theirishtimes--2020-09-23--Second round CAO offers: better news for 1,757 students today

Some 1,757 applicants who did not get the course of their choice when the Central Applications Office ( CAO ) issued the first round of college places earlier this month were informed Wednesday morning that they were successful the second time around .
Of those who received Level 8 offers in Round Two this year , 883 received an offer of their first preference course ; for Level 7/6 offers , a total of 874 applicants ’ first preference offers were issued in this round .
A total of 1,923 Level 8 offers , and 1,032 Level 7/6 offers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this round with 1,098 applicants receiving an offer for the first time .
A total of 2,955 offers were issued in Round Two , representing an increase of 252 on the 2,703 applicants who received new , or in some cases their first , offer from the CAO in the same round last year .
Students have until midday on Friday , September 25th , to accept if they receive an offer .
The number of places offered in round two are always far lower than those issued in round one .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round one offers to 53,815 CAO applicants .
Marking the release of the Round 2 offers this morning , Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris tweeted : “ The CAO Round 2 offers are issued this morning at 10am .
Good luck to all those awaiting offers .
We saw a record number of people receive and accept offers in Round 1 .
Round 2 will bring more offers and exciting opportunities.
” In a statement issued on Wednesday , CAO communications officer Eileen Keleghan said applicants should carefully consider their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s deadline .
“ Many of the applicants receiving a second round offer today may have already accepted an offer in Round One , and it is important that they take the time to decide between these courses and inform CAO before the reply date of this Friday , September 25th at noon if they wish to accept the new offer .
Accepting the new offer will automatically cancel a previous acceptance .
“ If this is an applicant ’ s first offer they can choose to accept this offer and this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher preference course in a later offer round if they are deemed eligible .
It is important to note , however , that the majority of offers have been issued at this stage and this may be the only offer that they will receive .
“ For those who have been unsuccessful in receiving an offer ( or their desired offer ) there are many options , including further education courses , which offer qualifications in their own right , as well as opportunities to progress to third-level ; apprenticeship schemes ; taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year ; sitting one or more of the Leaving Certificate examination in November , or repeating the Leaving Certificate .
“ The Available Places facility also has almost 200 courses advertised , and some additional offers will be issued on a weekly basis from today until mid-October ” she added .
The CAO Available Places facility is free to existing applicants , and open to new applications for a fee of €45 .
Applicants can check if they have received a Round Two offer by logging in to their CAO account using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Successful applicants will also receive an offer notification by email and SMS text message if they have selected this option .
There will be no paper offer notices issued this year for Round Two .
For more information about the Offer and Acceptance process or Available Places visit the CAO Handbook ( also available online ) and watch the CAO video guides at cao.ie For applicants who have already received an offer in a previous offer round , the CAO offers the following advice : 1 .
Accept the new offer by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September 25th at noon if you prefer this course to the one that you have already accepted – this action automatically cancels your previous acceptance .
2 .
If you do not wish to accept the new offer you can simply do nothing and your previous acceptance will still stand .
3 .
If you wish to defer your current offer you must contact the Admissions Office of the offering institution immediately by email with the text “ Deferred Entry ” in the subject line of the email .
See CAO Handbook page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information .
Available Place offers are issued from Round Two .
Round Three offers will be available to view from 10am on Thursday , October 1st .

CAO Round Two: Students have until midday on Friday, 25 September, to accept if they receive an offer.
[ Download full Level 8 Round 2 listings here ]
[ Download Level 6 and 7 ordinary bachelor degree/ higher certificate courses here ]
Some 1,098 applicants who were not offered a course when the Central Applications Office (CAO) issued the first round of college places earlier this month were informed Wednesday morning that they were successful the second time around.
Of those who received Level 8 offers in Round Two this year, 883 (46 per cent) received an offer of their first preference course; for Level 7/6 offers, a total of 874 (85 per cent) applicants’ first preference offers were issued in this round.
A total of 1,923 Level 8 offers, and 1,032 Level 7/6 offers, were made to 2,630 CAO applicants in this round with 1,098 applicants receiving an offer for the first time.
In all, 2,630 applicants received an offer in Round Two, representing an increase of 117 on the 2,513 applicants who received new, or in some cases their first, offer from the CAO in the same round last year.
READ MORE
Students have until midday on Friday, September 25th, to accept if they receive an offer.
The number of places offered in round two are always far lower than those issued in round one. Earlier this month, the CAO issued 78,950 round one offers to 53,815 CAO applicants.
Marking the release of the Round 2 offers this morning, Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris tweeted: "The CAO Round 2 offers are issued this morning at 10am. Good luck to all those awaiting offers. We saw a record number of people receive and accept offers in Round 1. Round 2 will bring more offers and exciting opportunities."
Courses
The majority of Round Two offers were of courses in the fields of Health (253), Business and administration (257), Arts (215), Social and Behavioural Sciences (189), Engineering and Engineering trades (153) and Biological and related sciences (116).
Of the first preference courses offered in Round Two, most were in Business and administration (121) followed by Arts (115), Social and Behavioural Sciences (90), Health (84) and Engineering and Engineering trades (71).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, CAO communications officer Eileen Keleghan said applicants should carefully consider their options and to be mindful of Friday's deadline.
“Many of the applicants receiving a second round offer today may have already accepted an offer in Round One, and it is important that they take the time to decide between these courses and inform CAO before the reply date of this Friday, September 25th at noon if they wish to accept the new offer. Accepting the new offer will automatically cancel a previous acceptance.
“If this is an applicant’s first offer they can choose to accept this offer and this will not prevent them from receiving a higher preference course in a later offer round if they are deemed eligible. It is important to note, however, that the majority of offers have been issued at this stage and this may be the only offer that they will receive.
“For those who have been unsuccessful in receiving an offer (or their desired offer) there are many options, including further education courses, which offer qualifications in their own right, as well as opportunities to progress to third-level; apprenticeship schemes; taking a year out and reapplying through CAO next year; sitting one or more of the Leaving Certificate examination in November, or repeating the Leaving Certificate.
“The Available Places facility also has almost 200 courses advertised, and some additional offers will be issued on a weekly basis from today until mid-October” she added.
The CAO Available Places facility is free to existing applicants, and open to new applications for a fee of €45.
Applicants can check if they have received a Round Two offer by logging in to their CAO account using the “My Application” facility. Successful applicants will also receive an offer notification by email and SMS text message if they have selected this option. There will be no paper offer notices issued this year for Round Two.
For more information about the Offer and Acceptance process or Available Places visit the CAO Handbook (also available online) and watch the CAO video guides at cao.ie
For applicants who have already received an offer in a previous offer round, the CAO offers the following advice:
1. Accept the new offer by the “Reply Date” of Friday, September 25th at noon if you prefer this course to the one that you have already accepted – this action automatically cancels your previous acceptance.
2. If you do not wish to accept the new offer you can simply do nothing and your previous acceptance will still stand.
3. If you wish to defer your current offer you must contact the Admissions Office of the offering institution immediately by email with the text “Deferred Entry” in the subject line of the email. See CAO Handbook page 19 or the CAO website for more information.
Available Place offers are issued from Round Two. Round Three offers will be available to view from 10am on Thursday, October 1st.


theirishtimes--2020-09-23--School with 1,500 pupils closes after Covid-19 cases confirmed

A secondary school in Co Tyrone has closed after a number of coronavirus cases were identified in the school .
Holy Cross College in Strabane said it had had to close at “ very short notice ” on Wednesday morning due to “ two further confirmed cases in the school community.
” Two other members of the school tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday , the school said .
Close contacts had been informed and advised to self-isolate for 14 days , and the school was deep cleaned before staff and pupils arrived on Monday morning .
Holy Cross College @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pupils aged from 11-18 years old .
The West Tyrone MP , Sinn Féin ’ s Órfhlaith Begley , said the decision to close had been “ taken as a precaution for the safety of pupils , school staff and the wider community as a result of rising infection rates.
” This reinforced the call from the North ’ s Executive , she said , “ that this is a crucial time and that everyone must play their part in helping to stop the spread of the virus by following the public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this wasn ’ t an easy decision for the school to take and the safety of pupils and staff is paramount , ” she said .
Infection rates have been rising in Northern Ireland , with 963 people testing positive for the virus in the seven days until Tuesday .
New restrictions aimed at halting the spread of the virus by limiting the number of people who can meet in private homes came into force on Tuesday .

A secondary school in Co Tyrone has closed after a number of coronavirus cases were identified in the school.
Holy Cross College in Strabane said it had had to close at "very short notice" on Wednesday morning due to "two further confirmed cases in the school community."
Two other members of the school tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, the school said.
Close contacts had been informed and advised to self-isolate for 14 days, and the school was deep cleaned before staff and pupils arrived on Monday morning.
READ MORE
Holy Cross College is a co-educational school with about 1,500 pupils aged from 11-18 years old.
The West Tyrone MP, Sinn Féin’s Órfhlaith Begley, said the decision to close had been “taken as a precaution for the safety of pupils, school staff and the wider community as a result of rising infection rates.”
This reinforced the call from the North’s Executive, she said, “that this is a crucial time and that everyone must play their part in helping to stop the spread of the virus by following the public health advice and regulations.
“I know this wasn’t an easy decision for the school to take and the safety of pupils and staff is paramount,” she said.
Infection rates have been rising in Northern Ireland, with 963 people testing positive for the virus in the seven days until Tuesday.
New restrictions aimed at halting the spread of the virus by limiting the number of people who can meet in private homes came into force on Tuesday.
Northern Ireland recorded 220 new cases of coronavirus in the 24 hours to Wednesday, according to the North’s Department of Health (DoH). It brings the total number of confirmed cases in the North since the start of the pandemic to 9,761, including 1,078 in the last seven days.
No further coronavirus-related deaths were reported, leaving the total number of fatalities recorded by the Department at 577. More than half of all cases – 680 – identified in the last week were in people aged 39 and under.
However Wednesday’s figures showed hospital admissions are rising, with 41 patients with Covid-19 currently receiving hospital treatment in the North, and six in intensive care.
Alcohol-only pubs welcomed back customers on Wednesday a day after the additional restrictions limiting domestic gatherings were imposed across the country. Additional reporting: PA


theirishtimes--2020-09-23--Health experts have insufficient information to establish where people get Covid-19, committee hears

Health experts have insufficient information to establish where people are getting infected with Covid-19 , an Oireachtas committee heard on Wednesday .
Prof Kirsten Schaffer , president of the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiology , said she rang public health officials to be told that they only asked what close contacts people had in the last 48 hours .
They do not ask people where they have been or where they might have acquired the infection so it was not clear if somebody acquired it at a house party or at a restaurant or any other social setting .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The data is not there at the moment , ” she said , adding this gap was impeding the development of more refined or localised interventions .
Other countries like Germany did ask those questions and had that information , the Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 Response heard .
Prof Schaffer was one of a number of experts addressing the committee on Wednesday .
These included Sweden ’ s former chief epidemiologist Dr Johan Giesecke who said “ zero Covid ” was not a feasible solution because you would have to do it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Giesecke said his country never had a herd immunity strategy but herd immunity was a “ by-product ” of allowing a controlled spread of the disease .
Sweden ’ s “ soft lockdown ” worked because the country trusted its people , he said , adding “ people are not stupid ” and would respond if told how to protect themselves .
Giving his opening address , Dr Giesecke reiterated his view that there should be a “ controlled spread ” among the under 60s and allow a “ tolerable spread ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said schools must remain open and he pointed out that there was no difference between infections among schoolchildren in Sweden , where schools were kept open , and in neighbouring Finland which closed its schools .
Dr Giesecke added Covid-19 constituted a threat to democracy in many countries with some politicians acquiring extra powers that they might not relinquish .
He also told the committee that it was too early to compare the Covid-19 strategies of different countries .
“ We are only at the beginning of this epidemic , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats ) asked him what should be done for people aged over 60s in nursing homes ?
Dr Giesecke suggested that older people should adhere to the rules about protecting themselves against Covid-19 by keeping two metres distance from other people , washing their hands and avoid large social gatherings .
In her address to the committee , Prof Schaffer said herd immunity was a “ price that would be too high ” .
Instead she advocated keeping community transmission low to protect the old and the vulnerable .
She said older people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public health guidelines about Covid-19 .
Dr Tomás Ryan , an advocate for the zero Covid policy and an associate professor in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin , said no country had succeeded in shielding the old and the vulnerable .
He said South Korea and Taiwan never had a policy of shielding but had low deaths among elderly people because they had low levels of transmission anyway .
Instead , the only way of suppressing the virus is by reducing it for everyone and “ then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Dr Ryan said there was scope for a citizens ’ assembly on Covid-19 .
Professor Sam McConkey told the committee there should be a plan for up to seven years for Covid-19 .
“ This is not a short-term little problem that will go away in three months , ” he warned .
“ We needed something that is a long-term vision .
”

Sweden’s former chief epidemiologist Dr Johan Giesecke has told the the Dáil’s Covid-19 committee that Covid-19 should be let spread amongst people below 60 in a controlled way. Video: Oireachtas TV
Health experts have insufficient information to establish where people are getting infected with Covid-19, an Oireachtas committee heard on Wednesday.
Prof Kirsten Schaffer, president of the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiology, said she rang public health officials to be told that they only asked what close contacts people had in the last 48 hours.
They do not ask people where they have been or where they might have acquired the infection so it was not clear if somebody acquired it at a house party or at a restaurant or any other social setting.
“I don’t have that information. The data is not there at the moment,” she said, adding this gap was impeding the development of more refined or localised interventions.
READ MORE
Other countries like Germany did ask those questions and had that information, the Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 Response heard.
Professor Kirsten Schaffer UCD School of Medicine and President of the Irish Society of Clinical Microbiologists addresses the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee. Photograph: Oireachtas TV
Prof Schaffer was one of a number of experts addressing the committee on Wednesday.
These included Sweden's former chief epidemiologist Dr Johan Giesecke who said "zero Covid" was not a feasible solution because you would have to do it with every country in the world.
Dr Giesecke said his country never had a herd immunity strategy but herd immunity was a “by-product” of allowing a controlled spread of the disease.
Sweden’s “soft lockdown” worked because the country trusted its people, he said, adding “people are not stupid” and would respond if told how to protect themselves.
Giving his opening address, Dr Giesecke reiterated his view that there should be a “controlled spread” among the under 60s and allow a “tolerable spread” of the virus in the over-60s.
He said schools must remain open and he pointed out that there was no difference between infections among schoolchildren in Sweden, where schools were kept open, and in neighbouring Finland which closed its schools.
Dr Giesecke added Covid-19 constituted a threat to democracy in many countries with some politicians acquiring extra powers that they might not relinquish.
He also told the committee that it was too early to compare the Covid-19 strategies of different countries. “We are only at the beginning of this epidemic,” he said.
Dr Johann Giesecke, former chief epidemiologist in Sweden addressing the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee. Photograph: Oireachtas TV
Deputy Róisín Shortall (Social Democrats) asked him what should be done for people aged over 60s in nursing homes?
Dr Giesecke suggested that older people should adhere to the rules about protecting themselves against Covid-19 by keeping two metres distance from other people, washing their hands and avoid large social gatherings.
In her address to the committee, Prof Schaffer said herd immunity was a “price that would be too high”. Instead she advocated keeping community transmission low to protect the old and the vulnerable. She said older people should be especially assiduous in keeping to the public health guidelines about Covid-19.
Dr Tomás Ryan, an advocate for the zero Covid policy and an associate professor in the School of Biochemistry and Immunology at Trinity College Dublin, said no country had succeeded in shielding the old and the vulnerable. He said South Korea and Taiwan never had a policy of shielding but had low deaths among elderly people because they had low levels of transmission anyway.
Instead, the only way of suppressing the virus is by reducing it for everyone and “then you reduce the risk for older people”.
Dr Ryan said there was scope for a citizens’ assembly on Covid-19.
Professor Sam McConkey told the committee there should be a plan for up to seven years for Covid-19. “This is not a short-term little problem that will go away in three months,” he warned.
“We needed something that is a long-term vision.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-23--Leaving Cert student withdraws court challenge after getting place on dentistry course

A young woman who got 613 points in the 2019 Leaving Certificate has withdrawn her High Court challenge over the manner in which Leaving Cert grades were standardised this year after getting a place on her course of choice .
Martha Woods , who claimed standardisation had unfairly impacted on her ambition to pursue a dentistry career , has withdrawn her case because she has since secured a place on her chosen course , dentistry in UCC .
In her case , Ms Woods , Millbrook House , Murragh , Enniskeane , Co Cork , had said the points for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 590 points to 613 , the final applicants for that course all had 613 points , places were allocated by random selection and she failed to get a place .
When her action came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan last week , he accepted it was a “ very important ” matter but adjourned it for a week after expressing concern about the courts ’ ability to accommodate early hearings of a multiplicity of cases concerning the 2020 Leaving Cert grading process .
When the case returned before the judge today , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place on the UCC Dentistry course and was as a result withdrawing her case .
Ms Woods , represented by Pearse Sreenan SC , instructed by Amy Connolly , of Cantillons Solicitors , had brought the judicial review proceedings against the Minister for Education , State Examinations Commission , the State , CAO and UCC .
Mr Justice Meenan said he was pleased with the outcome and wished Ms Woods every success at university and in her career .
Separately , the judge has said he will treat another case initiated earlier this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the 2020 Leaving Cert process and hoped to give that an early hearing date .
That case is by Áine Finnegan , from Fairview , Dublin , who missed out on a place in Medicine at Trinity College Dublin by two points after three of her calculated grades were reduced .
The judge expected the outcome of the Finnegan case would decide some or all of the issues raised in other cases , adding parties in other cases may seek to be joined to the lead case .

Mr Justice Charles Meenan said he was pleased with the outcome and wished Ms Woods every success at university and in her career.
A young woman who got 613 points in the 2019 Leaving Certificate has withdrawn her High Court challenge over the manner in which Leaving Cert grades were standardised this year after getting a place on her course of choice.
Martha Woods, who claimed standardisation had unfairly impacted on her ambition to pursue a dentistry career, has withdrawn her case because she has since secured a place on her chosen course, dentistry in UCC.
In her case, Ms Woods, Millbrook House, Murragh, Enniskeane, Co Cork, had said the points for dentistry in UCC rose this year from 590 points to 613, the final applicants for that course all had 613 points, places were allocated by random selection and she failed to get a place.
When her action came before Mr Justice Charles Meenan last week, he accepted it was a “very important” matter but adjourned it for a week after expressing concern about the courts’ ability to accommodate early hearings of a multiplicity of cases concerning the 2020 Leaving Cert grading process.
READ MORE
When the case returned before the judge today, he was told Ms Woods has obtained a place on the UCC Dentistry course and was as a result withdrawing her case.
Ms Woods, represented by Pearse Sreenan SC, instructed by Amy Connolly, of Cantillons Solicitors, had brought the judicial review proceedings against the Minister for Education, State Examinations Commission, the State, CAO and UCC.
Mr Justice Meenan said he was pleased with the outcome and wished Ms Woods every success at university and in her career.
Separately, the judge has said he will treat another case initiated earlier this month as the lead case addressing issues with the 2020 Leaving Cert process and hoped to give that an early hearing date.
That case is by Áine Finnegan, from Fairview, Dublin, who missed out on a place in Medicine at Trinity College Dublin by two points after three of her calculated grades were reduced.
The judge expected the outcome of the Finnegan case would decide some or all of the issues raised in other cases, adding parties in other cases may seek to be joined to the lead case.


theirishtimes--2020-09-23--Dublin ‘could go to Level 4 or Level 5’ if cases continue to rise

Infectious diseases expert Professor Sam McConkey has warned that Dublin could need to go to Level 4 or even Level 5 as cases continue to rise .
Prof McConkey , who is head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland ( RCSI ) , said this is the time to take action .
“ The earlier we do it , the less duration and the less restrictive those measures will have to be , ” he told Newstalk .
The rate of Covid-19 cases has gone up in four or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Dublin and action is required now , he added .
“ Unfortunately , if the number of cases continues to rise , whether in Dublin or in those counties , then unfortunately the only sensible thing to do is to go up to Level 4 or even Level 5.
” The chair of the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee , Independent TD Michael McNamara , has said that one of the questions that will have to be answered at today ’ s meeting of the committee is what is the measure of success of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland the recent restrictions in Offaly and Kildare appeared to have temporarily suppressed the virus , but numbers were rising again .
There were also questions about testing and what was required to make the system effective , he said .
Mr McNamara added that there were concerns about the growing numbers requiring hospitalisation , the figure was at 90 on Tuesday night .
Swedish epidemiologist Dr Johan Giesecke will address the committee and will be asked about Sweden ’ s policy which had been to allow the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raised the question of should the vulnerable be shielded while the remainder of the population was allowed to move out and about , said Mr McNamara .
Many people over the age of 70 would not be prepared to do that , he said , so was it down to a matter of personal choice .
Mr McNamara pointed out that the Aids strategy in the US had been to encourage people to modify their behaviour .
The Covid-19 message to young people could be not to congregate , but if they did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While Sweden did not have a lockdown , it did have restrictions , pointed out Mr McNamara .
There were also 27 Covid-19 patients hospitalised , which was particularly low , but still indicated that there were no easy answers , he said .
He said Ireland ’ s situation could not be compared with New Zealand because of the differences in population density and proximity to the nearest neighbour .
“ We are near a very densely populated country ” .
A further 334 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 174 of them in Dublin .
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that , despite making up just a quarter of the population , people aged 15 to 34 accounted for 40 per cent of Covid-19 cases in the past two months .
“ This is not surprising as they are more likely to be moving about in the community , going to school , higher education or work , and keeping our economy and key services going , ” he said .
In a fresh appeal to heed the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ For teenagers and people in their 20s and 30s in particular , I know that what has been , and is being asked of you again , is extraordinary .
This pandemic has impacted on your education , your employment , your relationships and your social lives.
” He said the vast majority have “ done the right thing ” and have heeded public health advice .
“ But the disease is continuing to spread disproportionately among younger people at present .
And so , I am asking you to stick with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advice.
” He called on young people to “ be a role model ” for others .
The latest cases , announced on Tuesday evening , bring to 33,444 the total number of cases linked to the virus in the Republic .
No new deaths were reported , leaving the total number of deaths at 1,792 .
Men account for 158 of the new cases and women for 175 , and the gender was not given in one case .
Some 72 per cent are aged under 45 .

A man sits outside an empty pub in Dublin’s city centre, where many shops and businesses are closed. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Infectious diseases expert Professor Sam McConkey has warned that Dublin could need to go to Level 4 or even Level 5 as cases continue to rise.
Prof McConkey, who is head of the Department of International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), said this is the time to take action.
“The earlier we do it, the less duration and the less restrictive those measures will have to be,” he told Newstalk.
Hospital Report
The rate of Covid-19 cases has gone up in four or five counties to almost the same level as Dublin and action is required now, he added.
READ MORE
“Unfortunately, if the number of cases continues to rise, whether in Dublin or in those counties, then unfortunately the only sensible thing to do is to go up to Level 4 or even Level 5.”
Success of lockdown questioned
The chair of the Oireachtas Covid-19 Committee, Independent TD Michael McNamara, has said that one of the questions that will have to be answered at today's meeting of the committee is what is the measure of success of restrictions and lockdowns.
Mr McNamara told RTÉ's Morning Ireland the recent restrictions in Offaly and Kildare appeared to have temporarily suppressed the virus, but numbers were rising again.
There were also questions about testing and what was required to make the system effective, he said.
Mr McNamara added that there were concerns about the growing numbers requiring hospitalisation, the figure was at 90 on Tuesday night.
Swedish epidemiologist Dr Johan Giesecke will address the committee and will be asked about Sweden's policy which had been to allow the virus to spread among the under-60s. This raised the question of should the vulnerable be shielded while the remainder of the population was allowed to move out and about, said Mr McNamara.
Many people over the age of 70 would not be prepared to do that, he said, so was it down to a matter of personal choice.
Mr McNamara pointed out that the Aids strategy in the US had been to encourage people to modify their behaviour. The Covid-19 message to young people could be not to congregate, but if they did, not to visit their grandparents afterwards.
While Sweden did not have a lockdown, it did have restrictions, pointed out Mr McNamara. There were also 27 Covid-19 patients hospitalised, which was particularly low, but still indicated that there were no easy answers, he said.
He said Ireland's situation could not be compared with New Zealand because of the differences in population density and proximity to the nearest neighbour. "We are near a very densely populated country".
Cases in young people
A further 334 confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, 174 of them in Dublin.
Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said that, despite making up just a quarter of the population, people aged 15 to 34 accounted for 40 per cent of Covid-19 cases in the past two months.
“This is not surprising as they are more likely to be moving about in the community, going to school, higher education or work, and keeping our economy and key services going,” he said.
In a fresh appeal to heed the public health advice, he said: “For teenagers and people in their 20s and 30s in particular, I know that what has been, and is being asked of you again, is extraordinary. This pandemic has impacted on your education, your employment, your relationships and your social lives.”
He said the vast majority have “done the right thing” and have heeded public health advice.
“But the disease is continuing to spread disproportionately among younger people at present. And so, I am asking you to stick with this and continue to follow the public health advice.”
He called on young people to “be a role model” for others.
The latest cases, announced on Tuesday evening, bring to 33,444 the total number of cases linked to the virus in the Republic.
No new deaths were reported, leaving the total number of deaths at 1,792.
Men account for 158 of the new cases and women for 175, and the gender was not given in one case. Some 72 per cent are aged under 45.


theirishtimes--2020-09-23--Should you consider a postgrad during the pandemic?

“ Demand for postgraduate courses is cyclical and driven by the economy , ” Fergal O ’ Brien , assistant dean of graduate and professional studies at the University of Limerick , told The Irish Times in 2019 .
“ In a recession , people may want to stay in education but there are issues around financing .
During a boom , there is the attraction of the labour market , whereas a / [ full-time/ ] postgraduate course may delay it.
” “ Many are still choosing to do a postgraduate course fresh out of college , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a trade-off .
You can go into the workforce now and , if there ’ s a recession in two years ’ time , you have to consider whether the employer will value that experience more than a postgraduate [ degree ] .
” Fast forward to 2020 , and few of us put “ global pandemic ” alongside Brexit or a trade war as the cause of an economic recession .
So what does O ’ Brien think now ?
Why consider a postgraduate course during Covid ?
“ We haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession but it is a strange time , ” he says .
“ Anecdotally , it does seem that graduate opportunities are limited and some who had secured positions had their offers deferred .
There are not as many graduate entry jobs out there .
The usual options of emigration or travel are off the table because of Covid-19 .
Students are looking at their options for the next six-12 months – minimum – and a postgrad course is a perfect fit .
It could be a chance to get that postgrad out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can hit the road running and pursue your career.
” Prof Martine Smith , dean of graduate studies at Trinity College Dublin , says employers will ask applicants what they did during the pandemic .
“ I ’ m not saying that the answer has to be a postgraduate degree , but it does offer a way to develop new skills , meet new people and get valuable experience .
Because it doesn ’ t seem like things will ever return exactly to how they were before , there is an advantage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will have made a conscious decision to do something or learn something new.
” Adam Clarke , postgraduate officer at the Union of Students in Ireland , recently finished a postgraduate course in digital marketing at IT Carlow .
“ I don ’ t think you should do a postgrad just because you can ’ t find a job , ” he says .
“ If you want to make yourself stand out , go ahead , but postgrads are a lot of work and not something you should do just to kill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ value experience more than anything else.
” That said , Clarke ’ s own experience was very positive .
“ I made friends , learned about the sector I want to work in and got lots of ideas , ” he says .
Smith says that Trinity has seen “ some increase ” in Irish applications for postgraduate courses .
“ But at this stage it is hard to see how many of them will convert to students.
” What do employers value more : qualifications or experience ?
Smith is wary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have to figure out whether employers place a greater value on a postgrad qualification or work experience .
“ Increasingly , postgrad programmes build in internships and work placements so you get the industry experience plus you can develop a network.
” How should you choose the right course for you ?
The course should be in an area that you ’ re really interested in and would enjoy researching , says Clarke .
“ When you select a postgrad course , find an institution or institutions that have a course you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Contact the people who deliver the course as they can give you an insight into whether it ’ s for you.
” Be aware of the costs , Clarke advises .
This isn ’ t just about the course fees but also the costs of not working if you ’ re doing a full-time programme , as well as travel and other costs .
How can you fund a postgraduate course ?
“ There are sources of support but they are not as structurally organised as at undergraduate level , ” says Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) offers some level of postgraduate support , while tax relief of 20 per cent can be claimed on fees .
All the universities run various scholarship programmes , while the Irish Research Council runs a competitive scheme to support PhD and research masters students ( although the bulk of its funding is directed to PhD researchers ) .
Springboard+ offers free and subsidised courses at certificate , degree and masters level in areas where there are skills shortages , although at least a year must have passed before a graduate from an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a level nine course .
The Human Capital Initiative , announced by the Government in June , has added significantly more free places .
See SpringboardCourses.ie for more information .
How will postgrads be delivered with the pandemic ongoing ?
Different third-level colleges are taking different approaches , but most will be delivered through a blend of online and in-person teaching .
“ Trinity has committed to some face-to-face interaction over the course of our programmes and schools [ departments ] have been working hard to deliver flexibility , ” says Smith @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our lecturers and tutors for online course delivery but do feel strongly that face-to-face is an important part of the student experience and you should interact with the academics you ’ re working with .
We will have some programmes where it ’ s fully or almost entirely delivered online because that ’ s already the norm internationally , and others where there might be an element of lab or placement work that can ’ t be delivered online .
So we are trying to find ways to ensure students have that face-to-face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are immunocompromised.
” At UL , students will have one week on campus and three weeks off-campus where they will be online with learning technology and supports provided through a new role in the university : learning technologist .
“ They are supporting us around moving material online , how to deliver online programmes , how to engage classes and moderate discussions and how to deliver top-class online education as opposed to simply putting material online , ” says O ’ Brien .
What are some downsides of a postgrad course ?
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average stipend rate still works out lower than the average wage , ” says Clarke .
“ We hope that the Minister for the new Department of Higher Education , Simon Harris , addresses working conditions for researchers .
And there remains more funding for science , technology , maths and engineering than for arts and humanities.
” “ I finished my undergraduate in social science at Maynooth University this year and am just starting my masters of social science in rights and human policy there .
“ I ’ m a mature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my youngest is just about to start junior infants .
“ I don ’ t know if I would have done the postgraduate course without the pandemic .
When the outbreak happened , it felt like the right time to continue education because I didn ’ t know if the children would be able to go back to the childminder if I was working full-time .
I know a lot of people have found this time so unsettling but , for me , it has been calmer .
“ My course is full-time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days a week , with the rest of the time for assignments , study and research .
Because we are a smaller group , a lot of our work will still take place on campus .
“ I am genuinely so appreciative of the support that was given by Maynooth ’ s applied social studies and sociology departments and their lecturers .
The encouragement and confidence they instilled in me throughout the undergraduate degree definitely contributed to my decision to go on to do a postgrad.
” “ I ’ ve just finished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin and before that I studied business and law at the same university .
“ After I got the opportunity to represent TU Dublin at an undergraduate business strategy competition in Canada , I realised that I really enjoyed this area and went straight from my undergraduate to a masters .
“ Of course , the pandemic changed a lot but TU Dublin ’ s response was really impressive and they made sure we could still learn .
“ I began applying for graduate programmes during my masters as a lot of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course .
I got accepted on to the Enterprise Ireland National Graduate Programme in February .
“ My postgrad gave us the chance to work on live company projects and organise events , and really prepared us for a career .
It is daunting for students looking for jobs with so much uncertainty , but I feel that a postgraduate course differentiates you from other candidates .
”

"Demand for postgraduate courses is cyclical and driven by the economy," Fergal O'Brien, assistant dean of graduate and professional studies at the University of Limerick, told The Irish Times in 2019.
“In a recession, people may want to stay in education but there are issues around financing. During a boom, there is the attraction of the labour market, whereas a /[full-time/] postgraduate course may delay it.”
“Many are still choosing to do a postgraduate course fresh out of college,” said Dr O’Brien. “There is a trade-off. You can go into the workforce now and, if there’s a recession in two years’ time, you have to consider whether the employer will value that experience more than a postgraduate [degree].”
Fast forward to 2020, and few of us put “global pandemic” alongside Brexit or a trade war as the cause of an economic recession. So what does O’Brien think now?
READ MORE
Why consider a postgraduate course during Covid?
“We haven’t even defined this as a recession but it is a strange time,” he says. “Anecdotally, it does seem that graduate opportunities are limited and some who had secured positions had their offers deferred. There are not as many graduate entry jobs out there. The usual options of emigration or travel are off the table because of Covid-19. Students are looking at their options for the next six-12 months – minimum – and a postgrad course is a perfect fit. It could be a chance to get that postgrad out the way quite seamlessly, and then you can hit the road running and pursue your career.”
Prof Martine Smith, dean of graduate studies at Trinity College Dublin, says employers will ask applicants what they did during the pandemic. "I'm not saying that the answer has to be a postgraduate degree, but it does offer a way to develop new skills, meet new people and get valuable experience. Because it doesn't seem like things will ever return exactly to how they were before, there is an advantage to gaining new skills. And you will have made a conscious decision to do something or learn something new."
Adam Clarke, postgraduate officer at the Union of Students in Ireland, recently finished a postgraduate course in digital marketing at IT Carlow. "I don't think you should do a postgrad just because you can't find a job," he says. "If you want to make yourself stand out, go ahead, but postgrads are a lot of work and not something you should do just to kill time. I think employers will always value experience more than anything else."
That said, Clarke’s own experience was very positive. “I made friends, learned about the sector I want to work in and got lots of ideas,” he says.
Smith says that Trinity has seen “some increase” in Irish applications for postgraduate courses. “But at this stage it is hard to see how many of them will convert to students.”
What do employers value more: qualifications or experience?
Smith is wary of presenting graduates with a binary choice where they have to figure out whether employers place a greater value on a postgrad qualification or work experience. “Increasingly, postgrad programmes build in internships and work placements so you get the industry experience plus you can develop a network.”
How should you choose the right course for you?
The course should be in an area that you’re really interested in and would enjoy researching, says Clarke. “When you select a postgrad course, find an institution or institutions that have a course you want and that fits with you. Contact the people who deliver the course as they can give you an insight into whether it’s for you.” Be aware of the costs, Clarke advises. This isn’t just about the course fees but also the costs of not working if you’re doing a full-time programme, as well as travel and other costs.
How can you fund a postgraduate course?
"There are sources of support but they are not as structurally organised as at undergraduate level," says Smith. Susi (Student Universal Support Ireland) offers some level of postgraduate support, while tax relief of 20 per cent can be claimed on fees. All the universities run various scholarship programmes, while the Irish Research Council runs a competitive scheme to support PhD and research masters students (although the bulk of its funding is directed to PhD researchers).
Springboard+ offers free and subsidised courses at certificate, degree and masters level in areas where there are skills shortages, although at least a year must have passed before a graduate from an undergraduate degree is eligible for a place on a level nine course. The Human Capital Initiative, announced by the Government in June, has added significantly more free places. See SpringboardCourses.ie for more information.
How will postgrads be delivered with the pandemic ongoing?
Different third-level colleges are taking different approaches, but most will be delivered through a blend of online and in-person teaching.
“Trinity has committed to some face-to-face interaction over the course of our programmes and schools [departments] have been working hard to deliver flexibility,” says Smith. “We have invested in upskilling our lecturers and tutors for online course delivery but do feel strongly that face-to-face is an important part of the student experience and you should interact with the academics you’re working with. We will have some programmes where it’s fully or almost entirely delivered online because that’s already the norm internationally, and others where there might be an element of lab or placement work that can’t be delivered online. So we are trying to find ways to ensure students have that face-to-face while still reaching out to students who are immunocompromised.”
At UL, students will have one week on campus and three weeks off-campus where they will be online with learning technology and supports provided through a new role in the university: learning technologist.
“They are supporting us around moving material online, how to deliver online programmes, how to engage classes and moderate discussions and how to deliver top-class online education as opposed to simply putting material online,” says O’Brien.
What are some downsides of a postgrad course?
"PhDs are not funded adequately and the average stipend rate still works out lower than the average wage," says Clarke. "We hope that the Minister for the new Department of Higher Education, Simon Harris, addresses working conditions for researchers. And there remains more funding for science, technology, maths and engineering than for arts and humanities."
Postgraduate profiles
Gillian McGinley: ‘I don’t know if I would have done the postgraduate course without the pandemic’
Gillian McGinley: Maynooth University
"I finished my undergraduate in social science at Maynooth University this year and am just starting my masters of social science in rights and human policy there.
“I’m a mature student and I have four children and my youngest is just about to start junior infants.
“I don’t know if I would have done the postgraduate course without the pandemic. When the outbreak happened, it felt like the right time to continue education because I didn’t know if the children would be able to go back to the childminder if I was working full-time. I know a lot of people have found this time so unsettling but, for me, it has been calmer.
“My course is full-time but lectures take place two or three days a week, with the rest of the time for assignments, study and research. Because we are a smaller group, a lot of our work will still take place on campus.
“I am genuinely so appreciative of the support that was given by Maynooth’s applied social studies and sociology departments and their lecturers. The encouragement and confidence they instilled in me throughout the undergraduate degree definitely contributed to my decision to go on to do a postgrad.”
Cara Edwards: ‘I feel that a postgraduate course differentiates you from other candidates’
Cara Edwards: TU Dublin
“I’ve just finished a masters in strategic management at TU Dublin and before that I studied business and law at the same university.
"After I got the opportunity to represent TU Dublin at an undergraduate business strategy competition in Canada, I realised that I really enjoyed this area and went straight from my undergraduate to a masters.
“Of course, the pandemic changed a lot but TU Dublin’s response was really impressive and they made sure we could still learn.
"I began applying for graduate programmes during my masters as a lot of the applications are in before you complete the course. I got accepted on to the Enterprise Ireland National Graduate Programme in February.
“My postgrad gave us the chance to work on live company projects and organise events, and really prepared us for a career. It is daunting for students looking for jobs with so much uncertainty, but I feel that a postgraduate course differentiates you from other candidates.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-23--Cabinet approves reforms to alleviate tree felling licence delays

The Cabinet has approved a series of forestry sector reforms aimed at reducing a logjam in the processing of appeals of tree felling licence applications .
Legislation being introduced by Minister of State Pippa Hackett is scheduled to go through the Oireachtas by the end of next week .
It follows warnings from forestry industry representatives and the semi-State firm Coillte that delays in the licensing process could lead to timber shortages and thousands of job losses .
The legislation will change the way appeals lodged against felling licences are handled and allow the Forestry Appeals Committee to increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeal at a time .
It will also be allowed to determine appeals without an oral hearing where appropriate .
A controversial proposal to limit appeal options to a “ relevant person or body ” has been dropped but a decision to introduce appeal fees has been criticised by Friends of the Irish Environment ( FIE ) .
“ I am very happy with the level of support the Bill received from Cabinet colleagues , ” Ms Hackett said .
“ This is a crisis I inherited .
The backlog in appeals is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it needs to be dealt with urgently , as job losses are imminent and an industry which supports 12,000 mainly rural jobs in Ireland and contributes €2.3 billion to the economy is at immediate risk.
” Ms Hackett said she was committed to overseeing an ambitious afforestation programme which plants “ the right tree in the right place ” .
When the appeals problem was resolved , she said she intended “ to move swiftly to develop a new model for Irish forestry , one which addresses environmental concerns , protects nature , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As a follow on to this ... we urgently need a properly resourced and functioning Forestry Appeals Committee such that the committee can immediately tackle the massive backlog of appeals and , going forward , can hear appeals on a more timely basis , ” she said .
Forest Industries Ireland director Mark McAuley said there were 500 files due to be processed by the committee .
The legislation was “ not a panacea but is absolutely essential ” .
He said the introduction of a fee was “ important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sides ” and to help finance the appeals process .
The “ logjam ” arose from the Government ’ s failure to implement European directives , not from the number of objectors , ” said FIE director Tony Lowes , In spite of dropping the “ relevant person ” requirement , he said the legislation contradicted the Aarhus Convention as “ the State should not impose financial constraints on members of the public who wish to participate ” .
“ To respond by increasing restrictions intended to silence public participation does not address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy at a time when the State needs the cooperation of all its citizens to make the hard choices that climate change is bringing.
” Fórsa , the union representing forestry workers , said the legislation was welcome but needed to be passed within the timeframe outlined .

The legislation will change the way appeals lodged against felling licences are handled and allow the Forestry Appeals Committee to increase in size and to hear more than one appeal at a time. Photograph: iStock
The Cabinet has approved a series of forestry sector reforms aimed at reducing a logjam in the processing of appeals of tree felling licence applications.
Legislation being introduced by Minister of State Pippa Hackett is scheduled to go through the Oireachtas by the end of next week.
It follows warnings from forestry industry representatives and the semi-State firm Coillte that delays in the licensing process could lead to timber shortages and thousands of job losses.
The legislation will change the way appeals lodged against felling licences are handled and allow the Forestry Appeals Committee to increase in size and to hear more than one appeal at a time. It will also be allowed to determine appeals without an oral hearing where appropriate.
READ MORE
A controversial proposal to limit appeal options to a "relevant person or body" has been dropped but a decision to introduce appeal fees has been criticised by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE).
“I am very happy with the level of support the Bill received from Cabinet colleagues,” Ms Hackett said.
"This is a crisis I inherited. The backlog in appeals is hugely damaging to the forestry industry and it needs to be dealt with urgently, as job losses are imminent and an industry which supports 12,000 mainly rural jobs in Ireland and contributes €2.3 billion to the economy is at immediate risk."
Ms Hackett said she was committed to overseeing an ambitious afforestation programme which plants “the right tree in the right place”.
When the appeals problem was resolved, she said she intended “to move swiftly to develop a new model for Irish forestry, one which addresses environmental concerns, protects nature, and supports a commercial forestry sector”.
Coillte chief executive Imelda Hurley welcomed the legislation.
“As a follow on to this... we urgently need a properly resourced and functioning Forestry Appeals Committee such that the committee can immediately tackle the massive backlog of appeals and, going forward, can hear appeals on a more timely basis,” she said.
‘Absolutely essential’
Forest Industries Ireland director Mark McAuley said there were 500 files due to be processed by the committee. The legislation was “not a panacea but is absolutely essential”. He said the introduction of a fee was “important to make the system more reasonable for all sides” and to help finance the appeals process.
The "logjam" arose from the Government's failure to implement European directives, not from the number of objectors," said FIE director Tony Lowes,
In spite of dropping the “relevant person” requirement, he said the legislation contradicted the Aarhus Convention as “the State should not impose financial constraints on members of the public who wish to participate”.
“To respond by increasing restrictions intended to silence public participation does not address the core issues and will only undermine democracy at a time when the State needs the cooperation of all its citizens to make the hard choices that climate change is bringing.”
Fórsa, the union representing forestry workers, said the legislation was welcome but needed to be passed within the timeframe outlined.


theirishtimes--2020-09-23--'The day of the water cooler chat is gone'

It is predicted that almost half of employees could be working remotely at least part-time once the pandemic passes .
Here ’ s what to expect .
The new way of working is very much in its infancy for employers and employees alike and it is important to be adaptable and tolerant of the speed bumps that may be encountered in the coming months .
“ Remote working is the big changer at the moment , ” says National Recruitment Federation director Geraldine King .
“ A lot of companies have been catapulted into this and have had to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running .
“ For those that physically have to be at the workplace new safety measures will make it very different to be in the company of other people .
The day of the water cooler chat is gone for the foreseeable future.
” Jack Kennedy , an economist and researcher at Indeed ’ s hiring lab , says adaptability has always been top of the list for many employers , but even more so now .
“ Starting a first job can be daunting in normal times , let alone while the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of flux , ” he says .
“ Stay flexible and remain helpful .
Accept that changes will happen and that this is a difficult working period for everyone right now .
“ A first job is an opportunity to learn the workings of a business or organisation from the ground up .
You will not be expected to have all the answers , but you will be expected to have questions .
Stay engaged , actively learn about the company and show your enthusiasm.
” 2 .
What you can do to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new normal but it doesn ’ t necessarily have to be a worse normal .
There are things you can do and steps you can do take to make working remotely a smoother process .
Ensure you have the required infrastructure in place , such as a suitable chair and the necessary equipment .
Try to maintain frequent communication with team and managers to as to feel connected and not alone .
Be clear on the goals and objectives expected of you .
Maintain clear work/life boundaries , and don ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if unsure .
Deirdre Parker , a careers advisor at University College Cork , says one of the challenges of remote working is remaining visible .
“ It can be very easy to disappear and get lost remotely so graduates need to be make a conscious effort to participate in meetings , ask questions if necessary or helpful , and make sure they get essential support and training to perform as well as possible , ” she says .
“ There is more of an onus on the employee to manage their own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own structure to ensure that they are making progress .
They also need to impose their own boundaries to ensure an adequate work/life balance .
3 .
What are the advantages for graduates ?
One positive for new workers will be the fact they will be starting from a clean slate with no old habits to shed .
“ They will only know what they are entering into as it is now , therefore making them productive from the get go , ” says King .
“ They may also bring new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this new world of work and this will be advantageous to the employer .
They will not have had to make the shift of working in a physical space with colleagues and to then moving to working remote .
Chris Paye , general manager of Jobs.ie , says there are lot of reasons for young job-hunters to be hopeful about the prospect of remote working .
“ For today ’ s graduates , they have grown up with phones and tablets , amongst other forms of tech , ” he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their peers online so this still stand to them in the professional world too .
They are already tech savvy .
Graduates are so used to interacting online on social media platforms like Instagram , Facebook and now TikTok that they probably have an advantage here.
” 4 .
What are the challenges involved ?
The challenges faced with remote working are myriad but not surprising .
“ I still remember when I was a graduate having to really learn to adapt to an office environment , ” says Paye .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dealing with people , face to face , with colleagues at all levels .
“ I remember playing football on a Monday evening with our HR director , CEO and CFO .
These interactions probably helped me feel more comfortable in expressing ideas and putting myself forward .
Emma Scott , people partner at PwC agrees .
“ The biggest challenge I think graduates will face starting a new job remotely will be building up their network , ” she says .
Networking and interacting with your colleagues and managers is a vital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be harder to build a relationship with someone that you have only met virtually rather than in person and also you won ’ t bump into anyone in the lift or getting coffee and be able to introduce yourself informally .
“ The best way to tackle this challenge is to attend any social events available , there are a lot of firms having online quizzes , catch ups etc .
This way you can meet people in a more informal way .
Michelle Coen , career and skills consultant at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible that you might be interviewed and hired by a company without ever meeting anyone face to face .
“ Your first day in your new job could be in your own home , ” she says .
“ But don ’ t worry , you will be provided with all the support you need .
Some companies have had remote working arrangements in place for years .
The best way to tackle these issues is to be proactive about putting more structure on your day and your life more generally .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” says Paye .
“ Get up at a normal time and not five minutes before your due on a Zoom call .
“ Get some air before sitting down at your home desk .
As I learned to adapt to working from home , these were the things that prepared me for the change in my working day .
“ The biggest challenge I think anyone faces when working from home is managing your working day .
You are in the environment where you normally relax .
It ’ s therefore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will become your workspace and this needs to be different to where you would relax .
Coen is largely of the same view .
“ It might seem daunting working remotely for your first job ; so be sure to set boundaries for yourself around your working hours and take regular breaks , ” she says .
“ Many companies organise virtual social events to help employees socialise and to reduce isolation so be sure to participate in those as much as you can .
”

“Starting a first job can be daunting in normal times, let alone while the whole world is in a constant state of flux. Stay flexible and remain helpful”
It is predicted that almost half of employees could be working remotely at least part-time once the pandemic passes. Here’s what to expect.
1. Be adaptable
The new way of working is very much in its infancy for employers and employees alike and it is important to be adaptable and tolerant of the speed bumps that may be encountered in the coming months.
"Remote working is the big changer at the moment," says National Recruitment Federation director Geraldine King.
READ MORE
“A lot of companies have been catapulted into this and have had to move quickly to keep the business up and running.
“For those that physically have to be at the workplace new safety measures will make it very different to be in the company of other people. The day of the water cooler chat is gone for the foreseeable future.”
Jack Kennedy, an economist and researcher at Indeed's hiring lab, says adaptability has always been top of the list for many employers, but even more so now.
“Starting a first job can be daunting in normal times, let alone while the whole world is in a constant state of flux,” he says. “Stay flexible and remain helpful. Accept that changes will happen and that this is a difficult working period for everyone right now.
“A first job is an opportunity to learn the workings of a business or organisation from the ground up. You will not be expected to have all the answers, but you will be expected to have questions. Stay engaged, actively learn about the company and show your enthusiasm.”
2. What you can do to make it work
It might be a new normal but it doesn’t necessarily have to be a worse normal. There are things you can do and steps you can do take to make working remotely a smoother process.
Ensure you have the required infrastructure in place, such as a suitable chair and the necessary equipment. Try to maintain frequent communication with team and managers to as to feel connected and not alone. Be clear on the goals and objectives expected of you.
Maintain clear work/life boundaries, and don't be afraid to ask questions and speak up if unsure. Deirdre Parker, a careers advisor at University College Cork, says one of the challenges of remote working is remaining visible.
“It can be very easy to disappear and get lost remotely so graduates need to be make a conscious effort to participate in meetings, ask questions if necessary or helpful, and make sure they get essential support and training to perform as well as possible,” she says.
“There is more of an onus on the employee to manage their own internships, clarify expectations, and create their own structure to ensure that they are making progress. They also need to impose their own boundaries to ensure an adequate work/life balance.
3. What are the advantages for graduates?
One positive for new workers will be the fact they will be starting from a clean slate with no old habits to shed. “They will only know what they are entering into as it is now, therefore making them productive from the get go,” says King.
“They may also bring new ideas of how things can be done in this new world of work and this will be advantageous to the employer. They will not have had to make the shift of working in a physical space with colleagues and to then moving to working remote.
The biggest challenge I think graduates will face starting a new job remotely will be building up their network
Chris Paye, general manager of Jobs.ie, says there are lot of reasons for young job-hunters to be hopeful about the prospect of remote working. "For today's graduates, they have grown up with phones and tablets, amongst other forms of tech," he says.
"They are used to interacting with their peers online so this still stand to them in the professional world too. They are already tech savvy. Graduates are so used to interacting online on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook and now TikTok that they probably have an advantage here."
4. What are the challenges involved?
The challenges faced with remote working are myriad but not surprising. “I still remember when I was a graduate having to really learn to adapt to an office environment,” says Paye. “It helps shape young people as you are dealing with people, face to face, with colleagues at all levels.
“I remember playing football on a Monday evening with our HR director, CEO and CFO. These interactions probably helped me feel more comfortable in expressing ideas and putting myself forward.
Emma Scott, people partner at PwC agrees. "The biggest challenge I think graduates will face starting a new job remotely will be building up their network," she says. Networking and interacting with your colleagues and managers is a vital component of working life.
“It can be harder to build a relationship with someone that you have only met virtually rather than in person and also you won’t bump into anyone in the lift or getting coffee and be able to introduce yourself informally.
“The best way to tackle this challenge is to attend any social events available, there are a lot of firms having online quizzes, catch ups etc. This way you can meet people in a more informal way.
Michelle Coen, career and skills consultant at the UCD Careers Network, says it is possible that you might be interviewed and hired by a company without ever meeting anyone face to face.
“Your first day in your new job could be in your own home,” she says. “But don’t worry, you will be provided with all the support you need. Some companies have had remote working arrangements in place for years.
5. Find some structure
The best way to tackle these issues is to be proactive about putting more structure on your day and your life more generally. “Stick to a routine and a timetable,” says Paye. “Get up at a normal time and not five minutes before your due on a Zoom call.
“Get some air before sitting down at your home desk. As I learned to adapt to working from home, these were the things that prepared me for the change in my working day.
“The biggest challenge I think anyone faces when working from home is managing your working day. You are in the environment where you normally relax. It’s therefore important to try to find an area that will become your workspace and this needs to be different to where you would relax.
Coen is largely of the same view. “It might seem daunting working remotely for your first job; so be sure to set boundaries for yourself around your working hours and take regular breaks,” she says.
“Many companies organise virtual social events to help employees socialise and to reduce isolation so be sure to participate in those as much as you can.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-23--How to identify and develop soft skills in a pandemic

There has been much talk in recent months about the demise of the office .
When the first cases of Covid-19 were detected in the State and the virus began to spread , many businesses were shuttered overnight .
Those that could stay open had to find a new way of doing things .
Running a business or any remotely complex endeavour involving the co-operation of hundreds of people is difficult enough at the best of times .
What the pandemic has done is compound that difficulty further by forcing all those people to work apart from one another .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ever , soft skills are crucial to identify , develop , and showcase to your employer or prospective employer .
Here we will explain why and provide some tips .
Firstly , what are soft skills ?
These are those skills which you don ’ t so much get taught at school , but pick up along the way and which help you to be an effective member of a team .
Most of the experts agree the key ones are things like communication skills , teamwork , problem solving , creativity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovation .
It doesn ’ t matter how clever the people are or how brilliant the idea is if the business or organisation is plagued by poor communication , poor leadership or a lack of flexibility .
Hard skills are things like computer skills , numeracy , project management , data analytics and programming .
But all these things all underpinned by being able to communicate them well or being able to work in a team delivering those skills .
Communication skills involve taking often large pieces of information and making persuasive arguments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They also involve the ability to get your ideas across to other people .
Achieving this involves the need for strong presentation skills , and very strong written skills .
Jack Kennedy , an economist and researcher at Indeed ’ s Hiring Lab , says most students graduating and entering the workforce now are from Generation Z , which he describes as “ the first generation of true digital natives ” .
“ They ’ ve had access to things like the internet , touchscreens and mobile devices all their life , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , ” he says .
“ As a result , they ’ re hypervisual , with strong technical skills and are great multitaskers .
“ This gives them a great advantage in the current world of work .
With so many jobs moving remotely , they are likely to adapt to this new environment much better than their predecessors in what is becoming an increasingly digital world.
” It is within this context that Kennedy says the power of soft skills must not be underestimated .
“ These are skills like communication @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says .
“ They are highly valued because they can be difficult to teach and are often inherent to our personality .
“ When looking at skills that transfer across professions , soft skills tend to be needed across the board , so are valuable to highlight in your CV .
While hard skills are necessary for completing technical tasks , soft skills will make you the kind of worker employers want to hire , keep and promote.
” One of the first things you can do to develop these skills is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Which of these skills are counted among your strengths and which of them need work ?
This process does not have to be a solo one .
You can – if you think you can handle it – ask friends , colleagues , and even former employers which soft skills come to mind when they think of you and which they feel need improvement .
Some soft skills are much harder to develop and demonstrate , such as how curious or creative or innovative you are as an individual .
One way to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in people and the world around you , as well as find out more about them and how they relate to you .
There are also online courses you can take that will teach you how to develop soft skills such as project management and negotiation .
Popular websites that offer courses to learn soft skills include Coursera and Lynda .
Marie Laffey and Claire Murphy , both from NUI Galway ’ s Career Development Centre , say the new normal of remote working – which some say will be with us long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ soft skills all the more important .
“ Graduates will have become skilled in team work but now they are faced with remote collaboration in which communication is very important , ” they say .
“ This is an important skill for a graduate to convey to employers .
“ Graduates must know how to articulate their new ideas but also know how to research and communicate their needs so graduates should not be afraid to ask their manager questions and reach out to their team for support .
“ Networking is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to secure jobs or navigate their career .
Socialisation is one of our basic needs but is also a very important aspect of work .
“ Virtual socializing can help graduates navigate their career but also build stronger working relationships , therefore it is imperative to network within your company and attend virtual coffees or virtual events.
” Another way to develop these skills is to join a club , volunteer for a charity , or just get involved in any group endeavour whatsoever .
These types of environments allow you to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Deirdre Parker , careers advisor at UCC , has some ideas for ways to develop these skills and showcase them to employers .
“ While qualifications are invaluable , they are not the only way to upskill , ” she says .
“ Think creatively of practical ways that you can showcase your skillset to an employer .
This might be as simple and yet challenging as taking on a voluntary role in your local club .
“ Or approaching a charity who works in your area of interest to propose under-taking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibilities is endless if you focus on the skill you need to gain or improve , and brainstorm ways of developing it .
”

You can ask friends, colleagues, and former employers which soft skills come to mind when they think of you. Photograph: iStock
There has been much talk in recent months about the demise of the office.
When the first cases of Covid-19 were detected in the State and the virus began to spread, many businesses were shuttered overnight. Those that could stay open had to find a new way of doing things.
Running a business or any remotely complex endeavour involving the co-operation of hundreds of people is difficult enough at the best of times. What the pandemic has done is compound that difficulty further by forcing all those people to work apart from one another.
That is why now, more than ever, soft skills are crucial to identify, develop, and showcase to your employer or prospective employer. Here we will explain why and provide some tips.
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Generation Z had access to things like the internet, touchscreens and mobile devices all their life, and it's second nature to them
Firstly, what are soft skills? These are those skills which you don’t so much get taught at school, but pick up along the way and which help you to be an effective member of a team.
Most of the experts agree the key ones are things like communication skills, teamwork, problem solving, creativity, adaptability, critical thinking, leadership and innovation.
It doesn’t matter how clever the people are or how brilliant the idea is if the business or organisation is plagued by poor communication, poor leadership or a lack of flexibility.
Hard skills are things like computer skills, numeracy, project management, data analytics and programming. But all these things all underpinned by being able to communicate them well or being able to work in a team delivering those skills.
Communication skills involve taking often large pieces of information and making persuasive arguments to bring people on board with it. They also involve the ability to get your ideas across to other people. Achieving this involves the need for strong presentation skills, and very strong written skills.
Generation Z
Jack Kennedy, an economist and researcher at Indeed's Hiring Lab, says most students graduating and entering the workforce now are from Generation Z, which he describes as "the first generation of true digital natives".
“They’ve had access to things like the internet, touchscreens and mobile devices all their life, and it’s second nature to them,” he says. “As a result, they’re hypervisual, with strong technical skills and are great multitaskers.
“This gives them a great advantage in the current world of work. With so many jobs moving remotely, they are likely to adapt to this new environment much better than their predecessors in what is becoming an increasingly digital world.”
It is within this context that Kennedy says the power of soft skills must not be underestimated.
Graduates will have become skilled in team work but now they are faced with remote collaboration in which communication is very important
“These are skills like communication, problem solving and leadership,” he says. “They are highly valued because they can be difficult to teach and are often inherent to our personality.
“When looking at skills that transfer across professions, soft skills tend to be needed across the board, so are valuable to highlight in your CV. While hard skills are necessary for completing technical tasks, soft skills will make you the kind of worker employers want to hire, keep and promote.”
One of the first things you can do to develop these skills is to engage in a little self-reflection. Which of these skills are counted among your strengths and which of them need work?
This process does not have to be a solo one. You can – if you think you can handle it – ask friends, colleagues, and even former employers which soft skills come to mind when they think of you and which they feel need improvement.
Some soft skills are much harder to develop and demonstrate, such as how curious or creative or innovative you are as an individual. One way to cultivate this is to develop an interest in people and the world around you, as well as find out more about them and how they relate to you.
There are also online courses you can take that will teach you how to develop soft skills such as project management and negotiation. Popular websites that offer courses to learn soft skills include Coursera and Lynda.
Team work
Marie Laffey and Claire Murphy, both from NUI Galway's Career Development Centre, say the new normal of remote working – which some say will be with us long after the pandemic has passed – make soft skills all the more important.
“Graduates will have become skilled in team work but now they are faced with remote collaboration in which communication is very important,” they say. “This is an important skill for a graduate to convey to employers.
“Graduates must know how to articulate their new ideas but also know how to research and communicate their needs so graduates should not be afraid to ask their manager questions and reach out to their team for support.
“Networking is a very important skill and many graduates network to secure jobs or navigate their career. Socialisation is one of our basic needs but is also a very important aspect of work.
“Virtual socializing can help graduates navigate their career but also build stronger working relationships, therefore it is imperative to network within your company and attend virtual coffees or virtual events.”
Another way to develop these skills is to join a club, volunteer for a charity, or just get involved in any group endeavour whatsoever. These types of environments allow you to take charge and seek to solve problems.
Deirdre Parker, careers advisor at UCC, has some ideas for ways to develop these skills and showcase them to employers.
“While qualifications are invaluable, they are not the only way to upskill,” she says. “Think creatively of practical ways that you can showcase your skillset to an employer. This might be as simple and yet challenging as taking on a voluntary role in your local club.
“Or approaching a charity who works in your area of interest to propose under-taking a part-time research project. The list of possibilities is endless if you focus on the skill you need to gain or improve, and brainstorm ways of developing it.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-24--Shelbourne Hotel statues to be restored to their plinths

The owners of the Shelbourne Hotel are to reinstall four statues which were removed in the mistaken belief that two of them were representations of slave women .
The Shelbourne Hotel on St Stephen ’ s Green in Dublin is owned by US multinational property company Kennedy Wilson and operated by the Marriott Group .
Kennedy Wilson has told Dublin City Council it intends to return the four statues to their plinths outside the front of the hotel where they had stood since 1867 .
They were removed in July by hotel management , citing the Black Lives Matter movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slavery .
Hotel management believed that two of the statues depicted Nubian slave princesses , Nubia being a rival kingdom to ancient Egypt .
The other two statues represent Egyptian princesses .
The move prompted several complaints to the council that the facade of the hotel , which was restored in 2016 , was a protected structure and the removal of the statues was a breach of planning permission .
Former attorney general and minister for justice Michael McDowell was one of those who lodged a complaint with the council .
The statues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moreau ( 1822-1912 ) , son of another famous French sculptor , Jean-Baptiste-Louis-Joseph Moreau and were cast in the Val d ’ Orsne foundry in Paris .
Art historian Kyle Leyden has said the original catalogue from which the four statues were ordered clearly label them not as slaves , but as Egyptian and Nubian women .
Mr Leyden said the architect who designed the Shelbourne facade , John McCurdy , would have ordered the statues from the catalogue , which was published in the late 1850s .
Dublin City Council sent an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management four weeks to respond to the claims of an alleged planning breach .
Hotel management were granted another four-week extension to respond to the allegation .
Kennedy Wilson commissioned University College Dublin art historian Professor Paula Murphy to examine the statues .
An expert on sculpture , she has concluded that they are not depictions of slaves .
The statues will be restored to their plinths once they are cleaned , as there are layers of paint that have to be removed .
Their restoration will include a plaque explaining their backgrounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been established but is likely to happen in the coming weeks .

One of the statues, removed by the Shelbourne Hotel - which will now be put back.
The owners of the Shelbourne Hotel are to reinstall four statues which were removed in the mistaken belief that two of them were representations of slave women.
The Shelbourne Hotel on St Stephen's Green in Dublin is owned by US multinational property company Kennedy Wilson and operated by the Marriott Group. Kennedy Wilson has told Dublin City Council it intends to return the four statues to their plinths outside the front of the hotel where they had stood since 1867.
They were removed in July by hotel management, citing the Black Lives Matter movement and its focus on the legacy of slavery.
Hotel management believed that two of the statues depicted Nubian slave princesses, Nubia being a rival kingdom to ancient Egypt. The other two statues represent Egyptian princesses.
READ MORE
The move prompted several complaints to the council that the facade of the hotel, which was restored in 2016, was a protected structure and the removal of the statues was a breach of planning permission.
[ Former attorney general and minister for justice Michael McDowell was one of those who lodged a complaint with the council. ]
The statues were originally designed and sculpted by Mathurin Moreau (1822-1912), son of another famous French sculptor, Jean-Baptiste-Louis-Joseph Moreau and were cast in the Val d’Orsne foundry in Paris.
A page of the original catalogue from which the four statues were ordered by the Shelbourne Hotel
Art historian Kyle Leyden has said the original catalogue from which the four statues were ordered clearly label them not as slaves, but as Egyptian and Nubian women. Mr Leyden said the architect who designed the Shelbourne facade, John McCurdy, would have ordered the statues from the catalogue, which was published in the late 1850s.
Dublin City Council sent an enforcement letter on July 29th giving hotel management four weeks to respond to the claims of an alleged planning breach. Hotel management were granted another four-week extension to respond to the allegation.
Kennedy Wilson commissioned University College Dublin art historian Professor Paula Murphy to examine the statues. An expert on sculpture, she has concluded that they are not depictions of slaves.
The statues will be restored to their plinths once they are cleaned, as there are layers of paint that have to be removed. Their restoration will include a plaque explaining their backgrounds.
A date for their reinstallation has not been established but is likely to happen in the coming weeks.


theirishtimes--2020-09-24--‘Twindemic’ may be averted as Covid measures dampen flu threat

The threat of a “ twindemic ” caused by both Covid-19 and influenza outbreaks this winter might not be as serious as first thought , following record low numbers for influenza cases in the southern hemisphere .
Countries including Australia and New Zealand have had some of the mildest flu seasons on record , with the number of cases at a fraction of previous years .
Precautions such as mask-wearing , hand-washing and social distancing used for Covid-19 mitigate the impact of flu .
In addition , the dramatic drop in air travel has also curbed the spread of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Queensland in Australia , which has a population of roughly the same size as Ireland at five million , has recorded less than 6,000 flu cases during 2020 , only a fifth of the mean of 32,834 over the past five years .
There have been only 307 hospital admissions this year , compared with more than 2.500 last year ; and 28 admissions to intensive care units , compared with an average of 343 The majority of those cases were recorded in the first three months of the year , before Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that cases of flu fell to negligibly small numbers during the antipodean winter .
Dr Orla Ní Choinmhide , originally from Kildalkey , Co Meath , but now practising as a GP in Queensland , said she had encountered no flu cases at all this year in her surgery .
“ None of my patients presented with flu this winter , whereas last year and the year before , we would be swabbing five to 10 cases each week.
” Prof Paddy Mallon , a specialist in microbial and infectious diseases at UCD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some cause for optimism .
“ What is apparent from the data on the 2020 flu season emerging from the southern hemisphere is that there is a real opportunity for us as a society to blunt the impact of the upcoming flu season in Ireland .
“ With continued focus on hand-washing , physical distancing and mask wearing , the hope would be that the spread of flu within our community could be reduced .
“ This could help in two ways .
It could reduce the risk of transmission of flu to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact of flu on our healthcare system , but also could reduce the pressure on our Covid-19 testing programme so that it is not swamped by people with flu symptoms who need to have Covid-19 infection ruled out.
” Prof Sam McConkey of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland said that during the latter period of restrictions the levels of viral infections in Ireland “ dropped lower than I have ever seen ” .
He said : “ A little of that could be under-reporting , as we were not attending our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also real.
” He said he personally would “ rather have the flu vaccine instead of the restrictions , if it were a straight choice ” .
Another expert in the field of infectious and viral diseases , Prof Jack Lambert of the Mater hospital said a vigorous and robust flu vaccine campaign was still required .
“ The saving grace is if we religiously use masks for Covid we won ’ t have the same fallout from other respiratory diseases like flu , ” he said .
He asked if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extending free vaccination to a wide section of the population .
The Health Service Executive said more than two million vaccines had been ordered for its winter campaign .
In relation to the possibility of the flu threat being mitigated , a spokesman said the service was taking “ absolutely nothing for granted ” .

The threat of a “twindemic” caused by both Covid-19 and influenza outbreaks this winter might not be as serious as first thought, following record low numbers for influenza cases in the southern hemisphere.
Countries including Australia and New Zealand have had some of the mildest flu seasons on record, with the number of cases at a fraction of previous years.
Precautions such as mask-wearing, hand-washing and social distancing used for Covid-19 mitigate the impact of flu. In addition, the dramatic drop in air travel has also curbed the spread of the seasonal flu globally.
Hospital Report
The state of Queensland in Australia, which has a population of roughly the same size as Ireland at five million, has recorded less than 6,000 flu cases during 2020, only a fifth of the mean of 32,834 over the past five years.
READ MORE
There have been only 307 hospital admissions this year, compared with more than 2.500 last year ; and 28 admissions to intensive care units, compared with an average of 343
There is a real opportunity for us as a society to blunt the impact of the upcoming flu season in Ireland
The majority of those cases were recorded in the first three months of the year, before Covid-19 hit. The data since March show that cases of flu fell to negligibly small numbers during the antipodean winter.
Dr Orla Ní Choinmhide, originally from Kildalkey, Co Meath, but now practising as a GP in Queensland, said she had encountered no flu cases at all this year in her surgery. “None of my patients presented with flu this winter, whereas last year and the year before, we would be swabbing five to 10 cases each week.”
Cause for optimism
Prof Paddy Mallon, a specialist in microbial and infectious diseases at UCD said the experience in those countries gave some cause for optimism.
“What is apparent from the data on the 2020 flu season emerging from the southern hemisphere is that there is a real opportunity for us as a society to blunt the impact of the upcoming flu season in Ireland.
“With continued focus on hand-washing, physical distancing and mask wearing, the hope would be that the spread of flu within our community could be reduced.
“This could help in two ways. It could reduce the risk of transmission of flu to more vulnerable people and therefore limit the impact of flu on our healthcare system, but also could reduce the pressure on our Covid-19 testing programme so that it is not swamped by people with flu symptoms who need to have Covid-19 infection ruled out.”
Prof Sam McConkey of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland said that during the latter period of restrictions the levels of viral infections in Ireland “dropped lower than I have ever seen”.
He said: “A little of that could be under-reporting, as we were not attending our GPs, but I think that it was also real.”
He said he personally would “rather have the flu vaccine instead of the restrictions, if it were a straight choice”.
Another expert in the field of infectious and viral diseases, Prof Jack Lambert of the Mater hospital said a vigorous and robust flu vaccine campaign was still required. "The saving grace is if we religiously use masks for Covid we won't have the same fallout from other respiratory diseases like flu," he said. He asked if the Government could achieve its ambitious plan of extending free vaccination to a wide section of the population.
The Health Service Executive said more than two million vaccines had been ordered for its winter campaign. In relation to the possibility of the flu threat being mitigated, a spokesman said the service was taking "absolutely nothing for granted".