theirishtimes--2020-08-28--Why are deaths and hospitalisations from Covid-19 falling so dramatically?

The recent rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Ireland has alarmed a public weary after almost six months of restrictions .
But there has also been a welcome fall-off in the numbers of people dying and being hospitalised due to the disease .
In the period from August 1st to August 26th , there were 2,300 confirmed cases of the disease in the State , but just 13 deaths* .
At the height of the pandemic in April , 38 people a day were dying on average , many of them nursing home residents .
Across Europe , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks , death rates are also markedly lower than they were earlier this year .
In Italy , where up to 900 people were dying a day in spring , more than 1,000 cases were confirmed last Saturday , but just three deaths were reported .
France recorded almost 5,000 new cases on Sunday , the highest daily total since May , but only one death .
In the UK , where deaths surpassed 1,000 a day during the worst of the pandemic , less than six people are now dying on average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ analyst with Carraighill Research , says the falling mortality rate is directly related to a decline in the number of over-65s contracting the virus .
Some 93 per cent of the State ’ s total deaths from the virus have been in this age group , with four in five among people over 75 and 44 per cent among those 85 and older .
About 90 per cent of all cases among the over-65s were nursing home residents .
Between March and the end of June , almost 6,000 cases were confirmed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These facilities account for 56 per cent of all Irish deaths from the virus , one of the highest rates in the world .
Since the end of June , the numbers over 65 getting the virus have fallen both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the population getting the disease .
In the month up until August 24th , the latest date for which figures are available , there were 119 cases among the over-65s .
The numbers are growing , though , as there were just 50 cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there were 427 cases among the same age category on April 22nd alone .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly warned on Wednesday that Ireland may have to go into lockdown again if the upward trend continues .
However , Higgins says the statistics suggest that measures to keep the elderly safe , including cocooning , are working .
“ Even if that is going to continue into the winter with a couple of hundred cases a day , you should still have a smaller share of over-65s getting it because they are protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ complacency around coronavirus can have terrible consequences , one needs to look no further than Florida .
The state reopened from lockdown in early June , when it was experiencing 2,000 cases a day but few deaths , as the disease was mostly confined to the young .
Within a month , it was experiencing 15,000 cases and more than 250 deaths a day .
It became an epicentre of the pandemic in the United States .
Dr Emma Hodcroft , a molecular epidemiologist at the University of Basel in Switzerland , says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus steadily creeping through the generations .
While noting Europe is not in the same space as Florida during July because mask wearing and social distancing are much more prevalent here , Hodcroft still sounds a note of concern .
“ I do think it ’ s wishful thinking to believe it will only stay in younger age groups .
We do not live in bubbles , and the more cases there are , the more opportunity to spill over into other age groups , ” she says .
“ Many studies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ herd immunity in most places in Europe , so there ’ s no reason to believe our older age groups are somehow protected from being infected – except through our actions as a society.
” Hodcroft sees the current spike across Europe as an “ alarm bell ” while deaths and hospitalisations continue to be low .
“ My hope is that we can take smaller actions now to get cases under control .
It is usually easier to control transmission while cases are low and test-and-trace is most effective.
” Dr Clíona @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at St James ’ s Hospital , believes the key to ensuring deaths do not rise again is to keep the virus out of nursing homes and other congregated settings where vulnerable people live .
This will also lead to lower hospitalisations and admissions to intensive care units .
“ It ’ s all about who it is infecting .
We had very few homeless cases because there was really good work done to stop the spread to them , ” she says .
“ At the moment the group Covid-19 is spreading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do see some young deaths and other people get really sick with it .
It ’ s not necessarily a minor illness in younger people.
” One theory around the reduction in deaths is that the virus itself is weakening .
Paul Tambyah , a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University of Singapore , has suggested the particular strain which is currently circulating in Europe and in Asia is more infectious but less deadly than previous ones .
However , Kingston Mills , professor of experimental immunology at Trinity College Dublin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had weakened , rates of hospitalisation would fall , but they have not done so , he argues .
“ There is no question that the virus has changed , but for people to think that it is less virulent than it was three or four months ago would be completely against all scientific principles as to how the viruses mutate.
” Ruairí Brugha , professor of epidemiology and public health medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , believes a key factor in lower death rates is that doctors are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than previously .
“ I was in touch with the head of a major teaching hospital and the mortality in its intensive care unit is 10 per cent lower than in other countries .
We have to give credit to clinician management , ” he says , while cautioning that deaths will start to rise again if young people act irresponsibly .
“ The fact that young people are infected means they are not taking good preventative measures themselves .
They risk spreading the infection to the older people or their families that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are real risks to older people down the road.
” *This article was amended on August 28th , 2020 .

In the period from August 1st to August 26th, there were 2,300 confirmed cases of the disease in the State, but just 13 deaths. Photograph: The Irish Times
The recent rise in the number of coronavirus cases in Ireland has alarmed a public weary after almost six months of restrictions. But there has also been a welcome fall-off in the numbers of people dying and being hospitalised due to the disease.
In the period from August 1st to August 26th, there were 2,300 confirmed cases of the disease in the State, but just 13 deaths*. At the height of the pandemic in April, 38 people a day were dying on average, many of them nursing home residents.
Across Europe, despite cases steadily creeping up in recent weeks, death rates are also markedly lower than they were earlier this year.
In Italy, where up to 900 people were dying a day in spring, more than 1,000 cases were confirmed last Saturday, but just three deaths were reported. France recorded almost 5,000 new cases on Sunday, the highest daily total since May, but only one death. In the UK, where deaths surpassed 1,000 a day during the worst of the pandemic, less than six people are now dying on average daily.
READ MORE
David Higgins, a data analyst with Carraighill Research, says the falling mortality rate is directly related to a decline in the number of over-65s contracting the virus.
Some 93 per cent of the State’s total deaths from the virus have been in this age group, with four in five among people over 75 and 44 per cent among those 85 and older.
Deaths
About 90 per cent of all cases among the over-65s were nursing home residents. Between March and the end of June, almost 6,000 cases were confirmed in nursing homes, resulting in 968 deaths. These facilities account for 56 per cent of all Irish deaths from the virus, one of the highest rates in the world.
Since the end of June, the numbers over 65 getting the virus have fallen both in absolute terms and as a percentage of the population getting the disease.
In the month up until August 24th, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 119 cases among the over-65s. The numbers are growing, though, as there were just 50 cases in the over-65s in July. Yet there were 427 cases among the same age category on April 22nd alone.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly warned on Wednesday that Ireland may have to go into lockdown again if the upward trend continues.
However, Higgins says the statistics suggest that measures to keep the elderly safe, including cocooning, are working . “Even if that is going to continue into the winter with a couple of hundred cases a day, you should still have a smaller share of over-65s getting it because they are protecting themselves.”
For a lesson in how complacency around coronavirus can have terrible consequences, one needs to look no further than Florida. The state reopened from lockdown in early June, when it was experiencing 2,000 cases a day but few deaths, as the disease was mostly confined to the young. Within a month, it was experiencing 15,000 cases and more than 250 deaths a day. It became an epicentre of the pandemic in the United States.
Dr Emma Hodcroft, a molecular epidemiologist at the University of Basel in Switzerland, says data for that period in Florida showed the virus steadily creeping through the generations.
While noting Europe is not in the same space as Florida during July because mask wearing and social distancing are much more prevalent here, Hodcroft still sounds a note of concern.
“I do think it’s wishful thinking to believe it will only stay in younger age groups. We do not live in bubbles, and the more cases there are, the more opportunity to spill over into other age groups,” she says.
“Many studies have shown we are not anywhere near herd immunity in most places in Europe, so there’s no reason to believe our older age groups are somehow protected from being infected – except through our actions as a society.”
Hodcroft sees the current spike across Europe as an “alarm bell” while deaths and hospitalisations continue to be low.
Control transmission
“My hope is that we can take smaller actions now to get cases under control. It is usually easier to control transmission while cases are low and test-and-trace is most effective.”
Dr Clíona Ní Cheallaigh, an infectious diseases specialist at St James’s Hospital, believes the key to ensuring deaths do not rise again is to keep the virus out of nursing homes and other congregated settings where vulnerable people live. This will also lead to lower hospitalisations and admissions to intensive care units.
“It’s all about who it is infecting. We had very few homeless cases because there was really good work done to stop the spread to them,” she says. “At the moment the group Covid-19 is spreading into is relatively okay, but we do see some young deaths and other people get really sick with it. It’s not necessarily a minor illness in younger people.”
One theory around the reduction in deaths is that the virus itself is weakening. Paul Tambyah, a senior infectious diseases consultant at the National University of Singapore, has suggested the particular strain which is currently circulating in Europe and in Asia is more infectious but less deadly than previous ones.
However, Kingston Mills, professor of experimental immunology at Trinity College Dublin, fundamentally disagrees. If the virus had weakened, rates of hospitalisation would fall, but they have not done so, he argues. "There is no question that the virus has changed, but for people to think that it is less virulent than it was three or four months ago would be completely against all scientific principles as to how the viruses mutate."
Ruairí Brugha, professor of epidemiology and public health medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, believes a key factor in lower death rates is that doctors are now much better at treating the disease than previously.
“I was in touch with the head of a major teaching hospital and the mortality in its intensive care unit is 10 per cent lower than in other countries. We have to give credit to clinician management,” he says, while cautioning that deaths will start to rise again if young people act irresponsibly.
“The fact that young people are infected means they are not taking good preventative measures themselves. They risk spreading the infection to the older people or their families that they come in contact with. There are real risks to older people down the road.”
*This article was amended on August 28th, 2020.


theirishtimes--2020-08-27--Nearly 400 active outbreaks of coronavirus in the Republic

There are nearly 400 active outbreaks of coronavirus in the country at present , according to officials from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre .
Dr John Cuddihy , director of the HPSC , which monitors and analyses the number of Covid-19 cases in the State , said officials were seeing a “ significant number of outbreaks ” at present .
There are 392 active outbreaks of the virus in the State at present , 252 of which were related to social gatherings in private households , he said .
One recent outbreak in a pub/restaurant had been linked to 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10 cases in another workplace .
Another outbreak in a restaurant involved 19 cases , Dr Cuddihy told a press briefing on Thursday .
Six cases had been traced to an outbreak in a sports club , with further transmission at an associated social gathering resulting in another 19 cases .
He said an outbreak in a retail outlet had seen seven staff contract the virus , as some of the workers continued to work while showing symptoms .
There were 93 new cases of coronavirus reported on Thursday , and no new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) .
Dublin has the highest number of new cases at 34 , while there are seven in Kildare , six each in Donegal and Laois , five each in Limerick and Waterford , with the remaining 30 cases spread over Carlow , Cavan , Clare , Cork , Louth , Meath , Monaghan , Offaly , Tipperary , Westmeath and Wicklow .
Speaking on Thursday , Prof Philip Nolan , chair of NPHET ’ s modelling group , said the R-number – the reproductive rate of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While current estimates were uncertain , this meant coronavirus was continuing to spread in the community .
He said health officials were also “ beginning to see a small but significant increase in the number of people in hospital ” .
At present there are 29 confirmed coronavirus patients in hospital , with five in critical care units .
He said the number of new cases had grown sharply in early August , with “ rapid transmission of the disease in large outbreaks in a number of settings ” .
The disease @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clusters into the community .
“ It moved from large workplace settings to smaller family and social outbreaks.
” Prof Nolan said the rate of community transmission “ appears to be stable at the moment but higher than we would like it to be ” .
The 14-day incidence of the virus is running at 33 per 100,000 , compared with 3 per 100,000 in June and July .
Dr Ronan Glynn , the acting chief medical officer , said he would not expect to see a “ downward trend just yet ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gatherings introduced last week .
“ In the first instance we need a national focus over the next two weeks in getting the case numbers down.
” At a meeting on Thursday NPHET decided against recommending any early easing of local lockdown restrictions in Co Kildare , due to expire at the end of next week .
NPHET also decided against recommending that pubs that do not serve food can reopen on Monday .
In Northern Ireland one more person with coronavirus has died , while 69 new cases of Covid-19 have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister , Robin Swann , said he was concerned some licensed premises were “ flouting ” the coronavirus guidelines , and he intended to ask the Executive to “ prioritise stronger legislation ” to address it .
He was speaking after footage emerged showing guests dancing at a wedding , contrary to the guidelines .

Dr John Cuddihy, director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. He said officials were seeing a “significant number of outbreaks” at present. Photograph: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
There are nearly 400 active outbreaks of coronavirus in the country at present, according to officials from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
Dr John Cuddihy, director of the HPSC, which monitors and analyses the number of Covid-19 cases in the State, said officials were seeing a "significant number of outbreaks" at present.
There are 392 active outbreaks of the virus in the State at present, 252 of which were related to social gatherings in private households, he said.
One recent outbreak in a pub/restaurant had been linked to 26 cases, which then spread further causing 10 cases in another workplace. Another outbreak in a restaurant involved 19 cases, Dr Cuddihy told a press briefing on Thursday.
READ MORE
Six cases had been traced to an outbreak in a sports club, with further transmission at an associated social gathering resulting in another 19 cases.
He said an outbreak in a retail outlet had seen seven staff contract the virus, as some of the workers continued to work while showing symptoms.
There were 93 new cases of coronavirus reported on Thursday, and no new deaths, according to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET).
Dublin has the highest number of new cases at 34, while there are seven in Kildare, six each in Donegal and Laois, five each in Limerick and Waterford, with the remaining 30 cases spread over Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wicklow.
Community
Speaking on Thursday, Prof Philip Nolan, chair of NPHET's modelling group, said the R-number – the reproductive rate of the virus – was between 1 and 1.2. While current estimates were uncertain, this meant coronavirus was continuing to spread in the community.
He said health officials were also “beginning to see a small but significant increase in the number of people in hospital”. At present there are 29 confirmed coronavirus patients in hospital, with five in critical care units.
He said the number of new cases had grown sharply in early August, with “rapid transmission of the disease in large outbreaks in a number of settings” .
The disease had spread from those workplace outbreaks and clusters into the community. “It moved from large workplace settings to smaller family and social outbreaks.”
Prof Nolan said the rate of community transmission “appears to be stable at the moment but higher than we would like it to be”.
The 14-day incidence of the virus is running at 33 per 100,000, compared with 3 per 100,000 in June and July.
Dr Ronan Glynn, the acting chief medical officer, said he would not expect to see a "downward trend just yet" of new cases, following limits on gatherings introduced last week. "In the first instance we need a national focus over the next two weeks in getting the case numbers down."
Restrictions
At a meeting on Thursday NPHET decided against recommending any early easing of local lockdown restrictions in Co Kildare, due to expire at the end of next week.
NPHET also decided against recommending that pubs that do not serve food can reopen on Monday.
In Northern Ireland one more person with coronavirus has died, while 69 new cases of Covid-19 have been identified .
The North's Health Minister, Robin Swann, said he was concerned some licensed premises were "flouting" the coronavirus guidelines, and he intended to ask the Executive to "prioritise stronger legislation" to address it.
He was speaking after footage emerged showing guests dancing at a wedding, contrary to the guidelines.


theirishtimes--2020-08-29--Remote working in the west: ‘So far it’s been great, really surprising’

Anthony Kelly had been preparing to move to Los Angeles with wife Fionnualla and son Darragh ( 2 ) when “ Covid hit ” .
The co-founder of Glofox , which provides business management software to fitness studios and gyms , had the visas sorted and a house rented .
But suddenly it didn ’ t seem like a good idea to be getting on an airplane , especially as Fionnualla was six months pregnant .
Instead of LA , the family found themselves living in the townland of Erribul in Co Clare , Fionnualla ’ s native county .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stint here instead of staying in Dublin , ” says the father of two .
Glofox , which employs 120 people worldwide , already had a significant proportion of staff working remotely but now the company has gone “ fully remote ” .
Kelly is one of a growing number of professionals , many in the high-tech sector , who are adapting well to a new lifestyle in the west of Ireland .
“ So far it ’ s been great , really surprising , ” says the Dubliner , recalling that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South William Street office before the government directive .
“ It just didn ’ t feel safe.
” The buzz of Grafton Street is something he remembers fondly , but the beauty of the Shannon estuary seems to be making up for that , especially as they had “ a lockdown baby , Cathal , who was born on 11th June ” .
It ’ s the little things that have surprised him , such as the personal attention and the quality of service from many businesses .
“ I am loving it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Dublin it can seem more transactional.
” Having lived in the capital all his life , Kelly is pleased to say that “ workwise , I haven ’ t missed a beat ” .
The Western Development Commission ’ s new More to Life campaign aims to showcase both the career opportunities and appealing lifestyle available to those who make the move west .
The campaign is highlighting the attractive job opportunities in the region , as well as more obvious benefits like low housing costs , short commutes and easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more and more people working remotely because of the Covid-19 pandemic , the WDC is stressing that now is a good time to make that move .
Nathalie Moyano , like Anthony Kelly , has already said goodbye to the east coast – and she doesn ’ t intend going back .
Born in France , she moved to Ireland in 2002 , living in Dublin for 10 years and also spent many years commuting from Wicklow to the city .
Coincidentally she moved to Co Mayo on the first day of lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woodlands , beautiful riverside walks and stunning gardens at a time when many people were confined to city apartments with no access to open spaces .
Moyano now lives and works in the converted stables of Coolcronan House , formerly the home of the Earl of Limerick , on the banks of the river Moy near Foxford , Co Mayo .
“ It ’ s in the middle of nowhere – I ’ m very lucky , ” says the founder of Moytilingual , a company that provides language and consulting services .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nature and says she “ couldn ’ t go back to an enclosed space ” .
A translator and interpreter who has travelled throughout the US and India , Moyano says that having made a conscious effort to achieve a better work/life balance , being able to walk out the door and see horses and beautiful gardens is blissful .
John Savage swapped an office on Dublin ’ s Dawson Street for remote working from his new home in the village of Rosses Point , Co Sligo , where his wife , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machine data scientist , who got a job with US tech company Overstock in Sligo last June , is a native of Ballisodare and he and Julie started to feel the call of the west two years ago when son Luca was born .
The couple is expecting a second child in November and , according to John , one of the surprises of the move is that he doesn ’ t feel he has sacrificed career opportunities in order to avail of the more laidback lifestyle .
“ We decided to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off , ” he says .
They didn ’ t make the move until June , when restrictions eased , and are finding that their social circles have actually increased .
“ I know lots of people who decided to move temporarily to Sligo when lockdown started because they were working remotely.
” Not all his friends might stay there , but the family feels it ’ s the right place for them for many reasons .
“ We are loving the space , the views and the friendly village , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin was about €1,500 a month , “ so we get better value for money here ” .
As part of its campaign , the WDC has launched Talent Tool , a platform to help attract expertise for hard-to-fill roles across all sectors .
It allows job seekers to register for alerts on new roles and give companies information on professionals looking to move west .
The WDC believes this will help attract more investment from companies needing a pool of talent , while also showcasing the range of career opportunities available across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t relish their kitchen table doubling as an office , a network of more than 100 hubs is being developed by the WDC through the Atlantic Economic Corridor .
The commission hopes the initiative will give a boost to towns and villages , while enabling a range of successful businesses to have “ second sites ” in the west .
WDC chief executive Tomás Ó Síocháin says the More to Life campaign is about exploiting the changed circumstances many people have been faced with during 2020 .
“ Out of adversity comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a big opportunity to renew and reinvigorate itself .
There are now an unprecedented number of career options in the west , some of them caused by the unexpected events of 2020 and the global pandemic.
” Ó Síocháin says the more affordable living costs mean money goes further in the region .
Founded in 1997 , the WDC is a statutory body charged with promoting social and economic development in the western region .
Anthony Kelly says he is convinced of the advantages of the move to the west but some obstacles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wifi in his area .
“ If the Government is really serious abut people working remotely , they have to solve the broadband issue .
”

Anthony Kelly had been preparing to move to Los Angeles with wife Fionnualla and son Darragh (2) when "Covid hit". The co-founder of Glofox, which provides business management software to fitness studios and gyms, had the visas sorted and a house rented. But suddenly it didn't seem like a good idea to be getting on an airplane, especially as Fionnualla was six months pregnant .
Instead of LA, the family found themselves living in the townland of Erribul in Co Clare, Fionnualla’s native county. “We thought we’d try a stint here instead of staying in Dublin,” says the father of two.
Glofox, which employs 120 people worldwide, already had a significant proportion of staff working remotely but now the company has gone "fully remote". Kelly is one of a growing number of professionals, many in the high-tech sector, who are adapting well to a new lifestyle in the west of Ireland.
John Savage exchanged an office in Dublin for Rosses Point, Co Sligo. John and his wife Julie have a two-year-old son, Luca, and are expecting a second child in November. Photograph: Moose Video
“So far it’s been great, really surprising,” says the Dubliner, recalling that the company decided to close down its South William Street office before the government directive. “It just didn’t feel safe.”
READ MORE
The buzz of Grafton Street is something he remembers fondly, but the beauty of the Shannon estuary seems to be making up for that, especially as they had "a lockdown baby, Cathal, who was born on 11th June".
The little things
It’s the little things that have surprised him, such as the personal attention and the quality of service from many businesses. “I am loving it so far. People seem to care. In Dublin it can seem more transactional.” Having lived in the capital all his life, Kelly is pleased to say that “workwise, I haven’t missed a beat”.
The Western Development Commission’s new More to Life campaign aims to showcase both the career opportunities and appealing lifestyle available to those who make the move west.
The campaign is highlighting the attractive job opportunities in the region, as well as more obvious benefits like low housing costs, short commutes and easy access to the great outdoors.
With more and more people working remotely because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the WDC is stressing that now is a good time to make that move.
Nathalie Moyano, like Anthony Kelly, has already said goodbye to the east coast – and she doesn't intend going back.
Born in France, she moved to Ireland in 2002 , living in Dublin for 10 years and also spent many years commuting from Wicklow to the city.
Coincidentally she moved to Co Mayo on the first day of lockdown and says she found herself surrounded by woodlands, beautiful riverside walks and stunning gardens at a time when many people were confined to city apartments with no access to open spaces.
Moyano now lives and works in the converted stables of Coolcronan House, formerly the home of the Earl of Limerick, on the banks of the river Moy near Foxford, Co Mayo. "It's in the middle of nowhere – I'm very lucky," says the founder of Moytilingual, a company that provides language and consulting services.
She has always wanted to live close to nature and says she "couldn't go back to an enclosed space". A translator and interpreter who has travelled throughout the US and India, Moyano says that having made a conscious effort to achieve a better work/life balance, being able to walk out the door and see horses and beautiful gardens is blissful.
John Savage swapped an office on Dublin's Dawson Street for remote working from his new home in the village of Rosses Point, Co Sligo, where his wife, Julie Carty, was raised.
The machine data scientist, who got a job with US tech company Overstock in Sligo last June, is a native of Ballisodare and he and Julie started to feel the call of the west two years ago when son Luca was born.
The couple is expecting a second child in November and, according to John, one of the surprises of the move is that he doesn’t feel he has sacrificed career opportunities in order to avail of the more laidback lifestyle.
“We decided to move back in January before the pandemic kicked off,” he says. They didn’t make the move until June, when restrictions eased, and are finding that their social circles have actually increased. “I know lots of people who decided to move temporarily to Sligo when lockdown started because they were working remotely.”
‘Friendly village’
Not all his friends might stay there, but the family feels it’s the right place for them for many reasons. “We are loving the space, the views and the friendly village,” he says. Also, their rent in Dublin was about €1,500 a month, “so we get better value for money here”.
As part of its campaign, the WDC has launched Talent Tool, a platform to help attract expertise for hard-to-fill roles across all sectors.
It allows job seekers to register for alerts on new roles and give companies information on professionals looking to move west. The WDC believes this will help attract more investment from companies needing a pool of talent, while also showcasing the range of career opportunities available across the region.
For those who don’t relish their kitchen table doubling as an office, a network of more than 100 hubs is being developed by the WDC through the Atlantic Economic Corridor. The commission hopes the initiative will give a boost to towns and villages, while enabling a range of successful businesses to have “second sites” in the west.
WDC chief executive Tomás Ó Síocháin says the More to Life campaign is about exploiting the changed circumstances many people have been faced with during 2020. “Out of adversity comes opportunity and the West of Ireland has a big opportunity to renew and reinvigorate itself. There are now an unprecedented number of career options in the west, some of them caused by the unexpected events of 2020 and the global pandemic.”
More affordable
Ó Síocháin says the more affordable living costs mean money goes further in the region.
Founded in 1997, the WDC is a statutory body charged with promoting social and economic development in the western region.
Anthony Kelly says he is convinced of the advantages of the move to the west but some obstacles remain. One such obstacle is the wifi in his area. “If the Government is really serious abut people working remotely, they have to solve the broadband issue.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-29--Massive rise in people reporting others for tax evasion

The number of people turning others into Revenue for suspicious tax activities has doubled in the last four years , according to figures released to The Irish Times .
Last year , just under 6,000 people filed so-called good citizen reports to Revenue outlining concerns that family , friends or businesses they dealt with were avoiding paying tax or engaging in some other illegal activity .
This includes reports of people working while claiming social welfare , which Revenue passed on to the Department of Social Protection for investigation .
This number has increased steadily since mid-2015 when data on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to the figures released by Revenue under freedom of information legislation .
In the second half of 2015 , there were just 855 good citizen reports .
This rose to 3,006 the following year and have increased every year since .
It appears likely 2020 will see another record number of reports from members of the public : 3,387 reports of suspicious activity were filed in the first six months alone .
Asked why the number of people informing on suspected tax evasion has increased so dramatically , Revenue suggested it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities .
“ The availability of our online tax evasion report facility and the anonymity that making a report online provides makes it as easy as possible for citizens to report shadow economy activity to Revenue.
” It said it launched a new website in 2017 which allows good citizen reports , which are also known as shadow economy reports , to be lodged anonymously via mobile phone .
Revenue allows users to make reports anonymously and asks for as much detail as possible to allow it to investigate further .
This includes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers and evidence of suspected wrongdoing .
Revenue said the complex nature of the investigation process after receiving a report means it is not possible to detail how much money has been recovered as a result of public reports .
However , in 2018 , the Oireachtas was told it recovered €4.9 million as a result of 2,971 reports in 2016 and €2.6 million from 4,734 reports in 2017 .
“ Revenue welcomes reports by citizens in relation to shadow economy activity [ tax evasion ] .
The information received is treated as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Where the information is sufficiently detailed or specific , we will use it to investigate the business or person suspected of tax evasion across all of their tax obligations , subject to our normal determination of tax at risk .
”

Revenue allows users to make reports anonymously and asks for suspects’ car registration details, telephone numbers and evidence of suspected wrongdoing. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
The number of people turning others into Revenue for suspicious tax activities has doubled in the last four years, according to figures released to The Irish Times.
Last year, just under 6,000 people filed so-called good citizen reports to Revenue outlining concerns that family, friends or businesses they dealt with were avoiding paying tax or engaging in some other illegal activity.
This includes reports of people working while claiming social welfare, which Revenue passed on to the Department of Social Protection for investigation.
This number has increased steadily since mid-2015 when data on such reports first started being tracked, according to the figures released by Revenue under freedom of information legislation.
READ MORE
In the second half of 2015, there were just 855 good citizen reports. This rose to 3,006 the following year and have increased every year since.
Suspicious activity
It appears likely 2020 will see another record number of reports from members of the public: 3,387 reports of suspicious activity were filed in the first six months alone.
Asked why the number of people informing on suspected tax evasion has increased so dramatically, Revenue suggested it was due to the modernisation of its reporting facilities.
“The availability of our online tax evasion report facility and the anonymity that making a report online provides makes it as easy as possible for citizens to report shadow economy activity to Revenue.”
It said it launched a new website in 2017 which allows good citizen reports, which are also known as shadow economy reports, to be lodged anonymously via mobile phone.
Evidence of wrongdoing
Revenue allows users to make reports anonymously and asks for as much detail as possible to allow it to investigate further. This includes suspects’ car registration details, telephone numbers and evidence of suspected wrongdoing.
Revenue said the complex nature of the investigation process after receiving a report means it is not possible to detail how much money has been recovered as a result of public reports.
However, in 2018, the Oireachtas was told it recovered €4.9 million as a result of 2,971 reports in 2016 and €2.6 million from 4,734 reports in 2017.
“Revenue welcomes reports by citizens in relation to shadow economy activity [tax evasion]. The information received is treated as strictly confidential,” a spokesman said.
“Where the information is sufficiently detailed or specific, we will use it to investigate the business or person suspected of tax evasion across all of their tax obligations, subject to our normal determination of tax at risk.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-29--Covid-19: Teenager still dealing with effects after three hospitalisations

Like many young people Molly Ryan did not think Covid-19 could happen to her .
Ryan ( 19 ) played hockey for Pembroke and ran for Blackrock Athletic Club .
She was on a gap year before entering UCD to study commerce and working in a nursing home near her house in Blackrock , Co Dublin , when she developed a temperature .
It was at the end of March when there was less than 1,000 cases in the country .
“ I was naive .
I thought , ‘ I can ’ t have Covid-19 , I am only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I didn ’ t have any health problems.
” Twenty weeks , three hospitalisations and eight weeks of isolation later , Ryan is still suffering the after-effects of the virus .
She has a persistent temperature and a racing heart .
She has to use an inhaler at times and suffers from fatigue , yet she says her health is better than it was .
It took two weeks for her to be diagnosed with Covid-19 , by which time it was a foregone conclusion that she had the illness .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April .
“ I had bad heart pain and the fever was meant to go after five days , but it just stayed .
I knew a new symptom would come and checked the symptoms off the list .
“ During the night , I got nauseous symptoms , I was getting sick the whole night .
Being in hospital in a Covid-positive ward , just hearing everyone coughing during the night , it was really hard .
It was a very difficult time.
” A false positive test in July led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was hard to see all my friends when lockdown lifted and they went out and I was still stuck in my bed , ” she says .
“ I have heard a few people say that they are not back to themselves .
I am not back to myself.
” Ryan has been frank with her friends about the potential impact of the illness .
“ When I met up with my friends , I wasn ’ t scared to tell them stuff.
” Her doctor , Prof Paddy Mallon , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s hospital , says the virus is “ incredibly complex ” in its impact on patients .
He has noticed three patterns among young people .
Some get pneumonia-like symptoms , which can lead to a chronic cough .
Secondly , many end up with racing heart rates , a result of damage to the heart .
“ This is not an organ you want to get damaged for a young person .
We don ’ t know the long-term consequences for this.
” Thirdly , some young people suffer from chronic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young person who thinks there are no consequences from this virus needs to think again , ” he warns .
“ It maybe won ’ t kill you , it may not even put you in hospital , but there is a chance this virus can have a severe and lasting impact especially on our young people .
“ The last thing you want to do is contract this virus and end up having your fitness impacted to such an extend that you lose months .
”

Dublin teenager Molly Ryan is still suffering coronavirus after-effects: ‘I had bad heart pain and the fever was meant to go after five days, but it just stayed.’ Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Like many young people Molly Ryan did not think Covid-19 could happen to her.
Ryan (19) played hockey for Pembroke and ran for Blackrock Athletic Club.
She was on a gap year before entering UCD to study commerce and working in a nursing home near her house in Blackrock, Co Dublin, when she developed a temperature.
It was at the end of March when there was less than 1,000 cases in the country. “I was naive. I thought, ‘I can’t have Covid-19, I am only 19.’ I was always so healthy. I didn’t have any health problems.”
READ MORE
Twenty weeks, three hospitalisations and eight weeks of isolation later, Ryan is still suffering the after-effects of the virus.
She has a persistent temperature and a racing heart. She has to use an inhaler at times and suffers from fatigue, yet she says her health is better than it was.
It took two weeks for her to be diagnosed with Covid-19, by which time it was a foregone conclusion that she had the illness.
She was in hospital for two weeks in April. “I had bad heart pain and the fever was meant to go after five days, but it just stayed. I knew a new symptom would come and checked the symptoms off the list.
‘Nauseous symptoms’
“During the night, I got nauseous symptoms, I was getting sick the whole night. Being in hospital in a Covid-positive ward, just hearing everyone coughing during the night, it was really hard. It was a very difficult time.”
A false positive test in July led to another two weeks of isolation. “It was hard to see all my friends when lockdown lifted and they went out and I was still stuck in my bed,” she says.
“I have heard a few people say that they are not back to themselves. I am not back to myself.”
Ryan has been frank with her friends about the potential impact of the illness. “When I met up with my friends, I wasn’t scared to tell them stuff.”
Her doctor, Prof Paddy Mallon, a consultant in infectious diseases in St Vincent's hospital, says the virus is "incredibly complex" in its impact on patients.
He has noticed three patterns among young people.
Some get pneumonia-like symptoms, which can lead to a chronic cough.
Secondly, many end up with racing heart rates, a result of damage to the heart. “This is not an organ you want to get damaged for a young person. We don’t know the long-term consequences for this.”
Thirdly, some young people suffer from chronic fatigue for months afterwards.
“Any young person who thinks there are no consequences from this virus needs to think again,” he warns.
“It maybe won’t kill you, it may not even put you in hospital, but there is a chance this virus can have a severe and lasting impact especially on our young people.
“The last thing you want to do is contract this virus and end up having your fitness impacted to such an extend that you lose months.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-29--‘I can’t send my children to school ... They’re victims of my disease’

Jan Rynne would love to be able send her two children back to school next week , but she says she can not risk it .
A decade ago , she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia .
For three years she felt life drain away from her as she became overwhelmed with fatigue and infections .
Then , an opportunity to take part in a trial in Leeds in England on a new targeted therapy gave her a second chance .
She has made huge strides since – but the disease hasn ’ t gone away .
She remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if she contracts coronavirus .
With schools reopening , Ms Rynne says her family feel they have been left in limbo .
Official rules state that only children with medical conditions are entitled to take part in remote learning with all others expected to attend school .
However , Ms Rynne says her medical advice is that it is too risky to send her children back to school .
“ My children are the victims of my disease , and they are forced to cocoon with me , ” she says .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t go to school .
The school uniform has been bought in the hope that we could work out something like going into school in small groups for practical subjects , masked up , and doing other subjects remotely.
” Ms Rynne says she has not been able to get a definitive answer from the Department of Education about her situation .
The department said it was a matter for individual schools .
Her children ’ s two schools have also been unable to say if remote teaching will be possible or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compromise can not be worked out , Ms Rynne is worried that she could end up being referred to social services over her children not being in school .
Official rules remain that schools must notify Tusla of any child who misses 20 days or more of classes .
“ I don ’ t want them breathing down my neck .
.
.
I just want my children to have an education and connect with their friends as much as is possible , ” she says .
The last option , she says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homeschool them .
“ It ’ s not something I want to do .
I know nothing about the curriculum .
My husband isn ’ t academic .
We ’ ve no experience of this , ” she says .
Ms Rynne says she is aware she is not alone and that there are hundreds of parents in similar situations waiting for answers .
“ We need answers and we need support , but we can ’ t get any .
”

Jan Rynne would love to be able send her two children back to school next week, but she says she cannot risk it.
A decade ago, she was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.
For three years she felt life drain away from her as she became overwhelmed with fatigue and infections. Then, an opportunity to take part in a trial in Leeds in England on a new targeted therapy gave her a second chance.
She has made huge strides since – but the disease hasn’t gone away. She remains at a very high risk of dying if she contracts coronavirus.
READ MORE
With schools reopening, Ms Rynne says her family feel they have been left in limbo.
Official rules state that only children with medical conditions are entitled to take part in remote learning with all others expected to attend school.
However, Ms Rynne says her medical advice is that it is too risky to send her children back to school.
Cocoon
“My children are the victims of my disease, and they are forced to cocoon with me,” she says.
“I’m heartbroken that they can’t go to school. The school uniform has been bought in the hope that we could work out something like going into school in small groups for practical subjects, masked up, and doing other subjects remotely.”
Ms Rynne says she has not been able to get a definitive answer from the Department of Education about her situation. The department said it was a matter for individual schools.
Her children’s two schools have also been unable to say if remote teaching will be possible or permitted under existing rules. If a compromise cannot be worked out, Ms Rynne is worried that she could end up being referred to social services over her children not being in school. Official rules remain that schools must notify Tusla of any child who misses 20 days or more of classes.
Last option
“I don’t want them breathing down my neck . . . I just want my children to have an education and connect with their friends as much as is possible,” she says.
The last option, she says, is to withdraw her children and homeschool them.
“It’s not something I want to do. I know nothing about the curriculum. My husband isn’t academic. We’ve no experience of this,” she says.
Ms Rynne says she is aware she is not alone and that there are hundreds of parents in similar situations waiting for answers.
“We need answers and we need support, but we can’t get any.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-29--Surge in applications among parents to homeschool children

Applications from parents to homeschool their children have surged in recent weeks , figures compiled by social services show .
The development comes amid concern among some families over the heath risks of children returning to crowded classrooms in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic .
Tusla , the child and family agency , said a backlog of at least 326 homeschooling applications from families were waiting to be processed .
The number of applications received in August was more than three times the total submitted in the same month last year , rising from 79 to 280 .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be screened , processed and assessed before being placed on the home education register , which is a legal requirement for children not attending recognised schools .
A survey published by the Central Statistics Office this week indicated a high level of concern among parents whose children are returning to school .
It also found that 6.5 per cent of parents said they would not send their children back to school due to Covid-19 concerns .
Many parents with high-risk medical conditions say they can not risk sending their children back to school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that all children are expected to attend school – with the exception of children with “ very high risk ” medical conditions – and there is no provision for children of vulnerable parents .
Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire called on Minister for Education Norma Foley to clarify whether online learning will be facilitated for these children .
“ It is a disgrace that parents and relatives with underlying conditions have been kept in limbo , unsure whether they must potentially sacrifice their own health by sending their child back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have no doubt this is also extremely distressing for the children themselves , who will worry that they may make their parent or relative sick by going to school.
” Jan Rynne , who has chronic lymphocytic leukaemia , said she has been unable to get answers on whether her children – Daniel ( 12 ) and Emily ( 15 ) – will be able avail of remote tuition .
“ The Department of Education said it was a matter for individual schools , but the schools haven ’ t been able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Another parent with a high risk condition said : “ It is terrible .
I feel families like mine have been forgot through all of this .
We are all very anxious about school return.
” Mr Ó Laoghaire also said it appeared that guidelines requiring schools to notify Tusla if a child misses more than 20 days of school in a year remain in place .
In a statement , Tusla said the Covid-19 pandemic has presented challenges for many families and it will adopt a “ school population wide focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In order to provide support to students who need it in the short-term , it said Tusla staff from other services will be reassigned temporarily to ensure it can meet the demand .
It added that it was aware that some students will be absent for legitimate Covid-19-related health reasons and it will work with schools , students and their parents to support them as required as school returns .

Sinn Féin’s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: ‘It is a disgrace that parents and relatives with underlying conditions have been kept in limbo.’ Photograph: Tom Honan/The Irish Times
Applications from parents to homeschool their children have surged in recent weeks, figures compiled by social services show.
The development comes amid concern among some families over the heath risks of children returning to crowded classrooms in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tusla, the child and family agency, said a backlog of at least 326 homeschooling applications from families were waiting to be processed.
The number of applications received in August was more than three times the total submitted in the same month last year, rising from 79 to 280.
READ MORE
A Tusla spokesman said all applicants needed to be screened, processed and assessed before being placed on the home education register, which is a legal requirement for children not attending recognised schools.
A survey published by the Central Statistics Office this week indicated a high level of concern among parents whose children are returning to school. It also found that 6.5 per cent of parents said they would not send their children back to school due to Covid-19 concerns.
Many parents with high-risk medical conditions say they cannot risk sending their children back to school. They say official school reopening rules state that all children are expected to attend school – with the exception of children with “very high risk” medical conditions – and there is no provision for children of vulnerable parents.
No answers
Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire called on Minister for Education Norma Foley to clarify whether online learning will be facilitated for these children.
“It is a disgrace that parents and relatives with underlying conditions have been kept in limbo, unsure whether they must potentially sacrifice their own health by sending their child back to school,” he said.
“I have no doubt this is also extremely distressing for the children themselves, who will worry that they may make their parent or relative sick by going to school.”
Jan Rynne, who has chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, said she has been unable to get answers on whether her children – Daniel (12) and Emily (15) – will be able avail of remote tuition.
“The Department of Education said it was a matter for individual schools, but the schools haven’t been able to say whether anything will be possible.”
Another parent with a high risk condition said: “It is terrible. I feel families like mine have been forgot through all of this. We are all very anxious about school return.”
Mr Ó Laoghaire also said it appeared that guidelines requiring schools to notify Tusla if a child misses more than 20 days of school in a year remain in place.
In a statement, Tusla said the Covid-19 pandemic has presented challenges for many families and it will adopt a “school population wide focus offering support to all students”.
In order to provide support to students who need it in the short-term, it said Tusla staff from other services will be reassigned temporarily to ensure it can meet the demand. It added that it was aware that some students will be absent for legitimate Covid-19-related health reasons and it will work with schools, students and their parents to support them as required as school returns.


theirishtimes--2020-08-29--Galway council wants ‘monolithic’ development with 21-storey tower scaled down

The promoters of a €320 million mixed use , urban regeneration development in Galway city centre , which includes plans for a 21-storey tower , have been told to scale down the scheme significantly because of the threat it posed to “ the unique character of the city ” .
Galway City Council has postponed a decision on an application by Seagullpoint for planning permission for the proposed Augustine Hill development on a 3.5 hectare site adjacent to Ceannt railway station just off Eyre Square amid concern by planners about the scale of the project .
The council ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the plans were compromised by “ too great an ambition for quantum of floorspace ” .
Ms McNally said the excessive scale and height of the development had “ resulted in a compromised architectural design quality that would overpower the unique character of the city including the historic core ” .
Augustine Hill is a joint development between CIÉ , which owns the land , Edward Capital , a development firm run by Galway developer Gerry Barrett , and UK real estate investment firm Summix Capital , which seeks to develop a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 10 to 21 storeys in height .
The plans provide for 378 apartments , offices , shops , a 180-bed hotel , a six-screen cinema as well as four new public squares and 11 new streets .
As planned , it would be home to 900-1,000 people when completed .
Council planners have sought further information from Mr Barrett ’ s company , Seagullpoint , and asked it to redesign the project significantly while retaining the positive elements of its masterplan for the area .
The council said it did not believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ development blocks of excessive height and mass ” which were of “ monolithic , uniform ” design could sympathetically assimilate into the Galway skyline .
It has called for “ a significant reduction in scale ” of quantum , height and mass as well as a revision of the design of the tall buildings .
The council recommended that the new plans should be “ of outstanding architectural design instead of how they currently present with little variety in design , finish and excessive bulk ” .
It described the current plans as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beauty required for the introduction of any tall building into the composition of the city ” .
City planners said the landmark 21-storey tower lacked a distinctive design and quality as well as having a poor relationship with the rest of the development .
Seagullpoint has also been requested to revise its plans for proposed works to a number of protected heritage buildings in the vicinity of Eyre Square .
The council has also sought a retail impact assessment due to concern that the proposed space for retail outlets in the development could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Galway city centre which would contravene the city ’ s development plan .
Planners criticised the residential element of the plans claiming there is an insufficient mix as 65 per cent of apartments are designated as build-to-rent , while 73 per cent are two-bed units .
A proposed childcare facility with capacity for 81 children has also been deemed inadequate .
The Augustine Hill development has received support from IDA Ireland , the Galway Technology Centre , Galway Chamber and Galway City Innovation District .
The Galway City Business Association said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s city landscape for the better ” .
“ It transforms and regenerates a very important part of the city that has lain derelict for decades into a modern new quarter that is mindful and sympathetic of the cityscape , ” said the association ’ s chairman , Cormac McGuckian .
However , the Galway Environmental Network expressed concern that the enormous economic impact of Covid-19 might result in the developers not being able to proceed with the commercial aspects of the project for several years with a consequent delay to its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale of retail space given the recent closure of several large shops in the area and expressed concern that the development could “ cannibalise the remainder of the city centre leaving vacant premises all over in its wake ” .
Local Green Party councillor Martina O ’ Connor expressed regret that the council had left it to private developers to design a masterplan for the city centre , while also questioning if Galway needed another hotel and cinema .
“ The masterplan has been created to maximise profits for the developer and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of Galway , ” she added .

Augustine Hill is a joint development between CIÉ, which owns the land, Edward Capital, a development firm run by Galway developer Gerry Barrett, and UK real estate investment firm Summix Capital. Image: Edward Group
The promoters of a €320 million mixed use, urban regeneration development in Galway city centre, which includes plans for a 21-storey tower, have been told to scale down the scheme significantly because of the threat it posed to “the unique character of the city”.
Galway City Council has postponed a decision on an application by Seagullpoint for planning permission for the proposed Augustine Hill development on a 3.5 hectare site adjacent to Ceannt railway station just off Eyre Square amid concern by planners about the scale of the project.
The council’s director of services, Ruth McNally, said the plans were compromised by “too great an ambition for quantum of floorspace”.
Image of the development as planned just off Eyre Square, Galway. Image: Edward Group
Ms McNally said the excessive scale and height of the development had “resulted in a compromised architectural design quality that would overpower the unique character of the city including the historic core”.
READ MORE
Augustine Hill is a joint development between CIÉ, which owns the land, Edward Capital, a development firm run by Galway developer Gerry Barrett, and UK real estate investment firm Summix Capital, which seeks to develop a total of 10 new tall buildings ranging from 10 to 21 storeys in height.
The plans provide for 378 apartments, offices, shops, a 180-bed hotel, a six-screen cinema as well as four new public squares and 11 new streets.
As planned, it would be home to 900-1,000 people when completed.
‘Excessive bulk’
Council planners have sought further information from Mr Barrett’s company, Seagullpoint, and asked it to redesign the project significantly while retaining the positive elements of its masterplan for the area.
The council said it did not believe the “tightly clustered arrangement of 10 development blocks of excessive height and mass” which were of “monolithic, uniform” design could sympathetically assimilate into the Galway skyline.
It has called for “a significant reduction in scale” of quantum, height and mass as well as a revision of the design of the tall buildings.
The council recommended that the new plans should be “of outstanding architectural design instead of how they currently present with little variety in design, finish and excessive bulk”.
It described the current plans as “lacking in the demanded elegance and beauty required for the introduction of any tall building into the composition of the city”.
The planned Augustine Hill development just off Eyre Square in Galway city. Image: Edward Group
City planners said the landmark 21-storey tower lacked a distinctive design and quality as well as having a poor relationship with the rest of the development.
Seagullpoint has also been requested to revise its plans for proposed works to a number of protected heritage buildings in the vicinity of Eyre Square.
The council has also sought a retail impact assessment due to concern that the proposed space for retail outlets in the development could have an adverse effect on existing shops in Galway city centre which would contravene the city’s development plan.
‘Modern new quarter’
Planners criticised the residential element of the plans claiming there is an insufficient mix as 65 per cent of apartments are designated as build-to-rent, while 73 per cent are two-bed units.
A proposed childcare facility with capacity for 81 children has also been deemed inadequate.
The Augustine Hill development has received support from IDA Ireland, the Galway Technology Centre, Galway Chamber and Galway City Innovation District.
The Galway City Business Association said it believed the project would “change Galway’s city landscape for the better”.
“It transforms and regenerates a very important part of the city that has lain derelict for decades into a modern new quarter that is mindful and sympathetic of the cityscape,” said the association’s chairman, Cormac McGuckian.
However, the Galway Environmental Network expressed concern that the enormous economic impact of Covid-19 might result in the developers not being able to proceed with the commercial aspects of the project for several years with a consequent delay to its residential elements.
It also questioned the scale of retail space given the recent closure of several large shops in the area and expressed concern that the development could “cannibalise the remainder of the city centre leaving vacant premises all over in its wake”.
Local Green Party councillor Martina O’Connor expressed regret that the council had left it to private developers to design a masterplan for the city centre, while also questioning if Galway needed another hotel and cinema.
“The masterplan has been created to maximise profits for the developer and is not considerate of the needs of the people of Galway,” she added.


theirishtimes--2020-08-29--Covid-19: Holding gatherings of more than six to be a civil offence

The Cabinet has stopped short of making it a criminal offence to hold a party of more than six people amid concerns that such a move would be too “ extreme ” .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly brought a memo to Cabinet on Friday which said that under new proposals , organising or attending a gathering in a private home of more than six people would be a crime .
However , Ministers decided to instead underpin the current guidance – which limits indoor numbers to six – with new regulations that holding a gathering of more than six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offences usually carry a penalty of a fine .
There was no clarity on Friday night as to how it would be determined there were more than six people at a gathering .
Speaking after the meeting , Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the Cabinet felt a “ penal provision ” could be viewed as extreme .
“ I think it was felt that perhaps this would be an extreme measure , particularly around entering somebody ’ s home .
Again , we really want to work with people here and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vast majority of instances.
” Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also said such a gathering would represent a civil offence .
“ There are a lot of different advices at the moment and guidelines around what people are being asked to do and not do when it comes to Covid .
Sometimes it is advice that we ask people to follow , sometimes they are underpinned in criminal law that it is an offence and you can be prosecuted or fined if you breach them , and sometimes it is a civil matter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a civil matter .
So the Minister for Health , for example , could take somebody to court but it wouldn ’ t be a Garda prosecution.
” Mr Varadkar said that “ over 90 per cent ” of clusters have occurred in private homes .
Meanwhile , the Cabinet also approved new powers for gardaí to close down pubs and restaurants that are not complying with public health guidelines .
Under proposed new legislation , which must be approved by the Oireachtas , a garda , with the consent of a superintendent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 24 hours where breaches are discovered .
If there is a second breach , gardaí can apply at the District Court for a seven-day closure and for one of 30 days where there is non-compliance for a third time .
There would be an appeals process , Ms McEntee said .

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the Cabinet felt a ‘penal provision’ could be viewed as extreme. Photograph: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland
The Cabinet has stopped short of making it a criminal offence to hold a party of more than six people amid concerns that such a move would be too “extreme”.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly brought a memo to Cabinet on Friday which said that under new proposals, organising or attending a gathering in a private home of more than six people would be a crime.
However, Ministers decided to instead underpin the current guidance – which limits indoor numbers to six – with new regulations that holding a gathering of more than six will be a civil offence. Such offences usually carry a penalty of a fine.
There was no clarity on Friday night as to how it would be determined there were more than six people at a gathering.
READ MORE
Speaking after the meeting, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the Cabinet felt a “penal provision” could be viewed as extreme.
“I think it was felt that perhaps this would be an extreme measure, particularly around entering somebody’s home. Again, we really want to work with people here and we have seen that people have complied in the vast majority of instances.”
Different advices
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar also said such a gathering would represent a civil offence.
“There are a lot of different advices at the moment and guidelines around what people are being asked to do and not do when it comes to Covid. Sometimes it is advice that we ask people to follow, sometimes they are underpinned in criminal law that it is an offence and you can be prosecuted or fined if you breach them, and sometimes it is a civil matter. So in this case it would be a civil matter. So the Minister for Health, for example, could take somebody to court but it wouldn’t be a Garda prosecution.”
Mr Varadkar said that “over 90 per cent” of clusters have occurred in private homes.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet also approved new powers for gardaí to close down pubs and restaurants that are not complying with public health guidelines.
Under proposed new legislation, which must be approved by the Oireachtas, a garda, with the consent of a superintendent, could close down a pub for 24 hours where breaches are discovered.
If there is a second breach, gardaí can apply at the District Court for a seven-day closure and for one of 30 days where there is non-compliance for a third time.
There would be an appeals process, Ms McEntee said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-29--Taxis may be banned from some bus lanes under Dublin City Council plans

Taxis would be banned from some of Dublin ’ s bus lanes under plans Dublin City Council has submitted to Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan for consideration .
The local authority submitted a document , titled a “ traffic wish list ” , detailing 17 changes it was seeking when it met Mr Ryan last month .
It outlines plans to “ alter ” bus lane regulations “ to facilitate banning of taxis from certain bus lanes either completely or for specific periods ” such as during rush hours .
It also suggests banning rickshaws and calls for “ appropriate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around electric scooters , although it acknowledges their potential contribution towards “ sustainable travel ” .
The council ’ s document also outlines a new system of “ camera based enforcement ” for red light running and the illegal use of bus lanes , which would be carried out by the National Transport Authority ( NTA ) .
It states that the Garda were enforcing red light running “ using City Council equipment for a short period but have stopped doing it , ” and that there “ is no legislative provision for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforcing bus lane restrictions ” .
The meeting with Mr Ryan was attended by two Green Party councillors and senior council officials including chief executive Owen Keegan .
Sources suggested the ideas proposed were largely suggested by the officials rather than councillors .
The document also contains a suggestions that de-clamping and tow-away charges be increased from their current levels of €80 and €160 respectively , arguing that these “ charges were essentially set back in 1998 when clamping was first introduced on public roads ” .
The document also argues that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for vehicles parked illegally in loading bays , bus and cycle lanes , on footpaths and in clearways .
It also calls for new regulations to allow local authorities to reduce speed limits as a temporary or emergency measure without needing to go through a bye-law process , which at present can only be done for roadworks .
The document also suggests that truck drivers are being effectively permitted to flout a cordon which prevents heavy goods vehicles driving through parts of the city , and calls for a change in legislation as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to a requirement to observe a HGC passing a road sign ” .
The officials also told Mr Ryan that they wanted to see amendments to the planning acts that would see “ pedestrian improvements ” – such as footpath build outs – afforded a derogation from some aspects of planning laws .

The document outlines plans to ‘alter’ bus lane regulations ‘to facilitate banning of taxis from certain bus lanes either completely or for specific periods’ such as during rush hours. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Taxis would be banned from some of Dublin's bus lanes under plans Dublin City Council has submitted to Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan for consideration.
The local authority submitted a document, titled a “traffic wish list”, detailing 17 changes it was seeking when it met Mr Ryan last month. It outlines plans to “alter” bus lane regulations “to facilitate banning of taxis from certain bus lanes either completely or for specific periods” such as during rush hours.
It also suggests banning rickshaws and calls for “appropriate regulation to address genuine safety concerns” around electric scooters, although it acknowledges their potential contribution towards “sustainable travel”.
The council's document also outlines a new system of "camera based enforcement" for red light running and the illegal use of bus lanes, which would be carried out by the National Transport Authority (NTA). It states that the Garda were enforcing red light running "using City Council equipment for a short period but have stopped doing it," and that there "is no legislative provision for (the) use of cameras for enforcing bus lane restrictions".
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Increased charges
The meeting with Mr Ryan was attended by two Green Party councillors and senior council officials including chief executive Owen Keegan. Sources suggested the ideas proposed were largely suggested by the officials rather than councillors.
The document also contains a suggestions that de-clamping and tow-away charges be increased from their current levels of €80 and €160 respectively, arguing that these “charges were essentially set back in 1998 when clamping was first introduced on public roads”.
The document also argues that there should be higher de-clamp and tow-away charges for vehicles parked illegally in loading bays, bus and cycle lanes, on footpaths and in clearways.
It also calls for new regulations to allow local authorities to reduce speed limits as a temporary or emergency measure without needing to go through a bye-law process, which at present can only be done for roadworks.
Pedestrian improvements
The document also suggests that truck drivers are being effectively permitted to flout a cordon which prevents heavy goods vehicles driving through parts of the city, and calls for a change in legislation as “it is currently not being enforced due to a requirement to observe a HGC passing a road sign”.
The officials also told Mr Ryan that they wanted to see amendments to the planning acts that would see “pedestrian improvements” – such as footpath build outs – afforded a derogation from some aspects of planning laws.


theirishtimes--2020-08-28--Brady to appeal conviction for murder of Det Garda Donohoe

Aaron Brady is to appeal his conviction for the capital murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe and a related robbery .
The Co Armagh man was convicted on August 12th of the capital murder of Det Garda Donohoe by a majority verdict earlier this month and is due back before the Central Criminal Court in October for sentencing .
Brady ( 29 ) , a married father of one , must be sentenced to a term of 40 years for the crime of capital murder , which is defined as murdering a person the killer knows to be a working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of capital murder are also entitled to remission of 25 per cent , which is automatic and not linked to “ good behaviour ” , meaning he would serve 30 years .
While Brady can not lodge an appeal until after he is sentenced on October 14th , security sources confirmed he plans to exercise his right of appeal .
In such a case , his legal fees would be met by the State .
Once he is sentenced , he must register his intention to appeal within 14 days of being sentenced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his sentence as he waits for his appeal to come before the courts .
Appeals against criminal convictions can challenge convictions only on points of law .
They can not dispute the strength of evidence or truthfulness of witnesses heard during a trial .
Det Garda Donohoe , a 41-year-old married father of two , was shot dead shortly after arriving at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth , on the night of Friday , January 25th , 2013 .
He and his colleague , Det Garda Joe Ryan , were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff taking money to a night safe .
Brady , from Crossmaglen , Co Armagh , was part of a five-man gang laying in wait in the credit union car park to steal the cash .
Four of the gang members emerged from behind a wall in the car park and Brady ran at Det Garda Donohoe , fatally shooting him .
As well as finding him guilty of capital murder , the jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Brady for his role in the robbery .
After the murder , Brady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested in New York in May 2017 .
Brady was deported to Ireland days later and once back in Ireland was convicted of a series of offences committed in Dundalk , Co Louth , in October 2012 , including dangerous driving and criminal damage .
He was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty .
By the time that sentence was served he had been charged with the murder of Det Garda Donohoe and remained in prison on remand awaiting his trial , which began in January .

Aaron Brady cannot lodge an appeal until after he is sentenced on October 14th. Photograph: Collins Courts
Aaron Brady is to appeal his conviction for the capital murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe and a related robbery.
The Co Armagh man was convicted on August 12th of the capital murder of Det Garda Donohoe by a majority verdict earlier this month and is due back before the Central Criminal Court in October for sentencing.
Brady (29), a married father of one, must be sentenced to a term of 40 years for the crime of capital murder, which is defined as murdering a person the killer knows to be a working Garda member.
However, those convicted of capital murder are also entitled to remission of 25 per cent, which is automatic and not linked to “good behaviour”, meaning he would serve 30 years.
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While Brady cannot lodge an appeal until after he is sentenced on October 14th, security sources confirmed he plans to exercise his right of appeal. In such a case, his legal fees would be met by the State.
Once he is sentenced, he must register his intention to appeal within 14 days of being sentenced. He would remain in prison serving his sentence as he waits for his appeal to come before the courts.
Appeals against criminal convictions can challenge convictions only on points of law. They cannot dispute the strength of evidence or truthfulness of witnesses heard during a trial.
Night of murder
Det Garda Donohoe, a 41-year-old married father of two, was shot dead shortly after arriving at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, on the night of Friday, January 25th, 2013.
He and his colleague, Det Garda Joe Ryan, were providing an armed escort for Credit Union staff taking money to a night safe.
Brady, from Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was part of a five-man gang laying in wait in the credit union car park to steal the cash. Four of the gang members emerged from behind a wall in the car park and Brady ran at Det Garda Donohoe, fatally shooting him.
As well as finding him guilty of capital murder, the jury at the Central Criminal Court convicted Brady for his role in the robbery.
After the murder, Brady fled to the US. He was arrested in New York in May 2017.
Brady was deported to Ireland days later and once back in Ireland was convicted of a series of offences committed in Dundalk, Co Louth, in October 2012, including dangerous driving and criminal damage. He was jailed for 18 months after pleading guilty.
By the time that sentence was served he had been charged with the murder of Det Garda Donohoe and remained in prison on remand awaiting his trial, which began in January.


theirishtimes--2020-08-28--Dublin trial assesses use of magic mushrooms on those with depression

A group of people in the Dublin area are undergoing trials involving the ingestion of psilocybin , the active agreement in magic mushrooms , to assess its effectiveness in the treatment of severe depression .
The study is one of several ongoing around the world to assess the effectiveness of psychedelic drugs on people with treatment-resistant depression .
Researchers believe psilocybin , a psychedelic which is taken recreationally , may help depression sufferers achieve insights into their conditions in combination with talking therapy .
“ Psychedelics cause an altered state of consciousness and changes thoughts , perceptions and feelings .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ provide novel insights into things or help people reconceptualise problem thoughts and behaviour , ” said Dr John Kelly , a lead researcher in the project and a clinical lecturer in psychiatry at Trinity College .
Seven Irish people are involved in the trial , which was suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak but is due to resume shortly .
More extensive testing is planned for later this year , with an increased number of subjects and increased doses .
Psilocybin assisted psychology ( PAP ) has attracted significant interest in recent years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depression but this is the first time it has been tested in Ireland .
Psilocybin remains an illegal drug for recreational purposes and its use in the Irish study , which is based out of Tallaght hospital , is heavily regulated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority .
“ There is a tremendous amount of bureaucracy to go through which has taken a great deal of time , ” said Dr Kelly .
“ These are magic mushrooms which , like all psychedelic substances , are illegal.
” Subjects undertake three “ preparation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in to take the drug .
They are then given a dose of 1mg , 10mg or 25mg of psilocybin ; it is a double-blind study meaning neither the researchers nor subjects know who receives what dose .
The higher dose “ will certainly affect your state of consciousness ” , said Dr Kelly .
“ For many people they will experience a state of connectivity with others and the environment which lasts about six hours or so , ” said Dr Kelly .
At least one therapist stays with the subject for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before they are sent home with a relative or close friend .
This is followed by at least three more therapy sessions .
“ It ’ s quiet intense .
There ’ s a lot to it , ” said Dr Kelly .
“ The preliminary data appears positive albeit in small sample sizes .
We should wait for the final results but I think it should help in future.
” The study has received a lot of interest from people in mental distress but most fall short of “ the stringent criteria @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ That can be disappointing for people.
” Dr Kelly said that depending on the results of the study , the treatment could be very beneficial in treating the expected spike in mental illness as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic .

Psilocybin, the active agreement in magic mushrooms, is an illegal drug and its use in the Irish study is heavily regulated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
A group of people in the Dublin area are undergoing trials involving the ingestion of psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, to assess its effectiveness in the treatment of severe depression.*
The study is one of several ongoing around the world to assess the effectiveness of psychedelic drugs on people with treatment-resistant depression.
Researchers believe psilocybin, a psychedelic which is taken recreationally, may help depression sufferers achieve insights into their conditions in combination with talking therapy.
"Psychedelics cause an altered state of consciousness and changes thoughts, perceptions and feelings. That can be harnessed by psychotherapy to provide novel insights into things or help people reconceptualise problem thoughts and behaviour," said Dr John Kelly, a lead researcher in the project and a clinical lecturer in psychiatry at Trinity College.
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Seven Irish people are involved in the trial, which was suspended due to the Covid-19 outbreak but is due to resume shortly. More extensive testing is planned for later this year, with an increased number of subjects and increased doses.
Psilocybin assisted psychology (PAP) has attracted significant interest in recent years as a potentially highly effective treatment for depression but this is the first time it has been tested in Ireland.
Illegal drug
Psilocybin remains an illegal drug for recreational purposes and its use in the Irish study, which is based out of Tallaght hospital, is heavily regulated by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
“There is a tremendous amount of bureaucracy to go through which has taken a great deal of time,” said Dr Kelly. “These are magic mushrooms which, like all psychedelic substances, are illegal.”
Subjects undertake three “preparation sessions” with a therapist before coming in to take the drug. They are then given a dose of 1mg, 10mg or 25mg of psilocybin; it is a double-blind study meaning neither the researchers nor subjects know who receives what dose.
The higher dose “will certainly affect your state of consciousness”, said Dr Kelly. “For many people they will experience a state of connectivity with others and the environment which lasts about six hours or so,” said Dr Kelly.
At least one therapist stays with the subject for the duration of “the experience” before they are sent home with a relative or close friend. This is followed by at least three more therapy sessions. “It’s quiet intense. There’s a lot to it,” said Dr Kelly.
“The preliminary data appears positive albeit in small sample sizes. We should wait for the final results but I think it should help in future.”
The study has received a lot of interest from people in mental distress but most fall short of “the stringent criteria” required for inclusion, he said. “That can be disappointing for people.”
Dr Kelly said that depending on the results of the study, the treatment could be very beneficial in treating the expected spike in mental illness as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
*This article was amended on August 29th 2020


theirishtimes--2020-08-28--Thinking Anew – Having a say in our own lives

When we come across the words “ scribes ” , “ chief priests ” and “ elders ” when reading the Gospels , we immediately consider them to be the people who impeded Jesus and the work he was doing .
And that ’ s quite understandable because that ’ s exactly what they did .
At every turn they tried to prevent him from his work of bringing Good News to the people .
It suits many to extract those specific chief priests , scribes , and elders and see them as a unique group of people who found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything in their power to stop him in opening the minds and hearts of people to see the world in a new light .
Yes , we can pick and choose across the Bible and use what suits us to support our own viewpoint .
But it is fascinating how conveniently we manage to airbrush Jesus ’ s views on the civil and religious authority of his day .
Sometimes I ’ m inclined to think that we have sold our souls to authority , whether it be the civil or religious authority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for authority and no sensible person wants anarchy to reign .
Donald Trump spotted that large numbers of Americans felt that an elite group was controlling their lives and he promised to do things differently and return power to the people .
Of course , he never did it and surrounded himself with his own elite .
But it was and is a remarkably clever trick .
Trump identified a real longing .
And it ’ s a genuine and in many respects wholesome desire – people want to have a say in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say in how their community , their society is managed .
A central word in the Christian vocabulary is communion .
We talk about Holy Communion , and we celebrate the unity of persons in the Blessed Trinity .
We affirm our belief in the Communion of Saints .
And we stress that the church is the community of the people of God .
And then what do we do ?
We go back to exactly what Jesus preached against .
We allow the scribes , elders and priests to have an over-dominant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All over the developed world people have walked away from the style of Christian religions that predominated until say the 1970s .
And why has that happened ?
I am a Catholic priest of 46 years .
It ’ s no short time to form an opinion and maybe even to allow me to make a suggestion or two .
In tomorrow ’ s Gospel ( Matthew 16 : 21-27 ) Jesus tells his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tries to remonstrate with him , Jesus reminds Peter that he is thinking in human rather than divine terms .
Isn ’ t that more or less what has happened in the Christian churches ?
A group of people have taken charge .
The priestly class have abrogated to themselves what ’ s to be done and what ’ s not to be done .
Yes , there is a token acceptance or acknowledgement that the church is the people of God .
Alas , the stress must be on the word “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the Catholic Church in Ireland but I ’ m also well versed in what goes on in Germany .
And from my experience it ’ s clear to me that the life of any parish is overdependent on the priest who is in situ on the day .
This is not a criticism of the many good men who are priests , but it is a reminder that the institutional church has come to resemble the scribes , chief priests and elders , the very people whom Jesus spent much of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultation with the Christian community about the appointment of a bishop ?
If the papal nuncio is a conservative , the bishops appointed will be conservative .
If , on the rare occasion the papal nuncio is liberal , then the bishops will be of like mind .
I think it is far too simple to say that people have walked away from the church because of some “ secular evil ” .
That ’ s too handy as an excuse .
Maybe it is that people feel unhappy with today ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pope Francis is opposed to clericalism which places the institution before the principles on which it was founded .
He must be , because so too was Jesus .

When we come across the words “scribes”, “chief priests” and “elders” when reading the Gospels, we immediately consider them to be the people who impeded Jesus and the work he was doing. And that’s quite understandable because that’s exactly what they did. At every turn they tried to prevent him from his work of bringing Good News to the people.
It suits many to extract those specific chief priests, scribes, and elders and see them as a unique group of people who found themselves at odds with Jesus and did everything in their power to stop him in opening the minds and hearts of people to see the world in a new light. Yes, we can pick and choose across the Bible and use what suits us to support our own viewpoint. But it is fascinating how conveniently we manage to airbrush Jesus’s views on the civil and religious authority of his day.
Sometimes I’m inclined to think that we have sold our souls to authority, whether it be the civil or religious authority. Of course, there is need for authority and no sensible person wants anarchy to reign. Donald Trump spotted that large numbers of Americans felt that an elite group was controlling their lives and he promised to do things differently and return power to the people. Of course, he never did it and surrounded himself with his own elite. But it was and is a remarkably clever trick. Trump identified a real longing. And it’s a genuine and in many respects wholesome desire – people want to have a say in their own lives, they want a say in how their community, their society is managed.
A central word in the Christian vocabulary is communion. We talk about Holy Communion, and we celebrate the unity of persons in the Blessed Trinity. We affirm our belief in the Communion of Saints. And we stress that the church is the community of the people of God. And then what do we do? We go back to exactly what Jesus preached against. We allow the scribes, elders and priests to have an over-dominant role in the running of the community. All over the developed world people have walked away from the style of Christian religions that predominated until say the 1970s. And why has that happened? I am a Catholic priest of 46 years. It’s no short time to form an opinion and maybe even to allow me to make a suggestion or two.
READ MORE
In tomorrow’s Gospel (Matthew 16: 21-27) Jesus tells his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes. When Peter tries to remonstrate with him, Jesus reminds Peter that he is thinking in human rather than divine terms.
Isn’t that more or less what has happened in the Christian churches? A group of people have taken charge. The priestly class have abrogated to themselves what’s to be done and what’s not to be done. Yes, there is a token acceptance or acknowledgement that the church is the people of God. Alas, the stress must be on the word “token”.
I’m familiar with the Catholic Church in Ireland but I’m also well versed in what goes on in Germany. And from my experience it’s clear to me that the life of any parish is overdependent on the priest who is in situ on the day. This is not a criticism of the many good men who are priests, but it is a reminder that the institutional church has come to resemble the scribes, chief priests and elders, the very people whom Jesus spent much of his ministry criticising. How often is there consultation with the Christian community about the appointment of a bishop? If the papal nuncio is a conservative, the bishops appointed will be conservative. If, on the rare occasion the papal nuncio is liberal, then the bishops will be of like mind. I think it is far too simple to say that people have walked away from the church because of some “secular evil”. That’s too handy as an excuse. Maybe it is that people feel unhappy with today’s scribes, chief priests and elders. Pope Francis is opposed to clericalism which places the institution before the principles on which it was founded. He must be, because so too was Jesus.


theirishtimes--2020-08-28--Man charged over €102,000 drug seizure in Temple Bar

A man in his 40s has been charged in relation to a seizure of more than €102,000 worth of drugs @ @ @ @ @ a substantial amount of cannabis along with smaller amounts of MDMA and LSD at an @ @ @ @ @ after midnight on Thursday .
Gardaí also discovered drug paraphernalia including weighing scales , tick @ @ @ @ @ the apartment , as well as more than €14,000 in cash .
The seizure was @ @ @ @ @ intelligence-led operation targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Dublin 2 area @ @ @ @ @ his early 40s , was arrested and taken to Pearse Street Garda station where he @ @ @ @ @ of the Criminal Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) Act , 1996 .
He was charged @ @ @ @ @ due to appear before Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday morning .

The drugs and cash seized by gardaí in Temple Bar. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
A man in his 40s has been charged in relation to a seizure of more than €102,000 worth of drugs in Dublin.
Gardaí found a substantial amount of cannabis along with smaller amounts of MDMA and LSD at an apartment in Temple Bar shortly after midnight on Thursday.
Gardaí also discovered drug paraphernalia including weighing scales, tick lists and zip-lock bags at the apartment, as well as more than €14,000 in cash.
Gardaí in Pearse Street seized €102,000 worth of cannabis along with cash in excess of €14,000 and arrested one man after a search in Temple Bar, Dublin 2. The man has since been charged and will appear in Court tomorrow morning. pic.twitter.com/2ZvW0zRzwL — Garda Info (@gardainfo) August 28, 2020
The seizure was made as part of an intelligence-led operation targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Dublin 2 area.
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One man, in his early 40s, was arrested and taken to Pearse Street Garda station where he was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
He was charged on Friday evening and is due to appear before Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday morning.
A Garda spokeswoman said investigations were ongoing.