theirishtimes--2020-02-03--Drones could be used to test water from hundreds of remote lakes

Drones could be dispatched across hundreds of remote Irish lakes to carry out legally required water testing too problematic for humans , experts believe .
An ongoing two-year research project by scientists and drone technicians has almost completed testing the viability of using unmanned aircraft for the work essential to monitoring Irish water quality .
Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) , the project offers the potential for drones to augment traditional testing .
It can replace boats and humans when testing lakes that are out of reach or too difficult to access , such as Ballyquirke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where testers have previously had to carry an inflatable boat some distance from the nearest access road .
“ We are only looking at a fraction of the lakes [ in Ireland ] ; if you can have a faster method of sampling then you can probably increase the number , ” said Dr Heather Lally , researcher in freshwater ecology and biology at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology ( GMIT ) , who has been leading the project .
“ A lot of them you just can ’ t get to .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on are the drinking water [ sources ] which need to be very large lakes.
” There are over 12,000 lakes in Ireland .
Under the EU Water Framework Directive , samples are supposed to be taken from more than 800 .
However , between 2013 and 2018 , just 215 , or 26 per cent , of those have been tested , mainly due to the cost and time constraints of access .
Those that are tested make up 84 per cent of total surface area – the larger water bodies used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also considered of regional , local or scientific interest in relation to protected habitats and species .
In recent years “ nutrient loading ” in lakes has become more noticeable and increased research and monitoring has been undertaken in response .
The Water Quality in Ireland 2013-2018 report , published earlier last December found just 52.8 per cent of surface water – rivers , lakes , estuaries and coastal waters – was in “ satisfactory ecological health ” , the remaining 47.2 per cent was moderate , poor or bad .
In 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in developing drone technology as a solution to lake access .
The five-person project , jointly undertaken by GMIT and Model Heli Services ( MHS ) , was funded to the tune of €132,000 under the current EPA Research Programme .
The team set about sending their drones , which are approximately four feet wide , into lakes to dip containers and capture two litres of testable water .
The sample is then returned to shore for storage before being taken away for laboratory testing .
But apart from getting it to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make the technology viable .
“ What we didn ’ t want was a system that works really well but then you can ’ t go and get it , ” said Dr Lally .
“ We know it works from a product point of view and we also know that [ of ] the samples we are getting , there is very little difference ” to that traditionally collected .
GMIT , with input from Rutgers University in the US , also produced the world ’ s first literary review paper on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published earlier this year in the Science of the Total Environment journal .
It highlighted one regulatory issue common to all drone applications – the limitations of “ line of sight ” flying , or the use of drones on long flights – that could result in the necessity for several launch sites on one lake .
However , the paper noted that , given the expense of water testing , the use of drones “ could offer a safer , easier , more reliable and accurate assessment ” .
The team ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ February , after which they hope to apply for funding from Enterprise Ireland to determine potential markets for the technology and to develop an enhanced prototype .

A team from the Marine and Fresh Water Research Centre of GMIT (Galway, Mayo Institute of Technology) are the first in Ireland to use flying drone technology to take samples from remote rivers and lakes. Video: Bryan O'Brien
Drones could be dispatched across hundreds of remote Irish lakes to carry out legally required water testing too problematic for humans, experts believe.
An ongoing two-year research project by scientists and drone technicians has almost completed testing the viability of using unmanned aircraft for the work essential to monitoring Irish water quality.
Funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the project offers the potential for drones to augment traditional testing. It can replace boats and humans when testing lakes that are out of reach or too difficult to access, such as Ballyquirke Lake, Moycullen, Co Galway, where testers have previously had to carry an inflatable boat some distance from the nearest access road.
"We are only looking at a fraction of the lakes [in Ireland]; if you can have a faster method of sampling then you can probably increase the number," said Dr Heather Lally, researcher in freshwater ecology and biology at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), who has been leading the project.
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“A lot of them you just can’t get to. At the moment what the EPA are focusing on are the drinking water [sources] which need to be very large lakes.”
There are over 12,000 lakes in Ireland. Under the EU Water Framework Directive, samples are supposed to be taken from more than 800.
However, between 2013 and 2018, just 215, or 26 per cent, of those have been tested, mainly due to the cost and time constraints of access.
Those that are tested make up 84 per cent of total surface area – the larger water bodies used for drinking water abstractions. They are also considered of regional, local or scientific interest in relation to protected habitats and species.
In recent years “nutrient loading” in lakes has become more noticeable and increased research and monitoring has been undertaken in response.
From left, Mark Broderick of Model Heli Services, Dr Ian O’Connor and Dr Conor Graham of the Marine and Fresh Water Research Centre GMIT, Liam Broderick, MHS and Dr Heather Lally of the Marine and Fresh Water Research Centre GMIT. Photograph: Bryan O Brien/The Irish Times
Sampling
The Water Quality in Ireland 2013-2018 report, published earlier last December found just 52.8 per cent of surface water – rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal waters – was in “satisfactory ecological health”, the remaining 47.2 per cent was moderate, poor or bad.
In 2017, the EPA advertised for someone interested in developing drone technology as a solution to lake access. The five-person project, jointly undertaken by GMIT and Model Heli Services (MHS), was funded to the tune of €132,000 under the current EPA Research Programme.
The team set about sending their drones, which are approximately four feet wide, into lakes to dip containers and capture two litres of testable water. The sample is then returned to shore for storage before being taken away for laboratory testing. But apart from getting it to work, the research team have attempted to make the technology viable.
“What we didn’t want was a system that works really well but then you can’t go and get it,” said Dr Lally.
“We know it works from a product point of view and we also know that [of] the samples we are getting, there is very little difference” to that traditionally collected.
GMIT, with input from Rutgers University in the US, also produced the world's first literary review paper on drone technology application to water testing, published earlier this year in the Science of the Total Environment journal.
It highlighted one regulatory issue common to all drone applications – the limitations of “line of sight” flying, or the use of drones on long flights – that could result in the necessity for several launch sites on one lake.
However, the paper noted that, given the expense of water testing, the use of drones “could offer a safer, easier, more reliable and accurate assessment”.
The team's work is due to finish in February, after which they hope to apply for funding from Enterprise Ireland to determine potential markets for the technology and to develop an enhanced prototype.


theirishtimes--2020-02-03--Tobacco seizures down by 75% as smugglers use ‘sophisticated concealments’

Illegal tobacco seizures collapsed by more than three-quarters in 2019 as smugglers copied sophisticated techniques from the drugs trade in an effort to avoid detection , new figures show .
Just €10.5 million in cigarettes and other tobacco products were seized by Revenue last year , compared to some €42.2 million in 2018 .
While the 2018 figures were unusually high due to the discovery of Ireland ’ s first counterfeit cigarette factory in March , the 2019 figure is still less than half the value of tobacco products seized during 2017 and 2016 .
The 2019 figure is contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , published by Revenue in January .
A spokesman for the tax authority said smugglers are using “ increasingly inventive and complex smuggling methods and concealment techniques ” .
Revenue said it had noted a “ shift away from the large-scale smuggling of tobacco products in shipping containers to smaller amounts of tobacco products being smuggled in sophisticated concealments traditionally associated with drug smuggling ” .
A shipping container can hold between seven and eight million cigarettes , Revenue said .
“ Having regard to the fact that smaller amounts of tobacco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invariably resulted in a reduction in the number of cigarettes and tobacco produces seized as a result of detections at ports.
” The shift away from large-scale consignments has been evidenced by increasingly ingenious methods of concealment .
For example , customs agents made two seizures during 2019 where cigarettes were concealed in hollowed out wooden planks .
A Revenue spokesman said it is “ alert to the resourcefulness of those involved in criminality in the supply of illicit tobacco products and responded effectively to this change in concealment methods ” .

Just €10.5 million in cigarettes and tobacco products seized by Revenue in 2019. File photograph: Yasser Al-Zayyat/AFP/Getty Images
Illegal tobacco seizures collapsed by more than three-quarters in 2019 as smugglers copied sophisticated techniques from the drugs trade in an effort to avoid detection, new figures show.
Just €10.5 million in cigarettes and other tobacco products were seized by Revenue last year, compared to some €42.2 million in 2018.
While the 2018 figures were unusually high due to the discovery of Ireland’s first counterfeit cigarette factory in March, the 2019 figure is still less than half the value of tobacco products seized during 2017 and 2016.
The 2019 figure is contained in “headline” results for last year, published by Revenue in January.
READ MORE
A spokesman for the tax authority said smugglers are using “increasingly inventive and complex smuggling methods and concealment techniques”.
Revenue said it had noted a “shift away from the large-scale smuggling of tobacco products in shipping containers to smaller amounts of tobacco products being smuggled in sophisticated concealments traditionally associated with drug smuggling”.
A shipping container can hold between seven and eight million cigarettes, Revenue said.
“Having regard to the fact that smaller amounts of tobacco products are being smuggled, this shift invariably resulted in a reduction in the number of cigarettes and tobacco produces seized as a result of detections at ports.”
The shift away from large-scale consignments has been evidenced by increasingly ingenious methods of concealment.
For example, customs agents made two seizures during 2019 where cigarettes were concealed in hollowed out wooden planks.
A Revenue spokesman said it is “alert to the resourcefulness of those involved in criminality in the supply of illicit tobacco products and responded effectively to this change in concealment methods”.


theirishtimes--2020-02-03--Cab brings 10 cases before High Court to seize property, cash, designer goods

The Criminal Assets Bureau ( Cab ) has brought 10 new proceeds-of-crime cases before the High Court following a flurry of activity towards the end of last year , it has emerged .
When Cab raided the suspects ’ homes a bedroom in one house was being used as a walk-in wardrobe , due to the quantity of designer clothing and accessories , such as handbags , which two of the suspects had bought .
When the goods were valued by Cab , with a view to their resale on the second-hand market , they were deemed to be worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new separate investigations across the country will not become clear until the cases are further progressed through the High Court .
This may take some time as such a large number of new cases in one month is unprecedented .
However , The Irish Times has established the actions being brought are against those involved in drug dealing and illegal money lending , as well as a man who sold what he claimed was a treatment for cancer .
In the case that involves almost €70,000 in designer goods , Cab is also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin , some € 12,000 in cash and € 147,000 in bank accounts .
Four vehicles are also part of the same Cab case , including a 161 Audi A6 , a 152 Mercedes C220 AMG , a Seat Leon and VW Passat .
The four people who own those assets are two brothers from west Dublin and their partners .
Another man under investigation , for €10,000 in cash , is closely linked to one side of the Drogheda feud and lost a brother in a gangland shooting over a decade ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is in her late 30s and Cab has begun efforts to seize three properties from her with a combined value of between €300,000 and €400,000 .
A man who had been presenting himself as a doctor who could cure cancer is among the cases , with almost €230,000 in cash being seized from him .
The money was found during a search on his property and Cab ’ s case was expected to set out how treatments claiming to cure cancer were sold to terminally ill people and the parents of children with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sligo , who has long been involved in violence and drug dealing in the area faces losing his house as Cab believes it represents the proceeds of crime .
A man suspected of being involved in the drugs trade and in money-laundering via the dark web is at the centre of a Cab inquiry that seeks to confiscate some €1.7 million in bitcoin .
The Galway man in his late 40s is a convicted cannabis dealer already previously targeted by the bureau .
A suspected drug dealer based in Cavan is at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seize a log cabin , a Rolex watch valued at €13,500 , an X5 BMW and a horse box .
Other cases are for smaller amounts of money ; two men in Dublin being pursued for €16,000 in cash and another suspected drug dealer from north Dublin being targeted for just over €1,000 in cash and VW Golf GTD .

The Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) has brought 10 new proceeds-of-crime cases before the High Court following a flurry of activity towards the end of last year, it has emerged.
When Cab raided the suspects’ homes a bedroom in one house was being used as a walk-in wardrobe, due to the quantity of designer clothing and accessories, such as handbags, which two of the suspects had bought.
When the goods were valued by Cab, with a view to their resale on the second-hand market, they were deemed to be worth almost €70,000.
The details of the new separate investigations across the country will not become clear until the cases are further progressed through the High Court. This may take some time as such a large number of new cases in one month is unprecedented.
READ MORE
However, The Irish Times has established the actions being brought are against those involved in drug dealing and illegal money lending, as well as a man who sold what he claimed was a treatment for cancer.
In the case that involves almost €70,000 in designer goods, Cab is also seeking to confiscate a house in Co Dublin, some € 12,000 in cash and € 147,000 in bank accounts.
A watch seized by Cab. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Four vehicles are also part of the same Cab case, including a 161 Audi A6, a 152 Mercedes C220 AMG, a Seat Leon and VW Passat.
The four people who own those assets are two brothers from west Dublin and their partners.
Cure for cancer
Another man under investigation, for €10,000 in cash, is closely linked to one side of the Drogheda feud and lost a brother in a gangland shooting over a decade ago.
The female money lender being targeted is in her late 30s and Cab has begun efforts to seize three properties from her with a combined value of between €300,000 and €400,000.
A man who had been presenting himself as a doctor who could cure cancer is among the cases, with almost €230,000 in cash being seized from him.
The money was found during a search on his property and Cab’s case was expected to set out how treatments claiming to cure cancer were sold to terminally ill people and the parents of children with cancer.
An Audi seized by Cab. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Another man, from Co Sligo, who has long been involved in violence and drug dealing in the area faces losing his house as Cab believes it represents the proceeds of crime.
A man suspected of being involved in the drugs trade and in money-laundering via the dark web is at the centre of a Cab inquiry that seeks to confiscate some €1.7 million in bitcoin. The Galway man in his late 40s is a convicted cannabis dealer already previously targeted by the bureau.
A Mercedes seized by Cab. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
A suspected drug dealer based in Cavan is at the centre of other action which seeks to seize a log cabin, a Rolex watch valued at €13,500, an X5 BMW and a horse box.
Other cases are for smaller amounts of money; two men in Dublin being pursued for €16,000 in cash and another suspected drug dealer from north Dublin being targeted for just over €1,000 in cash and VW Golf GTD.


theirishtimes--2020-02-03--Victoria Cross winner turned IRA man honoured a century on

In March 1919 Martin Doyle returned to his native New Ross a war hero .
He won the Victoria Cross in September 1918 for an incredible feat of gallantry in which he rushed a German trench and rescued a badly wounded British tank sergeant .
As he alighted from the train at New Ross , the townspeople escorted him to his home on Mary Street Upper and a trumpeter played a bugle call as he passed the Royal Hotel .
He then attended a civic reception outside the main square in the town .
More than a century later the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this time not only as a British army war hero but as a man who had fought for Irish freedom in the IRA and then joined the National Army during the Civil War , in which he was wounded .
Outside the town hall in New Ross , a marble paving stone paid for by the British government in honour of Doyle was unveiled by Cllr John Fleming , the chairman of New Ross Municipal District .
The flagstone of the town hall remembers the “ glorious ” Battle of the Boyne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remembering Michael O ’ Hanrahan , who was executed for his role in the Easter Rising , and opposite a statue to the men from the town who fought in the 1798 rebellion .
Doyle embodied a lot of these contrasting allegiances .
He left the British army in June 1919 .
In October 1920 he joined the IRA in East Clare and the Irish Army on its foundation .
The date chosen for the event , February 2nd , was not a coincidence , said Cllr Michael Sheehan , chairman of Wexford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the founding of the State ’ s Army .
Having fought for the British army , Doyle embraced Irish republicanism and represented “ the very best of who we are and the very best of who we can be as republicans ” , he told the assembled crowd .
The event began with a parade through the town .
Re-enactors wearing the first World War khaki of the British army mixed with those wearing the overcoats , bandoliers and peaked caps of the old IRA .
Irish army veterans and those from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and tricolour wreaths beside the paving stone .
The British government was represented by the defence attaché Col Darren Doherty and by Sarah Tiffin , the deputy head of mission at the British embassy in Dublin .
It was a special occasion for members of the Doyle family .
Two of his three daughters are still alive and in their 90s , though Doyle died in 1940 when he was just 46 .
Monica Condon , Doyle ’ s niece , laid a wreath on behalf of her mother , Lil Doyle .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were in attendance , including David Cooney , a grandnephew of Doyle and a former Irish ambassador to Britain .
“ He was a soldier to his core and he served with great distinction .
He reflected his time .
More Irish men served in the British army than fought in the War of Independence , ” he said .
“ Martin Doyle reflected the changes that happened at the time as the mood of the people changed .
He tells the story of what happened in Ireland 100 years ago .
”

In March 1919 Martin Doyle returned to his native New Ross a war hero. He won the Victoria Cross in September 1918 for an incredible feat of gallantry in which he rushed a German trench and rescued a badly wounded British tank sergeant.
As he alighted from the train at New Ross, the townspeople escorted him to his home on Mary Street Upper and a trumpeter played a bugle call as he passed the Royal Hotel. He then attended a civic reception outside the main square in the town.
More than a century later the townspeople again turned out to remember Doyle, this time not only as a British army war hero but as a man who had fought for Irish freedom in the IRA and then joined the National Army during the Civil War, in which he was wounded.
Outside the town hall in New Ross, a marble paving stone paid for by the British government in honour of Doyle was unveiled by Cllr John Fleming, the chairman of New Ross Municipal District.
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The flagstone of the town hall remembers the “glorious” Battle of the Boyne. It sits next to a plaque remembering Michael O’Hanrahan, who was executed for his role in the Easter Rising, and opposite a statue to the men from the town who fought in the 1798 rebellion.
Keith Donnelly, Brian Kenny and Sam Morrili of the Irish Great War Society at the commemoration in New Ross. Photograph: Mary Browne
Doyle embodied a lot of these contrasting allegiances. He left the British army in June 1919. In October 1920 he joined the IRA in East Clare and the Irish Army on its foundation.
The date chosen for the event, February 2nd, was not a coincidence, said Cllr Michael Sheehan, chairman of Wexford County Council. It marked the anniversary of the founding of the State's Army.
Town parade
Having fought for the British army, Doyle embraced Irish republicanism and represented “the very best of who we are and the very best of who we can be as republicans”, he told the assembled crowd.
The event began with a parade through the town. Re-enactors wearing the first World War khaki of the British army mixed with those wearing the overcoats, bandoliers and peaked caps of the old IRA.
Irish army veterans and those from the Royal British Legion laid poppy wreaths and tricolour wreaths beside the paving stone. The British government was represented by the defence attaché Col Darren Doherty and by Sarah Tiffin, the deputy head of mission at the British embassy in Dublin.
It was a special occasion for members of the Doyle family. Two of his three daughters are still alive and in their 90s, though Doyle died in 1940 when he was just 46. Monica Condon, Doyle's niece, laid a wreath on behalf of her mother, Lil Doyle.
At least 50 members of the family were in attendance, including David Cooney, a grandnephew of Doyle and a former Irish ambassador to Britain.
“He was a soldier to his core and he served with great distinction. He reflected his time. More Irish men served in the British army than fought in the War of Independence,” he said.
"Martin Doyle reflected the changes that happened at the time as the mood of the people changed. He tells the story of what happened in Ireland 100 years ago."


theirishtimes--2020-02-03--Baggage claims: Reader frustrated with Aer Lingus over lost bag

“ My husband and I are having a slight issue with Aer Lingus at the moment and getting very little satisfaction , ” begins the mail from a reader called Gwen .
“ My husband booked a flight with Aer Lingus costing over €1200 to fly from Dublin to San Diego on December 27th returning to Dublin on January 3rd .
Aer Lingus code share with Alaska Airlines and so his flight was Dublin-SFO-San Diego return , with Alaska Airlines operating the SFO-SD leg.
” His bag never arrived in San Diego and the couple followed the correct procedure with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bag missing and continued to follow up with them every day , while in the US , for 7 days by phone .
But bag never arrived in San Diego and when Gwen wrote to us they still did not have it , more than three weeks later and long after they had arrived back in Dublin .
“ However , Alaska have since located it and on Saturday it was put on an Aer Lingus flight from Seattle to Dublin ( we don ’ t know how it got to Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yesterday.
” “ Alaska Airlines then told us that we had to collect it from the airport !
Now we do only live 15 minutes from Dublin Airport but it ’ s the principle of the whole thing that is really getting to me so I wrote to Alaska and told them that between them and Aer Lingus they were responsible for delivering the ‘ delayed/lost/found ’ item to our home as per their baggage policies.
” Alaska told her they would “ see what they could do but we haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aer Lingus again ” .
This was their response : “ Hi , Gwen .
We ’ re sorry to hear this .
As the missing baggage report was filed by Alaskan and they were the final flight which the bag was due to travel on , they manage the tracing of the baggage and liaise with other airlines the baggage travelled on to find a match and return it to guests .
We ’ re unable to access their system to retrieve the baggage information and would suggest you get back onto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s response to Aer Lingus : “ Well here is the problem .
It is costing us every time we contact you or Alaska .
How about Aer Lingus contact Alaska seeing as we booked our flight through you ?
The level of service has been nothing short of appalling with no one willing to take responsibility or accountability for the missing item .
We have an email from Alaska specifically stating that the bag was lost by Aer Lingus and now you are telling me to contact Alaska again but apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The bag is in Dublin , we live in Dublin , we booked the flight with Aer Lingus and paid Aer Lingus .
What happens to the bag after that is Aer Lingus ’ s responsibility , whether that involves Alaska is besides the point .
It is not for my husband or I to chase the bag .
That is for Aer Lingus to do .
Contact Alaska and get the bag delivered to us as promised in your baggage policy please .
Thank you.
” Aer Lingus then replied : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we will work with Alaskan to return your bag to you but as mentioned , the onus falls on the final carrier to return baggage when a report is filed with them.
” To which the reader replied : “ And while I understand that , the onus should not be on the customer to liaise with the airline that Aer Lingus code share with to get our bag returned to our home address .
The onus should be with Aer Lingus as that is the originating company through which we booked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I can ’ t see how we , the customer , should have to ring a baggage desk in San Diego to get our bag in Dublin Airport , which we haven ’ t seen for over three weeks , delivered to us , when the original flight/service was fully booked with and paid for through Aer Lingus .
“ My husband followed the correct procedures in San Diego with Alaska Airlines when the luggage did not arrive .
We contacted Alaska Airlines every day while we were in San Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bag .
Alaska Airlines would not take an international contact number to make contact with us if the bag was found so we had to give a contact number belonging to my relative .
We were consistently told by Alaska Airlines that their system does not ‘ talk ’ to the Aer Lingus system and that my husband should ’ ve collected the bag at SFO and rechecked it for onward travel to San Diego .
We knew this was not the case but it did not stop them telling us this on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our reader to point out that it was an Aer Lingus delay that caused the bag to be lost in the first instance .
Surely the Irish airline could have done more to help this person out ?
We got in touch .
Not long after that the bag was delivered to Gwen .
Then we got the below statement from the airline .
“ Despite an early arrival into San Francisco airport on 27th December , unfortunately the guest ’ s bag did not make its connecting flight on to San Diego @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As is standard international airline procedure , it is the final carrier ’ s responsibility to reunite the guest with a delayed bag , which in this instance was Alaskan Airlines who returned the bag to Dublin on 19th January .
“ Upon on arrival into Dublin a customs from was required in order to return the bag .
Contact was made with the guest on 22nd January and the bag reunited with the guest that evening .
We appreciate that this is not the level of service our guests expect from us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the inconvenience caused to this particular guest .
”

"My husband and I are having a slight issue with Aer Lingus at the moment and getting very little satisfaction," begins the mail from a reader called Gwen.
"My husband booked a flight with Aer Lingus costing over €1200 to fly from Dublin to San Diego on December 27th returning to Dublin on January 3rd. Aer Lingus code share with Alaska Airlines and so his flight was Dublin-SFO-San Diego return, with Alaska Airlines operating the SFO-SD leg."
His bag never arrived in San Diego and the couple followed the correct procedure with Alaska Airlines in San Diego by reporting the bag missing and continued to follow up with them every day, while in the US, for 7 days by phone. But bag never arrived in San Diego and when Gwen wrote to us they still did not have it, more than three weeks later and long after they had arrived back in Dublin.
"However, Alaska have since located it and on Saturday it was put on an Aer Lingus flight from Seattle to Dublin (we don't know how it got to Seattle) and the bag arrived in Dublin yesterday."
READ MORE
But here’s the thing.
“Alaska Airlines then told us that we had to collect it from the airport! Now we do only live 15 minutes from Dublin Airport but it’s the principle of the whole thing that is really getting to me so I wrote to Alaska and told them that between them and Aer Lingus they were responsible for delivering the ‘delayed/lost/found’ item to our home as per their baggage policies.”
Alaska told her they would “see what they could do but we haven’t heard from them since so we contacted Aer Lingus again”.
This was their response: “Hi, Gwen. We’re sorry to hear this. As the missing baggage report was filed by Alaskan and they were the final flight which the bag was due to travel on, they manage the tracing of the baggage and liaise with other airlines the baggage travelled on to find a match and return it to guests. We’re unable to access their system to retrieve the baggage information and would suggest you get back onto them.”
‘Appalling’
This in turn was Gwen’s response to Aer Lingus: “Well here is the problem. It is costing us every time we contact you or Alaska. How about Aer Lingus contact Alaska seeing as we booked our flight through you? The level of service has been nothing short of appalling with no one willing to take responsibility or accountability for the missing item. We have an email from Alaska specifically stating that the bag was lost by Aer Lingus and now you are telling me to contact Alaska again but apparently the bag never travelled with them. The bag is in Dublin, we live in Dublin, we booked the flight with Aer Lingus and paid Aer Lingus. What happens to the bag after that is Aer Lingus’s responsibility, whether that involves Alaska is besides the point. It is not for my husband or I to chase the bag. That is for Aer Lingus to do. Contact Alaska and get the bag delivered to us as promised in your baggage policy please. Thank you.”
Aer Lingus then replied: “We understand your frustration with this, and we will work with Alaskan to return your bag to you but as mentioned, the onus falls on the final carrier to return baggage when a report is filed with them.”
To which the reader replied: “And while I understand that, the onus should not be on the customer to liaise with the airline that Aer Lingus code share with to get our bag returned to our home address. The onus should be with Aer Lingus as that is the originating company through which we booked the flight.”
Then there was silence. “I can’t see how we, the customer, should have to ring a baggage desk in San Diego to get our bag in Dublin Airport, which we haven’t seen for over three weeks, delivered to us, when the original flight/service was fully booked with and paid for through Aer Lingus.
“My husband followed the correct procedures in San Diego with Alaska Airlines when the luggage did not arrive. We contacted Alaska Airlines every day while we were in San Diego but they were unable to locate the bag. Alaska Airlines would not take an international contact number to make contact with us if the bag was found so we had to give a contact number belonging to my relative. We were consistently told by Alaska Airlines that their system does not ‘talk’ to the Aer Lingus system and that my husband should’ve collected the bag at SFO and rechecked it for onward travel to San Diego. We knew this was not the case but it did not stop them telling us this on numerous occasions.”
Alaska Airlines also mailed our reader to point out that it was an Aer Lingus delay that caused the bag to be lost in the first instance.
Surely the Irish airline could have done more to help this person out?
We got in touch. Not long after that the bag was delivered to Gwen. Then we got the below statement from the airline.
"Despite an early arrival into San Francisco airport on 27th December, unfortunately the guest's bag did not make its connecting flight on to San Diego," the statement said. "As is standard international airline procedure, it is the final carrier's responsibility to reunite the guest with a delayed bag, which in this instance was Alaskan Airlines who returned the bag to Dublin on 19th January.
“Upon on arrival into Dublin a customs from was required in order to return the bag. Contact was made with the guest on 22nd January and the bag reunited with the guest that evening. We appreciate that this is not the level of service our guests expect from us and our partner airlines and we apologise for the inconvenience caused to this particular guest.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-03--Wifi woes: ‘I’m in a nightmare situation with Sky’

“ I ’ m currently in a nightmare situation with Sky and I ’ m really hoping your expertise can help remedy the situation , ” starts a mail from a reader called Colette .
“ It began mid-December when I called Sky to cancel my boxset package .
The Sky customer service person asked would I be interested in their new high speed fibre broadband service .
She explained that our current speed is 7 MB per second , and that usually speeds increased to 170 [ MB ] but the minimal speed we are guaranteed to receive is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fibre was available in my area.
” Our reader says she was told the cost was approximately €110 , so she bought the service that day .
“ Due to weather conditions the installation was rescheduled three times , I didn ’ t mind this .
Sky phoned on January 14th confirming the installation would take place the following day .
The engineers arrived at 2pm on January 15th .
“ They setup the fibre optic junction box in the garage together with the modem and tested that it worked .
Wifi signal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they left the land line disconnected .
The engineers said that they were contractually not allowed to connect [ a particular cable ] to the house even though they verified that it was there .
They said that Sky would have to have their own engineer come to finish the job .
This was the first time we became aware that Sky had subcontracted the job to a third party.
” Her husband called Sky the next day and was on the phone for over an hour .
“ Sky said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this before and that the subcontractors should have completed the job .
We are now in stuck in a conflict situation between Sky and the third party they subcontracted the job to .
We have completed the relevant forms and are following Sky ’ s complaints process however no one from Sky is contacting us .
Sky have said per their records we have high speed broadband and our land line is working .
We have phoned Sky several times , we have been assured supervisors/engineers will contact us however to date they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speed is now less than 1 MB per second and the modem is in the garage 25ft away and they no longer have a landline .
“ My husband works from home and he uses conference calls etc , so his work is hugely impacted .
.
.
If you can help is any way to resolve this nightmare situation we would be hugely grateful.
” We got in touch with Sky .
To be fair to the company , the case does sound hideously complicated – even more complex than our reader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were all sorts of moving parts involving more than one company as well as other elements .
“ This particular case was a complex one in so far as the connection point the customer wanted to route to was not in their home but was instead in their garage , 25ft away from the premises , ” a Sky spokeswoman said .
“ In this instance , the engineers who attended the site to install the fibre to the home did not follow the correct protocol which resulted in a less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the customer for the poor experience they received and have done everything in our power to rectify the situation .
We are already in the process of taking all necessary steps with our partners to ensure this does not happen again .
”

“I’m currently in a nightmare situation with Sky and I’m really hoping your expertise can help remedy the situation,” starts a mail from a reader called Colette.
“It began mid-December when I called Sky to cancel my boxset package. The Sky customer service person asked would I be interested in their new high speed fibre broadband service. She explained that our current speed is 7 MB per second, and that usually speeds increased to 170 [MB] but the minimal speed we are guaranteed to receive is 100 [MB]. She confirmed fibre was available in my area.”
Our reader says she was told the cost was approximately €110, so she bought the service that day.
“Due to weather conditions the installation was rescheduled three times, I didn’t mind this. Sky phoned on January 14th confirming the installation would take place the following day. The engineers arrived at 2pm on January 15th.
READ MORE
“They setup the fibre optic junction box in the garage together with the modem and tested that it worked. Wifi signal in the house is now one bar and they left the land line disconnected. The engineers said that they were contractually not allowed to connect [a particular cable] to the house even though they verified that it was there. They said that Sky would have to have their own engineer come to finish the job. This was the first time we became aware that Sky had subcontracted the job to a third party.”
Her husband called Sky the next day and was on the phone for over an hour. “Sky said they had never heard of an issue like this before and that the subcontractors should have completed the job. We are now in stuck in a conflict situation between Sky and the third party they subcontracted the job to. We have completed the relevant forms and are following Sky’s complaints process however no one from Sky is contacting us. Sky have said per their records we have high speed broadband and our land line is working. We have phoned Sky several times, we have been assured supervisors/engineers will contact us however to date they have not.”
She says the broadband speed is now less than 1 MB per second and the modem is in the garage 25ft away and they no longer have a landline. “My husband works from home and he uses conference calls etc, so his work is hugely impacted . . . If you can help is any way to resolve this nightmare situation we would be hugely grateful.”
We got in touch with Sky. To be fair to the company, the case does sound hideously complicated – even more complex than our reader’s initial communication may suggest and there were all sorts of moving parts involving more than one company as well as other elements.
“This particular case was a complex one in so far as the connection point the customer wanted to route to was not in their home but was instead in their garage, 25ft away from the premises,” a Sky spokeswoman said. “In this instance, the engineers who attended the site to install the fibre to the home did not follow the correct protocol which resulted in a less than satisfactory customer experience. We have apologised to the customer for the poor experience they received and have done everything in our power to rectify the situation. We are already in the process of taking all necessary steps with our partners to ensure this does not happen again.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Hundreds of schools to close due to strike action over pay

Several hundred schools across the country are to close on Tuesday as part of an ongoing campaign against a two-tier pay system by the Teachers ’ Union of Ireland ( TUI ) .
The one-day stoppage will also affect institutes of technology and centres of further education .
The TUI , which represents roughly 19,000 members , claims that a “ discriminatory ” two-tier pay system is in operation for teachers , resulting in teachers employed after January 2011 earning a starting salary that is 14 per cent lower than that earned by colleagues employed before that date .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some progress in pay equality , teachers employed after January 2011 will still earn some €110,000 less than longer-serving colleagues over the course of a 40-year career .
Latest figures indicate the strike is set to close about 400 of the country ’ s 700-plus secondary schools.The Department of Education said it was likely that virtually all of the 248 Education and Training Board schools and 96 community and comprehensive schools would be closed .
In addition , at least 45 of the country ’ s 380 voluntary secondary schools will also shut @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the campaign will continue until pay equality is restored .
“ We have exhausted every avenue open to us to bring this matter to resolution .
The overwhelming mandate given to us by members to engage in a campaign of industrial action shows that the resolve of teachers and lecturers on this issue has strengthened , ” Mr Lahart said .
“ The clear message from our members is that they have been patient long enough and that our actions must now escalate.
” He added : “ We regret any inconvenience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a continuation of pay discrimination risks inflicting further damage on the education system.
” The National Parents ’ Council Post-Primary ( NPCPP ) said it was “ disappointed ” that the strike action was affecting children ’ s education .
“ Pupils ( our children ) should not suffer because of any HR dispute .
NPCPP emphasise our opposition to any industrial action taking place during classroom hours , lesson time or exams , ” a spokesman said .
Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers , Ireland ( ASTI ) are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will have to register their attendance at schools in order to be paid , regardless of whether the school is open or closed to students .
In official advice , the ASTI has informed its members that they must be “ available for work ” in order to be paid .
The Department of Education said an agreement on new-entrant pay , which would see incremental pay increases , was agreed in 2018 and that the Government remains committed to this .
“ The matter of new-entrant pay is a cross-sectoral issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education sector , ” a spokesman for the department said .
“ The Government supports the gradual , negotiated repeal of the Fempi legislation [ emergency fiscal measures during the downturn ] , having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.
” He added : “ The starting salary for a new-entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702 .
The starting salary of a teacher is now €36,953 .
From October 1st , 2020 onwards , the starting salary of a @ @ @ @ @ @

Several hundred schools across the country are closed on Tuesday as part of an ongoing campaign against a two-tier pay system by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI). Video: Kathleen Harris
Several hundred schools across the country are closed on Tuesday as part of an ongoing campaign against a two-tier pay system by the Teachers' Union of Ireland (TUI).
The one-day stoppage will also affect institutes of technology and centres of further education.
The TUI, which represents roughly 19,000 members, claims that a “discriminatory” two-tier pay system is in operation for teachers, resulting in teachers employed after January 2011 earning a starting salary that is 14 per cent lower than that earned by colleagues employed before that date.
The union stated that while there has been some progress in pay equality, teachers employed after January 2011 will still earn some €110,000 less than longer-serving colleagues over the course of a 40-year career.
READ MORE
Latest figures indicate the strike is set to close about 400 of the country’s 700-plus secondary schools.The Department of Education said it was likely that virtually all of the 248 Education and Training Board schools and 96 community and comprehensive schools would be closed.
In addition, at least 45 of the country’s 380 voluntary secondary schools will also shut.
Seamus Lahart, TUI president, said the campaign will continue until pay equality is restored.
“We have exhausted every avenue open to us to bring this matter to resolution. The overwhelming mandate given to us by members to engage in a campaign of industrial action shows that the resolve of teachers and lecturers on this issue has strengthened,” Mr Lahart said.
“The clear message from our members is that they have been patient long enough and that our actions must now escalate.”
He added: “We regret any inconvenience caused to students and their families but a continuation of pay discrimination risks inflicting further damage on the education system.”
Parents
The National Parents’ Council Post-Primary (NPCPP) said it was “disappointed” that the strike action was affecting children’s education.
“Pupils (our children) should not suffer because of any HR dispute. NPCPP emphasise our opposition to any industrial action taking place during classroom hours, lesson time or exams,” a spokesman said.
Members of the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) are not taking part in the strike action, and will have to register their attendance at schools in order to be paid, regardless of whether the school is open or closed to students.
In official advice, the ASTI has informed its members that they must be “available for work” in order to be paid.
The Department of Education said an agreement on new-entrant pay, which would see incremental pay increases, was agreed in 2018 and that the Government remains committed to this.
“The matter of new-entrant pay is a cross-sectoral issue, not just an issue for the education sector,” a spokesman for the department said. “The Government supports the gradual, negotiated repeal of the Fempi legislation [emergency fiscal measures during the downturn], having due regard to the priority to improve public services and in recognition of the essential role played by public servants.”
He added: “The starting salary for a new-entrant teacher in 2012 was €30,702. The starting salary of a teacher is now €36,953. From October 1st, 2020 onwards, the starting salary of a teacher will be €37,692.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--School buildings: ‘Our children are the future - that’s why it’s a big voting issue here’

Mary Healy , a mother of two , says it was “ one of the happiest days of my life ” when she heard a new primary school would be built close to her home .
That was five years ago , and today there is still no sign of a permanent building for the school .
Pelletstown Educate Together National School operates out of what used to be the “ marketing suite ” for an apartment complex , which has been leased from a property developer .
Parents , pupils and teachers still don ’ t know if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temporary location near Ashtown in Dublin this summer .
“ It ’ s a huge election issue among parents here , ” says Healy , who lives in Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ’ s Dublin West constituency .
“ This area has grown very fast , but the infrastructure for education isn ’ t here .
It ’ s been a case of ‘ build , build , build ’ , but there ’ s a real lack of thought when it comes to schools .
It ’ s an afterthought .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ primary school .
And there ’ s no provision for a secondary school .
.
.
It ’ s a source of huge uncertainty.
” Healy ’ s experience is replicated in many other fast-growing communities around the country .
While housing and health have dominated the election campaign , at a local level , education is emerging as a key political issue , especially in the commuter belt .
Staff , pupils and parents at dozens of schools have been hanging on for years for proper buildings .
In frustration , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the run-up to polling day in an attempt to make an impression on candidates .
The latest figures indicate that more than 300 schools nationally are waiting for new buildings .
Hundreds more require extensions or refurbishment .
All this comes at a time when a demographic bulge is working its way through and heaping pressure on an over-stretched education system .
The Department of Education says record levels of funding have been going towards school buildings , with €620 million allocated for this year .
It estimates that construction on about 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , delivering more than 30,000 places for pupils .
However , Educate Together , the school patron body , says too many new schools are obliged to work in buildings that are unsuitable , in locations that are often outside their catchment areas .
For example , of the 12 schools it opened last year , all were in temporary buildings .
“ Educate Together is calling on all candidates and parties to commit to supporting legislation that all new housing estates must have schools ready for the families who move in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their constituency opens on time and in modern , safe facilities , ” Educate Together said .
In Bray , Co Wicklow , years of delays in securing a permanent home for North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School has become a hotly debated topic .
In 2016 the department announced the school ’ s new home would be on a gleaming new campus co-located with Bray Institute of Further Education .
Four years on , the school is still on a temporary site that has no play area or sports hall – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the curriculum .
Jonathan Browner , the school ’ s principal , says the school is still waiting for a clear sign as to when it will have a permanent home .
The uncertainty is particularly tough on its students with autism spectrum disorder , who thrive on routine .
In the meantime , the school is due to leave its current temporary building this summer and move to yet another non-permanent premises in the town .
Over at Stepaside Secondary School in south Co Dublin , students and staff find themselves in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established four years ago in prefabs located in the local rugby club ’ s car park .
Its current temporary home is in spare classrooms at the local primary school .
It is due to outgrow this shortly and move to another set of prefabs this summer .
School officials are worried that it will have to “ massively ” reduce its planned student numbers if it does not move to a permanent home soon .
During the election , students , teachers , parents and local politicians have been marching to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be to highlight their concerns over the delay .
At Coláiste Chraobh Abhann in Kilcoole , Co Wicklow , parents say long delays in expanding the school mean almost 60 children are without a secondary school place for the coming school year .
While it was built for 580 pupils , it accommodates 800 .
The additional 220 students are educated in single-storey prefabs ; it says double-storey structures are needed urgently to expand the capacity to a 1,000-pupil school .
Parents , pupils , staff and local politicians held a silent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of local children last Saturday .
Back at Pelletstown , staff say the school ’ s temporary setting , cramped conditions and uncertain future pose problems every day .
There is no school assembly , says the principal , Caitríona Ní Cheallaigh , because there is nowhere to fit the pupils .
Some classes for special needs pupils take place in corridors .
There is no gym either , so sport and PE are off the agenda when it rains .
In the meantime , the school has been told to vacate its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We have no clarity on where it will be located , ” says Ní Cheallaigh .
The school is carrying out a “ build-watch ” awareness walk , where staff and pupils walk from the school ’ s current site to the two possible locations where it could be in September .
“ It always seems to be far down the list of priorities – but it shouldn ’ t be , ” says Healy .
“ Our children are the future .
They need to be valued , and need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why it ’ s a big voting issue here .
”

Mary Healy, a mother of two, says it was “one of the happiest days of my life” when she heard a new primary school would be built close to her home.
That was five years ago, and today there is still no sign of a permanent building for the school.
Pelletstown Educate Together National School operates out of what used to be the "marketing suite" for an apartment complex, which has been leased from a property developer.
Parents, pupils and teachers still don't know if the school will have to move to another temporary location near Ashtown in Dublin this summer.
READ MORE
"It's a huge election issue among parents here," says Healy, who lives in Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's Dublin West constituency.
“This area has grown very fast, but the infrastructure for education isn’t here. It’s been a case of ‘build, build, build’, but there’s a real lack of thought when it comes to schools. It’s an afterthought. So, we still don’t have a primary school. And there’s no provision for a secondary school . . . It’s a source of huge uncertainty.”
Healy’s experience is replicated in many other fast-growing communities around the country. While housing and health have dominated the election campaign, at a local level, education is emerging as a key political issue, especially in the commuter belt.
Staff, pupils and parents at dozens of schools have been hanging on for years for proper buildings. In frustration, many are now taking part in protests in the run-up to polling day in an attempt to make an impression on candidates.
The latest figures indicate that more than 300 schools nationally are waiting for new buildings. Hundreds more require extensions or refurbishment.
Demographic bulge
All this comes at a time when a demographic bulge is working its way through and heaping pressure on an over-stretched education system.
The Department of Education says record levels of funding have been going towards school buildings, with €620 million allocated for this year.
It estimates that construction on about 60 large-scale school building projects will begin this year, delivering more than 30,000 places for pupils.
However, Educate Together, the school patron body, says too many new schools are obliged to work in buildings that are unsuitable, in locations that are often outside their catchment areas. For example, of the 12 schools it opened last year, all were in temporary buildings.
The school is on a temporary site that has no play area or sports hall – even though PE is a core part of the curriculum
“Educate Together is calling on all candidates and parties to commit to supporting legislation that all new housing estates must have schools ready for the families who move in and to ensure that any new school in their constituency opens on time and in modern, safe facilities,” Educate Together said.
In Bray, Co Wicklow, years of delays in securing a permanent home for North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School has become a hotly debated topic. In 2016 the department announced the school's new home would be on a gleaming new campus co-located with Bray Institute of Further Education.
Four years on, the school is still on a temporary site that has no play area or sports hall – even though PE is core part of the curriculum.
Jonathan Browner, the school's principal, says the school is still waiting for a clear sign as to when it will have a permanent home. The uncertainty is particularly tough on its students with autism spectrum disorder, who thrive on routine.
In the meantime, the school is due to leave its current temporary building this summer and move to yet another non-permanent premises in the town.
Over at Stepaside Secondary School in south Co Dublin, students and staff find themselves in a similar situation. The school was established four years ago in prefabs located in the local rugby club's car park.
Spare classrooms
Its current temporary home is in spare classrooms at the local primary school. It is due to outgrow this shortly and move to another set of prefabs this summer.
School officials are worried that it will have to “massively” reduce its planned student numbers if it does not move to a permanent home soon. During the election, students, teachers, parents and local politicians have been marching to the site where its permanent home is meant to be to highlight their concerns over the delay.
At Coláiste Chraobh Abhann in Kilcoole, Co Wicklow, parents say long delays in expanding the school mean almost 60 children are without a secondary school place for the coming school year.
Staff say the school's temporary setting, cramped conditions and uncertain future pose problems every day
While it was built for 580 pupils, it accommodates 800. The additional 220 students are educated in single-storey prefabs; it says double-storey structures are needed urgently to expand the capacity to a 1,000-pupil school.
Parents, pupils, staff and local politicians held a silent protest to highlight the “neglect” of local children last Saturday.
Back at Pelletstown, staff say the school’s temporary setting, cramped conditions and uncertain future pose problems every day.
There is no school assembly, says the principal, Caitríona Ní Cheallaigh, because there is nowhere to fit the pupils.
Some classes for special needs pupils take place in corridors . There is no gym either, so sport and PE are off the agenda when it rains.
In the meantime, the school has been told to vacate its current temporary home on June 26th.
“We have no clarity on where it will be located,” says Ní Cheallaigh.
The school is carrying out a “build-watch” awareness walk, where staff and pupils walk from the school’s current site to the two possible locations where it could be in September.
“It always seems to be far down the list of priorities – but it shouldn’t be,” says Healy. “Our children are the future. They need to be valued, and need to feel that way. That’s why it’s a big voting issue here.”


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Balancing the scales: Can the legal profession open itself up to greater diversity?

Since secondary school , Sinéad Nic Ambróis dreamed of becoming a solicitor .
The young Donegal woman studied law at Letterkenny Institute of Technology , where it was all plain-sailing until the end of second year when she found out she was pregnant .
With support from her family and the university , she sat the exams a month after giving birth to baby son Alexander in December 2014 , and graduated with first class honours .
But , she wondered , how on earth would she pass the final hurdle to become a solicitor – the FE1 entrance exam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Law Society of Ireland in Dublin ’ s Blackhall Place ?
“ It could be overwhelming trying to juggle all the commitments , ” says Nic Ambróis , now a 29-year-old single parent .
“ At times I doubted myself and whether I should continue with the FE1 exams , as I did not know practically how I would attend Blackhall with a small child , or how I could afford to live in Dublin while there.
” She was scrolling through Facebook late last year when she saw an ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ hybrid ” professional practice course , starting in January 2020 .
The hybrid course would combine online lectures with face-to-face tuition .
It was created to facilitate those who were blocked from training at Blackhall , due to socio-economic issues such as childcare commitments , or being unable to afford to leave a full-time job , or not having the financial wherewithal to travel from the furthest parts of Ireland to the capital for the time required .
For Nic Ambróis , it was the answer to her prayers .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was starting .
I assumed the course would not be available for years .
“ The hybrid means I can work and qualify as a solicitor without disrupting my son ’ s life by having to move to Dublin .
“ It feels surreal to be at Blackhall .
I will qualify in January 2022 .
There were many moments since I decided to go down this route that I thought I wouldn ’ t get to this point , but I can finally say I am living my dream.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review of solicitors ’ education called the Peart Commission , conducted by recently retired Court of Appeal Justice Michael Peart , with the advice of an expert panel .
It made recommendations for the future of solicitor education and training in Ireland , including increasing access to the profession by allowing for “ blended learning ” .
In general , it means students are on site once a month over a weekend , in addition to online learning .
The Law Society says it shows how the educational landscape has changed from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one where technology has enabled greater flexibility without compromising standards .
The initiative came from Dr Geoffrey Shannon , lecturer and expert in child and family law , and deputy director of education at the Law Society .
Shannon explains that the demographic profile of the hybrid students is noticeably different – it ’ s older , and has a higher percentage of women and regional students .
“ It is unique : it demonstrates the Law Society ’ s commitment to diversity .
The only way we ensure we have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change our structures to make them friendly to those who would not normally have access to it at their disposal .
I believe passionately it is greatly enriched by diversity , ” he says .
“ I know myself as someone who came from outside Dublin [ Galway ] , I found it challenging to come to Dublin and the costs attendant on the course and the cost of living .
This will open up the profession further to applicants of socio-economic disadvantage and to me , that is a key selling point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity to provide those from disadvantaged backgrounds with a second career option .
That ’ s not just good for the Law Society , it ’ s good for society , ” he says .
Shannon says the Law Society is trying to develop a professional legal education that is “ forward-reaching , learning-oriented and quality-assured ” .
This , he says , involves fundamental change and “ completely reconfiguring ” how to become a trainee to accommodate the needs of vulnerable citizens who want to become solicitors , and who will make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all about flexibility.
” Shannon says he was was determined Peart wouldn ’ t be a “ talking shop ” , with the report gathering dust on a shelf .
Regulatory change was required for some of the recommendations in the report – which was one of the biggest challenges .
A new policy in the training contract allows solicitors ’ practices to pool together to take on a trainee , with two or three firms giving them a few days ’ work each week .
This way , apprenticeships could be achieved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were almost always provided by bigger firms in the capital .
On the hybrid course , 55 per cent of traineeships are outside of Dublin , due to the student demographic .
“ That ’ s the part that broke my heart !
We needed regulatory change to achieve that and it was signed off by the Department of Justice .
It had to go to the top , to the Justice Minister .
So it was on the statute books last year , which made it possible to commence the course @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incredibly proud to be part of it , and it ’ s incredibly exciting .
The real beneficiaries are those on the course.
” Director general of the Law Society Ken Murphy believes it is only really now – in 2020 – that the course is possible .
“ It could not have been run in time gone by , before tech became available to deliver courses across time and space .
The Law Society has been a leader in the use of educational technology .
We have an Apple Award which is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovation and global leadership in the use of educational IT.
” He says the hybrid facilitates those who passed the FE1 entrance exam , but found their next step to qualify blocked by social factors .
“ There are those who would have then found it much more difficult to pursue their ambition to become a solicitor or been unable to do so .
But this innovative development removes the barrier .
“ The hybrid course is part of an expression of commitment to open up the profession .
It was a somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-time employment , and that limitation has now been removed .
“ This is without compromising the excellence required of everybody who will attain the status of solicitor.
” How do get selected to take part in new flexible Law Society courses ?
There are 46 students on the first professional practice course/ hybrid , which officially started in January 2020 .
It is a more flexible route into practice that does not include the requirement to be on-site at the Law School for a substantial continuous period .
All applicants must have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exams , the FE1 ( final examination , first part ) , which covers eight modules of law : company , constitutional , contract , criminal , European Union , equity , property and tort . )
“ Blended learning ” is delivered through incremental release of lectures in play on demand mode , in conjunction with on-site face-to-face tuition through weekend sessions and two immersive week-long sessions .
The same two-year in-office training requirement applies , but the trainee may be able to accrue credit for in-office work time completed prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A total of 55 per cent of those on the course is over the age of 30 and two-thirds are female .

Sinéad Nic Ambróis, (29) is a single parent who is training to be a solicitor at William G Henry Solicitors, Emmet Street, Ballymote, Co Sligo. She is taking part in a flexible learning programme which is boosting numbers in law from under-represented backgrounds. Photograph: James Connolly
Since secondary school, Sinéad Nic Ambróis dreamed of becoming a solicitor.
The young Donegal woman studied law at Letterkenny Institute of Technology, where it was all plain-sailing until the end of second year when she found out she was pregnant.
With support from her family and the university, she sat the exams a month after giving birth to baby son Alexander in December 2014, and graduated with first class honours.
But, she wondered, how on earth would she pass the final hurdle to become a solicitor – the FE1 entrance exam – which requires students to train full-time at the Law Society of Ireland in Dublin's Blackhall Place?
READ MORE
“It could be overwhelming trying to juggle all the commitments,” says Nic Ambróis, now a 29-year-old single parent.
“At times I doubted myself and whether I should continue with the FE1 exams, as I did not know practically how I would attend Blackhall with a small child, or how I could afford to live in Dublin while there.”
The hybrid means I can work and qualify as a solicitor without disrupting my son's life by having to move to Dublin
She was scrolling through Facebook late last year when she saw an ad for the Law Society's new "hybrid" professional practice course, starting in January 2020.
The hybrid course would combine online lectures with face-to-face tuition. It was created to facilitate those who were blocked from training at Blackhall, due to socio-economic issues such as childcare commitments, or being unable to afford to leave a full-time job, or not having the financial wherewithal to travel from the furthest parts of Ireland to the capital for the time required.
For Nic Ambróis, it was the answer to her prayers. “I was so deliriously happy when I heard it was starting. I assumed the course would not be available for years.
“The hybrid means I can work and qualify as a solicitor without disrupting my son’s life by having to move to Dublin.
‘Living my dream’
“It feels surreal to be at Blackhall. I will qualify in January 2022. There were many moments since I decided to go down this route that I thought I wouldn’t get to this point, but I can finally say I am living my dream.”
The genesis of the hybrid course was a review of solicitors' education called the Peart Commission, conducted by recently retired Court of Appeal Justice Michael Peart, with the advice of an expert panel.
It made recommendations for the future of solicitor education and training in Ireland, including increasing access to the profession by allowing for “blended learning”. In general, it means students are on site once a month over a weekend, in addition to online learning.
The Law Society says it shows how the educational landscape has changed from a position of “talk and chalk” to one where technology has enabled greater flexibility without compromising standards.
Dr Geoffrey Shannon, Law Society of Ireland’s deputy director of education, at Law Society headquarters, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7, on the first day of lectures for the new course which is specifically aimed at delivering a flexible route to solicitor qualification without the traditional requirement to be onsite at Blackhall Place full-time for a six-month period.
The initiative came from Dr Geoffrey Shannon, lecturer and expert in child and family law, and deputy director of education at the Law Society.
Shannon explains that the demographic profile of the hybrid students is noticeably different – it’s older, and has a higher percentage of women and regional students.
I feel this is an opportunity to provide those from disadvantaged backgrounds with a second career option
“It is unique: it demonstrates the Law Society’s commitment to diversity. The only way we ensure we have a more diverse profession is by ensuring we change our structures to make them friendly to those who would not normally have access to it at their disposal. I believe passionately it is greatly enriched by diversity,” he says.
“I know myself as someone who came from outside Dublin [Galway], I found it challenging to come to Dublin and the costs attendant on the course and the cost of living. This will open up the profession further to applicants of socio-economic disadvantage and to me, that is a key selling point.
“I feel this is an opportunity to provide those from disadvantaged backgrounds with a second career option. That’s not just good for the Law Society, it’s good for society,” he says.
Shannon says the Law Society is trying to develop a professional legal education that is “forward-reaching, learning-oriented and quality-assured”. This, he says, involves fundamental change and “completely reconfiguring” how to become a trainee to accommodate the needs of vulnerable citizens who want to become solicitors, and who will make excellent solicitors. “It’s all about flexibility.”
Shannon says he was was determined Peart wouldn’t be a “talking shop”, with the report gathering dust on a shelf.
Biggest challenges
Regulatory change was required for some of the recommendations in the report – which was one of the biggest challenges. A new policy in the training contract allows solicitors’ practices to pool together to take on a trainee, with two or three firms giving them a few days’ work each week.
This way, apprenticeships could be achieved in the regions; when traditionally, they were almost always provided by bigger firms in the capital. On the hybrid course, 55 per cent of traineeships are outside of Dublin, due to the student demographic.
Trainee solicitors at Law Society headquarters, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7, on the first day of lectures for its new professional practice course, which is specifically aimed at delivering a flexible route to solicitor qualification without the traditional requirement to be onsite at Blackhall Place full-time for a six-month period.
“That’s the part that broke my heart! We needed regulatory change to achieve that and it was signed off by the Department of Justice. It had to go to the top, to the Justice Minister. So it was on the statute books last year, which made it possible to commence the course in 2020.
“I’m incredibly proud to be part of it, and it’s incredibly exciting. The real beneficiaries are those on the course.”
Director general of the Law Society Ken Murphy believes it is only really now – in 2020 – that the course is possible.
“It could not have been run in time gone by, before tech became available to deliver courses across time and space. The Law Society has been a leader in the use of educational technology. We have an Apple Award which is renewed up to 2021 in recognition of innovation and global leadership in the use of educational IT.”
He says the hybrid facilitates those who passed the FE1 entrance exam, but found their next step to qualify blocked by social factors.
“There are those who would have then found it much more difficult to pursue their ambition to become a solicitor or been unable to do so. But this innovative development removes the barrier.
“The hybrid course is part of an expression of commitment to open up the profession. It was a somewhat limiting factor that you had to leave full-time employment, and that limitation has now been removed.
“This is without compromising the excellence required of everybody who will attain the status of solicitor.”
How do get selected to take part in new flexible Law Society courses?
There are 46 students on the first professional practice course/ hybrid, which officially started in January 2020.
It is a more flexible route into practice that does not include the requirement to be on-site at the Law School for a substantial continuous period.
All applicants must have already completed the solicitor's entrance exams, the FE1 (final examination, first part), which covers eight modules of law: company, constitutional, contract, criminal, European Union, equity, property and tort.)
“Blended learning” is delivered through incremental release of lectures in play on demand mode, in conjunction with on-site face-to-face tuition through weekend sessions and two immersive week-long sessions.
The same two-year in-office training requirement applies, but the trainee may be able to accrue credit for in-office work time completed prior to, or during, the hybrid.
A total of 55 per cent of those on the course is over the age of 30 and two-thirds are female.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--My eldest child started secondary recently. Could you explain the Junior Cycle changes?

My eldest child started secondary school last September and I am completely confused over the changes currently under way in the Junior Cycle .
Can you throw some light on this for me ?
Since September 2014 , students taking the Junior Cert in Ireland have been transitioning from the exam structure which you experienced as a child , to the revised structure .
This is built around the acquisition of eight key skills identified as central to preparing your son to live fully in the world .
They are : being literate , being numerate , communicating , managing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , working with others , and managing information and thinking .
Alongside the subjects you experienced as a child , your son will be taking a new subject titled “ wellbeing ” for more than four hours a week , which incorporates what you knew as SPHE , CSPE , and PE , with an added element of career guidance , delivered in modular form over the three years of the programme .
The first traditional subject introduced in this revised structure was English , which was examined under the new specifications in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since .
Some of the latest to join include maths , home economics , history , music and geography .
Final exams for most new subjects will be a written examination which will be set , administered and marked by the State Exams Commission ( SEC ) .
The written examinations will be no longer than two hours ’ duration .
This final written examination in all subjects will be at a common level , apart from English , Irish and maths , where there will be two levels ( higher and ordinary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final exams will incorporate the results of an “ assessment task ” , also assessed by the SEC , or , in the case of the practical subjects , students ’ achievement in the externally assessed practical component ( artefact , practical work , or performance ) .
Achievement will be recorded using a set of grades .
These State-certified grades will first be reported by the SEC in provisional form in September following the end of third year .
This is what you would have known as your Junior Cert result day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : distinction ( 90 to 100 per cent ) , higher merit ( 75 to 89 per cent ) , merit ( 55-74 per cent ) and achieved ( 40-54 per cent ) , partially achieved ( 20-39 per cent ) , not graded ( 0 to 19 per cent ) .
These results will subsequently be included in the Junior Cycle profile of achievement ( JCPA ) , including elements of assessment , known as classroom-based assessments ( CBAs ) , deriving from your son ’ s classroom-based activities , which will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school in the year following the written exam .

New Junior Cycle reforms are aimed at acquiring key skills such as working with others.
My eldest child started secondary school last September and I am completely confused over the changes currently under way in the Junior Cycle. Can you throw some light on this for me?
Since September 2014, students taking the Junior Cert in Ireland have been transitioning from the exam structure which you experienced as a child, to the revised structure.
This is built around the acquisition of eight key skills identified as central to preparing your son to live fully in the world.
They are: being literate, being numerate, communicating, managing myself, staying well, being creative, working with others, and managing information and thinking.
READ MORE
Alongside the subjects you experienced as a child, your son will be taking a new subject titled “wellbeing” for more than four hours a week, which incorporates what you knew as SPHE, CSPE, and PE, with an added element of career guidance, delivered in modular form over the three years of the programme.
The first traditional subject introduced in this revised structure was English, which was examined under the new specifications in 2017.
Many more have been added since. Some of the latest to join include maths, home economics, history, music and geography.
Final exams for most new subjects will be a written examination which will be set, administered and marked by the State Exams Commission (SEC). The written examinations will be no longer than two hours' duration.
This final written examination in all subjects will be at a common level, apart from English, Irish and maths, where there will be two levels (higher and ordinary) available.
Student achievement in the final exams will incorporate the results of an “assessment task”, also assessed by the SEC, or, in the case of the practical subjects, students’ achievement in the externally assessed practical component (artefact, practical work, or performance).
Achievement will be recorded using a set of grades. These State-certified grades will first be reported by the SEC in provisional form in September following the end of third year.
This is what you would have known as your Junior Cert result day. The grades will appear as follows: distinction (90 to 100 per cent), higher merit (75 to 89 per cent), merit (55-74 per cent) and achieved (40-54 per cent), partially achieved (20-39 per cent), not graded (0 to 19 per cent).
These results will subsequently be included in the Junior Cycle profile of achievement (JCPA), including elements of assessment, known as classroom-based assessments (CBAs), deriving from your son’s classroom-based activities, which will issue from your son’s new school in the year following the written exam.


theirishtimes--2020-02-04--Voters face stark choices when it comes to higher education

Earlier this week , Leaving Certificate students met the CAO deadline to submit their course preferences for September .
Later this week , voters will fill in their preferences for who will make up the next government .
The first exercise will largely determine the individual lives of many secondary school leavers while the second exercise will help shape the future of Ireland ’ s economy and society .
The two events are not unrelated .
Higher-education institutions are key to the country ’ s economic and social development .
And the future of the same institutions is partly in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes .
Those politicians will have the power to make critical improvements in higher education and the research ecosystem .
But they can also make mistakes , or ignore growing problems , that will have slow but far-reaching effects on third-level institutions and society as a whole .
Voters face stark choices when it comes to higher education .
Some parties want to abolish fees .
Some want to reduce university autonomy .
Some want more universities or a separate ministry for higher education and research .
Others have committed to increasing investment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In short , the outcome of Saturday ’ s vote could have a significant impact on our third-level institutions .
Over the past few years , I have detected a growing impatience among students , their parents and the general public about the manner in which our educational/research and political systems operate .
People are beginning to realise that students are being short-changed by a system that won ’ t or can ’ t invest in their future .
“ Be radical or redundant ” is an old slogan that applies as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to politicians as they come to terms with a society where change is ricocheting around every aspect of life , work and the environment .
Students naturally want a qualification that prepares them for work but they want much more .
They want higher education and research to address the bigger challenges facing society .
The open revolt by young people against the lethargic response to climate change is forcing a response from the political establishment worldwide .
A few years ago , the idea of a young Swedish activist berating political and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was unthinkable .
But young people rightly want more .
They are also increasingly conscious of the need to deal with issues such as fossil fuels , societal inequalities , climate justice , racism , plastic in the food chain or housing shortages .
Preparing our young people for successful careers and addressing global challenges can not be done on the cheap .
The financial health of universities and other third-level institutions should be a major political priority but it ’ s not .
The system is in crisis The system is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it because there is no equivalent of a daily trolley count or waiting lists to dominate the headlines .
The busy public gets a passing glimpse of the extent of the problem when the latest world rankings shows Irish universities have fallen once again , despite their best efforts to keep up with their better-financed competitors .
The Government responds by saying we are pumping an extra €300 million into the system .
Welcome as that money is , it ’ s earmarked for the acquisition of skills as part of the Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the acronym speaks volumes about the kind of instrumentalist thinking becoming common in higher education these days .
We all agree that universities have to prepare their students for a rapidly changing work environment .
The third-level sector is proud of its role in helping to develop the successful knowledge-based economy that has put Ireland ahead of the curve .
The national plans spearheaded by Trinity for the Grand Canal Innovation District and a multi-university research centre on a new campus are further evidence of our collective commitment to help Ireland stay ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open , global economy and that talent is mobile .
But universities are much more than an aid to industry .
Political parties need a vision that sees all students realising their potential in whatever sphere they choose ; whether it ’ s the humanities , medicine , law , business , the arts , engineering or the sciences .
The universities also want a research system that engages in blue-sky thinking driven by a passion for discovery and not one forced to focus on servicing the needs of industry .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue that is becoming more critical as student numbers continue to rise .
According to the Department of Education ’ s own figures , third-level student numbers increased by a third in the 10 years from 2007 to 183,642 .
On current trends , that total will rise to 222,514 by the end of this decade .
This will mean almost 39,000 more students in the system or a 21 per cent increase over the 2017 full-time numbers .
This is the great elephant in the higher-education room and serious political parties contesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to educate increased numbers in a world-class higher-education system .
Political failure to prepare adequately for this very significant expansion will come at a cost to individual families , to society and ultimately to the economy .
To do this , we need consensus which has been missing in recent years as policies pit students against educators .
There is political talk of a Citizens Assembly for education which would have substantial involvement of young people .
I would welcome it as long as it had a brief to reach conclusions quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an assembly could be a great opportunity to agree a vision for the kind of higher-education system we want .
It could also agree to give our research ecosystem and higher education the greater political and funding priority needed for Ireland ’ s prosperity into the future .
Patrick Prendergast is provost of Trinity College Dublin and current chairperson of the Irish Universities Association

Political failure to prepare adequately for a significant expansion in student numbers at third level will come at a cost to families, society and ultimately to the economy. Photograph: iStock
Earlier this week, Leaving Certificate students met the CAO deadline to submit their course preferences for September. Later this week, voters will fill in their preferences for who will make up the next government.
The first exercise will largely determine the individual lives of many secondary school leavers while the second exercise will help shape the future of Ireland’s economy and society.
The two events are not unrelated. Higher-education institutions are key to the country’s economic and social development. And the future of the same institutions is partly in the hands of politicians now looking for votes. Those politicians will have the power to make critical improvements in higher education and the research ecosystem. But they can also make mistakes, or ignore growing problems, that will have slow but far-reaching effects on third-level institutions and society as a whole.
Voters face stark choices when it comes to higher education. Some parties want to abolish fees. Some want to reduce university autonomy. Some want more universities or a separate ministry for higher education and research. Others have committed to increasing investment in teaching, research and building programmes.
READ MORE
In short, the outcome of Saturday’s vote could have a significant impact on our third-level institutions.
Over the past few years, I have detected a growing impatience among students, their parents and the general public about the manner in which our educational/research and political systems operate. People are beginning to realise that students are being short-changed by a system that won’t or can’t invest in their future.
“Be radical or redundant” is an old slogan that applies as much to higher education and research as to politicians as they come to terms with a society where change is ricocheting around every aspect of life, work and the environment.
Students naturally want a qualification that prepares them for work but they want much more. They want higher education and research to address the bigger challenges facing society. The open revolt by young people against the lethargic response to climate change is forcing a response from the political establishment worldwide.
A few years ago, the idea of a young Swedish activist berating political and business leaders at their annual Davos summit was unthinkable. But young people rightly want more. They are also increasingly conscious of the need to deal with issues such as fossil fuels, societal inequalities, climate justice, racism, plastic in the food chain or housing shortages.
Preparing our young people for successful careers and addressing global challenges cannot be done on the cheap. The financial health of universities and other third-level institutions should be a major political priority but it’s not.
The system is in crisis
The system is in crisis but you wouldn’t know it because there is no equivalent of a daily trolley count or waiting lists to dominate the headlines. The busy public gets a passing glimpse of the extent of the problem when the latest world rankings shows Irish universities have fallen once again, despite their best efforts to keep up with their better-financed competitors.
The Government responds by saying we are pumping an extra €300 million into the system. Welcome as that money is, it’s earmarked for the acquisition of skills as part of the Human Capital Initiative, or HCI. Even the acronym speaks volumes about the kind of instrumentalist thinking becoming common in higher education these days.
We all agree that universities have to prepare their students for a rapidly changing work environment. The third-level sector is proud of its role in helping to develop the successful knowledge-based economy that has put Ireland ahead of the curve.
The national plans spearheaded by Trinity for the Grand Canal Innovation District and a multi-university research centre on a new campus are further evidence of our collective commitment to help Ireland stay ahead. We recognise we are a small open, global economy and that talent is mobile.
But universities are much more than an aid to industry. Political parties need a vision that sees all students realising their potential in whatever sphere they choose; whether it’s the humanities, medicine, law, business, the arts, engineering or the sciences. The universities also want a research system that engages in blue-sky thinking driven by a passion for discovery and not one forced to focus on servicing the needs of industry.
Unresolved funding issue
However, this is impossible with an unresolved funding issue that is becoming more critical as student numbers continue to rise. According to the Department of Education’s own figures, third-level student numbers increased by a third in the 10 years from 2007 to 183,642.
On current trends, that total will rise to 222,514 by the end of this decade. This will mean almost 39,000 more students in the system or a 21 per cent increase over the 2017 full-time numbers. This is the great elephant in the higher-education room and serious political parties contesting this election must address this issue of how to educate increased numbers in a world-class higher-education system. Political failure to prepare adequately for this very significant expansion will come at a cost to individual families, to society and ultimately to the economy.
To do this, we need consensus which has been missing in recent years as policies pit students against educators. There is political talk of a Citizens Assembly for education which would have substantial involvement of young people. I would welcome it as long as it had a brief to reach conclusions quickly.
As well as discussing other issues, an assembly could be a great opportunity to agree a vision for the kind of higher-education system we want. It could also agree to give our research ecosystem and higher education the greater political and funding priority needed for Ireland’s prosperity into the future.
Patrick Prendergast is provost of Trinity College Dublin and current chairperson of the Irish Universities Association