theirishtimes--2020-12-19--New hospitality and visit limits likely for December 30th, inter-county travel to end by January 6th

Restaurants and food-serving pubs will have to close for all but deliveries and takeaways from December 30th under plans for new post-Christmas restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19 .
The day before New Year ’ s Eve is understood to be the Government ’ s preferred date for the imposition of new restrictions on restaurants and gastropubs following advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) to introduce new measures to reduce coronavirus infections .
The Government plans to reject Nphet ’ s advice to prohibit inter-county travel after Christmas but to allow people to continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to January 6th .
From December 30th , there will new restrictions on household visits as people will be asked to permit visits from no more than one other household , down from the two currently permitted under a relaxation of measures introduced on Friday to allow visits over the Christmas period .
New restrictions will be introduced ahead of New Year ’ s Eve to reduce mixing when people traditionally gather in numbers for house parties and celebrations in restaurants and pubs .
The plans are still subject to Cabinet approval when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nphet ’ s call for public restrictions to be escalated .
In a letter to the Government on Thursday , Nphet recommended “ Level 3 plus ” restrictions from December 28th under which people would stay in their county and both restaurants and gastropubs would close except for deliveries and takeaways .
In response to rising infections , Nphet raised concerns about it increasing across all age cohorts , in contrast to the second wave where new cases were mostly among younger people initially , and about the risks of a further spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas .
Senior political sources say privately that the “ Level 3 plus ” restrictions could be in place until the vaccine rollout begins to have an effect .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Friday the Government was “ very minded ” to accept the Nphet advice and a number of senior Government sources said that they were now preparing to implement the new restrictions in the days after Christmas .
There are no plans for the Cabinet to meet over the weekend despite calls for an early decision on the proposed new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Nphet are scheduled to meet over the Christmas period to monitor the situation , with another Cabinet meeting scheduled for December 29th .
The State ’ s vaccine task force is due to meet on Sunday to discuss plans to begin vaccinations in the expectation that the Pfizer vaccine will be approved for use by European regulators next week .
Mr Martin confirmed that Nphet was “ proposing significant restrictions on hospitality before New Year ’ s Eve ” .
“ Government is minded to go with that recommendation , but Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll decide ultimately on Tuesday , ” he said .
“ But certainly given the rising numbers over the last week – and they will increase again today – we are very minded to accept the advice that Nphet has given us in terms of bringing forward that date before New Year ’ s Eve , which will involve additional restrictions on hospitality , ” said Mr Martin .
“ That is very serious for the hospitality sector , that I acknowledge , and Government stands ready to support the hospitality sector during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” added the Taoiseach .
Mr Martin was speaking after a virtual meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council , a forum for exchanges between members of the Cabinet and their counterparts in the Stormont Executive .
The press conference was market by evidence of division in the Executive , with First Minister Arlene Foster criticising Sinn Féin for the Bobby Storey funeral last summer which she said had undermined the power-sharing administration ’ s authority to impose Covid restrictions .
Her remarks came after Sinn Féin deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice around lockdown decisions last month .
Nphet reported a further 582 confirmed cases in the State on Friday , the highest daily total since November 5th , as well as six more deaths from Covid-19 .
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said “ the situation is getting worse more rapidly than we expected .
The country simply can not cope with this level of infection as we head into Christmas week .
”

Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan says ‘the country simply cannot cope with this level of infection as we head into Christmas week.’ Above, shoppers on Grafton Street in Dublin. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Restaurants and food-serving pubs will have to close for all but deliveries and takeaways from December 30th under plans for new post-Christmas restrictions to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The day before New Year’s Eve is understood to be the Government’s preferred date for the imposition of new restrictions on restaurants and gastropubs following advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to introduce new measures to reduce coronavirus infections.
The Government plans to reject Nphet’s advice to prohibit inter-county travel after Christmas but to allow people to continue travel outside their county as planned up to January 6th.
Hospital Report
From December 30th, there will new restrictions on household visits as people will be asked to permit visits from no more than one other household, down from the two currently permitted under a relaxation of measures introduced on Friday to allow visits over the Christmas period.
READ MORE
New restrictions will be introduced ahead of New Year’s Eve to reduce mixing when people traditionally gather in numbers for house parties and celebrations in restaurants and pubs.
The plans are still subject to Cabinet approval when the Government meets on Tuesday to consider Nphet’s call for public restrictions to be escalated.
In a letter to the Government on Thursday, Nphet recommended “Level 3 plus” restrictions from December 28th under which people would stay in their county and both restaurants and gastropubs would close except for deliveries and takeaways .
Infection across ages
In response to rising infections, Nphet raised concerns about it increasing across all age cohorts, in contrast to the second wave where new cases were mostly among younger people initially, and about the risks of a further spread of the virus with family get-togethers over Christmas.
Senior political sources say privately that the “Level 3 plus” restrictions could be in place until the vaccine rollout begins to have an effect.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said on Friday the Government was “very minded” to accept the Nphet advice and a number of senior Government sources said that they were now preparing to implement the new restrictions in the days after Christmas.
There are no plans for the Cabinet to meet over the weekend despite calls for an early decision on the proposed new restrictions. However, both the Cabinet and Nphet are scheduled to meet over the Christmas period to monitor the situation, with another Cabinet meeting scheduled for December 29th.
The State’s vaccine task force is due to meet on Sunday to discuss plans to begin vaccinations in the expectation that the Pfizer vaccine will be approved for use by European regulators next week.
Mr Martin confirmed that Nphet was “proposing significant restrictions on hospitality before New Year’s Eve”.
Hospitality sector
“Government is minded to go with that recommendation, but Government has to discuss this and we’ll decide ultimately on Tuesday,” he said.
“But certainly given the rising numbers over the last week – and they will increase again today – we are very minded to accept the advice that Nphet has given us in terms of bringing forward that date before New Year’s Eve, which will involve additional restrictions on hospitality,” said Mr Martin.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan: “The country simply cannot cope with this level of infection as we head into Christmas week.” Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins
“That is very serious for the hospitality sector, that I acknowledge, and Government stands ready to support the hospitality sector during this very, very difficult period,” added the Taoiseach.
Mr Martin was speaking after a virtual meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, a forum for exchanges between members of the Cabinet and their counterparts in the Stormont Executive.
The press conference was market by evidence of division in the Executive, with First Minister Arlene Foster criticising Sinn Féin for the Bobby Storey funeral last summer which she said had undermined the power-sharing administration’s authority to impose Covid restrictions.
Her remarks came after Sinn Féin deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill accused the DUP of ignoring public health advice around lockdown decisions last month.
Nphet reported a further 582 confirmed cases in the State on Friday, the highest daily total since November 5th, as well as six more deaths from Covid-19.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said “the situation is getting worse more rapidly than we expected. The country simply cannot cope with this level of infection as we head into Christmas week.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Eamon Ryan: By 2030 the only new cars will be electric

With every Eamon Ryan interview you are reminded of the pronouncement of Lincoln Steffens returning from Soviet Russia in 1919 .
“ I have seen the future and it works.
” For as long as Ryan has been in public life he has been talking up the way life will be better when fossil fuels and the addiction to cars are ditched , replaced by a lifestyle that can be sustained by the Earth .
Eleven years ago , in March 2009 , Ryan visited a San Francisco factory where an exciting new electric car , as yet unproven , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ built .
Its name was Tesla .
There , he visited the headquarters of technology company Cisco to witness executives talking to colleagues back in Galway using a teleconference system called “ telepresence ” .
It was as if the people from Galway were in the same room .
Its big selling point was that if the technology became a normal part of work then wasteful commuting could be cut down It was slightly before its time .
Today , we call such meetings Zoom .
Ryan , then minister for communications and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in the face of doubters , that they would be widely embraced quickly .
Well , they have .
But it has taken over a decade – and a gigantic global pandemic caused by the Covid-19 crisis – for both technologies to become settled .
Now Ryan is Minister for Transport , Environment , Climate Change and Communications in a government that must cut greenhouse gases by over 50 per cent – or 7 per cent per annum – over the next decade .
That cut is enormous .
There are no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targets are met then it will mean drastic changes in people ’ s lives , in their work , how they travel and where they live .
Once more , the Green Party leader sets out a vision of a radically changed Ireland .
One that will be opposed .
This time , though , he has a huge ministry with a multi-billion-euro budget behind him .
Speaking in his offices in the Department of Transport off Leeson Street , Ryan lays out his ideas in considerable detail – the kind of society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emerge , if those targets are to be met .
First , there is the need to halve Ireland ’ s annual emissions of 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide down to 30 million .
The first “ big chunks ” will come from the end of Moneypoint ’ s coal-powered power station and Bord na Móna ’ s peat-fired plants .
Bord na Móna will stop taking peat out for horticulture and gardens , too .
Meanwhile , half a million Irish homes will be retrofitted to improve their BER ratings over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cheaper to heat – a staggering share of the national housing stock .
Ryan has €250 million to spend on this next year on social housing , lower-income housing and then private homes .
But it will take two or three years to get it fully up and running .
First , the State must invest in apprenticeships to train people up , which will create thousands of new jobs , but it must deliver too on long-term payment plans for those who are helped .
He runs through the portfolio , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ savings quickly as he goes : four million tonnes from Moneypoint ; four million tonnes from Bord na Móna closures ; eight million from more efficient industry .
Four million more tonnes will be required from agriculture ; six million from transport .
So what of agriculture ?
Fianna Fáil Minister Charlie McConalogue launched a new plan last week which provided for zero reduction in the national herd .
How will they get reductions in the biggest emitting sector without touching the herd ?
Ryan says McConalogue ’ s plan is an old @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year by a plan that will result in a smaller national herd .
“ We have to double the ambition .
Agriculture can ’ t be absolved and can not be an opt-out .
.
.
We are going to do significantly more and Charlie McConalogue knows that .
The idea of pumping up the volume and massive expansion of the herd makes no sense .
“ It does make sense to move to a less intensive system of farming and have a smaller herd.
” In turn , farmers will get paid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in future .
This may be inevitable and required , but it will not be popular in an industry fearful of change .
“ The key question is can we get a higher income ?
Can we get a whole generation of young people and pay them better to look after our land ?
” he says .
“ It is a very different vision , a move away from intensification to a sustainable system ” where Common Agriculture Policy payments will increasingly support ecological protection and biodiversity .
Allied to that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the State will be re-wetted within a decade , simply by removing the drains .
They will become a carbon sink .
The first Bord na Móna project to re-wet 33,000 hectares starts soon .
If there are smaller , less-intensively operated farms , then there will also be far more forestry .
Today , just over a tenth of the State ( 770,000 hectares ) is planted .
Ryan wants that increased to 30 per cent by the second half of the century .
That means planting 20,000 hectares of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happens today .
Equally , that does not mean more Sitka spruce on bog or mountains : “ We can ’ t put forests where we have put them before on peatlands , as we need to restore the bogs for carbon storage .
“ We can ’ t just surround counties in deep dark coniferous woods and cut off communities , ” he says .
Instead , a new way of doing things that ensures that forests help biodiversity , not kill it , is needed .
Instead , new forests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and include deciduous trees .
There ’ s also a plan to encourage farms to devote a hectare to tree-planting and wild flowers .
Meanwhile , changing transport habits , he admits , will not be easy , and will take time .
Part of the solution , but only part of it , will come from electric cars and e-scooters .
Part of it will come if Covid-19 marks a permanent shift to more home-working .
Part of it , too , will come from better , more plentiful public transport , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what ’ s going to be different by 2030 ?
Transport can only be tackled if the State plans better .
Housing and everything else must be led by transport , not the other way round .
“ It only works when you have transport-led development , ” he says , “ a commitment to compact development , where life is in the centre of cities and towns , where you have the ‘ 15-minute city ’ .
“ Everything is close by and I don ’ t need a car and if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it from a car-sharing system .
Investment will be in public and active travel , rather than roads.
” On electric cars , Ryan believes the 2020s will be the decade of change : “ I have been talking about this for 10 years but we are on the cusp of a real transformation .
“ By the end of this decade there won ’ t be new cars other than electric .
It ’ s game over for fossil fuel , ” says the Green Party leader , with a degree of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Greens , must get more public transport and ride-sharing .
That could include , he suggests , letting postal vans in places .
“ What ’ s going to come out of Covid changes is that not that many people will be commuting long-distance from rural Ireland .
We will have enterprise hubs in towns and villages throughout , ” he says .
High-speed broadband will be a reality in every home within five years : “ It ’ s not all about heading to the big city but also about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cities outside of Dublin – Cork , Limerick , Waterford and Galway – need Luas-style trams or more accurately “ electric urban trains ” which will radically alter where people want to live .
In Waterford , the city ’ s station is being moved up the quays closer to the city , with a new foot and cycling and public transport bridge bringing commuters and visitors straight into the heart of the city centre .
“ In Galway we will fast-track the twin tracking from Athenry to Galway .
That will allow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ building new development in Galway around [ stations ] .
“ In Cork , I am saying that we build now .
We can upgrade the Midleton to Mallow and have eight stations along the line at Glounthaune , Carrigtuohill , Tivoli , Kent Station , Blarney , Monard , and Mallow .
“ If you build a new station at Tivoli you can put in 10,000 people within walking distance of Patrick Street on a stunning location near the river with an electric rail train to the centre.
” In Limerick , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Foynes as a port and freight line , but include stations for commuters at Patrickswell and Adare and at Crescent shopping centre .
“ You could use Ballysimon on the east side , as well as Limerick Junction and Nenagh , with an upgraded station in Castleconnell and Annacotty , ” he declares .
“ On the Limerick to Ennis line , a railway station can be built at Moyross , at Six Mile Bridge and at Shannon , ” he says .
But is the funding available ?
Yes , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion to €3 billion per year on transport infrastructure .
“ Let ’ s put it into these railway systems and walking and cycling .
In Limerick , just 3 per cent live in the historic core .
If those changes are made it will revive Limerick and make it a greater city than it is.
” In Dublin , he sees the changes in Dún Laoghaire , where the council took one lane from motorists and gave it to cyclists , being used all over the city .
Bus Connects , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the capital , is just as much about cycling as it is about buses : “ You could easily call it the cycling project , ” he says In Rathmines in Dublin , for example , Bus Connects will make it a community again , not just a road used by cars , with bicycle lanes and public transport getting priority : “ That will make it safer for kids going to school , ” he says .
A third of the morning rush-hour is caused by “ us driving our kids to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be ] on a bike , or walking , or on a bus ” .
More greenways will be created , too , on the back of successful ones in Waterford and elsewhere .
The Bord Pleanála decision that cleared the way for the South Kerry Greenway will help others , such as the Galway-Clifden greenway that have also run into planning difficulties .
“ Greenways are not just for tourism , they are for local people , in my opinion , ” he says .
“ The [ proposed ] greenway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , on electric bikes is utterly commutable .
“ The route will come in by Corrib village and through NUIG down Eglington Canal and then go down to O ’ Brien ’ s Bridge .
It will then go out to Salthill and right around the coast to Barna and loop right back up to Moycullen .
.
.
“ It ’ s not just for tourists , it ’ s for people who live in Knocknacarra or Moycullen to get into Galway city , ” he says .
Meanwhile , another big @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the number of offshore wind farms .
In a decade , and certainly within 20 years , there will be few places in Ireland where people will look out to sea and see no turbines .
Offshore wind provides substantially more energy than turbines located on land .
“ My target is to produce 30 GigaWatts of power [ about six times the energy needs of the State ] around the coast .
“ We have a competitive advantage in Ireland , ” he says .
“ We have a sea area @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the best winds in the world.
” That means Ireland will be able to export energy at a profit .
It will start late next year with auctions for wind power companies to build on shallow banks off the coast of Dublin .
There will be later auctions for the Celtic Sea and then for the western coast .
The challenge in the Atlantic waters is that the ocean is very deep .
However , Ryan points out that floating turbines are already on the market and are already becoming less expensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irregular and hard-to-predict wind energy be stored ?
Ryan says better interconnectors to the North , the UK and France will help , as will hydrogen storage .
Turbines off the west coast will need good ports with deep water and better access , so the ports of Foynes , Killybegs and Cork will need work to accommodate traffic .
His core argument is that an annual 7 per cent reduction in emissions will result in radical change in how people live their lives .
“ It will be transformative , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now seeing when they wake .
It is strange that in these Covid times , and all the bad things with it , people are realising how important their environment is and , for the first time , are beginning to appreciate and value it .
”

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan: “Can we get a whole generation of young people and pay them better to look after our land?” Photograph: Alan Betson
With every Eamon Ryan interview you are reminded of the pronouncement of Lincoln Steffens returning from Soviet Russia in 1919. "I have seen the future and it works."
For as long as Ryan has been in public life he has been talking up the way life will be better when fossil fuels and the addiction to cars are ditched, replaced by a lifestyle that can be sustained by the Earth.
Eleven years ago, in March 2009, Ryan visited a San Francisco factory where an exciting new electric car, as yet unproven, with a range of 400km was being built.
Its name was Tesla.
READ MORE
There, he visited the headquarters of technology company Cisco to witness executives talking to colleagues back in Galway using a teleconference system called "telepresence".
It was as if the people from Galway were in the same room. Its big selling point was that if the technology became a normal part of work then wasteful commuting could be cut down
It was slightly before its time. Today, we call such meetings Zoom.
Ryan, then minister for communications and energy, enthused about both, forecasting, in the face of doubters, that they would be widely embraced quickly.
Well, they have. But it has taken over a decade – and a gigantic global pandemic caused by the Covid-19 crisis – for both technologies to become settled.
Now Ryan is Minister for Transport, Environment, Climate Change and Communications in a government that must cut greenhouse gases by over 50 per cent – or 7 per cent per annum – over the next decade.
That cut is enormous. There are no two ways about it. If those targets are met then it will mean drastic changes in people’s lives, in their work, how they travel and where they live.
Once more, the Green Party leader sets out a vision of a radically changed Ireland. One that will be opposed. This time, though, he has a huge ministry with a multi-billion-euro budget behind him.
Speaking in his offices in the Department of Transport off Leeson Street, Ryan lays out his ideas in considerable detail – the kind of society, the kind of lifestyle that will emerge, if those targets are to be met.
First, there is the need to halve Ireland’s annual emissions of 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide down to 30 million.
The first “big chunks” will come from the end of Moneypoint’s coal-powered power station and Bord na Móna’s peat-fired plants. Bord na Móna will stop taking peat out for horticulture and gardens, too.
Meanwhile, half a million Irish homes will be retrofitted to improve their BER ratings over the next decade to make them warmer and cheaper to heat – a staggering share of the national housing stock.
Ryan has €250 million to spend on this next year on social housing, lower-income housing and then private homes. But it will take two or three years to get it fully up and running.
New jobs
First, the State must invest in apprenticeships to train people up, which will create thousands of new jobs, but it must deliver too on long-term payment plans for those who are helped.
He runs through the portfolio, totting up 26 million tonnes of CO2 savings quickly as he goes: four million tonnes from Moneypoint; four million tonnes from Bord na Móna closures; eight million from more efficient industry. Four million more tonnes will be required from agriculture; six million from transport.
So what of agriculture? Fianna Fáil Minister Charlie McConalogue launched a new plan last week which provided for zero reduction in the national herd. How will they get reductions in the biggest emitting sector without touching the herd?
Ryan says McConalogue’s plan is an old one and that will be superseded next year by a plan that will result in a smaller national herd.
“We have to double the ambition. Agriculture can’t be absolved and cannot be an opt-out . . . We are going to do significantly more and Charlie McConalogue knows that. The idea of pumping up the volume and massive expansion of the herd makes no sense.
“It does make sense to move to a less intensive system of farming and have a smaller herd.”
In turn, farmers will get paid for the ecological services that they provide in future. This may be inevitable and required, but it will not be popular in an industry fearful of change.
“The key question is can we get a higher income? Can we get a whole generation of young people and pay them better to look after our land?” he says.
“It is a very different vision, a move away from intensification to a sustainable system” where Common Agriculture Policy payments will increasingly support ecological protection and biodiversity.
Allied to that, Ryan says that 140,000 hectares of bog throughout the State will be re-wetted within a decade, simply by removing the drains. They will become a carbon sink.
The first Bord na Móna project to re-wet 33,000 hectares starts soon.
If there are smaller, less-intensively operated farms, then there will also be far more forestry. Today, just over a tenth of the State (770,000 hectares) is planted.
Carbon storage
Ryan wants that increased to 30 per cent by the second half of the century. That means planting 20,000 hectares of new trees each year – a multiple of what happens today.
Equally, that does not mean more Sitka spruce on bog or mountains: “We can’t put forests where we have put them before on peatlands, as we need to restore the bogs for carbon storage.
“We can’t just surround counties in deep dark coniferous woods and cut off communities,” he says. Instead, a new way of doing things that ensures that forests help biodiversity, not kill it, is needed.
Instead, new forests will be planted on better land, and include deciduous trees. There’s also a plan to encourage farms to devote a hectare to tree-planting and wild flowers.
Meanwhile, changing transport habits, he admits, will not be easy, and will take time. Part of the solution, but only part of it, will come from electric cars and e-scooters.
Part of it will come if Covid-19 marks a permanent shift to more home-working. Part of it, too, will come from better, more plentiful public transport, and more cycling and walking.
So what’s going to be different by 2030? Transport can only be tackled if the State plans better. Housing and everything else must be led by transport, not the other way round.
“It only works when you have transport-led development,” he says, “a commitment to compact development, where life is in the centre of cities and towns, where you have the ‘15-minute city’.
“Everything is close by and I don’t need a car and if I do need one I can get it from a car-sharing system. Investment will be in public and active travel, rather than roads.”
On electric cars, Ryan believes the 2020s will be the decade of change: “I have been talking about this for 10 years but we are on the cusp of a real transformation.
“By the end of this decade there won’t be new cars other than electric. It’s game over for fossil fuel,” says the Green Party leader, with a degree of relish.
Rural Ireland, often suspicious of the Greens, must get more public transport and ride-sharing. That could include, he suggests, letting postal vans in places.
“What’s going to come out of Covid changes is that not that many people will be commuting long-distance from rural Ireland. We will have enterprise hubs in towns and villages throughout,” he says.
High-speed broadband will be a reality in every home within five years: “It’s not all about heading to the big city but also about bringing life back into rural town.”
Cities outside of Dublin – Cork, Limerick, Waterford and Galway – need Luas-style trams or more accurately "electric urban trains" which will radically alter where people want to live.
In Waterford, the city’s station is being moved up the quays closer to the city, with a new foot and cycling and public transport bridge bringing commuters and visitors straight into the heart of the city centre.
"In Galway we will fast-track the twin tracking from Athenry to Galway. That will allow us upgrade Oranmore and Ardaun and start building new development in Galway around [stations].
"In Cork, I am saying that we build now. We can upgrade the Midleton to Mallow and have eight stations along the line at Glounthaune, Carrigtuohill, Tivoli, Kent Station, Blarney, Monard, and Mallow.
“If you build a new station at Tivoli you can put in 10,000 people within walking distance of Patrick Street on a stunning location near the river with an electric rail train to the centre.”
In Limerick, he wants to open the rail line to Foynes as a port and freight line, but include stations for commuters at Patrickswell and Adare and at Crescent shopping centre.
"You could use Ballysimon on the east side, as well as Limerick Junction and Nenagh, with an upgraded station in Castleconnell and Annacotty, " he declares.
Railway systems
“On the Limerick to Ennis line, a railway station can be built at Moyross, at Six Mile Bridge and at Shannon,” he says. But is the funding available? Yes, he replies.
The State is spending €2 billion to €3 billion per year on transport infrastructure. “Let’s put it into these railway systems and walking and cycling. In Limerick, just 3 per cent live in the historic core. If those changes are made it will revive Limerick and make it a greater city than it is.”
In Dublin, he sees the changes in Dún Laoghaire, where the council took one lane from motorists and gave it to cyclists, being used all over the city.
Bus Connects, which bids to speed up bus journeys in the capital, is just as much about cycling as it is about buses: “You could easily call it the cycling project,” he says
In Rathmines in Dublin, for example, Bus Connects will make it a community again, not just a road used by cars, with bicycle lanes and public transport getting priority: "That will make it safer for kids going to school," he says.
A third of the morning rush-hour is caused by “us driving our kids to school. How much better [that would be] on a bike, or walking, or on a bus”.
More greenways will be created, too, on the back of successful ones in Waterford and elsewhere. The Bord Pleanála decision that cleared the way for the South Kerry Greenway will help others, such as the Galway-Clifden greenway that have also run into planning difficulties.
"Greenways are not just for tourism, they are for local people, in my opinion," he says. "The [proposed] greenway from Moycullen into Galway [8km], on electric bikes is utterly commutable.
"The route will come in by Corrib village and through NUIG down Eglington Canal and then go down to O'Brien's Bridge. It will then go out to Salthill and right around the coast to Barna and loop right back up to Moycullen . . .
Offshore wind
"It's not just for tourists, it's for people who live in Knocknacarra or Moycullen to get into Galway city," he says.
Meanwhile, another big change in the landscape in 2030 will be the number of offshore wind farms. In a decade, and certainly within 20 years, there will be few places in Ireland where people will look out to sea and see no turbines. Offshore wind provides substantially more energy than turbines located on land.
“My target is to produce 30 GigaWatts of power [about six times the energy needs of the State] around the coast. “We have a competitive advantage in Ireland,” he says. “We have a sea area 10 times our land areas and some of the best winds in the world.”
That means Ireland will be able to export energy at a profit. It will start late next year with auctions for wind power companies to build on shallow banks off the coast of Dublin.
There will be later auctions for the Celtic Sea and then for the western coast. The challenge in the Atlantic waters is that the ocean is very deep. However, Ryan points out that floating turbines are already on the market and are already becoming less expensive.
How will huge quantities of such irregular and hard-to-predict wind energy be stored? Ryan says better interconnectors to the North, the UK and France will help, as will hydrogen storage.
Turbines off the west coast will need good ports with deep water and better access, so the ports of Foynes, Killybegs and Cork will need work to accommodate traffic.
His core argument is that an annual 7 per cent reduction in emissions will result in radical change in how people live their lives. “It will be transformative,” says Ryan.
“This is what people are now seeing when they wake. It is strange that in these Covid times, and all the bad things with it, people are realising how important their environment is and, for the first time, are beginning to appreciate and value it.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Gardaí investigate multiple Covid-19 breaches in wet pubs and shebeens

Members of An Garda Síochána have carried out searches of a number of suspected shebeens in the last 24 hours , including one in Navan where 30 people were socialising in close proximity without face masks .
An Garda Síochána is appealing to all citizens to comply with public health guidelines and to avoid spaces that are likely to contribute to the spread of coronavirus .
The appeal follows inspections of suspected shebeens as well as the discovery of potential breaches at licensed premises in Limerick , Cork , Carlow , and Meath on Friday and Saturday .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – bars that do not sell food – were secretly opening .
Gardaí discovered fresh pints , the tv on , and a fire lit at some venues that should have been shut .
Non-compliance was also detected at gastro-pubs , which have been allowed to open on the condition that each customer is served a substantial meal with their drinks .
In one gastro-pub gardaí discovered 12 tables occupied without any sign of food having been served .
The venue also had tables that were insufficiently spread out and staff were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in any case where breaches of public health regulations have been identified , the spokesman said .
“ An Garda Síochána wants to remind every person of their social and personal responsibility not to frequent premises or engage in activity which is likely to contribute to the increasing spread of the Covid-19 virus , ” he added .

Members of An Garda Síochána have carried out searches of a number of suspected shebeens in the last 24 hours, including one in Navan where 30 people were socialising in close proximity without face masks.
An Garda Síochána is appealing to all citizens to comply with public health guidelines and to avoid spaces that are likely to contribute to the spread of coronavirus. The appeal follows inspections of suspected shebeens as well as the discovery of potential breaches at licensed premises in Limerick, Cork, Carlow, and Meath on Friday and Saturday.
According to gardaí, a number of wet pubs – bars that do not sell food – were secretly opening. Gardaí discovered fresh pints, the tv on, and a fire lit at some venues that should have been shut.
Hospital Report
Non-compliance was also detected at gastro-pubs, which have been allowed to open on the condition that each customer is served a substantial meal with their drinks. In one gastro-pub gardaí discovered 12 tables occupied without any sign of food having been served. The venue also had tables that were insufficiently spread out and staff were not wearing face masks.
READ MORE
A file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions in any case where breaches of public health regulations have been identified, the spokesman said.
“An Garda Síochána wants to remind every person of their social and personal responsibility not to frequent premises or engage in activity which is likely to contribute to the increasing spread of the Covid-19 virus,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Holohan concerned at Covid spread as 527 new cases and five deaths reported

The State ’ s Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said the figures across all the key indicators of Covid-19 disease severity “ continue to give us strong reason for persistent , ongoing concern ” .
He was speaking as the Department of Health reported 527 new Covid-19 cases and five further coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday .
The new cases bring the number of Covid-19 related deaths in the country to 2,154 and the number of cases to 78,776 .
The five-day moving average is now 469 .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) team has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400 a day a a three-week intervention would be required to suppress the spread of the virus .
Dr Holohan said : “ As we head into a week with uniquely risky inter-household and inter-generational mixing , please remember to act responsibly .
Start this weekend .
It is never too late to cut down your contacts , cancel plans , or avoid a crowd.
” Dr Holohan added : “ Bear in mind that you may well be the link in a chain of transmission that ends with a vulnerable loved one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chain of transmission now.
” Of the new cases reported on Saturday , 271 are men and 255 are women and 65 per cent of them are under 45 years of age .
The highest number of new cases is in Dublin at 191 , followed by 54 cases in Cork and 44 in Donegal .
The remaining cases are spread over 22 other counties .
In England , a new “ stay at home ” order covering London and much of the south and east of England was issued on Saturday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a new fast-spreading strain of coronavirus .
New tier four restrictions will be introduced in areas such as London , Kent , Essex and Bedfordshire from midnight .
A stay-at-home order will be issued to residents in these areas and all non-essential shops must close .
For the rest of the country , the three household mixing limit has been cut from five days over Christmas , to just Christmas Day .
The restrictions were announced by the prime minister at a hastily convened press conference on Saturday , alongside the chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chief scientific adviser , Patrick Vallance , following a cabinet meeting this afternoon .
They will initially be in place for a fortnight .
Mr Johnson announced the severe new restrictions after being presented with evidence on Friday night that the new strain of coronavirus identified in London and in the southeast is spreading more rapidly than the previous strain .
Mr Johnson said the government ’ s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group ( Nervtag ) estimated the new variant may be up to 70 per cent more transmissible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the new variant has a higher mortality rate , or that it affects the effectiveness of vaccines or treatments for Covid .
Dr Cillian de Gascun , the Director of the National Virus Research Laboratory , said the new strain had not been detected in the Republic .
He said work was under way to try and identify the virus should it appear here and he added that the new restrictions announced in England should hopefully mean it was not imported .
On Saturday evening a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the travel advice for passengers intending to travel to the Republic from England .
In Northern Ireland another 17 people with Covid-19 have died and a further 640 new cases of the virus also been reported .
Initial reports suggest there is no immediate plan to change the Christmas Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland .
However , new restrictions will also apply in Wales and Scotland .
In Wales , lockdown restrictions will come into effect from midnight .
First Minister Mark Drakeford said the rules would mean non-essential retail , close contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitality must close at “ end of trading ” on Saturday .
Scotland will go back into lockdown from Boxing Day and a planned easing of restrictions over Christmas has been scrapped , First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said .
A ban on travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK - except for essential purposes - will remain , with Ms Sturgeon saying she will speak to police and transport operators to see how this can be “ strengthened ” .
In the Republic , when the Cabinet meets on Tuesday it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) regarding new restrictions on hospitality and household visits in response to rising case numbers .
Its letter to the Government recommended “ Level 3 plus ” restrictions from December 28th , during which inter-county travel would be halted and restaurants and gastropubs would revert to takeaway services only .
However , it is understood the Government is likely to opt to delay restrictions on hospitality and household visits until December 30th and for inter-county travel to be allowed until January 6th .
There is frustration in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tuesday for a Government decision .
The Restaurants Association of Ireland has called for an urgent meeting with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to discuss their plans for the hospitality sector .
Earlier , Dr Tomás Ryan , an associate professor in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin , called for a policy of “ aggressive suppression ” to get the number of cases in the country down to 10 per day , with the virus then kept low through effective test and trace services .
He suggested a five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , beginning on St Stephen ’ s Day , could get Ireland to this level of cases by the end of January .
He said this proposed six-week lockdown would be more effective than previous lockdowns of similar lengths as it would start from St Stephen ’ s Day and run during the “ most sedate time of the year ” .
The alternative was nine to 12 months of repeated lockdowns , he said , adding the “ Government ’ s strategy of living with the virus has failed ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ based on vaccines alone until autumn/ winter 2021 , ” he said .
Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said Nphet had given “ very clear advice ” but the Government must look at “ all the factors ” , including the impact of restrictions on the economy , society , and wider public health .
Independent senator Michael McDowell criticised Nphet for failing to provide statements that showed how particular measures , such as banning inter county travel , created net positive effects .
Sinn Féin ’ s Eoin O ’ Broin TD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disagreed with the 10 cases-a-day approach suggested by Dr Ryan .

Masked Christmas shoppers are seen on the Ha’penny Bridge last week in Dublin city centre. Photograph: Collins
The State’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan has said the figures across all the key indicators of Covid-19 disease severity “continue to give us strong reason for persistent, ongoing concern”.
He was speaking as the Department of Health reported 527 new Covid-19 cases and five further coronavirus-related deaths on Saturday.
The new cases bring the number of Covid-19 related deaths in the country to 2,154 and the number of cases to 78,776.
Hospital Report
The five-day moving average is now 469. The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) team has said previously that once cases move over 400 a day a three-week intervention would be required to suppress the spread of the virus.
READ MORE
Dr Holohan said: “As we head into a week with uniquely risky inter-household and inter-generational mixing, please remember to act responsibly. Start this weekend. It is never too late to cut down your contacts, cancel plans, or avoid a crowd.”
Dr Holohan added: “Bear in mind that you may well be the link in a chain of transmission that ends with a vulnerable loved one catching this dangerous disease. Stop that chain of transmission now.”
Of the new cases reported on Saturday, 271 are men and 255 are women and 65 per cent of them are under 45 years of age. The highest number of new cases is in Dublin at 191, followed by 54 cases in Cork and 44 in Donegal. The remaining cases are spread over 22 other counties.
England lockdown
In England, a new “stay at home” order covering London and much of the south and east of England was issued on Saturday evening by prime minister Boris Johnson in response to a new fast-spreading strain of coronavirus.
New tier four restrictions will be introduced in areas such as London, Kent, Essex and Bedfordshire from midnight.
A stay-at-home order will be issued to residents in these areas and all non-essential shops must close.
For the rest of the country, the three household mixing limit has been cut from five days over Christmas, to just Christmas Day.
The restrictions were announced by the prime minister at a hastily convened press conference on Saturday, alongside the chief medical officer, Chris Whitty, and the chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, following a cabinet meeting this afternoon.
They will initially be in place for a fortnight.
Mr Johnson announced the severe new restrictions after being presented with evidence on Friday night that the new strain of coronavirus identified in London and in the southeast is spreading more rapidly than the previous strain.
Mr Johnson said the government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag) estimated the new variant may be up to 70 per cent more transmissible.
Scientists do not yet have evidence that the new variant has a higher mortality rate, or that it affects the effectiveness of vaccines or treatments for Covid.
Dr Cillian de Gascun, the Director of the National Virus Research Laboratory, said the new strain had not been detected in the Republic.
He said work was under way to try and identify the virus should it appear here and he added that the new restrictions announced in England should hopefully mean it was not imported.
Travel
On Saturday evening a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said there was no change to the travel advice for passengers intending to travel to the Republic from England.
In Northern Ireland another 17 people with Covid-19 have died and a further 640 new cases of the virus also been reported. Initial reports suggest there is no immediate plan to change the Christmas Covid-19 restrictions in Northern Ireland.
However, new restrictions will also apply in Wales and Scotland. In Wales, lockdown restrictions will come into effect from midnight.
First Minister Mark Drakeford said the rules would mean non-essential retail, close contact services, gyms and leisure centres and hospitality must close at “end of trading” on Saturday.
Scotland will go back into lockdown from Boxing Day and a planned easing of restrictions over Christmas has been scrapped, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said.
A ban on travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK - except for essential purposes - will remain, with Ms Sturgeon saying she will speak to police and transport operators to see how this can be “strengthened”.
In the Republic, when the Cabinet meets on Tuesday it will consider advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) regarding new restrictions on hospitality and household visits in response to rising case numbers.
Its letter to the Government recommended “Level 3 plus” restrictions from December 28th, during which inter-county travel would be halted and restaurants and gastropubs would revert to takeaway services only.
However, it is understood the Government is likely to opt to delay restrictions on hospitality and household visits until December 30th and for inter-county travel to be allowed until January 6th.
Frustration
There is frustration in the hospitality sector at having to wait until Tuesday for a Government decision.
The Restaurants Association of Ireland has called for an urgent meeting with the Taoiseach and Tánaiste to discuss their plans for the hospitality sector.
Earlier, Dr Tomás Ryan, an associate professor in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, called for a policy of "aggressive suppression" to get the number of cases in the country down to 10 per day, with the virus then kept low through effective test and trace services.
A man passes a closed pub in Dublin’s city centre The Government is to consider on Tuesday new advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) regarding new restrictions on hospitality and household visits. Photograph: PA
He suggested a five or six-week “relatively strong” lockdown, beginning on St Stephen’s Day, could get Ireland to this level of cases by the end of January.
He said this proposed six-week lockdown would be more effective than previous lockdowns of similar lengths as it would start from St Stephen’s Day and run during the “most sedate time of the year”.
The alternative was nine to 12 months of repeated lockdowns, he said, adding the “Government’s strategy of living with the virus has failed”.
“We will not get back to normal based on vaccines alone until autumn/ winter 2021,” he said.
Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said Nphet had given "very clear advice" but the Government must look at "all the factors", including the impact of restrictions on the economy, society, and wider public health.
Independent senator Michael McDowell criticised Nphet for failing to provide statements that showed how particular measures, such as banning inter county travel, created net positive effects.
Sinn Féin’s Eoin O’Broin TD agreed with an all-Ireland strategy, but disagreed with the 10 cases-a-day approach suggested by Dr Ryan.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Brexit fishing deal proposal would be ‘death knell’ for Irish industry

New proposals from the EU to reach agreement in Brexit trade negotiations with the UK would be a “ death knell ” for the Irish fishing sector , an industry group has warned .
The latest movement in the talks has seen EU negotiator Michel Barnier propose to hand back 25 per cent of the value of fish caught by EU boats in British waters to the UK , according to reports .
Seán O ’ Donoghue , chief executive of Killybegs Fishermen ’ s Organisation , who represent Donegal fishermen , said the concession would be an “ unmitigated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Previously the EU position had been an offer to hand back between 15 and 18 per cent of the value of fish caught by EU fleets in British waters to the UK .
Speaking on Saturday , Mr O ’ Donoghue , head of the major industry group , said the fishing sector had been “ thrown under the bus ” in the talks .
The Irish fishing industry would be hit hardest by the proposed deal of all the EU Member States , he said .
“ We are being the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
.
This is akin to no-deal for us ” he said .
The reported concessions to hand back 25 per cent “ absolutely ” gave too much to the UK side , he said .
“ This is the death knell to the fishing industry , ” he said , estimating the impact could cost 5,000 to 6,000 jobs in Ireland .
“ The shape of a deal , as currently stands will spell the ruination of the Irish seafood sector which directly supports more than 16,000 jobs and is worth more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy , ” he said .
“ Our industry is literally and metaphorically on the brink and in spite of repeated promises made , we are in the throes of being sold down the river , ” he said .
“ The one thing we wanted to avoid was a ‘ no-deal ’ situation in the interests of all our fishermen but the deal which is now being proposed is every bit as bad .
We are looking at vicious and unprecedented cuts on our pelagic , shellfish and whitefish stocks , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the key sticking points in the ongoing negotiations to agree a trade deal between Britain and the EU , with talks entering the crunch period in recent days .
The current proposal on fish from Brussels was “ galling , ” Mr O ’ Donoghue said .
He called for the Government to “ stand up for its fishermen.
” “ While our industry has faced down many serious , serious challenges down through the years and has proven itself to be resilient , versatile and determined , this is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the single-biggest and most catastrophic setback of our time , ” he said .
Farmers in Ireland and Britain have reaffirmed the importance of avoiding a no-deal Brexit , to the agriculture sector .
President of the Irish Farmers Association Tim Cullinan and the president of the National Farmers Union of England and Wales Minette Batters appealed to both sets of negotiators in the Brexit talks to remain steadfast “ in pursuit of an agreement ” , for the future trading relationship between the EU and Britain from January 1st .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ firm commitment to the adherence to world class standards that underpin food production in the UK and Ireland ” , and insisted that any future deal should guarantee full recognition of these standards .
“ Trade on the island of Ireland , and the trade flows east-west and west-east , are important to the economies on these islands .
Every effort must be made to safeguard trade in agri-food goods , which plays a crucial role in the prosperity of rural communities , ” the leaders said .
Reaffirming their commitment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and British farmers , the two leaders held a remote meeting on Friday to discuss the latest developments in the Brexit talks .
The two farm leaders have remained in regular contact during the Brexit negotiations , given the significance of the talks for farmers and the wider agri-food industry .

New proposals from the EU to reach agreement in Brexit trade negotiations with the UK would be a "death knell" for the Irish fishing sector, an industry group has warned.
The latest movement in the talks has seen EU negotiator Michel Barnier propose to hand back 25 per cent of the value of fish caught by EU boats in British waters to the UK, according to reports.
Seán O'Donoghue, chief executive of Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation, who represent Donegal fishermen, said the concession would be an "unmitigated disaster" for the Irish fishing industry.
Previously the EU position had been an offer to hand back between 15 and 18 per cent of the value of fish caught by EU fleets in British waters to the UK.
READ MORE
Speaking on Saturday, Mr O’Donoghue, head of the major industry group, said the fishing sector had been “thrown under the bus” in the talks.
The Irish fishing industry would be hit hardest by the proposed deal of all the EU Member States, he said. “We are being the sacrificial lamb of the trade negotiations . . . This is akin to no-deal for us” he said.
The reported concessions to hand back 25 per cent “absolutely” gave too much to the UK side, he said.
“This is the death knell to the fishing industry,” he said, estimating the impact could cost 5,000 to 6,000 jobs in Ireland.
“The shape of a deal, as currently stands will spell the ruination of the Irish seafood sector which directly supports more than 16,000 jobs and is worth more than €1.2 billion annually to the Irish economy,” he said.
“Our industry is literally and metaphorically on the brink and in spite of repeated promises made, we are in the throes of being sold down the river,” he said.
“The one thing we wanted to avoid was a ‘no-deal’ situation in the interests of all our fishermen but the deal which is now being proposed is every bit as bad. We are looking at vicious and unprecedented cuts on our pelagic, shellfish and whitefish stocks,” he said.
Fishing has emerged as one of the key sticking points in the ongoing negotiations to agree a trade deal between Britain and the EU, with talks entering the crunch period in recent days.
The current proposal on fish from Brussels was "galling," Mr O'Donoghue said. He called for the Government to "stand up for its fishermen."
“While our industry has faced down many serious, serious challenges down through the years and has proven itself to be resilient, versatile and determined, this is a desperate slap in the face and potentially the single-biggest and most catastrophic setback of our time,” he said.
Farmers
Farmers in Ireland and Britain have reaffirmed the importance of avoiding a no-deal Brexit, to the agriculture sector.
President of the Irish Farmers Association Tim Cullinan and the president of the National Farmers Union of England and Wales Minette Batters appealed to both sets of negotiators in the Brexit talks to remain steadfast “in pursuit of an agreement”, for the future trading relationship between the EU and Britain from January 1st.
In a joint statement the two leaders reiterated their “firm commitment to the adherence to world class standards that underpin food production in the UK and Ireland”, and insisted that any future deal should guarantee full recognition of these standards.
“Trade on the island of Ireland, and the trade flows east-west and west-east, are important to the economies on these islands. Every effort must be made to safeguard trade in agri-food goods, which plays a crucial role in the prosperity of rural communities,” the leaders said.
Reaffirming their commitment to working together for the benefit of Irish and British farmers, the two leaders held a remote meeting on Friday to discuss the latest developments in the Brexit talks.
The two farm leaders have remained in regular contact during the Brexit negotiations, given the significance of the talks for farmers and the wider agri-food industry.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Man suffered life threatening injuries after mini riot over drugs in Dublin 3

A 30-year-old man suffered life threatening injuries in a mini riot in Dublin after he was ripped off in a drug deal and demanded a refund , a court has heard .
Investigating gardaí made three arrests on Friday in connection with the incident at Island Key apartments , East Wall , Dublin 3 , on November 17th last .
Footage of the scenes had been widely shared on social media .
Brandon Leech ( 21 ) , of Teeling Way , Dublin 3 , and two boys in their mid-teens , who can not be named because they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda station in the capital .
They were charged with violent disorder and held overnight pending their appearance before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court on Saturday .
Each case was dealt with separately with no Garda objections to bail provided the trio obeyed strict conditions .
Detective Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick gave evidence of arrest , charge and caution in the case of one of the boys , aged 15 .
She said he made no reply and he was handed a true copy of the charge .
Judge Jones asked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda Fitzpatrick said the injured party had been in the East Wall area an hour before the incident , “ where he sought a substance that turned out to be a rip off of a drug deal ” .
“ He returned an hour later looking for money back , ” she said .
A violent disorder took place in which the man suffered life threatening injuries , the court heard .
He was taken to the Mater Hospital and transferred to Beaumont .
“ There was information that he was going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since been discharged but has serious injuries , Detective Garda Fitzpatrick said .
Judge Jones heard the same allegations applied to all three defendants .
The boy ’ s mother and another male relative were in court .
They disagreed with a proposed bail term restricting that boy ’ s movement , said Kevin McCrave BL .
However , Judge Jones said they could visit him every day in custody in a detention centre over Christmas instead .
The 30-year-old man was lucky to survive the alleged violent attack , and it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The teen would , however , be at liberty over Christmas if the bail term was accepted , he held .
The objection was dropped but could be raised again at the boy ’ s next hearing .
The second youth , also aged 15 , made no reply when he was charged , said Garda Thomas McEvoy .
His solicitor Brian Keenan said his client , who was accompanied to court by family members , agreed to the conditions .
The adult accused , Brandon Leech , also made no reply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court .
Releasing them on bail , Judge Jones ordered them all to stay out of Island Key area , in East Wall , to provide gardaí with contact phone numbers , obey 8pm – 6am curfews at their homes and not to associate with each other .
The judge noted they did not live near the injured man .
Mr Leech must sign on every Monday , Wednesday and Friday at Store Street Garda station , but the two boys are are required to sign on just once weekly at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to appear at the Children ’ s Court and Mr Leech must come back before the district court on dates in February .
They have not yet indicated how they will plead .
Legal aid was granted .
The charge is for using or threatening to use violence at Island Quay , which can carry a maximum 10-year sentence .

Detective Garda Fitzpatrick said the injured party had been in the East Wall area an hour before the incident, ‘where he sought a substance that turned out to be a rip off of a drug deal’. Photograph: Collins Courts.
A 30-year-old man suffered life threatening injuries in a mini riot in Dublin after he was ripped off in a drug deal and demanded a refund, a court has heard.
Investigating gardaí made three arrests on Friday in connection with the incident at Island Key apartments, East Wall, Dublin 3, on November 17th last. Footage of the scenes had been widely shared on social media.
Brandon Leech (21), of Teeling Way, Dublin 3, and two boys in their mid-teens, who cannot be named because they are minors, were detained at Store Street Garda station in the capital.
They were charged with violent disorder and held overnight pending their appearance before Judge Gerard Jones at Dublin District Court on Saturday.
READ MORE
Each case was dealt with separately with no Garda objections to bail provided the trio obeyed strict conditions.
Detective Garda Michelle Fitzpatrick gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in the case of one of the boys, aged 15. She said he made no reply and he was handed a true copy of the charge.
Judge Jones asked for an outline of the allegations.
Detective Garda Fitzpatrick said the injured party had been in the East Wall area an hour before the incident, “where he sought a substance that turned out to be a rip off of a drug deal”.
“He returned an hour later looking for money back,” she said.
A violent disorder took place in which the man suffered life threatening injuries, the court heard. He was taken to the Mater Hospital and transferred to Beaumont. "There was information that he was going to pass away."
However, he has since been discharged but has serious injuries, Detective Garda Fitzpatrick said.
Judge Jones heard the same allegations applied to all three defendants.
The boy’s mother and another male relative were in court.
They disagreed with a proposed bail term restricting that boy’s movement, said Kevin McCrave BL. However, Judge Jones said they could visit him every day in custody in a detention centre over Christmas instead.
The 30-year-old man was lucky to survive the alleged violent attack, and it was a serious matter, Judge Jones said.
The teen would, however, be at liberty over Christmas if the bail term was accepted, he held.
The objection was dropped but could be raised again at the boy’s next hearing.
The second youth, also aged 15, made no reply when he was charged, said Garda Thomas McEvoy.
His solicitor Brian Keenan said his client, who was accompanied to court by family members, agreed to the conditions.
The adult accused, Brandon Leech, also made no reply when charged, Garda Paul Brierly told the court.
Releasing them on bail, Judge Jones ordered them all to stay out of Island Key area, in East Wall, to provide gardaí with contact phone numbers, obey 8pm – 6am curfews at their homes and not to associate with each other. The judge noted they did not live near the injured man.
Mr Leech must sign on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Store Street Garda station, but the two boys are are required to sign on just once weekly at the same station.
The teenagers were ordered to appear at the Children’s Court and Mr Leech must come back before the district court on dates in February.
They have not yet indicated how they will plead. Legal aid was granted.
The charge is for using or threatening to use violence at Island Quay, which can carry a maximum 10-year sentence.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Another 17 deaths and 640 new Covid-19 cases reported in Northern Ireland

Another 17 people with Covid-19 have died in Northern Ireland , the Department of Health has confirmed .
A further 640 new cases of the virus have also been reported in the past 24 hours .
The figures come as Northern Ireland ’ s political leaders have clashed amid a blame game over the spiralling Covid-19 infection rates in the North .
On Friday First Minister Arlene Foster claimed a drop in compliance with regulations was down to the attendance of senior Sinn Féin figures at the funeral of IRA veteran Bobby Storey at a time when strict limits on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who also spoke of a failure of society as a whole , made the claims after Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill accused the DUP of acting against public health advice in opposing more robust measures earlier in the pandemic .
The clashes came a day after the Executive unanimously agreed to impose a sweeping six-week lockdown which will come into force on Boxing Day .
The first week of those measures will see the toughest lockdown yet in Northern Ireland , with a form of curfew in operation from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all indoor and outdoor gatherings prohibited until 6am .
Non-essential retail will close throughout the six weeks , as will close contact services .
Hospitality outlets will be limited to takeaway services .
Organised sport will also be banned , with elite sport included in the prohibition for the first week .
Mrs Foster and Ms O ’ Neill both took part in a virtual meeting of the North South Ministerial Council alongside Irish Government leaders on Friday .
At a press conference following the meeting , Mrs Foster said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad place , I very much regret that that is the case and it ’ s a failure of society as a whole that we have had to introduce these restrictions in the draconian way that they are coming in on Boxing night .
“ Last night we did take a very draconian decision , one which I never thought we would have to take .
I very much regret the fact that we have had to take it , but we needed to take it and we ’ re facing a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mrs Foster laid the blame for falling compliance at Sinn Féin ’ s door .
“ We are facing very , very difficult times across Northern Ireland , ” said the DUP leader .
“ Of course before the end of June last year compliance in Northern Ireland was very good and in fact we were the envy of other colleagues in the United Kingdom .
“ But at the end of June , one party , Sinn Féin , decided whilst they made the laws they were also above the laws .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation where messaging is very difficult .
We ’ ve seen a breakdown in compliance and I very , very much regret that to be the case.
” Earlier , Ms O ’ Neill had told RTÉ the DUP had blocked tougher coronavirus measures earlier in the pandemic .
- PA

An image from last week showing ambulances waiting at the entrance to the Antrim Area Hospital when the emergency department was at full capacity. Photograph: PA
Another 17 people with Covid-19 have died in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health has confirmed.
A further 640 new cases of the virus have also been reported in the past 24 hours.
The figures come as Northern Ireland’s political leaders have clashed amid a blame game over the spiralling Covid-19 infection rates in the North.
On Friday First Minister Arlene Foster claimed a drop in compliance with regulations was down to the attendance of senior Sinn Féin figures at the funeral of IRA veteran Bobby Storey at a time when strict limits on numbers applied.
READ MORE
The DUP leader, who also spoke of a failure of society as a whole, made the claims after Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill accused the DUP of acting against public health advice in opposing more robust measures earlier in the pandemic.
The clashes came a day after the Executive unanimously agreed to impose a sweeping six-week lockdown which will come into force on Boxing Day.
The first week of those measures will see the toughest lockdown yet in Northern Ireland, with a form of curfew in operation from 8pm, shops closed from that time and all indoor and outdoor gatherings prohibited until 6am.
Non-essential retail will close throughout the six weeks, as will close contact services.
Hospitality outlets will be limited to takeaway services. Organised sport will also be banned, with elite sport included in the prohibition for the first week.
Mrs Foster and Ms O'Neill both took part in a virtual meeting of the North South Ministerial Council alongside Irish Government leaders on Friday.
At a press conference following the meeting, Mrs Foster said: “We do find ourselves in a particularly bad place, I very much regret that that is the case and it’s a failure of society as a whole that we have had to introduce these restrictions in the draconian way that they are coming in on Boxing night.
“Last night we did take a very draconian decision, one which I never thought we would have to take. I very much regret the fact that we have had to take it, but we needed to take it and we’re facing a great deal of difficulty across Northern Ireland.” Mrs Foster laid the blame for falling compliance at Sinn Féin’s door. “We are facing very, very difficult times across Northern Ireland,” said the DUP leader.
“Of course before the end of June last year compliance in Northern Ireland was very good and in fact we were the envy of other colleagues in the United Kingdom.
“But at the end of June, one party, Sinn Féin, decided whilst they made the laws they were also above the laws. And now we find ourselves in a situation where messaging is very difficult. We’ve seen a breakdown in compliance and I very, very much regret that to be the case.”
Earlier, Ms O’Neill had told RTÉ the DUP had blocked tougher coronavirus measures earlier in the pandemic. - PA


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--Explorer, writer Tim Severin (80) dies at his home in West Cork

The explorer , writer and film maker , Tim Severin , best known for the Brendan Voyage where he sailed from Ireland to Newfoundland to prove that the 6th century Irish saint could have reached the Americas 900 years before Columbus , has died at his home in West Cork at the age of 80 .
Severin was born in Assam in India , the son of an English tea planter but he was keen to dispel any notions of privilege when he spoke to The Irish Times in 1999 .
“ We were very poor .
The tea planters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owned the plantations were rich but they were back in Scotland and England .
My parents were poor.
” He was sent to boarding school in England at the age of seven and he later read History and Geography at Oxford and it was while he was still an undergraduate there at Keble College in 1961 that he sought to recreate his first ancient journey , retracing on motorbike , Marco Polo ’ s 13th century journey into Asia .
He followed that adventure six years later by following in the footsteps of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mississippi river but it was his decision to try and follow in the footsteps of St Brendan and cross the Atlantic in a leather-bound boat in 1976 that caught the public imagination .
Studying the Latin texts of the Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis ( The Voyage of St Brendan the Abbot ) which date back to at least 800 AD and tells the story of Brendan ’ s ( circa 489-583 ) , Severin sought to see if he could follow in the Irish saint ’ s steps and find a new land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the boat of St Brendan and set out to see what would happen and it was in that way that I discovered for me , the fascination of travel wasn ’ t just space but being able to go back in time and it was here that that new dimension opened for me here on the Atlantic , ” he later said .
Severin set about building as close a replica of St Brendan ’ s boat as possible , sourcing oak and ash from Glennan Brothers in Longford and tanned leather from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crogan in Cornwall while he also consulted harnessmaker John O ’ Connell from Bishopstown in Cork .
The 11m long open St Brendan , built at Crosshaven Boatyard in Co Cork , was made from ash ribs and oak dunnels , lashed together with nearly 3kms of leather thongs in 1,600 knots , wrapped with 49 traditionally tanned ox hides and sealed with wool grease to protect against the salt water .
“ I think the boat is as safe as the people sailing her – the question is ‘ Can we sail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the one of the really great questions – in the few months available to us for our trials , can we learn some of the lost arts of handling this type of boat ?
.
” “ I wouldn ’ t be doing it unless I was confident that we could manage to do it – we will need weather luck and we do need favourable winds and we could do without any storms , ” Severin told RTÉ News as he surveyed the stitching of the leather hides on to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 1976 , Severin , and his three fellow crew men , led by sailing master , George Moloney from Dublin , rowed out of Brandon Creek on the Dingle Peninsula , the spot where St Brendan is reported to have departed almost 1,500 years earlier to begin what would prove a 7,200km epic journey .
Severin later explained in a documentary film that he made about the voyage : “ It was the first of my major projects , and it was to test whether the story of St Brendan , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ages , could have been true .
“ The story was called the Navigatio .
.
.
about the voyage of St Brendan , who sets out with a party of monks in a boat made of leather , and has various adventures on the way , stops at various islands , and reaches a great land far in the West .
Some people of course have said he reached North America .
“ When I say that it was very well known , it was well known to the extent that Columbus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , actually stopped his little flotilla of three vessels and said , “ This is about the area where we should find the islands which St Brendan visited “ .Columbus believed in the story and the islands were marked on the map.
” Severin and his crew aboard the St Brendan sailed first to the Aran Islands and from there to Iona , the Hebrides , the Faroe Islands where they picked up artist , Trondur Patersson , before sailing on to Iceland and Greenland and from Greenland to Newfoundland .
He believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identify the bases for many of the legendary elements of the St Brendan story : the “ Island of Sheep ” , the “ Paradise of Birds ” , “ Crystal Towers ” , “ mountains that hurled rocks at voyagers ” , and the “ Promised Land ” .
On June 26th , 1977 , some 13 months after leaving Brandon Creek , Severin and his crew sailed into Musgrave Harbour on Peckford Island in Newfoundland and were welcomed as heroes by the locals who fully appreciated the navigational feat that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crew member , Arthur Mangan from Howth related just how dangerous the voyage was aboard the open boat when he spoke to RTÉ News the day after they landed safely at Musgrove Harbour following the final stage of the voyage - a 52 day trip from Greenland .
“ We had some pretty hairy times out there .
.
.
off the east of Greenland , we had a storm of Force 11 or 12 with 40 foot waves folding in on us in the boot – at one stage I was up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – the boat was half full of water and we just had to get that water out as fast as possible.
” Severin published the story of his remarkable adventure in “ The Brendan Voyage , ” a book which became an international best seller that was translated into 16 languages while he also made a documentary film about the epic voyage .
“ It was a project which completely changed my life .
.
.
Because of Brendan , I was able to do a number of other projects of similar kind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ship of the time and sailing , ” he told The Irish Examiner in 2017 .
Among the other adventures that Severin undertook were voyages to retrace the journey of Sinbad the Sailor from One Thousand and One Nights in 1980/81 and the voyages of legendary figures from Greek mythology such as Jason and the Argonauts in 1984 and Ulysses in 1985 .
He followed the knights of the First Crusade by riding on horseback to Jerusalem in 1987 and 1988 while he rode with Mongol horsemen in 1990 to mark the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khan which he published in 1993 as “ The Search for Genghis Khan ” A prolific author , Severin who wrote about all his various expeditions seeking to recreate historical journeys also wrote a series of historical novels , The Vikings Series about a young Viking adventurer , Thorgils Leiffson who leaves the frozen shores of Greenland and sails as far as Byzantium .
Severin also wrote a series of novels about fictional 17th century pirate , Hector Lynch .
before turning his hand to a series of historical novels set in Anglo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lynch in his most recent work of fiction , Freebooter which was published in 2017 .
Severin , who died at his home on Friday in Timoleague in west Cork , is survived by his wife , Dee and daughter , Ida as well as his son-in-law James Ashworth and grandsons , George and Guy .
A private funeral in keeping with HSE guidelines on Covid-19 will take place in the coming days .

The explorer, writer and film maker, Tim Severin, best known for the Brendan Voyage where he sailed from Ireland to Newfoundland to prove that the 6th century Irish saint could have reached the Americas 900 years before Columbus, has died at his home in West Cork at the age of 80.
Severin was born in Assam in India, the son of an English tea planter but he was keen to dispel any notions of privilege when he spoke to The Irish Times in 1999. "We were very poor. The tea planters were not rich. The people who owned the plantations were rich but they were back in Scotland and England. My parents were poor."
He was sent to boarding school in England at the age of seven and he later read History and Geography at Oxford and it was while he was still an undergraduate there at Keble College in 1961 that he sought to recreate his first ancient journey, retracing on motorbike, Marco Polo's 13th century journey into Asia.
He followed that adventure six years later by following in the footsteps of Spanish conquistadors and others sailing down the Mississippi river but it was his decision to try and follow in the footsteps of St Brendan and cross the Atlantic in a leather-bound boat in 1976 that caught the public imagination.
READ MORE
Studying the Latin texts of the Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis (The Voyage of St Brendan the Abbot) which date back to at least 800 AD and tells the story of Brendan’s (circa 489-583), Severin sought to see if he could follow in the Irish saint’s steps and find a new land to the west.
“I recreated the boat of St Brendan and set out to see what would happen and it was in that way that I discovered for me, the fascination of travel wasn’t just space but being able to go back in time and it was here that that new dimension opened for me here on the Atlantic,” he later said.
Epic journey
Severin set about building as close a replica of St Brendan's boat as possible, sourcing oak and ash from Glennan Brothers in Longford and tanned leather from 25 oxen from a firm called Josiah Crogan in Cornwall while he also consulted harnessmaker John O'Connell from Bishopstown in Cork.
The 11m long open St Brendan, built at Crosshaven Boatyard in Co Cork, was made from ash ribs and oak dunnels, lashed together with nearly 3kms of leather thongs in 1,600 knots, wrapped with 49 traditionally tanned ox hides and sealed with wool grease to protect against the salt water.
“I think the boat is as safe as the people sailing her – the question is ‘Can we sail her well enough?’ and that is the one of the really great questions – in the few months available to us for our trials, can we learn some of the lost arts of handling this type of boat?.”
“I wouldn’t be doing it unless I was confident that we could manage to do it – we will need weather luck and we do need favourable winds and we could do without any storms,” Severin told RTÉ News as he surveyed the stitching of the leather hides on to the boat at Crossshaven Boatyard
On May 17th, 1976, Severin, and his three fellow crew men, led by sailing master, George Moloney from Dublin, rowed out of Brandon Creek on the Dingle Peninsula, the spot where St Brendan is reported to have departed almost 1,500 years earlier to begin what would prove a 7,200km epic journey.
Severin later explained in a documentary film that he made about the voyage: “It was the first of my major projects, and it was to test whether the story of St Brendan, which was hugely well-known during the later Middle Ages, could have been true.
"The story was called the Navigatio . . . about the voyage of St Brendan, who sets out with a party of monks in a boat made of leather, and has various adventures on the way, stops at various islands, and reaches a great land far in the West. Some people of course have said he reached North America.
“When I say that it was very well known, it was well known to the extent that Columbus, when he was half way across, actually stopped his little flotilla of three vessels and said, “This is about the area where we should find the islands which St Brendan visited “.Columbus believed in the story and the islands were marked on the map.”
Severin and his crew aboard the St Brendan sailed first to the Aran Islands and from there to Iona, the Hebrides, the Faroe Islands where they picked up artist, Trondur Patersson, before sailing on to Iceland and Greenland and from Greenland to Newfoundland.
He believed his recreation of the voyage helped to identify the bases for many of the legendary elements of the St Brendan story: the "Island of Sheep", the "Paradise of Birds", "Crystal Towers", "mountains that hurled rocks at voyagers", and the "Promised Land".
On June 26th, 1977, some 13 months after leaving Brandon Creek, Severin and his crew sailed into Musgrave Harbour on Peckford Island in Newfoundland and were welcomed as heroes by the locals who fully appreciated the navigational feat that they had achieved coming from Ireland.
But crew member, Arthur Mangan from Howth related just how dangerous the voyage was aboard the open boat when he spoke to RTÉ News the day after they landed safely at Musgrove Harbour following the final stage of the voyage - a 52 day trip from Greenland.
“We had some pretty hairy times out there . . . off the east of Greenland, we had a storm of Force 11 or 12 with 40 foot waves folding in on us in the boot – at one stage I was up to my knees at one in water – the boat was half full of water and we just had to get that water out as fast as possible.”
Severin published the story of his remarkable adventure in “The Brendan Voyage,” a book which became an international best seller that was translated into 16 languages while he also made a documentary film about the epic voyage.
“It was a project which completely changed my life . . . Because of Brendan, I was able to do a number of other projects of similar kind, mainly investigating legendary voyages by building a ship of the time and sailing,” he told The Irish Examiner in 2017.
Novels
Among the other adventures that Severin undertook were voyages to retrace the journey of Sinbad the Sailor from One Thousand and One Nights in 1980/81 and the voyages of legendary figures from Greek mythology such as Jason and the Argonauts in 1984 and Ulysses in 1985.
He followed the knights of the First Crusade by riding on horseback to Jerusalem in 1987 and 1988 while he rode with Mongol horsemen in 1990 to mark the 800th anniversary of the birth of Genghis Khan which he published in 1993 as "The Search for Genghis Khan"
A prolific author, Severin who wrote about all his various expeditions seeking to recreate historical journeys also wrote a series of historical novels, The Vikings Series about a young Viking adventurer, Thorgils Leiffson who leaves the frozen shores of Greenland and sails as far as Byzantium .
Severin also wrote a series of novels about fictional 17th century pirate, Hector Lynch. before turning his hand to a series of historical novels set in Anglo Saxon England while he returned to Hector Lynch in his most recent work of fiction, Freebooter which was published in 2017.
Severin, who died at his home on Friday in Timoleague in west Cork, is survived by his wife, Dee and daughter, Ida as well as his son-in-law James Ashworth and grandsons, George and Guy. A private funeral in keeping with HSE guidelines on Covid-19 will take place in the coming days.


theirishtimes--2020-12-19--John Harbison worked on some of State’s most high-profile murder cases

Prof John Harbison served as the State pathologist for nearly 30 years and worked on some of the most high-profile murder cases in the State ’ s history over that period .
Prof Harbison , who died on Friday , became the State ’ s first forensic pathologist in 1974 and conducted postmortem examinations until 2003 .
He was the pathologist in many high-profile cases including the Kerry babies case , the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case , the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin , and the investigation into the Grangegorman killings .
In the Kerry babies case , Joanne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infant found on a Co Kerry beach more than 35 years ago .
Around the same time Ms Hayes had given birth to a baby boy , Shane , who was either still-born or died soon after birth and was buried on the family farm .
Despite the two babies having different blood groups , gardaí alleged they were twins , and pursued a case against Ms Hayes .
While the charges against Ms Hayes and her family were dropped , a subsequent Tribunal of Inquiry into the affair cross-examined her extensively over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hayes was not the mother of the baby on the beach , but was the mother of the baby on the farm .
It found that she had assaulted her newborn with a bath brush and choked him to death .
Giving evidence at the tribunal , Prof Harbison said he was unable to determine if baby Shane was still-born or died shortly after his birth .
The autopsy had shown a bruise on the left side of baby ’ s neck , which he said could have been a result of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted strangulation as there had been no injury to the larynx .
Prof Harbison also dismissed the idea the baby had been struck on the head with a bath brush , as this would have fractured the skull , yet there was no evidence of this .
Following legal action against the State , the Hayes family on Friday secured declarations all findings of wrongdoing made against them by the tribunal were unfounded and incorrect .
Prof Harbison was also involved in the case of Sophie Toscan du Plantier , a 39-year-old film @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead in a laneway by her holiday home in Drinane , Schull , Co Cork in December 1996 .
At an inquest in April 1997 Prof Harbison said Toscan du Plantier had died from multiple injuries including laceration of the brain and a fracture of the skull , caused by a blunt instrument .
There was a delay of more than 24 hours before Prof Harbison arrived at the scene to carry out a preliminary examination of the body , which was one of many points of controversy surrounding the case .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retired state pathologist in the case involving two women who were brutally murdered in 1997 by Mark Nash , in Grangegorman , Dublin .
Giving evidence at the trial Prof Harbison said the injuries to the two women , Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan , was “ outside ” his experience of 26 years .
Prof Harbison was born in Howth , north Co Dublin , and studied medicine in Trinity College Dublin .
In 1991 , he was appointed professor of forensic medicine and toxicology at the Royal College of Surgeons .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and is survived by his wife Kathleen , children Isobel and Austin , grandchildren Jack and Edith , brother Peter , son-in-law Conor , extended family and friends .
His funeral will be held on Monday .

Prof John Harbison became the State’s first forensic pathologist in 1974 and conducted postmortem examinations until 2003. Photograph: The Irish Times
Prof John Harbison served as the State pathologist for nearly 30 years and worked on some of the most high-profile murder cases in the State's history over that period.
Prof Harbison, who died on Friday, became the State’s first forensic pathologist in 1974 and conducted postmortem examinations until 2003.
He was the pathologist in many high-profile cases including the Kerry babies case, the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case, the murder of journalist Veronica Guerin, and the investigation into the Grangegorman killings.
In the Kerry babies case, Joanne Hayes was wrongly accused of murdering an infant found on a Co Kerry beach more than 35 years ago.
READ MORE
Around the same time Ms Hayes had given birth to a baby boy, Shane, who was either still-born or died soon after birth and was buried on the family farm.
Despite the two babies having different blood groups, gardaí alleged they were twins, and pursued a case against Ms Hayes.
While the charges against Ms Hayes and her family were dropped, a subsequent Tribunal of Inquiry into the affair cross-examined her extensively over five days.
The inquiry concluded Ms Hayes was not the mother of the baby on the beach, but was the mother of the baby on the farm. It found that she had assaulted her newborn with a bath brush and choked him to death.
Giving evidence at the tribunal, Prof Harbison said he was unable to determine if baby Shane was still-born or died shortly after his birth.
The autopsy had shown a bruise on the left side of baby’s neck, which he said could have been a result of the delivery.
He had ruled out any attempted strangulation as there had been no injury to the larynx.
Prof Harbison also dismissed the idea the baby had been struck on the head with a bath brush, as this would have fractured the skull, yet there was no evidence of this.
Following legal action against the State, the Hayes family on Friday secured declarations all findings of wrongdoing made against them by the tribunal were unfounded and incorrect.
Prof Harbison was also involved in the case of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a 39-year-old film producer from Paris, who was found dead in a laneway by her holiday home in Drinane, Schull, Co Cork in December 1996.
At an inquest in April 1997 Prof Harbison said Toscan du Plantier had died from multiple injuries including laceration of the brain and a fracture of the skull, caused by a blunt instrument.
There was a delay of more than 24 hours before Prof Harbison arrived at the scene to carry out a preliminary examination of the body, which was one of many points of controversy surrounding the case.
In 2015, Prof Harbison gave evidence as retired state pathologist in the case involving two women who were brutally murdered in 1997 by Mark Nash, in Grangegorman, Dublin.
Giving evidence at the trial Prof Harbison said the injuries to the two women, Sylvia Shields and Mary Callanan, was "outside" his experience of 26 years.
Prof Harbison was born in Howth, north Co Dublin, and studied medicine in Trinity College Dublin.
In 1991, he was appointed professor of forensic medicine and toxicology at the Royal College of Surgeons.
He died in his 80s on Friday, and is survived by his wife Kathleen, children Isobel and Austin, grandchildren Jack and Edith, brother Peter, son-in-law Conor, extended family and friends. His funeral will be held on Monday.