theirishtimes--2020-07-18--Gardaí investigate alleged false imprisonment of fisheries officers

Gardaí are investigating the alleged false imprisonment of two inland fisheries staff who were investigating salmon poaching off the Mayo coast .
Salmon poaching in this area has “ sky-rocketed ” since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis , according to Francis O ’ Donnell , regional director of Inland Fisheries Ireland ( IFI ) .
It is understood that in Wednesday night ’ s incident two fisheries officers , who boarded a boat they suspected of having been involved in poaching , were taken out to sea against their will .
Two of their colleagues who were involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr O ’ Donnell said that while drift-net fishing for salmon had been outlawed in 2007 , 1.5km of illegal drift net was seized off Inishbofin in just one case last Wednesday .
Sean Long , another IFI director based in the South Western Regional Basin , said that so far this year his staff had seized 50 per cent more nets than for the whole of 2019 .
With poached wild salmon fetching anything up to €50 on the underground market , Mr Long pointed out that it was a lucrative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posing a serious risk to salmon stocks , already so severely depleted that some rivers are closed to anglers .
He stressed that it was illegal for anyone to buy untagged salmon from an unlicensed operator .
IFI bosses believe it is no coincidence that seizures have soared since the coronavirus crisis began , both because their patrols were initially restricted and also because poachers who were not working “ had more time on their hands ” .
Greg Forde , IFI ’ s head of operations , explained that as poachers took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially nearly on lockdown ourselves and only responding to known threats ” .
He said staff are still restricted to one person per vehicle but they quickly adapted and have been using a selection of vehicles including bicycles , quads , kayaks and boats as well as cars while patrolling the waterways .
Mr Long explained that in some cases nets were being staked in estuaries at the mouths of rivers , and salmon on their way to spawn were being caught .
As part of the crackdown on poaching , officers were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitality sector , he stressed .
“ It is illegal to poach and it is also illegal to purchase an untagged salmon , ” he said .
In one incident last week fisheries officers in east Cork boarded a boat and seized just under 100kg comprising “ 30 fine salmon ” which could be worth anything from €1,500 to €2,000 , he said .
“ Wild salmon are being sold for €50 a pop at the back door , ” he said .
Confronting poachers can be a hazardous job , with 60 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fisheries officers last year .
In one incident , an officer was struck on the head with the reel of a fishing rod and knocked unconscious after confronting an angler who was fishing illegally .
Mr O ’ Donnell said he could not elaborate on Wednesday night ’ s incident in Co Mayo when two of his staff were “ detained against their will ” as gardaí were investigating , but he described it as serious .
“ It was a frightening incident which happened after dark and gardaí are now investigating , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One source said that salmon poaching in the north Mayo area “ is worse now than it has been for 30 years ” but it is also regarded as a serious issue in Co Donegal where last week one seizure from suspected poachers was valued at €1,400 .
Mr Forde said that obviously if poachers using illegal nets caught 30 or 40 salmon at sea , this meant they were not going to get to our rivers to spawn .
A number of hotspots were now being targeted by fisheries officers who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he added .
A Garda spokesman confirmed that officers in Ballina were investigating an alleged incident of false imprisonment which occurred on a boat at Belderrig Pier , Belderrig , Co Mayo , at approximately 11pm on Wednesday July 15 , 2020 .

Nets are being used ‘in estuaries at the mouths of rivers’ to catch salmon on their way to spawn. File photograph: Getty Images
Gardaí are investigating the alleged false imprisonment of two inland fisheries staff who were investigating salmon poaching off the Mayo coast.
Salmon poaching in this area has "sky-rocketed" since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, according to Francis O'Donnell, regional director of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI).
It is understood that in Wednesday night’s incident two fisheries officers, who boarded a boat they suspected of having been involved in poaching, were taken out to sea against their will. Two of their colleagues who were involved in the operation have made allegations of assault.
Mr O’Donnell said that while drift net fishing for salmon had been outlawed in 2007, 1.5km of illegal drift net was seized off Inishbofin in just one case last Wednesday.
READ MORE
Sean Long, another IFI director based in the South Western Regional Basin, said that so far this year his staff had seized 50 per cent more nets than for the whole of 2019.
Underground market
With poached wild salmon fetching anything up to €50 on the underground market, Mr Long pointed out that it was a lucrative trade but he warned that it was posing a serious risk to salmon stocks, already so severely depleted that some rivers are closed to anglers. He stressed that it was illegal for anyone to buy untagged salmon from an unlicensed operator.
IFI bosses believe it is no coincidence that seizures have soared since the coronavirus crisis began, both because their patrols were initially restricted and also because poachers who were not working “had more time on their hands”.
Greg Forde, IFI's head of operations, explained that as poachers took to the waters, "we were initially nearly on lockdown ourselves and only responding to known threats". He said staff are still restricted to one person per vehicle but they quickly adapted and have been using a selection of vehicles including bicycles, quads, kayaks and boats as well as cars while patrolling the waterways.
Mr Long explained that in some cases nets were being staked in estuaries at the mouths of rivers, and salmon on their way to spawn were being caught.
As part of the crackdown on poaching, officers were focusing on potential customers including in the hospitality sector, he stressed. “It is illegal to poach and it is also illegal to purchase an untagged salmon,” he said.
In one incident last week fisheries officers in east Cork boarded a boat and seized just under 100kg comprising "30 fine salmon" which could be worth anything from €1,500 to €2,000, he said. "Wild salmon are being sold for €50 a pop at the back door," he said.
Confronting poachers can be a hazardous job, with 60 “cases of aggression” reported against fisheries officers last year.
Knocked unconscious
In one incident, an officer was struck on the head with the reel of a fishing rod and knocked unconscious after confronting an angler who was fishing illegally.
Mr O’Donnell said he could not elaborate on Wednesday night’s incident in Co Mayo when two of his staff were “detained against their will” as gardaí were investigating, but he described it as serious.
“It was a frightening incident which happened after dark and gardaí are now investigating,” said Mr O’Donnell.
One source said that salmon poaching in the north Mayo area "is worse now than it has been for 30 years" but it is also regarded as a serious issue in Co Donegal where last week one seizure from suspected poachers was valued at €1,400.
Mr Forde said that obviously if poachers using illegal nets caught 30 or 40 salmon at sea, this meant they were not going to get to our rivers to spawn.
A number of hotspots were now being targeted by fisheries officers who were determined to crack down on illegal poaching, he added.
A Garda spokesman confirmed that officers in Ballina were investigating an alleged incident of false imprisonment which occurred on a boat at Belderrig Pier, Belderrig, Co Mayo, at approximately 11pm on Wednesday July 15, 2020.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Spain, Portugal and France ‘not at safe level’ to be on travel ‘green list’

Higher coronavirus infection rates in the popular holiday destinations of Spain , Portugal and France should rule out their inclusion on a “ green list ” of safe countries for unrestricted travel , a leading virologist said .
The Government plans to ease travel restrictions to and from some countries with the publication of a list of countries on Monday with similar coronavirus infection rates to Ireland .
Travellers returning from those countries will not have to self-isolate for 14 days .
One leading doctor on the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) , which informs Government policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not expect the most popular sun destinations to be on the list .
Dr Cillian De Gascun , chair of the expert advisory group to NPHET , said the typical destinations for Irish holidaymakers were “ not at a safe level ” right now .
A closely watched metric on the rate of infections in countries , which is collated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , shows that Spain , France , Portugal and Croatia have considerably higher numbers of coronavirus cases than Ireland .
The 14-day cumulative number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4.3 per 100,000 people for Ireland compared with 17.7 for Spain , 11.1 for France , 48.5 for Portugal and 27.6 for Croatia .
“ It would be very difficult to justify putting a country that is established above our own 14-day cumulative incidence rate because it is very risky and an unnecessary risk , ” Dr De Gascun told The Irish Times .
Eight European countries have lower rates of infection than Ireland based on the figures on 14-day cases : Norway , Finland , Hungary , Estonia , Lithuanian , Latvia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said on Friday that the United States would not be on the list because of the rate of infections there and it was “ unlikely ” the United Kingdom would be on it either .
“ We will certainly proceed with caution here , taking advice from the public health experts , ” he said last night .
He warned against non-essential overseas trips saying that international travel still represented “ a very significant risk to the reintroduction of this virus back into Ireland ” .
NPHET reported three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – the highest number of daily confirmed cases in more than a month – on Friday .
This brings the death toll from the virus to 1,752 and the total number of known cases of the disease to 25,730 .
Dr De Gascun said NPHET would still be concerned about people travelling to resorts even in “ green list ” countries with low levels of infection because they could be “ interacting with crowds ” from countries with higher infection rates “ if everyone flocks to those regions ” .
“ People typically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it is very hard to know where the safer places are likely to be , ” said the director of the UCD ’ s National Virus Reference Laboratory .
“ If you are at a resort town where people are travelling from the likes of Spain , France or the [ United ] States , you could find yourself in a situation where you can ’ t really do a risk assessment yourself .
That is why we would discourage people from travelling.
” There is expected to be between 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majority being in Europe , according to Government sources .
Several countries on the draft list are unlikely to be considered attractive holiday destinations and some will be significant distances from Ireland .
The final list will be signed off by Cabinet after a meeting on Monday .
Epidemiological data from shortlisted countries will be tracked this weekend to watch for spikes in infections with the final number of countries subject to change over the coming two days .
A number of additional countries are considered borderline for inclusion and may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be added when the list is reviewed again in two weeks ’ time .
Infection rates in Italy and Greece were on Friday only marginally higher than in Ireland .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the two Government officials accompanying him to the EU summit in Brussels will not , as essential workers , be required to self-quarantine on their return to the country this weekend , though they will restrict their personal movements .
He returns from Belgium as virologists in the country warned that it could be at the start of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 32 per cent increase in coronavirus cases in a week .

Beachgoers bask in the sun at La Nova Icaria beach in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday. Photograph: EPA
Higher coronavirus infection rates in the popular holiday destinations of Spain, Portugal and France should rule out their inclusion on a "green list" of safe countries for unrestricted travel, a leading virologist said.
The Government plans to ease travel restrictions to and from some countries with the publication of a list of countries on Monday with similar coronavirus infection rates to Ireland.
Travellers returning from those countries will not have to self-isolate for 14 days.
One leading doctor on the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), which informs Government policy, has said that the public should not expect the most popular sun destinations to be on the list.
READ MORE
Dr Cillian De Gascun, chair of the expert advisory group to NPHET, said the typical destinations for Irish holidaymakers were "not at a safe level" right now.
A closely watched metric on the rate of infections in countries, which is collated by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, shows that Spain, France, Portugal and Croatia have considerably higher numbers of coronavirus cases than Ireland.
The 14-day cumulative number of coronavirus infections stood on Friday at 4.3 per 100,000 people for Ireland compared with 17.7 for Spain, 11.1 for France, 48.5 for Portugal and 27.6 for Croatia.
Unnecessary risk
“It would be very difficult to justify putting a country that is established above our own 14-day cumulative incidence rate because it is very risky and an unnecessary risk,” Dr De Gascun told The Irish Times.
Eight European countries have lower rates of infection than Ireland based on the figures on 14-day cases: Norway, Finland, Hungary, Estonia, Lithuanian, Latvia, Cyprus and Malta.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said on Friday that the United States would not be on the list because of the rate of infections there and it was "unlikely" the United Kingdom would be on it either.
“We will certainly proceed with caution here, taking advice from the public health experts,” he said last night.
He warned against non-essential overseas trips saying that international travel still represented “a very significant risk to the reintroduction of this virus back into Ireland”.
NPHET reported three more coronavirus-related deaths and 34 new cases – the highest number of daily confirmed cases in more than a month – on Friday. This brings the death toll from the virus to 1,752 and the total number of known cases of the disease to 25,730.
Dr De Gascun said NPHET would still be concerned about people travelling to resorts even in “green list” countries with low levels of infection because they could be “interacting with crowds” from countries with higher infection rates “if everyone flocks to those regions”.
“People typically go to resorts with restaurants and bars, and it is very hard to know where the safer places are likely to be,” said the director of the UCD’s National Virus Reference Laboratory.
Discourage travelling
“If you are at a resort town where people are travelling from the likes of Spain, France or the [United] States, you could find yourself in a situation where you can’t really do a risk assessment yourself. That is why we would discourage people from travelling.”
There is expected to be between 10 and 15 countries on the list with the majority being in Europe, according to Government sources. Several countries on the draft list are unlikely to be considered attractive holiday destinations and some will be significant distances from Ireland.
The final list will be signed off by Cabinet after a meeting on Monday.
Epidemiological data from shortlisted countries will be tracked this weekend to watch for spikes in infections with the final number of countries subject to change over the coming two days.
A number of additional countries are considered borderline for inclusion and may not be on the initial list but could be added when the list is reviewed again in two weeks’ time.
Infection rates in Italy and Greece were on Friday only marginally higher than in Ireland.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin and the two Government officials accompanying him to the EU summit in Brussels will not, as essential workers, be required to self-quarantine on their return to the country this weekend, though they will restrict their personal movements.
He returns from Belgium as virologists in the country warned that it could be at the start of a second wave of infections after reporting a 32 per cent increase in coronavirus cases in a week.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Thinking Anew – ‘The smallest of all the seeds’

It was brought to my attention some days ago that an acquaintance referred to me as a “ thug ” .
I presume it was about something I had written or a view that I had expressed .
It appears we have different opinions on myriad subjects , theologically , politically and socially .
It set me thinking and while I jokingly told friends I considered it a badge of honour , it did of course hurt me .
Have I never referred to an opponent as a “ thug ” ?
Unfortunately , I too have used the word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you mull over it and spend some time thinking about it .
We spend more time and energy thinking of the negative aspects people see in us than the positive ones .
You wonder why someone might think badly of you and no matter who they are , most of us don ’ t want people to perceive us badly .
The corollary is certainly true , when someone speaks well of us , we immediately are inclined to view them in more positive terms .
On reflection , it dawned on me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name had never in his life sat down and spoken with me in any serious way .
I always felt he was shouting at me .
And isn ’ t that so often the story of our lives ?
We form opinions of people , make judgments , yet knowing so little about them .
Certainly , I often find myself forming opinions of celebrities and politicians without knowing the first thing about them .
We can easily do the same about our neighbours or acquaintances .
It might be based on how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Yes , it ’ s as superficial as that .
Isn ’ t that why corporations and political parties spend so much time , money and energy on advertising ?
If they can manage to get their target audience to see someone in a favourable light then they have the possibility of winning them over to their side , buying their product or voting for their candidate .
Is it all as ephemeral as that ?
I suspect it may well be .
Dogmatists and those with “ notions ” about themselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standards , the teaching of the difference between right and wrong , that win people over to doing what is right and proper .
Of course , that approach too has a role to play in the forming of a person and the structuring of good society .
But we can never , nor must we ever , forget about the incidental words and acts of kindness that shape us and leave indelible marks on our psyche .
In tomorrow ’ s Gospel ( Matthew 13 : 24 -43 ) , among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mustard seed : “ The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field .
It is the smallest of all the seeds , but when it has grown it is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and shelter in its branches.
” Isn ’ t it a remarkable illustration of the effects of the smallest of things and then how significant they can become in our lives ?
Indeed , they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to them looking for shelter and protection , just as the birds seek shelter in the branches .
And again , in Psalm 86 in tomorrow ’ s liturgy we are told that the Lord is kind and forgiving and most loving to all who invoke him .
Little acts of kindness have the potential to swell into major moments in our lives .
When we experience acts of kindness from another person , we will see that person in a positive and warm light .
Alas , the reverse too is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it makes it far easier for us to see them in a negative light .
Tomorrow ’ s liturgy calls on all of us to focus on God , who is love and compassion .
Instead of looking for the weak and negative aspects in other people , we are encouraged to see them as the handiwork of God , who fashioned them .
It ’ s easy enough to call a person a thug , and I may well deserve it , but it ’ s more gracious and uplifting to acknowledge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and goodness , a potential of which we are all capable .
If we all make greater efforts to be kind to one another , to understand people ’ s challenges and frailties , surely , we shall see them in a different light and they in turn will reciprocate those acts of kindness .
Pie in the sky ?
No , actually it ’ s the message of Jesus .

It was brought to my attention some days ago that an acquaintance referred to me as a “thug”. I presume it was about something I had written or a view that I had expressed. It appears we have different opinions on myriad subjects, theologically, politically and socially. It set me thinking and while I jokingly told friends I considered it a badge of honour, it did of course hurt me. Have I never referred to an opponent as a “thug”? Unfortunately, I too have used the word. When someone calls you a name you mull over it and spend some time thinking about it. We spend more time and energy thinking of the negative aspects people see in us than the positive ones. You wonder why someone might think badly of you and no matter who they are, most of us don’t want people to perceive us badly. The corollary is certainly true, when someone speaks well of us, we immediately are inclined to view them in more positive terms. On reflection, it dawned on me that the man who called me that name had never in his life sat down and spoken with me in any serious way. I always felt he was shouting at me.
And isn’t that so often the story of our lives? We form opinions of people, make judgments, yet knowing so little about them. Certainly, I often find myself forming opinions of celebrities and politicians without knowing the first thing about them. We can easily do the same about our neighbours or acquaintances. It might be based on how they look, the way they walk. Yes, it’s as superficial as that. Isn’t that why corporations and political parties spend so much time, money and energy on advertising? If they can manage to get their target audience to see someone in a favourable light then they have the possibility of winning them over to their side, buying their product or voting for their candidate. Is it all as ephemeral as that? I suspect it may well be. Dogmatists and those with “notions” about themselves may claim that it’s objective standards, the teaching of the difference between right and wrong, that win people over to doing what is right and proper. Of course, that approach too has a role to play in the forming of a person and the structuring of good society. But we can never, nor must we ever, forget about the incidental words and acts of kindness that shape us and leave indelible marks on our psyche. In tomorrow’s Gospel (Matthew 13: 24 -43), among the parables Jesus tells us is that of the mustard seed: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the biggest shrub of all and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and shelter in its branches.”
Isn’t it a remarkable illustration of the effects of the smallest of things and then how significant they can become in our lives? Indeed, they are so influential that we continue to go back to them looking for shelter and protection, just as the birds seek shelter in the branches. And again, in Psalm 86 in tomorrow’s liturgy we are told that the Lord is kind and forgiving and most loving to all who invoke him. Little acts of kindness have the potential to swell into major moments in our lives. When we experience acts of kindness from another person, we will see that person in a positive and warm light. Alas, the reverse too is true, when someone disrespects us, it makes it far easier for us to see them in a negative light.
Tomorrow’s liturgy calls on all of us to focus on God, who is love and compassion. Instead of looking for the weak and negative aspects in other people, we are encouraged to see them as the handiwork of God, who fashioned them. It’s easy enough to call a person a thug, and I may well deserve it, but it’s more gracious and uplifting to acknowledge another person’s moments of greatness and goodness, a potential of which we are all capable. If we all make greater efforts to be kind to one another, to understand people’s challenges and frailties, surely, we shall see them in a different light and they in turn will reciprocate those acts of kindness. Pie in the sky? No, actually it’s the message of Jesus.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--The Irish Times view on the Leaving Cert: Yet another delay. Discuss.

Even in normal times the Leaving Cert is a stressful time for tens of thousands of candidates .
For this year ’ s students , the challenge is greater .
They have had to deal with anxiety over school closures , changes to assessment plans and a dramatic government U-turn on holding exams “ by hook or by crook ” .
This week students discovered that their calculated grades will be delayed by three weeks .
The turnaround time between the results coming out , CAO offers being made and college starting is extremely short , which heaps yet more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say they feel like they have been plunged into fresh uncertainty over when college is due to start , how they will find accommodation at short notice and whether their results will issue in time for those seeking to go to college abroad .
There is also understandable disappointment and frustration at the way the news emerged in the first place .
Minister for Education Norma Foley did not tell the Dáil of the dates when she was being questioned by Opposition parties on Thursday evening .
Nor were students ’ representatives informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet , the previous day , senior figures in higher education had been confidentially briefed on the planned dates .
Official confirmation came only when word leaked to the media .
Foley said the delay in issuing results is linked to efforts to ensure this year ’ s Leaving Cert results are fair , equitable and as accurate as possible .
She also said her priority was to inform key education partners first , in advance of making an official announcement .
This is a complex process and it ’ s important to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is also true that the handling of this year ’ s Leaving Cert has caused considerable distress to students and their families .
The previous government seemed paralysed by indecision when it came to whether State exams could proceed .
This latest announcement is another blow to students and will cause additional stress and difficulties for parents trying to support their children in uncertain times .

Even in normal times the Leaving Cert is a stressful time for tens of thousands of candidates. For this year’s students, the challenge is greater. They have had to deal with anxiety over school closures, changes to assessment plans and a dramatic government U-turn on holding exams “by hook or by crook”.
This week students discovered that their calculated grades will be delayed by three weeks. The turnaround time between the results coming out, CAO offers being made and college starting is extremely short, which heaps yet more pressure on students’ shoulders. Many say they feel like they have been plunged into fresh uncertainty over when college is due to start, how they will find accommodation at short notice and whether their results will issue in time for those seeking to go to college abroad.
There is also understandable disappointment and frustration at the way the news emerged in the first place. Minister for Education Norma Foley did not tell the Dáil of the dates when she was being questioned by Opposition parties on Thursday evening. Nor were students' representatives informed of the delay to the results. Yet, the previous day, senior figures in higher education had been confidentially briefed on the planned dates. Official confirmation came only when word leaked to the media.
Foley said the delay in issuing results is linked to efforts to ensure this year’s Leaving Cert results are fair, equitable and as accurate as possible. She also said her priority was to inform key education partners first, in advance of making an official announcement.
READ MORE
This is a complex process and it’s important to get it right. However, it is also true that the handling of this year’s Leaving Cert has caused considerable distress to students and their families. The previous government seemed paralysed by indecision when it came to whether State exams could proceed. This latest announcement is another blow to students and will cause additional stress and difficulties for parents trying to support their children in uncertain times.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Cancer patient delay: ‘If you’re quiet and meek, you’ll get left behind’

Sligo-based Vanessa Job was recovering reasonably well from bowel cancer diagnosed in 2018 when a spot on her liver was discovered in January 2020 during a routine scan .
Surgery was advised to remove a tumour from her liver .
Within weeks , however , Covid-19 had led to the cancellation of all cancer surgery at St Vincent ’ s University Hospital , Dublin .
Job says she was “ okay at first ” because an MRI was needed ahead of surgery , though she “ started to get anxious ” as time went on ahead of her appointment with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ve realised that you have to fight to be heard .
If you ’ re quiet and meek , you ’ ll get left behind , ” said Job , who had her surgery on April 24th at the Blackrock Clinic .
“ It was a safe place to be and I ’ m so grateful that non-Covid units were available for people like me .
If that intensive care unit was filled up with Covid-19 patients , I wouldn ’ t have had anywhere to go , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her family taking extra precautions to avoid getting Covid-19 : “ It ’ s been difficult .
We have all been wearing masks since the start .
“ My husband does the shopping but I have a little grandson who I haven ’ t been able to touch or see much of since this all started , ” says Job , who did not lose her her hair during chemotherapy .
Most people would not know she is being treated for cancer : “ I don ’ t look like a typical cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to be complacent around me but we have to protect everyone as best we can through our actions.
” Now a quarter-way through chemotherapy at Sligo University Hospital , Job wonders whether the delays in diagnosing , and operating on her bowel cancer led to the secondary cancer in her liver .
“ If my cancer was caught earlier , who is to say they might not have been able to stop it spreading ?
It ’ s something I ’ ve thought about quite a lot , ” she told The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be available to younger people , she says : “ People are getting it so young now as well .
I was 43 when I was diagnosed and considered myself quite healthy given I ’ m active and I eat relatively well .
”

Vanessa Job: “If my cancer was caught earlier, who is to say they might not have been able to stop it spreading?”
Sligo-based Vanessa Job was recovering reasonably well from bowel cancer diagnosed in 2018 when a spot on her liver was discovered in January 2020 during a routine scan.
Surgery was advised to remove a tumour from her liver. Within weeks, however, Covid-19 had led to the cancellation of all cancer surgery at St Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin.
Job says she was “okay at first” because an MRI was needed ahead of surgery, though she “started to get anxious” as time went on ahead of her appointment with her surgeon on February 21st.
"I've realised that you have to fight to be heard. If you're quiet and meek, you'll get left behind," said Job, who had her surgery on April 24th at the Blackrock Clinic.
READ MORE
‘Safe place’
“It was a safe place to be and I’m so grateful that non-Covid units were available for people like me. If that intensive care unit was filled up with Covid-19 patients, I wouldn’t have had anywhere to go,” she said.
Chemotherapy followed, with Job and her family taking extra precautions to avoid getting Covid-19: “It’s been difficult. We have all been wearing masks since the start.
“My husband does the shopping but I have a little grandson who I haven’t been able to touch or see much of since this all started,” says Job, who did not lose her hair during chemotherapy.
‘Protect everyone’
Most people would not know she is being treated for cancer: “I don’t look like a typical cancer patient so it’s easy for people to be complacent around me but we have to protect everyone as best we can through our actions.”
Now a quarter-way through chemotherapy at Sligo University Hospital, Job wonders whether the delays in diagnosing, and operating on her bowel cancer led to the secondary cancer in her liver.
“If my cancer was caught earlier, who is to say they might not have been able to stop it spreading? It’s something I’ve thought about quite a lot,” she told The Irish Times.
Bowel cancer screening should be available to younger people, she says: “People are getting it so young now as well. I was 43 when I was diagnosed and considered myself quite healthy given I’m active and I eat relatively well.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Two more charged with involvement in James ‘Mago’ Gately attempted murder

Two more men were charged on Friday evening at the Special Criminal Court with involvement in the attempted murder of Kinahan cartel target James ‘ Mago ’ Gately .
Mr Gately was shot multiple times as he sat in his car at the Topaz filling station on the Clonashaugh Road , Dublin 17 , on May 10th , 2017 .
David Duffy ( 33 ) of Greenfort Lawns , Clondalkin , Dublin 22 , and Douglas Glynn ( 35 ) of Fitzgibbon Court , Dublin 1 , both appeared at the non-jury court charged with the offence under Section 72 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act 2006 .
The charge alleges that between December 7th , 2016 , and April 6th , 2017 , both dates inclusive , and with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation , and with the intention of enhancing the ability of the said criminal organisation , or any of its members , to commit a crime or a serious offence , namely the murder of James Gately , participated in or contributed to activities connected with the said offence .
Mr Duffy is accused of the offence at a location within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the offence within and outside of the State .
Detective Garda Anthony Kennedy told State solicitor Ciara Vibien that he arrested Mr Duffy at 7.06am at his home on July 16th and took him to Irishtown Garda station where he was cautioned and detained .
On foot of a DPP direction that both men be tried at the Special Criminal Court , both were charged in the body of the Criminal Courts of Justice building on Friday .
Solicitor Mr Brian Coveney , for Mr Duffy , said a bail application and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his client would be made on July 31st at the three-judge court .
Mr Duffy was remanded in custody to that date .
Detective Garda Jonathan O ’ Leary told Ms Vibien that he arrested Mr Glynn at 7.01am at Alfie Byrne House , Dublin 1 , and also took him to Irishtown Garda station where he was cautioned and detained .
Simon Matthews BL , for Mr Glynn , said he would make a bail application and a free legal aid application on July 31th .
Presiding judge Mr Justice Alexander @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in custody to reappear at the court on July 31st .
Friday ’ s charging brings the total number of those who have appeared before the courts in relation to participation in the attempted murder to five .

David Duffy (33) of Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, and Douglas Glynn (35) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, both appeared at the Special Criminal Court on Friday.
Two more men were charged on Friday evening at the Special Criminal Court with involvement in the attempted murder of Kinahan cartel target James ‘Mago’ Gately.
Mr Gately was shot multiple times as he sat in his car at the Topaz filling station on the Clonashaugh Road, Dublin 17, on May 10th, 2017.
David Duffy (33) of Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, and Douglas Glynn (35) of Fitzgibbon Court, Dublin 1, both appeared at the non-jury court charged with the offence under Section 72 (1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2006.
The charge alleges that between December 7th, 2016, and April 6th, 2017, both dates inclusive, and with knowledge of the existence of a criminal organisation, and with the intention of enhancing the ability of the said criminal organisation, or any of its members, to commit a crime or a serious offence, namely the murder of James Gately, participated in or contributed to activities connected with the said offence.
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Mr Duffy is accused of the offence at a location within the State while Mr Glynn is accused of the offence within and outside of the State.
Detective Garda Anthony Kennedy told State solicitor Ciara Vibien that he arrested Mr Duffy at 7.06am at his home on July 16th and took him to Irishtown Garda station where he was cautioned and detained.
On foot of a DPP direction that both men be tried at the Special Criminal Court, both were charged in the body of the Criminal Courts of Justice building on Friday.
Solicitor Mr Brian Coveney, for Mr Duffy, said a bail application and a free legal aid application on behalf of his client would be made on July 31st at the three-judge court. Mr Duffy was remanded in custody to that date.
Detective Garda Jonathan O’Leary told Ms Vibien that he arrested Mr Glynn at 7.01am at Alfie Byrne House, Dublin 1, and also took him to Irishtown Garda station where he was cautioned and detained.
Simon Matthews BL, for Mr Glynn, said he would make a bail application and a free legal aid application on July 31th.
Presiding judge Mr Justice Alexander Owens ordered both men to be remanded in custody to reappear at the court on July 31st.
Friday’s charging brings the total number of those who have appeared before the courts in relation to participation in the attempted murder to five.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Psychiatric report for Hellfire club attacker ‘raises serious issues’- Judge

A man who attempted to murder a teenager at a popular Dublin hiking spot will be brought before the Central Criminal Court after a judge said a psychiatric report “ raises serious issues ” for his impending release on other charges .
Mr Justice Michael White asked lawyers on behalf of the State to take instructions on whether Michael Corbett ( 30 ) should stay in prison to serve out the portion of his sentence that was initially suspended .
The court has previously heard that Corbett , who attempted to murder the teenager in 2016 , has attacked other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one with a hot kettle .
In July 2018 , Corbett was released from a nine-year prison sentence for the attempted murder , having served less than three years , on condition that he live with his mother .
The final six years of his sentence were suspended because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack .
Corbett , a father of one with a previous address in Raheny , was living rough when he assaulted his 17-year-old victim on June 27th , 2016 at the Hellfire Club @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The victim suffered a four-inch stab wound to the chest and Corbett struck another teenager on the head with a piece of timber .
Corbett pleaded guilty to attempted murder .
Corbett was an in-patient at the Central Mental Hospital ( CMH ) when he attacked nurse Declan Curtin on October 6th , 2016 .
Staff were escorting him to an exercise period when he asked to use the toilet .
When Mr Curtin went in after him Corbett used a sock to try to strangle the nurse .
The victim , an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he was seriously harmed but the court heard he suffers from flashbacks and an increased level of anxiety in his work .
Corbett later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Curtin , causing him harm .
Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence and suspended the final two-and-a-half years for 15 years on strict conditions .
These conditions include that he remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for the entire 15-year period and that he live at an address agreed with the gardaí and Probation Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foley told Mr Justice White that Corbett , who is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia , has been engaging in acts of violence in Mountjoy prison and asked for the court to order an updated psychiatric report .
Corbett remains in custody in relation to the Dublin Circuit Court matter and is due for release in August , said Mr Foley .
Mr Justice White ton Friday said the matter is “ urgent because of his impending release ” and counsel for the State Fergal Foley BL said that Corbett does not seem to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his proposed release .
Mr Justice White said on Friday that he has received the psychiatric report and it “ raises some serious issues ” .
He asked Mr Foley to take instructions from the DPP as to whether Corbett should have the remainder of his sentence imposed .
Last July , Mr Justice White said he would remove the requirement for Corbett to live with his mother on condition that he live at accommodation approved by probation services .
Corbett agreed to continue taking his medication when he moved to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ psychotic episode .
Mr Corbett will appear again before the court on July 29th .

A man who attempted to murder a teenager at a popular Dublin hiking spot will be brought before the Central Criminal Court after a judge said a psychiatric report “raises serious issues” for his impending release on other charges.
Mr Justice Michael White asked lawyers on behalf of the State to take instructions on whether Michael Corbett (30) should stay in prison to serve out the portion of his sentence that was initially suspended. The court has previously heard that Corbett, who attempted to murder the teenager in 2016, has attacked other prisoners in Mountjoy Prison, including attacking one with a hot kettle.
In July 2018, Corbett was released from a nine-year prison sentence for the attempted murder, having served less than three years, on condition that he live with his mother. The final six years of his sentence were suspended because he was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia at the time of the attack.
Corbett, a father of one with a previous address in Raheny, was living rough when he assaulted his 17-year-old victim on June 27th, 2016 at the Hellfire Club on Dublin’s Montpelier Hill. The victim suffered a four-inch stab wound to the chest and Corbett struck another teenager on the head with a piece of timber. Corbett pleaded guilty to attempted murder.
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Corbett was an in-patient at the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) when he attacked nurse Declan Curtin on October 6th, 2016. Staff were escorting him to an exercise period when he asked to use the toilet. When Mr Curtin went in after him Corbett used a sock to try to strangle the nurse.
The victim, an experienced nurse, managed to free himself before he was seriously harmed but the court heard he suffers from flashbacks and an increased level of anxiety in his work. Corbett later pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Curtin, causing him harm.
Judge Melanie Greally imposed a five-year sentence and suspended the final two-and-a-half years for 15 years on strict conditions. These conditions include that he remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for the entire 15-year period and that he live at an address agreed with the gardaí and Probation Service.
At a hearing last month Mr Foley told Mr Justice White that Corbett, who is diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, has been engaging in acts of violence in Mountjoy prison and asked for the court to order an updated psychiatric report. Corbett remains in custody in relation to the Dublin Circuit Court matter and is due for release in August, said Mr Foley.
Mr Justice White ton Friday said the matter is “urgent because of his impending release” and counsel for the State Fergal Foley BL said that Corbett does not seem to be capable of complying with the terms of his proposed release.
Mr Justice White said on Friday that he has received the psychiatric report and it “raises some serious issues”. He asked Mr Foley to take instructions from the DPP as to whether Corbett should have the remainder of his sentence imposed.
Last July, Mr Justice White said he would remove the requirement for Corbett to live with his mother on condition that he live at accommodation approved by probation services. Corbett agreed to continue taking his medication when he moved to his new home or he risked having a psychotic episode.
Mr Corbett will appear again before the court on July 29th.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Health service faces heavy burden this winter, HSE warns

The burden which the health system is facing in the months ahead between Covid-19 , flu and the ongoing growth in demand for services is very concerning , the Health Service Executive has said .
HSE national director for acute services Liam Woods told the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 that it was going to be “ very , very difficult to respond to both the elective demand and the unscheduled care demand with the surge we know that is coming this winter ” .
The committee heard that doctors had sought the introduction of a vaccination programme for flu which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , the HSE said it had no plans to introduce such a universal scheme .
HSE national director for emergency management Damien McCallion said it would secure about 1.4 million doses of flu vaccine for adults and a further 500,000 or so for children aged between two and 12 .
The HSE said flu vaccination would be offered to at-risk groups as well as healthcare staff .
Mr McCallion said the level of flu vaccine to be purchased was based on the needs as set out by public health specialists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said she was very concerned the flu vaccination programme this year was only aimed at involving an additional 200,000 adults compared with last year .
HSE lead clinical director of the BreastCheck programme Prof Anne O ’ Doherty said the suspension of screening was right at the time .
However , she said she was very conscious the system had a lot of ground to make up .
She said the health service had been working to look after women with symptoms .
“ Our ability to get back to screening normally is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation where we do not have to have two-metre social distancing , ” she said .
Mr Woods said work was under way to expand hospital capacity , including modular units in some areas .
However he said some may not be in place for this winter .
He said hospitals were putting a lot of energy into prioritising patients who needed urgent endoscopies .
“ In the Covid environment , there is much greater precaution required in terms of undertaking scopes.
” Mr Woods also said the HSE was looking at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GPs to alleviate pressure on hospitals as a significant piece of its winter planning .
He said the HSE was seeking a contractual arrangement with the private sector in relation to the provision of CT and MRI for GP referral .
Mr Woods also told Louise O ’ Reilly of Sinn Féin that while no patient had been treated in the “ field hospital ” it had established at Citywest in Dublin , it was looking at using the facility in relation to out-patient services and to test up to 2,000 patients for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Woods also said that there had been a net increase of 526 in the number of doctors including 140 consultants since the start of the year .
In a submission to the committee , the HSE said if there there was a second wave of Covid-19 in the coming months “ the system will not have the capacity to meet unscheduled care demand unless specific actions are taken ” such as the expansion of the flu vaccine , ongoing leveraging of private capacity and timely hospital discharge for older people .

The HSE is seeking a contractual arrangement with the private sector in relation to the provision of CT and MRI for GP referral. Photograph: Tobias Schwarz
The burden which the health system is facing in the months ahead between Covid-19, flu and the ongoing growth in demand for services is very concerning, the Health Service Executive has said.
HSE national director for acute services Liam Woods told the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 that it was going to be "very, very difficult to respond to both the elective demand and the unscheduled care demand with the surge we know that is coming this winter".
The committee heard that doctors had sought the introduction of a vaccination programme for flu which would be offered to the whole population.
However, the HSE said it had no plans to introduce such a universal scheme.
READ MORE
HSE national director for emergency management Damien McCallion said it would secure about 1.4 million doses of flu vaccine for adults and a further 500,000 or so for children aged between two and 12.
The HSE said flu vaccination would be offered to at-risk groups as well as healthcare staff.
Mr McCallion said the level of flu vaccine to be purchased was based on the needs as set out by public health specialists.
BreastCheck suspension
Deputy Róisín Shortall of the Social Democrats said she was very concerned the flu vaccination programme this year was only aimed at involving an additional 200,000 adults compared with last year.
HSE lead clinical director of the BreastCheck programme Prof Anne O’Doherty said the suspension of screening was right at the time. However, she said she was very conscious the system had a lot of ground to make up.
She said the health service had been working to look after women with symptoms.
“Our ability to get back to screening normally is very limited until we get to a situation where we do not have to have two-metre social distancing,” she said.
Mr Woods said work was under way to expand hospital capacity, including modular units in some areas. However he said some may not be in place for this winter.
He said hospitals were putting a lot of energy into prioritising patients who needed urgent endoscopies. “ In the Covid environment, there is much greater precaution required in terms of undertaking scopes.”
Alleviating pressure
Mr Woods also said the HSE was looking at the provision of greater access to diagnostics for GPs to alleviate pressure on hospitals as a significant piece of its winter planning .
He said the HSE was seeking a contractual arrangement with the private sector in relation to the provision of CT and MRI for GP referral.
Mr Woods also told Louise O'Reilly of Sinn Féin that while no patient had been treated in the "field hospital" it had established at Citywest in Dublin, it was looking at using the facility in relation to out-patient services and to test up to 2,000 patients for glaucoma before its contract expired in October.
Mr Woods also said that there had been a net increase of 526 in the number of doctors including 140 consultants since the start of the year.
In a submission to the committee, the HSE said if there there was a second wave of Covid-19 in the coming months “ the system will not have the capacity to meet unscheduled care demand unless specific actions are taken” such as the expansion of the flu vaccine, ongoing leveraging of private capacity and timely hospital discharge for older people.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--GPs warn of surge in cases in Dublin presenting with Covid symptoms

The number of people in Dublin presenting with Covid-like symptoms is approaching figures similar to March before the surge happened , a well-known GP has warned .
Dr Maitiu O Tuathail , former president of the National Association of General Practitioners ( NAGP ) , said he referred 12 patients for Covid testing on Friday morning .
His colleagues at Ranelagh Medical Centric Health , where there are eight GPs in practice , are seeing similar numbers .
He said during June they would go several days without any referrals at all , but there has been a notable upsurge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were lifted on June 29th .
“ It ’ s a steady trickle , but it has been increasing every day from eight to 10 to 12 up to today ( Friday ) when my entire morning was patients with Covid-19 like symptoms , ” he said .
“ It is very reminiscent of March .
The pattern would have been very similar .
We would have seen an increase in patients day-by-day requesting Covid-19 tests and it culminated in this morning .
“ It ’ s a worrying trend and it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see .
Many of my colleagues in Dublin are seeing the same pattern.
” Dr O Tuathail said that the increases in referrals seems to be confined to Dublin at present .
He also said some of the referrals may be down to the use of the app which tells people to contact their doctor if they have certain symptoms .
He stated that things have changed since March when those who were being tested often had to wait for weeks for results .
Now results can come back within 24 hours allowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The one benefit is that everybody that I spoke to today has been tested .
That ’ s a huge improvement .
Testing is where it needs to be at.
” Commenting on the latest figures , which show 34 new cases here , he said a figure of 29 was enough to spur the lockdown in the middle of March .
Dr Ray Walley , a GP at the Glasnevin Avenue Medical Centre , said he was also witnessing an increase in the numbers presenting with Covid-like symptoms .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presenting often a week after first exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 at a time when they may already have infected other people .
Dr Walley , a former president of the Irish Medical Organisation ( IMO ) , said the virus had never left north Dublin and there was always a steady supply of cases presenting at GP surgeries , but he said he was seeing three or four people a day with Covid-19 symptoms now .
Dr Walley said the Government was right not to move to phase four of lifting Covid-19 restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Flooding can happen very quickly and dissipate very slowly .
“ The problem is that the deaths only come four to six weeks after the numbers go up , ” he said .
“ All of those very bad numbers take that time to come in .
“ Young people are not socially distancing .
Our whole problem with alcohol is that it reduces your alertness .
“ Young people do not get it severe , but we have had deaths of younger people – I ’ m talking about 45 or 55 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection though for not getting it severely .
“ I have seen a GP in his forties who had it and it took him six weeks to get over it .
He ’ s a healthy individual .
”

Dr Maitiu O Tuathail said during June they would go several days without any referrals at all, but there has been a notable upsurge since the latest lockdown restrictions were lifted on June 29th.
The number of people in Dublin presenting with Covid-like symptoms is approaching figures similar to March before the surge happened, a well-known GP has warned.
Dr Maitiu O Tuathail, former president of the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP), said he referred 12 patients for Covid testing on Friday morning.
His colleagues at Ranelagh Medical Centric Health, where there are eight GPs in practice, are seeing similar numbers.
It’s really starting to feel like March 2020 all over again
Getting an alarming increase in requests for covid testing + it’s trending upwards
My day so far has been all Covid related - for the first time in weeks
It’s worrying pic.twitter.com/WWVj7e4XKj — Maitiu O Tuathail (@DrZeroCraic) July 17, 2020
He said during June they would go several days without any referrals at all, but there has been a notable upsurge in referrals since the latest lockdown restrictions were lifted on June 29th.
READ MORE
“It ’s a steady trickle, but it has been increasing every day from eight to 10 to 12 up to today (Friday) when my entire morning was patients with Covid-19 like symptoms,” he said.
“It is very reminiscent of March. The pattern would have been very similar. We would have seen an increase in patients day-by-day requesting Covid-19 tests and it culminated in this morning.
“It’s a worrying trend and it’s not something that we want to see. Many of my colleagues in Dublin are seeing the same pattern.”
Dr O Tuathail said that the increases in referrals seems to be confined to Dublin at present.
He also said some of the referrals may be down to the use of the app which tells people to contact their doctor if they have certain symptoms.
Test results
He stated that things have changed since March when those who were being tested often had to wait for weeks for results. Now results can come back within 24 hours allowing for contact tracing to happen quickly.
“The one benefit is that everybody that I spoke to today has been tested. That’s a huge improvement. Testing is where it needs to be at.”
Commenting on the latest figures, which show 34 new cases here, he said a figure of 29 was enough to spur the lockdown in the middle of March.
Dr Ray Walley, a GP at the Glasnevin Avenue Medical Centre, said he was also witnessing an increase in the numbers presenting with Covid-like symptoms.
He said his biggest concern was that people were presenting often a week after first exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19 at a time when they may already have infected other people.
Dr Walley, a former president of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO), said the virus had never left north Dublin and there was always a steady supply of cases presenting at GP surgeries, but he said he was seeing three or four people a day with Covid-19 symptoms now.
Dr Walley said the Government was right not to move to phase four of lifting Covid-19 restrictions.
He compared Covid-19 to flooding. Flooding can happen very quickly and dissipate very slowly.
“The problem is that the deaths only come four to six weeks after the numbers go up,” he said. “All of those very bad numbers take that time to come in.
“Young people are not socially distancing. Our whole problem with alcohol is that it reduces your alertness.
“Young people do not get it severe, but we have had deaths of younger people – I’m talking about 45 or 55 year olds. Youth is not a protection though for not getting it severely.
“I have seen a GP in his forties who had it and it took him six weeks to get over it. He’s a healthy individual.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Gardaí seized almost € 2.6 million worth of drugs in three separate operations

Gardaí seized almost € 2.6 million worth of drugs in three separate operations around the country on Thursday .
In Kingswood , Dublin 22 , gardaí seized controlled drugs with an estimated street value of €2.5 million .
A man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the seizure on Friday evening .
He is currently being detained in Ronanstown Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) Act , 1996 .
Meanwhile , members of the Longford/Roscommon divisional drugs unit seized approximately € 52,000 worth of drugs at farm lands in Longford on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lands in the Ballinalee area at approximately 10pm , some € 20,000 worth of suspected cannabis herb was found , along with € 16,000 worth of suspected cocaine , and € 16,000 worth of suspected ecstasy tablets .
No arrests have been made , gardaí said .
Separately , a man in his 30s has been charged in relation to the seizure of cash and drugs , and the recovery of a stolen vehicle in Bray , Co Wicklow on Thursday .
A jeep was recovered during the incident on the Boghall Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 7,000 of suspected cocaine , € 3,410 of suspected cannabis in 46 individual deal bags , and € 20,540 of suspected Alprazolam and Diazepam tablets .
Approximately € 8,800 in cash was also seized and the key to the stolen jeep was recovered .
The man appeared before Bray District Court on Friday and was charged and remanded in custody .
He is due to appear before Cloverhill District Court via video link on July 24th .

Members of the Longford/Roscommon divisional drugs unit seized approximately € 52,000 worth of drugs at farm lands in Longford on Thursday. File photograph: Getty Images
Gardaí seized almost € 2.6 million worth of drugs in three separate operations around the country on Thursday.
In Kingswood, Dublin 22, gardaí seized controlled drugs with an estimated street value of €2.5 million.
A man in his 20s was arrested in connection with the seizure on Friday evening. He is currently being detained in Ronanstown Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
Investigations are ongoing, a garda spokesman said.
READ MORE
Meanwhile, members of the Longford/Roscommon divisional drugs unit seized approximately € 52,000 worth of drugs at farm lands in Longford on Thursday.
During a search of the lands in the Ballinalee area at approximately 10pm, some € 20,000 worth of suspected cannabis herb was found, along with € 16,000 worth of suspected cocaine, and € 16,000 worth of suspected ecstasy tablets. No arrests have been made, gardaí said.
Separately, a man in his 30s has been charged in relation to the seizure of cash and drugs, and the recovery of a stolen vehicle in Bray, Co Wicklow on Thursday.
A jeep was recovered during the incident on the Boghall Road, Bray as well as approximately € 7,000 of suspected cocaine, € 3,410 of suspected cannabis in 46 individual deal bags, and € 20,540 of suspected Alprazolam and Diazepam tablets. Approximately € 8,800 in cash was also seized and the key to the stolen jeep was recovered.
The man appeared before Bray District Court on Friday and was charged and remanded in custody. He is due to appear before Cloverhill District Court via video link on July 24th.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--A fifth of adoptees who applied to see birth certs in 2019 denied access

Almost a fifth of all adopted persons who applied for their birth certificate last year were denied access to the information .
The latest annual report of the Adoption Authority of Ireland shows nine out of 46 adoptees were refused their request for the release of their birth certificate .
While birth certificates are generally released if the birth mother agrees to it , or where she is deceased , the authority can refuse applications where the birth mother does not consent to its release or where it is considered her privacy or safety might be put at risk .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ adoptees , said it was appalled that the authority had found a reason to refuse the release of birth certificates in 20 per cent of cases processed last year compared with 12 per cent in 2018 .
The group ’ s co-founder , Susan Lohan , said it represented complete discrimination against a group of people whose identities had often been hidden from them and who regularly had been lied to about their family background .
“ The authority has given natural mothers some power of veto for that to occur .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to deny their child access to their own birth certificate , ” Ms Lohan said .
The Adoption Authority of Ireland said discussions in relation to the Adoption ( Information and Tracing ) Bill 2016 had been continuing before the legislation lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil earlier this year .
However , it acknowledged that it had not proved possible to reach consensus on the issue of releasing birth information .
“ At this time , it is intended to proceed with the option of safeguarding of records , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transferred to the Adoption Authority , ” it added .
Ms Lohan expressed hope that the new Minister for Children would tear up the existing Bill and start afresh at bringing in legislation that would give adopted people “ unfettered access ” to all their personal records including birth certificates .
The authority said it had received a total of 71 new requests from adoptees for the release of their birth certificates during 2019 .
The latest figures also showed that 79 adoption orders were granted last year while 48 declarations of eligibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign adoptions .
The number of adoption orders has remained relatively stable in recent years but is considerably lower than in previous decades , especially the 1960s and 1970s .
The numbers peaked in 1967 , when almost 1,500 adoptions were approved .
The majority of last year ’ s orders were granted to applicants who were step-parents .
A total of 21 cases related to the adoption of children who had been in long-term foster care while the remainder related to children placed for adoption and where the child was in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adoption Authority said the high number of cases relating to step-parents , at 50 , was a result of the first full-year effect of the Adoption ( Amendment ) Act 2017 , which brought in a number of key changes in relation to domestic adoptions , including allowing a step-parent to adopt their partner ’ s child without requiring both of them to apply to adopt the child .
“ The new provisions essentially meant that the birth parent in these 50 applications did not have to adopt their birth child with their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parental rights in tandem with the adopter , ” it added .
The Adoption Authority of Ireland confirmed that it applied for and was granted an order by the High Court in eight cases last year where it sought permission to proceed with an adoption application without consultation with the birth father .
In one case the High Court agreed that the circumstances were such that it was deemed inappropriate to notify and consult with the father .
In the other applications , the identity of the birth father was unknown .
Separately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ High Court permission for five applications to proceed with an adoption where the consent of the birth mother had not been obtained .
It revealed that it received 560 new applications to the National Adoption Contact Preference Register , which facilitates birth parents , their relatives and adoptees in tracing family members .
The authority said 115 potential matches were identified among the new parties placed on the register in 2019 .
Since its establishment in 2005 , about 14,600 people have been included on the register with more than 1,200 matches recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent of all names on the register .

Almost a fifth of all adopted persons who applied for their birth certificate last year were denied access to the information.
The latest annual report of the Adoption Authority of Ireland shows nine out of 46 adoptees were refused their request for the release of their birth certificate.
While birth certificates are generally released if the birth mother agrees to it, or where she is deceased, the authority can refuse applications where the birth mother does not consent to its release or where it is considered her privacy or safety might be put at risk.
The Adoption Rights Alliance, which represents adoptees, said it was appalled that the authority had found a reason to refuse the release of birth certificates in 20 per cent of cases processed last year compared with 12 per cent in 2018.
READ MORE
The group’s co-founder, Susan Lohan, said it represented complete discrimination against a group of people whose identities had often been hidden from them and who regularly had been lied to about their family background.
“The authority has given natural mothers some power of veto for that to occur. No other parent in the land has the ability to deny their child access to their own birth certificate,” Ms Lohan said.
The Adoption Authority of Ireland said discussions in relation to the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016 had been continuing before the legislation lapsed with the dissolution of the Dáil earlier this year.
However, it acknowledged that it had not proved possible to reach consensus on the issue of releasing birth information.
“At this time, it is intended to proceed with the option of safeguarding of records, with all adoptions and related records to be transferred to the Adoption Authority,” it added.
‘Unfettered access’
Ms Lohan expressed hope that the new Minister for Children would tear up the existing Bill and start afresh at bringing in legislation that would give adopted people “unfettered access” to all their personal records including birth certificates.
The authority said it had received a total of 71 new requests from adoptees for the release of their birth certificates during 2019.
The latest figures also showed that 79 adoption orders were granted last year while 48 declarations of eligibility and suitability were granted to applicants for foreign adoptions.
The number of adoption orders has remained relatively stable in recent years but is considerably lower than in previous decades, especially the 1960s and 1970s. The numbers peaked in 1967, when almost 1,500 adoptions were approved.
The majority of last year’s orders were granted to applicants who were step-parents. A total of 21 cases related to the adoption of children who had been in long-term foster care while the remainder related to children placed for adoption and where the child was in the care of extended family members.
The Adoption Authority said the high number of cases relating to step-parents, at 50, was a result of the first full-year effect of the Adoption (Amendment) Act 2017, which brought in a number of key changes in relation to domestic adoptions, including allowing a step-parent to adopt their partner’s child without requiring both of them to apply to adopt the child.
“The new provisions essentially meant that the birth parent in these 50 applications did not have to adopt their birth child with their partner and was simply able to retain parental rights in tandem with the adopter,” it added.
No consultation
The Adoption Authority of Ireland confirmed that it applied for and was granted an order by the High Court in eight cases last year where it sought permission to proceed with an adoption application without consultation with the birth father.
In one case the High Court agreed that the circumstances were such that it was deemed inappropriate to notify and consult with the father. In the other applications, the identity of the birth father was unknown.
Separately, the authority also sought and secured High Court permission for five applications to proceed with an adoption where the consent of the birth mother had not been obtained.
It revealed that it received 560 new applications to the National Adoption Contact Preference Register, which facilitates birth parents, their relatives and adoptees in tracing family members. The authority said 115 potential matches were identified among the new parties placed on the register in 2019.
Since its establishment in 2005, about 14,600 people have been included on the register with more than 1,200 matches recorded.
Adoptees account for almost 70 per cent of all names on the register.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Coronavirus: Disability services must reopen urgently, Dáil committee told

People with disabilities can not be expected to “ just go into a freezer ” in the event of a second wave of coronavirus , and their families need supports and services reopened as soon as possible , the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 has been warned .
“ It ’ s not good enough that people with disabilities don ’ t die from Covid , ” said John Dolan , chief executive of the Disability Federation of Ireland .
“ The ambition can not be that people with disabilities just go into a freezer during Covid .
We can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not okay .
They have to be able to get on with their lives.
” The committee heard most disability services remained closed , with some not scheduled to reopen until September ; that many people with disabilities had had little or no contact from their services since March ; that many were depressed and regressing ; and that families caring for loved ones with disabilities were “ at the end of their capacity ” to cope .
Several organisations called for an extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ able to return to work even after the economy fully reopens , and for assurances from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly that mooted “ efficiency ” cuts of €20 million to voluntary services would not go ahead .
They said reopening safely would cost services more than many had funding for , and these costs would have to be met by central government urgently .
Enda Egan , chief executive of Inclusion Ireland , told the committee families would not be able to cope without services much longer .
“ There is another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is family carer burnout .
That will lead to a revolving door of emergency cases.
” There were “ some concerns ” services could be too cautious in reopening .
“ The key point is services providers must move quickly to reopen and they must do their absolute utmost , and not use HSE guidelines as a stumbling block for the reopening.
” Mark O ’ Connor , community engagement manager with Inclusion Ireland , called for a temporary Covid-19 payment for services to enable them to secure additional premises and staff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure as many people as possible receive a service ” .
For profoundly disabled people , he added , online services didn ’ t work .
“ Face-to-face supports is the only kind of support that is going to work for those guys , ” he said .
“ The fundamentals of the Irish economy are strong , the ability to borrow is not in doubt .
We must invest now to minimise the damage to lives and prospects for people with disabilities or two things will happen : firstly the lives and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and second any latter investment will only show modest returns.
” Dr Frank Conaty , acting chief commissioner with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission ( IHREC ) , said under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities , the State had a legal obligation “ to protect , promote and ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity ” .
The commission had examined Department of Health guidelines to clinicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get treatment where demand exceeded a hospital ’ s capacity .
IHREC remained “ concerned there are potentially profound implications for the human rights and equality of people with disabilities , older people and other vulnerable people ” , he said .

People with disabilities cannot be expected to "just go into a freezer" in the event of a second wave of coronavirus, and their families need supports and services reopened as soon as possible, the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 has been warned.
"It's not good enough that people with disabilities don't die from Covid," said John Dolan, chief executive of the Disability Federation of Ireland. "The ambition cannot be that people with disabilities just go into a freezer during Covid. We can't just have people cocooned and isolated. It's not okay. They have to be able to get on with their lives."
The committee heard most disability services remained closed, with some not scheduled to reopen until September; that many people with disabilities had had little or no contact from their services since March; that many were depressed and regressing; and that families caring for loved ones with disabilities were “at the end of their capacity” to cope.
Several organisations called for an extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment for vulnerable adults who may not be able to return to work even after the economy fully reopens, and for assurances from Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly that mooted “efficiency” cuts of €20 million to voluntary services would not go ahead.
READ MORE
They said reopening safely would cost services more than many had funding for, and these costs would have to be met by central government urgently.
Revolving door
Enda Egan, chief executive of Inclusion Ireland, told the committee families would not be able to cope without services much longer.
“There is another pandemic about to hit us and it is family carer burnout. That will lead to a revolving door of emergency cases.” There were “some concerns” services could be too cautious in reopening.
“The key point is services providers must move quickly to reopen and they must do their absolute utmost, and not use HSE guidelines as a stumbling block for the reopening.”
Enda Egan, chief executive of Inclusion Ireland, arrives for the committee meeting. Photograph: Laura Hutton
Mark O’Connor, community engagement manager with Inclusion Ireland, called for a temporary Covid-19 payment for services to enable them to secure additional premises and staff, to accommodate social distancing and to “ensure as many people as possible receive a service”.
For profoundly disabled people, he added, online services didn’t work. “Face-to-face supports is the only kind of support that is going to work for those guys,” he said.
“The fundamentals of the Irish economy are strong, the ability to borrow is not in doubt. We must invest now to minimise the damage to lives and prospects for people with disabilities or two things will happen: firstly the lives and the life-years of people will be diminished, and second any latter investment will only show modest returns.”
Legal obligation
Dr Frank Conaty, acting chief commissioner with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC), said under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the State had a legal obligation "to protect, promote and ensure full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all persons with disabilities and to promote respect for their inherent dignity".
The commission had examined Department of Health guidelines to clinicians, on decisions about which patients should get treatment where demand exceeded a hospital's capacity.
IHREC remained “concerned there are potentially profound implications for the human rights and equality of people with disabilities, older people and other vulnerable people”, he said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-17--Leaving Cert Q&A: When will I start college in light of the delay issuing results?

When exactly are Leaving Cert results and CAO offers due ?
The Department of Education announced on Thursday evening that the Leaving Cert results will issued on September 7th .
This is about three weeks later than the normal mid-August date .
CAO round one offers will issue four days later on September 11th at 2pm .
How long will I have to accept my offer of a college place ?
Students will have five days - until 3pm on September 16th - to accept their offers .
This is a shorter time window than usual .
Round two offers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10am .
Again students will have just two days - September 25th at 12 midday - to accept .
There are no confirmed dates yet for subsequent rounds .
If I get a college course , when am I likely to start ?
Sources across a number of third level colleges say first years are likely to start in either late September or early October .
Individual institutions are still finalising dates , but say they are keen to ensure starting dates are as close as possible to those advertised .
Will there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many colleges had been planning to admit first year students in mid to late September - in advance of the main body of students - for orientation weeks and to get to know the campus .
These plans may now be either cancelled or run in parallel with the return to college for all students .
What about accommodation ?
How can I source a place to live at such short notice ?
This is a real challenge for first years .
They will have just weeks - or days if they get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accommodation before classes begin .
Many will find themselves at the back of the queue in the accommodation hunt , given that other students will have started already .
It ’ s not all bad news , though , Many larger colleges reserve a proportion of accommodation for first years , though this is typically over-subscribed .
There may also be softer demand for accommodation given that so much teaching and learning will take place online .
If I ’ m unhappy with my calculated Leaving Cert grades , can I appeal the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Norma Foley indicated on Friday that students will be able to appeal by September 14th .
She also indicated that process will take place as fast as possible to ensure students who secure an offer on foot of an upgrade can take up that college place .
The appeal process , however , is just an administrative one .
It will ensure school-issued grades have been accurately transcribed and no errors were made .
It will not involve reviewing whether a student merited a particular grade based on their school work .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relatively quickly but nothing so far has proved simple or easy .
Will Leaving Cert results this year be more generous than previous years given the circumstances of how they are being issued ?
It seems unlikely .
Schools have issued calculated grades for students with an eye on the grade profile of their students over recent years .
So , if a school has usually had four or five H1s in English , this pattern will be repeated this year .
In addition , school results will be subject to a standardisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This means overall national results are adjusted to make sure they are in line with previous years .
So , if 5 per cent of students nationally got a H1 in English last year , this year ’ s results will be adjusted to ensure a similar proportion gets a H1 this year .
This happens every year - but many students may not be aware of it .
Critics say it is unfair , but experts say it is aimed at ensuring grades are consistent and reliable from year to year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in time for access to courses in the UK ?
Yes .
The Minister said any student who gets their result on September 7th and secures a course in the UK will be in a position to take up that course through Ucas , the UK ’ s equivalent of the CAO .
However , it may be too late for those applying for courses in Holland and Denmark .
By law , Dutch universities currently have to receive results by August 31st .
Colleges in Denmark also have a deadline of August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they will extend this .
Why is it taking so long to award Leaving Cert students calculated grades ?
The length of time it is taking to issue the grades is understood to be linked to the challenge of accurately applying the new system of predicted grades for more than 450,000 individual grades for just over 60,000 students .
Ms Foley said these grades need to be standardised at a national level for fairness and to ensure highest possible standards .
In addition , she said all individual grades will have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ characteristics – including gender and socio-economic status – to ensure they are as equitable as possible .
Why do I have to register to opt-in to receive my grades ?
Students are being requested to formally opt-in online to receive their grades from next Monday at midday .
Many are asking why students need to do this , having already registered online last month .
Officials say the second step is required as some students may not wish to receive a calculated grade , and may instead opt to take on the written @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this still begs the questions why a tick-box was not included allowing students to do this when they first registered with the portal .
How much of college will take place on campus this year ?
It will vary .
Most larger lectures will take place online , but colleges are planning that smaller lectures and group work - such as tutorials and lab work - will take place on campus .
Most colleges have indicated that students can expect to be on campus for two or three days a week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ - say first year students will attend college for one week in three , and one in four for other students .

Some colleges say first years will likely start in either late September or early October. Photograph: iStock
When exactly are Leaving Cert results and CAO offers due?
The Department of Education announced on Thursday evening that the Leaving Cert results will issued on September 7th. This is about three weeks later than the normal mid-August date. CAO round one offers will issue four days later on September 11th at 2pm.
How long will I have to accept my offer of a college place?
Students will have five days - until 3pm on September 16th - to accept their offers. This is a shorter time window than usual.
READ MORE
Round two offers are due out on September 23rd at 10am. Again students will have just two days - September 25th at 12 midday - to accept. There are no confirmed dates yet for subsequent rounds.
If I get a college course, when am I likely to start?
Sources across a number of third level colleges say first years are likely to start in either late September or early October.
Individual institutions are still finalising dates, but say they are keen to ensure starting dates are as close as possible to those advertised.
Will there be orientation days for first years ?
Many colleges had been planning to admit first year students in mid to late September - in advance of the main body of students - for orientation weeks and to get to know the campus.
These plans may now be either cancelled or run in parallel with the return to college for all students.
What about accommodation? How can I source a place to live at such short notice?
This is a real challenge for first years. They will have just weeks - or days if they get a second round offer - to secure accommodation before classes begin.
Many will find themselves at the back of the queue in the accommodation hunt, given that other students will have started already.
It’s not all bad news, though, Many larger colleges reserve a proportion of accommodation for first years, though this is typically over-subscribed.
There may also be softer demand for accommodation given that so much teaching and learning will take place online.
If I’m unhappy with my calculated Leaving Cert grades, can I appeal the results?
Yes. Minister for Education Norma Foley indicated on Friday that students will be able to appeal by September 14th.
She also indicated that process will take place as fast as possible to ensure students who secure an offer on foot of an upgrade can take up that college place.
The appeal process, however, is just an administrative one. It will ensure school-issued grades have been accurately transcribed and no errors were made. It will not involve reviewing whether a student merited a particular grade based on their school work. In theory, this process should take place relatively quickly but nothing so far has proved simple or easy.
Will Leaving Cert results this year be more generous than previous years given the circumstances of how they are being issued?
It seems unlikely. Schools have issued calculated grades for students with an eye on the grade profile of their students over recent years.
So, if a school has usually had four or five H1s in English, this pattern will be repeated this year.
In addition, school results will be subject to a standardisation process or “bell curve”. This means overall national results are adjusted to make sure they are in line with previous years.
So, if 5 per cent of students nationally got a H1 in English last year, this year’s results will be adjusted to ensure a similar proportion gets a H1 this year.
This happens every year - but many students may not be aware of it.
Critics say it is unfair, but experts say it is aimed at ensuring grades are consistent and reliable from year to year.
Will my Leaving Cert results be issued in time for access to courses in the UK?
Yes. The Minister said any student who gets their result on September 7th and secures a course in the UK will be in a position to take up that course through Ucas, the UK’s equivalent of the CAO.
However, it may be too late for those applying for courses in Holland and Denmark.
By law, Dutch universities currently have to receive results by August 31st. Colleges in Denmark also have a deadline of August 31st. It remains to be seen if they will extend this.
Why is it taking so long to award Leaving Cert students calculated grades?
The length of time it is taking to issue the grades is understood to be linked to the challenge of accurately applying the new system of predicted grades for more than 450,000 individual grades for just over 60,000 students.
Ms Foley said these grades need to be standardised at a national level for fairness and to ensure highest possible standards.
In addition, she said all individual grades will have to be checked and reviewed using different demographic characteristics – including gender and socio-economic status – to ensure they are as equitable as possible.
Why do I have to register to opt-in to receive my grades?
Students are being requested to formally opt-in online to receive their grades from next Monday at midday.
Many are asking why students need to do this, having already registered online last month.
Officials say the second step is required as some students may not wish to receive a calculated grade, and may instead opt to take on the written exams whenever they are held.
However, this still begs the questions why a tick-box was not included allowing students to do this when they first registered with the portal.
How much of college will take place on campus this year?
It will vary. Most larger lectures will take place online, but colleges are planning that smaller lectures and group work - such as tutorials and lab work - will take place on campus.
Most colleges have indicated that students can expect to be on campus for two or three days a week.
However, others - such as UL - say first year students will attend college for one week in three, and one in four for other students.