theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Over 70,000 Irish addresses at risk of coastal flooding by 2050

More than 70,000 Irish addresses will be at heightened risk of coastal flooding by 2050 as a result of climate change , according to mapping and data analysis of vulnerable coastal locations .
Properties in Dublin , Louth , Limerick , Clare and Galway are the most vulnerable .
Some 88 per cent of these addresses are residential , amounting to 62,000 homes , projections by Gamma Location Intelligence ( GLI ) show – it evaluates risk for local authorities and insurance companies using advanced modelling and mapping .
Its analysis published on Thursday indicates Dublin will be the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of addresses expected to be impacted by extreme coastal water levels , with 23,435 properties at risk , it predicts .
This translates as 21,513 residential addresses and 1,922 commercial properties .
These findings are based on a predicted global temperature increase of 2 degrees which climate scientists expect to happen in the next 30 years in some scenarios and take into account current carbon emissions .
This temperature increase would cause sea levels to rise and bring about more extreme weather events , leading to higher and more frequent coastal flooding , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-off sea rises – climatologists have predicted Ireland is overdue a 3m storm surge .
In the capital , areas in Clontarf , Bull Island , Sutton , Portmarnock , Malahide , Donabate , Sandymount and Dublin port are at heightened risk of flooding by mid century , especially during more extreme weather events such as a storm surge .
These areas would be at risk of flooding , or be flooded during a single weather event , while coastal levels would decrease again , GLI said .
Applying that scenario to Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially become temporarily isolated , ” it noted .
GLI finds Louth will be second most affected county , with 10,280 residential and 968 commercial properties predicted to be impacted , followed by Clare with 7,376 homes and 1,320 businesses at risk .
Limerick ( 5,426 properties in total ) and Galway ( 4,501 ) complete the top five areas expected to be most impacted by increased flood risk .
However , in terms of the proportion of addresses that are expected to be affected , Louth will be the worst with 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be impacted .
The next highest is Clare ( 13.3 per cent ) .
In contrast , only 3.9 per cent of Dublin ’ s addresses will be at risk .
GLI mapped out the possible consequence of this temperature increase using a “ digital terrain model ” within a “ Perilfinder software platform ” .
It assesses risk for properties including flooding and subsidence .
It is estimated the cost of climate disruption influenced by sea level rise on Irish property will be in the order of €2 billion in coming decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or planned sea wall defences into account .
Simultaneous heavy rainfall and high river levels in addition to coastal flooding will cause even more properties to be impacted , GLI pointed out – Cork city is particularly vulnerable in that scenario .
Spatial data scientist with GLI Richard Cantwell said global warming was already having an impact on people ’ s daily lives , but its effects would become “ more tangible and extreme in the years to come , especially on properties near coastlines ” .
“ With increasing global temperatures , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will become more commonplace .
This will have a major impact on many Irish counties , particularly along the coast , and a significant number of properties are set to be affected – unless CO2 emissions are reduced which will help to delay the process , ” Mr Cantwell added .
This kind of data was vital as homeowners , local authorities and insurance companies start to plan for the future , he said .
“ Flood risk is one that will increase exponentially , so it ’ s vital that the necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the changing Irish landscape .
”

Yellow sandbags along the Clontarf Road following flooding. Clontarf is among the areas most at risk to flooding. File photograph: Alan Betson
More than 70,000 Irish addresses will be at heightened risk of coastal flooding by 2050 as a result of climate change, according to mapping and data analysis of vulnerable coastal locations. Properties in Dublin, Louth, Limerick, Clare and Galway are the most vulnerable.
Some 88 per cent of these addresses are residential, amounting to 62,000 homes, projections by Gamma Location Intelligence (GLI) show – it evaluates risk for local authorities and insurance companies using advanced modelling and mapping.
Its analysis published on Thursday indicates Dublin will be the most affected county in terms of the number of addresses expected to be impacted by extreme coastal water levels, with 23,435 properties at risk, it predicts. This translates as 21,513 residential addresses and 1,922 commercial properties.
These findings are based on a predicted global temperature increase of 2 degrees which climate scientists expect to happen in the next 30 years in some scenarios and take into account current carbon emissions.
READ MORE
Storm surge
This temperature increase would cause sea levels to rise and bring about more extreme weather events, leading to higher and more frequent coastal flooding, notably due to storm surges resulting in one-off sea rises – climatologists have predicted Ireland is overdue a 3m storm surge.
In the capital, areas in Clontarf, Bull Island, Sutton, Portmarnock, Malahide, Donabate, Sandymount and Dublin port are at heightened risk of flooding by mid century, especially during more extreme weather events such as a storm surge.
These areas would be at risk of flooding, or be flooded during a single weather event, while coastal levels would decrease again, GLI said. Applying that scenario to Dublin during a storm, "Howth could potentially become temporarily isolated," it noted.
GLI finds Louth will be second most affected county, with 10,280 residential and 968 commercial properties predicted to be impacted, followed by Clare with 7,376 homes and 1,320 businesses at risk. Limerick (5,426 properties in total) and Galway (4,501) complete the top five areas expected to be most impacted by increased flood risk.
However, in terms of the proportion of addresses that are expected to be affected, Louth will be the worst with 19 per cent of its addresses due to be impacted. The next highest is Clare (13.3 per cent). In contrast, only 3.9 per cent of Dublin’s addresses will be at risk.
GLI mapped out the possible consequence of this temperature increase using a “digital terrain model” within a “Perilfinder software platform”. It assesses risk for properties including flooding and subsidence.
It is estimated the cost of climate disruption influenced by sea level rise on Irish property will be in the order of €2 billion in coming decades – the model does not take existing or planned sea wall defences into account.
Vulnerable
Simultaneous heavy rainfall and high river levels in addition to coastal flooding will cause even more properties to be impacted, GLI pointed out – Cork city is particularly vulnerable in that scenario.
Spatial data scientist with GLI Richard Cantwell said global warming was already having an impact on people's daily lives, but its effects would become "more tangible and extreme in the years to come, especially on properties near coastlines".
“With increasing global temperatures, sea levels are rising which means flooding will become more commonplace. This will have a major impact on many Irish counties, particularly along the coast, and a significant number of properties are set to be affected – unless CO2 emissions are reduced which will help to delay the process,” Mr Cantwell added.
This kind of data was vital as homeowners, local authorities and insurance companies start to plan for the future, he said. “Flood risk is one that will increase exponentially, so it’s vital that the necessary infrastructure is in place to cater for the changing Irish landscape.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Fundraiser set up for four siblings orphaned by death of father (55) from Covid-19

More than €130,000 has been raised for four siblings who have been left orphaned as a result of Covid-19 .
@ @ @ @ @ 55 ) , originally from the Philippines , lost his battle with the disease last @ @ @ @ @ 21 ) , Michael ( 19 ) , John ( 14 ) and Chekie ( @ @ @ @ @ had been living in Naas , Co Kildare for the last 20 years and regularly @ @ @ @ @ family in the Philippines .
His wife Gilceria died from cancer in 2015 and the @ @ @ @ @ him in Co Kildare .
Mr Plangca also had a daughter Stephanie from a previous @ @ @ @ @ are now living with their aunt Fely Moore in Co Kildare .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ ” said Mikee , who is helping to care for her brother Michael who has @ @ @ @ @ Page has been set up by friends of the family and the Kildare Filipno community @ @ @ @ @ €131,431 by Wednesday night .
Donations can be made at https : //www.gofundme.com/f/kuya-miguel-plangca039s-funds-for-his-treasures

Factory worker Miguel Plangca (55), originally from the Philippines, lost his battle with Covid-19 last week leaving behind Mikee (21), Michael (19), John (14) and Chekie (12). Photograph: GoFundMe appeal
More than €130,000 has been raised for four siblings who have been left orphaned as a result of Covid-19.
Factory worker Miguel Plangca (55), originally from the Philippines, lost his battle with the disease last week leaving behind Mikee (21), Michael (19), John (14) and Chekie (12).
Mr Plangca had been living in Naas, Co Kildare for the last 20 years and regularly sent money home to his family in the Philippines.
His wife Gilceria died from cancer in 2015 and the children came to live with him in Co Kildare. Mr Plangca also had a daughter Stephanie from a previous relationship.
READ MORE
The four siblings are now living with their aunt Fely Moore in Co Kildare.
“It’s just very sad,” said Mikee, who is helping to care for her brother Michael who has a disability.
A GoFundMe Page has been set up by friends of the family and the Kildare Filipno community, which has raised over €131,431 by Wednesday night.
Donations can be made at https://www.gofundme.com/f/kuya-miguel-plangca039s-funds-for-his-treasures


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Taskforce established to help tourism recover from devastation of Covid-19

Social distancing of one metre rather than two in hotels should be the norm , a member of the Government ’ s new Tourism Recovery Taskforce has said .
Elaina Fitzgerald Kane , president of the Irish Hotels Federation ( IHF ) , was appointed by the Minister for Tourism Shane Ross to the new taskforce on Wednesday .
It has been tasked with identifying measures required to enable Irish tourism to recover from the devastating effects of Covid-19 .
Just last week Ms Kane and the IHF told the Minister that reopening hotels with a two metre social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two metres rule remains she said many hotels would not be able to reopen .
She also said VAT is very high up the agenda of the IHF .
“ That and a continuance of the wage support scheme if some of us are to reopen at all.
” Ms Fitzgerald Kane was speaking from the Woodlands House Hotel and Spa in Adare , Co Limerick , which like 85 per cent of the State ’ s hotels has been closed since March .
Tourism was one of the key drivers of economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events like The Gathering in 2013 , she said but the ability of the sector to lead the recovery this time is in grave doubt .
“ Ninety thousand new jobs were created [ in the Republic ] by the industry since 2011 , ” she added .
Tourism on the island of Ireland had grown to employ 300,000 people and be worth more than €6 billion in 2019 .
While hotels may reopen on July 20th , foreign tours have been mostly cancelled .
There has been no revenue stream for months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions on local events , with bars still closed and diners practicing social distancing .
Industry sources are speaking openly of the prospect that it may be next St Patrick ’ s Day before some semblance of normality returns .
That scenario could see many hotels simply not reopening .
“ We need to see the detail of the Government ’ s support package but VAT is critical .
There is little point in giving the industry loans because it saddles businesses with more debt on lower revenues ” .
The Government support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kane said , but it has to remain in place for some time until business returns ” .
The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation said 75 per cent of Ireland ’ s tourism economy was based on international visitation , and little if any of that business was expected for the remainder of 2020 .
It called for the new programme for government to have tourism recovery as one of its central planks .
“ The incoming Government must support Ireland ’ s tourism industry without delay and a minister with serious economic clout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cabinet table with responsibility for tourism ” , it said .
Announcing the taskforce Mr Ross said the tourism sector had been near decimated by the current Covid-19 crisis .
“ The vast majority of people working in this sector have either been laid off or are availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme .
There is a real risk that our communities , towns and cities will not recover from this devastating loss of income , employment and business .
This can not be allowed to happen ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector can emerge from this pandemic ready for business , we need to plan early , plan well and plan together .
To this end I am pleased to announce the formation of a dedicated tourism recovery taskforce , made up of leaders from varying sections of the industry , who will work together to deal with the many challenges ahead in a dynamic and innovative manner ” .
The group will be chaired by Ruth Andrews , CEO of the Irish Tour Operators Association .
Other members include travel writer Eoghan Corry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Niall Gibbons , CEO Tourism Ireland , Stephen Kavanagh , board member and former CEO of Aer Lingus and Martin Dalby , CEO of Center Parcs .

Tourism was one of the key drivers of economic recovery after the last economic crash but the ability of the sector to lead the recovery this time is in grave doubt.
Social distancing of one metre rather than two in hotels should be the norm, a member of the Government’s new Tourism Recovery Taskforce has said.
Elaina Fitzgerald Kane, president of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF), was appointed by the Minister for Tourism Shane Ross to the new taskforce on Wednesday. It has been tasked with identifying measures required to enable Irish tourism to recover from the devastating effects of Covid-19.
Just last week Ms Kane and the IHF told the Minister that reopening hotels with a two metre social distancing rule could be unprofitable. If the two metres rule remains she said many hotels would not be able to reopen.
She also said VAT is very high up the agenda of the IHF. “That and a continuance of the wage support scheme if some of us are to reopen at all.”
READ MORE
Ms Fitzgerald Kane was speaking from the Woodlands House Hotel and Spa in Adare, Co Limerick, which like 85 per cent of the State's hotels has been closed since March.
Tourism was one of the key drivers of economic recovery after the last economic crash with events like The Gathering in 2013, she said but the ability of the sector to lead the recovery this time is in grave doubt.
“Ninety thousand new jobs were created [in the Republic] by the industry since 2011,” she added.
Tourism on the island of Ireland had grown to employ 300,000 people and be worth more than €6 billion in 2019.
While hotels may reopen on July 20th, foreign tours have been mostly cancelled. There has been no revenue stream for months and in future there will be severe restrictions on local events, with bars still closed and diners practicing social distancing.
Industry sources are speaking openly of the prospect that it may be next St Patrick’s Day before some semblance of normality returns.
That scenario could see many hotels simply not reopening.
“We need to see the detail of the Government’s support package but VAT is critical. There is little point in giving the industry loans because it saddles businesses with more debt on lower revenues”. The Government support for workers is useful, Ms Fitzgerald Kane said, but it has to remain in place for some time until business returns”.
The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation said 75 per cent of Ireland's tourism economy was based on international visitation, and little if any of that business was expected for the remainder of 2020.
It called for the new programme for government to have tourism recovery as one of its central planks. “The incoming Government must support Ireland’s tourism industry without delay and a minister with serious economic clout must be given a seat at the Cabinet table with responsibility for tourism”, it said.
Announcing the taskforce Mr Ross said the tourism sector had been near decimated by the current Covid-19 crisis. “The vast majority of people working in this sector have either been laid off or are availing of the temporary wage subsidy scheme. There is a real risk that our communities, towns and cities will not recover from this devastating loss of income, employment and business. This cannot be allowed to happen” he said.
“In order to ensure that the tourism sector can emerge from this pandemic ready for business, we need to plan early, plan well and plan together. To this end I am pleased to announce the formation of a dedicated tourism recovery taskforce, made up of leaders from varying sections of the industry, who will work together to deal with the many challenges ahead in a dynamic and innovative manner”.
The group will be chaired by Ruth Andrews, CEO of the Irish Tour Operators Association. Other members include travel writer Eoghan Corry, CEO of Fáilte Ireland Paul Kelly, Niall Gibbons, CEO Tourism Ireland, Stephen Kavanagh, board member and former CEO of Aer Lingus and Martin Dalby, CEO of Center Parcs.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Status yellow wind warning issued for west as temperatures dip

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow wind warning for Galway and Mayo on Thursday and Friday with gusts of up to 110km/h expected .
After several balmy summer days , it said a more unsettled spell of weather lies ahead .
The forecaster warned of south to southeast winds , veering southwesterly , which will reach mean speeds of 45-65km/h with gusts of 85-110km/h , mainly in coastal areas and on exposed hills and mountains .
The warning is in place until 6pm on Friday .
There is also a status yellow warning in place for wind in Co @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there would be southerly winds veering southwesterly which will reach mean speeds of 45-65km/h with gusts of 85 to 110km/h , especially in coastal areas and on exposed hills and mountains .
Thursday is due to start with wet and windy weather , with sunshine and blustery showers following .
While it is due to be relatively mild , outbreaks of rain will spread northeastwards across the country on Thursday evening .
Temperatures on Friday will be a few degrees cooler than of late with highs of 12 to 16 degrees and further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Sunday will see a mixture of sunshine and showers .
Separately , a small craft warning has been issued with southerly winds expected to occasionally reach force six on Wednesday evening on coasts from Loop Head to Rossan Point to Fair Head .

Temperatures on Friday will be a few degrees cooler than of late with highs of 12 to 16 degrees. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Met Éireann has issued a status yellow wind warning for Galway and Mayo on Thursday and Friday with gusts of up to 110km/h expected.
After several balmy summer days, it said a more unsettled spell of weather lies ahead.
The forecaster warned of south to southeast winds, veering southwesterly, which will reach mean speeds of 45-65km/h with gusts of 85-110km/h, mainly in coastal areas and on exposed hills and mountains. The warning is in place until 6pm on Friday.
There is also a status yellow warning in place for wind in Co Donegal on Friday. Met Éireann said there would be southerly winds veering southwesterly which will reach mean speeds of 45-65km/h with gusts of 85 to 110km/h, especially in coastal areas and on exposed hills and mountains.
READ MORE
Thursday is due to start with wet and windy weather, with sunshine and blustery showers following. While it is due to be relatively mild, outbreaks of rain will spread northeastwards across the country on Thursday evening.
Temperatures on Friday will be a few degrees cooler than of late with highs of 12 to 16 degrees and further showers, Met Éireann added.
Saturday and Sunday will see a mixture of sunshine and showers.
Separately, a small craft warning has been issued with southerly winds expected to occasionally reach force six on Wednesday evening on coasts from Loop Head to Rossan Point to Fair Head.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Initial payout of €2.1m for cerebral palsy boy who sued HSE

A boy with cerebral palsy who sued in relation to his birth at a Limerick hospital has settled his High Court action with an initial payout of €2.1 million .
Rory Pender has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy .
He can walk without assistance but has difficulty jumping and only learned to run in the last few years , the court heard .
From Kildysart , Ennis , he , through his mother Catherine , sued the HSE over the circumstances of his birth at St Munchin ’ s Regional Maternity Hospital , Limerick in 2009 .
Alistair Rutherdale , for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mediation this month over Zoom video conference when liability was conceded .
Counsel , instructed by O ’ Connor Johnston solicitors , said their case was Rory should have been delivered substantially earlier .
An expert on their side had concluded the baby should have been delivered at 1am but he was born one hour and 49 minutes later on May 1st , 2009 .
The settlement includes an advance payment of €1.2 million to meet care needs , plus €500,000 general damages and €400,000 in past special damages .
The boy ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the case returns to court in five years ’ time .
In his action , it was claimed there was an overstimulation of labour by use of oxytocin and a failure at a much earlier stage to stop the oxytocin infusion and carry out a medical assessment and do a foetal blood sample .
On the balance of probabilities , it was claimed these would have led to an emergency Caesarean section or instrumental delivery .
It was alleged there was failure to recognise the cardiotocography ( CTG ) abnormalities and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the time .
The baby , it was claimed , suffered hypoxia during the latter stages of labour .
And soon after birth he showed evidence of respiratory distress and hypoglycaemia .
After an MRI scan on January 7th , 2010 , when Rory was seven months old , his mother was advised for the first time he might have a brain injury .
He was subsequently diagnosed with cerebral palsy .
He can not speak but attends school and has a special needs assistant .

The settlement includes an advance payment of €1.2m to meet care needs, plus €500,000 general damages and €400,000 in past special damages.
A boy with cerebral palsy who sued in relation to his birth at a Limerick hospital has settled his High Court action with an initial payout of €2.1 million.
Rory Pender has spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He can walk without assistance but has difficulty jumping and only learned to run in the last few years, the court heard.
From Kildysart, Ennis, he, through his mother Catherine, sued the HSE over the circumstances of his birth at St Munchin’s Regional Maternity Hospital, Limerick in 2009.
Alistair Rutherdale, for Rory, said the action settled after mediation this month over Zoom video conference when liability was conceded.
READ MORE
Counsel, instructed by O’Connor Johnston solicitors, said their case was Rory should have been delivered substantially earlier.
An expert on their side had concluded the baby should have been delivered at 1am but he was born one hour and 49 minutes later on May 1st, 2009.
The settlement includes an advance payment of €1.2 million to meet care needs, plus €500,000 general damages and €400,000 in past special damages.
The boy’s future care needs will be assessed when the case returns to court in five years’ time.
Medical assessment
In his action, it was claimed there was an overstimulation of labour by use of oxytocin and a failure at a much earlier stage to stop the oxytocin infusion and carry out a medical assessment and do a foetal blood sample.
On the balance of probabilities, it was claimed these would have led to an emergency Caesarean section or instrumental delivery.
It was alleged there was failure to recognise the cardiotocography (CTG) abnormalities and to have adequate CTG training for staff at the time.
The baby, it was claimed, suffered hypoxia during the latter stages of labour. And soon after birth he showed evidence of respiratory distress and hypoglycaemia.
After an MRI scan on January 7th, 2010, when Rory was seven months old, his mother was advised for the first time he might have a brain injury. He was subsequently diagnosed with cerebral palsy. He cannot speak but attends school and has a special needs assistant.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Leaving Cert students must ‘opt in’ to receive calculated grades

Leaving Cert students will not automatically receive calculated grades but will have to to opt-in for them under a new online system being set up to manage the cancellation of exams .
Students will also have the opportunity to re-nominate their subject levels - such as higher , ordinary and foundation - at which they wish to receive their calculated grades , according to well-placed sources .
Online training is due to be provided to teachers regarding the new process over the coming days , along with detailed written guidance from the Department of Education .
These steps are expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of calculated grades to be issued to schools and teachers tomorrow .
Teachers ’ unions have expressed their disappointment to the department that these arrangements are not in place yet given that the academic year is finished at the end of May .
Under the terms of their contracts , however , teachers are required to be available for non-teaching work in schools beyond this point , where necessary .
Following the Government 's decision earlier this month to cancel the summer Leaving Cert exams , more than 60,000 students are set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time based on teachers ’ estimates .
Under this approach , teachers will be asked to provide an estimated percentage mark for each student for each subject .
Students will also be placed in a rank over for their class .
The guidance will state that teachers should draw on “ existing records and available evidence ” such as classwork , homework , class assessments , Christmas and summer exams and mock exams .
Junior Cert results will not be considered .
Teachers will be required to provide a “ fair , reasonable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely percentage mark each student would have achieved if they had sat their exams and completed coursework under normal conditions .
In order to determine where students rank individually in a class , each student may be marked out of 1,000 and these scores will then be converted to per centages .
These grades will then be sent to the Department of Education where a unit will compare information on how students in the school have fared in particular subjects in the Leaving Cert over the past three years compared to the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be directed to declare conflicts of interest when grading Leaving Cert students who are close family members under official guidance to be issued shortly .
In such circumstances , another teacher in the school or the deputy principal may be asked to examine available evidence of a student ’ s performance and mark the candidate accordingly .
In cases where students who are studying a subject outside a recognised school , Mr McHugh has signalled that these students will be examined on a case-by-case basis .
A total of 2,858 external candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year , many of whom are studying in an alternative setting such as a private college .
For students in receipt of home tuition with an association to a recognised school , the guidance will provide information for school authorities to engage with the home tutor in arriving at a decision .
Whether a valid estimate of performance can be provided will depend on whether the home tutor is a registered teacher and where the school is satisfied with the evidence used to support the judgment .
In cases where a student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time is such that the teacher considers that they do not have enough evidence to make a sound judgement , the guidance will state that the teacher should consult school management about acquiring additional information from the student ’ s previous school .

The new calculated grades system is being set up following the cancellation of Leaving Cert exams on public health grounds due to Covid-19. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill
Plans to award thousands of Leaving Cert students predicted grades have been thrown into doubt after the country’s biggest secondary teachers’union directed members not to engage with the process.
The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said plans to indemnify teachers against legal action were not strong enough and could potentially lead to personal liabilities for second level teachers.
“This position is unacceptable,” the union said, in a statement. “We will continue to engage with the Department of Education and Skills to secure the necessary provisions.
“In the meantime, we are advising ASTI members not to undertake any work on the process until this issue is resolved.”
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The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) said, however, it was satisfied with the legal protections offered to teachers.
A spokesman for the department said it had provided additional clarification over the indemnity and was continuing to engage with the union.
“Minister McHugh recognises the importance of teachers carrying out work in relation to calculated grades on behalf of the department which is why he sought approval from Government to put a State indemnity scheme in place.
Under department guidelines, the State indemnity will be provided to teachers if they end up being sued as an individual teacher in relation to a student’s grades.
This indemnity - signed off by the Cabinet on Thursday - will only be invoked where a teacher has "made every reasonable effort" to apply a grade in line with the department's official guidelines for schools which was published on Thursday evening.
Government sources say the indemnity is of a similar standard to that provided to civil servants or members of the judiciary for administrative roles.
The guidance also states that schools will be required to report any inappropriate canvassing over students’ estimated Leaving Cert grades to the Department of Education.
Students will have access to an online portal from early next week where they will be require to confirm if they wish to receive a calculated grade and the relevant level for a subject, such as higher, ordinary or foundation.
It contains advice on what information teachers should use to inform the school’s judgements about estimated marks.
There is also detailed guidance on how teachers can work together to ensure alignment of marks across students and classes in schools. This process will be over overseen by principals.
The rules around canvassing also set out how schools will be required to report instances of inappropriate contact to the department.
Following the Government decision earlier this month to cancel the summer Leaving Cert exams, more than 60,000 students are set to receive calculated grades for the first time based on teachers’ estimates.
Under this approach, teachers will be asked to provide an estimated percentage mark for each student for each subject. Students will also be placed in a rank for their class.
The guidance will state that teachers should draw on “existing records and available evidence” such as classwork, homework, class assessments, Christmas and summer exams and mock exams. Junior Cert results will not be considered.
Teachers will be required to provide a “fair, reasonable and carefully considered” judgement of the likely percentage mark each student would have achieved if they had sat their exams and completed coursework under normal conditions.
Marking system
In order to determine where students rank individually in a class, each student may be marked out of 1,000 and these scores will then be converted to percentages.
These grades will then be sent to the department where a unit will compare information on how students in the school have fared in particular subjects in the Leaving Cert over the past three years compared to the national standard.
Sources said teachers would be directed to declare conflicts of interest when grading Leaving Cert students who are close family members under official guidance to be issued shortly.
In such circumstances, another teacher in the school or the deputy principal may be asked to examine available evidence of a student’s performance and mark the candidate accordingly.
In cases where students who are studying a subject outside a recognised school, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has signalled that these students will be examined on a case-by-case basis.
A total of 2,858 external candidates are entered to sit the Leaving Cert this year, many of whom are studying in an alternative setting such as a private college.
For students in receipt of home tuition with an association to a recognised school, the guidance will provide information for school authorities to engage with the home tutor in arriving at a decision.
Whether a valid estimate of performance can be provided will depend on whether the home tutor is a registered teacher and where the school is satisfied with the evidence used to support the judgment.
In cases where a student has moved school recently and the length of time is such that the teacher considers that they do not have enough evidence to make a sound judgement, the guidance will state that the teacher should consult school management about acquiring additional information from the student’s previous school.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Martin’s indication she will run for Green leadership comes out of the blue

Admissions of being stumped by a turn of political events are not something you hear regularly around Leinster House .
Politicians and observers usually confidently bluff or sagely predict what will follow the latest decision by a Minister or TD .
Some will then remind you forever of their accurate predictions while conveniently forgetting their howlers .
But Catherine Martin ’ s indication that she will run against Eamon Ryan for the leadership of the Greens was one of those rare moments that left even the bluffers nonplussed , especially on the effect it will have on the current efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against coalition talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael , so some wondered if her anticipated run against Ryan – not expected to be announced until coalition talks are concluded – is a way to disrupt those negotiations .
Yet the Dublin Rathdown TD is leading the Green negotiations in those talks and has , according to sources , played a constructive role .
Others wondered if she and Ryan could both sign off on a deal with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael , sell it to Green members in a ballot and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership contest – Martin could promote herself as the leader who will firmly keep Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin to their promises .
Could this bring a worried membership onside , with Ryan ’ s position sacrificed to secure the deal ?
But the bargaining done between leaders – what Varadkar , Ryan and Martin talk about directly to each other , such as during the clear-the-air session between the three last Monday – is done on the basis that each can deliver on what they have promised .
Ryan ’ s authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last 24 hours .
What value can Micheál Martin and Varadkar put on his promises now , and what do Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil think when they see those urging Catherine Martin to stand claiming she won ’ t be afraid to “ pull the plug ” on a government if needed ?
Against all those unanswered questions perhaps there is a simpler consideration at play , with all the associated difficulties left for another day or for someone else to worry about .
Perhaps Martin realises that if she does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambition the opportunity may never arise again .
Ruthless it may be , but it is at least understandable to all those who practise politics .

Eamon Ryan and Catherine Martin: Martin was against coalition talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, so some wonder if her anticipated run against Ryan is a way to disrupt those negotiations
Admissions of being stumped by a turn of political events are not something you hear regularly around Leinster House.
Politicians and observers usually confidently bluff or sagely predict what will follow the latest decision by a Minister or TD. Some will then remind you forever of their accurate predictions while conveniently forgetting their howlers.
But Catherine Martin's indication that she will run against Eamon Ryan for the leadership of the Greens was one of those rare moments that left even the bluffers nonplussed, especially on the effect it will have on the current efforts to form a government.
Martin was against coalition talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, so some wondered if her anticipated run against Ryan – not expected to be announced until coalition talks are concluded – is a way to disrupt those negotiations.
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Yet the Dublin Rathdown TD is leading the Green negotiations in those talks and has, according to sources, played a constructive role.
Others wondered if she and Ryan could both sign off on a deal with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, sell it to Green members in a ballot and then – just weeks later in the leadership contest – Martin could promote herself as the leader who will firmly keep Leo Varadkar and Micheál Martin to their promises.
Could this bring a worried membership onside, with Ryan’s position sacrificed to secure the deal?
But the bargaining done between leaders – what Varadkar, Ryan and Martin talk about directly to each other, such as during the clear-the-air session between the three last Monday – is done on the basis that each can deliver on what they have promised.
Promises
Ryan's authority has been seriously damaged by events of the last 24 hours. What value can Micheál Martin and Varadkar put on his promises now, and what do Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil think when they see those urging Catherine Martin to stand claiming she won't be afraid to "pull the plug" on a government if needed?
Against all those unanswered questions perhaps there is a simpler consideration at play, with all the associated difficulties left for another day or for someone else to worry about.
Perhaps Martin realises that if she does not seize this opportunity to fulfil an ambition the opportunity may never arise again.
Ruthless it may be, but it is at least understandable to all those who practise politics.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--‘There is no social distancing’: Reopening of Forty Foot gets off to rocky start

For a couple of shimmering , sun-kissed minutes at lunchtime on a warm May day in Sandycove it seemed almost as if everything was okay again .
Children in swimsuits played by the water ’ s edge , oblivious to the cold as parents decanted picnics onto rugs and bellowed at their offspring to mind themselves .
Then an older couple emerged together from the freezing , snot green sea and before they so much as draped a towel around their goose pimpled bodies , they had put their surgical face masks on .
This was no normal day at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the water were acutely aware of it .
“ There is no social distancing being observed at all , I can tell you that , ” said Robert McQuillan .
He described himself as a year-round swimmer and since the lockdown he and his wife Jane have been swimming closer to their Killiney home .
But because the sea there was rough on this day , and because Sandycove had just re-opened to the public , they decided to venture a little farther afield .
As he spoke Mrs McQuillan nodded in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than anything , they are running all over the place .
People are supposed to be coming here to swim before leaving .
They ’ re not though .
You can ’ t blame the children , they are just doing what comes naturally .
But as an adult you would want to be deaf , dumb and blind not to know the rules at this stage.
” A man who identified himself only as David stood at the water ’ s edge and prepared to dive in to the water .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come back again today , ” he said .
He declined to give his full name because , he said , he lived farther than 5km from the beach he was standing on .
His home was 14km away , in fact .
He called out to his girlfriend , instead , to see if she would talk to The Irish Times .
“ I can ’ t be identified either , ” she said .
“ My boss thinks I am at work.
” Then they jumped into the sea together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side , separated by the required two metres – or close enough to it .
“ I swim every day , ” Martin Archbold said .
“ But it looks a bit overcrowded and my concern is that that this is a trial and if the crowds come they will simply close the place again .
People are supposed to be here to swim and they go.
” His swimming buddy Michael Forde nodded .
“ I haven ’ t even got in yet .
It is too packed here , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be .
Mind you , you can understand why people want to be here because they have all been cooped up at home for weeks.
” Then he went off for a walk having decided to give the swim a skip for now .
Around the corner from the small stretch of sand , is the Forty Foot .
Signs billowing in the wind on the approach reminded people of the need to socially distance and to “ swim and go ” .
The 40 or so teenagers sitting around clearly didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they did , they had taken the decision to ignore them .
They weren ’ t too gone on social distancing either .
They sat huddled together in distinct tribes .
Some were drinking cans of lager , others were listening to Michael Jackson on a boombox , partying like it was 1979 .
Maria Quintilla , another hardy swimmer , looked at the large group with disapproval in her eyes .
“ I am actually afraid of the sea , ” she said .
“ But it is important to fight your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the sea water is really good for the immune system.
” While she was concerned about the influx of young people , she was more relaxed about the families gathered nearby .
“ I think people have been very respectful and keeping their distance.
” She started a conversation with a group of fellow swimmers .
“ I have called the guards , ” one said .
Then they all looked out over the water towards Dollymount across the bay .
Back at the entrance to the Forty Foot , a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cola brand swigged deeply from a glass bottle of cider and sauntered over to where his friends were relaxing in the sun .
Minutes later two squad cars arrived at the scene .
Two gardaí climbed out of one and strolled along the little beach asking people where they lived and reminding them of the need to move on .
The other gardaí approached the group of younger people at the Forty Foot changing area and asked where they were from .
“ Blackrock , ” said a boy from Clondalkin .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they didn ’ t let on .
It was all pretty relaxed and within minutes the groups in both sections had largely dispersed leaving it to the swimmers and the seals .
The wind was picking up by then anyway .

For a couple of shimmering, sun-kissed minutes at lunchtime on a warm May day in Sandycove it seemed almost as if everything was okay again. Children in swimsuits played by the water's edge, oblivious to the cold as parents decanted picnics onto rugs and bellowed at their offspring to mind themselves.
Then an older couple emerged together from the freezing, snot green sea and before they so much as draped a towel around their goose pimpled bodies, they had put their surgical face masks on.
This was no normal day at the beach and the couple coming out of the water were acutely aware of it.
“There is no social distancing being observed at all, I can tell you that,” said Robert McQuillan. He described himself as a year-round swimmer and since the lockdown he and his wife Jane have been swimming closer to their Killiney home.
READ MORE
Blame
But because the sea there was rough on this day, and because Sandycove had just re-opened to the public, they decided to venture a little farther afield.
As he spoke Mrs McQuillan nodded in agreement.
“It is more kids than anything, they are running all over the place. People are supposed to be coming here to swim before leaving. They’re not though. You can’t blame the children, they are just doing what comes naturally. But as an adult you would want to be deaf, dumb and blind not to know the rules at this stage.”
A man who identified himself only as David stood at the water’s edge and prepared to dive in to the water. “I was here yesterday evening and decided to come back again today,” he said.
Gardaí check addresses of visitors to Sandycove after it and the Forty Foot reopened on Wednesday. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
He declined to give his full name because, he said, he lived farther than 5km from the beach he was standing on. His home was 14km away, in fact. He called out to his girlfriend, instead, to see if she would talk to The Irish Times.
“I can’t be identified either,” she said. “My boss thinks I am at work.” Then they jumped into the sea together.
‘Cooped up’
Nearby three people sat side by side, separated by the required two metres – or close enough to it.
"I swim every day," Martin Archbold said. "But it looks a bit overcrowded and my concern is that that this is a trial and if the crowds come they will simply close the place again. People are supposed to be here to swim and they go."
His swimming buddy Michael Forde nodded. "I haven't even got in yet. It is too packed here, it is crazy, this is not what it should be. Mind you, you can understand why people want to be here because they have all been cooped up at home for weeks." Then he went off for a walk having decided to give the swim a skip for now.
Around the corner from the small stretch of sand, is the Forty Foot. Signs billowing in the wind on the approach reminded people of the need to socially distance and to “swim and go”. The 40 or so teenagers sitting around clearly didn’t see the signs or if they did, they had taken the decision to ignore them. They weren’t too gone on social distancing either.
They sat huddled together in distinct tribes. Some were drinking cans of lager, others were listening to Michael Jackson on a boombox, partying like it was 1979.
Maria Quintilla, another hardy swimmer, looked at the large group with disapproval in her eyes. "I am actually afraid of the sea," she said. "But it is important to fight your fears. It helps you build confidence and the sea water is really good for the immune system."
While she was concerned about the influx of young people, she was more relaxed about the families gathered nearby. “I think people have been very respectful and keeping their distance.”
She started a conversation with a group of fellow swimmers.
“I have called the guards,” one said. Then they all looked out over the water towards Dollymount across the bay.
Back at the entrance to the Forty Foot, a man in loud shorts emblazoned with a popular cola brand swigged deeply from a glass bottle of cider and sauntered over to where his friends were relaxing in the sun.
Minutes later two squad cars arrived at the scene. Two gardaí climbed out of one and strolled along the little beach asking people where they lived and reminding them of the need to move on. The other gardaí approached the group of younger people at the Forty Foot changing area and asked where they were from. "Blackrock, " said a boy from Clondalkin.
If the gardaí didn’t believe him they didn’t let on. It was all pretty relaxed and within minutes the groups in both sections had largely dispersed leaving it to the swimmers and the seals. The wind was picking up by then anyway.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Minister outlines task to reopen schools in time for September

Massive logistical work is required in order to reopen schools in time for September , according to Minister for Education Joe McHugh .
Mr McHugh said it was clear that a “ one size fits all ” approach will not apply because of the diversity of school and education settings .
His comments appear to dampen hopes from parents ’ groups who have called for primary schools to be partially reopened in mid-June if it is safe to do so .
Áine Lynch , chief executive of the National Parents ’ Council Primary , said a decision to keep schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time when public health conditions were worse than they are now .
The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) special envoy on Covid-19 also said it is was time to think about reopening schools in Ireland .
Dr David Nabarro said keeping children home from school for too long can have long-term effects on their development .
Mr McHugh , however , said opening schools needs to be “ carefully managed ” and planning is under way for the reopening of educational institutions from the beginning of September , in consultation with stakeholders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other countries .
During a debate on the impact of the pandemic on education , Mr McHugh said the system had more than one million learners in facilities ranging from small schools to multicampus higher-education institutions that employed more than 110,000 people .
“ Managing the reopening of our education system is a massive logistical operation that needs to be carefully planned .
.
.
Given the diversity in school and education settings ‘ one size fits all ’ will not apply.
” He said schools would require clear guidance and early clarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ planning at a local level .
Reopening would be based on “ ongoing public health advice ” .
Wider consultation with school transport companies , the Health Service Executive and the Department of Children is also necessary .
The Minister stressed that “ our most vulnerable students must , and will , be a focus for our priorities as we plan for the future ” .
He said he wanted to see some form of summer provision for students with special needs .
While it may not be possible to deliver the so-called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special needs students , he said work is under way on supports in the July-August period delivered by teachers and special needs assistants .
What about the Leaving Cert ?
Mr McHugh also announced that detailed guidance will be issued to teachers on Thursday over how to award calculated grades to Leaving Cert students .
He confirmed that this guidance will make clear that a student ’ s estimated mark should not be based on mock-exam or Junior Cycle results .
Instead , teachers will be asked to grade students on what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exam by using their professional judgment based on available evidence .
He also said an alignment process will be applied by the department to ensure there is a standardised process in the way grades are awarded .
Chairwoman of the Teaching Council Dr Áine Lawlor will head an independent steering committee to ensure the integrity of the grading process .
Fianna Fáil spokesman Thomas Byrne said the Minister ’ s speech showed a “ sea change ” and demonstrated an openness to consultation and significant engagement .
He also called for additional third-level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cert students to ensure as many as possible can progress to their chosen course .
Sinn Féin ’ s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire raised concerns that “ school profiling ” may end up penalising students attending disadvantaged schools by not recognising their true potential .

Minister for Education Joe McHugh has said opening schools needs to be ‘carefully managed’. Photograph: Leon Farrell/PA
Massive logistical work is required in order to reopen schools in time for September, according to Minister for Education Joe McHugh.
Mr McHugh said it was clear that a “one size fits all” approach will not apply because of the diversity of school and education settings.
His comments appear to dampen hopes from parents’ groups who have called for primary schools to be partially reopened in mid-June if it is safe to do so.
Áine Lynch, chief executive of the National Parents’ Council Primary, said a decision to keep schools closed until September was made at a time when public health conditions were worse than they are now.
READ MORE
The World Health Organisation (WHO) special envoy on Covid-19 also said it is was time to think about reopening schools in Ireland.
Dr David Nabarro said keeping children home from school for too long can have long-term effects on their development.
Mr McHugh, however, said opening schools needs to be “carefully managed” and planning is under way for the reopening of educational institutions from the beginning of September, in consultation with stakeholders and with regard to the experience of other countries.
During a debate on the impact of the pandemic on education, Mr McHugh said the system had more than one million learners in facilities ranging from small schools to multicampus higher-education institutions that employed more than 110,000 people.
“Managing the reopening of our education system is a massive logistical operation that needs to be carefully planned . . . Given the diversity in school and education settings ‘one size fits all’ will not apply.”
He said schools would require clear guidance and early clarity on key issues so they could start planning at a local level.
Reopening would be based on “ongoing public health advice”. Wider consultation with school transport companies, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Children is also necessary.
The Minister stressed that “our most vulnerable students must, and will, be a focus for our priorities as we plan for the future”.
He said he wanted to see some form of summer provision for students with special needs.
While it may not be possible to deliver the so-called July Provision scheme which benefits thousands of special needs students, he said work is under way on supports in the July-August period delivered by teachers and special needs assistants.
What about the Leaving Cert?
Mr McHugh also announced that detailed guidance will be issued to teachers on Thursday over how to award calculated grades to Leaving Cert students.
He confirmed that this guidance will make clear that a student's estimated mark should not be based on mock-exam or Junior Cycle results.
Instead, teachers will be asked to grade students on what they would have achieved in the Leaving Cert exam by using their professional judgment based on available evidence.
He also said an alignment process will be applied by the department to ensure there is a standardised process in the way grades are awarded.
Chairwoman of the Teaching Council Dr Áine Lawlor will head an independent steering committee to ensure the integrity of the grading process.
Fianna Fáil spokesman Thomas Byrne said the Minister's speech showed a "sea change" and demonstrated an openness to consultation and significant engagement.
He also called for additional third-level places to be made available for Leaving Cert students to ensure as many as possible can progress to their chosen course.
Sinn Féin’s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire raised concerns that “school profiling” may end up penalising students attending disadvantaged schools by not recognising their true potential.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Cause of man’s death in Bluebell house fire still not established

Further postmortem examinations are required before it can be established how a man found dead at the scene of a house fire met his death .
Alan Hall ( 45 ) was found dead at a property in Bluebell , west Dublin , on Monday which had been extensively damaged by smoke due to a fire .
The initial postmortem carried out on his remains found he had a number of injuries which may have resulted from an assault , though the precise cause of his head injuries could not be determined .
Gardaí are awaiting the results of toxicology @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dubliner ’ s remains in a bid to pinpoint the cause of death , which was being treated as suspicious but has not been ungraded to murder .
It was not clear when a precise cause of death would be established .
The possibility Mr Hall was assaulted and that his injuries caused or contributed to his death has not been discounted .
Gardaí based in Clondalkin station have issued an appeal for assistance from members of the public , including those who knew Mr Hall .
The dead man is understood to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bluebell Avenue where he died and was receiving assistance from homeless services .
Mr Hall is understood to have previously worked as a butcher and while he was known to gardaí he was not a serious criminal and he had not come to the attention of the Garda for some time .
He returned to the house at some stage on Sunday but his body was only discovered the following morning after neighbours were alerted by the fire alarm .
Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene and discovered Mr Hall ’ s remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ conducting a criminal investigation into all the circumstances ” surrounding the case .
He appealed to anybody who was in the vicinity of Bluebell Avenue or the Old Naas Road , Dublin 12 , on either the evening of Sunday May 17th or the morning of Monday May 18th to contact the Garda .
Initially it appeared that Mr Hall did not live at the address where his body was found dead , but it has since been established that he did .
Gardaí have conducted searches of the area around a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a burnt-out mattress found at the scene .

The dead man is understood to have lived alone at the house on Bluebell Avenue where he died and was receiving assistance from homeless services. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
Further postmortem examinations are required before it can be established how a man found dead at the scene of a house fire met his death.
Alan Hall (45) was found dead at a property in Bluebell, west Dublin, on Monday which had been extensively damaged by smoke due to a fire.
The initial postmortem carried out on his remains found he had a number of injuries which may have resulted from an assault, though the precise cause of his head injuries could not be determined.
Gardaí are awaiting the results of toxicology tests and further postmortem checks on the Dubliner’s remains in a bid to pinpoint the cause of death, which was being treated as suspicious but has not been ungraded to murder.
READ MORE
It was not clear when a precise cause of death would be established. The possibility Mr Hall was assaulted and that his injuries caused or contributed to his death has not been discounted.
Gardaí based in Clondalkin station have issued an appeal for assistance from members of the public, including those who knew Mr Hall.
The dead man is understood to have lived alone at the house on Bluebell Avenue where he died and was receiving assistance from homeless services.
Mr Hall is understood to have previously worked as a butcher and while he was known to gardaí he was not a serious criminal and he had not come to the attention of the Garda for some time.
Fire alarm
He returned to the house at some stage on Sunday but his body was only discovered the following morning after neighbours were alerted by the fire alarm.
Dublin Fire Brigade attended the scene and discovered Mr Hall's remains. Supt Seamus Dalton said gardaí were "conducting a criminal investigation into all the circumstances" surrounding the case.
He appealed to anybody who was in the vicinity of Bluebell Avenue or the Old Naas Road, Dublin 12, on either the evening of Sunday May 17th or the morning of Monday May 18th to contact the Garda.
Initially it appeared that Mr Hall did not live at the address where his body was found dead, but it has since been established that he did. Gardaí have conducted searches of the area around a nearby canal and have examined the remains of a burnt-out mattress found at the scene.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Boy (16) sustains serious head injuries in Dublin assault

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a 16 year old boy sustained serious head injuries in an assault in Dublin @ @ @ @ @ in Seagrange Park , Baldoyle , at about 5pm on Tuesday .
Gardaí in Howth @ @ @ @ @ was taken to Beaumont Hospital by ambulance where he is in a serious condition .
@ @ @ @ @ with information in relation to the assault to contact them .
They are eager to @ @ @ @ @ may have been in the Seagrange Park area of Baldoyle between 4.30pm and 5.30pm .
@ @ @ @ @ who may have camera or dash-cam footage .
Anyone with information can contact gardaí at @ @ @ @ @ 666 4900 , the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 , or any Garda @ @

The playground at Seagrange Park, Baldoyle which has been closed during the Covid-19 pandemic. The assault took place in the park. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a 16 year old boy sustained serious head injuries in an assault in Dublin.
The incident took place in Seagrange Park, Baldoyle, at about 5pm on Tuesday. Gardaí in Howth are investigating.
The boy was taken to Beaumont Hospital by ambulance where he is in a serious condition.
Gardaí are appealing for anyone with information in relation to the assault to contact them. They are eager to speak to any persons who may have been in the Seagrange Park area of Baldoyle between 4.30pm and 5.30pm.
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This includes any road users who may have camera or dash-cam footage. Anyone with information can contact gardaí at Howth Garda station on 01 666 4900, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Derry parishioner senses ‘drawing together’ as churches reopen

At St Columb ’ s Church in Derry ’ s Waterside , the doors are open for the first time since March 8th .
A parishioner enters , wearing a face mask ; inside is a bottle of hand sanitiser and a banner reminding him to keep his distance .
“ There is a sensation of something returning to normality , ” says one woman .
She has been going to daily Mass since she was 14 ; she is now 78 .
“ It always started my day well for me , and it was hard not being able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is a sense of “ drawing together ” .
Returning to the church brought peace and comfort .
“ I find it very consoling.
” The easing of the lockdown began in the North this week .
Churches have been permitted to reopen for individual prayer since Tuesday , provided they can put the required social distancing and public hygiene measures in place .
Drive-in services are also permitted as long as those attending remain in their cars .
For parish priest Father Michael Canny it has been a relief to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first people who came to pray was an elderly woman who had been at home for the last two months .
“ Many of the people who come to the church are very aware of their own vulnerability , ” he says .
“ Some of them have not been out of the house for a while ; they are very aware of social distancing , and they don ’ t stay a long time.
” He feels the greatest impact of reopening the churches is psychological .
“ It ’ s a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” While Mass has moved online , he has missed the daily routine .
“ The mornings are long .
There are no Masses to go to , no schools to visit , and nobody coming and going.
” He describes a funeral Mass on Easter Sunday with only two mourners .
At another , two days later , there were only three .
“ That was exceptionally sad .
You couldn ’ t shake hands , or spend time chatting about the people ’ s lives .
That was the real loss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tea , the listening to stories , hearing about the people that they were .
These are people who would have had hundreds at their funerals , and we and their families have been deprived of that.
” It is not yet clear when Masses might resume .
The resumption of gatherings , including church services , is included in stage four of the Northern Executive ’ s plan for exiting lockdown .
The North is currently in stage one , but the North ’ s First Minister , Arlene Foster , has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In the Church of Ireland , the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe , the Rt Rev Andrew Forster , said that while churches tended to be open only for corporate worship , parishes that wished to reopen were looking at how this could be done safely .
“ Though the doors are closed , the church is very much open , with lots of people connecting online , ” he said .
Derry parishioner Patrick Sweeney , a daily Mass-goer for the last 35 years , turned to online Mass during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same ” .
“ It ’ s a great feeling to be back .
There ’ s a better feeling when you ’ re in the chapel .
You ’ re in the house of God .
It ’ s a great feeling to have the solace of being present.
” Ciara Quigg agrees .
“ It ’ s the anniversary of an aunt of mine , and my mother and father are shielding , so I was able to come and light candles .
You did miss being able to come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe distance , Fr Canny watches her leave .
“ Churches are living buildings .
It is nice having a bit of life about the place .
”

At St Columb’s Church in Derry’s Waterside, the doors are open for the first time since March 8th. A parishioner enters, wearing a face mask; inside is a bottle of hand sanitiser and a banner reminding him to keep his distance.
“There is a sensation of something returning to normality,” says one woman. She has been going to daily Mass since she was 14; she is now 78. “It always started my day well for me, and it was hard not being able to go.”
Now, she says, there is a sense of “drawing together”. Returning to the church brought peace and comfort. “I find it very consoling.”
The easing of the lockdown began in the North this week. Churches have been permitted to reopen for individual prayer since Tuesday, provided they can put the required social distancing and public hygiene measures in place. Drive-in services are also permitted as long as those attending remain in their cars.
READ MORE
For parish priest Father Michael Canny it has been a relief to reopen the doors. One of the first people who came to pray was an elderly woman who had been at home for the last two months.
“Many of the people who come to the church are very aware of their own vulnerability,” he says. “Some of them have not been out of the house for a while; they are very aware of social distancing, and they don’t stay a long time.”
He feels the greatest impact of reopening the churches is psychological. “It’s a big step in people’s minds.”
Daily routine
While Mass has moved online, he has missed the daily routine. “The mornings are long. There are no Masses to go to, no schools to visit, and nobody coming and going.”
He describes a funeral Mass on Easter Sunday with only two mourners. At another, two days later, there were only three.
“That was exceptionally sad. You couldn’t shake hands, or spend time chatting about the people’s lives. That was the real loss of this – the drinking of the tea, the listening to stories, hearing about the people that they were. These are people who would have had hundreds at their funerals, and we and their families have been deprived of that.”
It is not yet clear when Masses might resume. The resumption of gatherings, including church services, is included in stage four of the Northern Executive's plan for exiting lockdown. The North is currently in stage one, but the North's First Minister, Arlene Foster, has said it is being kept under review.
Connecting online
In the Church of Ireland, the Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, the Rt Rev Andrew Forster, said that while churches tended to be open only for corporate worship, parishes that wished to reopen were looking at how this could be done safely.
“Though the doors are closed, the church is very much open, with lots of people connecting online,” he said.
Derry parishioner Patrick Sweeney, a daily Mass-goer for the last 35 years, turned to online Mass during the lockdown but it "wasn't the same".
“It’s a great feeling to be back. There’s a better feeling when you’re in the chapel. You’re in the house of God. It’s a great feeling to have the solace of being present.”
Ciara Quigg agrees. "It's the anniversary of an aunt of mine, and my mother and father are shielding, so I was able to come and light candles. You did miss being able to come and say your prayers."
From a safe distance, Fr Canny watches her leave. “Churches are living buildings. It is nice having a bit of life about the place.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--Coronavirus: Four Roma are among 1,571 to die in Ireland

Four members of the Roma community diagnosed with Covid-19 have died , out of 22 hospitalised , public health officials have disclosed .
Two prisoners have been hospitalised out of 19 cases in prisons up to last Sunday , according to deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn .
Two members of the Traveller community have likewise been hospitalised , out of 46 cases .
In direct provision , 14 asylum-seekers have been hospitalised out of 171 cases , while five homeless have been hospitalised out of 20 cases .
Of the 828 cases in meat factories , Dr Glynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said he was not aware of any other deaths in at-risk groups .
The deaths of another 11 patients with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) on Wednesday .
There have now been a total of 1,571 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
A total of 64 new laboratory confirmed cases of the disease was reported by NPHET at its daily briefing , bringing the total number of cases to 24,315 .
This is the fifth day in a row in which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Asked about calls for the reopening of schools to be considered , Dr Glynn said Ireland ’ s peak in cases occurred “ quite a bit later ” than in many other countries , some of which were now reopening schools or creches .
This delay gave us the opportunity to get ready for a surge in cases and now that the curve was on the way back down , it afforded Ireland the opportunity to learn from other countries ’ experience .
He added : “ As things currently stand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back before September.
” Asked about the absence at short notice of chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan from Wednesday ’ s briefing , Dr Glynn said his colleague “ will be back at work tomorrow morning as things stand ” .
For the first time , the number of female deaths outnumbered male deaths - 786 against 785 .
Some 41 per cent of deaths were hospitalised and 4.8 per cent were admitted to ICU .
The median age of deaths was 84 years and the mean age 82 .
To date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the disease have recovered , although some were living with the after-effects , according to officials .
“ This is very positive news but should not deflect from the impact this disease has had on individuals and families .
In addition , it does not change the risk for any one individual who is diagnosed with the disease today , or in the future , ” said Dr Glynn .
An analysis of cases up to last Monday shows 57 per cent are female and 43 per cent male .
A total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are associated with healthcare workers and the the median age of all cases is 48 years .
A total of 393 people have been admitted to ICU , of whom 53 people remain there .
This is one more than the previous day .
There was a jump of 16 in the number of cases hospitalised , bringing that total to 321 .
There are now 463 clusters of the disease in residential care facilities , up five in a day ; 258 of these are in nursing homes , the same as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account for 6,276 cases , up 28 .
Nursing homes alone account for 4,872 cases , up 13 .
Some 62.3 per cent of all deaths are associated with residential care settings ; 54 per cent of deaths have occurred in nursing homes .
Dr Glynn said NPHET would continue to look at issues affecting children at its meetings on Friday and next week “ to see if we can make things easier ” for them .

The number of female deaths from coronavirus has outnumbered male deaths for the first time, public health officials have disclosed.
Four members of the Roma community diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, out of 22 hospitalised, while two prisoners have been hospitalised out of 19 cases in prisons up to last Sunday, according to deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn.
Two members of the Traveller community have likewise been hospitalised, out of 46 cases. In direct provision, 14 asylum-seekers have been hospitalised out of 171 cases, while five homeless have been hospitalised out of 20 cases.
Of the 828 cases in meat factories, Dr Glynn said, 16 people have been hospitalised. He said he was not aware of any other deaths in at-risk groups.
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The deaths of another 11 patients with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on Wednesday. There have now been a total of 1,571 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic.
A total of 64 new laboratory confirmed cases of the disease was reported by NPHET at its daily briefing, bringing the total number of cases to 24,315. This is the fifth day in a row in which the daily case number has remained below 100.
Asked about calls for the reopening of schools to be considered, Dr Glynn said Ireland’s peak in cases occurred “quite a bit later” than in many other countries, some of which were now reopening schools or creches.
This delay gave us the opportunity to get ready for a surge in cases and now that the curve was on the way back down, it afforded Ireland the opportunity to learn from other countries’ experience.
He added: “As things currently stand, we don’t envisage schools coming back before September.”
Asked about the absence at short notice of chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan from Wednesday’s briefing, Dr Glynn said his colleague “will be back at work tomorrow morning as things stand”.
More female deaths
For the first time, the number of female deaths outnumbered male deaths - 786 against 785. Some 41 per cent of deaths were hospitalised and 4.8 per cent were admitted to ICU. The median age of deaths was 84 years and the mean age 82.
To date, 87 per cent of cases diagnosed with the disease have recovered, although some were living with the after-effects, according to officials.
“This is very positive news but should not deflect from the impact this disease has had on individuals and families. In addition, it does not change the risk for any one individual who is diagnosed with the disease today, or in the future,” said Dr Glynn.
An analysis of cases up to last Monday shows 57 per cent are female and 43 per cent male. A total of 7,708 (31.9 per cent) are associated with healthcare workers and the the median age of all cases is 48 years.
A total of 393 people have been admitted to ICU, of whom 53 people remain there. This is one more than the previous day.
There was a jump of 16 in the number of cases hospitalised, bringing that total to 321.
There are now 463 clusters of the disease in residential care facilities, up five in a day; 258 of these are in nursing homes, the same as the previous day.
Residential care settings account for 6,276 cases, up 28. Nursing homes alone account for 4,872 cases, up 13.
Some 62.3 per cent of all deaths are associated with residential care settings; 54 per cent of deaths have occurred in nursing homes.
Dr Glynn said NPHET would continue to look at issues affecting children at its meetings on Friday and next week “to see if we can make things easier” for them.


theirishtimes--2020-05-20--No Covid-19 ban on meetings exceeding two hours, says health official

There is nothing preventing businesses from having the same people in the same room for a meeting for over two hours , deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has said .
However , employers needed to balance the work they are doing with the fact that someone , if they attend a meeting for over two hours with another person , could be regarded as a close contact if that person tested positive .
In those circumstances , anyone attending the meeting and treated as a close contact would have to self-isolate for 14 days .
“ Everything we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit , ” Dr Glynn said , adding that the guidance on what constitutes close contact with a case was in place before any restrictions were put in place .
Dr Glynn was speaking at the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) briefing on Wednesday evening after Ireland ’ s judges announced they were limiting all physical court sittings to no more than two hours to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
The decision was made arising from health advice given on Tuesday to the Houses of the Oireachtas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same room , even though practising social distancing , for more than two hours .
Dr Glynn , who was deputising for chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan at the NPHET briefing , said he was not privy to the advice given by public health officials to the Oireachtas on the conduct of its meetings .
From this week , anyone who is a close contact of a confirmed case will be tested , he said .
Meanwhile , a number of politicians who sit on the Dáil ’ s business committee have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two-hour limit in Leinster House .
One source said that the advice the Oireachtas received represented a “ logistical nightmare ” and although alternative plans were under consideration in relation to how committees and the Dáil may sit , given that advice , there was no immediate clear cut solution .
The matter is due to be considered by the committee next Tuesday .
The Oireachtas had sought advice in advance of the first witnesses appearing on Tuesday before the Dáil ’ s new committee on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ business committee stated that a number of the witnesses were “ unwilling to attend together for more than one two-hour session ” .
The document said that some of the witnesses “ communicated orally to the Clerk to the Committee ” that “ it was a breach of the guidelines to have witnesses together for more than two hours , notwithstanding the fact that their locations would change ” between sessions .
Further advice was sought from consultant microbiologist Prof Martin Cormican .
In written correspondence to the Oireachtas , he said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hearings develops Covid-19 in the two days after the hearing they attended and if the hearing lasted for two hours or for more then everyone else who was in the room for that two hour period will be designated a Covid contact and will be advised to self-isolate for 14 days ” .
He wrote : “ There little reason to believe that 1 hour and 55 minutes of exposure is materially safer that 2 hours and five minutes of exposure however if it is intended to put a time limit on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid the possible consequence of people being designated contacts then it will be necessary to have the people leave the room before 2 hours have elapsed and not at 2 hours and it will be necessary that they do not reassemble on that same day.
” On Wednesday morning , Mr Justice Peter Kelly , president of the High Court , read a statement in court , on behalf of the Chief Justice and presidents of all the courts , arising from what had happened in the Houses of the Oireachtas .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until the matter became public on Tuesday , “ of what appears to be additional safety considerations beyond those already published ” .
The Courts Service has sought further urgent advice on this matter as it clearly has the potential to affect the conduct of court hearings or sessions likely to involve judges and registrars , together with others , being in a courtroom for more than two hours in a day , the statement said .
Pending receipt of that advice , the court presidents have determined that all court sittings will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day , it was stated .
The director general of the Law Society , Ken Murphy , described the move as “ bordering on bizarre ” , adding : “ The question has to be asked if there has been some miscommunication and overreaction here .
”

Dr Ronan Glynn, deputy chief medical Officer, Department of Health, said anyone attending a meeting and treated as a close contact, where a positive test was recorded, would have to self-isolate for 14 days. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
There is nothing preventing businesses from having the same people in the same room for a meeting for over two hours, deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has said.
However, employers needed to balance the work they are doing with the fact that someone, if they attend a meeting for over two hours with another person, could be regarded as a close contact if that person tested positive.
In those circumstances, anyone attending the meeting and treated as a close contact would have to self-isolate for 14 days.
“Everything we do is a balance between risk and benefit,” Dr Glynn said, adding that the guidance on what constitutes close contact with a case was in place before any restrictions were put in place.
READ MORE
Dr Glynn was speaking at the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) briefing on Wednesday evening after Ireland’s judges announced they were limiting all physical court sittings to no more than two hours to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The decision was made arising from health advice given on Tuesday to the Houses of the Oireachtas concerning persons who may be in the same room, even though practising social distancing, for more than two hours.
Dr Glynn, who was deputising for chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan at the NPHET briefing, said he was not privy to the advice given by public health officials to the Oireachtas on the conduct of its meetings.
From this week, anyone who is a close contact of a confirmed case will be tested, he said.
Meanwhile, a number of politicians who sit on the Dáil’s business committee have expressed concern about the implications of the two-hour limit in Leinster House.
One source said that the advice the Oireachtas received represented a “logistical nightmare” and although alternative plans were under consideration in relation to how committees and the Dáil may sit, given that advice, there was no immediate clear cut solution.
The matter is due to be considered by the committee next Tuesday.
Oireachtas advice
The Oireachtas had sought advice in advance of the first witnesses appearing on Tuesday before the Dáil’s new committee on the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Documentation circulated amongst members of the Oireachtas business committee stated that a number of the witnesses were “unwilling to attend together for more than one two-hour session”.
The document said that some of the witnesses “communicated orally to the Clerk to the Committee” that “it was a breach of the guidelines to have witnesses together for more than two hours, notwithstanding the fact that their locations would change” between sessions.
Further advice was sought from consultant microbiologist Prof Martin Cormican. In written correspondence to the Oireachtas, he said that “if a person at one of the hearings develops Covid-19 in the two days after the hearing they attended and if the hearing lasted for two hours or for more then everyone else who was in the room for that two hour period will be designated a Covid contact and will be advised to self-isolate for 14 days”.
He wrote: “There little reason to believe that 1 hour and 55 minutes of exposure is materially safer that 2 hours and five minutes of exposure however if it is intended to put a time limit on the hearing as a technical measure to avoid the possible consequence of people being designated contacts then it will be necessary to have the people leave the room before 2 hours have elapsed and not at 2 hours and it will be necessary that they do not reassemble on that same day.”
On Wednesday morning, Mr Justice Peter Kelly, president of the High Court, read a statement in court, on behalf of the Chief Justice and presidents of all the courts, arising from what had happened in the Houses of the Oireachtas.
It stated the Courts Service was unaware, until the matter became public on Tuesday, “of what appears to be additional safety considerations beyond those already published”.
The Courts Service has sought further urgent advice on this matter as it clearly has the potential to affect the conduct of court hearings or sessions likely to involve judges and registrars, together with others, being in a courtroom for more than two hours in a day, the statement said.
Pending receipt of that advice, the court presidents have determined that all court sittings will last for no more than two hours a day, it was stated.
The director general of the Law Society, Ken Murphy, described the move as “bordering on bizarre”, adding: “The question has to be asked if there has been some miscommunication and overreaction here.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-21--Gardaí seize crack cocaine worth €11,400 in Ballymun raid

Crack cocaine worth an estimated €11,400 , a weighing scales and a small amount of cannabis were discovered during a @ @ @ @ @ Santry on Thursday morning .
The drugs , which are subject to analysis , were @ @ @ @ @ and the Ballymun Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a surveillance and search operation at a @ @ @ @ @ area of Ballymun , Dublin 11 .
The car was removed for further examination .
@ @ @ @ @ and investigations are ongoing .

Crack cocaine worth an estimated €11,400 was discovered during a search of a car in Santry on Thursday morning.
Crack cocaine worth an estimated €11,400, a weighing scales and a small amount of cannabis were discovered during a search of a car in Santry on Thursday morning.
The drugs, which are subject to analysis, were found when gardaí from Santry and the Ballymun Divisional Drugs Unit carried out a surveillance and search operation at a property in the Carton Court area of Ballymun, Dublin 11.
The car was removed for further examination. No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-05-21--Courts hope to resume full-day hearings ‘as soon as tomorrow’

The courts system is expected to resume full-day physical hearings shortly after receiving etailed advice earlier this morning on the question of the length of court sittings .
On the basis of the advice the heads of the various courts “ are very hopeful that full sittings will be able to resume as soon as tomorrow , once certain additional procedures have been put in place , ” a spokesman for the Courts Service said .
A further update is to be issued in the near future It is understood the Courts Service received detailed advice from the same expert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committee .
The receipt of the advice by the Dáil Business Committee raised questions over whether there should be gatherings in Leinster House that went on for more than two hours on any one day .
This in turn led to people asking whether the same issue did not arise for those in other workplaces .
On Wednesday the judiciary announced the courts were going to restrict physical court sittings to a maximum of two hours each day , pending further advice .
The sequence of events that led to the courts ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dáil Special Committee on Covid-19 Response to hear evidence on Tuesday from the chief medical officer , Dr Tony Holohan ; the chief executive of the HSE , Paul Reid ; the secretary general of the Dept of Health , Jim Breslin ; and others .
In an article about the proposed hearing in the Sunday Business Post , former chief executive of the HSE Tony O ’ Brien questioned the wisdom of having the top people involved in giving advice on Ireland ’ s pandemic policies , together in an enclosed space @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ mockery ” of public health guidance .
On Monday the Business Committee was told that a number of the witnesses due before the Covid committee were not willing to meet together for any session that went on longer than two hours .
An email to committee members said it had been communicated to the committee , orally , that it was a breach of the guidelines to have witnesses together for more than two hours in a single session .
Advice was sought from Prof Martin Cormican , consultant microbiologist Galway University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Prof Cormican said he wanted to raise a technical point that had arisen in his conversations with colleagues in public health .
He then explained the contact tracing system requires that a person who had been in “ an enclosed space ” for more than two hours over a 24-hour period with a person who was infected with coronavirus would be advised to self-isolate for 14 days , as they would be designated a contact .
“ If it is intended to put a time limit on the hearing as a technical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people being designated contacts , then it will be necessary to have the people leave the room before two hours have elapsed , ” he told the committee by email .
Also , people who had been in a “ room ” for up to two hours , should not reassemble on that same day , he told the committee .
It is understood the Courts Service has this morning received detailed advice from Prof Cormican and , on that basis , the judiciary is intending to go back to “ full day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less than a full day to be heard , and so the lawyers and others involved in a case would often not be in a courtroom for more than two hours .
Judges and registrars have been moving between courtrooms between cases , as part of the response to the pandemic .
The Oireachtas Business Committee is scheduled to resume its consideration of what to do in relation to committee hearings , and full sittings of the Dáil , next Tuesday .

The courts system is hoping to resume full-day physical hearings ‘as soon as tomorrow’
The courts system is expected to resume full-day physical hearings shortly after receiving etailed advice earlier this morning on the question of the length of court sittings.
On the basis of the advice the heads of the various courts “are very hopeful that full sittings will be able to resume as soon as tomorrow, once certain additional procedures have been put in place,” a spokesman for the Courts Service said.
A further update is to be issued in the near future
It is understood the Courts Service received detailed advice from the same expert who gave advice recently to a Dáil committee.
READ MORE
The receipt of the advice by the Dáil Business Committee raised questions over whether there should be gatherings in Leinster House that went on for more than two hours on any one day.
This in turn led to people asking whether the same issue did not arise for those in other workplaces.
On Wednesday the judiciary announced the courts were going to restrict physical court sittings to a maximum of two hours each day, pending further advice.
The sequence of events that led to the courts' decision began with the decision of the Dáil Special Committee on Covid-19 Response to hear evidence on Tuesday from the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan; the chief executive of the HSE, Paul Reid; the secretary general of the Dept of Health, Jim Breslin; and others.
In an article about the proposed hearing in the Sunday Business Post, former chief executive of the HSE Tony O’Brien questioned the wisdom of having the top people involved in giving advice on Ireland’s pandemic policies, together in an enclosed space.
He also said it made a “mockery” of public health guidance.
On Monday the Business Committee was told that a number of the witnesses due before the Covid committee were not willing to meet together for any session that went on longer than two hours.
An email to committee members said it had been communicated to the committee, orally, that it was a breach of the guidelines to have witnesses together for more than two hours in a single session.
Advice was sought from Prof Martin Cormican, consultant microbiologist Galway University Hospitals. As part of his response, Prof Cormican said he wanted to raise a technical point that had arisen in his conversations with colleagues in public health.
He then explained the contact tracing system requires that a person who had been in “an enclosed space” for more than two hours over a 24-hour period with a person who was infected with coronavirus would be advised to self-isolate for 14 days, as they would be designated a contact.
“If it is intended to put a time limit on the hearing as a technical measure to avoid the possible consequence of people being designated contacts, then it will be necessary to have the people leave the room before two hours have elapsed,” he told the committee by email.
Also, people who had been in a “room” for up to two hours, should not reassemble on that same day, he told the committee.
It is understood the Courts Service has this morning received detailed advice from Prof Cormican and, on that basis, the judiciary is intending to go back to “full day” hearings.
Many cases take much less than a full day to be heard, and so the lawyers and others involved in a case would often not be in a courtroom for more than two hours.
Judges and registrars have been moving between courtrooms between cases, as part of the response to the pandemic.
The Oireachtas Business Committee is scheduled to resume its consideration of what to do in relation to committee hearings, and full sittings of the Dáil, next Tuesday.