theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Jury awards man €300,000 over ‘severe’ campaign against his good name

An employee of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has been awarded €300,000 damages by a High Court jury against the Irish Racehorse Trainers ’ Association ( IRTA ) .
The jury found that Chris Gordon , head of security with the board , previously known as the Turf Club , was subject of an “ orchestrated and severe campaign ” against his good name by the IRTA .
Mr Gordon claimed he was defamed in a letter about his role in an inspection of the yard of horse trainer Liz Doyle , a daughter of former Fine Gael politician Avril @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the inspection .
Mr Gordon ( 60 ) sued the IRTA over a letter from its solicitor to a senior Turf Club steward .
He claimed it falsely alleged that he attempted to entrap Liz Doyle into an admission of wrongdoing .
After nearly four hours of deliberation on Wednesday , the jury found in Mr Gordon ’ s favour in relation to nine of 10 questions it was asked to consider .
The court heard the IRTA ’ s solicitor ’ s letter arose after Liz Doyle ’ s Wexford yard was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agriculture and Turf Club officials as part of an investigation related to the use of performance enhancing drugs in racehorses .
The Doyles later complained about a document that Mr Gordon had shown them during the inspection .
He said the IRTA subsequently defamed him when its chairman Noel Meade was quoted in an interview with the Irish Field in August 2014 as saying members were angered by the conduct of some officials during inspections carried out at horse trainers ’ premises as part of the investigation .
Mr Gordon , a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Turf Club in 2010 , said IRTA committee member Michael Grassick made false claims about his conduct following complaints from two other trainers .
It was also claimed Mr Meade , Mr Grassick and another IRTA member met with representatives of the Turf Club and maliciously published statements seeking Mr Gordon ’ s removal .
Mr Gordon said as a result the Turf Club held an inquiry which concluded he had done nothing wrong .
Nevertheless , he said he has been restricted in his duties since 2015 and effectively “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to race meetings .
The IRTA denied the claims .
The jury found Mr Gordon proved the IRTA did not have an honest belief in the truth of the entrapment allegation which was first made in a letter from the IRTA ’ s late solicitor addressed to a senior racing steward .
It found Mr Gordon proved that Mr Meade was speaking on behalf of the IRTA when he was quoted in the Irish Field article and that a reader would have taken those statements to refer to Mr Gordon .
It found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any honest belief in the allegations made by Liz and Avril Doyle , caused them to be repeated to members of the Turf Club at a meeting in Newbridge , Co Kildare in August 2014 .
It found it had been proven that Mr Grassick , in bad faith and for the purpose of injuring Mr Gordon , passed on to Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan a complaint from a trainer concerning Mr Gordon .
On the basis of the answers to those questions , the jury assessed general damages at €200,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found he was entitled to exemplary damages of another €50,000 because the defendant published the defamatory words maliciously , knowing them to be false and/or reckless as to whether they were true and having no honest belief they were true .
It therefore found the said publications constituted an orchestrated an severe campaign against Mr Gordon ’ s good name .
Mr Gordon said afterwards he was “ very relieved ” and thanked the jury .

An employee of the Irish Horse Racing Regulatory Board has been awarded €300,000 damages by a High Court jury against the Irish Race Horse Trainers’ Association (IRTA).
An employee of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board has been awarded €300,000 damages by a High Court jury against the Irish Racehorse Trainers’ Association (IRTA).
The jury found that Chris Gordon, head of security with the board, previously known as the Turf Club, was subject of an “orchestrated and severe campaign” against his good name by the IRTA.
Mr Gordon claimed he was defamed in a letter about his role in an inspection of the yard of horse trainer Liz Doyle, a daughter of former Fine Gael politician Avril Doyle, who was also present during the inspection.
Mr Gordon (60) sued the IRTA over a letter from its solicitor to a senior Turf Club steward. He claimed it falsely alleged that he attempted to entrap Liz Doyle into an admission of wrongdoing.
READ MORE
After nearly four hours of deliberation on Wednesday, the jury found in Mr Gordon’s favour in relation to nine of 10 questions it was asked to consider.
The court heard the IRTA’s solicitor’s letter arose after Liz Doyle’s Wexford yard was inspected in March 2014 by Department of Agriculture and Turf Club officials as part of an investigation related to the use of performance enhancing drugs in racehorses. The Doyles later complained about a document that Mr Gordon had shown them during the inspection.
He said the IRTA subsequently defamed him when its chairman Noel Meade was quoted in an interview with the Irish Field in August 2014 as saying members were angered by the conduct of some officials during inspections carried out at horse trainers’ premises as part of the investigation.
Mr Gordon, a former garda superintendent who became head of security with the Turf Club in 2010, said IRTA committee member Michael Grassick made false claims about his conduct following complaints from two other trainers.
It was also claimed Mr Meade, Mr Grassick and another IRTA member met with representatives of the Turf Club and maliciously published statements seeking Mr Gordon’s removal.
Mr Gordon said as a result the Turf Club held an inquiry which concluded he had done nothing wrong. Nevertheless, he said he has been restricted in his duties since 2015 and effectively “sent to Coventry” when it comes to race meetings. The IRTA denied the claims.
The jury found Mr Gordon proved the IRTA did not have an honest belief in the truth of the entrapment allegation which was first made in a letter from the IRTA’s late solicitor addressed to a senior racing steward.
It found Mr Gordon proved that Mr Meade was speaking on behalf of the IRTA when he was quoted in the Irish Field article and that a reader would have taken those statements to refer to Mr Gordon.
It found Mr Gordon proved the IRTA, without any honest belief in the allegations made by Liz and Avril Doyle, caused them to be repeated to members of the Turf Club at a meeting in Newbridge, Co Kildare in August 2014.
It found it had been proven that Mr Grassick, in bad faith and for the purpose of injuring Mr Gordon, passed on to Turf Club chief executive Denis Egan a complaint from a trainer concerning Mr Gordon.
On the basis of the answers to those questions, the jury assessed general damages at €200,000 and aggravated damages at €50,000.
It found he was entitled to exemplary damages of another €50,000 because the defendant published the defamatory words maliciously, knowing them to be false and/or reckless as to whether they were true and having no honest belief they were true.
It therefore found the said publications constituted an orchestrated an severe campaign against Mr Gordon’s good name.
Mr Gordon said afterwards he was “very relieved” and thanked the jury.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--New coronavirus testing criteria put GPs under ‘considerable strain’

Revised criteria for testing for Covid-19 has created “ considerable additional strain for GPs and their staff ” , the body representing general practitioners has said .
The new testing standards , which were announced on Tuesday evening and went into effect early on Wednesday morning , dramatically reduced the eligibility for Covid-19 testing .
Whereas before , those displaying one symptom were to be put forward for testing , under the new regime patients must be suffering from two symptoms , have a respiratory disease and be a contact of a confirmed or suspected case , and also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for testing .
Dr Mary Favier , president of the Irish Council for General Practitioners , said that “ at this time of national emergency , decisions by public health are being made in all our best interest and at very short notice .
The GP community is under great strain , and as president I wish to acknowledge the wonderful work they and their staff are doing and to thank them for same.
” Many of those who had been deemed eligible for testing under the old regime will not now receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 40 testing centres that have been established around the State .
Others who have already been swabbed will receive their results .
GPs who spoke to The Irish Times said their workload had increased as they received and made calls to those who had previously been determined as eligible for testing , clarifying if they were still eligible under the revised rules .
In the majority of cases , they were not .
However , GPs said that as news of the newly restricted testing criteria came out , there was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests .
The National Public Health Emergency Team made the decision to change the criteria , in line with World Health Organisation standards , after a massive surge in people seeking testing .
Some 20,000 people per day had sought tests in recent days , causing a backlog of more than 40,000 cases .
Some GPs said the diminished testing meant estimates of the prevalence of Covid-19 in the population would be less accurate .
“ It will be difficult to get a true reflection of who has Covid-19 , ” Dublin GP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was receiving a lot of calls from people he believed had the virus but were not eligible for testing .
In mild cases , a person ’ s test status is immaterial , as medical advice for anyone symptomatic in any way is to self-isolate , and only get in touch with doctors after their initial consultation if they become more ill .

Revised criteria for testing for Covid-19 has created “considerable additional strain for GPs and their staff”, the body representing general practitioners has said.
The new testing standards, which were announced on Tuesday evening and went into effect early on Wednesday morning, dramatically reduced the eligibility for Covid-19 testing.
Whereas before, those displaying one symptom were to be put forward for testing, under the new regime patients must be suffering from two symptoms, have a respiratory disease and be a contact of a confirmed or suspected case, and also be in a priority group to be eligible for testing.
Dr Mary Favier, president of the Irish Council for General Practitioners, said that "at this time of national emergency, decisions by public health are being made in all our best interest and at very short notice. The GP community is under great strain, and as president I wish to acknowledge the wonderful work they and their staff are doing and to thank them for same."
READ MORE
Many of those who had been deemed eligible for testing under the old regime will not now receive an appointment at one of the more than 40 testing centres that have been established around the State. Others who have already been swabbed will receive their results.
Huge surge
GPs who spoke to The Irish Times said their workload had increased as they received and made calls to those who had previously been determined as eligible for testing, clarifying if they were still eligible under the revised rules. In the majority of cases, they were not.
However, GPs said that as news of the newly restricted testing criteria came out, there was a decrease in contacts from new callers seeking tests.
The National Public Health Emergency Team made the decision to change the criteria, in line with World Health Organisation standards, after a massive surge in people seeking testing. Some 20,000 people per day had sought tests in recent days, causing a backlog of more than 40,000 cases.
Some GPs said the diminished testing meant estimates of the prevalence of Covid-19 in the population would be less accurate.
“It will be difficult to get a true reflection of who has Covid-19,” Dublin GP Dr Mark Murphy said, adding he was receiving a lot of calls from people he believed had the virus but were not eligible for testing.
In mild cases, a person’s test status is immaterial, as medical advice for anyone symptomatic in any way is to self-isolate, and only get in touch with doctors after their initial consultation if they become more ill.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Coronavirus: North expected to reverse closure order for off-licences

The Northern Ireland Executive is expected to reverse its decision to close standalone off-licences during the coronavirus outbreak after the sector was deemed an “ essential ” retail service in the Republic .
The North ’ s justice minister , Naomi Long , raised the issue of standalone off-licences at an Executive meeting on Wednesday , and it is understood the review could take place as early as Thursday morning .
All but “ essential ” retail services have been closed in Northern Ireland in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus .
According to a list published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ essential services include supermarkets , convenience stores and petrol stations .
Off-licences were deemed “ non-essential ” and were instructed to close immediately .
Concerns had been raised in the industry that standalone off-licences were being unfairly disadvantaged because in-store off-licences could remain open , and could increase the number of people in supermarkets and other premises .
On Wednesday , the UK government added off-licences to its list of essential retailers , which means Northern Ireland is likely to follow suit .
On Tuesday , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until April 19th .
The Government ’ s list of essential shops , which are permitted to stay open , includes “ retail and wholesale sale of food , beverages and newspapers in non-specialised and specialised stores ” .
The National Off-Licence Association , which represents more than 300 off-licences , said this category included its members and that stores would continue to trade as normal .
They also said some off-licences may choose to close of their own volition , but that this decision was up to each individual business .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members off-licences were acting as a “ vital cog ” in the community during the coronavirus outbreak and should avoid being portrayed as seeking to profit from the public health crisis .
The advice , issued following media interest in sales on St Patrick ’ s Day , encouraged managers and owners to say trading had been good “ due to a return to shopping locally ” and that off-licences were “ retailing responsibility in line with public health advice ” .
A number of off-licences reported that sales had increased following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clubs to close 10 days ago , with some saying it was “ like Christmas again ” .
Other premises decided to close before St Patrick ’ s Day last week to protect staff and customers from the spread of the virus .
Garret Connolly , owner of Baggot Street Wines and Whiskey , opted to close when the Government announced restrictions on pubs and clubs because he believed there would be increased footfall in the shop .
Whelehan Wines also decided to close in a bid to “ minimise social interaction as @ @ @ @ @

Last week the National Off-Licence Association told its members off-licences were acting as a ‘vital cog’ in the community. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
The Northern Ireland Executive is expected to reverse its decision to close standalone off-licences during the coronavirus outbreak after the sector was deemed an “essential” retail service in the Republic.
The North’s justice minister, Naomi Long, raised the issue of standalone off-licences at an Executive meeting on Wednesday, and it is understood the review could take place as early as Thursday morning.
All but “essential” retail services have been closed in Northern Ireland in an attempt to contain the spread of the virus.
According to a list published by the Executive office on Tuesday, essential services include supermarkets, convenience stores and petrol stations. Off-licences were deemed “non-essential” and were instructed to close immediately.
READ MORE
Concerns had been raised in the industry that standalone off-licences were being unfairly disadvantaged because in-store off-licences could remain open, and could increase the number of people in supermarkets and other premises.
On Wednesday, the UK government added off-licences to its list of essential retailers, which means Northern Ireland is likely to follow suit.
On Tuesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of all non-essential retail stores in the Republic until April 19th.
The Government’s list of essential shops, which are permitted to stay open, includes “retail and wholesale sale of food, beverages and newspapers in non-specialised and specialised stores”.
The National Off-Licence Association, which represents more than 300 off-licences, said this category included its members and that stores would continue to trade as normal.
They also said some off-licences may choose to close of their own volition, but that this decision was up to each individual business.
‘Christmas again’
Last week the National Off-Licence Association told its members off-licences were acting as a “vital cog” in the community during the coronavirus outbreak and should avoid being portrayed as seeking to profit from the public health crisis.
The advice, issued following media interest in sales on St Patrick’s Day, encouraged managers and owners to say trading had been good “due to a return to shopping locally” and that off-licences were “retailing responsibility in line with public health advice”.
A number of off-licences reported that sales had increased following the Government’s request to pubs and clubs to close 10 days ago, with some saying it was “like Christmas again”.
Other premises decided to close before St Patrick’s Day last week to protect staff and customers from the spread of the virus.
Garret Connolly, owner of Baggot Street Wines and Whiskey, opted to close when the Government announced restrictions on pubs and clubs because he believed there would be increased footfall in the shop.
Whelehan Wines also decided to close in a bid to “minimise social interaction as much as possible”.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Gardaí in Limerick and Cork recover €35,000 worth of drugs

Gardaí in Limerick and Cork have recovered over €35,000 worth of drugs and arrested two suspects for questioning in separate and unrelated drug operations on Wednesday afternoon .
Officers from the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit arrested a man in his late 20s when , backed up by members of the Armed Support Unit , they searched two houses at Leila Street near the city centre .
During the search of the first house gardaí recovered €25,000 worth of suspected heroin which has been sent to the Forensic Science Ireland laboratory for analysis .
They arrested a man at the house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ detain suspects for up to seven days .
The man is currently being questioned at Henry Street Garda station in the city .
No arrests or seizures were made at the second house in Leila Street , which is a vacant property , but gardaí have said the seizure was an important blow to heroin dealing in the city .
Meanwhile , in a separate and unrelated operation , gardaí in North Cork arrested a teenager for questioning following the seizure of €10,000 worth of cannabis herb .
Officers from the Fermoy District @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday afternoon and arrested the 19-year-old man when they stopped and searched a car in the Castlelyons area at around 2pm .
The suspect , who is from the greater Fermoy area , was arrested for questioning and taken to Fermoy Garda station where he is being held under drugs trafficking legislation .
The teenager can be held for up to seven days .
His car was also seized and brought to Fermoy for a forensic examination by garda technical experts while the drugs have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was destined for distribution and sale in the greater Fermoy area .
and have hailed the seizure as a blow against drug dealing in the locality .

Gardaí in North Cork arrested a teenager for questioning following the seizure of €10,000 worth of cannabis herb. File photograph: Getty
Barry Roche, Southern Correspondent
Gardaí in Limerick and Cork have recovered over €35,000 worth of drugs and arrested two suspects for questioning in separate and unrelated drug operations on Wednesday afternoon.
Officers from the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit arrested a man in his late 20s when, backed up by members of the Armed Support Unit, they searched two houses at Leila Street near the city centre.
During the search of the first house gardaí recovered €25,000 worth of suspected heroin which has been sent to the Forensic Science Ireland laboratory for analysis.
READ MORE
They arrested a man at the house under drugs trafficking legislation which allows gardaí detain suspects for up to seven days. The man is currently being questioned at Henry Street Garda station in the city.
No arrests or seizures were made at the second house in Leila Street, which is a vacant property, but gardaí have said the seizure was an important blow to heroin dealing in the city.
Meanwhile, in a separate and unrelated operation, gardaí in North Cork arrested a teenager for questioning following the seizure of €10,000 worth of cannabis herb.
Officers from the Fermoy District Drugs Squad mounted a surveillance operation on Wednesday afternoon and arrested the 19-year-old man when they stopped and searched a car in the Castlelyons area at around 2pm.
The suspect, who is from the greater Fermoy area, was arrested for questioning and taken to Fermoy Garda station where he is being held under drugs trafficking legislation.
The teenager can be held for up to seven days. His car was also seized and brought to Fermoy for a forensic examination by garda technical experts while the drugs have been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis.
Gardaí believe the cannabis herb was destined for distribution and sale in the greater Fermoy area. and have hailed the seizure as a blow against drug dealing in the locality.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--How will the Government’s Covid-19 income support scheme work?

How will it work ?
The income support scheme is designed to help companies and other employers retain employees on their books through the duration of the pandemic by paying a subsidy equal to up to 70 per cent of their take-home pay , to a maximum of €410 a week .
Employers are encouraged to top this up if they can .
If they top up the payment , employers should pay no more than their normal take-home pay .
Payments are made through the normal payroll process .
How do you qualify ?
The scheme is available to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public service and non-commercial semi-state sector – whose business activities are affected adversely by the coronavirus pandemic .
The employer must show they have lost at least 25 per cent of turnover .
There will also be a requirement that the company does not have the liquidity , or cash , to pay .
Further details will be outlined in legislation due to be discussed by the Dáil on Thursday .
It is available to employers who retain staff on payrolls and for workers who may be temporarily not working or on reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unable to pay normal wages and normal outgoings fully .
How are employers reimbursed by the State ?
Employers will be recompensed for paying employees through the Revenue Commissioners as operators of the scheme .
Reimbursements will be made within two working days .
For how long will it run ?
The scheme , which has yet to be approved by the Dáil , will run initially for 12 weeks from March 26th .
The scheme is designed so that it will allow employers to retain links to their workers for when business @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happens to income tax , USC and PRSI ?
Income tax and the Universal Social Charge will not be applied to the subsidy payment through the payroll .
Employee PRSI [ Pay Related Social Insurance ] will not apply to the subsidy or any top-up payments by the employer .
Employers ’ PRSI will not apply to the subsidy and will be reduced from 11.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent on the top-up .
How does this work for earnings up to €38,000 a year ?
The scheme is specifically designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working in the worst-affected sectors , such as pubs , hotels and retail .
Based on a subsidy of up to 70 per cent of take-home pay , a single person on €30,000 a year with after-tax pay of €489 a week will have their earnings subsidised by the Government to the tune of €342 a week .
Their employer can top it up as far as possible to their previous salary if they have the cash .
For someone on €35,000 , their current take-home pay is €558 a week .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who will then be refunded .
The maximum subsidy is €410 a week for someone on €38,000 .
And for earnings between €38,000 and €76,000 ?
Officials are still finalising exactly how this will work for middle-income earners .
They are not seen as quite as vulnerable to lay-off as the lower-paid group , though many businesses will inevitably be looking at pay cuts and lay-offs in this group also .
The information released to date says that an income subsidy of up to €350 a week would be available , through employers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , the indications are the subsidy will be graduated : those earning just over €38,000 will qualify for the full subsidy , but the subsidy will gradually be withdrawn as earnings rise .
So someone on €50,000 , for example , might qualify for a €250 a week income subsidy approximately , to add to whatever their employer can afford .
What about earnings above €76,000 No subsidy is available for these earners .
The scheme is designed to help lower- and middle-income employees .
How will it be operational so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first few weeks , once firms register for the scheme , they will receive the full €410 a week for all qualifying employees – even for the €38,000 to €76,000 group who will receive a maximum of €350 a week when the scheme is fully operational .
This is designed to get the scheme up and running immediately .
The Revenue has not said what arrangement will be put in place to recoup overpayments as the majority will not qualify for the full €410 subsidy when the scheme is fully operational in mid-April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is reasonably straightforward for those earning up to €38,000 , though some part-time employees might end up better off on the Covid-19 unemployment payment .
Some way may be found to address this .
It is more complicated for the €38,000 to €76,000 group as the graduation is being introduced and tax and PRSI become much bigger complications on the amount of top-ups paid by employers .
The hope is to work out the details to have it fully operational by April 20th .
For now , companies must apply by saying they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their employees in various bands .
The cash will start to flow and the full details will be worked out later .
What about the self-employed or unemployed ?
No .
Self-employed people who are out of work because of the pandemic or employees who are made redundant will be eligible for the State ’ s Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350 rather than the income subsidy scheme run by the Revenue .
They will be eligible on a similar basis as the Revenue scheme applies to employees .
Anyone who was unemployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the jobseeker ’ s allowance of €203 a week .

What about those taking home over €76,000? No subsidy is available for these earners.
How will it work?
The income support scheme is designed to help companies to retain employees on their books through the duration of the pandemic by paying a subsidy equal to up to 70 per cent of their take-home pay, to a maximum of €410 a week.
Employers are encouraged to top this up if they can. If they top up the payment, employers should pay no more than their normal take-home pay. Payments are made through the normal payroll process.
How do you qualify?
The scheme is available to employers in all sectors – excluding the public service and non-commercial semi-state sector – whose business activities are affected adversely by the coronavirus pandemic. The employer must show they have lost at least 25 per cent of turnover. An assessment will also be made of the company’s liquidity however companies with cash reserves can still qualify. They will be expected to pay a significant portion of the wages, according to Revenue guidance.
Further details will be outlined in guidance notes due after the legislation is passed. It is available to employers who retain staff on payrolls and for workers who may be temporarily not working or on reduced hours or pay. Employers must be unable to pay normal wages and normal outgoings fully.
READ MORE
How
are employers
reimbursed by the State?
Employers will be recompensed for paying employees through the Revenue Commissioners as operators of the scheme. Reimbursements will be made within two working days.
For how long will it run?
The scheme, which has yet to be approved by the Dáil, will run initially for 12 weeks from March 26th. The scheme is designed so that it will allow employers to retain links to their workers for when business picks up after the crisis.
What happens to income tax,
USC and PRSI?
Income tax and the Universal Social Charge will not be applied to the subsidy payment through the payroll. Employee PRSI [Pay Related Social Insurance] will not apply to the subsidy or any top-up payments by the employer. Employers’ PRSI will not apply to the subsidy and will be reduced from 11.5 per cent to 0.5 per cent on the top-up.
How does this work for earnings up to €38,000 a year?
The scheme is specifically designed to help this group, which includes many working in the worst-affected sectors, such as pubs, hotels and retail. Based on a subsidy of up to 70 per cent of take-home pay, a single person on €30,000 a year with after-tax pay of €489 a week will have their earnings subsidised by the Government to the tune of €342 a week. Their employer can top it up as far as possible to their previous salary if they have the cash.
For someone on €35,000, their current take-home pay is €558 a week. They would receive €391 from their employer, who will then be refunded. The maximum subsidy is €410 a week for someone on €38,000.
And for
earnings between
€38,000 and
€76,000?
Officials are still finalising exactly how this will work for middle-income earners. They are not seen as quite as vulnerable to lay-off as the lower-paid group, though many businesses will inevitably be looking at pay cuts and lay-offs in this group also.
The information released to date says that an income subsidy of up to €350 a week would be available, through employers, for people in this earnings bracket. How exactly this will work is still to be outlined and under the legislation is a matter for the Minister for Finance to decide. The Revenue Commissioners say they do not expect the payment to be graduated for different income levels. Initially it had been thought this might happen.
What about earnings
above €76,000
No subsidy is available for these earners. The scheme is designed to help lower- and middle-income employees.
How will it
be operational so quickly?
For the first few weeks, once firms register for the scheme, they will receive the full €410 a week for all qualifying employees – even for the €38,000 to €76,000 group who will receive a maximum of €350 a week when the scheme is fully operational. This is designed to get the scheme up and running immediately.
The Revenue has not outlined in detail what arrangement will be put in place to recoup overpayments as the majority will not qualify for the full €410 subsidy when the scheme is fully operational in mid-April.
What are the complications?
It is reasonably straightforward for those earning up to €38,000, though some part-time employees might end up better off on the Covid-19 unemployment payment. Some way may be found to address this.
It is more complicated for the €38,000 to €76,000 group as tax and PRSI become much bigger complications on the amount of top-ups paid by employers. The hope is to work out the details to have it fully operational by April 20th.
For now, companies must apply by saying they meet the criteria and give details of their employees in various bands. The cash will start to flow and the full details will be worked out later.
What about the self-employed or unemployed?
Self-employed people who are out of work because of the pandemic or employees who are made redundant will be eligible for the State’s Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350 rather than the income subsidy scheme run by the Revenue. They will be eligible on a similar basis as the Revenue scheme applies to employees.Further details are expected in the coming days. However proprietary directors do look set to qualify for the main income support scheme outlined above, provided they take a salary from their company.
Anyone who was unemployed before this crisis will continue to receive the jobseeker’s allowance of €203 a week.
*This article was updated to take account of new guidance from the Revenue Commissioners on Thursday 26th March. Further details can be found on the Revenue website.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--‘It’s like 28 Days Later’: Coronavirus turns Dublin into a ghost town

In the words of Dublin Saunter , a stroll in the sun in St Stephen ’ s Green can be heaven .
On Wednesday , the warmest and sunniest day of the year so far , it was deserted .
The birds had the ponds , the grass and paths to themselves .
The handful of people who had come through the wrought-iron gates sat alone on benches , staring stony-faced at flowers newly in bloom .
A Grafton Street jeweller had been stripped of its window displays by staff anxious to protect valuables .
The clothes shop next door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a hurricane .
Many pubs were not just closed , but shuttered , too .
A Luas set off for Cabra with just three passengers .
Two wore surgical masks .
The driver wore bright yellow rubber gloves .
In any other time it would have been comical .
A small group of young men approached the gates of the green , their voices among the only to be heard .
“ This is what the zombie apocalypse must be like , ” one said loudly .
Following Leo Varadkar ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have heeded the Taoiseach ’ s plea to “ stay home if at all possible ” .
Leaning on his cane , an older man who identified himself as Kevin O ’ Malley said , from a distance of more than 2m , “ It ’ s a different world now ” .
“ Do you know what this reminds me of ?
It reminds me of a film I saw more than 50 years ago .
On the Beach , it was called , ” he said , referring to a 1950s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Astaire .
“ There is a scene in the film when the crew of a submarine come to the surface after the nuclear war and when they look around there is just nothing there .
That ’ s what I am reminded of today .
“ I suppose the real worry is how long will it all last .
But you know what , we will get through this , of course we will .
This country is nothing if not resilient.
” Some shops remained open .
Mark Halligan was at work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stop newsagent at the top of Grafton Street .
He was in the shop alone , dispensing coffee , selling newspapers and face masks .
“ What people want to buy mainly are cigarettes , ” he said .
“ They are coming in and buying hundreds of them .
I don ’ t know why really .
We are going to stay open .
It ’ s like the film 28 Days Later , isn ’ t it ?
” A homeless man , Michael , came into the shop .
Asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told of how the pattern of his day on the streets had changed .
“ Every morning I would get up at 7.30 and get a cup of coffee in Starbucks .
I can ’ t do that now , it ’ s closed .
Everything is closed .
There is nothing open and nothing for me to do and no one for me to talk to .
“ I ’ ve been on the streets for more than four years and I had a routine , ” he said , “ Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the days ahead and how I will get by .
”

After recent coronavirus restrictions only a handful of retail outlets are now open on Ireland's premier shopping street, Grafton Street, Dublin. Conor Pope takes a walk from St Stephen's Green to College Green. Video: Bryan O'Brien
In the words of Dublin Saunter, a stroll in the sun in St Stephen’s Green can be heaven. On Wednesday, the warmest and sunniest day of the year so far, it was deserted.
The birds had the ponds, the grass and paths to themselves. The handful of people who had come through the wrought-iron gates sat alone on benches, staring stony-faced at flowers newly in bloom.
A Grafton Street jeweller had been stripped of its window displays by staff anxious to protect valuables. The clothes shop next door was boarded up, as if prepared for a hurricane.
Many pubs were not just closed, but shuttered, too. A Luas set off for Cabra with just three passengers. Two wore surgical masks. The driver wore bright yellow rubber gloves. In any other time it would have been comical.
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A small group of young men approached the gates of the green, their voices among the only to be heard. “This is what the zombie apocalypse must be like,” one said loudly.
Following Leo Varadkar’s Tuesday restrictions, most people seemed to have heeded the Taoiseach’s plea to “stay home if at all possible”.
An empty O’Connell Street. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Leaning on his cane, an older man who identified himself as Kevin O’Malley said, from a distance of more than 2m, “It’s a different world now”.
"Do you know what this reminds me of? It reminds me of a film I saw more than 50 years ago. On the Beach, it was called," he said, referring to a 1950s post-apocalyptic film starring Gregory Peck and Fred Astaire.
“There is a scene in the film when the crew of a submarine come to the surface after the nuclear war and when they look around there is just nothing there. That’s what I am reminded of today.
“I suppose the real worry is how long will it all last. But you know what, we will get through this, of course we will. This country is nothing if not resilient.”
Cigarette trade
Some shops remained open. Mark Halligan was at work in one of them, the Bus Stop newsagent at the top of Grafton Street. He was in the shop alone, dispensing coffee, selling newspapers and face masks.
“What people want to buy mainly are cigarettes,” he said. “They are coming in and buying hundreds of them. I don’t know why really. We are going to stay open. It’s like the film 28 Days Later, isn’t it?”
A homeless man, Michael, came into the shop. Asked how he was getting on, he told of how the pattern of his day on the streets had changed.
"Every morning I would get up at 7.30 and get a cup of coffee in Starbucks. I can't do that now, it's closed. Everything is closed. There is nothing open and nothing for me to do and no one for me to talk to.
“I’ve been on the streets for more than four years and I had a routine,” he said, “Now I am just trying to figure out the days ahead and how I will get by.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Coronavirus: Gardaí to receive controversial ‘spit hoods’ during crisis

Gardaí are to be issued with controversial “ spit hoods ” to place over suspects ’ faces during the coronavirus crisis .
The plastic devices have been criticised by human rights groups in the UK – where they are widely deployed by police forces – as dangerous and degrading .
The Garda has ordered 16,000 spit hoods , which cover the entire face of the detainee and stops them spitting at , coughing on or biting officers .
They are to be distributed to frontline members in the near future .
In recent days there have been several reported incidents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public and gardaí while claiming to have coronavirus , which causes the disease known as Covid-19 .
On Wednesday , Minister for Health Simon Harris said a couple purposely coughed on him before running off laughing as he walked to Government Buildings .
He called the trend dangerous and pathetic .
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors ( AGSI ) raised the issue of members being spat at and coughed on during the crisis in a meeting with management on Wednesday .
Representatives were informed 16,000 of the hoods are currently on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will also be issued with a supply of goggles .
Supplies of gloves , wipes , sanitiser , face masks and protective suits have already been delivered to all divisions .
A Garda spokesman told The Irish Times the hoods would be deployed on a temporary basis for the duration of the current health crisis .
“ Garda management continuously considers various forms of additional PPE [ personal protective equipment ] which could be deployed to operational gardaí , ” he said .
He said gardaí would be briefed and trained in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued .
“ An Garda Síochána takes the safety of the public and the safety of its members very seriously and is engaging with the staff representative associations on a daily basis.
” It is understood the hoods will only be used on aggressive or threatening prisoners .
Such hoods are sometimes used by the Irish Prison Service when transporting prisoners .
They have also been used in limited circumstances by the Garda , but this will be the first mass roll-out of the devices .
For several years many gardaí have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoods to prevent suspects spitting on them during arrest or transport .
Spit hoods were distributed to all members of London ’ s Metropolitan Police last year , even after the head of the force , Cressida Dick , said they put officers at greater risk of assault while trying to put them on suspects .
The move was condemned by human rights charity Liberty who said the hoods do “ far more harm than good ” .
“ Forcibly covering people ’ s faces has been linked to deaths in custody and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willingly on children and other vulnerable people , ” the charity said .

‘An Garda Síochána takes the safety of the public and the safety of its members very seriously and is engaging with the staff representative associations on a daily basis.’ Photograph: Oli Scarff/Getty Images
Gardaí are to be issued with controversial “spit hoods” to place over suspects’ faces during the coronavirus crisis.
The plastic devices have been criticised by human rights groups in the UK – where they are widely deployed by police forces – as dangerous and degrading.
The Garda has ordered 16,000 spit hoods, which cover the entire face of the detainee and stops them spitting at, coughing on or biting officers.
They are to be distributed to frontline members in the near future. In recent days there have been several reported incidents of people coughing on members of the public and gardaí while claiming to have coronavirus, which causes the disease known as Covid-19.
READ MORE
On Wednesday, Minister for Health Simon Harris said a couple purposely coughed on him before running off laughing as he walked to Government Buildings. He called the trend dangerous and pathetic.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) raised the issue of members being spat at and coughed on during the crisis in a meeting with management on Wednesday. Representatives were informed 16,000 of the hoods are currently on order.
Goggles
They were also informed gardaí will also be issued with a supply of goggles. Supplies of gloves, wipes, sanitiser, face masks and protective suits have already been delivered to all divisions.
A Garda spokesman told The Irish Times the hoods would be deployed on a temporary basis for the duration of the current health crisis.
“Garda management continuously considers various forms of additional PPE [personal protective equipment] which could be deployed to operational gardaí,” he said.
He said gardaí would be briefed and trained in the deployment of the hoods before they were issued.
"An Garda Síochána takes the safety of the public and the safety of its members very seriously and is engaging with the staff representative associations on a daily basis."
It is understood the hoods will only be used on aggressive or threatening prisoners.
Prisoners
Such hoods are sometimes used by the Irish Prison Service when transporting prisoners. They have also been used in limited circumstances by the Garda, but this will be the first mass roll-out of the devices.
For several years many gardaí have been pushing for the general introduction of the hoods to prevent suspects spitting on them during arrest or transport.
Spit hoods were distributed to all members of London’s Metropolitan Police last year, even after the head of the force, Cressida Dick, said they put officers at greater risk of assault while trying to put them on suspects.
The move was condemned by human rights charity Liberty who said the hoods do “far more harm than good”.
“Forcibly covering people’s faces has been linked to deaths in custody and spit hoods have been used far too willingly on children and other vulnerable people,” the charity said.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--President Michael D Higgins: ‘Instincts of empathy and caring’ rediscovered in crisis

President Michael D Higgins has suggested that “ everything will change ” as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
He said the connections between economies and society and also how we define the word security will be transformed as a result of the illness .
He maintained the legislation being brought forward by the Government showed that people were no longer talking about the rollback of the State .
“ You won ’ t hear for a long time that the State is too big or that the State should be weakened .
We are just seeing a great @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for all of our citizens , ” he said .
He told RTÉ Radio 1 ’ s Drivetime programme : “ What we are witnessing is a forefronting of ethics .
It is a time for deepening and extending citizenship and putting it into practice .
At the end of it I think we might come out of it a much better people .
“ We need now to seize what I call ‘ the citizenship moment ’ and that we would come out of this having rediscovered instincts of empathy and caring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more aggressive instincts of individualism of an extreme kind .
“ It ’ s a very good moment for all of us working together .
I said in my St Patrick ’ s Day speech that one of the great gifts of Ireland was intergenerational respect and cooperation.
” President Higgins , who is 78 , told presenter Mary Wilson that he has never seen anything comparable in his lifetime to the disruption caused by the coronavirus .
The only thing comparable , he suggested , was the Spanish Flu pandemic of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people worldwide including 23,000 in Ireland .
Those dead included the president ’ s uncle Daniel Canty who was a student in St Colman ’ s College in Fermoy at the time .
He went home to Liscarroll , Co Cork from school to set up a branch of the anti-conscription league in 1918 where he contracted the flu and died .
President Higgins held a seminar in Áras an Uachtaráin last year about the flu .
“ We lost so many people and we didn ’ t want to speak about it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of great change , ” he said .
“ On this occasion we can learn great things about it ( Covid-19 ) .
When we come out of it , we could end up with a much better version of the economy where people are at the centre of economic thinking .
“ It ’ s a case of where economic and monetary policy will be adjusted according to the needs of people rather than to the whims of speculative movements .
“ At the meetings of the ECB , the IMF and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond to it like they did to the previous crisis in 2008 .
They are going to have to brace themselves and come forward with positive new connections between societies and economies.
” The President described the pandemic as the “ globalisation of vulnerability ” .
He said staff at Áras an Uachtaráin are working from home “ where possible ” and those who have to come in are observing social distancing .
He encouraged people to heed the advice of the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) this week and to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The more that is achieved this week , the better it will be for medical staff to climb the mountain they have to climb .
”

President Michael D Higgins described the pandemic as the ‘globalisation of vulnerability’. File photograph.
President Michael D Higgins has suggested that "everything will change" as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said the connections between economies and society and also how we define the word security will be transformed as a result of the illness.
He maintained the legislation being brought forward by the Government showed that people were no longer talking about the rollback of the State.
“You won’t hear for a long time that the State is too big or that the State should be weakened. We are just seeing a great example of how the State is important for all of our citizens,” he said.
READ MORE
He told RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime programme: "What we are witnessing is a forefronting of ethics. It is a time for deepening and extending citizenship and putting it into practice. At the end of it I think we might come out of it a much better people.
“We need now to seize what I call ‘the citizenship moment’ and that we would come out of this having rediscovered instincts of empathy and caring that we may have neglected in favour of more aggressive instincts of individualism of an extreme kind.
"It's a very good moment for all of us working together. I said in my St Patrick's Day speech that one of the great gifts of Ireland was intergenerational respect and cooperation."
President Higgins, who is 78, told presenter Mary Wilson that he has never seen anything comparable in his lifetime to the disruption caused by the coronavirus.
Spanish flu
The only thing comparable, he suggested, was the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918-1919 which killed an estimated 50 million people worldwide including 23,000 in Ireland.
Those dead included the president's uncle Daniel Canty who was a student in St Colman's College in Fermoy at the time.
He went home to Liscarroll, Co Cork from school to set up a branch of the anti-conscription league in 1918 where he contracted the flu and died.
President Higgins held a seminar in Áras an Uachtaráin last year about the flu. “We lost so many people and we didn’t want to speak about it. Ireland was going through a time of great change,” he said.
“On this occasion we can learn great things about it (Covid-19). When we come out of it, we could end up with a much better version of the economy where people are at the centre of economic thinking.
“It’s a case of where economic and monetary policy will be adjusted according to the needs of people rather than to the whims of speculative movements.
"At the meetings of the ECB, the IMF and the World Bank, they simply cannot respond to it like they did to the previous crisis in 2008. They are going to have to brace themselves and come forward with positive new connections between societies and economies."
The President described the pandemic as the “globalisation of vulnerability”.
He said staff at Áras an Uachtaráin are working from home “where possible” and those who have to come in are observing social distancing.
He encouraged people to heed the advice of the Health Service Executive (HSE) this week and to implement the social distancing guidelines.
“The more that is achieved this week, the better it will be for medical staff to climb the mountain they have to climb.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Pitches in North Co Dublin ruined by joyriders

Fingal County Council has been forced to close playing pitches in North Co Dublin after joyriders destroyed the playing surface for the second time in three weeks .
Skid marks from car tyres have left deep ruts on the surface at Danny ’ s Pitches in Mulhuddart , Co Dublin , resulting in the pitches being closed until further notice on safety grounds .
The incident , which took place on Wednesday , is the second act of vandalism the pitches were subjected to in recent weeks .
Two weeks ago , two burnt out cars had to be removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the locks from two bollards to gain access .
One bollard was subsequently repaired , while the second was never found following the incident .
On Wednesday , vandals again gained access to the pitches by removing the remaining bollard , and left deep skid marks on the surface .
Temporary boulders are being put in place at the entrance of the pitches to prevent access until new bollards have been made .
David Storey , director of operations at the council , said they have been left with “ no option but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the interests of health and safety ” .
“ To hear of this incident during the Covid-19 crisis is very disappointing given that we are working hard to maintain our services to ensure the health and well-being of all our residents , ” he added .
Mayor of Fingal , Cllr Eoghan O ’ Brien , has condemned the incident , adding that it is “ unacceptable behaviour from a small minority ” .
“ It is shocking to hear of this incident at a time when we are trying to concentrate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Covid-19 crisis , ” he said .
“ The knock-on effect is that the pitches will be out of action when they are reopened following the crisis , impacting the enjoyment of people at a time when they will be seeking a return to normal living after this difficult time.
” There have been similar acts of vandalism on pitches in the capital over the last few months .
Over the Christmas period , joyriders destroyed playing fields in Kilbogget Park , South Co Dublin .
When gardaí arrived , there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the remains of a burnt out car .
Later that month , off-road bikes were used to damage playing fields on Benmadigan Road in Drimnagh .
In January , pitches at Whitehall VEC in Dublin , which are used by Home Farm FC , Whitehall Celtic and Rosmini Gaels , were also damaged by joyriders .

Danny’s Pitches in Mulhuddart, Co Dublin, where car tyres created deep ruts in the turf.
Fingal County Council has been forced to close playing pitches in North Co Dublin after joyriders destroyed the playing surface for the second time in three weeks.
Skid marks from car tyres have left deep ruts on the surface at Danny's Pitches in Mulhuddart, Co Dublin, resulting in the pitches being closed until further notice on safety grounds.
The incident, which took place on Wednesday, is the second act of vandalism the pitches were subjected to in recent weeks.
Two weeks ago, two burnt out cars had to be removed after vandals accessed the pitches after cutting the locks from two bollards to gain access. One bollard was subsequently repaired, while the second was never found following the incident.
READ MORE
On Wednesday, vandals again gained access to the pitches by removing the remaining bollard, and left deep skid marks on the surface.
Temporary boulders are being put in place at the entrance of the pitches to prevent access until new bollards have been made.
David Storey, director of operations at the council, said they have been left with "no option but to decommission the pitches until further notice in the interests of health and safety".
“To hear of this incident during the Covid-19 crisis is very disappointing given that we are working hard to maintain our services to ensure the health and well-being of all our residents,” he added.
Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, has condemned the incident, adding that it is “unacceptable behaviour from a small minority”.
“It is shocking to hear of this incident at a time when we are trying to concentrate our resources and services in dealing with the Covid-19 crisis,” he said.
“The knock-on effect is that the pitches will be out of action when they are reopened following the crisis, impacting the enjoyment of people at a time when they will be seeking a return to normal living after this difficult time.”
There have been similar acts of vandalism on pitches in the capital over the last few months.
Over the Christmas period, joyriders destroyed playing fields in Kilbogget Park, South Co Dublin. When gardaí arrived, there were tyre tracks scarring across two pitches, and the remains of a burnt out car.
Later that month, off-road bikes were used to damage playing fields on Benmadigan Road in Drimnagh.
In January, pitches at Whitehall VEC in Dublin, which are used by Home Farm FC, Whitehall Celtic and Rosmini Gaels, were also damaged by joyriders.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Coronavirus: NI residents urged to follow ‘simple’ advice as death toll rises to seven

Northern Ireland ’ s most senior medic on Wednesday stressed the importance of following simple advice on combatting the coronavirus as two further deaths related to the epidemic were confirmed .
Seven people who tested positive for Covid-19 have now died in the North , the Public Health Agency said .
Among them was Magdalene Mitchell , an 80-year-old resident of a Belfast care home , her family said .
The agency said 37 further cases had been confirmed , bringing the total number to 209 as of Wednesday .
More than 3,000 tests have been carried out since the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael McBride warned that there would be further deaths in the coming weeks and that the rate of fatalities linked to the pandemic would rise .
He said people needed to “ continue in our efforts ” when it came to following social distancing and hand hygiene recommendations .
“ Those might seem like really simple things to do but they also have a real impact in terms of saving lives and protecting the pressures on our health service , ” he said .
“ Don ’ t look back in two weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more , or I could have done more.
” He also said the testing capacity for coronavirus , also known as Covid-19 , would be expanded to 1,000 tests per day by next week .
Meanwhile , First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill have warned that enforcement action will be taken against employers who fail to protect their workers during the pandemic .
Ms Foster said she had heard of some businesses operating without the necessary social distancing measures , which was “ not acceptable ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be operating “ if you can not make provision for safe working practices ” and that the authorities would “ move in ” and “ close you down ” if guidelines were not adhered to .
The warning came amid reports of around 1,000 workers at poultry processing firm Moy Park temporarily walking out of its premises in Portadown over concerns that social distancing and other infection control measures were not being implemented .
Moy Park disputed the number , saying the total was more like 100 , and said it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep workers safe .
Belfast City Council has temporarily halted the collection of household recycling bins and compost in order to allow it to employ social distancing in its bin lorries .
Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry on Wednesday opened the first in a network of 11 primary care centres to tackle coronavirus .
Patients attending must be referred by a doctor .
Minister for Health Robin Swann said the centres would help maintain GP services by separating patients with coronavirus symptoms from those with unrelated conditions .
Dr Tom Black , chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Northern Ireland , said : “ This method of GPs working in the middle ground is vital to protect hospital services for patients with the greatest need ...
I have no doubt that this work will save lives.
” Meanwhile , a Co Down pastor who spent a week in intensive care struggling to breathe because of coronavirus has appealed to people from his hospital bed to heed official advice about the virus .
said he was grateful to be alive .
“ Coronavirus wants to kill you , ” said Mark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ It wants to take all the life out of your lungs so that you can not even breathe .
“ Don ’ t think this won ’ t touch you .
Don ’ t think for a moment that this is just a cough and a cold you will get .
”

Mark McClurg, a pastor from Newtonards, Co Down, has posted a video online detailing his recovery from coronavirus. Video: Reuters
Northern Ireland’s most senior medic on Wednesday stressed the importance of following simple advice on combatting the coronavirus as two further deaths related to the epidemic were confirmed.
Seven people who tested positive for Covid-19 have now died in the North, the Public Health Agency said. Among them was Magdalene Mitchell, an 80-year-old resident of a Belfast care home, her family said.
The agency said 37 further cases had been confirmed, bringing the total number to 209 as of Wednesday. More than 3,000 tests have been carried out since the outbreak began.
Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride warned that there would be further deaths in the coming weeks and that the rate of fatalities linked to the pandemic would rise. He said people needed to “continue in our efforts” when it came to following social distancing and hand hygiene recommendations.
READ MORE
“Those might seem like really simple things to do but they also have a real impact in terms of saving lives and protecting the pressures on our health service,” he said.
“Don’t look back in two weeks time and think we should have done more, or I could have done more.”
He also said the testing capacity for coronavirus, also known as Covid-19, would be expanded to 1,000 tests per day by next week.
Protecting workers
Meanwhile, First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill have warned that enforcement action will be taken against employers who fail to protect their workers during the pandemic.
Ms Foster said she had heard of some businesses operating without the necessary social distancing measures, which was “not acceptable”.
Ms O’Neill said businesses should not be operating “if you cannot make provision for safe working practices” and that the authorities would “move in” and “close you down” if guidelines were not adhered to.
The warning came amid reports of around 1,000 workers at poultry processing firm Moy Park temporarily walking out of its premises in Portadown over concerns that social distancing and other infection control measures were not being implemented. Moy Park disputed the number, saying the total was more like 100, and said it had "new, robust measures" to keep workers safe.
Belfast City Council has temporarily halted the collection of household recycling bins and compost in order to allow it to employ social distancing in its bin lorries.
Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry on Wednesday opened the first in a network of 11 primary care centres to tackle coronavirus. Patients attending must be referred by a doctor.
Separating
Minister for Health Robin Swann said the centres would help maintain GP services by separating patients with coronavirus symptoms from those with unrelated conditions.
Dr Tom Black, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) in Northern Ireland, said: "This method of GPs working in the middle ground is vital to protect hospital services for patients with the greatest need... I have no doubt that this work will save lives."
Meanwhile, a Co Down pastor who spent a week in intensive care struggling to breathe because of coronavirus has appealed to people from his hospital bed to heed official advice about the virus.
said he was grateful to be alive.
"Coronavirus wants to kill you," said Mark McClurg of Elim Pentecostal Church in Newtownards. "It wants to take all the life out of your lungs so that you cannot even breathe.
“Don’t think this won’t touch you. Don’t think for a moment that this is just a cough and a cold you will get.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Leaving Cert students could sit deferred exams and start college in mid-autumn

Leaving Cert students could end up sitting deferred exams and starting college as late as October or November under contingency plans being discussed by senior education sources .
The Department of Education has been engaging with a range of education stakeholders over alternative plans for the Leaving Cert in the event that the exams do not begin in June as planned .
While senior figures have emphasised that discussions are at an early stage , several sources have confirmed that the option of deferring exams until late summer and starting a new third level academic year in the autumn are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher education institutions have signalled that they would be in a position to delay the start of a new academic year for first-year students by up to two months if necessary .
On Tuesday , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there is a “ very good chance ” Leaving Cert exams will go ahead and urged students to continue studying .
He said he was was hopeful schools might be able to come back in May and June and to “ have the Leaving Cert in the normal way ” .
However , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Minister for Education was working on contingency plans to allow the Leaving Cert to go ahead .
Well-placed sources say that while a number of contingencies are being explored , a deferral of exams until later in the summer is emerging as a realistic option .
“ There are multiple conversations going on and everything is on the table - whatever happens , the system will need to ensure equity , be transparent and immune to corruption , ” said one senior source .
“ There is a strong preference to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Our sense is that is very likely to be delayed , it just depends on how long , ” said another .
“ As we saw with the Rebecca Carter ruling , the system has been able to speed up the correcting process and there was less than a month last year between results and first years going to college.
” Senior figures say they expect a decision will be made within the next fortnight on contingency plans for the exams .
Most sources say they expect Junior Cert exams will either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what happens will depend on the public health situation and how that unfolds - and no one can say for sure what will happen , ” the source said .
Other options which have been discussed by education partners - though which are regarded as less likely - include allowing students to progress to their chosen course without an exam and having a selection process at the end of the first year college exams .
A similar system is used in jurisdictions such as Italy , however , there are doubts whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for such a move .
Another option which has been discussed is running dramatically slimmed-down Leaving Cert with just maths and English exams , for example .
This on the basis that results in these exams are typically a strong predictor of academic performance at third level .
However , a number of sources say the process could be unfair to many students and would struggle to win over public acceptance .
Another option which has been explored in the event that exams are cancelled is matriculation or US-style SAT exam or online @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , senior higher education sources say there is a strong preference for using the existing Leaving Cert and CAO system .
Another concerns is whether all students would have access to broadband .
In the UK , education authorities announced last week that A-level and GCSE exams have been cancelled and replaced with teacher-assessed grades based on students ’ prior performance .
Education sources say such a move is highly unlikely here as there is less cultural acceptance of teacher-assessed grades .
This has also emerged as a major flashpoint with teachers @ @ @ @ @ @

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there is a ‘very good chance’ Leaving Cert exams will go ahead and urged students to continue studying.
Leaving Cert students could end up sitting deferred exams and starting college as late as October or November under contingency plans being discussed by senior education sources.
The Department of Education has been engaging with a range of education stakeholders over alternative plans for the Leaving Cert in the event that the exams do not begin in June as planned.
While senior figures have emphasised that discussions are at an early stage, several sources have confirmed that the option of deferring exams until late summer and starting a new third level academic year in the autumn are being “seriously examined”.
Some higher education institutions have signalled that they would be in a position to delay the start of a new academic year for first-year students by up to two months if necessary.
READ MORE
On Tuesday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said there is a "very good chance" Leaving Cert exams will go ahead and urged students to continue studying.
He said he was was hopeful schools might be able to come back in May and June and to “have the Leaving Cert in the normal way”.
However, if this did not happen, he said the Minister for Education was working on contingency plans to allow the Leaving Cert to go ahead.
Well-placed sources say that while a number of contingencies are being explored, a deferral of exams until later in the summer is emerging as a realistic option.
“There are multiple conversations going on and everything is on the table - whatever happens, the system will need to ensure equity, be transparent and immune to corruption,” said one senior source.
"There is a strong preference to have a Leaving Cert if at all possible. Our sense is that is very likely to be delayed, it just depends on how long," said another. "As we saw with the Rebecca Carter ruling, the system has been able to speed up the correcting process and there was less than a month last year between results and first years going to college."
Senior figures say they expect a decision will be made within the next fortnight on contingency plans for the exams. Most sources say they expect Junior Cert exams will either be cancelled or deferred.
Options
“Much of what happens will depend on the public health situation and how that unfolds - and no one can say for sure what will happen,” the source said.
Other options which have been discussed by education partners - though which are regarded as less likely - include allowing students to progress to their chosen course without an exam and having a selection process at the end of the first year college exams.
A similar system is used in jurisdictions such as Italy, however, there are doubts whether the Irish system would have the capacity for such a move.
Another option which has been discussed is running dramatically slimmed-down Leaving Cert with just maths and English exams, for example.
This on the basis that results in these exams are typically a strong predictor of academic performance at third level. However, a number of sources say the process could be unfair to many students and would struggle to win over public acceptance.
Another option which has been explored in the event that exams are cancelled is matriculation or US-style SAT exam or online assessment by third level colleges themselves.
However, senior higher education sources say there is a strong preference for using the existing Leaving Cert and CAO system. Another concerns is whether all students would have access to broadband.
In the UK, education authorities announced last week that A-level and GCSE exams have been cancelled and replaced with teacher-assessed grades based on students’prior performance.
Education sources say such a move is highly unlikely here as there is less cultural acceptance of teacher-assessed grades. This has also emerged as a major flashpoint with teachers’ unions in the past.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Ireland’s only boarding school for 7-year-olds to close

Ireland ’ s only boarding school for children aged between seven and 13 years of age has closed after more than 70 years due to financial challenges that have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic .
Headfort School in Kells , Co Meath had more than 100 children attending as day pupils and borders , as well as a Montessori school for three to seven year olds .
About 25 staff were employed at the school .
Neville Wilkinson , senior master at Headfort , said the school had been struggling financially for years and the Government ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 threat was the “ final nail in the coffin ” .
“ We have always danced a fine line .
.
.
The board was trying to raise money and to persuade donors but when it really kicked in , we realised that the amounts were going to be too large .
Liquidation was the best of the bad options , ” he said .
“ I think the staff are , on the whole , pretty sad about the loss of the place ; sadness is the overwhelming emotion.
” Cllr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ end of an era ” and a loss to the local economy.
“ People are shocked and saddened all over the town by the breaking news .
I ’ m sure past pupils have great memories of their time there and the teaching staff were a huge bonus to the local community.
” The school , based in a Georgian mansion dating back to the 1760s , was the subject of a film and TV documentary in recent years .
Fees at the school were up to €18,000 a year for boarders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Class sizes were , on average , between 12 and 15 students .
Pupils were offered a wide variety of subject choices including Latin , scripture and computer studies .
The activities offered included hockey , rugby , cricket , horse-riding , tennis and swimming .
It is understood the decision to close was made by the school board which rents the building from the Headfort Trust .
Another education source said Headfort ’ s ineligibility for State funding meant it was especially financially vulnerable .
“ Boarding for children of that age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools like it in the UK are also under financial pressure and have been struggling to survive .
The coronavirus closures are tipping some over the edge , ” the source said .
The school traditionally had strong links with the UK , with many children progressing to second-level education in England .
More recently these links have been diluted and many boarders have gone to St Columba ’ s College , a boarding and day school in Whitechurch , Co Dublin .
Mr Wilkinson , a former pupil at Headfort , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a special atmosphere which parents , students and staff valued .
“ You don ’ t come to work at Headfort to get rich .
You sort of get sucked in by the place , and staff felt like a family .
The children were an extension of that .
“ We often found that kids would come back and the sort of kids who gave out about us , giving out to them or punishing them , came back and realised how much freedom we were actually giving them when they went @ @ @ @ @ @

Headfort School, Kells, Co Meath, based in a Georgian mansion which dates back to the 1760s. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Ireland’s only boarding school for children aged between seven and 13 years of age has closed after more than 70 years due to financial challenges that have been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Headfort School in Kells, Co Meath had more than 100 children attending as day pupils and borders, as well as a Montessori school for three to seven year olds. About 25 staff were employed at the school.
Neville Wilkinson, senior master at Headfort, said the school had been struggling financially for years and the Government's decision to close schools to help contain the Covid-19 threat was the "final nail in the coffin".
“We have always danced a fine line . . . The board was trying to raise money and to persuade donors but when it really kicked in, we realised that the amounts were going to be too large. Liquidation was the best of the bad options,” he said.
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“I think the staff are, on the whole, pretty sad about the loss of the place; sadness is the overwhelming emotion.”
Cllr Sean Drew described the news as the "end of an era" and a loss to the local economy."People are shocked and saddened all over the town by the breaking news. I'm sure past pupils have great memories of their time there and the teaching staff were a huge bonus to the local community."
TV documentary
The school, based in a Georgian mansion dating back to the 1760s, was the subject of a film and TV documentary in recent years.
Fees at the school were up to €18,000 a year for boarders and just under €15,000 for under-10s. Class sizes were, on average, between 12 and 15 students.
Pupils were offered a wide variety of subject choices including Latin, scripture and computer studies. The activities offered included hockey, rugby, cricket, horse-riding, tennis and swimming.
It is understood the decision to close was made by the school board which rents the building from the Headfort Trust.
Another education source said Headfort’s ineligibility for State funding meant it was especially financially vulnerable.
“Boarding for children of that age has been going out of fashion. Schools like it in the UK are also under financial pressure and have been struggling to survive. The coronavirus closures are tipping some over the edge,” the source said.
The school traditionally had strong links with the UK, with many children progressing to second-level education in England. More recently these links have been diluted and many boarders have gone to St Columba's College, a boarding and day school in Whitechurch, Co Dublin.
Mr Wilkinson, a former pupil at Headfort, said the teaching community there helped to create a special atmosphere which parents, students and staff valued.
“You don’t come to work at Headfort to get rich. You sort of get sucked in by the place, and staff felt like a family. The children were an extension of that.
“We often found that kids would come back and the sort of kids who gave out about us, giving out to them or punishing them, came back and realised how much freedom we were actually giving them when they went on to secondary school.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Remand prisoner challenges segregation in Midlands Prison

A man remanded in custody pending his trial on an attempted murder charge has brought a High Court challenge over his detention in the Midlands Prison segregation unit .
Caolan Smyth claims that since he was moved to the prison months ago , he has been locked in his cell for 23 hours a day .
He claims he has been told by the prison authorities that he is being kept away from other prisoners for his own safety due to a threat to his life .
Mr Smyth strongly disagrees with that assessment and rejects claims his life is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says his segregation from the general prison population is taking its toll on his physical and mental health .
The 28-year-old , of Cuileann Court , Donore , Co Meath , is charged with the attempted murder of James ‘ Mago ’ Gately , who was injured after being shot five times at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh , Co Dublin , on May 10th , 2017 .
His trial is pending before the non-jury Special Criminal Court .
Represented by Keith Spencer BL , instructed by Niall O ’ Connor and Co @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as his detention in solitary confinement , that he is only permitted screened visits and is not given regular exercise .
He says he can not avail of the educational , vocational and recreational facilities given to other prisoners due to the segregation .
It is claimed the prison service has not provided any information to justify its claim he has been isolated from other prisoners for his own safety .
The conditions of his detention , it is alleged , amount to imposition of a punishment without any disciplinary hearings being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his rights under the Constitution and European Convention of Human Rights , including to bodily integrity .
He also claims his right to prepare for his trial is not being respected and he can not get professional visits from his Dublin-based lawyers after 5.30pm on weekdays .
Arising out of the conditions of his detention , Mr Smyth has brought judicial review proceedings against the governor of the Midlands Prison , the Irish Prison Service and the Minister for Justice .
He wants various orders , including one quashing the governor ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s segregation unit .
Mr Justice Senan Allen adjourned the matter to next month .

A man remanded in custody pending his trial on an attempted murder charge has brought a High Court challenge over his detention in the Midlands Prison segregation unit. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins.
A man remanded in custody pending his trial on an attempted murder charge has brought a High Court challenge over his detention in the Midlands Prison segregation unit.
Caolan Smyth claims that since he was moved to the prison months ago, he has been locked in his cell for 23 hours a day. He claims he has been told by the prison authorities that he is being kept away from other prisoners for his own safety due to a threat to his life.
Mr Smyth strongly disagrees with that assessment and rejects claims his life is in danger from other prisoners. He says his segregation from the general prison population is taking its toll on his physical and mental health.
The 28-year-old, of Cuileann Court, Donore, Co Meath, is charged with the attempted murder of James ‘Mago’ Gately, who was injured after being shot five times at a Topaz garage in Clonshaugh, Co Dublin, on May 10th, 2017. His trial is pending before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
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Represented by Keith Spencer BL, instructed by Niall O’Connor and Co Solicitors, Mr Smyth claims, as well as his detention in solitary confinement, that he is only permitted screened visits and is not given regular exercise.
Justification
He says he cannot avail of the educational, vocational and recreational facilities given to other prisoners due to the segregation. It is claimed the prison service has not provided any information to justify its claim he has been isolated from other prisoners for his own safety.
The conditions of his detention, it is alleged, amount to imposition of a punishment without any disciplinary hearings being conducted and amount to a breach of his rights under the Constitution and European Convention of Human Rights, including to bodily integrity.
He also claims his right to prepare for his trial is not being respected and he cannot get professional visits from his Dublin-based lawyers after 5.30pm on weekdays.
Arising out of the conditions of his detention, Mr Smyth has brought judicial review proceedings against the governor of the Midlands Prison, the Irish Prison Service and the Minister for Justice.
He wants various orders, including one quashing the governor’s decision to detain him in the prison’s segregation unit.
Mr Justice Senan Allen adjourned the matter to next month.


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Legal framework for Northern Ireland abortion service published

Abortion services will be available without restriction in Northern Ireland until the 12th week of pregnancy from March 31st .
The service will also be available up until 24 weeks if the continuation of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the woman ’ s physical or mental health greater than that of termination .
Abortion will be available with no time limit in cases of severe foetal impairment or fatal foetal abnormality , or if there is a risk of death or grave permanent injury to the pregnant woman .
The UK government published the legal framework for access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday .
Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in October as a result of legislation passed in the UK parliament .
The North ’ s Department of Health , healthcare professionals , Royal Colleges , the all-Ireland church leaders group , abortion service providers , trade unions , civil society organisations and individuals with experience of abortion took part in a six-week consultation on the legal framework last year .
Under the legislation , only medical professionals - registered doctors , nurses or midwives - will be able to perform a termination .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ premises and in Health and Social Care ( HSC ) Trust clinics and hospitals .
The second stage of early medical terminations may be carried out in women ’ s homes .
In the case of terminations after 12 weeks , a certificate must be signed by two medical professionals “ certifying in good faith that one of the grounds has been met ” .
Conscious objectors will not be required to provide the service , except where necessary to save the woman ’ s life or prevent grave permanent injury .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their views on the creation of exclusion zones to protect women accessing abortion services from protesters , as well as the provision of designated spaces where protesters could gather .
Exclusion zones have not been established , but the UK government this would be kept “ under review once abortion services have been commissioned and operational in Northern Ireland for some time ” .
The minister of state to the Northern Ireland Office ( NIO ) , Robin Walker MP , said that in considering the consultation responses , “ we have sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our legal obligations , and taken pragmatic decisions informed by evidence , in order to bring forward a new legislative framework that will be operationally sound , that works best for Northern Ireland and that delivers on the government ’ s duty ” .
He said that of the submissions received 79 per cent expressed “ a view registering their general opposition to any abortion provision in Northern Ireland beyond that which is currently permitted .
“ These views were carefully assessed and noted , recognising the strength of feeling expressed by many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a legal obligation to introduce a framework , ” he said .
The North ’ s first minister , Arlene Foster , who opposed the decriminalisation of abortion , said it was a “ very sad day for Northern Ireland ” .
“ I fundamentally reject that Westminster has brought these forward today , ” she said .
“ We have a devolved administration , it should have been a devolved administration that dealt with these issues .
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we will be looking at how we can deal with these issues going @ @ @ @ @ @

A file photo of an abortion rights rally staged outside Belfast City Hall in May 2018. Abortion services will be available without restriction in Northern Ireland until the 12th week of pregnancy from March 31st. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images.
Abortion services will be available without restriction in Northern Ireland until the 12th week of pregnancy from March 31st.
The service will also be available up until 24 weeks if the continuation of the pregnancy would involve a risk to the woman’s physical or mental health greater than that of termination.
Abortion will be available with no time limit in cases of severe foetal impairment or fatal foetal abnormality, or if there is a risk of death or grave permanent injury to the pregnant woman.
The UK government published the legal framework for access to abortion services in the North on Wednesday. Abortion was decriminalised in Northern Ireland in October as a result of legislation passed in the UK parliament.
READ MORE
The North's Department of Health, healthcare professionals, Royal Colleges, the all-Ireland church leaders group, abortion service providers, trade unions, civil society organisations and individuals with experience of abortion took part in a six-week consultation on the legal framework last year.
Under the legislation, only medical professionals - registered doctors, nurses or midwives - will be able to perform a termination.
Abortions can be carried out in GP premises and in Health and Social Care (HSC) Trust clinics and hospitals. The second stage of early medical terminations may be carried out in women’s homes.
Good faith
In the case of terminations after 12 weeks, a certificate must be signed by two medical professionals “certifying in good faith that one of the grounds has been met”.
Conscious objectors will not be required to provide the service, except where necessary to save the woman’s life or prevent grave permanent injury.
In the consultation, respondents were asked for their views on the creation of exclusion zones to protect women accessing abortion services from protesters, as well as the provision of designated spaces where protesters could gather.
Exclusion zones have not been established, but the UK government this would be kept “under review once abortion services have been commissioned and operational in Northern Ireland for some time”.
The minister of state to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO), Robin Walker MP, said that in considering the consultation responses, "we have sought to balance the range of views against our legal obligations, and taken pragmatic decisions informed by evidence, in order to bring forward a new legislative framework that will be operationally sound, that works best for Northern Ireland and that delivers on the government's duty".
He said that of the submissions received 79 per cent expressed “a view registering their general opposition to any abortion provision in Northern Ireland beyond that which is currently permitted.
“These views were carefully assessed and noted, recognising the strength of feeling expressed by many. However, the government remains under a legal obligation to introduce a framework,” he said.
The North’s first minister, Arlene Foster, who opposed the decriminalisation of abortion, said it was a “very sad day for Northern Ireland”.
“I fundamentally reject that Westminster has brought these forward today,” she said. “We have a devolved administration, it should have been a devolved administration that dealt with these issues . . . we will be looking at how we can deal with these issues going forward in the future.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-25--Covid-19: Italy, Austria and UK account for most imported cases

People returning from Italy , Austria and the UK account for most of the travel-related coronavirus cases that have been diagnosed in Ireland to date , an analysis of confirmed infections finds .
There have been six outbreak clusters of Covid-19 in hospitals and four in nursing homes , the report by the HSE ’ s Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) states .
The incidence of the disease is highest in Dublin , followed by Westmeath and Cork .
Young people , while far less likely to contract the disease , have been hospitalised and even admitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , the analysis shows .
The first report to examine the epidemiology of Covid-19 in Ireland covers the period up to last Sunday , when 965 cases had been reported .
By then , 277 patients had required hospitalisation ( 28.7 per cent ) and 36 ( 3.7 per cent ) had been admitted to intensive care and there had been six deaths .
While two-thirds of cases originated in Ireland , people returning from Italy accounted for 61 cases , followed by the UK ( 44 ) , Austria ( 39 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the health surveillance centre .
Thirteen cases were related to travel from France , seven from Switzerland , and three from the United States .
Cases have also been linked to people returning from 17 other countries including Andorra , Brazil , Bulgaria , Czech Republic , Netherlands , Philippines , Portugal , Singapore , Sri Lanka and Sweden .
A breakdown by age shows that just five children aged under five had contracted the disease , equivalent to 0.5 per cent of all cases .
Just over 10 per cent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent were among over-65s .
However , the report also calculates the age-specific incidence rate , which is lowest among under-15s , rises to 13.4 per cent for 15- to 24-year-olds , and ranges between 24.5 per cent and 30.5 per cent for all older age groups .
Two under-fives and two five- to 14-year-olds have been hospitalised by the disease , along with 15 people aged 15 to 24 .
One child aged between five and 14 has been admitted to intensive care , along with two 25- to 34-year-olds , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and 10 people aged between 45 and 54 years .
There have also been eight intensive care admissions among 55- to 64-year-olds and 12 among those aged 65 and over .
No breakdown of the age gradient for fatal cases has been provided , presumably because the numbers remain low .
While foreign travel was implicated in the infection of 62 healthcare workers , no foreign travel was determined in 156 confirmed cases among healthcare workers .
The vast majority of these were in the east , with 111 cases , followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Healthcare workers have become infected in all HSE regions .
An analysis of clusters found 13 were travel-related , 10 related to the “ private house ” and six were in hospitals .
Five had broken out in extended families , four in nursing homes ( all in the east ) and just two in workplaces .

People returning from Italy, Austria and the UK account for most of the travel-related coronavirus cases that have been diagnosed in Ireland to date, an analysis of confirmed infections finds.
There have been six outbreak clusters of Covid-19 in hospitals and four in nursing homes, the report by the HSE’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) states.
The incidence of the disease is highest in Dublin, followed by Westmeath and Cork.
Young people, while far less likely to contract the disease, have been hospitalised and even admitted to intensive care as a result of the virus, the analysis shows.
READ MORE
The first report to examine the epidemiology of Covid-19 in Ireland covers the period up to last Sunday, when 965 cases had been reported.
By then, 277 patients had required hospitalisation (28.7 per cent) and 36 (3.7 per cent) had been admitted to intensive care and there had been six deaths.
While two-thirds of cases originated in Ireland, people returning from Italy accounted for 61 cases, followed by the UK (44), Austria (39) and Spain (20), said the health surveillance centre. Thirteen cases were related to travel from France, seven from Switzerland, and three from the United States.
Cases have also been linked to people returning from 17 other countries including Andorra, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Philippines, Portugal, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Sweden.
A breakdown by age shows that just five children aged under five had contracted the disease, equivalent to 0.5 per cent of all cases. Just over 10 per cent of cases were among under-25s, while 17.1 per cent were among over-65s.
Age-specific incidence rate
However, the report also calculates the age-specific incidence rate, which is lowest among under-15s, rises to 13.4 per cent for 15- to 24-year-olds, and ranges between 24.5 per cent and 30.5 per cent for all older age groups.
Two under-fives and two five- to 14-year-olds have been hospitalised by the disease, along with 15 people aged 15 to 24.
One child aged between five and 14 has been admitted to intensive care, along with two 25- to 34-year-olds, three in the 35- to 44-year-old bracket, and 10 people aged between 45 and 54 years. There have also been eight intensive care admissions among 55- to 64-year-olds and 12 among those aged 65 and over.
No breakdown of the age gradient for fatal cases has been provided, presumably because the numbers remain low.
While foreign travel was implicated in the infection of 62 healthcare workers, no foreign travel was determined in 156 confirmed cases among healthcare workers. The vast majority of these were in the east, with 111 cases, followed by the south, with 19. Healthcare workers have become infected in all HSE regions.
An analysis of clusters found 13 were travel-related, 10 related to the “private house” and six were in hospitals. Five had broken out in extended families, four in nursing homes (all in the east) and just two in workplaces.


theirishtimes--2020-03-26--Gardaí believe Kilkenny woman may have been dead for some time

Gardaí believe a pensioner found dead in her home on Wednesday evening may have been dead at the property for some time before her remains were discovered .
The remains of the victim , who is in her 70s , were left at the crime scene overnight , at a house on Maudlin St in Kilkenny City , pending the arrival of a pathologist on Thursday morning .
Her body was due to be examined at the scene before being removed for a postmortem examination which gardaí believed would take place later on Thursday .
Garda sources said only when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the woman ’ s death become clear .
While the death of the woman was being treated as “ unexplained ” in the first hours after the discovery of the body , a man has been arrested .
He has been taken into custody in Kilkenny .
He is in his 20s , from Kilkenny and was known to the dead woman .
“ Gardaí in Kilkenny are investigating the circumstances surrounding the unexplained death of a woman in her 70s , whose body was discovered in a house in Kilkenny City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement .
“ The scene is currently preserved and the body of the woman remains at the scene .
A male is currently detained in Kilkenny Garda station in relation to this incident .
”

A garda outside the house on Maudlin Street in Kilkenny cit where the body of a woman in her 70s was found. Photograph: Dylan Vaughan
A pensioner was found murdered in Kilkenny after a man contacted gardaí by telephone and claimed a woman had been killed in the city.
Gardaí subsequently traced the call to a man, who led officers to a house on Maudlin Street where they discovered the body of a woman in her 70s.
Gardaí believe the victim, named locally as Ann Butler, may have been dead at her home in a courtyard containing three small houses since last weekend.
The alarm had not been raised and gardaí had no information suggesting any crime had been committed or that there were any concerns for the victim, a vulnerable pensioner who lived alone.
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While a postmortem had not yet been completed by Thursday evening the case had been officially upgraded to a murder inquiry.
A man in his 20s who was arrested on Wednesday remained in custody in Kilkenny City Garda station on Thursday and was being questioned about the murder.
He was being held under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act which allows his detention without charge for up to 24 hours.
The remains of the victim, who was regarded as vulnerable, were left at the crime scene overnight pending the arrival of a pathologist on Thursday morning.
“The woman’s body has been removed from the scene to Dublin City Morgue where a postmortem will be completed by State Pathologist Dr Linda Mulligan later today,” a Garda statement said on Thursday afternoon.
The house is located among a cluster of three small single storey houses accessed by a flight of steps and is in a secluded area. Gardaí believe locals may not have missed Ms Butley in recent days because they assumed she was isolating in her home due to the Covid19 outbreak.
Members of the Garda Technical Bureau carried out a full examination of the property throughout Thursday while searches were also carried out around the house where the victim’s body was found.
A number of other locations in Kilkenny City were also being searched. It was understood these were linked to the man being questioned.
Gardaí in Kilkenny have appealed for anyone with information about the murder to contact them.