theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Covid-19: Childcare ranks highest for returning workers

Almost two-thirds of workers say childcare is among their biggest concerns around returning to work , and almost half are worried about their mental wellbeing , a survey published on Monday warns .
Drawing on interviews with 350 workplace human resources managers , the survey finds 70 per cent of employers are open to facilitating working from home compared with just 10 per cent at the start of the year .
Over half the employers ( 51 per cent ) said between 75 per cent and 100 per cent of their staff had been working from home during the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland which conducted the survey , said the reopening of crèches from Monday would “ relieve some of the childcare pinch-points ” but would not solve the issues faced by parents of primary school children .
“ Children up to the age of 12 can not be left on their own .
During the coronavirus crisis many parents had to take time off for childcare , taking both paid and unpaid leave , and we are conscious that it remains a worry as more employees return to the workplace .
“ While the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking employers to consult with employees on their individual circumstances , and to be flexible in finding options that will meet the needs of both parents and the employer.
” This could include allowing workers start earlier or later than they usually would , or to work from home all or some of the time .
CIPD Ireland is a representative body for over 6,000 professionals in HR and career development across the State .
Ms Connaughton said when organisations were asked what issues were being raised by their staff , 65 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; 45 per cent had raised physical and mental health issues around working from home ; and , 36 per cent were worried around issues related to transport to and from work .
People were concerned about the safety of using public transport , and she expected there would be an increase in numbers cycling and driving to work .
“ A safe commute is a new concept arising from this pandemic for employers , especially given enforced mask-wearing on public transport .
CIPD Ireland advises businesses to take a considerate approach to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prioritise worker safety and keep discussing and monitoring what is and isn ’ t working for all sides.
” Welcoming the increased openness among employers to workers working from home , she hoped this could increase participation and inclusion in the workforce among cohorts like mothers , single-parents and people with disabilities .
However , she warned there was a “ danger that working from home could become feminised ” and seen as a lower-status form of working .
“ So that will have to be watched carefully.
” The ideal for many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said , where people could work a few days from home and a few in the workplace .
This should be promoted for men and women .

The ideal for many workers could be “blended working”, where people work a few days from home and a few in the workplace. Photograph: Getty Images
Almost two-thirds of workers say childcare is among their biggest concerns around returning to work, and almost half are worried about their mental wellbeing, a survey published on Monday warns.
Drawing on interviews with 350 workplace human resources managers, the survey finds 70 per cent of employers are open to facilitating working from home compared with just 10 per cent at the start of the year.
Over half the employers (51 per cent) said between 75 per cent and 100 per cent of their staff had been working from home during the pandemic.
Mary Connaughton, director of CIPD Ireland which conducted the survey, said the reopening of crèches from Monday would "relieve some of the childcare pinch-points" but would not solve the issues faced by parents of primary school children.
READ MORE
“Children up to the age of 12 cannot be left on their own. During the coronavirus crisis many parents had to take time off for childcare, taking both paid and unpaid leave, and we are conscious that it remains a worry as more employees return to the workplace.
“While the opening of crèches will help we are asking employers to consult with employees on their individual circumstances, and to be flexible in finding options that will meet the needs of both parents and the employer.”
This could include allowing workers start earlier or later than they usually would, or to work from home all or some of the time.
CIPD Ireland is a representative body for over 6,000 professionals in HR and career development across the State.
Ms Connaughton said when organisations were asked what issues were being raised by their staff, 65 per cent said workers had concerns around childcare; 45 per cent had raised physical and mental health issues around working from home; and, 36 per cent were worried around issues related to transport to and from work.
People were concerned about the safety of using public transport, and she expected there would be an increase in numbers cycling and driving to work.
New concept
“A safe commute is a new concept arising from this pandemic for employers, especially given enforced mask-wearing on public transport. CIPD Ireland advises businesses to take a considerate approach to this practice as it beds in, prioritise worker safety and keep discussing and monitoring what is and isn’t working for all sides.”
Welcoming the increased openness among employers to workers working from home, she hoped this could increase participation and inclusion in the workforce among cohorts like mothers, single-parents and people with disabilities.
However, she warned there was a “danger that working from home could become feminised” and seen as a lower-status form of working. “So that will have to be watched carefully.”
The ideal for many workers would be “blended working”, she said, where people could work a few days from home and a few in the workplace. This should be promoted for men and women.


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Catholic Archbishop of Dublin hopes more than 50 may be allowed at Sunday Masses

Parishes should “ manage scrupulously ” the safety of people at Masses on Monday morning when churches reopen for the first time in over three months , Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said .
He described the lifting of restrictions on public worship as “ a great moment in Church life ” after “ a difficult time ” .
In a letter to priests in Dublin he said he hoped agreement could be reached with authorities to “ permit removing the cap of 50 ” at Masses .
There was “ a recognition that the needs of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller denominations where congregations were generally smaller ” , he said .
He hoped that “ before next weekend , when Sunday Mass reopens , some flexibility will have emerged ” .
Last week , then taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the cabinet had agreed “ an exception for places of worship ” .
“ However the specific protocol is going to be worked out with churches and religious bodies to allow more people to attend religious ceremonies .
It will be very much policed by them , ” he said .
Archbishop Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public health authorities “ were against making any exception for Churches from the maximum number of 50 at indoor gatherings ” .
There were “ specific concerns ” about access to and exit from Churches and especially in car parks .
“ They felt that the larger any gathering , the greater the risk ; they referred to examples from overseas where outbreaks occurred around Church gatherings ; they were concerned about the possibility of community singing fostering the spread of droplets , ” he said .
It was felt the incoming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , he said .
The Association of Catholic Priests ( ACP ) does not expect great numbers at daily Masses this week , with many smaller churches in Ireland remaining closed , said Fr John Collins of the ACP leadership team .
“ We ’ re not going to have huge numbers .
People are still dying with other countries bringing back restrictions , ” he said .
He believed it would be “ well into July or August before a picture of the new normal is clear ” .
Church of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the authorities “ for making the reopening of churches and other places of worship for public worship possible three weeks ahead of the expected timeframe ” .
He called on people to “ continue to contribute to the new sense of neighbourliness and kindness that has come to the fore in the darkest days of Covid-19 ” .
Mosques around Ireland will also reopen for worship on Monday morning with a maximum 50 allowed at Friday prayers in Dublin ’ s Clonskeagh mosque this week , said Dr Ali Selim of the Islamic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much smaller at the majority of Ireland ’ s “ almost 80 mosques , 21 in Dublin ” due to social distancing , as these are less extensive , he said .
Following a recent Zoom meeting of the Irish Council of Imams “ guidelines for the reopening of mosques were circulated in Ireland ” , he said .
These involve ‘ 9 Steps To Reopening Mosques Safely ’ and also advise people to “ consider a pre-booking system ” .
A free ‘ Hold My Space ’ pre-booking App has been developed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services generally during the pandemic by Digital Ideas based in Bailieborough , Co Cavan .
Director Fiachra McCloskey said it could also be used to book attendance at sporting and entertainment events .
A web-based App , it can be accessed at holdmyspace.ie and is free until July 20th next .
He designed the App after being contacted by Fr John Bracken of his native Dundrum parish in Co Dublin whose website he had also designed .
Fr Bracken said he got the idea from “ 15-year-old Mount Merrion Junior Certificate student Kilian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available on the Dundrum and Sandyford parish websites .

Archbishop Diarmuid Martin: said he hopes that “before next weekend, when Sunday Mass reopens, some flexibility will have emerged”. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
Parishes should “manage scrupulously” the safety of people at Masses on Monday morning when churches reopen for the first time in over three months, Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said.
He described the lifting of restrictions on public worship as “a great moment in Church life” after “a difficult time”.
In a letter to priests in Dublin he said he hoped agreement could be reached with authorities to "permit removing the cap of 50" at Masses. There was "a recognition that the needs of the Catholic Church were different to those of smaller denominations where congregations were generally smaller", he said.
He hoped that “before next weekend, when Sunday Mass reopens, some flexibility will have emerged”.
READ MORE
Last week, then taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the cabinet had agreed “an exception for places of worship”.
“However the specific protocol is going to be worked out with churches and religious bodies to allow more people to attend religious ceremonies. It will be very much policed by them,” he said.
Archbishop Martin said chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan and public health authorities "were against making any exception for Churches from the maximum number of 50 at indoor gatherings".
There were “specific concerns” about access to and exit from Churches and especially in car parks.
“They felt that the larger any gathering, the greater the risk; they referred to examples from overseas where outbreaks occurred around Church gatherings; they were concerned about the possibility of community singing fostering the spread of droplets,” he said.
It was felt the incoming Government “would follow the same path”, he said.
The Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) does not expect great numbers at daily Masses this week, with many smaller churches in Ireland remaining closed, said Fr John Collins of the ACP leadership team.
“We’re not going to have huge numbers. People are still dying with other countries bringing back restrictions,” he said. He believed it would be “well into July or August before a picture of the new normal is clear”.
Public worship
Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin Michael Jackson thanked the authorities "for making the reopening of churches and other places of worship for public worship possible three weeks ahead of the expected timeframe".
He called on people to “continue to contribute to the new sense of neighbourliness and kindness that has come to the fore in the darkest days of Covid-19”.
Mosques around Ireland will also reopen for worship on Monday morning with a maximum 50 allowed at Friday prayers in Dublin's Clonskeagh mosque this week, said Dr Ali Selim of the Islamic Cultural Centre there.
Attendances will be much smaller at the majority of Ireland’s “almost 80 mosques, 21 in Dublin” due to social distancing, as these are less extensive, he said.
Following a recent Zoom meeting of the Irish Council of Imams “guidelines for the reopening of mosques were circulated in Ireland”, he said. These involve ‘9 Steps To Reopening Mosques Safely’ and also advise people to “consider a pre-booking system”.
A free 'Hold My Space' pre-booking App has been developed to allow people book places at religious services generally during the pandemic by Digital Ideas based in Bailieborough, Co Cavan. Director Fiachra McCloskey said it could also be used to book attendance at sporting and entertainment events.
A web-based App, it can be accessed at holdmyspace.ie and is free until July 20th next. He designed the App after being contacted by Fr John Bracken of his native Dundrum parish in Co Dublin whose website he had also designed.
Fr Bracken said he got the idea from "15-year-old Mount Merrion Junior Certificate student Kilian Plapp". The App is already available on the Dundrum and Sandyford parish websites.


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Shops free to reopen under biggest easing of Covid-19 restrictions

Most shops and other businesses can reopen , and travel is being allowed nationally , from today , under the biggest easing of Covid-19 restrictions since the pandemic began .
Cafes and restaurants , hotels , “ pubs operating as restaurants ” , hairdressers , beauty salons and driving schools are among the retail services that can restart operations under this phase of the easing of restrictions , provided they put in place infection-control measures .
Galleries , museums and cinemas are also free to reopen their doors .
The public is still being asked to keep at least two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to limit the time they spend in close contact with others , and to mix outdoors rather than indoors .
Over-70s and at-risk groups are advised to stay at home “ as much as possible ” and to limit physical contact with other people .
People are also being asked to keep a daily log of those they meet for contact-tracing purposes .
The recommendation against non-essential travel outside Ireland remains in place in phase three of the Government ’ s “ roadmap ” for reopening business and society .
Travel is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now , rather than in August as originally envisaged .
Gatherings of up to 50 people indoors and 200 outdoors are permitted from Monday .
This means weddings , funerals , sports events and conferences can go ahead within these limits .
Close-contact sports , indoor gyms , swimming pools and other sports facilities can all reopen their doors from today , as can summer camps , creches , youth clubs and adult education facilities .
In childcare , children will be grouped into pods of between six and 12 to reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still advised to work from home where they can .
Many of the restrictions being lifted today were supposed to have remained in place for longer over the summer , but the easing of restrictions was brought forward earlier this month by the outgoing government due to progress made in suppressing the virus .
Businesses reopening are required to implement physical distancing arrangements in their premises to limit the spread of Covid-19 .
These are likely to include protective screens , spaced queuing , limits on customer numbers at any one time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rooms .
Public-health officials say that , weeks after the easing of restrictions began , the disease remains largely suppressed with low numbers of new cases daily .
However , they have expressed concern about a rise in cases related to foreign travel and among younger people .
People are still being advised to practise cough etiquette and proper hand hygiene , and to avoid crowded areas .
One more person diagnosed with Covid-19 has died , the Department of Health reported on Sunday .
This brings to 1,735 the number of deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There were also another three confirmed cases notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Sunday , the department said .
The total of Covid-19 cases now stands at 25,439 , it said .
There were 19 confirmed cases of the disease in hospital on Saturday evening and 103 suspected cases , according to the Health Service Executive operation report .
Eleven confirmed cases were in ICU , along with five suspected cases .
The North ’ s department of health reported one more Covid-19 death on Sunday , taking the total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 550 .
Meanwhile , the time taken to refer people for Covid-19 tests has doubled over the past week , new figures show .
Last week , the average turnaround from a referral to appointment was 1.8 days , up from 0.8 days a week earlier .
Just 39 per cent of referrals were being made within 24 hours , against 81 per cent a week earlier .
The turnaround from the time a swab is taken to the lab result was unchanged , at 0.9 days .

A select number of Ireland’s National Cultural Institutions will reopen after the weekend, including the National Gallery, the National Library and IMMA. Video: Bryan O’Brien
Most shops and other businesses can reopen, and travel is being allowed nationally, from today, under the biggest easing of Covid-19 restrictions since the pandemic began.
Cafes and restaurants, hotels, “pubs operating as restaurants”, hairdressers, beauty salons and driving schools are among the retail services that can restart operations under this phase of the easing of restrictions, provided they put in place infection-control measures.
Galleries, museums and cinemas are also free to reopen their doors.
The public is still being asked to keep at least two metres away from others where possible, to limit the time they spend in close contact with others, and to mix outdoors rather than indoors.
READ MORE
Over-70s and at-risk groups are advised to stay at home “as much as possible” and to limit physical contact with other people.
People are also being asked to keep a daily log of those they meet for contact-tracing purposes.
The recommendation against non-essential travel outside Ireland remains in place in phase three of the Government's "roadmap" for reopening business and society.
Travel is also permitted to Ireland’s offshore islands now, rather than in August as originally envisaged.
Gatherings of up to 50 people indoors and 200 outdoors are permitted from Monday. This means weddings, funerals, sports events and conferences can go ahead within these limits.
Close-contact sports, indoor gyms, swimming pools and other sports facilities can all reopen their doors from today, as can summer camps, creches, youth clubs and adult education facilities.
In childcare, children will be grouped into pods of between six and 12 to reduce the risk of transmitting Covid-19.
Employees are still advised to work from home where they can.
Many of the restrictions being lifted today were supposed to have remained in place for longer over the summer, but the easing of restrictions was brought forward earlier this month by the outgoing government due to progress made in suppressing the virus.
Businesses reopening are required to implement physical distancing arrangements in their premises to limit the spread of Covid-19. These are likely to include protective screens, spaced queuing, limits on customer numbers at any one time, cleaning stations and the closure of changing rooms.
Public-health officials say that, weeks after the easing of restrictions began, the disease remains largely suppressed with low numbers of new cases daily. However, they have expressed concern about a rise in cases related to foreign travel and among younger people.
People are still being advised to practise cough etiquette and proper hand hygiene, and to avoid crowded areas.
Death
One more person diagnosed with Covid-19 has died, the Department of Health reported on Sunday. This brings to 1,735 the number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic.
There were also another three confirmed cases notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre on Sunday, the department said. The total of Covid-19 cases now stands at 25,439, it said. There were 19 confirmed cases of the disease in hospital on Saturday evening and 103 suspected cases, according to the Health Service Executive operation report. Eleven confirmed cases were in ICU, along with five suspected cases.
The North’s department of health reported one more Covid-19 death on Sunday, taking the total number of fatalities in Northern Ireland to 550.
Meanwhile, the time taken to refer people for Covid-19 tests has doubled over the past week, new figures show. Last week, the average turnaround from a referral to appointment was 1.8 days, up from 0.8 days a week earlier.
Just 39 per cent of referrals were being made within 24 hours, against 81 per cent a week earlier.
The turnaround from the time a swab is taken to the lab result was unchanged, at 0.9 days.


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Coronavirus: Easing of overseas travel rules may be delayed

The planned easing of restrictions on overseas travel from next month could be delayed , Ministers in the incoming Government have signalled .
Under pressure from public health officials concerned about a possible resurgence of Covid-19 cases linked to foreign travel , key Ministers on Sunday urged caution in any loosening of the restrictions .
National travel restrictions are being lifted today in the latest phase of easing of restrictions in the Government ’ s “ roadmap ” out of the lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic , and a wide variety of shops and services are now allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign travel remains .
Last week , the outgoing government committed to compiling a “ green list ” of countries with low infection rates with which travel would be allowed from July 9th .
On Sunday , Green Party leader Eamon Ryan , the incoming Minister for Transport , warned against “ turning on the taps ” on foreign travel and urged the public to holiday at home this summer .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly also signalled a cautious approach to easing foreign travel restrictions .
Just three new Covid-19 cases were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily figure since March 8th ; 23 were reported on Saturday .
One death was reported on Sunday and six on Saturday .
Mr Ryan said the new Government should continue to “ heed the scientific advice ” which has served the country well so far .
By staying at home for holidays this summer , the public can “ put money into the economy ” , help small businesses and look after their health , he told RTÉ ’ s The Week in Politics programme .
Warning of the possibility of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections , Mr Ryan said the opening up of foreign travel should proceed slowly .
Most Irish people had already “ voted with their feet ” by opting to holiday at home due to the possible risks , he pointed out .
“ I don ’ t think we should be turning on the taps of huge amounts of additional travel , particularly not in the coming months when it ’ s so uncertain.
” Mr Donnelly acknowledged the Government was committed to publishing a “ framework list ” of other countries with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be permitted , but he insisted no decision has been made on when this list would be activated .
“ We have to strike a balance to ensure businesses can continue but we also have to minimise the chance of a second surge , ” Mr Donnelly said .
The way a list would operate would also have to be examined , he said , citing the example of Portugal , which has had a low level of infection until a spike recently .
The Minister for Health said he had already had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer Dr Tony Holohan , who said on Friday he was “ more than nervous ” about the prospect of the imminent lifting of overseas travel restrictions .
“ What worries me most now is travel from overseas and I fear many planning foreign trips .
2020 is a year for a staycation .
Stay in Ireland , spend locally and follow public health advice , ” Dr Holohan tweeted at the weekend .

The planned easing of restrictions on overseas travel from next month could be delayed, Ministers in the incoming Government have signalled.
Under pressure from public health officials concerned about a possible resurgence of Covid-19 cases linked to foreign travel, key Ministers on Sunday urged caution in any loosening of the restrictions.
National travel restrictions are being lifted today in the latest phase of easing of restrictions in the Government’s “roadmap” out of the lockdown imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, and a wide variety of shops and services are now allowed reopen, but the advice against non-essential foreign travel remains.
Last week, the outgoing government committed to compiling a “green list” of countries with low infection rates with which travel would be allowed from July 9th.
READ MORE
On Sunday, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, the incoming Minister for Transport, warned against "turning on the taps" on foreign travel and urged the public to holiday at home this summer.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly also signalled a cautious approach to easing foreign travel restrictions.
New cases
Just three new Covid-19 cases were reported on Sunday, the lowest such daily figure since March 8th; 23 were reported on Saturday. One death was reported on Sunday and six on Saturday.
Mr Ryan said the new Government should continue to “heed the scientific advice” which has served the country well so far.
By staying at home for holidays this summer, the public can “put money into the economy”, help small businesses and look after their health, he told RTÉ’s The Week in Politics programme.
Warning of the possibility of a second wave or even third wave of infections, Mr Ryan said the opening up of foreign travel should proceed slowly.
Most Irish people had already “voted with their feet” by opting to holiday at home due to the possible risks, he pointed out. “I don’t think we should be turning on the taps of huge amounts of additional travel, particularly not in the coming months when it’s so uncertain.”
‘Framework list’
Mr Donnelly acknowledged the Government was committed to publishing a “framework list” of other countries with low infection rates with which travel could be permitted, but he insisted no decision has been made on when this list would be activated.
“We have to strike a balance to ensure businesses can continue but we also have to minimise the chance of a second surge,” Mr Donnelly said.
The way a list would operate would also have to be examined, he said, citing the example of Portugal, which has had a low level of infection until a spike recently.
The Minister for Health said he had already had discussions on the issue with chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan, who said on Friday he was "more than nervous" about the prospect of the imminent lifting of overseas travel restrictions.
"What worries me most now is travel from overseas and I fear many planning foreign trips. 2020 is a year for a staycation. Stay in Ireland, spend locally and follow public health advice," Dr Holohan tweeted at the weekend.


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Daunting challenges loom for this new Government

Every government faces challenges .
However , the new alliance between Fine Gael , Fianna Fáil and the Greens , secured on Saturday in the Convention Centre in Dublin faces them at every turn .
There is “ no question ” about the most immediate challenge – the health risks posed by Covid-19 , said Taoiseach Micheál Martin , just minutes after the Fianna Fáil leader had returned from Áras an Uachtaráin with his seal of office .
With the vast majority of the restrictions introduced to tackle the spread of Covid-19 being lifted on Monday , another phase to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20th .
So , too , will the risks of a second wave of coronavirus that reopening brings .
Decisions must also be taken on which countries to allow in-bound travel to Ireland without the need for a 14-day quarantine period – the so-called “ air bridges ” .
Then there will be the looming and fast-approaching recession once the State ’ s Covid-19 wage subsidies peel away , while a no-deal Brexit – in the background for months , but dangerously possible – edges ever closer , too .
The Government will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming days under Martin ’ s leadership , as well as that of Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Climate Action Eamon Ryan .
Warning the new Ministers that there is “ no time for quietly settling in ” , the Taoiseach said Government must have “ an investment-led jobs and recovery initiative ” to bring to the Dáil next month .
Equally , there will have to be actions to help children who have suffered from months away from classrooms : “ We must help schoolchildren so that they do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help people to cope with the personal impact of stress and anxiety , ” he said , adding that the Government must respond to the needs of communities and groups suffering “ new and unexpected impacts ” from the pandemic .
“ We have to continue to implement safe and proportionate actions to limit the virus .
The shaping of a fair and inclusive recovery will be our absolute priority from today and until this work is done.
” Varadkar , the new Minister for Enterprise , Trade and Employment , said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flagged in the programme for government , be based on a “ recovery fund ” .
“ It will spur domestic demand and employment , deliver balanced regional growth , boost SMEs , decarbonise the economy , and ensure Ireland is at the forefront of the digital future .
All this , and lead to a more equal society.
” He also said that a national recovery plan , to be announced in the autumn around the time of the annual October budget , will set out a “ long-term vision to restore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show how to secure public finances in a world that must live with Covid-19 .
The plan will also drive our efforts to decarbonise the economy and prepare for the next phases of technological transformation .
We do not have any time to waste and must act now.
” The programme for government also said that a new Climate Action Bill will be enacted within the coalition ’ s first 100 days in office which , among other issues , will commit the State to net zero carbon emissions by 2050 .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not address such specific climate action measures but spoke about the experiences of lifting the country out of previous recessions , such as in the 1980s .
The Dublin Bay South TD referenced the work of the National Economic and Social Council from that period , which he said invested in “ community development and leadership ” .
“ Investing in communities was seen as a way of helping to eradicate poverty , and community leaders were built up .
It was not all the work of the State .
The State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , and it worked .
We were good at that .
We were seen as one of the best examples in Europe of how the Leader programme and community enterprise schemes could work .
“ That community approach really worked and I think that , in every department of the Government , we should be looking to put a focus on community and encouraging a bottom up recovery .
The State should not do everything for people but should facilitate community groups to thrive .
We lost some of that orientation during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to bring it back at scale and everywhere .
”

Every government faces challenges. However, the new alliance between Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Greens, secured on Saturday in the Convention Centre in Dublin faces them at every turn.
There is “no question” about the most immediate challenge – the health risks posed by Covid-19, said Taoiseach Micheál Martin, just minutes after the Fianna Fáil leader had returned from Áras an Uachtaráin with his seal of office.
With the vast majority of the restrictions introduced to tackle the spread of Covid-19 being lifted on Monday, another phase to reopen the economy will follow on July 20th. So, too, will the risks of a second wave of coronavirus that reopening brings.
Decisions must also be taken on which countries to allow in-bound travel to Ireland without the need for a 14-day quarantine period – the so-called "air bridges".
READ MORE
Then there will be the looming and fast-approaching recession once the State’s Covid-19 wage subsidies peel away, while a no-deal Brexit – in the background for months, but dangerously possible – edges ever closer, too.
The Government will establish a new, special Cabinet committee in the coming days under Martin's leadership, as well as that of Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Minister for Climate Action Eamon Ryan.
Warning the new Ministers that there is “no time for quietly settling in”, the Taoiseach said Government must have “an investment-led jobs and recovery initiative” to bring to the Dáil next month.
Equally, there will have to be actions to help children who have suffered from months away from classrooms: “We must help schoolchildren so that they do not fall permanently behind. We must help people to cope with the personal impact of stress and anxiety,” he said, adding that the Government must respond to the needs of communities and groups suffering “new and unexpected impacts” from the pandemic.
“We have to continue to implement safe and proportionate actions to limit the virus. The shaping of a fair and inclusive recovery will be our absolute priority from today and until this work is done.”
Varadkar, the new Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, said the July jobs initiative will, as was flagged in the programme for government, be based on a “recovery fund”.
“It will spur domestic demand and employment, deliver balanced regional growth, boost SMEs, decarbonise the economy, and ensure Ireland is at the forefront of the digital future. All this, and lead to a more equal society.”
He also said that a national recovery plan, to be announced in the autumn around the time of the annual October budget, will set out a “long-term vision to restore full employment”.
“It will show how to secure public finances in a world that must live with Covid-19. The plan will also drive our efforts to decarbonise the economy and prepare for the next phases of technological transformation. We do not have any time to waste and must act now.”
The programme for government also said that a new Climate Action Bill will be enacted within the coalition’s first 100 days in office which, among other issues, will commit the State to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
In his speech to the Dáil, Ryan did not address such specific climate action measures but spoke about the experiences of lifting the country out of previous recessions, such as in the 1980s.
The Dublin Bay South TD referenced the work of the National Economic and Social Council from that period, which he said invested in "community development and leadership".
"Investing in communities was seen as a way of helping to eradicate poverty, and community leaders were built up. It was not all the work of the State. The State facilitated communities to come out of bad times, and it worked. We were good at that. We were seen as one of the best examples in Europe of how the Leader programme and community enterprise schemes could work.
“That community approach really worked and I think that, in every department of the Government, we should be looking to put a focus on community and encouraging a bottom up recovery. The State should not do everything for people but should facilitate community groups to thrive. We lost some of that orientation during the past decade and it is time to bring it back at scale and everywhere.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Tourists heading west will put strain on local health services, says GP

The Government must make face masks compulsory , or else the State will face a devastating second wave of Covid-19 , a Connemara GP has warned on the eve of the latest relaxation of measures .
Fears are growing across the west of Ireland that local health services will not be able to cope as communities there prepare to welcome thousands of Irish tourists over the coming weeks .
Dr Gabrielle Chhoa , a GP at the Clifden Medical Centre for the past eight years , warned easing the lockdown could be dangerous unless a stricter approach is taken about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Unless the Government gets stricter about it and comes out with some compulsory measures about wearing masks then there will continue to be mixed messages and mixed opinions about wearing masks , ” she said .
“ People don ’ t seem to be ready to keep their distance , but it has to be one or the other .
You can ’ t just forget about keeping safe distances and forget about the masks .
Coronavirus is still around and we have to be careful , ” she went on .
Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be more difficult because of Covid-19 , since waiting rooms are closed and access to clinics is strictly regulated .
“ It is going to be a challenge .
Everything we do now [ since the arrival of Covid-19 ] takes more time , it ’ s more of a challenge , so having more patients to look after will be very time consuming , ” she said .
“ Usually tourists just walk in because they have fallen , or cut themselves and they need immediate attention .
But if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lots of people waiting outside to be seen , which will be difficult to manage , ” she said .
The Clifden Medical Centre , set up in 1950 , has three GPs and has had to cope with the medical needs of locals and a large number of people “ down from Dublin ” cocooning in recent months .
“ Everything we do has changed completely , ” she said , “ We had to come up with a way of getting patients inside safely , we had to make a dedicated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up screens in reception .
“ We ’ ve had to change the way we dress .
We ’ re now wearing scrubs , we ’ re wearing masks and we ’ re wearing aprons .
Everything is a lot more trouble than it used to be .
It ’ s been a challenging and a busy time.
” Despite the risks , the doctor says easing the lockdown is correct : “ The economy has to start again , you can ’ t isolate people forever .
People need more freedom and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again .
The figures [ for coronavirus infection ] are very low at the moment.
” However , she says , face masks are key : “ Until we have a vaccine we won ’ t be able to control it fully , so I ’ m not sure that keeping people under lockdown for longer would make much of a difference .
”

The Government must make face masks compulsory, or else the State will face a devastating second wave of Covid-19, a Connemara GP has warned on the eve of the latest relaxation of measures.
Fears are growing across the west of Ireland that local health services will not be able to cope as communities there prepare to welcome thousands of Irish tourists over the coming weeks.
Dr Gabrielle Chhoa, a GP at the Clifden Medical Centre for the past eight years, warned easing the lockdown could be dangerous unless a stricter approach is taken about face masks and other protections.
“Unless the Government gets stricter about it and comes out with some compulsory measures about wearing masks then there will continue to be mixed messages and mixed opinions about wearing masks,” she said.
READ MORE
“People don’t seem to be ready to keep their distance, but it has to be one or the other. You can’t just forget about keeping safe distances and forget about the masks. Coronavirus is still around and we have to be careful,” she went on.
Even dealing with ordinary medical issues facing tourists will be more difficult because of Covid-19, since waiting rooms are closed and access to clinics is strictly regulated.
“It is going to be a challenge. Everything we do now [since the arrival of Covid-19] takes more time, it’s more of a challenge, so having more patients to look after will be very time consuming,” she said.
“Usually tourists just walk in because they have fallen, or cut themselves and they need immediate attention. But if you close your waiting room then you have lots of people waiting outside to be seen, which will be difficult to manage,” she said.
‘Down from Dublin’
The Clifden Medical Centre, set up in 1950, has three GPs and has had to cope with the medical needs of locals and a large number of people “down from Dublin” cocooning in recent months.
“Everything we do has changed completely,” she said, “We had to come up with a way of getting patients inside safely, we had to make a dedicated Covid-19 room, we had to put up screens in reception.
“We’ve had to change the way we dress. We’re now wearing scrubs, we’re wearing masks and we’re wearing aprons. Everything is a lot more trouble than it used to be. It’s been a challenging and a busy time.”
Despite the risks, the doctor says easing the lockdown is correct: “The economy has to start again, you can’t isolate people forever. People need more freedom and to be able to see other people again. The figures [for coronavirus infection] are very low at the moment.”
However, she says, face masks are key: “Until we have a vaccine we won’t be able to control it fully, so I’m not sure that keeping people under lockdown for longer would make much of a difference.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Twenty ways Covid-19 has changed our daily lives

The last four months have seen the greatest upheaval for Irish consumers in modern times .
Almost overnight everything changed in the middle of March and it would be hard to overestimate the trauma Covid-19 has inflicted on us all .
Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs while many more suddenly had to work from home , frequently in circumstances which were a long way from ideal .
Virtually everyone was cut off from friends and family for months while almost every other aspect of normal life that would have been taken for granted at the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Social activity stopped , shops – save for those deemed essential – shut , people were told not to move more than 2km from their front doors .
And , of course , thousands of people got sick with far too many losing their lives .
The economic consequences of the crisis , meanwhile , have yet to be fully felt .
But maybe today marks something of a watershed with the country set to reopen almost entirely with the lockdown all but ending and people told they have their personal responsibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , restaurants , hotels , leisure facilities and hairdressers can all reopen as can museums , galleries , theatres and concert halls .
All sporting activity can resume while the shops that have not yet reopened can do so now .
But how has Covid-19 changed us as consumers and will those changes endure ?
Without an effective crystal ball it is hard to answer the second part of that question but the first part can is easier and here are just some of the ways our consuming world has changed .
1 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from home ” experiment so all encompassing that it would have been unimaginable had it not actually just happened .
For many that experiment has turned out just fine .
People have managed to work out new – and arguably more efficient – ways to get things done .
Meetings have been faster and less frequent , day-to-day costs have fallen and all that time wasted commuting to and from offices has been better spent sleeping , eating , exercising , mindlessly scrolling through Twitter , playing with children and – sometimes – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in areas served with decent broadband and to have jobs that could be done remotely were able to prove that “ working from home ” is not the universal code for being on the doss that management feared it might be .
It has also become clear that the infrastructure that we have – in many but not all parts of the country – can deal with hundreds of thousands of people logging on from their couches at the same time .
Does that mean we have seen the end of rush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 .
Public transport has changed and the need for social distancing has meant buses , trains and trams have all had their capacity reduce over recent months .
While companies have kept the show on the road they have been ferrying less than one-fifth of the passengers they otherwise might have .
Many people are still very concerned about infection and can ’ t imagine travelling on packed public transport alongside all those people coughing and sweating on them while the very idea of standing room only seems very far removed from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not to write off public transport .
It is still among the most environmentally friendly ways of getting from A to B .
3 .
It is not , however , the most environmentally friendly way of travelling .
One of the really big winners – if that is the right word – of the pandemic has been the bicycle .
With public transport options limited and unappealing , people who had not considered hopping on a bike since God was a child have been seen zipping about the place on two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have hummed and hawed about for years were laid down in days as towns and cities started looking at ways in which cyclists could be prioritised over cars .
4 .
If there was one thing Irish people were bad at pre-Covid , it was forming an orderly queue .
Instead of calming waiting in line in pubs and at bus stops or boarding gates or shops , we loved nothing more than a good mill .
We ’ d all crowd around the epicentre of whatever activity was happening like drunken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the waiting was nearly over .
All that milling and crowding has disappeared and we have become a nation of compliant queuers who are willing – if not necessarily happy – to keep our distance and wait our turn .
5 .
The sight of people wearing masks is now common – although many people would argue it is not common enough .
Mask wearing has been something of a slow burn with the advice from official sources confusing sometimes but the number wearing face masks has definitely increased in the last couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wearers clearly have no idea how to wear them or what they are actually for .
At least half the people Pricewatch has seen wearing face masks in the last week have been protecting nothing more than the underside of their chin and there are also many who don ’ t realise the nose is actually part of the face and a part that needs to be covered .
Then there is the cohort that think nothing of putting the masks on and off repeatedly over the course of a day despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring your unclean hand to your face you are compromising the mask .
6 .
Has anything changed as much as shopping , in all its forms ?
What was once Ireland ’ s most popular leisure pursuit became something approached with fear .
While recent weeks have probably been heartening for many in the sector with queues forming outside many shops as they reopened , most analysts and experts believe it will take a long time before retail returns to normal , if it ever does .
There have been die-hard shoppers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shopping centres and retail parks in recent weeks but the numbers are significantly down on what they once were .
It is anticipated that footfall will be down across the country by at least 30 per cent this year and possibly a whole lot more than that .
7 .
It is not only fear that has kept some people away from the shops .
There are also people who have come to realise that shopping is a habit and sometimes an unnecessary one .
According to behavourial boffins , it takes 66 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many shops were closed for longer than that some people who would have described themselves as keen shoppers have lost at least some of the desire to acquire stuff .
Has the rampant consumerism that was part of our collective psyche been turned off – or at least dialed down ?
Time will tell .
8 .
Supermarket shopping has changed too and the signs are that many of the newly acquired habits we have will endure .
People don ’ t tend to shop in groups and impulse buy less .
Having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climbed significantly in recent months .
People are buying less processed food and working out how to make stuff themselves .
Almost four months into the crisis and the baking aisles in Irish supermarkets are still frequently stripped of the things that few people would have shown much interest in as the new year dawned .
The move to supporting local shops and the manner in which they pivoted almost overnight to offer online shopping and click-and-collect services has been heartening .
We can only hope consumers will reward the local businesses who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times with their loyalty when things get better .
9 .
There is still much confusion about how restaurants and pubs will operate .
How long will people actually be able to linger ?
Who can sit beside who ?
Will people want to eat out now that they have discovered the joys of restaurant meals at home ?
We ’ re not talking takeaways in the traditional sense but the fine-dining kits that people have been able to order to their homes before assembling them .
Who knew they would be ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far the single biggest cause of concern to readers of this page in recent months was how the crisis had impacted the sometimes hideously expensive holidays they had planned and paid for .
There were companies who supported their customers and did what they could to help them out but then there were others who clearly didn ’ t give a rashers and fought tooth and nail to keep all the money people had given them for services they could not provide .
There were companies and airlines issuing vouchers instead of refunds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airlines flying ghost flights as their passengers were legally prevented from boarding the planes .
Then there were the travel businesses who simply went to ground and refused to answer queries .
Trust has been breached in many cases .
How long it will take to be repaired is still up in the air .
11 .
Closer to home , there have been few areas hit as hard by the pandemic as the hospitality sector .
Today , many bars and restaurants will open their doors for the first time since March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what it was is likely to be in for a shock .
New guidelines have put in place time limits on how long people will be able to linger and how close they will be able to get to each other along with a long list of other measures .
It is too early to say what impact that will have on the experience of going out but – at least until things settle down – it is unlikely to be brilliant .
There are likely to be more Irish people holidaying in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since the 1980s when only the most well heeled folk were able to board planes and jet off to the sun .
It is up to the Irish tourism sector to make the experience as nice as it can be and if they do it right they might have a captive and loyal local market for many years to come .
12 .
When hardware stores were allowed to reopen several weeks ago the queues for many such places went around the block as frustrated people lined up to replenish the DIY stocks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frenzied activity in the absence of anything else to be doing .
With time on their hands and time in their homes there were a lot of people who embarked upon spring cleans which turned into summer cleans .
Homes were Marie Kondo-ed to within an inch of their lives .
13 .
Let ’ s be honest , before all this the thing that would have come to mind when you hear the word Zoom was either go-faster stripes or Fat Larry and his band if you are of a certain age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown everyone suddenly became intimately acquainted with the video conferencing technology with , truth be told , mixed results .
Were in not for such technology would we have ever seen Luke “ Ming ” Flanagan in his pants ?
Would we have spent all that time wondering if people could not hear us or were just bored by what we had to say ?
Would we have had the chance to stare gormlessly at the bookshelves of our co-workers and friends ?
Would we have had remote table quizzes and virtual parties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed it has been heartening to see how many teachers and instructors took to the internet to give classes of varying lengths and intensity .
While a gym class in your livingroom may not be as invigorating as one in a studio surrounded by like-minded folk , it was better than nothing .
14 .
The manner in which people started using unfamiliar technology to spend quality time with their friends and family has been impressive and now digital platforms are central to many people ’ s lives .
15 .
Education changed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers are probably longing to go back to school , remote learning will not go away and there is likely to be blended learning across many environments .
Parents have also become more relaxed about their children ’ s screen times as Google Classroom and Seesaw have proved invaluable when it comes to homeschooling .
Whether or not that is a good thing in the longer term remains to be seen .
16 .
A visit to a GP ’ s surgery was either impossible or too daunting for many to contemplate over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see an acceleration of remote visits and the use of digital health tools from assessment services to telemedicine .
We have also seen an acceleration of deliveries and online ordering from pharmacies .
17 .
Streaming services : The number of people over the age of 60 who watched online streaming services such as Netflix , Amazon Prime and various players climbed by 15 per cent during the early stages of the coronavirus lockdown up to the end of March , according to the most recent figures from Central Statistics Office .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in online spending on gaming ad electronics .
Subscriptions to streaming services such as Netflix are up almost 30 per cent while PlayStation spend climbed by 122 per cent with the Xbox seeing an 86 per cent bounce .
18 .
With the pubs closed people started drinking at home more and according to figures from the Economic and Social Research Institute spending almost twice as much on drinking at home in a pandemic week versus a normal week .
It put the numbers at €21 versus €11 normally .
When all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sense it remains to be seen how attractive they will be .
19 .
The sums taken from ATMs fell by almost two-thirds during the crisis as people moved to contactless and cashless payments .
With many retailers – including giants such as Ikea – reluctant to handle cash at all and the contactless limits climbing from €30-€50 , the days of cash being king appear to be numbered .
20 .
We have heard countless stories of neighbours looking our for each other in recent weeks .
Younger people did the shopping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their streets and in the flat complexes for socially distanced bingo sessions .
Then there were the teddy bears that appeared in windows as people sought ways to cheer others up and tell them that we were all in this together .
We still are even if the country is hopefully well on the road to getting back to normal , whatever it looks like .

The last four months have seen the greatest upheaval for Irish consumers in modern times. Almost overnight everything changed in the middle of March and it would be hard to overestimate the trauma Covid-19 has inflicted on us all.
Hundreds of thousands of people lost their jobs while many more suddenly had to work from home, frequently in circumstances which were a long way from ideal. Virtually everyone was cut off from friends and family for months while almost every other aspect of normal life that would have been taken for granted at the start of the year was turned on its head.
Social activity stopped, shops – save for those deemed essential – shut, people were told not to move more than 2km from their front doors. And, of course, thousands of people got sick with far too many losing their lives.
The economic consequences of the crisis, meanwhile, have yet to be fully felt.
READ MORE
But maybe today marks something of a watershed with the country set to reopen almost entirely with the lockdown all but ending and people told they have their personal responsibility back. Churches, gyms, cinemas, restaurants, hotels, leisure facilities and hairdressers can all reopen as can museums, galleries, theatres and concert halls. All sporting activity can resume while the shops that have not yet reopened can do so now.
But how has Covid-19 changed us as consumers and will those changes endure? Without an effective crystal ball it is hard to answer the second part of that question but the first part can is easier and here are just some of the ways our consuming world has changed.
1. The pandemic caused a "work from home" experiment so all encompassing that it would have been unimaginable had it not actually just happened. For many that experiment has turned out just fine. People have managed to work out new – and arguably more efficient – ways to get things done. Meetings have been faster and less frequent, day-to-day costs have fallen and all that time wasted commuting to and from offices has been better spent sleeping, eating, exercising, mindlessly scrolling through Twitter, playing with children and – sometimes – even working. People fortunate enough to live in areas served with decent broadband and to have jobs that could be done remotely were able to prove that "working from home" is not the universal code for being on the doss that management feared it might be. It has also become clear that the infrastructure that we have – in many but not all parts of the country – can deal with hundreds of thousands of people logging on from their couches at the same time. Does that mean we have seen the end of rush hour? We can only hope.
Public transport companies have been ferrying less than one-fifth of the passengers they otherwise might have. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
2. Public transport has changed and the need for social distancing has meant buses, trains and trams have all had their capacity reduce over recent months. While companies have kept the show on the road they have been ferrying less than one-fifth of the passengers they otherwise might have. Many people are still very concerned about infection and can't imagine travelling on packed public transport alongside all those people coughing and sweating on them while the very idea of standing room only seems very far removed from where most people are today. That is not to write off public transport. It is still among the most environmentally friendly ways of getting from A to B.
3. It is not, however, the most environmentally friendly way of travelling. One of the really big winners – if that is the right word – of the pandemic has been the bicycle. With public transport options limited and unappealing, people who had not considered hopping on a bike since God was a child have been seen zipping about the place on two wheels. Cycle lanes that the authorities would have hummed and hawed about for years were laid down in days as towns and cities started looking at ways in which cyclists could be prioritised over cars.
People gather in a queue for the reopening of Ikea, in Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
4. If there was one thing Irish people were bad at pre-Covid, it was forming an orderly queue. Instead of calming waiting in line in pubs and at bus stops or boarding gates or shops, we loved nothing more than a good mill. We'd all crowd around the epicentre of whatever activity was happening like drunken ants before forming an unseemly huddle once the waiting was nearly over. All that milling and crowding has disappeared and we have become a nation of compliant queuers who are willing – if not necessarily happy – to keep our distance and wait our turn.
5. The sight of people wearing masks is now common – although many people would argue it is not common enough. Mask wearing has been something of a slow burn with the advice from official sources confusing sometimes but the number wearing face masks has definitely increased in the last couple of weeks even if many face mask wearers clearly have no idea how to wear them or what they are actually for. At least half the people Pricewatch has seen wearing face masks in the last week have been protecting nothing more than the underside of their chin and there are also many who don't realise the nose is actually part of the face and a part that needs to be covered. Then there is the cohort that think nothing of putting the masks on and off repeatedly over the course of a day despite the fact that almost as soon as you bring your unclean hand to your face you are compromising the mask.
6. Has anything changed as much as shopping, in all its forms? What was once Ireland's most popular leisure pursuit became something approached with fear. While recent weeks have probably been heartening for many in the sector with queues forming outside many shops as they reopened, most analysts and experts believe it will take a long time before retail returns to normal, if it ever does. There have been die-hard shoppers who have braved towns, cities, shopping centres and retail parks in recent weeks but the numbers are significantly down on what they once were. It is anticipated that footfall will be down across the country by at least 30 per cent this year and possibly a whole lot more than that.
7. It is not only fear that has kept some people away from the shops. There are also people who have come to realise that shopping is a habit and sometimes an unnecessary one. According to behavourial boffins, it takes 66 days to form a habit and as many shops were closed for longer than that some people who would have described themselves as keen shoppers have lost at least some of the desire to acquire stuff. Has the rampant consumerism that was part of our collective psyche been turned off – or at least dialed down? Time will tell.
8. Supermarket shopping has changed too and the signs are that many of the newly acquired habits we have will endure. People don't tend to shop in groups and impulse buy less. Having said that the spend in supermarkets has climbed significantly in recent months. People are buying less processed food and working out how to make stuff themselves. Almost four months into the crisis and the baking aisles in Irish supermarkets are still frequently stripped of the things that few people would have shown much interest in as the new year dawned. The move to supporting local shops and the manner in which they pivoted almost overnight to offer online shopping and click-and-collect services has been heartening. We can only hope consumers will reward the local businesses who were there for them in the hard times with their loyalty when things get better.
A person passes Mulligan’s pub in Stoneybatter, Dublin. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
9. There is still much confusion about how restaurants and pubs will operate. How long will people actually be able to linger? Who can sit beside who? Will people want to eat out now that they have discovered the joys of restaurant meals at home? We're not talking takeaways in the traditional sense but the fine-dining kits that people have been able to order to their homes before assembling them. Who knew they would be ever be a thing?
10. By far the single biggest cause of concern to readers of this page in recent months was how the crisis had impacted the sometimes hideously expensive holidays they had planned and paid for. There were companies who supported their customers and did what they could to help them out but then there were others who clearly didn't give a rashers and fought tooth and nail to keep all the money people had given them for services they could not provide. There were companies and airlines issuing vouchers instead of refunds and acting contrary to the law and airlines flying ghost flights as their passengers were legally prevented from boarding the planes. Then there were the travel businesses who simply went to ground and refused to answer queries. Trust has been breached in many cases. How long it will take to be repaired is still up in the air.
11. Closer to home, there have been few areas hit as hard by the pandemic as the hospitality sector. Today, many bars and restaurants will open their doors for the first time since March but anyone expecting the experience to be what it was is likely to be in for a shock. New guidelines have put in place time limits on how long people will be able to linger and how close they will be able to get to each other along with a long list of other measures. It is too early to say what impact that will have on the experience of going out but – at least until things settle down – it is unlikely to be brilliant. There are likely to be more Irish people holidaying in Ireland this summer than at any point since the 1980s when only the most well heeled folk were able to board planes and jet off to the sun. It is up to the Irish tourism sector to make the experience as nice as it can be and if they do it right they might have a captive and loyal local market for many years to come.
12. When hardware stores were allowed to reopen several weeks ago the queues for many such places went around the block as frustrated people lined up to replenish the DIY stocks that had been depleted by weeks of frenzied activity in the absence of anything else to be doing. With time on their hands and time in their homes there were a lot of people who embarked upon spring cleans which turned into summer cleans. Homes were Marie Kondo-ed to within an inch of their lives.
13. Let's be honest, before all this the thing that would have come to mind when you hear the word Zoom was either go-faster stripes or Fat Larry and his band if you are of a certain age. But as a result of the lockdown everyone suddenly became intimately acquainted with the video conferencing technology with, truth be told, mixed results. Were in not for such technology would we have ever seen Luke "Ming" Flanagan in his pants? Would we have spent all that time wondering if people could not hear us or were just bored by what we had to say? Would we have had the chance to stare gormlessly at the bookshelves of our co-workers and friends? Would we have had remote table quizzes and virtual parties? With gyms and yoga studios all closed it has been heartening to see how many teachers and instructors took to the internet to give classes of varying lengths and intensity. While a gym class in your livingroom may not be as invigorating as one in a studio surrounded by like-minded folk, it was better than nothing.
14. The manner in which people started using unfamiliar technology to spend quality time with their friends and family has been impressive and now digital platforms are central to many people's lives.
15. Education changed dramatically and while parents, pupils and teachers are probably longing to go back to school, remote learning will not go away and there is likely to be blended learning across many environments. Parents have also become more relaxed about their children's screen times as Google Classroom and Seesaw have proved invaluable when it comes to homeschooling. Whether or not that is a good thing in the longer term remains to be seen.
16. A visit to a GP's surgery was either impossible or too daunting for many to contemplate over recent months. That is likely to see an acceleration of remote visits and the use of digital health tools from assessment services to telemedicine. We have also seen an acceleration of deliveries and online ordering from pharmacies.
17. Streaming services: The number of people over the age of 60 who watched online streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and various players climbed by 15 per cent during the early stages of the coronavirus lockdown up to the end of March, according to the most recent figures from Central Statistics Office. There have also been significant increases, however, in online spending on gaming ad electronics. Subscriptions to streaming services such as Netflix are up almost 30 per cent while PlayStation spend climbed by 122 per cent with the Xbox seeing an 86 per cent bounce.
18. With the pubs closed people started drinking at home more and according to figures from the Economic and Social Research Institute spending almost twice as much on drinking at home in a pandemic week versus a normal week. It put the numbers at €21 versus €11 normally. When all pubs do reopen in a socially distanced sense it remains to be seen how attractive they will be.
19. The sums taken from ATMs fell by almost two-thirds during the crisis as people moved to contactless and cashless payments. With many retailers – including giants such as Ikea – reluctant to handle cash at all and the contactless limits climbing from €30-€50, the days of cash being king appear to be numbered.
20. We have heard countless stories of neighbours looking our for each other in recent weeks. Younger people did the shopping for older ones, people gathered on their streets and in the flat complexes for socially distanced bingo sessions. Then there were the teddy bears that appeared in windows as people sought ways to cheer others up and tell them that we were all in this together. We still are even if the country is hopefully well on the road to getting back to normal, whatever it looks like.


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Woman being treated in hospital after Ballymun shooting

A woman was being treated in hospital on Sunday after an incident in Ballymun , Dublin , where shots were @ @ @ @ @ A man in his twenties , who was arrested and held under section 30 of @ @ @ @ @ Act , was being questioned in Ballymun Garda station in relation to the shooting , @ @ @ @ @ Park area at about 2.30 in the afternoon .
It is understood the woman , @ @ @ @ @ in her fifties , suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result of the shooting , @ @ @ @ @ a local dispute .

A man in his twenties, who was arrested and held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, was being questioned in Ballymun Garda station. File photograph: The Irish Times
A woman was being treated in hospital on Sunday after an incident in Ballymun, Dublin, where shots were fired at a house.
A man in his twenties, who was arrested and held under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, was being questioned in Ballymun Garda station in relation to the shooting, which happened in the Shangan Park area at about 2.30 in the afternoon.
It is understood the woman, who is believed to be in her fifties, suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result of the shooting, which may be linked to a local dispute.


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Fine Gael has its work cut out to avoid identity crisis in coalition

Leo Varadkar , now Tánaiste , not taoiseach , summed up pithily on Saturday what many in Fine Gael have said privately for days : “ Today is not , however , a day for celebration for Fine Gael , far from it .
“ We are doing what is right for the country but it comes at a cost , ” he went on , the mixed emotions of many in the Fine Gael parliamentary party around him about the deal with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party evident to see .
Some of them believed Fine Gael should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after nine years in power ; others believed that as the party is currently riding high in the polls it had nothing to fear from a second election .
The period since the election has seen approval ratings for Fine Gael , and Varadkar ’ s own personal ratings , rocket due to the government ’ s handling of the coronavirus crisis .
However , many in Fine Gael insist that the idea of another election was never seriously entertained , and that there would be no guarantee anyway that its current levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second polling day .
The truth , said one senior TD , was that the party was confronted on Saturday with its poor election result from February 8th , when it won just 35 seats – three less than Fianna Fáil and two less than Sinn Féin .
As well as any residual pining for an election , if any was left , Fine Gael was also forced to leave behind the politically unrealistic years of confidence and supply , which saw the party command the overwhelming majority of cabinet and junior ministerial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority .
There was , according to one Fine Gael TD , an element of “ shellshock ” about the realisation that the party is now a diminished force in Government , is sharing power with its old enemy of Fianna Fáil and is leaving Sinn Féin as the main opposition party .
One of the features of the recent debate within the party about whether to go into coalition was the effect a coming together with Fianna Fáil would have on Varadkar ’ s party ’ s identity .
TDs have not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a distinction with Fianna Fáil , with one saying : “ I don ’ t know the answer to that yet .
We are still trying to figure that out.
” In recent weeks , Varadkar has promised to pay more attention to the party organisation than he could while he was taoiseach .
His reduced workload as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise affords him greater opportunity to do so .
Party headquarters is also currently recruiting key staff and Dublin Bay South TD Eoghan Murphy is tipped to take on a role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rather than take up a junior ministry .
At Government level , Varadkar ’ s choice of departments speaks to what Fine Gaelers see as their values : enterprise , fiscal responsibility , job creation and law and order .
In another Dáil speech on Saturday , on the nomination of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach , Varadkar , despite the sentiments he would later express , said that a third consecutive term in power is “ an opportunity ” for Fine Gael .
“ This is a chance to protect what has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
It is also a second chance , an opportunity to get right some of the things we did not get right.
” At a parliamentary party meeting in the Convention Centre earlier on Saturday morning , Varadkar told TDs , Senators and MEPs he wanted the new Fine Gael Ministers to “ outshine ” but not “ undermine ” their counterparts in Fianna Fáil and the Greens .
He also put his TDs and Ministers on notice that there will be a Cabinet reshuffle in December 2022 when he takes over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes that competency across key departments by his Ministers – who have the threat of a reshuffle in two years ’ time dangling over them – will at least go some of the way to maintaining party identity .

Leo Varadkar, now Tánaiste, not taoiseach, summed up pithily on Saturday what many in Fine Gael have said privately for days: "Today is not, however, a day for celebration for Fine Gael, far from it.
"We are doing what is right for the country but it comes at a cost," he went on, the mixed emotions of many in the Fine Gael parliamentary party around him about the deal with Fianna Fáil and the Green Party evident to see.
Some of them believed Fine Gael should be beginning a natural phase in opposition after nine years in power; others believed that as the party is currently riding high in the polls it had nothing to fear from a second election.
The period since the election has seen approval ratings for Fine Gael, and Varadkar’s own personal ratings, rocket due to the government’s handling of the coronavirus crisis.
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However, many in Fine Gael insist that the idea of another election was never seriously entertained, and that there would be no guarantee anyway that its current levels of popularity would have held until a second polling day.
The truth, said one senior TD, was that the party was confronted on Saturday with its poor election result from February 8th, when it won just 35 seats – three less than Fianna Fáil and two less than Sinn Féin.
As well as any residual pining for an election, if any was left, Fine Gael was also forced to leave behind the politically unrealistic years of confidence and supply, which saw the party command the overwhelming majority of cabinet and junior ministerial portfolios without having anywhere near a Dáil majority.
There was, according to one Fine Gael TD, an element of “shellshock” about the realisation that the party is now a diminished force in Government, is sharing power with its old enemy of Fianna Fáil and is leaving Sinn Féin as the main opposition party.
One of the features of the recent debate within the party about whether to go into coalition was the effect a coming together with Fianna Fáil would have on Varadkar’s party’s identity. TDs have not yet worked out how exactly to make a distinction with Fianna Fáil, with one saying: “I don’t know the answer to that yet. We are still trying to figure that out.”
In recent weeks, Varadkar has promised to pay more attention to the party organisation than he could while he was taoiseach. His reduced workload as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise affords him greater opportunity to do so.
Party headquarters is also currently recruiting key staff and Dublin Bay South TD Eoghan Murphy is tipped to take on a role that will focus on the party, rather than take up a junior ministry.
At Government level, Varadkar’s choice of departments speaks to what Fine Gaelers see as their values: enterprise, fiscal responsibility, job creation and law and order.
In another Dáil speech on Saturday, on the nomination of Micheál Martin as Taoiseach, Varadkar, despite the sentiments he would later express, said that a third consecutive term in power is “an opportunity” for Fine Gael.
“This is a chance to protect what has been achieved and secured over the past nine years. It is also a second chance, an opportunity to get right some of the things we did not get right.”
At a parliamentary party meeting in the Convention Centre earlier on Saturday morning, Varadkar told TDs, Senators and MEPs he wanted the new Fine Gael Ministers to "outshine" but not "undermine" their counterparts in Fianna Fáil and the Greens. He also put his TDs and Ministers on notice that there will be a Cabinet reshuffle in December 2022 when he takes over as taoiseach.
It seems Fine Gael hopes that competency across key departments by his Ministers – who have the threat of a reshuffle in two years’ time dangling over them – will at least go some of the way to maintaining party identity.


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Gardaí appeal for information over missing teenager (13) in Tipperary

A teenage girl has gone missing in Co Tipperary and gardaí are seeking the public ’ s help in tracing @ @ @ @ @ ( also known as Eva ) has been missing from her home in Newport in @ @ @ @ @ .
She is described as being 172cm in height , with long brown hair , @ @ @ @ @ build .
Aoife has two piercings in each ear .
It is not known what @ @ @ @ @ time she went missing .
Gardaí and Aoife ’ s family are concerned for her @ @ @ @ @ asked anyone with any information on Aoife ’ s whereabouts to contact Newport Garda station @ @ @ @ @ the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda .

A teenage girl has gone missing in Co Tipperary and gardaí are seeking the public’s help in tracing her whereabouts
A teenage girl has gone missing in Co Tipperary and gardaí are seeking the public's help in tracing her whereabouts
Thirteen-year-old Aoife Kidman (also known as Eva) has been missing from her home in Newport in Co Tipperary since Sunday morning.
She is described as being 172cm in height, with long brown hair, blue/grey eyes and a slim build. Aoife has two piercings in each ear. It is not known what Aoife was wearing at the time she went missing.
Gardaí and Aoife’s family are concerned for her wellbeing. The gardaí have asked anyone with any information on Aoife’s whereabouts to contact Newport Garda station on 061 378 102, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda.


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Micheál Martin to return Michael Collins portrait to Taoiseach’s office

New Taoiseach , Micheál Martin has asked his predecessor , Leo Varadkar to put back a portrait of Michael Collins in the Taoiseach ’ s office to hang beside one of Eamon De Valera to symbolise unity 100 years on from the Civil War .
Photos appeared in the media last week of Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar removing a portrait of Michael Collins from the Taoiseach ’ s office as he prepared to make way for his successor , the leader of the Fianna Fail party .
But now Mr Martin has revealed he asked Mr Varadkar to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins as the two parties enter a historic coalition and prepare to mark the centenary of the bitter Civil War over the Treaty .
“ Leo Varadkar said to me during the week that he was taking down the portrait of Michael Collins and I said , ‘ well actually , you might put it back up and I ’ m going to put De Valera next to him in the Taoiseach ’ s office ’ .
“ I have a wonderful portrait of De Valera in my own office , the opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring that over just to symbolise what has happened - Lemass is already there and we will find a place for a bust of Jack Lynch too.
” Speaking in Cork after returning for a brief visit to catch up with family and friends , Mr Martin acknowledged that the coming few years , marking the centenary of the Irish Civil War will be challenging for the new government .
But he expressed confidence that the new coalition arrangement involving Fine Gael and Fianna Fail , successors to the pro and anti-Treaty sides @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party will be able to rise to the challenge .
“ It will be interesting in terms of commemorating the Civil War , I ’ ve already had some discussions with people in relation to that and I spoke to President Michael D Higgins in Áras an Uachtaran yesterday about it .
“ And it will have to be sensitive and be honest and it will have to commemorate events with a maturity that can educate and provide insights to the younger generation in terms of the formation and evolution of the state.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the new coalition could find inspiration for marking the centenary of the bitter conflict from some of the participants such as former Taoiseach , Sean Lemass who lost his brother , Noel in the conflict .
“ It was Sean Lemass who said that it was often the generations that followed the Civil War that were often the most bitter - that many of the protagonists themselves weren ’ t as bitter themselves , that they deeply regretted it .
“ And Lemass ’ s tribute to WT Cosgrave in the Dail when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the man and Lemass had suffered with the loss of his brother , Noel in the Civil War and I think that ’ s where we have to go .
“ History to me is about revelation , you can ’ t look back judgementally - we can ’ t import today ’ s values back 100 years ago , we have to learn from it and try and understand it and not cover it up - history belongs to no party.
” Earlier , during the vote for Mr Martin as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar note saying that Civil War politics involving enmity between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were now clearly over as evidence by the new coalition deal .
“ This is a historic occasion .
I believe Civil War politics ended a long time ago in our country but today Civil War politics ends in our parliament , ” said Mr Varadkar who will take over from Mr Martin as Taoiseach in January 2023 .
“ Two great parties coming together with another great party , the Green Party , to offer what this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the betterment of our country and for the betterment of our world.
” Click here to read about Micheál Martin ’ s family history : from old IRA to the British army .

New Taoiseach, Micheál Martin has asked his predecessor, Leo Varadkar to put back a portrait of Michael Collins in the Taoiseach's office to hang beside one of Eamon De Valera to symbolise unity 100 years on from the Civil War.
Photos appeared in the media last week of Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar removing a portrait of Michael Collins from the Taoiseach's office as he prepared to make way for his successor, the leader of the Fianna Fail party.
But now Mr Martin has revealed he asked Mr Varadkar to put back the portrait of fellow Corkman, Collins as the two parties enter a historic coalition and prepare to mark the centenary of the bitter Civil War over the Treaty.
Clearing out the office tonight. This portrait has hung proudly over the fireplace for 9 years. Beidh sé ar ais pic.twitter.com/f822EciGKR — Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) June 26, 2020
“Leo Varadkar said to me during the week that he was taking down the portrait of Michael Collins and I said, ‘well actually, you might put it back up and I’m going to put De Valera next to him in the Taoiseach’s office’.
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"I have a wonderful portrait of De Valera in my own office, the opposition office, and I am going to bring that over just to symbolise what has happened - Lemass is already there and we will find a place for a bust of Jack Lynch too."
Speaking in Cork after returning for a brief visit to catch up with family and friends, Mr Martin acknowledged that the coming few years, marking the centenary of the Irish Civil War will be challenging for the new government.
But he expressed confidence that the new coalition arrangement involving Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, successors to the pro and anti-Treaty sides in the conflict, and the Green Party will be able to rise to the challenge.
"It will be interesting in terms of commemorating the Civil War, I've already had some discussions with people in relation to that and I spoke to President Michael D Higgins in Áras an Uachtaran yesterday about it.
“And it will have to be sensitive and be honest and it will have to commemorate events with a maturity that can educate and provide insights to the younger generation in terms of the formation and evolution of the state.”
Mr Martin said he believed that the new coalition could find inspiration for marking the centenary of the bitter conflict from some of the participants such as former Taoiseach, Sean Lemass who lost his brother, Noel in the conflict.
“It was Sean Lemass who said that it was often the generations that followed the Civil War that were often the most bitter - that many of the protagonists themselves weren’t as bitter themselves, that they deeply regretted it.
“And Lemass’s tribute to WT Cosgrave in the Dail when WT Cosgrave retired was an extraordinary tribute to the man and Lemass had suffered with the loss of his brother, Noel in the Civil War and I think that’s where we have to go.
“History to me is about revelation, you can’t look back judgementally - we can’t import today’s values back 100 years ago, we have to learn from it and try and understand it and not cover it up - history belongs to no party.”
Earlier, during the vote for Mr Martin as Taoiseach, Mr Varadkar had struck a similar note saying that Civil War politics involving enmity between Fianna Fail and Fine Gael were now clearly over as evidence by the new coalition deal.
“This is a historic occasion. I believe Civil War politics ended a long time ago in our country but today Civil War politics ends in our parliament,” said Mr Varadkar who will take over from Mr Martin as Taoiseach in January 2023.
“Two great parties coming together with another great party, the Green Party, to offer what this country needs, a stable government for the betterment of our country and for the betterment of our world.”
Click here to read about Micheál Martin's family history: from old IRA to the British army.


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Kilkenny priest eager to get back among his flock

For months 71-year-old Fr Liam Cashin has said Mass in a small room in the parish house in Hugginstown in Co Kilkenny .
From today he is eager to get back amongst his flock , officially .
The cocooning months were hard .
“ For those first three or four weeks you ’ d only be allowed out around the garden .
It was crap , ” he laughs .
Once he was able , he moved out .
Once he held a Mass in the parish church for a parishioner facing a major operation in Dublin .
“ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The man is now recovering well back in the parish .
I had no inhibitions about it .
I had masks in the car , rubber gloves , visors , sanitiser ; I knew if I got a call anytime , if someone needed a help , I was going , and I would deal with the consequences afterwards .
“ I wasn ’ t going to say , ‘ I ’ m cocooning and I can ’ t go ’ .
It was a great comfort to [ the man ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great comfort to him too , ” he told The Irish Times .
Hugginstown has been spared a Covid-19 loss : “ We had a death about a week or two before the virus struck , and the next death we had was only last weekend.
” However , he lost a close cousin , Fr Jim Cashin , two weeks ago .
“ I was with him in Kieran ’ s , we grew up together .
He was in Thomastown and I was in Inistioge – there was just a valley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but they served the country well .
“ We might not have agreed with the decisions but [ the Government ] were doing them for the right reasons.
” Simple things helped – household chores , the “ very green views of Barnadown ” out the back of his house , along with regular deliveries of parishioners ’ freshly-baked brown bread .
People even called out to find out how he was doing for money .
: “ They were offering to pay money directly into the parish account .
Even thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought.
” Others reached out too , including a message from a Jehovah ’ s Witness man .
“ What ’ s in it is private .
He wished me well in it .
It was a nice thing to get , of course it was.
” Another religious group dropped in a lockdown mental health survey .
“ How we coped , that sort of thing .
There was a question at the end of it : ‘ Was there anything positive that you could say about it ’ .
I thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Then I put down that it was the first time in my life that I wasn ’ t dictated to by a diary or a watch.
” If the virus returns he believes different rules will have to be applied to country and smaller churches .
“ We were treated the same as city churches .
We ’ d have no problem social distancing .
The most that ’ d be at our daily Masses would be seven or eight .
We could have had that all along .
If I was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house here for a gathering , there ’ s no reason why I couldn ’ t have had six people in the church.
” If the virus does come back in force Hugginstown could go back to using the parish ’ s now unroofed late 17th century church .
“ It is normally used for graveyard Masses every July , but it may see other uses .
I could say Mass on the steps , and people could even listen from inside the grounds or from their cars .
“ I see no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a loudspeaker .
On a nice Sunday morning if the sun is shining , there ’ d be nothing better .
”

For months 71-year-old Fr Liam Cashin has said Mass in a small room in the parish house in Hugginstown in Co Kilkenny. From today he is eager to get back amongst his flock, officially.
The cocooning months were hard. “For those first three or four weeks you’d only be allowed out around the garden. It was crap,” he laughs. Once he was able, he moved out.
Once he held a Mass in the parish church for a parishioner facing a major operation in Dublin. “He asked me to pray for him. The man is now recovering well back in the parish. I had no inhibitions about it. I had masks in the car, rubber gloves, visors, sanitiser; I knew if I got a call anytime, if someone needed a help, I was going, and I would deal with the consequences afterwards.
“I wasn’t going to say, ‘I’m cocooning and I can’t go’. It was a great comfort to [the man’s friends] and I know it was great comfort to him too,” he told The Irish Times.
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Hugginstown has been spared a Covid-19 loss: “We had a death about a week or two before the virus struck, and the next death we had was only last weekend.”
However, he lost a close cousin, Fr Jim Cashin, two weeks ago. " I was with him in Kieran's, we grew up together. He was in Thomastown and I was in Inistioge – there was just a valley between us."
The Covid restrictions grated, but they served the country well. “We might not have agreed with the decisions but [the Government] were doing them for the right reasons.”
Simple things helped – household chores, the “very green views of Barnadown” out the back of his house, along with regular deliveries of parishioners’ freshly-baked brown bread.
People even called out to find out how he was doing for money.: “They were offering to pay money directly into the parish account. Even thinking in that line was amazing, I thought.”
Others reached out too, including a message from a Jehovah’s Witness man. “What’s in it is private. He wished me well in it. It was a nice thing to get, of course it was.”
Another religious group dropped in a lockdown mental health survey. “How we coped, that sort of thing. There was a question at the end of it: ‘Was there anything positive that you could say about it’. I thought for a while before I answered it. Then I put down that it was the first time in my life that I wasn’t dictated to by a diary or a watch.”
Different rules
If the virus returns he believes different rules will have to be applied to country and smaller churches. “We were treated the same as city churches. We’d have no problem social distancing. The most that’d be at our daily Masses would be seven or eight. We could have had that all along. If I was allowed to bring six people into the house here for a gathering, there’s no reason why I couldn’t have had six people in the church.”
If the virus does come back in force Hugginstown could go back to using the parish’s now unroofed late 17th century church. “It is normally used for graveyard Masses every July, but it may see other uses. I could say Mass on the steps, and people could even listen from inside the grounds or from their cars.
“I see no problem in doing that. We have a loudspeaker. On a nice Sunday morning if the sun is shining, there’d be nothing better.”