theirishtimes--2020-09-18--Coronavirus: Indoor dining, weddings, funerals, travel to be hit as Dublin set for Level 3

The Government will on Friday impose new restrictions on social and economic life in Dublin in response to the rise in Covid-19 cases in the capital in recent weeks .
The Cabinet is expected to approve a proposal to move Dublin to Level 3 of the Covid restrictions , with Ministers due to sign regulations on Friday evening to impose the restrictions across a range of activities from Friday midnight .
Under additional restrictions for dining , restaurants and pubs which serve food will only be permitted to open if they have outdoor facilities , or for takeaway services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ do not serve food , so-called 'wet pubs ' will stay shut in Dublin when they re-open around the country on on September 21st .
The Government ’ s public health experts made the latest recommendations on Thursday night , amid growing alarm at the rise in cases in the last seven to 10 days .
Restaurants Association of Ireland CEO Adrian Cummins said it was “ shocked ” indoor dining was to close in Dublin for the next few weeks .
“ Currently , controlled and regulated environments like restaurants are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he tweeted .
In other measures , travel into and from Dublin will only be permitted for work or education , and people will be told to work from home unless absolutely necessary .
The number of guests allowed at weddings will be cut from 50 to 25 , though weddings organised for this weekend will be allowed to continue as planned , with the new restriction only coming into place on Monday .
Government sources also indicated that third level colleges in Dublin may be required to move as much tuition as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ third level institutions are preparing for a combination of online and in-person tuition , with students typically spending at least one day on campus each week .
However , sources indicated that only essential campus-based activities may now take place in Dublin .
The Cabinet committee on Covid-19 will meet on Friday morning to consider the recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) , but sources say that the recommendations are certain to be adopted .
They will then be approved by the Cabinet , with an announcement likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Micheál Martin , and Tánaiste , Leo Varadkar , later in the day .
NPHET held a lengthy meeting on Thursday before forwarding its recommendations to the Government .
They were then considered by another committee of senior officials chaired by the State ’ s top civil servant , Martin Fraser , and also attended by the heads of the departments of health and justice , as well as the chief executive of the HSE Paul Reid and the acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn .
The new rules will mark a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the capital moves to Level 3 , though the rest of the country will remain at Level 2 .
In Dublin , social and family gatherings outside the home are likely to be prohibited , while visitors to the home should be restricted to people from one other household .
Sports matches will also be discontinued , though there is an exemption for elite sport , which includes club championship games .
No organised indoor events such as conferences and events in theatres , cinemas or arts venues will be allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confined to 15 people .
Gyms will be permitted to open for individual training only .
Churches and places of worship will remain open for private prayer only , though funerals will have an exemption .
Even here , however , only 25 mourners will be permitted .
On Thursday night , health officials reported that one more person had died of Covid-19 and a further 240 cases had been reported .
Dr Glynn said half of the cases ( 119 ) were in Dublin , while there was also a growing age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The latest figures mean the death toll in the State has risen to 1,789 .
Confirmed cases have now breached the 32,000 mark , climbing to 32,023 .

Members of the public enjoying the good weather in Merrion Square in Dublin on Thursday. Under additional restrictions for dining, restaurants and pubs which serve food will only be permitted to open if they have outdoor facilities, or for takeaway services. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
The Government will on Friday impose new restrictions on social and economic life in Dublin in response to the rise in Covid-19 cases in the capital in recent weeks.
The Cabinet is expected to approve a proposal to move Dublin to Level 3 of the Covid restrictions, with Ministers due to sign regulations on Friday evening to impose the restrictions across a range of activities from Friday midnight.
Under additional restrictions for dining, restaurants and pubs which serve food will only be permitted to open if they have outdoor facilities, or for takeaway services. Authorities have already decided that pubs that do not serve food, so-called 'wet pubs' will stay shut in Dublin when they re-open around the country on on September 21st.
The Government’s public health experts made the latest recommendations on Thursday night, amid growing alarm at the rise in cases in the last seven to 10 days.
READ MORE
Restaurants Association of Ireland CEO Adrian Cummins said it was “shocked” indoor dining was to close in Dublin for the next few weeks.
“Currently, controlled and regulated environments like restaurants are not the problem – households are,” he tweeted.
In other measures, travel into and from Dublin will only be permitted for work or education, and people will be told to work from home unless absolutely necessary.
The number of guests allowed at weddings will be cut from 50 to 25, though weddings organised for this weekend will be allowed to continue as planned, with the new restriction only coming into place on Monday.
Tuition
Government sources also indicated that third level colleges in Dublin may be required to move as much tuition as possible online.
At present, most third level institutions are preparing for a combination of online and in-person tuition, with students typically spending at least one day on campus each week. However, sources indicated that only essential campus-based activities may now take place in Dublin.
The Cabinet committee on Covid-19 will meet on Friday morning to consider the recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), but sources say that the recommendations are certain to be adopted. They will then be approved by the Cabinet, with an announcement likely to be made by the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, later in the day.
NPHET held a lengthy meeting on Thursday before forwarding its recommendations to the Government. They were then considered by another committee of senior officials chaired by the State’s top civil servant, Martin Fraser, and also attended by the heads of the departments of health and justice, as well as the chief executive of the HSE Paul Reid and the acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn.
The new rules will mark a sufficient tightening of the restrictions in Dublin as the capital moves to Level 3, though the rest of the country will remain at Level 2.
Family gatherings
In Dublin, social and family gatherings outside the home are likely to be prohibited, while visitors to the home should be restricted to people from one other household. Sports matches will also be discontinued, though there is an exemption for elite sport, which includes club championship games.
No organised indoor events such as conferences and events in theatres, cinemas or arts venues will be allowed to take place. Outdoor events will be confined to 15 people. Gyms will be permitted to open for individual training only. Churches and places of worship will remain open for private prayer only, though funerals will have an exemption. Even here, however, only 25 mourners will be permitted.
On Thursday night, health officials reported that one more person had died of Covid-19 and a further 240 cases had been reported.
Dr Glynn said half of the cases (119) were in Dublin, while there was also a growing age profile among those catching the virus.
The latest figures mean the death toll in the State has risen to 1,789. Confirmed cases have now breached the 32,000 mark, climbing to 32,023.


theirishtimes--2020-09-18--East to get warmer as Ireland's climate to change dramatically by 2050

Ireland ’ s climate is likely to change dramatically by 2050 , with the eastern region worst affected by higher temperatures , according to the most detailed projections ever generated for the country .
The analysis , generated by a supercomputer , indicates Irish temperatures are set to increase by up to 1.6 degrees due to climate change compared with the 1981-2000 period .
The key Paris Agreement target is to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels this century , and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ enhanced warming in the east ” and more extreme weather events across the whole of the country by midcentury , the Irish Centre for High-End Computing predicts .
It says the growing season will be extended by 45 days a year , which has immense implications for agriculture , both from a positive and negative perspective .
It will enable diversification in crop production but will also increase the threat of pests , while wetter winters will hamper farming activity , according to the team who conducted the advanced computer modelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decreases of approximately 50 per cent are projected in the number of frost and ice days ” , and a similar reduction in snowfall .
Summer heatwaves are expected to occur more frequently .
The projections provide unprecedented detail on regional climate impacts , with the south expected to become most vulnerable to heatwaves .
All regions will experience more extreme rain driven by a warming world – and yet more dry spells .
The analysis , which also factored in global data , was conducted using the national supercomputer at Waterford Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish Centre for High-End Computing is based at NUI Galway and at Grand Canal Quay in Dublin .
“ The models show that the effects of climate change will not be evenly spread across Ireland ; the east for example , will see higher overall temperature increases than the west , ” said climate scientist and project lead Dr Paul Nolan .
“ The fine detail of the models results in a more accurate representation of the climate , and in particular , extreme events such as heavy rainfall , droughts and heatwaves.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ manager , Alastair McKinstry , added : “ Ireland ’ s climate is changing , our models indicate this is resulting in higher temperatures , changing precipitation patterns and increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events , with these changes expected to continue and intensify into the future.
” The data was sufficiently detailed to indicate how different sectors covering agriculture , health , energy , flooding , water management , biodiversity and transport are likely to be affected in different ways , he said .
The study was funded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Met Éireann and the Marine Institute .
It will inform Government policy over coming decades across many sectors , but particularly in climate action – by way of reducing carbon emissions fuelling global heating , and scaling up adaptation measures to counter its inevitable consequences .

Ireland’s climate is likely to change dramatically by 2050, with the eastern region worst affected by higher temperatures, according to the most detailed projections ever generated for the country.
The analysis, generated by a supercomputer, indicates Irish temperatures are set to increase by up to 1.6 degrees due to climate change compared with the 1981-2000 period.
The key Paris Agreement target is to keep the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels this century, and to pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5 degrees to avoid runaway climate change.
There will be "enhanced warming in the east" and more extreme weather events across the whole of the country by midcentury, the Irish Centre for High-End Computing predicts.
READ MORE
It says the growing season will be extended by 45 days a year, which has immense implications for agriculture, both from a positive and negative perspective. It will enable diversification in crop production but will also increase the threat of pests, while wetter winters will hamper farming activity, according to the team who conducted the advanced computer modelling exercise.
Average temperature increases in degrees Celsius predicted for Ireland by 2050, 2070 and 2100.
The report indicates “substantial decreases of approximately 50 per cent are projected in the number of frost and ice days”, and a similar reduction in snowfall. Summer heatwaves are expected to occur more frequently.
The projections provide unprecedented detail on regional climate impacts, with the south expected to become most vulnerable to heatwaves. All regions will experience more extreme rain driven by a warming world – and yet more dry spells.
Uneven spread
The analysis, which also factored in global data, was conducted using the national supercomputer at Waterford Institute of Technology known as Kay. The Irish Centre for High-End Computing is based at NUI Galway and at Grand Canal Quay in Dublin.
"The models show that the effects of climate change will not be evenly spread across Ireland; the east for example, will see higher overall temperature increases than the west," said climate scientist and project lead Dr Paul Nolan.
“The fine detail of the models results in a more accurate representation of the climate, and in particular, extreme events such as heavy rainfall, droughts and heatwaves.”
The centre’s environmental programme manager, Alastair McKinstry, added: “Ireland’s climate is changing, our models indicate this is resulting in higher temperatures, changing precipitation patterns and increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, with these changes expected to continue and intensify into the future.”
The data was sufficiently detailed to indicate how different sectors covering agriculture, health, energy, flooding, water management, biodiversity and transport are likely to be affected in different ways, he said.
The study was funded by the Environmental Protection Agency with support from Met Éireann and the Marine Institute. It will inform Government policy over coming decades across many sectors, but particularly in climate action – by way of reducing carbon emissions fuelling global heating, and scaling up adaptation measures to counter its inevitable consequences.


theirishtimes--2020-09-17--Cluster among golfing group in Midlands a 'significant Covid-19 incident'

Up to 20 golfers on a holiday in the midlands have tested positive for Covid-19 prompting the HSE to issue a circular detailing their movements to GPs practising in the region .
The letter , sent out on Wednesday , explained that a group of 40 people had stayed at the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore , Co Offaly , between September 6th and 10th .
While there , they played golf at Esker Hills and another club course .
Doctors were also informed that “ some socialised in various places around the town ” , specifically identifying three pubs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a “ significant Covid-19 incident ” , the letter went on to say that as many as half of the group had subsequently tested positive for the virus .
As a result , close contacts have been identified and asked to restrict their movements .
Up to 100 members of staff at the hotel where the group stayed are being screened .
“ All hotel residents , most likely from other areas of the country , will be contacted to say they have been in contact with a case and to contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid up to September 24th , ” the circular read .
In a statement , the Bridge House Hotel said the health and safety of employees and guests was it s number one priority .
“ Since reopening we have worked tirelessly to ensure a safe environment in line with the all Government public health guidance , including from the Department of Health and the HSE .
“ However , regrettably , we confirm that we have been notified by the HSE of a confirmed cluster in a group of guests who stayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are working closely with and co-operating fully with the HSE .
All potential close contacts are being contacted by the HSE .
All staff members are also being tested as a precautionary measure .
“ In the interests of health and safety , we have decided to close our hotel temporarily as a further additional measure.
” Local GPs were informed that , as of Wednesday , the infection had been limited to the group in question .
The letter does not identify where they came from .
“ If , from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we determine there is transmission of infection beyond this group either to staff or guests , we may contact others who have eaten in any of the restaurants or drunk at the [ hotel ] bar and ask them to contact their GP if they develop symptoms , ” it said .
“ This is likely to be a significant number of people from the Tullamore community , and you may therefore get queries.
” A HSE spokeswoman did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the content of the circular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish Times .
However , it said separately that it did not comment on individual cases .
Esker Hills proprietor Ray Molloy confirmed that 14 members of the group played the course on Monday , September 7th , but as the clubhouse was closed due to Covid restrictions , they did not consume any food or beverages and had no direct contact with any staff of the golf club .

Up to 20 golfers on a holiday in the midlands have tested positive for Covid-19 prompting the HSE to issue a circular detailing their movements to GPs practising in the region.
The letter, sent out on Wednesday, explained that a group of 40 people had stayed at the Bridge House Hotel in Tullamore, Co Offaly, between September 6th and 10th.
While there, they played golf at Esker Hills and another club course.
Doctors were also informed that “some socialised in various places around the town”, specifically identifying three pubs and one restaurant.
READ MORE
Describing the situation as a “significant Covid-19 incident”, the letter went on to say that as many as half of the group had subsequently tested positive for the virus.
As a result, close contacts have been identified and asked to restrict their movements. Up to 100 members of staff at the hotel where the group stayed are being screened.
“All hotel residents, most likely from other areas of the country, will be contacted to say they have been in contact with a case and to contact their GP if they develop symptoms of Covid up to September 24th,” the circular read.
In a statement, the Bridge House Hotel said the health and safety of employees and guests was it s number one priority.
“Since reopening we have worked tirelessly to ensure a safe environment in line with the all Government public health guidance, including from the Department of Health and the HSE.
“However, regrettably, we confirm that we have been notified by the HSE of a confirmed cluster in a group of guests who stayed at our hotel last week.
“We are working closely with and co-operating fully with the HSE. All potential close contacts are being contacted by the HSE. All staff members are also being tested as a precautionary measure.
“In the interests of health and safety, we have decided to close our hotel temporarily as a further additional measure.”
No direct contact
Local GPs were informed that, as of Wednesday, the infection had been limited to the group in question. The letter does not identify where they came from.
“If, from testing, new notifications and further history, we determine there is transmission of infection beyond this group either to staff or guests, we may contact others who have eaten in any of the restaurants or drunk at the [hotel] bar and ask them to contact their GP if they develop symptoms,” it said.
“This is likely to be a significant number of people from the Tullamore community, and you may therefore get queries.”
A HSE spokeswoman did not immediately reply to requests for comment on the content of the circular, which has been seen by The Irish Times. However, it said separately that it did not comment on individual cases.
Esker Hills proprietor Ray Molloy confirmed that 14 members of the group played the course on Monday, September 7th, but as the clubhouse was closed due to Covid restrictions, they did not consume any food or beverages and had no direct contact with any staff of the golf club.


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Removal of school profiling may have affected ‘accuracy’ of Leaving Cert results, study says

Removing “ school profiling ” from the calculated grades process for Leaving Cert students may have affected the accuracy of the final results , according to a Department of Education study .
The plan to take account of schools ’ Leaving Cert performance over a three-year period sparked significant controversy over the summer .
A 200-page technical report compiled by a group of officials which oversaw a key stage of the calculated grades process includes a detailed examination of the “ credibility of the process ” .
It states : “ From a statistically purist perspective , standardisation could certainly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall level if the ‘ school historical information ’ had remained available for use ... ” The report says this was the vehicle through which school effectiveness was to be incorporated into the standardisation process , which adjusted students ’ grades up and down for consistency .
However , it goes on to state there was “ little to be gained by increasing the accuracy of the standardisation process if , by doing so , one runs a real risk of losing public support in the process ” .
Opposition parties argued it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance to the average of the school .
While the Government initially defended the use of the information , Minister for Education Norma Foley later received Cabinet approval to remove it from the standardisation process on September 1st .
She said this was the fairest approach because it removed any risk that a Leaving Cert student ’ s results could be impacted by the performance of their school in previous years .
However , many students from high-achieving schools argue that they were disadvantaged as a result .
A number of schools have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year were significantly lower than their historical performances despite overall grade inflation this year .
The report from the department ’ s National Standardisation Group also states that a “ clear tension emerged late in the day ” regarding the degree to which there would be public support for the substantial levels of adjustment to school estimates that would have been required to bring the calculated grades back into line with national historical norms .
It said the group noted the Minister ’ s concerns in this regard , and the corresponding decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards as accurately as possible across the 2020 cohort of Leaving Cert students .

A number of schools have said their results in many subjects this year were significantly lower than their historical performances despite overall grade inflation. Photograph: Getty Images
Removing “school profiling” from the calculated grades process for Leaving Cert students may have affected the accuracy of the final results, according to a Department of Education study.
The plan to take account of schools’ Leaving Cert performance over a three-year period sparked significant controversy over the summer.
A 200-page technical report compiled by a group of officials which oversaw a key stage of the calculated grades process includes a detailed examination of the “credibility of the process”.
It states: “From a statistically purist perspective, standardisation could certainly have been rendered more accurate at an overall level if the ‘school historical information’ had remained available for use...”
READ MORE
The report says this was the vehicle through which school effectiveness was to be incorporated into the standardisation process, which adjusted students’ grades up and down for consistency.
However, it goes on to state there was “little to be gained by increasing the accuracy of the standardisation process if, by doing so, one runs a real risk of losing public support in the process”.
Opposition parties argued it would penalise disadvantaged students by constraining their performance to the average of the school.
While the Government initially defended the use of the information, Minister for Education Norma Foley later received Cabinet approval to remove it from the standardisation process on September 1st.
She said this was the fairest approach because it removed any risk that a Leaving Cert student’s results could be impacted by the performance of their school in previous years.
Lower
However, many students from high-achieving schools argue that they were disadvantaged as a result.
A number of schools have said their results in many subjects this year were significantly lower than their historical performances despite overall grade inflation this year.
The report from the department's National Standardisation Group also states that a "clear tension emerged late in the day" regarding the degree to which there would be public support for the substantial levels of adjustment to school estimates that would have been required to bring the calculated grades back into line with national historical norms.
It said the group noted the Minister’s concerns in this regard, and the corresponding decision to focus efforts on the alignment of standards as accurately as possible across the 2020 cohort of Leaving Cert students.


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Coronavirus: Public health experts considered idea of moving Dublin to Level 4

The idea of moving Dublin to Level 4 of the five-level plan to tackle the rise of Covid-19 cases in the capital was backed by some members of the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) at their meeting this week .
But some members were concerned Government would not agree to such a dramatic move , which was supported by a minority of the team on Thursday , and instead recommended a move to Level 3 with added restrictions , as announced last night .
Concerns were privately expressed that recommending a higher level of restrictions could cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leading to mixed messages and undermining public health efforts to fight the virus .
Members of the group believe they may have to recommend an escalation to Level 4 in Dublin in two to three weeks , should infections continue to increase – a move that would see the closure of all but essential retail outlets with only essential workers allowed to travel to workplaces .
There was also a discussion by NPHET that the whole country should be moved to Level 3 along with Dublin , but concerns were expressed that this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions in the capital .
If infection rates continue to grow significantly , the group may recommend a nationwide move to Level 3 next week , it is understood .
Last night , Government announced the toughest restrictions since the lockdown earlier this year , infuriating restaurant and bar owners in Dublin , many of whom say they are facing immediate closure .
In a televised address from Government Buildings , Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that Dublin is at a “ very dangerous place ” and , without action , could quickly return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Martin said he knew the havoc the virus was causing to the economy , to sports , to arts and culture .
“ But I also know this , my first and most important obligation , and that of Government , is to protect you .
This virus kills .
It kills more old people than young , but it kills young people too , ” he said .
Outlining some of the new restrictions that would impact on the capital for three weeks , Mr Martin said visitors from only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes .
Sports training will be allowed to take place , but no matches , while weddings and funerals will be confined to 25 people .
“ Many will be upset by what we have to do but please be assured these restrictions are recommended by our leading medical experts , ” he said .
People have been asked not to travel outside or into Dublin city and county .
Asked about enforcement , Mr Martin said there would be an increased presence of gardaí on the roads but it would be left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of adhering to the guidance not to travel into or out of Dublin .
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn warned that if action was not taken , the State could be facing 1,000 cases a day next month .
Dr Glynn said 1,600 people had contracted Covid-19 in the past two weeks , there had been 17 deaths and the reproduction number was now between 1.3 and 1.7 .
“ If we do not stop the transmissions now , we are afraid we could have 1,000 cases a day by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said many people do not want to believe it , but the Covid-19 situation was “ getting serious again ” .
“ It ’ s not all bad , ” Mr Varadkar said .
“ There is hope .
If we compare ourselves to many of our neighbours we are doing relatively well , ” adding that Dublin was doing better than Belfast , Amsterdam or Paris .
The Government announced an immediate €30 million in supports for businesses affected , but hospitality industry groups said that would not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members were experiencing .
The Restaurants Association said more than 50,000 jobs would be lost this weekend across the sector .
The Irish Hotels Federation said 100,000 jobs had been lost in the tourism sector and a further 100,000 were at “ immediate risk ” .
The assistance announced “ fall far short of what is required ” , the group said .
NPHET announced there were 253 more cases of coronavirus , of which 116 are in Dublin , and three further deaths .
Of the 253 cases , 143 are men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent are under 45 years of age .
Forty-five per cent are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case .

In a live address to the nation, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the new restrictions for Dublin would leave “many people angry” but it was necessary to protect life. Video: RTE
The idea of moving Dublin to Level 4 of the five-level plan to tackle the rise of Covid-19 cases in the capital was backed by some members of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) at their meeting this week.
But some members were concerned Government would not agree to such a dramatic move, which was supported by a minority of the team on Thursday, and instead recommended a move to Level 3 with added restrictions, as announced on Friday.
Concerns were privately expressed that recommending a higher level of restrictions could cause discord between NPHET and the Government, leading to mixed messages and undermining public health efforts to fight the virus.
On Saturday, Prof Philip Nolan, chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, rejected any suggestion, however, that the team would modify its advise based on the likely Government response.
READ MORE
Members of the group believe they may have to recommend an escalation to Level 4 in Dublin in two to three weeks, should infections continue to increase – a move that would see the closure of all but essential retail outlets with only essential workers allowed to travel to workplaces.
Concerns
There was also a discussion by NPHET that the whole country should be moved to Level 3 along with Dublin, but concerns were expressed that this would dilute the message requiring targeted public actions in the capital.
If infection rates continue to grow significantly, the group may recommend a nationwide move to Level 3 next week, it is understood.
Last night, Government announced the toughest restrictions since the lockdown earlier this year, infuriating restaurant and bar owners in Dublin, many of whom say they are facing immediate closure.
In a televised address from Government Buildings, Taoiseach Micheál Martin warned that Dublin is at a “very dangerous place” and, without action, could quickly return to the worst days of the crisis.
Mr Martin said he knew the havoc the virus was causing to the economy, to sports, to arts and culture.
“But I also know this, my first and most important obligation, and that of Government, is to protect you. This virus kills. It kills more old people than young, but it kills young people too,” he said.
Outlining some of the new restrictions that would impact on the capital, Mr Martin said visitors from only one other household will be allowed into homes. Sports training will be allowed to take place, but no matches, while weddings and funerals will be confined to 25 people.
“Many will be upset by what we have to do but please be assured these restrictions are recommended by our leading medical experts,” he said.
Enforcement
People have been asked not to travel outside or into Dublin city and county. Asked about enforcement, Mr Martin said there would be an increased presence of gardaí on the roads but it would be left to people to be responsible in terms of adhering to the guidance not to travel into or out of Dublin.
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn warned that if action was not taken, the State could be facing 1,000 cases a day next month.
Dr Glynn said 1,600 people had contracted Covid-19 in the past two weeks, there had been 17 deaths and the reproduction number was now between 1.3 and 1.7.
“If we do not stop the transmissions now, we are afraid we could have 1,000 cases a day by the middle of October,” he said.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said many people do not want to believe it, but the Covid-19 situation was "getting serious again".
"It's not all bad," Mr Varadkar said. "There is hope. If we compare ourselves to many of our neighbours we are doing relatively well," adding that Dublin was doing better than Belfast, Amsterdam or Paris.
The Government announced an immediate €30 million in supports for businesses affected, but hospitality industry groups said that would not be sufficient to tackle the crisis its members were experiencing.
Tourism sector
The Restaurants Association said more than 50,000 jobs would be lost this weekend across the sector. The Irish Hotels Federation said 100,000 jobs had been lost in the tourism sector and a further 100,000 were at "immediate risk". The assistance announced "fall far short of what is required", the group said.
NPHET had considered measures that would allow indoor dining to continue in Dublin, including limiting numbers at tables, reduced capacity and earlier closing times.
However, in a letter to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly in advance of Friday’s Government announcement, Dr Glynn said NPHET moved instead to recommend the ban on indoor dining “given the severity of the epidemiological situation in Dublin”.
Dr Glynn said NPHET’s view was “the profile of the disease in Dublin is at an extremely critical juncture,” and the window of opportunity to suppress the virus “without significant additional measures is no longer available.”
“Once again, the NPHET fully appreciates that this most recent advice will be disappointing, concerning and challenging for the people of Dublin in particular,” he wrote.
NPHET announced on Friday there were 253 more cases of coronavirus, of which 116 are in Dublin, and three further deaths.
Of the 253 cases, 143 are men and 108 are women while 71 per cent are under 45 years of age. Forty-five per cent are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case.


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Luggala owner: Art-loving aristocrat who values his privacy

Born in May 1955 , Count Luca Rinaldo Contardo Padulli di Vighignolo is an elusive character .
In one profile , he is described as Britain ’ s biggest landowner .
In another , he is said to control 106,000 homes across Britain .
The Italian property magnate previously worked with investment fund Camomille LLP , but has since resigned as a director .
He has served as a director of a plethora of other companies registered in England .
Noting his control over 106,000 homes , one reputable publisher , Tortoise , noted also the Italian ’ s collections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2017 , Tatler magazine reported he ’ d bought a village in North Yorkshire called West Heslerton .
And Tortoise notes that he lives in a 16th-century moated manor in Norfolk .
His fondness for art became clear in 2017 after the US-based Getty Museum announced its most expensive acquisitions ever , paying an estimated $ 100 million for a collection of master drawings .
The trove included works by Goya , Degas , Rubens , Michelangelo and Lorenzo di Credi .
Padulli was quickly unveiled as their former owner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ mysterious Italian aristocrat ” .
His business interests are controlled by Wallace Partnership Group Limited , which underwent a reorganisation with a newly incorporated company last year called Albanwise Wallace Estates Limited .
Last year , Wallace paid a £140 million dividend .
To whom those funds were paid is not clear .
In its accounts , the company said “ this dividend formed part of the group reorganisation ” .
While the company had no turnover in the year , its investments were valued at £232 million .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parent company is Perseverance Limited , which is registered in Gibraltar .
It worth noting , too , that Padulli is listed a person of significant control of the Albanwise entity .
Though it did not trade in 2019 , it is likely to become more prominent in Padulli ’ s operations this year .
His connection with Luggala was revealed in July of last year when a company called Luggala Estate Limited was registered .
His wife , Carolyn Dolgenos , is one of the company ’ s directors .
The company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Romito AG , a company registered in Switzerland .
When the Paradise Papers were leaked , the Padulli family group was linked in the papers to companies called Codelouf Limited and Parsimony Limited , companies themselves which were linked to both Guernsey and Jersey .
There is nothing wrong , it should be said , with registering an entity in jurisdictions like those .
From his extensive company holdings , it quickly becomes clear that Padulli is fond of seclusion .
Whether the illustrious Luggala estate , known for its lavish parties under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persuade him to shed that desire for privacy remains to be seen .

Padulli’s connection with Luggala was revealed in July of last year when a company called Luggala Estate Limited was registered
Born in May 1955, Count Luca Rinaldo Contardo Padulli di Vighignolo is an elusive character. In one profile, he is described as Britain's biggest landowner. In another, he is said to control 106,000 homes across Britain.
The Italian property magnate previously worked with investment fund Camomille LLP, but has since resigned as a director. He has served as a director of a plethora of other companies registered in England.
Noting his control over 106,000 homes, one reputable publisher, Tortoise, noted also the Italian's collections of prized drawings by Rubens and Michelangelo.
In 2017, Tatler magazine reported he’d bought a village in North Yorkshire called West Heslerton. And Tortoise notes that he lives in a 16th-century moated manor in Norfolk.
READ MORE
His fondness for art became clear in 2017 after the US-based Getty Museum announced its most expensive acquisitions ever, paying an estimated $100 million for a collection of master drawings.
The trove included works by Goya, Degas, Rubens, Michelangelo and Lorenzo di Credi. Padulli was quickly unveiled as their former owner, referred to at the time as a "mysterious Italian aristocrat".
His business interests are controlled by Wallace Partnership Group Limited, which underwent a reorganisation with a newly incorporated company last year called Albanwise Wallace Estates Limited.
Dividend
Last year, Wallace paid a £140 million dividend. To whom those funds were paid is not clear. In its accounts, the company said “this dividend formed part of the group reorganisation”.
While the company had no turnover in the year, its investments were valued at £232 million. It's worth noting that Wallace's ultimate parent company is Perseverance Limited, which is registered in Gibraltar.
It worth noting, too, that Padulli is listed a person of significant control of the Albanwise entity. Though it did not trade in 2019, it is likely to become more prominent in Padulli’s operations this year.
His connection with Luggala was revealed in July of last year when a company called Luggala Estate Limited was registered. His wife, Carolyn Dolgenos, is one of the company's directors. The company's beneficial owner is listed as Romito AG, a company registered in Switzerland.
When the Paradise Papers were leaked, the Padulli family group was linked in the papers to companies called Codelouf Limited and Parsimony Limited, companies themselves which were linked to both Guernsey and Jersey.
There is nothing wrong, it should be said, with registering an entity in jurisdictions like those. From his extensive company holdings, it quickly becomes clear that Padulli is fond of seclusion.
Whether the illustrious Luggala estate, known for its lavish parties under the ownership of Garech Browne, will persuade him to shed that desire for privacy remains to be seen.


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Garda concerned over increasing participation of far-right in anti-mask protests

Gardaí are increasingly concerned by the presence of far-right extremists at anti-mask rallies in Dublin and the possibility of serious violence breaking out at future events .
Violence has occurred at two anti-mask rallies in recent weeks , including an incident last Saturday which left a counterprotester requiring hospital treatment .
On August 22nd , a small number of far-right agitators attended a large anti-mask protest outside the Custom House armed with a variety of weapons including iron bars and extendable batons .
Despite a large Garda presence , these men , who wore masks and surgical gloves , clashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment .
Gardaí believe some of the men involved in the violence were members of the Irish branch of Generation Identity , a now seemingly defunct white nationalist organisation which focused on street activism .
Generation Identity has a history of sending recruits to military-style training camps in Europe for fitness training and lessons in hand to hand combat .
Gardaí are aware of some Irish far right activists boasting online about attending training camps but it is not clear if these are the same camps organised by Generation Identity or if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Generation Identity members are still involved in the Irish far-right movement and a handful were present at the two recent anti-mask protests where violence occurred .
“ It is a small but growing concern .
There is a feeling this could get out of control and we could soon be looking at very serious injuries among protesters or counterprotesters , ” a security source said .
Further anti-mask protests by various groups are planned over the next three weekends .
The Garda Public Order unit is to be put on standby for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authored planning document was circulated widely in Irish far-right circles following the movement ’ s failure to return any candidates in the recent general election .
It called on far-right activists to form “ martial arts groups for mutual protection ” , to “ act as an army ” and to engage in the “ strategic use of gardaí for security matters ” .
It also advised activists to “ use garda contacts and military contacts and civil service contacts strategically ” .
The protest in August was run by Health Freedom Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government ’ s Covid-19 measures .
It said it has no connection to far-right groups and that it can not control who shows up at its events .
“ We are protesting for a very specific reason and we don ’ t expect every participant to agree with us on everything else also , ” its founder Maeve Murran said .
Meanwhile , a detective sergeant has been appointed to investigate the assault on Izzy Kamikaze , the veteran LGBT+ campaigner , who was attacked during an anti-mask protest outside the Dáil last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ struck with a pole wrapped in a Tricolour , leaving her with a gash to her head .
Some of the participants at the event wore badges reading “ Antifa Hunting Permit .
Open season all 58 genders ” , a reference to the decentralised left-wing protest which has come to prominence in the US in recent months .
Last year Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he was “ concerned about right-wing extremism .
We can see evidence of it on our shores as we have seen it spread across Europe.
” In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ known criminal elements have been identified as affiliated with right-wing protests ” in Ireland .

The scene earlier this week ahead of a planned protest. A detective sergeant has been appointed to investigate the assault on a veteran LGBT+ campaigner, who was attacked during an anti-mask protest outside the Dáil last Saturday. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Gardaí are increasingly concerned by the presence of far-right extremists at anti-mask rallies in Dublin and the possibility of serious violence breaking out at future events.
Violence has occurred at two anti-mask rallies in recent weeks, including an incident last Saturday which left a counterprotester requiring hospital treatment. On August 22nd, a small number of far-right agitators attended a large anti-mask protest outside the Custom House armed with a variety of weapons including iron bars and extendable batons.
Despite a large Garda presence, these men, who wore masks and surgical gloves, clashed with counterdemonstrators, leaving one requiring medical treatment.
Gardaí believe some of the men involved in the violence were members of the Irish branch of Generation Identity, a now seemingly defunct white nationalist organisation which focused on street activism.
READ MORE
Generation Identity has a history of sending recruits to military-style training camps in Europe for fitness training and lessons in hand to hand combat.
Gardaí are aware of some Irish far right activists boasting online about attending training camps but it is not clear if these are the same camps organised by Generation Identity or if the activists attended them at all.
Violence occurred
Irish Generation Identity members are still involved in the Irish far-right movement and a handful were present at the two recent anti-mask protests where violence occurred.
“It is a small but growing concern. There is a feeling this could get out of control and we could soon be looking at very serious injuries among protesters or counterprotesters,” a security source said.
Further anti-mask protests by various groups are planned over the next three weekends. The Garda Public Order unit is to be put on standby for the events.
In February, an anonymously authored planning document was circulated widely in Irish far-right circles following the movement’s failure to return any candidates in the recent general election.
It called on far-right activists to form “martial arts groups for mutual protection”, to “act as an army” and to engage in the “strategic use of gardaí for security matters”.
It also advised activists to “use garda contacts and military contacts and civil service contacts strategically”.
The protest in August was run by Health Freedom Ireland, which has been campaigning against the Government's Covid-19 measures. It said it has no connection to far-right groups and that it cannot control who shows up at its events.
"We are protesting for a very specific reason and we don't expect every participant to agree with us on everything else also," its founder Maeve Murran said.
Assault
Meanwhile, a detective sergeant has been appointed to investigate the assault on Izzy Kamikaze, the veteran LGBT+ campaigner, who was attacked during an anti-mask protest outside the Dáil last Saturday.
Ms Kamikaze said she was struck with a pole wrapped in a Tricolour, leaving her with a gash to her head. Some of the participants at the event wore badges reading "Antifa Hunting Permit. Open season all 58 genders", a reference to the decentralised left-wing protest which has come to prominence in the US in recent months.
Last year Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said he was "concerned about right-wing extremism. We can see evidence of it on our shores as we have seen it spread across Europe."
In June, Europol said in a report that "known criminal elements have been identified as affiliated with right-wing protests" in Ireland.


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Covid-19: Rising unknown spread of coronavirus ends indoor dining in Dublin

It is the unknown nature of how coronavirus spreads rather than the known clusters of infection that matters when runaway community transmission requires tough new measures .
Last month , community transmission – the unknown spread of the virus in public – amounted to one in every five cases on average across the country .
Now it is about two in every five of a much higher number of infections , particularly in Dublin .
That means a required change in how the public behaves .
That means less mingling , less social contacts .
That means removing opportunities for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ follows then that banning indoor dining in restaurants and food-serving pubs should be added to the new Level 3 restrictions for Dublin to reduce person-to-person contact that the virus thrives on .
Restaurants , publicans and the hospitality industry reacted angrily that additional measures should be applied in a Level 3-plus alert to Dublin at short notice when they have spent vast amounts of time and money adapting their businesses to operate safely .
The trade has pointed to the fact there have been just five Covid-19 outbreaks in pubs , nine in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past week ) and two in hotels throughout the pandemic as evidence that they are safe places .
“ The data is only as good as how you are able to interpret it , ” said Patricia Kearney , professor of epidemiology of UCC .
“ There is community transmission ongoing so it got into people ’ s households .
If all that was happening was spread within households and no households were interacting , then there wouldn ’ t be any further transmission .
It is out in the community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Philip Nolan , chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group , posted a series of tweets yesterday in response to “ misreading and misinterpreting the data on outbreaks and clusters ” .
He noted that household outbreaks and community transmissions can arise from people catching the virus from meeting in restaurants but the source of the infection was not the focus of the public health investigation .
He explained that a person might have caught the virus in a restaurant five days earlier but health officials only ask for their contacts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ developed symptoms .
They do not need to know where the person got the virus , he said , but where the virus is going and who the person might have infected in order to prevent onward transmission .
“ We would like to go back and find out where people are getting the virus , but we don ’ t have the time or resources to pursue this academic exercise , ” he said .
He pointed to international evidence “ from better resourced systems on how the virus transmits ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants , drive community transmission .
“ We know that in Dublin at least one in three cases are community transmission .
Where is this happening ?
Wherever we mix socially : our houses , gyms , bars , restaurants , ” he said .
“ Sadly , unless we stop mixing in these settings , we know the disease will spiral out of control.
” A report published by the US Centres for Disease Control last week said that people who tested positive for the virus were about twice as likely to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New York City is only set to loosen a six-month ban on indoor dining at the end of this month .
Kingston Mills , professor of experimental immunology at Trinity College Dublin , said that community spread was occurring because of a failure of “ public buy-in ” with people not turning up for tests and a contact tracing and testing system that was “ still not optimal ” with delays .
“ There is a solution to it , of course , and that is to make it mandatory once you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to for a test , ” he said .
Prof Patricia Kearney dismissed the “ sledgehammer to kill flies ” criticism appearing on social media in response to the restrictions on indoor dining .
“ I certainly don ’ t think what we are facing is flies .
We are at a critical point , ” she said .
“ It is much more grave than that .
”

It is the unknown nature of how coronavirus spreads rather than the known clusters of infection that matters when runaway community transmission requires tough new measures.
Last month, community transmission – the unknown spread of the virus in public – amounted to one in every five cases on average across the country. Now it is about two in every five of a much higher number of infections, particularly in Dublin.
That means a required change in how the public behaves. That means less mingling, less social contacts. That means removing opportunities for people to meet and mix. It follows then that banning indoor dining in restaurants and food-serving pubs should be added to the new Level 3 restrictions for Dublin to reduce person-to-person contact that the virus thrives on.
Reacted angrily
Restaurants, publicans and the hospitality industry reacted angrily that additional measures should be applied in a Level 3-plus alert to Dublin at short notice when they have spent vast amounts of time and money adapting their businesses to operate safely.
READ MORE
The trade has pointed to the fact there have been just five Covid-19 outbreaks in pubs, nine in restaurants and cafes (including just three in the past week) and two in hotels throughout the pandemic as evidence that they are safe places.
"The data is only as good as how you are able to interpret it," said Patricia Kearney, professor of epidemiology of UCC.
“There is community transmission ongoing so it got into people’s households. If all that was happening was spread within households and no households were interacting, then there wouldn’t be any further transmission. It is out in the community and that is really concerning.”
Prof Philip Nolan, chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, posted a series of tweets yesterday in response to "misreading and misinterpreting the data on outbreaks and clusters". He noted that household outbreaks and community transmissions can arise from people catching the virus from meeting in restaurants but the source of the infection was not the focus of the public health investigation.
He explained that a person might have caught the virus in a restaurant five days earlier but health officials only ask for their contacts for the 48 hours before the individual developed symptoms. They do not need to know where the person got the virus, he said, but where the virus is going and who the person might have infected in order to prevent onward transmission.
“We would like to go back and find out where people are getting the virus, but we don’t have the time or resources to pursue this academic exercise,” he said.
He pointed to international evidence “from better resourced systems on how the virus transmits” and that social settings, including bars and restaurants, drive community transmission.
Loosen ban
“We know that in Dublin at least one in three cases are community transmission. Where is this happening? Wherever we mix socially: our houses, gyms, bars, restaurants,” he said.
“Sadly, unless we stop mixing in these settings, we know the disease will spiral out of control.”
A report published by the US Centres for Disease Control last week said that people who tested positive for the virus were about twice as likely to have reported eating recently at a restaurant. New York City is only set to loosen a six-month ban on indoor dining at the end of this month.
Kingston Mills, professor of experimental immunology at Trinity College Dublin, said that community spread was occurring because of a failure of "public buy-in" with people not turning up for tests and a contact tracing and testing system that was "still not optimal" with delays.
“There is a solution to it, of course, and that is to make it mandatory once you are called for a test to go to for a test,” he said.
Prof Patricia Kearney dismissed the “sledgehammer to kill flies” criticism appearing on social media in response to the restrictions on indoor dining.
“I certainly don’t think what we are facing is flies. We are at a critical point,” she said. “It is much more grave than that.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Walkers concerned over plans to limit access to Luggala estate

Entry for walkers to the currently closed Luggala estate in Co Wicklow , now owned by an Italian hedge-fund billionaire , will be strictly limited , even after the Covid-19 crisis passes , it has emerged .
The 5,000-acre estate , owned for decades by the Guinness family , was sold last year for less than the €28 million asking price to the London-based Count Luca Rinaldo Contardo Padulli di Vighignolo .
The lands , which are home to filming for the hit TV series The Vikings , have been closed to walkers since the spring , with the estate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its staff .
However , correspondence from the estate in May seen by The Irish Times warns that the estate will be off-limits in future when the estate has guests , when farming work demands it , or when filming is under way .
Entry for “ responsible ” walkers would be facilitated , it said , claiming that trees and fences have been damaged in recent months , while some people had tried to climb gates leading to the former hunting lodge .
The correspondence , dated May 2020 , said access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by hill walkers coming from Lough Dan would be restored in mid-August .
So far , this has not happened .
This week , the estate said access to walkers for National Walking Day , scheduled for Sunday September 27th , will depend on whether filming on the estate is completed in time .
Since mid-summer , the access route to Lough Dan from Oldbridge has also been closed off , following complaints by a local farming family about litter , wild camping and vandalism .
The County Wicklow Partnership , which promotes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ closed ” notices at Oldbridge , but a spokeswoman said the closure would be reviewed month to month .
Hill walkers have expressed concern about the current closures , but , most importantly , about fears that the traditionally enjoyed walking routes , which were always open , would now be mostly closed .
Former Green Party TD Roger Garland , who now chairs Keep Ireland Open , said important routes to the State-owned Lough Dan , Fancy Mountain and Knocknacloghoge are now being denied .
Visitors numbers to Luggala have increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Luggala has pushed walkers to already-overcrowded spots , such as Glendalough where gardaí have been needed to deal with traffic jams .
Saying that is unrealistic to use Covid-19 as a reason to to keep walkers out , Mr Garland said hundreds of people are working on the Vikings film set , often arriving by bus .
Disappointed that Luggala has been closed for so long , Wicklow Uplands Council member Jim Sheehan said the council had negotiated access to many of the trails .
More than 50 hill-walking groups listed are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely disappointed by the closure of Luggala , said Michael Murray of the ESB hill-walking group .
In a statement , a public relations company representing Luggala said the estate ’ s board members are “ committed conservationists with a vision to restore Luggala to a working estate ” .
“ Sustainability and protecting the unique biodiversity of Luggala is at the core of their vision and they have already begun remedial works including restoring famine walls , water courses and a bracken control programme , ” it said .
It continued : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year with the onset of the current public health crisis and while we carried out these remedial works .
Currently , filming is taking place in Luggala and the estate is closed to the public while being used as a film location .
“ Covid-19 and bad weather wreaked havoc in early August , delaying filming and our bracken control programme , resulting in a delay in our planned reopening in mid-August .
“ We understand that many walkers are disappointed that they have not been able to access the estate and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ walkers once filming is complete , ” it went on .

The lands, which are home to filming for the hit TV series Vikings, have been closed to walkers since the spring, with the estate saying the actions were necessary to protect its staff from Covid-19. Photograph: Eric Luke
Entry for walkers to the currently closed Luggala estate in Co Wicklow, now owned by an Italian hedge-fund billionaire, will be strictly limited, even after the Covid-19 crisis passes, it has emerged.
The 5,000-acre estate, owned for decades by the Guinness family, was sold last year for less than the €28 million asking price to the London-based Count Luca Rinaldo Contardo Padulli di Vighignolo.
The lands, which are home to filming for the hit TV series The Vikings, have been closed to walkers since the spring, with the estate saying the actions were necessary to protect its staff.
However, correspondence from the estate in May seen by The Irish Times warns that the estate will be off-limits in future when the estate has guests, when farming work demands it, or when filming is under way.
READ MORE
Entry for “responsible” walkers would be facilitated, it said, claiming that trees and fences have been damaged in recent months, while some people had tried to climb gates leading to the former hunting lodge.
The correspondence, dated May 2020, said access to the popular walking trails often enjoyed by hill walkers coming from Lough Dan would be restored in mid-August. So far, this has not happened.
This week, the estate said access to walkers for National Walking Day, scheduled for Sunday September 27th, will depend on whether filming on the estate is completed in time.
Wild camping
Since mid-summer, the access route to Lough Dan from Oldbridge has also been closed off, following complaints by a local farming family about litter, wild camping and vandalism.
The County Wicklow Partnership, which promotes access to the countryside, has posted “closed” notices at Oldbridge, but a spokeswoman said the closure would be reviewed month to month.
Hill walkers have expressed concern about the current closures, but, most importantly, about fears that the traditionally enjoyed walking routes, which were always open, would now be mostly closed.
Former Green Party TD Roger Garland, who now chairs Keep Ireland Open, said important routes to the State-owned Lough Dan, Fancy Mountain and Knocknacloghoge are now being denied.
Visitors numbers to Luggala have increased, he accepted, but the closure of Luggala has pushed walkers to already-overcrowded spots, such as Glendalough where gardaí have been needed to deal with traffic jams.
Saying that is unrealistic to use Covid-19 as a reason to to keep walkers out, Mr Garland said hundreds of people are working on the Vikings film set, often arriving by bus.
Disappointed that Luggala has been closed for so long, Wicklow Uplands Council member Jim Sheehan said the council had negotiated access to many of the trails.
Disappointed
More than 50 hill-walking groups listed are members of Mountaineering Ireland and most are extremely disappointed by the closure of Luggala, said Michael Murray of the ESB hill-walking group.
In a statement, a public relations company representing Luggala said the estate’s board members are “committed conservationists with a vision to restore Luggala to a working estate”.
“Sustainability and protecting the unique biodiversity of Luggala is at the core of their vision and they have already begun remedial works including restoring famine walls, water courses and a bracken control programme,” it said.
It continued: “Access for walkers ceased earlier this year with the onset of the current public health crisis and while we carried out these remedial works. Currently, filming is taking place in Luggala and the estate is closed to the public while being used as a film location.
“Covid-19 and bad weather wreaked havoc in early August, delaying filming and our bracken control programme, resulting in a delay in our planned reopening in mid-August.
“We understand that many walkers are disappointed that they have not been able to access the estate and we remain committed to allowing access for responsible walkers once filming is complete,” it went on.


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Bar workers dismayed by the decision to keep ‘wet pubs’ closed in Dublin

Grogan ’ s Castle Lounge is the nearest thing in modern Dublin to a literary and artistic pub .
The art on the walls signal that it is a pub like no other , where any night you care to wander down , there is usually somebody of note having a pint .
But nowadays its black doors are firmly shut and the only signs of life are the Open the Pubs campaign posters stuck to its windows .
The pub on William Street South was one of the first in Ireland to announce it was shutting its doors .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ days before the Government announced the national lockdown .
Then its owner Donal Smith anticipated a longer closure than the proposed two weeks , but nobody expected six months later that the pubs in Dublin would remain shut .
It been a terrible time for bar staff across the State .
While some returned to work when gastropubs opened up in July , those in so-called wet pubs like Grogan ’ s have been out of work and will remain so for at least the next three weeks .
Steven Gilgunn , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years and has been a full-time bar worker for 18 years , said there was an initial novelty , but this wore off as time dragged on .
“ We thought it would go for two weeks , but we all knew that this would not be longer than that , ” he said .
Mr Gilgunn has been on the pandemic unemployment payment , approximately half his take-home wages .
Four times he got ready to return to work .
“ At the beginning we knew it had to be done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hopes .
It is going to be this date and they [ the Government ] kept changing their minds while other bars were open , ” he added .
“ It was frustrating that somebody could have chicken wings to keep the virus away .
It ’ s nonsense .
” For many bar staff , work was also part of their social life .
“ It ’ s a fantastic pub , there ’ s a great atmosphere and you know a lot of people by name .
You know the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a social place .
You are interested in their lives and they are interested in yours .
It ’ s very frustrating being around the house , ” Mr Gilgunn said .
The decision by the Government to close indoor dining in all gastropubs and restaurants for at least the next three weeks reduces the two-tier approach which rankled so many in the wet pubs .
“ If we can all open up together in three weeks , it will be for the best but I don ’ t see how everywhere in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t , ” Mr Gilgunn said .
Eamonn Gahan , a father of four who has worked in the Willows pub in Glasnevin , north Dublin , for 20 years , said his wages were cut in half when the virus struck .
He will now have to reapply for the pandemic unemployment payment for the third time .
The latest announcement from the Government was the “ fourth time we have been kicked in the teeth .
I never suffered from depression .
I am a cheerful person .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been terrible and it ’ s been horrible ” , he said .
The Licensed Vintners Association ( LVA ) , which represents publicans in Dublin , accused the Government of undertaking a “ pick and mix approach ” to its new strategy which “ renders it meaningless ” .
Donall O ’ Keeffe , chief executive of the LVA , said restrictions to limit pubs and restaurants in the capital to outdoor seating only meant “ effectively they will have destroyed their own plan within three days of publishing it .
@

Grogan’s Castle Lounge is the nearest thing in modern Dublin to a literary and artistic pub.
The art on the walls signal that it is a pub like no other, where any night you care to wander down, there is usually somebody of note having a pint.
But nowadays its black doors are firmly shut and the only signs of life are the Open the Pubs campaign posters stuck to its windows .
The pub on William Street South was one of the first in Ireland to announce it was shutting its doors. It did so on March 13th two days before the Government announced the national lockdown.
READ MORE
Then its owner Donal Smith anticipated a longer closure than the proposed two weeks, but nobody expected six months later that the pubs in Dublin would remain shut.
It been a terrible time for bar staff across the State. While some returned to work when gastropubs opened up in July, those in so-called wet pubs like Grogan’s have been out of work and will remain so for at least the next three weeks.
Novelty
Steven Gilgunn, who has worked in Grogan's for four years and has been a full-time bar worker for 18 years, said there was an initial novelty, but this wore off as time dragged on.
“We thought it would go for two weeks, but we all knew that this would not be longer than that,” he said. Mr Gilgunn has been on the pandemic unemployment payment , approximately half his take-home wages.
Four times he got ready to return to work. “At the beginning we knew it had to be done, but there were so many false hopes. It is going to be this date and they [the Government] kept changing their minds while other bars were open,” he added.
“It was frustrating that somebody could have chicken wings to keep the virus away. It’s nonsense. ”
For many bar staff, work was also part of their social life. “It’s a fantastic pub, there’s a great atmosphere and you know a lot of people by name. You know the majority of your customers. It’s a social place. You are interested in their lives and they are interested in yours. It’s very frustrating being around the house,” Mr Gilgunn said.
Rankled
The decision by the Government to close indoor dining in all gastropubs and restaurants for at least the next three weeks reduces the two-tier approach which rankled so many in the wet pubs.
"If we can all open up together in three weeks, it will be for the best but I don't see how everywhere in Europe can have places open and we can't," Mr Gilgunn said.
Eamonn Gahan, a father of four who has worked in the Willows pub in Glasnevin, north Dublin, for 20 years, said his wages were cut in half when the virus struck. He will now have to reapply for the pandemic unemployment payment for the third time.
The latest announcement from the Government was the “fourth time we have been kicked in the teeth. I never suffered from depression. I am a cheerful person. I am tossing and turning. It’s been terrible and it’s been horrible”, he said.
The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), which represents publicans in Dublin, accused the Government of undertaking a “pick and mix approach” to its new strategy which “renders it meaningless”.
Donall O’Keeffe, chief executive of the LVA, said restrictions to limit pubs and restaurants in the capital to outdoor seating only meant “effectively they will have destroyed their own plan within three days of publishing it.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-19--Chuck Feeney’s $8bn giving-while-living odyssey comes to an end

Some 80 years ago , a boy could be found on a New Jersey beach in summer distributing umbrellas and allowing himself to be “ dunked ” in a tub by contestants throwing balls at him .
In winter the same youth would be selling Christmas cards door to door , then helping the mailman deliver them to the same doors , and on snowy days he might be digging out driveways with the help of a carefully chosen muscular pal .
Anything to make a few cents for himself and his parents in the fairly impoverished Irish-American neighbourhood of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ local golf course paid caddies $ 1 to carry a bag for nine holes , and $ 1.75 for 18 holes , so he was always looking for two nine-hole players .
Then , as a young man at Cornell University , he flogged home-made sandwiches to students and is still remembered there as the Sandwich Man , always ready with a wise-crack and bologna .
He took on another really tough job then , as taster at a cake factory .
Chuck Feeney from the start was a genius at finding opportunities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to postwar Europe after graduating , he sold duty-free items to sailors on the US Mediterranean fleet , from miniature radios to cars , and soon became rich .
He and a partner Bob Miller overextended that business but recovered and got the concessions to establish duty-free shops in Hong Kong and Hawaii .
Duty free in the 1960s was a kiosk with a trestle table , but the pair identified a market about to explode .
Tourists poured out of Japan with pent-up savings , and their stores multiplied and became glitzy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cars to take the day ’ s takings to the bank .
Their company , Duty Free Shoppers , employed hundreds of Japanese assistants , and Chuck sometimes served behind the counter .
He taught himself Japanese .
“ Yokoso , ” he would say , bowing to the customers .
“ Welcome.
” They loved him .
By the 1980s he was a billionaire , with mansions in several countries , and not one but two tuxedos .
But Feeney never felt at ease with the lifestyle of the wealthy .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to die disgraced.
” He mulled over his dilemma for some years ; he loved making money , it was a constant challenge , but what to do with it ?
Considerate by nature and influenced by the kindness of his parents , and by a childhood environment where you didn ’ t “ blow your own horn ” as he put it , he decided to give it away , quietly , without fuss .
On November 23rd , 1984 , in a lawyer ’ s office in the Bahamas , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shareholding and the various businesses and properties he had acquired worldwide – to a foundation , known today as Atlantic Philanthropies .
While millions of Americans gave thanks that Thanksgiving weekend for the material things with which they were blessed , he celebrated divesting himself of his vast wealth with a fish and chips lunch .
He was 53 , at the height of his intellectual powers .
From that day on he applied his acumen for making money to the task of giving it away as head of the foundation .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world seeking ways of doing good things with the money , at first without anyone knowing .
He discarded the tuxedos , travelled economy , used buses and trains , and called to see potential beneficiaries dressed as a tourist on a budget .
Like the kid he was in Elmora , he was always on the make , only now it was on behalf of those who needed his vision and had exciting initiatives for the future .
He cast an entrepreneurial eye on every project he considered funding .
Shy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fluent and coherent when discussing blueprints or dissecting a prospectus .
He read the small print , made suggestions , went all in , and then let people get on with it .
He always encouraged them to think big , and thanked them for doing good things with the money .
The results are well chronicled : gleaming university campuses , hospitals with the latest technology , flourishing peace and human rights projects , all of which have changed countless lives for the better , especially in Ireland , the United States @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He did it anonymously as long as he could , but his big-bet grants became too extensive to ignore .
He was getting credit for other unnamed givers , and becoming synonymous with anonymous .
He found happiness seeing a young girl smiling for the first time after an operation for a cleft palate , or watching a surgeon restore someone ’ s sight , or discussing plans with scientists for a new hospital , or just chatting to kids in a library he had built , though they would not know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name on a building .
On Monday his giving-while-living odyssey came to an end in his former business office in San Francisco , close to the modest apartment where he and his wife , Helga , live on a pension .
There , just after 10am , he signed papers closing his foundation for good .
The $ 8 billion he accumulated is spent and accounted for ( $ 1.87 billion on the island of Ireland ) .
He is a happy man .
The ceremony was witnessed by a handful of people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the ( now former ) head of his foundation , Chris Oechsli , and long-time faithful associates , Dave Smith and Gail Bianchi .
Noted well-wishers came online .
Bill Gates sent a video message to his “ hero ” in philanthropy .
They celebrated with cheese cake and Spumante , and Chuck and Helga then went back to the apartment for a grilled-cheese sandwich – a typically modest lunch for the one-time Sandwich Man , whose message for the rich is , “ You will get a lot more satisfaction giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you are dead – try it , you ’ ll like it.
” Conor O ’ Clery is the author of the biography of Chuck Feeney , The Billionaire Who Wasn ’ t

Some 80 years ago, a boy could be found on a New Jersey beach in summer distributing umbrellas and allowing himself to be "dunked" in a tub by contestants throwing balls at him. In winter the same youth would be selling Christmas cards door to door, then helping the mailman deliver them to the same doors, and on snowy days he might be digging out driveways with the help of a carefully chosen muscular pal. Anything to make a few cents for himself and his parents in the fairly impoverished Irish-American neighbourhood of Elmora.
He was canny. The local golf course paid caddies $1 to carry a bag for nine holes, and $1.75 for 18 holes, so he was always looking for two nine-hole players. Then, as a young man at Cornell University, he flogged home-made sandwiches to students and is still remembered there as the Sandwich Man, always ready with a wise-crack and bologna. He took on another really tough job then, as taster at a cake factory.
Chuck Feeney from the start was a genius at finding opportunities to make money. When he went to postwar Europe after graduating, he sold duty-free items to sailors on the US Mediterranean fleet, from miniature radios to cars, and soon became rich.
He and a partner Bob Miller overextended that business but recovered and got the concessions to establish duty-free shops in Hong Kong and Hawaii.
READ MORE
Duty free in the 1960s was a kiosk with a trestle table, but the pair identified a market about to explode. Tourists poured out of Japan with pent-up savings, and their stores multiplied and became glitzy emporiums. In Hawaii they needed armoured cars to take the day's takings to the bank.
Their company, Duty Free Shoppers, employed hundreds of Japanese assistants, and Chuck sometimes served behind the counter. He taught himself Japanese. "Yokoso," he would say, bowing to the customers. "Welcome." They loved him.
By the 1980s he was a billionaire, with mansions in several countries, and not one but two tuxedos. But Feeney never felt at ease with the lifestyle of the wealthy. He read Carnegie: “To die rich is to die disgraced.” He mulled over his dilemma for some years; he loved making money, it was a constant challenge, but what to do with it?
Inherited kindness
Considerate by nature and influenced by the kindness of his parents, and by a childhood environment where you didn’t “blow your own horn” as he put it, he decided to give it away, quietly, without fuss.
On November 23rd, 1984, in a lawyer's office in the Bahamas, he signed over everything – his DFS shareholding and the various businesses and properties he had acquired worldwide – to a foundation, known today as Atlantic Philanthropies.
While millions of Americans gave thanks that Thanksgiving weekend for the material things with which they were blessed, he celebrated divesting himself of his vast wealth with a fish and chips lunch.
He was 53, at the height of his intellectual powers. From that day on he applied his acumen for making money to the task of giving it away as head of the foundation.
For the next three decades Feeney circled the world seeking ways of doing good things with the money, at first without anyone knowing. He discarded the tuxedos, travelled economy, used buses and trains, and called to see potential beneficiaries dressed as a tourist on a budget.
Like the kid he was in Elmora, he was always on the make, only now it was on behalf of those who needed his vision and had exciting initiatives for the future. He cast an entrepreneurial eye on every project he considered funding. Shy and awkward at small talk, he was fluent and coherent when discussing blueprints or dissecting a prospectus. He read the small print, made suggestions, went all in, and then let people get on with it. He always encouraged them to think big, and thanked them for doing good things with the money.
The results are well chronicled: gleaming university campuses, hospitals with the latest technology, flourishing peace and human rights projects, all of which have changed countless lives for the better, especially in Ireland, the United States, Vietnam, Australia and South Africa.
He did it anonymously as long as he could, but his big-bet grants became too extensive to ignore. He was getting credit for other unnamed givers, and becoming synonymous with anonymous.
He found happiness seeing a young girl smiling for the first time after an operation for a cleft palate, or watching a surgeon restore someone’s sight, or discussing plans with scientists for a new hospital, or just chatting to kids in a library he had built, though they would not know that, as he never allowed his name on a building.
Living on pension
On Monday his giving-while-living odyssey came to an end in his former business office in San Francisco, close to the modest apartment where he and his wife, Helga, live on a pension. There, just after 10am, he signed papers closing his foundation for good. The $8 billion he accumulated is spent and accounted for ($1.87 billion on the island of Ireland). He is a happy man.
The ceremony was witnessed by a handful of people close to him, including Helga, and the (now former) head of his foundation, Chris Oechsli, and long-time faithful associates, Dave Smith and Gail Bianchi. Noted well-wishers came online. Bill Gates sent a video message to his "hero" in philanthropy.
They celebrated with cheese cake and Spumante, and Chuck and Helga then went back to the apartment for a grilled-cheese sandwich – a typically modest lunch for the one-time Sandwich Man, whose message for the rich is, “You will get a lot more satisfaction giving it away when you are alive than when you are dead – try it, you’ll like it.”
Conor O’Clery is the author of the biography of Chuck Feeney, The Billionaire Who Wasn’t


theirishtimes--2020-09-18--Thinking Anew – The power of forgiveness

Last month , Brenton Tarrant , an Australian white supremacist , was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 51 people , as they attended prayers at mosques in Christchurch New Zealand in 2019 .
During victim-impact statements , there was huge anger and bitterness directed toward Tarrant but one woman , Janna Ezat , whose son Hussein Al-Umari was murdered in the attack , told Tarrant she forgave him .
She said : “ I decided to forgive you because I don ’ t have hate .
I don ’ t have revenge .
In our Muslim faith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will never be here so I have only one choice to forgive you.
” It was the only time Tarrant showed any emotion ; the soft words , not the angry words got to him .
Many will admire what Janna Ezat did but not everyone .
That certainly was the experience of Gordon Wilson who forgave those who killed 12 people , including his only daughter , in the 1987 Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen .
Many of the injured and bereaved felt unable to forgive and who could blame them ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alternative reading for tomorrow ’ s liturgy , is possibly not taken too seriously by some because of the strange story about a man being swallowed by a large fish .
Legend aside , this book raises the important subject of how we should treat our enemies .
It tells of how the prophet Jonah is called by God to go to Nineveh to condemn its corrupt ways but he resists and escapes by sea only to get caught by a severe storm and ends up in “ the belly of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is rescued on condition that he goes to Nineveh .
Nineveh was the capital of Assyria which had eliminated the northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC .
It was a truly barbaric regime that inflicted indescribable horrors on captive peoples , in ways that one would not enjoy reading about over a weekend brunch .
This is the regime Jonah is told to confront , which he eventually does .
Then comes a strange twist to the story .
God withholds punishment because the people of Nineveh repent and goes further by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And should I not be concerned about Nineveh , that great city , in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left , and also many animals ?
” Jonah ’ s furious response reflects the thinking of those who are not in the forgiving business , but he is overruled .
Jonah ’ s geographical context is today ’ s Iraq and Syria , the killing grounds of al-Qaeda , and Isis , groups that have inflicted death and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hard to imagine any of their victims wanting to forgive them even if they changed their ways .
They belong to a long list of people in history , the likes of Hitler and Stalin , few would ever want to forgive .
Janna Ezat and Gordon Wilson , however , take us deeper .
Speaking out of her Muslim faith , she forgave a man who showed no remorse for killing her son .
Wilson , a Christian , did the same when his daughter was killed .
He met militant republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avail .
He still forgave them .
We marvel at such generosity of spirit but as tomorrow ’ s gospel reading reminds us , their generosity is consistent with the mind of the God “ whose nature is always to have mercy ” .
In the parable of the landowner , labourers are hired throughout the day and when work is done some have worked longer than others , yet all are paid the same .
When those who worked longest object , they are told : “ Friend , I am doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what belongs to you and go ; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.
” Our flawed and selfish human instincts do not limit or control God ’ s generosity .
We do not get to decide who is in or who is out .

Last month, Brenton Tarrant, an Australian white supremacist, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of 51 people, as they attended prayers at mosques in Christchurch New Zealand in 2019.
During victim-impact statements, there was huge anger and bitterness directed toward Tarrant but one woman, Janna Ezat, whose son Hussein Al-Umari was murdered in the attack, told Tarrant she forgave him. She said: "I decided to forgive you because I don't have hate. I don't have revenge. In our Muslim faith we can forgive . . . Hussein will never be here so I have only one choice to forgive you." It was the only time Tarrant showed any emotion; the soft words, not the angry words got to him.
Many will admire what Janna Ezat did but not everyone. That certainly was the experience of Gordon Wilson who forgave those who killed 12 people, including his only daughter, in the 1987 Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen. Many of the injured and bereaved felt unable to forgive and who could blame them?
The Book of Jonah, which provides an alternative reading for tomorrow's liturgy, is possibly not taken too seriously by some because of the strange story about a man being swallowed by a large fish. Legend aside, this book raises the important subject of how we should treat our enemies. It tells of how the prophet Jonah is called by God to go to Nineveh to condemn its corrupt ways but he resists and escapes by sea only to get caught by a severe storm and ends up in "the belly of the fish". We are told he is rescued on condition that he goes to Nineveh. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria which had eliminated the northern Kingdom of Israel in 722 BC. It was a truly barbaric regime that inflicted indescribable horrors on captive peoples, in ways that one would not enjoy reading about over a weekend brunch. This is the regime Jonah is told to confront, which he eventually does. Then comes a strange twist to the story. God withholds punishment because the people of Nineveh repent and goes further by expressing concern for their welfare: "And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?"
READ MORE
Jonah’s furious response reflects the thinking of those who are not in the forgiving business, but he is overruled.
Jonah's geographical context is today's Iraq and Syria, the killing grounds of al-Qaeda, and Isis, groups that have inflicted death and destruction across the world. It is hard to imagine any of their victims wanting to forgive them even if they changed their ways. They belong to a long list of people in history, the likes of Hitler and Stalin, few would ever want to forgive.
Janna Ezat and Gordon Wilson, however ,take us deeper. Speaking out of her Muslim faith, she forgave a man who showed no remorse for killing her son. Wilson, a Christian, did the same when his daughter was killed. He met militant republicans and pleaded for peace but to no avail. He still forgave them. We marvel at such generosity of spirit but as tomorrow’s gospel reading reminds us, their generosity is consistent with the mind of the God “whose nature is always to have mercy”.
In the parable of the landowner, labourers are hired throughout the day and when work is done some have worked longer than others, yet all are paid the same. When those who worked longest object, they are told: “Friend, I am doing you no wrong . . . Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you.”
Our flawed and selfish human instincts do not limit or control God’s generosity. We do not get to decide who is in or who is out.


theirishtimes--2020-09-18--Covid-19 is spreading most in deprived areas, the figures suggest

Complaints about a lack of information have been a consistent feature of the pandemic experience in Ireland .
Whereas other countries publish detailed information about virus trends in local areas , this kind of data has been in short supply in this country .
The HSE did publish daily maps showing the location of cases back in April , but quickly stopped doing so , presumably for data protection reasons .
And while the Government ’ s Covid-19 data hub has a map showing the number of cases relative to population in electoral divisions across the State , this information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in June .
The Department of Health said the number of cases at the time was too low to continue providing the data , as it could be used to identify an individual .
As a result , only cumulative data was available for the period from the start of the pandemic , as infectious diseases consultant Prof Sam McConkey and others have pointed out .
The figures therefore tell us little about the current spread of the virus .
Finally , on the initiative of Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly , 14-day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 166 local electoral areas ( LEAs ) in the country .
These are larger geographical units than electoral divisions but they are small enough to give people in specific areas a clearer idea of virus spread in their locality .
There are 166 LEAs in the State , with an average population of almost 29,000 .
Each county and city is divided into a number of LEAs .
The first set of data shows how the virus is , by and large , spreading most in areas of deprivation .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immigrants and “ new Irish ” , indicating perhaps that the public health messaging is not reaching these sections of the population .
Some hotspots are clearly linked to specific outbreaks , such as in meat plants .
Experience tells us these can be controlled but it is the spread of the disease in urban areas that is most worrying in the longer term .
Finally , the figures are likely to lead to calls for restrictions to be tailored more closely to specific problem areas , rather than across entire counties .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be feeling aggrieved today , now that new restrictions have been imposed on them , when the figures show the incidence of the disease is below the national average .

Closed-down pubs in Temple Bar, Dublin on Friday. There are likely to be calls for restrictions to be tailored more closely to specific problem areas, rather than across entire counties. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images
Complaints about a lack of information have been a consistent feature of the pandemic experience in Ireland.
Whereas other countries publish detailed information about virus trends in local areas, this kind of data has been in short supply in this country.
The HSE did publish daily maps showing the location of cases back in April, but quickly stopped doing so, presumably for data protection reasons.
And while the Government's Covid-19 data hub has a map showing the number of cases relative to population in electoral divisions across the State, this information was not updated after the site launched in June. The Department of Health said the number of cases at the time was too low to continue providing the data, as it could be used to identify an individual.
READ MORE
As a result, only cumulative data was available for the period from the start of the pandemic, as infectious diseases consultant Prof Sam McConkey and others have pointed out. The figures therefore tell us little about the current spread of the virus.
Finally, on the initiative of Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, 14-day incidence figures are being published for each of the 166 local electoral areas (LEAs) in the country. These are larger geographical units than electoral divisions but they are small enough to give people in specific areas a clearer idea of virus spread in their locality.
Population
There are 166 LEAs in the State, with an average population of almost 29,000. Each county and city is divided into a number of LEAs.
The first set of data shows how the virus is, by and large, spreading most in areas of deprivation. These are also areas with high proportions of immigrants and “new Irish”, indicating perhaps that the public health messaging is not reaching these sections of the population.
Some hotspots are clearly linked to specific outbreaks, such as in meat plants. Experience tells us these can be controlled but it is the spread of the disease in urban areas that is most worrying in the longer term.
Finally, the figures are likely to lead to calls for restrictions to be tailored more closely to specific problem areas, rather than across entire counties. Residents of parts of south Dublin may be feeling aggrieved today, now that new restrictions have been imposed on them, when the figures show the incidence of the disease is below the national average.
[ Blanchardstown, Tallaght top table for highest Covid-19 rates ]