theirishtimes--2020-12-29--Flu vaccine uptake important despite zero cases reported – virologist

People should continue to seek to have flu vaccinations as soon as possible despite zero cases being reported so far this winter , the State ’ s leading virologist has advised .
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) has found that no confirmed cases of either influenza A or influenza B have been reported in the State since late spring .
The zero cases is an unprecedented scenario and compares to hundreds of cases reported last winter , including more than 450 in the fortnight running up to Christmas , when influenza was at its peak .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the probability of a “ twindemic ” , where influenza and Covid-19 are circulating at the same time .
Such a scenario would put the health service under severe pressure .
Dr Cillian de Gascun , head of the National Virus Reference Laboratory , said it ’ s probably too early to say with certainty that the influenza season will be mild .
“ The season typically peaks in the first quarter of the year [ January to March 2020 ] but based on the experience in the southern hemisphere , there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
He also said it was premature to say a twindemic would not happen but added that the near complete absence of influenza activity at this time is very promising .
He said it remained his advice for people to take the flu vaccine .
“ We have no idea what will happen in the new year , and the vaccine requires two weeks to take effect , so now is the time to get it .
“ The primary benefit of taking the influenza vaccine – in the setting of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent morbidity and mortality , thereby taking pressure off the acute hospital system.
” The absence of flu in Ireland mirrors the experience elsewhere in Europe and also in the southern hemisphere , which had practically no flu cases during its winter in the middle of the year .
The clampdown on international travel , mask-wearing and social-distancing measures adopted for Covid-19 , as well as an uptick in use of the flu vaccine , have all been attributed to the absence of flu .
While there have been no confirmed cases , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors with flu-like symptoms has been higher than last year for the past five weeks .
The HSPC has said this reflects the circulation of Covid-19 in the community rather than influenza viruses .
Prof Karina Butler , chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee , said one of the reasons Italy had such a bad first wave last spring was because Covid-19 and flu were circulating at the same time .
“ You really don ’ t want to have the two co-circulating.
” People recovering from flu are often run down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ severe Covid-19 illness , she said .
Prof Butler said the normal flu season in the southern hemisphere “ did not occur ” earlier this year .
While the reasons for this were not certain , it appeared that lockdown , mask-wearing and other public health measures introduced to combat Covid-19 had also reduced transmission of flu , she said .
Separately , respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ) , a contagious virus that infects the respiratory tract of children is also absent in Ireland this winter .
However , in Australia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during their summertime , according to Prof Butler .

People recovering from flu are often run down and may be more susceptible to severe Covid-19 illness, says Prof Karina Butler, chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee. Photograph: Jose Sena Goulao/EPA
People should continue to seek to have flu vaccinations as soon as possible despite zero cases being reported so far this winter, the State’s leading virologist has advised.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has found that no confirmed cases of either influenza A or influenza B have been reported in the State since late spring. The zero cases is an unprecedented scenario and compares to hundreds of cases reported last winter, including more than 450 in the fortnight running up to Christmas, when influenza was at its peak.
The absence of any flu cases has reduced the probability of a “twindemic”, where influenza and Covid-19 are circulating at the same time. Such a scenario would put the health service under severe pressure.
Hospital Report
Dr Cillian de Gascun, head of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said it’s probably too early to say with certainty that the influenza season will be mild.
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“The season typically peaks in the first quarter of the year [January to March 2020] but based on the experience in the southern hemisphere, there is reason to be hopeful,” he said.
Very promising
He also said it was premature to say a twindemic would not happen but added that the near complete absence of influenza activity at this time is very promising.
He said it remained his advice for people to take the flu vaccine.
“We have no idea what will happen in the new year, and the vaccine requires two weeks to take effect, so now is the time to get it.
“The primary benefit of taking the influenza vaccine – in the setting of a coronavirus pandemic – is that it will prevent morbidity and mortality, thereby taking pressure off the acute hospital system.”
The absence of flu in Ireland mirrors the experience elsewhere in Europe and also in the southern hemisphere, which had practically no flu cases during its winter in the middle of the year.
The clampdown on international travel, mask-wearing and social-distancing measures adopted for Covid-19, as well as an uptick in use of the flu vaccine, have all been attributed to the absence of flu.
While there have been no confirmed cases, the number of Irish people consulting their doctors with flu-like symptoms has been higher than last year for the past five weeks. The HSPC has said this reflects the circulation of Covid-19 in the community rather than influenza viruses.
More susceptible
Prof Karina Butler, chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, said one of the reasons Italy had such a bad first wave last spring was because Covid-19 and flu were circulating at the same time. "You really don't want to have the two co-circulating."
People recovering from flu are often run down and may therefore be more susceptible to severe Covid-19 illness, she said.
Prof Butler said the normal flu season in the southern hemisphere “did not occur” earlier this year.
While the reasons for this were not certain, it appeared that lockdown, mask-wearing and other public health measures introduced to combat Covid-19 had also reduced transmission of flu, she said.
Separately, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a contagious virus that infects the respiratory tract of children is also absent in Ireland this winter. However, in Australia, RSV occurred later in the year, during their summertime, according to Prof Butler.


theirishtimes--2020-12-29--Travellers returning from UK put community members at risk – Pavee Point

The traditional Christmas return from Britain of members of the Travelling community to Rathkeale , Co Limerick threatens a significant increase in Covid-19 cases in the town , leading Travellers ’ group , Pavee Point , has warned .
Every December the town ’ s 1,700 population effectively doubles to 3,000 with members of the Travelling community arriving to visit relatives ; but , often , to hold weddings and other gatherings .
“ Everybody is absolutely [ right ] to be concerned about Rathkeale , ” said Pavee Point co-director Martin Collins , who said those gathering in large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , potentially there could be deaths ” .
From last March , he said he had warned against the traditional early December return by Travellers to Rathkeale because “ of the risk of contracting and spreading the virus , not just in the Traveller community but also in the settled community ” .
Members of his own family living in London , made the “ devastating ” decision not to travel : “ Under the circumstances , it ’ s the right thing to do , it ’ s the most responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Irish Times .
Calling for a ban on the sale or renting of marquees , he said : “ During the pandemic I ’ ve seen many Travellers hiring marquees , and having parties in their own back yards , birthday parties , anniversaries , and so forth , and that ’ s just not on , it ’ s not acceptable.
” Meanwhile , a number of files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions following incidents dealt with by gardaí in Rathkeale across the Christmas period “ involving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and on public thoroughfares in the town ” .
Videos taken at a number of house parties in the town , with large crowds , no social distancing and no masks , have been shared widely locally in the past few days , prompting calls for extra gardaí to be deployed .
“ The videos circulating are very alarming .
The local community is very concerned and upset and they feel forgotten about and left behind , ” said Fianna Fáil Minister of State Niall Collins , who sought details of the Garda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ town , but was refused .
The latest Covid-19 figures available from the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) broken down by local electoral area put the 14-day incidence rate in the Adare-Rathkeale district at above the national average .
The data , collected between December 8th and the 21st , put the number of Covid-19 cases in the district – which includes 27,000 people and extends far beyond Rathkeale ’ s own boundaries – at 353.7 per 100,000 .
The numbers per 100,000 for other parts of Limerick then were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : 260.3 ; City North : 109.5 ; City West : 106 ; and Cappamore-Kilmallock , with 74.7 cases per 100,000 people .
In September , two local councillors , Fine Gael ’ s Adam Teskey and Independent Emmett O ’ Brien , raised concerns about the Christmas risks , though both were then criticised for doing so .
The numbers , Cllr O ’ Brien told The Irish Times , had caused “ a predictable soar ” in cases .
Agreeing with Pavee Point ’ s advice that people should not travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this stage we are probably gone past that point .
What I would ask is for people to adhere to proper etiquette and public health guidelines .
“ People are fearful , and say to me that when some people are challenged who aren ’ t wearing face masks , that they get abused .
I don ’ t know if they are members of the Travelling community or not , but they can certainly be categorised as people who have returned to Rathkeale for the Christmas period , ” the TD added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relations officer of the Rathkeale Community Council , said Rathkeale was being unfairly singled out .
Visitor numbers were up , but there was little evidence that masking or social distancing rules were being broken , he said .
Businesses “ are sticking very closely to the guidelines , and you can ’ t walk into a shop ... without a mask – that ’ s what I ’ m genuinely seeing , genuinely ” , Mr Lamont said .
“ Lots of positive things have happened in the last quarter of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ premises , to say to customers that Rathkeale is safe , we appreciate your business and we don ’ t take it for granted , ” he said .
The HSE held a Covid-19 “ pop-up ” test clinic in Rathkeale on December 21st and tested 121 people : “ There are no plans for any further pop-up testing facilities before the new year , ” said a HSE spokesman .
The HSE , as it did last year , has set up a triage clinic in the town that will operate until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Year ’ s Day .
Last year , it treated 422 people over 19 days .

Martin Collins warned against the traditional early December return by Travellers to Rathkeale because ‘of the risk of contracting and spreading the virus, not just in the Traveller community but also in the settled community’.
The traditional Christmas return from Britain of members of the Travelling community to Rathkeale, Co Limerick threatens a significant increase in Covid-19 cases in the town, leading Travellers' group, Pavee Point, has warned.
Every December the town’s 1,700 population effectively doubles to 3,000 with members of the Travelling community arriving to visit relatives; but, often, to hold weddings and other gatherings.
"Everybody is absolutely [right] to be concerned about Rathkeale," said Pavee Point co-director Martin Collins, who said those gathering in large numbers were "playing Russian roulette, and, potentially there could be deaths".
Rathkeale, Co Limerick: David Lamont, public relations officer of the Rathkeale Community Council, says the town is being unfairly singled out. Photograph: Liam Burke/ Press 22
From last March, he said he had warned against the traditional early December return by Travellers to Rathkeale because “of the risk of contracting and spreading the virus, not just in the Traveller community but also in the settled community”.
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Members of his own family living in London, made the “devastating” decision not to travel: “Under the circumstances, it’s the right thing to do, it’s the most responsible thing to do,” he told The Irish Times.
Calling for a ban on the sale or renting of marquees, he said: “During the pandemic I’ve seen many Travellers hiring marquees, and having parties in their own back yards, birthday parties, anniversaries, and so forth, and that’s just not on, it’s not acceptable.”
Meanwhile, a number of files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions following incidents dealt with by gardaí in Rathkeale across the Christmas period “involving gatherings by large groups at private establishments and on public thoroughfares in the town”.
Videos taken at a number of house parties in the town, with large crowds, no social distancing and no masks, have been shared widely locally in the past few days, prompting calls for extra gardaí to be deployed.
"The videos circulating are very alarming. The local community is very concerned and upset and they feel forgotten about and left behind," said Fianna Fáil Minister of State Niall Collins, who sought details of the Garda's Christmas policing plan for the town, but was refused.
Covid-19 figures
The latest Covid-19 figures available from the Health Protection and Surveillance Centre (HPSC) broken down by local electoral area put the 14-day incidence rate in the Adare-Rathkeale district at above the national average.
The data, collected between December 8th and the 21st, put the number of Covid-19 cases in the district – which includes 27,000 people and extends far beyond Rathkeale’s own boundaries – at 353.7 per 100,000.
The numbers per 100,000 for other parts of Limerick then were Newcastle West: 266.3; City East: 260.3; City North: 109.5; City West: 106; and Cappamore-Kilmallock, with 74.7 cases per 100,000 people.
In September, two local councillors, Fine Gael's Adam Teskey and Independent Emmett O'Brien, raised concerns about the Christmas risks, though both were then criticised for doing so. The numbers, Cllr O'Brien told The Irish Times, had caused "a predictable soar" in cases.
Agreeing with Pavee Point’s advice that people should not travel, Mr Collins said: “At this stage we are probably gone past that point. What I would ask is for people to adhere to proper etiquette and public health guidelines.
“People are fearful, and say to me that when some people are challenged who aren’t wearing face masks, that they get abused. I don’t know if they are members of the Travelling community or not, but they can certainly be categorised as people who have returned to Rathkeale for the Christmas period,” the TD added.
However, David Lamont, public relations officer of the Rathkeale Community Council, said Rathkeale was being unfairly singled out. Visitor numbers were up, but there was little evidence that masking or social distancing rules were being broken, he said.
Businesses “are sticking very closely to the guidelines, and you can’t walk into a shop...without a mask – that’s what I’m genuinely seeing, genuinely”, Mr Lamont said.
“Lots of positive things have happened in the last quarter of this year, with businesses refurbishing and painting premises, to say to customers that Rathkeale is safe, we appreciate your business and we don’t take it for granted,” he said.
The HSE held a Covid-19 “pop-up” test clinic in Rathkeale on December 21st and tested 121 people: “There are no plans for any further pop-up testing facilities before the new year,” said a HSE spokesman.
The HSE, as it did last year, has set up a triage clinic in the town that will operate until January 8th, bar Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Last year, it treated 422 people over 19 days.


theirishtimes--2020-12-29--Billy Wright murder: Dublin was concerned about loyalist’s prison transfer

The Irish government expressed its concern about the transfer of the Loyalist Volunteer Force ( LVF ) leader Billy Wright from Maghaberry prison to the high-security Maze , eight months before he was assassinated inside the latter jail .
The Irish joint secretary David Donoghue noted in April 1997 that Wright had requested the transfer for his own safety .
However , Donoghue “ emphasised Irish side concerns about Prisoner Wright ’ s motives being sinister , and its implications for the CLMC ( Combined Loyalist Military Command ) ceasefire ” .
Defending the decision to transfer the notorious loyalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peter Bell , described the move by the Northern Ireland Prison Agency as having been made “ on pragmatic grounds and for the maintenance of good order within the prisons system as a whole ” .
Throughout 1997 threats from Wright ’ s LVF and other factions had an impact on the routine of British and Irish officials working at the Anglo-Irish secretariat Maryfield , outside Belfast .
One note in April 1997 reports that a meeting had to be downgraded “ because of preoccupations earlier this week with the reported threat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Irish side staff installing security equipment on their homes in Dublin ” .
There is also a reference to another meeting being disrupted by helicopter noise , as Irish officials chose to fly directly to Maryfield more often rather than travel overland .
In October 1997 the LVF gave “ members of the Maryfield secretariat ... 48 hours from midnight tonight to resign or become legitimate targets ” .
The threat was “ utterly condemned ” by minister for foreign affairs David Andrews , who pledged his “ strong support to any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in conjunction with us , to assure their safety ” .
In December 1997 , eight months after having requested a transfer to the Maze , Billy Wright was murdered inside the jail by INLA gunmen who climbed over a roof to target the loyalist as he was being transported to a visiting block to see his girlfriend .

The Irish government expressed its concern about the transfer of the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) leader Billy Wright from Maghaberry prison to the high-security Maze, eight months before he was assassinated inside the latter jail.
The Irish joint secretary David Donoghue noted in April 1997 that Wright had requested the transfer for his own safety. However, Donoghue “emphasised Irish side concerns about Prisoner Wright’s motives being sinister, and its implications for the CLMC (Combined Loyalist Military Command) ceasefire”.
Defending the decision to transfer the notorious loyalist, Donoghue’s British counterpart, Peter Bell, described the move by the Northern Ireland Prison Agency as having been made “on pragmatic grounds and for the maintenance of good order within the prisons system as a whole”.
Throughout 1997 threats from Wright’s LVF and other factions had an impact on the routine of British and Irish officials working at the Anglo-Irish secretariat Maryfield, outside Belfast. One note in April 1997 reports that a meeting had to be downgraded “because of preoccupations earlier this week with the reported threat to staff working at Maryfield and the absence of Irish side staff installing security equipment on their homes in Dublin”.
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There is also a reference to another meeting being disrupted by helicopter noise, as Irish officials chose to fly directly to Maryfield more often rather than travel overland.
In October 1997 the LVF gave “members of the Maryfield secretariat ... 48 hours from midnight tonight to resign or become legitimate targets”. The threat was “utterly condemned” by minister for foreign affairs David Andrews, who pledged his “strong support to any action taken by the British government, in conjunction with us, to assure their safety”.
In December 1997, eight months after having requested a transfer to the Maze, Billy Wright was murdered inside the jail by INLA gunmen who climbed over a roof to target the loyalist as he was being transported to a visiting block to see his girlfriend.


theirishtimes--2020-12-29--Criminal trials at Croke Park worth over €400,000 to GAA

Croke Park is to be used for holding criminal trials during the first three months of 2021 , in a deal with the GAA worth €437,000 .
Conference facilities in the State ’ s largest stadium are to be used by the Courts Service to provide rooms suitable for court hearings where the number of parties involved – lawyers , jurors , witnesses and others – would exceed the numbers that could be safely hosted inside most regular courtrooms , or for trials expected to last longer than usual .
As well as the rental costs , the use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €302,000 when catering , security , and ICT costs are factored in , a Courts Service spokesman said .
The Courts Service and the GAA have worked on arranging suitable and safe facilities for those who are required to appear before the courts , practitioners who might work there , judges , staff , members of the Irish Prison Service , and members of An Garda Síochána , the spokesman said .
The new court facility will allow for three courts to sit , and it is planned to provide up to 200 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs from January to March .
The initiative is part of the plan to ensure as much court business as possible can continue safely during the pandemic .
Angela Denning , chief executive of the service , has spoken on a number of occasions about the difficulty of finding non-court buildings where jury trials can be held safely , in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic .
The contract with Croke Park was signed by Ms Denning and Mark Dorman , head of stadium at Croke Park .
In sourcing suitable venues outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very specific requirements which must be met in order to run hearings safely , particularly the need for different routes of access and egress for the different court users , the spokesman said .
A team involving health and safety , operations , ICT and facilities management has been involved in assessing venues that might be suitable for court hearings , he said .
“ We have been challenged across the country to try and facilitate criminal trials , in suitable and safe locations , amidst our responsibilities to keep courts operational and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court users safe , ” said Ms Denning .
Outside Dublin the service has being using 12 non-court venues , and feedback from jurors and others has been very positive , she said .
Mr Dorman said it was appropriate that Croke Park , a “ great national institution ” , should be used as a vital support for the democratic functioning of the country .
The stadium , he said , is “ not unused to great adversarial battles ” .
As well as the 12 trial centres outside Dublin already in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to add two more , in Sligo and Monaghan , in 2021 .
During the period between April and December of this year , the Courts Service organised 2,100 virtual court hearings , which in turn facilitated thousands of motions , mentions , callovers and lists being heard , as well as full hearings , the spokesman said .
It also facilitated 10,754 video calls from courts to prisons during the period from March to November , a quadrupling of the previous year 's figures , and a further measure designed to reduce @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic .

The new court facility at Croke Park will allow for three courts to sit, and it is planned to provide up to 200 court sitting days during the three-month agreement. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/©INPHO
Croke Park is to be used for holding criminal trials during the first three months of 2021, in a deal with the GAA worth €437,000.
Conference facilities in the State's largest stadium are to be used by the Courts Service to provide rooms suitable for court hearings where the number of parties involved – lawyers, jurors, witnesses and others – would exceed the numbers that could be safely hosted inside most regular courtrooms, or for trials expected to last longer than usual.
As well as the rental costs, the use of the facility will cost a further estimated €302,000 when catering, security, and ICT costs are factored in, a Courts Service spokesman said.
The Courts Service and the GAA have worked on arranging suitable and safe facilities for those who are required to appear before the courts, practitioners who might work there, judges, staff, members of the Irish Prison Service, and members of An Garda Síochána, the spokesman said.
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Three courts
The new court facility will allow for three courts to sit, and it is planned to provide up to 200 court-sitting days during the agreement, which runs from January to March. The initiative is part of the plan to ensure as much court business as possible can continue safely during the pandemic.
Angela Denning, chief executive of the service, has spoken on a number of occasions about the difficulty of finding non-court buildings where jury trials can be held safely, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The contract with Croke Park was signed by Ms Denning and Mark Dorman, head of stadium at Croke Park.
In sourcing suitable venues outside its own estate, the service has very specific requirements which must be met in order to run hearings safely, particularly the need for different routes of access and egress for the different court users, the spokesman said.
A team involving health and safety, operations, ICT and facilities management has been involved in assessing venues that might be suitable for court hearings, he said.
“We have been challenged across the country to try and facilitate criminal trials, in suitable and safe locations, amidst our responsibilities to keep courts operational and staff, the judiciary, jurors and court users safe,” said Ms Denning.
Outside Dublin the service has being using 12 non-court venues, and feedback from jurors and others has been very positive, she said.
Mr Dorman said it was appropriate that Croke Park, a “great national institution”, should be used as a vital support for the democratic functioning of the country.
The stadium, he said, is “not unused to great adversarial battles”.
As well as the 12 trial centres outside Dublin already in operation, the Courts Service had plans to add two more, in Sligo and Monaghan, in 2021.
Virtual court hearings
During the period between April and December of this year, the Courts Service organised 2,100 virtual court hearings, which in turn facilitated thousands of motions, mentions, callovers and lists being heard, as well as full hearings, the spokesman said.
It also facilitated 10,754 video calls from courts to prisons during the period from March to November , a quadrupling of the previous year's figures, and a further measure designed to reduce contacts and movements, in the context of the pandemic.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--North’s Assembly to be recalled to debate post-Brexit trade deal

The speaker of the North ’ s Assembly is to be asked to recall MLAs from Christmas recess to debate the post-Brexit trade deal agreed between the EU and the UK .
The First and Deputy First Ministers agreed to write to the speaker , Alex Maskey , after ministers met on Monday to discuss the deal for the first time since it was reached on Christmas Eve .
The Sinn Féin whip , the MLA John O ’ Dowd , had proposed the recall , saying it was important the Assembly meet to debate the deal and to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reiterate our call for the full implementation of the withdrawal agreement and Irish [ Northern Ireland ] protocol ” .
The debate is expected to take place on Wednesday .
The North ’ s Minister for Finance , the Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy , said on Monday that MLAs should “ have a chance to discuss the agreement that has been reached , the implications for here , to reaffirm our opposition – because the majority of the MLAs in Assembly oppose leaving the European Union , we were taken out against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the protocol , which is the limited protection that we have against the worst excesses of Brexit , is faithfully implemented to at least offset some of the damage ” .
Meanwhile , the DUP ’ s eight MPs have said they will vote against the deal when it is debated in the House of Commons on Wednesday .
The DUP and other unionist parties are opposed to the Northern Ireland protocol because it creates a border in the Irish Sea .
Pro-Remain parties – which include Sinn Féin , the SDLP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and characterised the deal last week as a relief rather than a cause for celebration .
In a statement issued on Monday evening , the DUP said it had considered the broad aspects of the deal , and had concluded that it “ does not assist Northern Ireland in the context of having to operate under the Northern Ireland Protocol ” .
For this reason , the party said , its MPs would vote against it “ as a point of principle and not because we supported a no deal option ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tariff and quota free trade between the UK and the EU and thus reducing the impact on the GB to NI trade flows , ” DUP leader Arlene Foster said , “ we still have many negative issues arising from the protocol .
“ On that basis we will vote against this agreement .
We will continue to work to mitigate the worst excesses of the separate Northern Ireland arrangements whilst exploring new opportunities for Northern Ireland , ” she said .
The outcome of the vote is not in doubt , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BBC on Monday that this was no reason for the party not to “ articulate concerns people in Northern Ireland have about the deal ” .
“ Many things have been left unaddressed and kicked down the road ... we ’ ll be saying to the government that these are still issues which we believe are resolvable , ” he said .
“ We expect you [ the government ] to fulfil promises you ’ ve made to the people of Northern Ireland but you haven ’ t done it to date , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Meanwhile , for the first time in more than 20 years people travelling to the State from British ports and airports will be able to load their luggage or their cars with tax-free tobacco , alcohol , perfumes and so-called luxury items once the new year bells chime in less than a week .
Duty-free between Ireland and Britain was abolished 21 years ago as it was not considered compatible with the emerging single market .
However with the UK now leaving the EU and its single market from the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to revert .
The new duty-free rules will not , however , apply to people travelling between Northern Ireland and the Republic .
While duty free sales for passengers travelling within the EU were abolished in the late 1990s , they remained for all non-EU destinations .

The DUP’s eight MPs have said they will vote against the deal when it is debated in the House of Commons on Wednesday. File photograph: Justin Tallis / AFP via Getty Images
The speaker of the North’s Assembly is to be asked to recall MLAs from Christmas recess to debate the post-Brexit trade deal agreed between the EU and the UK.
The First and Deputy First Ministers agreed to write to the speaker, Alex Maskey, after ministers met on Monday to discuss the deal for the first time since it was reached on Christmas Eve.
The Sinn Féin whip, the MLA John O’Dowd, had proposed the recall, saying it was important the Assembly meet to debate the deal and to “reaffirm our opposition to Brexit and to reiterate our call for the full implementation of the withdrawal agreement and Irish [Northern Ireland] protocol”.
The debate is expected to take place on Wednesday.
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The North's Minister for Finance, the Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy, said on Monday that MLAs should "have a chance to discuss the agreement that has been reached, the implications for here, to reaffirm our opposition – because the majority of the MLAs in Assembly oppose leaving the European Union, we were taken out against our democratic wishes – and to ensure that the protocol, which is the limited protection that we have against the worst excesses of Brexit, is faithfully implemented to at least offset some of the damage".
Meanwhile, the DUP’s eight MPs have said they will vote against the deal when it is debated in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
The DUP and other unionist parties are opposed to the Northern Ireland protocol because it creates a border in the Irish Sea. Pro-Remain parties – which include Sinn Féin, the SDLP and Alliance – continue to oppose Brexit and characterised the deal last week as a relief rather than a cause for celebration.
In a statement issued on Monday evening, the DUP said it had considered the broad aspects of the deal, and had concluded that it “does not assist Northern Ireland in the context of having to operate under the Northern Ireland Protocol”.
For this reason, the party said, its MPs would vote against it “as a point of principle and not because we supported a no deal option”.
"Whilst recognising this agreement brings about tariff and quota free trade between the UK and the EU and thus reducing the impact on the GB to NI trade flows," DUP leader Arlene Foster said, "we still have many negative issues arising from the protocol.
“On that basis we will vote against this agreement. We will continue to work to mitigate the worst excesses of the separate Northern Ireland arrangements whilst exploring new opportunities for Northern Ireland,” she said.
Duty-free items
The outcome of the vote is not in doubt, but the DUP MP Sammy Wilson told the BBC on Monday that this was no reason for the party not to "articulate concerns people in Northern Ireland have about the deal".
“Many things have been left unaddressed and kicked down the road... we’ll be saying to the government that these are still issues which we believe are resolvable,” he said.
“We expect you [the government] to fulfil promises you’ve made to the people of Northern Ireland but you haven’t done it to date, so don’t expect our support.”
Meanwhile, for the first time in more than 20 years people travelling to the State from British ports and airports will be able to load their luggage or their cars with tax-free tobacco, alcohol, perfumes and so-called luxury items once the new year bells chime in less than a week.
Duty-free between Ireland and Britain was abolished 21 years ago as it was not considered compatible with the emerging single market. However with the UK now leaving the EU and its single market from the start of next year the old rules are set to revert.
The new duty-free rules will not, however, apply to people travelling between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
While duty free sales for passengers travelling within the EU were abolished in the late 1990s, they remained for all non-EU destinations.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Death of well-known priest Msgr Tom Stack

The death has taken place of Msgr Tom Stack , former parish priest at Milltown in Dublin , regular contributor to The Irish Times and frequent guest on radio and television programmes .
He died peacefully at Our Lady ’ s Hospice in Harold ’ s Cross on Sunday .
From Limerick , Msgr Stack was educated at Crescent College there , UCD , Clonliffe College in Dublin and Harvard University .
As well as his work in journalism , he was a member of the Radharc film documentary team that produced award-winning programmes on religious , social and cultural @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
From 1975 he was deputy director at the Catholic Communications Office for a period when it was based in Booterstown , Co Dublin .
He was also author of a number of books , including No Earthly Estate : God and Patrick Kavanagh : An Anthology .
His funeral will be private due to current Government advice .
The removal can be viewed live online at www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/milltown-parish on Wednesday at 5pm and the funeral Mass live online on Thursday at 10am .
The funeral cortege will travel north along Milltown Road , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approximately 11am .

The death has taken place of Msgr Tom Stack, former parish priest at Milltown in Dublin, regular contributor to The Irish Times and frequent guest on radio and television programmes. He died peacefully at Our Lady's Hospice in Harold's Cross on Sunday.
From Limerick, Msgr Stack was educated at Crescent College there, UCD, Clonliffe College in Dublin and Harvard University. As well as his work in journalism, he was a member of the Radharc film documentary team that produced award-winning programmes on religious, social and cultural topics for RTÉ between 1961 and 1996.
From 1975 he was deputy director at the Catholic Communications Office for a period when it was based in Booterstown, Co Dublin. He was also author of a number of books, including No Earthly Estate: God and Patrick Kavanagh: An Anthology.
His funeral will be private due to current Government advice. The removal can be viewed live online at www.mcnmedia.tv/camera/milltown-parish on Wednesday at 5pm and the funeral Mass live online on Thursday at 10am.
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The funeral cortege will travel north along Milltown Road, en route to the cemetery, at approximately 11am.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--A happy ewe year for Donegal farming family

It ’ s already a very happy ewe year for one Donegal farming family .
Christopher and Niamh McLaughlin from @ @ @ @ @ over the moon after their Belclare ewe had five lambs .
This was the first @ @ @ @ @ five lambs to one ewe on their farm on the Inishowen peninsula .
The quintuplet @ @ @ @ @ .
Triplet lambs are unusual and quads even more so but the arrival of quintuplet @ @ @ @ @ said everyone was speechless after the five newborns arrived safe and sound .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ this before and there was a lot of excitement .
“ We are all just @ @ @ @ @ safely and it was great to see them all healthy and jumping around .
“ @ @ @ @ @ best Christmas present ever , ” she added .

Christopher and Niamh McLaughlin with the five newborn lambs and their mother.
It's already a very happy ewe year for one Donegal farming family.
Christopher and Niamh McLaughlin from the Isle of Doagh were over the moon after their Belclare ewe had five lambs.
This was the first time the McLaughlins ever recorded five lambs to one ewe on their farm on the Inishowen peninsula.
The quintuplet lambs were born on Sunday.
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Triplet lambs are unusual and quads even more so but the arrival of quintuplet lambs is rare.
Niamh said everyone was speechless after the five newborns arrived safe and sound.
“We have never had anything like this before and there was a lot of excitement.
“We are all just so happy that they arrived safely and it was great to see them all healthy and jumping around.
“This was by far the best Christmas present ever,” she added.
Ewe said it, Niamh!


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Four retrofitting ‘centres of excellence’ open to upskill 2,000 people

Four centres to train 2,000 people in retrofitting skills are to be opened in education and training board ( ETB ) centres around the country .
The centres of excellence will open in Limerick and Clare ETB , Mayo Sligo and Leitrim ETB , Cork ETB and Laois & Offaly ETB within the next three months .
Announcing the “ centres of excellence ” , Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said the Government had set ambitious targets to retrofit 300,000 homes by 2030 “ but we need to ensure we have the workers to deliver it ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efficient to ensure lower energy and heating bills , and Mr Harris said the four centres of excellence would train 2,000 people in retrofit skills including qualifications in near zero energy building .
This training is already provided at a number of further and higher education facilities and the Minister said “ retrofitting centres of excellence provide the very highest standards of training and qualifications to people attending them ” .
“ This is a very important area of the economy and there are huge employment opportunities within it.
” He said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particular focus for Bord na Móna employees , including a six-day “ skills to advance ” programme in thermal insulation installation .
Bord na Móna employees lost their jobs when the ESB ceased production earlier this month at its peat-powered plant at Shannonbridge , Co Offaly and in Lanesboro , Co Longford .
“ We have a significant body of work to do to ensure Ireland is climate ready and we need workers to have the right skills to deliver on these huge challenges , ” Mr Harris said .
He said this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers who want to “ upskill in the area of green skills ” .

Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, says the Government aims to retrofit 300,000 homes by 2030 but ‘we need to ensure we have the workers to deliver it’. Photograph: Brian Lawless/ PA Wire
Four centres to train 2,000 people in retrofitting skills are to be opened in education and training board (ETB) centres around the country.
The centres of excellence will open in Limerick and Clare ETB, Mayo Sligo and Leitrim ETB, Cork ETB and Laois & Offaly ETB within the next three months.
Announcing the “centres of excellence”, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said the Government had set ambitious targets to retrofit 300,000 homes by 2030 “but we need to ensure we have the workers to deliver it”.
Retrofitting involves making homes more energy efficient to ensure lower energy and heating bills, and Mr Harris said the four centres of excellence would train 2,000 people in retrofit skills including qualifications in near zero energy building.
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High standards
This training is already provided at a number of further and higher education facilities and the Minister said “retrofitting centres of excellence provide the very highest standards of training and qualifications to people attending them”.
“This is a very important area of the economy and there are huge employment opportunities within it.”
He said the Laois & Offaly ETB would have a particular focus for Bord na Móna employees, including a six-day “skills to advance” programme in thermal insulation installation.
Bord na Móna employees lost their jobs when the ESB ceased production earlier this month at its peat-powered plant at Shannonbridge, Co Offaly and in Lanesboro, Co Longford.
“We have a significant body of work to do to ensure Ireland is climate ready and we need workers to have the right skills to deliver on these huge challenges,” Mr Harris said.
He said this training would also be suitable for construction workers who want to “upskill in the area of green skills”.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Four charged following assault incident on Christmas Eve in Killarney

Four people have been arrested and charged following an assault and public order incident in Killarney , Co Kerry , @ @ @ @ @ detained a woman in her 40s and three men , one in his 40s and @ @ @ @ @ on Monday following a number of searches as part of an investigation into what a @ @ @ @ @ incidents of criminality ” at Hazelwood Drive , Killarney , in the early hours of @ @ @ @ @ were searched and a number of items were seized , including baseball bats , slash @ @ @ @ @ said that two of the persons arrested , a man and a woman both aged @ @ @ @ @ being detained in Killarney Garda station , while two males aged in their 20s were @ @ @ @ @ station .
All were being held under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , @ @ @ @ @ been charged and are scheduled to appear before Mallow District Court on Tuesday , December @ @

Four people have been charged following an assault and public order incident in Killarney, Co Kerry, on Christmas Eve. File photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times
Four people have been arrested and charged following an assault and public order incident in Killarney, Co Kerry, on Christmas Eve.
Gardaí detained a woman in her 40s and three men, one in his 40s and two in their 20s, on Monday following a number of searches as part of an investigation into what a Garda statement said were “incidents of criminality” at Hazelwood Drive, Killarney, in the early hours of December 24th.
Four properties were searched and a number of items were seized, including baseball bats, slash hooks and pitchforks.
Gardaí said that two of the persons arrested, a man and a woman both aged in their 40s, were being detained in Killarney Garda station, while two males aged in their 20s were being detained in Tralee Garda station.
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All were being held under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
The four have been charged and are scheduled to appear before Mallow District Court on Tuesday, December 29th.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Q&A: Where am I in the coronavirus vaccine queue?

The first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine are to be administered in Ireland in four acute hospitals on Tuesday .
Initially , the plan had been to go directly to nursing homes , but the National Immunisation Advisory Committee said it would prefer the first tranche be given in healthcare settings after some reports of anaphylaxis , an allergic reaction , in the UK and the United States .
The plan is to vaccinate 20,000 people a week from early January , with this increasing to 40,000 over the course of the month as supply comes on stream .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Older residents in long-term residential care facilities , such as nursing homes , and frontline healthcare workers will be prioritised .
After that will be : people aged 70 and above ; other healthcare workers ; people aged 65-69 ; key workers ; people at risk due to medical conditions ; and those living or working in crowded conditions .
This will be followed by people working in education ; those aged 55-64 ; workers in other occupations important to the functioning of society ; people aged between 18 and 54 ; and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under 18 .
How will it work ?
When each cohort is being vaccinated people will be required to register online or by phone , and will be given a scheduled appointment at a vaccination centre or other location .
Upon arrival the details of the patient will be confirmed , and they will fill in a consent form before receiving the injection into their upper arm .
They will be required to wait for 15 minutes to allow staff monitor for any immediate adverse reactions to the drug .
The required second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 21 days later , with a reminder sent for the second appointment .
The Health Service Executive has said common side effects may include muscle pains , headaches , tiredness or swelling in the upper arm .
Often people can develop a fever after a vaccination , particularly after the second dose .
The fever can develop after 48 hours and normally lasts for about two days .
How will it work in nursing homes ?
The HSE ’ s plan to inoculate the 70,000 residents and staff in the vulnerable nursing-home sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small numbers of vaccinations taking place in care homes before this date .
It is expected to take until the end of February to administer two doses of the vaccine across more than 580 facilities .
A team of vaccinators will arrive on site to deliver the vaccine in a dedicated area of the nursing home .
Smaller nursing homes with 30 residents or fewer will require one team of four vaccinators , with all doses delivered in a day , and the second dose 21 days later .
Larger facilities with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days to deliver the vaccine per dose .
Who will be administering the vaccines ?
All vaccinators will be qualified healthcare professionals .
While the process is relatively straightforward , the vaccinators are to receive specific training in the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccines .
In the initial phase when vaccine supplies are limited the programme will be led by 180 community healthcare vaccinators , who run the HSE schools vaccination programme .
The HSE has said a further 1,500 vaccinators are to become available in the acute hospital system as the roll-out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GPs and pharmacists ?
General practitioners and pharmacists will form part of the vaccination plan only after the initial phase covering frontline healthcare workers and residential care homes .
When large numbers of doses become available the second phase will see the vaccine delivered via GP clinics , pharmacies and mass vaccination centres .
Current Covid-19 swabbing centres may be repurposed as large vaccination sites , such as the National Exhibition Centre in Cloghran , north county Dublin .

A health worker receives his vaccination shot of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine at a hospital, in Ventspils, Latvia, on Monday. Photograph: Toms Kalnins/EPA
The first doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine were administered in Ireland in four acute hospitals on Tuesday, December 29th.
Initially, the plan had been to go directly to nursing homes, but the National Immunisation Advisory Committee said it preferred the first tranche be given in healthcare settings after some reports of anaphylaxis, an allergic reaction, in the UK and the United States.
The plan is to vaccinate 20,000 people a week from early January, with this increasing to 40,000 over the course of the month as supply comes on stream.
Where am I in the queue?
Older residents in long-term residential care facilities, such as nursing homes, and frontline healthcare workers will be prioritised.
READ MORE
After that will be: people aged 70 and above; other healthcare workers; people aged 65-69; key workers; people at risk due to medical conditions; and those living or working in crowded conditions.
This will be followed by people working in education; those aged 55-64; workers in other occupations important to the functioning of society; people aged between 18 and 54; and, finally, pregnant women and those under 18.
How will it work?
When each cohort is being vaccinated people will be required to register online or by phone, and will be given a scheduled appointment at a vaccination centre or other location.
Upon arrival the details of the patient will be confirmed, and they will fill in a consent form before receiving the injection into their upper arm.
They will be required to wait for 15 minutes to allow staff monitor for any immediate adverse reactions to the drug.
The required second dose of the vaccine will be administered 21 days later, with a reminder sent for the second appointment.
Should I expect any side effects?
The Health Service Executive has said common side effects may include muscle pains, headaches, tiredness or swelling in the upper arm.
Often people can develop a fever after a vaccination, particularly after the second dose. The fever can develop after 48 hours and normally lasts for about two days.
How will it work in nursing homes?
The HSE's plan to inoculate the 70,000 residents and staff in the vulnerable nursing-home sector will begin on January 11th, with small numbers of vaccinations taking place in care homes before this date.
It is expected to take until the end of February to administer two doses of the vaccine across more than 580 facilities.
A team of vaccinators will arrive on site to deliver the vaccine in a dedicated area of the nursing home.
Smaller nursing homes with 30 residents or fewer will require one team of four vaccinators, with all doses delivered in a day, and the second dose 21 days later. Larger facilities with more than 120 residents will likely need three days to deliver the vaccine per dose.
Who will be administering the vaccines?
All vaccinators will be qualified healthcare professionals. While the process is relatively straightforward, the vaccinators are to receive specific training in the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccines.
In the initial phase when vaccine supplies are limited the programme will be led by 180 community healthcare vaccinators, who run the HSE schools vaccination programme. The HSE has said a further 1,500 vaccinators are to become available in the acute hospital system as the roll-out plan picks up pace.
What about GPs and pharmacists?
General practitioners and pharmacists will form part of the vaccination plan only after the initial phase covering frontline healthcare workers and residential care homes.
When large numbers of doses become available the second phase will see the vaccine delivered via GP clinics, pharmacies and mass vaccination centres.
Current Covid-19 swabbing centres may be repurposed as large vaccination sites, such as the National Exhibition Centre in Cloghran, north county Dublin.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Players deal with transition to online competition

The year now ending will be remembered for the easy transition from person-to-person competition to online play .
Individuals and clubs adjusted quickly to the technology and , from early April , playing on the web had become the new norm .
Although national competitions were contested online , they were not accorded the status of championships because of security questions .
The European Bridge League issued warnings about online cheating , and some big names in the game were mentioned .
No such problems arose in this country .
According to World Bridge Federation and EBL regulations , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remain at 62 years during 2021 .
A player who reaches the age of 62 during the year will be eligible .
From January 2022 the minimum age will be raised to 63 ; in 2024 it will go up to 64 and will finally settle at 65 in 2026 .
All but one of Ireland ’ s team in next month ’ s open home-international championship are also eligible to play at senior level ; the same holds for the Northern Ireland team .
Apart from the trials to select the national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ireland confined to senior players : the Irish Bridge Union ’ s seniors pairs and teams championships , normally held during April .
The European championships for national teams – open , women , senior and mixed – are still scheduled for June 12th to 22nd in Funchal , Madeira .
Hopes that normal bridge competition will have resumed by then have been raised by the promise of a Covid-19 vaccine .
Tournament players will have a good choice of online competitions throughout January .
Dublin ’ s Regent bridge club will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition on Friday next , January 1st , starting at 1pm .
The club will also run the annual Cairnduff trophy team contest , confined to intermediate grade competitors on Sunday , 3rd of January also commencing at 1pm .
Entry forms are available on the club ’ s website .
Waterford congress is offering pairs competitions only ; they will be played on Friday January 8th and Saturday January 9th .
January 16th and 17th will see the men ’ s and women ’ s national pairs and teams contests , although @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will offer a full programme of events from Friday January 29th to Sunday January 31st while Dún Laoghaire bridge club ’ s annual O ’ Kennedy cup pairs competition will be contested on Sunday 31st .

The year now ending will be remembered for the easy transition from person-to-person competition to online play. Individuals and clubs adjusted quickly to the technology and, from early April, playing on the web had become the new norm. Although national competitions were contested online, they were not accorded the status of championships because of security questions. The European Bridge League issued warnings about online cheating, and some big names in the game were mentioned. No such problems arose in this country.
According to World Bridge Federation and EBL regulations, the minimum age limit for senior players will remain at 62 years during 2021. A player who reaches the age of 62 during the year will be eligible. From January 2022 the minimum age will be raised to 63; in 2024 it will go up to 64 and will finally settle at 65 in 2026.
All but one of Ireland's team in next month's open home-international championship are also eligible to play at senior level; the same holds for the Northern Ireland team. Apart from the trials to select the national squad, there are only two competitions in Ireland confined to senior players: the Irish Bridge Union's seniors pairs and teams championships, normally held during April.
Hopes raised
The European championships for national teams – open, women, senior and mixed – are still scheduled for June 12th to 22nd in Funchal, Madeira. Hopes that normal bridge competition will have resumed by then have been raised by the promise of a Covid-19 vaccine.
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Tournament players will have a good choice of online competitions throughout January. Dublin’s Regent bridge club will organise the traditional Wigoder cup open team competition on Friday next, January 1st, starting at 1pm. The club will also run the annual Cairnduff trophy team contest, confined to intermediate grade competitors on Sunday, 3rd of January also commencing at 1pm. Entry forms are available on the club’s website.
Waterford congress is offering pairs competitions only; they will be played on Friday January 8th and Saturday January 9th. January 16th and 17th will see the men's and women's national pairs and teams contests, although minus their championship status. Ennis congress will offer a full programme of events from Friday January 29th to Sunday January 31st while Dún Laoghaire bridge club's annual O'Kennedy cup pairs competition will be contested on Sunday 31st.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Legislation criminalising sharing of intimate images without consent signed into law

The President has signed into law a Bill criminalising the sharing of intimate images without the subjects ’ consent .
The Harassment , Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill , 2017 , targets so-called revenge porn , where people distribute intimate photos of others online to embarrass or harass their victims .
It will be known as “ Coco ’ s Law ” after Nicole Fox ( 21 ) , who took her own life after years of online harassment and whose mother campaigned for strengthened legislation in this regard .
“ Having considered the Harassment , Harmful Communications and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Higgins has today signed the Bill and it has accordingly become law , ” a statement from President Michael D Higgins said on Monday .
The legislation was first proposed by former Labour leader Brendan Howlin before being adopted by the Government .
It will create two new offences .
The first will make it a crime to take , distribute , publish or threaten to distribute intimate images without the subjects ’ consent and with the intent to cause harm .
This will be punishable by up to seven years in prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , less serious , offence involves doing the same but with no intent to cause harm .
It carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and a €5,000 fine .
It will be irrelevant to both offences if the subject consented to the image initially being taken if it is then subsequently published or distributed without consent .
If the offender was in an intimate relationship with the victim at the time then this should be considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing , the law states .

The President has signed into law a Bill criminalising the sharing of intimate images without the subjects’ consent. File photograph: Getty Images/iStockphoto
The President has signed into law a Bill criminalising the sharing of intimate images without the subjects’ consent.
The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill, 2017, targets so-called revenge porn, where people distribute intimate photos of others online to embarrass or harass their victims.
It will be known as "Coco's Law" after Nicole Fox (21), who took her own life after years of online harassment and whose mother campaigned for strengthened legislation in this regard.
"Having considered the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Bill, 2017, President Higgins has today signed the Bill and it has accordingly become law," a statement from President Michael D Higgins said on Monday.
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The legislation was first proposed by former Labour leader Brendan Howlin before being adopted by the Government.
It will create two new offences. The first will make it a crime to take, distribute, publish or threaten to distribute intimate images without the subjects’ consent and with the intent to cause harm. This will be punishable by up to seven years in prison and an unlimited fine.
The second, less serious, offence involves doing the same but with no intent to cause harm. It carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and a €5,000 fine.
It will be irrelevant to both offences if the subject consented to the image initially being taken if it is then subsequently published or distributed without consent.
If the offender was in an intimate relationship with the victim at the time then this should be considered an aggravating factor for the purposes of sentencing, the law states.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Brexit: Duty-free makes a come-back for travellers returning from Britain

For the first time in more than 20 years people travelling to the State from British ports and airports will be able to load their luggage or their cars with tax-free tobacco , alcohol , perfumes and so-called luxury items once the new year bells chime in less than a week .
Duty-free between Ireland and Britain was abolished 21 years ago as it was not considered compatible with the emerging single market .
However with the UK now leaving the EU and its single market from the start next year the old rules are set to revert .
Airports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ferry companies and airlines will be optimistic their ability to sell duty free products to passengers travelling to and from Britain will offer them a much-needed additional revenue stream as they continue to struggle with the pandemic which has been , by any measure , the single greatest crisis to hit the modern travel industry , The new duty-free rules will not , however , apply to people travelling between Northern Ireland and the Republic .
While duty free sales for passengers travelling within the EU were abolished in the late 1990s , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Speaking this week , the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar said duty free would be on offer to travellers once flights resume .
A ban on flights and ferries from Britain into the Republic is in place until December 31st due to a new more-contagious strain of the Covid-19 .
“ There will be duty free when we can start flying again between Britain and Ireland , ” Mr Varadkar said .
That does not , however , mean Irish people will have unfettered access to cheaper cigarettes and alcohol .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-EU countries can bring in goods free of duty and tax if their combined value is no more than €430 if the passenger is 15 or over or €215 if they are under 15 .
Technically , then , a family of two adults and two children returning from a weekend in the British capital could bring in a total of €1,290 as long as they could divide it up as necessary .
In addition to a duty-free allowance for general goods , travellers will have allowances for alcohol and tobacco products .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ cigarillos , 50 cigars or 250g of smoking tobacco .
Under Revenue ’ s rules people will be allowed one litre of spirits or two litres of other alcoholic drinks with no more than 22 per cent alcohol .
These might include port , sherry , sparkling wine and some liqueurs Up to four litres of wine and 16 litres of beer will also be exempt from duty under the new post-Brexit rules .

Duty-free between Ireland and Britain was abolished 21 years ago as it was not considered compatible with the emerging single market. Photograph: iStock
For the first time in more than 20 years people travelling to the State from British ports and airports will be able to load their luggage or their cars with tax-free tobacco, alcohol, perfumes and so-called luxury items once the new year bells chime in less than a week.
Duty-free between Ireland and Britain was abolished 21 years ago as it was not considered compatible with the emerging single market. However with the UK now leaving the EU and its single market from the start next year the old rules are set to revert.
Airports and ports in Ireland as well as ferry companies and airlines will be optimistic their ability to sell duty free products to passengers travelling to and from Britain will offer them a much-needed additional revenue stream as they continue to struggle with the pandemic which has been, by any measure, the single greatest crisis to hit the modern travel industry, The new duty-free rules will not, however, apply to people travelling between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
While duty free sales for passengers travelling within the EU were abolished in the late 1990s, they remained for all non-EU destinations.
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Speaking this week, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Leo Varadkar said duty free would be on offer to travellers once flights resume. A ban on flights and ferries from Britain into the Republic is in place until December 31st due to a new more-contagious strain of the Covid-19 .
"There will be duty free when we can start flying again between Britain and Ireland," Mr Varadkar said.
That does not, however, mean Irish people will have unfettered access to cheaper cigarettes and alcohol.
According to Revenue, people travelling from non-EU countries can bring in goods free of duty and tax if their combined value is no more than €430 if the passenger is 15 or over or €215 if they are under 15.
Technically, then, a family of two adults and two children returning from a weekend in the British capital could bring in a total of €1,290 as long as they could divide it up as necessary.
In addition to a duty-free allowance for general goods, travellers will have allowances for alcohol and tobacco products. Those allowance permit 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars or 250g of smoking tobacco.
Under Revenue’s rules people will be allowed one litre of spirits or two litres of other alcoholic drinks with no more than 22 per cent alcohol . These might include port, sherry, sparkling wine and some liqueurs
Up to four litres of wine and 16 litres of beer will also be exempt from duty under the new post-Brexit rules.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--British woman fined €1,500 over air rage incident on flight diverted to Cork

A British woman ( 33 ) has been fined €1,500 by a Cork court over an air rage incident on a flight from the Canary Islands to the UK .
The woman became so abusive towards cabin crew that the pilot was forced to divert to Cork because he feared for the safety of everyone on board .
Gemma Campbell from Elston Road in Manchester , England was arrested by gardaí after Jet2 Flight LS910 from Fuertaventura in the Canary Islands to Manchester was forced to divert to Cork Airport on December 27th .
On Monday , at a special @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gearoid Whelton told how he arrested Campbell after the plane , with more than 100 passengers on board , landed at Cork Airport .
He brought her to Togher Garda station where he charged her with two offences arising out of the incident .
Campbell was charged with being intoxicated to such an extent on board Flight LS910 as to give rise to fears that she might endanger herself or other persons on board the flight , contrary to Section 2A ( 1 ) and Section 2A ( 4 ) of the Air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also was charged with engaging in threatening , abusive or insulting behaviour on board Flight LS910 with intent to cause or being reckless to causing a breach of the peace , contrary to Section 2A ( 3 ) and Section 2A ( 4 ) of Air Navigation band Transport Act 1973 .
Garda Whelton gave evidence of arrest , charge and caution and told the court that Campbell made no reply to either charge when he put them to her after caution when he arrested her outside Togher Garda station at 7.45pm on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ BL said his client was anxious to dispose of the matters as speedily as possible and wished to plead guilty to both charges and was deeply remorseful and embarrassed over her behaviour .
Garda Whelton said that Campbell was highly intoxicated on board the flight and became highly abusive towards cabin crew , repeatedly calling one male steward “ a f****t ” and she was removed from her original seat and seated in a separate area .
She was asked to desist but she continued with the abusive behaviour , to such an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safety of all on board , felt he had no option but to divert to Cork where Campbell was arrested before the flight continued to Manchester .
Cross-examined by Mr Boyle , Garda Whelton agreed that Campbell was highly intoxicated during the incident and said she had expressed remorse and apologised for her behaviour when she sobered up while he also confirmed she had no previous convictions of any kind here or in the UK .
Mr Boyle said that his client was self employed with her own cleaning business , employing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and she was deeply embarrassed and ashamed over her behaviour which was out of character for her and down entirely to the consumption of alcohol .
She had consumed alcohol at her hotel in Fuertaventura before going to the airport where she had more drink and cabin crew later found an empty vodka bottle by her seat after a row with her partner escalated to the point that she became abusive towards cabin crew , said Mr Boyle .
Judge Colm Roberts said her behaviour was completely unacceptable , being abusive towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whom she cast “ homophobic slurs ” as well as causing huge disruption to her fellow passengers who had their journey interrupted with the diversion to Cork .
Describing her actions as “ egregious behaviour ” , the judge noted her apology and the fact that it appeared to be out of character for her as he fined €500 for the first offence and a further €1,000 on the second offence .

A British woman (33) has been fined €1,500 by a Cork court over an air rage incident on a flight from the Canary Islands to the UK.
The woman became so abusive towards cabin crew that the pilot was forced to divert to Cork because he feared for the safety of everyone on board.
Gemma Campbell from Elston Road in Manchester, England was arrested by gardaí after Jet2 Flight LS910 from Fuertaventura in the Canary Islands to Manchester was forced to divert to Cork Airport on December 27th.
On Monday, at a special sitting of Cork District Court, Garda Gearoid Whelton told how he arrested Campbell after the plane, with more than 100 passengers on board, landed at Cork Airport. He brought her to Togher Garda station where he charged her with two offences arising out of the incident.
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Campbell was charged with being intoxicated to such an extent on board Flight LS910 as to give rise to fears that she might endanger herself or other persons on board the flight, contrary to Section 2A (1) and Section 2A (4) of the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1973.
She also was charged with engaging in threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour on board Flight LS910 with intent to cause or being reckless to causing a breach of the peace, contrary to Section 2A (3) and Section 2A (4) of Air Navigation band Transport Act 1973.
Garda Whelton gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution and told the court that Campbell made no reply to either charge when he put them to her after caution when he arrested her outside Togher Garda station at 7.45pm on December 27th.
Defence barrister Emmet Boyle BL said his client was anxious to dispose of the matters as speedily as possible and wished to plead guilty to both charges and was deeply remorseful and embarrassed over her behaviour.
Garda Whelton said that Campbell was highly intoxicated on board the flight and became highly abusive towards cabin crew, repeatedly calling one male steward “a f****t” and she was removed from her original seat and seated in a separate area.
She was asked to desist but she continued with the abusive behaviour, to such an extent that the pilot, fearing for the safety of all on board, felt he had no option but to divert to Cork where Campbell was arrested before the flight continued to Manchester.
Cross-examined by Mr Boyle, Garda Whelton agreed that Campbell was highly intoxicated during the incident and said she had expressed remorse and apologised for her behaviour when she sobered up while he also confirmed she had no previous convictions of any kind here or in the UK.
Mr Boyle said that his client was self employed with her own cleaning business, employing two other people as well as herself, and she was deeply embarrassed and ashamed over her behaviour which was out of character for her and down entirely to the consumption of alcohol.
She had consumed alcohol at her hotel in Fuertaventura before going to the airport where she had more drink and cabin crew later found an empty vodka bottle by her seat after a row with her partner escalated to the point that she became abusive towards cabin crew, said Mr Boyle.
Judge Colm Roberts said her behaviour was completely unacceptable, being abusive towards cabin crew, including the steward at whom she cast "homophobic slurs" as well as causing huge disruption to her fellow passengers who had their journey interrupted with the diversion to Cork.
Describing her actions as “egregious behaviour”, the judge noted her apology and the fact that it appeared to be out of character for her as he fined €500 for the first offence and a further €1,000 on the second offence.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Covid-19: 20 people with coronavirus die in the North in 48 hours

Twenty people with coronavirus have died in Northern Ireland in the past 48 hours , the North ’ s Department of Health ( DoH ) said on Monday afternoon .
A further 1,634 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the North during the same period .
Full data for the period December 24th-28th , including the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities , will be published on Tuesday .
It follows the reporting by the department on Saturday of 20 coronavirus-related deaths and 998 positive cases over the previous 48 hours .
The North entered a strict six-week lockdown on St @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review due after four weeks .
A “ curfew ” is in place until January 2nd , with essential retail closed between 8pm and 6am and people advised to stay at home between those times to limit the spread of the virus over the holiday period .
The North ’ s Minister for Health , Robin Swann , warned on Monday against New Year ’ s Eve house parties , which he said would not only be against the law , but could be “ a superspreader event , could leave people very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Mr Swann said “ another huge collective effort ” was needed to reduce infection rates .
“ Please stay at home as much as possible , ” he said .
“ Please don ’ t be tempted to visit friends this week .
It ’ s not just about complying with the regulations , it ’ s about keeping yourself and others safe .
”

An infection control nurse looks out from a Covid-19 recovery ward at Craigavon Area Hospital in Co Armagh, Northern Ireland. File photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Twenty people with coronavirus have died in Northern Ireland in the past 48 hours, the North's Department of Health (DoH) said on Monday afternoon.
A further 1,634 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the North during the same period.
Full data for the period December 24th-28th, including the total number of coronavirus-related fatalities, will be published on Tuesday.
It follows the reporting by the department on Saturday of 20 coronavirus-related deaths and 998 positive cases over the previous 48 hours.
READ MORE
The North entered a strict six-week lockdown on St Stephen’s Day, with a review due after four weeks. A “curfew” is in place until January 2nd, with essential retail closed between 8pm and 6am and people advised to stay at home between those times to limit the spread of the virus over the holiday period.
The North's Minister for Health, Robin Swann, warned on Monday against New Year's Eve house parties, which he said would not only be against the law, but could be "a superspreader event, could leave people very seriously ill and could even cost lives".
Mr Swann said “another huge collective effort” was needed to reduce infection rates.
“Please stay at home as much as possible,” he said. “Please don’t be tempted to visit friends this week. It’s not just about complying with the regulations, it’s about keeping yourself and others safe.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Coronavirus: 765 new cases and one further death as hospitalisations ‘rise sharply’

There were 765 new cases of Covid-19 and one further death reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) on Monday evening .
In a statement marking the release of the latest figures , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned that the number of people being hospitalised due to Covid-19 had “ increased sharply ” in the last two days .
“ This is a concerning trend which reflects the sharp increase [ in ] incidence we saw in the last 10 days , ” he said .
There were 359 Covid-19 patients in the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , with 41 admitted in the past 24 hours .
Some 30 Covid-19 patients were in intensive care , with five admitted in the last day .
“ We have now exceeded the cumulative number of people hospitalised in this third wave than in the second , ” Dr Holohan said .
Of the 765 new cases reported on Monday , 291 were located in Co Dublin , followed by 63 in Co Cork , 59 in Co Monaghan , 49 in Co Louth and 43 in Co Meath .
The remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties .
Dr Holohan said public health officials were seeing a “ steep rise in the positivity rates ” from community testing , a key metric indicating how prevalent the virus was within the general population .
The current seven-day average rate of positive tests had risen to 9.2 per cent , up from 5.2 per cent on December 18th .
Dr Holohan also noted that the figures “ we are reporting today are lower than days up to December 26th .
This , however , results from factors related to the time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lower rates of attendance and referrals and presentation for testing for several days over Christmas.
” Earlier , the HSE ’ s chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said there was a record number of new lab tests for Covid-19 in the State just before Christmas at 23,000 on December 23rd .
He said contact tracing had also seen a “ big , big ” increase from 9,000 cases per week to more than 30,000 per week from December 22nd .
“ All this shows the virus is very active out there in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – there are multiple outbreaks and we see also the arrival of this new strain from London and the southeast of England which is now the dominant strain there , ” he said .
Dr Henry said that based on the current growth rate , “ if this continues unmitigated without any change in the sharp upcurve that we ’ re seeing we will certainly see large numbers of cases which inevitably will translate into hospitalisations , occupancy of intensive care units and unfortunately death ” .
He told RTÉ Radio ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sharp rise in the admission in acute hospitals in the past week and those becoming sick with Covid within acute hospitals .
He said the other side of the story was the large number of empty beds , 1,467 , as of Sunday night , and a sharp decrease in the trolleys as compared with this time last year .
“ What is happening is one of the few unexpected bonuses of this pandemic is we ’ ve seen no lab recorded influenza cases to date this year .
We ’ ve seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the extent that other non-Covid illnesses are not presenting in the volumes we would usually expect around the Christmas period , ” he added .
Dr Henry also defended the pace of the Covid vaccination programme in the State , saying it was not a question of speed , but a question of safety .
There was a need to demonstrate that the programme was being rolled out safely , he said .
As other vaccines are approved the pace of the programme will increase , he explained .
The first vaccines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , although some other European countries began inoculations on Sunday .
The behaviour of the public remained the primary factor in controlling the spread of the virus , he said .
Dr Henry urged people to reduce their number of contacts and to follow public health advice .
On Sunday it emerged that Nphet believes the disease is circulating at a higher rate than the numbers reflect .
Dr Holohan said on Sunday that Nphet believes “ there are higher levels of disease circulating in the community than today ’ s reported numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therefore , to see a large increase in cases reported over the coming days , ” he added .

There were 765 new cases of Covid-19 and one further death reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Monday evening.
In a statement marking the release of the latest figures, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned that the number of people being hospitalised due to Covid-19 had “increased sharply” in the last two days.
“This is a concerning trend which reflects the sharp increase [in] incidence we saw in the last 10 days,” he said.
There were 359 Covid-19 patients in the State’s hospitals as of 2pm on Monday, with 41 admitted in the past 24 hours. Some 30 Covid-19 patients were in intensive care, with five admitted in the last day.
READ MORE
“We have now exceeded the cumulative number of people hospitalised in this third wave than in the second,” Dr Holohan said.
Of the 765 new cases reported on Monday, 291 were located in Co Dublin, followed by 63 in Co Cork, 59 in Co Monaghan, 49 in Co Louth and 43 in Co Meath. The remaining 260 cases were spread across all other counties.
Dr Holohan said public health officials were seeing a “steep rise in the positivity rates” from community testing, a key metric indicating how prevalent the virus was within the general population.
The current seven-day average rate of positive tests had risen to 9.2 per cent, up from 5.2 per cent on December 18th.
Dr Holohan also noted that the figures “we are reporting today are lower than days up to December 26th. This, however, results from factors related to the time of the year, such as the lower rates of attendance and referrals and presentation for testing for several days over Christmas.”
New lab tests
Earlier, the HSE’s chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said there was a record number of new lab tests for Covid-19 in the State just before Christmas at 23,000 on December 23rd.
He said contact tracing had also seen a “big, big” increase from 9,000 cases per week to more than 30,000 per week from December 22nd.
“All this shows the virus is very active out there in the community and it’s replicating – there are multiple outbreaks and we see also the arrival of this new strain from London and the southeast of England which is now the dominant strain there,” he said.
Dr Henry said that based on the current growth rate, “if this continues unmitigated without any change in the sharp upcurve that we’re seeing we will certainly see large numbers of cases which inevitably will translate into hospitalisations, occupancy of intensive care units and unfortunately death”.
He told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland that there has been a sharp rise in the admission in acute hospitals in the past week and those becoming sick with Covid within acute hospitals.
He said the other side of the story was the large number of empty beds, 1,467, as of Sunday night, and a sharp decrease in the trolleys as compared with this time last year.
“What is happening is one of the few unexpected bonuses of this pandemic is we’ve seen no lab recorded influenza cases to date this year. We’ve seen a sharp decrease in other seasonal viruses to the extent that other non-Covid illnesses are not presenting in the volumes we would usually expect around the Christmas period,” he added.
Vaccination programme
Dr Henry also defended the pace of the Covid vaccination programme in the State, saying it was not a question of speed, but a question of safety. There was a need to demonstrate that the programme was being rolled out safely, he said. As other vaccines are approved the pace of the programme will increase, he explained. The first vaccines are due to be given on Tuesday, although some other European countries began inoculations on Sunday.
The behaviour of the public remained the primary factor in controlling the spread of the virus, he said. Dr Henry urged people to reduce their number of contacts and to follow public health advice.
On Sunday it emerged that Nphet believes the disease is circulating at a higher rate than the numbers reflect.
Dr Holohan said on Sunday that Nphet believes “there are higher levels of disease circulating in the community than today’s reported numbers reflect”.
“We expect, therefore, to see a large increase in cases reported over the coming days,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-12-28--Weather warning in place for western counties as Storm Bella causes outages

A status yellow wind warning has been issued for a number of western counties until Tuesday morning .
The latest warning comes as hundreds of homes and businesses along the west coast remained without power on Monday afternoon after Storm Bella hit Ireland over the weekend .
The storm struck Ireland on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning with rain and strong winds in many places .
Premises in counties Cork , Kerry , Tipperary , Mayo , Limerick and Donegal were still without power on Monday afternoon , with clusters of power outages along Ireland ’ s western @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 260 ESB customers had no power on Monday afternoon , with more than 200 homes and businesses around Kilgarvan also without power .
More than 100 customers based around Kenmare in Co Kerry had no power by 3pm on Monday , while another 175 had no power in Gurranebane .
An ESB spokesman said the network had experienced a “ normal , blustery evening for this time of year ” on Sunday and that ESB crews had been “ mobilised to repair any faults to the network ” .
Weather warnings remained in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northern counties .
A status yellow wind warning was in place for counties Donegal , Mayo , Sligo , Clare , Cork and Kerry until 2pm on Monday .
This was followed by the latest status yellow wind warning , for counties Donegal , Galway , Mayo , Sligo and Kerry , which is in place until 7am on Tuesday .
Met Éireann warned that northwesterly winds associated with Storm Bella could reach mean speeds of 50-65km/h with gusts of 90-110km/h .
The combination of strong winds , high waves and forecasted storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warned the forecaster on Monday .
A status yellow wind and ice warning affecting counties Antrim , Armagh , Down , Fermanagh , Tyrone and Derry expired at 10am on Monday .
Monday night will be cold with frost and icy patches in some areas , while Tuesday will see sunny spells and scattered showers with a chance of snow in some parts .
AA Roadwatch advised drivers to take care on wet and frosty road surfaces which make it difficult to slow down and brake .
Road users should also expect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra room to other road users , especially pedestrians , cyclists and motorcyclists , said AA .
In Co Kerry , diversions were in place on the Tralee/Ballybunion Road just south of Ballyduff at the turn-off for the Causeway as emergency services removed a fallen tree , while more fallen trees were cleared from the N70 Ring of Kerry between Kenmare and Blackwater , according to the AA newsroom .
A tree has also been cleared on the N86 between Camp and Dingle .

A thick layer of sea foam was seen swamping coastline in Co Kerry on Sunday, December 27th after Storm Bella swept across Ireland overnight. Video: Reuters
A status yellow wind warning has been issued for a number of western counties until Tuesday morning.
The latest warning comes as hundreds of homes and businesses along the west coast remained without power on Monday afternoon after Storm Bella hit Ireland over the weekend.
The storm struck Ireland on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning with rain and strong winds in many places.
Here is the latest cloud and rainfall forecast from our HARMONIE weather model. It covers the period from now until 12:00 Wednesday.
More weather forecast information for the upcoming days and outlook period can be found here:https://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 pic.twitter.com/GbMGX2tbTy — Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 28, 2020
Premises in counties Cork, Kerry, Tipperary, Mayo, Limerick and Donegal were still without power on Monday afternoon, with clusters of power outages along Ireland's western coast.
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In Ballyhaunis, more than 260 ESB customers had no power on Monday afternoon, with more than 200 homes and businesses around Kilgarvan also without power. More than 100 customers based around Kenmare in Co Kerry had no power by 3pm on Monday, while another 175 had no power in Gurranebane.
An ESB spokesman said the network had experienced a “normal, blustery evening for this time of year” on Sunday and that ESB crews had been “mobilised to repair any faults to the network”.
Weather warnings remained in place on Monday for most western and northern counties. A status yellow wind warning was in place for counties Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork and Kerry until 2pm on Monday. This was followed by the latest status yellow wind warning, for counties Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Kerry, which is in place until 7am on Tuesday.
Met Éireann warned that northwesterly winds associated with Storm Bella could reach mean speeds of 50-65km/h with gusts of 90-110km/h. The combination of strong winds, high waves and forecasted storm surge could also lead to coastal flooding, warned the forecaster on Monday.
A status yellow wind and ice warning affecting counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry expired at 10am on Monday.
Monday night will be cold with frost and icy patches in some areas, while Tuesday will see sunny spells and scattered showers with a chance of snow in some parts.
AA Roadwatch advised drivers to take care on wet and frosty road surfaces which make it difficult to slow down and brake. Road users should also expect wind-blown debris on all routes and give extra room to other road users, especially pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, said AA.
In Co Kerry, diversions were in place on the Tralee/Ballybunion Road just south of Ballyduff at the turn-off for the Causeway as emergency services removed a fallen tree, while more fallen trees were cleared from the N70 Ring of Kerry between Kenmare and Blackwater, according to the AA newsroom. A tree has also been cleared on the N86 between Camp and Dingle.