theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Covid-19: Consumers are increasingly confident about visiting shops, survey shows

Irish retailers and service providers have succeeded in assuring many people that it is safe to start living normally again , and consumers are increasingly confident when visiting shops , a new survey suggests .
However , the appetite among consumers for overseas travel decreased slightly during the last month , according to Deloitte Ireland ’ s “ State of the Consumer Tracker ” .
The surveys have been monitoring Irish consumers ’ attitudes towards personal wellbeing , financial concerns , travel and hospitality , transport and retail during the Covid-19 crisis .
Confidence in visiting physical stores increased by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of consumers now feeling it is safe to do so , putting Ireland second in Europe in this category , just behind the Netherlands ( 62 per cent ) .
The results are based on a survey of 1,000 consumers in 18 countries , and the most recent data was gathered between July 7th and July 11th , the week after the State entered the third phase of the plan for lifting Covid-19-related restrictions .
Consumers who were reporting feeling “ less anxious than last week ” remained consistent on 27 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-June , making Ireland Europe ’ s sixth most confident nation .
Some 48 per cent of Irish consumers remain worried about their physical wellbeing , an increase of 2 per cent since the previous tracker .
Some 61 per cent said they were concerned about the health of their family , up from 58 per cent in mid-June .
The possibility of losing a job was a concern for 29 per cent of respondents ( down from 31 per cent ) , while 22 per cent were worried about making upcoming payments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Consumers are becoming more confident in engaging in one-to-one services such as hairdressing , with confidence level rising to 58 per cent .
Planned expenditure in restaurants has surged , with 37 per cent now confident about visiting a restaurant compared with 28 per cent in mid-June .
However , 57 per cent of consumers said they would still prefer to purchase take-away food via online channels .
The intent of Irish consumers to spend on travel has plateaued , with 20 per cent actively seeking travel deals , consistent with the previous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remained consistent , with only 19 per cent saying they would feel safe doing so – down one point on the last survey .
Confidence in hotel accommodation has increased by eight points to 38 per cent .
Daniel Murray , head of consumer at Deloitte Ireland , said the results were “ encouraging for businesses getting back on their feet ” .
He said the most significant rises in confidence related to people visiting restaurants and in engaging in one-to-one services .
“ The steady increase in consumers feeling safe to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work done by retailers across the country in preparing their premises for reopening and in some cases , such as grocery and pharmacy , adapting their stores while remaining open during the initial phase of lockdown restrictions .
”

Confidence in visiting physical stores increased by five points in the survey, with 61% of consumers now feeling it is safe to do so, putting Ireland second in Europe in this category. Photograph: Getty Images
Irish retailers and service providers have succeeded in assuring many people that it is safe to start living normally again, and consumers are increasingly confident when visiting shops, a new survey suggests.
However, the appetite among consumers for overseas travel decreased slightly during the last month, according to Deloitte Ireland's "State of the Consumer Tracker".
The surveys have been monitoring Irish consumers’ attitudes towards personal wellbeing, financial concerns, travel and hospitality, transport and retail during the Covid-19 crisis.
Confidence in visiting physical stores increased by five points, with 61 per cent of consumers now feeling it is safe to do so, putting Ireland second in Europe in this category, just behind the Netherlands (62 per cent).
READ MORE
The results are based on a survey of 1,000 consumers in 18 countries, and the most recent data was gathered between July 7th and July 11th, the week after the State entered the third phase of the plan for lifting Covid-19-related restrictions.
Consumers who were reporting feeling “less anxious than last week” remained consistent on 27 per cent when compared with research carried out in mid-June, making Ireland Europe’s sixth most confident nation.
Some 48 per cent of Irish consumers remain worried about their physical wellbeing, an increase of 2 per cent since the previous tracker.
Some 61 per cent said they were concerned about the health of their family, up from 58 per cent in mid-June.
The possibility of losing a job was a concern for 29 per cent of respondents (down from 31 per cent), while 22 per cent were worried about making upcoming payments, consistent with the last survey.
Consumers are becoming more confident in engaging in one-to-one services such as hairdressing, with confidence level rising to 58 per cent.
Planned expenditure in restaurants has surged, with 37 per cent now confident about visiting a restaurant compared with 28 per cent in mid-June. However, 57 per cent of consumers said they would still prefer to purchase take-away food via online channels.
The intent of Irish consumers to spend on travel has plateaued, with 20 per cent actively seeking travel deals, consistent with the previous tracker. Confidence in air travel has remained consistent, with only 19 per cent saying they would feel safe doing so – down one point on the last survey.
Confidence in hotel accommodation has increased by eight points to 38 per cent.
Restaurants
Daniel Murray, head of consumer at Deloitte Ireland, said the results were "encouraging for businesses getting back on their feet".
He said the most significant rises in confidence related to people visiting restaurants and in engaging in one-to-one services.
“The steady increase in consumers feeling safe to make in-store purchases is a testament to the work done by retailers across the country in preparing their premises for reopening and in some cases, such as grocery and pharmacy, adapting their stores while remaining open during the initial phase of lockdown restrictions.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--July stimulus package - main points

July stimulus package - main points

– Pandemic Unemployment Payment ( PUP ) will run until April 1st .
Closes to new entrants from September 17th .
Will be cut in line with past incomes .
– Qualifying employers to get €203 weekly subsidy per employee from September 1st until March 31st .
Seasonal workers and new hires covered .
– Six month fall in higher VAT rate to 21 per cent , beginning September 1st , costing €440 million .
– Up to €25,000 worth of “ restart ” grants .
Previously ineligible businesses , such as B & Bs , will be covered .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rises by €10,000 to €30,000 .
– Interest rates on tax debts to fall to 3 per cent for those struggling to pay .
– Cheap loans for businesses with up to 500 people , plus a €2 billion credit guarantee scheme .
– Businesses to get €2,000 for each extra apprentice they take on , plus a two-year €7,500 JobsPlus subsidy to hire under-30s who are currently unemployed , or on PUP .
– PAYE and VAT payments can be delayed , with no interest or penalties .
– €500million budget for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as schools .

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe leaving the Cabinet meeting in Dublin Castle. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins
– Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will run until April 1st. Closes to new entrants from September 17th. Will be cut in line with past incomes.
– Qualifying employers to get €203 weekly subsidy per employee from September 1st until March 31st. Seasonal workers and new hires covered.
– Six month fall in higher VAT rate to 21 per cent, beginning September 1st, costing €440 million.
– A “staycation” tax voucher worth €125 to encourage off-season holidays in Ireland.
READ MORE
– Up to €25,000 worth of “restart” grants. Previously ineligible businesses, such as B&Bs, will be covered.
– Commercial rates waiver to continue until September, costing €60 million.
– Maximum Help-to-Buy relief for home buyers rises by €10,000 to €30,000.
– Interest rates on tax debts to fall to 3 per cent for those struggling to pay.
– Bike-to-work scheme extended, including €1,500 limit on ebikes.
– Cheap loans for businesses with up to 500 people, plus a €2 billion credit guarantee scheme.
– Businesses to get €2,000 for each extra apprentice they take on, plus a two-year €7,500 JobsPlus subsidy to hire under-30s who are currently unemployed, or on PUP.
– PAYE and VAT payments can be delayed, with no interest or penalties.
– Measures to encourage start-ups.
– A €25 million fund for arts and culture
– €500million budget for smaller “shovel ready” capital projects, such as schools.
– €100 million energy retrofitting budget, plus €60 million to refurbish vacant local authority houses.


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Hospital sent patient back to nursing home during outbreak

A sick resident at a Co Dublin nursing home who was sent to a hospital at the height of a Covid-19 outbreak , was sent back because they did not meet admissions criteria , correspondence shows .
A letter released by the Health Service Executive details desperate attempts by Tara Winthrop Private Clinic in Swords , one of the worst-hit nursing homes during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic , to seek urgent replacements for ill staff , more personal protective equipment ( PPE ) and urgent testing for staff and residents .
The letter , sent to then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April as the home battled an outbreak , was released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act .
The correspondence followed two earlier pleas for help to Mr Harris on the weekend of March 20th-21st , which were disclosed by this newspaper earlier this month , and again on April 1st .
Some 18 confirmed and five suspected Covid-19 deaths were recorded at the 140-bed facility .
The nursing home emailed Mr Harris on April 3rd to “ again appeal for your urgent intervention and assistance ” as it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It set out under various headings the emergency it was facing as “ front line feedback from a nursing home in crisis ” .
The email was sent as a follow-up to an April 1st letter to Mr Harris in which the home described its situation as “ extremely critical ” with close to 50 per cent of residents showing Covid-19 symptoms .
The private care home warned the minister in that letter that if it did not receive immediate support , it could not provide safe working conditions for staff or necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no choice but to transfer residents to an acute hospital ( as has been requested a number of times ) ” .
In the April 3rd email , the home gave an update on Covid-19 deaths and cases , and complained that many frontline staff were out sick and “ waiting for swabs and for [ Covid-19 ] test results for many days ” .
“ It is likely the home has one of the highest clusters [ of coronavirus infection ] of any nursing home or hospital and we can not get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be no priority for us .
Informed sources tell us that staff and patients in acute hospitals get results the same day.
” The nursing home said it was experiencing a “ critical shortage ” of PPE and that the quantity of gowns it had received from the HSE would last just hours .
It needed 1,050 gowns a day but that “ today we got 100 XXL suits !
” the home said .
Notwithstanding the replacement staff it received from the HSE and the support from public health officials , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ critically short [ of staff ] and can not provide safe care to residents ” .
It had one unit where the rostered nurse was now symptomatic and it had no nurse that night .
“ If we don ’ t find a solution within a few hours , we will have to transfer residents in this unit to an acute hospital , ” the home warned .
“ One resident who is acutely unwell needed hospital care today and was sent by ambulance to an acute hospital and returned to us one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having been told that they did not meet admission criteria.
” The nursing home told the minister it was forwarding the letter to then taoiseach Leo Varadkar ’ s office .
In response to the letter being forwarded , David Walsh , the HSE ’ s director for community operations , told Kathleen MacLellan , assistant secretary for social care at the Department of Health , that Tara Winthrop was “ the most supported private nursing home in the country ” .
“ The value of support provided to date is in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support will continue in the interests of residents ’ safety , ” he wrote .
Tara Winthrop has since said that it had “ attained the necessary assistance and resources required to ensure the safety of residents and staff .
”

A sick resident at a Co Dublin nursing home who was sent to a hospital at the height of a Covid-19 outbreak, was sent back because they did not meet admissions criteria, correspondence shows.
A letter released by the Health Service Executive details desperate attempts by Tara Winthrop Private Clinic in Swords, one of the worst-hit nursing homes during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic, to seek urgent replacements for ill staff, more personal protective equipment (PPE) and urgent testing for staff and residents.
The letter, sent to then minister for health Simon Harris in early April as the home battled an outbreak, was released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act.
The correspondence followed two earlier pleas for help to Mr Harris on the weekend of March 20th-21st, which were disclosed by this newspaper earlier this month, and again on April 1st. Some 18 confirmed and five suspected Covid-19 deaths were recorded at the 140-bed facility.
READ MORE
The nursing home emailed Mr Harris on April 3rd to “again appeal for your urgent intervention and assistance” as it was struggling to cope with the outbreak. It set out under various headings the emergency it was facing as “front line feedback from a nursing home in crisis”.
The email was sent as a follow-up to an April 1st letter to Mr Harris in which the home described its situation as “extremely critical” with close to 50 per cent of residents showing Covid-19 symptoms.
The private care home warned the minister in that letter that if it did not receive immediate support, it could not provide safe working conditions for staff or necessary care for residents and would “have no choice but to transfer residents to an acute hospital (as has been requested a number of times)”.
In the April 3rd email, the home gave an update on Covid-19 deaths and cases, and complained that many frontline staff were out sick and “waiting for swabs and for [Covid-19] test results for many days”.
“It is likely the home has one of the highest clusters [of coronavirus infection] of any nursing home or hospital and we cannot get swabs or results and there appears to be no priority for us. Informed sources tell us that staff and patients in acute hospitals get results the same day.”
The nursing home said it was experiencing a “critical shortage” of PPE and that the quantity of gowns it had received from the HSE would last just hours. It needed 1,050 gowns a day but that “today we got 100 XXL suits!” the home said.
Notwithstanding the replacement staff it received from the HSE and the support from public health officials, the nursing home said it was still “critically short [of staff] and cannot provide safe care to residents”. It had one unit where the rostered nurse was now symptomatic and it had no nurse that night.
“If we don’t find a solution within a few hours, we will have to transfer residents in this unit to an acute hospital,” the home warned.
“One resident who is acutely unwell needed hospital care today and was sent by ambulance to an acute hospital and returned to us one and [a] half hours later having been told that they did not meet admission criteria.”
The nursing home told the minister it was forwarding the letter to then taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s office.
In response to the letter being forwarded, David Walsh, the HSE's director for community operations, told Kathleen MacLellan, assistant secretary for social care at the Department of Health, that Tara Winthrop was "the most supported private nursing home in the country".
“The value of support provided to date is in the 10s of thousands of euro. This support will continue in the interests of residents’ safety,” he wrote.
Tara Winthrop has since said that it had “attained the necessary assistance and resources required to ensure the safety of residents and staff.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Plan to fully reopen schools at the end of August to be unveiled

The Government intends to open schools fully at the end of August and will unveil a plan in the coming days aimed at allowing all pupils to return to class safely .
Tens of millions of euro will be made available to schools to fund structural alterations to classrooms and improve bathrooms for hand-washing , along with daily cleaning and hygiene routines , it is understood .
In addition , enhanced supervision and substitution will be provided to cover an expected increase in teacher absences .
This is in light of official guidance that states teachers with any symptoms should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Micheál Martin is to meet Minister for Education Norma Foley on Friday morning at the Department of Education to discuss the plans .
It is expected the plan will be brought to Cabinet for approval early next week and published afterwards .
Mr Martin is understood to have emphasised to Ms Foley and other Ministers that reopening schools is the Government ’ s single biggest priority in the coming weeks .
Privately , a number of political sources close to Mr Martin , and also those close to the other coalition parties , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be ruinous if the schools fail to open for pupils five days a week .
“ Nothing is more important for the Government politically , ” said one high-ranking source .
“ Nothing.
” Dr Ronan Glynn , the State ’ s acting chief medical officer , said on Thursday the schools were “ absolutely on track ” to reopen based on how the Covid-19 infection rate had stabilised .
Detailed guidelines will be issued to schools next week with templates on safe classroom layouts and protocols for a Covid-19 outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment are being contracted centrally and will be distributed to schools .
Teachers ’ unions have signalled they will support the reopening as long as it is safe and supports are in place .
Kieran Christie of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland said his members would abide by public health guidelines as long as there are “ no attempts to cut corners ” .
Separately , the Government has privately warned of potential liabilities arising from legal actions taken against the State by Leaving Cert students due to the introduction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The warning is contained in internal briefing notes released under Freedom of Information .

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar says it would reflect badly on Ireland were it to be the only country Europe where schools did not re-open in September following the coronavirus pandemic. Video: Oireachtas TV
The Government intends to open schools fully at the end of August and will unveil a plan in the coming days aimed at allowing all pupils to return to class safely.
Tens of millions of euro will be made available to schools to fund structural alterations to classrooms and improve bathrooms for hand-washing, along with daily cleaning and hygiene routines, it is understood.
(Q&A: Will my child return to school full-time in autumn?)
In addition, enhanced supervision and substitution will be provided to cover an expected increase in teacher absences. This is in light of official guidance that states teachers with any symptoms should stay away from the classroom.
READ MORE
Taoiseach Micheál Martin is to meet Minister for Education Norma Foley on Friday morning at the Department of Education to discuss the plans. It is expected the plan will be brought to Cabinet for approval early next week and published afterwards.
Mr Martin is understood to have emphasised to Ms Foley and other Ministers that reopening schools is the Government's single biggest priority in the coming weeks.
Privately, a number of political sources close to Mr Martin, and also those close to the other coalition parties, believe the political consequences for the Government will be ruinous if the schools fail to open for pupils five days a week.
“Nothing is more important for the Government politically,” said one high-ranking source. “Nothing.”
‘On track’
Dr Ronan Glynn, the State’s acting chief medical officer, said on Thursday the schools were “absolutely on track” to reopen based on how the Covid-19 infection rate had stabilised.
Detailed guidelines will be issued to schools next week with templates on safe classroom layouts and protocols for a Covid-19 outbreak.
Large quantities of hand sanitiser and personal protective equipment are being contracted centrally and will be distributed to schools.
Teachers’ unions have signalled they will support the reopening as long as it is safe and supports are in place.
Kieran Christie of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland said his members would abide by public health guidelines as long as there are "no attempts to cut corners".
Separately, the Government has privately warned of potential liabilities arising from legal actions taken against the State by Leaving Cert students due to the introduction of the new predicted grades model this year.
The warning is contained in internal briefing notes released under Freedom of Information.


theirishtimes--2020-07-25--Overseas assets of organised criminals to be targeted

The Criminal Assets Bureau ( Cab ) is to begin targeting the overseas assets of organised criminals as part of a widening of its enforcement activities abroad .
Many major Irish criminals , including the leadership of the Kinahan organised crime group , keep their assets in other jurisdictions , effectively putting them beyond the reach of Cab .
As part of its strategic plan for the next three years , the bureau has undertaken to “ widen the scope ” of its enforcement activities by “ targeting offshore assets via mutual assistance provisions ” .
This will involve working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in other countries under official agreements to target the wealth of Irish criminals or foreign gangs that operate in Ireland .
However Cab is still likely to face significant hurdles in seizing the foreign wealth and properties of criminals such as the Kinahans .
Cab can seize assets in Ireland without a conviction , providing it can prove on the balance of probabilities they resulted from criminal activity .
In most other countries , the state can only seize assets post-conviction .
Cab is also unlikely to be able to target the assets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kinahan as they are both no longer tax residents in Ireland .
Under its strategic plan , Cab has also undertaken to expand its targeting of criminals who fraudulently claim social welfare .
It will now start pursing social welfare payments through the courts , rather than simply issuing a bill to the person .
It said its goal was to increase the number of overpayments it identifies every year for the next three years and to increase savings in social welfare payments for the State .
Other goals include the initiation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2024 as well as 90 new “ search and enforcement operations ” and 170 new tax investigations .
The new activity will be funded by €9.1 million in the bureau ’ s budget for this year .
“ Criminals continue to become more adept at concealing the fruits of their criminal conduct .
In order to identify and trace such assets , we will utilise all available intelligence sources , remain vigilant to emerging trends and continually evolve our investigative methods , ” the Cab said .
While Department of Social Protection officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cab is tasked with investigating cases involving known criminals or people who may pose a threat to department staff .
Last year , the Cab uncovered and demanded repayment of more than €1.5 million in social welfare overpayments .
These included €122,000 in overpayments to a Dublin family who , over a five-year period , had lodged €1.9 million into various accounts they held .
The family is appealing the assessment .
The bureau demanded €308,000 from another man who was in receipt of disability benefits for 14 years .
An investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a taxi driver , bought a property in Kildare and lodged €190,000 in his bank account , none of which he declared to the department .
The bureau , which employs 93 staff , shares the offices of the Garda Síochána on Harcourt Square in Dublin .
It is seeking its own dedicated premises for relocation in 2022 .

The Criminal Assets Bureau can seize assets in Ireland without a conviction, providing it can prove on the balance of probabilities they resulted from criminal activity. File photograph: An Garda Síochána
The Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) is to begin targeting the overseas assets of organised criminals as part of a widening of its enforcement activities abroad.
Many major Irish criminals, including the leadership of the Kinahan organised crime group, keep their assets in other jurisdictions, effectively putting them beyond the reach of Cab.
As part of its strategic plan for the next three years, the bureau has undertaken to “widen the scope” of its enforcement activities by “targeting offshore assets via mutual assistance provisions”.
This will involve working with police services or criminal asset agencies in other countries under official agreements to target the wealth of Irish criminals or foreign gangs that operate in Ireland.
READ MORE
However Cab is still likely to face significant hurdles in seizing the foreign wealth and properties of criminals such as the Kinahans.
Criminal activity
Cab can seize assets in Ireland without a conviction, providing it can prove on the balance of probabilities they resulted from criminal activity. In most other countries, the state can only seize assets post-conviction.
Cab is also unlikely to be able to target the assets of criminals such as Daniel or Christy Kinahan as they are both no longer tax residents in Ireland.
Under its strategic plan, Cab has also undertaken to expand its targeting of criminals who fraudulently claim social welfare. It will now start pursing social welfare payments through the courts, rather than simply issuing a bill to the person.
It said its goal was to increase the number of overpayments it identifies every year for the next three years and to increase savings in social welfare payments for the State.
Proceeds of crime
Other goals include the initiation of 120 new proceeds of crime applications before 2024 as well as 90 new “search and enforcement operations” and 170 new tax investigations.
The new activity will be funded by €9.1 million in the bureau’s budget for this year.
“Criminals continue to become more adept at concealing the fruits of their criminal conduct. In order to identify and trace such assets, we will utilise all available intelligence sources, remain vigilant to emerging trends and continually evolve our investigative methods,” the Cab said.
While Department of Social Protection officials investigate most suspected social welfare overpayments, the Cab is tasked with investigating cases involving known criminals or people who may pose a threat to department staff.
Last year, the Cab uncovered and demanded repayment of more than €1.5 million in social welfare overpayments.
Overpayments
These included €122,000 in overpayments to a Dublin family who, over a five-year period, had lodged €1.9 million into various accounts they held. The family is appealing the assessment.
The bureau demanded €308,000 from another man who was in receipt of disability benefits for 14 years. An investigation showed during this period he worked as a taxi driver, bought a property in Kildare and lodged €190,000 in his bank account, none of which he declared to the department .
The bureau, which employs 93 staff, shares the offices of the Garda Síochána on Harcourt Square in Dublin. It is seeking its own dedicated premises for relocation in 2022.


theirishtimes--2020-07-25--Government plan to reopen schools set to cost hundreds of millions of euro

Hundreds of additional teachers , funding for enhanced cleaning regimes and curriculum changes form the centrepiece of a school reopening package worth hundreds of millions of euro to be unveiled on Monday .
The Government also expects to get the go-ahead to open schools from public health experts because of concerns about the psychological impact on children if they were kept closed or only partially opened .
Several high-ranking sources say while there will be public health risks when schools open at the end of August , there are greater public health risks of a different kind associated with keeping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) earlier this month suggested the risk for healthy children from Covid-19 is “ very low ” .
It also warned that an “ atmosphere of fear and an overwhelming preoccupation with infection and hygiene can be harmful to teachers and pupils ” .
Government sources expect emergency team advice next month to explicitly recommend the reopening of schools .
On Friday , Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Education Norma Foley reiterated that the Government intended to reopen schools fully next month .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the details of the reopening plan on Monday , after which it will be published .
The package of measures is understood to include : * Extra funding for hundreds of additional substitute teachers and support staff due to an anticipated increase in sick leave .
Surplus primary school teachers may also be allowed work at second level in key subjects on a temporary basis ; * Curriculum changes to take account of lost learning , including greater choice of questions for students in State exams ; * Enhancing cleaning and hygiene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protective equipment to be centrally procured and distributed to schools ; * Administrative supports for school principals to help plan for school reopening ; * A major emphasis on student wellbeing and enhanced access to guidance and other supports ; * A €75 million fund to allow schools to reconfigure their classrooms and toilet facilities over the coming weeks to allow for physical distancing of students .
Detailed guidelines on reopening safely are set to be issued to all primary and secondary schools early next week with templates on safe classroom layouts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event of a Covid-19 outbreak .
Teachers ’ unions have signalled they will support a return to work in the classroom , but only on the basis that public health guidelines and physical distancing rules are fully implemented .
They have also sought revised leave arrangements for teacher absences and to cater for those high-risk vulnerable teachers .
School managers and principals , meanwhile , have indicated that they can reopen schools fully as long as key supports and funding are in place .
However , the National Bus and Rail Union ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school transport in September and said investment will be needed if social distancing is to be maintained .
Tom O ’ Connor of the NBRU said physical distancing rules could reduce the capacity of buses by up to 50 per cent , making it very challenging to carry the current number of children to schools in September .
He said many school coaches are smaller than regular coaches and screens would be needed to protect the drivers , which will require investment .
Meanwhile , the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee was told that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come to Ireland prior to their departure from their home countries .
Ken Spratt , acting secretary general of the Department of Transport , said arising from the Cabinet meeting this week officials had been asked to examine the efficacy and potential of such a testing system .
The Department of Transport also told the committee that it was moving towards introducing mandatory face coverings for passengers in taxis .
The Department of Health last night reported 20 new cases , and no new deaths from the virus .
The figures came after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dáil that public health officials were warning , based on how the disease is working around the world that “ we are going to have a second surge ” .

The Cabinet is due to be briefed on the details of the reopening plan on Monday, after which it will be published. File photograph: Getty
Hundreds of additional teachers, funding for enhanced cleaning regimes and curriculum changes form the centrepiece of a school reopening package worth hundreds of millions of euro to be unveiled on Monday.
The Government also expects to get the go-ahead to open schools from public health experts because of concerns about the psychological impact on children if they were kept closed or only partially opened.
Several high-ranking sources say while there will be public health risks when schools open at the end of August, there are greater public health risks of a different kind associated with keeping children out of school.
Interim advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) earlier this month suggested the risk for healthy children from Covid-19 is “very low”. It also warned that an “atmosphere of fear and an overwhelming preoccupation with infection and hygiene can be harmful to teachers and pupils”.
READ MORE
Government sources expect emergency team advice next month to explicitly recommend the reopening of schools.
On Friday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Minister for Education Norma Foley reiterated that the Government intended to reopen schools fully next month.
Sick leave
The Cabinet is due to be briefed on the details of the reopening plan on Monday, after which it will be published.
The package of measures is understood to include:
* Extra funding for hundreds of additional substitute teachers and support staff due to an anticipated increase in sick leave. Surplus primary school teachers may also be allowed work at second level in key subjects on a temporary basis;
* Curriculum changes to take account of lost learning, including greater choice of questions for students in State exams;
* Enhancing cleaning and hygiene routines, with hand sanitiser and personal protective equipment to be centrally procured and distributed to schools;
* Administrative supports for school principals to help plan for school reopening;
* A major emphasis on student wellbeing and enhanced access to guidance and other supports;
* A €75 million fund to allow schools to reconfigure their classrooms and toilet facilities over the coming weeks to allow for physical distancing of students.
Detailed guidelines on reopening safely are set to be issued to all primary and secondary schools early next week with templates on safe classroom layouts, along with rules to follow in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak.
Teachers’ unions have signalled they will support a return to work in the classroom, but only on the basis that public health guidelines and physical distancing rules are fully implemented.
School transport
They have also sought revised leave arrangements for teacher absences and to cater for those high-risk vulnerable teachers.
School managers and principals, meanwhile, have indicated that they can reopen schools fully as long as key supports and funding are in place.
However, the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) has warned of difficulties with school transport in September and said investment will be needed if social distancing is to be maintained.
Tom O’Connor of the NBRU said physical distancing rules could reduce the capacity of buses by up to 50 per cent, making it very challenging to carry the current number of children to schools in September.
He said many school coaches are smaller than regular coaches and screens would be needed to protect the drivers, which will require investment.
Meanwhile, the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee was told that the Government was considering testing visitors seeking to come to Ireland prior to their departure from their home countries.
Ken Spratt, acting secretary general of the Department of Transport, said arising from the Cabinet meeting this week officials had been asked to examine the efficacy and potential of such a testing system.
The Department of Transport also told the committee that it was moving towards introducing mandatory face coverings for passengers in taxis.
The Department of Health last night reported 20 new cases, and no new deaths from the virus. The figures came after Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly told the Dáil that public health officials were warning, based on how the disease is working around the world that "we are going to have a second surge".


theirishtimes--2020-07-25--Q&A: What sort of measures will support schools reopening?

The Taoiseach has pledged that schools will reopen fully .
How can we be sure this will actually happen ?
Micheál Martin ’ s announcement on Friday was aimed at getting a simple message across to parents , pupils and teachers : it is now the Government ’ s main priority to reopen schools fully and safely in late August .
A lack of clarity in recent weeks over whether this will happen has led to a growing sense of anxiety among parents over whether pupils will be able to go back to school full-time .
However , a comprehensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday and detailed guidance will issue shortly afterward to all schools on how to reopen safely .
Health authorities say the Covid-19 infection rate has stabilised and that we ’ re “ absolutely on track ” to reopen schools .
So , it ’ s looking good that schools will reopen to all pupils .
So what exactly will be in Monday ’ s school reopening plan ?
A financial package worth hundreds of millions of euro is being finalised , according to well-placed sources .
It will include extra funding for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needs assistants .
This is in light of the fact that staff are being advised not to turn up for work if they have Covid-19 symptoms .
There will also be funding for enhancing cleaning and hygiene routines .
Hand sanister and personal protective equipment is being sourced centrally and will be distributed to schools .
The cost of this between now and the end of the year is estimated to be about €50 million-plus .
There are also plans to assist principals by providing them with administrative assistance to prepare for reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detailed guidelines for schools , with templates on safe classroom layouts , along with rules to follow in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak .
Teachers ’ unions have sounded the alarm over the health risks of returning to unsafe settings .
Will their members return to the classroom ?
Schools are workplaces and employ about 100,000 teachers and support staff .
Buy-in from unions will be critical to reopening schools on a full-time basis .
While there have been headlines that teachers ’ unions will not return to unsafe schools , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying is that they will return as long as public health rules are fully adhered to .
The unions have played a key role in shaping the steps to be announced on Monday such as providing extra substitution and supervision cover and funding for schools to ensure guidelines are implemented .
So , it seems likely that teachers will support reopening plans – subject to these additional measures being in place .
Where will schools hire these additional substitute teachers if there ’ s currently a teacher supply “ crisis ” ?
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hiring panels of teachers on a full-time basis across the State who would be available to provide cover at very short notice .
By employing these substitutes on a full-time basis , it should improve the availability of teachers .
At second level , it is more challenging .
There are acute shortages of teachers in key subjects such as Irish and science .
One option being looked at is allowing surplus primary school substitutes to work as secondary teachers on a part-time basis in some subjects .
For example , all primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so many could provide cover as second-level Irish teachers .
In addition , many teachers who would normally teach in the Middle East are likely to be at home this year , which should boost numbers .
Why is it is so important to get children back in school ?
A growing body of research points to the importance of face-to-face education for younger students , in particular .
A legacy of the pandemic so far has been that online learning has not been successful for many children – especially those from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools are also hugely important for children ’ s mental health and social development .
What does science say about how safe it is to reopen ?
It is still early stages , but the latest research indicates that children do not get sick with coronavirus as often as adults .
In cases where they do get sick , they are much less likely to get seriously ill .
There is growing evidence that younger children – especially aged 10 and under – are less likely to spread the virus than older children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries ?
Denmark is seen as a case study in reopening schools safely .
It brought its youngest students back last April .
There were no reported cases in schools and no increase in cases in their community .
They subsequently brought back older children .
However , Israel is an example of where things can go wrong .
It reopened schools in early May with small groups and shortly afterwards relaxed class size restrictions and other safety measures .
Within weeks , it was reported that there were outbreaks in more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 240-plus positive tests among students and teachers .

Hand sanister and personal protective equipment will be distributed to schools. The cost between now and the end of the year is estimated at about €50 million. Photograph: David Sleator
The Taoiseach has pledged that schools will reopen fully. How can we be sure this will actually happen?
Micheál Martin’s announcement on Friday was aimed at getting a simple message across to parents, pupils and teachers: it is now the Government’s main priority to reopen schools fully and safely in late August.
A lack of clarity in recent weeks over whether this will happen has led to a growing sense of anxiety among parents over whether pupils will be able to go back to school full-time.
However, a comprehensive financial package is being brought to Cabinet on Monday and detailed guidance will issue shortly afterward to all schools on how to reopen safely.
READ MORE
Health authorities say the Covid-19 infection rate has stabilised and that we’re “absolutely on track” to reopen schools. So, it’s looking good that schools will reopen to all pupils.
So what exactly will be in Monday’s school reopening plan?
A financial package worth hundreds of millions of euro is being finalised, according to well-placed sources.
It will include extra funding for hundreds of additional substitute teachers and special needs assistants. This is in light of the fact that staff are being advised not to turn up for work if they have Covid-19 symptoms.
There will also be funding for enhancing cleaning and hygiene routines. Hand sanister and personal protective equipment is being sourced centrally and will be distributed to schools. The cost of this between now and the end of the year is estimated to be about €50 million-plus.
There are also plans to assist principals by providing them with administrative assistance to prepare for reopening.
In addition, there will be detailed guidelines for schools, with templates on safe classroom layouts, along with rules to follow in the event of a Covid-19 outbreak.
Teachers’ unions have sounded the alarm over the health risks of returning to unsafe settings. Will their members return to the classroom?
Schools are workplaces and employ about 100,000 teachers and support staff. Buy-in from unions will be critical to reopening schools on a full-time basis.
While there have been headlines that teachers’ unions will not return to unsafe schools, a closer reading of what they are actually saying is that they will return as long as public health rules are fully adhered to.
The unions have played a key role in shaping the steps to be announced on Monday such as providing extra substitution and supervision cover and funding for schools to ensure guidelines are implemented.
So, it seems likely that teachers will support reopening plans – subject to these additional measures being in place.
Where will schools hire these additional substitute teachers if there’s currently a teacher supply “crisis”?
At primary level, plans have focused on hiring panels of teachers on a full-time basis across the State who would be available to provide cover at very short notice. By employing these substitutes on a full-time basis, it should improve the availability of teachers.
At second level, it is more challenging. There are acute shortages of teachers in key subjects such as Irish and science.
One option being looked at is allowing surplus primary school substitutes to work as secondary teachers on a part-time basis in some subjects. For example, all primary teachers require a good level of Irish, so many could provide cover as second-level Irish teachers.
In addition, many teachers who would normally teach in the Middle East are likely to be at home this year, which should boost numbers.
Why is it is so important to get children back in school?
A growing body of research points to the importance of face-to-face education for younger students, in particular.
A legacy of the pandemic so far has been that online learning has not been successful for many children – especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds and those with disabilities.
Schools are also hugely important for children’s mental health and social development.
What does science say about how safe it is to reopen?
It is still early stages, but the latest research indicates that children do not get sick with coronavirus as often as adults. In cases where they do get sick, they are much less likely to get seriously ill. There is growing evidence that younger children – especially aged 10 and under – are less likely to spread the virus than older children.
What can we learn from other countries?
Denmark is seen as a case study in reopening schools safely. It brought its youngest students back last April. There were no reported cases in schools and no increase in cases in their community. They subsequently brought back older children.
However, Israel is an example of where things can go wrong. It reopened schools in early May with small groups and shortly afterwards relaxed class size restrictions and other safety measures. Within weeks, it was reported that there were outbreaks in more than 100 schools and a total of about 240-plus positive tests among students and teachers.


theirishtimes--2020-07-25--‘Enthusiastic’ Nazi went to Donegal to learn Irish – and spy

It could be a story from a spy novel : the German scholar who claimed to be learning Irish in Donegal but who was instead an “ enthusiastic ” Nazi secretly gathering information for a potential invasion .
Prof Ludwig Mühlhausen went on to broadcast Nazi propaganda to Ireland during the second World War and in 1945 appealed to a man he described in his CV as a “ personal friend ” – the president of Ireland , Dr Douglas Hyde – to intervene and have him released from a prisoner of war camp .
This remarkable story has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is told in the BBC Gaeilge documentary Nazi sa Ghaeltacht – Nazi in the Gaeltacht – on Sunday .
Magee first heard the rumours about the Nazi spy when he went to the village of Teileann , in southwest Donegal , to improve his Irish .
But locals had always been suspicious about why the German scholar was in Donegal , and so Magee set out to find out if the story of the Nazi in the Gaeltacht was true .
Not only would he confirm the rumour , but also uncover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fervent Nazi who had gone on to become an SS officer decorated by Heinrich Himmler .
“ The plot reads like a World War two thriller , except this story is for real , ” says Magee .
Mühlhausen came to Teileann in 1937 .
The professor of Celtic studies at Berlin University and a fluent Irish speaker , he spent six weeks there learning Ulster Irish and collecting tales from local storytellers .
Yet he was far from a typical student .
“ One of the first things Mühlhausen did in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stay was hang a large picture of Hitler on his bedroom wall , ” Magee explains .
“ He took photographs everywhere he went and measured the depth of Teileann Bay by dropping lead weights into the tide .
Locals later speculated he had been scouting the place out as a potential landing site for Nazi U-boats.
” Mühlhausen translated 10 of the stories from one renowned Teileann seanchaí into German , and sent a copy to the then taoiseach and minister for foreign affairs Eamon de Valera .
But he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which he despaired of what he saw as the “ waste ” in the Irish economy and the lack of enterprise among local people .
With the benefit of German efficiency , he wrote , fishing and farming could be made much more profitable .
Military intelligence in Dublin was keeping a secret file on the German scholar , where he was described as an “ enthusiastic Nazi ” .
“ He thinks German culture would be good for us , and Ireland would be better run by Germans or British , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the archives is a box of files on the Nazi plan to invade Ireland .
In it is what was effectively an invasion handbook , containing some familiar images .
They appear to be the photographs Mühlhausen took of Teileann Bay .
Mühlhausen never returned to Ireland , but during the second World War he became the Irish language equivalent of the propagandist Lord Haw Haw , and broadcast Nazi propaganda in Irish which , incredibly , included reminiscences about the time spent in Teileann .
At the war ’ s end and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he appealed to the Irish president .
The letter is written in the old Irish script ; on the back of the envelope is Mühlhausen ’ s address in the prisoner of war camp and his SS rank .
“ There is no evidence Hyde ever replied to him , and there was certainly no response I could find , ” says Magee .
“ In his file in the Bundesarchiv in Berlin there is his CV , and he wrote in it that he was a personal friend of Douglas Hyde .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the relationship was two-way , it was all coming from Mühlhausen .
“ I felt very strongly that he was inveigling himself in with people , but it didn ’ t appear to be a two-way relationship.
” The book sent to de Valera also failed to bear fruit .
Magee uncovered the reply sent by de Valera , “ thanking him , but he didn ’ t expand .
It doesn ’ t give the impression he was his friend ” .
“ But he was definitely trying to make contacts with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He wanted to operate at that top tier – and why wouldn ’ t you , if you ’ re a spy ?
” • Nazi sa Ghaeltacht is on Sunday , July 26th on BBC Two Northern Ireland at 10pm

It could be a story from a spy novel: the German scholar who claimed to be learning Irish in Donegal but who was instead an "enthusiastic" Nazi secretly gathering information for a potential invasion.
Prof Ludwig Mühlhausen went on to broadcast Nazi propaganda to Ireland during the second World War and in 1945 appealed to a man he described in his CV as a "personal friend" – the president of Ireland, Dr Douglas Hyde – to intervene and have him released from a prisoner of war camp.
This remarkable story has been uncovered by BBC journalist Kevin Magee, and is told in the BBC Gaeilge documentary Nazi sa Ghaeltacht – Nazi in the Gaeltacht – on Sunday.
Magee first heard the rumours about the Nazi spy when he went to the village of Teileann, in southwest Donegal, to improve his Irish.
READ MORE
But locals had always been suspicious about why the German scholar was in Donegal, and so Magee set out to find out if the story of the Nazi in the Gaeltacht was true. Not only would he confirm the rumour, but also uncover the evidence that proved the academic was a fervent Nazi who had gone on to become an SS officer decorated by Heinrich Himmler.
“The plot reads like a World War two thriller, except this story is for real,” says Magee.
Mühlhausen came to Teileann in 1937. The professor of Celtic studies at Berlin University and a fluent Irish speaker, he spent six weeks there learning Ulster Irish and collecting tales from local storytellers.
Yet he was far from a typical student. “One of the first things Mühlhausen did in Teileann after he’d found somewhere to stay was hang a large picture of Hitler on his bedroom wall,” Magee explains.
BBC journalist Kevin Magee has uncovered the story of the Nazi spy who went to Donegal to learn Irish.
“He took photographs everywhere he went and measured the depth of Teileann Bay by dropping lead weights into the tide. Locals later speculated he had been scouting the place out as a potential landing site for Nazi U-boats.”
Reports to Germany
Mühlhausen translated 10 of the stories from one renowned Teileann seanchaí into German, and sent a copy to the then taoiseach and minister for foreign affairs Eamon de Valera. But he was also sending reports back to Germany, in which he despaired of what he saw as the "waste" in the Irish economy and the lack of enterprise among local people. With the benefit of German efficiency, he wrote, fishing and farming could be made much more profitable.
Military intelligence in Dublin was keeping a secret file on the German scholar, where he was described as an “enthusiastic Nazi”.
“He thinks German culture would be good for us, and Ireland would be better run by Germans or British,” one report wrote.
Also in the archives is a box of files on the Nazi plan to invade Ireland. In it is what was effectively an invasion handbook, containing some familiar images. They appear to be the photographs Mühlhausen took of Teileann Bay.
Teileann in the Donegal Gaeltacht, where Prof Ludwig Mühlhausen went to learn Irish in 1937. Photograph: BBC
Mühlhausen never returned to Ireland, but during the second World War he became the Irish language equivalent of the propagandist Lord Haw Haw, and broadcast Nazi propaganda in Irish which, incredibly, included reminiscences about the time spent in Teileann.
At the war’s end and as an Allied prisoner in Naples, he appealed to the Irish president. The letter is written in the old Irish script; on the back of the envelope is Mühlhausen’s address in the prisoner of war camp and his SS rank.
“There is no evidence Hyde ever replied to him, and there was certainly no response I could find,” says Magee.
“In his file in the Bundesarchiv in Berlin there is his CV, and he wrote in it that he was a personal friend of Douglas Hyde. But I never found any evidence that the relationship was two-way, it was all coming from Mühlhausen.
“I felt very strongly that he was inveigling himself in with people, but it didn’t appear to be a two-way relationship.”
The book sent to de Valera also failed to bear fruit. Magee uncovered the reply sent by de Valera, “thanking him, but he didn’t expand. It doesn’t give the impression he was his friend”.
“But he was definitely trying to make contacts with the upper echelons of Irish society. He wanted to operate at that top tier – and why wouldn’t you, if you’re a spy?”


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Thinking Anew – Where good people make a difference

Kamand Kojouri is an Iranian woman living in Wales .
She teaches at Swansea University and is a published author .
Her latest book , a selection of her poems , has the intriguing title God , Does Humanity Exist ?
The poems reflect on the suffering inflicted on human beings by other human beings across the world , hence the title .
She believes in God , that he/she is “ the light that guides us in darkness .
.
.
We all have a spark of this light within us , for we , all of us , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light with others , it grows brighter and stronger.
” Jesus could have had no illusions about frail humanity .
He was a victim of its very worst , yet never gave up , as we see from his interaction with struggling people .
He looked for what was good in people and so , Peter the fragile denier , becomes the rock ; the adulterous woman rescued from stoning is given a fresh start ; the penitent thief is promised a future ; his tormentors are excused because “ they know not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for everyone .
Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven , the subject of tomorrow ’ s Revised Common Lectionary gospel reading , as the society in which humankind reclaims its identity as made in the image of God and where good people make a difference .
Holding on to that vision is part of what it means to be a Christian .
Florence Nightingale , who was born 200 years ago this year , did just that .
She was a volunteer nurse in the Crimean War of 1854 .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers involved , 900,000 died , mainly from disease .
Nightingale , who was certain that God had called her to care for the sick , became known as the Lady with the Lamp following this contemporary newspaper report : “ When .
.
.
silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick , she may be observed alone , with a little lamp in her hand , making her solitary rounds.
” A light shining in the darkness of death and disease .
Her lasting fame , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role in establishing the nursing profession we value today .
In a previous life , the Bishop of London , the Right Rev Sarah Mullaly , was the UK ’ s chief nursing officer .
Recently she said of Florence Nightingale : “ She was in no doubt that nurses needed to bring science , technical knowledge , skills and evidence to the task of caring for patients , together with empathy and compassion .
In an address to nurses in 1873 , in which Florence describes the vocation of a nurse , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made her what she is , she may seek to carry on her work in the hospital as a fellow worker with God.
’ The faith which underpinned her lifelong commitment to nursing could not be made clearer than that.
” The gospel analogy of the mustard seed , “ the smallest of all the seeds ” , that becomes something much greater is wonderfully illustrated in Florence Nightingale ’ s life .
We do not have to look to the past to have our faith in humanity restored .
Claire Dunne is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charity Médecins Sans Frontières ( MSF ) .
In March she was home after 10 months spent on the Greek island of Lesvos caring for refugees , some of them victims of violence and sexual abuse , and children suffering from unhygienic conditions in the refugee camp .
Claire recently returned to Greece as part of MSF ’ s Covid-19 emergency response .
She explains : “ Before Covid hit , things were already horrific in the camp with the lack of basic services and access to healthcare .
Covid has only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering of these people is very much being forgotten.
” Forgotten , by some certainly , but not by people like Claire Dunne , who at great risk and personal cost to themselves enable us to go on believing in humanity .
We can and should support them .
Gandhi said : “ You must not lose faith in humanity .
Humanity is an ocean ; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty , the ocean does not become dirty .
”

There are people who, at great risk and personal cost to themselves, enable us to go on believing in humanity. We can and should support them. Photograph: Getty Images
Kamand Kojouri is an Iranian woman living in Wales. She teaches at Swansea University and is a published author. Her latest book, a selection of her poems, has the intriguing title God, Does Humanity Exist? The poems reflect on the suffering inflicted on human beings by other human beings across the world, hence the title.
She believes in God, that he/she is “the light that guides us in darkness . . . We all have a spark of this light within us, for we, all of us, live in God. And sharing our light with others, it grows brighter and stronger.”
Jesus could have had no illusions about frail humanity. He was a victim of its very worst, yet never gave up, as we see from his interaction with struggling people. He looked for what was good in people and so, Peter the fragile denier, becomes the rock; the adulterous woman rescued from stoning is given a fresh start; the penitent thief is promised a future; his tormentors are excused because “they know not what they do.” That has meaning for everyone.
Jesus speaks of the Kingdom of Heaven, the subject of tomorrow’s Revised Common Lectionary gospel reading, as the society in which humankind reclaims its identity as made in the image of God and where good people make a difference.
READ MORE
Holding on to that vision is part of what it means to be a Christian.
Florence Nightingale, who was born 200 years ago this year, did just that. She was a volunteer nurse in the Crimean War of 1854. It was a brutal affair: of 1.6 million soldiers involved, 900,000 died, mainly from disease. Nightingale, who was certain that God had called her to care for the sick, became known as the Lady with the Lamp following this contemporary newspaper report: "When . . . silence and darkness have settled down upon those miles of prostrate sick, she may be observed alone, with a little lamp in her hand, making her solitary rounds." A light shining in the darkness of death and disease. Her lasting fame, however, would come later because of her role in establishing the nursing profession we value today.
In a previous life, the Bishop of London, the Right Rev Sarah Mullaly, was the UK's chief nursing officer. Recently she said of Florence Nightingale: "She was in no doubt that nurses needed to bring science, technical knowledge, skills and evidence to the task of caring for patients, together with empathy and compassion. In an address to nurses in 1873, in which Florence describes the vocation of a nurse, she said: 'Feeling God has made her what she is, she may seek to carry on her work in the hospital as a fellow worker with God.' The faith which underpinned her lifelong commitment to nursing could not be made clearer than that."
The gospel analogy of the mustard seed, “the smallest of all the seeds”, that becomes something much greater is wonderfully illustrated in Florence Nightingale’s life.
We do not have to look to the past to have our faith in humanity restored.
Claire Dunne is a young Irish doctor currently working with the charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). In March she was home after 10 months spent on the Greek island of Lesvos caring for refugees, some of them victims of violence and sexual abuse, and children suffering from unhygienic conditions in the refugee camp. Claire recently returned to Greece as part of MSF's Covid-19 emergency response. She explains: "Before Covid hit, things were already horrific in the camp with the lack of basic services and access to healthcare. Covid has only made things worse . . . The suffering of these people is very much being forgotten."
Forgotten, by some certainly, but not by people like Claire Dunne, who at great risk and personal cost to themselves enable us to go on believing in humanity. We can and should support them.
Gandhi said: “You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Third Dublin building site closed due to coronavirus

Another Dublin building site has closed due to coronavirus , the third in a week .
A worker tested positive for Covid-19 at the site operated by the Elliott Group on South Great George ’ s Street .
The company said : “ All personnel on site have been asked to contact their GPs to undergo testing .
The site will undergo an electrostatic decontamination in the morning and it will be certified clean for return to work .
“ We await further direction from the HSE and we will work closely with the authorities to ensure that the wellbeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general public is protected .
We wish the person affected a speedy recovery.
” On Thursday , another building site , in Grangegorman , north Dublin , had to close due to a confirmed case of coronavirus .
The East Quad site in Grangegorman , a joint venture set up between John Sisk & Son and Spanish construction company FCC , was shut down and a deep clean was scheduled to take place there .
It came after a building site operated by John Paul Construction on Townsend Street in Dublin 2 was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State ’ s acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that the Grangegorman site was closed as a precautionary measure because a person who had worked on both sites tested positive for the disease .
Dr Glynn said that between 25 and 30 confirmed cases had been confirmed at the cluster linked to the Townsend Street site and that the Grangegorman site was closed because of a link with the city centre site .
He did not believe there was a second cluster there .
“ That site is closed out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessment by the public health team , ” he told the National Public Health Emergency Team briefing at the Department of Health on Thursday .
Dr Glynn said that 25 to 30 cases in any setting is “ substantial and demonstrates how this disease can spread given any opportunity ” .

The company said that ‘all personnel on site have been asked to contact their GPs to undergo testing.’ File photograph: Bloomberg
Another Dublin building site has closed due to coronavirus, the third in a week.
A worker tested positive for Covid-19 at the site operated by the Elliott Group on South Great George's Street.
The company said: “All personnel on site have been asked to contact their GPs to undergo testing. The site will undergo an electrostatic decontamination in the morning and it will be certified clean for return to work.
“We await further direction from the HSE and we will work closely with the authorities to ensure that the wellbeing of all personnel, staff and the general public is protected. We wish the person affected a speedy recovery.”
READ MORE
On Thursday, another building site, in Grangegorman, north Dublin, had to close due to a confirmed case of coronavirus.
The East Quad site in Grangegorman, a joint venture set up between John Sisk & Son and Spanish construction company FCC, was shut down and a deep clean was scheduled to take place there.
It came after a building site operated by John Paul Construction on Townsend Street in Dublin 2 was forced to close on Monday.
Up to 30 cases confirmed
The State's acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that the Grangegorman site was closed as a precautionary measure because a person who had worked on both sites tested positive for the disease.
Dr Glynn said that between 25 and 30 confirmed cases had been confirmed at the cluster linked to the Townsend Street site and that the Grangegorman site was closed because of a link with the city centre site. He did not believe there was a second cluster there.
"That site is closed out of an abundance of caution pending further risk assessment by the public health team," he told the National Public Health Emergency Team briefing at the Department of Health on Thursday.
Dr Glynn said that 25 to 30 cases in any setting is “substantial and demonstrates how this disease can spread given any opportunity”.


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Mobile homes and cars seized from Drogheda feud gang members

The Criminal Assets Bureau ( Cab ) has seized two mobile homes and two high-end cars from criminals involved in the Drogheda gang feud .
The seizures came about as part of Operation Stratus which was established in October 2018 to combat the feud which has claimed four lives to date and resulted in a string of kidnappings and petrol bomb attacks in the Co Louth town .
Cab officers were granted orders under proceeds of crime legislation at the High Court on Friday permitting them to seize two mobile homes worth €20,000 each , an Audi A6 worth €20,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruled , on the balance of probabilities , that the assets were acquired as a result of criminal activity .
The case was referred to Cab by a “ divisional asset profiler ” attached to the Louth Garda Division .
Cab has established a network of asset profilers around the country in recent year to monitor suspicious accumulations of wealth .
“ This was a significant outcome for gardaí from Drogheda targeting those involved in organised crime , ” said Louth Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan .
“ It further demonstrates the value of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assets Bureau working in parallel with our local investigating team as part of Operation Stratus.
” Stratus has seen a number of significant success recently , including the confiscation of large amounts of cash and drugs .
The feud has been partially suppressed , sources say .
Serious incidents have reduced significantly but there is continuing low level violence and intimidation .

Gardaí said the seizures show the merits of members of Cab working with Garda Asset Profilers and local investigating teams.
The Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) has seized two mobile homes and two high-end cars from criminals involved in the Drogheda gang feud.
The seizures came about as part of Operation Stratus which was established in October 2018 to combat the feud which has claimed four lives to date and resulted in a string of kidnappings and petrol bomb attacks in the Co Louth town.
Cab officers were granted orders under proceeds of crime legislation at the High Court on Friday permitting them to seize two mobile homes worth €20,000 each, an Audi A6 worth €20,000 and another worth €14,000.
The Court ruled, on the balance of probabilities, that the assets were acquired as a result of criminal activity.
READ MORE
The case was referred to Cab by a “divisional asset profiler” attached to the Louth Garda Division. Cab has established a network of asset profilers around the country in recent year to monitor suspicious accumulations of wealth.
"This was a significant outcome for gardaí from Drogheda targeting those involved in organised crime," said Louth Chief Superintendent Christy Mangan. "It further demonstrates the value of Divisional Garda Asset Profilers and the Criminal Assets Bureau working in parallel with our local investigating team as part of Operation Stratus."
Stratus has seen a number of significant success recently, including the confiscation of large amounts of cash and drugs.
The feud has been partially suppressed, sources say. Serious incidents have reduced significantly but there is continuing low level violence and intimidation.


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Award of €250,000 for loss of earnings to injured woman must be reconsidered – court

A €250,000 award for loss of future earnings to a woman injured in a traffic accident must be reconsidered , the Court of Appeal ( CoA ) has ruled .
In 2018 , the High Court awarded €530,860 to Dolores O ’ Doherty ( 50 ) , a school secretary from Tycroghan , Enfield , Co Meath , against Anne and Tom Callinan , Drum , Athlone , Co Westmeath .
It was largely composed of €150,000 for past and future pain/suffering and €250,000 for loss of future earnings as she had been unable to return to work full time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to do part-time work in the future .
It arose out of an accident on June 14th , 2014 , when Ms O ’ Doherty ’ s car was struck from behind in a line of traffic by a vehicle driven by Mr Callinan and owned by Ms Callinan .
Liability was admitted and it was dealt with as an assessment of damages case .
Ms O ’ Doherty ’ s seat was broken in the impact and her vehicle written off as a result of the damage .
She sustained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most significantly an injury to her coccyx bone which subsequently developed into a serious long term condition known as coccydynia .
She underwent three procedures under anaesthetic in an attempt to alleviate her ongoing pain .
The High Court ’ s Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds , in her January 2018 award , said it was clear from the evidence that even if Ms O ’ Doherty ’ s work environment was adapted to suit her needs , it was unlikely she would be in a position to resume work on a full-time basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the loss of future earnings element of the award .
It was argued Ms O ’ Doherty ’ s job was still open and given she had repeatedly expressed a desire to return to work .
In the likely event that she does return , working on a part time basis until retirement at 68 , the defendants said her future loss of earnings were between €118,000 and €135,000 , depending a factors including the pay rate applied .
Among the errors of the High Court were also that insufficient weight was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Doherty is a particularly skilled , valuable , adaptable , competent and hard-working employee , the defendants ’ side argued .
Ms O ’ Doherty ’ s lawyers argued the High Court had not erred .
They refuted the defendants ’ contention the High Court found she was likely to return to work at the school and argued that court effectively ruled out a return .
Her own GP had said her pain would not resolve and it was most unlikely she would return .
It was not plausible she could return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it was argued .
On Friday , Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh , on behalf of the three-judge CoA , said unfortunately the High Court judge did not make it clear whether she was finding Ms O ’ Doherty would , on the balance of probabilities , be able to return to work at the school or not .
The evidence on this issue was not clear-cut and a decision on this issue was required to be reached and the basis for that conclusion identified , she said .
The matter would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court for reconsideration , she said .
The CoA could not replace the award with its own figure because there would be “ a large element of guesswork ” as to how the trial judge arrived at the figure of €250,000 , she said .

A €250,000 award for loss of future earnings to a woman injured in a traffic accident must be reconsidered, the Court of Appeal (CoA) has ruled.
In 2018, the High Court awarded €530,860 to Dolores O'Doherty (50), a school secretary from Tycroghan, Enfield, Co Meath, against Anne and Tom Callinan, Drum, Athlone, Co Westmeath.
It was largely composed of €150,000 for past and future pain/suffering and €250,000 for loss of future earnings as she had been unable to return to work full time as a school secretary and would only be able to do part-time work in the future.
It arose out of an accident on June 14th, 2014, when Ms O’Doherty’s car was struck from behind in a line of traffic by a vehicle driven by Mr Callinan and owned by Ms Callinan. Liability was admitted and it was dealt with as an assessment of damages case.
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Ms O’Doherty’s seat was broken in the impact and her vehicle written off as a result of the damage. She sustained neck, back and knee injuries but most significantly an injury to her coccyx bone which subsequently developed into a serious long term condition known as coccydynia. She underwent three procedures under anaesthetic in an attempt to alleviate her ongoing pain.
The High Court’s Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds, in her January 2018 award, said it was clear from the evidence that even if Ms O’Doherty’s work environment was adapted to suit her needs, it was unlikely she would be in a position to resume work on a full-time basis.
The defendants appealed solely in relation to the loss of future earnings element of the award.
It was argued Ms O’Doherty’s job was still open and given she had repeatedly expressed a desire to return to work. In the likely event that she does return, working on a part time basis until retirement at 68, the defendants said her future loss of earnings were between €118,000 and €135,000, depending a factors including the pay rate applied.
Among the errors of the High Court were also that insufficient weight was given to the evidence that Ms O’Doherty is a particularly skilled, valuable, adaptable, competent and hard-working employee, the defendants’ side argued.
Ms O’Doherty’s lawyers argued the High Court had not erred. They refuted the defendants’ contention the High Court found she was likely to return to work at the school and argued that court effectively ruled out a return. Her own GP had said her pain would not resolve and it was most unlikely she would return.
It was not plausible she could return to her pre-accident employment at the school, it was argued.
On Friday, Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh, on behalf of the three-judge CoA, said unfortunately the High Court judge did not make it clear whether she was finding Ms O’Doherty would, on the balance of probabilities, be able to return to work at the school or not.
The evidence on this issue was not clear-cut and a decision on this issue was required to be reached and the basis for that conclusion identified, she said.
The matter would have to go back to the High Court for reconsideration, she said.
The CoA could not replace the award with its own figure because there would be “a large element of guesswork” as to how the trial judge arrived at the figure of €250,000, she said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Lack of online security for remote learning a concern for teachers, survey finds

Teachers are concerned about a lack of online security guidance for remote learning given their interaction with children , often in “ very intimate spaces ” such as bedrooms .
Research presented by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland ( ASTI ) on Friday showed that 98 per cent of its members had set up virtual classrooms from their homes in the aftermath of Covid-19 school closures .
However , while praised for their instant adaption to the pandemic , many have outlined concerns about a new digital reality that has brought increased workloads , online meetings and stress .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ education and research officer Moira Leydon said a “ particular concern ” recorded among 3,526 survey respondents was a lack of guidance from schools on digital security .
“ [ This included ] GDPR concerns , child protection concerns ; you are literally looking at children in their very intimate spaces of perhaps even their bedroom , ” she said .
ASTI president Deirdre Mac Donald said the purpose of the research was to secure empirical evidence and qualitative data on the experience of remote learning , as opposed to mere commentary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of respondents said they had received “ continuity guidance ” on remote learning from management .
“ However , teachers reported that overload in terms of communication from school management .
.
.
was pervasive .
They were receiving daily , weekly if not daily emails , frequently outside of school time.
” There was also an increase in staff and team meetings .
Of those surveyed , 86 per cent recorded a “ significant increase ” in their workload .
Just 2 per cent said there was no change to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one third ( 29 per cent ) described this work-life balance shift as being “ overwhelming ” .
Teachers were asked what they were doing to look after themselves - less than half ( 48 per cent ) were taking steps to support their mental health although a greater proportion ( 77 per cent ) were mindful of physical health .
Ms Leydon said the survey garnered thousands of personal comments on the experience .
“ We have an absolute treasure trove of data on what was happening to teachers ’ lives , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon a “ constant sense of frustration at struggling and failing to deliver the level of tuition and guidance I could so easily deliver in a classroom ” .
Another described a day consumed by “ posting , chasing and correcting work and giving feedback and answering queries from students and parents ” .
Students too were adjusting - one response described “ numerous emails ” from pupils who “ can ’ t cope ” in an environment devoid of face-to-face contact .
“ Top students are now choosing to disengage as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have “ gone off the radar ” .
On this particular issue , Ms Leydon noted that while in a school environment teachers could plan , maintain control and execute professional judgment .
This was difficult in an online world “ when you are not .
.
.
catching the mood in the room and being able to respond to it ” , she said .
The ASTI said there was also concern around expectations from management for teachers to give weekly reports on the extent of their engagement with pupils .

One teacher who responded to the ASTI survey said ‘top students’ were ‘choosing to disengage as it has all become too much’. Photograph: iStock
Teachers are concerned about a lack of online security guidance for remote learning given their interaction with children, often in “very intimate spaces” such as bedrooms.
Research presented by the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) on Friday showed that 98 per cent of its members had set up virtual classrooms from their homes in the aftermath of Covid-19 school closures.
However, while praised for their instant adaption to the pandemic, many have outlined concerns about a new digital reality that has brought increased workloads, online meetings and stress.
Presenting the findings to its convention, education and research officer Moira Leydon said a "particular concern" recorded among 3,526 survey respondents was a lack of guidance from schools on digital security.
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“[This included] GDPR concerns, child protection concerns; you are literally looking at children in their very intimate spaces of perhaps even their bedroom,” she said.
ASTI president Deirdre Mac Donald said the purpose of the research was to secure empirical evidence and qualitative data on the experience of remote learning, as opposed to mere commentary.
After schools closed last March, 68 per cent of respondents said they had received “continuity guidance” on remote learning from management.
“However, teachers reported that overload in terms of communication from school management . . . was pervasive. They were receiving daily, weekly if not daily emails, frequently outside of school time.” There was also an increase in staff and team meetings.
Of those surveyed, 86 per cent recorded a “significant increase” in their workload. Just 2 per cent said there was no change to their work-life balance. In fact almost one third (29 per cent) described this work-life balance shift as being “overwhelming”.
Teachers were asked what they were doing to look after themselves - less than half (48 per cent) were taking steps to support their mental health although a greater proportion (77 per cent) were mindful of physical health.
Ms Leydon said the survey garnered thousands of personal comments on the experience. “We have an absolute treasure trove of data on what was happening to teachers’ lives,” she said.
One respondent remarked upon a “constant sense of frustration at struggling and failing to deliver the level of tuition and guidance I could so easily deliver in a classroom”.
Another described a day consumed by “posting, chasing and correcting work and giving feedback and answering queries from students and parents”.
Students too were adjusting - one response described “numerous emails” from pupils who “can’t cope” in an environment devoid of face-to-face contact.
“Top students are now choosing to disengage as it has all become too much.” Some have “gone off the radar”.
On this particular issue, Ms Leydon noted that while in a school environment teachers could plan, maintain control and execute professional judgment. This was difficult in an online world “when you are not . . . catching the mood in the room and being able to respond to it”, she said.
The ASTI said there was also concern around expectations from management for teachers to give weekly reports on the extent of their engagement with pupils.


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--The Irish Times view on reopening schools: it’s time for clarity and certainty

It ’ s not every day the Taoiseach sweeps into the Department of Education seeking a detailed briefing on plans to reopen schools .
He could have had a private one-on-one meeting in Government Buildings , a quiet chat after Cabinet or a discussion over the phone .
That wasn ’ t the point , though .
His meeting with Minister for Education Norma Foley and senior officials at the department was all about optics .
With just a month to go to the reopening of schools , the Government is desperate to regain control of a narrative which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A lack of clarity from the department over whether schools will fully reopen in September has led to a growing sense of anxiety among parents over the liklihood of pupils being able to go back to the classroom full-time .
Students , teachers , principals and support staff remain in the dark as to how it is planned to reopen schools safely .
Opposition politicians have happily stepped into the void , upping the ante over the continuing uncertainty , and it was in that context that the Taoiseach sought on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His message was simple : reopening schools fully for all pupils is the Government ’ s number one priority – and a detailed plan will emerge next week .
That plan will need to be bold if schools are to function on a full-time basis , while also taking necessary steps to help keep Covid-19 out of the classroom .
Enhanced substitution cover will be crucial to enable schools to function when teachers are sick ; huge investment will be needed for new cleaning and hygiene regimes ; principals will need administrative support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will need funds to upgrade classrooms or washing facilities ; the curriculum will need to be adapted to take account of loss of learning .
The cost of these measures alone is likely to run into hundreds of millions of euro .
The importance of reopening schools fully in late August can not be over stated .
Children have lost out on up to four months of education and a growing body of research from the ESRI and elsewhere points to the Covid-19 closures having a much more severe impact on students ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In many cases , children with disabilities have also regressed and lost key skills .
A return to distance learning in the autumn would inevitably lead to a widening of the digital divide between the haves and have-nots and give rise to lasting damage tostudent outcomes .
Teachers also have a right and expectation to return to a safe workplace where every available measure has been taken to protect them .
It is vital that the Government does its homework properly ahead of next week ’ s reopening plan .
It has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go before the new academic year .

It's not every day the Taoiseach sweeps into the Department of Education seeking a detailed briefing on plans to reopen schools. He could have had a private one-on-one meeting in Government Buildings, a quiet chat after Cabinet or a discussion over the phone. That wasn't the point, though. His meeting with Minister for Education Norma Foley and senior officials at the department was all about optics.
With just a month to go to the reopening of schools, the Government is desperate to regain control of a narrative which has slipped away from it over recent weeks. A lack of clarity from the department over whether schools will fully reopen in September has led to a growing sense of anxiety among parents over the liklihood of pupils being able to go back to the classroom full-time. Students, teachers, principals and support staff remain in the dark as to how it is planned to reopen schools safely.
Opposition politicians have happily stepped into the void, upping the ante over the continuing uncertainty, and it was in that context that the Taoiseach sought on Friday to reassure the wider school community. His message was simple: reopening schools fully for all pupils is the Government’s number one priority – and a detailed plan will emerge next week.
That plan will need to be bold if schools are to function on a full-time basis, while also taking necessary steps to help keep Covid-19 out of the classroom. Enhanced substitution cover will be crucial to enable schools to function when teachers are sick; huge investment will be needed for new cleaning and hygiene regimes; principals will need administrative support to help plan for reopening; schools will need funds to upgrade classrooms or washing facilities; the curriculum will need to be adapted to take account of loss of learning. The cost of these measures alone is likely to run into hundreds of millions of euro.
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The importance of reopening schools fully in late August cannot be over stated. Children have lost out on up to four months of education and a growing body of research from the ESRI and elsewhere points to the Covid-19 closures having a much more severe impact on students’ learning and motivation in disadvantaged schools. In many cases, children with disabilities have also regressed and lost key skills. A return to distance learning in the autumn would inevitably lead to a widening of the digital divide between the haves and have-nots and give rise to lasting damage tostudent outcomes. Teachers also have a right and expectation to return to a safe workplace where every available measure has been taken to protect them.
It is vital that the Government does its homework properly ahead of next week’s reopening plan. It has a difficult balance to strike with just weeks to go before the new academic year.


theirishtimes--2020-07-24--Visitors may be required to take Covid-19 test before they travel

Visitors to Ireland may be required to have a Covid-19 test before they travel , and could be barred from landing in the State if they test positive , an Oireachtas committee has been told .
The Department of Transport has been ordered by the Cabinet to investigate the efficacy and potential of such a testing system , Ken Spratt , the department ’ s acting secretary general said .
If progressed , the test would be taken within 24-72 hours prior to travel and proof of a negative test result would be presented to Irish immigration on arrival , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If a positive test was returned , then the benefit of that would be that the person would not have travelled and not have potentially come into contact with other fellow travellers .
“ Therefore we would be avoiding a situation where , if you had entry testing and someone was positive , we would have to follow up all the other travellers .
So there is that benefit , ” he said .
The cost of the test would be borne by the traveller .
The Department of Transport is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and sea ports for passengers .
The public health advice is that existing available tests do not provide assurance and that false negative tests would offer a false sense of security .
Meanwhile , the Department of Transport told the Oireachtas committee that it is moving towards introducing mandatory face covering rules for passengers in taxis .
Separately , taxi drivers said their industry is on its knees and that work had dried up significantly as a result of the pandemic .
Government support is now vitally needed , they said .
Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taxi Association told the Oireachtas committee that drivers could not make a living in the industry at the moment .
Mr Waldron said there was no night-time business and clubs were not open .
He said Dublin Airport was only operating 10 per cent of its business .
He said that 82 per cent of drivers worked on Fridays and 62 per cent worked late in the evenings of Fridays .
“ That work is gone.
” Mr Waldron said most taxi drivers who went on to the Government ’ s Covid-19 payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the payment was allowing them to survive .
However , he said it was not sufficient to allow them to pay the bills and their bills were now backing up .
“ The cars still have to be paid for and insurance still has to be paid for.
” Mr Waldron said the Government should stop the issuing of new taxi licences .
He said grants should be provided as well as “ step down payments ” for drivers who were going back to work .
He also called for an extension @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as taxis and for the Government to introduce a ( licence ) buy back scheme .

The test would be taken within 24-72 hours prior to travel. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Visitors to Ireland may be required to have a Covid-19 test before they travel, and could be barred from landing in the State if they test positive, an Oireachtas committee has been told.
The Department of Transport has been ordered by the Cabinet to investigate the efficacy and potential of such a testing system, Ken Spratt, the department's acting secretary general said.
If progressed, the test would be taken within 24-72 hours prior to travel and proof of a negative test result would be presented to Irish immigration on arrival, he told the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee.
“If a positive test was returned, then the benefit of that would be that the person would not have travelled and not have potentially come into contact with other fellow travellers.
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“Therefore we would be avoiding a situation where, if you had entry testing and someone was positive, we would have to follow up all the other travellers. So there is that benefit,” he said.
The cost of the test would be borne by the traveller. The Department of Transport is not considering ordering Covid-19 tests at Irish air and sea ports for passengers.
The public health advice is that existing available tests do not provide assurance and that false negative tests would offer a false sense of security.
Face coverings in taxis
Meanwhile, the Department of Transport told the Oireachtas committee that it is moving towards introducing mandatory face covering rules for passengers in taxis.
Separately, taxi drivers said their industry is on its knees and that work had dried up significantly as a result of the pandemic. Government support is now vitally needed, they said.
Jim Waldron of the National Private Hire and Taxi Association told the Oireachtas committee that drivers could not make a living in the industry at the moment.
Mr Waldron said there was no night-time business and clubs were not open. He said Dublin Airport was only operating 10 per cent of its business. He said that 82 per cent of drivers worked on Fridays and 62 per cent worked late in the evenings of Fridays. “That work is gone.”
Mr Waldron said most taxi drivers who went on to the Government’s Covid-19 payment were still receiving the benefit.
He said the payment was allowing them to survive. However, he said it was not sufficient to allow them to pay the bills and their bills were now backing up.
“The cars still have to be paid for and insurance still has to be paid for.”
Mr Waldron said the Government should stop the issuing of new taxi licences. He said grants should be provided as well as “step down payments” for drivers who were going back to work.
He also called for an extension to the age limits for vehicles used as taxis and for the Government to introduce a (licence) buy back scheme.