theirishtimes--2020-11-30--More than 17m fewer travellers to and from Ireland in 2020 than previous year

Just over four million overseas passengers have travelled to and from Ireland so far in 2020 , down from 17.4 million by the same point last year .
Central Statistics Office ( CSO ) travel data released on Monday shows 4.19 million people travelled into Ireland and 4.17 million travelled out of the country between January and October 2020 , a drop of around 76 per cent on the same time last year .
By October 2019 , 17.42 million passengers had travelled into the country and 17.49 million had travelled out of Ireland .
The latest CSO data also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland and departing the country dropped by around a third between September and October of this year .
In October 2020 , 160,900 passengers arrived into the country and 163,300 departed the country , down from 254,400 arrivals and 236,700 departures in September , indicating that many people were adhering to the Level 5 restrictions which came into effect on October 21st .
Of the 160,900 people who arrived into Ireland in October , 88.5 per cent came by air and 11.5 per cent arrived by sea with similar figures for those departing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came from Britain with 13,700 coming from Spain and 13,500 coming from Poland .
Some 8,900 people arrived from the Netherlands , 7,700 from France , 7,000 from Germany and 6,600 from both Portugal and Italy in October .
Another 22,500 were classified by the CSO as coming from “ other EU27 ” countries with a total of 91,000 people arriving into Ireland on continental routes in October .
Around 3.5 per cent ( 5,600 ) arrived in October by transatlantic routes and 4.9 per cent ( 7,900 ) from other overseas routes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States into Ireland dropped from 92,500 in January 2020 to about 1,000 in April .
Numbers from the US increased again through the summer , peaking at 10,000 in August .
Some 8,600 travellers arrived from the US in September and 5,100 came in October .
Numbers of arrivals from Britain dropped from 498,700 in January of this year to a low of 9,300 in April .
Some 112,600 people arrived from Britain in August and 77,000 arrived in September .

The latest CSO data also shows the number of people arriving into Ireland and departing the country dropped by around a third between September and October of this year. Photograph: iStock
Just over four million overseas passengers have travelled to and from Ireland so far in 2020, down from 17.4 million by the same point last year.
Central Statistics Office (CSO) travel data released on Monday shows 4.19 million people travelled into Ireland and 4.17 million travelled out of the country between January and October 2020, a drop of around 76 per cent on the same time last year.
By October 2019, 17.42 million passengers had travelled into the country and 17.49 million had travelled out of Ireland.
The latest CSO data also shows the number of people arriving into Ireland and departing the country dropped by around a third between September and October of this year.
READ MORE
In October 2020, 160,900 passengers arrived into the country and 163,300 departed the country, down from 254,400 arrivals and 236,700 departures in September, indicating that many people were adhering to the Level 5 restrictions which came into effect on October 21st.
Of the 160,900 people who arrived into Ireland in October, 88.5 per cent came by air and 11.5 per cent arrived by sea with similar figures for those departing the country.
Some 56,400 of these came from Britain with 13,700 coming from Spain and 13,500 coming from Poland. Some 8,900 people arrived from the Netherlands, 7,700 from France, 7,000 from Germany and 6,600 from both Portugal and Italy in October. Another 22,500 were classified by the CSO as coming from "other EU27" countries with a total of 91,000 people arriving into Ireland on continental routes in October.
Around 3.5 per cent (5,600) arrived in October by transatlantic routes and 4.9 per cent (7,900) from other overseas routes.
The number of passengers arriving from the United States into Ireland dropped from 92,500 in January 2020 to about 1,000 in April. Numbers from the US increased again through the summer, peaking at 10,000 in August. Some 8,600 travellers arrived from the US in September and 5,100 came in October.
Numbers of arrivals from Britain dropped from 498,700 in January of this year to a low of 9,300 in April. Some 112,600 people arrived from Britain in August and 77,000 arrived in September.


theirishtimes--2020-11-30--Man (30s) charged with murder of woman and two children

A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman and two children in Dublin last month .
The man , who is aged in 30s , appeared in Dun Laoghaire District Court on Monday morning where details of the charge were read out .
Detective Sergeant John White said reporting restrictions under Section 252 of the Children Act apply relating the identification of the deceased “ because two of the injured parties are juveniles ” .
The deceased were found by gardaí in their Dublin home last month .
Post-mortems were carried out leading to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused , who was represented by barrister Morgan Shelley BL , wore a brown coat and blue jeans .
He stood with his hands with his pockets throughout the short hearing .
Det Sgt White told Judge Anne Watkin he arrested the accused at 4.04 pm on Sunday for the purpose of charging him with murder .
Fifty minutes later , Sgt Philip Phibbs charged him with the murder of the three people and handed him a copy of the charge sheet .
The accused made no reply when arrested or charged .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for bail in the case of murder .
Judge Watkin granted an application for legal aid .
There was no objection from gardaí .
She remanded the accused in custody to appear again before Cloverhill District Court next Thursday .
Mr Shelley also reminded the court of a recent Court of Appeal judgment which interprets the reporting restrictions under the Children Act as applying to children who are deceased .

The accused was remanded in custody to appear again before Cloverhill District Court next Thursday.
A man has appeared in court charged with the murder of a woman and two children in Dublin last month.
The man, who is aged in 30s, appeared in Dun Laoghaire District Court on Monday morning where details of the charge were read out.
Detective Sergeant John White said reporting restrictions under Section 252 of the Children Act apply relating the identification of the deceased “because two of the injured parties are juveniles”.
The deceased were found by gardaí in their Dublin home last month. Post-mortems were carried out leading to the opening of a murder investigation.
READ MORE
The accused, who was represented by barrister Morgan Shelley BL, wore a brown coat and blue jeans. He stood with his hands with his pockets throughout the short hearing.
Det Sgt White told Judge Anne Watkin he arrested the accused at 4.04 pm on Sunday for the purpose of charging him with murder. Fifty minutes later, Sgt Philip Phibbs charged him with the murder of the three people and handed him a copy of the charge sheet.
The accused made no reply when arrested or charged. The court heard there was no provision for bail in the case of murder.
Judge Watkin granted an application for legal aid. There was no objection from gardaí.
She remanded the accused in custody to appear again before Cloverhill District Court next Thursday.
Mr Shelley also reminded the court of a recent Court of Appeal judgment which interprets the reporting restrictions under the Children Act as applying to children who are deceased.


theirishtimes--2020-11-30--Some 5,300 people waiting over two years for Irish citizenship application to be processed

More than 5,300 people have been waiting longer than two years for their application for Irish citizenship to be processed , according to data released by the Department of Justice .
A total of 5,379 people , or more than 23 per cent of the 23,187 citizenship applications currently being processed , have been waiting over 24 months for the process to be completed .
The average wait time for an application to be processed in 2020 has been 13.5 months , according to the department .
The Government ’ s immigration website states that a “ straightforward application ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to process .
The highest number of applications for Irish citizenship in 2020 have come from people originally from the UK .
The second highest number come from India followed by Romania , Poland , Nigeria , Pakistan , Syria , Brazil , China and the United States .
Last year , the highest number of applicants were from Poland .
The number of people waiting more than 24 months for their application to be processed has risen by nearly 50 per cent since May of this year when there were 3,629 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , 3,202 people have been waiting between 18 and 24 months ; 4,677 are waiting 12-18 months ; 5,304 are waiting six months to a year and 4,625 have been waiting less than six months , data released to The Irish Times shows .
A total of 4,821 applications had been fully processed by the end of October 2020 , compared to the total 9,332 applications decided in 2019 .
It is understood a number of applicants who have been waiting over a year for their application to be processed received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks stating the process of ensuring applicants are of “ good character ” can take a “ considerable period of time ” and that there is “ always a proportion of cases that take longer than the norm to process ” .
The department told The Irish Times that the longer wait time for applications to be processed should be viewed in the context of the “ significant disruption to normal processing experienced due to the High Court challenge on continuous residency in 2019 ” and the “ ongoing staffing restrictions that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 ” .
It said immigration services has not suspended the receipt or processing of applications at any point during the pandemic but that process rates have been “ negatively impacted ” by Covid-19 restrictions .
Citizenship ceremonies were put on hold for five months last year after High Court judge Mr Justice Max Barrett ruled that any person applying for Irish citizenship could not spend a day outside Ireland in the year before applying .
Last November , the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling that applicants needed unbroken residence for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resulted in a backlog of 20,500 people by December 2019 who were waiting to be sworn in as Irish citizens by a judge .
The department noted that a “ significant proportion ” of applications would have been completed during 2020 were it not for the impact of Covid-19 which has meant no in-person citizenship ceremonies have taken place in the past eight months .
The last citizenship ceremonies , held in early March , saw 5,000 people from 135 countries welcomed as Irish citizens .
A virtual ceremony was held in July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events of this sort would not be “ feasible ” because of the high demand .
Ms McEntee announced in October that citizenship ceremonies would be temporarily replaced with a requirement for citizenship applicants to sign an affidavit declaring loyalty to the State .
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said the new system is expected to become operational in early 2021 once the minister has signed a statutory instrument to the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 .
Once the system is in use , around 5,000 people will be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Information on this new system will be posted on the immigration services delivery website “ when appropriate ” and in-person citizenship ceremonies will resume once circumstances allow , he added .

The last citizenship ceremonies, held in early March, saw 5,000 people from 135 countries welcomed as Irish citizens. File photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times
More than 5,300 people have been waiting longer than two years for their application for Irish citizenship to be processed, according to data released by the Department of Justice.
A total of 5,379 people, or more than 23 per cent of the 23,187 citizenship applications currently being processed, have been waiting over 24 months for the process to be completed.
The average wait time for an application to be processed in 2020 has been 13.5 months, according to the department. The Government’s immigration website states that a “straightforward application” for Irish citizenship should take 12 months to process.
The highest number of applications for Irish citizenship in 2020 have come from people originally from the UK. The second highest number come from India followed by Romania, Poland, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria, Brazil, China and the United States. Last year, the highest number of applicants were from Poland.
READ MORE
The number of people waiting more than 24 months for their application to be processed has risen by nearly 50 per cent since May of this year when there were 3,629 people waiting for the same length of time.
Meanwhile, 3,202 people have been waiting between 18 and 24 months; 4,677 are waiting 12-18 months; 5,304 are waiting six months to a year and 4,625 have been waiting less than six months, data released to The Irish Times shows.
A total of 4,821 applications had been fully processed by the end of October 2020, compared to the total 9,332 applications decided in 2019.
It is understood a number of applicants who have been waiting over a year for their application to be processed received a letter from the department in recent weeks stating the process of ensuring applicants are of “good character” can take a “considerable period of time” and that there is “always a proportion of cases that take longer than the norm to process”.
The department told The Irish Times that the longer wait time for applications to be processed should be viewed in the context of the “significant disruption to normal processing experienced due to the High Court challenge on continuous residency in 2019” and the “ongoing staffing restrictions that have been in place since March due to Covid-19”.
It said immigration services has not suspended the receipt or processing of applications at any point during the pandemic but that process rates have been “negatively impacted” by Covid-19 restrictions.
Citizenship ceremonies were put on hold for five months last year after High Court judge Mr Justice Max Barrett ruled that any person applying for Irish citizenship could not spend a day outside Ireland in the year before applying.
Last November, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling that applicants needed unbroken residence for an entire year in Ireland. The incident resulted in a backlog of 20,500 people by December 2019 who were waiting to be sworn in as Irish citizens by a judge.
The department noted that a “significant proportion” of applications would have been completed during 2020 were it not for the impact of Covid-19 which has meant no in-person citizenship ceremonies have taken place in the past eight months.
The last citizenship ceremonies, held in early March, saw 5,000 people from 135 countries welcomed as Irish citizens. A virtual ceremony was held in July but the minister for justice said future events of this sort would not be “feasible” because of the high demand.
Ms McEntee announced in October that citizenship ceremonies would be temporarily replaced with a requirement for citizenship applicants to sign an affidavit declaring loyalty to the State.
A spokesman for the Department of Justice said the new system is expected to become operational in early 2021 once the minister has signed a statutory instrument to the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956. Once the system is in use, around 5,000 people will be able to conclude their citizenship journey, he said.
Information on this new system will be posted on the immigration services delivery website “when appropriate” and in-person citizenship ceremonies will resume once circumstances allow, he added.


theirishtimes--2020-11-30--Man (30s) dies after being hit by car on M50 on Sunday night

A man has died after he was hit by a car on the M50 late on Sunday night .
Gardaí were called to the M50 northbound before the Junction 5 Finglas exit shortly before midnight on Sunday , November 29th , after a car struck a pedestrian .
The pedestrian , a man in his 30s , was pronounced dead at the scene .
His body has been taken to the city morgue where a post mortem will be conducted .
No one else was injured in the incident .
The road was closed for a period of time overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had re-opened by 7.30am on Monday .
AA Roadwatch confirmed on Twitter that the road had re-opened but warned of heavy traffic between Junction 6 and Junction 7 of the M50 northbound .
Gardaí at Finglas are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward and have also called on any road users who were travelling in the area at the time and might have camera footage , including dash-came footage , to get in touch .
Anyone with information should contact Finglas Garda station on 01 666 7500 , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or any Garda station .

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses to contact them. Photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times
A man has died after he was hit by a car on the M50 late on Sunday night.
Gardaí were called to the M50 northbound before the Junction 5 Finglas exit shortly before midnight on Sunday, November 29th, after a car struck a pedestrian.
The pedestrian, a man in his 30s, was pronounced dead at the scene. His body has been taken to the city morgue where a post mortem will be conducted. No one else was injured in the incident.
The road was closed for a period of time overnight for examination by forensic collision investigators but had re-opened by 7.30am on Monday.
READ MORE
AA Roadwatch confirmed on Twitter that the road had re-opened but warned of heavy traffic between Junction 6 and Junction 7 of the M50 northbound.
Gardaí at Finglas are appealing for any witnesses to the incident to come forward and have also called on any road users who were travelling in the area at the time and might have camera footage, including dash-came footage, to get in touch.
Anyone with information should contact Finglas Garda station on 01 666 7500, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-11-30--Role of ‘survivor cannibalism’ during Great Famine detailed in new TV documentary

The lengths to which Irish people went to stay alive including cannibalism have been detailed in a new documentary on the Great Famine .
Entitled The Hunger : The Story of the Irish Famine , it the first major documentary by RTÉ exclusively about the calamity and is being brought out to mark the 175th anniversary of its beginning in 1845 .
Things became so bad in “ Black 1847 ” with further famines in 1848 and 1849 that people were reduced to eating putrid pigs , donkeys and dogs .
There were also incidents of cannibalism recorded in counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 1849 Fr Peter Ward , the parish priest of Partry in Co Mayo , wrote to his archbishop : “ In the village of Drimcaggy four were dead together in a poor hut- brother , two sisters , and daughter .
The flesh was pulled off the daughter ’ s arm and mangled in the mouth of her poor dead mother-her name was Mary Kennedy .
“ William Walsh , of Mount Partree , and his son were dead together , their flesh was torn off their dead bodies by rats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was found in their mouths .
His wife and child died the week before of hunger.
” Prof Cormac Ó Gráda , a world authority on the Great Famine and its global impact , told the documentary : “ Survivor cannibalism is trying to live on the corpses of people that predeceased you .
They might be related to you or they might not .
“ If you don ’ t believe that this happened or could happen then you don ’ t understand what famine is about.
” The Hunger : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in conjunction with University College Cork ( UCC ) which produced the Atlas of the Irish Famine in 2012 .
The documentary notes that the potato crop failed across northern Europe from Ireland to Prussia , but the total number of deaths from starvation between the years 1845 and 1852 was just 100,000 outside Ireland , compared with a million in Ireland .
Other countries diverted crops such as wheat and corn to feed their starving people .
The British prime minister Sir Robert Peel did so in the early stages of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but his government was brought down in 1846 over the corn laws and he was replaced by Sir John Russell , the Liberal prime minister , who believed in the principle of laissez-faire .
The British government spent just £8 million out of total expenditure of £300 million on famine relief .
By contrast they spent £14 million on security in Ireland .
The British government decided not to spend any more money from British taxpayers on famine relief and put the burden on landlords who were often going bankrupt themselves .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the Great Famine amounted to genocide - a view that has strong currency especially in the United States .
Its writer and director Ruán Magan said he wanted the documentary to focus not just on those who died or emigrated , but those who survived .
Of Ireland ’ s eight million population at the time , approximately four million escaped relatively unscathed from the famine .
Many of them showed great charity to their fellow suffering Irish people , but others did not and one Catholic priest is quoted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evicted tenants were the worst .
Mr Magan , who made the Irish War of Independence series earlier this year , said there had been in the past “ a great reluctance on the part of RTÉ to take on any of this big stuff ” .
“ They may have been worried about upsetting certain apple carts , but I think a lot has changed since the commemorations of 2016 .
Now we are able to look at things with a colder eye , ” he said .
“ You can blame @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take a look at ourselves too to see what happened.
” The Hunger : The Story of the Irish Famine airs on RTÉ One on November 30th and December 7th at 9.35pm .

Interior of a peasant family’s hut during the Great Famine, 1845-1849. Illustration from The Life and Times of Queen Victoria, by Robert Wilson. Photograph: The Print Collector/Getty Images
The lengths to which Irish people went to stay alive including cannibalism have been detailed in a new documentary on the Great Famine.
Entitled The Hunger: The Story of the Irish Famine, it the first major documentary by RTÉ exclusively about the calamity and is being brought out to mark the 175th anniversary of its beginning in 1845.
Things became so bad in “Black 1847” with further famines in 1848 and 1849 that people were reduced to eating putrid pigs, donkeys and dogs.
There were also incidents of cannibalism recorded in counties Cork, Kerry, Galway and Mayo.
READ MORE
In 1849 Fr Peter Ward, the parish priest of Partry in Co Mayo, wrote to his archbishop: "In the village of Drimcaggy four were dead together in a poor hut- brother, two sisters, and daughter. The flesh was pulled off the daughter's arm and mangled in the mouth of her poor dead mother-her name was Mary Kennedy.
"William Walsh, of Mount Partree, and his son were dead together, their flesh was torn off their dead bodies by rats, and by each other; flesh was found in their mouths. His wife and child died the week before of hunger."
Prof Cormac Ó Gráda, a world authority on the Great Famine and its global impact, told the documentary: “Survivor cannibalism is trying to live on the corpses of people that predeceased you. They might be related to you or they might not.
“If you don’t believe that this happened or could happen then you don’t understand what famine is about.”
The Hunger: The Story of the Irish Famine is made in conjunction with University College Cork (UCC) which produced the Atlas of the Irish Famine in 2012.
The documentary notes that the potato crop failed across northern Europe from Ireland to Prussia, but the total number of deaths from starvation between the years 1845 and 1852 was just 100,000 outside Ireland, compared with a million in Ireland.
Other countries diverted crops such as wheat and corn to feed their starving people. The British prime minister Sir Robert Peel did so in the early stages of the famine and nobody starved in 1845, but his government was brought down in 1846 over the corn laws and he was replaced by Sir John Russell, the Liberal prime minister, who believed in the principle of laissez-faire. The British government spent just £8 million out of total expenditure of £300 million on famine relief. By contrast they spent £14 million on security in Ireland.
The British government decided not to spend any more money from British taxpayers on famine relief and put the burden on landlords who were often going bankrupt themselves.
The documentary raises the issue of whether or not the Great Famine amounted to genocide - a view that has strong currency especially in the United States.
Its writer and director Ruán Magan said he wanted the documentary to focus not just on those who died or emigrated, but those who survived.
Of Ireland’s eight million population at the time, approximately four million escaped relatively unscathed from the famine.
Many of them showed great charity to their fellow suffering Irish people, but others did not and one Catholic priest is quoted in the documentary as stating that Catholic landlords who evicted tenants were the worst.
Mr Magan, who made the Irish War of Independence series earlier this year, said there had been in the past "a great reluctance in Ireland to take on any of this big stuff". *
“But a lot has changed since the commemorations of 2016. Now we are able to look back at things with a colder eye,” he said.
“You can blame the Brits, but maybe we need to take a look at ourselves too to see what happened.”
The Hunger: The Story of the Irish Famine airs on RTÉ One on November 30th and December 7th at 9.35pm.
*This article was amended on November 30th 2020


theirishtimes--2020-11-30--Insurance reform group cheers CCTV ruling in personal injury case

The Alliance for Insurance Reform has welcomed a High Court ruling in support of a refusal by fast food group Supermacs to hand over CCTV footage to a plaintiff suing in a personal injuries case .
The ruling came in a case where the restaurant admitted that a chair from which the plaintiff claimed to have fallen and injured herself was damaged prior to the incident .
The High Court upheld an earlier decision of the Circuit Court , which had been appealed by the plaintiff .
The High Court decided the only purpose that would be served by handing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the plaintiff giving evidence and undergoing cross examination was whether the assertion that they fell to the ground was correct .
The CCTV material being sought by way of discovery went “ exclusively to the issue of the plaintiff ’ s credit ” .
Peter Boland , director of the Alliance for Insurance Reform , said the data protection law , and the laws in relation to public and employer liability , are “ sometimes at odds with each other , and in this particular case they were at odds ” .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where liability was not an issue and a plaintiff had got access to CCTV footage prior to setting out their version of events in a sworn affidavit .
In some instances , people made data access requests to get CCTV footage and then made their claims for personal injury .
“ This is a source of great frustration to members who feel that the cases are being built around the CCTV footage.
” Pat McDonagh , the founder of Supermacs , said the High Court judgment was a “ landmark judgment ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supermacs had to take the case when there were “ all these insurance companies that are dealing with cases like this , week in , week out , all across the country ” .
Neil McDonnell , chief executive of the small and medium-sized businesses organisation Isme , said it believed that the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner took too much of an “ absolutist position ” in relation to data access rights in situations where the data was held by a body being sued .
He would like to see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no need for people to get access to their CCTV footage , prior to swearing their affidavit ” .
The competing rights of the parties need to be weighed up , he said .
“ You can ’ t have an absolutist right to data .
The system is really gamed now , and the data protection laws are being used to do it.
” In a recent letter to the Data Protection Commission , he said Isme does not believe it fair that a defendant should have to comply with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has not yet complied with their obligations in relation to swearing an affidavit under the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004 .

The High Court decided the only purpose that would be served by handing over the CCTV footage in advance of the plaintiff giving evidence and undergoing cross examination was whether the assertion that they fell to the ground was correct. Photograph: Chris Maddaloni/Collins
The Alliance for Insurance Reform has welcomed a High Court ruling in support of a refusal by fast food group Supermacs to hand over CCTV footage to a plaintiff suing in a personal injuries case.
The ruling came in a case where the restaurant admitted that a chair from which the plaintiff claimed to have fallen and injured herself was damaged prior to the incident.
The High Court upheld an earlier decision of the Circuit Court, which had been appealed by the plaintiff.
The High Court decided the only purpose that would be served by handing over the CCTV footage in advance of the plaintiff giving evidence and undergoing cross examination was whether the assertion that they fell to the ground was correct.
READ MORE
The CCTV material being sought by way of discovery went “exclusively to the issue of the plaintiff’s credit”.
Peter Boland, director of the Alliance for Insurance Reform, said the data protection law, and the laws in relation to public and employer liability, are "sometimes at odds with each other, and in this particular case they were at odds".
The alliance was aware of many similar cases, where liability was not an issue and a plaintiff had got access to CCTV footage prior to setting out their version of events in a sworn affidavit.
In some instances, people made data access requests to get CCTV footage and then made their claims for personal injury.
“This is a source of great frustration to members who feel that the cases are being built around the CCTV footage.”
‘Landmark judgement’
Pat McDonagh, the founder of Supermacs, said the High Court judgment was a “landmark judgment”. He wondered why it was that Supermacs had to take the case when there were “all these insurance companies that are dealing with cases like this, week in, week out, all across the country”.
Neil McDonnell, chief executive of the small and medium-sized businesses organisation Isme, said it believed that the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner took too much of an “absolutist position” in relation to data access rights in situations where the data was held by a body being sued.
He would like to see the matter being “straightened out. There is no need for people to get access to their CCTV footage, prior to swearing their affidavit”.
The competing rights of the parties need to be weighed up, he said. “You can’t have an absolutist right to data. The system is really gamed now, and the data protection laws are being used to do it.”
In a recent letter to the Data Protection Commission, he said Isme does not believe it fair that a defendant should have to comply with a data access request when the person suing has not yet complied with their obligations in relation to swearing an affidavit under the Civil Liability and Courts Act 2004.


theirishtimes--2020-11-30--Dublin couple face €35,000 fee for building house for disabled daughter

A Dublin couple say they are facing a €35,000 development fee to build a home designed to ensure their profoundly disabled daughter can have a live-in carer when they get older .
Under current planning legislation , extensions to existing homes for the disabled are exempt from such fees to Fingal County Council , but new homes are not .
The rules were changed to apply to extensions only in 2010 .
Damien Doyle , whose 13-year-old daughter Grace uses a wheelchair and is in need of constant care , said the rules as they stand mean his family can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspects of the new home they are building in Rush , Co Dublin .
Development contributions are the fees that property owners pay to a local authority for building works .
A public consultation on the council ’ s development contribution scheme has just concluded .
The next phase of the scheme , due to run from 2021-2025 , is set to be discussed at a council meeting in mid-December .
Mr Doyle has been lobbying councillors but says that even if the rules are changed at the meeting , they will not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family .
“ The hope was to build this house for Grace .
The downstairs of the house , about 90 per cent of it is all in relation to [ her needs ] , ” he said , explaining that it is also designed to accommodate a live-in carer .
Grace , the eldest of three siblings , has an extremely rare chromosomal condition called 12P Duplication syndrome .
“ When we get old I won ’ t be able to lift her , nor will [ my wife ] Helen ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grace and they will need somewhere to live.
” Because of building design standards , Mr Doyle said homes appropriate for people with special needs required more floor space , and development contribution fees were calculated on the basis of square metres .
Initially believing they were exempt from the development contribution , they have now had to cut back work on the house to pay the fee .
“ At the end of this we are all going to have to share one bathroom , ” he said .
Last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darragh O ’ Brien telling him Grace had suffered two strokes since 2019 and that he had closed his business to care for her .
“ I have never cried so much in my life during the last 16 months , ” he wrote .
In response , Mr O ’ Brien said that as Minister he was prohibited from intervening in planning issues but that he would pass it on to a local councillor .
Fingal County Council said the exemption for domestic extensions also covered new builds until 2010 but did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A number of submissions on this exemption have been received during the public consultation period on the draft scheme and will form part of the chief executive ’ s response on submissions received for the elected members to accept , reject or modify at the council meeting to be held in December , ” it said .
A number of members of Fingal County Council have voiced support for Mr Doyle ’ s calls for change .
“ The only problem for Damien is that if it ’ s changed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it still leaves him with a bill , ” said Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins .
Fianna Fáil councillor and former primary school principal Brigid Manton said new builds were exempt from such fees in other local authorities .
“ I spend a lot of my working life just trying to get the rights of these families answered .
Their access to everything seems to be a battle , ” she said .
Her party colleague , Cllr Brian Dennehy , said it was a “ spirit of the law ” issue .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ right-thinking person would want to see this situation arise .
”

Damien Doyle in Rush, Co Dublin, on the site of a new home he is building on Tower Street. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
A Dublin couple say they are facing a €35,000 development fee to build a home designed to ensure their profoundly disabled daughter can have a live-in carer when they get older.
Under current planning legislation, extensions to existing homes for the disabled are exempt from such fees to Fingal County Council, but new homes are not. The rules were changed to apply to extensions only in 2010.
Damien Doyle, whose 13-year-old daughter Grace uses a wheelchair and is in need of constant care, said the rules as they stand mean his family cannot afford all of the desired interior aspects of the new home they are building in Rush, Co Dublin.
Development contributions are the fees that property owners pay to a local authority for building works. A public consultation on the council’s development contribution scheme has just concluded. The next phase of the scheme, due to run from 2021-2025, is set to be discussed at a council meeting in mid-December.
READ MORE
Mr Doyle has been lobbying councillors but says that even if the rules are changed at the meeting, they will not come into effect in time for his family.
“The hope was to build this house for Grace. The downstairs of the house, about 90 per cent of it is all in relation to [her needs],” he said, explaining that it is also designed to accommodate a live-in carer. Grace, the eldest of three siblings, has an extremely rare chromosomal condition called 12P Duplication syndrome.
“When we get old I won’t be able to lift her, nor will [my wife] Helen...we will need someone to look after Grace and they will need somewhere to live.”
Because of building design standards, Mr Doyle said homes appropriate for people with special needs required more floor space, and development contribution fees were calculated on the basis of square metres.
Initially believing they were exempt from the development contribution, they have now had to cut back work on the house to pay the fee. “At the end of this we are all going to have to share one bathroom,” he said.
Minister for Housing
Last month, Mr Doyle wrote to Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien telling him Grace had suffered two strokes since 2019 and that he had closed his business to care for her. "I have never cried so much in my life during the last 16 months," he wrote.
In response, Mr O’Brien said that as Minister he was prohibited from intervening in planning issues but that he would pass it on to a local councillor.
Fingal County Council said the exemption for domestic extensions also covered new builds until 2010 but did not comment on why the policy narrowed.
“A number of submissions on this exemption have been received during the public consultation period on the draft scheme and will form part of the chief executive’s response on submissions received for the elected members to accept, reject or modify at the council meeting to be held in December,” it said.
A number of members of Fingal County Council have voiced support for Mr Doyle’s calls for change.
"The only problem for Damien is that if it's changed, it will be changed next year and it still leaves him with a bill," said Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins.
Fianna Fáil councillor and former primary school principal Brigid Manton said new builds were exempt from such fees in other local authorities. "I spend a lot of my working life just trying to get the rights of these families answered. Their access to everything seems to be a battle," she said.
Her party colleague, Cllr Brian Dennehy, said it was a "spirit of the law" issue. "I don't think any right-thinking person would want to see this situation arise."


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--Air pollution in Dublin reaches back to smoky coal days

Air pollution in Dublin at the weekend was back to levels not seen since before the ban on smoky coal was introduced 30 years ago .
Data from the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed air pollution levels in Rathmines and Ringsend were up to 15 times higher than EU and World Health Organisation guidelines on Saturday night last .
Scientists at University College Cork , led by Prof John Wenger , who study the data said guideline limits were also breached consistently last week in a range of towns and cities including Ennis , Tralee , Cork city , Macroom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in the Republic each year , according to the EPA , and the authority ’ s State of the Environment 2020 report , published last week , and its Air Quality Report , published in October , warn of serious health implications from fine particulate matter in air .
Fine particulate matter ( PM ) is suspended dust that , when inhaled , has an adverse effect on respiratory diseases and is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease , bronchial asthma , strokes , heart disease and some cancers while increasing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is associated with pollution from burning solid fuels , while PM10 is associated with pollution from traffic .
WHO air quality guidelines stipulate that PM2.5 should not exceed 10 micrograms per cubic metre , or 25 micrograms on a 24-hour average .
However , last week these limits were exceeded frequently , with recorded levels of PM2.5 reaching almost 400 in Ringsend , and more than 300 in Rathmines .
Levels in some towns across the country were as high , with Ennis , Co Clare reaching 393.23 on Sunday night .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a lack of wind combined with geographical features such as surrounding hills , can cause smoke from fossil fuels to remain in place , resulting in serious air pollution .
In Dublin at the weekend , he said , winds were very light and smoke remained in place over the city as people lit fires from about 5pm onwards .
“ Saturday was back to the days of Dublin before the smoky coal ban , ” he said .
This would have serious health implications for residents , he added .
James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MaREI Centre , in the Environmental Research Institute of University College Cork , said “ any analysis we do shows coal and peat has no place in the energy system any more ” .
He also said a number of recent international studies have shown a link between mortality from Covid-19 and air quality .
Pat Kenny of the EPA said air quality was cited as the cause in 1,300 premature deaths each year and a national clean air strategy , which was expected to include a public consultation in the near future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Labour Party leader Alan Kelly who has campaigned for a smoky coal ban to be extended across the entire country , said the Government was not moving fast enough .
He said he was “ sick and tired ” of pointing out the farce that “ some towns do and some towns don ’ t ” have such a ban .
He said fuel poverty among some of the population was cited as an excuse for not having a widespread ban , but he said the Government had the ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including through tax measures .
In September of this year , the ban on the burning of smoky coal was extended to an additional 13 towns .
However , there are still 61 towns that do not have any such bans .
The most recent EPA Air Quality Report said WHO guideline values for air quality were exceeded at 33 EPA monitoring stations , “ mostly due to the levels of fine particles in our air ” .
The report notes that “ any movement towards cleaner modes of home-heating fuels will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .

Air pollution in Dublin at the weekend was back to levels not seen since before the ban on smoky coal was introduced 30 years ago.
Data from the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed air pollution levels in Rathmines and Ringsend were up to 15 times higher than EU and World Health Organisation guidelines on Saturday night last.
Scientists at University College Cork, led by Prof John Wenger, who study the data said guideline limits were also breached consistently last week in a range of towns and cities including Ennis, Tralee, Cork city, Macroom and Enniscorthy.
Air pollution causes 1,300 premature deaths in the Republic each year, according to the EPA, and the authority’s State of the Environment 2020 report, published last week, and its Air Quality Report, published in October, warn of serious health implications from fine particulate matter in air.
READ MORE
Fine particulate matter (PM) is suspended dust that, when inhaled, has an adverse effect on respiratory diseases and is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma, strokes, heart disease and some cancers while increasing the mortality rates of these diseases.
Areas along the M50 have some of the worst air pollution in Dublin according to an EPA report. File photograph: Alan Betson
PM2.5 is associated with pollution from burning solid fuels, while PM10 is associated with pollution from traffic. WHO air quality guidelines stipulate that PM2.5 should not exceed 10 micrograms per cubic metre, or 25 micrograms on a 24-hour average. However, last week these limits were exceeded frequently, with recorded levels of PM2.5 reaching almost 400 in Ringsend, and more than 300 in Rathmines.
Levels in some towns across the country were as high, with Ennis, Co Clare reaching 393.23 on Sunday night.
Weather conditions
According to Prof Wenger certain weather conditions such as a lack of wind combined with geographical features such as surrounding hills, can cause smoke from fossil fuels to remain in place, resulting in serious air pollution.
In Dublin at the weekend, he said, winds were very light and smoke remained in place over the city as people lit fires from about 5pm onwards. “Saturday was back to the days of Dublin before the smoky coal ban,” he said. This would have serious health implications for residents, he added.
James Glynn of Science Foundation Ireland’s MaREI Centre, in the Environmental Research Institute of University College Cork, said “any analysis we do shows coal and peat has no place in the energy system any more”.
He also said a number of recent international studies have shown a link between mortality from Covid-19 and air quality.
Pat Kenny of the EPA said air quality was cited as the cause in 1,300 premature deaths each year and a national clean air strategy, which was expected to include a public consultation in the near future, was being drafted by Government.
Divergent rules
However, Labour Party leader Alan Kelly who has campaigned for a smoky coal ban to be extended across the entire country, said the Government was not moving fast enough. He said he was “sick and tired” of pointing out the farce that “some towns do and some towns don’t” have such a ban. He said fuel poverty among some of the population was cited as an excuse for not having a widespread ban, but he said the Government had the ability to alleviate that in a number of ways, including through tax measures.
Scientists have found that air pollution in the winter is associated with more hospitalisations in Dublin due to strokes. File photograph: Getty
In September of this year, the ban on the burning of smoky coal was extended to an additional 13 towns. However, there are still 61 towns that do not have any such bans.
The most recent EPA Air Quality Report said WHO guideline values for air quality were exceeded at 33 EPA monitoring stations, “mostly due to the levels of fine particles in our air”. The report notes that “any movement towards cleaner modes of home-heating fuels will have a subsequent improvement on air quality”.


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--Covid crisis: Health chiefs urge caution as lockdown ends

Ireland ’ s second lockdown ends today as non-essential retail outlets , churches , gyms , hairdressers and other businesses open their doors for the first time in six weeks .
But public health chiefs warned that Covid-19 infections would rise quickly if people do not keep their social contacts to a minimum .
And the Government emphasised the need for caution as the Christmas season begins , banning office parties and large gatherings when pubs and restaurants open on Friday .
“ Just because you can do things tomorrow doesn ’ t mean you should , ” said assistant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening .
He said “ now is not the time to be socialising with friends ” and warned of “ significant issues ” if this happens .
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said office parties “ shouldn ’ t be happening ” , adding that people should avoid crowded situations in the run-up to Christmas .
He urged people to “ drive down our number of contacts ” .
The Government confirmed that restaurants and gastropubs will not be allowed to take bookings for office parties or other business-related gatherings when they open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Ministers .
Multiple table bookings will also be banned , there can be no sponsored work or business-related parties or social gatherings , including office Christmas parties .
There will also be a ban on live music or loud music in gastropubs or restaurants .
Meanwhile , as preparations for a vaccine advance , Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will today ask Cabinet to approve an advance purchase agreement of 800,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine .
The State ’ s vaccine taskforce met again yesterday as it prepares to present a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for distributing the vaccine .
Membership of the group has been expanded to include a range of capabilities in public health , as well as specialised logistics that will be needed to manage delivery of the drug .
Mr Donnelly said at the weekend he was hopeful doses could be delivered early in the New Year .
While there is intense speculation about when the vaccine will be available , no firm date has yet been set , as it is conditional on approval from the European medicines agency .
How many in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health Emergency Team reported an additional 306 confirmed cases of the disease last night .
The 14-day national incidence now stands at 89.2 cases per 100,000 people .
Over the six weeks of restrictions , the incidence of Covid-19 has fallen from 307 cases per 100,000 people to 89 .
Intensive care numbers have fallen from a peak of 47 to 31 now .
So far this month , 119 Covid-19 patients have died , the same figure as in October ; 37 patients died in September .
There have been 38 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , compared to 23 in October and seven in September .
There are 61 open outbreaks in 25 hospitals , with 910 linked cases .
Of these cases , 409 are healthcare workers and 501 are patients .
In nursing homes , there are 35 open investigations into outbreaks , associated with 908 cases .
There were 38 nursing home deaths in November , 48 in October and 12 in September .
The gardaí said that they would police the reopening with “ a high visibility presence to provide public reassurance ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ routes are to be discontinued , although “ high visibility patrols will take place in key city , urban and retail locations ” will begin .
There will also be patrols that will focus on the night-time economy , said Garda Headquarters , while checks on licensed premises under Operation Navigation will be stepped up .
However , the Garda said it can only enforce penal regulations .
The force does not have powers to enforce public health guidelines , it said .

Stacey Leyland and her nine-year-old daughter Kerys Swaine in Dublin city centre on the eve of reopening. Photograph Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Ireland’s second lockdown ends today as non-essential retail outlets, churches, gyms, hairdressers and other businesses open their doors for the first time in six weeks.
But public health chiefs warned that Covid-19 infections would rise quickly if people do not keep their social contacts to a minimum. And the Government emphasised the need for caution as the Christmas season begins, banning office parties and large gatherings when pubs and restaurants open on Friday.
"Just because you can do things tomorrow doesn't mean you should," said assistant chief medical officer Ronan Glynn on Monday evening.
Hospital Report
He said “now is not the time to be socialising with friends” and warned of “significant issues” if this happens.
READ MORE
Chief medical officer Tony Holohan said office parties "shouldn't be happening", adding that people should avoid crowded situations in the run-up to Christmas. He urged people to "drive down our number of contacts".
The Government confirmed that restaurants and gastropubs will not be allowed to take bookings for office parties or other business-related gatherings when they open on Friday, under new rules presented to Ministers.
Multiple table bookings will also be banned, there can be no sponsored work or business-related parties or social gatherings, including office Christmas parties. There will also be a ban on live music or loud music in gastropubs or restaurants.
Meanwhile, as preparations for a vaccine advance, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly will today ask Cabinet to approve an advance purchase agreement of 800,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine.
The State’s vaccine taskforce met again yesterday as it prepares to present a plan towards the end of next week for distributing the vaccine. Membership of the group has been expanded to include a range of capabilities in public health, as well as specialised logistics that will be needed to manage delivery of the drug.
Mr Donnelly said at the weekend he was hopeful doses could be delivered early in the New Year. While there is intense speculation about when the vaccine will be available, no firm date has yet been set, as it is conditional on approval from the European medicines agency.
How many in intensive care?
Meanwhile, the National Public Health Emergency Team reported an additional 306 confirmed cases of the disease last night. The 14-day national incidence now stands at 89.2 cases per 100,000 people.
Over the six weeks of restrictions, the incidence of Covid-19 has fallen from 307 cases per 100,000 people to 89. Intensive care numbers have fallen from a peak of 47 to 31 now.
So far this month, 119 Covid-19 patients have died, the same figure as in October; 37 patients died in September. There have been 38 deaths in hospitals linked to virus outbreaks, compared to 23 in October and seven in September.
There are 61 open outbreaks in 25 hospitals, with 910 linked cases. Of these cases, 409 are healthcare workers and 501 are patients.
In nursing homes, there are 35 open investigations into outbreaks, associated with 908 cases. There were 38 nursing home deaths in November, 48 in October and 12 in September.
The gardaí said that they would police the reopening with “a high visibility presence to provide public reassurance”.
Fixed checkpoints on motorways and dual carriageway routes are to be discontinued, although “high visibility patrols will take place in key city, urban and retail locations” will begin.
There will also be patrols that will focus on the night-time economy, said Garda Headquarters, while checks on licensed premises under Operation Navigation will be stepped up.
However, the Garda said it can only enforce penal regulations. The force does not have powers to enforce public health guidelines, it said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--‘Sageing’ cohort among us can savour the satisfaction of growing old

Under Level 5 pandemic restrictions the “ over-70s ” have been treated more or less the same as the rest of the population .
This is in contrast to the heavy-handed “ cocooning ” policy adopted in the spring .
It is , of course , understandable that the National Public Health Emergency Team should identify older people as vulnerable to infection .
But any designation of the “ over-70s ” as a homogeneous group is flawed .
Sociologists now divide old age into different stages , from young to advanced .
Across the whole spectrum there are varying degrees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of these nuances counteracts misleading and outdated stereotypes .
It is more than a generation since ageism was identified as a form of discrimination and that issues such as mandatory retirement and other workplace practices were challenged .
But negative stereotypes persist and perpetuate a false perception of life after pension age .
Attitudes range from aversion to patronising .
Old age is seen as a disease , at odds with living a normal life .
That such stereotypes are internalised by many older people themselves has been identified as a key issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ geriatrician William H Thomas believes that since the second World War society has extended the range of adulthood to both childhood and old age .
Children are now raised as small adults : and the specific quality of old age , expressed as moving from a stage of activity to a stage of active being , is unrecognised .
This is to ignore the needs and capacities of both stages of life .
To counteract this situation Thomas proposes “ conscious ageing ” as distinct from just drifting into the condition .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cry of Elderhood Arise !
In the same spirit the Sage-ing International movement aims to promote awareness of conscious ageing among the aged themselves .
A paradigm shift to a holistic view of ageing is the aim .
The Sage-ing movement aims to help older people redress the negative images of old age which they themselves often internalise .
Such images are barriers to the understanding of the value of lived experience and how it can be put to use for personal growth and for the benefit of family and community .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exercises to guide people along this way of living .
Embarking on such a journey requires commitment , persistence and time .
It is simple but not easy .
“ Sage-ing ” is a contemporary adaptation of the wisdom of the Judaeo-Christian tradition and of other world religions .
It reflects the myths of many cultures .
It is the story told by Homer as the second journey of Odysseus in his old age after his return home from Troy .
A conscious approach to old age facilitates resilience in this pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ over-70s ” who are walking , swimming , Zooming .
.
.
Nor is cocooning itself a barrier to quality of life for those who have learned to savour the satisfaction of being old .
At the same time , those fortunate enough to enjoy good health should not be deprived of their usual pursuits .
Society benefits from the “ sageing ” cohort in its midst .
The more people who are motivated to take charge of their own ageing , the lesser the burden on the public health and social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home care , though many , because of disability , will still need such care .
Those who are “ active in being old ” redress the balance with the working age population in terms of the contribution they make to family and community .
They are “ influencers ” , mentors , volunteers , and active citizens , making their voices heard in the public forum .
Old age is a privilege , a gift , a grace .
It is to be enjoyed , celebrated and valued .
The last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made .

Old age is a privilege, a gift, a grace. It is to be enjoyed, celebrated and valued. Photograph: Getty
Under Level 5 pandemic restrictions the “over-70s” have been treated more or less the same as the rest of the population. This is in contrast to the heavy-handed “cocooning” policy adopted in the spring.
It is, of course, understandable that the National Public Health Emergency Team should identify older people as vulnerable to infection. But any designation of the “over-70s” as a homogeneous group is flawed.
Sociologists now divide old age into different stages, from young to advanced. Across the whole spectrum there are varying degrees of physical and cognitive capacity. Recognition of these nuances counteracts misleading and outdated stereotypes.
It is more than a generation since ageism was identified as a form of discrimination and that issues such as mandatory retirement and other workplace practices were challenged. But negative stereotypes persist and perpetuate a false perception of life after pension age.
READ MORE
Attitudes range from aversion to patronising. Old age is seen as a disease, at odds with living a normal life. That such stereotypes are internalised by many older people themselves has been identified as a key issue in holistically healthy aging.
The American geriatrician William H Thomas believes that since the second World War society has extended the range of adulthood to both childhood and old age. Children are now raised as small adults: and the specific quality of old age, expressed as moving from a stage of activity to a stage of active being, is unrecognised. This is to ignore the needs and capacities of both stages of life.
‘Conscious ageing’
To counteract this situation Thomas proposes “conscious ageing” as distinct from just drifting into the condition. He has founded Elderhood Alternative with the rallying cry of Elderhood Arise!
In the same spirit the Sage-ing International movement aims to promote awareness of conscious ageing among the aged themselves . A paradigm shift to a holistic view of ageing is the aim.
The Sage-ing movement aims to help older people redress the negative images of old age which they themselves often internalise. Such images are barriers to the understanding of the value of lived experience and how it can be put to use for personal growth and for the benefit of family and community.
The Sage-ing movement provides resources, programmes and exercises to guide people along this way of living. Embarking on such a journey requires commitment, persistence and time. It is simple but not easy.
The more people who are motivated to take charge of their own ageing, the lesser the burden on the public health and social services system
“Sage-ing” is a contemporary adaptation of the wisdom of the Judaeo-Christian tradition and of other world religions. It reflects the myths of many cultures. It is the story told by Homer as the second journey of Odysseus in his old age after his return home from Troy.
A conscious approach to old age facilitates resilience in this pandemic. We see it every day in those “over-70s” who are walking, swimming , Zooming . . .
Quality of life
Nor is cocooning itself a barrier to quality of life for those who have learned to savour the satisfaction of being old. At the same time, those fortunate enough to enjoy good health should not be deprived of their usual pursuits.
Society benefits from the “sageing” cohort in its midst. The more people who are motivated to take charge of their own ageing, the lesser the burden on the public health and social services system; the lesser dependence on nursing home care, though many, because of disability, will still need such care.
Those who are “active in being old” redress the balance with the working age population in terms of the contribution they make to family and community. They are “influencers”, mentors, volunteers, and active citizens, making their voices heard in the public forum.
Old age is a privilege, a gift, a grace. It is to be enjoyed, celebrated and valued.
The last of life for which the first was made.


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--Foresty industry in 'full-scale crisis', Taoiseach warned

The forestry industry in Ireland is in a “ full-scale crisis ” , with 12,000 jobs in rural Ireland under threat , a lobbying group for the sector has told the Taoiseach .
In a letter sent to Micheál Martin last week , Forestry Industry Ireland ( FII ) warned that the industry is “ on its knees due to prolonged and ongoing inaction ” within the Department of Agriculture , Fisheries and the Marine .
The lobby group , as well as semi-State Coillte , has been urgently raising concerns about the impact of a backlog in the appeals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says is endangering the future of the industry , despite a recent amendment to the law governing the process .
The industry has argued that the department ’ s Forestry Appeals Committee is failing to deal quickly enough with appeals against forestry licences , which in turn is holding up tree harvesting and timber production .
It is understood that there has been an increase in felling licences approved in recent weeks , but that the number is still well below the volume required to ease the logjam , which could take as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The letter to Mr Martin states : “ We are imploring you to intervene to save these jobs and to salvage a vital industry which supports rural Ireland and contributes substantially to meeting Ireland ’ s climate targets .
“ The Department of Agriculture has repeatedly failed to deliver on commitments to produce the required number of forestry licences .
It has not met any of its own targets and has repeatedly refused to admit that its process is not delivering , ” the group warned .
The forestry sector is asking that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan , place the forestry division of the department on an “ emergency footing ” and redeploy personnel to deal with the backlog in the system , and asking that new targets be set for licensing .
It also wants a “ temporary emergency oversight unit ” based in the Department of the Taoiseach to “ hold the Department of Agriculture to account ” .
“ If you do not personally intervene to solve this crisis , Ireland ’ s sawmills and forestry companies will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be lost , and no farmer will want to plant forestry in the future.
” The letter , signed by FII director Mark McAuley concludes : “ The urgency and gravity of our industry ’ s situation can not be overstated ; we are on the brink.
” In a statement , the department said it is “ aware of the issues in forestry licences and the impact this is having , especially on the sawmilling sector ” .
It has developed a project plan and has invested in extra resources , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the highest number of licences were issued in October and November since the year began , and that it continues to invest in new resources in response to the issue .

“The urgency and gravity of our industry’s situation cannot be overstated; we are on the brink,” a letter to the Taoiseach said. Photograph: Getty Images
The forestry industry in Ireland is in a "full-scale crisis", with 12,000 jobs in rural Ireland under threat, a lobbying group for the sector has told the Taoiseach.
In a letter sent to Micheál Martin last week, Forestry Industry Ireland (FII) warned that the industry is “on its knees due to prolonged and ongoing inaction” within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Marine.
The lobby group, as well as semi-State Coillte, has been urgently raising concerns about the impact of a backlog in the appeals process for felling licences, which it says is endangering the future of the industry, despite a recent amendment to the law governing the process.
The industry has argued that the department's Forestry Appeals Committee is failing to deal quickly enough with appeals against forestry licences, which in turn is holding up tree harvesting and timber production.
READ MORE
Salvage
It is understood that there has been an increase in felling licences approved in recent weeks, but that the number is still well below the volume required to ease the logjam, which could take as long as 12 months to clear.
The letter to Mr Martin states: "We are imploring you to intervene to save these jobs and to salvage a vital industry which supports rural Ireland and contributes substantially to meeting Ireland's climate targets.
“The Department of Agriculture has repeatedly failed to deliver on commitments to produce the required number of forestry licences. It has not met any of its own targets and has repeatedly refused to admit that its process is not delivering,” the group warned.
The forestry sector is asking that Mr Martin, alongside Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, place the forestry division of the department on an "emergency footing" and redeploy personnel to deal with the backlog in the system, and asking that new targets be set for licensing. It also wants a "temporary emergency oversight unit" based in the Department of the Taoiseach to "hold the Department of Agriculture to account".
Intervene
“If you do not personally intervene to solve this crisis, Ireland’s sawmills and forestry companies will be forced to close, rural jobs will be lost, and no farmer will want to plant forestry in the future.” The letter, signed by FII director Mark McAuley concludes: “The urgency and gravity of our industry’s situation cannot be overstated; we are on the brink.”
In a statement, the department said it is “aware of the issues in forestry licences and the impact this is having, especially on the sawmilling sector”. It has developed a project plan and has invested in extra resources, and is recruiting additional forestry inspectors. It said the highest number of licences were issued in October and November since the year began, and that it continues to invest in new resources in response to the issue.


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--Track records: Musicians use their platform to raise money for Focus Ireland

Mary Coughlan , Mundy , Brian Kennedy and Eleanor McEvoy will be among the artists gigging at train stations next @ @ @ @ @ Focus Ireland .
Their performances will be streamed online on three consecutive nights – December @ @ @ @ @ – on the charity ’ s social media channels at You Tube and Facebook .
@ @ @ @ @ s fourth year to partner with Focus Ireland .
Although the format until now has @ @ @ @ @ stations , this year the professional artists will perform while raising money .
On Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ Coughlan , the RipTide Movement , Eleanor McEvoy , Brian Kennedy and Mundy will play @ @ @ @ @ Dublin .
On Wednesday , December 9th , Jack O ’ Rourke , Mick Flannery @ @ @ @ @ Flaherty Quartet and Emma Langford will play at Kent Station , Cork ; and on @ @ @ @ @ Statelights , Damien Dempsey , Erica Cody and Ollie Cole will play at Pearse Station @ @ @ @ @ will start at 8pm .

Mary Coughlan will perform at Heuston Station on December 8th. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Mary Coughlan, Mundy, Brian Kennedy and Eleanor McEvoy will be among the artists gigging at train stations next week to raise money for Focus Ireland.
Their performances will be streamed online on three consecutive nights – December 8th, 9th and 10th – on the charity's social media channels at You Tube and Facebook.
This is Iarnród Éireann’s fourth year to partner with Focus Ireland. Although the format until now has been carol-singing performances in the stations, this year the professional artists will perform while raising money.
Damien Dempsey will perform at Pearse Station on December 10th. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
On Tuesday, December 8th, Mary Coughlan, the RipTide Movement, Eleanor McEvoy, Brian Kennedy and Mundy will play live in Heuston Station, Dublin.
READ MORE
On Wednesday, December 9th, Jack O' Rourke, Mick Flannery, the Emer O' Flaherty Quartet and Emma Langford will play at Kent Station, Cork; and on Thursday, December 10th, Statelights, Damien Dempsey, Erica Cody and Ollie Cole will play at Pearse Station, Dublin. All concerts will start at 8pm.


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--Nearly two in three cancer patients alive after five years, figures show

Nearly two out of every three patients who get cancer are still alive five years later as survival rates continue to improve , new figures show .
The five-year survival rate for cancer patients was 63 per cent for men and 61 per cent for women in 2012-16 , up from 39 per cent and 46 per cent in 1994-99 , according to the annual report of the National Cancer Registry Ireland ( NCRI ) .
While survival rates vary hugely across different types of cancer , improvements have occurred for most forms of the disease .
Almost 37,000 cancers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when less serious skin cancers are excluded , with rates among men 20 per cent higher than for women .
Cancer incidence has stabilised and even declined in recent years but with the population growing and ageing , case numbers are forecast to double by 2045 .
Cancer is the most common cause of death , accounting for about 9,000 deaths a year .
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths , accounting for 20 per cent in women and 22 per cent in men .
The risk of dying of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ men than for women .
Internationally , Irish survival rates are in the top half of countries surveyed for 14 out of 18 common cancers .
The NCRI said there is scope for improvement in some areas : Ireland ranks 23rd out of 24 countries for ovarian cancer survival , 16th for breast and cervix and 13th for colon .
Our ranking for these cancers is static , apart from cervical cancer where it has improved .
Our best performance internationally are in cancers of the oesophagus ( fourth highest survival rate ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( sixth ) , melanoma skin ( eighth ) , prostate ( sixth ) , brain ( adults , fourth and children , seventh ) , myeloid and lymphoid cancers in adults ( fifth and sixth respectively ) and lymphoma in children ( fourth ) .
Ireland ’ s ranking for liver cancer , myeloid cancer in adults and childhood lymphomas has worsened since the last set of international figures was compiled .
One in 25 in the population is now a survivor of cancer , thanks to improved survival rates .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ diagnosis of invasive cancer , other than non-melanoma skin cancer , or 3.9 per cent of the population .
Cancer prevalence is highest for breast cancer , 23 per cent of all cancer survivors , prostate cancer ( 21 per cent ) and colorectal cancer ( 12 per cent ) .
NCRI director Prof Kerri Clough-Gorr described the implications of the trends in cancer incidence as “ largely positive ” .
For men , the most common cancers are prostate , colorectal , lung and melanoma .
For women , they are breast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The five-year survival rate varies from 97 per cent for cancer of the testes and 92 per cent for prostate cancer , to 20 per cent for lung cancer , 19 per cent for liver cancer and 10 per cent for pancreatic cancer .
The Irish Cancer Society said the rising number of cases should serve as a “ wake-up call ” for the need to improve services .
“ The updated figures come amid an extraordinarily difficult year for those affected by cancer , during which the lack of resilience in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ increased levels of stress and worry due to disrupted services during the pandemic , ” said the charity .

The five-year survival rate for cancer patients was 63 per cent for men and 61 per cent for women in 2012-16, up from 39 per cent and 46 per cent in 1994-99. Photograph: Getty Images
Nearly two out of every three patients who get cancer are still alive five years later as survival rates continue to improve, new figures show.
The five-year survival rate for cancer patients was 63 per cent for men and 61 per cent for women in 2012-16, up from 39 per cent and 46 per cent in 1994-99, according to the annual report of the National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI).
While survival rates vary hugely across different types of cancer, improvements have occurred for most forms of the disease.
Almost 37,000 cancers are diagnosed every year, or 25,000 when less serious skin cancers are excluded, with rates among men 20 per cent higher than for women.
READ MORE
Cancer incidence has stabilised and even declined in recent years but with the population growing and ageing, case numbers are forecast to double by 2045.
Cancer is the most common cause of death, accounting for about 9,000 deaths a year. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths, accounting for 20 per cent in women and 22 per cent in men. The risk of dying of cancer is about a third higher for men than for women.
Ranking
Internationally, Irish survival rates are in the top half of countries surveyed for 14 out of 18 common cancers.
The NCRI said there is scope for improvement in some areas: Ireland ranks 23rd out of 24 countries for ovarian cancer survival, 16th for breast and cervix and 13th for colon.
Our ranking for these cancers is static, apart from cervical cancer where it has improved.
Our best performance internationally are in cancers of the oesophagus (fourth highest survival rate), pancreas (eighth), lung (sixth), melanoma skin (eighth), prostate (sixth), brain (adults, fourth and children, seventh), myeloid and lymphoid cancers in adults (fifth and sixth respectively) and lymphoma in children (fourth).
Ireland’s ranking for liver cancer, myeloid cancer in adults and childhood lymphomas has worsened since the last set of international figures was compiled.
One in 25 in the population is now a survivor of cancer, thanks to improved survival rates. An estimated 190,000 people are living after a diagnosis of invasive cancer, other than non-melanoma skin cancer, or 3.9 per cent of the population.
‘Wake-up call’
Cancer prevalence is highest for breast cancer, 23 per cent of all cancer survivors, prostate cancer (21 per cent) and colorectal cancer (12 per cent).
NCRI director Prof Kerri Clough-Gorr described the implications of the trends in cancer incidence as “largely positive”.
For men, the most common cancers are prostate, colorectal, lung and melanoma. For women, they are breast, lung, colorectal and melanoma.
The five-year survival rate varies from 97 per cent for cancer of the testes and 92 per cent for prostate cancer, to 20 per cent for lung cancer, 19 per cent for liver cancer and 10 per cent for pancreatic cancer.
The Irish Cancer Society said the rising number of cases should serve as a "wake-up call" for the need to improve services.
“The updated figures come amid an extraordinarily difficult year for those affected by cancer, during which the lack of resilience in the health system was exposed and patients experienced increased levels of stress and worry due to disrupted services during the pandemic,” said the charity.


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--My son isn’t logging onto lectures. I worry that he’ll drop out of college

My son was delighted when he got his CAO offer in September .
Sadly , as the weeks have passed , his enthusiasm has waned and he is finding it hard to motivate himself to log on to lectures .
He was on campus just once - but with few around , he found it a very depressing experience .
I fear he may drop out .
I have received numerous such questions in recent weeks from concerned parents .
It is of little help to state that everyone is in the same boat , working almost exclusively from home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with fellow first-year students .
For those of us fortunate enough to receive a college education in our youth , the excitement and novelty of the vast range of extra curricular activities open to us was as formative and energising as anything we were motivated by in our academic work .
The almost total absence of this aspect of college life for 2020 students is putting a huge strain , particularly on first years .
With infection rates falling and a vaccine on the horizon , hopes are high that we may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on campus soon .
Given that scenario , I would advise that you sit down with your son and discuss openly his options .
I would not try to sugar-coat his present reality .
It is incredibly difficult to get up each day and motivate yourself to engage with your course content without any balancing activities .
It ’ s the equivalent of a diet of dry bread and water , essential to sustain life but totally unappetising .
The key words above are “ life sustaining ” .
It may seem quite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the darkest days of winter , fulfilling his course requirements will bring him to his first set of semester exams in January , and onto the springtime , when an exit from the present “ bedroom based ” learning will hopefully emerge through an effective vaccine .
College authorities and lecturing staff are also working under extremely stressful conditions and are aware of the pressurised situation that studying remotely is causing for all their students , particularly first years .
Student support services in colleges are also fully available to support students psychologically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instruments , including their counselling and medical supports where deemed appropriate .
Encourage your son to talk openly about his loss of energy and enthusiasm for his studies , and gently explore the consequences of dropping out .
There are no better options for our young people right now , and bad and all as he is currently feeling , ask him to consider what it would feel like if he had nothing to do for the next year while we wait for a pathway out of social isolation .
Any marathon runner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to focus solely on the 10 yards .
Encourage your son to create a to do list of course tasks and tick them off as they are completed .
Overcoming each challenge generates positivity .

My son was delighted when he got his CAO offer in September. Sadly, as the weeks have passed, his enthusiasm has waned and he is finding it hard to motivate himself to log on to lectures. He was on campus just once - but with few around, he found it a very depressing experience. I fear he may drop out.
I have received numerous such questions in recent weeks from concerned parents. It is of little help to state that everyone is in the same boat, working almost exclusively from home and having almost no opportunity to meet with fellow first-year students.
For those of us fortunate enough to receive a college education in our youth, the excitement and novelty of the vast range of extra curricular activities open to us was as formative and energising as anything we were motivated by in our academic work.
The almost total absence of this aspect of college life for 2020 students is putting a huge strain, particularly on first years.
READ MORE
With infection rates falling and a vaccine on the horizon, hopes are high that we may be able to allow some more face-to-face interactions on campus soon.
Given that scenario, I would advise that you sit down with your son and discuss openly his options.
I would not try to sugar-coat his present reality. It is incredibly difficult to get up each day and motivate yourself to engage with your course content without any balancing activities. It’s the equivalent of a diet of dry bread and water, essential to sustain life but totally unappetising.
The key words above are “life sustaining”. It may seem quite depressing, but as we head into the darkest days of winter, fulfilling his course requirements will bring him to his first set of semester exams in January, and onto the springtime, when an exit from the present “bedroom based” learning will hopefully emerge through an effective vaccine.
College authorities and lecturing staff are also working under extremely stressful conditions and are aware of the pressurised situation that studying remotely is causing for all their students, particularly first years.
Student support services in colleges are also fully available to support students psychologically and emotionally, through their range of instruments, including their counselling and medical supports where deemed appropriate.
Encourage your son to talk openly about his loss of energy and enthusiasm for his studies, and gently explore the consequences of dropping out.
There are no better options for our young people right now, and bad and all as he is currently feeling, ask him to consider what it would feel like if he had nothing to do for the next year while we wait for a pathway out of social isolation.
Any marathon runner will tell you that the secret is to focus solely on the 10 yards. Encourage your son to create a to do list of course tasks and tick them off as they are completed. Overcoming each challenge generates positivity.


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--Does Ireland have a diveristy problem at third level?

How many ethnic minority students go to college in Ireland ?
Nobody seems to know – and it ’ s putting a generation at risk of being left behind .
Race , Ethnicity and Change in Higher Education , a new report from the Royal Irish Academy ( RIA ) and the British Council in Ireland , says that this lack of data may be harming the educational and career opportunities of black , Asian , Traveller and other ethnic minority students in Ireland .
“ How can you address a problem that you don ’ t fully understand ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for policy and international relations with the RIA .
“ How can you make meaningful , targeted and focused interventions to support under-represented groups without the data ?
There can be issues with collecting it , but that ’ s no excuse for [ universities and colleges ] not to try.
” The RIA report says that this task is “ urgent ” and that colleges and universities need to do more to engage with and lead change towards a more diverse and inclusive sector .
The report was only able to identify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Irish academia and several post-holders from Asian or other minority ethnic backgrounds .
Dr Ebun Joseph of University College Dublin is the module co-ordinator for the first black studies module in Ireland , and the director of the Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies .
She is an Irish and Nigerian citizen .
“ I once applied for a role where I found out that I was only scored five out of 10 for my ‘ ability to contribute to diversity ’ - despite having worked extensively on the topic and appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the four months before my application , ” she says .
“ There ’ s no lack of talent and there ’ s no shortage of people to occupy academic roles .
Something is wrong with the pipeline but we urgently need the data.
” There ’ s much more than inclusion and fairness at stake : evidence shows that a class composed of different ages , physical abilities , genders , ethnicities , social classes , learning styles and neurodiversity ( eg dyslexia , ADHD , autism spectrum etc ) improves the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anastasia Crickley , former head of the department of applied social studies at Maynooth University , has been actively involved in the campaign against racism at national and international levels , and was a former chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination .
She is also the current chair of Traveller rights organisation Pavee Point .
“ Pavee Point has been seeking a question on ethnic identifiers and Ireland has been asked by numerous international bodies to collect this data , ” she says .
“ It has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions for access , participation and outcomes students need .
This will require voluntary self-ID and and , in turn , proactive training so students feel comfortable providing the information.
” Much like other ethnic minority groups in Ireland , there ’ s no lack of ambition among Travellers , but there is a lack of access and support , Crickley says .
“ We know that measures were needed to address gender inequality and there needs to be special measures across the whole education spectrum for minority groups too .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include and reflect the stories of minority groups both now and over the centuries , and we need strategies to name and address the structural racism that is a part of our society .
You can ’ t bring about change through goodwill alone.
” Crickley highlights the Path initiative , which is increasing diversity among the teaching profession , as an example of how positive change can come about .
At Maynooth University , Dr Gemma Irvine , vice-president for equality and diversity and a contributor to the RIA report , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way for diversity because it improves outcomes for everyone .
“ Universities are supposed to be about bringing together different perspectives to be innovative , and this should be reflected in a diverse curriculum designed by a diverse student and academic body .
“ Last year , we had an open panel discussion on race and ethnicity , organised with the students ’ union , and it was a way for minorities to honestly discuss their experiences of race and ethnicity , and how racism can be subtle : finding it harder to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking for halal food , ‘ jokes ’ and irritations that build up over time.
” Joseph says that the UK and US are doing more than Ireland , and suggests that Irish third-levels could ringfence positions for ethnic minority staff , as they have done for women in an effort to address gender inequalities .
If third-levels aren ’ t inclusive of different ethnicities , workplaces aren ’ t doing much better .
A 2019 joint from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission ( IHREC ) Economic and Social Research Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are five times more likely to experience discrimination when seeking employment in Ireland , while black Irish citizens are twice as likely to face discrimination - a statistic that tallies with the anecdotal experience of many black people here ( see panel below ) .
The RIA report highlights the burden placed on under-represented groups to push for greater equality and diversity , often at the expense of time that could be devoted to their academic careers .
“ It ’ s the price you pay for speaking out , ” says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trouble-maker .
And it ’ s why we need the data.
” She rejects suggestions that students may be too reluctant to provide their ethnic information to the host institution .
“ It ’ s a cop-out , ” she says .
“ If colleges really want the data , they can get it .
If they explain to students that it is to improve representation and that they will use it to make changes , people will provide it.
” Tega Amrabure : ‘ A lot of black migrants are highly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get work ’ “ In 2002 , I came to Ireland from Nigeria on a working visa that had to be renewed year after year .
“ I spent years working to support my two children .
I always wanted to get a third-level education and work to bring about social change .
In Nigeria , I did social work with vulnerable people and , in Ireland , I wanted to work on issues like direct provision and immigration .
“ The Irish system is very different from at home .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a BLC at Dublin City University , but it was hard at first .
I know many immigrants are scared to go into education , but College Connect really helped me and made me see that there is so much support available .
They helped me adjust to the academic system here , and without their support I might not have got through it .
“ I have mixed feelings about the campus .
I ’ m a mature student so I feel older than my classmates , and you don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students on law courses .
I ’ ve tried to get involved in college life , but I ’ ve struggled to get a law internship despite having grades that are just as good as my classmates .
“ A lot of black migrants are highly educated and intelligent but can ’ t get work .
We ’ re barely represented in academia .
I think there is a need for more anti-racism education in school , and it needs to happen from an early age so that everyone ultimately ends up with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ collegeconnect.ie ) is a partnership between Athlone Institute of Technology , Dundalk Institute of Technology , DCU and Maynooth University to reach under-represented students and connect them to higher education courses .

How many ethnic minority students go to college in Ireland? Nobody seems to know – and it’s putting a generation at risk of being left behind.
Race, Ethnicity and Change in Higher Education, a new report from the Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and the British Council in Ireland, says that this lack of data may be harming the educational and career opportunities of black, Asian, Traveller and other ethnic minority students in Ireland.
"How can you address a problem that you don't fully understand?" asks Prof Brian Norton, secretary for policy and international relations with the RIA. "How can you make meaningful, targeted and focused interventions to support under-represented groups without the data? There can be issues with collecting it, but that's no excuse for [universities and colleges] not to try."
The RIA report says that this task is “urgent” and that colleges and universities need to do more to engage with and lead change towards a more diverse and inclusive sector.
READ MORE
The report was only able to identify one full-time black female academic professorial post-holder in Irish academia and several post-holders from Asian or other minority ethnic backgrounds.
Dr Ebun Joseph of University College Dublin is the module co-ordinator for the first black studies module in Ireland, and the director of the Institute of Antiracism and Black Studies. She is an Irish and Nigerian citizen.
“I once applied for a role where I found out that I was only scored five out of 10 for my ‘ability to contribute to diversity’ - despite having worked extensively on the topic and appeared on 12 TV and radio shows in the four months before my application,” she says.
“There’s no lack of talent and there’s no shortage of people to occupy academic roles. Something is wrong with the pipeline but we urgently need the data.”
There’s much more than inclusion and fairness at stake: evidence shows that a class composed of different ages, physical abilities, genders, ethnicities, social classes, learning styles and neurodiversity (eg dyslexia, ADHD, autism spectrum etc) improves the learning experience for the whole class.
Anastasia Crickley, former head of the department of applied social studies at Maynooth University, has been actively involved in the campaign against racism at national and international levels, and was a former chair of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. She is also the current chair of Traveller rights organisation Pavee Point.
“Pavee Point has been seeking a question on ethnic identifiers and Ireland has been asked by numerous international bodies to collect this data,” she says.
“It has to happen if we are to create the conditions for access, participation and outcomes students need. This will require voluntary self-ID and and, in turn, proactive training so students feel comfortable providing the information.”
Much like other ethnic minority groups in Ireland, there’s no lack of ambition among Travellers, but there is a lack of access and support, Crickley says.
“We know that measures were needed to address gender inequality and there needs to be special measures across the whole education spectrum for minority groups too.
“The curriculum needs to change too, to include and reflect the stories of minority groups both now and over the centuries, and we need strategies to name and address the structural racism that is a part of our society. You can’t bring about change through goodwill alone.”
Crickley highlights the Path initiative, which is increasing diversity among the teaching profession, as an example of how positive change can come about.
At Maynooth University, Dr Gemma Irvine, vice-president for equality and diversity and a contributor to the RIA report, says that the university wants to lead the way for diversity because it improves outcomes for everyone.
“Universities are supposed to be about bringing together different perspectives to be innovative, and this should be reflected in a diverse curriculum designed by a diverse student and academic body.
“Last year, we had an open panel discussion on race and ethnicity, organised with the students’ union, and it was a way for minorities to honestly discuss their experiences of race and ethnicity, and how racism can be subtle: finding it harder to secure accommodation, getting blank looks if asking for halal food, ‘jokes’ and irritations that build up over time.”
Joseph says that the UK and US are doing more than Ireland, and suggests that Irish third-levels could ringfence positions for ethnic minority staff, as they have done for women in an effort to address gender inequalities.
If third-levels aren’t inclusive of different ethnicities, workplaces aren’t doing much better. A 2019 joint from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found that black non-Irish people are five times more likely to experience discrimination when seeking employment in Ireland, while black Irish citizens are twice as likely to face discrimination - a statistic that tallies with the anecdotal experience of many black people here (see panel below).
The RIA report highlights the burden placed on under-represented groups to push for greater equality and diversity, often at the expense of time that could be devoted to their academic careers.
“It’s the price you pay for speaking out,” says Joseph. “You’re labelled a trouble-maker. And it’s why we need the data.”
She rejects suggestions that students may be too reluctant to provide their ethnic information to the host institution. “It’s a cop-out,” she says. “If colleges really want the data, they can get it. If they explain to students that it is to improve representation and that they will use it to make changes, people will provide it.”
Tega Amrabure: ‘A lot of black migrants are highly educated and intelligent but can’t get work’
DCU student Tega Amrabure, pictured at home in Balbriggan Co Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
"In 2002, I came to Ireland from Nigeria on a working visa that had to be renewed year after year.
“I spent years working to support my two children. I always wanted to get a third-level education and work to bring about social change. In Nigeria, I did social work with vulnerable people and, in Ireland, I wanted to work on issues like direct provision and immigration.
"The Irish system is very different from at home. I'm now in my third year of a BLC at Dublin City University, but it was hard at first. I know many immigrants are scared to go into education, but College Connect really helped me and made me see that there is so much support available. They helped me adjust to the academic system here, and without their support I might not have got through it.
“I have mixed feelings about the campus. I’m a mature student so I feel older than my classmates, and you don’t see a lot of migrants or black students on law courses. I’ve tried to get involved in college life, but I’ve struggled to get a law internship despite having grades that are just as good as my classmates.
“A lot of black migrants are highly educated and intelligent but can’t get work. We’re barely represented in academia. I think there is a need for more anti-racism education in school, and it needs to happen from an early age so that everyone ultimately ends up with the same opportunities.”
College Connect (collegeconnect.ie) is a partnership between Athlone Institute of Technology, Dundalk Institute of Technology, DCU and Maynooth University to reach under-represented students and connect them to higher education courses.