theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Choctaw chief welcomes awarding of UCC scholarship

A chief of the Choctaw Nation has welcomed University College Cork ’ s commitment to fostering Irish-Choctaw relations by awarding a second scholarship to a student from the Native American tribe in recognition of the historic links between the two peoples .
Gary Batton , 47th chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma , recalled the historic links between Ireland and the Choctaw nation after the Native American tribe sent $ 170 dollars to Ireland in 1847 to help those suffering during the Great Famine .
The Choctaws raised the money after learning of the plight of the Irish just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own trauma when they were relocated from the south eastern states of the United States to Oklahoma in a forced migration known as the Trail of Tears .
Mr Batton recalled how earlier this year , Irish people raised more than $ 1.8 million to help supply clean water , food and health supplies to people in the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Reservation to help them during the Covid-19 pandemic .
“ When our ancestors heard of the famine and the hardship of the Irish people , they knew it was time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spirits with the Irish in the years since the Irish potato famine.
” Mr Batton welcomed the news that Ciara O ’ Donnell , a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma , has been awarded the Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship which will allow her study for an MA in Film and Screen Media at UCC .
“ I want to say Yakoke , Thank You , to the people of Ireland for their commitment to this scholarship and wish the best of luck to Ciara as she embarks on her journey as an ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr Batton .
Ms O ’ Donnell will have all her tuition fees paid and receive €10,000 in living expenses on the the Choctaw Ireland Scholarship Programme .
“ As the daughter of a single mother , I grew up knowing that education is a priority .
With this scholarship , I will earn my Master ’ s degree and create a film about the meaning of being Choctaw as I discover more of my heritage , ” she said .
“ I am going to take as much out of this experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ambassador of Ireland to the US Dan Mulhall wished Ms O ’ Donnell well on her scholarship .

A chief of the Choctaw Nation has welcomed University College Cork’s commitment to fostering Irish-Choctaw relations by awarding a second scholarship to a student from the Native American tribe in recognition of the historic links between the two peoples.
Gary Batton, 47th chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, recalled the historic links between Ireland and the Choctaw nation after the Native American tribe sent $170 dollars to Ireland in 1847 to help those suffering during the Great Famine.
The Choctaws raised the money after learning of the plight of the Irish just over a decade after they experienced their own trauma when they were relocated from the south eastern states of the United States to Oklahoma in a forced migration known as the Trail of Tears.
Mr Batton recalled how earlier this year, Irish people raised more than $1.8 million to help supply clean water, food and health supplies to people in the Navajo Nation and the Hopi Reservation to help them during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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“When our ancestors heard of the famine and the hardship of the Irish people, they knew it was time to help ... We have become kindred spirits with the Irish in the years since the Irish potato famine.”
Mr Batton welcomed the news that Ciara O’Donnell, a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, has been awarded the Choctaw-Ireland Scholarship which will allow her study for an MA in Film and Screen Media at UCC.
“I want to say Yakoke, Thank You, to the people of Ireland for their commitment to this scholarship and wish the best of luck to Ciara as she embarks on her journey as an ambassador for the Choctaw people,” said Mr Batton.
Ms O’Donnell will have all her tuition fees paid and receive €10,000 in living expenses on the the Choctaw Ireland Scholarship Programme.
“As the daughter of a single mother, I grew up knowing that education is a priority. With this scholarship, I will earn my Master’s degree and create a film about the meaning of being Choctaw as I discover more of my heritage,” she said.
“I am going to take as much out of this experience as possible and make my tribe proud.”
Ambassador of Ireland to the US Dan Mulhall wished Ms O’Donnell well on her scholarship.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--NI building firm faces further legal actions over alleged school defects

The Minister for Education has issued 11 further High Court actions against a Northern Irish construction company over alleged defects in the building of 40 schools in the State .
Western Building Systems ( WBS ) , based in Omagh , Co Tyrone , is being sued by the new Minister , Norma Foley , over structural safety concerns at schools built by the firm , which came to light over the last two years .
A number of consulting and engineering firms are also being sued .
It is understood the latest tranche of proceedings – issued on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions by the Minister against WBS to 40 , covering all of the affected schools , some of which had to close .
Earlier proceedings had been issued by Ms Foley ’ s predecessor Joe McHugh .
A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said it does not comment on matters that are the subject of legal proceedings .
WBS has insisted that the department had the final sign-off on the school buildings and is contesting the legal actions .
The department has said that permanent fire-safety improvements are not expected to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of next year .
It was originally expected that the bulk of the work would have been completed this year , but a revised timeline disclosed in recent weeks means just 22 will now be ready by the end of the year .
Remediation work at the schools had been taking place during evenings and school holidays , but school closures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic have allowed contractors to make more progress .
The department has said work on the remaining 18 will start in the new year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run to tens of millions of euro , with €40 million having already been spent on the schools by last September .
Two school buildings built by WBS are no longer being used as schools .
The department last month published an independent review into the fast-tracked “ design and build ” model of construction , which involves the prefabrication of some materials off-site .
Despite critics alleging a systemic flaw in the model , the review found it was increasingly the “ default ” model internationally , based on the experience of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California .
The “ desktop ” review was ordered ahead of a wider independent review of the State ’ s design-and-build programme , which Mr McHugh previously said he did not want to prejudice the ongoing legal actions .

Minister for Education Norma Foley is suing Western Building Systems, based in Omagh, Co Tyrone, over structural safety concerns at schools built by the firm. Photograph: Alan Betson
The Minister for Education has issued 11 further High Court actions against a Northern Irish construction company over alleged defects in the building of 40 schools in the State.
Western Building Systems (WBS), based in Omagh, Co Tyrone, is being sued by the new Minister, Norma Foley, over structural safety concerns at schools built by the firm, which came to light over the last two years. A number of consulting and engineering firms are also being sued.
It is understood the latest tranche of proceedings – issued on Friday – brings the number of separate legal actions by the Minister against WBS to 40, covering all of the affected schools, some of which had to close.
Earlier proceedings had been issued by Ms Foley’s predecessor Joe McHugh. A spokeswoman for the Department of Education said it does not comment on matters that are the subject of legal proceedings.
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WBS has insisted that the department had the final sign-off on the school buildings and is contesting the legal actions.
The department has said that permanent fire-safety improvements are not expected to be completed in all the affected schools before the end of next year. It was originally expected that the bulk of the work would have been completed this year, but a revised timeline disclosed in recent weeks means just 22 will now be ready by the end of the year.
Remediation work
Remediation work at the schools had been taking place during evenings and school holidays, but school closures as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic have allowed contractors to make more progress.
The department has said work on the remaining 18 will start in the new year. The bill for the work will run to tens of millions of euro, with €40 million having already been spent on the schools by last September. Two school buildings built by WBS are no longer being used as schools.
The department last month published an independent review into the fast-tracked “design and build” model of construction, which involves the prefabrication of some materials off-site.
Despite critics alleging a systemic flaw in the model, the review found it was increasingly the “default” model internationally, based on the experience of Australia, the UK, Norway and California.
The “desktop” review was ordered ahead of a wider independent review of the State’s design-and-build programme, which Mr McHugh previously said he did not want to prejudice the ongoing legal actions.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Publication of travel ‘green list’ delayed as tensions grow within coalition

Tensions have grown between the three coalition parties over the publication of a “ green list ” of countries deemed as safe to travel to during the Covid-19 pandemic .
Government sources last night confirmed that the list would be reduced to a “ very limited ” number of countries when it is finalised at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday .
An announcement had been due to be made today but was deferred for 24 hours once it became known that Taoiseach Micheál Martin was not expected to return from an EU summit in Brussels until this evening .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upon his arrival in Dublin as Government Ministers are exempt from the rule , though he is required to take a Covid-19 test when leaving Ireland and on his return .
The status of the green list has been downgraded following differences between Fine Gael Ministers and their Fianna Fáil and Green colleagues about the advisability of publishing the list when coronavirus infections are increasing in Ireland and other European countries .
People arriving from the countries included will not face a requirement for a 14-day quarantine period .
Some Ministers pointed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against non-essential travel to prevent Covid-19 cases being imported , yet the Government was still publishing a list of countries not subject to the quarantine rule .
The State ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) has advised people not to take unnecessary travel overseas and to holiday at home this summer .
The issue dominated discussions at last Wednesday ’ s Cabinet meeting , with Fianna Fáil and Green Ministers expressing concern about whether its publication was appropriate at this time .
One Minister said the list was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the last Fine Gael government .
“ Neither of our parties feel all that comfortable with it given the less positive outlook we are now faced with , ” said the source .
“ We are in a situation where we are getting resistance from Irish people to domestic visitors arriving at their doorstep , let alone about visitors from abroad .
In light of that , Fianna Fáil and the Greens have looked for a cautious approach.
” Fine Gael insisted there was no divergence with the other Government parties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ list would be based on the latest medical advice .
“ There are very clear criteria for travelling abroad .
The decision will be based on whatever the data will be at the end of the day , ” he said .
The list is expected to feature fewer than 20 countries and will not include popular destinations for Irish tourists such as the United States , Britain , France , Spain or Portugal .
Irish Travel Agents Association chief executive Pat Dawson said the list was “ meaningless ” as people would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the non-essential travel guidance.He criticised the continued reliance on “ celebrity doctors ” when the latest cases show travel accounts for only a small number of new infections .
NPHET reported no new deaths from the virus yesterday , leaving the death toll at 1,753 .
Ten new Covid-19 infections were reported , bringing total known cases to 25,760 .
Early findings from blood tests taken from more than 2,000 people in Dublin and Sligo in a Health Service Executive study over the past month indicate that the vast majority of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 .
Sample testing for antibodies against the disease in healthy people shows that less than 5 per cent of the population has been exposed to the disease , far short of building any herd immunity against future infection .

Government sources confirmed the green list would be reduced to a “very limited” number of countries when it is finalised at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. File photograph: Getty
Tensions have grown between the three coalition parties over the publication of a “green list” of countries deemed as safe to travel to during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Government sources last night confirmed that the list would be reduced to a “very limited” number of countries when it is finalised at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
An announcement had been due to be made today but was deferred for 24 hours once it became known that Taoiseach Micheál Martin was not expected to return from an EU summit in Brussels until this evening.
Mr Martin will not have to undergo quarantine upon his arrival in Dublin as Government Ministers are exempt from the rule, though he is required to take a Covid-19 test when leaving Ireland and on his return.
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The status of the green list has been downgraded following differences between Fine Gael Ministers and their Fianna Fáil and Green colleagues about the advisability of publishing the list when coronavirus infections are increasing in Ireland and other European countries. People arriving from the countries included will not face a requirement for a 14-day quarantine period.
Some Ministers pointed to a contradiction with the public being advised against non-essential travel to prevent Covid-19 cases being imported, yet the Government was still publishing a list of countries not subject to the quarantine rule.
The State’s National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has advised people not to take unnecessary travel overseas and to holiday at home this summer. The issue dominated discussions at last Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting, with Fianna Fáil and Green Ministers expressing concern about whether its publication was appropriate at this time.
One Minister said the list was “seen very much as a legacy” of the last Fine Gael government. “Neither of our parties feel all that comfortable with it given the less positive outlook we are now faced with,” said the source.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin will not have to undergo quarantine upon his arrival back from the European Union summit in Brussels. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
"We are in a situation where we are getting resistance from Irish people to domestic visitors arriving at their doorstep, let alone about visitors from abroad. In light of that, Fianna Fáil and the Greens have looked for a cautious approach."
Fine Gael insisted there was no divergence with the other Government parties. A spokesman for the party said the list would be based on the latest medical advice. “There are very clear criteria for travelling abroad. The decision will be based on whatever the data will be at the end of the day,” he said.
The list is expected to feature fewer than 20 countries and will not include popular destinations for Irish tourists such as the United States, Britain, France, Spain or Portugal.
Irish Travel Agents Association chief executive Pat Dawson said the list was "meaningless" as people would still not travel as insurance remained invalid under the non-essential travel guidance.He criticised the continued reliance on "celebrity doctors" when the latest cases show travel accounts for only a small number of new infections.
NPHET reported no new deaths from the virus yesterday, leaving the death toll at 1,753. Ten new Covid-19 infections were reported, bringing total known cases to 25,760.
Early findings from blood tests taken from more than 2,000 people in Dublin and Sligo in a Health Service Executive study over the past month indicate that the vast majority of the Irish public are still vulnerable to catching Covid-19.
Sample testing for antibodies against the disease in healthy people shows that less than 5 per cent of the population has been exposed to the disease, far short of building any herd immunity against future infection.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Drug driving: ‘Middle class, middle-aged, in the middle of the day’

The high number of people caught driving under the influence of drink or drugs during the coronavirus pandemic period suggests , as some gardaí believe , that law enforcement on the State ’ s roads is grossly inadequate in normal times .
Drugged driving was a significant issue , with sources saying that illicit substance use was prevalent and increasing across all age groups and social classes , and that drivers were testing positive for drugs at all hours of the day .
“ It ’ s middle class , middle-aged , in the middle of the day .
Long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s young people all taking cocaine when they ’ re socialising , ” said one source .
“ We have people now who are taking cocaine in the morning to give them energy and get them going for the day ; many of them in what you ’ d call respected professions .
And then in the evening they ’ re smoking a joint to relax .
“ A lot of other people are now smoking cannabis several times a day , every day , and they are all ages and from all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they are stopped by us , that cannabis is in their system all the time.
” Another source said : “ A lot of drinking is done in the evenings and so that ’ s when you catch people mostly , and the morning after .
But people take drugs in a different way , as part of their daily routines now.
” At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic , traffic volumes fell to well below half their normal levels , but the number of arrests for drunk or drugged driving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the first six months of the year .
The number of arrests increased in 11 of the 28 Garda divisions , with Dublin ’ s divisions ( up 24 per cent on average ) leading the way .
Gardaí say that while alcohol remains a problem , they are seeing more and more cases of drugged driving – mainly cannabis and cocaine .
“ It just shows you that in normal times we are only scratching the surface of what ’ s really going on on the roads , ” one Garda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If traffic plummets like that and the number of arrests only drops slightly , or increases in places like Dublin , you ’ d have to say that a lot of the offending is going undetected in normal times.
” Other sources said the movement restrictions introduced to stop the disease spreading brought about very unusual conditions for roads policing , which meant that drunk or drugged drivers were much more likely to be caught .
“ You had thousands of checkpoints every week and that meant far more drivers were being stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you engage with someone , if you ’ re experienced , you ’ ll spot the signs they ’ ve been drinking or taking drugs , ” said one source .
“ You also had more time to engage with them and you had more time to stop nearly every car at a checkpoint because there wasn ’ t a big line of traffic being held up on the road .
So that definitely meant every driver was checked out in a way that just isn ’ t possible in normal times.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed during the lockdown .
“ We had checkpoints on some roads for 12 hours , from 7am to 7pm , where we could never have any checkpoints because it would cause traffic carnage , ” he said .
“ So if you can suddenly start putting enforcement resources like that in place for the first time ever , that ’ s going to catch more people .
But obviously you won ’ t catch them unless they are actually drinking or taking drugs .
And clearly a lot of people are .
@

The high number of people caught driving under the influence of drink or drugs during the coronavirus pandemic period suggests, as some gardaí believe, that law enforcement on the State’s roads is grossly inadequate in normal times.
Drugged driving was a significant issue, with sources saying that illicit substance use was prevalent and increasing across all age groups and social classes, and that drivers were testing positive for drugs at all hours of the day.
“It’s middle class, middle-aged, in the middle of the day. Long gone is this idea that it’s young people all taking cocaine when they’re socialising,” said one source.
“We have people now who are taking cocaine in the morning to give them energy and get them going for the day; many of them in what you’d call respected professions. And then in the evening they’re smoking a joint to relax.
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“A lot of other people are now smoking cannabis several times a day, every day, and they are all ages and from all sorts of backgrounds. And that means if they are stopped by us, that cannabis is in their system all the time.”
Another source said: “A lot of drinking is done in the evenings and so that’s when you catch people mostly, and the morning after. But people take drugs in a different way, as part of their daily routines now.”
At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, traffic volumes fell to well below half their normal levels, but the number of arrests for drunk or drugged driving fell by only 9 per cent nationally in the first six months of the year.
The number of arrests increased in 11 of the 28 Garda divisions, with Dublin’s divisions (up 24 per cent on average) leading the way. Gardaí say that while alcohol remains a problem, they are seeing more and more cases of drugged driving – mainly cannabis and cocaine.
‘Scratching the surface’
“It just shows you that in normal times we are only scratching the surface of what’s really going on on the roads,” one Garda member told The Irish Times.
“If traffic plummets like that and the number of arrests only drops slightly, or increases in places like Dublin, you’d have to say that a lot of the offending is going undetected in normal times.”
Other sources said the movement restrictions introduced to stop the disease spreading brought about very unusual conditions for roads policing, which meant that drunk or drugged drivers were much more likely to be caught.
“You had thousands of checkpoints every week and that meant far more drivers were being stopped and spoken to. And the minute you engage with someone, if you’re experienced, you’ll spot the signs they’ve been drinking or taking drugs,” said one source.
“You also had more time to engage with them and you had more time to stop nearly every car at a checkpoint because there wasn’t a big line of traffic being held up on the road. So that definitely meant every driver was checked out in a way that just isn’t possible in normal times.”
Another source said the location of checkpoints changed during the lockdown.
“We had checkpoints on some roads for 12 hours, from 7am to 7pm, where we could never have any checkpoints because it would cause traffic carnage,” he said. “So if you can suddenly start putting enforcement resources like that in place for the first time ever, that’s going to catch more people. But obviously you won’t catch them unless they are actually drinking or taking drugs. And clearly a lot of people are.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Health workers may have hid Covid-19 symptoms to avoid losing pay – union

Healthcare workers may have failed to declare symptoms of coronavirus out of fear of losing additional overtime or premium payments , an Oireachtas committee will hear on Tuesday .
In a submission to the Oireachtas committee on the pandemic , trade union Siptu said the decision of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform not to permit employers pay their staff as per their roster if they were put on Covid-19 related leave , “ resulted in significant financial disadvantage being incurred ” .
The union believes this may have resulted in staff not declaring symptoms to their employer if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ duty for at least 14 days , resulting in loss of overtime and premium pay .
Siptu-represented grades within the health service rely on earning premiums to meet financial responsibilities , the union said .
“ Our members can not afford to live on basic salary ; therefore mechanisms which are introduced , which result in financial penalties , are subject to a real outcome of potential non-disclosure and a failure to have effective detection systems in place , ” the union said in its submission .
The committee will hear on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Executive about the 8,300 healthcare workers – almost a third of all known Covid-19 cases in the State – who have contracted the disease .
In a separate submission , the Irish Medical Organisation has warned that adequate roster arrangements must be put in place to cover workers absent with the virus or who are excluded as potential close contacts of a case .
“ Given the [ healthcare worker ] culture of working when ill , staff going to work while symptomatic with Covid-19 because of their perceived obligations to their colleagues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workplaces contributed to larger outbreaks , ” the IMO said .
Siptu said there were striking differences between how different categories of healthcare workers who contracted Covid-19 were treated , with supports not available to contract staff “ due to their employment not being funded by Government or [ by ] the direct employer ” .
The union said it was told by the HSE that “ there was no jurisdiction on the public health service to enforce necessary protections for staff employed by a contractor but providing service on a HSE site @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will not provide a death-in-service gratuity in respect of health service contract workers who died after contracting Covid-19 while on duty .
The State ’ s acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn on Monday night warned employers and workers to adhere to public health precautions after expressing concerns about outbreaks in workplaces .
Dr Glynn described the workplace , and particularly shops , services and supermarkets , as the “ new front line ” .
The medic used Monday ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) briefing at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep a physical distance from colleagues .
He used the example of the “ first significant cluster on a construction site to date ” – located in Dublin city centre where more than 20 cases have so far been identified – to warn employers about the continuing risk from the virus .
He reported no new deaths from the disease and six new confirmed cases .
Rachel Kenna , chief nursing officer at the department , urged the public to follow public health advice because healthcare workers were not prepared for a second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They are tired ; they are not ready for another four months like we have just gone through , ” she said .
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) has told the Covid-19 committee that almost two thirds of nurses who have recovered from Covid-19 were still experiencing post-viral fatigue .
Meanwhile , senior Government sources said the publication of the so-called “ green list ” of non-quarantine countries is likely to go ahead this week , after discussions at Cabinet .
While there is growing caution in Government about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some senior figures argued to postpone the publication of the list , it is expected to go ahead but with a much reduced list of countries .
One senior source said there was “ not a chance ” of Spain , France and Italy being included on the list , though another source said he expected Greece to be included .
Public opinion research carried out by the Department of Health suggests a high degree of public caution about lifting restrictions , with public concern about the virus rising steadily for the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were last registered in April .
Government sources continue to say the reopening of schools in September remains a priority ; Minister for Education Norma Foley is due to meet teaching unions on Tuesday for discussions on the reopening plan .

Siptu said the decision of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform not to permit employers pay their staff as per their roster if they were put on Covid-19 related leave “resulted in significant financial disadvantage being incurred”. File photograph: Getty
Healthcare workers may have failed to declare symptoms of coronavirus out of fear of losing additional overtime or premium payments, an Oireachtas committee will hear on Tuesday.
In a submission to the Oireachtas committee on the pandemic, trade union Siptu said the decision of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform not to permit employers pay their staff as per their roster if they were put on Covid-19 related leave, "resulted in significant financial disadvantage being incurred".
The union believes this may have resulted in staff not declaring symptoms to their employer if they knew it would put them off duty for at least 14 days, resulting in loss of overtime and premium pay.
Siptu-represented grades within the health service rely on earning premiums to meet financial responsibilities, the union said.
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“Our members cannot afford to live on basic salary; therefore mechanisms which are introduced, which result in financial penalties, are subject to a real outcome of potential non-disclosure and a failure to have effective detection systems in place,” the union said in its submission.
The committee will hear on Tuesday from trade unions and the Health Service Executive about the 8,300 healthcare workers – almost a third of all known Covid-19 cases in the State – who have contracted the disease.
Rosters
In a separate submission, the Irish Medical Organisation has warned that adequate roster arrangements must be put in place to cover workers absent with the virus or who are excluded as potential close contacts of a case.
“Given the [healthcare worker] culture of working when ill, staff going to work while symptomatic with Covid-19 because of their perceived obligations to their colleagues, and weak exclusion policies in some workplaces contributed to larger outbreaks,” the IMO said.
Siptu said there were striking differences between how different categories of healthcare workers who contracted Covid-19 were treated, with supports not available to contract staff “due to their employment not being funded by Government or [by] the direct employer”.
The union said it was told by the HSE that “there was no jurisdiction on the public health service to enforce necessary protections for staff employed by a contractor but providing service on a HSE site”.
Siptu maintained that the Government will not provide a death-in-service gratuity in respect of health service contract workers who died after contracting Covid-19 while on duty.
The State's acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn on Monday night warned employers and workers to adhere to public health precautions after expressing concerns about outbreaks in workplaces.
Dr Glynn described the workplace, and particularly shops, services and supermarkets, as the “new front line”.
The medic used Monday's National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) briefing at the Department of Health to remind workers to keep a physical distance from colleagues. He used the example of the "first significant cluster on a construction site to date" – located in Dublin city centre where more than 20 cases have so far been identified – to warn employers about the continuing risk from the virus. He reported no new deaths from the disease and six new confirmed cases.
Rachel Kenna, chief nursing officer at the department, urged the public to follow public health advice because healthcare workers were not prepared for a second Covid-19 wave in the winter.
“They are tired; they are not ready for another four months like we have just gone through,” she said.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has told the Covid-19 committee that almost two thirds of nurses who have recovered from Covid-19 were still experiencing post-viral fatigue.
Meanwhile, senior Government sources said the publication of the so-called “green list” of non-quarantine countries is likely to go ahead this week, after discussions at Cabinet. While there is growing caution in Government about any relaxation of coronavirus restrictions, and some senior figures argued to postpone the publication of the list, it is expected to go ahead but with a much reduced list of countries. One senior source said there was “not a chance” of Spain, France and Italy being included on the list, though another source said he expected Greece to be included.
Public opinion research carried out by the Department of Health suggests a high degree of public caution about lifting restrictions, with public concern about the virus rising steadily for the last month and now at the same levels that were last registered in April.
Government sources continue to say the reopening of schools in September remains a priority; Minister for Education Norma Foley is due to meet teaching unions on Tuesday for discussions on the reopening plan.


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Annual cost of providing State-run childcare could top €2bn

The cost of providing a State-run childcare service could be as much as €2 billion annually , an internal analysis by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has found .
The research , which was conducted early this year , was sent to the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 this month .
It found that if current levels of demand , hours worked , and the number of childcare workers were to remain unchanged , “ €1.6 billion would be required to cover staff wages in centre-based provision only ” – excluding childminders .
Some 70 per cent of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be direct costs for managers , room leaders , assistants and other grades of creche employees , with a further 30 per cent for overheads .
However , this cost may be further increased if the State were to step in with a form of subsidy or direct payment to phase out the need for parents to contribute fees for early-years care , which are among the highest in Europe .
The department estimates that parents currently spend about €450 million a year on fees for centre-based services , and that “ a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replaced by Government subsidies ” .
It also notes that this is based on existing demand , which “ might significantly increase if a public model was introduced ” .
The Government would also need to consider the physical location of State-run services , with about 4,500 such operations spread around the country , ranging from extensions to family homes to large purpose-built creches .
“ The cost of buying out these services is substantial .
The alternative of leasing is also substantial , ” the note finds .
The research also compares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about €640 million a year , with a range of OECD and European countries .
It finds that to match Iceland , Ireland would have to spend €5.83 billion on childcare ; for Sweden , the figure is €5.18 billion ; Norway is €4.21 billion ; the OECD average and EU average levels of spending would see the State spending €2.27 billion .
Ivana Bacik , the Labour spokeswoman on children , called on the Government to move “ incrementally ” towards a more State-focused model of provision .
“ There has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for too long , ” she said .
“ The fact is we now know the huge cost to society of not providing adequate childcare , and people have been floundering over the summer.
” A spokesman for Siptu said that the document indicated the cost of “ radically transforming childcare .
This level of investment would slash fees for parents , improve quality for children and recognise educators with professional pay scales ” .
A spokesman for the department said the costings were drawn up to “ inform the public debate and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public model might operate ” .
“ Caveats necessarily apply as to the extent of its application , scope and assumptions , ” the spokesman said .
He said childcare is currently provided using a market model to deliver affordability but that “ fees and the quality of provision vary significantly ” .
While remaining relatively low by international standards , State investment in the sector has increased by 141 per cent since 2015 .
An expert group is currently examining a new funding model for the sector .
Sinn Féin will this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion before the Dáil calling on the Government to introduce a comprehensive plan for the early-years sector , including a “ sustainability fund ” and a commitment to significantly ramp up investment .
Elsewhere on Monday , Siptu released research which shows that 29 per cent of workers in the childcare sector are earning less than they did before the pandemic , with 32 per cent claiming they intend to leave the sector within the next 12 months .
The union is calling on the Government to re-introduce a top-up to the temporary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ height of the crisis , and saw the State responsible for nearly the entire wage bill of the childcare sector .

The cost of providing a State-run childcare service could be as much as €2 billion annually, an internal analysis by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs has found.
The research, which was conducted early this year, was sent to the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 this month.
It found that if current levels of demand, hours worked, and the number of childcare workers were to remain unchanged, “€1.6 billion would be required to cover staff wages in centre-based provision only” – excluding childminders.
Some 70 per cent of this, just over €1.1 billion, would be direct costs for managers, room leaders, assistants and other grades of creche employees, with a further 30 per cent for overheads.
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However, this cost may be further increased if the State were to step in with a form of subsidy or direct payment to phase out the need for parents to contribute fees for early-years care, which are among the highest in Europe.
The department estimates that parents currently spend about €450 million a year on fees for centre-based services, and that “a public model might require this to be replaced by Government subsidies”. It also notes that this is based on existing demand, which “might significantly increase if a public model was introduced”.
The Government would also need to consider the physical location of State-run services, with about 4,500 such operations spread around the country, ranging from extensions to family homes to large purpose-built creches.
“The cost of buying out these services is substantial. The alternative of leasing is also substantial,” the note finds. The research also compares Irish expenditure on early-years services, currently about €640 million a year, with a range of OECD and European countries.
It finds that to match Iceland, Ireland would have to spend €5.83 billion on childcare; for Sweden, the figure is €5.18 billion; Norway is €4.21 billion; the OECD average and EU average levels of spending would see the State spending €2.27 billion.
Ivana Bacik, the Labour spokeswoman on children, called on the Government to move "incrementally" towards a more State-focused model of provision. "There has been a huge overreliance on the private sector for too long," she said. "The fact is we now know the huge cost to society of not providing adequate childcare, and people have been floundering over the summer."
A spokesman for Siptu said that the document indicated the cost of “radically transforming childcare. This level of investment would slash fees for parents, improve quality for children and recognise educators with professional pay scales”.
A spokesman for the department said the costings were drawn up to “inform the public debate and provide for one scenario of how a public model might operate”.
“Caveats necessarily apply as to the extent of its application, scope and assumptions,” the spokesman said. He said childcare is currently provided using a market model to deliver affordability but that “fees and the quality of provision vary significantly”. While remaining relatively low by international standards, State investment in the sector has increased by 141 per cent since 2015. An expert group is currently examining a new funding model for the sector.
Sinn Féin will this week bring a private member’s motion before the Dáil calling on the Government to introduce a comprehensive plan for the early-years sector, including a “sustainability fund” and a commitment to significantly ramp up investment.
Elsewhere on Monday, Siptu released research which shows that 29 per cent of workers in the childcare sector are earning less than they did before the pandemic, with 32 per cent claiming they intend to leave the sector within the next 12 months.
The union is calling on the Government to re-introduce a top-up to the temporary wage subsidy scheme which ran at the height of the crisis, and saw the State responsible for nearly the entire wage bill of the childcare sector.


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--PPE shortage endangered lives of health workers, Siptu says

Frontline health workers were put at risk due to unavailability of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) in their workplace , trade union Siptu has said .
In a submission to the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 , it said while the delivery and distribution of PPE had greatly improved , its members had serious concerns about their experiences during the early days of the pandemic .
Siptu said a survey of its members found 77.03 per cent believed they now had enough access to PPE while 18.9 per cent felt they did not .
Some 85 per cent felt they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPE .
In its submission , the union supplied a range of comments gathered from members , including that there was rationing of PPE to a degree that workers “ were made feel guilty for asking for it ” , and that supplies were particularly scarce in March and April .
Staff reported being told to sign a receipt for a pair of goggles , and being told to “ mind them ” as it was the only pair they would be given .
The union was told that some staff had become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
PPE training was reported to be “ the worst-ever ” , with a care assistant saying they were told “ don ’ t be worried , it is like an ordinary flu ” .
Siptu also said its members were concerned about the reopening of services and the potential for exposure .
Siptu also said it had received many contacts from members concerned at the planned reopening of their particular service and the potential for risk exposure if appropriate procedures were not put in place .
The union said it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser in the health service that “ faulty or improper use of PPE accounted for approximately 4 per cent of all infection rates with healthcare workers ” .
“ While this figure may appear a low percentage of the overall tally , Siptu argues it represents a significant risk factor which should not have arisen if proper equipment and training was in place at the outset of the pandemic ” .
The trade union Fórsa told the committee that it had received many reports of health and social care professional staff “ who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to the pandemic response and whom became infected ” .
“ Even those with the mildest of symptoms and effects at the time of infection , report that almost three months later , they feel that they are only close to full recovery now.
” Elsewhere , the Irish Medical Organisation ( IMO ) has suggested that the State should stockpile PPE to prepare for a possible second wave of the virus rather than “ risk having to compete in a global scramble ” for the equipment again .
In a submission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that in addition to stockpiling , the State should diversify suppliers and “ create incentives to encourage local manufacturing of PPE ” .
The IMO notes some 30 per cent of healthcare worker cases were linked to an outbreak in a nursing home , residential institution or community hospital/long-stay unit , while only 8.6 per cent were linked to outbreaks in hospitals , which “ is likely due to more robust supply chains for PPE in hospitals ” .
The HSE will also appear at the committee .
In a submission , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suppliers for PPE during the crisis , which saw an “ unprecedented ” rush for equipment as healthcare providers around the globe competed for the same supplies .
This saw demand up to 100 times normal levels , with prices rising 20 times higher than usual .
There was also “ gouging ” , with hospitals and governments forced to pay a “ hugely inflated price ” for equipment .

IMO said that in addition to stockpiling, the State should diversify suppliers and “create incentives to encourage local manufacturing of PPE”. Photograph: Alan Betson
Frontline health workers were put at risk due to unavailability of personal protective equipment (PPE) in their workplace, trade union Siptu has said.
In a submission to the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19, it said while the delivery and distribution of PPE had greatly improved, its members had serious concerns about their experiences during the early days of the pandemic.
Siptu said a survey of its members found 77.03 per cent believed they now had enough access to PPE while 18.9 per cent felt they did not. Some 85 per cent felt they had sufficient training on the use of PPE.
In its submission, the union supplied a range of comments gathered from members, including that there was rationing of PPE to a degree that workers “were made feel guilty for asking for it”, and that supplies were particularly scarce in March and April.
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Staff reported being told to sign a receipt for a pair of goggles, and being told to “mind them” as it was the only pair they would be given. The union was told that some staff had become “very sick before receiving full PPE”.
Bad training
PPE training was reported to be “the worst-ever”, with a care assistant saying they were told “don’t be worried, it is like an ordinary flu”. Siptu also said its members were concerned about the reopening of services and the potential for exposure.
Siptu also said it had received many contacts from members concerned at the planned reopening of their particular service and the potential for risk exposure if appropriate procedures were not put in place.
The union said it had been told by the national occupational health adviser in the health service that “faulty or improper use of PPE accounted for approximately 4 per cent of all infection rates with healthcare workers”.
“While this figure may appear a low percentage of the overall tally, Siptu argues it represents a significant risk factor which should not have arisen if proper equipment and training was in place at the outset of the pandemic”.
The trade union Fórsa told the committee that it had received many reports of health and social care professional staff “who [were] reassigned to duties directly related to the pandemic response and whom became infected”.
“Even those with the mildest of symptoms and effects at the time of infection, report that almost three months later, they feel that they are only close to full recovery now.”
Global scramble
Elsewhere, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has suggested that the State should stockpile PPE to prepare for a possible second wave of the virus rather than "risk having to compete in a global scramble" for the equipment again.
In a submission to the committee, the IMO said that in addition to stockpiling, the State should diversify suppliers and “create incentives to encourage local manufacturing of PPE”.
The IMO notes some 30 per cent of healthcare worker cases were linked to an outbreak in a nursing home, residential institution or community hospital/long-stay unit, while only 8.6 per cent were linked to outbreaks in hospitals, which “is likely due to more robust supply chains for PPE in hospitals”.
The HSE will also appear at the committee. In a submission, it says that it identified new markets and suppliers for PPE during the crisis, which saw an “unprecedented” rush for equipment as healthcare providers around the globe competed for the same supplies. This saw demand up to 100 times normal levels, with prices rising 20 times higher than usual.
There was also “gouging”, with hospitals and governments forced to pay a “hugely inflated price” for equipment.


theirishtimes--2020-07-21--Government’s €7bn stimulus plan delayed due to EU leaders’ talks

Publication of the Government ’ s €7 billion “ July jobs ” stimulus plan has been pushed back until later this week due to delays in talks between EU leaders over the Covid-19 rescue fund .
The publication could drift until Thursday , sources on Monday night believed , though Ministers and officials are continuing to work on making final touches to the stimulus plan .
A significantly expanded €2 billion credit guarantee scheme is expected , along with increased business reopening grants and an extension of the commercial rates waiver .
Ministers are expected to grant rates relief to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ example , a restaurant or café serving through a hatch – who were original ruled out of the scheme .
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is working on a tax rebate to encourage domestic tourism .
The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are both due to be extended , although there are indications the PUP may be tapered over time .
Greater resources for adult education and apprenticeships are also due , while those on the unemployment payment will be encouraged to learn new skills if they can not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in place the attention will switch to designing a longer-term economic plan to deal with the fallout from the Covid-19 crisis , to be published at the same time as the budget in October .

Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe: he is working on a tax rebate to encourage domestic tourism
Publication of the Government’s €7 billion “July jobs” stimulus plan has been pushed back until later this week due to delays in talks between EU leaders over the Covid-19 rescue fund.
The publication could drift until Thursday, sources on Monday night believed, though Ministers and officials are continuing to work on making final touches to the stimulus plan.
A significantly expanded €2 billion credit guarantee scheme is expected, along with increased business reopening grants and an extension of the commercial rates waiver.
Ministers are expected to grant rates relief to businesses that remained partially open – for example, a restaurant or café serving through a hatch – who were original ruled out of the scheme.
READ MORE
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe is working on a tax rebate to encourage domestic tourism.
The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are both due to be extended, although there are indications the PUP may be tapered over time.
Greater resources for adult education and apprenticeships are also due, while those on the unemployment payment will be encouraged to learn new skills if they cannot immediately find employment.
Once the measures are in place the attention will switch to designing a longer-term economic plan to deal with the fallout from the Covid-19 crisis, to be published at the same time as the budget in October.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--People with history of gum disease more likely to develop cancers – study

People with a history of gum disease are more likely to develop cancers , a leading Irish dentist has said in the wake of a major US study that has found clear links between the two .
Saying that the link between oral health and general health is “ completely overlooked ” , Prof Leo Stassen , an oral surgeon expert in cancer treatment , called for greater links between dentistry and medicine .
US researchers from Harvard University found people with a history of gum disease and tooth loss appeared to have a higher risk of oesophageal ( gullet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer .
The study , published in Gut , a specialist periodical by the British Medical Journal , found that periodontal disease is linked to a 43 per cent and 52 per cent higher risk of oesophageal cancer and gastric cancer , respectively .
Compared to people with no tooth loss , the risks of oesophageal and gastric cancer for those who lost two or more teeth were also modestly higher – 42 per cent and 33 per cent , respectively .
The Harvard researchers examined the association of history of periodontal disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer in 98,459 women and 49,685 men from two previously published studies .
Prof Stassen , president of the Irish Dental Association , said mouth health often reflects general health .
“ The more gum disease you have , the more inflammation you have ; the more inflammation you have , the more we know your immune system is affected , ” he said .
Dentists do not know if gum disease or tooth loss are causes , he said : “ Usually people who have other reasons for not cleaning their teeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to smoke , tend to drink and tend not to eat well .
”

Mouth health often reflects general health, according to Prof Leo Stassen, president of the Irish Dental Association. Photograph: John Giles/PA Wire
People with a history of gum disease are more likely to develop cancers, a leading Irish dentist has said in the wake of a major US study that has found clear links between the two.
Saying that the link between oral health and general health is "completely overlooked", Prof Leo Stassen, an oral surgeon expert in cancer treatment, called for greater links between dentistry and medicine.
US researchers from Harvard University found people with a history of gum disease and tooth loss appeared to have a higher risk of oesophageal (gullet) cancer and gastric (stomach) cancer.
The study, published in Gut, a specialist periodical by the British Medical Journal, found that periodontal disease is linked to a 43 per cent and 52 per cent higher risk of oesophageal cancer and gastric cancer, respectively.
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Compared to people with no tooth loss, the risks of oesophageal and gastric cancer for those who lost two or more teeth were also modestly higher – 42 per cent and 33 per cent, respectively.
The Harvard researchers examined the association of history of periodontal disease and tooth loss with the risk of cancer in 98,459 women and 49,685 men from two previously published studies.
Prof Stassen, president of the Irish Dental Association, said mouth health often reflects general health.
“The more gum disease you have, the more inflammation you have; the more inflammation you have, the more we know your immune system is affected,” he said.
Dentists do not know if gum disease or tooth loss are causes, he said: “Usually people who have other reasons for not cleaning their teeth or looking after their teeth, tend to smoke, tend to drink and tend not to eat well.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--‘I don’t agree with it’: Limerick publican ordered to cease trading

Limerick publican Gearóid Whelan and several of his regulars launched a short-lived rebellion against rules allowing only pubs serving food to open .
Nearly 50 customers passed the doors of Whelan ’ s Bar on Maiden Street , Newcastle West , after it opened at 10.50am on Monday – proof , said Mr Whelan , that pubs can operate safely , even in a time of Covid-19 .
Pat Reidy , from Ardagh , was one of the first in “ to support Gearóid ” .
Reading a newspaper in his socially-distanced chair , the 62-year old said the ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
“ I think it is great the Whelan ’ s took the stance on this .
A big mistake has been made by the Government , and I hope they look at this and move on from it , ” Mr Reidy added .
Mr Whelan ’ s 69-year-old mother Pauline , a nurse in a local care home , greeted customers , directed them to sanitizing gel , collected their names for contact tracing , and took temperatures .
“ They ’ re all very delighted and very supportive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door after four and half months , ” Mrs Whelan said .
She said it was an emotional day , after being closed for more than four months : “ We run a very good house , never any trouble , and we have very good clientele , there ’ s no messing tolerated in this premises.
” Mr Whelan ’ s father , Pat ( 72 ) , who has pulled pints in the town for 55 years , supported his son : “ I think he ’ s done the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any law .
The pubs have been unfairly treated.
” Reflecting the views of many rural publicans , Mr Whelan said : “ Just give us a chance , let us prove that we can do this , that ’ s all we ask , just a fair level playing field.
” At 1pm gardaí entered the premises and requested Mr Whelan to close , handing him a copy of the regulations that require pubs not serving meals costing €9 , or more , to close .
“ I ’ m complying with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my doors , ” Mr Whelan said .
“ I don ’ t agree with it ... We are doing nothing wrong , there ’ s nothing illegal going on.
” Asked if gardaí had said he could face penalties if he stayed open , he replied : “ Let ’ s just say I was advised to close , yes , long term it might not be the best for me to stay open.
” “ I ’ m disappointed , gutted , but all I wanted to show was that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here this morning saw we can offer a Covid-safe , socially-distanced , enjoyable atmosphere , for a couple of pints , ” Mr Whelan said .
Local Jamie Mullane ( 19 ) said : “ We came in to support Gearóid , he ’ s sticking his neck out on the line , opening up the pub when no one else would .
“ How can thousands come in through the airports and a couple of locals can ’ t come down to the pub .
There isn ’ t much difference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how is that going to spread the virus more than just having a pint ?
” Daniel Norwood ( 19 ) agreed : “ We were supposed to be over in Spain on our Leaving Cert holiday , so we said we ’ d just come down here this morning for one [ pint ] .
”

Gardai called to a Limerick publican, who opened despite government guidelines not to, and asked him to cease trading as a wet house while reduced coronavirus guidelines remain in place, Video: David Raleigh
Limerick publican Gearóid Whelan and several of his regulars launched a short-lived rebellion against rules allowing only pubs serving food to open.
Nearly 50 customers passed the doors of Whelan’s Bar on Maiden Street, Newcastle West, after it opened at 10.50am on Monday – proof, said Mr Whelan, that pubs can operate safely, even in a time of Covid-19.
Pat Reidy, from Ardagh, was one of the first in “to support Gearóid”. Reading a newspaper in his socially-distanced chair, the 62-year old said the ban on non-food pubs is “an injustice”.
“I think it is great the Whelan’s took the stance on this. A big mistake has been made by the Government, and I hope they look at this and move on from it,” Mr Reidy added.
READ MORE
Mr Whelan’s 69-year-old mother Pauline, a nurse in a local care home, greeted customers, directed them to sanitizing gel, collected their names for contact tracing, and took temperatures.
“They’re all very delighted and very supportive of us to be able to open our door after four and half months,” Mrs Whelan said.
She said it was an emotional day, after being closed for more than four months: “We run a very good house, never any trouble, and we have very good clientele, there’s no messing tolerated in this premises.”
Mr Whelan’s father, Pat (72), who has pulled pints in the town for 55 years, supported his son: “I think he’s done the right thing, he’s not breaking any law. The pubs have been unfairly treated.”
‘A chance’
Reflecting the views of many rural publicans, Mr Whelan said: “Just give us a chance, let us prove that we can do this, that’s all we ask, just a fair level playing field.”
At 1pm gardaí entered the premises and requested Mr Whelan to close, handing him a copy of the regulations that require pubs not serving meals costing €9, or more, to close.
“I’m complying with their advice and I’ve closed my doors,” Mr Whelan said. “I don’t agree with it... We are doing nothing wrong, there’s nothing illegal going on.”
Asked if gardaí had said he could face penalties if he stayed open, he replied: “Let’s just say I was advised to close, yes, long term it might not be the best for me to stay open.”
“I’m disappointed, gutted, but all I wanted to show was that we can do this. Everyone that was here this morning saw we can offer a Covid-safe, socially-distanced, enjoyable atmosphere, for a couple of pints,” Mr Whelan said.
Local Jamie Mullane (19) said: “We came in to support Gearóid, he’s sticking his neck out on the line, opening up the pub when no one else would.
“How can thousands come in through the airports and a couple of locals can’t come down to the pub. There isn’t much difference in us having a meal here, and how is that going to spread the virus more than just having a pint?”
Daniel Norwood (19) agreed: “We were supposed to be over in Spain on our Leaving Cert holiday, so we said we’d just come down here this morning for one [pint].”


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Roderic O’Gorman accepts John Connors apology for ‘deranged’ campaign

Minister for Children Roderic O ’ Gorman has accepted an apology from actor John Connors following his “ wrong and unfair ” involvement in a homophobic campaign against the Green Party politician .
Earlier this month Mr Connors , a prominent Travellers ’ rights activist , had called for Mr O ’ Gorman ’ s resignation after far-right Twitter accounts had reposted a photo of him with British LGBT activist Peter Tatchell at Dublin Pride in 2018 .
Mr Connors had said allegations about the newly appointed Green Party Minister and his association with Mr Tatchell should be “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The actor accused the Green Party of inviting Mr Tatchell to take part in Pride and highlighted the campaigner ’ s past efforts to lower the British age of consent to 14 .
However , Mr O ’ Gorman said the Green Party had not invited Mr Tatchell to take part in Pride , but that he had been invited to Ireland by another group involved in the festivities .
Saying that he had met Mr Tatchell at Dublin Pride for “ the first and only time ” , Mr O ’ Gorman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ far-right social media pile-on ” that used misinformation to play on child protection concerns .
Defending his conduct , Connors had initially said Mr O ’ Gorman was “ playing the victim card and claiming homophobia ” and that people were being branded as far-right for “ being anti-paedophilia ” .
However , in a statement posted on Twitter on Sunday night , Connors said he wanted to apologise to Mr O ’ Gorman for his comments that had been “ so wrong and unfair on every level ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of an online frenzy that cast hurtful and false assertions on his character and pursued him in the most unfair way , ” he declared .
Mr Connors said he had “ battled bigotry my whole life and my deranged pursuit of Minister O ’ Gorman played a huge part in the homophobic backlash he received from the very bigots I despise ” .
Saying past tragedies had taken “ its toll on my mental health ” , Mr Connors said this “ in no way ” excused his actions : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my stomach ” .
He said his own “ misguided anger led me to appear to feed an army of trolls and support groups whose views I find repugnant , whose politics are rotten and whose methods are ugly ” .
“ I find myself in a position where I seem to have sided with the very people whose politics I most despise .
I have been politically naive .
I did not fully inform myself of their views and l am truly horrified that I have in any way enabled them.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday that he “ very much ” appreciated the apology and considered the matter fully resolved .
“ Take care of yourself , John , ” he said .

John Connors apologised to Roderic O’Gorman for social media campaign against Minister for Children. File photograph: Niall Carson/PA
Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman has accepted an apology from actor John Connors following his "wrong and unfair" involvement in a homophobic campaign against the Green Party politician.
Earlier this month Mr Connors, a prominent Travellers' rights activist, had called for Mr O'Gorman's resignation after far-right Twitter accounts had reposted a photo of him with British LGBT activist Peter Tatchell at Dublin Pride in 2018.
Mr Connors had said allegations about the newly appointed Green Party Minister and his association with Mr Tatchell should be “the political scandal of the year”.
Full statement and apology regarding recent event's involving Minister Roderic O'Gorman. pic.twitter.com/VDPAD5Omiy — One love (@johnconnors1990) July 19, 2020
The actor accused the Green Party of inviting Mr Tatchell to take part in Pride and highlighted the campaigner’s past efforts to lower the British age of consent to 14.
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However, Mr O’Gorman said the Green Party had not invited Mr Tatchell to take part in Pride, but that he had been invited to Ireland by another group involved in the festivities.
Saying that he had met Mr Tatchell at Dublin Pride for “the first and only time”, Mr O’Gorman said he had become the victim of a “far-right social media pile-on” that used misinformation to play on child protection concerns.
Defending his conduct, Connors had initially said Mr O’Gorman was “playing the victim card and claiming homophobia” and that people were being branded as far-right for “being anti-paedophilia”.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
However, in a statement posted on Twitter on Sunday night, Connors said he wanted to apologise to Mr O’Gorman for his comments that had been “so wrong and unfair on every level”.
“I allowed myself to lead and be part of an online frenzy that cast hurtful and false assertions on his character and pursued him in the most unfair way,” he declared.
Homophobic backlash
Mr Connors said he had “battled bigotry my whole life and my deranged pursuit of Minister O’Gorman played a huge part in the homophobic backlash he received from the very bigots I despise”.
Saying past tragedies had taken “its toll on my mental health”, Mr Connors said this “in no way” excused his actions: “Looking back I’m sick to my stomach”.
He said his own “misguided anger led me to appear to feed an army of trolls and support groups whose views I find repugnant, whose politics are rotten and whose methods are ugly”.
“I find myself in a position where I seem to have sided with the very people whose politics I most despise. I have been politically naive. I did not fully inform myself of their views and l am truly horrified that I have in any way enabled them.”
Replying, Mr O’Gorman said on Monday that he “very much” appreciated the apology and considered the matter fully resolved. “Take care of yourself, John,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Man given 12-year sentence for ‘appalling abuse’ of stepdaughter

A man who subjected his vulnerable stepdaughter to daily rape and sexual abuse and repeatedly forced her to video herself using a sex toy has been sentenced to 12 years in prison .
The Central Criminal Court heard that child ’ s mother walked in and caught the man during one oral rape .
She told him that it should not happen again but the abuse continued .
The now 16-year-old girl and her siblings have been in State care since she told a classmate in the special school she attends about the abuse .
She is now allowed supervised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 41-year-old man pleaded guilty to 12 charges of rape , 12 of oral rape , 11 charges of exploitation and six charges of production of pornography at their family home on dates between November 2015 and October 2018 , when the girl was aged 11-14 .
The pleas were accepted by the State on the grounds that they are sample counts representing 288 charges in total .
The man , who is a foreign national , has no previous convictions and came to Ireland in 2010 .
David Humphries BL , prosecuting , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 16 , is considered a “ vulnerable child ” and had been attending a local special-needs school .
She is being cared for by a foster family .
She told specialist Garda interviewers in February 2019 that the man made her have sex with him and take photos and videos of herself for him on her mobile phone while her mother was at work .
She said the man told her to “ put my butt to the camera ” and use a vibrator on herself .
He would then download the videos @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The girl said the man threatened to keep her out of school or take her mobile phone off her if she did not do as he ordered .
He admitted to gardaí that he told the girl he would publish the photos online if she did not do as instructed .
A local detective garda said the man was arrested in June 2019 and admitted that there had been at least 70 incidents with his stepdaughter , outlining that he raped her at least 50 times and had at least 20 recordings of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ felt bad but at the same time I felt good ” .
He said he had told her “ This is our little secret ” and accepted that she would have been afraid of him .
Later , the man told the gardaí he had abused the girl 120 times , or more .
In one day , she had taken 50 photographs of herself with a selfie stick by his order .
He claimed he never shared recordings or photographs .
He was given a 12-year sentence by Mr Justice Paul McDermott @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he engages with the Probation Service and undergoes sexual offender ’ s treatment .
The judge also imposed a five-year post-release supervision order .
The man is to have no contact with the victim or to have any unsupervised contact with any child .
Describing the abuse as “ appalling ” , Mr Justice McDermott said the man ’ s “ continual actions were a daily feature of the girl ’ s childhood ” and her mother had offered the girl little protection .
The man ’ s guilty plea had saved the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he had assisted gardaí in retrieving deleted files from his laptop .
He said he hoped that in time the man would gain “ real insight into the damage he has done ” .
The girl had been afraid to say anything because she didn ’ t want her family to break up .
“ You think that your parents are supposed to look after you .
I called him ‘ Dad ’ , ” she said .
“ I hope I can keep myself safe in my relationships in the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I now know what safe feels like , ” she added , referring to her foster family .
During questioning , the man “ was very emotional at times and other times he put his hands over his ears because he couldn ’ t listen to what was being said ” .
The man accepted that he had ruined the girl ’ s life , the court was told .

The Central Criminal Court heard that child’s mother walked in and caught the man during one oral rape. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
A man who subjected his vulnerable stepdaughter to daily rape and sexual abuse and repeatedly forced her to video herself using a sex toy has been sentenced to 12 years in prison.
The Central Criminal Court heard that child’s mother walked in and caught the man during one oral rape. She told him that it should not happen again but the abuse continued.
The now 16-year-old girl and her siblings have been in State care since she told a classmate in the special school she attends about the abuse. She is now allowed supervised access only with her mother.
The 41-year-old man pleaded guilty to 12 charges of rape, 12 of oral rape, 11 charges of exploitation and six charges of production of pornography at their family home on dates between November 2015 and October 2018, when the girl was aged 11-14.
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The pleas were accepted by the State on the grounds that they are sample counts representing 288 charges in total. The man, who is a foreign national, has no previous convictions and came to Ireland in 2010.
David Humphries BL, prosecuting, said the girl, who is now 16, is considered a “vulnerable child” and had been attending a local special-needs school. She is being cared for by a foster family.
Fear and threats
She told specialist Garda interviewers in February 2019 that the man made her have sex with him and take photos and videos of herself for him on her mobile phone while her mother was at work.
She said the man told her to “put my butt to the camera” and use a vibrator on herself. He would then download the videos and photos on to his laptop.
The girl said the man threatened to keep her out of school or take her mobile phone off her if she did not do as he ordered. He admitted to gardaí that he told the girl he would publish the photos online if she did not do as instructed.
A local detective garda said the man was arrested in June 2019 and admitted that there had been at least 70 incidents with his stepdaughter, outlining that he raped her at least 50 times and had at least 20 recordings of her.
He told gardaí “it felt bad but at the same time I felt good”. He said he had told her “This is our little secret” and accepted that she would have been afraid of him.
Later, the man told the gardaí he had abused the girl 120 times, or more. In one day, she had taken 50 photographs of herself with a selfie stick by his order. He claimed he never shared recordings or photographs.
He was given a 12-year sentence by Mr Justice Paul McDermott, with the final year suspended if he engages with the Probation Service and undergoes sexual offender’s treatment.
The judge also imposed a five-year post-release supervision order. The man is to have no contact with the victim or to have any unsupervised contact with any child.
Little protection
Describing the abuse as “appalling”, Mr Justice McDermott said the man’s “continual actions were a daily feature of the girl’s childhood” and her mother had offered the girl little protection.
The man’s guilty plea had saved the girl the ordeal of giving evidence, and he had assisted gardaí in retrieving deleted files from his laptop. He said he hoped that in time the man would gain “real insight into the damage he has done”.
The girl had been afraid to say anything because she didn’t want her family to break up. “You think that your parents are supposed to look after you. I called him ‘Dad’,” she said.
“I hope I can keep myself safe in my relationships in the future,” the girl continued. “I now know what safe feels like,” she added, referring to her foster family.
During questioning, the man “was very emotional at times and other times he put his hands over his ears because he couldn’t listen to what was being said”. The man accepted that he had ruined the girl’s life, the court was told.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Bid to extradite Estonian hitman to Lithuania delayed

A bid to extradite an Estonian hitman jailed for his role in a Kinahan cartel murder plot to Lithuania to @ @ @ @ @ delayed .
Imre Arakas ( 62 ) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for @ @ @ @ @ after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between @ @ @ @ @ 2017 .
Lithuanian authorities suspect that ex-wrestler Arakas was allegedly part of a three-man gang @ @ @ @ @ man who had an affair with Lithuanian pop star Vita Jakutiene .
He is held @ @ @ @ @ was expected to challenge a bid to extradite him to Lithuania on October 9th .
@ @ @ @ @ adjourned pending the outcome of an appeal in the separate extradition case of Liam Campbell @

Imre Arakas was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018 after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3rd and 4th, 2017.
A bid to extradite an Estonian hitman jailed for his role in a Kinahan cartel murder plot to Lithuania to face murder charges has been delayed.
Imre Arakas (62) was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for six years in December 2018 after he admitted to conspiring with others to murder James Gately in Northern Ireland between April 3rd and 4th, 2017.
Lithuanian authorities suspect that ex-wrestler Arakas was allegedly part of a three-man gang that conspired to murder a man who had an affair with Lithuanian pop star Vita Jakutiene.
He is held in Portlaoise Prison. He was expected to challenge a bid to extradite him to Lithuania on October 9th. However, it has been adjourned pending the outcome of an appeal in the separate extradition case of Liam Campbell.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--HSE takes case against watchdog over bed reduction order at west Cork care facility

The HSE has taken a legal action against the State ’ s health service regulator over its insistence that the number of registered beds at a west Cork community hospital be reduced .
The regulator , the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , has repeatedly pushed the HSE to reduce the number of multi-occupancy rooms at Clonakilty Community Hospital in recent years .
The HSE has brought a court case against Hiqa in Bandon District Court over the regulator ’ s refusal to continue with the registration of about 120 beds at the facility , and its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 because of concerns about safety and the number of multi-bedded rooms .
There are currently about 74 residents living in the community hospital , built in the 19th century .
Inspection reports published by Hiqa in recent years have highlighted difficult living conditions at the home , with residents sharing rooms and left with a lack of privacy and space .
The legal action began before the Covid-19 pandemic which badly affected the Clonakilty hospital , which lost 10 residents to the virus in an outbreak that began in early April .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that during the outbreak Hiqa twice raised concerns with the HSE about residents who had tested positive for Covid-19 who were sharing the same multi-occupancy room with residents who had not yet tested positive for the coronavirus disease .
The HSE told Hiqa in response that the patients in the unit had dementia , and it had not been possible to accommodate residents appropriately elsewhere while maintaining infection control .
Last week the HSE said it had followed “ expert advice and guidance ” at “ all times ” from public health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own infection prevention and control team .
In Hiqa ’ s most recent report , published in January after an inspection in September 2019 , the regulator found that the Clonakilty hospital had failed to implement previous Hiqa recommendations , and that it was in “ major ” non-compliance as a safe and suitable premises .
Even after the construction of 20 extra single en suite bedrooms and more communal space , the majority of residents would still live in rooms with four residents , said Hiqa .
Hiqa said in its inspection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulties in upholding the rights of residents and ensuring regulatory compliance ” .
Expressing concerns about the current accommodation standards at the home , Hiqa said in its report : “ The use of multi-occupancy rooms for up to seven residents did not support the receipt of personal care and communication in a manner that protected privacy and dignity.
” A number of residents told inspectors that the noise level in multi-occupancy rooms “ could be disturbing and upsetting , especially if a fellow resident was disturbed and shouting ” , Hiqa said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mention in court in early September .
The HSE and Hiqa both declined to comment .
This is not the first time that the health service and its regulator have clashed in legal proceedings over a difference of opinion around conditions in a care facility .
In 2017 the HSE appealed a decision by Hiqa to restrict admissions at Joseph ’ s Hospital in Ennis , Co Clare , to Ennis District Court over concerns about the quality of life for residents .
There have been delays in improving standards in care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older people have been badly affected by coronavirus , accounting for more than half of the 1,748 Covid-19 deaths in the State .
The last minister for health , Simon Harris , signed a statutory instrument in 2016 delaying Hiqa ’ s direction that 80 per cent of a home ’ s rooms be single-occupancy rooms until 2021 .
However , Jim Breslin , the then secretary general of the Department of Health , told the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee last month that it would be “ difficult ” even to meet this target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delay in creating more single-bed rooms had “ devastating consequences ” for patients in Clonakilty and elsewhere , said Independent TD for Cork South West Michael Collins .

The HSE and Hiqa have clashed previously in legal proceedings over a difference of opinion around conditions in a care facility. Photograph: Getty Images
The HSE has taken a legal action against the State's health service regulator over its insistence that the number of registered beds at a west Cork community hospital be reduced.
The regulator, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), has repeatedly pushed the HSE to reduce the number of multi-occupancy rooms at Clonakilty Community Hospital in recent years.
The HSE has brought a court case against Hiqa in Bandon District Court over the regulator's refusal to continue with the registration of about 120 beds at the facility, and its demand that they be reduced to about 100 because of concerns about safety and the number of multi-bedded rooms.
There are currently about 74 residents living in the community hospital, built in the 19th century.
READ MORE
Inspection reports published by Hiqa in recent years have highlighted difficult living conditions at the home, with residents sharing rooms and left with a lack of privacy and space.
The legal action began before the Covid-19 pandemic which badly affected the Clonakilty hospital, which lost 10 residents to the virus in an outbreak that began in early April.
The Irish Times reported earlier this month that during the outbreak Hiqa twice raised concerns with the HSE about residents who had tested positive for Covid-19 who were sharing the same multi-occupancy room with residents who had not yet tested positive for the coronavirus disease.
The HSE told Hiqa in response that the patients in the unit had dementia, and it had not been possible to accommodate residents appropriately elsewhere while maintaining infection control.
Last week the HSE said it had followed “expert advice and guidance” at “all times” from public health and geriatrician consultants and the HSE’s own infection prevention and control team .
Recommendations
In Hiqa’s most recent report, published in January after an inspection in September 2019, the regulator found that the Clonakilty hospital had failed to implement previous Hiqa recommendations, and that it was in “major” non-compliance as a safe and suitable premises.
Even after the construction of 20 extra single en suite bedrooms and more communal space, the majority of residents would still live in rooms with four residents, said Hiqa.
Hiqa said in its inspection report that this would result in “difficulties in upholding the rights of residents and ensuring regulatory compliance”.
Expressing concerns about the current accommodation standards at the home, Hiqa said in its report: “The use of multi-occupancy rooms for up to seven residents did not support the receipt of personal care and communication in a manner that protected privacy and dignity.”
A number of residents told inspectors that the noise level in multi-occupancy rooms “could be disturbing and upsetting, especially if a fellow resident was disturbed and shouting”, Hiqa said.
The legal action is listed for mention in court in early September. The HSE and Hiqa both declined to comment.
Conditions
This is not the first time that the health service and its regulator have clashed in legal proceedings over a difference of opinion around conditions in a care facility.
In 2017 the HSE appealed a decision by Hiqa to restrict admissions at Joseph's Hospital in Ennis, Co Clare, to Ennis District Court over concerns about the quality of life for residents.
There have been delays in improving standards in care homes to single-occupancy rooms.
Congregated settings for older people have been badly affected by coronavirus, accounting for more than half of the 1,748 Covid-19 deaths in the State.
The last minister for health, Simon Harris, signed a statutory instrument in 2016 delaying Hiqa's direction that 80 per cent of a home's rooms be single-occupancy rooms until 2021.
However, Jim Breslin, the then secretary general of the Department of Health, told the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee last month that it would be "difficult" even to meet this target given the impact of Covid.
The delay in creating more single-bed rooms had "devastating consequences" for patients in Clonakilty and elsewhere, said Independent TD for Cork South West Michael Collins.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Man (33) pleads not guilty to rape

Man (33) pleads not guilty to rape

A Westmeath man has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of raping a woman at his home three years ago .
The 33-year-old man pleaded not guilty to anal rape on January 1st , 2017 .
The trial is the first that has taken place in the Courts of Criminal Justice since the pandemic .
Potential jurors were called in one by one , where normally 16 or 20 jurors would be asked to stand in the jury box before being sworn in .
Mr Justice Paul McDermott advised the jury panel , before selection , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take place since lockdown ” .
Special arrangements have been made because of Covid-19 following “ extensive consultation with health authorities ” .
The two-metre social distance rule will be followed in all rooms , he said , and the panel can wear face masks and gloves .The rooms will be rigorously cleaned each day and the air conditioning system is of high quality .
Mr Justice McDermott said hand washing and social distancing are adhered to throughout the courts complex before he advised that , once the jury were empanelled , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow for social distancing .
He said that protective screens had also been put in place .
The judge told the panel that he really appreciated them answering their jury service at this time and referring to the measures that had been put in place , he said “ the whole object of the exercise is to minimise risk ” .
He told the jurors that they could bring anything they want to his attention during the course of the trial .
During the jury empanelling , Mr Justice McDermott wore a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while the second jury minder wore a face shield .
Five jurors wore masks and six of the sworn in jurors were escorted to single spaced-out chairs at the back of the courtroom rather than sitting in the jury box , which would be the normal practice .
The remaining six jurors sat in spaced out seating in the jury box .
The trial which is expected to last seven days is to open before the jury of seven men and five women on Tuesday .

Special arrangements during the rape trial have been made because of Covid-19 following “extensive consultation with health authorities”.
A Westmeath man has gone on trial at the Central Criminal Court accused of raping a woman at his home three years ago.
The 33-year-old man pleaded not guilty to anal rape on January 1st, 2017.
The trial is the first that has taken place in the Courts of Criminal Justice since the pandemic. Potential jurors were called in one by one, where normally 16 or 20 jurors would be asked to stand in the jury box before being sworn in.
Mr Justice Paul McDermott advised the jury panel, before selection, that “this is the first trial to take place since lockdown”. Special arrangements have been made because of Covid-19 following “extensive consultation with health authorities”.
READ MORE
Masks and gloves
The two-metre social distance rule will be followed in all rooms, he said, and the panel can wear face masks and gloves .The rooms will be rigorously cleaned each day and the air conditioning system is of high quality.
Mr Justice McDermott said hand washing and social distancing are adhered to throughout the courts complex before he advised that, once the jury were empanelled, they would be spaced out in the courtroom to allow for social distancing.
Minimising risk
He said that protective screens had also been put in place. The judge told the panel that he really appreciated them answering their jury service at this time and referring to the measures that had been put in place, he said “the whole object of the exercise is to minimise risk”. He told the jurors that they could bring anything they want to his attention during the course of the trial.
During the jury empanelling, Mr Justice McDermott wore a mask, as did one jury minder, while the second jury minder wore a face shield.
Five jurors wore masks and six of the sworn in jurors were escorted to single spaced-out chairs at the back of the courtroom rather than sitting in the jury box, which would be the normal practice. The remaining six jurors sat in spaced out seating in the jury box.
The trial which is expected to last seven days is to open before the jury of seven men and five women on Tuesday.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Stormont relations further strained by split over travel rules

Rules on international travel must be agreed together by Dublin and Stormont to prevent Northern Ireland becoming a “ back door ” for travellers into Republic , Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill has warned .
“ We must be aligned across this island .
We can ’ t make it a better position to travel into the North , ” Michelle O ’ Neill said on Monday , saying British travellers now probably pose “ the biggest risk to us here right now ” .
Backing party president Mary Lou McDonald ’ s call for 14-day quarantine for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ O ’ Neill said she would raise the issue at the Northern Executive on Thursday and next week ’ s North-South Ministerial Council .
However , First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said Northern Ireland was part of the Common Travel Area and that would continue to be respected .
“ The Republic of Ireland has decided to go a different route ; they don ’ t respect the Common Travel Area , that ’ s a matter for them , ” she told a Stormont press conference .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business , for family life , for social life and for political life as well that we continue to have the UK working together and making sure that we can have that travel across the UK , ” the DUP leader said .
The UK has imposed no coronavirus-related restrictions on movement within the Common Travel Area , but anyone arriving into the Republic of Ireland from Britain must self-isolate for two weeks .
Non-essential travel to and from 60 countries is permitted from UK airports .
Stormont ’ s “ green list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three weeks to give “ clarity to people if they want to travel ” , said Foster .
“ It ’ s not for me to tell people should they go or should they not go on holiday , ” Ms Foster said .
“ If they ’ ve booked a holiday and it is on the green or amber list , then they can go without having to quarantine when they come back .
“ Whether they go or not is entirely a matter for their own judgment , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at “ tidying ” the coronavirus regulations .
Relations between Ms O ’ Neill and Ms Foster remain strained in the wake of the funeral of IRA figure Bobby Storey , but it is “ important that we continue to do the work ” , Foster said .

Rules on international travel must be agreed together by Dublin and Stormont to prevent Northern Ireland becoming a "back door" for travellers into Republic, Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill has warned.
“We must be aligned across this island. We can’t make it a better position to travel into the North,” Michelle O’Neill said on Monday, saying British travellers now probably pose “the biggest risk to us here right now”.
Backing party president Mary Lou McDonald’s call for 14-day quarantine for all arrivals to the island, Ms O’Neill said she would raise the issue at the Northern Executive on Thursday and next week’s North-South Ministerial Council.
However, First Minister and Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster said Northern Ireland was part of the Common Travel Area and that would continue to be respected.
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“The Republic of Ireland has decided to go a different route; they don’t respect the Common Travel Area, that’s a matter for them,” she told a Stormont press conference.
“I think it’s important for business, for family life, for social life and for political life as well that we continue to have the UK working together and making sure that we can have that travel across the UK,” the DUP leader said.
Self-isolation
The UK has imposed no coronavirus-related restrictions on movement within the Common Travel Area, but anyone arriving into the Republic of Ireland from Britain must self-isolate for two weeks.
Non-essential travel to and from 60 countries is permitted from UK airports. Stormont’s “green list” of permitted destinations is updated every three weeks to give “clarity to people if they want to travel”, said Foster.
“It’s not for me to tell people should they go or should they not go on holiday,” Ms Foster said. “If they’ve booked a holiday and it is on the green or amber list, then they can go without having to quarantine when they come back.
“Whether they go or not is entirely a matter for their own judgment,” she said, adding that the Executive was looking at “tidying” the coronavirus regulations.
Relations between Ms O'Neill and Ms Foster remain strained in the wake of the funeral of IRA figure Bobby Storey, but it is "important that we continue to do the work", Foster said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-20--Man guilty of theft of heirlooms worth €30,000 from elderly woman

A burglar stole more than €30,000 worth of “ irreplaceable ” family heirlooms and belongings from an elderly woman , @ @ @ @ @ heard .
Gerry Wall ( 27 ) of The Laurels , Bluebell , Dublin , @ @ @ @ @ 2016 burglary in Walkinstown .
He has 26 previous convictions .
Garda Aidan Devaney told @ @ @ @ @ prosecuting , that the son of the elderly woman , who also lived there , @ @ @ @ @ to find it in a “ chaotic state ” with piles of clothes everywhere and @ @ @ @ @ had left the house carrying a suitcase and two bags , containing jewellery , saris @ @ @ @ @ Nothing has been recovered .
Many items were family heirlooms with sentimental value .
They @ @ @ @ @ barrister Emmett Nolan said Wall was a married father of one with little education and @ @ @ @ @ was simply “ no excuse ” for the offence .
His client had shown remorse @ @ @ @ @

A burglar stole more than €30,000 worth of "irreplaceable" family heirlooms and belongings from an elderly woman, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard.
Gerry Wall (27) of The Laurels, Bluebell, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the February 2016 burglary in Walkinstown. He has 26 previous convictions.
Garda Aidan Devaney told Fionnuala O'Sullivan, prosecuting, that the son of the elderly woman, who also lived there, returned to the unoccupied house to find it in a "chaotic state" with piles of clothes everywhere and belongings knocked over.
Wall had left the house carrying a suitcase and two bags, containing jewellery, saris, coins and flags. Nothing has been recovered. Many items were family heirlooms with sentimental value. They were not insured.
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Defending barrister Emmett Nolan said Wall was a married father of one with little education and training. He said there was simply "no excuse" for the offence. His client had shown remorse for what he did.
Judge Karen O’Connor adjourned sentencing until October 15th.