theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Is Covid-19 testing and tracing system for schools fit for purpose?

When a case of Covid-19 was confirmed in nine-year-old Fionn Keane ’ s fourth class , the Health Service Executive did not identify any close contacts in the classroom .
The following day , a Saturday , Fionn developed a slight temperature and his father , Séamus , called his GP .
Fionn was referred for testing .
The result came back positive .
“ The only way that he could have contracted Covid , as far as I can see it , was in the classroom , ” said Keane .
However , as Fionn had not been considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , the possibility of school-based transmission may not have been considered .
“ I had no contact from the HSE regarding my request for him to retrospectively be deemed a close contact , ” said Keane .
A spokesperson for the HSE said that when further cases are identified these were investigated by public-health doctors .
“ To date , any further cases identified have predominantly reflected increased community infection rates , and not intraschool transmission , ” the spokesperson said .
Official figures indicate that schools remain safe settings with very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The proportion of close contacts who have tested positive is between 2 per cent and 3 per cent , significantly lower the equivalent figure for the wide community .
This , according to the HSE , indicates that schools are not amplifying the spread of Covid-19 .
However , the practice of identifying close contacts in schools has become a cause for concern among many school principals .
They believe there is a disconnect between the HSE ’ s understanding of school environments and the realities of classroom interactions .
Delays in identifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damaged the confidence of school leaders in the wider testing and tracing programme .
This , in turn , has prompted some worried principals to take matters into their own hands by closing their schools for safety reasons or allowing pupils to stay at home following outbreaks .
A key areas of concern among school leaders is how close contacts are identified following a positive case in a school .
Public-health authorities deem a person in an educational setting to be a close contact if they have spent more than 15 minutes within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , with consideration of other mitigation measures such as face coverings , pods , ventilation , etc .
Contacts are identified from their proximity to a confirmed case during their “ infectious period ” , which is defined as 48 hours before the onset of symptoms if symptomatic , or 24 hours before a Covid-19 test was taken in those who are asymptomatic .
Ultimately , it is down to public-health authorities – not schools – to identify who these close contacts are .
However , some principals believe the criteria for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are too narrow and are keeping the positivity rate unrealistically low .
“ Primary schools are far more complex organisations than people perceive them to be , ” said Simon Lewis , principal of Carlow Educate Together .
“ In reality , the whole pods and bubbles system is a bit of a farce.
” He feels there is a lack of transparency over the process of identifying close contacts .
“ Please explain it to us , ” said Lewis .
“ When it doesn ’ t logically make sense , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as transparent as we can in the face of the lack of transparency that is available to us.
” Lewis was notified in recent weeks of two positive cases in his school by a family .
The initial communication from the public-health adviser was to send the pod home , however , Lewis believed this didn ’ t take into account the complexity of interactions that had occurred .
“ There wasn ’ t an in-depth questioning , ” said Lewis .
“ We have children who come on buses , there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ setting seemed to be to just send the pods home.
” Lewis said he had to ‘ lead ’ the public-health doctors to the close contacts .
“ Once I gave them the information in fairness to them there was no disagreement , ” said Lewis .
In response to claims of inconsistencies in the definition of close contacts across schools , the HSE said the risk-assessment process relied on a range of information gathered by public-health teams which can lead to different conclusions over the number of close contacts .
Dr Abigail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told a recent HSE briefing that public-health teams work hard to balance what is reasonable with what is necessary in limiting the spread of the virus .
“ Schools are very important places .
If you designate someone a close contact you are automatically excluding them from education for two weeks and exclusion is harmful and undesirable.
” Séamus O ’ Connor , principal of Scoil Bhríde , in Crosshaven , Co Cork , said his school has had two teachers and a SNA who tested positive for Covid-19 .
A teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact by the public-health team sought independent advice and tested positive .
“ The staff member sought advice on testing from their GP and was referred for testing , ” said O ’ Connor .
“ If they didn ’ t get tested they would have walked into school asymptomatically carrying Covid.
” In some cases the teacher can be ruled out as a close contact because they are wearing a mask , but principals believe this is out of sync with advice around personal protective equipment .
A spokesperson for the HSE @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the factors the public-health team considered when making a risk assessment , and they also gathered information from the principal .
“ Masks are a part of the preventive armament but not the only one or the most important ; and a combination of factors are considered when assessing who needs to be tested.
” Another issue fuelling anxiety around schools is the delay in receiving notification from the HSE once a positive case has been reported in the school community .
More than 15 per cent of principals who participated in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forum reported that they were waiting over four days on communication from the HSE .
“ They were left in that terrible position where their hands were tied with GDPR and confidentiality , ” said Angela Dunne , principal of Loughmore national school , Co Tipperary , and a member of the forum .
Dunne reports that many principals have reported significant decrease in attendance in schools when communication isn ’ t prompt .
“ The school would have written to [ parents ] to say the HSE would be in touch about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t hear anything from the HSE .
They decided to keep their child out because they didn ’ t feel that it was safe , ” said Dunne .
Lewis said lack of swift communication with schools over Covid-19 cases can cause huge uncertainty .
“ You ’ re in this sort of limbo period where you are waiting for instruction , ” said Lewis .
“ Then you have the fear of the hysteria that comes from people wondering why the school are not doing anything.
” The HSE that a rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had an impact on its response time to schools last month and acknowledged the need for a “ swifter reaction ” .
Along with increasing the number of school support teams – aimed at speeding up contact with schools – the HSE has introduced a text-messaging service for parents in cases where their child may be listed as a close contact .
There are also weekly briefings with education partners .
The measures have been cautiously welcomed by school leaders – though some still believe there are many variables not being considered in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unions such as the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland ( ASTI ) have warned that they are prepared to take industrial action unless they can be confident that schools remain safe .
“ We need much more progress in order to get to the point where teachers believe that the safety of students and teachers is being prioritised during this pandemic , ” said ASTI president Anne Piggott .

When a case of Covid-19 was confirmed in nine-year-old Fionn Keane’s fourth class, the Health Service Executive did not identify any close contacts in the classroom. The following day, a Saturday, Fionn developed a slight temperature and his father, Séamus, called his GP. Fionn was referred for testing. The result came back positive.
“The only way that he could have contracted Covid, as far as I can see it, was in the classroom,” said Keane.
However, as Fionn had not been considered a close contact of the initial positive case, the possibility of school-based transmission may not have been considered.
Hospital Report
“I had no contact from the HSE regarding my request for him to retrospectively be deemed a close contact,” said Keane.
READ MORE
A spokesperson for the HSE said that when further cases are identified these were investigated by public-health doctors. “To date, any further cases identified have predominantly reflected increased community infection rates, and not intraschool transmission,” the spokesperson said.
Official figures indicate that schools remain safe settings with very low rates of transmission of Covid-19.
The proportion of close contacts who have tested positive is between 2 per cent and 3 per cent, significantly lower the equivalent figure for the wide community. This, according to the HSE, indicates that schools are not amplifying the spread of Covid-19.
However, the practice of identifying close contacts in schools has become a cause for concern among many school principals. They believe there is a disconnect between the HSE’s understanding of school environments and the realities of classroom interactions.
Delays in identifying close contacts of positive cases have also damaged the confidence of school leaders in the wider testing and tracing programme.
This, in turn, has prompted some worried principals to take matters into their own hands by closing their schools for safety reasons or allowing pupils to stay at home following outbreaks.
Close contacts
A key areas of concern among school leaders is how close contacts are identified following a positive case in a school.
Public-health authorities deem a person in an educational setting to be a close contact if they have spent more than 15 minutes within one or two metres of a confirmed case, with consideration of other mitigation measures such as face coverings, pods, ventilation, etc.
Contacts are identified from their proximity to a confirmed case during their “infectious period”, which is defined as 48 hours before the onset of symptoms if symptomatic, or 24 hours before a Covid-19 test was taken in those who are asymptomatic.
Ultimately, it is down to public-health authorities – not schools – to identify who these close contacts are.
However, some principals believe the criteria for identifying close contacts in schools for testing are too narrow and are keeping the positivity rate unrealistically low.
"Primary schools are far more complex organisations than people perceive them to be," said Simon Lewis, principal of Carlow Educate Together. "In reality, the whole pods and bubbles system is a bit of a farce."
He feels there is a lack of transparency over the process of identifying close contacts.
“Please explain it to us,” said Lewis. “When it doesn’t logically make sense, the only thing principals can do is be as transparent as we can in the face of the lack of transparency that is available to us.”
Lewis was notified in recent weeks of two positive cases in his school by a family. The initial communication from the public-health adviser was to send the pod home, however, Lewis believed this didn’t take into account the complexity of interactions that had occurred.
“There wasn’t an in-depth questioning,” said Lewis. “We have children who come on buses, there are variables that exist, but the default setting seemed to be to just send the pods home.”
Lewis said he had to ‘lead’ the public-health doctors to the close contacts.
“Once I gave them the information in fairness to them there was no disagreement,” said Lewis.
In response to claims of inconsistencies in the definition of close contacts across schools, the HSE said the risk-assessment process relied on a range of information gathered by public-health teams which can lead to different conclusions over the number of close contacts.
Dr Abigail Collins, a consultant in public-health medicine, told a recent HSE briefing that public-health teams work hard to balance what is reasonable with what is necessary in limiting the spread of the virus.
“Schools are very important places. If you designate someone a close contact you are automatically excluding them from education for two weeks and exclusion is harmful and undesirable.”
Teaching staff
Séamus O'Connor, principal of Scoil Bhríde, in Crosshaven, Co Cork, said his school has had two teachers and a SNA who tested positive for Covid-19.
A teacher who was not identified as a close contact by the public-health team sought independent advice and tested positive.
“The staff member sought advice on testing from their GP and was referred for testing,” said O’Connor. “If they didn’t get tested they would have walked into school asymptomatically carrying Covid.”
In some cases the teacher can be ruled out as a close contact because they are wearing a mask, but principals believe this is out of sync with advice around personal protective equipment.
A spokesperson for the HSE said that the mask was only one of the factors the public-health team considered when making a risk assessment, and they also gathered information from the principal.
“Masks are a part of the preventive armament but not the only one or the most important; and a combination of factors are considered when assessing who needs to be tested.”
Another issue fuelling anxiety around schools is the delay in receiving notification from the HSE once a positive case has been reported in the school community.
More than 15 per cent of principals who participated in the survey from the National Principals’ Forum reported that they were waiting over four days on communication from the HSE.
"They were left in that terrible position where their hands were tied with GDPR and confidentiality," said Angela Dunne, principal of Loughmore national school, Co Tipperary, and a member of the forum.
Dunne reports that many principals have reported significant decrease in attendance in schools when communication isn’t prompt.
“The school would have written to [parents] to say the HSE would be in touch about close contacts, but parents didn’t hear anything from the HSE. They decided to keep their child out because they didn’t feel that it was safe,” said Dunne.
Lewis said lack of swift communication with schools over Covid-19 cases can cause huge uncertainty.
“You’re in this sort of limbo period where you are waiting for instruction,” said Lewis. “Then you have the fear of the hysteria that comes from people wondering why the school are not doing anything.”
The HSE that a rise in overall cases in the community had had an impact on its response time to schools last month and acknowledged the need for a “swifter reaction”.
Along with increasing the number of school support teams – aimed at speeding up contact with schools – the HSE has introduced a text-messaging service for parents in cases where their child may be listed as a close contact. There are also weekly briefings with education partners.
The measures have been cautiously welcomed by school leaders – though some still believe there are many variables not being considered in relation to contact tracing in schools.
Unions such as the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) have warned that they are prepared to take industrial action unless they can be confident that schools remain safe.
"We need much more progress in order to get to the point where teachers believe that the safety of students and teachers is being prioritised during this pandemic," said ASTI president Anne Piggott.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--The Secret Teacher: How pupils feel back in school may surprise

“ I ’ m loving school ” , says Anna .
“ And , until now I have always really @ @ @ @ @ ” she added .
Over the past few weeks she has been truly thriving – @ @ @ @ @ time in her secondary school years .
The longer the restrictions continue , the more @ @ @ @ @

“I’ve been using my lunchtime supervision to ask students how they feel about being back in school. Their answers are very enlightening.” Photograph: iStock
“I’m loving school”, says Anna. “And, until now I have always really, really hated it,” she added.
Over the past few weeks she has been truly thriving – and for the very first time in her secondary school years. The longer the restrictions continue, the more progress Anna will make.
She has OCD and this has blighted her at every attempt to be a normal carefree teenager. While we all rigidly adhere to restrictions, the world around Anna finally functions in a way that she has always longed for. Over a number of years her condition had crippled her into a visibly anxious state, from which she is now unwinding rapidly. For Anna there is now so little to be anxious about. She is relaxed in her communication and participates enthusiastically at a time when I am grateful for any input I can get. We are all finally dancing to a tune that Anna has been hearing for years.
Schools are safe. Full stop. End of story. No open and transparent dialogue of any opposing views allowed. Worse even, evidence that they might not be safe is reported belatedly. Parents have even had to resort to establishing an online community to transmit official information about where the virus has been detected in schools. A membership of nigh-on 120,000 at the end of October strongly indicates a hunger for factual details. And rightly so. It only makes sense that people want to know exactly where this virus is presenting itself.
READ MORE
Survey needed
Students are better off back at school; it is essential for their mental health. That’s what everyone is saying and what everyone is telling them. While I’m not suggesting that isn’t correct, the fact that we are well into our second half-term means it’s time we asked the students for their views.
I’ve been using my breaktime and lunchtime supervision to do so and it’s proving very enlightening, even informally and on a small scale. Imagine what we would learn by formalising a check-in with students via some national gathering of data. Or would that constitute more openness than we are comfortable with? It might even mean we have to talk about what being back at school is like.
John tells me he has been allocated a very poor seat in class. There is no moving around, swapping or exchanging, so he spends his whole school week in a seat from which he actively struggles to see the board. He’s an excellent student who really wants to see it.
Rob is in the same class right up the front, where he spends his time trying to hide the fact that he’s on his phone. John is as distracted by Rob’s antics as he is envious of Rob’s seat. Both students are massively frustrated and would be happier if they could just swap seats. As a diligent student John is doing his best to engage despite the limited visibility, whereas Rob would be likely to switch off entirely if given the opportunity. I didn’t share this thinking with John – he needed me to listen and so that’s what I did. As a result of what he shared I’m more sensitive to the seats our individual students spend their days in, and whether they are thriving in them or not.
Frank says he can’t get a grip on time management. He recognises the benefits of being back but says he finds himself exhausted after a school day. “I’m totally out of my depth, and the more things accumulate the harder it is to know where to start,” he says.
Stooped backs
Doing any additional work after school feels impossible, and the fact that different teachers have varying approaches to checking work makes it easy to skip work in some subjects. Motivation is a challenge for Frank anyway, so he knows he is cutting corners and getting away with it. This will come at a price in the long term, but not doing everything and getting away with it is a helpful strategy for Frank during his current struggle.
Backache is a problem for students who no longer have lockers and who don’t dare (or aren’t allowed) to leave some books at home. No student volunteered the backache information – seeing the bags and the awkward gait under them meant I specifically asked about it. In a couple of cases, students who live nearby and can go home for lunch said that even the weight of a half-day bag can be a problem. That is very alarming.
And imagine the additional frustration of bringing a book only for it not to be used in class. As teachers, we need to engage in a whole new level of thinking around the physical demands we place on our students for as long as Covid impacts on teaching and learning.
Anna’s experience offers one of the best lessons on perspective I have ever learned. She told me that she hated my class more than anyone else’s because of how much pair work and group work I do – the very reasons other students have given me for loving my classes.
Similar learning opportunities are available in all of our schools if only we were open to truly exploring them. Schools have successfully reopened and have remained open even now that the country is at Level 5. It feels safe enough to ask everyone how they feel about being in school now. Schools won’t close in the morning just because we all say what it’s really like there. What we say might even surprise you.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--My daughter hasn’t a clue what she wants to do after school

My daughter is in transition year and seems to have lost all motivation and focus on schoolwork .
She has no idea what subjects she should select for her Leaving Cert , quite apart from what she might aim to do after she leaves school .
Have you any advice on how we could motivate her ?
Your daughter is not unusual for her age .
The transition year programme is very much aimed at personal development and the lack of focus on Leaving Cert subjects or career aspirations should not give rise to concern at this early stage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s guidance counsellor has scheduled aptitude tests and an interest inventory into their transition year programme after Christmas .
These online tests give you , your daughter , her teachers and guidance counsellor a very clear picture of her aptitudes and interests to facilitate her subject choices in the current year and , following a further series of tests midway through her two-year Leaving Cert programme , help guide her in her third-level and other options .
Your daughter can access a variety of websites to explore her options .
Careersportal.ie has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” section which helps students identify the kind of careers which match their interests , and also what courses are available .
Qualifax.ie also has a similar “ interest assessment ” section .
Another service widely used in hundreds of Irish schools is MyFutureChoice.com .
It specialises in aptitude and interest tests to assist students make relevant choices throughout their second-level journey .
If your daughter ’ s school does not offer these tests they can be undertaken independently under parental supervision and completed online from home .
The results can then be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s guidance counsellor at their next one-to-one meeting in school .
For a student in transition year , two of the products listed are useful , “ my aptitude ” and “ eirquest ” , which produces an interest profile based on dozens of questions .
Midway through the Leaving Cert programme , the “ my uni choices ” section is useful in identifying suitable college courses in Ireland , the UK , Europe and beyond .
All these websites contain a variety of high-quality information to support the research which students need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ informed career-related decisions .
They are just the ones I am familiar with – there are other highly reputable tools used by other guidance counsellors .
I am certain that as this academic year progresses , your daughter ’ s school will advise you as to how they will support her in making the key choices which will take her on to the final stage of her second-level journey .
In the meantime , I hope – Covid-19 permitting – she gets a chance to enjoy the freedom which transition year offers .

Transition year is aimed at personal development and a lack of focus on Leaving Cert subjects or career aspirations should not give rise to concern.
My daughter is in transition year and seems to have lost all motivation and focus on schoolwork. She has no idea what subjects she should select for her Leaving Cert, quite apart from what she might aim to do after she leaves school. Have you any advice on how we could motivate her?
Your daughter is not unusual for her age. The transition year programme is very much aimed at personal development and the lack of focus on Leaving Cert subjects or career aspirations should not give rise to concern at this early stage .
You will probably find that your school’s guidance counsellor has scheduled aptitude tests and an interest inventory into their transition year programme after Christmas.
These online tests give you, your daughter, her teachers and guidance counsellor a very clear picture of her aptitudes and interests to facilitate her subject choices in the current year and, following a further series of tests midway through her two-year Leaving Cert programme, help guide her in her third-level and other options.
READ MORE
Your daughter can access a variety of websites to explore her options.
Careersportal.ie has a free and accessible "career self-assessment" section which helps students identify the kind of careers which match their interests, and also what courses are available. Qualifax.ie also has a similar "interest assessment" section. Another service widely used in hundreds of Irish schools is MyFutureChoice.com.
It specialises in aptitude and interest tests to assist students make relevant choices throughout their second-level journey. If your daughter’s school does not offer these tests they can be undertaken independently under parental supervision and completed online from home. The results can then be printed and shown to the student’s guidance counsellor at their next one-to-one meeting in school.
For a student in transition year, two of the products listed are useful, "my aptitude" and "eirquest", which produces an interest profile based on dozens of questions. Midway through the Leaving Cert programme, the "my uni choices" section is useful in identifying suitable college courses in Ireland, the UK, Europe and beyond.
All these websites contain a variety of high-quality information to support the research which students need to undertake if they are to make informed career-related decisions. They are just the ones I am familiar with – there are other highly reputable tools used by other guidance counsellors.
I am certain that as this academic year progresses, your daughter’s school will advise you as to how they will support her in making the key choices which will take her on to the final stage of her second-level journey. In the meantime, I hope – Covid-19 permitting – she gets a chance to enjoy the freedom which transition year offers.
Email queries to askbrian@irishtimes.com


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Over 30 dogs worth estimated total of €150,000 seized in north Dublin

Gardaí have seized 32 dogs and four horses during an operation targeting illegal puppy farms and other criminal activity in @ @ @ @ @ were seized during a number of planned searches in the Baldoyle area on Monday .
@ @ @ @ @ Garda units from the Divisional Crime Task Force based in Santry , with support from @ @ @ @ @ several animal rescue organisations .
The dog breeds seized included Jack Russells , pugs and @ @ @ @ @ were found to be pregnant .
All of the animals were taken into the care @ @ @ @ @ In a statement , a Garda spokesman said there had been no arrests following the @ @ @ @ @ value of the dogs seized , if they had been sold on , was estimated @ @ @ @ @ , the spokesman said .
It is understood the figure would also include the estimated @ @ @ @ @ puppies from several of the animals that were pregnant .

Gardaí have seized 32 dogs and four horses during an operation targeting illegal puppy farms and other criminal activity in north Dublin.
The animals were seized during a number of planned searches in the Baldoyle area on Monday.
The operation was led by Garda units from the Divisional Crime Task Force based in Santry, with support from local gardaí and staff from several animal rescue organisations.
Some of the dogs recovered in north Dublin by gardaí. Photograph: An Garda Síochána/Facebook
The dog breeds seized included Jack Russells, pugs and chihuahuas, six of which were found to be pregnant. All of the animals were taken into the care of animal rescue organisations.
READ MORE
In a statement, a Garda spokesman said there had been no arrests following the planned searches. The potential value of the dogs seized, if they had been sold on, was estimated to be more than €150,000, the spokesman said.
It is understood the figure would also include the estimated sale value of the unborn puppies from several of the animals that were pregnant.


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Plans for 853 Dublin homes collapse after councillors refuse to approve deal

Plans to build more than 850 homes on one of the largest sites owned by Dublin City Council have collapsed following the refusal of councillors to approve a deal with developer Glenveagh Homes .
Councillors voted 48 to 14 against the plan to sell the site at Oscar Traynor Road in Santry , just east of the entrance to the Dublin Port Tunnel , despite warnings from the council ’ s head of housing Brendan Kenny that the project would “ have to be abandoned ” if they did so .
Most Fine Gael councillors , and a small number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least one from Fianna Fáil , had voted in favour of the plan .
Councillors agreed a Labour motion that the site should be developed directly by the council for public housing .
The deal would have seen 853 homes built on the site , 428 of which would have been sold privately by Glenveagh .
A total of 253 would be bought by the council for social housing and 172 would be sold to low and middle income workers qualifying for the upcoming affordable purchase scheme .
In 2017 , after two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Housing , 53 of the 63 city councillors approved plans to sell lands at O ’ Devaney Gardens , St Michael ’ s Estate and Oscar Traynor Road for the development of housing .
Under the agreement , 50 per cent of the homes would be private , 30 per cent social and 20 per cent affordable housing .
St Michael ’ s Estate in Inchicore has been designated for the city ’ s first cost rental project for low- and middle-income workers .
Last year councillors ratified a deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes on the site of O ’ Devaney Gardens close to the Phoenix Park in Dublin 7 .
However , a substantial number of councillors opposed the O ’ Devaney deal , with considerable disquiet over the large number of private homes proposed .
The deal was approved after Bartra offered to sell a percentage of the homes to the council for a cost rental scheme .
Mr Kenny on Monday night told councillors Glenveagh had indicated a willingness to sell “ 50 per cent or more ” of the private homes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a cost rental scheme .
The 853 homes were “ badly needed ” Mr Kenny said , particularly the social homes , with the area having the highest social housing waiting list in the State .
The opportunity for affordable housing “ would also be lost ” .
“ A huge amount of effort , time and finance has been put into bringing this major project to the stage it ’ s at now , ” he said .
“ I think it would be highly disappointing and frustrating if this very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be killed off tonight , which seems to be the case.
” It could be up to eight years before the opportunity to develop the site would arise again , Mr Kenny said , adding the council ’ s credibility with developers would be “ severely dented .
”

The development was proposed for Oscar Traynor Road in Santry, just east of the entrance to the Dublin Port Tunnel. File photograph: Alan Betson
Plans to build more than 850 homes on one of the largest sites owned by Dublin City Council have collapsed following the refusal of councillors to approve a deal with developer Glenveagh Homes.
Councillors voted 48 to 14 against the plan to sell the site at Oscar Traynor Road in Santry, just east of the entrance to the Dublin Port Tunnel, despite warnings from the council's head of housing Brendan Kenny that the project would "have to be abandoned" if they did so.
Most Fine Gael councillors, and a small number of councillors of other parties including at least one from Fianna Fáil, had voted in favour of the plan.
Councillors agreed a Labour motion that the site should be developed directly by the council for public housing.
READ MORE
The deal would have seen 853 homes built on the site, 428 of which would have been sold privately by Glenveagh. A total of 253 would be bought by the council for social housing and 172 would be sold to low and middle income workers qualifying for the upcoming affordable purchase scheme.
In 2017, after two years of negotiations with council officials and the Department of Housing, 53 of the 63 city councillors approved plans to sell lands at O’Devaney Gardens, St Michael’s Estate and Oscar Traynor Road for the development of housing. Under the agreement, 50 per cent of the homes would be private, 30 per cent social and 20 per cent affordable housing.
St Michael's Estate in Inchicore has been designated for the city's first cost rental project for low- and middle-income workers. Last year councillors ratified a deal with developer Bartra for more than 800 homes on the site of O'Devaney Gardens close to the Phoenix Park in Dublin 7.
However, a substantial number of councillors opposed the O’Devaney deal, with considerable disquiet over the large number of private homes proposed. The deal was approved after Bartra offered to sell a percentage of the homes to the council for a cost rental scheme.
Mr Kenny on Monday night told councillors Glenveagh had indicated a willingness to sell “50 per cent or more” of the private homes on the Oscar Traynor site to the council for a cost rental scheme.
The 853 homes were “badly needed” Mr Kenny said, particularly the social homes, with the area having the highest social housing waiting list in the State.
The opportunity for affordable housing “would also be lost”.
“A huge amount of effort, time and finance has been put into bringing this major project to the stage it’s at now,” he said. “I think it would be highly disappointing and frustrating if this very important project at this advanced stage could be killed off tonight, which seems to be the case.”
It could be up to eight years before the opportunity to develop the site would arise again, Mr Kenny said, adding the council’s credibility with developers would be “severely dented.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Any ban of takeaway drink sales would be ‘tightening of screw’

A ban on the sale of takeaway alcohol from pubs “ would be one more tightening of the screw ” for the industry , the Vintners ’ Federation of Ireland has said .
Brian Foley , communications and public affairs manager spokesman for the group which represents publicans outside the capital , said any such move would be a “ big issue ” for publicans .
“ The right of pubs to sell off-licence products is part of primary legislation , ” he said .
“ It would be a big move to try and ban pubs from selling off-licence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sales ?
What is the difference between a pub selling off-licence products and an actual off-licence selling it ?
How do they differentiate between the two ?
” Mr Foley said although only a minority of pubs were serving takeaway drinks – which is currently permitted under Level-5 restrictions – it was allowing the businesses to keep “ ticking over ” .
“ But we are waiting to see what the Government will say .
They need to come out quickly and clarify what they are planning.
” He was speaking after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Cabinet on Tuesday to restrict takeaway sales from pubs for the remainder of the Level-5 lockdown .
Some pubs have been selling takeaway pints and cocktails , which has given rise to on-street drinking by groups of people .
Under licensing regulations , these drinks can not be consumed within 100m of the premises that sold them .
Footage of groups gathering with drinks in Dublin city centre at the weekend was circulated widely , raising public concern .
The Garda said it attended Dublin ’ s South William Street and surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video was shot – and “ requested all persons to disperse ” .
“ No breaches of regulations are being investigated at this time as all persons present at the scene came into compliance with the regulations , ” a Garda spokesman said .
Earlier this year , the Licensed Vintners ’ Association ( LVA ) , representing the Dublin pub industry , wrote to the Government saying on-street drinking should be banned and that it would not oppose any move to end takeaway sales .
Meanwhile a member of the Government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the group would have “ problems ” with any proposal to open pubs at Christmas and that travel advice should not change in December .
As the Government prepares to review the current restrictions four weeks into the six-week lockdown , Dr Mary Favier , a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) , warned against reopening pubs and suggested that the current travel restrictions should not change .
Dr Favier told RTÉ on Monday that the pandemic had “ unmasked some difficulties we have .
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and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alcohol as was evidenced by the drinking scenes on the streets ” .
Asked about reports that some members of Government favour a two-week window for opening pubs over Christmas , Dr Favier said : “ I think we ’ ve got problems with that if we ’ re going by the current circumstances.
” Asked about travel restrictions , Dr Favier suggested that Nphet would seek to have the existing guidelines on travel maintained in December .
“ I think the restrictions on travel are appropriate now and unfortunately they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ time over the Christmas period .
The virus doesn ’ t know the boundaries of a festive season , ” she said .
Drinks Ireland , which represents drinks suppliers and manufacturers across the country , said on Monday pubs should be given the opportunity to reopen safely at the start of December .
Chief executive Patricia Callan urged the Government to base decisions on reopening the sector “ fairly and based on evidence , research and data ” .

A ban on the sale of takeaway alcohol from pubs “would be one more tightening of the screw” for the industry, the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland has said.
Brian Foley, communications and public affairs manager spokesman for the group which represents publicans outside the capital, said any such move would be a “big issue” for publicans.
“The right of pubs to sell off-licence products is part of primary legislation,” he said.
“It would be a big move to try and ban pubs from selling off-licence products. Will they ban all off-licence sales? What is the difference between a pub selling off-licence products and an actual off-licence selling it? How do they differentiate between the two?”
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Mr Foley said although only a minority of pubs were serving takeaway drinks – which is currently permitted under Level-5 restrictions – it was allowing the businesses to keep “ticking over”.
“But we are waiting to see what the Government will say. They need to come out quickly and clarify what they are planning.”
He was speaking after the Government signalled that proposals would be brought to Cabinet on Tuesday to restrict takeaway sales from pubs for the remainder of the Level-5 lockdown.
Street drinking
Some pubs have been selling takeaway pints and cocktails, which has given rise to on-street drinking by groups of people. Under licensing regulations, these drinks cannot be consumed within 100m of the premises that sold them.
Footage of groups gathering with drinks in Dublin city centre at the weekend was circulated widely, raising public concern.
The Garda said it attended Dublin’s South William Street and surrounding area on Saturday evening – where the video was shot – and “requested all persons to disperse”.
“No breaches of regulations are being investigated at this time as all persons present at the scene came into compliance with the regulations,” a Garda spokesman said.
Earlier this year, the Licensed Vintners’ Association (LVA), representing the Dublin pub industry, wrote to the Government saying on-street drinking should be banned and that it would not oppose any move to end takeaway sales.
Meanwhile a member of the Government’s public health advisory body has said the group would have “problems” with any proposal to open pubs at Christmas and that travel advice should not change in December.
Travel restrictions
As the Government prepares to review the current restrictions four weeks into the six-week lockdown, Dr Mary Favier, a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), warned against reopening pubs and suggested that the current travel restrictions should not change.
Dr Favier told RTÉ on Monday that the pandemic had “unmasked some difficulties we have . . . and one of those is our relationship with alcohol as was evidenced by the drinking scenes on the streets”.
Asked about reports that some members of Government favour a two-week window for opening pubs over Christmas, Dr Favier said: “I think we’ve got problems with that if we’re going by the current circumstances.”
Asked about travel restrictions, Dr Favier suggested that Nphet would seek to have the existing guidelines on travel maintained in December.
“I think the restrictions on travel are appropriate now and unfortunately they’re going to be appropriate in five/six weeks’ time over the Christmas period. The virus doesn’t know the boundaries of a festive season,” she said.
Drinks Ireland, which represents drinks suppliers and manufacturers across the country, said on Monday pubs should be given the opportunity to reopen safely at the start of December.
Chief executive Patricia Callan urged the Government to base decisions on reopening the sector “fairly and based on evidence, research and data”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Forestry jobs lost and more at risk due to ‘crisis’ in sector - Coillte

A “ crisis ” in the forestry sector has cost jobs and more are at risk , semi-State company Coillte will warn TDs and Senators on Tuesday .
In her opening statement at the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee , Coillte chief executive Imelda Hurley will warn that a backlog in appeals for felling licences has “ seriously challenged the sector through this year ” .
“ Right now , timber supply is at critically low levels , so low that jobs have already been lost , with many more still under threat , ” she will tell the committee .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to improve the situation is “ important ” , it is not sufficient by itself to solve the issue .
The Department of Agriculture ’ s Forestry Appeals Committee was reported to have a backlog of more than 400 cases earlier this year , but it is only working through them at a rate of around 20 per month .
Coillte will also tell the committee the rate at which new licences are being issues , and forestry roads permitted , is also an issue .
Ms Hurley will tell the committee that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the year , as well as its “ annual contract ” which accounts for half the timber it sells to sawmills in a given year .
Coillte is “ doing everything we can ” to keep timber supply chains functioning , but the committee will hear that “ we are doing this with very significant difficulty and are operating on a very short term basis ” .
She will say Coillte only has 16 per cent of its timber licenced for next year , a process which must be fully completed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In order to achieve this , the current licencing rate needs to almost triple , ” she will say .
The hearing rate for the appeals , which affect approximately 700,000 cubic metres of Coillte forestry licences , “ is still currently not sufficient to clear the backlog… within what we consider to be the required timeframe for our industry to function normally ” .
Ms Hurley will also call for a “ complete root and branch review of forestry regulation ” , and will tell the committee “ it is critical that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to restore confidence in Irish Forestry ” .

Coillte chief executive Imelda Hurley will warn TDs and Senators on Tuesday that a backlog in appeals for forestry felling licences has ‘seriously challenged the sector through this year’. File photograph: Getty Images.
A "crisis" in the forestry sector has cost jobs and more are at risk, semi-State company Coillte will warn TDs and Senators on Tuesday.
In her opening statement at the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, Coillte chief executive Imelda Hurley will warn that a backlog in appeals for felling licences has "seriously challenged the sector through this year".
“Right now, timber supply is at critically low levels, so low that jobs have already been lost, with many more still under threat,” she will tell the committee.
While she will say that new legislation designed to improve the situation is “important”, it is not sufficient by itself to solve the issue.
READ MORE
The Department of Agriculture's Forestry Appeals Committee was reported to have a backlog of more than 400 cases earlier this year, but it is only working through them at a rate of around 20 per month.
Coillte will also tell the committee the rate at which new licences are being issues, and forestry roads permitted, is also an issue.
Auctions cancelled
Ms Hurley will tell the committee that Coillte has had to cancel timber auctions throughout the year, as well as its “annual contract” which accounts for half the timber it sells to sawmills in a given year.
Coillte is “doing everything we can” to keep timber supply chains functioning, but the committee will hear that “we are doing this with very significant difficulty and are operating on a very short term basis”.
She will say Coillte only has 16 per cent of its timber licenced for next year, a process which must be fully completed by the end of this year.
“In order to achieve this, the current licencing rate needs to almost triple,” she will say.
The hearing rate for the appeals, which affect approximately 700,000 cubic metres of Coillte forestry licences, “is still currently not sufficient to clear the backlog… within what we consider to be the required timeframe for our industry to function normally”.
Ms Hurley will also call for a “complete root and branch review of forestry regulation”, and will tell the committee “it is critical that the building blocks are put in place to restore confidence in Irish Forestry”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--More than 1,000 students sit first exam of traditional Leaving Cert

More than 1,000 students sat the first examination of the traditional Leaving Certificate this year , taking the biology paper on Monday .
In May the Government moved to postpone the State examinations because of Covid-19 .
The Department of Education instead introduced a calculated grades system where students received results based on estimated grades from their teachers , subject to a standardisation process .
About 2,800 students who were unhappy with their estimated grades opted to undertake the exams , beginning with biology on Monday evening .
The majority of students have opted to sit the exams in one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combine any improved results with their calculated grades in other subjects .
Michael Cregan , principal of Laurel Hill secondary school in Co Limerick , and president of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals , said he was “ happy enough ” with the logistics of the postponed exams .
“ A lot of the kids [ sitting the exam ] are looking for higher points .
They ’ re at the high end of it by and large , ” he said .
Meanwhile , ASTI ’ s spokeswoman on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the exams this year were a “ completely new scenario for everyone ” but that the students have shown they are “ really resilient ” .
“ It ’ s totally different but everyone got on with it .
It shows that trust in the traditional system .
The work was done and these students have confidence in the work they did , whether that was in the classroom or through distant learning.
” She welcomed the students opting to take the written exams because she believes it is a very “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And sitting your exams is a milestone .
Schools coped very well , teachers coped very well , students coped very well .
I think we ’ ve a lot to be proud of.
” Some 879 students are taking the written exam in just one subject , with 630 taking two subjects , and 449 students sitting exams in three subjects .
Some 88 students are sitting the exams in seven subjects , with 24 students taking exams in eight or more subjects , according to the State Examinations Commission .

More than 1,000 students sat the first examination of the traditional Leaving Certificate this year, taking the biology paper on Monday.
In May the Government moved to postpone the State examinations because of Covid-19. The Department of Education instead introduced a calculated grades system where students received results based on estimated grades from their teachers, subject to a standardisation process.
About 2,800 students who were unhappy with their estimated grades opted to undertake the exams, beginning with biology on Monday evening.
The majority of students have opted to sit the exams in one or two subjects, and can then combine any improved results with their calculated grades in other subjects.
READ MORE
Michael Cregan, principal of Laurel Hill secondary school in Co Limerick, and president of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, said he was "happy enough" with the logistics of the postponed exams.
“A lot of the kids [sitting the exam] are looking for higher points. They’re at the high end of it by and large,” he said.
Meanwhile, ASTI's spokeswoman on Leaving Cert biology, Lily Cronin, said the exams this year were a "completely new scenario for everyone" but that the students have shown they are "really resilient".
“It’s totally different but everyone got on with it. It shows that trust in the traditional system. The work was done and these students have confidence in the work they did, whether that was in the classroom or through distant learning.”
Transparent
She welcomed the students opting to take the written exams because she believes it is a very “fair, transparent” system.
“And sitting your exams is a milestone. Schools coped very well, teachers coped very well, students coped very well. I think we’ve a lot to be proud of.”
Some 879 students are taking the written exam in just one subject, with 630 taking two subjects, and 449 students sitting exams in three subjects.
Some 88 students are sitting the exams in seven subjects, with 24 students taking exams in eight or more subjects, according to the State Examinations Commission.


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Doctors central to Covid-19 response begin balloting for strike action

Any proposals for upgraded contracts with higher salaries for public health specialists will have be considered in the context of wider public service pay policy , the Department of Public Expenditure has said .
The comments came as public health specialists , who play a key role in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic , began balloting for strike action over pay .
The department also said that while the Government had considered changes to existing legislation , which would effectively get around existing restictions on public service pay rises and facilitate talks on new contracts for specialist doctors , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be introduced .
Public health specialists , who are represented by the Irish Medical Organisation ( IMO ) , have been campaigning for some time for the field to become a consultant-led service and for specialists to be awarded consultant contracts “ to reflect their expertise ” .
Public health specialists earn about € 113,000 a year .
Hospital consultants with a type-A contract – which permits them to treat only public patients – have a pay scale that ranges from €141,026 to €195,653 .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health model .
The Department of Health and the HSE are currently drawing up a business case for consultant posts in public health , which is expected to be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure in the coming days .
However , the Department of Public Expenditure on Monday appeared to signal an unease with a standalone initiative for public health doctors .
It is currently engaged in preliminary talks with the broader public service trade union movement on the potential for a successor to the current pay accord , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the year .
The public health doctors are concerned that Government proposals may not see all existing specialists automatically upgraded to consultant positions and instead having to compete for posts as they came on stream .
They are also angry at what they perceive to be delays on the part of the Government in introducing the new public health model .
The IMO said it had received no proposals from the Department of Health and the current talks process on reforms of the public health medicine system had broken down .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not prepared to deal with this matter in an equitable way thus forcing doctors to this position where the very future of our specialty is at stake , ” it said .
“ Consultant status and contracts are essential if public health medicine as a specialty in this country is going to survive and improve .
It is essential to both the recruitment and retention of our highly qualified public health doctors.
” The Department of Public Expenditure said in a statement : “ The Government has considered amendments to existing legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Sláintecare Consultant Contract .
This legislative reform is being advanced by the Department in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General .
“ We understand the Department of Health are giving consideration to reforms of the speciality and the future role and career structures of public health doctors .
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has not yet received proposals from the Department of Health .
As with any cohort of public servants , any proposals regarding public health doctors would fall to be considered in the context ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Public health specialists, who have played a key role in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, have started balloting for strike action over pay. Image: iStock.
Industry Correspondent
Any proposals for upgraded contracts with higher salaries for public health specialists will have be considered in the context of wider public service pay policy, the Department of Public Expenditure has said.
The comments came as public health specialists, who play a key role in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, began balloting for strike action over pay.
The department also said that while the Government had considered changes to existing legislation, which would effectively get around existing restictions on public service pay rises and facilitate talks on new contracts for specialist doctors, no date had yet been set for this to be introduced.
READ MORE
Public health specialists, who are represented by the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), have been campaigning for some time for the field to become a consultant-led service and for specialists to be awarded consultant contracts "to reflect their expertise".
Public health specialists earn about € 113,000 a year. Hospital consultants with a type-A contract – which permits them to treat only public patients – have a pay scale that ranges from €141,026 to €195,653.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said he is committed to establishing a consultant-led public health model.
The Department of Health and the HSE are currently drawing up a business case for consultant posts in public health, which is expected to be submitted to the Department of Public Expenditure in the coming days.
Unease
However, the Department of Public Expenditure on Monday appeared to signal an unease with a standalone initiative for public health doctors. It is currently engaged in preliminary talks with the broader public service trade union movement on the potential for a successor to the current pay accord, which is scheduled to expire at the end of the year.
The public health doctors are concerned that Government proposals may not see all existing specialists automatically upgraded to consultant positions and instead having to compete for posts as they came on stream.
They are also angry at what they perceive to be delays on the part of the Government in introducing the new public health model.
The IMO said it had received no proposals from the Department of Health and the current talks process on reforms of the public health medicine system had broken down.
“It is clear to us that Government are not prepared to deal with this matter in an equitable way thus forcing doctors to this position where the very future of our specialty is at stake,” it said.
‘Survive and improve’
“Consultant status and contracts are essential if public health medicine as a specialty in this country is going to survive and improve. It is essential to both the recruitment and retention of our highly qualified public health doctors.”
The Department of Public Expenditure said in a statement: “The Government has considered amendments to existing legislation that will enable progress on the implementation of the Sláintecare Consultant Contract. This legislative reform is being advanced by the Department in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General.
"We understand the Department of Health are giving consideration to reforms of the speciality and the future role and career structures of public health doctors. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has not yet received proposals from the Department of Health. As with any cohort of public servants, any proposals regarding public health doctors would fall to be considered in the context (of) wider public service pay policy."


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Number receiving pandemic unemployment payment rises by 7,500

The number of people receiving the Government ’ s pandemic unemployment payment ( PUP ) has increased by 7,500 over the last week to 350,000 .
The Department of Social Protection said on Monday that the 350,072 people currently receiving the payment were in addition to the 203,172 reported as being on the Live Register as of the end of October .
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said that while the number of people receiving the payment had increased again this week , it was “ heartening to see the rate of increase reduce ” .
“ The overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first period of Level 5 restrictions in March and April , ” she said .
“ This reflects the fact that a wider range of sectors have been able to continue trading , such as in construction and manufacturing .
“ However , the number of people in receipt of pandemic unemployment payments remains high , demonstrating why it was so important to keep pandemic unemployment payments open to new entrants.
” Ms Humphreys said she wanted to remind those who were self-employed that they could earn up to €480 per month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Minister also said that under new regulations announced recently , the reference period used to assess a person ’ s PUP entitlement based on their prior earnings has been extended to the end of September last .
She said this and other measures introduced would result in some 37,400 PUP recipients receiving an increase in their payments .
“ A person ’ s prior weekly earnings will now be assessed based on 2019 , January to February 2020 and January to September 2020 .
In order to be as fair as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ payment payment rate will be set by reference to the highest of these three amounts , ” she said .
There are currently four rates of PUP available : – Those with prior gross weekly earnings below €200 receive a rate of €203 per week ; – Those with prior gross weekly earnings of €200 to €299.99 receive €250 per week ; – Those with prior gross weekly earnings of €300 to €399.99 receive €300 per week , and – Those with prior gross weekly earnings of €400 or more receive a rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Social Protection said the number of people receiving the maximum payment rate of €350 this week is 160,115 , some 46 per cent of the total number of recipients .
It said 18 per cent of claimants were receiving the €300 rate , 18 per cent were receiving the €250 rate and 18 per cent were receiving the €203 rate .

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys is seen at Leinster House, Kildare Street, Dublin, last week. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
The number of people receiving the Government’s pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) has increased by 7,500 over the last week to 350,000.
The Department of Social Protection said on Monday that the 350,072 people currently receiving the payment were in addition to the 203,172 reported as being on the Live Register as of the end of October.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said that while the number of people receiving the payment had increased again this week, it was " heartening to see the rate of increase reduce".
“The overall number is also much smaller than during the first period of Level 5 restrictions in March and April,” she said.
READ MORE
“This reflects the fact that a wider range of sectors have been able to continue trading, such as in construction and manufacturing.
“However, the number of people in receipt of pandemic unemployment payments remains high, demonstrating why it was so important to keep pandemic unemployment payments open to new entrants.”
Ms Humphreys said she wanted to remind those who were self-employed that they could earn up to €480 per month and continue to claim pandemic unemployment payments.
The Minister also said that under new regulations announced recently, the reference period used to assess a person’s PUP entitlement based on their prior earnings has been extended to the end of September last. She said this and other measures introduced would result in some 37,400 PUP recipients receiving an increase in their payments.
“A person’s prior weekly earnings will now be assessed based on 2019, January to February 2020 and January to September 2020. In order to be as fair as possible to people, the pandemic unemployment payment payment rate will be set by reference to the highest of these three amounts,” she said.
Different rates
There are currently four rates of PUP available:
– Those with prior gross weekly earnings below €200 receive a rate of €203 per week;
– Those with prior gross weekly earnings of €200 to €299.99 receive €250 per week;
– Those with prior gross weekly earnings of €300 to €399.99 receive €300 per week, and
– Those with prior gross weekly earnings of €400 or more receive a rate of €350 per week.
The Department of Social Protection said the number of people receiving the maximum payment rate of €350 this week is 160,115, some 46 per cent of the total number of recipients. It said 18 per cent of claimants were receiving the €300 rate, 18 per cent were receiving the €250 rate and 18 per cent were receiving the €203 rate.


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Dáil to vote on appointment of Geraldine Feeney to Sipo

The Dáil is set to vote without a debate on Tuesday on the appointment of former lobbyist Geraldine Feeney as a member of the Standards in Public Office Commission ( Sipo ) .
Ms Feeney , who is an ex-Fianna Fáil Senator , acted as a lobbyist for the National Association of General Practitioners ( NAGP ) .
The president of the doctor ’ s group , Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail , received a leaked document on a pay deal struck with a rival organisation from then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in April 2019 .
Mr Varadkar ’ s actions are the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposition has questioned Ms Feeney ’ s appointment when it emerged the Cabinet had approved the move last week .
One of the two vacant roles being filled on Sipo must be filled by a former Oireachtas member - Ms Feeney served in the Seanad from 2002 to 2011 .
Returns on the Lobbying.ie database , which is maintained by Sipo , show she lobbied on behalf of the NAGP on seven occasions in 2017 , including on the new GP contract which would ultimately be leaked to its president two years later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators , including Anne Rabbitte , now a Minister of State in the Department of Health , and the now-Taoiseach Micheál Martin .
She also arranged meetings with Finian McGrath when he was a minister of state in the Department of Health .
Last week , Sinn Féin ’ s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said Sipo would be adjudicating on complaints about Mr Varadkar ’ s conduct in relation to the GP contract , asking whether it was appropriate that Ms Feeney would be appointed to the body .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ question over whether someone who had worked as a lobbyist should be appointed to Sipo .
Speaking in the Dáil last week , Mr Varadkar said former politicians were appointed to Sipo “ to have somebody who has a working understanding of the work we do as politicians ” .
He said the role was previously filled by Jim O ’ Keeffe , the former Fine Gael TD .
The Tánaiste said he was unaware Ms Feeney had previously lobbied for the NAGP .
A Government spokesperson said last week Ms Feeney ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her experience as a public representative and her reputation for fairness and integrity , as well as her knowledge of regulatory affairs .

The Dáil is set to vote without a debate on Tuesday on the appointment of former lobbyist Geraldine Feeney as a member of the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo).
Ms Feeney, who is an ex-Fianna Fáil Senator, acted as a lobbyist for the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP).
The president of the doctor's group, Dr Maitiú Ó Tuathail, received a leaked document on a pay deal struck with a rival organisation from then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in April 2019.
Mr Varadkar's actions are the subject a complaint to Sipo. The opposition has questioned Ms Feeney's appointment when it emerged the Cabinet had approved the move last week. One of the two vacant roles being filled on Sipo must be filled by a former Oireachtas member - Ms Feeney served in the Seanad from 2002 to 2011.
READ MORE
Returns on the Lobbying.ie database, which is maintained by Sipo, show she lobbied on behalf of the NAGP on seven occasions in 2017, including on the new GP contract which would ultimately be leaked to its president two years later.
The lobbying was largely focused on Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators, including Anne Rabbitte, now a Minister of State in the Department of Health, and the now-Taoiseach Micheál Martin. She also arranged meetings with Finian McGrath when he was a minister of state in the Department of Health.
Last week, Sinn Féin's finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said Sipo would be adjudicating on complaints about Mr Varadkar's conduct in relation to the GP contract, asking whether it was appropriate that Ms Feeney would be appointed to the body. He also said there was a general question over whether someone who had worked as a lobbyist should be appointed to Sipo.
Speaking in the Dáil last week, Mr Varadkar said former politicians were appointed to Sipo "to have somebody who has a working understanding of the work we do as politicians". He said the role was previously filled by Jim O'Keeffe, the former Fine Gael TD.
The Tánaiste said he was unaware Ms Feeney had previously lobbied for the NAGP.
A Government spokesperson said last week Ms Feeney’s appointment had been made based on her experience as a public representative and her reputation for fairness and integrity, as well as her knowledge of regulatory affairs.


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Cecil Nolan, DJ of Grove social club on Dublin’s northside, dies

Cecil Nolan , the well-known DJ of the Grove social club on Dublin ’ s northside , has died .
Nolan was the DJ at the teen disco , known for playing alternative music , for the three decades of its existence .
The Grove opened in 1967 in the Belgrove Football Club in Clontarf , north Dublin , before moving to St Paul ’ s College , Raheny , in 1975 , and shutting in 1997 .
Nolan ( 81 ) died on Monday in St Francis Hospice , Raheny , where he had been moved in recent months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is survived by his sons Rob and Conor , brothers , sisters , and grandchildren .
In a statement on Rip.ie , his family said he would be “ very sadly missed ” by them , and “ all of The Grove family home and abroad.
” His family said due to the current Covid-19 restrictions a private family funeral service would take place in the coming days .
The Grove ran on Saturday and Sunday nights , later adding a Wednesday night disco during the school holidays .
In recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organised , with Cecil Nolan as a special guest .
Previously speaking about his time as DJ of the disco , Nolan said : “ I played whatever I wanted because I knew there was a market out there for it and if it failed , well I didn ’ t care , at least I was enjoying myself ” .

Cecil Nolan was the DJ at the teen disco, known for playing alternative music, for the three decades of its existence.
Cecil Nolan, the well-known DJ of the Grove social club on Dublin's northside, has died.
Nolan was the DJ at the teen disco, known for playing alternative music, for the three decades of its existence.
The Grove opened in 1967 in the Belgrove Football Club in Clontarf, north Dublin, before moving to St Paul's College, Raheny, in 1975, and shutting in 1997.
Nolan (81) died on Monday in St Francis Hospice, Raheny, where he had been moved in recent months following a stage four cancer diagnosis. He is survived by his sons Rob and Conor, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren.
READ MORE
In a statement on Rip.ie, his family said he would be “very sadly missed” by them, and “all of The Grove family home and abroad.”
His family said due to the current Covid-19 restrictions a private family funeral service would take place in the coming days.
The Grove ran on Saturday and Sunday nights, later adding a Wednesday night disco during the school holidays. In recent years a number of reunion nights have been organised, with Cecil Nolan as a special guest.
Previously speaking about his time as DJ of the disco, Nolan said: “I played whatever I wanted because I knew there was a market out there for it and if it failed, well I didn’t care, at least I was enjoying myself”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-16--Covid-19: Taoiseach says mass vaccinations unlikely before mid-2021

A significant rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is unlikely to happen before the middle of next year and priority will initially be given to protecting vulnerable groups and healthcare workers , Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said .
Mr Martin said much depends on how quickly the various vaccines under development get regulatory approval , but he was hopeful that Ireland would be in a position to begin mass vaccinations around in the middle of 2021 .
“ I think we would have the first significant rolling out of the vaccine towards the middle of next year , I would hope , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mr Martin told the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork ’ s Red FM .
“ It depends how fast they get through the clinical trial processes and crucially gets through the European Medicines Authority and through the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) in America and the WHO ( World Health Organisation ) and when they sanction these vaccines as safe.
” The Taoiseach said a mass vaccination programme would be necessary to combat Covid-19 and this would prove to be a huge logistical exercise , particularly given that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Pfizer and BioNTech needs to be stored at a temperature of minus 80 degrees .
He said the government had set up a taskforce to examine how best to get the vaccine or vaccines to as many people as possible as quickly as is feasible , but with health workers and the vulnerable getting priority .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is to bring proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday on the banning of takeaway pint and cocktail sales from pubs after footage of groups gathering to drink outdoors emerged over the weekend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply concerning as they ran counter to public health advice on how to curb the spread of Covid-19 .
He said he was “ extremely concerned and very annoyed ” to discover that people were congregating in breach of the guidelines which had been working well to reduce the level of the virus in Ireland .
“ I think it flies in the face of what acceptable in terms of adherence to the guidelines and the regulations because I think we all have to work to try and get the incidence of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s been working well in terms of the numbers coming down in Ireland , ” he said .
“ We are probably the best in Europe in terms of downward trajectory ( for the virus ) but what happened in the last week could put that a at risk and that in jeopardy .
It puts front line workers in our hospitals under pressure and it puts ICU ( Intensive Care Unit ) beds under pressure , ” he sid .
“ Wide scale congregation of people on streets just facilitates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are going to have to review the whole takeaway alcohol phenomenon ...
It was never the intention that you could have large crowds gathering outside of pubs where takeaways are available.
” Mr Martin said that compared to other countries in Europe , the downward trajectory of the virus in Ireland meant that the Irish hospital system and in particular its ICU capacity is not under the same pressure as in some European countries .
“ In other words , the collective effort of people is working ... - it ( Level 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but what we are endeavouring is to create space for people to have a meaningful December and a meaningful Christmas and if we all work together we can do that .
”

A significant rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is unlikely to happen before the middle of next year, the Taoiseach has said. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times.
A significant rollout of Covid-19 vaccines is unlikely to happen before the middle of next year and priority will initially be given to protecting vulnerable groups and healthcare workers, Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said.
Mr Martin said much depends on how quickly the various vaccines under development get regulatory approval, but he was hopeful that Ireland would be in a position to begin mass vaccinations around in the middle of 2021.
"I think we would have the first significant rolling out of the vaccine towards the middle of next year, I would hope, but it's still early days," Mr Martin told the Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's Red FM.
"It depends how fast they get through the clinical trial processes and crucially gets through the European Medicines Authority and through the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) in America and the WHO (World Health Organisation) and when they sanction these vaccines as safe."
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Logistical exercise
The Taoiseach said a mass vaccination programme would be necessary to combat Covid-19 and this would prove to be a huge logistical exercise, particularly given that a vaccine such as the one being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech needs to be stored at a temperature of minus 80 degrees.
He said the government had set up a taskforce to examine how best to get the vaccine or vaccines to as many people as possible as quickly as is feasible, but with health workers and the vulnerable getting priority.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly is to bring proposals to Cabinet on Tuesday on the banning of takeaway pint and cocktail sales from pubs after footage of groups gathering to drink outdoors emerged over the weekend.
Mr Martin said the scenes were deeply concerning as they ran counter to public health advice on how to curb the spread of Covid-19.
He said he was “extremely concerned and very annoyed” to discover that people were congregating in breach of the guidelines which had been working well to reduce the level of the virus in Ireland.
“I think it flies in the face of what acceptable in terms of adherence to the guidelines and the regulations because I think we all have to work to try and get the incidence of the virus down and I think in particularly it’s been working well in terms of the numbers coming down in Ireland,” he said.
Downward trajectory
"We are probably the best in Europe in terms of downward trajectory (for the virus) but what happened in the last week could put that a at risk and that in jeopardy. It puts front line workers in our hospitals under pressure and it puts ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds under pressure," he sid.
“Wide scale congregation of people on streets just facilitates the spreading of the virus so we are going to have to review the whole takeaway alcohol phenomenon...It was never the intention that you could have large crowds gathering outside of pubs where takeaways are available.”
Mr Martin said that compared to other countries in Europe, the downward trajectory of the virus in Ireland meant that the Irish hospital system and in particular its ICU capacity is not under the same pressure as in some European countries.
“In other words, the collective effort of people is working ...- it (Level 5 lockdown) is very difficult for people but what we are endeavouring is to create space for people to have a meaningful December and a meaningful Christmas and if we all work together we can do that.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Man jailed for role in $2 million cryptocurrency theft

A man who took part in the online theft of over $ 2 million worth of cryptocurrencies has been jailed for just under three years .
Conor Freeman ( 21 ) was identified by US Homeland Security as having taken part in the thefts .
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that five co-accused are before the courts in the United States .
Following his arrest , Freeman handed over what remained of his share from the theft to gardaí which , due to the increase in value of Bitcoin in the intervening period , is now worth over $ 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dun Laoghaire , Dublin , pleaded guilty to knowingly engaging in the possession of the proceeds of crime — namely 142.75682712 Bitcoin .
He further pleaded guilty to stealing $ 100,000 in cryptocurrency from Darran Marble on May 15th 2018 , stealing cryptocurrencies with an approximate value of $ 1,921,335 , from Seth Sharpiro on May 16th , 2018 , and stealing cryptocurrencies with an approximate value of $ 167,622.22 from Micheal Templeman on May 18th , 2018 .
He also entered guilty pleas to three counts of dishonestly operating a computer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 15th and May 18th , 2018 .
He has no previous convictions .
Passing sentencing on Tuesday , Judge Martin Nolan said that every system ever developed has its weaknesses because every system has to be user friendly .
Judge Nolan said that stealing money of this order is serious because no one can know the effect it will have on the victim .
He noted that Mr Sharpiro ’ s life savings were taken and the proceeds of the sale of his house were stolen .
He said there was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He said mitigating factors included Freeman ’ s guilty plea , his co-operation , his having no previous convictions , his youth , his having abilities which can contribute to society and that he is probably unlikely to re-offend .
Judge Nolan said the crime involved “ guile and deception ” .
He said a custodial sentence was warranted despite the mitigation in order to punish the accused , to deter him and to deter others .
He sentenced Freeman to three years imprisonment , but reduced the sentence to two years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credit for time he has already spent in custody .
At a previous sentencing hearing , Sergeant Tom Anderson told John Berry BL , prosecuting , that Freeman was identified by the United States Department of Homeland Security as being the person behind certain internet handles connected to the offences .
Sgt Anderson said that Freeman was part of a group of people who had met online .
This group identified people on social media who they believed might have access to some amount of cryptocurrency .
The group was able to gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers of these people via social media , which was information needed to commit the crimes .
Freeman ’ s co-conspirators knew people who worked in telecommunications who would transfer the phone numbers of potential victims onto SIM cards purchased by the group .
The co-conspirators would then initiate protocols that are in place in the event of people forgetting their passwords in order to gain access to the online accounts of potential victims .
After his co-conspirators gained access to the email exchanges of these people , Freeman would go through these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possessed .
The proceeds of the thefts would be split evenly between all parties who were involved .
The court heard that there are five co-accused of Freeman who are before the courts in the United States .
Freeman spent a sum of approximately €130,000 , which he had converted into cash from the stolen cryptocurrency .
Following his arrest , Freeman gave gardaí an electronic wallet which contained the remaining Bitcoin he acquired from the theft .
Bitcoin has accelerated in value since the thefts , leading this amount of cryptocurrency to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sgt Anderson agreed with Paul O ’ Carroll SC , defending , that Freeman ’ s handing over of the electronic wallet and providing of codes to access the funds was “ somewhat exceptional assistance ” .
The garda sergeant agreed with Mr O ’ Carroll that there was no evidence his client had been in communication with any other members of the group in two years and that Freeman said in interview that he has cut all ties with them .
Mr O ’ Carroll said his client was “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who reverted to an online world .
He said his client started out “ hacking ” other persons accounts during online games and that he did so not for monetary gain , but rather for the “ thrill ” .
Counsel acknowledged that a large amount of money was taken during the criminal enterprise and that the enterprise was “ sophisticated ” .
He described his client ’ s assistance to the prosecution authorities as “ extraordinary ” .
Judge Nolan said white collar crime “ demands a lot of intelligence ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence and that he has misapplied it .

A man who took part in the online theft of over $2 million worth of cryptocurrencies has been jailed for just under three years.
Conor Freeman (21) was identified by US Homeland Security as having taken part in the thefts. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that five co-accused are before the courts in the United States.
Following his arrest, Freeman handed over what remained of his share from the theft to gardaí which, due to the increase in value of Bitcoin in the intervening period, is now worth over $2 million.
Freeman, of Glenageary Court, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, pleaded guilty to knowingly engaging in the possession of the proceeds of crime — namely 142.75682712 Bitcoin.
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He further pleaded guilty to stealing $100,000 in cryptocurrency from Darran Marble on May 15th 2018, stealing cryptocurrencies with an approximate value of $1,921,335, from Seth Sharpiro on May 16th, 2018, and stealing cryptocurrencies with an approximate value of $167,622.22 from Micheal Templeman on May 18th, 2018.
He also entered guilty pleas to three counts of dishonestly operating a computer to make a gain on dates between May 15th and May 18th, 2018. He has no previous convictions.
Passing sentencing on Tuesday, Judge Martin Nolan said that every system ever developed has its weaknesses because every system has to be user friendly.
Judge Nolan said that stealing money of this order is serious because no one can know the effect it will have on the victim. He noted that Mr Sharpiro’s life savings were taken and the proceeds of the sale of his house were stolen.
He said there was “almost perfect mitigation” in this case. He said mitigating factors included Freeman’s guilty plea, his co-operation, his having no previous convictions, his youth, his having abilities which can contribute to society and that he is probably unlikely to re-offend.
Judge Nolan said the crime involved “guile and deception”. He said a custodial sentence was warranted despite the mitigation in order to punish the accused, to deter him and to deter others.
He sentenced Freeman to three years imprisonment, but reduced the sentence to two years and 11 months imprisonment to give him credit for time he has already spent in custody.
Group met online
At a previous sentencing hearing, Sergeant Tom Anderson told John Berry BL, prosecuting, that Freeman was identified by the United States Department of Homeland Security as being the person behind certain internet handles connected to the offences.
Sgt Anderson said that Freeman was part of a group of people who had met online. This group identified people on social media who they believed might have access to some amount of cryptocurrency.
The group was able to gain access to the email addresses and phone numbers of these people via social media, which was information needed to commit the crimes.
Freeman’s co-conspirators knew people who worked in telecommunications who would transfer the phone numbers of potential victims onto SIM cards purchased by the group.
The co-conspirators would then initiate protocols that are in place in the event of people forgetting their passwords in order to gain access to the online accounts of potential victims.
After his co-conspirators gained access to the email exchanges of these people, Freeman would go through these exchanges and identify sources of cryptocurrencies they possessed.
The proceeds of the thefts would be split evenly between all parties who were involved. The court heard that there are five co-accused of Freeman who are before the courts in the United States.
Freeman spent a sum of approximately €130,000, which he had converted into cash from the stolen cryptocurrency.
Following his arrest, Freeman gave gardaí an electronic wallet which contained the remaining Bitcoin he acquired from the theft. Bitcoin has accelerated in value since the thefts, leading this amount of cryptocurrency to be currently valued at approximately $2,002,785.
Sgt Anderson agreed with Paul O’Carroll SC, defending, that Freeman’s handing over of the electronic wallet and providing of codes to access the funds was “somewhat exceptional assistance”.
The garda sergeant agreed with Mr O’Carroll that there was no evidence his client had been in communication with any other members of the group in two years and that Freeman said in interview that he has cut all ties with them.
‘Very much a loner’
Mr O’Carroll said his client was “very much a loner” as a teenager who reverted to an online world. He said his client started out “hacking” other persons accounts during online games and that he did so not for monetary gain, but rather for the “thrill”.
Counsel acknowledged that a large amount of money was taken during the criminal enterprise and that the enterprise was “sophisticated”. He described his client’s assistance to the prosecution authorities as “extraordinary”.
Judge Nolan said white collar crime “demands a lot of intelligence”. He said Freeman has a lot of intelligence and that he has misapplied it.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Advertising body upholds complaint against Apple

Apple has fallen foul of the Irish advertising watchdog after failing to deliver a product to a customer in a promised time frame while a radio station was also rapped across the knuckles for using a contentious image of the Old City of Jerusalem in an ad for a travel competition .
The tech giant was the highest profile company included in the latest raft of upheld complaints by the Advertising standards Authority of Ireland ( ASAI ) .
A complainant placed an order on its website for a laptop and was promised a delivery date in early May .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an email telling her the product would be with her almost three weeks later as there were more orders than anticipated .
While the ASAI committee noted that delivery dates can change due to multiple factors it said the advertisement “ included an absolute claim which did not reflect the actual situation in the circumstances ” so it considered the advertisement to be in breach of the ASAI code .
Classic Hits also had a complaint against it upheld .
A person complained about the use of an image of the Old City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Armenian Quarter , when taken alongside the text “ Fly to Israel for as little as €319 , from May 2020 .
Enjoy a sunset on Tel Aviv beach , tour the historic city of Jerusalem or float in the Dead Sea.
” The view was that this was clearly intended to convey that Jerusalem ’ s Old City was part of Israel and not “ occupied and illegally colonised area ” .
He said this was universally recognised as such in International Law , and by the UN Security Council , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the European Union , by the Irish Government , and by all major human rights organisations .
Defending the promotion , Classic Hits said the article and the accompanying picture were providing information on that week ’ s breakfast show competition and had highlighted a number of activities that a prize winner could potentially engage in while on their trip to the region .
The defence said the article “ had made no reference to the nationality of the activities/attractions featured .
They disputed that the use of the image in the article @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Old City was part of any particular country other than being a tourist attraction in the region ” .
They said it had “ never been intended to imply that any area mentioned was in a particular ( political ) jurisdiction .
They said the on-going dispute in relation to Jerusalem , which had been well documented over a number of decades had not been highlighted in the article and they considered that it would be unreasonable to expect these issues to be covered in such an article.
” The ASAI committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advertisers ’ intention to imply that any area mentioned in their advertising was in a particular ( political ) jurisdiction ” .
It said the advertisement had included the statement “ Begin your exciting journey to Israel … ” and featured a number of destinations , including Jerusalem and its Old City Walls .
“ It had not stated that the destinations were all in Israel .
However , given the invitation to “ journey to Israel ” , without clarification , the implication was that the featured destinations were all in Israel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As the Old City was not recognised by the international community as forming part of Israel , the committee considered that the reference to “ begin your exciting journey to Israel ” was likely to mislead .
A complaint was made against the Shaw Academy as a complainant believed an advertisement was deemed not to be offering free access but a free trial of a paid subscription service , which was difficult to cancel during a free trial period .
The complainant “ considered that the free trial did not give unlimited access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and only allowed students to complete one module of a course ” .
They also considered the photograph of a diploma to be misleading “ as it was not possible to gain a diploma in four weeks .
She also said the essential course materials cost extra and were not included in the free trial ” .
The ASAI committee noted that students could sign up for a 4-week free access and that there were no limits to the number of courses that they could attend during all stages of their Shaw Academy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ that while a certificate of completion was available to students who completed module 1 , the diploma certificate was only available on completion of all modules and after the final exam had successfully been completed .
The committee considered while the advertisement depicted a diploma certificate received by a student , that such an award would not be possible to obtain in 4 weeks .
“ A complaint about Imagine Broadband was upheld .
The complainant considered an advertisement to be misleading as the online availability checker indicated the service was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Eircode , “ the complainant was advised by the advertisers on a number of occasions that the service was not yet available at their address ” .
Imagine acknowledged but did not respond to the complaint so it was upheld .
There were also complaints upheld for people and companies who failed to properly indicated that content on social media was paid for by advertisers .

A woman placed an order on Apple’s website for a laptop and was promised a delivery date in early May. Photograph: iStock
Apple has fallen foul of the Irish advertising watchdog after failing to deliver a product to a customer in a promised time frame while a radio station was also rapped across the knuckles for using a contentious image of the Old City of Jerusalem in an ad for a travel competition.
The tech giant was the highest profile company included in the latest raft of upheld complaints by the Advertising standards Authority of Ireland (ASAI).
A complainant placed an order on its website for a laptop and was promised a delivery date in early May. However, four days later she received an email telling her the product would be with her almost three weeks later as there were more orders than anticipated.
While the ASAI committee noted that delivery dates can change due to multiple factors it said the advertisement “included an absolute claim which did not reflect the actual situation in the circumstances” so it considered the advertisement to be in breach of the ASAI code.
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Classic Hits also had a complaint against it upheld. A person complained about the use of an image of the Old City of Jerusalem, specifically the Walls of the Armenian Quarter, when taken alongside the text "Fly to Israel for as little as €319, from May 2020. Enjoy a sunset on Tel Aviv beach, tour the historic city of Jerusalem or float in the Dead Sea."
The view was that this was clearly intended to convey that Jerusalem’s Old City was part of Israel and not “occupied and illegally colonised area”.
He said this was universally recognised as such in International Law, and by the UN Security Council, by the UN General Assembly, by the European Union, by the Irish Government, and by all major human rights organisations.
Number of activities
Defending the promotion, Classic Hits said the article and the accompanying picture were providing information on that week’s breakfast show competition and had highlighted a number of activities that a prize winner could potentially engage in while on their trip to the region.
The defence said the article “had made no reference to the nationality of the activities/attractions featured. They disputed that the use of the image in the article had been clearly intended to convey that the Old City was part of any particular country other than being a tourist attraction in the region”.
They said it had “never been intended to imply that any area mentioned was in a particular (political) jurisdiction. They said the on-going dispute in relation to Jerusalem, which had been well documented over a number of decades had not been highlighted in the article and they considered that it would be unreasonable to expect these issues to be covered in such an article.”
The ASAI committee acknowledged it “had not been the advertisers’ intention to imply that any area mentioned in their advertising was in a particular (political) jurisdiction”.
It said the advertisement had included the statement “Begin your exciting journey to Israel …” and featured a number of destinations, including Jerusalem and its Old City Walls.
“It had not stated that the destinations were all in Israel. However, given the invitation to “journey to Israel”, without clarification, the implication was that the featured destinations were all in Israel,” the conclusion said.
“As the Old City was not recognised by the international community as forming part of Israel, the committee considered that the reference to “begin your exciting journey to Israel” was likely to mislead.
A complaint was made against the Shaw Academy as a complainant believed an advertisement was deemed not to be offering free access but a free trial of a paid subscription service, which was difficult to cancel during a free trial period.
The complainant “considered that the free trial did not give unlimited access, as indicated in the advertisement, and only allowed students to complete one module of a course”.
Misleading
They also considered the photograph of a diploma to be misleading “as it was not possible to gain a diploma in four weeks. She also said the essential course materials cost extra and were not included in the free trial”.
The ASAI committee noted that students could sign up for a 4-week free access and that there were no limits to the number of courses that they could attend during all stages of their Shaw Academy membership.
The body added, however, “that while a certificate of completion was available to students who completed module 1, the diploma certificate was only available on completion of all modules and after the final exam had successfully been completed. The committee considered while the advertisement depicted a diploma certificate received by a student, that such an award would not be possible to obtain in 4 weeks. “
A complaint about Imagine Broadband was upheld. The complainant considered an advertisement to be misleading as the online availability checker indicated the service was available according to results for the complainant’s Eircode, “the complainant was advised by the advertisers on a number of occasions that the service was not yet available at their address”.
Imagine acknowledged but did not respond to the complaint so it was upheld.
There were also complaints upheld for people and companies who failed to properly indicated that content on social media was paid for by advertisers.