theirishtimes--2020-05-26--Son of Irish soldier killed by IRA seeks statement from McDonald

The son of the only Irish soldier killed by the IRA during the Troubles has welcomed the acknowledgment by Mary Lou McDonald that his death was “ wrong ” .
However , David Kelly insisted the Sinn Féin leader must accept publicly that his father Patrick had been murdered .
“ It ’ s murder , it ’ s as simple as that , and that needs to be explicitly stated because otherwise it ’ s trying to legitimise the campaign by the Provisional IRA , ” Mr Kelly said .
He said he saw “ no distinction ” between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of anyone else killed by the IRA .
Ms McDonald , he said , should acknowledge “ these were all murders.
” He also called on the Sinn Féin leader to ensure that anyone within her party with knowledge about the death of his father whould bring that information forward .
Private Patrick Kelly was part of a joint Garda-Army operation attempting to rescue supermarket boss Don Tidey , who was kidnapped by the IRA in 1983 and held in a forest hideout near Ballinamore , Co Leitrim .
Pte Kelly - a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Westmeath - and trainee garda Gary Sheehan were killed when the gang opened fire without warning .
Nobody has ever been convicted of either killing .
Maze prison escapee Brendan “ Bik ” McFarlane was acquitted in the Special Criminal Court in 2008 of falsely imprisoning Mr Tidey .
In an interview with the Sunday Independent last weekend , Ms McDonald said the IRA ’ s campaign was “ justified ” and , had she been older , there was “ every chance ” she would have joined .
Mr Kelly said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a potential future taoiseach “ would have felt the urge to join the illegal organisation that murdered my father.
” He “ totally ” rejected Ms McDonald ’ s “ analysis that this was a legitimate war .
“ My father wasn ’ t in a war , he was doing his duty , and the man who killed my father has never been held accountable for that.
” Sinn Féin has not responded to requests for comment from The Irish Times .
However in an interview with LMFM , Ms McDonald said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member of the Defence Forces , of Óglaigh na hÉireann , the loss of his father was wrong , absolutely wrong , should not have happened in any set of circumstances , and equally loss of members of An Garda Síochána .
“ I ’ m not equivocating , I ’ m not ambivalent , ” she added .
She also said that every life lost was a “ tragedy for the family , for the friends of that person , all across the conflict , and I include everybody in that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regard.
” Ms McDonald ’ s comments have been condemned by unionist politicians in Northern Ireland .
The Traditional Unionist Voice ( TUV ) leader , Jim Allister , said in the North ’ s Assembly on Tuesday that Ms McDonald had “ told the innocent victims of the IRA the actions of the organisation that made them victims were justified.
” DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the IRA ’ s campaign “ was wrong , it was unjustified , can ’ t be defended and was totally and utterly wrong .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] need to say and have always failed to say.
” The Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP ) leader , Steve Aiken , said Ms McDonald ’ s comments were “ an insult to all the many innocent victims of terrorism on all sides of the conflict ” .
The DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said that for Ms McDonald to “ differentiate between one IRA murder and another is quite incredible and requires immediate clarification from the Sinn Féin leader .
“ As far as we are concerned , every single Provisional IRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ Whether it was a soldier , police officer , man , woman or child , if Mary Lou is going to justify one and not another then she needs to speak further as there are families all across the British Isles who were bereaved by the PIRA .
“ A belated acceptance by the Sinn Féin leader that the murder was wrong and unjust would at least be a step forward .
”

Private Patrick Kelly, who was killed by the IRA as he searched for the kidnapped businessman Don Tidey in Co Leitrim in 1983. Image courtesy Kelly family.
The son of the only Irish soldier killed by the IRA during the Troubles has welcomed the acknowledgment by Mary Lou McDonald that his death was “wrong”.
However, David Kelly insisted the Sinn Féin leader must accept publicly that his father Patrick had been murdered.
“It’s murder, it’s as simple as that, and that needs to be explicitly stated because otherwise it’s trying to legitimise the campaign by the Provisional IRA,” Mr Kelly said.
The bodies of Private Patrick Kelly and Garda Peter Garry Sheehan are removed from Derrada Wood in Co Leitrim after they were shot dead by the IRA. Photograph: Pat Langan
He said he saw “no distinction” between the death of his father and that of anyone else killed by the IRA. Ms McDonald, he said, should acknowledge “these were all murders.”
READ MORE
He also called on the Sinn Féin leader to ensure that anyone within her party with knowledge about the death of his father whould bring that information forward.
Private Patrick Kelly was part of a joint Garda-Army operation attempting to rescue supermarket boss Don Tidey, who was kidnapped by the IRA in 1983 and held in a forest hideout near Ballinamore, Co Leitrim.
The bodies of Private Patrick Kelly and Garda Peter Garry Sheehan are removed from Derrada Wood in Co Leitrim after they were shot dead by the IRA. Photograph: Pat Langan
Pte Kelly - a 36-year-old father-of-four living in Moate, Co Westmeath - and trainee garda Gary Sheehan were killed when the gang opened fire without warning.
Nobody has ever been convicted of either killing.
Maze prison escapee Brendan “Bik” McFarlane was acquitted in the Special Criminal Court in 2008 of falsely imprisoning Mr Tidey.
In an interview with the Sunday Independent last weekend, Ms McDonald said the IRA’s campaign was “justified” and, had she been older, there was “every chance” she would have joined.
Mr Kelly said it was “retraumatising” to read that a potential future taoiseach “would have felt the urge to join the illegal organisation that murdered my father.”
He “totally” rejected Ms McDonald’s “analysis that this was a legitimate war. “My father wasn’t in a war, he was doing his duty, and the man who killed my father has never been held accountable for that.”
Sinn Féin has not responded to requests for comment from The Irish Times.
However in an interview with LMFM, Ms McDonald said that "the loss of a serving member of the Defence Forces, of Óglaigh na hÉireann, the loss of his father was wrong, absolutely wrong, should not have happened in any set of circumstances, and equally loss of members of An Garda Síochána.
“I’m not equivocating, I’m not ambivalent,” she added.
She also said that every life lost was a “tragedy for the family, for the friends of that person, all across the conflict, and I include everybody in that, I’m not selective in that regard.”
Ms McDonald's comments have been condemned by unionist politicians in Northern Ireland.
The Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) leader, Jim Allister, said in the North's Assembly on Tuesday that Ms McDonald had "told the innocent victims of the IRA the actions of the organisation that made them victims were justified."
DUP MP Gregory Campbell said the IRA's campaign "was wrong, it was unjustified, can't be defended and was totally and utterly wrong. That's what they [SINN FÉIN]need to say and have always failed to say."
The Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) leader, Steve Aiken, said Ms McDonald's comments were "an insult to all the many innocent victims of terrorism on all sides of the conflict".
The DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson said that for Ms McDonald to “differentiate between one IRA murder and another is quite incredible and requires immediate clarification from the Sinn Féin leader.
“As far as we are concerned, every single Provisional IRA murder was wrong and is unjustifiable,” he said.
“Whether it was a soldier, police officer, man, woman or child, if Mary Lou is going to justify one and not another then she needs to speak further as there are families all across the British Isles who were bereaved by the PIRA.
“A belated acceptance by the Sinn Féin leader that the murder was wrong and unjust would at least be a step forward.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Need to move away from the ‘language of blame’ - Holohan says

The Chief Medical Officer has said Ireland needs to move away from the “ language of blame ” around Covid-19 deaths and that ongoing lessons are being learned in how to respond to the pandemic .
Dr Tony Holohan was speaking in the context of nursing homes and rising public discourse around the disproportionate number of deaths in the sector .
On Tuesday , the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) reported a further nine deaths of patients with Covid-19 , one day after authorities reported no new deaths for the first time since mid-March .
There have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related deaths in the State .
Despite a return to mortality reports , Tuesday delivered the lowest number of new confirmed cases since March 13th , at 37 , bringing the total to 24,735 .
Of those , 13 per cent have been hospitalised .
Dr Holohan is due to brief Ministers on Wednesday on the current public health advice on two metre social-distancing rules , which some Cabinet Ministers last week suggested should be reduced to one metre .
The NPHET briefing came after an Oireachtas committee examining the State ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around high levels of infection and death in nursing homes .
There have now been 884 deaths in the facilities , some 54.7 per cent of the total .
Asked to respond to the ongoing fallout , Dr Holohan appealed for society to avoid the attribution of blame .
Although he was working and did not hear the Oireachtas proceedings in detail , he said “ I think it ’ s important ... that we move away from that language of blame and finger pointing .
“ Protecting individuals isn ’ t a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of who is responsible .
And I think that language ... is unhelpful.
” He said the response must be about “ how we pull together as a country ” , solidarity and support .
“ There are lots of organisations involved in this response .
Every organisation has things to learn.
” Asked about the State ’ s response to the nursing home sector and whether it was left “ isolated ” as had been claimed by Nursing Homes Ireland , Dr Holohan said that in general there was very early and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries .
“ A public health-led response which in the first instance had to focus on dealing with community transmission of this virus .
There was simply no way of protecting nursing homes or any other institutional setting if we don ’ t control the spread of this infection in the community.
” He said a number of measures in respect of nursing homes were implemented at an earlier point in the outbreak than other countries , including a blanket ban on visitors two weeks after the first case was identified in Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no doubt learnings can be made here and internationally .
“ We are not going to say in any way that we got everything absolutely right .
We are all learning , ” he said .
Dr Holohan also pointed out on several occasions that nursing homes would have undergone pandemic preparedness before the arrival of Covid-19 with measures including infection control .
HSE ’ chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said a recent blanket testing exercise carried out in nursing homes discovered the disease was not as prevalent as initially feared .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ diverted to the sector and that private nursing homes alone had received over €27 million worth of personal protective equipment .
The team was also asked about the prospect of allowing outside visits in nursing homes for the benefit of residents who faced the prospect of “ dying of loneliness ” .
Dr Holohan said they were particularly sensitive to that issue and , with ongoing monitoring , he hoped some relaxation of rules might be possible in phase three of the lifting of restrictions toward the end of June .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if I go back to the beginning , we were reluctant to see a blanket restriction on visiting into facilities , ” he said .
Meanwhile , a further 103 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in meat processing plants over the past week , bringing the total in the troubled sector up to 925 .
The team was unable to immediately clarify how many plants had been inspected and did not indicate how many were associated with the cases identified to date .

Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan says that NPHET is looking into the possibility of easing restrictions around visits to nursing home residents and older people cocooning in their own homes. Video: RTÉ
The State’s Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is to brief the Cabinet on Wednesday on the current public health advice on two metre social-distancing rules, which some Ministers last week suggested should be reduced to one metre.
At a lengthy meeting of the Cabinet last Friday, several Ministers advocated for social distancing rules to be reduced.
Minister for State with responsibility for disability issues Finian McGrath was one of those to raise the issue, and a minority of Ministers were then supportive of the move, political sources said.
Many businesses have said that they will be unable to reopen unless the social distancing guide of two metres is reduced to one metre.
READ MORE
In the last press briefing on Tuesday evening, Dr Holohan said Ireland needed to move away from the “language of blame” around Covid-19 deaths and that ongoing lessons are being learned in how to respond to the pandemic.
He was speaking in the context of nursing homes and rising public discourse around the disproportionate number of deaths in the sector.
On Tuesday, the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) reported a further nine deaths of patients with Covid-19 in the State, one day after authorities reported no new deaths for the first time since mid-March. There have now been a total of 1,615 Covid-19 related deaths in the State.
Despite a return to mortality reports, Tuesday delivered the lowest number of new confirmed cases since March 13th, at 37, bringing the total to 24,735. Of those, 13 per cent have been hospitalised.
The NPHET briefing came after an Oireachtas committee examining the State’s response to the crisis heard heated exchanges around high levels of infection and death in nursing homes.
There have now been 884 deaths in the facilities, some 54.7 per cent of the total.
Asked to respond to the ongoing fallout, Dr Holohan appealed for society to avoid the attribution of blame. Although he was working and did not hear the Oireachtas proceedings in detail, he said “I think it’s important...that we move away from that language of blame and finger pointing.
“Protecting individuals isn’t a question of blame or identifying the source of who is responsible. And I think that language...is unhelpful.”
He said the response must be about “how we pull together as a country”, solidarity and support. “There are lots of organisations involved in this response. Every organisation has things to learn.”
Asked about the State’s response to the nursing home sector and whether it was left “isolated” as had been claimed by Nursing Homes Ireland, Dr Holohan said that in general there was very early and significant action taken in comparison to other countries.
“A public health-led response which in the first instance had to focus on dealing with community transmission of this virus. There was simply no way of protecting nursing homes or any other institutional setting if we don’t control the spread of this infection in the community.”
He said a number of measures in respect of nursing homes were implemented at an earlier point in the outbreak than other countries, including a blanket ban on visitors two weeks after the first case was identified in Ireland.
However, he said there was no doubt learnings can be made here and internationally. “We are not going to say in any way that we got everything absolutely right. We are all learning,” he said.
Dr Holohan also pointed out on several occasions that nursing homes would have undergone pandemic preparedness before the arrival of Covid-19 with measures including infection control.
HSE’ chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said significant resources had been diverted to the sector and that private nursing homes alone had received over €27 million worth of personal protective equipment.
Meanwhile, a further 103 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in meat processing plants in the last week, bringing the total in the sector up to 925.


theirishtimes--2020-05-26--Six women and five men to face one trial over alleged abuse and neglect of children

Lawyers for the DPP have told a High Court that the State intends to run as one trial the cases of six women and five men accused of multiple offences relating to the alleged abuse and neglect of children .
The 11 defendants , who can not be named for legal reasons , face over 200 charges .
The charges include sexual assault , sexual exploitation and child cruelty and neglect under Section 246 of the Children Act 2001 .
The alleged victims are all juveniles and the offences are alleged to have happened on dates between 2014 and 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last year .
Books of evidence were served on them at a district court sitting last November .
The case was listed for mention in the Central Criminal Court on Monday when Mr Justice Paul McDermott heard applications dealing with disclosure of material by the prosecution to the defence teams .
Mr Justice McDermott also set a date for arraignment on July 13th next and ordered that the defendants , who are on bail , appear before the court on that date .
Bernard Condon SC , for the Director of Public Prosecutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the intention of the DPP to try all 11 accused on all counts .
He said there is no practical difficulty around running a trial of this size that could not be overcome and he cited an ongoing murder trial which is using two courtrooms to facilitate current Covid-19 restrictions .
The defendants are on continuing bail subject to compliance with strict conditions including that they sign on at their local Garda station and have no contact with the alleged injured parties .

Lawyers for the DPP have told a High Court that the State intends to run as one trial the cases of six women and five men accused of multiple offences relating to the alleged abuse and neglect of children.
The 11 defendants, who cannot be named for legal reasons, face over 200 charges.
The charges include sexual assault, sexual exploitation and child cruelty and neglect under Section 246 of the Children Act 2001.
The alleged victims are all juveniles and the offences are alleged to have happened on dates between 2014 and 2016.
READ MORE
The defendants were arrested and charged last year. Books of evidence were served on them at a district court sitting last November.
The case was listed for mention in the Central Criminal Court on Monday when Mr Justice Paul McDermott heard applications dealing with disclosure of material by the prosecution to the defence teams.
Mr Justice McDermott also set a date for arraignment on July 13th next and ordered that the defendants, who are on bail, appear before the court on that date.
Bernard Condon SC, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, told the court that it is the intention of the DPP to try all 11 accused on all counts.
He said there is no practical difficulty around running a trial of this size that could not be overcome and he cited an ongoing murder trial which is using two courtrooms to facilitate current Covid-19 restrictions.
The defendants are on continuing bail subject to compliance with strict conditions including that they sign on at their local Garda station and have no contact with the alleged injured parties.


theirishtimes--2020-05-26--Explainer: Did the Taoiseach ignore public health rules by going on a picnic?

What happened at the weekend with the Taoiseach and his socialising in the Phoenix Park ?
A video of the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was posted by a member of the public on social media socialising with his partner Matthew Barrett and two friends in the Phoenix Park in Dublin .
The group of four were enjoying the warm weather and a picnic .
Was the Taoiseach disobeying the public health guidance on social distance ?
His spokesman said Varadkar was fully complying with the guidelines on coronavirus .
What is the guidance ?
Since the first wave of restrictions were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four people not living in the same household can meet outdoors so long as they remain within 5km of where they are living and obey social distancing rules of keeping 2m apart .
Was the Taoiseach following this ?
Varadkar is currently living in the Steward ’ s Lodge on the State-owned Farmleigh Estate with his partner so the location of where he was picnicking in Phoenix Park , next to the Wellington Monument , was within this 5km limit .
The video showed the Taoiseach appearing to keep some distance from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his household .
What is the guidance on picnics ?
Last week the Taoiseach ’ s department urged people not to have picnics in parks or at beaches that were being reopened in the first wave of relaxations .
Liz Canavan , assistant secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach , said : “ If you are visiting a public amenity , try not to stay too long at the site or have picnics .
Please do your exercise and then go home.
” Asked this week whether it was okay for people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government was “ not madly encouraging people ” to take up “ a lot of space and time in amenities where they are cramped ” .
She said that the advice was guidance .
“ We ’ re asking people to use their head , ” she said .
Have public health experts offered a view on whether Mr Varadkar violated guidance ?
Asked about this on Monday , the State ’ s chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan referred to the restrictions lifted last week that allows up to four persons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoors while observing strict social distancing .
“ I didn ’ t see any pictures that are in violation of that involving the Taoiseach , ” he said .
Infectious diseases expert Dr Sam McConkey said that the Taoiseach did not breach any coronavirus guidelines : “ As long as it ’ s within 5km of where you live , then you ’ re still within the rules so sitting on the grass outside in the sun is fine .
”

A still from a video uploaded to social media at the weekend of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and his partner Matt Barrett meeting two friends in the Phoenix Park in Dublin
What happened at the weekend with the Taoiseach and his socialising in the Phoenix Park?
A video of the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was posted by a member of the public on social media socialising with his partner Matthew Barrett and two friends in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. The group of four were enjoying the warm weather and a picnic.
Was the Taoiseach disobeying the public health guidance on social distance?
His spokesman said Varadkar was fully complying with the guidelines on coronavirus.
What is the guidance?
Since the first wave of restrictions were lifted on May 18th, up to four people not living in the same household can meet outdoors so long as they remain within 5km of where they are living and obey social distancing rules of keeping 2m apart.
Was the Taoiseach following this?
Varadkar is currently living in the Steward's Lodge on the State-owned Farmleigh Estate with his partner so the location of where he was picnicking in Phoenix Park, next to the Wellington Monument, was within this 5km limit. The video showed the Taoiseach appearing to keep some distance from his two friends who are not living in his household.
READ MORE
What is the guidance on picnics?
Last week the Taoiseach's department urged people not to have picnics in parks or at beaches that were being reopened in the first wave of relaxations. Liz Canavan, assistant secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach, said: "If you are visiting a public amenity, try not to stay too long at the site or have picnics. Please do your exercise and then go home." Asked this week whether it was okay for people to have picnics, Canavan said that the Government was "not madly encouraging people" to take up "a lot of space and time in amenities where they are cramped". She said that the advice was guidance. "We're asking people to use their head," she said.
Have public health experts offered a view on whether Mr Varadkar violated guidance?
Asked about this on Monday, the State's chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan referred to the restrictions lifted last week that allows up to four persons not from the same household to meet outdoors while observing strict social distancing. "I didn't see any pictures that are in violation of that involving the Taoiseach," he said. Infectious diseases expert Dr Sam McConkey said that the Taoiseach did not breach any coronavirus guidelines: "As long as it's within 5km of where you live, then you're still within the rules so sitting on the grass outside in the sun is fine."


theirishtimes--2020-05-26--Man in his 40s dies in Co Limerick crash

A man in his early 40s has died after his car collided with a truck in Co Limerick on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ place on the N20 , the main Cork-Limerick road , near Lackanagrour at about 12.30pm @ @ @ @ @ car was pronounced dead at the scene .
The truck driver was taken to University @ @ @ @ @ .
The N20 is closed near O ’ Rourke ’ s Cross and diversions are @ @ @ @ @ will examine the scene of the crash .
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to @ @ @ @ @ anyone with information to contact Bruff Garda station on 061 382 940 , the Garda @ @ @ @ @ 111 or any Garda station .

The crash occurred on the N20 near Lackanagrour at about 12.30pm. File photograph: Alan Betson
A man in his early 40s has died after his car collided with a truck in Co Limerick on Tuesday.
The fatal crash took place on the N20, the main Cork-Limerick road, near Lackanagrour at about 12.30pm.
The driver of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. The truck driver was taken to University Hospital Limerick as a precaution.
The N20 is closed near O’Rourke’s Cross and diversions are in place. Forensic investigators will examine the scene of the crash.
READ MORE
Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and have asked anyone with information to contact Bruff Garda station on 061 382 940, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-05-26--Coronavirus: Nursing homes used ‘painters’ overalls’ as PPE due to shortages

Nursing homes were forced to use painters ’ overalls and supplies of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) from local schools and vets , and faced weeks of delays to get coronavirus tests for residents and staff , newly-released papers show .
Hundreds of pages of exchanges between the Department of Health and nursing homes ’ organisations highlight repeated attempts by the latter to get clarity on testing , hospital discharges and PPE from the start of the pandemic .
In late March , 88 per cent of nursing homes polled for a survey given to the Minister for Health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own PPE , or had been forced to use home-made versions .
One nursing home had spent €12,000 on “ painters ’ overalls , painters ’ goggles , surgical masks that cost €1.50 each ” and bought overalls from local vets , and face masks purchased from a local dressmaker .
So far , 878 nursing home residents have died of , or with Covid-19 , out of a total of 1,606 people ( 54.5 per cent ) in the State .
Repeatedly during February , March and April , the chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Daly , told the HSE , Department of Health and Mr Harris that the situation could get “ out of control ” .
Nursing Homes Ireland first flagged the need for “ urgent ” dedicated guidance for nursing homes as early as February 28th , the correspondence released ahead of a meeting of the Dáil ’ s Covid-19 committee shows .
Noting the statements then being made by the HSE that there was an adequate stock of PPE , Mr Daly said : “ This is not the case for our member homes.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ constant queries ” during March and in a letter sent to health officials on March 13th , Mr Daly said there were “ no assurances ” coming from health services .
Concerns about staff shortages were repeatedly raised .
In early March , Mr Daly warned that homes were not getting adequate guidance on how to stop the spread of transmission , or deal with patients showing symptoms .
In an effort to highlight grievances , Nursing Homes Ireland conducted a survey of its members in April , the findings of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a meeting in March .
Some 44 per cent of homes who replied said they had waited more than 10 days for testing .
One said they were “ still waiting 20 days later ” , while a resident in one home died while waiting for test results .
In some places , staff angry about “ empty promises ” about protective gear threatened to quit .
Some were leaving to qualify for the Government ’ s Covid-19 weekly pandemic payment .
Some 12 per cent of nursing homes said they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One reported a month-long delay .
Another said they were told that they would not get PPE until they had a confirmed case .
The release of the correspondence by the department just 90 minutes prior to Mr Daly ’ s appearance before the Oireachtas Special Covid-19 Committee on Tuesday was sharply criticised by members of the committee .
Throughout March , Nursing Homes Ireland began to warn of “ cataclysmic consequences ” and said it was “ frankly appalled ” to be excluded from a working group .
The nursing homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Treatment Purchase Fund , which was administering financial supports , of “ prevarication ” and “ foot-dragging ” which was “ breathtaking in the extreme ” .
Tensions between the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) and the Nursing Homes Ireland grew after an Irish Times article earlier this month , where a Hiqa deputy chief inspector raised the possibility of the installation of Perspex glass and “ prison-type visiting scenarios ” in future .
In a letter to Hiqa , Nursing Homes Ireland said that the comments were “ deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Nursing homes were forced to use painters’ overalls and supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) from local schools and vets, and faced weeks of delays to get coronavirus tests for residents and staff, newly-released papers show.
Hundreds of pages of exchanges between the Department of Health and nursing homes’ organisations highlight repeated attempts by the latter to get clarity on testing, hospital discharges and PPE from the start of the pandemic.
In late March, 88 per cent of nursing homes polled for a survey given to the Minister for Health Simon Harris said that they had bought their own PPE, or had been forced to use home-made versions.
One nursing home had spent €12,000 on “painters’ overalls, painters’ goggles, surgical masks that cost €1.50 each” and bought overalls from local vets, and face masks purchased from a local dressmaker.
READ MORE
So far, 878 nursing home residents have died of, or with Covid-19, out of a total of 1,606 people (54.5 per cent) in the State.
‘Urgent’ guidance
Repeatedly during February, March and April, the chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, Tadhg Daly, told the HSE, Department of Health and Mr Harris that the situation could get “out of control”.
Nursing Homes Ireland first flagged the need for “urgent” dedicated guidance for nursing homes as early as February 28th, the correspondence released ahead of a meeting of the Dáil’s Covid-19 committee shows.
Noting the statements then being made by the HSE that there was an adequate stock of PPE, Mr Daly said: “This is not the case for our member homes.”
The group said it was receiving “constant queries” during March and in a letter sent to health officials on March 13th, Mr Daly said there were “no assurances” coming from health services.
Concerns about staff shortages were repeatedly raised. In early March, Mr Daly warned that homes were not getting adequate guidance on how to stop the spread of transmission, or deal with patients showing symptoms.
In an effort to highlight grievances, Nursing Homes Ireland conducted a survey of its members in April, the findings of which were forwarded to Mr Harris, ahead of a meeting in March.
Some 44 per cent of homes who replied said they had waited more than 10 days for testing. One said they were “still waiting 20 days later”, while a resident in one home died while waiting for test results.
Empty promises
In some places, staff angry about “empty promises” about protective gear threatened to quit. Some were leaving to qualify for the Government’s Covid-19 weekly pandemic payment.
Some 12 per cent of nursing homes said they were “waiting indefinitely” for PPE supplies. One reported a month-long delay. Another said they were told that they would not get PPE until they had a confirmed case.
The release of the correspondence by the department just 90 minutes prior to Mr Daly’s appearance before the Oireachtas Special Covid-19 Committee on Tuesday was sharply criticised by members of the committee.
Throughout March, Nursing Homes Ireland began to warn of “cataclysmic consequences” and said it was “frankly appalled” to be excluded from a working group.
The nursing homes’ representative group also accused the National Treatment Purchase Fund, which was administering financial supports, of “prevarication” and “foot-dragging” which was “breathtaking in the extreme”.
Tensions between the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) and the Nursing Homes Ireland grew after an Irish Times article earlier this month, where a Hiqa deputy chief inspector raised the possibility of the installation of Perspex glass and “prison-type visiting scenarios” in future.
In a letter to Hiqa, Nursing Homes Ireland said that the comments were “deeply offensive, upsetting and irresponsible”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-26--Judge refuses to halt trial of man (19) on Luas robbery charge

A High Court judge has ruled there was prosecutorial delay in the case of a 19-year-old man who was a minor aged 16 when he was arrested for a suspected robbery offence but was only charged last year .
However , Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled the balance of justice required that the prosecution of the man on two charges relating to an alleged robbery on a Luas tram and platform in 2017 should proceed .
The applicant had brought judicial review proceedings aimed at restraining , on grounds of prosecutorial delay , his further prosecution on the charges against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred when he was 16 years old .
It weas argued , had the Garda investigation been conducted expeditiously , he would have been entitled to have the charges determined in accordance with the Children Act 2001 .
Mr Justice Simons said the delay of 22 months between the date of the alleged offences in June 2017 and the subsequent charging of the young man last year was inordinate and excessive .
At almost every stage of the process , there was culpable delay on the part of the prosecuting authorities and what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigation took “ far too long ” .
The fact the investigation file seems to have gone missing within the Garda for a significant period of time was “ especially concerning ” , he said .
However , he held the balance of justice lay in favour of allowing the prosecution of the alleged offences , which he said were were serious , should proceed .
The applicant had been convicted of a number of separate offences and is currently in prison , he noted .

The man was accused of robbery on a Luas tram and platform in 2017. File Photograph: David Sleator
A High Court judge has ruled there was prosecutorial delay in the case of a 19-year-old man who was a minor aged 16 when he was arrested for a suspected robbery offence but was only charged last year.
However, Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled the balance of justice required that the prosecution of the man on two charges relating to an alleged robbery on a Luas tram and platform in 2017 should proceed.
The applicant had brought judicial review proceedings aimed at restraining, on grounds of prosecutorial delay, his further prosecution on the charges against him.
He claimed the alleged offences occurred when he was 16 years old. It was argued, had the Garda investigation been conducted expeditiously, he would have been entitled to have the charges determined in accordance with the Children Act 2001.
READ MORE
Mr Justice Simons said the delay of 22 months between the date of the alleged offences in June 2017 and the subsequent charging of the young man last year was inordinate and excessive.
At almost every stage of the process, there was culpable delay on the part of the prosecuting authorities and what should have been a “straightforward” investigation took “far too long”.
The fact the investigation file seems to have gone missing within the Garda for a significant period of time was “especially concerning”, he said. However, he held the balance of justice lay in favour of allowing the prosecution of the alleged offences, which he said were were serious, should proceed. The applicant had been convicted of a number of separate offences and is currently in prison, he noted.


theirishtimes--2020-05-27--Sil Fox tells of ‘months of hell’ as he is cleared of sex assault on woman in bar

Veteran comedian Sil Fox has walked free from court after he was cleared of sexually assaulting a woman in a bar in Dublin .
Sylvester “ Sil ” Fox ( 87 ) , pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault on December 17th , 2018 after he agreed to have a selfie photo taken with the woman .
The charge was dismissed on Wednesday by Judge Paula Murphy because of inconsistencies between the complainant ’ s evidence and CCTV footage shown during the non-jury trial at Dublin District Court .
After the decision was delivered , Mr Fox , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cyril , told reporters he has been through “ months of hell ” .
“ My health , physically and mentally , has deteriorated and I have endured countless nights with little or no sleep , ” he said .
All his shows were cancelled because of the case but he is now looking forward to getting back to work , the entertainer said .
The veteran comedian , who grew up in the Liberties but has an address at Wellington Lawn , Templeogue , Dublin 6 , gave a statement to reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling was given .
“ I am delighted that I have been completely exonerated of all charges by the court today .
This case should never have been taken .
Nothing untoward or inappropriate ever happened .
As the CCTV footage make crystal clear I was asked to participate in the selfie photo , which I did , and I walked away five seconds later .
And I strongly believe the DPP has some serious questions to answer as to why they took this case.
” The State had concluded calling prosecution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also delayed as a result of the Covid-19 crisis .
The defence did not call any witnesses .
Counsel Emer Ní Chuagain , for Mr Fox , lodged a written preliminary application for a dismissal to be considered .
Ms Ní Chuagain argued there was no case to answer , citing legal principles in relation to tests which apply when there are inconsistencies in evidence .
Judge Paula Murphy had re-watched the CCTV evidence before delivering her ruling on Wednesday .
She said the court was impressed with the complainant .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having given careful consideration her evidence and the objective CCTV evidence , and the law , a jury properly directed could not convict on the evidence before the court .
She said it was common case that they were in the bar .
Patrons were enjoying themselves and Mr Fox was beckoned over to the woman ’ s table by her .
He participated in taking a selfie photo at her request .
A conflict of evidence in the evidence of the complainant and the CCTV shown to the court was a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman made a specific allegations that Mr Fox had put his left hand on her groin and tickled her vagina for 30 seconds as the photo was taken .
In court she had denied telling the investigating garda that it took a second or split seconds which was noted in her statement of complaint .
She smiled in the photo , the judge noted .
The CCTV evidence was shown to her and she still maintained he had sexually assaulted her .
She had accepted the footage showed his hand on the table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ photo to be taken .
The only time his hand was not visible was for three seconds after the photo was taken , not 30 seconds .
The complainant was unable to explain this inconsistency and redacted her evidence that his cuff may have been on the edge of the table .
Judge Murphy said the court has had a benefit of reasonably good quality CCTV footage .
It also showed Mr Fox leaving at a leisurely place , not skulking away , as the complainant had described .
In the footage , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there was no indication the complainant was upset or distressed .
It showed her touching him in a good natured , pleasant gesture and he moved away , the judge said .
The woman showed no emotion as the case was dismissed .

Veteran comedian Sil Fox has walked free from court after he was cleared of sexually assaulting a woman in a bar in Dublin.
Sylvester “Sil” Fox (87), pleaded not guilty to the sexual assault on December 17th, 2018 after he agreed to have a selfie photo taken with the woman.
The charge was dismissed on Wednesday by Judge Paula Murphy because of inconsistencies between the complainant’s evidence and CCTV footage shown during the non-jury trial at Dublin District Court.
After the decision was delivered, Mr Fox, who was brought to court by his son Cyril, told reporters he has been through “months of hell”.
READ MORE
“My health, physically and mentally, has deteriorated and I have endured countless nights with little or no sleep,” he said.
All his shows were cancelled because of the case but he is now looking forward to getting back to work, the entertainer said.
The veteran comedian, who grew up in the Liberties but has an address at Wellington Lawn, Templeogue, Dublin 6, gave a statement to reporters on the steps of the court after the ruling was given.
“I am delighted that I have been completely exonerated of all charges by the court today. This case should never have been taken. Nothing untoward or inappropriate ever happened. As the CCTV footage make crystal clear I was asked to participate in the selfie photo, which I did, and I walked away five seconds later. And I strongly believe the DPP has some serious questions to answer as to why they took this case.”
The State had concluded calling prosecution evidence in February. The case was also delayed as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
The defence did not call any witnesses.
Counsel Emer Ní Chuagain, for Mr Fox, lodged a written preliminary application for a dismissal to be considered.
Ms Ní Chuagain argued there was no case to answer, citing legal principles in relation to tests which apply when there are inconsistencies in evidence.
Judge Paula Murphy had re-watched the CCTV evidence before delivering her ruling on Wednesday.
She said the court was impressed with the complainant.
However, dismissing the case, Judge Murphy said having given careful consideration her evidence and the objective CCTV evidence, and the law, a jury properly directed could not convict on the evidence before the court.
She said it was common case that they were in the bar. Patrons were enjoying themselves and Mr Fox was beckoned over to the woman’s table by her.
He participated in taking a selfie photo at her request.
A conflict of evidence in the evidence of the complainant and the CCTV shown to the court was a significant issue, Judge Murphy held.
The woman made a specific allegations that Mr Fox had put his left hand on her groin and tickled her vagina for 30 seconds as the photo was taken.
In court she had denied telling the investigating garda that it took a second or split seconds which was noted in her statement of complaint.
She smiled in the photo, the judge noted.
The CCTV evidence was shown to her and she still maintained he had sexually assaulted her. She had accepted the footage showed his hand on the table the entire time it took for the photo to be taken.
The only time his hand was not visible was for three seconds after the photo was taken, not 30 seconds.
The complainant was unable to explain this inconsistency and redacted her evidence that his cuff may have been on the edge of the table.
Judge Murphy said the court has had a benefit of reasonably good quality CCTV footage. It also showed Mr Fox leaving at a leisurely place, not skulking away, as the complainant had described.
In the footage, there was no indication something untoward occurred and there was no indication the complainant was upset or distressed. It showed her touching him in a good natured, pleasant gesture and he moved away, the judge said.
The woman showed no emotion as the case was dismissed.
After the case, Sil Fox told RTÉ’s Liveline programme, “It’s like the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders.
“I just cannot believe it, of course I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. That’s what kept me going all the time.”
He said that he had not worked a day since last July, “the charity shows, the fund raisers, all the things we used to do, I missed them.
“Sometimes I used to cry when I’d realise that nobody wanted to know anything about me. They all believed I was guilty. But a lot of people believed in me.”
Mr Fox said he suffered sleepless nights. “I found out that I wasn’t not as talkative as I would be, when I’d see people out I always thought that they didn’t want to talk to me although most of them did, but I always got the feeling that I was a criminal which I wasn’t. I felt very sad over the whole thing.


theirishtimes--2020-05-27--Veteran drug trafficker linked to €700,000 cash seized by gardaí

Gardaí believe a consignment of €700,000 in cash seized in a major gangland operation on Tuesday is owned by a veteran Irish drugs trafficker currently based overseas .
On Tuesday at about 6pm , officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau ( GNDOCB ) intercepted a vehicle on Collins Avenue , Dublin 9 , and seized about €400,000 in cash .
Two suspects , aged 53 and 29 years , were arrested and take for questioning to Raheny and Clontarf Garda stations .
One of the men , a north Dublin resident , is very close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspected as working as his bagman in Ireland by handling the money generated through drug deals in the Republic .
Follow-up searches were carried out at several premises in Dublin and Meath where a further consignment of cash , of €300,000 , was made , bringing to €700,000 the total amount of cash seized .
A quantity of drugs including cocaine and MDMA , valued at about €30,000 , was also seized .
A 22-year-old man was arrested in relation to the drugs seizure and taken to Ballymun Garda station , north Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O Driscoll said the operation was an example of the policing that was continuing to disrupt drugs gangs despite the policing operation underway to enforcement Covid-19 measures .
“ An Garda Síochána ’ s activities undertaken through Special Crime Operations ( SCO ) with an aim of dismantling particular organised crime organisations continues , ” he said .
“ The seizure yesterday by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau of cash , believed to be associated with organised crime , to an estimated value of €700,000 , bringing to over €2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GNDOCB so far this year , is an important achievement designed to impact significantly on particular organised crime groups .
”

Gardaí believe a consignment of €700,000 in cash seized in a major gangland operation on Tuesday is owned by the veteran Irish drugs trafficker George Mitchell, also known as “The Penguin”.
Mitchell’s drug-dealing and robbery had helped him amass a considerable fortune by 1996 when he chose to exile himself from Ireland after the John Gilligan drugs gang murdered the journalist Veronica Guerin.
He was based for many years in Amsterdam, from where he continued to supply drugs into the Irish market and other countries, and where his son-in-law Derek Dunne was murdered in 2000.
On Tuesday at about 6pm, officers from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) intercepted a vehicle on Collins Avenue, Dublin 9, and seized about €400,000 in cash.
READ MORE
Two suspects, aged 53 and 29 years, were arrested and take for questioning to Raheny and Clontarf Garda stations. One of the men, a north Dublin resident, is very close to Mitchell, and is suspected as working as Mitchell’s bagman in Ireland by handling the money generated through drug sales in the Republic.
Follow-up searches were carried out at several premises in Dublin and Meath where a further consignment of cash, of €300,000, was made, bringing to €700,000 the total amount of cash seized.
Consignments of cash totalling €700,000 were seized by gardaí. Photograph: Garda Press Office
A quantity of drugs including cocaine and MDMA, valued at about €30,000, was also seized. A 22-year-old man was arrested in relation to the drugs seizure and taken to Ballymun Garda station, north Dublin, for questioning.
Assistant Commissioner John O Driscoll said the operation was an example of the policing that was continuing to disrupt drugs gangs despite the policing operation underway to enforcement Covid-19 measures.
“An Garda Síochána’s activities undertaken through Special Crime Operations (SCO) with an aim of dismantling particular organised crime organisations continues,” he said.
“The seizure yesterday by the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau of cash, believed to be associated with organised crime, to an estimated value of €700,000, bringing to over €2 million the amount of cash seized by GNDOCB so far this year, is an important achievement designed to impact significantly on particular organised crime groups.”
Fled Ireland
Dubliner Mitchell fled Ireland in 1996 to escape the Garda crackdown on organised crime gangs in the aftermath of the Ms Guerin’s murder and also to ensure his wealth could not be confiscated by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab), which was established in the wake of the crime journalist’s gun killing.
Around the same time he left the Republic his name appeared on a purported IRA death list, which is said to have influenced his decision to leave. He initially moved between Amsterdam and The Hague and presented himself as a businessman.
Gardaí believe that by the time he relocated to Holland Mitchell had amassed a fortune through armed robbery and drug dealing.
He had previously been close to both the Kinahan and Hutch gangs but has avoided becoming involved in any gang feuds and from Continental Europe, mainly Amsterdam, he has continued to run a drugs business while mostly avoiding the gun feuds that have characterised Irish gangland crime over the past 20 years.
Within two years of fleeing Ireland he was charged with a major robbery in the Netherlands in March 1998, when £5 million computer supplies were stolen from an Irish truck there.
In July, 2000, while Mitchell was awaiting trial in the Netherlands, Cab secured a High Court judgment for more than £100,000 for VAT and interest against him.
Mitchell who was aged 47 years at the time and had an address at Woodfarm Acres, Palmerstown, Co Dublin, was described during his trial in Holland as the criminal mastermind behind a plot to steal the £5 million consignment from a lorry en route from the Co Kildare plant of Hewlett Packard to a Dutch customer.
At his trial, Mitchell described himself as a respectable director of an import-export business based in the Netherlands. He also claimed he had been set up by the Garda.
However, judges ruled that the Irish operation leading to his arrest, and that of the lorry driver, was legal. They ruled that Mitchell was the ringleader in the plan and he was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
He has spent the last two decades since his term of imprisonment in Continental Europe, travelling and living between Switzerland, the Netherlands, Spain and other countries.


theirishtimes--2020-05-27--Got a moment? Help research into life under Covid-19 restrictions

How are you doing during the Covid-19 restrictions ?
No , really , how are you feeling about it ?
Have your eating patterns changed ?
If you have a baby or toddler , have their eating patterns changed too ?
These are some of the questions that researchers in Ireland are trying to answer through online surveys .
Coping and behaviour change in a time of Covid “ It ’ s probably an ideal time for people to take surveys , people are at home more and are maybe spending more time online anyway .
Also , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do something to help others at this time , ” says health psychologist Prof Molly Byrne , who directs the Health Behaviour Change Research Group at NUI Galway .
She is involved in iCARE , an international survey of people ’ s attitudes , experience and behaviours during Covid-19 “ lockdown ” .
Led by researchers in Montreal and gathering data from more than 140 countries around the world , Byrne is helping to promote the survey in Ireland and analyse responses from people living here .
“ It means we will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded to the crisis and see how that links to behavioural responses and psychological wellbeing , ” she says .
“ Findings will be used by the Behaviour Change Subgroup who advise NPHET to inform public health advice in Ireland as we continue to lift restrictions.
” The iCARE survey is being carried out in four waves , and the researchers are keen to get as many people as possible to respond to each wave .
The survey is available at https : //mbmc-cmcm.ca/covid19 If you go by the pictures on social media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , then food has become a touchstone for many people during the pandemic .
Researchers at University College Dublin Institute of Food and Health are taking a more scientific approach to assessing our eating habits in lockdown , by asking people over the age of 18 to fill out the National Covid-19 Food Survey at www.covidfood.ie For Dr Liz O ’ Sullivan and Dr Aileen Kennedy , both dietitians and lecturers from TU Dublin , the focus is on whether and how Covid-19 restrictions are affecting the nutrition of the youngest people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during lockdown of families struggling to get breastfeeding support or not being able to access their preferred formula in shops , so they set up up a survey for any primary caregiver in Ireland of a child under the age of two , in order to get a better picture of what is going on .
“ There are some background questions to begin with , some questions about how their child is currently fed , and about their experience of feeding their child during the coronavirus crisis , ” explains O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once-off survey and so far the average amount of time to complete is 10 minutes .
[ From the survey ] we hope to understand the challenges families have faced , but also things that they feel would have made feeding their young children easier during this type of emergency .
We think that Ireland should have an Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Plan , as recommended by the WHO , but we don ’ t .
The data we collect will help us understand what could go into such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situations.
” If you are getting out for exercise within your five-kilometre zone , you may also be able to help other scientists who are tracking wildlife and changes to the environment .
Elaine O ’ Riordan at NUI Galway is studying the habitats and habits of hedgehogs in Ireland .
She works on The Irish Hedgehog Survey , a collaboration between NUI Galway and the National Biodiversity Data Centre .
“ Part of my PhD is to work with citizen scientists , who can alert me if they spot a hedgehog when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they see one in the garden , ” says O ’ Riordan .
“ Hedgehogs are quite shy though , so there is also an option to make a footprint tunnel for your garden or another local green space .
The tunnel captures the hedgehog ’ s tracks if one visits it overnight , and you can send me the data about whether you found evidence of hedgehogs or not.
” Find out more about hedgehog sleuthing here .
If your outings take you to waterways , researchers at Dublin City University want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and send them a photo with the location of the rubbish and complete a short questionnaire .
DCU Water Institute hopes the survey will help to identify litter hotspots and what type of litter is in our ponds , streams , lakes and rivers , so that clean-up efforts can be focused and effective .
The 5KLitterSnap survey is open until May 29th , see : https : //dcuwater.ie/5klittersnap/

How are you doing during the Covid-19 restrictions? No, really, how are you feeling about it? Have your eating patterns changed? If you have a baby or toddler, have their eating patterns changed too? These are some of the questions that researchers in Ireland are trying to answer through online surveys.
Coping and behaviour change in a time of Covid
"It's probably an ideal time for people to take surveys, people are at home more and are maybe spending more time online anyway. Also, I think people really want to be able to do something to help others at this time," says health psychologist Prof Molly Byrne, who directs the Health Behaviour Change Research Group at NUI Galway.
DCU researchers want to track litter near Ireland’s waterways. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill.
She is involved in iCARE, an international survey of people’s attitudes, experience and behaviours during Covid-19 “lockdown”. Led by researchers in Montreal and gathering data from more than 140 countries around the world, Byrne is helping to promote the survey in Ireland and analyse responses from people living here.
READ MORE
“It means we will be able to look at how different countries responded to the crisis and see how that links to behavioural responses and psychological wellbeing,” she says. “Findings will be used by the Behaviour Change Subgroup who advise NPHET to inform public health advice in Ireland as we continue to lift restrictions.”
The iCARE survey is being carried out in four waves, and the researchers are keen to get as many people as possible to respond to each wave. The survey is available at https://mbmc-cmcm.ca/covid19
Pandemic food for thought
If you go by the pictures on social media of home-made bread and other culinary creations, then food has become a touchstone for many people during the pandemic. Researchers at University College Dublin Institute of Food and Health are taking a more scientific approach to assessing our eating habits in lockdown, by asking people over the age of 18 to fill out the National Covid-19 Food Survey at www.covidfood.ie
For Dr Liz O’Sullivan and Dr Aileen Kennedy, both dietitians and lecturers from TU Dublin, the focus is on whether and how Covid-19 restrictions are affecting the nutrition of the youngest people in Ireland. They had seen anecdotal reports during lockdown of families struggling to get breastfeeding support or not being able to access their preferred formula in shops, so they set up up a survey for any primary caregiver in Ireland of a child under the age of two, in order to get a better picture of what is going on.
“There are some background questions to begin with, some questions about how their child is currently fed, and about their experience of feeding their child during the coronavirus crisis,” explains O’Sullivan.
“It’s a once-off survey and so far the average amount of time to complete is 10 minutes. [From the survey] we hope to understand the challenges families have faced, but also things that they feel would have made feeding their young children easier during this type of emergency. We think that Ireland should have an Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies Plan, as recommended by the WHO, but we don’t. The data we collect will help us understand what could go into such a plan to help families in future emergency situations.”
See https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/infant-child-feeding-Ireland
Keep your eyes peeled
If you are getting out for exercise within your five-kilometre zone, you may also be able to help other scientists who are tracking wildlife and changes to the environment.
Elaine O’Riordan at NUI Galway is studying the habitats and habits of hedgehogs in Ireland. She works on The Irish Hedgehog Survey, a collaboration between NUI Galway and the National Biodiversity Data Centre.
“Part of my PhD is to work with citizen scientists, who can alert me if they spot a hedgehog when they are out walking, or if they see one in the garden,” says O’Riordan. “Hedgehogs are quite shy though, so there is also an option to make a footprint tunnel for your garden or another local green space. The tunnel captures the hedgehog’s tracks if one visits it overnight, and you can send me the data about whether you found evidence of hedgehogs or not.”
Find out more about hedgehog sleuthing here.
If your outings take you to waterways, researchers at Dublin City University want you to track any litter you see and send them a photo with the location of the rubbish and complete a short questionnaire.
DCU Water Institute hopes the survey will help to identify litter hotspots and what type of litter is in our ponds, streams, lakes and rivers, so that clean-up efforts can be focused and effective. The 5KLitterSnap survey is open until May 29th, see: https://dcuwater.ie/5klittersnap/


theirishtimes--2020-05-27--More than 1,500 scientists issue funding warning and call for department for higher education and re

More than 1,500 scientists issue funding warning and call for department for higher education and research

If Ireland ’ s higher education and research sector is left to face its current financial challenge on its own , “ with the State ignoring it the way it has over the last decade , then it will buckle ” – more than 1,500 leading Irish scientists have predicted .
In an open letter to TDs , the scientists , including many leading the fight against coronavirus , call for “ a Cabinet-level department for higher education and research ” .
The high-profile role scientists have played in the Covid-19 emergency has brought the nation ’ s higher education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public attention , they say , but the on-going funding crisis will undermine their ability to respond in future .
They urge political parties to make the establishment of the new department a priority in the government formation talks .
The signatories “ fear the country will pay the price in future crises and miss opportunities for innovation if government doesn ’ t recommit to proper investment and attention for higher education and research urgently ” .
“ Ireland needs a dedicated government department , with a full Cabinet minister , mandated to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to champion the sector ” , they add .
“ This change of focus would enhance Ireland ’ s recovery prospects and its ability to develop a green and sustainable economy.
” Lead signatory Prof Luke O ’ Neill of Trinity College Dublin said : “ Now more than ever and into the future we need outstanding researchers .
Without them , Ireland will become a backwater when it comes to science and discovery , to the detriment of our reputation internationally , including with multinationals.
” Stressing their desire to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out and underpin the best ways forward for Ireland , Prof Noel Lowndes of NUI Galway said “ prioritising funding of higher education and research is crucial to building national recovery and ensuring future prosperity and preparedness ” , as “ in an evidence-based world our drive for a knowledge economy depends on it.
” – investment in research is “ well below the EU average ” ; – growing demand to increase student numbers ( a further 35,000 expected over the next decade ) ; – core public funding per third level @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of what it was a decade ago ” ; – additional investment this year is €151 million short in real terms of Cassells report target ; – the Government target of 2.5 per cent gross national product for national research and development investment “ badly missed ” .
A Higher Education Authority ( HEA ) report this month highlighted the “ immense ” financial consequences facing the sector , estimated to be at least a €500 million shortfall in total this year and next .
A leaked Department of Education discussion document , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bailout package .
This document said the HEA report on financial challenges facing the sector “ does not provide the level of granularity required ” to make an informed and evidenced-based funding and budgetary decisions .
“ Additionally , this runs the risk of not concentrating Government ’ s fiscal firepower where it can be most effective in pre-empting failures and maintaining employment levels , ” it said .
This was “ clearly stated ” in discussions ; that there is “ no commitment or expectation of additional funding for the education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Kevin Byrne of University College Dublin said huge support for the letter , with well over a thousand scientists signing in under 24 hours , “ reflects the demand for improved governance of our sector and the widespread concern at the future of higher education and research in Ireland ” .
“ As practicing scientists we know how much the crisis in Irish research has deepened in the last five years .
There is a reluctance to talk down our sector , which still contains world-class scientists and institutions , however we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have on our ability to educate , retain and recruit the best , and on the nation ’ s ability to respond to challenges like Covid-19.
” Five years ago 1,000 scientists wrote to the Government urging a rebalancing of funding toward basic research .
“ Basic discovery research is exactly the type that produces the scientists , skills and serendipitous solutions we need when faced with an unexpected challenge like Covid-19 , ” the latest letter notes .
“ Half a decade on from that letter little has changed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has deepened and risks becoming fatal if not addressed.
” The letter with signatories is available at IrishScientists.org

Prof Luke O’Neill is among the signatories of the letter urging political parties to make the establishment of the new department a priority in the government formation talks. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
If Ireland’s higher education and research sector is left to face its current financial challenge on its own, “with the State ignoring it the way it has over the last decade, then it will buckle” – more than 1,500 leading Irish scientists have predicted.
In an open letter to TDs, the scientists, including many leading the fight against coronavirus, call for “a Cabinet-level department for higher education and research”.
The high-profile role scientists have played in the Covid-19 emergency has brought the nation’s higher education and research sector to the forefront of public attention, they say, but the on-going funding crisis will undermine their ability to respond in future.
They urge political parties to make the establishment of the new department a priority in the government formation talks. The signatories “fear the country will pay the price in future crises and miss opportunities for innovation if government doesn’t recommit to proper investment and attention for higher education and research urgently”.
READ MORE
"Ireland needs a dedicated government department, with a full Cabinet minister, mandated to support science, research and higher education and to champion the sector", they add. "This change of focus would enhance Ireland's recovery prospects and its ability to develop a green and sustainable economy."
Lead signatory Prof Luke O'Neill of Trinity College Dublin said: "Now more than ever and into the future we need outstanding researchers. Without them, Ireland will become a backwater when it comes to science and discovery, to the detriment of our reputation internationally, including with multinationals."
Stressing their desire to be a partner to government in helping map out and underpin the best ways forward for Ireland, Prof Noel Lowndes of NUI Galway said "prioritising funding of higher education and research is crucial to building national recovery and ensuring future prosperity and preparedness", as "in an evidence-based world our drive for a knowledge economy depends on it."
The letter highlights:
– investment in research is “well below the EU average”;
– decreased core grants to universities;
– growing demand to increase student numbers (a further 35,000 expected over the next decade);
– core public funding per third level student “now only 40 per cent of what it was a decade ago”;
– additional investment this year is €151 million short in real terms of Cassells report target;
– the Government target of 2.5 per cent gross national product for national research and development investment “badly missed”.
A Higher Education Authority (HEA) report this month highlighted the "immense" financial consequences facing the sector, estimated to be at least a €500 million shortfall in total this year and next. A leaked Department of Education discussion document, however, indicated resistance within Government to a bailout package.
This document said the HEA report on financial challenges facing the sector “does not provide the level of granularity required” to make an informed and evidenced-based funding and budgetary decisions.
“Additionally, this runs the risk of not concentrating Government’s fiscal firepower where it can be most effective in pre-empting failures and maintaining employment levels,” it said. This was “clearly stated” in discussions; that there is “no commitment or expectation of additional funding for the education sector at the present time”.
Dr Kevin Byrne of University College Dublin said huge support for the letter, with well over a thousand scientists signing in under 24 hours, "reflects the demand for improved governance of our sector and the widespread concern at the future of higher education and research in Ireland".
“As practicing scientists we know how much the crisis in Irish research has deepened in the last five years. There is a reluctance to talk down our sector, which still contains world-class scientists and institutions, however we know the impact further years of drift will have on our ability to educate, retain and recruit the best, and on the nation’s ability to respond to challenges like Covid-19.”
Five years ago 1,000 scientists wrote to the Government urging a rebalancing of funding toward basic research. “Basic discovery research is exactly the type that produces the scientists, skills and serendipitous solutions we need when faced with an unexpected challenge like Covid-19,” the latest letter notes.
“Half a decade on from that letter little has changed for the better. The crisis in Irish research has deepened and risks becoming fatal if not addressed.”
The letter with signatories is available at IrishScientists.org


theirishtimes--2020-05-27--O’Doherty and Waters to appeal court’s dismissal of legal action

John Waters and Gemma O ’ Doherty are to appeal the High Court ’ s refusal to grant them permission to challenge laws introduced by the State due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
The High Court heard of their intention to appeal Mr Justice Charles Meenan decision on Wednesday when hearing arguments as to who should pay the legals costs of their action against the State and the Minister for Health , and where the Dáil , the Seanad and the Ceann Comhairle were notice parties .
When making submissions to the court on the issues of costs both Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they would be appealing the courts refusal to grant them leave to the Court of Appeal .
They argued that the court should not order them to pay the State ’ s or or the notice parties ’ legal costs on grounds including that their action was brought in the public interest .
Patrick McCann SC , appearing with Gerard Meehan Bl , for the State said the applicants should pay their legal costs , and rejected the argument that the proceedings were brought in the public interest .
Counsel added that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ protect life and to protect public health .
The object of the action was contrary to that ” .
There were no exceptional circumstances raised by the applicants that would allow the court deviate from the normal rule that the losing party should pay the costs of the proceedings .
Francis Kieran Bl for the notice parties argued that his clients were also entitled to have their legal costs paid for by the applicants .
Counsel added that the applicants had “ fallen at the first hurdle and would not have won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sides involvement was necessary given the nature of the proceedings .
Mr Waters , urging the court not to make a costs orders against him or Ms Doherty , said the case had not been taken over what he said was “ a personal grievance ” .
The action had been taken in the public interest given the draconian , unconstitutional and unprecedented nature of the laws challenged .
He also told the court that the consequences of the lockdown , which he said would be seen in the coming weeks and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destruction of our society ” .
Ms Doherty in her submissions said that she had been vindicated in many of the arguments she had made to the court about the laws challenged , and said that the Garda had recently stated that some of the lockdown laws were unenforceable .
She herself had been detained by gardaí when travelling to court , and added that the lockdown had resulted in the closure of 85 per cent of Irish businesses and a huge increase in the number of people unemployed .
During the hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s contention that some of her submissions were speeches and “ utterly pointless ” in relation to the issues of costs .
She told the court that “ the courts belongs as much to me as they do to you ” .
After hearing submissions from the parties the judge said he would issue a written ruling on the issue of costs in the coming days .
In his judgment earlier this month dismissing their application , the judge said they had not provided the court with any expert evidence or facts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenged by the applicants were disproportionate or unconstitutional .
The laws brought in by the State to help deal with the pandemic , he said in his judgment , were “ constitutionally permissible.
” He also found the case was unstateable .
The applicants , he said , who had “ no medical of scientific qualifications or expertise relied on their own unsubstantiated views , gave speeches , engaged in empty rhetoric and sought to draw parallel to Nazi Germany which is both absurd and offensive ” .
“ Unsubstantiated opinions , speeches @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parallel are not a substitute for facts , ” he added .
In judicial review proceedings against the State and the Minister for Health , the applicants sought to have various pieces of recently enacted legislation , which they say are unconstitutional and flawed , quashed by a judge of the High Court .
They also wanted the court to make a declaration that the legislation challenged was unconstitutional .
Both the State respondents and the notice parties opposed the application for leave .
Refusing too allow the case go to a full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applicant ’ s claims were not arguable and the court could not grant them permission to have their challenge determined at a full hearing of the High Court .
The judge said that while the laws have interfered with everyone ’ s lives he did not accept the applicant ’ s claim that the legislation breached various articles of the Constitution concerning the family and social policy rights and the right to freedom of movement .
Mr Justice Meenan also dismissed the applicant ’ s claims against the manner in which the laws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ houses of the Oireachtas .
How the houses dealt with the laws , the judge said , was not something a court could interfere with .
To do so would amount to a clear breach of the separation of powers , he added .
Ms O ’ Doherty and Mr Waters , who represented themselves , challenged legislation including the 2020 Health Preservation and Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act , the 2020 Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act Covid-19 Act , The 1947 Health Act ( Affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also aimed at striking down temporary restriction regulations brought due to Covid-19 under the 1947 Health Act .
They claimed the laws , and the manner in which they were enacted , are repugnant to several articles of the constitution including rights to travel , bodily integrity and the family .
The laws , they further argued , amount to “ an unprecedented ” suspension of constitutional rights .

John Waters and Gemma O'Doherty are to appeal the High Court's refusal to grant them permission to challenge laws introduced by the State due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The High Court heard of their intention to appeal Mr Justice Charles Meenan decision on Wednesday when hearing arguments as to who should pay the legals costs of their action against the State and the Minister for Health, and where the Dáil, the Seanad and the Ceann Comhairle were notice parties.
When making submissions to the court on the issues of costs both Ms O’Doherty and Mr Waters said they would be appealing the courts refusal to grant them leave to the Court of Appeal.
They argued that the court should not order them to pay the State’s or or the notice parties’ legal costs on grounds including that their action was brought in the public interest.
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Patrick McCann SC, appearing with Gerard Meehan Bl, for the State said the applicants should pay their legal costs, and rejected the argument that the proceedings were brought in the public interest.
Counsel added that the regulations challenged had been brought in to “protect life and to protect public health. The object of the action was contrary to that”.
There were no exceptional circumstances raised by the applicants that would allow the court deviate from the normal rule that the losing party should pay the costs of the proceedings.
Francis Kieran Bl for the notice parties argued that his clients were also entitled to have their legal costs paid for by the applicants. Counsel added that the applicants had “fallen at the first hurdle and would not have won the race”.
Counsel said that his sides involvement was necessary given the nature of the proceedings.
Mr Waters, urging the court not to make a costs orders against him or Ms Doherty, said the case had not been taken over what he said was “a personal grievance”.
The action had been taken in the public interest given the draconian, unconstitutional and unprecedented nature of the laws challenged.
He also told the court that the consequences of the lockdown, which he said would be seen in the coming weeks and months, would result in the “destruction of our society”.
Ms Doherty in her submissions said that she had been vindicated in many of the arguments she had made to the court about the laws challenged, and said that the Garda had recently stated that some of the lockdown laws were unenforceable.
She herself had been detained by gardaí when travelling to court, and added that the lockdown had resulted in the closure of 85 per cent of Irish businesses and a huge increase in the number of people unemployed.
During the hearing, Ms Doherty rejected Mr Justice Meenan’s contention that some of her submissions were speeches and “utterly pointless” in relation to the issues of costs.
She told the court that “the courts belongs as much to me as they do to you”.
After hearing submissions from the parties the judge said he would issue a written ruling on the issue of costs in the coming days.
High Court judgement
In his judgment earlier this month dismissing their application, the judge said they had not provided the court with any expert evidence or facts to support their view that the laws challenged by the applicants were disproportionate or unconstitutional.
The laws brought in by the State to help deal with the pandemic, he said in his judgment, were “constitutionally permissible.” He also found the case was unstateable.
The applicants, he said, who had “no medical of scientific qualifications or expertise relied on their own unsubstantiated views, gave speeches, engaged in empty rhetoric and sought to draw parallel to Nazi Germany which is both absurd and offensive”.
“Unsubstantiated opinions, speeches, empty rhetoric and a bogus historical parallel are not a substitute for facts,” he added.
In judicial review proceedings against the State and the Minister for Health, the applicants sought to have various pieces of recently enacted legislation, which they say are unconstitutional and flawed, quashed by a judge of the High Court.
They also wanted the court to make a declaration that the legislation challenged was unconstitutional.
Both the State respondents and the notice parties opposed the application for leave.
Refusing too allow the case go to a full hearing Mr Justice Meenan ruled that the applicant’s claims were not arguable and the court could not grant them permission to have their challenge determined at a full hearing of the High Court.
The judge said that while the laws have interfered with everyone’s lives he did not accept the applicant’s claim that the legislation breached various articles of the Constitution concerning the family and social policy rights and the right to freedom of movement.
Mr Justice Meenan also dismissed the applicant’s claims against the manner in which the laws were voted on and passed by the houses of the Oireachtas.
How the houses dealt with the laws, the judge said, was not something a court could interfere with.
To do so would amount to a clear breach of the separation of powers, he added.
Ms O’Doherty and Mr Waters, who represented themselves, challenged legislation including the 2020 Health Preservation and Protection and Other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act, the 2020 Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act Covid-19 Act, The 1947 Health Act (Affected Areas) Order.
Their proceedings were also aimed at striking down temporary restriction regulations brought due to Covid-19 under the 1947 Health Act.
They claimed the laws, and the manner in which they were enacted, are repugnant to several articles of the constitution including rights to travel, bodily integrity and the family.
The laws, they further argued, amount to “an unprecedented” suspension of constitutional rights.


theirishtimes--2020-05-27--Government accused of reneging on Defence Forces recruitment

The Government has “ reneged ” on its promise to stem the retention crisis in the Defence Forces and has allowed vacancies to increase by 350 per cent , according to the body representing military officers .
The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers ( Raco ) said if the current turnover rate of 10 per cent is not reduced the Defence Forces will never return to its establishment strength of 9,500 .
The current strength is at “ an all-time low ” of 8,485 personnel , it said , including 6,867 army , 892 Naval Service and 726 Air Corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is required to save the Defence Forces , Raco said .
The claims are made in a strongly worded letter sent to all members of the Oireachtas as efforts continue to negotiate a coalition Government .
Last year Minister of State for Defence Paul Kehoe committed to a “ High Level Implementation Plan ” entitled Strengthening Our Defence Forces which detailed a series of measures to aid retention and recruitment .
According to Raco , eight of the 15 projects detailed in the plan are now “ significantly ” behind schedule and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has now been reassigned elsewhere .
“ It would appear that those charged with the delivery and execution of the High Level Implementation Plan ‘ Strengthening our Defence Forces ’ have reneged on their solemn commitment , made on 04 July 2019 to the representative associations and more importantly to the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann , to ‘ Strengthen Our Defence Forces ’ , ” Raco General Secretary Conor King said .
In 2019 , 870 personnel left the Defence Forces and only 605 were inducted , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personnel .
“ This is due to widely acknowledged poor conditions of service and low rates of pay.
” Even if 700 new recruits are brought in every year , an “ ambitious ” target according to Raco , the Defence Forces will never reach full strength given its turnover rate .
Social distancing requirements for induction training as a result of coronavirus will make bringing in new members even more difficult in the short and medium term , it said .
There are currently 1,015 vacancies across the organisation , a 350 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 .
“ This is a result of well documented poor conditions of service , low rates of pay and is despite the much-publicised report of the Public Service Pay Commission , and the associated restoration of some allowances that had been cut by the Haddington Road Agreement and a modest increase of 10 per cent in Military Service Allowance , ” Raco said .
The letter is a response to an analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office ( PBO ) which stated Ireland has a better turnover rate than the UK military @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of figures up to 2017 .
The turnover rate has since increased significantly , with last year seeing a record number of people leaving the Defence Forces .
“ Raco believes that this provides an inaccurate picture of the current level of turnover in the Defence Forces and is concerned about the impact that this incomplete dataset could have on key decision makers in the Houses of the Oireachtas .
”

There are currently 1,015 vacancies across the Defence Forces, a 350 per cent increase since the end of 2017. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
The Government has "reneged" on its promise to stem the retention crisis in the Defence Forces and has allowed vacancies to increase by 350 per cent, according to the body representing military officers.
The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (Raco) said if the current turnover rate of 10 per cent is not reduced the Defence Forces will never return to its establishment strength of 9,500. The current strength is at "an all-time low" of 8,485 personnel, it said, including 6,867 army, 892 Naval Service and 726 Air Corps.
“Immediate and significant intervention” is required to save the Defence Forces, Raco said.
The claims are made in a strongly worded letter sent to all members of the Oireachtas as efforts continue to negotiate a coalition Government.
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Last year Minister of State for Defence Paul Kehoe committed to a "High Level Implementation Plan" entitled Strengthening Our Defence Forces which detailed a series of measures to aid retention and recruitment. According to Raco, eight of the 15 projects detailed in the plan are now "significantly" behind schedule and the management staff tasked with executing the plan has now been reassigned elsewhere.
"It would appear that those charged with the delivery and execution of the High Level Implementation Plan 'Strengthening our Defence Forces' have reneged on their solemn commitment, made on 04 July 2019 to the representative associations and more importantly to the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann, to 'Strengthen Our Defence Forces'," Raco General Secretary Conor King said.
In 2019, 870 personnel left the Defence Forces and only 605 were inducted, he said, leading to a net loss of 265 personnel. “This is due to widely acknowledged poor conditions of service and low rates of pay.”
Even if 700 new recruits are brought in every year, an “ambitious” target according to Raco, the Defence Forces will never reach full strength given its turnover rate.
Social distancing requirements for induction training as a result of coronavirus will make bringing in new members even more difficult in the short and medium term, it said.
There are currently 1,015 vacancies across the organisation, a 350 per cent increase since the end of 2017.
"This is a result of well documented poor conditions of service, low rates of pay and is despite the much-publicised report of the Public Service Pay Commission, and the associated restoration of some allowances that had been cut by the Haddington Road Agreement and a modest increase of 10 per cent in Military Service Allowance," Raco said.
The letter is a response to an analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) which stated Ireland has a better turnover rate than the UK military.
However the PBO document only relies of figures up to 2017. The turnover rate has since increased significantly, with last year seeing a record number of people leaving the Defence Forces.
“Raco believes that this provides an inaccurate picture of the current level of turnover in the Defence Forces and is concerned about the impact that this incomplete dataset could have on key decision makers in the Houses of the Oireachtas.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-27--Charities call for minister to represent them in Cabinet

The chief executive of The Wheel , the national association of community and voluntary organisations , charities and social enterprises , has called on the incoming government to establish a Cabinet position to support the sector .
Deirdre Garvey told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland that there needs to be strong engagement between the Government and charities as many have been severely impacted by Covid-19 .
If the sector , which employs 180,000 staff and requires €15 billion every year , is to survive then it will need “ tangible support ” from any incoming government , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a senior Cabinet minister to ensure sustainable funding .
She pointed out that €7.5 billion of the funds required by charities come from the Government for essential services in health and social care .
A further €7.5 billion was generated through fundraising and charges for services .
Later on Wednesday 500 charity leaders will gather online to discuss the impact of the pandemic on communities and the charity sector .
Ms Garvey said that while there had been extraordinary examples of community support and solidarity in recent times , charities had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about services being maintained .
“ How will this be funded , and what can a newly formed Government do to support the sector ?
” The online meeting of the charity leaders will discuss the collapse of fundraising income , the impact of Covid-19 on vulnerable groups , emerging needs of communities and the policies and government supports needed to sustain the work of the sector .

There have been more than 1,000 applicants for the Government’s €35 million Covid-19 stability fund for charities
Charities could lose out on fundraising worth between €400 and €500 million this year, the representative body for the sector has warned.
Since the lockdown began in March, charities have been unable to raise money face-to-face, hold fundraising events such as race meetings or coffee mornings and the general economic downturn is affecting the public’s ability to contribute.
The scope of the challenge for the sector was highlighted in a survey published by the Charities Regulator. Two-thirds of respondents said services were already restricted and 54 per cent say they may be unable to continue providing services for more than 6 months.
The Wheel director of public policy Ivan Cooper said fundraising had “collapsed” for many charities yet demands for services are as great as ever.
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The Wheel’s annual summit was due to be held in Croke Park, but like so many other events has had to go online.
It was addresssed virtually by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar who revealed there have been more than 1,000 applicants for the Government’s €35 million Covid-19 stability fund for charities and a separate €5 million commitment to a philanthropy fund.
He said the Government’s wage subsidy scheme was also helping keeping charity staff in employment.
He thanked the sector for its “massive contribution” it was making to Irish society and added “more than ever we need the sector to the fore”.
Barnados chief executive Suzanne Connolly said the charity sector in the post-Covid 19 world needs to anticipate a heightened focus at a time when there is likely to be austerity.
She said the focus on charities’ finances can be controversial and negative coverage reflected badly on the sector in general.
Ms Connolly believed charities lacked political champions and constantly had to justify their existence.
“Our real challenge is that we are competing with each other a lot of the time. The Irish public is incredibly generous. However, I do worry that the public may get really a bit sick of being asked for money all the time.
“I get heightened anxiety when there is any negative press in relation to our sector and I worry when we got back into austerity that there will be a focus on spending in general which is reasonable.
“There will be a heightened focus on our sector and it can be very divisive as to how money is spent”.
Cabinet minister
The Wheel has called for the retention of a cabinet-level minister for community development and multi-annual funding.
Department of Rural and Community Development secretary-general Kevin McCarthy suggested the Covid-19 pandemic has generated a “wider, societal evaluation of our values that does create an opportunity to feed into a set of values that will be at the heart of the new programme for government and putting that as a priority at the heart of the next administration”.
He said Government departments had worked together in a way that would not have happened in normal times and the public have responded well to the crisis.
“There has been a rejuvenation of a community spirit. It has come to the fore in a way that has been very uplifting to witness. It has generated ane nthusaism for people to contribute to their communities”.