theirishtimes--2020-11-13--Séamus Woulfe: Opposition to seek legal advice as meeting ends without agreement

Opposition leaders have said they will seek independent legal advice and also full documentation on the controversy surrounding Supreme Court judge Séamus Woulfe , following an inconclusive meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Friday .
The leaders of the Opposition parties and groupings met with Mr Martin , Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan for two hours in Government Buildings .
Speaking as he left the building , Labour leader Alan Kelly said the outcome of the meeting had been inconclusive and Opposition leaders would need to get their own advice .
He said another meeting would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is understood the Taoiseach gave an undertaking to gather all the relevant documentation surrounding the episode including all the correspondence between Mr Justice Woulfe and Chief Justice Frank Clarke , who told the former attorney general he was of the opinion he should resign from the Supreme Court arising his attendance at a golf dinner in Clifden during the summer , and the manner in which he dealt with it afterwards .
“ We have only got partial disclosure and partial documentation from Justice Woulfe and Chief Justice Clarke .
We want the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ acceptable to the Taoiseach , ” said Mr Kelly .
He also said that impeachment under Article 35.4 of the Constitution was one of only several options that was raised at the meeting .
He said the decision to be taken was not a binary one for the Oireachtas of impeachment or nothing .
He added that doing nothing was also an option .
The four Opposition leaders who spoke leaving the meeting were Mr Kelly , Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy , Richard Boyd-Barrett of Solidarity-People Before Profit and Mattie McGrath of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between all four that the three Government leaders had been very cautious in their approach to the meeting and had not pushed any particular standpoint , view or possible solution .
Ms Murphy said it was obvious that the Oireachtas needs its own independent legal advice .
She said she was yet to be convinced that impeachment was an option .
“ I think you have got to set the bar high in relation to impeachments .
I ’ m still not convinced that the bar is high enough in this particular case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the leaders “ didn ’ t get a resolution today ” .
Mr Boyd-Barrett said there definitely was not a consensus about what to do next .
“ I think there ’ s a concern about what exactly are the legalities of the Dáil taking action , or passing motions , or commencing impeachments .
He said it continued to be his view that Mr Justice Woulfe should step back and resign .
He said it was a “ distraction ” which was going undermine public health efforts and had already caused “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mess ” .
Mr McGrath of the rural alliance brought up the issue of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board appointment of Mr Woulfe and said he asked Mr Martin did he know that other judges had expressed interest in applying .
He said he though it “ bizarre ” that Mr Justice Clarke was chair of the board which recommended Mr Woulfe as the new judge .
He also said it remained his view that Mr Woulfe had not reached the threshold of misbehaviour to trigger an impeachment motion .
On Friday morning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of senior judges wrote to the Government to express interest in the Supreme Court vacancy that was ultimately filled by Mr Woulfe , but the Cabinet was not told of their applications before he was selected in July .
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said : “ There are serious questions surrounding the appointment process of Mr Justice Séamus Woulfe and the fact that the Cabinet was not informed that there were three judicial candidates who had also asked to be considered for the post .
Those questions need to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today ’ s meeting , it is not yet clear that the Oireachtas has a role in finding a resolution to the present situation concerning Mr Justice Woulfe and his colleagues .
”

Opposition leaders have said they will seek independent legal advice and also full documentation on the controversy surrounding Supreme Court judge Séamus Woulfe, following an inconclusive meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Friday.
The leaders of the Opposition parties and groupings met with Mr Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan for two hours in Government Buildings.
Speaking as he left the building, Labour leader Alan Kelly said the outcome of the meeting had been inconclusive and Opposition leaders would need to get their own advice. He said another meeting would be required early next week.
It is understood the Taoiseach gave an undertaking to gather all the relevant documentation surrounding the episode including all the correspondence between Mr Justice Woulfe and Chief Justice Frank Clarke, who told the former attorney general he was of the opinion he should resign from the Supreme Court arising his attendance at a golf dinner in Clifden during the summer, and the manner in which he dealt with it afterwards.
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“We have only got partial disclosure and partial documentation from Justice Woulfe and Chief Justice Clarke. We want the full documentation. That request was broadly acceptable to the Taoiseach,” said Mr Kelly.
He also said that impeachment under Article 35.4 of the Constitution was one of only several options that was raised at the meeting. He said the decision to be taken was not a binary one for the Oireachtas of impeachment or nothing. He added that doing nothing was also an option.
The four Opposition leaders who spoke leaving the meeting were Mr Kelly, Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy, Richard Boyd-Barrett of Solidarity-People Before Profit and Mattie McGrath of the Rural Independents. There was agreement between all four that the three Government leaders had been very cautious in their approach to the meeting and had not pushed any particular standpoint, view or possible solution.
Ms Murphy said it was obvious that the Oireachtas needs its own independent legal advice.
She said she was yet to be convinced that impeachment was an option. “I think you have got to set the bar high in relation to impeachments. I’m still not convinced that the bar is high enough in this particular case,” she said.
She said the leaders “didn’t get a resolution today”.
Mr Boyd-Barrett said there definitely was not a consensus about what to do next.
“I think there’s a concern about what exactly are the legalities of the Dáil taking action, or passing motions, or commencing impeachments.
He said it continued to be his view that Mr Justice Woulfe should step back and resign.
He said it was a “distraction” which was going undermine public health efforts and had already caused “a general legal, political and constitutional mess”.
Mr McGrath of the rural alliance brought up the issue of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board appointment of Mr Woulfe and said he asked Mr Martin did he know that other judges had expressed interest in applying. He said he though it “bizarre” that Mr Justice Clarke was chair of the board which recommended Mr Woulfe as the new judge.
He also said it remained his view that Mr Woulfe had not reached the threshold of misbehaviour to trigger an impeachment motion.
On Friday morning, The Irish Times reported that a number of senior judges wrote to the Government to express interest in the Supreme Court vacancy that was ultimately filled by Mr Woulfe, but the Cabinet was not told of their applications before he was selected in July.
Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said: “There are serious questions surrounding the appointment process of Mr Justice Séamus Woulfe and the fact that the Cabinet was not informed that there were three judicial candidates who had also asked to be considered for the post. Those questions need to be answered by government.
“Arising from today’s meeting, it is not yet clear that the Oireachtas has a role in finding a resolution to the present situation concerning Mr Justice Woulfe and his colleagues.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-13--First victim of Yorkshire Ripper was Irish woman

Peter Sutcliffe , the Yorkshire Ripper , is infamous for having killed 13 women but he also attacked other victims , who survived , including Irish woman Anna Brosnan who had emigrated from Co Kerry to Britain as a teenager .
Now deceased 12 years , Anna Brosnan was Sutcliffe ’ s first victim after he propositioned her on the street before following her , attacking her and leaving her for dead on the street .
She was found in an alleyway by her former partner and a teenage boy and , while she had suffered serious head injuries , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and recovered .
In 1981 , then aged 42 and working in Woolworths , she attended Sutcliffe ’ s trial at the Old Bailey after it had been established during the police investigation that she was his first victim .
She was one of seven women attacked by Sutcliffe but who survived .
Anna Patricia Brosnan was originally from Tralee in Co Kerry and was one of 12 siblings .
She went live in England in 1948 , aged 15 years ; settling in Keighley , Yorkshire , where her older sister had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rogulskyj , a Ukrainian , working in a local factory and they married in 1955 before divorcing 18 years later .
She became involved in a relationship with British man Geoffrey Hughes , who she later learned had been discharged from psychiatric care with a recommendation to “ keep away from women ” for a period of five years .
On July 4th , 1975 , she and Hughes had a row and when she went out on her own that night and later returned home she realised Hughes had moved his personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also taken her car .
She decided to challenge him at his home , a short walk away in Keighley , and while on her way there a man – later established as Peter Sutcliffe — propositioned her on the street asking her if she “ fancied it ” .
She declined his advances and continued her way to Hughes ’ s home where her calls to the door were not answered before she broke one of the windows with her shoe .
As she make her way home , the man who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again , with Anna Brosnan rejecting his advances again .
As she walked on , she was hit over the head with a heavy object , knocking her unconscious onto the ground .
She was found unconscious by Hughes and a local teenager before being taken to hospital and undergoing surgery for her head wound .
She also had bruising to her hands and arm and had sustained scratches to her abdomen , though she had not been sexually assaulted and recovered from her physical injuries .
She died in 2008 aged 73 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ author and journalist Carol Ann Lee in her book on all of Sutcliffe ’ s victims , Somebody ’ s Mother , Somebody ’ s Daughter .

Handout composite photo of twelve of the thirteen women killed by Peter Sutcliffe. Top row (left to right) Wilma McCann, Emily Jackson, Irene Richardson, Patricia Atkinson, Jayne McDonald and Jean Jordan. Bottom row: Yvonne Pearson, Helen Rytka, Vera Millward, Josephine Whitaker, Barbara Leach and Jacqueline Hill. PA Photograph: PA Wire
Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, is infamous for having killed 13 women but he also attacked other victims, who survived, including Irish woman Anna Brosnan who had emigrated from Co Kerry to Britain as a teenager.
Now deceased 12 years, Anna Brosnan was Sutcliffe’s first victim after he propositioned her on the street before following her, attacking her and leaving her for dead on the street. She was found in an alleyway by her former partner and a teenage boy and, while she had suffered serious head injuries, including a broken skull, she survived and recovered.
In 1981, then aged 42 and working in Woolworths, she attended Sutcliffe’s trial at the Old Bailey after it had been established during the police investigation that she was his first victim. She was one of seven women attacked by Sutcliffe but who survived.
Anna Patricia Brosnan was originally from Tralee in Co Kerry and was one of 12 siblings. She went live in England in 1948, aged 15 years; settling in Keighley, Yorkshire, where her older sister had settled. She met fellow immigrant Roman Rogulskyj, a Ukrainian, working in a local factory and they married in 1955 before divorcing 18 years later.
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She became involved in a relationship with British man Geoffrey Hughes, who she later learned had been discharged from psychiatric care with a recommendation to “keep away from women” for a period of five years.
On July 4th, 1975, she and Hughes had a row and when she went out on her own that night and later returned home she realised Hughes had moved his personal effects out of her home and had also taken her car. She decided to challenge him at his home, a short walk away in Keighley, and while on her way there a man – later established as Peter Sutcliffe — propositioned her on the street asking her if she “fancied it”.
She declined his advances and continued her way to Hughes’s home where her calls to the door were not answered before she broke one of the windows with her shoe. As she make her way home, the man who had propositioned her minutes earlier did so again, with Anna Brosnan rejecting his advances again.
As she walked on, she was hit over the head with a heavy object, knocking her unconscious onto the ground. She was found unconscious by Hughes and a local teenager before being taken to hospital and undergoing surgery for her head wound.
She also had bruising to her hands and arm and had sustained scratches to her abdomen, though she had not been sexually assaulted and recovered from her physical injuries.
She died in 2008 aged 73 years and was profiled last year by author and journalist Carol Ann Lee in her book on all of Sutcliffe’s victims, Somebody’s Mother, Somebody’s Daughter.


theirishtimes--2020-11-13--Scientists must counter ‘fake stuff’ on Covid-19, says Luke O’Neill

Public trust in science has built up strongly during the Covid-19 pandemic , but if there is no breakthrough over the next six months on a vaccine this could be quickly undermined , according to Prof Luke O ’ Neill .
Addressing a webinar on how scientists have engaged with the media in recent months , the immunologist based in Trinity College Dublin , who has been prominent in media coverage , underlined he was “ 90 per cent confident ” a suitable vaccine would be found because of the scale of research being undertaken .
He believed the leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the great hero ” for many – had pertinent advice for scientists in the form of three rules .
The first was go with the data ; the second was “ if you don ’ t know , say so ” , and the third was : the story is not about you , “ it ’ s about trying to get information out there ” .
While scientific literacy in Ireland was at an all-time high , scientists could not be neutral .
“ They have to counter the fake stuff , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
The webinar , Science in the Headlines : Communicating Covid-19 , was hosted by the Celsius Group in Dublin City University .
Prof O ’ Neill admitted he was uncomfortable being asked questions such as “ should the country go to Level 2 ?
” or “ should families be allowed meet at Christmas time ?
” because “ there is no scientific answer to this ” .
TCD virologist Dr Kim Roberts highlighted the problem of “ fake expertise ” , and the particular scenario in Ireland where many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to counter it .
On the uncertainty of science , she said it was about being honest and admitting “ there are holes in knowledge where we need to learn more , because science takes time ” .
There are many challenges for scientists when talking in the media about the pandemic , said Dr Claire O ’ Connell , a regular contributor to Irish Times science coverage .
“ These include keeping up to date with the deluge of new studies coming out , tackling misinformation and disinformation and also being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside their particular field of expertise .
Then they also need to communicate the uncertainty that is a hallmark of this pandemic , ” she added .
Dr Brian Trench , a specialist on science communication , said the pandemic was an extraordinary learning experience for the public , with many more people now having an understanding of science as “ a continuing process of discovery , rediscovery and reducing uncertainty ” .
He was optimistic there would be lasting benefits for society .
Asked about how the media handled this week ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Pfizer ’ s Covid-19 vaccine , the science writer Cormac Sheridan said it was reported quite soberly in the first instance with reference to the details being from a press release rather than a research paper .
Listening to Morning Ireland on RTÉ radio next day , however , there was reference to “ a game changer ” and he was thinking of tweeting “ please folks , drop this trope because it raises expectations ... we are too early in the process ” .
Moreover , he added : “ Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ multiple solutions ” .
The issue may have been due to broadcast interviews being inevitably more emotional compared to the more reserved printed word , he added .
The investigative journalist Maria Delaney of Noteworthy said it was clear general reporters had gained considerable scientific knowledge in recent months , as indicated by their “ explainers ” and comfort in handling data on coronavirus .
But there had been a marked rise in misinformation , which prompted their news site , in conjunction with The Journal , to undertake 112 detailed “ fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believed the Irish public were critical and well informed .

Public trust in science has built up strongly during the Covid-19 pandemic, but if there is no breakthrough over the next six months on a vaccine this could be quickly undermined, according to Prof Luke O’Neill.
Addressing a webinar on how scientists have engaged with the media in recent months, the immunologist based in Trinity College Dublin, who has been prominent in media coverage, underlined he was "90 per cent confident" a suitable vaccine would be found because of the scale of research being undertaken.
He believed the leading US immunologist Dr Anthony Fauci – "the great hero" for many – had pertinent advice for scientists in the form of three rules. The first was go with the data; the second was "if you don't know, say so", and the third was: the story is not about you, "it's about trying to get information out there".
While scientific literacy in Ireland was at an all-time high, scientists could not be neutral. "They have to counter the fake stuff, especially if it harms people", he said. The webinar, Science in the Headlines: Communicating Covid-19, was hosted by the Celsius Group in Dublin City University.
READ MORE
Prof O’Neill admitted he was uncomfortable being asked questions such as “should the country go to Level 2?” or “should families be allowed meet at Christmas time?” because “there is no scientific answer to this”.
TCD virologist Dr Kim Roberts highlighted the problem of "fake expertise", and the particular scenario in Ireland where many public health doctors were not allowed speak out to counter it. On the uncertainty of science, she said it was about being honest and admitting "there are holes in knowledge where we need to learn more, because science takes time".
There are many challenges for scientists when talking in the media about the pandemic, said Dr Claire O’Connell, a regular contributor to Irish Times science coverage.
“These include keeping up to date with the deluge of new studies coming out, tackling misinformation and disinformation and also being asked about questions or topics that lie outside their particular field of expertise. Then they also need to communicate the uncertainty that is a hallmark of this pandemic,” she added.
Dr Brian Trench, a specialist on science communication, said the pandemic was an extraordinary learning experience for the public, with many more people now having an understanding of science as "a continuing process of discovery, rediscovery and reducing uncertainty". He was optimistic there would be lasting benefits for society.
Asked about how the media handled this week's announcement of 90 per cent efficiency with Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine, the science writer Cormac Sheridan said it was reported quite soberly in the first instance with reference to the details being from a press release rather than a research paper.
Listening to Morning Ireland on RTÉ radio next day, however, there was reference to "a game changer" and he was thinking of tweeting "please folks, drop this trope because it raises expectations...we are too early in the process".
Moreover, he added: “Covid-19 is a complex, multifactorial problem requiring multiple solutions”. The issue may have been due to broadcast interviews being inevitably more emotional compared to the more reserved printed word, he added.
The investigative journalist Maria Delaney of Noteworthy said it was clear general reporters had gained considerable scientific knowledge in recent months, as indicated by their "explainers" and comfort in handling data on coronavirus.
But there had been a marked rise in misinformation, which prompted their news site, in conjunction with The Journal, to undertake 112 detailed “fact checks”. That said, she believed the Irish public were critical and well informed.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Covid-19: DPP reports steep rise in domestic violence cases

A total of 401 people have been sent forward for trial to date over alleged criminal breaches of Covid-19 regulations while domestic violence cases have risen 87 per cent during the pandemic , a conference heard on Saturday .
The Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) , Claire Loftus , said in the period since March , the Minister for Health has signed into law a series of statutory regulations .
“ Up until this week we had received 447 files seeking direction as to prosecution , ” she told the Annual National Prosecutors ’ Conference .
“ Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such offences in 262 cases .
This has involved a total of 401 suspects.
” Since the outset of the pandemic , the DPP ’ s office has liaised with and advised An Garda Síochána on the enforcement of the new regulations , and all such prosecutions have been directed by her office , she said .
Ms Loftus also told the conference , which was held online , her office had seen an increase since the pandemic began in files being submitted involving alleged crimes of domestic violence , or breaches of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we received a total of 464 files where domestic violence or breach of a court order was involved .
“ Already this year the office has received 684 files .
This represents an 87 per cent increase over the same period last year.
” It was important that the the criminal justice system had responded to this matter in the public interest , Ms Loftus said , and she welcomed the priority the Courts Service and District Court had given to domestic violence cases .
The office has also seen a sharp rise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relation to all categories of crime , the conference heard .
“ What has been remarkable about the months since the pandemic began is that the number of files being submitted to the office for decision on prosecution has increased by approximately 22 per cent over last year .
“ Although our workload has been increasing year on year , this is an extraordinary increase and it remains to be seen whether it will be sustained into 2021 , ” she said .
Ms Loftus did not comment on what she believed might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of files being received .
The chief executive of the Courts Service , Angela Denning , in an address concerning the service ’ s response to the pandemic , said there had been 1,600 remote court hearings held since April .
The need to respond to the pandemic had meant the modernisation programme envisaged for the courts had “ leaped four years in four months ” , she said .
She wanted to build on the progress that had been made .
The holding of jury trials while complying with social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the pandemic remained a significant challenge , the conference heard .
Empanelling a jury was all the more difficult when elderly people , those with underlying conditions , and those involved in particular types of work might not be asked to serve , and the location of buildings suitable for holding jury trials while complying with social distancing rules had proven difficult .
“ Until we get a vaccine , we can ’ t go back to the old ways of working , ” she told the conference .
Tom O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the protection of vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences , said the group had not supported the idea of victims having separate legal representation at trials .
The working group had decided not to upset the balance of trials , which are a “ binary contest ” .
There was already a good deal of assistance given to victims , and perhaps too much emphasis was put on the trial itself , which was only one point in a process .
It was important , he said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the entire process , from the decision as to what charges should be brought to the question of parole in the cases where the accused was sent to jail .
It was little known , Mr O ’ Malley said , that the law already provides for the Legal Aid Board to provide assistance to victims , in terms of the provision of legal advice where cases were sent for trial .
He said the group recommended the Legal Aid Board provide assistance to victims whether cases were sent forward for trial or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voucher system , given the way the Legal Aid Board is already overworked .

A total of 401 people have been sent forward for trial over alleged criminal breaches of Covid-19 regulations
A total of 401 people have been sent forward for trial to date over alleged criminal breaches of Covid-19 regulations while domestic violence cases have risen 87 per cent during the pandemic, a conference heard on Saturday.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Claire Loftus, said in the period since March, the Minister for Health has signed into law a series of statutory regulations.
“Up until this week we had received 447 files seeking direction as to prosecution,” she told the Annual National Prosecutors’ Conference.
“Of that number we have directed prosecution of such offences in 262 cases. This has involved a total of 401 suspects.”
READ MORE
Since the outset of the pandemic, the DPP’s office has liaised with and advised An Garda Síochána on the enforcement of the new regulations, and all such prosecutions have been directed by her office, she said.
Ms Loftus also told the conference, which was held online, her office had seen an increase since the pandemic began in files being submitted involving alleged crimes of domestic violence, or breaches of a court order.
“In 2019 we received a total of 464 files where domestic violence or breach of a court order was involved.
“Already this year the office has received 684 files. This represents an 87 per cent increase over the same period last year.”
It was important that the the criminal justice system had responded to this matter in the public interest, Ms Loftus said, and she welcomed the priority the Courts Service and District Court had given to domestic violence cases.
The office has also seen a sharp rise in the files it is receiving in relation to all categories of crime, the conference heard.
“What has been remarkable about the months since the pandemic began is that the number of files being submitted to the office for decision on prosecution has increased by approximately 22 per cent over last year.
“Although our workload has been increasing year on year, this is an extraordinary increase and it remains to be seen whether it will be sustained into 2021,” she said.
Ms Loftus did not comment on what she believed might be driving the increase in the overall number of files being received.
The chief executive of the Courts Service, Angela Denning, in an address concerning the service's response to the pandemic, said there had been 1,600 remote court hearings held since April.
The need to respond to the pandemic had meant the modernisation programme envisaged for the courts had “leaped four years in four months”, she said. She wanted to build on the progress that had been made.
The holding of jury trials while complying with social distancing regulations and dealing with other restraints created by the pandemic remained a significant challenge, the conference heard.
Empanelling a jury was all the more difficult when elderly people, those with underlying conditions, and those involved in particular types of work might not be asked to serve, and the location of buildings suitable for holding jury trials while complying with social distancing rules had proven difficult.
“Until we get a vaccine, we can’t go back to the old ways of working,” she told the conference.
Tom O’Malley BL, who chaired a review of the protection of vulnerable witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of sexual offences, said the group had not supported the idea of victims having separate legal representation at trials.
The working group had decided not to upset the balance of trials, which are a “binary contest”.
There was already a good deal of assistance given to victims, and perhaps too much emphasis was put on the trial itself, which was only one point in a process.
It was important, he said, victims had access to legal assistance through the entire process, from the decision as to what charges should be brought to the question of parole in the cases where the accused was sent to jail.
It was little known, Mr O’Malley said, that the law already provides for the Legal Aid Board to provide assistance to victims, in terms of the provision of legal advice where cases were sent for trial.
He said the group recommended the Legal Aid Board provide assistance to victims whether cases were sent forward for trial or not, perhaps by way of a voucher system, given the way the Legal Aid Board is already overworked.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Gardaí seek help tracing woman (37) missing from Drogheda

Gardaí have appealed for help in tracing Lisa Murphy ( 37 ) who was last seen near her home in @ @ @ @ @ , Co Louth on Wednesday , November 11th .
Ms Murphy is described as being @ @ @ @ @ ) tall , with blonde hair and blue eyes .
Gardaí said they and Ms @ @ @ @ @ very concerned for her welfare and would urge her to make contact .
Anyone with @ @ @ @ @ asked to contact gardaí in Drogheda on 041 987 4200 or the Garda Confidential Line @ @ @ @ @

Gardaí looking for a missing 37-year-old Drogheda woman have said she has been found safe and well.
Gardaí said they and the woman’s family were very concerned for her welfare and urged her to make contact on Saturday morning.
But in a statement on Saturday afternoon, the Garda said the woman from the Moneymore estate in the Co Louth town, had been located.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Covid-19 hospital numbers falling but warning of ‘unpredictable nature’ of virus

The number of people with coronavirus in Ireland ’ s intensive care units has fallen to 32 while the overall number of people in hospital with the disease has fallen to 254 .
The figures are are the lowest in almost a month as rates continue to fall during the lockdown to tackle a second wave of Covid-19 in the Republic .
The positivity rate for the virus is now at 3.9 per cent over the last seven days , according to the Government ’ s data hub .
According to the HSE ’ s daily operations report published on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , there were four Covid patients in ICU in University Hospital Limerick and four in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda , Co Louth .
There were three patients in ICU with coronavirus in Wexford and three in Dublin ’ s Mater and two in each of Tallaght , St Vincent ’ s , Cork University Hospital and Connolly Hospital Dublin , while there were single cases in ICUs elsewhere in the Republic .
Despite the fall in hospital numbers , the National Public Health Emergency Team on Friday evening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 482 new cases .
This brings to 67,099 the number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 since the pandemic began , while the death toll climbs to 1,972 .
The number of new cases was an increase on Thursday ’ s total of 395 .
Of the latest 482 cases , 61 per cent were under 45 years of age and the median age was 35 years old .
Dr Tony Holohan , chief medical officer at the Department of Health , said : “ The increase in case numbers of Covid-19 today is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this highly infectious disease .
“ The hard work undertaken by all of us over the last three weeks is to be commended , but we must not allow our success to date let us drop our guard against the spread of this disease .
“ We need to hold firm to the public health advice : Keep 2m distance , wash our hands , wear face coverings where appropriate and limit ourselves to essential contacts from our own household .
If we can keep up high levels of compliance , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be on December 1st.
” Separately , Mr Holohan has warned the Government that the number of coronavirus cases in older people and in nursing homes , despite the Level 5 lockdown , remains a concern .
In a letter sent last week , Mr Holohan said that while the key indicators of the disease were improving , it was still “ not possible to draw substantive conclusions about the trajectory of the disease at this point ” .
Mr Holohan said that a higher proportion of cases notified in the previous fortnight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In the last seven days 11.9 per cent of cases notified were aged over 65 .
This compares with 7.6 per cent of cases notified in the seven days up to the 15th of October.
” He said that in the week leading up to the October 31st there were 56 open clusters associated with nursing homes and 33 associated with hospitals .
Data released this week shows that the virus is spreading at different rates across the Republic .
Buncrana in Co Donegal continues to have the highest 14-day incidence rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at almost four times the national average .
The latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) for the two weeks from October 27th to November 9th examines the number of people infected per 100,000 of population by area , giving a better understanding of the rate of transmission than straight case numbers .
Buncrana recorded a rate of 536.5 cases per 100,000 , down from almost 595 on November 2nd .
The second highest rate was also in Co Donegal , in Letterkenny , which had a rate of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate has been decreasing gradually since the move to tighter restrictions and stood at 135 as of Thursday , down from a peak of 310 .
( Coronavirus search : Check how Covid-19 is spreading in your area ) .
On Friday , Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed the Government was planning a phased exit from lockdown from the start of December .
This would allow families to celebrate Christmas together where people live in different counties , and to some extent for people to meet up and socialise with friends .
However , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ going on the lash ” or to Christmas parties , when Ireland emerged from lockdown next month .

Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan has warned that recent progress in supressing the spread of Covid-19 is at risk after a new rise in case numbers in recent days.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) reported six new deaths and 456 new cases on Saturday evening. This brings to 1,978 the total number of deaths related to the disease in the Republic with the total number of confirmed cases here now at 67,526.
Publishing the data on Saturday night, Dr Holohan said: “Analysis of today’s data shows the five-day moving average of case numbers has increased from 354 to 392.
“We have seen higher numbers in recent days than we expected based on the encouraging trends of the last three weeks.
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“We are concerned that this progress is at risk. We have to remember that the virus is still very active in the community and we cannot let our guard slip. Nphet will continue to monitor the situation closely over the coming days.
“We all need to focus on what we can do to stop the spread of this disease; wash our hands regularly, wear a face covering, keep our distance from others, avoid crowds, limit our social network, know the symptoms, self-isolate and contact a GP if we have them. Stay at home and restrict our movements if you are a close contact of a confirmed case.”
Of the cases notified on Saturday:
210 are men, 246 are women
69 per cent are under 45 years of age
The median age is 33 years
151 are in Dublin, 38 in Limerick, 27 in Cork, 27 in Donegal, 27 in Galway and the remaining 186 cases are spread across 20 other counties.
A total of 254 Covid-19 patients were reported to be in hospital on Sunday, of whom 33 are in an ICU. The positivity rate for the virus is now at 3.6 per cent over the last seven days, according to the Government's data hub.
On Saturday, Prof Philip Nolan, Nphet's main modeller, said keeping the country on Level 3 "would have resulted in at least 1,200 hospitalisations" and 150 deaths a month. "Things kept simmering tend to boil over", he said on Twitter in response to an article in Saturday's Irish Times.
Separately, Mr Holohan has warned the Government that the number of coronavirus cases in older people and in nursing homes, despite the Level 5 lockdown, remains a concern.
A quiet Temple Bar, Dublin on Friday during the Level 5 lockdown. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
In a letter sent last week, Mr Holohan said that while the key indicators of the disease were improving, it was still “not possible to draw substantive conclusions about the trajectory of the disease at this point”.
Mr Holohan said a higher proportion of cases notified in the previous fortnight were in the over-65 age group. “In the last seven days, 11.9 per cent of cases notified were aged over 65. This compares with 7.6 per cent of cases notified in the seven days up to the 15th of October.”
He said that in the week leading up to October 31st there were 56 open clusters associated with nursing homes and 33 associated with hospitals.
Data released this week shows the virus is spreading at different rates across the Republic. Buncrana in Co Donegal continues to have the highest 14-day incidence rate in the State, running at almost four times the national average.
The latest data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) for the two weeks from October 27th to November 9th examines the number of people infected per 100,000 of population by area, giving a better understanding of the rate of transmission than straight case numbers.
Buncrana recorded a rate of 536.5 cases per 100,000, down from almost 595 on November 2nd. The second highest rate was also in Co Donegal, in Letterkenny, which had a rate of 409.5 cases per 100,000.
The national rate has been decreasing gradually since the move to tighter restrictions and stood at 135 as of Thursday, down from a peak of 310. (Coronavirus search: Check how Covid-19 is spreading in your area).
Gardaí operating a Covid-19 restrictions checkpoint on O’Connell Street, Dublin, this weekend. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Christmas
On Friday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin confirmed the Government was planning a phased exit from lockdown from the start of December.
This would allow families to celebrate Christmas together where people live in different counties, and to some extent for people to meet up and socialise with friends.
However, Mr Martin said people would not be "going on the lash" or to Christmas parties when Ireland emerged from lockdown next month.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Death of woman in Co Down investigated by police

Police are investigating the sudden death of a woman in Newry , Co Down .
The Police Service of Northern @ @ @ @ @ in the Damolly Meadows area on Friday .
A post-mortem is to be conducted to @ @ @ @ @ .
No further details were immediately available .

Police said on Saturday the sudden death of a woman in Newry, Co Down was not being treated as suspicious.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the woman died in the Damolly Meadows area on Friday.
The PSNI had been investigating the circumstances of the death but on Saturday afternoon said in a statement: “A post mortem has been conducted following the sudden death of a woman in the Damolly Meadows area of Newry yesterday. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Case of Avian flu found in swan found dead in Co Derry

A case of avian flu has been detected in a swan in Co Derry .
The H5N8 strain of the virus was confirmed after tests on the dead bird found at Lough Beg .
Chief veterinary officer for Northern Ireland Robert Huey said the discovery was not a surprise , given recent cases in the Republic and Britain .
He urged owners of poultry businesses to step up biosecurity precautions to prevent the disease entering their flocks .
The risk to public health from the H5N8 strain of bird flu is classified as very low , with a very low @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have a significant adverse impact on the industry if it was detected in commercial poultry operations .
Dr Huey said : “ This detection in Northern Ireland is not surprising as there have been two recent confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in Great Britain .
“ There have also been three confirmed cases of H5N8 in wild birds across England and a falcon in Co Limerick has tested positive in recent days .
In addition , the risk of an avian influenza incursion to the UK increases over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Dr Huey said the risk to poultry in Northern Ireland was “ moderate ” .
He said biosecurity levels on individual sites was a crucial mitigation factor .
“ Veterinary officials continue to monitor the situation across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and in consultation with stakeholders will determine the necessary next steps to mitigate for an avian influenza incursion in poultry here , ” he said .
“ I would re-emphasise the need for all keepers of poultry , including game birds and pet birds , to take action @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reduce the risk of transmission of disease to their flocks .
“ If avian influenza were to enter our Northern Ireland flock , it would have a significant impact on our poultry industry , international trade and the wider economy .
All keepers of birds should critically review and improve their biosecurity measures where necessary in order to keep their birds safe.
” - PA

A case of avian flu has been detected in a swan in Co Derry.
The H5N8 strain of the virus was confirmed after tests on the dead bird found at Lough Beg.
Chief veterinary officer for Northern Ireland Robert Huey said the discovery was not a surprise, given recent cases in the Republic and Britain.
He urged owners of poultry businesses to step up biosecurity precautions to prevent the disease entering their flocks.
READ MORE
The risk to public health from the H5N8 strain of bird flu is classified as very low, with a very low food safety risk, but the virus would have a significant adverse impact on the industry if it was detected in commercial poultry operations.
Dr Huey said: "This detection in Northern Ireland is not surprising as there have been two recent confirmed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry in Great Britain.
"There have also been three confirmed cases of H5N8 in wild birds across England and a falcon in Co Limerick has tested positive in recent days. In addition, the risk of an avian influenza incursion to the UK increases over the winter months from migrating wild birds."
Dr Huey said the risk to poultry in Northern Ireland was “moderate”. He said biosecurity levels on individual sites was a crucial mitigation factor.
“Veterinary officials continue to monitor the situation across Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland and in consultation with stakeholders will determine the necessary next steps to mitigate for an avian influenza incursion in poultry here,” he said.
“I would re-emphasise the need for all keepers of poultry, including game birds and pet birds, to take action now and carefully consider and improve biosecurity to reduce the risk of transmission of disease to their flocks.
“If avian influenza were to enter our Northern Ireland flock, it would have a significant impact on our poultry industry, international trade and the wider economy. All keepers of birds should critically review and improve their biosecurity measures where necessary in order to keep their birds safe.” - PA


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--State’s overseas development aid increased 10% to €869m last year

State spending on overseas development aid rose by nearly 10 per cent in 2019 with the Government set to increase spending by an additional €21 million in 2020 .
Some €869.87 million , or 0.32 per cent of the country ’ s gross national product ( GNP ) , was spent on overseas development assistance ( ODA ) last year , up from €791.63 million in 2018 , according to figures published this week .
The Government ’ s Official Development Assistance report notes that 75 per cent of Ireland ’ s bilateral aid is now targeted at gender equality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countries worldwide through its funding .
More than €25 million was allocated to the Syria crisis in 2019 , bringing to €142 million Ireland ’ s total contribution to the emergency and making it the State ’ s largest ever response to a single crisis .
The State also provided €8.3 million in humanitarian relief to South Sudan , €5.8 million to Somalia , €5.2 million to Ethiopia , €4.9 million to the Democratic Republic of Congo and €4.7 million to the Central African Republic .
Some €14.9 million was spent on supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ funding to the Global Fund to fight Aids , tuberculosis and malaria by 50 per cent , committing €50 million over the 2020-2022 period .
Another €19 million was provided to the World Food Programme in 2019 and €4.5 million was committed to a three year partnership with the International Rescue Committee focusing on gender based violence .
At least €250 million has been earmarked for the coming four years for “ global education ” while €6 million will be spent over three years on the Education Can not Wait Unicef fund .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s rapid response corps to support UN crisis operations in 16 countries in 2019 , including Albania , Bangladesh , Cameroon , Colombia , Ethiopia , Ghana , Myanmar , South Sudan , Venezuela and Zimbabwe .
The report notes that the Government plans to “ expand its footprint ” on the continent of Africa by opening three new embassies in French-speaking countries by 2025 while doubling the number of postgraduate students from Africa on the Africa Ireland Fellows Programme during the same period .
It adds that the Government is still committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State ’ s gross national income to development aid by 2030 in line with the UN ’ s sustainable development goals .
Ireland comes 12th on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) list of development assistance with Luxembourg , Norway and Sweden holding the top spots for overseas support .
The State ’ s highest ODA level was in 2008 when €920.66 million , or 0.59 per cent of GNP , was spent on foreign development aid .
In the report , Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney warns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the advancement of rights for women and girls globally , adding that Ireland is “ acutely aware , through our own national experience , of the power of gender equality in transforming societies and unlocking the potential of individuals ” .
Having more women in parliament decreases the risk of conflict and human rights abuses while women ’ s “ meaningful participation in peace processes makes agreements more likely to be implemented and to last ” , said Mr Coveney .
Also published this week , the UN Population Fund ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report warns that one third of women worldwide will experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives with many millions still suffering the effects of female genital mutilation ( FGM ) , early and forced child marriages and son preference .
It notes that “ no country can claim to be entirely untouched ” by these practices .
FGM is most commonly practiced in east Africa .
An estimated 5,790 women and girls in Ireland have undergone FGM , while an additional 2,700 women and girls in the State are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
FGM involves the partial or total removal of the female genitalia with the aim of inhibiting a woman ’ s sexual feelings .
On gender quality , it will take nearly 100 years to close the overall gender gap and 257 years to close the gender gap when it comes to participating in the economy , it writes , citing the World Economic Forum .
Policies informed by “ feminist perspectives ” and a “ feminist foreign policy ” can encourage countries worldwide to prioritise gender equality and provide sufficient resources to @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Syrian children in the south of Idlib prvoince at a camp for the displaced near the border with Turkey last year. Ireland allocated more than than €25m to the Syria crisis in 2019. File photograph: Aaref Watad/AFP via Getty Images
State spending on overseas development aid rose by nearly 10 per cent in 2019 with the Government set to increase spending by an additional €21 million in 2020.
Some €869.87 million, or 0.32 per cent of the country’s gross national product (GNP), was spent on overseas development assistance (ODA) last year, up from €791.63 million in 2018, according to figures published this week.
The Government’s Official Development Assistance report notes that 75 per cent of Ireland’s bilateral aid is now targeted at gender equality with the State supporting more than 130 countries worldwide through its funding.
More than €25 million was allocated to the Syria crisis in 2019, bringing to €142 million Ireland's total contribution to the emergency and making it the State's largest ever response to a single crisis.
READ MORE
The State also provided €8.3 million in humanitarian relief to South Sudan, €5.8 million to Somalia, €5.2 million to Ethiopia, €4.9 million to the Democratic Republic of Congo and €4.7 million to the Central African Republic.
Some €14.9 million was spent on supporting Irish NGOs overseas while Ireland also increased funding to the Global Fund to fight Aids, tuberculosis and malaria by 50 per cent, committing €50 million over the 2020-2022 period.
Another €19 million was provided to the World Food Programme in 2019 and €4.5 million was committed to a three year partnership with the International Rescue Committee focusing on gender based violence.
At least €250 million has been earmarked for the coming four years for "global education" while €6 million will be spent over three years on the Education Cannot Wait Unicef fund.
There were 33 deployments from Ireland's rapid response corps to support UN crisis operations in 16 countries in 2019, including Albania, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Colombia, Ethiopia, Ghana, Myanmar, South Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
The report notes that the Government plans to "expand its footprint" on the continent of Africa by opening three new embassies in French-speaking countries by 2025 while doubling the number of postgraduate students from Africa on the Africa Ireland Fellows Programme during the same period.
It adds that the Government is still committed to allocating 0.7 per cent of the State’s gross national income to development aid by 2030 in line with the UN’s sustainable development goals.
Ireland comes 12th on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) list of development assistance with Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden holding the top spots for overseas support.
The State’s highest ODA level was in 2008 when €920.66 million, or 0.59 per cent of GNP, was spent on foreign development aid.
In the report, Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney warns of a growing conservatism and increasing pushback against the advancement of rights for women and girls globally, adding that Ireland is “acutely aware, through our own national experience, of the power of gender equality in transforming societies and unlocking the potential of individuals”.
Having more women in parliament decreases the risk of conflict and human rights abuses while women’s “meaningful participation in peace processes makes agreements more likely to be implemented and to last”, said Mr Coveney.
State of the World report
Also published this week, the UN Population Fund’s (UNFPA) State of the World report warns that one third of women worldwide will experience physical or sexual violence at some point in their lives with many millions still suffering the effects of female genital mutilation (FGM), early and forced child marriages and son preference. It notes that “no country can claim to be entirely untouched” by these practices.
FGM is most commonly practiced in east Africa. An estimated 5,790 women and girls in Ireland have undergone FGM, while an additional 2,700 women and girls in the State are believed to be at risk of cutting. FGM involves the partial or total removal of the female genitalia with the aim of inhibiting a woman’s sexual feelings.
On gender quality, it will take nearly 100 years to close the overall gender gap and 257 years to close the gender gap when it comes to participating in the economy, it writes, citing the World Economic Forum. Policies informed by “feminist perspectives” and a “feminist foreign policy” can encourage countries worldwide to prioritise gender equality and provide sufficient resources to achieve these goals, it concludes.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Is this yellow fungus edible? Readers’ nature queries

This fungus was poking out of the forest floor like little fires in Saggart Woods .
Is it edible ?
– Conal Brennan , Brittas , Co Dublin It ’ s yellow staghorn , generally regarded as inedible because of its gelatinous texture .
I saw this interesting thing on a tree in Phoenix Park ; what is it ?
– Fred Clarke ( 7 ) , Montpelier , Dublin 7 That growth looks like crown gall which can grow very large .
It ’ s caused by bacteria in the soil .
We came across this big guy on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was about an inch long .
What is it ?
– Saorlaith McLoughlin , Clontarf , Dublin 3 It ’ s a sea slater that lives on the sea shore .
We found this curious carcass at Renvyle Point , Co Galway last month .
It was rather decayed but the teeth were intriguing .
– Margaret Watchorn , Blackrock , Co Dublin From counting the number of teeth , it ’ s most likely a common dolphin .
I spotted this bird on the east pier in Dún Laoghaire harbour .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve seen it and it looks like a penguin .
It also went under the water and disappeared .
What is it and where do they live ?
– Nanci Martin , Sandyford , Dublin18 It ’ s a guillemot .
They breed on coastal cliffs in summer and winter in harbours and bays .
I saw this caterpillar on the shore .
What are the white bits on it ?
Are they bits of fluff from a nearby plant ?
– Robert Maxwell , Kinsale , Co Cork That ’ s the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white bits are the larvae of a parasitic insect , probably those of an ichneumon wasp , that preys on the caterpillars of moths .
My partner , Fergal Rodgers , took a fascinating image of this stunning creature in our back garden .
What is it ?
– Wendy O ’ Brien , Blackrock , Co Dublin This is an ichneumon wasp which does not sting like the common wasp .
It is a parasite on the caterpillars of moths .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email at viney @ anu.ie .
Please include a postal address .

This fungus was poking out of the forest floor like little fires in Saggart Woods. Is it edible? – Conal Brennan, Brittas, Co Dublin
It’s yellow staghorn, generally regarded as inedible because of its gelatinous texture.
Crown gall is caused by bacteria in the soil.
I saw this interesting thing on a tree in Phoenix Park; what is it? – Fred Clarke (7), Montpelier, Dublin 7
That growth looks like crown gall which can grow very large. It's caused by bacteria in the soil.
READ MORE
The sea slater lives on the sea shore.
We came across this big guy on the Bull Wall in Clontarf. It was about an inch long. What is it? – Saorlaith McLoughlin, Clontarf, Dublin 3
It’s a sea slater that lives on the sea shore.
Judging by the number of teeth, this is most likely the carcass of a common dolphin.
We found this curious carcass at Renvyle Point, Co Galway last month. It was rather decayed but the teeth were intriguing. – Margaret Watchorn, Blackrock, Co Dublin
From counting the number of teeth, it’s most likely a common dolphin.
Guillemots breed on coastal cliffs in summer.
I spotted this bird on the east pier in Dún Laoghaire harbour. It's the first time I've seen it and it looks like a penguin. It also went under the water and disappeared. What is it and where do they live? – Nanci Martin, Sandyford, Dublin18
It’s a guillemot. They breed on coastal cliffs in summer and winter in harbours and bays.
The white bits on this fox moth caterpillar are the larvae of a parasitic insect.
I saw this caterpillar on the shore. What are the white bits on it? Are they bits of fluff from a nearby plant? – Robert Maxwell, Kinsale, Co Cork
That’s the caterpillar of the fox moth. The white bits are the larvae of a parasitic insect, probably those of an ichneumon wasp, that preys on the caterpillars of moths.
The ichneumon wasp does not sting like the common wasp.
My partner, Fergal Rodgers, took a fascinating image of this stunning creature in our back garden. What is it? – Wendy O'Brien, Blackrock, Co Dublin
This is an ichneumon wasp which does not sting like the common wasp. It is a parasite on the caterpillars of moths.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978 or by email at viney@anu.ie. Please include a postal address.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Irish tree folklore continues to emerge from the shadows

At the height of the wind the birches were whipping the sky and our big beech swayed and curtseyed , its top branches bare above a swirling crinoline of gold .
The only casualty , after all , was the old hawthorn bush outside my workroom window , planted in the field bank a century ago .
A gust tore off a whole mossy limb , right down to the root , but left plenty for me to hang the peanuts on .
It made me think of all the other trees that far worse winds will topple from now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on fairy forts , but the last big old sycamores , ashes and oaks , rooted in sodden ground , with a special place in people ’ s local love , lore or supplication .
Many of their site legends go back many centuries to fear of the gods , so there ’ s some irony in the current rush to plant more trees to save the human world from big , awesome and invisible CO2 .
The sites of “ holy ” trees that still flutter with rags and rosaries are rooted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their proper place in nature .
Popular study of Irish tree folklore was late to emerge from the shade of “ big house ” trees and posh natural history .
In 2003 , Irish Trees : Myths , Legends and Folklore by Niall Mac Coitir , a Fingal County Council official of Celtic enthusiasms , was the first of four of similar impulse published within a decade .
In 2009 , Trees of Inspiration : Sacred Trees and Bushes of Ireland , with revelatory photographs , was the work of Christine Zucchelli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Co Clare .
In 2012 , Ben Simon , a Belfast ecologist and forest officer , followed 6in Ordnance Survey maps across the island to visit and gather his Tales , Traditions and Folklore of Ireland ’ s Trees .
In 2013 came the big and beautiful Heritage Trees of Ireland , sponsored by the Tree Council .
Aubrey Fennell ’ s sample of “ sacred ” trees offered yet another view of St Kieran ’ s Bush at Clareen , Co Offaly , a hawthorn still reliably festooned with rags ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last shred of rag has flown ) .
Mac Coitir , notably , insisted on freeing tree folklore from attempts to downplay pre-Christian origins or to find practical reasons for historically “ sacred ” sites .
He reckoned with more powerful symbolisms , affinities and taboos .
That feelings come into it is borne out somewhat by “ memorial ” trees , like several among those that now crowd our own acre .
Oaks grown from a gift of sprouted acorns remember Douglas Gageby , late , great editor of The Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from an oak outside the European Parliament , recalls the tree-loving Irish Rimes political columnist from Mayo , John Healy .
Others have more domestic significance .
Remembering “ a loved one ” has found a strong place , indeed , in the current urge to plant trees for sound ecological good .
The Tree Council , for example , has a sponsorship scheme that , for €60 , will plant a dedicated native tree in its wild woodlands , managed “ by Mother Earth ” in Wicklow and Cavan .
An unexpected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has offered us some hope of posterity .
The young trees were grown from seed harvested from a cluster of gnarled and stunted pines at the aptly named Rockforest in the Burren .
Pollen in sediment cores from the Rockforest Lough has confirmed them as genetic descendants of Ireland ’ s original “ Scots ” pines , long thought to have become extinct around AD 400 .
Hundreds of sapling raised from them have already been planted in the national parks at Ballycroy in north Mayo and Glenveagh in Donegal .
Prompted by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have also been propagated by Bernard Carey , at Mountshannon , Co Clare , a nurseryman who won assent from National Parks and Wildlife Service ( NPWS ) and the Forestry Service .
Sharing the proceeds with BurrenBeo , the conservation network , his advert on Done Deal offers five trees in a bag , delivered for €45 .
At 8m high and 4m wide in 10 years , these are not , perhaps , for the average Dublin patio .
We have passed our trio , as memorial trees , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stretch of lawn .
They may never reach the photogenic elegance of the iconic but alien group of pines beside Doo Lough , just over the mountain , but they will have better claim to belong .
The Rockforest site now has the status of a native woodland resource .
Dr Jenni Roche , woodland specialist with the NPWS , warns that its gene pool is “ of high conservation value but its rarity increases its extinction risk ” .
She hopes , meanwhile , for national forests of a tree long known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roots in the cutaway peat of the west .

At the height of the wind the birches were whipping the sky and our big beech swayed and curtseyed, its top branches bare above a swirling crinoline of gold.
The only casualty, after all, was the old hawthorn bush outside my workroom window, planted in the field bank a century ago. A gust tore off a whole mossy limb, right down to the root, but left plenty for me to hang the peanuts on.
It made me think of all the other trees that far worse winds will topple from now on – not just lonely hawthorns perched on fairy forts, but the last big old sycamores, ashes and oaks, rooted in sodden ground, with a special place in people’s local love, lore or supplication.
Many of their site legends go back many centuries to fear of the gods, so there’s some irony in the current rush to plant more trees to save the human world from big, awesome and invisible CO2. The sites of “holy” trees that still flutter with rags and rosaries are rooted in a time when people were aware of their proper place in nature.
READ MORE
Popular study of Irish tree folklore was late to emerge from the shade of “big house” trees and posh natural history. In 2003, Irish Trees: Myths, Legends and Folklore by Niall Mac Coitir, a Fingal County Council official of Celtic enthusiasms, was the first of four of similar impulse published within a decade.
In 2009, Trees of Inspiration: Sacred Trees and Bushes of Ireland, with revelatory photographs, was the work of Christine Zucchelli, an Austrian folklorist with a home in Co Clare. In 2012, Ben Simon, a Belfast ecologist and forest officer, followed 6in Ordnance Survey maps across the island to visit and gather his Tales, Traditions and Folklore of Ireland’s Trees.
In 2013 came the big and beautiful Heritage Trees of Ireland, sponsored by the Tree Council. Aubrey Fennell’s sample of “sacred” trees offered yet another view of St Kieran’s Bush at Clareen, Co Offaly, a hawthorn still reliably festooned with rags (prayers to the saint are answered when the last shred of rag has flown).
Mac Coitir, notably, insisted on freeing tree folklore from attempts to downplay pre-Christian origins or to find practical reasons for historically “sacred” sites. He reckoned with more powerful symbolisms, affinities and taboos.
That feelings come into it is borne out somewhat by “memorial” trees, like several among those that now crowd our own acre. Oaks grown from a gift of sprouted acorns remember Douglas Gageby, late, great editor of The Irish Times. Another, its acorn gathered from an oak outside the European Parliament, recalls the tree-loving Irish Rimes political columnist from Mayo, John Healy. Others have more domestic significance.
Remembering “a loved one” has found a strong place, indeed, in the current urge to plant trees for sound ecological good. The Tree Council, for example, has a sponsorship scheme that, for €60, will plant a dedicated native tree in its wild woodlands, managed “by Mother Earth” in Wicklow and Cavan.
An unexpected gift of three native Scots pine saplings has offered us some hope of posterity. The young trees were grown from seed harvested from a cluster of gnarled and stunted pines at the aptly named Rockforest in the Burren.
Pollen in sediment cores from the Rockforest Lough has confirmed them as genetic descendants of Ireland’s original “Scots” pines, long thought to have become extinct around AD 400. Hundreds of sapling raised from them have already been planted in the national parks at Ballycroy in north Mayo and Glenveagh in Donegal.
Prompted by my mention of the Rockforest trees, they have also been propagated by Bernard Carey, at Mountshannon, Co Clare, a nurseryman who won assent from National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and the Forestry Service. Sharing the proceeds with BurrenBeo, the conservation network, his advert on Done Deal offers five trees in a bag, delivered for €45.
At 8m high and 4m wide in 10 years, these are not, perhaps, for the average Dublin patio. We have passed our trio, as memorial trees, to young neighbours and friends with an inviting stretch of lawn. They may never reach the photogenic elegance of the iconic but alien group of pines beside Doo Lough, just over the mountain, but they will have better claim to belong.
The Rockforest site now has the status of a native woodland resource. Dr Jenni Roche, woodland specialist with the NPWS, warns that its gene pool is “of high conservation value but its rarity increases its extinction risk”.
She hopes, meanwhile, for national forests of a tree long known as red bones and white, skeletal roots in the cutaway peat of the west.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Constitutional and political crisis over Woulfe deepens as leaders to meet again

Leaders of Government and Opposition parties will meet early next week in an effort to resolve the deepening political and Constitutional crisis surrounding Supreme Court justice , Séamus Woulfe .
A meeting between the Taoiseach and leaders of all parties and groupings on Friday afternoon finished inconclusively , with no certainty or agreement if triggering an impeachment process to remove Mr Justice Woulfe would be appropriate or proportionate .
Opposition leaders leaving the meeting in Government Buildings said they will now seek independent legal advice and also full documentation on the controversy , including all the correspondence between Mr Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Chief Justice told the former attorney general it was his opinion that he should resign from the court .
The meeting convened by Mr Martin , Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan lasted for two hours .
Labour leader Alan Kelly said the outcome of the meeting had been inconclusive and Opposition leaders would need to get their own advice .
He said another meeting would be required early next week as it was now urgent and the “ clock had started ticking ” on the impasse .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to gather all the relevant documentation surrounding the episode .
Mr Justice Clarke has asserted that the manner in which Mr Woulfe has handled his attendance at a golf dinner in Clifden during the summer has damaged the reputation and the authority of the Supreme Court .
“ We have only got partial disclosure and partial documentation from Justice Woulfe and Chief Justice Clarke .
We want the full documentation , ” said Mr Kelly .
He also said that impeachment under Article 35.4 of the Constitution was only one of several options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that doing nothing was also an option as it would pass responsibility for the matter back to the judiciary .
The sense of urgency was stressed at the meeting .
A motion under Article 35.4 can be tabled by any Oireachtas member .
Richard Boyd-Barrett of Solidarity-People Before Profit confirmed his alliance may consider putting forward such a motion .
If that occurs , the Houses must act quickly and deal with it within five working days .
Mr Kelly was one of a number of leaders who also brought up the disclosure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the vacant position on the Supreme Court but that information had not been conveyed to the Taoiseach by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee , or the Tánaiste .
In a statement , Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said this raised serious questions which needed to be answered by the Government .
The three Government leaders were very cautious in their approach to the meeting , according to others in attendance , and had not pushed any particular standpoint , view or possible solution .
Social Democrats co-leader CatherineMurphy said it was obvious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal advice .
She said she was yet to be convinced that impeachment was an option .
“ I think you have got to set the bar high in relation to impeachments .
I ’ m still not convinced that the bar is high enough in this particular case , ” she said .
Mattie McGrath of the Rural Independents said he thought it “ bizarre ” that Mr Justice Clarke was chair of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board ( JAAB ) which recommended Mr Woulfe .
He said he was opposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appointment of former attorney general Máire Whelan to the Court of Appeal in 2016 .
Mr Martin in a Dáil debate in 2017 described it as an “ insider appointment ” and “ squalid ” .
He said nobody was told in 2016 three High Court judges had applied .
Government sources dismissed contentions of Mr Martin holding different positions then and now , saying Mr Woulfe had gone through the JAAB process , and Ms Whelan had not .
The Taoiseach also confirmed he was told a few days after the Programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Government was formed , that Mr Woulfe had come through the JAAB process .
It is understood the Green Party was informed at the same time .

Leaders of Government and Opposition parties will meet early next week in an effort to resolve the deepening political and Constitutional crisis surrounding Supreme Court justice, Séamus Woulfe.
A meeting between the Taoiseach and leaders of all parties and groupings on Friday afternoon finished inconclusively, with no certainty or agreement if triggering an impeachment process to remove Mr Justice Woulfe would be appropriate or proportionate.
Opposition leaders leaving the meeting in Government Buildings said they will now seek independent legal advice and also full documentation on the controversy, including all the correspondence between Mr Justice Woulfe and Chief Justice Frank Clarke. The Chief Justice told the former attorney general it was his opinion that he should resign from the court.
The meeting convened by Mr Martin, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar and Green Party Leader Eamon Ryan lasted for two hours.
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Labour leader Alan Kelly said the outcome of the meeting had been inconclusive and Opposition leaders would need to get their own advice. He said another meeting would be required early next week as it was now urgent and the "clock had started ticking" on the impasse.
It is understood the Taoiseach gave an undertaking to gather all the relevant documentation surrounding the episode. Mr Justice Clarke has asserted that the manner in which Mr Woulfe has handled his attendance at a golf dinner in Clifden during the summer has damaged the reputation and the authority of the Supreme Court.
“We have only got partial disclosure and partial documentation from Justice Woulfe and Chief Justice Clarke. We want the full documentation,” said Mr Kelly.
He also said that impeachment under Article 35.4 of the Constitution was only one of several options open to the Oireachtas. He added that doing nothing was also an option as it would pass responsibility for the matter back to the judiciary.
The sense of urgency was stressed at the meeting. A motion under Article 35.4 can be tabled by any Oireachtas member. Richard Boyd-Barrett of Solidarity-People Before Profit confirmed his alliance may consider putting forward such a motion. If that occurs, the Houses must act quickly and deal with it within five working days.
Expressed interest
Mr Kelly was one of a number of leaders who also brought up the disclosure that other judges had expressed interest in the vacant position on the Supreme Court but that information had not been conveyed to the Taoiseach by Minister for Justice Helen McEntee, or the Tánaiste.
In a statement, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said this raised serious questions which needed to be answered by the Government.
The three Government leaders were very cautious in their approach to the meeting, according to others in attendance, and had not pushed any particular standpoint, view or possible solution.
Social Democrats co-leader CatherineMurphy said it was obvious that the Oireachtas needs its own independent legal advice. She said she was yet to be convinced that impeachment was an option. “I think you have got to set the bar high in relation to impeachments. I’m still not convinced that the bar is high enough in this particular case,” she said.
Mattie McGrath of the Rural Independents said he thought it “bizarre” that Mr Justice Clarke was chair of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board (JAAB) which recommended Mr Woulfe. He said he was opposed to impeachment.
Controversy also arose about the appointment of former attorney general Máire Whelan to the Court of Appeal in 2016. Mr Martin in a Dáil debate in 2017 described it as an "insider appointment" and "squalid". He said nobody was told in 2016 three High Court judges had applied. Government sources dismissed contentions of Mr Martin holding different positions then and now, saying Mr Woulfe had gone through the JAAB process, and Ms Whelan had not.
The Taoiseach also confirmed he was told a few days after the Programme for Government was agreed, but before the Government was formed, that Mr Woulfe had come through the JAAB process. It is understood the Green Party was informed at the same time.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--First to go back into lockdown, Ireland has longest streak of falling infections in Europe

Ireland was the first country to go back into a national lockdown in Europe .
However , there are signs that this has paid off , as the State has now clocked up the longest streak of decreasing infections of any European state .
The figures are collected by the EU ’ s European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control , which monitors data including infection rates , hospitalisations and deaths for the United Kingdom , the EU and the European Economic Area .
Starting in late October , the 14-day average infection rate per 100,000 people in Ireland began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a long period from August in which the rate rose almost each week without a break .
Now , the Republic has the longest streak of weekly decreasing infections .
While the number of tests has fallen , the percentage of positive tests has also dropped since late October , indicating that undetected cases are also falling .
The rate of deaths in Ireland has not yet begun to decrease , but is stable .
Because people take time to develop symptoms and become ill , there is always a delay before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection rate .
As of Thursday night , when the ECDC data was last updated , Ireland ’ s infection rate was 138.9 cases per 100,000 people , with a testing positivity rate that has been dropping and was 4.3 per cent .
This still puts the country firmly in the “ red ” category according to ECDC ’ s system of classification , but compares favourably to to trends seen in much of Europe .
To be classified as “ green ” , countries must have fewer than 25 cases per 100,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent .
In contrast , the prevalence of infection in the population in some countries has reached almost 10 times Ireland ’ s level , such as in Czechia ( 1,331.4 per 100,000 ) and Luxembourg ( 1,311.6 per 100,000 ) .
These rates are followed closely by Liechtenstein ( 1,128.3 ) , Belgium ( 1,060.4 ) , Slovenia ( 995.9 ) , and Austria ( 900.8 ) .
In addition , some countries have a very high percentages of tests coming back positive , which indicates the true size of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capturing .
In Poland , more than one in three tests is positive , a level that Czechia , Bulgaria , and Slovenia are not far off .
In Croatia , Romania , Hungary , Belgium , Austria , and France , between one in four and one in five tests are positive , which is also a dangerously high rate .
There are signs that the growth in infections has begun to level off in Czechia , Belgium and Slovenia .
But in most countries in Europe outbreaks are still growing sharply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ France , Germany , Greece , Hungary , Italy , Latvia , Liechtenstein , Lithuania , Poland , Portugal and Sweden .
The level of the outbreak in Ireland puts it in a group of lesser-affected countries including Iceland ( 131.9 cases per 100,000 ) Finland , ( 53.8 cases per 100,000 ) , and Norway ( 135.5 per 100,000 ) .
Among the Scandinavian countries , Sweden is the worst affected with 414.2 infections per 100,000 , while Denmark is at 255.2 per 100,000 .
For comparison , the rate of infection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK , and the percentage of tests coming back positive has been rising to reach 7.5 per cent .
Northern Ireland has a higher rate of infections per 100,000 than the Republic according to UK figures , at 203.8 across the North and as high as 325.1 in the Causeway Coast and Glens area , but overall the rate has also been dropping .
Ireland is far from out of the woods however .
The ECDC reported that the Republic was among the countries with concerning levels of infections among people aged over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vulnerable group in society are only at a slightly lower rate than the general population .
There is also still pressure on intensive care facilities , as Ireland is still among the countries flagged for high ICU occupancy or rising admissions .
Across Europe , governments have put in place restrictions including curfews , moving education online , and closing bars and restaurants to try to curb a surge of infections that began as the summer period ended in September and saw total cases double from 5 million to break through the 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Since October 30th , France has once more been in total lockdown , with citizens required to carry a certificate to justify their reason for leaving the house .
Many countries are dealing with outbreaks that are much worse than the initial wave in the spring and health systems are strained across the continent , while the hard-hit countries of Italy , Belgium , Spain and France have seen deaths jump again to reach hundreds a day .

While the number of Covid-19 tests being done in the Republic has fallen, the percentage of positive tests has also dropped since late October, indicating that undetected cases are also falling. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Ireland was the first country to go back into a national lockdown in Europe. However, there are signs that this has paid off, as the State has now clocked up the longest streak of decreasing infections of any European state.
The figures are collected by the EU's European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, which monitors data including infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths for the United Kingdom, the EU and the European Economic Area.
Starting in late October, the 14-day average infection rate per 100,000 people in Ireland began to drop. This was a turnaround from a long period from August in which the rate rose almost each week without a break.
Now, the Republic has the longest streak of weekly decreasing infections. While the number of tests has fallen, the percentage of positive tests has also dropped since late October, indicating that undetected cases are also falling.
READ MORE
The rate of deaths in Ireland has not yet begun to decrease, but is stable. Because people take time to develop symptoms and become ill, there is always a delay before intensive care admissions and deaths follow the infection rate.
As of Thursday night, when the ECDC data was last updated, Ireland’s infection rate was 138.9 cases per 100,000 people, with a testing positivity rate that has been dropping and was 4.3 per cent. This still puts the country firmly in the “red” category according to ECDC’s system of classification, but compares favourably to to trends seen in much of Europe.
To be classified as “green”, countries must have fewer than 25 cases per 100,000 and a test positivity rate below 4 per cent.
In contrast, the prevalence of infection in the population in some countries has reached almost 10 times Ireland's level, such as in Czechia (1,331.4 per 100,000) and Luxembourg (1,311.6 per 100,000). These rates are followed closely by Liechtenstein (1,128.3), Belgium (1,060.4), Slovenia (995.9), and Austria (900.8).
In addition, some countries have a very high percentages of tests coming back positive, which indicates the true size of the outbreak is greater than the tests are capturing. In Poland, more than one in three tests is positive, a level that Czechia, Bulgaria, and Slovenia are not far off. In Croatia, Romania, Hungary, Belgium, Austria, and France, between one in four and one in five tests are positive, which is also a dangerously high rate.
There are signs that the growth in infections has begun to level off in Czechia, Belgium and Slovenia. But in most countries in Europe outbreaks are still growing sharply, particularly in Austria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal and Sweden.
The level of the outbreak in Ireland puts it in a group of lesser-affected countries including Iceland (131.9 cases per 100,000) Finland, (53.8 cases per 100,000), and Norway (135.5 per 100,000). Among the Scandinavian countries, Sweden is the worst affected with 414.2 infections per 100,000, while Denmark is at 255.2 per 100,000.
For comparison, the rate of infection is 471.8 per 100,000 people in the UK, and the percentage of tests coming back positive has been rising to reach 7.5 per cent. Northern Ireland has a higher rate of infections per 100,000 than the Republic according to UK figures, at 203.8 across the North and as high as 325.1 in the Causeway Coast and Glens area, but overall the rate has also been dropping.
Ireland is far from out of the woods however. The ECDC reported that the Republic was among the countries with concerning levels of infections among people aged over 65, as cases among the most vulnerable group in society are only at a slightly lower rate than the general population. There is also still pressure on intensive care facilities, as Ireland is still among the countries flagged for high ICU occupancy or rising admissions.
Across Europe, governments have put in place restrictions including curfews, moving education online, and closing bars and restaurants to try to curb a surge of infections that began as the summer period ended in September and saw total cases double from 5 million to break through the 10 million milestone in a matter of weeks. Since October 30th, France has once more been in total lockdown, with citizens required to carry a certificate to justify their reason for leaving the house.
Many countries are dealing with outbreaks that are much worse than the initial wave in the spring and health systems are strained across the continent, while the hard-hit countries of Italy, Belgium, Spain and France have seen deaths jump again to reach hundreds a day.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Government will need to look at ways to find extra money in wake of Covid crisis, says McGrath

The Minister for Public Expenditure has said it is “ inevitable ” the Government will have to examine ways to raise extra revenues to fund expanded State services in the wake of Covid-19 .
While saying there is no current plan to raise taxes , Michael McGrath said said : “ We have to keep our options open .
We ’ re certainly not saying that there won ’ t be revenue-raising measures in the Government ’ s lifetime , because I think it is inevitable that there will be some.
” “ I think we will inevitably have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Mr McGrath said in an interview with The Irish Times .
Some interventions will be temporary , but “ we have also made decisions that will result in a permanently larger public service ” , he said .
“ That will need to be paid for within an overall framework that is responsible and sustainable , ” he said , adding that the Government is “ placing a priority on the provision of good public services , and that ’ s something that I strongly believe in ” .
He said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finances would be outlined in the Stability Programme Update next April , but that at each budget “ both on the expenditure side and on the revenue-raising side , it would be foolish to rule things out ” .
On Friday , a further 482 cases of Covid and seven further deaths related to the virus were confirmed as chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan urged people not to “ drop their guard ” .
In a letter sent to the Government late last week and seen by The Irish Times , Dr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older people and in nursing homes remains a concern .
Dr Holohan also noted the trajectory of the disease in Dublin was different to the rest of the country , with the rate of improvement happening at a slower pace .
On Friday Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicated there may be a staged approach to exiting Level 5 at the start of December .
While Christmas would not be the same as last year he wanted it to be a “ meaningful ” one .
He expected churches to be open for Christmas week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going on the lash ” .
Meanwhile Northern Ireland ’ s Minister for Health has said plans to begin lifting Covid-19 restrictions in a week were a “ gamble ” and further measures will be needed “ probably ” before Christmas or the New Year .

Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath: ‘We’re certainly not saying that there won’t be revenue-raising measures in the Government’s lifetime, because I think it is inevitable that there will be some.’ Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
The Minister for Public Expenditure has said it is “inevitable” the Government will have to examine ways to raise extra revenues to fund expanded State services in the wake of Covid-19.
While saying there is no current plan to raise taxes, Michael McGrath said said: “We have to keep our options open. We’re certainly not saying that there won’t be revenue-raising measures in the Government’s lifetime, because I think it is inevitable that there will be some.”
"I think we will inevitably have a larger State coming out of the pandemic," Mr McGrath said in an interview with The Irish Times. Some interventions will be temporary, but "we have also made decisions that will result in a permanently larger public service", he said.
“That will need to be paid for within an overall framework that is responsible and sustainable,” he said, adding that the Government is “placing a priority on the provision of good public services, and that’s something that I strongly believe in”.
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He said a longer term plan for the public finances would be outlined in the Stability Programme Update next April, but that at each budget “both on the expenditure side and on the revenue-raising side, it would be foolish to rule things out”.
On Friday, a further 482 cases of Covid and seven further deaths related to the virus were confirmed as chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan urged people not to "drop their guard".
Letter
In a letter sent to the Government late last week and seen by The Irish Times, Dr Holohan warned the proportion of cases among older people and in nursing homes remains a concern.
Dr Holohan also noted the trajectory of the disease in Dublin was different to the rest of the country, with the rate of improvement happening at a slower pace.
On Friday Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicated there may be a staged approach to exiting Level 5 at the start of December. While Christmas would not be the same as last year he wanted it to be a “meaningful” one. He expected churches to be open for Christmas week but warned there will be no “going on the lash”.
Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s Minister for Health has said plans to begin lifting Covid-19 restrictions in a week were a “gamble” and further measures will be needed “probably” before Christmas or the New Year.


theirishtimes--2020-11-14--Many pre-Covid worshippers will never return – Diarmuid Martin

Many of those who attended church services before Covid-19 will never return to public worship , while the Catholic Church will be a “ significantly different ” entity after the pandemic has passed , Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said .
Speaking during his homily at St Mary ’ s Pro Cathedral in Dublin on Saturday , Archbishop Martin said the religious culture of Ireland – and especially Dublin – is “ at a crossroads ” .
“ It is not the crossroads of martyrdom or oppression , ” he said .
“ Certainly there is hostility towards the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change in religious culture is inspired more by indifference , uncertainty and at times voluntary rejection .
“ The fact that there are in Ireland today more civil weddings than religious marriage ceremonies is not by imposition .
The fact that , according to the last census , ‘ no religion ’ is the second largest population group after Roman Catholics is the fruit of choice.
” Archbishop Martin said the demographics of church attendance have already been impacted by the pandemic .
“ I believe that the challenges of church life due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way towards another challenging moment for the church , ” he said .
“ Many whose attendance at church services before the pandemic was fragile will never return to public worship .
“ When churches were reopened for public worship for the summer period , numbers were low and the demographics of those who returned were different .
Younger faces were noticeably missing .
“ The numbers who will attend public worship in the foreseeable future will be significantly lower .
It would be foolish to imagine that many of those who do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves also drifting away from wider bonds with church life .
“ The post-pandemic church will look significantly different to the church we traditionally knew.
” Archbishop Martin added that the church would need to bring its message beyond the doors of it buildings .
“ In our current situation where attendance at public worship is suspended , we have constantly to remind ourselves that the Christian life is not suspended , ” he said .
“ Our church doors may be closed for public worship , but the message of Jesus Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must bring that message to those who are open to it , whether they are near to or distant from church , whether young or old .
”

Many of those who attended church services before Covid-19 will never return to public worship, while the Catholic Church will be a "significantly different" entity after the pandemic has passed, Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin has said.
Speaking during his homily at St Mary’s Pro Cathedral in Dublin on Saturday, Archbishop Martin said the religious culture of Ireland – and especially Dublin – is “at a crossroads”.
“It is not the crossroads of martyrdom or oppression,” he said. “Certainly there is hostility towards the church from some quarters. The current change in religious culture is inspired more by indifference, uncertainty and at times voluntary rejection.
Hospital Report
“The fact that there are in Ireland today more civil weddings than religious marriage ceremonies is not by imposition. The fact that, according to the last census, ‘no religion’ is the second largest population group after Roman Catholics is the fruit of choice.”
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Archbishop Martin said the demographics of church attendance have already been impacted by the pandemic.
‘Another challenging moment’
“I believe that the challenges of church life due to the current pandemic are pointing the way towards another challenging moment for the church,” he said. “Many whose attendance at church services before the pandemic was fragile will never return to public worship.
“When churches were reopened for public worship for the summer period, numbers were low and the demographics of those who returned were different. Younger faces were noticeably missing.
“The numbers who will attend public worship in the foreseeable future will be significantly lower. It would be foolish to imagine that many of those who do not return to worship will not find themselves also drifting away from wider bonds with church life.
“The post-pandemic church will look significantly different to the church we traditionally knew.”
Archbishop Martin added that the church would need to bring its message beyond the doors of it buildings.
“In our current situation where attendance at public worship is suspended, we have constantly to remind ourselves that the Christian life is not suspended,” he said.
“Our church doors may be closed for public worship, but the message of Jesus Christ belongs not just within buildings. We must bring that message to those who are open to it, whether they are near to or distant from church, whether young or old.”