theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Coronavirus: Health officials 'very concerned' after highest number of cases since May reported

A sharp increase in coronavirus cases has caused significant concern among public health officials , with an additional 85 newly-confirmed cases reported on Thursday .
It is the highest number of cases notified in a day since late May , which acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said left officials “ very concerned ” .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) will now monitor the situation “ extremely closely ” over the next two days , he said .
The increase “ may be a blip associated with a number of significant clusters , or it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant ” , Dr Glynn told a press briefing on Thursday .
The spread of Covid-19 in the country was now “ a rapidly evolving situation ” , according to Prof Philip Nolan , chair of the team ’ s data modelling group .
The recent increase included cases connected to several large outbreaks , and “ there is no evidence that these cases are spreading in the community ” , he said .
Dr Glynn said it was “ not the time for a knee-jerk reaction ” , and any steps taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of cases reported in the coming days .
“ Next week is very far away at this point , we will be monitoring this on the hour , ” he said .
NPHET is due to make a recommendation to the Government on moving to phase four of easing restrictions , which would see pubs permitted to reopen on August 10th .
The Cabinet is due to meet on Tuesday to make a decision on the matter .
Dr Glynn said he would not “ speculate ” on what they would recommend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what happens over the next 24 hours , 48 hours , and 72 hours ” , he said .
Speaking in the Dáil earlier , Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he hoped the Government would be able to decide to allow pubs reopen , but said he “ can ’ t guarantee that at this stage ” .
Mr Varadkar was responding to concerns raised by TDs about the viability of pubs .
TDs had said the lengthy closure was contributing to a “ massive surge in home drinking and uncontrolled house parties ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related death reported on Thursday , with the total number of fatalities now at 1,763 , and 26,027 confirmed cases .
Of the 85 newly reported cases , 18 were connected to an outbreak at a pet food factory in Co Kildare , which shut down late last week following confirmed cases .

Dr Ronan Glynn, acting chief medical officer, said officials were very concerned about the increase in Covid-19 cases. Photograph: Colin Keegan/ Collins Dublin
A sharp increase in coronavirus cases has caused significant concern among public health officials, with an additional 85 newly-confirmed cases reported on Thursday.
It is the highest number of cases notified in a day since late May, which acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said left officials "very concerned".
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will now monitor the situation "extremely closely" over the next two days, he said.
The increase “may be a blip associated with a number of significant clusters, or it may be a sign of something more significant”, Dr Glynn told a press briefing on Thursday.
READ MORE
The spread of Covid-19 in the country was now "a rapidly evolving situation", according to Prof Philip Nolan, chair of the team's data modelling group.
The recent increase included cases connected to several large outbreaks, and “there is no evidence that these cases are spreading in the community”, he said.
Dr Glynn said it was “not the time for a knee-jerk reaction”, and any steps taken by the team would depend on the number of cases reported in the coming days. “Next week is very far away at this point, we will be monitoring this on the hour,” he said.
NPHET is due to make a recommendation to the Government on moving to phase four of easing restrictions, which would see pubs permitted to reopen on August 10th. The Cabinet is due to meet on Tuesday to make a decision on the matter.
Dr Glynn said he would not “speculate” on what they would recommend, as much would depend on “what happens over the next 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours”, he said.
Kildare outbreak
Speaking in the Dáil earlier, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said he hoped the Government would be able to decide to allow pubs reopen, but said he "can't guarantee that at this stage".
Mr Varadkar was responding to concerns raised by TDs about the viability of pubs. TDs had said the lengthy closure was contributing to a “massive surge in home drinking and uncontrolled house parties”.
There was also one further Covid-19 related death reported on Thursday, with the total number of fatalities now at 1,763, and 26,027 confirmed cases. Of the 85 newly reported cases, 18 were connected to an outbreak at a pet food factory in Co Kildare, which shut down late last week following confirmed cases.


theirishtimes--2020-07-30--12 ways of avoiding dementia identified in major new study

Modifying 12 risk factors over the course of one ’ s life could delay or prevent 40 per cent of dementia cases , according to the latest verdict of The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention , intervention and care .
The commission has added three new “ key modifiable risks factors ” that make people more vulnerable to dementia ; excessive alcohol consumption in mid-life , suffering head injuries in mid-life and exposure to air pollution in later life .
Led by 28 world-leading dementia experts , the report builds on the nine risk factors from childhood to later life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up-to-date analysis of the best evidence on the prevention of dementia .
“ The potential to prevent cases of dementia is high , ” it adds .
Its latest report presented at the Alzheimer ’ s Association International Conference on Thursday calls of states and individuals to be ambitious about preventing dementia and lays out a set of policies and lifestyle changes to help prevent dementia .
Worldwide around 50 million people live with dementia , a figure projected to increase to 152 million by 2050 , rising particularly in low-income and middle-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people with dementia live .
Dementia affects individuals , their families , and the economy - with global costs estimated at about €1 trillion annually .
Combined , the three new risk factors are associated with 6 per cent of all dementia cases – with an estimated 3 per cent of cases attributable to head injuries in mid-life ; 1 per cent of cases to excessive alcohol consumption ( more than 21 units per week ) in mid-life , and 2 per cent to exposure to air pollution in later life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 per cent of all dementia cases .
The factors associated with the greatest proportion of dementia cases in the population are less education in early life ; hearing loss in mid-life , and smoking in later life ( 7 per cent , 8 per cent , and 5 per cent , respectively ) .
In certain countries , however , the proportion of older people with dementia has fallen , probably due to improvements in education , nutrition , healthcare , and lifestyle changes – demonstrating the possibility of reducing dementia through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our report shows it is within the power of policy-makers and individuals to prevent and delay a significant proportion of dementia , with opportunities to make an impact at each stage of a person ’ s life , ” says lead author Prof Gill Livingston of University College London , UK .
“ Interventions are likely to have the biggest impact on those who are disproportionately affected by dementia risk factors , like those in low- and middle-income countries and vulnerable populations , including Black , Asian and Minority Ethnic communities , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ As societies , we need to think beyond promoting good health to prevent dementia , and begin tackling inequalities to improve the circumstances in which people live their lives.
” Risks could be reduced by creating active and healthy environments for communities , “ where physical activity is the norm , better diet is accessible for all , and exposure to excessive alcohol is minimised ” .
The authors call for nine ambitious actions to be undertaken by policymakers and individuals : – Aim to maintain systolic blood pressure of 130 mm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less in midlife from around age 40 years ; – Encourage use of hearing aids for hearing loss ; reduce hearing loss by protecting ears from high noise levels ; – Prevent head injury ( particularly by targeting high-risk occupations and transport ) ; – Prevent alcohol misuse and limit drinking to less than 21 units per week ; – Stop smoking uptake and support individuals to stop smoking ( which the authors stress is beneficial at any age ) ; – Provide all children with primary and secondary education ; – Lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possibly later life ; These actions , they say , are especially important in LMICs such as China , India and Latin America , where dementia rates are rising more rapidly than in high-income countries .
This is due to increasing life expectancy , and a higher frequency of dementia risk factors such as lower rates of education ; high rates of hypertension , obesity , hearing loss and rapidly growing rates of diabetes .
The authors note they were careful to only include risk factors with strong evidence for a causal link @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individualised evidence-based care that addresses physical and mental health , social care , and support that can accommodate complex needs of those with dementia .
“ Keeping people with dementia physically healthy is important for their cognition but they often have other illnesses which they may struggle to manage on their own , resulting in potentially harmful preventable hospitalisations , ” it notes .

The authors call for nine ambitious actions to be undertaken by policymakers and individuals. Photograph:iStock
Modifying 12 risk factors over the course of one's life could delay or prevent 40 per cent of dementia cases, according to the latest verdict of The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention and care.
The commission has added three new “key modifiable risks factors” that make people more vulnerable to dementia; excessive alcohol consumption in mid-life, suffering head injuries in mid-life and exposure to air pollution in later life.
Led by 28 world-leading dementia experts, the report builds on the nine risk factors from childhood to later life identified in 2017, and provides an up-to-date analysis of the best evidence on the prevention of dementia. “The potential to prevent cases of dementia is high,” it adds.
Its latest report presented at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Thursday calls of states and individuals to be ambitious about preventing dementia and lays out a set of policies and lifestyle changes to help prevent dementia.
READ MORE
Worldwide around 50 million people live with dementia, a figure projected to increase to 152 million by 2050, rising particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) where around two-thirds of people with dementia live. Dementia affects individuals, their families, and the economy - with global costs estimated at about €1 trillion annually.
Combined, the three new risk factors are associated with 6 per cent of all dementia cases – with an estimated 3 per cent of cases attributable to head injuries in mid-life; 1 per cent of cases to excessive alcohol consumption (more than 21 units per week) in mid-life, and 2 per cent to exposure to air pollution in later life.
The remaining risk factors are associated with 34 per cent of all dementia cases. The factors associated with the greatest proportion of dementia cases in the population are less education in early life; hearing loss in mid-life, and smoking in later life (7 per cent, 8 per cent, and 5 per cent, respectively).
In certain countries, however, the proportion of older people with dementia has fallen, probably due to improvements in education, nutrition, healthcare, and lifestyle changes – demonstrating the possibility of reducing dementia through preventative measures, it concludes.
"Our report shows it is within the power of policy-makers and individuals to prevent and delay a significant proportion of dementia, with opportunities to make an impact at each stage of a person's life," says lead author Prof Gill Livingston of University College London, UK.
“Interventions are likely to have the biggest impact on those who are disproportionately affected by dementia risk factors, like those in low- and middle-income countries and vulnerable populations, including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities,” he added.
Prof Livingston added: "As societies, we need to think beyond promoting good health to prevent dementia, and begin tackling inequalities to improve the circumstances in which people live their lives."
Risks could be reduced by creating active and healthy environments for communities, “where physical activity is the norm, better diet is accessible for all, and exposure to excessive alcohol is minimised”.
The authors call for nine ambitious actions to be undertaken by policymakers and individuals:
– Aim to maintain systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) or less in midlife from around age 40 years;
– Encourage use of hearing aids for hearing loss; reduce hearing loss by protecting ears from high noise levels;
– Reduce exposure to air pollution and second-hand tobacco smoke;
– Prevent head injury (particularly by targeting high-risk occupations and transport);
– Prevent alcohol misuse and limit drinking to less than 21 units per week;
– Stop smoking uptake and support individuals to stop smoking (which the authors stress is beneficial at any age);
– Provide all children with primary and secondary education;
– Lead an active life into mid, and possibly later life;
– Reduce obesity and diabetes.
These actions, they say, are especially important in LMICs such as China, India and Latin America, where dementia rates are rising more rapidly than in high-income countries. This is due to increasing life expectancy, and a higher frequency of dementia risk factors such as lower rates of education; high rates of hypertension, obesity, hearing loss and rapidly growing rates of diabetes.
The authors note they were careful to only include risk factors with strong evidence for a causal link.
Their report calls for holistic and individualised evidence-based care that addresses physical and mental health, social care, and support that can accommodate complex needs of those with dementia.
“Keeping people with dementia physically healthy is important for their cognition but they often have other illnesses which they may struggle to manage on their own, resulting in potentially harmful preventable hospitalisations,” it notes.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--‘It can still feel so raw’: Cork marks 40th anniversary of Buttevant rail crash

Every day since the 10am Dublin to Cork train crashed in Buttevant 40 years ago on Saturday , a local has come to St Mary ’ s Church in the north Co Cork town to light a candle in a lantern for the 18 people who died that day .
“ It ’ s such a gorgeous idea – to keep that light burning for 40 years to remember all those who died , ” says Moyra Woodworth , who lost her then 36-year-old husband Bruce in the crash , and who has gotten to know many of the locals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was donated by Austrian brothers Bernhardt and Wernfried Zeiner , to remember their parents , Albin and Maria Ann , who died in the crash , as well as all the others who lost their lives in Ireland ’ s worst rail incident of the 20th century .
On the day of the crash , train driver Bertie Walsh , from Glanmire in Co Cork , had brought the 378-ton Super Express , complete with 11 carriages and spare dining car , out of Heuston station at 10am .
The train was packed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holiday weekend .
The journey passed uneventfully until just outside Buttevant at 12.40pm , when three danger signals suddenly shot up at the side of the track .
Walsh immediately applied emergency brakes , and sounded the warning hooter .
But the train was doing roughly 113km/h and , at that speed , needed more than half a mile to stop .
In the station ahead , CIÉ worker Willie Joe Condon saw the danger .
He frantically tried to free two wooden wedges or scotches jammed in the points on the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forced to jump from the path of the oncoming train before he could free the other .
The speeding locomotive left the main track when it reached the points and careered into a siding , colliding with a stationary ballast train .
The wooden carriages behind the passenger train ’ s engine jackknifed and ricocheted across tracks .
Some people were killed instantly ; others suffered terrible injuries and lived for a short time while trapped under the mangled mess of derailed carriages .
Amazingly , some walked from the wreckage with relatively @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork city at the time , Ms Woodworth only learned her husband had died when she was called by her sister , Ann , who was working in the laboratories at the then Cork Regional Hospital .
Her sister called to tell her she was needed to identify her husband ’ s body , she remembers .
“ I turned to stone – Bruce had driven to work at Irish Industrial Gases in Little Island and was due to drive on to Wexford .
“ But he got a lift from a colleague @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off at Limerick Junction the next day to get a train back to Cork .
He was in Limerick Junction waiting for a train .
“ The first train passed straight through , the second train was going to Tralee , which meant a change in Mallow .
So he caught the third .
That was the one that crashed , ” she said .
While the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed plans to hold a major commemoration as took place in 2005 for the 25th anniversary of the incident , locals gathered , nevertheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Terri O ’ Gorman , who helped organise the 25th anniversary and the special memorial that now stands at Buttevant station , said she hoped it helped the bereaved to know their loved ones are still remembered .
Eleven Irish people , including two Iarnród Éireann staff , died as a result of the incident , along with three English people , two Americans and two Austrians .
Seventy people were injured , many of them surviving only due to an emergency operation that ferried them quickly to Mallow General Hospital and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the incident published in May 1981 concluded the accident occurred after a set of points on the track were not connected to the signals and had not been set back after diverting a ballast train down a siding , leading to the passenger train derailing and crashing .
On Saturday , Ms Woodworth will mark the day itself when she and her daughter , Corinne , who was only three at the time of the incident , will visit her husband ’ s grave at St Michael ’ s Cemetery in Blackrock .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ago , or at least another life when you are talking about 40 years .
But then on other occasions , something can trigger the memory and it ’ s like it was only yesterday and it ’ s all so raw and so real again , ” she said .

Every day since the 10am Dublin to Cork train crashed in Buttevant 40 years ago on Saturday, a local parishioner has come to St Mary's Church in the north Co Cork town to light a candle in a lantern for the 18 people who died that day.
“It’s such a gorgeous idea – to keep that light burning for 40 years to remember all those who died,” says Moyra Woodworth, who lost her then 36-year-old husband Bruce in the crash, and who has gotten to know many of the locals in the years since.
The lantern was donated by Austrian brothers Bernhardt and Wernfried Zeiner, to remember their parents, Albin and Maria Ann, who died in the crash, as well as all the others who lost their lives in Ireland's worst rail incident of the 20th century.
On the day of the crash, train driver Bertie Walsh, from Glanmire in Co Cork, had brought the 378-ton Super Express, complete with 11 carriages and spare dining car, out of Heuston station at 10am. The train was packed with people heading south for the bank holiday weekend.
READ MORE
The journey passed uneventfully until just outside Buttevant at 12.40pm, when three danger signals suddenly shot up at the side of the track. Walsh immediately applied emergency brakes, and sounded the warning hooter.
But the train was doing roughly 113km/h and, at that speed, needed more than half a mile to stop. In the station ahead, CIÉ worker Willie Joe Condon saw the danger.
He frantically tried to free two wooden wedges or scotches jammed in the points on the main line. He freed one but was forced to jump from the path of the oncoming train before he could free the other.
Left track
The speeding locomotive left the main track when it reached the points and careered into a siding, colliding with a stationary ballast train. The wooden carriages behind the passenger train’s engine jackknifed and ricocheted across tracks.
Some people were killed instantly; others suffered terrible injuries and lived for a short time while trapped under the mangled mess of derailed carriages. Amazingly, some walked from the wreckage with relatively minor injuries.
Living in Rochestown in Cork city at the time, Ms Woodworth only learned her husband had died when she was called by her sister, Ann, who was working in the laboratories at the then Cork Regional Hospital.
Her sister called to tell her she was needed to identify her husband's body, she remembers. "I turned to stone – Bruce had driven to work at Irish Industrial Gases in Little Island and was due to drive on to Wexford.
"But he got a lift from a colleague to Wexford and the colleague dropped him off at Limerick Junction the next day to get a train back to Cork. He was in Limerick Junction waiting for a train.
“The first train passed straight through, the second train was going to Tralee, which meant a change in Mallow. So he caught the third. That was the one that crashed,” she said.
Commemoration curtailed
While the Covid-19 pandemic curtailed plans to hold a major commemoration as took place in 2005 for the 25th anniversary of the incident, locals gathered, nevertheless, on Friday for a memorial Mass.
Terri O’Gorman, who helped organise the 25th anniversary and the special memorial that now stands at Buttevant station, said she hoped it helped the bereaved to know their loved ones are still remembered.
Eleven Irish people, including two Iarnród Éireann staff, died as a result of the incident, along with three English people, two Americans and two Austrians. Seventy people were injured, many of them surviving only due to an emergency operation that ferried them quickly to Mallow General Hospital and Cork Regional Hospital.
An inquiry into the incident published in May 1981 concluded the accident occurred after a set of points on the track were not connected to the signals and had not been set back after diverting a ballast train down a siding, leading to the passenger train derailing and crashing.
On Saturday, Ms Woodworth will mark the day itself when she and her daughter, Corinne, who was only three at the time of the incident, will visit her husband's grave at St Michael's Cemetery in Blackrock.
“Sometimes it seems like an eternity ago, or at least another life when you are talking about 40 years. But then on other occasions, something can trigger the memory and it’s like it was only yesterday and it’s all so raw and so real again,”she said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Covid-19: Too early to see case spike as serious threat to health

The 85 Covid-19 new cases announced on Thursday has jolted the mood in the relentless debate over whether the State ’ s policies are too restrictive or too lax , and whether a significant part of the population may be getting jaded with the effort required to keep the virus under control .
Friday ’ s number ( 38 ) didn ’ t confirm that the situation has gone to hell in a handbasket , but it wasn ’ t terribly reassuring either .
Neither Thursday ’ s nor Friday ’ s numbers compare well with the rates we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a definite bump in the road .
Trinity College Dublin immunologist Prof Luke O ’ Neill said his “ heart sank ” when he heard the number on Thursday .
“ But it ’ s all about trends .
You can ’ t take a single number , and Ireland has been doing great up to this point , ” he said .
The ship may have listed a bit this week , he said , speaking before the release of Friday ’ s figures .
“ We have to keep the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am concerned.
” There is no need for a knee-jerk reaction , but if the trend has changed , “ then we are in trouble ” .
The spike in national anxiety is not being helped by what is happening in mainland Europe , and further afield , where there have been disheartening resurgences of the virus .
In London , prime minister Boris Johnson announced a delay in easing some restrictions , and said face masks were to become mandatory in indoor settings such as museums and churches from August 8th .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world , we can ’ t fool ourselves that we are exempt , ” he said .
“ Our assessment is that we should squeeze that brake pedal.
” In Hong Kong , a high number of new cases each day over a five-day period led to a reimposition of restrictions .
The situation is not as serious here , or not yet anyway .
One swallow does not make a summer , and it is the same in relation to one , or two , or maybe three days of high @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If it stretches beyond that , though , we are facing truly serious questions .
Kingston Mills , professor of experimental immunology at Trinity College Dublin , sees reasons for concern in the way resurgences have happened in Spain , France “ and even Germany ” .
He said that when the rules are relaxed for indoor gatherings , we are going to see clusters in households such as was the case with Thursday ’ s figure .
It was not clear where the clusters were coming from , given that the rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very low .
He wonders about the role being played by asymptomatic carriers of the virus , who may constitute up to 50 per cent of those infected .
The issue of asymptomatic carriers is an important component of the masks debate , and adds weight to the need to make their use widespread , he believes .
In Boston , you can get a $ 500 fine for not wearing a mask outdoors .
“ It sounds draconian , but we do need to encourage people.
” The people in charge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been anxious to emphasise the ongoing importance of the same old messages – social distancing , avoiding large gatherings , washing your hands , wearing face coverings , meeting people outdoors and downloading the contact tracing app .
The course of infection over the coming weeks will be dictated by “ the action of each and every person in our communities across the country ” , the acting chief medical officer , Dr Ronan Glynn , said on Thursday .
So how worried should we be ?
Maybe it ’ s best not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ middle of next week .

The course of infection will be dictated by “the action of each and every person in our communities across the country”. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
The 85 Covid-19 new cases announced on Thursday has jolted the mood in the relentless debate over whether the State’s policies are too restrictive or too lax, and whether a significant part of the population may be getting jaded with the effort required to keep the virus under control.
Friday’s number (38) didn’t confirm that the situation has gone to hell in a handbasket, but it wasn’t terribly reassuring either.
Neither Thursday’s nor Friday’s numbers compare well with the rates we have been used to. There’s been a definite bump in the road.
Trinity College Dublin immunologist Prof Luke O’Neill said his “heart sank” when he heard the number on Thursday. “But it’s all about trends. You can’t take a single number, and Ireland has been doing great up to this point,” he said.
READ MORE
The ship may have listed a bit this week, he said, speaking before the release of Friday’s figures. “We have to keep the ship steady, as far as I am concerned.” There is no need for a knee-jerk reaction, but if the trend has changed, “then we are in trouble”.
Face masks
The spike in national anxiety is not being helped by what is happening in mainland Europe, and further afield, where there have been disheartening resurgences of the virus.
In London, prime minister Boris Johnson announced a delay in easing some restrictions, and said face masks were to become mandatory in indoor settings such as museums and churches from August 8th.
“As we see these rises around the world, we can’t fool ourselves that we are exempt,” he said. “Our assessment is that we should squeeze that brake pedal.”
In Hong Kong, a high number of new cases each day over a five-day period led to a reimposition of restrictions.
The situation is not as serious here, or not yet anyway. One swallow does not make a summer, and it is the same in relation to one, or two, or maybe three days of high numbers of new cases being recorded. If it stretches beyond that, though, we are facing truly serious questions.
Kingston Mills, professor of experimental immunology at Trinity College Dublin, sees reasons for concern in the way resurgences have happened in Spain, France “and even Germany”.
Asymptomatic carriers
He said that when the rules are relaxed for indoor gatherings, we are going to see clusters in households such as was the case with Thursday’s figure. It was not clear where the clusters were coming from, given that the rate of infection in the community was so very low.
He wonders about the role being played by asymptomatic carriers of the virus, who may constitute up to 50 per cent of those infected. The issue of asymptomatic carriers is an important component of the masks debate, and adds weight to the need to make their use widespread, he believes.
In Boston, you can get a $500 fine for not wearing a mask outdoors. “It sounds draconian, but we do need to encourage people.”
The people in charge of our national response to the pandemic have been anxious to emphasise the ongoing importance of the same old messages – social distancing, avoiding large gatherings, washing your hands, wearing face coverings, meeting people outdoors and downloading the contact tracing app.
The course of infection over the coming weeks will be dictated by "the action of each and every person in our communities across the country", the acting chief medical officer, Dr Ronan Glynn, said on Thursday.
So how worried should we be? Maybe it’s best not to try answer the question until the middle of next week.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Court ruling on State climate plan ‘demands’ political attention

The landmark Supreme Court judgment quashing the State ’ s climate mitigation plan “ demands ” ongoing political attention on climate issues , the leader of the Green Party has said .
Minister for Climate Action Eamon Ryan said the ruling would provide an important “ guard rail ” to keep policy and political attention on climate issues as other matters emerge which compete for political attention .
“ In the natural order of things emergencies arise and you need that long-term guard rail to make sure really big long-term projects like decarbonisation are remembered even in times when other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
Mr Ryan said given the competing pressures of Government , “ the immediate gets in the way of the important ; the advantage about this judgment is it keeps the important in the frame ” .
Mr Ryan said the Government had to now consider the judgment at length “ because it is complex and technical ” .
The Minister said a National Energy and Climate Plan to be submitted to Brussels next year may address some of the policy actions necessitated by the court ruling .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be announced to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 .
And in October this year national governments are likely to be asked to outline plans to reduce emissions by between 50 and 55 per cent .
The Programme for Government mandates the introduction of a climate action Bill within the first 100 days of the Government .
“ That process was already in train but the Supreme Court judgment demands it , ” he said .
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said “ the Government will give it serious and considered examination ” .
On Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s “ excessively vague and aspirational ” plan to combat climate change .
A seven-judge court ruled the National Mitigation Plan ( 2017-2022 ) lacks specificity .
It also found the plan does not comply with Ireland ’ s obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 to give sufficient detail about achieving the national transition objective of a low-carbon economy by the end of 2050 .
The Government is obliged to give “ some realistic level of detail ” about how it intended to meet the objective and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ short ” of the sort of specificity the 2015 Act requires , said Chief Justice Mr Justice Frank Clarke .
He said he did not consider any reasonable and interested observer would know , in any sufficient detail , how it really is intended , under current Government policy , to achieve the objective by 2050 on the basis of the information in the plan .
The Government must now devise a new plan taking into account the court ’ s findings , made in an appeal by Friends of the Irish Environment @

The landmark Supreme Court judgment quashing the State's climate mitigation plan "demands" ongoing political attention on climate issues, the leader of the Green Party has said.
Minister for Climate Action Eamon Ryan said the ruling would provide an important "guard rail" to keep policy and political attention on climate issues as other matters emerge which compete for political attention.
“In the natural order of things emergencies arise and you need that long-term guard rail to make sure really big long-term projects like decarbonisation are remembered even in times when other emergencies grab Government’s attention,” he said.
Mr Ryan said given the competing pressures of Government, “the immediate gets in the way of the important; the advantage about this judgment is it keeps the important in the frame”. Mr Ryan said the Government had to now consider the judgment at length “because it is complex and technical”.
READ MORE
The Minister said a National Energy and Climate Plan to be submitted to Brussels next year may address some of the policy actions necessitated by the court ruling. It is expected that a European target will soon be announced to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. And in October this year national governments are likely to be asked to outline plans to reduce emissions by between 50 and 55 per cent.
The Programme for Government mandates the introduction of a climate action Bill within the first 100 days of the Government. “That process was already in train but the Supreme Court judgment demands it,” he said. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said “the Government will give it serious and considered examination”.
‘Vague and aspirational plan’
On Friday, the Supreme Court overturned the Government’s “excessively vague and aspirational” plan to combat climate change. A seven-judge court ruled the National Mitigation Plan (2017-2022) lacks specificity.
It also found the plan does not comply with Ireland’s obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 to give sufficient detail about achieving the national transition objective of a low-carbon economy by the end of 2050.
The Government is obliged to give "some realistic level of detail" about how it intended to meet the objective and the plan "falls a long way short" of the sort of specificity the 2015 Act requires, said Chief Justice Mr Justice Frank Clarke.
He said he did not consider any reasonable and interested observer would know, in any sufficient detail, how it really is intended, under current Government policy, to achieve the objective by 2050 on the basis of the information in the plan. The Government must now devise a new plan taking into account the court’s findings, made in an appeal by Friends of the Irish Environment.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Covid-19: Cases to be reviewed over weekend ahead of phase-four reopening

The number of Covid-19 cases will be monitored “ very carefully ” over the weekend , the Taoiseach has said ahead of a Cabinet decision on Tuesday on moving to phase four of the reopening roadmap .
Last night marked 38 additional cases of Covid-19 reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team following a spike of 85 new cases on Thursday .
The acting chief medical officer warned “ we may be beginning to see more cases which we can not link to outbreaks or close contacts ” .
Phase four , due to commence on August 10th , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food reopen as well as gatherings of up to 100 people indoors and 500 outdoors .
Mr Martin yesterday said the spike in cases was a concern and the Government will “ watch and monitor very carefully ” what happens in the coming days .
“ We have to see if a pattern has emerged or if it was relating to specific clusters that have emerged in recent days , ” he said .
Dr Ronan Glynn last night said mass testing had taken place in relation to a number of known outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dog Foods in Co Kildare .
Some of the workers who lived in two direct provision centres have been moved to isolation facilities at Citywest , Co Dublin .
Of the 123 cases in the past two days 84 are linked to known outbreaks , 19 are community transmission and 20 are under investigation .
The median age of Friday ’ s cases was 30 years of age .
However , no further deaths were notified .
Dr Glynn aid the importance of isolating as soon as people had flu symptoms “ can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health emergency team said a survey of GPs found most patients with Covid-like symptoms in the past week had not been self-isolating .
Meanwhile , staff in the public service have been told that they will now be required to return to the work premises “ when and as necessary and deemed appropriate by their employer ” .
Previous advice stipulated that public sector workers would continue to stay at home and work remotely where possible .
The new circular indicates that “ any continuation of home working must be balanced with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective and efficient services to the public ” .
Employers have been asked to consider new temporary arrangements including flexible shifts , staggered hours , longer opening hours , blended working patterns and weekend working .
“ There should be engagement between management and unions/associations , in line with appropriate arrangements , for any such continued or new arrangements.
” In the circular , dated July 30th from the Department of Public Expenditure , nearly 340,000 staff in the public sector have also been told that they will not have to restrict their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Government ’ s travel “ green list ” .
They were previously told that if they engage in non-essential travel abroad , they would effectively have to use up holidays or applying for unpaid leave on return .
In other developments the Government has reversed a decision to exclude proprietary directors from the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme after small business owners warned the move would lead to the closure of companies .
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said late on Friday that he had asked Revenue to reinstate directors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scheme and has also asked his department to review the provision .
Elsewhere an interim report was published by the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee setting out 19 recommendations on nursing homes whose residents were disproportionately affected by the outbreak .
Advocacy groups welcomed the report ’ s acknowledgement that a lack of statutory clinical oversight in private nursing has been “ one of the biggest weaknesses ” exposed by the crisis .
Recommendations include that health authorities take steps to ensure adequate staffing and that infection control is in place ahead of any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be discharged from hospitals to nursing homes with substandard infection control and that , more broadly , there is a need to develop independent living models for older people .

The acting chief medical officer warned ‘we may be beginning to see more cases which we cannot link to outbreaks or close contacts’. File photograph: The Irish Times
The number of Covid-19 cases will be monitored “very carefully” over the weekend, the Taoiseach has said ahead of a Cabinet decision on Tuesday on moving to phase four of the reopening roadmap.
Last night marked 38 additional cases of Covid-19 reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team following a spike of 85 new cases on Thursday. The acting chief medical officer warned “we may be beginning to see more cases which we cannot link to outbreaks or close contacts”.
Phase four, due to commence on August 10th, would mean pubs which do not serve food reopen as well as gatherings of up to 100 people indoors and 500 outdoors.
Mr Martin yesterday said the spike in cases was a concern and the Government will “watch and monitor very carefully” what happens in the coming days. “We have to see if a pattern has emerged or if it was relating to specific clusters that have emerged in recent days,” he said.
READ MORE
Dr Ronan Glynn last night said mass testing had taken place in relation to a number of known outbreaks. This included an outbreak at Irish Dog Foods in Co Kildare. Some of the workers who lived in two direct provision centres have been moved to isolation facilities at Citywest, Co Dublin.
Of the 123 cases in the past two days 84 are linked to known outbreaks, 19 are community transmission and 20 are under investigation. The median age of Friday’s cases was 30 years of age. However, no further deaths were notified.
Dr Glynn aid the importance of isolating as soon as people had flu symptoms “cannot be overstated”. The public health emergency team said a survey of GPs found most patients with Covid-like symptoms in the past week had not been self-isolating.
Meanwhile, staff in the public service have been told that they will now be required to return to the work premises “when and as necessary and deemed appropriate by their employer”. Previous advice stipulated that public sector workers would continue to stay at home and work remotely where possible.
The new circular indicates that “any continuation of home working must be balanced with the requirement to continue to provide the most effective and efficient services to the public”. Employers have been asked to consider new temporary arrangements including flexible shifts, staggered hours, longer opening hours, blended working patterns and weekend working.
“There should be engagement between management and unions/associations, in line with appropriate arrangements, for any such continued or new arrangements.”
In the circular, dated July 30th from the Department of Public Expenditure, nearly 340,000 staff in the public sector have also been told that they will not have to restrict their movements if they return from a country on the Government’s travel “green list”. They were previously told that if they engage in non-essential travel abroad, they would effectively have to use up holidays or applying for unpaid leave on return.
Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme
In other developments the Government has reversed a decision to exclude proprietary directors from the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme after small business owners warned the move would lead to the closure of companies.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said late on Friday that he had asked Revenue to reinstate directors who retain ordinary employees on their payroll to the scheme and has also asked his department to review the provision.
Elsewhere an interim report was published by the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee setting out 19 recommendations on nursing homes whose residents were disproportionately affected by the outbreak.
Advocacy groups welcomed the report’s acknowledgement that a lack of statutory clinical oversight in private nursing has been “one of the biggest weaknesses” exposed by the crisis. Recommendations include that health authorities take steps to ensure adequate staffing and that infection control is in place ahead of any second wave.
It says no patients should be discharged from hospitals to nursing homes with substandard infection control and that, more broadly, there is a need to develop independent living models for older people.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Supreme Court ruling a lift for climate activists worldwide

The Supreme Court decision in what has become known as “ Climate Case Ireland ” will be a fillip for climate activists worldwide convinced governments are failing to curb carbon emissions , given what they perceive as an immediate existential threat to the Earth .
Within corridors of power , it will be a reminder to national administrations that failure on climate commitments is actionable in a court of law .
Similar cases of climate ligation are in train in many countries and are likely to increase in light of verifiable proof of climate disruption caused by human activity , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – and the policies of governments .
Up to now , it should be acknowledged that most actions have failed .
The Irish climate case is only one of two that have reached a country ’ s highest court .
The first was the crowd-funded “ Urgenda ” case brought in The Netherlands where the court ruled the Dutch government knowingly exposing its own citizens to danger as a consequence of its climate policy , and it was found to have infringed rights protected under the European Convention on Human Rights by failing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involved in taking the case helped Friends of the Irish Environment in bringing their action .
In Ireland , much has changed since the unquestionably weak 2017 National Mitigation Plan , notably in terms of scaling up ambition and emissions reduction targets .
It was said to be “ a living document ” to be updated but , remarkably , it allowed for an increase in emissions .
This decision , however , will be a reminder to the Government on delivery and the risk of being held accountable legally .
Crucially , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was indeed subject to review by the courts .
As environmental law expert in UCC Dr Áine Ryall noted : “ Judicial review of the plan did not amount to an impermissible venture by the courts into areas of policy , as the Government had argued.
” The net result is that the plan is quashed and a new one must now be produced which meets the requirements of the 2015 Climate Act .
“ Moreover , the court has set out clear markers here as to what is required in terms of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included in any new plan if it is to pass muster .
This is a very significant development in the law for those arguing for more robust climate action from Government , ” she added .
The reality is that the 2019 Climate Action Plan provides much of that missing detail though climate activists would contend its annual emissions target – a 3.5 per cent cut – is still inadequate given what is facing the world as a consequence of global heating .
There are two key actions against which the Government ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measured .
First is the promised Climate Action Bill , which will include a mechanism to introduce five-yearly carbon budgets to force sectors to reduce their emissions .
This is promised within the first 100 days of office .
Second is a National Energy and Climate Plan required by the EU , which must set out how emissions will be reduced up to 2030 , and beyond .
Minister for Climate Action Eamon Ryan , whose hand is strengthened by the court decision , has indicated this will be fully in place by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlined the need to push on immediately .
As they view it , the Government already had a scientific , political and moral obligation to step up its efforts to cut climate-polluting emissions , now the Supreme Court has ruled it has a legal obligation as well .
In this landmark case , there was no dispute between the parties concerning climate science , no dispute about the projected severe impacts of climate disruption and no dispute therefore about the need to achieve sharp reductions .
It was about the detail and ambition @

In this landmark case, there was no dispute between the parties concerning climate science. File photograph: The Irish Times
The Supreme Court decision in what has become known as "Climate Case Ireland" will be a fillip for climate activists worldwide convinced governments are failing to curb carbon emissions, given what they perceive as an immediate existential threat to the Earth.
Within corridors of power, it will be a reminder to national administrations that failure on climate commitments is actionable in a court of law.
Similar cases of climate ligation are in train in many countries and are likely to increase in light of verifiable proof of climate disruption caused by human activity, big corporations – especially fossil fuel companies – and the policies of governments.
Up to now, it should be acknowledged that most actions have failed. The Irish climate case is only one of two that have reached a country’s highest court.
READ MORE
The first was the crowd-funded "Urgenda" case brought in The Netherlands where the court ruled the Dutch government knowingly exposing its own citizens to danger as a consequence of its climate policy, and it was found to have infringed rights protected under the European Convention on Human Rights by failing on climate action.
Tellingly, those involved in taking the case helped Friends of the Irish Environment in bringing their action.
In Ireland, much has changed since the unquestionably weak 2017 National Mitigation Plan, notably in terms of scaling up ambition and emissions reduction targets. It was said to be "a living document" to be updated but, remarkably, it allowed for an increase in emissions.
This decision, however, will be a reminder to the Government on delivery and the risk of being held accountable legally. Crucially, the Supreme Court determined that the plan was indeed subject to review by the courts.
As environmental law expert in UCC Dr Áine Ryall noted: “Judicial review of the plan did not amount to an impermissible venture by the courts into areas of policy, as the Government had argued.”
The net result is that the plan is quashed and a new one must now be produced which meets the requirements of the 2015 Climate Act. “Moreover, the court has set out clear markers here as to what is required in terms of the level of detail that must be included in any new plan if it is to pass muster. This is a very significant development in the law for those arguing for more robust climate action from Government,” she added.
The reality is that the 2019 Climate Action Plan provides much of that missing detail though climate activists would contend its annual emissions target – a 3.5 per cent cut – is still inadequate given what is facing the world as a consequence of global heating.
Measuring commitments
There are two key actions against which the Government's commitments on climate action will be measured. First is the promised Climate Action Bill, which will include a mechanism to introduce five-yearly carbon budgets to force sectors to reduce their emissions. This is promised within the first 100 days of office. Second is a National Energy and Climate Plan required by the EU, which must set out how emissions will be reduced up to 2030, and beyond. Minister for Climate Action Eamon Ryan, whose hand is strengthened by the court decision, has indicated this will be fully in place by early next year.
Climate groups have underlined the need to push on immediately. As they view it, the Government already had a scientific, political and moral obligation to step up its efforts to cut climate-polluting emissions, now the Supreme Court has ruled it has a legal obligation as well.
In this landmark case, there was no dispute between the parties concerning climate science, no dispute about the projected severe impacts of climate disruption and no dispute therefore about the need to achieve sharp reductions. It was about the detail and ambition.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Clifden firms struggle and thrive in wake of Covid-19 effect

Local woman Joan King , has spent decades serving holiday makers at King ’ s Paper and Gift Shop in Clifden , but she has never experienced a summer quite like this one .
“ We ’ ve had none of our foreign visitors .
We would normally have huge numbers of Americans , Germans and French .
It has killed the season for us and nothing will bring that back , ” she says .
“ Local people found it very hard when we went into lockdown .
Clifden was like a ghost town .
No one had ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were very nervous .
People are still nervous .
A lot of people who had holiday homes came down and stayed .
It was great for them to get out of Dublin and it worked well .
Anyone [ from Dublin ] we ’ ve met has been lovely .
There was a little negativity in the early days but it ’ s been fine.
” She runs the gift shop with her daughter , Lisa King , who also chairs the Connemara Chamber of Commerce , which was heavily involved as Clifden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Everyone had a different idea about how they wanted to deal with it .
Some of the businesses were very forceful that they wanted masks worn in their shops at all times and others were more lax , ” she says .
“ We can ’ t afford someone on the door , we can ’ t turn people away because they are not wearing masks but some of the businesses wanted us to do that .
So we ’ ve followed the guidelines that the Government put in place.
” Since then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus and others who think it is a hoax , or exaggerated : “ Sometimes we have to ask customers to step back , to give other people space .
We have had several lectures in here from conspiracy theorists.
” Patricia O ’ Toole , who has operated a boutique and her Beautiful You fashion range in Clifden for the past eight years , believes the Government will have to do something drastic to help small businesses stay afloat .
“ We can see the end of the season coming and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
What are we going to do next January or February ?
What are we going to have to do to be able to stay in business next year ?
” she asks .
Small retailers are arguing for more than a 2 per cent VAT cut .
“ Shops like ours are part of the fabric of the town .
We are part of what people do on their holiday .
A massive injection of capital will have to be in the future for us , ” says O ’ Toole .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going to be very , very tough .
We ’ re going to spend the winter paying out and with very little coming in .
It ’ s a lot of pressure .
Trying to put a brave face on it is very difficult .
The health of the country is the key thing but on a day-to-day basis we have to survive .
We need drastic measures to help us make it through .
A second spike could put an end to a lot of us , ” she says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ well , even thriving .
Despite losing 12 staff members on the day the lockdown was announced , Kavanagh ’ s SuperValu has recorded its best summer season so far .
“ Our staff were very afraid , it was all new and all scary .
We had a few people with underlying health issues , a few couples who had children to look after at home and others with elderly relatives , ” says store manager Joe Lynch .
A large influx of Irish tourists has more than compensated Kavanagh ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clifden , with particularly strong off-licence trade .
“ People ’ s habits have changed .
Instead of shopping two or three times a week , they came just once a week and spent €200 .
It was like Christmas every day during March and April , ” says Lynch .
“ Our sales grew by about 20 per cent in March and April between home deliveries and because bars and restaurants were closed .
For the past few weeks we have been busier than a normal year , even without the foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is extremely busy .
We ’ re not seeing nearly the amount of foreign visitors .
The Irish are not sitting at home drinking water at night when they are on their holidays , and we are reaping the benefits of that .
The Abbeyglen Castle Hotel used to survive predominantly on north American and European visitors .
This year , it is “ 100 per cent Irish ” , says owner Brian Hughes .
“ We ’ ve turned away far more business than we have accepted .
We have had to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to be entertained all the time , they go to bed late , they all come down at 9.55am for breakfast , they like to keep the barman up all night .
It ’ s been a huge cultural change for us , ” he says .

‘The Irish are not sitting at home drinking water at night when they are on their holidays, and we are reaping the benefits of that.’ Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
Local woman Joan King, has spent decades serving holiday makers at King's Paper and Gift Shop in Clifden, but she has never experienced a summer quite like this one.
“We’ve had none of our foreign visitors. We would normally have huge numbers of Americans, Germans and French. It has killed the season for us and nothing will bring that back,” she says.
“Local people found it very hard when we went into lockdown. Clifden was like a ghost town. No one had ever seen anything like that before, people were very nervous. People are still nervous. A lot of people who had holiday homes came down and stayed. It was great for them to get out of Dublin and it worked well. Anyone [from Dublin] we’ve met has been lovely. There was a little negativity in the early days but it’s been fine.”
Lisa King, president of Connemara Chamber of Commerce and her mother Joan King, both of King’s Paper Shop in Clifden. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy.
She runs the gift shop with her daughter, Lisa King, who also chairs the Connemara Chamber of Commerce, which was heavily involved as Clifden faced the challenges of reopening.
READ MORE
“Everyone had a different idea about how they wanted to deal with it. Some of the businesses were very forceful that they wanted masks worn in their shops at all times and others were more lax,” she says.
“We can’t afford someone on the door, we can’t turn people away because they are not wearing masks but some of the businesses wanted us to do that. So we’ve followed the guidelines that the Government put in place.”
‘Conspiracy theorists’
Since then, they have faced those nervous about the virus and others who think it is a hoax, or exaggerated: “Sometimes we have to ask customers to step back, to give other people space. We have had several lectures in here from conspiracy theorists.”
Patricia O’Toole, who has operated a boutique and her Beautiful You fashion range in Clifden for the past eight years, believes the Government will have to do something drastic to help small businesses stay afloat.
“We can see the end of the season coming and that is creating a lot of pressure. What are we going to do next January or February? What are we going to have to do to be able to stay in business next year?” she asks.
Small retailers are arguing for more than a 2 per cent VAT cut.
“Shops like ours are part of the fabric of the town. We are part of what people do on their holiday. A massive injection of capital will have to be in the future for us,” says O’Toole.
“Until next March, it’s going to be very, very tough. We’re going to spend the winter paying out and with very little coming in. It’s a lot of pressure. Trying to put a brave face on it is very difficult. The health of the country is the key thing but on a day-to-day basis we have to survive. We need drastic measures to help us make it through. A second spike could put an end to a lot of us,” she says.
A Clifden Square crepe stall. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
Some Clifden businesses are weathering the storm well, even thriving. Despite losing 12 staff members on the day the lockdown was announced, Kavanagh’s SuperValu has recorded its best summer season so far.
"Our staff were very afraid, it was all new and all scary. We had a few people with underlying health issues, a few couples who had children to look after at home and others with elderly relatives," says store manager Joe Lynch.
Foreign tourists
A large influx of Irish tourists has more than compensated Kavanagh’s for the lack of foreign tourists in Clifden, with particularly strong off-licence trade.
“People’s habits have changed. Instead of shopping two or three times a week, they came just once a week and spent €200. It was like Christmas every day during March and April,” says Lynch.
“Our sales grew by about 20 per cent in March and April between home deliveries and because bars and restaurants were closed. For the past few weeks we have been busier than a normal year, even without the foreign tourists.
“Right now, Clifden is extremely busy. We’re not seeing nearly the amount of foreign visitors. The Irish are not sitting at home drinking water at night when they are on their holidays, and we are reaping the benefits of that.
Children at play in Clifden Square. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
The Abbeyglen Castle Hotel used to survive predominantly on north American and European visitors. This year, it is "100 per cent Irish", says owner Brian Hughes.
“We’ve turned away far more business than we have accepted. We have had to rethink how we behave. Irish people need to be entertained all the time, they go to bed late, they all come down at 9.55am for breakfast, they like to keep the barman up all night. It’s been a huge cultural change for us,” he says.


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Bus Éireann to conduct drink and drugs tests on staff via private firm

Bus Éireann is to carry out privately run random alcohol and drug testing on staff after a driver was sacked for failing a Garda breathalyser test while in charge of a bus with passengers aboard .
Until now , responsibility for testing employees for drugs at the State-owned transport company fell solely to the medical department of its parent company CIÉ .
Bus Éireann says none of its 2,700 staff tested positive for alcohol or drugs under tests carried out by CIÉ over the past 10 years , though it has repeatedly refused to disclose the numbers of tests carried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its history , the company has now given a private firm a €500,000 contract to carry out spot testing on staff at stations and on the road over the next three years .
Tests will begin before the year end .
During the “ normal course of reviewing and improving systems ” , senior managers at Bus Éireann decided last year to “ enhance ” testing “ beyond that required by law ” , said the company .
“ The enhanced programme sees Bus Éireann moving from a regular employment and ‘ for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme of random testing for all employees , ” said a spokeswoman .
So-called “ for cause ” testing is carried out after an incident , such as a collision .
The company said it has yet to decide on the number of tests that will be done .
General secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union Dermot O ’ Learysaid the end-year target to begin is “ ambitious ” .Several practical and industrial relations issues have yet to be resolved with the trade unions , including the unions ’ demand that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested equally .
“ There are practical issues too around some prescription and over-the-counter drugs that have substances in them that may show up as a positive test .
I ’ m thinking in particular of anything that has codeine in it , ” he said .
A company spokeswoman added : “ There has been no evidence of alcohol or drug involvement in road accidents or other incidents involving Bus Éireann drivers.
” In January , Bus Éireann apologised after one of its drivers was arrested in Cork city on suspicion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with passengers aboard on New Year ’ s Day .
The driver , in his 50s , was later released without charge while gardaí prepared a file on the case .
Bus Éireann told The Irish Times the driver “ did not return to driving duties , was dismissed and an employment appeal process is ongoing ” .
“ The employment appeal process has a number of standard defined steps which are exhausted internally before recourse to any third party process , as is the norm , ” added a spokeswoman .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remote working and physical distancing requirements.
” What of the other transport firms ?
Earlier this year , Irish Rail , Dublin Bus and Luas all confirmed they had each sacked or sanctioned one driver over the past three years for failing alcohol and drugs tests .
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has previously called for transparency on how testing is carried out at public transport firms given the significant obligation they have of carrying thousands of passengers weekly .
“ There is a deficiency of information .
But I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is a wholesale problem and that has to be acknowledged at the same time .
”

Senior managers at Bus Éireann decided last year to ‘enhance’ testing ‘beyond that required by law’. File photograph: Aidan Crawley/The Irish Times
Bus Éireann is to carry out privately run random alcohol and drug testing on staff after a driver was sacked for failing a Garda breathalyser test while in charge of a bus with passengers aboard.
Until now, responsibility for testing employees for drugs at the State-owned transport company fell solely to the medical department of its parent company CIÉ.
Bus Éireann says none of its 2,700 staff tested positive for alcohol or drugs under tests carried out by CIÉ over the past 10 years, though it has repeatedly refused to disclose the numbers of tests carried out.
For the first time in its history, the company has now given a private firm a €500,000 contract to carry out spot testing on staff at stations and on the road over the next three years. Tests will begin before the year end.
READ MORE
During the “normal course of reviewing and improving systems”, senior managers at Bus Éireann decided last year to “enhance” testing “beyond that required by law”, said the company.
“The enhanced programme sees Bus Éireann moving from a regular employment and ‘for cause’ testing regime to add a programme of random testing for all employees,” said a spokeswoman.
So-called “for cause” testing is carried out after an incident, such as a collision.
The company said it has yet to decide on the number of tests that will be done. General secretary of the National Bus and Rail Union Dermot O’Learysaid the end-year target to begin is “ambitious”.Several practical and industrial relations issues have yet to be resolved with the trade unions, including the unions’ demand that all staff, including management, are tested equally.
“There are practical issues too around some prescription and over-the-counter drugs that have substances in them that may show up as a positive test. I’m thinking in particular of anything that has codeine in it,” he said.
A company spokeswoman added: “There has been no evidence of alcohol or drug involvement in road accidents or other incidents involving Bus Éireann drivers.”
In January, Bus Éireann apologised after one of its drivers was arrested in Cork city on suspicion of drink-driving while in charge of a bus with passengers aboard on New Year’s Day. The driver, in his 50s, was later released without charge while gardaí prepared a file on the case.
Bus Éireann told The Irish Times the driver “did not return to driving duties, was dismissed and an employment appeal process is ongoing”.
“The employment appeal process has a number of standard defined steps which are exhausted internally before recourse to any third party process, as is the norm,” added a spokeswoman. “Processes have been slower due to Covid-19 remote working and physical distancing requirements.”
What of the other transport firms?
Earlier this year, Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Luas all confirmed they had each sacked or sanctioned one driver over the past three years for failing alcohol and drugs tests.
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has previously called for transparency on how testing is carried out at public transport firms given the significant obligation they have of carrying thousands of passengers weekly.
“There is a deficiency of information. But I don’t think there is very significant evidence that there is a wholesale problem and that has to be acknowledged at the same time.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-01--Connemara’s tourism industry rides seasonal tide but fears uncertain future

Bunowen pier is one of the Earth ’ s more beautiful final stops ; the last on the road from Ballyconneely , with a backdrop of Connemara ’ s pastels of wild heather , a white sandy beach and sea-colours redolent of the Caribbean .
It is also home to the region ’ s oldest smokehouse .
In normal years , Graham Roberts would have between 8,000 to 12,000 visitors passing through the factory established by his father more than 40 years ago .
This August , the factory is closed to all visitors because Mr Roberts is terrified by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The nearby shop is open , but it has been quiet .
The smokehouse was badly damaged by a fire in 1990 and by a flood six years ago – “ the roof was ripped off and my car left floating around the garden ” , Mr Roberts recalls .
But unlike the pandemic , those were rational problems that could be solved .
However , the coronavirus year of 2020 has sent a huge tremor of uncertainty through Connemara .
“ This is the toughest .
Because there is no end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standing outside the smokehouse on a squally Wednesday morning on the pier in the spitting rain .
“ For us anyway , we are very quiet here .
It does seem to be busy around the place – partly because it has been so quiet for so long .
But there are no coaches dropping off groups in town .
“ The international market is .
.
.
gone and we don ’ t know for how long .
But the priority has to be that we get to the other side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even from a distance , the beechwood used in the smokehouse lingers in the air .
Mr Robert ’ s father was firstly a fisherman and knew prime fish .
Today , he ’ ll smoke and marinate salmon , herring , mackerel and tuna .
The fish are hand-filleted , dry salted , cured and then smoked in the beechwood .
The notoriously temperamental weather moods dictate the pace , he goes on .
“ On ideal conditions it is eight to 10 hours of smoking and the same drying .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the smoke gets pulled up the chimney faster .
When it is wet it is humid and drying takes longer .
But the end result is the same.
” The family business has no supermarket presence , supplying , instead , niche shops .
But their export business is significant , built on a reputation of painstaking quality .
Rick Stein featured their smoked tuna almost 20years ago and Pierre Perret , the French singer and a long-time Connemara enthusiast , pronounced their fish the best in the world on national television .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exported to France .
The smokehouse has 12 full-time staff .
It is a local success story , a symbol of the enchantment of Connemara that has attracted foreign visitors .
Connemara ’ s tourism season is exactly that , seasonal .
The disappearance of foreign visitors has brought a strange and unexpected return to the Irish-only tourist market , which is fine for the hotels and restaurants .
However , craft shops , gift shops and local tours are slanted towards continental and American visitors , while better roads help Irish visitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
The recession after 2008/2009 hit heavily : “ The thing about the recovery after 08/09 is that once the recovery hits , people became comfortable again , ” says Colum Joyce , author and researcher with Sustainable Connemara .
“ But when you have a dependency of 68 per cent based on tourism as Connemara does : let ’ s put it like this , Covid is showing what that does to an economy .
It removes the people , ” he says .
So what lies ahead ?
Air travel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal until 2024 .
The full impact of a vaccine , according to the deputy head for the US Centre for Disease Control in the United States , may not be felt until the end of 2022 .
“ Connemara tourism has France and Ireland accounting for 52 per cent of the total .
But this is where it gets interesting .
Connemara has a whole series of opportunities now , ” says Mr Joyce , who grew up in Clifden .
Tourism evolved in an accidental , ambling way in Connemara .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ half of the 1970s , it was rare for pubs to serve a sandwich , let alone food .
Bed and breakfasts were personalised , with families letting rooms .
“ It changed when people started travelling , really , ” Mr Joyce says , adding that the French and Germans began arriving after Ireland ’ s entry to the European Economic Community .
“ You could see it in the rise in sea angling and people coming in for specific events like the Connemara pony show – there are now more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he goes on .
New holiday homes grew rapidly during the Celtic Tiger , causing annoyance , he says : “ It was far more difficult for a local to get planning permission than it was for someone from outside to build a second home , ” Mr Joyce says .
“ They would see homes going up on the skyline .
The Night of the Big Wind [ in 1839 ] told Connemara people you don ’ t build on the skyline unless you want to wake up looking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , even if seasonally .
Heather Greer , an energetic writer , photographer and sailor in her early 70s , retired to Claddaghduff in 2006 after decades of visiting .
Today she is told that she is “ a local at this stage ” by friends : “ You are not though , ” she says brightly .
“ You are always a blow-in.
” Locals have the family networks , the link with history .
“ You will never be completely privy to that.
” Her perspective – from Connemara , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her think about the seasonal tide of visitors which recedes dramatically each autumn , leaving the place deserted during months of shortening daylight .
“ Well .
It ’ s just a very special place .
Something about the remoteness and wildness of it .
The beauty that you are surrounded by .
And the peace and quiet is fantastic .
“ You certainly don ’ t come here for the weather .
It can be hard to live here , too .
The winters are very long .
And the summers can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-sufficient to live here.
” This year ’ s lockdown in Connemara and the accompanying dreamy spell of weather did something unusual , since it gave the place in full bloom to the year-round residents .
“ The birds sang five times louder , ” Ms Greer laughed .
“ It wasn ’ t the summer but it felt like it .
And people had a taste of what it was like with no visitors .
.
.
and it probably tasted good to a lot of people.
” The old model of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have is unsustainable .
Hordes of people flying in and out of countries on holidays and burning up petrol .
There has been a gross over-reliance on quantity .
“ The over-riding metric for success seems to be numbers .
There is an alternative where you limit the numbers but go for people who will come and spend money .
It may mean fewer people and higher prices .
“ Or a Connemara with more things for them to do , ” says Ms Greer , who , before the virus , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a conversation about building a marina in Cleggan .
“ Look at Kinsale or Baltimore .
A large part is fed by visiting yachts .
One of the great barriers here is rounding Slyne Head and having no easy-to-access harbour where you are safe in all weathers .
Cleggan is ideal , she argues : “ There been local conversations about a marina but they are straws in the wind .
But I do feel the future for tourism here is in activity holidays.
” Which is not to say that the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prestige hotels ; the oil-painting enthusiasts and the burgeoning food culture – can not continue to thrive .
Right now – the August bank holiday , the peak of the usual season – everyone involved in tourism is understandably keen to salvage what they can from this blighted year .
Because once autumn comes – certainly post-Halloween , the tourism season will stop .
Maybe it is then when the real Connemara – the place that bewitched Tim Robinson , who died in London from the virus – returns .
By lunchtime on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though an art auction in a marquee in Ballyconneely was busy .
Everywhere , people scuttled indoors .
Cyclists disappeared , leaving the streets of Roundstone empty .
This was an afternoon for finding one of those fabled west of Ireland pubs , with a turf fire and settling down with a good book .
But , of course , the simple pleasure of a walk-in pub has been suspended .
Everything is off-kilter : despite the best intentions and the usual local hospitality , the usual summer energy and freedom from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A lone angler cut a heroic figure in the darkening four o ’ clock as he stood with his rod beside a swollen river down from the iconic Angler ’ s Return guest house .
Mr Joyce is hopeful that the virus will generate winter conversations about how Connemara can reinvent itself in a way that makes it less reliant on the vagaries of the old tourist model .
“ There are unexplored opportunities .
For instance , people say nothing grows here .
But if you take foliage , the bits of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €6 billion-a-year market .
And it grows like weed in Connemara .
“ Dogwood , hazel , willow , nobody has looked at how you exploit this .
The area has the longest growing season in Europe .
Something you could grow in Connemara very well is tea .
“ Then there is natural stuff like blackberries .
There are going to be billions of euros available for anyone with the slightest imagination and who can fit into the environmental push .
There is potential.
” Back in Aillebrack , Mr Roberts has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fish his father and other local fishermen boxed up at the pier in his boyhood , and the changes 40 years have wrought .
“ You ’ d see a turbot draped over the side of the crate .
Hundreds and hundreds of finest prime fish .
Much of that has gone .
Overfishing .
Gill nets probably were a disastrous thing for fishing.
” Environmentally-conscious , Roberts gets worked up about litter – abandoned coffee cups , dog litter left in plastic bags .
“ That always disgusts me .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But I do think people in general are becoming more conscious of the environment .
And I think everyone here is delighted to see visitors coming here again and enjoying themselves.
” The pandemic will change how tourism works , he says , as he holds up his hands up to the seascape before us , “ When you look at the place we live in , it is unbelievable .
“ I promise you , I do not take this place for granted .
I am thankful for it every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the things we have here – the beautiful beaches , the clean water , mountains and lakes .
.
.
we need to protect that .
”

Bunowen pier is one of the Earth's more beautiful final stops; the last on the road from Ballyconneely, with a backdrop of Connemara's pastels of wild heather, a white sandy beach and sea-colours redolent of the Caribbean.
It is also home to the region's oldest smokehouse. In normal years, Graham Roberts would have between 8,000 to 12,000 visitors passing through the factory established by his father more than 40 years ago.
This August, the factory is closed to all visitors because Mr Roberts is terrified by the thought of contamination, he admits. The nearby shop is open, but it has been quiet.
The smokehouse was badly damaged by a fire in 1990 and by a flood six years ago – “the roof was ripped off and my car left floating around the garden”, Mr Roberts recalls.
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But unlike the pandemic, those were rational problems that could be solved. However, the coronavirus year of 2020 has sent a huge tremor of uncertainty through Connemara.
“This is the toughest. Because there is no end line,” says Mr Roberts, standing outside the smokehouse on a squally Wednesday morning on the pier in the spitting rain.
“For us anyway, we are very quiet here. It does seem to be busy around the place – partly because it has been so quiet for so long. But there are no coaches dropping off groups in town.
“The international market is . . . gone and we don’t know for how long. But the priority has to be that we get to the other side of this safely,” Mr Roberts says.
Even from a distance, the beechwood used in the smokehouse lingers in the air. Mr Robert’s father was firstly a fisherman and knew prime fish. Today, he’ll smoke and marinate salmon, herring, mackerel and tuna.
The fish are hand-filleted, dry salted, cured and then smoked in the beechwood. The notoriously temperamental weather moods dictate the pace, he goes on.
“On ideal conditions it is eight to 10 hours of smoking and the same drying. But on a wet squally day, the smoke gets pulled up the chimney faster. When it is wet it is humid and drying takes longer. But the end result is the same.”
Graham Roberts at the Connemara Smokehouse, Ballyconneely. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
The family business has no supermarket presence, supplying, instead, niche shops. But their export business is significant, built on a reputation of painstaking quality.
Rick Stein featured their smoked tuna almost 20years ago and Pierre Perret, the French singer and a long-time Connemara enthusiast, pronounced their fish the best in the world on national television.
Seventy per cent of their produce is exported to France. The smokehouse has 12 full-time staff. It is a local success story, a symbol of the enchantment of Connemara that has attracted foreign visitors.
Connemara’s tourism season is exactly that, seasonal. The disappearance of foreign visitors has brought a strange and unexpected return to the Irish-only tourist market, which is fine for the hotels and restaurants.
However, craft shops, gift shops and local tours are slanted towards continental and American visitors, while better roads help Irish visitors to come, but only for the day.
The recession after 2008/2009 hit heavily: "The thing about the recovery after 08/09 is that once the recovery hits, people became comfortable again," says Colum Joyce, author and researcher with Sustainable Connemara.
“But when you have a dependency of 68 per cent based on tourism as Connemara does: let’s put it like this, Covid is showing what that does to an economy. It removes the people,” he says.
Tourism
So what lies ahead? Air travel is not expected to get back to normal until 2024. The full impact of a vaccine, according to the deputy head for the US Centre for Disease Control in the United States, may not be felt until the end of 2022.
"Connemara tourism has France and Ireland accounting for 52 per cent of the total. But this is where it gets interesting. Connemara has a whole series of opportunities now," says Mr Joyce, who grew up in Clifden.
Tourism evolved in an accidental, ambling way in Connemara. In the late 1960s and the first half of the 1970s, it was rare for pubs to serve a sandwich, let alone food.
Bed and breakfasts were personalised, with families letting rooms. “It changed when people started travelling, really,” Mr Joyce says, adding that the French and Germans began arriving after Ireland’s entry to the European Economic Community.
“You could see it in the rise in sea angling and people coming in for specific events like the Connemara pony show – there are now more than 3,000 Connemara pony clubs across the world,” he goes on.
New holiday homes grew rapidly during the Celtic Tiger, causing annoyance, he says: "It was far more difficult for a local to get planning permission than it was for someone from outside to build a second home," Mr Joyce says.
“They would see homes going up on the skyline. The Night of the Big Wind [in 1839] told Connemara people you don’t build on the skyline unless you want to wake up looking at the stars.”
Relaxing at Roundstone, Connemara. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
New homes brought more people, even if seasonally. Heather Greer, an energetic writer, photographer and sailor in her early 70s, retired to Claddaghduff in 2006 after decades of visiting.
Today she is told that she is “a local at this stage” by friends: “You are not though,” she says brightly. “You are always a blow-in.” Locals have the family networks, the link with history. “You will never be completely privy to that.”
Her perspective – from Connemara, though not quite of it – makes her think about the seasonal tide of visitors which recedes dramatically each autumn, leaving the place deserted during months of shortening daylight.
“Well. It’s just a very special place. Something about the remoteness and wildness of it. The beauty that you are surrounded by. And the peace and quiet is fantastic.
“You certainly don’t come here for the weather. It can be hard to live here, too. The winters are very long. And the summers can be unreliable. You have to be self-sufficient to live here.”
This year’s lockdown in Connemara and the accompanying dreamy spell of weather did something unusual, since it gave the place in full bloom to the year-round residents.
“The birds sang five times louder,” Ms Greer laughed. “It wasn’t the summer but it felt like it. And people had a taste of what it was like with no visitors . . . and it probably tasted good to a lot of people.”
The old model of tourism will change: “What we have is unsustainable. Hordes of people flying in and out of countries on holidays and burning up petrol. There has been a gross over-reliance on quantity.
“The over-riding metric for success seems to be numbers. There is an alternative where you limit the numbers but go for people who will come and spend money. It may mean fewer people and higher prices.
"Or a Connemara with more things for them to do," says Ms Greer, who, before the virus, was involved in efforts to try to kick-start a conversation about building a marina in Cleggan.
"Look at Kinsale or Baltimore. A large part is fed by visiting yachts. One of the great barriers here is rounding Slyne Head and having no easy-to-access harbour where you are safe in all weathers.
Cleggan is ideal, she argues: “There been local conversations about a marina but they are straws in the wind. But I do feel the future for tourism here is in activity holidays.”
Which is not to say that the current summer life – summer homes; secluded prestige hotels; the oil-painting enthusiasts and the burgeoning food culture – cannot continue to thrive.
Joseph King at Kings Bar in Roundstone, Conemara, Co Galway. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
Right now – the August bank holiday, the peak of the usual season – everyone involved in tourism is understandably keen to salvage what they can from this blighted year.
Because once autumn comes – certainly post-Halloween, the tourism season will stop. Maybe it is then when the real Connemara – the place that bewitched Tim Robinson, who died in London from the virus – returns.
By lunchtime on Wednesday, the rain had come heavily, though an art auction in a marquee in Ballyconneely was busy. Everywhere, people scuttled indoors. Cyclists disappeared, leaving the streets of Roundstone empty.
This was an afternoon for finding one of those fabled west of Ireland pubs, with a turf fire and settling down with a good book. But, of course, the simple pleasure of a walk-in pub has been suspended.
Everything is off-kilter: despite the best intentions and the usual local hospitality, the usual summer energy and freedom from day-to-day cares is not quite there.
A lone angler cut a heroic figure in the darkening four o’clock as he stood with his rod beside a swollen river down from the iconic Angler’s Return guest house.
Unexplored opportunities
Mr Joyce is hopeful that the virus will generate winter conversations about how Connemara can reinvent itself in a way that makes it less reliant on the vagaries of the old tourist model.
“There are unexplored opportunities. For instance, people say nothing grows here. But if you take foliage, the bits of greenery in bouquets, that is a €6 billion-a-year market. And it grows like weed in Connemara.
"Dogwood, hazel, willow, nobody has looked at how you exploit this. The area has the longest growing season in Europe. Something you could grow in Connemara very well is tea.
“Then there is natural stuff like blackberries. There are going to be billions of euros available for anyone with the slightest imagination and who can fit into the environmental push. There is potential.”
Back in Aillebrack, Mr Roberts has clear memories of the size and variety of fish his father and other local fishermen boxed up at the pier in his boyhood, and the changes 40 years have wrought.
“You’d see a turbot draped over the side of the crate. Hundreds and hundreds of finest prime fish. Much of that has gone. Overfishing. Gill nets probably were a disastrous thing for fishing.”
Environmentally-conscious, Roberts gets worked up about litter – abandoned coffee cups, dog litter left in plastic bags. “That always disgusts me. There is a bit of a feckless approach.
“But I do think people in general are becoming more conscious of the environment. And I think everyone here is delighted to see visitors coming here again and enjoying themselves.”
The pandemic will change how tourism works, he says, as he holds up his hands up to the seascape before us, “When you look at the place we live in, it is unbelievable.
“I promise you, I do not take this place for granted. I am thankful for it every day. It is easy to forget but the things we have here – the beautiful beaches, the clean water, mountains and lakes . . . we need to protect that.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--FDI into Ireland likely to fall due to pandemic, department warns

The Tánaiste has been warned of a drop-off in foreign direct investment as political and economic changes exacerbated by Covid-19 make it “ much more difficult ” to lure foreign companies to the Republic .
Briefing notes prepared for Leo Varadkar by civil servants in the Department of Enterprise state that “ it is already clear ” that the conditions for attracting FDI , which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in the State , “ are more challenging ” .
Citing the ongoing possibility of a disorderly Brexit , changes to global taxation rules and the global economic downturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that “ it can be expected that attracting FDI to Ireland – at least at the record levels of recent years – will become much more difficult ” .
The notes cite studies that suggest that , globally , FDI will fall by 30-40 per cent in the next 12-18 months .
The Covid-19 pandemic will also require a radical restructuring of the long-term strategic plan for the State ’ s inward investment agency , IDA Ireland , they say .
The agency had drafted its strategic plan before the pandemic hit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this would “ now need to be reconsidered given economic developments over the last number of months which will impact FDI in Ireland and potentially our capacity to sustain the high level of investment flows of recent years ” .
“ The introduction of travel restrictions around the world and the widespread restrictions on external visitors by client companies is also already disrupting the typical way in which the IDA engages with investors .
The significant impact to date is evident in the reduced number of site visits by potential investors , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and events , ” according to the briefing documents .
The notes also warn of international trade tensions , saying there is “ growing support across the EU for what could be regarded as more protectionist policies , which could have a negative impact on Ireland ’ s interests , especially with respect to industrial , single market and competition policy ” .
This trend , along with the departure of the UK , “ a key like-minded ally supporting an open trading policy and the efficiency of the single market , will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ address , ” the notes state .
They also contain a warning of “ de-globalisation pressures ” , with the framework that supports global trade “ under increasing pressure , with competing interests creating deep fractures in the multilateral system ” .

The Tánaiste has been warned of a drop-off in foreign direct investment as political and economic changes exacerbated by Covid-19 make it “much more difficult” to lure foreign companies to the Republic.
Briefing notes prepared for Leo Varadkar by civil servants in the Department of Enterprise state that "it is already clear" that the conditions for attracting FDI, which supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in the State, "are more challenging".
Citing the ongoing possibility of a disorderly Brexit, changes to global taxation rules and the global economic downturn due to Covid-19, the briefing papers state that "it can be expected that attracting FDI to Ireland – at least at the record levels of recent years – will become much more difficult".
The notes cite studies that suggest that, globally, FDI will fall by 30-40 per cent in the next 12-18 months. The Covid-19 pandemic will also require a radical restructuring of the long-term strategic plan for the State's inward investment agency, IDA Ireland, they say.
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The agency had drafted its strategic plan before the pandemic hit, but the officials warned Mr Varadkar that this would “now need to be reconsidered given economic developments over the last number of months which will impact FDI in Ireland and potentially our capacity to sustain the high level of investment flows of recent years”.
“The introduction of travel restrictions around the world and the widespread restrictions on external visitors by client companies is also already disrupting the typical way in which the IDA engages with investors. The significant impact to date is evident in the reduced number of site visits by potential investors, client meetings, marketing trips, announcements and events,” according to the briefing documents.
Trade tensions
The notes also warn of international trade tensions, saying there is “growing support across the EU for what could be regarded as more protectionist policies, which could have a negative impact on Ireland’s interests, especially with respect to industrial, single market and competition policy”.
This trend, along with the departure of the UK, “a key like-minded ally supporting an open trading policy and the efficiency of the single market, will be a key challenge for us to address,” the notes state.
They also contain a warning of “de-globalisation pressures”, with the framework that supports global trade “under increasing pressure, with competing interests creating deep fractures in the multilateral system”.