theirishtimes--2020-07-30--NUIG challenges finding that it paid for Tuam infant remains

NUI Galway has challenged a finding in an interim report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation that its medical school had received and paid for 35 infant remains from the Tuam mother and baby home .
In its fifth interim report , published in April of last year , the commission found that between 1949 and 1964 , Galway Medical School “ received and paid for 35 infant anatomical subjects ” .
The university , in what it described as “ provisional findings of a report into its historical links to donations of infant remains ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a project to try to identify these children and develop a memorial to them ” .
“ Research led by Dr [ Sarah-Anne ] Buckley and Dr Lorraine Grimes has found that these infants who died in the Central Hospital Galway could not have come from the Tuam institution and , moreover , there were not in fact 35 infants , but nine.
” It continued that “ the researchers also examined transfers from workhouses and a psychiatric institution and , as part of the project announced today , their full report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The public was invited “ to submit their views as to how the infants can be honoured and memorialised by the university ” .
NUI Galway president Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said : “ Like many other State organisations , NUI Galway – or UCG as it was then – was part of a society that did not sufficiently value the lives of some of its most vulnerable citizens.
” He said that “ by memorialising these men , women and children , we wish to at last honour their legacy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community to submit ideas as to how we can embody our value of respect in commemorating this period in our past.
” He was speaking at a launch of a digital exhibition of the Tuam Oral History Project , which features biographies of some of the survivors of the Tuam mother and baby home .
It includes a podcast series narrated by actor Cillian Murphy , patron of the Unesco Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway .
At a virtual event on Thursday , the university also invited survivors of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ families , advocates and members of the local community to share their memories in an oral history archive , which will provide an independent resource for a history of the institution .
Led by Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley and Dr John Cunningham , the Tuam Oral History Project is currently collecting and archiving the oral histories and life stories of survivors , and over the coming year will be involving survivors in artistic projects inspired by their stories .
Details can be found at nuigalway.ie/tuam-oral-history/ The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Department of Children , Disability , Equality and Integration in October .

Site of a mass grave for infants who died in the Tuam mother and baby home in Galway. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
NUI Galway has challenged a finding in an interim report of the Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation that its medical school had received and paid for 35 infant remains from the Tuam mother and baby home.
In its fifth interim report, published in April of last year, the commission found that between 1949 and 1964, Galway Medical School "received and paid for 35 infant anatomical subjects".
The university, in what it described as “provisional findings of a report into its historical links to donations of infant remains”, said on Thursday it had “embarked on a project to try to identify these children and develop a memorial to them”.
"Research led by Dr [Sarah-Anne] Buckley and Dr Lorraine Grimes has found that these infants who died in the Central Hospital Galway could not have come from the Tuam institution and, moreover, there were not in fact 35 infants, but nine."
READ MORE
It continued that “the researchers also examined transfers from workhouses and a psychiatric institution and, as part of the project announced today, their full report will be published in September 2020”.
The public was invited “to submit their views as to how the infants can be honoured and memorialised by the university”.
NUI Galway president Prof Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh said: “Like many other State organisations, NUI Galway – or UCG as it was then – was part of a society that did not sufficiently value the lives of some of its most vulnerable citizens.”
He said that “by memorialising these men, women and children, we wish to at last honour their legacy and acknowledge their sacrifices. We invite our community to submit ideas as to how we can embody our value of respect in commemorating this period in our past.”
Biographies
He was speaking at a launch of a digital exhibition of the Tuam Oral History Project, which features biographies of some of the survivors of the Tuam mother and baby home. It includes a podcast series narrated by actor Cillian Murphy, patron of the Unesco Child and Family Research Centre at NUI Galway.
At a virtual event on Thursday, the university also invited survivors of the Tuam mother and baby home, their families, advocates and members of the local community to share their memories in an oral history archive, which will provide an independent resource for a history of the institution.
Led by Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley and Dr John Cunningham, the Tuam Oral History Project is currently collecting and archiving the oral histories and life stories of survivors, and over the coming year will be involving survivors in artistic projects inspired by their stories. Details can be found at nuigalway.ie/tuam-oral-history/
The Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation’s final report is to be submitted to the Department of Children, Disability, Equality and Integration in October.


theirishtimes--2020-07-30--Ireland in one of regions most threatened by future coastal flooding – study

Coastal flooding across the world is set to rise by almost 50 per cent due to climate change in the next 80 years , endangering many millions of people and resulting in trillions of euro in damage to cities and coastal infrastructure , according to the latest projections .
Among the most vulnerable regions is northwest Europe , including Ireland , concludes an international team led by researchers at the University of Melbourne and the University of East Anglia .
Their findings , generated in a complex modelling exercise , shows land area exposed to an extreme flood event will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; an increase of 48 per cent – or more than 800,000sq km .
Without investment in flood defences or a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions , the figures indicate coastal flooding could have major implications for the global population and economy by 2100 .
Areas that could be at risk of extensive flooding include southeast China ; Australia ’ s Northern Territories , Bangladesh , West Bengal and Gujurat in India , the US states of North Carolina , Virginia and Maryland and northwest Europe – where east coast UK , northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The authors suggest the global population exposed to coastal flooding could be up to 287 million by 2100 ( 4.1 per cent of the world ’ s population ) – 600 million people live in low-lying areas .
This would mean about 77 million more people will be at risk of experiencing flooding , a rise of 52 per cent to 225 million .
The economic risk in terms of the infrastructure exposed will rise by up to €12 trillion , representing 20 per cent of global GDP , they predict .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nature ’ s journal Scientific Reports is based on a climate scenario where carbon-dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere continue to rise rapidly .
“ A warming climate is driving sea-level rise because water expands as it warms , and glaciers are melting .
Climate change is also increasing the frequency of extreme seas , which will further increase the risk of flooding , ” said lead author Ebru Kirezci of the University of Melbourne .
“ What the data and our model is saying is that compared with now , what we see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be 10 times more frequent because of climate change.
” Lead UK author Prof Robert Nicholls , director of Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia , said : “ This analysis shows the urgency of action to address sea-level rise via both climate mitigation to reduce the rise and adaptation such as better coastal defences , as some of the rise is unavoidable.
” University of Melbourne infrastructure engineering researcher Prof Ian Young said that although northwest Europe including Ireland is particularly exposed to rising flood risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas in every continent , with “ hot spots ” in Australia , New Zealand , China , India , southeast Asia , southeast Africa and North America .
“ This is critical research from a policy point of view because it provides politicians with a credible estimate of risks and costs we are facing , and a basis for taking action , ” Prof Young added .
“ This data should act as a wake-up call to inform policy at global and local government levels so that more flood defences can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The analysis does not take account of existing flood defences that are in places such as northern Europe already providing significant protection .
But researchers warn the extent of the increased risk highlighted by their study shows how vulnerable large parts of the world will become unless action is taken both to mitigate climate change effects and expand flood defences .
“ Our research shows large parts of communities residing in low-lying coastal areas are at risk of being devastated so we need urgent action .
Vulnerable areas need to start building @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our preparedness and we need to be following strategies to mitigate climate change , ” Ms Kirezci said .
The research factors in sea-level rise estimates under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios – including the impact of melting ice-sheets in polar regions as well as episodic coastal flooding events caused by extreme storms .
The study included input from specialists at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Global Climate Forum in Germany .

Coastal flooding across the world is set to rise by almost 50 per cent due to climate change in the next 80 years, endangering many millions of people and resulting in trillions of euro in damage to cities and coastal infrastructure, according to the latest projections.
Among the most vulnerable regions is northwest Europe, including Ireland, concludes an international team led by researchers at the University of Melbourne and the University of East Anglia.
Their findings, generated in a complex modelling exercise, shows land area exposed to an extreme flood event will increase by more than 250,000sq km globally; an increase of 48 per cent – or more than 800,000sq km.
Without investment in flood defences or a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, the figures indicate coastal flooding could have major implications for the global population and economy by 2100.
READ MORE
Areas that could be at risk of extensive flooding include southeast China; Australia's Northern Territories, Bangladesh, West Bengal and Gujurat in India, the US states of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland and northwest Europe – where east coast UK, northern France and northern Germany are most threatened.
The authors suggest the global population exposed to coastal flooding could be up to 287 million by 2100 (4.1 per cent of the world’s population) – 600 million people live in low-lying areas.
This would mean about 77 million more people will be at risk of experiencing flooding, a rise of 52 per cent to 225 million. The economic risk in terms of the infrastructure exposed will rise by up to €12 trillion, representing 20 per cent of global GDP, they predict.
The analysis published on Thursday in Springer Nature’s journal Scientific Reports is based on a climate scenario where carbon-dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere continue to rise rapidly.
"A warming climate is driving sea-level rise because water expands as it warms, and glaciers are melting. Climate change is also increasing the frequency of extreme seas, which will further increase the risk of flooding," said lead author Ebru Kirezci of the University of Melbourne.
“What the data and our model is saying is that compared with now, what we see as a one-in-100-year extreme flood event will be 10 times more frequent because of climate change.”
Coastal defences
Lead UK author Prof Robert Nicholls, director of Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at the University of East Anglia, said: "This analysis shows the urgency of action to address sea-level rise via both climate mitigation to reduce the rise and adaptation such as better coastal defences, as some of the rise is unavoidable."
University of Melbourne infrastructure engineering researcher Prof Ian Young said that although northwest Europe including Ireland is particularly exposed to rising flood risk, the study shows other major risk areas in every continent, with "hot spots" in Australia, New Zealand, China, India, southeast Asia, southeast Africa and North America.
“This is critical research from a policy point of view because it provides politicians with a credible estimate of risks and costs we are facing, and a basis for taking action,” Prof Young added.
“This data should act as a wake-up call to inform policy at global and local government levels so that more flood defences can be built to safeguard coastal life and infrastructure.”
The analysis does not take account of existing flood defences that are in places such as northern Europe already providing significant protection. But researchers warn the extent of the increased risk highlighted by their study shows how vulnerable large parts of the world will become unless action is taken both to mitigate climate change effects and expand flood defences.
“Our research shows large parts of communities residing in low-lying coastal areas are at risk of being devastated so we need urgent action. Vulnerable areas need to start building coastal defences, we need to increase our preparedness and we need to be following strategies to mitigate climate change,” Ms Kirezci said.
The research factors in sea-level rise estimates under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios – including the impact of melting ice-sheets in polar regions as well as episodic coastal flooding events caused by extreme storms.
The study included input from specialists at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Global Climate Forum in Germany.


theirishtimes--2020-07-30--Northern Ireland reports 17 days without a Covid-19 death

There were no Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours , the North ’ s Department of Health reported on Thursday afternoon , leaving the fatality toll at 556 .
This was the seventeenth consecutive day that zero coronavirus deaths were recorded in the North .
There were eight new cases of the virus , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 5,938 .
So far 141,172 people have been tested in the North for Covid-19 .
The North ’ s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said while the incidence of coronavirus was low it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told BBC Radio Ulster ’ s Nolan Show that at the start of July the average number of cases was four per day but that had now increased to more than ten .
This illustrated that the virus was still active in the community and made measures like social distancing and the wearing of face coverings in enclosed spaces more important .
Meanwhile , Dr McBride and the chief medical officers in England , Scotland and Wales , have decided that people who test positive for Covid-19 or show symptoms of the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hitherto it was seven days .
In a statement on Thursday the four chief medical officers said that evidence “ although still limited , has strengthened and shows that people with Covid-19 who are mildly ill and are recovering have a low but real possibility of infectiousness between 7 and 9 days after illness onset ” .
They said , “ We have considered how best to target interventions to reduce risk to the general population and consider that at this point in the epidemic , with widespread and rapid testing available @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is now the correct balance of risk to extend the self-isolation period from 7 to 10 days for those in the community who have symptoms or a positive test result.
” The doctors added , “ This will help provide additional protection to others in the community .
This is particularly important to protect those who have been shielding and in advance of the autumn and winter when we may see increased community transmission .
”

While holidaymakers arriving in Northern Ireland are required to quarratine for 14 days, people who test positive for Covid-19 must self-isolate for at least ten days, up from seven days. Photograph: PA
There were no Covid-19 deaths in Northern Ireland in the past 24 hours, the North's Department of Health reported on Thursday afternoon, leaving the fatality toll at 556.
This was the seventeenth consecutive day that zero coronavirus deaths were recorded in the North.
There were eight new cases of the virus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 5,938.
So far 141,172 people have been tested in the North for Covid-19.
READ MORE
The North’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said while the incidence of coronavirus was low it had increased in recent weeks.
He told BBC Radio Ulster’s Nolan Show that at the start of July the average number of cases was four per day but that had now increased to more than ten.
This illustrated that the virus was still active in the community and made measures like social distancing and the wearing of face coverings in enclosed spaces more important.
Meanwhile, Dr McBride and the chief medical officers in England, Scotland and Wales, have decided that people who test positive for Covid-19 or show symptoms of the virus must self-isolate for at least ten days. Hitherto it was seven days.
In a statement on Thursday the four chief medical officers said that evidence “although still limited, has strengthened and shows that people with Covid-19 who are mildly ill and are recovering have a low but real possibility of infectiousness between 7 and 9 days after illness onset”.
They said, “We have considered how best to target interventions to reduce risk to the general population and consider that at this point in the epidemic, with widespread and rapid testing available and considering the relaxation of other measures, it is now the correct balance of risk to extend the self-isolation period from 7 to 10 days for those in the community who have symptoms or a positive test result.”
The doctors added, “This will help provide additional protection to others in the community. This is particularly important to protect those who have been shielding and in advance of the autumn and winter when we may see increased community transmission.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Coronavirus: Shielding for 80,000 in Northern Ireland ends

The shielding period for around 80,000 vulnerable people in Northern Ireland has come to an end .
Those with serious medical conditions are able to venture outside from Friday for the first time since March as coronavirus restrictions ease .
Ministers are encouraging shoppers to wear face masks to limit virus spread and the measure could be enforced by later next month if not enough people comply voluntarily .
Health Minister Robin Swann said : “ Many of those who have been shielding will understandably be nervous about leaving their homes for sometimes what will be the last time so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assuring them by showing kindness and consideration.
” Those shielding included people with conditions like multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis which would leave them particularly at risk should they be infected by coronavirus .
They received special food parcels delivered to their door and other official support .
Stormont ’ s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said : “ I realise how difficult a time this has been for you and your families , your actions have undoubtedly saved lives .
“ For the rest of us , think of everyone you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shielding .
Latest figures published today by the Nisra official statistics agency showed that four deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the last week , from July 18 to 24 , bringing the total of deaths to 854 .
Of this total , 448 ( 52.5 per cent ) took place in hospital , 349 ( 40.9 per cent ) in care homes , eight ( 0.9 per cent ) in hospices and 49 ( 5.7 per cent ) at residential addresses or other locations .
The 357 deaths which occurred in care homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Northern Ireland ’ s Covid-19 contact-tracing mobile phone app has become the first in the UK to launch .
It is called Stop Covid NI and is aimed at interrupting the spread of coronavirus by finding those most at risk of catching it .
Amnesty International said it set a benchmark for data privacy .
No personally identifiable information/data is collected through the app — it only uses non-identifiable , randomly generated codes and shares only that information .
There are no hidden features to track citizens and it does not track geographical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ We want to thank the Department of Health for listening to our concerns and broadly adopting our recommendations .
“ As such , the Northern Ireland tracing app now sets a benchmark for data privacy , which must be matched by any other contact tracing apps developed elsewhere in the UK.
” - PA

A view of the newly launched Stop Covid NI contact, track and trace app displayed on a smart phone. Photograph: Getty Images
The shielding period for around 80,000 vulnerable people in Northern Ireland has come to an end.
Those with serious medical conditions are able to venture outside from Friday for the first time since March as coronavirus restrictions ease.
Ministers are encouraging shoppers to wear face masks to limit virus spread and the measure could be enforced by later next month if not enough people comply voluntarily.
Minister for Health Robin Swann said: "Many of those who have been shielding will understandably be nervous about leaving their homes for sometimes what will be the last time so we can all play our part in assuring them by showing kindness and consideration."
READ MORE
Those shielding included people with conditions like multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis which would leave them particularly at risk should they be infected by coronavirus.
They received special food parcels delivered to their door and other official support.
Stormont’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said: “I realise how difficult a time this has been for you and your families, your actions have undoubtedly saved lives.
“For the rest of us, think of everyone you meet as someone who may have been shielding.
“Please show you care.”
On Friday, the North's Department of Health said 10 more positive cases of coronavirus had been detected, bringing the total number of people who have test positive to 5,948.
No new deaths were recorded for the 18 day in a row, leaving the total in the region at 556, according to official figures.
However, figures published on Friday by the Nisra official statistics agency showed that four deaths involving Covid-19 occurred in the last week, from July 18th to 24th, bringing the total of deaths to 854.
Of this total, 448 (52.5 per cent) took place in hospital, 349 (40.9 per cent) in care homes, eight (0.9 per cent) in hospices and 49 (5.7 per cent) at residential addresses or other locations.
The 357 deaths which occurred in care homes and hospices involved 81 separate establishments.
The department figures report deaths of patients who had tested positive for the virus whereas the Nisra figures are based on information entered on death certificates.
Northern Ireland’s Covid-19 contact-tracing mobile phone app has become the first in the UK to launch.
It is called Stop Covid NI and is aimed at interrupting the spread of coronavirus by finding those most at risk of catching it.
Amnesty International said it set a benchmark for data privacy.
It uses a privacy-preserving decentralised model.
No personally identifiable information/data is collected through the app – it only uses non-identifiable, randomly generated codes and shares only that information.
There are no hidden features to track citizens and it does not track geographical location.
Northern Ireland director Patrick Corrigan said: "We want to thank the Department of Health for listening to our concerns and broadly adopting our recommendations.
“As such, the Northern Ireland tracing app now sets a benchmark for data privacy, which must be matched by any other contact tracing apps developed elsewhere in the UK.” – PA


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Rate of package recycling slips, environmental agency says

Ireland ’ s packaging recycling rates are going in the wrong direction , the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) has said .
Recycling rates for packaging declined from 74 per cent in 2012 to 64 per cent in 2018 , according to the EPA ’ s latest figures .
Packaging now accounts for one-third of household waste with paper and cardboard , followed by plastic .
Ireland recycled only a third of plastic packaging in 2018 , which has decreased for the third year in a row .
The EPA said the amount of packaging used must be reduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ separation of waste by Irish households and businesses .
It also said the broaden of scope of Ireland ’ s recycling list must be expanded .
Dr Eimear Cotter , director of the EPA ’ s Office of Environmental Sustainability , said “ to get the most from our resources in this area , we need to reduce packaging and reverse our falling recycling rates ” .
“ Households and businesses can drive this change by avoiding over-packaged goods which sends a strong signal back to producers to innovate for reduced packaging and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We must also maximise recycling of the remaining materials , and waste collectors have a critical role here in ensuring their customers segregate correctly and use the appropriate bin .
To support this , Ireland ’ s recycling list should , as a matter of urgency , be reviewed to expand the variety of waste types that can be recycled.
” Dr Tara Higgins , EPA senior scientist , said the quantity of packaging waste generated needs to be reduced to bring about environmental and climate benefits .
“ The Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Action Plan provides an opportunity to set out concrete actions that will address the worrying trends highlighted in these figures and help Ireland meet challenging new EU targets in the coming years , ” she said .

The EPA says waste collectors have a critical role in ensuring their customers segregate correctly and use the appropriate bin.
Ireland's packaging recycling rates are going in the wrong direction, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.
Recycling rates for packaging declined from 74 per cent in 2012 to 64 per cent in 2018, according to the EPA’s latest figures. Packaging now accounts for one-third of household waste with paper and cardboard, followed by plastic.
Ireland recycled only a third of plastic packaging in 2018, which has decreased for the third year in a row. The EPA said the amount of packaging used must be reduced as well as an improvement in the separation of waste by Irish households and businesses.
It also said the broaden of scope of Ireland’s recycling list must be expanded.
READ MORE
Dr Eimear Cotter, director of the EPA's Office of Environmental Sustainability, said "to get the most from our resources in this area, we need to reduce packaging and reverse our falling recycling rates".
"Households and businesses can drive this change by avoiding over-packaged goods which sends a strong signal back to producers to innovate for reduced packaging and reusable alternatives," Dr Cotter said.
“We must also maximise recycling of the remaining materials, and waste collectors have a critical role here in ensuring their customers segregate correctly and use the appropriate bin. To support this, Ireland’s recycling list should, as a matter of urgency, be reviewed to expand the variety of waste types that can be recycled.”
Dr Tara Higgins, EPA senior scientist, said the quantity of packaging waste generated needs to be reduced to bring about environmental and climate benefits.
“The Government’s forthcoming Waste and Circular Economy Action Plan provides an opportunity to set out concrete actions that will address the worrying trends highlighted in these figures and help Ireland meet challenging new EU targets in the coming years,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Lisa Smith sent forward for trial on terrorism charges

Former Irish Defence Forces member Lisa Smith has been sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court accused of membership of the Islamic State terrorist group .
The Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) directed trial in the non-jury court which is used for terrorism related and organised crime trials .
Dublin District Court heard on Friday that the DPP has obtained a certificate , under the Offences Against the State Act that , in this case , the ordinary courts were inadequate to secure the administration of justice .
The certificate was furnished to Judge Marie Quirke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agreed with the decision in relation to the trial venue .
A State solicitor asked the judge to make an order of return for trial to a sitting of the Special Criminal Court .
Lisa Smith , a 38-year-old mother of one , from Co Louth , has indicated through her solicitor that she will challenge the decision that she can not have a jury trial .
She had initially been charged in December with an offence contrary to the Criminal Justice ( Terrorist Offences ) which carries a possible 10-year sentence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 2015 to 2019 .
Last week , a further charge was bought under the same legislation for financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance , via a Western Union money transfer , to a named man on May 6th , 2015 .
Sergeant Gareth Kane of the Special Detective Unit served the book of evidence on Ms Smith when she appeared at Dublin District Court .
Ms Smith , who denies the charges , stood at the side of the courtroom and spoke only to her solicitor .
Judge Quirke told Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an alibi evidence in her defence she must inform the DPP within 14 days .
Ms Smith nodded to indicate she understood .
Her surety , who had to lodge €1,000 cash of bail set at €5,000 , confirmed he would continue to stand bail .
He can not be named by court order following a request from Ms Smith ’ s solicitor .
Ms Smith must continue obeying bail conditions , including a ban on using the internet and social media .
A date has yet to be set for her appearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aid was granted for her trial .

Lisa Smith arrives at the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street in Dublin on Friday for a District Court appearance. Photograph: Collins Courts
Former Irish Defence Forces member Lisa Smith has been sent forward for trial to the Special Criminal Court accused of membership of the Islamic State terrorist group.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directed trial in the non-jury court which is used for terrorism related and organised crime trials.
Dublin District Court heard on Friday that the DPP has obtained a certificate, under the Offences Against the State Act that, in this case, the ordinary courts were inadequate to secure the administration of justice.
The certificate was furnished to Judge Marie Quirke, who noted that the Attorney General agreed with the decision in relation to the trial venue.
READ MORE
A State solicitor asked the judge to make an order of return for trial to a sitting of the Special Criminal Court.
Lisa Smith, a 38-year-old mother of one, from Co Louth, has indicated through her solicitor that she will challenge the decision that she cannot have a jury trial.
She had initially been charged in December with an offence contrary to the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) which carries a possible 10-year sentence, for being a member of Islamic State from 2015 to 2019.
Last week, a further charge was bought under the same legislation for financing terrorism by sending €800 in assistance, via a Western Union money transfer, to a named man on May 6th, 2015.
Sergeant Gareth Kane of the Special Detective Unit served the book of evidence on Ms Smith when she appeared at Dublin District Court.
Ms Smith, who denies the charges, stood at the side of the courtroom and spoke only to her solicitor.
Judge Quirke told Ms Smith that if she intended to use an alibi evidence in her defence she must inform the DPP within 14 days. Ms Smith nodded to indicate she understood.
Her surety, who had to lodge €1,000 cash of bail set at €5,000, confirmed he would continue to stand bail. He cannot be named by court order following a request from Ms Smith’s solicitor.
Ms Smith must continue obeying bail conditions, including a ban on using the internet and social media.
A date has yet to be set for her appearance in the Special Criminal Court. Legal aid was granted for her trial.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Trinity College lawns dug up to make room for wild flowers

The manicured lawns at the front entrance at Trinity College Dublin have been removed and are about to be transformed into a wildflower meadow in response to Ireland ’ s “ biodiversity crisis ” .
First announced in February , the move which make islands of the famous twin statues of Edmund Burke and Oliver Goldsmith , brings to an end to 150 years of grass cutting , which made the lawns at the front of the college as smooth as a cricket pitch .
The conversion into a bee-friendly , wild-flower meadow began in recent days after the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll in April .
Of almost 14,000 votes , 12,500 were in favour of replanting the front of the university which faces onto College Green .
Prof John Parnell , chair of Trinity ’ s grounds and gardens committee , said the results sent a message that “ people want to see more biodiversity and in particular want institutions to set an example ” .
Though the area may end up looking less tidy , supporters of the idea say it will be an important reminder of what wild nature looks like .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pesticide control can disturb important insects that feed and nest in the soil .
Planting wild flowers and minimising interference supports biodiversity , and provide a habitat for native insects and food for pollinators in the city centre .
The plants will a mix of annuals and perennials , with as many of them being of known Irish origin as possible .
The aim was to extend flowering over as long a period as possible .
The area will flower in spring and summer , and be left untouched over the winter months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hoverflies and bees – hibernate .
The re-wilding move represents a pioneering attempt in Ireland to place wild-flower spaces in the heart of the city .
The area – one of the most prominent areas in the capital – sees thousands people pass by on a daily basis .
Plants and grasses at other parts of campus are already in the form of mini meadows and cut only a few times a year to encourage wild species and to assist students and academics studying ecology .

The Lawns being removed from the front entrance at Trinity College. Photograph Nick Bradshaw
The manicured lawns at the front entrance at Trinity College Dublin have been removed and are about to be transformed into a wildflower meadow in response to Ireland's "biodiversity crisis".
First announced in February, the move which make islands of the famous twin statues of Edmund Burke and Oliver Goldsmith, brings to an end to 150 years of grass cutting, which made the lawns at the front of the college as smooth as a cricket pitch.
The conversion into a bee-friendly, wild-flower meadow began in recent days after the public overwhelmingly backed the move in an online poll in April.
Of almost 14,000 votes, 12,500 were in favour of replanting the front of the university which faces onto College Green.
READ MORE
Prof John Parnell, chair of Trinity's grounds and gardens committee, said the results sent a message that "people want to see more biodiversity and in particular want institutions to set an example".
Though the area may end up looking less tidy, supporters of the idea say it will be an important reminder of what wild nature looks like.
The Lawns being removed from the front entrance at Trinity College. Photograph Nick Bradshaw
Research shows lawn-mowing, ground preparation and pesticide control can disturb important insects that feed and nest in the soil.
Planting wild flowers and minimising interference supports biodiversity, and provide a habitat for native insects and food for pollinators in the city centre.
The plants will a mix of annuals and perennials, with as many of them being of known Irish origin as possible. The aim was to extend flowering over as long a period as possible.
The area will flower in spring and summer, and be left untouched over the winter months when pollinator insects – such as butterflies, hoverflies and bees – hibernate.
The re-wilding move represents a pioneering attempt in Ireland to place wild-flower spaces in the heart of the city. The area – one of the most prominent areas in the capital – sees thousands people pass by on a daily basis.
Plants and grasses at other parts of campus are already in the form of mini meadows and cut only a few times a year to encourage wild species and to assist students and academics studying ecology.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--New 750m cycle path costing €9 million opens along Dublin’s Royal Canal

A 750m long cycle path has been opened along the Royal Canal in Dublin ’ s North Strand at a cost of nearly €9 million .
The stretch is part of Dublin City Council ’ s Royal Canal “ premium ” cycle route , a 7km path running from the north quays to the city ’ s border with Fingal at Ashtown .
The first section of the route , a 500m stretch from Guild Street at the north quays to Sheriff Street , was completed more than a decade ago , but despite several announcements , work on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newcomen bridge at the North Strand only began in February of last year .
The newly opened section costing €8.9 million , consists of a segregated three-metre wide cycle track and two-metre wide footpath on a viaduct bridge alongside a linear park .
The project also involved the realignment of the junction of Seville Place , Guild Street and Sheriff Street Upper and the provision of a pedestrian and cyclist crossing at its entrance with North Strand Road .
Speaking at the opening of the new section , Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to install , this project had required the construction of a bridge .
“ Sometimes you come to pinch points and in that pinch point you need a solution .
The vast majority of cycling infrastructure is very , very cheap , but sometimes you do have to spend money on bridges or critical pinch points so we get a solution that is non-stop end to end , ” he said .
“ I think that money is well spent.
” The majority of the canal was going to be “ very cheap @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a natural tow path so in most instances its not going to be expensive ” , The next phase of path will run from North Strand to Cross Guns Bridge at Phibsborough .
A tender for this 2.1km section is expected to be issued by the end of this year .
The final section , a 4.3km path from Phibsborough to Longford Bridge in Ashtown , has been divided into four phases , the first involving a contra-flow bus lane over Broombridge due to be completed by October .
The remaining phases are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said while the completion of the route to Ashtown was due to take up to two years , he hoped it would open in six months .
A 2km section from Ashtown to the 12th lock in Castleknock was completed by Fingal County Council in 2015 .
The canal path is part of a a 277km coast-to-coast cycling “ greenway ” from Galway to Dublin , announced in 2012 by the then minister for transport Leo Varadkar .
It was due to be completed in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been finished .
Separately , Dublin City Council is to extend the hours of pedestrianisation of a number of streets surrounding Grafton Street to 11pm this Saturday , Sunday and Monday , following the success of the measure last weekend .
Parts of South William Street , Drury Street , Dame Court , South Anne Street and Duke Street were pedestrianised from 11am to 7pm last weekend .
Surveys of businesses on these streets found takings were up by 40 per cent to 100 per cent .
If the extension to 11pm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will remain in place for the weekends of August 8th and August 15th , the council said .

Eamon Ryan TD, Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu and Paschal Donohoe at the opening of the new cycling route.
A 750m long cycle path has been opened along the Royal Canal in Dublin’s North Strand at a cost of nearly €9 million.
The stretch is part of Dublin City Council's Royal Canal "premium" cycle route, a 7km path running from the north quays to the city's border with Fingal at Ashtown.
The first section of the route, a 500m stretch from Guild Street at the north quays to Sheriff Street, was completed more than a decade ago, but despite several announcements, work on the second phase to bring the path to Newcomen bridge at the North Strand only began in February of last year.
The newly opened section costing €8.9 million, consists of a segregated three-metre wide cycle track and two-metre wide footpath on a viaduct bridge alongside a linear park. The project also involved the realignment of the junction of Seville Place, Guild Street and Sheriff Street Upper and the provision of a pedestrian and cyclist crossing at its entrance with North Strand Road.
READ MORE
Speaking at the opening of the new section, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said while most cycling infrastructure was inexpensive to install, this project had required the construction of a bridge.
“Sometimes you come to pinch points and in that pinch point you need a solution. The vast majority of cycling infrastructure is very, very cheap, but sometimes you do have to spend money on bridges or critical pinch points so we get a solution that is non-stop end to end,” he said. “I think that money is well spent.”
The majority of the canal was going to be “very cheap” he said “because you have a natural tow path so in most instances its not going to be expensive”,
The next phase of path will run from North Strand to Cross Guns Bridge at Phibsborough. A tender for this 2.1km section is expected to be issued by the end of this year.
The final section, a 4.3km path from Phibsborough to Longford Bridge in Ashtown, has been divided into four phases, the first involving a contra-flow bus lane over Broombridge due to be completed by October. The remaining phases are at design stage, Dublin City Council said.
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said while the completion of the route to Ashtown was due to take up to two years, he hoped it would open in six months.
A 2km section from Ashtown to the 12th lock in Castleknock was completed by Fingal County Council in 2015.
The canal path is part of a a 277km coast-to-coast cycling "greenway" from Galway to Dublin, announced in 2012 by the then minister for transport Leo Varadkar. It was due to be completed in 2020. The section from Maynooth to Longford has been finished.
Separately, Dublin City Council is to extend the hours of pedestrianisation of a number of streets surrounding Grafton Street to 11pm this Saturday, Sunday and Monday, following the success of the measure last weekend.
Parts of South William Street, Drury Street, Dame Court, South Anne Street and Duke Street were pedestrianised from 11am to 7pm last weekend. Surveys of businesses on these streets found takings were up by 40 per cent to 100 per cent.
If the extension to 11pm results in “a positive outcome” it will remain in place for the weekends of August 8th and August 15th, the council said.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Croke Park hosts two hundred Muslims in Eid celebration

Two hundred Muslims attended a historic prayer service on the pitch of Croke Park on Friday to mark the Festival of Eid al-Adha .
Croke Park has hosted several religious festivals in recent years but it is the first time a Muslim Prayer Service has been held there .
Social distancing regulations related to Covid-19 made it impossible to hold a large gathering in a mosque , leading to Shaykh Umar al-Qadri asking Croke Park management for assistance .
He said he got the idea after seeing Ikea in Germany allowing Muslims to use one of their car parks .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ better so I approached Croke Park , the most iconic , Irish , symbolic venue you could think of , ” he said .
“ They didn ’ t hesitate.
” The event was attended by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and other faith leaders , along with Minister for Children , Disability , Equality and Integration Roderic O ’ Gorman .
Shaykh Al-Qadri asked for blessings for health care professions , for Allah to give people strength to follow the health regulations and for the Government to show strength in its leadership during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who was unable to attend , sent his best wishes .
“ The celebration in such an iconic Irish venue of this significant holiday in the Islamic calendar is an important moment in Ireland ’ s narrative , ” he said in a statement .
“ It reminds us of the richly diverse community we have become and the enormous contribution that you , our new communities , have made and continue to make to Ireland.
” He thanked the Muslim community for their “ valuable contribution to a shared society ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new chapter in the history of Croke Park .
Today our celebration is a gesture of recognising publicly the place of the Muslim community as an integral part of the family of the Irish and to recognise the contribution of your Muslim community to the Ireland of today and to the Ireland of tomorrow.
” Most Reverend Michael Jackson of the Church of Ireland said the “ silence ” created by the pandemic and the lockdown has been filled with the sounds of “ neighbourliness ” .
“ The unknown person next door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to go both ways .
While many of us had been taught from our youth that it is more blessed to give than to receive , we all learned the positive lesson of humility and of Otherness to the effect that it is just as blessed to receive as to give.
” Rabbi Zalman Lent said that , at a time of so much anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic feeling , “ it is special we can all sit here together…as brothers ” .

Socially distanced worshippers in Croke Park, Dublin, on the first day of Eid. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Wire
Two hundred Muslims attended a historic prayer service on the pitch of Croke Park on Friday to mark the Festival of Eid al-Adha.
Croke Park has hosted several religious festivals in recent years but it is the first time a Muslim Prayer Service has been held there.
Social distancing regulations related to Covid-19 made it impossible to hold a large gathering in a mosque, leading to Shaykh Umar al-Qadri asking Croke Park management for assistance.
He said he got the idea after seeing Ikea in Germany allowing Muslims to use one of their car parks.
READ MORE
“I thought Ireland can do even better so I approached Croke Park, the most iconic, Irish, symbolic venue you could think of,” he said. “They didn’t hesitate.”
The event was attended by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin and other faith leaders, along with Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration Roderic O’Gorman.
A worshipper in PPE arrives at Croke Park, Dublin, on the first day of Eid. Photograph: Damien Eagers/PA Wire
Shaykh Al-Qadri asked for blessings for health care professions, for Allah to give people strength to follow the health regulations and for the Government to show strength in its leadership during the pandemic.
President Michael D Higgins, who was unable to attend, sent his best wishes. “The celebration in such an iconic Irish venue of this significant holiday in the Islamic calendar is an important moment in Ireland’s narrative,” he said in a statement. “It reminds us of the richly diverse community we have become and the enormous contribution that you, our new communities, have made and continue to make to Ireland.”
He thanked the Muslim community for their “valuable contribution to a shared society”.
Archbishop Martin said “today marks a new chapter in the history of Croke Park. Today our celebration is a gesture of recognising publicly the place of the Muslim community as an integral part of the family of the Irish and to recognise the contribution of your Muslim community to the Ireland of today and to the Ireland of tomorrow.”
Most Reverend Michael Jackson of the Church of Ireland said the “silence” created by the pandemic and the lockdown has been filled with the sounds of “neighbourliness”.
“The unknown person next door became a neighbour. Care quickly began to go both ways. While many of us had been taught from our youth that it is more blessed to give than to receive, we all learned the positive lesson of humility and of Otherness to the effect that it is just as blessed to receive as to give.”
Rabbi Zalman Lent said that, at a time of so much anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic feeling, “it is special we can all sit here together…as brothers”.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Celebrating the bicentenary of John Tyndall, one of Ireland’s most influential scientists

The life of great Irish natural philosopher John Tyndall was summed up adeptly in 2018 when the publishers of a major biography of him issued a “ 12 things you didn ’ t know .
.
.
” about the scientist , mountaineer and public intellectual .
It was compiled by Oxford University Press to promote Roland Jackson ’ s superb account of the life of the scientist from Leighlinbridge , Co Carlow , who ascended from a hedge school-type education to the pinnacle of 19th century science and counted among his friends and collaborators many of the best-known scientists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Darwin , Thomas Huxley , Michael Faraday and Louis Pasteur .
In less than 100 words , it encapsulates a life that goes far beyond scientific endeavour : 12 things you didn ’ t know about John Tyndall – Provided an explanation of how glaciers move ( 1857-1859 ) ; – The first person to camp overnight on the summit of Mont Blanc ( 1859 ) ; – Established the physical basis of the Greenhouse Effect , underpinning our understanding of weather and climate change ( 1859 ) ; – Made the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; – Made the first transverse of the Matterhorn ( 1868 ) ; – Explained why the sky is blue ( 1869 ) ; – Explained atmospheric conditions that affect the transmission of sound ( 1874 ) ; – Argued that scientific research should be free from all constraints of theology or religion ( 1874 ) ; In reality , the list could be five times longer .
In The Ascent of John Tyndall , Anderson provides the context : “ Tyndall is one of the most intriguing and significant figures of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and mountaineer , who rose from a humble background to move in the highest reaches of Victorian science and society , and marry into the aristocracy , is central to the development of science and its place in cultural discourse.
” He was a towering presence in Victorian Britain .
His scientific reputation spread across the world .
His mastery as a communicator and fearlessness in a cauldron of religion and politics , was a beacon for those increasingly guided by scientific proof .
His philosophical position was aligned with materialism ; that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that all things , including mental states and consciousness , are results of material interactions .
His most notable polemic was an address to the 1874 meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Belfast .
He espoused scientific naturalism – the view that the natural world is best understood without invoking theological explanations , As Mary Mulvihill recalled in her book Ingenious Ireland , a storm erupted that pitched science against theology , the first time the Darwinian controversy really hit Ireland .
“ On the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ‘ blasphemous professors of materialism ’ were denounced from church pulpits.
” Yet in spite of all this , and Mount Tyndalls around the world that provide lasting memory of his mountaineering prowess , there is a deep sense he has not got due recognition .
Some of his dedicated followers intend to provide timely reminders through a series of events in coming months , stemming from the 200th anniversary of his birth on August 2nd .
Tyndall was probably the leading Irish experimental scientist of the 19th century , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the eponymous Tyndall National Institute in UCC .
“ Tyndall National Institute is named for him because so many of his key achievements are fundamental to the work we ’ re doing today , 200 years later .
As one example , the insights from Tyndall ’ s work on sterilisation still play a key part in the running of our clean rooms.
” He provided the foundation science resulting in cleanroom techniques used in pharmaceutical and IT manufacturing .
With the help of a beam of light , Tyndall demonstrated not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contain germs and disease but also that a cotton-wool respirator could filter them out .
He became an advocate for the germ theory of disease and the mass production of cotton-wool respirators .
More widely , Tyndall is known as the “ grandfather of fibre optics ” .
He performed the first public demonstration of light being guided through a “ light-pipe ” – a narrow tube of water .
“ This is the principle underlying light propagation in the optical fibres that enable high speed data transmission for the internet , underpinning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in our multi-million euro photonics research programme , ” O ’ Reilly adds .
Tyndall is also credited with discovering the molecular basis of the Greenhouse Effect , carrying out remarkable experiments that first demonstrated that gases in the atmosphere absorb heat to very different degrees ; underpinning current understanding of anthropogenic global heating .
“ Climate change is a key concern for Tyndall National Institute , where we are addressing societal challenges through deep-tech innovation .
Our work in this area includes solar power , clean energy , smart buildings , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very impressive legacy of John Tyndall and his scientific achievements , ” O ’ Reilly believes .
While some of his individual achievements were really impressive and others incredible , he ascribes the lack of recognition to theoreticians from that period invariably grabbing the limelight ; as reflected in the ideas of mathematicians William Rowan Hamilton and George Boole achieving prominence – “ rather than those pushing experimentation ” .
Tyndall was “ a belt and braces person ” , he notes , and endlessly experimenting .
It was typified in his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of him leaving bottles of urine at various levels going up a mountain and evaluating the samples coming down .
His copious diaries , notebooks and correspondence were showed the “ cleverness and persistence required to be an experimental physicist at the time ” .
Tyndall , a research community of 600 people of 52 nationalities , is a leading research centre in integrated information and communications technology ( ICT ) materials , devices and systems .
It is one of Ireland ’ s national labs , specialising in both electronics and photonics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to transform research into products in core areas of electronics , communications , energy , health , agri-tech and the environment .
O ’ Reilly says Tyndall would be proud that a leading institution in the development of “ deep technologies ” , and their translation into widespread deployment beyond the lab , is named in his honour .
And in particular , he would approve of their public engagement and outreach efforts – given his tremendous work in communicating science to scientific peers and public alike , notably through lectures given to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elite scientific body .
Tyndall anniversary events start on August 2nd with “ I Know Why the Sky is Blue , Do You ?
John Tyndall 200 ” , a livestream hosted by Carlow County Museum with his biographer Roland Jackson ; Dr Julie Donnelly of Tyndall National Institute and Martin Nevin , a historian and authority on Tyndall .
It will be chaired by the young environmental leader Alicia Premkumar , a climate ambassador for Carlow .
The public are encouraged to get involved by undertaking – safely – their own Tyndall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will guide participants .
Its website will have the series of at-home experiments presented by families from Tyndall National Institute for kids and adults to duplicate .
Winners will be showcased during Heritage Week 2020 in mid-August .
Scouting Ireland is to unveil a new badge celebrating Tyndall through appropriate science and environment achievements .
There are plans for a John Tyndall mural in Cork ; lectures , audience events and an exhibitions at the city ’ s Crawford Gallery .
Carlow County Museum is hosting Artworks 2020 , featuring artists who were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During Science Week 2020 in November the Invisible Light exhibition will explore the electromagnetic spectrum in relation to history , society , creation and art conservation .
The full events listing will be live at https : //www.tyndall.ie/news/tyndall200 from Tuesday .

Like John Tyndall, who always underlined the need for science communication and engagement with the public, Tyndall National Institute in UCC has a major programme of science engagement in tandem with advanced research. Above public engagement and outreach officers Dr Caitriona Tyndall and Alida Zauers with Albi Morrish in the Tyndall Atrium adjoining the cleanroom during Culture Night. Photograph: Clare Keogh.
Kevin O’Sullivan
Environment & Science Editor
The life of great Irish natural philosopher John Tyndall was summed up adeptly in 2018 when the publishers of a major biography of him issued a "12 things you didn't know . . ." about the scientist, mountaineer and public intellectual.
Tyndall National Institute at UCC. Photograph: Janice O’Connell.
Professor John Tyndall lecturing at the Royal Institution, London in an illustration from the magazine The Illustrated London News, volume LVI, May 14th, 1870. Photograph: Getty Images.
It was compiled by Oxford University Press to promote Roland Jackson's superb account of the life of the scientist from Leighlinbridge, Co Carlow, who ascended from a hedge school-type education to the pinnacle of 19th century science and counted among his friends and collaborators many of the best-known scientists of that time, such as Charles Darwin, Thomas Huxley, Michael Faraday and Louis Pasteur.
READ MORE
In less than 100 words, it encapsulates a life that goes far beyond scientific endeavour:
12 things you didn’t know about John Tyndall
– Provided an explanation of how glaciers move (1857-1859);
– The first person to camp overnight on the summit of Mont Blanc (1859);
– Established the physical basis of the Greenhouse Effect, underpinning our understanding of weather and climate change (1859);
– Made the first ascent of the Weisshorn (1861);
– Initiated the field of chemical physics (1868);
– Made the first transverse of the Matterhorn (1868);
– Explained why the sky is blue (1869);
– Invented a fireman’s respirator (1872);
– Explained atmospheric conditions that affect the transmission of sound (1874);
– Argued that scientific research should be free from all constraints of theology or religion (1874);
– Invented “Tyndallisation”, a process of sterilisation by discontinuous heating (1877);
– Accidentally killed by his wife (1893).
In reality, the list could be five times longer. In The Ascent of John Tyndall, Jackson provides the context: “Tyndall is one of the most intriguing and significant figures of the mid-19th century. The outspoken Irish-born physicist and mountaineer, who rose from a humble background to move in the highest reaches of Victorian science and society, and marry into the aristocracy, is central to the development of science and its place in cultural discourse.”
He was a towering presence in Victorian Britain. His scientific reputation spread across the world. His mastery as a communicator and fearlessness in a cauldron of religion and politics, was a beacon for those increasingly guided by scientific proof. His philosophical position was aligned with materialism; that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all things, including mental states and consciousness, are results of material interactions.
His most notable polemic was an address to the 1874 meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in Belfast. He espoused scientific naturalism – the view that the natural world is best understood without invoking theological explanations, As Mary Mulvihill recalled in her book Ingenious Ireland, a storm erupted that pitched science against theology, the first time the Darwinian controversy really hit Ireland. "On the following Sunday, the 'atomists' and the 'blasphemous professors of materialism' were denounced from church pulpits."
Cleanroom techniques
Yet in spite of all this, and Mount Tyndalls around the world that provide lasting memory of his mountaineering prowess, there is a deep sense he has not got due recognition. Some of his dedicated followers intend to provide timely reminders through a series of events in coming months, stemming from the 200th anniversary of his birth on August 2nd.
Tyndall was probably the leading Irish experimental scientist of the 19th century, according to Eoin O'Reilly, chief scientist at the eponymous Tyndall National Institute in UCC.
“Tyndall National Institute is named for him because so many of his key achievements are fundamental to the work we’re doing today, 200 years later. As one example, the insights from Tyndall’s work on sterilisation still play a key part in the running of our clean rooms.”
He provided the foundation science resulting in cleanroom techniques used in pharmaceutical and IT manufacturing. With the help of a beam of light, Tyndall demonstrated not only that dust in the air could contain germs and disease but also that a cotton-wool respirator could filter them out. He became an advocate for the germ theory of disease and the mass production of cotton-wool respirators.
More widely, Tyndall is known as the “grandfather of fibre optics”. He performed the first public demonstration of light being guided through a “light-pipe” – a narrow tube of water. “This is the principle underlying light propagation in the optical fibres that enable high speed data transmission for the internet, underpinning a significant part of the work undertaken in our multi-million euro photonics research programme,” O’Reilly adds.
Greenhouse effect
Tyndall is also credited with discovering the molecular basis of the Greenhouse Effect, carrying out remarkable experiments that first demonstrated that gases in the atmosphere absorb heat to very different degrees; underpinning current understanding of anthropogenic global heating.
“Climate change is a key concern for Tyndall National Institute, where we are addressing societal challenges through deep-tech innovation. Our work in this area includes solar power, clean energy, smart buildings, and many further areas, all building on the very impressive legacy of John Tyndall and his scientific achievements,” O’Reilly believes.
While some of his individual achievements were really impressive and others incredible, he ascribes the lack of recognition to theoreticians from that period invariably grabbing the limelight; as reflected in the ideas of mathematicians William Rowan Hamilton and George Boole achieving prominence – "rather than those pushing experimentation".
‘Belt and braces’ person
Tyndall was “a belt and braces person”, he notes, and endlessly experimenting. It was typified in his fascination with bacteria, and the story of him leaving bottles of urine at various levels going up a mountain and evaluating the samples coming down.
His copious diaries, notebooks and correspondence reveal the constant cleverness and persistence required to be an experimental physicist at that time.
Tyndall, a research community of 600 people of 52 nationalities, is a leading research centre in integrated information and communications technology (ICT) materials, devices and systems. It is one of Ireland’s national labs, specialising in both electronics and photonics. It works with industry and academia to transform research into products in core areas of electronics, communications, energy, health, agri-tech and the environment.
O'Reilly says Tyndall would be proud that a leading institution in the development of "deep technologies", and their translation into widespread deployment beyond the lab, is named in his honour. And in particular, he would approve of their public engagement and outreach efforts – given his tremendous work in communicating science to scientific peers and public alike, notably through lectures given to the Royal Society, Britain's elite scientific body.
Tyndall bicentenary events
Tyndall anniversary events start on August 2nd with "I Know Why the Sky is Blue, Do You? John Tyndall 200", a livestream hosted by Carlow County Museum with his biographer Roland Jackson; Dr Julie Donnelly of Tyndall National Institute and Martin Nevin, a historian and authority on Tyndall. It will be chaired by the young environmental leader Alicia Premkumar, a climate ambassador for Carlow.
The public are encouraged to get involved by undertaking – safely – their own Tyndall experiment at home. Tyndall National Institute will guide participants. Its website will have the series of at-home experiments presented by families from Tyndall National Institute for kids and adults to duplicate. Winners will be showcased during Heritage Week 2020 in mid-August.
Scouting Ireland is to unveil a new badge celebrating Tyndall through appropriate science and environment achievements. There are plans for a John Tyndall mural in Cork; lectures, audience events and an exhibitions at the city's Crawford Gallery. Carlow County Museum is hosting Artworks 2020, featuring artists who were invited to take inspiration from Tyndall.
During Science Week 2020 in November the Invisible Light exhibition will explore the electromagnetic spectrum in relation to history, society, creation and art conservation.
The full events listing will be live at https://www.tyndall.ie/news/tyndall200/


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Shelbourne Hotel statues do not depict slave girls, says leading art historian

Nineteenth century documentation proves conclusively that the statues taken down by the Shelbourne Hotel do not depict slave girls , an art historian has said .
Kyle Leyden , who is a lecturer in the history of art and architecture at the University of London , says the original catalogue from which the four statues were ordered clearly label them not as slaves , but Egyptian and African women .
Hotel management said on Tuesday they took the decision to remove the pieces , which have been in place for 153 years , in light of world events and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the legacy of slavery around the world .
In a statement on Wednesday Dublin City Council said it was “ not aware of permission being granted to remove the statues concerned .
“ The matter is under investigation by the planning enforcement section and therefore no further comment can be made on the matter at this time.
” The catalogue of the Val d ’ Orsne foundary in Paris , where the statues were cast , has been digitised and is available online .
The statues were originally designed and sculpted by Mathirin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ famous French sculptor , Jean-Baptiste-Louis-Joseph Moreau .
In 1849 he entered into an association with the Val d ’ Orsne foundry and became one of its directors .
Under the arrangement , he supplied models to be cast and mass produced by the foundry which could thus sell them on to architects under his name ( as appears in the catalogue ) on the basis of his fame as a sculptor .
They were sold to those who could not afford an original work .
Mr Leyden said the architect of the Shelbourne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John McCurdy , would have ordered the four statues from the catalogue which was published in the late 1850s .
It was clear the from the catalogue that McCurdy ordered two “ Égyptienne ” female statues to stand astride the front doors of the hotels with the other two statues entitled “ Négresse ” at either end of the front facade .
The word “ Négresse ” , as used by the French in the mid-19th century , meant the female figure was of African origin , but not from North Africa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ statues were intended to depict Nubian slaves , they would have been classified as such because they were in vogue in the mid-1860s when the four statues were commissioned for the Shelbourne Hotel .
However , Nubian slave statues were usually male nudes and were depicted in poses of servitude .
The Shelbourne Hotel statues are of well-dressed females in an enlightened pose , he stressed .
“ ’ Nubian slave ’ was a well-known and much fetishised nineteenth-century visual trope and to some buyers of statues would no doubt have been an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was distinctly au courrant , ” he said .
“ Verdi was writing Aida about a Nubian slave at precisely the time the Shelbourne was being built .
If Moreau , the Val d ’ Orsne company or McCurdy had wanted a statue of a Nubbin slave , they would have had no qualms about calling it precisely that.
” Mr Leyden said the blame for categorising the statues as slave girls may lie with the novelist Elizabeth Bowen who described them as “ Nubian in aspect ; holding a torch-shaped lamp .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ two are slave-girls .
I like to image that Mr McCurdy and Mrs Jury ( wife of one of the co-owners ) chose the statues together ” .
That description was published in her 1951 book on the Shelbourne Hotel .
“ As anyone who has read it can attest , it was never intended to be an academic history of the hotel but rather a novelesque evocation of the place and its people , ” Mr Leyden explained .
“ It is not based on what we would today deem to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statues is as baseless and romanticised as her imagined scene of Mrs Jury personally choosing the statues because of their clothed respectability .
“ Yet this reference has been repeated ad nauseam ever since .
There is no source for the slave assertion save Bowen ’ s own romantic imagination coloured by her knowledge of nineteenth-century Orientalist literary tropes .
“ Indeed , several other statues in the catalogue ( mainly male ) are specifically labelled as Nubian , but not the two chosen at the Shelbourne .
They are not slaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four wear golden anklets as symbols of their aristocratic rank .
They are all aristocratic women of Egypt and Africa .
“ Thus it seems likely McCurdy chose these statues firstly because their proportion suited his building .
Secondly , their symbolic message was one of luxury , hinting at the deliciously licentious opulence of the new hotel .
Choosing statues from the best art foundry in the world would also have had much currency in promoting the opulence of the hotel.
” Mr Leyden said the Shelbourne Hotel had made a wrong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their plinths and had clearly misrepresented the statues as the depiction of slaves .
He suggested the issue could have been easily resolved by placing leaflets at the front door describing the provenance of the statues .
“ In this the statues could become commercial incentives to visits rather than an embarrassment and , should any problems arise , the leaflet will easily explain why they are there , ” he added .

Nineteenth century documentation proves conclusively that the statues taken down by the Shelbourne Hotel do not depict slave girls, an art historian has said.
Kyle Leyden, who is a lecturer in the history of art and architecture at the University of London, says the original catalogue from which the four statues were ordered clearly label them not as slaves, but Egyptian and African women.
Hotel management said on Tuesday they took the decision to remove the pieces, which have been in place for 153 years, in light of world events and the Black Lives Matter movement calling attention to the legacy of slavery around the world.
One of the statues removed by the hotel. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons
In a statement on Wednesday, Dublin City Council said it was "not aware of permission being granted to remove the statues concerned. "The matter is under investigation by the planning enforcement section and therefore no further comment can be made on the matter at this time."
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The catalogue of the Val d'Orsne foundary in Paris, where the statues were cast, has been digitised and is available online.
The statues were originally designed and sculpted by Mathirin Moreau (1822-1912) son of another famous French sculptor, Jean-Baptiste-Louis-Joseph Moreau.
In 1849 he entered into an association with the Val d’Orsne foundry and became one of its directors.
Under the arrangement, he supplied models to be cast and mass produced by the foundry, which could thus sell them on to architects under his name on the basis of his fame as a sculptor. They were sold to those who could not afford an original work.
A page of the original catalogue from which the four statues were ordered by the Shelbourne Hotel
Mr Leyden said the architect who designed the Shelbourne facade, John McCurdy, would have ordered the four statues from the catalogue, which was published in the late 1850s.
It was clear the from the catalogue that McCurdy ordered two “Égyptienne” female statues to stand astride the front doors of the hotel, and two other two statues entitled “Négresse” for either end of the front facade.
The word "Négresse", as used by the French in the mid-19th century, meant the female figure was of African origin, but not from North Africa.
One of the statues removed by the hotel. Photograph: Wikimedia Commons
Mr Leyden explained that, if the statues were intended to depict Nubian slaves, they would have been classified as such because they were in vogue in the mid-1860s.. However, such statues were usually male or female nudes and were depicted in poses of servitude.
The Shelbourne Hotel statues are of well-dressed females in an enlightened pose, he stressed.
“’Nubian slave’ was a well-known and much fetishised nineteenth-century visual trope and to some buyers of statues would no doubt have been an attractive and very fashionable visual reference which was distinctly au courrant,” he said.
"Verdi was writing Aida about a Nubian slave at precisely the time the Shelbourne was being built. If Moreau, the Val d'Orsne company or McCurdy had wanted a statue of a Nubian slave, they would have had no qualms about calling it precisely that."
Mr Leyden said the blame for categorising the statues as slave girls may lie with the novelist Elizabeth Bowen, who described them as "Nubian in aspect; holding a torch-shaped lamp. Two of the four are princesses; two are slave-girls". That description was published in her 1951 book on the Shelbourne Hotel.
“As anyone who has read it can attest, it was never intended to be an academic history of the hotel but rather a novelesque evocation of the place and its people,” Mr Leyden explained.
“ It is not based on what we would today deem to be sound academic research. “Yet this reference has been repeated ad nauseam ever since. There is no source for the slave assertion save Bowen’s own romantic imagination coloured by her knowledge of nineteenth-century Orientalist literary tropes.
"Indeed, several other statues in the catalogue (mainly male) are specifically labelled as Nubian, but not the two chosen at the Shelbourne. They are not slaves. They are not shackled. All four wear golden anklets as symbols of their aristocratic rank. They are all aristocratic women of Egypt and Africa.
“Thus it seems likely McCurdy chose these statues firstly because their proportion suited his building. Secondly, their symbolic message was one of luxury, hinting at the deliciously licentious opulence of the new hotel. Choosing statues from the best art foundry in the world would also have had much currency in promoting the opulence of the hotel.” Mr Leyden said the Shelbourne Hotel had made a wrong decision in getting rid of the statues from their plinths and had clearly misrepresented them as the depiction of slaves.
He suggested the issue could have been easily resolved by placing leaflets at the front door describing the provenance of the statues.
“The statues could become commercial incentives to visits rather than an embarrassment and, should any problems arise, the leaflet will easily explain why they are there,” he said.
Shelbourne Hotel management did not respond to a request for comment.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Supreme Court quashes Government’s plan to reduce greenhouse gases

The Supreme Court has overturned the Government ’ s “ excessively vague and aspirational ” plan to combat climate change .
It also found the plan does not comply with Ireland ’ s obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 to give sufficient detail about achieving the national transition objective of a low carbon economy by the end of 2050 .
The Government is obliged to give “ some realistic level of detail ” about how it intended to meet the objective and the plan “ falls a long way short ” of the sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chief Justice , Mr Justice Frank Clarke , said .
He said he did not consider any reasonable and interested observer would know , in any sufficient detail , how it really is intended , under current Government policy , to achieve the objective by 2050 on the basis of the information in the plan .
The plan does not comply with the requirements of the 2015 Act , in particular section 4 , and should be quashed , he held .
The Government must now devise a new plan taking into account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in an appeal by Friends of the Irish Environment ( FIE ) .
In other findings , the court ruled FIE , as a corporate entity , could not pursue claims of breach of personal rights to life and bodily integrity under the Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 .
Had the case been brought by an individual or individuals , the court might have had to consider whether the climate change measures , or lack of same , interfered with those rights , it said .
In an important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ derived ” right to a healthy environment , the Chief Justice said he considered Mr Justice Max Barrett ’ s finding in an unrelated High Court case of a right to a healthy environment consistent with human dignity as “ impermissibly vague ” and “ ill-defined ” .
He said he would not suggest a right so described can be derived from the Constitution .
There may well be environmental cases , such as this one , where constitutional rights and obligations may be engaged if pursued by individuals , he stressed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland and the Attorney General , FIE argued the National Mitigation Plan fails to set out measures to substantially reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2050 and achieve further reductions in the short to medium term .
In a judgment delivered via video link on Friday , the Chief Justice , with whom Justices Mary Irvine , Donal O ’ Donnell , John MacMenamin , Elizabeth Dunne , Iseult O ’ Malley and Marie Baker agreed , allowed FIE ’ s appeal over the High Court ’ s dismissal of its challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ underlying scientific evidence as to the causes of , and problems created by , climate change , was not in dispute and the case centred on the measures the environmental group argued the Government is legally required to take to alleviate climate change .
He rejected the State ’ s arguments that the plan simply involves adoption of policy and is therefore not “ justiciable ” by the courts .
In this case , there is legislation - namely the 2015 Act - and not policy , he said .
Where the legislation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does certain things , the law requires a plan comply with those obligations .
The overriding requirement of a compliant National Mitigation Plan is that it must , in accordance with section 4.2 , “ specify the manner in which it is proposed to achieve the national transition objective ” .
While section 4 requires a new plan at least every fifth year , that did not mean a series of five-year plans but rather of “ rolling plans ” , each designed to specify , in general terms and on a sectoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national transition objective be achieved .
The National Mitigation Plan , adopted in 2017 , was required to be a 33 year plan , albeit one likely to be adjusted every five years to take developments into account .
While the Government argued a more recent plan - the 2019 Climate Action Plan - was an example of how policy was evolving , and had identified measures first envisaged in the 2015 plan aimed at partially closing the carbon gap , the 2019 plan is not a plan in the sense that term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The 2019 plan had not , for example , been through a public consultation process as mandated by the 2015 Act , he said .
Whatever level of clarity is required by the Act about Government policy to achieve the objective by 2050 , it must be provided in a formal plan adopted in accordance with public participation measures in the 2015 Act .
While the Government was not bound by the views of the Climate Change Advisory Council , it seemed appropriate to place significant weight on the latter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In its 2018 annual report , the council - a body established by statute - had said Ireland is “ completely off course ” in terms of its commitments to addressing climate change .
It also appeared reasonable to characterise significant parts of the policies the National Mitigation Plan suggested should be followed as “ excessively vague or aspirational ” , including those related to agriculture , he said .
On foot of those and other findings , the plan does not comply with the 2015 Act , particularly section 4 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Commenting on the ruling , Clodagh Daly of Climate Case Ireland said it was “ ground-breaking and a landmark verdict ” for climate action in Ireland and across the world .
“ It means the Irish Government can no longer make promises that it can not fulfil , ” she said .
Speaking on RTÉ ’ s News at One , Ms Daly said Ireland could now take the lead internationally in transitioning the country to a low carbon economy .
She said the Supreme Court had demonstrated that there was “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political will.
” Ms Daly said the impact of the ruling is that the Government can not make long-term commitments about climate change without showing how they would be achieved .
She said environmental campaigners were looking forward to seeing the Government ’ s reaction to the ruling but warned it would be “ a grave situation ” if it did not comply with the court ’ s verdict .

The Government will now have to devise a new climate plan after the ruling.
The Supreme Court has overturned the Government's "excessively vague and aspirational" plan to combat climate change.
A seven- judge court ruled the National Mitigation Plan (2017-2022) lacks specificity.
It also found the plan does not comply with Ireland’s obligations under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015 to give sufficient detail about achieving the national transition objective of a low carbon economy by the end of 2050.
The Government is obliged to give "some realistic level of detail" about how it intended to meet the objective and the plan "falls a long way short" of the sort of specificity the 2015 Act requires, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Frank Clarke, said.
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He said he did not consider any reasonable and interested observer would know, in any sufficient detail, how it really is intended, under current Government policy, to achieve the objective by 2050 on the basis of the information in the plan.
The plan does not comply with the requirements of the 2015 Act, in particular section 4, and should be quashed, he held.
The Government must now devise a new plan taking into account the court’s findings, made in an appeal by Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE).
In other findings, the court ruled FIE, as a corporate entity, could not pursue claims of breach of personal rights to life and bodily integrity under the Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003.
Had the case been brought by an individual or individuals, the court might have had to consider whether the climate change measures, or lack of same, interfered with those rights, it said.
In an important observation concerning whether there is a "derived" right to a healthy environment, the Chief Justice said he considered Mr Justice Max Barrett's finding in an unrelated High Court case of a right to a healthy environment consistent with human dignity as "impermissibly vague" and "ill-defined".
He said he would not suggest a right so described can be derived from the Constitution. There may well be environmental cases, such as this one, where constitutional rights and obligations may be engaged if pursued by individuals, he stressed.
In its proceedings against the Government, Ireland and the Attorney General, FIE argued the National Mitigation Plan fails to set out measures to substantially reduce emissions by 20 per cent by 2050 and achieve further reductions in the short to medium term.
In a judgment delivered via video link on Friday, the Chief Justice, with whom Justices Mary Irvine, Donal O'Donnell, John MacMenamin, Elizabeth Dunne, Iseult O'Malley and Marie Baker agreed, allowed FIE's appeal over the High Court's dismissal of its challenge.
The Chief Justice noted the broad underlying scientific evidence as to the causes of, and problems created by, climate change, was not in dispute and the case centred on the measures the environmental group argued the Government is legally required to take to alleviate climate change.
He rejected the State’s arguments that the plan simply involves adoption of policy and is therefore not “justiciable” by the courts. In this case, there is legislation - namely the 2015 Act - and not policy, he said.
Where the legislation requires a plan formulated under its provisions does certain things, the law requires a plan comply with those obligations.
The overriding requirement of a compliant National Mitigation Plan is that it must, in accordance with section 4.2, “specify the manner in which it is proposed to achieve the national transition objective”.
While section 4 requires a new plan at least every fifth year, that did not mean a series of five-year plans but rather of “rolling plans”, each designed to specify, in general terms and on a sectoral basis, how it is proposed the national transition objective be achieved.
The National Mitigation Plan, adopted in 2017, was required to be a 33 year plan, albeit one likely to be adjusted every five years to take developments into account.
While the Government argued a more recent plan - the 2019 Climate Action Plan - was an example of how policy was evolving, and had identified measures first envisaged in the 2015 plan aimed at partially closing the carbon gap, the 2019 plan is not a plan in the sense that term is used in the 2015 Act, he said.
The 2019 plan had not, for example, been through a public consultation process as mandated by the 2015 Act, he said.
Whatever level of clarity is required by the Act about Government policy to achieve the objective by 2050, it must be provided in a formal plan adopted in accordance with public participation measures in the 2015 Act.
While the Government was not bound by the views of the Climate Change Advisory Council, it seemed appropriate to place significant weight on the latter’s views, he said.
In its 2018 annual report, the council - a body established by statute - had said Ireland is “completely off course” in terms of its commitments to addressing climate change.
It also appeared reasonable to characterise significant parts of the policies the National Mitigation Plan suggested should be followed as “excessively vague or aspirational”, including those related to agriculture, he said.
On foot of those and other findings, the plan does not comply with the 2015 Act, particularly section 4, and should be quashed, the court held.
Commenting on the ruling, Clodagh Daly of Climate Case Ireland said it was “ground-breaking and a landmark verdict” for climate action in Ireland and across the world.
“It means the Irish Government can no longer make promises that it cannot fulfil,” she said.
Speaking on RTÉ’s News at One, Ms Daly said Ireland could now take the lead internationally in transitioning the country to a low carbon economy.
She said the Supreme Court had demonstrated that there was “no legal basis for a lack of political will.”
Ms Daly said the impact of the ruling is that the Government cannot make long-term commitments about climate change without showing how they would be achieved.
She said environmental campaigners were looking forward to seeing the Government’s reaction to the ruling but warned it would be “a grave situation” if it did not comply with the court’s verdict.


theirishtimes--2020-07-31--Coronavirus: Glynn warns against distraction of holidays debate and advises people to do six things

A focus on international travel has distracted from community efforts in Ireland to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic , the acting chief medical officer has said .
Dr Ronan Glynn , said there was a risk that debate about Irish people going on foreign holidays could detract from the “ core message ” of each individual having power to control the spread of the virus .
He urged members of the public to follow six key pieces of advice as the bank holiday weekend approaches maintain social distance , stay outdoors when meeting people as much as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wash hands , wear face masks and downloading the Covid-19 tracker app .
Dr Glynn said a minority of cases detected in the Republic were linked to international travel including just two of 85 cases reported on Thursday .
“ Ultimately what will dictate the course of the infection over the coming week , two weeks or in the coming months is the actions of each and every person in our communities across the country , ” he remarked .
Dr Glynn said the revelation that there were 85 new cases reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daily number in two months – was not the time for “ a knee-jerk reaction ” .
While not surprised by the number , as Covid-19 was a highly infectious virus , Dr Glynn said he was hopeful that the figures were the sign of “ a blip ” rather than signalling a more worrying trend .
Speaking on RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland , Dr Glynn said it was “ a reminder to us all to double down efforts as we head into this weekend ” .
“ We ’ re hopeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is evidence that our contact tracing system is working really , really well , ” said Dr Glynn .
He added : “ The aim of that system is to detect the cases in clusters very rapidly and to break the chains of transmission.
” Between 30 and 40 of the new cases on Thursday have been linked to a cluster at a dog food factory in Naas , Co Kildare , some of whose workers are living in a direct provision centre .
Dr Glynn acknowledged that there is a higher risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were living together but he understood that all the measures were being taken to restrict the spread of the virus .
“ Even if people are doing the right thing , there will be times when this spreads quickly , particularly when people are working in close proximity to each other , ” he observed .
He advised the public that further clusters can be expected in various settings including workplaces , direct provision centres and family households .
“ The challenge for all of us is to identify them quickly to clamp @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need people to come forward quickly to say they ’ ve got the symptoms , ” said Dr Glynn .
The acting chief medical officer said it was important for people to remember that they don ’ t have to be sick to transmit the virus to others .
“ We have to assume that everybody we meet is potentially at risk of infecting others and we have to act appropriately , ” said Dr Glynn .
Meanwhile , Dr Jack Lambert , a consultant in infectious diseases at the Mater Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign travel for controlling the virus when the main reason for the recent increase in cases was people in Ireland not practicing social distancing .
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast , Dr Lambert called for greater inspections as well as training and supervision to ensure people were following Government guidelines and advice .
“ The elephant in the room is Irish to Irish spread .
We really need to focus on that , ” said Dr Lambert .

Acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn: ‘The importance of isolating as soon as you have any flu like symptoms cannot be overstated’. Photograph: Colin Keegan
People who do not self-isolate after developing Covid-19 symptoms are putting others at risk, the acting chief medical officer has warned, after a survey showed the majority of patients who contacted GPs in the past week had not done so.
Dr Ronan Glynn made the comments as the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) reported a further 38 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the State. This brings to 26,065 the total number of cases that have been confirmed in the Republic.
No further deaths from Covid-19 were reported on Friday. There have been a total of 1,763 coronavirus-related deaths in the Republic.
NPHET’s statement said a survey of GPs had indicated that the vast majority of patients who had contacted them with Covid-like symptoms in the past week had not been self-isolating since the onset of their symptoms.
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Dr Glynn said: “The importance of isolating as soon as you have any flu-like symptoms cannot be overstated. Without this individual action we simply will not break the chains of transmission and we will put many people at risk of infection.
“It is important that people know that there is no charge for GP or testing services relating to Covid-19. Please do not hesitate to contact your GP if you have any concerns.”
Over the past two days a total of 123 cases have been reported, which Dr Glynn said was “a reminder to us all to double down efforts as we head into this weekend”.
Of those, 84 cases were linked to known outbreaks or are close contacts of other confirmed cases, while at least 19 cases have been identified as community transmission.
The Irish Dog Foods factory in Naas, Co Kildare which suffered a Covid-19 outbreak and had to shut down. Photograph: Collins
More than one-fifth of the 85 newly confirmed cases on Thursday were among workers at Irish Dog Foods in Naas. The factory, which employs about 200 people, closed a week ago for a deep clean while workers who tested positive were ordered to self-isolate.
Overall, 44 of the cases were in Kildare, 33 in Dublin, 11 in Clare, 10 in Laois, eight in Limerick and the remaining 17 were across 10 counties.
The median age of Friday’s cases was 30 years of age, with 82 per cent of the 38 being under 45.
Dr Glynn said “mass testing has now taken place in relation to a number of known outbreaks.
“We may be beginning to see more cases which we cannot link to outbreaks or close contacts. The National Public Health Emergency Team will continue to monitor this situation closely over the coming days.”
Earlier, Dr Glynn said the focus on international travel had distracted from community efforts in Ireland to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said there was a risk that debate about Irish people going on foreign holidays could detract from the “core message” of each individual having power to control the spread of the virus.
He urged members of the public to follow six key pieces of advice as the bank holiday weekend approaches; maintain social distance, stay outdoors when meeting people as much as possible, limit the time spent meeting them, wash hands, wear face masks and download the Covid-19 tracker app.
Dr Glynn said a minority of cases detected in the Republic were linked to international travel, including just two of 85 cases reported on Thursday.
“Ultimately what will dictate the course of the infection over the coming week, two weeks or in the coming months is the actions of each and every person in our communities across the country,” he remarked.
Dr Glynn said the 85 new cases reported on Thursday – the highest daily number in two months – was not the time for “a knee-jerk reaction”.
While not surprised by the number, as Covid-19 was a highly infectious virus, Dr Glynn said he was hopeful that the figures were the sign of “a blip” rather than signalling a more worrying trend.
“We’re hopeful that what we are seeing in fact is evidence that our contact tracing system is working really, really well,” said Dr Glynn.
He added: “The aim of that system is to detect the cases in clusters very rapidly and to break the chains of transmission.”
Dr Glynn acknowledged that there was a higher risk of infection in any place where people were living together but he understood that all the measures were being taken to restrict the spread of the virus.
“Even if people are doing the right thing, there will be times when this spreads quickly, particularly when people are working in close proximity to each other,” he observed.
He advised the public that further clusters can be expected in various settings including workplaces, direct provision centres and family households.
“The challenge for all of us is to identify them quickly to clamp down on them but to do that we need people to come forward quickly to say they’ve got the symptoms,” said Dr Glynn.
He said it was important for people to remember that they do not have to be sick to transmit the virus to others.
“We have to assume that everybody we meet is potentially at risk of infecting others and we have to act appropriately.”