theirishtimes--2020-09-07--‘It’s about being agile with your qualifications’

It was on St Patrick ’ s Day , a little more than a fortnight after the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the Republic , that the Health Service Executive issued its recruitment call with the message : “ Your country needs you.
” The “ Be on call for Ireland ” initiative was introduced when the crisis on these shores was still very much coming down the tracks .
Various arms of the State could see what was taking place in other countries : hospitals and health settings overrun and unthinkable death tolls .
The plan here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everywhere else that had the luxury of this crystal ball-like vista of how the virus behaved and the efficacy of different public policy approaches to tackling it .
Cases had to be spread out over a long period of time so hospitals had the resources and the personnel to treat patients .
Failure to achieve that would likely lead to catastrophic losses .
But the State ’ s call to arms at the time of perhaps its greatest need was not limited to expat or former healthcare workers .
Indeed , most of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were not healthcare professionals at all , the HSE later confirmed .
A similar pattern has since emerged in the further education and training sector where special courses have been designed for people who also want to do their bit .
Other courses that were already available but related to the pandemic have also seen an uptick in interest .
Solas , the State agency charged with developing the sector , moved quickly , opening up its eCollege online learning portal to the public for free .
It was previously free only to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12,000 people have since signed up for courses .
“ That remains open to everyone , ” says Solas spokeswoman Maria Walsh .
“ It ’ s been huge .
I know the infection control course was one that was quite popular during the shutdown .
“ Secondly , some of the Education and Training Boards ( ETBs ) would have designed specific courses in response to the pandemic .
For example , digital skills for remote working or online working , infection prevention and control courses .
“ We also have Skills @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is in development at the moment .
Some courses are available and more are coming on stream in September .
That ’ s being designed specifically around reskilling and retraining in response to Covid.
” Dr Rory O ’ Sullivan , principal of Killester College of Further Education , is expecting a greater degree of interest in pandemic-related courses .
“ The kinds of courses that would be of interest would be those that are connected with the medical services , such as nursing and pre-nursing studies , ” he says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ services or pre-paramedic would be another .
“ In fairness , the frontline workers – rightly so – have gotten a very good profile , so that can often give a boost to the attractiveness of courses leading to those areas.
” Cecilia Munro , principal of Ballyfermot College of Further Education , says there has been “ huge interest ” in courses such as infection control , nursing and social care .
This , “ even after all the challenges people have been facing in that sector over Covid-19 ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horror show in relation to Covid-19 and caring for people , particularly the elderly in care-home settings , but that type of work is on the increase , ” she says .
“ There seems to be a lot of interest in it and it ’ s a growing industry .
“ There ’ s a huge sector of society who live and breathe being frontline workers .
They want to be firemen , paramedics , to work in a hospital .
They have a caring nature .
“ Most definitely , Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything glamorous , but it did glamorise to a certain extent the necessity and the solution-focused employment in that area.
” On the other side of the coin , Munro says business related courses have dropped off significantly .
“ Retail has taken a huge hit , ” she says .
“ Where we would have level five and level six courses in retail selling , people are not interested in that anymore because all they see around them is shops closing down.
” The bottom line as people adapt to the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to be “ adaptable and agile ” .
“ They have to be able to transfer their skillset from one place to another , ” she says .
“ Just because you ’ re an accountant , there ’ s no reason why you shouldn ’ t have good communication skills .
“ Because if you do , you could take your accountancy background and transfer it into being a band manager or a group manager and you still have your accountancy skills and you can be agile .
“ That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s about being agile with your qualifications and about being able to take that qualification and transfer those skills with confidence to other areas you can work in.
” Laois Offaly ETB also offers a number of pandemic-related courses .
Tony Dalton , its director of further education and training , says they “ initially ran some courses for people who wanted to answer the HSE call ” .
“ But what we ’ ve since done is start to modify them for people who want to go back into industry , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , looking at what controls they need to put in place to allow them return to work.
” The first of the courses in Laois Offaly is in infection prevention and control .
The course has had 130 participants with three-quarters of these progressing to employment in a healthcare setting .
The programme was devised following consultation with the hospitals in the midlands about what supports were required both in the short and long term in reducing the impact of Covid-19 on families and communities .
Recently , the programme has been further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work in other sectors including retail and hospitality .
The hospitality sector was one of the sectors most affected by Covid-19 in the Laois and Offaly area .
“ In light of the pandemic , one sector that continues to grow in the midlands is bio-pharma , ” says Dalton .
“ We recently opened the Midlands Skills Centre in Tullamore providing the highest spec cleanroom training facility in the country .
“ To date , the facility has been providing programmes for current bio-pharma employees , and new entrants who wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector .
“ Options include full-time laboratory technician courses linked directly to degree programmes in Athlone Institute of Technology , or shorter employment-focused courses such as introduction to cleanroom operations and introduction to the bio-processing industry , both scheduled for September.
” Laois Offaly has also developed a number of remote working programmes in direct response to the pandemic to support businesses and employees in adapting to the “ new normal ” .
Remote Work Ready is designed to equip learners with the skills necessary to work effectively in a remote setting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Zoom and Slack which facilitate peer-to-peer learning .
To date , five courses with 94 participants have successfully been rolled out .
The Leading Remote Teams course is designed for managers new to remote leadership or looking to optimise productivity and promote a positive culture .
The programme covers the fundamental skills needed to lead distributed teams which include remote culture , communication , conflict management , performance management and change management .
To date , three programmes with 50 participants are ongoing .
“ Those have really taken off , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says Dalton .
“ I know we were all thrust into working remotely , but it ’ s about making the most of your time and how to work best remotely .
“ The other one is , of which there was huge uptake from both private industry and the public sector , is about leading remotely .
How to maintain a leadership role when your team is all based at home and working off laptops .
“ That ’ s as much about helping people to understand how to work as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that they ’ re looking after themselves too .
It ’ s kind of a broad programme .
“ It effectively allows your business to continue to operate and your business model to continue to be successful but also looking after your staff team , and maintaining that approach when everyone is isolated .
We ’ re had huge uptake on all of those courses.
” In Tralee , John Herlihy , admissions officer at Kerry College , says a new business support unit was established at its Monavalley Campus in response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5000 people have availed of its training programmes .
“ Business around Kerry were eager to ensure that their staff were trained in infection prevention , hygiene and cleanliness and dealing with customers in this new normal , ” says Herlihy .
“ This was important for business to have done while Kerry were busy trying to build up its economy which relies heavily on tourists.
” Some of the programmes offered include : Principles of Hygiene & PPE ; First Aid Responder – Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council ; Infection Prevention & Control @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sector ; and Managing Compliance for Covid-19 .
The college is also launching a new programme called Sanitation and Sterilisation .
All programmes are free of charge .
“ The online infection prevention and control course is something that every Irish citizen should do to prevent and manage the spread of infection , viruses and illness within the home , community or work , ” says Herlihy .
“ The skills learned on these courses can be used at home and in the workplace .
We also find that at a time where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their families , friends , colleagues and the wider community – connecting through a training programmes is helpful .
“ These skills are transversal , which means that are not job or sector specific but may be used in a wide variety of settings .
Once employees in all industries start moving back into the workplace I imagine that we will have a huge uptake again on these courses .
“ The focus is to ensure that organisations and their staff are primed and ready to go when our economy starts to @ @ @ @

It was on St Patrick's Day, a little more than a fortnight after the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in the Republic, that the Health Service Executive issued its recruitment call with the message: "Your country needs you."
The “Be on call for Ireland” initiative was introduced when the crisis on these shores was still very much coming down the tracks. Various arms of the State could see what was taking place in other countries: hospitals and health settings overrun and unthinkable death tolls.
The plan here was much the same as it was everywhere else that had the luxury of this crystal ball-like vista of how the virus behaved and the efficacy of different public policy approaches to tackling it.
Athlone Institute of Technology
Cases had to be spread out over a long period of time so hospitals had the resources and the personnel to treat patients. Failure to achieve that would likely lead to catastrophic losses.
READ MORE
But the State’s call to arms at the time of perhaps its greatest need was not limited to expat or former healthcare workers. Indeed, most of the 73,000 people who answered the call were not healthcare professionals at all, the HSE later confirmed.
A similar pattern has since emerged in the further education and training sector where special courses have been designed for people who also want to do their bit. Other courses that were already available but related to the pandemic have also seen an uptick in interest.
Solas, the State agency charged with developing the sector, moved quickly, opening up its eCollege online learning portal to the public for free. It was previously free only to those who were unemployed. Most than 12,000 people have since signed up for courses.
"That remains open to everyone," says Solas spokeswoman Maria Walsh. "It's been huge. I know the infection control course was one that was quite popular during the shutdown.
“Secondly, some of the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) would have designed specific courses in response to the pandemic. For example, digital skills for remote working or online working, infection prevention and control courses.
“We also have Skills to Compete, which is an initiative that is in development at the moment. Some courses are available and more are coming on stream in September. That’s being designed specifically around reskilling and retraining in response to Covid.”
Pandemic-related courses
Dr Rory O'Sullivan, principal of Killester College of Further Education, is expecting a greater degree of interest in pandemic-related courses.
“The kinds of courses that would be of interest would be those that are connected with the medical services, such as nursing and pre-nursing studies,” he says. “We have a course in pre-emergency services or pre-paramedic would be another.
“In fairness, the frontline workers – rightly so – have gotten a very good profile, so that can often give a boost to the attractiveness of courses leading to those areas.”
Cecilia Munro, principal of Ballyfermot College of Further Education, says there has been "huge interest" in courses such as infection control, nursing and social care. This, "even after all the challenges people have been facing in that sector over Covid-19".
“You hear a lot of about the horror show in relation to Covid-19 and caring for people, particularly the elderly in care-home settings, but that type of work is on the increase,” she says. “There seems to be a lot of interest in it and it’s a growing industry.
“There’s a huge sector of society who live and breathe being frontline workers. They want to be firemen, paramedics, to work in a hospital. They have a caring nature.
“Most definitely, Covid-19 has been in no shape or form anything glamorous, but it did glamorise to a certain extent the necessity and the solution-focused employment in that area.”
On the other side of the coin, Munro says business related courses have dropped off significantly.
“Retail has taken a huge hit,” she says. “Where we would have level five and level six courses in retail selling, people are not interested in that anymore because all they see around them is shops closing down.”
The bottom line as people adapt to the new Covid-19 reality, according to Munro, is to be “adaptable and agile”.
“They have to be able to transfer their skillset from one place to another,” she says. “Just because you’re an accountant, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have good communication skills.
“Because if you do, you could take your accountancy background and transfer it into being a band manager or a group manager and you still have your accountancy skills and you can be agile.
“That’s the forefront of Covid-19: it’s about being agile with your qualifications and about being able to take that qualification and transfer those skills with confidence to other areas you can work in.”
Laois Offaly ETB also offers a number of pandemic-related courses. Tony Dalton, its director of further education and training, says they "initially ran some courses for people who wanted to answer the HSE call".
“But what we’ve since done is start to modify them for people who want to go back into industry, whether that be hospitality or even retail, looking at what controls they need to put in place to allow them return to work.”
Infection prevention
The first of the courses in Laois Offaly is in infection prevention and control. The course has had 130 participants with three-quarters of these progressing to employment in a healthcare setting.
The programme was devised following consultation with the hospitals in the midlands about what supports were required both in the short and long term in reducing the impact of Covid-19 on families and communities.
Recently, the programme has been further developed to support people who are returning to work in other sectors including retail and hospitality. The hospitality sector was one of the sectors most affected by Covid-19 in the Laois and Offaly area.
"In light of the pandemic, one sector that continues to grow in the midlands is bio-pharma," says Dalton. "We recently opened the Midlands Skills Centre in Tullamore providing the highest spec cleanroom training facility in the country.
“To date, the facility has been providing programmes for current bio-pharma employees, and new entrants who wish to begin a career path in the sector.
Athlone Institute of Technology
"Options include full-time laboratory technician courses linked directly to degree programmes in Athlone Institute of Technology, or shorter employment-focused courses such as introduction to cleanroom operations and introduction to the bio-processing industry, both scheduled for September."
Laois Offaly has also developed a number of remote working programmes in direct response to the pandemic to support businesses and employees in adapting to the “new normal”.
Remote Work Ready is designed to equip learners with the skills necessary to work effectively in a remote setting. The interactive online classes use applications such as Zoom and Slack which facilitate peer-to-peer learning. To date, five courses with 94 participants have successfully been rolled out.
Leadership
The Leading Remote Teams course is designed for managers new to remote leadership or looking to optimise productivity and promote a positive culture.
The programme covers the fundamental skills needed to lead distributed teams which include remote culture, communication, conflict management, performance management and change management. To date, three programmes with 50 participants are ongoing.
“Those have really taken off, and they’re fully online,” says Dalton. “I know we were all thrust into working remotely, but it’s about making the most of your time and how to work best remotely.
“The other one is, of which there was huge uptake from both private industry and the public sector, is about leading remotely. How to maintain a leadership role when your team is all based at home and working off laptops.
“That’s as much about helping people to understand how to work as well as ensuring their mental wellbeing is good, that they’re looking after themselves too. It’s kind of a broad programme.
“It effectively allows your business to continue to operate and your business model to continue to be successful but also looking after your staff team, and maintaining that approach when everyone is isolated. We’re had huge uptake on all of those courses.”
‘New normal’
In Tralee, John Herlihy, admissions officer at Kerry College, says a new business support unit was established at its Monavalley Campus in response to the pandemic. So far, 5000 people have availed of its training programmes.
“Business around Kerry were eager to ensure that their staff were trained in infection prevention, hygiene and cleanliness and dealing with customers in this new normal,” says Herlihy.
“This was important for business to have done while Kerry were busy trying to build up its economy which relies heavily on tourists.”
Some of the programmes offered include: Principles of Hygiene & PPE; First Aid Responder – Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council; Infection Prevention & Control; Safe Stay – for the Hospitality sector; and Managing Compliance for Covid-19. The college is also launching a new programme called Sanitation and Sterilisation. All programmes are free of charge.
“The online infection prevention and control course is something that every Irish citizen should do to prevent and manage the spread of infection, viruses and illness within the home, community or work,” says Herlihy.
‘Isolated’
“The skills learned on these courses can be used at home and in the workplace. We also find that at a time where people have felt isolated and cut off from their families, friends, colleagues and the wider community – connecting through a training programmes is helpful.
“These skills are transversal, which means that are not job or sector specific but may be used in a wide variety of settings. Once employees in all industries start moving back into the workplace I imagine that we will have a huge uptake again on these courses.
“The focus is to ensure that organisations and their staff are primed and ready to go when our economy starts to move again.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-07--I’m worried I won’t get the CAO points I need. Are there alternatives?

I am extremely nervous as to whether points will go up for my first preference business course .
If I don ’ t get it , I don ’ t want to repeat or sit the delayed Leaving Cert in November .
Are there any other options available ?
You will have received your results yesterday and you will find out if your grades are sufficient when the CAO publishes colleges offers online on Friday afternoon .
You may be pleasantly surprised and receive one of your highest course preferences .
If you don ’ t , it is by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in no way indicates that you can not quickly proceed to one of these courses .
I met with a very disappointed sixth year student in August 2019 who like you aspired to a number of high points business degree programmes in UCD and Trinity , but came nowhere near the CAO points score required .
I advised him to apply for a further education ( FE ) business level five programme in one of his local colleges .
He did so , secured eight distinctions in his business course modules and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programme in Trinity in the FE round of CAO offers at the beginning of August .
In fact , over 4,000 other FE graduates were offered reserved places in CAO programmes in that round of offers in early August , many of them in courses where the published CAO points requirements are hundreds higher than those students own Leaving Cert results .
As you mentioned above , many of the previous graduates of your school took this FE route into college , and there is no reason why you should not consider applying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to secure a place in case your current CAO application does not deliver what you hope for .
The application process is simplicity itself .
Go to Qualifax ( www.qualifax.ie ) and search under further education ( FE ) business programmes in your locality .
Identify one or more of interest to you .
Then proceed directly to that colleges own website and apply online for that course .
There is usually no application fee at this stage .
If there are still places available on the programme , places are offered on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you will be contacted , interviewed either online or in the college and offered a reserved place , at which point you will have to pay a modest fee ( €30-€50 ) to secure your place .
Consider it insurance for the anxiety you and all your fellow Leaving Cert students are currently experiencing .
Given the uncertainty over how courses will be delivered in universities and institutes of technology this year , having a FE option might be a wise move .

I am extremely nervous as to whether points will go up for my first preference business course. If I don’t get it, I don’t want to repeat or sit the delayed Leaving Cert in November. Are there any other options available?
You will have received your results yesterday and you will find out if your grades are sufficient when the CAO publishes colleges offers online on Friday afternoon.
You may be pleasantly surprised and receive one of your highest course preferences. If you don’t, it is by no means the end of the world and in no way indicates that you cannot quickly proceed to one of these courses.
I met with a very disappointed sixth year student in August 2019 who like you aspired to a number of high points business degree programmes in UCD and Trinity, but came nowhere near the CAO points score required.
READ MORE
Over 4,000 other FE graduates were offered reserved places in CAO programmes
I advised him to apply for a further education (FE) business level five programme in one of his local colleges. He did so, secured eight distinctions in his business course modules and was offered his first choice business degree programme in Trinity in the FE round of CAO offers at the beginning of August.
In fact, over 4,000 other FE graduates were offered reserved places in CAO programmes in that round of offers in early August, many of them in courses where the published CAO points requirements are hundreds higher than those students own Leaving Cert results.
As you mentioned above, many of the previous graduates of your school took this FE route into college, and there is no reason why you should not consider applying now to one of your local colleges to secure a place in case your current CAO application does not deliver what you hope for.
Consider it insurance for the anxiety you and all your fellow Leaving Cert students are currently experiencing
The application process is simplicity itself. Go to Qualifax (www.qualifax.ie) and search under further education (FE) business programmes in your locality. Identify one or more of interest to you. Then proceed directly to that colleges own website and apply online for that course. There is usually no application fee at this stage.
If there are still places available on the programme, places are offered on a 1st come 1st serve basis, you will be contacted, interviewed either online or in the college and offered a reserved place, at which point you will have to pay a modest fee (€30-€50) to secure your place.
Consider it insurance for the anxiety you and all your fellow Leaving Cert students are currently experiencing. Given the uncertainty over how courses will be delivered in universities and institutes of technology this year, having a FE option might be a wise move.


theirishtimes--2020-09-07--Cybersecurity apprenticesehip: ‘I saw an ad an knew it was for me’

“ I always had an interest in IT but I didn ’ t have the best Leaving Cert and I found it hard to get my foot on the ladder to get the right job .
I did a few IT courses but nothing much came of them and I was still unemployed afterwards .
“ To get some income going , I did a catering tourism course in Kilrush in Co Clare through the Chamber of Commerce , which did lead to a job .
I still wanted to do something in IT – but I kept putting it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad for this cybersecurity apprenticeship and I knew it was for me , so I moved from Clare to Kildare to do it .
We started just before Christmas and , until lockdown , classes were held in Celbridge .
“ Even if I had been offered an undergraduate college place , I wouldn ’ t have been able to afford it , but here I am paid for my work .
“ There are 14 of us on the course and there ’ s a split between classroom-based learning and on-the-job training @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purely classroom based .
After that it ’ s two days in class and three days in placement .
I ’ m paid for my work .
It ’ s a two-year long , level-five apprenticeship and very practical , so we will all get industry certification .
“ On this course , we learn about IT fundamentals , computer networking and cybersecurity and analysis .
So although I ’ ve only recently started , I will ultimately be working with clients who might wish to put online security systems in place , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up new payroll systems , and the job of a cybersecurity expert will be to ensure that they ’ re safe from hackers and cybercriminals , as well as ensuring that the software and systems work as they ’ re supposed to .
“ With remote learning , it ’ s been so far , so good .
I was nervous about how it would work but we are all doing online teaching and can do our work from home .
I do miss the face-to-face interaction but , on the other hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep working from home .
“ I feel this apprenticeship will open a lot of doors .
I ’ d really like to get into digital forensics , while the company I ’ m with does a lot with cloud computing , which has also grabbed my attention .
I ’ m confident that doors and opportunities are opening .
”

“I always had an interest in IT but I didn’t have the best Leaving Cert and I found it hard to get my foot on the ladder to get the right job. I did a few IT courses but nothing much came of them and I was still unemployed afterwards.
"To get some income going, I did a catering tourism course in Kilrush in Co Clare through the Chamber of Commerce, which did lead to a job. I still wanted to do something in IT – but I kept putting it off.
"Then I saw an ad for this cybersecurity apprenticeship and I knew it was for me, so I moved from Clare to Kildare to do it. We started just before Christmas and, until lockdown, classes were held in Celbridge.
“Even if I had been offered an undergraduate college place, I wouldn’t have been able to afford it, but here I am paid for my work.
READ MORE
“There are 14 of us on the course and there’s a split between classroom-based learning and on-the-job training, although the first six months are purely classroom based. After that it’s two days in class and three days in placement. I’m paid for my work. It’s a two-year long, level-five apprenticeship and very practical, so we will all get industry certification.
“On this course, we learn about IT fundamentals, computer networking and cybersecurity and analysis. So although I’ve only recently started, I will ultimately be working with clients who might wish to put online security systems in place, or migrate to the cloud or set up new payroll systems, and the job of a cybersecurity expert will be to ensure that they’re safe from hackers and cybercriminals, as well as ensuring that the software and systems work as they’re supposed to.
“With remote learning, it’s been so far, so good. I was nervous about how it would work but we are all doing online teaching and can do our work from home. I do miss the face-to-face interaction but, on the other hand, we are lucky that we can keep working from home.
“I feel this apprenticeship will open a lot of doors. I’d really like to get into digital forensics, while the company I’m with does a lot with cloud computing, which has also grabbed my attention. I’m confident that doors and opportunities are opening.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-07--I found myself in ‘what now’ territory

I found myself in ‘what now’ territory

Sanofi is a global life sciences company with more than 100,000 employees working across 70 manufacturing sites worldwide .
Sanofi employs about 800 people in Waterford .
Sarah Howard , change lead with Sanofi Ireland , says the company is working to understand and solve unmet healthcare needs , particularly around rare diseases , multiple sclerosis , oncology , immunology , cardiovascular problems and diabetes .
“ We work with two traineeships , ” she says .
“ The first of these is our pharma manufacturing traineeship where learners get hands-on training in quality , continuous improvement , health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice ( GMP ) which is the standard used to describe the template we need to achieve in order to deliver good effectively and ethically to patients within a defined set of rules and regulations.
” This 30-week traineeship is followed by a 12-week placement .
Elizabeth Malone applied for this traineeship after being made redundant from An Post after 13 years .
“ My job was in business , finances , clerical work and customer services , ” she says .
“ I found myself in ‘ what now ’ territory .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
I took time out for think .
I did a European computer driving licence ( ECDL ) course at the training centre a few evenings a week to get me up to date with my skills and take a breather before deciding what to do.
” After Malone looked around at the local industries in her area , it seemed to make sense to move into the area of pharmaceuticals .
“ I realised I had the option to do something completely different from what I ’ d done before .
Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the traineeship and her placement in February , just before the Covid crisis hit , and she is now an employee at Sanofi .
“ I was very lucky to get a contract , ” she says .
“ I think the pandemic has really opened people ’ s eyes to the importance of life sciences .
During the crisis we ’ ve been one of the vital areas keeping things going .
In my job I inspect the vials before they go to packaging .
I was worried at first whether I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but I can .
The training here has been really good.
” The second traineeship , which also takes 30 weeks , is focused on clean room and packing operations training , teaches learners about quality , GMP , packing and labelling and a six-sigma approach to improving processes and systems .
This traineeship is not paid , although trainees remain on a Government support scheme throughout the placement .
“ To date we have had about 20 people go through the two courses who were placed with Sanofi , and 15 of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s a very successful route and helps address the difficulty of getting a job without experience and getting experience without a job , ” says Howard .
“ This is a significant investment for training and the life sciences industry in the southeast , a good way to gain entry into the workplace and a solid foundation for a lot of other industries , given the core competencies in the programme .

Sanofi is a global life sciences company with more than 100,000 employees working across 70 manufacturing sites worldwide. Sanofi employs about 800 people in Waterford.
Sarah Howard, change lead with Sanofi Ireland, says the company is working to understand and solve unmet healthcare needs, particularly around rare diseases, multiple sclerosis, oncology, immunology, cardiovascular problems and diabetes.
“We work with two traineeships,” she says. “The first of these is our pharma manufacturing traineeship where learners get hands-on training in quality, continuous improvement, health and safety, plant utilities and good manufacturing practice (GMP) which is the standard used to describe the template we need to achieve in order to deliver good effectively and ethically to patients within a defined set of rules and regulations.”
This 30-week traineeship is followed by a 12-week placement.
READ MORE
Elizabeth Malone applied for this traineeship after being made redundant from An Post after 13 years. "My job was in business, finances, clerical work and customer services," she says. "I found myself in 'what now' territory. Should I stay on the same path? I took time out for think. I did a European computer driving licence (ECDL) course at the training centre a few evenings a week to get me up to date with my skills and take a breather before deciding what to do."
Elizabeth Malone applied for the Sanofi traineeship after being made redundant from An Post after 13 years.
After Malone looked around at the local industries in her area, it seemed to make sense to move into the area of pharmaceuticals. “I realised I had the option to do something completely different from what I’d done before. Why not? I thought.”
Contract
Malone finished the traineeship and her placement in February, just before the Covid crisis hit, and she is now an employee at Sanofi.
“I was very lucky to get a contract,” she says. “I think the pandemic has really opened people’s eyes to the importance of life sciences. During the crisis we’ve been one of the vital areas keeping things going. In my job I inspect the vials before they go to packaging. I was worried at first whether I would be able to do it, but I can. The training here has been really good.”
The second traineeship, which also takes 30 weeks, is focused on clean room and packing operations training, teaches learners about quality, GMP, packing and labelling and a six-sigma approach to improving processes and systems.
This traineeship is not paid, although trainees remain on a Government support scheme throughout the placement.
“To date we have had about 20 people go through the two courses who were placed with Sanofi, and 15 of them received a contract post-placement, so it’s a very successful route and helps address the difficulty of getting a job without experience and getting experience without a job,” says Howard. “This is a significant investment for training and the life sciences industry in the southeast, a good way to gain entry into the workplace and a solid foundation for a lot of other industries, given the core competencies in the programme.


theirishtimes--2020-09-07--‘It gave me the opportunity to break down barriers’ - Eileen Flynn

Traveller activist and recently appointed senator Eileen Flynn ( 30 ) says a piece of paper is no proof of anyone ’ s ability to make a success of themselves .
She ’ s talking about her time , a decade ago now , at Ballyfermot College of Further Education where she completed courses in pre-nursing and caring for people with special needs .
“ If you are able to complete those courses , build up relationships with other people , that is success in itself , ” she explains .
“ It gave me the opportunity to break down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When I say barriers , it gave me the skills to deal with people in other settings asking me silly questions about things like Travellers not paying taxes .
“ It gave me skills to be able to explore all that , to be able to answer , to be able to speak .
“ It helped me to be able to have conversations about these issues , to be open to listening to people and their thoughts around Travellers rather than getting annoyed .
It was a great environment for me.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school .
She attended an Access Programme at Trinity College but felt it failed to support her needs .
Ballyfermot College , however , was different .
“ Ballyfermot supported me and helped me find my confidence , ” she says .
“ A lot of the lectures are done through conversation .
If you have a question , you can raise your hand and have a discussion about it .
That ’ s how I learn .
“ It was a very interactive class .
You can ask questions without feeling ashamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the lecturer has time to spend with students and engage with them .
“ You could meet any of the lecturers that you wanted after college or lunchtime .
I wasn ’ t great at biology in the pre-nursing – I didn ’ t fail it either – I got over the line , but that was with the supports from the tutor .
“ For me personally , I didn ’ t feel judged in the class because I had dyslexia or because I was a Traveller .
People had an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had an interest in each other ’ s lives.
” In terms of the skills she learned that are of most use to her today , Flynn says it helped her to find her voice .
“ As a young Traveller woman , I had never been in with settled people , ” she says .
“ It helped me with my social skills .
It helped me in speaking to people and being able to approach people even in the way I do today .
It opened up my eyes to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Traveller activist and recently appointed senator Eileen Flynn (30) says a piece of paper is no proof of anyone's ability to make a success of themselves.
She's talking about her time, a decade ago now, at Ballyfermot College of Further Education where she completed courses in pre-nursing and caring for people with special needs.
“If you are able to complete those courses, build up relationships with other people, that is success in itself,” she explains.
“It gave me the opportunity to break down barriers I had with settled people. When I say barriers, it gave me the skills to deal with people in other settings asking me silly questions about things like Travellers not paying taxes.
READ MORE
“It gave me skills to be able to explore all that, to be able to answer, to be able to speak.
“It helped me to be able to have conversations about these issues, to be open to listening to people and their thoughts around Travellers rather than getting annoyed. It was a great environment for me.”
Flynn was diagnosed with dyslexia in secondary school. She attended an Access Programme at Trinity College but felt it failed to support her needs. Ballyfermot College, however, was different.
“Ballyfermot supported me and helped me find my confidence,” she says. “A lot of the lectures are done through conversation. If you have a question, you can raise your hand and have a discussion about it. That’s how I learn.
“It was a very interactive class. You can ask questions without feeling ashamed or embarrassed. The classes are smaller and the lecturer has time to spend with students and engage with them.
“You could meet any of the lecturers that you wanted after college or lunchtime. I wasn’t great at biology in the pre-nursing – I didn’t fail it either – I got over the line, but that was with the supports from the tutor.
“For me personally, I didn’t feel judged in the class because I had dyslexia or because I was a Traveller. People had an interest in my background, and people had an interest in each other’s lives.”
In terms of the skills she learned that are of most use to her today, Flynn says it helped her to find her voice.
“As a young Traveller woman, I had never been in with settled people,” she says. “It helped me with my social skills. It helped me in speaking to people and being able to approach people even in the way I do today. It opened up my eyes to the world, if you like.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-07--Number of people on pandemic payment falls by 5,100

The number of people receiving the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen by 5,100 to 219,000 .
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said that in the last seven days over 9,200 people had closed their claim for the payment .
Minister for Social Protection , Heather Humphreys said it was “ encouraging to see more and more people close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment as they went back to work ” .
She said the fall in the number of claims for the benefit this week was “ mainly attributed to people returning to work in the education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of people receiving the payment had now fallen by 63 per cent from the 598,000 who received the benefit at its peak on May 5th .
“ In the past seven days , 9,265 people have closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment .
Some 6,256 will be receiving their final payment on 8th September .
“ The top sector in which employees are returning to work this week is education with 1,500 going back to work , followed by accommodation and food services ; and transportation and storage sectors.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work is in the 45-54 group ( 1,800 ) .
This is followed by 1,700 in the 35-44 age category and 1,600 aged 55 and over ” , the department said .
It added that from September 17th the pandemic unemployment scheme would change with three rather than two rates of payment in place from that date .
“ The rate a recipient will receive will depend on the amount they previously earned : * If they earned over €300 per week - they will now receive €300 per week .
* if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week - the rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will now be €250 per week ; and * If they earned less than €200 per week - the rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €203 per week ( there is no change to this rate ) .
” The department also said that parents and guardians of students should bear in minds its back to school clothing and footwear allowance was available to provide financial support with back to school costs .

Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said it was “encouraging to see more and more people close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment as they went back to work”. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA
The number of people receiving the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment has fallen by 5,100 to 219,000.
The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection said that in the last seven days over 9,200 people had closed their claim for the payment.
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys said it was "encouraging to see more and more people close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment as they went back to work". She said the fall in the number of claims for the benefit this week was "mainly attributed to people returning to work in the education sector".
The department said the number of people receiving the payment had now fallen by 63 per cent from the 598,000 who received the benefit at its peak on May 5th.
READ MORE
“In the past seven days, 9,265 people have closed their claim for the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Some 6,256 will be receiving their final payment on 8th September.
“The top sector in which employees are returning to work this week is education with 1,500 going back to work, followed by accommodation and food services; and transportation and storage sectors.”
“The largest age cohort returning to work is in the 45-54 group (1,800). This is followed by 1,700 in the 35-44 age category and 1,600 aged 55 and over”, the department said.
It added that from September 17th the pandemic unemployment scheme would change with three rather than two rates of payment in place from that date.
“The rate a recipient will receive will depend on the amount they previously earned:
* If they earned over €300 per week - they will now receive €300 per week.
* if they earned between €200 and €300 per week - the rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will now be €250 per week; and
* If they earned less than €200 per week - the rate of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be €203 per week (there is no change to this rate).”
The department also said that parents and guardians of students should bear in minds its back to school clothing and footwear allowance was available to provide financial support with back to school costs.


theirishtimes--2020-09-07--Dublin Zoo cancels its Wild Lights exhibition because of Covid-19 pandemic

Dublin Zoo ’ s popular Wild Lights has become yet another casualty of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic .
Wild Lights which features coloured lighting and animated stories on an animal theme , has been a feature of Dublin Zoo ’ s winter offering since 2017 .
Wild Lights was devised as a way to increase visitors to the zoo in the off-peak season .
It usually lasts around two months between November and January , but this year it is not going ahead though the zoo itself has reopened .
In a statement , Dublin Zoo said : “ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your patience and support as we , like many others , navigate challenges we have never experienced before due to Covid-19 .
We are sad to announce that due to the current environment , Wild Lights will not take place this year .
“ Over the past few months we have been working hard to safely welcome visitors to Dublin Zoo , strictly adhering to governmental health and safety directives whilst ensuring we continue to deliver the highest standard of care for the animals .
“ We will continue to enhance and improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you still enjoy visiting Dublin Zoo during the winter months.
” The zoo said it hoped that Wild Lights will be back in 2021 “ bigger and better than ever ” .

Dublin Zoo’s popular Wild Lights has become yet another casualty of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Wild Lights which features coloured lighting and animated stories on an animal theme, has been a feature of Dublin Zoo’s winter offering since 2017.
Wild Lights was devised as a way to increase visitors to the zoo in the off-peak season.
It usually lasts around two months between November and January, but this year it is not going ahead though the zoo itself has reopened.
READ MORE
In a statement, Dublin Zoo said: “We are extremely grateful to our visitors for your patience and support as we, like many others, navigate challenges we have never experienced before due to Covid-19. We are sad to announce that due to the current environment, Wild Lights will not take place this year.
“Over the past few months we have been working hard to safely welcome visitors to Dublin Zoo, strictly adhering to governmental health and safety directives whilst ensuring we continue to deliver the highest standard of care for the animals.
“We will continue to enhance and improve the Outdoor Safari Trail experience to ensure you still enjoy visiting Dublin Zoo during the winter months.”
The zoo said it hoped that Wild Lights will be back in 2021 “bigger and better than ever”.


theirishtimes--2020-09-07--Grade calculation: the precise method of marking

The exact process used to arrive at calculated grades has been shrouded in mystery – until now .
A 200-page report from a unit established by the Department of Education provides insights into how grades were compiled and adjusted to arrive at the set of results released on Monday morning .
The report – or , to give it its full title , the Report from the National Standardisation Group to the Independent Steering Committee and the Programme Board – shows how marks were adjusted on a subject-by-subject basis .
It started in schools : teachers were asked to estimate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students and to rank them in order of their likely Leaving Cert attainment .
Teachers ’ marks and rankings were then collated by the school , adjusted where necessary by the school principal and leadership team , before a school-issued mark was sent to the Department of Education .
Under the model , teacher estimates were regarded as the best source of data in the absence of a uniform range of pre-existing school-based data .
There was , however , a recognition that teacher judgments tend to over-estimate student performance .
A standardisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers and schools in making estimates .
This process recognised that while teachers and schools give high-quality information about individuals , statistics are good at giving information about groups .
The idea was to combine the strengths of both .
The predictions from schools were combined with Department of Education information relating to Junior Cycle or Junior Cert results .
A statistical model was created to estimate how a student with a particular profile of Junior Cert results was likely to perform in the Leaving Cert .
Second , the Junior Cert attainment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in aggregate , form at school level .
Research shows that while Junior Cert results are good predictors of Leaving Cert results , they are not strong enough by themselves to estimate an individual ’ s performance .
Officials decided no student ’ s calculated grades would be determined by how they performed in the Junior Cert .
The marks and rankings from schools , and the aggregate Junior Cert results , were combined to produce calculated grades .
While there had been plans to include schools ’ historical performance in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partly due to concerns that they could penalise disadvantaged students .
This measure had proved particularly controversial in the UK .
When teachers ’ estimated marks were compared to the normal expected results , it was clear there was strong evidence of overestimation of marks at all points in the achievement spectrum ; this was most pronounced at upper level .
In fact , even if the grading standards across all schools were in perfect alignment with each other , just over 60 per cent of higher-level grades in school estimates would need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historic standards were adhered to .
In the end , the standardisation process in most cases split the difference between teachers ’ estimated grades and historic standards .
As a result , just 17 per cent of grades were lowered , with significant grade inflation as a result .

A statistical model was created to estimate how a student with a particular profile of Junior Cert results was likely to perform in the Leaving Cert. Photograph: Dave Meehan
The exact process used to arrive at calculated grades has been shrouded in mystery – until now.
A 200-page report from a unit established by the Department of Education provides insights into how grades were compiled and adjusted to arrive at the set of results released on Monday morning.
The report – or, to give it its full title, the Report from the National Standardisation Group to the Independent Steering Committee and the Programme Board – shows how marks were adjusted on a subject-by-subject basis.
Teachers’ estimates
READ MORE
It started in schools: teachers were asked to estimate a percentage mark for each of their students and to rank them in order of their likely Leaving Cert attainment.
Teachers’ marks and rankings were then collated by the school, adjusted where necessary by the school principal and leadership team, before a school-issued mark was sent to the Department of Education.
Under the model, teacher estimates were regarded as the best source of data in the absence of a uniform range of pre-existing school-based data.
There was, however, a recognition that teacher judgments tend to over-estimate student performance. A standardisation process was designed to address differences between teachers and schools in making estimates.
This process recognised that while teachers and schools give high-quality information about individuals, statistics are good at giving information about groups. The idea was to combine the strengths of both.
Statistical standardisation
The predictions from schools were combined with Department of Education information relating to Junior Cycle or Junior Cert results.
A statistical model was created to estimate how a student with a particular profile of Junior Cert results was likely to perform in the Leaving Cert.
Second, the Junior Cert attainment of the class of 2020 was used, in aggregate, form at school level.
Research shows that while Junior Cert results are good predictors of Leaving Cert results, they are not strong enough by themselves to estimate an individual’s performance.
Officials decided no student’s calculated grades would be determined by how they performed in the Junior Cert. The marks and rankings from schools, and the aggregate Junior Cert results, were combined to produce calculated grades.
While there had been plans to include schools’ historical performance in the standardisation process, these were dropped, partly due to concerns that they could penalise disadvantaged students. This measure had proved particularly controversial in the UK.
Fine adjustments
When teachers’ estimated marks were compared to the normal expected results, it was clear there was strong evidence of overestimation of marks at all points in the achievement spectrum; this was most pronounced at upper level.
In fact, even if the grading standards across all schools were in perfect alignment with each other, just over 60 per cent of higher-level grades in school estimates would need to be reduced by one grade if historic standards were adhered to.
In the end, the standardisation process in most cases split the difference between teachers’ estimated grades and historic standards. As a result, just 17 per cent of grades were lowered, with significant grade inflation as a result.


theirishtimes--2020-09-08--Up to 2,000 pigs killed in fire on farm in Co Down

Up to 2,000 pigs have died in a fire on a farm in Co Down .
Firefighters were called to the blaze in Kilkeel shortly before 9pm on Monday .
Four fire appliances attended the scene in Carrigenagh Road and worked to prevent the flames spreading from a shed housing the pigs to adjacent farm buildings .
Between 1,500 and 2,000 pigs are believed to have been killed .
One fire worker suffered minor burns to his feet in the incident .
He was taken to hospital for treatment .
The fire , which is believed to have been accidental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11.50pm .
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Group Commander Martin Healy said the fire was well developed when he and colleagues arrived on the scene .
“ The firefighters worked in obviously very difficult conditions — in darkness and underfoot — to extinguish the fire , ” he said .
“ Actually we had to try to protect the other sheds as there ’ s a lot of other pigs housed in them and thankfully we were able to stop the fire spreading to those sheds .
“ But unfortunately we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,000 pigs within the shed the main blaze was contained in.
” He told BBC Radio Ulster the incident was a “ very difficult scene to witness ” .
“ We spoke with the farm owner and obviously our sympathies go out to him and all his staff on the devastating loss and he said himself he was devastated for the loss that he did suffer.
” – PA

Up to 2,000 pigs have been killed in a fire in a shed on a farm in Kilkeel, Co Down. Photograph: Philip Magowan/PressEye
Up to 2,000 pigs have died in a fire on a farm in Co Down.
Firefighters were called to the blaze in Kilkeel shortly before 9pm on Monday.
Four fire appliances attended the scene in Carrigenagh Road and worked to prevent the flames spreading from a shed housing the pigs to adjacent farm buildings.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 pigs are believed to have been killed.
READ MORE
One fire worker suffered minor burns to his feet in the incident. He was taken to hospital for treatment.
The fire, which is believed to have been accidental, was brought under control at around 11.50pm.
Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Assistant Group Commander Martin Healy said the fire was well developed when he and colleagues arrived on the scene.
“The firefighters worked in obviously very difficult conditions — in darkness and underfoot — to extinguish the fire,” he said.
“Actually we had to try to protect the other sheds as there’s a lot of other pigs housed in them and thankfully we were able to stop the fire spreading to those sheds.
“But unfortunately we were unable to save between 1,500 and 2,000 pigs within the shed the main blaze was contained in.”
He told BBC Radio Ulster the incident was a “very difficult scene to witness”.
“We spoke with the farm owner and obviously our sympathies go out to him and all his staff on the devastating loss and he said himself he was devastated for the loss that he did suffer.” – PA


theirishtimes--2020-09-08--Food safety watchdog sanctions Cork retailer, Limerick meat processor

Ireland ’ s food safety watchdog issued just two enforcement orders in August with a retailer in Cork and a small meat processing plant in Limerick sanctioned .
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland ( FSAI ) issued a Closure Order on Khan Spices on North Main Street in Cork after its inspectors noted , amongst other things , a failure to provide a hot water supply to the wash hand basins and an accumulation of dirt and congealed blood in a food storage area .
Door handles , chest freezers , floor and walls were found to be dirty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full of cobwebs , dust and dead insects ” .
There was no liquid soap available at wash hand basins and no paper towels in dispensers .
Inspectors also found bags of meat stored in plastic bags in freezers that were unlabelled and not date coded and there was “ a vast accumulation of rice bags stored within the rear storage area and corridor blocking access , which would not facilitate cleaning .
One of these bags was found to be open with rice spilling out , ” the report said .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Elsewhere , the Bailey Foods plant on Slaughterhouse Lane , William Street in Limerick , was issued a prohibition order and told not to produce “ minced meat or meat preparations ” .
Inspectors noted “ inadequate hygiene controls over the production of minced meat and meat preparations [ and ] it was established that burgers produced on site contain the following allergens : Gluten , Soya and Sulphur Dioxide which were not declared on the product label and no associated commercial documents were available.
” The chief executive of the FSAI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ essential for adequate pest control systems and robust food hygiene practices to be put in place across all food businesses as they continue to reopen under current government guidance ” .
She said the orders showed “ the need for all food businesses to adhere to the highest food safety and hygiene standards at all times .
It is essential that food businesses have a strong food safety and hygiene culture in their business ” and added that food safety inspectors were “ continuing to encounter basic errors being made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Dr Byrne said the authority was seeing “ poor hygiene practices which ultimately create favourable conditions for pests and insects , which pose a serious risk to public health .
Food businesses run the risk of making their customers sick and ruining their reputation by neglecting basic food safety and hygiene standards ” .

Chief executive of the FSAI Dr Pamela Byrne: essential for adequate pest control systems and robust food hygiene practices to be put in place
Ireland's food safety watchdog issued just two enforcement orders in August with a retailer in Cork and a small meat processing plant in Limerick sanctioned.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) issued a Closure Order on Khan Spices on North Main Street in Cork after its inspectors noted, amongst other things, a failure to provide a hot water supply to the wash hand basins and an accumulation of dirt and congealed blood in a food storage area.
Door handles, chest freezers, floor and walls were found to be dirty, while a window area was “full of cobwebs, dust and dead insects”. There was no liquid soap available at wash hand basins and no paper towels in dispensers.
Inspectors also found bags of meat stored in plastic bags in freezers that were unlabelled and not date coded and there was “a vast accumulation of rice bags stored within the rear storage area and corridor blocking access, which would not facilitate cleaning. One of these bags was found to be open with rice spilling out,” the report said.
READ MORE
A large number of flies were also noted.
Elsewhere, the Bailey Foods plant on Slaughterhouse Lane, William Street in Limerick, was issued a prohibition order and told not to produce "minced meat or meat preparations".
Inspectors noted “inadequate hygiene controls over the production of minced meat and meat preparations [and] it was established that burgers produced on site contain the following allergens: Gluten, Soya and Sulphur Dioxide which were not declared on the product label and no associated commercial documents were available.”
The chief executive of the FSAI, Dr Pamela Byrne, stressed it was "essential for adequate pest control systems and robust food hygiene practices to be put in place across all food businesses as they continue to reopen under current government guidance".
She said the orders showed “the need for all food businesses to adhere to the highest food safety and hygiene standards at all times. It is essential that food businesses have a strong food safety and hygiene culture in their business” and added that food safety inspectors were “continuing to encounter basic errors being made by food businesses which are easily avoidable”.
Dr Byrne said the authority was seeing “poor hygiene practices which ultimately create favourable conditions for pests and insects, which pose a serious risk to public health. Food businesses run the risk of making their customers sick and ruining their reputation by neglecting basic food safety and hygiene standards”.


theirishtimes--2020-09-08--Solicitor should be struck off over ‘fictitious’ land sale contract, judge rules

A High Court judge has ruled a solicitor should be struck off the roll of solicitors for professional misconduct over a land sale .
Daniel J Coleman was found by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to have caused or allowed a “ fictitious ” contract regarding a 2004 land sale in Tuam , Co Galway , come into existence to mislead a bank into advancing monies to a development firm .
The Law Society was entitled to a strike off order against Mr Coleman on foot of misconduct concerning the conveyancing transaction , Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled .
A second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an undertaking given by the solicitor in 2004 to St Jarlath ’ s credit union in Tuam was legally unsustainable and must be set aside , he found .
Mr Coleman was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1998 and practised as principal in the firm of Coleman & Company Solicitors , Main Street , Ballinrobe , Co Mayo .
He opposed the society ’ s strike off application arising from findings of the tribunal in 2010 of professional misconduct concerning separate complaints by two former clients .
Mr Justice Simons earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of time to bring a separate statutory appeal against the SDT findings .
The first complaint related to sale of part of a housing site in Tuam and the tribunal found that Mr Coleman had forged the signature of another solicitor on a 2004 sale contract and acted for both the seller and the purchaser in contravention of solicitors regulations .
The only explanation offered by counsel on behalf of Mr Coleman at the tribunal was to “ blame the Celtic Tiger for the lack of attention to detail ” and the lowering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society said .
On the second complaint , the tribunal found misconduct in that Mr Coleman failed to comply with an undertaking relating to holding title deeds for another property allegedly leading to loss for the credit union .
In 2010 , then High Court president Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns refused Mr Coleman ’ s request to adjourn the strike off application so he could get legal representation and made a strike off order after saying he was satisfied Mr Coleman was “ well aware ” of all the developments which led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also granted the society an order directing Mr Coleman to pay €320,000 restitution to the credit union .
The Supreme Court ruled in 2018 the adjournment refusal breached fair procedures , quashed the strike off and restitution orders , and directed a fresh High Court hearing .
In his judgment this week , Mr Justice Simons concluded the society was entitled to strike off arising from the solicitor ’ s handling of the 2004 conveyancing transaction .
He said a condition for the release of monies by ACC Bank to the development firm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ unconditional and irrevocable ” contracts with deposits paid were in place .
Mr Coleman had said in an affidavit of June 2009 he had sent a letter to ACC advising the development had been sold “ but , in truth , there was no unconditional irrevocable contract in place at that time ” , the judge said .
The contract purportedly signed in trust by another solicitor could not have been enforced against the purchaser as the other solicitor ’ s signature was improperly put on the sale contract by Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
Mr Coleman ’ s conduct in this matter was dishonest , rather than merely negligent or careless , and involved “ a cavalier disregard ” of the importance of ensuring contracts for sale are properly executed and can be relied upon by all parties .
While mitigating factors included ACC had not suffered loss as the lands were later sold and its loan paid off , and Mr Coleman initially co-operated in disciplinary proceedings , a strike off order was necessary to advance the public interest in ensuring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he held .
The solicitor ’ s personal circumstances , including serious health issues affecting close family members , does not ameliorate the gravity of his misconduct , he added .
Earlier , he noted Mr Coleman had during the tribunal hearing in 2010 effectively made various admissions of fact , did not seriously contest the conduct admitted to professional misconduct and relied on his co-operation in the disciplinary process and his personal and family circumstances in support of a plea of leniency .
However , in this hearing , Mr Coleman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
While accepting he put another solicitor ’ s name on the 2004 contract without authority , he said that was done in the honest but mistaken belief he had authority from the other solicitor to sign his name .
He also denied the sale contract was fictitious and said it was ultimately completed .
Mr Coleman was bound by his admissions of fact made before the tribunal concerning the 2004 conveyancing transaction and , in doing so , was admitting professional misconduct , the judge held .
He also rejected claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tribunal .
Formal orders will be made on a later date .

The Law Society was entitled to a strike off order against Daniel J Coleman on foot of misconduct concerning a conveyancing transaction, Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled. Photograph: David Sleator
A High Court judge has ruled a solicitor should be struck off the roll of solicitors for professional misconduct over a land sale.
Daniel J Coleman was found by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal to have caused or allowed a "fictitious" contract regarding a 2004 land sale in Tuam, Co Galway, come into existence to mislead a bank into advancing monies to a development firm.
The Law Society was entitled to a strike off order against Mr Coleman on foot of misconduct concerning the conveyancing transaction, Mr Justice Garrett Simons ruled.
A second finding of misconduct concerning alleged breach of an undertaking given by the solicitor in 2004 to St Jarlath’s credit union in Tuam was legally unsustainable and must be set aside, he found.
READ MORE
Mr Coleman was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 1998 and practised as principal in the firm of Coleman & Company Solicitors, Main Street, Ballinrobe, Co Mayo.
He opposed the society’s strike off application arising from findings of the tribunal in 2010 of professional misconduct concerning separate complaints by two former clients.
Mr Justice Simons earlier this year refused the solicitor an extension of time to bring a separate statutory appeal against the SDT findings.
The first complaint related to sale of part of a housing site in Tuam and the tribunal found that Mr Coleman had forged the signature of another solicitor on a 2004 sale contract and acted for both the seller and the purchaser in contravention of solicitors regulations.
The only explanation offered by counsel on behalf of Mr Coleman at the tribunal was to “blame the Celtic Tiger for the lack of attention to detail” and the lowering of standards generally, counsel for the society said.
On the second complaint, the tribunal found misconduct in that Mr Coleman failed to comply with an undertaking relating to holding title deeds for another property allegedly leading to loss for the credit union.
‘Well aware’
In 2010, then High Court president Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns refused Mr Coleman's request to adjourn the strike off application so he could get legal representation and made a strike off order after saying he was satisfied Mr Coleman was "well aware" of all the developments which led to the tribunal's findings. He also granted the society an order directing Mr Coleman to pay €320,000 restitution to the credit union.
The Supreme Court ruled in 2018 the adjournment refusal breached fair procedures, quashed the strike off and restitution orders, and directed a fresh High Court hearing.
In his judgment this week, Mr Justice Simons concluded the society was entitled to strike off arising from the solicitor’s handling of the 2004 conveyancing transaction.
He said a condition for the release of monies by ACC Bank to the development firm was that the solicitor confirm in writing that "unconditional and irrevocable" contracts with deposits paid were in place.
Mr Coleman had said in an affidavit of June 2009 he had sent a letter to ACC advising the development had been sold “but, in truth, there was no unconditional irrevocable contract in place at that time”, the judge said.
The contract purportedly signed in trust by another solicitor could not have been enforced against the purchaser as the other solicitor’s signature was improperly put on the sale contract by Mr Coleman without authority of the other solicitor, he said.
Mr Coleman’s conduct in this matter was dishonest, rather than merely negligent or careless, and involved “a cavalier disregard” of the importance of ensuring contracts for sale are properly executed and can be relied upon by all parties.
While mitigating factors included ACC had not suffered loss as the lands were later sold and its loan paid off , and Mr Coleman initially co-operated in disciplinary proceedings, a strike off order was necessary to advance the public interest in ensuring the integrity of the solicitors profession is maintained, he held. The solicitor’s personal circumstances, including serious health issues affecting close family members, does not ameliorate the gravity of his misconduct, he added.
Earlier, he noted Mr Coleman had during the tribunal hearing in 2010 effectively made various admissions of fact, did not seriously contest the conduct admitted to professional misconduct and relied on his co-operation in the disciplinary process and his personal and family circumstances in support of a plea of leniency.
However, in this hearing, Mr Coleman had disputed all findings of misconduct against him. While accepting he put another solicitor’s name on the 2004 contract without authority, he said that was done in the honest but mistaken belief he had authority from the other solicitor to sign his name. He also denied the sale contract was fictitious and said it was ultimately completed.
Mr Coleman was bound by his admissions of fact made before the tribunal concerning the 2004 conveyancing transaction and, in doing so, was admitting professional misconduct, the judge held. He also rejected claims of unfairness in the hearing before the tribunal.
Formal orders will be made on a later date.


theirishtimes--2020-09-08--Body and beauty therapy: ‘I knew exactly what I wanted to do’

“ I knew exactly what I wanted to do after my Leaving Cert , and where I wanted to study .
I didn ’ t even fill out a CAO application .
There was no need to : I wanted to go to Senior College Dún Laoghaire ( now the Blackrock Further Education Institute ) and I wanted to study body and beauty therapy .
“ I ’ ve always been a girly girl so the whole area of beauty therapy always interested me , and that interest was further piqued when my cousin did a similar course in Bray @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of very practical aspects and a lot more theory than people understand or expect .
There was quite a lot of biology , physiology and chemistry in relation to the products and we had to get a good understanding of how the body works and the science behind it .
“ The course ran for two years although I did an additional year so I could gain knowledge of treatments such as advanced massage , Thai massage , lomi massage and a laser hair therapy course too .
I learned how to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great and we even had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester .
It was full-time - mostly 10am-5pm - and the college had so many extracurricular offerings that they encouraged us to take part in .
“ When I finished , I worked in a salon in Stillorgan [ south county Dublin ] .
I started on reception while still in college which gave me a good understanding of how it works behind the scenes .
After that , I moved to Therapie Laser Clinic in the city .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ competition and , after I came second , went forward to an Irish competition .
From there , I qualified to enter the World Skills Competition in London - it ’ s like the Olympics of skills .
I was so thrilled to win a medal of excellence .
“ I worked in the industry for a number of years including spending three years in the middle east .
It is such a portable qualification and gives graduates great opportunities to travel .
I ’ ve so many friends from the course who @ @ @ @ @

"I knew exactly what I wanted to do after my Leaving Cert, and where I wanted to study. I didn't even fill out a CAO application. There was no need to: I wanted to go to Senior College Dún Laoghaire (now the Blackrock Further Education Institute) and I wanted to study body and beauty therapy.
“I’ve always been a girly girl so the whole area of beauty therapy always interested me, and that interest was further piqued when my cousin did a similar course in Bray.
“My course had a lot of very practical aspects and a lot more theory than people understand or expect. There was quite a lot of biology, physiology and chemistry in relation to the products and we had to get a good understanding of how the body works and the science behind it.
“The course ran for two years although I did an additional year so I could gain knowledge of treatments such as advanced massage, Thai massage, lomi massage and a laser hair therapy course too. I learned how to be a masseuse.
READ MORE
“The course was great and we even had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester. It was full-time - mostly 10am-5pm - and the college had so many extracurricular offerings that they encouraged us to take part in.
"When I finished, I worked in a salon in Stillorgan [south county Dublin]. I started on reception while still in college which gave me a good understanding of how it works behind the scenes. After that, I moved to Therapie Laser Clinic in the city.
“In 2011, there was a college skills competition and, after I came second, went forward to an Irish competition. From there, I qualified to enter the World Skills Competition in London - it’s like the Olympics of skills. I was so thrilled to win a medal of excellence.
“I worked in the industry for a number of years including spending three years in the middle east. It is such a portable qualification and gives graduates great opportunities to travel. I’ve so many friends from the course who have worked abroad.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-08--Have a Leaving Cert results query? Join our Facebook Live Q&A

In a year like no other , this class of 2020 is facing into a host of unanswered question .
@ @ @ @ @ results ?
How much will CAO points for my course go up ?
Should I @ @ @ @ @ ?
Is it worth getting student accommodation if I ’ ll be on campus for @ @ @ @ @ ?
What alternatives to college are out there ?
Irish Times education editor Carl O @ @ @ @ @ your Leaving Cert queries to guidance counsellor Brian Mooney at 5pm on Tuesday , September @ @ @ @ @ Live event .
If you have a query , please email Carl send it in @ @ @ @ @ broadcast to this address : cobrien @ irishtimes.com It will be broadcast on the Irish @ @ @ @ @ be available to replay .
In the meantime , our live helpdesk staffed by guidance @ @ @ @ @ to 8pm each day .
Also , you can check out answers to previously-asked questions @ @ @ @ @ .

Irish Times education editor Carl O’Brien will put readers’ queries on everything to do with Leaving Cert results and CAO options to guidance counsellor Brian Mooney at 5pm on Tuesday, September 8th, during a Facebook Live event.
In a year like no other, students are facing into a host of unanswered question.
Is is worth appealing my results? How much will CAO points for my course go up? Should I defer college until Covid-19 subsides? Is it worth getting student accommodation if I’ll be on campus for just a day a week? What alternatives to college are out there?
Irish Times education editor Carl O'Brien will put all your Leaving Cert queries to guidance counsellor Brian Mooney at 5pm on Friday, September 11th, during a Facebook Live event.
If you have a query, please email Carl send it in advance (cobrien@irishtimes.com) or leave a comment on Facebook during the live broadcast.
It will be broadcast on the Irish Times Facebook page and will be available to replay.
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Helpdesk
In the meantime, our live helpdesk staffed by guidance counsellors is available from 11.45am to 8pm each day.
Also, you can check out answers to previously-asked questions from earlier this week here.


theirishtimes--2020-09-08--Two men to appear in court in relation to €80,000 drugs seizures

Gardaí have seized an estimated €80,000 worth of cannabis in linked operations in counties Cork and Laois .
In Kilgarvan @ @ @ @ @ of the West Cork Divisional Drugs Unit , assisted by local gardaí stopped a vehicle @ @ @ @ @ worth of cannabis .
A man , aged aged in his 30s , was arrested @ @ @ @ @ to Bantry Garda station where he has since been charged .
He is due to @ @ @ @ @ on Tuesday morning at 10.30am .
In a related operation , a second vehicle was @ @ @ @ @ Portlaoise , Co Laois area .
An estimated €20,000 worth of cannabis was discovered and @ @ @ @ @ aged in his 40s , was arrested and has since been charged in relation to @ @ @ @ @ due to appear before Portlaoise District Court on September 24th .

Two men have been charged in relation to drug seizures in counties Laois and Cork. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Gardaí have seized an estimated €80,000 worth of cannabis in linked operations in counties Cork and Laois.
In Kilgarvan, Co Cork, members of the West Cork Divisional Drugs Unit, assisted by local gardaí stopped a vehicle on Sunday and recovered €60,000 worth of cannabis.
A man, aged aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene and taken to Bantry Garda station where he has since been charged. He is due to appear before Skibbereen District Court on Tuesday morning at 10.30am.
In a related operation, a second vehicle was stopped and searched in the Portlaoise, Co Laois area. An estimated €20,000 worth of cannabis was discovered and seized. A man, aged in his 40s, was arrested and has since been charged in relation to this incident. He is due to appear before Portlaoise District Court on September 24th.


theirishtimes--2020-09-08--UCD proposes new ‘zero tolerance’ policy to deal with sexual harassment

A “ zero tolerance ” policy and a new concept of disclosure are among proposals that University College Dublin ( UCD ) has put forward to deal with sexual harassment in the university .
The proposals are contained in four documents that a working group in the university has put forward to staff and students .
The university acted after the publication in 2019 of a national consent framework on ending sexual harassment and sexual violence in third level education .
In Autumn 2019 a working group was set up to revise the university ’ s policies .
The documents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s revelations of a two year period of harassment by a UCD professor against Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháinnbetween 2015 and 2017 .
Professor Hans Benjamin-Braun , Professor for Theoretical Physics at UCD , was convicted in 2019 of harassing Dr Ní Shúilleabháin and ordered to stay away from her for five years .
The four documents relate to bullying , sexual harassment and sexual misconduct policies and procedures in the college .
The working group has proposed a new concept of disclosure even for those who are reluctant to make a formal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to start an investigation without a formal complaint being made .
There will also be the option of clarifying the relationship between informal and formal internal complaints and complaints to the Garda Síochána .
Coincidentally the consultation with unions in the university on the four document took place on Monday with staff focus groups scheduled for September 24th .
A website will be set up for feedback on the documents from both staff and students .
UCD president Professor Andrew Deeks will write to all staff and encourage them to engage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views are heard .
In a statement UCD said that once the review is completed the new policies and procedures will be published and the university will implement its recommendations .
When asked what the university will do in the case where somebody is reluctant to make a formal complaint against members of staff , UCD pointed to the recent document of the Irish Universities Association ( IUA ) on dealing with university related sexual misconduct .
It allows for an investigation “ where a sufficient concern arises for the university , having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the safety and welfare of others ” .
UCD confirmed that Prof Braun left UCD in March 2019 before his conviction .
The university declined to state the circumstances in which he left .
His name appeared in a list of lecturers on the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies website but the institute said he is “ not now – nor has he ever been – an employee of DIAS .
He has no contractual association with the Institute ” .
DIAS added : “ Professor Braun is a former member of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Physics at DIAS , and served on that board from March 2015 to the end of March 2020 .
“ He has also been a visiting academic at the Institute .
Any references to Professor Braun on the DIAS website , or other external third party websites , relate to these aforementioned associations .
”

Aoibhinn Ni Suilleabhain was subjected to two years of harassment by fellow academic. Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill
A "zero tolerance" policy and a new concept of disclosure are among proposals that University College Dublin (UCD) has put forward to deal with sexual harassment in the university.
The proposals are contained in four documents that a working group in the university has put forward to staff and students.
The university acted after the publication in 2019 of a national consent framework on ending sexual harassment and sexual violence in third level education.
In Autumn 2019 a working group was set up to revise the university’s policies.
READ MORE
The documents were completed in July before this weekend’s revelations of a two year period of harassment by a UCD professor against Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháinnbetween 2015 and 2017.
Professor Hans Benjamin-Braun, Professor for Theoretical Physics at UCD, was convicted in 2019 of harassing Dr Ní Shúilleabháin and ordered to stay away from her for five years.
The four documents relate to bullying, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct policies and procedures in the college.
The working group has proposed a new concept of disclosure even for those who are reluctant to make a formal complaint.
The university also wants to be able to start an investigation without a formal complaint being made.
There will also be the option of clarifying the relationship between informal and formal internal complaints and complaints to the Garda Síochána.
Coincidentally the consultation with unions in the university on the four document took place on Monday with staff focus groups scheduled for September 24th.
A website will be set up for feedback on the documents from both staff and students.
UCD president Professor Andrew Deeks will write to all staff and encourage them to engage with the review to ensure that their views are heard.
In a statement UCD said that once the review is completed the new policies and procedures will be published and the university will implement its recommendations.
When asked what the university will do in the case where somebody is reluctant to make a formal complaint against members of staff, UCD pointed to the recent document of the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on dealing with university related sexual misconduct.
It allows for an investigation “where a sufficient concern arises for the university, having regard to their broader obligations in relation to the safety and welfare of others”.
UCD confirmed that Prof Braun left UCD in March 2019 before his conviction. The university declined to state the circumstances in which he left.
His name appeared in a list of lecturers on the Dublin Institute of Advanced Studies website but the institute said he is “not now – nor has he ever been – an employee of DIAS. He has no contractual association with the Institute”.
DIAS added: "Professor Braun is a former member of the board of the School of Theoretical Physics at DIAS, and served on that board from March 2015 to the end of March 2020.
“He has also been a visiting academic at the Institute. Any references to Professor Braun on the DIAS website, or other external third party websites, relate to these aforementioned associations.”


theirishtimes--2020-09-08--‘I was disappointed when I got my Leaving Cert results’

“ I was disappointed when I got my Leaving Cert results and didn ’ t get the points for nursing .
I got offered arts in UCC but I would only have been accepting for the sake of going to college .
I considered repeating but decided against it .
“ Then I started to have a look at further education and training and saw that there was a prenursing course that could give me a route into college and a career in nursing .
It also gave me a chance to consider whether nursing really was for me and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ There were about six of us in the prenursing group , mixed in with the healthcare group of students .
We have similar modules and we also had lab classes where we learned how to take blood pressure and carry out all the physical jobs nurses do .
We also did placements once a week and I was in the local community hospital every Friday ; I really enjoyed that and it helped me to make up my mind .
“ To qualify for a place in nursing from a PLC nursing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinctions .
That was hard work but I really wanted the place , so I got the nine distinctions and got my offer from UCD .
“ In my first year , I realised how much the prenursing course stood to me , as much of the content was the same as at the end of first year .
“ I ’ m now heading into my final year studying nursing at UCD , and I ’ ve had such a brilliant experience .
I am a bit sad that campus will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for social distancing – there are 200 nurses in my course and it ’ s always great to see everyone in lectures , but now in our final year we probably won ’ t be around each other as much .
“ Covid-19 hasn ’ t changed how I feel about nursing .
But it has given me and my classmates new skills that we might not have had without the pandemic and I think it will make us into much more conscientious graduate nurses .
”

“I was disappointed when I got my Leaving Cert results and didn’t get the points for nursing. I got offered arts in UCC but I would only have been accepting for the sake of going to college. I considered repeating but decided against it.
“Then I started to have a look at further education and training and saw that there was a prenursing course that could give me a route into college and a career in nursing. It also gave me a chance to consider whether nursing really was for me and whether I’d like it.
“There were about six of us in the prenursing group, mixed in with the healthcare group of students. We have similar modules and we also had lab classes where we learned how to take blood pressure and carry out all the physical jobs nurses do. We also did placements once a week and I was in the local community hospital every Friday; I really enjoyed that and it helped me to make up my mind.
Nine distinctions
“To qualify for a place in nursing from a PLC nursing course, you have to get nine distinctions. That was hard work but I really wanted the place, so I got the nine distinctions and got my offer from UCD.
READ MORE
“In my first year, I realised how much the prenursing course stood to me, as much of the content was the same as at the end of first year.
“I’m now heading into my final year studying nursing at UCD, and I’ve had such a brilliant experience. I am a bit sad that campus will be so different this year because of the need for social distancing – there are 200 nurses in my course and it’s always great to see everyone in lectures, but now in our final year we probably won’t be around each other as much.
“Covid-19 hasn’t changed how I feel about nursing. But it has given me and my classmates new skills that we might not have had without the pandemic and I think it will make us into much more conscientious graduate nurses.”