theirishtimes--2020-10-28--Agreement reached on pathway to regularise pay and pensions for school secretaries

An agreement has been reached on a pathway to regularising the pay , conditions and pensions of school secretaries and caretakers which are currently determined by individual boards of management , the trade union Fórsa has said .
It said on Wednesday that the Department of Education had agreed a “ roadmap ” to progress changes in this area .
It said the Workplace Relations Commission ( WRC ) would now facilitate detailed discussion on regularising the pay , conditions and pensions of such school secretaries and caretakers .
“ The talks are expected to end a decades-old system , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €12,500 a year , with irregular short-term contracts that force them to sign on during the summer holidays and other school breaks ” , the union said .
The school secretaries have been seeking an end to the existing two-tier system under which some are directly employed by and paid by the Department of Education and have public service employment status , while the majority have their pay and conditions determined by school management boards which receive grants from the State .
Fórsa said agreement on the proposed new roadmap was reached in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the move followed a commitment given in the Dáil recently by the Government that it intended to regularise the pay , conditions of employment and pension provision of school secretaries and caretakers .
The union said both sides had acknowledged that significant detailed discussions were required to reach an agreement that was acceptable to all stakeholders .
It said these talks would now commence , with a view to reviewing progress next February , if the discussions were not concluded at that point .
Fórsa ’ s head of education Andy Pike said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gives us confidence that an end to the unjust two-tier pay system is now in sight .
We had very positive exchanges today , with real progress made .
We now look forward to getting into the detail , and a lot of work will be needed to complete the technical discussions on how the changes can be implemented to deliver public service status to all grant-paid secretaries and caretakers .
” The union said that under the new framework three issues will be dealt with sequentially .
“ Pay scales , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be addressed first .
This is expected to be the most labour-intensive aspect of the process , which will then move on to explore working conditions and pensions .
Other issues specific to the secretary and caretaker grades will also be addressed.
” Fórsa represents more than 1,000 school secretaries in primary and secondary schools across the country .
The Department of Public Expenditure and the Department of Education has been approached for comment .

Industry Correspondent
An agreement has been reached on a pathway to regularising the pay, conditions and pensions of school secretaries and caretakers which are currently determined by individual boards of management, the trade union Fórsa has said.
It said on Wednesday that the Department of Education had agreed a “roadmap” to progress changes in this area.
It said the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) would now facilitate detailed discussion on regularising the pay, conditions and pensions of such school secretaries and caretakers.
READ MORE
“ The talks are expected to end a decades-old system, which leaves most school secretaries earning just €12,500 a year, with irregular short-term contracts that force them to sign on during the summer holidays and other school breaks”, the union said.
The school secretaries have been seeking an end to the existing two-tier system under which some are directly employed by and paid by the Department of Education and have public service employment status, while the majority have their pay and conditions determined by school management boards which receive grants from the State.
Fórsa said agreement on the proposed new roadmap was reached in the WRC on Tuesday. It said the move followed a commitment given in the Dáil recently by the Government that it intended to regularise the pay, conditions of employment and pension provision of school secretaries and caretakers.
The union said both sides had acknowledged that significant detailed discussions were required to reach an agreement that was acceptable to all stakeholders. It said these talks would now commence, with a view to reviewing progress next February, if the discussions were not concluded at that point.
Fórsa's head of education Andy Pike said: "This welcome change of heart gives us confidence that an end to the unjust two-tier pay system is now in sight. We had very positive exchanges today, with real progress made. We now look forward to getting into the detail, and a lot of work will be needed to complete the technical discussions on how the changes can be implemented to deliver public service status to all grant-paid secretaries and caretakers ."
The union said that under the new framework three issues will be dealt with sequentially.
“Pay scales, including the variations in pay across schools, will be addressed first. This is expected to be the most labour-intensive aspect of the process, which will then move on to explore working conditions and pensions. Other issues specific to the secretary and caretaker grades will also be addressed.”
Fórsa represents more than 1,000 school secretaries in primary and secondary schools across the country.
The Department of Public Expenditure and the Department of Education has been approached for comment.


theirishtimes--2020-10-28--Ten for court accused of sharing pictures of boy who murdered Ana Kriégel

Ten people are due to appear before a court on Wednesday morning in connection with an ongoing Garda investigation into @ @ @ @ @ and details on social media claiming to identify a teenage boy who was found guilty @ @ @ @ @ Kriégel .
The ten people include six men , aged between 21 and 38 , @ @ @ @ @ between 24 and 48 .
They will appear before Dublin District Court at the Criminal @ @ @ @ @ .
An investigation began when images and details were allegedly circulated online , despite a @ @ @ @ @ preventing the 14-year-old boys being named and a provision under the Children Act that prohibits @ @ @ @ @ or convicted of a criminal offence .

Ana Kriégel was 14 years old when she was murdered in 2018. Photograph: via RTÉ News
Six men and four women have been accused of sharing on social media the names and pictures of the two boys convicted of the murder of Ana Kriégel.
The 10 defendants, aged between 22 and 48, had their cases listed before Judge Brian O'Shea at Dublin District Court on Wednesday.
Judge O’Shea adjourned all the cases until December 2nd. They will then be expected to indicate how they will plead.
The schoolgirl was aged 14 when she was murdered at Glenwood House, Laraghcon, Clonee Road, Lucan, Co Dublin, on May 14th, 2018. Her body was found in the disused farmhouse on May 17th, three days after she was reported missing.
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One teen, known as Boy A, was sentenced to detention for life with a review after 15 years for her murder. Boy B was given a 12-year sentence with a review after eight years but is appealing his conviction. Both are now aged 16.
They were 13 at the time of the murder and as juveniles, had the legal right to anonymity. After their trial, images appeared on social media purporting to identify them.
At the teenagers’ first appearances at the Children’s Court in Dublin, Judge John O’Connor reminded the news media and social media users they would face prosecution if they identified the pair. That order continued and was reiterated by Mr Justice Paul McDermott throughout their trial at the Central Criminal Court last year.
Dublin District Court on Wednesday heard that in the days after the boys were convicted, from June 18th to 20th, 2018, a number of posts online breached the court orders.
Judge Brian O’Shea was given an outline of the allegations.
Robert Murphy (30), of Dolphin Road, Drimnagh, Dublin, was not present and had his case adjourned in his absence. Garda Ciaran McGowan told the court there was a screenshot from Twitter in which it was alleged Mr Murphy was involved in a thread discussion. It was alleged Boy A was named.
Garda Niall Carolan told the court it was alleged Jake Marshall (22), Balcurris Gardens, Ballymun, posted that everyone “deserves to see” the two boys who were convicted.
Mother-of-three Louise Heaney (48), of Killinarden Estate, Tallaght, is accused of sharing a picture of the two boys, on Facebook, with their faces marked to identify them, said Garda Eamonn O’Neill.
Hazel Fitzpatrick, a 24-year-old mother-of-two, with an address at Easton Green, Leixlip, Co Kildare, posted text and pictures on Facebook saying “these are the two people who were involved and everyone should see their photograph,” Garda O’Neill told the court.
Leeanda Farrelly (26), of Kilmartin Avenue, Tallaght, allegedly posted a photo of one of the killers on Facebook, Garda Robert McNicholas said.
Edel Doherty (47), of Rory O’Connor House, on Hardwicke Street, Dublin1 posted photos of Boy A and Boy B on Facebook, Garda McNicholas told the court.
Father-of-four, Gareth Cunningham (38), of Greenfort Crescent, Clondalkin allegedly posted pictures of Boy A on Facebook, Garda Adrian Kildea said.
Declan Corcoran (29), a father-of one, from Williams Place Lower, Dublin 1, also posted pictures of the two boys on Twitter, Garda Kildea alleged.
Jamie Shannon (25), of Empress Place, Dublin 1, was not present because he had a hospital appointment. Judge O’Shea was told it was alleged he posted pictures of both of the boys on Twitter.
Kyle Rooney (25), of Rathfield Park, Raheny, allegedly posted photos of the two boys on Twitter, the court was told. His case was also dealt with in his absence.
Last week, 25-year-old Rebecca Ryan, from Ballybeg, Co Waterford, was the first person before a court accused of sharing pictures of the boys on Twitter. She is due back in court in December.


theirishtimes--2020-10-28--Nphet ‘not anticipating’ advising against schools reopening after midterm

The chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has said he does not anticipate the National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) advising the Government not to reopen schools at the end of the midterm break .
He said Nphet would meet this week for a fuller assessment of the trends of recent days .
Dr Holohan was speaking on Tuesday evening after the Department of Health confirmed a further five deaths associated with Covid-19 , bringing the total in the State to 1,890 .
A further 720 cases were confirmed , with four out of the past five days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dr Heather Burns , deputy chief medical officer , said that the data on positivity rates in schools suggested that they are not drivers of infection .
In primary schools , 2.7 per cent of close contacts of confirmed cases are testing positive , she said , and in secondary schools the corresponding rate is 2.1 per cent .
In the wider population , 10 per cent of close contacts test positive .
She said this was “ reassuring ” and added that there has been “ considerable buy-in in terms of implementing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe environment for our students ” .
Meanwhile , the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland ( ASTI ) is due to receive the results of a ballot for industrial action over concerns it has over the safety of staff towards the end of this week .
The ASTI has raised concerns over testing and tracing turnaround times and “ inconsistencies ” over the definition of close contacts in schools .
The union said schools are facing staff shortages while teachers are required to self-isolate while awaiting Covid-19 test results .
In some cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers who were absent while waiting for test results , ASTI president Ann Piggott said .
The contract tracing system in schools needed to be much faster , as there are current delays of up to a week for close contacts of positive cases to be identified in some cases , she said .

Nphet says that the data on positivity rates in schools suggested that they are not drivers of infection. Photograph: iStock
The chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has said he does not anticipate the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) advising the Government not to reopen schools at the end of the midterm break.
He said Nphet would meet this week for a fuller assessment of the trends of recent days. Dr Holohan was speaking on Tuesday evening after the Department of Health confirmed a further five deaths associated with Covid-19, bringing the total in the State to 1,890. A further 720 cases were confirmed,with four out of the past five days recording fewer than 1,000 new cases.
Dr Heather Burns, deputy chief medical officer, said that the data on positivity rates in schools suggested that they are not drivers of infection. In primary schools, 2.7 per cent of close contacts of confirmed cases are testing positive, she said, and in secondary schools the corresponding rate is 2.1 per cent. In the wider population, 10 per cent of close contacts test positive.
She said this was “reassuring” and added that there has been “considerable buy-in in terms of implementing public health guidelines and keeping schools a safe environment for our students”.
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Meanwhile, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) is due to receive the results of a ballot for industrial action over concerns it has over the safety of staff Wednesday afternoon.
The ASTI has raised concerns over testing and tracing turnaround times and “inconsistencies” over the definition of close contacts in schools.
The union said schools are facing staff shortages while teachers are required to self-isolate while awaiting Covid-19 test results. In some cases, schools were missing up to 10 teachers who were absent while waiting for test results, ASTI president Ann Piggott said.
The contract tracing system in schools needed to be much faster, as there are current delays of up to a week for close contacts of positive cases to be identified in some cases, she said.


theirishtimes--2020-10-28--Man dies in Co Roscommon road crash

Man dies in Co Roscommon road crash

A man in his 30s has died in a collision between a car and a truck in Co Roscommon on @ @ @ @ @ emergency services were called to the incident on the R357 between Shannonbridge and Ballinasloe shortly @ @ @ @ @ was pronounced dead at the scene , and his body was removed to University Hospital @ @ @ @ @ man in his 40s was taken to Ballinasloe Hospital with non-life threatening injuries .
Collision @ @ @ @ @ , which is closed , with diversions in place .
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses @ @ @ @ @ may have camera footage from along the route at around the time of the collision @ @ @ @ @ asked to contact Roscommon Garda station on 090 663 8300 or the Garda Confidential Line @ @ @ @ @

A man died in a collision on the R357 between Shannonbridge and Ballinasloe. File photograph: The Irish Times
A man in his 30s has died in a collision between a car and a truck in Co Roscommon on Tuesday evening.
Gardaí and emergency services were called to the incident on the R357 between Shannonbridge and Ballinasloe shortly before 7pm.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body was removed to University Hospital Galway for postmortem.
A man in his 40s was taken to Ballinasloe Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
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Collision investigators are examining the road, which is closed, with diversions in place.
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses and any road users who may have camera footage from along the route at around the time of the collision.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Roscommon Garda station on 090 663 8300 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.


theirishtimes--2020-10-28--Gardaí seize cash, drugs, imitation firearms in Dublin property

More than €30,000 in cash , €94,000 worth of drugs and six imitation firearms were seized by gardaí during a search of a residence in Dublin ’ s north inner city on Monday evening .
A man in his 40s is due to appear before court on Wednesday morning charged in relation to the seizure .
The search of the property on Gardiner Street was conducted as part of an investigation into the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Dublin 1 area .
Gardaí stopped and searched a vehicle at Frederick Court at 8.15pm .
The driver , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was found in possession of a quantity of cocaine , Alprazolam tablets and a significant amount of cash .
He was arrested and taken to Store Street Garda station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , 1984 .
During a follow-up search operation in Gardiner Street , gardaí seized 4kg of suspected cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €80,000 and suspected Alprazolam tablets with an estimated street value of €14,000 .
All drugs were sent for analysis .
Six imitation firearms were and some €32,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ female , aged in her 20s , was arrested during the search and taken to Store Street Garda station where she was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice ( Drug Trafficking ) Act , 1996 .
She has since been released without charge , and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions .
The man was charged and is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday at 10.30am .

Gardaí seized some €94,000 worth of drugs, over €30,000 in cash and six imitation firearms during a search operation in Dublin. Photograph: Garda/Twitter
More than €30,000 in cash, €94,000 worth of drugs and six imitation firearms were seized by gardaí during a search of a residence in Dublin’s north inner city on Monday evening.
A man in his 40s is due to appear before court on Wednesday morning charged in relation to the seizure.
The search of the property on Gardiner Street was conducted as part of an investigation into the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Dublin 1 area.
Gardaí stopped and searched a vehicle at Frederick Court at 8.15pm. The driver, a man aged in his 40s, was found in possession of a quantity of cocaine, Alprazolam tablets and a significant amount of cash.
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He was arrested and taken to Store Street Garda station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.
During a follow-up search operation in Gardiner Street, gardaí seized 4kg of suspected cannabis herb with an estimated street value of €80,000 and suspected Alprazolam tablets with an estimated street value of €14,000. All drugs were sent for analysis.
Six imitation firearms were and some €32,000 in cash were also seized. A female, aged in her 20s, was arrested during the search and taken to Store Street Garda station where she was detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996.
She has since been released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The man was charged and is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday at 10.30am.


theirishtimes--2020-10-28--Calls to gardaí for domestic abuse and violence up 18% this year

Gardaí will today commence a third phase of Operation Faoiseamh , a programme which seeks to protect victims of domestic violence .
In a statement , An Garda Síochána said the vulnerable and victims of abuse , will continue to receive the “ highest priority response ” from them .
Under the third phase of the operation , gardaí will reach out and make contact with previous victims to provide reassurance , support and to offer the assistance of local and specialised resources .
There will also be a “ renewed focus ” on the enforcement of court orders and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1st and October 12th , 15,320 contacts or attempts to contact domestic abuse victims were recorded under the operation .
There was an 18 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of domestic issues-related calls to the gardaí .
There was also a 14.7 per cent increase in the detection for offences relating to breaches of court orders under the relevant provisions of the Domestic Violence Act , 2018 .
Between the May 13th and the May 27th , there was a total of 107 prosecutions connected to the operation .
Speaking in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supt Declan Daly , Garda National Protective Services Bureau said the gardaí are “ mindful of the fear and concern ” some people in the community may have .
“ I wish to take this opportunity to re-emphasise our commitment to protect the most vulnerable in society , ” he said .
“ Operation Faoiseamh has been established to ensure you are safe , if you feel threatened or are in fear please contact us and we will respond quickly and robustly.
” He added : “ If you are a victim of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ member or friend who is a victim of such abuse , that information is important to us and I ask that you make contact with An Garda Síochána .
If you require urgent assistance or support , please call 999 or 112 , we are there to listen to help and to protect.
” Gardaí also highlighted that although the country is in Level 5 , the travel restrictions do not apply in the case of domestic violence or when at risk from harm .
That statement added that resources dedicated to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violence have not been affected during the response to the Covid-19 pandemic .
- The 24/7 freephone helpline for Womens_Aid is 1800 341 900 .
There is an instant-messaging service on womensaid.ie - For urgent help , call 999 or 112

Level 5 travel restrictions do not apply in the case of domestic violence or when at risk from harm. Photograph used is staged. Photograph: iStock
Gardaí will today commence a third phase of Operation Faoiseamh, a programme which seeks to protect victims of domestic violence.
In a statement, An Garda Síochána said the vulnerable and victims of abuse, will continue to receive the "highest priority response" from them.
Under the third phase of the operation, gardaí will reach out and make contact with previous victims to provide reassurance, support and to offer the assistance of local and specialised resources.
There will also be a “renewed focus” on the enforcement of court orders and the prosecution of offenders.
READ MORE
Between January 1st and October 12th, 15,320 contacts or attempts to contact domestic abuse victims were recorded under the operation.
There was an 18 per cent year-on-year increase in the number of domestic issues-related calls to the gardaí. There was also a 14.7 per cent increase in the detection for offences relating to breaches of court orders under the relevant provisions of the Domestic Violence Act, 2018.
Between the May 13th and the May 27th, there was a total of 107 prosecutions connected to the operation.
Speaking in advance of the announcement, Det Chief Supt Declan Daly, Garda National Protective Services Bureau said the gardaí are "mindful of the fear and concern" some people in the community may have.
“ I wish to take this opportunity to re-emphasise our commitment to protect the most vulnerable in society,” he said.
“Operation Faoiseamh has been established to ensure you are safe, if you feel threatened or are in fear please contact us and we will respond quickly and robustly.”
He added: “If you are a victim of abuse or you know of a family member or friend who is a victim of such abuse, that information is important to us and I ask that you make contact with An Garda Síochána. If you require urgent assistance or support, please call 999 or 112, we are there to listen to help and to protect.”
Gardaí also highlighted that although the country is in Level 5, the travel restrictions do not apply in the case of domestic violence or when at risk from harm.
That statement added that resources dedicated to the support of vulnerable and victims of domestic violence have not been affected during the response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
- The 24/7 freephone helpline for Womens_Aid is 1800 341 900. There is an instant-messaging service on womensaid.ie
- SafeIreland.ie lists 38 domestic abuse services across Ireland
- Male Advice Line for male victims: 1800 816 588
- For urgent help, call 999 or 112


theirishtimes--2020-10-28--Cork shootings: Gardaí find lengthy apparent suicide note on one of the dead men

Gardaí investigating a suspected murder-suicide in North Cork which left a father and two sons dead are examining whether the attack may have been planned by two of those involved over a period of some time .
This follows the discovery of a lengthy and detailed apparent suicide note on one of the deceased .
Gardaí found the note on the body of Diarmuid O ’ Sullivan ( 23 ) as they investigated the death of his brother , Mark ( 26 ) , at the family home near Castlemagner on Monday morning and the subsequent deaths of Diarmuid and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whose bodies were found in a field .
It ’ s understood the note , which ran to about a dozen pages and was strapped to Diarmuid O ’ Sullivan ’ s thigh , suggested that both Diarmuid and his father had been planning to shoot Mark over a grievance that they had regarding a proposed will dividing up the family ’ s 115-acre farm .
According to informed sources , gardaí are investigating whether Mr O ’ Sullivan Snr and his son Diarmuid had been planning over a number of days to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother to Dublin where she underwent surgery earlier this month for a serious medical condition .
Mark O ’ Sullivan had sided with his mother while Diarmuid O ’ Sullivan and their father were united in their opposition to the proposed will , the exact details of which are not clear other than Diarmuid O ’ Sullivan and his father felt aggrieved over the way the holding was to be divided .
Ms O ’ Sullivan ( 60 ) , a nurse , and her son Mark returned to the family home on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castlemagner for almost two weeks following her discharge from hospital .
Ms O ’ Sullivan woke around 6.40am on Monday morning to hear gunshots and to discover that Mark had been shot in his bed .
She fled the farmhouse , making her way to a neighbour ’ s house to raise the alarm , prompting a major Garda operation involving over 100 Garda personnel .
Gardaí arrived at the scene around 7.30am and were informed by a neighbour that he had heard two shots some time earlier , and gardaí believe these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sullivan Snr and his son Diarmuid taking their own lives near a fairy fort some four fields from the house .
It was unclear last night whether or not the note found on Diarmuid O ’ Sullivan had been written in the 50 minutes or so between the shooting dead of his brother and his death and that of his father , or whether it was prepared before the tragedy unfolded on Monday morning .

Three relatives have died in an apparent murder-suicide on a farm in Kanturk, north Co Cork. The shooting incident has left a father (late 50s) and his two sons (aged in their 20s) dead. Video: Provision
Gardaí investigating a suspected murder-suicide in North Cork which left a father and two sons dead are examining whether the attack may have been planned by two of those involved over a period of some time. This follows the discovery of a lengthy and detailed apparent suicide note on one of the deceased.
Gardaí found the note on the body of Diarmuid O'Sullivan (23) as they investigated the death of his brother, Mark (26), at the family home near Castlemagner on Monday morning and the subsequent deaths of Diarmuid and his father, Tadhg (59) whose bodies were found in a field.
It’s understood the note, which ran to about a dozen pages and was strapped to Diarmuid O’Sullivan’s thigh, suggested that both Diarmuid and his father had been planning to shoot Mark over a grievance that they had regarding a proposed will dividing up the family’s 115-acre farm.
According to informed sources, gardaí are investigating whether Mr O’Sullivan Snr and his son Diarmuid had been planning over a number of days to shoot Mark, who had accompanied his mother to Dublin where she underwent surgery earlier this month for a serious medical condition.
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Aggrieved
Mark O’Sullivan had sided with his mother while Diarmuid O’Sullivan and their father were united in their opposition to the proposed will, the exact details of which are not clear other than Diarmuid O’Sullivan and his father felt aggrieved over the way the holding was to be divided.
Ms O’Sullivan (60), a nurse, and her son Mark returned to the family home on Sunday night after staying with relatives in Castlemagner for almost two weeks following her discharge from hospital.
Ms O’Sullivan woke around 6.40am on Monday morning to hear gunshots and to discover that Mark had been shot in his bed. She fled the farmhouse, making her way to a neighbour’s house to raise the alarm, prompting a major Garda operation involving over 100 Garda personnel.
Gardaí arrived at the scene around 7.30am and were informed by a neighbour that he had heard two shots some time earlier, and gardaí believe these shots may have been Mr O’Sullivan Snr and his son Diarmuid taking their own lives near a fairy fort some four fields from the house.
It was unclear last night whether or not the note found on Diarmuid O’Sullivan had been written in the 50 minutes or so between the shooting dead of his brother and his death and that of his father, or whether it was prepared before the tragedy unfolded on Monday morning.


theirishtimes--2020-10-28--Concern as staff shortages threaten Naval Service missions at sea

The Naval Service now has to frequently postpone seagoing missions due to its chronic manpower shortage and the effects of Covid-19 .
Within the last year the service ’ s six operational ships have been regularly operating with close to the bare minimum of crew members , meaning if a small number of sailors become unavailable and no replacements can be found , the ships can not go to sea .
In January , The Irish Times reported the LÉ Ciara was forced to delay a patrol mission for three days as it sought replacement crew members .
According to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a regular occurrence .
In response to queries , a spokeswoman for the Defence Forces said “ it is not uncommon for patrols to be delayed if an essential crew member is unable to sail due to force majeure ” .
She said the Naval Service operated a “ family-friendly policy ” of giving replacement crew members 72 hours before deployment .
“ Unfortunately , due to Covid-19 , there has been a recent and expected rise ” in the number of incidents where a replacement crew member can not step in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s new “ loyalty scheme ” , which offers a bonus of up to €10,000 a year for seagoing duties , would make a significant difference in the number of personnel leaving the Naval Service .
The scheme only applies to personnel with more than three years ’ service , meaning there is little incentive for recently graduated personnel to stay on if they are offered employment in the private sector , they said .
One senior source said the Naval Service may have to tie up another ship in the near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addressed .
“ It ’ s on a knife-edge , ” they said .
Two ships , including the flagship LÉ Eithne , are currently tied up due to manpower shortages .
Another , LÉ Róisín , is undergoing a mid-life refit while a fourth , LÉ Niamh is undergoing repairs following a fire aboard earlier this month .
This means there are currently only five ships available to sail .
Between two and three ships are usually at sea at any one time , typically on maritime and fisheries patrols .
Sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service is more important than ever with the growing possibility of a no-deal Brexit and its implications for fisheries protection .
It is understood Naval Service Flag Officer , Commodore Michael Malone , has received an order from the Government that the number of available ships must not , under any circumstances , drop any further .
However the retention crisis means he may have no choice but to place another ship into “ operational reserve ” , sources said .
The retention crisis is affecting all of the Defence Forces but particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in skilled technicians .
Sources described recruits being headhunted by multinational corporations , particularly pharmaceutical manufacturers , immediately on their completion of technical courses paid for by the Defence Forces .
These private sector companies are offering upfront payments to recruits so they can buy their way out of their service commitments .
“ These guys won ’ t be able to avail of the loyalty scheme for another one or two years so there ’ s no incentive for them stay , ” one officer said .
Another estimated that about 40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would not be eligible for the scheme .
The preference of military management is for the patrol duty allowance ( PDA ) to be significantly increased for officers and enlisted personnel .
This will dissuade young sailors from leaving and will attract more people to the service , they say .
The current PDA of €59 a day is significantly less than that paid to members of other seagoing agencies .
The churn rate of Naval Service personnel was near 15 per cent before the Covid-19 pandemic and currently stands at just over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generally accepted as best practice .
“ Personnel in the Naval Service want to go to sea and want to have a future in the organisation .
An increase in the PDA would have applied across all ranks and all personnel and would have incentivised sea-going , ” one officer said .
“ It ’ s obviously a step in the right direction , ” said Senator Mark Wall , Labour ’ s spokesman on defence .
“ But at the end of the day it ’ s about getting the personnel to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think this won ’ t do much towards that .
”

LÉ Eithne: one of two vessels currently tied up due to manpower shortages. Photograph: Defence Forces Press Office
The Naval Service now has to frequently postpone seagoing missions due to its chronic manpower shortage and the effects of Covid-19.
Within the last year the service’s six operational ships have been regularly operating with close to the bare minimum of crew members, meaning if a small number of sailors become unavailable and no replacements can be found, the ships cannot go to sea.
In January, The Irish Times reported the LÉ Ciara was forced to delay a patrol mission for three days as it sought replacement crew members. According to senior Naval officers this has now become a regular occurrence.
In response to queries, a spokeswoman for the Defence Forces said "it is not uncommon for patrols to be delayed if an essential crew member is unable to sail due to force majeure".
READ MORE
She said the Naval Service operated a “family-friendly policy” of giving replacement crew members 72 hours before deployment.
“Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, there has been a recent and expected rise” in the number of incidents where a replacement crew member cannot step in.
Naval sources also expressed doubt the Government’s new “loyalty scheme”, which offers a bonus of up to €10,000 over four years for seagoing duties, would make a significant difference in the number of personnel leaving the Naval Service.
The scheme only applies to personnel with more than three years’ service, meaning there is little incentive for recently graduated personnel to stay on if they are offered employment in the private sector, they said.
‘A knife-edge’
One senior source said the Naval Service may have to tie up another ship in the near future if the retention crisis is not addressed. “It’s on a knife-edge,” they said.
Two ships, including the flagship LÉ Eithne, are currently tied up due to manpower shortages. Another, LÉ Róisín, is undergoing a mid-life refit while a fourth, LÉ Niamh is undergoing repairs following a fire aboard earlier this month.
This means there are currently only five ships available to sail. Between two and three ships are usually at sea at any one time, typically on maritime and fisheries patrols.
Sources warn the need for a fully staffed service is more important than ever with the growing possibility of a no-deal Brexit and its implications for fisheries protection.
It is understood Naval Service Flag Officer, Commodore Michael Malone, has received an order from the Government that the number of available ships must not, under any circumstances, drop any further.
However the retention crisis means he may have no choice but to place another ship into “operational reserve”, sources said.
The retention crisis is affecting all of the Defence Forces but particularly the Naval Service which is sorely lacking in skilled technicians.
Headhunting of recruits
Sources described recruits being headhunted by multinational corporations, particularly pharmaceutical manufacturers, immediately on their completion of technical courses paid for by the Defence Forces.
These private sector companies are offering upfront payments to recruits so they can buy their way out of their service commitments.
“These guys won’t be able to avail of the loyalty scheme for another one or two years so there’s no incentive for them stay,” one officer said. Another estimated that about 40 per cent of sailors on some ships would not be eligible for the scheme.
The preference of military management is for the patrol duty allowance (PDA) to be significantly increased for officers and enlisted personnel. This will dissuade young sailors from leaving and will attract more people to the service, they say.
The current PDA of €59 a day is significantly less than that paid to members of other seagoing agencies.
The churn rate of Naval Service personnel was near 15 per cent before the Covid-19 pandemic and currently stands at just over 10 per cent, double the rate generally accepted as best practice.
“Personnel in the Naval Service want to go to sea and want to have a future in the organisation. An increase in the PDA would have applied across all ranks and all personnel and would have incentivised sea-going,” one officer said.
"It's obviously a step in the right direction," said Senator Mark Wall, Labour's spokesman on defence. "But at the end of the day it's about getting the personnel to actually stay in the Navy and I think this won't do much towards that."


theirishtimes--2020-10-29--Mother and two children found dead in Dublin home

Two young children found dead in their south Dublin home were murdered and gardaí on Wednesday night were awaiting results of a postmortem to determine how their mother died .
The Irish Times understands a ligature and a note were found where Seema Banu ’ s remains were discovered early Wednesday afternoon at her home in Ballinteer , and foul play in her death has not been ruled out .
The dead woman ’ s children – Affira ( 11 ) and her six-year-old brother Fazan – were found face down in a bedroom of the family home on Llewellyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The mother of two , who was from India and had been living in Ireland for many years , was the victim of an alleged assault earlier this year .
A male suspect had been identified for that attack in May , which left her very seriously injured and resulted in her losing consciousness .
That man had been charged with assault causing harm and was set to go on trial next April .
The case was due before the courts in Dublin for mention on Thursday morning .
Seema Banu had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid concern for the family ’ s welfare in the aftermath of that attack .
Gardaí were alerted by neighbours late on Wednesday morning about their concerns for the family as they had not been seen for a number of days and the blinds were drawn .
Gardaí arrived on the scene just after midday and found the remains of Ms Banu lying face up in one bedroom and her children in another bedroom .
It is understood they had been dead for some time and a tap that had been left running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman ’ s husband , and the father of the two deceased children , was later contacted by gardaí .
He and a legal representative have been speaking to the investigating team .
No arrests in the case had been made on Wednesday night .
Supt Paul Reidy of Blackrock Garda station said the results of the postmortem examinations on the remains of Ms Banu and her children would dictate the nature of the investigation .
Garda Headquarters on Wednesday asked members of the public to desist from posting speculation about the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the main green area on the estate , off Llewellyn Lawn , about 200 local people came out to remember the dead and left candles under the largest tree in the park .
Mary Byrne , of the local residents ’ association , said she and the others present had come because they felt they needed to be together to remember Seema Banu , Affira and Fazan .
Asked how people were feeling after what had happened , she said the estate was in disbelief and shock .
“ We just said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
There is a lot of emotion , it ’ s just very sad , ” she said .

Residents hold a candlelight vigil for Seema Banu and her children, Affira and Fazan, on the main green area on the Llewellyn estate in Ballinteer. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Two young children found dead in their south Dublin home were murdered and gardaí on Wednesday night were awaiting results of a postmortem to determine how their mother died.
The Irish Times understands a ligature and a note were found where Seema Banu’s remains were discovered early Wednesday afternoon at her home in Ballinteer, and foul play in her death has not been ruled out.
The dead woman’s children – Affira (11) and her six-year-old brother Fazan – were found face down in a bedroom of the family home on Llewellyn Court and gardaí believe they were strangled.
The mother of two, who was from India and had been living in Ireland for many years, was the victim of an alleged assault earlier this year.
READ MORE
A male suspect had been identified for that attack in May, which left her very seriously injured and resulted in her losing consciousness.
That man had been charged with assault causing harm and was set to go on trial next April.
The case was due before the courts in Dublin for mention on Thursday morning.
Seema Banu had also been in contact with the authorities amid concern for the family’s welfare in the aftermath of that attack.
Neighbours
Gardaí were alerted by neighbours late on Wednesday morning about their concerns for the family as they had not been seen for a number of days and the blinds were drawn.
Gardaí arrived on the scene just after midday and found the remains of Ms Banu lying face up in one bedroom and her children in another bedroom.
It is understood they had been dead for some time and a tap that had been left running had flooded the property.
The dead woman’s husband, and the father of the two deceased children, was later contacted by gardaí.
He and a legal representative have been speaking to the investigating team.
No arrests in the case had been made on Wednesday night. Supt Paul Reidy of Blackrock Garda station said the results of the postmortem examinations on the remains of Ms Banu and her children would dictate the nature of the investigation.
Garda Headquarters on Wednesday asked members of the public to desist from posting speculation about the case on social media.
On Wednesday night on the main green area on the estate, off Llewellyn Lawn, about 200 local people came out to remember the dead and left candles under the largest tree in the park.
Mary Byrne, of the local residents’ association, said she and the others present had come because they felt they needed to be together to remember Seema Banu, Affira and Fazan.
Asked how people were feeling after what had happened, she said the estate was in disbelief and shock.
“We just said we have to be here together for them. There is a lot of emotion, it’s just very sad,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-10-29--Dublin City Council seek use of Docklands tower block for social housing

A 15-storey privately developed apartment block in Dublin ’ s south docklands could be used exclusively for social housing if permission is granted by An Bord Pleanála .
Dublin City Council has told the developers of the proposed tower at the riverside in Ringsend , it would be interested in acquiring a lease on the building “ for exclusive and long-term use ” for social housing .
The council ’ s planning department in September refused permission for the residential tower block at York Road close to the East Link Bridge , due to its height .
However , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this decision to An Bord Pleanála .
The council ’ s planners said the building would have an “ unacceptable impact ” on the character of the area and “ would not integrate successfully into the existing streetscape ” .
At almost 50m tall it would be “ overbearing ” and “ would appear visually incongruous in the context of the surrounding buildings , which range in height from one to four storeys ” .
The development became the focus of controversy earlier this year when it emerged that if the council had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been provided in the development .
Under planning rules , 10 per cent of the homes in any development of 10 or more apartments or houses must be sold to the local authority for social housing .
However , there are exemptions for sites that are under 0.1 of a hectare .
The York Road scheme , despite being 49.6m tall with 48 apartments , was proposed for a 0.073 hectare site , so could remain exclusively private .
However , in documents lodged with An Bord Pleanála , Melvin Properties acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social and affordable housing and said it had approached the council and “ reached agreement in principle ” for the entire block to be used for social housing .
The council ’ s head of housing , Brendan Kenny , said any agreement with the developers would be pursued only if planning permission was granted and would also be subject to negotiations on price .
However , he said the council would be “ very , very interested ” in acquiring the entire block .
“ We would get a lot of criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin 4 , so to have an opportunity like this , we would be very , very interested , if the place gets planning permission , if it gets built , and if the price is right.
” Local Independent councillor Mannix Flynn said securing the building for social housing was a better use of council resources than keeping homeless people in costly family hubs .
“ I would be open to the long-term leasing option .
As long as the price is reasonable , it ’ s a far better use of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ It will boil down to value for money , but this could provide people with homes ; a hub is not a home.
” Melvin Properties was previously granted permission for a seven-storey block of just 13 apartments on the same site .
While it is asking the board to grant the 15-storey scheme , it has also submitted a 12-storey option of 36 apartments , which would also be offered for social housing if permission was granted .

Docklands: Local Independent councillor Mannix Flynn says securing the building for social housing is a better use of council resources than keeping homeless people in costly family hubs.
A 15-storey privately developed apartment block in Dublin's south docklands could be used exclusively for social housing if permission is granted by An Bord Pleanála.
Dublin City Council has told the developers of the proposed tower at the riverside in Ringsend, it would be interested in acquiring a lease on the building "for exclusive and long-term use" for social housing.
The council's planning department in September refused permission for the residential tower block at York Road close to the East Link Bridge, due to its height. However, the developer, Melvin Properties, has appealed this decision to An Bord Pleanála.
The council’s planners said the building would have an “unacceptable impact” on the character of the area and “would not integrate successfully into the existing streetscape”.
READ MORE
At almost 50m tall it would be “overbearing” and “would appear visually incongruous in the context of the surrounding buildings, which range in height from one to four storeys”.
The development became the focus of controversy earlier this year when it emerged that if the council had granted permission, no social housing would have been provided in the development.
Rule exemptions
Under planning rules, 10 per cent of the homes in any development of 10 or more apartments or houses must be sold to the local authority for social housing. However, there are exemptions for sites that are under 0.1 of a hectare. The York Road scheme, despite being 49.6m tall with 48 apartments, was proposed for a 0.073 hectare site, so could remain exclusively private.
However, in documents lodged with An Bord Pleanála, Melvin Properties acknowledged the local concerns over the lack of social and affordable housing and said it had approached the council and “reached agreement in principle” for the entire block to be used for social housing.
The council's head of housing, Brendan Kenny, said any agreement with the developers would be pursued only if planning permission was granted and would also be subject to negotiations on price. However, he said the council would be "very, very interested" in acquiring the entire block.
“We would get a lot of criticism over the scarcity of social housing in Dublin 4, so to have an opportunity like this, we would be very, very interested, if the place gets planning permission, if it gets built, and if the price is right.”
Local Independent councillor Mannix Flynn said securing the building for social housing was a better use of council resources than keeping homeless people in costly family hubs.
“I would be open to the long-term leasing option. As long as the price is reasonable, it’s a far better use of money than family hubs and hostels,” he said.
“It will boil down to value for money, but this could provide people with homes; a hub is not a home.”
Melvin Properties was previously granted permission for a seven-storey block of just 13 apartments on the same site. While it is asking the board to grant the 15-storey scheme, it has also submitted a 12-storey option of 36 apartments, which would also be offered for social housing if permission was granted.


theirishtimes--2020-10-29--Europe enforces restrictions to avoid ‘millions’ of deaths

Countries around Europe have enforced restrictive measures as a surge of Covid-19 cases led to widespread disruption around the continent , amid warnings that inaction could lead to “ millions ” of deaths .
Germany , where cases have reached 15,000 per day , shut bars and restaurants for a month while , with more than 3,000 in intensive care , French president Emmanuel Macron instituted a second national lockdown for at least the whole of November .
“ The virus is circulating in France at a speed that even the most pessimistic had not anticipated , ” Mr Macron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has recorded 254,000 new cases of Covid-19 in the week leading up to this Monday .
In the Netherlands , a “ partial lockdown ” was extended into December as cases rose past 10,000 a day .
At a joint press conference with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen , renowned virologist and Covid-19 adviser Peter Piot warned that millions of people would die if the virus was allowed to roam freely in society .
“ We need to act fast , we should not waste our time , and we should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in great numbers because that follows about three to four weeks after there is a surge in infections , and that is as sure as night follows day , ” Dr Piot told reporters .
If allowed to spread freely , “ the toll in deaths will be enormous ” , Dr Piot said .
“ Millions of people will die .
And I think in the 21st century , I don ’ t think that ’ s something we can ethically accept.
” Ms Von der Leyen acknowledged that “ obviously the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures were relaxed too soon ” .
In Ireland , a document published on the website of the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) warned that it was awaiting a “ crucial ” sanction from the Department of Health in order to resume “ full-scale ” purchases of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) .
The document , a full situational report on Ireland ’ s response to the Covid crisis , said PPE sourcing “ remains stable ” with “ relatively secure supply lines ” .
However , it said “ sanction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to resume full-scale sourcing/purchasing activities .
This is critical to ensure continued availability of PPE stock to meet current needs and have the necessary buffer stocks in place to the end of 2020 , ” the document reads .
The document shows that , based on forecast levels and expected supply , stocks of some PPE may run down to several days ’ supply by the end of November .
However , this was based on “ worst case scenario ” rather than actual demand , which was likely to be lower , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ envisaged .
A spokeswoman said the engagement with the department was part of its governance arrangements , and that sanctioning of purchases was undertaken on an “ iterative basis ” .
“ We are working very closely with our colleagues in [ the Department of Health ] to finalise the remainder of our inventory needs for 2020.
” The Department of Health said it was working with the HSE to finalise orders for the rest of 2020 , and that €650 million was approved for PPE purchases in the budget .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PPE are adequately resourced in 2020 and going forward for 2021.
” The document was removed from the HSE website on Wednesday afternoon .
The Department of Health confirmed another 675 cases of the virus in Ireland , as numbers diagnosed continued to trend downwards .
A further six deaths were reported , bringing the total to 1,896 in the Republic , and 59,434 cases .

In French president Emmanuel Macron’s televised address to the nation, he said: ‘The virus is circulating in France at a speed that even the most pessimistic had not anticipated.’ Photograph: Philippe Lopez/ AFP via Getty
Countries around Europe have enforced restrictive measures as a surge of Covid-19 cases led to widespread disruption around the continent, amid warnings that inaction could lead to "millions" of deaths.
Germany, where cases have reached 15,000 per day, shut bars and restaurants for a month while, with more than 3,000 in intensive care, French president Emmanuel Macron instituted a second national lockdown for at least the whole of November.
"The virus is circulating in France at a speed that even the most pessimistic had not anticipated," Mr Macron said in a televised address. France has recorded 254,000 new cases of Covid-19 in the week leading up to this Monday.
Hospital Report
In the Netherlands, a "partial lockdown" was extended into December as cases rose past 10,000 a day.
READ MORE
At a joint press conference with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, renowned virologist and Covid-19 adviser Peter Piot warned that millions of people would die if the virus was allowed to roam freely in society.
“We need to act fast, we should not waste our time, and we should certainly not wait until people start dying in great numbers because that follows about three to four weeks after there is a surge in infections, and that is as sure as night follows day,” Dr Piot told reporters.
If allowed to spread freely, “the toll in deaths will be enormous”, Dr Piot said. “Millions of people will die. And I think in the 21st century, I don’t think that’s something we can ethically accept.”
Ms Von der Leyen acknowledged that “obviously the exit strategies were partly too fast and measures were relaxed too soon”.
PPE supplies
In Ireland, a document published on the website of the Health Service Executive (HSE) warned that it was awaiting a "crucial" sanction from the Department of Health in order to resume "full-scale" purchases of personal protective equipment (PPE).
The document, a full situational report on Ireland’s response to the Covid crisis, said PPE sourcing “remains stable” with “relatively secure supply lines”.
However, it said “sanction is awaited from the Department of Health to resume full-scale sourcing/purchasing activities.
This is critical to ensure continued availability of PPE stock to meet current needs and have the necessary buffer stocks in place to the end of 2020,” the document reads.
The document shows that, based on forecast levels and expected supply, stocks of some PPE may run down to several days’ supply by the end of November.
However, this was based on “worst case scenario” rather than actual demand, which was likely to be lower, the HSE said, with shortages not envisaged.
A spokeswoman said the engagement with the department was part of its governance arrangements, and that sanctioning of purchases was undertaken on an “iterative basis”.
“We are working very closely with our colleagues in [the Department of Health] to finalise the remainder of our inventory needs for 2020.”
The Department of Health said it was working with the HSE to finalise orders for the rest of 2020, and that €650 million was approved for PPE purchases in the budget.
“The department remains satisfied that the requirements for PPE are adequately resourced in 2020 and going forward for 2021.” The document was removed from the HSE website on Wednesday afternoon.
The Department of Health confirmed another 675 cases of the virus in Ireland, as numbers diagnosed continued to trend downwards. A further six deaths were reported, bringing the total to 1,896 in the Republic, and 59,434 cases.


theirishtimes--2020-10-29--‘I don’t want to be in Mountjoy Prison, nobody does’

“ We were meant to be the tough ones , but I think we were the most nervous before it started.
” So begins Eoin , a young prisoner in Mountjoy , explaining a new programme involving prisoners and students from Maynooth University , Co Kildare , meeting weekly for 13 weeks inside the Dublin jail .
The Story Exchange programme saw each university student , many from disadvantage backgrounds , paired with a prisoner and exchange stories about their lives based on pre-selected themes .
The technique was developed in the US and has spread around the world , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teenagers from the neighbourhoods they police , in a bid to break down the assumptions they have about each other .
“ It was bringing people together from different backgrounds and sharing their experiences with each other and breaking down barriers , ” explained Mountjoy prisoner Eoin ( not his real name ) .
“ It helped you get an understanding of each other and it just showed in the end that we were all the same really .
“ Before it , we also probably thought , here ’ s a load @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But it wasn ’ t like that at all , ” he says of the course work , which was part of the prisoners earning a Gaisce award .
“ As we got to know them , they were just normal people , the same as ourselves .
Obviously we went down the wrong road [ by ending up in prison ] , we ’ re the ones who made the mistakes , and this is why we are working with the students ; to get back on the good road .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in prison , nobody does .
And I think the effect the students had on us was showing us that there is more to life .
And when you looked at the students , college wasn ’ t handed to them , they had to go out and work for it and they didn ’ t come from the best of backgrounds either .
Some of them would have come from Deis schools .
“ I don ’ t think they realised the effect they had on the prisoners and the hope they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more to life than coming into prison .
Going to college , and all of that ; it is possible .
These students showed that to us .
”

"We were meant to be the tough ones, but I think we were the most nervous before it started." So begins Eoin, a young prisoner in Mountjoy, explaining a new programme involving prisoners and students from Maynooth University, Co Kildare, meeting weekly for 13 weeks inside the Dublin jail.
The Story Exchange programme saw each university student, many from disadvantage backgrounds, paired with a prisoner and exchange stories about their lives based on pre-selected themes.
The technique was developed in the US and has spread around the world, including among police forces whose officers meet teenagers from the neighbourhoods they police, in a bid to break down the assumptions they have about each other.
'College wasn't handed to them, they had to go out and work for it and they didn't come from the best of backgrounds either. Some of them would have come from Deis schools'
“It was bringing people together from different backgrounds and sharing their experiences with each other and breaking down barriers,” explained Mountjoy prisoner Eoin (not his real name).
READ MORE
“It helped you get an understanding of each other and it just showed in the end that we were all the same really.
"Before it, we also probably thought, here's a load of posh people coming into us. But it wasn't like that at all," he says of the course work, which was part of the prisoners earning a Gaisce award.
“As we got to know them, they were just normal people, the same as ourselves. Obviously we went down the wrong road [by ending up in prison], we’re the ones who made the mistakes, and this is why we are working with the students; to get back on the good road.
“I don’t want to be in prison, nobody does. And I think the effect the students had on us was showing us that there is more to life. And when you looked at the students, college wasn’t handed to them, they had to go out and work for it and they didn’t come from the best of backgrounds either. Some of them would have come from Deis schools.
“I don’t think they realised the effect they had on the prisoners and the hope they gave us; of realising that there is more to life than coming into prison. Going to college, and all of that; it is possible. These students showed that to us.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-29--Mountjoy prisoners gain access to third-level education during pandemic

Prisoners at Mountjoy Prison have been granted online access to college lectures and tutorials during the coronavirus pandemic and this could be instrumental in establishing third-level education in Irish prisons in the longer term , a review of a new project involving the Dublin jail and Maynooth University has concluded .
The access to courses at Maynooth granted to prisoners could “ bring the university into the prison and the prison into the university in ways we could never have previously imagined ” , a review of the scheme by Sarah Meaney of the College Connect programme , which aims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has found .
It concluded the project resulted in the prisoners reflecting on their lives in a meaningful way and also made third-level education seem more attainable for them as they learned the college students were often from similar backgrounds as themselves .
“ One of the key barriers for young working-class men to educational progression , is a lack of confidence that university life is for them , ” Ms Meaney concluded in her review .
“ With accents , clothing and lifestyles that may differ from their middle-class peers , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” This was compounded for prisoners , as there was often “ demonisation ” of them “ by the Irish media , fuelled by the use of language such as ‘ animals ’ and ‘ thugs ’ ” .
Assistant governor at Mountjoy Prison , Donnacha Walsh , told The Irish Times that following the completion of a 13-week programme during which Maynooth students went into Mountjoy to join prisoners on a course on the prison campus , a “ partnership ” had now been entered into between the jail and the university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ prisoners ] from our education units in the prisons to go to Maynooth University and study as mature students , ” he said , adding this was the first scheme of its kind in the Republic .
Mr Walsh said Mountjoy Prison had already made overtures to other Irish universities and technical colleges , including in Cork and Limerick , to facilitate prisoners joining degree courses while they were still serving their sentences .
He made his remarks ahead of the release of a new report on the Story Exchange project over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid March during which Maynooth University students went into Mountjoy Prison once each week and were paired with young prisoners serving sentences .
The project formed part of the work the prisoner group was doing towards attaining a Gaisce award .
Each prisoner was paired with a student and they each had to explain an event in their life based on a theme selected the week before .
Once they had told each other their stories , all the participants gathered in a 17-member group and the stories were relayed to the group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s story and the student telling the prisoner ’ s story .
The technique was developed in the United States , where the New York Police Department has used it to engage with teenagers from urban areas to challenge the assumptions that both the police officers and young people had about each other .
The prisoners who took part in the project are incarcerated in the Mountjoy Prison Progression Unit , formerly St Patrick ’ s Institution for Young Offenders .
The students all entered Maynooth University through an “ access programme ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in disadvantaged areas , before entering university .

The access to courses at Maynooth University (pictured) granted to prisoners could ‘bring the university into the prison and the prison into the university in ways we could never have previously imagined’. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Prisoners at Mountjoy Prison have been granted online access to college lectures and tutorials during the coronavirus pandemic and this could be instrumental in establishing third-level education in Irish prisons in the longer term, a review of a new project involving the Dublin jail and Maynooth University has concluded.
The access to courses at Maynooth granted to prisoners could "bring the university into the prison and the prison into the university in ways we could never have previously imagined", a review of the scheme by Sarah Meaney of the College Connect programme, which aims to increase diversity, in third level has found.
It concluded the project resulted in the prisoners reflecting on their lives in a meaningful way and also made third-level education seem more attainable for them as they learned the college students were often from similar backgrounds as themselves.
Lack of confidence
“One of the key barriers for young working-class men to educational progression, is a lack of confidence that university life is for them,” Ms Meaney concluded in her review.
READ MORE
“With accents, clothing and lifestyles that may differ from their middle-class peers, it can be hard to imagine fitting in.”
This was compounded for prisoners, as there was often “demonisation” of them “by the Irish media, fuelled by the use of language such as ‘animals’ and ‘thugs’”.
Assistant governor at Mountjoy Prison, Donnacha Walsh, told The Irish Times that following the completion of a 13-week programme during which Maynooth students went into Mountjoy to join prisoners on a course on the prison campus, a "partnership" had now been entered into between the jail and the university.
“We are looking at getting [prisoners] from our education units in the prisons to go to Maynooth University and study as mature students,” he said, adding this was the first scheme of its kind in the Republic.
Mr Walsh said Mountjoy Prison had already made overtures to other Irish universities and technical colleges, including in Cork and Limerick, to facilitate prisoners joining degree courses while they were still serving their sentences.
He made his remarks ahead of the release of a new report on the Story Exchange project over 13 weeks from late last year to mid March during which Maynooth University students went into Mountjoy Prison once each week and were paired with young prisoners serving sentences. The project formed part of the work the prisoner group was doing towards attaining a Gaisce award.
Assumptions
Each prisoner was paired with a student and they each had to explain an event in their life based on a theme selected the week before. Once they had told each other their stories, all the participants gathered in a 17-member group and the stories were relayed to the group; the prisoner telling the student’s story and the student telling the prisoner’s story.
The technique was developed in the United States, where the New York Police Department has used it to engage with teenagers from urban areas to challenge the assumptions that both the police officers and young people had about each other.
The prisoners who took part in the project are incarcerated in the Mountjoy Prison Progression Unit, formerly St Patrick’s Institution for Young Offenders. The students all entered Maynooth University through an “access programme” and many had attended Deis schools, in disadvantaged areas, before entering university.


theirishtimes--2020-10-29--Science books to peruse this pandemic winter

With the shorter evenings closing in , it ’ s high time to stock up on reading material .
Maybe you want to escape thoughts of Covid-19 entirely .
But if you can ’ t quite park it , Pandemic by Sonia Shah elegantly charts how past pandemics have shaped – and been shaped by – history .
Science journalist Shah expertly weaves stories of how human diseases and history are intertwined through transport , sewage , climate change , crowding , corruption , fear and sometimes a collective forgetting before the next big one .
I read a pre-2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal with the as-yet-unknown Covid-19 .
This made the book even more compelling in some ways , because I was reading it knowing what the next big one turned out to be .
Cholera echoes through the book , and Shah writes about the work of US scientist Dr Rita Colwell , who looked at where the bacteria that cause cholera live between outbreaks of disease .
Colwell ’ s research found the microbes can live on tiny plankton in seawater , blasting apart the assumption that cholera-causing bacteria could survive only in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s work on marine microbiology highlighted how climate change could affect human disease .
She helped to develop new ways of tracking cholera bacteria in the environment to predict outbreaks , and she even found evidence for the viability of a simple and practical solution in affected areas of Bangladesh : filtering water through folded sari cloth to reduce the burden of bacteria .
Colwell brought out her own book this year .
In A Lab of One ’ s Own , written with Sharon Bertsch McGrayne , she outlines her career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a problem solver who helped solve the mystery of who sent anthrax spores through the US postal system in the early 2000s and as a shaper of the scientific research landscape .
She was the first female director of the National Science Foundation in the US , and for many years she was on the board of Science Foundation Ireland .
It ’ s a stellar career that almost didn ’ t get going – when Colwell looked to get support for her graduate work in bacteriology , she was told they didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One can only admire the persistence of Colwell , who doesn ’ t mince her words about the institutional sexism she and her female colleagues overcame .
Someone else who doesn ’ t mince words is Prof Luke O ’ Neill , whose latest book Never Mind the B*ll*cks Here ’ s the Science has been storming the bestseller charts in Ireland .
O ’ Neill is a familiar voice in Irish media , and many will know the immunologist ’ s down-to-earth , pal-in-the-pub style of delivery .
In this book he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as diverse as vaccination , free will , philanthropy , addiction and environmental destruction among others .
Given his academic background , O ’ Neill understandably focuses many chapters on health , medicine and related topics .
In The Language of Illness , gastroenterologist and researcher Prof Fergus Shanahan takes a deeper dive into the words and phrases that doctors , carers and patients use , the harm and benefits they can bring and the gulf between doctors talking about a disease and patients speaking of the lived experience of illness .
Shanahan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and beautifully written book .
It is peppered with references to literary and artistic works as well as examples from his own experience .
He explores the changing nature of the doctor-patient conversation , which has been shrinking in time and is often accompanied by the computer screen ; the trust that language can build or destroy ; and the value of “ chit chat ” that can uncover details important for clinical diagnosis , for the patient ’ s quality of life , or both .
In a timely chapter on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reflects on the new “ corona-speak ” such as “ social distancing ” and “ flattening the curve ” .
As a founder of APC Microbiome Ireland , a Science Foundation Ireland centre dedicated to researching the microbiome , he is familiar with the micro-organisms that abound in the world , and he borrows from the singer Madonna to state that we live in a microbial world ( as well as a material one ) .
“ When pandemic viruses come along , they remind us of the fragility and interconnectedness of life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with nature , ” he writes .
“ Like other microbes , pandemic viruses tell us much about human behaviour .
”

Prof Fergus Shanahan: explores the changing nature of the doctor-patient conversation and the trust that language can build or destroy.
With the shorter evenings closing in, it's high time to stock up on reading material. Maybe you want to escape thoughts of Covid-19 entirely. But if you can't quite park it, Pandemic by Sonia Shah elegantly charts how past pandemics have shaped – and been shaped by – history.
Science journalist Shah expertly weaves stories of how human diseases and history are intertwined through transport, sewage, climate change, crowding, corruption, fear and sometimes a collective forgetting before the next big one. I read a pre-2020 edition of Pandemic that didn’t deal with the as-yet-unknown Covid-19. This made the book even more compelling in some ways, because I was reading it knowing what the next big one turned out to be.
Cholera echoes through the book, and Shah writes about the work of US scientist Dr Rita Colwell, who looked at where the bacteria that cause cholera live between outbreaks of disease. Colwell's research found the microbes can live on tiny plankton in seawater, blasting apart the assumption that cholera-causing bacteria could survive only in human hosts and their waste.
Prof Luke O’Neill: brings his wit to bear on vaccination, free will, philanthropy, addiction and environmental destruction. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Burden of bacteria
Colwell's work on marine microbiology highlighted how climate change could affect human disease. She helped to develop new ways of tracking cholera bacteria in the environment to predict outbreaks, and she even found evidence for the viability of a simple and practical solution in affected areas of Bangladesh: filtering water through folded sari cloth to reduce the burden of bacteria.
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Colwell brought out her own book this year. In A Lab of One's Own, written with Sharon Bertsch McGrayne, she outlines her career to date as a researcher, as a problem solver who helped solve the mystery of who sent anthrax spores through the US postal system in the early 2000s and as a shaper of the scientific research landscape. She was the first female director of the National Science Foundation in the US, and for many years she was on the board of Science Foundation Ireland.
It’s a stellar career that almost didn’t get going – when Colwell looked to get support for her graduate work in bacteriology, she was told they didn’t waste fellowships on women. One can only admire the persistence of Colwell, who doesn’t mince her words about the institutional sexism she and her female colleagues overcame.
Pal in the pub
Someone else who doesn't mince words is Prof Luke O'Neill, whose latest book Never Mind the B*ll*cks Here's the Science has been storming the bestseller charts in Ireland. O'Neill is a familiar voice in Irish media, and many will know the immunologist's down-to-earth, pal-in-the-pub style of delivery. In this book he brings his wit to bear on subjects as diverse as vaccination, free will, philanthropy, addiction and environmental destruction among others.
Given his academic background, O’Neill understandably focuses many chapters on health, medicine and related topics.
In The Language of Illness, gastroenterologist and researcher Prof Fergus Shanahan takes a deeper dive into the words and phrases that doctors, carers and patients use, the harm and benefits they can bring and the gulf between doctors talking about a disease and patients speaking of the lived experience of illness.
Doctor-patient conversation
Shanahan draws from many wells for this fascinating and beautifully written book. It is peppered with references to literary and artistic works as well as examples from his own experience. He explores the changing nature of the doctor-patient conversation, which has been shrinking in time and is often accompanied by the computer screen; the trust that language can build or destroy; and the value of “chit chat” that can uncover details important for clinical diagnosis, for the patient’s quality of life, or both.
In a timely chapter on the language of plagues and pandemics, Shanahan reflects on the new “corona-speak” such as “social distancing” and “flattening the curve”. As a founder of APC Microbiome Ireland, a Science Foundation Ireland centre dedicated to researching the microbiome, he is familiar with the micro-organisms that abound in the world, and he borrows from the singer Madonna to state that we live in a microbial world (as well as a material one).
“When pandemic viruses come along, they remind us of the fragility and interconnectedness of life, and humankind’s delicate relationship with nature,” he writes. “Like other microbes, pandemic viruses tell us much about human behaviour.”


theirishtimes--2020-10-29--The real Contagion virus is out there and it’s causing virologists to worry

The 2011 film Contagion seems strangely prescient when viewed in light of Covid-19 .
The disturbing movie features quarantines , face masks , Gwyneth Paltrow , conspiracy theories , R numbers and a race to develop a vaccine against a deadly virus from Asia .
A flashback shows Contagion ’ s pandemic began after a bat flew to a pig farm and dropped an infected piece of fruit , eaten by a pig .
The infected pig is slaughtered and prepared by a chef , who passes the bat virus via a handshake to Paltrow ( as Beth ) – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so much come from the 2003 SARS outbreak , but from another germ , the Nipah virus .
This kills between 40 and 100 per cent of people it infects , which is why virologists worry about it and why it is listed as a priority disease by the World Health Organisation .
“ It can potentially go from bats to an intermediate host like pigs and into humans , ” says Prof Emma Teeling , bat scientist at UCD .
Named for the village Sungai Nipah in Malaysia , Nipah virus was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in pigs that went on to infect nearly 300 people in contact with the pigs .
The outbreak ended when over a million pigs were culled , but not before 109 fatalities .
At the time , it seemed that the virus did not transmit from one person to another .
It was assumed the pigs contracted the virus by eating fruit contaminated by flying fox fruit bats .
Malaysia banned fruit trees around pig enclosures .
Since then , there have been no cases there .
Scientists later discovered small outbreaks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with fruit contaminated with bat saliva or urine the most likely culprit .
“ We suspect that Nipah virus has been spilling over to people for decades in Bangladesh , ” says Dr Raina Plowright at Montana State University , who specialises in disease spill-overs that originate in bats , including Nipah virus .
This happens when people drink date sap contaminated by the bats .
Bangladeshis are now discouraged from consuming raw date palm or to buy only from sellers with barriers to stop bats from accessing tree sap .
In 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off alarm bells .
A villager turned up at a hospital sick .
He was infected with Nipah virus and went on to infect 18 other people at two hospitals .
All told , 21 out of 23 people who became infected died .
“ We don ’ t know where it came from .
There is neither pig rearing nor the same sap collection practices we see in Bangladesh , ” says Prof Steve Luby , an epidemiologist at Stanford University .
The virus infects a variety of cells , including those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people develop a respiratory illness when infected , but the main symptoms are fever , headache and mental confusion , often followed by lethal brain inflammation .
The fear now is the virus could become more transmissible .
“ It has never taken off and spread .
There ’ s always been a short chain of human transmissions , ” says Plowright .
One reason is that people get severely ill so rapidly that they are quickly isolated , especially in Bangladesh and India , where medics are now more aware of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family ( paramyxoviruses ) that includes measles and mumps , both of which spread really well , notes Dr Rebecca Dutch , virologist at the University of Kentucky .
“ If there were small changes in Nipah virus that enhanced its ability to spread from human to human , then we would be looking at a pandemic virus with a really high mortality rate.
” The virus has a respiratory component , so it could potentially be spread by coughing .
“ The best theory would be that those viruses right now don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particles that are airborne or coming out of infected people as they breathe out , ” Dutch adds – perhaps because they don ’ t get into the airway until late in the infection .
Scientists still debate over why bats seem to harbour so many viruses .
Bats have their anti-viral defences permanently switched on , Teeling explains , and this may force viruses to evolve constantly , generating a steady stream of new variants .
Bats also roost in large colonies , making it easy for viruses to hop quickly between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from one colony to another .
If there are more spill-over events from bats to people , this offers opportunities for Nipah virus to mutate in ways that allow it to one day hop more efficiently from person to person .
It might select traits that would make this more likely , warns Luby , who doesn ’ t hold back in describing the devastation this could inflict .
A year ago , Luby would have predicted the influenza virus would cause the next pandemic .
“ Even if it had a 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across the world , that would be terrible , but it wouldn ’ t be the collapse of civilisation , ” he says .
“ On the other hand , a disease with 75 per cent case fatality [ Nipah ] that is equally transmissible is an existential threat to human civilisation.
” This may sound alarmist .
Covid-19 does not make a Nipah virus outbreak more or less likely , but it does put us on notice that we need to be better prepared for what is out there , he believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus to be both highly contagious and deadly .
Smallpox was extremely contagious and killed about 30 per cent of those infected .
Nipah outbreaks have been spotted and halted where just one or a few people were infected .
If there was a mutation that made it less obvious during early infection or more transmissible before a person fell ill , the number of infected people could be much higher before scientists cottoned on to an outbreak .
More infected patients would make it harder to contain the virus .
Better surveillance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ precaution , where hospitals should be equipped to test for the virus .
It seems advisable also for virologists to be sampling local bats too .
Right now , there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah .
“ We need increased resources to build the scientific foundations for new anti-virals , ” says Dutch .
“ Hopefully the Covid-19 pandemic will make people more aware and we don ’ t have to wait until the next one starts.
” Teeling in UCD says her studies of bat immune systems could one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medicines .
This is something we need .
Dutch rejects the idea of the Covid-19 pandemic is a once in a century event , noting we have just finished the worst Ebola outbreak in Africa , we had Zika virus emerge , we had the 2009 flu pandemic and now we have Covid-19 .
“ Most virologists feel that we are going to keep getting these .
We need to be better prepared.
” There are positive developments .
In March , the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness ( CEPI ) announced $ 25 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an early safety trial of a vaccine to prevent Nipah infection in humans .
CEPI was set up in 2017 to speed up vaccine development for new diseases , and is now supporting a number of vaccine candidates for Covid-19 .
The Nipah virus candidate contains part of the surface protein of Hendra virus , a closely related virus from fruit bats that sporadically infects and kills horses and people in Australia .
This was first discovered in 1994 .
Vaccines for emerging infectious disease such as Nipah will likely get a funding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a rare silver lining to the pandemic .
Marine mammals may be at risk to Covid-19 Marine mammals such as dolphins and whales may be susceptible to Covid-19 , an international study involving UCD scientists has shown .
Also under a potential threat from the pandemic virus are several critically endangered primate species , such as the Western lowland gorilla and orangutan .
The scientists investigated how similar the docking protein ( ACE2 ) that the virus uses to latch onto cells is between humans and 410 animal species .
In particular , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the ACE2 protein that are especially important for the virus to bind and gain entry into cells .
Those with an exact match included , unsurprisingly , our nearest ape relatives such as gorillas , gibbons , bonobos and chimps .
They were classified as being at the highest risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2 .
More unexpected was that whales and dolphins ( cetaceans ) scored as at high risk due to the similarity of their ACE2 receptor , which suggests that the virus may be able to infect their cells .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , minke whale , killer whale , common bottlenose dolphin and beluga whale .
“ No one would think that cetaceans might be infected , but they could .
That scares the living daylights out of me , ” says zoologist and bat scientist Prof Emma Teeling of UCD , who helped lead the study , published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
Marine mammals are long-lived and social animals and many are of conservation concern .
Some scientists have suggested that the coronavirus could get into coastal waters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at low risk from the virus include horse , dog , rhinos and bears , at least according to their ACE2 receptor .
The medium risk category included cattle , goat , cat species , rabbit and howler and spider monkeys .
This sort of information could be useful for zoos , but comes with a warning .
Additional experiments are needed .
“ There are limitations to looking just at the ACE2 receptor , ” says Teeling .
Which cells and tissues have the receptor will differ between species , and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 , including immune responses .
Also , in cases where SARS-CoV-2 has infected mink , cats , dogs and hamsters , the virus may have entered using the ACE2 receptor , or it may have entered their cells another way .

The 2011 film Contagion seems strangely prescient when viewed in light of Covid-19. The disturbing movie features quarantines, face masks, Gwyneth Paltrow, conspiracy theories, R numbers and a race to develop a vaccine against a deadly virus from Asia.
A flashback shows Contagion’s pandemic began after a bat flew to a pig farm and dropped an infected piece of fruit, eaten by a pig. The infected pig is slaughtered and prepared by a chef, who passes the bat virus via a handshake to Paltrow (as Beth) – patient zero.
That scenario did not so much come from the 2003 SARS outbreak, but from another germ, the Nipah virus. This kills between 40 and 100 per cent of people it infects, which is why virologists worry about it and why it is listed as a priority disease by the World Health Organisation.
"It can potentially go from bats to an intermediate host like pigs and into humans," says Prof Emma Teeling, bat scientist at UCD.
READ MORE
Named for the village Sungai Nipah in Malaysia, Nipah virus was first identified in 1999 after an outbreak in pigs that went on to infect nearly 300 people in contact with the pigs. The outbreak ended when over a million pigs were culled, but not before 109 fatalities. At the time, it seemed that the virus did not transmit from one person to another.
Contaminated
It was assumed the pigs contracted the virus by eating fruit contaminated by flying fox fruit bats. Malaysia banned fruit trees around pig enclosures. Since then, there have been no cases there. Scientists later discovered small outbreaks of the virus in Bangladesh and India, with fruit contaminated with bat saliva or urine the most likely culprit.
"We suspect that Nipah virus has been spilling over to people for decades in Bangladesh," says Dr Raina Plowright at Montana State University, who specialises in disease spill-overs that originate in bats, including Nipah virus. This happens when people drink date sap contaminated by the bats. Bangladeshis are now discouraged from consuming raw date palm or to buy only from sellers with barriers to stop bats from accessing tree sap.
Nipah virus belongs to a family (paramyxoviruses) that includes measles and mumps, both of which spread really well
In 2018, an outbreak in southern India set off alarm bells. A villager turned up at a hospital sick. He was infected with Nipah virus and went on to infect 18 other people at two hospitals. All told, 21 out of 23 people who became infected died. "We don't know where it came from. There is neither pig rearing nor the same sap collection practices we see in Bangladesh," says Prof Steve Luby, an epidemiologist at Stanford University.
The virus infects a variety of cells, including those that line human blood vessels. Some people develop a respiratory illness when infected, but the main symptoms are fever, headache and mental confusion, often followed by lethal brain inflammation.
The fear now is the virus could become more transmissible. “It has never taken off and spread. There’s always been a short chain of human transmissions,” says Plowright. One reason is that people get severely ill so rapidly that they are quickly isolated, especially in Bangladesh and India, where medics are now more aware of the disease.
Nipah virus belongs to a family (paramyxoviruses) that includes measles and mumps, both of which spread really well, notes Dr Rebecca Dutch, virologist at the University of Kentucky. "If there were small changes in Nipah virus that enhanced its ability to spread from human to human, then we would be looking at a pandemic virus with a really high mortality rate."
The virus has a respiratory component, so it could potentially be spread by coughing. “The best theory would be that those viruses right now don’t generate a lot of infectious particles that are airborne or coming out of infected people as they breathe out,” Dutch adds – perhaps because they don’t get into the airway until late in the infection.
Scientists still debate over why bats seem to harbour so many viruses. Bats have their anti-viral defences permanently switched on, Teeling explains, and this may force viruses to evolve constantly, generating a steady stream of new variants. Bats also roost in large colonies, making it easy for viruses to hop quickly between bats, and infected bats can fly from one colony to another.
If there are more spill-over events from bats to people, this offers opportunities for Nipah virus to mutate in ways that allow it to one day hop more efficiently from person to person. It might select traits that would make this more likely, warns Luby, who doesn’t hold back in describing the devastation this could inflict.
A year ago, Luby would have predicted the influenza virus would cause the next pandemic. “Even if it had a 2 per cent case fatality rate and ran across the world, that would be terrible, but it wouldn’t be the collapse of civilisation,” he says. “On the other hand, a disease with 75 per cent case fatality [Nipah] that is equally transmissible is an existential threat to human civilisation.”
Nipah outbreaks have been spotted and halted where just one or a few people were infected
This may sound alarmist. Covid-19 does not make a Nipah virus outbreak more or less likely, but it does put us on notice that we need to be better prepared for what is out there, he believes. It is not impossible for a virus to be both highly contagious and deadly. Smallpox was extremely contagious and killed about 30 per cent of those infected.
Nipah outbreaks have been spotted and halted where just one or a few people were infected. If there was a mutation that made it less obvious during early infection or more transmissible before a person fell ill, the number of infected people could be much higher before scientists cottoned on to an outbreak. More infected patients would make it harder to contain the virus.
Sensible precaution
Better surveillance systems in Southeast Asia seems a sensible precaution, where hospitals should be equipped to test for the virus. It seems advisable also for virologists to be sampling local bats too.
Right now, there is no vaccine or specific treatment for Nipah. “We need increased resources to build the scientific foundations for new anti-virals,” says Dutch. “Hopefully the Covid-19 pandemic will make people more aware and we don’t have to wait until the next one starts.” Teeling in UCD says her studies of bat immune systems could one day point the way towards new anti-viral medicines. This is something we need.
Dutch rejects the idea of the Covid-19 pandemic is a once in a century event, noting we have just finished the worst Ebola outbreak in Africa, we had Zika virus emerge, we had the 2009 flu pandemic and now we have Covid-19. "Most virologists feel that we are going to keep getting these. We need to be better prepared."
There are positive developments. In March, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) announced $25 million (€21.1 million) funding for an early safety trial of a vaccine to prevent Nipah infection in humans. CEPI was set up in 2017 to speed up vaccine development for new diseases, and is now supporting a number of vaccine candidates for Covid-19.
The Nipah virus candidate contains part of the surface protein of Hendra virus, a closely related virus from fruit bats that sporadically infects and kills horses and people in Australia. This was first discovered in 1994. Vaccines for emerging infectious disease such as Nipah will likely get a funding boost in the aftermath of SARS-CoV-2; a rare silver lining to the pandemic.
Marine mammals may be at risk to Covid-19
Marine mammals such as dolphins and whales may be susceptible to Covid-19, an international study involving UCD scientists has shown.
Also under a potential threat from the pandemic virus are several critically endangered primate species, such as the Western lowland gorilla and orangutan.
The scientists investigated how similar the docking protein (ACE2) that the virus uses to latch onto cells is between humans and 410 animal species. In particular, they zoned in on 25 amino acids of the ACE2 protein that are especially important for the virus to bind and gain entry into cells.
Those with an exact match included, unsurprisingly, our nearest ape relatives such as gorillas, gibbons, bonobos and chimps. They were classified as being at the highest risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2.
More unexpected was that whales and dolphins (cetaceans) scored as at high risk due to the similarity of their ACE2 receptor, which suggests that the virus may be able to infect their cells. This includes the harbour porpoise, gray whale, minke whale, killer whale, common bottlenose dolphin and beluga whale.
“No one would think that cetaceans might be infected, but they could. That scares the living daylights out of me,” says zoologist and bat scientist Prof Emma Teeling of UCD, who helped lead the study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Marine mammals are long-lived and social animals and many are of conservation concern. Some scientists have suggested that the coronavirus could get into coastal waters through discharges from sewage plants.
Animals at low risk from the virus include horse, dog, rhinos and bears, at least according to their ACE2 receptor. The medium risk category included cattle, goat, cat species, rabbit and howler and spider monkeys. This sort of information could be useful for zoos, but comes with a warning. Additional experiments are needed.
“There are limitations to looking just at the ACE2 receptor,” says Teeling. Which cells and tissues have the receptor will differ between species, and there are many factors which decide susceptibility to Covid-19, including immune responses. Also, in cases where SARS-CoV-2 has infected mink, cats, dogs and hamsters, the virus may have entered using the ACE2 receptor, or it may have entered their cells another way.