually to Leeside and is worth an estimated €15 million each year to the local economy .
“ I ’ m delighted that Diageo are fully committed to continuing to support this festival which we hope will be back bigger and better in 2021 .
“ In the meantime I appeal to everybody to support our local businesses , in particular our hospitality sector , which has been hardest hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chair of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival , said that they were regretfully confirming the cancellation of this year ’ s event as a result of Covid-19 and current Government restrictions on indoor and outdoor activities , with the requirement for physical distancing .
“ We regret to confirm the cancellation of this year ’ s festival to safeguard the health of our visitors , volunteers and the community at large but we look forward to bringing back a strong , exciting and memorable festival in 2021 , ” said Ms Collins .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be disappointing for music fans , artists , publicans and the wider Cork community , but their health and safety is our number one priority .
We look forward to bringing back a strong , exciting and memorable festival in 2021.
” A Diageo spokeswoman said Guinness was very proud of its 42-year heritage of jazz in Cork and was fully committed to continuing to support the Festival Committee , its local Cork trade customers , and the local and international artists involved in creating an exciting 2021 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival .

A Diageo spokeswoman said Guinness was very proud of its 42-year heritage of jazz in Cork. Photograph: Daragh Mc Sweeney
The Lord Mayor of Cork has warmly welcomed confirmation by international alcohol beverage giant Diageo that it is fully committed to hosting the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival in 2021 after it was forced to cancel this year's event because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cllr Joe Kavanagh said that it was disappointing that this year's festival, scheduled to take place from October 22nd to October 26th, had to be cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic but Cork people could look forward to a vibrant festival returning to the city in 2021.
Speaking to Cork’s 96FM, Cllr Kavanagh said that it was important that Diageo had committed to hosting a festival in 2020 given that the festival attracts approximately 40,000 visitors annually to Leeside and is worth an estimated €35 million each year to the local economy.
“I’m delighted that Diageo are fully committed to continuing to support this festival which we hope will be back bigger and better in 2021.
READ MORE
“In the meantime I appeal to everybody to support our local businesses, in particular our hospitality sector, which has been hardest hit by this cancellation.”
Fiona Collins, Chair of the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, said that they were regretfully confirming the cancellation of this year's event as a result of Covid-19 and current Government restrictions on indoor and outdoor activities, with the requirement for physical distancing.
“We regret to confirm the cancellation of this year’s festival to safeguard the health of our visitors, volunteers and the community at large but we look forward to bringing back a strong, exciting and memorable festival in 2021,” said Ms Collins.
“We know that this announcement will be disappointing for music fans, artists, publicans and the wider Cork community, but their health and safety is our number one priority. We look forward to bringing back a strong, exciting and memorable festival in 2021.”
A Diageo spokeswoman said Guinness was very proud of its 42-year heritage of jazz in Cork and was fully committed to continuing to support the Festival Committee, its local Cork trade customers, and the local and international artists involved in creating an exciting 2021 Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Super grass: the arching, architectural forms of wild meadows

Weeks of cold , raw , early rain , then droughty weeks of a misplaced summer ; weeks of showery rain again , some of it teasingly warm : such are the mood swings of climate now .
Wild grasses have loved it for the timeless time being , thrusting up into flowers , panicles , awns , the pollens of July dusting over the hilly distances and dulling the greens to beige .
One grass that gets no chance to flower is the Lolium perenne of Ireland ’ s farming fields .
Perennial ryegrass , the cud for cattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silage before it can spend its energy on sex .
Its ratty little pigtail of a flower spike is no loss to art .
The flowers in my drawing are cocksfoot , their hint of purple stronger against the light in a sunny meadow .
In the days when there was time enough to consider such things , its chunky spikelets could rhyme , in the mind ’ s eye , with the stubby feet of fowl .
In the days when Patrick Kavanagh could write of “ the wet leaves of cocksfoot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , it was still a grass for seeding hay meadows in Monaghan , its tall , dense tussocks growing up to a metre high in masses of leafy herbage .
In the years before “ the ryegrass revolution ” , circa the 1960s , grasses such as cocksfoot and timothy could , indeed , handsomely outperform Lolium .
In his magisterial book The Grasses of Ireland ( 2012 ) , John Feehan promised that cocksfoot “ can produce immense crops on good , damp soils , and is able to withstand prolonged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He goes on : “ It had been known to yield the astonishing weight of 73 tonnes per acre at three consecutive cuttings , combined in one season.
” But its big , boot-polishing tussocks eventually went against it , along with the greater spring of ryegrass under hooves , its greater digestibility and a tolerance of repeated cropping .
Feehan ’ s book , co-authored with Dr Helen Sheridan and adorned by fine photography and lovely old botanical illustrations , was published by Teagasc and University College Dublin and merited a swift @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still has a few , at €30 plus €9 postage .
( I saw a first edition on Ebay at $ 173 . )
Not everyone may need to know so much about Ireland ’ s 130-odd kinds of grasses .
I had not noticed , for example , that when the flowers of purple moorgrass open early in the morning , “ it is as though a little light comes on inside each ” , or thought to chew a stem of sweet vernal grass for its “ lavender-like flavour ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cocksfoot supports no fewer than 139 invertebrate lives , among them some 50 kinds of moths , large and small , and more than a dozen butterflies .
Grasses in flower don ’ t need strong colours to attract pollinators : their seeds are broadcast by the wind .
But the lockdown with garden or wayside at hand may well have brought a more sensitive eye to their feathery , plumed , strokable , arching , architectural , wind-chime forms .
This will prompt the usual power-hungry need for a name , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , crested dog ’ s tail , giant fescue , Yorkshire fog .
For such honest appetites , the National Biodiversity Data Centre has published a “ field-friendly ” 164-page guide to identifying some 100 Irish species .
It is available online for €15 at biodiversityireland.ie .
This summer , too , the Irish members of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland ( BSBI ) have launched an “ Irish grasslands project ” , backed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service and the CEDAR centre in Northern Ireland .
This offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three still to go ) exploring Ireland ’ s semi-natural grasslands and helping identification skills .
“ Grass of the week ” features are posted on Facebook and Twitter ( more at bsbi.org/irish-grasslands-project ) .
Semi-natural grasslands are those cleared of Ireland ’ s original woods but never ploughed , reseeded or annually “ improved ” with chemicals .
A national survey took six years to map their habitats for conservation potential .
A third of the top-quality sites were in the drumlin country of Co Leitrim – this despite the great swathes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the bankside meadows , never ploughed but often flooded , of the Shannon callows .
Between the two areas , in a pilot development funded by the European Union , 31 small farmers entered many parcels of land in a project weightily named RBAPS , or Developing Results Based Payment Schemes .
Monitored through 2016 and 2017 , they were rewarded for effort in conserving plant species , the rare marsh fritillary butterfly , waders and other ground-nesting birds .
The payments were awarded “ on the condition of the biodiversity maintained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions ” .
The trial was judged a success , not least in showing how tiered payments “ incentivise higher quality results ” .

Weeks of cold, raw, early rain, then droughty weeks of a misplaced summer; weeks of showery rain again, some of it teasingly warm: such are the mood swings of climate now.
Wild grasses have loved it for the timeless time being, thrusting up into flowers, panicles, awns, the pollens of July dusting over the hilly distances and dulling the greens to beige.
One grass that gets no chance to flower is the Lolium perenne of Ireland’s farming fields. Perennial ryegrass, the cud for cattle, is chopped off and furled into silage before it can spend its energy on sex. Its ratty little pigtail of a flower spike is no loss to art.
The flowers in my drawing are cocksfoot, their hint of purple stronger against the light in a sunny meadow. In the days when there was time enough to consider such things, its chunky spikelets could rhyme, in the mind’s eye, with the stubby feet of fowl.
READ MORE
In the days when Patrick Kavanagh could write of "the wet leaves of cocksfoot that polish a farmer's boots", it was still a grass for seeding hay meadows in Monaghan, its tall, dense tussocks growing up to a metre high in masses of leafy herbage.
In the years before "the ryegrass revolution", circa the 1960s, grasses such as cocksfoot and timothy could, indeed, handsomely outperform Lolium. In his magisterial book The Grasses of Ireland (2012), John Feehan promised that cocksfoot "can produce immense crops on good, damp soils, and is able to withstand prolonged droughts because it roots deeply".
He goes on: “It had been known to yield the astonishing weight of 73 tonnes per acre at three consecutive cuttings, combined in one season.” But its big, boot-polishing tussocks eventually went against it, along with the greater spring of ryegrass under hooves, its greater digestibility and a tolerance of repeated cropping.
Feehan's book, co-authored with Dr Helen Sheridan and adorned by fine photography and lovely old botanical illustrations, was published by Teagasc and University College Dublin and merited a swift reprint "for Christmas". Teagasc still has a few, at €30 plus €9 postage. (I saw a first edition on Ebay at $173.)
Not everyone may need to know so much about Ireland’s 130-odd kinds of grasses. I had not noticed, for example, that when the flowers of purple moorgrass open early in the morning, “it is as though a little light comes on inside each”, or thought to chew a stem of sweet vernal grass for its “lavender-like flavour”.
It was news, too, that cocksfoot supports no fewer than 139 invertebrate lives, among them some 50 kinds of moths, large and small, and more than a dozen butterflies.
Grasses in flower don’t need strong colours to attract pollinators: their seeds are broadcast by the wind. But the lockdown with garden or wayside at hand may well have brought a more sensitive eye to their feathery, plumed, strokable, arching, architectural, wind-chime forms.
This will prompt the usual power-hungry need for a name, some of them instantly comfortable: meadow foxtail, crested dog's tail, giant fescue, Yorkshire fog. For such honest appetites, the National Biodiversity Data Centre has published a "field-friendly" 164-page guide to identifying some 100 Irish species. It is available online for €15 at biodiversityireland.ie.
This summer, too, the Irish members of the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) have launched an "Irish grasslands project", backed by the National Parks & Wildlife Service and the CEDAR centre in Northern Ireland.
This offers five free hour-long training courses online (three still to go) exploring Ireland's semi-natural grasslands and helping identification skills. "Grass of the week" features are posted on Facebook and Twitter (more at bsbi.org/irish-grasslands-project).
Semi-natural grasslands are those cleared of Ireland’s original woods but never ploughed, reseeded or annually “improved” with chemicals. A national survey took six years to map their habitats for conservation potential.
A third of the top-quality sites were in the drumlin country of Co Leitrim – this despite the great swathes of conifer forestry. Another prime site was the bankside meadows, never ploughed but often flooded, of the Shannon callows.
Between the two areas, in a pilot development funded by the European Union, 31 small farmers entered many parcels of land in a project weightily named RBAPS, or Developing Results Based Payment Schemes.
Monitored through 2016 and 2017, they were rewarded for effort in conserving plant species, the rare marsh fritillary butterfly, waders and other ground-nesting birds. The payments were awarded “on the condition of the biodiversity maintained, rather than carrying out specific management actions”.
The trial was judged a success, not least in showing how tiered payments “incentivise higher quality results”.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--This insect looks a like twig when resting – what is it?

I thought this was a twig that somehow got stuck on the wall .
On closer inspection it revealed itself as , I assume , a moth .
Darryl Broe , Corca Dhuibhne , Co Chiarraí It ’ s the buff-tip moth , which looks like a twig when resting .
I saw this insect in my garden hovering over flowers with its long proboscis , and then quickly flying away .
I have not seen it before .
Kevin McCartan , Kilkenny It ’ s the dark-edged bee fly , Bombylius major , not noticed very often but widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harmless .
This green insect with long transparent wings alighted on my window .
It was 2-2.5cm in length from the head to the tip of the wing .
Philip Marron , Raheny , Dublin 5 It ’ s the green lacewing , very useful in the garden as it feeds on aphids .
Can you identify this little flower that grows in our field .
Is it an orchid ?
James Gallagher , Dungloe , Co Donegal It ’ s one of the marsh orchids .
According to Ireland ’ s Wild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there are six marsh orchids : three early , the flecked , the western and the northern .
Yours looks like the northern marsh orchid .
This is the photo of a peculiar fungus on a dying mahonia tree .
I wonder what it is .
Billy Linehan , Castleknock , Dublin 15 It is called jelly ear or wood ear , Auricularia auricle-judae .
This larva of a dragonfly ( identified earlier ) attached itself to my table .
We put the table outside and we watched it emerge for hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Linda and Arva Quinlan , Blackrock , Co Dublin According to Ireland ’ s Dragonflies by Brian Nelson and Robert Thompson , that was the first form of the amber-winged hawker as it emerged from the larva case .
The adult dragonfly has a brown body and brown eyes with a reflection of blue ( male ) or yellow ( female ) .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Please include a postal address @

I thought this was a twig that somehow got stuck on the wall. On closer inspection it revealed itself as, I assume, a moth.
Darryl Broe, Corca Dhuibhne, Co Chiarraí
It's the buff-tip moth, which looks like a twig when resting.
I saw this insect in my garden hovering over flowers with its long proboscis, and then quickly flying away. I have not seen it before.
Kevin McCartan, Kilkenny
Dark-edged bee fly (Bombylius major)
It’s the dark-edged bee fly, Bombylius major, not noticed very often but widespread when we get time to look. Harmless.
This green insect with long transparent wings alighted on my window. It was 2-2.5cm in length from the head to the tip of the wing.
Philip Marron, Raheny, Dublin 5
READ MORE
Green lacewing
It’s the green lacewing, very useful in the garden as it feeds on aphids.
Can you identify this little flower that grows in our field. Is it an orchid?
James Gallagher, Dungloe, Co Donegal
Northern marsh orchid
It’s one of the marsh orchids. According to Ireland’s Wild Orchids by Brendan Sayers and Susan Sex, there are six marsh orchids: three early, the flecked, the western and the northern. Yours looks like the northern marsh orchid.
This is the photo of a peculiar fungus on a dying mahonia tree. I wonder what it is.
Billy Linehan, Castleknock, Dublin 15
Jelly ear or wood ear fungus (Auricularia auricle-judae)
It is called jelly ear or wood ear, Auricularia auricle-judae.
This larva of a dragonfly (identified earlier) attached itself to my table. We put the table outside and we watched it emerge for hours. Do you know its name?
Linda and Arva Quinlan, Blackrock, Co Dublin
Amber-winged hawker dragonfly
According to Ireland’s Dragonflies by Brian Nelson and Robert Thompson, that was the first form of the amber-winged hawker as it emerged from the larva case. The adult dragonfly has a brown body and brown eyes with a reflection of blue (male) or yellow (female).
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address.


Church services

National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland Saint Patrick ’ s Cathedral will re-open for worship on 5 July , please see the cathedrals website for further details .
You may also join us in worship online at www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/worship/video-stream .
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 9.15 SAID EUCHARIST .
11.15 CHORAL EUCHARIST sung by the Lay Vicars Choral - Byrd : Mass for three voices , Batten : O sing joyfully , Byrd : Ave Verum Corpus , Preacher : Revd J.D.M .
Clarke , Prebendary of Tipper .
15.15 CHORAL EVENSONG sung by Lay Vicars Choral - Responses : Plainsong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29 , Wood : Jesu the very thought of thee .
For further information visit www.stpatrickscathedral.ie or telephone 01 453 9472 .
Christ Church Bray Return to In-Church Worship - Sunday 5th July , 10am Short Said Service .
11am Live Stream Holy Communion from our Epiphany Chapel .
St John the Evangelist , Park Avenue , Sandymount Sunday 5th July - 4th Sunday after Trinity Holy Eucharist 11 a.m. As we return to public worship there will be special arrangements to maintain public health guidance .
www.sandymount.dublin.anglican.org Dún Laoghaire , Co Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dun Laoghaire .
Our Sunday Services can be accessed online at : www.dlmc.org/service

CATHEDRALS
National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland Saint Patrick's Cathedral will re-open for worship on 5 July, please see the cathedrals website for further details. You may also join us in worship online at www.stpatrickscathedral.ie/worship/video-stream. FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY 9.15 SAID EUCHARIST. 11.15 CHORAL EUCHARIST sung by the Lay Vicars Choral - Byrd: Mass for three voices, Batten: O sing joyfully, Byrd: Ave Verum Corpus, Preacher: Revd J.D.M. Clarke, Prebendary of Tipper. 15.15 CHORAL EVENSONG sung by Lay Vicars Choral - Responses: Plainsong, Wood in G, Psalm: 29, Wood: Jesu the very thought of thee. For further information visit www.stpatrickscathedral.ie or telephone 01 453 9472.
CHURCH OF IRELAND
Ardamine Group, Co Wexford Monamolin 9.00am (Morning Prayer) Kiltennel 10.15am (Morning Prayer) Kilnamanagh 11.45am (Morning Prayer)
READ MORE
Christ Church Bray Return to In-Church Worship - Sunday 5th July, 10am Short Said Service. 11am Live Stream Holy Communion from our Epiphany Chapel.
St John the Evangelist, Park Avenue, Sandymount Sunday 5th July - 4th Sunday after Trinity Holy Eucharist 11 a.m. As we return to public worship there will be special arrangements to maintain public health guidance. www.sandymount.dublin.anglican.org
METHODIST
Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin The Methodist Church, Northumberland Avenue, Dun Laoghaire. Our Sunday Services can be accessed online at: www.dlmc.org/service


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Coronavirus: Donations to Catholic Church down 80%

Catholic Church donations have plummeted in Dublin during the Covid-19 outbreak , falling by as much as 80 per cent .
The Dublin Archdiocese said the need to close churches had “ resulted in very serious consequences ” for its income stream .
A restructuring strategy to address “ this urgent situation ” is now under way to reduce costs , it said .
This is expected to take some months to complete .
Two donation streams – the “ common fund ” collection for priests and the “ support for share ” fund – have dropped by 70 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ June compared with the same period last year .
Priests have agreed to a decrease of 25 per cent in their support , or personal income .
A voluntary redundancy scheme has also been extended to all staff members in the diocesan support services and to parish pastoral workers .
The archdiocese said it had the capacity to reduce staffing levels by a third , depending on the level of take-up , from the current number of 82 people .
“ Each staff member is being offered support and advice mechanisms to guide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for by the diocese .
The process is ongoing .
Diocesan staff are in receipt of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.
” Separately , a spokesman for the Irish Catholic Bishops ’ Conference said “ lay and clerical pay has been reduced across the country , with lay redundancies also in play .
This reduced pay/wages is expected to continue into 2021.
” Church attendances have been allowed to resume but on a limited basis .
On Friday , Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin welcomed new guidance issued by the Government ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of worship and said parishes would work diligently to observe the “ new norms ” .
An assessment can be carried out for each premises to determine how many can attend while still maintaining social distancing .
Face coverings are “ strongly recommended ” .
Archbishop Martin had previous said that the 50-person limit for each Mass “ would mean turning many people away or having them remain outside ” .
The new guidance states that where premises can safely allow for greater numbers , they should be subdivided into distinct sections of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each section would have its own entrance and exit with strictly no movement in between .
“ Account must also be taken regarding the risk of congregation by people outside before and after any services , having regard to outdoor overall limits on mass gatherings and arrangements for staggered exiting after ceremonies , ” the archdiocese said in a statement .
Asked about the fall in church donations , Fr Tim Hazelwood of the Killeagh-Inch parish in east Cork and a member of the Association of Catholic Priests ’ leadership team , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland would depend on a number of factors – whether parishes had financial reserves , were financing renovation works , or paying back loans .
“ I suppose , like everyone else in business , we are going to be affected and so we are going to have to cut our cloth , ” he said .
As services welcome back parishioners , the normal basket collection will be replaced by a box at the end of each church .
Centrally funded church programmes such as education , pre-marriage and social and family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in localised donations .
Fr Hazelwood pointed out that it was not just churches themselves that had suffered but also charities such as St Vincent de Paul and Trócaire , which carried out collections there .

Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin welcomed new guidance issued by the Government’s Cabinet committee regarding safe activity in places of worship. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Catholic Church donations have plummeted in Dublin during the Covid-19 outbreak, falling by as much as 80 per cent.
The Dublin Archdiocese said the need to close churches had “resulted in very serious consequences” for its income stream.
A restructuring strategy to address “this urgent situation” is now under way to reduce costs, it said. This is expected to take some months to complete.
Two donation streams – the “common fund” collection for priests and the “support for share” fund – have dropped by 70 and 80 per cent respectively between March and June compared with the same period last year. Priests have agreed to a decrease of 25 per cent in their support, or personal income.
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A voluntary redundancy scheme has also been extended to all staff members in the diocesan support services and to parish pastoral workers.
The archdiocese said it had the capacity to reduce staffing levels by a third, depending on the level of take-up, from the current number of 82 people.
“Each staff member is being offered support and advice mechanisms to guide staff members at this time, paid for by the diocese. The process is ongoing. Diocesan staff are in receipt of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme.”
Separately, a spokesman for the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference said “lay and clerical pay has been reduced across the country, with lay redundancies also in play. This reduced pay/wages is expected to continue into 2021.”
Church attendances have been allowed to resume but on a limited basis.
On Friday, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin welcomed new guidance issued by the Government’s Cabinet committee regarding safe activity in places of worship and said parishes would work diligently to observe the “new norms”.
An assessment can be carried out for each premises to determine how many can attend while still maintaining social distancing. Face coverings are “strongly recommended”.
Turned away
Archbishop Martin had previous said that the 50-person limit for each Mass “would mean turning many people away or having them remain outside”.
The new guidance states that where premises can safely allow for greater numbers, they should be subdivided into distinct sections of not more than 50 persons in each.
Each section would have its own entrance and exit with strictly no movement in between.
“Account must also be taken regarding the risk of congregation by people outside before and after any services, having regard to outdoor overall limits on mass gatherings and arrangements for staggered exiting after ceremonies,” the archdiocese said in a statement.
Asked about the fall in church donations, Fr Tim Hazelwood of the Killeagh-Inch parish in east Cork and a member of the Association of Catholic Priests' leadership team, said the severity of the impact across Ireland would depend on a number of factors – whether parishes had financial reserves, were financing renovation works, or paying back loans.
“I suppose, like everyone else in business, we are going to be affected and so we are going to have to cut our cloth,” he said.
As services welcome back parishioners, the normal basket collection will be replaced by a box at the end of each church.
Centrally funded church programmes such as education, pre-marriage and social and family courses are also affected by a fall-off in localised donations.
Fr Hazelwood pointed out that it was not just churches themselves that had suffered but also charities such as St Vincent de Paul and Trócaire, which carried out collections there.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Covid-19: Travel restrictions to stay and 'green list' put on hold amid fears of second wave

Travel restrictions , including quarantine requirements and official advice not to travel abroad , are likely to remain in place until at least July 20th amid fears that a resurgence of Covid-19 infections in other countries could be imported to Ireland .
The publication of a “ green list ” of countries to which it is safe to travel will not happen next week , as had been expected , and will instead be postponed until July 20th , before which the Government will review the public health advice .
Until then , the current status quo will apply , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cabinet committee on Covid-19 on Friday was advised that concerns about possible resurgence of the virus in some countries means that the existing travel advice should remain unchanged .
The full Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the issue , but sources indicated that the restrictions are likely to remain in place .
It had been expected that travel restrictions would be relaxed next week and that a safe list of countries where holidaymakers could travel without being required to quarantine for 14 days on their return would be published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put back until July 20th at the earliest .
The restrictions will be reviewed fortnightly after that .
Sources said that the cautious approach by the new Government was in part because of the priority it wished to give to reopening schools as fully as possible in September .
While the belief in Government is that it can not prevent people from going abroad on holiday , the official advice not to travel unless it is an essential journey will be reiterated in the coming days .
“ The clear advice will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” one senior Government figure said .
“ Non-essential travel shouldn ’ t take place.
” Warnings at the State ’ s airports about the necessity for incoming travellers to observe the 14-day quarantine are likely to be enhanced , while the Garda launched Operation Navigation on Friday evening under which pubs and licensed premises will be checked for adherence to Covid-19 health guidelines .
The Cabinet committee heard concerns about levels of compliance within pubs , and the Government will consider a report on the matter from the Garda and health authorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Strong enforcement measures will be taken against premises that are not operating in accordance with public health guidelines , ” according to a Government statement .
About 60 per cent of pubs in Dublin and 40 per cent in the rest of the country reopened on Monday , 15 weeks after being ordered to close their doors due to the pandemic .
New guidance has also been developed for religious services , with attendance of more than 50 permitted in certain circumstances .
An assessment will have to be carried out for each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the requirements of social distancing .
The premises will also have to be subdivided into distinct sections , either by cordons or other markings , with a maximum of 50 people in that area .
There can be strictly no movement of people between the sections before , during or after the service .
Each area must have its own entrance or exit route and there will need to be separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact such as for the distribution of Holy Communion .
The use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also be “ strongly recommended ” .
Meanwhile , a new report says Dublin has outperformed even best-case scenarios for limiting deaths among homeless and drug user populations during the pandemic .
As a result of “ quick , decisive action ” , only 63 homeless people in Dublin were diagnosed with Covid-19 and there was one death linked to the disease , the report from the London School of Economics and Ana Liffey Drug Project states .
A pragmatic and well co-ordinated Government response alongside housing provision and the expansion of harm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection of a vulnerable group , it says .
Another two people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died , the National Public Health Emergency Team reported on Friday .
This brings to 1,740 the total number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic .
The team also reported a further nine cases of the disease , bringing the total number of cases to 25,498 .

People are flying again from Dublin Airport but in small numbers. There were two hundreds flights in and out of the airport today. This time last year that figure was approximately eight hundred flights. Video: Bryan O'Brien
Travel restrictions, including quarantine requirements and official advice not to travel abroad, are likely to remain in place until at least July 20th amid fears that a resurgence of Covid-19 infections in other countries could be imported to Ireland.
The publication of a “green list” of countries to which it is safe to travel will not happen next week, as had been expected, and will instead be postponed until July 20th, before which the Government will review the public health advice.
Until then, the current status quo will apply, sources said.
A meeting of the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 on Friday was advised that concerns about possible resurgence of the virus in some countries means that the existing travel advice should remain unchanged. The full Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the issue, but sources indicated that the restrictions are likely to remain in place.
READ MORE
It had been expected that travel restrictions would be relaxed next week and that a safe list of countries where holidaymakers could travel without being required to quarantine for 14 days on their return would be published. However, this has now been put back until July 20th at the earliest. The restrictions will be reviewed fortnightly after that.
Sources said that the cautious approach by the new Government was in part because of the priority it wished to give to reopening schools as fully as possible in September.
While the belief in Government is that it cannot prevent people from going abroad on holiday, the official advice not to travel unless it is an essential journey will be reiterated in the coming days.
“The clear advice will be: Don’t go abroad,” one senior Government figure said. “Non-essential travel shouldn’t take place.”
Enhanced
Warnings at the State’s airports about the necessity for incoming travellers to observe the 14-day quarantine are likely to be enhanced, while the Garda launched Operation Navigation on Friday evening under which pubs and licensed premises will be checked for adherence to Covid-19 health guidelines.
The Cabinet committee heard concerns about levels of compliance within pubs, and the Government will consider a report on the matter from the Garda and health authorities at its meeting on Monday.
“Strong enforcement measures will be taken against premises that are not operating in accordance with public health guidelines,” according to a Government statement.
About 60 per cent of pubs in Dublin and 40 per cent in the rest of the country reopened on Monday, 15 weeks after being ordered to close their doors due to the pandemic.
A priest hands out Holy Communion to parishioners at the Cathedral of Saint Patrick and Saint Felim, Cavan, as places of worship across Ireland were able to welcome back some members of their congregations for services on Monday. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA Wire
New guidance has also been developed for religious services, with attendance of more than 50 permitted in certain circumstances.
An assessment will have to be carried out for each premises to determine how many can attend within the requirements of social distancing.
The premises will also have to be subdivided into distinct sections, either by cordons or other markings, with a maximum of 50 people in that area.
There can be strictly no movement of people between the sections before, during or after the service.
Close contact
Each area must have its own entrance or exit route and there will need to be separate arrangements for elements of the service involving close contact such as for the distribution of Holy Communion.
The use of face coverings in such indoor settings will also be “strongly recommended”.
Meanwhile, a new report says Dublin has outperformed even best-case scenarios for limiting deaths among homeless and drug user populations during the pandemic.
As a result of “quick, decisive action”, only 63 homeless people in Dublin were diagnosed with Covid-19 and there was one death linked to the disease, the report from the London School of Economics and Ana Liffey Drug Project states.
A pragmatic and well co-ordinated Government response alongside housing provision and the expansion of harm reduction services saved lives and ensured the protection of a vulnerable group, it says.
Another two people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, the National Public Health Emergency Team reported on Friday. This brings to 1,740 the total number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic.
The team also reported a further nine cases of the disease, bringing the total number of cases to 25,498.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Gardaí seek help in finding missing Roscommon toddler

Gardaí have issued an appeal for help in finding a child who was reported missing from her Co Roscommon home @ @ @ @ @ 23-month-old Jasmine Arshad is with her father Arshad Shiraz ( 38 ) .
An Garda @ @ @ @ @ it was satisfied the pair travelled to Dublin on public transport from Ballaghaderreen and arrived @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardaí are appealing to anyone with any information on Jasmine ’ s whereabouts to @ @ @ @ @ 094 962 1630 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda @ @ @ @ @ appealing to Jasmine ’ s father to urgently make contact with An Garda Síochána .

Gardaí have issued an appeal for help in finding a child who was reported missing from her Co Roscommon home on Friday.
They believe 23-month-old Jasmine Arshad is with her father Arshad Shiraz (38). An Garda Síochána said in a statement it was satisfied the pair travelled to Dublin on public transport from Ballaghaderreen and arrived on Friday at around 4.30pm.
Arshad Shiraz
Gardaí are appealing to anyone with any information on Jasmine's whereabouts to contact Castlerea Garda station on 094 962 1630, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
They are also appealing to Jasmine’s father to urgently make contact with An Garda Síochána.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--WHO stops hydroxychloroquine trials for hospitalised Covid-19 patients

The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) said on Saturday that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 after they failed to reduce mortality .
The setback came as the WHO also reported more than 200,000 new cases globally of the disease for the first time in a single day .
The US accounted for 53,213 of the total 212,326 new cases recorded on Friday , the WHO said .
“ These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to standard of care .
Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect , ” the WHO said in a statement , referring to large multicountry trials that the agency is leading .
The UN agency said the decision , taken on the recommendation of the trial ’ s international steering committee , did not affect other studies where those drugs are used for non-hospitalised patients or as a disease prevention treatment .
Another branch of the WHO-led trial is looking at the potential effect of Gilead ’ s antiviral drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday gave remdesivir conditional approval for use after being shown to shorten hospital recovery times .
The solidarity trial started out with five branches looking at possible treatment approaches to Covid-19 : standard care ; remdesivir ; hydroxychloroquine ; lopinavir/ritonavir ; and lopanivir/ritonavir combined with interferon .
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Friday that nearly 5,500 patients in 39 countries had been recruited so far into its clinical trials and that interim results were expected within two weeks .
Some 18 experimental Covid-19 vaccines are being tested on humans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Ryan , the WHO ’ s top emergencies expert , said on Friday that it would be unwise to predict when a vaccine could be ready .
While a vaccine candidate might show its effectiveness by year ’ s end , the question was how soon it could then be mass-produced , he said .
– Reuters

The World Health Organisation said the decision did not affect other studies where those drugs are used for non-hospitalised patients. File photograph: PA Wire
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Saturday that it was discontinuing its trials of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and combination HIV drug lopinavir/ritonavir in hospitalised patients with Covid-19 after they failed to reduce mortality.
The setback came as the WHO also reported more than 200,000 new cases globally of the disease for the first time in a single day. The US accounted for 53,213 of the total 212,326 new cases recorded on Friday, the WHO said.
“These interim trial results show that hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir produce little or no reduction in the mortality of hospitalised Covid-19 patients when compared to standard of care. Solidarity trial investigators will interrupt the trials with immediate effect,” the WHO said in a statement, referring to large multicountry trials that the agency is leading.
The UN agency said the decision, taken on the recommendation of the trial’s international steering committee, did not affect other studies where those drugs are used for non-hospitalised patients or as a disease prevention treatment.
READ MORE
Another branch of the WHO-led trial is looking at the potential effect of Gilead's antiviral drug remdesivir on Covid-19. The European Commission on Friday gave remdesivir conditional approval for use after being shown to shorten hospital recovery times.
The solidarity trial started out with five branches looking at possible treatment approaches to Covid-19: standard care; remdesivir; hydroxychloroquine; lopinavir/ritonavir; and lopanivir/ritonavir combined with interferon.
WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters on Friday that nearly 5,500 patients in 39 countries had been recruited so far into its clinical trials and that interim results were expected within two weeks.
Some 18 experimental Covid-19 vaccines are being tested on humans among nearly 150 treatments under development.
Mike Ryan, the WHO's top emergencies expert, said on Friday that it would be unwise to predict when a vaccine could be ready. While a vaccine candidate might show its effectiveness by year's end, the question was how soon it could then be mass-produced, he said. – Reuters


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Rare whale dies after getting into distress in Wicklow Harbour

The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group ( IWDG ) reported the sighting of the male Sowerby ’ s beaked whale , a species of toothed whale normally found in the north Atlantic .
The group said the whale got stranded near the local sailing club after losing its bearings .
It added deep-diving beaked whales were particularly sensitive to acoustic trauma and feared it would have to be euthanised .
Later , the group said on Facebook : “ Sadly the male Sowerby ’ s whale has died .
From the outset it appeared to be in poor health , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Therefore , it would not have been a candidate for refloating .
Euthanasia is also extremely difficult in these circumstances due to the large size of the animal as well as public safety concerns .
“ IWDG are extremely grateful for all the help received in order to respectfully and safely remove the animal from the harbour after it died.
” The group said in a statement it was “ delighted to have been asked by the NPWS [ National Parks and Wildlife Service ] to recover the whale for a full postmortem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Backweston , Co Kildare , is available to carry out the necropsy.
” IWDG chief executive Dr Simon Berrow said : “ While we might not be able to understand exactly why it died , we will be able to find out more about the life of these rare and enigmatic whales .
”

A rare beaked whale died in Wicklow Harbour on Saturday evening.
The Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) reported the sighting of the male Sowerby’s beaked whale, a species of toothed whale normally found in the north Atlantic.
The group said the whale got stranded near the local sailing club after losing its bearings.
Male Sowerby's beaked whale in Wicklow Harbour. Not looking in great condition, breathing regularly, suggestion of being thin in this video from Nick Veale. Expect it to die. deep-diving beaked whales particularly to acoustic trauma. pic.twitter.com/uFQqDWdAku — Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (@IWDGnews) July 4, 2020
It added deep-diving beaked whales were particularly sensitive to acoustic trauma and feared it would have to be euthanised.
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Later, the group said on Facebook: “Sadly the male Sowerby’s whale has died. From the outset it appeared to be in poor health, appearing disorientated and having difficulty moving. Therefore, it would not have been a candidate for refloating. Euthanasia is also extremely difficult in these circumstances due to the large size of the animal as well as public safety concerns.
“IWDG are extremely grateful for all the help received in order to respectfully and safely remove the animal from the harbour after it died.”
Photograph: Irish Whale and Dolphin Group/Facebook
The group said in a statement it was “delighted to have been asked by the NPWS [National Parks and Wildlife Service] to recover the whale for a full postmortem”.
“The Regional Vet Lab in Backweston, Co Kildare, is available to carry out the necropsy.”
IWDG chief executive Dr Simon Berrow said: “While we might not be able to understand exactly why it died, we will be able to find out more about the life of these rare and enigmatic whales.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Cocooning Dublin residents celebrate independence on Fourth of July

July 4th is a celebration of independence for millions of people in the US .
This year , the residents of the Wolfe Tone Close complex in Dublin 1 also celebrated freedom , but the independence they celebrated was their own .
The residents of the north-inner city complex , most of whom are over 70 , congregated in the community area with their families for a summer barbecue to toast to the easing of coronavirus restrictions and no longer having to cocoon .
They had pink and blue balloons hung up – similar to what you would see at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ rebirth ” , while a DJ played music and everyone drank and ate burgers .
Maura Cudden ( 81 ) sat at a table with her dog Angel , sipping a glass of red wine .
What was she most looking forward to now that she was allowed to mingle with other people ?
“ Getting drunk , of course , ” she said with a cheeky laugh , before adding : “ I ’ m only messing , I ’ m only messing.
” Cudden has lived in her apartment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said having to cocoon had created a community among the residents , who used to only say hello in passing .
“ There were phone numbers being put in my letterbox for if I need anything , there was food left on my table , there would be knocks on the door asking if I needed anything because they were going to the shop , ” Cudden said .
“ It was like I adopted a whole new family .
It took the edge off cocooning.
” It was not just the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Her dog did , too .
“ I used to take her up when the news was on , I used to listen to it because I wanted to know what was going on .
When I ’ d heard the deaths were very high in the beginning , I used to squeeze her to death because I had nobody else to touch or hold so I used to just squeeze her .
She gave me such relief , ” she added .
Imelda Dodrill , who proudly declared that she was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she found staying still very difficult .
“ The lockdown was very hard on me .
I celebrated my 90th birthday in May and my family had organised a surprise party , but that never materialised .
I worked from when I was 14 until 70 , and I like to keep busy .
I ’ m not the type to sit around and stay in , ” Dodrill said .
She was not terribly excited about restaurants or bars reopening because she is “ well past that now ” .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charlie out for walks again was the best part of society reopening .
“ I brought him out straight away , so I did .
I love walking .
I walk everywhere , I walk for miles .
This , now , being able to move again , is marvellous .
It ’ s like another life.
” Margaret Murphy ( 79 ) said listening to Joe Dolan was the only way she was able to get through the lockdown , and she was glad she could “ get back to normal ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out so I did what I was told .
My daughter lives in west Cork , the other one lives in Carlow and another in Galway .
I missed the grandkids , ” she said .
Now that she no longer has to stay cooped up in her apartment , she has a long list of things she wants to do .
“ I think I might go on a cruise and travel the world .
Well , if I can get the money for that , ” she added .

July 4th is a celebration of independence for millions of people in the US. This year, the residents of the Wolfe Tone Close complex in Dublin 1 also celebrated freedom, but the independence they celebrated was their own.
The residents of the north-inner city complex, most of whom are over 70, congregated in the community area with their families for a summer barbecue to toast to the easing of coronavirus restrictions and no longer having to cocoon.
They had pink and blue balloons hung up – similar to what you would see at a baby shower – to celebrate their “rebirth”, while a DJ played music and everyone drank and ate burgers.
Maura Cudden (81) sat at a table with her dog Angel, sipping a glass of red wine. What was she most looking forward to now that she was allowed to mingle with other people? "Getting drunk, of course," she said with a cheeky laugh, before adding: "I'm only messing, I'm only messing."
READ MORE
Cudden has lived in her apartment for the past 20 years, but she said having to cocoon had created a community among the residents, who used to only say hello in passing.
“There were phone numbers being put in my letterbox for if I need anything, there was food left on my table, there would be knocks on the door asking if I needed anything because they were going to the shop,” Cudden said. “It was like I adopted a whole new family. It took the edge off cocooning.”
It was not just the community spirit that made the distressing period easier. Her dog did, too.
“I used to take her up when the news was on, I used to listen to it because I wanted to know what was going on. When I’d heard the deaths were very high in the beginning, I used to squeeze her to death because I had nobody else to touch or hold so I used to just squeeze her. She gave me such relief,” she added.
Imelda Dodrill (90) and Margaret Murphy (79) enjoy the celebrations at Wolfe Tone Close, Dublin 1. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Imelda Dodrill, who proudly declared that she was the oldest resident in the complex, said she found staying still very difficult.
“The lockdown was very hard on me. I celebrated my 90th birthday in May and my family had organised a surprise party, but that never materialised. I worked from when I was 14 until 70, and I like to keep busy. I’m not the type to sit around and stay in,” Dodrill said.
She was not terribly excited about restaurants or bars reopening because she is “well past that now”. However, being able to bring her dog Charlie out for walks again was the best part of society reopening.
“I brought him out straight away, so I did. I love walking. I walk everywhere, I walk for miles. This, now, being able to move again, is marvellous. It’s like another life.”
Margaret Murphy (79) enjoying celebrations as the Residents Association of Wolfe Tone Close, Dublin, organised a Fourth of July Independence Day celebration for the older residents of the complex. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Margaret Murphy (79) said listening to Joe Dolan was the only way she was able to get through the lockdown, and she was glad she could "get back to normal".
"They told me not to go out so I did what I was told. My daughter lives in west Cork, the other one lives in Carlow and another in Galway. I missed the grandkids," she said.
Now that she no longer has to stay cooped up in her apartment, she has a long list of things she wants to do.
“I think I might go on a cruise and travel the world. Well, if I can get the money for that,” she added.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Coronavirus claims one more life while 11 new cases reported in Republic

Another person diagnosed with Covid-19 has died , the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) reported on Saturday .
This brings to 1,741 the total number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic .
Nphet also reported a further 11 new cases of the disease , bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 25,509 .
Meanwhile , a leading professor in infectious diseases has said Ireland should get its “ own epidemic under control ” before it looks at air bridges and foreign travel .
Current Government advice is that all non-essential foreign travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be discussed early next week how travel could resume safely by looking at whether overseas countries could be put on a “ green list ” if they have low levels of infection .
In recent days , health officials have said they are “ very concerned ” by overseas travel , with foreign travel accounting for about 17 per cent of new cases , compared with about 2 per cent of cases in previous weeks .
Sam McConkey , from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , said adding a “ green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrealistic , hypothetical suggestion ” because many countries that have eliminated the virus will not let Irish people enter due to the prevalence of the virus in the State .
“ This theoretical idea of air bridges and green countries makes sense theoretically but before we start that , we have to really start to get our own house in our order , get our own epidemic under control and then find other countries who also have their epidemic under control , ” Prof McConkey said on RTÉ Radio One ’ s Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does an outbreak look like when it ’ s over ?
What is the definition of an epidemic being over in a country ?
That ’ s really no cases for twice the maximum incubation period , we know it ’ s 14 days incubation period maximum , so 28 days with no cases in our country and then we all take a big sigh of relief and then any other country that has reached that we would say we could safely fly back and forth.
” The green list had been expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Irish Times this would be postponed until July 20th .
The British government on Friday published a list of 59 countries to which people can travel without facing quarantine when they return to England , but Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland have not agreed to lift the quarantine rules .
Prof McConkey used the example of New Zealand which has “ controlled this virus ” , but will not allow tourists from Ireland to enter the country due to the presence of Covid-19 in the State .
He added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three weeks ’ time was “ not realistic ” because of how volatile the virus was .
“ Catalonia now has an outbreak , Leicester is on lockdown , Lisbon is in lockdown .
.
.
We ’ ve heard California , Florida and 38 other states in the United States of America now have rapidly increasing rates where it ’ s hard to control so it ’ s very difficult [ to predict ] , ” he added .
Prof McConkey advocated for the idea of a “ staycation ” this summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The Department of Foreign Affairs advice is very , very clear and it says no non-essential travel outside the island of Ireland .
Heather Humphreys brought this idea of a staycation .
I ’ m booked for west Cork and I think that ’ s what most of us should be doing , ” he added .
Speaking on the same programme , Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Retail Businesses Damien English said the Government was due to meet on Monday to discuss overseas travel .
“ Around travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to the full Cabinet on Monday .
Every effort is being made here for two issues .
One is the public health and to give confidence to people from this country and travelling into this country .
The aim is at some stage , be it Monday or at a later stage , to have a list of countries that are safe to travel to and from , ” he added .

Another person diagnosed with Covid-19 has died, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported on Saturday.
This brings to 1,741 the total number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic.
Nphet also reported a further 11 new cases of the disease, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 25,509.
Meanwhile, a leading professor in infectious diseases has said Ireland should get its “own epidemic under control” before it looks at air bridges and foreign travel.
READ MORE
Current Government advice is that all non-essential foreign travel should be avoided, and it will be discussed early next week how travel could resume safely by looking at whether overseas countries could be put on a “green list” if they have low levels of infection.
In recent days, health officials have said they are “very concerned” by overseas travel, with foreign travel accounting for about 17 per cent of new cases, compared with about 2 per cent of cases in previous weeks.
Sam McConkey, from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said adding a "green list" of countries was an "unrealistic, hypothetical suggestion" because many countries that have eliminated the virus will not let Irish people enter due to the prevalence of the virus in the State.
"This theoretical idea of air bridges and green countries makes sense theoretically but before we start that, we have to really start to get our own house in our order, get our own epidemic under control and then find other countries who also have their epidemic under control," Prof McConkey said on RTÉ Radio One's Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra.
“What does an outbreak look like when it’s over? What is the definition of an epidemic being over in a country? That’s really no cases for twice the maximum incubation period, we know it’s 14 days incubation period maximum, so 28 days with no cases in our country and then we all take a big sigh of relief and then any other country that has reached that we would say we could safely fly back and forth.”
The green list had been expected to be published next week but sources told The Irish Times this would be postponed until July 20th.
The British government on Friday published a list of 59 countries to which people can travel without facing quarantine when they return to England, but Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not agreed to lift the quarantine rules.
Prof McConkey used the example of New Zealand which has "controlled this virus", but will not allow tourists from Ireland to enter the country due to the presence of Covid-19 in the State.
He added that giving clarity on what would happen in three weeks’ time was “not realistic” because of how volatile the virus was.
"Catalonia now has an outbreak, Leicester is on lockdown, Lisbon is in lockdown . . . We've heard California, Florida and 38 other states in the United States of America now have rapidly increasing rates where it's hard to control so it's very difficult [to predict]," he added.
Prof McConkey advocated for the idea of a “staycation” this summer for members of the Irish public.
"The Department of Foreign Affairs advice is very, very clear and it says no non-essential travel outside the island of Ireland. Heather Humphreys brought this idea of a staycation. I'm booked for west Cork and I think that's what most of us should be doing," he added.
Speaking on the same programme, Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Retail Businesses Damien English said the Government was due to meet on Monday to discuss overseas travel.
“Around travel and restrictions and quarantine, that’s going to the full Cabinet on Monday. Every effort is being made here for two issues. One is the public health and to give confidence to people from this country and travelling into this country. The aim is at some stage, be it Monday or at a later stage, to have a list of countries that are safe to travel to and from,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--Five men arrested in connection with violent disorder in Co Westmeath

Five men have been arrested in connection with violent disorder and criminal damage incidents in Mullingar , Co Westmeath .
@ @ @ @ @ of people in the Grange Crescent area on Thursday , some of whom were armed @ @ @ @ @ Two men were injured and several residences were significantly damaged .
A man in his @ @ @ @ @ scene and detained at Mullingar Garda Station .
He has since been charged and appeared @ @ @ @ @ a follow-up operation on Friday , gardaí arrested three men in their 30s and one @ @ @ @ @ connection with the incident .
A man in his 30s was later released without charge @ @ @ @ @ will appear before a special sitting of Mullingar District Court on Saturday .

The attack on the Mullingar estate which occurred on Thursday evening has raised fears that feuding in the Midlands has escalated significantly.
A significant street disturbance in Co Westmeath during which a group of young people armed with weapons attacked houses and threatened locals has raised fears that feuding in the Midlands has escalated significantly.
Some of those involved were armed with pick axe handles and iron bars while a shovel and pitchfork were also produced at one point.
A number of properties were extensively damaged, with upstairs and downstairs windows broken and hall doors destroyed. At least 15 young people were involved, some of whom appeared to be children in their early to mid-teens. At one point four houses on the local authority estate were under attack at the same time.
The attack on a housing estate in Mullingar was pre-planned, gardaí believe, with a group of young males arriving armed and with their faces covered. While the occupants of the houses eventually came outside to remonstrate with the attackers, some of the young males then began throwing rocks at them, forcing them back into their homes.
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A number of uniform unarmed gardaí arrived on the scene within minutes of the attack getting under way and the incident came to an end.
A total of five arrests were made as part of the Garda’s investigation into violent disorder and criminal damage. While the attack occurred last Thursday evening, news of the incident only emerged this weekend.
A large number of onlookers witnessed the attack at about 6pm with people coming out of their homes to investigate and some recording the incident on their phones and sharing the footage on messaging apps.
A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and has since been released without charge after being questioning at Mullingar Garda station.
In a follow-up operation on Friday three men in their 30s and one man in his 20s was arrested. One of the men has since been released without charge while the others are due before the courts at a later date.
Gardaí in Mullingar have been dealing with a feud between rival factions for many years that has resulted in very significant streets disturbances, including one riot in another housing estate in the town just over 10 years ago. At that time 64 suspects were brought before the courts at the same time.
The court was told the two factions had agreed a truce and those convicted of feud related crimes were given suspended sentences.


theirishtimes--2020-07-04--‘Unseasonably’ windy weather set to buffet Ireland

Met Éireann has issued a weather advisory for the weekend due to “ unseasonably windy ” weather from Saturday night .
The advisory , which forecasts strong and gusty westerly winds at times , will come into effect from 9pm on Saturday and will remain until 8pm on Sunday .
The national forecaster has also issued a blight warning , with weather conditions conducive to the spread of blight becoming more widespread over the weekend .
A status yellow marine gale warning is also in place , with southwest winds expected to reach gale force 8 on Irish coastal waters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Howth Head and on the Irish Sea .
Elsewhere , the UK Met Office issued a wind warning for counties Antrim and Derry for the weekend .
This status yellow warning is in effect from midnight on Sunday until 4pm that day .
In terms of the national outlook for the weekend , Met Éireann said Saturday will begin mostly cloudy and misty , with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle during the day .
These outbreaks will give way to a spell of persistent rain in the north and west by Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day of between 15 and 20 degrees .
Saturday night will see strong winds and gales developing on coasts .
Outbreaks of rain overnight will push eastwards , with some heavy falls in Atlantic coastal counties .
Minimum temperatures overnight will be between 9 and 11 degrees .
Sunday will be an unseasonably windy day with a mix of sunny spells and blustery showers .
The showers will be heaviest and most frequent in Connacht , Ulster and west Munster , with some thundery downpours possible .
Maximum temperatures during the day will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the coolest weather in Atlantic coastal areas .
On Sunday night , showers will become more or less confined to Ulster and north Connacht and along the Atlantic coasts , with mainly dry and clear conditions developing elsewhere .
Lowest temperatures of between 9 and 11 degrees are forecasted during the night .
Showers will likely persist in Ulster and near some Atlantic coasts on Monday , but it will be mainly dry elsewhere with sunny spells .
Maximum temperatures will range from 13 or 14 degrees in the northwest to 17 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ south in moderate northwest breezes .
Most areas will be dry on Monday night with clear spells , just a few light showers near west and northwest coasts and lows of 7 to 10 degrees .

A wind warning has been issued for 19 counties as “unseasonably windy” weather sweeps across Ireland on Sunday.
Met Éireann issued the status yellow warning for Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath and Clare as well as for all of Connacht. The warning is valid from 11am to 6pm. In the North a similar warning is in place for Counties Antrim and Derry until 4pm.
“Later this morning and through the afternoon, westerly winds will reach mean wind speeds of 50 to 60km/h, with gusts of 80 to 100km/h associated with any thundery downpours. Some disruption may occur”, the Met Éireann warning published on Sunday morning said.
Yesterday the forecaster issued a weather advisory for the weekend due to “unseasonably windy” weather.
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The national forecaster has also issued a blight warning, with weather conditions conducive to the spread of blight becoming more widespread over the weekend.
A status yellow marine gale warning is also in place, with southwest winds expected to reach gale force 8 on Irish coastal waters from Loop Head to Bloody Foreland to Howth Head and on the Irish Sea.
Outlook
Today will be cooler than of late, with temperatures of between 13 and 17 degrees. Monday will be showery with temperatures not expected to pass 18 degrees.
While current indications are for a lot of dry weather from Wednesday over Ulster, Connacht and north Leinster with sunny spells, it will be cloudier further south with outbreaks of rain.
“There is significant uncertainty in the further outlook at this stage, but the overall pattern appears to maintain a changeable Atlantic regime”, the forecaster added.


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Man (70s) dies in three-car crash in Co Tipperary

A man in his 70s has died in a three-car collision in Co Tipperary , with another man in his @ @ @ @ @ A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene of the incident , which @ @ @ @ @ Carrick-on-Suir , Co Tipperary at about 6.50am on Sunday morning .
The front seat passenger @ @ @ @ @ was pronounced dead at the scene , while the rear seat passenger of another car @ @ @ @ @ Luke ’ s General Hospital in a critical condition .
No other serious injuries were @ @ @ @ @ is currently being detained at Clonmel Garda Station .
Forensic Collision Investigators are currently at @ @ @ @ @ is closed with local diversions in place .
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to come @ @ @ @ @ users that may have camera footage from the incident .
Anyone with information is asked @ @ @ @ @ on 052 617 7640 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 , or @ @ @ @

The front seat passenger of one of the cars was pronounced dead at the scene
A man in his 70s has died in a three-car collision in Co Tipperary, with another man in his 20s left critically injured.
A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene of the incident, which occurred at South Lodge, Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary at about 6.50am on Sunday morning.
The front seat passenger of one of the cars was pronounced dead at the scene, while the rear seat passenger of another car involved was taken to St Luke’s General Hospital in a critical condition.
No other serious injuries were reported. The man arrested is currently being detained at Clonmel Garda Station.
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Forensic Collision Investigators are currently at the scene and the road is closed with local diversions in place.
Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to come forward, looking for road users that may have camera footage from the incident.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Clonmel Garda Station on 052 617 7640, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Louise O’Keeffe calls on Government to honour pledges on school sex-abuse redress

Children ’ s rights campaigner Louise O ’ Keeffe has called on both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to deliver on promises to compensate children sexually abused while attending schools .
Ms O ’ Keeffe has called on both men to honour commitments they gave in the Dáil last July that they would re-open an ex-gratia payment scheme for those sexually abused while attending Irish primary and secondary schools pre-1992 .
“ Both Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar must honour commitments they made in Dáil Éireann a year ago that they would ensure the victims of child sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wronged , ” Ms O ’ Keeffe told The Irish Times .
Ms O ’ Keeffe was sexually abused by primary school principal Leo Hickey in Dunderrow National School in West Cork in the early 1970s and he was later convicted of abusing her , but the State had denied any civil liability .
Ms O ’ Keeffe brought a case for damages through the Irish courts system but they ruled that the Department of Education was not liable because the school was under the management of the Catholic church even though the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was only when Ms O ’ Keeffe took her case to the European Court of Human Rights that she was vindicated when the ECHR ruled in January 2014 that Ireland had failed to protect her as a five-year-old from Hickey when at school .
But the Government interpreted the ECHR ruling that it was only liable for damages in cases where there had been a prior complaint against an abuser and it was not liable for damages if there had not been a prior complaint .
Last year , Mr Justice Iarfhlaith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and deemed that the State was wrong in its interpretation of the judgement which led it to close off an ex-gratia payment scheme for survivors of child sex abuse .
Mr Justice O ’ Neill found that it was “ inherently illogical ” for the State to demand evidence of a “ prior complaint ” , ruling that this was “ incompatible ” with the ECHR ’ s judgement in Ms O ’ Keeffe case .
Now Ms O ’ Keeffe has reminded both Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar of promises they made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 2019 in an email that she sent to them and newly appointed Minister for Education Norma Foley on Friday .
Ms O ’ Keeffe pointed out that Mr Varadkar as Taoiseach had apologised to those who were abused in day schools prior to 1992 for both the abuse itself the State ’ s delay in acknowledging its responsibility to protect them .
And she quoted Mr Varadkar ’ s own words that “ the State failed them at the time , failed them again a second time when it did not own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t fail them a third time ” .
But she said such victims of child sex abuse have now been failed a third time by the lack of action in the past 12 months , noting both parties had dropped the issue of ex-gratia payments from the programme for government talks .
And she reminded Mr Martin , who was Minister for Education when she began her legal case 22 years ago , that during the same Dáil debate , he said the ex-gratia payment scheme “ will be ” rather than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I would urge you to reopen the ex-gratia scheme expeditiously and end the continued suffering of those sexually abused in day schools , ” said Ms O ’ Keeffe who was lauded in 2014 by Taoiseach Enda Kenny for her work on the issue Ms O ’ Keeffe was supported in her call on the new Government to re-open the ex-gratia scheme by Dr Conor O ’ Mahony , Director of the Child Law Clinic at UCC , who assisted Ms O ’ Keeffe in preparing her case for Europe .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iarfhlaith O ’ Neill gave his ruling confirming what we have been saying for years - the requirement to show prior complaint before receiving redress was totally incompatible with the ECHR judgement.
” “ That should have been the end of the matter because they set up the redress scheme with that requirement to show a complaint prior to your abuse and that was impossible to prove , nobody could prove a prior complaint .
“ The simple solution once Iarfhlaith O ’ Neill ruled that that requirement was incompatible with the ECHR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and you re-open the scheme but , 12 months on , that has not happened.
” Dr O ’ Mahony said that re-opening the ex-gratia payments scheme would not prove prohibitively expensive as he estimated that there approximately 360 possible claimants with payments likely to average €84,000 per person .
“ My calculations is €84,000 per head and based on a the number of cases we are aware of , 360 people , gives a total figure of €25-30 million which on one level is a substantial sum but is small compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compare it , €25-30 million to the €1.2 billion paid out in the Residential Institutions redress - it ’ s only about 2per cent - and to further put in it context , to avoid paying that out , the State has now spent over €2 million in legal fees.
” A Government spokeswoman said the Taoiseach , Mr Martin was acutely aware of the concerns of those who suffered abuse in primary schools and would be engaging with the Department of Education to progress the matter .

Louise O’Keeffe who was sexually abused by her teacher in a Co Cork primary school in the 1970s. Photograph: Collins
Children's rights campaigner Louise O'Keeffe has called on both Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Leo Varadkar to deliver on promises to compensate children sexually abused while attending schools.
Ms O'Keeffe has called on both men to honour commitments they gave in the Dáil last July that they would re-open an ex-gratia payment scheme for those sexually abused while attending Irish primary and secondary schools pre-1992.
“Both Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar must honour commitments they made in Dáil Éireann a year ago that they would ensure the victims of child sex abuse in Irish schools were no longer wronged,” Ms O’Keeffe told The Irish Times.
Ms O'Keeffe was sexually abused by primary school principal Leo Hickey in Dunderrow National School in West Cork in the early 1970s and he was later convicted of abusing her, but the State had denied any civil liability.
READ MORE
Ms O’Keeffe brought a case for damages through the Irish courts system but they ruled that the Department of Education was not liable because the school was under the management of the Catholic church even though the State paid Hickey’s salary.
It was only when Ms O'Keeffe took her case to the European Court of Human Rights that she was vindicated when the ECHR ruled in January 2014 that Ireland had failed to protect her as a five-year-old from Hickey when at school.
But the Government interpreted the ECHR ruling that it was only liable for damages in cases where there had been a prior complaint against an abuser and it was not liable for damages if there had not been a prior complaint.
Last year, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O'Neill reviewed the ECHR judgement and deemed that the State was wrong in its interpretation of the judgement which led it to close off an ex-gratia payment scheme for survivors of child sex abuse.
Mr Justice O’Neill found that it was “inherently illogical” for the State to demand evidence of a “prior complaint”, ruling that this was “incompatible” with the ECHR’s judgement in Ms O’Keeffe case.
Now Ms O'Keeffe has reminded both Mr Martin and Mr Varadkar of promises they made in a debate on the issue in July 2019 in an email that she sent to them and newly appointed Minister for Education Norma Foley on Friday.
Ms O’Keeffe pointed out that Mr Varadkar as Taoiseach had apologised to those who were abused in day schools prior to 1992 for both the abuse itself the State’s delay in acknowledging its responsibility to protect them.
And she quoted Mr Varadkar’s own words that “the State failed them at the time, failed them again a second time when it did not own up to its responsibility and we won’t fail them a third time”.
But she said such victims of child sex abuse have now been failed a third time by the lack of action in the past 12 months, noting both parties had dropped the issue of ex-gratia payments from the programme for government talks.
And she reminded Mr Martin, who was Minister for Education when she began her legal case 22 years ago, that during the same Dáil debate, he said the ex-gratia payment scheme “will be” rather than “may be” re-opened.
"I would urge you to reopen the ex-gratia scheme expeditiously and end the continued suffering of those sexually abused in day schools," said Ms O'Keeffe who was lauded in 2014 by Taoiseach Enda Kenny for her work on the issue
Support
Ms O'Keeffe was supported in her call on the new Government to re-open the ex-gratia scheme by Dr Conor O'Mahony, Director of the Child Law Clinic at UCC, who assisted Ms O'Keeffe in preparing her case for Europe.
“It will be a year this week since Iarfhlaith O’Neill gave his ruling confirming what we have been saying for years - the requirement to show prior complaint before receiving redress was totally incompatible with the ECHR judgement.”
“That should have been the end of the matter because they set up the redress scheme with that requirement to show a complaint prior to your abuse and that was impossible to prove, nobody could prove a prior complaint.
“The simple solution once Iarfhlaith O’Neill ruled that that requirement was incompatible with the ECHR judgement was that you remove that condition and you re-open the scheme but, 12 months on, that has not happened.”
Dr O’Mahony said that re-opening the ex-gratia payments scheme would not prove prohibitively expensive as he estimated that there approximately 360 possible claimants with payments likely to average €84,000 per person.
“My calculations is €84,000 per head and based on a the number of cases we are aware of, 360 people, gives a total figure of €25-30 million which on one level is a substantial sum but is small compared to some other payments.
“If you compare it, €25-30 million to the €1.2 billion paid out in the Residential Institutions redress - it’s only about 2per cent - and to further put in it context, to avoid paying that out, the State has now spent over €2 million in legal fees.”
A Government spokeswoman said the Taoiseach, Mr Martin was acutely aware of the concerns of those who suffered abuse in primary schools and would be engaging with the Department of Education to progress the matter.


theirishtimes--2020-07-05--Gardaí find Dublin business selling alcohol but claiming to be a restaurant

Gardaí have discovered a business claiming to be a restaurant and where alcohol was being sold to customers without a required liquor licence .
A large quantity of alcohol was seized .
The discovery was made in Dublin on Saturday under Operation Navigation , which involves gardaí inspecting pubs and other licensed premises nationwide to ensure compliance with Covid-19 public-health measures .
Gardaí said the business in Dublin was “ allegedly operating as a restaurant ” .
But when it was observed by officers working under Operation Navigation breaches of Covid-19 measures were witnessed .
The sale of alcohol on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of pre-existing liquor licensing laws with a large amount of alcohol seized .
An investigation is ongoing into the breaches of the liquor licensing laws .
Last Monday pubs that served food were allowed to re-open in the Republic , subject to a number of conditions .
These include social distancing being in place , customers pre-booking and staying for a maximum of 1¾ hours , among others .
Gardaí had intended to carry out “ spot checks ” on pubs to ensure compliance .
However , senior Garda officers early last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public-health measures .
As a result gardaí were directed by Garda Headquarters in Dublin ’ s Phoenix Park to carry out inspections of all pubs under Operative Navigation .
The conditions in place that pubs have been asked to adhere to are public-health measures rather than regulations .
That means breaching any of the measures is not a crime .
While gardaí do not have the power to close a pub on the spot , if they find pubs not adhering to the Covid-19 public-health measures they can inform the Health & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any workplace under court order on the grounds they pose a risk to the health or safety of employees .
In the case of publicans not adhering to the public-health measures , gardaí can also record the breaches and when the publican ’ s licence comes up for renewal in the courts , gardaí can object to its renewal .

Part of the consignment of alcohol seized by gardaí on Saturday
Gardaí have discovered a business claiming to be a restaurant and where alcohol was being sold to customers without a required liquor licence. A large quantity of alcohol was seized.
The discovery was made in Dublin on Saturday under Operation Navigation, which involves gardaí inspecting pubs and other licensed premises nationwide to ensure compliance with Covid-19 public-health measures.
Gardaí said the business in Dublin was “allegedly operating as a restaurant”. But when it was observed by officers working under Operation Navigation breaches of Covid-19 measures were witnessed.
Some of the alcohol seized in Dublin
The sale of alcohol on the premises was taking place in breach of pre-existing liquor licensing laws with a large amount of alcohol seized. An investigation is ongoing into the breaches of the liquor licensing laws.
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Last Monday pubs that served food were allowed to re-open in the Republic, subject to a number of conditions. These include social distancing being in place, customers pre-booking and staying for a maximum of 1¾ hours, among others.
Gardaí had intended to carry out “spot checks” on pubs to ensure compliance. However, senior Garda officers early last week received reports that some pubs were flouting the public-health measures.
As a result gardaí were directed by Garda Headquarters in Dublin's Phoenix Park to carry out inspections of all pubs under Operative Navigation.
The conditions in place that pubs have been asked to adhere to are public-health measures rather than regulations. That means breaching any of the measures is not a crime.
While gardaí do not have the power to close a pub on the spot, if they find pubs not adhering to the Covid-19 public-health measures they can inform the Health & Safety Authority. The HSA can close any workplace under court order on the grounds they pose a risk to the health or safety of employees.
In the case of publicans not adhering to the public-health measures, gardaí can also record the breaches and when the publican’s licence comes up for renewal in the courts, gardaí can object to its renewal.