theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Overseas meat plant workers ‘cheated out of social security rights’

A great number of Romanian workers for years were cheated out of their social security rights in Ireland by the employment agency who was hiring them to work in several meat plants in Munster , a union representative has told the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19 .
Nora Labo of the Cork Operative Butchers ’ Society - a branch of the Independent Workers ’ Union - said the Romanian nationals were employed as self-employed contractors declared in Poland .
She said “ all their contributions were sent to Polish , not Irish revenue , even though all these people were working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no ties to Poland ” .
She said at a hearing of the committee on Thursday that “ for many years , all these workers had no annual leave , no right to illness benefit , child allowance etc , had no PPS numbers , and were de facto invisible in Ireland ” .
Ms Labo said when some of these workers were self-isolating on suspicion of having contracted Covid-19 in March , they had no access to a doctor and that no GP would take them .
She said agency tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefit instead of the Covid-19 illness benefit , “ taking advantage of the fact that they had no GPs and had no English ” .
Ms Labo told the committee there were no intrinsic reason why working in a meat plant should be more conducive to contracting Covid-19 than working in any other environment .
“ We are convinced that the reason why Ireland has witnessed so many worrying outbreaks in meat plants in the past months is due to the workers ’ substandard employment and living conditions which are the result of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the well-being of its staff.
” She said the problems were aggravated by what she described as “ unscrupulous practices ” of some agencies .
The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Patricia King said under legislation temporary workers provided through agencies should not be treated any less favourably than their counterparts who are directly employed .
However she said that this was being “ bypassed ” by some employers by constructing a self -employed company system .
“ The home employer is actually in Poland not in Ireland at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those workers who are fictitiously or bogusly self employed , end up with no entitlements for anything .
So the people who lose out are those workers.
” Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis told the committee that his union ’ s members in the meat processing sector “ remain petrified of contracting Covid-19 but feel that they must walk that tightrope every day and in many cases attend work , even if they are feeling unwell ” .
He said nine out of ten workers did not have access to sick pay arrangements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meat industry had a fear of retribution .
“ I have never seen an industry where workers are so reluctant to come out front and talk to the media or to union officials about their concerns and that is a scandal , ” he said .
He said it was no use cheering workers in the meat sector and calling them essential and then paying them a pittance .
Ms Labo said workers could be blacklisted for trade union activity .
Ms King said it was “ untenable ” that the Health and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the powers to inspect workplaces and order closures where appropriate , was not notified when workers contract Covid-19 .
She said all the indicators were that the HSA did not want to be notified and does not want the task .
She said the HSE “ should be sitting on this until it is dealt with ” .
She said all employers should be working on the basis that HSA inspectors could knock on their door at any time , day or night .
“ That is not the case at the moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspections ) is nonsense .
”

A great number of Romanian workers for years were cheated out of their social security rights in Ireland by the employment agency who was hiring them to work in several meat plants in Munster, a union representative has told the Oireachtas committee on Covid-19.
Nora Labo of the Cork Operative Butchers' Society - a branch of the Independent Workers' Union - said the Romanian nationals were employed as self-employed contractors declared in Poland.
She said “all their contributions were sent to Polish, not Irish revenue, even though all these people were working full time in Ireland for years and had no ties to Poland”.
She said at a hearing of the committee on Thursday that “for many years, all these workers had no annual leave, no right to illness benefit, child allowance etc, had no PPS numbers, and were de facto invisible in Ireland”.
READ MORE
Ms Labo said when some of these workers were self-isolating on suspicion of having contracted Covid-19 in March, they had no access to a doctor and that no GP would take them.
She said agency tried to force them to apply for unemployment benefit instead of the Covid-19 illness benefit, “taking advantage of the fact that they had no GPs and had no English”.
Ms Labo told the committee there were no intrinsic reason why working in a meat plant should be more conducive to contracting Covid-19 than working in any other environment.
“ We are convinced that the reason why Ireland has witnessed so many worrying outbreaks in meat plants in the past months is due to the workers’ substandard employment and living conditions which are the result of the industry’s long-term disregard for the well-being of its staff.”
She said the problems were aggravated by what she described as “unscrupulous practices” of some agencies.
Temporary workers
The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Patricia King said under legislation temporary workers provided through agencies should not be treated any less favourably than their counterparts who are directly employed.
However she said that this was being “bypassed” by some employers by constructing a self -employed company system.
“The home employer is actually in Poland not in Ireland at all. That leads to a situation those workers who are fictitiously or bogusly self employed, end up with no entitlements for anything. So the people who lose out are those workers.”
Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis told the committee that his union's members in the meat processing sector " remain petrified of contracting Covid-19 but feel that they must walk that tightrope every day and in many cases attend work, even if they are feeling unwell".
He said nine out of ten workers did not have access to sick pay arrangements.
Mr Ennis said workers in the meat industry had a fear of retribution .
“I have never seen an industry where workers are so reluctant to come out front and talk to the media or to union officials about their concerns and that is a scandal,” he said.
He said it was no use cheering workers in the meat sector and calling them essential and then paying them a pittance.
Ms Labo said workers could be blacklisted for trade union activity.
Ms King said it was "untenable" that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) which had the powers to inspect workplaces and order closures where appropriate, was not notified when workers contract Covid-19.
She said all the indicators were that the HSA did not want to be notified and does not want the task.
She said the HSE “should be sitting on this until it is dealt with”. She said all employers should be working on the basis that HSA inspectors could knock on their door at any time , day or night.
“That is not the case at the moment. This business of by arrangement (inspections) is nonsense.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Covid-19 restrictions negatively affecting children with autism, study says

Almost two thirds of children with autism have experienced an overall decline in their skills and abilities as a result of the coronavirus restrictions , a new study suggests .
Researchers from Dublin City University ( DCU ) have looked at the current and anticipated challenges faced by young people with autism and their families following the Covid-19 restrictions .
The study , which surveyed 107 parents of 119 children with autism , reported that 61 per cent of children experienced a decline in skills and abilities and 74 per cent of parents of a child with autism said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as restrictions are lifted .
According to the report , parents noted a decline in their child ’ s ability to self-regulate emotions ( 34 per cent of children ) , a decline in motivation to engage in activities , including school work ( 18 per cent of children ) and a decline in academic skills such as maths , reading and writing , was observed in 14 per cent of children .
While the majority of parents had concerns of a decline in their child ’ s abilities , skills gains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children , mainly in daily living skills such as household chores and preparation of food .
Parents also highlighted an increase in “ challenging behaviours ” , the report states .
Some 23 per cent of children are reported to have difficulties in relation to social skills due to the lack of social interaction , while 16 per cent of young people with autism are facing challenges with leaving the house due to anxiety , particularly in recent weeks as restrictions have begun to lift .
Parents have also reported that 26 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ understanding and adhering to social distancing and public health guidelines when out in public .
Dr Sinéad Smyth at DCU ’ s School of Psychology said the necessary closures and restrictions on movement have “ wide-ranging impacts on us all ” .
“ For children and young people with ASD , adapting to change at such a rapid rate has been very difficult and it is clear from our findings that these children and their parents are experiencing a multitude of unique challenges , ” Dr Smyth said .
“ Additional challenges arise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more activities into their lives again .
Going back to school , for example , may be more difficult for children this year not only given the long gap since they last attended , but also because their school routine will be different and classrooms will look different due to new public health measures .
”

23 per cent of children are reported to have difficulties in relation to social skills due to the lack of social interaction.
Almost two thirds of children with autism have experienced an overall decline in their skills and abilities as a result of the coronavirus restrictions, a new study suggests.
Researchers from Dublin City University (DCU) have looked at the current and anticipated challenges faced by young people with autism and their families following the Covid-19 restrictions.
The study, which surveyed 107 parents of 119 children with autism, reported that 61 per cent of children experienced a decline in skills and abilities and 74 per cent of parents of a child with autism said they will be faced with “unique challenges” as restrictions are lifted.
According to the report, parents noted a decline in their child’s ability to self-regulate emotions (34 per cent of children), a decline in motivation to engage in activities, including school work (18 per cent of children) and a decline in academic skills such as maths, reading and writing, was observed in 14 per cent of children.
READ MORE
While the majority of parents had concerns of a decline in their child’s abilities, skills gains were reported for 29 per cent of children, mainly in daily living skills such as household chores and preparation of food.
Parents also highlighted an increase in “challenging behaviours”, the report states.
Some 23 per cent of children are reported to have difficulties in relation to social skills due to the lack of social interaction, while 16 per cent of young people with autism are facing challenges with leaving the house due to anxiety, particularly in recent weeks as restrictions have begun to lift.
Parents have also reported that 26 per cent of children are having difficulty with understanding and adhering to social distancing and public health guidelines when out in public.
Dr Sinéad Smyth at DCU’s School of Psychology said the necessary closures and restrictions on movement have “wide-ranging impacts on us all”.
“For children and young people with ASD, adapting to change at such a rapid rate has been very difficult and it is clear from our findings that these children and their parents are experiencing a multitude of unique challenges,” Dr Smyth said.
“Additional challenges arise as restrictions are lifted and children incorporate more activities into their lives again. Going back to school, for example, may be more difficult for children this year not only given the long gap since they last attended, but also because their school routine will be different and classrooms will look different due to new public health measures.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--€2.1 million recovered after sophisticated fraud against Dublin firm foiled

Gardai have recovered €2.1 million that was transferred by a Dublin company to a bank account in Hong Kong after being tricked in a sophisticated invoice redirect fraud .
The crime was one of the biggest invoice redirect crimes An Garda Siochana has ever dealt with and is believed to be the largest sum of money ever recovered .
Garda sources said similar frauds had increased during the Covid-19 pandemic as the criminals responsible appeared to believe it was easier to trick people as they worked from home .
“ If you are in the office , you can bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very quickly when you ’ re worried about something but when you ’ re on your own at home , you don ’ t have that same network of people , ” said one Garda source .
He added when people worked from home their computers and wifi systems were perhaps not as secure as their facilities in work , especially if they worked for companies that regularly dealt in large sums of money , all of which made them more vulnerable to fraud .
Last Friday the Irish company targeted in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be from a firm it regularly deals with in London about the payment of €2.1 million for a business deal that was underway .
In the email the firm in London requested the money due to be transferred would be lodged into an international back account rather than an account in the UK .
However , the Irish company became suspicious and rather than transferring the cash it contacted the London company by phone to make checks and was assured that the email was genuine .
The payment was then made last Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin to the international account , which was with a bank in Honk Kong .
However , on Monday the Dublin firm realised it had been conned and that the money sent had not be transferred into any account linked to the London company .
They raised the alarm with Bank of Ireland , which contacted the Garda Fraud and Economic Crime Bureau .
Using information supplied to it by the bank , the Garda Fraud Squad immediately made contact with detectives in Honk Kong , who quickly traced the bank account , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on deposit , and froze the money .
The cash has since been returned to the Dublin company .
Garda sources said none of it was lost as the account it was transferred to was frozen before the fraudsters had a chance to withdraw it or move any of it on to other international accounts .
Gardaí now believe fraudsters hacked into the email system of the company in London and used the information they gleaned from the hack to send an invoice to the Dublin firm .
The fraudsters doctored the London @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a new phone number .
When a staff member in the Dublin company rang that phone number they believed they were speaking to an employee in the London firm but were in fact dealing with one of the fraudsters .
Garda sources said when checks were being made before money transfers were about to made , it is crucial companies did not rely on information , such as names , phone numbers and email addresses , contained in emails that requested any change to normal banking and payment arrangements .
They added while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it had acted responsibly in making it ’ s own checks but the crime was an example of how sophisticated frauds had become and that the speed at which the company contacted their bank on Monday was a crucial factor in retrieving the money .

Garda sources said similar frauds had increased during the pandemic as staff worked from home.
Gardai have recovered €2.1 million that was transferred by a Dublin company to a bank account in Hong Kong after being tricked in a sophisticated invoice redirect fraud.
The crime was one of the biggest invoice redirect crimes An Garda Siochana has ever dealt with and is believed to be the largest sum of money ever recovered.
Garda sources said similar frauds had increased during the Covid-19 pandemic as the criminals responsible appeared to believe it was easier to trick people as they worked from home.
“If you are in the office, you can bring in your colleagues and consult with them very quickly when you’re worried about something but when you’re on your own at home, you don’t have that same network of people,” said one Garda source.
READ MORE
He added when people worked from home their computers and wifi systems were perhaps not as secure as their facilities in work, especially if they worked for companies that regularly dealt in large sums of money, all of which made them more vulnerable to fraud.
Last Friday the Irish company targeted in the latest scam received an email purporting to be from a firm it regularly deals with in London about the payment of €2.1 million for a business deal that was underway.
In the email the firm in London requested the money due to be transferred would be lodged into an international back account rather than an account in the UK.
However, the Irish company became suspicious and rather than transferring the cash it contacted the London company by phone to make checks and was assured that the email was genuine.
The payment was then made last Friday from a Bank of Ireland account in Dublin to the international account, which was with a bank in Honk Kong.
However, on Monday the Dublin firm realised it had been conned and that the money sent had not be transferred into any account linked to the London company. They raised the alarm with Bank of Ireland, which contacted the Garda Fraud and Economic Crime Bureau.
Using information supplied to it by the bank, the Garda Fraud Squad immediately made contact with detectives in Honk Kong, who quickly traced the bank account, which still contained the full €2.1 million on deposit, and froze the money.
The cash has since been returned to the Dublin company. Garda sources said none of it was lost as the account it was transferred to was frozen before the fraudsters had a chance to withdraw it or move any of it on to other international accounts.
Gardaí now believe fraudsters hacked into the email system of the company in London and used the information they gleaned from the hack to send an invoice to the Dublin firm. The fraudsters doctored the London company’s email signature and inserted a new phone number.
When a staff member in the Dublin company rang that phone number they believed they were speaking to an employee in the London firm but were in fact dealing with one of the fraudsters.
Garda sources said when checks were being made before money transfers were about to made, it is crucial companies did not rely on information, such as names, phone numbers and email addresses, contained in emails that requested any change to normal banking and payment arrangements.
They added while the Dublin company had ultimately been tricked, it had acted responsibly in making it’s own checks but the crime was an example of how sophisticated frauds had become and that the speed at which the company contacted their bank on Monday was a crucial factor in retrieving the money.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--A-level results in North show one in 10 pupils awarded at least one A*

Close to one in 10 students who received their A-level results in Northern Ireland on Thursday achieved at least one A* grade , the exams body has reported .
This was a 1 per cent increase in the result from last year when students were able to sit their exams , reported the Council for the Curriculum , Examinations and Assessment ( CCEA ) .
One-third of students achieved at least one A-A* grade in their results , the CCEA also reported , which is a 2.3 per cent increase in the results on last year .
For the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students were unable to sit exams and instead they were given estimated grades .
The CCEA said 96.7 per cent of grades were the same , or within one grade of the assessments put forward by schools .
The exam board said some schools were more generous or more severe in their assessments of their students and in such cases grades were adjusted downwards or upwards accordingly .
It added that overall 37 per cent of estimated grades were lowered and 5.3 per cent were raised .
The CCEA said the standardisation process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue to reflect the same value as those in any other year .
There has been controversy in Scotland where it was contended that its assessment system was unfair and resulted particularly in the results of pupils from working class areas being disproportionately downgraded .
That led to a U-turn with the results predicted by teachers alone being used to assess grades .
The North ’ s education minister Peter Weir said that the system in Northern Ireland was “ robust and fair ” while the CCEA said the results were “ based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and statistical modelling ” including comparisons with AS results – which are exams students do in Northern the year before their leaving A-level exams .
Nonetheless , the CCEA assessment is likely to lead to criticism by parents and students .
As an example , one father called into BBC Radio Ulster ’ s Stephen Nolan programme on Thursday to complain that while his son ’ s teachers had predicted three A grades for him , he got two Bs and a C based on the CCEA assessment .
“ I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his life , ” said the father .
The CCEA chief executive , Justin Edwards , and Mr Weir defended the assessment method .
Mr Edwards said had teacher assessments alone been applied , the A-grades would have increased by close to 12 per cent .
An estimated 25,000 A-level and AS students received their results on Thursday morning .
In an email to school principals before the results were received , the CCEA said there would be “ anomalies ” in some of the grades awarded .
Student could appeal in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ For those not happy with the outcome I would emphasise that the results today are provisional , and there is an appeals process available.
” Mr Weir said it “ was important that this year ’ s awards were comparable to those awarded in past years and recognised as equally valid to avoid any long-term detrimental impact on the future prospects of this cohort of young people ” .
In the A-level results at the A* grade , 9.8 per cent of students achieved the top grade , a 1 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A grade increased 2.3 per cent to 33.2 per cent .
There was also an increase in the A*- E pass rate , of 0.8 per cent to 99.1 per cent .
Girls again out-performed boys with 10.3 per cent of female students attaining A* grades compared to 9.2 per cent A* grades for males , and 35.2 per cent A*-A grades for females compared to 30.5 per cent A*-A grades for males .
The five most popular subjects for all students were maths , biology , business studies , religious studies and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subject for boys , biology for girls .

The CCEA said the standardisation process ensured that standards were maintained. Photograph: The Irish Times/File
Close to one in 10 students who received their A-level results in Northern Ireland on Thursday achieved at least one A* grade, the exams body has reported.
This was a 1 per cent increase in the result from last year when students were able to sit their exams, reported the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).
One-third of students achieved at least one A-A* grade in their results, the CCEA also reported, which is a 2.3 per cent increase in the results on last year.
For the first time in living memory due to Covid-19 students were unable to sit exams and instead they were given estimated grades.
READ MORE
The CCEA said 96.7 per cent of grades were the same, or within one grade of the assessments put forward by schools.
The exam board said some schools were more generous or more severe in their assessments of their students and in such cases grades were adjusted downwards or upwards accordingly.
It added that overall 37 per cent of estimated grades were lowered and 5.3 per cent were raised.
The CCEA said the standardisation process ensured that standards were maintained and grades continue to reflect the same value as those in any other year.
There has been controversy in Scotland where it was contended that its assessment system was unfair and resulted particularly in the results of pupils from working class areas being disproportionately downgraded. That led to a U-turn with the results predicted by teachers alone being used to assess grades.
The North's education minister Peter Weir said that the system in Northern Ireland was "robust and fair" while the CCEA said the results were "based on a combination of teacher professional judgment and statistical modelling" including comparisons with AS results – which are exams students do in Northern the year before their leaving A-level exams.
Nonetheless, the CCEA assessment is likely to lead to criticism by parents and students.
As an example, one father called into BBC Radio Ulster's Stephen Nolan programme on Thursday to complain that while his son's teachers had predicted three A grades for him, he got two Bs and a C based on the CCEA assessment. "I don't think he ever got a C in his life," said the father.
The CCEA chief executive, Justin Edwards, and Mr Weir defended the assessment method. Mr Edwards said had teacher assessments alone been applied, the A-grades would have increased by close to 12 per cent.
An estimated 25,000 A-level and AS students received their results on Thursday morning. In an email to school principals before the results were received, the CCEA said there would be “anomalies” in some of the grades awarded. Student could appeal in such cases.
Mr Weir said: “For those not happy with the outcome I would emphasise that the results today are provisional, and there is an appeals process available.”
Mr Weir said it “was important that this year’s awards were comparable to those awarded in past years and recognised as equally valid to avoid any long-term detrimental impact on the future prospects of this cohort of young people”.
In the A-level results at the A* grade, 9.8 per cent of students achieved the top grade, a 1 per cent increase from last year. A* - A grade increased 2.3 per cent to 33.2 per cent. There was also an increase in the A*- E pass rate, of 0.8 per cent to 99.1 per cent.
Girls again out-performed boys with 10.3 per cent of female students attaining A* grades compared to 9.2 per cent A* grades for males, and 35.2 per cent A*-A grades for females compared to 30.5 per cent A*-A grades for males.
The five most popular subjects for all students were maths, biology, business studies, religious studies and chemistry.
Maths was the most popular subject for boys, biology for girls.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Teenage boy rescues two children from Boyne river

A 16-year-old boy who rescued two boys aged 11 from the Boyne river has said , “ I am just happy there was a positive outcome ” .
Callum Keane also said he went to help them because he would want someone to do the same for his younger sisters .
The teenager from Navan was out for a walk with his girlfriend on Wednesday evening.
“ I could hear a group of boys in great distress ... screaming for help as one of their mates was in distress in the centre of the river.
” Callum , who has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amelia ( 8 ) said , “ my first thought was to help the boy because I know if that was one of my little sisters I would want somebody to help them ” .
“ I immediately took off my top and jumped into the river to swim across to the boy .
He was shaking and very distressed .
I grabbed him and picked him up and swam against the current with him to try find an opening as there were reeds all along the bank.
” The boy was able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the river and , Callum said , “ I went in through a gap where there was another boy who was stuck in the reeds attempting to try to help his friend.
” “ I pushed the reeds down to help him get over them , I carried the boy over to a wall and pushed him up onto it .
He was very shaken but him and his friends were very grateful which made me feel great.
” “ After I helped them I swam back across the river back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christopher Rennicks of Meath River Rescue who was first to the scene.
” Christopher liaised with the other emergency services and then dropped Callum home .
Speaking after he returned home last night , Callum said , “ I didn ’ t realise until I came home this evening how dangerous that spot was and how brave I was to jump in.
” The youngster ’ s phone was “ hopping all night with people contacting me.
” Callum said , “ I ’ m just really happy that I could help the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them and I am just happy there was a positive outcome to this whole situation.
” His mother Claudine said , “ I am very proud of him and am delighted the two boys are safe.
” “ Callum came in and he was shocked and shaking but he played it down .
He said it was all grand , he did not think it was as big a deal but a teenager would not realise how valuable two lives are .
”

A 16-year-old boy who rescued two boys aged 11 from the Boyne river has said, “I am just happy there was a positive outcome”.
Callum Keane also said he went to help them because he would want someone to do the same for his younger sisters.
The teenager from Navan was out for a walk with his girlfriend on Wednesday evening.“I could hear a group of boys in great distress... screaming for help as one of their mates was in distress in the centre of the river.”
Callum, who has younger sisters Chloe (12) and Amelia (8) said, “my first thought was to help the boy because I know if that was one of my little sisters I would want somebody to help them”.
READ MORE
“I immediately took off my top and jumped into the river to swim across to the boy. He was shaking and very distressed. I grabbed him and picked him up and swam against the current with him to try find an opening as there were reeds all along the bank.”
The boy was able to show him where he had got into the river and, Callum said, “I went in through a gap where there was another boy who was stuck in the reeds attempting to try to help his friend.”
“I pushed the reeds down to help him get over them, I carried the boy over to a wall and pushed him up onto it. He was very shaken but him and his friends were very grateful which made me feel great.”
“After I helped them I swam back across the river back to my girlfriend where I was met by Christopher Rennicks of Meath River Rescue who was first to the scene.”
Christopher liaised with the other emergency services and then dropped Callum home.
Speaking after he returned home last night, Callum said, “I didn’t realise until I came home this evening how dangerous that spot was and how brave I was to jump in.”
The youngster’s phone was “hopping all night with people contacting me.”
Callum said, “I’m just really happy that I could help the boys and that nothing serious had happened to them and I am just happy there was a positive outcome to this whole situation.”
His mother Claudine said, “I am very proud of him and am delighted the two boys are safe.”
“Callum came in and he was shocked and shaking but he played it down. He said it was all grand, he did not think it was as big a deal but a teenager would not realise how valuable two lives are.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Dermot Ahern says he knew Adrian Donohoe who was ‘a lovely man’

Former minister for justice and TD for Louth , Dermot Ahern has paid tribute to the Garda , the PSNI and US authorities for their patience and determination in bringing Aaron Brady to justice for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe .
From the minute that the murder had occurred the gardaí “ had an idea ” of who was responsible , he said , but it had taken seven years to gather the evidence .
Mr Ahern admitted that he had worried that there might not be sufficient evidence for a conviction .
Mr Ahern told RTÉ radio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had known Adrian Donohoe personally .
“ He was a lovely man , a gentle giant , he would do anything for anybody.
” It had been devastating to see the way he was murdered so callously .
Gangs like this operated along the Border for years , he said .
They were a still a difficulty and there was still intimidation .
He cited the example of the Paul Quinn murder for which no one had been convicted .
“ That ’ s the type of climate ” .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had introduced the legislation for the Special Criminal Court when he was minister for justice .
There was significant evidence of witness intimidation and witnesses were distressed at having to “ go into a box and give evidence against people who are dangerous.
” The former minister agreed with the comments of the judge in the Aaron Brady case about intimidation through social media and he hoped that the people involved would be prosecuted .
The people who deserve great credit were the witnesses who came forward , he said .
Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been done for Det Garda Donohoe and he hoped that more people will be found guilty for “ this heinous crime.
” The murder and the fact that he had been gunned down so callously , along with the murder of Garda Tony Golden , had put a cloud over the Co Louth area , he added .
Det Garda Ryan , who had been in the car with Det Garda Donohoe “ must have had an awful time ” and the murder had also had an impact on the staff of @ @ @ @

Former minister for justice and TD for Louth, Dermot Ahern has paid tribute to the Garda, the PSNI and US authorities for their patience and determination in bringing Aaron Brady to justice for the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.
From the minute that the murder had occurred the gardaí “had an idea” of who was responsible, he said, but it had taken seven years to gather the evidence. Mr Ahern admitted that he had worried that there might not be sufficient evidence for a conviction.
Mr Ahern told RTÉ radio's Today with Sarah McInerney show that he had known Adrian Donohoe personally. "He was a lovely man, a gentle giant, he would do anything for anybody." It had been devastating to see the way he was murdered so callously.
Gangs like this operated along the Border for years, he said. They were a still a difficulty and there was still intimidation. He cited the example of the Paul Quinn murder for which no one had been convicted. "That's the type of climate".
READ MORE
Mr Ahern said that had been the reason he had introduced the legislation for the Special Criminal Court when he was minister for justice. There was significant evidence of witness intimidation and witnesses were distressed at having to "go into a box and give evidence against people who are dangerous."
The former minister agreed with the comments of the judge in the Aaron Brady case about intimidation through social media and he hoped that the people involved would be prosecuted.
The people who deserve great credit were the witnesses who came forward, he said.
Mr Ahern said he was relieved that justice had been done for Det Garda Donohoe and he hoped that more people will be found guilty for “this heinous crime.”
The murder and the fact that he had been gunned down so callously, along with the murder of Garda Tony Golden, had put a cloud over the Co Louth area, he added. Det Garda Ryan, who had been in the car with Det Garda Donohoe "must have had an awful time" and the murder had also had an impact on the staff of Lordship Credit Union.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Young women found clinging to lobster pot after spending night missing in Galway bay

Two young women who were reported missing after failing to return from paddleboarding in Galway Bay on Wednesday evening have been found alive .
Gardaí and the Irish Coast Guard were carrying out searches of the coastline in the Furbo beach area of Connemara on Thursday morning .
The women , aged 23 and 17 , were found two miles south of the Aran Islands and had been in the water since 8.30pm on Wednesday .
Hundreds of searchers have been combing the coastline in south Connemara and north Clare all morning after an overnight search involving the Irish Coast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The females , who are from the Knocknacarra area of Galway city , were found clinging to a lobster pot and initial reports stated they were in good health .
The Irish Coast Guard said on Thursday afternoon the two young women had been found and are being transferred to the care of the HSE and the search had been stood down .
“ Thank you to everyone that assisted in this SAR operation , ” it said .
A Garda spokesman said : “ An Garda Síochána can confirm both women have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by emergency services for medical attention .
”

One of the two women rescued in Galway Bay being taken off the Coast Guard helicopter at UCHG. Photograph by Aengus McMahon
The mother of one of the young women rescued in Galway Bay has said paddleboards would “never darken the doors of our houses again”.
The two cousins, Sara Feeney (23) and Ellen Glynn (17) who were reported missing after failing to return from paddleboarding in Galway Bay on Wednesday evening were found alive on Thursday morning.
They were discovered by fisherman Patrick Oliver (38) and his 18-year old son Morgan south of Inis Oirr, the smallest of the Aran Islands just before lunchtime on Thursday. They had been in the water since 8.30pm on Wednesday.
Helen Feeney, the mother of Sara Feeney, said they would forever be indebted to the fisherman who rescued them and that paddleboards would “never darken the doors of our houses again”.
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“I was just walking the dog on the beach while they went in for the paddle board on the beautiful evening that we had,” she told RTÉ’s Drivetime programme.
“We had a lovely kind of chat and in good spirits and the next thing they were just going out . . . they seemed to be going out a bit far and I started to be kind of like [thinking] that’s a bit far. It just went from the most serene of pictures to a little bit of anxiety and sort of then, you’re telling yourself they’ll be grand.”
Growing increasingly anxious, she explained that when it grew dark and it did not look like they would come back she called the Coastguard.
“Horrific, it was the stuff of nightmares,” she said of the unfolding situation. “You’re just living by the second.”
Although the girls had been wearing lifejackets, they were not wearing wetsuits because of the fine weather conditions and their intentions only to go into the water for a short period, she said.
Hundreds searched
Hundreds of searchers had combed the coastline in south Connemara and north Clare all morning after an overnight search involving the Irish Coast Guard helicopters from Shannon and Sligo.
The cousins, who are from the Knocknacarra area of Galway city, were found clinging to the buoy of a lobster pot and were in good health. They were transferred by helicopter to University Hospital Galway.
Barry Heskin, a member of the RNLI in Galway said the two women were lucky to be alive. He told RTÉ radio's News at One that the women had been wearing buoyancy aids, which "undoubtedly helped them" but they had not been wearing wet suits.
Mr Heskin said Wednesday had been a "very dark night" with heavy rain, thunder, lightning and high winds. "I'm sure they were very scared," he said. Fortunately the temperature of the water in Galway Bay had been relatively high recently, he added.
The rescue commenced at 10pm and initially it was just the RNLI as they thought the women would be found quickly, Mr Heskin said. When that didn’t happen further resources were called in including the Aran life boat, the Coast Guard and Civil Defence. Later the gardaí, the local flying club and volunteers including sailing clubs all joined in the search.
The “phenomenal amount of support” from the people of North Clare and around Galway Bay had meant the search could be divided up and could be spread further afield.
Mr Oliver and his son Morgan were given a hero’s welcome when they returned to the docks in Galway on Thursday afternoon.
Mr Oliver (38) and his son Morgan were hailed for their role in saving the two females by correctly working out their location off the Aran Islands using tidal and weather information.
And while the father and son team were being welcomed back the relieved families of Sara and Ellen were overjoyed at Galway University Hospital as they greeted the arrival of the Irish Coastguard helicopter from Inis Oirr with the rescued paddle boarders on board.
The families, including Ellen’s dad Johnny Glynn, who captained Galway United to win the 1991 FAI Cup, hugged each other as the pair were taken from the helicopter and taken by ambulance on the short journey to the hospital to be checked out.
Well-wishers greeted the two families as they made their way to the hospital while half an hour later another group lined the quayside to welcome home the father and son team, the latest in a long line of fishermen of the Oliver family from the Claddagh, who had made the remarkable rescue off the smallest of the Aran Islands shortly before noon.
Mr Oliver praised the cousins for ‘doing everything right’ to help them survive the night on the bay when the warm sunny evening gave way to a thunderous night of wind and rain.
“We headed out of the docks as soon as we got the word they were missing and with the wind that was there last night and everything else we kind of predicted where they might have gone so we said we would head there, between Inis Oirr and the Clare coast.
‘They did everything right’
“They did everything right. They held on to one another, they didn’t lose touch and it can’t have been easy with the night that was in. They had buoyancy aids but they didn’t have wetsuits.
“We told the lads in the lifeboat station that we would head in that direction and thankfully it worked out. It doesn’t always work out this well,” said Mr Oliver, who has served on the Galway Bay Lifeboat crew for years.
Mr Heskin said there was “jumping around the station” and a “few tears were shed when news came through about the safe recovery of the women. “We will be celebrating for the rest of the day,” he said.
Karen Golden and her friend Maeve Joyce were helping with the search on Thursday and said there was "very serious concern" for the young women.
“There was a lot of anxiety and people were just so frightened for the families of the girls,” Ms Joyce said. “Because it was so late in the day, the following day, there was a lot of concern it would be bad news.”
Ms Golden said she got a text to say the women had been found alive and that “there was just enormous relief”.
“Maeve went back to the people who were behind us and this lovely kind of chain of thumbs up went down among the people who were searching along the coast,” Ms Golden said. “Everyone was just so relieved.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--‘I go into work feeling scared’: Migrant meat plant workers tell their stories

Migrant workers in some Irish meat plants say that have suffered increased discrimination during the Covid-19 pandemic and believe factories are still prioritising production over employee health and safety .
Three Brazilian meat factory workers based in the midlands and south west of the country spoke to The Irish Times , under condition of anonymity and through a translator , about what they describe as the poor working conditions they face on a daily basis .
None of the men interviewed work at any of the four plants which have closed in Kildare and Offaly in recent days .
Paulo* @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant in the midlands for nearly a decade , says conditions were bad even before Covid-19 hit .
Years of working in meat factories results in severe physical and emotional exhaustion , he adds .
Paulo worked in meat production in Brazil before moving to Ireland but says the bullying he has experienced in Irish plants is shocking .
“ My boss curses and shouts at me .
I suffered so much that I went to the doctor and he gave me medication for depression .
When I took time off because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me threatening that I would lose my job if I didn ’ t come back .
I got no payment when I was off sick .
In the end I had to convince my doctor to let me go back to work early.
” David* , who works in the south west , says migrant workers ( particularly Brazilians ) in his plant are treated badly .
“ We always end up doing the harder , more physical jobs and I feel the supervisors abuse their powers because some Brazilians don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” There is also discrimination from other workers who believe migrants are spreading the virus , he says .
Antonio* , who also works in the midlands , has not been bullied but says workers fear becoming ill because there is no sick pay available where he works .
“ My colleague was injured lifting heavy weights in the factory and had to take a week off .
All us workers had to come together and raise money for him because there was no work support .
I was told we wouldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t been in the company long enough to receive benefits.
” Some 58 per cent of of the 15,338 people working in Irish meat plants are migrants with the majority coming from Poland , Lithuania , Romania , Latvia , Moldova , Slovakia , Brazil , South Africa , Botswana and the Philippines , according to the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland ( MRCI ) .
Nine out of 10 of migrant workers in these plants do not have access to a company sick pay scheme , MRCI has found .
Asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether migrant workers in factories had access to sick pay schemes , Meat Industry Ireland senior director Cormac Healy said some companies offered support but that he didn ’ t know “ the overall position across the industry ” .
When Covid-19 arrived in Ireland in March , Paulo saw very few changes in his factory .
“ At first it was just signs on the ground telling us to social distance and a few hand sanitisers around the place .
They asked us to wear masks but didn ’ t provide them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ needed to social distance but no one was in enforcing it and there was no space to stay away from people when you are working.
” More stringent measures were introduced when the virus started spreading and following external pressure from health and safety bodies , he says .
Paulo shares an apartment with his wife and is constantly worried about bringing the virus home .
“ I go into work feeling scared every day .
I do everything in my power to protect myself from the virus ; I bring in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as fast as I can to get in and out .
The supervisors often shout into the dining hall telling us to physically distance from one another but it ’ s impossible , there ’ s too many workers eating .
“ It ’ s been so difficult , I ’ ve nearly gone crazy working in that factory .
Thinking about my family , that ’ s what keeps me going.
” Antonio says the plant he works for took “ way too long to respond ” to the virus and only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff became ill. Antonio and his housemate , who also works in the plant , tested positive for coronavirus but only suffered mild symptoms .
While masks are available , workers must still share aprons and other protection clothing in the plant , he says .
Like in Paulo ’ s plant , he says the eating area is always overcrowded .
“ We ’ re very exposed and it ’ s nearly impossible to stop the spread on the factory floor .
But they don ’ t care as long as production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children also contracted the virus after it started spreading at his plant .
He says production at his plant has actually increased in recent weeks , despite a number of employees being out sick .
“ I ’ ve been doing the work of four people to compensate .
Before we would work until 2pm , now we have to stay in till 5pm .
No one feels safe in that place now .
I was happy to come to Ireland but I never expected life would be this hard.
” All three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 but continue to rely on Brazilian news reports for updates .
Asked whether workers are following Covid-19 restrictions , Paulo says people are “ left up to their own devices ” when it comes to health and safety .
He expresses concern that his undocumented colleagues are suffering severe levels of bullying and are given the most difficult and physically draining jobs .
MRCI says the “ small number ” of undocumented migrants working in the meat sector are based in “ smaller , less on-the-radar , meat plants ” .
These @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be underpaid and often struggle to access their employment rights with the threat of deportation used by employers to bully and harass them , says the MRCI .
The three men agree that their employers ’ number one priority remains meat production .
“ If someone got a cough they ’ re sent home without pay and can only come back once they have a negative coronavirus test , ” says Paulo .
“ This is not to protect other workers , it ’ s just to keep the factory open .
”

Migrant workers in some Irish meat plants say they have suffered increased discrimination during the Covid-19 pandemic and believe factories are still prioritising production over employee health and safety.
Three Brazilian meat factory workers based in the midlands and south west of the country spoke to The Irish Times, under condition of anonymity and through a translator, about what they describe as the poor working conditions they face on a daily basis. None of the men interviewed work at any of the four plants which have closed in Kildare and Offaly in recent days.
Paulo*, who has worked in a meat plant in the midlands for nearly a decade, says conditions were bad even before Covid-19 hit. Years of working in meat factories results in severe physical and emotional exhaustion, he adds.
Paulo worked in meat production in Brazil before moving to Ireland but says the bullying he has experienced in Irish plants is shocking.
READ MORE
The meat processing industry contains "unrivaled vectors for the transmission of Covid-19", with around 90 per cent of workers in the industry not receiving sick pay, Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis has told the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee.
“My boss curses and shouts at me. I suffered so much that I went to the doctor and he gave me medication for depression. When I took time off because of a work injury my boss kept calling me threatening that I would lose my job if I didn’t come back. I got no payment when I was off sick. In the end I had to convince my doctor to let me go back to work early.”
David*, who works in the south west, says migrant workers (particularly Brazilians) in his plant are treated badly. “We always end up doing the harder, more physical jobs and I feel the supervisors abuse their powers because some Brazilians don’t speak English or have the right documents.” There is also discrimination from other workers who believe migrants are spreading the virus, he says.
Antonio*, who also works in the midlands, has not been bullied but says workers fear becoming ill because there is no sick pay available where he works. “My colleague was injured lifting heavy weights in the factory and had to take a week off. All us workers had to come together and raise money for him because there was no work support. I was told we wouldn’t get sick pay because we hadn’t been in the company long enough to receive benefits.”
Some 58 per cent of of the 15,338 people working in Irish meat plants are migrants with the majority coming from Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Latvia, Moldova, Slovakia, Brazil, South Africa, Botswana and the Philippines, according to the Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland (MRCI).
Nine out of 10 of migrant workers in these plants do not have access to a company sick pay scheme, MRCI has found.
Asked in July during a Covid-19 committee hearing whether migrant workers in factories had access to sick pay schemes, Meat Industry Ireland senior director Cormac Healy said some companies offered support but that he didn’t know “the overall position across the industry”.
When Covid-19 arrived in Ireland in March, Paulo saw very few changes in his factory. “At first it was just signs on the ground telling us to social distance and a few hand sanitisers around the place. They asked us to wear masks but didn’t provide them for us. They told us we needed to social distance but no one was in enforcing it and there was no space to stay away from people when you are working.”
Spreading
More stringent measures were introduced when the virus started spreading and following external pressure from health and safety bodies, he says. Paulo shares an apartment with his wife and is constantly worried about bringing the virus home.
“I go into work feeling scared every day. I do everything in my power to protect myself from the virus; I bring in my own mask and hand sanitiser and work as fast as I can to get in and out. The supervisors often shout into the dining hall telling us to physically distance from one another but it’s impossible, there’s too many workers eating.
“It’s been so difficult, I’ve nearly gone crazy working in that factory. Thinking about my family, that’s what keeps me going.”
Antonio says the plant he works for took “way too long to respond” to the virus and only started acting when a large number of staff became ill. Antonio and his housemate, who also works in the plant, tested positive for coronavirus but only suffered mild symptoms. While masks are available, workers must still share aprons and other protection clothing in the plant, he says. Like in Paulo’s plant, he says the eating area is always overcrowded. “We’re very exposed and it’s nearly impossible to stop the spread on the factory floor. But they don’t care as long as production continues.”
David’s wife and children also contracted the virus after it started spreading at his plant. He says production at his plant has actually increased in recent weeks, despite a number of employees being out sick. “I’ve been doing the work of four people to compensate. Before we would work until 2pm, now we have to stay in till 5pm. No one feels safe in that place now. I was happy to come to Ireland but I never expected life would be this hard.”
All three men have received leaflets in Portuguese explaining Covid-19 but continue to rely on Brazilian news reports for updates.
Asked whether workers are following Covid-19 restrictions, Paulo says people are “left up to their own devices” when it comes to health and safety. He expresses concern that his undocumented colleagues are suffering severe levels of bullying and are given the most difficult and physically draining jobs.
MRCI says the “small number” of undocumented migrants working in the meat sector are based in “smaller, less on-the-radar, meat plants”. These workers are very vulnerable, tend to be underpaid and often struggle to access their employment rights with the threat of deportation used by employers to bully and harass them, says the MRCI.
The three men agree that their employers’ number one priority remains meat production. “If someone got a cough they’re sent home without pay and can only come back once they have a negative coronavirus test,” says Paulo. “This is not to protect other workers, it’s just to keep the factory open.”
*Pseudonyms used to protect workers’ identities


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Man (20s) dies following stabbing at Clontarf house

Gardaí have arrested a man and sealed off a crime scene at a property in Clontarf , north Dublin , after a man was killed in a stabbing early on Thursday morning .
The fatal attack occurred at about 7.15am at a house on St Lawrence Road , Clontarf .
The property where the attack occurred is not a private residence and is a facility for people under medical care for mental health issues .
“ A man , aged in his 20s , has been pronounced dead at the scene .
The scene is currently preserved for a technical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A man , also aged in his 20s , has been arrested and is currently detained at Clontarf Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
” Gardaí are now trying to establish if a dispute broke out between the two men or if mental health issues were a factor in the fatal attack .
A spokeswoman for the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) said the facility was a “ low-support independent living residence ” for mental health rehabilitation .
The property consists of eight apartments , and residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ The HSE are providing supports to family and residents and are actively reviewing and responding to the incident in line with the HSE incident management framework , ” she said .
St Lawrence Road is an affluent area on Dublin ’ s northside , stretching from the Clontarf seafront up to the Howth Road .
The leafy suburban road consists mainly of large red brick homes with long , well-kept front gardens .
Nial Ring , who lives on the road and is a councillor on Dublin City Council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shock ” following the killing .
He said the mental health facility had been in the community “ for a long long time ” and was “ hugely integrated ” in the area .
“ I ’ ve been living here for over twenty years , we would know people who work in it , we would know the residents , they ’ d be walking up and down to the shops , we talk to them , they were just part of the community , ” he said .
“ It really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nobody really takes notice , it ’ s just another house on St Lawrence Road , ” he said .
James Finnegan , who lives in an apartment block beside the property , said he was surprised to hear there had been a killing on what he called “ millionaires ’ road ” .
“ Nothing happens around this area , I ’ ve been here for three years , but it ’ s still a tragedy wherever it happens .
I doubt there ’ s ever been a murder on this road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was walking her dog down the road on Thursday morning , as she does every day .
Living in the area for 26 years she said the residents of the facility “ generally keep to themselves ” .
When she woke up to the news of the fatal stabbing she said she was shocked , but added “ these things happen everywhere ” .
Al O ’ Donohue ( 87 ) has lived on the road for over 40 years , and only learned of the “ terrible ” killing when he passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ To hear that somebody was stabbed on the road , most of the houses are families , no problems at all , it ’ s a lovely leafy road , ” he said .
The residents in the facility “ never gave any problems , we were never disturbed by them and we never interfered with them of course , ” he said .
Another local , Aisling Rogers , who walked around to the scene on her lunch break , said she was “ shocked for it to happen in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Investigators at the scene of a fatal stabbing that occurred at a mental health facility in Clontarf. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
Gardaí have arrested a man and sealed off a crime scene at a property in Clontarf, north Dublin, after a man was killed in a stabbing early on Thursday morning.
The fatal attack occurred at about 7.15am at a house on St Lawrence Road, Clontarf.
The property where the attack occurred is not a private residence and is a facility for people under medical care for mental health issues.
“A man, aged in his 20s, has been pronounced dead at the scene. The scene is currently preserved for a technical examination,” gardaí said.
READ MORE
“A man, also aged in his 20s, has been arrested and is currently detained at Clontarf Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.”
Gardaí are now trying to establish if a dispute broke out between the two men or if mental health issues were a factor in the fatal attack.
A spokeswoman for the Health Service Executive (HSE) said the facility was a “low-support independent living residence” for mental health rehabilitation. The property consists of eight apartments, and residents have been moved to alternative accommodation, she said.
“The HSE are providing supports to family and residents and are actively reviewing and responding to the incident in line with the HSE incident management framework,” she said.
St Lawrence Road is an affluent area on Dublin’s northside, stretching from the Clontarf seafront up to the Howth Road. The leafy suburban road consists mainly of large red brick homes with long, well-kept front gardens.
Nial Ring, who lives on the road and is a councillor on Dublin City Council, said local residents were “in shock” following the killing. He said the mental health facility had been in the community “for a long long time” and was “hugely integrated” in the area.
“I’ve been living here for over twenty years, we would know people who work in it, we would know the residents, they’d be walking up and down to the shops, we talk to them, they were just part of the community,” he said.
“It really has been here for so long that nobody really takes notice, it’s just another house on St Lawrence Road,” he said.
James Finnegan, who lives in an apartment block beside the property, said he was surprised to hear there had been a killing on what he called “millionaires’ road”.
“Nothing happens around this area, I’ve been here for three years, but it’s still a tragedy wherever it happens. I doubt there’s ever been a murder on this road,” he said.
Anne Keating was walking her dog down the road on Thursday morning, as she does every day. Living in the area for 26 years she said the residents of the facility “generally keep to themselves”.
When she woke up to the news of the fatal stabbing she said she was shocked, but added “these things happen everywhere”.
Al O’Donohue (87) has lived on the road for over 40 years, and only learned of the “terrible” killing when he passed the property on his afternoon walk.
“To hear that somebody was stabbed on the road, most of the houses are families, no problems at all, it’s a lovely leafy road,” he said.
The residents in the facility “never gave any problems, we were never disturbed by them and we never interfered with them of course,” he said.
Another local, Aisling Rogers, who walked around to the scene on her lunch break, said she was “shocked for it to happen in a real posh area” like Clontarf.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Man charged over alleged hijacking in Phibsborough

A man has been charged following an alleged hijacking on the Phibsborough Road in north Dublin on Wednesday evening .
@ @ @ @ @ of a man jumping on cars in the area around 6.15pm before entering the passenger @ @ @ @ @ forcing the driver to exit the vehicle .
Gardaí said there were also reports that @ @ @ @ @ panels of at least one car .
A man was arrested in the North Circular @ @ @ @ @ allegedly threatening members of the public with a glass bottle .
No injuries were reported @ @ @ @ @ in his 40s , was detained at the Bridewell Garda station and has since been @ @ @ @ @ incident .
He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at 10.30am @ @ @

The man is due to appear in court on Thursday morning.
A man has been charged following an alleged hijacking on the Phibsborough Road in north Dublin on Wednesday evening.
Gardaí on patrol received reports of a man jumping on cars in the area around 6.15pm before entering the passenger side of another car and forcing the driver to exit the vehicle.
Gardaí said there were also reports that the man scratched the side panels of at least one car.
A man was arrested in the North Circular Road area where he was allegedly threatening members of the public with a glass bottle. No injuries were reported.
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The man, aged in his 40s, was detained at the Bridewell Garda station and has since been charged in relation to the incident.
He is due to appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice at 10.30am on Thursday.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--RTÉ’s financial future is under ‘immediate threat’, officials warn Minister

The financial future of RTÉ is under “ immediate threat ” , according to a department briefing note given to the new Green Party Minister for Media , Tourism and Sport Catherine Martin .
The document also warns that RTÉ ’ s assets are “ fully stretched ” in terms of collateral against loans and “ its capacity to borrow more is therefore limited.
” Ms Martin was also warned that TV licence subscription compliance was at an “ unacceptable level ” and that sports can not be economically run “ on the basis of the indoors and outdoors limits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government .
In relation to the future of broadcast media , the briefing note set out by department officials outlines significant changes in the sector in the past decade .
“ The change in how people access audio visual media , away from traditional TV consumption and towards content streaming services and social media have significantly impacted the ability of traditional broadcasters to maintain audiences and sustain advertising revenues.
” It says that according to a 2019 report , 52 per cent of those aged over 65 use TV for their main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being from radio .
“ In sharp contrast , of 18-24-year-olds , it is 18 per cent who rely on TV , 6 per cent radio and 71 per cent online , social media and other online sources .
“ This in turn has had a significant impact on the ability of Irish broadcasters to create specifically Irish content that reflects our individual culture , art , music and sport , ” the document says .
“ It also has the potential to have a major impact on the coverage of Irish news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light of recent developments such as online disinformation .
As such , it is now more than ever imperative that trusted and reliable sources of information are publicly available so as to protect the integrity of our democracy.
” The document says that these trends , coupled with challenges around TV licensing fee collection , are “ having a critical impact on RTÉ ’ s revenues and have resulted in a position where the financial sustainably of the organisation is now under immediate threat.
” The briefing says between 2008 and 2014 RTÉ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is around 30 per cent .
Despite cuts at RTÉ , personnel-related operating costs increased by €20 million from €163 million to €183 million over the past five years .
“ The total number of employees at year end 2018 was 1,822 which is 165 lower than in 2016 .
The reduction occurred in late 2017 and during 2018 as staff left under the voluntary exit programme launched in 2017 .
“ The target reduction under this scheme was between 200 and 300 staff .
However , the take-up was below expectations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says RTÉ has a “ borrowing limit of €100m under the Broadcasting Act 2009 .
Total borrowings are €95m as of October 2019 so this , coupled with its challenging underlying financial position , means their ability to raise additional funding is restricted .
Even if this statutory limit was raised , RTÉ ’ s assets are fully stretched in terms of collateral against loans and its capacity to borrow more is therefore limited , ” the briefing says .
Officials told the Minister that in the medium term , RTÉ has considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Donnybrook campus “ but has no plans to relocate entirely from Donnybrook.
” “ If the sale went ahead , most of the sale proceeds would be reinvested in new capital facilities on the site.
” In relation to the TV licence fee , since their lowest point in 2012 “ TV licence sales have gradually improved year on year with direct sales in 2019 of 1,025,534 licences.
” However , the briefing document found that the system is “ not without its challenges with the current evasion rate estimated be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate has fallen from 15.25 per cent at the end of 2014 , it is still at an unacceptable level considering its UK counterpart has an evasion rate of 7 per cent .
“ Evasion equates to a loss of up to €33.7m per annum to public service broadcasting in Ireland .
In addition to evasion , the number of households required to have a licence under current legislation is declining due to a departure from traditional viewing habits , with recent TAM ( television audience measurement ) estimates suggesting that approximately 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a traditional TV.
” The Minister has also been warned by officials that sport can not be economically run “ on the basis of the indoors and outdoors limits on mass gatherings ” set down by the Government roadmap which stipulates a limit of 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors .
“ Mass gatherings at sports events remains a significant issue to be addressed for sport to recover commercially.
” The document also warns that international and domestic tourism has been “ decimated ” by the Covid-19 crisis and that even with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t be enough to counteract the fall in travel from other countries .
“ International tourism has collapsed and the OECD estimates that the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on tourism industry could result in a 60-80 per cent decline in international tourism in 2020 , depending on the duration of the crisis and the speed with which travel and tourism rebounds .
“ Fáilte Ireland research shows that domestic consumers ’ levels of intent for both long break and short break in Ireland in 2020 is down 20 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Assuming a worst case scenario of no international tourists coming into Ireland for the remainder of 2020 in addition to a decline of 20 per cent in domestic tourism – this could lead to an overall loss to the economy of €2.3bn with a potential impact on approximately 200,000 jobs ” , the briefing says .
It adds that domestic tourism is likely to be a “ much bigger share of the overall tourism market for a number of years as Irish people may be more likely to holiday at home .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the next few years is crucial if we are to rebuild the sector and grow jobs throughout the country .
“ All of the above does not take away from the importance of overseas tourists .
Even if the domestic market could grow by 50 per cent , it would still not be enough to sustain the industry ’ s current operational capacity into the medium- to long-term .
”

Catherine Martin has been warned that RTÉ’s assets are ‘fully stretched’ in terms of collateral against loans and ‘its capacity to borrow more is therefore limited’. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
The financial future of RTÉ is under “immediate threat”, according to a department briefing note given to the new Green Party Minister for Media, Tourism and Sport Catherine Martin.
The document also warns that RTÉ’s assets are “fully stretched” in terms of collateral against loans and “its capacity to borrow more is therefore limited.”
Ms Martin was also warned that TV licence subscription compliance was at an “unacceptable level” and that sports cannot be economically run “on the basis of the indoors and outdoors limits on mass gatherings” set out by the Government.
In relation to the future of broadcast media, the briefing note set out by department officials outlines significant changes in the sector in the past decade. “The change in how people access audio visual media, away from traditional TV consumption and towards content streaming services and social media have significantly impacted the ability of traditional broadcasters to maintain audiences and sustain advertising revenues.”
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It says that according to a 2019 report, 52 per cent of those aged over 65 use TV for their main news source, with 18 per cent being from radio.
“In sharp contrast, of 18-24-year-olds, it is 18 per cent who rely on TV, 6 per cent radio and 71 per cent online, social media and other online sources.
“This in turn has had a significant impact on the ability of Irish broadcasters to create specifically Irish content that reflects our individual culture, art, music and sport,” the document says.
“It also has the potential to have a major impact on the coverage of Irish news and current affairs, especially important in light of recent developments such as online disinformation. As such, it is now more than ever imperative that trusted and reliable sources of information are publicly available so as to protect the integrity of our democracy.”
The document says that these trends, coupled with challenges around TV licensing fee collection, are “having a critical impact on RTÉ’s revenues and have resulted in a position where the financial sustainably of the organisation is now under immediate threat.”
The briefing says between 2008 and 2014 RTÉ reduced operating costs by €127 million, which is around 30 per cent.
Despite cuts at RTÉ, personnel-related operating costs increased by €20 million from €163 million to €183 million over the past five years. “The total number of employees at year end 2018 was 1,822 which is 165 lower than in 2016. The reduction occurred in late 2017 and during 2018 as staff left under the voluntary exit programme launched in 2017.
“The target reduction under this scheme was between 200 and 300 staff. However, the take-up was below expectations, at 160 staff.”
It further says RTÉ has a “borrowing limit of €100m under the Broadcasting Act 2009. Total borrowings are €95m as of October 2019 so this, coupled with its challenging underlying financial position, means their ability to raise additional funding is restricted. Even if this statutory limit was raised, RTÉ’s assets are fully stretched in terms of collateral against loans and its capacity to borrow more is therefore limited,” the briefing says.
Officials told the Minister that in the medium term, RTÉ has considered the sale of a further nine acres of the Donnybrook campus “but has no plans to relocate entirely from Donnybrook.”
“If the sale went ahead, most of the sale proceeds would be reinvested in new capital facilities on the site.”
In relation to the TV licence fee, since their lowest point in 2012 “TV licence sales have gradually improved year on year with direct sales in 2019 of 1,025,534 licences.”
However, the briefing document found that the system is “not without its challenges with the current evasion rate estimated be 12.83 per cent.”
“While this rate has fallen from 15.25 per cent at the end of 2014, it is still at an unacceptable level considering its UK counterpart has an evasion rate of 7 per cent.
“Evasion equates to a loss of up to €33.7m per annum to public service broadcasting in Ireland. In addition to evasion, the number of households required to have a licence under current legislation is declining due to a departure from traditional viewing habits, with recent TAM (television audience measurement) estimates suggesting that approximately 10 per cent of homes do not have a traditional TV.”
The Minister has also been warned by officials that sport cannot be economically run “on the basis of the indoors and outdoors limits on mass gatherings” set down by the Government roadmap which stipulates a limit of 50 people indoors and 100 outdoors.
“Mass gatherings at sports events remains a significant issue to be addressed for sport to recover commercially.”
The document also warns that international and domestic tourism has been “decimated” by the Covid-19 crisis and that even with a significant uptick in domestic tourism, it won’t be enough to counteract the fall in travel from other countries.
“International tourism has collapsed and the OECD estimates that the impact of the Covid-19 crisis on tourism industry could result in a 60-80 per cent decline in international tourism in 2020, depending on the duration of the crisis and the speed with which travel and tourism rebounds.
“Fáilte Ireland research shows that domestic consumers’ levels of intent for both long break and short break in Ireland in 2020 is down 20 per cent versus the same time last year.”
“Assuming a worst case scenario of no international tourists coming into Ireland for the remainder of 2020 in addition to a decline of 20 per cent in domestic tourism – this could lead to an overall loss to the economy of €2.3bn with a potential impact on approximately 200,000 jobs”, the briefing says.
It adds that domestic tourism is likely to be a “much bigger share of the overall tourism market for a number of years as Irish people may be more likely to holiday at home.
“Hence, maximising the domestic opportunity over the next few years is crucial if we are to rebuild the sector and grow jobs throughout the country.
“All of the above does not take away from the importance of overseas tourists. Even if the domestic market could grow by 50 per cent, it would still not be enough to sustain the industry’s current operational capacity into the medium- to long-term.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Crystal clear water from the air

Crystal clear water from the air

You work in the field of crystal engineering , what is that ?
Crystals are solids that have repeating patterns of atoms , molecules or ions in their structure .
Crystal engineering is the field of chemistry that looks to better understand existing crystals in order to make new crystalline materials , so we can harness their properties .
We and others are most interested in using these new crystals in lots of applications where crystalline materials are important , from purifying natural gas to water harvesting to making better and cheaper pharmaceuticals .
Being able to understand and design @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you can really focus on solving a problem , in the same way that an architect can design a building with a specific purpose in mind .
What kinds of problems are you looking to solve ?
I am interested in solving really big problems , and one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today is the scarcity of clean water that can sustain life .
Fresh water is a limited resource , and many areas of the world are coming under increasing pressure .
How could crystalline materials help there ?
My @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that are desiccants , meaning they can take water from the atmosphere .
We now have a material that can capture water from the air and release it with a low need for energy input .
Based on this , we are working with an industrial partner – Molecule.ie – on developing an atmospheric water generator system that can pull clean , drinkable water from the atmosphere .
That means where there is a lack of water or contamination of available water , you could pull clean water from the air , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
How did you find this material ?
It was one my lab had already made , but we hadn ’ t looked at it for this purpose .
Then I spoke at a conference in London , and by chance I met people from a think tank and research fund called Molecule .
They were interested in developing new materials to address climate and sustainability issues , so we started working with them on water capture .
We came up with new ways of testing materials in our lab , and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could fit the bill .
You are about to start a European Research Council advanced grant project on capturing gases , and you recently became a member of the Royal Irish Academy .
What is your advice to people about being innovative in research ?
That often we already have the solutions , but they have to be matched with the right problems .
When you have a motivation to go looking , then you may find that new technology is relatively easily within reach and sometimes the solutions are surprisingly simple .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , typically between government , industry and universities .
Ireland has become very good at this .
How has Covid-19 affected your research ?
We used the three months of lockdown for paper writing and planning .
It was an opportunity to take a high-level view of where we stand , and was fully enabled by remote meetings .
If the lockdown had lasted longer it would have been hugely detrimental , but fortunately we are now back in the lab on a shift basis with social distancing .
How do you take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no need for breaks in the usual sense , as I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world many times to present seminars at conferences or universities .
I have therefore had the opportunity to visit many interesting , beautiful places and enjoyed being the guest of gracious hosts .

Prof Mike Zaworotko: “Often we already have the solutions, but they have to be matched with the right problems.”
You work in the field of crystal engineering, what is that?
Crystals are solids that have repeating patterns of atoms, molecules or ions in their structure. Crystal engineering is the field of chemistry that looks to better understand existing crystals in order to make new crystalline materials, so we can harness their properties.
We and others are most interested in using these new crystals in lots of applications where crystalline materials are important, from purifying natural gas to water harvesting to making better and cheaper pharmaceuticals.
Being able to understand and design the material from the ground up means you can really focus on solving a problem, in the same way that an architect can design a building with a specific purpose in mind.
READ MORE
What kinds of problems are you looking to solve?
I am interested in solving really big problems, and one of the biggest challenges facing humanity today is the scarcity of clean water that can sustain life. Fresh water is a limited resource, and many areas of the world are coming under increasing pressure.
How could crystalline materials help there?
My lab has been looking at crystalline materials that are desiccants, meaning they can take water from the atmosphere. We now have a material that can capture water from the air and release it with a low need for energy input.
Based on this, we are working with an industrial partner – Molecule.ie – on developing an atmospheric water generator system that can pull clean, drinkable water from the atmosphere. That means where there is a lack of water or contamination of available water, you could pull clean water from the air, even in the middle of the Sahara desert.
How did you find this material?
It was one my lab had already made, but we hadn’t looked at it for this purpose. Then I spoke at a conference in London, and by chance I met people from a think tank and research fund called Molecule. They were interested in developing new materials to address climate and sustainability issues, so we started working with them on water capture.
We came up with new ways of testing materials in our lab, and we found that we had some materials that could fit the bill.
You are about to start a European Research Council advanced grant project on capturing gases, and you recently became a member of the Royal Irish Academy. What is your advice to people about being innovative in research?
That often we already have the solutions, but they have to be matched with the right problems. When you have a motivation to go looking, then you may find that new technology is relatively easily within reach and sometimes the solutions are surprisingly simple. This, however, still requires partnerships, typically between government, industry and universities. Ireland has become very good at this.
How has Covid-19 affected your research?
We used the three months of lockdown for paper writing and planning. It was an opportunity to take a high-level view of where we stand, and was fully enabled by remote meetings. If the lockdown had lasted longer it would have been hugely detrimental, but fortunately we are now back in the lab on a shift basis with social distancing.
How do you take a break from it all?
I have no need for breaks in the usual sense, as I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world many times to present seminars at conferences or universities. I have therefore had the opportunity to visit many interesting, beautiful places and enjoyed being the guest of gracious hosts.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--Gardaí say they have evidence linking other south Armagh men to Adrian Donohoe murder

Evidence has been secured that directly links other south Armagh men to the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe , and senior Garda officers are confident the conviction of Aaron Brady ( 29 ) on Wednesday will be followed by other trials .
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the Garda investigation would be “ relentless ” .
Deputy Commissioner John Twomey warned the other members of the murder gang that “ we ’ ll be knocking on your door ” , adding no border would protect them .
Brady , New Road , Crossmaglen , Co Armagh , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ murder of Det Garda Donohoe by an 11 to one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court .
Det Garda Donohoe , a 41-year-old married father of two , was shot dead on January 25th , 2013 , as he stepped from his Garda car after he and a colleague arrived at Lordship Credit Union , Bellurgan , Co Louth , to provide an armed cash escort for staff carrying cash .
On Wednesday following the conviction , Caroline Donohoe , the widow of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe , thanked the jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she was very thankful Brady had been found guilty .
“ I would like to most sincerely thank the jury for sticking with this trial for so long , and to my Garda colleagues and to the prosecution team , ” she said , adding she was issuing her thanks on behalf of her son and daughter , Niall and Amy .
Also speaking outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday , Garda Colm Donohoe paid tribute to his brother ’ s Garda colleagues in Dundalk .
Brady ’ s conviction for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was also convicted of stealing €7,000 from the credit union and is due to be sentenced in October for both the murder and robbery .
The Irish Times understands technical evidence relating to the other suspects ’ telephone activity and their movements on the day of the murder has been gathered as well as CCTV footage linking some of the suspects to the crime scene and to Brady on the day .
The evidence in relation to one of the suspects is especially strong and gardaí believe he will be convicted in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to one source , also “ quietly confident ” about the prospects of convicting other gang members and those who helped them after the murder .
A separate criminal investigation is also under way into efforts during the trial to intimidate witnesses .
At one point a video of a witness being interviewed by gardaí was shared on social media with messages branding him a “ rat ” for “ touting ” .
That man , and four other witnesses , did not give evidence at trial and gardaí believe a significant campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four people who were with Brady , the gunman , on the night of the murder , are all from south Armagh and were members of a gang involved in armed robberies , ATM thefts and the theft of plant machinery .
At least two of the men have lived in the United States for most of the time since the murder and currently reside in a major city on the east coast .
Some of the suspects have also spent periods in Britain and Australia since the botched armed robbery and murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two of the four suspects have citizenship for another country .

29-year-old Aaron Brady from Crossmaglen has been found guilty of the capital murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth on January 25th, 2013. Video: Conor Lally
Evidence has been secured that directly links other south Armagh men to the murder of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe, and senior Garda officers are confident the conviction of Aaron Brady (29) on Wednesday will be followed by other trials.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the Garda investigation would be “relentless”. Deputy Commissioner John Twomey warned the other members of the murder gang that “we’ll be knocking on your door”, adding no border would protect them.
Brady, New Road, Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was on Wednesday found guilty of the capital murder of Det Garda Donohoe by an 11 to one majority jury verdict at the Central Criminal Court.
Det Garda Donohoe, a 41-year-old married father of two, was shot dead on January 25th, 2013, as he stepped from his Garda car after he and a colleague arrived at Lordship Credit Union, Bellurgan, Co Louth, to provide an armed cash escort for staff carrying cash.
READ MORE
On Wednesday following the conviction, Caroline Donohoe, the widow of Det Garda Adrian Donohoe, thanked the jury in the trial.
Ms Donohoe said she was very thankful Brady had been found guilty.
“I would like to most sincerely thank the jury for sticking with this trial for so long, and to my Garda colleagues and to the prosecution team,” she said, adding she was issuing her thanks on behalf of her son and daughter, Niall and Amy. Also speaking outside the Criminal Courts of Justice on Wednesday, Garda Colm Donohoe paid tribute to his brother’s Garda colleagues in Dundalk.
Brady’s conviction for capital murder carries a 40-year sentence. He was also convicted of stealing €7,000 from the credit union and is due to be sentenced in October for both the murder and robbery.
Aaron Brady is due to be sentenced in October for both the murder and robbery. Photograph: Collins Courts
Technical evidence
The Irish Times understands technical evidence relating to the other suspects’ telephone activity and their movements on the day of the murder has been gathered as well as CCTV footage linking some of the suspects to the crime scene and to Brady on the day.
The evidence in relation to one of the suspects is especially strong and gardaí believe he will be convicted in the future. Gardaí were, according to one source, also “quietly confident” about the prospects of convicting other gang members and those who helped them after the murder.
A separate criminal investigation is also under way into efforts during the trial to intimidate witnesses. At one point a video of a witness being interviewed by gardaí was shared on social media with messages branding him a “rat” for “touting”. That man, and four other witnesses, did not give evidence at trial and gardaí believe a significant campaign was run to intimidate witnesses.
The four people who were with Brady, the gunman, on the night of the murder, are all from south Armagh and were members of a gang involved in armed robberies, ATM thefts and the theft of plant machinery.
At least two of the men have lived in the United States for most of the time since the murder and currently reside in a major city on the east coast. Some of the suspects have also spent periods in Britain and Australia since the botched armed robbery and murder seven and a half years ago. Two of the four suspects have citizenship for another country.


theirishtimes--2020-08-13--'Hot-bedding' and bogus work practices taking place in meat plants, union claims

The Department of Social Protection has said it will investigate claims made by Siptu of alleged bogus self-employment and sub-contracting in the meat sector .
The union alleges employment practices in Irish meat plants are depriving the State of tax revenue and leaving workers without key pandemic-linked illness and unemployment benefits .
The claims are contained in an opening statement to be delivered to the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee on Thursday , in which the union calls for an end to the practice of “ hot-bedding ” , or the use of the same bed by meat sector workers on alternate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plant workers are sharing “ rooms /accommodation ” in one Midlands town , Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis will tell the hearing , convened to examine recent large Covid-19 outbreaks in meat plants in the Midlands .
Mr Ennis claims “ so-called ‘ sole traders ’ [ are ] working in Irish meat plants , paying tax in Poland , with employers avoiding PRSI contributions , workers missing out on leave and welfare benefits , and the State being denuded of tax revenue ” .
Without being registered and having a PPS number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ benefits or the pandemic unemployment payment .
Asked about the claims by Mr Ennis , the Department of Social Protection said on Wednesday night that if the union wished to provide information , it would examine each case .
A department spokeswoman said where a worker was posted from abroad , the employer was obliged to notify the Workplace Relations Commission .
There have been no such notifications from meat factories in 2020 .
Meanwhile , public health officials have defended the blanket re-imposition of travel restrictions in three Midlands counties following the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the workers at the three plants in counties Kildare , Offaly and Laois live in these counties , according to acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn .
He was responding to criticism that the measures were too widely spread and could have been limited to the towns where the plants are situated .
While agreeing the restrictions were a “ blunt instrument ” , Dr Glynn said there was a “ misperception ” that all of the cases were located close to the processing plants where the workers were employed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties for a reason , he said , adding that cases of the virus had occurred in Birr , Ferbane , Clara , Tullamore , Edenderry , Maynooth , Clane , Newbridge , Athy , Durrow and Abbeyleix in recent days .
“ People work in a particular place but they live and socialise and meet people all across these counties , ” Dr Glynn told the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) briefing on Wednesday .
He warned people living in adjacent counties to also be on their guard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magic about a county border that protects you ” .
NPHET reported another 40 confirmed cases on Wednesday , including 12 in Dublin , 11 in Kildare , seven in Offaly and none in Laois .
However , Dr Glynn warned there were likely to be days over the next week when the number of cases was “ significantly higher ” .
Prof Philip Nolan , chairman of a NPHET advisory group , pointed out the 40 new cases “ seems low ” only when seen through the prism of the large numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Wednesday ’ s caseload was still two to three times higher than the number of cases being reported in late June , he said .
The reproduction number , a measure of how much the virus is being transmitted , had dropped from 1.8 last week to an estimated 1.6 this week , he reported .
Seventy per cent of cases over the past 14 days occurred in the large Midlands clusters , with fewer than 10 cases a day of community transmission .
However , there had been smaller outbreaks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carlow , he said .
Meanwhile , Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the Government ’ s aim was to “ flatten the curve ” and to minimise the risk of the health service being overwhelmed until either herd immunity was developed , “ which would take an extremely long time ” or , more likely , a vaccine was developed .

The meat processing industry contains "unrivaled vectors for the transmission of Covid-19", with around 90 per cent of workers in the industry not receiving sick pay, Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis has told the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee.
The Department of Social Protection has said it will investigate claims made by Siptu of alleged bogus self-employment and sub-contracting in the meat sector.
The union alleges employment practices in Irish meat plants are depriving the State of tax revenue and leaving workers without key pandemic-linked illness and unemployment benefits.
The claims are contained in an opening statement to be delivered to the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee on Thursday, in which the union calls for an end to the practice of “hot-bedding”, or the use of the same bed by meat sector workers on alternate shifts.
More than 40 migrant meat plant workers are sharing “rooms /accommodation” in one Midlands town, Siptu divisional organiser Greg Ennis will tell the hearing, convened to examine recent large Covid-19 outbreaks in meat plants in the Midlands.
READ MORE
Mr Ennis claims “so-called ‘sole traders’ [are] working in Irish meat plants, paying tax in Poland, with employers avoiding PRSI contributions, workers missing out on leave and welfare benefits, and the State being denuded of tax revenue”.
Without being registered and having a PPS number, workers are ineligible for enhanced illness benefits or the pandemic unemployment payment.
Asked about the claims by Mr Ennis, the Department of Social Protection said on Wednesday night that if the union wished to provide information, it would examine each case.
A department spokeswoman said where a worker was posted from abroad, the employer was obliged to notify the Workplace Relations Commission. There have been no such notifications from meat factories in 2020.
Travel restrictions
Meanwhile, public health officials have defended the blanket re-imposition of travel restrictions in three Midlands counties following the outbreaks.
More than 90 per cent of the workers at the three plants in counties Kildare, Offaly and Laois live in these counties, according to acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn.
He was responding to criticism that the measures were too widely spread and could have been limited to the towns where the plants are situated.
While agreeing the restrictions were a “blunt instrument”, Dr Glynn said there was a “misperception” that all of the cases were located close to the processing plants where the workers were employed.
The restrictions were applied across the three counties for a reason, he said, adding that cases of the virus had occurred in Birr, Ferbane, Clara, Tullamore, Edenderry, Maynooth, Clane, Newbridge, Athy, Durrow and Abbeyleix in recent days.
“People work in a particular place but they live and socialise and meet people all across these counties,” Dr Glynn told the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) briefing on Wednesday. He warned people living in adjacent counties to also be on their guard, pointing out “there’s nothing magic about a county border that protects you”.
NPHET reported another 40 confirmed cases on Wednesday, including 12 in Dublin, 11 in Kildare, seven in Offaly and none in Laois.
However, Dr Glynn warned there were likely to be days over the next week when the number of cases was “significantly higher”.
Lower numbers
Prof Philip Nolan, chairman of a NPHET advisory group, pointed out the 40 new cases “seems low” only when seen through the prism of the large numbers of cases reported over the past week. Wednesday’s caseload was still two to three times higher than the number of cases being reported in late June, he said.
The reproduction number, a measure of how much the virus is being transmitted, had dropped from 1.8 last week to an estimated 1.6 this week, he reported.
Seventy per cent of cases over the past 14 days occurred in the large Midlands clusters, with fewer than 10 cases a day of community transmission.
However, there had been smaller outbreaks in counties Clare, Donegal, Wexford and Carlow, he said.
Meanwhile, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said the Government’s aim was to “flatten the curve” and to minimise the risk of the health service being overwhelmed until either herd immunity was developed, “which would take an extremely long time” or, more likely, a vaccine was developed.