theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Lawyer seeks to delay Kevin Lunney case over mobile phone law ‘uncertainty’

Lawyers for one of the men accused of falsely imprisoning and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings ( QIH ) director Kevin Lunney have told the Special Criminal Court that the case is not ready to proceed in January as the law on the retention and accessing of mobile phone data is in “ a state of significant uncertainty ” in Ireland .
Defence counsel Michael O ’ Higgins SC , for one of the accused men who can not be named for legal reasons , told the non-jury court on Tuesday that he would be applying for the trial to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to proceed when the law on the retention of mobile phone records was “ unknown ” .
Luke O ’ Reilly ( 66 ) , with an address at Mullahoran Lower , Kilcogy , Co Cavan ; Darren Redmond ( 25 ) , from Caledon Road , East Wall , Dublin 3 ; Alan O ’ Brien ( 39 ) , of Shelmalier Road , East Wall , Dublin 3 and the fourth accused are all charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade , Ballinagh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Lunney ( 50 ) , a father of six , was abducted close to his home in Co Fermanagh on the evening of September 17th .
The businessman ’ s leg was broken , he was doused in bleach and the letters QIH were carved into his chest during the two-and-a-half hour ordeal before he was dumped on a roadside in Co Cavan .
The four defendants were sent forward for trial before the Special Criminal Court last March and the non-jury court has fixed January 11th , 2021 as their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last 12 weeks .
Mr O ’ Higgins told the three-judge court on Tuesday that from his point of view the case was not ready to proceed in January and he was applying for an adjournment .
The barrister handed a document into the court upon which the adjournment application was sought and remarked that the law on the retention and accessing of mobile phone data is in “ a state of significant uncertainty ” in this jurisdiction .
Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding , sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge Michael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in any state of uncertainty and asked Mr O ’ Higgins if the application referred to the recent decision of the European Court of Justice ( ECJ ) in October .
Mr O ’ Higgins confirmed that it did and said he had set out in the document the reasons why it was inappropriate for the trial to proceed especially when the law on the retention of mobile phone records was “ unknown ” .
Last year , the Supreme Court heard an appeal against a High Court ruling in favour of Graham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to overturn his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine O ’ Hara .
The State had appealed the decision by High Court judge Mr Justice Tony O ’ Connor that part of Ireland ’ s retention laws concerning information generated by telephones contravened EU law .
Dwyer claimed that data generated from a phone under the 2011 Communications ( Retention of Data ) Act should not have been used at his 2015 trial before the Central Criminal Court .
Dwyer ’ s mobile phone data battle was referred from the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the superior court found that EU law at the time was not clear enough for a judgment to be made .
The ECJ has ruled in two similar cases recently that member states and service providers do not have broad rights to retain data on citizens and Irish officials now believe the ECJ is likely to rule against the State on that issue .
In light of its recent rulings , the ECJ asked the Supreme Court if it wished to proceed with its referral of the Dwyer case .
The Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to proceed as there were additional issues raised by the referral .
The ECJ hearing is expected to begin in mid-January and once it rules , which may take some time , the matter will be referred back to the Irish Supreme Court for further argument and judgment .
Earlier this month , the Special Criminal Court heard that the trial of the four accused men may not go ahead next January due to High Court challenges being brought by the defendants against the Special Criminal Court ’ s jurisdiction to try the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the non-jury court today that the judicial review proceedings were back before the High Court this morning and outlined that it was “ a very net issue ” .
Sean Guerin SC , on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) , asked the court for time so that the Director could set out her position in relation to the issue of retention of mobile phone data .
“ The Director is very anxious to get the case on , ” he added .
Mr Justice Hunt listed the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday at 9.30am .

The barrister remarked that the law on the retention and accessing of mobile phone data is in “a state of significant uncertainty” in this jurisdiction. Photograph: iStock
Lawyers for one of the men accused of falsely imprisoning and assaulting Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) director Kevin Lunney have told the Special Criminal Court that the case is not ready to proceed in January as the law on the retention and accessing of mobile phone data is in "a state of significant uncertainty" in Ireland.
Defence counsel Michael O’Higgins SC, for one of the accused men who cannot be named for legal reasons, told the non-jury court on Tuesday that he would be applying for the trial to be adjourned as it was inappropriate for it to proceed when the law on the retention of mobile phone records was “unknown”.
Luke O'Reilly (66), with an address at Mullahoran Lower, Kilcogy, Co Cavan; Darren Redmond (25), from Caledon Road, East Wall, Dublin 3; Alan O'Brien (39), of Shelmalier Road, East Wall, Dublin 3 and the fourth accused are all charged with false imprisonment and assault causing serious harm to Mr Lunney at Drumbrade, Ballinagh, Co Cavan on September 17th, 2019.
Mr Lunney (50), a father of six, was abducted close to his home in Co Fermanagh on the evening of September 17th. The businessman’s leg was broken, he was doused in bleach and the letters QIH were carved into his chest during the two-and-a-half hour ordeal before he was dumped on a roadside in Co Cavan.
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The four defendants were sent forward for trial before the Special Criminal Court last March and the non-jury court has fixed January 11th, 2021 as their trial date. It is expected to last 12 weeks.
Mr O’Higgins told the three-judge court on Tuesday that from his point of view the case was not ready to proceed in January and he was applying for an adjournment. The barrister handed a document into the court upon which the adjournment application was sought and remarked that the law on the retention and accessing of mobile phone data is in “a state of significant uncertainty” in this jurisdiction.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt presiding, sitting with Judge Martin Nolan and Judge Michael Walsh, said the law was not in any state of uncertainty and asked Mr O’Higgins if the application referred to the recent decision of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in October. Mr O’Higgins confirmed that it did and said he had set out in the document the reasons why it was inappropriate for the trial to proceed especially when the law on the retention of mobile phone records was “unknown”.
Last year, the Supreme Court heard an appeal against a High Court ruling in favour of Graham Dwyer which formed part of his bid to overturn his conviction for the murder of childcare worker Elaine O'Hara. The State had appealed the decision by High Court judge Mr Justice Tony O'Connor that part of Ireland's retention laws concerning information generated by telephones contravened EU law. Dwyer claimed that data generated from a phone under the 2011 Communications (Retention of Data) Act should not have been used at his 2015 trial before the Central Criminal Court.
Dwyer’s mobile phone data battle was referred from the Supreme Court to the ECJ earlier this year as the superior court found that EU law at the time was not clear enough for a judgment to be made.
The ECJ has ruled in two similar cases recently that member states and service providers do not have broad rights to retain data on citizens and Irish officials now believe the ECJ is likely to rule against the State on that issue.
In light of its recent rulings, the ECJ asked the Supreme Court if it wished to proceed with its referral of the Dwyer case. The Supreme Court responded that it wished the case to proceed as there were additional issues raised by the referral. The ECJ hearing is expected to begin in mid-January and once it rules, which may take some time, the matter will be referred back to the Irish Supreme Court for further argument and judgment.
Earlier this month, the Special Criminal Court heard that the trial of the four accused men may not go ahead next January due to High Court challenges being brought by the defendants against the Special Criminal Court’s jurisdiction to try the matter.
Mr O’Higgins told the non-jury court today that the judicial review proceedings were back before the High Court this morning and outlined that it was “a very net issue”.
Sean Guerin SC, on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), asked the court for time so that the Director could set out her position in relation to the issue of retention of mobile phone data. "The Director is very anxious to get the case on," he added.
Mr Justice Hunt listed the case for hearing before the non-jury court next Thursday at 9.30am.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Paramilitaries still a ‘clear and present danger’ in North, says report

Republican and loyalist paramilitaries remain a “ clear and present danger ” in Northern Ireland , the Independent Reporting Commission ( IRC ) has stated in its third annual report .
The commissioners , in their report published on Tuesday , called for actions to assist deprived communities where paramilitaries continue to have “ coercive control ” .
The IRC also acknowledged that in some areas , paramilitary groups are viewed as the “ go to ” people to deal with anti-social problems .
The four members of the commission said they understood from police that there were thousands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while “ only a relatively small number ” were directly involved in illegal activity , they represented a “ clear and present danger on an ongoing basis ” .
The commissioners also warned that issues around Brexit and dealing with the past had the potential to “ further and greatly complicate ” the ending of paramilitarism .
The IRC was established in August 2017 by an international agreement between the British and Irish governments under the terms of the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement at Stormont .
Unlike the disbanded Independent Monitoring Commission , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status and threat level from republican and loyalist paramilitary organisations .
Its remit is to report on progress towards ending paramilitarism .
The four commissioners are solicitor John McBurney ; former leader of the Women ’ s Coalition party Professor Monica McWilliams ; former senior Department of Foreign Affairs official Tim O ’ Connor ; and former US peace envoy Dr Mitchell Reiss .
The commissioners said that the restoration of the Executive and Northern Assembly in January following three years of political deadlock provided a major opportunity to “ reset ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repeated their view that ending paramilitarism requires a ” twin-track approach , combining policing and criminal justice responses alongside measures to address the systemic socio-economic challenges facing communities where paramilitaries operate such as educational under-attainment , long-term unemployment , poverty and drugs ” .
This would require a “ whole of government focus ” , they said .
They added that there were “ still too many communities in Northern Ireland and many individuals and families in local communities who remain under the coercive control of paramilitary groups ” .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 1994 and over 22 years since the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement , ” they said .
“ We appreciate that peace processes everywhere move at a slow and uneven pace and that there are many complexities to be overcome in their implementation .
There are always multiple reasons why progress is difficult , ” they added .
“ However , it is also the case that there is a ‘ time and a tide ’ for movement ; moments for leaps rather than increments .
We believe that in a year in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many ways turned that world upside down , it is time for momentum and movement again on this residual , stubbornly difficult issue of ending paramilitarism , which we consider to be pivotal to the transformation of Northern Ireland society.
” The commissioners also reiterated their call for the Executive to “ consider setting up a dedicated Northern Ireland agency for the civil recovery of the proceeds of crime to further bolster the fight against organised crime ” .
The commissioners allowed that there were differing attitudes in the communities where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these communities , they regard paramilitaries not as outsiders but as ‘ part of us , part of who we are ’ , ” they said .
“ And in some cases , the paramilitaries are seen as ‘ go to ’ people , particularly in terms of ‘ policing ’ local issues arising from anti-social behaviour , including drugs .
While this , in our view , is unacceptable , it is the reality of the complex landscape in Northern Ireland , ” they added .
Welcoming publication of the report the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the Executive had an action plan to tackle paramilitary activity .
She said that while “ good progress is being made ” in this area “ lessons learned so far only serve to underline how the enduring and pervasive nature of paramilitarism requires a long term , collaborative approach if we are to effectively resolve all of the issues ” .

Police attend the scene of the fatal shooting of journalist Lyra McKee in Derry on April 19th, 2019. Photograph: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Republican and loyalist paramilitaries remain a "clear and present danger" in Northern Ireland, the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) has stated in its third annual report.
The commissioners, in their report published on Tuesday, called for actions to assist deprived communities where paramilitaries continue to have “coercive control”.
The IRC also acknowledged that in some areas, paramilitary groups are viewed as the “go to” people to deal with anti-social problems.
The four members of the commission said they understood from police that there were thousands of “signed up” paramilitary members and while “only a relatively small number” were directly involved in illegal activity, they represented a “clear and present danger on an ongoing basis”.
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The commissioners also warned that issues around Brexit and dealing with the past had the potential to “further and greatly complicate” the ending of paramilitarism.
The IRC was established in August 2017 by an international agreement between the British and Irish governments under the terms of the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement at Stormont.
Threat level
Unlike the disbanded Independent Monitoring Commission, it does not provide operational assessments on the status and threat level from republican and loyalist paramilitary organisations. Its remit is to report on progress towards ending paramilitarism.
The four commissioners are solicitor John McBurney; former leader of the Women's Coalition party Professor Monica McWilliams; former senior Department of Foreign Affairs official Tim O'Connor; and former US peace envoy Dr Mitchell Reiss.
The commissioners said that the restoration of the Executive and Northern Assembly in January following three years of political deadlock provided a major opportunity to "reset" the mission to end paramilitarism.
They repeated their view that ending paramilitarism requires a” twin-track approach, combining policing and criminal justice responses alongside measures to address the systemic socio-economic challenges facing communities where paramilitaries operate such as educational under-attainment, long-term unemployment, poverty and drugs”.
This would require a “whole of government focus”, they said.
They added that there were “still too many communities in Northern Ireland and many individuals and families in local communities who remain under the coercive control of paramilitary groups”.
“It is now over 26 years since the ceasefires of 1994 and over 22 years since the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement,” they said.
“We appreciate that peace processes everywhere move at a slow and uneven pace and that there are many complexities to be overcome in their implementation. There are always multiple reasons why progress is difficult,” they added.
“However, it is also the case that there is a ‘time and a tide’ for movement; moments for leaps rather than increments. We believe that in a year in which a pandemic has swept our world and in many ways turned that world upside down, it is time for momentum and movement again on this residual, stubbornly difficult issue of ending paramilitarism, which we consider to be pivotal to the transformation of Northern Ireland society.”
‘Who we are’
The commissioners also reiterated their call for the Executive to “consider setting up a dedicated Northern Ireland agency for the civil recovery of the proceeds of crime to further bolster the fight against organised crime”.
The commissioners allowed that there were differing attitudes in the communities where the paramilitaries operate. “For some in these communities, they regard paramilitaries not as outsiders but as ‘part of us, part of who we are’,” they said.
“And in some cases, the paramilitaries are seen as ‘go to’ people, particularly in terms of ‘policing’ local issues arising from anti-social behaviour, including drugs. While this, in our view, is unacceptable, it is the reality of the complex landscape in Northern Ireland,” they added.
Welcoming publication of the report the North's justice Minister Naomi Long said that the Executive had an action plan to tackle paramilitary activity.
She said that while “good progress is being made” in this area “lessons learned so far only serve to underline how the enduring and pervasive nature of paramilitarism requires a long term, collaborative approach if we are to effectively resolve all of the issues”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Resistance at Cabinet sees plan to fine outdoor drinkers shelved

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has withdrawn a memo for Cabinet seeking to curtail the circumstances in which people can gather to drink alcohol .
The proposals brought to Cabinet would have made it an offence , punishable by an €80 fine , for two or more people to gather outdoors where one of them is drinking alcohol .
However , there was resistance from the Greens and Fine Gael at the Cabinet table , and it was decided there was not sufficient support for the measure to proceed .
It is understood the memo was drawn up at instigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in conjunction with the Attorney General .
The memo envisaged a ban on two or more people meeting outdoors to drink takeaway alcohol .
On Monday , it was initially reported that new regulations would prevent pubs from serving takeaway drinks .
However , those reports met with resistance from within Government parties , sources said .
Prominent Fianna Fáil backbencher Barry Cowen , the former minister for agriculture , was among the figures to criticise the idea .
The measure was intended to target the individuals rather than the pubs , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drinks for people to consume at home .
A source said it was intended to make it easier for the Garda to break up large groups of people drinking together outside .
The move came as a senior National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) official warned Ireland could have “ hundreds of thousands ” of Covid-19 cases by January if large numbers of people come home for Christmas .
* Current efforts to reduce virus cases are also well off-track , assistant chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has indicated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of Level-5 restrictions on December 1st .
Dr Glynn criticised “ a selfish minority ” of people breaking public health rules by drinking in large numbers on city streets .
With daily case numbers trending upwards again in recent days , Dr Glynn warned “ We need to get to a much better place than this by the first of December.
” Referring to the target of under a 100 cases a day by that date , he said : “ we ’ re nowhere near that at the moment ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel over Christmas , Dr Glynn said : “ We don ’ t want asymptomatic people , who are feeling completely well , coming home to this country to meet loved ones , to interact with their extended families across generations ; younger people , older people and people with medical conditions .
“ We don ’ t want thousands of people doing that , resulting in hundreds of thousands of cases in January and deaths and morbidity and mortality following on in January and February.
” * The Irish Times is satisfied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokeswoman for the Department of Health said Dr Glynn said “ hundreds or thousands ” .

Acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Ronan Glynn warns that Ireland could have a high incidence of Covid-19 cases by January if large numbers of people come home for Christmas. Video: Department of Health
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has withdrawn a memo for Cabinet seeking to curtail the circumstances in which people can gather to drink alcohol.
The proposals brought to Cabinet would have made it an offence, punishable by an €80 fine, for two or more people to gather outdoors where one of them is drinking alcohol.
However, there was resistance from the Greens and Fine Gael at the Cabinet table, and it was decided there was not sufficient support for the measure to proceed.
Hospital Report
It is understood the memo was drawn up at instigation of the Department of the Taoiseach and in conjunction with the Attorney General.
READ MORE
The memo envisaged a ban on two or more people meeting outdoors to drink takeaway alcohol.
On Monday, it was initially reported that new regulations would prevent pubs from serving takeaway drinks. However, those reports met with resistance from within Government parties, sources said.
Prominent Fianna Fáil backbencher Barry Cowen, the former minister for agriculture, was among the figures to criticise the idea.
The measure was intended to target the individuals rather than the pubs, which would still be able to sell takeaway drinks for people to consume at home.
A source said it was intended to make it easier for the Garda to break up large groups of people drinking together outside.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Six One, Mr Donnelly said the Government now planned to meet Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to see whether extra policing resources were required or additional legislative measures.
The move came as a senior National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) official warned Ireland could have “hundreds of thousands” of Covid-19 cases by January if large numbers of people come home for Christmas. *
Current efforts to reduce virus cases are also well off-track, assistant chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn has indicated, and may not be turned around by the end of Level-5 restrictions on December 1st.
Dr Glynn criticised “a selfish minority” of people breaking public health rules by drinking in large numbers on city streets.
With daily case numbers trending upwards again in recent days, Dr Glynn warned “We need to get to a much better place than this by the first of December.” Referring to the target of under a 100 cases a day by that date, he said: “we’re nowhere near that at the moment”.
Calling on people to avoid non-essential travel over Christmas, Dr Glynn said: “We don’t want asymptomatic people, who are feeling completely well, coming home to this country to meet loved ones, to interact with their extended families across generations; younger people, older people and people with medical conditions.
“We don’t want thousands of people doing that, resulting in hundreds of thousands of cases in January and deaths and morbidity and mortality following on in January and February.”
* The Irish Times is satisfied that this quote is correct. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said Dr Glynn said “hundreds or thousands”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Three nursing homes reported 89 deaths linked to Covid-19, Hiqa reports find

One Kildare nursing home recorded 40 confirmed or suspected coronavirus deaths with a further 58 residents becoming infected , according to new inspection report from the State ’ s health service regulator .
In one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks affecting a care facility during the pandemic , some 69 staff at Ryevale Nursing Home , a family-run facility in Leixlip , tested positive for the virus , forcing the care home to redeploy workers and seek staff from the HSE and outside agencies .
The latest batch of inspection reports from the Health Quality and Information Authority shows how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks and multiple deaths .
Nursing homes have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in the State , accounting for more than half of almost 2,000 Covid-19 related deaths .
The Hiqa reports focus on inspections , some unannounced , in July and August at nursing homes with a high concentration of deaths in commuter areas around the greater Dublin region .
Marymount Care Centre in Lucan , Co Dublin reported the deaths of 29 residents in an outbreak described to Hiqa as “ devastating and a body blow ” to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Naas , Co Kildare reported the deaths of 20 residents during a Covid-19 outbreak that began in late March and that infected 41 out of 64 residents .
During the outbreak , some 34 of the nursing home ’ s 86 staff members tested positive for the virus , resulting in “ one week of significant nursing staff shortages ” , though the care facility made “ significant efforts ” to ensure at least two nurses on duty at night and three during the day .
The reports show that even the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a good regulatory compliance record struggled with the virus once it entered the care homes .
The watchdog found that Ryevale managed to maintain a safe service despite 98 residents - two-thirds of its maximum occupancy - testing positive for the disease after an outbreak in April .
The virus posed “ significant staffing challenges ” for two to three weeks at the peak of the outbreak but the home ensured at least one nurse was on duty at all times in each of its five units .
Hiqa received nine items @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing home during the outbreak but the facility was found only to be non-compliant in the area of risk management , which required review and strengthening , out of inspections carried out under 14 regulations .
Management at Marymount in Lucan , which was found to be fully or substantially compliant under 13 regulations checked , told Hiqa ’ s inspectors that the Covid-19 outbreak “ had affected all residents , staff and the managers themselves deeply.
” “ They were sincerely saddened and emotional about the loss of residents and the impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their centre , ” the inspection report says .
The report details the lengths the home went to during the outbreak to manage : relatives of the management volunteered to help with communications during the acute phase of the crisis .
Management ensured staff well-being with check-ins and practical and psychological supports .
Staff voluntarily cancelled annual leave and agency staff were recruited .
Larchfield was found to be non-compliant under three of 13 healthcare regulations checked by the regulator : infection control , governance and management , and fire precautions .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an urgent compliance plan ” and requested a “ deep clean ” to address “ unclean areas , items of equipment and furniture that were found to be unclean or damaged.
” Overall , out of 30 inspection reports on residential centres for older persons , Hiqa found evidence of non-compliance with the healthcare standards and regulations in 20 care facilities and evidence of good practice in the other 10 .
Hiqa includes details of how nursing home residents were coping following severe outbreaks and with visiting restrictions and window visiting with family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unannounced inspection in July , some residents expressed concern for staff with Covid-19 and that they “ prayed fervently for them all during the outbreak.
” “ They talked sadly about the regrettable deaths of some of their friends , ” says the report .
Residents who had recovered from Covid-19 remarked about “ the attentiveness of staff when residents showed signs and symptoms.
” “ A number of residents said staff did everything in their power to help them feel well again , ” says the report .
“ A number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff who had cared for them successful in their home without the necessity of having to be transferred to hospital .
”

The Ryevale Nursing Home in Co Kildare recorded 40 confirmed or suspected coronavirus deaths and 58 residents and 69n staff became infected, in what was one of the worst virus outbreaks affecting a care facility during the pandemic.
One Kildare nursing home recorded 40 confirmed or suspected coronavirus deaths with a further 58 residents becoming infected, according to new inspection report from the State's health service regulator.
In one of the worst Covid-19 outbreaks affecting a care facility during the pandemic, some 69 staff at Ryevale Nursing Home, a family-run facility in Leixlip, tested positive for the virus, forcing the care home to redeploy workers and seek staff from the HSE and outside agencies.
The latest batch of inspection reports from the Health Quality and Information Authority shows how a handful of nursing homes experienced severe outbreaks and multiple deaths.
Nursing homes have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in the State, accounting for more than half of almost 2,000 Covid-19 related deaths.
READ MORE
The Hiqa reports focus on inspections, some unannounced, in July and August at nursing homes with a high concentration of deaths in commuter areas around the greater Dublin region.
Marymount Care Centre in Lucan, Co Dublin reported the deaths of 29 residents in an outbreak described to Hiqa as "devastating and a body blow" to the nursing home.
Larchfield Park Nursing Home in Naas, Co Kildare reported the deaths of 20 residents during a Covid-19 outbreak that began in late March and that infected 41 out of 64 residents.
During the outbreak, some 34 of the nursing home’s 86 staff members tested positive for the virus, resulting in “one week of significant nursing staff shortages”, though the care facility made “significant efforts” to ensure at least two nurses on duty at night and three during the day.
Struggled
The reports show that even the most compliant facilities meeting healthcare standards and with a good regulatory compliance record struggled with the virus once it entered the care homes.
The watchdog found that Ryevale managed to maintain a safe service despite 98 residents - two-thirds of its maximum occupancy - testing positive for the disease after an outbreak in April.
The virus posed “significant staffing challenges” for two to three weeks at the peak of the outbreak but the home ensured at least one nurse was on duty at all times in each of its five units.
Hiqa received nine items of unsolicited information about issues at the nursing home during the outbreak but the facility was found only to be non-compliant in the area of risk management, which required review and strengthening, out of inspections carried out under 14 regulations.
Management at Marymount in Lucan, which was found to be fully or substantially compliant under 13 regulations checked, told Hiqa’s inspectors that the Covid-19 outbreak “had affected all residents, staff and the managers themselves deeply.”
“They were sincerely saddened and emotional about the loss of residents and the impact the pandemic has had on life in their centre,” the inspection report says.
The report details the lengths the home went to during the outbreak to manage: relatives of the management volunteered to help with communications during the acute phase of the crisis.
Management ensured staff well-being with check-ins and practical and psychological supports. Staff voluntarily cancelled annual leave and agency staff were recruited.
Non-compliant
Larchfield was found to be non-compliant under three of 13 healthcare regulations checked by the regulator: infection control, governance and management, and fire precautions.
The regulator issued the nursing home with “an urgent compliance plan” and requested a “deep clean” to address “unclean areas, items of equipment and furniture that were found to be unclean or damaged.”
Overall, out of 30 inspection reports on residential centres for older persons, Hiqa found evidence of non-compliance with the healthcare standards and regulations in 20 care facilities and evidence of good practice in the other 10.
Hiqa includes details of how nursing home residents were coping following severe outbreaks and with visiting restrictions and window visiting with family members.
At Marymount, during the unannounced inspection in July, some residents expressed concern for staff with Covid-19 and that they “prayed fervently for them all during the outbreak.”
“They talked sadly about the regrettable deaths of some of their friends,” says the report.
Residents who had recovered from Covid-19 remarked about “the attentiveness of staff when residents showed signs and symptoms.”
“A number of residents said staff did everything in their power to help them feel well again,” says the report.
“A number of residents expressed their gratitude to the committed staff who had cared for them successful in their home without the necessity of having to be transferred to hospital.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Drugs, Fitbits and over 20 phones seized at Mountjoy in one of largest-ever prison contraband hauls

One of the State ’ s largest ever finds of prison contraband , including mobile phones and drugs , has been seized as it was being smuggled into Mountjoy Prison in Dublin .
Sources familiar with the gang situation in the prison said it was strongly suspected the delivery , which included more than 20 phones and two bags of suspeced cocaine , was intended for inmates linked to the Kinahan cartel .
Members of the Kinahan cartel are the dominant faction in Mountjoy Prison .
A man in his 40s was arrested following the discovery and is being held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understood some of the phones had been marked with the initials or nicknames of prisoners and prison staff and gardaí were studying those names to determine who they were for .
Security sources said many of the usual smuggling methods in Irish jails had been curtailed because of restrictions introduced due to Covid-19 .
“ It looks like with the supply ( of drugs and phones ) having dried up a lot because of Covid-19 , they were looking to get a big consignment into the jail all in one go and maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t normally take , ” a source said .
The Irish Times understands from informed sources the consignment was hidden in pallets of supplies that were being delivered to the jail .
Initial indications are that prison authorities received intelligence the contraband was being smuggled within the normal delivery systems that supply all aspects of the prison with the goods it needs to operate , including laundry , food , drink and other supplies .
Members of Mountjoy ’ s operational support group - a team dedicated to preventing smuggling of phones @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery of goods and found the contraband on a pallet .
A large number of mobile phones , believed to be more than 20 , were discovered along with a large number of spare SIM cards .
Two bags of white powder were also found and security sources said while it was believed to be cocaine , testing was required before that could be confirmed .
Vials of drugs believed to steroids were found along with about 800 grams of herbal cannabis , worth approximately €16,000 on the street but significantly more in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A number of boxes containing about 10,000 pills were also discovered and these were set to undergo testing to determine what they are .
Bottles of alcoholic spirits and a number of Fitbits - smart watches to record work outs - were also found during the search of the pallet of goods that had been brought onto the prison campus in a delivery van .
Garda Headquarters said a criminal investigation into the seizure was unde way .
“ One male , aged in his 40s , has been arrested in relation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Mountjoy Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , ” it said .
The Irish Prison Service said the seizure included a substantial amount of drugs including a large quantity of tablets , alcohol and mobile phones .
The seizure had been “ provided to An Garda Síochana for analysis and is the largest single seizure of contraband into an Irish Prison ” .
Director general of the prison service , Caron McCaffrey , said Tuesday morning ’ s operation was “ a very significant result for Mountjoy Prison @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their efforts to prevent “ dangerous contraband ” from entering the prison .
“ Given the scale of the contraband seized it is highly possible that these drugs , if they had made their way into the prison population , could have had a devastating impact on the prison population including the potential for the loss of life by overdose , ” Ms McCaffrey said .
Deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers ’ Association Jim Mitchell , said the scale of the consignment of contraband seized reflected the challenges staff faced every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represents a significant drugs find and highlights the outstanding work that our members are carrying out on a daily basis while also striving to keep Covid-19 from entering our jails , ” he said .
“ Our members are often the unseen and forgotten of our frontline services but work of this magnitude on the coalface of our prisons reiterates the ongoing challenge for them on all our behalf .
”

Some of the contraband seized during the search of a delivery of goods into Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.
One of the State's largest ever finds of prison contraband, including mobile phones and drugs, has been seized as it was being smuggled into Mountjoy Prison in Dublin.
Sources familiar with the gang situation in the prison said it was strongly suspected the delivery, which included more than 20 phones and two bags of suspeced cocaine, was intended for inmates linked to the Kinahan cartel.
Members of the Kinahan cartel are the dominant faction in Mountjoy Prison.
A man in his 40s was arrested following the discovery and is being held at Mountjoy Garda Station.
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It is understood some of the phones had been marked with the initials or nicknames of prisoners and prison staff and gardaí were studying those names to determine who they were for.
Security sources said many of the usual smuggling methods in Irish jails had been curtailed because of restrictions introduced due to Covid-19.
“It looks like with the supply (of drugs and phones) having dried up a lot because of Covid-19, they were looking to get a big consignment into the jail all in one go and maybe taking the kind of risk they wouldn’t normally take,” a source said.
The Irish Times understands from informed sources the consignment was hidden in pallets of supplies that were being delivered to the jail.
Initial indications are that prison authorities received intelligence the contraband was being smuggled within the normal delivery systems that supply all aspects of the prison with the goods it needs to operate, including laundry, food, drink and other supplies.
Members of Mountjoy’s operational support group - a team dedicated to preventing smuggling of phones, drugs and weapons - searched a delivery of goods and found the contraband on a pallet.
A large number of mobile phones, believed to be more than 20, were discovered along with a large number of spare SIM cards.
Cocaine
Two bags of white powder were also found and security sources said while it was believed to be cocaine, testing was required before that could be confirmed.
Vials of drugs believed to steroids were found along with about 800 grams of herbal cannabis, worth approximately €16,000 on the street but significantly more in a prison setting, was also found.
A number of boxes containing about 10,000 pills were also discovered and these were set to undergo testing to determine what they are.
One of the largest finds of prison contraband, including mobile phones and drugs, has been seized in Mountjoy Prison, north Dublin.
Bottles of alcoholic spirits and a number of Fitbits - smart watches to record work outs - were also found during the search of the pallet of goods that had been brought onto the prison campus in a delivery van.
Garda Headquarters said a criminal investigation into the seizure was unde way.
“One male, aged in his 40s, has been arrested in relation to this matter and is currently detained in Mountjoy Garda station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act,” it said.
The Irish Prison Service said the seizure included a substantial amount of drugs including a large quantity of tablets, alcohol and mobile phones.
The seizure had been “provided to An Garda Síochana for analysis and is the largest single seizure of contraband into an Irish Prison”.
Director general of the prison service, Caron McCaffrey, said Tuesday morning’s operation was “a very significant result for Mountjoy Prison and our operational support group” in their efforts to prevent “dangerous contraband” from entering the prison.
Devastating
“Given the scale of the contraband seized it is highly possible that these drugs, if they had made their way into the prison population, could have had a devastating impact on the prison population including the potential for the loss of life by overdose,” Ms McCaffrey said.
Deputy general secretary of the Prison Officers’ Association Jim Mitchell, said the scale of the consignment of contraband seized reflected the challenges staff faced every day in prisons.
“This seizure represents a significant drugs find and highlights the outstanding work that our members are carrying out on a daily basis while also striving to keep Covid-19 from entering our jails,” he said.
“Our members are often the unseen and forgotten of our frontline services but work of this magnitude on the coalface of our prisons reiterates the ongoing challenge for them on all our behalf.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Nphet warns Government of Covid-19 risk from international travel

The State ’ s public health team has written to the Government and warned of a “ re-seeding ” of Covid-19 cases from international travel at a time when there is no legal enforcement of quarantine rules for arrivals .
In a letter sent by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly , the chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan also raised concern about the level of Covid-19 in Donegal and increasing cases amongst the elderly .
In relation to the travel , Nphet noted the “ sharp contrast between the trajectory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The elevated risk of importation through travel from countries with high rates of transmission to countries with sustained low rates of transmission can be expected to escalate in the coming period , as our domestic situation further improves while the epidemiological situation internationally and particularly in Europe continues to be a cause for a high level of concern , ” it said .
It stressed the “ importance of protecting the progress the country has achieved through application of Level 5 restrictions and of avoiding a re-seeding of cases through international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Holohan also emphasised “ the need to manage effectively the risk of importation , particularly in the context of non-essential travel from areas of elevated incidence in the coming weeks and during the Christmas and New Year period .
It noted the recent Government decision to implement a regime which allows a negative pre-departure PCR test to be a means by which people will not be advised to self-restrict their movements on arrival in Ireland .
“ In this context , the Nphet noted that Ireland ’ s approach to international arrivals remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal enforcement mechanisms , other than those attaching to completion of the passenger locator form , ” The Government has also been told about concerns from the Nphet around the proportion of cases in those over 65 .
“ In the last seven days , 13.5 per cent of cases notified were aged over 65 age group , this compares with 11.9 per cent of cases notified in the previous seven days .
“ Of concern , the seven-day incidence per 100,000 population increased for those aged 85 and older from 45.9 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week ending 7th November.
” Dr Holohan said that of 32 deaths that occurred in November , 10 were associated with nursing homes .
“ There has been a very significant decrease in incidence in younger adults , but a persistently high incidence in older adults .
Of additional concern recently has been the notification of outbreaks in a number of hospitals and the epidemiological situation in Donegal which the Nphet will continue to keep under close review “ Of concern , incidence rates in County Donegal remain very high relative to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the best estimation of the reproductive number is 0.6 .
Nphet has also recommended an increased serial testing programme in the long-term residential care facilities to include centres for people with mental health concerns and for those with disabilities .
It has also supported a plan to broaden the compassionate grounds for visits to these facilities .

Dr Tony Holohan has raised concern about the rising level of Covid-19 infections in Donegal and increasing cases amongst the elderly. File Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
The State’s public health team has written to the Government and warned of a “re-seeding” of Covid-19 cases from international travel at a time when there is no legal enforcement of quarantine rules for arrivals.
In a letter sent by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) to Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, the chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan also raised concern about the level of Covid-19 in Donegal and increasing cases amongst the elderly.
In relation to the travel, Nphet noted the "sharp contrast between the trajectory of the disease and the situation internationally.
Hospital Report
“The elevated risk of importation through travel from countries with high rates of transmission to countries with sustained low rates of transmission can be expected to escalate in the coming period, as our domestic situation further improves while the epidemiological situation internationally and particularly in Europe continues to be a cause for a high level of concern,” it said.
READ MORE
It stressed the “importance of protecting the progress the country has achieved through application of Level 5 restrictions and of avoiding a re-seeding of cases through international travel.”
In the letter, Dr Holohan also emphasised “the need to manage effectively the risk of importation, particularly in the context of non-essential travel from areas of elevated incidence in the coming weeks and during the Christmas and New Year period.
It noted the recent Government decision to implement a regime which allows a negative pre-departure PCR test to be a means by which people will not be advised to self-restrict their movements on arrival in Ireland.
“In this context, the Nphet noted that Ireland’s approach to international arrivals remains solely advisory and not subject to any legal enforcement mechanisms, other than those attaching to completion of the passenger locator form,”
the letter said.
Nursing homes
The Government has also been told about concerns from the Nphet around the proportion of cases in those over 65.
“In the last seven days, 13.5 per cent of cases notified were aged over 65 age group, this compares with 11.9 per cent of cases notified in the previous seven days.
“Of concern, the seven-day incidence per 100,000 population increased for those aged 85 and older from 45.9 in week ending 31st October to 50.3 in week ending 7th November.”
Dr Holohan said that of 32 deaths that occurred in November, 10 were associated with nursing homes.
“There has been a very significant decrease in incidence in younger adults, but a persistently high incidence in older adults. Of additional concern recently has been the notification of outbreaks in a number of hospitals and the epidemiological situation in Donegal which the Nphet will continue to keep under close review
“Of concern, incidence rates in County Donegal remain very high relative to the rest of the country.”
Dr Holohan said the best estimation of the reproductive number is 0.6.
Nphet has also recommended an increased serial testing programme in the long-term residential care facilities to include centres for people with mental health concerns and for those with disabilities. It has also supported a plan to broaden the compassionate grounds for visits to these facilities.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Theatre community urges Minister to reconsider deportation of man

Dozens of Irish theatre practitioners have called on the Minister for Justice to use her discretionary powers to allow a man stay in Ireland after he was refused leave to remain in the State .
Malik Amir Iqbal , a Pakistani man who has lived in direct provision for five years , is awaiting a deportation order after he was informed by the Department of Justice on October 27th his application for leave to remain had been refused .
In the letter , which he received 19 months after submitting an application for leave to remain , he was told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be deported .
He was given five days to inform the Minister when he planned to return to his country of origin voluntarily .
Mr Iqbal says he came to Ireland in 2015 seeking asylum because he had suffered violent attacks for having entered a relationship with a non-Muslim woman .
He told The Irish Times the family of the Muslim woman he was supposed to marry attacked him on a number of occasions , and eventually he paid a smuggler to get out of the country .
He says his own family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pakistan for safety reasons .
Two years after arriving in Ireland , Mr Iqbal was invited to join a dance troupe in Longford near the direct provision centre where he was living and has since performed in theatres and taken part in festivals around the country .
As Mr Iqbal ’ s initial application for refugee status was rejected in December 2016 , he was not eligible to seek employment under the right-to-work legislation introduced in 2018 and instead dedicated his free time to dance performances and visual arts .
Some 35 letters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actors and academics were submitted to the Department of Tourism , Culture and Arts in early October requesting Minister for Culture Catherine Martin call on Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to use her discretionary powers to allow Mr Iqbal to remain in Ireland .
In his letter of support , actor Stephen Rea called on Ms Martin to “ please do all in your power ” to convince the minister for justice to grant Mr Iqbal leave to remain .
“ It is the very least we can do , and it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ artists to listen to and support international artists resident among us not out of choice , but out of urgent necessity , ” wrote Mr Rea .
Choreographer Catherine Young who has work worked with Mr Iqbal in her dance shows wrote the Longford community had “ lost people of immense artistic abilities to deportation orders in the past several years ” and this loss had “ deeply impacted our arts community ” .
“ We are respectfully asking that Malik ’ s contribution over the past three years to Irish arts practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remain here , ” she wrote .
The directors of the Dublin Theatre Festival , Dublin ’ s Project Arts Centre , Dun Laoghaire ’ s Pavilion Theatre , Galway ’ s Town Hall Theatre , Limerick ’ s Lime Tree Theatre , Fishamble Theatre company , the Irish Theatre Institute , Dance Theatre of Ireland and Longford ’ s Backstage Theatre are among those to appeal to the Minister on behalf of Mr Iqbal .
In August 2018 , Mr Iqbal danced on the stage of Dublin ’ s Abbey Theatre @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had been served with a deportation order and who left voluntarily the night of the performance .
Mr Khokhar learned the following day , when a letter arrived at the direct provision centre where he had been living , his case was being reconsidered by justice officials .
This review was subsequently thrown out because Mr Khokhar had left the country .
Speaking in the Dáil last week , Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty called on the Department of Justice to reconsider Mr Iqbal ’ s case , noting the supporting documentation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most comprehensive case I have seen submitted ” .
Minister of State for the Department of Justice James Browne acknowledged the recent distribution of asylum-rejection letters during Level 5 restrictions “ may have inadvertently caused distress ” and that the extra time needed for relevant voluntary return during the pandemic would be taken into account .
He said the objective was to make decisions on international protection applications and permission to remain considerations “ as quickly as possible ” .
Mr Browne told the Dáil the number of negative decisions on applications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ build-up in the issuing of those decisions , with a higher volume than normal issuing in recent weeks ” .
The Minister said he could not comment on the specifics of Mr Iqbal ’ s case but that he would bring the issue to Ms McEntee ’ s attention .

Dozens of Irish theatre practitioners have called on the Minister for Justice to use her discretionary powers to allow a man stay in Ireland after he was refused leave to remain in the State.
Malik Amir Iqbal, a Pakistani man who has lived in direct provision for five years , is awaiting a deportation order after he was informed by the Department of Justice on October 27th his application for leave to remain had been refused.
In the letter, which he received 19 months after submitting an application for leave to remain, he was told he must return voluntarily to Pakistan or be deported. He was given five days to inform the Minister when he planned to return to his country of origin voluntarily.
Mr Iqbal says he came to Ireland in 2015 seeking asylum because he had suffered violent attacks for having entered a relationship with a non-Muslim woman. He told The Irish Times the family of the Muslim woman he was supposed to marry attacked him on a number of occasions, and eventually he paid a smuggler to get out of the country. He says his own family have advised him not to return to Pakistan for safety reasons.
READ MORE
Two years after arriving in Ireland, Mr Iqbal was invited to join a dance troupe in Longford near the direct provision centre where he was living and has since performed in theatres and taken part in festivals around the country.
As Mr Iqbal’s initial application for refugee status was rejected in December 2016, he was not eligible to seek employment under the right-to-work legislation introduced in 2018 and instead dedicated his free time to dance performances and visual arts.
Malik Amir Iqbal came to Ireland from Pakistan in 2015 seeking asylum. Photograph: Arif Amod
Some 35 letters from arts organisations, theatre directors, actors and academics were submitted to the Department of Tourism, Culture and Arts in early October requesting Minister for Culture Catherine Martin call on Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to use her discretionary powers to allow Mr Iqbal to remain in Ireland.
In his letter of support, actor Stephen Rea called on Ms Martin to “please do all in your power” to convince the minister for justice to grant Mr Iqbal leave to remain. “It is the very least we can do, and it is incumbent upon us as a community of artists to listen to and support international artists resident among us not out of choice, but out of urgent necessity,” wrote Mr Rea.
Choreographer Catherine Young who has work worked with Mr Iqbal in her dance shows wrote the Longford community had “lost people of immense artistic abilities to deportation orders in the past several years” and this loss had “deeply impacted our arts community”.
“We are respectfully asking that Malik’s contribution over the past three years to Irish arts practice be grounds for granting him humanitarian leave to remain here,” she wrote.
The directors of the Dublin Theatre Festival, Dublin's Project Arts Centre, Dun Laoghaire's Pavilion Theatre, Galway's Town Hall Theatre, Limerick's Lime Tree Theatre, Fishamble Theatre company, the Irish Theatre Institute, Dance Theatre of Ireland and Longford's Backstage Theatre are among those to appeal to the Minister on behalf of Mr Iqbal.
In August 2018, Mr Iqbal danced on the stage of Dublin’s Abbey Theatre with Vekash Khokhar, a Pakistani nurse who had been served with a deportation order and who left voluntarily the night of the performance. Mr Khokhar learned the following day, when a letter arrived at the direct provision centre where he had been living, his case was being reconsidered by justice officials. This review was subsequently thrown out because Mr Khokhar had left the country.
Speaking in the Dáil last week, Fianna Fáil TD Joe Flaherty called on the Department of Justice to reconsider Mr Iqbal’s case, noting the supporting documentation from the Irish community “represents easily the most comprehensive case I have seen submitted”.
Minister of State for the Department of Justice James Browne acknowledged the recent distribution of asylum-rejection letters during Level 5 restrictions “may have inadvertently caused distress” and that the extra time needed for relevant voluntary return during the pandemic would be taken into account.
He said the objective was to make decisions on international protection applications and permission to remain considerations “as quickly as possible”.
Mr Browne told the Dáil the number of negative decisions on applications had not increased but there had been a “build-up in the issuing of those decisions, with a higher volume than normal issuing in recent weeks”.
The Minister said he could not comment on the specifics of Mr Iqbal’s case but that he would bring the issue to Ms McEntee’s attention.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Cork’s Tyndall National Institute secures over €56m in EU research funds

Minister for Further and Higher Education and Research Simon Harris has paid tribute to the Tyndall National Institute in Cork after it surpassed more than 100 EU funded awards totalling over €56 million for research projects .
Mr Harris said that the Tyndall ’ s securing of over 100 Horizon 2020 awards totalling some €56.1 million from the EU for research and innovation over the past seven years made it one of the most successful institutes in Ireland for European funding .
“ Horizon 2020 is a highly competitive programme with excellence at its core , and achieving the milestone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ date demonstrates the high calibre and quality of Irish research , ” said Mr Harris .
“ This success cements Tyndall as one of Europe ’ s leading institutes in the area of ‘ deep-tech ’ , the use of advanced technology that will have a profound effect on the lives of citizens , as well as industry through robotics , engineering , smart industry and medical devices.
” Named after prominent 19th century Irish physicist , John Tyndall and established in 2004 as a successor to the National Microelectronics Research Centre established @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a leading research centre employing over 460 researchers , engineers and support staff .
Speaking at the launch the Tyndall ’ s 2019 annual report , Mr Harris said that industry- academia collaboration such as occurs at the Tyndall was the driver for the successful translation of research in the laboratory into innovative new products and services in the marketplace .
“ The ground-breaking work delivered by the Institute will transform our high-tech economy and secure Ireland ’ s future as a worldwide technology leader , whilst supporting key Irish technology companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ retention of high quality sustainable jobs , ” he said .
According to the Tyndall annual report for 2019 , which will be published on Thursday by Minister Harris in a virtual ceremony , some 17 new projects alone were funded by H2020 in 2019 to the value of €10million , a success rate that is three times higher than the European average .
And it has been assessed that , for every €1 of EU funding channelled through the research framework programme , approximately €11 is generated in direct and indirect economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ products .
In the 2019 Annual Report , Tyndall reported income of €42million , up 17 per cent on 2018 , which includes €32million from competitive research projects , incorporating the €10 million in H2020 funding as well as €7 million in government grants and a €2 million contribution from University College Cork .
Tyndall CEO , Prof William Scanlon said : “ 2019 was another phenomenally successful year for the Institute , building on our position as a leading centre of scale in translational research while continuing to further the development of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ success rate in securing H2020 funding is over three times the European average , and 2019 brought in over €10million alone .
Tyndall is also the main Irish beneficiary in EU ICT funding as well as the principal contributor to UCC ’ s position in the top five ICT-funded universities Europe-wide.
” Prof Scanlon said that Tyndall consistently ranks in the top performers in the EU for Information Communication Technology ( ICT ) research funding and that in 2019 , it continued to strengthen “ critical knowledge transfer activities ” with partners across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Our Tyndall 2025 goal is to be the international research partner of choice and to build on Tyndall ’ s 40 years of research excellence and industrial impact and to significantly scale to address societal challenges through deep-tech innovation , ” he said .
Under the H2020 programme , Tyndall has driven forward the research and development of key enabling technologies across micro-electronics , nano-electronics and photonics , advanced materials and nanotechnologies , life-sciences , and artificial intelligence .
According to Dr Giorgios Fagas , Head of EU Programmes at Tyndall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into smart products and digital solutions for the manufacturing industry , medical technologies , agricultural processes , energy efficiency , and environmental sustainability .
“ The Irish economy has ultimately been the major beneficiary of these funds .
Over €51million of this has gone to our Irish partners , including 23 SMEs and 15 multi-nationals .
Over 100 high value jobs have been created through these Horizon 2020 projects in Ireland , ” said Dr Fagas .

Tyndall CEO, Prof William Scanlon said: ‘2019 was another phenomenally successful year for the Institute’.
Minister for Further and Higher Education and Research Simon Harris has paid tribute to the Tyndall National Institute in Cork after it surpassed more than 100 EU funded awards totalling over €56 million for research projects.
Mr Harris said that the Tyndall's securing of over 100 Horizon 2020 awards totalling some €56.1 million from the EU for research and innovation over the past seven years made it one of the most successful institutes in Ireland for European funding.
“Horizon 2020 is a highly competitive programme with excellence at its core, and achieving the milestone of 100 funded projects by Tyndall to date demonstrates the high calibre and quality of Irish research,” said Mr Harris.
“This success cements Tyndall as one of Europe’s leading institutes in the area of ‘deep-tech’, the use of advanced technology that will have a profound effect on the lives of citizens, as well as industry through robotics, engineering, smart industry and medical devices.”
READ MORE
Named after prominent 19th century Irish physicist, John Tyndall and established in 2004 as a successor to the National Microelectronics Research Centre established at UCC in 1982, the Tyndall is a leading research centre employing over 460 researchers, engineers and support staff.
Speaking at the launch the Tyndall’s 2019 annual report, Mr Harris said that industry- academia collaboration such as occurs at the Tyndall was the driver for the successful translation of research in the laboratory into innovative new products and services in the marketplace.
“The ground-breaking work delivered by the Institute will transform our high-tech economy and secure Ireland’s future as a worldwide technology leader, whilst supporting key Irish technology companies and SMEs leading to the creation and retention of high quality sustainable jobs,” he said.
European average
According to the Tyndall annual report for 2019, which will be published on Thursday by Minister Harris in a virtual ceremony, some 17 new projects alone were funded by H2020 in 2019 to the value of €10million, a success rate that is three times higher than the European average.
And it has been assessed that, for every €1 of EU funding channelled through the research framework programme, approximately €11 is generated in direct and indirect economic effects through innovations, new technologies and products.
In the 2019 Annual Report, Tyndall reported income of €42million, up 17 per cent on 2018, which includes €32million from competitive research projects, incorporating the €10 million in H2020 funding as well as €7 million in government grants and a €2 million contribution from University College Cork.
Tyndall CEO, Prof William Scanlon said: "2019 was another phenomenally successful year for the Institute, building on our position as a leading centre of scale in translational research while continuing to further the development of deep-tech innovation in Ireland.
“Our success rate in securing H2020 funding is over three times the European average, and 2019 brought in over €10million alone. Tyndall is also the main Irish beneficiary in EU ICT funding as well as the principal contributor to UCC’s position in the top five ICT-funded universities Europe-wide.”
Prof Scanlon said that Tyndall consistently ranks in the top performers in the EU for Information Communication Technology (ICT) research funding and that in 2019, it continued to strengthen "critical knowledge transfer activities" with partners across the globe including Intel and Seagate.
“Our Tyndall 2025 goal is to be the international research partner of choice and to build on Tyndall’s 40 years of research excellence and industrial impact and to significantly scale to address societal challenges through deep-tech innovation,” he said.
Enabling technologies
Under the H2020 programme, Tyndall has driven forward the research and development of key enabling technologies across micro-electronics, nano-electronics and photonics, advanced materials and nanotechnologies, life-sciences, and artificial intelligence.
According to Dr Giorgios Fagas, Head of EU Programmes at Tyndall, these key enabling technologies in turn translate into smart products and digital solutions for the manufacturing industry, medical technologies, agricultural processes, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
"The Irish economy has ultimately been the major beneficiary of these funds. Over €51million of this has gone to our Irish partners, including 23 SMEs and 15 multi-nationals. Over 100 high value jobs have been created through these Horizon 2020 projects in Ireland," said Dr Fagas.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Eight teenage migrants relocated from Greece under Government scheme

Eight children have arrived into Ireland from Greece since the Government said it would accept 36 unaccompanied minors in 2018 as part of an EU-wide commitment .
Minister for Children Roderic O ’ Gorman has confirmed that eight unaccompanied teenage boys had arrived from Greece in June and were “ becoming acclimatised to life in Ireland ” .
He reiterated the Government ’ s commitment to accept an additional 50 people in family groups from the burnt-out Moria migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos but noted delays had been caused by “ additional challenges presented for travel by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which housed 12,000 migrants , was devastated by fire on September 9th .
Responding to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats spokeswoman for children Jennifer Whitmore , the Minister said he had “ moved to accelerate the arrival ” of the remaining 28 children and had secured an additional €5 million to support these actions .
“ At present we await details of the family groups and unaccompanied minors and clarification regarding logistics for the interview missions required to transfer refugee families to Ireland , ” he said .
He added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unaccompanied to minors to Ireland from Greece was determined by care placements and commitments the State had made to children who had arrived in the country previously .
The expansion of care placements , the development of specialised foster care placements and the provision of aftercare supports when a child turns 18 are all being considered so as to realise the State ’ s commitment of bringing 36 children to Ireland , he added .
The Department of Children and Tusla , the Child and Family Agency , are working with the EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to come to Ireland , said Mr O ’ Connor .
Last month , Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced that an additional 50 people “ within family units ” would be brought to Ireland following the fire in the Moria refugee camp .
Her announcement came after the launch of the 400 Welcomes campaign which saw doctors , teachers , writers , community and social care workers and musicians calling on the Government to support families stranded on Lesbos .
In September , Mr O ’ Gorman said the arrival of four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be accelerated and that they were due to arrive in “ the coming weeks ” .
Unaccompanied minors who come to Ireland under the programme are put into the care of Tusla .
A total of 1,022 people have been brought to Ireland from Greece under the relocation strand of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme ( IRPP ) since 2015 .
An additional 1,913 people have come through resettlement from Lebanon and a commitment has been made to admit 740 family members of refugees already in Ireland under the IRPP Humanitarian Admission Programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Ireland through search and rescue missions , the Calais special project and the relocation of unaccompanied minors from Greece .
A further 230 people are due to come to Ireland from Lebanon this year following a selection process carried out last March .
When people are resettled or relocated to Ireland under the IRPP they are accommodated in one of the State ’ s two Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres ( EROCs ) which are located at the Abbeyfield Hotel in Ballaghaderreen , Roscommon and Clonea Strand Hotel in Dungarvan , Co @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 115 people staying in Ballaghaderreen and 15 in Dungarvan .
An additional 117 people brought to Ireland under the IRPP were staying at the Mosney Accommodation Centre in Co Meath .

Children sit on the ground in the camp of Moria on the island of Lesbos after a major fire broke out on September 9th. File Photograph: Angelos Tzortzinis/AFP via Getty Images)
Eight children have arrived into Ireland from Greece since the Government said it would accept 36 unaccompanied minors in 2018 as part of an EU-wide commitment.
Minister for Children Roderic O’Gorman has confirmed that eight unaccompanied teenage boys had arrived from Greece in June and were “becoming acclimatised to life in Ireland”.
He reiterated the Government’s commitment to accept an additional 50 people in family groups from the burnt-out Moria migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos but noted delays had been caused by “additional challenges presented for travel by the Covid-19 pandemic”.
The camp, which housed 12,000 migrants, was devastated by fire on September 9th.
READ MORE
Responding to a parliamentary question from Social Democrats spokeswoman for children Jennifer Whitmore, the Minister said he had “moved to accelerate the arrival” of the remaining 28 children and had secured an additional €5 million to support these actions.
“At present we await details of the family groups and unaccompanied minors and clarification regarding logistics for the interview missions required to transfer refugee families to Ireland,” he said.
He added that that State’s capacity to bring unaccompanied to minors to Ireland from Greece was determined by care placements and commitments the State had made to children who had arrived in the country previously.
Foster care
The expansion of care placements, the development of specialised foster care placements and the provision of aftercare supports when a child turns 18 are all being considered so as to realise the State’s commitment of bringing 36 children to Ireland, he added.
The Department of Children and Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, are working with the EU to identify unaccompanied minors who may wish to come to Ireland, said Mr O'Connor.
Last month, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee announced that an additional 50 people “within family units” would be brought to Ireland following the fire in the Moria refugee camp. Her announcement came after the launch of the 400 Welcomes campaign which saw doctors, teachers, writers, community and social care workers and musicians calling on the Government to support families stranded on Lesbos.
In September, Mr O’Gorman said the arrival of four unaccompanied children from the camp was to be accelerated and that they were due to arrive in “the coming weeks”.
Unaccompanied minors who come to Ireland under the programme are put into the care of Tusla.
Refugees
A total of 1,022 people have been brought to Ireland from Greece under the relocation strand of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) since 2015. An additional 1,913 people have come through resettlement from Lebanon and a commitment has been made to admit 740 family members of refugees already in Ireland under the IRPP Humanitarian Admission Programme.
Another 113 people have been brought to Ireland through search and rescue missions, the Calais special project and the relocation of unaccompanied minors from Greece.
A further 230 people are due to come to Ireland from Lebanon this year following a selection process carried out last March.
When people are resettled or relocated to Ireland under the IRPP they are accommodated in one of the State's two Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) which are located at the Abbeyfield Hotel in Ballaghaderreen, Roscommon and Clonea Strand Hotel in Dungarvan, Co Waterford.
In October, there were 115 people staying in Ballaghaderreen and 15 in Dungarvan. An additional 117 people brought to Ireland under the IRPP were staying at the Mosney Accommodation Centre in Co Meath.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Man (70s), woman (40s) die in Co Antrim road crash

A man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s died in a road crash at Ballymoney , Co @ @ @ @ @ .
The man , who was driving the car , and the woman , a @ @ @ @ @ their vehicle collided with a telehandler ( reach fork lift ) on the Benvardin Road @ @ @ @ @ shortly after 4pm on Monday .
Two other passengers in the car , a man @ @ @ @ @ brought to hospital with injuries .
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has appealed for @ @ @ @ @ may have captured dash-cam footage to get in touch by calling 1010 and quoting the @ @ @ @

The PSNI has appealed for witnesses to fatal crash in Ballymoney, Co Antrim
A man in his 70s and a woman in her 40s died in a road crash at Ballymoney, Co Antrim, on Monday afternoon.
The man, who was driving the car, and the woman, a rear passenger, died after their vehicle collided with a telehandler (reach fork lift) on the Benvardin Road in the town of Ballymoney shortly after 4pm on Monday.
Two other passengers in the car, a man and a woman, were brought to hospital with injuries.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has appealed for any witnesses or anyone who may have captured dash-cam footage to get in touch by calling 1010 and quoting the reference 1317 16/11/20.


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Man in his 20s dies after suspected stabbing in Co Mayo

A man in his 20s found dead in a house in Swinford , Co Mayo is believed to have been stabbed .
Gardaí have begun what they described as a homicide investigation when they called to a house at about 11pm on Monday and discovered the body .
The house , which is sealed off for technical examination , is in the Carrowbeg Estate on the outskirts of the east Mayo town .
A man in his 30s was arrested at the scene and is being held at Castlebar Garda Station .
The victim ’ s remains have been removed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University Hospital in Castlebar where Deputy State Pathologist Dr Kathleen Han Suyin will conduct a post mortem later on Tuesday .
Both the victim and the man who was arrested are understood to be known to each other .
Supt Joe McKenna , who is leading the investigation , said the death is being treated as homicide .
A family liaison officer has been appointed to the case .
It is understood the victim is not a native of Swinford but is from the east Mayo area .
Gardaí are appealing to anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Swinford town between the hours of 8pm and 11.15pm on Monday evening to contact Claremorris Garda Station on 094-9372080 .

Gardaí at the scene of a suspected fatal stabbing in Swinford, Co Mayo. Photograph: Keith Heneghan
Gardaí were on Tuesday night questioning a man in connection with a fatal assault on a 24-year-old man whose body was found in Swinford, Co Mayo, on Monday night.
Gardaí began a homicide investigation when they called to a house in the Carrowbeg Estate on the outskirts of the east Mayo town at about 11pm on Monday and discovered the body. It is understood the deceased man had suspected stabbing injuries and that gardaí have taken possession of a knife.
The victim was named as Michael McDonagh, whose family live at Carrowmore Drive, Knock. The man arrested at the scene and being held at Castlebar Garda station is a foreign national in his 30s, who had been staying in emergency accommodation. Both the victim and the man who was arrested are understood to be known to each other.
The victim’s remains were removed from the house and taken to Mayo University Hospital in Castlebar where Acting Deputy State Pathologist Dr Kathleen Han Suyin was conducting a postmortem on Tuesday.
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Investigation
Supt Joe McKenna, who is leading the investigation, said the death is being treated as homicide. A family liaison officer has been appointed to the case.
The house was sealed off for technical examination and gardaí were on Tuesday conducting house-to-house inquiries and gathering CCTV.
Gardaí said they are are trying to determine movements of people prior to the fatal incident. They appealed to anyone who may have witnessed any unusual activity in Swinford town between 8pm and 11.15pm on Monday evening to contact Claremorris Garda station on 094-9372080.
Residents of the housing estate spoke on Tuesday of their shock. “It’s so sad, somebody’s child, somebody’s brother,”said Rose Harte. “A party started up last night and it has ended up where we are today,” she said.
Local Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Smyth described what had happened as “horrendous”.
“Nobody would want this to happen in their community but it has happened to us. As a community we will rally together and try and get over this and learn from what happened.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-17--Dublin Port and Stena clash over Brexit border checks ‘in the wrong place’

One of the largest Irish Sea ferry companies has criticised Dublin Port ’ s Brexit border checks and request for daily timetable changes saying that congestion could delay ferries .
Niclas Martensson , chief executive of Swedish shipping company Stena Line , said border checkpoints close to its terminal at the port are “ in the wrong place ” and could lead to congestion from cars and lorries disembarking its ferries arriving four times a day from Holyhead .
He raised concerns about “ the whole traffic management ” in the port and how State authorities were only now testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system less than 50 days until the end of the transition period when post-Brexit border checks come into effect .
“ We are very concerned over how that has been handled where we see that the facilities are placed in the wrong place and we have said it for 24 months but nothing has happened , ” he told The Irish Times .
Border checks will come into effect , regardless of ongoing EU-UK talks to find a trade deal .
As a crucial week of talks begins , Minister for Foreign Affairs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ re running out of time .
We have to get a deal this week.
” Dublin Port ’ s management has asked shipping companies to space out the eight ferries from Holyhead to three-hour intervals to avoid delays after Brexit comes into effect on January 1st .
“ The problem potentially is that we can not turn the ships in time and the timetable is set by our customers and the production industry both in Ireland and the UK .
I don ’ t see that we should change timetable because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Port of Dublin , ” said Mr Martensson .
He said that it was a “ worry ” for the company that it might have to reduce the number of freight units on board its ferries in response to congestion at the country ’ s busiest port .
There are currently eight roll on/roll off ferry arrivals from Holyhead , four each daily with Stena and Irish Ferries arriving roughly around the same time .
Irish Ferries wants to stick with its existing schedule too , increasing the chances for congestion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ Reilly said the port was “ stuck by geography ” and “ physical constraints ” meant this was the only place where checks could be built .
“ Everybody is fearful of the additional checks but they are coming and they are completely outside our control .
They might lead to congestion , ” he said .
Mr O ’ Reilly said the port had asked for staggered arrivals to “ flatten the demand curve ” and reduce the risk of congestion by running ferries every three hours instead of two every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not trying to force this .
Mr Martensson , speaking ahead of the 25th anniversary of Stena ’ s Dublin-Holyhead route , called for greater clarity from governments , urging all sides not to “ over-complicate things.
” He pointed to free-flowing Common Transit Convention arrangements across EU borders in Norway and Switzerland as examples that could be followed between Ireland and Britain .
Stena had increased capacity on Irish Sea routes by 30 per cent and its Ireland-France route by 17 per cent and could increase capacity further with larger ships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out new direct routes into mainland Europe , saying customers wanted increased capacity on existing routes .
“ Low interest does not support a new route , ” he said .
The company hopes to redeploy its Horizon ferry , anchored off Holyhead , to its Rosslare-Cherbourg route from this weekend after seven crew members tested positive for Covid-19 .
Mr Martensson said the remaining crew members had tested negative and were self-isolating on board .
The 43 crew members tested negative again on Monday , leaving the company hopeful that the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approve the return of the vessel to service .

Concerns have been raised about ‘the whole traffic management’ in the port and how State authorities were only now testing how the traffic would flow through the system less than 50 days until the end of the transition period when post-Brexit border checks come into effect. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins
One of the largest Irish Sea ferry companies has criticised Dublin Port's Brexit border checks and request for daily timetable changes saying that congestion could delay ferries.
Niclas Martensson, chief executive of Swedish shipping company Stena Line, said border checkpoints close to its terminal at the port are "in the wrong place" and could lead to congestion from cars and lorries disembarking its ferries arriving four times a day from Holyhead.
He raised concerns about “the whole traffic management” in the port and how State authorities were only now testing how the traffic would flow through the system less than 50 days until the end of the transition period when post-Brexit border checks come into effect.
“We are very concerned over how that has been handled where we see that the facilities are placed in the wrong place and we have said it for 24 months but nothing has happened,” he told The Irish Times.
READ MORE
Border checks will come into effect, regardless of ongoing EU-UK talks to find a trade deal.
‘Running out of time’
As a crucial week of talks begins, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said on Monday: "We're running out of time. We have to get a deal this week."
Dublin Port’s management has asked shipping companies to space out the eight ferries from Holyhead to three-hour intervals to avoid delays after Brexit comes into effect on January 1st.
"The problem potentially is that we cannot turn the ships in time and the timetable is set by our customers and the production industry both in Ireland and the UK. I don't see that we should change timetable because there is a lack of planning in the Port of Dublin," said Mr Martensson.
He said that it was a “worry” for the company that it might have to reduce the number of freight units on board its ferries in response to congestion at the country’s busiest port.
There are currently eight roll on/roll off ferry arrivals from Holyhead, four each daily with Stena and Irish Ferries arriving roughly around the same time.
Irish Ferries wants to stick with its existing schedule too, increasing the chances for congestion.
Dublin Port Company chief executive Eamonn O'Reilly said the port was "stuck by geography" and "physical constraints" meant this was the only place where checks could be built.
“Everybody is fearful of the additional checks but they are coming and they are completely outside our control. They might lead to congestion,” he said.
Mr O’Reilly said the port had asked for staggered arrivals to “flatten the demand curve” and reduce the risk of congestion by running ferries every three hours instead of two every six hours but he stressed that he was not trying to force this.
Clarity
Mr Martensson, speaking ahead of the 25th anniversary of Stena’s Dublin-Holyhead route, called for greater clarity from governments, urging all sides not to “over-complicate things.”
He pointed to free-flowing Common Transit Convention arrangements across EU borders in Norway and Switzerland as examples that could be followed between Ireland and Britain.
Stena had increased capacity on Irish Sea routes by 30 per cent and its Ireland-France route by 17 per cent and could increase capacity further with larger ships and more frequent sailings.
He ruled out new direct routes into mainland Europe, saying customers wanted increased capacity on existing routes. "Low interest does not support a new route," he said.
The company hopes to redeploy its Horizon ferry, anchored off Holyhead, to its Rosslare-Cherbourg route from this weekend after seven crew members tested positive for Covid-19.
Mr Martensson said the remaining crew members had tested negative and were self-isolating on board. The 43 crew members tested negative again on Monday, leaving the company hopeful that the health authorities in Ireland and the UK would approve the return of the vessel to service.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Putting portion sizes on packets cuts overeating, study shows

Men eat fewer crisps and women eat fewer chocolate biscuits when portion sizes are clearly marked on packaging , according to new research .
Staff from the Economic and Social Research Institute ’ s Behavioural Research Unit carried out parallel studies to determine how hands off people become when information on how much they are consuming is brought to the forefront of packaging .
Volunteers in both studies received the same snacks , but just half of the packs had portion sizes and nutritional information in a table , as normal .
The others had additional white stripes that marked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next began .
In the first study , men were more likely to eat the whole can of potato chips than women , but significantly reduced their consumption when visual cues were involved .
The number of men eating more than the recommended portion fell by 33 per cent , while the effect on women was not so marked .
The second study monitored household consumption of chocolate biscuits sent to family homes in gift packs .
This time when the person receiving the biscuits was female , households were more likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per person per day , but less likely when the visual cues were displayed .
The number of households eating more than the recommended portion fell by 26 per cent .
Households with children were also less likely to open packs with portion size markings .
Two findings were consistent across both studies .
Firstly , the markings reduced consumption among those inclined to consume the most .
Second , consumers were far more likely to notice the markings than the portion size written in the standard nutritional information table .
The research @ @ @ @ @ @ @ size information comes from .
Many consumers believe it is a health recommendation from the Government when , in fact , portion sizes are determined by the product manufacturer .
“ Changes to the format of information can change how it is perceived , ” said Dr Deirdre Robertson , the lead researcher on the study .
“ Displaying portion size information as highly visible stripes influenced how much attention consumers paid to it and how much they ate .
Controlled experiments like these can provide objective evidence about how people understand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
”

Packets of chocolate biscuits with visual cues to portion size used in the study.
Men eat fewer crisps and women eat fewer chocolate biscuits when portion sizes are clearly marked on packaging, according to new research.
Staff from the Economic and Social Research Institute’s Behavioural Research Unit carried out parallel studies to determine how hands off people become when information on how much they are consuming is brought to the forefront of packaging.
Volunteers in both studies received the same snacks, but just half of the packs had portion sizes and nutritional information in a table, as normal. The others had additional white stripes that marked out where one portion ended, and the next began.
Potato chips
In the first study, men were more likely to eat the whole can of potato chips than women, but significantly reduced their consumption when visual cues were involved. The number of men eating more than the recommended portion fell by 33 per cent, while the effect on women was not so marked.
READ MORE
Crisps with and without visual cues to portion size used in the study.
The second study monitored household consumption of chocolate biscuits sent to family homes in gift packs. This time when the person receiving the biscuits was female, households were more likely to eat more than the recommended portion per person per day, but less likely when the visual cues were displayed. The number of households eating more than the recommended portion fell by 26 per cent.
Households with children were also less likely to open packs with portion size markings.
Reduced consumption
Two findings were consistent across both studies. Firstly, the markings reduced consumption among those inclined to consume the most. Second, consumers were far more likely to notice the markings than the portion size written in the standard nutritional information table.
The research also found widespread confusion about where portion size information comes from. Many consumers believe it is a health recommendation from the Government when, in fact, portion sizes are determined by the product manufacturer.
“Changes to the format of information can change how it is perceived,” said Dr Deirdre Robertson, the lead researcher on the study.
“Displaying portion size information as highly visible stripes influenced how much attention consumers paid to it and how much they ate. Controlled experiments like these can provide objective evidence about how people understand, attend to and act on nutritional information.”