theirishtimes--2020-11-08--Man due in court over death of another man in Phibsborough

A man in his 40s has been charged in connection with death of a man in north Dublin .
The @ @ @ @ @ also in his 40s , was found at a house on Auburn Street , Phibsborough @ @ @ @ @ man was arrested over the death on Friday and he is due to appear before @ @ @ @ @ on Monday morning .
The Garda Technical Bureau was continuing to examine the scene on @ @ @ @ @ .

Gardaí at the scene of a residence on Auburn Street in Phibsborough, Dublin 7, on Friday evening after the body of a man was discovered on Friday afternoon. Photograph: Collins
A man in his 40s has been charged in connection with death of a man in north Dublin.
The body of a man, also in his 40s, was found at a house on Auburn Street, Phibsborough, on Friday.
A man was arrested over the death on Friday and he is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Monday morning.
The Garda Technical Bureau was continuing to examine the scene on Satruday which remained sealed off.


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Up to 60 ‘supersize’ wind turbines planned for Dublin Bay

The developers of a large offshore wind farm costing €1.5 billion , proposed for outer Dublin Bay and stretching south beyond Bray Head , have taken the unusual step of initiating public consultation in advance of completing a planning application .
German energy giant RWE and the Irish company Saorgus , plan to build the wind farm on the Kish and Bray Banks – known as Dublin Array – 10km off the east coast and close to the capital .
It will be capable of generating enough electricity for up to 600,000 homes .
They have released photomontages indicating its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to be 310m in height when blade size is factored in , which will significantly change the seascape view from Dún Laoghaire almost as far as Greystones , Co Wicklow .
If approved , the view out to sea in the capital will become like some major European coastal cities where turbines are prominent , most notably in the Danish capital Copenhagen .
Dublin Array project director Peter Lefroy says the developers are conscious of visual impact , “ especially as the Dublin region has never been exposed to a lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is why we have gone out early on consultation and are engaging with a wide range of stakeholders.
” The location was chosen because of its proximity to where in Ireland there is most demand for electricity and the grid is strongest , Mr Lefroy says .
It makes technical sense that the country ’ s first major offshore wind facility should be near Dublin , he adds .
The wind energy sector has changed dramatically in recent years to building larger turbines but fewer of them due to technological advances , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of resulting electricity .
“ This means we can deliver more electricity , more efficiently , with fewer turbines , ” Mr Lefroy says.. Dublin Array is anticipating where the industry will be in five years ’ time .
That means turbines in the order of 135m tower height – totalling over 300m to “ top of blade ” .
As a consequence , they are planning to build between 45 and 61 turbines .
When first proposed to Dublin Array , it was considering up to 145 turbines with a tip height @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once surveys are completed in coming months .
The Government insists overhauling cumbersome marine legislation will provide opportunities for public consultation on individual projects .
Because of limitations imposed by Covid-19 , Dublin Array ’ s early consultation is being conducted online via www.dublinarray.com and social media channels up to November 20th .
In May , the Government designated seven offshore wind projects as “ relevant projects ” – six in the Irish Sea – meaning they will be fast-tracked through overhauled legislation designed to help scale up offshore wind energy .
Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The programme for government has a five gigawatt ( GW ) target for offshore wind ; the energy equivalent of power for about five million homes , phased in by 2030 – Dublin Array with up to 900 megawatts ( MW ) estimates it will provide about 18 per cent of this requirement .
The SSE Ireland Arklow Bank facility is separately advancing as an extension of Ireland ’ s original , and still only , operating offshore wind farm – a 25MW demonstrator project that opened in 2001 .
Up to 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13km off the coast , south of Brittas Bay , Co Wicklow .
A key enabler to unlock offshore wind development will be the new Marine Planning and Development Management Bill , due to be enacted in early 2021 , Lefroy says .
There will be some timelag enacting regulations and introducing new wind energy guidelines ( WEGs ) .
He expects the planning application will be submitted directly to An Bord Pleanála after that .
Currently they are updating environmental assessments ; a grid application and documentation for the State ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a view to getting consent before the end of 2022 .
Construction is estimated to take two years with the facility becoming operational by late 2026/early 2027 .
The legislation is critical not only for the project but for the industry as a whole , and especially for the public , Lefroy says .
Up to now it was not suitable in dealing with projects of this scale , and not helpful in securing public buy-in , he argues .
The new Bill is “ a much more amenable and robust process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Irish Sea is set to look very busy with developments off the east coast stretching almost from Co Louth to Co Wexford , Lefroy accepts .
However , the location of the wind farms , he says , comes with significant positives : they are in the shallowest part of the Irish coast , which enable quicker delivery in a more cost-effective way .
Early reaction to the plans indicates “ a huge amount of positivity out there ” , he says .
“ We are not going to convince everybody but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engage with everybody.
” Dublin Array will be serviced from a nearby harbour – they are currently looking at options from Howth to Wicklow .
It will employ up to 100 people at an operational base .
“ It ’ s a big opportunity for ports along the east coast .
That is why are trying to get buy-in from local stakeholders and local authorities.
” The new WEGs need to differentiate between onshore and offshore , he stresses ; the former having to address landscape and noises issues mainly .
With the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impact too but primarily seabed disturbance during construction and underwater noise impacts on marine life .
The guidelines are a critical part of the regulatory jigsaw “ to give us certainty ” .
The offshore requirements extend to evaluating impact on nearby marine mammals and seabirds as well as how developments interact with shipping and the fishing industry .
Dublin Array ’ s location is on naturally occurring sandbanks which the busy east coast commercial shipping routes avoid due to the shallowness of the water , he notes .
A reduction in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the environmental impact and costs of construction .
Operational costs are also reduced due to ease of access for maintenance and reduced transmission losses .
“ Cost reductions in the construction and operation of the wind farm ultimately reduce the cost of energy to the consumer , ” he says .

Dublin Array: Likely view from Dún Laoghaire towards Sandycove and out towards the Kish Bank.
The developers of a large offshore wind farm costing €1.5 billion, proposed for outer Dublin Bay and stretching south beyond Bray Head, have taken the unusual step of initiating public consultation in advance of completing a planning application.
German energy giant RWE and the Irish company Saorgus, plan to build the wind farm on the Kish and Bray Banks – known as Dublin Array – 10km off the east coast and close to the capital. It will be capable of generating enough electricity for up to 600,000 homes.
They have released photomontages indicating its visual impact. Large wind turbines are likely to be 310m in height when blade size is factored in, which will significantly change the seascape view from Dún Laoghaire almost as far as Greystones, Co Wicklow.
If approved, the view out to sea in the capital will become like some major European coastal cities where turbines are prominent, most notably in the Danish capital Copenhagen.
READ MORE
Dublin Array project director Peter Lefroy says the developers are conscious of visual impact, "especially as the Dublin region has never been exposed to a lot of wind energy in the past. This is why we have gone out early on consultation and are engaging with a wide range of stakeholders."
Technological advances
The location was chosen because of its proximity to where in Ireland there is most demand for electricity and the grid is strongest, Mr Lefroy says. It makes technical sense that the country's first major offshore wind facility should be near Dublin, he adds.
The wind energy sector has changed dramatically in recent years to building larger turbines but fewer of them due to technological advances, with marked reductions in development cost and price of resulting electricity. “This means we can deliver more electricity, more efficiently, with fewer turbines,” Mr Lefroy says.
Dublin Array is anticipating where the industry will be in five years’ time. That means turbines in the order of 135m tower height – totalling over 300m to “top of blade”.
As a consequence, they are planning to build between 45 and 61 turbines. When first proposed to Dublin Array, it was considering up to 145 turbines with a tip height of 160m. Details will be finalised once surveys are completed in coming months.
The Government insists overhauling cumbersome marine legislation will provide opportunities for public consultation on individual projects. Because of limitations imposed by Covid-19, Dublin Array's early consultation is being conducted online via www.dublinarray.com and social media channels up to November 20th.
In May, the Government designated seven offshore wind projects as “relevant projects” – six in the Irish Sea – meaning they will be fast-tracked through overhauled legislation designed to help scale up offshore wind energy. Dublin Array is one of the seven.
The programme for government has a five gigawatt (GW) target for offshore wind; the energy equivalent of power for about five million homes, phased in by 2030 – Dublin Array with up to 900 megawatts (MW) estimates it will provide about 18 per cent of this requirement.
Dublin Array: The likely view from Bray out towards the Bray Bank.
New Bill
The SSE Ireland Arklow Bank facility is separately advancing as an extension of Ireland's original, and still only, operating offshore wind farm – a 25MW demonstrator project that opened in 2001. Up to 100 additional turbines are planned for the site 13km off the coast, south of Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow.
A key enabler to unlock offshore wind development will be the new Marine Planning and Development Management Bill, due to be enacted in early 2021, Lefroy says.
There will be some timelag enacting regulations and introducing new wind energy guidelines (WEGs). He expects the planning application will be submitted directly to An Bord Pleanála after that.
Currently they are updating environmental assessments; a grid application and documentation for the State’s renewal electricity support scheme. This is with a view to getting consent before the end of 2022. Construction is estimated to take two years with the facility becoming operational by late 2026/early 2027.
The legislation is critical not only for the project but for the industry as a whole, and especially for the public, Lefroy says. Up to now it was not suitable in dealing with projects of this scale, and not helpful in securing public buy-in, he argues. The new Bill is “a much more amenable and robust process and allows for public discussion”.
The Irish Sea is set to look very busy with developments off the east coast stretching almost from Co Louth to Co Wexford, Lefroy accepts. However, the location of the wind farms, he says, comes with significant positives: they are in the shallowest part of the Irish coast, which enable quicker delivery in a more cost-effective way.
Operational base
Early reaction to the plans indicates “a huge amount of positivity out there”, he says. “We are not going to convince everybody but we are certainly going to try to engage with everybody.”
Dublin Array will be serviced from a nearby harbour – they are currently looking at options from Howth to Wicklow. It will employ up to 100 people at an operational base. "It's a big opportunity for ports along the east coast. That is why are trying to get buy-in from local stakeholders and local authorities."
The new WEGs need to differentiate between onshore and offshore, he stresses; the former having to address landscape and noises issues mainly. With the latter, it’s about visual impact too but primarily seabed disturbance during construction and underwater noise impacts on marine life.
The guidelines are a critical part of the regulatory jigsaw “to give us certainty”.
The offshore requirements extend to evaluating impact on nearby marine mammals and seabirds as well as how developments interact with shipping and the fishing industry. Dublin Array’s location is on naturally occurring sandbanks which the busy east coast commercial shipping routes avoid due to the shallowness of the water, he notes.
A reduction in the length of the offshore transmission cables reduces the environmental impact and costs of construction. Operational costs are also reduced due to ease of access for maintenance and reduced transmission losses.
“Cost reductions in the construction and operation of the wind farm ultimately reduce the cost of energy to the consumer,” he says.


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Regulator told HSE a month ago that nursing homes were not being supported

The State ’ s health service regulator raised concerns with Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid last month , as coronavirus infections started surging again , that private nursing homes were experiencing significant difficulties finding experienced nurses and infection control experts .
Phelim Quinn , chief executive of the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , told Mr Reid that private nursing home operators were “ regrettably ” reporting a “ worrying picture ” of rising infections and they were not receiving good support from the HSE during Covid-19 outbreaks .
Letters between Mr Quinn , a member @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( Nphet ) , and Mr Reid reveal differences of opinion at the highest levels of the health system around the State ’ s response to protecting care facilities , the setting most vulnerable to the virus , as the number of daily cases of Covid-19 were doubling during October .
The correspondence was released by Hiqa to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act .
Mr Quinn told Mr Reid in a letter dated October 6th that the health watchdog had found some areas within the HSE ’ s network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ are more challenged to respond than others , with some citing a lack of available resources ” .
He said that both nursing homes operators and Nursing Homes Ireland , the representative body for private homes , have “ communicated that their members are experiencing significant challenges in securing infection prevention and control expertise and sourcing experienced nurses to staff their nursing homes ” .
Mr Quinn asked the HSE chief for “ assurance of an ongoing commitment to , and co-ordination of , the multi-agency response and the availability of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care , to provide support and assistance to the private and voluntary sector in the management of any worsening circumstances as it relates to this notifiable infection ” .
He said that the “ multi-agency approach ” in the first wave of the pandemic in March and April helped put supports in place to minimise the risk to “ these extremely vulnerable residents ” and called for a co-ordinated “ national response ” to the “ emerging circumstances within the sector ” .
“ I believe that now more than ever , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communication and escalation pathways between ourselves and the HSE , ” he said .
“ I believe we need to collectively ensure that the co-ordinated response from the CHO and public health response teams is available to meet the emerging national picture.
” Mr Reid replied 10 days later , telling Mr Quinn he was “ disappointed ” that “ certain private nursing home providers are not reporting good support from the HSE ” .
He asked the regulator for details of facilities who have “ reported experiencing any difficulties in accessing support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviewed and , if necessary , addressed ” .
The HSE chief pushed some responsibility back on Hiqa and private nursing homes .
“ For the avoidance of doubt , the support provided by the HSE does not negate the current governance system in which registered providers and Persons In Charge in private nursing homes have a clear accountability and remit for the care and welfare of residents in their own facilities , with Hiqa providing the regulatory framework which oversees this care , ” he wrote .
The HSE remains committed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may be required ” , he told Mr Quinn , and he would “ welcome an urgent discussion ” on how the overall response to “ poorly performing nursing homes may be enhanced combining the regulatory and enforcement powers of Hiqa with the operational and clinical expertise in the HSE ” .
He said that private and voluntary nursing homes have been provided with “ significant financial resources , guidance and training to address the basic safe care requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic ” and that the HSE was committed to helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HSE ’ s partnership with Hiqa is critical to this and I welcome your own commitment to continue to support our efforts in the interest of residents in long-term care , ” he said .
Nursing homes have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic .
In the early stages of the pandemic , private nursing homes criticised the State ’ s slow and inadequate response in providing help on finding replacements for sick staff , the speed and availability of testing and the supply of personal protective equipment .
Almost 40 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ October were nursing home residents .
There were 103 deaths related to the disease last month , of which 39 were nursing home residents .
The number of staff testing positive for Covid-19 in the HSE ’ s serial testing programme , aimed at preventing the spread to residents , rose in October with the number of open outbreaks in care facilities more than doubling , from 26 at the end of September to 56 at the start of November .

The State's health service regulator raised concerns with Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid last month, as coronavirus infections started surging again, that private nursing homes were experiencing significant difficulties finding experienced nurses and infection control experts.
Phelim Quinn, chief executive of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), told Mr Reid that private nursing home operators were "regrettably" reporting a "worrying picture" of rising infections and they were not receiving good support from the HSE during Covid-19 outbreaks.
Letters between Mr Quinn, a member of the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet), and Mr Reid reveal differences of opinion at the highest levels of the health system around the State’s response to protecting care facilities, the setting most vulnerable to the virus, as the number of daily cases of Covid-19 were doubling during October.
The correspondence was released by Hiqa to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act.
READ MORE
Mr Quinn told Mr Reid in a letter dated October 6th that the health watchdog had found some areas within the HSE’s network of community health organisations (CHOs) “are more challenged to respond than others, with some citing a lack of available resources”.
He said that both nursing homes operators and Nursing Homes Ireland, the representative body for private homes, have “communicated that their members are experiencing significant challenges in securing infection prevention and control expertise and sourcing experienced nurses to staff their nursing homes”.
Mr Quinn asked the HSE chief for “assurance of an ongoing commitment to, and co-ordination of, the multi-agency response and the availability of the HSE, as the statutory provider of care, to provide support and assistance to the private and voluntary sector in the management of any worsening circumstances as it relates to this notifiable infection”.
He said that the “multi-agency approach” in the first wave of the pandemic in March and April helped put supports in place to minimise the risk to “these extremely vulnerable residents” and called for a co-ordinated “national response” to the “emerging circumstances within the sector”.
“I believe that now more than ever, there is a need for strong lines of communication and escalation pathways between ourselves and the HSE,” he said. “I believe we need to collectively ensure that the co-ordinated response from the CHO and public health response teams is available to meet the emerging national picture.”
Mr Reid replied 10 days later, telling Mr Quinn he was “disappointed” that “certain private nursing home providers are not reporting good support from the HSE”. He asked the regulator for details of facilities who have “reported experiencing any difficulties in accessing support so that any such incidences can be reviewed and, if necessary, addressed”.
Accountability
The HSE chief pushed some responsibility back on Hiqa and private nursing homes.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the support provided by the HSE does not negate the current governance system in which registered providers and Persons In Charge in private nursing homes have a clear accountability and remit for the care and welfare of residents in their own facilities, with Hiqa providing the regulatory framework which oversees this care,” he wrote.
The HSE remains committed to supporting Hiqa on “any regulatory interventions that may be required”, he told Mr Quinn, and he would “welcome an urgent discussion” on how the overall response to “poorly performing nursing homes may be enhanced combining the regulatory and enforcement powers of Hiqa with the operational and clinical expertise in the HSE”.
He said that private and voluntary nursing homes have been provided with “significant financial resources, guidance and training to address the basic safe care requirements during the Covid-19 pandemic” and that the HSE was committed to helping homes with further outbreaks.
“The HSE’s partnership with Hiqa is critical to this and I welcome your own commitment to continue to support our efforts in the interest of residents in long-term care,” he said.
Nursing homes have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic. In the early stages of the pandemic, private nursing homes criticised the State’s slow and inadequate response in providing help on finding replacements for sick staff, the speed and availability of testing and the supply of personal protective equipment.
Almost 40 per cent of deaths related to Covid-19 during October were nursing home residents. There were 103 deaths related to the disease last month, of which 39 were nursing home residents.
The number of staff testing positive for Covid-19 in the HSE’s serial testing programme, aimed at preventing the spread to residents, rose in October with the number of open outbreaks in care facilities more than doubling, from 26 at the end of September to 56 at the start of November.


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Watchdog concerned about HSE support for nursing homes

New records reveal tensions between the State ’ s health watchdog and the Health Service Executive over whether private nursing homes were being properly supported to manage outbreaks as a second wave of coronavirus infections hit last month .
Letters between the highest-ranking officials at nursing home regulator the Health and Information Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , and the HSE show the watchdog reported concerns that private nursing homes were not receiving good support from the HSE during the Covid-19 pandemic .
Phelim Quinn , chief executive of Hiqa , told HSE chief executive Paul Reid in a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experiencing “ significant challenges in securing infection and prevention control expertise and sourcing experienced nurses to staff their nursing homes ” .
Referring to a “ worrying picture ” of rising infections among nursing home residents and staff , Mr Quinn told Mr Reid that some of the HSE ’ s community health organisation areas were “ more challenged to respond than others , with some citing a lack of available resources ” .
He asked the HSE chief for an assurance of an ongoing commitment to and coordination of support from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care ” to provide support and assist the private and voluntary nursing home sector “ in the management of any worsening circumstances ” .
Mr Reid replied 10 days later to say the HSE had devoted “ very significant resources ” throughout the pandemic to “ stabilise ” private nursing homes and protect their residents , and that an “ entire support infrastructure to protect residents in long-term care has been put in place ” .
“ There has never been any question that the HSE would not continue to provide these supports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the pandemic , ” he wrote in correspondence released by Hiqa to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act .
“ However , your correspondence would seem to suggest that you may have had some uncertainty in this regard , which I can assure you is unfounded.
” Mr Reid said he was “ disappointed ” to hear Mr Quinn ’ s reports and asked him for details of the nursing homes experiencing difficulties so this could be reviewed and addressed .
Nursing homes have been at the frontline of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 39 of the 103 deaths related to the disease last month .
The number of open nursing outbreaks has more than doubled to 56 in just over a month .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) on Sunday reported a further two deaths related to Covid-19 and 542 more infections .
The State on Wednesday will hit the half-way point of the six weeks of Level-5 restrictions .

Phelim Quinn: told HSE’s Paul Reid nursing homes were experiencing “significant challenges in securing infection and prevention control expertise and sourcing experienced nurses to staff their nursing homes”. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
New records reveal tensions between the State’s health watchdog and the Health Service Executive over whether private nursing homes were being properly supported to manage outbreaks as a second wave of coronavirus infections hit last month.
Letters between the highest-ranking officials at nursing home regulator the Health and Information Quality Authority (Hiqa), and the HSE show the watchdog reported concerns that private nursing homes were not receiving good support from the HSE during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Phelim Quinn, chief executive of Hiqa, told HSE chief executive Paul Reid in a letter on October 6th that nursing homes were experiencing "significant challenges in securing infection and prevention control expertise and sourcing experienced nurses to staff their nursing homes".
‘Lack of resources’
Referring to a “worrying picture” of rising infections among nursing home residents and staff, Mr Quinn told Mr Reid that some of the HSE’s community health organisation areas were “more challenged to respond than others, with some citing a lack of available resources”.
READ MORE
He asked the HSE chief for an assurance of an ongoing commitment to and coordination of support from the HSE “as the statutory provider of care” to provide support and assist the private and voluntary nursing home sector “in the management of any worsening circumstances”.
Mr Reid replied 10 days later to say the HSE had devoted “very significant resources” throughout the pandemic to “stabilise” private nursing homes and protect their residents, and that an “entire support infrastructure to protect residents in long-term care has been put in place”.
Reid ‘disappointed’
“There has never been any question that the HSE would not continue to provide these supports as part of the ongoing multiagency response to the pandemic,” he wrote in correspondence released by Hiqa to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act.
“However, your correspondence would seem to suggest that you may have had some uncertainty in this regard, which I can assure you is unfounded.”
Mr Reid said he was “disappointed” to hear Mr Quinn’s reports and asked him for details of the nursing homes experiencing difficulties so this could be reviewed and addressed.
Nursing homes have been at the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic with residents accounting for 39 of the 103 deaths related to the disease last month.
The number of open nursing outbreaks has more than doubled to 56 in just over a month.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) on Sunday reported a further two deaths related to Covid-19 and 542 more infections. The State on Wednesday will hit the half-way point of the six weeks of Level-5 restrictions.


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Almost 400 entitled to cervical cancer case review, report author says

Almost 400 women who have contracted cervical cancer will be entitled to a review by the CervicalCheck programme of their cases , according to the author of a report on the issue .
The review process , which is currently being planned within the Health Service Executive , is likely to start next year .
Prof Susan O ’ Reilly , whose report last month recommended affected women be entitled to standardised , patient-led case reviews , said the process may take at least a year to complete .
CervicalCheck audits were stopped in the spring of 2018 , after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of women had not been told the outcome of a review of their slides .
The issue featured in the recent court settlement agreed by the HSE and a medical lab with Patricia Carrick , whose cervical cancer was diagnosed in 2019 , after auditing of slides in the programme was stopped .
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has claimed the case raised “ very serious concerns ” because Ms Carrick ’ s slides were not re-examined as part of a Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ( RCOG ) review commissioned by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review covered slides up to May 2018 , but Ms Carrick ’ s cancer occurred after this date .
About 260 women a year develop cervical cancer , of whom 160 have participated in screening .
Of these , 20-30 are interval cancers that arise between screenings , while the rest of the cancers are diagnosed under the programme .
Given that 2½ years have passed since audits were halted , Prof O ’ Reilly estimated that almost 400 women in total would be eligible for a review .
The process would take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recruit additional staff and the complexity involved , she cautioned .
A separate anonymous “ programmatic review ” of cervical cancers that occurred in the programme is also being undertaken .
The results of this review , which are being undertaken for educational , quality assurance and international benchmarking purposes , are not being shared with patients .
Ireland is an outlier internationally in relation to the way it handles audit information , Prof O ’ Reilly says .
Out of 17 countries international that were surveyed for her report , just 11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these , only three informed patients of the result of the audit and , of these , only one write directly to the patients involved .
The HSE says it has set up implementation groups to work on establishing the process for case reviews and will report on progress next January .
Prof O ’ Reilly told The Irish Times the screening service was under “ huge risk ” due to the escalating number of legal claims it faces .
Before the 2018 controversy , there were 10 claims against the cervical cancer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this had risen to 185 .
In addition , a UK review ordered after the 2018 controversy has generated 83 formal request to CervicalCheck for patient data , which may lead to more claims .
The resulting liability to the State could be in the range of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of euro , Prof O ’ Reilly warns in her report .
“ Since the 2019 operating budget of CervicalCheck was €34 million , such liability would render the programme unsustainable.
” In addition , the escalating number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of highly qualified staff who would have to devote weeks to each case , thereby further undermining the time available to carry out screening , she said .
No screening test will ever find 100 per cent of abnormalities , the HSE pointed out .
“ Ireland is unique internationally in regard to the litigation environment and the potential for harm to its current and future screening programmes .
“ It is accepted around the world that screening does not detect all cancers but that good quality-assurance processes maximise the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reviewed within laboratories if screeners have any doubts about a slide , and as part of regular quality-assurance processes.
” Since CervicalCheck started in 2008 , the number of women who developed cervical cancer has fallen by 7 per cent a year .
Of every 1,000 women screened , about 20 will have abnormal ( pre-cancerous ) cervical cells .
Smear testing picks up 15 of these 20 cases on average but five people will not have cells found and may develop cervical cancer .
Under a new HPV screening method introduced this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases involving abnormal cells are identified .

Report author Prof Susan O’Reilly: “Ireland is unique internationally in regard to the litigation environment and the potential for harm to its current and future screening programmes.” Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Almost 400 women who have contracted cervical cancer will be entitled to a review by the CervicalCheck programme of their cases, according to the author of a report on the issue.
The review process, which is currently being planned within the Health Service Executive, is likely to start next year. Prof Susan O’Reilly, whose report last month recommended affected women be entitled to standardised, patient-led case reviews, said the process may take at least a year to complete.
CervicalCheck audits were stopped in the spring of 2018, after major controversy erupted when it emerged that hundreds of women had not been told the outcome of a review of their slides.
The issue featured in the recent court settlement agreed by the HSE and a medical lab with Patricia Carrick, whose cervical cancer was diagnosed in 2019, after auditing of slides in the programme was stopped.
READ MORE
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has claimed the case raised “very serious concerns” because Ms Carrick’s slides were not re-examined as part of a Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) review commissioned by the Government in 2018.
The RCOG review covered slides up to May 2018, but Ms Carrick’s cancer occurred after this date.
About 260 women a year develop cervical cancer, of whom 160 have participated in screening. Of these, 20-30 are interval cancers that arise between screenings, while the rest of the cancers are diagnosed under the programme.
Given that 2½ years have passed since audits were halted, Prof O’Reilly estimated that almost 400 women in total would be eligible for a review. The process would take some time due to the need to recruit additional staff and the complexity involved, she cautioned.
A separate anonymous “programmatic review” of cervical cancers that occurred in the programme is also being undertaken. The results of this review, which are being undertaken for educational, quality assurance and international benchmarking purposes, are not being shared with patients.
Ireland is an outlier internationally in relation to the way it handles audit information, Prof O'Reilly says. Out of 17 countries international that were surveyed for her report, just 11 audited their cervical cancer programme. Of these, only three informed patients of the result of the audit and, of these, only one write directly to the patients involved.
The HSE says it has set up implementation groups to work on establishing the process for case reviews and will report on progress next January.
‘Huge risk’
Prof O’Reilly told The Irish Times the screening service was under “huge risk” due to the escalating number of legal claims it faces.
Before the 2018 controversy, there were 10 claims against the cervical cancer screening programme; by last June, this had risen to 185.
In addition, a UK review ordered after the 2018 controversy has generated 83 formal request to CervicalCheck for patient data, which may lead to more claims.
The resulting liability to the State could be in the range of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of euro, Prof O’Reilly warns in her report. “Since the 2019 operating budget of CervicalCheck was €34 million, such liability would render the programme unsustainable.”
In addition, the escalating number of cases is likely to tie down large number of highly qualified staff who would have to devote weeks to each case, thereby further undermining the time available to carry out screening, she said.
No screening test will ever find 100 per cent of abnormalities, the HSE pointed out. “Ireland is unique internationally in regard to the litigation environment and the potential for harm to its current and future screening programmes.
“It is accepted around the world that screening does not detect all cancers but that good quality-assurance processes maximise the number of abnormalities detected.
“Slides are already reviewed within laboratories if screeners have any doubts about a slide, and as part of regular quality-assurance processes.”
Since CervicalCheck started in 2008, the number of women who developed cervical cancer has fallen by 7 per cent a year. Of every 1,000 women screened, about 20 will have abnormal (pre-cancerous) cervical cells. Smear testing picks up 15 of these 20 cases on average but five people will not have cells found and may develop cervical cancer.
Under a new HPV screening method introduced this year, 18 out of every 20 cases involving abnormal cells are identified.


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Irish policies to tackle obesity ‘fall behind international best practice’ – report

Ireland falls behind international best practice for implementing some of the policies needed to tackle obesity and other non-communicable diseases , a new report has found .
The first Irish Healthy Food Environment Policy Index ( Food-EPI ) , conducted by University College Cork , compared the Irish food system to international standards .
The index found Ireland is at international best practice in monitoring overweight and obesity prevalence in the population and occurrence rates for the main diet-related disease and its risk factors .
However , the report also highlighted that Ireland compared poorly with other countries when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ no fry zones ” , school food policies , and measures aimed at reducing the marketing of unhealthy food to children in the media and online .
Half of the good practice indicators examined in the study were rated as having “ low ” implementation in Ireland compared with international best practice , specifically food labelling , food promotion and food retail , it said .
There were also four “ major implementation gaps ” identified within government policy with food composition targets for concerning nutrients , promotion of unhealthy food , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being evaluated at “ very little if any implementation ” .
The expert panel , which consisted of 20 representatives from academia , the HSE , health bodies and charities , recommended several actions to reduce obesity .
They called on the Government to ringfence revenue from tax on unhealthy foods to improve public health initiatives and provide healthy food subsidies targeted at disadvantaged groups in the community ; to implement nutrition standards in schools and to prohibit the placement of unhealthy food places within 400 metres of schools .
The panel also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consisting of local and national government , policy experts and public health experts to “ facilitate information sharing ” .
The report was conducted as part of a wider European project , the Policy Evaluation Network ( PEN ) in collaboration with research groups from countries such as The Netherlands , Norway , Germany , Poland and New Zealand .
Dr Janas Harrington , from UCC ’ s School of Public Health , and lead-author of the report , said the findings highlight the need to reform Ireland ’ s “ food environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ factors that characterise our food system and largely determine our dietary intakes .
“ The government needs to seize an opportunity to improve the diets of the Irish population , prevent obesity and diet-related non communicable diseases by investing in the kind of policies and programmes which have demonstrated success in a number of countries , ” Dr Harrington said .
“ The benefits are two-fold - aside from improving the health of the general population , these measures are highly cost effective , and in the long-run can help counteract the rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non communicable diseases .
”

The first Irish Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), conducted by University College Cork, compared the Irish food system to international standards. Photograph: iStock
Ireland falls behind international best practice for implementing some of the policies needed to tackle obesity and other non-communicable diseases, a new report has found.
The first Irish Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food-EPI), conducted by University College Cork, compared the Irish food system to international standards.
The index found Ireland is at international best practice in monitoring overweight and obesity prevalence in the population and occurrence rates for the main diet-related disease and its risk factors.
However, the report also highlighted that Ireland compared poorly with other countries when it comes to implementing initiatives such as so-called “no fry zones”, school food policies, and measures aimed at reducing the marketing of unhealthy food to children in the media and online.
READ MORE
Half of the good practice indicators examined in the study were rated as having “low” implementation in Ireland compared with international best practice, specifically food labelling, food promotion and food retail, it said.
There were also four “major implementation gaps” identified within government policy with food composition targets for concerning nutrients, promotion of unhealthy food, provision and retail of healthier options all being evaluated at “very little if any implementation”.
Ringfenced revenue
The expert panel, which consisted of 20 representatives from academia, the HSE, health bodies and charities, recommended several actions to reduce obesity.
They called on the Government to ringfence revenue from tax on unhealthy foods to improve public health initiatives and provide healthy food subsidies targeted at disadvantaged groups in the community; to implement nutrition standards in schools and to prohibit the placement of unhealthy food places within 400 metres of schools.
The panel also called for the establishment of a forum consisting of local and national government, policy experts and public health experts to “facilitate information sharing”.
The report was conducted as part of a wider European project, the Policy Evaluation Network (PEN) in collaboration with research groups from countries such as The Netherlands, Norway, Germany, Poland and New Zealand.
Dr Janas Harrington, from UCC's School of Public Health, and lead-author of the report, said the findings highlight the need to reform Ireland's "food environment", which is defined as interconnected factors that characterise our food system and largely determine our dietary intakes.
“The government needs to seize an opportunity to improve the diets of the Irish population, prevent obesity and diet-related non communicable diseases by investing in the kind of policies and programmes which have demonstrated success in a number of countries,” Dr Harrington said.
“The benefits are two-fold - aside from improving the health of the general population, these measures are highly cost effective, and in the long-run can help counteract the rising healthcare costs associated with obesity and diet-related non communicable diseases.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Colleges set to boost on-campus activity for students over dropout fears

Third-level colleges are being advised to increase on-campus activity for first- year students due to concerns that significant numbers are at risk of dropping out or disengaging from their courses .
Most teaching and learning at third level has been taking place online since colleges reopened in September , due to Covid-19 public-health restrictions .
Only small classes such as practicals and laboratory work have been permitted to take place on campus .
There has been rising concern over the level of engagement among first-year and final-year students , in particular , due to lack of peer support and limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one in five students fails to complete their degree course .
Some senior academics fear these numbers could rise in the current academic year .
The Department of Further and Higher Education led by Minister Simon Harris has been in talks with higher education institutions over recent days on what kind of on-campus activity should be allowed to take place in the next semester .
While most universities and institutes of technology have yet to finalise their plans for the next semester , some universities – including Dublin City University and University of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue for the remainder of the academic year .
Mr Harris has “ strongly encouraged ” colleges to await the conclusion of discussions with his department before making decisions .
“ We are now preparing for semester two and the new year .
Every single decision we will make will be done in consultation with the chief medical officer ’ s office and the Department of Health and in line with the best public-health advice available to us , ” he said .
“ My priority going into the new year will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can and as safely as we can , ” said .
“ I would like to see some more on-site activity for first- and final-year students .
We have started these discussions with colleges and it is my view we need to provide certainty as soon as is possible.
” Mr Harris said his department ’ s priorities would be continuing programmes and activities that could not take place online , such as teaching and research in laboratories and practical tuition , along with direct engagement with vulnerable or marginalised students and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ difficulties undertaking independent study and engaging exclusively in online learning , he said .
These students may be at a high risk of dropping out .
“ We want to create new ways to promote small-scale , in-person contact , especially peer engagement , for new entrants to further and higher education , especially for students and learners that may be living away from home for the first time and those who may be at risk of dropping out , ” he said .
Third-level institutions will continue to have flexibility to mitigate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may have difficulty studying remotely , studying in their home environment or who find it necessary to live on or near campus and away from home , he said .
“ Students and staff will be at the heart of all of our decisions .
The more we all continue to follow public-health advice and the more we adhere to the guidelines the best chance we have in getting as many people back on site as often as possible , ” he said .
Separately , Mr Harris has announced a €5 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovation online across the higher-education sector .
He said colleges rose to the challenge of meeting students ’ needs when they closed last March .
“ Today , we want to take that innovation and build on it .
So we want to hear from you about how we can all learn to strengthen student success across face-to-face , blended , online and remote teaching and learning contexts .
Through this fund we will learn and grow for the success of all our students , ” he said .

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris: “My priority going into the new year will be in increasing on-campus activity as much as we can and as safely as we can.” Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Third-level colleges are being advised to increase on-campus activity for first- year students due to concerns that significant numbers are at risk of dropping out or disengaging from their courses.
Most teaching and learning at third level has been taking place online since colleges reopened in September, due to Covid-19 public-health restrictions. Only small classes such as practicals and laboratory work have been permitted to take place on campus.
There has been rising concern over the level of engagement among first-year and final-year students, in particular, due to lack of peer support and limited access to college campuses.
Typically about one in five students fails to complete their degree course. Some senior academics fear these numbers could rise in the current academic year.
READ MORE
The Department of Further and Higher Education led by Minister Simon Harris has been in talks with higher education institutions over recent days on what kind of on-campus activity should be allowed to take place in the next semester.
While most universities and institutes of technology have yet to finalise their plans for the next semester, some universities – including Dublin City University and University of Limerick – have said online learning will continue for the remainder of the academic year.
Discussions
Mr Harris has “strongly encouraged” colleges to await the conclusion of discussions with his department before making decisions.
"We are now preparing for semester two and the new year. Every single decision we will make will be done in consultation with the chief medical officer's office and the Department of Health and in line with the best public-health advice available to us," he said.
“My priority going into the new year will be in increasing on-campus activity as much as we can and as safely as we can,” said.
“I would like to see some more on-site activity for first- and final-year students. We have started these discussions with colleges and it is my view we need to provide certainty as soon as is possible.”
Mr Harris said his department’s priorities would be continuing programmes and activities that could not take place online, such as teaching and research in laboratories and practical tuition, along with direct engagement with vulnerable or marginalised students and learners.
Some students and learners face difficulties undertaking independent study and engaging exclusively in online learning, he said. These students may be at a high risk of dropping out.
“We want to create new ways to promote small-scale, in-person contact, especially peer engagement, for new entrants to further and higher education, especially for students and learners that may be living away from home for the first time and those who may be at risk of dropping out,” he said.
Flexibility
Third-level institutions will continue to have flexibility to mitigate the impacts on students and learners who may have difficulty studying remotely, studying in their home environment or who find it necessary to live on or near campus and away from home, he said.
“Students and staff will be at the heart of all of our decisions. The more we all continue to follow public-health advice and the more we adhere to the guidelines the best chance we have in getting as many people back on site as often as possible,” he said.
Separately, Mr Harris has announced a €5 million fund designed to drive teaching and learning innovation online across the higher-education sector.
He said colleges rose to the challenge of meeting students’ needs when they closed last March.
“Today, we want to take that innovation and build on it. So we want to hear from you about how we can all learn to strengthen student success across face-to-face, blended, online and remote teaching and learning contexts. Through this fund we will learn and grow for the success of all our students,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Covid-19: Majority feel old way of working not worth the commute - poll

Many Irish people do not want to return to the way they worked or commuted before Covid-19 and want a greener alternative .
That is according to a national survey of 1,000 adults conducted last month by Science Foundation Ireland to mark Science Week 2020 .
Only 6 per cent of Irish people say the old way of working was worth the commute , while almost half – 46 per cent – said they never want to go back to how their workplace was before the pandemic .
One fifth stated that while they did not mind commuting , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research was aimed at investigating the public ’ s views on how science impacts their everyday lives and where they would like to see changes in the future .
This year , the focus for Science Week 2020 is “ choosing our future ” and supporting conversations among the public on how science can improve our lives .
On the area of health , the research found that over half of respondents said that science or technology has helped their mental health , rising to two-thirds amongst 18-34-year olds .
More than three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a better quality of life .
When asked about their hopes for the future and where respondents would like to see science have a positive impact , healthcare came out on top at 82 per cent , followed by climate action at 65 per cent and flexible work options at 43 per cent .
The pandemic also appears to have affected how Irish people think about their lives and how they want to live in the future .
Over two-thirds of respondents agreed that Covid-19 restrictions have led them to appreciate nature @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people saying that they want to see more nature in their cities .
More than three quarters of respondents across all demographics stated that they believe Irish cities should have more trees and forested areas .
Commenting on the research , Prof Mark Ferguson , director general of Science Foundation Ireland , said the pandemic has facilitated greater focus on our priorities and conversations around our shared hopes for a brighter future and the vital role science and technology can play in developing solutions to the challenges we face .
“ Today ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Irish public on how Covid-19 has impacted their lives , what do they want to change or keep , and what role can science play in shaping Ireland , ” he said .
“ Choosing our Future is the theme for Science Week 2020 and core to this is providing the opportunity for the public to engage with the scientific community.
” The foundation is hosting live discussions during Science Week ( scienceweek.ie ) from November 10th-13th .
They will focus on several topics ranging from how we learn to physical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , to the future of work and vaccines .

Phoenix Park last month as the leaves on the trees began to change. Photograph: Damien Eagers
Many Irish people do not want to return to the way they worked or commuted before Covid-19 and want a greener alternative. That is according to a national survey of 1,000 adults conducted last month by Science Foundation Ireland to mark Science Week 2020.
Only 6 per cent of Irish people say the old way of working was worth the commute, while almost half – 46 per cent – said they never want to go back to how their workplace was before the pandemic.
One fifth stated that while they did not mind commuting, they would like a greener alternative.
The research was aimed at investigating the public’s views on how science impacts their everyday lives and where they would like to see changes in the future.
READ MORE
This year, the focus for Science Week 2020 is “choosing our future” and supporting conversations among the public on how science can improve our lives.
On the area of health, the research found that over half of respondents said that science or technology has helped their mental health, rising to two-thirds amongst 18-34-year olds. More than three quarters think science has helped elderly people have a better quality of life.
When asked about their hopes for the future and where respondents would like to see science have a positive impact, healthcare came out on top at 82 per cent, followed by climate action at 65 per cent and flexible work options at 43 per cent.
The pandemic also appears to have affected how Irish people think about their lives and how they want to live in the future.
Nature
Over two-thirds of respondents agreed that Covid-19 restrictions have led them to appreciate nature more – highest among 18-34-year-olds – with people saying that they want to see more nature in their cities.
More than three quarters of respondents across all demographics stated that they believe Irish cities should have more trees and forested areas.
Commenting on the research, Prof Mark Ferguson, director general of Science Foundation Ireland, said the pandemic has facilitated greater focus on our priorities and conversations around our shared hopes for a brighter future and the vital role science and technology can play in developing solutions to the challenges we face.
“Today’s research provides an opportunity to hear from the Irish public on how Covid-19 has impacted their lives, what do they want to change or keep, and what role can science play in shaping Ireland,” he said.
“Choosing our Future is the theme for Science Week 2020 and core to this is providing the opportunity for the public to engage with the scientific community.”
The foundation is hosting live discussions during Science Week (scienceweek.ie) from November 10th-13th. They will focus on several topics ranging from how we learn to physical activity and its impact on our health, to the future of work and vaccines.


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Discrimination because of criminal past should end, says rights body

Equality legislation must be amended to prevent employers , landlords and other services from discriminating against people because of previous criminal convictions , Ireland ’ s statutory human rights body has said .
Draft 2018 legislation prevents employers from discriminating against a person with a “ spent ” conviction , which is a conviction that has been expunged under the Spent Convictions Act 2016 .
However the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission ( IHREC ) believes this provision should be made much broader so that it applies to all criminal convictions and to discrimination in the areas of education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made the recommendations in its submission on the upcoming Government review of the Spent Convictions Act .
It said the Act is too restrictive and is preventing people from accessing jobs and basic services long after they have stopped offending .
Under current legislation a person can expunge a single conviction after seven years as long as they received a maximum one-year prison sentence or a two-year non-custodial sentence .
If a person has two or more such convictions , none can become spent .
The commission cited examples it has collected of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These include a person who had been accepted for a job which was later withdrawn when a 20-year-old offence in another country came to light .
Another person was refused private rental accommodation because a family member , who did not plan to live there , had previous convictions , the IHREC said .
It also cited a person who could not get car insurance due to a 10-year-old conviction , and another who was not allowed finish their college degree because they had run up more than 100 convictions in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The commission recommended that the limit on the number of convictions which can be expunged be removed entirely .
“ It is likely that this limitation has the disproportionate effect of excluding specific groups that may have accumulated multiple offences because of disability ( for example , drug and alcohol addiction or , mental health conditions ) , socioeconomic status , homelessness , etc , ” it said .
Provision should also be made for serious offences to be expunged .
A review mechanism , such as a court or independent board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assessments on previous serious offenders and make a judgment on the expunging of their offences , it said .
Many of the IHREC ’ s recommendations are echoed by the Irish Penal Reform Trust ( IPRT ) which submitted that minor convictions can still amount to lifelong punishment “ disproportionate to the gravity of the offence ” .
The trust said someone with two separate convictions for shoplifting from over 20 years ago would not be able to benefit from the existing scheme “ regardless of the circumstances surrounding the offences ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ appealed for the legislation not to be based on the number of convictions “ but on the time you last offended ” .
The trust wants sentences of up to four years to be included in the legislation and the limits on the number of convictions that can become spent to be removed .
An IPRT survey completed by 148 offenders found 81 per cent ( 120 ) believed having a conviction negatively affected their job prospects .
Most had committed the offences in their teens and 20s but those conducting the survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when they get a little older and have a lot to offer society ” .
One respondent said : “ It ’ s like a tattoo , I feel branded by this event that happened when I was 18 , I ’ m 42 now and still dealing with the consequences of the conviction.
” Another said : “ I was a troubled boy and a drug addict .
I am six years clean , have a bachelor ’ s [ degree ] and a masters now .
Why are my convictions relevant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The trust also calls for the Government to re-introduce Independent Senator Lynn Ruane ’ s Criminal Justice ( Rehabilitative Periods ) Bill 2018 as amended in the Seanad in November 2019 .
The Bill , which fell with the general election , includes many of the measures the IPRT has recommended .
It also calls for young people to be treated as a distinct cohort with a shorter period of rehabilitation before their record is expunged and says it is very difficult to compare the actions of a 19-year-old with those of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ IPRT Fíona Ní Chinnéide said that “ having a criminal record in Ireland , even for a less serious offence , can amount to a disproportionate lifelong punishment .
“ By offering the opportunity to make a fresh start by not having to disclose minor old convictions , we can help people turn their lives around and enhance public safety .
This is particularly important for young people ” .

Equality legislation must be amended to prevent employers, landlords and other services from discriminating against people because of previous criminal convictions, Ireland’s statutory human rights body has said.
Draft 2018 legislation prevents employers from discriminating against a person with a “spent” conviction, which is a conviction that has been expunged under the Spent Convictions Act 2016.
However the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) believes this provision should be made much broader so that it applies to all criminal convictions and to discrimination in the areas of education, housing and insurance.
The IHREC made the recommendations in its submission on the upcoming Government review of the Spent Convictions Act. It said the Act is too restrictive and is preventing people from accessing jobs and basic services long after they have stopped offending.
READ MORE
Under current legislation a person can expunge a single conviction after seven years as long as they received a maximum one-year prison sentence or a two-year non-custodial sentence. If a person has two or more such convictions, none can become spent.
The commission cited examples it has collected of people being held back by past convictions. These include a person who had been accepted for a job which was later withdrawn when a 20-year-old offence in another country came to light. Another person was refused private rental accommodation because a family member, who did not plan to live there, had previous convictions, the IHREC said. It also cited a person who could not get car insurance due to a 10-year-old conviction, and another who was not allowed finish their college degree because they had run up more than 100 convictions in the past when they were addicted to drugs.
The commission recommended that the limit on the number of convictions which can be expunged be removed entirely.
“It is likely that this limitation has the disproportionate effect of excluding specific groups that may have accumulated multiple offences because of disability (for example, drug and alcohol addiction or, mental health conditions), socioeconomic status, homelessness, etc,” it said.
Provision should also be made for serious offences to be expunged. A review mechanism, such as a court or independent board, should be established to conduct risk assessments on previous serious offenders and make a judgment on the expunging of their offences, it said.
Many of the IHREC's recommendations are echoed by the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) which submitted that minor convictions can still amount to lifelong punishment "disproportionate to the gravity of the offence".
The trust said someone with two separate convictions for shoplifting from over 20 years ago would not be able to benefit from the existing scheme “regardless of the circumstances surrounding the offences”.
In a submission, the IPRT has appealed for the legislation not to be based on the number of convictions “but on the time you last offended”. The trust wants sentences of up to four years to be included in the legislation and the limits on the number of convictions that can become spent to be removed.
Survey
An IPRT survey completed by 148 offenders found 81 per cent (120) believed having a conviction negatively affected their job prospects. Most had committed the offences in their teens and 20s but those conducting the survey said the respondents “are different people when they get a little older and have a lot to offer society”.
One respondent said: “It’s like a tattoo, I feel branded by this event that happened when I was 18, I’m 42 now and still dealing with the consequences of the conviction.”
Another said: “I was a troubled boy and a drug addict. I am six years clean, have a bachelor’s [degree] and a masters now. Why are my convictions relevant now? I am a different person.”
The trust also calls for the Government to re-introduce Independent Senator Lynn Ruane’s Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018 as amended in the Seanad in November 2019. The Bill, which fell with the general election, includes many of the measures the IPRT has recommended.
It also calls for young people to be treated as a distinct cohort with a shorter period of rehabilitation before their record is expunged and says it is very difficult to compare the actions of a 19-year-old with those of a 30-year-old.
Executive director of the IPRT Fíona Ní Chinnéide said that "having a criminal record in Ireland, even for a less serious offence, can amount to a disproportionate lifelong punishment.
“By offering the opportunity to make a fresh start by not having to disclose minor old convictions, we can help people turn their lives around and enhance public safety. This is particularly important for young people”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-09--Pricewatch: What does it cost to run your household?

Just over eight years ago , the AA published the first of a continuing series of surveys looking in forensic @ @ @ @ @ of owning and maintaining a family home .
It was a tale of two timings @

Just over eight years ago, the AA published the first of a continuing series of surveys looking in forensic detail at the annual cost of owning and maintaining a family home.
It was a tale of two timings.
People who bought homes when the property bubble was at its most inflated were lumbered with costs of just over €22,000 each year when sky-high mortgage repayments and a host of other household bills including utilities such as heat, light and broadband were taken care of.
The costs for people who bought homes in 2012 when the bubble had well and truly deflated meanwhile, were put at €15,400. Neither figure included food, clothes, running a car, entertainment or holidays.
READ MORE
Pricewatch added those costs to the tally and came up with an after-tax figure of about €48,000 for a household made up of two adults and two children.
But where are we now?
The latest Cost of Running a Home analysis from AA Home Insurance says that on average, an Irish homeowner can expect to spend €17,811 over the next 12 months, an increase of more than €400 on last year’s calculation of €17,393.
Mortgage and property tax were calculated based on the current average property price while all other expenditure – from broadband to heating, to the cost of domestic appliances – was researched and calculated according to prices as of October 2020.
The biggest expense was the cost of buying a home and for its exercise the AA looked at the national average price of a second- hand home.
Values increased from €269,000 during the third quarter of last year to €282,000 in the third quarter of this year – an rise of €13,000. This increase in the cost of buying a home has caused a significant rise in mortgage repayment costs, the main driver behind the rise in home ownership costs.
Maintenance and repair
According to the AA’s calculations, those who took out a 90 per cent mortgage in 2020 are likely to pay €11,404 per annum in mortgage repayments – an increase of almost €400 or 3.48 per cent on last year.
Maintenance, repair and contingency funds is the second single most expensive bill for Irish householder, but has dropped by 1.2 per cent since last year, the survey suggests.
The AA estimates that the average homeowner is likely to spend or set aside €1,249 to keep up with wear and tear. This figure equates to slightly over 7 per cent of the overall estimated cost of owning and running a home.
Taking annual average usage figures of 11,000 kWh and 4,200 kWh for a three- or four-bedroom detached house respectively, the AA estimates that the average homeowner will spend €718, a decrease of 12 per cent heating their home this year and a further €979 on electricity a decline of 2 per cent.
However, this year there is increased energy usage by homes during the pandemic. The AA estimating that the average household will spend an additional €210 on gas and electricity combined as a result of more people working from home and some older children who had previously been renting opting to move back into the family home.
Among the variables that remained the same as or close to last year were television licence costs at €160.
Other costs included in the AA Home Insurance study were: home insurance which is calculated at €564, telephone and broadband bills at €396, household appliances costs at €545, household cleaning products (an annual supply of which will cost €334) and domestic refuse collection at €289.
“Despite the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the average cost of owning and maintaining a home in Ireland has climbed for the fifth year in a row. House prices and living costs remain significantly below the peaks of the Celtic Tiger,” the AA’s Conor Faughnan says.
Energy prices
“The continued upward trajectory represents a major issue for both potential buyers and those trying to meet their mortgage repayments during difficult economic circumstances,” he continues.
“There is some good news, however, for homeowners as many of the day-to-day costs, such as heating and electricity, have fallen compared to 2019.”
In the period since 2015, the cost of running a home has increased by over €2,000. “However, those homeowners who regularly review their bills, purchases, and subscriptions could be faring better than most, as on everything from your mortgage to your bin service the report found clear value in shopping around.”
While the AA bases its calculations on those of a new buyer, there is also the “negative equity generation” – homeowners who bought their house at the peak of the boom.
The AA gives figures for that group too, assuming the house is bought in 2007. That group currently pays €4,270 more on their mortgage repayments than their counterparts who purchased their homes in the third quarter of this year.
Someone who bought a house in Dublin at the height of the boom and paid substantially more than the national average is likely to be paying a whole lot more than that.
Fictional family: the cost of living
The figures from the AA are commendably comprehensive – and include the cost of your Cif and Toilet Duck – but they only zoom in on the costs of keeping a roof over your head. That means that fairly important costs of living such as food, transport, health and actually having a life are not included.
At least they are not included by the AA.
As we have done in recent years, we set about working out how much a typical family of two adults and two children might need to spend over the next 12 months to have some class of life and we used the standard financial statement that banks ask customers to fill in if they are trying to restructure debts.
Among the costs we covered are health insurance, transport, food, clothes and grooming, entertainment, childcare, education and mobile phones. We also include Christmas, four birthdays and one family holiday into the mix to see how costs bearing up this year. The news is not great and we reckon that our estimates are an underestimation.
Health insurance: €4,039
For three months earlier this year, Ireland effectively had no private healthcare system with all the major private hospitals subsumed into the public system over fears that a surge in Covid-19 cases would overwhelm the country’s medical capacity. It didn’t happen and, by July, the three main players in the health insurance market were once more operating as normal and charging as normal.
For some time the cost of medical treatment in Ireland has outpaced general inflation by a rate of six to one, with the higher price of advanced healthcare likely to lead to more health insurance hikes in the years ahead.
In 2018, we estimated the annual cost of a fairly average health insurance policy covering two adults and two children at €3,097. In 2019, we estimated the cost at €3,889. So where are we now?
There are over 300 different private health insurance plans on the market and there are very big savings that can be made without losing anything by way of cover by shopping around. As with many areas of our lives, people are reluctant to switch providers so for the sake of this exercises we won’t either.
Last year to get our average figure we compared three broadly similar family-friendly plans. Laya Healthcare’s Essential Connect Family plan, the VHI’s Family Plan Level 1 and the Family Focus plan from Irish Life Health.
We looked at the same plans this year. The VHI plan was €1,670 for an adult and €535 for a child (€4,410). The Laya option was coming in at €1,427 for an adult and €274 (€3,402) while the Irish Life plan was priced at €1,724 for each adult and €429 per child (€4,306).
It is important to stress that these plans are not identical but they are broadly similar. If we take an average of the three policies for our imaginary family then the annual cost or private health insurance this year will be €4,039. Last year we put the average at €3,889.
Motoring: €5,262
There is some good news for motorists this year as the average price of a litre of petrol has fallen quite considerably over the last 12 months and in November of last year it cost €1.44 compared to €1.25 today. We are going to ignore for a moment the fact that over the last eight months motorists have been driving much, much less than last year or any year since cars became as popular as they are and work with the normal averages.
In a year other than 2020, the average motorist could expect to drive 16,000km (9,900 miles) every year, If the average price of petrol is €1.25 a litre then, driving the average family car, which does 12.4km per litre (35 miles per gallon), the average Irish driver will spend about €1,612 on petrol over the next months compared with €1,857 last year. It was €1,755 in 2017.
We will allow motor tax of €250 to allow for an increase in the number of electric and hybrid cars. and €400 to cover servicing and maintenance.
The cost of comprehensive insurance for two adults depends on many factors – notably location, driving history, no-claims bonus and type of car, and prices have started climbing again so we will say our notional family can expect to have little change out of €1,200 this year.
We have to allow for the cost of a car and depreciation too. If you spend €18,000 on a car, keep it for five years and then sell it for half the price you paid for it, the annual cost is €1,800. When we tot up all the numbers the total running costs of one car comes to €5,262 compared with €5,057 last year.
Food: €9,173
According to the central statistics office the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages fell slightly over the 12 months to the end of September. Last year, we allowed a weekly grocery spend of €180 which meant the annual cost was €9,360.
If that declines by 2 per cent – and again we are ignoring the Covid-shaped elephant in the room which has seen grocery spending climb – then the annual cost of groceries will fall by €187 to €9,173 although that doesn’t factor in a Christmas blowout of any kind.
Social inclusion: €5,720
This is a tricky one this year because the opportunities for social inclusion of any kind have been dramatically reduced and we’re not sure sitting on your couch watching the Marvellous Mrs Maisel counts as social inclusion.
But for the sake of consistency we will do what we did last year and allow €40 per adult per week to cover the cost of a social life – including all sports activities and social occasions and €15 per child per week. That takes the annual spend on social inclusion for a family of four to €5,720.
Education and childcare: €1,585
According to the annual school costs survey published by Barnardos during the summer, when the cost of clothes, shoes, books, stationery, classroom resources and the voluntary contribution are totted up, costs will average €350 for primary school students and €735 for post-primary students.
If we allow a further €500 between the two of them to cover costs for trips and extra-curricular activities and assume our notional household has one child in senior infants class and one in first year, then the annual cost of a free education climbs to €1,585 – up slightly on last year’s figure.
We have not included the costs of creches or after-school care in this final tally – if for no other reason than the total would make many parents weep – but as anyone with a child in a creche knows all too well, such cost can easily rise to in excess of 10 grand a year for one child and the same again for all the rest.
Clothes/grooming: €1,340
Last year we put this figure at €1,840. That was based on an assumption that the man in our notional household visited the barber eight times a year and his partner visits a hairdresser once every 10 weeks (plus once for a special occasion). On that basis, the total cost of haircare alone for the adults reached €800. We aside €100 each for haircuts and the like for the kids.
We gave our notional family an allowance of €70 a month for all four of them and not each. Given that the barbers and hair salons will be closed for at least four months of the year and the need for clothes somewhat reduced during the lockdown, we are going to take €500 off last year’s figure for the next 12 months.
Mobile phones: €1,800
Now, let’s say our fictional family have three mobile phones between the four of them and spend €50 a month on each of them. The monthly cost then will come in at €150 while the annual cost will easily top €1,800.
Births, holidays and Christmas: €3,600
If we allow a spend of just €150 on birthday presents for each of the four people in our family then the total cost comes to €600. Most surveys suggest that the cost of Christmas will come in at well over €1,000 for Irish families but we will only allow €1,000. And we will set aside €2,000 to cover the cost of a summer holiday. Who knows, next year we may even be able to travel overseas.
So, if you add the AA figures for the average person who bought a home at the average price in 2020 to our figures, the fictional household could easily spend a total of €50,330 over the next 12 months. People who bought a property at the height of the boom might find themselves spending close to €55,000. And of course these numbers are after tax which means our notional couple would need to earn almost twice that just to keep their heads above water.
We are all too aware that there are many, many people out there who don’t earn close to that and we know that there are many people struggling to pay rents of well in excess of €25,000 a year as well as much higher childcare costs than we have outlined here.
Is it any wonder so many of us are so smashed all of the time?


theirishtimes--2020-11-08--Senior garda suspended over breach of Covid-19 rules at JoJo Dullard briefing

A senior garda has been suspended after attending a high-profile media briefing last month while awaiting the result of a Covid-19 test .
The garda was present at an event in Newbridge , Co Kildare to announce the opening of a murder investigation of the case of Kilkenny woman JoJo Dullard who went missing 25 years ago .
Shortly after the briefing concluded the garda was informed he had tested positive for Covid-19 .
The event was attended by between 15 and 20 reporters , photographers and camera people as well as gardaí , hall staff and Dullard family members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to self-isolate and it is understood one later tested positive for the virus , although it can not be said if they contracted it at the event .
Facemasks were mandatory and attendees were advised about social distancing regulations .
However at times social distancing was not complied with during the briefing which lasted about 15 minutes .
The event was held indoors due to the weather conditions .
An internal investigation led by a chief superintendent is ongoing to determine why the senior garda attended the event .
A source said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finding JoJo ’ s killer ” and that this may have influenced his decision to attend .
Gardaí had previously circulated HSE Covid-19 guidelines and guidance from the Garda Chief Medical Officer to all staff on numerous occasions .
“ An Garda Síochána can confirm that a member of An Garda Síochána who attended a media briefing while awaiting the result of a Covid-19 test has been suspended pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary investigation , ” a spokeswoman said on Sunday .
“ An Garda Síochána is not commenting on their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identifies them .
An internal disciplinary investigation into the matter is ongoing.
” In February the Garda Serious Crime Review Team ( SCRT ) initiated a review of Dullard case .
This lead to the determination that the 21-year-old Kilkenny woman died violently at the hands of another sometime after 11.57pm on November 9th , 1995 .
No one has ever been arrested in relation to Ms Dullard ’ s disappearance and gardaí hope the launch of a murder investigation will motivate potential witnesses to come forward .
Detective Superintendent Desmond McTiernan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JoJo is dead and met her death through violent means.
” Ms Dullard ’ s sister Kathleen Bergin used the briefing to issue a fresh plea for information on the disappearance .
She appealed for people with information to “ find it in your heart ” to come forward .
“ We understand if fear has been holding them back .
Please believe us .
We just want to have JoJo brought home .
You will not be judged .
”

The garda was present at an event in Newbridge, Co Kildare to announce the opening of a murder investigation of the case of Kilkenny woman JoJo Dullard who went missing 25 years ago. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire.
A senior garda has been suspended after attending a high-profile media briefing last month while awaiting the result of a Covid-19 test.
The garda was present at an event in Newbridge, Co Kildare to announce the opening of a murder investigation of the case of Kilkenny woman JoJo Dullard who went missing 25 years ago.
Shortly after the briefing concluded the garda was informed he had tested positive for Covid-19.
The event was attended by between 15 and 20 reporters, photographers and camera people as well as gardaí, hall staff and Dullard family members.
READ MORE
Some of those in attendance were forced to self-isolate and it is understood one later tested positive for the virus, although it cannot be said if they contracted it at the event.
Facemasks were mandatory and attendees were advised about social distancing regulations. However at times social distancing was not complied with during the briefing which lasted about 15 minutes. The event was held indoors due to the weather conditions.
An internal investigation led by a chief superintendent is ongoing to determine why the senior garda attended the event.
A source said the Garda is “extremely invested in finding JoJo’s killer” and that this may have influenced his decision to attend.
Gardaí had previously circulated HSE Covid-19 guidelines and guidance from the Garda Chief Medical Officer to all staff on numerous occasions.
"An Garda Síochána can confirm that a member of An Garda Síochána who attended a media briefing while awaiting the result of a Covid-19 test has been suspended pending the outcome of an internal disciplinary investigation," a spokeswoman said on Sunday.
“An Garda Síochána is not commenting on their rank or gender in case it inadvertently identifies them. An internal disciplinary investigation into the matter is ongoing.”
Violent death
In February the Garda Serious Crime Review Team (SCRT) initiated a review of Dullard case. This lead to the determination that the 21-year-old Kilkenny woman died violently at the hands of another sometime after 11.57pm on November 9th, 1995.
No one has ever been arrested in relation to Ms Dullard’s disappearance and gardaí hope the launch of a murder investigation will motivate potential witnesses to come forward.
Detective Superintendent Desmond McTiernan said the SCRT is “quite satisfied that JoJo is dead and met her death through violent means.”
Ms Dullard's sister Kathleen Bergin used the briefing to issue a fresh plea for information on the disappearance.
She appealed for people with information to “find it in your heart” to come forward. “We understand if fear has been holding them back. Please believe us. We just want to have JoJo brought home. You will not be judged.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-08--Former US senator Chris Dodd tipped to be next ambassador to Ireland

Former senator Chris Dodd is emerging as the favourite to become the next ambassador to Ireland , as Joe Biden is poised to become the 46th president of the United States , The Irish Times understands .
Mr Dodd , who is a close adviser to the president-elect , is the frontrunner for the position , which is currently occupied by Ed Crawford , Donald Trump ’ s nominee and a strong Trump supporter .
Mr Dodd was elected as senator for Connecticut in 1980 , and served for 30 years in the chamber , coinciding with Mr Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to that he represented Connecticut in the House of Representatives .
He briefly ran for president in 2008 , sharing a campaign plane to a debate with his friend and rival Mr Biden , who was also running for the Democratic nomination , though neither made it through the primary stage .
He has been a close adviser to Mr Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign .
In particular , he chaired a committee established to choose the former vice-president ’ s running mate , culminating in the selection of Kamala Harris .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a home in the west of Ireland and was a member of the Friends of Ireland caucus on Capitol Hill when he served in Congress .
All of his great-grandparents were born in Ireland .
Other possible names under consideration include former ambassador to Portugal Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Anne Finucane , vice-chair of Bank of America .
Mr Biden ’ s sister , Valerie , a close adviser to the president-elect who regularly speaks with pride about the family ’ s Irish heritage , could also be appointed , according to sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambassadors in the United States are often political appointments , they must be confirmed by the Senate .
Meanwhile as Mr Biden prepares to become the next president he is assembling a transition team .
Among the names mentioned as Mr Biden considers individuals for positions is Pennsylvania congressman Brendan Boyle , a prominent Irish-American on the Hill .
The New York Times this weekend reported that 43-year-old Mr Boyle could be in line for a position in the administration , noting that he was an early supporter of Mr Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaigning with Mr Boyle in Philadelphia last week , the former vice-president remarked : “ We have an expression where I come from : You never forget those who brung you to the dance.
” Mr Biden is expected to name a coronavirus task force as early as Monday .
A decision on cabinet members will be made later in the month , however .
The coronavirus team will be co-chaired by the former surgeon general during the Obama administration , Vivek Murthy , and former Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s intention to prioritise formulating a strategy for the coronavirus pandemic .
Given his long history in Washington , Mr Biden has a wide pool of informal advisers and allies who have been working closely with him in recent months .
Among those who could be in line for secretary of state are Anthony Blinken , Jake Sullivan and Nicholas Burns .
Mr Biden has indicated that he wants to appoint a diverse cabinet , representative of America ’ s population .
Senator Elizabeth Warren has made it known she is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rumours she could be appointed as treasury secretary – a move that would indicate Mr Biden ’ s embrace of a more left-wing politics .
Mr Biden ’ s campaign and transition team includes many Irish-Americans .
These include Mr Sullivan , Mike Donilon , former congressional chief of staff John McCarthy and Jennifer O ’ Malley Dillon .
The president-elect ’ s campaign manager is an Irish-American from Boston who is a board member of the Washington Ireland Programme .

Chris Dodd: close adviser to Joe Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign is favourite to become the next US ambassador to Ireland. Photograph: Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call
Former senator Chris Dodd is emerging as the favourite to become the next ambassador to Ireland, as Joe Biden is poised to become the 46th president of the United States, The Irish Times understands.
Mr Dodd, who is a close adviser to the president-elect, is the frontrunner for the position, which is currently occupied by Ed Crawford, Donald Trump's nominee and a strong Trump supporter.
Mr Dodd was elected as senator for Connecticut in 1980, and served for 30 years in the chamber, coinciding with Mr Biden’s time as a senator. Prior to that he represented Connecticut in the House of Representatives.
He briefly ran for president in 2008, sharing a campaign plane to a debate with his friend and rival Mr Biden, who was also running for the Democratic nomination, though neither made it through the primary stage.
READ MORE
He has been a close adviser to Mr Biden during the 2020 presidential campaign. In particular, he chaired a committee established to choose the former vice-president's running mate, culminating in the selection of Kamala Harris.
A proud Irish-American, Mr Dodd has a home in the west of Ireland and was a member of the Friends of Ireland caucus on Capitol Hill when he served in Congress. All of his great-grandparents were born in Ireland.
Irish heritage
Other possible names under consideration include former ambassador to Portugal Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Anne Finucane, vice-chair of Bank of America. Mr Biden's sister, Valerie, a close adviser to the president-elect who regularly speaks with pride about the family's Irish heritage, could also be appointed, according to sources close to the Biden campaign.
While ambassadors in the United States are often political appointments, they must be confirmed by the Senate.
Meanwhile as Mr Biden prepares to become the next president he is assembling a transition team.
Among the names mentioned as Mr Biden considers individuals for positions is Pennsylvania congressman Brendan Boyle, a prominent Irish-American on the Hill.
The New York Times this weekend reported that 43-year-old Mr Boyle could be in line for a position in the administration, noting that he was an early supporter of Mr Biden’s bid for the presidency.
Speaking while campaigning with Mr Boyle in Philadelphia last week, the former vice-president remarked: “We have an expression where I come from: You never forget those who brung you to the dance.”
Coronavirus task force
Mr Biden is expected to name a coronavirus task force as early as Monday. A decision on cabinet members will be made later in the month, however.
The coronavirus team will be co-chaired by the former surgeon general during the Obama administration, Vivek Murthy, and former Food and Drug Administration commissioner David Kessler, and is an indication of Mr Biden's intention to prioritise formulating a strategy for the coronavirus pandemic.
Given his long history in Washington, Mr Biden has a wide pool of informal advisers and allies who have been working closely with him in recent months.
Among those who could be in line for secretary of state are Anthony Blinken, Jake Sullivan and Nicholas Burns. Mr Biden has indicated that he wants to appoint a diverse cabinet, representative of America's population.
Senator Elizabeth Warren has made it known she is interested in a post. There were rumours she could be appointed as treasury secretary – a move that would indicate Mr Biden's embrace of a more left-wing politics.
Mr Biden's campaign and transition team includes many Irish-Americans. These include Mr Sullivan, Mike Donilon, former congressional chief of staff John McCarthy and Jennifer O'Malley Dillon. The president-elect's campaign manager is an Irish-American from Boston who is a board member of the Washington Ireland Programme.