theirishtimes--2020-05-08--‘This virus hasn’t gone away’ - Warning from Harris amid continued concern over nursing homes

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said progress is being made in nursing homes to fight the spread of Covid-19 but that it remains “ an area of concern ” .
Mr Harris said it is “ a tragic fact ” that many people have died of the virus in Ireland and “ many of them have been in nursing home facilities ” .
The Minister was speaking to reporters on Friday morning at the opening of a Covid-19 community assessment hub for vulnerable groups at the Mater Hospital in north Dublin .
“ In relation to the issue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt that in this country as has become the situation across largely the world , we have seen particular challenges in relation to long term residential care facilities , ” he said .
Mr Harris said he was encouraged by the large-scale testing programme of staff and residents at long term residential care facilities and that he is continuing to engage with Nursing Homes Ireland and Hiqa .
“ Many nursing homes that have Covid-19 are handling the situation extremely well , are working very hard .
An outbreak in and of itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that nursing home , ” he added .
The deaths of another 29 patients were announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) at its briefing on Thursday .
There have now been 1,403 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic at the total number of cases stands at 22,385 .
Deaths in nursing homes amount to more than half of the total .
Marginalised groups and other “ challenging ” sectors are to become a new frontline of the battle against Covid-19 .
While the overall daily number of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowest level in over six weeks , a greater focus is planned on areas where the virus continues to circulate at significant levels .
Earlier today Mr Harris opened a new Covid-19 assessment hub at the Mater Hospital in Dublin to work specifically with marginalised groups in the inner city .
Some 58 per cent of Roma who have undergone testing , and 43 per cent of Travellers , have had a positive result , according to official figures .
The overall positivity rate for all people tested has fallen to under 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mobile unit to test and treat marginalised groups across the inner city , and will be able to deliver test results in under an hour .
The situation in meat factories , detention centres and other locations where virus “ hot-spots ” have been identified will be examined by the NPHET at its meeting today .
The Minister said he could not confirm whether he had received a protected disclosure from a staff member at St Mary ’ s nursing home in Dublin ’ s Phoenix Park .
St Mary ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes in the country with 24 confirmed coronavirus deaths .
A staff member made a protected disclosure alleging shortcomings in the facility ’ s response to Covid-19 earlier this week .
“ I ’ m not allowed confirm receipt of a protected disclosure but I can tell you there ’ s a very clear protocol in terms of what must be done when a minister receives a protected disclosure and I want to assure people any protected disclosures received by me will be treated with the utmost seriousness by me personally and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the law , ” he said .
“ I think it ’ s very important that anybody that ever has a concern or view comes forward and makes that information available to the authorities.
” Mr Harris said the HSE now has capacity to do 12,000 tests a day , and that this figure will be ramped up to 15,000 by the middle of May .
He said there were encouraging signs in terms of hospital and ICU admissions but warned “ this virus hasn ’ t gone away ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lives of many people , it is continuing to cost lives in this country and it is continuing to make people very sick .
It would not take much for us to slip backwards , ” he said .
The Minister said that anyone currently flying into the State is required to fill out a passenger locator form and asked to self-isolate for two weeks and disclose where they are self-isolating .
“ At the moment that ’ s being done on an administrative basis and we are now looking at putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it becomes mandatory , ” he said .
Mr Harris also said that Ireland needs a “ new Government pretty quickly ” and that “ a massive challenge ” lies ahead in terms of rebuilding society and the economy .
“ We need a Government in place with a Dáil majority , with a clear programme and with a degree of certainty that this could last four or five years to begin to tackle some of those issues.
” Mr Harris also said he hopes today will bring “ certainty and clarity ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His comments come as Leaving Cert exams are set to be cancelled and replaced with a “ Plan B ” in which students will be awarded grades based on their classwork .
Students who are unhappy with their awarded grades will likely be given the option of sitting written exams at a much later date , possibly until January 2021 .
Meanwhile , Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said on Friday there is “ very little prospect ” of bars and pubs opening in June due to the difficulty in adhering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Speaking on RTÉ ’ s Today with Seán O ’ Rourke show Dr Holohan also said NPHET is to discuss additional measures regarding travel into and out of Ireland to examine if any changes need to be made to that specific aspect of the coronavirus plan .
Travel remains a challenge , he said and the recommendation remains that people avoid all non-essential travel both off the island and back into Ireland .
The issue will be discussed at an NPHET meeting today along with compulsory quarantining .
Dr Holohan said advice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the NPHET meeting , but he said social distancing will continue to be the “ challenge ” .
The country is doing well , he said .
“ We ’ re holding .
We ’ ve managed to suppress the spread of the infection , ” but there had been an impact among vulnerable groups and in nursing homes .
Dr Holohan also said it was necessary to leave three weeks between each phase of easing of restrictions to allow enough time to see if something not predicted in terms of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said it was unlikely the public would be asked to wear masks consistently when outside the home , but it could be a possible requirement in enclosed spaces such as public transport or shops .
Speaking on the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk , Mr Varadkar said that the pandemic unemployment payment and wage subsidy scheme would continue beyond mid-June .
While the schemes “ can ’ t last forever ” , withdrawing them would have to be done in a gradual way.Exact details of how the schemes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet , he added , the Government will make their plans clear before the end of May .

Minister for Health Simon Harris opens a new Covid-19 assessment hub at the Mater Hospital in Dublin to work specifically with marginalised groups in the inner city. Video: Kathleen Harris
A further 27 people have died from Covid-19, bringing the total to 1,429, according to new figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team.
The total number of cases in the State is now 22,541, after an increase of 156 cases.
Speaking earlier on Friday, Minister for Health Simon Harris said progress is being made in nursing homes to fight the spread of Covid-19 but it remains an "area of concern".
Department of Health COVID-19 press briefing https://t.co/q7FKoTzpb4 — Department of Health (@roinnslainte) May 8, 2020
Mr Harris said it is "a tragic fact" that many people have died of the virus in Ireland and "many of them have been in nursing home facilities".
READ MORE
The Minister was speaking to reporters on Friday morning at the opening of a Covid-19 community assessment hub for vulnerable groups at the Mater Hospital in north Dublin.
“In relation to the issue of nursing homes, there’s no doubt that in this country as has become the situation across largely the world, we have seen particular challenges in relation to long term residential care facilities,” he said.
Mr Harris said he was encouraged by the large-scale testing programme of staff and residents at long term residential care facilities and that he is continuing to engage with Nursing Homes Ireland and Hiqa.
“Many nursing homes that have Covid-19 are handling the situation extremely well, are working very hard. An outbreak in and of itself is not a sign of failure in that nursing home,” he added.
The deaths of another 27 patients were announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) at its briefing on Friday.
'Marginalised groups'
On Friday Mr Harris opened a new Covid-19 assessment hub at the Mater Hospital in Dublin to work specifically with marginalised groups in the inner city.
Some 58 per cent of Roma who have undergone testing, and 43 per cent of Travellers, have had a positive result, according to official figures.
The overall positivity rate for all people tested has fallen to under 4 per cent.
The new hub includes a mobile unit to test and treat marginalised groups across the inner city, and will be able to deliver test results in under an hour.
The situation in meat factories, detention centres and other locations where virus “hot-spots” have been identified will be examined by the NPHET at its meeting today.
St Mary's
The Minister said he could not confirm whether he had received a protected disclosure from a staff member at St Mary's nursing home in Dublin's Phoenix Park. St Mary's is one of the worst-hit nursing homes in the country with 24 confirmed coronavirus deaths.
A staff member made a protected disclosure alleging shortcomings in the facility’s response to Covid-19 earlier this week.
“I’m not allowed confirm receipt of a protected disclosure but I can tell you there’s a very clear protocol in terms of what must be done when a minister receives a protected disclosure and I want to assure people any protected disclosures received by me will be treated with the utmost seriousness by me personally and will be processed by my department in accordance with the law,” he said.
“I think it’s very important that anybody that ever has a concern or view comes forward and makes that information available to the authorities.”
Mr Harris said the HSE now has capacity to do 12,000 tests a day, and that this figure will be ramped up to 15,000 by the middle of May.
He said there were encouraging signs in terms of hospital and ICU admissions but warned “this virus hasn’t gone away”.
“It is continuing to wreak havoc on the lives of many people, it is continuing to cost lives in this country and it is continuing to make people very sick. It would not take much for us to slip backwards,” he said.
The Minister said that anyone currently flying into the State is required to fill out a passenger locator form and asked to self-isolate for two weeks and disclose where they are self-isolating.
“At the moment that’s being done on an administrative basis and we are now looking at putting that on a regulatory footing so that it becomes mandatory,” he said.
Mr Harris also said that Ireland needs a “new Government pretty quickly” and that “a massive challenge” lies ahead in terms of rebuilding society and the economy.
“We need a Government in place with a Dáil majority, with a clear programme and with a degree of certainty that this could last four or five years to begin to tackle some of those issues.”
Mr Harris also said he hopes today will bring "certainty and clarity" for Leaving Certificate students and their families. His comments come as Leaving Cert exams are set to be cancelled and replaced with a "Plan B" in which students will be awarded grades based on their classwork.
Students who are unhappy with their awarded grades will likely be given the option of sitting written exams at a much later date, possibly until January 2021.
Pubs re-opening
Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan said on Friday there is "very little prospect" of bars and pubs opening in June due to the difficulty in adhering to restrictions necessary to maintain physical distancing.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Seán O’Rourke show Dr Holohan also said NPHET is to discuss additional measures regarding travel into and out of Ireland to examine if any changes need to be made to that specific aspect of the coronavirus plan.
Travel remains a challenge, he said and the recommendation remains that people avoid all non-essential travel both off the island and back into Ireland.
The issue will be discussed at an NPHET meeting today along with compulsory quarantining.
Dr Holohan said advice will be given to the Government subsequent to the NPHET meeting, but he said social distancing will continue to be the “challenge”.
The country is doing well, he said. “We’re holding. We’ve managed to suppress the spread of the infection,” but there had been an impact among vulnerable groups and in nursing homes.
Dr Holohan also said it was necessary to leave three weeks between each phase of easing of restrictions to allow enough time to see if something not predicted in terms of the virus was picked up, he said.
Face masks
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said it was unlikely the public would be asked to wear masks consistently when outside the home, but it could be a possible requirement in enclosed spaces such as public transport or shops.
Speaking on the Pat Kenny Show on Newstalk, Mr Varadkar said that the pandemic unemployment payment and wage subsidy scheme would continue beyond mid-June.
While the schemes “can’t last forever”, withdrawing them would have to be done in a gradual way.Exact details of how the schemes will continue have not been worked out yet, he added, the Government will make their plans clear before the end of May.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Vatican approves transfer of lands at St Vincent’s hospital site

The Sisters of Charity have today confirmed they have received Vatican approval for the transfer ownership of the St Vincent ’ s Healthcare Group to a new independent charitable body to be called St Vincent ’ s Holdings CLG .
It removes one of the final and more controversial hurdles in building a new National Maternity hospital at Elm Park in Dublin .
The sisters said they intended to gift lands at the St Vincent ’ s Healthcare Group , sites worth some €200 million , and hoped the transfer can be concluded without undue delay .
In line with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provisions formal approval for the decision to complete the transfer of ownership of such extensive property owned by a religious congregation had to be requested from Rome and has now been approved .
The new St Vincent ’ s Holdings CLG will continue to be a “ not for profit ” organisation .
In the event of the St Vincent ’ s Holdings CLG going into liquidation , its surplus assets will be vested with the Charity Regulator and used for future healthcare purposes with similar values , to benefit the people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
In July 2017 the Religious Sisters of Charity stepped down from the board of St Vincent ’ s Hospital Group .
Friday marks the final movement towards completion of all legal , financial and regulatory matters involved in the transfer of the Sisters ’ 186-year involvement with the hospital .
In 1834 Mary Aikenhead , who founded the Religious Sisters of Charity , established the first hospital in Ireland that freely admitted the sick and the poor , irrespective of their race , creed or ability to pay .
In their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had supported them over recent years “ as we formalise the final steps towards our departure from St Vincent ’ s Healthcare Group and hope that the transfer can now swiftly move to completion.
” Superior general Sr Patricia Lenihan said : “ We are confident that the St Vincent ’ s Healthcare Group Board , management and staff will continue to provide acute healthcare services that foster Mary Aikenhead ’ s mission and core values of dignity , compassion , justice , equality and advocacy for all into the future.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St Vincent ’ s Healthcare Group , she said “ our Sisters continue to preserve Mary Aikenhead ’ s legacy and mission both in Ireland and abroad , working with local communities ; healing and caring for people who are sick or poor and those nearing the end of life through our hospices .
We will also continue our work with people who are homeless , are refugees and those who are victims of human trafficking as well continuing our education programmes.
” She said the Sisters of Charity were “ very proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ establish and provide healthcare services for the sick and poor in Ireland .
It has been both a privilege and an honour to serve and support patients and their families over the last 186 years .
”

The Sisters of Charity have today confirmed they have received Vatican approval for the transfer ownership of the St Vincent's Healthcare Group to a new independent charitable body to be called St Vincent's Holdings CLG. It removes one of the final and more controversial hurdles in building a new National Maternity hospital at Elm Park in Dublin.
The sisters said they intended to gift lands at the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group, sites worth some €200 million, and hoped the transfer can be concluded without undue delay.
In line with the Catholic Church’s Canon Law provisions formal approval for the decision to complete the transfer of ownership of such extensive property owned by a religious congregation had to be requested from Rome and has now been approved.
The new St Vincent's Holdings CLG will continue to be a "not for profit" organisation. In the event of the St Vincent's Holdings CLG going into liquidation, its surplus assets will be vested with the Charity Regulator and used for future healthcare purposes with similar values, to benefit the people of Ireland, the Sisters said in a statement.
READ MORE
In July 2017 the Religious Sisters of Charity stepped down from the board of St Vincent’s Hospital Group. Friday marks the final movement towards completion of all legal, financial and regulatory matters involved in the transfer of the Sisters’ 186-year involvement with the hospital.
In 1834 Mary Aikenhead, who founded the Religious Sisters of Charity, established the first hospital in Ireland that freely admitted the sick and the poor, irrespective of their race, creed or ability to pay.
In their statement on Friday the Sisters thanked everyone who had supported them over recent years “as we formalise the final steps towards our departure from St Vincent’s Healthcare Group and hope that the transfer can now swiftly move to completion.”
Superior general Sr Patricia Lenihan said: "We are confident that the St Vincent's Healthcare Group Board, management and staff will continue to provide acute healthcare services that foster Mary Aikenhead's mission and core values of dignity, compassion, justice, equality and advocacy for all into the future."
While they would not be involved in St Vincent’s Healthcare Group, she said “our Sisters continue to preserve Mary Aikenhead’s legacy and mission both in Ireland and abroad, working with local communities; healing and caring for people who are sick or poor and those nearing the end of life through our hospices. We will also continue our work with people who are homeless, are refugees and those who are victims of human trafficking as well continuing our education programmes.”
She said the Sisters of Charity were “very proud of our long heritage and work to establish and provide healthcare services for the sick and poor in Ireland. It has been both a privilege and an honour to serve and support patients and their families over the last 186 years.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Coronavirus: 71 care home residents died in North in single week

Seventy-one people with coronavirus died in care homes in the North in a single week , according to the most recent data from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ( NISRA ) .
Figures released by NISRA on Friday recorded 115 deaths involving coronavirus , also known as Covid 19 , in the week ending May 1st .
Almost 62 per cent of these - or 71 deaths - were in care homes .
Thirty-nine occurred in hospital , four at home , and one in a hospice .
In total , NISRA noted 516 deaths involving coronavirus from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1st .
This figure is 35 per cent higher than the 383 fatalities recorded in the same period by the North ’ s department of health .
Almost half of these deaths - 253 , or 49 per cent - took place in hospital , with 45 per cent ( 232 ) in care homes , four ( 0.8 per cent ) in hospices and 27 ( 5.2 per cent ) at residential addresses or other locations .
The 236 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 66 separate establishments .
Earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Robin Swann , said that since the beginning of the outbreak there had been 125 acute respiratory outbreaks in care homes , with 72 of these confirmed as coronavirus .
“ As the number of Covid-related patients being admitted to hospitals are falling , I remain acutely aware that the front line fight has moved to our care homes , ” he said .
Northern Ireland releases two separate sets of data on coronavirus fatalities .
The department of health figures are released daily and are based on patients who have tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cover deaths in hospital settings .
The most recent set of department figures , from May 7th , recorded 422 deaths among patients with coronavirus in Northern Ireland .
NISRA figures are slower to produce and are based on the information entered on death certificates completed by medical professionals .
There may or may not be a positive test for coronavirus .
Separate data released by NISRA and based on the date a death was registered showed that the provisional number of total deaths registered in the week ending May 1st was 427 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous week , but 107 more than the five-year average of 320 .
Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate for 29 per cent , or 124 of the deaths registered in the week ending May 1st , bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths registered in 2020 to 494 .
NISRA said that over the last five weeks , 704 “ excess deaths ” - deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years - have been registered in Northern Ireland .
Males accounted for 50.4 per cent of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people aged 75 and over accounted for 77 per cent of all such deaths registered in the same period .

Seventy-one people with coronavirus died in care homes in the North in a single week, new figures show. Photograph: The Irish Times/ File photo
Seventy-one people with coronavirus died in care homes in the North in a single week, according to the most recent data from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).
Figures released by NISRA on Friday recorded 115 deaths involving coronavirus, also known as Covid 19, in the week ending May 1st. Almost 62 per cent of these - or 71 deaths - were in care homes. Thirty-nine occurred in hospital, four at home, and one in a hospice.
In total, NISRA noted 516 deaths involving coronavirus from the beginning of the outbreak until May 1st. This figure is 35 per cent higher than the 383 fatalities recorded in the same period by the North’s department of health.
Almost half of these deaths - 253, or 49 per cent - took place in hospital, with 45 per cent (232) in care homes, four (0.8 per cent) in hospices and 27 (5.2 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations.
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The 236 deaths in care homes and hospices involved 66 separate establishments.
Figures released by the department on Friday showed that there have been 128 acute respiratory outbreaks in care homes in the North since the coronavirus pandemic began.
Of these, 76 have been confirmed as Covid-19 while 35 are suspected cases of the virus. Seventeen outbreaks are defined as “closed”, meaning that there have been no new cases for 14 days.
Deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill said the figures exposed the “serious battle” within care homes and called for a programme of universal testing for all care home residents and staff.
“No stone must be left unturned in supporting care homes right now and supporting the staff and supporting the residents,” she said.
Northern Ireland releases two separate sets of data on coronavirus fatalities. The department of health figures are released daily and are based on patients who have tested positive for the virus, and mainly cover deaths in hospital settings.
Additional deaths
Five further coronavirus-related deaths were reported by the department on Friday, bringing the total number of fatalities to 427.
The data for the last 24 hours includes two deaths during that period, and three which occurred previously but had not been reported.
An additional 1,202 people were tested, resulting in 38 new confirmed cases of the virus. The number of cases of coronavirus in the North now stands at 4,022.
NISRA figures are slower to produce and are based on the information entered on death certificates completed by medical professionals. There may or may not be a positive test for coronavirus.
Separate data released by NISRA and based on the date a death was registered showed that the provisional number of total deaths registered in the week ending May 1st was 427.
This was 43 fewer than the previous week, but 107 more than the five-year average of 320.
Covid-19 was mentioned on the death certificate for 29 per cent, or 124 of the deaths registered in the week ending May 1st, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths registered in 2020 to 494.
NISRA said that over the last five weeks, 704 “excess deaths” - deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years - have been registered in Northern Ireland.
Males accounted for 50.4 per cent of all coronavirus-related deaths until May 1st, while people aged 75 and over accounted for 77 per cent of all such deaths registered in the same period.
There are 483 care homes in Northern Ireland, caring for a maximum of around 16,000 residents.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--‘I’m only kind of retiring,’ says Sean O’Rourke on his last day on air

RTÉ radio stalwart Sean O ’ Rourke began his last day on the air by hinting he “ had a bit more in the tank ” and that his retirement is only partial .
The veteran current affairs journalist , who has hosted the Today with Seán O ’ Rourke morning programme on the national broadcaster for the last seven years , will sign off on Friday for the last time .
It will sound the completion of a celebrated media career which has seen the 64-year-old garner a reputation as a no-nonsense interviewer with a knack for drawing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m not sad .
I was feeling pretty good getting up this morning , but then it was like getting a bucket of cold water in the face hearing about the [ coronavirus ] deaths in the nursing home and all the confusion about the Leaving Cert , ” he said on Morning Ireland on Friday - unsurprisingly redirecting discussion of his own retirement back toward the news headlines .
“ I ’ m only kind of retiring ... there ’ s a bit more left in the tank , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open for a reappearance of some kind in the future .
Ironically , O ’ Rourke bows out in the middle of what is arguably the biggest news story of his career and he praised RTÉ for its ongoing coverage saying he is “ immensely proud of the job this institution is doing at this time ” .
Since announcing his departure date last month , O ’ Rourke has received numerous on air well-wishes from his interview subjects , batting them away with characteristic modesty .
Friday will likely see far more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Radio One studio .
Finding the humour , he joked on air that someone had sent him €20 for a social drink once the pubs reopen .
A native of Portlaoise , O ’ Rourke began his career at the Connacht Tribune in the early 1970s before later moving to the Sunday Press where he worked as a sports reporter .
He was a political correspondent for the Irish Press from 1984 to 1989 before returning to RTÉ , where he took over hosting the News at One in 1995 .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Week In Politics .
His move into the station ’ s mid-morning flagship current affairs slot was announced in 2013 following the defection of Pat Kenny to Newstalk .

Séan O’Rourke began his career at the Connacht Tribune in the early 1970s before later moving to the Sunday Press. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
RTÉ radio stalwart Seán O'Rourke began his last day on the air by hinting he "had a bit more in the tank" and that his retirement is only partial.
The current affairs journalist, who has hosted the Today with Seán O’Rourke morning programme on the national broadcaster for the last seven years, signed off on Friday for the last time.
It marks the completion of a celebrated media career which has seen the 64-year-old garner a reputation as a no-nonsense interviewer with a knack for drawing the most from his subjects.
"I'm not sad. I was feeling pretty good getting up this morning, but then it was like getting a bucket of cold water in the face hearing about the [coronavirus] deaths in the nursing home and all the confusion about the Leaving Cert," he said on Morning Ireland on Friday – unsurprisingly redirecting discussion of his own retirement back toward the news headlines.
READ MORE
“I’m only kind of retiring ... there’s a bit more left in the tank,” he said, leaving the door very much open for a reappearance of some kind in the future.
O’Rourke bows out in the middle of what is arguably the biggest news story of his career and he praised RTÉ for its ongoing coverage saying he was “immensely proud of the job this institution is doing at this time”.
Since announcing his departure date last month, O’Rourke has received numerous on air well-wishes from his interview subjects, batting them away with characteristic modesty.
Finding the humour, he joked on air that someone had sent him €20 for a social drink once the pubs reopen.
Political interviews
Satirist Oliver Callan was among those on the last show and he paid tribute in the character of various political leaders. As Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, he said: "Not all superheroes wear capes. Some of them wear the ear off you over 30 years on the radio."
The impressionist touched on an important note: O'Rourke's career has been framed by the heavyweight political interview. An audio reel contained clips from all the contemporary party leaders as well as Donald Trump, Enda Kenny and Gerry Adams.
On his famous 2014 interview with Mr Trump, O’Rourke remembered his encounter with the tycoon shortly after he had raised the sensitive subject of his hair.
“He came into the room afterwards shouting at me: ‘Seán! I thought you were one of the good guys but you brought up the hair!”
However, the broadcaster later reflected that those he remembered the most over the years were the ordinary people, trapped in difficult positions. In particular he recalled the tragedy of the Loughinisland killing of six Catholics by Ulster Volunteer Force gunmen during a 1994 World Cup football match.
Though audibly uncomfortable at some of the tributes, he laughed along with much of the humour. Historian Diarmaid Ferriter, among his final Friday morning panellists, assured him: "I am not here to officially announce that you are history Seán."
A message from President Michael D Higgins, in which he appeared to echo O'Rourke's suggestions of a partial retirement, was read out on air: "I am sure we will hear from you as you enter the next chapter of your life."
A native of Portlaoise, O'Rourke began his career at the Connacht Tribune in the early 1970s before later moving to the Sunday Press where he worked as a sports reporter.
He was a political correspondent for the Irish Press from 1984-1989 before moving to RTÉ, where he took over hosting the News at One in 1995. He has also presented TV shows such as The Week In Politics.
His move into the station's mid-morning flagship current affairs slot was announced in 2013 following the departure of Pat Kenny to Newstalk.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Sea level could rise 1m by 2100 if emissions targets missed - experts

Sea level could rise by more than 1m by 2100 if carbon emission reduction targets are not met , according to a survey by 106 global experts .
The latest projections exceed previous estimates by climate scientists under the UN International Panel on Climate Change .
The study found the global mean sea-level rise could exceed 1m by 2100 , and 5m by 2300 – if global targets on emissions are not achieved .
It was led by scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and included an input from a mathematician at Maynooth University .
It is based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and underlines the critical importance of pursuing a low emissions policy to limit sea-level rise , ” said co-author Dr Niamh Cahill , assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Maynooth .
They applied projections under two climate scenarios ; low and high emissions .
By surveying a wide range of leaders in the field , it offers broader assurance about its projections for the ranges of future sea-level rise , she explained .
In a scenario where global warming is limited to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2100 and 0.5 to 2m by 2300 .
In a high-emissions scenario with 4.5 degrees of warming , they estimated a larger rise of 0.6 to 1.3m by 2100 and 1.7 to 5.6m by 2300 .
Prof Benjamin Horton of NTU Singapore , who led the survey , said sea-level rise projections and knowledge of their uncertainties “ are vital to make informed mitigation and adaptation decisions ” .
“ The complexity of sea-level projections , and the sheer amount of relevant scientific publications , make it difficult for policymakers to get an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
To obtain this overview , it was useful to survey leading experts on the expected sea-level rise , which provided a broader picture of future scenarios and informed policymakers so they could prepare necessary measures , Prof Horton said .
Published in Nature Partner Journals Climate and Atmospheric Science , researchers from the University of Hong Kong ; Durham University ( UK ) ; Rowan University ( US ) ; Tufts University ( US ) ; and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research ( Germany ) contributed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the planet will see additional sea-level rise in the future , ” noted co-author Dr Andra Garner of Rowan University .
“ But there are stark differences in the amount of sea-level rise experts project for low emissions compared to high emissions .
This provides a great deal of hope for the future , as well as a strong motivation to act now to avoid the more severe impacts of rising sea levels , ” said Dr Garner .
The experts were chosen as they were among the most active publishers of sea-level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in peer-reviewed journals since 2014 – and identified from a leading publication database .
They identified the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets as “ the greatest sources of uncertainty ” .
They are an important indicator of climate change and driver of sea-level rise .
Satellite-based measurements show the ice sheets are melting at an accelerating rate .
However , they also underlined the magnitude and impact of sea-level rise can be limited by successfully reducing emissions .
Prof Andrea Dutton of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US , who was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ One of the key takeaways is that our actions today can make a profound difference in how much our coastlines will retreat in the future .
That knowledge is empowering because it means that we can choose a better outcome through our actions.
” A separate study published this week shows coastal zones in Europe contain large human populations , significant socio-economic activities and assets , and fragile ecosystems and are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise of 1m or more .
Coastal communities will face increasing risk of floods as climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2100 , it concludes .
Coastal adaptation , however , could prevent 95 per cent of the projected economic losses .
The findings are in an EU Joint Research Council study in Nature Communications .
In the absence of climate action and with continued demographic pressure and urbanisation along coastlines , annual damages from coastal flooding in the EU and the UK “ could increase sharply .
.
.
to almost €1.6 trillion by 2100 , with 3.9 million people exposed to coastal flooding every year ” , it said .

Sea level could rise by more than 1m by 2100 if carbon emission reduction targets are not met, according to a survey by 106 global experts.
The latest projections exceed previous estimates by climate scientists under the UN International Panel on Climate Change.
The study found the global mean sea-level rise could exceed 1m by 2100, and 5m by 2300 – if global targets on emissions are not achieved. It was led by scientists at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and included an input from a mathematician at Maynooth University.
It is based on the informed opinions of sea-level experts "and underlines the critical importance of pursuing a low emissions policy to limit sea-level rise," said co-author Dr Niamh Cahill, assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at Maynooth.
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They applied projections under two climate scenarios; low and high emissions. By surveying a wide range of leaders in the field, it offers broader assurance about its projections for the ranges of future sea-level rise, she explained.
In a scenario where global warming is limited to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, the specialists estimated a rise of 0.5m by 2100 and 0.5 to 2m by 2300.
In a high-emissions scenario with 4.5 degrees of warming, they estimated a larger rise of 0.6 to 1.3m by 2100 and 1.7 to 5.6m by 2300.
Prof Benjamin Horton of NTU Singapore, who led the survey, said sea-level rise projections and knowledge of their uncertainties "are vital to make informed mitigation and adaptation decisions".
“The complexity of sea-level projections, and the sheer amount of relevant scientific publications, make it difficult for policymakers to get an overview of the state of the science,” he said.
To obtain this overview, it was useful to survey leading experts on the expected sea-level rise, which provided a broader picture of future scenarios and informed policymakers so they could prepare necessary measures, Prof Horton said.
Study
Published in Nature Partner Journals Climate and Atmospheric Science, researchers from the University of Hong Kong; Durham University (UK); Rowan University (US); Tufts University (US); and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (Germany) contributed to the study.
"We know that the planet will see additional sea-level rise in the future," noted co-author Dr Andra Garner of Rowan University.
“But there are stark differences in the amount of sea-level rise experts project for low emissions compared to high emissions. This provides a great deal of hope for the future, as well as a strong motivation to act now to avoid the more severe impacts of rising sea levels,” said Dr Garner.
The experts were chosen as they were among the most active publishers of sea-level studies – at least six published papers in peer-reviewed journals since 2014 – and identified from a leading publication database.
They identified the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets as "the greatest sources of uncertainty". They are an important indicator of climate change and driver of sea-level rise. Satellite-based measurements show the ice sheets are melting at an accelerating rate. However, they also underlined the magnitude and impact of sea-level rise can be limited by successfully reducing emissions.
Prof Andrea Dutton of the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US, who was not involved in this study, said: "One of the key takeaways is that our actions today can make a profound difference in how much our coastlines will retreat in the future. That knowledge is empowering because it means that we can choose a better outcome through our actions."
A separate study published this week shows coastal zones in Europe contain large human populations, significant socio-economic activities and assets, and fragile ecosystems and are particularly vulnerable to sea level rise of 1m or more.
Coastal communities will face increasing risk of floods as climate change could cause extreme sea-level rise by 2100, it concludes. Coastal adaptation, however, could prevent 95 per cent of the projected economic losses.
The findings are in an EU Joint Research Council study in Nature Communications. In the absence of climate action and with continued demographic pressure and urbanisation along coastlines, annual damages from coastal flooding in the EU and the UK "could increase sharply . . . to almost €1.6 trillion by 2100, with 3.9 million people exposed to coastal flooding every year", it said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Leaving Cert to be cancelled: Harris hopes students will get ‘clarity’ during ‘stressful time’

Minister for Health Simon Harris has said he hopes today will bring “ certainty and clarity ” for Leaving Certificate students and their families .
His comments come as Leaving Cert exams are set to be cancelled and replaced with a “ Plan B ” in which students will be awarded grades based on their classwork , according to well-placed sources .
Students who are unhappy with their awarded grades will likely be given the option of sitting written exams at a much later date , possibly until January 2021 .
This would be too late for students to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ academic year .
The Department of Education plans are to come before Cabinet today .
If approved they will come as a relief to tens of thousands of students and parents who have been craving certainty since the Covid-19 lockdown began .
“ It ’ s been an extraordinarily stressful time , doing your Leaving Cert is an extraordinarily stressful time at the best of the times , ” Mr Harris said .
“ Obviously that stress has been compounded this year by the fact that the virus has shut schools and created @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be safe to do in the coming weeks and months , ” he told reporters on Friday morning .
Mr Harris said “ a massive amount of work ” had been undertaken by the Minister for Education Joe McHugh and the Government to try and find a way forward .
“ It hasn ’ t been easy , if there was an easy straightforward solution it would have been taken before , ” he said .
“ They ’ ve been trying to find a path forward and we ’ ll have details @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of another 29 patients were announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) at its briefing on Thursday .
There have now been 1,403 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic at the total number of cases stands at 22,385 .
Under the draft plan , schools will play a key role in awarding students ’ grades based on a combination of their class rankings , performance in previous exams and assessments and other indicators .
While teachers will help determine these grades , the process will be technically overseen by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grades would then likely feed into a process where final grades could be awarded by the department using a “ bell curve ” and school indicators .
This bell curve refers to the practice of adjusting the marking process to ensure a similar proportion of students secure the same numbers of H1s , H2s and H3s each year .
Department officials are understood to be keen not to refer to this process as predicted grades and , instead , are referring to it as an national standardised systemise .
Secondary teachers ’ unions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support such a measure , subject to a number of clarifications and assurances .

The Leaving Certificate Exam has been postponed and pupils will be offered the option of receiving calculated grades, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has announced. Video: RTE News Now
The Leaving Certificate has been postponed and students are to be offered the option of receiving calculated grades, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has announced.
The Cabinet approved the decision to offer students the option of sitting the exam at another date in the future, which sources say could be as early as November.
The decision was taken following an assessment of public health advice.
The announcement will be a relief to many of the 60,000 students who were due to sit the exams in June and their parents who have seeking certainty over the future of the exams since the Covid-19 lockdown began in March.
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However, it has also sparked concern among students, educators and politicians over the transparency and fairness of providing students with calculated grades.
“We all know the Leaving Certificate can be a stressful time. Some students have parents working on the frontline, others are anxious about families and some are grieving,” Mr McHugh said at a press conference on Friday afternoon.
“I have made every effort to run the 2020 Leaving Certificate as close as possible to the way the examinations were originally intended to be held,” he said.
“My desire had been to allow students to undertake the written and practical examinations in July and August but I have compelling evidence, based on medical advice and other assessments, that the Leaving Certificate examinations cannot be held in a reliable and valid manner, nor in way that would be equitable for students.”
Mr McHugh said that there are “legal vulnerabilities” associated with the decision to postpone the Leaving Cert but he said the Department of Education is proceeding on the basis that it is not currently safe for students to sit the exam.
“There are vulnerabilities in this in terms of the legal advice we are getting because there is a legitimate expectation for students to sit the Leaving Certificate. We as a department have come to the conclusion that it is not safe and is not in the best interests of students in terms of their physical and mental health to hold those exams.
“It has been flagged that there will be an issue around legitimate expectation but one of the advices which was very clear advice is that if there is compelling health evidence saying that the Leaving Certificate can’t go ahead, yes we can set up this new model of calculated grades.
“The advice we were given is that we can set up an executive authority within the Department, it got the blessing today of Cabinet.
“The reality of the impact of Covid-19 has led to a decision that has never happened in our country before. I fully appreciate the magnitude of this issue for the students, for their families, for the teachers and for school principals.”
Special unit
Mr McHugh said the decision was taken “with the best interests of the students at heart”and that he took the decision “with a heavy heart”.
Under the new plans, all exam fees which have been paid will be refunded. Teachers will be asked to provide a “professional judgement of each student’s attainment” which will be “subjected to a rigorous in-school alignment process to ensure fairness”.
The school principal will approve the estimated scores and the rankings of each student in each subject in the school.
A special unit is being established within the Department of Education to process to the data provided by each school and to “nationalise standardisation”.
The department will then finalise the grades for each student which will be issued to each student as close as possible to the traditional date.
Students will retain the right to appeal. Students may also sit the exam, potentially later in the year.
Mr McHugh said that he has a “responsibility to find a fair way to address the disadvantage that some students are facing and the impact a lack of time in school has had in recent weeks.”
“The decision has to be taken now to remove the anxiety that many students have been experiencing over how the expansion would look later in the summer,” the Minister said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Large number of gardaí forced to self-isolate due to Covid-19

Significant numbers of Garda members have had to self-isolate because of Covid-19 and in one case an entire unit of gardaí in Dublin was forced to cease operations , the largest staff body in the force has said .
The Garda Representative Association ( GRA ) , which represents about 12,000 rank and file gardaí , has expressed its dismay that priority Covid-19 testing for Garda members was no longer being pursued by Garda management .
It believed a fast-track testing system for gardaí was urgently needed to ensure the resilience of the Garda force and to ensure its members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it to people they encountered on duty .
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors ( AGSI ) , which represents middle ranking Garda managers , said its 2,500 members felt “ let down ” by senior Garda management .
Both associations had been pushing for priority Covid-19 testing to be extended to Garda members .
It would have ensured any member of the force could have been tested and received a result under a fast-track system , negating the need for lengthy quarantining periods .
GRA president Jim Mulligan said his association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to introduce priority testing were being abandoned for now because of “ clinical governance issues ” within the HSE .
He called on National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) to “ broaden their understanding ” of managing this health crisis .
“ Policing is central to containing the spread of the virus yet they appear not to recognise this , ” Mr Mulligan said , adding the GRA had been assured “ week after week ” priority testing would be put in place for Garda members .
Sampling facilities had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country and Garda members with medical experience had been trained to take samples for testing only for the plan to be abandoned .
“ It is difficult to make sense of how there could be a governance issue around priority testing for gardaí when there was none around other frontline workers such as medical staff and ambulance workers , ” Mr Mulligan said .
“ During this crisis , we have seen 45 gardaí go into self-isolation in one division , and a whole unit was stood down in Dublin recently – albeit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in which gardaí were the target of people weaponising Covid-19 , ” he added of spitting and coughing directed at gardaí .
General secretary of AGSI , Antoinette Cunningham , said her association was informed on Wednesday during a teleconference with Garda management they were “ not progressing the matter of priority testing for members of AGSI at this time ” .
She described the move as U-turn on previously stated plans , saying her association had been surprised and disappointment by it .
“ We had already informed our members that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supports priority testing for our members to ensure capacity in the force at all times and have asked Garda management to review this decision , ” she said .
In reply to queries Garda Headquarters , Phoenix Park , Dublin , said the health authorities had maintained a list of people or defined groups that were categorised as priority groups for testing .
The list had been in the public domain but was discontinued on Wednesday “ as it appears that there is now more than adequate testing capacity across the public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing required through the population .
It added while Garda management had pursued priority testing for Garda members , the “ demand for such testing has never reached a critical mass within An Garda Síochána , and our service capacity has never been impacted ” .
Garda Headquarters continued : “ Based on the current limited demand from within An Garda Síochána and the current testing criteria set out by NPHET An Garda Síochána does not require a specific priority testing capacity , at this time .
”

Significant numbers of Garda members have had to self-isolate because of Covid-19 and in one case an entire unit of gardaí in Dublin was forced to cease operations, the largest staff body in the force has said. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill The Irish Times
Significant numbers of Garda members have had to self-isolate because of Covid-19 and in one case an entire unit of gardaí in Dublin was forced to cease operations, the largest staff body in the force has said.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents about 12,000 rank and file gardaí, has expressed its dismay that priority Covid-19 testing for Garda members was no longer being pursued by Garda management. It believed a fast-track testing system for gardaí was urgently needed to ensure the resilience of the Garda force and to ensure its members did not contract the virus and spread it to people they encountered on duty.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), which represents middle ranking Garda managers, said its 2,500 members felt “let down” by senior Garda management. Both associations had been pushing for priority Covid-19 testing to be extended to Garda members. It would have ensured any member of the force could have been tested and received a result under a fast-track system, negating the need for lengthy quarantining periods.
GRA president Jim Mulligan said his association had been informed by senior Garda management plans to introduce priority testing were being abandoned for now because of “clinical governance issues” within the HSE.
READ MORE
NPHET
He called on National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) to “broaden their understanding” of managing this health crisis. “Policing is central to containing the spread of the virus yet they appear not to recognise this,” Mr Mulligan said, adding the GRA had been assured “week after week” priority testing would be put in place for Garda members.
Sampling facilities had been organised in different parts of the country and Garda members with medical experience had been trained to take samples for testing only for the plan to be abandoned. “It is difficult to make sense of how there could be a governance issue around priority testing for gardaí when there was none around other frontline workers such as medical staff and ambulance workers,” Mr Mulligan said.
“During this crisis, we have seen 45 gardaí go into self-isolation in one division, and a whole unit was stood down in Dublin recently – albeit temporarily. We have also seen 52 cases in which gardaí were the target of people weaponising Covid-19,” he added of spitting and coughing directed at gardaí. General secretary of AGSI, Antoinette Cunningham, said her association was informed on Wednesday during a teleconference with Garda management they were “not progressing the matter of priority testing for members of AGSI at this time”.
She described the move as U-turn on previously stated plans, saying her association had been surprised and disappointment by it. “We had already informed our members that priority testing would be available. AGSI supports priority testing for our members to ensure capacity in the force at all times and have asked Garda management to review this decision,” she said.
In reply to queries Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, said the health authorities had maintained a list of people or defined groups that were categorised as priority groups for testing. The list had been in the public domain but was discontinued on Wednesday “as it appears that there is now more than adequate testing capacity across the public health system to meet demand” for all testing required through the population.
It added while Garda management had pursued priority testing for Garda members, the “demand for such testing has never reached a critical mass within An Garda Síochána, and our service capacity has never been impacted”. Garda Headquarters continued: “Based on the current limited demand from within An Garda Síochána and the current testing criteria set out by NPHET An Garda Síochána does not require a specific priority testing capacity, at this time.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--More than 100,000 essential workers require childcare support, says ESRI

Essential workers are facing “ significant barriers ” in accessing effective childcare services during the Covid-19 pandemic , a new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute ( ESRI ) has warned .
Dr Paul Redmond , who co-authored the report , said Government plans to provide childcare arrangements to around 5,000 families working in healthcare would not meet the demand given that more than 100,000 essential employees have children under 14 .
Dr Redmond also warned that essential employees working in lower paid positions , such as cleaners in hospitals or retail positions , would struggle to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ childcare support .
More than 22 per cent of workers in Ireland are classified by the Government as essential employees with health professionals making up seven per cent of the workforce , according to the ESRI .
Nearly 70 per cent of all essential workers are female , particularly in healthcare and retail .
Just over half of essential workers have children while 9 per cent are lone parents – higher than the 5 per cent national rate of single parents .
Around two-thirds of essential workers , an estimated 100,000 people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 per cent have a partner that also works .
Some 20 per cent of essential workers have a partner who is also an essential employee , particularly those working in the defence and armed forces .
The research also found that around 14 per cent of essential workers are non-Irish nationals .
Doctors , nurses , medical technicians , ambulance workers , community health workers , hospital and nursing home health workers , the armed forces , gardaí , prison guards , fire fighters , retail workers and train , bus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as essential workers in the study which used the official list published in March by Government to identify these workers .
However , the ESRI underlines that data constraints prevented researchers from identifying all essential workers .
Many of these essential workers are concentrated in lower paid jobs , working in retail or hospitals and nursing homes as healthcare workers , and thus will struggle to pay for additional childcare support , says the study .
It notes that unlike the UK , Ireland had not made direct provisions for the childcare needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These workers “ are essential so by definition they ’ re critical to keeping our economy and our society functioning properly and I think it ’ s important we provide adequate childcare for them ” , Dr Redmond told RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland programme on Friday .
He warned that any existing plans for childcare support only related to healthcare and hospital workers and did not extend to other essential employees in transport or retail .
“ The continued ability of essential employees to carry out their duties is a critical aspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covid-19 crisis , ” said Dr Redmond .
“ The evidence suggests that policies should be quickly developed to ensure that the childcare needs of effective workers in Ireland are met .
”

More than 22% of workers are classified by the Government as essential employees with health professionals making up seven per cent of the workforce. Photograph: iStock
Essential workers are facing “significant barriers” in accessing effective childcare services during the Covid-19 pandemic, a new study from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) has warned.
Dr Paul Redmond, who co-authored the report, said Government plans to provide childcare arrangements to around 5,000 families working in healthcare would not meet the demand given that more than 100,000 essential employees have children under 14.
Dr Redmond also warned that essential employees working in lower paid positions, such as cleaners in hospitals or retail positions, would struggle to pay the proposed €90 a week fee for childcare support.
More than 22 per cent of workers in Ireland are classified by the Government as essential employees with health professionals making up seven per cent of the workforce, according to the ESRI.
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Nearly 70 per cent of all essential workers are female, particularly in healthcare and retail.
Just over half of essential workers have children while 9 per cent are lone parents – higher than the 5 per cent national rate of single parents.
Around two-thirds of essential workers, an estimated 100,000 people, have children under 14, while around 80 per cent have a partner that also works.
Some 20 per cent of essential workers have a partner who is also an essential employee, particularly those working in the defence and armed forces.
The research also found that around 14 per cent of essential workers are non-Irish nationals.
Doctors, nurses, medical technicians, ambulance workers, community health workers, hospital and nursing home health workers, the armed forces, gardaí, prison guards, fire fighters, retail workers and train, bus, taxi and tram drivers are all classified as essential workers in the study which used the official list published in March by Government to identify these workers.
However, the ESRI underlines that data constraints prevented researchers from identifying all essential workers.
Many of these essential workers are concentrated in lower paid jobs, working in retail or hospitals and nursing homes as healthcare workers, and thus will struggle to pay for additional childcare support, says the study.
It notes that unlike the UK, Ireland had not made direct provisions for the childcare needs of essential employees during the pandemic.
These workers “are essential so by definition they’re critical to keeping our economy and our society functioning properly and I think it’s important we provide adequate childcare for them”, Dr Redmond told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland programme on Friday.
He warned that any existing plans for childcare support only related to healthcare and hospital workers and did not extend to other essential employees in transport or retail.
“The continued ability of essential employees to carry out their duties is a critical aspect of Ireland’s ability to combat the Covid-19 crisis,” said Dr Redmond. “The evidence suggests that policies should be quickly developed to ensure that the childcare needs of effective workers in Ireland are met.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Have your say: What do you think of the new Leaving Cert plan?

This year ’ s Leaving Cert exams are set to be cancelled , with students awarded predictive grades based on @ @ @ @ @ Irish Times Education Editor Carl O ’ Brien .
Students who are unhappy with their @ @ @ @ @ given the option of sitting written exams at a much later date , but this @ @ @ @ @ to take up their chosen courses in the coming academic year .
The Irish Times @ @ @ @ @ students , parents and teachers .
Are you happy with the decision ?
Do you @ @ @ @ @ What pressure will it add or remove from students at this time ?
Do you @ @ @ @ @ share your views , experiences and concerns using this form .
Please attach a photograph @ @ @ @ @ .
A selection of responses may be published in The Irish Times .

This year's Leaving Cert exams are set to be cancelled, with students awarded predictive grades based on their classwork, according to Irish Times Education Editor Carl O'Brien. Students who are unhappy with their awarded grades will likely be given the option of sitting written exams at a much later date, but this would too late for students to take up their chosen courses in the coming academic year.
The Irish Times would like to hear from students, parents and teachers. Are you happy with the decision? Do you think it is fair? What pressure will it add or remove from students at this time? Do you have concerns?
You can share your views, experiences and concerns using this form.
Please attach a photograph of yourself if you wish.
READ MORE
A selection of responses may be published in The Irish Times.
Thank you.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Missed the supermoon? You’ll get another chance to see it tonight

For those who missed it on Thursday , the last supermoon of the year will be visible in Irish skies again on Friday night .
A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the perigee or its closest approach to Earth .
The official date of the supermoon was May 7th , but Astronomy Ireland says the spectacle will be almost as impressive when the moon rises at 10.50pm on Friday .
Members of the public are urged to look east to view the supermoon .
“ This is one of the closest full moons of the year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ David Moore , founder of Astronomy Ireland magazine .
“ There will be a second phenomenon known as ‘ The Moon Illusion ’ which makes the already bloated full moon look even bigger to the human eye , perhaps twice as large as normal.
” There have been three supermoons already this year - which were visible on February 9th , March 9th and April 8th .
This particular supermoon is known as the flower moon .
Friday night is expected to be dry with clear spells though patches of mist and fog @ @ @ @ @ @

The final supermoon of the year rises over Poolbeg Lighthouse in Dublin Bay, Ireland on Thursday. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
For those who missed it on Thursday, the last supermoon of the year will be visible in Irish skies again on Friday night.
A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the perigee or its closest approach to Earth.
A view of the control tower at Dublin Airport on Thursday. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
The official date of the supermoon was May 7th, but Astronomy Ireland says the spectacle will be almost as impressive when the moon rises at 10.50pm on Friday.
Members of the public are urged to look east to view the supermoon.
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“This is one of the closest full moons of the year, hence the name supermoon,” said David Moore, founder of Astronomy Ireland magazine.
“There will be a second phenomenon known as ‘The Moon Illusion’ which makes the already bloated full moon look even bigger to the human eye, perhaps twice as large as normal.”
A view of Muglins Lighthouse in Dalkey on Thursday. Photograph: Paul O’Brien
There have been three supermoons already this year - which were visible on February 9th, March 9th and April 8th. This particular supermoon is known as the flower moon.
Friday night is expected to be dry with clear spells though patches of mist and fog will develop in calm conditions.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--23 residents die in Co Louth nursing home since April

A Co Louth nursing home has confirmed the deaths of 23 residents since April , many of which were coronavirus related .
In a statement on Thursday night , the managing director of Dealgan House Nursing Home in Dundalk , confirmed the deaths of 23 residents at the facility since April 1st .
Eoin Farelly said many of the deaths were Covid-19 related .
However , he said he believed the spread of the virus within the nursing home was now under control as there had been no new case in the past 14 days .
While not forgetting those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the emphasis was now on “ extinguishing the outbreak ” at the nursing home while providing great care for its residents and “ trying to normalise life for them to the extent the public health measures allow.
” Mr Farrelly said the substantial external support which the nursing home had received to bring the outbreak under control would wind down gradually as regular staff returned to work .
Earlier on Thursday , Sinn Féin Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said in the Dáil that 26 people were believed to have died in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an investigation into what happened in the residential setting .
Mr Ó Murchú said he had been shown figures indicating that all the deaths were linked to coronavirus .
He called on Minister for Health Simon Harris to confirm that number of fatalities was correct .

The nursing home’s managing director said he believed the spread of the virus within the nursing home was now under control as there had been no new case in the past 14 days. Source: Google Street View
A Co Louth nursing home has confirmed the deaths of 23 residents since April, many of which were coronavirus related.
In a statement on Thursday night, the managing director of Dealgan House Nursing Home in Dundalk, confirmed the deaths of 23 residents at the facility since April 1st.
Eoin Farelly said many of the deaths were Covid-19 related.
However, he said he believed the spread of the virus within the nursing home was now under control as there had been no new case in the past 14 days.
READ MORE
While not forgetting those who had died, Mr Farrelly said the emphasis was now on “extinguishing the outbreak” at the nursing home while providing great care for its residents and “trying to normalise life for them to the extent the public health measures allow.”
Mr Farrelly said the substantial external support which the nursing home had received to bring the outbreak under control would wind down gradually as regular staff returned to work.
Earlier on Thursday, Sinn Féin Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú said in the Dáil that 26 people were believed to have died in the Dundalk nursing and calls were made for an investigation into what happened in the residential setting. Mr Ó Murchú said he had been shown figures indicating that all the deaths were linked to coronavirus. He called on Minister for Health Simon Harris to confirm that number of fatalities was correct.


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Car bans and pedestrianised College Green part of radical Covid-19 plan to re-open Dublin

Dublin ’ s College Green is set to be pedestrianised – and cars restricted throughout the city – under plans to reopen the city centre as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted .
A joint report from Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan and Brendan O ’ Brien of its traffic department said “ the same level of vehicular traffic can not be accommodated in the city as before ” , and in a number of locations “ motorised vehicles ” would have to banned after 11am each day .
The report describes the proposal as a “ temporary mobility plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next three to six months in line with the Government ’ s road map for reopening society , published last week .
However , it is understood the measures will remain in place for at least 12 to 18 months , with some likely to be retained on a permanent basis .
Some measures already undertaken by the council to increase space and social distancing for pedestrians , including priority setting on traffic lights to guard against footpath queueing , “ actually preclude a return to previous high levels of private car use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year 46,000 private cars travelled into the city centre during typical morning peak times .
By March 31st that figure had dipped to around 14,000 .
However , the measures prioritising pedestrians at traffic lights would alone mean traffic would have to be reduced by 40 per cent on last year ’ s levels .
A council and National Transport Authority working group has been established to oversee the changes .
The report said changes may mean removing vehicles after 11am , “ which will assist businesses to reopen by allowing more on-street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also for waiting areas ” .
“ The temporary closure of College Green and the temporary widening of footpaths along Dame Street would provide space within the city centre for pedestrians , cyclists and for businesses to be facilitated to reopen.
” A full report on the range and location of measures which will “ reflect the new reality ” will be published in the next two weeks .
It will also include measures to widen footpaths on the main corridors , provide for cycling , ensure public transport is safe to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alighting at bus stops in the city centre .
“ The requirements of social distancing , the reduction of emissions and the encouragement of the active modes require that our temporary mobility plan for the city is not based around any increase in private car traffic , ” the report said .
“ The changes in our traffic light system to assist pedestrians and avoid build ups of pedestrians at crossings actually preclude a return to previous high levels of private car use .
”

It is understood the measures will remain in place for at least 12 to 18 months, with some likely to be retained on a permanent basis. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Dublin’s College Green is set to be pedestrianised – and cars restricted throughout the city – under plans to reopen the city centre as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
A joint report from Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan and Brendan O'Brien of its traffic department said "the same level of vehicular traffic cannot be accommodated in the city as before", and in a number of locations "motorised vehicles" would have to banned after 11am each day.
The report describes the proposal as a “temporary mobility plan” which would be introduced over the next three to six months in line with the Government’s road map for reopening society, published last week.
However, it is understood the measures will remain in place for at least 12 to 18 months, with some likely to be retained on a permanent basis.
READ MORE
Some measures already undertaken by the council to increase space and social distancing for pedestrians, including priority setting on traffic lights to guard against footpath queueing, “actually preclude a return to previous high levels of private car use”, the report says.
Last year 46,000 private cars travelled into the city centre during typical morning peak times. By March 31st that figure had dipped to around 14,000. However, the measures prioritising pedestrians at traffic lights would alone mean traffic would have to be reduced by 40 per cent on last year’s levels.
Working group
A council and National Transport Authority working group has been established to oversee the changes. The report said changes may mean removing vehicles after 11am, " which will assist businesses to reopen by allowing more on-street space for tables and chairs, and also for waiting areas".
“The temporary closure of College Green and the temporary widening of footpaths along Dame Street would provide space within the city centre for pedestrians, cyclists and for businesses to be facilitated to reopen.”
A full report on the range and location of measures which will “reflect the new reality” will be published in the next two weeks. It will also include measures to widen footpaths on the main corridors, provide for cycling, ensure public transport is safe to use and providing increased space for boarding and alighting at bus stops in the city centre.
“The requirements of social distancing, the reduction of emissions and the encouragement of the active modes require that our temporary mobility plan for the city is not based around any increase in private car traffic,” the report said.
“The changes in our traffic light system to assist pedestrians and avoid build ups of pedestrians at crossings actually preclude a return to previous high levels of private car use.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-08--Coronavirus: Marginalised groups to become new frontline in battle against disease

Marginalised groups and other “ challenging ” sectors are to become a new frontline of the battle against Covid-19 .
While the overall daily number of new cases reported on Thursday fell to its lowest level in over six weeks , a greater focus is planned on areas where the virus continues to circulate at significant levels .
Minister for Health Simon Harris will on Friday open a new Covid-19 assessment hub at the Mater Hospital in Dublin to work specifically with marginalised groups in the inner city .
Some 58 per cent of Roma who have undergone testing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had a positive result , according to official figures .
The overall positivity rate for all people tested has fallen to under 4 per cent .
The new hub will include a mobile unit to test and treat marginalised groups across the inner city , and will be able to deliver test results in under an hour .
The situation in meat factories , detention centres and other locations where virus “ hot-spots ” have been identified will be examined by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) at its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing approach to that carried out on staff and residents in nursing homes may be taken in other settings with high concentrations of the disease .
There are now 176 cases among asylum seekers in direct provision centres , almost twice the previously disclosed figure , officials said .
Today ’ s meeting of NPHET will also consider whether to issue new recommendations in relation to passengers coming into the State .
Over one-third of passengers arriving at Dublin Airport and a quarter of those coming in at Dublin Port who were asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ check calls , it emerged on Thursday .
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that as the date of easing of restrictions from May 18th approaches , travel measures will become more important .
The deaths of another 29 patients were announced by NPHET at its briefing on Thursday .
There have now been 1,403 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
The 137 new cases of the disease reported is the lowest daily figure since March 22nd .
They bring the total number of cases to 22,385 .
A large proportion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes and other residential care facilities , where numbers rose 115 on the previous day .
The reproduction number of the disease , a measure of how many other people an infected person goes on to infect , now stands at 0.5-0.6 .
Dr Holohan said this showed the goal of suppressing the virus has been achieved .
Prof Philip Nolan , chair of the NPHET modelling advisory group , warned if the reproduction number were to rise again to 1.6 , “ we ’ d be back to 1,000 cases a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Holohan played down suggestions by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the virus may have been circulating in Ireland as long ago as last December .
Almost 400 people had been tested before the first positive result came back , he pointed out .
If an appreciable level of virus had been circulating , “ it would have been picked up ” .

Safteynet is a Primary Care facility for those marginalised in society without access to healthcare and they've reconfigured to respond specifically to the coronavirus pandemic. Video: Enda O'Dowd
Marginalised groups and other “challenging” sectors are to become a new frontline of the battle against Covid-19.
While the overall daily number of new cases reported on Thursday fell to its lowest level in over six weeks, a greater focus is planned on areas where the virus continues to circulate at significant levels.
Minister for Health Simon Harris will on Friday open a new Covid-19 assessment hub at the Mater Hospital in Dublin to work specifically with marginalised groups in the inner city.
Some 58 per cent of Roma who have undergone testing, and 43 per cent of Travellers, have had a positive result, according to official figures. The overall positivity rate for all people tested has fallen to under 4 per cent.
READ MORE
The new hub will include a mobile unit to test and treat marginalised groups across the inner city, and will be able to deliver test results in under an hour.
The situation in meat factories, detention centres and other locations where virus “hot-spots” have been identified will be examined by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) at its meeting on Friday.
Blanket testing
A similar blanket testing approach to that carried out on staff and residents in nursing homes may be taken in other settings with high concentrations of the disease. There are now 176 cases among asylum seekers in direct provision centres, almost twice the previously disclosed figure, officials said.
Today’s meeting of NPHET will also consider whether to issue new recommendations in relation to passengers coming into the State. Over one-third of passengers arriving at Dublin Airport and a quarter of those coming in at Dublin Port who were asked to self-isolate did not respond to follow-up check calls, it emerged on Thursday.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that as the date of easing of restrictions from May 18th approaches, travel measures will become more important.
The deaths of another 29 patients were announced by NPHET at its briefing on Thursday. There have now been 1,403 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic.
Lowest daily figure
The 137 new cases of the disease reported is the lowest daily figure since March 22nd. They bring the total number of cases to 22,385. A large proportion of the new cases are occurring in nursing homes and other residential care facilities, where numbers rose 115 on the previous day.
The reproduction number of the disease, a measure of how many other people an infected person goes on to infect, now stands at 0.5-0.6. Dr Holohan said this showed the goal of suppressing the virus has been achieved.
Prof Philip Nolan, chair of the NPHET modelling advisory group, warned if the reproduction number were to rise again to 1.6, "we'd be back to 1,000 cases a day in three weeks' time."
Dr Holohan played down suggestions by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the virus may have been circulating in Ireland as long ago as last December.
Almost 400 people had been tested before the first positive result came back, he pointed out. If an appreciable level of virus had been circulating, “it would have been picked up”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-07--Leaving Cert to be cancelled: But will 'Plan B' be fair to students?

Tens of thousands of students and their parents have been clamouring in recent days for the Leaving Cert exams to be cancelled and replaced with predicted grades .
It now looks like they will get their wish .
The Government looks set to scrap plans for exams during the summer and introduce a system where students will get grades or points based on a combination of their in-school assessments and class rankings .
It will be a huge wave of relief for Leaving Cert candidates who have been living under a cloud of uncertainty for months .
But will the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be penalised ?
Will those who feel they have underperformed in class assessments lose out ?
Will students quickly change their mind about fairness if they lose out on their dream course by just a few points ?
And will it prompt a wave of legal actions from students and their families ?
These are all questions which remain to be answered over the coming days and months .
In the conservative world of Irish education , this is a huge leap in the dark .
The basic structure of the written Leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ set of exams that were first sat almost 100 year ago .
There is precious little research in Ireland to suggest that predicted grades can be done with any degree of accuracy .
Minister for Education Joe McHugh himself described the system of predicted grades as “ inherently biased ” just over a week ago .
Predicted grades are used in the UK , where students receive university offers based on their predicted grades .
The biggest research study to date on how they operate is by Dr Gil Wyness of University College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of applicants achieved the grade points that they were predicted to achieve .
The vast majority – 75 per cent – were over-predicted .
The level of accuracy also varied dramatically between disadvantaged schools and independent schools .
Among high-achieving students , applicants from low-income homes were more likely to have their grades under-predicted compared with those from high-income backgrounds .
The Department of Education is doubtless aware of most of these arguments and unanswered questions .
That ’ s why it is keen to avoid using the term predicted grades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hackles of teachers – and will settle on another euphemism for that is , in essence , the same thing .
Instead , sources say it will refer to a national standardised grading system , where schools will award grades to students under the guidance of the department .
The plan will also involve giving students the option of appealing their results , according to sources .
In addition , unhappy students may also opt to take the written Leaving Cert exams , though this may not happen until late 2020 or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late for a student to take up their course in the coming academic year – but it may be just enough to head off legal actions from unhappy students .
Will the grading be transparent ?
This is likely to be a key area of ongoing controversy .
The plans , say sources , involve using a combination of students ’ in-school assessments , Junior Cert exams and rank ordering in class .
The awarding of these results will likely to be overseen by school principals and senior management .
This , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where final grades could be awarded using a “ bell curve ” .
It may also include a form of school profiling , though this is not yet confirmed .
This bell curve refers to the practice of adjusting the marking process to ensure a similar proportion of students secure the same numbers of H1s , H2s and H3s each year .
School profiling relates to the average exam results produced by individual schools which , in itself , is controversial .
This relates to the average exam results produced by individual schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the class gap in school achievement .
For example , a glance at the annual feeder schools data in The Irish Times - which shows the proportion of students who progress to higher education broken down by individual school - is a graphic snapshot of the country ’ s educational divide .
Students from the most affluent schools are many times more likely to secure top university places the those from poorer areas Will teachers buy into the new plan ?
Early indications are that they will .
The issue of teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of major opposition within teachers ’ unions in the past .
However , sources say unions recognise the urgent need for an alternative to the Leaving Cert and for unions to be seen to support students .
As for whether this latest move is the right call ?
In truth , the Minister was in a very tricky position , There were no good options .
Going ahead with the Leaving Cert exams was risky from a health point of view .
It was also wide open to criticism , given the digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online tuition .
Predicted grades - or whatever the department calls them - will likely be dogged by questions over fairness and transparency over the months ahead .
There ’ s little doubt , though , that the decision will cheered by the vast majority of students and families who have had to endure weeks of uncertainty .

The Leaving Certificate Exam has been postponed and pupils will be offered the option of receiving calculated grades, Minister for Education Joe McHugh has announced. Video: RTE News Now
Tens of thousands of students and their parents have been clamouring in recent days for the Leaving Cert exams to be cancelled and replaced with predicted grades.
It now looks like they will get their wish.
The Government looks set to scrap plans for exams during the summer and introduce a system where students will get grades or points based on a combination of their in-school assessments and class rankings.
It will be a huge wave of relief for Leaving Cert candidates who have been living under a cloud of uncertainty for months.
READ MORE
But will the system be fair?
Will troublesome students be penalised? Will those who feel they have underperformed in class assessments lose out? Will students quickly change their mind about fairness if they lose out on their dream course by just a few points? And will it prompt a wave of legal actions from students and their families?
These are all questions which remain to be answered over the coming days and months. In the conservative world of Irish education, this is a huge leap in the dark.
The basic structure of the written Leaving Cert is strikingly similar to the first set of exams that were first sat almost 100 year ago. There is precious little research in Ireland to suggest that predicted grades can be done with any degree of accuracy.
Minister for Education Joe McHugh himself described the system of predicted grades as “inherently biased” just over a week ago.
Predicted grades are used in the UK, where students receive university offers based on their predicted grades.
The biggest research study to date on how they operate is by Dr Gil Wyness of University College London.
She found that only 16 per cent of applicants achieved the grade points that they were predicted to achieve. The vast majority – 75 per cent – were over-predicted.
The level of accuracy also varied dramatically between disadvantaged schools and independent schools.
Among high-achieving students, applicants from low-income homes were more likely to have their grades under-predicted compared with those from high-income backgrounds.
The Department of Education is doubtless aware of most of these arguments and unanswered questions.
That’s why it is keen to avoid using the term predicted grades – a term which tends to raise the hackles of teachers – and will settle on another euphemism for that is, in essence, the same thing.
Instead, sources say it will refer to a national standardised grading system , where schools will award grades to students under the guidance of the department.
The plan will also involve giving students the option of appealing their results, according to sources.
In addition, unhappy students may also opt to take the written Leaving Cert exams, though this may not happen until late 2020 or early 2021.
This would be too late for a student to take up their course in the coming academic year – but it may be just enough to head off legal actions from unhappy students.
Will the grading be transparent?
This is likely to be a key area of ongoing controversy.
The plans, say sources, involve using a combination of students' in-school assessments, Junior Cert exams and rank ordering in class.
The awarding of these results will likely to be overseen by school principals and senior management.
Bell curve?
This, in turn, will feed into a process where final grades could be awarded using a “bell curve”. It may also include a form of school profiling, though this is not yet confirmed.
This bell curve refers to the practice of adjusting the marking process to ensure a similar proportion of students secure the same numbers of H1s, H2s and H3s each year.
School profiling relates to the average exam results produced by individual schools which, in itself, is controversial.
This relates to the average exam results produced by individual schools which, in itself, is controversial given the class gap in school achievement. For example, a glance at the annual feeder schools data in The Irish Times - which shows the proportion of students who progress to higher education broken down by individual school - is a graphic snapshot of the country’s educational divide.
Students from the most affluent schools are many times more likely to secure top university places the those from poorer areas
Will teachers buy into the new plan?
Early indications are that they will. The issue of teachers grading their students has been a source of major opposition within teachers’ unions in the past.
However, sources say unions recognise the urgent need for an alternative to the Leaving Cert and for unions to be seen to support students.
As for whether this latest move is the right call? In truth, the Minister was in a very tricky position,
There were no good options. Going ahead with the Leaving Cert exams was risky from a health point of view. It was also wide open to criticism, given the digital divide among students without proper access to online tuition.
Predicted grades - or whatever the department calls them - will likely be dogged by questions over fairness and transparency over the months ahead.
There’s little doubt, though, that the decision will cheered by the vast majority of students and families who have had to endure weeks of uncertainty.


theirishtimes--2020-05-09--Covid-19: Some Department of Transport staff ‘likely’ working from home until 2021

Civil servants in the Department of Transport have been told it is likely large numbers of them will be working from home for the rest of the year .
The secretary-general of the department , Graham Doyle , wrote to all staff on Thursday that “ it is likely that most of us will be working from home ( to a greater or lesser extent ) for the remainder of 2020 ” .
Mr Doyle ’ s email points out that remote working will remain in place for those who can do so until , at a minimum , August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ map .
He told that then there would be “ a very gradual staggered return to the office environment ” .
“ It is also clear that the Civil Service and the wider public service will be showing leadership in this regard by continuing to work remotely where possible , so I expect that there may be a requirement for many of us to continue working in this manner for the remainder of 2020.
” In the email Mr Doyle said he expects a staggered return to work “ will likely involve a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being present in any of our offices at any one time .
.
.
given the social distancing guidelines that are expected to remain in place for a considerable period of time.
” It is understood that secretaries-general of Government departments have discussed the issue in recent weeks , but no final decision has been made .
However , senior sources said that under the current public-health advice , it is likely many civil servants will be asked to remain working remotely beyond August , perhaps to the end of the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ working becomes the norm for an extended period , public-sector employers would be expected to provide adequate supports .
A spokesman for Fórsa said the union wanted to see “ adequate health-and-safety measures in place – in areas like ergonomics , work-life balance , mental health , etc – if remote-working arrangements were to remain in place in the medium to long term ” .
“ In the emergency , everyone just stepped up and did what was needed .
If it were to become ‘ the new normal ’ for some , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place .
Workers also need a recognition that , while remote working really works for some , others just don ’ t enjoy the right home environment , ” the spokesman said .
A spokeswoman for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform , responding to queries on behalf of all departments , said they were “ engaged in preliminary planning on how best to manage their work forces in light of the Government ’ s phased road map for reopening.
” “ We will be guided in the first instance by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Health Emergency Team ] .
”

Unions warned that if remote working becomes the norm for an extended period, public-sector employers would be expected to provide adequate supports. File photograph: Getty Images/iStockphoto
Civil servants in the Department of Transport have been told it is likely large numbers of them will be working from home for the rest of the year.
The secretary-general of the department, Graham Doyle, wrote to all staff on Thursday that "it is likely that most of us will be working from home (to a greater or lesser extent) for the remainder of 2020".
Mr Doyle’s email points out that remote working will remain in place for those who can do so until, at a minimum, August under the Government’s Covid-19 road map. He told that then there would be “a very gradual staggered return to the office environment”.
“It is also clear that the Civil Service and the wider public service will be showing leadership in this regard by continuing to work remotely where possible, so I expect that there may be a requirement for many of us to continue working in this manner for the remainder of 2020.”
READ MORE
In the email Mr Doyle said he expects a staggered return to work “will likely involve a maximum of 25 per cent of staff being present in any of our offices at any one time . . . given the social distancing guidelines that are expected to remain in place for a considerable period of time.”
It is understood that secretaries-general of Government departments have discussed the issue in recent weeks, but no final decision has been made. However, senior sources said that under the current public-health advice, it is likely many civil servants will be asked to remain working remotely beyond August, perhaps to the end of the year.
Supports
On Friday, unions warned if remote working becomes the norm for an extended period, public-sector employers would be expected to provide adequate supports.
A spokesman for Fórsa said the union wanted to see “adequate health-and-safety measures in place – in areas like ergonomics, work-life balance, mental health, etc – if remote-working arrangements were to remain in place in the medium to long term”.
“In the emergency, everyone just stepped up and did what was needed. If it were to become ‘the new normal’ for some, those protections would need to be put in place. Workers also need a recognition that, while remote working really works for some, others just don’t enjoy the right home environment,” the spokesman said.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, responding to queries on behalf of all departments, said they were "engaged in preliminary planning on how best to manage their work forces in light of the Government's phased road map for reopening."
“We will be guided in the first instance by the advice of the NPHET [National Public Health Emergency Team].”