theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Coronavirus: Kenmare Mart to reopen for first sale in almost three months

The long , slow spring has given way to frantic activity as Kenmare Mart manager Dan McCarthy and his team prepare to open their gates on Monday for their first sale in almost three months .
“ We ’ re an independent co-op mart here since 1996 and we ’ d serve a good share of south Kerry , down as far as Caherdaniel as well as a lot of west Cork – all the Beara Peninsula as well as down to Bantry and over to Ballyvourney .
“ We sell sheep and cattle .
The sheep would be on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , once every two weeks from January through to July but from July on , we ’ d have sheep and cattle marts once a week until Christmas , ” he said .
Throughput depends very much on the time of the year with the mart selling up to 2,500-3,000 sheep and 300-400 cattle on big sales days , and 600-700 sheep and 150-200 cattle on the smaller sales days .
Mr McCarthy works with a team of 16 staff , mainly part-time , and joining him in preparing for the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the joint treasurers of Kenmare Mart , who recalled their last sale just after St Patrick ’ s Day .
“ Our last sale was cattle on March 19th .
We still provided a service where we bought cattle .
We looked at the cattle and gave so much a kilo for them and they were brought in , weighed and valued and sold on to dealers , ” Mr Doyle said .
According to Mr McCarthy , prices held up reasonably well .
“ They wouldn ’ t have been supreme but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the export trade has picked up a bit .
A lot of the weanlings [ newly weaned animals ] we sold last week were for export.
” Conscious that marts were scheduled to reopen under phase two of the Government ’ s roadmap , Mr McCarthy and Mr Doyle have spent the past few days putting the finishing touches to their plans .
Mr McCarthy explained that June is a quiet time of the year for cattle sales , particularly in Kenmare as it serves mainly weanling country in west Cork and south @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really peak until July , August and September .
“ We ’ ve probably been preparing for reopening since before we closed .
We had a good share of it done with screens up between the auctioneer and the seller and in the canteen and between our office staff and the customers .
“ We ’ ve our homework done as best we can .
We ’ ve the floor marked out for 2m distancing and we ’ ve a one-way system in place where fellows go around one way to look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two metres apart.
” Mr McCarthy and his team have introduced a colour-coded system in the sales ring , which can accommodate 150-200 farmers – with green showing where farmers can sit and red showing where they can not – but with social distancing restrictions in place , capacity will now fall to 36 .
“ I think it should work well .
Everybody is well used to keeping 2m apart now going to the shop .
They ’ re conscious of it , they ’ ve seen no church for the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so they ’ re well used to it.
” Farmers will be given a time that their animals will be sold and they can wait in their vehicle until their lot number is called .
Mr McCarthy expects some local farmers to return home to do some work on their farms after dropping off their animals .
“ We find a lot of people will tell us to sell away after dropping off their stock .
They will give us a guide price as to what they want and if we reach the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they will tell us to sell away.
” Mr McCarthy ’ s advice to farmers planning to attend Monday ’ s sale is , firstly , not to come if they are feeling in anyway unwell .
If they do come , they should adhere to what mart management advises them as they move around mart .
“ They must listen to us because we don ’ t want a situation where we have to close down again in three weeks after finding out somebody who was at the mart picked up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing we don ’ t need .
”

The long, slow spring has given way to frantic activity as Kenmare Mart manager Dan McCarthy and his team prepare to open their gates on Monday for their first sale in almost three months.
"We're an independent co-op mart here since 1996 and we'd serve a good share of south Kerry, down as far as Caherdaniel as well as a lot of west Cork – all the Beara Peninsula as well as down to Bantry and over to Ballyvourney.
“We sell sheep and cattle. The sheep would be on a Monday and the cattle on a Thursday, once every two weeks from January through to July but from July on, we’d have sheep and cattle marts once a week until Christmas,” he said.
Throughput depends very much on the time of the year with the mart selling up to 2,500-3,000 sheep and 300-400 cattle on big sales days, and 600-700 sheep and 150-200 cattle on the smaller sales days.
READ MORE
Mr McCarthy works with a team of 16 staff, mainly part-time, and joining him in preparing for the first sale was Patrick Doyle, one of the joint treasurers of Kenmare Mart, who recalled their last sale just after St Patrick's Day.
“Our last sale was cattle on March 19th. We still provided a service where we bought cattle. We looked at the cattle and gave so much a kilo for them and they were brought in, weighed and valued and sold on to dealers,”Mr Doyle said.
Finishing touches
According to Mr McCarthy, prices held up reasonably well. “They wouldn’t have been supreme but people were able to sell away and the export trade has picked up a bit. A lot of the weanlings [newly weaned animals] we sold last week were for export.”
Conscious that marts were scheduled to reopen under phase two of the Government’s roadmap, Mr McCarthy and Mr Doyle have spent the past few days putting the finishing touches to their plans.
Mr McCarthy explained that June is a quiet time of the year for cattle sales, particularly in Kenmare as it serves mainly weanling country in west Cork and south Kerry, and weanling sales do not really peak until July, August and September.
“We’ve probably been preparing for reopening since before we closed. We had a good share of it done with screens up between the auctioneer and the seller and in the canteen and between our office staff and the customers.
“We’ve our homework done as best we can. We’ve the floor marked out for 2m distancing and we’ve a one-way system in place where fellows go around one way to look at the stock but they must still stay two metres apart.”
Mr McCarthy and his team have introduced a colour-coded system in the sales ring, which can accommodate 150-200 farmers – with green showing where farmers can sit and red showing where they cannot – but with social distancing restrictions in place, capacity will now fall to 36.
Local farmers
“I think it should work well. Everybody is well used to keeping 2m apart now going to the shop. They’re conscious of it, they’ve seen no church for the last two months and no football matches, so they’re well used to it.”
Farmers will be given a time that their animals will be sold and they can wait in their vehicle until their lot number is called. Mr McCarthy expects some local farmers to return home to do some work on their farms after dropping off their animals.
“We find a lot of people will tell us to sell away after dropping off their stock. They will give us a guide price as to what they want and if we reach the guide price and we ring them, they will tell us to sell away.”
Mr McCarthy’s advice to farmers planning to attend Monday’s sale is, firstly, not to come if they are feeling in anyway unwell. If they do come, they should adhere to what mart management advises them as they move around mart.
“They must listen to us because we don’t want a situation where we have to close down again in three weeks after finding out somebody who was at the mart picked up the virus. That’s the one thing we don’t need.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Robbie Lawlor ‘met by a gunman’ when he attended Belfast appointment

Gangland figure Robbie Lawlor was murdered when he attended an appointment he arranged while exchanging cash with a man in a supermarket car park , Belfast Magistrates ’ Court has heard .
Detectives claimed Lawlor ( 36 ) planned a follow-up call at a house in Belfast ’ s Ardoyne area and was shot dead when he visited Etna Drive the next day .
The details emerged as a man , currently on bail over the April 4th killing , failed in an attempt to have a curfew lifted .
The suspect ( 36 ) has not been charged with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but a detective told the court the man was believed to have met Lawlor in a Tesco car park in Crumlin , Co Antrim the day before the shooting .
“ Robert Lawlor did attend that appointment , and when he arrived he was met by a gunman who exited ( the address ) and shot him dead in broad daylight , ” the detective said .
He was shot several times and died at the scene .
A Volkswagen Scirocco , thought to have been used as a getaway car , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , originally from Dublin , was involved in a feud between rival Drogheda-based factions .
His group was linked to the abduction and murder of Keane Mulready-Woods ( 17 ) in January .
“ This murder is directly linked to a feud between several organised crime gangs originating out of the Republic of Ireland , ” the detective said .
“ It ’ s a comprehensive and complex investigation , with numerous links to organised crime gangs operating internationally , as well as mainland UK and throughout Ireland.
” The suspect man seeking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three days after Lawlor ’ s death .
Defence barrister Bobbie-Leigh Herdman claimed the curfew was “ disproportionate ” .
She said the killing and alleged meeting between her client and Lawlor occurred during daytime .
However , the detective said significant planning for the murder happened during the hours of darkness and that the curfew should be maintained .
The judge said it was not an unreasonable condition .

Gangland figure Robbie Lawlor was murdered at an appointment he arranged while exchanging cash with a man in a supermarket car park, a Belfast court has heard.
Gangland figure Robbie Lawlor was murdered when he attended an appointment he arranged while exchanging cash with a man in a supermarket car park, Belfast Magistrates’ Court has heard.
Detectives claimed Lawlor (36) planned a follow-up call at a house in Belfast’s Ardoyne area and was shot dead when he visited Etna Drive the next day.
The details emerged as a man, currently on bail over the April 4th killing, failed in an attempt to have a curfew lifted.
The suspect (36) has not been charged with any offences connected to the murder, but a detective told the court the man was believed to have met Lawlor in a Tesco car park in Crumlin, Co Antrim the day before the shooting.
READ MORE
“Robert Lawlor did attend that appointment, and when he arrived he was met by a gunman who exited (the address) and shot him dead in broad daylight,” the detective said.
He was shot several times and died at the scene. A Volkswagen Scirocco, thought to have been used as a getaway car, was later found burnt out nearby.
Feud
Lawlor, originally from Dublin, was involved in a feud between rival Drogheda-based factions. His group was linked to the abduction and murder of Keane Mulready-Woods (17) in January.
“This murder is directly linked to a feud between several organised crime gangs originating out of the Republic of Ireland,” the detective said. “It’s a comprehensive and complex investigation, with numerous links to organised crime gangs operating internationally, as well as mainland UK and throughout Ireland.”
The suspect man seeking to have his curfew lifted was arrested three days after Lawlor’s death. Defence barrister Bobbie-Leigh Herdman claimed the curfew was “disproportionate”. She said the killing and alleged meeting between her client and Lawlor occurred during daytime.
However, the detective said significant planning for the murder happened during the hours of darkness and that the curfew should be maintained.
The judge said it was not an unreasonable condition.


theirishtimes--2020-06-05--Dublin city playgrounds to remain shut despite Taoiseach’s announcement

Children ’ s playgrounds across Dublin city will remain shut on Monday , despite assurances from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar the facilities could open next week .
However Dublin City Council said it will not reopen its playgrounds next week , which have been fenced off since the middle of March under coronavirus restrictions , and has yet to set any date for when they will be reopened .
Mr Varadkar on Friday confirmed that “ outdoor facilities and amenities for children ” could reopen under the acceleration of phase two of the Government ’ s roadmap for easing Covid-19 restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as long as they are supervised , he said .
However Dublin City Council said it “ does not operate supervised playgrounds ” and so will not be reopening these facilities next week “ pending further clarification ” .
The council operates about 100 playgrounds , almost 70 of which are in public parks with the remainder located in the grounds of social housing complexes .
To operate a supervised service during the opening hours of these facilities would require at least three staff members per playground , which would mean hundreds of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work at these sites .
It is understood the council does not have this number of staff available and it is unlikely sufficient numbers of staff would have the required Garda vetting to supervise children in these settings .
It is also unknown what level of cleansing would be required for the playground equipment , and how it could be assured that fewer than 15 children would be using the park at any time .
Fingal County Council in the north of the county said it is also awaiting “ further clarification @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not known if playgrounds in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown or South Dublin County Council areas will reopen next week .
Mr Varadkar also confirmed that the reopening may include include commercial amenities for children , such as adventure parks and open farms .
Mr Varadkar also announced outdoor summer camps for children can also be run , once there are no more than 15 people mixing together .
Mr Varadkar also said a summer education programme for children with special educational needs and those at risk of disadvantage will proceed .
The programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year or July Provision scheme , will rely on schools , teachers and special needs assistants ( SNAs ) choosing to participate .
Typically about 10,000 children with autism and or with a severe or profound intellectual disability are entitled to home tuition or in-school support during the summer .
This year , Minister for Education Joe McHugh said it will also include young people with complex needs and children with Down syndrome .
Mr McHugh will bring detailed proposals to Government next week , but he has confirmed that any child who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be eligible again this summer .
The plans will involve both a school-based scheme and a home-based scheme , he said .
Disability groups who attended a meeting with Department of Education officials on Thursday to discuss the proposals expressed alarm that draft proposals were “ extremely limited ” in scope and could exclude thousands of vulnerable young people .
Both Inclusion Ireland and autism charity AsIAm said they were told by officials that only children attending special schools or classes will be able to attend the programme this year .
The Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this was not the case and anybody who has been eligible in previous years will be eligible again this summer .
In a new statement on Friday , Mr McHugh said the programme will be a stepping stone to help some young people ahead of the next school year and is in line with public health guidance .
“ The programme will help children to renew relationships , routines and connections with school and with learning and help to support ongoing social development and wellbeing , ” he said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vital additional support for some of the children with significant special educational needs and those who have been at risk of educational disadvantage since schools closed in March.
” Further engagement with the school sector will take place as proposals are finalised over the coming week .
The scale of the programme , however , will depend on schools , teachers and special needs assistants ( SNAs ) choosing to participate .
It is unclear , at this stage , how many will be prepared to do so in light of public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SNAs have worked “ harder than ever ” since schools closed 12 weeks and he was sure they would try to do whatever they can to support the summer programme .
“ We now want to work towards a new level of engagement .
The focus will be on students and young people with complex needs - including those who live with significant behavioural , social , emotional and sensory difficulties , ” he said .
“ It will be similar to the July Provision of previous years and children with Down syndrome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans for this summer.
” Down Syndrome Ireland said the announcement means that about 1,200 more children with Down syndrome will be eligible for the programme .
It said children with Down syndrome have traditionally been “ actively discriminated against ” by denying them entry to the extended school year .
Deirdre Saul of Down Syndrome Ireland said : “ We will continue to call on the Government to make the extended school year available in the future for all children with Down syndrome .
“ We congratulate all the organisations and families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having their voices heard .
We look forward to seeing practical , accessible options being provided to support families this summer and into the future.
” Meanwhile Dublin city libraries will also not be open to the public next week .
While Mr Varadkar said in his speech on Friday that public libraries could open , the council will be operating a “ call and collect ” service only , in just six branches from Monday .
These are : Cabra , Coolock and Raheny on the north side , and Dolphin ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the south side .
Library staff will organise a date and time for requested books to be collected .
“ You can not come into the library to browse the books , ” the council said .

A playground at Seagrange Park, Baldoyle, Dublin which was closed in March due due to the Covid-19 pandemic.Photograph: Alan Betson
Children's playgrounds across Dublin city will remain shut on Monday, despite assurances from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar the facilities could open next week.
However Dublin City Council said it will not reopen its playgrounds next week, which have been fenced off since the middle of March under coronavirus restrictions, and has yet to set any date for when they will be reopened.
Mr Varadkar on Friday confirmed that “outdoor facilities and amenities for children” could reopen under the acceleration of phase two of the Government’s roadmap for easing Covid-19 restrictions. This would include the reopening playgrounds as long as they are supervised, he said.
However Dublin City Council said it “does not operate supervised playgrounds” and so will not be reopening these facilities next week “pending further clarification”.
READ MORE
The council operates about 100 playgrounds, almost 70 of which are in public parks with the remainder located in the grounds of social housing complexes.
To operate a supervised service during the opening hours of these facilities would require at least three staff members per playground, which would mean hundreds of council staff would need to be seconded to work at these sites. It is understood the council does not have this number of staff available and it is unlikely sufficient numbers of staff would have the required Garda vetting to supervise children in these settings.
It is also unknown what level of cleansing would be required for the playground equipment, and how it could be assured that fewer than 15 children would be using the park at any time.
Fingal County Council in the north of the county said it is also awaiting “further clarification” on the issue. It is not known if playgrounds in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown or South Dublin County Council areas will reopen next week.
Education programmes
Mr Varadkar also confirmed that the reopening may include include commercial amenities for children, such as adventure parks and open farms. Mr Varadkar also announced outdoor summer camps for children can also be run, once there are no more than 15 people mixing together.
Mr Varadkar also said a summer education programme for children with special educational needs and those at risk of disadvantage will proceed.
The programme, similar to the existing extended school year or July Provision scheme, will rely on schools, teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) choosing to participate.
Typically about 10,000 children with autism and or with a severe or profound intellectual disability are entitled to home tuition or in-school support during the summer.
This year, Minister for Education Joe McHugh said it will also include young people with complex needs and children with Down syndrome.
Mr McHugh will bring detailed proposals to Government next week, but he has confirmed that any child who has been eligible in previous years will be eligible again this summer. The plans will involve both a school-based scheme and a home-based scheme, he said.
Vital support
Disability groups who attended a meeting with Department of Education officials on Thursday to discuss the proposals expressed alarm that draft proposals were “extremely limited” in scope and could exclude thousands of vulnerable young people.
Both Inclusion Ireland and autism charity AsIAm said they were told by officials that only children attending special schools or classes will be able to attend the programme this year.
The Department of Education later released a statement stating that this was not the case and anybody who has been eligible in previous years will be eligible again this summer.
In a new statement on Friday, Mr McHugh said the programme will be a stepping stone to help some young people ahead of the next school year and is in line with public health guidance.
“The programme will help children to renew relationships, routines and connections with school and with learning and help to support ongoing social development and wellbeing,” he said.
“It gives us an opportunity to provide a vital additional support for some of the children with significant special educational needs and those who have been at risk of educational disadvantage since schools closed in March.”
Further engagement with the school sector will take place as proposals are finalised over the coming week.
The scale of the programme, however, will depend on schools, teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) choosing to participate.
It is unclear, at this stage, how many will be prepared to do so in light of public health risks.
Mr McHugh said teachers and SNAs have worked “harder than ever” since schools closed 12 weeks and he was sure they would try to do whatever they can to support the summer programme.
“We now want to work towards a new level of engagement. The focus will be on students and young people with complex needs - including those who live with significant behavioural, social, emotional and sensory difficulties,” he said.
“It will be similar to the July Provision of previous years and children with Down syndrome will be included as part of our plans for this summer.”
Down Syndrome Ireland said the announcement means that about 1,200 more children with Down syndrome will be eligible for the programme.
It said children with Down syndrome have traditionally been “actively discriminated against” by denying them entry to the extended school year.
Deirdre Saul of Down Syndrome Ireland said: "We will continue to call on the Government to make the extended school year available in the future for all children with Down syndrome.
“We congratulate all the organisations and families involved in this long campaign and for having their voices heard. We look forward to seeing practical, accessible options being provided to support families this summer and into the future.”
Libraries
Meanwhile Dublin city libraries will also not be open to the public next week. While Mr Varadkar said in his speech on Friday that public libraries could open, the council will be operating a “call and collect” service only, in just six branches from Monday. These are: Cabra, Coolock and Raheny on the north side, and Dolphin’s Barn, Rathmines and Walkinstown on the south side.
Library staff will organise a date and time for requested books to be collected.
“You cannot come into the library to browse the books,” the council said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Bus and rail services to return to pre-Covid levels from Monday

Public transport services will increase from Monday in line with the Government ’ s plan to accelerate the reopening of the economy .
However , while the increase will bring some services , particularly Dart and bus services , back to pre-Covid levels , the need for social distancing means the numbers carried on each bus or train will remain restricted .
The National Transport Authority ( NTA ) said overall capacity will remain down and it urged workers to walk or cycle to work where possible and to wear facemasks on public transport .
Services operated by Iarnród Éireann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bus Éireann were reduced by approximately 20 per cent in the first week of April , in response to the Covid crisis .
Buses have been operating on a so-called “ Saturday-plus ” level of services , while Irish Rail services , including DART , have been operating at a reduced level .
There were no changes made to Luas services or to Local Link regular services .
From Monday , a schedule in line with the pre-Covid “ Monday to Friday ” schedule will be in place for buses and Dart .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at weekends although Dart schedules on Saturdays and Sundays will continue to operate at reduced levels .
There will be some additional capacity and services on commuter and intercity rail routes .
Luas schedules are to remain unchanged , as are Local Link services .
National Transport Authority CEO Anne Graham said : “ While there is some increase in services planned for next week , social distancing requirements mean that overall capacity remains restricted to just over 20 percent of pre-Covid levels .
“ This means that public transport should only be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people making essential journeys.
” Only those who have to travel at peak times on public transport should do so , while others making essential journeys should avoid peak times and travel and at other times of the day if at all possible , Ms Graham added .
Peak times to be avoided are before 9.30am and between 3pm and 6pm in the evening .
“ We are strongly encouraging those people who can get to their destinations by walking or cycling , to do so .
Some 350,000 people live within six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which means that if they chose to cycle , they could get from their home to the centre of Dublin in less than 30 minutes , ” Ms Graham said .
“ We are also urging customers to wear face coverings while on public transport .
Doing so will increase protection for other customers and for public transport workers .
This is an important part of the effort to rebuild confidence in public transport as we move through the phases of the roadmap , and as restrictions are eased across the country , @ @ @ @

Public transport services will increase from Monday in line with the Government’s plan to accelerate the reopening of the economy.
However, while the increase will bring some services, particularly Dart and bus services, back to pre-Covid levels, the need for social distancing means the numbers carried on each bus or train will remain restricted.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) said overall capacity will remain down and it urged workers to walk or cycle to work where possible and to wear facemasks on public transport.
Services operated by Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus, Go-Ahead Ireland and Bus Éireann were reduced by approximately 20 per cent in the first week of April, in response to the Covid crisis.
READ MORE
Buses have been operating on a so-called “Saturday-plus” level of services, while Irish Rail services, including DART, have been operating at a reduced level.
There were no changes made to Luas services or to Local Link regular services.
From Monday, a schedule in line with the pre-Covid “Monday to Friday” schedule will be in place for buses and Dart.
Buses will also revert to pre-Covid schedules at weekends although Dart schedules on Saturdays and Sundays will continue to operate at reduced levels.
There will be some additional capacity and services on commuter and intercity rail routes.
Luas schedules are to remain unchanged, as are Local Link services.
National Transport Authority CEO Anne Graham said: “While there is some increase in services planned for next week, social distancing requirements mean that overall capacity remains restricted to just over 20 percent of pre-Covid levels.
“This means that public transport should only be used by essential workers or for other people making essential journeys.”
Only those who have to travel at peak times on public transport should do so, while others making essential journeys should avoid peak times and travel and at other times of the day if at all possible, Ms Graham added.
Peak times to be avoided are before 9.30am and between 3pm and 6pm in the evening.
“We are strongly encouraging those people who can get to their destinations by walking or cycling, to do so. Some 350,000 people live within six kilometres of O’Connell Bridge, which means that if they chose to cycle, they could get from their home to the centre of Dublin in less than 30 minutes,” Ms Graham said.
“We are also urging customers to wear face coverings while on public transport. Doing so will increase protection for other customers and for public transport workers. This is an important part of the effort to rebuild confidence in public transport as we move through the phases of the roadmap, and as restrictions are eased across the country,” she added.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Pipe bomb explodes in car in Co Antrim

Pipe bomb explodes in car in Co Antrim

An investigation has been launched after a pipe bomb exploded in a car in Co Antrim .
The car had @ @ @ @ @ on the Crebilly Road in Ballymena on Friday night .
PSNI officers received a report @ @ @ @ @ car had been set on fire .
The remains of a pipe bomb-type device was @ @ @ @ @ .
Police officers described the incident as a “ reckless act ” which “ had @ @ @ @ @ injury to anyone who was close to the car when the device detonated ” .
@ @ @ @ @ establish a motive and identify those responsible and I am appealing to anyone with information @ @ @ @ @ suspicious activity in the area , to contact detectives on 101 , quoting reference number @ @ @ @ @ spokesman added .
- PA

The remains of a pipe bomb-type device was found inside a vehicle in Ballymena.
An investigation has been launched after a pipe bomb exploded in a car in Co Antrim.
The car had been parked close to shops on the Crebilly Road in Ballymena on Friday night.
PSNI officers received a report at around 11pm that a car had been set on fire.
The remains of a pipe bomb-type device was later found inside the vehicle.
READ MORE
Police officers described the incident as a “reckless act” which “had the potential to cause serious injury to anyone who was close to the car when the device detonated”.
“Detectives are working to establish a motive and identify those responsible and I am appealing to anyone with information, or who noticed any suspicious activity in the area, to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 2092 05/06/20,” a spokesman added. - PA


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Sports bodies must keep electronic records of participants as training sessions resume

Sports organisations have been asked to keep electronic records of participants in all training sessions as several sports move closer to return to play .
Showers and changing rooms will remain out of bounds , however , and there will be strict rules on the use of equipment , which must not be shared and will need to be cleaned and sanitised before and after each activity session .
The Government ’ s expert group on return to sport , in a document issued this morning , also recommended time be specifically put aside between sessions to “ enable thorough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To facilitate contact tracing if a participant contracts Covid-19 , the expert group on return to sport has recommended “ that organisers maintain an electronic record of all participants for all sessions , with contact details ” .
The expert group also confirmed that cricket and hockey are now in a position to resume and follow 14 other sports that had already restarted under phase one of the Government ’ s road map .
Sporting organisations have been submitting “ return to train ” protocols to the expert group , which met @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The protocols submitted by cricket and hockey were deemed to be compliant with public health advice .
However , these sports will also be governed by the wider rules around the resumption of sport , meaning training matches , friendlies , competitive fixtures or competitions will not be permitted .
The Department of Sport said fitness activities and classes that are “ held in an organised and controlled manner can be undertaken outdoors only ” from Monday .
National governing bodies for sports are being invited to submit protocols for the next phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shortly circulate a guidance document to help those drawing up such protocols .
In a statement , Minister for Sport Shane Ross offered his appreciation of the expert group ’ s work and said there is an “ enormous ” desire to return to sport across Europe .
“ We want to ensure that our sport can resume in a manner which is as safe as it can possibly be .
There is no such thing as a no-risk scenario but there are low-risk scenarios wherein risks can be managed.
” That is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and they are doing it well in my view , ” he said .

Sports organisations have been asked to keep electronic records of participants in all training sessions as several sports move closer to return to play.
Showers and changing rooms will remain out of bounds, however, and there will be strict rules on the use of equipment, which must not be shared and will need to be cleaned and sanitised before and after each activity session.
The Government’s expert group on return to sport, in a document issued this morning, also recommended time be specifically put aside between sessions to “enable thorough cleaning and sanitisation to be conducted”.
To facilitate contact tracing if a participant contracts Covid-19, the expert group on return to sport has recommended “that organisers maintain an electronic record of all participants for all sessions, with contact details”.
READ MORE
The expert group also confirmed that cricket and hockey are now in a position to resume and follow 14 other sports that had already restarted under phase one of the Government’s road map.
Sporting organisations have been submitting “return to train” protocols to the expert group, which met last week for the third time. The protocols submitted by cricket and hockey were deemed to be compliant with public health advice.
However, these sports will also be governed by the wider rules around the resumption of sport, meaning training matches, friendlies, competitive fixtures or competitions will not be permitted.
The Department of Sport said fitness activities and classes that are “held in an organised and controlled manner can be undertaken outdoors only” from Monday.
National governing bodies for sports are being invited to submit protocols for the next phase of reopening, and the department will shortly circulate a guidance document to help those drawing up such protocols.
In a statement, Minister for Sport Shane Ross offered his appreciation of the expert group's work and said there is an "enormous" desire to return to sport across Europe. "We want to ensure that our sport can resume in a manner which is as safe as it can possibly be. There is no such thing as a no-risk scenario but there are low-risk scenarios wherein risks can be managed."
That is what our sporting organisations are doing, and they are doing it well in my view,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Penneys announces it will reopen Irish stores next week

Penneys , the Irish fashion retailer , has announced it will reopen its Irish stores from next Friday , June 12th , having previously said it would not be reopening next week .
The clothing chain had been working towards June 29th , which was the original date for the reopening of larger retailers under the Government ’ s plan , before that date was accelerated by Ministers to Monday 8th .
However , shopping at the clothing chain will be a vastly different experience from previously .
As with other stores , strict social distancing protocols are being put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the number of customers in store at any one time , as well as the closure of fitting rooms , customer toilets and cafe and beauty concessions .
Testers in the health and beauty department will also be removed .
The initial re-opening will be confined to stores with street-level access , in line with the government ’ s reopening roadmap , but stores in shopping centres will also reopen three days later , on June 15th .
Every second till will be closed to allow more space between customers and employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be made available to all workers .
In a statement , the retailer said “ employee and customer safety is the highest priority in our preparations for re-opening ” .
Hand sanitiser stations , Perspex screens at tills and additional store cleaning , especially for “ high frequency touchpoints ” like tills , escalators , lifts , and employee areas , will be among the measures put in place .
Primark CEO Paul Marchant , said : “ We know that life for our customers is going to look different for a while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe and reassuring places to shop and work.
” Mr Marchant conceding that it “ might take a little longer to get into our stores ” .
“ We will adopt all government safety advice as a minimum in our stores and have benefited from our experience in the other markets in Europe where we have already opened successfully .
As we open , we will continue to look at best practice across the retail sector and amend our measures appropriately.
” Primark stores in the UK will reopen on June 15th .

Primark chief executive Paul Marchant said conceded it “might take a little longer to get into our stores”.
Penneys, the Irish high street fashion retailer, has announced it will reopen its Irish stores from next Friday, June 12th.
However, shopping at the clothing chain will be a vastly different experience from previously.
Strict social distancing protocols are being put in place. These will include limits on the number of customers in store at any one time, as well as the closure of fitting rooms, customer toilets and cafe and beauty concessions. Testers in the health and beauty department will also be removed.
The initial reopening will be confined to stores with street-level access, in line with the government’s reopening roadmap, but stores in shopping centres will also reopen three days later, on June 15th.
READ MORE
Every second till will be closed to allow more space between customers and employees, while face masks and gloves will be made available to all workers. In a statement, the retailer said “employee and customer safety is the highest priority in our preparations for reopening”.
Hand sanitiser stations, Perspex screens at tills and additional store cleaning, especially for “high frequency touchpoints” such as tills, escalators, lifts, and employee areas, will be among the measures put in place.
When asked about reports people intended to camp outside Penneys, Minister for Health Simon Harris said: “I don’t think it seems like a good idea. I hope people wouldn’t need me to tell them that.”
Primark chief executive, Paul Marchant, said: "We know that life for our customers is going to look different for a while. We want our stores to be safe and reassuring places to shop and work."
Mr Marchant conceding that it “might take a little longer to get into our stores”.
"We will adopt all government safety advice as a minimum in our stores and have benefited from our experience in the other markets in Europe where we have already opened successfully. As we open, we will continue to look at best practice across the retail sector and amend our measures appropriately."


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Funeral directors prepare for easing of Covid-19 restrictions

Graham Gleasure has faced a difficult job running his Tralee-based funeral directors since the Covid-19 crisis began , doing everything to abide by the rules and yet still offer the bereaved a portion of the traditional service .
The original rules were tough , even if they were alien in a county where funeral rites last three days – just 10 people at the funeral ceremony , no sympathising at the graveside and no gatherings at homes , funeral homes or churches .
However , the regulations were tightly written and clear .
If anything , the job of funeral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficult after the first phase of lockdown restrictions were eased , with 2km travel extending to 5km .
Since then , the crowds gathering outside churches have grown .
Often , far more than 10 people have assembled at graveyards , while more mourners are driving to stand on the roads to see the hearse pass , while standing 2m apart .
From Monday , the rules change again , with 25 mourners allowed to attend funerals .
Mr Gleasure had feared that the limit would rise to 50 , or “ even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost impossible to manage ” , he told The Irish Times .
“ The Irish do funerals very well , there is a lot of respect and time .
It ’ s very personal and it is heartbreaking when you can ’ t do that .
It ’ s very hard to face bereaved persons and say : sorry , you can ’ t do that , ” he said .
“ It ’ s totally unnatural for a priest and us to say you have to pick 10 people to bring to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many other counties , funerals , for the Catholic tradition at least , are gatherings that last for three days : a quiet rosary at the funeral home , followed by a public removal to a church and a full requiem Mass a day later , often in a packed church .
Since Covid-19 , the removal the night before , which would have seen people queuing often for hours to sympathise with neighbours and friends , ended .
Instead , it was “ straight to the church on the morning ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corpse to say goodbye is a big part of funerals in Kerry .
That , too , largely fell away , though Gleasures arranged staggered visits for immediate family and friends .
A few new customs have emerged , particularly where neighbours and friends have left their homes to stand on the road and bid farewell to a neighbour as the hearse passes .
“ Your heart would jump when they clap as the hearse begins to pass , ” he said , especially in the last few weeks of fine weather where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were even bigger than at the beginning of the crisis .
A number of trends are emerging which may well continue , Mr Gleasure thinks .
Equally , families in rural parts of Kerry , unable to mourn relatives in funeral homes , have begun to bring a loved one ’ s corpse home for private mourning .
“ The old ways are returning , ” Mr Gleasure said .

Graham Gleasure has faced a difficult job running his Tralee-based funeral directors since the Covid-19 crisis began, doing everything to abide by the rules and yet still offer the bereaved a portion of the traditional service.
The original rules were tough, even if they were alien in a county where funeral rites last three days – just 10 people at the funeral ceremony, no sympathising at the graveside and no gatherings at homes, funeral homes or churches.
However, the regulations were tightly written and clear. If anything, the job of funeral directors such as Mr Gleasure became more difficult after the first phase of lockdown restrictions were eased, with 2km travel extending to 5km.
Since then, the crowds gathering outside churches have grown. Often, far more than 10 people have assembled at graveyards, while more mourners are driving to stand on the roads to see the hearse pass, while standing 2m apart.
READ MORE
From Monday, the rules change again, with 25 mourners allowed to attend funerals. Mr Gleasure had feared that the limit would rise to 50, or “even 100, a limit that would be almost impossible to manage”, he told The Irish Times.
“The Irish do funerals very well, there is a lot of respect and time. It’s very personal and it is heartbreaking when you can’t do that. It’s very hard to face bereaved persons and say: sorry, you can’t do that,” he said.
“It’s totally unnatural for a priest and us to say you have to pick 10 people to bring to the church.”
Funeral rites
In Kerry, like so many other counties, funerals, for the Catholic tradition at least, are gatherings that last for three days: a quiet rosary at the funeral home, followed by a public removal to a church and a full requiem Mass a day later, often in a packed church.
Since Covid-19, the removal the night before, which would have seen people queuing often for hours to sympathise with neighbours and friends, ended. Instead, it was “straight to the church on the morning”, Mr Gleasure says.
Visiting the corpse to say goodbye is a big part of funerals in Kerry. That, too, largely fell away, though Gleasures arranged staggered visits for immediate family and friends.
A few new customs have emerged, particularly where neighbours and friends have left their homes to stand on the road and bid farewell to a neighbour as the hearse passes.
“Your heart would jump when they clap as the hearse begins to pass,” he said, especially in the last few weeks of fine weather where the lines of people on the road were even bigger than at the beginning of the crisis.
A number of trends are emerging which may well continue, Mr Gleasure thinks. Equally, families in rural parts of Kerry, unable to mourn relatives in funeral homes, have begun to bring a loved one’s corpse home for private mourning.
“The old ways are returning,” Mr Gleasure said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--The Irish farmers peering into cow pats for precious dung beetles

When Eye on Nature was launched on this page in 1988 , queries about beetles came by post , often with little drawings on the letters .
Today , on sunny lockdown days , a prowl in the garden with a phone camera has yielded yet more coleoptera , slowly locomotory or paused in thought .
Colourful shield bugs and ladybirds on summer leaves , longhorns perched on roses , diving beetles gliding through garden ponds , maybugs thumping on to garden tables ... all have brought endless queries for a name .
At the same time – and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some 40 Irish farmers have been roaming their cattle pastures , kicking apart the drier cow pats and peering into their depths .
Retrieving small black beetles from their sticky weave , or floating them in a bucket of water , they have brought them home and put them in the freezer to send , in due course , to Bruce Thompson .
Young , married , with two children , Thompson works with his father running a dairy farm with 230 cows on the slopes of the Slieve Blooms in Co Laois @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned about the cows ’ internal parasites , inject or pour on costly quantities of a “ worming ” drug , notably ivermectin .
This does , indeed , kill cattle parasites , but also emerges unchanged in their dung , with lethal impact on the larvae of dung beetles .
There are parts of the insect community that can make cow pats disappear into the soil , sometimes in days , their nutrients recycled for plants to grow .
Googling dung beetles brings up fascinating photographs of individual beetles rolling balls of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many tropical species do , indeed , pose for pictures in this manner .
Ireland ’ s largest dung beetle ( the dor beetle in my drawing ) is content to dig a vertical burrow beside the cow pat and lay eggs at the bottom , together with pellets of dung for the larvae to recycle as food .
Most of the decomposition , however , is done by tiny dung beetles a few millimetres long , These are mainly the Aphodius family , which lay their eggs beneath the dung ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teagasc and UCC found that , in cow pats with a tiny trace of the anthelmintic drug ivermectin , the toll on the development of beetle larvae was substantial .
Bruce Thompson had a keen interest in soils and their wildlife and was equipped with his own microscope .
He decided , with his father , to minimise dosing with “ mectins ” to give young stock a chance of developing their own immunity to parasites .
With a more diagnostic approach , the dosing was phased out for the adult cows and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since 2017 .
A chance conversation with a UK entomologist fired Thompson ’ s interest in further study .
With more encouragement from Aidan O ’ Hanlon , entomologist at the Natural History Museum , he sought a research scholarship from the Irish Nuffield Foundation .
It took him to Australia and New Zealand , where the introduction of alien dung beetles has been helping to rescue cattle farming from pastures polluted with undecomposed manure .
Australia ’ s native dung beetles evolved with the droppings of kangaroos and wallabies , not cattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of colonies of dung beetles from Hawaii , Africa and Europe .
In New Zealand , packages of beetles are offered commercially to set against the costs of riverbank fencing and planting to curb the run-off from dung .
The case for conserving coprophagous coleoptera has been strengthened even further by a large-scale field trial in southwest England .
Researchers at the University of Bristol set out some 250 1-kilo cow pats of parasite-infected dung .
Those exposed to Aphodius beetles left lower numbers of parasites in grass around the pats .
Such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Applied Ecology in August 2017 , demonstrated to Thompson that the beetles were helping him to lower the need for ivermectin .
It encouraged him to launch “ Operation Defecation ” , meant to build a baseline of the types and prevalence of dung beetles on farms with different practices of “ worming ” .
Dissolving chunks of dung in a bucket of water can bring a dozen different species of beetles floating to the surface .
Thompson ’ s recruitment of farming volunteers has been helped by his involvement in local farming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ All good things come in poos !
” ( @ Friesian_man ) .
His “ citizen science ” sampling is undertaken in the hope that intensive farming can be partnered with respect for the natural ecosystems of the soil .
For Teagasc ’ s researchers , the quest is for evidence “ that informs satisfactory trade-offs between conservation targets , animal welfare and livestock production ” .
In the meantime , perhaps , as the Bristol research paper concludes : “ Livestock management practices should focus on reducing reliance on anthelmintics to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

When Eye on Nature was launched on this page in 1988, queries about beetles came by post, often with little drawings on the letters. Today, on sunny lockdown days, a prowl in the garden with a phone camera has yielded yet more coleoptera, slowly locomotory or paused in thought.
Colourful shield bugs and ladybirds on summer leaves, longhorns perched on roses, diving beetles gliding through garden ponds, maybugs thumping on to garden tables... all have brought endless queries for a name.
At the same time – and this may, perhaps, surprise you – some 40 Irish farmers have been roaming their cattle pastures, kicking apart the drier cow pats and peering into their depths. Retrieving small black beetles from their sticky weave, or floating them in a bucket of water, they have brought them home and put them in the freezer to send, in due course, to Bruce Thompson.
Young, married, with two children, Thompson works with his father running a dairy farm with 230 cows on the slopes of the Slieve Blooms in Co Laois. Most farmers of that size, concerned about the cows' internal parasites, inject or pour on costly quantities of a "worming" drug, notably ivermectin.
READ MORE
Googling dung beetles brings up fascinating photographs of individual beetles rolling balls of dung uphill with their hind legs.
This does, indeed, kill cattle parasites, but also emerges unchanged in their dung, with lethal impact on the larvae of dung beetles. There are parts of the insect community that can make cow pats disappear into the soil, sometimes in days, their nutrients recycled for plants to grow.
Googling dung beetles brings up fascinating photographs of individual beetles rolling balls of dung uphill with their hind legs. Many tropical species do, indeed, pose for pictures in this manner. Ireland’s largest dung beetle (the dor beetle in my drawing) is content to dig a vertical burrow beside the cow pat and lay eggs at the bottom, together with pellets of dung for the larvae to recycle as food.
Most of the decomposition, however, is done by tiny dung beetles a few millimetres long, These are mainly the Aphodius family, which lay their eggs beneath the dung's surface. A study by scientists at Teagasc and UCC found that, in cow pats with a tiny trace of the anthelmintic drug ivermectin, the toll on the development of beetle larvae was substantial.
Bruce Thompson had a keen interest in soils and their wildlife and was equipped with his own microscope. He decided ,with his father, to minimise dosing with “mectins” to give young stock a chance of developing their own immunity to parasites. With a more diagnostic approach, the dosing was phased out for the adult cows and they have had none of the drug since 2017.
A chance conversation with a UK entomologist fired Thompson's interest in further study. With more encouragement from Aidan O'Hanlon, entomologist at the Natural History Museum, he sought a research scholarship from the Irish Nuffield Foundation.
It took him to Australia and New Zealand, where the introduction of alien dung beetles has been helping to rescue cattle farming from pastures polluted with undecomposed manure.
Australia’s native dung beetles evolved with the droppings of kangaroos and wallabies, not cattle. The government has subsidised the establishment of colonies of dung beetles from Hawaii, Africa and Europe. In New Zealand, packages of beetles are offered commercially to set against the costs of riverbank fencing and planting to curb the run-off from dung.
The case for conserving coprophagous coleoptera has been strengthened even further by a large-scale field trial in southwest England. Researchers at the University of Bristol set out some 250 1-kilo cow pats of parasite-infected dung. Those exposed to Aphodius beetles left lower numbers of parasites in grass around the pats. Such findings, reported in the Journal of Applied Ecology in August 2017, demonstrated to Thompson that the beetles were helping him to lower the need for ivermectin.
It encouraged him to launch “Operation Defecation”, meant to build a baseline of the types and prevalence of dung beetles on farms with different practices of “worming”. Dissolving chunks of dung in a bucket of water can bring a dozen different species of beetles floating to the surface.
The dung beetle by Michael Viney.
Thompson’s recruitment of farming volunteers has been helped by his involvement in local farming groups and an appeal on Twitter headed “All good things come in poos!” (@Friesian_man).
His “citizen science” sampling is undertaken in the hope that intensive farming can be partnered with respect for the natural ecosystems of the soil. For Teagasc’s researchers, the quest is for evidence “that informs satisfactory trade-offs between conservation targets, animal welfare and livestock production”.
In the meantime, perhaps, as the Bristol research paper concludes: “Livestock management practices should focus on reducing reliance on anthelmintics to minimise damage to natural dung beetle populations.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Eye on Nature: ‘We saw a proud mum with her cygnets’

“ We saw a proud mum with her cygnets in their nest .
” “ This bee hawkmoth was feeding on snapdragon in my garden .
Its wings are beautiful.
” It ’ s the narrow-bordered bee hawkmoth .
I also had one from Niamh Ní Dhúill in Tralee , Co Kerry .
“ This is one of four leverets that turned up at our house .
The mother suckles them on the drive .
They feed and play in the early morning and have several forms around the place .
“ “ What is this insect , which I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I saw this chap in the garden early in May.
” It ’ s the spring hawker dragonfly and the earliest hawker on the wing .
“ What is this flower , spotted in mid-May in my garden ?
The colour is extremely vibrant.
” It ’ s western marsh orchid , which , according to Brendan Sayers ’ s Ireland ’ s Wild Orchids , has an intense rosy-purple colour .
“ I snapped this cuckoo chick in my back garden in mid-May .
It was being fed by a thrush.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to lay her eggs in a thrush ’ s nest .
More usually , in Ireland , she uses a meadow pipit ’ s or a dunnock ’ s nest .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Include a postal address

Swan and cygnets in Lakelands, grounds of Terenure College.
“We saw a proud mum with her cygnets in their nest .”
Chloe Broderick (aged 10), Terenure, Dublin 6
Narrow-bordered bee hawkmoth
"This bee hawkmoth was feeding on snapdragon in my garden. Its wings are beautiful."
Tommy Hogan, Clarecastle, Co Clare
READ MORE
It’s the narrow-bordered bee hawkmoth. I also had one from Niamh Ní Dhúill in Tralee, Co Kerry.
Leveret
“This is one of four leverets that turned up at our house. The mother suckles them on the drive. They feed and play in the early morning and have several forms around the place. “
Mary Roantree, Headford, Co Galway
Poplar hawkmoth
“What is this insect, which I saw on my garden wall?”
Joseph McDonagh, Clontarf, Dublin 3
It’s the native poplar hawkmoth.
Spring hawker dragonfly
“I saw this chap in the garden early in May.”
Catherine Hare, Maynooth, Co Kildare
It’s the spring hawker dragonfly and the earliest hawker on the wing.
Western marsh orchid
“What is this flower, spotted in mid-May in my garden? The colour is extremely vibrant.”
Aodan Bourke, Achill, Co Mayo
It’s western marsh orchid, which, according to Brendan Sayers’s Ireland’s Wild Orchids, has an intense rosy-purple colour.
Cuckoo chick
“I snapped this cuckoo chick in my back garden in mid-May. It was being fed by a thrush.”
David Bastible, Dundalk, Co Louth
It is unusual for a cuckoo to lay her eggs in a thrush’s nest. More usually, in Ireland, she uses a meadow pipit’s or a dunnock’s nest.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Hosepipe ban looms: ‘We’re drinking tomorrow’s water today’

The temperature was edging towards 26 degrees , on a day of glorious sunshine in late May without a drop of rain , and many families were out in their back gardens , watering plants or filling paddling pools .
While most of the country was enjoying the fine weather on May 28th , alarm bells were ringing internally within Irish Water .
The national water utility can sustainably supply the greater Dublin area with 582 million litres ( m/l ) of water a day .
On that sunny Thursday last week , demand had surged to 613m/l , nearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
From early May demand had been steadily increasing , with stored water levels dropping , according to internal management reports , and the rain showers forecast for this weekend and early next week will barely make a dent on the shortfall .
The country would need “ a minimum accumulation of 100mm rainfall spread over a number of weeks and a return to normal precipitation levels thereafter ” to replenish reservoir supplies , an Irish Water spokeswoman said .
A water conservation order – known as a hosepipe ban – is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to prohibit unnecessary water use , the utility has warned .
The impending hosepipe ban is the result of a “ perfect storm ” of factors , according to Tom Cuddy , Irish Water ’ s operations support manager .
There is the longstanding problem of a “ chronic capacity issue ” supplying water to a rapidly growing Dublin area , he said .
That has been “ overlaid since March with the Covid situation , and people at home using more water ” , with more pressure coming down the tracks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Irish Times .
The fact Dublin has seen the driest and sunniest spring on record has been a further factor in bringing Irish Water supplies to drought levels .
The infrastructure supplying water to the capital has long been under strain , exhausting current sources such as the river Liffey to their limits .
“ We ’ re driving an old machine very hard , ” and had now run out of extra headroom , Mr Cuddy said .
“ We ’ re drinking tomorrow ’ s water today and then hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ native is the point man overseeing demand on Irish Water ’ s supply to the greater Dublin area , which includes Wicklow , Kildare , and Meath .
Since mid-March , Irish Water staff have decamped from their office and now remotely monitor the strain on the system from their kitchen tables and spare rooms .
Every morning a management report lands in the inboxes of staff , outlining demand from the previous day and water levels in reservoirs and other sources .
From as far back as January Mr Cuddy could see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usual , and by mid-March officials were seeing growing pressure on the system , in part due to coronavirus .
Domestic demand accounts for about two-thirds of overall water usage .
The lockdown and associated increased handwashing has seen Dublin drawing over 600m/l of water a day .
Internal analysis shows an upward trend from April to June , and large spikes in water usage during sunny days .
Irish Water previously introduced a hosepipe ban in July 2018 for the greater Dublin area , which it later extended nationwide , prohibiting people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or washing cars .
On April 24th , Irish Water convened its water scarcity group , sometimes internally referred to as the “ drought committee ” , to begin planning for potential similar measures this summer .
Forecasts from Met Éireann show the country could get between 20-30mm of rainfall over the next week , but longer seasonal forecasts suggest a dry , hot summer overall .
At the rate the greater Dublin area is growing it needs an extra 10m/l of water per day every year .
Irish Water has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works to Leixlip treatment plant , which will buy the capital “ five to six years ” , Mr Cuddy said .
However , to keep up with Dublin ’ s sustained growth long-term Irish Water “ need a new source ” , he said .
The main plan is the controversial development of a €1.6 billion pipeline to pump water from the River Shannon to Dublin .
Irish Water would need to have “ an extra 10-15 per cent capacity ” in the Dublin supply to move away from being on constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Until then people may have to get increasingly used to measures such as hosepipe bans .

The temperature was edging towards 26 degrees, on a day of glorious sunshine in late May without a drop of rain, and many families were out in their back gardens, watering plants or filling paddling pools.
While most of the country was enjoying the fine weather on May 28th, alarm bells were ringing internally within Irish Water.
The national water utility can sustainably supply the greater Dublin area with 582 million litres (m/l) of water a day. On that sunny Thursday last week, demand had surged to 613m/l, nearing the system’s absolute maximum capacity.
From early May demand had been steadily increasing, with stored water levels dropping, according to internal management reports, and the rain showers forecast for this weekend and early next week will barely make a dent on the shortfall.
READ MORE
Rainfall
The country would need “a minimum accumulation of 100mm rainfall spread over a number of weeks and a return to normal precipitation levels thereafter” to replenish reservoir supplies, an Irish Water spokeswoman said.
A water conservation order – known as a hosepipe ban – is now increasingly likely for Dublin and surrounding counties, to prohibit unnecessary water use, the utility has warned.
The impending hosepipe ban is the result of a "perfect storm" of factors, according to Tom Cuddy, Irish Water's operations support manager.
There is the longstanding problem of a “chronic capacity issue” supplying water to a rapidly growing Dublin area, he said.
That has been “overlaid since March with the Covid situation, and people at home using more water”, with more pressure coming down the tracks as businesses reopen, Mr Cuddy told The Irish Times. The fact Dublin has seen the driest and sunniest spring on record has been a further factor in bringing Irish Water supplies to drought levels.
The infrastructure supplying water to the capital has long been under strain, exhausting current sources such as the river Liffey to their limits.
“We’re driving an old machine very hard,” and had now run out of extra headroom, Mr Cuddy said. “We’re drinking tomorrow’s water today and then hoping it rains tomorrow.”
The Co Limerick native is the point man overseeing demand on Irish Water's supply to the greater Dublin area, which includes Wicklow, Kildare, and Meath.
Since mid-March, Irish Water staff have decamped from their office and now remotely monitor the strain on the system from their kitchen tables and spare rooms.
Every morning a management report lands in the inboxes of staff, outlining demand from the previous day and water levels in reservoirs and other sources.
From as far back as January Mr Cuddy could see water levels in lakes were lower than usual, and by mid-March officials were seeing growing pressure on the system, in part due to coronavirus.
Domestic demand accounts for about two-thirds of overall water usage. The lockdown and associated increased handwashing has seen Dublin drawing over 600m/l of water a day. Internal analysis shows an upward trend from April to June, and large spikes in water usage during sunny days.
Forecasts
Irish Water previously introduced a hosepipe ban in July 2018 for the greater Dublin area, which it later extended nationwide, prohibiting people from watering plants, filling paddling pools, or washing cars.
On April 24th, Irish Water convened its water scarcity group, sometimes internally referred to as the “drought committee”, to begin planning for potential similar measures this summer.
Forecasts from Met Éireann show the country could get between 20-30mm of rainfall over the next week, but longer seasonal forecasts suggest a dry, hot summer overall.
At the rate the greater Dublin area is growing it needs an extra 10m/l of water per day every year. Irish Water has a number of projects, such as upgrade works to Leixlip treatment plant, which will buy the capital “five to six years”, Mr Cuddy said.
However, to keep up with Dublin’s sustained growth long-term Irish Water “need a new source”, he said. The main plan is the controversial development of a €1.6 billion pipeline to pump water from the River Shannon to Dublin.
Irish Water would need to have “an extra 10-15 per cent capacity” in the Dublin supply to move away from being on constant “high alert”, Mr Cuddy said.
Until then people may have to get increasingly used to measures such as hosepipe bans.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Former Kilkenny hurler dies after bike struck by tractor

A former Kilkenny hurler has died after his bike was struck by a tractor close to his home .
Lester Ryan snr ( 61 ) died on Saturday in the crash in Gowran , Co Kilkenny at around 3.30pm .
Emergency services were called to the scene , however , it is understood he died at the scene .
His body was taken to St Luke ’ s General Hospital , Kilkenny , and will later be transferred to University Hospital Waterford where a postmortem will be conducted .
The father-of-three won two All-Ireland minor medals , three Leinster senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his playing days .
He recently retired from a coaching position at Leinster Council level .
His nephew , Lester Ryan jnr , retired two years ago from the Kilkenny senior team having won four All-Ireland titles .
His brother , Harry , also played for local club Clara and was a member of the Kilkenny senior intercounty team in the 1980s .
Mr Ryan , was described by a local man , as “ a lovely person and was well-known character .
It ’ s just so horrendous that the accident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It is the second time the family has been hit by tragedy .
Johnny , who was Lester jnr ’ s father , died in a farming accident on the family farm in Dunbell in January , 2015 .

A former Kilkenny hurler has died after his bike was struck by a tractor close to his home.
Lester Ryan snr (61) died on Saturday in the crash in Gowran, Co Kilkenny at around 3.30pm.
Emergency services were called to the scene, however, it is understood he died at the scene. His body was taken to St Luke's General Hospital, Kilkenny, and will later be transferred to University Hospital Waterford where a postmortem will be conducted.
The father-of-four won two All-Ireland minor medals, three Leinster senior titles and appeared in two All-Ireland finals in his playing days. He recently retired from a coaching position at Leinster Council level.
READ MORE
His nephew, Lester Ryan jnr, retired two years ago from the Kilkenny senior team having won four All-Ireland titles.
His brother, Harry, also played for local club Clara and was a member of the Kilkenny senior intercounty team in the 1980s.
Mr Ryan, was described by a local man, as “a lovely person and was well-known character. It’s just so horrendous that the accident happened so close to his home.”
It is the second time the family has been hit by tragedy. Johnny, who was Lester jnr’s father, died in a farming accident on the family farm in Dunbell in January, 2015.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Organisers of Belfast and Derry protests could face prosecution

The organisers of Black Lives Matters protests in Belfast and Derry could face prosecution after rallies went ahead on Saturday despite warnings from police , politicians and health officials in Northern Ireland that mass gatherings were in breach of coronavirus legislation .
The Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) said a “ significant number ” of community resolution notices and fines were issued at protests in Belfast and Derry .
“ A number of individuals , including organisers , will now be reported to the Public Prosecution Service with a view to prosecution , ” said Assistant Chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also conduct follow up inquiries to seek to identify others who may have committed offences.
” Protests planned for Newry , Omagh and Portadown were cancelled , and the PSNI said in Newry a small crowd gathered but “ dispersed on our request ” .
In Derry , around a thousand people , the majority wearing face masks , gathered in Guildhall Square for the protest on Saturday afternoon .
Face masks , gloves and hand sanitiser were provided by the organisers .
There was a significant police presence , and police officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ square and reminded them of the legislation and social distancing guidelines .
The organiser , Lilian Seenoi-Barr of the Northwest Migrants Forum , said they had demonstrated it was possible to hold a protest safely .
“ Racism is a pandemic , racism has cost lives , racism is a health pandemic also , ” she said , “ so we are here to protect people , we are here to protect our lives from two different pandemics .
We can ’ t choose one above the other .
“ Everybody has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have used sanitisers , we ’ ve provided them because we promised people that at the heart of us organising this today was the health and safety of everybody .
I am delighted that every one [ of the protesters ] is wearing a mask.
” The protesters chanted “ black lives matter ” and “ I can ’ t breathe ” – the final words of George Floyd , the African-American man who was killed on May 25th while in police custody in Minneapolis .
He died after a white police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knee into his neck , sparking days of protest .
The crowd also knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds , the length of time the policeman kept his knee on Mr Floyd ’ s neck .
Ms Seenoi-Barr said Mr Floyd ’ s death “ has shocked the world , but we must not believe that this is only a US problem .
“ We are also here because we demand change in Ireland .
We are tired of [ having ] our boys stopped in the street , harassed , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of not having a voice , and we are tired of being intimidated .
“ So for everyone who is out there today , you are here because you care , you are here because you believe that black lives matter .
“ You are here risking your own lives for my life , and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for defying every threat and coming here to fight for us.
” Assistant Chief Constable Todd said that “ in other times , we would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilitate a lawful and peaceful protest to mark the avoidable and unnecessary death of George Floyd , however , these are not ordinary times .
“ The Health Protection Regulations are in place to protect us all during this pandemic and it is everyone ’ s responsibility to adhere to them to protect our society .
”

Protesters in Derry’s Guildhall Square showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the US. Photograph: Freya McClements
The organisers of Black Lives Matters protests in Belfast and Derry could face prosecution after rallies went ahead on Saturday despite warnings from police, politicians and health officials in Northern Ireland that mass gatherings were in breach of coronavirus legislation.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a "significant number" of community resolution notices and fines were issued at protests in Belfast and Derry.
“A number of individuals, including organisers, will now be reported to the Public Prosecution Service with a view to prosecution,” said Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd. “We will also conduct follow up inquiries to seek to identify others who may have committed offences.”
Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 3 People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast. Photograph: Rebecca Black/PA Wire
Protests planned for Newry, Omagh and Portadown were cancelled, and the PSNI said in Newry a small crowd gathered but "dispersed on our request".
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Protesters in Derry’s Guildhall Square showing solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement in the US. Photograph: Freya McClements
Protesters at the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Derry. Photograph: Freya McClements
In Derry, around a thousand people, the majority wearing face masks, gathered in Guildhall Square for the protest on Saturday afternoon. Face masks, gloves and hand sanitiser were provided by the organisers.
There was a significant police presence, and police officers stopped people on their way into the square and reminded them of the legislation and social distancing guidelines.
The organiser, Lilian Seenoi-Barr of the Northwest Migrants Forum, said they had demonstrated it was possible to hold a protest safely.
“Racism is a pandemic, racism has cost lives, racism is a health pandemic also,” she said, “so we are here to protect people, we are here to protect our lives from two different pandemics. We can’t choose one above the other.
“Everybody has been responsible. They have used gloves, they have used sanitisers, we’ve provided them because we promised people that at the heart of us organising this today was the health and safety of everybody. I am delighted that every one [of the protesters] is wearing a mask.”
The protesters chanted "black lives matter" and "I can't breathe" – the final words of George Floyd, the African-American man who was killed on May 25th while in police custody in Minneapolis. He died after a white police officer held him down by pressing a knee into his neck, sparking days of protest.
The crowd also knelt for eight minutes and 46 seconds, the length of time the policeman kept his knee on Mr Floyd’s neck.
Ms Seenoi-Barr said Mr Floyd’s death “has shocked the world, but we must not believe that this is only a US problem.
“We are also here because we demand change in Ireland. We are tired of [having] our boys stopped in the street, harassed, because they are black. We are tired of not having a voice, and we are tired of being intimidated.
“So for everyone who is out there today, you are here because you care, you are here because you believe that black lives matter.
“You are here risking your own lives for my life, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for defying every threat and coming here to fight for us.”
People take part in a Black Lives Matter protest rally in Custom House Square, Belfast. Photograph: Rebecca Black/PA Wire
Assistant Chief Constable Todd said that “in other times, we would have been working with the organisers and protesters to facilitate a lawful and peaceful protest to mark the avoidable and unnecessary death of George Floyd, however, these are not ordinary times.
“The Health Protection Regulations are in place to protect us all during this pandemic and it is everyone’s responsibility to adhere to them to protect our society.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--NCT and driver theory test centres to reopen from Monday

National car test ( NCT ) centres are to begin reopening from Monday , along with the National Driver Licence Service and Driver Theory Test facilities .
Motorists whose car test was affected by the failure of lifts in testing centres earlier this year are to be given priority for testing .
The gradual resumption of the NCT will begin with the opening of 15 NCT centres across the State .
The reopening of more centres will be announced in the coming weeks and updates will be posted on ncts.ie .
All 43 theory test centres will reopen from Monday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The opening of the Driver Licence Services will allow those who have passed the theory test to apply for a learner permit .
It will also enable people to apply for a replacement licence that may have been lost or stolen .
However , the Driver Testing Service is not reopening yet .
Minister for Transport Shane Ross said while he saw see the possibility of lorry , bus and motorcycle testing resuming soon , there were issues to overcome to restart car driving tests .
“ These challenges include maintaining social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close contact in an enclosed space between the driver tester and the learner driver for periods in excess of 15 minutes .
“ I can assure learner drivers that officials in my department and the Road Safety Authority are looking at all available options to get car driving tests started again as soon as possible , ” he said .
The reopening of full services will take place on a phased basis and car owners will remain subject to Government regulations on travel and social distancing .
Motorists are advised to check relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their area .
No walk-in appointments will be accommodated .
All services must be paid for with credit/debit cards .
No cash will be taken .
Mr Ross said social distancing should always be maintained and anyone wishing to use the services remained subject to the Government ’ s current restrictions on travel .
From Monday , people can travel 20km from home or anywhere within their county , whichever is the greater distance .
As the validity of various certificates and licences relating to these services was extended on March 28th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for these services has been reduced in the short term , but motorists are advised to make appointments in a timely fashion .
Mr Ross said he was “ acutely aware that some people do need to avail of these services now ” .
“ For example , there are vehicle owners who were affected by the vehicle lift issue at the NCTS and who need to complete their test .
These customers and anyone else who has been unable to complete their full vehicle inspection are to be prioritised , ” he @ @

The driving test centre in Finglas. Car driving tests will not restart yet due to challenges around social distancing. Photograph: Alan Betson
National car test (NCT) centres are to begin reopening from Monday, along with the National Driver Licence Service and Driver Theory Test facilities.
Motorists whose car test was affected by the failure of lifts in testing centres earlier this year are to be given priority for testing.
The gradual resumption of the NCT will begin with the opening of 15 NCT centres across the State. The reopening of more centres will be announced in the coming weeks and updates will be posted on ncts.ie.
All 43 theory test centres will reopen from Monday and people can book their tests online. The opening of the Driver Licence Services will allow those who have passed the theory test to apply for a learner permit. It will also enable people to apply for a replacement licence that may have been lost or stolen.
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However, the Driver Testing Service is not reopening yet. Minister for Transport Shane Ross said while he saw see the possibility of lorry, bus and motorcycle testing resuming soon, there were issues to overcome to restart car driving tests. “These challenges include maintaining social distancing as a car driving test means close contact in an enclosed space between the driver tester and the learner driver for periods in excess of 15 minutes.
“I can assure learner drivers that officials in my department and the Road Safety Authority are looking at all available options to get car driving tests started again as soon as possible,” he said.
The reopening of full services will take place on a phased basis and car owners will remain subject to Government regulations on travel and social distancing.
Motorists are advised to check relevant websites for updates on NCT centres opening in their area. No walk-in appointments will be accommodated.
All services must be paid for with credit/debit cards. No cash will be taken.
Commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing resumed on May 18th.
Mr Ross said social distancing should always be maintained and anyone wishing to use the services remained subject to the Government’s current restrictions on travel. From Monday, people can travel 20km from home or anywhere within their county, whichever is the greater distance.
As the validity of various certificates and licences relating to these services was extended on March 28th for up to four months, demand for these services has been reduced in the short term, but motorists are advised to make appointments in a timely fashion.
Mr Ross said he was “acutely aware that some people do need to avail of these services now”.
“For example, there are vehicle owners who were affected by the vehicle lift issue at the NCTS and who need to complete their test. These customers and anyone else who has been unable to complete their full vehicle inspection are to be prioritised,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Call for the protection of midwifery-led maternity units

Midwife representative groups have called for the protection of midwifery-led maternity units ( MLUs ) , adding that the closure of the units would lead to “ a significant lapse ” in the provision of maternal healthcare .
The Midwife Association has claimed that the MLU in Cavan General Hospital , one of only two in the country , is being merged with the consultant-led unit .
The unit , which is made up of a team of midwives who provide care for women throughout their pregnancy , during labour and in the postnatal period , helped deliver around 300 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unit in Drogheda , Co Louth assisted in the delivery of around 600 babies , and has had to start turning away people .
Patricia Hughes , chairwoman of the association , said : “ The autonomy and the pathway of care has effectively been removed from all women booking from the first of June , last Monday .
“ I asked if there were any safety concerns , I was told no .
I asked if any review had been carried out that might have guided a decision to close it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if any review had been carried out on the efficacy of the MLU and I was told no.
” Ms Hughes added that she understands some 85 to 90 women are currently attending the MLU and there is “ no issue with them finishing up their care in the MLU ” .
The association said there are many “ significant repercussions ” to removing midwifery-led care .
“ The repercussions are many .
First of all , it ’ s very cost-effective , safe method of antenatal and post-natal care for mothers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in terms of continuity of care , ” she added .
The Irish Nurses and Midwives ’ Organisation ( INMO ) has also called for the protection of the country ’ s MLUs .
The INMO said it had previously been assured by hospital group management that full consultation would take place before any decisions on the future of the service were made .
They added that “ despite this ” , “ plans to downgrade the service are advancing ” .
David Miskell , Industrial Relations Officer with the INMO for Cavan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very clear ” strategy for the maternity service .
“ The expansion of midwife-led care is an integral part of the National Maternity Strategy .
Downgrading the service would fly in the face of national policy , ” Mr Miskell said .
“ Any diminution in the service provided at Cavan General Hospital is a retrograde step for the provision of maternity services in the North East and is limiting choices for expectant mothers .
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Niamh Smyth has sought urgent clarification from the Department of Health regarding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understand the unit is set to be closed .
This has caused considerable shock to the staff , patients and residents in Counties Cavan and Monaghan , ” Ms Smyth said in a statement .
The RCSI Hospital group , which represents Cavan General Hospital , did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication .

Fianna Fáil’s Niamh Smyth said: “This has caused considerable shock to the staff, patients and residents in Counties Cavan and Monaghan”.
Midwife representative groups have called for the protection of midwifery-led maternity units (MLUs), adding that the closure of the units would lead to “a significant lapse” in the provision of maternal healthcare.
The Midwife Association has claimed that the MLU in Cavan General Hospital, one of only two in the country, is being merged with the consultant-led unit.
The unit, which is made up of a team of midwives who provide care for women throughout their pregnancy, during labour and in the postnatal period, helped deliver around 300 babies last year while the other midwife-led unit in Drogheda, Co Louth assisted in the delivery of around 600 babies, and has had to start turning away people.
Patricia Hughes, chairwoman of the association, said: "The autonomy and the pathway of care has effectively been removed from all women booking from the first of June, last Monday.
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“I asked if there were any safety concerns, I was told no. I asked if any review had been carried out that might have guided a decision to close it, I was told no. I asked if any review had been carried out on the efficacy of the MLU and I was told no.”
Ms Hughes added that she understands some 85 to 90 women are currently attending the MLU and there is “no issue with them finishing up their care in the MLU”.
The association said there are many “significant repercussions” to removing midwifery-led care.
“The repercussions are many. First of all, it’s very cost-effective, safe method of antenatal and post-natal care for mothers. The benefits are well documented in research in terms of continuity of care,” she added.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) has also called for the protection of the country’s MLUs.
The INMO said it had previously been assured by hospital group management that full consultation would take place before any decisions on the future of the service were made.
They added that “despite this”, “plans to downgrade the service are advancing”.
David Miskell, Industrial Relations Officer with the INMO for Cavan General Hospital said there is a "very clear" strategy for the maternity service.
“The expansion of midwife-led care is an integral part of the National Maternity Strategy. Downgrading the service would fly in the face of national policy,” Mr Miskell said.
“Any diminution in the service provided at Cavan General Hospital is a retrograde step for the provision of maternity services in the North East and is limiting choices for expectant mothers.
Fianna Fáil TD for Cavan-Monaghan Niamh Smyth has sought urgent clarification from the Department of Health regarding the future of the MLU.
“I understand the unit is set to be closed. This has caused considerable shock to the staff, patients and residents in Counties Cavan and Monaghan,” Ms Smyth said in a statement.
The RCSI Hospital group, which represents Cavan General Hospital, did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.


theirishtimes--2020-06-06--Brinks Cash Services to close three branches, with 160 jobs at risk

Brinks Cash Services Ireland has confirmed the phased closure of three of its seven branches , impacting approximately 160 jobs across three counties .
The closure of the company ’ s branches in Cork , Galway , and Waterford is part of a national restructuring plan to “ support the viability of the business in Ireland ” , the cash and payments provider said in a statement .
“ The decision has been made with a view to achieving efficiencies across the business and continuing to deliver for our customers against the backdrop of coronavirus and a challenging economic environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of the decision on our workforce and are engaging extensively with employees and their representatives .
Brinks remains committed to the Irish market , with 500 of our employees across its remaining four branches servicing the requirements of its 2,000 customers as the largest cash and payments provider in Ireland , ” the statement concluded .
Up to 46 staff at Brinks Waterford base were informed of the decision at individual meetings on Thursday evening .
They were handed letters from the US head office and informed that the closure of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7th and 20th .
Waterford has had a cash-in-transit base since 1970 , having first opened as Securicor .
Up to six months ago it operated as G4S , before Brinks took over .
Siptu organiser Brendan Carr said the union was shocked and extremely disappointed to hear of the decision .
Siptu ’ s intention , once talks began with the company next week , was to see how many jobs could be saved and to ensure their members would be adequately compensated , he said .
“ This is coming as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the system due to Covid-19 .
It is happening all over Europe .
We know that for a fact , ” Mr Carr said .
Since the start of the year six workers were laid off in Waterford , with the rest of the employees being put on the Government ’ s Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme in recent weeks .
Mr Carr said it was devastating that the pandemic was affecting people ’ s employment .
He urged the Government and local representatives to step in and support the workers in any way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highly skilled staff members have decades of experience in the cash-in-transit sector , while others have young families and mortgages , he added .

There has been a cash-in-transit base in Waterford since the 1970s. File photograph: Matt Kavanagh/The Irish Times
Brinks Cash Services Ireland has confirmed the phased closure of three of its seven branches, impacting approximately 160 jobs across three counties.
The closure of the company’s branches in Cork, Galway, and Waterford is part of a national restructuring plan to “support the viability of the business in Ireland”, the cash and payments provider said in a statement.
“The decision has been made with a view to achieving efficiencies across the business and continuing to deliver for our customers against the backdrop of coronavirus and a challenging economic environment.
“We are mindful of the impact of the decision on our workforce and are engaging extensively with employees and their representatives. Brinks remains committed to the Irish market, with 500 of our employees across its remaining four branches servicing the requirements of its 2,000 customers as the largest cash and payments provider in Ireland,” the statement concluded.
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Union response
Up to 46 staff at Brinks Waterford base were informed of the decision at individual meetings on Thursday evening.
They were handed letters from the US head office and informed that the closure of their base is expected to occur between September 7th and 20th.
Waterford has had a cash-in-transit base since 1970, having first opened as Securicor. Up to six months ago it operated as G4S, before Brinks took over.
Siptu organiser Brendan Carr said the union was shocked and extremely disappointed to hear of the decision. Siptu’s intention, once talks began with the company next week, was to see how many jobs could be saved and to ensure their members would be adequately compensated, he said.
“This is coming as a result of cash coming out of the system due to Covid-19. It is happening all over Europe. We know that for a fact,” Mr Carr said.
Since the start of the year six workers were laid off in Waterford, with the rest of the employees being put on the Government’s Covid-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme in recent weeks.
Mr Carr said it was devastating that the pandemic was affecting people’s employment. He urged the Government and local representatives to step in and support the workers in any way they could.
A number of the highly skilled staff members have decades of experience in the cash-in-transit sector, while others have young families and mortgages, he added.