theirishtimes--2020-12-03--New plan to target white-collar crime and nepotism in public office

A new plan on white-collar crime will be introduced by the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee after a review identified significant resource shortcomings , with staffing in some key Garda economic crime units worse than 30 years ago .
The review was undertaken by former Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton .
While agencies function well given limitations , resources in key divisions such as the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau ( GNECB ) “ are inadequate to meet existing demands as well as the increasing demands which will arise in the future ” , Mr Hamilton found .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permanent members of staff , but there was just 31 permanent investigators in the GNECB in 2019 .
“ Resourcing , which was already insufficient in 1992 , has not kept pace with the growing volume and complexity of economic crime and with international demands and obligations.
” The review also recommends strengthening the Standards in Public Office Commission ( Sipo ) , allowing it to investigate former Oireachtas members .
It also recommends strengthening ethics acts in areas like nepotism , preferential treatment and improper use of influence .
Ms McEntee said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must have all the powers available to clamp down and prevent white-collar crime.
” “ Corruption and white-collar crime damages our economy , breeds cynicism in our society and is a threat to our international reputation , ” the Minister said .
The report identifies threats from economic crime to financial services sector , arguing the State “ punches well above its weight ” in the industry , and its “ vulnerability… to economic crime and corruption can not be over-emphasised ” .
If the sector is not well-policed , Mr Hamilton warns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major financial service centre could be called into question to the detriment of our national interest ” .
With headquarters of tech and pharmaceutical firms here , failing to investigate economic crime “ would create a huge potential reputational risk for Ireland ” .
Shortcomings are identified across several Garda units : there are not enough staff assigned to the anti-corruption unit , which is “ dwarfed by its international partners ” , while resources for the Payment Card and Counterfeit Currency Unit are “ too low… to disrupt the activities of organised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a backlog of 2,000 suspicious transaction reports with the Financial Intelligence Unit , where staffing is “ not adequate to meet demand ” .
This “ is of concern as these unanalysed reports may contain evidence of significant criminality ” .
The Terrorist Financing Intelligence Unit is “ under resourced ” , with the report finding that “ having adequate resources to show that Ireland is playing its part in this area is critical ” .
It finds there is “ a huge deficit exists ” within the Money Laundering Investigation Units @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it found that not all functions are being carried out due to inadequate staffing .
The Garda budget has increased in recent years by 30 per cent , from €1.5 billion in 2016 to €1.95 billion in 2021

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the State “must have all the powers available to clamp down and prevent white-collar crime”. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
A new plan on white-collar crime will be introduced by the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee after a review identified significant resource shortcomings, with staffing in some key Garda economic crime units worse than 30 years ago.
The review was undertaken by former Director of Public Prosecutions James Hamilton. While agencies function well given limitations, resources in key divisions such as the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) "are inadequate to meet existing demands as well as the increasing demands which will arise in the future", Mr Hamilton found.
In 1992, the fraud squad had 45 permanent members of staff, but there was just 31 permanent investigators in the GNECB in 2019. “Resourcing, which was already insufficient in 1992, has not kept pace with the growing volume and complexity of economic crime and with international demands and obligations.”
The review also recommends strengthening the Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo), allowing it to investigate former Oireachtas members. It also recommends strengthening ethics acts in areas like nepotism, preferential treatment and improper use of influence.
READ MORE
Ms McEntee said: “The State and its agencies must have all the powers available to clamp down and prevent white-collar crime.”
“Corruption and white-collar crime damages our economy, breeds cynicism in our society and is a threat to our international reputation,” the Minister said.
The report identifies threats from economic crime to financial services sector, arguing the State “punches well above its weight” in the industry, and its “vulnerability… to economic crime and corruption cannot be over-emphasised”.
If the sector is not well-policed, Mr Hamilton warns “Ireland’s position as a major financial service centre could be called into question to the detriment of our national interest”. With headquarters of tech and pharmaceutical firms here, failing to investigate economic crime “would create a huge potential reputational risk for Ireland”.
Anti-corruption unit
Shortcomings are identified across several Garda units: there are not enough staff assigned to the anti-corruption unit, which is “dwarfed by its international partners”, while resources for the Payment Card and Counterfeit Currency Unit are “too low… to disrupt the activities of organised criminals in this sphere”.
There is a backlog of 2,000 suspicious transaction reports with the Financial Intelligence Unit, where staffing is “not adequate to meet demand”. This “is of concern as these unanalysed reports may contain evidence of significant criminality”.
The Terrorist Financing Intelligence Unit is "under resourced", with the report finding that "having adequate resources to show that Ireland is playing its part in this area is critical".
It finds there is “a huge deficit exists” within the Money Laundering Investigation Units. In the Criminal Intelligence Office, it found that not all functions are being carried out due to inadequate staffing.
The Garda budget has increased in recent years by 30 per cent, from €1.5 billion in 2016 to €1.95 billion in 2021


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--People facing into ‘highest risk’ Christmas of their lives, HSE warns

Daily Covid-19 cases could climb as high as 1,200 by mid-January if the virus spreads rapidly over Christmas , public health officials have warned , placing the State on the cusp of lockdown .
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said such a scenario was “ not an inevitable one ” , if people limited their contacts over the next month .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) projected on Thursday night that if the reproductive rate of the virus spiked significantly over a busy two-week festive period , the country could be facing daily case numbers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw the introduction of a six-week lockdown , .
The concern comes as restaurants and gastropubs reopen for indoor dining across the State on Friday for the first time in two months as part of the phased emergence from Level 5 restrictions .
Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid said people were facing into the “ highest risk ” Christmas of their lives .
As people meet in restaurants , their “ guard can understandably drop , especially after a glass or two of wine ” , he said .
“ Or maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not see each other again for Christmas , our natural inkling is to hug each other and wish each other happy Christmas , which we know in the current environment is an extreme risk.
” While encouraging people to enjoy the holidays , he urged them to “ be on their highest level of guard ” over the coming weeks .
Speaking during a press conference , Mr Reid said there had been much talk of another lockdown in January if cases soared again because of the festive easing of restrictions but that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be that way if we take all of the precautions and do the simple things very well.
” Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it was important that , despite wonderful vaccine news , people “ don ’ t lose discipline , for the next few weeks we live well , but keep each other safe ” .
He told RTÉ the fall in case numbers was “ bottoming out a week quicker than hoped ” with the lowest number projected to be next week before figures go back up .
Prof Philip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ modelling group , on Thursday outlined several projections for the number of daily cases next month , based on various potential reproductive rates of the virus , known as the R-number .
If the R-number increased from the current 0.8 to 1.4 , as people began to socialise this month , the country might see 300-600 new cases a day by the second week of January , he said .
“ Realistically there is a concern that we might see R-numbers in the range of 1.4 , unless we collectively are exceptionally careful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he told a press briefing .
However , health officials were concerned about what would happen if the R-number rose to 2 , during a two-week period of expected increased social contact and gathering around Christmas .
“ What that does is very significantly accelerate the spread of the virus through the core festive period and leaves us in very rapid exponential growth in early January , ” Prof Nolan said .
“ Those scenarios , with a very high level of viral transmission in the Christmas period , would see somewhere between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mid-January , ” he said .
Prof Nolan said the purpose of outlining the stark projections was to highlight “ the risks we face over the coming weeks ” .

From left, Dr Ronan Glynn, Dr Tony Holohan and Professor Philip Nolan of Nphet at a Covid -19 press conference at the Department of Health on Thursday evening. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
Daily Covid-19 cases could climb as high as 1,200 by mid-January if the virus spreads rapidly over Christmas, public health officials have warned, placing the State on the cusp of lockdown.
Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said such a scenario was “not an inevitable one”, if people limited their contacts over the next month.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) projected on Thursday night that if the reproductive rate of the virus spiked significantly over a busy two-week festive period, the country could be facing daily case numbers similar to the levels in October which saw the introduction of a six-week lockdown, .
Hospital Report
The concern comes as restaurants and gastropubs reopen for indoor dining across the State on Friday for the first time in two months as part of the phased emergence from Level-5 restrictions.
READ MORE
Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid said people were facing into the “highest risk” Christmas of their lives. As people meet in restaurants, their “guard can understandably drop, especially after a glass or two of wine”, he said.
‘Extreme risk’
“Or maybe as people leave each other and may not see each other again for Christmas, our natural inkling is to hug each other and wish each other happy Christmas, which we know in the current environment is an extreme risk.”
While encouraging people to enjoy the holidays , he urged them to “be on their highest level of guard” over the coming weeks.
Speaking during a press conference, Mr Reid said there had been much talk of another lockdown in January if cases soared again because of the festive easing of restrictions but that “It doesn’t have to be that way if we take all of the precautions and do the simple things very well.”
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said it was “important” that, despite wonderful vaccine news, people “don’t lose discipline, for next few weeks we live well, but keep each other safe”. He told RTÉ the fall in case numbers were “bottoming out a week quicker than hoped” with the lowest number projected to be next week before figures go back up.
Spiral of daily cases
Prof Philip Nolan, chair of Nphet’s modelling group, on Thursday outlined several projections for the number of daily cases next month, based on various potential reproductive rates of the virus, known as the R-number.
If the R-number increased from the current 0.8 to 1.4, as people began to socialise this month, the country might see 300-600 new cases a day by the second week of January, he said.
“Realistically there is a concern that we might see R-numbers in the range of 1.4, unless we collectively are exceptionally careful to limit our social contacts,” he told a press briefing.
However, health officials were concerned about what would happen if the R-number rose to 2, during a two-week period of expected increased social contact and gathering around Christmas.
“What that does is very significantly accelerate the spread of the virus through the core festive period and leaves us in very rapid exponential growth in early January,” Prof Nolan said. “Those scenarios, with a very high level of viral transmission in the Christmas period, would see somewhere between 800 and 1,200 cases a day by mid-January,” he said.
Prof Nolan said the purpose of outlining the stark projections was to highlight “the risks we face over the coming weeks”.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Land Development Agency plans 700 homes for St Teresa’s Gardens

The State ’ s Land Development Agency ( LDA ) is to advance plans for more than 700 homes at St Teresa ’ s Gardens in Dolphin ’ s Barn , a decade after Dublin City Council ’ s scheme for the dilapidated 1950s flat complex collapsed .
The LDA said it has reached agreement with the council to develop a design and planning application for social and cost-rental housing on the site close to the Coombe maternity hospital and the South Circular Road .
A design team has been appointed by the LDA with a stakeholder consultation process beginning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ application expected in early 2022 .
The LDA said it would work with the council to “ facilitate the delivery of public housing on the site ” .
It is expected 30 per cent of the homes will be used for social housing , while 70 per cent will be cost rental , where the rents are based on the cost of building and managing the apartments .
Once one of the city ’ s largest council flat complexes , St Teresa ’ s Gardens was earmarked for regeneration in 2005 , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the collapse of the property market .
The 700 apartments will form part of a new urban quarter of more than 2,000 homes .
In 2017 , the council produced a masterplan for St Teresa ’ s , along with adjoining former Players Wills cigarette factory and Bailey Gibson packaging planned on the South Circular Road .
The two former factories are owned by US property group Hines which plans to build almost 1,400 homes .
Hines was granted permission for the first 416 of these by An Bord Pleanála in September .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a judicial review of the board ’ s decision .
Some city councillors have resisted the involvement of the LDA in developing council land , with parties on the left adamant the council should develop its own land .
Councillors recently rejected a plan for the development of housing at a council-owned site at Oscar Traynor Road in Santry , which involved the sale of land to a private developer .
The LDA said it will provide the “ finance and resources to progress the project through the planning process ” .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on how the development of the site will be funded .
“ The LDA will work with [ the council ] and other stakeholders to develop an optimum funding and delivery plan for this strategic site , which would be subject to separate council approval , ” it said .
An agreement in relation to the development of the site “ is the sole preserve of the elected members ” , it said .
Disagreements have recently arisen over the cost of developing housing on local authority-owned sites .
Figures provided by Minister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin ’ s Eoin Ó Broin last month indicated the “ direct build ” cost of social housing in Dublin city was an average of €181,500 .
However , it has since emerged this related to the construction of just 45 homes , half of which were not new build housing , but were the housing the council had refurbished at Priory Hall , which cost the council just under €141,000 to redevelop .
Mr O ’ Brien has this week issued new figures indicating that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ construction on city council lands in the last two years was just under €384,000 .

StTeresa’s Gardens: plans to be advanced for more than 700 homes .Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons / THE IRISH TIMES
The State's Land Development Agency (LDA) is to advance plans for more than 700 homes at St Teresa's Gardens in Dolphin's Barn, a decade after Dublin City Council's scheme for the dilapidated 1950s flat complex collapsed.
The LDA said it has reached agreement with the council to develop a design and planning application for social and cost-rental housing on the site close to the Coombe maternity hospital and the South Circular Road.
A design team has been appointed by the LDA with a stakeholder consultation process beginning in the new year and a planning application expected in early 2022. The LDA said it would work with the council to “facilitate the delivery of public housing on the site”. It is expected 30 per cent of the homes will be used for social housing, while 70 per cent will be cost rental, where the rents are based on the cost of building and managing the apartments.
Once one of the city’s largest council flat complexes, St Teresa’s Gardens was earmarked for regeneration in 2005, but the plan was scrapped in 2009 after the collapse of the property market.
READ MORE
The 700 apartments will form part of a new urban quarter of more than 2,000 homes. In 2017, the council produced a masterplan for St Teresa’s, along with adjoining former Players Wills cigarette factory and Bailey Gibson packaging planned on the South Circular Road. The two former factories are owned by US property group Hines which plans to build almost 1,400 homes.
Hines was granted permission for the first 416 of these by An Bord Pleanála in September. Local residents have sought permission to take a judicial review of the board's decision.
Resisted
Some city councillors have resisted the involvement of the LDA in developing council land, with parties on the left adamant the council should develop its own land. Councillors recently rejected a plan for the development of housing at a council-owned site at Oscar Traynor Road in Santry, which involved the sale of land to a private developer.
The LDA said it will provide the “finance and resources to progress the project through the planning process”. However, no decision has yet been made on how the development of the site will be funded.
“The LDA will work with [the council] and other stakeholders to develop an optimum funding and delivery plan for this strategic site, which would be subject to separate council approval,” it said.
An agreement in relation to the development of the site “is the sole preserve of the elected members”, it said.
Disagreements have recently arisen over the cost of developing housing on local authority-owned sites. Figures provided by Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin’s Eoin Ó Broin last month indicated the “direct build” cost of social housing in Dublin city was an average of €181,500.
However, it has since emerged this related to the construction of just 45 homes, half of which were not new build housing, but were the housing the council had refurbished at Priory Hall, which cost the council just under €141,000 to redevelop.
Mr O’Brien has this week issued new figures indicating that the average cost of homes approved for construction on city council lands in the last two years was just under €384,000.


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Irish navy urged to send ships to west Africa to stop smugglers

Ireland should send warships to west Africa to help intercept cocaine shipments coming in from South America , the Irish head of the EU ’ s anti-drug smuggling agency has said .
Currently traffickers are bringing up to €7 billion worth of cocaine into Europe every year by smuggling it across the Atlantic and through the “ soft underbelly ” of west Africa .
Much of this cocaine ends up on Irish streets , where it does enormous harm to society , Michael O ’ Sullivan , a former assistant commissioner in the Garda and the current head of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Centre ( MAOC ) in Portugal , wrote in an article in the journal Defence Forces Review .
MAOC co-ordinates naval and law enforcement agencies across seven countries , including Ireland , to intercept drug smugglers on the Atlantic .
The transatlantic drug trade is a real and current threat to Irish society , Mr O ’ Sullivan said , and a key method of countering this trade is through enforcement at sea .
There was a 50 per cent increase in people being treated for cocaine addiction in Ireland in 2018 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lands ashore and is distributed is far more effective than waiting for it to reach its destination , he said .
Mr O ’ Sullivan estimated that gardaí had intercepted about one tonne of cocaine in the past five or six years .
The same amount is typically found on a single trafficker ’ s yacht in the Atlantic , he said .
Drug smugglers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to traffic cocaine against what has become known as Highway Ten , the busy sea lane that runs from the Caribbean to west @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so-called “ narco-subs ” – vessels that sail just under the surface of the ocean to move drugs across the ocean .
This places an outsized burden on poorer African states to intercept drugs on behalf of the European countries that will be the cocaine ’ s final destination , Mr O ’ Sullivan said .
Ireland , as a member of MAOC and a country with a worsening cocaine problem , should contribute naval resources to building up capacity in countries such as Cape Verde to allow for more effective drug interdiction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ article , Mr O ’ Sullivan and his co-author , Naval Service commander Cathal Power , said Ireland had a “ vested interest ” in joining with other EU nations to stop maritime trafficking .
They pointed out that the Naval Service was empowered under the Criminal Justice Act 1994 to engage in drug interdiction operations .
The intelligent use of warships in the Atlantic would “ ensure that the high seas should not be viewed as an area beyond regulation , but rather as a common resource and an area where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrained to safeguard the common good and prevent morally reprehensible and illegal acts.
” Every other member of MAOC except Ireland has now committed to capacity-building missions in Cape Verde .
The Belgian navy is also working to build capacity in the small island nation .
Mr O ’ Sullivan said it was now time for Ireland to “ step forward ” .
“ Now is the time for Ireland to join our European partner nations in a more overt , forward presence in the southern part of the North Atlantic , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of drugs upstream , in bulk , would have an immensely positive impact on European and Irish society.
” Mr O ’ Sullivan noted the limited resources of the Irish Naval Service- only six of nine ships are currently operational due to staffing issues .
However , he said previous missions in the Mediterranean demonstrated the “ significant ‘ power to weight ratio ’ which can be delivered by Irish warships.
” The Irish Naval Service could build capacity or put in place a “ forward presence ” through short training missions or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ Such operations could have a direct effect in stemming the flow of cocaine on to the streets of Ireland , thereby having a direct contribution to the wellbeing and safety of our citizens .
”

Ireland should send warships to west Africa to help intercept cocaine shipments coming in from South America, the Irish head of the EU's anti-drug smuggling agency has said.
Currently traffickers are bringing up to €7 billion worth of cocaine into Europe every year by smuggling it across the Atlantic and through the "soft underbelly" of west Africa.
Much of this cocaine ends up on Irish streets, where it does enormous harm to society, Michael O'Sullivan, a former assistant commissioner in the Garda and the current head of the EU's Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC) in Portugal, wrote in an article in the journal Defence Forces Review.
MAOC co-ordinates naval and law enforcement agencies across seven countries, including Ireland, to intercept drug smugglers on the Atlantic.
READ MORE
The transatlantic drug trade is a real and current threat to Irish society, Mr O’Sullivan said, and a key method of countering this trade is through enforcement at sea. There was a 50 per cent increase in people being treated for cocaine addiction in Ireland in 2018, he added.
Intercepting cocaine before it lands ashore and is distributed is far more effective than waiting for it to reach its destination, he said.
Mr O’Sullivan estimated that gardaí had intercepted about one tonne of cocaine in the past five or six years. The same amount is typically found on a single trafficker’s yacht in the Atlantic, he said.
Sophisticated smuggling
Drug smugglers are using increasingly sophisticated methods to traffic cocaine against what has become known as Highway Ten, the busy sea lane that runs from the Caribbean to west Africa. They have recently started using so-called “narco-subs” – vessels that sail just under the surface of the ocean to move drugs across the ocean.
This places an outsized burden on poorer African states to intercept drugs on behalf of the European countries that will be the cocaine’s final destination, Mr O’Sullivan said.
Ireland, as a member of MAOC and a country with a worsening cocaine problem, should contribute naval resources to building up capacity in countries such as Cape Verde to allow for more effective drug interdiction operations, he said.
In the article, Mr O'Sullivan and his co-author, Naval Service commander Cathal Power, said Ireland had a "vested interest" in joining with other EU nations to stop maritime trafficking.
They pointed out that the Naval Service was empowered under the Criminal Justice Act 1994 to engage in drug interdiction operations.
The intelligent use of warships in the Atlantic would “ensure that the high seas should not be viewed as an area beyond regulation, but rather as a common resource and an area where the ideal of absolute freedom should only be restrained to safeguard the common good and prevent morally reprehensible and illegal acts.”
Ireland lags behind
Every other member of MAOC except Ireland has now committed to capacity-building missions in Cape Verde. The Belgian navy is also working to build capacity in the small island nation. Mr O’Sullivan said it was now time for Ireland to “step forward”.
“Now is the time for Ireland to join our European partner nations in a more overt, forward presence in the southern part of the North Atlantic,” the article states. “The removal of drugs upstream, in bulk, would have an immensely positive impact on European and Irish society.”
Mr O’Sullivan noted the limited resources of the Irish Naval Service- only six of nine ships are currently operational due to staffing issues. However, he said previous missions in the Mediterranean demonstrated the “significant ‘power to weight ratio’ which can be delivered by Irish warships.”
The Irish Naval Service could build capacity or put in place a “forward presence” through short training missions or deployments lasting four to eight weeks, he said.
“Such operations could have a direct effect in stemming the flow of cocaine on to the streets of Ireland, thereby having a direct contribution to the wellbeing and safety of our citizens.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--‘Fish don’t recognise borders’: Castletownbere on EU-UK fishing talks

The sky is an azure blue above Hungry Hill and a bright , silvery sun dances on the glass-like waters of Castletownbere Harbour , but the serene setting belies worrying and stormy times ahead .
Fisheries has moved centre-stage in the increasingly urgent EU-UK Brexit deal talks , and west Cork and Castletownbere could be at the centre of battles that lie ahead .
Last week , EU chief negotiator , Michel Barnier offered the UK a deal that would see the value of between 15 per cent and 18 per cent of the €650 million worth of fish caught @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to the UK .
Rejecting it immediately , British cabinet minister , Michael Gove told Sky News : “ The EU still wants to take the lion ’ s share of the fish in our waters , which is just not fair given we are leaving the EU.
” Unfortunately , as Taoiseach Micheál Martin said last week , fishing has become a totemic issue for Britain , one linked to its views of its own sovereignty and its control of waters .
It was a point he made directly to British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ idea of dividing lines across the seas and saying , ‘ This is our fish and that ’ s your fish ’ – I mean , the seas don ’ t operate like that , ” he said .
West Cork ’ s rugged beauty may be far removed from the steel and glass world of Brussels bureaucracy , but the negotiations there and in London are being watched closely in Castletownbere and in other Irish fishing ports .
Simply put , more than a third of Irish fish landings come from UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Beara Peninsula ’ s economy depends on fishing , says John Nolan , managing director of Castletownbere Fishermens ’ Co-Op , which employs 120 people directly , while the co-op ’ s 64 boats another 340 more at sea .
“ Our turnover is over €60 million and we ’ re just one operator , so the industry turnover in Castletown would be over €100 million .
Our wage bill ashore would be around €1.25 million but our wage bill with the fleet would be up around €10 million .
Fishing is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Nolan ’ s claims are supported by a 2010 Bord Iascaigh Mhara report on the importance of the sea for Castletownbere and surrounding areas .
In the end , it concluded that 81 per cent of everything that happens in the town depends on the sea .
Despite consolidation and fleet reduction seen elsewhere , Castletownbere has maintained its numbers , leaving it , in October 2020 , as the State ’ s second biggest fishing port after Killybegs and , the largest white fish fishing port .
Each €1 million @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on land .
Killybegs is primarily a pelagic fishing port .
In Irish terms , this means mackerel and herring .
In Castletownbere , the focus is on demersal or white fish such as hake , cod , haddock , plaice , sole , monkfish and megrim .
All of which command higher prices .
So , while the 235,085 tonnes of mostly pelagic fish landed in Killybegs up to October were worth €108 million , Castletownbere ’ s far smaller haul of 34,613 tonnes – including 26,562 tonnes of whitefish was worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of fishing to Beara , it is little wonder that Nolan and fishermen like Damian Turner of the Irish South and West Fishermen ’ s Producer Organisation are anxiously looking towards Brussels and London .
Expressing scepticism that Boris Johnson sees fisheries as some latter-day totemic Britannia battle , Nolan points to the history of the Common Fisheries Policy ( CFP ) , the issue of quotas and how they were allocated in the beginning , and now .
Looking to a map on his office door , Nolan points out the plethora @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out fishing areas , the types of species , and the quantities of them that can be captured The Common Fisheries Policy sets quotas ever year , or every two years for each species in fishing areas designated by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas .
Each state is given a quota based upon the Total Allowable Catch and its traditional share of that .
“ The one thing that we have that is good here in Ireland is that the Irish quotas belong to the Irish people – you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a monthly basis for some species , seasonally for others , but you don ’ t own the quota , it is retained by the Irish people .
“ In the UK in contrast , you own the quota so if I ’ ve a fishing boat , I can turn around and sell the quota and sell it as a business to the Norwegians or the Dutch and a huge amount of British quota is now controlled by the Norwegians and the Dutch , particularly when it comes to mackerel.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wronged by the EU over the amount of fishing waters they have been given under the CFP , but the only place where they genuinely have a complaint is along the South coast of England where they compete with the French .
“ Boris has nailed his colours to mast on fishing and has been very jingoistic about it , talking about ‘ Taking back our waters ’ but the reality is that for the last 20 years , British fishermen have been selling their quotas out the backdoor to anyone with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prior to Britain ’ s departure , the UK controlled the largest amount of fishing waters with its Exclusive Economic Zone ( EEZ ) covering some 743,965 sq kms followed by Spain with 560,957 sq kms , Ireland with 425,346 sq kms and France with 344,395 sq kms .
The British EEZ extends north , to off the Norwegian coast , down the North Sea , tapering to half way across the English Channel and down to the Channel Islands and then back up the Irish Sea before looping around Northern Ireland , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The area includes many rich fishing grounds in both the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea such as the Labardie Bank , the Jones Bank and the Smalls as well as fishing grounds off Rockall , all of which are fished by Irish trawlers for whitefish , pelagics or shellfish .
Chairman of the Irish South and West Fisherman ’ s Organisation , Damian Turner , who targets white fish in his trawler , Roise Caitríona , is worried , too , that a talks collapse could see Irish boats blocked from fishing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ twofold - not only will Irish boats no longer have full access to rich fishing grounds like Labardie and the Smalls , which Ireland shares with the UK , they will now face added competition from Spanish and French boats which will also be displaced and are likely to look to Irish waters for fish .
“ The UK has about 30 per cent of EU fishing opportunities but if it leaves without a fishing deal , the Irish zone will then hold the majority of fish available to be caught by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out on what we take from UK waters and our waters will become the target for other EU boats.
” Turner says that in such a scenario where displaced Spanish and French trawlers start fishing in areas like the Porcupine Bank some 180km off the West coast , the number of such vessels would have to be limited to ensure stocks can be protected .
“ Even if a deal is done , where is Barnier getting his €117 million of fish that he is offering to the UK – it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fish are going to be in UK waters – fish don ’ t recognise borders – what ’ s in UK waters today could be in Irish waters next week or vice versa.
” Pierside , Turner ’ s thoughts on displacement are echoed by local skipper Ross Minihane , who with his father and brother , employ 50 crew on their four boats , the Alannah Reilly , the Dawn Ross , the Sarah David and Ocean Venture II .
“ This year with the Alannah Reilly , we would have spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We would have spent three months on the Jones Bank 40 miles from the Scilly Isles .
It ’ s good prawn ground but we are only going there because we don ’ t have enough prawn quota here .
“ There are plenty of prawns in the Porcupine Bank off the west coast but we haven ’ t been given enough quota there for years – instead we have to go into UK waters which now accounts for 40per cent of the income of the boat and if we are displaced from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dinah Busher from Kilmore Quay in Wexford has disembarked from her family ’ s boat , the Ellie Adhamh and she nods in agreement as she tells how she too fishes for prawn in the Labardie Bank – shared by Ireland and the UK – because she hasn ’ t enough quota in the Porcupine .
“ We fish for prawn in the Labardie and we also fish for cuttlefish – cuttlefish is a member of the squid family like octopus but it ’ s not governed by quota – and we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ - we spend five months based in the UK , operating out of Plymouth or Brixham in Devon .
“ But if there isn ’ t a deal done to allow us to continue to fish in UK waters , then that ’ s all off limits to us and we ’ re losing out on five months of income – fishing is tough enough as it – the price of prawn has fallen because Covid has closed all the restaurants in Europe so demand dropped hugely .
“ To be forced out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compete with French and Spanish boats that have bigger quotas than us in our own waters – it ’ s unbelievable – it doesn ’ t make sense – we are struggling to survive and yet other boats have bigger quotas than us in our own waters.
” Ross agrees and says the solution is simple : “ We fish around Rockall for squid , which like cuttlefish isn ’ t governed by quotas , but to get there we have to steam through monk and megrim fishing grounds and see French and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t have quota for them .
“ There is plenty of fishing Irish waters if the EU gives us the quota – we shouldn ’ t be begging to go to someone else ’ s waters – we have the richest fishing grounds in the world but we ’ re not being given enough quota in our own waters – that ’ s the only reason we ’ re fishing in UK waters .
”

Dinah Busher: ‘If there isn’t a deal done to allow us to continue to fish in UK waters, then that’s all off limits to us and we’re losing out on five months of income.’ Photograph: Niall Duffy/West Cork Photo
The sky is an azure blue above Hungry Hill and a bright, silvery sun dances on the glass-like waters of Castletownbere Harbour, but the serene setting belies worrying and stormy times ahead.
Fisheries has moved centre-stage in the increasingly urgent EU-UK Brexit deal talks, and west Cork and Castletownbere could be at the centre of battles that lie ahead.
Last week, EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier offered the UK a deal that would see the value of between 15 per cent and 18 per cent of the €650 million worth of fish caught by EU fleets in British waters handed back to the UK.
Rejecting it immediately, British cabinet minister, Michael Gove told Sky News: "The EU still wants to take the lion's share of the fish in our waters, which is just not fair given we are leaving the EU."
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'Our turnover is over €60 million and we're just one operator, so the industry turnover in Castletown would be over €100 million'
Unfortunately, as Taoiseach Micheál Martin said last week, fishing has become a totemic issue for Britain, one linked to its views of its own sovereignty and its control of waters.
It was a point he made directly to British prime minister Boris Johnson: "This idea of dividing lines across the seas and saying, 'This is our fish and that's your fish' – I mean, the seas don't operate like that," he said.
West Cork's rugged beauty may be far removed from the steel and glass world of Brussels bureaucracy, but the negotiations there and in London are being watched closely in Castletownbere and in other Irish fishing ports.
John Nolan from Castletownbere Fishermen’s Co-op and Damien Turner, Skipper Roise Catriona at Dinish Island Pier, Castletownbere, West Cork. Photograph: Niall Duffy/West Cork Photo
Keeping Beara going
Simply put, more than a third of Irish fish landings come from UK waters.
Ninety five per cent of the Beara Peninsula's economy depends on fishing, says John Nolan, managing director of Castletownbere Fishermens' Co-Op, which employs 120 people directly, while the co-op's 64 boats another 340 more at sea.
"Our turnover is over €60 million and we're just one operator, so the industry turnover in Castletown would be over €100 million. Our wage bill ashore would be around €1.25 million but our wage bill with the fleet would be up around €10 million. Fishing is what keeps Beara going," he said.
Nolan's claims are supported by a 2010 Bord Iascaigh Mhara report on the importance of the sea for Castletownbere and surrounding areas. In the end, it concluded that 81 per cent of everything that happens in the town depends on the sea.
Despite consolidation and fleet reduction seen elsewhere, Castletownbere has maintained its numbers, leaving it, in October 2020, as the State's second biggest fishing port after Killybegs and, the largest white fish fishing port. Each €1 million worth of fish land generates €2.2 million on land.
Killybegs is primarily a pelagic fishing port. In Irish terms, this means mackerel and herring. In Castletownbere, the focus is on demersal or white fish such as hake, cod, haddock, plaice, sole, monkfish and megrim. All of which command higher prices.
So, while the 235,085 tonnes of mostly pelagic fish landed in Killybegs up to October were worth €108 million, Castletownbere’s far smaller haul of 34,613 tonnes – including 26,562 tonnes of whitefish was worth nearly €106 million.
Given the importance of fishing to Beara, it is little wonder that Nolan and fishermen like Damian Turner of the Irish South and West Fishermen's Producer Organisation are anxiously looking towards Brussels and London.
Expressing scepticism that Boris Johnson sees fisheries as some latter-day totemic Britannia battle, Nolan points to the history of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), the issue of quotas and how they were allocated in the beginning, and now.
Economic zones
Looking to a map on his office door, Nolan points out the plethora of the Roman numeral-marked symbols that sets out fishing areas, the types of species, and the quantities of them that can be captured
The Common Fisheries Policy sets quotas ever year, or every two years for each species in fishing areas designated by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas. Each state is given a quota based upon the Total Allowable Catch and its traditional share of that.
"The one thing that we have that is good here in Ireland is that the Irish quotas belong to the Irish people – you get an allocation off the government on a monthly basis for some species, seasonally for others, but you don't own the quota, it is retained by the Irish people.
“In the UK in contrast, you own the quota so if I’ve a fishing boat, I can turn around and sell the quota and sell it as a business to the Norwegians or the Dutch and a huge amount of British quota is now controlled by the Norwegians and the Dutch, particularly when it comes to mackerel.”
'Even if a deal is done, where is Barnier getting his €117 million of fish that he is offering to the UK'
The British may say that they have been wronged by the EU over the amount of fishing waters they have been given under the CFP, but the only place where they genuinely have a complaint is along the South coast of England where they compete with the French.
“Boris has nailed his colours to mast on fishing and has been very jingoistic about it, talking about ‘Taking back our waters’ but the reality is that for the last 20 years, British fishermen have been selling their quotas out the backdoor to anyone with a cheque book.”
Within the EU, prior to Britain's departure, the UK controlled the largest amount of fishing waters with its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering some 743,965 sq kms followed by Spain with 560,957 sq kms, Ireland with 425,346 sq kms and France with 344,395 sq kms.
The British EEZ extends north, to off the Norwegian coast, down the North Sea, tapering to half way across the English Channel and down to the Channel Islands and then back up the Irish Sea before looping around Northern Ireland, extending 200 miles west of Scotland.
The area includes many rich fishing grounds in both the Irish Sea and the Celtic Sea such as the Labardie Bank, the Jones Bank and the Smalls as well as fishing grounds off Rockall, all of which are fished by Irish trawlers for whitefish, pelagics or shellfish.
‘Paper fish’
Chairman of the Irish South and West Fisherman’s Organisation, Damian Turner, who targets white fish in his trawler, Roise Caitríona, is worried, too, that a talks collapse could see Irish boats blocked from fishing in UK waters.
His concerns are twofold - not only will Irish boats no longer have full access to rich fishing grounds like Labardie and the Smalls, which Ireland shares with the UK, they will now face added competition from Spanish and French boats which will also be displaced and are likely to look to Irish waters for fish.
“The UK has about 30 per cent of EU fishing opportunities but if it leaves without a fishing deal, the Irish zone will then hold the majority of fish available to be caught by the EU fleet so Ireland will have lost out on what we take from UK waters and our waters will become the target for other EU boats.”
Turner says that in such a scenario where displaced Spanish and French trawlers start fishing in areas like the Porcupine Bank some 180km off the West coast, the number of such vessels would have to be limited to ensure stocks can be protected.
“Even if a deal is done, where is Barnier getting his €117 million of fish that he is offering to the UK – it’s paper fish – nobody knows if the fish are going to be in UK waters – fish don’t recognise borders – what’s in UK waters today could be in Irish waters next week or vice versa.”
Ross Minihane, owner/skipper of the fishing vessel Alannah Riley at Dinish Island Pier. Photograph: Niall Duffy/West Cork Photo
Pierside, Turner's thoughts on displacement are echoed by local skipper Ross Minihane, who with his father and brother, employ 50 crew on their four boats, the Alannah Reilly, the Dawn Ross, the Sarah David and Ocean Venture II.
“This year with the Alannah Reilly, we would have spent five months fishing in English waters. We would have spent three months on the Jones Bank 40 miles from the Scilly Isles. It’s good prawn ground but we are only going there because we don’t have enough prawn quota here.
“There are plenty of prawns in the Porcupine Bank off the west coast but we haven’t been given enough quota there for years – instead we have to go into UK waters which now accounts for 40per cent of the income of the boat and if we are displaced from UK waters, we lose that income.”
Dinah Busher from Kilmore Quay in Wexford has disembarked from her family's boat, the Ellie Adhamh and she nods in agreement as she tells how she too fishes for prawn in the Labardie Bank – shared by Ireland and the UK – because she hasn't enough quota in the Porcupine.
"We fish for prawn in the Labardie and we also fish for cuttlefish – cuttlefish is a member of the squid family like octopus but it's not governed by quota – and we fish for the cuttlefish in UK waters - we spend five months based in the UK, operating out of Plymouth or Brixham in Devon.
"But if there isn't a deal done to allow us to continue to fish in UK waters, then that's all off limits to us and we're losing out on five months of income – fishing is tough enough as it – the price of prawn has fallen because Covid has closed all the restaurants in Europe so demand dropped hugely.
“To be forced out of UK waters and then having to compete with French and Spanish boats that have bigger quotas than us in our own waters – it’s unbelievable – it doesn’t make sense – we are struggling to survive and yet other boats have bigger quotas than us in our own waters.”
Ross agrees and says the solution is simple: “We fish around Rockall for squid, which like cuttlefish isn’t governed by quotas, but to get there we have to steam through monk and megrim fishing grounds and see French and Spanish boats fishing for them when we don’t have quota for them.
“There is plenty of fishing Irish waters if the EU gives us the quota – we shouldn’t be begging to go to someone else’s waters – we have the richest fishing grounds in the world but we’re not being given enough quota in our own waters – that’s the only reason we’re fishing in UK waters.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-04--Pandemic ‘perfect storm’ for older people’s mental heath, says watchdog

Older people in Ireland are suffering a mental health “ perfect storm ” stirred up by the pandemic and an alarming dearth of services , the State ’ s mental health watchdog has warned .
The Mental Health Commission has criticised a “ serious under-resourcing ” of community mental health services and lack of hospital beds for older people most severely affected by the likes of depression , dementia and anxiety .
In its latest report , the watchdog says there are currently 1.2 dedicated acute mental health beds for every 100,000 older people in the country .
Northern Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finnerty , the commission ’ s inspector of mental health services and author of the report , said the lack of services , coupled with the Covid-19 outbreak , has created “ a perfect storm for the mental health of older people ” .
“ In addition to carrying the highest mortality and morbidity risk from Covid-19 , they also experience social distancing , isolation and a heightened perception of the risk of death and illness , ” she said .
“ Isolation is strongly linked to depression , anxiety and cognitive decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ self-worth , sense of purpose and feeling valued.
” About 15 per cent of adults in Ireland aged 60 and over suffer from a mental illness , including depression , dementia , anxiety , alcohol dependence and schizophrenia .
Meanwhile , demand for mental health support in some universities has doubled as students struggle with isolation and the shift to online learning .
Prof Patrick Prendergast , Provost of Trinity College Dublin , told an Oireachtas education committee on Thursday a lack of personal contact with other students was affecting the mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Personal contact is what students most of all are missing .
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These are young students , ranging in age from 18 to mid-20s most .
It ’ s a time of life when they should be meeting others , ” he said .
“ We find that there is a much greater need for psychiatric support and counselling .
The head of our health service says numbers with mental health issues have doubled .
” Earlier , a GP and coroner in Co Donegal said there is “ a terrible problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ particularly men , in Ireland .
Dr Denis McCauley , who is chair of the Irish Medical Organisation ’ s GP committee , told the Oireachtas sub-committee on mental health he has also seen an increase in suicides by young women this year .

The watchdog says there are currently 1.2 dedicated acute mental health beds for every 100,000 older people in the country. Photograph: iStock
Older people in Ireland are suffering a mental health "perfect storm" stirred up by the pandemic and an alarming dearth of services, the State's mental health watchdog has warned.
The Mental Health Commission has criticised a "serious under-resourcing" of community mental health services and lack of hospital beds for older people most severely affected by the likes of depression, dementia and anxiety.
In its latest report, the watchdog says there are currently 1.2 dedicated acute mental health beds for every 100,000 older people in the country. Northern Ireland has eight times more.
Hospital Report
Dr Susan Finnerty, the commission's inspector of mental health services and author of the report, said the lack of services, coupled with the Covid-19 outbreak, has created "a perfect storm for the mental health of older people".
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“In addition to carrying the highest mortality and morbidity risk from Covid-19, they also experience social distancing, isolation and a heightened perception of the risk of death and illness,” she said. “Isolation is strongly linked to depression, anxiety and cognitive decline, and reduces resilience factors such as self-worth, sense of purpose and feeling valued.”
About 15 per cent of adults in Ireland aged 60 and over suffer from a mental illness, including depression, dementia, anxiety, alcohol dependence and schizophrenia.
Demand among students
Meanwhile, demand for mental health support in some universities has doubled as students struggle with isolation and the shift to online learning.
Prof Patrick Prendergast, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, told an Oireachtas education committee on Thursday a lack of personal contact with other students was affecting the mental health and wellbeing of many students.
“Personal contact is what students most of all are missing . . . These are young students, ranging in age from 18 to mid-20s most. It’s a time of life when they should be meeting others,” he said. “We find that there is a much greater need for psychiatric support and counselling. The head of our health service says numbers with mental health issues have doubled .”
Earlier, a GP and coroner in Co Donegal said there is “a terrible problem” of suicide among young people, particularly men, in Ireland.
Dr Denis McCauley, who is chair of the Irish Medical Organisation’s GP committee, told the Oireachtas sub-committee on mental health he has also seen an increase in suicides by young women this year.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Two men found dead in Waterford city hostel

Gardaí are seeking to establish the cause of death of two men found deceased in a hostel in Waterford city @ @ @ @ @ were called to an incident in a hostel on Bath Street , Waterford at approximately @ @ @ @ @ attending the scene a man in his 40s was pronounced dead .
While on site @ @ @ @ @ a second incident , where another man in his early 40s had been found deceased @ @ @ @ @ bodies have been removed to the Waterford city morgue , with post-mortem examinations to take @ @ @ @ @ the post-mortems will determine the course of any inquiry .
However , one Garda source @ @ @ @ @ been no foul play in either death .

A Garda source said they did not suspect foul play in the deaths. File photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Gardaí are seeking to establish the cause of death of two men found deceased in a hostel in Waterford city on Thursday.
Emergency services were called to an incident in a hostel on Bath Street, Waterford at approximately 4:45pm on Thursday. Upon attending the scene a man in his 40s was pronounced dead.
While on site gardaí were also alerted to a second incident, where another man in his early 40s had been found deceased in his bed.
Both bodies have been removed to the Waterford city morgue, with post-mortem examinations to take place.
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The results of the post-mortems will determine the course of any inquiry.
However, one Garda source said it appeared there had been no foul play in either death.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Covid-19: 15 teachers forced to self-isolate after outbreak in Limerick school

Fifteen teachers have had to self-isolate following a Covid-19 outbreak in a Co Limerick secondary school .
A total of six teachers at the school have tested positive for coronavirus since last weekend , which led to a further nine teachers being deemed close contacts and having to self-isolate for 14 days .
As a precautionary measure , all of the school ’ s remaining teachers along with ancillary staff have been tested and returned negative results for Covid-19 .
The school ’ s principal confirmed details of the outbreak to The Irish Times , but requested that the school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of staff members .
The school has not been notified of any student cases .
However , as a precaution , all transition year students and a “ small ” number of students from other year groups have been identified as close contacts and have been asked to self-isolate .
Due to the large number of teachers absent through self-isolation , some year groups have been asked to stay at home and will be taught remotely next week , However , most classes will go ahead as planned .
The principal said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a number of substitute teachers , along with student teachers on college placements and the goodwill of other teachers who were covering for their colleagues .
The principal added that no students would be disadvantaged due to the absent teachers , while it is envisaged that all Christmas exams will continue as planned .
Overall , the level of transmission of Covid-19 in schools appears to remain low with a total of 12 coronavirus outbreaks recorded in schools last week , based on latest official figures .
The number of outbreaks in schools @ @ @ @ @ @ @ downward trajectory since it peaked at 46 in the run-up to the October mid-term break .
Weekly clusters fell to 24 in the first week of November , 10 the following week before climbing to 19 a fortnight ago .
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre report says while school outbreaks indicate that at least two children or staff members had the virus , transmission of Covid-19 within the school was not necessarily established .
Public health officials have said family settings continue to be the main driver of cases .
For example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were detected in family homes , while some 652 were recorded the previous week .
Separately , a Department of Education report into the reopening of schools has found that many are facing challenges finding substitute teachers due to Covid-related absences .
Many school principals have reported difficulties securing qualified cover for teachers who have been forced to self-isolate or are required to undergo testing .
The report is based on responses from more than 700 principals across the primary and secondary sector during September .
Overall , most schools reported that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safely .
However , many principals said the changes and challenges of previous months meant that they were experiencing significant pressure and high stress levels .
Schools said they were facing practical challenges in implementing public health advice in some cases , especially where space available to accommodate appropriate physical distancing was limited .

Six teachers at a Co Limerick school have tested positive for coronavirus since last weekend, which led to a further nine teachers being deemed close contacts and having to self-isolate for 14 days. Photograph: iStock
Fifteen teachers have had to self-isolate following a Covid-19 outbreak in a Co Limerick secondary school.
A total of six teachers at the school have tested positive for coronavirus since last weekend, which led to a further nine teachers being deemed close contacts and having to self-isolate for 14 days.
As a precautionary measure, all of the school’s remaining teachers along with ancillary staff have been tested and returned negative results for Covid-19.
The school’s principal confirmed details of the outbreak to The Irish Times, but requested that the school not be named to protect the privacy of staff members.
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The school has not been notified of any student cases. However, as a precaution, all transition year students and a “small” number of students from other year groups have been identified as close contacts and have been asked to self-isolate.
Due to the large number of teachers absent through self-isolation, some year groups have been asked to stay at home and will be taught remotely next week, However, most classes will go ahead as planned.
The principal said the school had been able to call on a number of substitute teachers, along with student teachers on college placements and the goodwill of other teachers who were covering for their colleagues.
The principal added that no students would be disadvantaged due to the absent teachers, while it is envisaged that all Christmas exams will continue as planned.
Overall, the level of transmission of Covid-19 in schools appears to remain low with a total of 12 coronavirus outbreaks recorded in schools last week, based on latest official figures.
The number of outbreaks in schools has been, broadly, on a downward trajectory since it peaked at 46 in the run-up to the October mid-term break.
Weekly clusters fell to 24 in the first week of November, 10 the following week before climbing to 19 a fortnight ago.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre report says while school outbreaks indicate that at least two children or staff members had the virus, transmission of Covid-19 within the school was not necessarily established.
Public health officials have said family settings continue to be the main driver of cases.
For example, last week a total of 262 outbreaks were detected in family homes, while some 652 were recorded the previous week.
Separately, a Department of Education report into the reopening of schools has found that many are facing challenges finding substitute teachers due to Covid-related absences.
Many school principals have reported difficulties securing qualified cover for teachers who have been forced to self-isolate or are required to undergo testing.
The report is based on responses from more than 700 principals across the primary and secondary sector during September.
Overall, most schools reported that they had reopened and were continuing to operate safely.
However, many principals said the changes and challenges of previous months meant that they were experiencing significant pressure and high stress levels.
Schools said they were facing practical challenges in implementing public health advice in some cases, especially where space available to accommodate appropriate physical distancing was limited.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Judge dismisses four men’s ‘grossly exaggerated’ personal injury claims

Four men , who received tens of thousands of euro in compensation over the past 20 years , put together a “ grand scheme ” to falsely “ pocket ” a personal injury claim , a judge said on Thursday .
Dismissing each of their claims for up to €60,000 in Tullamore Circuit Court and awarding legal costs against them , Judge Karen Fergus said all four men had “ grossly exaggerated ” their claims and had knowingly misled the court about a single car incident in Granard , Co Longford , in 2015 .
Judge Fergus said she would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is required when they speak to solicitors and doctors , given the number of their previous compensation claims .
None of their previous claims had come before a court .
The judge said the men seemed to be “ most unfortunate ” given the number of incidents that had befallen them in recent years .
The court heard evidence they had received tens of thousands of euro between them in out-of-court settlements for earlier traffic accidents and matters such as the purchase of a bad tin of beans .
Brothers Brendan Leddy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Longford , as well as cousins Edward Stokes and Michael Stokes jnr , of Edgeworthstown , Co Longford , had been passengers in a car driven by Brendan Leddy ’ s wife , Emma O ’ Keeffe , when it hit a stone wall or ditch in a lane in Granard on January 25th , 2015 .
All four men brought claims against Ms O ’ Keeffe ’ s insurance company which was fully defended .
They gave varying accounts of how the accident happened .
Counsel for the defence , Keith O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their claims dismissed as false and misleading .
Judge Fergus said she did not believe the accident happened as alleged or that the men sustained the level of injuries claimed .
“ Despite their description of the impact when the car hit a wall , not one of them had a scratch , cut , bruise or broken bone.
” Judge Fergus said she was “ entirely satisfied ” this was a “ grand scheme put together ” by the men with the aim of “ pocketing compensation ” .
“ All @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alleged in these types of cases which are almost impossible for doctors to discount .
”

Four men, who received tens of thousands of euro in compensation over the past 20 years, put together a “grand scheme” to falsely “pocket” a personal injury claim, a judge said on Thursday.
Dismissing each of their claims for up to €60,000 in Tullamore Circuit Court and awarding legal costs against them, Judge Karen Fergus said all four men had “grossly exaggerated” their claims and had knowingly misled the court about a single car incident in Granard, Co Longford, in 2015.
Judge Fergus said she would have expected the men to know what is required when they speak to solicitors and doctors, given the number of their previous compensation claims. None of their previous claims had come before a court.
Bad beans
The judge said the men seemed to be “most unfortunate” given the number of incidents that had befallen them in recent years.
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The court heard evidence they had received tens of thousands of euro between them in out-of-court settlements for earlier traffic accidents and matters such as the purchase of a bad tin of beans.
Brothers Brendan Leddy and James Leddy, of Granard, Co Longford, as well as cousins Edward Stokes and Michael Stokes jnr, of Edgeworthstown, Co Longford, had been passengers in a car driven by Brendan Leddy’s wife, Emma O’Keeffe, when it hit a stone wall or ditch in a lane in Granard on January 25th, 2015.
False and misleading
All four men brought claims against Ms O’Keeffe’s insurance company which was fully defended. They gave varying accounts of how the accident happened.
Counsel for the defence, Keith O’Grady, applied to have each of their claims dismissed as false and misleading.
Judge Fergus said she did not believe the accident happened as alleged or that the men sustained the level of injuries claimed. “Despite their description of the impact when the car hit a wall, not one of them had a scratch, cut, bruise or broken bone.”
Judge Fergus said she was “entirely satisfied” this was a “grand scheme put together” by the men with the aim of “pocketing compensation”.
“All of their complaints were typical of injuries alleged in these types of cases which are almost impossible for doctors to discount.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--More south Dublin primary schools agree to open classes for special needs pupils

At least seven primary schools in south Dublin have agreed to open classes for children with special needs in the current school year following a direction from the Minister for Education Norma Foley .
As a result , about 30 children who do not have a school place will be able to join special classes in these mainstream schools .
Among the schools which have responded positively so far include : Star of the Sea Boys ’ National School , Sandymount ; Scoil Mhuire Ógh/Loreto Senior Primary School , Dublin 12 ; Scoil Mhuire Ógh 2/Loreto Junior Primary school , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mount Merrion , Co Dublin ; Scoil Mhuire National School , Shankill ; Scoil Mhuire , Rathfarnham and St Damian ’ s National School , Perrystown .
However , campaigners say the additional places do not go far enough and dozens of school-age children in the area with conditions such as autism and other learning difficulties still do not have appropriate school places .
They say many are availing of home tuition or are forced to travel long distances across the city in rush-hour traffic to access school places outside their community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Madigan has said every child has a right to an education and that she will use new legal powers to ensure additional special classes are provided .
So-called Section 37 legal notices were sent to a total of 39 schools during the summer demanding that they provide special needs classes .
This process led to several schools coming forward and offering to open special classes .
A second formal notice was sent to 25 schools just over a month ago , again requiring schools to open places for children with special needs in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ places that have been pledged in recent days have sparked a mixed response from campaigners .
The Autism Equality Dublin Bay campaign group - based in the Dublin 2 and Dublin 4 areas - said the area will remain among the worst-served in the entire country .
Two new classes are to be established in the Dublin 2 and 4 areas which has 11 primary schools which cater to more than 3,000 children .
“ The two new classes will cater for only 12 children out of 3,000 students .
It does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be bussed out of their community , ” a spokeswoman for the group said .
She said the legal process had the potential to make a real difference to children with additional needs and their families across south Dublin , however , the process was “ not thorough and lacked planning ” .
The Involve Autism group , which is campaigning for places in the Dublin 6/6W area , said the the process will likely lead to only two additional places .
It says the lack of special class places amounts to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable students of all .
While seven schools responded positively to the latest notices , others have signalled that they will be able to open special classes at a later date .
They include City Quay National School in Dublin 2 ; Scoil Cholmcille Senior National School , Ballybrack and St Joseph ’ s Boy ’ s School , Clondalkin , Dublin 22 .
Other schools have said they do not currently have room to accommodate a special class or have cited other reasons such as concerns over a lack of resources and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ include St Mary ’ s Senior National School , Clondalkin ; St Raphaela ’ s Primary School , Stillorgan ; Our Lady of Mercy Convent School , Booterstown , Co Dublin ; St Brigid ’ s Girls National School , Palmerstown ; Scoil Lorcáin , Blackrock ; Bishop Shanahan National School , Templeogue ; Queen of Angels Primary School , Sandyford ; Scoil Mologa , Kimmage ; St Anne ’ s National School , Tallaght ; Holy Trinity National School , Leopardstown ; St Dominic ’ s National School , Tallaght and Scoil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the department , many of these schools have expressed frustration over what they said was a lack of contact with the National Council for Special Education , even after signalling they were prepared to open classes .
Others also said they were disappointed at the suggestion that they were not welcoming of special needs children when “ nothing could be further from the truth ” .
In the case of City Quay National School in Dublin 2 , for example , the school said it had responded positively to a request to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yet received no reply until recently .
“ Minister , talk is cheap and I ask the department to practice what they preach , have trust in our school and let us open an ASD class at a pace and manner that is in the best interests of all stakeholders , ” the school said , in a letter to the department .

Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan has she will use new legal powers to ensure additional special classes are provided. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
At least seven primary schools in south Dublin have agreed to open classes for children with special needs in the current school year following a direction from the Minister for Education Norma Foley.
As a result, about 30 children who do not have a school place will be able to join special classes in these mainstream schools.
Among the schools which have responded positively so far include: Star of the Sea Boys' National School, Sandymount; Scoil Mhuire Ógh/Loreto Senior Primary School, Dublin 12; Scoil Mhuire Ógh 2/Loreto Junior Primary school, Dublin 12; Scoil San Treasa, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin; Scoil Mhuire National School, Shankill; Scoil Mhuire, Rathfarnham and St Damian's National School, Perrystown.
However, campaigners say the additional places do not go far enough and dozens of school-age children in the area with conditions such as autism and other learning difficulties still do not have appropriate school places.
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They say many are availing of home tuition or are forced to travel long distances across the city in rush-hour traffic to access school places outside their community.
Minister of State for Special Education Josepha Madigan has said every child has a right to an education and that she will use new legal powers to ensure additional special classes are provided.
So-called Section 37 legal notices were sent to a total of 39 schools during the summer demanding that they provide special needs classes.
This process led to several schools coming forward and offering to open special classes.
A second formal notice was sent to 25 schools just over a month ago, again requiring schools to open places for children with special needs in the current school year.
The additional places that have been pledged in recent days have sparked a mixed response from campaigners.
The Autism Equality Dublin Bay campaign group - based in the Dublin 2 and Dublin 4 areas - said the area will remain among the worst-served in the entire country.
Two new classes are to be established in the Dublin 2 and 4 areas which has 11 primary schools which cater to more than 3,000 children.
“The two new classes will cater for only 12 children out of 3,000 students. It does not meet demand and children will continue to be bussed out of their community,” a spokeswoman for the group said.
She said the legal process had the potential to make a real difference to children with additional needs and their families across south Dublin, however, the process was “not thorough and lacked planning”.
The Involve Autism group, which is campaigning for places in the Dublin 6/6W area, said the the process will likely lead to only two additional places.
It says the lack of special class places amounts to “segregation” and is failing the most vulnerable students of all.
While seven schools responded positively to the latest notices, others have signalled that they will be able to open special classes at a later date.
They include City Quay National School in Dublin 2; Scoil Cholmcille Senior National School, Ballybrack and St Joseph's Boy's School, Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
Other schools have said they do not currently have room to accommodate a special class or have cited other reasons such as concerns over a lack of resources and support for special education.
These schools include St Mary's Senior National School, Clondalkin; St Raphaela's Primary School, Stillorgan; Our Lady of Mercy Convent School, Booterstown, Co Dublin; St Brigid's Girls National School, Palmerstown; Scoil Lorcáin, Blackrock; Bishop Shanahan National School, Templeogue; Queen of Angels Primary School, Sandyford; Scoil Mologa, Kimmage; St Anne's National School, Tallaght; Holy Trinity National School, Leopardstown; St Dominic's National School, Tallaght and Scoil Úna Naofa, Crumlin.
In correspondence with the department, many of these schools have expressed frustration over what they said was a lack of contact with the National Council for Special Education, even after signalling they were prepared to open classes.
Others also said they were disappointed at the suggestion that they were not welcoming of special needs children when “nothing could be further from the truth”.
In the case of City Quay National School in Dublin 2, for example, the school said it had responded positively to a request to open a special class in February 2019, yet received no reply until recently.
“Minister, talk is cheap and I ask the department to practice what they preach, have trust in our school and let us open an ASD class at a pace and manner that is in the best interests of all stakeholders,” the school said, in a letter to the department.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--No link between Limerick cement plant and respiratory deaths rate – watchdog

There is no link between proximity to the Irish Cement plant in Limerick and the high rate of respiratory deaths in the city , the State ’ s health watchdog has said .
The Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) , the State regulator , said in a report there was a “ significant association ” between respiratory mortality and deprivation in Limerick .
“ Respiratory mortality is higher in more deprived areas .
There is no apparent association between proximity to the Irish Cement plant and respiratory mortality , ” Hiqa says in the report .
Limerick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ area in the State and had 21 of the 24 electoral divisions in the HSE ’ s Mid-West area comprising Clare , Limerick and Tipperary North that were found to have “ significant elevated respiratory mortality rates ” , the report states .
The report says that tobacco smoking is “ more prevalent ” in areas of high deprivation .
The findings are based on data on respiratory mortality between 2011 and 2015 .
The regulator investigated whether deprivation in the area , urban status and distance to the Irish Cement plant at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ variation in respiratory death rates .
Thousands of locals in the Mungret , Raheen and Dooradoyle areas and beyond , along with anti-pollution groups , are objecting to the company ’ s plans to replace the use of fossil fuels such as petroleum coke and coal with solid recovered waste , used tires , solvents and other materials .
They are concerned about potential damage to the health of people living in the area and the environment , and have held a number of protest marches in recent years in opposition to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently holding a virtual oral hearing into Irish Cement ’ s €10 million plan to change production at the facility , which dates back to 1938 .

Residents are concerned about potential damage to the health of people living in the area near the plant and the environment, and have held a number of protest marches in recent years. Photograph: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
There is no link between proximity to the Irish Cement plant in Limerick and the high rate of respiratory deaths in the city, the State's health watchdog has said.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), the State regulator, said in a report there was a “significant association” between respiratory mortality and deprivation in Limerick.
“Respiratory mortality is higher in more deprived areas. There is no apparent association between proximity to the Irish Cement plant and respiratory mortality,” Hiqa says in the report.
Limerick city is the most deprived local authority area in the State and had 21 of the 24 electoral divisions in the HSE's Mid-West area comprising Clare, Limerick and Tipperary North that were found to have "significant elevated respiratory mortality rates", the report states.
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The report says that tobacco smoking is “more prevalent” in areas of high deprivation.
The findings are based on data on respiratory mortality between 2011 and 2015. The regulator investigated whether deprivation in the area, urban status and distance to the Irish Cement plant at Castlemungret outside the city could potentially explain variation in respiratory death rates.
Thousands of locals in the Mungret, Raheen and Dooradoyle areas and beyond, along with anti-pollution groups, are objecting to the company's plans to replace the use of fossil fuels such as petroleum coke and coal with solid recovered waste, used tires, solvents and other materials.
They are concerned about potential damage to the health of people living in the area and the environment, and have held a number of protest marches in recent years in opposition to the plan.
The Environmental Protection Agency is currently holding a virtual oral hearing into Irish Cement's €10 million plan to change production at the facility, which dates back to 1938.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Demand for mental health support doubles in some universities

Demand for mental health support in some universities has doubled as students struggle with isolation and the shift to online learning .
Dr Patrick Prendergast , Provost of Trinity College Dublin , told an Oireachtas education committee on Thursday that a lack of personal contact with other students was affecting the mental health and wellbeing of many students .
“ Personal contact is what students most of all are missing .
.
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These are young students , ranging in age from 18 to mid-20s most .
It ’ s a time of life when they should be meeting others @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find that there is a much greater need for psychiatric support and counselling .
The head of our health service says numbers with mental health issues have doubled and his service has to respond to that.
” Dr Prendergast , who chairs the Irish Universities Association , which represents seven of the country ’ s universities , said the sector wanted to provide more of a campus experience for students in the new year .
“ Our students tell us that they want more on-campus activity and we wholeheartedly agree , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outlined ways it can provide this safely in the new year to Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris .
“ This includes , not just classroom activity , but also some additional extra-curricular activities to enable students to have at least some limited level of on-campus experience in order to protect their welfare and mental health.
” University representatives also said they were willing to play their part in assisting with the national rollout of Covid-19 vaccines .
Dr Prendergast said universities had resources such as minus-90C fridges and were happy to assist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was deemed helpful by health authorities .
The association also confirmed that universities were estimated to be facing a combined deficit of at least €102 million between this academic year and the last .
Jim Miley , director-general of the association said this was down from a worst case scenario of up to €200 million .
“ We ’ re hopeful now that ’ s closer to €100m .
That ’ s based on us being in a much better position to predict that now , ” he said .
Dr Joseph Ryan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Education Association , also the institutes of technology and technological university sector was facing similar losses , based on estimates from earlier this year .
He also pointed to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on students and said colleges should be allowed to participate in sport and activity on campus in a safe and controlled way .
The fact that they were not permitted to do so was an anomaly , and its resumption would help boost the student experience and combat issues such as isolation .
Dr Ryan also said the sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of new technological universities .
Cork Institute of Technology and IT Tralee are set to officially merge to form the Munster Technological University on January 1st next .
Other groups of institutes of technology have bids at various stages , including Limerick IT and Athlone IT , which is seeking to create a university for the midlands and midwest .
Prof Vincent Cunnane said the new entity would have a clear regional focus with a national and international outlook , which would benefit staff , students and the communities they serve .

Dr Patrick Prendergast, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, told an Oireachtas education committee on Thursday that a lack of personal contact with other students was affecting the mental health and wellbeing of many students. Photograph: Alan Betson
Demand for mental health support in some universities has doubled as students struggle with isolation and the shift to online learning.
Dr Patrick Prendergast, Provost of Trinity College Dublin, told an Oireachtas education committee on Thursday that a lack of personal contact with other students was affecting the mental health and wellbeing of many students.
“Personal contact is what students most of all are missing . . . These are young students, ranging in age from 18 to mid-20s most. It’s a time of life when they should be meeting others,” he said.
“We find that there is a much greater need for psychiatric support and counselling. The head of our health service says numbers with mental health issues have doubled and his service has to respond to that.”
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Dr Prendergast, who chairs the Irish Universities Association, which represents seven of the country’s universities, said the sector wanted to provide more of a campus experience for students in the new year.
“Our students tell us that they want more on-campus activity and we wholeheartedly agree,” he said.
He said the association has outlined ways it can provide this safely in the new year to Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris.
“This includes, not just classroom activity, but also some additional extra-curricular activities to enable students to have at least some limited level of on-campus experience in order to protect their welfare and mental health.”
University representatives also said they were willing to play their part in assisting with the national rollout of Covid-19 vaccines.
Dr Prendergast said universities had resources such as minus-90C fridges and were happy to assist by offering campus facilities in whatever way was deemed helpful by health authorities.
Deficit
The association also confirmed that universities were estimated to be facing a combined deficit of at least €102 million between this academic year and the last.
Jim Miley, director-general of the association said this was down from a worst case scenario of up to €200 million.
“We’re hopeful now that’s closer to €100m. That’s based on us being in a much better position to predict that now,” he said.
Dr Joseph Ryan, chief executive of the Technological Higher Education Association, also the institutes of technology and technological university sector was facing similar losses, based on estimates from earlier this year.
He also pointed to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions on students and said colleges should be allowed to participate in sport and activity on campus in a safe and controlled way.
The fact that they were not permitted to do so was an anomaly, and its resumption would help boost the student experience and combat issues such as isolation.
Dr Ryan also said the sector was aiming to build up the capacity of new technological universities.
Cork Institute of Technology and IT Tralee are set to officially merge to form the Munster Technological University on January 1st next.
Other groups of institutes of technology have bids at various stages, including Limerick IT and Athlone IT, which is seeking to create a university for the midlands and midwest.
Prof Vincent Cunnane said the new entity would have a clear regional focus with a national and international outlook, which would benefit staff, students and the communities they serve.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Care homes and Covid: ‘The first line of defence is going to be a wall of vaccinated staff’

Seon MacStiofain , the nurse manager at Fruithill Nursing Home in Andersonstown in west Belfast , is looking forward to the day when regular life can return to his and all care homes in Northern Ireland .
He , and the more than 50 people who work at the home , should be among the first in line to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that got the go-ahead in Britain and Northern Ireland on Wednesday .
It is expected that some 12,000 frontline health and social care workers will receive the vaccine before Christmas , and Mr MacStiofain is hoping those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ among that number .
“ The first line of defence is going to be a wall of vaccinated staff , ” he says .
Thereafter , as more vaccines come on stream , the 30 or so residents at the home will be high up the queue to be vaccinated .
“ Once the vaccine is fully embedded in the population it will allow for the common touch , as I call it .
There is nothing like hugging your mum when she has been in isolation , ” he says .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the restrictions are quite stringent .
At the moment one close family member wearing personal protective equipment can visit a relative for one hour once a week in a special isolation area .
Other contact is through the likes of Skype , smartphones and tablets .
Mr MacStiofain says the response among staff and residents to the news of the authorisation of the vaccine was rather muted at first , with people guardedly wondering if this was really the start of the end .
“ There hasn ’ t been a great reaction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days , ” he says .
“ People are talking , asking is this the magic bullet , the thing that is going to save us from this continual in-and-out lockdown ?
” Mr MacStiofain says some people will have concerns about vaccination but he is “ very supportive ” of the programme .
“ If I am offered it I will take it.
” But it is very important , he adds , that there is no degree of compulsion about taking the vaccine .
People must have the right to refuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can ’ t force people to take it .
We all have our own moral and ethical dilemmas to face when we decide to choose vaccines.
” But approval of the vaccine was a good day , he feels .
Getting fully back to normal will take time Mr MacStiofain understands full well but , he adds , the vaccine is a “ glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel ” .

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that got the go-ahead in Britain and Northern Ireland this week and frontline workers are expected to be among the first to receive a vaccine. Photograph: Getty Images
Seon MacStiofain, the nurse manager at Fruithill Nursing Home in Andersonstown in west Belfast, is looking forward to the day when regular life can return to his and all care homes in Northern Ireland.
He, and the more than 50 people who work at the home, should be among the first in line to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that got the go-ahead in Britain and Northern Ireland on Wednesday.
It is expected that some 12,000 frontline health and social care workers will receive the vaccine before Christmas, and Mr MacStiofain is hoping those working at Fruithill Nursing Home will be among that number.
Hospital Report
“The first line of defence is going to be a wall of vaccinated staff,” he says.
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Thereafter, as more vaccines come on stream, the 30 or so residents at the home will be high up the queue to be vaccinated.
“Once the vaccine is fully embedded in the population it will allow for the common touch, as I call it. There is nothing like hugging your mum when she has been in isolation,” he says.
The nursing home is currently Covid-free but nonetheless the restrictions are quite stringent. At the moment one close family member wearing personal protective equipment can visit a relative for one hour once a week in a special isolation area.
Other contact is through the likes of Skype, smartphones and tablets.
Mr MacStiofain says the response among staff and residents to the news of the authorisation of the vaccine was rather muted at first, with people guardedly wondering if this was really the start of the end.
“There hasn’t been a great reaction yet because it is very much early days,” he says. “People are talking, asking is this the magic bullet, the thing that is going to save us from this continual in-and-out lockdown?”
Mr MacStiofain says some people will have concerns about vaccination but he is “very supportive” of the programme. “If I am offered it I will take it.”
But it is very important, he adds, that there is no degree of compulsion about taking the vaccine. People must have the right to refuse if that is their wish.
“You can’t force people to take it. We all have our own moral and ethical dilemmas to face when we decide to choose vaccines.”
But approval of the vaccine was a good day, he feels. Getting fully back to normal will take time Mr MacStiofain understands full well but, he adds, the vaccine is a “glimmer of light at the end of a very dark tunnel”.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Man (21) sentenced to community service over crash that killed friend

A man has been sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of 12 months in prison for careless driving , causing the death of one of his friends .
Pete Rogers ( 21 ) , from Ballinaclieve , Moynalty , Kells , Co Meath , was the driver of a black Volkswagen Passat that was involved in a fatal collision in the early hours of May 14th , 2017 .
The late Cormac Murphy ( 20 ) from Mullagh was a back-seat passenger in the car , which was carrying five others when it crashed at Claddagh Road @ @ @ @ @ @ @ careless driving causing death .
The case was heard last week , with sentencing adjourned to Thursday .
Last week Judge John Aylmer heard that only Rogers and the other front-seat passenger , Edward O ’ Brien , were found to have been wearing seatbelts .
The four sitting in the rear of the vehicle – the late Mr Murphy , his first cousin Mark O ’ Brien , Noel Lynch and Shauna Daly – were not .
On Thursday Judge Aylmer , passing sentence , said the most culpable factor was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passengers were not wearing seatbelts .
The judge gave Rogers 18 months to complete the community service .
He also banned him from driving for eight years .
Judge Aylmer noted that there was not sufficient evidence for the DPP to secure a conviction for dangerous driving , hence the amended charge of careless driving causing death .
All involved in the accident were aged 18-22 years and all suffered injuries .
Mr Murphy died after spending several days in a coma after the crash .

A man has been sentenced to 240 hours of community service in lieu of 12 months in prison for careless driving, causing the death of one of his friends.
Pete Rogers (21), from Ballinaclieve, Moynalty, Kells, Co Meath, was the driver of a black Volkswagen Passat that was involved in a fatal collision in the early hours of May 14th, 2017.
The late Cormac Murphy (20) from Mullagh was a back-seat passenger in the car, which was carrying five others when it crashed at Claddagh Road, Rantavan.
Rogers pleaded guilty to careless driving causing death. The case was heard last week, with sentencing adjourned to Thursday.
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Last week Judge John Aylmer heard that only Rogers and the other front-seat passenger, Edward O’Brien, were found to have been wearing seatbelts. The four sitting in the rear of the vehicle – the late Mr Murphy, his first cousin Mark O’Brien, Noel Lynch and Shauna Daly – were not.
On Thursday Judge Aylmer, passing sentence, said the most culpable factor was the fact Rogers was the driver and his passengers were not wearing seatbelts. The judge gave Rogers 18 months to complete the community service. He also banned him from driving for eight years.
Judge Aylmer noted that there was not sufficient evidence for the DPP to secure a conviction for dangerous driving, hence the amended charge of careless driving causing death.
All involved in the accident were aged 18-22 years and all suffered injuries. Mr Murphy died after spending several days in a coma after the crash.