theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Review of €15bn high-speed rail line linking Dublin, Belfast, Cork

The Government is to launch a study into a proposal to build a €15 billion high-speed train line from Belfast to Dublin and on to Cork and Limerick , the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said .
The study would be “ the most significant ” review of the intercity network on the island since the strategic rail review in 2003 , and would examine how it could operate with the existing broader network .
Mr Ryan said the Department of Transport would shortly launch “ a significant procurement process ” of about 500km of high-speed line from Belfast-Dublin-Cork/Limerick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department said that on foot of commitments in the Government ’ s national planning framework and national development plan , as well as under the New Decade , New Approach agreement made by the Irish and British governments to support the full restoration of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement , it was proposed to conduct a study of rail speeds along the Belfast-Dublin-Cork/Limerick core corridor .
The new study would “ take a strategic view on the potential of high-/higher speed rail to support the relevant national strategic outcomes of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and operational proposals ” for the Belfast-Dublin-Cork/Limerick corridor , said the spokesman .
The Department of Transport said the study would consider including conventional rail , higher and high speed rail links along the route .
The spokesman for the department said that a procurement competition would be launched in the next few weeks , and that work on the study should commence by November .
The Irish Times understands that as part of the talks on the formation of the new Fianna Fáil , Fine Gael , Green Party government , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential rail link from Dublin to Derry that would also serve Navan and Letterkenny .
The Department of Transport said in response that it was not aware of any official feasibility study in relation to the development of a rail line from Dublin to Derry via Navan and Letterkenny .
“ Therefore any estimates given are highly speculative and must be treated with extreme caution .
In addition the costs below are purely related to construction costs only , and do not include the annual costs that would arise each and every year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the line and the operation of actual services on the line , both of which would require extensive Exchequer support .
“ Based on an indicative range of €25 million to €30 million per kilometre and a distance of approximately 500km it is estimated that a Dublin to Derry rail link via Navan and Letterkenny could cost between €12 billion to €15 billion approximately .
The final costs may include items beyond simple laying of track ( such as compulsory purchase of land ) .
” Last December the former minister for transport @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undertaken this year into the feasibility of reopening a rail line between Dublin and Navan .
Separately , official documents show that details about the cost of a potential rail line from Dublin to Derry via Navan and Letterkenny were sought as part of the recent talks on the formation of the new government .

The Department of Transport said the study would consider including conventional rail, higher and high speed rail links along the route. File photograph: The Irish Times
The Government is to launch a study into a proposal to build a €15 billion high-speed train line from Belfast to Dublin and on to Cork and Limerick, the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said.
The study would be “the most significant” review of the intercity network on the island since the strategic rail review in 2003, and would examine how it could operate with the existing broader network.
Mr Ryan said the Department of Transport would shortly launch “a significant procurement process” of about 500km of high-speed line from Belfast-Dublin-Cork/Limerick.
On Tuesday a spokesman for the department said that on foot of commitments in the Government’s national planning framework and national development plan, as well as under the New Decade, New Approach agreement made by the Irish and British governments to support the full restoration of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, it was proposed to conduct a study of rail speeds along the Belfast-Dublin-Cork/Limerick core corridor.
READ MORE
The new study would “take a strategic view on the potential of high-/higher speed rail to support the relevant national strategic outcomes of the National Planning Framework through developing high-level design and operational proposals” for the Belfast-Dublin-Cork/Limerick corridor, said the spokesman.
The Department of Transport said the study would consider including conventional rail, higher and high speed rail links along the route.
The spokesman for the department said that a procurement competition would be launched in the next few weeks, and that work on the study should commence by November.
The Irish Times understands that as part of the talks on the formation of the new Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Green Party government, the Department of Transport was asked about a potential rail link from Dublin to Derry that would also serve Navan and Letterkenny.
Feasibility study
The Department of Transport said in response that it was not aware of any official feasibility study in relation to the development of a rail line from Dublin to Derry via Navan and Letterkenny.
“Therefore any estimates given are highly speculative and must be treated with extreme caution. In addition the costs below are purely related to construction costs only, and do not include the annual costs that would arise each and every year in relation to maintenance and renewal of the line and the operation of actual services on the line, both of which would require extensive Exchequer support.
“Based on an indicative range of €25 million to €30 million per kilometre and a distance of approximately 500km it is estimated that a Dublin to Derry rail link via Navan and Letterkenny could cost between €12 billion to €15 billion approximately. The final costs may include items beyond simple laying of track (such as compulsory purchase of land).”
Last December the former minister for transport Shane Ross said a review would be undertaken this year into the feasibility of reopening a rail line between Dublin and Navan.
Separately, official documents show that details about the cost of a potential rail line from Dublin to Derry via Navan and Letterkenny were sought as part of the recent talks on the formation of the new government.


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--‘John Hume gave us a future to look forward to’: Derry’s young pay tribute to peacemaker

At St Columb ’ s College on the Buncrana Road in Derry , the students walk in the shadow of John Hume .
To this day , a sculpture of the former SDLP leader sits in the main foyer of the boys ’ school , where Hume was himself a pupil at its former Bishop Street location , and where he also taught for five years in the 1960s .
“ I walked past that bust on my way into school every day for seven years , ” says outgoing head boy Tom Burns .
“ I never met him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him so well .
“ That ’ s something that I think every [ St Columb ’ s ] College boy , past and present , holds very proudly in their hearts , that John Hume was one of us.
” Burns was born in 2002 ; at 18 years old , he is part of the post-Belfast Agreement generation that has grown up in the peace that Hume created , but which has no memory of the role Hume played as a politician and a peacemaker .
Their reminiscences are of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that marred his later years , walking the streets of Derry , and how its citizens would always make sure he got home safely .
“ You would have seen him walking about , and everybody would have known him .
‘ Ah , there ’ s John Hume , ’ is what people would have said .
He was sort of like a celebrity , ” says Grace Downey .
The 22-year-old recalls asking her parents : “ What did he do ?
” She knew he had won a Nobel Prize @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure ” , but admits : “ I didn ’ t know much about him , only that he was a peacemaker like my granda.
” Downey has an unusual perspective : her grandfather , Brendan Duddy , was the “ secret peacemaker ” , the Derry businessman who was the intermediary between the IRA and the British government .
Hume and Duddy were good friends , says Downey , and Hume was a visitor to her grandfather ’ s home .
Yet even with her own family ’ s history , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s death that she has “ realised how big he actually was on a worldwide profile ” .
She is now “ more aware of the work he did , and how it impacted on the lives of our generation .
.
.
we wouldn ’ t have the peace we have here today if it wasn ’ t for the likes of John Hume , and without him I wouldn ’ t have this life.
” Burns agrees on Hume ’ s impact .
“ Everyone in Derry knows John Hume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my age , born after the Good Friday [ Belfast ] Agreement , didn ’ t have to grow up through the Troubles and the fighting that he worked to stop.
” Burns hopes to go to Queen ’ s University , Belfast , to study law and politics in the autumn ; he says Hume was the difference between “ walking through the rubble the way my parents did ” and the opportunities – and the safety – of Burns ’ s own upbringing .
Hume ’ s work , he says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives we have now .
.
.
you can still feel his legacy everywhere you walk in this city.
” Rebecca Doherty has also felt it .
Born in 1999 , as a 13-year-old she watched in St Eugene ’ s Cathedral as Hume was awarded a papal knighthood .
“ You could sense the reverence , the respect and the admiration for him , ” she recalls .
It was at this ceremony she realised Hume ’ s significance ; he was not just a person in a history book , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murals , but someone who had made a difference to her own life .
“ He was somebody who was important to everybody there , from the older generation who had lived through the Troubles to the younger people who , because of him , were able to have the upbringing we had and a future we could look forward to .
“ We can have our social lives , and go to school and go to work without the fear of the violence of the Troubles , of bullets and bombs going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to go through that , because we live in a time of peace , with the complete freedom to go about our daily lives without having to fear for our lives .
“ Without John Hume that wouldn ’ t have been possible.
” Hume made much possible , not least a friendly between Barcelona FC and Derry City at the Brandywell stadium in 2003 .
“ I ’ ve always been a Derry City season ticket holder , ” says 23-year-old Ciaran Hurley , “ and John Hume was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ club chairman.
” “ Over the years I ’ ve come to realise his importance in Northern Ireland politics as well , ” he explains .
“ He talked to the IRA when other people wouldn ’ t have been trusted to do that , and I don ’ t know how he managed it but nobody else could have done it .
He was so forward-thinking – he got us to where we are today.
” Tegan Nesbitt agrees .
The 18-year-old regrets that “ we never got to see him in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she is “ thankful that his prime came when there was murder on the streets and the Troubles .
He ’ s a man who did so much for his generation and for our generation.
” Monday , when Hume ’ s death was announced , was “ a solemn day ” in Derry , she says ; equally , it was a day with “ so much love for him ” in the city .
“ It ’ s like when an artist passes , and they leave behind a trail of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says .
“ That ’ s what John Hume has done .
”

At St Columb's College on the Buncrana Road in Derry, the students walk in the shadow of John Hume.
To this day, a sculpture of the former SDLP leader sits in the main foyer of the boys' school, where Hume was himself a pupil at its former Bishop Street location, and where he also taught for five years in the 1960s. "I walked past that bust on my way into school every day for seven years," says outgoing head boy Tom Burns. "I never met him, but I feel like I know him so well.
“That’s something that I think every [St Columb’s] College boy, past and present, holds very proudly in their hearts, that John Hume was one of us.”
Burns was born in 2002; at 18 years old, he is part of the post-Belfast Agreement generation that has grown up in the peace that Hume created, but which has no memory of the role Hume played as a politician and a peacemaker.
READ MORE
Their reminiscences are of the older Hume, suffering from the dementia that marred his later years, walking the streets of Derry, and how its citizens would always make sure he got home safely.
"You would have seen him walking about, and everybody would have known him. 'Ah, there's John Hume,' is what people would have said. He was sort of like a celebrity," says Grace Downey.
The 22-year-old recalls asking her parents: “What did he do?” She knew he had won a Nobel Prize, and was “a very big figure”, but admits: “I didn’t know much about him, only that he was a peacemaker like my granda.”
Good friends
Downey has an unusual perspective: her grandfather, Brendan Duddy, was the "secret peacemaker", the Derry businessman who was the intermediary between the IRA and the British government. Hume and Duddy were good friends, says Downey, and Hume was a visitor to her grandfather's home. Yet even with her own family's history, she admits that it is only since Hume's death that she has "realised how big he actually was on a worldwide profile".
She is now “more aware of the work he did, and how it impacted on the lives of our generation . . . we wouldn’t have the peace we have here today if it wasn’t for the likes of John Hume, and without him I wouldn’t have this life.”
Burns agrees on Hume’s impact. “Everyone in Derry knows John Hume and the impact he had. People my age, born after the Good Friday [Belfast] Agreement, didn’t have to grow up through the Troubles and the fighting that he worked to stop.”
Burns hopes to go to Queen’s University, Belfast, to study law and politics in the autumn; he says Hume was the difference between “walking through the rubble the way my parents did” and the opportunities – and the safety – of Burns’s own upbringing.
Hume’s work, he says, was the “preparation for the lives we have now . . . you can still feel his legacy everywhere you walk in this city.”
Sense of reverence
Rebecca Doherty has also felt it. Born in 1999, as a 13-year-old she watched in St Eugene's Cathedral as Hume was awarded a papal knighthood.
“You could sense the reverence, the respect and the admiration for him,” she recalls.
It was at this ceremony she realised Hume’s significance; he was not just a person in a history book, or an image on the Bogside’s murals, but someone who had made a difference to her own life.
“He was somebody who was important to everybody there, from the older generation who had lived through the Troubles to the younger people who, because of him, were able to have the upbringing we had and a future we could look forward to.
“We can have our social lives, and go to school and go to work without the fear of the violence of the Troubles, of bullets and bombs going off and people dying. We don’t have to go through that, because we live in a time of peace, with the complete freedom to go about our daily lives without having to fear for our lives.
“Without John Hume that wouldn’t have been possible.”
Influence on soccer
Hume made much possible, not least a friendly between Barcelona FC and Derry City at the Brandywell stadium in 2003. "I've always been a Derry City season ticket holder," says 23-year-old Ciaran Hurley, "and John Hume was a massive part of the club as club chairman."
"Over the years I've come to realise his importance in Northern Ireland politics as well," he explains. "He talked to the IRA when other people wouldn't have been trusted to do that, and I don't know how he managed it but nobody else could have done it. He was so forward-thinking – he got us to where we are today."
Tegan Nesbitt agrees. The 18-year-old regrets that "we never got to see him in his prime", but adds that she is "thankful that his prime came when there was murder on the streets and the Troubles. He's a man who did so much for his generation and for our generation."
Monday, when Hume’s death was announced, was “a solemn day” in Derry, she says; equally, it was a day with “so much love for him” in the city.
“It’s like when an artist passes, and they leave behind a trail of beautiful [art] works,” she says. “That’s what John Hume has done.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Novavax says Covid-19 vaccine induces immune response in small study

Novavax Inc said on Tuesday its experimental Covid-19 vaccine produced antibodies against the novel coronavirus and appears to be safe , according to initial data from a small , early-stage clinical trial .
The Maryland-based biotechnology company said its vaccine candidate , NVX-CoV2373 , produced higher levels of the antibodies in healthy volunteers after two doses than those found in recovered Covid-19 patients , raising hopes for its eventual success .
The addition of its Matrix-M adjuvant , a substance designed to boost the body ’ s immune response , did enhance the effect of the vaccine in the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is among the first of a handful of programmes singled out for US funding under Operation Warp Speed , the White House program to accelerate access to vaccines and treatments that can fight the virus .
Effective vaccines and treatments are considered essential to halting a pandemic that has claimed more than 695,000 lives worldwide .
Novavax research chief Gregory Glenn told Reuters the company will start much larger late-stage clinical trials soon and could potentially glean enough data to obtain regulatory approvals as early as December .
The US government in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ billion to help cover costs related to testing and manufacturing the vaccine , with the aim of procuring 100 million doses by January 2021 .
The trial , which started in late May , tested the vaccine in 106 subjects aged 18 to 59 versus a placebo .
Phase I of the study looked at the vaccine ’ s safety and ability to induce immune responses .
It tested 5 microgram and 25 microgram doses of the vaccine , with and without the adjuvant .
The company said the second vaccination induced greater @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and pain at the injection site , which are not considered serious , with only one participant experiencing fever .
The Phase II portion of the study will be conducted in multiple countries , including the United States .
It will gauge the vaccine ’ s ability to prevent infections or reduce severity of Covid-19 , in addition to safety and immune response , among a broader range of volunteers .
–Reuters

Effective vaccines and treatments are considered essential to halting a pandemic that has claimed more than 695,000 lives worldwide. Photograph:iStick
Novavax Inc said on Tuesday its experimental Covid-19 vaccine produced antibodies against the novel coronavirus and appears to be safe, according to initial data from a small, early-stage clinical trial.
The Maryland-based biotechnology company said its vaccine candidate, NVX-CoV2373, produced higher levels of the antibodies in healthy volunteers after two doses than those found in recovered Covid-19 patients, raising hopes for its eventual success.
The addition of its Matrix-M adjuvant, a substance designed to boost the body’s immune response, did enhance the effect of the vaccine in the study, the company said.
The Novavax vaccine is among the first of a handful of programmes singled out for US funding under Operation Warp Speed, the White House program to accelerate access to vaccines and treatments that can fight the virus.
READ MORE
Effective vaccines and treatments are considered essential to halting a pandemic that has claimed more than 695,000 lives worldwide.
Novavax research chief Gregory Glenn told Reuters the company will start much larger late-stage clinical trials soon and could potentially glean enough data to obtain regulatory approvals as early as December.
The US government in July agreed to pay Novavax $1.6 billion to help cover costs related to testing and manufacturing the vaccine, with the aim of procuring 100 million doses by January 2021.
The trial, which started in late May, tested the vaccine in 106 subjects aged 18 to 59 versus a placebo. Phase I of the study looked at the vaccine’s safety and ability to induce immune responses.
It tested 5 microgram and 25 microgram doses of the vaccine, with and without the adjuvant.
The company said the second vaccination induced greater levels of side effects such as swelling and pain at the injection site, which are not considered serious, with only one participant experiencing fever.
The Phase II portion of the study will be conducted in multiple countries, including the United States. It will gauge the vaccine’s ability to prevent infections or reduce severity of Covid-19, in addition to safety and immune response, among a broader range of volunteers. –Reuters


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Publicans warn they face ‘full-blown crisis’

The Government ’ s sympathy for 3,500 “ abandoned ” pubs that must now remain closed due to a rise in Covid-19 infections in the State will do nothing to save jobs , the industry has said .
Reacting to the decision to keep non-food-serving establishments shuttered for at least another three weeks , publicans said they were now facing a “ full-blown crisis ” .
In a joint statement on Tuesday , the Licensed Vintners Association ( LVA ) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland ( VFI ) said publicans were now in “ fury and despair ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ This is Groundhog Day for the trade as twice now the reopening of pubs has been postponed , ” said VFI chief executive Pádraig Cribben , “ The Government has effectively denied pubs the ability to trade .
As a result it will have to provide substantial supports to our members , many of whom are deeply agitated at what they feel is the State abandoning a vital part of the hospitality sector.
” Donall O ’ Keeffe , chief executive of the LVA , said pubs have been abandoned : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that opening the pubs ‘ could lead to an increase in the virus ’ .
Well , when will that not be the case ?
” The 25,000 people working in pubs now faced “ intolerable pressure ” , said the bodies , who complained about a lack of guidance from the Government or reassurance about the future .
Speaking at the outset of Tuesday ’ s press conference , Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged the pressure that had come from the pub trade to reopen .
“ I know that this will come @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus is taking away their ability to earn a living ; it is stopping them from providing a key service in the heart of many communities , especially in rural Ireland.
” However , Mr Martin was rigid in his belief that , guided by public health advice , ongoing closure was essential given Covid-19 numbers were rising and the need to reopen schools this month .
International evidence was “ very clear ” that reopening pubs and nightclubs prematurely had led directly to an increase in cases .
Local reopenings are ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered later .
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said a decision to reopen pubs depended on “ complex variables ” .
“ I think there is a misperception out there that the vast majority of cases to date have been in Dublin .
Just about one in four cases over the past two weeks has been in Dublin .
We have seen significant numbers of cases in Kildare , Laois , Offaly , Clare , Limerick , Galway , Mayo .
We have had cases in Cavan , Meath , cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork .
“ Of course NEPHT ’ s preference would be to be able to adopt a more nuanced approach but the evidence simply wouldn ’ t support that.
” He said the situation in a county could change “ overnight ” .
Meanwhile , the Irish Hotels Federation has asked for the 50-strong limit on indoor gatherings to be increased , claiming that they have robust rules in place .
An increase could be the difference between staying open or closing , it said .
“ The wedding industry , as one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is now at significant risk , together with the almost 40,000 jobs it supports , ” said the federation .

“This is Groundhog Day for the trade as twice now the reopening of pubs has been postponed.” Photograph: Getty Images
The Government’s sympathy for 3,500 “abandoned” pubs that must now remain closed due to a rise in Covid-19 infections in the State will do nothing to save jobs, the industry has said.
Reacting to the decision to keep non-food-serving establishments shuttered for at least another three weeks, publicans said they were now facing a “full-blown crisis”.
In a joint statement on Tuesday, the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) said publicans were now in "fury and despair", and called for "immediate" aid.
“This is Groundhog Day for the trade as twice now the reopening of pubs has been postponed,” said VFI chief executive Pádraig Cribben, “The Government has effectively denied pubs the ability to trade. As a result it will have to provide substantial supports to our members, many of whom are deeply agitated at what they feel is the State abandoning a vital part of the hospitality sector.”
READ MORE
Donall O’Keeffe, chief executive of the LVA, said pubs have been abandoned:
“We’re repeatedly being told that opening the pubs ‘could lead to an increase in the virus’. Well, when will that not be the case?”
Reassurance
The 25,000 people working in pubs now faced “intolerable pressure”, said the bodies, who complained about a lack of guidance from the Government or reassurance about the future.
Speaking at the outset of Tuesday’s press conference, Taoiseach Micheál Martin acknowledged the pressure that had come from the pub trade to reopen.
“I know that this will come as a blow to pub-owners. This virus is taking away their ability to earn a living; it is stopping them from providing a key service in the heart of many communities, especially in rural Ireland.”
However, Mr Martin was rigid in his belief that, guided by public health advice, ongoing closure was essential given Covid-19 numbers were rising and the need to reopen schools this month.
International evidence was “very clear” that reopening pubs and nightclubs prematurely had led directly to an increase in cases.
Local reopenings are ruled out for now, but could be considered later.
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said a decision to reopen pubs depended on "complex variables".
"I think there is a misperception out there that the vast majority of cases to date have been in Dublin. Just about one in four cases over the past two weeks has been in Dublin. We have seen significant numbers of cases in Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Clare, Limerick, Galway, Mayo. We have had cases in Cavan, Meath, cases in Wexford, in Kerry, in Cork.
“Of course NEPHT’s preference would be to be able to adopt a more nuanced approach but the evidence simply wouldn’t support that.”
He said the situation in a county could change “overnight”.
Wedding industry
Meanwhile, the Irish Hotels Federation has asked for the 50-strong limit on indoor gatherings to be increased, claiming that they have robust rules in place. An increase could be the difference between staying open or closing, it said.
“The wedding industry, as one example, is a €1.5 billion industry. It is now at significant risk, together with the almost 40,000 jobs it supports,” said the federation.


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Covid-19: Even though now the trend is upward, it isn’t all bad news

If anything is clear at this stage about Covid-19 , it is that the disease is here to stay .
The prospect of a vaccine being developed is an alluring one , but some way off .
That means Ireland and other countries battling the virus have to work with the available science to minimise infections , hospitalisations and deaths .
It is equally clear there is no going back to the emergency of last March .
Nations nearly everywhere are struggling to eliminate Covid-19 but they have nonetheless learned how to contain it .
Public health officials sound like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet again about the need for washing hands , social distancing and mask-wearing .
Yet these elements , along with widespread , speedy testing and tracing of contacts , remain the essential ingredients of an effective anti-Covid strategy .
It is not in the least surprising that cases here and elsewhere are on the rise , given the economically necessitated loosening of restrictions of recent months .
Such flare-ups are inevitable , as the World Health Organisation ’ s Mike Ryan pointed out on Tuesday , but they do not mean the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can not be sustained .
The only relevant question is whether these surges can be adequately controlled and the virus effectively put “ back in the box ” in a targeted manner .
The State has more control over some of the knobs that need twiddling in order to achieve this than it has over others .
It can delay the planned easing of restrictions , such as the opening of pubs – a decision taken on Tuesday .
It can – and has – severely restricted international travel .
It can fund @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service using the latest available technology ; there is still some way to go on this .
But it has less power to influence compliance with social distancing and other measures , which is waning , particularly among young people , as the crisis drags on .
And it can not properly impose meaningful travel restrictions without impinging on the Common Travel Area with the UK , which it is clearly unwilling to do .
For some weeks after restriction were loosened , Ireland ’ s case numbers continued to fall , leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ international terms .
And even though now the trend is upward , it isn ’ t all bad news .
Encouragingly , most of the new cases are linked , and therefore explainable , and only a small proportion is due to community transmission .
As in other countries , the biggest outbreaks have occurred in specific environments , such as meat-processing plants .
And while concern has been expressed over the high proportion of cases occurring among young to middle-aged adults , the flip side of this coin is that only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suffer serious illness .
There is also evidence from Australia showing that social distancing introduced to prevent the spread of Covid-19 has effected a massive reduction in flu cases .
It is reasonable to hope the same trend will occur here from the autumn on , thereby easing pressure on the health service .
Current Government policy has one principal objective , the full re-opening of schools and colleges from the end of this month .
The outcome of this experiment is uncertain , given the mixed experiences of other countries that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contradictory findings of research studies into the role played by children in transmitting the virus .
That is not a reason for not going ahead with the resumption of classes .
Just as in other sectors , that means risks have to be managed .
Along with the Perspex and pods , this may mean compulsory mask-wearing in the classroom .
But to make this political promise a reality , there has to be a dialling down on the planned easing of restrictions in other areas , such as pubs and public gatherings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refined approach – for example , the decision against increasing the size of outdoor gatherings was based not on what might happen at the gathering but how people would travel to them – but it belongs to the category of erring on the side of caution .
To date , our public health officials , drawing on a broad range of specialist advice , have done well to get the disease under control and then to allow a limited easing of restrictions .
Though mistakes have been made along the way , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put forward recommendations based on the best scientific advice , while listening to the public mood .
In these difficult times , their proposals remain the best option we have .

If anything is clear at this stage about Covid-19, it is that the disease is here to stay.
The prospect of a vaccine being developed is an alluring one, but some way off. That means Ireland and other countries battling the virus have to work with the available science to minimise infections, hospitalisations and deaths.
It is equally clear there is no going back to the emergency of last March. Nations nearly everywhere are struggling to eliminate Covid-19 but they have nonetheless learned how to contain it.
Public health officials sound like a broken record these days, talking yet again about the need for washing hands, social distancing and mask-wearing. Yet these elements, along with widespread, speedy testing and tracing of contacts, remain the essential ingredients of an effective anti-Covid strategy.
READ MORE
It is not in the least surprising that cases here and elsewhere are on the rise, given the economically necessitated loosening of restrictions of recent months. Such flare-ups are inevitable, as the World Health Organisation's Mike Ryan pointed out on Tuesday, but they do not mean the new, post-Covid norm allowing society to re-open cannot be sustained.
The only relevant question is whether these surges can be adequately controlled and the virus effectively put “back in the box” in a targeted manner.
The State has more control over some of the knobs that need twiddling in order to achieve this than it has over others. It can delay the planned easing of restrictions, such as the opening of pubs – a decision taken on Tuesday. It can – and has – severely restricted international travel. It can fund and build a rapid testing and contact-tracing service using the latest available technology; there is still some way to go on this.
But it has less power to influence compliance with social distancing and other measures, which is waning, particularly among young people, as the crisis drags on. And it cannot properly impose meaningful travel restrictions without impinging on the Common Travel Area with the UK, which it is clearly unwilling to do.
Community transmission
For some weeks after restriction were loosened, Ireland’s case numbers continued to fall, leaving us with a relatively low incidence in international terms. And even though now the trend is upward, it isn’t all bad news.
Encouragingly, most of the new cases are linked, and therefore explainable, and only a small proportion is due to community transmission. As in other countries, the biggest outbreaks have occurred in specific environments, such as meat-processing plants.
And while concern has been expressed over the high proportion of cases occurring among young to middle-aged adults, the flip side of this coin is that only a small fraction of those affected are likely to suffer serious illness.
There is also evidence from Australia showing that social distancing introduced to prevent the spread of Covid-19 has effected a massive reduction in flu cases. It is reasonable to hope the same trend will occur here from the autumn on, thereby easing pressure on the health service.
Current Government policy has one principal objective, the full re-opening of schools and colleges from the end of this month. The outcome of this experiment is uncertain, given the mixed experiences of other countries that have re-opened their schools and the seemingly contradictory findings of research studies into the role played by children in transmitting the virus.
That is not a reason for not going ahead with the resumption of classes. Just as in other sectors, that means risks have to be managed. Along with the Perspex and pods, this may mean compulsory mask-wearing in the classroom.
But to make this political promise a reality, there has to be a dialling down on the planned easing of restrictions in other areas, such as pubs and public gatherings. It’s not a terribly refined approach – for example, the decision against increasing the size of outdoor gatherings was based not on what might happen at the gathering but how people would travel to them – but it belongs to the category of erring on the side of caution.
To date, our public health officials, drawing on a broad range of specialist advice, have done well to get the disease under control and then to allow a limited easing of restrictions. Though mistakes have been made along the way, they have shown they have the nous to put forward recommendations based on the best scientific advice, while listening to the public mood. In these difficult times, their proposals remain the best option we have.


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Boy’s treatment by school over alleged thefts was ‘unbelievable’, judge says

For 10 weeks 12-year-old Luke Hanlon could not face his schoolmates after they branded him the “ suspect thief ” when money went missing from a staffroom in a Co Laois school , a court has been told .
The headmaster at St Joseph ’ s National School in Borris in Ossory , Co Laois , in April 2018 asked four senior classes to mark on a piece of paper who they thought the culprit was after significant amounts of money went missing from purses belonging to two teachers .
The children blamed Mr Hanlon , now aged 14 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ossory , Co Laois , so he walked out of the school , after having been taken from class and questioned about the alleged thefts .
He subsequently missed 10 weeks of classes and the much-anticipated school graduation .
Judge Karen Fergus , at Tullamore Circuit Civil Court , described the boy ’ s treatment by the school ’ s headmaster and board of management as unbelievable and appalling when she ruled that a €20,000 settlement from the board was reasonable compensation for their having damaged the boy ’ s character .
Barrister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Hanlon and his mother Marie Hanlon had been given a written apology by the school authorities only in May last , in which they had expressed regret and acknowledged that he is an honest young man of integrity .
The school apologised to Mr Hanlon for any humiliation , distress or embarrassment it had caused to him by what had happened .
Ms McAuley , who appeared with Sandra Hartford of Barry Fitzgerald Solicitors for the mother and son , stated in her legal opinion read by the judge that the boy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s principal and vice-principal of two thefts of money from members of staff .
She said the school principal had gone into a classroom on April 13th , 2018 , and asked the children if any of them had been involved in the alleged theft or if they knew who had been involved .
“ He asked all of the pupils in the joint fifth and sixth class to write down on a piece of paper the name of the person they believed stole the money , ” Ms McAuley told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request of the joint third and fourth class .
The boy ’ s name and that of another pupil were marked on the pieces of paper.
” Ms McAuley said the boy had been called into the principal ’ s office , where he had been spoken to by the principal and vice-principal and asked had he stolen the money , which he denied .
He was later questioned again by the principal alone and his mother was asked to attend the school immediately .
“ His mother was there within 10 minutes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no evidence whatsoever that [ her son ] had taken the money , ” counsel said .
“ She questioned the manner in which the principal had handled the matter , particularly his [ her son ’ s ] classmates being asked to identify the person they believed was the culprit on a piece of paper without being required to have any basis for their belief.
” It was Ms McAuley ’ s opinion the boy had been identified as the culprit , singled out and treated as though he were guilty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an affidavit , Ms Hanlon said her son had felt so humiliated by the episode that he could not return to his classes and stayed away for 10 weeks .
He was now doing well at secondary school .
The school in a defence admitted that Mr Hanlon had been one of two children identified by a number of other children as possibly being responsible for the alleged thefts , but denied the other pupils had been made aware that he was being singled out and accused of theft .
Approving the settlement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had read the papers and counsel ’ s opinion and was “ appalled ” at the way the boy had been treated .
She said that while no money could change what the family had gone through , the offer was a reasonable one .
She thought the circumstances in which the principal had investigated the alleged thefts were unbelievable .

A court has approved a €20,000 settlement offer from a school board over the treatment of a schoolboy who was accused of theft. File photograph: Getty Images
For 10 weeks 12-year-old Luke Hanlon could not face his schoolmates after they branded him the "suspect thief" when money went missing from a staffroom in a Co Laois school, a court has been told.
The headmaster at St Joseph's National School in Borris in Ossory, Co Laois, in April 2018 asked four senior classes to mark on a piece of paper who they thought the culprit was after significant amounts of money went missing from purses belonging to two teachers.
The children blamed Luke, now aged 14, of Slieve Bloom View, Borris in Ossory, Co Laois, so he walked out of the school, after having been taken from class and questioned about the alleged thefts. He subsequently missed 10 weeks of classes and the much-anticipated school graduation.
Judge Karen Fergus, at Tullamore Circuit Civil Court, described the boy's treatment by the school's headmaster and board of management as unbelievable and appalling when she ruled that a €20,000 settlement from the board was reasonable compensation for their having damaged the boy's character.
READ MORE
Barrister Eileen McAuley had told the court that Luke and his mother Marie Hanlon had been given a written apology by the school authorities only in May last, in which they had expressed regret and acknowledged that he is an honest young man of integrity. The school apologised to Luke for any humiliation, distress or embarrassment it had caused to him by what had happened.
Ms McAuley, who appeared with Sandra Hartford of Barry Fitzgerald Solicitors for the mother and son, stated in her legal opinion read by the judge that the boy had been wrongly accused by the school's principal and vice-principal of two thefts of money from members of staff.
She said the school principal had gone into a classroom on April 13th, 2018, and asked the children if any of them had been involved in the alleged theft or if they knew who had been involved.
“He asked all of the pupils in the joint fifth and sixth class to write down on a piece of paper the name of the person they believed stole the money,” Ms McAuley told the court. “He made the same request of the joint third and fourth class. The boy’s name and that of another pupil were marked on the pieces of paper.”
Questioning
Ms McAuley said the boy had been called into the principal’s office, where he had been spoken to by the principal and vice-principal and asked had he stolen the money, which he denied.
He was later questioned again by the principal alone and his mother was asked to attend the school immediately.
“His mother was there within 10 minutes and established from the principal that there was no evidence whatsoever that [her son] had taken the money,” counsel said. “She questioned the manner in which the principal had handled the matter, particularly his [her son’s] classmates being asked to identify the person they believed was the culprit on a piece of paper without being required to have any basis for their belief.”
It was Ms McAuley’s opinion the boy had been identified as the culprit, singled out and treated as though he were guilty without any evidence against him.
In an affidavit, Ms Hanlon said her son had felt so humiliated by the episode that he could not return to his classes and stayed away for 10 weeks. He was now doing well at secondary school.
The school in a defence admitted that Luke had been one of two children identified by a number of other children as possibly being responsible for the alleged thefts, but denied the other pupils had been made aware that he was being singled out and accused of theft.
Approving the settlement offer, Ms Justice Fergus confirmed she had read the papers and counsel’s opinion and was “appalled” at the way the boy had been treated. She said that while no money could change what the family had gone through, the offer was a reasonable one. She thought the circumstances in which the principal had investigated the alleged thefts were unbelievable.


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--More than €3bn paid out so far under pandemic unemployment scheme, Minister says

The number of people receiving the Government ’ s special Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment has fallen by about 12,300 over the last week .
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said on Tuesday that 274,600 would receive the payment this week , down 54 per cent from the peak in early May when nearly 600,000 people were covered by the scheme .
The Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said the Government had so far paid out over €3 billion to claimants under the pandemic unemployment payment scheme .
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returning to employment were accommodation and food services ; wholesale and retail trade , repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles as well as construction .
In addition to the pandemic unemployment payment , about 390,000 staff working for nearly 69,500 employers are having their wages supported under the Government ’ s separate Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme .
There were also the 220,900 people on the Live Register as of the end of June .
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said that about 200,400 people will this week receive the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which is 8,500 less than last week .
It said about 74,200 people will receive the lower €203 rate under the pandemic unemployment payment scheme this week which is 3,800 less than last week .
The department said that in the past week , some 11,200 people closed their claim for the pandemic unemployment payment of which 8,300 reported that they were returning to work .
“ Of those 8,300 returning to work , some 5,300 are receiving their last payment this week .
As the pandemic unemployment payment is a weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a one week lag in how closures , due to people returning to work , are reflected in the payment data.
” Ms Humphreys said : “ This week sees a further decrease in the number of people in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment .
It is particularly encouraging to see this trend reflected in every county as people continue to get back to work.
” “ Today we are paying €85.2 million to recipients of the pandemic unemployment ayment , bringing the total amount paid under PUP to over €3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ context , last year my Department paid out €2.1 billion in Child Benefit.
” Ms Humphreys said that where Covid -19 restrictions were still having an impact such as in the pub and arts and entertainment sectors , the Government wanted people in these areas to be able to return to their jobs once these were eased .
“ Workers who remain temporarily laid off are therefore not required to meet the ‘ genuinely seeking work ’ requirement for work in other sectors.
” “ The focus for the department will , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been permanently laid off and who now need to look for new job opportunities .
”

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys: ‘This week sees a further decrease in the number of people in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment.’ Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
The number of people receiving the Government’s special Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment has fallen by about 12,300 over the last week.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said on Tuesday that 274,600 would receive the payment this week, down 54 per cent from the peak in early May when nearly 600,000 people were covered by the scheme.
The Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said the Government had so far paid out over €3 billion to claimants under the pandemic unemployment payment scheme.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said the main sectors in which workers were returning to employment were accommodation and food services; wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles as well as construction.
READ MORE
In addition to the pandemic unemployment payment, about 390,000 staff working for nearly 69,500 employers are having their wages supported under the Government’s separate Temporary Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme.
There were also the 220,900 people on the Live Register as of the end of June.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said that about 200,400 people will this week receive the higher pandemic unemployment payment rate of €350, which is 8,500 less than last week.
It said about 74,200 people will receive the lower €203 rate under the pandemic unemployment payment scheme this week which is 3,800 less than last week.
The department said that in the past week, some 11,200 people closed their claim for the pandemic unemployment payment of which 8,300 reported that they were returning to work.
“Of those 8,300 returning to work, some 5,300 are receiving their last payment this week. As the pandemic unemployment payment is a weekly payment paid in arrears, there can be a one week lag in how closures, due to people returning to work, are reflected in the payment data.”
Ms Humphreys said: “This week sees a further decrease in the number of people in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment. It is particularly encouraging to see this trend reflected in every county as people continue to get back to work.”
“Today we are paying €85.2 million to recipients of the pandemic unemployment ayment, bringing the total amount paid under PUP to over €3 billion. “To put this into context, last year my Department paid out €2.1 billion in Child Benefit.”
Ms Humphreys said that where Covid -19 restrictions were still having an impact such as in the pub and arts and entertainment sectors, the Government wanted people in these areas to be able to return to their jobs once these were eased.
“Workers who remain temporarily laid off are therefore not required to meet the ‘genuinely seeking work’ requirement for work in other sectors.”
“The focus for the department will, as always, be on supporting those who have been permanently laid off and who now need to look for new job opportunities.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Portumna publican’s frustration at boiling point following Government decision

Eoin Fahy leased Portumna , Co Galway pub , An Caisleán last September , having worked there since he was 15 .
Following the Government ’ s decision not to allow all pubs to reopen , he now believes it could threaten his livelihood .
“ They ’ re telling us nothing , it ’ s so frustrating that we don ’ t even have a date , ” said an obviously-upset Mr Fahy , “ It ’ s a kick in the teeth .
I have so much stock I ’ m worried it will be gone off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revenue .
“ It ’ s not fair that they ’ re treating us all the same .
Rural pubs are so different .
We have no cases locally , and there ’ s no fear locally .
It ’ s killing me that restaurants can open , they ’ re turning over a lot right now .
“ With the time limit , there ’ s someone there to replace them after the two hours .
There ’ s no reason why we couldn ’ t open and let crowds disperse like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Before Covid-19 , he says , he relied on a “ solid 12 to 20 regulars ” during the week .
“ A lot of bachelors and old men would come in for a chat or to watch the hurling or rugby .
I don ’ t know how they ’ re coping now .
“ It ’ s been the same guys coming back to us , I see a lot of these guys as grandfathers .
Whenever I ’ d finish an exam in college , they ’ d always ring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a family sort of atmosphere , ” says the 30-year-old .
He has done everything he could to drum up new trade , offering home-delivered cocktail boxes .
What started as an experiment for locals expanded more widely after a fortnight : “ I just did it to keep the bar ’ s name alive , ” he says .
Each week , he advertised a new ‘ cocktail box ’ on social media , with a guide offered by a Friday night Zoom session .
The €35 box included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and fresh fruit .
“ I didn ’ t think it would be as busy , at the start we presumed it would just be people within our 5km , but we had phone calls from all over Ireland , ” said Fahy .
A local , Orla Kelly helped decorate the boxes , while the local butcher , Eugene McEntee and a councillor Ivan Canning each hosted a Zoom cocktail session : “ Some people couldn ’ t believe how much was in the boxes , some locals even tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Eoin Fahy outside his pub, An Caisleán in Portumna: “They’re telling us nothing, it’s so frustrating that we don’t even have a date. It’s a kick in the teeth.”
Eoin Fahy leased Portumna, Co Galway pub, An Caisleán last September, having worked there since he was 15. Following the Government's decision not to allow all pubs to reopen, he now believes it could threaten his livelihood.
“They’re telling us nothing, it’s so frustrating that we don’t even have a date,” said an obviously-upset Mr Fahy, “It’s a kick in the teeth. I have so much stock I’m worried it will be gone off, it’s a huge loss of revenue.
“It’s not fair that they’re treating us all the same. Rural pubs are so different. We have no cases locally, and there’s no fear locally. It’s killing me that restaurants can open, they’re turning over a lot right now.
“With the time limit, there’s someone there to replace them after the two hours. There’s no reason why we couldn’t open and let crowds disperse like the restaurants,” he declared.
READ MORE
Before Covid-19, he says, he relied on a “solid 12 to 20 regulars” during the week. “A lot of bachelors and old men would come in for a chat or to watch the hurling or rugby. I don’t know how they’re coping now.
“It’s been the same guys coming back to us, I see a lot of these guys as grandfathers. Whenever I’d finish an exam in college, they’d always ring to see how I got on, it’s a family sort of atmosphere,” says the 30-year-old.
He has done everything he could to drum up new trade, offering home-delivered cocktail boxes. What started as an experiment for locals expanded more widely after a fortnight: “I just did it to keep the bar’s name alive,” he says.
Each week, he advertised a new ‘cocktail box’ on social media, with a guide offered by a Friday night Zoom session. The €35 box included all ingredients , including drink, glassware, and fresh fruit.
"I didn't think it would be as busy, at the start we presumed it would just be people within our 5km, but we had phone calls from all over Ireland, " said Fahy.
A local, Orla Kelly helped decorate the boxes, while the local butcher, Eugene McEntee and a councillor Ivan Canning each hosted a Zoom cocktail session: "Some people couldn't believe how much was in the boxes, some locals even tried to return the glasses," he said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Call for more oversight to prevent ‘financial abuse’ of vulnerable by carers

Greater oversight is needed to prevent the “ financial abuse ” of some vulnerable people by their carers , according to a new report .
The current carer ’ s allowance system needs to be revamped because “ a small minority ” of recipients are “ blatantly abusing ” it , says the report by Sage Advocacy .
Many dedicated family carers who receive the allowance not only provide excellent care but go “ above and beyond the call of duty ” , according to the support and advocacy service for older people and patients .
However , the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse , with some vulnerable people reluctant to report issues .
The current lack of oversight can lead to the “ financial abuse and maltreatment ” of people who have been assessed as needing full-time care , says Michael Cahillane , the charity ’ s regional co-ordinator for Kerry and west Cork , who compiled the report .
“ We need to move away from the focus on the financial aspect of eligibility for carer ’ s allowance , and put much more emphasis on the quality of care being actually provided .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ case work is that sometimes very vulnerable people who rely very heavily on the carer , for example because they are a close family relative , are reluctant to complain or report poor quality or non-existent care.
’ ’ In one case highlighted in the report a vulnerable woman was living with her only son , who was spending the allowance “ in the pub ” .
Despite the case being referred to HSE safeguarding services , the woman would not consent to take action , and the son “ continued to abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Another woman collecting the allowance for her mother , who lives alone , “ appeared to be too busy or too stressed ” to provide care but continued to collect the payment , according to the report .
In a third case a person was receiving the allowance in respect of a parent who had to be admitted to hospital .
The parent was found to be in very poor physical condition , malnourished and with little attention having been given to personal hygiene , while medication had not been administer appropriately .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the parent to avail of any local services .
The State spends about €1.2 billion annually on the allowance , though only one in five of the estimated 375,000 carers in the country receive the payment .
Garda vetting of recipient of the carer ’ s allowance should be mandatory , the report recommends .
It also calls for the introduction of mandatory standardised regulation , and a monitoring process to be put in place from when it is granted .
It says a proper monitoring and reporting structure should be in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the vulnerable persons as required , and a “ transparent ” complaints process is needed .
A copy of the report has been sent to Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys .
Mr Cahillane says the role of the carer in society is set to assume a greater importance as the population ages and demand increases .
“ It is vital that we appreciate and support the role of the carer , and put in place a structure to better protect both the care recipient and the care giver .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to replace an income in a meaningful way – in Sweden , for example , carers are paid a wage equivalent to a regular care worker in the health system .
’ ’

In one case in the report a vulnerable woman was living with her only son, who was spending the allowance “in the pub”. Photograph: Getty Images
Greater oversight is needed to prevent the “financial abuse” of some vulnerable people by their carers, according to a new report.
The current carer's allowance system needs to be revamped because "a small minority" of recipients are "blatantly abusing" it, says the report by Sage Advocacy.
Many dedicated family carers who receive the allowance not only provide excellent care but go “above and beyond the call of duty”, according to the support and advocacy service for older people and patients.
However, the report says the current system is susceptible to abuse, with some vulnerable people reluctant to report issues.
READ MORE
The current lack of oversight can lead to the "financial abuse and maltreatment" of people who have been assessed as needing full-time care, says Michael Cahillane, the charity's regional co-ordinator for Kerry and west Cork, who compiled the report.
“We need to move away from the focus on the financial aspect of eligibility for carer’s allowance, and put much more emphasis on the quality of care being actually provided.
“What we have found through our case work is that sometimes very vulnerable people who rely very heavily on the carer, for example because they are a close family relative, are reluctant to complain or report poor quality or non-existent care.’’
In one case highlighted in the report a vulnerable woman was living with her only son, who was spending the allowance “in the pub”. Despite the case being referred to HSE safeguarding services, the woman would not consent to take action, and the son “continued to abuse his mother and the system”.
Another woman collecting the allowance for her mother, who lives alone, “appeared to be too busy or too stressed” to provide care but continued to collect the payment, according to the report.
In a third case a person was receiving the allowance in respect of a parent who had to be admitted to hospital. The parent was found to be in very poor physical condition, malnourished and with little attention having been given to personal hygiene, while medication had not been administer appropriately. However, the carer refused to allow the parent to avail of any local services.
Garda vetting
The State spends about €1.2 billion annually on the allowance, though only one in five of the estimated 375,000 carers in the country receive the payment.
Garda vetting of recipient of the carer’s allowance should be mandatory, the report recommends.
It also calls for the introduction of mandatory standardised regulation, and a monitoring process to be put in place from when it is granted.
It says a proper monitoring and reporting structure should be in place ensuring that a link person is available to the vulnerable persons as required, and a “transparent” complaints process is needed.
A copy of the report has been sent to Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys.
Mr Cahillane says the role of the carer in society is set to assume a greater importance as the population ages and demand increases.
“It is vital that we appreciate and support the role of the carer, and put in place a structure to better protect both the care recipient and the care giver.
"The current level of payments is too low to replace an income in a meaningful way – in Sweden, for example, carers are paid a wage equivalent to a regular care worker in the health system.''


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Labour Court rules Sisters of Charity must pay staff public service-scale redundancy

The Labour Court has ruled that 64 staff at the Sister of Charity-owned Caritas convalescent home on Dublin ’ s Merrion Rd must be given public sector-scale redundancy payments Last month the Sisters announced the closure of two of its nursing homes , St Mary ’ s and St Monica ’ s in liquidation .
However , Caritas was closed last March when 23 of its 64 staff contracted Covid-19 .
Last week , the Sisters of Charity said they were “ extremely disappointed to learn that there may not be enough funds to pay statutory redundancy ” to staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monica ’ s , but no mention was made of Caritas .
The Labour Court has also ruled Caritas staff with less than two years ’ service should get “ fair and reasonable ” pay-offs .
A ‘ top-up ’ payment promised in June to workers should also be paid , it said .
In its finding on Monday , the Labour Court noted that the Sisters of Charity did not attend the hearing “ convened at very short notice ” .
The INMO , Siptu , and Forsa unions did , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Court said it has previously ruled that staff employed by Section 39 bodies – run independently , but funded by the State – should receive redundancy payments equivalent to those paid to public servants .
The HSE funded 70 per cent of Caritas ’ staff costs .
Recognising that Caritas is likely to be “ placed in liquidation almost immediately ” the Court advised the parties to accept its recommendations .
Lorraine Monaghan , of the INMO , said one in three of Caritas ’ staff had caught Covid-19 : “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their name .
They have substantial assets across Ireland , yet are shirking their responsibilities by dismissing their loyal staff without paying a penny , ” she said .
It is accepted “ that Caritas is regrettably insolvent .
But wealthy institutions should not hide behind complex company structures to avoid their responsibilities , ” she said .
The liquidators met unions representing the 60 St Marys staff last week .
“ Staff are understandably very upset and disappointed in both the board of management and the Sisters of Charity , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sisters of Charity face “ an undeniable moral obligation ” in St Mary ’ s , St Monica ’ s and Caritas to agree “ decent and fair redundancy terms for our members ” , he said .

Campaigners call on the State to step in to keep St Mary’s Nursing Home on the Merrion Rd in Dublin open. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
The Labour Court has ruled that 64 staff at the Sister of Charity-owned Caritas convalescent home on Dublin's Merrion Rd should be given public sector-scale redundancy payments. *
Last month the Sisters announced the closure of two of its nursing homes, St Mary’s and St Monica’s in liquidation. However, Caritas was closed last March when 23 of its 64 staff contracted Covid-19.
Last week, the Sisters of Charity said they were “extremely disappointed to learn that there may not be enough funds to pay statutory redundancy” to staff in St Mary’s and St Monica’s, but no mention was made of Caritas.
The Labour Court has also ruled Caritas staff with less than two years’ service should get “fair and reasonable” pay-offs . A ‘top-up’ payment promised in June to workers should also be paid, it said.
READ MORE
In its finding on Monday, the Labour Court noted that the employer did not attend the hearing “convened at very short notice”. The INMO, Siptu, and Forsa unions did, as did the liquidator, Baker Tilly.
The Court said it has previously ruled that staff employed by Section 39 bodies – run independently, but funded by the State – should receive redundancy payments equivalent to those paid to public servants.
The HSE funded 70 per cent of Caritas’ staff costs. Recognising that Caritas is likely to be “placed in liquidation almost immediately” the Court advised the parties to accept its recommendations.
Lorraine Monaghan, of the INMO, said one in three of Caritas' staff had caught Covid-19: "The Sisters of Charity should live up to their name. They have substantial assets across Ireland, yet are shirking their responsibilities by dismissing their loyal staff without paying a penny," she said.
It is accepted “that Caritas is regrettably insolvent. But wealthy institutions should not hide behind complex company structures to avoid their responsibilities,” she said.
The liquidators met unions representing the 60 St Marys staff last week.
"Staff are understandably very upset and disappointed in both the board of management and the Sisters of Charity," said Siptu's Brian Condra.
The Sisters of Charity face “an undeniable moral obligation” in St Mary’s, St Monica’s and Caritas to agree “decent and fair redundancy terms for our members”, he said.
* This article was amended on August 6th, 2020


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Evidence of witness in Aaron Brady trial ‘may be dangerous to rely on’ - judge

It “ may be dangerous to rely on ” the evidence of a witness who told the Aaron Brady trial that she heard the accused admit that he “ shot a cop in Ireland ” , the presiding judge has warned .
Mr Justice Michael White gave the jury in the case a warning on Tuesday in relation to the evidence of Molly Staunton .
He has nearly completed his charge to the jury and told them they will begin their deliberations on Wednesday .
They began hearing evidence in the case last January .
Aaron Brady ( 29 ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25 , 2013 at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth .
Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location .
While Ms Staunton was giving evidence in front of the jury via video link from her New York home an unseen man interrupted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told the jury that there was a previous interruption by the same man when the jury was not present .
On that occasion a radio could be heard in the background in Ms Staunton ’ s home and when the judge asked her to turn it down she said to the man : “ The judge says you have to leave .
I don ’ t want anyone else in the room.
” Mr Justice White said the man became difficult when asked to leave and said : “ Call another boy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and later he said : “ Just f***ing do it , ” and , “ Tell them what you ’ re supposed to tell them.
” Ms Staunton replied : “ I ’ m not telling them.
” She later described the man as a friend and said he had left .
Mr Justice White said that because of the interruption and possible interference he had to warn them about Ms Staunton ’ s evidence .
He said it “ may be dangerous to rely on her evidence ” , but he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt of the truth and reliability of her testimony , they may rely on it .
The judge also described Daniel Cahill as “ the most controversial prosecution witness ” .
Mr Cahill told the trial that he heard the accused admit to killing a garda on three occasions .
Mr Brady ’ s defence counsel Michael O ’ Higgins SC , in his closing speech , said Mr Cahill “ might have had a lot of motives to make things up ” in circumstances where he was detained by Homeland Security as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he gave a statement to gardaí .
Having spent five days going over the evidence Mr Justice White thanked the jury for their patience and apologised that it took longer than he expected .
He told them that tomorrow ( Wednesday ) he will explain the possible verdicts open to them before they begin their deliberations .
Fifteen jurors were sworn at the start of the trial but two dropped out .
On Tuesday a juror said that he has a commitment next week and wished to be excused .
Mr Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the required 12 , comprising five men and seven women .

Aaron Brady (29) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe. File photograph: Collins
It "may be dangerous to rely on" the evidence of a witness who told the Aaron Brady trial that she heard the accused admit that he "shot a cop in Ireland", the presiding judge has warned.
Mr Justice Michael White gave the jury in the case a warning on Tuesday in relation to the evidence of Molly Staunton.
He has nearly completed his charge to the jury and told them they will begin their deliberations on Wednesday. They began hearing evidence in the case last January.
Aaron Brady (29) from New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh has pleaded not guilty to the capital murder of Det Gda Adrian Donohoe who was then a member of An Garda Síochána on active duty on January 25, 2013 at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth. Mr Brady has also pleaded not guilty to a charge of robbing approximately €7,000 in cash and assorted cheques on the same date and at the same location.
READ MORE
While Ms Staunton was giving evidence in front of the jury via video link from her New York home an unseen man interrupted her. Mr Justice White on Tuesday told the jury that there was a previous interruption by the same man when the jury was not present. On that occasion a radio could be heard in the background in Ms Staunton’s home and when the judge asked her to turn it down she said to the man: “The judge says you have to leave. I don’t want anyone else in the room.”
Mr Justice White said the man became difficult when asked to leave and said: “Call another boy, you should be with a lawyer” and later he said: “Just f***ing do it,” and, “Tell them what you’re supposed to tell them.” Ms Staunton replied: “I’m not telling them.”
She later described the man as a friend and said he had left.
Mr Justice White said that because of the interruption and possible interference he had to warn them about Ms Staunton’s evidence. He said it “may be dangerous to rely on her evidence”, but he added that if they are convinced beyond reasonable doubt of the truth and reliability of her testimony, they may rely on it.
The judge also described Daniel Cahill as "the most controversial prosecution witness".
Mr Cahill told the trial that he heard the accused admit to killing a garda on three occasions. Mr Brady’s defence counsel Michael O’Higgins SC, in his closing speech, said Mr Cahill “might have had a lot of motives to make things up” in circumstances where he was detained by Homeland Security as a visa overstayer on the same day that he gave a statement to gardaí.
Having spent five days going over the evidence Mr Justice White thanked the jury for their patience and apologised that it took longer than he expected. He told them that tomorrow (Wednesday) he will explain the possible verdicts open to them before they begin their deliberations.
Fifteen jurors were sworn at the start of the trial but two dropped out. On Tuesday a juror said that he has a commitment next week and wished to be excused. Mr Justice White discharged the juror bringing the number to the required 12, comprising five men and seven women.


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Derry struggles with how to honour local hero John Hume

Derry likes to come out for its own , and look out for its own .
But because of Covid it can ’ t really come out for John Hume , and that ’ s proving hard for the city .
It is a loyal place .
There was great joy when Dana won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 ; the international musical successes of Phil Coulter , who wrote The Town I Loved So Well – a song frequently sung by Hume – were cherished by local people .
On a different note , thousands turned out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s report what the city already knew , that the killing of the 14 people who died as a result of the Bloody Sunday shootings in 1972 was “ unjustified ” and “ unjustifiable ” .
Thousands attended the funeral of Martin McGuinness in 2017 .
Many thousands too would want to attend John Hume ’ s funeral , to show solidarity and love to his wife Pat , as well as to his children and wider family , and both to mourn and celebrate the Nobel laureate .
This was a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and observers as Ireland ’ s third great constitutional nationalist – Daniel O ’ Connell , Charles Stewart Parnell , John Hume – but the open esteem due could not be widely delivered amid a pandemic .
Hume gave a lot to Derry , Ireland and the world , but coronavirus means that , publicly at least , Derry can ’ t give back to Hume the love and respect it owes to and feels for him .
Pat Hume and her family have been adamant in this regard .
Many dignitaries from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be in Derry for the funeral , including the likes of former US president Bill Clinton , but the only VIPs allowed will be homegrown ones – President , Taoiseach , Tánaiste , First Minister , Deputy First Minister and some other politicians .
And rather than turn out along the route of the cortege from Moville , Co Donegal , to Derry on Tuesday night , the family asked people to light a candle and say a prayer for peace instead .
The virus prohibitions have already hit the Hume family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is in the US , will be unable to attend his father ’ s funeral .
As far as the Humes were concerned , there must be no repeat of the rows that surrounded the funeral of Bobby Storey in June .
No one can be put in harm ’ s way when it comes to Covid-19 .
If people were perforce restricted in how they should honour Hume , well , at least they could reminisce .
Derry locals had lots of stories about how Hume liked to walk along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the mid-2000s onwards when his dementia began to take a toll .
He occasionally wandered into the BBC Radio Foyle offices – a residual memory convincing him there was yet another peace process interview to be done there .
People , whether taxi drivers , journalists or other members of the community , would ensure that he was ferried back safely to his home and Pat .
Local Irish News correspondent Seamus McKinney told the story of once stopping to pick up Hume .
But he had to bide his time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be home for a while .
Hume suggested to McKinney that they go to Da Vinci ’ s pub “ for a jar ” .
McKinney recalled : “ I pointed out that the pubs were closed and no one could get a drink at that hour of the night , only for him to respond with a twinkle in his eye and a smile , ‘ I could.
’ ” People remembered too his devotion to St Columb ’ s College in Derry , also alma mater of the likes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Seamus Deane , where he was a teacher and a student , and had a positive experience of education that helped shape the future leader .
Every year during prizegiving , the school would leave out a special chair for Hume , and nine times out of 10 he would wander in to be part of the ceremony .
Such anecdotes were recounted with fondness and deep respect .
None of his late-in-life frailty diminished his stature , whether in the Maiden City or the world .
Derry people were fully conscious and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew the narrative : Hume working to get jobs for the city ; campaigning for civil rights ; helping achieve the Sunningdale powersharing executive of 1974 only to see it collapse under pressure from unionists , loyalists and the IRA ; picking himself up to start all over again , and finally helping to bring about the two IRA ceasefires , the 1998 Belfast Agreement , and a new powersharing administration that despite a number of wobbles is still standing .
They knew too how Hume looked beyond Stormont and Westminster to engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US and the world to campaign on his behalf .
Here McKinney told another story of meeting Hume in the House of Commons in the late 1990s and the then SDLP leader telling him that “ apparently ” he had an office somewhere in the building .
“ I ’ ve never been in it , ” Hume told him , his gaze stretching well beyond what he felt was a pretty useless parliamentary bear pit .
And local people knew too that part of Hume ’ s sacrifice in bringing Sinn Féin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the SDLP , the party he helped found in 1970 .
Former SDLP director of communications Barry Turley in the Irish News reflected how this was a price Hume always was willing to pay , even if the likes of the late Seamus Mallon and others wished he had found a slightly alternative path to a solution .
Turley remembered being at a meeting between Nelson Mandela and Hume and how the South African leader was “ much tougher and more combative than his public image would have you believe ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite strongly for allowing Sinn Féin to ‘ move ahead ’ , as he put it .
John just shrugged and told Mandela that the lives saved as part of the peace process made it all worthwhile .
“ Mandela laughed , and said , ‘ Always the same Mr Hume , always the peacemaker.
’ ” People in Derry , as they try to figure out how to honour Hume while these strange times mean they can not attend his funeral , know full well the contribution Hume made to this island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burnt him out .
They would agree with , and be thankful for , what Phil Coulter said about Hume on RTÉ on Tuesday : “ I think that John just gave his last ounce , I really do .
”

Derry likes to come out for its own, and look out for its own. But because of Covid it can't really come out for John Hume, and that's proving hard for the city.
It is a loyal place. There was great joy when Dana won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970; the international musical successes of Phil Coulter, who wrote The Town I Loved So Well – a song frequently sung by Hume – were cherished by local people.
On a different note, thousands turned out in 2010 to hear from Lord Saville’s report what the city already knew, that the killing of the 14 people who died as a result of the Bloody Sunday shootings in 1972 was “unjustified” and “unjustifiable”.
Thousands attended the funeral of Martin McGuinness in 2017.
READ MORE
Many thousands too would want to attend John Hume’s funeral, to show solidarity and love to his wife Pat, as well as to his children and wider family, and both to mourn and celebrate the Nobel laureate.
This was a man now ranked by a number of historians and observers as Ireland's third great constitutional nationalist – Daniel O'Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell, John Hume – but the open esteem due could not be widely delivered amid a pandemic.
Hume gave a lot to Derry, Ireland and the world, but coronavirus means that, publicly at least, Derry can't give back to Hume the love and respect it owes to and feels for him.
Pat Hume and her family have been adamant in this regard. Many dignitaries from various corners of the globe would want to be in Derry for the funeral, including the likes of former US president Bill Clinton, but the only VIPs allowed will be homegrown ones – President, Taoiseach, Tánaiste, First Minister, Deputy First Minister and some other politicians.
And rather than turn out along the route of the cortege from Moville, Co Donegal, to Derry on Tuesday night, the family asked people to light a candle and say a prayer for peace instead.
The virus prohibitions have already hit the Hume family, as one son, Aidan, who is in the US, will be unable to attend his father’s funeral.
Storey funeral
As far as the Humes were concerned, there must be no repeat of the rows that surrounded the funeral of Bobby Storey in June. No one can be put in harm's way when it comes to Covid-19.
If people were perforce restricted in how they should honour Hume, well, at least they could reminisce.
Derry locals had lots of stories about how Hume liked to walk along the Foyle and around the town, including from the mid-2000s onwards when his dementia began to take a toll. He occasionally wandered into the BBC Radio Foyle offices – a residual memory convincing him there was yet another peace process interview to be done there. People, whether taxi drivers, journalists or other members of the community, would ensure that he was ferried back safely to his home and Pat.
Local Irish News correspondent Seamus McKinney told the story of once stopping to pick up Hume. But he had to bide his time for a while because Pat was out and would not be home for a while.
Hume suggested to McKinney that they go to Da Vinci’s pub “for a jar”.
McKinney recalled: “I pointed out that the pubs were closed and no one could get a drink at that hour of the night, only for him to respond with a twinkle in his eye and a smile, ‘I could.’”
People remembered too his devotion to St Columb's College in Derry, also alma mater of the likes of Seamus Heaney, Brian Friel and Seamus Deane, where he was a teacher and a student, and had a positive experience of education that helped shape the future leader.
Every year during prizegiving, the school would leave out a special chair for Hume, and nine times out of 10 he would wander in to be part of the ceremony.
Such anecdotes were recounted with fondness and deep respect. None of his late-in-life frailty diminished his stature, whether in the Maiden City or the world. Derry people were fully conscious and hugely proud of his standing.
They knew the narrative: Hume working to get jobs for the city; campaigning for civil rights; helping achieve the Sunningdale powersharing executive of 1974 only to see it collapse under pressure from unionists, loyalists and the IRA; picking himself up to start all over again, and finally helping to bring about the two IRA ceasefires, the 1998 Belfast Agreement, and a new powersharing administration that despite a number of wobbles is still standing.
International relations
They knew too how Hume looked beyond Stormont and Westminster to engage the powerful people in Europe, the US and the world to campaign on his behalf. Here McKinney told another story of meeting Hume in the House of Commons in the late 1990s and the then SDLP leader telling him that "apparently" he had an office somewhere in the building.
“I’ve never been in it,” Hume told him, his gaze stretching well beyond what he felt was a pretty useless parliamentary bear pit.
And local people knew too that part of Hume’s sacrifice in bringing Sinn Féin into the political circle was the undermining of the SDLP, the party he helped found in 1970.
Former SDLP director of communications Barry Turley in the Irish News reflected how this was a price Hume always was willing to pay, even if the likes of the late Seamus Mallon and others wished he had found a slightly alternative path to a solution.
Turley remembered being at a meeting between Nelson Mandela and Hume and how the South African leader was “much tougher and more combative than his public image would have you believe”.
Turley wrote: “He chided John quite strongly for allowing Sinn Féin to ‘move ahead’, as he put it. John just shrugged and told Mandela that the lives saved as part of the peace process made it all worthwhile.
“Mandela laughed, and said, ‘Always the same Mr Hume, always the peacemaker.’”
People in Derry, as they try to figure out how to honour Hume while these strange times mean they cannot attend his funeral, know full well the contribution Hume made to this island, and how all that work just burnt him out. They would agree with, and be thankful for, what Phil Coulter said about Hume on RTÉ on Tuesday: "I think that John just gave his last ounce, I really do."


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Court approves €35,000 payment to family of infant who died hours after birth

The High Court has approved a payment of €35,000 by a Dublin maternity hospital to the family of an infant boy who died a few hours after he was delivered .
Couple Asumpta Sweeney and Jason Butler , and their family , had sued Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital arising out of the death of Rory Jason Sweeney Butler at the hospital on November 19th , 2015 .
The family claimed the hospital had been negligent , and for the nervous shock they suffered due to the infant ’ s wrongful death in the hospital ’ s neo-natal intensive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was admitted by the defendant .
The payment , which is statutory compensation known as the solatium for distress , to the family was formally approved at the High Court on Tuesday by Mr Justice Robert Eager .
Richard Kean SC , instructed by solicitor Caoimhe Haughey for the plaintiffs , said the case arose out of the untimely and “ very tragic ” death of the infant .
The money , counsel said , was to be paid to the parents , with an address at Lissadel Drive , Drimnagh , Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siblings .
Counsel added that other family members had waived any entitlement to any payment out of the award .
He added that other related but separate proceedings have been brought arising out of the infant ’ s death .

The payment to the family was formally approved at the High Court by Mr Justice Robert Eager
The High Court has approved a payment of €35,000 by a Dublin maternity hospital to the family of an infant boy who died a few hours after he was delivered.
Couple Asumpta Sweeney and Jason Butler, and their family, had sued Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital arising out of the death of Rory Jason Sweeney Butler at the hospital on November 19th, 2015.
The family claimed the hospital had been negligent, and for the nervous shock they suffered due to the infant’s wrongful death in the hospital’s neo-natal intensive care unit.
Liability in the case was admitted by the defendant.
READ MORE
The payment, which is statutory compensation known as the solatium for distress, to the family was formally approved at the High Court on Tuesday by Mr Justice Robert Eager.
Richard Kean SC, instructed by solicitor Caoimhe Haughey for the plaintiffs, said the case arose out of the untimely and "very tragic" death of the infant.
The money, counsel said, was to be paid to the parents, with an address at Lissadel Drive, Drimnagh, Dublin, and to the boy's siblings.
Counsel added that other family members had waived any entitlement to any payment out of the award.
He added that other related but separate proceedings have been brought arising out of the infant’s death.


theirishtimes--2020-08-04--Ireland needs to move to ‘zero-Covid’ policy to avoid catastrophe, scientists say

Ireland urgently needs to move to a “ zero-Covid ” policy in order to avert long-term “ social and economic catastrophe ” , leading Irish scientists have warned .
The scientists say there is a “ small and narrowing ” window to bring the incidence of Covid-19 here to zero and to keep it there , thereby allowing schools and colleges to return safely and operate normally .
The group , which has written seeking a meeting with the Oireachtas special committee on Covid-19 , is calling for the universal use of masks in enclosed spaces and “ more targeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isolation of cases .
It also says an “ effective and fair ” system of testing and isolating incoming travellers needs to be introduced .
The scientists suggest a regional response here to coronavirus outbreaks , saying there should be a wider use of “ green zones internally ” as the best route back to a normally functioning economy and community .
In their letter to committee chairman Michael McNamara , the scientists say Ireland is heading into a long-term social and economic catastrophe “ with an unknown but significant associated burden of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our proposal , to avoid this by moving to a zero-Covid policy , a policy backed by science , experience and extensive analysis , should be considered at national political level.
” The letter is signed by Prof Anthony Staines , professor of health systems at Dublin City University , on behalf of the “ Zero-Covid Island ” group .
Its 12 members include infectious diseases specialist Prof Sam McConkey , Northern Ireland public health doctor Dr Gabriel Scally , Trinity College Dublin biochemist Dr Tomás Ryan and Prof Gerard Killeen of University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lockdown policy from last March worked , and was an appropriate response to an emergency situation , the current direction of national policy on the pandemic is “ unclear ” , the group says .
“ This has a new urgency as schools and colleges plan to reopen , and as the pressure to increase incoming flights and tourists rises .
The current policy is to ‘ live with the virus ’ .
It seems that there is an implicit hope that a vaccine will be available soon , but vaccine experts urge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the earliest likely date for population vaccination.
” To allow for a normal opening of education , the Republic needs to adopt a zero-Covid island policy , sharing experiences and ideas with Northern Ireland , the group says .
“ Very recent US evidence shows that the main driver of economic injury is the infection itself , and not government responses , such as lockdowns and other restrictions on movement .
“ We believe that many of the public understand this , and will support a credible zero-Covid island policy , both to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the tangible positive rewards .
“ We have a choice to make : continue with the current ‘ live with the virus ’ approach which carries significant cost without a clear destination , or take the socially and financially beneficial zero-Covid island approach .
”

Ireland urgently needs to move to a "zero-Covid" policy in order to avert long-term "social and economic catastrophe", leading Irish scientists have warned.
The scientists say there is a “small and narrowing” window to bring the incidence of Covid-19 here to zero and to keep it there, thereby allowing schools and colleges to return safely and operate normally.
The group, which has written seeking a meeting with the Oireachtas special committee on Covid-19, is calling for the universal use of masks in enclosed spaces and "more targeted" finding, testing, tracking and isolation of cases.
It also says an “effective and fair” system of testing and isolating incoming travellers needs to be introduced.
READ MORE
The scientists suggest a regional response here to coronavirus outbreaks, saying there should be a wider use of “green zones internally” as the best route back to a normally functioning economy and community.
In their letter to committee chairman Michael McNamara, the scientists say Ireland is heading into a long-term social and economic catastrophe “with an unknown but significant associated burden of death, disease and disability.
“Our proposal, to avoid this by moving to a zero-Covid policy, a policy backed by science, experience and extensive analysis, should be considered at national political level.”
The letter is signed by Prof Anthony Staines, professor of health systems at Dublin City University, on behalf of the "Zero-Covid Island" group. Its 12 members include infectious diseases specialist Prof Sam McConkey, Northern Ireland public health doctor Dr Gabriel Scally, Trinity College Dublin biochemist Dr Tomás Ryan and Prof Gerard Killeen of University College Cork.
‘Unclear’ direction
While Ireland’s lockdown policy from last March worked, and was an appropriate response to an emergency situation, the current direction of national policy on the pandemic is “unclear”, the group says.
“This has a new urgency as schools and colleges plan to reopen, and as the pressure to increase incoming flights and tourists rises. The current policy is to ‘live with the virus’. It seems that there is an implicit hope that a vaccine will be available soon, but vaccine experts urge caution, and suggest late 2021 as the earliest likely date for population vaccination.”
To allow for a normal opening of education, the Republic needs to adopt a zero-Covid island policy, sharing experiences and ideas with Northern Ireland, the group says.
“Very recent US evidence shows that the main driver of economic injury is the infection itself, and not government responses, such as lockdowns and other restrictions on movement.
“We believe that many of the public understand this, and will support a credible zero-Covid island policy, both to avoid a second wave, and because of the tangible positive rewards.
“We have a choice to make: continue with the current ‘live with the virus’ approach which carries significant cost without a clear destination, or take the socially and financially beneficial zero-Covid island approach.”