theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Young eagles land in Kerry from Norway to bolster Irish breeding population

A small group of young white-tailed eagles arrived into Kerry airport on Saturday from Norway as part of a project to bolster the breeding population of this once extinct species in Ireland .
The young eagles , which were monitored for a number of months in Norway before coming to Ireland , will be released at Lough Derg , the lower Shannon estuary and Killarney National Park .
They arrived in Ireland on Saturday afternoon after a flight of four hours and 20 minutes from Trondheim airport in northern Norway .
Their arrival marks the second phase of a the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eagles in Ireland .
The birds , which were collected in June 2020 by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research , will be held at sites in Munster before released into the wild in early to mid-August .
They will be tagged before release to allow the project to monitor their progress and their integration into the exiting Irish breeding population , according to a statement from the Department of Culture , Heritage and the Gaeltacht .
The department noted that the reintroduction project was “ critical ” in terms of Ireland ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ species that was exterminated by man would “ contribute significantly to the economic , tourism and local communities and indeed to human wellbeing ” .
A total of ten young eagles collected in Norway are expected to be released across the three Irish sites this year to provide an additional boost to the small Irish breeding population .
One hundred white-tailed eagles were released in Killarney National Park in Co Kerry between 2007 and 2011 and subsequently spread out across Ireland with the first breeding taking place in 2012 on Lough Derg in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight to ten pairs have successfully fledged 26 chicks with an additional six chicks expected to be born into the wild in Munster over the coming weeks .
A live streaming camera of a white-tailed eagle nest has been set up at a nest in Glengariff in Co Cork by the National Parks and Wildlife Service so members of the public can follow the arrival of new chicks this summer .
The department warned that while some Irish-bred eagles were reaching maturity and starting to breed , the small population on this island @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decision was made to carry out a supplementary release of birds to bolster numbers following the negative effects of the 2018 avian flu and Storm Hannah last year , said the department .
The project will continue to work with farming communities in the release areas to ensure that eagles and farming can coexist , it added .
Minister of Culture , heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan welcomed the new arrivals and praised wildlife personnel involved in the project in Ireland and Norway for their “ incredible team effort ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the latest influx of White-tailed Eagles to these shores , the future is positive for the eagle , which had been extinct in Ireland for over a century , ” she said .

A small group of young white-tailed eagles arrived into Kerry airport on Saturday from Norway as part of a project to bolster the breeding population of this once extinct species in Ireland. Photograph: iStock/Getty.
A small group of young white-tailed eagles arrived into Kerry airport on Saturday from Norway as part of a project to bolster the breeding population of this once extinct species in Ireland.
The young eagles, which were monitored for a number of months in Norway before coming to Ireland, will be released at Lough Derg, the lower Shannon estuary and Killarney National Park.
They arrived in Ireland on Saturday afternoon after a flight of four hours and 20 minutes from Trondheim airport in northern Norway. Their arrival marks the second phase of a the project to re-establish the presence of these eagles in Ireland.
The birds, which were collected in June 2020 by the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, will be held at sites in Munster before released into the wild in early to mid-August. They will be tagged before release to allow the project to monitor their progress and their integration into the exiting Irish breeding population, according to a statement from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
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The department noted that the reintroduction project was “critical” in terms of Ireland’s biodiversity and said reintroducing a wild species that was exterminated by man would “contribute significantly to the economic, tourism and local communities and indeed to human wellbeing”.
A total of ten young eagles collected in Norway are expected to be released across the three Irish sites this year to provide an additional boost to the small Irish breeding population.
One hundred white-tailed eagles were released in Killarney National Park in Co Kerry between 2007 and 2011 and subsequently spread out across Ireland with the first breeding taking place in 2012 on Lough Derg in Co Clare. Since then, between eight to ten pairs have successfully fledged 26 chicks with an additional six chicks expected to be born into the wild in Munster over the coming weeks.
Eagle nest
A live streaming camera of a white-tailed eagle nest has been set up at a nest in Glengariff in Co Cork by the National Parks and Wildlife Service so members of the public can follow the arrival of new chicks this summer.
The department warned that while some Irish-bred eagles were reaching maturity and starting to breed, the small population on this island remains vulnerable to illegal poisoning. A decision was made to carry out a supplementary release of birds to bolster numbers following the negative effects of the 2018 avian flu and Storm Hannah last year, said the department.
The project will continue to work with farming communities in the release areas to ensure that eagles and farming can coexist, it added.
Minister of Culture, heritage and the Gaeltacht Josepha Madigan welcomed the new arrivals and praised wildlife personnel involved in the project in Ireland and Norway for their “incredible team effort”.
“Thanks to their logistical work, bringing the latest influx of White-tailed Eagles to these shores, the future is positive for the eagle, which had been extinct in Ireland for over a century,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Rain warning issued for Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo over the weekend

A weather warning for heavy rain and blustery conditions with a risk of flooding in northern parts of the country is set to remain in place over the weekend .
Met Éireann has issued a yellow weather warning for rainfall and spot flooding in Donegal , Leitrim , Mayo and Sligo which runs from Saturday until Monday morning .
Heavier rain with a risk of flash flooding is also forecast for these counties over the weekend .
The UK Met Office for Northern Ireland has also issued a yellow warning for heavy showers and rain from 9am to 10pm on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and throughout the whole weekend for Fermanagh , Tyrone and Derry .
A status yellow gale warning was issued on Saturday for Irish coastal waters from Loop Head to Slyne Head to Bloody Foreland .
Yellow warnings are issued when weather does not pose a threat to the general population but is potentially dangerous on a localised scale .
The latest turn away from warm , sunny conditions towards more unsettled weather is set to continue over the coming days with wind and rain expected over much of Connacht , Ulster and parts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will stay dry with bright spells and some passing showers .
Sunday ’ s temperatures will range between 12 and 17 degrees .
Monday will see a mix of scattered showers and sunny spells with temperatures ranging between 13 and 18 degrees .
Tuesday will be similar with patchy rain and drizzle in the morning leading to a good deal of dry weather in the afternoon .
However , there will be plenty of clouds with a few scattered showers .
These changeable and unsettled conditions are expected to continue through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal .

A weather warning for heavy rain and blustery conditions with a risk of flooding in northern parts of the country is set to remain in place over the weekend. File photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times
A weather warning for heavy rain and blustery conditions with a risk of flooding in northern parts of the country is set to remain in place over the weekend.
Met Éireann has issued a yellow weather warning for rainfall and spot flooding in Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo which runs from Saturday until Monday morning. Heavier rain with a risk of flash flooding is also forecast for these counties over the weekend.
The UK Met Office for Northern Ireland has also issued a yellow warning for heavy showers and rain from 9am to 10pm on Saturday across Antrim, Armagh, Down and throughout the whole weekend for Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry.
A status yellow gale warning was issued on Saturday for Irish coastal waters from Loop Head to Slyne Head to Bloody Foreland.
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Yellow warnings are issued when weather does not pose a threat to the general population but is potentially dangerous on a localised scale.
The latest turn away from warm, sunny conditions towards more unsettled weather is set to continue over the coming days with wind and rain expected over much of Connacht, Ulster and parts of north Leinster on Sunday. Elsewhere it will stay dry with bright spells and some passing showers. Sunday's temperatures will range between 12 and 17 degrees.
Monday will see a mix of scattered showers and sunny spells with temperatures ranging between 13 and 18 degrees. Tuesday will be similar with patchy rain and drizzle in the morning leading to a good deal of dry weather in the afternoon. However, there will be plenty of clouds with a few scattered showers.
These changeable and unsettled conditions are expected to continue through the first week of July with temperatures below normal.


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Coronavirus: A further six deaths and 23 new cases reported by Nphet

A further six people with Covid-19 have died in the State , the Department of Health has confirmed .
Health officials have warned of a “ real concern ” that many new cases are being diagnosed in young adults .
Large numbers of close contacts are also being recorded among some of those diagnosed .
The total number of people who have died with the disease in the Republic now stands at 1,734 .
An additional 23 cases of the disease have been diagnosed , bringing the total number of cases detected to 25,437 .
Dr Tony Holohan , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the cases are in younger adults .
Eighteen of the new cases were diagnosed in those under 55 .
“ High levels of compliance to public health advice to date has enabled further reopening of economic and social life .
“ However , of the 23 cases reported today , 10 cases ( 43 per cent ) are in younger adults aged under 35 years .
A further eight cases ( 35 per cent ) are in those aged between 35-54 .
“ This is now a real concern and a worrying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are reconnecting with friends and loved ones and may be gathering in larger groups , ” he said .
“ In recent days , for example , some cases have had large numbers of close contacts that have required testing and self-isolation for 14 days .
“ Covid-19 is an infection that affects all ages and it is incumbent on all of us to take our individual responsibility seriously .
“ I can not emphasise enough how important it is to remain informed , keep a 2m distance from others and follow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cough and sneeze hygiene , and wearing face coverings , ” he added .
Meanwhile one person in the North has died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours and two more people have tested positive for the virus , according to the latest statistics from Northern Ireland ’ s Department of Health .
A total of 549 people have died from the virus in Northern Ireland while there have been 5,750 confirmed cases .

In recent days some new cases have had large numbers of close contacts that have required testing and self-isolation for 14 days.
A further six people with Covid-19 have died in the State, the Department of Health has confirmed.
Health officials have warned of a “real concern” that many new cases are being diagnosed in young adults. Large numbers of close contacts are also being recorded among some of those diagnosed.
The total number of people who have died with the disease in the Republic now stands at 1,734.
An additional 23 cases of the disease have been diagnosed, bringing the total number of cases detected to 25,437.
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Dr Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer, emphasised that 10 of the cases are in younger adults. Eighteen of the new cases were diagnosed in those under 55.
“High levels of compliance to public health advice to date has enabled further reopening of economic and social life.
“However, of the 23 cases reported today, 10 cases (43 per cent) are in younger adults aged under 35 years. A further eight cases (35 per cent) are in those aged between 35-54.
“This is now a real concern and a worrying trend at a time when many people are reconnecting with friends and loved ones and may be gathering in larger groups,” he said.
“In recent days, for example, some cases have had large numbers of close contacts that have required testing and self-isolation for 14 days.
“Covid-19 is an infection that affects all ages and it is incumbent on all of us to take our individual responsibility seriously.
“I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to remain informed, keep a 2m distance from others and follow the public health advice on hand washing, cough and sneeze hygiene, and wearing face coverings,” he added.
Meanwhile one person in the North has died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours and two more people have tested positive for the virus, according to the latest statistics from Northern Ireland’s Department of Health.
A total of 549 people have died from the virus in Northern Ireland while there have been 5,750 confirmed cases.


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--IFA says Micheál Martin should concentrate on CAP budget and Brexit

Micheál Martin ’ s election as Taoiseach has been marked by congratulations , as well as policy prescriptions from a range of interest groups .
The Irish Farmer ’ s Association ( IFA ) , one of the most significant lobby groups in the country , said in a statement that Mr Martin should concentrate on the budget for the Common Agricultural Policy and Brexit .
Tim Cullinan , president of the IFA , wished the Cork South-Central TD well in the role of Taoiseach and said he was looking forward to “ working with him on policies to improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We will be seeking an early meeting with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture to put forward IFA ’ s policy priorities .
The two biggest threats to farming are the next CAP budget and the negotiation of the Brexit talks , ” he said , calling for strong leadership in the wake of the political uncertainty that has persisted since February ’ s general election , and the impact of Covid-19 .
The IFA is seeking an increased CAP budget and the maximum permissible level of national co-financing to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for government contains no specifics on the CAP Budget or the Government contribution to Pillar II funding .
We will be looking for clear commitment on this , ” he said .
The farming group said it is part of the solution to climate change , and will be putting forward a range of proposals for the Climate Action Bill , which the government has committed to introducing in its first 100 days in office .
Environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth welcomed the programme for government as “ the strongest we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” but warned “ it only gets Ireland to the starting line in the race to contain climate breakdown.
” Calling for new , stronger climate laws , Friends of the Earth director Oisin Coghlan said : “ Even cutting our emissions in half in 10 years does not amount to Ireland doing its fair share to contain climate breakdown .
This programme for government is only a downpayment .
There is more to do.
” “ The climate justice movement in Ireland is stronger and more diverse than it has ever been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evening , employers body IBEC called for a massive spending plan to be signed off in July , amounting to €15 billion on-top of already committed funding .
Fergal O ’ Brien , director of policy with the group , said the programme for government is “ sensible ” , but warned that Ireland is a “ long way behind most other countries in terms of addressing liquidity problems for business ” .
“ We need to save as many businesses and jobs as possible and it ’ s urgent that happens over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Patricia King , general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions , said the unions would work with the incoming government , and emphasised its No Going Back policy , “ which sets out a new deal for workers and society and is a detailed plan on the way forward for the country amid the unprecedented economic global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
” Dr Paul Colton , the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork , Cloyne and Ross , congratulated Mr Martin .
“ In a particular way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our own , ” he said .
“ I also extend my good wishes to his family and friends who , I know , are delighted and share in the joy of his personal achievement.
” Sage Advocacy , which supports vulnerable adults , older people and healthcare patients , congratulated Mr Martin and welcomed the formation of a new government .
It warned , however , that the new government must “ embrace the challenges created by Covid-19 and move rapidly to ensure that lessons are learned from the pandemic , particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of older people.
” It welcomed the commitment in the programme for government to establish a commission on care , but said it is “ deeply disappointed that ( it ) reflects a determination to maintain the current two tier system ” in older person ’ s care , split between home care and nursing homes .
“ In our experience many people have ended up in nursing homes against their will because of a lack of community based alternatives and Covid-19 has tragically highlighted the weakness in the current two tier system @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group ’ s executive director .

Micheál Martin’s election as Taoiseach has been marked by congratulations, as well as policy prescriptions from a range of interest groups. Photograph: Paul Faith/AFP via Getty Images
Micheál Martin’s election as Taoiseach has been marked by congratulations, as well as policy prescriptions from a range of interest groups.
The Irish Farmer's Association (IFA), one of the most significant lobby groups in the country, said in a statement that Mr Martin should concentrate on the budget for the Common Agricultural Policy and Brexit.
Tim Cullinan, president of the IFA, wished the Cork South-Central TD well in the role of Taoiseach and said he was looking forward to "working with him on policies to improve farm incomes and develop agriculture".
“We will be seeking an early meeting with the Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture to put forward IFA’s policy priorities. The two biggest threats to farming are the next CAP budget and the negotiation of the Brexit talks,” he said, calling for strong leadership in the wake of the political uncertainty that has persisted since February’s general election, and the impact of Covid-19.
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The IFA is seeking an increased CAP budget and the maximum permissible level of national co-financing to the European spending pot. “The programme for government contains no specifics on the CAP Budget or the Government contribution to Pillar II funding. We will be looking for clear commitment on this,” he said.
The farming group said it is part of the solution to climate change, and will be putting forward a range of proposals for the Climate Action Bill, which the government has committed to introducing in its first 100 days in office.
Environmental lobby group Friends of the Earth welcomed the programme for government as "the strongest we have ever seen on climate action," but warned "it only gets Ireland to the starting line in the race to contain climate breakdown."
Stronger climate laws
Calling for new, stronger climate laws, Friends of the Earth director Oisin Coghlan said: "Even cutting our emissions in half in 10 years does not amount to Ireland doing its fair share to contain climate breakdown. This programme for government is only a downpayment. There is more to do."
“The climate justice movement in Ireland is stronger and more diverse than it has ever been,” he said.
On Friday evening, employers body IBEC called for a massive spending plan to be signed off in July, amounting to €15 billion on-top of already committed funding. Fergal O’Brien, director of policy with the group, said the programme for government is “sensible”, but warned that Ireland is a “long way behind most other countries in terms of addressing liquidity problems for business”.
“We need to save as many businesses and jobs as possible and it’s urgent that happens over the month of July,” he said.
Patricia King, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, said the unions would work with the incoming government, and emphasised its No Going Back policy, "which sets out a new deal for workers and society and is a detailed plan on the way forward for the country amid the unprecedented economic global crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic."
Dr Paul Colton, the Church of Ireland Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, congratulated Mr Martin. "In a particular way we in Cork enjoy the achievements of our own," he said. "I also extend my good wishes to his family and friends who, I know, are delighted and share in the joy of his personal achievement."
Sage Advocacy, which supports vulnerable adults, older people and healthcare patients, congratulated Mr Martin and welcomed the formation of a new government.
‘Embrace the challenges’
It warned, however, that the new government must “embrace the challenges created by Covid-19 and move rapidly to ensure that lessons are learned from the pandemic, particularly in relation to the care and support of older people.”
It welcomed the commitment in the programme for government to establish a commission on care, but said it is “deeply disappointed that (it) reflects a determination to maintain the current two tier system” in older person’s care, split between home care and nursing homes.
"In our experience many people have ended up in nursing homes against their will because of a lack of community based alternatives and Covid-19 has tragically highlighted the weakness in the current two tier system," said Mervyn Taylor, the group's executive director.


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Concern mounting at increased level of public disorder among young people

Concern was mounting across Ireland about the increased level of public disorder and anti-social activity involving young people who found themselves with little to do due to the impact of Covid-19 , the Policing Authority has said .
Those concerns reported by the authority are supported by the latest crime data published by Garda Headquarters , Phoenix Park , Dublin , showing public order crime is the only offence-type that has now rebounded to pre-pandemic levels .
The Policing Authority has consistently praised the force ’ s performance during the pandemic period but has now added that some members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a professional service from the Garda if they “ got lucky ” .
“ The overriding sense expressed is that there is a perceived dependence on getting ‘ lucky ’ in getting the right individual ( garda ) rather than being able to trust that the organisation ’ s culture , strategies and policies will deliver a consistent policing response , ” the authority said in its latest weekly report on the performance of the Garda during the pandemic .
On the issue of young people and crime , the authority said schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and State exams had been cancelled while other local amenities for young people had also been closed to them .
This had resulted in groups of young people congregating in some areas and engaging in anti-social activity .
Chairpersons of joint policing committees nationwide were expressing “ growing concerns about rising levels of public disorder and incidents of anti-social behaviour connected to young people ” at a time when other crime types were falling .
“ There was a sense expressed that as young people increasingly begin to find spaces to meet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda Síochána will increase , ” the authority said , adding young people felt more oppressed by policing during the pandemic than other groups .
“ The view was expressed that young people were disproportionately policed during this ( Covid-19 ) period.
” In some cases young people had been told by gardaí they were not allowing into parks yet families were permitted .
Overall , the authority believed the Garda had used its new powers under Covid-19 with restraint .
It had only arrested people or taken other actions against people 313 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further than 2km or 5km from home without a “ reasonable excuse ” during the strict lock-down period and who refused to go home when told to by gardaí .
Of the 313 enforcement actions by the Garda , some 38 had been recorded in the Cavan-Monaghan division , which was more than any other Garda division .
The Galway division was next , with 35 cases , and the Dublin Metropolitan Region East division had 22 enforcement incidents , with the Mayo division next on 15 cases .
While spit hoods had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had been very low since early May , the authority was very concerned at poor record keeping by Garda members when documenting their use of spit hoods on suspects to prevent them spitting at gardaí .
In 50 per cent of cases gardaí did not state If the suspect had learning difficulties and in just over half of cases there was no indication if medical assistance had been required for the person on whom a spit hood was used .
The authority was very concerned about this poor record keeping .
As Garda @ @ @ @ @ @ @ operation , including establishing checkpoints to monitor the movement of people , there were 2,127 detections of crimes .
These were breaches of regular criminal law not connected to Covid-19 .
Of those 2,127 crime detections , 38 per cent were motoring crimes , 19 per cent were public order crimes and 15 per cent related to drug possession .

As Garda members were working on the Covid-19 policing operation, including establishing checkpoints to monitor the movement of people, there were 2,127 detections of crimes. This checkpoint was put in place on the M4 near Celbridge, Co Kildare in April. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Concern was mounting across Ireland about the increased level of public disorder and anti-social activity involving young people who found themselves with little to do due to the impact of Covid-19, the Policing Authority has said.
Those concerns reported by the authority are supported by the latest crime data published by Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, showing public order crime is the only offence-type that has now rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.
The Policing Authority has consistently praised the force’s performance during the pandemic period but has now added that some members of the public believed they would only get a professional service from the Garda if they “got lucky”.
“The overriding sense expressed is that there is a perceived dependence on getting ‘lucky’ in getting the right individual (garda) rather than being able to trust that the organisation’s culture, strategies and policies will deliver a consistent policing response,” the authority said in its latest weekly report on the performance of the Garda during the pandemic.
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On the issue of young people and crime, the authority said schools had been closed for a long period and State exams had been cancelled while other local amenities for young people had also been closed to them. This had resulted in groups of young people congregating in some areas and engaging in anti-social activity.
Chairpersons of joint policing committees nationwide were expressing “growing concerns about rising levels of public disorder and incidents of anti-social behaviour connected to young people” at a time when other crime types were falling.
"There was a sense expressed that as young people increasingly begin to find spaces to meet, that the potential for conflict with the Garda Síochána will increase," the authority said, adding young people felt more oppressed by policing during the pandemic than other groups.
“The view was expressed that young people were disproportionately policed during this (Covid-19) period.” In some cases young people had been told by gardaí they were not allowing into parks yet families were permitted.
Overall, the authority believed the Garda had used its new powers under Covid-19 with restraint. It had only arrested people or taken other actions against people 313 times. This included people who were further than 2km or 5km from home without a “reasonable excuse” during the strict lock-down period and who refused to go home when told to by gardaí.
Of the 313 enforcement actions by the Garda, some 38 had been recorded in the Cavan-Monaghan division, which was more than any other Garda division. The Galway division was next, with 35 cases, and the Dublin Metropolitan Region East division had 22 enforcement incidents, with the Mayo division next on 15 cases.
While spit hoods had been used 80 times, and rates had been very low since early May, the authority was very concerned at poor record keeping by Garda members when documenting their use of spit hoods on suspects to prevent them spitting at gardaí.
In 50 per cent of cases gardaí did not state If the suspect had learning difficulties and in just over half of cases there was no indication if medical assistance had been required for the person on whom a spit hood was used. The authority was very concerned about this poor record keeping.
As Garda members were working on the Covid-19 policing operation, including establishing checkpoints to monitor the movement of people, there were 2,127 detections of crimes. These were breaches of regular criminal law not connected to Covid-19.
Of those 2,127 crime detections, 38 per cent were motoring crimes, 19 per cent were public order crimes and 15 per cent related to drug possession.


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Man with dissident republican links who was shot dead in west Belfast is named

The man shot dead in west Belfast on Saturday was a well-known dissident republican , according to security , political and local sources .
He was named locally on Saturday evening as Warren Crossan .
The murder attack happened at Rodney Parade , off the Lower Falls on Saturday afternoon .
The dead man had strong dissident republican connections .
Just over six years ago his father , also a dissident republican , Tommy Crossan was murdered in a gun attack in west Belfast .
Tommy Crossan was involved in a split in the Continuity IRA where he was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the scene of Warren Crossan ’ s killing through Saturday .
Detectives are trying to find a motive for the murder .
The two main lines of inquiry , it is understood , relate , firstly , to a feud within dissident republicans and , secondly , to the murder in Ardoyne in north Belfast in April of well-know Dublin criminal , Robbie Lawlor .
Lawlor was suspected of ordering the murder and dismembering of 17-year- old Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda earlier this year .
Warren Crossan had been questioned about the Lawlor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Belfast Paul Maskey said local people were shocked by the murder .
“ Those involved in this act have absolutely no place in our community , they must cease their anti-community activities and get off the back of the people of West Belfast , ” he said .
“ Those responsible must be held accountable before the courts , ” he added .
Mr Maskey urged anyone with information to bring it to the PSNI .
He said the killing was “ brutal and shameful ” .
Belfast SDLP councillor Brian Heading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime ” had no local support .
“ They need to be caught and brought to justice .
I would encourage anyone with information to bring it to the police as soon as possible , ” he said .
The West Belfast People Before Profit Assembly member Gerry Carroll said people were “ outraged at this horrific attack ” .
“ These kind of barbaric actions heap pain and trauma on our community .
They have no role in our society .
My thoughts are with this individual and their family , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Board member John Blair said the “ brutal attack ” had left another family mourning .
“ There is never any excuse for guns and murder on our streets and we all have a role in preventing that and stopping a recurrence of these tragic events , ” he said .

The scene at Rodney Parade in west Belfast, where the man was dead dead. Photograph: Jim Corr/PA Wire
The man shot dead in west Belfast on Saturday was a well-known dissident republican, according to security, political and local sources. He was named locally on Saturday evening as Warren Crossan.
The murder attack happened at Rodney Parade, off the Lower Falls on Saturday afternoon.
The dead man had strong dissident republican connections. Just over six years ago his father, also a dissident republican, Tommy Crossan was murdered in a gun attack in west Belfast.
Tommy Crossan was involved in a split in the Continuity IRA where he was a senior Belfast commander.
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Police were at the scene of Warren Crossan’s killing through Saturday. Detectives are trying to find a motive for the murder.
The two main lines of inquiry, it is understood, relate, firstly, to a feud within dissident republicans and, secondly, to the murder in Ardoyne in north Belfast in April of well-know Dublin criminal, Robbie Lawlor.
Lawlor was suspected of ordering the murder and dismembering of 17-year- old Keane Mulready-Woods in Drogheda earlier this year.
Robbie Lawlor was murdered in Ardoyne in north Belfast in April.
Keane Mulready-Woods. Photograph: Garda/PA Wire
Warren Crossan had been questioned about the Lawlor murder.
The Sinn Féin MP for West Belfast Paul Maskey said local people were shocked by the murder.
“Those involved in this act have absolutely no place in our community, they must cease their anti-community activities and get off the back of the people of West Belfast,” he said.
“Those responsible must be held accountable before the courts,” he added.
Mr Maskey urged anyone with information to bring it to the PSNI. He said the killing was “brutal and shameful”.
Belfast SDLP councillor Brian Heading said those responsible for the "barbaric crime" had no local support. "They need to be caught and brought to justice. I would encourage anyone with information to bring it to the police as soon as possible," he said.
The West Belfast People Before Profit Assembly member Gerry Carroll said people were "outraged at this horrific attack".
“These kind of barbaric actions heap pain and trauma on our community. They have no role in our society. My thoughts are with this individual and their family,” he said.
Alliance MLA and Policing Board member John Blair said the “brutal attack” had left another family mourning.
“There is never any excuse for guns and murder on our streets and we all have a role in preventing that and stopping a recurrence of these tragic events,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Man stabbed in Ballymena, Co Antrim on Saturday morning named by police

Police investigating the murder of a man at a house in Ballymena , Co Antrim on Saturday morning have named @ @ @ @ @ Martin .
Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland ’ s major investigation team @ @ @ @ @ of the 31-year-old at a house in the Orkney Drive area of Ballymena early on @ @ @ @ @ inspector Kerry Brennan confirmed that Mr Martin had been stabbed in the house on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ man had been arrested on suspicion of murder .
The suspect remained in custody on @ @ @ @ @ has appealed for anyone with information or who could assist with the investigation to get @ @ @ @ @ .
Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 @ @ @ @ @ cent anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime ” , @ @ @ @ @

Police investigating the murder of a man at a house in Ballymena, Co Antrim on Saturday morning have named the victim as Jason Lee Martin.
Police investigating the murder of a man at a house in Ballymena, Co Antrim on Saturday morning have named the victim as Jason Lee Martin.
Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s major investigation team are currently investigating the murder of the 31-year-old at a house in the Orkney Drive area of Ballymena early on Saturday morning.
PSNI detective inspector Kerry Brennan confirmed that Mr Martin had been stabbed in the house on Saturday morning and said an 18-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder. The suspect remained in custody on Saturday evening.
The PSNI has appealed for anyone with information or who could assist with the investigation to get in touch by calling 101. Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 “which is 100 per cent anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime”, said the PSNI officer.


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Body of missing Noah Donohoe (14) found in Belfast

Police have said a body found in a storm drain in Belfast on Saturday morning is believed to be that of missing teenager Noah Donohoe ( 14 ) .
The Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) said the body was recovered in north Belfast just before 9.45am .
The PSNI said officers believe it is the body of the 14-year-old and they are continuing to provide support to his family .
They said there is no suggestion of foul play and asked that people “ refrain from speculation as this is not helpful ” .
Noah Donohue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cycling across the city on Sunday .
He was last seen in the Northwood Road area just after 6pm .
He had cycled approximately 4km across the city from his home in south Belfast to north Belfast , where police believe he may have fallen off his bicycle and hit his head .
He was seen discarding his clothes and cycling naked , actions which police and his family said were “ completely out of character.
” The police ’ s main line of inquiry was that he may have suffered some form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disorientated or incapacitated .
At a media briefing on Saturday afternoon , PSNI Superintendent Muir Clark said a postmortem is to take place and the investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance is continuing .
“ But there is no evidence to suggest foul play , ” he said at a press conference at PSNI Musgrave Station in central Belfast .
“ From the initial inquiries we do not see foul play at this stage , ” added Supt Clark .
He explained that Noah ’ s body was found in a storm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ almost a kilometre long .
It had been searched for a number of days but finding the body took so long because it was an “ extremely challenging environment ” .
He said specialist search and rescue officers were involved .
“ They were working in the pitch black.
” Supt Clark said police were continuing to examine the electronic equipment that was recovered .
He hoped this might answer some of the questions about why Noah had cycled from the south of the city to the north .
He said it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Noah suffered played a part in his death .
He hoped the post mortem would provide some answers in this regard .
Asked was the storm drain covered or would a person have to proactively enter it or could they fall into it Supt Clark said , “ You would have to proactively enter it.
” “ In my 30 years in the police this is one of the most unusual missing person inquiries that I have done , ” he told reporters .
Supt Clark also criticised rumours about the teenager ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media and , he said , were “ completely without foundation ” .
“ This type of commentary and rumour is distressing for Noah ’ s family and is extremely unhelpful .
“ If people post distasteful and patently untrue rumours on social media we will investigate that , ” he added .
According to the PSNI , the teenager left his home in South Belfast at about 5.30pm on Sunday .
He was riding a black Apollo mountain bike and wearing a black skateboarding helmet , khaki green North Face jacket , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one leg , a tie-die blue hoody , Nike trainers with a bright yellow tick and carrying a khaki rucksack containing a book and a laptop .
He was seen on Ormeau Avenue at 5.45pm and on Royal Avenue heading towards York Street a short time after , then on North Queen Street heading towards the Limestone Road at 5.57pm .
He was last seen cycling naked on Northwood Road in north Belfast , where police believe he dropped his bicycle and left the area on foot .
There have been no further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Wednesday police recovered his bicycle , black crash helmet , trainers , hoody and mobile phone .
The North ’ s first minister , Arlene Foster , expressed her sadness at the discovery .
“ My heart goes out to Noah ’ s family .
Absolutely devastating , ” she wrote on social media .
“ The community acted as one in the search and I know they will also support Noah ’ s family at this time of heart-rending grief.
” She thanked the police , community rescue teams and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” during the search .
The deputy first minister , Michelle O ’ Neill , said it was “ heartbreaking ” .
“ The whole community has been left numb after six days of searches , ” she posted on Twitter .
“ Sincere sympathy and condolences to his mother Fiona , family and friends at this awful time.
” The MP for North Belfast , Sinn Féin ’ s John Finucane , said his thoughts and condolences and those of the entire community in north Belfast were with the teenager ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone with information which could help the police investigation to come forward .
“ This is tragic and heart breaking news for his family and friends and all who knew him , as well as the entire community who were involved in the search for him over recent days , ” he said .

A poster of Noah Donohoe in a window near where he was last seen alive in north Belfast last weekend. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Police have said a body found in a storm drain in Belfast on Saturday morning is believed to be that of missing teenager Noah Donohoe (14).
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the body was recovered in north Belfast just before 9.45am.
The PSNI said officers believe it is the body of the 14-year-old and they are continuing to provide support to his family. They said there is no suggestion of foul play and asked that people “refrain from speculation as this is not helpful”.
Noah Donohue, from south Belfast, went missing after cycling across the city on Sunday. He was last seen in the Northwood Road area just after 6pm.
READ MORE
He had cycled approximately 4km across the city from his home in south Belfast to north Belfast, where police believe he may have fallen off his bicycle and hit his head. He was seen discarding his clothes and cycling naked, actions which police and his family said were “completely out of character.”
The police’s main line of inquiry was that he may have suffered some form of trauma which had left him either disorientated or incapacitated.
At a media briefing on Saturday afternoon, PSNI Superintendent Muir Clark said a postmortem is to take place and the investigation into the circumstances of his disappearance is continuing.
“But there is no evidence to suggest foul play,” he said at a press conference at PSNI Musgrave Station in central Belfast.
“From the initial inquiries we do not see foul play at this stage,” added Supt Clark.
He explained that Noah’s body was found in a storm drain complex in north Belfast that was almost a kilometre long.
It had been searched for a number of days but finding the body took so long because it was an “extremely challenging environment”. He said specialist search and rescue officers were involved. “They were working in the pitch black.”
Supt Clark said police were continuing to examine the electronic equipment that was recovered. He hoped this might answer some of the questions about why Noah had cycled from the south of the city to the north.
He said it was possible that the reported head injury that Noah suffered played a part in his death. He hoped the post mortem would provide some answers in this regard.
Asked was the storm drain covered or would a person have to proactively enter it or could they fall into it Supt Clark said, “You would have to proactively enter it.”
“In my 30 years in the police this is one of the most unusual missing person inquiries that I have done,” he told reporters.
A member of the PSNI Hazardous Environment Search Team enters a drain in Seaview Park on Wednesday during the search for Noah Donohoe. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Supt Clark also criticised rumours about the teenager’s disappearance that were circulating on social media and, he said, were “completely without foundation”.
“This type of commentary and rumour is distressing for Noah’s family and is extremely unhelpful.
“If people post distasteful and patently untrue rumours on social media we will investigate that,” he added.
According to the PSNI, the teenager left his home in South Belfast at about 5.30pm on Sunday. He was riding a black Apollo mountain bike and wearing a black skateboarding helmet, khaki green North Face jacket, grey sweat shorts with an emblem on one leg, a tie-die blue hoody, Nike trainers with a bright yellow tick and carrying a khaki rucksack containing a book and a laptop.
He was seen on Ormeau Avenue at 5.45pm and on Royal Avenue heading towards York Street a short time after, then on North Queen Street heading towards the Limestone Road at 5.57pm.
He was last seen cycling naked on Northwood Road in north Belfast, where police believe he dropped his bicycle and left the area on foot. There have been no further confirmed sightings since 6.11pm on Sunday.
On Wednesday police recovered his bicycle, black crash helmet, trainers, hoody and mobile phone.
The North's first minister, Arlene Foster, expressed her sadness at the discovery.
“My heart goes out to Noah’s family. Absolutely devastating,” she wrote on social media. “The community acted as one in the search and I know they will also support Noah’s family at this time of heart-rending grief.”
She thanked the police, community rescue teams and the local community for their “tireless efforts” during the search.
The deputy first minister, Michelle O’Neill, said it was “heartbreaking”.
“The whole community has been left numb after six days of searches,” she posted on Twitter. “Sincere sympathy and condolences to his mother Fiona, family and friends at this awful time.”
The MP for North Belfast, Sinn Féin’s John Finucane, said his thoughts and condolences and those of the entire community in north Belfast were with the teenager’s family and friends, and appealed for anyone with information which could help the police investigation to come forward.
“This is tragic and heart breaking news for his family and friends and all who knew him, as well as the entire community who were involved in the search for him over recent days,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Dublin Pride Festival to hold annual parade online

Dublin Pride Parade is going online for the culmination of this year ’ s annual LGBTQ+ celebrations .
The virtual @ @ @ @ @ of pre-recorded and live elements from 2pm on Sunday .
Organisers are asking people to @ @ @ @ @ their DIY parades or parties with the hashtag # VirtualPrideParade .
The online festivities will @ @ @ @ @ and Eddie McGuinness .
The virtual parade will be led by the Lord Mayor of @ @ @ @ @ and frontline workers from across the city .
It will include community organisations , sponsors @ @ @ @ @ , their friends and allies .
Thousands of people attended last year ’ s parade @ @ @ @ @ held this year due to coronavirus restrictions .

Peopel take selfies during a Pride parade outside the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei. Photogaph: Sam Yeh/AFP via Getty Images
Dublin Pride Parade is going online for the culmination of this year’s annual LGBTQ+ celebrations.
The virtual carnival will offer a combination of pre-recorded and live elements from 2pm on Sunday.
Organisers are asking people to post photos and videos of their DIY parades or parties with the hashtag #VirtualPrideParade.
The online festivities will be hosted by Paul Ryder and Eddie McGuinness.
READ MORE
The virtual parade will be led by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Tom Brabazon, and frontline workers from across the city.
It will include community organisations, sponsors and partners, LGBTQ+ people, their friends and allies.
Thousands of people attended last year’s parade but it could not be held this year due to coronavirus restrictions.


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Covid-19 pandemic revealed ageist attitudes in Ireland, says charity

Public commentary during the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed “ ageist attitudes ” , a Galway charity which works with older people has said .
Cope Galway , which also works with the homeless and victims of domestic abuse , said older people , and the over-70s in particular , face loneliness and isolation which has been compounded by restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic .
In a statement in advance of the publication of its annual report , the charity said : “ Some public commentary during this time has revealed ageist attitudes , inappropriately biased language and ageist terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 20 per cent spike in demand for its services last year , assisting 2,984 people .
It will host an online session with UN special rapporteur on the protection and promotion of human rights Prof Fionnuala Ní Aoláin on Monday to launch the report .
Speaking in advance of the event , keynote speaker Prof Ní Aoláin , who is regents professor and robina professor of law , public policy and society at the University of Minnesota , said the charity had brought attention to the specific needs and rights of older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not only are older people an important group supported by Cope Galway , but the volunteer community – the heartbeat of Cope Galway ’ s work – are significantly made up of older adults.
” The charity ’ s chief executive Jacquie Horan said she wanted to highlight the valuable contribution older people offer “ when , too often , old age can be seen as a burden .
We want to change the narrative , to flip the script and to focus on the invaluable support and contribution older people offer ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ NUI Galway , Ms Horan said there is concerning evidence that older people are portrayed as “ mass consumers of valuable and limited resources that block treatment for younger , healthier and seemingly more productive individuals ” .
“ This devalues the status of older people as equal citizens and the perceived value that we place on their contributions , and their lives , in our society.
” Some 31 per cent of the charity ’ s volunteers are over 65 , and 18 per cent are over 70 , Ms Horan said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are more and more of us experiencing the privilege of ageing .
By 2050 , according to the World Health Organisation ( WHO ) , 22 per cent of our global population will be over 60… achieving equal access to healthy ageing requires concerted global , national and local action – and a decisive end to ageist attitudes .
”

The World Health Organisation predicts 22 per cent of the global population will be over 60 by 2050. Photograph: Getty Images
Public commentary during the Covid-19 pandemic has revealed “ageist attitudes”, a Galway charity which works with older people has said.
Cope Galway, which also works with the homeless and victims of domestic abuse, said older people, and the over-70s in particular, face loneliness and isolation which has been compounded by restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement in advance of the publication of its annual report, the charity said: “Some public commentary during this time has revealed ageist attitudes, inappropriately biased language and ageist terms within certain contexts.”
Cope Galway saw a 20 per cent spike in demand for its services last year, assisting 2,984 people. It will host an online session with UN special rapporteur on the protection and promotion of human rights Prof Fionnuala Ní Aoláin on Monday to launch the report.
READ MORE
Speaking in advance of the event, keynote speaker Prof Ní Aoláin, who is regents professor and robina professor of law, public policy and society at the University of Minnesota, said the charity had brought attention to the specific needs and rights of older people while affirming their dignity.
“Not only are older people an important group supported by Cope Galway, but the volunteer community – the heartbeat of Cope Galway’s work – are significantly made up of older adults.”
The charity's chief executive Jacquie Horan said she wanted to highlight the valuable contribution older people offer "when, too often, old age can be seen as a burden. We want to change the narrative, to flip the script and to focus on the invaluable support and contribution older people offer".
Referring to recent research emerging from NUI Galway, Ms Horan said there is concerning evidence that older people are portrayed as "mass consumers of valuable and limited resources that block treatment for younger, healthier and seemingly more productive individuals".
“This devalues the status of older people as equal citizens and the perceived value that we place on their contributions, and their lives, in our society.”
Some 31 per cent of the charity’s volunteers are over 65, and 18 per cent are over 70, Ms Horan said.
"As a global society, there are more and more of us experiencing the privilege of ageing. By 2050, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 22 per cent of our global population will be over 60… achieving equal access to healthy ageing requires concerted global, national and local action – and a decisive end to ageist attitudes."


theirishtimes--2020-06-28--Government to continue school meals programme over summer

The Government is to extend the school meals programme for disadvantaged schools until the end of the summer .
The Department of Social Protection indicated in an answer to a parliamentary question recently that the programme would cease at the end of the school year .
However .
following a campaign to reverse the decision , outgoingMinister for Social Protection Regina Doherty confirmed that it will be extended to all schools currently involved until the end of August .
“ I want the funding to be available over the summer period to support children who do not have access to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to receive meals during the summer school holidays , ” Ms Doherty said .
The programme provides funding towards provision of food services for disadvantaged school children , with more than 1,500 schools and organisations involved benefitting up to 250,000 children .
Under the revised scheme , families of students receive weekly bags of food instead of daily lunches .
Concerns over the impact of “ holiday hunger ” on children had been voiced by many , including from Labour Party TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin , who set up an online petition calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been calling for the Government to make this decision since I received an answer to a parliamentary question which stated that school meals would not continue into the summer , ” he said .
“ I did make an appeal to Joe McHugh this week and he said that he would seek to get movement on this issue from the Department of Social Protection .
“ I greatly appreciate the efforts .
Vulnerable children will now be assured of nutritious and regular meals for the rest of the summer.
” Some not-for-profit initiatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged to continue providing food packs until the end of August regardless of the Government decision with the help of fundraising .
The organisation was set up by Denis O ’ Reilly , whose Wild Wicklow Tours business closed during the Covid-19 crisis .
Good Grub sourced an initial donation of fruit and vegetables and , with the help of family , packaged it into 1,000 packs and distributed it to Deis schools around Dublin .
It has since sourced funding through online donations .
“ On Good Friday set we up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone crazy well form there , ” said Mr O ’ Reilly .
“ We are close to half a million euro.
” Change X , an online platform that promotes social and community- based projects , donated €50,000 to assist with the scaling up of the initiative .
“ We were then able to get to 13 counties around Ireland , but we are still limited to 5,000 packs a week in Dublin and 12 other counties , ” he said .
Good Grub partnered up with Glanmore Foods , an established @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fruit and vegetables .
“ Rather than reinventing the wheel , we asked if we could use other services , ” said Mr O ’ Reilly , “ Glanmore have all the connections with other schools so we have grown from delivering 1,000 packs a week to 5,000 packs - that ’ s 20 tonnes of fruit and veg.
” St Monica ’ s Infant Girls ’ school in Edenmore , Dublin , is one of the schools to benefit from the support of the initiative .
Sinéad Mullen , principal at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ within the school community have been delighted to hear they will continue to receive food during the summer .
“ We contacted all the families at the beginning of June to offer it to them and ask them to sign up if they wanted and there has been an overwhelming response , people are delighted to be continuing with the school meals programme during the summer months , ” said Ms Mullen .
“ None of us know what the economic impact on any household has been .
It will be a huge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be a certain amount of support available , ” she said .
Ms Mullen said the programme will have an additional benefit of maintaining a connection between schools and families in the community .
“ One positive , which is entirely separate to the food , is that it will help families maintain engagement with the school .
This is a huge thing for the families that have been removed from face to face school life since March , ” she added .
“ This initiative is something that can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ helps us to keep linking in with the families .
”

The Government is to extend the school meals programme for disadvantaged schools until the end of the summer.
The Department of Social Protection indicated in an answer to a parliamentary question recently that the programme would cease at the end of the school year.
However. following a campaign to reverse the decision, outgoingMinister for Social Protection Regina Doherty confirmed that it will be extended to all schools currently involved until the end of August.
“ I want the funding to be available over the summer period to support children who do not have access to nutritious food to enable them to continue to receive meals during the summer school holidays,” Ms Doherty said.
READ MORE
The programme provides funding towards provision of food services for disadvantaged school children, with more than 1,500 schools and organisations involved benefitting up to 250,000 children.
Under the revised scheme, families of students receive weekly bags of food instead of daily lunches.
Concerns over the impact of "holiday hunger" on children had been voiced by many, including from Labour Party TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who set up an online petition calling for its extension.
“I have been calling for the Government to make this decision since I received an answer to a parliamentary question which stated that school meals would not continue into the summer,” he said.
“I did make an appeal to Joe McHugh this week and he said that he would seek to get movement on this issue from the Department of Social Protection.
“I greatly appreciate the efforts. Vulnerable children will now be assured of nutritious and regular meals for the rest of the summer.”
Some not-for-profit initiatives, such as Good Grub, had pledged to continue providing food packs until the end of August regardless of the Government decision with the help of fundraising.
The organisation was set up by Denis O'Reilly, whose Wild Wicklow Tours business closed during the Covid-19 crisis.
Good Grub sourced an initial donation of fruit and vegetables and, with the help of family, packaged it into 1,000 packs and distributed it to Deis schools around Dublin. It has since sourced funding through online donations.
“On Good Friday set we up a Go Fund Me page and it has gone crazy well form there,” said Mr O’Reilly. “We are close to half a million euro.”
Change X, an online platform that promotes social and community- based projects, donated €50,000 to assist with the scaling up of the initiative.
"We were then able to get to 13 counties around Ireland, but we are still limited to 5,000 packs a week in Dublin and 12 other counties," he said.
Good Grub partnered up with Glanmore Foods, an established lunch provider, who helped them distribute the fruit and vegetables.
“Rather than reinventing the wheel, we asked if we could use other services,” said Mr O’Reilly, “Glanmore have all the connections with other schools so we have grown from delivering 1,000 packs a week to 5,000 packs - that’s 20 tonnes of fruit and veg.”
St Monica’s Infant Girls’ school in Edenmore, Dublin, is one of the schools to benefit from the support of the initiative.
Sinéad Mullen, principal at St Monica’s, said families within the school community have been delighted to hear they will continue to receive food during the summer.
“We contacted all the families at the beginning of June to offer it to them and ask them to sign up if they wanted and there has been an overwhelming response, people are delighted to be continuing with the school meals programme during the summer months,” said Ms Mullen.
“ None of us know what the economic impact on any household has been. It will be a huge relief to families who now know that there will be a certain amount of support available,” she said.
Ms Mullen said the programme will have an additional benefit of maintaining a connection between schools and families in the community.
“One positive, which is entirely separate to the food, is that it will help families maintain engagement with the school. This is a huge thing for the families that have been removed from face to face school life since March,” she added.
“This initiative is something that can be kept going through the summer months and helps us to keep linking in with the families.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Nine of Taoiseach’s 11 Seanad appointees are women

Traveller rights activist Eileen Flynn is one of Taoiseach Micheál Martin ’ s 11 appointments to the Seanad .
Ms Flynn is the only non party political figure among the senators , with the rest comprising nominees from Fianna Fáil , Fine Gael and the Green Party .
Ms Flynn , from Ballyfermot in Dublin , ran in the Seanad elections earlier this year but did not take a seat .
She grew up in in the Labre Park Traveller housing site and has lived in Donegal since 2018 , having married a local “ settled ” man , Liam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Programme for Government said that at least half of the Taoiseach ’ s 11 should be women and split the appointments on the ratio of four each for Fianna Fáil and two for the Greens , with one independent .
The Fianna Fáil nominations to the Seanad are former Clare TD Timmy Dooley , who lost his seat at the last general election , Lorraine Clifford Lee , who was a member of the last Seanad and was an unsuccessful general election candidate in Dublin Fingal , Dublin city councillor Mary Fitzpatrick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin Central but who did not take a seat , and Louth councillor Erin McGreehan .
Fianna Fáil currently has no Dáil seat in Louth and will be hoping that Ms McGreehan can use the Seanad as a platform to become a TD .
For Fine Gael , Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has chosen Emer Currie , who was his running mate at the last general election in Dublin West but did not win a Dáil seat , former minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty , who lost her seat in Meath East , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the general election in Roscommon-Galway and South Dublin councillor Mary Seery-Kearney .
For the Green Party , Kildare councillor Vincent P Martin has also been appointed .
Mr Martin , a senior counsel , is a brother of Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin .
He ran in Kildare North at the last general election and will hope to win a seat in the constituency for the Green Party in future .
The other Green Party nominees is Clare councillor Róisín Garvey , who also ran for the Greens in Clare at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as loyal to party leader Eamon Ryan .
The appointments mean that the Seanad is now fully constituted and can pass required legislation .
The previous government had maintained a new taoiseach must appoint 11 senators to fully constitute the Seanad and renew the Offences Against the State Act and the Criminal Justice amendment acts , decisions which renew the mandate of the non-jury Special Criminal Court for another 12 months .
The Seanad also needs to pass legislation proposed by the last government to assist businesses through the economic fallout of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now sit on Monday to elect a cathaoirleach and to deal with the required , outstanding legislation .

Traveller rights activist Eileen Flynn is one of Taoiseach Micheál Martin’s 11 appointments to the Seanad. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
Traveller rights activist Eileen Flynn is one of Taoiseach Micheál Martin's 11 appointments to the Seanad – the only non-party figure among the nominations.
Ms Flynn, from Ballyfermot in Dublin, ran unsuccessfully in this year's Seanad elections. She grew up on the Labre Park Traveller housing site. Since 2018, she has lived in Donegal, having married a local "settled" man, Liam White.
The programme for government said that at least half of the Taoiseach's 11 should be women and split the appointments on the ratio of four each for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, two for the Greens, with one Independent.
The Fianna Fáil choices are unsuccessful Dáil candidates, former Clare TD Timmy Dooley; former senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee and Dublin councillor Mary Fitzpatrick.
READ MORE
Louth councillor Erin McGreehan also wins a nomination. Fianna Fáil currently has no Dáil seat in Louth and will be hoping that Ms McGreehan can use the Seanad as a platform to become a TD.
Fine Gael has chosen Emer Currie, who was Tánaiste Leo Varadkar's Dublin West running mate last time; former minister for social protection Regina Doherty, who lost her seat in Meath East; Galway councillor Aisling Dolan, who ran in the general election in Roscommon-Galway and South Dublin councillor Mary Seery-Kearney.
For the Green Party, Kildare councillor Vincent P Martin has also been appointed. Mr Martin, a senior counsel, is a brother of Green Party deputy leader Catherine Martin.
He ran in Kildare North at the last general election and will hope to win a seat there next time. Clare councillor Róisín Garvey, who is seen as loyal to Eamon Ryan, has been chosen, too. She ran for the Greens at the last election.
Legislation
The appointments mean that the Seanad is now fully constituted and can pass required legislation. including the renewal of the Offences Against the State Act, that had been held up for months.
The Seanad, which meets today, also needs to pass legislation proposed by the last government to assist businesses through the economic fallout of the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking on Sunday, Ms Flynn said her nomination was “phenomenal”, adding that she wanted to work for all marginalised groups, but would never presume that she could be their voice.
“I can’t speak for black people because I am not black,” she said. “‘Nothing about me, without me’ is something I have always said . . . But I’d like to work with and bring people into the Seanad and let people speak for themselves.”
The number of women chosen is “positive, said the director of the National Women’s Council, Orla O’Connor, especially since just 22.5 per cent of TDs were women and 30.6 per cent of elected senators were women.
“And of course we are absolutely delighted by the nomination of Eileen Flynn, who has been such a strong, important activist on issues that affect women predominantly – like housing, poverty and disadvantage.
“Eileen will be an important voice on diversity. But we are disappointed that there remains no woman of colour in the Oireachtas at a time when we know racism is so present throughout society.”
Human rights commissioner and founder of Akidwa – the migrant women’s network – Salome Mbuga said she was “disappointed an opportunity to make the Seanad more diverse, has been missed.
The lack of a Northern Ireland-based candidate breaks with decades of practice, too, though Cllr Currie is a daughter of former Fine Gael and SDLP politicians, Austin Currie.


theirishtimes--2020-06-27--Concern at increased level of public disorder among young people


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--AIB tightens mortgage lending in wake of Covid-19

AIB has introduced wide-ranging restrictions on mortgage lending in light of the Covid-19 pandemic , internal documents seen by The Irish Times reveal .
They include a de-facto ban on mortgage lending to those in receipt of State wage subsidies and extra scrutiny on applications from people working in “ high risk ” sectors of the economy .
The changes , which will extend to its specialist mortgage lenders EBS and Haven , were described as “ frightening ” by one mortgage market source , who added it would have “ huge ramifications ” .
The changes to policy are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to EBS lending managers on June 17th .
It outlines that “ currently the bank ’ s position on customers who are in receipt of any element of the Employer Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme [ ETWS ] or the Pandemic Unemployment benefit is to pause these applications until such time as the impacted customer is no longer in receipt of the payment ” .
The circular notes that there are “ strictly no exceptions to this position ” .
As of last Monday , more than 400,000 workers were having their wages supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people were receiving the pandemic unemployment payment ( PUP ) .
In the case of joint applications where one person ’ s income is affected by being in receipt of the payments , that person ’ s income is discounted in full when applying the Central Bank ’ s loan-to-income rules .
Bank staff managing applications from “ Covid-impacted applicants ” have been told to “ ensure no ETWS evident , also obtain up to date payslips to ensure no ETWS evident ” .
The document also indicates that some sectors of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will come under extra scrutiny when assessing applications , with lending managers told to “ pay particular attention to the sector that applicants work in when assessing the sustainability of their income ” .
Criteria for evaluating self-employed applicants provide a hint of how the bank will assess different sectors of the economy .
For these applicants , managers are told to assess both the immediate and long-term impact of Covid “ whilst [ a business ] may be open , has their business model changed due to social distancing/reduced footfall/have contracts been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their services ?
” Lenders are advised to “ look at the sector .
.
.
Sectors with a longer term impact will need enhanced analysis addressing long-term sustainability ” .
A spokesman for AIB said “ at a time of unprecedented economic instability triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic , AIB considers it prudent to review its mortgage lending policies to ensure our mortgage loans continue to be suitable and affordable for our customers.
” The bank said it is “ imperative the mistakes of the past are not repeated ” , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unnecessary risk and that their loans are sustainable ” .
The spokesman said the group will keep its mortgage procedures under review as the Covid-19 situation evolves .
Those coming off the pandemic unemployment payment ( PUP ) will be required to supply a month ’ s worth of payslips , as well as current account statements showing the social welfare payment has stopped .
Bonus payments will be “ closely scrutinised ” , the document says , adding “ in practice this will mean that bonus payments in the main will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and bonuses will “ need to be clearly demonstrable in a go forward scenario ” .
The document also outlines a series of policy changes for Buy to Let ( BTL ) mortgages , as well as equity release and top-up loans .
Amid likely rent declines in the months ahead , income from a BTL property being financed is to be excluded in a range of scenarios , including those applying for their first such loan .
While top-ups for home improvements remain unchanged , the document states that “ equity releases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
There are a range of changes to how the bank will implement exceptions to the central bank ’ s macro-prudential rules , the strict lending ratios introduced to arrest credit-driven house price growth .
For second time and subsequent buyers , exemptions to the loan-to-value and loan-to-income ratios are closed .
Loans greater than €500,000 are also closed for exemptions to the lending rules .
Applications which are moving from the approval in principal stage to a letter of offer , with an exception in place , will be honoured , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , aside from minor documentation exceptions “ for which there is limited risk appetite ” , are closed - this applies to new lending and those who have received approval in principle , who will be re-assessed and may find themselves declined .
Negative equity trade up/trade down mortgages are also closed , which will apply to new lending , as well as new and existing applications with approval in principle .

Extra scrutiny will be applied on applications from people working in ‘high risk’ sectors of the economy. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
AIB has introduced wide-ranging restrictions on mortgage lending in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, internal documents seen by The Irish Times reveal.
They include a de-facto ban on mortgage lending to those in receipt of State wage subsidies and extra scrutiny on applications from people working in “high risk” sectors of the economy.
The changes, which will extend to its specialist mortgage lenders EBS and Haven, were described as “frightening” by one mortgage market source, who added it would have “huge ramifications”.
The changes to policy are outlined in a credit policy update distributed to EBS lending managers on June 17th.
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It outlines that “currently the bank’s position on customers who are in receipt of any element of the Employer Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme [ETWS]or the Pandemic Unemployment benefit is to pause these applications until such time as the impacted customer is no longer in receipt of the payment”. The circular notes that there are “strictly no exceptions to this position”.
Self-employed applicants
As of last Monday, more than 400,000 workers were having their wages supported through the scheme, while over 465,000 people were receiving the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP).
In the case of joint applications where one person’s income is affected by being in receipt of the payments, that person’s income is discounted in full when applying the Central Bank’s loan-to-income rules. Bank staff managing applications from “Covid-impacted applicants” have been told to “ensure no ETWS evident, also obtain up to date payslips to ensure no ETWS evident”.
The document also indicates that some sectors of the economy, particularly exposed to Covid-19, will come under extra scrutiny when assessing applications, with lending managers told to “pay particular attention to the sector that applicants work in when assessing the sustainability of their income”.
Criteria for evaluating self-employed applicants provide a hint of how the bank will assess different sectors of the economy. For these applicants, managers are told to assess both the immediate and long-term impact of Covid “whilst [a business] may be open, has their business model changed due to social distancing/reduced footfall/have contracts been lost due to customers no longer requiring their services?”
Lenders are advised to “look at the sector . . . . Sectors with a longer term impact will need enhanced analysis addressing long-term sustainability”.
A spokesman for AIB said “at a time of unprecedented economic instability triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic, AIB considers it prudent to review its mortgage lending policies to ensure our mortgage loans continue to be suitable and affordable for our customers.”
The bank said it is “imperative the mistakes of the past are not repeated”, and that customers “are not exposed to unnecessary risk and that their loans are sustainable”. The spokesman said the group will keep its mortgage procedures under review as the Covid-19 situation evolves.
Those coming off the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) will be required to supply a month’s worth of payslips, as well as current account statements showing the social welfare payment has stopped.
Bonus payments will be “closely scrutinised”, the document says, adding “in practice this will mean that bonus payments in the main will be excluded”, while overtime, commission and bonuses will “need to be clearly demonstrable in a go forward scenario”.
‘Limitied risk appetite’
The document also outlines a series of policy changes for Buy to Let (BTL) mortgages, as well as equity release and top-up loans. Amid likely rent declines in the months ahead, income from a BTL property being financed is to be excluded in a range of scenarios, including those applying for their first such loan.
While top-ups for home improvements remain unchanged, the document states that “equity releases for home improvements are out of scope”. There are a range of changes to how the bank will implement exceptions to the central bank’s macro-prudential rules, the strict lending ratios introduced to arrest credit-driven house price growth.
For second time and subsequent buyers, exemptions to the loan-to-value and loan-to-income ratios are closed. Loans greater than €500,000 are also closed for exemptions to the lending rules. Applications which are moving from the approval in principal stage to a letter of offer, with an exception in place, will be honoured, the bank says.
Exceptions to policy, aside from minor documentation exceptions “for which there is limited risk appetite”, are closed - this applies to new lending and those who have received approval in principle, who will be re-assessed and may find themselves declined. Negative equity trade up/trade down mortgages are also closed, which will apply to new lending, as well as new and existing applications with approval in principle.


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Peter Boylan says he is being ‘blocked’ from maternity hospital agm

Former National Maternity Hospital ( NMH ) master Dr Peter Boylan has claimed he is being “ blocked ” from physically attending the hospital ’ s annual general meeting ( agm ) on Tuesday .
Dr Boylan has in recent years campaigned publicly against the plan drawn up to move the hospital to a site at St Vincent ’ s University Hospital .
He plans to restate his objections , along with his call for the head of the board to resign , at the agm .
However , due to Covid-19 restrictions , only a small number of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with key staff , are being allowed to attend the meeting .
The hospital organised a draw to select the governors who could attend , held in the offices of its legal advisers .
Fourteen governors applied for the five available places .
Among those not selected were Dr Boylan and another former NMH master , Dr Rhona Mahony .
They have been told they can participate remotely , via electronic platform .
On Sunday , Dr Boylan wrote again to deputy chairman Nicky Kearns seeking to be allowed attend in person “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Critical issues regarding the future of the hospital are to be discussed .
I am a former master , a governor of 22 years ’ standing and have a close association with the hospital dating back more than 40 years , ” he wrote .
“ I therefore have both an interest in and a deep knowledge of the NMH and issues relating to clinical and corporate governance in the interests of the safe care of women and their infants.
” A spokesman for the NMH said most governors would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nobody is being excluded ” .
“ There is space in the room for the members of the executive committee and for five other governors , in order to comply with social distancing requirements .
The five governors attending in person were selected through an independently supervised draw .
All governors were made aware of this in advance and none objected.
” The project to relocate the NMH from Holles Street to St Vincent ’ s is backed by both the NMH and St Vincent ’ s , but has been beset by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over ethos .
The holding company being established to run St Vincent ’ s Hospital and the new National Maternity Hospital will be bound by Irish law and not canon law , lawyers for St Vincent ’ s told the Department of Health last month .
St Vincent ’ s published the constitution and articles of the new company on its website on Friday .

Dr Peter Boylan has been told he can participate in the meeting remotely via electronic platform. File photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons/The Irish Times
Former National Maternity Hospital (NMH) master Dr Peter Boylan has claimed he is being "blocked" from physically attending the hospital's annual general meeting (agm) on Tuesday.
Dr Boylan has in recent years campaigned publicly against the plan drawn up to move the hospital to a site at St Vincent’s University Hospital. He plans to restate his objections, along with his call for the head of the board to resign, at the agm.
However, due to Covid-19 restrictions, only a small number of the hospital’s 79 governors, along with key staff, are being allowed to attend the meeting.
The hospital organised a draw to select the governors who could attend, held in the offices of its legal advisers. Fourteen governors applied for the five available places.
READ MORE
Among those not selected were Dr Boylan and another former NMH master, Dr Rhona Mahony. They have been told they can participate remotely, via electronic platform.
‘Nobody is being excluded’
On Sunday, Dr Boylan wrote again to deputy chairman Nicky Kearns seeking to be allowed attend in person "under the principles of natural justice".
“Critical issues regarding the future of the hospital are to be discussed. I am a former master, a governor of 22 years’ standing and have a close association with the hospital dating back more than 40 years,” he wrote.
“I therefore have both an interest in and a deep knowledge of the NMH and issues relating to clinical and corporate governance in the interests of the safe care of women and their infants.”
A spokesman for the NMH said most governors would be joining the meeting via Zoom and “nobody is being excluded”.
“There is space in the room for the members of the executive committee and for five other governors, in order to comply with social distancing requirements. The five governors attending in person were selected through an independently supervised draw. All governors were made aware of this in advance and none objected.”
Controversy
The project to relocate the NMH from Holles Street to St Vincent’s is backed by both the NMH and St Vincent’s, but has been beset by controversy, in particular relating to concerns over ethos.
The holding company being established to run St Vincent's Hospital and the new National Maternity Hospital will be bound by Irish law and not canon law, lawyers for St Vincent's told the Department of Health last month.
St Vincent’s published the constitution and articles of the new company on its website on Friday.


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Irish women’s right to pay equality not guaranteed, Council of Europe finds

Irish women ’ s right to equal pay for equal work , and to equality in career development , are not guaranteed , the Council of Europe has found .
In a hard-hitting judgment against Ireland , published on Monday , the council ’ s European Committee of Social Rights says Ireland is one of 14 member states violating the legally-binding European Social Charter , on women ’ s rights to equality at work .
It criticises Ireland ’ s lack of data on what men and women in comparable jobs are being paid , saying this prevents women proving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progress .
Complaints were made to the committee about 15 countries by the international NGO University Women of Europe ( UWE ) .
Only Sweden was found to be fully compliant .
Under article four of the charter , countries undertake to “ to recognise the right of men and women workers to equal pay for work of equal value ” .
Under article 20 they undertake “ to take appropriate measures to ensure ” gender equality in “ access to employment , protection against dismissal and occupational reintegration ; vocational guidance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of employment and working conditions , including remuneration and career development , including promotion ” .
The UWE argued that although Ireland had legislation providing for equal pay and opportunity , these were not guaranteed on the ground .
“ UWE claims that women who may wish to make complaints find it hard or impossible to obtain comparative data concerning wages paid , ” the preamble to the judgment says .
Agreeing , the committee says it “ considers that the lack of pay transparency is a major obstacle for victims of pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforce their rights .
“ Pay transparency is an enabling tool for workers or social partners to take appropriate action , such as to challenge pay discrimination before national courts .
Therefore , the committee considers that in view of the fact that the pay transparency is not yet guaranteed in practice , pending the implementation of an appropriate legal framework , the situation is not compatible with the charter.
” Ireland has not provided statistics on the hourly gender pay gap since 2014 , when it was shown the gap had increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when it was 12.6 per cent .
“ The committee considers that the collection of reliable and standardised data is indispensable to the formulation of rational policy that would aim at reducing the gender pay gap .
“ In the absence of such information .
.
.
it has not been demonstrated that the obligation to achieve measurable progress in reducing the gender pay gap has been fulfilled .
.
.
Therefore .
.
.
there is a violation of article 20.c of the charter , ” the committee says .
The lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ private companies means Ireland has failed to vindicate the equal right of women to career development including promotion .
Female participation on boards of large listed companies stood at 17.6 per cent in 2017 and 18.1 per cent in 2018 ( the EU average then was 26.7 per cent ) , according to the committee .
Last year it was 22.4 per cent , compared with an EU average of 27.8 per cent .
And while the government has taken measures to meet its obligation to “ tackle vertical segregation of women in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ measures have not led to a balanced representation of women in decision-making positions in private companies nor to a clear trend for improvement .
“ The committee holds that there is a violation of article 20.d of the charter .
”

The Council of Europe’s European Committee of Social Rights says Ireland is one of 14 EU states violating the European Social Charter, on women’s rights to equality at work. Photograph: Christian Hartmann/EPA
Irish women’s right to equal pay for equal work, and to equality in career development, are not guaranteed, the Council of Europe has found.
In a hard-hitting judgment against Ireland, published on Monday, the council's European Committee of Social Rights says Ireland is one of 14 member states violating the legally-binding European Social Charter, on women's rights to equality at work.
It criticises Ireland’s lack of data on what men and women in comparable jobs are being paid, saying this prevents women proving discrimination and means Ireland cannot show progress.
Complaints were made to the committee about 15 countries by the international NGO University Women of Europe (UWE). Only Sweden was found to be fully compliant.
READ MORE
Under article four of the charter, countries undertake to “to recognise the right of men and women workers to equal pay for work of equal value”.
Under article 20 they undertake “to take appropriate measures to ensure” gender equality in “access to employment, protection against dismissal and occupational reintegration; vocational guidance, training, retraining and rehabilitation; terms of employment and working conditions, including remuneration and career development, including promotion”.
The UWE argued that although Ireland had legislation providing for equal pay and opportunity, these were not guaranteed on the ground.
“UWE claims that women who may wish to make complaints find it hard or impossible to obtain comparative data concerning wages paid,” the preamble to the judgment says.
Agreeing, the committee says it “considers that the lack of pay transparency is a major obstacle for victims of pay discrimination to prove discrimination and thus effectively enforce their rights.
“Pay transparency is an enabling tool for workers or social partners to take appropriate action, such as to challenge pay discrimination before national courts. Therefore, the committee considers that in view of the fact that the pay transparency is not yet guaranteed in practice, pending the implementation of an appropriate legal framework, the situation is not compatible with the charter.”
Gender pay gap
Ireland has not provided statistics on the hourly gender pay gap since 2014, when it was shown the gap had increased to 13.9 per cent since 2006, when it was 12.6 per cent.
“The committee considers that the collection of reliable and standardised data is indispensable to the formulation of rational policy that would aim at reducing the gender pay gap.
“In the absence of such information . . . it has not been demonstrated that the obligation to achieve measurable progress in reducing the gender pay gap has been fulfilled . . . Therefore . . . there is a violation of article 20.c of the charter,” the committee says.
The lack of women in senior managerial roles in private companies means Ireland has failed to vindicate the equal right of women to career development including promotion.
Female participation on boards of large listed companies stood at 17.6 per cent in 2017 and 18.1 per cent in 2018 (the EU average then was 26.7 per cent), according to the committee.
Last year it was 22.4 per cent, compared with an EU average of 27.8 per cent.
And while the government has taken measures to meet its obligation to “tackle vertical segregation of women in the labour market . . . these measures have not led to a balanced representation of women in decision-making positions in private companies nor to a clear trend for improvement.
“The committee holds that there is a violation of article 20.d of the charter.”


theirishtimes--2020-06-29--Treatment of Travellers casts ‘dark shadow’ over democracy

Ireland ’ s treatment of Travellers has created a “ dark shadow ” over Irish democracy for decades while Irish people still struggle to show tolerance towards those from different ethnicities and backgrounds , the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission ( IHREC ) has said .
In a statement published on Monday to mark the 20th anniversary of the EU ’ s Race and Equality Directive , the IHREC called on the new Government to ensure that the elimination of racial discrimination and promotion of equal opportunity regardless of ethnicity was “ core ” in future policy decisions .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ urgency ” in addressing the problems of hate crime and hate speech in Ireland by ensuring “ an effective response in the criminal law ” .
The new Government should also develop a “ comprehensive regulatory framework ” to combat hate speech online with compliance enforced by an independent statutory body and backed up by effective and proportionate sanctions , said the IHREC .
The Black Lives Matter movement has shone an “ uncomfortable light ” on the unspoken reality of racism and racial discrimination in Ireland , said the commission .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular , has been “ a dark shadow on our democracy for generations ” , it added .
“ Travellers have been – and continue to be – subjected to endemic racism , at street level and from the organs of the State .
If the invidious impact of racism on the individual and on a community could ever be doubted , one only has to consider the effects of discrimination on generations of Irish Travellers , in their political representation , employment , education , health and life expectancy.
” Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism that exists in this country and must respond with proper actions , said the IHREC .
In December 2019 , the commission reported in Geneva on Ireland ’ s obligations under the UN Convention on the elimination of racial discrimination .
The UN subsequently called on the State to adopt a new national action plan against racism and to phase out direct provision as part of a series of recommendations to end racial discrimination .
The UN committee also warned of a “ high incident of racial profiling by gardaí ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and an independent complaints mechanism to handle such issues .
The IHREC says it has now outlined more than 150 recommendations for policy change across health , social care , employment , justice , education , housing and political and immigration systems which the State should consider to “ show leadership in tackling racism ” and for “ building a more inclusive society ” .
Under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty , public bodies must by law show regard to the need to eliminate racial discrimination , promote equal opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who use their services , said the IHREC .
Earlier this month the Department of Justice announced the membership of a new anti-racism committee which has been established to draw up a new action plan against racism for Ireland .
The Fianna Fáil , Fine Gael and Green programme for government also commits to the publication of a new national action plan against racism .
“ We can not continue to view racism in Ireland as a patchwork of individual isolated incidents of bad behaviour , ” said the IHREC statement .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ racism as a structural problem across our whole society which results , in many instances , in actual racial discrimination in employment , and the provision of services .
”

The Black Lives Matter movement has shone an ‘uncomfortable light’ on the unspoken reality of racism and racial discrimination in Ireland, said the commission.
Ireland’s treatment of Travellers has created a “dark shadow” over Irish democracy for decades while Irish people still struggle to show tolerance towards those from different ethnicities and backgrounds, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has said.
In a statement published on Monday to mark the 20th anniversary of the EU’s Race and Equality Directive, the IHREC called on the new Government to ensure that the elimination of racial discrimination and promotion of equal opportunity regardless of ethnicity was “core” in future policy decisions.
It underlined the need for “greater urgency” in addressing the problems of hate crime and hate speech in Ireland by ensuring “an effective response in the criminal law”.
The new Government should also develop a “comprehensive regulatory framework” to combat hate speech online with compliance enforced by an independent statutory body and backed up by effective and proportionate sanctions, said the IHREC.
READ MORE
The Black Lives Matter movement has shone an “uncomfortable light” on the unspoken reality of racism and racial discrimination in Ireland, said the commission. This country’s treatment of Travellers, in particular, has been “a dark shadow on our democracy for generations”, it added.
State and street
“Travellers have been – and continue to be – subjected to endemic racism, at street level and from the organs of the State. If the invidious impact of racism on the individual and on a community could ever be doubted, one only has to consider the effects of discrimination on generations of Irish Travellers, in their political representation, employment, education, health and life expectancy.”
Irish people must not down-play or ignore the racism that exists in this country and must respond with proper actions, said the IHREC.
In December 2019, the commission reported in Geneva on Ireland’s obligations under the UN Convention on the elimination of racial discrimination. The UN subsequently called on the State to adopt a new national action plan against racism and to phase out direct provision as part of a series of recommendations to end racial discrimination. The UN committee also warned of a “high incident of racial profiling by gardaí” and called for legislation to prohibit the practice and an independent complaints mechanism to handle such issues.
Recommendations
The IHREC says it has now outlined more than 150 recommendations for policy change across health, social care, employment, justice, education, housing and political and immigration systems which the State should consider to “show leadership in tackling racism” and for “building a more inclusive society”.
Under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, public bodies must by law show regard to the need to eliminate racial discrimination, promote equal opportunity and protect the rights of staff and those who use their services, said the IHREC.
Earlier this month the Department of Justice announced the membership of a new anti-racism committee which has been established to draw up a new action plan against racism for Ireland. The Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Green programme for government also commits to the publication of a new national action plan against racism.
“We cannot continue to view racism in Ireland as a patchwork of individual isolated incidents of bad behaviour,” said the IHREC statement. “Rather, we need to recognise racism as a structural problem across our whole society which results, in many instances, in actual racial discrimination in employment, and the provision of services.”