theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Universities lack cash to survive ‘beyond short time frame’

Many universities do not have financial reserves to survive “ beyond a relatively short time frame ” , according to Higher Education Authority records that detail the scale of the crisis facing the sector .
There are also growing concerns over the finances of some universities that risk defaulting on loans up to €800 million used to upgrade college campuses .
The deepening crisis facing the sector comes as colleges face the headache of trying to accommodate thousands of students later than expected due to delays releasing the Leaving Cert results .
All universities are revising their plans to receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orientation weeks “ may not now be possible ” and lost time will be made up later in the academic year .
Student groups have also reacted angrily to the three-week delay in issuing results , which they say will add to stress and uncertainty and make it much harder for students to secure accommodation .
Meanwhile , talks are understood to be taking place within Government over emergency funding for third-level education worth about €100 million .
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris is seeking a package to provide funding to meet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting the health service response to the pandemic and preparing college campuses for the arrival of students .
In addition , funding is likely to include millions of euro for digital devices for students who can not afford them , as well as extra on-campus counselling and mental health supports .
The funding , say sources , will not extend to giving money for accumulated deficits or losses beyond those related to Covid-19 .
The sector estimates that it is facing a €500 million shortfall between now and the end of next year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drop in the projected number of international students as well as income losses linked to empty student accommodated and cancelled events .
Meanwhile , public health advice for the reopening of college campuses is being finalised and likely to be published next week .
While current guidelines state that a distance of 2m should be maintained , universities are understood to be seeking this distance to be reduced to 1m as long as students wear face masks .
Higher education sources say a move to relax physical distancing rules for colleges will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaningful experience on campus beyond remote learning .
A 1m rule , say sources , would allow more students to attend lectures and take part in tutorials and laboratory work .

Many universities do not have financial reserves to survive "beyond a relatively short time frame", according to Higher Education Authority records that detail the scale of the crisis facing the sector.
There are also growing concerns over the finances of some universities that risk defaulting on loans up to €800 million used to upgrade college campuses.
The deepening crisis facing the sector comes as colleges face the headache of trying to accommodate thousands of students later than expected due to delays releasing the Leaving Cert results.
All universities are revising their plans to receive first-year students and say plans to provide orientation weeks “may not now be possible” and lost time will be made up later in the academic year.
READ MORE
Student groups have also reacted angrily to the three-week delay in issuing results, which they say will add to stress and uncertainty and make it much harder for students to secure accommodation.
Meanwhile, talks are understood to be taking place within Government over emergency funding for third-level education worth about €100 million.
Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris is seeking a package to provide funding to meet costs related to Covid-19, such as supporting the health service response to the pandemic and preparing college campuses for the arrival of students.
Mental health
In addition, funding is likely to include millions of euro for digital devices for students who cannot afford them, as well as extra on-campus counselling and mental health supports.
The funding, say sources, will not extend to giving money for accumulated deficits or losses beyond those related to Covid-19.
The sector estimates that it is facing a €500 million shortfall between now and the end of next year.
This is linked to a sharp drop in the projected number of international students as well as income losses linked to empty student accommodated and cancelled events.
Meanwhile, public health advice for the reopening of college campuses is being finalised and likely to be published next week.
While current guidelines state that a distance of 2m should be maintained, universities are understood to be seeking this distance to be reduced to 1m as long as students wear face masks.
Higher education sources say a move to relax physical distancing rules for colleges will be crucial if colleges are to offer a meaningful experience on campus beyond remote learning.
A 1m rule, say sources, would allow more students to attend lectures and take part in tutorials and laboratory work.


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--‘Everyone keeps asking why I’m staying but I don’t want to strike out Ireland,’ says jailed student

“ Can you explain to mum that I ’ m okay .
Tell her , I don ’ t know , that they ’ ve put me in some sort of medical centre until the next flight leaves for Copenhagen so she doesn ’ t get too worried .
I love you a lot , kisses , ciao , I have to go.
” Estafany Alquinta González ’ s WhatsApp voice message to her sister , sent in the afternoon of Thursday , July 2nd , lasts 45 seconds .
Speaking in her native Spanish , her voice shakes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entry into Ireland and is being deported back to Denmark .
“ I ’ ve been told I ’ ll have to spend two days in a police station until my flight leaves ” , she says .
“ After that I don ’ t know what I ’ ll do because I don ’ t have a visa , maybe I ’ ll go back to Chile .
” Her voice quivers and she lets out a quick sigh before asking that her sister keep the truth from their mother .
After @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to an immigration official .
She would not see it again for 12 days .
On Tuesday , González was released from Mountjoy prison ’ s female Dóchas centre after spending nearly two weeks in solitary confinement .
The 33-year-old environmental engineer had arrived in Dublin earlier this month for a six-month English language course .
A seasoned traveller , González previously lived in New Zealand and spent the last two years working in Denmark and Germany .
A few months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit Europe , she decided to enrol on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improve her fluency .
“ I ’ m an engineer and I wanted to start finding work in that area but didn ’ t have the English needed to do a PhD or communicate professionally about my work.
” She was conscious that her Danish visa – due to expire in May but extended until July because of the pandemic – was running out .
The pandemic had hit home in a personal way when , in early May , her 64-year-old father contracted the virus and died .
“ He was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We always spoke through WhatsApp and I knew he was there for me whenever I needed him .
But then suddenly , he was no longer there.
” In early June , González contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs ( DFA ) using their webchat service asking whether it was possible to travel to Ireland for her English course .
She was told she would need to quarantine for two weeks but as long as she had all the necessary documentation she wouldn ’ t have any problems .
Chileans do not need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entitled to a three month tourist stamp .
González planned to contact the immigration services after completing her quarantine to arrange her residence permission to study .
She arrived into Dublin shortly after 4.30pm on Thursday , July 2nd .
At immigration control , she handed over a series of documents , including proof of payment for her English course and information on the accommodation where she planned to self-isolate .
When told she was not permitted to enter as a foreign student during the pandemic , González handed over a print-out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official again refused entry and said she would be deported back to Denmark on the next available flight .
It later emerged she was denied entry on the grounds that she represented a real and immediate threat to the fundamental policy interests of the State .
Her phone was taken and she was brought to a small room where she spent a number of hours .
She was told she would spend two nights in a Garda station as there was no flight until Saturday .
She was briefly allowed to use her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sister before being led to a Garda car and driven to the Dóchas centre .
On leaving her small backpack at the entrance , she changed into prison clothing and was brought to a small cell .
“ When I saw the words prison outside I was so scared .
The only thing in my mind was what I ’ d seen about jails on TV .
I imagined a horrible place.
” That night , she asked the prison guards to leave the light on in her cell .
“ I needed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sleep .
It ’ s still hard to sleep even now that I ’ m out.
” González did not see any other inmates during the following week .
Guards were friendly and gave her books and puzzles to keep her busy .
She was tested for coronavirus and it came back negative .
She lay awake each night thinking about her father .
“ I had no way of distracting myself at night .
I started asking my dad to help me get out .
In Chile we believe that when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forever .
So I knew he was there beside me .
After nine days González received a call from solicitor Wendy Lyon .
Her sister and friends had spent the previous week trying to find a lawyer in Dublin .
González says she was never given the opportunity to contact a solicitor before Lyon ’ s call .
On Monday , July 13th , Lyon presented the case to the courts and González was called to appear in person the following day .
She attended on Tuesday and was freed after the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the legality of her detention .
She was brought to collect her belongings from the prison and the airport , including her phone which “ had about 800 messages ” , before checking into a hotel for the night .
She has been granted her three month tourist stamp and plans to apply for permission to remain and study .
“ Everyone keeps asking why am I staying here but I don ’ t want to just strike out Ireland after everything that ’ s happened .
I want to put that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything that happens from now on .
I came with a plan to study English and I ’ m not going to give up on that dream when I did nothing wrong.
” On Friday , the Chilean engineer packed her belongings and took a bus to Galway .
The night before leaving the capital , she struck up a conversation with her taxi driver .
Upon hearing where she was from , he asked whether she was the woman he ’ d heard about on the radio .
“ He told me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had done .
That made me feel good .
It felt like it came from the heart .
”

"Can you explain to mum that I'm okay. Tell her, I don't know, that they've put me in some sort of medical centre until the next flight leaves for Copenhagen so she doesn't get too worried. I love you a lot, kisses, ciao, I have to go."
Estafany Alquinta González's WhatsApp voice message to her sister, sent in the afternoon of Thursday, July 2nd, lasts 45 seconds. Speaking in her native Spanish, her voice shakes as she frantically explains she has been refused entry into Ireland and is being deported back to Denmark.
"I've been told I'll have to spend two days in a police station until my flight leaves", she says. "After that I don't know what I'll do because I don't have a visa, maybe I'll go back to Chile. " Her voice quivers and she lets out a quick sigh before asking that her sister keep the truth from their mother.
After recording the message González handed her phone to an immigration official. She would not see it again for 12 days.
READ MORE
On Tuesday, González was released from Mountjoy prison’s female Dóchas centre after spending nearly two weeks in solitary confinement. The 33-year-old environmental engineer had arrived in Dublin earlier this month for a six-month English language course.
A seasoned traveller, González previously lived in New Zealand and spent the last two years working in Denmark and Germany. A few months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit Europe, she decided to enrol on a six-month English language course in Dublin to improve her fluency.
“I’m an engineer and I wanted to start finding work in that area but didn’t have the English needed to do a PhD or communicate professionally about my work.”
She was conscious that her Danish visa – due to expire in May but extended until July because of the pandemic – was running out. The pandemic had hit home in a personal way when, in early May, her 64-year-old father contracted the virus and died. “He was a very independent person like me. We always spoke through WhatsApp and I knew he was there for me whenever I needed him. But then suddenly, he was no longer there.”
In early June, González contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) using their webchat service asking whether it was possible to travel to Ireland for her English course. She was told she would need to quarantine for two weeks but as long as she had all the necessary documentation she wouldn’t have any problems.
Chileans do not need a visa to enter Ireland and are entitled to a three month tourist stamp. González planned to contact the immigration services after completing her quarantine to arrange her residence permission to study.
She arrived into Dublin shortly after 4.30pm on Thursday, July 2nd. At immigration control, she handed over a series of documents, including proof of payment for her English course and information on the accommodation where she planned to self-isolate.
When told she was not permitted to enter as a foreign student during the pandemic, González handed over a print-out of her DFA web chat conversation. The official again refused entry and said she would be deported back to Denmark on the next available flight. It later emerged she was denied entry on the grounds that she represented a real and immediate threat to the fundamental policy interests of the State.
Her phone was taken and she was brought to a small room where she spent a number of hours. She was told she would spend two nights in a Garda station as there was no flight until Saturday. She was briefly allowed to use her phone to send a message to her sister before being led to a Garda car and driven to the Dóchas centre.
On leaving her small backpack at the entrance, she changed into prison clothing and was brought to a small cell. “When I saw the words prison outside I was so scared. The only thing in my mind was what I’d seen about jails on TV. I imagined a horrible place.”
That night, she asked the prison guards to leave the light on in her cell. “I needed that light. It was so hard to sleep. It’s still hard to sleep even now that I’m out.”
González did not see any other inmates during the following week. Guards were friendly and gave her books and puzzles to keep her busy. She was tested for coronavirus and it came back negative.
She lay awake each night thinking about her father. “I had no way of distracting myself at night. I started asking my dad to help me get out. In Chile we believe that when a person dies they stay with us forever. So I knew he was there beside me.
After nine days González received a call from solicitor Wendy Lyon. Her sister and friends had spent the previous week trying to find a lawyer in Dublin. González says she was never given the opportunity to contact a solicitor before Lyon’s call.
On Monday, July 13th, Lyon presented the case to the courts and González was called to appear in person the following day. She attended on Tuesday and was freed after the State did not contest the High Court-ordered inquiry into the legality of her detention.
She was brought to collect her belongings from the prison and the airport, including her phone which “had about 800 messages”, before checking into a hotel for the night. She has been granted her three month tourist stamp and plans to apply for permission to remain and study.
“Everyone keeps asking why am I staying here but I don’t want to just strike out Ireland after everything that’s happened. I want to put that in a bubble and judge Ireland on everything that happens from now on. I came with a plan to study English and I’m not going to give up on that dream when I did nothing wrong.”
On Friday, the Chilean engineer packed her belongings and took a bus to Galway. The night before leaving the capital, she struck up a conversation with her taxi driver. Upon hearing where she was from, he asked whether she was the woman he’d heard about on the radio. “He told me he was sorry for what his country had done. That made me feel good. It felt like it came from the heart.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Gardaí investigate alleged false imprisonment of fisheries officers off Mayo coast

Gardaí are investigating the alleged false imprisonment of two inland fisheries staff who were investigating salmon poaching off the Mayo coast .
Salmon poaching in this area has “ sky-rocketed ” since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis , according to Francis O ’ Donnell , regional director of Inland Fisheries Ireland ( IFI ) .
It is understood that in Wednesday night ’ s incident two fisheries officers , who boarded a boat they suspected of having been involved in poaching , were taken out to sea against their will .
Two of their colleagues who were involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr O ’ Donnell said that while drift net fishing for salmon had been outlawed in 2007 , 1.5km of illegal drift net was seized off Inishbofin in just one case last Wednesday .
Sean Long , another IFI director based in the South Western Regional Basin , said that so far this year his staff had seized 50 per cent more nets than for the whole of 2019 .
With poached wild salmon fetching anything up to €50 on the underground market , Mr Long pointed out that it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was posing a serious risk to salmon stocks , already so severely depleted that some rivers are closed to anglers .
He stressed that it was illegal for anyone to buy untagged salmon from an unlicensed operator .
IFI bosses believe it is no coincidence that seizures have soared since the coronavirus crisis began , both because their patrols were initially restricted and also because poachers who were not working “ had more time on their hands ” .
Greg Forde , IFI ’ s head of operations , explained that as poachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were initially nearly on lockdown ourselves and only responding to known threats ” .
He said staff are still restricted to one person per vehicle but they quickly adapted and have been using a selection of vehicles including bicycles , quads , kayaks and boats as well as cars while patrolling the waterways .
Mr Long explained that in some cases nets were being staked in estuaries at the mouths of rivers , and salmon on their way to spawn were being caught .
As part of the crackdown on poaching , officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospitality sector , he stressed .
“ It is illegal to poach and it is also illegal to purchase an untagged salmon , ” he said .
In one incident last week fisheries officers in east Cork boarded a boat and seized just under 100kg comprising “ 30 fine salmon ” which could be worth anything from €1,500 to €2,000 , he said .
“ Wild salmon are being sold for €50 a pop at the back door , ” he said .
Confronting poachers can be a hazardous job , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against fisheries officers last year .
In one incident , an officer was struck on the head with the reel of a fishing rod and knocked unconscious after confronting an angler who was fishing illegally .
Mr O ’ Donnell said he could not elaborate on Wednesday night ’ s incident in Co Mayo when two of his staff were “ detained against their will ” as gardaí were investigating , but he described it as serious .
“ It was a frightening incident which happened after dark and gardaí are now investigating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One source said that salmon poaching in the north Mayo area “ is worse now than it has been for 30 years ” but it is also regarded as a serious issue in Co Donegal where last week one seizure from suspected poachers was valued at €1,400 .
Mr Forde said that obviously if poachers using illegal nets caught 30 or 40 salmon at sea , this meant they were not going to get to our rivers to spawn .
A number of hotspots were now being targeted by fisheries officers who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poaching , he added .
A Garda spokesman confirmed that officers in Ballina were investigating an alleged incident of false imprisonment which occurred on a boat at Belderrig Pier , Belderrig , Co Mayo , at approximately 11pm on Wednesday July 15 , 2020 .

Nets are being used ‘in estuaries at the mouths of rivers’ to catch salmon on their way to spawn. File photograph: Getty Images
Gardaí are investigating the alleged false imprisonment of two inland fisheries staff who were investigating salmon poaching off the Mayo coast.
Salmon poaching in this area has "sky-rocketed" since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, according to Francis O'Donnell, regional director of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).
It is understood that in Wednesday night’s incident two fisheries officers, who boarded a boat they suspected of having been involved in poaching, were taken out to sea against their will. Two of their colleagues who were involved in the operation have made allegations of assault.
Mr O’Donnell said that while drift net fishing for salmon had been outlawed in 2007, 1.5km of illegal drift net was seized off Inishbofin in just one case last Wednesday.
READ MORE
Sean Long, another IFI director based in the South Western Regional Basin, said that so far this year his staff had seized 50 per cent more nets than for the whole of 2019.
Underground market
With poached wild salmon fetching anything up to €50 on the underground market, Mr Long pointed out that it was a lucrative trade but he warned that it was posing a serious risk to salmon stocks, already so severely depleted that some rivers are closed to anglers. He stressed that it was illegal for anyone to buy untagged salmon from an unlicensed operator.
IFI bosses believe it is no coincidence that seizures have soared since the coronavirus crisis began, both because their patrols were initially restricted and also because poachers who were not working “had more time on their hands”.
Greg Forde, IFI's head of operations, explained that as poachers took to the waters, "we were initially nearly on lockdown ourselves and only responding to known threats". He said staff are still restricted to one person per vehicle but they quickly adapted and have been using a selection of vehicles including bicycles, quads, kayaks and boats as well as cars while patrolling the waterways.
Mr Long explained that in some cases nets were being staked in estuaries at the mouths of rivers, and salmon on their way to spawn were being caught.
As part of the crackdown on poaching, officers were focusing on potential customers including in the hospitality sector, he stressed. “It is illegal to poach and it is also illegal to purchase an untagged salmon,” he said.
In one incident last week fisheries officers in east Cork boarded a boat and seized just under 100kg comprising "30 fine salmon" which could be worth anything from €1,500 to €2,000, he said. "Wild salmon are being sold for €50 a pop at the back door," he said.
Confronting poachers can be a hazardous job, with 60 “cases of aggression” reported against fisheries officers last year.
Knocked unconscious
In one incident, an officer was struck on the head with the reel of a fishing rod and knocked unconscious after confronting an angler who was fishing illegally.
Mr O’Donnell said he could not elaborate on Wednesday night’s incident in Co Mayo when two of his staff were “detained against their will” as gardaí were investigating, but he described it as serious.
“It was a frightening incident which happened after dark and gardaí are now investigating,” said Mr O’Donnell.
One source said that salmon poaching in the north Mayo area "is worse now than it has been for 30 years" but it is also regarded as a serious issue in Co Donegal where last week one seizure from suspected poachers was valued at €1,400.
Mr Forde said that obviously if poachers using illegal nets caught 30 or 40 salmon at sea, this meant they were not going to get to our rivers to spawn.
A number of hotspots were now being targeted by fisheries officers who were determined to crack down on illegal poaching, he added.
A Garda spokesman confirmed that officers in Ballina were investigating an alleged incident of false imprisonment which occurred on a boat at Belderrig Pier, Belderrig, Co Mayo, at approximately 11pm on Wednesday July 15, 2020.


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Some parents see 10% childcare fee hikes due to Covid-19 costs

Some parents sending their children back to crèches after months of enforced closures are being asked to pay up to 10 per cent more for childcare from September , with providers blaming higher costs on the pandemic .
One condition of a State-funded financial support package for childcare providers would be that they did not raise parental fees from pre-Covid-19 levels for the duration of the temporary funding .
However that funding is due to come to an end on August 23rd .
The €75m package introduced at the end of June included grants to help ease the cost of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and purchasing outdoor play equipment and shelters .
The temporary wage subsidy scheme will also continue to provide up to 85 per cent of staff costs until the end of August .
While some crèches have been telling parents that their increases are in line with increases in everyday running costs including higher insurance premiums others are directly linking the increases to changes that have been required as a result of Covid-19 regulations and a requirement to recruit more staff .
One mother with a child in a south Dublin crèche told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days a week were climbing by €100 to almost €1,300 a month from September .
Another parent with a child in a crèche on Dublin ’ s northside said the costs were climbing by 5 per cent for infants and toddlers and by 10 per cent for after school care .
The increases come after a pledge from the Government to examine setting a cap on childcare fees parents pay regardless of their income .
A potential cap on creche fees will be considered based on similar caps in other European countries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic analysis ” to be completed into the proposal this year Under the Programme for Government agreed between Fianna Fáil , Fine Gael and the Green Party a new agency called Childcare Ireland will be set up to lead reforms in the sector .
The agency will be responsible for the development of a high quality childcare sector , and will be tasked with mapping out long-term career paths for childcare staff .
A report analysing the legal and economic ramifications of such a move is to be published later this year .

The €75m package introduced at the end of June included grants to help ease the cost of hiring cleaning staff, buying hygiene products and purchasing outdoor play equipment and shelters. Photograph: iStock
Some parents sending their children back to crèches after months of enforced closures are being asked to pay up to 10 per cent more for childcare from September, with providers blaming higher costs on the pandemic.
One condition of a State-funded financial support package for childcare providers would be that they did not raise parental fees from pre-Covid-19 levels for the duration of the temporary funding. However that funding is due to come to an end on August 23rd.
The €75m package introduced at the end of June included grants to help ease the cost of hiring cleaning staff, buying hygiene products and purchasing outdoor play equipment and shelters. The temporary wage subsidy scheme will also continue to provide up to 85 per cent of staff costs until the end of August.
While some crèches have been telling parents that their increases are in line with increases in everyday running costs including higher insurance premiums others are directly linking the increases to changes that have been required as a result of Covid-19 regulations and a requirement to recruit more staff.
READ MORE
One mother with a child in a south Dublin crèche told The Irish Times the fees for care five days a week were climbing by €100 to almost €1,300 a month from September.
Another parent with a child in a crèche on Dublin’s northside said the costs were climbing by 5 per cent for infants and toddlers and by 10 per cent for after school care.
The increases come after a pledge from the Government to examine setting a cap on childcare fees parents pay regardless of their income.
A potential cap on creche fees will be considered based on similar caps in other European countries, with a “policy, legal and economic analysis” to be completed into the proposal this year
Under the Programme for Government agreed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party a new agency called Childcare Ireland will be set up to lead reforms in the sector.
The agency will be responsible for the development of a high quality childcare sector, and will be tasked with mapping out long-term career paths for childcare staff.
A report analysing the legal and economic ramifications of such a move is to be published later this year.


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Coronavirus: Two further deaths and 21 new cases reported

There have been two further deaths related to Covid-19 and 21 new confirmed cases , according to figures released by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) on Saturday .
This brings the death toll from the virus to 1,753 and the total number of cases in Ireland to 25,750 .
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said the validation of data has resulted in the denotification of one death and one case , with the figures on Saturday reflecting this .
Dr Ronan Glynn , acting chief medical officer , Department of Health , said “ arming ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have against Covid-19 ” .
“ Make sure you know the symptoms – cough , fever , shortness of breath , loss of smell/taste – and act quickly in isolating and phoning your GP as early as possible if you experience them .
Do not adopt a wait and see approach , ” he said .
“ Once again , we must each play our part in stemming the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland - follow the public health advice , reduce your social contacts , keep a distance of 2 metres and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , do not organise or attend house parties and wear a face covering when in shops or on public transport .
“ Let ’ s not lose sight of our collective goal : to suppress Covid-19 in the community and thereby protect our health , that of our loved ones , and that of the most vulnerable across our society.
” On Friday NPHET reported 34 new cases – the highest number of daily confirmed cases in more than a month .
Figures here and across Europe are being closely watched as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its final green list of safe countries for unrestricted travel on Monday .
The Government plans to ease travel restrictions to and from some countries with the publication of a list of countries on Monday with similar coronavirus infection rates to Ireland .
Travellers returning from those countries will not have to self-isolate for 14 days .
Higher coronavirus infection rates in the popular holiday destinations of Spain , Portugal and France should rule out their inclusion on a “ green list ” , a leading virologist has said .
One leading doctor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , has said that the public should not expect the most popular sun destinations to be on the list .
Dr Cillian De Gascun , chair of the expert advisory group to NPHET , said the typical destinations for Irish holidaymakers were “ not at a safe level ” right now .
A closely watched metric on the rate of infections in countries , which is collated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , shows that Spain , France , Portugal and Croatia have considerably higher numbers of coronavirus cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coronavirus infections stood on Friday at 4.3 per 100,000 people for Ireland compared with 17.7 for Spain , 11.1 for France , 48.5 for Portugal and 27.6 for Croatia .
“ It would be very difficult to justify putting a country that is established above our own 14-day cumulative incidence rate because it is very risky and an unnecessary risk , ” Dr De Gascun told The Irish Times .
Eight European countries have lower rates of infection than Ireland based on the figures on 14-day cases : Norway , Finland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Cyprus and Malta .
Epidemiological data from shortlisted countries will be tracked this weekend to watch for spikes in infections , with the final number of countries subject to change over the coming two days .
A number of additional countries are considered borderline for inclusion and may not be on the initial list but could be added when the list is reviewed again in two weeks ’ time .
Infection rates in Italy and Greece were on Friday only marginally higher than in Ireland .
Meanwhile on Saturday Ryanair said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business interests ahead of public health concerns and “ travel is not the bogeyman ” when it comes to the spread of Covid-19 .
The airline ’ s chief executive Eddie Wilson once again castigated the Government for what he said was its “ half baked quarantine ” and he called for travel restrictions to be lifted for countries across the EU , with , he suggested , the exception of Sweden .
He denied that he was making the call to protect Ryanair and pointed out that flights to and from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of its total business .
Instead he expressed concern for Irish tourism operators who , he warned , were facing bankruptcy unless visitors from overseas were allowed to travel to the country unimpeded by any Covid-19 related restrictions .
“ Saying we are closed for business with this half-baked quarantine is not going to work , ” Mr Wilson told RTÉ Radio One ’ s The Business with Richard Curran .

There have been two further deaths related to Covid-19 and 21 new confirmed cases, according to figures released by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on Saturday.
This brings the death toll from the virus to 1,753 and the total number of cases in Ireland to 25,750.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said the validation of data has resulted in the denotification of one death and one case, with the figures on Saturday reflecting this.
Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, Department of Health, said "arming ourselves with knowledge is the best defence we have against Covid-19".
READ MORE
“Make sure you know the symptoms – cough, fever, shortness of breath, loss of smell/taste – and act quickly in isolating and phoning your GP as early as possible if you experience them. Do not adopt a wait and see approach,” he said.
“Once again, we must each play our part in stemming the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland - follow the public health advice, reduce your social contacts, keep a distance of 2 metres and plan to see others outdoors where possible, do not organise or attend house parties and wear a face covering when in shops or on public transport.
“Let’s not lose sight of our collective goal: to suppress Covid-19 in the community and thereby protect our health, that of our loved ones, and that of the most vulnerable across our society.”
On Friday NPHET reported 34 new cases – the highest number of daily confirmed cases in more than a month .
Figures here and across Europe are being closely watched as the Cabinet is expected to sign off on its final green list of safe countries for unrestricted travel on Monday.
The Government plans to ease travel restrictions to and from some countries with the publication of a list of countries on Monday with similar coronavirus infection rates to Ireland. Travellers returning from those countries will not have to self-isolate for 14 days.
Higher coronavirus infection rates in the popular holiday destinations of Spain, Portugal and France should rule out their inclusion on a "green list", a leading virologist has said.
One leading doctor on NPHET, which informs Government policy, has said that the public should not expect the most popular sun destinations to be on the list.
Dr Cillian De Gascun, chair of the expert advisory group to NPHET, said the typical destinations for Irish holidaymakers were "not at a safe level" right now.
A closely watched metric on the rate of infections in countries, which is collated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, shows that Spain, France, Portugal and Croatia have considerably higher numbers of coronavirus cases than Ireland.
The 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus infections stood on Friday at 4.3 per 100,000 people for Ireland compared with 17.7 for Spain, 11.1 for France, 48.5 for Portugal and 27.6 for Croatia.
Unnecessary risk
“It would be very difficult to justify putting a country that is established above our own 14-day cumulative incidence rate because it is very risky and an unnecessary risk,” Dr De Gascun told The Irish Times.
Eight European countries have lower rates of infection than Ireland based on the figures on 14-day cases: Norway, Finland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus and Malta.
Epidemiological data from shortlisted countries will be tracked this weekend to watch for spikes in infections, with the final number of countries subject to change over the coming two days.
A number of additional countries are considered borderline for inclusion and may not be on the initial list but could be added when the list is reviewed again in two weeks’ time.
Infection rates in Italy and Greece were on Friday only marginally higher than in Ireland.
Meanwhile on Saturday Ryanair said it is "absolutely not" putting its business interests ahead of public health concerns and "travel is not the bogeyman" when it comes to the spread of Covid-19.
The airline's chief executive Eddie Wilson once again castigated the Government for what he said was its "half baked quarantine" and he called for travel restrictions to be lifted for countries across the EU, with, he suggested, the exception of Sweden.
He denied that he was making the call to protect Ryanair and pointed out that flights to and from the Island of Ireland amounted to about 8 per cent of its total business.
Instead he expressed concern for Irish tourism operators who, he warned, were facing bankruptcy unless visitors from overseas were allowed to travel to the country unimpeded by any Covid-19 related restrictions.
"Saying we are closed for business with this half-baked quarantine is not going to work," Mr Wilson told RTÉ Radio One's The Business with Richard Curran.


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Former Debenhams workers call for action as they protest across Ireland

Former Debenhams workers have marked the 100th day of their dispute over redundancy terms by staging a series of protests around Ireland .
The former staff claim the package offered to them when the Irish arm of Debenhams was placed into liquidation this spring was unfair .
They are set to receive statutory redundancy payouts of two weeks of salary per year of service .
The workers are demanding four weeks ’ pay per service year .
They are also calling on the Government to waive monies owed to it through the liquidation process so they can be used to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is set to use proceeds of the liquidation of the Irish business ’ s assets to pay off key creditors , such as the Revenue Commissioners and other State bodies .
The Irish arm of Debenhams , which operated 11 stores in the country , was placed into liquidation in April .
The Irish store closures came after the UK parent company entered administration and ended its financial support of the Irish business .
The workers have been blocking the removal of stock from the former Debenhams stores since their closure .
KPMG @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stock removal is slowing the liquidation process .
About 950 staff were employed directly by Debenhams Retail Ireland , with an additional 500 workers at in-store concession stands operated by other retailers .
Many Debenhams stores in the UK have reopened despite the company ’ s financial difficulties after striking deals with landlords .
At Saturday ’ s protest outside the store on Henry Street in Dublin , shop steward Jane Crowe said stopping the removal of the stock gave the workers some leverage in the redundancy dispute .
“ We are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ picket 24 hours a day around at the loading bay to hold onto the stock as leverage , they ’ re not getting that until they sit down and talk to us , ” she said .
She added : “ I am immensely proud of our members who have stood up to Debenhams , who are standing up to the Government and who have fought right the way through the storm of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ There is no way we are giving up now .
[ Taoiseach ] Micheál Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ words has passed , now is the time for action and we are demanding that he deliver.
” Long-time worker Sam Soliman was among those who addressed the demonstration .
“ We are here to demand our right and our respect , ” she said .
– PA

Former Debenhams staff rally outside the store on Henry Street in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Former Debenhams workers have marked the 100th day of their dispute over redundancy terms by staging a series of protests around Ireland.
The former staff claim the package offered to them when the Irish arm of Debenhams was placed into liquidation this spring was unfair.
They are set to receive statutory redundancy payouts of two weeks of salary per year of service. The workers are demanding four weeks’ pay per service year.
They are also calling on the Government to waive monies owed to it through the liquidation process so they can be used to boost the redundancy packages.
READ MORE
Liquidator KPMG is set to use proceeds of the liquidation of the Irish business's assets to pay off key creditors, such as the Revenue Commissioners and other State bodies.
The Irish arm of Debenhams, which operated 11 stores in the country, was placed into liquidation in April.
The Irish store closures came after the UK parent company entered administration and ended its financial support of the Irish business.
The workers have been blocking the removal of stock from the former Debenhams stores since their closure.
KPMG has warned that the blockade of the stock removal is slowing the liquidation process.
About 950 staff were employed directly by Debenhams Retail Ireland, with an additional 500 workers at in-store concession stands operated by other retailers.
Many Debenhams stores in the UK have reopened despite the company’s financial difficulties after striking deals with landlords.
Leverage
At Saturday's protest outside the store on Henry Street in Dublin, shop steward Jane Crowe said stopping the removal of the stock gave the workers some leverage in the redundancy dispute.
Former Debenhams staff rally outside the store on Henry Street in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
“We are not a large group, we are on picket 24 hours a day around at the loading bay to hold onto the stock as leverage, they’re not getting that until they sit down and talk to us,” she said.
She added: “I am immensely proud of our members who have stood up to Debenhams, who are standing up to the Government and who have fought right the way through the storm of the coronavirus pandemic.
“There is no way we are giving up now. [Taoiseach] Micheál Martin needs to understand that the time for words has passed, now is the time for action and we are demanding that he deliver.”
Long-time worker Sam Soliman was among those who addressed the demonstration.
“We are here to demand our right and our respect,” she said. – PA


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Russian man who sought asylum sues State for imprisoning him alongside axe murderer

A Russian man who sought asylum in Ireland is suing the State for imprisoning him for almost a month and allegedly making him share a cell with an axe murderer before improperly deporting him .
Ivan Vostrikov ( 33 ) arrived in Ireland in 2013 and applied for refugee status in the State on the basis of his political activities and that he would be regarded as a deserter from the Russian army if he returned home .
He also alleged he suffered torture in Russia .
He had already applied for asylum in Germany , the UK and Poland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court documents , Mr Vostrikov alleged that in the early hours of September 24th , 2013 , gardaí entered the Balseskin Reception Centre in Dublin where he was staying and “ unlawfully arrested him ” .
“ The said members of An Garda Síochána proceeded to physically restrain , unlawfully detain and falsely imprison the plaintiff , ” the statement of claims says .
Mr Vostrikov was then detained in Cloverhill remand prison in Dublin for 23 days .
While there , he alleges he had to share a cell with various prisoners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of them , Marius Gaizutis , was later convicted of murdering another man with an axe on a beach in Co Meath in 2013 .
Due to overcrowding , Mr Vostrikov sometimes had to share a cell with three others and sleep on a mattress on the floor .
“ The said detention constituted false imprisonment , ” the statement says .
On October 16th , 2013 , he was deported to Germany , as that was the place where he made his initial asylum claim , a claim which , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still open .
Under the EU ’ s Dublin regulations , asylum seekers must seek asylum in the country they first arrive in and must remain there until the claim is decided .
Mr Vostrikov alleges that after leaving Ireland he arrived in Berlin with no possessions and had to make his way to an immigration camp in Chemnitz .
“ The plaintiff was forced to share a room with 11 others in the Chemnitz camp .
There was blood on the walls of his room , and assaults , violence and harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days later he was ordered by the German authorities to leave the country , prompting him to travel to Belgium .
In the meantime the Refugee Appeals Tribunal here considered his case and ruled he should never have been deported to Germany .
Mr Vostrikov was given permission to return to Ireland and returned here after a year in Belgium .
He alleges he suffered further distress on his return when the authorities at first refused to give him a temporary residence permit .
Mr Vostrikov , who lives in Co Kerry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is suing the Garda , the Attorney General , the Minister for Justice and the Refugee Applications Commissioner on several grounds , including alleged false imprisonment and psychological distress .
According to court records , the case , which was first lodged in 2016 , has been postponed several times due to delays by the State in furnishing documents .
It is expected to appear before the High Court again later this year .

A Russian man who sought asylum in Ireland is suing the State for imprisoning him for almost a month and allegedly making him share a cell with an axe murderer before improperly deporting him.
Ivan Vostrikov (33) arrived in Ireland in 2013 and applied for refugee status in the State on the basis of his political activities and that he would be regarded as a deserter from the Russian army if he returned home. He also alleged he suffered torture in Russia. He had already applied for asylum in Germany, the UK and Poland before arriving in Ireland.
According to court documents, Mr Vostrikov alleged that in the early hours of September 24th, 2013, gardaí entered the Balseskin Reception Centre in Dublin where he was staying and “unlawfully arrested him”.
"The said members of An Garda Síochána proceeded to physically restrain, unlawfully detain and falsely imprison the plaintiff," the statement of claims says.
READ MORE
Mr Vostrikov was then detained in Cloverhill remand prison in Dublin for 23 days. While there, he alleges he had to share a cell with various prisoners, including two men charged with murder.
One of them, Marius Gaizutis, was later convicted of murdering another man with an axe on a beach in Co Meath in 2013.
Due to overcrowding, Mr Vostrikov sometimes had to share a cell with three others and sleep on a mattress on the floor.
“The said detention constituted false imprisonment,” the statement says.
On October 16th, 2013, he was deported to Germany, as that was the place where he made his initial asylum claim, a claim which, according to the Irish authorities, was still open.
Under the EU’s Dublin regulations, asylum seekers must seek asylum in the country they first arrive in and must remain there until the claim is decided.
Chemnitz camp
Mr Vostrikov alleges that after leaving Ireland he arrived in Berlin with no possessions and had to make his way to an immigration camp in Chemnitz. "The plaintiff was forced to share a room with 11 others in the Chemnitz camp. There was blood on the walls of his room, and assaults, violence and harassment were widespread in the camp."
Nine days later he was ordered by the German authorities to leave the country, prompting him to travel to Belgium.
In the meantime the Refugee Appeals Tribunal here considered his case and ruled he should never have been deported to Germany.
Mr Vostrikov was given permission to return to Ireland and returned here after a year in Belgium.
He alleges he suffered further distress on his return when the authorities at first refused to give him a temporary residence permit. Mr Vostrikov, who lives in Co Kerry, has since been granted leave to remain.
He is suing the Garda, the Attorney General, the Minister for Justice and the Refugee Applications Commissioner on several grounds, including alleged false imprisonment and psychological distress.
According to court records, the case, which was first lodged in 2016, has been postponed several times due to delays by the State in furnishing documents. It is expected to appear before the High Court again later this year.


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Gardaí investigating assault on City Bin staff member

Gardaí are investigating an assault on a member of a waste collection company that took place in north Dublin on Friday .
The incident occurred at Holywell Road , Donaghmede , at about 10.10am .
Gardaí said a man in his 30s was taken to Beaumont Hospital with non-life threatening injuries .
A spokesman for the force said no arrests have been made and that investigations are ongoing .
Footage of the attack has been shared widely on social media over the past 24 hours .
In the video , the driver of a car can be heard shouting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get out of his way .
The man ’ s car can then mounts the footpath at speed before pulling back onto the road and coming to halt in front of the bin lorry .
A man then exits the car , approaches the driver ’ s side of the vehicle , opens the door and gets involved in a physical altercation with the driver of the lorry .
As the man returns to his vehicle , words are exchanged with a second member of City Bin staff who was retrieving a wheelie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then opens the boot of his car , takes out an implement , and strikes the City Bin staff member in the head before returning to his car .
In a statement , City Bin said it was aware of the incident and was liaising with gardaí in relation to the matter .
“ We ’ re aware of a video circulating on social media this evening of an incident involving one of our City Bin crew today , and wanted to shed some light on the events , ” it said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an essential frontline service , two of our crew were subjected to an unprovoked attack by a member of the public leading to a serious assault on one of our helpers .
“ Thankfully , out colleague has been discharged from hospital this evening and , though shaken by the incident , will make a full recovery .
”

Gardaí are investigating an assault on a member of a waste collection company that took place in north Dublin on Friday.
The incident occurred at Holywell Road, Donaghmede, at about 10.10am. Gardaí said a man in his 30s was taken to Beaumont Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
A spokesman for the force said no arrests have been made and that investigations are ongoing.
Footage of the attack has been shared widely on social media over the past 24 hours. In the video, the driver of a car can be heard shouting at the driver of the bin lorry to get out of his way.
READ MORE
The man’s car can then mounts the footpath at speed before pulling back onto the road and coming to halt in front of the bin lorry.
A man then exits the car, approaches the driver’s side of the vehicle, opens the door and gets involved in a physical altercation with the driver of the lorry.
As the man returns to his vehicle, words are exchanged with a second member of City Bin staff who was retrieving a wheelie bin from the pavement.
The man then opens the boot of his car, takes out an implement, and strikes the City Bin staff member in the head before returning to his car.
In a statement, City Bin said it was aware of the incident and was liaising with gardaí in relation to the matter.
“We’re aware of a video circulating on social media this evening of an incident involving one of our City Bin crew today, and wanted to shed some light on the events,” it said.
“Earlier this morning, while providing an essential frontline service, two of our crew were subjected to an unprovoked attack by a member of the public leading to a serious assault on one of our helpers.
“Thankfully, out colleague has been discharged from hospital this evening and, though shaken by the incident, will make a full recovery.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Vatican backs campaign for reburial of Tuam babies’ remains

Campaigners for the reburial of remains of babies at the former Tuam mother and baby home say Vatican backing for their plight should heap pressure on the Government to act .
Historian Catherine Corless , who gathered death certificates for 796 infants linked to the home in Co Galway , has been told by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland that he shares Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary ’ s view that there should be a “ dignified re-interment ” of the remains in consecrated ground .
Ms Corless wrote to Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo , the Pope ’ s ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received a response two days later .
“ It is uplifting really to know that the Vatican is behind us , ” she told The Irish Times .
“ This is going on six or seven years now and it is a long time to be dragging it out .
“ I would hope this might put a bit of pressure on the government to wake up and let them know we haven ’ t faded away , we are still here and we need the final report and the exhumation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was delayed again in June for another four months , with the Government blaming the coronavirus for the latest setback .
The commission was established to inquire into the treatment of , and dealings with , women and children in 14 mother and baby homes as well as four county homes between 1922 and 1998 .
It was set up following claims that up to 800 babies may have been interred in an unmarked mass grave in the Bon Secours mother and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the site in 2017 showed “ significant quantities of human remains ” in a 20-chamber underground structure near a decommissioned sewage tank .
DNA analysis confirmed the ages of the dead children ranged from 35 weeks gestation to three years and were buried chiefly in the 1950s .
The Tuam home , which was run by the Sisters of Bon Secours order of Catholic nuns , closed in 1961 .
Archbishop Neary has said it was a “ priority ” for him to re-inter the babies ’ bodies in consecrated ground , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that he would bless the ground where they were originally buried .
In a letter to Ms Corless , dated July 15th , Archbishop Okolo said he shared Archbishop Neary ’ s views and that it was his conviction that everyone could work together to “ rectify the mistakes of the past ” .
Ms Corless said the reply “ means a lot to us and to each and every survivor ” .
Ongoing delays by the Government were “ heartbreaking ” for survivors , many of whom “ are afraid they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t live that long to see justice done ” , she added .
“ It is really degrading for all survivors .
They are being treated like they always were , as if they ’ re not important , they are second class citizens .
I hope this might make the Government aware that we are very much here and we haven ’ t gone away .
“ It is heartbreaking to think that it doesn ’ t seem to matter , that hundreds of babies were disposed of in this manner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone can leave them there .
It is a disgrace that this hasn ’ t been sorted long ago.
” Ms Corless said it “ is a boost , now the Vatican is behind us.
” Ms Corless said the suggestion by Archbishop Neary that the Tuam site could be blessed if the Government objected to the exhumation of bodies was unacceptable .
“ You can ’ t bless a septic tank and leave the remains there .
That is out of the question , ” she said .

A shrine dedicated to children lost at the site of the Tuam babies graveyard. Photograph: Clodagh Kilcoyne/Reuters/File
Campaigners for the reburial of remains of babies at the former Tuam mother and baby home say Vatican backing for their plight should heap pressure on the Government to act.
Historian Catherine Corless, who gathered death certificates for 796 infants linked to the home in Co Galway, has been told by the Papal Nuncio to Ireland that he shares Archbishop of Tuam Michael Neary's view that there should be a "dignified re-interment" of the remains in consecrated ground.
Ms Corless wrote to Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo, the Pope’s ambassador to Ireland, earlier this week and received a response two days later.
“It is uplifting really to know that the Vatican is behind us,” she told The Irish Times.
READ MORE
“This is going on six or seven years now and it is a long time to be dragging it out.
“I would hope this might put a bit of pressure on the government to wake up and let them know we haven’t faded away, we are still here and we need the final report and the exhumation of the remains.”
The release of the final report from the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes was delayed again in June for another four months, with the Government blaming the coronavirus for the latest setback.
The commission was established to inquire into the treatment of, and dealings with, women and children in 14 mother and baby homes as well as four county homes between 1922 and 1998.
It was set up following claims that up to 800 babies may have been interred in an unmarked mass grave in the Bon Secours mother and baby home in Tuam.
Excavations of the site in 2017 showed “significant quantities of human remains” in a 20-chamber underground structure near a decommissioned sewage tank. DNA analysis confirmed the ages of the dead children ranged from 35 weeks gestation to three years and were buried chiefly in the 1950s.
The Tuam home, which was run by the Sisters of Bon Secours order of Catholic nuns, closed in 1961.
Archbishop Neary has said it was a “priority” for him to re-inter the babies’ bodies in consecrated ground, or if government refuses to authorise the exhumations, that he would bless the ground where they were originally buried.
In a letter to Ms Corless, dated July 15th, Archbishop Okolo said he shared Archbishop Neary’s views and that it was his conviction that everyone could work together to “rectify the mistakes of the past”.
Ms Corless said the reply “means a lot to us and to each and every survivor”.
Ongoing delays by the Government were “heartbreaking” for survivors, many of whom “are afraid they won’t last, they won’t live that long to see justice done”, she added.
“It is really degrading for all survivors. They are being treated like they always were, as if they’re not important, they are second class citizens. I hope this might make the Government aware that we are very much here and we haven’t gone away.
“It is heartbreaking to think that it doesn’t seem to matter, that hundreds of babies were disposed of in this manner. It is beyond my understanding how anyone can leave them there. It is a disgrace that this hasn’t been sorted long ago.”
Ms Corless said it “is a boost, now the Vatican is behind us.”
Ms Corless said the suggestion by Archbishop Neary that the Tuam site could be blessed if the Government objected to the exhumation of bodies was unacceptable.
“You can’t bless a septic tank and leave the remains there. That is out of the question,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Over €40,000 in cash seized at house in Co Longford

More than €40,000 in cash has been seized at a house in Co Longford as part of an ongoing Criminal @ @ @ @ @ investigation into suspected money laundering .
A search warrant had been obtained on Friday evening @ @ @ @ @ received .
A search was then carried out at the residence by gardaí from the @ @ @ @ @ the Armed Support Unit , in the early hours of Saturday .
One man was @ @ @ @ @ the course of the search and cash in excess of €40,000 was seized .
No @ @ @ @ @ are ongoing .

More than €40,000 in cash has been seized at a house in Co Longford. File photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times
More than €40,000 in cash has been seized at a house in Co Longford as part of an ongoing Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) investigation into suspected money laundering.
A search warrant had been obtained on Friday evening for the property following information received.
A search was then carried out at the residence by gardaí from the Longford district, assisted by the Armed Support Unit, in the early hours of Saturday.
One man was present at the property during the course of the search and cash in excess of €40,000 was seized. No arrests were made and investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Three arrested, €150,000 worth of drugs seized in operations in Munster

Almost €150,000 worth of drugs have been seized by gardaí and three men arrested in various operations in Co Cork and Co Clare on Friday .
In Cork , members of the city ’ s divisional drugs squad seized €55,000 worth of cocaine in an intelligence led operation in Ballincollig on Friday evening .
Detectives seized the cocaine during the search of a car and two follow up searches of a house in Ballincollig where they also found items relating to the supply of drugs .
They arrested two men aged 41 and 47 for questioning about the seizure which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market .
Both men live in Ballincollig The 41 year-old-man was taken to Mayfield Garda Station for questioning about the seizure while the 47 year old was taken to Gurranebraher Garda station .
Both men were detained under drug trafficking legislation which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to seven days before they have to be charged or released .
Meanwhile , in an unrelated investigation , gardaí from the Cork City Divisional Drugs Squad were also involved in another operation which netted €55,000 of cannabis herb .
Working with Customs Officers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bureau , the Cork detectives allowed a controlled delivery of a suspected drugs package .
The package , weighing 2.3kg and containing suspected cannabis , was delivered to a head shop in Cork city centre where it was accepted on behalf of the business owner .
Gardaí then moved in and seized the package before carrying out a search of the shop and further quantity of suspected cannabis was also seized on the premises .
The drugs from both the package and the shop are believed to be cannabis herb and have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Dublin for analysis .
No arrests were made but gardaí will prepare a file on the seizure for the Director of Public Prosecution once they receive an analysis report on the drugs .
Separately , an assortment of drugs worth over €36,000 was seized at a premises in Clonlarea , Co Clare .
Gardaí executed a search warrant at 11pm at the premises and seized ketamine , MDMA , cannabis , cannabis plants , DMT and cannabis jellies with an estimated street value of €36,000 .
About €4,000 in cash , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ along with drug paraphernalia .
One man , in his 20s , was arrested during the course of the search and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) Act , 1996 in Henry Street Garda station .

€55,000 of cannabis herb was also seized on Friday. File photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times
Almost €150,000 worth of drugs have been seized by gardaí and three men arrested in various operations in Co Cork and Co Clare on Friday.
In Cork, members of the city's divisional drugs squad seized €55,000 worth of cocaine in an intelligence led operation in Ballincollig on Friday evening.
Detectives seized the cocaine during the search of a car and two follow up searches of a house in Ballincollig where they also found items relating to the supply of drugs.
They arrested two men aged 41 and 47 for questioning about the seizure which they believe was destined for the Cork market. Both men live in Ballincollig
READ MORE
The 41 year-old-man was taken to Mayfield Garda Station for questioning about the seizure while the 47 year old was taken to Gurranebraher Garda station.
Both men were detained under drug trafficking legislation which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to seven days before they have to be charged or released.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated investigation, gardaí from the Cork City Divisional Drugs Squad were also involved in another operation which netted €55,000 of cannabis herb.
Working with Customs Officers and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, the Cork detectives allowed a controlled delivery of a suspected drugs package.
The package, weighing 2.3kg and containing suspected cannabis, was delivered to a head shop in Cork city centre where it was accepted on behalf of the business owner.
Gardaí then moved in and seized the package before carrying out a search of the shop and further quantity of suspected cannabis was also seized on the premises.
The drugs from both the package and the shop are believed to be cannabis herb and have been sent to the Forensic Science Ireland laboratory in Dublin for analysis.
No arrests were made but gardaí will prepare a file on the seizure for the Director of Public Prosecution once they receive an analysis report on the drugs.
Clare
Separately, an assortment of drugs worth over €36,000 was seized at a premises in Clonlarea, Co Clare.
Gardaí executed a search warrant at 11pm at the premises and seized ketamine, MDMA, cannabis, cannabis plants, DMT and cannabis jellies with an estimated street value of €36,000.
About €4,000 in cash, a taser and mobile phones were also seized along with drug paraphernalia.
One man, in his 20s, was arrested during the course of the search and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 in Henry Street Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-07-19--CervicalCheck campaigner Ruth Morrissey has died

Ruth Morrissey , the terminally ill Limerick woman who sued the HSE and two laboratories over the misreading of her @ @ @ @ @ died .
Earlier this week , the Supreme Court was told that Ms Morrissey and @ @ @ @ @ paid the full sum of €2.16 million damages awarded to them by the High Court @ @ @ @ @ smear tests .
In 2019 , the High Court heard Ms Morrissey was not told @ @ @ @ @ carried out in 2014 showed smears taken under the CervicalCheck screening programme in 2009 and @ @ @ @ @ .
Her cancer returned in 2018 .
Two laboratories - Quest Diagnostics and Medlab - @ @ @ @ @ aspects of the May 2019 High Court judgment of Mr Justice Kevin Cross , regarded @ @ @ @ @ the standard of care in cervical screening .

The State did not apologise to CervicalCheck campaigner Ruth Morrissey for the "magnitude of harm" caused by the misreading of her smear and "now it is too late", her husband has said following the 39-year-old's death.
Ms Morrissey, the terminally ill Limerick woman who sued the HSE and two laboratories over the misreading of her cervical smear test results, died on Sunday morning at Milford Hospice following a prolonged battle with cancer.
A statement issued by her solicitor Cian O’Carroll on behalf of her husband Paul, said Ms Morrissey “achieved so much in her life and chief among those accomplishments is the love she and Paul shared and the wonderful daughter they brought into this world and raised with love”.
I was on my own this morning at home when I received the news that I have been dreading for some time now, the news that my good friend and fellow CervicalCheck campaigner Ruth Morrissey has died.
Ruth passed away peacefully at Milford Hospice... pic.twitter.com/QWms9G6rH1 — Vicky Phelan (@PhelanVicky) July 19, 2020
“Ruth had a sparkle to her smile, her wit and her intelligence. That sparkle made her wonderful company and her friendship was a gift she gave generously to anyone who knew her,” it added.
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The statement acknowledged that Ms Morrissey "showed courage and determination throughout that 36 day marathon trial" in the High Court action over the misreading of her cervical smear tests.
“Despite the magnitude of the harm caused to her by avoidable errors, despite the broken promise of a Taoiseach who said no other woman would have to go to trial, despite using Ruth as a test case through the final years and months of her life, neither the HSE nor the State has ever apologised to her, and now it is too late,” it added.
Mr O’Carroll said that the Morrissey and Moloney families wished to thank all those who gave help, support and medical care to Ms Morrissey.
Ruth Morrissey and her husband, Paul share a kiss outside the Four Courts after a High Court judgement in 2019. Photograph: Collins Courts
“Ruth’s life was a very happy one and none of the hardships of recent years robbed her of her good cheer and positive spirit. She fought fiercely to stay alive for the family she adored,” the statement said.
"The example she set stands as an enduring inspiration of strength and determination that should help many others through difficult times in the future."Earlier this week, the Supreme Court was told that Ms Morrissey and her husband Paul had been paid the full sum of €2.16 million damages awarded to them by the High Court over misreading of her cervical smear tests.
In 2019, the High Court heard Ms Morrissey was not told until 2018 that a review carried out in 2014 showed smears taken under the CervicalCheck screening programme in 2009 and 2012 had been incorrectly reported. Her cancer returned in 2018, leaving her terminally ill.
Two laboratories - Quest Diagnostics and Medlab - and the HSE had appealed aspects of the May 2019 High Court judgment of Mr Justice Kevin Cross, regarded as a test case concerning the standard of care in cervical screening.
President
President Michael D. Higgins paid tribute to Ms Morrissey, saying so many people across Ireland will have learned of her death with "great sadness".
“Ruth Morrissey’s tremendous courage in an arduous campaign for truth and justice leaves a legacy of courage for all Irish people, and for those campaigning for women’s right to healthcare in particular.
“Sabina and I send our sincere condolences to her husband Paul, their daughter, her family and friends, and to all those who have shared Mrs Morrissey’s journey,” he said.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he was deeply saddened by her death and extended sympathies to her family. He described her as a “brave, courageous woman who worked tirelessly for others and for future generations of women in this country.”
“She was generous of spirit and had the interests of others at heart,” he said.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also extended his sympathy to Ms Morrissey’s family and friends. He said that last October, while he was taoiseach, he gave a formal State apology to all women and their families affected by the CervicalCheck scandal.
Ms Morrissey along with campaigners such as Vicky Phelan, Lorraine Walsh, Stephen Teap and the late Emma Mhic Mhathúna, were leading women's health advocates in light of the scandal, which affected some 221 women.
Ms Phelan paid tribute to Ms Morrissey on Twitter, describing her as "one of the strongest women I know, and also one of the most positive".
“I never once saw her without a smile on her face and I saw her when she was very ill,” Ms Phelan posted.
“My children are away for a few days at my parents. I am so glad they are not here. I don’t have to try to put on a brave face and can just sit here with my feelings and grieve for Ruth and for the life she didn’t get to live, for the time she didn’t get to spend with Libby.”
Ruth and Paul Morrissey . Photograph: Collins Courts
Fellow campaigner Stephen Teap said he was “strugglin[g] to find the words to display my sadness at hearing this news”.
He described Ms Morrissey as “a kind and gentle soul who I was honoured to know, always checking up on me and my boys even in the middle of her own battles. This world is at a loss without her.”
Lorraine Walsh said she was “a beautiful, gentle lady”.
“Your life has been cut short far too soon, you shouldered a great burden for many of us,” she said.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it is "with great sadness" that he learned of her death, adding that she was "an incredible, brave, compassionate woman, campaigner and patient advocate".
Labour leader Alan Kelly said : "Ruth and her family have shown so much bravery in the eyes of adversary since her cancer diagnosis.It is never easy to go up against the State to challenge an injustice but Ruth did just that.
“The State should never have appealed Ruth’s case given the circumstances but her winning has set the standard now for many women in Ireland.Ruth’s fight for justice while enduring a devastating cancer diagnosis has not just been an inspiration for me but for so many people right across our island.”
In his judgement of her case, Mr Justice Kevin Cross said that if her 2009 smear had been properly analysed and her 2012 slide was deemed inadequate, she would have been spared the pain and distress that followed her.
“She would have been spared the prospect and knowledge that her daughter and her husband will have to go through life without her care and guidance,” the judge stated.
Speaking outside the High Court after the landmark ruling in 2019, Ms Morrissey said she hoped the decision in her case might mean that the “women who are left” won’t have to go through a court process and “fight for their right to have a good life in what they have left.”
She encouraged women to continue going for smear tests “even though it failed me, but it does save many, many lives.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-19--Warning green list may lead to confusion as non-essential travel advisory to remain

There have been warnings that the publication of a green list on Monday may lead to confusion , as ministers have clarified that non-essential travel advice will remain in place .
Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath told RTÉ Radio the intention was on Monday the Cabinet would consider the publication of a green list of countries .
He said the overall non-essential advistory would remain in place but people arriving from and returning from green list of countries would not have to restrict their movements for 14 days .
“ We are not encouraging Irish peoople to travel abroad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Government plans to ease travel restrictions to and from some countries with the publication of a list of countries on Monday with similar coronavirus infection rates to Ireland .
Travellers returning from those countries will not have to self-isolate for 14 days .
However Dr Cillian De Gascun , chair of the expert advisory group to NPHET told on Gavan Reilly On the Record on Newstalk that “ From a public health perspective we want people to stay at home this summer .
Having a green list while you can understand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk it will lead to some confusion and provide people with mixed messages ” .
“ We ’ re hearing that from members of the general public and seeing it on social media that it is providing some difficulty for people .
It would be nicer and cleaner to have a single straightforward message that people can buy into .
There are decisions that the Government has to make for the good of the country and they ’ re looking at a bigger picture , ” he said .
“ You can see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ list ) .
If we have people coming in from countries where their 14-day cumulative incidence rate is the same or indeed lower than our own , yes you can make the argument that they ’ re not going to provide an increased risk to the country .
“ The problem is you still have no idea which individuals in those countries have the infection .
So bringing them in here and not restricting their movements even if they ’ ve a low rate of infection in their country you don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not zero risk , it ’ s low risk certainly but it ’ s not zero risk .
“ You can understand the logic in terms of facilitating some kind of travel if that ’ s what the Government wants to do but from a NPHET perspective , we really don ’ t want people to travel for this year .
Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary said the green list is being established because we are going to be living with Covid-19 for some time .
“ Non-essential travel is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told RTE ’ s The Week in Politics .
He said there had to be a structure for business travel and for people coming into the country .
Sinn Féin health spokeswoman Louise O ’ Reilly told the programme that even if countries are on the green list the Government is saying no non-essential tralve but on the other hand they are publishing a green list .
Labour Transport Spokesman Duncan Smith said the green list “ will create as many problems as it resolves ” .
“ The clear public health advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet many people will take the publication of the list as permission to travel to those locations .
The indications from the Government is that people still shouldn ’ t travel but that has not been confirmed .
That needs to be quickly clarified tomorrow.
” “ The advice seems to be that Irish people should not travel abroad but visitors from those countries on the green list do not have to quarantine .
If that is the case then there is a clear need for refunds , vouchers , or the ability @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holidays Irish people have booked but are being told not to take .
Planes will still be travelling but people won ’ t be able to get refunds .
People who travel outside of Ireland have also been warned they will invalidate their travel insurance even if the country they visit is on the green list of safe countries to by published on Monday .
Travel insurance exclusions denying cover to people who travel contrary to official guidance are the norm across the sector and as it stands the advice from the Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided .
The publication of the green list will not change that advice meaning that anyone who decides to travel overseas will be doing so without any financial safety net should they fall ill or be the victim of a crime while overseas , according to a fresh warning from the umbrella group representing the sector .
While people in possession of a European Health Insurance Card ( EHIC ) will be able to access medical care in most public hospitals in Europe , they will have to bear the costs of private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can run to tens of thousands of euro .
They will also have no cover for lost bags , criminal damage or cancelled flights while they are overseas .
Insurance Ireland , has advised all would be travellers planning on booking a holiday to a green list country “ to check with their insurer as to whether they are covered first , ” A spokeswoman pointed out that a green list “ does not equate to a relaxation of the non-essential travel policy .
Government advice still remains that only essential travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarity on any change to this position.
” Public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally calling for increased restrictions on people arriving into the country , told RTÉ Radio this was a “ seminal moment in the whole Covid story ” in Ireland .
There is a “ fork in the road .
One way leads us to zero covid Ireland and normal life resuming.
, ” he said , the other brings a “ very bumpy time ” in the comong months .
He aid he understood there was pressure from the airline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prefer to take the safe road and keep it out , ” he said .
The US and the UK are almost certainly not going to feature on the list while climbing coronavirus infection rates in Spain , Portugal and France are likely to rule out their inclusion as well .
As of Friday evening , eight European countries had lower rates of infection than Ireland based on the figures on 14-day cases : Norway , Finland , Hungary , Estonia , Lithuania , Latvia , Cyprus and Malta .
Several other countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be on the initial list but could be added when the list is reviewed again in two weeks ’ time .
Infection rates in Italy and Greece were on Friday only marginally higher than in Ireland .
Meanwhile on Saturday Ryanair said it is “ absolutely not ” putting its business interests ahead of public health concerns and “ travel is not the bogeyman ” when it comes to the spread of Covid-19 .
The airline ’ s chief executive Eddie Wilson once again castigated the Government for what he said was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he called for travel restrictions to be lifted for countries across the EU , with , he suggested , the exception of Sweden .
He denied that he was making the call to protect Ryanair and pointed out that flights to and from the Island of Ireland amounted to about 8 per cent of its total business .
Instead he expressed concern for Irish tourism operators who , he warned , were facing bankruptcy unless visitors from overseas were allowed to travel to the country unimpeded by any Covid-19 related restrictions .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this half-baked quarantine is not going to work , ” Mr Wilson told RTÉ Radio One ’ s The Business with Richard Curran .

There have been warnings that the publication of a green list on Monday may lead to confusion, as Ministers have clarified that non-essential travel advice will remain in place.
Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath told RTÉ Radio the intention was on Monday the Cabinet would consider the publication of a green list of countries. He said the overall non-essential travel advisory would remain in place but people arriving from and returning from the green list of countries would not have to restrict their movements for 14 days.
“We are not encouraging Irish people to travel abroad at this time,” he said.
The Government plans to ease travel restrictions to and from some countries with the publication of a list of countries on Monday with similar coronavirus infection rates to Ireland. Travellers returning from those countries will not have to self-isolate for 14 days.
READ MORE
However, Dr Cillian De Gascun, chair of the expert advisory group to NPHET told Newstalk radio that: “From a public health perspective we want people to stay at home this summer. Having a green list , while you can understand the logic behind it, there is a risk it will lead to some confusion and provide people with mixed messages”.
In an interview on On the Record with Gavan Reilly, he said: “We’re hearing that from members of the general public and seeing it on social media that it is providing some difficulty for people. It would be nicer and cleaner to have a single straightforward message that people can buy into. But, as I said, there are decisions that the Government has to make for the good of the country and they’re looking at a bigger picture,” he said.
“You can see the logic to it [the green list]. If we have people coming in from countries where their 14-day cumulative incidence rate is the same or indeed lower than our own, yes you can make the argument that they’re not going to provide an increased risk to the country.
“The problem is you still have no idea which individuals in those countries have the infection. So bringing them in here and not restricting their movements even if they’ve a low rate of infection in their country you don’t know which individuals have the infection. It’s not zero risk, it’s low risk certainly but it’s not zero risk.
“You can understand the logic in terms of trying to facilitate some kind of travel if that’s what the Government wants to do but from a NPHET perspective, we really don’t want people to travel for this year.
Dr De Gascun also said best way to have a quarantine would be a designated facility. “The cleanest way of having a quarantine structure in place is that you can bring people to a designated facility and monitor them for 14 days. That means you don’t have to go around the country trying to police the thing. We feel that the most efficient way of doing it would be to have a designated facility. Obviously those decisions are for Government and they have far more considerations to take into account. We’re just looking a public health perspective.”
“The most successful countries in controlling Covid-19 have had 14-day quarantine periods on arrival. From a NPHET perspective it would be nice to see a stronger mechanism in place, because we do know that people are arriving,” he said.
Minister for Agriculture Dara Calleary said the green list is being established because we are going to be living with Covid-19 for some time. “Non-essential travel is still out and not recommended” he told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics. He said there had to be a structure for business travel and for people coming into the country.
Sinn Féin health spokeswoman Louise O’Reilly told the programme that even if countries are on the green list the Government is saying no non-essential travel is still in place but on the other hand they are publishing a green list.
Labour Transport Spokesman Duncan Smith said the green list “ will create as many problems as it resolves”.
“The clear public health advice is still to avoid all non-essential travel yet many people will take the publication of the list as permission to travel to those locations. The indications from the Government is that people still shouldn’t travel but that has not been confirmed. That needs to be quickly clarified tomorrow.”
“The advice seems to be that Irish people should not travel abroad but visitors from those countries on the green list do not have to quarantine. If that is the case then there is a clear need for refunds, vouchers, or the ability to rebook at a later date for holidays Irish people have booked but are being told not to take. Planes will still be travelling but people won’t be able to get refunds.
Insurance
People who travel outside of Ireland have also been warned they will invalidate their travel insurance even if the country they visit is on the green list of safe countries to by published on Monday.
Travel insurance exclusions denying cover to people who travel contrary to official guidance are the norm across the sector and as it stands the advice from the Government is that non-essential journeys overseas should be avoided.
The publication of the green list will not change that advice meaning that anyone who decides to travel overseas will be doing so without any financial safety net should they fall ill or be the victim of a crime while overseas, according to a fresh warning from the umbrella group representing the sector.
While people in possession of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will be able to access medical care in most public hospitals in Europe, they will have to bear the costs of private treatments or repatriation if it necessary and that can run to tens of thousands of euro.
They will also have no cover for lost bags, criminal damage or cancelled flights while they are overseas.
Insurance Ireland, has advised all would be travellers planning on booking a holiday to a green list country “to check with their insurer as to whether they are covered first,”
A spokeswoman pointed out that a green list “does not equate to a relaxation of the non-essential travel policy. Government advice still remains that only essential travel should be undertaken and we await further clarity on any change to this position.”
Non-essential travel
Public health expert Dr Gabriel Scally calling for increased restrictions on people arriving into the country, told RTÉ Radio this was a “seminal moment in the whole Covid story” in Ireland. There is a “fork in the road. One way leads us to zero Covid Ireland and normal life resuming.,” he said, the other brings a “very bumpy time” in the coming months. He aid he understood there was pressure from the airline and tourism industry but “I would prefer to take the safe road and keep it out,” he said.
The US and the UK are almost certainly not going to feature on the list while climbing coronavirus infection rates in Spain, Portugal and France are likely to rule out their inclusion as well.
As of Friday evening, eight European countries had lower rates of infection than Ireland based on the figures on 14-day cases: Norway, Finland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Cyprus and Malta.
Several other countries were considered borderline for inclusion and may not be on the initial list but could be added when the list is reviewed again in two weeks' time. Infection rates in Italy and Greece were on Friday only marginally higher than in Ireland.
Meanwhile on Saturday Ryanair said it is "absolutely not" putting its business interests ahead of public health concerns and "travel is not the bogeyman" when it comes to the spread of Covid-19.
The airline's chief executive Eddie Wilson once again castigated the Government for what he said was its "half baked quarantine" and he called for travel restrictions to be lifted for countries across the EU, with, he suggested, the exception of Sweden.
He denied that he was making the call to protect Ryanair and pointed out that flights to and from the Island of Ireland amounted to about 8 per cent of its total business.
Instead he expressed concern for Irish tourism operators who, he warned, were facing bankruptcy unless visitors from overseas were allowed to travel to the country unimpeded by any Covid-19 related restrictions.
"Saying we are closed for business with this half-baked quarantine is not going to work," Mr Wilson told RTÉ Radio One's The Business with Richard Curran.


theirishtimes--2020-07-19--Rare tropical seabird found in Co Wicklow dies after days in intensive care

A rare tropical seabird that was found on the beach at Greystones , Co Wicklow last week has died after several days in intensive care .
The brown booby , which is traditionally found in the West Indies and Cape Verde islands , was believed to have travelled to Ireland after being blown off course by a storm .
It was believed to be the first brown booby found on the island of Ireland .
The booby landed on Irish shores early last week , but on Thursday afternoon , the bird was “ noticeably getting weaker ” and admitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for emergency treatment .
On examination the bird was found to be exhausted and suffering from malnutrition .
Animal welfare workers believed the bird to be over 500 grams lighter than it should be .
Kildare Animal Foundation Wildlife Unit , which had been caring for the bird since Friday morning , announced on Saturday that “ despite everyone ’ s best efforts , the condition of the bird deteriorated late on Thursday evening .
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and it passed away peacefully ” .
“ The bird had travelled a huge distance and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on its journey , and then during its time here , it had to deal with a much colder climate than it was used to , ” the wildlife unit said in a post on Facebook .
“ It ’ s also probable that there had been an underlying condition that caused it to become ill in the first place.
” The unit said they were “ very realistic from the outset ” but that they look at their cases “ with optimisim and positivity ” , while prioritising animal welfare .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Be it a feral pigeon or a rarer species they all receive the best veterinary , nursing and rehabilitation care that can be provided , ” it added .
“ We are saddened by the loss of this bird but grateful and overwhelmed by how people came together to help this rare visitor to our shores .
Despite the outcome it gave everyone some well needed distraction and focus during these challenging days.
” The unit thanked the National Parks and Wildlife Service ( NPWS ) ranger Jason Monaghan who removed the bird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obvious that it was the only realistic option ” .
“ Thanks to Kilcoole Vets , Mi Night Vet , Greyabbey Vets & Bairbre O ’ Malley , for their advice and veterinary care , the RSPCA for sharing their advice , and last but not least the wonderful volunteers of Kildare Animal Foundation who help to make a difference to so many animals ’ lives each and every day.
” The bird remains will be returned to the NPWS for consideration for further scientific use , the statement added .

The brown booby in Greystones in Co Wicklow. The large seabird is usually found fishing in tropical waters in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
A rare tropical seabird that was found on the beach at Greystones, Co Wicklow last week has died after several days in intensive care.
The brown booby, which is traditionally found in the West Indies and Cape Verde islands, was believed to have travelled to Ireland after being blown off course by a storm. It was believed to be the first brown booby found on the island of Ireland.
The booby landed on Irish shores early last week, but on Thursday afternoon, the bird was "noticeably getting weaker" and admitted to a veterinary service in Kildare Town for emergency treatment.
On examination the bird was found to be exhausted and suffering from malnutrition. Animal welfare workers believed the bird to be over 500 grams lighter than it should be.
READ MORE
The brown booby in Greystones in Co Wicklow. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Kildare Animal Foundation Wildlife Unit, which had been caring for the bird since Friday morning, announced on Saturday that "despite everyone's best efforts, the condition of the bird deteriorated late on Thursday evening. . . and it passed away peacefully".
"The bird had travelled a huge distance and lost a third of its body weight on its journey, and then during its time here, it had to deal with a much colder climate than it was used to," the wildlife unit said in a post on Facebook.
“ It’s also probable that there had been an underlying condition that caused it to become ill in the first place.”
The unit said they were “very realistic from the outset” but that they look at their cases “with optimisim and positivity”, while prioritising animal welfare.
“All life is of equal value. Be it a feral pigeon or a rarer species they all receive the best veterinary, nursing and rehabilitation care that can be provided,” it added.
“We are saddened by the loss of this bird but grateful and overwhelmed by how people came together to help this rare visitor to our shores. Despite the outcome it gave everyone some well needed distraction and focus during these challenging days.”
Florence and Sabastian Murray, from Greystones watching the brown booby on Greystones beach. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
The unit thanked the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) ranger Jason Monaghan who removed the bird from the beach "when it became obvious that it was the only realistic option".
"Thanks to Kilcoole Vets, Mi Night Vet, Greyabbey Vets & Bairbre O'Malley, for their advice and veterinary care, the RSPCA for sharing their advice, and last but not least the wonderful volunteers of Kildare Animal Foundation who help to make a difference to so many animals' lives each and every day."
The bird remains will be returned to the NPWS for consideration for further scientific use, the statement added.