theirishtimes--2020-06-23--Family prison visits to resume after three months for 15 minutes slots

Prisoners are to be allowed family visits next month , more than three months after they were suspended due to Covid-19 , but for just 15 minutes at a time and for a single relative .
As part of a gradual reversal of Covid-19 restrictions , physical visits will also be limited to one per fortnight and to adults aged over 18 years in the first of a two phase return to normal operations .
Before the virus outbreak more than 4,500 visits took place in Irish facilities every week .
These were suspended on March 27th and replaced with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which still remain an option .
On Tuesday , the Irish Prison Service ( IPS ) released details of its plans to slowly allow people return to see relatives .
From July 20th , 15 minute visits will be allowed for one family member per prisoner , once a fortnight as well as the option of one video visit .
Prisoners can opt for two video visits instead if preferred .
“ In order to prevent the potential spread of infection all visits will be behind perspex screens and visitors will be required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ times , ” the prison service said .
“ No physical contact between prisoners and family members will be permitted.
” In phase two , beginning on Monday , August 17th , those visiting will be increased to two people and can include a child but the time limit of 15 minutes will remain .
These time limits have been put in place in order to reduce capacity in both waiting and visiting areas as part of ongoing social distancing necessity .
“ The Irish Prison Service fully appreciates how important contact with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed to the early return of physical family visits as soon as it was considered safe to do so , ” it said .
“ Visits will recommence on a phased basis and movement through the phases will be subject to ongoing risk assessment and will take account latest public health advice , the range of Government restrictions in place and other factors including the prevailing transmission rate in the community.
” The plan was welcomed by the Irish Penal Reform Trust .
Executive director of the advocacy body Fíona Ní Chinnéide said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months was necessary it has been “ incredibly tough ” on prisoners and their families for whom contact can be a lifeline .
However she said one of the positives to come out of Covid-19 was the national roll-out of family video visits as an alternative .
This “ has meant that there are children who , some for the first time , are now able to show their parents their bedrooms , ask for help with their homework , or see their parent ’ s face while they sit down to eat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were retained into the future while provision of in-cell phones would “ further support family contact ” .

The Irish Penal Reform Trust said one of the positives to come out of Covid-19 was the national roll-out of family video visits as an alternative. Photograph: iStock
Prisoners are to be allowed family visits next month, more than three months after they were suspended due to Covid-19, but for just 15 minutes at a time and for a single relative .
As part of a gradual reversal of Covid-19 restrictions, physical visits will also be limited to one per fortnight and to adults aged over 18 years in the first of a two phase return to normal operations.
Before the virus outbreak more than 4,500 visits took place in Irish facilities every week. These were suspended on March 27th and replaced with a system of video “visits” which still remain an option.
On Tuesday, the Irish Prison Service (IPS) released details of its plans to slowly allow people return to see relatives.
READ MORE
From July 20th, 15 minute visits will be allowed for one family member per prisoner, once a fortnight as well as the option of one video visit. Prisoners can opt for two video visits instead if preferred.
“In order to prevent the potential spread of infection all visits will be behind perspex screens and visitors will be required to wear a face covering at all times,” the prison service said. “No physical contact between prisoners and family members will be permitted.”
In phase two, beginning on Monday, August 17th, those visiting will be increased to two people and can include a child but the time limit of 15 minutes will remain.
These time limits have been put in place in order to reduce capacity in both waiting and visiting areas as part of ongoing social distancing necessity.
“The Irish Prison Service fully appreciates how important contact with family is to prisoners and has been committed to the early return of physical family visits as soon as it was considered safe to do so,” it said.
“Visits will recommence on a phased basis and movement through the phases will be subject to ongoing risk assessment and will take account latest public health advice, the range of Government restrictions in place and other factors including the prevailing transmission rate in the community.”
The plan was welcomed by the Irish Penal Reform Trust. Executive director of the advocacy body Fíona Ní Chinnéide said while the suspension of visits for three months was necessary it has been “incredibly tough” on prisoners and their families for whom contact can be a lifeline.
However she said one of the positives to come out of Covid-19 was the national roll-out of family video visits as an alternative.
This “has meant that there are children who, some for the first time, are now able to show their parents their bedrooms, ask for help with their homework, or see their parent’s face while they sit down to eat dinner.” She said it was crucial they were retained into the future while provision of in-cell phones would “further support family contact”.


theirishtimes--2020-06-23--Witness denies he made statement in Aaron Brady case so he wouldn’t be deported

A defence barrister for the man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe apologised on Tuesday for asking “ an outrageous question ” of a key prosecution witness and suggesting he was “ engaged in dissident IRA activity ” .
During a lengthy cross examination Daniel Cahill ( 28 ) , giving evidence via video link from a building in New York , denied being a member of the “ Ryan Crew ” or Dublin Real IRA and insisted he was telling the truth when he told the trial that the accused man Aaron Brady admitted on three occasions to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also received an apology from defence counsel for suggesting that he was engaged in Real IRA activity in 2012 with the Alan and Vincent Ryan “ crew ” , a suggestion that the trial Judge Mr Justice Michael White said was “ outrageous ” and “ unacceptable ” .
He also denied that he gave evidence so that he would not be deported from the United States .
Mr Cahill accepted that he had been a childhood friend of Vincent Ryan and that he knew Dean Evans , who murdered dissident republican Peter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Co Meath in March 2013 .
But he said he was never involved in criminality , had no interest in Mr Ryan ’ s “ business ” and that he put distance between himself and Mr Ryan when he saw Mr Ryan wearing a bulletproof vest .
Aaron Brady ( 28 ) from New Road , Crossmaglen , Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25 , 2013 at Lordship Credit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location .
During his direct evidence on Monday Mr Cahill , a bar tender , said that the defendant told him twice at a bar and once at a house party in New York that he shot a garda in Ireland .
Justin McQuade BL for the defence on Tuesday said the truth is that Mr Brady never made these admissions to the witness and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it when he spoke to off-duty gardaí in a bar on Time Square on St Patrick ’ s Day , 2017 .
The witness said he did mention it to gardaí on that occasion but he was working in a busy bar , the gardaí were drinking and one of them told him she didn ’ t want to talk about it because it upset her .
He said he didn ’ t know why gardaí did not follow up on what he had said .
Mr McQuade suggested to the witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home in July 2019 to ask if he would speak to gardaí about Aaron Brady his future in America “ flashed before your eyes ” and that he had a lot to lose .
Mr Cahill said he is married to an American citizen and that Homeland Security made it clear to him that they were there to make sure his rights were not infringed .
They told him it was his choice if he wanted to make a statement .
When Mr McQuade suggested that he was presented with a situation where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to the departure gates he replied : “ No sir .
I am legally bound to my wife.
” He said that he knew Immigration and Customs Enforcement ( ICE ) had been deporting people at that time who had no status but he was not one of those people .
He added : “ I ’ m here to give evidence because I choose to , not because I have to.
” When asked about his life before leaving Ireland in 2013 , Mr Cahill said he was a childhood friend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dead in February 2016 .
His older brother Alan Ryan , who Mr McQuade said was known as the leader of the Dublin Real IRA , was shot dead in 2012 .
The witness said the Ryans lived a couple of doors from him on the same street and as a child he would play football and hang around with Vincent Ryan .
But when Mr McQuade asked him if he was a member of the “ Ryan crew ” Mr Cahill replied : “ No I was not ” .
Mr McQuade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a member of the Ryan crew and the witness replied : “ No , I was a hairdresser.
” Mr McQuade said : “ You were a member of the Ryan crew by that I mean the Dublin Real IRA.
” The witness replied : “ That is completely false .
That is a ridiculous statement to say .
I have never committed crimes like that.
” When Mr McQuade again stated : “ I am putting it to you that you were a member of the Real IRA , ” Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question multiple times and added : “ It is false .
I didn ’ t even go to his funeral .
I wasn ’ t a member of his crew .
What do you mean ?
” When Mr McQuade suggested that the witness was “ engaged in dissident IRA activity ” in 2012 the witness replied , “ no that is false , ” and prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC intervened saying : “ This is an outrageous line of cross examination.
” Mr Grehan asked for a ruling by the judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court .
When they returned Mr Justice Michael White told them that the final question asked by Mr McQuade was “ an outrageous question ” .
He said it was “ unacceptable and shouldn ’ t have been put by Mr McQuade.
” Mr McQuade apologised , saying he had “ overstepped the mark ” .
Mr Cahill said he grew up in a neighbourhood in Dublin 13 surrounded by poverty and crime .
He said he knew Vincent Ryan and Dean Evans and would often see them at the gym or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ryan was a prominent figure in the neighbourhood and had always been kind to him .
If they met he would chat to him but he wasn ’ t someone he spent time with day to day .
He agreed that Mr Ryan was at his birthday party in 2012 .
While he said he does not condone “ anything he stood for ” , he said he didn ’ t hold anything against him either .
He didn ’ t want any part of Mr Ryan ’ s “ business ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I didn ’ t want to be a part of it .
I didn ’ t want to know what it was and didn ’ t want anything to do with what he did.
” The witness also accepted that he had gone on a sponsored walk for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and while there he held a banner with Vincent Ryan .
The cross examination continues on Wednesday in front of Mr Justice White and a jury of six men and seven women .

A defence barrister for the man accused of murdering Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe apologised on Tuesday for asking "an outrageous question" of a key prosecution witness and suggesting he was "engaged in dissident IRA activity".
During a lengthy cross examination Daniel Cahill (28), giving evidence via video link from a building in New York, denied being a member of the "Ryan Crew" or Dublin Real IRA and insisted he was telling the truth when he told the trial that the accused man Aaron Brady admitted on three occasions to shooting Det Gda Donohoe.
The witness also received an apology from defence counsel for suggesting that he was engaged in Real IRA activity in 2012 with the Alan and Vincent Ryan "crew", a suggestion that the trial Judge Mr Justice Michael White said was "outrageous" and "unacceptable".
He also denied that he gave evidence so that he would not be deported from the United States.
READ MORE
Mr Cahill accepted that he had been a childhood friend of Vincent Ryan and that he knew Dean Evans, who murdered dissident republican Peter Butterly outside the Huntsman Inn in Gormanston, Co Meath in March 2013. But he said he was never involved in criminality, had no interest in Mr Ryan’s “business” and that he put distance between himself and Mr Ryan when he saw Mr Ryan wearing a bulletproof vest.
Aaron Brady (28) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.
During his direct evidence on Monday Mr Cahill, a bar tender, said that the defendant told him twice at a bar and once at a house party in New York that he shot a garda in Ireland.
Justin McQuade BL for the defence on Tuesday said the truth is that Mr Brady never made these admissions to the witness and that if he had Mr Cahill would have said it when he spoke to off-duty gardaí in a bar on Time Square on St Patrick’s Day, 2017.
The witness said he did mention it to gardaí on that occasion but he was working in a busy bar, the gardaí were drinking and one of them told him she didn’t want to talk about it because it upset her. He said he didn’t know why gardaí did not follow up on what he had said.
Mr McQuade suggested to the witness that when Homeland Security called to his home in July 2019 to ask if he would speak to gardaí about Aaron Brady his future in America “flashed before your eyes” and that he had a lot to lose.
Mr Cahill said he is married to an American citizen and that Homeland Security made it clear to him that they were there to make sure his rights were not infringed. They told him it was his choice if he wanted to make a statement. When Mr McQuade suggested that he was presented with a situation where he must either give a statement or go to the departure gates he replied: “No sir. I am legally bound to my wife.” He said that he knew Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) had been deporting people at that time who had no status but he was not one of those people.
He added: “I’m here to give evidence because I choose to, not because I have to.”
When asked about his life before leaving Ireland in 2013, Mr Cahill said he was a childhood friend of Vincent Ryan, who was shot dead in February 2016. His older brother Alan Ryan, who Mr McQuade said was known as the leader of the Dublin Real IRA, was shot dead in 2012.
The witness said the Ryans lived a couple of doors from him on the same street and as a child he would play football and hang around with Vincent Ryan. But when Mr McQuade asked him if he was a member of the “Ryan crew” Mr Cahill replied: “No I was not”.
Mr McQuade put it to him again that he was a member of the Ryan crew and the witness replied: “No, I was a hairdresser.” Mr McQuade said: “You were a member of the Ryan crew by that I mean the Dublin Real IRA.”
The witness replied: “That is completely false. That is a ridiculous statement to say. I have never committed crimes like that.” When Mr McQuade again stated: “I am putting it to you that you were a member of the Real IRA,” Mr Cahill said that he had answered the question multiple times and added: “It is false. I didn’t even go to his funeral. I wasn’t a member of his crew. What do you mean?”
When Mr McQuade suggested that the witness was “engaged in dissident IRA activity” in 2012 the witness replied, “no that is false,” and prosecution counsel Brendan Grehan SC intervened saying: “This is an outrageous line of cross examination.” Mr Grehan asked for a ruling by the judge and the jury was asked to leave the court. When they returned Mr Justice Michael White told them that the final question asked by Mr McQuade was “an outrageous question”. He said it was “unacceptable and shouldn’t have been put by Mr McQuade.”
Mr McQuade apologised, saying he had “overstepped the mark”.
Mr Cahill said he grew up in a neighbourhood in Dublin 13 surrounded by poverty and crime. He said he knew Vincent Ryan and Dean Evans and would often see them at the gym or around the neighbourhood. He said Vincent Ryan was a prominent figure in the neighbourhood and had always been kind to him. If they met he would chat to him but he wasn’t someone he spent time with day to day. He agreed that Mr Ryan was at his birthday party in 2012. While he said he does not condone “anything he stood for”, he said he didn’t hold anything against him either. He didn’t want any part of Mr Ryan’s “business”, adding: “Whatever his business was I didn’t want to be a part of it. I didn’t want to know what it was and didn’t want anything to do with what he did.”
The witness also accepted that he had gone on a sponsored walk for the 32 County Sovereignty Movement and while there he held a banner with Vincent Ryan.
The cross examination continues on Wednesday in front of Mr Justice White and a jury of six men and seven women.


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Judge spares man (25) sentence for attacking and biting garda

A judge has desisted from imposing a sentence upon a man for attacking and biting a garda who had driven him home after finding him lying in his own vomit on the side of the road .
Shane Halpin ( 25 ) , of Fouillard Lane , Lusk , Co Dublin , pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Derek Dalton causing him harm at his address on September 2nd , 2018 .
He has no previous convictions .
Judge Melanie Greally previously imposed an indicative sentence of two years imprisonment and deferred the sentence until April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was compliant with a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour to that date then she would make an order discharging him from the indictment .
The case was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Judge Greally on Wednesday said she intended to apply “ an exceptional provision ” .
This can be invoked to minimise the effect of a conviction when the court is of the view that it would be unjust for an individual to carry a conviction into their adult life .
She said Halpin “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but that it seemed the case was “ a complete aberration ” and he was unlikely to end up before the courts again .
Judge Greally said she desisted from imposing a sentence and instead discharged Halpin from the indictment forthwith .
At a previous sentencing hearing , Sgt John Cannon told John Berry BL , prosecuting , that in the early hours of the day in question , gardaí received a call about a person lying unconscious on the side of the road at Blakes Cross , Lusk .
Sgt Cannon said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vomited on himself .
Garda Dalton decided to bring him home and called for a garda van .
Garda Dalton was concerned that Haplin might not have given the correct address , so he knocked on the door and asked the accused ’ s mother if Halpin was welcome there .
After she said that he was , Halpin emerged from the garda van and was “ quite aggressive ” .
Halpin started grappling with Garda Dalton and ripped his radio and torch from his person .
Garda Dalton raised his arm to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accused on the hand .
The two men ended up on the ground and Halpin was initially subdued .
Halpin , however , managed to free himself and bit Garda Dalton on the knee .
Garda Dalton suffered a fracture to a bone in his hand along with the two bites and an injury to his groin .
The court heard he could not return to duty for six months as a result .
Sgt Cannon told the court that Halpin had returned from a six month internship in the US that evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said Halpin had little recollection of the incident and was horrified by his behaviour as recounted by his mother the next morning .
Judge Greally said this was a very serious incident of assault that left injuries to an unfortunate garda “ who was carrying out an act of considerable kindness ” .
She directed that Halpin hand over €3,000 , which he had with him in court , to Little Blue Heroes , a charity nominated by Garda Dalton .

Shane Halpin (25), of Fouillard Lane, Lusk, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Derek Dalton causing him harm at his address on September 2nd, 2018.
A judge has desisted from imposing a sentence upon a man for attacking and biting a garda who had driven him home after finding him lying in his own vomit on the side of the road.
Shane Halpin (25), of Fouillard Lane, Lusk, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Garda Derek Dalton causing him harm at his address on September 2nd, 2018. He has no previous convictions.
Judge Melanie Greally previously imposed an indicative sentence of two years imprisonment and deferred the sentence until April 1st. She said that if Halpin was compliant with a bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour to that date then she would make an order discharging him from the indictment.
The case was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Judge Greally on Wednesday said she intended to apply “an exceptional provision”. This can be invoked to minimise the effect of a conviction when the court is of the view that it would be unjust for an individual to carry a conviction into their adult life.
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She said Halpin “behaved in a disgraceful way”, but that it seemed the case was “a complete aberration” and he was unlikely to end up before the courts again.
Judge Greally said she desisted from imposing a sentence and instead discharged Halpin from the indictment forthwith.
At a previous sentencing hearing, Sgt John Cannon told John Berry BL, prosecuting, that in the early hours of the day in question, gardaí received a call about a person lying unconscious on the side of the road at Blakes Cross, Lusk.
Intoxicated
Sgt Cannon said Halpin was intoxicated and appeared to have vomited on himself. Garda Dalton decided to bring him home and called for a garda van.
Garda Dalton was concerned that Haplin might not have given the correct address, so he knocked on the door and asked the accused’s mother if Halpin was welcome there.
After she said that he was, Halpin emerged from the garda van and was “quite aggressive”. Halpin started grappling with Garda Dalton and ripped his radio and torch from his person. Garda Dalton raised his arm to shield himself and was bitten by the accused on the hand.
The two men ended up on the ground and Halpin was initially subdued. Halpin, however, managed to free himself and bit Garda Dalton on the knee.
Garda Dalton suffered a fracture to a bone in his hand along with the two bites and an injury to his groin. The court heard he could not return to duty for six months as a result.
Sgt Cannon told the court that Halpin had returned from a six month internship in the US that evening and had met friends for drinks. He said Halpin had little recollection of the incident and was horrified by his behaviour as recounted by his mother the next morning.
Judge Greally said this was a very serious incident of assault that left injuries to an unfortunate garda “who was carrying out an act of considerable kindness”.
She directed that Halpin hand over €3,000, which he had with him in court, to Little Blue Heroes, a charity nominated by Garda Dalton.


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--MPs hear call to ‘knock heads together’ on Troubles’ legacy issues

The “ unpicking ” of the agreement to deal with Northern Ireland Troubles ’ legacy issues has led to a “ severe dilution ” of what was proposed , a member of the Victims and Survivors Forum has told a Westminster committee .
Emmett McConomy , whose 11-year-old brother Stephen was killed in 1981 by a plastic bullet fired by a British soldier , was giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee ’ s inquiry into the UK government ’ s proposals to address the legacy of the Troubles .
“ The public has been consulted , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a political sense , mechanisms were proposed and put in place but we ’ ve had stalling , delays and what appears now is the unpicking of the Stormont House Agreement for political reasons , national security reasons , ” he said .
The North ’ s victims ’ commissioner , Judith Thompson , told the committee that victims and survivors are now faced with legislation “ driven through Westminster that does little for them ” and they had not seen any detail of the changes proposed or had an opportunity for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t do to legacy what ’ s been done to the victims ’ payment , ” said Mary Moreland , a member of the forum whose husband , a part-time member of the Ulster Defence Regiment , was killed by the IRA in 1988 , in reference to the stalled payment scheme for victims of the Troubles .
“ There can ’ t be legislation put in place to say this is happening and then at the last minute change it .
It has to happen , ” she said .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knock heads together , and that has to come from Westminster.
” Questioned by committee chair , Simon Hoare MP , as to her views on the definition of a victim and whether she thought someone injured by their own hand should be eligible for the payment scheme , Ms Thompson said she was “ happy to accept a political decision which says that it proceeds without those people getting it ” .
A commitment to introduce legislation to implement the provisions on legacy issues outlined in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the New Decade , New Approach deal which restored the North ’ s Assembly in January .
Among its provisions was the creation of an independent Historical Investigations Unit ( HIU ) to investigate outstanding Troubles-related deaths .
Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis in March outlined a new approach to dealing with legacy issues which included “ significant changes ” that he said “ will be needed to obtain a broad consensus for the implementation of any legislation ” .
Under the new proposals , only cases where there is a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigated , and all other cases would be closed permanently .
This , he said , would end “ the cycle of reinvestigations into the Troubles in Northern Ireland that has failed victims and veterans alike ” .
Ms Thompson told the committee it was “ hard to see how the direction of travel signalled ” would achieve the “ investigative rigour , the commitment to families or the transparency and independence necessary ” , or how it would avoid subsequent legal challenge .
“ It remains the commission ’ s view that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Agreement offer the best opportunity to address the legacy of the past , ” she said .
Asked by North Antrim MP Ian Paisley about “ vexatious claims against veterans ” , Ms Thompson said there were five cases involving six soldiers being prosecuted in Northern Ireland , and she did not anticipate a great change in that number .
“ For those six families who will be relieved to hear , I ’ m sure , that their family member is no longer being investigated , there are hundreds of soldiers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this process will be told that they will not see the investigational truth , ” she said .
Ms Thompson said that unlike Iraq and Afghanistan and other theatres of war , UK citizens in Northern Ireland had suffered harm under UK law , and prosecutions only happened “ when you ’ ve had a police investigation and a public prosecution service decision that there is enough evidence to give a decent chance of conviction and it is in the public interest ” .
She also said Operation Kenova , which is currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , demonstrated that “ when you bring a modern-day approach ” to historic inquiries , “ you can achieve a very different result ” .
This would also , she said , “ cost far less than it will cost not to do it ” .
Some £30million per year , she said , was spent in Northern Ireland “ dealing with the past through things that weren ’ t dealing with it , and we ’ ve been doing that for decades ” .

Northern Ireland’s Victims’ Commissioner Judith Thompson told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee that victims and survivors of the Troubles are now faced with legislation ‘driven through Westminster that does little for them’. File photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times.
The "unpicking" of the agreement to deal with Northern Ireland Troubles' legacy issues has led to a "severe dilution" of what was proposed, a member of the Victims and Survivors Forum has told a Westminster committee.
Emmett McConomy, whose brother Stephen (11) was killed in 1981 by a plastic bullet fired by a British soldier, was giving evidence to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee’s inquiry into the UK government’s proposals to address the legacy of the Troubles.
"The public has been consulted, we've agreed to the Stormont House Agreement in a political sense, mechanisms were proposed and put in place but we've had stalling, delays and what appears now is the unpicking of the Stormont House Agreement for political reasons, national security reasons," he said.
The North's victims' commissioner, Judith Thompson, told the committee that victims and survivors are now faced with legislation "driven through Westminster that does little for them" and they had not seen any detail of the changes proposed or had an opportunity for further consultation.
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"We can't do to legacy what's been done to the victims' payment," said Mary Moreland, a member of the forum whose husband, a part-time member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, was killed by the IRA in 1988, in reference to the stalled payment scheme for victims of the Troubles.
“There can’t be legislation put in place to say this is happening and then at the last minute change it. It has to happen,” she said. “If that means knocking heads together, then knock heads together, and that has to come from Westminster.”
One of the pledges of the New Decade, New Approach deal, which restored the North’s Assembly in January, was a commitment to introduce legislation to implement the provisions on legacy issues outlined in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement within 100 days. Among its provisions was the creation of an independent Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) to investigate outstanding Troubles-related deaths.
Northern Ireland secretary Brandon Lewis in March outlined a new approach to dealing with legacy issues which included "significant changes" that he said "will be needed to obtain a broad consensus for the implementation of any legislation". Under the new proposals, only cases where there is a "realistic prospect" of prosecution would be investigated, and all other cases would be closed permanently. This, he said, would end "the cycle of reinvestigations into the Troubles in Northern Ireland that has failed victims and veterans alike".
‘Vexatious claims’
Asked by North Antrim MP Ian Paisley about "vexatious claims against veterans", Ms Thompson said there were five cases involving six soldiers being prosecuted in Northern Ireland, and she did not anticipate a great change in that number.
“For those six families who will be relieved to hear, I’m sure, that their family member is no longer being investigated, there are hundreds of soldiers and police officers’ families who in this process will be told that they will not see the investigational truth,” she said.
Ms Thompson said that unlike Iraq and Afghanistan and other theatres of war, UK citizens in Northern Ireland had suffered harm under UK law, and prosecutions only happened “when you’ve had a police investigation and a public prosecution service decision that there is enough evidence to give a decent chance of conviction and it is in the public interest”.
In a letter to MPs later on Wednesday, Ms Thompson said the objective of legacy legislation could not be to “close down investigations which families from all backgrounds need in order to acknowledge harm and to build a better and more reconciled future.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Concern for boy (14) missing in Belfast after cycling across city

A major search involving the PSNI , rescue services and scores of volunteers was continuing on Wednesday for Belfast teenager Noah Donohoe who has been missing since Sunday .
Police say they are becoming increasingly worried about the 14-year-old who was last seen in the Northwood Road and Premier Drive areas , just off the Shore Road in north Belfast .
He had cycled across the city from south to north Belfast and police fear that he may have fallen off his bicycle and sustained a head injury .
He was also seen discarding his clothes and getting back on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family say his actions were “ completely out of character ” .
PSNI Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said it believed the teenager left his home in South Belfast on Sunday at approximately 5.30 pm .
He was riding his black Apollo mountain bike and wearing a black skateboarding helmet , khaki green North Face jacket , grey sweat shorts with an emblem on one leg , a tie-die blue hoody , Nike trainers with a bright yellow ‘ tick ’ and carrying a khaki rucksack .
“ Noah was seen on Ormeau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He was then sighted again on Royal Avenue heading towards York Street a short time after .
Noah was then seen on North Queen Street heading towards the Limestone Road at 5.57 pm , ” said the officer .
“ An eyewitness believes they saw a young male matching Noah ’ s description fall off his bicycle on Sunday evening , possibly sustaining a head injury , in the vicinity of North Queen Street/York Street , but we do not know the specific time , ” added Chief Inspector Kirkpatrick .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back on his bicycle , cycling into Northwood Road where he then abandons all his clothing , as he is seen a short time later cycling while naked .
We believe Noah then dropped his bicycle and left the area on foot.
” There have been no further confirmed sightings of Noah since 6.08 pm on Sunday .
Police officers supported by an air support unit , police dogs and a tactical support group have been searching the area alongside community rescue service colleagues and local volunteers .
Appealing for help from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Noah ’ s family and police are very concerned for Noah as this is completely out of character .
”

A person attaches a poster of missing Noah Donohoe (14) to a window near where he was last seen in the Shore Road area of north Belfast. Photograph: PA
People in north Belfast have been urged to search their gardens, sheds and outbuildings for teenager Noah Donohoe, who has been missing since Sunday.
Police say they are becoming increasingly worried about the 14-year-old who was last seen in the Northwood Road and Premier Drive areas, just off the Shore Road.
He had cycled across the city from south to north Belfast and police fear he may have fallen off his bicycle and sustained a head injury. He was also seen discarding his clothes and getting back on his bicycle while naked.
People search for missing Noah Donohoe (14) who was last seen in the Shore Road area of north Belfast. Photograph: PA
Police and his family say his actions were “completely out of character”.
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Police officers supported by an air support unit, police dogs and a tactical support group have been searching the area alongside community rescue service colleagues and local volunteers.
The Hub Community and Research Centre on St Vincent Street is being used as a headquarters for the search, with hundreds of people gathering on the Shore Road to hand out posters. Community Search and Rescue teams have also been helping the PSNI to look for the missing teenager.
“We’ve been searching since Sunday evening, working through the night, and we’ve covered between a mile to a mile and a half radius with about 50-60 volunteers,” said unit Commander Darren Harper.
“People have come from Bangor, Ballymena, and across Northern Ireland to help us. At the minute, we would urge residents to search any outbuildings or sheds they may have.”
Local DUP councillor Dean McCullough urged people who live in the Skegoniell, Northwood and Seaview areas to help in the search. “It is a close-knit community and it will respond to events like this,” he said. “Search your front and your back garden, search sheds, search caravans, search the entries closest to your home.”
Many residents from the area were scanning the Grove playing fields for any trace of the missing teenager, with some using sticks to look through the bushes.
Pamela Peters, from Seaview, said: “We saw the search on Facebook and we’re all from the local area, so we decided to help.
“We all have children and our hearts go out to Noah’s poor mother.”
People search for missing Noah Donohoe (14) who was last seen in the Shore Road area of north Belfast. Photograph: PA
Kirsty Hoy, another resident helping with the search, said everyone was out looking for the teenager, “no matter which community they were from”.
North Belfast residents from the nationalist community were also helping search the Grove.
Louise Donaldson, from the Limestone Road, said: “I have child aged 13, just a year younger than Noah, and I would like to think that if it was them, everyone would be out helping.
“We’ve looked all round the York Road, the Limestone Road, Alexandra Park and at the train station at Yorkgate.”
Rosemary Carlisle, who lives on Jellicoe Drive, has a patch of rough ground behind her house and today it was inspected by the Search and Rescue team.
“They couldn’t see up there from Northwood Road, so they came to have a look at it from my back garden. It’s a no-man’s land of brambles and bushes in there - completely overgrown.”
PSNI Chief Inspector Gavin Kirkpatrick said it believed the teenager left his home in South Belfast on Sunday at about 5.30pm.
He was riding a black Apollo mountain bike and wearing a black skateboarding helmet, khaki green North Face jacket, grey sweat shorts with an emblem on one leg, a tie-die blue hoody, Nike trainers with a bright yellow 'tick' and carrying a khaki rucksack.
“Noah was seen on Ormeau Avenue at 5.45pm on Sunday evening. He was then sighted again on Royal Avenue heading towards York Street a short time after. Noah was then seen on North Queen Street heading towards the Limestone Road at 5.57pm,” he said.
“We believe Noah got back on his bicycle, cycling into Northwood Road where he then abandons all his clothing, as he is seen a short time later cycling while naked. We believe Noah then dropped his bicycle and left the area on foot.”
On Wednesday evening, Superintendent Muir Clark said there have been no further confirmed sightings of Noah since 6.11pm on Sunday.
“So far, we have recovered Noah’s black crash helmet, his Nike trainers with the yellow tick, blue tie-dye hoody and his mobile phone.
“We have not yet found the khaki green North Face coat, grey sweat shorts and a green backpack containing a Lenovo laptop.
“I really need people to check their own property, we are looking for a young, slim 14-year-old boy. Check your homes, sheds and outbuildings,” he said.
“If you have a shed or a caravan that hasn’t been used for some time, which is sitting on your driveway, please check it to see if Noah is there.
“If anyone has had clothing go missing from a washing line over the last few days, you need to contact us. If you are a landlord with a vacant property, check it.
In an appeal to Noah: “You are not in any trouble, get in touch and we will come to you.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Irish business leaders say ‘crude’ air travel measures hitting economy

The “ crude ” air travel quarantine isn ’ t working but is damaging Ireland ’ s economy , business representatives have said .
Danny McCoy , chief executive officer of business group Ibec , said the two-week isolation rule for arrivals needs to be balanced against the toll it is taking on tourism , aviation and other sectors .
“ It is a non effective quarantine , let ’ s face up to that , ” he said .
“ All that is required here legally is to fill in the forms.
” Mr McCoy was responding to calls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quarantine requirement , in place to curb the spread of coronavirus , to be dropped completely .
“ The proportion of people who have this ( coronavirus ) at the moment is incredibly small and we are asking everybody who is travelling in to take two weeks out for something they probably don ’ t have , to the point of trying to catch one , ” he told RTÉ ’ s Today with Sarah McInerney .
“ Tracing and testing is the issue here , not crude quarantines.
” In an interim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Aviation Recovery said the 14-day quarantine period “ makes non-essential and discretionary travel challenging , and inhibits business-related travel , which is critical for the Irish economy ” .
“ The taskforce notes that implementation of efficient test and trace regimes can provide effective alternatives to the current 14-day quarantine measure , ” it stated .
The taskforce wants travel restrictions lifted “ ideally ” by July 1st .
But a leading public health expert is warning that relaxing current air travel restrictions could threaten a second wave of coronavirus deaths in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of epidemiology and public health at the Royal Society of Medicine in London , said he favoured the concept of so-called “ air bridges ” with countries who have brought the virus under control but rejected calls to drop quarantines .
“ I don ’ t think that should happen , ” he said .
“ I doubt if very many people outside the aviation industry would think that is a sensible thing to do .
We need to keep up the barriers at the moment .
I think the way forward is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid island of Ireland , and then to make the travel links with other places with a similarly good situation.
” Dr Scally said the coronavirus crisis was not under control in the likes of the UK and the US , countries with which Ireland traditionally has strong air travel links , while the rise in cases globally is “ very , very worrying indeed ” .
“ This is a public health emergency and I very strongly feel public health concerns have to trump airline worries , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a zero-Covid Ireland and to try and ensure we don ’ t import cases .
Of course people can come , but there has to be a satisfactory quarantine arrangements to make sure we are not importing cases.
” Dr Scally blamed air travel for the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland .
“ That ’ s how it got here in the first place .
It was imported by air , ” he said .
“ We don ’ t need new cases when things are going really well domestically .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dr Scally also called for the government to consider stricter measures if people flout the current two week quarantine requirements after arriving in the country .
Over time , as more countries decide to eliminate the virus , more opportunities will open up for air bridges , said Dr Scally , who added he was in favour of that approach .
However , Eddie Wilson , chief executive of Ryanair , said air bridges won ’ t work .
“ I think the concept of air bridges is a fudge , really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are going to do that from Europe , where you ’ ve got the Schengen area , and even if you exclude some countries , ( passengers will ) still be able to move from one country to another.
” Mr Wilson said the concept was another “ form filling exercise ” at a time when “ everyone in Europe is now flying as a normal… and we ’ re out of step here in Ireland , ” Mr Wilson told Newstalk .

Ryanair said the concept of air bridges was a fudge. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
The “crude” air travel quarantine isn’t working but is damaging Ireland’s economy, business representatives have said.
Danny McCoy, chief executive officer of business group Ibec, said the two-week isolation rule for arrivals needs to be balanced against the toll it is taking on tourism, aviation and other sectors.
“It is a non effective quarantine, let’s face up to that,” he said.
“All that is required here legally is to fill in the forms.”
READ MORE
Mr McCoy was responding to calls by a State-appointed taskforce for the existing quarantine requirement, in place to curb the spread of coronavirus, to be dropped completely.
“The proportion of people who have this (coronavirus) at the moment is incredibly small and we are asking everybody who is travelling in to take two weeks out for something they probably don’t have, to the point of trying to catch one,” he told RTÉ’s Today with Sarah McInerney.
“Tracing and testing is the issue here, not crude quarantines.”
Interim report
In an interim report on Tuesday, the State-appointed Taskforce for Aviation Recovery said the 14-day quarantine period “makes non-essential and discretionary travel challenging, and inhibits business-related travel, which is critical for the Irish economy”.
“The taskforce notes that implementation of efficient test and trace regimes can provide effective alternatives to the current 14-day quarantine measure,” it stated.
The taskforce wants travel restrictions lifted “ideally” by July 1st.
But a leading public health expert is warning that relaxing current air travel restrictions could threaten a second wave of coronavirus deaths in Ireland.
Dr Gabriel Scally, president of epidemiology and public health at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, said he favoured the concept of so-called “air bridges” with countries who have brought the virus under control but rejected calls to drop quarantines.
“I don’t think that should happen,” he said.
“I doubt if very many people outside the aviation industry would think that is a sensible thing to do. We need to keep up the barriers at the moment. I think the way forward is first of all to have a zero Covid island of Ireland, and then to make the travel links with other places with a similarly good situation.”
Dr Scally said the coronavirus crisis was not under control in the likes of the UK and the US, countries with which Ireland traditionally has strong air travel links, while the rise in cases globally is “very, very worrying indeed”.
“This is a public health emergency and I very strongly feel public health concerns have to trump airline worries,” he said.
“So the only safe way is to have a zero-Covid Ireland and to try and ensure we don’t import cases. Of course people can come, but there has to be a satisfactory quarantine arrangements to make sure we are not importing cases.”
Arrival
Dr Scally blamed air travel for the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland.
“That’s how it got here in the first place. It was imported by air,” he said.
“We don’t need new cases when things are going really well domestically. We don’t need a second wave.”
Dr Scally also called for the government to consider stricter measures if people flout the current two week quarantine requirements after arriving in the country.
Over time, as more countries decide to eliminate the virus, more opportunities will open up for air bridges, said Dr Scally, who added he was in favour of that approach.
However, Eddie Wilson, chief executive of Ryanair, said air bridges won’t work.
“I think the concept of air bridges is a fudge, really,” he said.
“If you are going to do that from Europe, where you’ve got the Schengen area, and even if you exclude some countries, (passengers will) still be able to move from one country to another.”
Mr Wilson said the concept was another “form filling exercise” at a time when “everyone in Europe is now flying as a normal… and we’re out of step here in Ireland,” Mr Wilson told Newstalk.


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--‘Inspirational’ boy injured during birth secures €4.6m payment and HSE apology

The HSE has apologised and made a €4.6 million interim payment to a boy who brought a High Court medical negligence claim over the circumstances of his birth at Cavan General Hospital .
Tadhg James McKenna , who has cerebral palsy and requires constant care , sued the HSE for alleged negligence and breach of duty of care during the course of his birth on August 31st , 2017 .
Liability was previously conceded in relation to the breach of duty but causation was at issue .
That aspect of the claim was due to be heard by the High @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of court talks the matter was resolved .
As part of the settlement an apology was read before the court on Wednesday with Cavan General Hopistal and the HSE apologising “ unreservedly ” for failings in care that caused the injuries sustained by Tadhg at birth , and the consequential upset suffered by his family .
The statement added that the hospital and the HSE understood “ that neither this apology , nor the financial compensation granted by the court could negate the continuing distress and upset ” endured by the McKennas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The court heard that Tadhg , of Sruth An Mhuillan , Emyvale , Co Monaghan , who had sued through his mother , Emma Louise McKenna , suffers with seizures , respiratory attacks , fevers and requires constant medical care and monitoring .
Jerry Healy SC , appearing with Jonathan Kilfeather SC instructed by solicitor Barry Healy for Tadhg , said the family was happy to accept what was a good offer from the HSE .
As well as the apology , the HSE agreed that an interim payment of €4.6 million should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s care .
His case will return before the court in five years time .
Counsel said that the family ’ s view is that every day was a battle for survival for Tadhg , who had suffered very severe injuries .
Counsel added that the McKennas are dedicated to Tadgh .
He said Tadgh ’ s father Damien spends pretty much 24 hours a day with the boy and the family had also been inspired by the fact that Tadgh ’ s younger sibling had formed a very strong bond with him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcomed by Mr Justice Kevin Cross , who after approving the award praised the McKenna family for the ongoing care they have given Tadhg .
The judge adjourned the matter to a date in June 2025 .
In his action against the HSE it was claimed that Tadhg was born suffering from severe asphyxia and had to be resuscitated .
It was claimed that his mother ’ s labour was allowed to continue for more than 16 hours and there was an alleged failure to appropriately monitor his mother during labour and delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tadhg had also sought exemplary or aggravated damages over the alleged involvement by Dr Aamir Iqbal Malik , who had been the subject of a disciplinary investigation in the UK , in the boy ’ s birth .
Dr Malik was suspended from the medical register in Ireland by the High Court in May , pending further order .
In a statement read outside of court , Tadhg ’ s parents Emma and Damian McKenna , who were not present in court , said they appreciated that the HSE had “ finally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were disappointed that they had to wait almost three years for this to happen .
They said that what had happened to their son “ should never have happened ” and that the life of what should have been a perfectly healthy child was “ ruined.
” They added that Tadhg is “ a beautiful , amazing , inspirational boy ” who is much loved by his family and will “ now get the care he deserves ” .

The HSE has apologised and made a €4.6 million interim payment to a boy who brought a High Court medical negligence claim over the circumstances of his birth at Cavan General Hospital. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times.
The HSE has apologised and made a €4.6 million interim payment to a boy who brought a High Court medical negligence claim over the circumstances of his birth at Cavan General Hospital.
Tadhg James McKenna, who has cerebral palsy and requires constant care, sued the HSE for alleged negligence and breach of duty of care during the course of his birth on August 31st, 2017.
Liability was previously conceded in relation to the breach of duty but causation was at issue. That aspect of the claim was due to be heard by the High Court later this year, but the matter was resolved during out of court talks.
As part of the settlement an apology was read before the court on Wednesday with Cavan General Hopistal and the HSE apologising “unreservedly” for failings in care that caused the injuries sustained by Tadhg at birth.
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The statement added that the hospital and HSE understood “neither this apology, nor the financial compensation granted by the court could negate the continuing distress and upset” endured by the McKennas on a daily basis.
Constant care
The court heard that Tadhg, of Sruth An Mhuilinn, Emyvale, Co Monaghan, who sued through his mother, Emma Louise McKenna, suffers from seizures, respiratory attacks, fevers and requires constant medical care.
Jerry Healy SC, with Jonathan Kilfeather SC and solicitor Barry Healy for Tadhg, said the family was happy to accept what was a good offer from the HSE.
The HSE agreed that an interim payment of €4.6 million should be made to provide for Tadgh’s care. His case will return before the court in five years. Counsel said the family’s view was that every day was a battle for survival for Tadhg, who had suffered very severe injuries.
Mr Justice Kevin Cross welcomed the compromise in the case and, after approving the payment, praised the family for the care they have given Tadhg.
In his action against the HSE it was claimed that Tadhg was born suffering from severe asphyxia and had to be resuscitated. It was claimed that his mother’s labour was allowed to continue for more than 16 hours and there was an alleged failure to appropriately monitor her and the fetal heart rate during this time.
Suspended doctor
Tadhg had also sought exemplary or aggravated damages over the alleged involvement of Dr Aamir Iqbal Malik, who had been the subject of a disciplinary investigation in the UK, in his birth. Dr Malik was suspended from the medical register in Ireland by the High Court in May, pending further order.
In a statement read outside the court, Tadhg’s parents Emma and Damian McKenna, who were not present in court, said they appreciated that the HSE had “finally admitted liability”. However, they were disappointed that they had to wait almost three years for this to happen.
They said that what had happened to their son “should never have happened” and that the life of what should have been a perfectly healthy child was “ruined”. They said Tadhg is “a beautiful, amazing, inspirational boy” who is much loved by his family and will “now get the care he deserves”.


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Legislative stalemate due to ‘improper’ view of Constitution, court told

The High Court has begun hearing a significant constitutional action over whether there is , as of now , a validly constituted Seanad that is entitled to sit and pass laws .
There is a “ legislative stalemate ” in the State because of the current political impasse and that arises because of “ an unjustified and improper interpretation ” of the constitutional provisions , John Rogers SC , for 10 Senators said .
The Taoiseach had done a “ volte face ” since indicating in a June 10th letter that he could not advise President Michael D. Higgins of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a newly elected taoiseach nominates 11 members , Mr Rogers said .
That letter “ mis-stated ” the constitutional position and the consequences of such a view are far-reaching as there would be “ no functioning Oireachtas ” , a Dáil unable to hold a government to account and a government that can not seek legislative support for its programme and policies , counsel said .
The Taoiseach now says the position is that he could have advised the President to fix a date but did not because of his view that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a newly-elected taoiseach had nominated 11 Senators , counsel told the three judge court .
Mr Rogers agreed with High Court president Ms Justice Mary Irvine that the Taoiseach has “ conceded ” he could have asked Mr Higgins for a meeting of the Seanad but did not because of a view the House would not be properly composed without the 11 nominated Senators .
Ms Justice Irvine , sitting with Mr Justice Denis McDonald and Ms Justice Niamh Hyland , said , irrespective of the Taoiseach ’ s position , the court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised in the proceedings .
In their case , the 10 Senators maintain the Taoiseach and State are incorrect in their view that the Seanad , which currently has 49 members , can not sit and pass legislation until the nominees are appointed and the House has the full complement of 60 senators .
The case has important implications because , if the court finds the Seanad is not validly constituted as of now , and a new government is not formed this weekend with a taoiseach nominating the remaining 11 members , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29th .
Those laws include provisions for the continuation of the non-jury Special Criminal Court .
An indication of the importance of the case is that Attorney General Séamus Woulfe SC is heading the State legal team .
The plaintiffs are elected Senators Ivana Bacik , Victor Boyhan , Gerard Craughwell , Annie Hoey , Sharon Keogan , Michael McDowell , Rebecca Moynihan , Rónán Mullen , Marie Sherlock and Mark Wall .
They initiated the proceedings earlier this month against An Taoiseach , Ireland and the Attorney General after correspondence failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can sit with 49 elected members and pass laws .
The case centres on interpretation of various provisions of the Constitution , particularly Article 18 of the Constitution concerning the composition of the Seanad and election of Senators .
In submissions , Mr Rogers said his side agreed with an opinion piece in the Irish Times in which academics Oran Doyle and Tom Hickey said an outgoing Taoiseach can convene the first meeting of the Seanad .
That was based on a “ literal ” interpretation of the Constitution , counsel said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ before a government is formed and while there is now a political impasse , there is not a “ constitutional lacuna ” .
Article 18 mandates the first meeting of the Seanad takes place after a general election on a date to be fixed by the president on the advice of a taoiseach , he said .
This “ plainly ” mandates the first meeting “ shall ” take place after the general election and after the election of the Seanad , between March 30th and April 4th .
The Constitution itself does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an election to the House is merely called under law , he said .
Mr Rogers , with Eileen Barrington SC and Hugh McDowell BL , provided the court with a timeline of events since February ’ s general election .
He said that included the passage of legislation to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic by the Seanad on March 29th , the day before polling day for the new Seanad .
That was just one example of an outgoing Seanad enacting laws with an incoming Dáil and demonstrated the Constitution has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .

The High Court has begun hearing a significant constitutional action over whether there is, as of now, a validly constituted Seanad that is entitled to sit and pass laws. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times.
The High Court has begun hearing a significant constitutional action over whether there is, as of now, a validly constituted Seanad that is entitled to sit and pass laws.
The Seanad currently comprises 49 elected members and 10 of these have brought the action disputing arguments by the Taoiseach and State that the House cannot meet and pass laws until a taoiseach nominates 11 further senators and brings its full membership to 60.
The case could have far-reaching implications because, if the three judge court agrees with the State, and a new government is not formed this weekend and 11 senators are not nominated by a taoiseach, significant laws will lapse at midnight on Monday. These include provisions of the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act relating to the prosecution of serious criminal and terrorist offences before the non-jury Special Criminal Court.
Opening the case on Wednesday, John Rogers SC, for the senators, argued there is now a “legislative stalemate” in the State arising from the current political “impasse” and the respondents “unjustified and improper interpretation” of the relevant constitutional provisions.
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Opposing the case, Attorney General Séamus Woulfe, noting media reports, suggested there was “no reasonable certainty” of there being a taoiseach who could nominate the 11 senators in the next few days.
Potentially unlawful
He said it would be “risky” and potentially unlawful for the Taoiseach to advise President when a first meeting of the Seanad can lawfully and constitutionally take place.
The 10 plaintiffs are senators Ivana Bacik, Victor Boyhan, Gerard Craughwell, Annie Hoey, Sharon Keogan, Michael McDowell, Rebecca Moynihan, Rónán Mullen, Marie Sherlock and Mark Wall.
Their case, being heard by High Court President Ms Justice Mary Irvine, Mr Justice Denis McDonald and Ms Justice Niamh Hyland, particularly centres on interpretation of Article 18 of the Constitution.
Article 18.8 provides the Seanad “shall be composed of sixty members, of whom eleven shall be nominated members and forty-nine shall be elected members”.
Mr Rogers, with Eileen Barrington SC and Hugh McDowell BL, said that as a result of a “volte face” the respondents have moved from saying the outgoing Taoiseach has no power to advise the President to fix a date for the first sitting to saying he has “discretion” to do so but has not because of the view the Seanad cannot lawfully meet until the remaining 11 senators are nominated.
His side agreed with a recent opinion piece in The Irish Times in which academics Oran Doyle and Tom Hickey said an outgoing taoiseach can convene the first meeting of the Seanad, counsel said.
The Constitution mandates a continuity of legislature before a government is formed and while there is now a political impasse, there is not a “constitutional lacuna”, he said.
‘No sense’
He said Article 18 “plainly” mandates the first meeting of the Seanad “shall” take place after the Seanad election, which was completed 74 days ago. Mr Rogers said it made “no sense” for the defendants to say the taoiseach can advise the president to fix a date for the Seanad to meet and at the same time say the House cannot legislate.
While Article 18.8 provides the Seanad “shall” be composed of 60 members, it does not say the Seanad must be fully composed before it can meet, he said.
The consequences of the view the Seanad must have 60 members to lawfully meet are far-reaching, including there would be “no functioning Oireachtas”, a Dáil unable to hold the government to account and a government that cannot seek legislative support for its programme and policies.
Mr Woulfe said Article 18.8 unambigiously means a properly composed Seanad requires 11 nominated senators which can only be appointed by a new taoiseach under Article 18.3.
Article 18.3 provides that the first meeting of the Seanad shall take place on a date to be fixed by the president on the advice of the taoiseach, he said. The taoiseach may have a range of considerations concerning when to advise the president about a date for convening the Seanad, including whether there is a reality of a new taoiseach being in position to nominate the 11 senators.
Advising the president in this context was akin to a discretionary power and the taoiseach has to have regard to various factors in exercising that, he said.
Some of those may be “purely political” considerations and, while there may be issues about the court’s ability to review that discretion, those did not arise here because the taoiseach also has to have regard to legal considerations under Article 18.
The case is expected to conclude on Thursday with judgment reserved, possibly to Friday.


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Varadkar denies healthcare workers have highest global infection rate

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has denied claims that Irish healthcare workers have the highest global rate of infection in terms of the coronavirus pandemic .
The claim was made by the head of the Irish nurses ’ representative body on Tuesday .
Phil Ní Sheaghdha , general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) , told the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee that the figures amounted to “ an absolute scandal ” .
Statistics presented to the committee claimed that up to the end of May , a total of 8,018 cases of infection of healthcare workers were reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 4,823 remain out sick , and of that number 1,600 are categorised as nurses and midwives .
However Mr Varadkar said he checked the information given by Ms Ní Sheaghdha with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) .
“ At least , according to them , the figures that she gave were not accurate , ” he said .
“ I think she suggested that 60 per cent of healthcare workers were still sick with Covid .
That is not the case .
HPSC says 90 per cent have recovered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had 8,000 positive cases out of a healthcare workforce of 250,000 so that ’ s between a 3 and 4 per cent positivity rate .
So they are saying that that was wrong.
” Mr Varadkar added , however , that 8,000 healthcare workers did contract the virus and there was a need to ensure those working in the sector are protected .

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he checked the information with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has denied claims that Irish healthcare workers have the highest global rate of infection in terms of the coronavirus pandemic.
The claim was made by the head of the Irish nurses’ representative body on Tuesday.
Phil Ní Sheaghdha, general secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), told the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee that the figures amounted to "an absolute scandal".
Statistics presented to the committee claimed that up to the end of May, a total of 8,018 cases of infection of healthcare workers were reported.
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Of those, 66 per cent or 4,823 remain out sick, and of that number 1,600 are categorised as nurses and midwives.
However Mr Varadkar said he checked the information given by Ms Ní Sheaghdha with the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC).
“At least, according to them, the figures that she gave were not accurate,” he said.
“I think she suggested that 60 per cent of healthcare workers were still sick with Covid. That is not the case. HPSC says 90 per cent have recovered.
“And they say that we have had 8,000 positive cases out of a healthcare workforce of 250,000 so that’s between a 3 and 4 per cent positivity rate. So they are saying that that was wrong.”
Mr Varadkar added, however, that 8,000 healthcare workers did contract the virus and there was a need to ensure those working in the sector are protected.


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Both of Dublin’s Luke Kelly statues vandalised

Two €160,000 statues of the late singer and musician Luke Kelly have been vandalised overnight .
The two sculptures , one located at the corner of Guild Street and Sheriff St at the mouth of the Royal Canal and close to Kelly ’ s childhood home , had paint daubed on it for the sixth time in 18 months .
While the second , on South King St , also put in place at the same time , was vandalised for the first time — again with paint .
White paint was thrown on the nose , cheeks and forehead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which was publicly funded .
The second statue , designed by John Coll and paid for privately by the late Gerry Hunt on South King St , was also covered with paint .
Mr Hunt ( 82 ) died just weeks prior to the sculpture being put in place .
The statues were erected in January last year after a 15-year-effort to have the singer ’ s memory marked officially .
Black , white and red paint have now been daubed on the statues .
Gardaí and Dublin City Council are investigating both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vandalism on the capital ’ s artwork .
A section of the wood carved Tree of Life near St Anne ’ s PArk was torched in the early hours of Monday morning , while on Tuesday , the base of the statue of Irish Republican Seán Russell was painted with the rainbow colours of Pride .
Dublin Lord Mayor Tom Brabazon along with former lord mayor and Independent councillor Christy Burke have condemned the attacks .
The statues were unveiled on the 35th anniversary of the 43-year-old singer ’ s death by President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for anyone with information to contact them at Store Street on 01 666 8000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 .

The Luke Kelly Statue on Dublin’s South King Street Street being washed after white gloss paint was thrown over it, the first time it has been defaced. Photograph: Alan Betson/ The Irish Times
Gardaí are investigating after two statues of the late musician Luke Kelly were vandalised in Dublin between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
One of sculptures, located at the corner of Guild Street and Sheriff Street in Dublin 1, had paint daubed on it for a sixth time in 18 months. The second statue, on South King Street near St Stephen’s Green, was vandalised for the first time, also with paint.
The statues were erected in January of last year after a lengthy campaign to pay a public tribute to the late Dubliners’ singer.
The incidents were the latest in a series of recent acts of vandalism in the city, with a section of the carved ‘Tree of Life’ near St Anne’s Park burned and the base of a statue of Republican Seán Russell painted with rainbow colours this week.
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Lord Mayor of Dublin Tom Brabazon condemned the attacks.
The Luke Kelly statue on Guild St, Dublin, being cleaned after being defaced in April. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
“I really don’t know how people would think that Luke Kelly was in any way offensive,” he said. “He was a champion of the underprivileged and to see his memory desecrated again is very distressing.
“I hope that those responsible are brought before the courts at the earliest possible time and unacceptable behaviour is stopped once and for all.”
The statues were last year unveiled by President Michael D. Higgins on the 35th anniversary of Kelly’s death.
Gardaí have asked anyone with information about the incidents to contact Store Street station on (01) 666 8000 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Majority of Irish adults willing to use contact tracing app, says study

More than eight out of ten Irish adults say they are willing to use a contact tracing app on their phones to curb the spread of the coronavirus , new research has found .
It emerged on Wednesday that the HSE ’ s contact tracing app was now ready for deployment but no date has been set for its release .
Nearly 60 per cent of respondents to the survey said they were concerned about privacy issues , surveillance by technology companies or the government or the risk of hacking .
More than 8,000 people took part in the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month which was designed by researchers from Lero , the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software , the University of Limerick ( UL ) and the National University of Galway .
Nearly all participants said they understood the importance of informing the HSE about their close contacts should they contract the virus , while more than half said they “ definitely will install ” the app when it becomes available .
Nearly a third of participants said they “ probably ” would install the app while ten per cent said they “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
People preferred the idea of a Bluetooth app with 31 per cent saying they would like an app that uses geo-location technology .
Some 41 per cent of respondents said they could see no reason not to install the app .
However , the remaining 59 per cent expressed a number of concerns including worries that technology companies would use their details for greater surveillance after the pandemic ; that the government would abuse the system for surveillance purposes and that people ’ s phones would be more likely to get hacked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UL ’ s school of medicine and one of the authors of the report said information should be “ communicated widely ” on when the app would be wound down and how Bluetooth would allow information to be exchanged between phones .
Professor Liam Glynn , also from UL ’ s school of medicine , said downloading the app and actually using it were two separate challenges and that the public should be kept informed as to whether the app was actually helping with contact tracing efforts .
He said experience from other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not always translate into actually downloading and using the app .
“ Allowing the general public to see in real-time the public health benefits of this app may help maintain public interest , ” he said .
Dr Jim Buckley from Lero said studies in other countries had found people ’ s actual use of the app usually lagged behind the take-up-rate suggested by surveys .
However , he added that the overall response from participants in the Irish survey was heartening given that research from the University of Oxford estimates if 56 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downloaded a contact tracing app , it would be enough to control the disease .

The HSE has said its contact tracing app is ready to deploy. Photograph: Getty
More than eight out of ten Irish adults say they are willing to use a contact tracing app on their phones to curb the spread of the coronavirus, new research has found.
It emerged on Wednesday that the HSE’s contact tracing app was now ready for deployment but no date has been set for its release.
Nearly 60 per cent of respondents to the survey said they were concerned about privacy issues, surveillance by technology companies or the government or the risk of hacking.
More than 8,000 people took part in the Covid-19 digital contact tracing online national survey last month which was designed by researchers from Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Software, the University of Limerick (UL) and the National University of Galway.
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Nearly all participants said they understood the importance of informing the HSE about their close contacts should they contract the virus, while more than half said they “definitely will install” the app when it becomes available.
Nearly a third of participants said they “probably” would install the app while ten per cent said they “may or may not” install it.
People preferred the idea of a Bluetooth app with 31 per cent saying they would like an app that uses geo-location technology.
Some 41 per cent of respondents said they could see no reason not to install the app.
However, the remaining 59 per cent expressed a number of concerns including worries that technology companies would use their details for greater surveillance after the pandemic; that the government would abuse the system for surveillance purposes and that people’s phones would be more likely to get hacked.
Dr Michael O’Callaghan from UL’s school of medicine and one of the authors of the report said information should be “communicated widely” on when the app would be wound down and how Bluetooth would allow information to be exchanged between phones.
Professor Liam Glynn, also from UL’s school of medicine, said downloading the app and actually using it were two separate challenges and that the public should be kept informed as to whether the app was actually helping with contact tracing efforts.
He said experience from other countries showed that intent to download did not always translate into actually downloading and using the app.
“Allowing the general public to see in real-time the public health benefits of this app may help maintain public interest,” he said.
Dr Jim Buckley from Lero said studies in other countries had found people’s actual use of the app usually lagged behind the take-up-rate suggested by surveys.
However, he added that the overall response from participants in the Irish survey was heartening given that research from the University of Oxford estimates if 56 per cent of people in the UK downloaded a contact tracing app, it would be enough to control the disease.


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Thursday to be hottest day of year before return to unsettled weather

Thursday may be the hottest day of the year to date , but temperatures will plummet after that and unsettled weather is in store for the beginning of next week when travel restrictions will be lifted .
Highs of 28 degrees in the south-east are likely to surpass the temperature of 27.1 degrees recorded on June 1st at Mount Brown , Co Roscommon , the highest temperature of the year to date .
The south-east and east will experience the warmest conditions on Wednesday and Thursday as a warm plume of air crosses the country .
Temperatures will be so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thunderstorms across the country on Thursday night .
Thereafter there will be marked change in the weather with temperatures falling by up to 10 degrees in the space of 24 hours as cool , showery conditions arrive from the Atlantic .
Friday will see temperatures drop back to between 15 and 21 degrees and there will be heavy showers about .
On Saturday and Sunday temperatures will drop even further with highs of just 16 degrees on Sunday .
The unsettled weather conditions will continue into next week at a time when all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted and primary school children are officially on holidays .
The extended outlook into the early days of next week is for continued unsettled conditions with rain or showers at times .
“ The fine weather is really just a two day event .
On Friday we are going to see further showers , ” said Met Éireann forecaster Liz Coleman .
“ On Monday it looks like we have got another one of those fronts feeding into the south-west and there is no clear improvement after that .
”

Kite surfers make the most of windy conditions at Dollymount Strand on Monday. Photograph: Tom Honan
Thursday may be the hottest day of the year to date, but temperatures will plummet after that and unsettled weather is in store for the beginning of next week when travel restrictions will be lifted.
Highs of 28 degrees in the south-east are likely to surpass the temperature of 27.1 degrees recorded on June 1st at Mount Brown, Co Roscommon, the highest temperature of the year to date.
The south-east and east will experience the warmest conditions on Wednesday and Thursday as a warm plume of air crosses the country. Temperatures will be so warm that there is a possibility of thunderstorms across the country on Thursday night.
Thereafter there will be marked change in the weather with temperatures falling by up to 10 degrees in the space of 24 hours as cool, showery conditions arrive from the Atlantic.
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Friday will see temperatures drop back to between 15 and 21 degrees and there will be heavy showers about. On Saturday and Sunday temperatures will drop even further with highs of just 16 degrees on Sunday.
The unsettled weather conditions will continue into next week at a time when all travel restrictions within the State will be lifted and primary school children are officially on holidays.
The extended outlook into the early days of next week is for continued unsettled conditions with rain or showers at times.
"The fine weather is really just a two day event. On Friday we are going to see further showers," said Met Éireann forecaster Liz Coleman.
“On Monday it looks like we have got another one of those fronts feeding into the south-west and there is no clear improvement after that.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury reportedly drops Daniel Kinahan as negotiator

Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has reportedly dropped Daniel Kinahan as his negotiator in the midst of mounting criticism of the Irish drug smuggler ’ s involvement in professional boxing .
Kinahan , who is believed to control an international criminal organisation worth about €1 billion , has acted as an adviser to the British boxer for the last three years and has been instrumental in brokering a two-fight deal with rival Anthony Joshua , one of the most anticipated bouts in boxing history .
If confirmed , the development is yet another blow to Kinahan ’ s recent efforts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stage and distance himself from court findings in Ireland that he is a major figure in a gang feud which has caused 18 deaths .
Last week , KHK , a company owned by a Bahraini prince cut ties with Kinahan , a month after hiring him as an adviser .
Citing its “ integrity and deep-rooted principles in the sports industry ” , KHK said it “ has discontinued engagement with Daniel Kinahan and he is no longer an adviser to KHK Sports ” .
The parting of Fury and Kinahan was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Wednesday .
Fury ’ s boxing promoter Bob Arum told the newspaper he had discussed the matter with the boxer and they decided Arum and his company Top Rank will handle the negotiations for forthcoming fights .
“ Over the weekend I ’ ve had a lot of conversations with Tyson Fury and what we both decided is that myself , Top Rank and Fury will do all negotiations for fights in the future .
“ Whether it ’ s for Joshua or Wilder or anybody else .
We ’ ve informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where to go for the negotiations .
Tyson and I have had long negotiations about it .
That ’ s the way it ’ s going to be.
” “ This will eliminate a lot of confusion , ” added Arum .
“ We ’ ve talked with Dan [ Kinahan ] , who Tyson and I both love and admire and respect , and he understands that it ’ s best the negotiations on Tyson ’ s side be handled that way .
“ Both Tyson and I have each discussed this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ satisfied and wished us luck .
He only wants the best for Tyson Fury.
” Two weeks ago Fury thanked and effusively praised Kinahan for his role in arranging the fight , leading to a media and political backlash .
Several Irish politicians , including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar , expressed their discomfort with the news and it was revealed Irish officials had been briefing their counterparts in the UAE , where Kinahan lives , about his criminal past .
One of the most vocal politicians was Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involvement at all in this fight was an “ extremely welcome development but far from the end of this saga.
” “ Daniel Kinahan can not continue to use boxing as a tool to rehabilitate his image and whitewash his very sinister criminal pasts as per the ruling of our special criminal court .
“ We also need to see clarity from MTK of what exact role Daniel Kinahan has with them .
It ’ s time other boxers like Billy Joe Saunders dropped Daniel Kinahan and distanced themselves from him .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charge in exposing Daniel Kinahan for who he is , there is much more work to be done though .
”

Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has reportedly dropped Daniel Kinahan as his negotiator in the midst of mounting criticism of the Irish drug smuggler's involvement in professional boxing.
Kinahan, who is believed to control an international criminal organisation worth about €1 billion, has acted as an adviser to the British boxer for the last three years and has been instrumental in brokering a two-fight deal with rival Anthony Joshua, one of the most anticipated bouts in boxing history.
If confirmed, the development is yet another blow to Kinahan's recent efforts to whitewash his reputation on the international stage and distance himself from court findings in Ireland that he is a major figure in a gang feud which has caused 18 deaths.
Last week, KHK, a company owned by a Bahraini prince cut ties with Kinahan, a month after hiring him as an adviser.
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Citing its “integrity and deep-rooted principles in the sports industry”, KHK said it “has discontinued engagement with Daniel Kinahan and he is no longer an adviser to KHK Sports”.
The parting of Fury and Kinahan was first reported in the Daily Telegraph newspaper on Wednesday.
Heavyweight world champion boxer Tyson Fury. Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters
Fury's boxing promoter Bob Arum told the newspaper he had discussed the matter with the boxer and they decided Arum and his company Top Rank will handle the negotiations for forthcoming fights.
“Over the weekend I’ve had a lot of conversations with Tyson Fury and what we both decided is that myself, Top Rank and Fury will do all negotiations for fights in the future.
"Whether it's for Joshua or Wilder or anybody else. We've informed Eddie Hearn about that. He knows where to go for the negotiations. Tyson and I have had long negotiations about it. That's the way it's going to be."
“This will eliminate a lot of confusion,” added Arum. “We’ve talked with Dan [Kinahan], who Tyson and I both love and admire and respect, and he understands that it’s best the negotiations on Tyson’s side be handled that way.
“Both Tyson and I have each discussed this with Dan and he is amenable and satisfied and wished us luck. He only wants the best for Tyson Fury.”
Two weeks ago Fury thanked and effusively praised Kinahan for his role in arranging the fight, leading to a media and political backlash.
Several Irish politicians, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, expressed their discomfort with the news and it was revealed Irish officials had been briefing their counterparts in the UAE, where Kinahan lives, about his criminal past.
One of the most vocal politicians was Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond said the news that Daniel Kinahan will have no involvement at all in this fight was an "extremely welcome development but far from the end of this saga."
“Daniel Kinahan cannot continue to use boxing as a tool to rehabilitate his image and whitewash his very sinister criminal pasts as per the ruling of our special criminal court.
"We also need to see clarity from MTK of what exact role Daniel Kinahan has with them. It's time other boxers like Billy Joe Saunders dropped Daniel Kinahan and distanced themselves from him.
“We have seen our brave journalists lead the charge in exposing Daniel Kinahan for who he is, there is much more work to be done though.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Air pollution rises again in Europe’s cities as lockdowns ease

Air pollution levels have rebounded sharply in a number of leading European cities since coronavirus restrictions eased , driven by an increase in traffic and congestion .
Paris , Brussels and Milan have all experienced significant rises in nitrogen dioxide compared with their lows during the lockdown , according to an analysis based on data from the European Environment Agency ( EEA ) .
The data underscores how the environmental benefits of lockdown may have been short-lived , as more commuters shun public transport due to the virus and use their cars instead .
“ It is definitely a huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at or near pre-Covid-19 levels , even though in many cities traffic volumes are below pre-crisis levels , ” said Lauri Myllyvirta , analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air , which produced the analysis alongside the Financial Times .
“ We risk getting pre-crisis levels of congestion and pollution already , before full economic reopening , ” he added .
Analysis of the EEA data show that nitrogen dioxide pollution in Paris has risen from 13.6 micrograms per cubic metre at its lowest point during the lockdown , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a weather-adjusted 30-day average .
In Brussels , air pollution levels rose from a low of 16 µg/m3 to 30.2 while in Milan the levels increased from 19 µg/m3 to 32.9 .
In London , air pollution levels were briefly above pre-lockdown levels when a sunny long weekend in late May prompted a surge in traffic .
The air pollution levels in most European cities are still below that of a year ago , according to the analysis .
But a rapid uptick in many over so short a time period has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Todts , head of the Transport and Environment campaign group , welcomed the fact that the pandemic had accelerated many cities ’ plans to encourage cycling and walking .
“ A big test will be whether they make all those temporary measures permanent , ” he said , adding that there was a “ short-term risk ” of more cars on the road due to fears of using public transport .
Traffic congestion has risen markedly in Germany , France and Italy compared with during the lockdown , according to data from TomTom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile the number of people using public transport has plummeted .
The London Underground is carrying about 12 per cent of its normal passenger load .
As well as being among the big risers in the six weeks since its lockdown was lifted , Paris also had the biggest relative decline in nitrogen dioxide levels during lockdown .
At one point the city ’ s nitrogen dioxide levels were 61 per cent below pre-pandemic levels .
Anne Hidalgo , the mayor who faces a re-election battle this weekend , has made clean air @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has long been an adversary of cars in the capital .
She has used Covid-19 as a way to advance her agenda for a greener , less polluted city with more pedestrians and cyclists .
“ Fighting against all types of pollution is a public health issue , ” she told Le Monde newspaper recently .
“ That is why we will continue to reduce the presence of cars in our city.
” Her proposal to lower the speed limit on most city streets from 50km/h to 30km/h is likely to infuriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her anti-car policies .
The air pollution data show that cities which did not go through a hard lockdown – such as Malmo in Sweden – recorded higher levels of vehicle pollution this year compared with last year .
Athens , Bucharest , and Munich have also experienced significant rebounds in air pollution .
Among the major European cities that did lock down , Budapest is the only one that has already rebounded above normal levels , according to the analysis .
– Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2020

How traffic usually looks on the Champs-Élysées: At one point during the lockdown Paris’s nitrogen dioxide levels were 61 per cent below pre-pandemic levels. Photograph: Tim Graham/Getty Images
Air pollution levels have rebounded sharply in a number of leading European cities since coronavirus restrictions eased, driven by an increase in traffic and congestion.
Paris, Brussels and Milan have all experienced significant rises in nitrogen dioxide compared with their lows during the lockdown, according to an analysis based on data from the European Environment Agency (EEA).
The data underscores how the environmental benefits of lockdown may have been short-lived, as more commuters shun public transport due to the virus and use their cars instead.
"It is definitely a huge challenge that we are seeing pollution volumes at or near pre-Covid-19 levels, even though in many cities traffic volumes are below pre-crisis levels," said Lauri Myllyvirta, analyst at the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, which produced the analysis alongside the Financial Times.
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“We risk getting pre-crisis levels of congestion and pollution already, before full economic reopening,” he added.
Analysis of the EEA data show that nitrogen dioxide pollution in Paris has risen from 13.6 micrograms per cubic metre at its lowest point during the lockdown, to 29.7 µg/m3 most recently, based on a weather-adjusted 30-day average.
In Brussels, air pollution levels rose from a low of 16 µg/m3 to 30.2 while in Milan the levels increased from 19 µg/m3 to 32.9. In London, air pollution levels were briefly above pre-lockdown levels when a sunny long weekend in late May prompted a surge in traffic.
The air pollution levels in most European cities are still below that of a year ago, according to the analysis. But a rapid uptick in many over so short a time period has stoked concern among clean-air advocates.
William Todts, head of the Transport and Environment campaign group, welcomed the fact that the pandemic had accelerated many cities' plans to encourage cycling and walking.
“A big test will be whether they make all those temporary measures permanent,” he said, adding that there was a “short-term risk” of more cars on the road due to fears of using public transport.
Traffic congestion has risen markedly in Germany, France and Italy compared with during the lockdown, according to data from TomTom, the satellite navigation device company.
Meanwhile the number of people using public transport has plummeted. The London Underground is carrying about 12 per cent of its normal passenger load.
Paris initiatives
As well as being among the big risers in the six weeks since its lockdown was lifted, Paris also had the biggest relative decline in nitrogen dioxide levels during lockdown. At one point the city’s nitrogen dioxide levels were 61 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.
Anne Hidalgo, the mayor who faces a re-election battle this weekend, has made clean air a key part of her agenda, and has long been an adversary of cars in the capital. She has used Covid-19 as a way to advance her agenda for a greener, less polluted city with more pedestrians and cyclists.
“Fighting against all types of pollution is a public health issue,” she told Le Monde newspaper recently. “That is why we will continue to reduce the presence of cars in our city.” Her proposal to lower the speed limit on most city streets from 50km/h to 30km/h is likely to infuriate drivers who have already been irked by her anti-car policies.
The air pollution data show that cities which did not go through a hard lockdown – such as Malmo in Sweden – recorded higher levels of vehicle pollution this year compared with last year.
Athens, Bucharest, and Munich have also experienced significant rebounds in air pollution. Among the major European cities that did lock down, Budapest is the only one that has already rebounded above normal levels, according to the analysis. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2020


theirishtimes--2020-06-24--Lotto jackpot: ‘We have absolutely no idea who the winner is’

A Cork retailer has today spoken of his delight at selling Saturday ’ s €6.9 million Lotto jackpot ticket and expressed hope that the winner is someone from the local community .
Noel Murphy , who owns the Circle K filling station on Vicar ’ s Road in Togher on Cork ’ s Southside , said he learned on Monday evening that they had sold the winning ticket but said the identity of the winner remains a mystery .
“ We heard about 6.30pm on Monday when I got a call from my Lottery representative – funnily enough , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assured everyone I would be the first know apart from the winner , of course .
“ We had great excitement yesterday – we ’ re hoping it ’ s somebody local as most of our trade would be local – we would have a largely regular clientele from here in Togher and Ballyphehane so we ’ re hoping it ’ s one of them.
” Mr Murphy said there ’ s been a lot of speculation as to who the lucky punter may be but so far the various rumours have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to surround who might have scooped the jackpot .
“ Usually , we would hear from a Lottery rep was it a Quick Pick or whatever and was it sold on Friday or Saturday but because of the lockdown and the fact the reps are off the road , we ’ ve heard very little , ” he said .
“ So we have absolutely no idea who the winner is , whether it is a syndicate or a lucky single winner .
Whoever it is , we wish them all the best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I hope it brings them great happiness , ” he said .
The son of former Irish rugby international and Irish rugby manager , Noel Murphy Snr , Mr Murphy opened the filling station and convenience shop on Vicar ’ s Road in 1995 and this is his biggest Lotto win to date .
Mr Murphy broke open a bottle of sparkling wine with his staff on Tuesday to celebrate but he promised that once the lockdown restrictions are eased , he ’ s going to take them out to properly celebrate @ @ @ @ @

A Cork retailer has today spoken of his delight at selling Saturday's €6.9 million Lotto jackpot ticket and expressed hope that the winner is someone from the local community.
Noel Murphy, who owns the Circle K filling station on Vicar's Road in Togher on Cork's Southside, said he learned on Monday evening that they had sold the winning ticket but said the identity of the winner remains a mystery.
“We heard about 6.30pm on Monday when I got a call from my Lottery representative – funnily enough, there were rumours around on Sunday but I assured everyone I would be the first know apart from the winner, of course.
"We had great excitement yesterday – we're hoping it's somebody local as most of our trade would be local – we would have a largely regular clientele from here in Togher and Ballyphehane so we're hoping it's one of them."
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Mr Murphy said there’s been a lot of speculation as to who the lucky punter may be but so far the various rumours have been quashed one by one and mystery continues to surround who might have scooped the jackpot.
“Usually, we would hear from a Lottery rep was it a Quick Pick or whatever and was it sold on Friday or Saturday but because of the lockdown and the fact the reps are off the road, we’ve heard very little,” he said.
“So we have absolutely no idea who the winner is, whether it is a syndicate or a lucky single winner. Whoever it is, we wish them all the best of luck with their new found fortune and I hope it brings them great happiness,” he said.
The son of former Irish rugby international and Irish rugby manager, Noel Murphy Snr, Mr Murphy opened the filling station and convenience shop on Vicar’s Road in 1995 and this is his biggest Lotto win to date.
Mr Murphy broke open a bottle of sparkling wine with his staff on Tuesday to celebrate but he promised that once the lockdown restrictions are eased, he’s going to take them out to properly celebrate selling the winning ticket.