theirishtimes--2020-07-13--Irish students have much higher levels of anxiety over exams

Irish students have much higher levels of anxiety over schoolwork and exam-related stress than other developed countries , according to a report compiled for the Department of Education .
The findings are contained in a report by the National Educational Psychological Service which says almost half of teens feel nervous and stressed when thinking about exams , while a quarter report feeling physically unwell .
In addition , the report raises concern over the level of mental health difficulties among young people in Ireland , with one in three having reported having some kind of mental health disorder .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this summer , were a key factor in the then minister for education Joe McHugh ’ s decision to cancel the summer Leaving Cert exams .
It warned that pressing ahead with the Leaving Cert exams this year would have posed “ significant risks for heightened anxiety ” .
This was due to requirements to change the length and format of the exam , along with worry about safety issues and a sense of unfairness due to a lack of equitable access to supports since the closure of schools .
In addition , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to plans and changes in scheduled exam times had the potential for additional heightened student anxiety .
While some students may have managed and coped quite well , it said this needed to be balanced with the risks for other groups of vulnerable students who would find the experience “ anxiety-provoking ” and , for some , “ overwhelming ” .
The report ultimately advised that the written exams due in the summer “ should not be advanced ” .
“ The alternative calculated grades option , with its rationale of fairness , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the option that , in the current circumstances , better promotes for most , a sense of efficacy , resilience and wellbeing.
” Separately , education authorities are understood to have drawn up options to give students more choice in next year ’ s State exams to help make up for lost teaching time .
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the State Examinations Commission are understood to have prepared reports for the Minister for Education on the issue .
Education sources say one option being considered is to give more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid students being penalised for not finishing the curriculum .
A spokesman for the Department of Education said it is engaging with education partners and other key stakeholders on curricular measures and it was envisaged that this guidance will be finalised by the end of July .

National Educational Psychological Service report findings, completed earlier this summer, were a key factor in the then minister for education’s decision to cancel the summer Leaving Cert exams.
Irish students have much higher levels of anxiety over schoolwork and exam-related stress than other developed countries, according to a report compiled for the Department of Education.
The findings are contained in a report by the National Educational Psychological Service which says almost half of teens feel nervous and stressed when thinking about exams, while a quarter report feeling physically unwell.
In addition, the report raises concern over the level of mental health difficulties among young people in Ireland, with one in three having reported having some kind of mental health disorder.
The findings of the report, completed earlier this summer, were a key factor in the then minister for education Joe McHugh’s decision to cancel the summer Leaving Cert exams.
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It warned that pressing ahead with the Leaving Cert exams this year would have posed “significant risks for heightened anxiety”.
This was due to requirements to change the length and format of the exam, along with worry about safety issues and a sense of unfairness due to a lack of equitable access to supports since the closure of schools.
Further disruption
In addition, it said the potential for further disruption to plans and changes in scheduled exam times had the potential for additional heightened student anxiety.
While some students may have managed and coped quite well, it said this needed to be balanced with the risks for other groups of vulnerable students who would find the experience “anxiety-provoking” and, for some, “overwhelming”.
The report ultimately advised that the written exams due in the summer “should not be advanced”.
“The alternative calculated grades option, with its rationale of fairness, inclusivity, reliability and validity, is the option that, in the current circumstances, better promotes for most, a sense of efficacy, resilience and wellbeing.”
Separately, education authorities are understood to have drawn up options to give students more choice in next year’s State exams to help make up for lost teaching time.
More choice
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the State Examinations Commission are understood to have prepared reports for the Minister for Education on the issue.
Education sources say one option being considered is to give more choice of questions. This would help avoid students being penalised for not finishing the curriculum.
A spokesman for the Department of Education said it is engaging with education partners and other key stakeholders on curricular measures and it was envisaged that this guidance will be finalised by the end of July.


theirishtimes--2020-07-13--Disease expert says jailing tourists who breach quarantine would send clear message

Some high-profile figures and US tourists who violated quarantine rules should be jailed to send out a clear message that the State is serious about enforcing laws designed to stop people arriving in Ireland spreading the Covid-19 virus , an infectious disease specialist has suggested .
Amid growing concern about the number of flights arriving in Ireland from the US where the pandemic is accelerating , Prof Sam McConkey , an infectious disease specialist and head of the department of international health and tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , said compliance with the 14-day quarantine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcement of the existing regulations .
His comments came as Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government remained cautious about international travel as it sought to ease restrictions in Ireland to allow society to reopen .
Prof McConkey said the Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher had publicly admitted that he had ignored the rules on quarantining when he returned to Ireland from Brussels earlier this month to attend a special sitting of the Dáil in the National Convention Centre to elect his party leader , Mr Martin , as Taoiseach .
The specialist said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of enforcement of the rules governing all people arriving here from abroad .
“ We don ’ t need new regulations .
We just need to enforce the ones that are already there , ” Prof McConkey said .
“ If Billy Kelleher and a group of American tourists were to be sent to prison in Mountjoy for three months it would send out a clear message that we have law and order , and that the justice system applies equally to everyone .
It would change everything dramatically.
” Offenders face a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months and/or a maximum fine of €2,500 .
However , Prof McConkey said his preference would be for visitors to be persuaded voluntarily to comply with regulations without the need for measures like prison or dedicated quarantine centres .
He said the Fianna Fáil MEP was an experienced politician who should know the law , while there was an onus on everyone engaging in foreign travel to familiarise themselves with the rules of their country of destination .
At the same time , Prof McConkey said he was opposed to a blanket ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like the US .
“ We are an island with a small open economy , and we should keep it open as much as possible .
Any restrictions should be more nuanced.
” US travellers are currently prevented from visiting most European countries including all EU member states except Ireland , unless they qualify for an exception .
However , they are allowed to travel to the UK and Ireland , which are outside the Schengen area for free movement .
“ I ’ ve been watching with a fair amount of horror @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 38 US states , ” said Prof McConkey .
“ It is going to have catastrophic consequences for the health services of places like Florida and Arizona where they have high proportions of elderly people ” .
Meanwhile , a Co Clare company which offers guide tours and electric bikes for hire said it had cancelled a booking after discovering it had been made by a small group of US tourists who were unaware of their need to quarantine for 14 days .
Janet Cavanagh , who owns E-Whizz bike rental company based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visitors who had recently arrived in Ireland from Minneapolis and were staying in Airbnb accommodation in Co Meath did not realise they should not be visiting places unless they had completed the required period of quarantine .
“ I know we are in tourism but I ’ m just not willing to risk it for staff and other guests .
These people are in the country and socialising , ” said Ms Cavanagh .
The businesswoman said her company was highly dependent on US visitors for revenue , but had assumed there would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Although they said they had filled out the contact forms at Dublin Airport , it is worrying that people do not seem to be checking that they are following the quarantine requirements , ” Ms Cavanagh said .
Various social media platforms in recent days have also highlighted reports of groups of US tourists being seen in a number of locations around Ireland , including Killarney and the Bray-Greystones cliff walk .

There is growing concern about the number of flights arriving in Ireland from the US, where the pandemic is accelerating. Photograph: Owen Humphreys/PA Wire
Some high-profile figures and US tourists who violated quarantine rules should be jailed to send out a clear message that the State is serious about enforcing laws designed to stop people arriving in Ireland spreading the Covid-19 virus, an infectious disease specialist has suggested.
Amid growing concern about the number of flights arriving in Ireland from the US where the pandemic is accelerating, Prof Sam McConkey, an infectious disease specialist and head of the department of international health and tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said compliance with the 14-day quarantine rules would be greatly helped by increased enforcement of the existing regulations.
His comments came as Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government remained cautious about international travel as it sought to ease restrictions in Ireland to allow society to reopen.
Prof McConkey said the Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher had publicly admitted that he had ignored the rules on quarantining when he returned to Ireland from Brussels earlier this month to attend a special sitting of the Dáil in the National Convention Centre to elect his party leader, Mr Martin, as Taoiseach.
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The specialist said it also seemed there was a lack of enforcement of the rules governing all people arriving here from abroad.
“We don’t need new regulations. We just need to enforce the ones that are already there,” Prof McConkey said.
“If Billy Kelleher and a group of American tourists were to be sent to prison in Mountjoy for three months it would send out a clear message that we have law and order, and that the justice system applies equally to everyone. It would change everything dramatically.”
Offenders face a potential jail term of up to six months and/or a maximum fine of €2,500.
However, Prof McConkey said his preference would be for visitors to be persuaded voluntarily to comply with regulations without the need for measures like prison or dedicated quarantine centres.
He said the Fianna Fáil MEP was an experienced politician who should know the law, while there was an onus on everyone engaging in foreign travel to familiarise themselves with the rules of their country of destination.
At the same time, Prof McConkey said he was opposed to a blanket ban on all travel to Ireland from countries like the US.
“We are an island with a small open economy, and we should keep it open as much as possible. Any restrictions should be more nuanced.”
US travellers are currently prevented from visiting most European countries including all EU member states except Ireland, unless they qualify for an exception.
However, they are allowed to travel to the UK and Ireland, which are outside the Schengen area for free movement.
"I've been watching with a fair amount of horror the growing number of Covid-19 cases across 38 US states," said Prof McConkey. "It is going to have catastrophic consequences for the health services of places like Florida and Arizona where they have high proportions of elderly people".
Booking
Meanwhile, a Co Clare company which offers guide tours and electric bikes for hire said it had cancelled a booking after discovering it had been made by a small group of US tourists who were unaware of their need to quarantine for 14 days.
Janet Cavanagh, who owns E-Whizz bike rental company based in Kilfenora, expressed shock that the visitors who had recently arrived in Ireland from Minneapolis and were staying in Airbnb accommodation in Co Meath did not realise they should not be visiting places unless they had completed the required period of quarantine.
“I know we are in tourism but I’m just not willing to risk it for staff and other guests. These people are in the country and socialising,” said Ms Cavanagh.
The businesswoman said her company was highly dependent on US visitors for revenue, but had assumed there would be no tourists from America this year.
“Although they said they had filled out the contact forms at Dublin Airport, it is worrying that people do not seem to be checking that they are following the quarantine requirements,” Ms Cavanagh said.
Various social media platforms in recent days have also highlighted reports of groups of US tourists being seen in a number of locations around Ireland, including Killarney and the Bray-Greystones cliff walk.


theirishtimes--2020-07-13--Leisure facilities continue to close as Covid-19 magnifies insurance crisis

Two years ago this month the Blueway Waterpark opened on Lough Allen in Co Leitrim .
Consisting of 1,600sq m of inflatable trampolines , obstacles , slides , logs , bongo blobs , cliff jumps and rope swings , it immediately became a popular attraction with families .
Participants navigated the different inflatable obstacles using wetsuits , life-jackets and buoyancy aids .
It reopened on Monday , June 29th , and that week attracted 1,000 visitors , but closed abruptly last Wednesday , July 9th .
The catalyst for the sudden closure was the park ’ s new insurance premium @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year .
The excess has gone from €500 to €5,000 .
The demand prompted an angry riposte from the owners , local businessmen Kenny Murtagh and Tom Cronin , and Liam McAuliffe from Cork .
“ We , as a business , are not willing to continue our operation with the constraints and conditions being asked by the underwriters and remaining insurers servicing the sector , ” they stated in a post on the waterpark ’ s Facebook page .
“ The elephant in the room is the blatant ‘ claim culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exists in Ireland , where the onus is on a business to prove it is innocence up to two years after an alleged incident .
“ When it ’ s okay for a claimant to notify a business 21 months after an alleged incident , and where solicitors are taking on cases on a no-win no-fee basis , what hope has the leisure industry in Ireland ?
“ We ask the question –- what hope has the hospitality and leisure industry in Ireland when this is the view of would-be insurers ?
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new legislation is brought to the fore , including protective notification periods for businesses and a cap put on genuine claims ( based on severity of the injury ) , we will have no activity-based parks in Ireland in a very short space of time.
” Mr Murtagh said its original insurer had sold on its book to an insurer in the UK , who had chosen to increase their premium by 250 per cent .
“ The real killer , ” he stated , was the excess which meant they would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ costs even if the claim against them is unsuccessful .
“ It ’ s ridiculous and it will be up to you to prove it didn ’ t happened .
A lot of people are chancers .
The legal fees will cost you five grand to start with .
Insurance is an outrage , ” he said .
Gone to the wall Other leisure businesses have gone to the wall at a time when demand for staycations has reached unprecedented levels , with most people eschewing foreign travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operating as an adventure park since 1993 , closed its doors inJune , citing the Covid-19 restrictions and high insurance costs as the reasons for the “ heartbreaking ” decision .
In Clonakilty , Co Cork , Ireland ’ s first rural community bike rental scheme has had to close after Allianz declined to renew its insurance at the end of May .
“ We could not get anybody else to insure our bicycle scheme even though we never had a claim or a query or anything in the last four or five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donovan , who ran the scheme along with her brother Tom .
The problem for many leisure operators was the withdrawal last year from the Irish market of the UK-based LeisureInsure , which is underwritten by Axa .
It was one of the last insurers in the Irish market providing cover for adventure parks , bouncy castle providers and children ’ s play centres .
Where Irish operations have been able to secure insurance renewal , it has been mostly through UK operators who are charging multiples of previous premiums .
One adventure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be named , said his premium quadrupled from €6,000 to €24,000 this year , amounting to 10 per cent of his total income .
He was also obliged to continue paying his €2,000 premiums a month throughout the lockdown .
“ They have absolutely 100 per cent refused to suspend the employers ’ liability policy even though we had no employees and the public liability policy though we had no customers for the duration of the pandemic , ” he said .
Adventure park operators are now in talks with Irish insurers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be done by LeisureInsure .
For the new Government , insurance is a legacy problem it will have to tackle .
The issue of insurance reform was addressed at length in the programme for government , though a clause calling for a Cabinet sub-committee to be set up as a matter of urgency was dropped from the final draft .
Peter Boland of the Alliance for Insurance Reform said the Covid-19 crisis had created a sense of urgency and the new Government would have to demonstrate more energy in trying to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expect more of this .
Insurance was already an existential problem before Covid-19 , so Covid-19 has magnified the crisis .
Operators were resorting to measures of borrowing money to pay their insurance premium and that facility is no longer available .
Any wriggle room is now effectively gone .
“ If the Government is expecting the economy to recover through SMEs and for society to recover through community and voluntary groups , insurance reform needs to be resolved this year .
”

Blueway Waterpark in Co Leitrim. “The elephant in the room is the blatant ‘claim culture’ and excessive awards that unfortunately still exists in Ireland”
Two years ago this month the Blueway Waterpark opened on Lough Allen in Co Leitrim. Consisting of 1,600sq m of inflatable trampolines, obstacles, slides, logs, bongo blobs, cliff jumps and rope swings, it immediately became a popular attraction with families. Participants navigated the different inflatable obstacles using wetsuits, life-jackets and buoyancy aids.
It reopened on Monday, June 29th, and that week attracted 1,000 visitors, but closed abruptly last Wednesday, July 9th. The catalyst for the sudden closure was the park’s new insurance premium which had gone from €10,000 to €25,000 a year. The excess has gone from €500 to €5,000.
The demand prompted an angry riposte from the owners, local businessmen Kenny Murtagh and Tom Cronin, and Liam McAuliffe from Cork.
"We, as a business, are not willing to continue our operation with the constraints and conditions being asked by the underwriters and remaining insurers servicing the sector," they stated in a post on the waterpark's Facebook page.
READ MORE
"The elephant in the room is the blatant 'claim culture' and excessive awards that unfortunately still exists in Ireland, where the onus is on a business to prove it is innocence up to two years after an alleged incident.
“When it’s okay for a claimant to notify a business 21 months after an alleged incident, and where solicitors are taking on cases on a no-win no-fee basis, what hope has the leisure industry in Ireland?
“We ask the question –- what hope has the hospitality and leisure industry in Ireland when this is the view of would-be insurers?
“It has become farcical, and unless new legislation is brought to the fore, including protective notification periods for businesses and a cap put on genuine claims (based on severity of the injury), we will have no activity-based parks in Ireland in a very short space of time.”
Mr Murtagh said its original insurer had sold on its book to an insurer in the UK, who had chosen to increase their premium by 250 per cent. “The real killer,” he stated, was the excess which meant they would be liable for the first €5,000 in legal costs even if the claim against them is unsuccessful.
“It’s ridiculous and it will be up to you to prove it didn’t happened. A lot of people are chancers. The legal fees will cost you five grand to start with. Insurance is an outrage,” he said.
Gone to the wall
Other leisure businesses have gone to the wall at a time when demand for staycations has reached unprecedented levels, with most people eschewing foreign travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fort Lucan, which has been operating as an adventure park since 1993, closed its doors for the year in June, citing the Covid-19 restrictions and high insurance costs as the reasons for the "heartbreaking" decision. However, Fort Lucan is closed only for this year and will reopen in 2021 at the start of its normal season.*
In Clonakilty, Co Cork, Ireland's first rural community bike rental scheme has had to close after Allianz declined to renew its insurance at the end of May.
“We could not get anybody else to insure our bicycle scheme even though we never had a claim or a query or anything in the last four or five years,” said Dena O’Donovan, who ran the scheme along with her brother Tom.
The problem for many leisure operators was the withdrawal last year from the Irish market of the UK-based LeisureInsure, which is underwritten by Axa. It was one of the last insurers in the Irish market providing cover for adventure parks, bouncy castle providers and children’s play centres.
Where Irish operations have been able to secure insurance renewal, it has been mostly through UK operators who are charging multiples of previous premiums.
One adventure park operator, who asked not to be named, said his premium quadrupled from €6,000 to €24,000 this year, amounting to 10 per cent of his total income. He was also obliged to continue paying his €2,000 premiums a month throughout the lockdown.
“They have absolutely 100 per cent refused to suspend the employers’ liability policy even though we had no employees and the public liability policy though we had no customers for the duration of the pandemic,” he said.
Adventure park operators are now in talks with Irish insurers to try and replace the business that used to be done by LeisureInsure.
For the new Government, insurance is a legacy problem it will have to tackle. The issue of insurance reform was addressed at length in the programme for government, though a clause calling for a Cabinet sub-committee to be set up as a matter of urgency was dropped from the final draft.
More energy
Peter Boland of the Alliance for Insurance Reform said the Covid-19 crisis had created a sense of urgency and the new Government would have to demonstrate more energy in trying to deal with the issue.
“We can expect more of this. Insurance was already an existential problem before Covid-19, so Covid-19 has magnified the crisis. Operators were resorting to measures of borrowing money to pay their insurance premium and that facility is no longer available. Any wriggle room is now effectively gone.
“If the Government is expecting the economy to recover through SMEs and for society to recover through community and voluntary groups, insurance reform needs to be resolved this year.”
*This article was amended on August 13th 2020


theirishtimes--2020-07-13--Quarantine process to be tightened as health officials grow nervous

Airlines and tour operators will be told to inform customers flying into Ireland they must quarantine on arrival for 14 days , as the Government considers a wide range of measures to improve compliance to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
However , Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the Attorney General had advised the Government that measures such as mandatory self-isolation “ are difficult from a legal perspective ” .
Speaking on Sunday , Mr Donnelly said he wanted to see a “ quick engagement with tour operators , with the airlines , to make sure that anybody coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them when they arrive ” .
“ We want people knowing when they ’ re thinking about booking and coming to our country , that they understand that , as part of that trip , they ’ ll be expected to self-isolate for two weeks , ” he said .
Sources said the Government had also made contact with the main airlines flying into the State about making the completion of an online passenger locator form a mandatory part of booking a ticket on a flight into the country .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place before the planned relaxation of some travel rules on July 20th .
It is understood that the Government is also examining plans to increase the number of staff checking that travellers are staying where they said they would on the form , and the number of staff at airports dedicated to coronavirus-related duties .
Mr Donnelly said a “ green list ” of countries people could travel from without undergoing the quarantine would be “ relatively short ” .
The list will be introduced on July 20th .
He said a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at points of entry into the country ” would also be agreed by the Government in advance and rolled out at the same time .
However , there is growing nervousness among senior health officials about the incidence of cases of the disease linked to travel .
At least one cluster of the disease has been linked with inbound travel , it is understood .
HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said on Sunday : “ Like many of my colleagues , I am increasingly concerned at the ease with which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country.
” “ The most efficient control measures at airports are a poor second place to people not travelling into or out of the country unless for essential reasons .
Everybody should ask themselves before they travel whether the purpose is really essential , ” he said .
It is understood that no final decision has been taken on loosening restrictions on pubs that remain shut , and that call will be made at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday , when up-to-date virus figures will be available .
Separately , Garda representative organisations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been given guidance on enforcing new rules that make the wearing of face coverings on public transport mandatory .
The new rules came into effect at midnight on Sunday , but Dermot O ’ Brien , interim assistant general secretary of the Garda Representative Association , said its members had “ been given no instructions on policing new public transport regulations .
Normally a circular is issued on the Garda Portal for all gardaí to see , but there is nothing there.
” The GRA urged Garda management to “ bring full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
A Garda spokesman said the force would “ continue its graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent ” , with members aiming to “ engage , educate , encourage and , as a last resort , enforce ” .
The Irish Tour Operators Association said its members were effectively doing no business due to the 14 day self-isolation guidelines .
“ As long as there is a 14-day self-isolation period , there ’ s no business being done , ” said a spokeswoman for the group .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health advice , but “ we would love to see a clarification on what ’ s the exit plan from the 14-day self-isolation ” .

Airlines and tour operators will be told to inform customers flying into Ireland they must quarantine on arrival for 14 days, as the Government considers a wide range of measures to improve compliance to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
However, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the Attorney General had advised the Government that measures such as mandatory self-isolation "are difficult from a legal perspective".
Speaking on Sunday, Mr Donnelly said he wanted to see a “quick engagement with tour operators, with the airlines, to make sure that anybody coming to this country knows what is expected of them when they arrive”.
“We want people knowing when they’re thinking about booking and coming to our country, that they understand that as part of that trip they’ll be expected to self-isolate for two weeks,” he said.
READ MORE
Sources said the Government had also made contact with the main airlines flying into the State about making the completion of an online passenger locator form a mandatory part of booking a ticket on a flight into the country.
However, that step is unlikely to be in place before the planned relaxation of some travel rules on July 20th.
It is understood that the Government is also examining plans to increase the number of staff checking that travellers are staying where they said they would on the form, and the number of staff at airports dedicated to coronavirus-related duties.
Green list
Mr Donnelly said a “green list” of countries people could travel from without undergoing the quarantine would be “relatively short”. The list will be introduced on July 20th. He said a “suite of measures to provide high visibility at points of entry into the country” would also be agreed by the Government in advance and rolled out at the same time.
However, there is growing nervousness among senior health officials about the incidence of cases of the disease linked to travel. At least one cluster of the disease has been linked with inbound travel, it is understood.
HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said on Sunday: "Like many of my colleagues, I am increasingly concerned at the ease with which the virus can gain a foothold in the country."
“The most efficient control measures at airports are a poor second place to people not travelling into or out of the country unless for essential reasons. Everybody should ask themselves before they travel whether the purpose is really essential,” he said.
It is understood that no final decision has been taken on loosening restrictions on pubs that remain shut, and that call will be made at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, when up-to-date virus figures will be available.
Face coverings
Separately, Gardaí only received guidance on the enforcement of new face mask regulations on public transport some five hours before they became law on Monday.
At midnight it became compulsory to wear a mask or face covering on public transport except in specific circumstances. Gardaí received guidance on the enforcement of the regulations at 7.30pm on Sunday night.
Until then gardaí said they had been relying on media reports for information on the legislation which was signed by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Friday.
Earlier Dermot O’Brien, interim assistant general secretary of the Garda Representative Association, said its members had “been given no instructions on policing the new public transport regulations”.
A Garda spokesman said the force would “continue its graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent”, with members aiming to “engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce”.
The Irish Tour Operators Association said its members were effectively doing no business due to the 14 day self-isolation guidelines. "As long as there is a 14-day self-isolation period, there's no business being done," said a spokeswoman for the group.
She said operators would be led by public health advice, but “we would love to see a clarification on what’s the exit plan from the 14-day self-isolation”.


theirishtimes--2020-07-13--Tusla policy ‘endangering’ victims of child sex abuse, say therapists

Therapy services are no longer asking child sex abuse victims to disclose their abusers ’ names due to a Tusla policy mandating that alleged abusers must be informed of any complaints .
Under current guidelines , therapists and victim-support groups must disclose reports of child sex abuse , including historic cases , to the child and family agency , along with the identities of the complainants and alleged abuser .
Tusla policy is to then inform the alleged abuser of the complaint and to begin an assessment .
This is the case even if the complainant does not want an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy of informing alleged abusers of complaints places their clients in physical danger as a result of retaliation .
They say it also means victims can not open up properly during therapy , due to the therapists ’ obligation to pass on identifying data to Tusla .
In response Tusla cited a “ complex legislative space ” and said court decisions and “ natural justice ” mean it must inform alleged abusers of complaints .
It said this approach will not change under a revised policy framework which is due to come into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One In Four stopped asking clients the name of their alleged abusers in November 2019 .
“ It ’ s just too dangerous , ” said executive director Maeve Lewis .
“ If we pass on our client ’ s name and the name of the alleged offender , Tusla informs the alleged offender .
Obviously we are very , very worried about that .
It places our clients in physical danger and in danger of harassment.
” One In Four ’ s new policy , along with the coronavirus pandemic , means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notifications to Tusla so far this year , Ms Lewis said .
She said the situation is also a “ huge ” problem for the therapeutic process .
“ What we have found over the years is encouraging clients to give us the name is a big part of breaking the silence .
It ’ s an empowering process for the client.
” Two other therapists working with victims of child sex abuse said they operate similar policies .
“ We have a conversation at the outset where I inform them of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or even the nature of their relationship [ with their alleged abuser ] , ” one told The Irish Times .
“ Many don ’ t come back.
” Cliona Sadlier , head of Rape Crisis Network Ireland , said one of the first questions clients ask is “ if I come in to you do you have to report me ?
” .
“ We tell them that once we know the identity of the abuser we have to report .
They generally ring us in deep distress and because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally disappear .
And we don ’ t know want happens to those people.
” Tusla said there are “ significant challenges ” in the area and that it has an obligation to protect victims and “ to ensure fair procedures are applied in relation to the person subject to abuse allegations.
” The policy of informing alleged abusers is “ a requirement which has been placed on Tusla by case law and all of the interpretations of natural justice , ” a spokeswoman said .
“ Together with our partner organisations we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support adults disclosing retrospective abuse , ” she added .
Ms Lewis said One In Four will retain its current policy until Tusla changes its policy .
However , Tusla says the current practice will not change under the revamped procedures , which are due to come into force next March .

Maeve Lewis, executive director of One In Four: ‘It places our clients in physical danger and in danger of harassment.’ Photograph: Alan Betson
Therapy services are no longer asking child sex abuse victims to disclose their abusers’ names due to a Tusla policy mandating that alleged abusers must be informed of any complaints.
Under current guidelines, therapists and victim-support groups must disclose reports of child sex abuse, including historic cases, to the child and family agency, along with the identities of the complainants and alleged abuser.
Tusla policy is to then inform the alleged abuser of the complaint and to begin an assessment. This is the case even if the complainant does not want an investigation.
Victims’ groups say the policy of informing alleged abusers of complaints places their clients in physical danger as a result of retaliation.
READ MORE
They say it also means victims cannot open up properly during therapy, due to the therapists’ obligation to pass on identifying data to Tusla.
In response Tusla cited a “complex legislative space” and said court decisions and “natural justice” mean it must inform alleged abusers of complaints.
It said this approach will not change under a revised policy framework which is due to come into effect next year.
The counselling service One In Four stopped asking clients the name of their alleged abusers in November 2019. "It's just too dangerous," said executive director Maeve Lewis.
“If we pass on our client’s name and the name of the alleged offender, Tusla informs the alleged offender. Obviously we are very, very worried about that. It places our clients in physical danger and in danger of harassment.”
One In Four’s new policy, along with the coronavirus pandemic, means it has made “very few” notifications to Tusla so far this year, Ms Lewis said.
She said the situation is also a “huge” problem for the therapeutic process. “What we have found over the years is encouraging clients to give us the name is a big part of breaking the silence. It’s an empowering process for the client.”
Two other therapists working with victims of child sex abuse said they operate similar policies. “We have a conversation at the outset where I inform them of what happens if they tell me a name, or even the nature of their relationship [with their alleged abuser],” one told The Irish Times. “Many don’t come back.”
Cliona Sadlier, head of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, said one of the first questions clients ask is "if I come in to you do you have to report me?".
‘Deep distress’
“We tell them that once we know the identity of the abuser we have to report. They generally ring us in deep distress and because they need support and counselling. And they generally disappear. And we don’t know want happens to those people.”
Tusla said there are “significant challenges” in the area and that it has an obligation to protect victims and “to ensure fair procedures are applied in relation to the person subject to abuse allegations.”
The policy of informing alleged abusers is “a requirement which has been placed on Tusla by case law and all of the interpretations of natural justice,” a spokeswoman said.
“Together with our partner organisations we will always seek to find a way to support adults disclosing retrospective abuse,” she added.
Ms Lewis said One In Four will retain its current policy until Tusla changes its policy. However, Tusla says the current practice will not change under the revamped procedures, which are due to come into force next March.


theirishtimes--2020-07-13--Developer lobbies to rezone Howth Castle land for housing

Irish investment group Tetrarch has begun lobbying Fingal County Council to rezone land by Howth Castle for a housing development , claiming the site is currently “ significantly underutilised ” .
Tetrarch Capital acquired the vast estate in the north Dublin coastal village of Howth two years ago from the Gaisford-St Lawrence family , who had owned the land for more than 800 years .
The developer has told the local authority it had identified 15 hectares of land “ readily available to be zoned for residential development ” , in a letter seen by The Irish Times .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning consultants Tom Phillips & Associates on behalf of Tetrarch , and said there was a lack of lands zoned for residential development in Howth .
The 170 hectares of land includes Howth Castle , Deer Park golf course and a former hotel , and large green spaces .
It is currently zoned as “ high amenity ” , with the council ’ s development plan committed to protecting it from inappropriate development .
Tetrarch has told the council it believes the land is “ underutilised in its current form ” , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to develop the estate .
Howth Castle required “ significant investment ” to maintain the building for ongoing use , and the former Deer Park hotel “ will be required to be replaced ” , the letter said .
The existing Deer Park golf course had “ diminished in use ” over time , and a championship golf course is planned to be developed in its place , the letter said .
The proposed housing development would be located towards the eastern corner of the large estate , near existing housing at Grace @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is envisaged that the development of these lands can provide for a mix of housing , with a particular emphasis on housing for down-sizers , right-sizers and retirees , ” the letter outlined .
The council ’ s current six-year development plan is to run until 2023 .
There will be an opportunity for land to be rezoned under the subsequent plan , which work will begin on next year .
Tetrarch petitioned the council to rezone a section of the Howth Castle lands for housing as part of a current minor variation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman said any proposals to rezone land would not be considered “ outside of the development plan review process ” .
The review of the council ’ s development plan would begin in March 2021 , she said .
Cian O ’ Callaghan , a Howth-based Social Democrats TD , was critical that Tetrarch had closed off several access points to the land , which he said had “ caused considerable distress to local residents ” .
A spokesman for Tetrarch said under the new master plan it would “ ensure continued public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of different entry points , and the provision of a large park ” .
The plan would include a new hotel , and propose a greenway link between Sutton and Howth .
The process was in the “ early days ” and the proposal to rezone parts of the land would “ involve further extensive public consultation ” , he said .

Howth Harbour and village. Developer Tetrarch said there was a lack of lands zoned for residential development in Howth. Photograph: Alan Betson
Irish investment group Tetrarch has begun lobbying Fingal County Council to rezone land by Howth Castle for a housing development, claiming the site is currently "significantly underutilised".
Tetrarch Capital acquired the vast estate in the north Dublin coastal village of Howth two years ago from the Gaisford-St Lawrence family, who had owned the land for more than 800 years.
The developer has told the local authority it had identified 15 hectares of land “readily available to be zoned for residential development”, in a letter seen by The Irish Times.
The letter dated February 6th was sent by planning consultants Tom Phillips & Associates on behalf of Tetrarch, and said there was a lack of lands zoned for residential development in Howth.
READ MORE
The 170 hectares of land includes Howth Castle, Deer Park golf course and a former hotel, and large green spaces.
It is currently zoned as “high amenity”, with the council’s development plan committed to protecting it from inappropriate development.
Tetrarch has told the council it believes the land is “underutilised in its current form”, and that it is preparing a master plan to develop the estate.
Diminished
Howth Castle required “significant investment” to maintain the building for ongoing use, and the former Deer Park hotel “will be required to be replaced”, the letter said.
The existing Deer Park golf course had “diminished in use” over time, and a championship golf course is planned to be developed in its place, the letter said.
The proposed housing development would be located towards the eastern corner of the large estate, near existing housing at Grace O’Malley Road.
“It is envisaged that the development of these lands can provide for a mix of housing, with a particular emphasis on housing for down-sizers, right-sizers and retirees,” the letter outlined.
The council’s current six-year development plan is to run until 2023. There will be an opportunity for land to be rezoned under the subsequent plan, which work will begin on next year.
Tetrarch petitioned the council to rezone a section of the Howth Castle lands for housing as part of a current minor variation of the existing plan.
A council spokeswoman said any proposals to rezone land would not be considered “outside of the development plan review process”. The review of the council’s development plan would begin in March 2021, she said.
Cian O'Callaghan, a Howth-based Social Democrats TD, was critical that Tetrarch had closed off several access points to the land, which he said had "caused considerable distress to local residents".
A spokesman for Tetrarch said under the new master plan it would “ensure continued public access to the estate from a range of different entry points, and the provision of a large park”.
The plan would include a new hotel, and propose a greenway link between Sutton and Howth. The process was in the "early days" and the proposal to rezone parts of the land would "involve further extensive public consultation", he said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-13--Missing the rural pub in lockdown: ‘It was a very important social avenue to me’

When pubs closed in March due to coronavirus , Pearse Bolger found himself left without any social outlet .
Aged 62 , he lives alone in Castlerea , Co Roscommon .
Before the virus , he would visit Mulvihill ’ s bar on the town ’ s main street three times a week , where he would sit with his guide dog and chat to acquaintances .
For Mr Bolger and many others , the pub is not just a place to go for a drink – it is a vital social lifeline .
“ It was a very important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that I ’ m technically visually impaired , ” Mr Bolger says .
“ Otherwise , I just don ’ t go out.
” “ I ’ d be in three , maybe four nights a week .
You ’ d have your three pints , and you ’ d tip on home .
It would actually be very relaxing – I suppose you could say it ’ s a kind of therapy.
” Lockdown for Mr Bolger has been a lonely experience , and he is looking forward to getting back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends again .
If all goes to plan , pubs will be allowed to reopen from July 20th under Phase 4 , the final phase of the lifting of restrictions put in place to ease the spread of the virus – but problems persist .
Publicans are still waiting for instruction on what measures they need to put in place in order to comply with public health guidance .
The Vintners ’ Federation of Ireland has heavily criticised the lack of guidance , and has said that 3,499 pubs yet to reopen have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 20th .
Lorna McGourty , who runs McGourty ’ s pub in Castlerea , is concerned about the lack of clear guidance ahead of the planned reopening next week .
She is eager to launch back into business after a difficult lockdown period – but wants to make sure that they reopen in a way that is safe for staff and customers .
“ We ’ re ready to go , but at the moment we ’ re in limbo , ” she says .
She is hopeful that the new guidelines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bar , which is “ the most important aspect ” of a rural pub , especially on weeknights .
“ If we can ’ t use our bar counter , I don ’ t know how it ’ s going to work in rural Ireland on a Tuesday , Wednesday or Thursday , because that ’ s where the banter and the sociability is , ” she says .
She considers herself lucky to be able to reopen the doors , given many other rural pubs have shut for good .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no way of predicting what business will be like when they reopen .
There are concerns that the coronavirus pandemic will have changed people ’ s drinking habits and that many will be afraid of going into their local pubs for fear of contracting the disease .
“ Where do we go from here ?
We ’ ve survived so far , and now we have to go into full survival mode , ” she says .
“ The way we ’ re looking at it is , the next year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ profit.
” Damien Garvey , whose parents own Garvey ’ s pub in Ballintubber , Co Roscommon , says lockdown hit them hard – but like McGourty ’ s , their business has survived and they are planning to reopen as soon as allowed .
They have started putting Perspex screens up and have put social distancing measures in place in an effort to prepare – but like many other publicans , they are anxiously awaiting firm guidance .
Mr Garvey hopes commercial rates and the level of VAT paid by pubs will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the industry recover from what has been a difficult period .
“ I don ’ t know what they ’ re dilly-dallying over .
It ’ s a no-brainer for all the hospitality and tourism industry .
It ’ s going to be on its knees , and they have to reduce it , if not go to zero , on the VAT rates .
I know the councils are saying they don ’ t have money , but you can ’ t take blood out of a stone.
” Despite this , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopening to continue providing what he sees as a vital service to their local customers .
“ It ’ s their only social outlet – maybe that and the mart , ” he says .
“ It ’ s awful hard on them .
I ’ ve talked to a few of the older neighbours when I ’ ve been driving by .
.
.
They ’ re bored off their heads.
” He says many older people in the area who live alone have had virtually “ no interaction ” with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a few bachelor farmers there now and they ’ d be well into their 60s , hitting 70 , and they ’ re totally lost.
” For this cohort , the rural pub is a lifeline .
It allows them to get out and meet others – and that alone is enough of an argument to reopen pubs , Mr Garvey believes .
“ I think for all the negatives a pub has , there ’ s a lot of positives there as well .
Especially in rural Ireland .
”

Lorna McGourty, who runs McGourty’s pub in Castlerea: she is concerned about the lack of clear guidance ahead of the planned reopening next week.
When pubs closed in March due to coronavirus, Pearse Bolger found himself left without any social outlet.
Aged 62, he lives alone in Castlerea, Co Roscommon.
Before the virus, he would visit Mulvihill’s bar on the town’s main street three times a week, where he would sit with his guide dog and chat to acquaintances.
For Mr Bolger and many others, the pub is not just a place to go for a drink – it is a vital social lifeline.
READ MORE
“It was a very important social avenue to me due to the fact that I’m technically visually impaired,” Mr Bolger says. “Otherwise, I just don’t go out.”
“I’d be in three, maybe four nights a week. You’d have your three pints, and you’d tip on home. It would actually be very relaxing – I suppose you could say it’s a kind of therapy.”
Lockdown for Mr Bolger has been a lonely experience, and he is looking forward to getting back to his local pub to meet his friends again.
If all goes to plan, pubs will be allowed to reopen from July 20th under Phase 4, the final phase of the lifting of restrictions put in place to ease the spread of the virus – but problems persist. Publicans are still waiting for instruction on what measures they need to put in place in order to comply with public health guidance.
Limbo
The Vintners' Federation of Ireland has heavily criticised the lack of guidance, and has said that 3,499 pubs yet to reopen have been left in the dark ahead of July 20th.
Lorna McGourty, who runs McGourty’s pub in Castlerea, is concerned about the lack of clear guidance ahead of the planned reopening next week. She is eager to launch back into business after a difficult lockdown period – but wants to make sure that they reopen in a way that is safe for staff and customers.
“We’re ready to go, but at the moment we’re in limbo,” she says.
She is hopeful that the new guidelines will allow customers to sit at the bar, which is “the most important aspect” of a rural pub, especially on weeknights.
“If we can’t use our bar counter, I don’t know how it’s going to work in rural Ireland on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, because that’s where the banter and the sociability is,” she says.
She considers herself lucky to be able to reopen the doors, given many other rural pubs have shut for good.
But there are worries about the future. Publicans have no way of predicting what business will be like when they reopen. There are concerns that the coronavirus pandemic will have changed people’s drinking habits and that many will be afraid of going into their local pubs for fear of contracting the disease.
“Where do we go from here? We’ve survived so far, and now we have to go into full survival mode,” she says.
“The way we’re looking at it is, the next year, it’s about survival and not profit.”
Damien Garvey, whose parents own Garvey's pub in Ballintubber, Co Roscommon, says lockdown hit them hard – but like McGourty's, their business has survived and they are planning to reopen as soon as allowed.
Dilly-dallying
They have started putting Perspex screens up and have put social distancing measures in place in an effort to prepare – but like many other publicans, they are anxiously awaiting firm guidance.
Mr Garvey hopes commercial rates and the level of VAT paid by pubs will be slashed in an effort to help the industry recover from what has been a difficult period.
“I don’t know what they’re dilly-dallying over. It’s a no-brainer for all the hospitality and tourism industry. It’s going to be on its knees, and they have to reduce it, if not go to zero, on the VAT rates. I know the councils are saying they don’t have money, but you can’t take blood out of a stone.”
Despite this, he and his parents are looking forward to reopening to continue providing what he sees as a vital service to their local customers.
“It’s their only social outlet – maybe that and the mart,” he says. “It’s awful hard on them. I’ve talked to a few of the older neighbours when I’ve been driving by . . . They’re bored off their heads.”
He says many older people in the area who live alone have had virtually “no interaction” with other people throughout lockdown.
“We have a few bachelor farmers there now and they’d be well into their 60s, hitting 70, and they’re totally lost.”
For this cohort, the rural pub is a lifeline. It allows them to get out and meet others – and that alone is enough of an argument to reopen pubs, Mr Garvey believes.
“I think for all the negatives a pub has, there’s a lot of positives there as well. Especially in rural Ireland.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-12--Gardaí given guidance on new face mask regulations hours before they become law

Gardaí only received guidance on the enforcement of the new face mask regulations on public transport some five hours before they became law .
At midnight it became compulsory to wear a mask on public transport except in specific circumstances .
Gardaí only received guidance on the enforcement of the regulations at 7.30pm on Sunday night .
Until then gardaí said they had been relying on media reports for information on the legislation which was signed by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Friday .
Those not wearing masks and who fail to comply with a direction to put one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vehicle face arrest and prosecution .
Failure to comply attracts a penalty of up to six months in prison and a maximum €2,500 fine .
The penalties outlined in the new legislation are the same as those laid down for breaching the now defunct movement restrictions .
Earlier yesterday Garda representation organisations expressed concern that , hours before the new law was due to come into effect , no official instructions had been issued to members .
“ Our members have been given no instructions on policing new public transport regulations .
Normally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda Portal for all gardaí to see but there is nothing there , ” said Dermot O ’ Brien , interim Assistant General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association ( GRA ) on Sunday afternoon .
The GRA urged garda management to “ bring full clarity to how this should be policed.
” Mr O ’ Brien said “ as it stands , gardaí are relying on media reports .
All our members know is that a passenger refusing to wear a facemask without good reason faces arrest and prosecution.
” Antoinette Cunningham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda Sergeants and Inspectors expressed similar concerns yesterday afternoon .
“ To date the operational members have received no guidance on the enforcement of these regulations or indeed on who is responsible for this enforcement.
” Where a passenger is not wearing a face covering , a “ relevant person ” under the regulations may request the passenger to wear a face covering , refuse the passenger entry to the public transport vehicle , or may request the passenger to alight from the vehicle .
The Garda said in a statement last night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passenger , without reasonable excuse , fails to accept the refusal or comply with a ‘ relevant person ’ s ’ request , members of An Garda Síochána may be called to assist.
” “ An Garda Síochána will continue its graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent .
This has seen gardaí engage , educate , encourage and , as a last resort , enforce .
That approach will continue in assisting the enforcement of these regulations .
“ Where potential breaches of regulations are identified , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Public Prosecutions.
” The National Bus and Rail Union has welcomed the move towards mandatory mask wearing , which it said it had been seeking for some time .
However , the union ’ s general secretary , Dermot O ’ Leary , said his members would not be policing the mandatory wearing of face coverings .
He said if a dispute arose over the non-wearing of masks , transport staff would contact the control centre to call gardaí to the scene .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Friday signed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Health Act 1947 ( Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions ) ( Covid-19 ) ( Face Coverings on Public Transport ) Regulations 2020 .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he believes people will comply with the new rules without the need for gardaí to enforce their power .
“ If you look back on our entire experience throughout Covid-19 it has been really developing compliance , engagement and people have come with us on that journey and come with the authorities , ” he said .
Masks are mandatory on public transport except @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
The regulations do not apply to children under the age of 13 .

Failure to comply with the new face mask regulations could bring a penalty of up to six months in prison and a fine of up to €2,500.
Gardaí only received guidance on the enforcement of the new face mask regulations on public transport some five hours before they became law.
At midnight it became compulsory to wear a mask on public transport except in specific circumstances. Gardaí only received guidance on the enforcement of the regulations at 7.30pm on Sunday night.
Until then gardaí said they had been relying on media reports for information on the legislation which was signed by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Friday.
Those not wearing masks and who fail to comply with a direction to put one on or to exit the public transport vehicle face arrest and prosecution. Failure to comply attracts a penalty of up to six months in prison and a maximum €2,500 fine.
READ MORE
The penalties outlined in the new legislation are the same as those laid down for breaching the now defunct movement restrictions.
Earlier yesterday Garda representation organisations expressed concern that, hours before the new law was due to come into effect, no official instructions had been issued to members.
"Our members have been given no instructions on policing new public transport regulations. Normally, a circular is issued on the Garda Portal for all gardaí to see but there is nothing there," said Dermot O'Brien, interim Assistant General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) on Sunday afternoon.
The GRA urged garda management to “bring full clarity to how this should be policed.”
Mr O’Brien said “as it stands, gardaí are relying on media reports. All our members know is that a passenger refusing to wear a facemask without good reason faces arrest and prosecution.”
Antoinette Cunningham, secretary general of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors expressed similar concerns yesterday afternoon.
“To date the operational members have received no guidance on the enforcement of these regulations or indeed on who is responsible for this enforcement.”
Where a passenger is not wearing a face covering, a “relevant person” under the regulations may request the passenger to wear a face covering, refuse the passenger entry to the public transport vehicle, or may request the passenger to alight from the vehicle.
The Garda said in a statement last night: "In circumstances where a non-compliant passenger, without reasonable excuse, fails to accept the refusal or comply with a 'relevant person's' request, members of An Garda Síochána may be called to assist."
“An Garda Síochána will continue its graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent. This has seen gardaí engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce. That approach will continue in assisting the enforcement of these regulations.
“Where potential breaches of regulations are identified, a file will be submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
The National Bus and Rail Union has welcomed the move towards mandatory mask wearing, which it said it had been seeking for some time.
However, the union’s general secretary, Dermot O’Leary, said his members would not be policing the mandatory wearing of face coverings.
He said if a dispute arose over the non-wearing of masks, transport staff would contact the control centre to call gardaí to the scene.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly on Friday signed the regulations, which are set out as the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A – Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (Face Coverings on Public Transport) Regulations 2020.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he believes people will comply with the new rules without the need for gardaí to enforce their power.
“If you look back on our entire experience throughout Covid-19 it has been really developing compliance, engagement and people have come with us on that journey and come with the authorities,” he said.
Masks are mandatory on public transport except when someone has a “reasonable excuse”.
The regulations do not apply to children under the age of 13.


theirishtimes--2020-07-12--Report underlines impact of pandemic on children taken into care

The plight of parents who were unable to visit their seriously ill child , who had been involuntarily admitted to hospital on foot of a court order , is set out in a report published on Monday .
The latest bulletin from the Child Care Law Reporting Project ( CCLRP ) notes many of the 46 cases detailed were heard remotely due to the Covid-19 crisis , with several underlining the serious impact the pandemic is having on vulnerable children whose care comes before the courts .
The CCLRP , led by Dr Carol Coulter , was established in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on and examine court orders made under the Act , mainly relating to taking children into care .
One case sets out how access was the concern of parents whose daughter had been involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital with serious anorexia nervosa .
They had consented to a district court order to admit the girl in May .
Subsequently the HSE applied for an extension to the order to the end of this month .
The CCLRP report says : “ A consultant psychiatrist ’ s report said the issue was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on admission was so low but that ‘ the trajectory of weight loss was so rapid ’ .
“ The court was told that the child was a serious harm to herself and ‘ if left to her own devices she would starve ’ .
.
.
There was an immediate and significant risk to her health , the child had a lack of insight and no motivation to change.
” The parents had no concerns about the order but , due to their daughter ’ s age , “ they were stressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been there three weeks ” .
They had had only Skype contact .
The solicitor for the HSE asked the court to list the matter for mid-June 2020 and by that stage “ hopefully restrictions will be relaxed ” .
The judge said : “ It is not satisfactory for the parents but they are the standards affecting everyone.
” In another case , an interim care order was granted for a child whose mother had relapsed into alcohol abuse as the Covid-19 crisis had put her under unexpected stress .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years , had transferred home and was progressing towards family reunification .
The mother consented to the interim order but her father objected , saying he could take care of the child in his home .
The judge considered the father ’ s addiction issues and his failure to engage with Tusla , and granted a 29-day interim care order until the father could produce evidence to the court relating to his suitability for caring for his child .
Commenting on the reports , Dr Coulter said the issues arising from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public bodies maintaining a focus on the rights and needs of children , as Ireland is mandated to do by its ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international commitments ” .
“ In addition , the prevalence of mental health problems , which , along with cognitive disability and membership of an ethnic minority , is a feature of child protection proceedings , demonstrates the appropriateness of bringing several of these matters within the remit of the Department of Children.
” A delayed family reunification , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed due to Covid-19 restrictions , is highlighted in one report .
The mother in the case was contesting the extension of an interim care order .
She disliked the fact she could only see her children via video because of the Covid restrictions .
“ She struggled with the challenges of video access as the children were young and it was hard to keep them engaged , ” said the report .
A risk assessment was to be carried out by a psychologist , taking the form of a desktop review , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the person identified to carry out the assessment needed physical contact to complete it .
The solicitor for the mother said she had engaged with a therapist and co-operated during the parenting capacity assessment .
A further complication to plans to reunite the children with the mother was that she had no accommodation and the local authority would not prioritise her application until she was reunited with her children .
The question of whether a child should be detained further in a psychiatric unit when it was “ not clear ” that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Section 25 of the Mental Health Act arose in a case before the district court .
The risk of Covid-19 was an added reason for discharging her if she didn ’ t need to be there .
She had been admitted to the unit with parental consent , having been in voluntary foster care .
The foster placement had broken down and she was brought to the hospital accompanied by gardaí , following an attempt to self-strangulate .
When the case came before the court again , it heard a safe discharge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was concern she would be detained in a psychiatric setting for longer than required .
“ The solicitor for the HSE said that it was ‘ a challenge ’ as the child can not be held under a section 25 order unless she meets criteria .
The situation was that whilst she met the threshold previously , it was not clear that she still met the threshold .
“ The parties hoped to have clarification later in the week as the HSE ‘ want to get children out of psychiatric placement if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ , and the risk of Covid-19 was also a reason [ for her to be moved ] , provided the child did not require to be in the unit .
”

The Child Care Law Reporting Project, led by Dr Carol Coulter, was established in 2012 to report on and examine court orders made under the Child Care Act, mainly relating to taking children into care. Photograph: Alan Betson
The plight of parents who were unable to visit their seriously ill child, who had been involuntarily admitted to hospital on foot of a court order, is set out in a report published on Monday.
The latest bulletin from the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) notes many of the 46 cases detailed were heard remotely due to the Covid-19 crisis, with several underlining the serious impact the pandemic is having on vulnerable children whose care comes before the courts.
The CCLRP, led by Dr Carol Coulter, was established in 2012 under the Child Care Act to report on and examine court orders made under the Act, mainly relating to taking children into care.
One case sets out how access was the concern of parents whose daughter had been involuntarily admitted to a psychiatric hospital with serious anorexia nervosa. They had consented to a district court order to admit the girl in May. Subsequently the HSE applied for an extension to the order to the end of this month.
READ MORE
The CCLRP report says: “A consultant psychiatrist’s report said the issue was not that the young girl’s weight on admission was so low but that ‘the trajectory of weight loss was so rapid’.
“The court was told that the child was a serious harm to herself and ‘if left to her own devices she would starve’ . . . There was an immediate and significant risk to her health, the child had a lack of insight and no motivation to change.”
The parents had no concerns about the order but, due to their daughter’s age, “they were stressed that there was no access and she had been there three weeks”. They had had only Skype contact.
The solicitor for the HSE asked the court to list the matter for mid-June 2020 and by that stage “hopefully restrictions will be relaxed”.
The judge said: “It is not satisfactory for the parents but they are the standards affecting everyone.”
Alcohol abuse
In another case, an interim care order was granted for a child whose mother had relapsed into alcohol abuse as the Covid-19 crisis had put her under unexpected stress.
The child had been in foster care for two years, had transferred home and was progressing towards family reunification.
The mother consented to the interim order but her father objected, saying he could take care of the child in his home. The judge considered the father’s addiction issues and his failure to engage with Tusla, and granted a 29-day interim care order until the father could produce evidence to the court relating to his suitability for caring for his child.
Commenting on the reports, Dr Coulter said the issues arising from the pandemic underlined the importance of "all public bodies maintaining a focus on the rights and needs of children, as Ireland is mandated to do by its ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other international commitments".
“In addition, the prevalence of mental health problems, which, along with cognitive disability and membership of an ethnic minority, is a feature of child protection proceedings, demonstrates the appropriateness of bringing several of these matters within the remit of the Department of Children.”
Case study 1: Family reunification delayed
A delayed family reunification, because a psychological assessment could not be completed due to Covid-19 restrictions, is highlighted in one report.
The mother in the case was contesting the extension of an interim care order. She disliked the fact she could only see her children via video because of the Covid restrictions.
“She struggled with the challenges of video access as the children were young and it was hard to keep them engaged,” said the report.
A risk assessment was to be carried out by a psychologist, taking the form of a desktop review, due to the pandemic.
However, the person identified to carry out the assessment needed physical contact to complete it.
The solicitor for the mother said she had engaged with a therapist and co-operated during the parenting capacity assessment.
A further complication to plans to reunite the children with the mother was that she had no accommodation and the local authority would not prioritise her application until she was reunited with her children.
Case study 2: Child detained under Mental Health Act
The question of whether a child should be detained further in a psychiatric unit when it was “not clear” that she met the threshold to be detained under Section 25 of the Mental Health Act arose in a case before the district court.
The risk of Covid-19 was an added reason for discharging her if she didn’t need to be there.
She had been admitted to the unit with parental consent, having been in voluntary foster care. The foster placement had broken down and she was brought to the hospital accompanied by gardaí, following an attempt to self-strangulate.
When the case came before the court again, it heard a safe discharge to an appropriate placement was planned. There was concern she would be detained in a psychiatric setting for longer than required.
“The solicitor for the HSE said that it was ‘a challenge’ as the child cannot be held under a section 25 order unless she meets criteria. The situation was that whilst she met the threshold previously, it was not clear that she still met the threshold.
“The parties hoped to have clarification later in the week as the HSE ‘want to get children out of psychiatric placement if they don’t need to be there’, and the risk of Covid-19 was also a reason [for her to be moved], provided the child did not require to be in the unit.”