theirishtimes--2020-05-04--Got a complaint? Know where to go

Got a complaint? Know where to go

When the dark clouds of coronavirus lift – as they will , eventually – there will be companies that have covered themselves in glory and gone to great lengths to deliver for their customers in terrible times .
There will also be companies that will have let people down and given them the runaround , often needlessly in those same terrible times .
In recent weeks we have seen the level of complaints we are getting about some providers ( airlines and online holiday companies , ticket-selling enterprises ) surge while the level of complaints about others – mainly retailers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen inadequate , and sometimes non-existent , responses from too many companies when we have tried to resolve issues .
But there are bodies to regulate and police air travel , to keep an eye on our financial institutions and to watch over our phone and broadband providers .
There is a low-cost court we can go to if things go badly wrong and ombudsmen to adjudicate on matters of finance and public bodies .
Here are some of the places readers may need to go in search of redress in the weeks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to serve as a voice for Irish consumers and be the first port of call for anyone in search of consumer-related information .
It helps enforce consumer legislation and to grow our understanding and awareness of the protections we have .
It has a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law in Ireland with a key role being “ to make markets work better for consumers and businesses ” .
It is not , however , what many people think it is .
It will not be able to help you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem with a specific company .
It is hamstrung because it is not legally allowed to intervene on behalf of consumers or to make contact with companies that have made life difficult unless the issue is widespread and pervasive .
It can ’ t really act in an advisory role for individual customers when it comes to trying to find better services in specific cases either .
But although it won ’ t actually help you if you have a problem that needs to be dealt with fast , it is always worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – as that allows it join the dots in a more complete way to establish patterns of behaviour .
It can act if a particular company or industry is engaged in a widespread practice that goes contrary to consumer law .
And it is a handy source of info if you want to arm yourself for a row with a service provider .
The ECC is a Europe-wide organisation that engages with consumers , and offers information and advice services on cross-border rights .
Since it was set up nearly 20 years ago @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to one million consumers .
Unlike the CCPC , it will go into battle on behalf of individual consumers and often wins fights that would otherwise be impossible to win because of language barriers or because consumers here have no idea where to turn when bad things happen to them elsewhere in the EU .
If an Irish consumer gets into difficulty with a retailer or service provider outside of this jurisdiction , the European Consumer Centre can help build a solid case , which it passes on to its counterpart in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact with the trader to have the problem resolved .
The Central Bank has oversight of the whole financial system and works alongside the CCPC and the Financial Services Ombudsman in some areas .
It also looks after the Central Credit Register , the centralised system for collecting personal and credit information on loans .
If you have been given the runaround when applying for Covid-19 related relief from your bank , for example , this is the place to go for help .
If you have a problem with your mobile phone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you go to ComReg .
It can , however , be a frustrating experience .
More often than not ComReg will send you back to your provider and only when you have exhausted a company ’ s internal complaints system – which in itself can be incredibly exhausting – is ComReg empowered to help .
While the process can be slow , it is a regulator that can and does put manners on mobile operators .
The Financial Services Ombudsman investigates customer complaints in relation to the financial sector , including banks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , money lenders , hire-purchase providers , health insurance companies and retail credit firms .
The process can be slow and intimidating for many of those who need it most but has done the citizens of the State some service , most notably in recent times when it came to the tracker mortgage scandal .
The Ombudsman examines complaints from people who believe they have been unfairly treated by providers of public services such as Government departments , local authorities , the HSE and publicly funded higher education bodies .
The Ombudsman can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Ombudsman provides a free public service which is independent of government and impartial .
This is a voluntary organisation which represents Irish consumers in the public sphere in as much as it can , given a small budget and a small office .
It can and does provide a voice for consumers on live issues .
If you have problem with an airline , the Commission for Aviation Regulation can help .
Under EC regulation 261/2004 , people who are denied boarding or those who have had a flight cancelled or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refunds , assistance and compensation , although compensation does not apply when it comes to Covid-19 related cancellations , the EU has previously ruled .
The Commission for Aviation Regulation is designated as the State ’ s enforcement body to make sure airlines in this country do what they are supposed to .
“ Court ” sounds a bit terrifying but it shouldn ’ t .
The Small Claims Court is your friend and the process is pleasingly simple .
Any grievance against a retailer or service provider that has a financial worth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here and there is no need to involve a solicitor .
You can make a claim for goods or services bought from someone selling them as part of their normal business , although , if you bought a telly on the side of the road from a man you ’ ve just met , that will most likely not be covered .
You lodge a claim at Courts.ie or download an application form from the site .
You give details of the claimant ( you ) , the respondent ( the business ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of your claim .
You must complete an application and pay the €25 fee .
Your claim is then processed by a District Court clerk .
The clerk informs the business of your claim , after which it has 15 days to respond .
If it doesn ’ t , you win and the District Court makes an order in your favour .
If it does dispute your claim , the court registrar negotiates with both parties to try to reach an agreement .
The setting tends to be informal and private .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ their side of the story and tries to reach a deal .
If this isn ’ t possible , a hearing before a District Court judge is arranged .

The Central Bank: If you have been given the runaround when applying for Covid-19 related relief from your bank, this is the place to go for help. Photograph: Hufton & Crow
When the dark clouds of coronavirus lift – as they will, eventually – there will be companies that have covered themselves in glory and gone to great lengths to deliver for their customers in terrible times. There will also be companies that will have let people down and given them the runaround, often needlessly in those same terrible times.
In recent weeks we have seen the level of complaints we are getting about some providers (airlines and online holiday companies, ticket-selling enterprises) surge while the level of complaints about others – mainly retailers – have plummeted. We have also seen inadequate, and sometimes non-existent, responses from too many companies when we have tried to resolve issues.
But there are bodies to regulate and police air travel, to keep an eye on our financial institutions and to watch over our phone and broadband providers. There is a low-cost court we can go to if things go badly wrong and ombudsmen to adjudicate on matters of finance and public bodies.
Here are some of the places readers may need to go in search of redress in the weeks ahead.
READ MORE
Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
The CCPC was set up to serve as a voice for Irish consumers and be the first port of call for anyone in search of consumer-related information. It helps enforce consumer legislation and to grow our understanding and awareness of the protections we have.
It has a dual mandate to enforce competition and consumer protection law in Ireland with a key role being "to make markets work better for consumers and businesses".
It is not, however, what many people think it is. It will not be able to help you as an individual if you have a problem with a specific company. It is hamstrung because it is not legally allowed to intervene on behalf of consumers or to make contact with companies that have made life difficult unless the issue is widespread and pervasive.
It can’t really act in an advisory role for individual customers when it comes to trying to find better services in specific cases either. But although it won’t actually help you if you have a problem that needs to be dealt with fast, it is always worth logging complaints with it – serious ones – as that allows it join the dots in a more complete way to establish patterns of behaviour. It can act if a particular company or industry is engaged in a widespread practice that goes contrary to consumer law. And it is a handy source of info if you want to arm yourself for a row with a service provider.
Contact: consumerconnect.ie; 1890-43243, 01-402 5555
The European Consumer Centre
The ECC is a Europe-wide organisation that engages with consumers, and offers information and advice services on cross-border rights. Since it was set up nearly 20 years ago, its centres across Europe have assisted close to one million consumers.
Unlike the CCPC, it will go into battle on behalf of individual consumers and often wins fights that would otherwise be impossible to win because of language barriers or because consumers here have no idea where to turn when bad things happen to them elsewhere in the EU.
If an Irish consumer gets into difficulty with a retailer or service provider outside of this jurisdiction, the European Consumer Centre can help build a solid case, which it passes on to its counterpart in the relevant country which can then make contact with the trader to have the problem resolved.
Contact: eccireland.ie; 01-879 7620
The Central Bank
The Central Bank has oversight of the whole financial system and works alongside the CCPC and the Financial Services Ombudsman in some areas. It also looks after the Central Credit Register, the centralised system for collecting personal and credit information on loans. If you have been given the runaround when applying for Covid-19 related relief from your bank, for example, this is the place to go for help.
Contact: centralbank.ie
ComReg
If you have a problem with your mobile phone, your broadband or your landline, you go to ComReg. It can, however, be a frustrating experience. More often than not ComReg will send you back to your provider and only when you have exhausted a company’s internal complaints system – which in itself can be incredibly exhausting – is ComReg empowered to help. While the process can be slow, it is a regulator that can and does put manners on mobile operators.
Contact: comreg.ie; 01-804 9668, 1890-229668
The Financial Services Ombudsman
The Financial Services Ombudsman investigates customer complaints in relation to the financial sector, including banks, building societies, credit unions, brokers, money lenders, hire-purchase providers, health insurance companies and retail credit firms. The process can be slow and intimidating for many of those who need it most but has done the citizens of the State some service, most notably in recent times when it came to the tracker mortgage scandal.
Contact: financialombudsman.ie; 01-662 0899
The Ombudsman
The Ombudsman examines complaints from people who believe they have been unfairly treated by providers of public services such as Government departments, local authorities, the HSE and publicly funded higher education bodies. The Ombudsman can also examine complaints about private nursing homes. The Ombudsman provides a free public service which is independent of government and impartial.
Contact: ombudsman.ie
The Consumer Association of Ireland
This is a voluntary organisation which represents Irish consumers in the public sphere in as much as it can, given a small budget and a small office. It can and does provide a voice for consumers on live issues.
Contact: thecai.ie; 01-637 3961
Commission for Aviation Regulation
If you have problem with an airline, the Commission for Aviation Regulation can help. Under EC regulation 261/2004, people who are denied boarding or those who have had a flight cancelled or delayed are entitled to such things as refunds, assistance and compensation, although compensation does not apply when it comes to Covid-19 related cancellations, the EU has previously ruled. The Commission for Aviation Regulation is designated as the State's enforcement body to make sure airlines in this country do what they are supposed to.
Small Claims Court
“Court” sounds a bit terrifying but it shouldn’t. The Small Claims Court is your friend and the process is pleasingly simple. Any grievance against a retailer or service provider that has a financial worth of €2,000 or less can be pursued here and there is no need to involve a solicitor.
You can make a claim for goods or services bought from someone selling them as part of their normal business, although, if you bought a telly on the side of the road from a man you’ve just met, that will most likely not be covered.
You lodge a claim at Courts.ie or download an application form from the site. You give details of the claimant (you), the respondent (the business), the amount claimed and the details of your claim. You must complete an application and pay the €25 fee.
Your claim is then processed by a District Court clerk. The clerk informs the business of your claim, after which it has 15 days to respond. If it doesn’t, you win and the District Court makes an order in your favour. If it does dispute your claim, the court registrar negotiates with both parties to try to reach an agreement. The setting tends to be informal and private. The registrar asks both parties to outline their side of the story and tries to reach a deal. If this isn’t possible, a hearing before a District Court judge is arranged.
Contact: courts.ie


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Pricewatch: Life hacks for the lockdown

Pricewatch: Life hacks for the lockdown

Just over 40 years ago , Viz made its debut in comic shops in the UK and over a 10- @ @ @ @ @ adult comic brought all sorts of entirely inappropriate and , more often than not , @ @ @ @ @ of a gobsmacked world .
While many of the characters – Roger Mellie , Billy @ @ @ @ @ Sexist and Millie Tant – became ( sort of ) household names , the unsung @ @ @ @ @ days were the “ readers ” who sent in top tips on how to save @ @ @ @ @ .

Just over 40 years ago, Viz made its debut in comic shops in the UK and over a 10- or 15-year golden age the adult comic brought all sorts of entirely inappropriate and, more often than not, sweary characters to the attention of a gobsmacked world.
While many of the characters – Roger Mellie, Billy the Fish, Sid the Sexist and Millie Tant – became (sort of) household names, the unsung heroes of the Viz glory days were the “readers” who sent in top tips on how to save money and make life better.
The top-tip model had long been a tried and tested one and had featured in the British press for many years before Viz came along but it made it its own. Among the sterling advice featured in its version were gems such as: “Don’t waste money on expensive iPods. Simply think of your favourite tune and hum it. If you want to ‘switch tracks’, simply think of another song you like and hum that instead.”
Cheapskates were encouraged to “save money at Christmas by returning last year’s cards to the sender with the simple inscription ‘Same to you’”.
READ MORE
Among the money-saving tips for supermarket shoppers was one which suggested taking “one grape to the till. It won’t register on the low-tech, insensitive scales so you will get it for free. Repeat this procedure 100 times or so and you have yourself a free bunch of grapes.”
Then there was the idea of putting tea bags in the immersion to give yourself hot tea on tap and we also liked the notion of getting an old telephone directory and scratching out all the names of people we didn’t know to get a free address book.
You get where they were coming from.
Anyways, the reason Viz came to the Pricewatch mind last week was because of a notion we had while grating cheese.
For many years, we have grated cheese the wrong way. We used to sit the triangle-shaped cheese grater vertically and then grate the cheese on to a plate or board or whatever. But then we realised – or someone on Twitter realised – that if we grated cheese while the grater was horizontal and lying on the hard cheese grating side, then it would be much faster and much more efficient. Not only would the grating action be improved, the cheese would collect in the actual grater allowing for easy pouring into pots or whatever.
Minds blown.
As lightbulb moments go, it is, perhaps not that bright but it prompted us to go in search of other life hacks – to use the zeitgeisty phrase or "top tips" to use the Viz one – to share with a wider audience. We asked on Twitter for some ideas. And in they came. Fast.
Frying eggs
The first one was from Elaine Walsh. “A saucepan lid when frying an egg traps in the steam,” she wrote. It means you “don’t have to flip, cooks quicker – perfect eggs”. We tried this and it does work although it is not like flipping eggs is a particularly onerous task.
Separating them, however, can be. Not for Mary Conroy, mind. She shared a tip for separating eggs that was as simple as it was genius. “Break the egg on to a saucer, then use an inverted eggcup to hold the yolk while you tilt the plate and let the egg white slide off.” It does create washing up but sounds a whole lot less messy and more reliable than the method we have deployed for many years.
“Cook frozen peas in a small bowl of water from the kettle. Saves using a pot and saves hob space,” said Conor Kane. He’s probably right.
It was almost like Joyce Hickey had sight of the Pricewatch fridge when she suggested that we “take salad leaves and herbs out of plastic packaging and store in lunchboxes in the fridge. They will stay fresh and non-sludgy for much longer.”
Too late for the latest round of mushy leaves we are getting ready to bin but we’ll remember this for next time. She also suggested that if we have a lemon “that will go off before you use it, slice it up and freeze it in a bag for use in drinks”.
Like Pricewatch is the kind of consumer-focused page that ever has lemons in drinks.
“Place garlic cloves in microwave for 20 seconds and they simply pop out of their skins,” wrote Angela Holohan. We’ve not got round to trying this yet, but if it works it will be life-changing.
Ber Phelan suggested we “zap a lime/lemon in the microwave for a few seconds, juice is easily released when squeezed”.
“Fill ice-cube freezer bags with fresh milk, keep in the freezer. Put a cube in your tea or coffee as needed,” wrote Denise Carroll. In normal times, this might be an idea but at present the Pricewatch freezer has no space for an ice cube as it is stuffed with pandemic produce that we haven’t got round to eating yet.
When Marie-Claire Digby gives us tips about food, we listen. And so should you. She agreed with other Twitter users that ginger “freezes brilliantly” and say it’s fine to “grate/microplane it from frozen (no need to peel), or if using fresh just run a teaspoon over it and skin comes off, if you want it peeled”.
The tips weren’t all about eating and prepping food, mind you. “Wrap cling film around your paint brushes and rollers if you want to take a break (even a day or two) between painting instead of washing out each time,” suggested Deirdre Colwell, while Joanne Pender reckoned the best way to clean those paint rollers was to chuck them in the washing machine. That sounds weird to us, to be honest.
Not as weird as the idea from Claire Ronan. “Halve a grapefruit, dip it into a saucer of rock salt use the grapefruit/salt combo to clean your oven. Leaves it sparkling.” And well it might but we’d prefer to eat the grapefruit, to be honest.
Conor Feehan wrongly assumed we were the types to keep our car sparkling when he suggested that “car wax on glass shower doors lessens the amount of soap/limescale build-up”. We don’t have and never have had any car wax to hand. But we’d nearly buy some just to check it out.
Extension lead
Steve McCann had an idea we first thought was foolish, but the more we thought of it the more brilliant we reckoned it was. “Bring an extension lead on holidays with you and you’ll only need one adapter rather than loads of them for chargers and the like.”
“A few drops of essential oil such as tea tree or eucalyptus in your cupboards or on the kitchen counter will keep ants away,” said Mary Broughal.
Nicola Corbet told us that a “wooden spoon over boiling pasta [means it] never boils over.” We keep forgetting to try this. But we will.
We will also try the following idea from Orla Broderick as the summer nears. “Sounds odd but works,” she said. “A ziplock bag with handful of pennies, squirt of lemon and a tablespoon of salt. Then half fill with water and hang at open back door. Stops flies coming into house.”
Joyce Hickey was back to share her dad’s lawnmowing hack. “Trim the edges first, throw the clippings on to the lawn and the whole lot will go into the mowers’ grassbox”.
You are all welcome.
But of all the tips, the one we felt would work best – or at least the one that resonated most – came from Keith Murphy. “If you open a bottle of wine, drink it, don’t keep it for the next day or even to add to dishes.”
Cheers.


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Poem to mark Covid-19 front-line daughter’s postponed wedding

Front-line healthcare worker Dr Lucy Mathews and her partner , solicitor Ronan O ’ Keefe , were to be married on Saturday in Enniskerry , Co Wicklow , but instead they went for a walk .
Their wedding had to be postponed due to coronavirus restrictions .
Dr Mathews is a senior house officer at Tallaght hospital and is on leave for a few days .
She marked the day instead with her parents Aidan and Trish in the grounds of south Dublin ’ s Gonzaga College .
Her father , an author and RTÉ producer , later prepared the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Your bridal whites become the grey of scrubs/The dress a gown and boots , the veil a visor , ” he wrote .
The postponement of his daughter ’ s wedding was “ one along with thousands of others ” due to the pandemic , he said .
His daughter had been “ very stylish about it .
Instead of wedding pictures , she has a great story.
” On Saturday evening he said the family had a “ very jolly ” Zoom chat to mark the event involving the would-be married @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other daughter Laura and her husband Hugh .
As he spoke on Sunday afternoon he and Trish were admiring their 10-month old granddaughter Iseult , with her parents Laura and Hugh in the garden outside .
He considered himself and Trish blessed to be able to do so “ when so many only have mantlepiece memories of their grandchildren .
”

Ronan O’Keefe and Lucy Mathews were to be married in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, on Saturday.
Front-line healthcare worker Dr Lucy Mathews and her partner, solicitor Ronan O'Keefe, were to be married on Saturday in Enniskerry, Co Wicklow, but instead they went for a walk. Their wedding had to be postponed due to coronavirus restrictions.
Dr Mathews is a senior house officer at Tallaght hospital and is on leave for a few days. She marked the day instead with her parents Aidan and Trish in the grounds of south Dublin's Gonzaga College.
Her father, an author and RTÉ producer, later prepared the poem Mayday to mark the occasion. "Your bridal whites become the grey of scrubs/The dress a gown and boots, the veil a visor," he wrote.
The postponement of his daughter’s wedding was “one along with thousands of others” due to the pandemic, he said. His daughter had been “very stylish about it. Instead of wedding pictures, she has a great story.”
READ MORE
On Saturday evening he said the family had a “very jolly” Zoom chat to mark the event involving the would-be married couple, himself, Trish, their other daughter Laura and her husband Hugh.
As he spoke on Sunday afternoon he and Trish were admiring their 10-month old granddaughter Iseult, with her parents Laura and Hugh in the garden outside. He considered himself and Trish blessed to be able to do so “when so many only have mantlepiece memories of their grandchildren.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Queues derail Lidl sale of trampolines and swingsets

Lidl has announced it will be cancelling the sale of four outdoor children ’ s garden products because of the rising number of people queuing outside shops in recent days .
Trampolines , garden slides , swingsets and children ’ s kitchen sets were due to go on sale nationwide from Monday .
However , Lidl Ireland announced on Saturday that due to “ unprecedented and exceptional demand ” , which resulted in long early morning queues outside stores , these items would not longer be available .
In a tweet , the company said the crivit outdoor trampoline , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swingset and the wooden kitchen would not be available in stores this week but would be made available at a later date .
“ At Lidl , the safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority , ” said Lidl .
“ We have implemented numerous measures across all of our stores over the past two months in order to ensure appropriate social distancing can be achieved .
“ Due to unprecedented demand on certain items in recent days , we have seen queues form outside our stores prior to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing externally more challenging .
“ We apologise to all customers who are left disappointed by this decision but we feel the safety of our team and customers must take priority at this challenging time .
We will put these items on sale at a future date .
”

Lidl: ‘We apologise to all customers who are left disappointed by this decision.’
Lidl has announced it will be cancelling the sale of four outdoor children's garden products because of the rising number of people queuing outside shops in recent days.
Trampolines, garden slides, swingsets and children’s kitchen sets were due to go on sale nationwide from Monday. However, Lidl Ireland announced on Saturday that due to “unprecedented and exceptional demand”, which resulted in long early morning queues outside stores, these items would not longer be available.
In a tweet, the company said the crivit outdoor trampoline, the smoby garden slide, the Gemini swingset and the wooden kitchen would not be available in stores this week but would be made available at a later date.
Signs informing Lidl customers of cancelled items
“At Lidl, the safety of our colleagues and customers is our number one priority,” said Lidl. “We have implemented numerous measures across all of our stores over the past two months in order to ensure appropriate social distancing can be achieved.
READ MORE
“Due to unprecedented demand on certain items in recent days, we have seen queues form outside our stores prior to opening. These queues have made social distancing externally more challenging.
“We apologise to all customers who are left disappointed by this decision but we feel the safety of our team and customers must take priority at this challenging time. We will put these items on sale at a future date.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Universities eye more Irish students to replace overseas losses

Universities want extra Irish student places to be funded by the Government in the coming academic year to replace a sharp drop in the number of international students .
The Irish Universities Association is seeking a €230 million stability fund which it says could provide additional student places in access programmes for those from under-represented backgrounds , as well as improved grants and wellbeing supports .
It says this funding would also include a fund to support a “ major international marketing campaign ” to attract international students whose value in export earnings for the universities alone is close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figures show there were about 17,000 international students enrolled in Irish universities last year .
About two-thirds of international students are based in undergraduate programmes .
Any move to provide significant numbers of additional student places would results in a drop in CAO points for some courses , especially those with high numbers of international students .
Some universities have estimated that international student numbers could fall by up to 80 per cent in the coming academic year .
Trinity College Dublin provost Prof Patrick Prendergast , for example , has forecast that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wiped out ” due to the pandemic .
UCD has projected losses of up to €100 million this year and expects a significant drop in international student numbers on campus .
Irish universities overall have become increasingly reliant on revenue from international tuition fees due to a reduction in State investment per student over the past decade or so .
The bulk of most university income is now generated privately and international fees account for a large proportion of this .
For example , fees for non-EU undergraduate students range between €10,000-€20,000 for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while they climb to between €40,000-€55,000 for those studying medicine .
The Irish Universities Association also says funding is needed to go towards enhancing digital skill and infrastructure , while an €80 million “ talent and innovation pipeline ” is required to replace outdated research equipment and infrastructure .
The proposals are contained in a “ partners in recovery ” position paper , which the association has send to TDs and decision makers .
“ The proven value of research and innovation during the Covid-19 response provides a compelling argument to invest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the document states .
“ This is fundamental to maintaining our edge as a competitive FDI [ foreign direct investment ] destination .
We propose a research and innovation fund with at least €80 million per year extra to support the future talent and innovation pipeline .
The fund would also provide for the much-needed renewal of outdated research equipment and infrastructure.
” The association says such funding means the sector will be able to play a key role in the economic revival of the country .
“ Our 16,000 staff remain more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ student population and to refocus our research programmes , ” said the association , in a policy document prepared for Government .
“ Our universities have a pivotal role to play in developing the knowledge and skill base of the country , fuelling economic growth by supporting job creation and partnering with industry in leading-edge research and innovation.
” It has also restated its support for a Fianna Fáil proposal to establish a new Department of Higher Education and Research , with a senior minister at the Cabinet table .
“ Such a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to compete effectively as a knowledge economy , ” it said .

UCD has projected losses of up to €100m this year and expects a significant drop in international students numbers on campus. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Universities want extra Irish student places to be funded by the Government in the coming academic year to replace a sharp drop in the number of international students.
The Irish Universities Association is seeking a €230 million stability fund which it says could provide additional student places in access programmes for those from under-represented backgrounds, as well as improved grants and wellbeing supports.
It says this funding would also include a fund to support a “major international marketing campaign” to attract international students whose value in export earnings for the universities alone is close to €400 million per year.
Latest available figures show there were about 17,000 international students enrolled in Irish universities last year.
READ MORE
About two-thirds of international students are based in undergraduate programmes.
Any move to provide significant numbers of additional student places would results in a drop in CAO points for some courses, especially those with high numbers of international students.
Some universities have estimated that international student numbers could fall by up to 80 per cent in the coming academic year.
Trinity College Dublin provost Prof Patrick Prendergast, for example, has forecast that its international students numbers will be "wiped out" due to the pandemic.
UCD has projected losses of up to €100 million this year and expects a significant drop in international student numbers on campus.
Irish universities overall have become increasingly reliant on revenue from international tuition fees due to a reduction in State investment per student over the past decade or so.
The bulk of most university income is now generated privately and international fees account for a large proportion of this.
For example, fees for non-EU undergraduate students range between €10,000-€20,000 for students studying business, engineering and science, while they climb to between €40,000-€55,000 for those studying medicine.
Post-graduate non-EU students typically pay between €10,000 and €35,000.
The Irish Universities Association also says funding is needed to go towards enhancing digital skill and infrastructure, while an €80 million “talent and innovation pipeline” is required to replace outdated research equipment and infrastructure.
Economic revival
The proposals are contained in a “partners in recovery” position paper, which the association has send to TDs and decision makers.
“The proven value of research and innovation during the Covid-19 response provides a compelling argument to invest now in our future capacity,” the document states.
“This is fundamental to maintaining our edge as a competitive FDI [foreign direct investment] destination. We propose a research and innovation fund with at least €80 million per year extra to support the future talent and innovation pipeline. The fund would also provide for the much-needed renewal of outdated research equipment and infrastructure.”
The association says such funding means the sector will be able to play a key role in the economic revival of the country.
“Our 16,000 staff remain more committed than ever to educate a 130,000-strong student population and to refocus our research programmes,” said the association, in a policy document prepared for Government.
“Our universities have a pivotal role to play in developing the knowledge and skill base of the country, fuelling economic growth by supporting job creation and partnering with industry in leading-edge research and innovation.”
It has also restated its support for a Fianna Fáil proposal to establish a new Department of Higher Education and Research, with a senior minister at the Cabinet table.
"Such a policy shift is needed if Ireland is to compete effectively as a knowledge economy," it said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--DCU and Maynooth University reverse student rent hikes

Dublin City University ( DCU ) has said it is reversing a plan to increase the cost of on-campus accommodation from September .
This follows a similar decision by Maynooth University which announced in late April it would reverse a proposed 3 per cent rent increase and introduce a freeze .
DCU president Prof Brian MacCraith confirmed that the planned 4 per cent rent rise would not go ahead in a video sent to students ahead of their upcoming end of semester assessments .
Resit fees for exams will also be waived for any students resitting assessments in August or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said .
“ We know that many students and their families are facing financial difficulties due to the impact of Covid-19 , ” said Prof MacCraith .
“ Some students may have lost their part-time jobs or their parents may have been laid off .
So we are taking a number of steps to acknowledge this reality and to lighten the burden on students and their families.
” DCU ’ s student union welcomed the university ’ s decision to reverse the planned increase which was announced prior to the Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ university campuses across Ireland in February after several institutions revealed plans to increase student-accommodation costs .
Minister for Education Joe McHugh criticised the University of Limerick ( UL ) last week in the Dáil for refusing to refund students for on-campus accommodation they had left due to the pandemic .
The Minister appealed to UL to refund students as other universities had done .
A UL spokeswoman told The Irish Times the university ’ s governing authority is reviewing the matter of refunds , but no decision had yet been made about licence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miley , director general of the Irish Universities Association , warned on Sunday that the loss of foreign students attending Irish universities would be a “ massive blow ” .
Mr Miley said it was unclear how many foreign students would register .
But with travel from China , India and the United States unlikely , the sector is expecting to be hit badly .
“ We hope this will be temporary , that we could recover that critical business in two to three years .
But in the meantime it is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miley told RTÉ ’ s This Week programme .
Universities said last month they expected international student numbers will drop by about 80 per cent in the new academic year and result in the loss of hundreds of millions of euro .
Irish universities have become increasingly reliant on revenue from international tuition fees due to a reduction in State investment per student over the past decade or so .
With unemployment increasing rapidly , Mr Miley said the need for “ re-skilling and up-skilling would be greater than ever ” once the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We saw in the financial crash that it was the level of the education of the workforce that was one of the ingredients that allowed us to come out of that crash faster , ” he said .
“ We can be part of the solution in rebooting the economy but what ’ s critical is we need support if we ’ re to meet those challenges and be partners in the recovery with Government .
”

Dublin City University (DCU) has said it is reversing a plan to increase the cost of on-campus accommodation from September.
This follows a similar decision by Maynooth University which announced in late April it would reverse a proposed 3 per cent rent increase and introduce a freeze.
DCU president Prof Brian MacCraith confirmed that the planned 4 per cent rent rise would not go ahead in a video sent to students ahead of their upcoming end of semester assessments. Resit fees for exams will also be waived for any students resitting assessments in August or who need to postpone exams from May, he said.
“We know that many students and their families are facing financial difficulties due to the impact of Covid-19,” said Prof MacCraith. “Some students may have lost their part-time jobs or their parents may have been laid off. So we are taking a number of steps to acknowledge this reality and to lighten the burden on students and their families.”
READ MORE
DCU’s student union welcomed the university’s decision to reverse the planned increase which was announced prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Student protests were held at university campuses across Ireland in February after several institutions revealed plans to increase student-accommodation costs.
Minister for Education Joe McHugh criticised the University of Limerick (UL) last week in the Dáil for refusing to refund students for on-campus accommodation they had left due to the pandemic. The Minister appealed to UL to refund students as other universities had done.
A UL spokeswoman told The Irish Times the university’s governing authority is reviewing the matter of refunds, but no decision had yet been made about licence agreements for the coming semester.
Jim Miley, director general of the Irish Universities Association, warned on Sunday that the loss of foreign students attending Irish universities would be a "massive blow".
Mr Miley said it was unclear how many foreign students would register. But with travel from China, India and the United States unlikely, the sector is expecting to be hit badly.
“We hope this will be temporary, that we could recover that critical business in two to three years. But in the meantime it is a massive blow to university finances” Mr Miley told RTÉ’s This Week programme.
International tuition fees
Universities said last month they expected international student numbers will drop by about 80 per cent in the new academic year and result in the loss of hundreds of millions of euro. Irish universities have become increasingly reliant on revenue from international tuition fees due to a reduction in State investment per student over the past decade or so.
With unemployment increasing rapidly, Mr Miley said the need for “re-skilling and up-skilling would be greater than ever” once the State emerges from the pandemic.
“We saw in the financial crash that it was the level of the education of the workforce that was one of the ingredients that allowed us to come out of that crash faster,” he said. “We can be part of the solution in rebooting the economy but what’s critical is we need support if we’re to meet those challenges and be partners in the recovery with Government.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Garda checkpoints in Galway: ‘If we stop, the traffic and footfall will grow’

It is hot work in uniform .
The line of traffic snakes along the seafront in Salthill and , at first glance , it could be any fine May bank holiday .
Except the pubs and restaurants are boarded shut and the swimming points are quiet .
Garda Nuala Sweeney is stopping every car headed west .
Her colleague Austin Kelly is engaging motorists heading past Leisureland and towards the village .
“ What ’ s the purpose of your journey ?
” “ And where are you travelling to ?
” “ Okay .
We ’ re encouraging people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The exchanges are brief and good-humoured for the most part .
It ’ s close to 5.30pm and the two gardaí have been manning the checkpoint since 9am .
This narrow seafront strip must be one of the busiest areas in the country since lockdown began .
Local residents within 2km use the promenade , which is now blissfully free of out-of-towners .
And other people are finding reasons to get into the car .
“ The traffic flow has been strong throughout the day , ” says Sgt Frank Hand .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for prescriptions in the pharmacies .
We are stopping everyone .
We check details .
We are advising them to stay within the 2km .
There are people we are turning around as well – and cyclists.
” He says “ a lot of people working have begun to carry documentation .
And I suppose a lot of people are getting prescriptions for parents – there is a big older age group living in Salthill .
And we are offering assistance if they want prescriptions dropped off or pensions collected or food – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it.
” The May bank holiday in Galway city is traditionally demanding and hectic for the city ’ s Garda stations , but this weekend there is no nightlife and no revellers .
Since the Covid-19 lockdown started , rosters have been redrafted , and checkpoints have become a prominent part of the day-to-day duties .
The fine for driving outside the designated area is €2,500 .
It ’ s a last resort but it has been imposed .
“ We take all your details and send a file to the DPP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been a very unnecessary journey , ” Sgt Hand says .
At the end of the M6 motorway , which runs from the edge of the city to Dublin , a checkpoint has been in place all weekend and will remain until midnight on Monday evening .
On Saturday afternoon , the long , straight road was deserted at times .
Still , gardaí had turned back several cars over the course of the afternoon .
“ The motorists are expecting to engage with us , ” says Supt Sean Glynn .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming up at checkpoints as well as Covid : traffic and other offences that we are dealing with.
” Back in Salthill , Sgt Hand says “ the vast majority of people are compliant ” with the movement restrictions , but “ if we stop for two or three hours then the traffic and the footfall will grow .
It is the visibility apart from anything else .
”

It is hot work in uniform. The line of traffic snakes along the seafront in Salthill and, at first glance, it could be any fine May bank holiday. Except the pubs and restaurants are boarded shut and the swimming points are quiet. Garda Nuala Sweeney is stopping every car headed west. Her colleague Austin Kelly is engaging motorists heading past Leisureland and towards the village.
“What’s the purpose of your journey?”
“And where are you travelling to?”
A Garda checkpoint at Salthill in Galway on Saturday. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
“Okay. We’re encouraging people to stay within their distance...”
READ MORE
The exchanges are brief and good-humoured for the most part. It’s close to 5.30pm and the two gardaí have been manning the checkpoint since 9am. This narrow seafront strip must be one of the busiest areas in the country since lockdown began. Local residents within 2km use the promenade, which is now blissfully free of out-of-towners. And other people are finding reasons to get into the car.
We take all your details and send a file to the DPP. We have done this if it has been a very unnecessary journey
“The traffic flow has been strong throughout the day,” says Sgt Frank Hand. “People are coming in for shopping and for prescriptions in the pharmacies. We are stopping everyone. We check details. We are advising them to stay within the 2km. There are people we are turning around as well – and cyclists.”
He says “a lot of people working have begun to carry documentation. And I suppose a lot of people are getting prescriptions for parents – there is a big older age group living in Salthill. And we are offering assistance if they want prescriptions dropped off or pensions collected or food – if they ring the station we will do it.”
Hectic
The May bank holiday in Galway city is traditionally demanding and hectic for the city’s Garda stations, but this weekend there is no nightlife and no revellers. Since the Covid-19 lockdown started, rosters have been redrafted, and checkpoints have become a prominent part of the day-to-day duties. The fine for driving outside the designated area is €2,500. It’s a last resort but it has been imposed.
“We take all your details and send a file to the DPP. We have done this if it has been a very unnecessary journey,” Sgt Hand says.
At the end of the M6 motorway, which runs from the edge of the city to Dublin, a checkpoint has been in place all weekend and will remain until midnight on Monday evening.
On Saturday afternoon, the long, straight road was deserted at times. Still, gardaí had turned back several cars over the course of the afternoon.
“The motorists are expecting to engage with us,” says Supt Sean Glynn. “There are other issues that are coming up at checkpoints as well as Covid: traffic and other offences that we are dealing with.”
Back in Salthill, Sgt Hand says “the vast majority of people are compliant” with the movement restrictions, but “if we stop for two or three hours then the traffic and the footfall will grow. It is the visibility apart from anything else.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Coronavirus claims 19 more lives as 330 new cases reported

A further 19 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died , the National Public Health Emergency Team disclosed on Sunday .
There have now been a total of 1,303 deaths associated with the disease in Ireland , it said in its latest update this evening .
Another 330 new confirmed cases were also reported .
This brings the total number of cases to 21,506 .
Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre , as of midnight on Friday in relation to 21,064 cases , reveals 58 per cent are female and 42 per cent are male .
The median age of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2,825 cases ( 13 % ) have been hospitalised .
Of those , 363 cases have been admitted to ICU .
A total of 6,068 cases are associated with healthcare workers .
Dublin has the highest number of cases at 10,406 ( 49 % of all cases ) followed by Kildare with 1,242 cases ( 6 % ) and then Cork with 1,164 cases ( 6 % ) .
Of those for whom transmission status is known : community transmission accounts for 63 per cent , close contact accounts for 34 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent .
In its weekly briefing on Sunday morning the Health Service Executive ( HSE ) said the rate of testing for Covid-19 had increased to 12,000 a day and the target of 100,000 tests a week will be achieved by mid-May .
HSE chief executive Paul Reid added that by May 18th , the day Ireland will begin re-opening under the Government roadmap , tests would be at the target of 100,000 a week and results would be available within three days of referral and within two days of the swab having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients in ICU falling below 100 , Mr Reid said the trend was positive “ but it ’ s far too early to make any judgements ” .
People are beginning to return to GPs for general care , having previously expressed a fear of infection , he said .
According to Mr Reid , 241 private hospital consultant have now signed up to work in the public sector during the crisis .
He said the original plan was for private hospitals to be used to accommodate an anticipated surge in cases .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and public hospital capacity would be used to see patients on waiting lists .
Earlier , the North ’ s department of health reported five new deaths from coronavirus , bringing the total number of fatalities in Northern Ireland to 381 .
The department also reported that 78 more people have tested positive for coronavirus , bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,767 .
So far , 29,629 people have been tested for the illness , also known as Covid-19 , in Northern Ireland .

A further 19 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, the National Public Health Emergency Team disclosed on Sunday.
There have now been a total of 1,303 deaths associated with the disease in Ireland, it said in its latest update this evening.
Another 330 new confirmed cases were also reported. This brings the total number of cases to 21,506.
Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, as of midnight on Friday in relation to 21,064 cases, reveals 58 per cent are female and 42 per cent are male.
READ MORE
The median age of confirmed cases is 49 years, while 2,825 cases (13%) have been hospitalised. Of those, 363 cases have been admitted to ICU.
A total of 6,068 cases are associated with healthcare workers. Dublin has the highest number of cases at 10,406 (49% of all cases) followed by Kildare with 1,242 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,164 cases (6%).
Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 63 per cent, close contact accounts for 34 per cent, travel abroad accounts for 3 per cent.
In its weekly briefing on Sunday morning the Health Service Executive (HSE) said the rate of testing for Covid-19 had increased to 12,000 a day and the target of 100,000 tests a week will be achieved by mid-May.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid added that by May 18th, the day Ireland will begin re-opening under the Government roadmap, tests would be at the target of 100,000 a week and results would be available within three days of referral and within two days of the swab having been taken.
With the number of patients in ICU falling below 100, Mr Reid said the trend was positive “but it’s far too early to make any judgements”.
People are beginning to return to GPs for general care, having previously expressed a fear of infection, he said.
According to Mr Reid, 241 private hospital consultant have now signed up to work in the public sector during the crisis. He said the original plan was for private hospitals to be used to accommodate an anticipated surge in cases. Now that this had not materialised private and public hospital capacity would be used to see patients on waiting lists.
Earlier, the North's department of health reported five new deaths from coronavirus, bringing the total number of fatalities in Northern Ireland to 381.
The department also reported that 78 more people have tested positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 3,767.
So far, 29,629 people have been tested for the illness, also known as Covid-19, in Northern Ireland.


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Surge in applications for student grants

Record numbers of students are expected to apply for grants in the coming academic year due to the volume of families affected by unemployment or reduced incomes .
Student Universal Support Ireland ( Susi ) recorded a surge of 10,000 grant applications within a single day of opening its applications for the coming academic year .
A spokeswoman said applications had grown to almost 30,000 by last week , mostly from those renewing their applications .
Policymakers expect a steep rise in overall application numbers due to the growing numbers on reduced incomes linked to the Covid-19 pandemic .
While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a household ’ s income last year , students can seek to be reassessed under the change of circumstances provision in the scheme .
Minister of State for higher education Mary Mitchell O ’ Connor said she has been working with the Higher Education Authority and Susi to make sure funding schemes are maintained and that supports will be available to anyone who needs them .
Ms Mitchell O ’ Connor said she anticipated a sharp increase in the number of applications for the 2020/21 academic year and the number of students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of circumstances provision in the scheme .
“ The Susi grant scheme contains enough flexibility to address matters which may arise due to Covid-19 , ” she said .
“ Prospective applicants who have experienced a fall in income can seek to have their application reviewed under the change of circumstances provision within the scheme , provided they can demonstrate that any change in income is likely to obtain for the duration of the approved course or for the foreseeable future .
The window for renewal applications is due to remain open until @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to submit their details as early as possible .
Applicants do not need to have their Leaving Cert results or to have accepted a course in order to apply .
They may simply supply the details of the course they hope to study and can update this choice if necessary .
Applicants are advised to use Susi ’ s online “ eligibility reckoner ” to get an indication of whether they are likely to be eligible for grant funding .
Grants are payable to students in Post-Leaving Cert courses , higher education and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courses abroad may also be eligible for grant aid .
Last year Susi recorded a total of 96,000 applications , which resulted in grants being drawn down by about 72,000 students .
The highest number of grants awarded was 84,000 during the 2016-17 academic year .
A spokeswoman for Susi said it was too early to estimate the total number of likely awards for 2020-21 .

Minister of State for higher education Mary Mitchell O’Connor: anticipated sharp increase in number of grant applications for 2020/21 academic year. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Record numbers of students are expected to apply for grants in the coming academic year due to the volume of families affected by unemployment or reduced incomes.
Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi) recorded a surge of 10,000 grant applications within a single day of opening its applications for the coming academic year. A spokeswoman said applications had grown to almost 30,000 by last week, mostly from those renewing their applications.
Policymakers expect a steep rise in overall application numbers due to the growing numbers on reduced incomes linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
While grant applications are made on the basis of a household’s income last year, students can seek to be reassessed under the change of circumstances provision in the scheme.
READ MORE
Minister of State for higher education Mary Mitchell O'Connor said she has been working with the Higher Education Authority and Susi to make sure funding schemes are maintained and that supports will be available to anyone who needs them.
Ms Mitchell O’Connor said she anticipated a sharp increase in the number of applications for the 2020/21 academic year and the number of students seeking to be reassessed under the change of circumstances provision in the scheme.
“The Susi grant scheme contains enough flexibility to address matters which may arise due to Covid-19,” she said.
“Prospective applicants who have experienced a fall in income can seek to have their application reviewed under the change of circumstances provision within the scheme, provided they can demonstrate that any change in income is likely to obtain for the duration of the approved course or for the foreseeable future.
The window for renewal applications is due to remain open until November 2020, though applicants are encouraged to submit their details as early as possible.
Applicants do not need to have their Leaving Cert results or to have accepted a course in order to apply. They may simply supply the details of the course they hope to study and can update this choice if necessary.
Applicants are advised to use Susi’s online “eligibility reckoner” to get an indication of whether they are likely to be eligible for grant funding.
Grants are payable to students in Post-Leaving Cert courses, higher education and postgraduate courses. Students studying in approved courses abroad may also be eligible for grant aid.
Last year Susi recorded a total of 96,000 applications, which resulted in grants being drawn down by about 72,000 students.
The highest number of grants awarded was 84,000 during the 2016-17 academic year.
A spokeswoman for Susi said it was too early to estimate the total number of likely awards for 2020-21.


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Death of former RTÉ director general Thomas Hardiman, aged 91

Former RTÉ director general Thomas Hardiman ( 91 ) died suddenly at his Donnybrook home in Dublin on Saturday night surrounded by family .
He was engineer in charge at the inaugural Telefís Éireann ( later RTÉ ) broadcast from Dublin ’ s Gresham Hotel on New Year ’ s Eve 1961 and advanced through the organisation to become its first director general from within the organisation in 1968 at the age of 39 .
He succeeded Kevin McCourt .
His appointment coincided with the eruption of the Northern Ireland Troubles and growing tension between government and the national broadcaster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these pressures came to a head in an unrelated matter following an investigation by then current affairs programme Seven Days into moneylending in Dublin .
The government established a tribunal following complaints from gardaí that they had been misrepresented .
It found that the programme did not present enough evidence to support assertions that gardaí did not do enough to stop moneylending .
In 1971 , concerned at RTÉ ’ s coverage of the Northern conflict the government issued a directive under section 31 of the Broadcasting Act banning it from transmitting anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aims or activities “ of any organisation which engages in , promotes , encourages or advocates the attaining of any political objective by violent means ” .
In 1972 this led to the government dismissing the RTÉ Authority following a radio report by journalist Kevin O ’ Kelly based on an interview with then IRA chief of staff Seán Mac Stiofáin .
O ’ Kelly was convicted in the courts on contempt charges and sentenced to three months imprisonment after refusing to identify Mac Stiofáin , who was charged with IRA membership .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail .
The new RTÉ Authority was expectedto sack Mr Hardiman .
But he convinced it that to do so would be to sacrifice the independence of the national broadcaster .
Mr Hardiman was a keen supporter of the Irish language and it was during his tenure as director general that Radió Na Gaeltachta was set up in 1972 .
When Mr Hardiman left RTÉ in 1975 he chaired the National Board for Science and Technology .
And for that work the National University of Ireland awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1990 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Confederation of Irish Industry , the Marketing Institute of Ireland , the Dublin Chamber of Commerce .
He was also active on the National Planning Board and Telecommunications Review Group .
He chaired the Commission on Technological Education which oversaw development of the National Institutes for Technological Education to university status , one of which became DCU – of which he was first chancellor .
On an international level he fostered close relations between Ireland and Japan resulting in his being awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun by the late @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European to be so honoured .
He chaired the Asia Europe Foundation and developed the Ireland Japan Association .
This led to his accepting chairmanship of the Chester Beatty Library .
Mr Hardiman was also active in European affairs , being for a period president of the International Institute of Communications in London , a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination , the EU advisory committee on research and development in Brussels , and chairman of the external relations committee of the Union of Industrial and Employers ’ Confederations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Irish Institute for European Affairs in Louvain he oversaw the development of the institute on the site of the old Irish College there .
Born in Dublin ’ s Phibsborough on March 16th , 1929 , he was the only boy and second youngest in a family of seven whose train driver father Patrick died at the age of 57 when Hardiman was four .
Through scholarships he attended Coláiste Mhuire in Dublin and UCD , from which he graduated in engineering in 1951 and in mathematics in 1952 .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achievements was being elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1980 for his services to science .
In 1955 he married Rosaleen Thornton , who survives him , as do their three daughters , two sons and 12 grandchildren

As an engineer, one of Thomas Hardiman’s proudest achievements was being elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1980 for his services to science. Photograph: Courtesy RIA
Former RTÉ director general Thomas Hardiman (91) died suddenly at his Donnybrook home in Dublin on Saturday night surrounded by family.
He was engineer in charge at the inaugural Telefís Éireann (later RTÉ) broadcast from Dublin's Gresham Hotel on New Year's Eve 1961 and advanced through the organisation to become its first director general from within the organisation in 1968 at the age of 39. He succeeded Kevin McCourt.
His appointment coincided with the eruption of the Northern Ireland Troubles and growing tension between government and the national broadcaster over its news coverage.
In 1969 these pressures came to a head in an unrelated matter following an investigation by then current affairs programme Seven Days into moneylending in Dublin. The government established a tribunal following complaints from gardaí that they had been misrepresented. It found that the programme did not present enough evidence to support assertions that gardaí did not do enough to stop moneylending.
READ MORE
In 1971, concerned at RTÉ’s coverage of the Northern conflict the government issued a directive under section 31 of the Broadcasting Act banning it from transmitting anything that could be interpreted as promoting the aims or activities “of any organisation which engages in, promotes, encourages or advocates the attaining of any political objective by violent means”.
In 1972 this led to the government dismissing the RTÉ Authority following a radio report by journalist Kevin O’Kelly based on an interview with then IRA chief of staff Seán Mac Stiofáin.
O’Kelly was convicted in the courts on contempt charges and sentenced to three months imprisonment after refusing to identify Mac Stiofáin, who was charged with IRA membership. O’Kelly spent two nights in jail.
The new RTÉ Authority was expectedto sack Mr Hardiman. But he convinced it that to do so would be to sacrifice the independence of the national broadcaster.
Mr Hardiman was a keen supporter of the Irish language and it was during his tenure as director general that Radió Na Gaeltachta was set up in 1972.
When Mr Hardiman left RTÉ in 1975 he chaired the National Board for Science and Technology. And for that work the National University of Ireland awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1990.
He also served as president of the Confederation of Irish Industry, the Marketing Institute of Ireland, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. He was also active on the National Planning Board and Telecommunications Review Group.
He chaired the Commission on Technological Education which oversaw development of the National Institutes for Technological Education to university status, one of which became DCU – of which he was first chancellor.
On an international level he fostered close relations between Ireland and Japan resulting in his being awarded the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun by the late emperor Hirohito in 1986, the second European to be so honoured. He chaired the Asia Europe Foundation and developed the Ireland Japan Association. This led to his accepting chairmanship of the Chester Beatty Library.
Mr Hardiman was also active in European affairs, being for a period president of the International Institute of Communications in London, a member of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the EU advisory committee on research and development in Brussels, and chairman of the external relations committee of the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe in Brussels.
Family man
As chairman of the Irish Institute for European Affairs in Louvain he oversaw the development of the institute on the site of the old Irish College there.
Born in Dublin’s Phibsborough on March 16th, 1929, he was the only boy and second youngest in a family of seven whose train driver father Patrick died at the age of 57 when Hardiman was four. Through scholarships he attended Coláiste Mhuire in Dublin and UCD, from which he graduated in engineering in 1951 and in mathematics in 1952.
As an engineer, one of his proudest achievements was being elected a member of the Royal Irish Academy in 1980 for his services to science.
In 1955 he married Rosaleen Thornton, who survives him, as do their three daughters, two sons and 12 grandchildren


theirishtimes--2020-05-03--Keelings says it can save fruit crop without additional workers

Dublin fruit and vegetable producer , Keelings , has said it believes it can save most of its fruit crop this year without the employment of additional workers from outside the State .
There was a significant controversy last month when the company flew in almost 200 agricultural workers from Bulgaria on a chartered flight from Sofia .
Farming is considered an essential service in terms of the lockdown regime and farm workers are allowed travel within the EU during the pandemic .
In a new statement on its website , Keelings said it acknowledged the understandable concerns raised by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fruit on the north Dublin farm .
It said that in late March , in order to ascertain whether it could save the harvest with locally-recruited employees , it advertised in Ireland , but that as of April 16th it had attracted only 27 domestic applications , which fell significantly short of its labour needs .
“ Given the level of publicity over the last number of weeks we have had additional applications and other offers of help , ” it said .
“ We are focused on processing current applicants and believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to us to save most of our fruit harvest .
We do not plan to recruit further horticultural workers from outside Ireland in the coming months.
” The company said it had issued the new statement to address “ repeated misleading and speculative statements ” that had been made .
It said it was an Irish-owned family business that has been growing and packing fruit and vegetables for the Irish market since the 1920s .
It currently employs more than 1,700 people in growing , harvesting , importing , packaging and other roles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ employs approximately 900 temporary horticultural workers to harvest crops .
“ Up until the late 1990s , we recruited most of our seasonal workers locally , but over the last 20 years there has been less interest from Irish people in this work .
Most of our seasonal work has been done by experienced horticultural workers from other EU countries , often from Poland , Latvia , and now from Bulgaria.
” The company said it helps these workers find accommodation across a number of locations and provides bus transport to the farm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day .
“ We offer a limited number of rooms at residences on our farm but accommodation is mainly sourced by arrangement with external providers .
We work tirelessly to ensure this accommodation offers a comfortable living standard , complies with all regulations and is affordable.
” The current cost per employee varies between €95 and €100 per week , it said .
Typically , the workers are accommodated in “ apartment or house style accommodation with three or four bedrooms and two to three beds per room .
However , during Covid-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of two people per room.
” Some foreign workers live in larger shared residential accommodation , it said .
They too have a maximum of two people per bedroom during the pandemic and share “ spacious communal areas ” .
On March 14th , the Health Protections Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) advised that people using communal facilities ( eg recreational areas ) should mix in groups of less than 50 persons .
This advice was shared with all the workers .
On April 15th , the guidelines were updated by the HPSC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups of less than 20 persons where social distancing can be observed .
Again , all workers were advised of this update , the company said .
“ All of our staff are subject to the same restrictions in public , in the interests of public health , that apply to all persons resident and working in Ireland , and are provided with training and information to ensure they understand the implications of these rules.
” The 189 workers who were flown in from Sofia on April 13th had been health screened before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ housing upon arrival , on private buses , where the began 14 days of restricted movement , the company said .
“ During this time , they had groceries and essentials delivered to them and they were paid for this period .
They were subject to further medical screening immediately before commencing work on the 29th of April.
” The company said it complies fully with all Irish and EU employment law , including the minimum wage law .
“ Seasonal horticultural workers ’ working hours mostly vary between 30 and 45 per @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Keelings are paid the Irish minimum wage of €10.10 per hour , and additionally a bonus piece rate.
” The company said it was proud of its relationship with its seasonal employees .
Typically , 70 per cent of them asked to return from one year to the next and some had been coming to work for Keelings for more than 10 years , it said .
“ We are proud to play our part in growing , harvesting and delivering fresh , healthy fruit and vegetables and our role as a major @ @ @

Keelings said it was proud of its relationship with its seasonal employees. Photograph: Alan Betson
Dublin fruit and vegetable producer, Keelings, has said it believes it can save most of its fruit crop this year without the employment of additional workers from outside the State.
There was a significant controversy last month when the company flew in almost 200 agricultural workers from Bulgaria on a chartered flight from Sofia.
Farming is considered an essential service in terms of the lockdown regime and farm workers are allowed travel within the EU during the pandemic.
In a new statement on its website, Keelings said it acknowledged the understandable concerns raised by the arrival of the workers to pick fruit on the north Dublin farm.
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It said that in late March, in order to ascertain whether it could save the harvest with locally-recruited employees, it advertised in Ireland, but that as of April 16th it had attracted only 27 domestic applications, which fell significantly short of its labour needs.
“Given the level of publicity over the last number of weeks we have had additional applications and other offers of help,” it said.
“We are focused on processing current applicants and believe that we will have enough people available to us to save most of our fruit harvest. We do not plan to recruit further horticultural workers from outside Ireland in the coming months.”
The company said it had issued the new statement to address “repeated misleading and speculative statements” that had been made.
It said it was an Irish-owned family business that has been growing and packing fruit and vegetables for the Irish market since the 1920s. It currently employs more than 1,700 people in growing, harvesting, importing, packaging and other roles.
Between April and October, it employs approximately 900 temporary horticultural workers to harvest crops.
“Up until the late 1990s, we recruited most of our seasonal workers locally, but over the last 20 years there has been less interest from Irish people in this work. Most of our seasonal work has been done by experienced horticultural workers from other EU countries, often from Poland, Latvia, and now from Bulgaria.”
The company said it helps these workers find accommodation across a number of locations and provides bus transport to the farm at St Margaret’s each working day.
“We offer a limited number of rooms at residences on our farm but accommodation is mainly sourced by arrangement with external providers. We work tirelessly to ensure this accommodation offers a comfortable living standard, complies with all regulations and is affordable.”
The current cost per employee varies between €95 and €100 per week, it said. Typically, the workers are accommodated in “apartment or house style accommodation with three or four bedrooms and two to three beds per room. However, during Covid-19, we have applied a maximum capacity of two people per room.”
Some foreign workers live in larger shared residential accommodation, it said. They too have a maximum of two people per bedroom during the pandemic and share “spacious communal areas”.
On March 14th, the Health Protections Surveillance Centre (HPSC) advised that people using communal facilities (eg recreational areas) should mix in groups of less than 50 persons. This advice was shared with all the workers.
On April 15th, the guidelines were updated by the HPSC to restrict communal areas social mixing to groups of less than 20 persons where social distancing can be observed. Again, all workers were advised of this update, the company said.
“All of our staff are subject to the same restrictions in public, in the interests of public health, that apply to all persons resident and working in Ireland, and are provided with training and information to ensure they understand the implications of these rules.”
The 189 workers who were flown in from Sofia on April 13th had been health screened before departure and were taken straight to their housing upon arrival, on private buses, where the began 14 days of restricted movement, the company said.
“During this time, they had groceries and essentials delivered to them and they were paid for this period. They were subject to further medical screening immediately before commencing work on the 29th of April.”
The company said it complies fully with all Irish and EU employment law, including the minimum wage law.
“Seasonal horticultural workers’ working hours mostly vary between 30 and 45 per week. All horticultural workers employed by Keelings are paid the Irish minimum wage of €10.10 per hour, and additionally a bonus piece rate.”
The company said it was proud of its relationship with its seasonal employees. Typically, 70 per cent of them asked to return from one year to the next and some had been coming to work for Keelings for more than 10 years, it said.
“We are proud to play our part in growing, harvesting and delivering fresh, healthy fruit and vegetables and our role as a major employer.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-04--Covid-19: ‘Significant inconsistencies’ in testing of mental health staff

The Mental Health Commission is concerned about “ significant inconsistencies ” in the application of guidance relating to the testing of mental health staff for coronavirus .
The commission , an independent body monitoring mental health services in Ireland , said as part of its risk-rating of in-patient mental health services , it also sought information on the roll out of staff testing across the centres .
They found that “ significant inconsistencies ” still remain in the application of new guidance for testing in residential care facilities .
According to the most recent guidelines issued by the Health Protection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facility where there is a case , all residents and staff should be tested , and in a facility where there are no cases , all staff should be tested .
The commission found that while a number of services were now reporting that staff testing was planned , others reported that they were still waiting to hear about testing .
In addition , areas that had completed testing reported delays in receiving results .
John Farrelly , chief executive of the commission , said their “ primary focus ” is on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mental health facilities and they have “ significant concerns ” around staff testing .
“ We are concerned at the lack of consistency , standardisation and oversight of this process .
It is important that this is not seen as a once-off process and that the process for service wide staff testing is embedded and repeated regularly , ” Mr Farrelly said .
“ Staff have been and always will be a key line of defence in the protection of mental health residents and patients .
If we want to keep them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe .
We will continue to follow up on this matter with the HSE as a matter of priority.
” Mr Farrelly ’ s comments come following concerns by health officials that there will be “ considerably more ” coronavirus cases in mental health and disability centres .
As of Friday , May 1st , there were 13 deaths of residents of mental health services , up one since the previous week .
Some 55 services have reported that they have suspected or confirmed cases of the virus .
There were 122 suspected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 55 of which were test-positive , while some 179 suspected or confirmed cases related to staff , of which 71 were test-positive .
Anne O ’ Connor , chief operations officer at the HSE , said the executive has redeployed staff to long-term residential facilities to assist centres where staff are out due to outbreaks .

The Mental Health Commission is concerned about ‘significant inconsistencies’ in the application of guidance relating to the testing of mental health staff. Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA
The Mental Health Commission is concerned about "significant inconsistencies" in the application of guidance relating to the testing of mental health staff for coronavirus.
The commission, an independent body monitoring mental health services in Ireland, said as part of its risk-rating of in-patient mental health services, it also sought information on the roll out of staff testing across the centres.
They found that “significant inconsistencies” still remain in the application of new guidance for testing in residential care facilities.
According to the most recent guidelines issued by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, in a long-term residential facility where there is a case, all residents and staff should be tested, and in a facility where there are no cases, all staff should be tested.
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The commission found that while a number of services were now reporting that staff testing was planned, others reported that they were still waiting to hear about testing. In addition, areas that had completed testing reported delays in receiving results.
John Farrelly, chief executive of the commission, said their "primary focus" is on the safety and wellbeing of patients and residents of mental health facilities and they have "significant concerns" around staff testing.
“We are concerned at the lack of consistency, standardisation and oversight of this process. It is important that this is not seen as a once-off process and that the process for service wide staff testing is embedded and repeated regularly,” Mr Farrelly said.
“Staff have been and always will be a key line of defence in the protection of mental health residents and patients. If we want to keep them safe, then we must keep staff safe. We will continue to follow up on this matter with the HSE as a matter of priority.”
Mr Farrelly’s comments come following concerns by health officials that there will be “considerably more” coronavirus cases in mental health and disability centres.
As of Friday, May 1st, there were 13 deaths of residents of mental health services, up one since the previous week.
Some 55 services have reported that they have suspected or confirmed cases of the virus. There were 122 suspected or confirmed cases of residents contracting Covid-19, 55 of which were test-positive, while some 179 suspected or confirmed cases related to staff, of which 71 were test-positive.
Anne O’Connor, chief operations officer at the HSE, said the executive had redeployed staff to long-term residential facilities to assist centres where staff were out due to outbreaks.
Meanwhile, Inclusion Ireland, the national association for people with intellectual disabilities, welcomed new guidelines on ethical decision-making in clinical care settings.
Concerns were raised that previous documents provided a situation in which people with disabilities may face difficulty in accessing life-saving treatment based on “frailty scales”.
Enda Egan, chief executive of the charity, said these new guidelines state that people with disabilities “should not be discriminated against when it comes to accessing healthcare, up to and including intensive are”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-04--Coronavirus: Outbreaks in private houses double as ICU beds scarce in some hospitals

The number of outbreaks of Covid-19 in private houses has almost doubled in the space of a week , new figures show .
There were 125 outbreaks of the disease reported in private houses up to last Friday , according to the latest epidemiological data from the Health Service Executive .
This compares to 68 a week earlier .
The largest single location for outbreaks remains nursing homes , where the number of clusters of the disease increased from 197 to 222 over the same period .
A Covid-19 cluster is defined by the HSE as two or more cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the HSE as two or more cases of the virus acquired within the same residential unit , or one confirmed case acquired in the unit in addition to other probable cases awaiting test results .
In residential institutions , there has also been a substantial increase in outbreaks , from 110 to 130 .
Hospitals continue to see further clusters reported - this figure increased from 79 to 87 over the week - and 34 workplaces had reported outbreaks up to last Friday , up from 23 a week earlier .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including 15 in extended families , according to the report by the HSE ’ s Health Protection Surveillance Centre .
A total of 6,068 healthcare workers have contracted the virus , most of them in the east of the country .
Covid-19 has claimed the lives of two people in the 15-24 age bracket , four among 25-34 year-olds and nine people aged between 35 and 44 years .
Cavan remains the county with the highest incidence of coronavirus , with 883.5 cases per 100,000 of population , followed by Dublin with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the incidence is 666.3 .
Of the 21,064 laboratory confirmed Covid-19 cases reported by Friday , 1,074 have died , giving a case fatality rate of 5.1 per cent .
Of the patients who were hospitalised , 13 per cent were admitted to ICU .
There were fewer than 100 people in intensive care units with confirmed coronavirus last night , the third day in a row , Health Service Executive ( HSE ) data also shows .
The HSE ’ s daily operations update released last night shows 93 people were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a further 20 people with suspected cases of Covid-19 were being treated in intensive care .
The equivalent figures were 98 and 22 on Saturday night , 99 and 21 on Friday and 105 and 18 the day before , meaning the number of confirmed cases in intensive care is below 100 for the third day running and the lowest in more than a month .
As of 8pm on Sunday there were 906 cases or suspected cases of Covid-19 in the Republic ’ s acute hospitals , compared to 953 at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday night .
Reacting to the figures showing stable levels of people in ICU , Minister for Health Simon Harris said the trend was “ encouraging ” .
“ But , it is fragile & we could see progress reversed if we don ’ t all follow public health advice so please keep at it .
Let ’ s finish the job , ” he added on Twitter .
“ I am also conscious that 93 is not just a number or a daily stat - it represents 93 people who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 93 worried families .
We think of them all today & of the incredible frontline staff who care for them ” .
A total of 60 confirmed cases and five suspected cases on Sunday night were being ventilated , the data shows , down from 67 and 10 on Saturday .
A total of 143 critical care beds were available last night up from 131 on Saturday .
A further 19 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died , the National Public Health Emergency Team disclosed on Sunday .
There have now been 1,303 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it said .
The HSE data also show Dublin ’ s Mater hospital has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases , with 92 patients as of 8pm on Sunday night , followed by St James ’ s ( 74 ) , Tallaght ( 68 ) , Beaumont ( 67 ) and St Vincent ’ s ( 64 ) .
The highest number of confirmed cases in a hospital outside Dublin is in Limerick where there are 46 patients .
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said on Sunday said the trend shown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s far too early to make any judgements ” .
He added people were beginning to return to GPs for general care , having previously expressed a fear of infection , but HSE officials warned they expected to see “ considerably more ’ outbreaks in disability and mental health residential units .
The number of nursing homes where outbreaks are “ of particular concern ” has risen from 75 to 90 in a week .
Plans are also being drawn up to treat thousands of patients not infected by Covid-19 as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after two months in which normal services were shut down .
The move comes as one senior doctor warned of an “ apocalyptic ” surge in hospital waiting lists over the coming months as the profession struggles to perform operations while keeping patients apart to stem the spread of coronavirus .
Meanwhile , Mr Reid has said the HSE will be able to carry out 100,00 tests a week with a turnaround for results of three days by May 18th , the day Ireland begins easing lockdown restrictions .
Ireland ’ s testing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ getting tests and the return of test results and the criteria for testing have changed a number of times .
Efficient testing and contact tracing are seen as crucial in the country ’ s effort to emerge from the severe restrictions on society in the absence of a treatment or vaccine for Covid-19 .

There were 98 people in intensive care units with confirmed coronavirus overnight, Paul Reid, Director General of the Health Service Executive has announced at the weekly HSE operational update on the response to Covid-19. Video: HSE Live
The number of outbreaks of Covid-19 in private houses has almost doubled in the space of a week and some hospitals have no intensive care beds available, new figures show.
The number of people who have confirmed cases of coronavirus in ICU beds stayed below 100 for a third day on Sunday but HSE figures show some hospitals have no availability or little availability of such beds needed for the most serious cases of the disease.
There were 125 outbreaks of the disease reported in private houses up to last Friday, according to the latest epidemiological data from the Health Service Executive. This compares to 68 a week earlier.
The number of patients in ICUs with #Covid19 has fallen to 93. Lowest in over a month. Numbers go up & down but trend is encouraging. But, it is fragile & we could see progress reversed if we don’t all follow public health advice so please keep at it. Let’s finish the job pic.twitter.com/8bEnoaHJ8I — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) May 4, 2020
The largest single location for outbreaks remains nursing homes, where the number of clusters of the disease increased from 197 to 222 over the same period.
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A Covid-19 cluster is defined by the HSE as two or more cases. An outbreak of Covid-19 is defined by the HSE as two or more cases of the virus acquired within the same residential unit, or one confirmed case acquired in the unit in addition to other probable cases awaiting test results.
In residential institutions, there has also been a substantial increase in outbreaks, from 110 to 130.
Hospitals continue to see further clusters reported - this figure increased from 79 to 87 over the week - and 34 workplaces had reported outbreaks up to last Friday, up from 23 a week earlier.
A total of 694 clusters have been reported, including 15 in extended families, according to the report by the HSE's Health Protection Surveillance Centre.
A total of 6,068 healthcare workers have contracted the virus, most of them in the east of the country.
Covid-19 has claimed the lives of two people in the 15-24 age bracket, four among 25-34 year-olds and nine people aged between 35 and 44 years.
Cavan remains the county with the highest incidence of coronavirus, with 883.5 cases per 100,000 of population, followed by Dublin with an incidence of 772.3 and Monaghan, where the incidence is 666.3.
Of the 21,064 laboratory confirmed Covid-19 cases reported by Friday, 1,074 have died, giving a case fatality rate of 5.1 per cent. Of the patients who were hospitalised, 13 per cent were admitted to ICU.
‘Encouraging’
There were fewer than 100 people in intensive care units with confirmed coronavirus last night, the third day in a row, Health Service Executive (HSE) data also shows.
The HSE's daily operations update released last night shows 93 people were in these units across the country and a further 20 people with suspected cases of Covid-19 were being treated in intensive care.
The equivalent figures were 98 and 22 on Saturday night, 99 and 21 on Friday and 105 and 18 the day before, meaning the number of confirmed cases in intensive care is below 100 for the third day running and the lowest in more than a month.
A total of 143 intensive care beds were available last night up from 131 on Saturday. However, there were no vacant ICU beds in Tullamore, Portiuncula, Portlaoise, Mater and Kerry hospitals as of 8pm last night, while Connolly and St Vincent’s hospitals in Dublin had only one spare ICU bed each. The hospital with the greatest availability of ICU beds was St James’s in Dublin which had 17 available last night.
As of 8pm on Sunday there were 906 cases or suspected cases of Covid-19 in the Republic’s acute hospitals, compared to 953 at the same time on Saturday night and 1,010 on Friday night.
Reacting to these figures, Minister for Health Simon Harris said the trend was “encouraging”.
Minister for Health Simon Harris at the Government Buildings Press Centre in Dublin. Photograp: Handout/PA
“But, it is fragile & we could see progress reversed if we don’t all follow public health advice so please keep at it. Let’s finish the job,” he added on Twitter.
“I am also conscious that 93 is not just a number or a daily stat - it represents 93 people who are seriously ill with this awful virus & 93 worried families. We think of them all today & of the incredible frontline staff who care for them”.
A total of 60 confirmed cases and five suspected cases on Sunday night were being ventilated, the data shows, down from 67 and 10 on Saturday.
A further 19 people diagnosed with Covid-19 have died, the National Public Health Emergency Team disclosed on Sunday. There have now been 1,303 deaths associated with the disease in Ireland, it said.
The HSE data also show Dublin's Mater hospital has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases, with 92 patients as of 8pm on Sunday night, followed by St James's (74), Tallaght (68), Beaumont (67) and St Vincent's (64). The highest number of confirmed cases in a hospital outside Dublin is in Limerick where there are 46 patients.
‘Too early’
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said on Sunday said the trend shown by recent data was positive "but it's far too early to make any judgements".
He added people were beginning to return to GPs for general care, having previously expressed a fear of infection, but HSE officials warned they expected to see “considerably more’ outbreaks in disability and mental health residential units. The number of nursing homes where outbreaks are “of particular concern” has risen from 75 to 90 in a week.
Plans are also being drawn up to treat thousands of patients not infected by Covid-19 as the health service attempts to play catch-up after two months in which normal services were shut down.
The move comes as one senior doctor warned of an “apocalyptic” surge in hospital waiting lists over the coming months as the profession struggles to perform operations while keeping patients apart to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, Mr Reid has said the HSE will be able to carry out 100,00 tests a week with a turnaround for results of three days by May 18th, the day Ireland begins easing lockdown restrictions.
Ireland’s testing regime has been dogged by delays in getting tests and the return of test results and the criteria for testing have changed a number of times.
Efficient testing and contact tracing are seen as crucial in the country’s effort to emerge from the severe restrictions on society in the absence of a treatment or vaccine for Covid-19.