theirishtimes--2020-07-14--Coronavirus: Pub reopenings in danger as NPHET expresses serious concerns at case growth

Serious concerns were expressed on Tuesday evening at a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) which could endanger plans to reopen the remainder of the State ’ s pubs on Monday .
It is understood that concerns were raised at NPHET by multiple participants regarding the current trends in infection rates in the country , as well as uncertainty over how the virus will behave .
There is significant concern among the public health team over how these trends could interact with an increase in congregated settings reopening .
The Government will now have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening at which moving to the next phase of re-opening the economy will be discussed .
There were no new deaths of people with Covid-19 for the third day in a row but 32 new cases reported in the State NPHET on Tuesday .
This is the highest number of new cases in over a month .
There have been a total of 1,746 Covid-19 related deaths in the State and 25,670 confirmed cases .
Over the past week , 49,264 tests were carried out , of which 157 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate of 0.3 per cent .
A group representing publicans cautioned against any delay to reopening pubs saying that it would be a “ hammer blow to thousands of pubs and their local communities around the country.
” “ The vast majority of these pubs are small outlets run by families who are on first-name terms with their customers and far removed from the crowded venues and streets that concern Nphet , ” said Padraig Cribben , chief executive of the Vintners ’ Federation of Ireland .
“ As controlled venues we believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are far safer than uncontrolled house parties and pose little threat to public health.
” Mr Cribben said that restaurants and pubs serving food that had already opened in the third phase of relaxations on June 29th were having to cope with larger crowds .
“ Opening all pubs would allow for better social distancing and reduce the risk of infection , ” he said .
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar earlier told the Dail that while there had been an “ uptick ” in the number of new Covid-19 cases “ I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enormous that at this stage it should prevent us moving to stage 4 , but that is not a decision for me on my own ” .
He said a decision would be made by Cabinet on Wednesday evening about whether to allow pubs nightclubs , casinos and other entertainment businesses to reopen , following advice from NPHET .
Fianna Fail TD Cormac Devlin said businesses needed clarity because they had to order stock , train staff and prepare their premises but only had four days before the scheduled date on July 20th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economy .
Mr Varadkar did not know whether the decision would be affirmative or negative for-reopening but he hoped it would be possible and a decision on Wednesday evening “ would give those sectors the best part of a few days to prepare ” .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said house parties are a growing concern in contributing to the rising number of Covid-19 cases .
There had been a lot of commentary about tourists from the US visiting Ireland , he said , but Department of Transport information “ suggests the figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an issue about house parties contributing to the rising number of cases .
Mr Martin told Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick that he had been speaking to Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn and concerns were raised about the increases in coronavirus cases in the last fortnight .
“ Congregated indoor settings are presenting a problem and having 30 or 40 people in house parties is an issue.
” Mr Martin said that following the meeting on Tuesday of NPHET the Cabinet will meet on Wednesday and consider its advice when it discusses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the economy and society and international travel .
Mr Fitzpatrick said that last weekend more than 60 motorhomes and caravans were located in the village of Carlingford in his Co Louth constituency .
“ This was way above what is normal , ” he said pointing to comments from Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney on Monday that visitors should not come to Ireland unless they restrict their movements for 14 days .
He said that meant “ absolutely nothing ” unless it was enforced and there were “ many tourists from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and towns .
“ I understand that in the USA , people from the state of Texas are unable to visit their neighbours because of Covid-19 restrictions , yet they can travel freely to Ireland.
” The Taoiseach pointed out that since the start of the pandemic travel had never been banned officially .
“ We have to be very strong in terms of travel as well in terms of our messaging around travel , and with a view to keeping the rate down .
That would be our objective in the coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Martin added that the Government ’ s “ overarching consideration ” in the coming weeks is to get schools open and to get the “ non-Covid strand of medicine opened up and to free up our hospital capacity to do that ” .
Elsewhere the North ’ s Department of Health recorded no new Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland in its latest daily bulletin published on Tuesday afternoon , leaving the official death toll from the virus at 556 .
Just one fatality has been reported in the North in the last 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases of coronavirus taking the number of confirmed cases to 5,790 .
So far , 122,403 people have been tested for the disease in Northern Ireland .
While the death toll reported by the department is 556 , the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency reported last week that 839 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred by July 3rd .
The department figures report deaths of patients who had tested positive for the virus whereas the Nisra figures are based on information entered on death certificates .
Following the decision to introduce compulsory mask-wearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive is to examine whether it should impose the same rule .
“ The use of face coverings is now mandatory on public transport , except where an exemption applies .
They are also strongly recommended in indoor environments where social distancing may be difficult , ” said an Executive spokeswoman on Tuesday .
“ The Executive keeps the issue of face coverings under continuous review and any changes to the advice will be communicated to the public , ” she added .
Glyn Roberts , chief executive of Retail NI , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around the wearing of masks in shops , and that it should be for the PSNI rather than staff to police any change in the rule .
“ Should the Executive introduce the compulsory wearing of face masks , then retailers and their staff should not be enforcing nor policing such rules , ” he said.Additional reporting : PA

Serious concerns were expressed on Tuesday evening at a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) which could endanger plans to reopen the remainder of the State’s pubs on Monday.
It is understood that concerns were raised at NPHET by multiple participants regarding the current trends in infection rates in the country, as well as uncertainty over how the virus will behave.
There is significant concern among the public health team over how these trends could interact with an increase in congregated settings reopening.
The Government will now have to consider these matters before a key cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening at which moving to the next phase of re-opening the economy will be discussed.
READ MORE
There were no new deaths of people with Covid-19 for the third day in a row but 32 new cases reported in the State NPHET on Tuesday . This is the highest number of new cases in over a month.
There have been a total of 1,746 Covid-19 related deaths in the State and 25,670 confirmed cases. Over the past week, 49,264 tests were carried out, of which 157 tests were positive, giving a positivity rate of 0.3 per cent.
A group representing publicans cautioned against any delay to reopening pubs saying that it would be a “hammer blow to thousands of pubs and their local communities around the country.”
“The vast majority of these pubs are small outlets run by families who are on first-name terms with their customers and far removed from the crowded venues and streets that concern Nphet,” said Padraig Cribben, chief executive of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland.
“As controlled venues we believe these pubs should be allowed open as they are far safer than uncontrolled house parties and pose little threat to public health.”
Mr Cribben said that restaurants and pubs serving food that had already opened in the third phase of relaxations on June 29th were having to cope with larger crowds.
“Opening all pubs would allow for better social distancing and reduce the risk of infection,” he said.
Tanaiste Leo Varadkar earlier told the Dail that while there had been an “uptick” in the number of new Covid-19 cases “I do not think the increase has been so enormous that at this stage it should prevent us moving to stage 4, but that is not a decision for me on my own”.
He said a decision would be made by Cabinet on Wednesday evening about whether to allow pubs nightclubs, casinos and other entertainment businesses to reopen, following advice from NPHET.
Fianna Fail TD Cormac Devlin said businesses needed clarity because they had to order stock, train staff and prepare their premises but only had four days before the scheduled date on July 20th for the next phase of re-opening the economy.
Mr Varadkar did not know whether the decision would be affirmative or negative for-reopening but he hoped it would be possible and a decision on Wednesday evening “would give those sectors the best part of a few days to prepare”.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said house parties are a growing concern in contributing to the rising number of Covid-19 cases.
There had been a lot of commentary about tourists from the US visiting Ireland, he said, but Department of Transport information “suggests the figures are low”.
However there was an issue about house parties contributing to the rising number of cases.
Mr Martin told Independent TD Peter Fitzpatrick that he had been speaking to Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn and concerns were raised about the increases in coronavirus cases in the last fortnight.
“Congregated indoor settings are presenting a problem and having 30 or 40 people in house parties is an issue.”
Mr Martin said that following the meeting on Tuesday of NPHET the Cabinet will meet on Wednesday and consider its advice when it discusses phase four of the roadmap to re-open the economy and society and international travel.
Mr Fitzpatrick said that last weekend more than 60 motorhomes and caravans were located in the village of Carlingford in his Co Louth constituency. “This was way above what is normal,” he said pointing to comments from Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney on Monday that visitors should not come to Ireland unless they restrict their movements for 14 days. He said that meant “absolutely nothing” unless it was enforced and there were “many tourists from the USA out and about in our cities and towns.
“I understand that in the USA, people from the state of Texas are unable to visit their neighbours because of Covid-19 restrictions, yet they can travel freely to Ireland.”
The Taoiseach pointed out that since the start of the pandemic travel had never been banned officially. “We have to be very strong in terms of travel as well in terms of our messaging around travel, and with a view to keeping the rate down. That would be our objective in the coming weeks,” he said.
Mr Martin added that the Government’s “overarching consideration” in the coming weeks is to get schools open and to get the “non-Covid strand of medicine opened up and to free up our hospital capacity to do that”.
Elsewhere the North's Department of Health recorded no new Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland in its latest daily bulletin published on Tuesday afternoon, leaving the official death toll from the virus at 556.
Just one fatality has been reported in the North in the last 10 days.
There were just two new cases of coronavirus taking the number of confirmed cases to 5,790. So far, 122,403 people have been tested for the disease in Northern Ireland.
While the death toll reported by the department is 556, the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency reported last week that 839 deaths involving Covid-19 had occurred by July 3rd.
The department figures report deaths of patients who had tested positive for the virus whereas the Nisra figures are based on information entered on death certificates.
Following the decision to introduce compulsory mask-wearing in shops in England, the Northern Executive is to examine whether it should impose the same rule.
“The use of face coverings is now mandatory on public transport, except where an exemption applies. They are also strongly recommended in indoor environments where social distancing may be difficult,” said an Executive spokeswoman on Tuesday.
“The Executive keeps the issue of face coverings under continuous review and any changes to the advice will be communicated to the public,” she added.
Glyn Roberts, chief executive of Retail NI, said there must be clarity from the Executive around the wearing of masks in shops, and that it should be for the PSNI rather than staff to police any change in the rule.
“Should the Executive introduce the compulsory wearing of face masks, then retailers and their staff should not be enforcing nor policing such rules,” he said.Additional reporting: PA


theirishtimes--2020-07-15--Taoiseach Micheál Martin tells Dáil Apple was not ‘sorted’ on tax

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has denied that Apple was “ sorted ” , following the decision of the European General Court to overturn a finding that the computing giant owed Ireland €13 billion in back taxes .
During leaders ’ questions in the Dáil , Solidarity TD Mick Barry said sacked Debenhams workers had today chanted that they had been sold out while the computing giant was “ sorted out ” .
The Taoiseach defended Ireland ’ s decision to appeal the €13 billion decision , saying “ Apple didn ’ t get sorted , and Apple is about workers too @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Ireland have an “ important role ” providing employment , which also “ underpins the work of many small to medium size companies who also create thousands of jobs.
” “ [ The appeal ] was important in terms of protecting that industrial policy of the last 30 or 40 years , in my view to identify the State ’ s own credibility and reputation in that we do things inside the law.
” He said that , “ essentially the court decision is there was no state aid to Apple ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says it plans to “ carefully study ” the decision to overturn its decision that Apple owed Ireland €13 billion in back taxes , amid widespread expectation that Brussels will appeal the ruling .
In a statement issued this morning , EU executive vice-president Margrethe Vestager said the Commission “ will carefully study the judgement and reflect on possible next steps ” .
Ms Vestager was Competition Commissioner at the time the ruling was handed down , in 2016 , and retains responsibility for competition matters in her new portfolio , focused on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Digital Age ” .
“ The Commission stands fully behind the objective that all companies should pay their fair share of tax , ” she said .
“ If member states give certain multinational companies tax advantages not available to their rivals , this harms fair competition in the EU .
It also deprives the public purse and citizens of funds for much needed investments - the need for which is even more acute during times of crisis.
” Sinn Féin ’ s finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the decision is only “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling will attract more attention on Ireland ’ s corporate tax system .
“ It is likely to be appealed and that ’ s what should happen .
The issues here are serious .
The general court has suggested Apple and our tax code was applied fairly and evenly and allowed for a Irish company to generate 104bn profits and pay no tax here or anywhere else in the world on those profits.
” “ Cases like this put Ireland into the firing line and damages our reputation internationally , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including one involving Spanish bank Santander , which were overturned in the General Court only for that ruling in turn to be successfully appealed .
Labour ’ s finance spokesperson Ged Nash called for new rules to “ ensure all multinational corporations pay their fair share of tax in the future.
” He said that while the General Court had found that the Commission had “ effectively overreached… this is not to say the previous tax rules were satisfactory .
“ While the Commission may appeal the judgment , the real issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a decisive step forward to reform the global system for taxing multinationals , especially those in the digital sector that can simply choose where in the world to locate their profit-making intellectual property rights.
” In its statement , the Commission said it will “ continue to look at aggressive tax planning measures ” .
Adding : “ At the same time , State aid enforcement needs to go hand in hand with a change in corporate philosophies and the right legislation to address loopholes and ensure transparency.
” Wednesday morning ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that two separate tax rulings from Ireland had conferred a selective advantage on Apple , and that the company owed the exchequer some €13.1 billion in back taxes as a result .
In a press release on Wednesday morning , the General Court of the European Union found that the Commission , “ incorrectly concluded in its primary line of reasoning , ” that two Apple companies had been granted an advantage .
According to the statement , the Court has found that the while the rulings given by Ireland to Apple are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said “ the defects identified by the Commission are not , in themselves sufficient to prove the existence of an advantage ” .
It found the Commission did not prove that the tax rulings were “ the result of discretion exercised by the Irish tax authorities and that [ the Apple companies ] had been granted a selective advantage .
”

Paschal Donohoe: ‘Much of the criticism levied at Ireland has been given a very comprehensive answer today.’ Photograph: Alan Betson
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said Wednesday's ruling that Apple does not owe Ireland €13 billion in unpaid taxes should lead critics of the State's corporation tax regime to "reassess their view … and some of the statements that have been made about it".
Speaking in Government buildings today, Mr Donohoe said the 2016 finding by the European Commission that Ireland had struck a deal that gave preferential treatment to Apple had "caused reputational difficulty for Ireland during the many years in which is has played out. This is why the ruling of this morning is so important".
Mr Donohoe suggested the ruling had overshadowed reforms that Ireland had made on corporation tax, and listed a series of actions undertaken in recent years that he said improved transparency on the taxation of multinationals.
“Much of the criticism levied at Ireland in relation to how we have handled the taxation matter has been given a very comprehensive answer today,” he said.
READ MORE
Ireland was ready to play its part in contributing to debates about multinational taxation, and in particular the taxation of the digital economy, the Minister said, but he gave a cool reception to suggestions that the European Commission could move to qualified majority voting on some reforms outlined in a new tax plan published by Brussels this morning.
Earlier, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said it was important “to make the point that Ireland is only entitled to revenue within the law. The essential judgment is … that Ireland is not in a position to get any of that revenue because it isn’t entitled to it. That’s the decision of the courts.”
Ireland’s industrial policy for more than 40 years had been focused on foreign direct investment, he said, “and it’s founded on a very basic strong relationship with those companies … and tax certainty has been critical to that success, and it has been a success story”.
Not ‘sorted’
Earlier in the day, Mr Martin denied that Apple was "sorted" in a tax deal involving Ireland. During Leaders' Questions in the Dáil, Solidarity TD Mick Barry said sacked Debenhams workers had today chanted that they had been sold out while the computing giant was "sorted out".
The Taoiseach defended Ireland’s decision to appeal the €13 billion decision, saying “Apple didn’t get sorted, and Apple is about workers too”.
Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the decision was only "half time", and said that the ruling will attract more attention on Ireland's corporation tax system.
“It is likely to be appealed and that’s what should happen. The issues here are serious. The general court has suggested Apple and our tax code was applied fairly and evenly and allowed for an Irish company to generate €104 billion profits and pay no tax here or anywhere else in the world on those profits.
“Cases like this put Ireland into the firing line and damages our reputation internationally,” he said.
Green Party finance spokeswoman Neasa Hourigan expressed disappointment at the ruling. “I feel it is vital that we ensure that large multinational companies pay a fair amount of tax,” she said. “While I need to study the finding in detail, this ruling seems like a setback for the EU commission and the move towards tax reform.
“Ireland needs to be a leader in supporting greater transparency and accountability in our tax system. Ireland also needs to champion global tax justice ... Tax justice demands that every company, small or large, pay their fair share.”
Labour finance spokesperson Ged Nash called for new rules to "ensure all multinational corporations pay their fair share of tax in the future". While the court found that the commission had "effectively overreached", he said this was not to say the previous tax rules were satisfactory.


theirishtimes--2020-07-15--Covid-19: Only one in 20 airport arrivals contacted for quarantine checks

Just one in every 20 overseas passengers who have arrived in the State via Dublin Airport since the start of July has been spoken to by officials to check they intend to adhere to the 14-day Covid-19 quarantine rule .
The low rate of checks will cause serious concern about Ireland ’ s ability to detect imported cases of the disease and the capacity to monitor and contact visitors .
Between July 1st and 13th , the Dublin Airport Authority recorded 52,753 new arrivals at Dublin Airport with some 30 per cent of those exempt from the legal obligation to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to figures obtained from the Department of Justice .
That means some 37,000 passengers who arrived through the airport in the first 13 days of this month were bound by the obligation to fill out a form recording their contact number and the address where they planned to quarantine for their first 14 days in the State .
Failure to fill out the form , and to do so accurately , has been a criminal offence since May 28th , punishable on conviction by up to six months in prison and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly arrived passengers found not to be staying at the address they gave can be regarded as having filled out the form inaccurately and prosecuted .
The Irish Times has learned that criminal investigations have been commenced against three overseas visitors for failing to fill out passenger locator forms .
The border management unit ( BMU ) , which is part of the Department of Justice , made 3,532 calls to check if the passengers who arrived between July 1st and 13th were at the addresses they stated on their forms and were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,698 were answered .
It means of the approximate 37,000 newly arrived passengers who were obliged to complete the form and then quarantine for 14 days , an attempt has been made to contact just under 10 per cent , and just under 5 per cent have answered their phones .
The only passenger figures available last night were for Dublin Airport .
All of the passengers obliged to fill out a form did so apart from three people .
Criminal investigations were commenced by the Garda into their refusal to complete the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since filled out the paperwork while the other two investigations are ongoing .
Newly arrived passengers can be exempt from completing the form if they are transiting to the North or plan to spend less than two days in the Republic .
Up until the end of June almost all passengers who arrived in the Republic were contacted by the BMU , on behalf of the health authorities .
However , since the start of July passenger numbers have increased so much that only a percentage of newly arrived passengers can be contacted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are answering their phones , the Department of Justice told The Irish Times .
While the BMU and Garda National Immigration Bureau ( GNIB ) have been tasked with collating the forms and making the follow-up calls , they have been doing so on behalf of the Department of Health , which is responsible for the system .
However , the Department of Justice said because passenger numbers were “ increasing significantly ” the BMU and GNIB would need to focus on their core work of immigration control and the HSE would soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new arrivals .
The Department added the passenger locator form was about to be “ put on an electronic basis ” and as well as allowing the checking of new arrivals , it would also aid in contact tracing if there was a confirmed case of Covid19 on a flight or ferry coming to Ireland .
“ If a person arrives into Ireland , they will be legally obliged to fill out this form , regardless of their nationality , ” the Department said .

Just one in every 20 overseas passengers who have arrived in the State via Dublin Airport since the start of July has been spoken to by officials to check they intend to adhere to the 14-day Covid-19 quarantine rule.
The low rate of checks will cause serious concern about Ireland’s ability to detect imported cases of the disease and the capacity to monitor and contact visitors.
Between July 1st and 13th, the Dublin Airport Authority recorded 52,753 new arrivals at Dublin Airport with some 30 per cent of those exempt from the legal obligation to fill out a passenger locator form, according to figures obtained from the Department of Justice.
That means some 37,000 passengers who arrived through the airport in the first 13 days of this month were bound by the obligation to fill out a form recording their contact number and the address where they planned to quarantine for their first 14 days in the State.
READ MORE
Failure to fill out the form, and to do so accurately, has been a criminal offence since May 28th, punishable on conviction by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to €2,500.
Any newly arrived passengers found not to be staying at the address they gave can be regarded as having filled out the form inaccurately and prosecuted.
The Irish Times has learned that criminal investigations have been commenced against three overseas visitors for failing to fill out passenger locator forms.
The border management unit (BMU), which is part of the Department of Justice, made 3,532 calls to check if the passengers who arrived between July 1st and 13th were at the addresses they stated on their forms and were quarantining. Of those calls, some 1,698 were answered.
It means of the approximate 37,000 newly arrived passengers who were obliged to complete the form and then quarantine for 14 days, an attempt has been made to contact just under 10 per cent, and just under 5 per cent have answered their phones. The only passenger figures available last night were for Dublin Airport.
All of the passengers obliged to fill out a form did so apart from three people. Criminal investigations were commenced by the Garda into their refusal to complete the form. One of the passengers has since filled out the paperwork while the other two investigations are ongoing.
Newly arrived passengers can be exempt from completing the form if they are transiting to the North or plan to spend less than two days in the Republic.
Up until the end of June almost all passengers who arrived in the Republic were contacted by the BMU, on behalf of the health authorities.
However, since the start of July passenger numbers have increased so much that only a percentage of newly arrived passengers can be contacted and just under half of those contacted are answering their phones, the Department of Justice told The Irish Times.
While the BMU and Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) have been tasked with collating the forms and making the follow-up calls, they have been doing so on behalf of the Department of Health, which is responsible for the system.
However, the Department of Justice said because passenger numbers were “increasing significantly” the BMU and GNIB would need to focus on their core work of immigration control and the HSE would soon take over making the follow-up calls to the new arrivals.
The Department added the passenger locator form was about to be “put on an electronic basis” and as well as allowing the checking of new arrivals, it would also aid in contact tracing if there was a confirmed case of Covid19 on a flight or ferry coming to Ireland.
“If a person arrives into Ireland, they will be legally obliged to fill out this form, regardless of their nationality,” the Department said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-15--Man (27) arrested in relation to murder of Lyra McKee

Police investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee have arrested a 27-year-old man .
He was detained in Derry on @ @ @ @ @ the Terrorism Act and has been taken to Musgrave police station in Belfast for questioning @ @ @ @ @ city was also searched by police .
The 29-year-old journalist and writer was shot dead @ @ @ @ @ in the Creggan area of Derry in April 2019 .
The Police Service of Northern @ @ @ @ @ the dissident republican group the New IRA was responsible .
Last month police recovered a @ @ @ @ @ number of bullets during searches in the Ballymagroarty area of the city , which police @ @ @ @ @ to kill Ms McKee .
In February , a 52-year-old man appeared in court in @ @ @ @ @ murder .

Lyra McKee: shot in the head during a night of rioting and petrol bombing in 2019. Photograph: Jess Lowe/AFP
Police investigating the murder of journalist Lyra McKee have arrested a 27-year-old man.
He was detained in Derry on Wednesday under the provisions of the Terrorism Act and has been taken to Musgrave police station in Belfast for questioning.
A house in the city was also searched by police.
The 29-year-old journalist and writer was shot dead as she watched a riot in the Creggan area of Derry in April 2019. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the dissident republican group the New IRA was responsible.
READ MORE
Last month police recovered a Hammerli X-Esse pistol and a number of bullets during searches in the Ballymagroarty area of the city, which police said was the gun used to kill Ms McKee.
In February, a 52-year-old man appeared in court in the city charged with her murder.


theirishtimes--2020-07-15--Dry spells and sunshine on St Swithin’s Day - will it last for 40 days and 40 nights?

Dry spells and some sunshine look set to be on the cards for Ireland for the next 40 days , if the legend of St Swithin is anything to go by .
Today , July 15th , is St Swithin ’ s Day and if the myth of the holy man holds true then whatever weather we see today is likely to be replicated every day for the next 40 days and 40 nights .
St Swithin was the bishop of Winchester and died in 862AD .
He was canonised more than a century after his passing and his remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plot in the graveyard to a shrine in the adjoining cathedral .
However , apparently Swithin was a settled soul and did not take kindly to being moved .
In fact he was so furious with the decision - taken by his successor Bishop Ethelwold - to move him to a fancy shrine in a big cathedral that he put a weather related curse on the whole world .
On the day his body was moved and as the ceremony to celebrate his saintliness reached its end , it lashed rain .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it could only have been caused by the saint ’ s furious anger at Ethelwold ’ s decision to go against his wishes and move him to the big shrine .
“ St Swithin ’ s day if thou dost rain , for 40 days it will remain .
St Swithin ’ s Day if thou be fair , for 40 days ‘ twill rain nae mare , ” was the quote attributed to the dead man .
Met Eireann has said it will be mostly cloudy and rather misty on Wednesday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ north and east of the country .
However , long dry spells will develop as the day progresses , especially across the south and southeast of the country with warm sunny spells .
Highest temperatures will be between 16 and 19 degrees but reaching 20 to 21 degrees in any sunshine in moderate west or northwest breezes .
Thursday will also start mostly cloudy and misty with patchy drizzle .
The cloud will break in some areas during the afternoon , especially across the east and south of the country allowing for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it looks set to remain rather cloudy along the Atlantic seaboard with further patchy light rain or drizzle .
Highest temperatures will be between 16 and 20 degrees .
Friday will be another mostly cloudy day across west Munster , Connacht and west Ulster with rain at times and highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees .
Elsewhere , it will be mostly dry with a mix of cloud and bright spells with highest temperatures of 19 to 22 degrees .

A picture what is believed to be the first ever sighting of a brown booby in Ireland, in Greystones on Tuesday. The large seabird is usually found fishing in tropical waters in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Dry spells and some sunshine look set to be on the cards for Ireland for the next 40 days, if the legend of St Swithin is anything to go by.
Today, July 15th, is St Swithin’s Day and if the myth of the holy man holds true then whatever weather we see today is likely to be replicated every day for the next 40 days and 40 nights.
St Swithin was the bishop of Winchester and died in 862AD. He was canonised more than a century after his passing and his remains were exhumed and moved from a humble plot in the graveyard to a shrine in the adjoining cathedral.
However, apparently Swithin was a settled soul and did not take kindly to being moved.
READ MORE
In fact he was so furious with the decision - taken by his successor Bishop Ethelwold - to move him to a fancy shrine in a big cathedral that he put a weather related curse on the whole world.
On the day his body was moved and as the ceremony to celebrate his saintliness reached its end, it lashed rain.
So great was the storm that locals believed it could only have been caused by the saint’s furious anger at Ethelwold’s decision to go against his wishes and move him to the big shrine.
“St Swithin’s day if thou dost rain, for 40 days it will remain. St Swithin’s Day if thou be fair, for 40 days ‘twill rain nae mare,” was the quote attributed to the dead man.
Met Eireann has said it will be mostly cloudy and rather misty on Wednesday morning with patchy drizzle, chiefly affecting the north and east of the country.
However, long dry spells will develop as the day progresses, especially across the south and southeast of the country with warm sunny spells.
Highest temperatures will be between 16 and 19 degrees but reaching 20 to 21 degrees in any sunshine in moderate west or northwest breezes.
Thursday will also start mostly cloudy and misty with patchy drizzle. The cloud will break in some areas during the afternoon, especially across the east and south of the country allowing for some warm sunshine to develop.
However, it looks set to remain rather cloudy along the Atlantic seaboard with further patchy light rain or drizzle. Highest temperatures will be between 16 and 20 degrees.
Friday will be another mostly cloudy day across west Munster, Connacht and west Ulster with rain at times and highest temperatures of 16 to 18 degrees.
Elsewhere, it will be mostly dry with a mix of cloud and bright spells with highest temperatures of 19 to 22 degrees.


theirishtimes--2020-07-15--Covid-19: Overseas visitors are causing ‘stress and anxiety’ in some areas, TDs say

TDs from constituencies popular with tourists have spoken of “ stress and anxiety ” among their constituents over a perceived lack of controls on visitors coming in from overseas .
Catherine Connolly , whose Galway West constituency takes in many island communities popular with tourists , as well as the perennial hotspot of Galway city , said : “ People are very worried about visitors from overseas , not just Americans , and a lack of self-isolation.
” The Independent TD said there were “ certainly visitors present from overseas in Galway and on the Aran Islands ” , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them were handling themselves .
The “ word on the ground ” was that ferries were arriving on the Aran Islands from Ros a ’ Mhíl and Doolin “ with quite a number of passengers not wearing masks , and chaos on the quays , with nobody monitoring the situation ” .
Pearse Doherty , the Sinn Féin finance spokesman and Donegal TD , said the “ level of concern is high ” in his constituency .
While “ it ’ s been a long time since I ’ ve seen anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constituents were raising fears with him in relation to people travelling from Covid-19 hotspots , he said .
The county often functions as a holiday bolthole for many in the nationalist community in Northern Ireland on the weekend of the 12th of July , but Mr Doherty said nervousness about that traffic was less pronounced than earlier in the year .
“ Understandably there ’ s a level of anxiousness and anxiety with all of this [ but ] a lot less than at the very start ; there was a bit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boris Johnson ’ s mad plan of herd immunity.
” While tour buses , a common sight on rural roads in the summer months , have all but disappeared , Mr Doherty said large numbers of camper vans were being seen parked up on beaches .
“ The concern is that they don ’ t have facilities , so they ’ re parking anywhere and everywhere.
” Michael Healy-Rae , the Kerry TD , said there were concerns over foreign tourists among his constituents .
“ We are seeing people coming in , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re not coming in through our airports in the south , they ’ re coming in from Northern Ireland as well.
” He criticised the State ’ s approach to limiting the movements of overseas visitors .
“ People are really worried…just fearful about what is happening at present ; we have rules about wearing a mask and , at the same time , someone can come in from an infected region and there ’ s no checks and balances only that you have to give your name and address.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the State to observe the guidelines .
“ Kerry is the most welcoming part of the whole world and once we have this situation under control , we will go back to what we ’ ve been doing for 100 years and that is welcoming people into our county.
” Ms Connolly believes the emphasis now should be on next year ’ s season .
“ People are saying to me we make our living from tourism , but this season is gone anyway .
Let ’ s struggle through it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up and look forward to next year.
” It ’ s a view shared by her constituency colleague , Fianna Fáil ’ s Éamon Ó Cuív .
While he said he was not receiving a huge number of representations from constituents on the matter , his view was that “ this season is largely lost to foreign tourism and we ’ re probably better discouraging people from coming and also making sure that if they do come , they quarantine , taking the short-term pain for the long-term gain.
” Tour operators , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little business amid the Covid-19 restrictions .
A spokeswoman for the Irish Tour Operators Association said many members had coaches sitting in garages since last August .
“ With a 14-day isolation , the tour operators have no business on the books until spring of next year .
“ As long as there is a 14-day self-isolation period , there ’ s no business being done.
” The spokeswoman said public health was the paramount concern , but that operators “ would love to see a clarification on what ’ s the exit @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Aran Islands: Catherine Connolly TD said ferries were arriving on the Aran Islands ‘with quite a number of passengers not wearing masks, and chaos on the quays, with nobody monitoring the situation’.
TDs from constituencies popular with tourists have spoken of “stress and anxiety” among their constituents over a perceived lack of controls on visitors coming in from overseas.
Catherine Connolly, whose Galway West constituency takes in many island communities popular with tourists, as well as the perennial hotspot of Galway city, said: "People are very worried about visitors from overseas, not just Americans, and a lack of self-isolation."
The Independent TD said there were “certainly visitors present from overseas in Galway and on the Aran Islands”, and there were significant concerns over how some of them were handling themselves.
The "word on the ground" was that ferries were arriving on the Aran Islands from Ros a' Mhíl and Doolin "with quite a number of passengers not wearing masks, and chaos on the quays, with nobody monitoring the situation".
READ MORE
Pearse Doherty, the Sinn Féin finance spokesman and Donegal TD, said the "level of concern is high" in his constituency.
While "it's been a long time since I've seen anyone from Texas in west Donegal", constituents were raising fears with him in relation to people travelling from Covid-19 hotspots, he said.
The county often functions as a holiday bolthole for many in the nationalist community in Northern Ireland on the weekend of the 12th of July, but Mr Doherty said nervousness about that traffic was less pronounced than earlier in the year.
“Understandably there’s a level of anxiousness and anxiety with all of this [but] a lot less than at the very start; there was a bit of a panic given what was happening with Boris Johnson’s mad plan of herd immunity.”
While tour buses, a common sight on rural roads in the summer months, have all but disappeared, Mr Doherty said large numbers of camper vans were being seen parked up on beaches. “The concern is that they don’t have facilities, so they’re parking anywhere and everywhere.”
Foreign tourists
Michael Healy-Rae, the Kerry TD, said there were concerns over foreign tourists among his constituents. “We are seeing people coming in, and I know for a fact they’re not coming in through our airports in the south, they’re coming in from Northern Ireland as well.”
He criticised the State’s approach to limiting the movements of overseas visitors. “People are really worried…just fearful about what is happening at present; we have rules about wearing a mask and, at the same time, someone can come in from an infected region and there’s no checks and balances only that you have to give your name and address.”
He said he would ask any person coming into the State to observe the guidelines. “Kerry is the most welcoming part of the whole world and once we have this situation under control, we will go back to what we’ve been doing for 100 years and that is welcoming people into our county.”
Ms Connolly believes the emphasis now should be on next year’s season. “People are saying to me we make our living from tourism, but this season is gone anyway. Let’s struggle through it and keep our people safe, and open up and look forward to next year.”
It’s a view shared by her constituency colleague, Fianna Fáil’s Éamon Ó Cuív. While he said he was not receiving a huge number of representations from constituents on the matter, his view was that “this season is largely lost to foreign tourism and we’re probably better discouraging people from coming and also making sure that if they do come, they quarantine, taking the short-term pain for the long-term gain.”
Tour operators
Tour operators, meanwhile, say they are booking very little business amid the Covid-19 restrictions. A spokeswoman for the Irish Tour Operators Association said many members had coaches sitting in garages since last August. “With a 14-day isolation, the tour operators have no business on the books until spring of next year.
“As long as there is a 14-day self-isolation period, there’s no business being done.”
The spokeswoman said public health was the paramount concern, but that operators “would love to see a clarification on what’s the exit plan” from the current guidelines.


theirishtimes--2020-07-15--Three visitors investigated by Garda after refusing to fill in locator form

Gardaí have begun investigations into three overseas visitors for breaches of the Covid-19 regulations for people newly arrived into the Republic .
The three investigations arise from approximately 69,000 arrivals at Dublin Airport since it became mandatory to fill out the forms on May 28th .
The Irish Times has learned the three passengers refused to complete the “ passenger locator forms ” and their cases were then passed on to the Garda by the border management unit ( BMU ) .
One of the visitors was located by gardaí and agreed to complete the passenger locator form while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The forms must be completed to include contact details for all new arrivals at ports and airports and the details of where they intend to spend the following 14 days in quarantine .
The BMU , an agency of the Department of Justice , is responsible for contacting the passengers during the 14-day period to check they are staying at the address they included on their forms and are complying with the quarantine condition .
Failure to complete the form , and to do so accurately , is a criminal offence punishable by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fine of up to €2,500 .
When checks are made on the passengers by the BMU and the passengers are not staying where they said they would be , that can be regarded as a failure to fill out the form accurately and can trigger a criminal investigation .
The latest figures obtained from the Department of Justice reveal that 31,375 forms were collated by the BMU between May 28th and June 30th .
The Dublin Airport Authority recorded 37,750 new arrivals between July 1st and last Friday , July 10th .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republic since May 28th , only three refused to complete the passenger locator form , according to the department .
In such cases , the details of the person are referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau ( GNIB ) for criminal investigation .
The department said newly arriving passengers must undertake the 14-day quarantine by staying in the same address and “ avoid contact with other people and social situations as much as possible ” .
While they can go outside to exercise alone , they must stay two metres from other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not visit other people , only go shopping for essentials and have no face-to-face meetings with “ older or medically vulnerable people ” .
The department added the passenger locator form would soon be “ put on an electronic basis ” and , as well as allowing the checking of new arrivals , it would also aid in contact tracing if there was a confirmed case of Covid-19 on a flight or ferry coming to Ireland .
“ If a person arrives into Ireland , they will be legally obliged to fill out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the department said .
While the BMU and the GNIB were collating the forms and carrying out checks , the department said because passengers numbers were “ increasing significantly ” the BMU would need to focus on its core work of immigration control and the Health Service Executive would make the follow-up calls to the new arrivals .
Some public health experts have expressed concern about the level of policing of the 14-day quarantine .
Prof Sam McConkey , an infectious disease specialist and head of the department of international health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Surgeons in Ireland , said this week it seemed there was a lack of enforcement of the rules .
If a group of tourists who breached the quarantine were to be sent to prison “ it would send out a clear message ” and “ would change everything dramatically ” , he added .
“ We don ’ t need new regulations .
We just need to enforce the ones that are already there .
”

Dublin Airport: Failure to complete the quarantine form accurately is a criminal offence punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to €2,500. Photograph: Colin Keegan
Gardaí have begun investigations into three overseas visitors for breaches of the Covid-19 regulations for people newly arrived into the Republic.
The three investigations arise from approximately 69,000 arrivals at Dublin Airport since it became mandatory to fill out the forms on May 28th.
The Irish Times has learned the three passengers refused to complete the “passenger locator forms” and their cases were then passed on to the Garda by the border management unit (BMU).
One of the visitors was located by gardaí and agreed to complete the passenger locator form while the other two remain under criminal investigation.
READ MORE
The forms must be completed to include contact details for all new arrivals at ports and airports and the details of where they intend to spend the following 14 days in quarantine. The BMU, an agency of the Department of Justice, is responsible for contacting the passengers during the 14-day period to check they are staying at the address they included on their forms and are complying with the quarantine condition.
Failure to complete the form, and to do so accurately, is a criminal offence punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to €2,500.
When checks are made on the passengers by the BMU and the passengers are not staying where they said they would be, that can be regarded as a failure to fill out the form accurately and can trigger a criminal investigation.
31,375 forms
The latest figures obtained from the Department of Justice reveal that 31,375 forms were collated by the BMU between May 28th and June 30th. The Dublin Airport Authority recorded 37,750 new arrivals between July 1st and last Friday, July 10th.
Of those 69,125 passengers arriving in the Republic since May 28th, only three refused to complete the passenger locator form, according to the department.
In such cases, the details of the person are referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) for criminal investigation.
The department said newly arriving passengers must undertake the 14-day quarantine by staying in the same address and “avoid contact with other people and social situations as much as possible”.
While they can go outside to exercise alone, they must stay two metres from other people and not use public transport, not visit other people, only go shopping for essentials and have no face-to-face meetings with “older or medically vulnerable people”.
The department added the passenger locator form would soon be “put on an electronic basis” and, as well as allowing the checking of new arrivals, it would also aid in contact tracing if there was a confirmed case of Covid-19 on a flight or ferry coming to Ireland.
Legal obligation
“If a person arrives into Ireland, they will be legally obliged to fill out this form, regardless of their nationality,” the department said.
While the BMU and the GNIB were collating the forms and carrying out checks, the department said because passengers numbers were “increasing significantly” the BMU would need to focus on its core work of immigration control and the Health Service Executive would make the follow-up calls to the new arrivals.
Some public health experts have expressed concern about the level of policing of the 14-day quarantine.
Prof Sam McConkey, an infectious disease specialist and head of the department of international health and tropical medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, said this week it seemed there was a lack of enforcement of the rules.
If a group of tourists who breached the quarantine were to be sent to prison “it would send out a clear message” and “would change everything dramatically”, he added. “We don’t need new regulations. We just need to enforce the ones that are already there.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-15--Home-schooled Leaving Cert students feel abandoned by predicted grades scheme

Kinga Szalaj sat her Leaving Cert last year.While she was happy with her results , she did not have enough points for her dream course – medicine .
The 19 year old opted to repeat the exams this year , choosing to educate herself at home for financial reasons .
However , she now fears the year has gone to waste as she will be deemed ineligible for the predicted grade system introduced as a result of exams being cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ From the guidelines , I am not eligible for calculated grades .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grades probably for any of my subjects at this point , ” Ms Szalaj said .
“ I ’ m extremely disheartened .
I worked extremely hard this year and it doesn ’ t matter .
It feels like I wasted a year.
” Kinga watched video lessons online for four subjects she felt she needed assistance with , while the other three were completely self-taught .
She decided to repeat in this manner because there was no dedicated repeat programme in the schools near her , and she could not afford private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system had changed was “ penalising people like me ” and this meant she would most likely have to give up her dream of studying medicine .
“ I probably won ’ t be able to go to college this year at all .
If I do , I will have to use the points from last year for courses that I don ’ t really want .
That was the entire reason why I repeated the Leaving Cert , ” she said .
“ The only option that they ’ re giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year out .
That would be two years in total , and they ’ re not giving us any option .
I really don ’ t understand why they ’ re throwing us under the bus.
” She is not the only young person in this predicament .
Elijah Thomas Burke , who was home-schooled by family members , is also ineligible for calculated grades because he is related to his tutors .
Section 3 of the calculated grades guide issued by the Department of Education states that “ in order to uphold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not be possible , under any circumstances , to accept an estimated mark from a teacher or tutor who is closely related to the student ” .
Elijah said the situation has made him feel “ worthless ” since he could not progress to college at the same time as his school-going peers .
“ It ’ s quite frustrating .
My plans have been completely thrown into disarray .
People in the school system , they can move on with their lives and I can ’ t .
I ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achievements and now I don ’ t have a right to predicted grades , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t think it ’ s acceptable .
I ’ ve a constitutional right to education at home and I should have a right to go to university at the same time as everybody else.
” While the criteria are clear , the two students have gone through the process of applying to the Department of Education for calculated grades .
The department said there were 920 out-of-school learners whose applications for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ determine their eligibility .
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire , Sinn Féin TD for Cork South-Central , has raised the issue with Minister for Education Norma Foley .
He is calling for a “ bespoke solution ” for the people in this situation , which he described as a “ serious injustice ” .
“ These students deserve some form of opportunity , ” he said .
“ Obviously , it ’ s not possible to run the Leaving Cert just for this small category , but I think there should be some sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the examinations commission to evaluate the ability of these students and to be able to offer them a grade on that basis.
” A spokesman for the department said the calculated grades executive office had developed a “ comprehensive guide ” to calculated grades for out-of-school learners that was “ grounded in considerations of objectivity , fairness and equity ” .
The spokesman added that despite “ every effort ” being made , there would be a “ small number of cases ” where there was “ no credible evidence ” to support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Kinga Szalaj sat her Leaving Cert last year.While she was happy with her results, she did not have enough points for her dream course – medicine.
The 19 year old opted to repeat the exams this year, choosing to educate herself at home for financial reasons. However, she now fears the year has gone to waste as she will be deemed ineligible for the predicted grade system introduced as a result of exams being cancelled amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
"From the guidelines, I am not eligible for calculated grades. I'm not going to get any predicted grades probably for any of my subjects at this point," Ms Szalaj said. "I'm extremely disheartened. I worked extremely hard this year and it doesn't matter. It feels like I wasted a year."
Kinga watched video lessons online for four subjects she felt she needed assistance with, while the other three were completely self-taught. She decided to repeat in this manner because there was no dedicated repeat programme in the schools near her, and she could not afford private tuition.
READ MORE
She said the way the system had changed was “penalising people like me” and this meant she would most likely have to give up her dream of studying medicine.
“I probably won’t be able to go to college this year at all. If I do, I will have to use the points from last year for courses that I don’t really want. That was the entire reason why I repeated the Leaving Cert,” she said.
“The only option that they’re giving people like me is to take another year out. That would be two years in total, and they’re not giving us any option. I really don’t understand why they’re throwing us under the bus.”
She is not the only young person in this predicament.
Related to tutors
Elijah Thomas Burke, who was home-schooled by family members, is also ineligible for calculated grades because he is related to his tutors.
Section 3 of the calculated grades guide issued by the Department of Education states that “in order to uphold the integrity of the process, it will not be possible, under any circumstances, to accept an estimated mark from a teacher or tutor who is closely related to the student”.
Elijah said the situation has made him feel “worthless” since he could not progress to college at the same time as his school-going peers.
Elijah Thomas Burke: home-schooled by family members and therefore deemed ineligible for predicted grades
“It’s quite frustrating. My plans have been completely thrown into disarray. People in the school system, they can move on with their lives and I can’t. I’ve worked hard, I’ve won achievements and now I don’t have a right to predicted grades,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable. I’ve a constitutional right to education at home and I should have a right to go to university at the same time as everybody else.”
While the criteria are clear, the two students have gone through the process of applying to the Department of Education for calculated grades.
‘Serious injustice’
The department said there were 920 out-of-school learners whose applications for calculated grades were currently being processed to determine their eligibility.
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South-Central, has raised the issue with Minister for Education Norma Foley.
He is calling for a “bespoke solution” for the people in this situation, which he described as a “serious injustice”.
“These students deserve some form of opportunity,” he said. “Obviously, it’s not possible to run the Leaving Cert just for this small category, but I think there should be some sort of bespoke solution that allows the universities or the examinations commission to evaluate the ability of these students and to be able to offer them a grade on that basis.”
A spokesman for the department said the calculated grades executive office had developed a "comprehensive guide" to calculated grades for out-of-school learners that was "grounded in considerations of objectivity, fairness and equity".
The spokesman added that despite “every effort” being made, there would be a “small number of cases” where there was “no credible evidence” to support a calculated grade in a particular subject.


theirishtimes--2020-07-15--Coronavirus: Full reopening of pubs could be scuppered

Serious concerns raised at a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team could endanger plans to reopen the remainder of the State ’ s pubs on Monday .
It is understood concerns were raised at the emergency team by multiple participants regarding the current trends in infection rates in the country , as well as uncertainty over how the virus will behave .
There is significant concern among the team over how these trends could interact with an increase in congregated settings reopening .
It is thought that some recent clusters of the virus have been linked to congregated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier relaxations of restrictions .
The Government will now consider these matters at a key Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening at which moving to the next phase of reopening the economy will be discussed .
There are also ongoing concerns on the emergency team over the incidence of the virus linked to travel , which will play into the Government ’ s upcoming decisions on travel restrictions .
It comes as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed that more than 300,000 public servants will have to take leave – including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out of the country on non-essential business under new guidelines for the public sector .
The guidelines , which will be published on Wednesday by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform , state that when there is an intention to undertake non-essential travel overseas , “ all employees must make provision by way of an annual leave or unpaid leave application for the additional period of self-isolation ” .
The rules will effectively rule out any foreign holidays planned by hundreds of thousands of public servants .
There is also a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel abroad , which the department guidance states “ is necessary for the protection of public health ” .

Australian scientists have begun human trials of a potential Covid-19 vaccine developed at the University of Queensland. Preliminary results of the trial are expected to be released by the end of September. Video: Reuters
Serious concerns raised at a meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team could endanger plans to reopen the remainder of the State’s pubs on Monday.
It is understood concerns were raised at the emergency team by multiple participants regarding the current trends in infection rates in the country, as well as uncertainty over how the virus will behave.
There is significant concern among the team over how these trends could interact with an increase in congregated settings reopening. It is thought that some recent clusters of the virus have been linked to congregated settings already permitted to be open under earlier relaxations of restrictions.
Travel restrictions
The Government will now consider these matters at a key Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday evening at which moving to the next phase of reopening the economy will be discussed. There are also ongoing concerns on the emergency team over the incidence of the virus linked to travel, which will play into the Government’s upcoming decisions on travel restrictions.
READ MORE
It comes as the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform confirmed that more than 300,000 public servants will have to take leave – including unpaid leave – to self-isolate if they go out of the country on non-essential business under new guidelines for the public sector.
Public servants
The guidelines, which will be published on Wednesday by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, state that when there is an intention to undertake non-essential travel overseas, “all employees must make provision by way of an annual leave or unpaid leave application for the additional period of self-isolation”.
The rules will effectively rule out any foreign holidays planned by hundreds of thousands of public servants. There is also a requirement that employees advise their employer of travel abroad, which the department guidance states “is necessary for the protection of public health”.


theirishtimes--2020-07-16--Pub closure: ‘We’ve lost the best months of the year’

Tom Sweeney , whose family has run Mary Anne ’ s Bar in Masseytown , Macroom , since shortly after the Famine , considered permanently closing his doors after the Covid-19 lockdown “ I wasn ’ t going to open anymore but the word went out and the locals were on to me .
I said ‘ Okay I will go again .
I feel sorry for all my regulars .
I know them all by name .
By nickname even , ” said Sweeney .
Deeply disappointed by the decision to delay reopening public , he said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of my clientele are the older generation .
They are in seven nights a week and nearly have their own stools in the pub .
“ I don ’ t know how the older lads pass away the day now .
You could normally time them coming in the door , ” says Sweeney , who had up to 40 customers in his bar during busy times before the pandemic struck .
Social distancing rules will put “ huge pressure ” on them “ as it ’ s a small pub ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my Heineken order this morning .
The girl said that the phone isn ’ t stopping with people cancelling orders.
” For fellow Macroom publican Denis Dineen , the postponement is “ like a knife in the heart ” , since he had restocked the bar and like others in the trade has to continue paying insurance , utilities and accountancy bills .
Closure has meant a loss of work for himself , his son , daughter and two part-timers .
Serving food was a non-runner for him , since the pub does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am down a fortune since the closure .
I was expecting to be closed for four weeks.
” Every pub should have been allowed to open together : “ People have flouted it .
I heard of lads going in to Cork and drinking for the night and being told “ Give me a tenner ( for food ) and they went across the way and got them a pizza.
” In Crosshaven , JP English , owner of the Oar Bar and a trained chef , was able to put on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this weekend for the first time since March , but he will not be opening during the week .
“ Ninety per cent of my customers I would know very well .
I have been through births and deaths with them .
I have driven them home .
I have walked them home .
We look out for each other .
That is the Irish pub.
” In Kilkenny , Arthur Drohan , who runs Andrew Ryan ’ s pub just off the High Street , on Friary Street , had been looking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he always had doubts that it would go ahead .
“ We were measuring up for various contingencies and things , but because we didn ’ t have any clear guidelines other than the ones that were given out on June 29th for the restaurants , we were cautious about doing anything we might have to backtrack on .
“ That ’ s the main problem – the information wasn ’ t there , ” said Drohan , whose pub remains largely similar to how it looked on March 15th when it closed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held off on making wholesale changes .
“ I think the main thing , for me , is I don ’ t mind not opening if it is in the interests of public safety .
I think that ’ s a good thing , and I would rather stay closed if it wasn ’ t safe .
For customers , staff and anyone .
“ But why is it deemed safe for a pub serving food to be open under the same guidelines ?
” he asks , “ I have no problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to open .
That ’ s it .
But how can you have a two-tiered system ?
” For the likes of Drohan and other pubs in Kilkenny , the impact of Covid-19 will be felt for a long time .
If the pubs do reopen on August 10th , then it will be almost five months to the day when the decision was made to close .
“ We ’ ve lost the best months of the year – the tourist season , the festivals .
Your turnover is probably down 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to now .
The leaner months would be November , October , January , February , ” he says .
However , the next deadline can not be handled in the same way , he says , arguing that two weeks ’ notice must be given : “ If we have to put tables elsewhere , put in shelves , put up screens , fine .
But what do they want ?
You are in the dark .
”

Denis Dineen and son Dylan in Dineen’s in Macroom: “I am down a fortune since the closure. I was expecting to be closed for four weeks.” Photograph: Michael Mac Sweeney/Provision
Tom Sweeney, whose family has run Mary Anne's Bar in Masseytown, Macroom, since shortly after the Famine, considered permanently closing his doors after the Covid-19 lockdown
“I wasn’t going to open anymore but the word went out and the locals were on to me. I said ‘Okay I will go again. I feel sorry for all my regulars. I know them all by name. By nickname even,” said Sweeney.
Deeply disappointed by the decision to delay reopening public, he said: “People miss the chats. A lot of my clientele are the older generation. They are in seven nights a week and nearly have their own stools in the pub.
“I don’t know how the older lads pass away the day now. You could normally time them coming in the door,” says Sweeney, who had up to 40 customers in his bar during busy times before the pandemic struck.
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Social distancing rules will put "huge pressure" on them "as it's a small pub", he went on. "I cancelled my Heineken order this morning. The girl said that the phone isn't stopping with people cancelling orders."
For fellow Macroom publican Denis Dineen, the postponement is "like a knife in the heart", since he had restocked the bar and like others in the trade has to continue paying insurance, utilities and accountancy bills.
‘Down a fortune’
Closure has meant a loss of work for himself, his son, daughter and two part-timers. Serving food was a non-runner for him, since the pub does not have a working kitchen. “I am down a fortune since the closure. I was expecting to be closed for four weeks.”
Every pub should have been allowed to open together: “People have flouted it. I heard of lads going in to Cork and drinking for the night and being told “Give me a tenner (for food) and they went across the way and got them a pizza.”
In Crosshaven, JP English, owner of the Oar Bar and a trained chef, was able to put on a bar menu so he could open this weekend for the first time since March, but he will not be opening during the week.
“Ninety per cent of my customers I would know very well. I have been through births and deaths with them. I have driven them home. I have walked them home. We look out for each other. That is the Irish pub.”
Arthur Drohan, owner of Andrew Ryan’s pub in Kilkenny: “Because we didn’t have any clear guidelines . . . we were cautious about doing anything we might have to backtrack on.”
In Kilkenny, Arthur Drohan, who runs Andrew Ryan's pub just off the High Street, on Friary Street, had been looking forward to reopening on Monday, though he always had doubts that it would go ahead.
“We were measuring up for various contingencies and things, but because we didn’t have any clear guidelines other than the ones that were given out on June 29th for the restaurants, we were cautious about doing anything we might have to backtrack on.
No clear guidance
“That’s the main problem – the information wasn’t there,” said Drohan, whose pub remains largely similar to how it looked on March 15th when it closed. Without clear guidance, he has held off on making wholesale changes.
“I think the main thing, for me, is I don’t mind not opening if it is in the interests of public safety. I think that’s a good thing, and I would rather stay closed if it wasn’t safe. For customers, staff and anyone.
“But why is it deemed safe for a pub serving food to be open under the same guidelines?” he asks, “I have no problem with those venues because they are entitled to open. That’s it. But how can you have a two-tiered system?”
For the likes of Drohan and other pubs in Kilkenny, the impact of Covid-19 will be felt for a long time. If the pubs do reopen on August 10th, then it will be almost five months to the day when the decision was made to close.
“We’ve lost the best months of the year – the tourist season, the festivals. Your turnover is probably down 50 per cent of the whole year up to now. The leaner months would be November, October, January, February,” he says.
However, the next deadline cannot be handled in the same way, he says, arguing that two weeks’ notice must be given: “If we have to put tables elsewhere, put in shelves, put up screens, fine. But what do they want? You are in the dark.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-16--Leaving Cert results to be issued on September 7th says Department of Education

Leaving Cert students are to receive their grades on September 7th , the Department of Education has said .
In a statement made this evening , the Department said the Calculated Grades Student Portal for Leaving Certificate students to opt to receive calculated grades would reopen next Monday , July 20th .
“ Leaving Certificate students will to receive their calculated grade results on September 7th and the first round of CAO offers will be issued on September 11th .
“ Results will be available in time for Round 1 offers from CAO and UCAS for colleges and universities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Receipt of results will be several weeks later than the traditional mid-August release date for results and CAO offers .
Last May the then minister for education Joe McHugh announced that the summer Leaving Cert exams were to be cancelled and replaced with “ calculated grades ” due to Covid-19 challenges .
At the time he said he hoped the results would issue “ as close as possible ” to the mid-August release date .
While schools supplied the vast bulk of students ’ predicted grades by mid-June , there have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking subjects outside schools .
In addition , the process of exploring whether it is possible to award grades to external candidates or students who are home-schooled is understood to have been time-consuming .
Sources say the application of a national standardisation process - or a “ bell curve ” - can only begin when all results are collated .
A number of other education systems have also used predicted grades for their students this year due to challenges organising exams , including the A-Levels in the UK and the International Baccalaureate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken the International Baccalaureate diploma programme were released last week .
The move sparked controversy after many students complained about receiving lower-than-expected grades and accused the system of lacking transparency .
Overall , there was a rise in the average score for the students undertaking the diploma programme worldwide .
However , school leaders criticised what they said was a lack of transparency over the grading process , while some teachers and students expressed shock at significantly lower-than-expected results .
Hundreds of students took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with many using the hashtag # IBscandal .
The higher education system , meanwhile , is understood to be seeking tailored public health guidelines for the sector .
One option being explored is whether social distancing rules of two metres in lecture halls could be reduced to one metre , if all students were required to wear face masks .
This , say sources , would allow colleges to schedule more lectures on-campus and allow students to spend less time remote learning .
Formal guidance is likely to be published for the higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Dáil , Labour education spokesman Aodhán O Ríordáin raised the issue of Leaving Certificate results and called for the Minister to confirm that the Department “ has now conceded ” that the results would be announced in September .
Minister for Education Normal Foley said “ whatever announcements are made and arrangements put in place there will be a joined-up approach and no student will be disadvantaged in any shape or form ” .
She said the next step “ is that students will re-engage with the portal regarding their desire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time the date for receipt of those results will also be revealed .
This is very much a joined-up approach with the third-level colleges .
”

This year’s Leaving Cert results will not be issued until September 7th. File photograph: The Irish Times
Students and third-level colleges have expressed anger and frustration over delays to issuing this year’s Leaving Cert results.
More than 60,000 Leaving Cert students will this year receive their grades several weeks later than normal on September 7th, the Department of Education has said.
CAO offers for college places will be issued four days later on September 11th, which means many students may not start their third-level courses until October.
Third-level colleges have privately expressed alarm at the later than anticipated starting times for students, which, they say, will pose logistical problems in running courses and exams.
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Students took to social media to criticise the delay, which, they said, will add to uncertainty and anxiety, along with difficulties securing accommodation, given that first years will start college later than other students.
The length of time it is taking to issue the grades is understood to be linked to the challenge of accurately applying the new system of predicted grades for more than 450,000 individual grades.
‘As close as possible’
In a statement, Minister for Education Norma Foley said her department has been committed to issuing the grades as close as possible to the usual mid-August timeframe.
“I know that many students will be anxious while awaiting their results. I want to assure them that the people working on this are taking every precaution to ensure fairness so that students can receive the grades that reflect their work,” she said.
“This standardisation process at national level is essential for fairness and equity. It is really important to me that we deliver these calculated grades to the highest possible standards, and that the outcomes are fair to students.”
Ms Foley said all individual grades will have to be checked and reviewed using different demographic characteristics – including gender and socio-economic status – to ensure they are as fair and equitable as possible.
“I want to make sure that this work is done rigorously – so that the results of Leaving Certificate 2020 are of the same high quality and reliability as the results in any other year,” she said.
‘High and dry’
The announcement drew criticism from Sinn Féin’s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, who said students have been left “high and dry”.
“This is yet another example of a department stumbling from crisis to crisis. This is a hugely disappointing turn of events for students and it adds to the uncertainty, stress and anxiety they have had to face during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
“Not only that, it raises serious questions about how the new third-level year will work and when it will commence.”
The Department of Education said the student portal for Leaving Cert candidates will reopen on Monday, July 20th, to allow students to formally opt in to receive calculated grades in September.
It has said each student will receive a text message alerting them to this and urged recipients to respond and opt in online.
Other jurisdictions
A number of other education systems have also used predicted grades for their students this year due to challenges organising exams amid the Covid-19 pandemic, including the A-Levels in the UK and the International Baccalaureate. However, some of these arrangements have already sparked controversy.
Results for more than 170,000 students who took the International Baccalaureate diploma programme were released last week.
Overall, there was a rise in the average score for the students undertaking the diploma programme worldwide.
However, school leaders criticised what they said was a lack of transparency over the grading process, while some teachers and students expressed shock at significantly lower-than-expected results.
Hundreds of students took to social media to express their disappointment and frustration over their grades on social media, with many using the hashtag #IBscandal.
The Irish higher education system, meanwhile, is understood to be seeking tailored public health guidelines for the sector.
One option being explored is whether social distancing rules of 2m in lecture halls could be reduced to 1m, if all students were required to wear face masks.
This, say sources, would allow colleges to schedule more lectures on-campus and allow students to spend less time learning remotely. Formal guidance is likely to be published for the higher education sector next week.


theirishtimes--2020-07-16--‘Very rare’ white jackdaw seen in Donegal

A rare white crow has been seen in the Carrigans area of Co Donegal .
Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland said he has never seen a fully white crow and said the find is “ very , very rare ” .
He said “ I have heard reports about them but never actually seen one .
This is a fabulous bird , a very striking bird.
” Mr Hatch said that unlike other white birds which are albino , this particular jackdaw is a leucistic bird which means it has some pigment .
Jackdaws are members of the crow family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also be found in North Africa and parts of Asia .
They can live for between seven and ten years .
However , Mr Hatch warned that this particular bird faces many dangers if it is to live for that time .
He added : “ Because it is pure white it will stand out more to the likes of foxes and hawks which could prey on it .
“ However , because it is not an albino then it will tend to be a stronger bird and that may give it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a stunning bird and very rare .
I ’ m just delighted that I got a chance to see it .
”

The fully white crow seen in Co Donegal. Photograph: Joe Boland/North West Newspix
A rare white crow has been seen in the Carrigans area of Co Donegal.
Niall Hatch of Birdwatch Ireland said he has never seen a fully white crow and said the find is "very, very rare".
He said “I have heard reports about them but never actually seen one. This is a fabulous bird, a very striking bird.”
Mr Hatch said that unlike other white birds which are albino, this particular jackdaw is a leucistic bird which means it has some pigment.
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Jackdaws are members of the crow family and are mostly found in Europe but can also be found in North Africa and parts of Asia.
The fully white jackdaw may stand out more to predators, says Birdwatch Ireland. Photograph: Joe Boland/North West Newspix
They can live for between seven and ten years.
However, Mr Hatch warned that this particular bird faces many dangers if it is to live for that time.
He added: “Because it is pure white it will stand out more to the likes of foxes and hawks which could prey on it.
“However, because it is not an albino then it will tend to be a stronger bird and that may give it a good chance.
“But it’s a stunning bird and very rare. I’m just delighted that I got a chance to see it.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-16--Kurd who was smuggled into Ireland calls for asylum request to be re-examined

Zanyar Rasul Ahmadi arrived in Ireland in February 2016 with eight other asylum seekers and was discovered in the back of a lorry in Co Wexford that had arrived shortly before on a ferry from Cherbourg .
So far , all of the others have received permission to remain in Ireland .
However , Mr Ahmadi ’ s application remains on hold because he was finger-printed in Austria and Germany before travelling here .
Now , the 28-year-old Kurdish man , who left his home more than five years ago , has called for his case to be re-examined after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provision waiting for an answer on his asylum application .
He was forced to leave home because his father was involved in the Kurdish separatist movement : “ My uncle organised and paid for the journey .
It was very hard leaving without my family .
It wasn ’ t up to me .
If it was I never would have left my country.
” From there , he travelled to Turkey by car , before being smuggled onto a truck which brought him across eastern Europe .
The vehicle was stopped at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others were arrested .
“ I was in jail for 10 days and they told me I had to give them my finger prints if I wanted to get out .
They said if I gave the prints they ’ d let me go , ” Mr Ahmadi told The Irish Times .
Once released , a smuggler told him to keep moving .
In Germany , he was stopped , finger-printed again and spent time in a refugee camp .
From there he travelled in a van with 35 men to northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a camp outside Dunkirk .
In February 2016 he boarded a truck , but did not know it was heading to Ireland .
“ I only had one small bottle of water .
We were in that truck for nearly 50 hours , we didn ’ t have any food and we had to pee in a bottle .
“ At the start it felt like there was enough air in the truck but then you start to worry .
One man had a knife so we cut a hole in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t breathe properly , we were worried we would die.
” He passed out , and spent time in an Irish hospital after he was found in Rosslare .
From there , he went on to the Balseskin direct provision centre in Finglas .
Two months later , he was sent to the Glenvera centre in Cork , where he lives today .
Mr Ahmadi ’ s case has been delayed because under the European Union ’ s Dublin III rules , EU states can pass responsibility for dealing with asylum applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first land or are finger-printed .
Mr Ahmadi appealed a 2016 refusal , but says he has heard little since .
Asked to comment on Mr Ahmadi ’ s application , a Department of Justice spokesman said the Dublin process was “ complex ” and recommended that he contact the International Protection Office about his case .
Two applications for an employment permit have been rejected because his protection request remains in flux : “ I ’ ve learned English and did a barber course here so I ’ m a trained barber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but they won ’ t give me the card because I don ’ t have the papers .
“ It ’ s not a good feeling being stuck here .
I want to have my own life and my own job , it ’ s not good for my head here .
My friends have their papers ; they have lives here now , but I ’ m still in Glenvera , ” he said .

Zanyar Rasul Ahmadi has called for his case to be re-examined after spending more than four years in direct provision waiting for an answer on his asylum application. Photograph: Alan Betson
Zanyar Rasul Ahmadi arrived in Ireland in February 2016 with eight other asylum seekers and was discovered in the back of a lorry in Co Wexford that had arrived shortly before on a ferry from Cherbourg.
So far, all of the others have received permission to remain in Ireland. However, Mr Ahmadi's application remains on hold because he was finger-printed in Austria and Germany before travelling here.
Now, the 28-year-old Kurdish man, who left his home more than five years ago, has called for his case to be re-examined after spending more than four years in direct provision waiting for an answer on his asylum application.
He was forced to leave home because his father was involved in the Kurdish separatist movement: “My uncle organised and paid for the journey. It was very hard leaving without my family. It wasn’t up to me. If it was I never would have left my country.”
READ MORE
From there, he travelled to Turkey by car, before being smuggled onto a truck which brought him across eastern Europe. The vehicle was stopped at the Austrian border where Mr Ahmadi and others were arrested.
Smuggler
“I was in jail for 10 days and they told me I had to give them my finger prints if I wanted to get out. They said if I gave the prints they’d let me go,” Mr Ahmadi told The Irish Times. Once released, a smuggler told him to keep moving.
In Germany, he was stopped, finger-printed again and spent time in a refugee camp. From there he travelled in a van with 35 men to northern France where he spent a few months in a camp outside Dunkirk.
In February 2016 he boarded a truck, but did not know it was heading to Ireland. “I only had one small bottle of water. We were in that truck for nearly 50 hours, we didn’t have any food and we had to pee in a bottle.
“At the start it felt like there was enough air in the truck but then you start to worry. One man had a knife so we cut a hole in the door to get air. We couldn’t breathe properly, we were worried we would die.”
He passed out, and spent time in an Irish hospital after he was found in Rosslare. From there, he went on to the Balseskin direct provision centre in Finglas. Two months later, he was sent to the Glenvera centre in Cork, where he lives today.
‘Complex’ application
Mr Ahmadi’s case has been delayed because under the European Union’s Dublin III rules, EU states can pass responsibility for dealing with asylum applications to the European country where the applicants first land or are finger-printed. Mr Ahmadi appealed a 2016 refusal, but says he has heard little since.
Asked to comment on Mr Ahmadi’s application, a Department of Justice spokesman said the Dublin process was “complex” and recommended that he contact the International Protection Office about his case.
Two applications for an employment permit have been rejected because his protection request remains in flux: “I’ve learned English and did a barber course here so I’m a trained barber now. I passed my driving test but they won’t give me the card because I don’t have the papers.
“It’s not a good feeling being stuck here. I want to have my own life and my own job, it’s not good for my head here. My friends have their papers; they have lives here now, but I’m still in Glenvera,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-16--Rent increases and evictions ban extension draws ire from property owners

Property owners have reacted angrily to a planned extension by Government of a ban on rent increases and evictions .
Minister for Housing Darragh O ’ Brien confirmed on Thursday the emergency rent freeze and evictions moratorium , introduced at the start of the coronavirus crisis , would be extended beyond the Monday deadline .
It is expected the extension will be short , with details to be announced on Monday .
The extension comes as data from the Residential Tenancies Board ( RTB ) shows while rents continued to increase during the lockdown , the rate of increase fell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent levels declined significantly compared to the period prior to the lockdown .
While the annual growth rate in March was over 3 per cent , by April this had fallen to 0.4 per cent .
This declined again in May to 0.1 per cent .
By June the annual growth rate had turned negative with prices falling by 3.3 per cent compared to the same month the previous year , ” the report said .
A dramatic decline in the number of applications to register new tenancies in the private-rented and voluntary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While in March there were over 7,000 registrations , in April this had fallen to less than 4,000 .
The number of new registrations also remained subdued in May .
“ The 3,888 applications in April represent a decline of over 41 per cent compared to the same period the previous year .
The annual decline in applications is broadly similar across the different regions with applications down by 42.4 per cent in Dublin , by 38.4 per cent in the greater Dublin area , and by 41.1 per cent in the rest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of new registrations had fallen so sharply , an RTB spokeswoman said the research did not gather reasons behind the data .
However , the restrictions on economic and social life brought in to stop the spread of the virus were likely contributors .
Tenants ’ advocacy organisation Threshold welcomed Government plans to extend the rent freeze and evictions ban .
It said , however , it “ awaits further clarity on the duration of the extension and [ details of whether ] there are any changes to the ban ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained unaffordable for a large section of lower-income households , despite the slowdown in increases .
According to the RTB report in the first three months of 2020 , the average rent in Dublin was €1,735 ; €1,156 in Galway city and €1,199 in Cork city .
Mr McCafferty said : “ There is much more to be done to bring rents to affordable levels and provide suitable homes for individuals and families.
” The Minister said the rent freeze would not be in place “ indefinitely ” and he was working with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protections .
.
.
to safeguard renters ” .
The Irish Property Owners ’ Association said it was “ absolutely gutted ” at the extension of the emergency legislation .
Describing the move as “ incredibly unfair ” , spokeswoman Margaret McCormack said there was “ no justification for it ” .
She said while the original evictions moratorium and rent freeze had been acceptable , given the shutdown of the economy , landlords should now be allowed to “ go about their business ” as other sectors could .
“ I actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought they would abide by it .
.
.
Why should anybody expect landlords should be responsible for the cost of this ?
.
.
.
It ’ s the Government that should be assisting people who have a problem .
“ It is unsurprising that 4,000 landlords left the sector in the last year , with 8,000 less tenancies .
When will good sense prevail ?
”

Property owners have reacted angrily to a planned extension by Government of a ban on rent increases and evictions
Property owners have reacted angrily to a planned extension by Government of a ban on rent increases and evictions.
Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien confirmed on Thursday the emergency rent freeze and evictions moratorium, introduced at the start of the coronavirus crisis, would be extended beyond the Monday deadline. It is expected the extension will be short, with details to be announced on Monday.
The extension comes as data from the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) shows while rents continued to increase during the lockdown, the rate of increase fell.
Lockdown
“The annual growth rate of rent levels declined significantly compared to the period prior to the lockdown. While the annual growth rate in March was over 3 per cent, by April this had fallen to 0.4 per cent. This declined again in May to 0.1 per cent. By June the annual growth rate had turned negative with prices falling by 3.3 per cent compared to the same month the previous year,” the report said.
READ MORE
A dramatic decline in the number of applications to register new tenancies in the private-rented and voluntary housing sectors is also revealed.
“While in March there were over 7,000 registrations, in April this had fallen to less than 4,000. The number of new registrations also remained subdued in May.
“The 3,888 applications in April represent a decline of over 41 per cent compared to the same period the previous year. The annual decline in applications is broadly similar across the different regions with applications down by 42.4 per cent in Dublin, by 38.4 per cent in the greater Dublin area, and by 41.1 per cent in the rest of the country.”
Asked why the number of new registrations had fallen so sharply, an RTB spokeswoman said the research did not gather reasons behind the data. However, the restrictions on economic and social life brought in to stop the spread of the virus were likely contributors.
Tenants' advocacy organisation Threshold welcomed Government plans to extend the rent freeze and evictions ban. It said, however, it "awaits further clarity on the duration of the extension and [details of whether] there are any changes to the ban".
Unaffordable
Chief executive John Mark McCafferty said rents remained unaffordable for a large section of lower-income households, despite the slowdown in increases. According to the RTB report in the first three months of 2020, the average rent in Dublin was €1,735; €1,156 in Galway city and €1,199 in Cork city.
Mr McCafferty said: “There is much more to be done to bring rents to affordable levels and provide suitable homes for individuals and families.”
The Minister said the rent freeze would not be in place “indefinitely” and he was working with the Attorney General to develop “alternative protections . . . to safeguard renters”.
The Irish Property Owners’ Association said it was “absolutely gutted” at the extension of the emergency legislation. Describing the move as “incredibly unfair”, spokeswoman Margaret McCormack said there was “no justification for it”.
She said while the original evictions moratorium and rent freeze had been acceptable, given the shutdown of the economy, landlords should now be allowed to “go about their business” as other sectors could.
“I actually trusted the legislation . . . I thought they would abide by it . . . Why should anybody expect landlords should be responsible for the cost of this? . . . It’s the Government that should be assisting people who have a problem.
“It is unsurprising that 4,000 landlords left the sector in the last year, with 8,000 less tenancies. When will good sense prevail?”