theirishtimes--2020-03-01--Driver crashes through level crossing barrier in Co Roscommon

Irish Rail has described the actions of a driver who crashed through a level crossing barrier as “ reckless in @ @ @ @ @ are now investigating the incident which occured at the level crossing near Knockcroghery , Co @ @ @ @ @ Athlone-Westport train was approaching .
The driver of the wine-coloured car crashed through the barrier @ @ @ @ @ Sunday morning .
When the driver got to the other barrier , he or she @ @ @ @ @ out the barrier they had just crashed through .
Irish Rail spokeswoman Jane Cregan said @ @ @ @ @ of the incident captured at the scene .
She added that when the driver crossed @ @ @ @ @ second time , the train was approaching .
“ We have incidents where people would @ @ @ @ @ crossings , but this was extremely reckless and really bizarre .
We have no way @ @ @ @ @ were , ” she said .
The train was delayed for 40 minutes as a @ @ @ @ @

Video released by Iarnród Éireann which shows a car which crashed through the level crossing barriers at Knochcroghery and left the scene.
Irish Rail has described the actions of a driver who crashed through a level crossing barrier as "reckless in the extreme".
Gardaí are now investigating the incident which occured at the level crossing near Knockcroghery, Co Roscommon, just as the Athlone-Westport train was approaching.
The driver of the wine-coloured car crashed through the barrier at just after 10am on Sunday morning.
When the driver got to the other barrier, he or she turned around and drove back out the barrier they had just crashed through.
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Irish Rail spokeswoman Jane Cregan said gardaí are examining CCTV footage of the incident captured at the scene.
She added that when the driver crossed over the rail line a second time, the train was approaching.
“We have incidents where people would have behaved wrecklessly at level crossings, but this was extremely reckless and really bizarre. We have no way of knowing what their motivations were,” she said.
The train was delayed for 40 minutes as a result of the incident.


theirishtimes--2020-03-01--Coronavirus: Dublin school to close for two weeks as student has Covid-19

A Dublin school with 400 pupils is to close for two weeks after one of its students was confirmed as having the coronavirus .
The teenager , who is the first person in the Republic to test positive for the virus , became ill in recent days after returning from Italy and is in isolation in Dublin hospital .
Public health officials have ordered the closure of the school in order to minimise the risk of person-to-person transmission of the disease .
The decision was announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Sunday evening .
The team announced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday night .
Another case was confirmed in a patient in Northern Ireland earlier this week .
That woman had also travelled from Italy and passed through Dublin airport .
The Dublin-Belfast train was later sanitised as a precautionary measure as it was believed the woman travelled home on it .
It is understood the risk to other pupils in the north Dublin school is considered low but the closure has been ordered on a precautionary basis .
Students are being told to self-isolate at home and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms .
Public health officials plan to maintain daily contact with the students by phone , and will ask them to indicate by text whether they are showing symptoms .
Parents were being informed of the closure on Sunday evening and a helpline for affected people is being set up .
There is no justification for any other schools closing due to concerns over Covit-19 , public health officials have advised .
No new cases have been confirmed in Ireland today .
The Department of Health released the following statement on Sunday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 case , in the East of Ireland , has identified and made contact with a secondary school .
The principal , staff and parents of pupils of this school have been notified .
Following risk assessment , all pupils and teachers are being treated as close contacts of the confirmed case .
The school will close for the duration of the incubation period , which is 14 days .
All pupils and teachers are being asked to restrict their movements until the end of the incubation period and will receive guidance on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Public health doctors will actively follow-up with all students and teachers on a daily basis over the coming 14 days .
Dr Tony Holohan , Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health , said : “ Contact tracing has assessed that close contacts of this patient includes pupils and teachers of a secondary school .
Public health doctors are in direct contact with pupils , their parents and the staff involved .
“ Patient confidentiality in this case , and in all cases , should be respected .
The Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The Department of Education said : “ The Department of Education is available to assist the school in any way necessary .
The Departments of Education and Health are in regular contact .
The closing of this school was a decision made on public health grounds after risk assessment deemed it appropriate .
All other schools will remain open .
The Departments will continue to communicate with all schools on this issue.
” Covid-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person ’ s body fluids ( e.g .
droplets from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on .
The general public is advised to follow advice from the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to protect their health .

A scientist works at a laboratory in Israel trying to produce a vaccine against Covid-19. Photograph: Jalaa Marey/AFP/Getty
A Dublin school with 400 pupils is to close for two weeks after one of its students was confirmed as having the coronavirus.
The teenager, who is the first person in the Republic to test positive for the virus, became ill in recent days after returning from Italy and is in isolation in Dublin hospital.
Public health officials have ordered the closure of the school in order to minimise the risk of person-to-person transmission of the disease.
The decision was announced by the National Public Health Emergency Team on Sunday evening.
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The team announced the first confirmed case of the virus in the Republic of Ireland on Saturday night. Another case was confirmed in a patient in Northern Ireland earlier this week. That woman had also travelled from Italy and passed through Dublin airport. The Dublin-Belfast train was later sanitised as a precautionary measure as it was believed the woman travelled home on it.
Low risk
It is understood the risk to other pupils in the north Dublin school is considered low but the closure has been ordered on a precautionary basis. Students are being told to self-isolate at home and to indicate if they start showing any symptoms.
Public health officials plan to maintain daily contact with the students by phone, and will ask them to indicate by text whether they are showing symptoms.
Parents were being informed of the closure on Sunday evening and a helpline for affected people is being set up.
There is no justification for any other schools closing due to concerns over Covit-19, public health officials have advised. No new cases have been confirmed in Ireland today.
The Department of Health released the following statement on Sunday evening:
“Contact Tracing of the confirmed Covid-19 case, in the East of Ireland, has identified and made contact with a secondary school. The principal, staff and parents of pupils of this school have been notified. Following risk assessment, all pupils and teachers are being treated as close contacts of the confirmed case.
The school will close for the duration of the incubation period, which is 14 days.
All pupils and teachers are being asked to restrict their movements until the end of the incubation period and will receive guidance on the meaning of ‘restricted movements’.
Public health doctors will actively follow-up with all students and teachers on a daily basis over the coming 14 days.
Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer with the Department of Health, said: “Contact tracing has assessed that close contacts of this patient includes pupils and teachers of a secondary school. Public health doctors are in direct contact with pupils, their parents and the staff involved.
“Patient confidentiality in this case, and in all cases, should be respected. The Department of Health will provide updated information as necessary.”
The Department of Education said: “The Department of Education is available to assist the school in any way necessary. The Departments of Education and Health are in regular contact. The closing of this school was a decision made on public health grounds after risk assessment deemed it appropriate. All other schools will remain open. The Departments will continue to communicate with all schools on this issue.”
Covid-19 is spread through close contact with an infected person’s body fluids (e.g. droplets from coughing or sneezing), or by touching surfaces that an infected person has coughed or sneezed on.
The general public is advised to follow advice from the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre to protect their health.


theirishtimes--2020-03-01--Focus Ireland calls for rent freeze to tackle housing crisis

A rent freeze is among the radical steps the next government must take to “ get on top of ” the housing crisis , Focus Ireland warns .
Speaking at an event in Dublin city centre on Sunday , at which children added their voices to call for urgent action on housing , the charity ’ s director of advocacy called on political parties to stop “ jostling for position ” in government formation talks .
Roughan McNamara said people were “ sick and tired ” of politicians playing party politics in the face of such a humanitarian crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the election and there haven ’ t even been real talks on forming a government as yet .
While the result from the vote might not have been clear , the message was clear .
People want issues like housing sorted and are not interested in parties jostling for position.
” He said the next programme for government must include the provision of 35,000 dwellings a year including 12,000 social homes , and the establishment of a commission on housing .
“ A commission would be a consensus approach to housing delivery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want whoever is in power to focus on what ’ s possible rather than on what is not possible .
The previous government was often focusing more on what can ’ t be done.
” Citing Berlin where authorities have just introduced a five-year rent freeze , he said : “ That ’ s the kind of radical approach we need if we are to get on top of this crisis once and for all.
” Also at the event outside Leinster House were Ava O ’ Donnell ( 11 ) and her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Belgrove National School in Clontarf , Dublin .
Ava said she wanted “ to say to all TDs they have to do a lot more to help the homelessness ” .
When she thought of homeless children it made her “ feel a bit sad ” , she added .
Samuel Kelly ( 13 ) , a pupil at Clonturk Community College in Drumcondra , said : “ I just can ’ t imagine how they [ homeless children ] are feeling or what conditions they are in .
They don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Every time I think of it I just feel so bad .
I want the Government to provide more housing for people who don ’ t have those simple things.
” His cousin , Josh Kelly ( 17 ) , who attends Ard Scoil Rís on Griffith Avenue , said : “ I just think the Government aren ’ t doing enough .
It ’ s just disgraceful what they [ homeless children ] have to go through , even the people doing their Leaving Cert staying in hotels .
They wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They can ’ t have a full childhood experience because of what they have to go through.
” The most recent data from the Department of Housing found there were 10,271 people homeless in January – an increase of 540 since December 2019 .
Of these 3,574 are homeless children .

Sisters Ava and Teaghan O’Donnell (front) with cousins Josh (left) and Sam Kelly (right) and Sara Marini Lazarov (centre) help launch Focus Ireland’s 5 Point Plan to tackle the housing and homeless crisis at the Dáil. Photograph: Sasko Lazarov/ Photocall Ireland
A rent freeze is among the radical steps the next government must take to "get on top of" the housing crisis, Focus Ireland warns.
Speaking at an event in Dublin city centre on Sunday, at which children added their voices to call for urgent action on housing, the charity’s director of advocacy called on political parties to stop “jostling for position” in government formation talks.
Roughan McNamara said people were “sick and tired” of politicians playing party politics in the face of such a humanitarian crisis.
“We’re nearly a month after the election and there haven’t even been real talks on forming a government as yet. While the result from the vote might not have been clear, the message was clear. People want issues like housing sorted and are not interested in parties jostling for position.”
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He said the next programme for government must include the provision of 35,000 dwellings a year including 12,000 social homes, and the establishment of a commission on housing.
“A commission would be a consensus approach to housing delivery,” he said. “We want whoever is in power to focus on what’s possible rather than on what is not possible. The previous government was often focusing more on what can’t be done.” Citing Berlin where authorities have just introduced a five-year rent freeze, he said: “That’s the kind of radical approach we need if we are to get on top of this crisis once and for all.”
Children’s voices
Also at the event outside Leinster House were Ava O'Donnell (11) and her sister Teaghan (9), pupils at Belgrove National School in Clontarf, Dublin. Ava said she wanted "to say to all TDs they have to do a lot more to help the homelessness". When she thought of homeless children it made her "feel a bit sad", she added.
Samuel Kelly (13), a pupil at Clonturk Community College in Drumcondra, said: "I just can't imagine how they [homeless children] are feeling or what conditions they are in. They don't have anywhere to call their own. Every time I think of it I just feel so bad. I want the Government to provide more housing for people who don't have those simple things."
His cousin, Josh Kelly (17), who attends Ard Scoil Rís on Griffith Avenue, said: "I just think the Government aren't doing enough. It's just disgraceful what they [homeless children] have to go through, even the people doing their Leaving Cert staying in hotels. They wouldn't be able to study. They can't have a full childhood experience because of what they have to go through."
The most recent data from the Department of Housing found there were 10,271 people homeless in January – an increase of 540 since December 2019. Of these 3,574 are homeless children.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Court approves €2.9m debt write-off for McNamara and Lowe

The High Court has approved personal insolvency arrangements allowing musician Frank McNamara and his wife barrister Theresa Lowe write-off almost €3 million of their debts .
In a judgement given last year , Mr Justice Denis McDonald said he was minded to approving Personal Insolvency Arrangements ( PIAs ) sought by the couple but wanted certain matters including discrepancies in documents filed by Mr McNamara concerning his inheritance from his late father ’ s estate clarified .
The matters came before the court on several occasions since last August ’ s decision was handed down .
On Monday Mr Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which were opposed by financial fund Tanager DAC and is owed €2.26 million by the couple .
The judge said he was “ proposing to confirm ” the coming into effect of the PIAs in respect of Mr McNamara and Ms Lowe , subject to confirmation that the estate of Mr McNamara ’ s late father “ be administered and the assets realised within a relatively short period.
” In his judgment the judge said that “ discrepancies have been appropriately explained.
” The discrepancies were between the contents of a document @ @ @ @ @ @ @ completed by Mr McNamara at the request of Tanager in January 2016 and the information provided in his Prescribed Financial Statement ( PFS ) .
The PFS was completed in support of his application in October 2016 to be allowed enter the personal insolvency process .
The PFS stated that Mr McNamara had a half share in his late parent ’ s house worth €500,000 with his sister , and that he derived a monthly rental income of €800 from the property .
The SFS stated his share in the property was €182,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent .
The judge said the approach taken by Mr McNamara and “ more particularly ” his Personal Insolvency Practioner ( PIP ) in their sworn statements in advance of the hearing of the applications for approval in May 2019 was “ unsatisfactory.
” However the judge said this unsatisfactory approach should not result in the dismissal of the application .
The judge , who adjourned the matter to March 20th next said , he would postpone making the formal order approving the PIA ’ s until the court is informed when it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McNamara ’ s late father will be realised .
The couple were not in court for this morning ’ s judgement .
After entering the personal insolvency process in 2016 the couple , represented in court by Keith Farry Bl , had been seeking approval for PIAs to allow them write off approximately €2.9 million of their debts , and allow them keep their family home .
That debt had been secured against the couple ’ s family home in Dunshaughlin , Co Meath , which is valued at €550,000 .
In addition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties including Bank of Ireland , Banco de Sabadell SA , and to the Revenue Commissioners .
Mr McNamara ( 59 ) worked as musical director on the Late Late Show for 20 years while Ms Lowe ( 56 ) , was a TV presenter before qualifying as a barrister .
Under the terms of the PIA arrangement , which will see the couple return to solvency , the couple will continue to make payments on their mortgage to Tanager .
The PIA is to be funded by monies Mr McNamara will receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s estate and also from the sale of five acres in Co Meath .
The proposed PIA will also be funded by lump-sum payment of €100,000 and €30,000 from a life insurance policy when it matures in seven years .
The court also heard Mr McNamara has obtained some work doing music at funerals , and some of this additional income will go to the creditors .
In his decision last August , Mr Justice McDonald noted that if the couple were to become bankrupt Tanager would realise 22 cents in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would receive 27 cents in the euro .
Unsecured creditors would likely recover 3.3 cents in the euro , while under the proposed arrangement they will recover 5 cents in the euro .
Tanager had opposed the PIA on various grounds including that the arrangement would unfairly prejudice its interests , and that the PIAs would not allow it to recover the debts due to it to the extent that the couple ’ s means reasonably permit .
It further argued that a debtor ’ s requirements under the 2012 Personal Insolvency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prescribed financial statement had not been satisfied .

Financial services firm Tanager opposed the personal insolvency arrangement for Frank McNamara and his wife Theresa Lowe.
The High Court has approved personal insolvency arrangements allowing musician Frank McNamara and his wife barrister Theresa Lowe write-off almost €3 million of their debts.
In a judgement given last year, Mr Justice Denis McDonald said he was minded to approving Personal Insolvency Arrangements (PIAs) sought by the couple but wanted certain matters including discrepancies in documents filed by Mr McNamara concerning his inheritance from his late father’s estate clarified.
The matters came before the court on several occasions since last August’s decision was handed down.
On Monday Mr Justice McDonald said he was approving the PIAs, which were opposed by financial fund Tanager DAC and is owed €2.26 million by the couple.
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The judge said he was “proposing to confirm” the coming into effect of the PIAs in respect of Mr McNamara and Ms Lowe, subject to confirmation that the estate of Mr McNamara’s late father “be administered and the assets realised within a relatively short period.”
In his judgment the judge said that “discrepancies have been appropriately explained.”
The discrepancies were between the contents of a document called Standard Financial Statement (SFS) completed by Mr McNamara at the request of Tanager in January 2016 and the information provided in his Prescribed Financial Statement (PFS).
The PFS was completed in support of his application in October 2016 to be allowed enter the personal insolvency process.
Share in a house
The PFS stated that Mr McNamara had a half share in his late parent’s house worth €500,000 with his sister, and that he derived a monthly rental income of €800 from the property.
The SFS stated his share in the property was €182,000 and Mr McNamara had no income from rent.
The judge said the approach taken by Mr McNamara and “more particularly” his Personal Insolvency Practioner (PIP) in their sworn statements in advance of the hearing of the applications for approval in May 2019 was “unsatisfactory.”
However the judge said this unsatisfactory approach should not result in the dismissal of the application.
The judge, who adjourned the matter to March 20th next said, he would postpone making the formal order approving the PIA’s until the court is informed when it is expected that the assets of Mr McNamara’s late father will be realised.
The couple were not in court for this morning’s judgement.
After entering the personal insolvency process in 2016 the couple, represented in court by Keith Farry Bl, had been seeking approval for PIAs to allow them write off approximately €2.9 million of their debts, and allow them keep their family home.
That debt had been secured against the couple’s family home in Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, which is valued at €550,000.
In addition to Tanager the couple owed money to parties including Bank of Ireland, Banco de Sabadell SA, and to the Revenue Commissioners.
Terms
Mr McNamara (59) worked as musical director on the Late Late Show for 20 years while Ms Lowe (56), was a TV presenter before qualifying as a barrister.
Under the terms of the PIA arrangement, which will see the couple return to solvency, the couple will continue to make payments on their mortgage to Tanager.
The PIA is to be funded by monies Mr McNamara will receive in an inheritance from his late father’s estate and also from the sale of five acres in Co Meath.
The proposed PIA will also be funded by lump-sum payment of €100,000 and €30,000 from a life insurance policy when it matures in seven years.
The court also heard Mr McNamara has obtained some work doing music at funerals, and some of this additional income will go to the creditors.
In his decision last August, Mr Justice McDonald noted that if the couple were to become bankrupt Tanager would realise 22 cents in the euro, whereas under the proposed arrangement it would receive 27 cents in the euro.
Unsecured creditors would likely recover 3.3 cents in the euro, while under the proposed arrangement they will recover 5 cents in the euro.
Tanager had opposed the PIA on various grounds including that the arrangement would unfairly prejudice its interests, and that the PIAs would not allow it to recover the debts due to it to the extent that the couple’s means reasonably permit.
It further argued that a debtor’s requirements under the 2012 Personal Insolvency Act of making a complete and accurate prescribed financial statement had not been satisfied.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Nurses say 10,500 people requiring admission waited for bed in February

Nearly 10,500 people deemed to require admission to hospitals had to wait on trolleys in emergency departments or on wards at some stage during February , nurses have said .
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation ( INMO ) said on Monday the number of people on trolleys in hospitals in February was 23 per cent higher than the figure recorded in the same month last year .
The INMO said the hospitals worst affected by overcrowding in February 2020 included University Hospital Limerick where 1,286patients had to wait on trolleys or wards for a bed , Cork University Hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 805 ; South Tipperary General Hospital : 653 and St Vincent ’ s University Hospital : 535 .
INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the “ long-running trolley crisis has to be priority number one in the government talks ” .
She said “ 10,000 people have been lining the corridors and waiting rooms of Ireland ’ s hospitals in February ” “ Our members are forced to provide care in appalling conditions.
” “ Meanwhile qualified healthcare staff are queueing up to work , but hospitals are unable to hire them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokespeople of all the major parties to lift the recruitment embargo , and whatever the make-up of the next government we will insist that these obstacles to safe staffing are removed immediately.
” The nurses ’ trade union said there were 488 admitted patients waiting for bedsin hospitals acrossthe country on Monday morning .
The INMO said there were 59 patients on trolleys in the emergency department or on wards waiting for a bed at University Hospital Limerick and 50 patients at Cork University Hospital .

The IMNO says the number of people on trolleys in hospitals in February was 23% higher than the figure recorded in the same month last year.
Nearly 10,500 people deemed to require admission to hospitals had to wait on trolleys in emergency departments or on wards at some stage during February, nurses have said.
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) said on Monday the number of people on trolleys in hospitals in February was 23 per cent higher than the figure recorded in the same month last year.
The INMO said the hospitals worst affected by overcrowding in February 2020 included University Hospital Limerick where 1,286patients had to wait on trolleys or wards for a bed, Cork University Hospital: 1,031; University Hospital Galway: 805; South Tipperary General Hospital: 653 and St Vincent’s University Hospital: 535.
INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said the "long-running trolley crisis has to be priority number one in the government talks".
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She said “ 10,000 people have been lining the corridors and waiting rooms of Ireland’s hospitals in February”
“Our members are forced to provide care in appalling conditions.”
“Meanwhile qualified healthcare staff are queueing up to work, but hospitals are unable to hire them.
“We have asked the health spokespeople of all the major parties to lift the recruitment embargo, and whatever the make-up of the next government we will insist that these obstacles to safe staffing are removed immediately.”
The nurses’ trade union said there were 488 admitted patients waiting for bedsin hospitals acrossthe country on Monday morning.
The INMO said there were 59 patients on trolleys in the emergency department or on wards waiting for a bed at University Hospital Limerick and 50 patients at Cork University Hospital.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Funding your postgrad or MBA

Funding your postgrad or MBA

If you ’ re considering a post-grad or an MBA as your next step , how to fund it will no doubt be top of your priorities .
Scholarships for both taught and research postgrads are available from all universities , as is funding from other bodies and institutes .
The following is an outline of just some of the scholarships and funding on offer .
A full list of all prizes and bursaries is available from each of the institutes ’ websites and from individual departments .
All have various deadlines and application requirements , so it is imperative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department as soon as possible and submit your application on time .
For students hoping to begin a postgraduate next year , now is a good time to begin researching as some applications will close later this year or early next year .
State funding is available for postgraduate courses through the Student Universal Support Ireland system .
Even if a student has received Susi funding before , they will need to apply again for their postgraduate course .
Applications for the upcoming academic year open at the beginning of April .
Your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Susi eligibility reckoner ( susi.ie/eligibility-reckoner-app/ ) , which provides an indication of your possible eligibility for funding based on the information you provide to a series of questions .
Sixty taught masters scholarships worth €2,000 each are available to students undertaking full-time programmes at MU .
A 2.1 is required to be considered for them and the scholarships are open to MU and non-MU graduates with applications open on March 10th .
More information is available at maynoothuniversity.ie/postgrad .
Last year 30 John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarships were granted by the university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of funding provides an up to €18,000 a year stipend plus fees for four years of PhD research .
There are also lower levels of funding available .
The scholarship is open across all disciplines and to both professional doctorates and part-time students .
For more visit : maynoothuniversity.ie/jphawards .
MU also offers Graduate Teaching Studentships and Doctoral Awards with teaching support experience across various disciplines each year .
UCC offers a range of scholarships and prizes , with funding ranging from €250 up to €28,000 across its colleges .
The €10,000 O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduates taking a postgrad in any department but is restricted to students , born in Ireland , who have a parent with the surname O ’ Connor .
For Arts students , there are a number of scholarships with many covering course fees while for history students in particular there is the Michael Joseph McEnery memorial prize worth €12,000 .
Female business students are eligible for 30 % Club scholarships worth E12,000 and E27,000 ; while the FDC Group scholarship , worth E12,500 is open to students undertaking particular business related courses .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Engineering and Food Science scholarships available , the largest ones being the Lilly Research Scholarship worth E22,000 and the John Sisk research scholarship in civil engineering worth E20,000 .
While there are less scholarships available for health and medicine students than in other departments , there are still a number of them available with the Amneal pharmaceutic scholarship the most valuable at E23,700 .
See https : //www.ucc.ie/en/scholarships/postgraduate/ for more details .
NUIG ’ s taught masters scholarship scheme offers awards of €1,500 to anyone with a first-class honours degree who has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the university .
For those undertaking research , the Hardiman PhD Scholarships are fully funded for four years , with a stipend of €16,000 per year plus fees .
The scholarships offer opportunities for suitably qualified individuals to pursue a structured PhD focused within five key areas of research : humanities ; biomedical science and engineering ; informatics , physical and computational ; environment , marine and energy , and social science and public policy .
A number of other postgraduate scholarships varying in value are also available across a range of disciplines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 are 14 postgraduate business scholarships ) , technology , health sciences , and old and middle Irish .
Those undertaking the professional master of education in order to teach through Irish at second level can also apply for a €2,000 bursary .
For more visit nuigalway.ie/postgraduate_scholarships/ .
UL offers a number of postgraduate scholarships .
Ten taught scholarships are available through UL ’ s Kemmy Business School and 10 from the faculty of science and engineering , each offering €2,000 towards fees .
Students hoping to study any of the taught MA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Music and Dance can apply for one of the €1,000 Stepping Stones scholarships available , while the academy also offers a limited number of full and/or partial fee waivers for research students at MA and PhD level .
The school of allied health offers two structured PhD scholarships paying fees for four years ( €17,284 in total ) , while the school ’ s interprofessional education PhD scholarship is worth €92,768 in total over a four-year period .
There are also a number of physical education and sport sciences scholarships on offer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more information .
DCU offers a wide range of scholarships across its schools .
The John Thompson scholarship in digital marketing offers full fees and a small contribution towards books and study expenses , while the school of communications has up to five PhD scholarships with a tax-free stipend of not less than €14,000 , plus fees .
The 30 % Club is offering a fee scholarship to female engineers or computer scientists studying on a full- or part-time basis in DCU ’ s faculty of engineering and computing and to part-time MSc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Intel scholarship worth €3,000 is available to graduates who plan to enter either the MEng in electronic and computer engineering or the MEng in mechanical and manufacturing engineering , while the UrbanVolt scholarship is available to one DCU masters student who demonstrates an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset .
The San Jose-Dublin Sister City Programme Exchange Scholarship , valued at more than $ 50,000 , awards a taught masters scholarship to an engineering , physics or computer science graduate .
There are also a number of other scholarships available , such as sports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ details on all scholarships visit the postgraduate section on each of the schools ’ websites .
UCD has a wide range of postgraduate scholarships , bursaries and awards varying in value .
Top-performing eligible candidates can apply in their chosen fields for awards such as the Kay Mahon bursaries in archaeology ( up to €6,000 ) ; the James Healy law scholarship ( €5,000 plus fee waiver ) ; and a number of graduate scholarships up to €4,135 plus a tax-free annual stipend of €750 from the school of politics and international relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two scholarships for female applicants are available on the Master of Public Policy , one full time ( €7,315 ) and one part time ( €9,520 ) .
Other scholarships include the Réalta engineering scholarship ( €7,500 ) ; the Kevin B Nowlan Scholarship in Irish/Modern European History ( €5,500 ) ; the Helga and Hugh Staunton Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies in German ( €5,000 ) ; the Margaret MacCurtain Scholarship in Women ’ s History ( €4,500 ) ; the Annie Fanning Scholarship for the MA in Irish Literature and Culture ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Masters Scholarships in Engineering and Science , each to the value of €3,000 .
Business students can apply for a range of full and partial merit , and needs-based scholarships , for those who demonstrate the ambition to study at UCD but who need some financial help .
UCD College of Social Sciences and Law offers 16 different scholarships for full fee support for taught postgraduate programmes for access students with economic need , up to the value of €10,000 .
For more information on all scholarships contact the respective schools and colleges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a broad range of postgraduate taught programmes and research opportunities .
For taught postgraduate courses , new scholarships , , worth up to €5,000 each , are available to local and European students ( EU Excellence Scholarships ) , in addition to similar scholarships for international students .
For further details please see .
Scholarships are also available for specific subject areas ( eg E3 Excellence Scholarships , Energy Science scholarships ) .
Details can be found on individual course web pages .
For postgraduate research students , Trinity offers studentships , scholarships @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all disciplines , normally covering tuition fees and providing a stipend .
The university also offers a number of named benefactions and awards funded by largely private donations and bequests .
For more visit www.tcd.ie/study/postgraduate/scholarships-funding .
Universities Ireland , the body which promotes collaboration between universities in the North and the Republic , offers four scholarships ( which last year were worth €15,000 each ) to students who have been accepted to undertake a recognised masters degree or are entering the first year of a PhD programme at a university on the island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eligibility requirements as detailed on its website : universitiesireland.ie .
The Irish Research Council manages a range of interlinked programmes funding researchers across all career stages and disciplines .
Applications for 2020-21 have already closed but those with an eye on 2021-22 should monitor the council ’ s website , as funding opportunities typically open at different times during the year and close at various dates from the summer onwards .
See research.ie/ .
The Fulbright Awards are open to Irish citizens to study or undertake postgraduate research in the US for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year .
See fulbright.ie for more .
Other sources of funding that prospective 2021-22 students should look out for include funding from the Irish Cancer Society , Teagasc and Science Foundation Ireland .
A master of business administration is one of the most expensive post-grads you can do with some courses costing up to and more than €30,000 .
Outside of this are the other costs to consider such as accommodations , transport and materials etc .
Like taught and research postgraduate students , there are also a number of scholarships and bursaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some which cover full or partial tuition fees and in each case it is advised to make contact with the university or institution you intend applying to and finding out what opportunities may be available to you .
Typically all universities offer some scholarship or bursary for those applying for MBAs and they are typically listed on the same page as all other postgraduate scholarships .
For those who are working and considering undertaking an MBA , there may be funding available through your employer , though these typically tend to be multinationals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your company may be a way to get at least some financial assistance .
As with other postgraduate courses you can also claim money back on your course through Revenue while postgraduate funding for Level 8 to 10 is available from Susi for a maximum of four years .

If you’re considering a post-grad or an MBA as your next step, how to fund it will no doubt be top of your priorities.
Scholarships for both taught and research postgrads are available from all universities, as is funding from other bodies and institutes. The following is an outline of just some of the scholarships and funding on offer. A full list of all prizes and bursaries is available from each of the institutes’ websites and from individual departments.
All have various deadlines and application requirements, so it is imperative that you follow up with the relevant department as soon as possible and submit your application on time. For students hoping to begin a postgraduate next year, now is a good time to begin researching as some applications will close later this year or early next year.
Susi State funding is available for postgraduate courses through the Student Universal Support Ireland system. Even if a student has received Susi funding before, they will need to apply again for their postgraduate course. Applications for the upcoming academic year open at the beginning of April. Your first port of call should be the Susi eligibility reckoner (susi.ie/eligibility-reckoner-app/), which provides an indication of your possible eligibility for funding based on the information you provide to a series of questions.
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Maynooth University. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Maynooth University Sixty taught masters scholarships worth €2,000 each are available to students undertaking full-time programmes at MU. A 2.1 is required to be considered for them and the scholarships are open to MU and non-MU graduates with applications open on March 10th. More information is available at maynoothuniversity.ie/postgrad. Last year 30 John and Pat Hume Doctoral Scholarships were granted by the university to PhD entrants. The top level of funding provides an up to €18,000 a year stipend plus fees for four years of PhD research. There are also lower levels of funding available. The scholarship is open across all disciplines and to both professional doctorates and part-time students. For more visit: maynoothuniversity.ie/jphawards. MU also offers Graduate Teaching Studentships and Doctoral Awards with teaching support experience across various disciplines each year.
UCC UCC offers a range of scholarships and prizes, with funding ranging from €250 up to €28,000 across its colleges. The €10,000 O'Connor Scholarship is open to UCC graduates taking a postgrad in any department but is restricted to students, born in Ireland, who have a parent with the surname O'Connor. For Arts students, there are a number of scholarships with many covering course fees while for history students in particular there is the Michael Joseph McEnery memorial prize worth €12,000. Female business students are eligible for 30% Club scholarships worth €12,000 and €27,000; while the FDC Group scholarship, worth €12,500 is open to students undertaking particular business related courses. There are some very sizeable Science, Engineering and Food Science scholarships available, the largest ones being the Lilly Research Scholarship worth €22,000 and the John Sisk research scholarship in civil engineering worth €20,000. While there are less scholarships available for health and medicine students than in other departments, there are still a number of them available with the Amneal pharmaceutic scholarship the most valuable at €23,700. See https://www.ucc.ie/en/scholarships/postgraduate/ for more details.
NUI Galway NUIG's taught masters scholarship scheme offers awards of €1,500 to anyone with a first-class honours degree who has been accepted on to a full-time programme at the university. For those undertaking research, the Hardiman PhD Scholarships are fully funded for four years, with a stipend of €16,000 per year plus fees. The scholarships offer opportunities for suitably qualified individuals to pursue a structured PhD focused within five key areas of research: humanities; biomedical science and engineering; informatics, physical and computational; environment, marine and energy, and social science and public policy. A number of other postgraduate scholarships varying in value are also available across a range of disciplines, such as business (new for 2020 are 14 postgraduate business scholarships), technology, health sciences, and old and middle Irish. Those undertaking the professional master of education in order to teach through Irish at second level can also apply for a €2,000 bursary. For more visit nuigalway.ie/postgraduate_scholarships/.
UCC Student Centre. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh/The Irish Times
University of Limerick UL offers a number of postgraduate scholarships. Ten taught scholarships are available through UL's Kemmy Business School and 10 from the faculty of science and engineering, each offering €2,000 towards fees. Students hoping to study any of the taught MA programmes at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance can apply for one of the €1,000 Stepping Stones scholarships available, while the academy also offers a limited number of full and/or partial fee waivers for research students at MA and PhD level. The school of allied health offers two structured PhD scholarships paying fees for four years (€17,284 in total), while the school's interprofessional education PhD scholarship is worth €92,768 in total over a four-year period. There are also a number of physical education and sport sciences scholarships on offer. See https://www.ul.ie/gps/about/funding-your-postgraduate-degree#scholarships for more information.
Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Dublin City University DCU offers a wide range of scholarships across its schools. The John Thompson scholarship in digital marketing offers full fees and a small contribution towards books and study expenses, while the school of communications has up to five PhD scholarships with a tax-free stipend of not less than €14,000, plus fees. The 30% Club is offering a fee scholarship to female engineers or computer scientists studying on a full- or part-time basis in DCU's faculty of engineering and computing and to part-time MSc programmes in the business school. The Intel scholarship worth €3,000 is available to graduates who plan to enter either the MEng in electronic and computer engineering or the MEng in mechanical and manufacturing engineering, while the UrbanVolt scholarship is available to one DCU masters student who demonstrates an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset. The San Jose-Dublin Sister City Programme Exchange Scholarship, valued at more than $50,000, awards a taught masters scholarship to an engineering, physics or computer science graduate. There are also a number of other scholarships available, such as sports, aviation and alumni scholarships. For more details on all scholarships visit the postgraduate section on each of the schools' websites.
UCD UCD has a wide range of postgraduate scholarships, bursaries and awards varying in value. Top-performing eligible candidates can apply in their chosen fields for awards such as the Kay Mahon bursaries in archaeology (up to €6,000); the James Healy law scholarship (€5,000 plus fee waiver); and a number of graduate scholarships up to €4,135 plus a tax-free annual stipend of €750 from the school of politics and international relations. Through the 30% Club, two scholarships for female applicants are available on the Master of Public Policy, one full time (€7,315) and one part time (€9,520). Other scholarships include the Réalta engineering scholarship (€7,500); the Kevin B Nowlan Scholarship in Irish/Modern European History (€5,500); the Helga and Hugh Staunton Scholarship for Postgraduate Studies in German (€5,000); the Margaret MacCurtain Scholarship in Women's History (€4,500); the Annie Fanning Scholarship for the MA in Irish Literature and Culture (€3,000); and UCD - Intel Masters Scholarships in Engineering and Science, each to the value of €3,000. Business students can apply for a range of full and partial merit, and needs-based scholarships, for those who demonstrate the ambition to study at UCD but who need some financial help. UCD College of Social Sciences and Law offers 16 different scholarships for full fee support for taught postgraduate programmes for access students with economic need, up to the value of €10,000. For more information on all scholarships contact the respective schools and colleges within UCD.
Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin offers a broad range of postgraduate taught programmes and research opportunities. For taught postgraduate courses, new scholarships, ,worth up to €5,000 each, are available to local and European students (EU Excellence Scholarships), in addition to similar scholarships for international students. For further details please see. Scholarships are also available for specific subject areas (eg E3 Excellence Scholarships, Energy Science scholarships). Details can be found on individual course web pages. For postgraduate research students, Trinity offers studentships, scholarships and specific funded projects for research across all disciplines, normally covering tuition fees and providing a stipend. The university also offers a number of named benefactions and awards funded by largely private donations and bequests. For more visit www.tcd.ie/study/postgraduate/scholarships-funding.
North/South Postgraduate Scholarships Universities Ireland, the body which promotes collaboration between universities in the North and the Republic, offers four scholarships (which last year were worth €15,000 each) to students who have been accepted to undertake a recognised masters degree or are entering the first year of a PhD programme at a university on the island of Ireland and meet a number of eligibility requirements as detailed on its website: universitiesireland.ie.
Irish Research Council The Irish Research Council manages a range of interlinked programmes funding researchers across all career stages and disciplines. Applications for 2020-21 have already closed but those with an eye on 2021-22 should monitor the council's website, as funding opportunities typically open at different times during the year and close at various dates from the summer onwards. See research.ie/.
Fulbright Awards The Fulbright Awards are open to Irish citizens to study or undertake postgraduate research in the US for a period of four months up to a year. See fulbright.ie for more. Other sources of funding that prospective 2021-22 students should look out for include funding from the Irish Cancer Society, Teagasc and Science Foundation Ireland.
MBA A master of business administration is one of the most expensive post-grads you can do with some courses costing up to and more than €30,000. Outside of this are the other costs to consider such as accommodations, transport and materials etc.
Like taught and research postgraduate students, there are also a number of scholarships and bursaries available to those undertaking an MBA, some which cover full or partial tuition fees and in each case it is advised to make contact with the university or institution you intend applying to and finding out what opportunities may be available to you.
Typically all universities offer some scholarship or bursary for those applying for MBAs and they are typically listed on the same page as all other postgraduate scholarships. For those who are working and considering undertaking an MBA, there may be funding available through your employer, though these typically tend to be multinationals but showing the value of the MBA to your company may be a way to get at least some financial assistance.
As with other postgraduate courses you can also claim money back on your course through Revenue while postgraduate funding for Level 8 to 10 is available from Susi for a maximum of four years.
- Nora-Ide McAuliffe


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Coronavirus: Health officials defend decision not to name Dublin school

The State ’ s chief medical officer , Dr Tony Holohan , has defended the handling of the country ’ s first confirmed case of the coronavirus , which has forced the closure of a Dublin secondary school on infection control grounds .
More than 400 students of the school are on Monday beginning two weeks off after public health officials ordered it to shut to prevent the spread of the disease .
Dr Holohan again declined to identify the school , pointing out that confidentiality must be maintained so the public would feel confident about coming forward if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A series of measures had been outlined to parents of pupils at the school urging the students to limit their social interactions and not to attend social gatherings .
The Health Service Executive ( HSE ) will hold a public meeting on Monday evening for parents who will also be texted daily to check on symptoms so there can be immediate action and follow up if necessary .
“ We felt this was a proportionate measure , in the event that someone else becomes ill , they can be diagnosed quickly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The senior health official said he understood the impact this could have on families with parents potentially having to take time off work to care for their child , and said it was a decision not been taken lightly .
Minister for Health Simon Harris defended the HSE ’ s decision not to publicly name the affected school .
In a post on Twitter he said health officials “ have to protect anyone who comes forward with symptoms of coronavirus.
” “ They are acting in the public interest and helping our national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Contact tracing ensures anyone who needs to know knows , ” he said .
Dr Holohan said decisions from sports clubs near the school to cancel training sessions were unnecessary .
The HSE will find ways to work with all organisations to help provide responses that were proportionate , he said .
He warned that social media had highlighted concerns that had no basis in fact .
“ Anyone with access to social media , has access to hse.ie for accurate information , ” he said .
Some of the information being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ false ” and the public should rely only on “ trusted sources , ” he said .
Dr Holohan said this was a fast changing situation and it was difficult to predict what might be of concern in 10 days time , and the impact on large gatherings such as the St Patrick ’ s Day parade .
The chief medical officer was also adamant that the country had sufficient hospital isolation rooms , and pointed out most people who had been infected elsewhere had experienced only a mild infection and symptoms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected a second time , Dr Holohan said this was “ an open scientific question ” as there was much still unknown about the virus .
Patricia King , general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions ( ICTU ) , called on businesses to “ actively engage ” with staff on the implications of the virus for workplaces .
Measures should be agreed to protect the health and safety of all workers , but also ensure that employees ’ incomes were protected , she said .
“ Employers must engage with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken regarding working arrangements as a result of the virus , ” Ms King said .
Speaking earlier on RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland radio programme , Maeve McElwee , director of employer relations with business group Ibec said practical ways to accommodate workers affected by the coronavirus would be considered .
Allowing staff to work remotely from home was one option , but may not be possible in some cases , and employees taking annual leave to self isolate may have to be considered , she said .
Public health officials are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will apply to mass gatherings in light of the worldwide coronavirus outbreak .
The restrictions to be decided by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) may affect the St Patrick ’ s Day Festival and other big events such as concerts and sports matches over the coming months .
Last week a decision was taken to cancel the Ireland vs Italy Six Nations rugby match , due to take place in the Aviva Stadium this Saturday .
This came after a significant outbreak of the coronavirus in parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision to close the Dublin school upon learning that the first person in the Republic to test positive for the virus had became ill after returning from Italy and going back to school .
He is currently in isolation in a hospital in the capital .

Minister for Health, Simon Harris criticised the spread of misinformation on social media about the case. File image: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin
Siblings and parents of students in the Dublin school closed due to the coronavirus are free to continue their daily routine as normal, public health officials have said.
Family members and others in the community are not regarded as contacts of the students in the school for infection control purposes, according to chief medical officer at the Department of Health Dr Tony Holohan.
In a letter sent to parents of all schoolchildren across the State, Dr Holohan says the decision to close the school for 14 days was a precautionary one and arose because pupils and teachers may have had direct contact with the confirmed case.
Home with the kids after a confirmed case of the coronavirus at their school. I’m postponing meetings in Cavan + Galway as I’d like to stay close to home. Stick to the medical advice, wash your hands with warm soapy water. Stay safe. https://t.co/07s79Wf6UV — Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) March 2, 2020
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) made the decision to close the Dublin school after learning that the first person in the Republic to test positive for the virus had became ill after returning from Italy and going back to school. He is currently in isolation in a hospital in the capital.
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More than 400 students of the school on Monday began two weeks off after public health officials ordered it to shut to prevent the spread of the disease.
“We’re not concerned about contacts of contacts. They don’t need to stay off school or away from other activities,” deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn told a media briefing on Monday evening.
All the contacts of the person who has the infection have now been contacted, officials said, and the school premises have been cleaned.
The risk of onward transmission of the disease to those in the school remains low, according to Dr John Cuddihy, head of the Health Protection Suveillance Centre.
No new cases have been confirmed in the Republic since the first one reported on Sunday, Dr Holohan said.
The European Centre for Disease Control has upgraded the threat of sustain transmission of the disease in Europe to “moderate to high”. However, Dr Holohan said that while he expects further cases in Ireland, these are likely to be “sporadic”.
Separately, some schools have also been advising pupils to bring to classes with them a wash bag containing a bar of soap, a small towel or face cloth and a packet of tissues and/or hand sanitiser.
Similar advice was given to schools during the swine flu outbreak in 2009/10.
Minister for Health Simon Harris defended the decision of authorities not to name the school, describing it as proportionte and evidence-based.
“It is our job to provide information that is in the public interest; it is not our job to provide information the public is interested in. That is a different test,” he said.
The State’s chief medical officer, Dr Tony Holohan, had earlier pointed out that confidentiality must be maintained so the public would feel confident about coming forward if they thought they might have contracted the virus.
A series of measures had been outlined to parents of pupils at the school urging the students to limit their social interactions and not to attend social gatherings.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald confirmed in a video posted on Twitter that her children attend the affected school. This had been reported by a tabloid newspaper on Monday morning.
“This is a worrying time for families and for the staff at the school, particularly for the family of the person affected and we wish them a very, very speedy recovery,” she said.
“I’ve had to reorganise everything and all of my work schedule because of this, and so the public meetings in Cavan and in Galway this week will unfortunately have to be postponed, but we will set a date for them again very, very soon,” Ms McDonald said, adding she would be back at work on Tuesday.
Misinformation
Mr Harris said any publicity that results in the naming of a child was entirely inappropriate. The advice to students on restricting their movements for 14 days does not apply to family members, he added.
The Minister also criticised the spread of misinformation on social media about the case, saying information had been put out that could have led to the identification of a child. In addition, rumours had gone around on Sunday that “school x or school y” was affected.
The Health Service Executive was due to hold a meeting on Monday evening for parents of the school, who will also be texted daily to check on symptoms so there can be immediate action and follow up if necessary.
“We felt this was a proportionate measure, in the event that someone else becomes ill, they can be diagnosed quickly,” Dr Holohan said .
The senior health official said he understood the impact this could have on families with parents potentially having to take time off work to care for their child, and said it was a decision not been taken lightly.
Minister for Health Simon Harris defended the HSE’s decision not to publicly name the affected school.
In a post on Twitter he said health officials “have to protect anyone who comes forward with symptoms of coronavirus.”
“They are acting in the public interest and helping our national and global efforts to contain this virus. Contact tracing ensures anyone who needs to know knows,” he said.
A spokesman for the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) said schools forced to close for two weeks following coronavirus cases should be able to make up lost teaching time upon reopening.
“When schools have been forced to close in the past for a period of time due to extreme weather or other health and safety risks, upon opening again they would typically choose to prioritise tuition over non-tuition activities,” the spokesman said.
This could include “reducing the length of mock or in-house examinations,” and prioritising classroom learning over planned field trips or tours, he said. “And they might seek to ensure that students in examination years attend all classes to the end of the final school term,” the union spokesman said.
Dr John Cuddihy, Dr Tony Holohan and Dr Ronan Glynn during a media update on the confirmed case of Coronavirus in Ireland. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Dr Holohan said decisions from sports clubs near the school to cancel training sessions were unnecessary.
The HSE will find ways to work with all organisations to help provide responses that were proportionate, he said.
He warned that social media had highlighted concerns that had no basis in fact. "Anyone with access to social media, has access to hse.ie for accurate information," he said.
Some of the information being shared on social media was “completely false” and the public should rely only on “trusted sources,” he said.
St Patrick’s Day
Dr Holohan said this was a fast changing situation and it was difficult to predict what might be of concern in 10 days time, and the impact on large gatherings such as the St Patrick’s Day parade.
The chief medical officer was also adamant that the country had sufficient hospital isolation rooms, and pointed out most people who had been infected elsewhere had experienced only a mild infection and symptoms.
Asked about the possibility of people being infected a second time, Dr Holohan said this was “an open scientific question” as there was much still unknown about the virus.
Public health officials are expected to decide on Tuesday on restrictions that will apply to mass gatherings in light of the worldwide coronavirus outbreak. The restrictions to be decided by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) may affect the St Patrick’s Day Festival and other big events such as concerts and sports matches over the coming months.
Last week a decision was taken to cancel the Ireland vs Italy Six Nations rugby match, due to take place in the Aviva Stadium this Saturday. This came after a significant outbreak of the coronavirus in parts of northern Italy.
The NPHET made the decision to close the Dublin school upon learning that the first person in the Republic to test positive for the virus had became ill after returning from Italy and going back to school. He is currently in isolation in a hospital in the capital.
Travel advice
Meanwhile, the Department of Foreign Affairs has warned Irish citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Iran due to the spread of the coronavirus there.
Iran thus becomes the second country, after China, to be subject to a travel warning from the Department since the virus outbreak began at the start of this year.
In revised travel advice published on its website, the Department refers to the “high number” of coronavirus cases confirmed in the country - which currently stands at 978. With 54 deaths from the disease, Iran also has one of the highest mortality rates in international terms.
The Department says many flight routes from Iran have been cancelled. “Several international commercial flights remain operational, although some have restrictions in place regarding which citizens they will carry.”
Many land border crossings between Iran and surrounding countries have been closed, including those with Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkey and Pakistan.
The Department also advises against travel to provinces in Iran that border with Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq due to the “persistently dangerous security situation” in these areas.
The Department has advised against all non-essential travel to China, and against all travel to the Chinese province of Hubei, where the outbreak started.
A spokesman said the Department continued to review and update its travel advice as required, in close cooperation with Irish embassies, EU partners and relevant Government departments.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Royal visit: William and Kate to meet Higgins during Ireland trip

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are “ looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the Irish people ” during their first official visit to Ireland , Kensington Palace has said .
During the three-day visit the couple will meet President Michael D Higgins , political leaders and spend time in Dublin , and counties Meath , Kildare and Galway .
The visit , from March 3rd-5th , will highlight the strong links between the UK and Ireland , and the couple ’ s programme will take in Ireland ’ s rich culture , community initiatives and spectacular scenery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The statement added : “ Following Her Majesty the Queen ’ s historic visit in 2011 , the visit will also focus on the relationship between the two countries , and build on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation.
” It also said : “ The UK ’ s links with Ireland are extensive , and the duke and duchess are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the Irish people.
” William and Kate are also due to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar .
The Cambridges ’ trip , which unusually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be seen as a diplomacy visit in the wake of Brexit .
The queen ’ s visit to the Republic was made amid unprecedented security , and she became the first British monarch to make the trip in 100 years .
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have made five visits to Ireland over the past five years .
The statement said : “ During the three-day tour , the duke and duchess will learn about local organisations working to support and empower young people and projects which provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ skills .
“ Their Royal Highnesses will also hear more about Ireland ’ s conservation initiatives and efforts to protect its environment , with a particular focus on sustainable farming and marine conservation .
“ 2020 will see Galway host the European Capital of Culture on behalf of Ireland , a showcase of events highlighting the richness and diversity of Irish culture , art and sport .
“ During their time in Galway , the duke and duchess will have the opportunity to experience a taste of modern and traditional Irish culture for @ @ @

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who are ‘looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the Irish people’ during their first official visit to Ireland, Kensington Palace has said. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are “looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the Irish people” during their first official visit to Ireland, Kensington Palace has said.
During the three-day visit the couple will meet President Michael D Higgins, political leaders and spend time in Dublin, and counties Meath, Kildare and Galway.
The visit, from March 3rd-5th, will highlight the strong links between the UK and Ireland, and the couple’s programme will take in Ireland’s rich culture, community initiatives and spectacular scenery, said the palace in a statement.
The statement added: “Following Her Majesty the Queen’s historic visit in 2011, the visit will also focus on the relationship between the two countries, and build on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation.”
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It also said: “The UK’s links with Ireland are extensive, and the duke and duchess are looking forward to building a lasting friendship with the Irish people.”
William and Kate are also due to meet Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.
The Cambridges’ trip, which unusually was announced in advance, is likely to be seen as a diplomacy visit in the wake of Brexit.
The queen’s visit to the Republic was made amid unprecedented security, and she became the first British monarch to make the trip in 100 years.
The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall have made five visits to Ireland over the past five years.
The statement said: “During the three-day tour, the duke and duchess will learn about local organisations working to support and empower young people and projects which provide opportunities to help them develop important life skills.
“Their Royal Highnesses will also hear more about Ireland’s conservation initiatives and efforts to protect its environment, with a particular focus on sustainable farming and marine conservation.
“2020 will see Galway host the European Capital of Culture on behalf of Ireland, a showcase of events highlighting the richness and diversity of Irish culture, art and sport.
“During their time in Galway, the duke and duchess will have the opportunity to experience a taste of modern and traditional Irish culture for themselves.”–PA


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Man (20) charged with dangerous driving causing three deaths

A 20-year-old man has appeared before Dundalk District Court charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of three people .
@ @ @ @ @ with an address in Forest Park , Dromintee , Co Armagh .
He is accused @ @ @ @ @ deaths of Mary and Kevin Faxton and Bryan Magill on the M1 at Carrickarnan , @ @ @ @ @ .
He is also accused of failing to report the incident to gardaí contrary to @ @ @ @ @ Traffic Act .
Gardaí objected to an application by the accused for bail .
After @ @ @ @ @ Deirdre Gearty remanded the accused in custody to Cloverhill District Court next Thursday .

The scene of a collision between two cars on the M1 in Co Louth in which three people died. Photograph: Arthur Carron.
A 20-year-old man has appeared before Dundalk District Court charged with dangerous driving causing the deaths of three people.
The accused, Keith Lennon, with an address in Forest Park, Dromintee, Co Armagh, was refused bail and remanded in custody. He is accused of dangerous driving causing the deaths of Mary and Kevin Faxton and Bryan Magill on the N1 at Carrickarnon, Ravensdale, Dundalk, on Saturday.
He is also accused of failing to report the incident to gardaí contrary to section 106 of the Road Traffic Act. Evidence was given by Garda Ronan Costello, Dundalk, of arresting and charging the accused.
He told the court he arrested Mr Lennon at 28 minutes past midnight on Monday and he charged him at 1am. Mr Lennon made no reply, after caution, to either charge, the court heard.
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Defence solicitor Aimée McCumiskey applied for bail to which Garda Costello objected.
He handed in a copy of his objections to Judge Deirdre Gearty and said there were a number of grounds including the seriousness of the charges and the fear Mr Lennon was a flight risk as he did not live in the jurisdiction. Ms McCumiskey made a number of points to the judge including that all four grandparents of her client live in the jurisdiction and were present in court. He had no previous convictions and enjoyed the presumption of innocence, she said.
The judge remanded the accused in custody to Cloverhill District Court next Thursday. She recommended that Mr Lennon receive whatever medical attention he may require while in custody.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Concern after worst weekend of year so far for road deaths

Road Safety Authority ( RSA ) chief Liz O ’ Donnell has expressed alarm at the deaths of seven people in four road incidents over the weekend – the worst of the year so far for road deaths .
The incidents , between Friday night and the early hours of Sunday morning , brought the number of road deaths to 29 for the year so far , roughly in line with last year ’ s figures .
Three people died after a two-car crash at about 2.15am on Saturday on the main Dublin to Belfast road south of the Border @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teenage girl , a passenger in a car , died following a single-vehicle road collision near Oughterard in Co Galway at 1.15am on Sunday .
A male pedestrian in his 20s died following a crash involving a lorry at about 11.15am on Saturday in Monaghan .
On Friday night , the driver and a passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed when their car was in a collision with a jeep in Ballinagh .
Ms O ’ Donnell , chairwoman of the RSA , said the seven deaths were “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Deaths on Irish roads had declined to among the lowest in the world , she said , but the RSA could not be “ complacent ” and had to work to reduce the number further .
The RSA plans to raise awareness on tackling speed , the main “ killer behaviour ” , along with driving under the influence of drink and drugs , and mobile phone use while driving .
“ People are still going way too fast , ” said Ms O ’ Donnell .
“ Cars have the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ People feel they have to use the speed but all over the world speed is the big killer .
”

Liz O’Donnell of the RSA: ‘People feel they have to use the speed but all over the world speed is the big killer.’
Road Safety Authority (RSA) chief Liz O’Donnell has expressed alarm at the deaths of seven people in four road incidents over the weekend – the worst of the year so far for road deaths.
The incidents, between Friday night and the early hours of Sunday morning, brought the number of road deaths to 29 for the year so far, roughly in line with last year’s figures.
Three people died after a two-car crash at about 2.15am on Saturday on the main Dublin to Belfast road south of the Border at Carrickcarnan, Co Louth. A teenage girl, a passenger in a car, died following a single-vehicle road collision near Oughterard in Co Galway at 1.15am on Sunday.
A male pedestrian in his 20s died following a crash involving a lorry at about 11.15am on Saturday in Monaghan. On Friday night, the driver and a passenger of a car travelling in Co Cavan were killed when their car was in a collision with a jeep in Ballinagh.
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Ms O’Donnell, chairwoman of the RSA, said the seven deaths were “a tragedy for individual families and communities”.
Deaths on Irish roads had declined to among the lowest in the world, she said, but the RSA could not be “complacent” and had to work to reduce the number further.
The RSA plans to raise awareness on tackling speed, the main “killer behaviour”, along with driving under the influence of drink and drugs, and mobile phone use while driving.
“People are still going way too fast,” said Ms O’Donnell. “Cars have the capacity to go so fast now. People feel they have to use the speed but all over the world speed is the big killer.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Past legal advice shows rent freeze is possible, says Alan Kelly

Labour leadership contender Alan Kelly has claimed that legal advice given to him when he was the Cabinet minister with responsibility for housing says a rent freeze can be introduced .
As Minister for the Environment in 2015 , Mr Kelly lengthened the rent review period from one year to two years .
It meant that , in effect , anyone who faced a rent review that year did not face another one until 2017 .
In 2016 , the Fine Gael-led minority government brought in the current policy of rent pressure zones ( RPZs ) , which restrict rent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in designated areas .
Most cities , their surrounding areas and large towns are now designated as RPZs but there have been calls from the Labour Party , Sinn Féin and others for a three-year rent freeze .
Fianna Fáil had considered adopting such a policy last year but has since said it has received legal advice saying it would be unconstitutional .
Mr Kelly , a Tipperary TD , is competing against Dublin Bay North TD Aodhán O ’ Ríordáin for the leadership of the Labour Party .
They take part in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cork on Monday .
Mr Kelly has repeated a call for a rent freeze and has published a section of the legal advice given to him in 2015 which he says outlines how it could be implemented .
The portion of the advice said the “ length of interference with protected property rights can be a factor in determining whether such interference is justifiable ” .
It said the duration of such interference “ should be supported by a clear policy rationale and extensive market analysis to ensure it will be found reasonable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ property rights ” .
“ Ultimately , the duration is a matter of policy – if the length selected can be objectively justified and supported by cogent evidence , then it should be defensible as a proportionate measure.
” Mr Kelly said : “ While the State can not direct landlords to set individual prices , both the Dáil and Seanad have the legislative power to regulate the frequency of rent reviews .
This gives rise to an effective rent freeze .
“ This means , as a temporary measure , we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rent reviews are allowed and this delays future rent increases for a temporary period .
It is easily achievable under the Constitution to legally set this period to three years .
There is no need for a referendum .
”

Labour Party TD Alan Kelly: ‘While the State cannot direct landlords to set individual prices, both the Dáil and Seanad have the legislative power to regulate the frequency of rent reviews.’ Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Labour leadership contender Alan Kelly has claimed that legal advice given to him when he was the Cabinet minister with responsibility for housing says a rent freeze can be introduced.
As Minister for the Environment in 2015, Mr Kelly lengthened the rent review period from one year to two years. It meant that, in effect, anyone who faced a rent review that year did not face another one until 2017.
In 2016, the Fine Gael-led minority government brought in the current policy of rent pressure zones (RPZs), which restrict rent increases to four per cent per year in designated areas.
Most cities, their surrounding areas and large towns are now designated as RPZs but there have been calls from the Labour Party, Sinn Féin and others for a three-year rent freeze.
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Fianna Fáil had considered adopting such a policy last year but has since said it has received legal advice saying it would be unconstitutional.
‘Matter of policy’
Mr Kelly, a Tipperary TD, is competing against Dublin Bay North TD Aodhán O’Ríordáin for the leadership of the Labour Party. They take part in the first of five head-to-head debates in Cork on Monday.
Mr Kelly has repeated a call for a rent freeze and has published a section of the legal advice given to him in 2015 which he says outlines how it could be implemented.
The portion of the advice said the “length of interference with protected property rights can be a factor in determining whether such interference is justifiable”. It said the duration of such interference “should be supported by a clear policy rationale and extensive market analysis to ensure it will be found reasonable, proportional and minimally invasive of established property rights”.
“Ultimately, the duration is a matter of policy – if the length selected can be objectively justified and supported by cogent evidence, then it should be defensible as a proportionate measure.”
Mr Kelly said: “While the State cannot direct landlords to set individual prices, both the Dáil and Seanad have the legislative power to regulate the frequency of rent reviews. This gives rise to an effective rent freeze.
“This means, as a temporary measure, we can easily extend the time period under which rent reviews are allowed and this delays future rent increases for a temporary period. It is easily achievable under the Constitution to legally set this period to three years. There is no need for a referendum.”


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--The arrival of Covid-19 will inevitably ratchet up concern and, for some, fear

The Republic ’ s first case of the coronavirus at the weekend made it the 61st country in the world to succumb to a disease that is now present across the globe .
That figure alone explains why the case , involving a young Dublin man who had returned from Italy , came as no surprise .
For weeks , experts here had been saying it was only a matter of time before Covid-19 made its way to Ireland ; the wonder was it took so long to arrive when other countries were falling like nine-pins .
That delay bought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the inevitable , and this learning will now be tested in the weeks to come .
We actually have two cases , as the case reported in Belfast earlier in the week involved a woman who passed through the Republic on her way home .
It is not as though viruses respect national boundaries .
The two cases change everything – and nothing .
The arrival of the virus in our midst will inevitably ratchet up concern and , for some , fear .
When this is given expression through correct precautions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; expressed as panic , it is counter-productive .
For public health doctors , our approach remains the same ; we are still in a containment phase in relation to the disease .
Aside from treating the two patients , the focus is on tracing their contacts to prevent the onward transmission of the disease and , as before , on minimising the chances of further cases arriving .
Ireland will stay in a containment phase – as opposed to switching to a mitigation approach , where the focus is on those with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as there is no person-to-person transmission here .
The UK , for example , remains in the containment phase , despite notching up at least 35 cases .
The young man now being cared for in a Dublin hospital will have provided doctors with information on his travel routes .
It is understood he was not showing symptoms during the return home from Italy but developed them afterwards .
As a result , the early emphasis in contact tracing has been on his movements back in Ireland , and this has led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the school he was attending .
We may see more of this over the coming weeks , as the current two cases are dealt with and if further cases emerge .
It is a relatively simple process to track down an airline passenger who may have sat beside someone who later tested positive for the disease ; most of us , if organising our own travel , have to supply addresses and contact phone numbers when booking flights .
The woman who tested positive in Belfast took a taxi from Dublin airport to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health staff looked at CCTV footage from the taxi rank in the airport and were able to identify the cab she took .
That driver is now in self-isolation for two weeks .
Public health officials say tracing is now complete in this case , meaning those who were in close contact with this so-called index case have been tracked down , and are being monitored .
The second case , which has forced the closure of a Dublin school , shows the challenges intrinsic to contact tracing when people move freely in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an infectious disease .
The school is being closed as a precautionary measure and the risk to other pupils and teachers is said to be low .
Understandably , though , parents are likely to be concerned .
Some will think the closure too drastic ; other will worry whether it is sufficient , whether their children should self-isolate and even whether they should be tested .
Instead , students are being advised , rather , to restrict their movements and only to self-isolate if they develop symptoms .
Public health officials have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation that has arisen .
These are the same officials whose approach has helped ensure Ireland is one of the last countries in Europe to have a coronavirus case , and whose work in previous epidemics successfully kept other threats at bay .
This should give the public confidence that the right approach is being adopted .

The Republic’s first case of the coronavirus at the weekend made it the 61st country in the world to succumb to a disease that is now present across the globe.
That figure alone explains why the case, involving a young Dublin man who had returned from Italy, came as no surprise. For weeks, experts here had been saying it was only a matter of time before Covid-19 made its way to Ireland; the wonder was it took so long to arrive when other countries were falling like nine-pins.
That delay bought Ireland valuable time in which to prepare for the inevitable, and this learning will now be tested in the weeks to come.
Those in contact with the case are being identified and will be contacted by Public Health doctors in line with best international practice. — HSE Ireland (@HSELive) March 1, 2020
We actually have two cases, as the case reported in Belfast earlier in the week involved a woman who passed through the Republic on her way home. It is not as though viruses respect national boundaries.
READ MORE
The two cases change everything – and nothing. The arrival of the virus in our midst will inevitably ratchet up concern and, for some, fear. When this is given expression through correct precautions and maintaining hygiene, this is useful; expressed as panic, it is counter-productive.
For public health doctors, our approach remains the same; we are still in a containment phase in relation to the disease. Aside from treating the two patients, the focus is on tracing their contacts to prevent the onward transmission of the disease and, as before, on minimising the chances of further cases arriving.
Containment phase
Ireland will stay in a containment phase – as opposed to switching to a mitigation approach, where the focus is on those with the most severe symptoms – so long as there is no person-to-person transmission here. The UK, for example, remains in the containment phase, despite notching up at least 35 cases.
The young man now being cared for in a Dublin hospital will have provided doctors with information on his travel routes. It is understood he was not showing symptoms during the return home from Italy but developed them afterwards. As a result, the early emphasis in contact tracing has been on his movements back in Ireland, and this has led to the extraordinary closure for two weeks of the school he was attending.
We may see more of this over the coming weeks, as the current two cases are dealt with and if further cases emerge. It is a relatively simple process to track down an airline passenger who may have sat beside someone who later tested positive for the disease; most of us, if organising our own travel, have to supply addresses and contact phone numbers when booking flights.
The woman who tested positive in Belfast took a taxi from Dublin airport to Connolly Station. Gardaí working with public health staff looked at CCTV footage from the taxi rank in the airport and were able to identify the cab she took. That driver is now in self-isolation for two weeks. Public health officials say tracing is now complete in this case, meaning those who were in close contact with this so-called index case have been tracked down, and are being monitored.
The second case, which has forced the closure of a Dublin school, shows the challenges intrinsic to contact tracing when people move freely in the community but are later diagnosed with an infectious disease.
The school is being closed as a precautionary measure and the risk to other pupils and teachers is said to be low. Understandably, though, parents are likely to be concerned. Some will think the closure too drastic; other will worry whether it is sufficient, whether their children should self-isolate and even whether they should be tested.
Instead, students are being advised, rather, to restrict their movements and only to self-isolate if they develop symptoms. Public health officials have deemed this approach appropriate to dealing with the situation that has arisen. These are the same officials whose approach has helped ensure Ireland is one of the last countries in Europe to have a coronavirus case, and whose work in previous epidemics successfully kept other threats at bay. This should give the public confidence that the right approach is being adopted.


theirishtimes--2020-03-02--Half of working mothers consider giving up work over childcare costs

Half of working mothers have considered giving up work due to the cost of childcare ; almost 90 per cent feel “ overwhelmed at times ” by the pressures of balancing work and their personal lives ; while almost half feel they have been discriminated against at work because they are women .
These are among the stark findings of a national survey of working women published on Monday , in advance of International Women ’ s Day on March 8th .
The findings underline the “ pressures and worries ” experienced by women in 2020 Ireland , says Network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,200 members across the State .
Almost 500 women responded to the online survey conducted between February 17th and 27th , according to network president Louisa Meehan .
“ Childcare and the cost of it – financially , emotionally and logistically – is a massive issue for working mothers .
Certainly some are working just to pay childcare because they don ’ t want to lose their careers and certainly some , once they have their second or third child , consider giving up working altogether because the cost is just too high.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent ) have considered giving up work because of the cost ; over three-quarters ( 77.5 per cent ) deal with work-related emails and calls outside of working hours ; and almost half ( 47 per cent ) report feeling discriminated against in the workplace because they are women .
A large majority of women ( 87 per cent ) reported feeling overwhelmed at times by the pressures of modern life and , of these , more than one in four ( 27 per cent ) felt overwhelmed every day .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekly .
Some 60 per cent reported delaying addressing their own health needs because of cost .
Ms Meehan described as “ distressing ” that “ so many women consider leaving work because of the cost of having their children cared for ” , adding women should not have to choose between their employment and feeling confident they can access quality and affordable childcare .
“ Having children is not a reason to hold women back from progressing their careers ; it sends out the wrong message to women and to their families.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily accessible childcare , and for Government support for structures that enable more flexible working arrangements – especially for working parents .
Among measures could be the introduction of a working day beginning at 7am and ending at 7pm , to facilitate earlier or later starts and finishes than possible in the usual 9-5 working day .
She said “ alarm bells ” should ring at policy-making level that so many working women feel overwhelmed at times .
“ Where are the supports for these women ?
” she asked .
“ Additional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helping women cope with the many demands on their talents and resilience .
”

Childcare and the cost of it – financially, emotionally and logistically – is a massive issue for working mothers. Photograph: iStock
Half of working mothers have considered giving up work due to the cost of childcare; almost 90 per cent feel “overwhelmed at times” by the pressures of balancing work and their personal lives; while almost half feel they have been discriminated against at work because they are women.
These are among the stark findings of a national survey of working women published on Monday, in advance of International Women's Day on March 8th. The findings underline the "pressures and worries" experienced by women in 2020 Ireland, says Network Ireland.
The women-in-business networking group has 1,200 members across the State. Almost 500 women responded to the online survey conducted between February 17th and 27th, according to network president Louisa Meehan.
“Childcare and the cost of it – financially, emotionally and logistically – is a massive issue for working mothers. Certainly some are working just to pay childcare because they don’t want to lose their careers and certainly some, once they have their second or third child, consider giving up working altogether because the cost is just too high.”
READ MORE
Discrimination
The survey finds half (49.3 per cent) have considered giving up work because of the cost; over three-quarters (77.5 per cent) deal with work-related emails and calls outside of working hours; and almost half (47 per cent) report feeling discriminated against in the workplace because they are women.
A large majority of women (87 per cent) reported feeling overwhelmed at times by the pressures of modern life and, of these, more than one in four (27 per cent) felt overwhelmed every day. Some 42 per cent reported feeling this way weekly.
Some 60 per cent reported delaying addressing their own health needs because of cost.
Ms Meehan described as “distressing” that “so many women consider leaving work because of the cost of having their children cared for”, adding women should not have to choose between their employment and feeling confident they can access quality and affordable childcare.
“Having children is not a reason to hold women back from progressing their careers; it sends out the wrong message to women and to their families.”
She called for more affordable and easily accessible childcare, and for Government support for structures that enable more flexible working arrangements – especially for working parents.
Among measures could be the introduction of a working day beginning at 7am and ending at 7pm, to facilitate earlier or later starts and finishes than possible in the usual 9-5 working day.
She said “alarm bells” should ring at policy-making level that so many working women feel overwhelmed at times.
“Where are the supports for these women?” she asked. “Additional Government resources must now be put into helping women cope with the many demands on their talents and resilience.”