theirishtimes--2020-05-22--Some 62% of Covid-19 deaths in Ireland relate to care homes, report says

Ireland has one of the highest proportion of care home deaths among all fatalities from Covid-19 , a new report indicates .
Some 62 per cent of Covid-19 deaths in Ireland are associated with care homes , a figure surpassed only by Canada , where 82 per cent of deaths occurred in these settings .
This is according to the latest update report from the International Long Term Care Policy Network , which does however caution that comparisons between the 16 countries are difficult to make due to differing approaches to recording deaths .
Canada , Ireland and France ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent of the total ) record both confirmed and probable Covid-19 deaths , whereas the figures for Sweden ( 49 per cent ) , Austria and the US ( 41 per cent ) and Germany ( 37 per cent ) relate only to confirmed cases .
In Hong Kong , where there have been just four deaths overall , no cases or deaths have been recorded in care homes .
The report notes that Ireland has a centralised system to collection information about Covid-19 infections , and that all deaths in all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public health officials .
In addition to known , laboratory-confirmed deaths , a census of mortality in long-term residential facilities uncovered a further 221 probable Covid-19 deaths , the report also notes .
In Sweden , the government has apologised for the high number of deaths among older people in care homes and an investigation has been ordered .
In the UK , a government minister has said policy was to protect the national health service ahead of care homes due to a lack of testing capacity .
In Ireland , public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that blanket visitor restrictions for care homes were introduced more quickly here than in any other country following the arrival of the virus .
The share of care home residents whose deaths are linked to the virus tends to be lower in countries with fewer total deaths , according to the report , though as the number of deaths grows this share seems to reach a plateau “ for now ” .
The authors say that despite the limitations of the data , it is important to share it as if infections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timely manner , there is a danger opportunities to alert policymakers to the scale of the epidemic in care homes will be missed .
“ This may result in allocations of scarce resources ( including testing , personal protection equipment , medical personnel and medicines ) that leave out the settings that are experiencing some of the biggest challenges in relation to Covid-19 .
”

Ireland has one of the highest proportion of care home deaths among all fatalities from Covid-19, a new report indicates. File photograph: The Irish Times
Ireland has one of the highest proportion of care home deaths among all fatalities from Covid-19, a new report indicates.
Some 62 per cent of Covid-19 deaths in Ireland are associated with care homes, a figure surpassed only by Canada, where 82 per cent of deaths occurred in these settings.
This is according to the latest update report from the International Long Term Care Policy Network, which does however caution that comparisons between the 16 countries are difficult to make due to differing approaches to recording deaths.
Canada, Ireland and France (where care home deaths make up 51 per cent of the total) record both confirmed and probable Covid-19 deaths, whereas the figures for Sweden (49 per cent), Austria and the US (41 per cent) and Germany (37 per cent) relate only to confirmed cases.
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In Hong Kong, where there have been just four deaths overall, no cases or deaths have been recorded in care homes.
The report notes that Ireland has a centralised system to collection information about Covid-19 infections, and that all deaths in all care settings and dwellings are notified to public health officials. In addition to known, laboratory-confirmed deaths, a census of mortality in long-term residential facilities uncovered a further 221 probable Covid-19 deaths, the report also notes.
Apology
In Sweden, the government has apologised for the high number of deaths among older people in care homes and an investigation has been ordered. In the UK, a government minister has said policy was to protect the national health service ahead of care homes due to a lack of testing capacity.
In Ireland, public health officials have vigorously defended performance, pointing out that blanket visitor restrictions for care homes were introduced more quickly here than in any other country following the arrival of the virus.
The share of care home residents whose deaths are linked to the virus tends to be lower in countries with fewer total deaths, according to the report, though as the number of deaths grows this share seems to reach a plateau “for now”.
The authors say that despite the limitations of the data, it is important to share it as if infections and deaths are not measured in a timely manner, there is a danger opportunities to alert policymakers to the scale of the epidemic in care homes will be missed.
“This may result in allocations of scarce resources (including testing, personal protection equipment, medical personnel and medicines) that leave out the settings that are experiencing some of the biggest challenges in relation to Covid-19.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-22--Slow Down Day kicks off with motorists breaking speed limits

Gardaí have clocked a motorist travelling at more than one-and-a-half times the speed limit in Co Meath , in the first hours of the National Slow Down Day campaign .
The driver was recorded as travelling at 92km/h at Piercetown near Dunboyne just hours after the 7am start to the 24-hour long special enforcement campaign .
The Garda operation for National Slow Down Day entails high-visibility enforcement using marked Garda cars and marked speed detection vans in 1,322 speed enforcement zones , across the road network .
Gardaí will also use media channels to remind people of the potential impact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the first few hours of monitoring the Garda and GoSafe checked the speed of 22,500 vehicles with 181 vehicles detected travelling in excess of the speed limit .
Among the speeds detected by gardaí were : • 85km/h in a 50km/h zone on the R265 at Porthall , Ballindrait , Co Donegal • 124km/h in a 80km/h zone on the M50 at Kilmore Beg , Dublin 17 .
• 74km/h in a 50km/h zone on the R118 at Rock Road , Dublin 4 .
• 71km/h in a 50km/h zone on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • 71km/h in a 50km/h zone on the R707 Burgagery , Clonmel , Tipperary • 64km/h in a 50km/h zone on the Ballinacurra Road , Limerick • 121km/h in a 100km/h zone on the N11 at Kilmurry North , Kilmacanoge , Co Wicklow • 60km/h in a 50km/h zone on the N24 at Bohercrow , Tipperary .
• 71km/h in a 60km/h zone on the R750 at Merrymeeting , Rathnew , Co Wicklow • 117km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N4 at Clongawny , Mullingar , Co Westmeath • 91km/h in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Co Monaghan .
Drivers travelling at speeds significantly in excess of the speed limit may face serious charges including dangerous driving for which they face court appearances .
A Garda spokesman said the Garda and the Road Safety Authority would continue to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding and urge motorists to drive carefully and abide by the speed limits .
The Garda said it plans to issue another update at 12.30pm .

A Garda spokesman said the Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority would continue to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding.
Gardaí and GoSafe speed vans detected more then 900 speeding motorists, some of them travelling at almost twice the speed limit, as part of the National Slow Down Day campaign.
One vehicle on the Navan Road in Dublin was driving 106km/h in a 60km/h zone. There were several speed breaches detected on Dublin’s M50 motorway, with one driver travelling 133km/h in a 100km/h zone at Finglas .On the N11 near Newcastle, Co Wicklow, another driver was caught travelling at 130km/h in a 100km/h zone. There were detections too on the N4 near Mullingar, Co Westmeath, where a driver was travelling at 128km/h in a 100km/h zone.
There was also speeding on smaller roads such as a vehicle travelling at 90km/h in a 50km/h zone in Ballindrait, Co Donegal, and another at 99km/h in a 50km/h zone near Clonmel , Co Tipperary.
By Friday evening gardaí and GoSafe had checked the speed of more than 100,000 vehicles. Many vehicles breaking the limits were travelling at speeds of more than 120km/h, and some heavy goods vehicles were detected breaking the relevant limits while towing trailers .
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The Garda Síochána operation for National Slow Down Day entails high-visibility enforcement using marked Garda cars and marked speed detection vans in 1,322 speed enforcement zones, across the road network.


theirishtimes--2020-05-22--NBRU and bus operators call for clarity on how workers will travel

Commercial bus operators have written to the Department of Transport seeking an urgent meeting to discuss how passengers are to be carried in safety as more people return to work .
Separately , the National Bus and Rail Workers Union ( NBRU ) has said less than 1 per cent of bus users in Dublin were wearing a face mask on Monday , when the first relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions came into place .
The NBRU also said there was widespread flouting of the rules on social distancing , on Tuesday .
The union has written to the chief @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Irish Rail warning that bus drivers or frontline staff can not be expected to police the social distancing rules on public transport .
The union called on the Government to show how current social distancing measures can operate as more people go back to work .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government advice is to wear facemasks or coverings “ on busy public transport ” , advice that has been reiterated by the National Transport Transport Authority , on its consumer portal Transport For Ireland .
However both the NBRU and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on what is “ busy public transport ” , given that if buses are obeying current social distancing measures they are not “ busy ” .
General Secretary of the NBRU Dermot Lacey said the most a double deck bus could carry under the current rules was about 19 .
He said it was “ irresponsible ” to suggest buses get busier than that while the current measures on social distancing apply .
He told The Irish times it was “ insulting ” that unions representing those working on public transport were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate on safety , he said .
Now the operators of some of the State ’ s most recognised private bus companies have said they too have serious concerns about being left out of policy discussions on safety and operational issues , in preparation for large numbers of workers going back to their jobs .
Commercial operators Wexford Bus ; Swords Express , Cobh Connect and Matthews Coach Hire cater for about 100,000 passenger journeys per week between them .
Brendan Crowley of Wexford Bus said his commuter service between Wexford and Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on coaches which are designed for about 56 passengers each .
Mr Crowley said commercial operators were not in a position to introduce more buses at 14 passengers per bus , as it was uneconomical .
He said the commercial operators had been seeking a meeting with Department of Transport officials to discuss what is to be the policy for getting workers to their jobs , when further restrictions are lifted , but to no avail .
Mr Crowley said the National Transport Authority was helpful in its guidance , but was not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsidy or set Government guidance on social distancing .
The Department of Transport said there was no legal requirement to ensure people on public transport used face masks .
It said health advice was being followed in relation to cleaning and “ social distancing measures across the network ” .
A spokesman for the National Transport Authority added that the social distancing measures on buses were for guidance rather than being mandatory .
He said : In the vast majority of cases , passengers have been observing the guidelines on social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the guidelines is widespread ” .

Commercial bus operators have written to the Department of Transport seeking an urgent meeting to discuss how passengers are to be carried in safety as more people return to work. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Commercial bus operators have written to the Department of Transport seeking an urgent meeting to discuss how passengers are to be carried in safety as more people return to work.
Separately, the National Bus and Rail Workers Union (NBRU) has said less than 1 per cent of bus users in Dublin were wearing a face mask on Monday, when the first relaxation of the Covid-19 restrictions came into place. The NBRU also said there was widespread flouting of the rules on social distancing, on Tuesday.
The union has written to the chief executives of Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Irish Rail warning that bus drivers or frontline staff can not be expected to police the social distancing rules on public transport.
The union called on the Government to show how current social distancing measures can operate as more people go back to work.
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Government advice
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government advice is to wear facemasks or coverings “on busy public transport”, advice that has been reiterated by the National Transport Transport Authority, on its consumer portal Transport For Ireland.
However both the NBRU and commercial bus owners have asked for clarity on what is “busy public transport”, given that if buses are obeying current social distancing measures they are not “busy”.
General Secretary of the NBRU Dermot Lacey said the most a double deck bus could carry under the current rules was about 19. He said it was “irresponsible” to suggest buses get busier than that while the current measures on social distancing apply. He told The Irish times it was “ insulting” that unions representing those working on public transport were not “at the table” in the debate on safety, he said.
Now the operators of some of the State’s most recognised private bus companies have said they too have serious concerns about being left out of policy discussions on safety and operational issues, in preparation for large numbers of workers going back to their jobs.
Commercial operators
Commercial operators Wexford Bus; Swords Express, Cobh Connect and Matthews Coach Hire cater for about 100,000 passenger journeys per week between them. Brendan Crowley of Wexford Bus said his commuter service between Wexford and Dublin currently carries a maximum of 14 passengers on coaches which are designed for about 56 passengers each.
Mr Crowley said commercial operators were not in a position to introduce more buses at 14 passengers per bus, as it was uneconomical. He said the commercial operators had been seeking a meeting with Department of Transport officials to discuss what is to be the policy for getting workers to their jobs, when further restrictions are lifted, but to no avail.
Mr Crowley said the National Transport Authority was helpful in its guidance, but was not in a position to provide an economic subsidy or set Government guidance on social distancing.
The Department of Transport said there was no legal requirement to ensure people on public transport used face masks. It said health advice was being followed in relation to cleaning and “social distancing measures across the network”.
A spokesman for the National Transport Authority added that the social distancing measures on buses were for guidance rather than being mandatory. He said: In the vast majority of cases, passengers have been observing the guidelines on social distancing and we don’t believe that flouting of the guidelines is widespread”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-22--Coronavirus: Smaller charities ‘face funding losses of €1.5 billion’

Small and medium-sized charities are facing funding losses of €1.5 billion this year because of Covid-19 , according to a data analytics company specialising in the non-profit sector .
Benefacts also predicts micro and small nonprofit outfits of various kinds could face a fundraising shortfall of €380 million .
The figures are sharp contrast to a €40 million support fund for the sector unveiled by the Government earlier thi s month .
“ It ’ s very , very serious , ” said Benefacts founder and managing director Patricia Quinn .
“ [ Many of them ] have nothing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the State , Benefacts scrutinises publicly available financial details of almost 33,000 organisations that employ in the region of 165,000 people .
This €14.2 billion “ social economy ” includes everything from housing and health to education and poverty .
It takes in the environment , sport , the arts , religion , health and education .
Previous information supplied to The Charities Institute by 58 small and medium organisations predicted an average loss of 40 per cent of income .
Ahead of an online seminar to mark its fourth annual report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €1.5 billion in losses to the overall sector based on 2018 data .
Similarly , information supplied to the Charities Regulator found that of 2,200 micro and small organisations who engage in fundraising activities , 90 per cent had either cancelled or postponed their efforts .
Applied to the broader micro and small enterprise sector , it would mean losses of €380 million .
Ms Quinn said the picture was particularly bleak for those who have been left with no revenue streams , such as many arts organisations .
“ Imagine if you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you work was in the orchestra .
.
.
when will the Government allow people to be on a stage with one another ?
This is people ’ s livelihood ; it ’ s all they do.
” Over half of charities have now raised concerns about future viability , according to Benefacts .
“ The social economy has nearly 30,000 people working in its micro entities , and .
.
.
they do not enjoy stable incomes , ” Stephen Kinsella , associate professor of Economics at the University of Limerick noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s data presentation .
“ And as their incomes shrink , the complex needs they address in society grow .
Absent the State ’ s intervention , a large section of these groups , from housing and the arts to environment , advocacy and social services , are likely to struggle .
Some will fail.
” While Benefacts has said the Government ’ s Covid-19 Stability Fund is welcome “ and will give some nonprofits time to review , regroup and renew their operations ” , the outlook remains bleak .
Ireland ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about 9,854 of which are incorporated as companies .
Almost 4,000 are schools , and almost 800 are societies , co-operatives , industrial societies , political parties or charter bodies .
The rest include thousands of local , religious or sports organisations .
Benefacts , which aims to “ convert data into intelligence ” within the sector , sources its information from 10 public sources , including the Companies Registration Office and the Charities Regulator .
Before Covid-19 shook the world ’ s economy , things had been looking far more positive in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government spending had increased by 13 per cent from €5.3 billion to €5.9 billion .
Fundraising and donations had gone up 6 per cent to €955 million , while turnover had increased 9.5 per cent from €13 billion to €14.2 billion year-on-year .

Micro and small nonprofit outfits of various kinds could face a fundraising shortfall of €380 million. Photograph: iStock
Small and medium-sized charities are facing funding losses of €1.5 billion this year because of Covid-19, according to a data analytics company specialising in the non-profit sector.
Benefacts also predicts micro and small nonprofit outfits of various kinds could face a fundraising shortfall of €380 million.
The figures are sharp contrast to a €40 million support fund for the sector unveiled by the Government earlier this s month.
"It's very, very serious," said Benefacts founder and managing director Patricia Quinn. "[Many of them] have nothing to fall back on."
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There are almost 33,000 organisations that employ in the region of 165,000 people. A nonprofit funded by the State, Benefacts scrutinises publicly available financial details of over 10,000 of them.
This €14.2 billion “social economy” includes everything from housing and health to education and poverty. It takes in the environment, sport, the arts, religion, health and education.
Previous information supplied to The Charities Institute by 58 small and medium organisations predicted an average loss of 40 per cent of income. Ahead of an online seminar to mark its fourth annual report, Benefacts calculated that would represent about €1.5 billion in losses to the overall sector based on 2018 data.
Similarly, information supplied to the Charities Regulator found that of 2,200 micro and small organisations who engage in fundraising activities, 90 per cent had either cancelled or postponed their efforts. Applied to the broader micro and small enterprise sector, it would mean losses of €380 million.
Ms Quinn said the picture was particularly bleak for those who have been left with no revenue streams, such as many arts organisations.
“Imagine if you were a double bass player and all you work was in the orchestra . . . when will the Government allow people to be on a stage with one another? This is people’s livelihood; it’s all they do.”
Over half of charities have now raised concerns about future viability, according to Benefacts.
"The social economy has nearly 30,000 people working in its micro entities, and . . . they do not enjoy stable incomes," Stephen Kinsella, associate professor of Economics at the University of Limerick noted in a contribution to the organisation's data presentation.
“And as their incomes shrink, the complex needs they address in society grow. Absent the State’s intervention, a large section of these groups, from housing and the arts to environment, advocacy and social services, are likely to struggle. Some will fail.”
While Benefacts has said the Government’s Covid-19 Stability Fund is welcome “and will give some nonprofits time to review, regroup and renew their operations”, the outlook remains bleak.
Ireland’s non-profit sector has 32,841 organisations, about 9,854 of which are incorporated as companies.
Almost 4,000 are schools, and almost 800 are societies, co-operatives, industrial societies, political parties or charter bodies. The rest include thousands of local, religious or sports organisations.
Benefacts, which aims to "convert data into intelligence" within the sector, sources its information from 10 public sources, including the Companies Registration Office and the Charities Regulator.
Before Covid-19 shook the world's economy, things had been looking far more positive in Ireland. The report on 2018 found Government spending had increased by 13 per cent from €5.3 billion to €5.9 billion.
Fundraising and donations had gone up 6 per cent to €955 million, while turnover had increased 9.5 per cent from €13 billion to €14.2 billion year-on-year.


theirishtimes--2020-05-22--Dublin commuters say Covid-19 plan cannot forget public transport projects

Dublin commuters have said while the new Covid-19 world will see walking and cycling increasingly replace public transport , major bus and rail projects can not be forgotten .
A major new strategy unveiled for the capital on Thursday has been welcomed by the Dublin Commuter Coalition .
It includes further restrictions on cars , large-scale bus diversions and a widespread reallocation of road space to pedestrians and cyclists .
Coalition chair Kevin Carter said he expected to see “ pushback on such drastic proposals ” but welcomed the approach .
“ We must prioritise what little space we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In normal circumstances that would be fulfilled by public transport , but in this new world that job has to be fulfilled by walking and cycling , ” he said .
The joint National Transport Authority ( NTA ) and Dublin City Council Covid-19 “ mobility intervention programme ” would recast the heart of the city in response to public health needs .
Once public activity returns to the city , bicycle-use is expected to triple and walking to double , according to the strategy document .
Public transport use is expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent in line with social distancing requirements while car-use could fall by 30 per cent .
However , the Commuter Coalition qualified its support for the approach by stressing the importance of plans such as BusConnects and the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network , as well as continued investment in public transport .
The new plan , however , is likely to draw considerable support from cycling advocates who have long agitated for more expansive and safer infrastructure .
The Dublin Cycling Campaign , also welcoming the development , noted similar pushes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pursuing a tenfold increase in cycling and Paris building 650km of new cycleways .
“ The way people move around the city will need to fundamentally change in response to social distancing requirements , ” it said .
“ The measures being proposed will be vital for making cycling a safe and comfortable option for the thousands of people who will be new to cycling in the city.
” Last February it emerged that Ireland had the highest annual increase in deaths of cyclists among all EU member states over a nine-year period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transport safety body said deaths of cyclists rose by an average of 8 per cent annually between 2010 and 2018 , almost four times the rate of the next worst countries .
The Dublin Cycling Campaign said the other three Dublin councils need to follow suit with plans that would enable an expansion of safe cycling .
Efforts to change how traffic system work are ongoing .
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has said it will introduce a one-way traffic system in the south Dublin village of Blackrock by the end of the month @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the Covid-19 emergency .
That will also see space reallocated for pedestrians and cyclists .
However , while cautiously optimistic , many campaigners may be concerned by the temporary nature of such plans .
Green Party councillor Michael Pidgeon said the Dublin City plan appears to have embraced the right philosophy .
“ This shouldn ’ t be a political or ‘ green ’ issue : there simply isn ’ t any other way to bring enough people into and around the city if public transport is at 20 per cent capacity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s got to be cycling and walking .
”

Dublin commuters have said while the new Covid-19 world will see walking and cycling increasingly replace public transport, major bus and rail projects cannot be forgotten.
A major new strategy unveiled for the capital on Thursday has been welcomed by the Dublin Commuter Coalition. It includes further restrictions on cars, large-scale bus diversions and a widespread reallocation of road space to pedestrians and cyclists.
Coalition chair Kevin Carter said he expected to see "pushback on such drastic proposals" but welcomed the approach.
“We must prioritise what little space we have to move as many people as possible. In normal circumstances that would be fulfilled by public transport, but in this new world that job has to be fulfilled by walking and cycling,” he said.
READ MORE
The joint National Transport Authority (NTA) and Dublin City Council Covid-19 "mobility intervention programme" would recast the heart of the city in response to public health needs.
Once public activity returns to the city, bicycle-use is expected to triple and walking to double, according to the strategy document. Public transport use is expected to fall by as much as 80 per cent in line with social distancing requirements while car-use could fall by 30 per cent.
However, the Commuter Coalition qualified its support for the approach by stressing the importance of plans such as BusConnects and the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network, as well as continued investment in public transport.
The new plan, however, is likely to draw considerable support from cycling advocates who have long agitated for more expansive and safer infrastructure.
Cycleways
The Dublin Cycling Campaign, also welcoming the development, noted similar pushes in other cities – for instance London pursuing a tenfold increase in cycling and Paris building 650km of new cycleways.
“The way people move around the city will need to fundamentally change in response to social distancing requirements,” it said.
“The measures being proposed will be vital for making cycling a safe and comfortable option for the thousands of people who will be new to cycling in the city.”
Last February it emerged that Ireland had the highest annual increase in deaths of cyclists among all EU member states over a nine-year period.
The study by a leading EU transport safety body said deaths of cyclists rose by an average of 8 per cent annually between 2010 and 2018, almost four times the rate of the next worst countries.
The Dublin Cycling Campaign said the other three Dublin councils need to follow suit with plans that would enable an expansion of safe cycling.
Efforts to change how traffic system work are ongoing. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council has said it will introduce a one-way traffic system in the south Dublin village of Blackrock by the end of the month in order to ensure safe public distancing during the Covid-19 emergency. That will also see space reallocated for pedestrians and cyclists. However, while cautiously optimistic, many campaigners may be concerned by the temporary nature of such plans.
Green Party councillor Michael Pidgeon said the Dublin City plan appears to have embraced the right philosophy.
“This shouldn’t be a political or ‘green’ issue: there simply isn’t any other way to bring enough people into and around the city if public transport is at 20 per cent capacity,” he said. “It’s got to be cycling and walking.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-22--Leaving Cert: ASTI says Minister ‘prematurely’ announced plans in hope teachers would ‘put up or shu

Leaving Cert: ASTI says Minister ‘prematurely’ announced plans in hope teachers would ‘put up or shut up’

Secondary teachers ’ union ASTI has said the Minister for Education acted prematurely in issuing the guidelines for teachers in assessing predicted grades for this year ’ s Leaving Certificate .
On Thursday , the union directed its members not to engage in the predictive grades process , saying plans to indemnify teachers against legal action were not strong enough and could potentially lead to personal liabilities for second-level teachers .
Following the Government decision earlier this month to cancel the summer Leaving Cert exams , more than 60,000 students are set to receive calculated grades for the first time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this approach , teachers will be asked to provide an estimated percentage mark for each student for each subject .
Students will also be placed in a rank for their class .
ASTI general secretary Kieran Christie told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland the Minister should not have “ put out the details ” as there were issues that had not been completely resolved .
The Minister ’ s “ premature ” announcement was “ unfortunate , ” Mr Christie said , adding he feared there was an attitude that making the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put up or shut up.
” Under department guidelines , the State indemnity will be provided to teachers if they end up being sued as an individual teacher in relation to a student ’ s grades .
This indemnity – signed off by the Cabinet on Thursday – will only be invoked where a teacher has “ made every reasonable effort ” to apply a grade in line with the department ’ s official guidelines for schools which was published on Thursday evening .
Full details of the legal costs to be covered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clarified , Mr Christie said .
The document as it is “ lacks specificity ” and teachers “ could be caught for one third of ( legal ) costs ” .
Also speaking on Friday morning , president of the ASTI Deirdre McDonald told Newstalk that they had flagged their concerns about legal waivers for teachers two weeks ago .
“ We want this sorted .
We made it very clear to the department ( of Education ) and the Attorney General .
They knew of our concerns .
It can be solved.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ indemnity so they are “ covered 100 per cent ” for any legal problems .
“ We are eager for this to proceed to allow children get on with their lives .
“ The department had two weeks to resolve this , they knew of our concerns.
” Spokesman for the National Parents Council Post Primary Paul Rolston called on ASTI to resolve the issue of legal indemnity in Leaving Cert grading .
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast Mr Rolston said : “ just do it please.
” “ Our concern is the roller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All sides should come back to the table to resolve this.
” Meanwhile , the latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team show another 12 people with Covid-19 have died in the State , bringing the total to 1,583 while another 76 cases were confirmed .

The country’s biggest secondary teachers’ union has advised its members to engage in awarding calculated grades to Leaving Certificate students after a breakthrough in a row with the Department of Education over legal indemnity for teachers.
In a statement, the Association of Secondary Teachers’ Ireland (ASTI) said it had secured the “necessary clear assurances and clarifications” that would allow for teachers to proceed with this work without fear of negative financial consequences.
The union had claimed legal guarantees were not strong enough and there was a potential for teachers to bear legal costs should civil proceedings be taken against them arising from grading students.
The Department of Education provided a number of clarifications to the union over the scope of the indemnity during the course of Friday.
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The row had plunged into doubt plans to award students calculated grades instead of written Leaving Cert exams over the summer.
However, the ASTI said on Friday afternoon that the department had given an undertaking that in all cases where the indemnity applied, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office would take over the running of the litigation.
It said this will ensure that a teacher will not have to employ a legal team and run the risk of incurring “large irrecoverable costs and expenses”.
“The ASTI is now in a position to advise its members to engage with the Calculated Grades for Leaving Certificate 2020 model,” it said. “Teachers can now proceed with the process and will apply the high professional standards it requires.”
Minister for Education Joe McHugh welcomed the fact that clarifications provided by the department had addressed the union's concerns.
He said the indemnity itself that had been offered had not been altered.
“My concern in establishing the model for calculated grades has always been the needs of the Leaving Certificate students who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. We have always sought to put their interests at the heart of this,” he said.
"I am delighted to be able to reassure them that the process will move ahead speedily."
The ASTI's general secretary Kieran Christie said on Friday disputed aspects of the Minister's account and said a key aspect of the indemnity deal - which he said could have led to teachers being liable for legal costs - was dropped on foot of the union's demands.
Online portal
Separately, the Department has confirmed that an online portal will be available from next Tuesday in which students may confirm that they wish to receive calculated grades and confirm the level at which they will take the exam in each subject.
Under department guidelines, the State indemnity will be provided to teachers if they end up being sued as an individual teacher in relation to a student’s grades.
This indemnity - signed off by the Cabinet on Thursday - will only be invoked where a teacher has “made every reasonable effort” to apply a grade in line with the department’s official guidelines for schools which was published on Thursday evening.
The ASTI’s stance over the scope of the legal indemnity had contrasted with that of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) which said it was satisfied that the State indemnity offered teachers full legal protection. School management bodies were also happy with the terms of the State indemnity.
However, the ASTI said it had received legal advice that individual teachers could be liable for up to a third of costs in any potential legal action.
Parents’ representatives had called on the union and the department to resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast, Paul Rolston of the National Parents Council Post Primary said: "Just do it, please."
“Our concern is the roller coaster that students have been on. All sides should come back to the table to resolve this,” Mr Rolston added.


theirishtimes--2020-05-22--‘I should be alright pet, don’t worry’ – a father’s last words before his death

A little after 6pm on Friday , April 10th , Chelsea Murrayhill got a voice note from her father on Facebook messenger , sent from his nursing home bed , and she was unaware it would be the last time she heard his voice .
Brian Murrayhill ( 75 ) had been a resident in St Mary ’ s Hospital nursing home in Phoenix Park , Dublin , for two years before his death last month .
The Health Service Executive ( HSE ) -run nursing home has been one of the worst hit in the country , with 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter he was “ not very well today ” in the audio voice note .
In the short 22-second recording the strain and breathlessness in his voice is apparent .
“ I ’ ve been in bed all day long , but I should be alright pet , don ’ t worry , I love you ” he said .
Less than three days later he died in the early hours of Monday , April 13th .
“ We had no idea he was sick , and then we were told he passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Times .
The last time the family had seen him was through the window of his ground floor bedroom on 18th March .
Born in England , he had lived in Co Leitrim before being hospitalised with cancer .
He had moved into St Mary ’ s following his rehabilitation .
St Mary ’ s nursing home has 150 beds , and a separate 48 bed step-down hospital .
It had its first coronavirus case on March 28th , and the first death from the virus on April 2nd .
Two days later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed case .
Over the course of April Covid-19 rapidly spread throughout the care home to nearly every ward , with significant numbers of residents contracting the virus .
“ My Dad had severe respiratory issues ; he had had cancer and a stroke , ” Ms Murrayhill said .
The last time she spoke to staff in the home before her father ’ s death she had been told he was not suspected to have Covid-19 , she said .
At 6am on April 13th she received a phone call to inform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardiac arrest and died .
The family were told he had been swabbed shortly afterwards and later tested positive for Covid-19 , Ms Murrayhill said .
“ We weren ’ t notified that coronavirus was in his ward .
.
.
I didn ’ t get to see him when he passed , ” she said .
An internal St Mary ’ s memo – dated the day Mr Murrayhill died – said 20 per cent of residents in all but one ward were confirmed or suspected cases , and it was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the home .
Ms Murrayhill said she was “ disgusted ” by the high number of residents who had died from Covid-19 in the facility .
“ You expect the nurses to be looked after with PPE [ personal protective equipment ] , ” she said .
The funeral had been a closed-casket service limited to ten people due to coronavirus restrictions , which left the family without proper closure , she said .
A HSE spokeswoman said it could not comment on individual cases but expressed sympathies to the family and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died .
“ As the situation with Covid-19 is ongoing , testing of staff and residents continues on an ongoing basis as required , ” the spokeswoman said .
The HSE has appointed an independent investigator to examine allegations made by a healthcare worker of shortcomings at St Mary ’ s .
The staff member ’ s protected disclosure alleged shortcomings in the supply of personal protective equipment , and lack of testing for staff at the start of the outbreak in late March .

A little after 6pm on Friday, April 10th, Chelsea Murrayhill got a voice note from her father on Facebook messenger, sent from his nursing home bed, and she was unaware it would be the last time she heard his voice.
Brian Murrayhill (75) had been a resident in St Mary's Hospital nursing home in Phoenix Park, Dublin, for two years before his death last month. The Health Service Executive (HSE)-run nursing home has been one of the worst hit in the country, with 24 coronavirus-related deaths.
Mr Murrayhill told his daughter he was “not very well today” in the audio voice note. In the short 22-second recording the strain and breathlessness in his voice is apparent. “I’ve been in bed all day long, but I should be alright pet, don’t worry, I love you” he said. Less than three days later he died in the early hours of Monday, April 13th.
“We had no idea he was sick, and then we were told he passed,” his daughter told The Irish Times.
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The last time the family had seen him was through the window of his ground floor bedroom on 18th March. Born in England, he had lived in Co Leitrim before being hospitalised with cancer. He had moved into St Mary's following his rehabilitation.
St Mary’s nursing home has 150 beds, and a separate 48 bed step-down hospital. It had its first coronavirus case on March 28th, and the first death from the virus on April 2nd. Two days later Mr Murrayhill’s ward had a confirmed case.
Over the course of April Covid-19 rapidly spread throughout the care home to nearly every ward, with significant numbers of residents contracting the virus.
“My Dad had severe respiratory issues; he had had cancer and a stroke,” Ms Murrayhill said.
The last time she spoke to staff in the home before her father’s death she had been told he was not suspected to have Covid-19, she said.
At 6am on April 13th she received a phone call to inform the family her father had gone into cardiac arrest and died. The family were told he had been swabbed shortly afterwards and later tested positive for Covid-19, Ms Murrayhill said.
“We weren’t notified that coronavirus was in his ward . . . I didn’t get to see him when he passed,” she said.
An internal St Mary’s memo – dated the day Mr Murrayhill died – said 20 per cent of residents in all but one ward were confirmed or suspected cases, and it was “reasonable to assume transmission is generalised” in the home.
Ms Murrayhill said she was “disgusted” by the high number of residents who had died from Covid-19 in the facility. “You expect the nurses to be looked after with PPE [personal protective equipment],” she said.
The funeral had been a closed-casket service limited to ten people due to coronavirus restrictions, which left the family without proper closure, she said.
A HSE spokeswoman said it could not comment on individual cases but expressed sympathies to the family and friends of the 24 residents who had died.
“As the situation with Covid-19 is ongoing, testing of staff and residents continues on an ongoing basis as required,” the spokeswoman said.
The HSE has appointed an independent investigator to examine allegations made by a healthcare worker of shortcomings at St Mary’s. The staff member’s protected disclosure alleged shortcomings in the supply of personal protective equipment, and lack of testing for staff at the start of the outbreak in late March.


theirishtimes--2020-05-22--Spanish archaeologists dig for remains of Red Hugh O’Donnell

In the long and melancholy roll of tragic Irish historical figures , they do not come much more tragic than Red Hugh O ’ Donnell .
O ’ Donnell , who was born in 1572 , was according to a contemporary observer known not only by the “ report of his beauty , his agility , and his noble deeds , but as a sworn foe to the Saxons of the Pale ” .
He and his father-in-law Hugh Mor O ’ Neill , who between them controlled large parts of the north of Ireland , started the Nine Years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland .
It began so promisingly in 1593 , but eventually ended in defeat following the siege and then the Battle of Kinsale in late 1601 and early 1602 .
A combined force of Spanish and Irish troops was defeated by the English in one of the worst military setbacks in Irish history , after which Red Hugh fled to Spain .
There he hoped to again enlist the help of the Spanish king Philip III who promised to send another army to Ireland , but never delivered .
O ’ Donnell died @ @ @ @ @ @ @ northwestern Spain , in July 1602 .
Allegedly , he was poisoned by an Irish traitor James “ Spanish ” Blake .
More contemporary scholars thinks he may have died from a tapeworm infection .
He was only 29 years old .
His brother Rory took over as Earl of Tyrconnell and left Ireland with Hugh O ’ Neill in 1607 , an event known in Irish history as the Flight of the Earls .
It marked the end of Gaelic Ireland .
Red Hugh O ’ Donnell was buried within the Chapel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franciscan convent in Valladolid .
The convent disappeared in 1836 and with it O ’ Donnell ’ s remains .
More than four centuries after his death , the municipal authorities in Valladolid are excavating an area they believe is the final resting place of Red Hugh O ’ Donnell .
They also hope to shed new light on the remains of an even more significant historical figure .
Christopher Columbus , who in 1492 became the first European to discover the Americas , died and was buried in Valladolid in 1506 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as to whether his remains are there , in Seville or in the Caribbean island of Santo Domingo .
In a statement , Valladolid city council ’ s cultural department said finding the remains of O ’ Donnell would be a “ spur to the dissemination of this city abroad and also , of course , within Spain .
“ The burial in Valladolid of these two characters of such relevance to the world as is the case of Columbus and to relations between Spain and Ireland against their common enemy : England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ specifically of Valladolid for centuries ” .
A few years ago another team of archaeologists in Valladolid discovered an old plaque close to the site of the monastery .
The current project is led by a team of Spanish archaeologists .
They begun an excavation of Constitution Street on Monday .
They are looking for the Chapel of Wonders and have found a wall where they believe the funeral chapel was located .
They also located human bones , but not those of O ’ Donnell .
They hope that his remains will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toes on his foot from frostbite after he escaped from prison in 1592 and fled into the Wicklow mountains in the depth of winter .

On day five of the dig in Valladolid’s Constitution Street on Friday, the archaeologists recovered human remains. Photograph: Twitter
Archaeologists in Spain have found part of a skull and a femur (thigh bone) in their search for the remains of Red Hugh O'Donnell, one of the great tragic heroes of Irish history.
O'Donnell died en-route to Valladolid, a city in northwestern Spain, in July 1602 having failed to persuade the Spanish king Philip III to send another army to Ireland to fight against the English.
On day five of the dig in Valladolid’s Constitution Street on Friday, the archaeologists recovered human remains.
En busca de Red Hugh O'Donnell, el William Wallace irlandés que terminó sus días en Valladolid y recibió sepultura en el desaparecido convento de San Francisco #odonellVLL (abrimos hilo) pic.twitter.com/Q0MW90tNns — Cultura Turismo VLL (@infoVLL) May 20, 2020
A tweet from the city’s tourism and culture department read: “A part of the skull, a femur, and some more remains appear in what appears to be the access to the Chapel of the Marvels.”
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The city's culture councillor Ana Redondo posted a shamrock emoji and the words "estamos cerca" - "we are close".
The archaeologists involved are also searching for the remains of Christopher Columbus, who in 1492 became the first European to discover the Americas.
He was buried in the same place as O'Donnell. However, Columbus's remains were allegedly removed and reburied in the cathedral of Seville and later in the Dominican Republic.
Speaking on Friday, which was the 514th anniversary of the funeral of Columbus in Valladolid, chief archaeologist Óscar Burón said he believed that both O’Donnell and Columbus are “buried right under our feet and now we are concerned with checking whether the research we have undertaken is correct”.
He described O’Donnell as an “Irish prince and the hero of the resistance against the English”.
O’Donnell and his father-in-law Hugh Mor O’Neill, who between them controlled large parts of the north of Ireland, started the Nine Years War to drive the English out of Ireland.
Battle of Kinsale
It began promisingly and the Irish won a number of significant victories, but eventually ended in defeat following the siege and then the Battle of Kinsale in late 1601 and early 1602.
A combined force of Spanish and Irish troops was defeated by the English in one of the worst military setbacks in Irish history, after which Red Hugh fled to Spain.
Though Philip III never did provide the soldiers requested by Red Hugh, he did give him the equivalent of a royal funeral as described in the Annals of the Four Masters.
“His body was conveyed to the king’s palace at Valladolid in a four-wheeled hearse, surrounded by countless numbers of the king’s state officers, council, and guards, with luminous torches and bright flambeaux of beautiful wax-light burning on each side of him.”
He was buried within the Chapel of Marvels in the grounds of the Franciscan convent in Valladolid. The convent disappeared in 1836 and with it O’Donnell’s remains.
In a statement, Valladolid city council’s cultural department said finding the remains of O’ Donnell would be a “spur to the dissemination of this city abroad and also, of course, within Spain.
"The burial in Valladolid of these two characters of such relevance to the world as is the case of Columbus and to relations between Spain and Ireland against their common enemy: England, demonstrate the importance of Spain and specifically of Valladolid for centuries."
On Thursday the team of archaeologists located other human bones, but not those of O’Donnell.
They hope that his remains will be easy to identify as he lost the big toes on both of feet from frostbite after he escaped from prison in Dublin in December 1591. He fled into the Wicklow mountains in the depth of winter. His companion Art O'Neill froze to death in the escape.


theirishtimes--2020-05-21--Man shot at Cork checkpoint detained as gardaí investigate drug trafficking

The Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission has begun an investigation after a man in his 40s was shot at a garda checkpoint in North Cork last night .
Gardaí notified Gsoc following the shooting incident which happened at the Spa on the Mitchelstown Road in Mallow at around 8.30pm last night .
It is understood that the injured man suffered a non life threatening injury to his shoulder when a garda discharged his weapon at the checkpoint in Mallow .
Initial reports from gardaí suggest the driver of the car failed to stop and was driving at an officer with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his weapon .
The injured man , who is from Togher in Cork city , was treated at the scene for his injury before being brought by ambulance to Cork University Hospital .
Gsoc officers travelled to Mallow on Thursday night to examine the scene of the shooting in which gardaí say that just one shot was fired by the ASU member .
It is expected that Gsoc investigators will interview the injured man as well as gardaí , including members of the ASU , who were on duty at the checkpoint .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ where he remains under garda detention as gardaí carry out a separate investigation into drug trafficking .
Meanwhile gardaí have also arrested a 47-year-old man , who was a front seat passenger in the black VW Golf driven by the man injured in the shooting .
The passenger , who is originally from Gurranebraher in Cork city but has been living more recently in Mid-Cork , was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking .
He was arrested after gardaí carried out a search of the car and found a quantity of white powder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cocaine and has been sent for analysis .
The man is currently detained at Mallow Garda Station under drug trafficking legislation which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to seven days .
Gardaí suspect the two men had travelled down from Dublin yesterday evening with a quantity of drugs which they had collected in the capital for sale or supply in Cork .
The scene of the shooting in the Spa remains cordoned off today to allow garda technical experts carry out a forensic examination of the scene and the car .

The scene of the incident in North Cork on Thursday evening
The Garda Siochána Ombudsman Commission has begun an investigation after a man in his 40s was shot at a garda checkpoint in North Cork last night.
Gardaí notified Gsoc following the shooting incident which happened at the Spa on the Mitchelstown Road in Mallow at around 8.30pm last night.
It is understood that the injured man suffered a non life threatening injury to his shoulder when a garda discharged his weapon at the checkpoint in Mallow.
Initial reports from gardaí suggest the driver of the car failed to stop and was driving at an officer with a member of the Armed Support Unit discharged his weapon.
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The injured man, who is from Togher in Cork city, was treated at the scene for his injury before being brought by ambulance to Cork University Hospital.
Gsoc officers travelled to Mallow on Thursday night to examine the scene of the shooting in which gardaí say that just one shot was fired by the ASU member.
It is expected that Gsoc investigators will interview the injured man as well as gardaí, including members of the ASU, who were on duty at the checkpoint.
The injured man underwent surgery in CUH where he remains under garda detention as gardaí carry out a separate investigation into drug trafficking.
Meanwhile gardaí have also arrested a 47-year-old man, who was a front seat passenger in the black VW Golf driven by the man injured in the shooting.
The passenger, who is originally from Gurranebraher in Cork city but has been living more recently in Mid-Cork, was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking.
He was arrested after gardaí carried out a search of the car and found a quantity of white powder which they suspect may be heroin or cocaine and has been sent for analysis.
The man is currently detained at Mallow Garda Station under drug trafficking legislation which allows gardaí hold suspects for up to seven days.
Gardaí suspect the two men had travelled down from Dublin yesterday evening with a quantity of drugs which they had collected in the capital for sale or supply in Cork.
The scene of the shooting in the Spa remains cordoned off today to allow garda technical experts carry out a forensic examination of the scene and the car.


theirishtimes--2020-05-21--Dublin and Covid-19: Car restrictions, more space for bikes, bus restrictions in the offing

Large-scale bus diversions , restrictions on cars and a widespread reallocation of road space to pedestrians and cyclists are planned under a new Covid-19 strategy for Dublin city centre .
A joint National Transport Authority ( NTA ) and Dublin City Council Covid-19 “ mobility intervention programme ” seeks to turn the heart of Dublin city from St Stephen ’ s Green to Mountjoy Square , and the Custom House to Stoneybatter into a “ pedestrian , cyclist , public transport priority zone ” .
However , this will necessitate significant changes to the bus network , as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outskirts of the city .
Once activity returns to the city , bicycle-use is expected to triple and walking to double .
Car-use is expected to fall by 30 per cent , but public transport is due to take a far bigger hit , with usage down by 80 per cent , largely due to social distancing requirements .
The mobility programme identifies 14 key routes into the city centre where significant traffic changes will be implemented , in addition to the creation of the city centre priority zone .
On all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cyclists and pedestrians .
In many cases this will involve the removal of on-street parking and reduction of the number of traffic lanes .
In some cases it may involve “ car-free ” areas and the use of “ bus gates ” in places such as the Rathmines Road .
The report concedes “ more people will wish to travel by car ” .
However , it said while city centre car parks could remain open , alternatives to driving directly into the “ core ” were needed .
This could include the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from where people could walk or cycle .
In some cases streets could be car-free if businesses on the street were to request it to use the space for queueing and tables .
Bus-users are likely to see the biggest change , with buses diverted away from College Green .
Bus stops will also be distributed over a wider area , with some “ removed completely ” if social distancing can not be achieved .
“ It is likely that passengers will be required , in some instances , to walk further to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bus loading /unloading.
” The “ emphasis is on rapid and temporary types of intervention ” , with additions and adjustments expected over the coming months as measures are implemented .

Bus-users are likely to see the biggest change, with buses diverted away from College Green.
Large-scale bus diversions, restrictions on cars and a widespread reallocation of road space to pedestrians and cyclists are planned under a new Covid-19 strategy for Dublin city centre.
A joint National Transport Authority (NTA) and Dublin City Council Covid-19 "mobility intervention programme" seeks to turn the heart of Dublin city from St Stephen's Green to Mountjoy Square, and the Custom House to Stoneybatter into a "pedestrian, cyclist, public transport priority zone".
However, this will necessitate significant changes to the bus network, as well as the opening of off-street car parks on the outskirts of the city.
Once activity returns to the city, bicycle-use is expected to triple and walking to double.
READ MORE
Car-use is expected to fall by 30 per cent, but public transport is due to take a far bigger hit, with usage down by 80 per cent, largely due to social distancing requirements.
The mobility programme identifies 14 key routes into the city centre where significant traffic changes will be implemented, in addition to the creation of the city centre priority zone.
On all routes more space will be given to cyclists and pedestrians. In many cases this will involve the removal of on-street parking and reduction of the number of traffic lanes. In some cases it may involve “car-free” areas and the use of “bus gates” in places such as the Rathmines Road.
Alternatives
The report concedes “more people will wish to travel by car”. However, it said while city centre car parks could remain open, alternatives to driving directly into the “core” were needed. This could include the establishment of car parks on the periphery from where people could walk or cycle.
In some cases streets could be car-free if businesses on the street were to request it to use the space for queueing and tables.
Bus-users are likely to see the biggest change, with buses diverted away from College Green.
Bus stops will also be distributed over a wider area, with some “removed completely” if social distancing cannot be achieved.
“It is likely that passengers will be required, in some instances, to walk further to bus stops to ensure a safer spread of bus loading /unloading.”
The “emphasis is on rapid and temporary types of intervention”, with additions and adjustments expected over the coming months as measures are implemented.


theirishtimes--2020-05-23--One in five inspected nursing homes ignored infection control rules in 2018

Almost one in five nursing homes inspected for infection control in 2018 were not complying with rules to prevent and control the spread of infections , a regulatory report shows .
The Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , carried out 542 inspections of nursing homes in 2018 – the most recent year for which data on inspections is available – and checked 215 homes to see whether infection prevention and control rules were being met .
The health watchdog found that 39 of the 215 nursing homes were not following infection control rules under regulation 27 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a non-compliance rate of 18 per cent .
The issue of infection control was the ninth most non-compliant issue for inspected homes , Hiqa ’ s inspections report published last year shows .
Infection control in nursing homes – both private and public – has become a major issue in the Covid-19 pandemic as residential care settings and nursing homes account for more than 60 per cent of the deaths .
The elderly population is most at risk from the coronavirus disease .
Almost 80 per cent of more than 1,500 people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been aged 75 and over .
More than 860 of the fatalities , about 54 per cent , have been nursing home residents .
Explaining why just 40 per cent of the nursing homes inspected in 2018 were checked for compliance with infection controls , a spokesman for Hiqa said that there were 34 regulations covering the care and welfare of residents and each regulation was not checked in every inspection .
He said regulations checked on a given inspection “ reflected the regulatory history of the centre and information received ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit ” .
“ We try and inspect against all regulations during a three-year regulatory cycle , but it is not routine to inspect against regulation 27 [ which relates to infection contol ] on every inspection , ” he said .
Fine Gael TD Fergus O ’ Dowd wrote to Hiqa chief executive Phelim Quinn on March 27th , as Covid-19 outbreaks were sharply increasing in nursing homes , calling for “ the immediate preparation and enforcement of a national plan for the protection of all nursing home residents ” .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ record of nursing homes on infection controls and to “ very disturbing press reports of the utter devastation and deaths caused by this virus in American and Spanish nursing homes ” .
He asked Mr Quinn in a follow-up email on April 3rd to publish the plan Hiqa has put in place to “ ensure complete control of Covid-19 infections control in nursing homes and other institutions which Hiqa inspect and regulate and also the time-line associated with this urgent action ” .
Mr Quinn replied on April 6th telling Mr O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility of Government , the HSE [ Health Service Executive ] and a range of identified agencies to put such measures in place ” .
He said Hiqa would continue to work with the Minister for Health , the Department of Health ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team and the HSE and “ take necessary and timely action to protect vulnerable members of Irish society ” .
Mr O ’ Dowd , a member of the Oireachtas special committee on the Covid-19 response , told The Irish Times there should have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes .
“ Nursing homes are very susceptible to infections and influenza ; the 18 per cent failure rate is unacceptable ; it should be full compliance because that is where the weakness is .
If you don ’ t have 100 per cent compliance there , that means you are not doing your job , ” he said .
The Fine Gael deputy said he would be asking questions of Hiqa officials when they appear before the Oireachtas committee next week about what more could have been done to prevent the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are clusters of infection in 257 of the country ’ s 571 homes .
“ The question is not so much who is to blame ; it is what happened , how did it happen , could we have stopped it , could we have done more and what needs to happen in the autumn , ” he said , referring to the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections later in the year .

Hiqa CEO Phelim Quinn. Not routine for Hiqa to inspect standard of infection contol on every inspection. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
Almost one in five nursing homes inspected for infection control in 2018 were not complying with rules to prevent and control the spread of infections, a regulatory report shows.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), carried out 542 inspections of nursing homes in 2018 – the most recent year for which data on inspections is available – and checked 215 homes to see whether infection prevention and control rules were being met.
The health watchdog found that 39 of the 215 nursing homes were not following infection control rules under regulation 27 of the Health Act 2007. This was a non-compliance rate of 18 per cent.
The issue of infection control was the ninth most non-compliant issue for inspected homes, Hiqa’s inspections report published last year shows.
READ MORE
Infection control in nursing homes – both private and public – has become a major issue in the Covid-19 pandemic as residential care settings and nursing homes account for more than 60 per cent of the deaths.
The elderly population is most at risk from the coronavirus disease. Almost 80 per cent of more than 1,500 people who have died from Covid-19 in the Republic have been aged 75 and over. More than 860 of the fatalities, about 54 per cent, have been nursing home residents.
Regulations
Explaining why just 40 per cent of the nursing homes inspected in 2018 were checked for compliance with infection controls, a spokesman for Hiqa said that there were 34 regulations covering the care and welfare of residents and each regulation was not checked in every inspection. He said regulations checked on a given inspection “reflected the regulatory history of the centre and information received (solicited and unsolicited) since the last visit”.
“We try and inspect against all regulations during a three-year regulatory cycle, but it is not routine to inspect against regulation 27 [which relates to infection contol] on every inspection,” he said.
Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd wrote to Hiqa chief executive Phelim Quinn on March 27th, as Covid-19 outbreaks were sharply increasing in nursing homes, calling for "the immediate preparation and enforcement of a national plan for the protection of all nursing home residents".
Mr O’Dowd referred to the non-compliance record of nursing homes on infection controls and to “very disturbing press reports of the utter devastation and deaths caused by this virus in American and Spanish nursing homes”.
He asked Mr Quinn in a follow-up email on April 3rd to publish the plan Hiqa has put in place to “ensure complete control of Covid-19 infections control in nursing homes and other institutions which Hiqa inspect and regulate and also the time-line associated with this urgent action”.
Mr Quinn replied on April 6th telling Mr O’Dowd that it was “the collective responsibility of Government, the HSE [Health Service Executive] and a range of identified agencies to put such measures in place”. He said Hiqa would continue to work with the Minister for Health, the Department of Health’s National Public Health Emergency Team and the HSE and “take necessary and timely action to protect vulnerable members of Irish society”.
Mr O'Dowd, a member of the Oireachtas special committee on the Covid-19 response, told The Irish Times there should have been full compliance with infection controls in nursing homes.
“Nursing homes are very susceptible to infections and influenza; the 18 per cent failure rate is unacceptable; it should be full compliance because that is where the weakness is. If you don’t have 100 per cent compliance there, that means you are not doing your job,” he said.
The Fine Gael deputy said he would be asking questions of Hiqa officials when they appear before the Oireachtas committee next week about what more could have been done to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in nursing homes.
There are clusters of infection in 257 of the country’s 571 homes.
“The question is not so much who is to blame; it is what happened, how did it happen, could we have stopped it, could we have done more and what needs to happen in the autumn,” he said, referring to the risk of a second wave of Covid-19 infections later in the year.


theirishtimes--2020-05-23--Fears raised over plans for mandatory isolation of travellers into Ireland

Cabinet Ministers have expressed concern about proposals from public health officials to make it mandatory for travellers into Ireland to self-isolate for two weeks .
Ministers agreed on Friday to make it a legal requirement for travellers who arrive by plane or boat to fill out a form telling the State where they plan to isolate for 14 days .
From next Thursday , anyone who does not provide those details , or gives incorrect information , could face a fine of up to €2,500 or a six-month prison sentence .
Cabinet sources said Ministers discussed more stringent proposals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the 14-day isolation period .
However , fears were expressed at the meeting about the impact such a move would have on the economy in the longer term .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) has already recommended to Government a mandatory regime of self-isolation for 14 days at a “ designated facility ” for all persons arriving into Ireland from overseas .
Minister for Health Simon Harris said while the issue of mandatory isolation raises “ a number of legal questions ” , the Government has not ruled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ examined further .
He said he would investigate whether there is a need for the State to direct people to a designated place to isolate .
Meanwhile , travellers from the Republic and Northern Ireland will be exempt from the 14-day self-isolation period which is to be introduced in the UK from June 8th .
The North ’ s First Minister , Arlene Foster , welcomed the exemption of the Common Travel Area from the restrictions , describing it as a “ generous move by the UK government ” .
On Friday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients with Covid-19 , bringing the total of coronavirus-related deaths in the Republic to 1,592 .
Meanwhile , 115 new laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease were reported by NPHET , bringing the total number of cases to 24,506 .
The Government has to inform private hospitals by the end of next week whether it wants to extend the State ’ s effective control of their facilities until the end of July .
Mr Harris updated the Cabinet on the arrangements currently in place between the HSE and private hospitals , saying it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this extra capacity ” .
The Minister added : “ We are going to continue to need extra capacity in our health service because trying to manage Covid-19 will require extra time and extra space.
” Private sector consultants who are opposed to the initiative have suggested the State could retain about 400 of the 2,000 beds in the private system , with an option of securing more if Covid numbers increased considerably .
Some private sector hospital consultants are understood to be planning to establish a new representative body .
The organisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Medical and Dental Consultants , is expected to be announced next week .
The new body will be largely composed of fully private-sector doctors , however it may also seek to involve those in the public system to some degree .

People on Henry Street in Dublin’s city centre on Friday as restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus pandemic have been eased. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Cabinet Ministers have expressed concern about proposals from public health officials to make it mandatory for travellers into Ireland to self-isolate for two weeks.
Ministers agreed on Friday to make it a legal requirement for travellers who arrive by plane or boat to fill out a form telling the State where they plan to isolate for 14 days.
From next Thursday, anyone who does not provide those details, or gives incorrect information, could face a fine of up to €2,500 or a six-month prison sentence.
Cabinet sources said Ministers discussed more stringent proposals, including making it illegal not to abide by the 14-day isolation period. However, fears were expressed at the meeting about the impact such a move would have on the economy in the longer term.
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The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has already recommended to Government a mandatory regime of self-isolation for 14 days at a “designated facility” for all persons arriving into Ireland from overseas.
Minister for Health Simon Harris said while the issue of mandatory isolation raises “a number of legal questions”, the Government has not ruled it out and the issue will be examined further. He said he would investigate whether there is a need for the State to direct people to a designated place to isolate.
Meanwhile, travellers from the Republic and Northern Ireland will be exempt from the 14-day self-isolation period which is to be introduced in the UK from June 8th.
The North’s First Minister, Arlene Foster, welcomed the exemption of the Common Travel Area from the restrictions, describing it as a “generous move by the UK government”.
On Friday, NPHET reported the deaths of another 11 patients with Covid-19, bringing the total of coronavirus-related deaths in the Republic to 1,592.
Meanwhile, 115 new laboratory-confirmed cases of the disease were reported by NPHET, bringing the total number of cases to 24,506.
Effective control
The Government has to inform private hospitals by the end of next week whether it wants to extend the State’s effective control of their facilities until the end of July.
Mr Harris updated the Cabinet on the arrangements currently in place between the HSE and private hospitals, saying it was “absolutely necessary and right to obtain this extra capacity”. The Minister added: “We are going to continue to need extra capacity in our health service because trying to manage Covid-19 will require extra time and extra space.”
Private sector consultants who are opposed to the initiative have suggested the State could retain about 400 of the 2,000 beds in the private system, with an option of securing more if Covid numbers increased considerably.
Some private sector hospital consultants are understood to be planning to establish a new representative body.
The organisation, to be known as the Association of Medical and Dental Consultants, is expected to be announced next week. The new body will be largely composed of fully private-sector doctors, however it may also seek to involve those in the public system to some degree.


theirishtimes--2020-05-23--Pubs can deliver pints to their customers again following legal advice

Pubs throughout the Republic will now be able to operate during the Covid-19 lockdown , subject to certain restrictions , because of a “ lack of clarity ” in the liquor licensing laws .
Garda Headquarters has sought legal advice on pubs delivering drinks and selling takeaway beverages from their premises and has been told that both practices do not contravene liquor licensing laws .
As long as drinks , including poured pints , are paid for on a licensed premises they can be delivered to customers .
Takeaway sales are also permitted once those buying drinks in that manner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a pub and not in a public place .
The legal advice received by Garda headquarters is being circulated to every Garda member in the country .
It means pubs can operate delivery and off-sales as an “ essential service ” during the lockdown , like supermarkets , pharmacies , hardware stores and some other businesses .
The legal advice regularises the position of publicans already delivering drinks to their customers ’ homes .
One such service , the so-called “ Guinness Express ” , being run by O ’ Flaherty ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was forced to halt deliveries after gardaí intervened last weekend and stopped staff , stating they were preparing a file for the DPP .
Pints of Guinness wrapped in cling film , intended for delivery to customers , were also confiscated , although a spokesman for the pub complained gardaí were unable to tell him what laws staff had broken .
However , after the legal advice received in recent days , such deliveries will be possible once the drinks are paid for in advance to a person on a pub ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may deliver intoxicating liquor to consumers for consumption in their private residences where the sale takes place at the licensed premises , ” the legal advice states .
“ The law is unclear whether it is lawful for holders of on-licences to pour , prepare or decant intoxicating liquor at the delivery location , which is a public place .
Therefore no offence is committed.
” It adds that “ persons may also attend the licensed premises and collect the intoxicating liquor purchased as a takeaway , and the same would be deemed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations allowing people to travel more than five kilometres from their homes if they have a “ reasonable excuse ” .
However , any drinks purchased as takeaways must be consumed more than 100 metres from the public house .
Gardaí have the power to confiscate carry-out drink if they believe it is being sold to be consumed “ on the road or in a public place ” .

Jim Hall enjoys a pint in the Tasting Room in Wellington, New Zealand, on Thursday, after pubs were reopened as the country comes out of strict lockdown. Photograph: Marty Melville/AFP via Getty Images
Pubs throughout the Republic will now be able to operate during the Covid-19 lockdown, subject to certain restrictions, because of a “lack of clarity” in the liquor licensing laws.
Garda Headquarters has sought legal advice on pubs delivering drinks and selling takeaway beverages from their premises and has been told that both practices do not contravene liquor licensing laws.
As long as drinks, including poured pints, are paid for on a licensed premises they can be delivered to customers.
Takeaway sales are also permitted once those buying drinks in that manner consume them more than 100 metres away from a pub and not in a public place.
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The legal advice received by Garda headquarters is being circulated to every Garda member in the country.
It means pubs can operate delivery and off-sales as an “essential service” during the lockdown, like supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware stores and some other businesses.
Regularises
The legal advice regularises the position of publicans already delivering drinks to their customers’ homes. One such service, the so-called “Guinness Express”, being run by O’Flaherty’s Pub in Buncrana, Co Donegal, was forced to halt deliveries after gardaí intervened last weekend and stopped staff, stating they were preparing a file for the DPP.
Pints of Guinness wrapped in cling film, intended for delivery to customers, were also confiscated, although a spokesman for the pub complained gardaí were unable to tell him what laws staff had broken.
However, after the legal advice received in recent days, such deliveries will be possible once the drinks are paid for in advance to a person on a pub’s premises.
“Holders of on-licences may deliver intoxicating liquor to consumers for consumption in their private residences where the sale takes place at the licensed premises,” the legal advice states.
“The law is unclear whether it is lawful for holders of on-licences to pour, prepare or decant intoxicating liquor at the delivery location, which is a public place. Therefore no offence is committed.”
It adds that “persons may also attend the licensed premises and collect the intoxicating liquor purchased as a takeaway, and the same would be deemed a reasonable excuse” under the Covid-19 regulations allowing people to travel more than five kilometres from their homes if they have a “reasonable excuse”.
However, any drinks purchased as takeaways must be consumed more than 100 metres from the public house. Gardaí have the power to confiscate carry-out drink if they believe it is being sold to be consumed “on the road or in a public place”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-23--No ‘vested interest’ to veto procedures at new national maternity hospital

All medical procedures permitted in Irish law will be provided for in the new national maternity hospital ( NMH ) , the board of St Vincent ’ s Healthcare Group ( SVHG ) has said .
The constitution of the new hospital on the grounds of St Vincent ’ s , Elm Park , will not allow control by “ any vested interest ” , SVHG said in a statement .
It will be run by St Vincent ’ s Holdings CLG , a new , not-for-profit company with charitable status , whisch is being established under the Companies Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it said .
The hospital group has had control of St Vincent ’ s University Hospital and St Vincent ’ s Private Hospital at Elm Park in Dublin , as well as St Michael ’ s hospital , Dún Laoghaire .
All are owned by the Sisters of Charity , who have had no role at the hospital group since 2017 when their representatives resigned from its board .
Earlier this month it was announced that the Vatican had approved a decision by the Sisters “ to transfer the entire issued share capital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to St Vincent ’ s Holdings for the nominal sum of €1 ” .
Such permission is required by Catholic Church canon law .
The nuns ’ shareholding in SVHG is being transferred to the new St Vincent ’ s Holdings CLG “ and the constitutions of both St Vincent ’ s Holdings CLG and St Vincent ’ s Healthcare Group will be publicly available from the Companies Office and the Charities Regulator once this has been completed , ” Friday ’ s statement said .
In a letter to this newspaper published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life governor and former master at the National Maternity Hospital , wrote : “ The obvious question is if the Sisters will follow the custom of religious congregations worldwide in similar circumstances and transfer their property , assets and services into a Vatican-approved entity known as a public juridic person of pontifical right ?
” If so “ it will be obliged to submit an annual ‘ stewardship accountability report ’ to the Vatican .
It is hard to see how such a report could include the numbers of elective sterilisations , abortions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital in the year , and continue to be approved by the Vatican , ” he added .
He asked : “ Is it not more likely they have approved a plan for the ownership of a hospital in which such procedures will not be performed ?
” In its statement yesterday the SVHG board said that “ having taken extensive legal advice ” , it was “ satisfied that St Vincent ’ s Holdings CLG is not a public juridic person and its constitution will not allow any vested interest to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canon lawyer familiar with the correspondence between Rome and the Sisters of Charity agreed with this position .
This person , who did not wish to be named , said there was nothing “ in the letter of grant ” from Rome which could be seen as “ a stipulation that church canon law , doctrine or teaching must be observed by St Vincent ’ s Holdings , or the proposed NMH at Elm Park ” .

All medical procedures permitted in Irish law will be provided for in the new national maternity hospital (NMH), the board of St Vincent's Healthcare Group (SVHG) has said.
The constitution of the new hospital on the grounds of St Vincent's, Elm Park, will not allow control by "any vested interest", SVHG said in a statement.
It will be run by St Vincent’s Holdings CLG, a new, not-for-profit company with charitable status, whisch is being established under the Companies Act and governed by Irish company law, it said.
The hospital group has had control of St Vincent's University Hospital and St Vincent's Private Hospital at Elm Park in Dublin, as well as St Michael's hospital, Dún Laoghaire. All are owned by the Sisters of Charity, who have had no role at the hospital group since 2017 when their representatives resigned from its board.
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Earlier this month it was announced that the Vatican had approved a decision by the Sisters "to transfer the entire issued share capital of St Vincent's Healthcare Group to St Vincent's Holdings for the nominal sum of €1". Such permission is required by Catholic Church canon law.
The nuns’ shareholding in SVHG is being transferred to the new St Vincent’s Holdings CLG “and the constitutions of both St Vincent’s Holdings CLG and St Vincent’s Healthcare Group will be publicly available from the Companies Office and the Charities Regulator once this has been completed,” Friday’s statement said.
Public juridic person
In a letter to this newspaper published on Friday, Dr Peter Boylan, life governor and former master at the National Maternity Hospital, wrote: "The obvious question is if the Sisters will follow the custom of religious congregations worldwide in similar circumstances and transfer their property, assets and services into a Vatican-approved entity known as a public juridic person of pontifical right?"
If so “it will be obliged to submit an annual ‘stewardship accountability report’ to the Vatican. It is hard to see how such a report could include the numbers of elective sterilisations, abortions and artificial fertilisation procedures carried out in the hospital in the year, and continue to be approved by the Vatican,” he added.
He asked: “Is it not more likely they have approved a plan for the ownership of a hospital in which such procedures will not be performed?”
In its statement yesterday the SVHG board said that “having taken extensive legal advice”, it was “satisfied that St Vincent’s Holdings CLG is not a public juridic person and its constitution will not allow any vested interest to control the healthcare group”.
A canon lawyer familiar with the correspondence between Rome and the Sisters of Charity agreed with this position. This person, who did not wish to be named, said there was nothing “in the letter of grant” from Rome which could be seen as “a stipulation that church canon law, doctrine or teaching must be observed by St Vincent’s Holdings, or the proposed NMH at Elm Park”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-23--Elective surgery patients must cocoon for 7-14 days before procedure

Patients undergoing elective surgery will have to cocoon for seven to 14 days before their procedure , under new rules designed to minimise infection risks from Covid-19 in hospitals .
They will also have to be tested for the disease within 48 hours of their appointment , which will not go ahead unless the result is negative .
New guidance says patients should make their own way to the hospital , wait in their cars until just before they are called and have a family member wait in the car until they are ready for discharge .
Occupancy levels should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ if whole hospital capacity facilitates ” , according to elective surgery pathway for the Covid-19 pandemic .
The size of surgical teams should be kept to a minimum and no medical students should be present for procedures .
Elective work in hospitals was cancelled from March to create space for the expected surge of coronavirus patients , but now that the peak has passed , efforts are being made to ramp up the care of non-Covid-19 patients in public hospitals as well as private hospitals that have been taken over by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ procedure , all engagements between the patients and medical staff are to take place on the phone or by other virtual means , according to the guidance on the management of day cases .
Patients are being told they need “ means ” to get to the hospital and that a designated person should stay with them for 12-24 hours after any procedure involving sedation or anaesthetic .

Occupancy levels should be kept at under 75 per cent ‘if whole hospital capacity facilitates’, according to elective surgery pathway for the pandemic. Photograph: Getty Images
Patients undergoing elective surgery will have to cocoon for seven to 14 days before their procedure, under new rules designed to minimise infection risks from Covid-19 in hospitals.
They will also have to be tested for the disease within 48 hours of their appointment, which will not go ahead unless the result is negative.
New guidance says patients should make their own way to the hospital, wait in their cars until just before they are called and have a family member wait in the car until they are ready for discharge.
Occupancy levels should be maintained at under 75 per cent “if whole hospital capacity facilitates”, according to elective surgery pathway for the Covid-19 pandemic. The size of surgical teams should be kept to a minimum and no medical students should be present for procedures.
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Expected surge
Elective work in hospitals was cancelled from March to create space for the expected surge of coronavirus patients, but now that the peak has passed, efforts are being made to ramp up the care of non-Covid-19 patients in public hospitals as well as private hospitals that have been taken over by the State for the crisis.
Before the procedure, all engagements between the patients and medical staff are to take place on the phone or by other virtual means, according to the guidance on the management of day cases.
Patients are being told they need “means” to get to the hospital and that a designated person should stay with them for 12-24 hours after any procedure involving sedation or anaesthetic.


theirishtimes--2020-05-23--Statue credited with saving Dublin parish from Spanish flu has been returned

A religious statue which is credited with ensuring one Dublin parish did not succumb to the Spanish flu a century ago has become a focus of prayer in recent weeks .
The sculpture of French-born medieval St Roch ( pronounced “ rock ” ) , who died in 1327 and devoted his life to helping the plague-stricken and the sick recently , was returned for prayer at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians on Dublin ’ s Navan Road .
St Roche was said to have cured plague victims he visited in Italy with his prayers and by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cross , according to the Navan Road parish newsletter .
However , the St Roch statue was moved from its original location at the Daughter ’ s of Charity Centre at St Vincent ’ s on the Navan Road , when the nuns moved to Blackrock , Co Dublin .
Over recent weeks , “ based on folk memory in the parish ” about its role in the 1918/19 pandemic , Navan Road administrator Fr John O ’ Brien contacted the nuns at Blackrock about its return .
Sr Goretti there located @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back .
It is now in a glass-fronted shrine at the parish church where Fr O ’ Brien said , there was “ a constant stream of people ” taking part in private prayer while respecting social distancing rules .
“ The church is open for private prayer daily , from 10am to 4pm , ” he said .
“ The priority is to encourage people to pray , ” said Fr O ’ Brien , “ and the shrine helps in that , which is good ” .
Currently social distancing means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one at either end , and there ’ s gel people use coming is and leaving ” , he said .
People were “ very particular about respecting social distancing ” , he said The shrine also contains a statue of St John Paul II as well as a photograph of St John XXIII .
Among its relics are the kneeler St John Paul used at the papal nunciature in Dublin when visiting Ireland in 1979 , as well as a reliquary containing some of his hair .
It also contains a white @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St John XXIII .
The church building has a capacity of 1,200 but , he believed , when public Masses return there , maximum capacity allowed will be 100 .
People might also take part in the car park and there was a school hall where Mass could be seen on webcam .
But “ attendance at Sunday Masses will be a big issue ” , Fr O ’ Brien said .

The St Roch statue has become a focus of prayer at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians on Dublin’s Navan Road since it re-opened for private prayer recently. Photograph: Alan Betson
A religious statue which is credited with ensuring one Dublin parish did not succumb to the Spanish flu a century ago has become a focus of prayer in recent weeks.
The sculpture of French-born medieval St Roch (pronounced "rock"), who died in 1327 and devoted his life to helping the plague-stricken and the sick recently, was returned for prayer at the Church of Our Lady Help of Christians on Dublin's Navan Road.
St Roche was said to have cured plague victims he visited in Italy with his prayers and by marking the sick with the sign of the cross, according to the Navan Road parish newsletter.
However, the St Roch statue was moved from its original location at the Daughter's of Charity Centre at St Vincent's on the Navan Road, when the nuns moved to Blackrock, Co Dublin.
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Two women pray in front of the statue of St Roch. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Private prayer
Over recent weeks, “based on folk memory in the parish” about its role in the 1918/19 pandemic, Navan Road administrator Fr John O’Brien contacted the nuns at Blackrock about its return. Sr Goretti there located St Roch and the statue was brought back.
It is now in a glass-fronted shrine at the parish church where Fr O’Brien said, there was “a constant stream of people” taking part in private prayer while respecting social distancing rules.
“The church is open for private prayer daily, from 10am to 4pm,” he said.
“The priority is to encourage people to pray,” said Fr O’Brien, “and the shrine helps in that, which is good”. Currently social distancing means “two people per pew, with one at either end, and there’s gel people use coming is and leaving”, he said.
People were “very particular about respecting social distancing”, he said
The shrine also contains a statue of St John Paul II as well as a photograph of St John XXIII. Among its relics are the kneeler St John Paul used at the papal nunciature in Dublin when visiting Ireland in 1979, as well as a reliquary containing some of his hair. It also contains a white zuchetto (skull cap) worn by St John XXIII.
The church building has a capacity of 1,200 but, he believed, when public Masses return there, maximum capacity allowed will be 100. People might also take part in the car park and there was a school hall where Mass could be seen on webcam. But “attendance at Sunday Masses will be a big issue”, Fr O’Brien said.