theirishtimes--2020-12-01--‘It’s the most I have been out in months’: Gym-goers return to their workouts

Dennehy ’ s Gym in Douglas in Cork was celebrating its reopening on Tuesday with an extra bit of festive cheer , having seen off the challenge of not just the lockdown but a car park fire which put them out of business for 15 months .
A car went up in flames in August 2019 at the car park in Douglas Village Shopping Centre on the south side of Cork city .
Management were left with no choice but to close for structural works .
When the works were completed shops and the onsite gym still could not reopen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who owns the Douglas gym , in addition to other Dennehy ’ s facilities in Cork in Blackpool and Ballincollig said he felt a wave of excitement about being able to open their doors again after such a prolonged closure .
Mr Dennehy is so confident about the future of the sector that he has invested €700,000 to open a fourth gym at Penrose Dock in the city centre in February of next year .
Mr Dennehy says that customers have been counting down the days to the reopening of gyms .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ routine means to them having endured months of semi-hibernation .
He admits he found it difficult to keep in the zone when it came to exercise , with most people needing the encouragement and motivation of fitness instructors in order to keep their health goals on track .
“ We opened our doors at half six this morning and there were people in straight away .
“ People who can exercise at home with the same intensity as they do in the gym are a rare bunch .
Most of us need the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gym ...
I definitely slept in longer .
I ate more.
” Mr Dennehy says the fitness industry has responded well to the challenges of Covid .
Stringent measures are in place and customers are very vigilant with handwashing and social distancing .
“ A real positive has been our members realising how much they have missed the gym .
“ People are really appreciative when they come in to the gym and have all the equipment with it all running so smoothly .
Just getting out of the house and getting some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the doors was shift worker Keith Magill of Douglas who says the gym really helps to give his weeks some shape .
“ You never come out of the gym with regret .
I dropped the kids to school and I was straight in here .
I normally work nights doing a 12-hour night shift .
It is so easy to stay in bed all day .
When I come here I go in to work motivated .
It is so good for your mental health .
I am delighted to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declined to be named , joked that she was as excited as a child on Christmas Eve .
“ The gym and then a look around TK Maxx .
It ’ s the most I have been out in months .
”

Emmet Foley, developing manager at Penrose Dock, of the JCD Group, and Luke Dennehy, founder of Dennehy’s Health and Fitness in Penrose Dock, Cork, where Dennehy will open a new branch in February. Photograph: Darragh Kane
Dennehy's Gym in Douglas in Cork was celebrating its reopening on Tuesday with an extra bit of festive cheer, having seen off the challenge of not just the lockdown but a car park fire which put them out of business for 15 months.
A car went up in flames in August 2019 at the car park in Douglas Village Shopping Centre on the south side of Cork city. Management were left with no choice but to close for structural works.
When the works were completed shops and the onsite gym still could not reopen because of Covid restrictions.
Luke Dennehy, who owns the Douglas gym, in addition to other Dennehy's facilities in Cork in Blackpool and Ballincollig said he felt a wave of excitement about being able to open their doors again after such a prolonged closure.
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Mr Dennehy is so confident about the future of the sector that he has invested €700,000 to open a fourth gym at Penrose Dock in the city centre in February of next year.
Luke Dennehy of Dennehy’s gym. Photograph: Darragh Kane
Mr Dennehy says that customers have been counting down the days to the reopening of gyms. Their clientele now realise just how much routine means to them having endured months of semi-hibernation.
He admits he found it difficult to keep in the zone when it came to exercise, with most people needing the encouragement and motivation of fitness instructors in order to keep their health goals on track.
“We opened our doors at half six this morning and there were people in straight away.
“People who can exercise at home with the same intensity as they do in the gym are a rare bunch. Most of us need the routine and motivation of going to a gym... I definitely slept in longer. I ate more.”
Mr Dennehy says the fitness industry has responded well to the challenges of Covid. Stringent measures are in place and customers are very vigilant with handwashing and social distancing.
“A real positive has been our members realising how much they have missed the gym.
“People are really appreciative when they come in to the gym and have all the equipment with it all running so smoothly. Just getting out of the house and getting some normality back.”
Among the first people through the doors was shift worker Keith Magill of Douglas who says the gym really helps to give his weeks some shape.
“You never come out of the gym with regret. I dropped the kids to school and I was straight in here. I normally work nights doing a 12-hour night shift. It is so easy to stay in bed all day. When I come here I go in to work motivated. It is so good for your mental health. I am delighted to be back.”
Another gym user, who declined to be named, joked that she was as excited as a child on Christmas Eve. "The gym and then a look around TK Maxx. It's the most I have been out in months."


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--Senior Department of Education official to be cross-examined in case over grades

The High Court has permitted a limited cross-examination of the assistant secretary of the Department of Education during the lead challenge over the Leaving Cert calculated grades process .
That action , by Freddie Sherry , a Leaving Cert student at Dublin ’ s Belvedere College , is due to open next Tuesday with more than 30 other cases awaiting its outcome .
Mr Sherry , from Newtown , Celbridge , Co Kildare , claims a decision last August by the Minister for Education , approved by the Government on September 1st , to exclude historical schools data from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ hugely disappointed ” the CAO points total of 542 for him estimated by his teachers was reduced by 47 points to 487 under the grade standardisation and he lost out on his first choice to study pharmacy at Trinity College .
His case is against the Minister for Education and the State who reject the claims .
Mr Justice Charles Meenan , who will hear the case , gave a ruling on Tuesday on a number of pre-trial applications by both sides .
He granted an application by lawyers for Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basis , of Dalton Tatton , assistant general secretary of the department of education , on certain matters in his affidavits .
He also permitted limited cross-examination of Hugh McManus , deputy director of the calculated grades office , as well as a general cross-examination of two experts for the sides .
The judge said the core issue in Mr Sherry ’ s case is whether or not the decision to exclude historical school data from the calculated grades process was unlawful , unfair , unreasonable or irrational and breached Mr Sherry ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be included .
Given conflicts of fact in this case , he considered it was one of those exceptional judicial review challenges where cross-examination could be permitted .
He granted another application by Mr Sherry for production of two data models considered in the development of the calculated grades process .
Those models were “ central ” to the process , the judge said .
He refused , on grounds of privilege attached to discussions before Cabinet , another application by Mr Sherry for discovery of a memo provided to Cabinet when making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had said it has provided similar material to Mr Sherry which formed the basis of presentations from the Minister and her officials concerning the exclusion of historical school data from the calculated grades process which were made , outside the Cabinet setting , to members of Government and representatives of Fianna Fáil and Green Party , the judge noted .
The respondents had said they had provided as full and comprehensive an account as could properly be given concerning how the exclusion decision was arrived at , he added .
He also upheld @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Mr Sherry should not be permitted include an affidavit from Alice Lynch , the principal of St Kilian ’ s German school in Dublin .
The Sherry case was set by the parties some time ago as the lead challenge while St Kilian ’ s , and some of its students , have taken a separate challenge , the judge said .
Including Ms Lynch ’ s affidavit seemed to introduce the facts in the St Kilian ’ s case into Mr Sherry ’ s case , which concerns Belvedere College and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consolidate both cases , he said .
That could potentially lengthen Mr Sherry ’ s hearing because the respondents would need time to address the St Kilian ’ s claims .
Ms Lynch also could not be classified as an independent expert and the facts in her affidavit concerned St Kilian ’ s .
He did not believe excluding the affidavit would cause any injustice to Mr Sherry , the judge said .

The High Court has permitted a limited cross-examination of the assistant secretary of the Department of Education during the lead challenge over the Leaving Cert calculated grades process.
That action, by Freddie Sherry, a Leaving Cert student at Dublin’s Belvedere College, is due to open next Tuesday with more than 30 other cases awaiting its outcome.
Mr Sherry, from Newtown, Celbridge, Co Kildare, claims a decision last August by the Minister for Education, approved by the Government on September 1st, to exclude historical schools data from the calculated grades process was unlawful.
He was “hugely disappointed” the CAO points total of 542 for him estimated by his teachers was reduced by 47 points to 487 under the grade standardisation and he lost out on his first choice to study pharmacy at Trinity College.
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His case is against the Minister for Education and the State who reject the claims.
Mr Justice Charles Meenan, who will hear the case, gave a ruling on Tuesday on a number of pre-trial applications by both sides.
He granted an application by lawyers for Mr Sherry for cross-examination, on a limited basis, of Dalton Tatton, assistant general secretary of the department of education, on certain matters in his affidavits.
He also permitted limited cross-examination of Hugh McManus, deputy director of the calculated grades office, as well as a general cross-examination of two experts for the sides.
The judge said the core issue in Mr Sherry’s case is whether or not the decision to exclude historical school data from the calculated grades process was unlawful, unfair, unreasonable or irrational and breached Mr Sherry’s legitimate expectation historical school data would be included.
Given conflicts of fact in this case, he considered it was one of those exceptional judicial review challenges where cross-examination could be permitted.
He granted another application by Mr Sherry for production of two data models considered in the development of the calculated grades process. Those models were “central” to the process, the judge said.
He refused, on grounds of privilege attached to discussions before Cabinet, another application by Mr Sherry for discovery of a memo provided to Cabinet when making its September 1st decision.
The State had said it has provided similar material to Mr Sherry which formed the basis of presentations from the Minister and her officials concerning the exclusion of historical school data from the calculated grades process which were made, outside the Cabinet setting, to members of Government and representatives of Fianna Fáil and Green Party, the judge noted. The respondents had said they had provided as full and comprehensive an account as could properly be given concerning how the exclusion decision was arrived at, he added.
He also upheld “well-founded” arguments by the State that Mr Sherry should not be permitted include an affidavit from Alice Lynch, the principal of St Kilian’s German school in Dublin.
The Sherry case was set by the parties some time ago as the lead challenge while St Kilian’s, and some of its students, have taken a separate challenge, the judge said.
Including Ms Lynch’s affidavit seemed to introduce the facts in the St Kilian’s case into Mr Sherry’s case, which concerns Belvedere College and seemed to be an effective attempt to consolidate both cases, he said. That could potentially lengthen Mr Sherry’s hearing because the respondents would need time to address the St Kilian’s claims. Ms Lynch also could not be classified as an independent expert and the facts in her affidavit concerned St Kilian’s.
He did not believe excluding the affidavit would cause any injustice to Mr Sherry, the judge said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-01--Death of North’s former Lord Chief Justice Lord Kerr

Tributes have been paid to the former Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice Lord ( Brian ) Kerr who has died aged 72 just two months after retiring from the British supreme court .
Lord Kerr of Tonaghamore , who was originally was from Lurgan in Co Armagh , died after a short illness , it was announced on Tuesday .
Expressing condolences to Lord Kerr ’ s wife Gillian , his two sons and their families , the current Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland Sir Declan Morgan said he made an “ enormous contribution ” to the courts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was educated at St Colman ’ s College in Newry , Co Down , after which he took a law degree in Queen ’ s University , Belfast .
He was called to the Bar in 1970 just as the Troubles were flaring and was appointed a QC in 1983 , serving mainly as a prosecution counsel .
He was appointed a High Court judge in 1983 and subsequently served as the North ’ s Lord Chief Justice between 2004 and 2009 , when he was appointed as one of the first judges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His death was first announced at the start of a trial at Craigavon Crown Court in Co Armagh on Tuesday morning by Judge Patrick Lynch QC .
He told the jury he had just received the news that the “ local boy ” had died having had a “ distinguished career ” as both a barrister and judge .
The North ’ s Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said he was very saddened to learn of the “ untimely death of Brian Kerr ” who retired on September 30th .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get time to enjoy his retirement after his long career in the law and public service on the Bench .
He made an enormous contribution to the work of the courts both in this jurisdiction and in to the UK supreme court , ” he said .
The president of the British supreme court Lord Reed said Lord Kerr became a high court judge “ at a time when the decision to serve as a judge in Northern Ireland required courage and a strong sense of duty ” .
“ Through his judgments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong and instinctive sense of justice , and his thoughtful and principled approach to resolving legal problems , ” he said .
Lord Reed said Lord Kerr had left a “ legacy which will be drawn on well into the future , ” while adding , “ Brian was a deeply valued colleague , a kind and modest man of the utmost integrity , who will be deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with him.
” The flag of the supreme court has been lowered to half-mast for @ @ @ @

The North’s Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said he was very saddened to learn of the “untimely death of Brian Kerr (above)” who retired on September 30th. Photograph: Presseye.com.
Tributes have been paid to the former Northern Ireland Lord Chief Justice Lord (Brian) Kerr who has died aged 72 just two months after retiring from the British supreme court.
Lord Kerr of Tonaghamore, who was originally was from Lurgan in Co Armagh, died after a short illness, it was announced on Tuesday.
Expressing condolences to Lord Kerr's wife Gillian, his two sons and their families, the current Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland Sir Declan Morgan said he made an "enormous contribution" to the courts in Britain and the North.
Lord Kerr was educated at St Colman's College in Newry, Co Down, after which he took a law degree in Queen's University, Belfast.
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He was called to the Bar in 1970 just as the Troubles were flaring and was appointed a QC in 1983, serving mainly as a prosecution counsel.
He was appointed a High Court judge in 1983 and subsequently served as the North's Lord Chief Justice between 2004 and 2009, when he was appointed as one of the first judges in the newly-created British supreme court.
His death was first announced at the start of a trial at Craigavon Crown Court in Co Armagh on Tuesday morning by Judge Patrick Lynch QC. He told the jury he had just received the news that the “local boy” had died having had a “distinguished career” as both a barrister and judge.
The North’s Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan said he was very saddened to learn of the “untimely death of Brian Kerr” who retired on September 30th.
“It is very unfortunate that he did not get time to enjoy his retirement after his long career in the law and public service on the Bench. He made an enormous contribution to the work of the courts both in this jurisdiction and in to the UK supreme court,” he said.
The president of the British supreme court Lord Reed said Lord Kerr became a high court judge "at a time when the decision to serve as a judge in Northern Ireland required courage and a strong sense of duty".
“Through his judgments and during hearings, Brian demonstrated his strong and instinctive sense of justice, and his thoughtful and principled approach to resolving legal problems,” he said.
Lord Reed said Lord Kerr had left a “legacy which will be drawn on well into the future,” while adding, “Brian was a deeply valued colleague, a kind and modest man of the utmost integrity, who will be deeply missed by all those who had the pleasure of working with him.”
The flag of the supreme court has been lowered to half-mast for Tuesday and Wednesday.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Covid-19: Dublin street traders and council reach deal for run-up to Christmas

Street traders on Dublin ’ s Henry Street and O ’ Connell Street have been given the go-ahead to set up their stalls for the run-up to Christmas .
A compromise deal between traders , Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu and Dublin City Council has been struck after three weeks of talks .
The deal will allow a limited number of traders to work and comes after the local authority banned them from working in a letter on November 11th due to Covid-19 concerns and rolling restrictions .
A council spokesperson said that there are plans for 25 stalls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 10 on O ’ Connell Street .
Normally there are 40 stalls located on Henry Street .
“ The drawing of lots for the allocation of stalls was made today ( Wednesday ) , which was overseen by the Lord Mayor and the Henry Street Traders Committee , ” the council said .
“ Following a meeting which took place last Friday , a letter was sent out to each stall holder with all the relevant information from the Lord Mayor , DCC and the committee combined outlining a proposal for trading.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be back in operation by the end of this week and will work up to Christmas Eve .
The Henry Street Traders Committee welcomed the move and thanked councillors for their help .

Street traders are to return to Dublin’s Henry Street and O’Connell Street in the run-up to Christmas. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times
Street traders on Dublin’s Henry Street and O’Connell Street have been given the go-ahead to set up their stalls for the run-up to Christmas.
A compromise deal between traders, Lord Mayor of Dublin Hazel Chu and Dublin City Council has been struck after three weeks of talks.
The deal will allow a limited number of traders to work and comes after the local authority banned them from working in a letter on November 11th due to Covid-19 concerns and rolling restrictions.
A council spokesperson said that there are plans for 25 stalls, with 15 planned for Henry Street and 10 on O’Connell Street. Normally there are 40 stalls located on Henry Street.
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“The drawing of lots for the allocation of stalls was made today (Wednesday), which was overseen by the Lord Mayor and the Henry Street Traders Committee,” the council said.
“Following a meeting which took place last Friday, a letter was sent out to each stall holder with all the relevant information from the Lord Mayor, DCC and the committee combined outlining a proposal for trading.”
It is expected that the traders will be back in operation by the end of this week and will work up to Christmas Eve.
The Henry Street Traders Committee welcomed the move and thanked councillors for their help.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Driving test wait times more than quadruple due to first Covid-19 lockdown

Waiting times for driving tests have more than quadrupled to between 25 and 30 weeks due to the suspension of testing during the first Covid-19 lockdown , the Road Safety Authority ( RSA ) said .
Liz O ’ Donnell , chairperson of the RSA , told the Oireachtas transport committee that there were 64,500 people either scheduled or eligible to take a driving test .
The RSA had applied to the Department of Transport to hire an additional 80 driving testers to reduce the backlog and she hoped that this would be approved shortly , she said .
Ms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting a test were “ inevitable , unfortunately ” and a legacy issue from the suspension of the services during the lockdown between March and May .
She told the committee that the issue was “ of most concern and frustration ” for customers .
Prior to the pandemic , people were waiting on average six weeks to sit a test .
Delays have risen sharply to between 25 and 30 weeks as a result of a “ capacity problem ” and a shortage of testers , the Oireachtas committee was told .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been conducting 3,500 tests per week or 35,000 in total since July and was aiming to reduce waiting times to 10-week average but “ it will take time.
” The RSA had made a submission to the department in October seeking approval for funding to recruit the additional drivers .
“ We do hope that the department will respond very quickly to that , ” she said .
Fine Gael TD Kieran O ’ Donnell , chairman of the committee , said that the recruitment of the additional testers must be expedited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paying for car insurance because they were unable to sit tests to secure a full driving licence .
Ms O ’ Donnell said there has been an increase in road fatalities this year compared with last year , with 11 additional deaths on the roads during 2020 .
“ This is a concern and emphasises the need to continue focusing on educational and enforcement measures to tackle the main causes of collisions , ” said the former Progressive Democrats TD and minister of state who has been reappointed RSA chair for a further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killed on Irish roads so far this year , compared with 125 over the same period last year .
Ireland was ranked the second safest EU member state for road safety in 2019 - second in terms of road deaths , behind Sweden .
The State is ranked the fourth safest worldwide , she said .

The RSA had applied to the Department of Transport to hire an additional 80 driving testers. Photograph: iStock
Waiting times for driving tests have more than quadrupled to between 25 and 30 weeks due to the suspension of testing during the first Covid-19 lockdown, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) said.
Liz O'Donnell, chairperson of the RSA, told the Oireachtas transport committee that there were 64,500 people either scheduled or eligible to take a driving test.
The RSA had applied to the Department of Transport to hire an additional 80 driving testers to reduce the backlog and she hoped that this would be approved shortly, she said.
Ms O’Donnell said the delays in sitting a test were “inevitable, unfortunately” and a legacy issue from the suspension of the services during the lockdown between March and May.
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She told the committee that the issue was “of most concern and frustration” for customers.
Prior to the pandemic, people were waiting on average six weeks to sit a test.
Delays have risen sharply to between 25 and 30 weeks as a result of a “capacity problem” and a shortage of testers, the Oireachtas committee was told.
Ms O’Donnell said the RSA has been conducting 3,500 tests per week or 35,000 in total since July and was aiming to reduce waiting times to 10-week average but “it will take time.”
The RSA had made a submission to the department in October seeking approval for funding to recruit the additional drivers.
“We do hope that the department will respond very quickly to that,” she said.
Fine Gael TD Kieran O'Donnell, chairman of the committee, said that the recruitment of the additional testers must be expedited given the high costs young people were paying for car insurance because they were unable to sit tests to secure a full driving licence.
Ms O’Donnell said there has been an increase in road fatalities this year compared with last year, with 11 additional deaths on the roads during 2020.
“This is a concern and emphasises the need to continue focusing on educational and enforcement measures to tackle the main causes of collisions,” said the former Progressive Democrats TD and minister of state who has been reappointed RSA chair for a further term.
There have been 136 people killed on Irish roads so far this year, compared with 125 over the same period last year.
Ireland was ranked the second safest EU member state for road safety in 2019 - second in terms of road deaths, behind Sweden. The State is ranked the fourth safest worldwide, she said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Climate crisis: 2020 set to be ‘one of hottest years’ on record

This year is set to be one of the hottest on record globally amid the ongoing climate crisis and extreme weather conditions , the World Meteorological Organisation ( WMO ) has said .
It has been “ another extraordinary year ” for the climate , with heatwaves , wildfires , hurricanes and floods compounding the threats to people ’ s lives , health and security created by the pandemic , the UN organisation warned .
The average global temperature in 2020 is set to be around 1.2 degrees above the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900 , provisional analysis for January to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track to be one of the three hottest years on record , according to the assessment in the provisional report on the state of the global climate from the WMO .
Met Éireann said its analysis of 2020 temperature and rainfall data from Ireland provides similar evidence of changing climate .
In a statement coinciding with the WMO release , Met Éireann said : * 2020 is on course to be the 10th consecutive year with an above normal temperature for Ireland ; * 2020 data indicates that 19 of the 20 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ normal temperature ; and * February was the wettest February in more than 50 years with 252 per cent of normal rain falling and 16 of Met Éireann ’ s core network of 25 stations recording their wettest February on record .
It added parts of the east of Ireland had their driest spring on record .
Countrywide , only 58 per cent of normal rainfall fell this Spring , while in August ’ s sustained wind and gust records were broken during Storm Ellen .
Commenting on the data , Met Éireann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Extreme weather experienced in Ireland in 2020 is likely to become more common into the future .
Our analysis shows a wetter winter and drier spring than we have been used to .
This pattern is in line with predicted climate change-related trends for Ireland .
“ We saw the impact of such weather on our daily lives this year with the high level of flooding in February , particularly in the Shannon catchment .
At the other end of the spectrum , a national hosepipe ban was introduced after parts of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ A number of significant storms during 2020 , including Brendan and Ellen , caused the loss of electricity , affecting people and businesses throughout the country.
” The WMO said 2020 was currently in second place in all five global datasets in its analysis , behind 2016 and ahead of 2019 , though the difference between the years is small and could change once figures for the full year are in .
The hottest year on record , 2016 , saw a strong El Nino event , a climatic pattern in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ temperatures on top of the impact of climate warming caused by humans .
But WMO secretary-general Prof Petteri Taalas said that while the world is currently experiencing a La Nina moment , which cools global temperatures , that has “ not been sufficient to put a brake on this year ’ s heat ” .
He said : “ Despite the current La Nina conditions , this year has already shown near record heat comparable to the previous record of 2016.
” The past decade has been the hottest in temperature records stretching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six years on record all occurring since 2015 .
There is a one in five chance that global average temperatures will temporarily exceed the threshold of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2024 .
Under the global Paris climate treaty , countries are committed to trying to curb global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees , a level beyond which the worst impacts of climate change will be felt .
The state of the climate report , which draws on information from national meteorological organisations , UN bodies and regional and global climate centres @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Heat in the oceans is at record levels , with 80 per cent of the world ’ s seas experiencing a marine heatwave at some time in 2020 .
This has hit wildlife and habitats already affected by increasing acidity as excess carbon dioxide dissolves into the water .
Ice continues to melt , sea levels are rising and extreme weather is creating floods , droughts and wildfires .
The Siberian Arctic was 5 degrees hotter than normal this year , while heatwaves led to new temperature records in Australia , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Middle East .
Floods affected millions across the world , while drought hit South America and the US , where widespread dry conditions and extreme heat fuelled the largest fires ever recorded in the country in later summer and autumn .
There were double the average number of tropical cycles in the North Atlantic and 10 million people were forced from their homes by floods and storms in the first half of the year — mostly in South and South East Asia and the Horn of Africa .
Covid-19 complicated evacuations and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 50 million people have been hit twice this year : by climate-related disasters such as floods and droughts , and by the pandemic .
It also highlights a warning from the International Monetary Fund that the global recession makes it challenging to enact the policies needed to cut the emissions that drive rising temperatures — but also presents opportunities to set the economy on a greener path .
Prof Taalas said : “ We welcome all the recent commitments by governments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions because we are currently not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” - Additional reporting : PA

Ice continues to melt: The average global temperature in 2020 is set to be around 1.2 degrees above the pre-industrial baseline of 1850-1900. Photograph: Johan Ordonez/AFP via Getty Images
This year is on course to be one of the three warmest years on record worldwide, while the current decade will be the warmest ever, according to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
The worsening trends are being driven by climate disruption and rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it warns.
In its provisional annual statement on the state of the global climate issued on Wednesday, the UN body says it has been “another extraordinary year” for the Earth’s climate, with a combination of heatwaves, wildfires, hurricanes and floods compounding threats to people’s lives, health and security created by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The decade 2011-2020 has been the hottest in temperature records stretching back to 1850, with the warmest six years on record all occurring since 2015.
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“There is a one-in-five chance that global average temperatures will temporarily exceed the threshold of 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels by 2024,” it warns. Under the Paris climate treaty, countries are committed to trying to curb global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees; a level beyond which the worst impacts of climate change will be felt.
Heat in the oceans is at record levels, the WMO report notes, with 80 per cent of the world’s seas experiencing a marine heatwave at some time in 2020. “This has hit wildlife and habitats already affected by increasing acidity as excess carbon dioxide dissolves into the water.”
Ice continues to melt, sea levels are rising and extreme weather is creating severe droughts. The Siberian Arctic was 5 degrees hotter than normal this year resulting in accelerating melting of ice sheets, while heatwaves led to new temperature records in Australia, the Caribbean, Israel and much of the Middle East.
Global annual mean temperature difference from preindustrial conditions (1850–1900). The two reanalyses (ERA5 and JRA-55) are aligned with the in situ datasets (HadCRUT, NOAAGlobalTemp and GISTEMP) over the period 1981–2010. Data for 2020 run from January to October
WMO secretary-general Prof Petteri Taalas said that while the world is currently experiencing “a La Nina moment” when natural weather patterns cool global temperatures, that has “not been sufficient to put a brake on this year’s heat”.
Coinciding with the WMO analysis, Met Éireann released Ireland’s meteorological data for 2020 which provides further evidence of a warming Ireland.
The temperature and rainfall data provides evidence of the country’s changing climate including:
– 2020 is on course to be the 10th consecutive year with an above normal temperature;
– 2020 data indicates 19 of the 20 years of this century have had an above normal temperature;
– It was the wettest February in over 50 years with 252 per cent of normal rainfall; 16 of 25 monitoring stations recorded their wettest February.
Ireland experienced weather impacts due to climate disruption, which are set to become more extreme or more frequent, Met Éireann predicted.
The huge variation this year was typified in the switch from record rainfall to parts of the East soon having their driest Spring on record. Countrywide, only 58 per cent of normal rainfall fell in March, April, May. During August sustained wind (10-minute mean) and gust (3-second mean) records were broken during Storm Ellen.
Met Éireann’s senior climatologist Keith Lambkin said that as the WMO publishes its provisional statement, it’s an opportunity to reflect on how 2020 compares to Ireland’s normal climate.
Extreme weather experienced in Ireland in 2020 is likely to become more common into the future. “Our analysis shows a wetter winter and drier spring than we have been used to. This pattern is in line with predicted climate change-related trends for Ireland.”
As records continue to be broken globally, so too are records were being broken in Ireland. “The science is complex but the message is simple - to reduce the extremes we must reduce the warming,” Mr Lambkin added.
Outlining the national picture, he said: “We saw the impact of such weather on our daily lives this year with the high level of flooding in February, particularly in the Shannon catchment. At the other end of the spectrum, a national hosepipe ban was introduced after parts of the East had its driest Spring on record. A number of significant storms during 2020, including Brendan and Ellen, caused loss of electricity, affecting people and businesses throughout the country.”
“The warming we see globally is also observed here in Ireland and it is this warming that increases the risk of more extreme weather events,” he said.
The WMO figures show despite the Covid-19 lockdown, atmospheric GHGs continued to rise globally, “committing the planet to further warming for many generations to come”; and a series of worsening trends.
These include a record number of hurricanes in the Atlantic; wildfires consumed vast areas in Australia, Siberia, the US West Coast and South America, sending plumes of smoke circumnavigating the globe – and flooding in parts of Africa and South East Asia which led to massive population displacement and undermined food security for millions of people.
Responding to the WMO report, Christian Aid’s climate change lead Dr Kat Kramer said: “This is a sobering reminder that despite Covid-19, climate change continues to rumble on, causing mayhem around the world. Although the pandemic will have been the biggest concern to many people in the developed world in 2020, for millions in climate vulnerable places, the climate emergency remains the biggest threat and sadly there is no simple vaccine to fix the climate.”
These findings show just how important it is to ensure “economic recovery measures don’t entrench the fossil fuel economy but act to accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon world.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Public asked not to feed or take selfies with Phoenix Park deer

The public has been warned not to feed or take “ selfies ” with Dublin ’ s Phoenix Park deer this Christmas to prevent malnourishment and stress among the animals .
Families have been asked to instead write a letter to “ Rudolph ” which can be posted at any of three specially installed Christmas post boxes in the park .
Although there are signs throughout the park directing people not to feed or approach the deer , increasingly large numbers of visitors are causing “ undue stress ” to the wild animals , the Office of Public Works ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the first time issuing an appeal to the public to stay at least 50m from the animals , and in particular not to offer food , or try to “ pose for selfies , ” park superintendent Paul McDonnell said .
“ Deer have been the subject of many books and films and have a special place in our hearts .
However , these depictions often make them appear domesticated which they are not , ” he said .
“ Over the last number of years , particularly with the onset of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ perfect pic ’ with the deer , because they think they are cute and cuddly , but these are wild animals.
” While some visitors tried to feed the deer junk food , most offered them carrots or bread in the “ well-intentioned but misguided ” belief these were suitable foods , he said .
“ The park provides the perfect feeding habitat for the deer and other food such as carrots or bread are harmful and actually cause malnourishment and long-term harm.
” Research conducted in collaboration with the school of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interactions with people were putting the deer under damaging levels of stress , Mr McDonnell said .
“ Offering food can cause competition amongst the deer resulting in injuries and high stress levels .
Their natural cycle of grazing , ruminating , sleeping and socialising is interrupted .
They can become aggressive , they may bump into each other as they compete for the food , and this can cause fights to break out.
” He also cautioned people to be mindful that these are large animals , which can weigh 80kg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat of injury , especially to young people given their size and potentially erratic behaviour.
” Close contact can cause the exchange of disease between wild animals and humans , he said .
While the number of visitors to the park had increased significantly since the coronavirus outbreak , the OPW was particularly concerned about interactions with the park ’ s more than 500 deer in the run up to Christmas , given their association with Santa Claus .
“ As an alternative to feeding the deer the staff of the Phoenix Park @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boxes for children to drop off letters to Rudolf , ” the OPW said .
These will be located at the car parks for the Papal Cross , visitor centre , and the camogie grounds off Chesterfield Avenue .
“ We are asking all families with young children to use these as way to show their concern for the well-being of the wild deer .
”

The public has been warned not to feed or take “selfies” with Dublin’s Phoenix Park deer this Christmas to prevent malnourishment and stress among the animals.
Families have been asked to instead write a letter to “Rudolph” which can be posted at any of three specially installed Christmas post boxes in the park.
Although there are signs throughout the park directing people not to feed or approach the deer, increasingly large numbers of visitors are causing “undue stress” to the wild animals, the Office of Public Works (OPW) said.
The OPW is for the first time issuing an appeal to the public to stay at least 50m from the animals, and in particular not to offer food, or try to "pose for selfies," park superintendent Paul McDonnell said.
READ MORE
“Deer have been the subject of many books and films and have a special place in our hearts. However, these depictions often make them appear domesticated which they are not,” he said. “Over the last number of years, particularly with the onset of mobile phones, people want to get ‘perfect pic’ with the deer, because they think they are cute and cuddly, but these are wild animals.”
While some visitors tried to feed the deer junk food, most offered them carrots or bread in the “well-intentioned but misguided” belief these were suitable foods, he said.
“The park provides the perfect feeding habitat for the deer and other food such as carrots or bread are harmful and actually cause malnourishment and long-term harm.”
Research conducted in collaboration with the school of biology at University College Dublin, indicated the interactions with people were putting the deer under damaging levels of stress, Mr McDonnell said.
“Offering food can cause competition amongst the deer resulting in injuries and high stress levels. Their natural cycle of grazing, ruminating, sleeping and socialising is interrupted. They can become aggressive, they may bump into each other as they compete for the food, and this can cause fights to break out.”
He also cautioned people to be mindful that these are large animals, which can weigh 80kg.
“The deer pose a significant threat of injury, especially to young people given their size and potentially erratic behaviour.” Close contact can cause the exchange of disease between wild animals and humans, he said.
While the number of visitors to the park had increased significantly since the coronavirus outbreak, the OPW was particularly concerned about interactions with the park’s more than 500 deer in the run up to Christmas, given their association with Santa Claus.
“As an alternative to feeding the deer the staff of the Phoenix Park have set up a number of post boxes for children to drop off letters to Rudolf,” the OPW said. These will be located at the car parks for the Papal Cross, visitor centre, and the camogie grounds off Chesterfield Avenue.
“We are asking all families with young children to use these as way to show their concern for the well-being of the wild deer.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Covid-19: 12,000 people in Northern Ireland to get vaccine ‘before Christmas’

In less than two weeks time some 12,000 people in Northern Ireland should start getting the first vaccine against Covid-19 , the North ’ s health Minister Robin Swann said on Wednesday .
The rollout of the newly approved Pfizer/BioNTech was due to begin on Monday week , December 14th , but Mr Swann said that could be brought forward by a couple of days and vaccination actually start next week .
“ This is the start , it is not the end , ” said Mr Swann in welcoming the UK authorisation of the vaccine .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swann said that this was a “ hugely significant day for Northern Ireland ” but that people must not loosen their guard .
As Northern Ireland remains in lockdown until Friday week he said that people must continue to follow the rules for preventing coronavirus infection because it was likely to be the summer before the vaccination programme is completed .
Under the UK shared allocation of the vaccine Northern Ireland will be entitled to 25,000 phials of vaccine .
As it is a two-jab inoculation that will entitle about 12,000 of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christmas , said the Minister .
Those categorised as most vulnerable are health and social care staff and care home residents and staff .
But while not firmly established sources said it was likely that frontline health workers would be the first to receive the vaccines .
On Tuesday Patricia Donnelly , who is in charge of the Covid-19 vaccination said the North ’ s health service was “ good to go ” in terms of rolling out the programme from December 14th .
She said that the programme would start with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adding that the service had 800 experienced vaccinators in place with more than 600 vaccinators who had applied to join the scheme .
She added that seven locations for the vaccinations already had been selected .
The vaccinators are expected to get the vaccines first with the roll-out continuing thereafter to a list of the most vulnerable .
The batch sizes and the special cold storage demands of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine also meant that people would have to travel to the vaccination locations for the jabs , which would hardly be practicable for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Swann told BBC Radio Ulster that as the other vaccines came on line others high on the vulnerable list would receive the vaccines .
He said how vaccines were assigned was determined by the UK ’ s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation .
First Minister Arlene Foster said the vaccine approval was an early “ Christmas present ” .
“ This does give us the road back to normality and I think everybody has been waiting for that , ” she said .
Ms Foster said the rollout of the vaccine would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said the Stormont Executive also has to plan for economic recovery .
Deputy First Minister Michelle O ’ Neill said the authorisation of the vaccine was “ a turning point in our Covid battle ” .
“ I think people should feel that , and they ’ re right to feel it because it has been such a challenging time , ” she said .
Ms O ’ Neill said she would have no issue taking the vaccine herself but that there was no question of making such immunisation mandatory .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to convince people of the merits and why it ’ s important , and I think it ’ s for the medical and scientific evidence to back that all up and then people to make their decisions , ” she said .

Northern Ireland Minister for Health Robin Swann said the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine could start next week. Photograph: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA Wire
Northern Ireland will start seeing a rollout of the first vaccine against Covid-19 in less that two weeks' time with 12,000 people due to be immunised before Christmas, the North's Minister for Health Robin Swann said on Wednesday.
The application of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was due to begin on Monday week, December 14th, but Mr Swann said that could be brought forward by a couple of days and vaccination can actually start next week.
“This is the start, it is not the end,” said Mr Swann in welcoming the UK authorisation of the vaccine. “It is the beginning of the end.”
Hospital Report
News of the authorisation was announced as the North’s health department reported four more deaths from coronavirus, along with 416 new cases.
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Mr Swann said this was a “hugely significant day for Northern Ireland”, but that people must not loosen their guard against Covid-19. As Northern Ireland remains in lockdown until Friday week, he said people must continue to follow the rules for preventing coronavirus infection as it was likely to be the summer before the vaccination programme is completed.
Two-jab inoculation
Under the UK’s shared allocation of the vaccine, Northern Ireland initially will be entitled to 25,000 phials of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. As it is a two-jab inoculation, that will allow about 12,000 of the most vulnerable persons to get the vaccine before Christmas, the Minister said.
On Wednesday evening, First Minister Arlene Foster said the first in line to receive the jab would be 16,000 care home residents and 32,000 staff, plus 71,000 health and care staff and just over 80,000 people aged 80 or over.
While not firmly established, it appeared likely that rather than care home residents and those over 80 getting the first vaccines, frontline health workers and care home staff, who could travel to vaccination centres, would be the first to receive the immunisations.
Mr Swann intimated that the logistical cold storage demands and sizes of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines made them more suitable to mass vaccination centres. He indicated, as did the North’s chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride, that with this first vaccine it would hardly be practicable for the elderly and care home residents to travel to vaccination centres.
“Forthcoming vaccines should be more suitable for mobile unit deployment and especially for our care homes,” said Mr Swann.
On Tuesday, Patricia Donnelly, who is in charge of the Covid-19 vaccination programme, said the North's health service was "good to go" in terms of rolling out the scheme from December 14th.
Experienced vaccinators
She said the programme would start with the vaccination of frontline health care workers, adding that the service had 800 experienced vaccinators in place with more than 600 vaccinators who had applied to join the scheme. She added that seven locations for the vaccinations already had been selected.
The vaccinators are expected to get the vaccines first, with the roll-out continuing thereafter to the frontline workers.
Mr Swann said how vaccines were assigned was determined by the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation but there had to be “flexibility” in how that was done.
He said women who were pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the vaccine programme were advised against taking it.
In welcoming the authorisation of the vaccine, Ms Foster stressed that this was not the end of the “fight against Covid”.
“This is a pathway out but we must walk all of that path until we reach its end. We must all keep to the public health advice,” she said.
Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill said news of the development would be one of mixed emotions for those close to people who had died with Covid-19 – a toll now totalling more than 1,000. She said she would have no issue with taking the vaccine herself, but added there was no question of making such immunisation mandatory.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Covid-19: 22% rise in cases detected in schools but infection rate remains low

A total of 38 cases of Covid-19 were detected in schools last week following mass testing of 2,178 pupils and staff .
The number of positive cases is up from 31 cases last week , an increase of just over 22 per cent .
The majority of cases were detected in primary schools ( 31 ) , while small numbers were detected at second level ( 7 ) .
No cases were detected in special schools .
Despite the increase last week , latest figures indicate that transmission of the virus within schools remains low .
The positivity rate following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about half the rate recorded prior to the mid-term break .
This is up from 1.3 per cent last week .
The figures are contained in the HSE ’ s weekly Covid-19 mass testing report for schools and childcare facilities between November 22nd to November 28th Most of the positive cases last week were recorded among pupils or under-18s ( 91 per cent ) , with the remainder ( 9 per cent ) among staff or over-18s .
During the same week , a total of 395 Covid-19 cases were recorded among children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The report also shows that a total of eight cases were recorded in childcare facilities last week following mass testing of 268 children and staff .
Nine cases were recorded the previous week .
This equates to a positivity rate of 3 per cent .
The vast majority of cases were among children ( 89 per cent ) rather than staff ( 11 per cent ) .
An analysis of cases in the year to date shows that positive rates are highest in childcare facilities ( 4 per cent ) , followed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , primary schools ( 2.4 per cent ) and secondary schools ( 1.9 per cent ) .
Experts say challenges facing social distancing among younger children are a likely factor in the higher positivity rates .
The total number of cases detected in schools and childcare facilities following mass testing in the year to date is 761 .
Most cases have been among children ( 640 ) rather than adults ( 121 ) .
These numbers only reflect cases identified following mass testing and do not include so-called index cases , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place .
As a result , the total number of Covid-19 recorded in schools or childcare facilities is likely to be significantly higher .
For example , a total of 1,078 schools or childcare facilities have been tested to date .
Such testing typically follows a positive Covid-19 among a member of the school community .

A total of 38 cases of Covid-19 were detected in schools last week following mass testing of 2,178 pupils and staff. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP
A total of 38 cases of Covid-19 were detected in schools last week following mass testing of 2,178 pupils and staff.
The number of positive cases is up from 31 cases last week, an increase of just over 22 per cent.
The majority of cases were detected in primary schools (31), while small numbers were detected at second level (7). No cases were detected in special schools.
Despite the increase last week, latest figures indicate that transmission of the virus within schools remains low.
READ MORE
The positivity rate following mass testing is 1.7 per cent, about half the rate recorded prior to the mid-term break. This is up from 1.3 per cent last week.
The figures are contained in the HSE’s weekly Covid-19 mass testing report for schools and childcare facilities between November 22nd to November 28th
Most of the positive cases last week were recorded among pupils or under-18s (91 per cent), with the remainder (9 per cent) among staff or over-18s.
During the same week, a total of 395 Covid-19 cases were recorded among children of school-going age in the wider community.
The report also shows that a total of eight cases were recorded in childcare facilities last week following mass testing of 268 children and staff. Nine cases were recorded the previous week.
This equates to a positivity rate of 3 per cent.
The vast majority of cases were among children (89 per cent) rather than staff (11 per cent).
An analysis of cases in the year to date shows that positive rates are highest in childcare facilities (4 per cent), followed by special schools (3.4 per cent), primary schools (2.4 per cent) and secondary schools (1.9 per cent).
Experts say challenges facing social distancing among younger children are a likely factor in the higher positivity rates.
The total number of cases detected in schools and childcare facilities following mass testing in the year to date is 761.
Most cases have been among children (640) rather than adults (121).
These numbers only reflect cases identified following mass testing and do not include so-called index cases, which led to mass testing in the first place.
As a result, the total number of Covid-19 recorded in schools or childcare facilities is likely to be significantly higher.
For example, a total of 1,078 schools or childcare facilities have been tested to date.
Such testing typically follows a positive Covid-19 among a member of the school community.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Archbishop Diarmuid Martin appeals for online donations to Crosscare agency

Crosscare , the care agency of Dublin ’ s Catholic archdiocese , has appealed for online support this December as , due to the pandemic , it can not hold its annual Parish Food Collection for those most in need this month .
Normally in December Crosscare collects thousands of euro worth of non-perishable foods to restock its foodbanks and support its community cafés .
Its foodbanks remained open throughout the year , operating to strict hygiene and Covid-19 safety standards , with more than 7,000 food parcels distributed .
However demand remains high as many people in Dublin parishes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support previously , struggle with the economic downturn .
Crosscare services have been stretched to capacity as it adapted to help people on the margins during the pandemic .
Since Covid-19 arrived last spring the agency has worked closely with the Health Service Executive and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive to provide an extra 100 beds for homeless people .
It has ensured good quality accommodation for people with their own rooms , to ensure social distancing and personal safety among the homeless community generally .
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said he was proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that young people , the homeless , families in need and those who have been further isolated by the pandemic have continued to be supported by Crosscare staff since last spring .
He appealed to priests and parishes to encourage parishioners who ordinarily support the Crosscare food-drives and its post-Christmas unwanted gifts appeal to go online this year and make a donation at crosscare.ie .

Crosscare, the care agency of Dublin’s Catholic archdiocese, has appealed for online support this December as it cannot run its annual food-drive. Pictured is Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
Crosscare, the care agency of Dublin's Catholic archdiocese, has appealed for online support this December as, due to the pandemic, it cannot hold its annual Parish Food Collection for those most in need this month.
Normally in December Crosscare collects thousands of euro worth of non-perishable foods to restock its foodbanks and support its community cafés.
Its foodbanks remained open throughout the year, operating to strict hygiene and Covid-19 safety standards, with more than 7,000 food parcels distributed. However demand remains high as many people in Dublin parishes and communities, who did not need support previously, struggle with the economic downturn.
Crosscare services have been stretched to capacity as it adapted to help people on the margins during the pandemic.
READ MORE
Since Covid-19 arrived last spring the agency has worked closely with the Health Service Executive and the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive to provide an extra 100 beds for homeless people. It has ensured good quality accommodation for people with their own rooms, to ensure social distancing and personal safety among the homeless community generally.
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said he was proud of the way Crosscare had adapted to ensure that young people, the homeless, families in need and those who have been further isolated by the pandemic have continued to be supported by Crosscare staff since last spring.
He appealed to priests and parishes to encourage parishioners who ordinarily support the Crosscare food-drives and its post-Christmas unwanted gifts appeal to go online this year and make a donation at crosscare.ie.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Covid-19: Nursing home deaths fall in second wave of pandemic

Covid-19 deaths among nursing home residents as a share of overall deaths have been about a third lower during the second wave of the pandemic .
Data released by the Department of Health shows there were 277 confirmed and possible Covid-19 deaths between July 1st and November 24th and that 115 , or 41 per cent of overall fatalities during that period , were nursing home residents .
At the end of June , the National Public Health Emergency Team reported 61 per cent of deaths related to coronavirus infections were nursing home residents at that point .
New figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 115 nursing home resident deaths since July , 107 were associated with nursing home outbreaks , while eight were not linked to outbreaks .
Just one of these 115 deaths was a possible Covid-19 case ; the remainder were confirmed cases .
The majority of the nursing home resident deaths occurred within the care facilities .
Some 28 of the 115 deaths , all confirmed to be Covid-19 cases , were reported to be hospital i-patients .
Overall , since the beginning of the pandemic , more than half of the 2,053 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus have been nursing home residents .
Fortnightly serial testing of nursing home staff since July has been effective in detecting the virus early and reducing the number and scale of outbreaks during the second wave .
Younger people have accounted for the majority of infections in the second surge of the virus .
Based on date of deaths , fatalities related to Covid-19 reached double figures in mid-September before increasing again a month later to more than 30 in the second half of October .
In the first three weeks of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 36 deaths respectively .
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said on Monday that there were 12 deaths linked to nursing home outbreaks in September , 48 in October and 38 recorded so far in November .
There are 35 open outbreaks in nursing homes with 908 cases of Covid-19 linked to these clusters of infection .
Overall , there were 37 deaths related to Covid-19 in September , 119 in October and 119 so far in November , Dr Glynn said .
Prof Dermot Power , a consultant geriatrician at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the reduction in nursing home deaths to “ proactive ” serial testing in nursing homes , increased mask-wearing reducing the amount of virus shed and inhaled , and more residents taking vitamin D. Covid-19 screening of nursing home staff has been “ hugely important , ” he said .
“ The right people have been cohorted or isolated within the nursing homes so that the virus has not had a chance to gain traction and grow within nursing homes , ” said Prof Power .
He said nursing home residents acquiring the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ more resilient ” than older people who caught the disease in the first wave in the spring .
Nursing Homes Ireland , which represents privately owned nursing homes , has welcomed new guidelines on nursing home visits permitting up to one visit every week by one person under Level 3 and 4 restrictions , and one visit every two weeks by one person under Level 5 .
Tadhg Daly , chief executive of NHI , said that the guidelines would help nursing home residents and their families enjoy “ meaningful connection ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It remains an incredibly difficult time for residents in our nursing homes and their loved ones , and nursing homes and their staff are cognisant of this , ” he said .

Covid-19 deaths among nursing home residents as a share of overall deaths have been about a third lower during the second wave of the pandemic.
Data released by the Department of Health shows there were 277 confirmed and possible Covid-19 deaths between July 1st and November 24th and that 115, or 41 per cent of overall fatalities during that period, were nursing home residents.
At the end of June, the National Public Health Emergency Team reported 61 per cent of deaths related to coronavirus infections were nursing home residents at that point.
New figures based on date of death show of the 115 nursing home resident deaths since July, 107 were associated with nursing home outbreaks, while eight were not linked to outbreaks.
READ MORE
Just one of these 115 deaths was a possible Covid-19 case; the remainder were confirmed cases.
The majority of the nursing home resident deaths occurred within the care facilities. Some 28 of the 115 deaths, all confirmed to be Covid-19 cases, were reported to be hospital i-patients.
Overall, since the beginning of the pandemic, more than half of the 2,053 coronavirus deaths recorded in the State from the virus have been nursing home residents.
Fortnightly serial testing of nursing home staff since July has been effective in detecting the virus early and reducing the number and scale of outbreaks during the second wave.
Younger people have accounted for the majority of infections in the second surge of the virus.
Based on date of deaths, fatalities related to Covid-19 reached double figures in mid-September before increasing again a month later to more than 30 in the second half of October.
In the first three weeks of November, there were 34, 24 and 36 deaths respectively.
Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said on Monday that there were 12 deaths linked to nursing home outbreaks in September, 48 in October and 38 recorded so far in November.
There are 35 open outbreaks in nursing homes with 908 cases of Covid-19 linked to these clusters of infection.
Overall, there were 37 deaths related to Covid-19 in September, 119 in October and 119 so far in November, Dr Glynn said.
Prof Dermot Power, a consultant geriatrician at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, attributed the reduction in nursing home deaths to "proactive" serial testing in nursing homes, increased mask-wearing reducing the amount of virus shed and inhaled, and more residents taking vitamin D.
Covid-19 screening of nursing home staff has been “hugely important,” he said.
“The right people have been cohorted or isolated within the nursing homes so that the virus has not had a chance to gain traction and grow within nursing homes,” said Prof Power.
He said nursing home residents acquiring the virus in the second wave may also be “more resilient” than older people who caught the disease in the first wave in the spring.
Nursing Homes Ireland, which represents privately owned nursing homes, has welcomed new guidelines on nursing home visits permitting up to one visit every week by one person under Level 3 and 4 restrictions, and one visit every two weeks by one person under Level 5.
Tadhg Daly, chief executive of NHI, said that the guidelines would help nursing home residents and their families enjoy "meaningful connection" with their families over Christmas.
“It remains an incredibly difficult time for residents in our nursing homes and their loved ones, and nursing homes and their staff are cognisant of this,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Legislation diverting Shannon water to Dublin flawed, Government told

Legislation to clear the way for the extraction of 350 million litres of water a day from the river Shannon to feed Dublin ’ s needs is seriously flawed , according to a review by the Oireachtas ’ s independent legal advisers .
In particular , the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers has questioned plans in the draft legislation to issue licences as of right to all existing bodies which extract water ; to issue such licences for life , and to set extraction levels far higher than happens in other European Union states .
The legal advisers flagged a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Framework Directive in the draft general scheme of the Environment Abstractions Bill which is being introduced by the Department of Housing .
The legislation , which was referred by the all-party Housing Committee to the legal advisers , is also being brought forward to avoid imminent EU sanctions for the State , to give effect to elements of the Water Framework Directive in Irish law .
The EU directive requires the State to have strong control over water abstraction , and to prevent industry , quarries or water schemes from worsening water shortages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quality .
Identifying at least six major areas of non-compliance with EU directives in the draft legislation , the legal advisers said the legislation proposes that a licence for an existing abstraction can not be refused , which effectively exempts all existing bodies from any control .
It also proposes to allow licences to be issued in perpetuity .
The advisers responded by saying there was “ no clear mechanism to revoke ( a licence ) ” .
“ The climate is changing very rapidly .
If it ’ s not damaging now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 30 years ’ time but there ’ s no provision to address that , ” says Elaine McGoff , natural environment officer of An Taisce , who made a separate submission on the Bill saying it breached at least three EU directives .
Another major issue was the large amount of water that can be extracted before registration or licensing is required .
To register , the threshold is 25 cubic metres ( equivalent to the needs of 25 houses ) .
In contrast , it is 10 cubic metres in Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ licence , the threshold is 2,000 cubic metres , the equivalent of a town with a population of 8,000 such as Dungarvan .
“ In the North , you need a licence if it is 20 cubic metres , ” said Ms McGoff .
“ So if you step over the Border to the South you can use 100 times more water before you need a licence .
”

Legislation to clear the way for the extraction of 350 million litres of water a day from the river Shannon to feed Dublin’s needs is seriously flawed, according to a review by the Oireachtas’s independent legal advisers.
In particular, the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers has questioned plans in the draft legislation to issue licences as of right to all existing bodies which extract water; to issue such licences for life, and to set extraction levels far higher than happens in other European Union states.
The legal advisers flagged a number of breaches of the EU Water Framework Directive in the draft general scheme of the Environment Abstractions Bill which is being introduced by the Department of Housing.
The legislation, which was referred by the all-party Housing Committee to the legal advisers, is also being brought forward to avoid imminent EU sanctions for the State, to give effect to elements of the Water Framework Directive in Irish law.
READ MORE
The EU directive requires the State to have strong control over water abstraction, and to prevent industry, quarries or water schemes from worsening water shortages during drought periods, or reducing water quality.
Identifying at least six major areas of non-compliance with EU directives in the draft legislation, the legal advisers said the legislation proposes that a licence for an existing abstraction cannot be refused, which effectively exempts all existing bodies from any control.
It also proposes to allow licences to be issued in perpetuity. The advisers responded by saying there was “no clear mechanism to revoke (a licence)”.
“The climate is changing very rapidly. If it’s not damaging now it could be really damaging in 20 to 30 years’ time but there’s no provision to address that,” says Elaine McGoff, natural environment officer of An Taisce, who made a separate submission on the Bill saying it breached at least three EU directives.
Another major issue was the large amount of water that can be extracted before registration or licensing is required. To register, the threshold is 25 cubic metres (equivalent to the needs of 25 houses). In contrast, it is 10 cubic metres in Northern Ireland and Scotland. To obtain a licence, the threshold is 2,000 cubic metres, the equivalent of a town with a population of 8,000 such as Dungarvan.
“In the North, you need a licence if it is 20 cubic metres,” said Ms McGoff. “So if you step over the Border to the South you can use 100 times more water before you need a licence.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Repairs to defective apartments could cost more than €1bn

Fixing defective apartments across the State could cost more than €1 billion , while developers who built affected homes are still active under new names in some instances , an Oireachtas committee has been told .
The joint Oireachtas housing committee heard evidence on Tuesday from groups representing owners of homes impacted by building defects , as well as affected individual homeowners .
The Construction Defects Alliance ( CDA ) told the committee it estimates there are 100,000 units impacted , with a median cost of about €15,000 per home to remedy defects , usually related to fire safety or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apartment Owners Network told the committee that obtaining more precise costs should be an objective of a working group being set up by Minister for Housing Darragh O ’ Brien , but “ at the moment , we ’ re looking at a billion [ euro ] plus , based on 100,000 units.
” The committee also heard evidence from owners who have paid or are paying thousands of euro to remedy fire safety defects .
Ciara Holland said her two-bedroom Dublin home was affected by fire safety defects , which ultimately cost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ My developer is still in operation .
He actually was recently granted planning permission , just down the road from me.
” She objected to her local authority against the new development , but it was approved .
“ The county council were fully aware that they previously built defective homes , that hadn ’ t complied with the granted fire certificate .
But they granted planning permission anyway.
” She said she was “ shocked and disgusted ” .
“ The regulatory environment just doesn ’ t work , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I have two little girls , and I put them to bed , all their little lives in a fire-defective home.
” Barry Mulhern , who is being asked to pay €15,000 to remedy safety issues in his home , told the committee : “ We know for a fact that the developer that built our apartments is still trading under a different name but is doing substantial works.
” Donal Nugent , who lives in a development where works have been carried out to several units at cost of up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been “ very , very stressful .
It ’ s taken hours and days and weeks of my life .
This has been the most stressful three years of my life.
” Deirdre Ní Fhlionn , a barrister and construction law expert , told the committee that people who purchased defective apartments “ were doing it in a context where builders and developers were , and are still , insulated by the legal system from the risks in what they built ” .
She said there had been recent reforms to regulation but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all these defective apartments is largely unchanged from a legal point of view ” .
“ We don ’ t allow other very important industries to regulate themselves , and that regulatory failure is still with us , ” she said , adding that a redress scheme for apartment owners would be welcome , but should be accompanied by further regulatory reform .
She argued that the building control system was “ set up to be light-touch and the building control Act itself doesn ’ t require any building control authority to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The committee was also told that any plan to fund repair works through low-cost loans to apartment owners would not be sufficient to address the issue .
“ Access to cheap loans on their own , whether that ’ s no interest or very low interest , would not be acceptable as a solution for tackling the costs of remediation , ” the committee was told by Kath Cottier of the CDA .
“ They would still leave the owners 100 per cent on the hook for remediating defects they did not in @ @ @ @ @

Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien: Getting more precise costs for fixing defective apartments should be an objective of a working group he is setting up. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA
Fixing defective apartments across the State could cost more than €1 billion, while developers who built affected homes are still active under new names in some instances, an Oireachtas committee has been told.
The joint Oireachtas housing committee heard evidence on Tuesday from groups representing owners of homes impacted by building defects, as well as affected individual homeowners.
The Construction Defects Alliance (CDA) told the committee it estimates there are 100,000 units impacted, with a median cost of about €15,000 per home to remedy defects, usually related to fire safety or water ingress.
Des McCabe of the Apartment Owners Network told the committee that obtaining more precise costs should be an objective of a working group being set up by Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien, but "at the moment, we're looking at a billion [euro] plus, based on 100,000 units."
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The committee also heard evidence from owners who have paid or are paying thousands of euro to remedy fire safety defects. Ciara Holland said her two-bedroom Dublin home was affected by fire safety defects, which ultimately cost her more than €16,000. She said: "My developer is still in operation. He actually was recently granted planning permission, just down the road from me."
‘Shocked and disgusted’
She objected to her local authority against the new development, but it was approved. “The county council were fully aware that they previously built defective homes, that hadn’t complied with the granted fire certificate. But they granted planning permission anyway.”
She said she was “shocked and disgusted”. “The regulatory environment just doesn’t work, it doesn’t protect the innocent people. I have two little girls, and I put them to bed, all their little lives in a fire-defective home.”
Barry Mulhern, who is being asked to pay €15,000 to remedy safety issues in his home, told the committee: “We know for a fact that the developer that built our apartments is still trading under a different name but is doing substantial works.”
Donal Nugent, who lives in a development where works have been carried out to several units at cost of up to €1 million, said the experience has been "very, very stressful. It's taken hours and days and weeks of my life. This has been the most stressful three years of my life."
Legal protection
Deirdre Ní Fhlionn, a barrister and construction law expert, told the committee that people who purchased defective apartments “were doing it in a context where builders and developers were, and are still, insulated by the legal system from the risks in what they built”.
She said there had been recent reforms to regulation but that the situation which “gave us all these defective apartments is largely unchanged from a legal point of view”.
“We don’t allow other very important industries to regulate themselves, and that regulatory failure is still with us,” she said, adding that a redress scheme for apartment owners would be welcome, but should be accompanied by further regulatory reform.
She argued that the building control system was “set up to be light-touch and the building control Act itself doesn’t require any building control authority to go out and inspect any buildings”.
The committee was also told that any plan to fund repair works through low-cost loans to apartment owners would not be sufficient to address the issue. "Access to cheap loans on their own, whether that's no interest or very low interest, would not be acceptable as a solution for tackling the costs of remediation," the committee was told by Kath Cottier of the CDA. "They would still leave the owners 100 per cent on the hook for remediating defects they did not in any way cause."


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Watchdog ‘concerned’ at Renua failure to account for State cash

Renua failed to submit returns to the Standards in Public Office ( Sipo ) commission detailing how it spent public funding last year , in breach of statutory obligations .
The ethics watchdog said it was “ very concerned that Renua has failed to meet its statutory obligations to account for public monies that had been provided to it as a qualified party ” .
The small right-wing party currently has no elected officials .
On its website it lists 14 individuals as either candidates or local area representatives .
The party received €258,596 in public funding last year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unspent funding from 2018 .
The party had qualified for State funding as , despite winning no seats in the 2016 general election , it secured more than 2 per cent of the national vote .
The party did not meet this threshold in the February 2020 general election , and as a result no longer qualifies for State funding .
On Wednesday , Sipo published a report detailing how each political party had spent funding received from the exchequer last year .
The report noted that “ Renua had not submitted either @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Auditors ’ Report for 2019 by the 30 April 2020 deadline.
” The commission said as of this month , the returns remained outstanding .
The watchdog said where a party failed to submit a breakdown on how it had spent the funding , further public monies could be withheld until it complied with the reporting obligations .
However , as the party no longer qualified for public funding , “ no action can be taken against Renua for failure to comply with its obligations ” , the commission said .
Michael Farrington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , did not respond to a request for comment on the matter on Wednesday evening .
John Leahy , a county councillor in Offaly and previously their only elected official , stood down as leader of the party in June 2019 .
The party was set up in 2015 by Lucinda Creighton after the former TD left Fine Gael following a dispute over abortion legislation , along with Billy Timmins and Terence Flanagan .
In its first election in 2016 the party lost all three of its Dáil seats .
Fine Gael spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party last year , with a recorded expenditure of €2,078,260 , according to Sipo ’ s report .
That included spending of more than €1 million co-ordinating the activities of its constituency branches and members , €861,060 on administration costs , and €15,919 on policy formation .
The party also spent €84,159 promoting the participation of women in politics , more than any other party .
Fianna Fáil spent €1,779,957 of its State funding last year , including €255,872 on research , education and training , and €65,000 on policy formation .
Sinn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included €374,344 on general administration , and €137,531 on branch and membership coordination .
Solidarity-People Before Profit spent the vast majority of its €391,178 in funding last year supporting the activities of its branches and members .
The amount of funding allocated to parties is based on the percentage of first preference votes received in the last general election .
The State funding is not permitted to be spent on election or referendum campaign expenses .

Renua has no elected officials. On its website it lists 14 individuals as either candidates or local area representatives. File photograph: Cyril Byrne
Renua failed to submit returns to the Standards in Public Office (Sipo) commission detailing how it spent public funding last year, in breach of statutory obligations.
The ethics watchdog said it was “very concerned that Renua has failed to meet its statutory obligations to account for public monies that had been provided to it as a qualified party”.
The small right-wing party currently has no elected officials. On its website it lists 14 individuals as either candidates or local area representatives.
The party received €258,596 in public funding last year, and brought forward a further €114,147 in unspent funding from 2018.
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The party had qualified for State funding as, despite winning no seats in the 2016 general election, it secured more than 2 per cent of the national vote. The party did not meet this threshold in the February 2020 general election, and as a result no longer qualifies for State funding.
On Wednesday, Sipo published a report detailing how each political party had spent funding received from the exchequer last year.
The report noted that “Renua had not submitted either their Statement of Expenditure or the Statutory Auditors’ Report for 2019 by the 30 April 2020 deadline.” The commission said as of this month, the returns remained outstanding.
Reporting obligations
The watchdog said where a party failed to submit a breakdown on how it had spent the funding, further public monies could be withheld until it complied with the reporting obligations.
However, as the party no longer qualified for public funding, “no action can be taken against Renua for failure to comply with its obligations”, the commission said.
Michael Farrington, the party's national treasurer, did not respond to a request for comment on the matter on Wednesday evening.
John Leahy, a county councillor in Offaly and previously their only elected official, stood down as leader of the party in June 2019.
The party was set up in 2015 by Lucinda Creighton after the former TD left Fine Gael following a dispute over abortion legislation, along with Billy Timmins and Terence Flanagan. In its first election in 2016 the party lost all three of its Dáil seats.
Fine Gael spent more public monies than any other political party last year, with a recorded expenditure of €2,078,260, according to Sipo’s report.
That included spending of more than €1 million co-ordinating the activities of its constituency branches and members, €861,060 on administration costs, and €15,919 on policy formation.
The party also spent €84,159 promoting the participation of women in politics, more than any other party.
Fianna Fáil spent €1,779,957 of its State funding last year, including €255,872 on research, education and training, and €65,000 on policy formation.
Sinn Féin spent €624,831 last year, which included €374,344 on general administration, and €137,531 on branch and membership coordination.
Solidarity-People Before Profit spent the vast majority of its €391,178 in funding last year supporting the activities of its branches and members.
The amount of funding allocated to parties is based on the percentage of first preference votes received in the last general election. The State funding is not permitted to be spent on election or referendum campaign expenses.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Minister announces new plan to target white-collar crime

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

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