theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Safety watchdog has inspected 13 meat plants with Covid-19 outbreaks

The State ’ s workplace safety watchdog has inspected 13 of the 20 meat processing plants that have been affected by outbreaks of coronavirus amongst workers .
The Health and Safety Authority ( HSA ) said it had inspected the “ highest impact sites ” , and that it anticipated that all 20 outbreak sites would be inspected by the end of next week .
It has also inspected another three meat plants that have not been identified by the State health officials on the National Outbreak Control Team , which was set up to manage workplace clusters .
Among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of the virus , meat plants have this week accounted for a large number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases .
A further 123 cases of the diseases were reported across 20 meat processing plants – or 42 per cent half of the country ’ s 47 meat plants – during the week .
This brought the total number of known cases of the virus in the plants to 1,048 .
A total of 27 people have been hospitalised , an increase of eight in a week .
The authority was criticised last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sharon McGuinness , told the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee that the HSA had not carried out any inspections of meat factories despite receiving seven complaints about four operators at that stage .
Dr McGuinness said that this was due to the HSE taking the lead in controlling outbreaks in meat plants to prevent a spread of the virus to communities .
Greg Ennis , divisional organiser with the trade union Siptu , criticised the delayed response in carrying out workplace inspections .
“ It is too little , too late .
The horse has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having five or six clusters and a few hundred cases to 20 clusters and more than 1,000 cases.
” He called for workers ’ representatives to be appointed to national outbreak teams so they could engage with workers who were fearful about speaking out about concerns in workplaces .
Minister for Health Simon Harris told the Dáil on Thursday night that up to 40 per cent of close contacts of meat plant workers may not have been identified in contact tracing .
The HSE ’ s chief clinical officer , Dr Colm Henry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenges ” in managing meat plant outbreaks because of language difficulties given the number of foreign workers , along with the number who lived together in shared accommodation .
He said meat plant workers were younger so this has meant that only a small number had been hospitalised , and an even smaller number have been admitted to intensive care units .
He said interpreters were on site to help manage outbreaks , and there had been mass testing of some factory workers .
In some cases workers have been provided with alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prevent the further spread of infection .
Close proximity working , the increased spread of droplets through shouting in noisy plants and the reliance of lower-paid workers on car pooling and house- and room-sharing outside of work have been cited as contributory factors in the spread of the virus .

There had been 'huge challenges' in managing meat plant outbreaks because of language difficulties and large numbers of workers living in shared accommodation
The State’s workplace safety watchdog has inspected 13 of the 20 meat processing plants that have been affected by outbreaks of coronavirus amongst workers.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) said it had inspected the “highest impact sites”, and that it anticipated that all 20 outbreak sites would be inspected by the end of next week.
It has also inspected another three meat plants that have not been identified by the State health officials on the National Outbreak Control Team, which was set up to manage workplace clusters.
Among the settings most at risk to the spread of the virus, meat plants have this week accounted for a large number of new confirmed Covid-19 cases.
READ MORE
A further 123 cases of the diseases were reported across 20 meat processing plants – or 42 per cent half of the country’s 47 meat plants – during the week.
This brought the total number of known cases of the virus in the plants to 1,048. A total of 27 people have been hospitalised, an increase of eight in a week.
The authority was criticised last month after its chief executive, Dr Sharon McGuinness, told the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee that the HSA had not carried out any inspections of meat factories despite receiving seven complaints about four operators at that stage.
Dr McGuinness said that this was due to the HSE taking the lead in controlling outbreaks in meat plants to prevent a spread of the virus to communities.
Clusters
Greg Ennis, divisional organiser with the trade union Siptu, criticised the delayed response in carrying out workplace inspections. "It is too little, too late. The horse has already bolted where you have gone from having five or six clusters and a few hundred cases to 20 clusters and more than 1,000 cases."
He called for workers’ representatives to be appointed to national outbreak teams so they could engage with workers who were fearful about speaking out about concerns in workplaces.
Minister for Health Simon Harris told the Dáil on Thursday night that up to 40 per cent of close contacts of meat plant workers may not have been identified in contact tracing.
The HSE's chief clinical officer, Dr Colm Henry, said there had been "huge challenges" in managing meat plant outbreaks because of language difficulties given the number of foreign workers, along with the number who lived together in shared accommodation.
He said meat plant workers were younger so this has meant that only a small number had been hospitalised, and an even smaller number have been admitted to intensive care units.
Interpreters
He said interpreters were on site to help manage outbreaks, and there had been mass testing of some factory workers. In some cases workers have been provided with alternative accommodation to isolate them in order to prevent the further spread of infection.
Close proximity working, the increased spread of droplets through shouting in noisy plants and the reliance of lower-paid workers on car pooling and house- and room-sharing outside of work have been cited as contributory factors in the spread of the virus.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--No evidence of ‘cartel’ between beef processors, watchdog finds

An investigation by the State ’ s consumer watchdog has found there is “ no evidence of a cartel agreement ” between beef processors , amid complaints from farming groups over low prices .
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission ( CCPC ) is responsible for investigating anti-competitive practices and potential breaches of competition law .
Last year the watchdog received a large number of complaints about the beef sector from farmers .
The complaints focused on similarities in prices offered by processors to farmers across different plants , among other issues such as dissatisfaction with the criteria for “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ importing of foreign beef .
Growing tensions between processors and beef farmers came to a head last year , with farmers staging protests blocking the entrances to meat plants for several weeks , and others staged outside Leinster House bringing the city centre to a standstill over the dispute .
In a statement on Friday , the CCPC said on foot of the complaints it conducted “ extensive research ” to investigate the allegations of a cartel in operation to fix low beef prices offered to farmers .
The watchdog met industry experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Agriculture , Teagasc , and Bord Bia , as well as consulting the European Commission on market conditions elsewhere in the EU .
The agency said to prove the existence of a cartel in the Irish market it “ needs to have tangible proof of an agreement between competitors to coordinate their activity , ” it said .
This would include evidence such as a written agreements between competitors to fix prices paid to farmers .
“ Information showing that beef processors charge similar prices does not , in itself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in existence , ” the watchdog said .
“ Despite considerable engagement with various beef industry stakeholders , the CCPC found no evidence of a cartel agreement between beef processors in the State , ” it said .

Tensions between processors and beef farmers came to a head last year, with farmers staging protests, including some in Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
An investigation by the State’s consumer watchdog has found there is “no evidence of a cartel agreement” between beef processors, amid complaints from farming groups over low prices.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) is responsible for investigating anti-competitive practices and potential breaches of competition law.
Last year the watchdog received a large number of complaints about the beef sector from farmers. The complaints focused on similarities in prices offered by processors to farmers across different plants, among other issues such as dissatisfaction with the criteria for “in spec” bonuses, and the importing of foreign beef.
Growing tensions between processors and beef farmers came to a head last year, with farmers staging protests blocking the entrances to meat plants for several weeks, and others staged outside Leinster House bringing the city centre to a standstill over the dispute.
READ MORE
In a statement on Friday, the CCPC said on foot of the complaints it conducted “extensive research” to investigate the allegations of a cartel in operation to fix low beef prices offered to farmers.
The watchdog met industry experts, farmers groups, and officials in the Department of Agriculture, Teagasc, and Bord Bia, as well as consulting the European Commission on market conditions elsewhere in the EU.
The agency said to prove the existence of a cartel in the Irish market it “needs to have tangible proof of an agreement between competitors to coordinate their activity,” it said. This would include evidence such as a written agreements between competitors to fix prices paid to farmers.
“Information showing that beef processors charge similar prices does not, in itself, constitute evidence that a cartel is in existence,” the watchdog said.
“Despite considerable engagement with various beef industry stakeholders, the CCPC found no evidence of a cartel agreement between beef processors in the State,” it said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Thinking Anew – Black lives matter

Thinking Anew – Black lives matter

I remember a few years ago listening to a black woman on the radio talking about race .
She shared that when she was in her mid-twenties someone gave her a sticking-plaster that was the same colour as her skin .
It was the first time she had seen such a thing and she was caught so off-guard that she burst into tears .
She wept as it dawned on her that she had never before questioned why plasters were usually a pinky colour , how she had just taken for granted that this was the way things were .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ just wide enough for her to peep through and it led her to imagine the world in a new way ; a world in which she might be free to live as a black woman in all her glory , no longer just a guest in a world made for white people .
As I write , I am stricken by the overflow of grief and anger in the US , the touch-paper that has been lit following the killing of George Floyd by four police officers in Minneapolis .
I have watched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s knee on Floyd ’ s neck , an eerie nine minutes .
I have read the transcript of Floyd ’ s last words until they finally petered out , laid out like a poem on the page .
I have listened again to some of Martin Luther King jnr ’ s speeches , each as fresh and honourable and counter-cultural as when it was first delivered over 50 years ago .
That the speeches are still as relevant today as they were then makes the blood run cold .
To use the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : if we are shocked by this it is because we haven ’ t been paying attention .
I live in the UK and I , for one , have not been paying attention .
Here , too , there is a legacy of institutionalised racism which continues to bubble away under the surface .
This is not to say that there is not much to celebrate about Britain , with its many decent , courteous people of good faith , and genuine efforts to achieve diversity and equality in much of our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ black mothers describe the advice they give their children , advice that it would never occur to me to have to give to mine .
Don ’ t run in public , because you ’ ll look suspicious !
For definite don ’ t run with anything in your hands , or you will look as if you have stolen something !
Don ’ t answer back to the police or you are giving them a reason to arrest you .
.
.
And just a couple of years ago the veil was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scandal .
Hundreds of Commonwealth citizens who had been living , working and raising families legally in the UK for decades were wrongly classified as illegal immigrants .
They lost jobs , homes , benefits , medical treatment , many were arrested and incarcerated in detention centres , and almost 90 of them being deported to the Caribbean where they hadn ’ t lived since they were young children .
That this could have happened in 21st-century Britain says it all .
But there is hope , all over the world .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young peace-makers and reconcilers – of all ethnicities , many of them people of faith – who are listening .
They are doing the work of mining this primal sin of racism together and they are standing up to be counted , without violence , in a way that I ( and most of my contemporaries ) never got round to .
Maybe Ireland is charting a better course .
Ireland does not have to bear the particular burden of having been made rich on the backs of slaves .
Yet even as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know that I can ’ t comment .
I am not qualified , I haven ’ t paid enough attention , I have short-circuited .
I am watching from the side-lines , ashamed of how casual I have been , with my innocent skin-tone sticking-plasters .
But I want to listen , and I want to learn .
Lord have mercy on us all .

I remember a few years ago listening to a black woman on the radio talking about race. She shared that when she was in her mid-twenties someone gave her a sticking-plaster that was the same colour as her skin.
It was the first time she had seen such a thing and she was caught so off-guard that she burst into tears.
She wept as it dawned on her that she had never before questioned why plasters were usually a pinky colour, how she had just taken for granted that this was the way things were.
This trivial incident held open a door just wide enough for her to peep through and it led her to imagine the world in a new way; a world in which she might be free to live as a black woman in all her glory, no longer just a guest in a world made for white people.
READ MORE
As I write, I am stricken by the overflow of grief and anger in the US, the touch-paper that has been lit following the killing of George Floyd by four police officers in Minneapolis. I have watched the footage of the police officer’s knee on Floyd’s neck, an eerie nine minutes. I have read the transcript of Floyd’s last words until they finally petered out, laid out like a poem on the page.
I have listened again to some of Martin Luther King jnr’s speeches, each as fresh and honourable and counter-cultural as when it was first delivered over 50 years ago.
That the speeches are still as relevant today as they were then makes the blood run cold.
To use the words of my friend Pádraig Ó Tuama: if we are shocked by this it is because we haven’t been paying attention.
I live in the UK and I, for one, have not been paying attention.
Here, too, there is a legacy of institutionalised racism which continues to bubble away under the surface.
This is not to say that there is not much to celebrate about Britain, with its many decent, courteous people of good faith, and genuine efforts to achieve diversity and equality in much of our shared life.
Yet I have heard black mothers describe the advice they give their children, advice that it would never occur to me to have to give to mine. Don’t run in public, because you’ll look suspicious! For definite don’t run with anything in your hands, or you will look as if you have stolen something! Don’t answer back to the police or you are giving them a reason to arrest you . . .
And just a couple of years ago the veil was well and truly lifted with the Windrush scandal.
Hundreds of Commonwealth citizens who had been living, working and raising families legally in the UK for decades were wrongly classified as illegal immigrants. They lost jobs, homes, benefits, medical treatment, many were arrested and incarcerated in detention centres, and almost 90 of them being deported to the Caribbean where they hadn’t lived since they were young children. That this could have happened in 21st-century Britain says it all.
But there is hope, all over the world.
There is an up-and-coming generation of deeply thoughtful young peace-makers and reconcilers – of all ethnicities, many of them people of faith – who are listening.
They are doing the work of mining this primal sin of racism together and they are standing up to be counted, without violence, in a way that I (and most of my contemporaries) never got round to.
Maybe Ireland is charting a better course. Ireland does not have to bear the particular burden of having been made rich on the backs of slaves.
Yet even as I comment, here, now, I know that I can’t comment. I am not qualified, I haven’t paid enough attention, I have short-circuited. I am watching from the side-lines, ashamed of how casual I have been, with my innocent skin-tone sticking-plasters. But I want to listen, and I want to learn.
Lord have mercy on us all.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--WHO changes face mask advice, saying people should wear when unable to distance

People over 60 or with health issues should wear a medical-grade mask when they are out and can not socially distance , according to new guidance from the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) , while all others should wear a three-layer fabric mask .
The announcement on Friday marks a significant change of stance by the WHO , which until now has been reluctant to advocate the wearing of masks by the public because of limited evidence that they offer protection .
The health body ’ s new guidance document says the over-60s and people with underlying health conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where physical distancing can not be achieved ” because of “ increased risk of infection and/or negative outcomes ” .
All others should wear a three-layer fabric mask : absorbent cotton closest to the face , followed by a polypropylene layer and then a synthetic layer that is fluid-resistant , the WHO said .
It envisages that these masks can be made at home , but that small companies may begin to produce them , also providing jobs .
The WHO said people should be advised to wear masks not only on buses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be hard - in grocery stores , at work , at social gatherings , at mass gatherings and in closed settings , including schools , churches , mosques and other places of worship .
Until now the global body has been reluctant to advocate the wearing of face coverings by the public because of limited evidence that they offer protection .
There were also fears of a rush on masks leading to shortages of medical-grade versions for health workers .
The new guidance follows research commissioned by the organisation into what sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community .
It is still unknown whether the wearers are protected , say its experts , but the new design it advocates does give protection to other people if properly used .
Masks are no substitute for physical distancing and hand hygiene , it was emphasised .
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove , technical lead of Covid-19 response and the head of emerging diseases and zoonosis unit at WHO , expressed concerns about masks offering a false sense of security at protests , such as those taking place over the killing of George Floyd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many gatherings taking place across the globe for different reasons .
People who put a homemade mask on feel a sense of protection .
It is a false sense of protection , ” she said .
“ Masks must be part of a comprehensive strategy .
They do not work alone .
They must be used with a number of measures .
I want to stress that anyone who is unwell should be at home .
They should be tested , their contact should be identified and they should be in quarantine.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ physical distancing of at least 1 metre provides protection against transmission .
The further the distance , the better , but at least 1 metre.
” The WHO director general , Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus , said the body ’ s position that masks alone would not protect people remained the same .
But , he said , “ in the light of evolving evidence , WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in either confined or crowded environments ” .
The guidance includes not only the three types of fabric that masks should be made from , but also washing instructions , he said .
“ People can potentially infect themselves if they use contaminated hands to adjust a mask or to repeatedly take it off and put it on , without cleaning hands in between.
” People caring for somebody who is sick at home should wear a medical mask , not a fabric mask , WHO advises .
“ WHO continues to advise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home should wear a medical mask while they are in the same room as a sick person , ” said Dr Tedros .
–Guardian News and Media

People over 60 or with health issues should wear a medical-grade mask when they are out and cannot socially distance, according to new guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), while all others should wear a three-layer fabric mask.
The announcement on Friday marks a significant change of stance by the WHO, which until now has been reluctant to advocate the wearing of masks by the public because of limited evidence that they offer protection.
The health body’s new guidance document says the over-60s and people with underlying health conditions should wear medical masks in “settings where physical distancing cannot be achieved” because of “increased risk of infection and/or negative outcomes”.
All others should wear a three-layer fabric mask: absorbent cotton closest to the face, followed by a polypropylene layer and then a synthetic layer that is fluid-resistant, the WHO said. It envisages that these masks can be made at home, but that small companies may begin to produce them, also providing jobs.
READ MORE
The WHO said people should be advised to wear masks not only on buses and trains but also wherever physical distancing may be hard - in grocery stores, at work, at social gatherings, at mass gatherings and in closed settings, including schools, churches, mosques and other places of worship.
Until now the global body has been reluctant to advocate the wearing of face coverings by the public because of limited evidence that they offer protection. There were also fears of a rush on masks leading to shortages of medical-grade versions for health workers.
The new guidance follows research commissioned by the organisation into what sort of mask could protect people in the community. It is still unknown whether the wearers are protected, say its experts, but the new design it advocates does give protection to other people if properly used.
Masks are no substitute for physical distancing and hand hygiene, it was emphasised.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, technical lead of Covid-19 response and the head of emerging diseases and zoonosis unit at WHO, expressed concerns about masks offering a false sense of security at protests, such as those taking place over the killing of George Floyd in the US. “There are many gatherings taking place across the globe for different reasons. People who put a homemade mask on feel a sense of protection. It is a false sense of protection,” she said.
“Masks must be part of a comprehensive strategy. They do not work alone. They must be used with a number of measures. I want to stress that anyone who is unwell should be at home. They should be tested, their contact should be identified and they should be in quarantine.”
When people are out, she said, “physical distancing of at least 1 metre provides protection against transmission. The further the distance, the better, but at least 1 metre.”
The WHO director general, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said the body’s position that masks alone would not protect people remained the same. But, he said, “in the light of evolving evidence, WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in either confined or crowded environments”.
The guidance includes not only the three types of fabric that masks should be made from, but also washing instructions, he said. “People can potentially infect themselves if they use contaminated hands to adjust a mask or to repeatedly take it off and put it on, without cleaning hands in between.”
People caring for somebody who is sick at home should wear a medical mask, not a fabric mask, WHO advises. “WHO continues to advise that people caring for an infected person at home should wear a medical mask while they are in the same room as a sick person,” said Dr Tedros. –Guardian News and Media


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Staycations: Relief among Irish hoteliers as reopening of sector fast-tracked

Irish hoteliers and tourism groups have reacted with relief to news that the re-opening of key elements of the sector has been fast-tracked by the Government although they also highlighted difficulties facing it in the months ahead .
From the end of June hotels will be able to resume trading and many already have put in place detailed plans for what they anticipate will be a high level of pent-up demand among domestic tourists in July and August .
The general manager of the Celtic Ross hotel in Roscarbery , Co Cork Neil Grant said bookings in May had grown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same period last year with the length of time people were looking to stay in the hotel doubling .
“ People are planning to stay a little bit longer and that is really what we need because we have to put so much into cleaning rooms in between guests , ” he said .
He expressed confidence in the plans put in place with regards to sanitizing the hotel , social distancing and managing the guest traffic with a one way foot flow system express check-in and check-out .
He said capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of normal .
“ We are taking slowly slowly approach to make sure we get things right.
” The owner of the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden Brian Hughes said his hotel would be opening with a significantly reduced level of capacity and he stressed that he was more concerned with getting safety measures right than getting bookings in .
“ I am confident that once the hotel is back up and running the bookings will come .
We are going to gradually open , intitially in a small way with a reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we feel is safe .
We are lucky in that we have a lot of space inside and outside the building.
” Michael Lennon of the Wesport Woods Hotel describe the fast-tracked opening of Irish tourism as “ great news ” .
He pointed out that July and August are the two best months of the year for business in the regionn and said the booking trends had been good .
“ People really do have the grá to travel , ” he told The Irish Times .
“ But there is war @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all have to do whatever it takes to keep it at bay.
” He said the hotel would be implementing dozens of measures including hygiene and social distancing and would be using its larger function rooms as restaurants and outdoor spaces to ensure people were able to holiday safely .
The Irish Hotels Federation , which represents about 1,000 hotels and guest houses , said many had already begun to adapt their services and facilities in anticipation of reopening at the end of the month .
Some 85 percent of hotels have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available to only essential workers .
President of the federation Elaina Fitzgerald Kane said the health and safety of employees and guests would remain the overriding priority .
She also welcomed the announcement that the temporary wage subsidy scheme was to be extended .
“ This is a significant development as it will help tourism businesses including hotels to keep their teams together and supported financially during the re-start phase , ” she said .
Also welcoming the move to reopen hotels from the end of the month , Eoghan O ’ Meara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ This is vital to the industry and to regional Ireland and the longer the season we can have , the better , ” he said .
“ We are delighted the government has listened to the industry and give it the chance to reopen and start trading again.
” He pointed out that as 70 per cent of the Irish tourism market was made up of visitors from overseas , “ all the bets are going to be on the domestic market.
” In addition to the earlier than anticipated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Government to implement other measures to stimulate the domestic tourism market including a €500 travel voucher for every household in Ireland and the introduction of a bank holiday at the end of September which would allow families travel within the country Research being carried out by Fáilte Ireland and to be published next week suggests that there is demand among Irish people for trips within the country .
Just over half of people will holiday in Ireland over the next six months with safety and hygiene are paramount when it comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research holidays are important to people for good mental health and taking a “ safe break ” has emerged as a key element in their planning .
People are now planning , scanning and booking .
Almost 60 per cent of those surveyed said social distancing or other restrictions would impact who they go on holiday with while 79 per cent said they would travel with a partner or family while 17 per cent said they would go on holidays with friends this year .

Irish hoteliers and tourism groups have reacted with relief to news that the re-opening of key elements of the sector has been fast-tracked by the Government although they also highlighted difficulties facing it in the months ahead.
From the end of June hotels will be able to resume trading and many already have put in place detailed plans for what they anticipate will be a high level of pent-up demand among domestic tourists in July and August.
The general manager of the Celtic Ross hotel in Roscarbery, Co Cork Neil Grant said bookings in May had grown by almost a third when compared with the same period last year with the length of time people were looking to stay in the hotel doubling.
“People are planning to stay a little bit longer and that is really what we need because we have to put so much into cleaning rooms in between guests,” he said.
READ MORE
He expressed confidence in the plans put in place with regards to sanitizing the hotel, social distancing and managing the guest traffic with a one way foot flow system express check-in and check-out. He said capacity would be restricted to 50 per cent of normal. “We are taking slowly slowly approach to make sure we get things right.”
The owner of the Abbeyglen Castle Hotel in Clifden Brian Hughes said his hotel would be opening with a significantly reduced level of capacity and he stressed that he was more concerned with getting safety measures right than getting bookings in.
“I am confident that once the hotel is back up and running the bookings will come. We are going to gradually open, intitially in a small way with a reduced number of staff in a manner that we feel is safe. We are lucky in that we have a lot of space inside and outside the building.”
Michael Lennon of the Wesport Woods Hotel describe the fast-tracked opening of Irish tourism as "great news". He pointed out that July and August are the two best months of the year for business in the regionn and said the booking trends had been good.
“People really do have the grá to travel,” he told The Irish Times. “But there is war going on with this virus and we all have to do whatever it takes to keep it at bay.”
He said the hotel would be implementing dozens of measures including hygiene and social distancing and would be using its larger function rooms as restaurants and outdoor spaces to ensure people were able to holiday safely.
The Irish Hotels Federation, which represents about 1,000 hotels and guest houses, said many had already begun to adapt their services and facilities in anticipation of reopening at the end of the month.
Some 85 percent of hotels have been closed since March, with the remainder available to only essential workers.
President of the federation Elaina Fitzgerald Kane said the health and safety of employees and guests would remain the overriding priority.
She also welcomed the announcement that the temporary wage subsidy scheme was to be extended. “This is a significant development as it will help tourism businesses including hotels to keep their teams together and supported financially during the re-start phase,” she said.
Also welcoming the move to reopen hotels from the end of the month, Eoghan O'Meara Walsh of the Irish Tourism Industry Confederation said: "This is vital to the industry and to regional Ireland and the longer the season we can have, the better," he said.
“We are delighted the government has listened to the industry and give it the chance to reopen and start trading again.”
He pointed out that as 70 per cent of the Irish tourism market was made up of visitors from overseas, “all the bets are going to be on the domestic market.”
In addition to the earlier than anticipated opening Mr O’Meara Walsh called on the Government to implement other measures to stimulate the domestic tourism market including a €500 travel voucher for every household in Ireland and the introduction of a bank holiday at the end of September which would allow families travel within the country
Research being carried out by Fáilte Ireland and to be published next week suggests that there is demand among Irish people for trips within the country. Just over half of people will holiday in Ireland over the next six months with safety and hygiene are paramount when it comes to holiday planning.
According to the research holidays are important to people for good mental health and taking a “safe break” has emerged as a key element in their planning. People are now planning, scanning and booking.
Almost 60 per cent of those surveyed said social distancing or other restrictions would impact who they go on holiday with while 79 per cent said they would travel with a partner or family while 17 per cent said they would go on holidays with friends this year.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Road to citizenship for non-Irish children ‘long, complex and expensive’, says report

Children who come to Ireland seeking asylum , unaccompanied minors and stateless children born here face a “ long , complex and expensive ” road to citizenship , a new report states .
The Pathways to Irish Citizenship report , commissioned by the Ombudsman for Children ’ s Office , calls for children to be regularised as early as possible to “ ensure eligibility for citizenship from an earlier age ” .
For asylum seeking children this would reduce the time spent in the direct provision system and the impact of “ social isolation and poverty ” , author Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have greater access to education , employment and family reunification.
” Without citizenship , individuals are excluded from applying for social security numbers and may be unable to access employment , third level education , housing , healthcare , pensions , open bank accounts or register a marriage or birth , notes the report .
Dr Arnold warns that many children , particularly separated children , risk long delays in accessing citizenship because they can not apply for international protection independently or register with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service ( INIS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after turning 16 , many are unaware they need to register , she adds .
Children who are not eligible for Irish citizenship at birth can not apply for naturalisation themselves and must rely on a parent or legal guardian to establish their identity through passports and birth certificates , which can be difficult to obtain , Dr Arnold says .
Procedures around citizenship for these stateless children remain “ unclear ” and can not be relied upon with any degree of certainty as they are not established in law or policy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ INIS and Tusla teams working with separated children for appearing “ contradictory and unclear ” in their practices around citizenship and says decision making around residency and asylum applications for children requires “ greater transparency and clarity ” .
The views of a separated child should be “ sought directly ” and “ given due weight ” in relation to the asylum decision , writes Dr Arnold .
All unaccompanied children should be able to consult with a legal professional in order to inform their views on what immigration application should be made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report says children in direct provision should receive asylum decisions based on their “ protection or humanitarian needs in their own right ” and not based on evidence or testimony from their parents .
Individual status should be introduced for children so their position is not derived from their parents ’ status , it adds .
On the issue of undocumented children , the report calls for the Government to adopt a regularisation scheme for children and their families so they no longer fall outside the formal immigration system .
Legal aid should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ require immigration advice not linked to international protection , in particular children in care who may not be aware that they require legal advice , says the report .

Report calls for children to be regularised as early as possible to “ensure eligibility for citizenship from an earlier age”. Photograph: iStock
Children who come to Ireland seeking asylum, unaccompanied minors and stateless children born here face a "long, complex and expensive" road to citizenship, a new report states.
The Pathways to Irish Citizenship report, commissioned by the Ombudsman for Children’s Office, calls for children to be regularised as early as possible to “ensure eligibility for citizenship from an earlier age”.
For asylum seeking children this would reduce the time spent in the direct provision system and the impact of “social isolation and poverty”, author Dr Samantha Arnold writes.
“Ultimately children will have greater access to education, employment and family reunification.”
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Without citizenship, individuals are excluded from applying for social security numbers and may be unable to access employment, third level education, housing, healthcare, pensions, open bank accounts or register a marriage or birth, notes the report.
Dr Arnold warns that many children, particularly separated children, risk long delays in accessing citizenship because they cannot apply for international protection independently or register with the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) before they turn 16. Even after turning 16, many are unaware they need to register, she adds.
Children who are not eligible for Irish citizenship at birth cannot apply for naturalisation themselves and must rely on a parent or legal guardian to establish their identity through passports and birth certificates, which can be difficult to obtain, Dr Arnold says.
Procedures around citizenship for these stateless children remain “unclear” and cannot be relied upon with any degree of certainty as they are not established in law or policy, she adds.
The report criticises the INIS and Tusla teams working with separated children for appearing “contradictory and unclear” in their practices around citizenship and says decision making around residency and asylum applications for children requires “greater transparency and clarity”.
The views of a separated child should be “sought directly” and “given due weight” in relation to the asylum decision, writes Dr Arnold.
All unaccompanied children should be able to consult with a legal professional in order to inform their views on what immigration application should be made and when, she adds.
The report says children in direct provision should receive asylum decisions based on their “protection or humanitarian needs in their own right” and not based on evidence or testimony from their parents. Individual status should be introduced for children so their position is not derived from their parents’ status, it adds.
On the issue of undocumented children, the report calls for the Government to adopt a regularisation scheme for children and their families so they no longer fall outside the formal immigration system.
Legal aid should also be made available to children who require immigration advice not linked to international protection, in particular children in care who may not be aware that they require legal advice, says the report.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Covid-19 has exposed ‘unsuitability’ of direct provision system - expert group

An expert group set up to examine how to reform the direct provision system has said the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the “ unsuitability ” of the current system , in a recent briefing note on its work .
The group was set up late last year and is chaired by Catherine Day , former secretary general of the European Commission , and includes other former senior civil servants , and refugee and migrant rights organisations .
The group intends to recommend set time limits for the different stages asylum seekers await decisions on their applications , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oireachtas members on Friday .
Direct provision , the system of accommodation for asylum seekers , has long been criticised by campaigners for leaving applicants waiting years for decisions on their cases , and for poor standards in some accommodation centres .
“ Lengthy processing times for protection applications , both at first instance and at appeal , are problematic for applicants , ” due to impacts on their mental health , or loss of skills , the briefing said .
The long waiting times were also a “ problem for the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” the document said .
Reducing waiting times on decisions would require extra resources and the use of “ IT solutions , ” it said .
The group had been scheduled to issue a final report at the end of the year , but has accelerated its work and plans to complete the report by September .
The current system of housing asylum seekers in centres across the country , many of which are run by private contractors , is anticipated to cost the State €200 million this year , the briefing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent core capacity to house asylum seekers has led to the use of accommodation that is not suitable for families or single people , ” Ms Day said .
“ This unsatisfactory situation has been exacerbated by the current general housing shortage and recourse to emergency accommodation and more recently by the Covid 19 situation , ” the briefing note stated .
The group is considering recommending the use of public land to build accommodation for asylum seekers while they were in the system , or for local authorities to provide housing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been at maximum capacity due to an increase in applicants , with the Department of Justice relying on hotels and B & B accommodation to cope with extra demand since September 2018 .
The briefing note said currently 1,647 asylum seekers were being housed in emergency accommodation .
The expert group listed several measures that could be introduced immediately to improve the direct provision system .
These included extending the right to work for asylum seekers to everyone currently in the system .
New applicants should only have to wait three rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can work in Ireland , the group recommended .
Asylum seekers reported difficulties acquiring driving licenses “ because the Road Safety Authority refuses to recognise the proof of residency ” that residents could provide , the briefing note said .
The group recommended that “ this discrimination should be ended now.
” New standards for direct provision centres are to come into effect in January 2021 , and the expert group said it understood the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) would be conducting independent inspections of centres .
Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the briefing note from the expert group , “ as we believe that root and branch reform of the system and the policy behind it is required .
”

Catherine Day chairs an expert group set up to examine how to reform the direct provision system. Photograph: Alan Betson
An expert group set up to examine how to reform the direct provision system has said the coronavirus pandemic has exposed the “unsuitability” of the current system, in a recent briefing note on its work.
The group was set up late last year and is chaired by Catherine Day, former secretary general of the European Commission, and includes other former senior civil servants, and refugee and migrant rights organisations.
The group intends to recommend set time limits for the different stages asylum seekers await decisions on their applications, according to a briefing note from Ms Day sent to Oireachtas members on Friday.
Direct provision, the system of accommodation for asylum seekers, has long been criticised by campaigners for leaving applicants waiting years for decisions on their cases, and for poor standards in some accommodation centres.
READ MORE
“Lengthy processing times for protection applications, both at first instance and at appeal, are problematic for applicants,” due to impacts on their mental health, or loss of skills, the briefing said. The long waiting times were also a “problem for the State in terms of cost and public concern,” the document said.
Reducing waiting times on decisions would require extra resources and the use of “IT solutions,” it said.
The group had been scheduled to issue a final report at the end of the year, but has accelerated its work and plans to complete the report by September.
The current system of housing asylum seekers in centres across the country, many of which are run by private contractors, is anticipated to cost the State €200 million this year, the briefing note said.
“The lack of permanent core capacity to house asylum seekers has led to the use of accommodation that is not suitable for families or single people,” Ms Day said.
“This unsatisfactory situation has been exacerbated by the current general housing shortage and recourse to emergency accommodation and more recently by the Covid 19 situation,” the briefing note stated.
The group is considering recommending the use of public land to build accommodation for asylum seekers while they were in the system, or for local authorities to provide housing, it said.
The direct provision system has been at maximum capacity due to an increase in applicants, with the Department of Justice relying on hotels and B&B accommodation to cope with extra demand since September 2018.
The briefing note said currently 1,647 asylum seekers were being housed in emergency accommodation.
The expert group listed several measures that could be introduced immediately to improve the direct provision system.
These included extending the right to work for asylum seekers to everyone currently in the system. New applicants should only have to wait three rather than the current nine month period before they can work in Ireland, the group recommended.
Asylum seekers reported difficulties acquiring driving licenses "because the Road Safety Authority refuses to recognise the proof of residency" that residents could provide, the briefing note said. The group recommended that "this discrimination should be ended now."
New standards for direct provision centres are to come into effect in January 2021, and the expert group said it understood the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) would be conducting independent inspections of centres.
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said he welcomed the briefing note from the expert group, "as we believe that root and branch reform of the system and the policy behind it is required."


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Public health team warns of ‘stricter measures’ if there is upsurge in Covid cases

The State ’ s public health team has warned that “ stricter measures ” may need to be reinstated if there is an upsurge in cases of Covid-19 following the Government ’ s decision to accelerate the plan to reopen Ireland .
In a letter to Minister for Health Simon Harris on Thursday , 24 hours before the Government ’ s announcement on easing the lockdown , the chief medical officer , Dr Tony Holohan , also raised concerns that workplaces had the potential to become “ foci ” for new clusters of infection as public health measures were eased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( NPHET ) said the “ easing of measures always has the potential to increase the risk of transmission of infection ” .
The team “ acknowledged that there are other important considerations for Government with regard to the reduction of measures , such as social and economic considerations , while noting the potential effects of current restrictions on the wider health and wellbeing of the population ” , the letter read .
Dr Holohan said it was “ not possible to provide assurance that it is safe to reduce the public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have to be reintroduced if a strong upsurge of infection were to occur at some point in the future ” .
To minimise the risk of fresh outbreaks , NPHET emphasised “ the need for employers , workers and relevant stakeholders to work together to promote adherence to public health guidance and advice appropriate to the relevant sector ” .
NPHET also said that people would be asked to “ stay local ” and travel within 20km from Monday , although the Government decided that people could instead travel any distance within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a media briefing on Friday , Dr Holohan said NPHET still had “ concern ” over groups of people congregating in shopping centres , which had initially led to the group advising against their reopening in phase two .
He said the organisers of a Black Lives Matter protest on Saturday at the US embassy in Ballsbridge , Dublin , should reconsider the event due to social distancing difficulties .
“ Now is not the time to be arranging mass gatherings or events that have the potential to become mass gatherings , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a comment on the motivations of those seeking to protest .
On pubs reopening , Dr Holohan said this should only apply “ if a pub is going to operate as a restaurant ... and if they ’ re in full compliance with public health advice in the way a restaurant would need to be ” .
“ That ’ s not the same as us saying that a few fellas to get together for a few pints and having a packet of peanuts constitutes a meal , constitutes a restaurant.
” Seven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the State , NPHET announced on Friday .
This brings the total number of deaths from Covid-19 to 1,670 .
The number of known cases in the State increased by 28 , bringing the total to 25,163 .
Of 25,135 cases analysed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre as of Wednesday midnight , 3,312 people had been hospitalised , and 410 of those required intensive care .
Some 48 per cent of the cases ( 12,118 ) were in Dublin , followed by Cork ( 1,527 ) and Kildare ( 1,419 ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the national total .
However , there were only 482 “ live cases ” of people with Covid-19 in the country last week , 215 of whom were in Dublin , according to deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn .
In Northern Ireland , one more person was reported to have died from Covid-19 , bringing the death toll in the North to 536 .
The North ’ s Department of Health also reported that three more people had tested positive for the virus , taking the number of confirmed cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the letter sent to Mr Harris on Thursday , Dr Holohan said that NPHET had met and discussed plans to move on to the next phase of reopening Irish society , and that it was “ impossible to predict with certainty what the future trajectory of the Covid-19 disease will be in Ireland ” .
NPHET also provided advice for groups of up to six who choose to gather indoors from Monday .
“ Where adults or children who are not from the same household congregate indoors , a large less crowded well-ventilated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be spaced as far as possible from each other is preferable to people being grouped together .
“ Rooms should be cleaned regularly with a particular focus on communal surfaces like handrails , door handles and lift buttons , as well as communal areas like bathrooms and kitchens.
” The team advises that people continue to “ restrict their close contacts to as small number as possible , and duration of contact should be as short as possible , while also maintaining strict social distancing , two metres.
” “ In the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ circle of friends , it is important that people continue to avoid spending time in direct contact with people outside their household or immediate circle .
The development of micro-communities is specifically recommended.
” The group says this may be effective for those cocooning , and says “ it is especially important for people who are members of the core group of a person who is cocooning to understand that they need to keep to a minimum the number of their close contacts in order to protect the person who is cocooning as @ @ @ @ @

The State’s public health team has warned that “stricter measures” may need to be reinstated if there is an upsurge in cases of Covid-19 following the Government’s decision to accelerate the plan to reopen Ireland.
In a letter to Minister for Health Simon Harris on Thursday, 24 hours before the Government’s announcement on easing the lockdown, the chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, also raised concerns that workplaces had the potential to become “foci” for new clusters of infection as public health measures were eased.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said the “easing of measures always has the potential to increase the risk of transmission of infection”.
The team “acknowledged that there are other important considerations for Government with regard to the reduction of measures, such as social and economic considerations, while noting the potential effects of current restrictions on the wider health and wellbeing of the population”, the letter read.
READ MORE
Dr Holohan said it was “not possible to provide assurance that it is safe to reduce the public health social distancing measures, and stricter measures may have to be reintroduced if a strong upsurge of infection were to occur at some point in the future”.
To minimise the risk of fresh outbreaks, NPHET emphasised “the need for employers, workers and relevant stakeholders to work together to promote adherence to public health guidance and advice appropriate to the relevant sector”.
NPHET also said that people would be asked to “stay local” and travel within 20km from Monday, although the Government decided that people could instead travel any distance within their county from Monday.
Concern
Speaking at a media briefing on Friday, Dr Holohan said NPHET still had “concern” over groups of people congregating in shopping centres, which had initially led to the group advising against their reopening in phase two.
He said the organisers of a Black Lives Matter protest on Saturday at the US embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin, should reconsider the event due to social distancing difficulties.
“Now is not the time to be arranging mass gatherings or events that have the potential to become mass gatherings,” he said, stressing this was not a comment on the motivations of those seeking to protest.
On pubs reopening, Dr Holohan said this should only apply “if a pub is going to operate as a restaurant... and if they’re in full compliance with public health advice in the way a restaurant would need to be”.
“That’s not the same as us saying that a few fellas to get together for a few pints and having a packet of peanuts constitutes a meal, constitutes a restaurant.”
Seven more people have died from coronavirus in the State, NPHET announced on Friday. This brings the total number of deaths from Covid-19 to 1,670.
The number of known cases in the State increased by 28, bringing the total to 25,163.
Of 25,135 cases analysed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre as of Wednesday midnight, 3,312 people had been hospitalised, and 410 of those required intensive care.
Some 48 per cent of the cases (12,118) were in Dublin, followed by Cork (1,527) and Kildare (1,419), which each made up 6 per cent of the national total.
However, there were only 482 “live cases” of people with Covid-19 in the country last week, 215 of whom were in Dublin, according to deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn.
In Northern Ireland, one more person was reported to have died from Covid-19, bringing the death toll in the North to 536.
The North’s Department of Health also reported that three more people had tested positive for the virus, taking the number of confirmed cases in the North to 4,776.
Trajectory
In the letter sent to Mr Harris on Thursday, Dr Holohan said that NPHET had met and discussed plans to move on to the next phase of reopening Irish society, and that it was “impossible to predict with certainty what the future trajectory of the Covid-19 disease will be in Ireland”.
NPHET also provided advice for groups of up to six who choose to gather indoors from Monday.
“Where adults or children who are not from the same household congregate indoors, a large less crowded well-ventilated [are] where adults or children can be spaced as far as possible from each other is preferable to people being grouped together.
“Rooms should be cleaned regularly with a particular focus on communal surfaces like handrails, door handles and lift buttons, as well as communal areas like bathrooms and kitchens.”
The team advises that people continue to “restrict their close contacts to as small number as possible, and duration of contact should be as short as possible, while also maintaining strict social distancing, two metres.”
“In the case of work colleagues and the wider circle of friends, it is important that people continue to avoid spending time in direct contact with people outside their household or immediate circle. The development of micro-communities is specifically recommended.”
The group says this may be effective for those cocooning, and says “it is especially important for people who are members of the core group of a person who is cocooning to understand that they need to keep to a minimum the number of their close contacts in order to protect the person who is cocooning as effectively as possible”.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Pubs reopening will not mean ‘fellas having a few pints and peanuts’, Holohan warns

Pubs being permitted to reopen and operate as restaurants would not mean several people meeting up “ for a few pints and having a packet of peanuts ” , the State ’ s chief medical officer , Dr Tony Holohan , has said .
Pubs will be permitted to reopen along with restaurants and cafes on June 29th , provided they function along the same lines as restaurants , and adhere to public health guidance on the coronavirus pandemic .
“ The intention is if a pub is going to operate as a restaurant .
.
.
and if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health advice in the way a restaurant would need to be , then there wouldn ’ t be a reason why that activity [ reopening ] couldn ’ t happen , ” Dr Holohan told a daily press briefing .
“ That ’ s not the same as us saying that a few fellas to get together for a few pints and having a packet of peanuts constitutes a meal , constitutes a restaurant , ” he said .
“ I think people will be sensible about this .
.
.
Most Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , most Irish people know what a pub looks like , ” he said .
Speaking earlier on Friday , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said pubs operating as restaurants would not need a restaurant licence to do so , but would have to follow several conditions .
“ So that will mean table service , socially distant , but not people sitting at a bar , or , you know , hanging around , standing , as you might like to do in a pub , ” he said .
Seven more people have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) announced on Friday .
This brings the total number of deaths from Covid-19 here to 1,670 .
The number of known cases in the State also increased by 28 , bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 25,163 .
Of 25,135 cases analysed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre as of Wednesday midnight , 3,312 of them had been hospitalised , and 410 of those required intensive care .
Some 48 per cent of the cases ( 12,118 ) were in Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and Kildare ( 1,419 ) , which each made up 6 per cent of the national total .
However , there were only 482 “ live cases ” of people with Covid-19 in the country last week , 215 of whom were in Dublin , according to deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn .
Retail outlets reopening from Monday must not open before 10.30am , to avoid public transport becoming congested with both shoppers and essential workers travelling to work , Dr Holohan said .
The advice from Nphet to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roadmap to reopen the country stated that retail outlets should open on Monday , but not shopping centres .
However , the Government took the decision on Friday to allow malls and shopping centres to reopen on June 15th , if measures were in place at these sites to ensure that people can not congregate .
Speaking at an evening briefing on Friday , Dr Holohan said Nphet still had “ concern ” over groups of people congregating in shopping centres , which had initially led to the group advising against their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also said that the organisers of a Black Lives Matter protest planned for this Saturday at the US embassy in Ballsbridge , Dublin , should reconsider the event due to social distancing difficulties .
“ Now is not the time to be arranging mass gatherings , or events that have the potential to become mass gatherings , ” he said , adding that that was not a comment on the motivations of those seeking to protest .
As the country continued to lift the coronavirus restrictions it was “ not going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Public health officials would be reliant on people voluntarily complying with advice , and it would be difficult to stop people who wished to ignore the guidance or exploit “ loopholes ” , he said .

Pubs being permitted to reopen and operate as restaurants would not mean several people meeting up “for a few pints and having a packet of peanuts”, the State’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, has said.
Pubs will be permitted to reopen along with restaurants and cafes on June 29th, provided they function along the same lines as restaurants, and adhere to public health guidance on the coronavirus pandemic.
“The intention is if a pub is going to operate as a restaurant . . . and if they’re in full compliance with public health advice in the way a restaurant would need to be, then there wouldn’t be a reason why that activity [reopening] couldn’t happen,” Dr Holohan told a daily press briefing.
“That’s not the same as us saying that a few fellas to get together for a few pints and having a packet of peanuts constitutes a meal, constitutes a restaurant,” he said.
READ MORE
“I think people will be sensible about this . . . Most Irish people know what a restaurant looks like, most Irish people know what a pub looks like,” he said.
Speaking earlier on Friday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said pubs operating as restaurants would not need a restaurant licence to do so, but would have to follow several conditions.
“So that will mean table service, socially distant, but not people sitting at a bar, or, you know, hanging around, standing, as you might like to do in a pub,” he said.
Further fatalities
Seven more people have died from coronavirus in the State, the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) announced on Friday. This brings the total number of deaths from Covid-19 here to 1,670. The number of known cases in the State also increased by 28, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 25,163.
Of 25,135 cases analysed by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre as of Wednesday midnight, 3,312 of them had been hospitalised, and 410 of those required intensive care.
Some 48 per cent of the cases (12,118) were in Dublin, followed by Cork (1,527 cases) and Kildare (1,419), which each made up 6 per cent of the national total.
However, there were only 482 “live cases” of people with Covid-19 in the country last week, 215 of whom were in Dublin, according to deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn.
Retail outlets reopening from Monday must not open before 10.30am, to avoid public transport becoming congested with both shoppers and essential workers travelling to work, Dr Holohan said.
The advice from Nphet to the Government on advancing to phase two of the roadmap to reopen the country stated that retail outlets should open on Monday, but not shopping centres.
However, the Government took the decision on Friday to allow malls and shopping centres to reopen on June 15th, if measures were in place at these sites to ensure that people cannot congregate.
Speaking at an evening briefing on Friday, Dr Holohan said Nphet still had “concern” over groups of people congregating in shopping centres, which had initially led to the group advising against their reopening in phase two.
Black Lives Matter protest
Dr Holohan also said that the organisers of a Black Lives Matter protest planned for this Saturday at the US embassy in Ballsbridge, Dublin, should reconsider the event due to social distancing difficulties.
“Now is not the time to be arranging mass gatherings, or events that have the potential to become mass gatherings,” he said, adding that that was not a comment on the motivations of those seeking to protest.
As the country continued to lift the coronavirus restrictions it was “not going to be possible to police every household”, he said.
Public health officials would be reliant on people voluntarily complying with advice, and it would be difficult to stop people who wished to ignore the guidance or exploit “loopholes”, he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Temperature checks for visitors after nursing homes reopen from June 15th

Nursing home visits will be limited to two named visitors per resident , and visitors must undergo temperatures checks under new public health guidelines to reopen care homes to visits .
The Government on Friday signed off on a series of recommendations to permit the phrased reintroduction of visits to nursing homes and care facilities from June 15th .
The reopening of the nursing homes , which have been closed to visitors since mid-March , was announced as part of the second phase of lockdown restrictions being lifted .
Visits will be limited to daytime visits of less than 30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be allowed a maximum of one visit per week .
Children under 16 will not be permitted to visit .
Under guidelines published on Friday by the State agency responsible for infection prevention and control , residential care facilities with no ongoing Covid-19 outbreak are being encouraged to provide a separate entrance and exit area for visitors from the middle of this month .
Visitors should be scheduled “ to avoid any heavy footfall ” at any time , the State ’ s Health Protection Surveillance Centre has said in the guidelines that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Anyone visiting a care home should be asked if they have had Covid-19 or close contact with a person with the disease or suspected Covid-19 symptoms .
They will also be required to declare that they themselves have no symptoms of the disease before they are permitted to enter the care home .
Visitors will be required to sign in on entry to the facility , and must use their own pen or be signed in .
Only scheduled visits will be permitted .
If the visitor can not maintain physical distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a surgical mask , and the disposal of the mask must be monitored .
Only “ all-but-essential visiting ” such as end-of-life circumstances will be permitted in residential care facilities with Covid-19 outbreaks .
The State ’ s chief medical officer , Dr Tony Holohan , said on Friday that the phased reopening of homes to visitors has been introduced in recognition of the “ significant burden ” of visitor restriction on residents , and how they have been “ isolated for such a long time from loved ones ” .
Nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths in the Covid-19 pandemic with 927 or 55 per cent of the 1,670 people who have died in the State from the virus being care home residents .

Visits to care homes will be limited to daytime visits of less than 30 minutes, and each visitor will only be allowed a maximum of one visit per week. Children under 16 will not be permitted to visit
Nursing home visits will be limited to two named visitors per resident, and visitors must undergo temperatures checks under new public health guidelines to reopen care homes to visits.
The Government on Friday signed off on a series of recommendations to permit the phrased reintroduction of visits to nursing homes and care facilities from June 15th.
The reopening of the nursing homes, which have been closed to visitors since mid-March, was announced as part of the second phase of lockdown restrictions being lifted.
Visits will be limited to daytime visits of less than 30 minutes, and each visitor will only be allowed a maximum of one visit per week. Children under 16 will not be permitted to visit.
READ MORE
Under guidelines published on Friday by the State agency responsible for infection prevention and control, residential care facilities with no ongoing Covid-19 outbreak are being encouraged to provide a separate entrance and exit area for visitors from the middle of this month.
Visitors should be scheduled “to avoid any heavy footfall” at any time, the State’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre has said in the guidelines that will come into effect on June 15th.
Anyone visiting a care home should be asked if they have had Covid-19 or close contact with a person with the disease or suspected Covid-19 symptoms.
They will also be required to declare that they themselves have no symptoms of the disease before they are permitted to enter the care home.
Visitors will be required to sign in on entry to the facility, and must use their own pen or be signed in. Only scheduled visits will be permitted.
Physical distancing
If the visitor cannot maintain physical distancing during the visit they must be provided with a surgical mask, and the disposal of the mask must be monitored.
Only “all-but-essential visiting” such as end-of-life circumstances will be permitted in residential care facilities with Covid-19 outbreaks.
The State's chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, said on Friday that the phased reopening of homes to visitors has been introduced in recognition of the "significant burden" of visitor restriction on residents, and how they have been "isolated for such a long time from loved ones".
Nursing homes account for the highest share of deaths in the Covid-19 pandemic with 927 or 55 per cent of the 1,670 people who have died in the State from the virus being care home residents.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Charity believes injured pony ‘dumped’ on Sugarloaf mountain

An animal welfare charity believes a pony found on a Co Wicklow mountain was most likely abandoned because she was injured and the owner did not want to pay for veterinary treatment .
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( ISPCA ) said the pony , now named Petal , was discovered on the Sugarloaf in a distressed state and extremely lame in recent days .
ISPCA chief inspector Conor Dowling said Petal “ was struggling to walk and every step she took caused her pain ” .
Mr Dowling , a member of the Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Agriculture veterinary inspector , assisted by members of the public , were able to guide Petal into a horsebox .
A veterinary examination later revealed she had a severe infection and an injury .
Petal requires medication and rest while the injury heals .
The ISPCA appealed to anyone with knowledge about how the pony came to be abandoned to come forward .
“ It is my belief that this unfortunate pony was dumped on a mountainside because she was injured and the person responsible for her care didn ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Dowling said .
Information can be provided to the ISPCA , in confidence , via 1890 515 515 or helpline @ ispca.ie in confidence .

Petal the pony was found injured and in a distressed state on the Sugarloaf mountain in Co Wicklow. Image: ISPCA.
An animal welfare charity believes a pony found on a Co Wicklow mountain was most likely abandoned because she was injured and the owner did not want to pay for veterinary treatment.
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) said the pony, now named Petal, was discovered on the Sugarloaf in a distressed state and extremely lame in recent days.
ISPCA chief inspector Conor Dowling said Petal “was struggling to walk and every step she took caused her pain”.
Mr Dowling, a member of the Irish Horse Welfare Trust and a Department of Agriculture veterinary inspector, assisted by members of the public, were able to guide Petal into a horsebox.
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A veterinary examination later revealed she had a severe infection and an injury. Petal requires medication and rest while the injury heals.
The ISPCA appealed to anyone with knowledge about how the pony came to be abandoned to come forward.
“It is my belief that this unfortunate pony was dumped on a mountainside because she was injured and the person responsible for her care didn’t want to pay for her veterinary treatment,” Mr Dowling said.
Information can be provided to the ISPCA, in confidence, via 1890 515 515 or helpline@ispca.ie in confidence.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Covid-19: What we can expect when shops reopen next week

Anyone looking forward to a leisurely day ’ s shopping on Monday when retail starts to reopen after almost three months of enforced closure is in for a rude awakening .
Queues will be the new norm , changing rooms will be shut , staff will wear PPE , shoppers will have face masks , and all the tactile experiences that make shopping one of the most popular hobbies in Ireland will have largely disappeared , as social distancing measures continue amid the Covid-19 pandemic .
Minister for Enterprise Heather Humphreys said as much at a press conference on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening of the Irish retail world .
“ When we return to the high street next week it will not be the one that we left behind , ” she said .
“ The shopping experience will be different .
Be prepared to queue .
For many of us leisurely browsing will have to be replaced by purposeful , direct shopping.
” She stressed that people would be expected to “ show personal responsibility and be respectful of other customers and staff ” , and she encouraged people “ to shop local and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopening plans , shops may not open until 10.30am and they will be required to operate staggered hours while allocating dedicated times to the elderly and other consumers at risk .
In a surprise move , it was also confirmed that shopping malls will be able to open on June 15th , but measures will have to be put in place to ensure that people can not congregate in them .
Food courts will remain closed and people will be expected to go in , do their shopping and leave .
Ikea is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will open on Monday and it has detailed the series of enhanced safety measures that have been put in place to protect staff and shoppers .
The Swedish retailer will limit the numbers of customers allowed in to its stores at any one time and has set a limit of two people per customer group .
There will be so-called social distance wardens throughout its stores to help customers find their way around the new one-way system and ensure new social distancing measures are being followed .
Ikea is also urging customers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own bags .
It has also installed hand sanitiser facilities and more frequent deep cleaning routines for bags , trolleys , bathrooms , rest areas , equipment and touchscreens and will only accept cashless payments .
“ While the experience might be a little different to before – it ’ s the same Ikea , ” its market manager in Dublin , Martyn Allan , said .

A view of social distancing measures put in place in a shopping district in Canterbury, Kent, England, as shops prepare to reopen there. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire
Anyone looking forward to a leisurely day’s shopping on Monday when retail starts to reopen after almost three months of enforced closure is in for a rude awakening.
Queues will be the new norm, changing rooms will be shut, staff will wear PPE, shoppers will have face masks, and all the tactile experiences that make shopping one of the most popular hobbies in Ireland will have largely disappeared, as social distancing measures continue amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Minister for Enterprise Heather Humphreys said as much at a press conference on Friday held to announce the fast-tracking of the reopening of the Irish retail world.
“When we return to the high street next week it will not be the one that we left behind,” she said. “The shopping experience will be different. Be prepared to queue. For many of us leisurely browsing will have to be replaced by purposeful, direct shopping.”
READ MORE
She stressed that people would be expected to “show personal responsibility and be respectful of other customers and staff”, and she encouraged people “to shop local and support local businesses”.
Under the reopening plans, shops may not open until 10.30am and they will be required to operate staggered hours while allocating dedicated times to the elderly and other consumers at risk.
Surprise move
In a surprise move, it was also confirmed that shopping malls will be able to open on June 15th, but measures will have to be put in place to ensure that people cannot congregate in them. Food courts will remain closed and people will be expected to go in, do their shopping and leave.
Ikea is among the largest retailers to confirm it will open on Monday and it has detailed the series of enhanced safety measures that have been put in place to protect staff and shoppers.
The Swedish retailer will limit the numbers of customers allowed in to its stores at any one time and has set a limit of two people per customer group.
There will be so-called social distance wardens throughout its stores to help customers find their way around the new one-way system and ensure new social distancing measures are being followed. Ikea is also urging customers to come prepared with ready-made lists and their own bags.
It has also installed hand sanitiser facilities and more frequent deep cleaning routines for bags, trolleys, bathrooms, rest areas, equipment and touchscreens and will only accept cashless payments.
“While the experience might be a little different to before – it’s the same Ikea,” its market manager in Dublin, Martyn Allan, said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--‘White Irish people have never had to think about this’

Children should learn about racism and black history from an early age while more teachers of colour are needed in our schools to encourage an understanding of Ireland ’ s cultural diversity , a group of young black Irish people have agreed .
“ Talking about race is a complicated thing , ” Boni Odoemene ( 25 ) , former DIT Students ’ Union president , told The Irish Times .
“ We need to normalise the situation like with Repeal and marriage equality .
It ’ s only with conversation and honest dialogue that we can get through this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of George Floyd ’ s death and the protests that followed prompted Odoemene to reflect on his own experiences of racism growing up in Ireland .
He was five the first time he was singled out in an Irish playground .
“ We were playing chasing and one kid said ‘ don ’ t touch me with your dirty skin ’ .
“ When I was 11 I was called n***r for the first time and had to ask my dad what the word meant .
When I was 20 a guy called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and no one passing by said anything.
” Many Irish still believe racism does not exist here , says Odoemene , who this week started posting video conversations with friends and family about race on his Instagram account .
He has also set up an Instagram account for young black Irish people to share their experiences of growing up here .
“ What ’ s struck with me the most is Irish people were surprised to hear this ; they say they ‘ literally had no clue ’ .
This is the personification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have never had to think or talk about this.
” While racist police brutality is not a problem in Ireland , Garda “ micro-aggressions ” towards people of colour happen all the time , says Odoemene , who now works at the University of Birmingham .
“ I never had any issues with guards growing up but as I became a man I noticed how they approached me differently compared to white friends.
” Lawson Mpame , a 27-year-old stylist from Castleknock , agrees that racism is an issue within An Garda Síochána @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first hand ; you ’ re in a group of lads walking and they ’ ll stop you ask ‘ where are you going , where do you live ?
’ I ’ ve had friends who were searched by gardaí for no reason .
“ I even dress a certain way so the guards don ’ t stop me .
I rarely wear hoodies or tracksuit bottoms because I know it means I ’ m more likely to be stopped .
It makes me really frustrated and disillusioned with the guards and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranges from overtly extreme and being called the ‘ N ’ word to subtle things like ‘ you ’ re very educated for a black person ’ or ‘ you ’ re very articulate ’ .
” Mpame , who took part in last Monday ’ s Black Lives Matter protest in Dublin , says in the wake of Floyd ’ s death , black Irish people finally feel confident to speak openly about their experiences of racism .
“ I ’ m probably the only black male in the Irish fashion industry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could talk about these things before .
But now there ’ s a platform to be open and people are paying attention.
” Nathali Turner ( 24 ) , a fashion model and graphic design graduate living in Carlow , agrees that people of colour feel like they ’ re “ finally being heard ” .
Turner , who is mixed race , moved to Ireland when she was nine .
In Nigeria , she never felt different but here , she suffered racist abuse from the moment she arrived .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me and my sister the ‘ N ’ word and there was nothing we could do about it .
It felt like an identity crisis ; I was half Irish but these people didn ’ t want me.
” She remembers strangers approaching her Nigerian mother to ask whether Turner was her child .
“ When we walked around together we got a lot of looks because of our different skin tones .
“ When I was younger I used to think the whole of Ireland was hateful and I was so confused @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country .
I never experienced that happiness and I ’ m half Irish.
” Only recently , when Turner made friends through the Gxrl Code collective for women in the arts , did she start to feel comfortable in her own skin .
As a model , she ’ s found most Irish agencies only have a couple of women of colour on their books .
“ They usually have a few token black models but they have a certain look they ’ re trying to get out.
” Amanda Adé , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s protest , says racism has been “ programmed into people ’ s consciousness ” and that many Irish are “ blissfully ignorant ” of their prejudices towards people of colour .
People need to learn to call out racist remarks and not “ brush them off as banter ” , says Adé .
“ It ’ s great the black Irish community finally has the courage to step up .
It helps people realise racism is real and brings it beyond what ’ s going on in America .
It brings @ @ @ @ @ @

Children should learn about racism and black history from an early age while more teachers of colour are needed in our schools to encourage an understanding of Ireland’s cultural diversity, a group of young black Irish people have agreed.
“Talking about race is a complicated thing,” Boni Odoemene (25), former DIT Students’ Union president, told The Irish Times. “We need to normalise the situation like with Repeal and marriage equality. It’s only with conversation and honest dialogue that we can get through this as a country.”
Watching the video of George Floyd's death and the protests that followed prompted Odoemene to reflect on his own experiences of racism growing up in Ireland. He was five the first time he was singled out in an Irish playground. "We were playing chasing and one kid said 'don't touch me with your dirty skin'.
“When I was 11 I was called n***r for the first time and had to ask my dad what the word meant. When I was 20 a guy called me a black b*****d on the street and no one passing by said anything.”
READ MORE
Many Irish still believe racism does not exist here, says Odoemene, who this week started posting video conversations with friends and family about race on his Instagram account. He has also set up an Instagram account for young black Irish people to share their experiences of growing up here.
“What’s struck with me the most is Irish people were surprised to hear this; they say they ‘literally had no clue’. This is the personification of white privilege; white Irish people have never had to think or talk about this.”
Boni Odoemene: Many Irish still believe racism does not exist here, says the former DIT Students’ Union president
While racist police brutality is not a problem in Ireland, Garda “micro-aggressions” towards people of colour happen all the time, says Odoemene, who now works at the University of Birmingham. “I never had any issues with guards growing up but as I became a man I noticed how they approached me differently compared to white friends.”
When I was younger I used to think the whole of Ireland was hateful
Lawson Mpame, a 27-year-old stylist from Castleknock, agrees that racism is an issue within An Garda Síochána. "I've seen it first hand; you're in a group of lads walking and they'll stop you ask 'where are you going, where do you live?' I've had friends who were searched by gardaí for no reason.
“I even dress a certain way so the guards don’t stop me. I rarely wear hoodies or tracksuit bottoms because I know it means I’m more likely to be stopped. It makes me really frustrated and disillusioned with the guards and justice system.
“Racism in Ireland ranges from overtly extreme and being called the ‘N’ word to subtle things like ‘you’re very educated for a black person’ or ‘you’re very articulate’.”
Mpame, who took part in last Monday’s Black Lives Matter protest in Dublin, says in the wake of Floyd’s death, black Irish people finally feel confident to speak openly about their experiences of racism. “I’m probably the only black male in the Irish fashion industry and I didn’t feel I could talk about these things before. But now there’s a platform to be open and people are paying attention.”
Nathali Turner (24): ‘I remember walking to school and people calling me and my sister the ‘N’ word and there was nothing we could do about it’
Nathali Turner (24), a fashion model and graphic design graduate living in Carlow, agrees that people of colour feel like they’re “finally being heard”.
Turner, who is mixed race, moved to Ireland when she was nine. In Nigeria, she never felt different but here, she suffered racist abuse from the moment she arrived.
“I remember walking to school and people calling me and my sister the ‘N’ word and there was nothing we could do about it. It felt like an identity crisis; I was half Irish but these people didn’t want me.”
She remembers strangers approaching her Nigerian mother to ask whether Turner was her child. “When we walked around together we got a lot of looks because of our different skin tones.
“When I was younger I used to think the whole of Ireland was hateful and I was so confused when people said Ireland is a happy country. I never experienced that happiness and I’m half Irish.”
Only recently, when Turner made friends through the Gxrl Code collective for women in the arts, did she start to feel comfortable in her own skin. As a model, she’s found most Irish agencies only have a couple of women of colour on their books. “They usually have a few token black models but they have a certain look they’re trying to get out.”
Amanda Adé, who spoke outside the US embassy at Monday’s protest, says racism has been “programmed into people’s consciousness” and that many Irish are “blissfully ignorant” of their prejudices towards people of colour.
People need to learn to call out racist remarks and not “brush them off as banter”, says Adé. “It’s great the black Irish community finally has the courage to step up. It helps people realise racism is real and brings it beyond what’s going on in America. It brings it home to Ireland.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--CofI bishop challenges English counterpart over Irish headstone epitaph

A Church of Ireland bishop has challenged an English counterpart over a ruling that an inscription in Irish on a gravestone in a Coventry churchyard must be translated to ensure it is not mistaken for a political statement .
Bishop of Cashel , Ossory and Ferns Michael Burrows said the controversy raised “ serious issues in terms of cultural respect between our islands which go to the very heart even of the delicate Irish peace process ” .
The decision could “ reignite the notion that one of the ancient languages of these islands , the original language of hymns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is to be regarded by the Anglican Church not as a vehicle of spirituality but of its very nature as an instrument of politics .
And to that assertion we feel bound stridently to object , ” Bishop Burrows said .
The family of Irish-born Margaret Keane ( 73 ) , who died in July 2018 , wanted the words “ In ár gcroíthe go deo ” ( “ in our hearts for ever ” ) on the stone above her grave at St Giles burial ground in Exhall , Coventry .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Church of England ecclestiastical court , ruled a translation of the inscription must also be included as there was a risk it could otherwise be seen “ as a political statement ” .
In an open letter to Church of England Bishop of Coventry Christopher Cocksworth , who has jurisdiction over the churchyard , Bishop Burrrows said that to insist on the translation diminished “ the identity of an Irish woman who no doubt had lived happily in England for many years but who wanted to be permitted an uncomplicated reminder of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cocksworth said he was “ deeply saddened whenever people ’ s identity is hurt or offended ” .
He said he would make sure the family is made aware of its “ legal rights according to the procedures of the Consistory Court ” .
Mrs Keane ’ s family have appealed against the decision .
In his letter , Bishop Burrows noted that a key aspect of the peace process had been “ to make clear that Irish language and culture can have a legitimate place in the richness of the British polity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ mindful that Irish is used to a significant degree in the part of the UK known as Northern Ireland ?
” He noted how “ during her memorable and wonderful visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011 , Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth graciously chose to use a few words of Irish to begin her speech in Dublin Castle .
“ Those few words meant so much to their hearers , and no one can ever accuse Her Majesty of using language politically.
” The Queen ’ s “ use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and healing upon a demanding moment .
In a similar way , perhaps a few words in Irish used utterly apolitically in a Coventry churchyard in memory of Margaret Keane might offer balm and healing to her family in their loss , and encourage passers by to contemplate admiringly the rich variety of tongues and cultures that contribute to life in the Spirit in the islands we all share , ” Bishop Burrows said .
As patron of the Irish Guild of the Church , Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise , which has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worship in Ireland since the early 1900s , Bishop Burrows said “ it should be noted that our endeavours go back over a century , long preceding the partition of Ireland and the departure of what is now the Republic of Ireland from the United Kingdom.
” Irish-born comedian Dara Ó Briain described the decision as “ deeply stupid ” .
“ The judgment is that an imaginary person , at some time in the future , might see ‘ You live on in our Hearts ’ , written in Irish , not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must be political , since it ’ s Irish and then ... what ?
... feel uncomfortable ?
Unsettled ?
” he said on Twitter .
“ So the family don ’ t get to give the tribute they want to their beloved mother because we apparently have to protect the feelings of some imaginary idiot in the future who can ’ t imagine the Irish language can carry any human emotions other than ‘ Tiocfaidh ár Lá ’ .
”

The family of Irish-born Margaret Keane want the words ‘In ár gcroíthe go deo’ to be on the headstone on her grave. File photograph: iStock.
A Church of Ireland bishop has challenged an English counterpart over a ruling that an inscription in Irish on a gravestone in a Coventry churchyard must be translated to ensure it is not mistaken for a political statement.
Bishop of Cashel, Ossory and Ferns Michael Burrows said the controversy raised “serious issues in terms of cultural respect between our islands which go to the very heart even of the delicate Irish peace process”.
The decision could “reignite the notion that one of the ancient languages of these islands, the original language of hymns like ‘Be thou my vision’, is to be regarded by the Anglican Church not as a vehicle of spirituality but of its very nature as an instrument of politics. And to that assertion we feel bound stridently to object,” Bishop Burrows said.
The family of Irish-born Margaret Keane (73), who died in July 2018, wanted the words "In ár gcroíthe go deo" ("in our hearts for ever") on the stone above her grave at St Giles burial ground in Exhall, Coventry.
READ MORE
Stephen Eyre QC, judge in a Church of England ecclestiastical court, ruled a translation of the inscription must also be included as there was a risk it could otherwise be seen "as a political statement".
In an open letter to Church of England Bishop of Coventry Christopher Cocksworth, who has jurisdiction over the churchyard, Bishop Burrrows said that to insist on the translation diminished "the identity of an Irish woman who no doubt had lived happily in England for many years but who wanted to be permitted an uncomplicated reminder of her roots at the last".
Bishop Cocksworth said he was “deeply saddened whenever people’s identity is hurt or offended”.
He said he would make sure the family is made aware of its “legal rights according to the procedures of the Consistory Court”.
Mrs Keane’s family have appealed against the decision.
In his letter, Bishop Burrows noted that a key aspect of the peace process had been “to make clear that Irish language and culture can have a legitimate place in the richness of the British polity”.
He wondered whether Mr Eyre was “mindful that Irish is used to a significant degree in the part of the UK known as Northern Ireland?”
He noted how “during her memorable and wonderful visit to the Republic of Ireland in 2011, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth graciously chose to use a few words of Irish to begin her speech in Dublin Castle.
“Those few words meant so much to their hearers, and no one can ever accuse Her Majesty of using language politically.”
The Queen’s “use of a mere phrase in Irish poured balm and healing upon a demanding moment. In a similar way, perhaps a few words in Irish used utterly apolitically in a Coventry churchyard in memory of Margaret Keane might offer balm and healing to her family in their loss, and encourage passers by to contemplate admiringly the rich variety of tongues and cultures that contribute to life in the Spirit in the islands we all share,” Bishop Burrows said.
As patron of the Irish Guild of the Church, Cumann Gaelach na hEaglaise, which has been promoting the use of Irish in Anglican worship in Ireland since the early 1900s, Bishop Burrows said “it should be noted that our endeavours go back over a century, long preceding the partition of Ireland and the departure of what is now the Republic of Ireland from the United Kingdom.”
Irish-born comedian Dara Ó Briain described the decision as “deeply stupid”.
“The judgment is that an imaginary person, at some time in the future, might see ‘You live on in our Hearts’, written in Irish, not understand it, but just presume it must be political, since it’s Irish and then...what?... feel uncomfortable? Unsettled?” he said on Twitter.
“So the family don’t get to give the tribute they want to their beloved mother because we apparently have to protect the feelings of some imaginary idiot in the future who can’t imagine the Irish language can carry any human emotions other than ‘Tiocfaidh ár Lá’.”