theirishtimes--2020-05-15--Supreme Court to hear claim by ill Romanian man for disability allowance

The Supreme Court is to hear further submissions in a seriously ill Romanian man ’ s case over whether disability allowance can be paid by the Department of Social Protection to him in his native country .
The man , who lived in Ireland legally for some three years before being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis , has challenged Ireland ’ s refusal to pay him disability benefit since he returned to Romania .
The further submissions will focus on his claim that disability allowance here is incorrectly categorised under a 2004 EC regulation as a special non-contributory cash benefit rather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulation deals with the circumstances in which certain types of social security payments may be exportable .
If classified as a sickness benefit , the disability allowance would be exportable and payable to the man in Romania where he is cared for by his mother .
The categorisation validity issue was not addressed by the High Court because that court , in a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal , found he was not entitled to judicial review of the Department ’ s refusal when he had not fully used the appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2005 .
The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal arising from the lower courts ’ decisions .
Giving the five judge court ’ s judgment this week , Ms Justice Iseult O ’ Malley ruled the man was entitled to pursue judicial review .
The lack of jurisdiction within the social welfare appeals process to grant any form of remedy in respect of the allegedly invalid categorisation of disability allowance gave rise to an exception to the general obligation to exhaust statutory remedies before seeking judicial review , she said .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should proceed , she said .
If the Supreme Court was to find no doubt about the propriety of the categorisation of disability allowance as a special non-contributory benefit , nothing would be gained from sending the matter back for a full High Court hearing .
If the validity of the categorisation was “ not entirely clear ” , the Supreme Court could either remit the matter to the High Court so relevant findings of fact could be made or refer a question to the Court of Justice of the EU .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 210 of the 2005 Act certainly seems to be within the concept of social assistance , two aspects are “ of concern ” , she said .
The first was , when the man applied in 2016 , it was possible to work and earn up to a prescribed amount without losing entitlement but only if the work was considered rehabilitative in nature .
That restriction was removed in 2018 but , while in force , it might have been seen as strengthening arguments of a medical or rehabilitative purpose to the allowance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintaining a subsistence level of income .
The second matter was the disqualification criteria which could be regarded as ongoing conditions of entitlement and “ clearly geared ” towards improving the health and quality of life of the claimant .
Having regard to those two aspects , and case law , there may be some possibility the CJEU would find , at the relevant time , there was “ a medical purpose ” to the overall conditions of eligibility .
The court wanted further submissions on those issues by reference to the jurisprudence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The man worked in Ireland from May 2008 until July 2011 after which he enrolled in a college course from which he was withdrawn in October 2011 .
He went to Romania the following month for medical treatment and was diagnosed with MS while there .
He came back to Ireland but , because he could not access medical treatment here , returned to Romania in April 2012 .
His condition deteriorated and he now requires 24-hour care .

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal arising from the lower courts’ decisions in this case.
The Supreme Court is to hear further submissions in a seriously ill Romanian man's case over whether disability allowance can be paid by the Department of Social Protection to him in his native country.
The man, who lived in Ireland legally for some three years before being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, has challenged Ireland's refusal to pay him disability benefit since he returned to Romania.
The further submissions will focus on his claim that disability allowance here is incorrectly categorised under a 2004 EC regulation as a special non-contributory cash benefit rather than a sickness benefit.
The 2004 regulation deals with the circumstances in which certain types of social security payments may be exportable.
READ MORE
If classified as a sickness benefit, the disability allowance would be exportable and payable to the man in Romania where he is cared for by his mother.
The categorisation validity issue was not addressed by the High Court because that court, in a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal, found he was not entitled to judicial review of the Department's refusal when he had not fully used the appeal procedures under the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005.
The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal arising from the lower courts’ decisions. Giving the five judge court’s judgment this week, Ms Justice Iseult O’Malley ruled the man was entitled to pursue judicial review.
The lack of jurisdiction within the social welfare appeals process to grant any form of remedy in respect of the allegedly invalid categorisation of disability allowance gave rise to an exception to the general obligation to exhaust statutory remedies before seeking judicial review, she said.
The next issue concerned how the Supreme Court should proceed, she said.
If the Supreme Court was to find no doubt about the propriety of the categorisation of disability allowance as a special non-contributory benefit, nothing would be gained from sending the matter back for a full High Court hearing.
If the validity of the categorisation was “not entirely clear”, the Supreme Court could either remit the matter to the High Court so relevant findings of fact could be made or refer a question to the Court of Justice of the EU.
While the definition of the allowance in section 210 of the 2005 Act certainly seems to be within the concept of social assistance, two aspects are “of concern”, she said.
The first was, when the man applied in 2016, it was possible to work and earn up to a prescribed amount without losing entitlement but only if the work was considered rehabilitative in nature.
That restriction was removed in 2018 but, while in force, it might have been seen as strengthening arguments of a medical or rehabilitative purpose to the allowance as opposed to a sole purpose of maintaining a subsistence level of income.
The second matter was the disqualification criteria which could be regarded as ongoing conditions of entitlement and “clearly geared” towards improving the health and quality of life of the claimant.
Having regard to those two aspects, and case law, there may be some possibility the CJEU would find, at the relevant time, there was “a medical purpose” to the overall conditions of eligibility.
The court wanted further submissions on those issues by reference to the jurisprudence of the CJEU, she said.
The man worked in Ireland from May 2008 until July 2011 after which he enrolled in a college course from which he was withdrawn in October 2011.
He went to Romania the following month for medical treatment and was diagnosed with MS while there.
He came back to Ireland but, because he could not access medical treatment here, returned to Romania in April 2012. His condition deteriorated and he now requires 24-hour care.


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--Covid-19: Monday’s first phase reopening will see low numbers returning to work

There will be no dramatic reopening scenes in Dublin or regional towns and cities when primarily outdoor workers are allowed to resume their jobs on Monday .
May 18th , which marks the first of the five phase reopening of the economy will see just the beginning of a staged return of outdoor workers , including construction workers and gardeners .
Social distancing requirements continue to apply .
Shops that are primarily outdoor , for example garden centres , hardware stores , and farmers ’ markets can also reopen , again so long as social distancing measures can be put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s plan is explicit in each phase that people should “ still stay at home as much as you possibly can ” .
Each of the five phases between Monday and August 10th carries the stipulation that : “ Remote working continues for workers or businesses that can do so ” .
A phased return to work for all workers will begin in August with “ higher risk ” businesses implementing plans for how they might reopen safely .
Dublin Chamber , whose members collectively employ 330,000 staff , said it was expecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low .
There are more than 700,000 workers in Dublin according to the chamber and on average 500,000 people travel within Dublin city centre every day .
Removing 45,000 “ education trips ” , and 120,000 visitors , tourists , and shoppers , the chamber said there would normally be about 235,000 work-related trips .
But spokesman Graeme McQueen said feedback from 1,300 firms throughout the Dublin region was that the return to work “ will be very gradual ” .
He estimated less than 10 percent of staff will be back in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be as low as 25,000 workers with most city centre stores remaining closed , at least until Phase Two on June 8th .
A spokeswoman for the National Transport Authority said it too was not expecting crowds on public transport .
She said the public transport network was ready for an anticipated small rise and all vehicles were being cleaned daily , but crowding on buses and trains was not envisaged and the public would be asked to “ be responsible and maintain social distancing ” .
A spokeswoman for the Central Bank @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers in the financial regulator would continue to work from home “ without immediate plans to make changes ” .
The Department of Business , Enterprise and Innovation said it was not in a position to provide an estimate of the numbers returning on Monday given “ the range of public health , economic and other factors and uncertainties involved ” .
A spokeswoman said , “ it is not anticipated ” the relaxation will result “ in a return to previous working practices for most workers ” .
“ The protocol states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be carried out at home , where practicable and non-essential work .
The employer should develop and consult on any working from home policy in conjunction with workers and/or Trade Unions .
Advice on working from home on a temporary basis is available from the Health and Safety Authority ’ , ” the spokeswoman said .
Ibec , which launched a new ‘ Reboot and Reimagine ’ campaign focussed on reopening business said it did not have any data available on the numbers projected to return to their places of work , @ @ @ @ @

Construction workers on Dublin’s Georges Street on Wednesday. More people will be returning to work on Monday under phase one of the Government’s plan to reopen the country. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
There will be no dramatic reopening scenes in Dublin or regional towns and cities when primarily outdoor workers are allowed to resume their jobs on Monday.
May 18th, which marks the first of the five phase reopening of the economy will see just the beginning of a staged return of outdoor workers, including construction workers and gardeners. Social distancing requirements continue to apply.
Shops that are primarily outdoor, for example garden centres, hardware stores, and farmers’ markets can also reopen, again so long as social distancing measures can be put in place.
However the Government’s plan is explicit in each phase that people should “still stay at home as much as you possibly can”.
READ MORE
Each of the five phases between Monday and August 10th carries the stipulation that: “Remote working continues for workers or businesses that can do so”. A phased return to work for all workers will begin in August with “higher risk” businesses implementing plans for how they might reopen safely.
Dublin Chamber, whose members collectively employ 330,000 staff, said it was expecting numbers in the capital to be quite low.
There are more than 700,000 workers in Dublin according to the chamber and on average 500,000 people travel within Dublin city centre every day.
Removing 45,000 “education trips”, and 120,000 visitors, tourists, and shoppers, the chamber said there would normally be about 235,000 work-related trips. But spokesman Graeme McQueen said feedback from 1,300 firms throughout the Dublin region was that the return to work “will be very gradual”. He estimated less than 10 percent of staff will be back in Phase One .
That is likely to be as low as 25,000 workers with most city centre stores remaining closed, at least until Phase Two on June 8th.
A spokeswoman for the National Transport Authority said it too was not expecting crowds on public transport. She said the public transport network was ready for an anticipated small rise and all vehicles were being cleaned daily, but crowding on buses and trains was not envisaged and the public would be asked to “be responsible and maintain social distancing”.
A spokeswoman for the Central Bank of Ireland said it was expected that workers in the financial regulator would continue to work from home “without immediate plans to make changes”.
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation said it was not in a position to provide an estimate of the numbers returning on Monday given “ the range of public health, economic and other factors and uncertainties involved”. A spokeswoman said, “ it is not anticipated” the relaxation will result “in a return to previous working practices for most workers”.
“The protocol states that - ‘Office work should continue to be carried out at home, where practicable and non-essential work. The employer should develop and consult on any working from home policy in conjunction with workers and/or Trade Unions. Advice on working from home on a temporary basis is available from the Health and Safety Authority’,” the spokeswoman said.
Ibec, which launched a new ‘Reboot and Reimagine’ campaign focussed on reopening business said it did not have any data available on the numbers projected to return to their places of work, at the current time.


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--Warm, cloudy weekend in store as fire brigade warns of gorse fire risk

A mixture of sunshine and some rain has been forecast for the coming weekend with cooler conditions in the shade .
Monday is likely to be a dull day as construction and other outdoor workers return to their jobs , but warmer weather , with temperatures rising to the 20s , is expected to arrive from Tuesday onwards .
Dublin Fire Brigade has issued an “ orange ” fire warning , its second highest alert , for heathland and forest fires over the next few days .
The fire brigade warned the five kilometre limit for personal exercise remained in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to remember not to light camp fires or hold barbecues .
The brigade asked those contemplating such moves to remember the danger fires bring to wildlife .
Fire crews may also be in danger of breaching social distancing in responding to calls to put out gorse fires .
The weekend will begin with dull weather almost everywhere on Friday with scattered showers in parts of Ulster and Connacht .
There will be a good deal of cloud overall but it will stay dry further south and east with some bright or sunny spells @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17 degrees , mildest in Munster .
Winds will be light , northwest or variable .
Saturday will bring brighter spells to the east and south but cloud will increase generally with some scattered showers affecting parts of the west and north .
Rain is likely to move across northern parts of the country during the afternoon and evening with the south becoming dull but staying mainly dry .
Highs of 12 to 16 degrees with moderate west to southwest breezes .
Sunday is shaping up to be a mostly cloudy and breezy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with outbreaks of rain and drizzle becoming persistent and heavy in northern parts of Ulster later in the day .
Over the rest of the country it will be largely dry for much of the day with a mix of cloud and bright or sunny intervals , but patchy rain and drizzle spreading here too in the evening .
Any accumulations will be rather minimal in the east and south , however .
Highs of 12 to 17 degrees with mostly moderate , occasionally gusty , southwest breezes , fresh to strong near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers look at returning to work on Monday conditions will be milder but there will be occasional light rain or drizzle .
Some bright or hazy sunny spells will develop at times but a good deal of cloud will be present throughout the day , with maximum temperatures of 14 to 19 degrees and light to moderate southwest to south breezes .
The current forecast for the remainder of the week is for a warm Tuesday and Wednesday , with temperatures in the high teens or low 20s .
There will be good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be relatively mild with some mist patches developing .

A mixture of sunshine and some rain has been forecast for the coming weekend with cooler conditions in the shade.
Monday is likely to be a dull day as construction and other outdoor workers return to their jobs , but warmer weather, with temperatures rising to the 20s, is expected to arrive from Tuesday onwards.
Dublin Fire Brigade has issued an “orange” fire warning, its second highest alert, for heathland and forest fires over the next few days.
The fire brigade warned the five kilometre limit for personal exercise remained in place and asked those exercising on hills to remember not to light camp fires or hold barbecues.
READ MORE
The brigade asked those contemplating such moves to remember the danger fires bring to wildlife.
Fire crews may also be in danger of breaching social distancing in responding to calls to put out gorse fires.
The weekend will begin with dull weather almost everywhere on Friday with scattered showers in parts of Ulster and Connacht.
There will be a good deal of cloud overall but it will stay dry further south and east with some bright or sunny spells. Maximum temperatures will range 12 to 17 degrees, mildest in Munster. Winds will be light, northwest or variable.
Saturday will bring brighter spells to the east and south but cloud will increase generally with some scattered showers affecting parts of the west and north. Rain is likely to move across northern parts of the country during the afternoon and evening with the south becoming dull but staying mainly dry. Highs of 12 to 16 degrees with moderate west to southwest breezes.
Sunday is shaping up to be a mostly cloudy and breezy day across the west and north, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle becoming persistent and heavy in northern parts of Ulster later in the day. Over the rest of the country it will be largely dry for much of the day with a mix of cloud and bright or sunny intervals, but patchy rain and drizzle spreading here too in the evening. Any accumulations will be rather minimal in the east and south, however. Highs of 12 to 17 degrees with mostly moderate, occasionally gusty, southwest breezes, fresh to strong near west and northwest coasts.
As outdoor workers look at returning to work on Monday conditions will be milder but there will be occasional light rain or drizzle. Some bright or hazy sunny spells will develop at times but a good deal of cloud will be present throughout the day, with maximum temperatures of 14 to 19 degrees and light to moderate southwest to south breezes.
The current forecast for the remainder of the week is for a warm Tuesday and Wednesday, with temperatures in the high teens or low 20s.
There will be good sunny spells developing by day and nights will be relatively mild with some mist patches developing.


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--People ‘expect lifting of social distancing restrictions to be slow and gradual’

People expect the lifting of social distancing restrictions to be slow and gradual , with most indoor social activities not possible until at least September , according to new research .
The restrictions survey found that most people also believe that the lifting of restrictions should prioritise necessities ahead of leisure activities .
The findings are based on data collected the week before Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the roadmap to opening society and businesses on May 1st .
The study found no evidence that a substantial proportion of the public expected a more rapid lifting of restrictions .
The Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are subject to review based on public health data and advice issued by the National Public Health and Emergency Team ( NPHET ) , headed up by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan .
However , if it proves possible to meet the timetable outlined in the roadmap , this would amount to a substantially more rapid lifting of restrictions than the public expected before the roadmap was published .
The interactive study involved a representative sample of adults in Ireland .
They expected non-essential shops and workplaces to reopen gradually between June @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurants to reopen in July or August , but schools and indoor leisure venues to remain closed until at least September , including sports facilities and gyms , arts and cultural centres , and pubs and clubs .
A return to “ normality ” is not expected until at least 2021 , the survey found .
The study also asked people to rank restrictions according to which they thought should be lifted first and which , if lifted , would be best for them personally .
While people want to see the restriction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first , they also think that necessities like workplaces , services and transport should take priority over leisure activities .
The clearest example relates to pubs and restaurants , which rank high for personal benefit , but low for when people think the restriction should be lifted .
“ This study reveals further evidence of Ireland ’ s ability to pull together at a time of crisis , ” said Dr Cameron Belton of the ESRI ’ s behavioural research unit .
“ In the face of this disease , the large majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceed slowly and carefully .
“ They are willing to make sacrifices now for a better outcome in the long-run.
” The first phase is expected to begin on Monday following advice issued by NPHET to the Cabinet .
– PA

We can do it: a mural by the artist Emmalene Blake on a gate in Dublin thanks healthcare workers on the frontline during the coronavirus pandemic. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
People expect the lifting of social distancing restrictions to be slow and gradual, with most indoor social activities not possible until at least September, according to new research.
The restrictions survey found that most people also believe that the lifting of restrictions should prioritise necessities ahead of leisure activities.
The findings are based on data collected the week before Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the roadmap to opening society and businesses on May 1st.
The study found no evidence that a substantial proportion of the public expected a more rapid lifting of restrictions.
READ MORE
The Government's five phases of the roadmap are subject to review based on public health data and advice issued by the National Public Health and Emergency Team (NPHET), headed up by chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan.
However, if it proves possible to meet the timetable outlined in the roadmap, this would amount to a substantially more rapid lifting of restrictions than the public expected before the roadmap was published.
The interactive study involved a representative sample of adults in Ireland.
They expected non-essential shops and workplaces to reopen gradually between June and August.
Most expected cafes and restaurants to reopen in July or August, but schools and indoor leisure venues to remain closed until at least September, including sports facilities and gyms, arts and cultural centres, and pubs and clubs.
‘Normality’
A return to “normality” is not expected until at least 2021, the survey found.
The study also asked people to rank restrictions according to which they thought should be lifted first and which, if lifted, would be best for them personally.
While people want to see the restriction on social contact beyond the household lifted first, they also think that necessities like workplaces, services and transport should take priority over leisure activities.
The clearest example relates to pubs and restaurants, which rank high for personal benefit, but low for when people think the restriction should be lifted.
“This study reveals further evidence of Ireland’s ability to pull together at a time of crisis,” said Dr Cameron Belton of the ESRI’s behavioural research unit.
“In the face of this disease, the large majority of people have absorbed the need to proceed slowly and carefully.
“They are willing to make sacrifices now for a better outcome in the long-run.”
The first phase is expected to begin on Monday following advice issued by NPHET to the Cabinet. – PA


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--Coronavirus: Health officials give green light to easing of restrictions from Monday

Face-coverings should be worn in indoor settings where social distancing can not be practised to limit the spread of coronavirus , public health officials have recommended to Government .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) has also given the green light to the planned easing of restrictions from next Monday , The Irish Times understands .
The deaths of another 10 patients were announced by Nphet at its briefing on Thursday .
There have now been 1,506 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
The total number of cases is now 23,827 .
The Cabinet meets on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from NPHET , which sources say contains “ no surprises ” .
The measures are then expected to be announced at a press conference attended by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar , Minister for Health Simon Harris and chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan on Friday evening .
The proposal for people to wear face-coverings will be optional and is intended as an “ additional hygiene measure ” on top of existing advice on handwashing and social distancing .
NPHET ’ s advice , which will be the subject of a major public information campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear face-coverings and no-one should be stigmatised for not doing so .
The campaign is also expected to provide advice to people on making their own face-coverings so that the supply of health-grade face-masks is not affected .
A growing number of prominent infectious diseases specialists now believe the scientific case for wearing them has shifted appreciably in their favour , though evidence is based on small studies .
It is understood that the Government will seek to clarify the change in restrictions that will allow four people from different households meet outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be recommended that people only meet in groups of four once a day , although this has yet to be confirmed , rather than meeting in different groups at different times throughout the day .
It was also stressed that it will not mean people can , for example , have guests over for barbecues .
This would entail people from different family units using the bathroom in another person ’ s home , one source suggested .
It is also emphasised this will not mean people will be allowed visit the homes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want people in other people ’ s homes , ” a source said .
“ The five kilometre travel limit and social distancing will also apply to such meetings.
” According to phase one of the Government ’ s roadmap for reopening society and business , if medical advice allows , Monday May 18th will see phase one .
It means garden centres , farmers ’ markets , hardware and homeware stores will reopen as well as opticians , motor and bicycle repair shops and phone repair shops .
Outdoor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and those working in allotments .
Up to four people who don ’ t live together can meet outdoors while keeping at least two metres apart .
When asked about how long the current pandemic payment would continue , Mr Donohoe said on RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland that government has not yet made a decision about an extension to the payment .
Evaluations will have to be made about what the government might be able to offer in the future , he said .
“ We want to recognise the strain and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assure them we will try to keep jobs.
” The level of intervention now in place had been enabled by the great care taken of the public finances in recent years , he said .
As soon as the government understands how the economy is responding it will better understand the economic consequences of the pandemic payments , he said .
“ We want to see the effect of the reopening first.
” Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil on Thursday the Government was increasingly confident that phase one of easing restrictions would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus “ is a fire in retreat .
We must quench its every spark and stamp out every ember ” .
Speaking in the Dáil during a debate on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic he said “ we are still in phase zero , The moment we assume progress is inevitable , we risk going backwards .
”

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced that the Government will proceed with the first phase of the easing of the Covid-19 restrictions from Monday, May 18th. Video: RTÉ
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has announced that the first phase of the lifting of the Covid-19 restrictions is to go ahead next Monday.
At a press conference in Government Buildings on Friday afternoon, Mr Varadkar indicated that the phased lifting of the restrictions, which have brought social and commercial life to a standstill since their introduction in March, will begin as scheduled after the weekend.
“I can confirm that it is safe to proceed with phase one,” Mr Varadkar said. He said that the Cabinet had approved the changes this morning, and he had notified the Stormont administration afterwards.
The next phase for reopening is due on Friday, June 5th, but Mr Varadkar this depends on the successful containment and suppression of the virus over the coming weeks.
READ MORE
The Taoiseach said that the Government was advising people to wear face coverings on public transport and in crowded places indoors, but this will not be a legal requirement.
However, the Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned that face coverings did not provide "some kind of magic shields against the disease".
Minister for Heath Simon Harris said that the existing restrictions had avoided a disaster and saved thousands of lives. He said that observing the continuing restrictions would be necessary if Ireland is to avoid a second wave of the virus.
He advised against everyone rushing to garden centres at once, and urged people to maintain social distancing rules.
From Monday members of the public are advised to stay at home, and avoid unnecessary journeys, except for the following five reasons:
1. To go to work, if your place of work is open and you cannot work from home
2. To shop for items you need
3. To exercise within 5km of your home
4. For medical reasons or to care for others
5. To meet friends or family outside, within 5km of your home, in groups of no more than four
Grey areas
According to phase one of the Government’s roadmap for reopening, garden centres, farmers’ markets, will reopen as well as opticians, motor and bicycle repair shops and phone repair shops.
Outdoor workers in construction can return including gardeners and those working in allotments.
Up to four people who don’t live together can meet outdoors while keeping at least 2m apart.
Minister for Business Heather Humphreys warned businesses that they must be in a position to enforce social distancing and other safety measures before they can open. The Health and Safety Authority would supervise and enforce the rules, she said.
Ms Humphreys also announced a €250 million fund to supply grants to small businesses to enable them to reopen.
“If you have a hardware shop and you happen to have a small homeware section, you are allowed to sell, OK? But if you are a homeware shop, and that’s your main line of business, you can’t,” Ms Humphreys said.
“We appreciate that there are going to be grey areas, and there are going to be difficulties,” Mr Varadkar said. “But we hope to iron those out over the next couple of days.”
If you need to buy a new pair of curtains, you can wait a couple of weeks,” Mr Harris added.
Now is not the time to decide I’m going to dicky up the house or buy a new pair of curtains,” he added.
Mr Varadkar said that hardware shops were being only opened because it was necessary for construction to reopen.
Mr Varadkar said that horseracing behind closed doors would be permitted to take place from June 8th, which was “taking into account what’s happening in the UK, what’s happening in France”.
“This is a big economic sector, lots of people employed in it worth nearly half a billion euros to the economy each year and . . . we need to aligned or more or less aligned with what’s happening in the UK and France.”
Covering faces
Face-coverings should be worn in indoor settings where social distancing cannot be practised to limit the spread of coronavirus, public health officials recommended to Government earlier on Friday.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) has also given the green light to the planned easing of restrictions from next Monday, The Irish Times understands.
The deaths of another 10 patients were announced by Nphet at its briefing on Thursday. There have now been 1,506 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic. The total number of cases is now 23,827.
The Cabinet meets on Friday to discuss the package of recommendations from NPHET, which sources say contains “no surprises”.
The measures are then expected to be announced at a press conference attended by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister for Health Simon Harris and chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan on Friday evening.
The proposal for people to wear face-coverings will be optional and is intended as an “additional hygiene measure” on top of existing advice on handwashing and social distancing.
NPHET’s advice, which will be the subject of a major public information campaign, stresses that not all people can wear face-coverings and no-one should be stigmatised for not doing so.
Advice
The campaign is also expected to provide advice to people on making their own face-coverings so that the supply of health-grade face-masks is not affected.
A growing number of prominent infectious diseases specialists now believe the scientific case for wearing them has shifted appreciably in their favour, though evidence is based on small studies.
It is understood that the Government will seek to clarify the change in restrictions that will allow four people from different households meet outside.
Some sources suggested that it may be recommended that people only meet in groups of four once a day, although this has yet to be confirmed, rather than meeting in different groups at different times throughout the day.
It was also stressed that it will not mean people can, for example, have guests over for barbecues. This would entail people from different family units using the bathroom in another person’s home, one source suggested.
It is also emphasised this will not mean people will be allowed visit the homes of friends or family. “We don’t want people in other people’s homes,” a source said.
“The five kilometre travel limit and social distancing will also apply to such meetings.”
Roadmap
According to phase one of the Government’s roadmap for reopening society and business, if medical advice allows, Monday, May 18th will see the beginning of phase one. It means garden centres, farmers’ markets, will reopen as well as opticians, motor and bicycle repair shops and phone repair shops. Outdoor workers in construction can return including gardeners and those working in allotments. Up to four people who don’t live together can meet outdoors while keeping at least two metres apart.
When asked about how long the current pandemic payment would continue, Mr Donohoe said on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that government has not yet made a decision about an extension to the payment. Evaluations will have to be made about what the government might be able to offer in the future, he said.
“We want to recognise the strain and worry that people are experiencing and to assure them we will try to keep jobs.”
The level of intervention now in place had been enabled by the great care taken of the public finances in recent years, he said.
As soon as the government understands how the economy is responding it will better understand the economic consequences of the pandemic payments, he said.
“We want to see the effect of the reopening first.”
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar told the Dáil on Thursday the Government was increasingly confident that phase one of easing restrictions would go ahead on Monday.
He said the virus “is a fire in retreat. We must quench its every spark and stamp out every ember”.
Speaking in the Dáil during a debate on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic he said “we are still in phase zero, The moment we assume progress is inevitable, we risk going backwards.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--Scouting Ireland makes ‘organisational apology’ to abuse survivors

Scouting Ireland has made a full “ organisational apology ” to survivors of past child sexual abuse in legacy scouting bodies , in response to a damning report by child protection expert Ian Elliott .
The historical child sexual abuse scandal relates to predecessor organisations , the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland ( CBSI ) and the Scout Association of Ireland ( SAI ) , which merged to form Scouting Ireland in 2004 .
Mr Elliott , who acted as Scouting Ireland ’ s interim safeguarding manager for a period , had been investigating the scale of the historical abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is evidence that sex offenders at the top level of the legacy organisations operated in groups to protect each other , “ preventing any attempts to hold an alleged offender accountable for their actions , if they were part of their group ” , the report said .
Volunteers who tried to report abuse were put under pressure and told that certain senior officials were “ too important ” to be challenged , the report said .
In some cases , people in power used information of allegations made against individuals for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to support certain policies or actions .
The culture of the legacy organisations was “ driven by self-interest ” , with little attention paid to the young people involved in scouting , the report said .
Cronyism “ thrived ” in the former bodies and remained a “ significant problem in scouting ” up until Mr Elliott ’ s first involvement with Scouting Ireland in mid-2017 , he said .
In an online press conference , board chairman Adrian Tennant said Scouting Ireland “ unreservedly apologise to the victims and survivors of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We are sorry that adults in scouting harmed you .
We are sorry that you were not protected , ” he said .
Anne Griffin , the organisation ’ s chief executive , said just under 40 survivors of past alleged abuse were seeking to take legal cases against Scouting Ireland .
Separately , there was a survivors ’ support fund to pay for services such as counselling .
Gearóid Begley , Scouting Ireland ’ s safeguarding manager , said the organisation had committed to an external audit of child protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ annual internal review .
Commenting on current policy he said : “ If an allegation of abuse is made against an adult , they are suspended without prejudice from scouting until the matter is investigated by the relevant agencies.
” Mr Elliott ’ s report found the previous record-keeping system of files related to alleged child abuse cases was “ chaotic ” and material was “ often stored in the homes of key volunteers ” .
Despite repeated requests over the past two years for these files to be passed to Scouting Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ very little additional documentation has been surrendered , ” the report said .
The prevailing response to abuse allegations by former figures in positions of leadership “ was to protect the organisation ’ s reputation ” , the report said .
Standard practice was for alleged abusers to be asked to resign from scouting , leaving with “ their good name in place ” , without any report being made to statutory authorities .
Records show in these situations the motivation was to protect the organisations ’ reputation and prevent “ negative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the protection of the vulnerable child , the report said .
There were several examples of individuals facing allegations leaving one legacy scout body to join the other one .
In conclusion , Mr Elliott said the review of past cases “ shows clear mismanagement and a gross failure to respond to risk ” with known abusers consistently not held to account and allowed to remain in scouting bodies .
Survivors of alleged abuse in legacy scouting bodies have called for a statutory inquiry to be set up on foot of the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is alleged to have been abused by a scout leader in the 1970s aged 12 , said the report was “ disturbing ” reading .
Mr Allen last year settled a legal case against Scouting Ireland over the historic alleged abuse .
Mark Gaffney , who is taking a case against Scouting Ireland over alleged abuse that took place in the early 1980s , said survivors “ want the full picture ” .
Both men called for the Government to set up a statutory inquiry into the abuse .

Survivors of alleged abuse in legacy scouting bodies have called for a statutory inquiry to be set up on foot of the report’s findings. Photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
Scouting Ireland has made a full "organisational apology" to survivors of past child sexual abuse in legacy scouting bodies, in response to a damning report by child protection expert Ian Elliott.
The historical child sexual abuse scandal relates to predecessor organisations, the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI) and the Scout Association of Ireland (SAI), which merged to form Scouting Ireland in 2004.
Mr Elliott, who acted as Scouting Ireland’s interim safeguarding manager for a period, had been investigating the scale of the historical abuse for more than a year.
There is evidence that sex offenders at the top level of the legacy organisations operated in groups to protect each other, “preventing any attempts to hold an alleged offender accountable for their actions, if they were part of their group”, the report said.
READ MORE
Volunteers who tried to report abuse were put under pressure and told that certain senior officials were “too important” to be challenged, the report said.
In some cases, people in power used information of allegations made against individuals for the “purposes of exerting pressure” on them to support certain policies or actions.
The culture of the legacy organisations was “driven by self-interest”, with little attention paid to the young people involved in scouting, the report said.
Cronyism “thrived” in the former bodies and remained a “significant problem in scouting” up until Mr Elliott’s first involvement with Scouting Ireland in mid-2017, he said.
In an online press conference, board chairman Adrian Tennant said Scouting Ireland “unreservedly apologise to the victims and survivors of abuse in scouting who were failed”.
“We are sorry that adults in scouting harmed you. We are sorry that you were not protected,” he said.
Anne Griffin, the organisation’s chief executive, said just under 40 survivors of past alleged abuse were seeking to take legal cases against Scouting Ireland. Separately, there was a survivors’ support fund to pay for services such as counselling.
Gearóid Begley, Scouting Ireland’s safeguarding manager, said the organisation had committed to an external audit of child protection practices every two years, and an annual internal review.
Commenting on current policy he said: “If an allegation of abuse is made against an adult, they are suspended without prejudice from scouting until the matter is investigated by the relevant agencies.”
‘Chaotic’ record-keeping
Mr Elliott’s report found the previous record-keeping system of files related to alleged child abuse cases was “chaotic” and material was “often stored in the homes of key volunteers”.
Despite repeated requests over the past two years for these files to be passed to Scouting Ireland’s headquarters in Larch Hill, “very little additional documentation has been surrendered,” the report said.
The prevailing response to abuse allegations by former figures in positions of leadership “was to protect the organisation’s reputation”, the report said.
Standard practice was for alleged abusers to be asked to resign from scouting, leaving with “their good name in place”, without any report being made to statutory authorities.
Records show in these situations the motivation was to protect the organisations’ reputation and prevent “negative publicity” with no attention paid to the protection of the vulnerable child, the report said.
There were several examples of individuals facing allegations leaving one legacy scout body to join the other one.
In conclusion, Mr Elliott said the review of past cases “shows clear mismanagement and a gross failure to respond to risk” with known abusers consistently not held to account and allowed to remain in scouting bodies.
Survivors of alleged abuse in legacy scouting bodies have called for a statutory inquiry to be set up on foot of the report’s findings.
John Allen, who is alleged to have been abused by a scout leader in the 1970s aged 12, said the report was “disturbing” reading. Mr Allen last year settled a legal case against Scouting Ireland over the historic alleged abuse.
Mark Gaffney, who is taking a case against Scouting Ireland over alleged abuse that took place in the early 1980s, said survivors “want the full picture”.
Both men called for the Government to set up a statutory inquiry into the abuse.


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--Sex offenders operated at highest levels of scouting groups, report finds

Child sexual abuse was “ tolerated ” at the highest levels of former scouting organisations , with the crimes of those who preyed on children covered up to protect the reputation of the movement , a damning report has concluded .
There is evidence that groups of sex offenders operated at the top of Scouting Ireland ’ s legacy organisations to protect each other and “ facilitate ” child abuse , a report by child protection expert Ian Elliott found .
The Government is to consider the findings of the report and decide whether a statutory inquiry into the historic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are concerns over whether such an inquiry would be able to uncover substantially more information , according to sources .
Scouting Ireland made a full organisational apology on foot of the report ’ s publication on Thursday .
The historic abuse relates to the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland ( CBSI ) and the Scout Association of Ireland , which merged to form Scouting Ireland in 2004 .
The report said one of the legacy bodies was a “ seriously dysfunctional organisation ” , with “ sex offenders dominating the leadership for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former organisations were defined by “ cronyism ” and poor governance , which led to a consistent failure to report child abuse to authorities , it said .
There was an “ almost complete absence of any concern for the young people who were abused ” , the report found .
Scouting Ireland has now identified 356 alleged victims of historic abuse , and 275 alleged perpetrators , who primarily operated between the 1960s and 1990s .
Mr Elliott had been investigating the scale of the historical abuse on behalf of Scouting Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work was limited due to current Garda investigations into several alleged abusers , and a “ systematic failure ” of the former organisations to maintain records on abuse allegations , the report said .
In one case an alleged abuser who held a senior position kept child abuse case files at his home , to prevent the incidents being investigated , it said .
The “ negligence ” of Scouting Ireland in failing to secure records related to abuse cases upon the merger of the two former bodies meant the “ full extent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be known , the report said .
There was a “ close link ” between CBSI and the Catholic Church , and the report said some clerical sex offenders found “ acceptance of their practices ” in the scouting body , particularly during the 1980s and 1990s .
“ Some people who were not themselves offenders were complicit in the cover-up of credible allegations of abuse , with the intention of protecting the scouting movement , ” the report said .
Even in cases where volunteers were facing multiple abuse allegations , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being acted upon ” , it said .
There is evidence that sex offenders operated in groups at the top level of the legacy organisations , “ preventing any attempts to hold an alleged offender accountable for their actions if they were part of their group ” , the report said .
This culture of cronyism resulted in individuals facing abuse allegations being moved “ sideways ” or promoted within the organisations , rather than removed .
This occurred to the extent abuse was “ known about and tolerated ” in some situations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the report said .
Individuals facing child abuse allegations were permitted to move between scout troops , or between the two legacy organisations , it said .
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said the report “ lays bare the horrors of what happened when sex offenders gained positions of power and became untouchable ” , Adrian Tennant , chairman of Scouting Ireland ’ s board , said the organisation apologised unreservedly “ to the victims and survivors of abuse in scouting who were failed ” .
Mr Tennant said sexual predators had “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ young people and “ destroy lives ” .
The youth organisation accepted the findings of Mr Elliott ’ s report in full and would implement its recommendations , he said .

Child sexual abuse was “tolerated” at the highest levels of former scouting organisations, with the crimes of those who preyed on children covered up to protect the reputation of the movement, a damning report has concluded. Photograph: The Irish Times
Child sexual abuse was “tolerated” at the highest levels of former scouting organisations, with the crimes of those who preyed on children covered up to protect the reputation of the movement, a damning report has concluded.
There is evidence that groups of sex offenders operated at the top of Scouting Ireland's legacy organisations to protect each other and "facilitate" child abuse, a report by child protection expert Ian Elliott found.
The Government is to consider the findings of the report and decide whether a statutory inquiry into the historic abuse may be required. However, there are concerns over whether such an inquiry would be able to uncover substantially more information, according to sources.
Scouting Ireland made a full organisational apology on foot of the report's publication on Thursday. The historic abuse relates to the Catholic Boy Scouts of Ireland (CBSI) and the Scout Association of Ireland, which merged to form Scouting Ireland in 2004.
READ MORE
The report said one of the legacy bodies was a “seriously dysfunctional organisation”, with “sex offenders dominating the leadership for decades”.
The culture of the former organisations were defined by “cronyism” and poor governance, which led to a consistent failure to report child abuse to authorities, it said. There was an “almost complete absence of any concern for the young people who were abused”, the report found.
Scouting Ireland has now identified 356 alleged victims of historic abuse, and 275 alleged perpetrators, who primarily operated between the 1960s and 1990s.
Mr Elliott had been investigating the scale of the historical abuse on behalf of Scouting Ireland for more than a year. His work was limited due to current Garda investigations into several alleged abusers, and a “systematic failure” of the former organisations to maintain records on abuse allegations, the report said.
In one case an alleged abuser who held a senior position kept child abuse case files at his home, to prevent the incidents being investigated, it said.
The “negligence” of Scouting Ireland in failing to secure records related to abuse cases upon the merger of the two former bodies meant the “full extent” of the past abuse cannot be known, the report said.
Church links
There was a "close link" between CBSI and the Catholic Church, and the report said some clerical sex offenders found "acceptance of their practices" in the scouting body, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s.
“Some people who were not themselves offenders were complicit in the cover-up of credible allegations of abuse, with the intention of protecting the scouting movement,” the report said.
Even in cases where volunteers were facing multiple abuse allegations, “attempts were made to suppress these allegations being acted upon”, it said.
There is evidence that sex offenders operated in groups at the top level of the legacy organisations, “preventing any attempts to hold an alleged offender accountable for their actions if they were part of their group”, the report said.
This culture of cronyism resulted in individuals facing abuse allegations being moved “sideways” or promoted within the organisations, rather than removed. This occurred to the extent abuse was “known about and tolerated” in some situations, and abusers “protected”, the report said.
Individuals facing child abuse allegations were permitted to move between scout troops, or between the two legacy organisations, it said.
Minister for Children Katherine Zappone said the report "lays bare the horrors of what happened when sex offenders gained positions of power and became untouchable",
Adrian Tennant, chairman of Scouting Ireland's board, said the organisation apologised unreservedly "to the victims and survivors of abuse in scouting who were failed".
Mr Tennant said sexual predators had “used the movement” to prey upon young people and “destroy lives”. The youth organisation accepted the findings of Mr Elliott’s report in full and would implement its recommendations, he said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--What will private hospitals do for us in the Covid era partnership?

“ We feared Armageddon , ” says Debbie O ’ Neill , the clinical nurse manager of the intensive care unit in the Blackrock Clinic .
“ One of my colleagues put it very aptly ; she said she felt she was standing on the beach , with her back to the wall , and could see the tsunami [ coming ] .
” Whatever else it is , the Blackrock Clinic on a Thursday afternoon in early May does not feel like Armageddon .
Theatres and wards are sparsely populated , although not empty .
Under the new deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection control guidelines , occupancy is down to 45 per cent , far below the usual 80 and 90 per cent .
Describing the run-in to the State ’ s temporary takeover of private hospitals , Michele McCormack , the clinic ’ s chief operations officer , said Blackrock “ started talking ” to the Health Service Executive in March .
Everything was based on fears that the State would have a fifth of the ICU beds it needed , framed against the backdrop of footage emerging from Italy and Spain , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors battled with air disaster-style numbers every day .
For Margaret O ’ Donnell , a plastic surgery consultant at the clinic , and its director of clinical governance , the atmosphere at the time was one of “ national emergency – shoulder to the wheel ; what do we have to do ” .
Under the deal , the Blackrock Clinic was detailed to “ decompress ” the public system – to carry out complex and pressing surgeries that could not be done in public hospitals .
Since then , it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cardiac and other urgent procedures .
In a second phase of the plan , Blackrock would have taken in Covid patients .
However , the surge , and the associated pressure on Irish hospitals , never came , or at least not to the same extent as elsewhere .
Now , as the country faces months – perhaps years – of living with Covid-19 , critical questions are being asked about how the healthcare system can operate .
For all parties , the issues are multiplying , and there are no easy solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her predecessor , Prof Gregor Shanik , had a term for conundrums like this .
He called them “ wicked problems ” .
As it faces into an era of seismic and unpredictable change , how will Irish healthcare solve its wicked problem ?
Launching the agreement , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said private hospitals were not being nationalised .
The move , he said , represented a “ public-private partnership ” for the common good .
However , the Government has faced calls to do precisely that .
There is not a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidential joint HSE/Department of Health paper given to the National Public Health Emergency Team last week made clear pointing to the scheduled end-May contract review .
Such a review will assess the agreement ’ s effectiveness in supporting the public system set against prevalence of the disease .
Pointedly , it said Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe would be responsible for approving any extension , given the costs involved .
Some senior health figures believe a review at the end of May comes too quickly .
It should assess the delivering of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Care should be given , too , to all those patients who have not contracted the virus , but who have had their own treatments delayed .
According to the paper , private hospitals “ will be used in support of the resumption of more routine scheduled care in order to tackle the increasing waiting lists for such care ” .
It said this “ may be dependent on the decision on whether or not to extend the arrangement ” .
Inside the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform , however , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of keeping costs under control while keeping access that may be needed in the event of a future surge of the virus .
Options could include , for example , a “ less demanding ” version of the current deal that would retain flexible access to ICU beds , or the National Treatment Purchase Fund ( NTPF ) could be given a greater role .
The aim may be to extend , but with lower capacity , and less cost , sources say .
Alongside surge planning , Covid-19 will also have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Patients will be processed more slowly , infection controls will be more onerous , affecting the speed at which everything can be done .
The HSE/Department of Health paper said private hospitals will be used to support the resumption of routine , but delayed scheduled care to tackle longer waiting lists .
The paper said this “ may be dependent on the decision on whether or not to extend the arrangement ” .
The HSE has to inform private hospitals by May 31st on whether it intends to extend the agreement to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to extend until July , then either hospitals or the HSE can subsequently terminate the arrangement with 30 days ’ notice .
For consultants temporarily relocated to the Blackrock Clinic , the sense is things aren ’ t going back to normal .
As she prepares to go into theatre , gynaecological oncologist Dr Noreen Gleeson , normally of St James ’ s Hospital , says : “ I think things will never go back quite to the way they were on account of Covid ; I think it will be with us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to work our health systems around it.
” A decision by the HSE to extend the deal until July will impact on everyone in the health system .
The private hospitals are making their position clear .
Michele McCormack , the Blackrock Clinic executive , is forthright .
While she is committed to the deal , and providing capacity if needed , once it is concluded , she is adamant the clinic “ will return to its normal business as before ” .
“ The current agreement… is an emergency measure put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
Like most of the emergency measures put in place , it is not financially sustainable beyond that point for the State , the private hospitals , the health insurers and the thousands of consultants working in the private hospitals , ” she said .
The Private Hospitals Association ( PHA ) , the industry group for the sector , is also sending a clear signal to the Government .
In a statement to The Irish Times , a spokesman said the deal was “ the right decision for that time ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are getting busier , activity levels depend on cases being sent to them by the HSE .
“ If these do not increase , it may be preferable at a point to revert to the NTPF model whereby services and elective procedures can be procured and contracted based on precise levels of demand at any given time and thereby delivering better value for money.
” The deal has cast a shadow over the business model of the institutions , but also over medical consultants and insurers .
Private healthcare is a €2 billion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nearly 2.276 million people had in-patient insurance at the end of last year .
Medical consultants receive about €600 million collectively from the private system .
Senior figures in the sector say that about 30 specialists receive more than €1 million , although this is not just salary – private medical practices can be micro economies employing technicians , nurses , business managers .
Some specialists purchase suites in private hospitals , costing from several hundred thousand euro to more than €1 million .
Fears such practices could become unviable form part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public contract , on a salary of between €141,000 and €195,000 .
Some 320 of the 600 fully-private sector consultants have signed up .
The Department of Health last Friday told doctors it would not offer them a contract that allowed them to charge fee-paying patients .
Essentially , they could take or leave what is on the table .
Some doctors have argued that the original basis of the agreement was to have capacity to deal with the pandemic , not to tackle public waiting lists .
They argue the State has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients on waiting lists without ever having to take over hospitals or to make doctors employees of the State .
Doctors are concerned about the fate of their existing private patients .
Already there are murmurings of legal action .
Insurers have seen their business model disrupted as subscribers lost access to the private hospitals .
Private maternity , psychiatry and diagnostics are still available as are some out-patient consultations and procedures , but insurers have introduced premium waivers , cashback arrangements and rebates for customers .
There are concerns that if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for example , into the autumn that a question about the “ relevance ” of insurance cover will arise .
Already , the industry is bracing for a fall in subscribers , as the recession bites .
In a Covid-19 world , the way forward is far from clear .
It is a densely interwoven patchwork of financial , logistical , tactical and strategic questions , shot through with ethical and philosophical dilemmas , not to mention the vested interests and turf wars common in Irish healthcare .

"We feared Armageddon," says Debbie O'Neill, the clinical nurse manager of the intensive care unit in the Blackrock Clinic. "One of my colleagues put it very aptly; she said she felt she was standing on the beach, with her back to the wall, and could see the tsunami [coming]."
Whatever else it is, the Blackrock Clinic on a Thursday afternoon in early May does not feel like Armageddon.
Theatres and wards are sparsely populated, although not empty. Under the new deal with the State, and rigorous Covid-era infection control guidelines, occupancy is down to 45 per cent, far below the usual 80 and 90 per cent.
Describing the run-in to the State's temporary takeover of private hospitals, Michele McCormack, the clinic's chief operations officer, said Blackrock "started talking" to the Health Service Executive in March.
READ MORE
Everything was based on fears that the State would have a fifth of the ICU beds it needed, framed against the backdrop of footage emerging from Italy and Spain, of makeshift ICU beds in hospital corridors as doctors battled with air disaster-style numbers every day.
For Margaret O’Donnell, a plastic surgery consultant at the clinic, and its director of clinical governance, the atmosphere at the time was one of “national emergency – shoulder to the wheel; what do we have to do”.
Under the deal, the Blackrock Clinic was detailed to “decompress” the public system – to carry out complex and pressing surgeries that could not be done in public hospitals. Since then, it has done 400 cancer surgeries, along with cardiac and other urgent procedures.
In a second phase of the plan, Blackrock would have taken in Covid patients. However, the surge, and the associated pressure on Irish hospitals, never came, or at least not to the same extent as elsewhere.
Now, as the country faces months – perhaps years – of living with Covid-19, critical questions are being asked about how the healthcare system can operate. For all parties, the issues are multiplying, and there are no easy solutions in sight.
O'Donnell says her predecessor, Prof Gregor Shanik, had a term for conundrums like this. He called them "wicked problems". As it faces into an era of seismic and unpredictable change, how will Irish healthcare solve its wicked problem?
Contract review
Launching the agreement, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said private hospitals were not being nationalised. The move, he said, represented a "public-private partnership" for the common good. However, the Government has faced calls to do precisely that.
There is not a lot of time to decide, as a confidential joint HSE/Department of Health paper given to the National Public Health Emergency Team last week made clear pointing to the scheduled end-May contract review.
Such a review will assess the agreement's effectiveness in supporting the public system set against prevalence of the disease. Pointedly, it said Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe would be responsible for approving any extension, given the costs involved.
Some senior health figures believe a review at the end of May comes too quickly. It should assess the delivering of Covid and non-Covid care in public hospitals. Care should be given, too, to all those patients who have not contracted the virus, but who have had their own treatments delayed.
According to the paper, private hospitals “will be used in support of the resumption of more routine scheduled care in order to tackle the increasing waiting lists for such care”. It said this “may be dependent on the decision on whether or not to extend the arrangement”.
Inside the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, however, the goal is to find a way of keeping costs under control while keeping access that may be needed in the event of a future surge of the virus.
Options could include, for example, a "less demanding" version of the current deal that would retain flexible access to ICU beds, or the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) could be given a greater role. The aim may be to extend, but with lower capacity, and less cost, sources say.
Alongside surge planning, Covid-19 will also have a profound impact on the Irish health system. Patients will be processed more slowly, infection controls will be more onerous, affecting the speed at which everything can be done.
The HSE/Department of Health paper said private hospitals will be used to support the resumption of routine, but delayed scheduled care to tackle longer waiting lists. The paper said this “may be dependent on the decision on whether or not to extend the arrangement”.
The HSE has to inform private hospitals by May 31st on whether it intends to extend the agreement to July 30th. If it does decide to extend until July, then either hospitals or the HSE can subsequently terminate the arrangement with 30 days’ notice.
Michele McCormack, Blackrock Clinic executive, is adamant the clinic will return to its normal business once the deal is concluded with the State. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw / The Irish Times
For consultants temporarily relocated to the Blackrock Clinic, the sense is things aren't going back to normal. As she prepares to go into theatre, gynaecological oncologist Dr Noreen Gleeson, normally of St James's Hospital, says: "I think things will never go back quite to the way they were on account of Covid; I think it will be with us for a long time and we will have to work our health systems around it."
‘Normal business’
A decision by the HSE to extend the deal until July will impact on everyone in the health system. The private hospitals are making their position clear.
Michele McCormack, the Blackrock Clinic executive, is forthright. While she is committed to the deal, and providing capacity if needed, once it is concluded, she is adamant the clinic “will return to its normal business as before”.
“The current agreement… is an emergency measure put in place to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic. Like most of the emergency measures put in place, it is not financially sustainable beyond that point for the State, the private hospitals, the health insurers and the thousands of consultants working in the private hospitals,” she said.
The Private Hospitals Association (PHA), the industry group for the sector, is also sending a clear signal to the Government. In a statement to The Irish Times, a spokesman said the deal was "the right decision for that time", but added that while private hospitals are getting busier, activity levels depend on cases being sent to them by the HSE. "If these do not increase, it may be preferable at a point to revert to the NTPF model whereby services and elective procedures can be procured and contracted based on precise levels of demand at any given time and thereby delivering better value for money."
The deal has cast a shadow over the business model of the institutions, but also over medical consultants and insurers. Private healthcare is a €2 billion industry in Ireland, employing thousands. Nearly 2.276 million people had in-patient insurance at the end of last year.
Medical consultants receive about €600 million collectively from the private system. Senior figures in the sector say that about 30 specialists receive more than €1 million, although this is not just salary – private medical practices can be micro economies employing technicians, nurses, business managers. Some specialists purchase suites in private hospitals, costing from several hundred thousand euro to more than €1 million.
Fears such practices could become unviable form part of the objections to the Government’s public contract, on a salary of between €141,000 and €195,000. Some 320 of the 600 fully-private sector consultants have signed up. The Department of Health last Friday told doctors it would not offer them a contract that allowed them to charge fee-paying patients. Essentially, they could take or leave what is on the table.
The Blackrock Clinic: Under the new deal with the State, and rigorous Covid-era infection control guidelines, occupancy is down to 45 per cent, far below the usual 80 and 90 per cent. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw / The Irish Times
Some doctors have argued that the original basis of the agreement was to have capacity to deal with the pandemic, not to tackle public waiting lists. They argue the State has used the NTPF to buy care for patients on waiting lists without ever having to take over hospitals or to make doctors employees of the State.
Doctors are concerned about the fate of their existing private patients. Already there are murmurings of legal action.
Insurers have seen their business model disrupted as subscribers lost access to the private hospitals. Private maternity, psychiatry and diagnostics are still available as are some out-patient consultations and procedures, but insurers have introduced premium waivers, cashback arrangements and rebates for customers.
There are concerns that if the State takeover of private hospitals continues, for example, into the autumn that a question about the “relevance” of insurance cover will arise. Already, the industry is bracing for a fall in subscribers, as the recession bites.
In a Covid-19 world, the way forward is far from clear. It is a densely interwoven patchwork of financial, logistical, tactical and strategic questions, shot through with ethical and philosophical dilemmas, not to mention the vested interests and turf wars common in Irish healthcare.
Truly, a wicked problem.


theirishtimes--2020-05-16--Covid-19 testing centre for families of meat-plant workers planned

The HSE is planning to set up a testing centre in Mallow in north Cork for family members of those working at Kepak in Watergrasshill who have tested positive for Covid-19 .
The Irish Times has learned that as of 1pm on Thursday , approximately 150 staff at the plant had tested positive for Covid-19 , prompting the HSE to set up the special testing facility in Mallow for relatives .
However , the HSE would not comment on the situation at the plant , citing privacy issues and The Irish Times was unable to make contact with management at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mainly foreign workers .
The union representing many of Ireland ’ s meat plant staff has called for an industry taskforce to tackle growing numbers of workers across the State contracting Covid-19 in “ a perfect storm ” .
Siptu manufacturing division organiser Greg Ennis said the Government needs to establish a “ farm to fork ” meat industry taskforce , with more than 600 cases of the virus reported in plants .
“ There is an urgent need for a taskforce involving all meat industry stakeholders to be set up – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want this to turn into a scenario like what happened with the nursing homes , ” he said .
Mr Ennis said meat plants offer the potential for “ a perfect storm ” when it comes to workers contracting Covid-19 as several factors combine to expose the 15,000 or so workers in the country ’ s 40 meat plants to risk .
He said meat plant staff are working in close proximity to each other on production lines while the older plants also make social distancing difficult with bottlenecks in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said because the industry is a low-wage economy it means that the many foreign workers working in plants are living together in cramped housing conditions where social distancing is again difficult .
He said workers tend to carpool and end up in close proximity to each other travelling to and from work as they try to reduce their transport costs .
Mr Ennis said Siptu has called for mandatory temperature testing of all meat plant staff and Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín similarly called for the urgent introduction of such testing , given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of April , Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed confirmed in the Dáil that his department was aware of six plants where workers had tested positive for Covid-19 but Mr Tóibín said the problem had worsened since then .
On Thursday , the Dáil was told of reports that about 60 employees at Rosderra Meats ’ Edenderry plant in Co Offaly had tested positive for the virus with more test results due .
Earlier this month , the Dáil was told of about 100 confirmed cases at its plant in Roscrea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said in a statement that when clusters arise the mater is dealt with by “ a HSE-led local outbreak control team , in co-ordination with local plant management ” .
“ On foot of a number of clusters arising in meat plants , a national outbreak control team , chaired by the HSE and reporting to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre , was established .
“ The department participates in this team ( which has met on May 7th and May 14th ) .
This group now provides oversight and co-ordination of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 outbreaks in meat plants .
”

There are some 600 confirmed cases of Covid-19 at meat processing plants. Photograph: Bloomberg
The HSE is planning to set up a testing centre in Mallow in north Cork for family members of those working at Kepak in Watergrasshill who have tested positive for Covid-19.
The Irish Times has learned that as of 1pm on Thursday, approximately 150 staff at the plant had tested positive for Covid-19, prompting the HSE to set up the special testing facility in Mallow for relatives.
However, the HSE would not comment on the situation at the plant, citing privacy issues and The Irish Times was unable to make contact with management at the plant, which employs some 650, mainly foreign workers.
The union representing many of Ireland’s meat plant staff has called for an industry taskforce to tackle growing numbers of workers across the State contracting Covid-19 in “a perfect storm”.
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Specific strategy
Siptu manufacturing division organiser Greg Ennis said the Government needs to establish a "farm to fork" meat industry taskforce, with more than 600 cases of the virus reported in plants.
“There is an urgent need for a taskforce involving all meat industry stakeholders to be set up – we need a specific strategy because we don’t want this to turn into a scenario like what happened with the nursing homes,” he said.
Mr Ennis said meat plants offer the potential for “a perfect storm” when it comes to workers contracting Covid-19 as several factors combine to expose the 15,000 or so workers in the country’s 40 meat plants to risk.
He said meat plant staff are working in close proximity to each other on production lines while the older plants also make social distancing difficult with bottlenecks in both canteens and toilets.
Mr Ennis said because the industry is a low-wage economy it means that the many foreign workers working in plants are living together in cramped housing conditions where social distancing is again difficult.
He said workers tend to carpool and end up in close proximity to each other travelling to and from work as they try to reduce their transport costs.
Mr Ennis said Siptu has called for mandatory temperature testing of all meat plant staff and Aontu leader Peadar Tóibín similarly called for the urgent introduction of such testing, given the growing number of Covid-19 cases.
Outbreak
At the end of April, Minister for Agriculture Michael Creed confirmed in the Dáil that his department was aware of six plants where workers had tested positive for Covid-19 but Mr Tóibín said the problem had worsened since then.
On Thursday, the Dáil was told of reports that about 60 employees at Rosderra Meats' Edenderry plant in Co Offaly had tested positive for the virus with more test results due. Earlier this month, the Dáil was told of about 100 confirmed cases at its plant in Roscrea, Co Tipperary.
The Department of Agriculture said in a statement that when clusters arise the mater is dealt with by “a HSE-led local outbreak control team, in co-ordination with local plant management”.
“On foot of a number of clusters arising in meat plants, a national outbreak control team, chaired by the HSE and reporting to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, was established.
“The department participates in this team (which has met on May 7th and May 14th). This group now provides oversight and co-ordination of the approach to the prevention and management of Covid-19 outbreaks in meat plants.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-16--Inside a Covid-19 outbreak at a meat plant: ‘It is a miracle he is alive’

“ He is very , very lucky to be alive , ” she says of her husband .
The Offaly @ @ @ @ @ John ( not their real names ) do not want to be publicly identified .
@ @ @ @ @ of workers at Rosderra Irish Meats , Ireland ’ s largest pig meat processor who @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus disease , in one of the biggest outbreaks at any workplace in the @ @

“He is very, very lucky to be alive,” she says of her husband. The Offaly woman Mary and her husband John (not their real names) do not want to be publicly identified.
John is one of dozens of workers at Rosderra Irish Meats, Ireland's largest pig meat processor who tested positive for Covid-19, the coronavirus disease, in one of the biggest outbreaks at any workplace in the country.
Meat plants have been badly affected because of the close proximity staff work on rigid production lines and because of the number of workers, often foreign nationals, who share rental accommodation outside work, contributing to the spread of the virus.
On Tuesday, there were 12 clusters – each defined as two cases or more – at meat plants in the State, accounting for 500 cases out of more than 23,000 known Covid-19 cases.
READ MORE
Trade union Siptu says as many as 600 meat processing workers have been infected and that up to 15 workers have been hospitalised.
John was one of them. His health deteriorated rapidly over just one week in March.
He developed a bad cough on Friday, March 20th, after finishing work. It worsened until, the following Thursday, he was finding it hard to breathe. His wife called an ambulance.
Pulled through
John was brought to Midland Regional Hospital in Tullamore. The next day, Friday, March 27th, he was moved into the intensive care unit. By the following Tuesday, he was on a ventilator, the first Covid-19 patient to be ventilated in Tullamore. He remained on it for 16 days. Mary was convinced John would not survive because of regular calls she received from a doctor in the hospital.
John is a diabetic. Figures released by the Department of Health this week showed that of Covid-19 patients with underlying health conditions, diabetes was the third most common condition among patients infected with coronavirus who ended up in hospital ICUs.
Ultimately, John pulled through and was moved out of ICU on April 16th and the Covid-19 ward on April 29th before being discharged on May 8th – 49 days after he first took ill.
“It is a miracle he is alive. He lost a world of weight – 13 kilos,” said Mary.
She is convinced he caught the virus in Rosderra's factory in Roscrea where he has been a long-time employee.
“The only place he could have got it was the factory. There were only the two of us living here: he doesn’t go to pubs, he goes from work to home, work to home, work to home,” she says.
There was no policing of toilets, sinks or locker rooms. It was like a cattle mart, everyone was going in on top of each other'
In the same seven-week period John was ill, the number of clusters in workplaces rose from three to 35, one third of which are meat plants. In the Dáil on Thursday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin described the scale of outbreaks at meat processing plants as "gravely serious".
Cases of Covid-19 in meat plants are not unique to this State.
In Northern Ireland, a female worker in her 50s at the Moy Park poultry plant in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, died this week after contracting the virus. At least 30 meat-packing workers have died of Covid-19 in the United States and more than 10,000 have contracted the disease.
As the Republic embarks on a slow return to the “new normal” of living with this deadly virus still in the community, more workplaces will be reopening and having to balance a return to business with managing the health and safety of staff and customers.
Rosderra Meats, an essential food business that never closed, is an example of the challenges other companies could face in the weeks and months ahead.
On Thursday, April 30th – 35 days into John's hospitalisation in Tullamore – Sinn Féin TD for Laois-Offaly Brian Stanley raised concerns in the Dáil about what had gone on at Rosderra and at its plants in Roscrea and Edenderry. Out of about 350 workers in Roscrea, up to 140 of them were out sick and 120 had tested positive, he said.
‘Allowed to spread’
About 60 cases were confirmed at the Edenderry factory this week, with further results pending, after close to 600 staff were tested on Monday.
“Workers had to battle with management to get measures of any kind put in place, but they are still being denied two-metre distancing on the factory floor. There is congregating and no separation in the locker rooms or washrooms,” Stanley told the Dáil last month.
“The virus was allowed to spread within that factory. That should not happen,” he added.
He complained that no prior instructions were issued to workers, many of whom were not English-speaking. Many workers at Rosderra in Roscrea are from Moldova and share accommodation with each other. A Rosderra spokesman, who organises translations for workers, said the firm had trained and briefed all staff in their relevant languages on Covid-19.
Several workers who spoke to The Irish Times confirmed Stanley’s claims.
“There was no policing of toilets, sinks or locker rooms. It was like a cattle mart, everyone was going in on top of each other,” said one worker.
Another who tested positive said: “I couldn’t have got it elsewhere. I had withdrawn from the outside world before I got it so it had to have come from the factory.”
He said the fact that so many workers at Rosderra tested positive tells its own story.
From about March 16th, the plant introduced temperature checks as staff entered the factory and employees were asked if they had symptoms but workers say there was no social distancing on the factory floor at the time.
“I don’t know how you social distance in a meat plant; it is not possible,” said one worker.
The company has since installed partitions between workers but has had to scale back production, processing 200 instead 400 pigs an hour, because so many staff were out sick.
Stanley says that even when the HSE came in to carry out mass testing at the plant on April 24th and 25th, some workers who were later to test positive were allowed back into the factory.
“Some of those workers were standing directly beside, shoulder to shoulder, with workers that were not infected. That was completely out of order,” Stanley said.
Rosderra’s spokesman said he could not comment on this.
In a statement, the company said that it was working with the HSE, the Department of Agriculture and occupational health professionals to ensure all health, safety and sanitisation requirements are being strictly adhered to minimise the spread of the virus.
‘The virus was allowed to spread within that factory. That should not happen,’ says Sinn Féin TD for Laois-Offaly Brian Stanley. Photograph: Diarmuid Greene
“The safety and welfare of our employees is of the utmost importance to Rosderra Irish Meats and we continue to be extremely vigilant with our protective measures for infection control,” the company said.
Measures taken include supervised distancing, mandatory face coverings and staggered breaks and start times to reduce the possibility of gatherings.
Despite these actions, the firm has been criticised for not doing more, earlier.
“It is clear that action was not taken quickly enough,” said Stanley. “When the first worker came down ill with Covid symptoms over six or seven weeks ago, there should have been more rigorous procedures put in place at that point and clear actions taken.”
Stanley said that just this week he was contacted by a worker at Edenderry who complained about getting just one disposable mask per day. Rosderra’s spokesman denied there were issues with providing adequate supplies of personal protective equipment to staff.
Cease production
The HSE declined to answer questions about Rosderra, saying that it did not comment on facilities with outbreaks to protect the privacy of workers.
Mary wonders why Rosderra did not close once Covid-19 cases rose as the Dawn Meats plant did when it had four confirmed cases in its boning hall in Kilbeggan, Co Westmeath.
Rosderra's spokesman said that it has worked closely with the Department of Agriculture, HSE and the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) from the outset but closure was never suggested.
“We were never advised to cease production in any of our plants,” he said.
The HSE said that there is “no numerical threshold” for the number of cases in a workplace to trigger a closure; the decision is based on “a risk assessment process”.
He has to learn to walk again. It will take a good 12 months to come back. He was walking on a zimmer frame up and down the ward'
The Government has published a protocol to help workplaces reopen safely ahead of a limited reopening of businesses on Monday. Firms can be closed if they do not comply.
“Closing down would be at the very extreme end of any enforcement power and the whole situation would have to be extremely critical at that point to do that but there are lots of points in between,” said Dr Sharon McGuinness, chief executive of the HSA.
As for the many sick employees at Rosderra, the company said that those who had tested positive are “recovering well or have recovered and returned to work”.
“Regrettably, we have staff across the business who are self-isolating and are awaiting tests or test results, staff who have tested positive from mid-March, some of whom have returned to work following the HSE agreed self-isolation protocol,” said Rosderra.
Employee privacy meant it could not comment on John’s case, the spokesman said.
Mary says the company’s behaviour was “absolutely disgusting” in that they must have known how ill John had become in late March but it wasn’t until April 24th before all employees were tested.
The company responded that it had worked “from the word go” with State authorities and various mitigation measures were introduced from “very early on but obviously everything was being ramped up and developing as the situation was developing”.
Mary’s focus now is on her husband’s recovery.
“He has to learn to walk again. It will take a good 12 months to come back. He was walking on a zimmer frame up and down the ward. His breathing is all different,” she said.
There are no plans for him to return to work at Rosderra.
“I wouldn’t let him back in a million years,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--Thinking Anew – Love is the most powerful gift

The young boy had something on his mind as he approached his father who was busy in the garden .
“ You know that song we sing in school , ‘ He ’ s got the whole world in his hands ’ .
Is it true , ” he asked , “ that God has the whole world in his hands ?
” The father said it was true .
“ Really true ?
” the boy asked again , only to receive the same answer .
That is terrible , the child said , God is crushing children in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of talking down to children or adults for that matter when explaining our understanding of God .
That was not the case when Paul visited Athens , the intellectual centre of the ancient world .
Tomorrow ’ s reading from Acts 17 tells us that when he toured the city , he discovered it was swamped with religious idols , among them at least one with the inscription “ To an unknown god.
” Later , given the opportunity to address a formal meeting of the Areopagus , he said : “ Athenians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are in every way .
For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship , I found among them an altar with the inscription ‘ To an unknown god.
’ What therefore you worship as unknown , this I proclaim to you.
” He goes on to speak at length about God ’ s universal presence and the significance of Jesus Christ .
There are limits to what anyone can know about God , as the scriptures make clear .
“ Can you discover the depths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limits of the Almighty ?
( Book of Job ) .
But for some their understanding of God is confined to what they were taught as children and that , as indicated above , has serious limitations .
Furthermore , the churches have assumed too much and not done enough to nurture people ’ s faith and spirituality .
There is an intriguing encounter in the Book of Exodus where Moses is anxious to know that God is with him and his people .
He seeks reassurance and is told : ” ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My face shall not be seen.
” One commentator suggests that this means that we only recognise God ’ s presence retrospectively , as seems to have been the experience of Jacob of Old Testament fame : “ Surely the Lord was in this place and I knew it not.
” Too often we look for a faraway God – a somewhere out there God who seems to go missing when we need him .
While the Bible makes many references to the God of the universe it also points to the God @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are told , so wherever love is experienced or seen in action God is as close as that – in the embrace of lovers , the cuddle of a child or grandchild , the smile of a friend .
God is present in every loving word or thought or action – in the tears that wave goodbye at an airport or welcome us home , the arms that comfort us in grief , the minds and hearts that care for others .
And that is true for religious and non-religious alike , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe that God has revealed himself in the life , death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and demonstrated that love is the most powerful gift available to humanity .
But like Moses we seek reassurance and that is promised in tomorrow ’ s reading from John 14 : “ I will not leave you orphaned ; I am coming to you .
In a little while the world will no longer see me , but you will see me ; because I live , you also will live.
” In that promise we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fr Henri Nouwen : “ Being neither an optimist or a pessimist , Jesus speaks about hope that is not based on chances that things will get better or worse .
His hope is built on the promise that , whatever happens , God will stay with us at all times , in all places ” .
Even perhaps in a garden with a child and his father seeking truth .

The young boy had something on his mind as he approached his father who was busy in the garden. “You know that song we sing in school, ‘He’s got the whole world in his hands’. Is it true,” he asked, “that God has the whole world in his hands?” The father said it was true. “Really true?” the boy asked again, only to receive the same answer. That is terrible, the child said, God is crushing children in Australia.
A warning of the danger of talking down to children or adults for that matter when explaining our understanding of God.
That was not the case when Paul visited Athens, the intellectual centre of the ancient world. Tomorrow’s reading from Acts 17 tells us that when he toured the city, he discovered it was swamped with religious idols, among them at least one with the inscription “To an unknown god.” Later, given the opportunity to address a formal meeting of the Areopagus, he said: “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.” He goes on to speak at length about God’s universal presence and the significance of Jesus Christ.
There are limits to what anyone can know about God, as the scriptures make clear. “Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? (Book of Job).
READ MORE
But for some their understanding of God is confined to what they were taught as children and that, as indicated above, has serious limitations. Furthermore, the churches have assumed too much and not done enough to nurture people’s faith and spirituality.
There is an intriguing encounter in the Book of Exodus where Moses is anxious to know that God is with him and his people. He seeks reassurance and is told: ”...you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”
One commentator suggests that this means that we only recognise God’s presence retrospectively, as seems to have been the experience of Jacob of Old Testament fame: “Surely the Lord was in this place and I knew it not.”
Too often we look for a faraway God – a somewhere out there God who seems to go missing when we need him.
While the Bible makes many references to the God of the universe it also points to the God of intimacy. God is love, we are told, so wherever love is experienced or seen in action God is as close as that – in the embrace of lovers, the cuddle of a child or grandchild, the smile of a friend.
God is present in every loving word or thought or action – in the tears that wave goodbye at an airport or welcome us home, the arms that comfort us in grief, the minds and hearts that care for others.
And that is true for religious and non-religious alike, the only distinction being recognition.
Christians believe that God has revealed himself in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and demonstrated that love is the most powerful gift available to humanity.
But like Moses we seek reassurance and that is promised in tomorrow’s reading from John 14: “I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live.”
In that promise we find hope, a hope explained by Fr Henri Nouwen: “Being neither an optimist or a pessimist, Jesus speaks about hope that is not based on chances that things will get better or worse. His hope is built on the promise that, whatever happens, God will stay with us at all times, in all places”.
Even perhaps in a garden with a child and his father seeking truth.


theirishtimes--2020-05-15--Almost 6,200 capsules claiming to treat symptoms of Covid-19 seized by gardaí

Almost 6,200 capsules of Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM ) , which claim to treat symptoms of Covid-19 , were @ @ @ @ @ search operation in the Swords area of Dublin last week .
The operation was conducted @ @ @ @ @ approximately 7,200 TCM capsules at Dublin Airport on 29th April 29th after Revenue intercepted falsely-declared @ @ @ @ @ ‘ surgical face masks ’ were also seized .
The follow-up search operation was conducted @ @ @ @ @ house in Swords as part of a joint operation between the Swords District Drugs Unit @ @ @ @ @ Products Regulatory Authority .
The capsules seized during the operation have an estimated street value @ @ @

The follow-up search operation was conducted on May 8th at a house in Swords, Co Dublin. File photograph: Oli Scarff/ Getty Images
Almost 6,200 capsules of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which claim to treat symptoms of Covid-19, were seized by gardaí during a search operation in the Swords area of Dublin last week.
The operation was conducted following a previous seizure of approximately 7,200 TCM capsules at Dublin Airport on 29th April 29th after Revenue intercepted falsely-declared packaging. Approximately 10,000 non-compliant ‘surgical face masks’ were also seized.
The follow-up search operation was conducted on May 8th at a house in Swords as part of a joint operation between the Swords District Drugs Unit, Revenue and the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
The capsules seized during the operation have an estimated street value of €10,000.