theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus: Restrictions imposed on people returning from Spain and Italy

All people coming back from Spain and Italy from today will be asked to restrict their movements for the next two weeks , which includes not going to work , the Minister for Health Simon Harris has said .
The decision was made following a meeting last night of the National Public Health Emergency Team .
Anyone returning from Italy and Spain will be met by environmental health workers on their return at the airport and told to restrict their movements .
They will be asked “ not quite to self isolate , but to restrict their movements , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland .
The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens to avoid non essential travel to Spain while citizens are advised not to travel to Italy at all .
On its website the department advises that a “ significant number of cases of novel coronavirus ( Covid-19 ) have been confirmed in Spain .
The highest incidences are in Madrid , Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country , Catalonia and the Rioja region .
For the moment , we recommend that non essential travel to Spain be avoided.
” For those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department advises people to monitor developments regularly and follow the advice of local authorities .
Spain has over 2,000 cases and its government reported 84 deaths on Friday morning , up from 47 on Wednesday .
Meanwhile , Irish racing enthusiasts returning from the Cheltenham festival will be interviewed at airports in the context of preventing the spread of coronavirus .
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the government planned to introduce new “ health interviews ” at airports and ports in a bid to control the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Cheltenham was being held in Ireland it would not “ be on quite frankly but it is ” .
Asked about the huge numbers of punters who would be returning from the festival in coming days he said : “ We have committed today in government that we are going to introduce new health interviews if you like in our airports and ports so that people who are coming into Ireland will effectively be informed and have a health conversation around Covid-19 before they enter the country including the people coming back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government ’ s plan , announced on Thursday , to try and stop the spread of the virus which will include closing schools and limiting mass gatherings , had been worked on in the Department of Health until 3am .
Kingston Mills , Professor of Experimental Immunology , School of Biochemistry and Immunology at TCD said nearly all the cases of Covid-19 so far in the Republic had been imported , primarily from Northern Italy or were connected to those who returned from the region .
He believed the State should have stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did .
And he was concerned “ we are still not controlling the travel ” .
“ It ’ s all very well to delay the spread within a country but if you continue to allow people to come into that country from other countries such as now France , Germany , Spain where there is high level of disease and you don ’ t put any ...
I think it now needs to be more stringent .
For example Israel has a population of 8 million people , they have 100 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the country to self quarantine for 14 days , ” he said .
Mr Coveney stressed that Israel was not in the EU and said he had issued travel advice now “ essentially telling people not to go to Italy or to Spain except for essential travel ” .
Asked if it had been a mistake to allow Italians travel to Ireland at the same time as the Ireland-Italy rugby match was cancelled recently , he said the advice from the World Health Organisation was and is that we should not be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We as ever in facing this challenge have followed the advice of our public health professionals , ” he said .

All people coming back from Spain and Italy from today will be asked to restrict their movements for the next two weeks, which includes not going to work, the Minister for Health Simon Harris has said.
The decision was made following a meeting last night of the National Public Health Emergency Team.
Anyone returning from Italy and Spain will be met by environmental health workers on their return at the airport and told to restrict their movements. They will be asked "not quite to self isolate, but to restrict their movements," he told RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens to avoid non essential travel to Spain while citizens are advised not to travel to Italy at all.
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On its website the department advises that a “significant number of cases of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) have been confirmed in Spain. The highest incidences are in Madrid, Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country, Catalonia and the Rioja region. For the moment, we recommend that non essential travel to Spain be avoided.” For those who are already in Spain, the department advises people to monitor developments regularly and follow the advice of local authorities.
Spain has over 2,000 cases and its government reported 84 deaths on Friday morning, up from 47 on Wednesday.
Cheltenham
Meanwhile, Irish racing enthusiasts returning from the Cheltenham festival will be interviewed at airports in the context of preventing the spread of coronavirus.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the government planned to introduce new "health interviews" at airports and ports in a bid to control the virus.
He told Primetime on Thursday night that if Cheltenham was being held in Ireland it would not “be on quite frankly but it is”.
Asked about the huge numbers of punters who would be returning from the festival in coming days he said: “We have committed today in government that we are going to introduce new health interviews if you like in our airports and ports so that people who are coming into Ireland will effectively be informed and have a health conversation around Covid-19 before they enter the country including the people coming back from Cheltenham”.
He said the Government's plan, announced on Thursday, to try and stop the spread of the virus which will include closing schools and limiting mass gatherings, had been worked on in the Department of Health until 3am.
Kingston Mills, Professor of Experimental Immunology, School of Biochemistry and Immunology at TCD said nearly all the cases of Covid-19 so far in the Republic had been imported, primarily from Northern Italy or were connected to those who returned from the region. He believed the State should have stopped travel from Northern Italy earlier than we did. And he was concerned “we are still not controlling the travel”.
“It’s all very well to delay the spread within a country but if you continue to allow people to come into that country from other countries such as now France, Germany, Spain where there is high level of disease and you don’t put any ... I think it now needs to be more stringent. For example Israel has a population of 8 million people, they have 100 cases, they have asked everybody who comes into the country to self quarantine for 14 days,” he said.
Mr Coveney stressed that Israel was not in the EU and said he had issued travel advice now “essentially telling people not to go to Italy or to Spain except for essential travel”.
Asked if it had been a mistake to allow Italians travel to Ireland at the same time as the Ireland-Italy rugby match was cancelled recently, he said the advice from the World Health Organisation was and is that we should not be shutting down aviation between countries. "We as ever in facing this challenge have followed the advice of our public health professionals," he said.


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus: People returning from Spain, Italy to restrict movements for fortnight, says Harris

All people coming back from Spain and Italy from today will be asked to restrict their movements for the next two weeks , which includes not going to work , the Minister for Health Simon Harris has said .
The decision was made following a meeting last night of the National Public Health Emergency Team .
Anyone returning from Italy and Spain will be met by environmental health workers on their return at the airport and told to restrict their movements .
They will be asked “ not quite to self isolate , but to restrict their movements , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland .
The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Spain while citizens are advised not to travel to Italy at all .
On its website , the department advises that a “ significant number of cases of novel coronavirus ( Covid-19 ) have been confirmed in Spain .
The highest incidences are in Madrid , Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country , Catalonia and the Rioja region .
For the moment , we recommend that non-essential travel to Spain be avoided.
” For those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advises people to monitor developments regularly and follow the advice of local authorities .
Spain has over 2,000 cases and its government reported 84 deaths on Friday morning , up from 47 on Wednesday .
The Government has said that as of nowthe UK is not deemed an infection areaso no measures will be taken with regard to people returning to Ireland from this week ’ s racing festival Cheltenham in the UK .
Tánaiste Simon Coveney said that in his view , if Cheltenham had been held in Ireland it would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is following the advice of their own health officials while the Irish government is following the advice of Irish health experts , he told Newstalk Breakfast .
“ Our position is supported by the WHO and the ECDC and our own public health workers.
” The director of Cheltenham race course Ian Renton defended the decision to go ahead with the annual racing festival .
“ We took significant precautions and racegoers are heeding our advice , ” he told RTÉ radio ’ s Today with Séan O ’ Rourke show .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attend the festival , he said .
Unprecedented restrictions on public life aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus could remain in force for months , public health doctors have indicated after the number of cases jumped by 63 per cent in a single day .
Schools , colleges and creches , along with museums , galleries and other public buildings are today beginning a 19-day enforced period of closure designed to interrupt the transmission of Covid-19 .
It is likely the school closures could extend to five weeks , until the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as visitor restrictions at hospitals , nursing homes and prisons , and a ban on mass gatherings , as well as the closures are due to be reviewed before the end of the month .
However , they may have to remain in place “ for an extended period of time ” beyond March 29th , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said last night .
He declined to specify how much longer the measures might have to apply .
Another 27 newly discovered cases of coronavirus were reported on Thursday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in numbers since the start of the epidemic .
The total number of cases in the Republic is 70 , up from 43 on Wednesday .
Of the additional cases , 22 derived from contact with a previously confirmed case , two involved healthcare workers and three involved travel from an at-risk area .
Six patients , including three of the new cases , are in intensive care .
The HSE has urged the Government to introduce measures to prioritise childcare arrangements to allow health workers to do their jobs during the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest public service union has said .
Fórsa said the HSE had informed unions of its recommendations to the Department of Health and the Department Public Expenditure during a teleconference on Thursday and unions are expecting an update this morning .
Fórsa said that it and other unions had stressed the need for supports to ensure health staff could continue to spearhead the State ’ s effort to tackle the crisis .
Mr Harris has said that whatever support is necessary for the HSE to combat the spread of Covid-19 will be provided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus coming to Ireland but we can try to flatten the curve.
” He told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland “ we are more likely to get the virus through bad hygiene practice.
” He urged people to take heed of the advice they have been given .
People will have to alter their behaviour and there is still “ a long way to go with dealing with the virus , ” he said .
“ There is a huge amount we are still learning , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something that could be with us for many months .
.
.
This is a marathon , not a sprint .
We are asking people to live their lives a little bit differently , ” he said .
The HSE is planning for every eventuality with regard to Covid-19 , chief medical officer Dr Colm Henry has said .
“ With every crisis there are elements we can and can not control , but we can reduce the impact and scale of the need for acute hospital beds , ” he told RTÉ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focusing on the extreme possibilities people should look at what “ we all can do , ” he said .
If everyone adheres to the guidelines on hand washing and social distancing then there is every chance that the impact of the virus can be reduced on the health care system , he added .
Dr Henry said that the HSE will have to look at new forms of care that had not been contemplated before .
New measures such as introducing testing for the virus at GP ’ s surgeries in segregated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing for the virus has already been extended to seven hospitals , he said .
Dr Henry called on the public to help to protect frontline health care workers and warned that social distancing will have a huge impact .
“ There is a role for everybody , every action , we will do everything it takes.
” Dr Henry urged people to “ do what you are asked to do and we will come through this together.
” Ireland is “ exactly 14 days behind Italy ” in terms of the rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ writing in the British Medical Journal warned on Thursday .
Critical care capacity will quickly be reached and services overwhelmed without an “ effective and aggressive ” public health response , Dr Liam Glynn and Dr Mike O ’ Callaghan say in a letter to the journal .
The measures signal a major divergence in approach from the UK , where prime minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that schools would remain open , despite it recording its largest single-day rise in cases .
Schools and universities in Northern Ireland are also remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst affected by the virus , announced on Thursday that Covid-19 had killed almost 200 people in 24 hours , bringing its death toll to 1,016 .

Twenty new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic, bringing the total to 90, after nine new cases were discovered in Northern Ireland, with the total there climbing to 29. Video: RTÉ News
Twenty new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Republic, bringing the total to 90, after nine additional cases emerged in Northern Ireland, with the total there climbing to 29.
The total number of people confirmed to have coronavirus on the island of Ireland is now 119.
At 6pm on Friday the State’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, announced that in the Republic six of the new cases were associated with travel and 12 were contacts of confirmed cases. Four of the latter are healthcare workers.
The remaining two cases are the result of community transmission, bringing to seven the number of cases associated with this form of transmission.
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The Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney issued a new travel advisory late on Friday night.
“In light of rapidly changing conditions and restrictions across a number of EU countries, my Department is now advising people to exercised ‘a high degree of caution’ before deciding to travel to other EU States,” he posted on Twitter at 10pm.
The Department will continue to update advice, he added.
Asked if the advisory applied also applied to the UK, Mr Coveney replied: “Not advice re UK”.
Later on Friday night it emerged that mass gatherings in Britain are set to be banned, in a significant shift in position by Boris Johnson’s government.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency, as the number of cases of coronavirus continued to rise in the United States and criticism mounted over the lack of adequate testing in the country.
Speaking at a press conference in the White House, Mr Trump said that the United States had implemented a “very vigilant effort to combat and ultimately defeat the coronavirus.”
Here, the criteria for people requiring testing has been updated by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), to the effect that anyone with a new fever of 38 degrees or more, or chills and/or respiratory tract infections including cough will require testing.
This is expected to lead to a big increase in the number of people needing to be tested. However, GPs will be able to refer patients directly to the National Ambulance Service for testing with having to first consult with public health doctors, as was the case up to now.
Anyone coming back from an area subject to a Department of Foreign Affairs advisory against non-essential travel needs to self-isolate for 14 days. Currently, this applies to Italy and Spain, but may be extended to other regions.
Travel restrictions for healthcare workers is also under consideration, the NPHET indicated.
Officials also urged parents to avoid arranging playdates for groups of young children for now.
“However, rather than staying indoors, consider outdoor activities such as playing football in the open in small groups of three or four while maintaining social distancing of two metres,” said Dr Ronan Glynn, the State’s chief medical officer.
Dr Glynn said the restrictions on social interactions were not “absolutist” but “if children continue to mix with children as normal the measures won’t be as effective”.
Dr Holohan said officials were not telling pubs and restaurants to close and they were “not talking lockdowns”.
“We’re not locking down the country, I’ve heard rumours of army and gardaí we have no plans for that,” he said.
In Northern Ireland nine new positive cases were announced at 2pm on Friday.
A total of 321 tests have been completed in the North, in cases where people met the case definition for suspected coronavirus.
A significant number of further tests have been carried out for surveillance and clinical purposes – for example, for patients in intensive care and other hospital settings with respiratory symptoms.
There has been one confirmed death from coronavirus in Ireland.
The HSE is talking to hotels regarding isolation beds with chief executive Paul Reid saying it has had significant offers from the sector.
The health service is still in control of the Covid-19 outbreak but the public needs to get behind the service to combat the virus, said Mr Reid earlier on Friday.
“We are conscious that the public and staff have had many frustrations about healthcare delivery over many years, but I am calling on communities to really rally behind us in the HSE in a way you have never done before,” said Mr Reid.
The health service has been planning for the outbreak since January, he added.
This morning Minister for Health Simon Harris said all people coming back from Spain and Italy from today will be asked to restrict their movements for the next two weeks, which includes not going to work.
Anyone returning from Italy and Spain will be met by environmental health workers on their return at the airport and told to restrict their movements. They will be asked "not quite to self-isolate, but to restrict their movements", he told RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Spain while citizens are advised not to travel to Italy at all.
On its website, the department advises that a “significant number of cases of novel coronavirus [Covid-19] have been confirmed in Spain. The highest incidences are in Madrid, Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country, Catalonia and the Rioja region. For the moment, we recommend that non-essential travel to Spain be avoided.”
For those who are already in Spain, the department advises people to monitor developments regularly and follow the advice of local authorities.
Spain has more than 2,000 cases and its government reported 84 deaths on Friday morning, up from 47 on Wednesday.
Support healthcare workers
Mr Reid said the community needs to back healthcare workers and GPs and this will include supporting their childminding needs in order to allow them get to work.
In particular, he appealed to the corporate sector to facilitate workers’ childcare needs where they have a spouse employed in the health service.
Asked about reports of 10,000 beds being sought to deal with the surge in Covid-19 cases, Mr Reid replied that the heath service is “exactly in the phase we want to be now”. And it would be a “distraction” to talk about emergency planning.
“The investment we are making right now is the right investment and the actions we are urging the public to take are the right ones”, said Mr Reid.
The health agency also said there has been a marked reduction in the number of people on trolleys since the Covid-19 outbreak began in the Republic.
HSE chief operations officer Anne O’Connor said: “In terms of our trolley count, that has dropped away considerably. In Galway for instance we had just one patient waiting on a trolley. The trolley count is lower than we have ever seen in quite some time. Our hospital attendances and admissions are way down this week. There are just 57 patients waiting on trolleys today – that is a very, very different number compared to what we are used to during the winter period.”
The Government has said that as of now the UK is not deemed an infection area so no measures will be taken with regard to people returning to Ireland from this week's racing festival Cheltenham in the UK.
Restrictions on public life
Unprecedented restrictions on public life aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus could remain in force for months, public health doctors have indicated after the number of cases jumped by 63 per cent in a single day.
Schools, colleges and creches, along with museums, galleries and other public buildings are today beginning a 19-day enforced period of closure designed to interrupt the transmission of Covid-19.
It is likely the school closures could extend to five weeks, until the end of the Easter holidays.
Other measures such as visitor restrictions at hospitals, nursing homes and prisons, and a ban on mass gatherings, as well as the closures are due to be reviewed before the end of the month.
Healthcare workers
The HSE has urged the Government to introduce measures to prioritise childcare arrangements to allow health workers to do their jobs during the current coronavirus crisis, the country's largest public service union has said .
Fórsa said the HSE had informed unions of its recommendations to the Department of Health and the Department Public Expenditure during a teleconference on Thursday and unions are expecting an update this morning.
Mr Harris has said that whatever support is necessary for the HSE to combat the spread of Covid-19 will be provided. “We can’t stop the virus coming to Ireland but we can try to flatten the curve.”
He told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland “we are more likely to get the virus through bad hygiene practice”. He urged people to take heed of the advice they have been given. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. We are asking people to live their lives a little bit differently,” he said.
Garda and food supplies
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on Friday unveiled a range of “exceptional event” measures in response to the coronavirus.
He also insisted that suspects will still be arrested for crimes as usual and the investigation of serious crime would continue.
While he said some gardaí would have a high visibility presence around some shops, including directing traffic in and out of car parks, gardaí would not patrol at retail outlets.
A conference call between Minister for Enterprise Heather Humphreys and stakeholders in the retail sector including supermarkets, multinational companies and umbrella groups has been told that supply in supermarkets will return to normal once consumer shopping habits return to normal. –Additional reporting PA


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus: HSE urges Government to prioritise childcare for health workers

The HSE has urged the Government to introduce measures to prioritise childcare arrangements to allow health workers to do their jobs during the current coronavirus crisis , the country ’ s largest public service union has said .
Fórsa said the HSE had informed unions of its recommendations to the Department of Health and the Department Public Expenditure during a teleconference on Thursday .
Fórsa said that it and other unions had stressed the need for supports to ensure health staff could continue to spearhead the State ’ s effort to tackle the crisis .
The HSE told them ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that political leaders supported this approach , and said unions should expect an update this morning ( Friday ) .
” The Irish Times reported on Friday that the HSE was understood to be exploring with the Government the potential of a stay-at-home childminding payment for the partners of healthcare workers to facilitate them going to work following the closure of schools and crèches .
There are concerns on all sides that health care workers – who will be key to tackling the outbreak – could be forced to stay away from work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s idea of a special payment for partners to mind children put forward at the meeting was , it is understood , not greeted enthusiastically by a number of unions who instead called for emergency childcare services to be provided for key health workers .
The HSE said last night : “ To ensure lines of communication are clear and kept open , the HSE have set up regular teleconferences with all union representative groups .
“ “ We continue to keep unions informed of all confirmed updates and possibilities being explored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these teleconferences , the HSE has and will continue to explore possibilities that may or may not become actions in support of our services.
” “ At this time , we wish to reiterate that any and all efforts are being made by the HSE to ensure that staff , patients and the general public are protected and supported , and intend to continue to work with the unions in this regard during this time.
” Fórsa said unions had also again urged the HSE to drop controversial proposals to ban industrial action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that earlier this week the Minister for Health Simon Harris has described the coronavirus , also known as , Covid-19 response of health service unions as “ amazing , ” .
It said criticisms of unions for rejecting a ban on industrial action as unfair .
“ During the conference call , Fórsa also urged management to remove the clause in its advice that relates to outsourcing , saying it was irrelevant to any need for redeployment that may arise.
” Fórsa ’ s head of health , Éamonn Donnelly , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unnecessary .
“ Health staff and their unions are cooperating fully with the Covid-19 effort and a blanket ban on industrial action is totally unnecessary .
There is no question of any industrial action impeding our ability to deal with the emergency , ” he said .
Separately , the Government issued new guidance on civil and public service working arrangements yesterday ( Thursday ) evening on foot of its announcement of school closures and other radical measures to deal with the Covid-19 public health crisis .
The guidance says staff redeployment across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ required to ensure the maintenance of essential services , and also calls for the reassignment of staff within organisations to prioritise the most critical services .
It addresses the situation of staff with childcare difficulties caused by the closure of schools and crèches , and says employers should consider extending and staggering opening hours in response to this .
It also reiterates existing advice on self-isolation .

A couple wear surgical masks while shopping in the Grafton shopping area of in Dublin. Photograph:Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images
The HSE has urged the Government to introduce measures to prioritise childcare arrangements to allow health workers to do their jobs during the current coronavirus crisis, the country’s largest public service union has said .
Fórsa said the HSE had informed unions of its recommendations to the Department of Health and the Department Public Expenditure during a teleconference on Thursday.
Fórsa said that it and other unions had stressed the need for supports to ensure health staff could continue to spearhead the State’s effort to tackle the crisis.
The HSE told them ( the health service trade unions) “that political leaders supported this approach, and said unions should expect an update this morning (Friday).”
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The Irish Times reported on Friday that the HSE was understood to be exploring with the Government the potential of a stay-at-home childminding payment for the partners of healthcare workers to facilitate them going to work following the closure of schools and crèches.
Concerns
There are concerns on all sides that health care workers – who will be key to tackling the outbreak – could be forced to stay away from work to look after children .
The HSE’s idea of a special payment for partners to mind children put forward at the meeting was, it is understood, not greeted enthusiastically by a number of unions who instead called for emergency childcare services to be provided for key health workers .
The HSE said last night: “To ensure lines of communication are clear and kept open, the HSE have set up regular teleconferences with all union representative groups. “
“We continue to keep unions informed of all confirmed updates and possibilities being explored. “
“In the course of these teleconferences, the HSE has and will continue to explore possibilities that may or may not become actions in support of our services.”
“At this time, we wish to reiterate that any and all efforts are being made by the HSE to ensure that staff, patients and the general public are protected and supported, and intend to continue to work with the unions in this regard during this time.”
Controversial proposals
Fórsa said unions had also again urged the HSE to drop controversial proposals to ban industrial action from its coronavirus guidance.
The union said that earlier this week the Minister for Health Simon Harris has described the coronavirus, also known as, Covid-19 response of health service unions as "amazing," . It said criticisms of unions for rejecting a ban on industrial action as unfair.
“During the conference call, Fórsa also urged management to remove the clause in its advice that relates to outsourcing, saying it was irrelevant to any need for redeployment that may arise.”
Fórsa’s head of health, Éamonn Donnelly, said attempts to ban industrial action outright were unnecessary. “Health staff and their unions are cooperating fully with the Covid-19 effort and a blanket ban on industrial action is totally unnecessary. There is no question of any industrial action impeding our ability to deal with the emergency,” he said.
Separately, the Government issued new guidance on civil and public service working arrangements yesterday (Thursday) evening on foot of its announcement of school closures and other radical measures to deal with the Covid-19 public health crisis.
The guidance says staff redeployment across the civil and public services could be required to ensure the maintenance of essential services, and also calls for the reassignment of staff within organisations to prioritise the most critical services. It addresses the situation of staff with childcare difficulties caused by the closure of schools and crèches, and says employers should consider extending and staggering opening hours in response to this. It also reiterates existing advice on self-isolation.


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Ireland is ‘exactly 14 days behind Italy’ in terms of coronavirus cases

Ireland is “ exactly 14 days behind Italy ” in terms of the rise in coronavirus cases , Irish doctors writing in the British Medical Journal have warned .
Critical care capacity will quickly be reached and services overwhelmed without an “ effective and aggressive ” public health response , they say .
This needs to include quarantine , social distancing , isolation of infected people , Dr Liam Glynn and Dr Mike O ’ Callaghan say .
Proper implementation is ultimately what will decide if we will end up “ more like Bergamo , in Italy [ where deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Korea ” , where the epidemic is being brought under control .
“ The last 72 hours has seen significant escalation of coronavirus , also known as Covid-19 , infection rates across Ireland with community transmission emerging across the country , ” the two Co Clare-based doctors say in their letter to the BMJ .
As a result , simulations indicate Ireland is likely to see a significant increase in cases in the coming weeks .
Because of our lack of capacity in isolation beds and intensive care beds , Ireland will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transmission model seen in other countries .
The two doctors , who teach at University of Limerick medical school , say China ’ s experience shows an effective and aggressive public health response can contain the epidemic , or at least reduce the number requiring critical care at any one time .
“ It is imperative we trigger a radical public health response , without delay .
If we wish to avoid an epidemic peak that overwhelms the health service we must flatten the curve of transmission .
“ We are exactly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ positive cases rising above 5 patients per million and adjusting our trajectory now with serious and radical efforts is our best hope to save as many lives as possible.
” The letter calls for an information campaign for the public on social distancing , the redeployment of healthcare staff to public health role such as triage , contact tracing and testing , high-volume testing and quarantine of infected people .

Bars and shops across Italy have been closed as tougher restrictions were added to an already severe lockdown aimed to fight coronavirus contagion. All shops are now shuttered except supermarkets, food stores and chemists. Video: Reuters
Ireland is "exactly 14 days behind Italy" in terms of the rise in coronavirus cases, Irish doctors writing in the British Medical Journal have warned.
Critical care capacity will quickly be reached and services overwhelmed without an “effective and aggressive” public health response, they say.
This needs to include quarantine, social distancing, isolation of infected people, Dr Liam Glynn and Dr Mike O'Callaghan say.
Proper implementation is ultimately what will decide if we will end up "more like Bergamo, in Italy [where deaths continue to rise] than Busan, South Korea", where the epidemic is being brought under control.
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“The last 72 hours has seen significant escalation of coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, infection rates across Ireland with community transmission emerging across the country,” the two Co Clare-based doctors say in their letter to the BMJ.
As a result, simulations indicate Ireland is likely to see a significant increase in cases in the coming weeks.
Because of our lack of capacity in isolation beds and intensive care beds, Ireland will reach capacity very quickly if we follow the transmission model seen in other countries.
The two doctors, who teach at University of Limerick medical school, say China's experience shows an effective and aggressive public health response can contain the epidemic, or at least reduce the number requiring critical care at any one time.
“It is imperative we trigger a radical public health response, without delay. If we wish to avoid an epidemic peak that overwhelms the health service we must flatten the curve of transmission.
“We are exactly 14 days behind Italy in terms of positive cases rising above 5 patients per million and adjusting our trajectory now with serious and radical efforts is our best hope to save as many lives as possible.”
The letter calls for an information campaign for the public on social distancing, the redeployment of healthcare staff to public health role such as triage, contact tracing and testing, high-volume testing and quarantine of infected people.


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus: Cork businesses call for rates moratorium to help cope with trade decline

Business owners and publicans have called on Cork City Council to grant business people in the city a moratorium on rates to help them cope with the fall off in business caused by coronavirus as people stay at home .
Cork Business Association president Eoin O ’ Sullivan said the association had written to Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty seeking a moratorium on rates for the duration of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ireland .
“ We are calling on Cork City Council to introduce a moratorium on commercial rates during this Covid-19 outbreak .
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This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the breathing space to survive during these challenging times , ” he said .
Mr O ’ Sullivan ’ s comments were echoed by chair of the Cork city branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland ( VFI ) , Michael O ’ Donovan , who said publicans in the city were facing a difficult period as people avoid social gatherings .
Mr O ’ Donovan instanced the experience of Cork publicans prior to the Government recommending that all mass gatherings of 100 people in indoor settings be abandoned or cancelled until the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were already staying at home for fear of contracting Covid-19 as evidenced by a survey which the Cork Branch of the VFI conducted on some 19 city centre pubs on Wednesday night .
VFI members visited the 19 pubs in the heart of the city in areas such as Patrick Street , Oliver Plunkett Street , Washington Street and North and South Main Street and found concerns over the virus were having an impact .
He said they reckoned the 19 pubs had a combined capacity of 4,000 and they anticipated that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Atletico Madrid in the Champions League , 1,800 to 2,000 people would be out socialising .
Instead they found that a total of just 231 people were out in pubs watching the game with some establishments including one with a capacity for 300 people had no customers during the survey time of 9.15pm to 10pm .
Mr O ’ Donovan confirmed that he had written to all 31 councillors on Cork City Council , setting out the vintners ’ concerns and urging them to assist them during this difficult trading period as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone ( Tuesday ) , pubs in the city are reporting a drop of 60 to 70 per cent in trade which as you know is not sustainable in any business , ” said Mr O ’ Donovan , whose branch represents over 200 publicans in the city .
“ We know that the chief medical officer is advising the citizens of the country in the best manner but with so many working from home , even Cheltenham festivities saw a significant drop in the numbers coming to pubs yesterday.
” Mr O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to continue for the foreseeable future , the VFI were seeking council support to get Cork City Hall to defer the sending out of commercial rate invoices until Covid-19 has passed .
He said they were also hoping the council would take into account the drop off in pub trade and would introduce a pro-rata reduction in commercial rates for the duration of the outbreak .

VFI visited one Cork pub with a capacity for 300 people which had no customers during the survey time of 9.15pm to 10pm on Thursday night. Photograph: iStock
Business owners and publicans have called on Cork City Council to grant business people in the city a moratorium on rates to help them cope with the fall off in business caused by coronavirus as people stay at home.
Cork Business Association president Eoin O'Sullivan said the association had written to Cork City Council chief executive Ann Doherty seeking a moratorium on rates for the duration of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ireland.
“We are calling on Cork City Council to introduce a moratorium on commercial rates during this Covid-19 outbreak . . . This is to give the business community in Cork the breathing space to survive during these challenging times,” he said.
Mr O’Sullivan’s comments were echoed by chair of the Cork city branch of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), Michael O’Donovan, who said publicans in the city were facing a difficult period as people avoid social gatherings.
READ MORE
Mr O’Donovan instanced the experience of Cork publicans prior to the Government recommending that all mass gatherings of 100 people in indoor settings be abandoned or cancelled until the end of the month.
He said people were already staying at home for fear of contracting Covid-19 as evidenced by a survey which the Cork Branch of the VFI conducted on some 19 city centre pubs on Wednesday night.
VFI members visited the 19 pubs in the heart of the city in areas such as Patrick Street, Oliver Plunkett Street, Washington Street and North and South Main Street and found concerns over the virus were having an impact.
He said they reckoned the 19 pubs had a combined capacity of 4,000 and they anticipated that on a Wednesday night with Liverpool playing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League, 1,800 to 2,000 people would be out socialising.
Instead they found that a total of just 231 people were out in pubs watching the game with some establishments including one with a capacity for 300 people had no customers during the survey time of 9.15pm to 10pm.
Mr O’Donovan confirmed that he had written to all 31 councillors on Cork City Council, setting out the vintners’ concerns and urging them to assist them during this difficult trading period as they strive to retain business.
“Yesterday alone (Tuesday), pubs in the city are reporting a drop of 60 to 70 per cent in trade which as you know is not sustainable in any business,” said Mr O’Donovan, whose branch represents over 200 publicans in the city.
"We know that the chief medical officer is advising the citizens of the country in the best manner but with so many working from home, even Cheltenham festivities saw a significant drop in the numbers coming to pubs yesterday."
Mr O’Donovan said with this trend likely to continue for the foreseeable future, the VFI were seeking council support to get Cork City Hall to defer the sending out of commercial rate invoices until Covid-19 has passed.
He said they were also hoping the council would take into account the drop off in pub trade and would introduce a pro-rata reduction in commercial rates for the duration of the outbreak.


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus: Student gardaí to take on frontline policing tasks

Student gardaí training at Templemore are to be sworn into the force early to take on frontline policing tasks , in an unprecedented move as part of a new coronavirus policing plan .
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is on Friday morning set to announce the details of the new measures .
The Garda College in Co Tipperary has effectively been closed in order that the students , and Garda staff working at the college , would be freed up for policing .
The students will effectively skip the final months of their training and becoming fully attested gardaí immediately .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the college for just over a month and were being given rapid training in public order policing ahead of their dispatch onto the streets as fully attested gardaí .
It will mean that approximately 450 Garda members can be dispatched from the college to the frontline as fully attested members of the Garda once the emergency attesting is completed in coming days .
A ceremonial passing-out ceremony will be held for those new gardaí at some point later this year .
It is also possible the college could be used as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility for people who contract coronavirus .
However , while that has been discussed with the Health Service Executive , no final decision has been made and sources said the need for that may never arise .
The same sources said the extra personnel freed up from the college would also allow for more high-visibility policing that would offer reassurance to the public .
And it would enable the Garda force to take on tasks it would not normally undertake , such as making deliveries of items like food to people in remote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became very acute , gardaí could also be deployed as support for health officials in ensuring people went into isolation even if they did not want to .
An officer of deputy commissioner rank is also set to lead a National Co-ordination Centre , which will co-ordinate the Garda ’ s response .
Regular briefings and meetings , up to daily if required , are also set to be put in place within the force .
The Garda roster is also set to undergo changes for the duration of the crisis to ensure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are required and also to ensure there is flexibility to respond to any needs that may arise .
However , Garda leave is not being cancelled , though the granting of leave will be more closely reviewed .
Mr Harris was due to brief the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Garda Representative Association at Garda Headquarters , Phoenix Park , Dublin , on Friday morning .
A media briefing was also planned early on Friday as part of the force ’ s efforts to communicate its plans to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was of concern in that it suggested a degree of public alarm , adding the additional patrols and Garda visibility would allay those sentiments .
But they added the plans now set to be unveiled were already well-advanced before the scenes of panic buying in some areas emerged on Thursday .
The announcement of restrictions by the Government saw long queues in supermarkets across the country with two Tesco stores in Dublin closing their doors temporarily because of the numbers trying to get in .

Templemore Garda students will effectively skip the final months of their training and becoming fully attested gardaí immediately to help tackle the crisis. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
Student gardaí training at Templemore are to be sworn into the force early to take on frontline policing tasks , in an unprecedented move as part of a new coronavirus policing plan.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris is on Friday morning set to announce the details of the new measures.
The Garda College in Co Tipperary has effectively been closed in order that the students, and Garda staff working at the college, would be freed up for policing.
The students will effectively skip the final months of their training and becoming fully attested gardaí immediately. Some of the trainee gardaí have been in the college for just over a month and were being given rapid training in public order policing ahead of their dispatch onto the streets as fully attested gardaí.
READ MORE
It will mean that approximately 450 Garda members can be dispatched from the college to the frontline as fully attested members of the Garda once the emergency attesting is completed in coming days. A ceremonial passing-out ceremony will be held for those new gardaí at some point later this year.
Quarantine facility
It is also possible the college could be used as a medical centre or an isolation or quarantine facility for people who contract coronavirus. However, while that has been discussed with the Health Service Executive, no final decision has been made and sources said the need for that may never arise.
The same sources said the extra personnel freed up from the college would also allow for more high-visibility policing that would offer reassurance to the public. And it would enable the Garda force to take on tasks it would not normally undertake, such as making deliveries of items like food to people in remote areas if required.
If the crisis became very acute, gardaí could also be deployed as support for health officials in ensuring people went into isolation even if they did not want to.
An officer of deputy commissioner rank is also set to lead a National Co-ordination Centre, which will co-ordinate the Garda’s response. Regular briefings and meetings, up to daily if required, are also set to be put in place within the force.
The Garda roster is also set to undergo changes for the duration of the crisis to ensure resources are available when and where they are required and also to ensure there is flexibility to respond to any needs that may arise.
Leave review
However, Garda leave is not being cancelled, though the granting of leave will be more closely reviewed.
Mr Harris was due to brief the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Garda Representative Association at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, on Friday morning. A media briefing was also planned early on Friday as part of the force’s efforts to communicate its plans to the public.
Sources said panic buying at shops was of concern in that it suggested a degree of public alarm, adding the additional patrols and Garda visibility would allay those sentiments. But they added the plans now set to be unveiled were already well-advanced before the scenes of panic buying in some areas emerged on Thursday.
The announcement of restrictions by the Government saw long queues in supermarkets across the country with two Tesco stores in Dublin closing their doors temporarily because of the numbers trying to get in.


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus plan sees Ireland embark on vast social experiment

You have to go back to the second World War to look for parallels to the events unfolding in Ireland and across much of Europe .
Certainly , there has been nothing in this writer ’ s lifetime to match the breadth and severity of the measures just introduced by the Government to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Neither is there much in our recent experience to match the speed with which events have unfolded , and the speed with which the threat has escalated .
Earlier this week , Ministers indicated Ireland would publish its national plan for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already late in the day ; Britain published its plan 10 days ago .
A plan will provide an anxious public with a route map for dealing with the crisis and show how the Government plans to proceed through the stages to meet , and ultimately see off , the threat posed by the disease .
Unfortunately , the situation is worsening so fast that there was no time to wait for publication of the plan before introducing a widespread shutdown of public services and restrictions on public gatherings .
This sudden change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Thursday morning announced the closure of schools and creches countrywide for the rest of the month .
About the same time , the Health Service Executive was publishing a guide to “ Getting your school , college or educational setting ready for Covid-19 ” .
This document will not be needed for a bit .
The Government and public health officials are talking about leaving the present state , when we were trying to contain the virus , to now enter a “ delay ” phase .
There was no talk of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the experts , who said we would move from containment to mitigation if demanded by circumstances , but the idea seems to have been borrowed from the British plan .
Whatever about the phrasing , these measures are drastic and , as Ministers acknowledged , they raise many questions .
Closing schools and creches , for example , gives rise to massive childcare challenges for many families .
Some parents will have to stop working in order to plug the gaps .
Losing healthcare workers as a result would be the equivalent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And simply shutting the schools is not an answer in itself .
Children can become vectors of the disease outside the classroom too , unless they follow the rules of correct hygiene and social distancing .
The threat to elderly relatives could rise rather than fall , as a result .
The move to pull the shutters down on much of public life was triggered by an upsurge in confirmed cases in recent days , as well as the nature of some of the cases we have .
Covid-19 cut a swath through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ past week , infecting staff and patients and forcing hundreds of contacts into self-isolation .
There have been two cases of community transmission , which means we don ’ t know the source of the infection in these cases .
Doctors have been saying for days there is much more out there than has been recorded because we have not been testing widely enough .
With computer modelling predicting a rapid rise in cases , it was clear the always stretched Irish health system would be overloaded within weeks .
Meanwhile , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continental Europe , now the new epicentre of this disease .
This left policymakers feeling they had only one option : strike hard now in the hope this will delay the onset of cases , delay the spike in admissions and curb the spread of the disease .
In the United Kingdom a different approach is being taken .
This seems to involve an acceptance of some community transmission , at least at levels with which the National Health Service can cope .
Consequently , the social restrictions being imposed are far less @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Irish public is fully behind the Government ’ s restrictions .
The social distancing and hygiene messages have been clearly communicated and , hopefully , clearly understood .
People seem to be up for the vast social experiment involved , whether it involves distance learning or remote working .
Whether that remains the case if weeks turn into months remains to be seen .

You have to go back to the second World War to look for parallels to the events unfolding in Ireland and across much of Europe.
Certainly, there has been nothing in this writer’s lifetime to match the breadth and severity of the measures just introduced by the Government to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Neither is there much in our recent experience to match the speed with which events have unfolded, and the speed with which the threat has escalated.
Earlier this week, Ministers indicated Ireland would publish its national plan for tackling Covid-19 next Monday. This was already late in the day; Britain published its plan 10 days ago.
A plan will provide an anxious public with a route map for dealing with the crisis and show how the Government plans to proceed through the stages to meet, and ultimately see off, the threat posed by the disease.
READ MORE
Unfortunately, the situation is worsening so fast that there was no time to wait for publication of the plan before introducing a widespread shutdown of public services and restrictions on public gatherings.
This sudden change of pace was further underlined when Ministers on Thursday morning announced the closure of schools and creches countrywide for the rest of the month.
About the same time, the Health Service Executive was publishing a guide to “Getting your school, college or educational setting ready for Covid-19”. This document will not be needed for a bit.
The Government and public health officials are talking about leaving the present state, when we were trying to contain the virus, to now enter a “delay” phase. There was no talk of a delay phase in the early pronouncement by the experts, who said we would move from containment to mitigation if demanded by circumstances, but the idea seems to have been borrowed from the British plan.
Whatever about the phrasing, these measures are drastic and, as Ministers acknowledged, they raise many questions. Closing schools and creches, for example, gives rise to massive childcare challenges for many families. Some parents will have to stop working in order to plug the gaps. Losing healthcare workers as a result would be the equivalent of shooting ourselves in the foot.
Will closing schools be effective?
And simply shutting the schools is not an answer in itself. Children can become vectors of the disease outside the classroom too, unless they follow the rules of correct hygiene and social distancing. The threat to elderly relatives could rise rather than fall, as a result.
The move to pull the shutters down on much of public life was triggered by an upsurge in confirmed cases in recent days, as well as the nature of some of the cases we have. Covid-19 cut a swath through hospitals in Limerick and Cork over the past week, infecting staff and patients and forcing hundreds of contacts into self-isolation.
There have been two cases of community transmission, which means we don’t know the source of the infection in these cases. Doctors have been saying for days there is much more out there than has been recorded because we have not been testing widely enough.
With computer modelling predicting a rapid rise in cases, it was clear the always stretched Irish health system would be overloaded within weeks. Meanwhile, the disease was gaining a firm foothold across continental Europe, now the new epicentre of this disease.
This left policymakers feeling they had only one option: strike hard now in the hope this will delay the onset of cases, delay the spike in admissions and curb the spread of the disease.
In the United Kingdom a different approach is being taken. This seems to involve an acceptance of some community transmission, at least at levels with which the National Health Service can cope. Consequently, the social restrictions being imposed are far less intrusive, so far.
For now, the Irish public is fully behind the Government’s restrictions. The social distancing and hygiene messages have been clearly communicated and, hopefully, clearly understood. People seem to be up for the vast social experiment involved, whether it involves distance learning or remote working.
Whether that remains the case if weeks turn into months remains to be seen.


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Russia to keep investigating ‘gap’ off Irish coast, says ex-Nato commander

Russia will continue to “ probe ” the “ incredibly strategically important waters west of Ireland ” with long-range air surveillance and nuclear submarines , a former US Nato commander has said .
Retired US navy admiral James Stavridis , who was Nato ’ s supreme allied commander in Europe from 2009 to 2013 , was responding to incidents of two Russian bomber aircrafts flying in Irish-controlled airspace west of the country twice over the past week .
On Wednesday , British RAF “ Typhoon ” fighter jets were scrambled for the second time in five days to monitor two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they flew in international airspace controlled by the Irish Aviation Authority .
Adm Stavridis said that the Russians were testing a strategically important area called the Greenland-Iceland-UK “ gap ” that controls the entrances to the North Atlantic and transatlantic commerce between the US and Europe , the largest trading relationship in the world .
“ This is attractive to Vladimir Putin because it demonstrates Russian military capability , creates some divisive forces in Nato because there is a difference of opinion as to how robustly to respond and provides an image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the former US commander in Europe told The Irish Times .
Adm Stravridis referred to the significant timing of the military flights as the Russian leader seeks to extend his term of control to 2036 with recent proposed constitutional changes in Moscow .
The Russian embassy in Dublin said that the two Russian airforce aircraft were carrying out a “ routine training mission ” in the North Atlantic .
“ The flight took place in the international airspace according to all international rules and standards , ” said Russian embassy spokeswoman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no point entered the sovereign airspace of Ireland , nor was there any plan to do it.
” Adm Stavridis said that building “ a sophisticated jet force ” in Ireland to conduct intercepts of Russian aircraft would be “ extremely expensive ” .
He noted that the 16 fighter jets that former Irish air corps head Maj General Ralph James recently suggested would be required for a full air defence capability would be “ an absolute minimum ” that was required .
“ For true independence of operation , it would require @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sensing system directed west , ” he said .
He suggested a better solution would be to introduce a “ defined air defence cooperative arrangement with the UK/Nato while also appealing to the European Union military forces ” .
Ireland could offer to host EU or Nato jets for “ quick response ” perhaps from France or Germany in a similar arrangement followed by the Baltic states , he said .
Russia ’ s spokeswoman at the country ’ s embassy in Dublin said that Moscow has been flying these kinds of missions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never been a problem for anyone except maybe for the British political and military establishment which has been exploiting for their own purposes the myth of ‘ Russian threat ’ throughout much of a modern history , ” she added .

Russian embassy in Dublin: the two Russian aircraft were carrying out a “routine training mission” in the North Atlantic. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
Russia will continue to "probe" the "incredibly strategically important waters west of Ireland" with long-range air surveillance and nuclear submarines, a former US Nato commander has said.
Retired US navy admiral James Stavridis, who was Nato's supreme allied commander in Europe from 2009 to 2013, was responding to incidents of two Russian bomber aircrafts flying in Irish-controlled airspace west of the country twice over the past week.
On Wednesday, British RAF "Typhoon" fighter jets were scrambled for the second time in five days to monitor two Russian Tupolev TU-95 "Bear" bombers as they flew in international airspace controlled by the Irish Aviation Authority.
Adm Stavridis said that the Russians were testing a strategically important area called the Greenland-Iceland-UK “gap” that controls the entrances to the North Atlantic and transatlantic commerce between the US and Europe, the largest trading relationship in the world.
READ MORE
Significant timing
"This is attractive to Vladimir Putin because it demonstrates Russian military capability, creates some divisive forces in Nato because there is a difference of opinion as to how robustly to respond and provides an image within Russia of a strong decisive leader," the former US commander in Europe told The Irish Times.
Adm Stravridis referred to the significant timing of the military flights as the Russian leader seeks to extend his term of control to 2036 with recent proposed constitutional changes in Moscow.
The Russian embassy in Dublin said that the two Russian airforce aircraft were carrying out a “routine training mission” in the North Atlantic.
"The flight took place in the international airspace according to all international rules and standards," said Russian embassy spokeswoman Victoria Loginova. "The aircraft at no point entered the sovereign airspace of Ireland, nor was there any plan to do it."
Jet force
Adm Stavridis said that building “a sophisticated jet force” in Ireland to conduct intercepts of Russian aircraft would be “extremely expensive”.
He noted that the 16 fighter jets that former Irish air corps head Maj General Ralph James recently suggested would be required for a full air defence capability would be “an absolute minimum” that was required.
“For true independence of operation, it would require additionally a more sophisticated radar and electronic sensing system directed west,” he said.
He suggested a better solution would be to introduce a "defined air defence cooperative arrangement with the UK/Nato while also appealing to the European Union military forces".
Ireland could offer to host EU or Nato jets for "quick response" perhaps from France or Germany in a similar arrangement followed by the Baltic states, he said.
Russia’s spokeswoman at the country’s embassy in Dublin said that Moscow has been flying these kinds of missions for many decades.
“It has never been a problem for anyone except maybe for the British political and military establishment which has been exploiting for their own purposes the myth of ‘Russian threat’ throughout much of a modern history,” she added.


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Coronavirus: Restrictions could remain in force for months, doctors warn

All people coming back from Spain and Italy from today will be asked to restrict their movements for the next two weeks , which includes not going to work , the Minister for Health Simon Harris has said .
The decision was made following a meeting last night of the National Public Health Emergency Team .
Anyone returning from Italy and Spain will be met by environmental health workers on their return at the airport and told to restrict their movements .
They will be asked “ not quite to self isolate , but to restrict their movements , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland .
The Deparment of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Spain while citizens are advised not to travel to Italy at all .
On its website the deparment advises that a “ significant number of cases of novel coronavirus ( Covid-19 ) have been confirmed in Spain .
The highest incidences are in Madrid , Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country , Catalonia and the Rioja region .
For the moment , we recommend that non-essential travel to Spain be avoided.
” For those who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to monitor developments regularly and follow the advice of local authorities .
Spain has over 2,000 cases and its government reported 84 deaths on Friday morning , up from 47 on Wednesday .
Unprecedented restrictions on public life aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus could remain in force for months , public health doctors have indicated after the number of cases jumped by 63 per cent in a single day .
Schools , colleges and creches , along with museums , galleries and other public buildings are today beginning a 19-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the transmission of Covid-19 .
It is likely the school closures could extend to five weeks , until the end of the Easter holidays .
Other measures such as visitor restrictions at hospitals , nursing homes and prisons , and a ban on mass gatherings , as well as the closures are due to be reviewed before the end of the month .
However , they may have to remain in place “ for an extended period of time ” beyond March 29th , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said last night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ longer the measures might have to apply .
Meanwhile , intensive care doctors warned last night they expected to have to make “ challenging ” triage decisions involving patients .
“ Intensive care will need to be directed to those patients who are most likely to benefit and , in this instance , to save the most lives , ” three groups representing intensive care staff said in a statement .
Amid concerns about the knock-on effects of school closures on healthcare workers needing childcare , it is understood the HSE is exploring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partners of health staff .
After two weeks of trying to contain the virus , Ireland has now moved on to a delay phase in its efforts to combat it , according to Dr Holohan .
The sudden escalation in restrictive measures was prompted by a massive jump in confirmed cases and further evidence of clusters of the disease as well as unexplained community transmission .
Another 27 newly discovered cases of coronavirus were reported on Thursday evening , by far the biggest daily jump in numbers since the start of the epidemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republic is 70 , up from 43 on Wednesday .
Of the additional cases , 22 derived from contact with a previously confirmed case , two involved healthcare workers and three involved travel from an at-risk area .
Six patients , including three of the new cases , are in intensive care .
Ireland is “ exactly 14 days behind Italy ” in terms of the rise in coronavirus cases , two Irish doctors writing in the British Medical Journal warned on Thursday .
Critical care capacity will quickly be reached and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggressive ” public health response , Dr Liam Glynn and Dr Mike O ’ Callaghan say in a letter to the journal .
The measures signal a major divergence in approach from the UK , where prime minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that schools would remain open , despite it recording its largest single-day rise in cases .
Schools and universities in Northern Ireland are also remaining open .
Announcing the measures during his much-curtailed St Patrick ’ s Day visit to Washington DC , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said older people and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk .
“ We have a duty as a society to protect ourselves and , above all , to protect others – our parents and grandparents , our family and friends , co-workers and neighbours .
“ We have not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory .
This is uncharted territory.
” While recommending that all indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled , the Taoiseach said ports , airports and shops would remain open and public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You should continue to go to work if you can but where possible should work from home , ” he advised , adding that break times and working times should be staggered and meetings done remotely or by phone .
Tánaiste Simon Coveney said thousands of lives could be saved through a collective national response to the measures announced by the Government .
Italy , the EU country worst affected by the virus , announced on Thursday that Covid-19 had killed almost 200 people in 24 hours , bringing its death toll to @ @

Chief medical officer at the Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan says there were 27 newly discovered cases of coronavirus reported in Ireland today, by far the biggest daily jump in numbers since the start of the pandemic.
All people coming back from Spain and Italy from today will be asked to restrict their movements for the next two weeks, which includes not going to work, the Minister for Health Simon Harris has said.
The decision was made following a meeting last night of the National Public Health Emergency Team.
Anyone returning from Italy and Spain will be met by environmental health workers on their return at the airport and told to restrict their movements. They will be asked "not quite to self isolate, but to restrict their movements," he told RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland.
The Deparment of Foreign Affairs is advising Irish citizens to avoid non-essential travel to Spain while citizens are advised not to travel to Italy at all.
READ MORE
On its website the deparment advises that a "significant number of cases of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) have been confirmed in Spain. The highest incidences are in Madrid, Vitoria and Labastida in the Basque Country, Catalonia and the Rioja region. For the moment, we recommend that non-essential travel to Spain be avoided." For those who are already in Spain, the department advises people to monitor developments regularly and follow the advice of local authorities.
Spain has over 2,000 cases and its government reported 84 deaths on Friday morning, up from 47 on Wednesday.
Unprecedented restrictions on public life aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus could remain in force for months, public health doctors have indicated after the number of cases jumped by 63 per cent in a single day.
Schools, colleges and creches, along with museums, galleries and other public buildings are today beginning a 19-day enforced period of closure designed to interrupt the transmission of Covid-19.
It is likely the school closures could extend to five weeks, until the end of the Easter holidays.
Other measures such as visitor restrictions at hospitals, nursing homes and prisons, and a ban on mass gatherings, as well as the closures are due to be reviewed before the end of the month.
However, they may have to remain in place "for an extended period of time" beyond March 29th, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said last night. He declined to specify how much longer the measures might have to apply.
Meanwhile, intensive care doctors warned last night they expected to have to make “challenging” triage decisions involving patients.
“Intensive care will need to be directed to those patients who are most likely to benefit and, in this instance, to save the most lives,” three groups representing intensive care staff said in a statement.
Amid concerns about the knock-on effects of school closures on healthcare workers needing childcare, it is understood the HSE is exploring with Government a stay-at-home payment for the partners of health staff.
Delay phase
After two weeks of trying to contain the virus, Ireland has now moved on to a delay phase in its efforts to combat it, according to Dr Holohan. The sudden escalation in restrictive measures was prompted by a massive jump in confirmed cases and further evidence of clusters of the disease as well as unexplained community transmission.
Another 27 newly discovered cases of coronavirus were reported on Thursday evening, by far the biggest daily jump in numbers since the start of the epidemic. The total number of cases in the Republic is 70, up from 43 on Wednesday.
Of the additional cases, 22 derived from contact with a previously confirmed case, two involved healthcare workers and three involved travel from an at-risk area. Six patients, including three of the new cases, are in intensive care.
Ireland is “exactly 14 days behind Italy” in terms of the rise in coronavirus cases, two Irish doctors writing in the British Medical Journal warned on Thursday. Critical care capacity will quickly be reached and services overwhelmed without an “effective and aggressive” public health response, Dr Liam Glynn and Dr Mike O’Callaghan say in a letter to the journal.
The measures signal a major divergence in approach from the UK, where prime minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday that schools would remain open, despite it recording its largest single-day rise in cases. Schools and universities in Northern Ireland are also remaining open.
Uncharted territory
Announcing the measures during his much-curtailed St Patrick’s Day visit to Washington DC, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said older people and those with chronic diseases were at real risk. “We have a duty as a society to protect ourselves and, above all, to protect others – our parents and grandparents, our family and friends, co-workers and neighbours.
“We have not witnessed a pandemic of this nature in living memory. This is uncharted territory.”
While recommending that all indoor mass gatherings of more than 100 people and outdoor mass gatherings of more than 500 people should be cancelled, the Taoiseach said ports, airports and shops would remain open and public transport would continue to operate.
“You should continue to go to work if you can but where possible should work from home,” he advised, adding that break times and working times should be staggered and meetings done remotely or by phone.
Tánaiste Simon Coveney said thousands of lives could be saved through a collective national response to the measures announced by the Government.
Italy, the EU country worst affected by the virus, announced on Thursday that Covid-19 had killed almost 200 people in 24 hours, bringing its death toll to 1,016.


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Cash for ash inquiry report: Why the findings are so important

More than three years since the Renewable Heat Incentive inquiry was established in January 2017 the chairman , Patrick Coghlin , is to publish his findings at 2pm in Stormont on Friday , March 13th .
The so-called “ cash for ash ” scheme brought down the Northern Executive and Assembly , tarnished the reputation of Northern Ireland politicians and civil service and could cost the Northern taxpayer up to half a billion pounds .
So , what is the background to the scandal ?
Friday , March 13th , unlucky for some , is a big day in Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Stormont in east Belfast senior retired judge Patrick Coghlin will publish his long-anticipated report into the Renewable Heat Incentive ( RHI ) scheme , also known as the “ cash for ash ” calamity – or “ catastrophe ” as one senior Northern Ireland civil servant , Andrew McCormick , described it .
Why was it a catastrophe ?
The scheme was designed to encourage firms , businesses and farmers to switch from fossil-fuel heating to biomass systems such as wood-burning boilers .
But unlike the scheme in England and Wales there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland .
This meant that for every £1 users spent on green-heating systems , they got £1.60 in subsidies – as was said , “ the more you burned the more you earned ” .
That potentially could land the Northern Ireland taxpayer with a £490 million bill over the proposed 20 years of the scheme .
Did RHI have a political and an economic impact ?
It sure did .
RHI was introduced by the North ’ s Department of Enterprise , Trade and Investment in 2012 when Arlene Foster was its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 whistleblower Janette O ’ Hagan tried to warn that the scheme was a licence to “ burn ” money , but politicians and civil servants were not really listening .
It was not until December 2016 that the general public finally learned of the scandal .
That was when Jonathan Bell , who had succeeded Foster as minister for enterprise , in an interview with BBC ’ s Stephen Nolan blew the whistle on the scheme .
That triggered a series of events that led to Martin McGuinness the following month standing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , effectively collapsing Stormont .
It took three years to build it up again .
Will Coghlin ’ s report be a weighty tome ?
It will .
It will attempt to make sense of a labyrinthine mess .
There will be a multitude of angles for reporters and the public to digest – but essentially it is likely that the report can be broken down into four key elements : what it says about Arlene Foster and the DUP ; its verdict on DUP special political advisers , or spads as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Féin ; and its evaluation of the competence of Northern Ireland civil servants up to the most senior levels .
Explain about Arlene Foster and the DUP The scheme came into being when she was the responsible minister .
Foster admitted that she did not read the legislation behind RHI .
A total of 1,946 applicants were approved for the scheme .
There was a spike of 984 applications in the three months from September to November 2015 after officials announced they were correcting the system but before that change took effect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was political pressure to extend the lifetime of RHI and where that pressure came from .
What Coghlin finds about Foster and about the DUP could have a bearing on whether she can remain as DUP leader and First Minister .
And why are the DUP spads so central to the story ?
It goes back to Bell ’ s December 2016 interview when he claimed that some DUP special advisers were “ not allowing this scheme to be closed ” – an allegation they have denied .
There are also claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and influence .
There is the further issue of why one of the DUP spads , Andrew Crawford , as he told the inquiry , inappropriately passed on information about the scheme to a number of relatives .
And what about Sinn Féin ?
One , there is the question over why the Department of Agriculture promoted the scheme when Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill was the agriculture minister – the department held 58 workshops explaining the benefits of the scheme when she was in charge .
And , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January 2017 , when the controversy was escalating did the Sinn Féin minister for finance Máirtín Ó Muilleoir update senior republican back-room figures , Pádraic Wilson , Martin Lynch and Ted Howell on developments .
And why in particular amid efforts to impose cost restrictions on RHI did he feel he had to email Howell to ask , “ would you be content if I were to sign off the business plan ” to reduce costs .
As efforts continue to form a government in the Republic this all plays into the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will senior civil servants worry about the report ?
They have many questions to answer : why did they miss that RHI was not capped ; why did they not heed the warnings of the whistleblower Janette O ’ Hagan ; why did they not stand up to the spads ; why did they allow important meetings to take place without minutes being taken ; and generally why were they so ineffective in representing the taxpayer ?

More than three years since the Renewable Heat Incentive inquiry was established in January 2017 the chairman, Patrick Coghlin, is to publish his findings at 2pm in Stormont on Friday, March 13th.
The so-called "cash for ash" scheme brought down the Northern Executive and Assembly, tarnished the reputation of Northern Ireland politicians and civil service and could cost the Northern taxpayer up to half a billion pounds.
So, what is the background to the scandal?
Q&A:
Friday, March 13th, unlucky for some, is a big day in Northern Ireland?
READ MORE
Yes, at 2pm, at Stormont in east Belfast senior retired judge Patrick Coghlin will publish his long-anticipated report into the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, also known as the “cash for ash” calamity – or “catastrophe” as one senior Northern Ireland civil servant, Andrew McCormick, described it. Why was it a catastrophe?
The scheme was designed to encourage firms, businesses and farmers to switch from fossil-fuel heating to biomass systems such as wood-burning boilers. But unlike the scheme in England and Wales there was no cap on subsidies in Northern Ireland. This meant that for every £1 users spent on green-heating systems, they got £1.60 in subsidies – as was said, "the more you burned the more you earned". That potentially could land the Northern Ireland taxpayer with a £490 million bill over the proposed 20 years of the scheme.
Did RHI have a political and an economic impact?
It sure did. RHI was introduced by the North's Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in 2012 when Arlene Foster was its minister.
Three times between 2013 and 2015 whistleblower Janette O'Hagan tried to warn that the scheme was a licence to "burn" money, but politicians and civil servants were not really listening. It was not until December 2016 that the general public finally learned of the scandal. That was when Jonathan Bell, who had succeeded Foster as minister for enterprise, in an interview with BBC's Stephen Nolan blew the whistle on the scheme. That triggered a series of events that led to Martin McGuinness the following month standing down as Sinn Féin deputy first minister, effectively collapsing Stormont.
It took three years to build it up again.
Will Coghlin's report be a weighty tome?
It will. It will attempt to make sense of a labyrinthine mess. There will be a multitude of angles for reporters and the public to digest – but essentially it is likely that the report can be broken down into four key elements: what it says about Arlene Foster and the DUP; its verdict on DUP special political advisers, or spads as they are known; its judgment on Sinn Féin; and its evaluation of the competence of Northern Ireland civil servants up to the most senior levels.
Explain about Arlene Foster and the DUP
The scheme came into being when she was the responsible minister. Foster admitted that she did not read the legislation behind RHI. A total of 1,946 applicants were approved for the scheme. There was a spike of 984 applications in the three months from September to November 2015 after officials announced they were correcting the system but before that change took effect. This raised the question as to whether there was political pressure to extend the lifetime of RHI and where that pressure came from.
What Coghlin finds about Foster and about the DUP could have a bearing on whether she can remain as DUP leader and First Minister.
And why are the DUP spads so central to the story?
It goes back to Bell's December 2016 interview when he claimed that some DUP special advisers were "not allowing this scheme to be closed" – an allegation they have denied. There are also claims that the unelected spads carried great power and influence. There is the further issue of why one of the DUP spads, Andrew Crawford, as he told the inquiry, inappropriately passed on information about the scheme to a number of relatives.
And what about Sinn Féin?
One, there is the question over why the Department of Agriculture promoted the scheme when Sinn Féin Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill was the agriculture minister – the department held 58 workshops explaining the benefits of the scheme when she was in charge.
And, two, why over December 2016 and January 2017, when the controversy was escalating did the Sinn Féin minister for finance Máirtín Ó Muilleoir update senior republican back-room figures, Pádraic Wilson, Martin Lynch and Ted Howell on developments. And why in particular amid efforts to impose cost restrictions on RHI did he feel he had to email Howell to ask, "would you be content if I were to sign off the business plan" to reduce costs. As efforts continue to form a government in the Republic this all plays into the question, who runs Sinn Féin?
Why will senior civil servants worry about the report?
They have many questions to answer: why did they miss that RHI was not capped; why did they not heed the warnings of the whistleblower Janette O'Hagan; why did they not stand up to the spads; why did they allow important meetings to take place without minutes being taken; and generally why were they so ineffective in representing the taxpayer?


theirishtimes--2020-03-13--Poultry farmer feels he is a scapegoat of the failed RHI scheme

William Montgomery has 77,000 broiler chickens , three chicken houses , and two Renewable Heat Incentive ( RHI ) boilers .
Every one of the chickens on his farm in Broughshane , Co Antrim , arrives as a day-old chick .
When the tiny birds are tipped out of their boxes , the temperature has to be just right .
Very young chicks must be kept at 34-35 degrees , with the temperature gradually reducing as they get older ; if it is too hot or too cold , the chicks will die .
For Montgomery a biomass boiler – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide a renewable source of heat – appeared to be a perfect solution .
As well as being better for the environment , the indirect heat it produces is healthier for both farmer and chicks and rears better-quality chicken , leading in turn to increased profitability .
There was an additional incentive : the RHI scheme , which had been set up by the North ’ s Department of Enterprise in 2012 to encourage businesses to switch from fossil fuels to renewable heat sources .
But the RHI system was flawed .
Unlike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no limit on usage and subsidies were over-generous .
For every £1 of fuel burned in the green heating systems , users would receive £1.60 back .
The scandal over what became known as the “ cash for ash ” scheme brought down the North ’ s devolved government and raised serious questions over how Northern Ireland was governed and the conduct of some of its most powerful figures – not least the First Minister , Arlene Foster .
In 2018 Mrs Foster told the public inquiry into the scheme that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of “ deep regret for me politically and personally ” , but she did not believe she bore any personal responsibility for it .
Its report will be published in Belfast later on Friday .
“ I did look at it and I thought of that saying you were told when you were younger , ‘ if it seems too good to be true , it usually is ’ , ” says Montgomery .
“ But the bank had looked at the figures and they had the written guarantee from the [ then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
to the banks saying it was copper-fastened.
” Montgomery is a supplier for the poultry processing giant Moy Park .
It was from it that he first heard of the scheme , in 2013 ; the inquiry into RHI would later hear that Moy Park had been one of its prime beneficiaries .
In 2014 Montgomery borrowed £120,000 over five years to buy and install two boilers .
He received approximately £21,000 per boiler per year under the RHI scheme ; just over £26,000 went each year on paying back his loan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for wood pellets for his boilers .
Cost-control measures introduced in 2017 and again in 2019 have cut RHI payments down to £13,000 and then £2,000 per boiler per year ; for Montgomery , they are no longer financially viable .
“ I owe £28,000 on biomass boilers , and I ’ m not using them .
“ I ’ d rather be using the boilers but they ’ re sitting there , and that nearly annoys you too , because it was something you were quite proud of , ” he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you thought , this is a good thing – it ’ s a good thing for the environment , it ’ s a good environment for me to work in and it ’ s good for the productivity and the welfare of the birds.
” He was unable to continue paying off his loan , and had to restructure .
He now owes a total of £51,000 – which includes £23,000 to cover the cost of a new , gas-fuelled heating system .
“ You ’ re at the age when you think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of financial security now but I ’ m going backwards again , ” he says .
“ That ’ s one of the things that ’ s hard to deal with , that by the time I have this all paid off in 10 years ’ time I ’ ll be 64 .
“ I was a person who never was a worrier much , but it has been very tough because sometimes you just can ’ t see an end to it .
It just seems so unjust and unfair , how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been made to be the scapegoats for the whole scheme.
” Other farmers have echoed this .
A poultry producer from Co Derry who borrowed a total of £1.8 million to invest in his farm and who installed six biomass boilers described to The Irish Times how he was now struggling to provide for his family was suffering from anxiety and stress which had affected his work and his personal life .
“ I have had neighbours and extended family members accuse me of stealing taxpayers ’ money and taking money away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RHI scheme and the way the press and politicians have worded their statements against us , ” he says .
The chairman of the Renewable Heating Association in Northern Ireland ( RHANI ) , Andrew Trimble , says he is aware of three people who have taken their own lives within their 400-strong organisation as a result of RHI .
“ When they all have loans that can not be restructured , and the stress in the community , the pariah status , the jokes ... have been unbearable for some , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the RHI inquiry , claims were heard of RHI boilers blazing 24/7 in empty sheds ; Montgomery says this was never the case for farmers like him .
“ This thing that they were just burning all the time for no reason , I never did that .
I used my heat to grow broilers the way I did [ previously ] .
“ The bit that ’ s sometimes lost by the general public is that I had a genuine need for heat ... a lot of people think you just heat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and cosy , just for the sake of it.
” He is concerned , too , about the environmental impact ; he put in solar panels as well as biomass in an attempt to reduce his carbon footprint .
“ Now my three bird-houses are belching fossil fuel gases into the atmosphere , ” he says .
“ Everybody will go back to gas , because it doesn ’ t pay you to run a biomass unit.
” Montgomery is a member of RHANI ; the organisation is currently involved in legal challenges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which it argues were unlawful ; those who participated in the scheme would also like an apology .
“ We would like some form of justice , ” says Montgomery , “ and you would hope there would be things that would come out of the inquiry that will help us in court with our case.
” He would like the tariff changed “ back to something that is sustainable for users of biomass , ” and believes the individuals responsible should be held to account .
“ This has brought a government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awful situation in Northern Ireland , and the people who are directly responsible for that should definitely be made to resign .
“ I suppose in that sense I ’ m talking more about the First Minister , because I do feel that the buck stops with the person at the very top of the situation .
”

Farmer William Montgomery, in Co Antrim: “I was a person who never was a worrier much, but it has been very tough because sometimes you just can’t see an end to it.” Photograph: Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
William Montgomery has 77,000 broiler chickens, three chicken houses, and two Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) boilers.
Every one of the chickens on his farm in Broughshane, Co Antrim, arrives as a day-old chick. When the tiny birds are tipped out of their boxes, the temperature has to be just right. Very young chicks must be kept at 34-35 degrees, with the temperature gradually reducing as they get older; if it is too hot or too cold, the chicks will die.
For Montgomery a biomass boiler – which burns sustainably sourced wood pellets to provide a renewable source of heat – appeared to be a perfect solution. As well as being better for the environment, the indirect heat it produces is healthier for both farmer and chicks and rears better-quality chicken, leading in turn to increased profitability.
There was an additional incentive: the RHI scheme, which had been set up by the North’s Department of Enterprise in 2012 to encourage businesses to switch from fossil fuels to renewable heat sources.
READ MORE
But the RHI system was flawed. Unlike a capped scheme in Britain, there was no limit on usage and subsidies were over-generous. For every £1 of fuel burned in the green heating systems, users would receive £1.60 back.
The scandal over what became known as the "cash for ash" scheme brought down the North's devolved government and raised serious questions over how Northern Ireland was governed and the conduct of some of its most powerful figures – not least the First Minister, Arlene Foster.
In 2018 Mrs Foster told the public inquiry into the scheme that the collapse of the scheme was a matter of “deep regret for me politically and personally”, but she did not believe she bore any personal responsibility for it.
Its report will be published in Belfast later on Friday.
“I did look at it and I thought of that saying you were told when you were younger, ‘if it seems too good to be true, it usually is’,” says Montgomery. “But the bank had looked at the figures and they had the written guarantee from the [then] Minister, Arlene Foster . . . to the banks saying it was copper-fastened.”
Montgomery is a supplier for the poultry processing giant Moy Park. It was from it that he first heard of the scheme, in 2013; the inquiry into RHI would later hear that Moy Park had been one of its prime beneficiaries.
In 2014 Montgomery borrowed £120,000 over five years to buy and install two boilers. He received approximately £21,000 per boiler per year under the RHI scheme; just over £26,000 went each year on paying back his loan, with the remainder used to pay for wood pellets for his boilers.
Cost-control measures introduced in 2017 and again in 2019 have cut RHI payments down to £13,000 and then £2,000 per boiler per year; for Montgomery, they are no longer financially viable. “I owe £28,000 on biomass boilers, and I’m not using them.
“I’d rather be using the boilers but they’re sitting there, and that nearly annoys you too, because it was something you were quite proud of,” he says.
“You looked at it and you thought, this is a good thing – it’s a good thing for the environment, it’s a good environment for me to work in and it’s good for the productivity and the welfare of the birds.”
He was unable to continue paying off his loan, and had to restructure. He now owes a total of £51,000 – which includes £23,000 to cover the cost of a new, gas-fuelled heating system.
“You’re at the age when you think you’re getting to a bit of financial security now but I’m going backwards again,” he says. “That’s one of the things that’s hard to deal with, that by the time I have this all paid off in 10 years’ time I’ll be 64.
“I was a person who never was a worrier much, but it has been very tough because sometimes you just can’t see an end to it. It just seems so unjust and unfair, how we have been treated.
“We have been made to be the scapegoats for the whole scheme.”
Other farmers have echoed this. A poultry producer from Co Derry who borrowed a total of £1.8 million to invest in his farm and who installed six biomass boilers described to The Irish Times how he was now struggling to provide for his family was suffering from anxiety and stress which had affected his work and his personal life.
“I have had neighbours and extended family members accuse me of stealing taxpayers’ money and taking money away from hospitals and schools due to the RHI scheme and the way the press and politicians have worded their statements against us,” he says.
The chairman of the Renewable Heating Association in Northern Ireland (RHANI), Andrew Trimble, says he is aware of three people who have taken their own lives within their 400-strong organisation as a result of RHI.
“When they all have loans that cannot be restructured, and the stress in the community, the pariah status, the jokes ... have been unbearable for some,” he says.
Over the course of the RHI inquiry, claims were heard of RHI boilers blazing 24/7 in empty sheds; Montgomery says this was never the case for farmers like him. “This thing that they were just burning all the time for no reason, I never did that. I used my heat to grow broilers the way I did [previously].
“The bit that’s sometimes lost by the general public is that I had a genuine need for heat ... a lot of people think you just heat broiler houses because you wanted them nice and cosy, just for the sake of it.”
He is concerned, too, about the environmental impact; he put in solar panels as well as biomass in an attempt to reduce his carbon footprint. “Now my three bird-houses are belching fossil fuel gases into the atmosphere,” he says. “Everybody will go back to gas, because it doesn’t pay you to run a biomass unit.”
Montgomery is a member of RHANI; the organisation is currently involved in legal challenges over the changes in the scheme, which it argues were unlawful; those who participated in the scheme would also like an apology.
“We would like some form of justice,” says Montgomery, “and you would hope there would be things that would come out of the inquiry that will help us in court with our case.”
He would like the tariff changed “back to something that is sustainable for users of biomass,” and believes the individuals responsible should be held to account.
“This has brought a government down, it’s created an awful situation in Northern Ireland, and the people who are directly responsible for that should definitely be made to resign.
“I suppose in that sense I’m talking more about the First Minister, because I do feel that the buck stops with the person at the very top of the situation.”