theirishtimes--2020-05-31--Kinahan-associated inmates transferred from Mountjoy following failed Covid protest

Several Mountjoy inmates connected to the Kinahan organised crime group have been dispersed throughout the prison system to prevent them stirring up discontent over the coronavirus restrictions in the north Dublin facility .
Two sets of brothers , Gary and Glen Thompson and Scott and Mark Capper , were believed to be behind attempts to organise strikes in the prisoner population in protest against the strict restrictions which have so far kept the system free of coronavirus , also know as Covid-19 .
Another man who is serving a sentence for a violent assault in Dublin was also believed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whom have been employed or associated with the Kinahan organised crime group , were unhappy with the movement restrictions as they have almost completely stopped the flow of illegal drugs into the system .
A ban on visitors and reductions in yard times for prisoners mean it has become much harder to smuggle drugs in .
The Thompson brothers are serving lengthy sentences for planning the assassination of Kinahan rival Patsy Hutch .
Mark Capper was sentenced to seven and a half years last week in relation to the same offence .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finglas-based criminal gang associated with the Kinahans , is serving three and a half years for assaulting a tourist at a nightclub , while the fifth man is serving a 27 month sentence for a knife attack in a separate feud .
The five men , along with a number of others , are suspected of trying to persuade prisoners to refuse to return from the exercise yard when directed on Wednesday and Thursday .
Prisoners working in the kitchen were also instructed to go “ on strike ” .
However the scheme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refused to go along with the plan .
Sources say that , despite some frustration , there is broad support for the current movement restrictions across the prison system .
The incident was first reported in the Sunday World and the Irish Mirror .
All five men have now been moved to other prisons where they will have less influence over the prisoner population , sources confirmed on Sunday .
A handful of other prisoners have been issued with disciplinary notices .
Prison authorities hope the transfers will significantly dilute the influence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been made aware of the planned strikes and had deployed personnel in riot gear .
However it is understood no serious confrontation took place .
Ireland ’ s prison population is one of the few in Europe to remain free of Covid-19 .
Several prison officers have contracted the disease but to date no prisoner has been infected .
Cloverhill Prison in west Dublin has been designated as an isolation centre for prisoners showing symptoms of the disease .
Other steps include the introduction of video visits and a mandatory 14-day isolation @ @ @ @ @

Prison authorities hope the transfers will significantly dilute the influence of Kinahan associates in Mountjoy.
Several Mountjoy inmates connected to the Kinahan organised crime group have been dispersed throughout the prison system to prevent them stirring up discontent over the coronavirus restrictions in the north Dublin facility.
Two sets of brothers, Gary and Glen Thompson and Scott and Mark Capper, were believed to be behind attempts to organise strikes in the prisoner population in protest against the strict restrictions which have so far kept the system free of coronavirus, also know as Covid-19.
Another man who is serving a sentence for a violent assault in Dublin was also believed to be involved.
The men, most of whom have been employed or associated with the Kinahan organised crime group, were unhappy with the movement restrictions as they have almost completely stopped the flow of illegal drugs into the system.
READ MORE
A ban on visitors and reductions in yard times for prisoners mean it has become much harder to smuggle drugs in.
The Thompson brothers are serving lengthy sentences for planning the assassination of Kinahan rival Patsy Hutch. Mark Capper was sentenced to seven and a half years last week in relation to the same offence.
Scott Capper, an associate of a Finglas-based criminal gang associated with the Kinahans, is serving three and a half years for assaulting a tourist at a nightclub, while the fifth man is serving a 27 month sentence for a knife attack in a separate feud.
The five men, along with a number of others, are suspected of trying to persuade prisoners to refuse to return from the exercise yard when directed on Wednesday and Thursday. Prisoners working in the kitchen were also instructed to go “on strike”.
However the scheme fell apart when the majority of prisoners refused to go along with the plan. Sources say that, despite some frustration, there is broad support for the current movement restrictions across the prison system.
The incident was first reported in the Sunday World and the Irish Mirror. All five men have now been moved to other prisons where they will have less influence over the prisoner population, sources confirmed on Sunday. A handful of other prisoners have been issued with disciplinary notices.
Prison authorities hope the transfers will significantly dilute the influence of Kinahan associates in Mountjoy.
Prison officers had been made aware of the planned strikes and had deployed personnel in riot gear. However it is understood no serious confrontation took place.
Ireland's prison population is one of the few in Europe to remain free of Covid-19. Several prison officers have contracted the disease but to date no prisoner has been infected.
Cloverhill Prison in west Dublin has been designated as an isolation centre for prisoners showing symptoms of the disease. Other steps include the introduction of video visits and a mandatory 14-day isolation period for new committals.


theirishtimes--2020-05-31--Cork residents protest over students partying near UCC

Over 60 people living near University College Cork held a silent gathering on Sunday to highlight what they claim are breaches of Covid-19 regulations by students holding parties in rented accommodation .
Catherine Clancy , chairperson of the Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association , said the problem had grown worse over the past three or four days with dozens of students arriving into the area to hold parties .
“ It ’ s a huge problem - we ’ ve lived here all our lives , co-habiting with students and many of us are long term residents here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older demographic , ” said Ms Clancy , a former lord mayor of Cork City .
“ What we ’ ve had in the last few days is a major influx of students - the college is closed , they ’ re not working in the city , there are no nightclubs or pubs open and they ’ re not making essential journeys .
They are only here to party.
” Ms Clancy said a number of parties on Magazine Road , College Road and Glasheen Road and nearby areas such as Hartland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Highfield were attracting up to 50 people at a time .
She said there had been three cases in the last few days of gardaí being called after young people gathered for parties “ in complete contravention of the Caved-19 regulations on social isolation , ” she said .
“ We ’ ve spoken to some of them and they ’ re telling us they are just getting out of their parents ’ hair so they ’ re leaving their homes in other parts of the city and county to come here to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you have three groups coming together , landlords , parents and students who are basically giving two fingers to the Covid 19 regulations at a time when we , as a community , are working hard to abide by the regulations .
“ We had one couple at our gathering today who couldn ’ t go to see their grandchild because of the Covid-19 regulations and yet we have students coming into the area from well outside their 5km limit.
” Ms Clancy said often the young people end up staggering around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gardaí were working hard to address the problem , they were overwhelmed by the scale .
Ms Clancy said Sunday ’ s protest had attracted support from residents around the Lough and other affected areas and a further public gathering is planned for Monday .
“ We ’ re going to have another gathering with proper social distancing at the junction of Glasheen Road and Hartland ’ s Avenue at 2pm on Monday to highlight the problem because something has to be done to address it.
” A Garda spokesman said gardaí do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spot fines for breach of Covid-19 regulations and that gardaí can only bring a prosecution following the submission of a file to the director of public prosecutions .

Over 60 people living near University College Cork held a silent gathering on Sunday to highlight what they claim are breaches of Covid-19 regulations by students holding parties in rented accommodation.
Catherine Clancy, chairperson of the Magazine Road and Surrounding Areas Residents Association, said the problem had grown worse over the past three or four days with dozens of students arriving into the area to hold parties.
“It’s a huge problem - we’ve lived here all our lives, co-habiting with students and many of us are long term residents here for years, including some from an older demographic,” said Ms Clancy, a former lord mayor of Cork City.
“What we’ve had in the last few days is a major influx of students - the college is closed, they’re not working in the city, there are no nightclubs or pubs open and they’re not making essential journeys. They are only here to party.”
READ MORE
Ms Clancy said a number of parties on Magazine Road, College Road and Glasheen Road and nearby areas such as Hartland's Avenue, Connaught Avenue and Highfield were attracting up to 50 people at a time.
She said there had been three cases in the last few days of gardaí being called after young people gathered for parties “in complete contravention of the Covid-19 regulations on social isolation,” she said.
“We’ve spoken to some of them and they’re telling us they are just getting out of their parents’ hair so they’re leaving their homes in other parts of the city and county to come here to party in rented houses.
“So you have three groups coming together, landlords, parents and students who are basically giving two fingers to the Covid 19 regulations at a time when we, as a community, are working hard to abide by the regulations.
“We had one couple at our gathering today who couldn’t go to see their grandchild because of the Covid-19 regulations and yet we have students coming into the area from well outside their 5km limit.”
Ms Clancy said often the young people end up staggering around the streets drunk and while the local community gardaí were working hard to address the problem, they were overwhelmed by the scale.
Ms Clancy said Sunday’s protest had attracted support from residents around the Lough and other affected areas and a further public gathering is planned for Monday.
“We’re going to have another gathering with proper social distancing at the junction of Glasheen Road and Hartland’s Avenue at 2pm on Monday to highlight the problem because something has to be done to address it.”
A Garda spokesman said gardaí do not have the powers to issue on the spot fines for breach of Covid-19 regulations and that gardaí can only bring a prosecution following the submission of a file to the director of public prosecutions.


theirishtimes--2020-05-31--SF proposes tightening NI abortion legislation over non-fatal disability

Sinn Féin has indicated a willingness to see some alteration of the new abortion legislation for Northern Ireland that was enacted at Westminster and came into effect at the end of March .
The party has tabled an amendment to a DUP motion on abortion , some of which relates to Down syndrome , that is to be debated in the Northern Assembly on Tuesday .
The DUP motion “ welcomes the important intervention of disability campaigner Heidi Crowter and rejects the imposition of abortion legislation which extends to all non-fatal disabilities , including Down syndrome ” .
Sinn Féin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that it would read that the Assembly “ welcomes the important intervention of disability campaigner Heidi Crowter and rejects the specific legislative provision in the abortion legislation which goes beyond fatal foetal abnormalities to include non-fatal disabilities , including Down syndrome ” .
If the Sinn Féin amendment succeeds it would apply to the element of the legislation which has been interpreted by many as meaning unborn babies with conditions such as Down syndrome , cleft palate or club foot can be aborted up to full term .
Under the new legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , abortion is available in Northern Ireland without restriction until the 12th week of pregnancy .
A limit of 24 weeks applies in situations where continuing the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the woman ’ s physical or mental health .
There is no time limit in cases of fatal foetal abnormality or in cases where , if born , the baby would suffer a severe mental or physical impairment .
In the Republic abortions are allowed in cases of fatal foetal abnormality , but this does not apply for conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion , which is in the name of Assembly members Paul Givan , Joanne Bunting , Michelle McIlveen and Pam Cameron , seeks to reject the legislation passed at Westminster and to allow the Assembly to create its own legislation and more specifically to ensure there can be no abortions up to full term on the basis of disability .
Both the DUP in its motion and Sinn Féin in its amendment cite the work of Heidi Crowter , who has Down syndrome , and who has been campaigning for a change in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to full term in cases of Down syndrome .
Mr Givan , a Lagan Valley MLA , indicated that the DUP would press for full rejection of the Westminster legislation and said the Sinn Féin amendment “ is a recognition of the flawed legislation that Westminster is imposing on the people of Northern Ireland ” .
“ Our motion recognises the flawed approach taken by the UK government in imposing this legislation , which is a devolved issue for Stormont , ” he added .
The Alliance for Choice group , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would “ mean people would have to continue to travel for terminations for foetal anomaly diagnoses as they still have to in the 26 counties ” .

Both the DUP in its motion and Sinn Féin in its amendment to new abortion legislation for Northern Ireland cite the work of Heidi Crowter (above), who has Down syndrome, and who has been campaigning for a change in the British law which allows for abortion up to full term in cases of Down syndrome. File photograph: Guardian
Sinn Féin has indicated a willingness to see some alteration of the new abortion legislation for Northern Ireland that was enacted at Westminster and came into effect at the end of March.
The party has tabled an amendment to a DUP motion on abortion, some of which relates to Down syndrome, that is to be debated in the Northern Assembly on Tuesday.
The DUP motion "welcomes the important intervention of disability campaigner Heidi Crowter and rejects the imposition of abortion legislation which extends to all non-fatal disabilities, including Down syndrome".
Sinn Féin in its amendment alters the DUP motion so that it would read that the Assembly “welcomes the important intervention of disability campaigner Heidi Crowter and rejects the specific legislative provision in the abortion legislation which goes beyond fatal foetal abnormalities to include non-fatal disabilities, including Down syndrome”.
READ MORE
If the Sinn Féin amendment succeeds it would apply to the element of the legislation which has been interpreted by many as meaning unborn babies with conditions such as Down syndrome, cleft palate or club foot can be aborted up to full term.
Under the new legislation that came into effect on March 31st, abortion is available in Northern Ireland without restriction until the 12th week of pregnancy.
A limit of 24 weeks applies in situations where continuing the pregnancy would involve risk of injury to the woman’s physical or mental health.
No time limit
There is no time limit in cases of fatal foetal abnormality or in cases where, if born, the baby would suffer a severe mental or physical impairment.
In the Republic abortions are allowed in cases of fatal foetal abnormality, but this does not apply for conditions such as Down syndrome.
The DUP motion, which is in the name of Assembly members Paul Givan, Joanne Bunting, Michelle McIlveen and Pam Cameron, seeks to reject the legislation passed at Westminster and to allow the Assembly to create its own legislation and more specifically to ensure there can be no abortions up to full term on the basis of disability.
Both the DUP in its motion and Sinn Féin in its amendment cite the work of Heidi Crowter, who has Down syndrome, and who has been campaigning for a change in the British law which allows for abortion up to full term in cases of Down syndrome.
Mr Givan, a Lagan Valley MLA, indicated that the DUP would press for full rejection of the Westminster legislation and said the Sinn Féin amendment “is a recognition of the flawed legislation that Westminster is imposing on the people of Northern Ireland”.
"Our motion recognises the flawed approach taken by the UK government in imposing this legislation, which is a devolved issue for Stormont, " he added.
The Alliance for Choice group, in condemning the Sinn Féin amendment, said it would “mean people would have to continue to travel for terminations for foetal anomaly diagnoses as they still have to in the 26 counties”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-31--Installation of new Presbyterian Moderator to be attended by just four due to Covid-19

The new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Rev Dr David Bruce will become the 175th person to hold that office on Monday evening when he is installed in Belfast at a special livestreamed ceremony due to be attended by just four people .
As leader of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland he will hold office for a year .
Normally the installation of a new Moderator takes place on the opening night of the Church ’ s annual General Assembly at Church House in Belfast before an attendance of over 900 people from across Ireland as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year ’ s General Assembly was cancelled in April owing to the Covid-19 pandemic .
It is the first time in 180 years that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has had to cancel its annual gathering .
.
The standing commission of the General Assembly will meet by video conference to conduct necessary business on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week .
Attending the installation will be clerk of the General Assembly and general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Rev Trevor Gribben , outgoing Moderator Rev Dr William Henry , new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clerk of the General Assembly Rev Jim Stothers .
It is intended that all appropriate health and safety precautions will be followed at the installation in Church House ’ s large Assembly Hall , including government guidance on social distancing .
The ceremony can be viewed at www.presbyterianireland.org with addresses from both Rev Dr Henry and his successor Rev Dr Bruce .
New Moderator Rev Dr Bruce ( 63 ) was ordained in 1984 and served in Ballymena Co Antrim before being installed in 1987 as Minister of Clontarf , Ormond Quay and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was until 1992 , Since then he has served in Church administration at senior levels in Belfast .
Married to Zoe , a former schoolteacher , they have four adult children and two grandchildren .

New Moderator Rev Dr Bruce (63) was ordained in 1984 and served in Ballymena Co Antrim, Dublin and Belfast.
The new Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Rev Dr David Bruce will become the 175th person to hold that office on Monday evening when he is installed in Belfast at a special livestreamed ceremony due to be attended by just four people. As leader of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland he will hold office for a year.
Normally the installation of a new Moderator takes place on the opening night of the Church's annual General Assembly at Church House in Belfast before an attendance of over 900 people from across Ireland as well as representatives from the other churches.
This year’s General Assembly was cancelled in April owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the first time in 180 years that the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has had to cancel its annual gathering. . The standing commission of the General Assembly will meet by video conference to conduct necessary business on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Attending the installation will be clerk of the General Assembly and general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland Rev Trevor Gribben, outgoing Moderator Rev Dr William Henry, new Moderator Rev Dr Bruce, and deputy clerk of the General Assembly Rev Jim Stothers.
READ MORE
It is intended that all appropriate health and safety precautions will be followed at the installation in Church House's large Assembly Hall, including government guidance on social distancing.
The ceremony can be viewed at www.presbyterianireland.org with addresses from both Rev Dr Henry and his successor Rev Dr Bruce.
New Moderator Rev Dr Bruce (63) was ordained in 1984 and served in Ballymena Co Antrim before being installed in 1987 as Minister of Clontarf, Ormond Quay and Scots Presbyterian Churches in Dublin where he was until 1992, Since then he has served in Church administration at senior levels in Belfast.
Married to Zoe, a former schoolteacher, they have four adult children and two grandchildren.


theirishtimes--2020-05-31--Without the tourists, the Galway Market is a very different place to shop

For the first Saturday in decades , you can see from the top of the Galway Market to the end of it .
The narrow thoroughfare which runs the length of Churchyard Street adjacent to St Nicholas ’ s and up Market Street becomes a big part of the sight , sound and taste of the Galway city weekend experience .
It has been here for centuries but in the earlier years there was probably a lot more buttermilk for sale and not so much sushi or madras curries .
And for the past 20 years , it operated under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ market was so busy that you couldn ’ t see what the produce was until you inched your way along the thoroughfare using scent as well as sight .
Queues were long and haphazard .
The mood was upbeat and sometimes manic .
Visitors came out the other side bearing bags of organic vegetables , cheeses , oils , crafts , crepes , fish and handmade jewellery .
Then , Covid-19 came .
“ I am an artist so I went back to the drawing board there , ” says Michael Brown .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the garden and started growing their own produce .
People have been doing a lot at home .
Everything at the moment is under threat and we don ’ t even know where that threat is coming from at the moment .
So we are just trying to set up a market where people can sell their produce.
” Brown ’ s stall has eggs and honey on this sunny morning but for the past 17 years he has established himself as an oyster trader .
That business is literally on ice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talk people through oysters and having oysters and going through the whole thing about the bays and where they are found but it takes too much time for the moment until we move through the phases.
” Social distancing dictates that the market is greatly reduced .
It has food stalls only and they are set up on one side of the lane rather than both .
The vendors , under the direction of the city council , have set up a one-way system .
There are no tourists .
Shop Street is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed the Spanish Arch .
“ At the moment this is fine for us but not for all the traders , ” says Jeannette Cochen , who has had a vegetable stall at the market since 1985 .
“ It is only food stalls .
And we have to find a way that all the traders can come back .
If we move from here to another location , it means maybe that we never come back here .
Nobody wants to take that risk .
That is my personal opinion.
” It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rosen made the natural career switch from sailor to doughnut maker .
The New Yorker ’ s Boychik Doughnut stand has become one of the familiar features of the market .
He has moved it from his usual spot to a newly created space across the road in the primary school yard .
“ There is a patch of grass beside me .
I took a pitch far from everybody and I think it is ideal .
I am overjoyed .
It is a compromise .
I don ’ t wish it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sweet little corner.
” When the market closed , he kept making doughnuts and , with his friend Lisa Regan , delivered them around the city to frontline staff in hospitals and the fire brigade and even the post office .
Once , Lisa knocked on the wrong door and the family inside were so overjoyed to find a stranger trying to give them bags of doughnuts that she couldn ’ t disappoint them .
“ So from then on we worked in that on every delivery .
She would also knock on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he laughs .
For now , he ’ s just delighted to be back , mixing batter and dishing up the goodies .
“ Look it , we are going to have to accommodate the fact that the market is not going to be the same way for a while , ” says Rosen , as he serves The Irish Times .
“ This might be utterly optimistic of me but the market used to be a very family oriented kind of place and a very social place – like in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hook-up .
Aw , I haven ’ t seen you in ages , that kind of buzz .
“ You don ’ t get as much of that any more because local people stopped using the market in a big way because it is so jammed with tourists .
And I am hopeful now that people will start coming to see the market as a real local market , and a more substantial , real experience too .
That is how we are really serving the community , not just by serving tourists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cinnamon or cocoa on these ?
”

For the first Saturday in decades, you can see from the top of the Galway Market to the end of it. The narrow thoroughfare which runs the length of Churchyard Street adjacent to St Nicholas’s and up Market Street becomes a big part of the sight, sound and taste of the Galway city weekend experience.
It has been here for centuries but in the earlier years there was probably a lot more buttermilk for sale and not so much sushi or madras curries. And for the past 20 years, it operated under a kind of organised bedlam. The market was so busy that you couldn’t see what the produce was until you inched your way along the thoroughfare using scent as well as sight.
Queues were long and haphazard. The mood was upbeat and sometimes manic. Visitors came out the other side bearing bags of organic vegetables, cheeses, oils, crafts, crepes, fish and handmade jewellery. Then, Covid-19 came.
Some of the stalls at the Galway Market outside St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
Daniel Rosen at his BoyChik Doughnut stall in St Patrick’s National School yard at the Galway Market. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
“I am an artist so I went back to the drawing board there,” says Michael Brown.
READ MORE
“A lot of people went back to the garden and started growing their own produce. People have been doing a lot at home. Everything at the moment is under threat and we don’t even know where that threat is coming from at the moment. So we are just trying to set up a market where people can sell their produce.”
Brown’s stall has eggs and honey on this sunny morning but for the past 17 years he has established himself as an oyster trader. That business is literally on ice for now.
“Normally I would talk people through oysters and having oysters and going through the whole thing about the bays and where they are found but it takes too much time for the moment until we move through the phases.”
Social distancing dictates that the market is greatly reduced. It has food stalls only and they are set up on one side of the lane rather than both. The vendors, under the direction of the city council, have set up a one-way system. There are no tourists. Shop Street is all but deserted. The Garda has closed the Spanish Arch.
“At the moment this is fine for us but not for all the traders,” says Jeannette Cochen, who has had a vegetable stall at the market since 1985.
“It is only food stalls. And we have to find a way that all the traders can come back. If we move from here to another location, it means maybe that we never come back here. Nobody wants to take that risk. That is my personal opinion.”
Doughnut corner
It has been over 20 years since Danny Rosen made the natural career switch from sailor to doughnut maker. The New Yorker’s Boychik Doughnut stand has become one of the familiar features of the market. He has moved it from his usual spot to a newly created space across the road in the primary school yard.
“There is a patch of grass beside me. I took a pitch far from everybody and I think it is ideal. I am overjoyed. It is a compromise. I don’t wish it to be permanent but it is a very sweet little corner.”
When the market closed, he kept making doughnuts and, with his friend Lisa Regan, delivered them around the city to frontline staff in hospitals and the fire brigade and even the post office. Once, Lisa knocked on the wrong door and the family inside were so overjoyed to find a stranger trying to give them bags of doughnuts that she couldn’t disappoint them.
“So from then on we worked in that on every delivery. She would also knock on random doors and gift people donuts,” he laughs.
For now, he’s just delighted to be back, mixing batter and dishing up the goodies.
“Look it, we are going to have to accommodate the fact that the market is not going to be the same way for a while,” says Rosen, as he serves The Irish Times.
“This might be utterly optimistic of me but the market used to be a very family oriented kind of place and a very social place – like in the pub where you would get a random hook-up. Aw, I haven’t seen you in ages, that kind of buzz.
“You don’t get as much of that any more because local people stopped using the market in a big way because it is so jammed with tourists. And I am hopeful now that people will start coming to see the market as a real local market, and a more substantial, real experience too. That is how we are really serving the community, not just by serving tourists or Airbnb guests.
“You want cinnamon or cocoa on these?”


theirishtimes--2020-05-31--Two gardaí posted to Americas to tackle international crime and terrorism

Two gardaí are being posted to the United States and South America to work with overseas police forces in tackling internationally-operating organised crime gangs and terrorists .
One will be stationed at Washington DC and the other at Bogota , the capital of Colombia , in a move the Government says will boost Ireland ’ s security .
The former will be responsible for working with law enforcement agencies in the US and Canada , while the latter will have responsibility for South and Central America , including Mexico .
They will bring to six the number in the overseas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already posted in London , Paris , Madrid and the Hague .
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said the expansion of the overseas network followed a request from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for the extra posts to be created .
“ The increasingly global character of organised crime and terrorism necessitates deep international co-operation among police and law enforcement agencies around the world , ” Mr Flanagan said , announcing Government approval for the new roles .
“ The overseas liaison officer network is a key element of An Garda Síochána ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organisations.
” Mr Flanagan said the new roles will enable practical co-operation with police overseas and co-ordination of operations across borders .
“ This step will not only enhance the security of the State , but will also give Ireland a greater input to policy and strategy decisions in these areas internationally , in line with the Government Strategy of a Global Ireland 2025 , ” he added .

The two gardaí will bring to six the number in the overseas Garda liaison officer network. File photograph: The Irish Times
Two gardaí are being posted to the United States and South America to work with overseas police forces in tackling internationally-operating organised crime gangs and terrorists.
One will be stationed at Washington DC and the other at Bogota, the capital of Colombia, in a move the Government says will boost Ireland’s security.
The former will be responsible for working with law enforcement agencies in the US and Canada, while the latter will have responsibility for South and Central America, including Mexico.
They will bring to six the number in the overseas Garda liaison officer network, with officers already posted in London, Paris, Madrid and the Hague.
READ MORE
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said the expansion of the overseas network followed a request from Garda Commissioner Drew Harris for the extra posts to be created.
“The increasingly global character of organised crime and terrorism necessitates deep international co-operation among police and law enforcement agencies around the world,” Mr Flanagan said, announcing Government approval for the new roles.
“The overseas liaison officer network is a key element of An Garda Síochána’s approach to combating international criminal and terrorist organisations.”
Mr Flanagan said the new roles will enable practical co-operation with police overseas and co-ordination of operations across borders.
“This step will not only enhance the security of the State, but will also give Ireland a greater input to policy and strategy decisions in these areas internationally, in line with the Government Strategy of a Global Ireland 2025,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-05-31--Army officers evacuated from Goma after weeks of delay

Two army officers are undergoing medical assessment today having been flown home from the Democratic Republic of Congo , several weeks after the Defence Forces first raised concerns about their safety .
The male and female officers , who had been deployed as observers in the eastern city of Goma , arrived in Dublin Airport this afternoon on an commercial flight .
Their evacuation had been delayed due to Ireland ’ s lack of long range air transport and the difficulties in chartering an aircraft .
All other EU countries had already evacuated their peacekeepers from Goma due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dozens of DRC citizens have been killed by Ugandan rebels in the region amid increasing political instability .
The instability has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic which is seen by some as a western disease being spread by the 18,000 peacekeepers which make up the Monusco mission– the UN ’ s largest blue helmet operation .
The Defence Forces first raised concerns about the officers ’ safety near the start of May , citing the fact that the officers lived in a private apartment rather than a secure compound .
There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medication they were taking .
The medication is only supposed to be taken for six months at a time but the officers had already been in country for longer than that due to a UN ban on troop rotations during the pandemic .
As concerns grew , a proposal was put together to send out the Ministerial Air Transport Service , commonly known as the Government Jet , to bring them home .
However this plan was shelved due to concerns about the jet ’ s range .
The Department of Defence said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Defence Forces has said it remains committed to the Monusco mission but that replacement officers will not be sent out for the time being .
The three replacement officers have been instructed to be ready at short notice to enter quarantine ahead of deploying to the DRC but no decision has been made about when they will deploy .
Ireland ’ s commitment to the mission is usually three personnel .
However one soldier had already returned home when the security situation started to deteriorate significantly .
“ While there is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this mission , any deployment must be informed by current United Nations protocols and access to the Mission Area , and within the context of the current challenges brought about by the global COVID19 pandemic , ” a defence forces spokesman said .
A major barrier to flying the officers home commercially was their weapons .
They could not bring them home on a commercial flight nor could they leave them behind unattended .
In the end the weapons were left with “ friendly forces ” after the ammunition had been expended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The officers returned home on a multi-leg Air France flight which arrived in Dublin from Paris at 2.3pm on Sunday .
They were then taken to St Brican ’ s Military Hospital in Dublin for medical assessment .
After they are medically cleared they will be required to spend 14 days in isolation per HSE guidelines .
This isolation can take place in their homes , a spokesman said .

Two army officers are undergoing medical assessment today having been flown home from the Democratic Republic of Congo, several weeks after the Defence Forces first raised concerns about their safety. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Two army officers are undergoing medical assessment today having been flown home from the Democratic Republic of Congo, several weeks after the Defence Forces first raised concerns about their safety.
The male and female officers, who had been deployed as observers in the eastern city of Goma, arrived in Dublin Airport this afternoon on an commercial flight.
Their evacuation had been delayed due to Ireland’s lack of long range air transport and the difficulties in chartering an aircraft. All other EU countries had already evacuated their peacekeepers from Goma due to the worsening security situation in the country.
Dozens of DRC citizens have been killed by Ugandan rebels in the region amid increasing political instability.
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The instability has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic which is seen by some as a western disease being spread by the 18,000 peacekeepers which make up the Monusco mission– the UN’s largest blue helmet operation.
The Defence Forces first raised concerns about the officers’ safety near the start of May, citing the fact that the officers lived in a private apartment rather than a secure compound.
There was also concern about the impact of anti-malarial medication they were taking. The medication is only supposed to be taken for six months at a time but the officers had already been in country for longer than that due to a UN ban on troop rotations during the pandemic.
Proposal
As concerns grew, a proposal was put together to send out the Ministerial Air Transport Service, commonly known as the Government Jet, to bring them home.
However this plan was shelved due to concerns about the jet's range. The Department of Defence said the trip would require seven overnight stops.
The Defence Forces has said it remains committed to the Monusco mission but that replacement officers will not be sent out for the time being. The three replacement officers have been instructed to be ready at short notice to enter quarantine ahead of deploying to the DRC but no decision has been made about when they will deploy.
Ireland’s commitment to the mission is usually three personnel. However one soldier had already returned home when the security situation started to deteriorate significantly.
"While there is no change to the Defence Forces commitment to this mission, any deployment must be informed by current United Nations protocols and access to the Mission Area, and within the context of the current challenges brought about by the global COVID19 pandemic," a defence forces spokesman said.
A major barrier to flying the officers home commercially was their weapons. They could not bring them home on a commercial flight nor could they leave them behind unattended.
‘Friendly forces’
In the end the weapons were left with “friendly forces” after the ammunition had been expended at a range, a source said.
The officers returned home on a multi-leg Air France flight which arrived in Dublin from Paris at 2.3pm on Sunday. They were then taken to St Brican’s Military Hospital in Dublin for medical assessment.
After they are medically cleared they will be required to spend 14 days in isolation per HSE guidelines. This isolation can take place in their homes, a spokesman said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-31--Changes to Covid-19 payments to be considered next week, Minister says

Changes to the State ’ s enhanced pandemic social welfare payments are to be considered this week , Minister of State Patrick O ’ Donovan has said .
Speaking on RTÉ ’ s Week in Politics programme , Mr O ’ Donovan said that out of a labour force of around 2.5 million people , some 1.6 million are either public servants already or receiving some form of payment from the State .
“ It is not sustainable going forward that we have 1.6 million people drawing an income support at some level from the State and 900,000 not drawing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a situation as the economy reopens that we have more and more people transitioning back ( to work ) , ” he said .
He said : “ The cabinet are going to meet this week , that ’ s my understanding , and this is going to be part of the discussion around the whole pandemic unemployment payments.
” Asked if there could be changes to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment ( PUP ) in the week ahead , he said : “ Yes there may be.
” According to statistics released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receiving the Covid-19 PUP has fallen to just under 579,400 .
Of those , some 33,400 were receiving their last payment as they were returning to work following the relaxation of some restrictions .
This is on top of the 214,700 people receiving Jobseekers Benefit at the end of last month .
Speaking on the same programme , Sinn Féin ’ s housing spokesman Eoin O ’ Broin called for the payment to remain in place until the end of the year .
“ These are vital income supports for families , families @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant levels of debt… but they ’ re also vital supports for the local economy , and just as businesses are starting to reopen , we need people to have money in their pockets to be able to spend to keep those businesses alive , ” he said .
Also on the programme was Robert Troy , the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on business , enterprise and innovation , who said an accelerated reopening of the economy should be considered .
“ We have to start looking at how we start accelerating opening up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t , we ’ re not going to have the necessary resources to put in place to ensure that we have an adequate public health service , ” he said .
Verona Murphy , the Independent Wexford TD who may yet have a role to play in government formation as part of the Regional Independent Group , called for a more bespoke application of the two metre social distancing rule .
“ It ’ s hard to see how we could prolong the two metre guidance , and it should be looked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there ’ s no doubt about that , but we have to look at in the round , ” she said .
“ This has to be looked at and looked at seriously ”

Changes to the State’s enhanced pandemic social welfare payments are to be considered this week, Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan has said. File photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Changes to the State’s enhanced pandemic social welfare payments are to be considered this week, Minister of State Patrick O’Donovan has said.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Week in Politics programme, Mr O’Donovan said that out of a labour force of around 2.5 million people, some 1.6 million are either public servants already or receiving some form of payment from the State.
“It is not sustainable going forward that we have 1.6 million people drawing an income support at some level from the State and 900,000 not drawing a support. We have to get to a situation as the economy reopens that we have more and more people transitioning back (to work),” he said.
He said: “The cabinet are going to meet this week, that’s my understanding, and this is going to be part of the discussion around the whole pandemic unemployment payments.”
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Asked if there could be changes to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) in the week ahead, he said: “Yes there may be.”
According to statistics released last Monday, the number of people receiving the Covid-19 PUP has fallen to just under 579,400. Of those, some 33,400 were receiving their last payment as they were returning to work following the relaxation of some restrictions. This is on top of the 214,700 people receiving Jobseekers Benefit at the end of last month.
Remain
Speaking on the same programme, Sinn Féin’s housing spokesman Eoin O’Broin called for the payment to remain in place until the end of the year.
“These are vital income supports for families, families who would otherwise be racking up very significant levels of debt… but they’re also vital supports for the local economy, and just as businesses are starting to reopen, we need people to have money in their pockets to be able to spend to keep those businesses alive,” he said.
Also on the programme was Robert Troy, the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on business, enterprise and innovation, who said an accelerated reopening of the economy should be considered. "We have to start looking at how we start accelerating opening up our economy, because if we don't, we're not going to have the necessary resources to put in place to ensure that we have an adequate public health service," he said.
Verona Murphy, the Independent Wexford TD who may yet have a role to play in government formation as part of the Regional Independent Group, called for a more bespoke application of the two metre social distancing rule.
“It’s hard to see how we could prolong the two metre guidance, and it should be looked at sector-by-sector, public health is paramount, there’s no doubt about that, but we have to look at in the round,” she said. “This has to be looked at and looked at seriously”


theirishtimes--2020-05-31--Gardaí disperse crowds gathered at coastal beauty spots

Gardaí were forced to disperse crowds at a number of beauty spots over the weekend as large numbers gathered in coastal areas to enjoyed the sunshine .
At the Forty Foot swimming location in south Dublin , gardaí moved on large groups of people who were not social distancing .
Across the bay , gardaí closed the Bull Wall bridge to cars to stem the numbers gathering on Dollymount beach .
It will remain closed to cars until Tuesday .
Beaches in Cork , Kerry , Donegal and Louth were also closed due to the size of crowds gathering there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were the focus for gardaí enforcing the coronavirus restrictions over the weekend .
A reduction of overtime has meant a decrease in the number of road checkpoints in operation .
There were some incidents of public order reported , including at Salthill in Galway where , according to gardaí , 40 youths attempted to prevent the arrest of a male at about 7pm on Saturday .
Several Garda units were deployed to the scene and two people were arrested .
“ They have since been released and a file will be prepared for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to this matter , ” a Garda spokesperson said .
As the warm weather continues , Irish Water has appealed to members of the public to conserve water where they can and says it is “ exploring all options ” , including a potential hosepipe ban , to protect water supplies .
Some 15 of the national water utility ’ s 900 drinking water schemes have hit “ drought status ” with another 23 at risk of going into drought , Irish Water said on Sunday .
It warned that the increased domestic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rise in commercial demand as businesses reopen , was being exacerbated by warm weather and the growth of drought conditions .
Irish Water reiterated its appeal for people to hand-wash kitchen items rather than using power washers and also urged members of the public to use a watering can rather than a hose , to take a shower rather than a bath and to fix any dripping taps .
Temperatures on Sunday had peaked at 25 degrees Celsius in Co Roscommon by 2pm with the warm weather expected to rise further to 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the end of the day .
A high of 26.8 degrees was recorded in Mount Dillon , Co Roscommon , on Saturday , equalling the highest temperature for the year .
Almost everywhere on Saturday had temperatures well into the 20s as a ridge of pressure remained over Ireland .
The warm bank-holiday weather also brought a heightened risk of forest fires with a red fire warning in place around the country until Monday evening .
The Department of Agriculture , Food and the Marine issued the warning on Friday , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and called on the public to take “ immediate action ” if a blaze breaks out .
Firefighters continued to tackle blazes in counties Sligo , Clare , Laois and Leitrim on Sunday but successfully brought a large fire which quickly spread on Saturday in Co Kildare under control .
More than 100 hectares of newly-planted forest were destroyed in the blaze in Clonagh , Enfield , on the Kildare-Meath border , with damage worth €150,000 to the area , said Pat Neville , Coillte communications manager .
Coillte helicopters , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County Council worked together on Saturday to keep the fire at the forest in Hortland away from a factory which produces explosives for mining and quarrying .
Mr Neville confirmed that the fire was now under control but that blazes were continuing to spread in other parts of the country .
He urged members of the public not to do any burning outdoors and to immediately report any blazes to the fire services .
A status red forest fire warning is “ very unusual ” for this country but given the dry conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spread of further fires , said Mr Neville .
“ The conditions for fire are perfect right now – it ’ s dry , there ’ s no rain and there ’ s a breeze that fans the fire .
Even a small fire can take hold very quickly , it can really get out of control and cause extreme risk to the public and a real health and safety risk for firefighters .
“ People think forest fires start naturally but that just isn ’ t the case , they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and young animals are at particular risk of perishing in the blazes at this time of year , he added .
“ This is the most important season for nature and wildlife with nests and birds and young animals in dens .
Extreme damage is done to the environment with these fires .
”

Paddlers and swimmers take to the water at Seapoint in Dublin during the fine weather. Photograph: Alan Betson
Gardaí were forced to disperse crowds at a number of beauty spots over the weekend as large numbers gathered in coastal areas to enjoyed the sunshine.
At the Forty Foot swimming location in south Dublin, gardaí moved on large groups of people who were not social distancing.
Across the bay, gardaí closed the Bull Wall bridge to cars to stem the numbers gathering on Dollymount beach. It will remain closed to cars until Tuesday.
Beaches in Cork, Kerry, Donegal and Louth were also closed due to the size of crowds gathering there.
READ MORE
Parks, beaches and beauty spots were the focus for gardaí enforcing the coronavirus restrictions over the weekend. A reduction of overtime has meant a decrease in the number of road checkpoints in operation.
There were some incidents of public order reported, including at Salthill in Galway where, according to gardaí, 40 youths attempted to prevent the arrest of a male at about 7pm on Saturday.
Several Garda units were deployed to the scene and two people were arrested.
“They have since been released and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to this matter,” a Garda spokesperson said.
Irish Water has appealed to the public to conserve water and says it is “exploring all options”, including a potential hosepipe ban, to protect water supplies. Photograph: Tom Honan
As the warm weather continues, Irish Water has appealed to members of the public to conserve water where they can and says it is “exploring all options”, including a potential hosepipe ban, to protect water supplies.
Some 15 of the national water utility’s 900 drinking water schemes have hit “drought status” with another 23 at risk of going into drought, Irish Water said on Sunday.
It warned that the increased domestic demand for water, combined with a rise in commercial demand as businesses reopen, was being exacerbated by warm weather and the growth of drought conditions.
Irish Water reiterated its appeal for people to hand-wash kitchen items rather than using power washers and also urged members of the public to use a watering can rather than a hose, to take a shower rather than a bath and to fix any dripping taps.
Temperatures on Sunday had peaked at 25 degrees Celsius in Co Roscommon by 2pm with the warm weather expected to rise further to 26 degrees in certain parts of the country by the end of the day.
A high of 26.8 degrees was recorded in Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon, on Saturday, equalling the highest temperature for the year. Almost everywhere on Saturday had temperatures well into the 20s as a ridge of pressure remained over Ireland.
The warm bank-holiday weather also brought a heightened risk of forest fires with a red fire warning in place around the country until Monday evening.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine issued the warning on Friday, saying there was an "extreme fire risk" and called on the public to take "immediate action" if a blaze breaks out.
Blazes
Firefighters continued to tackle blazes in counties Sligo, Clare, Laois and Leitrim on Sunday but successfully brought a large fire which quickly spread on Saturday in Co Kildare under control.
More than 100 hectares of newly-planted forest were destroyed in the blaze in Clonagh, Enfield, on the Kildare-Meath border, with damage worth €150,000 to the area, said Pat Neville, Coillte communications manager.
Coillte helicopters, the Irish Air Corps and units from Kildare County Council worked together on Saturday to keep the fire at the forest in Hortland away from a factory which produces explosives for mining and quarrying.
Mr Neville confirmed that the fire was now under control but that blazes were continuing to spread in other parts of the country. He urged members of the public not to do any burning outdoors and to immediately report any blazes to the fire services.
A status red forest fire warning is “very unusual” for this country but given the dry conditions, measures are needed to prevent the spread of further fires, said Mr Neville.
“The conditions for fire are perfect right now – it’s dry, there’s no rain and there’s a breeze that fans the fire. Even a small fire can take hold very quickly, it can really get out of control and cause extreme risk to the public and a real health and safety risk for firefighters.
“People think forest fires start naturally but that just isn’t the case, they’re nearly always started by people.”
Birds and young animals are at particular risk of perishing in the blazes at this time of year, he added. “This is the most important season for nature and wildlife with nests and birds and young animals in dens. Extreme damage is done to the environment with these fires.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-01--Cork cancer specialists run up hill 221 times to raise funds

“ Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain , ” the conqueror of Everest , Edmund Hillary once declared but a team of Cork doctors proved the two can be compatible as they scaled their own Everest .
A team of Medical Oncology doctors from Cork University Hospital , the Mercy University Hospital and the Bons Secours in Cork climbed Cork ’ s St Patrick ’ s Hill 221 times to raise funds for a specialist piece of equipment to aid thousands of cancer patients in Munster .
Medical oncologist at CUH @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organiser of the runners and she explained that climbing the 40 metres high St Patrick ’ s Hill 221 times was the equivalent of climbing Everest , which soars 8,848 metres high in the Himalayas Her colleague and CUH ’ s clinical director of cancer services , Dr Richard Bambury , who was also among the relay of runners , explained that the fundraising climb was to help purchase a genetic sequencing machine for CUH .
“ A genetic sequencing machine is used to identify mutations within cancer cells and the ion torrent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovative machine that is currently unavailable to cancer patients in Cork .
“ It will be used by the CUH pathology department under the clinical leadership of Dr Michael Bennett and it will allow us to do in-depth genetic analysis of individual tumours to figure out what is the best targeted treatment for a patient ’ s particular tumour.
” “ We will also be able to use the information to find appropriate clinical trial options of new emerging treatments for patients , ” he added .
Dr Bambury said the genetic sequencing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and University College Cork led by pathology professor , Louise Burke and Cork Institute of Technology to develop better treatments for future patients .
“ At the moment we can test for two or three gene abnormalities at a time whereas this machine will allow us test for tens and hundreds of genes at the same time so it will hugely increase the amount of information we have on individual cancers.
” The machine will cost €450,000 and the CUH charity under chief executive Michael Nason has committed €100,000 while the Karen Fenton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a young Cork woman who died of ovarian cancer , has raised €75,000 .
CUH medical oncologist , Prof Seamus O ’ Reilly said great credit was due to the Fenton family .
“ All great ideas have a seed and they were the seed and when we get this machine , we will think of Karen and her legacy for cancer care.
” Prof O ’ Reilly said the climb on Saturday went very well with eight relay teams of four doctors completing the 221 ascents and descents on time while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €275,000 has been tremendous .
“ We ’ ve been overwhelmed by people ’ s generosity – we had over €60,000 raised in online donations by Sunday afternoon and the messages of support we have received from people have been really tremendous .
”

"Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain," the conqueror of Everest, Edmund Hillary once declared but a team of Cork doctors proved the two can be compatible as they scaled their own Everest.
A team of Medical Oncology doctors from Cork University Hospital, the Mercy University Hospital and the Bons Secours in Cork climbed Cork's St Patrick's Hill 221 times to raise funds for a specialist piece of equipment to aid thousands of cancer patients in Munster.
Medical oncologist at CUH, Dr Dearbhaile Collins was the chief organiser of the runners and she explained that climbing the 40 metres high St Patrick's Hill 221 times was the equivalent of climbing Everest, which soars 8,848 metres high in the Himalayas
Her colleague and CUH's clinical director of cancer services, Dr Richard Bambury, who was also among the relay of runners, explained that the fundraising climb was to help purchase a genetic sequencing machine for CUH.
READ MORE
“A genetic sequencing machine is used to identify mutations within cancer cells and the ion torrent genexus integrated sequencer machine is a new innovative machine that is currently unavailable to cancer patients in Cork.
"It will be used by the CUH pathology department under the clinical leadership of Dr Michael Bennett and it will allow us to do in-depth genetic analysis of individual tumours to figure out what is the best targeted treatment for a patient's particular tumour."
“We will also be able to use the information to find appropriate clinical trial options of new emerging treatments for patients,” he added.
Dr Bambury said the genetic sequencing machine would also facilitate research between CUH and University College Cork led by pathology professor, Louise Burke and Cork Institute of Technology to develop better treatments for future patients.
“At the moment we can test for two or three gene abnormalities at a time whereas this machine will allow us test for tens and hundreds of genes at the same time so it will hugely increase the amount of information we have on individual cancers.”
The machine will cost €450,000 and the CUH charity under chief executive Michael Nason has committed €100,000 while the Karen Fenton Fund, set up by the family of a young Cork woman who died of ovarian cancer, has raised €75,000.
CUH medical oncologist, Prof Seamus O’Reilly said great credit was due to the Fenton family. “All great ideas have a seed and they were the seed and when we get this machine, we will think of Karen and her legacy for cancer care.”
Prof O’Reilly said the climb on Saturday went very well with eight relay teams of four doctors completing the 221 ascents and descents on time while the public response to raise the remaining €275,000 has been tremendous.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by people’s generosity – we had over €60,000 raised in online donations by Sunday afternoon and the messages of support we have received from people have been really tremendous.”
Anyone wishing to support can go to #PullTogetherCUHC and/or donate at http://www.idonate.ie/CUHCCancerCampaign


theirishtimes--2020-06-01--Covid-19 tracing programme designed for long term, Robin Swann says

Northern Ireland ’ s Covid-19 tracing programme has been designed for the long term , health minister Robin Swann said .
First Minister Arlene Foster last week said people were being recruited for up to two years to help stifle the spread of the coronavirus infection .
Mr Swann said the current telephone-based service would play a “ central ” role .
He said : “ This is a major long-term programme , given the continuing threat from Covid-19 and the potential for local clusters and outbreaks of infection as we move out of the current phase of our response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current contact tracing provision to include teams recruited directly to staff the operation .
“ This will include professionals such as nurses and environmental health officers for contact tracing with lead clinicians and health protection consultants advising on complex situations and local clusters or outbreaks.
” Around 30 positive cases a day are being followed up .
Everyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms is urged to book a test without delay .
Mr Swann added : “ The programme launched by the Public Health Agency was extended in recent weeks to cover all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service is now operational.
” There will also be a call centre which will be able to provide general information to symptomatic individuals and their contacts on a range of Covid-19 issues .
The minister added : “ Digital tools will also be developed to complement the telephone-based contact tracing .
Options are under active consideration.
” – PA

Northern Ireland’s Covid-19 tracing programme has been designed for the long term, health minister Robin Swann said. Photograph: Getty Images
Northern Ireland's Covid-19 tracing programme has been designed for the long term, health minister Robin Swann said.
First Minister Arlene Foster last week said people were being recruited for up to two years to help stifle the spread of the coronavirus infection.
Mr Swann said the current telephone-based service would play a “central” role.
He said: “This is a major long-term programme, given the continuing threat from Covid-19 and the potential for local clusters and outbreaks of infection as we move out of the current phase of our response.
READ MORE
“We will be scaling up the current contact tracing provision to include teams recruited directly to staff the operation.
“This will include professionals such as nurses and environmental health officers for contact tracing with lead clinicians and health protection consultants advising on complex situations and local clusters or outbreaks.”
Follow up
Around 30 positive cases a day are being followed up.
Everyone who develops Covid-19 symptoms is urged to book a test without delay.
Mr Swann added: “The programme launched by the Public Health Agency was extended in recent weeks to cover all new cases of infection. The full service is now operational.”
There will also be a call centre which will be able to provide general information to symptomatic individuals and their contacts on a range of Covid-19 issues.
The minister added: “Digital tools will also be developed to complement the telephone-based contact tracing. Options are under active consideration.” – PA


theirishtimes--2020-06-01--Historic clubhouse at Kenmare golf club damaged in fire

Gardaí and units of the Kerry Fire Service are at the scene this morning of a fire which broke out @ @ @ @ @ the historic Kenmare golf clubhouse .
The fire has destroyed the interior of the building @ @ @ @ @ the roof .
The fire service were alerted at 4.30am and five units , from @ @ @ @ @ as from Kenmare attended .
Water tankers were also brought in to help contain the @ @ @ @ @ building was empty and closed at the time .
Founded in 1903 , the clubhouse @ @ @ @ @ in use in Punjab , India and was installed in Kenmare in the 1930s .
@ @ @ @ @ an investigation into what may have caused the fire .
A post by the Kenmare @ @ @ @ @ this morning expresses “ shock ” at the large fire and gratitude to the fire @ @ @ @ @ Kenmare .

Gardaí and units of the Kerry Fire Service are at the scene this morning of a fire which broke out in the early hours at the historic Kenmare golf clubhouse.
There is widespread shock and sadness in Kenmare after a fire severely damaged the historic clubhouse at the Kenmare Golf cub.
Investigations are continuing into the cause of the fire in the early hours of Sunday.
It took several hours to bring the fire under control and by Sunday evening it was clear the building had been gutted in the blaze, with much of the roof, internal walls and furnishings destroyed.
Fire at Kenmare Golf Club early this morning. Major damage to the clubhouse. More on @radiokerrynews pic.twitter.com/87aweOL32h — Jerry O'Sullivan (@jerosullivanRK) June 1, 2020
The timber-framed building was empty and closed at the time of the fire. The golf club was founded in 1903 alongside the Great Southern Hotel.
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The clubhouse was originally a cricket pavilion in use in the Punjab, India and was not installed in Kenmare until the 1930s and has been at the centre of much social activity in Kenmare since .
Garda forensics officers assisted by fire officers are carrying out an investigation into the cause of the fire.
A post by the Kenmare Golf Club on social media this morning expressed “shock” at the large fire and gratitude to the fire service from Killarney, Sneem and Kenmare.
Local councillor Patrick O’Connor-Scarteen (FG) said locals and visitors were shocked by this. He said the golf club was “at the heart of the town”.


theirishtimes--2020-06-01--Using nursing homes as ‘default option’ must end, experts say

The coronavirus pandemic will accelerate changes already under way in how society cares for the elderly , according to experts .
A more rapid shift away from large nursing homes towards greater support for living in the community , is likely to result , they said .
“ I ’ ve only ever met one person in all the research I ’ ve carried out , who voluntarily opted to move into a care facility , ” says Assumpta Ryan , professor of ageing and health at Ulster University .
However , shifting care away from nursing homes should not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ physical and mental health of family members who are being asked to provide care , she says .
“ If we look at it from only the narrow context of what is best for older people , there is a danger that we may be transferring a lot of the responsibilities onto families , in many cases to the detriment of their own health .
So we need to be very mindful of that.
” That is not an argument for maintaining the model of having large care homes , separated from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ If you look at how we care for children , if you look at the way we care for people with intellectual learning disabilities , we have totally moved away from that model of care .
No one would ever build a children ’ s home caring for 60 or 80 young children.
” There is a need to integrate nursing homes more into society .
“ They sit apart , and that may be part of why we find ourselves where we are in terms of the pandemic.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around to the same opinion .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil last month : “ We .
.
.
need to consider a move away from large , modern , newly built , 150-200 bed , single-room nursing homes towards smaller units , as we have done in the disability sector.
” He said “ more and better home care ” was also needed , while acknowledging this would be a financial challenge for the next government .
The way nursing homes have borne the brunt of Covid-19 infections has sparked a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older citizens , says Gerard Quinn , formerly the director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the NUI Galway School of Law .
Society has changed its attitude towards how disabled people are treated but attitudes towards the elderly have lagged behind , he says .
“ The evidence has been out there for a long time that this is not the right model , or a financially sustainable model , but it is becoming much more graphic now , because of Covid , unfortunately.
” A common narrative on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t have a life , get over it , it ’ s over .
“ But , in fact , you have your personhood , your humanity , you have your individuality .
Of course you become dependent on other people , but in fact we are all interdependent .
“ And so it is about breaking that old black-and-white division between old age and what preceded it , and reminding people that no matter how your capacities might decline , you are still a person , you still have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generations have a right to your presence.
” Older people were relatively invisible in terms of policy-making up to now , he says .
“ And maybe for all the wrong reasons , [ Covid-19 ] is pushing a consciousness of their humanity right to centre stage , where it should have been all along.
” Older people should remain embedded in the community .
“ It ’ s about going back to social connectiveness to give meaning to people ’ s lives as we age .
This is challenging but it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asking.
” For Sean Kennelly , consultant in geriatric medicine at Tallaght Hospital , the pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of the model we have for elderly care .
First of all , he says , most older people are well and don ’ t require a lot of social or medical support .
However , some older people do develop chronic conditions and require a high level of care .
The problem is that the spectrum of care required by older people is very broad , but the care options don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the default option of residential care ” earlier than other jurisdictions that both have better resourced home care and a bigger focus on housing needs for older people in the community , he says .
Very often the reason older people don ’ t want to leave their home is because they don ’ t want to leave the community in which they live .
The objective , he says , should be that people are first of all supported in their homes , then as close to their original homes as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a person is no longer able to manage , should they be moved to long-term care .
“ The thing about ageism is that it is the only ism that eventually affects us all if we live long enough , ” he adds .
“ When we talk about how we should provide long-term care , we should be aware that we are talking about the care that will be necessary for many of us and our relatives as we grow older.
” The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform estimates that by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million inhabitants in the State will be aged over 80 , and the Central Statistics Office predicts there will be nearly 1.6 million people aged over 65 in 2051 , up from 630,000 in 2016 .
In Kennelly ’ s experience , very few people make the decision to move into a nursing home voluntarily , or with a light heart , and that is not because of the quality of care .
“ The reality is that most of us would much prefer to remain in our homes and in our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have moved away from that .
It wasn ’ t always that people ended up requiring nursing homes.
” The societal changes that have led to this situation are common across Europe , he said .
But some countries have better models , with more use of sheltered and supported living , and less use of nursing homes .

Very few people make the decision to move into a nursing home voluntarily, or with a light heart, and that is not because of the quality of care. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
The coronavirus pandemic will accelerate changes already under way in how society cares for the elderly, according to experts.
A more rapid shift away from large nursing homes towards greater support for living in the community, is likely to result, they said.
"I've only ever met one person in all the research I've carried out, who voluntarily opted to move into a care facility," says Assumpta Ryan, professor of ageing and health at Ulster University.
However, shifting care away from nursing homes should not be done at the cost of the physical and mental health of family members who are being asked to provide care, she says.
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“If we look at it from only the narrow context of what is best for older people, there is a danger that we may be transferring a lot of the responsibilities onto families, in many cases to the detriment of their own health. So we need to be very mindful of that.”
That is not an argument for maintaining the model of having large care homes, separated from the rest of the community, she stresses.
“If you look at how we care for children, if you look at the way we care for people with intellectual learning disabilities, we have totally moved away from that model of care. No one would ever build a children’s home caring for 60 or 80 young children.”
There is a need to integrate nursing homes more into society. “They sit apart, and that may be part of why we find ourselves where we are in terms of the pandemic.”
The Government somewhat belatedly seems to be coming around to the same opinion. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil last month: “We . . . need to consider a move away from large, modern, newly built, 150-200 bed, single-room nursing homes towards smaller units, as we have done in the disability sector.”
He said “more and better home care” was also needed, while acknowledging this would be a financial challenge for the next government.
The way nursing homes have borne the brunt of Covid-19 infections has sparked a global debate about how society treats its older citizens, says Gerard Quinn, formerly the director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy at the NUI Galway School of Law.
Society has changed its attitude towards how disabled people are treated but attitudes towards the elderly have lagged behind, he says.
“The evidence has been out there for a long time that this is not the right model, or a financially sustainable model, but it is becoming much more graphic now, because of Covid, unfortunately.”
A common narrative on old age is “Well, you won’t have a life, get over it, it’s over.
“But, in fact, you have your personhood, your humanity, you have your individuality. Of course you become dependent on other people, but in fact we are all interdependent.
“And so it is about breaking that old black-and-white division between old age and what preceded it, and reminding people that no matter how your capacities might decline, you are still a person, you still have a right to connect, and indeed younger generations have a right to your presence.”
Older people were relatively invisible in terms of policy-making up to now, he says. “And maybe for all the wrong reasons, [Covid-19] is pushing a consciousness of their humanity right to centre stage, where it should have been all along.”
Community
Older people should remain embedded in the community. “It’s about going back to social connectiveness to give meaning to people’s lives as we age. This is challenging but it is the type of question we should be asking.”
For Sean Kennelly, consultant in geriatric medicine at Tallaght Hospital, the pandemic has exposed the vulnerabilities of the model we have for elderly care.
First of all, he says, most older people are well and don’t require a lot of social or medical support.
However, some older people do develop chronic conditions and require a high level of care. The problem is that the spectrum of care required by older people is very broad, but the care options don’t reflect this.
We “tip into the default option of residential care” earlier than other jurisdictions that both have better resourced home care and a bigger focus on housing needs for older people in the community, he says.
Very often the reason older people don’t want to leave their home is because they don’t want to leave the community in which they live.
The objective, he says, should be that people are first of all supported in their homes, then as close to their original homes as possible, and only then, if a person is no longer able to manage, should they be moved to long-term care.
“The thing about ageism is that it is the only ism that eventually affects us all if we live long enough,” he adds.
“When we talk about how we should provide long-term care, we should be aware that we are talking about the care that will be necessary for many of us and our relatives as we grow older.”
The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform estimates that by 2031, more than a quarter of a million inhabitants in the State will be aged over 80, and the Central Statistics Office predicts there will be nearly 1.6 million people aged over 65 in 2051, up from 630,000 in 2016.
In Kennelly’s experience, very few people make the decision to move into a nursing home voluntarily, or with a light heart, and that is not because of the quality of care.
“The reality is that most of us would much prefer to remain in our homes and in our community, and we must ask why we have moved away from that. It wasn’t always that people ended up requiring nursing homes.”
The societal changes that have led to this situation are common across Europe, he said. But some countries have better models, with more use of sheltered and supported living, and less use of nursing homes.


theirishtimes--2020-06-01--Independent living centre is for ‘people who should not be in nursing homes’

“ It ’ s four minutes from my room to the [ Dart ] track and from there , with my travel pass , I can go anywhere in Ireland.
” Anthony Kenny ( 81 ) is sitting in the front room of Rosepark House , which is located just opposite Seapoint Dart Station , in south Dublin .
He ’ s been staying since July 2017 in the independent living centre .
One of the reasons he likes it there is that he can come and go as he pleases .
Also , it ’ s located in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I ran for election with the local council , unsuccessfully .
I sailed in Dublin Bay.
” He is happy to be living where he is .
“ There is respect for the fact that you are active , and that you have a life you can lead from your own home.
” The house , and small bungalows out back , are very different from a nursing home complex .
There are no restrictions on the residents ’ movements .
“ I like the fact that I can be very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phrase from sailing , people have a weather eye.
” The registered charity which operates the accommodation was set up almost 40 years ago and “ caters for people who should not be in nursing homes ” , says manager Aidan McNamara .
The aim is to provide people with security , protection from loneliness , and “ good food ” .
The residents range in age from 64-93 and most have some sort of link to the area .
One resident grew up in Blackrock , got married and lived in England @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband died .
“ Her brother lives up the road.
” There are en suite rooms in the house , and small bungalows out the back .
At the moment there are 12 residents , and the centre has a capacity for 14 .
There are 22 names on the waiting list .
A room costs €1,615 a month , and a bungalow €2,000 .
Some 10 per cent of the centre ’ s income goes into a sinking fund , to provide for maintenance .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has suggested in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of building “ lots of modern , new nursing homes ” , new models of supported living could be developed .
At present , however , the charity behind Rosepark House receives “ diddly squat ” in terms of State support , other than a small subsidy towards the three-course lunch the residents sit down together to eat , every day .
The centre is run by volunteers , and there are six part-time staff , including staff who work at night .
McNamara says they would like to develop a unit to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where they require more care , so they wouldn ’ t have to move to an unconnected nursing home .
“ The worse thing for older people is a massive change .
Continuity is hugely important , ” he says .
Local people are welcome to take part in some of the activities that take place at Rosepark .
“ We want to be linked to the wider community .
”

Dan Harte (88) enjoys his first haircut since December of last year by fellow resident Betty Fulton (85) as Anthony Kenny looks on at the Rosepark Independent Living Centre. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
“It’s four minutes from my room to the [Dart] track and from there, with my travel pass, I can go anywhere in Ireland.”
Anthony Kenny (81) is sitting in the front room of Rosepark House, which is located just opposite Seapoint Dart Station, in south Dublin.
He’s been staying since July 2017 in the independent living centre. One of the reasons he likes it there is that he can come and go as he pleases. Also, it’s located in an area he has known all his life.
“I ran for election with the local council, unsuccessfully. I sailed in Dublin Bay.”
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He is happy to be living where he is. “There is respect for the fact that you are active, and that you have a life you can lead from your own home.”
The house, and small bungalows out back, are very different from a nursing home complex. There are no restrictions on the residents’ movements.
“I like the fact that I can be very independent, yet, to use a phrase from sailing, people have a weather eye.”
The registered charity which operates the accommodation was set up almost 40 years ago and “caters for people who should not be in nursing homes”, says manager Aidan McNamara. The aim is to provide people with security, protection from loneliness, and “good food”.
The residents range in age from 64-93 and most have some sort of link to the area. One resident grew up in Blackrock, got married and lived in England, but moved into Rosepark after her husband died. “Her brother lives up the road.”
There are en suite rooms in the house, and small bungalows out the back. At the moment there are 12 residents, and the centre has a capacity for 14. There are 22 names on the waiting list.
A room costs €1,615 a month, and a bungalow €2,000. Some 10 per cent of the centre’s income goes into a sinking fund, to provide for maintenance.
Supported living
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has suggested in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak that instead of building “lots of modern, new nursing homes”, new models of supported living could be developed.
At present, however, the charity behind Rosepark House receives “diddly squat” in terms of State support, other than a small subsidy towards the three-course lunch the residents sit down together to eat, every day.
The centre is run by volunteers, and there are six part-time staff, including staff who work at night.
McNamara says they would like to develop a unit to deal with residents who reach a stage where they require more care, so they wouldn’t have to move to an unconnected nursing home.
“The worse thing for older people is a massive change. Continuity is hugely important,” he says.
Local people are welcome to take part in some of the activities that take place at Rosepark. “We want to be linked to the wider community.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-01--Lockdown gives nature a chance to flourish at the Giant’s Causeway

At the Giant ’ s Causeway , the flowers are flourishing .
More than a million people last year walked on the North coast ’ s famous hexagonal stones following in the footsteps of its legendary builder , the giant Finn McCool .
The absence of such visitors since the lockdown has given nature an opportunity .
Wild flowers – particularly the vibrant yet hardy sea pinks – have been growing up between the stones in recent weeks , creating splashes of colour amid the grey basalt of the columns .
“ We have never had them in such numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s been something special to see , ” says Jennifer Michael from the UK National Trust .
“ Because of visitor footfall they would never grow as big .
It ’ s been lovely to see , and interesting how across the world nature has responded to the lockdown.
” She has also seen more stoats and rabbits .
The birdsong has been “ incredible ” , she adds , a combination of having little other noise around and the apparent presence of more seabirds .
“ It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see what places look like when nature is left largely alone.
” Michael describes herself as “ lucky ” ; a senior marketing and communications officer with the National Trust in Northern Ireland , during lockdown she has become one of six people tasked with carrying out site checks at the Causeway and another nearby trust property , Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge .
Once a week she walks the two sites , checking for litter – their regular litter pickers , like other trust staff , have been furloughed under a UK government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both attractions are safe and secure .
She describes it as “ lovely but also quite eerie .
It ’ s so strange , I ’ ve worked there for five years and it ’ s just unprecedented that you would have no one around you .
“ It has been a privilege to be able to go to such a beautiful place as part of your work whenever we ’ re in lockdown and people have been missing the sites.
” The visitor centre at the Giant ’ s Causeway has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus .
However , the outdoor walking trails – the Causeway stretches over 5km on the north Antrim coast – remain open , as is a public right of way which leads down to the stones .
In the North , the coronavirus restrictions contain no specific reference to distance comparable to the 5km limit in the Republic .
Instead , the guidance has been to avoid unnecessary journeys and to remain close to home ; people can travel for exercise , though the advice is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places where there are likely to be lots of people .
Throughout the lockdown there has been “ maybe one or two people a day ” on the trails , says Michael ; “ thankfully , largely , people have been obeying the guidelines and staying away ” .
However , she has seen more people since the North ’ s regulations changed allowing groups of up to six to meet outdoors providing social distancing is observed ( the same change is being introduced in England from Monday ) .
“ Largely it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two or three people , just out enjoying nature and getting a walk .
A lot of people have been saying that they ’ ve missed seeing the sea.
” The Northern plan for exiting lockdown is divided into five stages , which are categorised by criteria rather than date .
It is currently in stage one .
Michael reckons that the visitor centre will not be able to open until stage three , which may not come until July .
Being able to visit the Causeway during lockdown has brought home to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do need nature ” , she says .
“ So many people who maybe wouldn ’ t stop to listen to the birds or look at blossoms have been commenting and taking photographs , and there have been so many beautiful images of nature shared on social media .
“ I think that deeper appreciation of the natural world is something that lockdown has really brought out in all of us , and hopefully moving forward we will all take a little bit more care of it .
”

Nature has taken advantage of the absence of visitors at the Giant’s Causeway.
At the Giant's Causeway, the flowers are flourishing.
More than a million people last year walked on the North coast’s famous hexagonal stones following in the footsteps of its legendary builder, the giant Finn McCool. The absence of such visitors since the lockdown has given nature an opportunity.
Wild flowers – particularly the vibrant yet hardy sea pinks – have been growing up between the stones in recent weeks, creating splashes of colour amid the grey basalt of the columns.
"We have never had them in such numbers, or had them grow so tall. That's been something special to see," says Jennifer Michael from the UK National Trust.
READ MORE
“Because of visitor footfall they would never grow as big. It’s been lovely to see, and interesting how across the world nature has responded to the lockdown.”
She has also seen more stoats and rabbits. The birdsong has been “incredible”, she adds, a combination of having little other noise around and the apparent presence of more seabirds.
Jennifer Michael, senior marketing and communications officer with the National Trust, at the Giant’s Causeway.
“It’s an unprecedented situation, where we get to see what places look like when nature is left largely alone.”
Michael describes herself as "lucky"; a senior marketing and communications officer with the National Trust in Northern Ireland, during lockdown she has become one of six people tasked with carrying out site checks at the Causeway and another nearby trust property, Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge.
Once a week she walks the two sites, checking for litter – their regular litter pickers, like other trust staff, have been furloughed under a UK government support scheme – and making sure that both attractions are safe and secure.
She describes it as “lovely but also quite eerie. It’s so strange, I’ve worked there for five years and it’s just unprecedented that you would have no one around you.
“It has been a privilege to be able to go to such a beautiful place as part of your work whenever we’re in lockdown and people have been missing the sites.”
The visitor centre at the Giant's Causeway has been closed since March as a result of the restrictions to limit the spread of coronavirus. However, the outdoor walking trails – the Causeway stretches over 5km on the north Antrim coast – remain open, as is a public right of way which leads down to the stones.
Wild flowers have been growing up between the stones in recent weeks, creating splashes of colour amid the grey basalt of the columns.
In the North, the coronavirus restrictions contain no specific reference to distance comparable to the 5km limit in the Republic. Instead, the guidance has been to avoid unnecessary journeys and to remain close to home; people can travel for exercise, though the advice is not to travel too far and avoid places where there are likely to be lots of people.
Throughout the lockdown there has been “maybe one or two people a day” on the trails, says Michael; “thankfully, largely, people have been obeying the guidelines and staying away”.
However, she has seen more people since the North’s regulations changed allowing groups of up to six to meet outdoors providing social distancing is observed (the same change is being introduced in England from Monday). “Largely it’s just been small groups or two or three people, just out enjoying nature and getting a walk. A lot of people have been saying that they’ve missed seeing the sea.”
The Northern plan for exiting lockdown is divided into five stages, which are categorised by criteria rather than date. It is currently in stage one. Michael reckons that the visitor centre will not be able to open until stage three, which may not come until July.
Being able to visit the Causeway during lockdown has brought home to her “just how much we all do need nature”, she says.
“So many people who maybe wouldn’t stop to listen to the birds or look at blossoms have been commenting and taking photographs, and there have been so many beautiful images of nature shared on social media.
“I think that deeper appreciation of the natural world is something that lockdown has really brought out in all of us, and hopefully moving forward we will all take a little bit more care of it.”