theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Covid-19: Nine unannounced inspections of meat plants undertaken by HSA since March

Nine unannounced inspections of meat plants have been carried out by the Health and Safety Authority ( HSA ) since lockdown measures were first eased in May .
At a meeting of the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee on Thursday , HSA chief executive Dr Sharon McGuinness told Sinn Féin ’ s David Cullinane that the watchdog has performed 39 inspections of meat plants since that point in relation to the return to work safely protocol for the coronavirus pandemic , with 30 of them announced .
Unannounced inspections have been under way since the end of June .
The HSA has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the commencement of the State ’ s reopening following the coronavirus lockdown , of which 2,844 addressed Covid-19 measures .
In response to questions from Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill , Dr McGuinness outlined that while many inspections are announced , the notice period given is relatively short – for a visit that takes place in the morning , notice is usually given the previous evening .
She said that for an afternoon visit to a plant , contact would be made just before lunch “ to say we were on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a little more than 1 per cent of inspections undertaken so far have been of meat plants .
The HSA also confirmed that no improvement or prohibition notices , two of the enforcement measures open to the agency , had been served on any meat plants .
Dr McGuinness said that “ we have found through our inspections that the level of compliance with all the different protocols has been in line ” , which was echoed by Michael Sheahan , a senior official with the Department of Agriculture , Food and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the committee .
“ In general , and based on the feedback from our staff who are in the slaughter plants every single day , there is no issue with lack of compliance with protocols .
That is not the problem , ” he said .
The HSA , which is responsible for workplace safety , is the main agency for monitoring compliance with the return to work safely protocol drawn up by the Government .
Due to the workload involved , other Government agencies are also involved in monitoring this compliance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspections of meat plants would be higher .
The Department of Agriculture told the committee it has conducted 91 inspections of meat plants so far , in addition to its permanent presence in 49 slaughterhouses .
The conditions of workers in the meat sector and the potential for meat processing plants to spread Covid-19 have been the subject of intense scrutiny since outbreaks in four such plants in the midlands contributed to the current partial lockdown of three counties – Kildare , Laois and Offaly .
Cormac Healy , senior director of Meat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 20 per cent of the industry ’ s workforce are on work permits .
Asked about the practice of so-called hot-bedding , where workers working different shift patterns share a bed , he said it “ should not be tolerated ” .
He said that while there is a provision that employers source accommodation for work permit holders , there is no obligation on the worker to use it .
He said that “ the industry is not involved in mass provision of accommodation ” .
Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North James @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lacuna ” in the law which means that meat plant owners and other employers do not have to report cases of Covid-19 to the HSA .
Dr McGuinness said that notwithstanding this , the HSA is “ aware of where the outbreaks are occurring and are engaging with them as they happen ” .
Mr Lawless said that the original intent of the legislation governing workplace reporting of injuries was that illnesses should be covered , and that this had been changed by the previous government with regard to infectious diseases .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been acting beyond its legal authority in doing so .
Mr Sheahan , the Department of Agriculture deputy chief veterinary officer , said none of his officers had refused to turn up to work during the pandemic , but admitted there had been “ significant concern ” among his 250 staff “ who have been on the front line since the start ” .
He told Labour TD for Fingal Duncan Smith that in his 30 years at the department he had faced many crises , from foot and mouth to BSE .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , we have ever faced , in my opinion , ” he said .

Nine unannounced inspections of meat plants have been carried out by the HSA since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak here. File photograph: Bloomberg
Nine unannounced inspections of meat plants have been carried out by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) since lockdown measures were first eased in May.
At a meeting of the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee on Thursday, HSA chief executive Dr Sharon McGuinness told Sinn Féin's David Cullinane that the watchdog has performed 39 inspections of meat plants since that point in relation to the return to work safely protocol for the coronavirus pandemic, with 30 of them announced.
Unannounced inspections have been under way since the end of June. The HSA has conducted 3,820 inspections or investigations overall since the commencement of the State’s reopening following the coronavirus lockdown, of which 2,844 addressed Covid-19 measures.
In response to questions from Fine Gael TD Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Dr McGuinness outlined that while many inspections are announced, the notice period given is relatively short – for a visit that takes place in the morning, notice is usually given the previous evening. She said that for an afternoon visit to a plant, contact would be made just before lunch "to say we were on our way".
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The figures supplied suggest that a little more than 1 per cent of inspections undertaken so far have been of meat plants. The HSA also confirmed that no improvement or prohibition notices, two of the enforcement measures open to the agency, had been served on any meat plants.
Level of compliance
Dr McGuinness said that "we have found through our inspections that the level of compliance with all the different protocols has been in line", which was echoed by Michael Sheahan, a senior official with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, who also gave evidence to the committee.
“In general, and based on the feedback from our staff who are in the slaughter plants every single day, there is no issue with lack of compliance with protocols. That is not the problem,” he said.
The HSA, which is responsible for workplace safety, is the main agency for monitoring compliance with the return to work safely protocol drawn up by the Government. Due to the workload involved, other Government agencies are also involved in monitoring this compliance, and therefore the total number of inspections of meat plants would be higher. The Department of Agriculture told the committee it has conducted 91 inspections of meat plants so far, in addition to its permanent presence in 49 slaughterhouses.
The conditions of workers in the meat sector and the potential for meat processing plants to spread Covid-19 have been the subject of intense scrutiny since outbreaks in four such plants in the midlands contributed to the current partial lockdown of three counties – Kildare, Laois and Offaly.
Hot-bedding
Cormac Healy, senior director of Meat Industry Ireland, told the committee that 20 per cent of the industry's workforce are on work permits. Asked about the practice of so-called hot-bedding, where workers working different shift patterns share a bed, he said it "should not be tolerated". He said that while there is a provision that employers source accommodation for work permit holders, there is no obligation on the worker to use it. He said that "the industry is not involved in mass provision of accommodation".
Fianna Fáil TD for Kildare North James Lawless raised the issue of a "lacuna" in the law which means that meat plant owners and other employers do not have to report cases of Covid-19 to the HSA. Dr McGuinness said that notwithstanding this, the HSA is "aware of where the outbreaks are occurring and are engaging with them as they happen".
Mr Lawless said that the original intent of the legislation governing workplace reporting of injuries was that illnesses should be covered, and that this had been changed by the previous government with regard to infectious diseases. Mr Lawless questioned whether the previous administration had been acting beyond its legal authority in doing so.
Mr Sheahan, the Department of Agriculture deputy chief veterinary officer, said none of his officers had refused to turn up to work during the pandemic, but admitted there had been "significant concern" among his 250 staff "who have been on the front line since the start". He told Labour TD for Fingal Duncan Smith that in his 30 years at the department he had faced many crises, from foot and mouth to BSE. "This is the single biggest challenge, however, we have ever faced, in my opinion," he said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Footballer and coach remanded over €3m heroin allegation

A footballer and a club coach have been further remanded in custody charged over a €3million heroin seizure .
Former League of Ireland player Keith Quinn ( 31 ) and Bluebell football manager Andrew Noonan ( 41 ) were both refused bail on Saturday after they were charged with possession of drugs and possession with intent to supply , in the Dublin 15 area .
Their bail hearing at Dublin District Court was told it was alleged a package had arrived from Amsterdam in Holland .
On August 5th , Revenue ’ s Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a joint operation ; 22 kilos of suspected heroin , with an estimated street value of €3 million was seized .
They faced their second hearing at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday and were further remanded in custody by Judge Alan Mitchell to appear again there on August 27th .
Mr Quinn , of Monastery Gate Avenue in Clondalkin , made no reply to the charges .
Co-accused , Mr Noonan , a father-of-four of Redhills Park , Ellistown , Co Kildare , told gardaí “ no comment ” when he was charged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United and later played for Cork City and Shelbourne in the League of Ireland .
He later played for Bluebell United in the Leinster Senior League .
Mr Noonan was manager of Bluebell United .

The two accused men faced their second hearing at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday.
A footballer and a club coach have been further remanded in custody charged over a €3million heroin seizure.
Former League of Ireland player Keith Quinn (31) and Bluebell football manager Andrew Noonan (41) were both refused bail on Saturday after they were charged with possession of drugs and possession with intent to supply, in the Dublin 15 area.
Their bail hearing at Dublin District Court was told it was alleged a package had arrived from Amsterdam in Holland.
On August 5th, Revenue’s Customs Service and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, participated in a joint operation; 22 kilos of suspected heroin, with an estimated street value of €3 million was seized.
READ MORE
They faced their second hearing at Cloverhill District Court on Thursday and were further remanded in custody by Judge Alan Mitchell to appear again there on August 27th.
Mr Quinn, of Monastery Gate Avenue in Clondalkin, made no reply to the charges.
Co-accused, Mr Noonan, a father-of-four of Redhills Park, Ellistown, Co Kildare, told gardaí “no comment” when he was charged.
Mr Quinn was previously with Sheffield United and later played for Cork City and Shelbourne in the League of Ireland. He later played for Bluebell United in the Leinster Senior League. Mr Noonan was manager of Bluebell United.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Rescued women ‘weak and tired’ but ‘thankful’, says fisherman who found them

The fisherman who rescued two young women clinging to the buoy of a lobster pot off Inis Oirr after 15 hours in the water has said they were “ fairly shook ” and “ delighted ” when he found them .
Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan ( 18 ) found the women , aged 17 and 23 , around 20 miles out from Furbo Beach in Co Galway where they had been paddle boarding on Wednesday evening .
Mr Oliver , from Claddagh , said the women spent the night on their paddleboards and held onto each other overnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday morning they saw a buoy , paddled towards it and clung onto it until they were found .
Mr Oliver said he was on the phone to a friend who was also out searching for them when his son spotted the women before midday .
“ They were good , they were waving their paddles up in the air , they had us spotted , ” Mr Oliver told RTÉ ’ s Liveline on Thursday .
“ They were weak and tired of course but they were sitting up and there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
We got them into the boat and brought them into the island .
The chopper landed there on the island.
” Mr Oliver said both women were “ very thankful ” after he pulled them on board his boat ‘ Johnny O ’ and wrapped them up in jackets , oilskins and hats “ to get them warm straight away ” .
He said they “ weren ’ t really ” shaking but “ definitely in shock ” .
He took them onto Inis Oirr and they were brought to University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had done the right thing by not panicking and they were “ lucky ” the weather had been mild recently .
“ It ’ s a good result , we ’ re happy , they ’ re alive and well , ” he said .
Mr Oliver said when he heard they were missing on Thursday morning , he “ couldn ’ t sit at home ” and headed out with his son .
He said he was “ delighted ” for the young womens ’ parents and that he had been thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beach all night looking out for them ” .
Mr Oliver said he has been a fisherman for the last 20 years and has helped in a number of rescue operations .
His father and grandfather were also fishermen .

One of the two women rescued in Galway Bay being taken off the Coast Guard helicopter at University Hospital Galway. Photograph: Aengus McMahon
The fisherman who rescued two young women clinging to the buoy of a lobster pot off Inis Oirr after 15 hours in the water has said they were "fairly shook" and "delighted" when he found them.
Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan (18) found the women, aged 17 and 23, around 20 miles out from Furbo Beach in Co Galway where they had been paddle boarding on Wednesday evening.
Mr Oliver, from Claddagh, said the women spent the night on their paddleboards and held onto each other overnight. He said when daylight came on Thursday morning they saw a buoy, paddled towards it and clung onto it until they were found.
Mr Oliver said he was on the phone to a friend who was also out searching for them when his son spotted the women before midday.
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“They were good, they were waving their paddles up in the air, they had us spotted,” Mr Oliver told RTÉ’s Liveline on Thursday.
“They were weak and tired of course but they were sitting up and there was a little bit of chat out of them. We got them into the boat and brought them into the island. The chopper landed there on the island.”
Mr Oliver said both women were “very thankful” after he pulled them on board his boat ‘Johnny O’ and wrapped them up in jackets, oilskins and hats “to get them warm straight away”. He said they “weren’t really” shaking but “definitely in shock”. He took them onto Inis Oirr and they were brought to University Hospital Galway.
He said the women had done the right thing by not panicking and they were “lucky” the weather had been mild recently.
“It’s a good result, we’re happy, they’re alive and well,” he said.
Mr Oliver said when he heard they were missing on Thursday morning, he “couldn’t sit at home” and headed out with his son. He said he was “delighted” for the young womens’ parents and that he had been thinking of “the poor mother on the beach all night looking out for them”.
Mr Oliver said he has been a fisherman for the last 20 years and has helped in a number of rescue operations. His father and grandfather were also fishermen.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Brendan Halligan’s funeral recalls a ‘true Dub’, an Irishman and a European

Brendan Halligan was Irish and European to the core , his funeral was told on Thursday morning .
He was “ the embodiment in one man of a plurality of identities , overlapping , reinforcing and not contradicting each other , ” said former European Parliament president Pat Cox .
Speaking at the end of Mr Halligan ’ s funeral Mass in the Church of the Holy Spirit , Ballyroan , Co Dublin , Mr Cox said , “ But if all of these things stand out as milestones marking the life and times of Brendan Halligan , they all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe haven which was his home and his family.
” Family “ was the centre of Brendan ’ s life from which the energy of his convictions and the force of his personality radiated out across such a wide universe of interests.
” He continued : “ Seamus Heaney wrote that hope is not optimism which expects things to turn out well , but something rooted in the conviction that there is good , worth working for .
This served as a leitmotif to the life and times of Brendan Halligan : there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Labour Party TD , senator and general secretary , as well as founder/director of the Institute of International and European Affairs , Mr Halligan ( 84 ) died at his home in Dublin last Sunday .
In over a half century of public service he also led State companies and agencies .
He “ used his God-given talents to the full over the course of a long and well-lived life .
No more could be asked ; no more could be given , ” said Mr Cox .
Speaking on behalf of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the carers who looked after my father during his long illness over the last five years ” , as well as named medical and nursing teams involved .
His father “ was a remarkable husband , father , friend and mentor to so many people , ” he said , concluding , “ Thank you Dad .
We love you so much.
” The homily , delivered by Mass celebrant Fr Peter O ’ Connor , was prepared by the Halligan family .
His was “ a happy life , as he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a unique talent for bringing people together .
This is what brought him great success and achievements in his professional life but for us , his family , he was our rock and our linchpin.
” He was also “ a true Dub ” and “ a man of unending patience except when it came to the referees at the Dublin matches .
He loved his home city.
” Offertory gifts included a Dublin flag , a Tricolour , an EU flag and his favourite poem The Wayfarer by Pádraig Pearse with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ I have gone upon my way , Sorrowful.
” Included also were Légion d ’ Honneur Mr Halligan was presented with by France , a family photograph and his favourite hat .
At the end his wicker coffin was taken from the church to the strains of the EU anthem , Beethoven ’ s Ode to Joy .
Among those in attendance were President Michael D Higgins , Cmdt Caroline Burke representing Taoiseach Micheál Martin , and Brendan Howlin representing the Labour Party .
Chief mourners were Mr Halligan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their children Gráinne , Fergal and Aoife .
Burial took place afterwards at Kilmashogue Cemetery .

Family members following the remains of Brendan Halligan after his funeral Mass at the Church of Holy Spirit, Ballyroan, Dublin. Photograph Nick Bradshaw for The Irish Times
Brendan Halligan was Irish and European to the core, his funeral was told on Thursday morning. He was "the embodiment in one man of a plurality of identities, overlapping, reinforcing and not contradicting each other," said former European Parliament president Pat Cox.
Speaking at the end of Mr Halligan's funeral Mass in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Ballyroan, Co Dublin, Mr Cox said, "But if all of these things stand out as milestones marking the life and times of Brendan Halligan, they all flowed from the anchored stability of the safe haven which was his home and his family."
Family “was the centre of Brendan’s life from which the energy of his convictions and the force of his personality radiated out across such a wide universe of interests.”
He continued: "Seamus Heaney wrote that hope is not optimism which expects things to turn out well, but something rooted in the conviction that there is good, worth working for. This served as a leitmotif to the life and times of Brendan Halligan: there is good worth working for."
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Former Labour Party TD, senator and general secretary, as well as founder/director of the Institute of International and European Affairs , Mr Halligan (84) died at his home in Dublin last Sunday. In over a half century of public service he also led State companies and agencies.
He “used his God-given talents to the full over the course of a long and well-lived life. No more could be asked; no more could be given,” said Mr Cox.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Fergal Halligan, thanked "all the carers who looked after my father during his long illness over the last five years", as well as named medical and nursing teams involved.
His father “was a remarkable husband, father, friend and mentor to so many people,” he said, concluding, “Thank you Dad. We love you so much.”
The homily, delivered by Mass celebrant Fr Peter O’Connor, was prepared by the Halligan family. His was “a happy life, as he told us himself only recently” with “a unique talent for bringing people together. This is what brought him great success and achievements in his professional life but for us, his family, he was our rock and our linchpin.”
He was also “a true Dub” and “a man of unending patience except when it came to the referees at the Dublin matches. He loved his home city.”
Offertory gifts included a Dublin flag, a Tricolour, an EU flag and his favourite poem The Wayfarer by Pádraig Pearse with its line, as recalled by Fergal, "I have gone upon my way, Sorrowful." Included also were Légion d'Honneur Mr Halligan was presented with by France, a family photograph and his favourite hat.
At the end his wicker coffin was taken from the church to the strains of the EU anthem, Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.
Among those in attendance were President Michael D Higgins, Cmdt Caroline Burke representing Taoiseach Micheál Martin, and Brendan Howlin representing the Labour Party.
Chief mourners were Mr Halligan’s wife of 56 years Margie, and their children Gráinne, Fergal and Aoife. Burial took place afterwards at Kilmashogue Cemetery.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Weather warning: Flooding expected following thundery downpours on Thursday night

Heavy downpours and thunderstorms on Thursday night are expected to result in localised flooding in the south of the country , Met Éireann has warned .
The weather warning came after heavy flooding in Cork on Thursday morning left several roads in the county impassable following a torrential downpour .
A new status yellow thunder warning for Munster was issued from 3pm on Thursday to midnight .
The forecaster said that thunderstorms could be expected in parts of the province during this period , bringing torrential downpours and possible hail , and the risk of some spot flooding .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occurred between midnight and 4am , and there were very heavy downpours , thunder and lightning in some parts of the country .
According to Met Éireann , there was 35mm of rain between midnight and 3am at Thomastown in Kilkenny and 22mm in one hour at Cork Airport at 3am .
There was flooding in Rosscarbery in Co Cork and also there was heavy rain around in Galway as well .
West Cork was particularly badly hit by the heavy rain , with the main artery west from Cork city , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Leap between Clonakilty and Skibbereen .
Former Cork South-West TD Jim Daly tweeted video footage from Rosscarbery which showed a business premises near the turnoff for Glandore surrounded by flood waters up to window-sill level .
Cork County Council put its staff on standby on Thursday night in anticipation of further flooding .
A spokeswoman said that while flood waters from the first bout of torrential rain may have abated , road edges may have been undermined or eroded and care was necessary .
There is extensive damage to roads and property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ road users are advised to exercise extreme caution on roadways that have been affected , added the spokeswoman .

After a night of torrential rain, the river Roury broke its banks at 4am causing flooding in Rosscarbery and causing parts of the N71 to close. Photograph: Andy Gibson
Heavy downpours and thunderstorms on Thursday night are expected to result in localised flooding in the south of the country, Met Éireann has warned.
The weather warning came after heavy flooding in Cork on Thursday morning left several roads in the county impassable following a torrential downpour.
A new status yellow thunder warning for Munster was issued from 3pm on Thursday to midnight.
The main N71 road at Rosscarbery right now by the turn off for Glandore. pic.twitter.com/Y1kjCzLwF6 — Jim Daly (@jimdalyclon) August 13, 2020
The forecaster said that thunderstorms could be expected in parts of the province during this period, bringing torrential downpours and possible hail, and the risk of some spot flooding.
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On Thursday morning, the very heavy rain occurred between midnight and 4am, and there were very heavy downpours, thunder and lightning in some parts of the country.
According to Met Éireann, there was 35mm of rain between midnight and 3am at Thomastown in Kilkenny and 22mm in one hour at Cork Airport at 3am.
There was flooding in Rosscarbery in Co Cork and also there was heavy rain around in Galway as well.
West Cork was particularly badly hit by the heavy rain, with the main artery west from Cork city, the N71, impassable at Rosscarbery, Connonagh and Leap between Clonakilty and Skibbereen.
Former Cork South-West TD Jim Daly tweeted video footage from Rosscarbery which showed a business premises near the turnoff for Glandore surrounded by flood waters up to window-sill level.
Cork County Council put its staff on standby on Thursday night in anticipation of further flooding. A spokeswoman said that while flood waters from the first bout of torrential rain may have abated, road edges may have been undermined or eroded and care was necessary.
There is extensive damage to roads and property in west Cork and motorists and all road users are advised to exercise extreme caution on roadways that have been affected, added the spokeswoman.


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--North’s education minister resists calls to scrap A-Level grades

Solely using teacher estimates to allocate A-level grades in Northern Ireland would lack any level of credibility , the North ’ s education minister has insisted .
Giving evidence to his Stormont scrutiny committee , Peter Weir resisted calls to scrap the results allocated to pupils using a standardisation calculation model and replace them with the grades predicted by their teachers .
More than a third of A-level grades issued on Thursday were lower than teacher estimates .
In 37 per cent of cases teachers were over-optimistic in their prediction , while in around 5 per cent of entries they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percentage of top grades allocated in 2020 was up on previous years .
However , many students have been left shocked and disappointed after receiving grades that were significantly lower than both their performance in previous exams and their teachers ’ prediction .
Committee chairman Chris Lyttle urged the minister to intervene and ensure pupils were awarded grades based on either their AS-level attainment or the estimated grade assessed by their teacher .
“ These are unprecedented times , ” he said .
Mr Lyttle said he was aware of a school that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 90 per cent last year to 60 per cent under the calculation model .
He said the minister was “ increasingly isolated ” in refusing to use the teacher assessments to allocate the grades .
Mr Weir responded by insisting that if teacher predictions were used without standardisation , the results would not have “ any level of credibility ” because the results would be so much higher than those achieved in previous years .
He said that approach would also be unfair on pupils , as some teachers would have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others had been “ tough ” on their students .
“ There would be no equality whatsoever , ” said Mr Weir .
The minister acknowledged that the system for calculating A-level results “ did not work for everyone ” .
He said there was no way of creating a perfect replacement for sitting the exams which were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic .
“ We were looking to create what was a least-worst solution , ” said the minister .
Mr Weir highlighted that a fast-tracked appeals process has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have been treated unfairly .
The standardisation model was developed by Northern Ireland exam body the Council for the Curriculum , Examinations and Assessment ( CCEA ) .
CCEA asked teachers to give a predicted grade for their pupils and then rank them in order within their class .
The exams body then used other data to standardise the results .
For A-levels , the data included pupils ’ AS-level results , making adjustments for those who had applied to take resits .
For AS results , the pupils ’ GCSE results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ performance by their school over the previous three years .
He expressed concern about the mental health impact on children , revealing that a GP had contacted him to alert him that three pupils who had missed out on university places had presented with suicidal thoughts .
“ This model failed , it failed our children and it failed our young people , ” he said .
He added : “ As the result of this pandemic , they should not pay the price.
” Mr McCrossan demanded more transparency on the algorithm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PA

Peter Weir insisted that if teacher predictions were used without standardisation, the results would not have “any level of credibility”
Solely using teacher estimates to allocate A-level grades in Northern Ireland would lack any level of credibility, the North's education minister has insisted.
Giving evidence to his Stormont scrutiny committee, Peter Weir resisted calls to scrap the results allocated to pupils using a standardisation calculation model and replace them with the grades predicted by their teachers.
More than a third of A-level grades issued on Thursday were lower than teacher estimates.
In 37 per cent of cases teachers were over-optimistic in their prediction, while in around 5 per cent of entries they under-estimated the result.
READ MORE
Overall, the percentage of top grades allocated in 2020 was up on previous years.
However, many students have been left shocked and disappointed after receiving grades that were significantly lower than both their performance in previous exams and their teachers’ prediction.
Committee chairman Chris Lyttle urged the minister to intervene and ensure pupils were awarded grades based on either their AS-level attainment or the estimated grade assessed by their teacher.
“These are unprecedented times,” he said.
Mr Lyttle said he was aware of a school that had seen its A*-C attainment rate fall from 90 per cent last year to 60 per cent under the calculation model.
He said the minister was “increasingly isolated” in refusing to use the teacher assessments to allocate the grades.
Mr Weir responded by insisting that if teacher predictions were used without standardisation, the results would not have “any level of credibility” because the results would be so much higher than those achieved in previous years.
He said that approach would also be unfair on pupils, as some teachers would have been “generous” in estimating grades while others had been “tough” on their students.
“There would be no equality whatsoever,” said Mr Weir.
The minister acknowledged that the system for calculating A-level results “did not work for everyone”.
He said there was no way of creating a perfect replacement for sitting the exams which were cancelled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“We were looking to create what was a least-worst solution,” said the minister.
Mr Weir highlighted that a fast-tracked appeals process has been established for those students who believe they have been treated unfairly.
The standardisation model was developed by Northern Ireland exam body the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).
CCEA asked teachers to give a predicted grade for their pupils and then rank them in order within their class.
The exams body then used other data to standardise the results.
For A-levels, the data included pupils’ AS-level results, making adjustments for those who had applied to take resits.
For AS results, the pupils’ GCSE results were also used, as was the performance by their school over the previous three years.
SDLP member Daniel McCrossan branded the situation a “debacle”.
He expressed concern about the mental health impact on children, revealing that a GP had contacted him to alert him that three pupils who had missed out on university places had presented with suicidal thoughts.
“This model failed, it failed our children and it failed our young people,” he said.
He added: “As the result of this pandemic, they should not pay the price.”
Mr McCrossan demanded more transparency on the algorithm used to calculate the grades. - PA


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Gardaí appeal for witnesses after man dies at roadworks site

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a man died as a result of a traffic collision at a roadworks site @ @ @ @ @ .
Andrew Fleming , from Dunmore , Co Galway , was carrying out roadworks at @ @ @ @ @ in an incident with a vehicle on the R551 at Sallowgen between Tarbet and Ballylongford @ @ @ @ @ in his 40s , was pronounced dead at the scene .
The Health and Safety @ @ @ @ @ notified and a forensic examination of the scene was carried out .
Gardaí are appealing @ @ @ @ @ number of cars stopped at the roadworks site to contact Listowel Garda Station on 068-50820 @ @ @ @ @ for Mr Fleming will take place on Saturday in Dunmore , Co Galway .

Gardaí are appealing for witnesses after a man died as a result of a traffic collision at a roadworks site in Co Kerry on Tuesday.
Andrew Fleming, from Dunmore, Co Galway, was carrying out roadworks at around 1.15pm and was involved in an incident with a vehicle on the R551 at Sallowgen between Tarbet and Ballylongford.
Mr Fleming, aged in his 40s, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) was notified and a forensic examination of the scene was carried out.
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Gardaí are appealing to the occupants of a number of cars stopped at the roadworks site to contact Listowel Garda Station on 068-50820.
A private funeral Mass for Mr Fleming will take place on Saturday in Dunmore, Co Galway.


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Coronavirus: Number of outbreaks in Irish homes rising for five straight weeks

The number of Covid-19 outbreaks in private homes has been rising for five straight weeks , according to the latest analysis by the Central Statistics Office .
The number of deaths from the disease has remained below 10 per week for the past six weeks , but case numbers are over 100 in each of the past five weeks up to August 7th .
The number of new cases doubled that week to 509 , compared to 224 in the previous week , the CSO says .
Outbreaks in private homes rose from 13 at the start of July to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Women , and those aged between 25 and 44 continue to account for the highest number of confirmed cases , while 54 per cent of cases are linked to an outbreak .
Counties Kildare , Laois and Offaly , which have been subject to local restrictions since last weekend , made up two-thirds of all new cases in the week up to August 7th .
This week saw Dublin go 10 weeks with fewer than 100 weekly cases since the start of March .
It was also the 10th week Mayo , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases , and the 13th week Co Leitrim , Co Longford and Co Tipperary kept their tallies below this level .
Co Kerry has now gone 14 weeks recording fewer than 10 cases weekly , and Co Waterford has gone 15 weeks below this number .
Dublin remains the worst-hit county for Covid-19 with 51 per cent of all deaths .
The median age of new confirmed cases was 34 years old at the start of August .
The total number of people who have died from Covid-19 is 1,519 , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deaths linked to the virus .
In the first week of August , no deaths were recorded .
The virus has claimed the lives of 23 more males than females , and 64 per cent of deaths are among people aged 80 years or older .
The overall mortality rate is 57 per 1,000 confirmed cases ; this was highest in April at 73 per 1,000 confirmed cases but fell to 38 and 34 in May and June respectively .

The number of Covid-19 outbreaks in private homes has been rising for five straight weeks, according to the latest analysis by the Central Statistics Office.
The number of deaths from the disease has remained below 10 per week for the past six weeks, but case numbers are over 100 in each of the past five weeks up to August 7th.
The number of new cases doubled that week to 509, compared to 224 in the previous week, the CSO says.
Outbreaks in private homes rose from 13 at the start of July to 83 in the first week of August.
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Women, and those aged between 25 and 44 continue to account for the highest number of confirmed cases, while 54 per cent of cases are linked to an outbreak.
Counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly, which have been subject to local restrictions since last weekend, made up two-thirds of all new cases in the week up to August 7th.
This week saw Dublin go 10 weeks with fewer than 100 weekly cases since the start of March. It was also the 10th week Mayo, Westmeath and Wicklow recorded fewer than 10 new cases, and the 13th week Co Leitrim, Co Longford and Co Tipperary kept their tallies below this level.
Co Kerry has now gone 14 weeks recording fewer than 10 cases weekly, and Co Waterford has gone 15 weeks below this number.
Dublin remains the worst-hit county for Covid-19 with 51 per cent of all deaths.
The median age of new confirmed cases was 34 years old at the start of August.
The total number of people who have died from Covid-19 is 1,519, with a further 253 deaths cited as probable deaths linked to the virus. In the first week of August, no deaths were recorded.
The virus has claimed the lives of 23 more males than females, and 64 per cent of deaths are among people aged 80 years or older.
The overall mortality rate is 57 per 1,000 confirmed cases; this was highest in April at 73 per 1,000 confirmed cases but fell to 38 and 34 in May and June respectively.


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Weather: Temperatures to hit 26 degrees on Friday

Temperatures are due to rise to 26 degrees on Friday with showers and some sunny spells forecast for the weekend .
Conditions are to remain humid over the coming days with the best of the sunshine in the north of the country .
A cloudy and misty start to Friday will ; give way to heavy showers through the day across the southern half of the country as well as a risk of thunderstorms .
The northern half of the country will become drier and brighter with sunny spells developing .
Highest temperatures will be in the north , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while across the country generally it will be between 21 and 24 degrees .
Overnight temperatures are expected to be no lower than 12 to 16 degrees with showers and longer spells of rain continuing through Munster .
The rest of the country will be mostly dry but there is an ongoing risk of passing showers .
Saturday will see showers and long spells of rain affecting Munster and southern parts of Connacht at first and later in Leinster .
Drier weather and sunshine is forecast for Ulster and north Connacht .
Highest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degrees , with the warmest conditions once again in Ulster .
Temperatures will be between 12 and 14 degrees overnight with frequent showers moving from east Leinster into the north .
There will be sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday , the showers most frequent in the east and south .
Highest temperatures will be between 20 to 23 degrees , with the warmest conditions in the southwest .
Monday will see similar temperatures with showers most frequent in the southeast as well as possible thunder .
Current indications suggest there will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highest temperatures in the north , between 20 and 22 degrees .

Temperatures are due to rise to 26 degrees on Friday with showers and some sunny spells forecast for the weekend.
Conditions are to remain humid over the coming days with the best of the sunshine in the north of the country.
A cloudy and misty start to Friday will; give way to heavy showers through the day across the southern half of the country as well as a risk of thunderstorms.
The northern half of the country will become drier and brighter with sunny spells developing. Highest temperatures will be in the north, with up to 26 degrees likely there, while across the country generally it will be between 21 and 24 degrees.
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Overnight temperatures are expected to be no lower than 12 to 16 degrees with showers and longer spells of rain continuing through Munster. The rest of the country will be mostly dry but there is an ongoing risk of passing showers.
Saturday will see showers and long spells of rain affecting Munster and southern parts of Connacht at first and later in Leinster.
Drier weather and sunshine is forecast for Ulster and north Connacht. Highest temperatures will be between 21 and 25 degrees, with the warmest conditions once again in Ulster.
Temperatures will be between 12 and 14 degrees overnight with frequent showers moving from east Leinster into the north.
There will be sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday, the showers most frequent in the east and south. Highest temperatures will be between 20 to 23 degrees, with the warmest conditions in the southwest.
Monday will see similar temperatures with showers most frequent in the southeast as well as possible thunder.
Current indications suggest there will be further scattered showers on Tuesday with highest temperatures in the north, between 20 and 22 degrees.


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Care home deaths account for half of North Covid-19 deaths

Care home-related deaths are still accounting for half of the coronavirus deaths in Northern Ireland , the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency ( Nisra ) published on Friday have shown .
Nisra reported that in the week to August 7th there were four coronavirus deaths in Northern Ireland , taking its total over the period of pandemic to 859 .
Up to the same date , the North ’ s Department of Health had recorded 556 deaths .
The department figures differ from the Nisra statistics in that they mainly relate to deaths in hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
Nisra ’ s figures go wider in that they relate to death certificates in the greater community where Covid-19 was recorded as a factor in the death .
Of the Nisra total , 452 deaths ( 52.6 per cent ) took place in hospital , 349 ( 40.6 per cent ) in care homes , eight ( 0.9 per cent ) in hospices and 50 ( 5.8 per cent ) at residential addresses or other locations .
The 357 deaths that occurred in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the figures illustrated that of the 429 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 up to August 7th 81.4 per cent ( 349 ) occurred in a care home , with the remaining 80 in hospital .
“ On this basis , deaths of care home residents account for 49.9 per cent of all Covid-19 related deaths .
However , no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease , ” said Nisra .
The statistics body said that over the past 19 weeks there were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland – that is , deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years .
Nisra further reported that people aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds ( 65.1 per cent ) of all deaths and 80 per cent of coronavirus-related deaths registered this calendar year up to August 7th .
Meanwhile , the North ’ s health Minister , Robin Swann , reported that there have been more than 250,000 downloads of the “ StopCOVID NI ” proximity app since it went live two weeks ago .
“ Surpassing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two weeks is a fantastic achievement and I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to download the app , ” he said .
“ Since going live 39 diagnosis keys have been uploaded , and 19 exposure notifications to self-isolate for 14 days have been issued to close contact matches thus helping to limit the spread of the infection , ” he added .
Dr Eddie O ’ Neill , consultant medical adviser and product manager who led the development of the app , said : “ The app comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of winter and a potentially very challenging time for our health service .
We must use this time to prepare .
“ It ’ s important that as many of us as possible are using the app and are familiar with the process .
This will inevitably help limit transmission in any future second wave that we may face in the winter , along with the manual test , trace , protect contact tracing programme , ” he added .

Another 67 cases of Covid-19 were confirmed by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Friday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases here to 26,995.
No new deaths were reported, so the total number of deaths in the State as a result of the pandemic remains unchanged at 1,774.
Eighteen of the new cases are in Dublin, 17 are in Kildare, nine are in Clare and five are in Limerick. The remaining cases were reported in counties Carlow, Cork, Donegal, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Tipperary, Wexford and Wicklow.
A substantial 16 of the cases have been identified as involving community transmission, meaning the cause of the infection is not known at this point.
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There has also been an increase in the number of contacts per confirmed case to six, according to acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn, who urged people to keep their social contacts low in order to limit the spread of the disease.
“We have seen cases rising all across the country this week. We must continue to do all we can to avoid a return to where we were in March and April,” he said.
“We all have a responsibility to stop this [Covid-19]. Social distancing applies to all age groups – wherever you are this weekend, keep your distance.”
Of Friday’s new cases, 35 are men and 32 are women. Seventy per cent of the cases are aged under 45. Some 38 cases are associated with existing outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case.
Meanwhile, a leading public health specialist has warned Ireland is “sleepwalking” towards a major Covid-19 outbreak later this year unless a radical change in national strategy is adopted.
Prof Ivan Perry, dean of public health at University College Cork, says Ireland could reduce incidence of Covid-19 to zero by introducing tough new measures for the next six weeks.
“Without a fundamental change in the current strategy of attempting to live with the virus, we are sleepwalking towards a major surge of infections in October–November of this year,” he warned.
“If we are willing to adopt more restrictive measures over the next few weeks, there is a real possibility that we can avoid this winter surge, begin to open up our economy and return to near normal life much earlier than is likely with the current policy of temporising with the virus.”
Prof Perry is part of the Zero Covid Island group of experts which is proposing a ban on all non-essential travel, testing and tracking of all incoming people and more active case finding and contact tracing
Care homes
Meanwhile, care-home-related deaths are still accounting for half of the coronavirus deaths in Northern Ireland, the latest figures from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra), published on Friday, have shown.
Nisra reported that in the week to August 7th there were four coronavirus deaths in Northern Ireland, taking its total death toll over the period of the pandemic to 859.
This compares with the figures from the North's Department of Health, which up to the same date had recorded 556 deaths.
The department figures differ from the Nisra statistics in that they mainly relate to deaths in hospital and patients who had previously tested positive for the virus. Nisra’s figures go wider in that they relate to death certificates in the wider community where Covid-19 was recorded as a factor in the death.
Of the Nisra total, 452 deaths (52.6 per cent) took place in hospital, 349 (40.6 per cent) in care homes, eight (0.9 per cent) in hospices and 50 (5.8 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations. The 357 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments.
Nisra said that further analysis of the figures illustrated that of the 429 deaths of care home residents involving Covid-19 up to August 7th, 81.4 per cent (349) occurred in a care home, with the remaining 80 in hospital.
“On this basis, deaths of care home residents account for 49.9 per cent of all Covid-19-related deaths. However, no assumptions can be made in relation to where or when the deceased contracted the disease,” said Nisra.
The statistics body said that over the past 19 weeks there were 1,035 “excess deaths” in Northern Ireland – that is, deaths above the average for the corresponding period in previous years.
Nisra further reported that people aged 75 and over accounted for two-thirds (65.1 per cent) of all deaths and 80 per cent of coronavirus-related deaths registered this calendar year up to August 7th.
North cases
The North’s Department of Health in its daily bulletin on Friday afternoon reported one more coronavirus-related death, taking its total recorded death toll to 558. The hospital patient who died was aged under 40.
The department also reported 74 new cases of coronavirus, bringing its total number of confirmed cases to 6,299. There were 242 new positive cases in the past week. So far 169,430 people have been tested for the virus in Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, the North's Minister for Health Robin Swann reported that there have been more than 250,000 downloads of the StopCOVID NI proximity app since it went live two weeks ago.
“Surpassing a quarter of a million downloads in just two weeks is a fantastic achievement and I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to download the app,” he said.
“Since going live 39 diagnosis keys have been uploaded, and 19 exposure notifications to self-isolate for 14 days have been issued to close contact matches, thus helping to limit the spread of the infection,” he added.
Dr Eddie O’Neill, the consultant medical adviser and product manager who led the development of the app, said: “The app comes at a really important time, ahead of winter and a potentially very challenging time for our health service. We must use this time to prepare.”
“It’s important that as many of us as possible are using the app and are familiar with the process. This will inevitably help limit transmission in any future second wave that we may face in the winter, along with the manual test, trace, protect contact tracing programme,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Coronavirus: Carroll Cuisine facility to reopen on phased basis

One of the four Midland meat processing plants hit by Covid-19 outbreaks is to reopen on a phased basis .
Carroll Cuisine says its facility in Tullamore , Co Offaly , has been officially approved for reopening after all remaining staff had tested negative for the disease .
The company says “ rigorous and proven ” infection prevention measures will continue at the plant , and only staff who have tested negative will be allowed work there .
“ The Health Service Executive and the Health and Safety Authority have reviewed and approved the extensive measures we have in place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the company said in a statement .
“ They have confirmed to us that we have all necessary processes in place to allow for a reopening of our facility.
” The plant was the last of the four affected facilities to suspend production last Monday , on foot of nine positive tests among staff .
Last Sunday , the HSE tested 210 further staff all of whom tested negative .
“ Our remaining workforce aren ’ t based at our Tullamore facility , or haven ’ t attended the facility since people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no requirement for precautionary testing unless any symptoms are identified , ” the company said .
Carroll says it has put in place a number of measures to protect against further infection , including segregating staff into separate “ production pods ” , staggering working hours and break times , creating additional canteen facilities and providing face masks and shields for staff .
“ Our own specific situation has not escalated further , however this also means we are doubling and redoubling our efforts to stop any spread of the virus and staying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Coronavirus , we are acutely aware that a positive result can occur at any time , as we have a large workforce , but we have shown that the strong and rigorous procedures we have in place do work to contain the spread , and this will allow us to continue working in a safe manner in the event of positive results being found .
”

Two of the four Midland meat processing plants hit by Covid-19 outbreaks are reopening on a phased basis.
Irish Dog Foods, which stopped production on July 25th after an outbreak affecting 53 staff, says the phased reopening of the plant in Naas, Co Kildare, has been agreed with the Health Service Executive and the Health and Safety Authority following a meeting on Tuesday.
The process of reopening has already started and full operations will resume in two weeks’ time, the company said.
Carroll Cuisine says its facility in Tullamore, Co Offaly, has been officially approved for reopening after all remaining staff had tested negative for the disease.
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The company says “rigorous and proven” infection prevention measures will continue at the plant, and only staff who have tested negative will be allowed work there.
“The Health Service Executive and the Health and Safety Authority have reviewed and approved the extensive measures we have in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus,” the company said in a statement.
“They have confirmed to us that we have all necessary processes in place to allow for a reopening of our facility.”
The plant was the last of the four affected facilities to suspend production last Monday, on foot of nine positive tests among staff.
Last Sunday, the HSE tested 210 further staff all of whom tested negative. “Our remaining workforce aren’t based at our Tullamore facility, or haven’t attended the facility since people began working from home, resulting in no requirement for precautionary testing unless any symptoms are identified,” the company said.
Carroll says it has put in place a number of measures to protect against further infection, including segregating staff into separate “production pods”, staggering working hours and break times, creating additional canteen facilities and providing face masks and shields for staff.
“Our own specific situation has not escalated further, however this also means we are doubling and redoubling our efforts to stop any spread of the virus and staying constantly vigilant.
Given the nature of the Coronavirus, we are acutely aware that a positive result can occur at any time, as we have a large workforce, but we have shown that the strong and rigorous procedures we have in place do work to contain the spread, and this will allow us to continue working in a safe manner in the event of positive results being found."


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Eight rescued after Lough Derg cruiser runs aground

Eight people were rescued on Lough Derg on Thusday night after a cruiser ran aground .
The alarm was raised @ @ @ @ @ 45ft vessel ran aground by Ryan ’ s Point , inside the Mountaineer Buoy at @ @ @ @ @ lifeboat launched 10 minutes later and arrived just before 10pm .
All eight people were @ @ @ @ @ their lifejackets .
An RNLI volunteer boarded the cruiser .
Once he was satisfied that @ @ @ @ @ , he set up for a tow , and the lifeboat attempted to take the @ @ @ @ @ rocky shelf .
However , efforts to move the cruiser were unsuccessful .
The passengers @ @ @ @ @ and brought to Garrykennedy Harbour for the night just after 11pm .
Valentia Coast Guard @ @ @ @ @ be attended to first thing on Friday morning .
Peter Kennedy , deputy launching authority @ @ @ @ @ advised boat users to “ study your charts and plan your passage , paying close @ @ @ @ @ ” .

An RNLI lifeboat attended an incident in which a cruiser ran aground. Photograph: RNLI
Eight people were rescued on Lough Derg on Thusday night after a cruiser ran aground.
The alarm was raised just before 9.30pm when the 45ft vessel ran aground by Ryan’s Point, inside the Mountaineer Buoy at Barrack Bay.
The RNLI lifeboat launched 10 minutes later and arrived just before 10pm. All eight people were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.
An RNLI volunteer boarded the cruiser. Once he was satisfied that the vessel was not holed, he set up for a tow, and the lifeboat attempted to take the cruiserl astern back off the rocky shelf.
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However, efforts to move the cruiser were unsuccessful. The passengers were transferred to the lifeboat and brought to Garrykennedy Harbour for the night just after 11pm.
Valentia Coast Guard arranged for the vessel to be attended to first thing on Friday morning.
Peter Kennedy, deputy launching authority at Lough Derg RNLI, advised boat users to "study your charts and plan your passage, paying close attention to the naviagation buoys".


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--‘It was pitch black’ - Rescued teenager describes night afloat with her cousin in Galway Bay

A teenage girl who was rescued at sea on Thursday after 15 hours in the water has said she has “ no idea what would have happened ” to her and her cousin if they weren ’ t found by a fisherman and his son .
Ellen Glynn ( 17 ) and her cousin Sara Feeney ( 23 ) were reported missing on Wednesday evening after going paddleboarding on Furbo beach in Co Galway .
They were found the following day by local fisherman Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan ( 18 ) near Inis Oirr , the smallest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buoy of a lobster pot .
Ms Glynn said on Friday that while she was a “ bit shook up ” she was feeling good .
“ It ’ s all overwhelming.
” She told RTÉ radio ’ s Today with Sarah McInerney show that she did not think she would be allowed go paddle boarding again .
“ I ’ m so scared of giving them ( paddle boards ) a bad name , it wasn ’ t their fault.
” She also said this had been the first time she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ water proof bag .
Ms Glynn said she and her cousin were only a few minutes in the water when they realised that they had drifted far from shore .
The wind was rising and they were finding it difficult to get back .
They shouted to attract attention on the beach ( where Sara ’ s mother was waiting for them ) but could not be heard .
They tied the two boards together and thought that the alarm would be raised quickly and they would be found that night .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waiting for a boat to come.
” By then it was “ pitch black ” .
When they saw a boat in the distance they started to scream but failed to attract its attention .
They also saw a rescue helicopter sweep over head and thought it would see them because of the high viz strips on their life jackets .
“ Some of the boats came really close , but they couldn ’ t hear us.
” Ms Glynn said they felt “ a little panicky ” , but thought they had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been warm , but when the sun went down it was very cold with heavy rain , thunder and lightning .
“ We were absolutely frozen .
We were worried about how cold it was .
We were shaking like leaves.
” At all times they thought they would be found , she said .
Despite their predicament they managed to fall asleep on their boards “ for a few seconds at a time ” and when they awoke the waves “ were huge , they were splashing on us ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bit brighter , but they could not see far because it was foggy , Ellen added .
“ We could make out the Cliffs of Moher and Inis Oirr.
” They realised that the waves could push them out into the Atlantic so they tried to paddle towards the island , but the waves were too high .
They were all the time looking for something to which they could tie themselves and then they spotted the buoy of a lobster pot .
“ We tied our boards to it and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In hindsight it is weird that we just stayed so calm .
We just thought ‘ we can ’ t drift out there ’ and didn ’ t expand on that.
” Ellen used the strap from her paddle board to clip their boards onto the lobster pot buoy .
They tied the boards together using the boards ’ leashes .
“ When we weren ’ t paddling , we were holding on to each other ’ s board.
” She admitted that their perception of time had become confused and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began to think that no one was looking for us , then we saw a boat and started paddling like crazy .
We thought they were out fishing , but they said ‘ you have no idea how many people are out looking for you ’ .
“ We are so , so grateful .
I have no idea what would have happened to us if they didn ’ t find us.
” Ms Glynn said she felt completely fine on the board , but that when she stood up to try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and knocked Sara off her board .
“ We were very shaky .
They ( the Olivers ) wrapped us up and gave us drinks.
” While she remains in hospital , Ms Glynn said she feels fine , but there was an issue with her muscle enzymes and she hopes to be released from hospital On Friday or Saturday morning at the latest .
She said the buoyancy aids they had been wearing had saved their lives .
“ We would have been panicking if we didn ’ t have them.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had feared the worst by Thursday morning when the women had been missing almost 12 hours .
Johnny Glynn recounted the frantic search he and his wife Deirdre had conducted on Wednesday night and Thursday morning along the Co Clare coastline across the bay from their Galway home on Newstalk ’ s Breakfast show .
The young women usually went swimming or paddleboarding on Silver Strand beach , but it had been closed due to Covid-19 so they went to Furbo beach , which they would not have known well , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , concerned the girls had drifted out to sea .
By the time he arrived at Furbo it was dark and he couldn ’ t see anything .
His sister-in-law Helen ( Sara ’ s mother ) had called for help , and he was concerned as “ every minute they were going further and further out ” .
Mr Glynn said he then called a friend who works with the ferry to Doolin , Donie Garrihy , who told him he could see on the satellite that there were boats already out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted a helicopter involved .
By 10.30pm a helicopter had joined the search .
Mr Glynn and his wife stayed on the beach until 1am and then decided to drive around the coast to Co Clare to conduct a search on beaches there .
“ We thought it most likely that was the way they were heading because of winds , ” he said .
The couple arrived in Clare at 3.30am , but it was 5am before first light and they searched beaches from Ballyvaughan to Kinvara .
“ It was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he added .
Mr Glynn said he wanted to get as many people as possible out searching as he knew there was a narrow window of opportunity between first light and last light .
“ We were messaging people , asking them to get out searching , ” he said .
By 9.30am the couple returned to Galway to tell their three younger daughters that Ellen was missing , explaining “ we had to be fairly honest ” .
Mr Glynn admitted that at that stage he was not hopeful and said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I was just hoping that they were together ” .
At lunchtime they were informed that Ellen and Sara had been found .
After talking to Ellen he found out that they had tied their paddleboards together and said “ I don ’ t know how they did that ” .
When they saw the Cliffs of Moher , Sara and Ellen decided they had to head towards the Aran Islands otherwise they would be pulled out into the Atlantic .
“ They had a target .
Their aim was to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough , the waves were very high , ” Mr Glynn said .
“ They said they saw the helicopters hovering , they were screaming , but they couldn ’ t hear them .
They could see boats in the distance .
It was really tough going .
“ They were looking out for something to grab onto .
They found the lobster pot and they clung on .
“ When they saw the boat , Sara said this boat is coming for us .
It was the Olivers and they picked them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he saw the girls getting off the helicopter and in the hospital they were both wearing little hats which had been given to them by Patrick and Morgan Oliver .
“ They were hungry and the Olivers gave them whatever food they had on board and flavoured water , ” he said .
Mr Glynn said he wanted to thank everyone involved in the search and rescue for their help .

A teenage girl who was rescued at sea on Thursday after 15 hours in the water has said she has “no idea what would have happened” to her and her cousin if they weren’t found by a fisherman and his son.
Ellen Glynn (17) and her cousin Sara Feeney (23) were reported missing on Wednesday evening after going paddleboarding on Furbo beach in Co Galway.
They were found the following day by local fisherman Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan (18) near Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands, clinging to the buoy of a lobster pot.
Ms Glynn said on Friday that while she was a “bit shook up” she was feeling good. “It’s all overwhelming.” She told RTÉ radio’s Today with Sarah McInerney show that she did not think she would be allowed go paddleboarding again.
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“I’m so scared of giving them [paddle boards] a bad name, it wasn’t their fault.”
She also said this had been the first time she had not brought her mobile phone in a water proof bag.
Ms Glynn said she and her cousin were only a few minutes in the water when they realised that they had drifted far from shore. The wind was rising and they were finding it difficult to get back. They shouted to attract attention on the beach, where Sara’s mother was waiting for them, but could not be heard.
They tied the two boards together and thought that the alarm would be raised quickly and they would be found that night. “We were sitting there on the boards waiting for a boat to come.”
By then it was “pitch black”. When they saw a boat in the distance they started to scream but failed to attract its attention. They also saw a rescue helicopter sweep overhead and thought it would see them because of the high-viz strips on their life jackets.
“Some of the boats came really close, but they couldn’t hear us.”
Ms Glynn said they felt “a little panicky”, but thought they had to be calm.
Initially the water had been warm, but when the sun went down it was very cold with heavy rain, thunder and lightning. “We were absolutely frozen. We were worried about how cold it was. We were shaking like leaves.”
At all times they thought they would be found, she said. Despite their predicament they managed to fall asleep on their boards “for a few seconds at a time” and when they awoke the waves “were huge, they were splashing on us.
“For a while that was scary, but we kind of got used to it. We were able to stay on the boards.”
When the sun came out it got a bit brighter, but they could not see far because it was foggy, Ellen added.
Cliffs of Moher
“We could make out the Cliffs of Moher and Inis Oirr,” she said. They realised that the waves could push them out into the Atlantic so they tried to paddle towards the island, but the waves were too high.
They were all the time looking for something to which they could tie themselves and then they spotted the buoy of a lobster pot.
“We tied our boards to it and then took turns to sleep on our boards. In hindsight it is weird that we just stayed so calm. We just thought ‘we can’t drift out there’ and didn’t expand on that.”
Ellen used the strap from her paddle board to clip their boards onto the lobster pot buoy. They tied the boards together using the boards’ leashes. “When we weren’t paddling, we were holding on to each other’s board.”
She admitted that their perception of time had become confused and they thought it was 5pm. “We began to think that no one was looking for us, then we saw a boat and started paddling like crazy. We thought they were out fishing, but they said: ‘You have no idea how many people are out looking for you.’
“We are so, so grateful. I have no idea what would have happened to us if they didn’t find us.”
The vessel, the Olivers’ 7m potting boat called the Johnny O, found them before noon on Thursday a few kilometres south of Inis Oirr after correctly working out where they might be by analysing wind speed and direction and tidal movements.
Ms Glynn said she felt completely fine on the board, but that when she stood up to try to get into the boat she fell over and knocked Sara off her board.
“We were very shaky. They [the Olivers] wrapped us up and gave us drinks.”
Sara Feeney (23) taken off the Coast Guard helicopter at UCHG on Thursday. Photograph by Aengus McMahon
While she remains in hospital, Ms Glynn said she feels fine, but there was an issue with her muscle enzymes. She hopes to be released from hospital on Friday or Saturday morning at the latest.
She said the buoyancy aids they had been wearing had saved their lives. “We would have been panicking if we didn’t have them.”
The teenager’s father said he had feared the worst by Thursday morning when the women had been missing almost 12 hours.
Johnny Glynn recounted the frantic search he and his wife Deirdre had conducted on Wednesday night and Thursday morning along the Co Clare coastline across the bay from their Galway home on the Newstalk Breakfast show.
The young women usually went swimming or paddleboarding on Silver Strand beach, which is close to their homes in Knocknacarra, but it had been closed due to Covid-19 so they went to Furbo beach, which they would not have known well, he said.
His wife had called him later, concerned the girls had drifted out to sea. By the time he arrived at Furbo it was dark and he couldn’t see anything.
Ellen Glynn’s parents, Johnny and Deirdre. Photograph: Hany Marzouk
His sister-in-law Helen, Sara’s mother, had called for help, and he was concerned as “every minute they were going further and further out”.
Mr Glynn said he then called a friend who works with the ferry to Doolin, Donie Garrihy, who told him he could see on the satellite that there were boats already out in the search, but Mr Glynn wanted a helicopter involved. By 10.30pm a helicopter had joined the search.
Mr Glynn and his wife stayed on the beach until 1am and then decided to drive around the coast to Co Clare to conduct a search on beaches there.
“We thought it most likely that was the way they were heading because of winds,” he said.
The couple arrived in Clare at 3.30am, but it was 5am before first light, and they searched beaches from Ballyvaughan to Kinvara. "It was a rough night, with heavy rain," he added.
Not hopeful
Mr Glynn said he wanted to get as many people as possible out searching as he knew there was a narrow window of opportunity between first light and last light.
“We were messaging people, asking them to get out searching,” he said.
By 9.30am the couple returned to Galway to tell their three younger daughters that Ellen was missing, explaining that “we had to be fairly honest”.
Mr Glynn admitted that at that stage he was not hopeful and said “I just wanted to find them and I was just hoping that they were together”.
At lunchtime they were informed that Ellen and Sara had been found. After talking to Ellen he found out that they had tied their paddle boards together, about which he said: “I don’t know how they did that.”
Mr Glynn said that when he saw the girls getting off the helicopter and in the hospital they were both wearing little hats which had been given to them by Patrick and Morgan Oliver.
Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan, who rescued the two women off Inis Oirr island, with some of Patrick’s RNLI colleagues on their arrival back at the Galway RNLI Lifeboat Station at Galway Docks. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
“They were hungry and the Olivers gave them whatever food they had on board and flavoured water,” he said.
Mr Glynn said he wanted to thank everyone involved in the search and rescue for their help.


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Lucky to be alive - Cousins rescued at sea after clinging to a lobster pot for 15 hours

The mother of one of two young women rescued at sea after clinging to a lobster pot for 15 hours has said paddleboards would “ never darken the doors of our houses again ” .
Two cousins , Sara Feeney ( 23 ) and Ellen Glynn ( 17 ) , were reported missing on Wednesday evening by Ms Feeney ’ s mother who had been on the nearby beach .
They were eventually found , the following day , by local fisherman Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan .
After entering the water at about 9pm on Wednesday , their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sea , south of Inis Oirr , the smallest of the Aran Islands on the west coast .
Sarah Feeney ’ s mother Helen said she had been with the girls and grown increasingly anxious at their failure to return .
“ I was just walking the dog on the beach while they went in for the paddle board on the beautiful evening that we had , ” she said .
“ We had a lovely kind of chat and in good spirits and the next thing they were just going out .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a bit far and I started to be kind of like [ thinking ] that ’ s a bit far , ” she told RTÉ .
“ It just went from the most serene of pictures to a little bit of anxiety and sort of then you ’ re telling yourself , they ’ ll be grand.
” But the cousins disappeared from sight .
“ Horrific , it was the stuff of nightmares , ” she said as the situation unfolded .
“ You ’ re just living by the second.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was no sign of them coming back to shore , she decided to call the Coastguard and a major search operation got under way .
The rescue initially involved only the RNLI but , as the situation deteriorated , other resources were brought in , including the Aran life boat , Coast Guard helicopters and the Civil Defence .
Later , the gardaí , the local flying club and volunteers including sailing clubs all pitched in .
Although the cousins had been wearing lifejackets , they were not wearing wetsuits because of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay in the water for a just short period .
Hundreds of people combed the south Connemara and north Clare coastline on Thursday morning .
Ms Feeney and Ms Glynn , both from the Knocknacarra area of Galway city , were ultimately found clinging to the buoy of a lobster pot , in good health but shaken by the ordeal .
They were transferred by helicopter to University Hospital Galway .
Their rescuers , Patrick Oliver ( 38 ) and son Morgan ( 18 ) were given a heroes ’ welcome when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday .
They had calculated the correct location with the use of tidal and weather information .
Mr Oliver , who has also served on the Galway Bay Lifeboat crew for a number of years , said the pair had done everything necessary to survive a night that saw a warm sunny evening give way to tempestuous conditions .
“ As soon as we got the word they were missing , and with the wind that was there last night and everything else , we kind of predicted where they might have gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did everything right .
They held on to one another , they didn ’ t lose touch and it can ’ t have been easy with the night that was in.
” Although it ended well , Barry Heskin of the RNLI in Galway said the pair were lucky to be alive .
Wednesday had been a “ very dark night ” with heavy rain , thunder , lightning and high winds , he said .

Sara Feeney (23) taken off the Coast Guard helicopter at UCHG on Thursday. Photograph by Aengus McMahon
The mother of one of two young women rescued at sea after clinging to a lobster pot for 15 hours has said paddleboards would “never darken the doors of our houses again”.
Two cousins, Sara Feeney (23) and Ellen Glynn (17), were reported missing on Wednesday evening by Ms Feeney's mother who had been on the nearby beach.
They were eventually found, the following day, by local fisherman Patrick Oliver and his son Morgan.
After entering the water at about 9pm on Wednesday, their paddleboards had somehow been swept out to sea, south of Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands on the west coast.
READ MORE
Sarah Feeney’s mother Helen said she had been with the girls and grown increasingly anxious at their failure to return.
“I was just walking the dog on the beach while they went in for the paddle board on the beautiful evening that we had,” she said.
"We had a lovely kind of chat and in good spirits and the next thing they were just going out . . . they seemed to be going out a bit far and I started to be kind of like [thinking] that's a bit far," she told RTÉ.
“It just went from the most serene of pictures to a little bit of anxiety and sort of then you’re telling yourself, they’ll be grand.” But the cousins disappeared from sight.
“Horrific, it was the stuff of nightmares,” she said as the situation unfolded. “You’re just living by the second.”
When it grew dark and there was no sign of them coming back to shore, she decided to call the Coastguard and a major search operation got under way.
The rescue initially involved only the RNLI but, as the situation deteriorated, other resources were brought in, including the Aran life boat, Coast Guard helicopters and the Civil Defence. Later, the gardaí, the local flying club and volunteers including sailing clubs all pitched in.
Although the cousins had been wearing lifejackets, they were not wearing wetsuits because of the fine weather conditions and their intention to stay in the water for a just short period.
Hundreds of people combed the south Connemara and north Clare coastline on Thursday morning.
Ms Feeney and Ms Glynn, both from the Knocknacarra area of Galway city, were ultimately found clinging to the buoy of a lobster pot, in good health but shaken by the ordeal. They were transferred by helicopter to University Hospital Galway.
Their rescuers, Patrick Oliver (38) and son Morgan (18) were given a heroes’ welcome when they returned to the docks in Galway on Thursday. They had calculated the correct location with the use of tidal and weather information.
Mr Oliver, who has also served on the Galway Bay Lifeboat crew for a number of years, said the pair had done everything necessary to survive a night that saw a warm sunny evening give way to tempestuous conditions.
“As soon as we got the word they were missing, and with the wind that was there last night and everything else, we kind of predicted where they might have gone,” he said.
“They did everything right. They held on to one another, they didn’t lose touch and it can’t have been easy with the night that was in.”
Although it ended well, Barry Heskin of the RNLI in Galway said the pair were lucky to be alive.
Wednesday had been a “very dark night” with heavy rain, thunder, lightning and high winds, he said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Shane Kenny convinced Achill water contamination triggered medical relapse

Former RTÉ broadcaster Shane Kenny has said he has no doubt aluminium contamination of the water supply on Achill Island in Co Mayo triggered an acute medical episode he experienced over the past week – the effects of which he hopes will be short-lived .
Kenny suffers from an ongoing debilitating condition due to neurological damage from taking a prescribed benzodiazepine drug prescribed to treat an inner ear condition .
The journalist , who has a house on the island , called on Irish Water to give a fuller explanation of what it admitted was “ a catastrophic failure ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ do not consume ( DNC ) notice ” on water coming from the island ’ s treatment works on Friday because of high levels of aluminium , and blamed the problem on exceptional numbers of people on “ staycations ” .
Aluminium sulphate is used to remove impurities by combining them into larger particles which can be removed more easily .
The Achill works had switched from manual to automated application of the coagulant before this incident , but has had to cope with exceptional demand .
The chemical compound is relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence high levels may cause adverse effects on the nervous system .
Those with underlying conditions and the very young may also be vulnerable to its effects .
Kenny stressed his condition had been stabilised through exercise and careful lifestyle changes .
“ I ’ ve made great progress at managing it and restoring some quality of life , but that ’ s been wrecked over the past 10 days since I returned to Achill on Monday , August 3rd .
I can barely walk now having driven up my walking to an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened was a relapse of very serious proportions .
“ I ’ ve suffered nausea , vomiting and diarrhoea last week , constant stomach problems and then so much body pain , shoulders and arm , severe headache that I had to see my doctor at 10pm on Monday night last here in Achill thinking I was having a heart attack – I ’ ve had a home here for 21 years.
” His GP did exhaustive tests including an ECG , concluded there was no heart issue and the pain was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no doubt that this collapse in my condition was caused by aluminium sulphate poisoning .
I can only hope it ’ s short term , ” Kenny said .
When the doctor noted there was a problem due to aluminium contamination with the local water supply , Kenny did his own research – as he had to do because his neurological condition is so strange and challenging , and consulted a scientist familiar with an aluminium pollution incident at Camelford in the UK in 1988 .
He said he was immediately struck by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which tallied with his recent symptoms .
Up to that point , he was putting the problem down to his own condition , he noted .
“ It ’ s possible that only vulnerable people like me might be affected , ” Kenny said .
“ I accept that , and I wouldn ’ t be seeking a blame game , but to understand the facts and if an accident or mistake took place , to put in place controls or systems that avoid a recurrence .
But I will not have any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish Water defended how it has responded after aluminium levels were found to be approximately five times greater than permitted .
On possible health threats , it added : “ As soon as the issue came to light Irish Water immediately consulted with the HSE and the DNC notice was put in place .
Any queries in relation to health matters should be directed to the HSE.
” The amount of available drinking water was greater than the volume which can be safely produced at the plant , it said .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in demand and an increase in temperatures which impacted on water treatment efficacy , “ we identified an increase in aluminium and turbidity or cloudiness in the water ... aluminium sulphate ( alum ) is used as a coagulant to collect the organic matter from the raw water into a ‘ sludge blanket ’ .
The ‘ sludge blanket ’ lifted allowing for excess alum to spill into the supply necessitating an immediate DNC.
” Reducing the amount of alum would have required a parallel reduction in water volumes going into supply , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ Irish Water is currently dealing with the incident and trying to resolve the technical difficulties at the water treatment plant .
The EPA will undertake an audit of the plant when it has been returned to satisfactory operation .
The audit will review what happened and verify that the remedial actions taken have been effective in restoring compliant drinking water quality , ” a spokeswoman said .

Former RTÉ broadcaster Shane Kenny has said he has no doubt aluminium contamination of the water supply on Achill Island in Co Mayo triggered an acute medical episode he experienced over the past week – the effects of which he hopes will be short-lived.
Kenny suffers from an ongoing debilitating condition due to neurological damage from taking a prescribed benzodiazepine drug prescribed to treat an inner ear condition.
The journalist, who has a house on the island, called on Irish Water to give a fuller explanation of what it admitted was “a catastrophic failure” of the supply. It issued a “do not consume (DNC) notice” on water coming from the island’s treatment works on Friday because of high levels of aluminium, and blamed the problem on exceptional numbers of people on “staycations”.
Aluminium sulphate is used to remove impurities by combining them into larger particles which can be removed more easily. The Achill works had switched from manual to automated application of the coagulant before this incident, but has had to cope with exceptional demand.
READ MORE
The chemical compound is relatively non-toxic in healthy individuals but there is evidence high levels may cause adverse effects on the nervous system. Those with underlying conditions and the very young may also be vulnerable to its effects.
Kenny stressed his condition had been stabilised through exercise and careful lifestyle changes. “I’ve made great progress at managing it and restoring some quality of life, but that’s been wrecked over the past 10 days since I returned to Achill on Monday, August 3rd. I can barely walk now having driven up my walking to an average of 3km a day...What happened was a relapse of very serious proportions.
“I’ve suffered nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea last week, constant stomach problems and then so much body pain, shoulders and arm, severe headache that I had to see my doctor at 10pm on Monday night last here in Achill thinking I was having a heart attack – I’ve had a home here for 21 years.”
His GP did exhaustive tests including an ECG, concluded there was no heart issue and the pain was “musculoskeletal”.
“I’ve no doubt that this collapse in my condition was caused by aluminium sulphate poisoning. I can only hope it’s short term,” Kenny said.
When the doctor noted there was a problem due to aluminium contamination with the local water supply, Kenny did his own research – as he had to do because his neurological condition is so strange and challenging, and consulted a scientist familiar with an aluminium pollution incident at Camelford in the UK in 1988. He said he was immediately struck by how people were affected by it, which tallied with his recent symptoms. Up to that point, he was putting the problem down to his own condition, he noted.
“It’s possible that only vulnerable people like me might be affected,” Kenny said. “I accept that, and I wouldn’t be seeking a blame game, but to understand the facts and if an accident or mistake took place, to put in place controls or systems that avoid a recurrence. But I will not have any trust in public water supply anymore.”
Irish Water defended how it has responded after aluminium levels were found to be approximately five times greater than permitted. It rejects the link made to Camelford, saying that contamination there had been caused when 20 tonnes of aluminium sulphate - 3,000 time the recommended limits - was accidentially discharged into the water supply. By contrast, the Achill incident saw a quantity equal to no more than five times the recommended limit added to the supply, and then only briefly.
On possible health threats, it added: “As soon as the issue came to light Irish Water immediately consulted with the HSE and the DNC notice was put in place. Any queries in relation to health matters should be directed to the HSE.”
The amount of available drinking water was greater than the volume which can be safely produced at the plant, it said.
On Friday, as a result of further increases in demand and an increase in temperatures which impacted on water treatment efficacy, “we identified an increase in aluminium and turbidity or cloudiness in the water...aluminium sulphate (alum) is used as a coagulant to collect the organic matter from the raw water into a ‘sludge blanket’. The ‘sludge blanket’ lifted allowing for excess alum to spill into the supply necessitating an immediate DNC.”
Reducing the amount of alum would have required a parallel reduction in water volumes going into supply, triggering severe restrictions.
The EPA said: “Irish Water is currently dealing with the incident and trying to resolve the technical difficulties at the water treatment plant. The EPA will undertake an audit of the plant when it has been returned to satisfactory operation. The audit will review what happened and verify that the remedial actions taken have been effective in restoring compliant drinking water quality,” a spokeswoman said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-14--Covid-19: Taxi drivers, plumbers and carpenters among self-employed to get new €1,000 grant

Taxi drivers , plumbers and other self-employed workers will be given access to a new €1,000 grant under new plans finalised by the Government .
Under the scheme , to be led by Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys , sole traders such as electricians and carpenters will have access to the funds to help them “ get back on their feet ” in light of the Covid-19 pandemic .
The grant will be aimed at those who do not pay commercial rates and therefore did not qualify for the Government ’ s previously announced restart grant scheme .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis and will be made available to those who have been severely impacted and have had to stop working .
It will apply to people who were in receipt of the pandemic welfare payment or jobseekers ’ payment and closed their claim on or after May 18th , which marked the first phase of the reopening of society after the initial lockdown .
“ If you ’ re a plumber , carpenter , beautician , gardener or electrician who is transitioning back to work , or the taxi driver getting your car back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be of interest to you , ” Ms Humphreys said .
“ Whether it ’ s paying wages , fuel costs , purchasing PPE [ personal protective equipment ] or signage – this is an important grant to assist the self-employed to reopen their business and get back doing what they do best , providing crucial and essential services in their communities.
” Senior Ministers were last night finalising a package of economic supports for the midlands , due to be signed-off on Friday .
It is expected to include a top-up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses and extra funding for Fáilte Ireland to promote Kildare , Laois and Offaly , following the reimposition of restrictions in those counties after a spike in cases .
Further supports for local businesses through schemes operated by local enterprise offices and possible changes to the commercial rates waivers are being considered .
Separately , the Health Service Executive is examining plans for another self-isolation facility once its €25 million lease on the Citywest hotel and conference centre expires in October .
Brought on stream in March due to the anticipated need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,000 patients had used the 750-bedroom facility to isolate at the end of July , more than four months after the deal was signed .
However , with cases rising again and the usual winter pressures on the healthcare system expected in the coming months , a HSE spokeswoman confirmed plans for another facility were under consideration .
“ The HSE has no established or approved plan to extend Citywest at present albeit that the requirement for a self-isolation facility of a lesser scale beyond October is currently being examined , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 have been identified in the State , the National Public Health Emergency Team reported on Thursday , with no further deaths from the disease .
Dr Ronan Glynn , acting chief medical officer at the Department of Health , appealed to those living under renewed coronavirus restrictions in Kildare , Laois and Offaly to “ hold firm ” , and stressed cases were also occurring in several other counties .
Of the new cases , 43 are associated with existing outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case .
Twelve have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a meeting of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 Response heard nine unannounced inspections of meat plants have been carried out by the Health and Safety Authority ( HSA ) since May .
The HSA also confirmed that no improvement or prohibition notices – two of the enforcement measures open to the agency – had been served on any meat plants .
Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis told the committee his union ’ s members in the meat processing sector “ remain petrified of contracting Covid-19 but feel that they must walk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases attend work , even if they are feeling unwell ” .

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys: ‘If you’re a plumber, carpenter, beautician, gardener or electrician who is transitioning back to work, or the taxi driver getting your car back on the road – this grant may be of interest to you.’ Photograph: Alan Betson
Taxi drivers, plumbers and other self-employed workers will be given access to a new €1,000 grant under new plans finalised by the Government.
Under the scheme, to be led by Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys, sole traders such as electricians and carpenters will have access to the funds to help them “get back on their feet” in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The grant will be aimed at those who do not pay commercial rates and therefore did not qualify for the Government’s previously announced restart grant scheme.
The money will be given on a once-off basis and will be made available to those who have been severely impacted and have had to stop working.
READ MORE
It will apply to people who were in receipt of the pandemic welfare payment or jobseekers’ payment and closed their claim on or after May 18th, which marked the first phase of the reopening of society after the initial lockdown.
“If you’re a plumber, carpenter, beautician, gardener or electrician who is transitioning back to work, or the taxi driver getting your car back on the road – this grant may be of interest to you,” Ms Humphreys said.
“Whether it’s paying wages, fuel costs, purchasing PPE [personal protective equipment] or signage – this is an important grant to assist the self-employed to reopen their business and get back doing what they do best, providing crucial and essential services in their communities.”
Senior Ministers were last night finalising a package of economic supports for the midlands, due to be signed-off on Friday.
It is expected to include a top-up to the State’s restart scheme for businesses and extra funding for Fáilte Ireland to promote Kildare, Laois and Offaly, following the reimposition of restrictions in those counties after a spike in cases.
Further supports for local businesses through schemes operated by local enterprise offices and possible changes to the commercial rates waivers are being considered.
October expiry
Separately, the Health Service Executive is examining plans for another self-isolation facility once its €25 million lease on the Citywest hotel and conference centre expires in October.
Brought on stream in March due to the anticipated need for a large self-isolation facility, just under 1,000 patients had used the 750-bedroom facility to isolate at the end of July, more than four months after the deal was signed.
However, with cases rising again and the usual winter pressures on the healthcare system expected in the coming months, a HSE spokeswoman confirmed plans for another facility were under consideration.
“The HSE has no established or approved plan to extend Citywest at present albeit that the requirement for a self-isolation facility of a lesser scale beyond October is currently being examined,” she said.
A further 92 cases of Covid-19 have been identified in the State, the National Public Health Emergency Team reported on Thursday, with no further deaths from the disease.
Coronavirus restrictions
Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer at the Department of Health, appealed to those living under renewed coronavirus restrictions in Kildare, Laois and Offaly to “hold firm”, and stressed cases were also occurring in several other counties.
Of the new cases, 43 are associated with existing outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case. Twelve have been identified as community transmissions.
Meanwhile, a meeting of the Special Oireachtas Committee on Covid-19 Response heard nine unannounced inspections of meat plants have been carried out by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) since May.
The HSA also confirmed that no improvement or prohibition notices – two of the enforcement measures open to the agency – had been served on any meat plants.
Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis told the committee his union’s members in the meat processing sector “remain petrified of contracting Covid-19 but feel that they must walk that tightrope every day and in many cases attend work, even if they are feeling unwell”.