theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Science explains why your diet plan may not be working for you

Were you ever frustrated when a diet plan that helped a friend lose weight didn ’ t work for you ?
Scientists working in the emerging field of personalised nutrition believe they can now explain why .
Simply put , the answer is we process the foods we eat differently .
“ Some people are maybe trying to lose weight and the diet that they are following isn ’ t actually tailored to their metabolism , ” says Prof Lorraine Brennan of University College Dublin ’ s ( UCD ) School of Agriculture and Food Science .
“ They would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keeping their weight down on a diet that is more tailored to them.
” The idea that obese people may carry extra weight because of their metabolism is not one that has tended to attract sympathy .
However , when it comes to how we all process food , the evidence is clear ; we are all very different and have individual dietary needs .
We are familiar with the food pyramid which puts vegetables and fruit at the bottom and foods high in fat , sugar or salt at the top .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to eat more of the good stuff at the bottom of the pyramid and less of the bad at the top .
The problem with this catch-all advice when it comes to our nutrition is that people are different .
Over the past 10 years or so scientists working in the field of what ’ s now called personalised nutrition have found everyone responds to food in different ways .
The evidence initially came from monitoring people ’ s blood glucose levels .
The scientists placed little patches on people ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 15 minutes .
They found that people were eating the same food but often having hugely different responses in their blood glucose levels afterwards .
In nutrition studies some participants see their blood glucose levels staying flat even after eating an ice cream , while others see their levels jump up , says Brennan .
Her research team examined how people processed breakfasts either high or low in protein .
They saw huge variation in how people were responding to the food in terms of their blood sugar levels .
This tied in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nutrition studies .
The evidence suggested an individual approach to nutrition and that nutrition guidelines were required .
It also led to a new research field called personalised nutrition where scientists began to distinguish the many ways we are different when it comes to processing food .
Scientists working in personalised nutrition say they are not out to consign general nutritional guidelines from governments to the bin but to keep these in place while identifying what a person ’ s dietary needs might be and to tailor an individual dietary plan accordingly .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be advised to get enough protein , says Brennan .
Or someone else who spends a lot of time indoors might be advised to get outside more to get more vitamin D. Scientists want to find out precisely why people respond differently to foods .
Once they have answers to that question the next step is to be able to provide personal dietary advice for people based on their blood sample .
A person of a certain age , gender and race who has an illness such as cardiovascular disease could be presented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their exact needs .
The question of who will respond to a dietary intervention , who won ’ t and why is key for researchers .
Prof Baukje de Roos , a nutritionist at the Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen , is aiming to better predict dietary “ responders ” and “ non-responders ” .
The benefit of dietary changes for responders , says de Roos , can be akin to a drug .
“ We did a study where we gave wholegrain products to people to lower their blood pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lowering of the blood pressure was as powerful as any ace inhibitor , the most common drug prescribed for lowering blood pressure.
” “ We are using statistical ways to see , first of all , who are responders and who are non-responders , ” de Roos says .
“ Measuring people once may not be enough to identify a person as a responder but if people are measured several times and consistently have the same response then I can identify you as a responder.
” The collection of micro-organisms in a person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is different in each person and it is an important influence on their health status .
Scientists are working on ways to measure the microbiome and make changes to it where required .
The latest scientific evidence suggests that making changes to a person ’ s microbiome might not be an easy task .
“ It can be hard to shift it , ” says Brennan .
“ So you might shift it for a couple of weeks if you have a drastic dietary change but then , [ according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve seen , it goes back to its original state again.
” There are many reasons why a person develops a certain microbiome such as diet , antibiotic usage , exercise levels and where they live or grew up , she says .
The goal is to find ways to make the lasting changes to the microbiome needed to maintain a person ’ s health .
Genetics is part of the puzzle when it comes to unravelling why some people are more prone to diseases like diabetes and obesity , says Brennan , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We all thought now we ’ d be able to find the gene for diabetes , for every disease , but we just haven ’ t found that .
It shows the complexity of it all.
” There have been some recent dietary studies which showed that , for some people , making a change to their diet was as effective , or even more effective , than taking a drug .
This begs the question as to whether better personal dietary advice will make drugs redundant ?
Brennan doesn ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have to take medicine and look for the correct advice and be seen by a medical practitioner , ” she says .
“ Where diet can come into play is the prevention aspects and trying to get people at an early age and long before there is any illness or metabolic disorder.
” She imagines a scenario where a person attends their GP , gets a blood test and based on that they are referred to a dietician who advises them to perhaps increase their fibre , lower their carbohydrates or increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For personalised nutrition to work it requires scientists to become very good at identifying biomarkers of disease in people ’ s blood .
The better the biomarkers the better scientists can predict how much a person is at risk of developing a disease such as type 2 diabetes and this is a big area of research for Brennan and her colleagues at UCD .
“ We are looking at people who have developed cardiovascular disease but we have samples too from when they were healthy , ” says Brennan .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study with Prof Jayne Woodside in Queen ’ s University Belfast to see how to deliver personalised nutrition in about 100 individuals.
” Precision nutrition goes further by pinpointing a person ’ s dietary needs .
Prof Lydia Afman , a human nutrition and health scientist at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands , is working on what she calls a personalised digital twin .
This is an algorithm which makes dietary predictions for an individual using the latest machine-learning and artificial-intelligence scientific techniques .
Afman ’ s focus is on trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suit their precise situation .
“ You can have two people with the same BMI , the same gender , same age and they can still need a different type of food , ” she says .
In 10 to 15 years ’ time , Afman predicts , personalised digital twins will be integrated into our health systems .
“ It is going quite fast , we will have our demo model ready in three years.
” The field of personalised nutrition will provide each of us with perfectly tailored diet plans that @ @ @ @ @ @

Were you ever frustrated when a diet plan that helped a friend lose weight didn’t work for you? Scientists working in the emerging field of personalised nutrition believe they can now explain why. Simply put, the answer is we process the foods we eat differently.
"Some people are maybe trying to lose weight and the diet that they are following isn't actually tailored to their metabolism," says Prof Lorraine Brennan of University College Dublin's (UCD) School of Agriculture and Food Science. "They would have a better chance of losing and keeping their weight down on a diet that is more tailored to them."
The idea that obese people may carry extra weight because of their metabolism is not one that has tended to attract sympathy. However, when it comes to how we all process food, the evidence is clear; we are all very different and have individual dietary needs.
We are familiar with the food pyramid which puts vegetables and fruit at the bottom and foods high in fat, sugar or salt at the top. The nutritional advice, generally speaking, is to eat more of the good stuff at the bottom of the pyramid and less of the bad at the top.
READ MORE
The problem with this catch-all advice when it comes to our nutrition is that people are different. Over the past 10 years or so scientists working in the field of what’s now called personalised nutrition have found everyone responds to food in different ways.
Evidence
The evidence initially came from monitoring people’s blood glucose levels. The scientists placed little patches on people’s arms capable of monitoring glucose levels every 15 minutes. They found that people were eating the same food but often having hugely different responses in their blood glucose levels afterwards.
In nutrition studies some participants see their blood glucose levels staying flat even after eating an ice cream, while others see their levels jump up, says Brennan.
Her research team examined how people processed breakfasts either high or low in protein. They saw huge variation in how people were responding to the food in terms of their blood sugar levels. This tied in with what was being found in other nutrition studies.
The evidence suggested an individual approach to nutrition and that nutrition guidelines were required. It also led to a new research field called personalised nutrition where scientists began to distinguish the many ways we are different when it comes to processing food.
Scientists working in personalised nutrition say they are not out to consign general nutritional guidelines from governments to the bin but to keep these in place while identifying what a person’s dietary needs might be and to tailor an individual dietary plan accordingly.
If a person is older they might be advised to get enough protein, says Brennan. Or someone else who spends a lot of time indoors might be advised to get outside more to get more vitamin D.
Scientists want to find out precisely why people respond differently to foods. Once they have answers to that question the next step is to be able to provide personal dietary advice for people based on their blood sample. A person of a certain age, gender and race who has an illness such as cardiovascular disease could be presented with a personal dietary plan to suit their exact needs.
Predictions
The question of who will respond to a dietary intervention, who won't and why is key for researchers. Prof Baukje de Roos, a nutritionist at the Rowett Institute at the University of Aberdeen, is aiming to better predict dietary "responders" and "non-responders".
The benefit of dietary changes for responders, says de Roos, can be akin to a drug. “We did a study where we gave wholegrain products to people to lower their blood pressure. We found a group where the lowering of the blood pressure was as powerful as any ace inhibitor, the most common drug prescribed for lowering blood pressure.”
“We are using statistical ways to see, first of all, who are responders and who are non-responders,” de Roos says. “Measuring people once may not be enough to identify a person as a responder but if people are measured several times and consistently have the same response then I can identify you as a responder.”
Microbiome factor
The collection of micro-organisms in a person’s gut is called the microbiome. It is different in each person and it is an important influence on their health status. Scientists are working on ways to measure the microbiome and make changes to it where required.
The latest scientific evidence suggests that making changes to a person’s microbiome might not be an easy task. “It can be hard to shift it,” says Brennan. “So you might shift it for a couple of weeks if you have a drastic dietary change but then, [according to] the most recent study I’ve seen, it goes back to its original state again.”
There are many reasons why a person develops a certain microbiome such as diet, antibiotic usage, exercise levels and where they live or grew up, she says. The goal is to find ways to make the lasting changes to the microbiome needed to maintain a person’s health.
Genetics is part of the puzzle when it comes to unravelling why some people are more prone to diseases like diabetes and obesity, says Brennan, but no more than that. “We all thought now we’d be able to find the gene for diabetes, for every disease, but we just haven’t found that. It shows the complexity of it all.”
There have been some recent dietary studies which showed that, for some people, making a change to their diet was as effective, or even more effective, than taking a drug. This begs the question as to whether better personal dietary advice will make drugs redundant?
Brennan doesn’t think so. “If someone is ill they have to take medicine and look for the correct advice and be seen by a medical practitioner,” she says. “Where diet can come into play is the prevention aspects and trying to get people at an early age and long before there is any illness or metabolic disorder.”
She imagines a scenario where a person attends their GP, gets a blood test and based on that they are referred to a dietician who advises them to perhaps increase their fibre, lower their carbohydrates or increase certain types of fat in their diets.
For personalised nutrition to work it requires scientists to become very good at identifying biomarkers of disease in people’s blood. The better the biomarkers the better scientists can predict how much a person is at risk of developing a disease such as type 2 diabetes and this is a big area of research for Brennan and her colleagues at UCD.
"We are looking at people who have developed cardiovascular disease but we have samples too from when they were healthy," says Brennan. "We are going to do a large intervention study with Prof Jayne Woodside in Queen's University Belfast to see how to deliver personalised nutrition in about 100 individuals."
Precision nutrition goes further by pinpointing a person's dietary needs. Prof Lydia Afman, a human nutrition and health scientist at Wageningen University and Research in the Netherlands, is working on what she calls a personalised digital twin. This is an algorithm which makes dietary predictions for an individual using the latest machine-learning and artificial-intelligence scientific techniques.
Afman’s focus is on trying to understand what food people need to suit their precise situation. “You can have two people with the same BMI, the same gender, same age and they can still need a different type of food,” she says.
In 10 to 15 years’ time, Afman predicts, personalised digital twins will be integrated into our health systems. “It is going quite fast, we will have our demo model ready in three years.”
The field of personalised nutrition will provide each of us with perfectly tailored diet plans that work – just for us.


theirishtimes--2020-11-27--Covid-19 a likely ‘catalyst’ for Dublin redevelopment

Covid-19 will be a “ catalyst ” for the redevelopment of Dublin similar to “ war , famine and pestilence ” , a conference on the future of the city has heard .
Retail is unlikely to regain its position in Dublin city centre , with the city ’ s future likely to based on hospitality and “ experiences ” , business representatives told Dublin City Council ’ s Reset Summit .
“ Dublin city centre is very much mirroring what happening across Europe where the larger the city , the harder the impacts of Covid are being felt , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Town business group .
However , he said many of challenges now experienced were expected , just not quite so soon .
“ Covid is one of those catalyst factors that happens throughout history , when a negative thing like war , famine and pestilence consolidates and accelerates trends , ” he said .
“ A lot of what we are experiencing are things we had anticipated but where we had anticipated changes over seven to 10 years , we ’ re now seeing them over seven to 10 months .
“ For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we knew retail was being challenged by online , but also by changes in spending patterns with people purchasing experiences.
” He said Grafton Street and Henry Street are approaching 10 per cent vacancy “ and there isn ’ t a long queue of new entrants ” which mean consideration would need to be given to how the city was planned .
Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy said it was critical that the office worker population returned to the city .
“ Fundamentally Dublin is going to be a service driven economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ‘ value added ’ is going to be , ” he said .
“ Get those factors right for the citizens of Dublin and it will then also continue to be that basin of attraction for the globalised workforces .
“ If we don ’ t get a plan to get the office back in the next six months we will genuinely put ourselves at risk.
” Pat McCann , chief executive of hotel group Dalata , said while the lack of office workers was a problem “ equally we are missing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
“ If we don ’ t have the through put of tourism into Dublin our citizens will be worse off because a lot of what they are used to having available to them wouldn ’ t be available because those businesses wouldn ’ t exist , ” he said .
“ So there are , real advantages of the citizens of Dublin to have a strong vibrant hospitality sector .
”

Richard Guiney of the Dublin Town business group said many of challenges now experienced were expected, just not quite so soon. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Covid-19 will be a “catalyst” for the redevelopment of Dublin similar to “war, famine and pestilence”, a conference on the future of the city has heard.
Retail is unlikely to regain its position in Dublin city centre, with the city’s future likely to based on hospitality and “experiences”, business representatives told Dublin City Council’s Reset Summit.
"Dublin city centre is very much mirroring what happening across Europe where the larger the city, the harder the impacts of Covid are being felt," said Richard Guiney of the Dublin Town business group.
However, he said many of challenges now experienced were expected, just not quite so soon.
READ MORE
“Covid is one of those catalyst factors that happens throughout history, when a negative thing like war, famine and pestilence consolidates and accelerates trends,” he said.
“A lot of what we are experiencing are things we had anticipated but where we had anticipated changes over seven to 10 years, we’re now seeing them over seven to 10 months.
“For example we knew retail was in retreat, we knew retail was being challenged by online, but also by changes in spending patterns with people purchasing experiences.”
He said Grafton Street and Henry Street are approaching 10 per cent vacancy “and there isn’t a long queue of new entrants” which mean consideration would need to be given to how the city was planned.
Office workers
Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy said it was critical that the office worker population returned to the city.
“Fundamentally Dublin is going to be a service driven economy, and the experience economy is where the ‘value added’ is going to be,” he said. “Get those factors right for the citizens of Dublin and it will then also continue to be that basin of attraction for the globalised workforces.
“If we don’t get a plan to get the office back in the next six months we will genuinely put ourselves at risk.”
Pat McCann, chief executive of hotel group Dalata, said while the lack of office workers was a problem "equally we are missing millions of tourists that keep that vibrancy".
“If we don’t have the through put of tourism into Dublin our citizens will be worse off because a lot of what they are used to having available to them wouldn’t be available because those businesses wouldn’t exist,” he said. “So there are, real advantages of the citizens of Dublin to have a strong vibrant hospitality sector.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--State faces challenges in recruiting health staff, Minister tells psychiatric nurses

The State is currently facing significant challenges in the recruitment and retention of health and social care professionals , Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said .
The Minister was speaking at the annual conference of the Psychiatric Nurses Association ( PNA ) on Thursday , where he also noted that a new strategic unit had recently been established in the Department of Health to define health service workforce needs across the entire sector into the future .
PNA general secretary Peter Hughes said that given a requirement to recruit an additional 200 staff for the facility , the new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which will be handed over to the HSE next month , will have to be opened on a phased basis .
The new facility will replace the current Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum in south Dublin .
The PNA called for the proceeds from the sale of valuable lands at the Dundrum site to be ringfenced for mental health services after the hospital closes .
Mr Hughes said a conciliation process was under way at the Workplace Relations Commission regarding key elements involved in the opening of the new centre at Portrane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rosters and other issues .
He expected the 120-bed forensic hospital would open towards the end of March/April 2021 .
Mr Hughes strongly criticised a 1 per cent reduction in the share of the overall health budget being allocated to mental health next year .
“ The health budget is now €20 billion , including the additional €4 billion increase [ allocated in Budget 2021 ] .
Of this , mental health has a budget allocation of €1 billion , which now means that the mental health budget has been reduced from just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total health budget for 2020 ] to 5 per cent , ” he said .
“ This is outrageous and clearly highlights the lack of understanding of our politicians of the inadequacy of our current services or the extent of the growing demands for mental health services at every level .
“ Reducing the budget by 1 per cent is incomprehensible and a retrograde step , especially when it comes just four months after the launch of the latest 10-year Government [ mental health ] strategy ‘ Sharing the Vision ’ .
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government “ must address the deficits in the provision of mental health and prepare as a matter of urgency for the impending sharp rise in demand for services in the same manner that the Covid crisis has led to a build-up of capacity in the intensive care units and general hospital services ” .
Mr Hughes said that the State continued to have the third lowest number of psychiatric beds per 100,000 population in the EU , with only Cyprus and Italy having fewer .
He said that one of the many knock-on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proportion .
.
.
of people with a serious mental illness in prison ” .
Mr Hughes said the PNA ’ s campaign to have its ambulance branch , Nasra , recognised by the HSE as an official representative body for paramedics , advanced paramedics and emergency medical technicians – which has already led to eight separate work stoppages – would continue .
However , its industrial action has been suspended due to the Covid crisis .
“ On a daily basis they are selflessly putting their own health and that of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wider community , yet they continue to be denied the fundamental right to be represented by the union of their choice , ” he said .
“ That injustice was forcefully demonstrated at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when PNA had to warn the HSE that our ambulance personnel members were being ignored and bypassed in the circulation of important Covid-19 information and protocols which were being distributed to other union members throughout the country.
” Mr Donnelly said he was “ resolved to progress the various commitments for mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
He said this was reflected in a Budget 2021 provision of more than €1 billion , which included an increase of €50 million over 2020 .
He also said that new mental health legislation which was being finalised in the Department of Health would “ promote a multi-disciplinary approach to the care and treatment of patients in approved centres , and it will encourage the patient to be an active participant in their care ” .

Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said the State was currently facing significant challenges in the recruitment and retention of health and social care professionals. File photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
The State is currently facing significant challenges in the recruitment and retention of health and social care professionals, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said.
The Minister was speaking at the annual conference of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) on Thursday, where he also noted that a new strategic unit had recently been established in the Department of Health to define health service workforce needs across the entire sector into the future.
PNA general secretary Peter Hughes said that given a requirement to recruit an additional 200 staff for the facility, the new National Forensic Mental Health Service in Portrane, which will be handed over to the HSE next month, will have to be opened on a phased basis.
The new facility will replace the current Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum in south Dublin.
READ MORE
The PNA called for the proceeds from the sale of valuable lands at the Dundrum site to be ringfenced for mental health services after the hospital closes.
Mr Hughes said a conciliation process was under way at the Workplace Relations Commission regarding key elements involved in the opening of the new centre at Portrane, including staffing, skill mix, rosters and other issues.
He expected the 120-bed forensic hospital would open towards the end of March/April 2021.
Mr Hughes strongly criticised a 1 per cent reduction in the share of the overall health budget being allocated to mental health next year.
“The health budget is now €20 billion, including the additional €4 billion increase [allocated in Budget 2021]. Of this, mental health has a budget allocation of €1 billion, which now means that the mental health budget has been reduced from just over 6 per cent [of the total health budget for 2020] to 5 per cent,” he said.
“This is outrageous and clearly highlights the lack of understanding of our politicians of the inadequacy of our current services or the extent of the growing demands for mental health services at every level.
“Reducing the budget by 1 per cent is incomprehensible and a retrograde step, especially when it comes just four months after the launch of the latest 10-year Government [mental health] strategy ‘Sharing the Vision’.”
‘Matter of urgency’
Mr Hughes told the conference that the Government “must address the deficits in the provision of mental health and prepare as a matter of urgency for the impending sharp rise in demand for services in the same manner that the Covid crisis has led to a build-up of capacity in the intensive care units and general hospital services”.
Mr Hughes said that the State continued to have the third lowest number of psychiatric beds per 100,000 population in the EU, with only Cyprus and Italy having fewer.
He said that one of the many knock-on effects of this was “the high proportion . . . of people with a serious mental illness in prison”.
Mr Hughes said the PNA’s campaign to have its ambulance branch, Nasra, recognised by the HSE as an official representative body for paramedics, advanced paramedics and emergency medical technicians – which has already led to eight separate work stoppages – would continue. However, its industrial action has been suspended due to the Covid crisis.
“On a daily basis they are selflessly putting their own health and that of their families at risk in the interest of the wider community, yet they continue to be denied the fundamental right to be represented by the union of their choice,” he said.
“That injustice was forcefully demonstrated at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic when PNA had to warn the HSE that our ambulance personnel members were being ignored and bypassed in the circulation of important Covid-19 information and protocols which were being distributed to other union members throughout the country.”
Mr Donnelly said he was “resolved to progress the various commitments for mental health contained in the new Programme for Government”. He said this was reflected in a Budget 2021 provision of more than €1 billion, which included an increase of €50 million over 2020.
He also said that new mental health legislation which was being finalised in the Department of Health would “promote a multi-disciplinary approach to the care and treatment of patients in approved centres, and it will encourage the patient to be an active participant in their care”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Rates freeze for Dublin city in 2021 as €1bn budget is approved

Dublin businesses will see no increase in their rates bills next year following Dublin city councillors ’ decision to retain commercial rates at 2020 levels .
Councillors on Thursday night approved a €1.079 billion budget to run the city next year , €213 million of which will be spent on homeless services .
Council chief executive Owen Keegan had advised councillors not to increase rates “ in order to support businesses in 2021 , in what will undoubtedly be a difficult year.
” It was , he said “ most important that Dublin returns to work at the earliest possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ track , with all the economic , financial , social and health benefits that the working environment brings.
” Almost 90 per cent of city businesses were entitled to a rates waiver this year , due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic , with the Government paying the council on their behalf .
However , those rate payers only account for 43 per cent of the money taken in , with 57 per cent paid by the 11 per cent of businesses who fall outside the waiver scheme .
In addition owners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 30 per cent on their rates next year “ in order not to be seen to penalise vacant properties owners in these exceptional circumstances ” Mr Keegan said .
Total losses and costs to the council ’ s revenues directly due to the ongoing pandemic are expected to exceed €33 million next year .
By the end of this year the pandemic will have hit the council ’ s coffers to the tune of just under €42 million .
The council is not expecting a rapid turn around in its fortunes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic in the city projected to top €11 million and the loss of income , largely due to the reduction in business activity in the city , both office and retail , to reach almost €22 million .
The largest losses are expected to be in parking meter collections which are expected to drop by more than €12 million .
Tolls from the East Link bridge , are expected to be down €1.9 million , leisure centre charges down almost €1.6 million , clamping charges €1 million and planning application fees down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ having a disproportionate impact on the economy of Dublin , ” and particularly the city centre because of its reliance on retail , tourism , hospitality and transport .
“ The pandemic has also provided an extraordinary boost to remote working and encouraged the wholesale relocation of what were previously city centre-based employees to the detriment of its economy and a boost to online retail activity , again to the detriment of physical retail activity , ” he said .
“ Dublin faces a very difficult year ahead given the likelihood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well into 2021 .
”

Owners of vacant buildings in Dublin will receive a refund of 30 per cent on their rates next year. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Dublin businesses will see no increase in their rates bills next year following Dublin city councillors' decision to retain commercial rates at 2020 levels.
Councillors on Thursday night approved a €1.079 billion budget to run the city next year, €213 million of which will be spent on homeless services.
Council chief executive Owen Keegan had advised councillors not to increase rates “in order to support businesses in 2021, in what will undoubtedly be a difficult year.”
It was, he said “most important that Dublin returns to work at the earliest possible time to bring our economy back on track, with all the economic, financial, social and health benefits that the working environment brings.”
READ MORE
Almost 90 per cent of city businesses were entitled to a rates waiver this year, due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, with the Government paying the council on their behalf.
However, those rate payers only account for 43 per cent of the money taken in, with 57 per cent paid by the 11 per cent of businesses who fall outside the waiver scheme.
In addition owners of vacant buildings will receive a refund of 30 per cent on their rates next year “in order not to be seen to penalise vacant properties owners in these exceptional circumstances” Mr Keegan said.
Total losses and costs to the council’s revenues directly due to the ongoing pandemic are expected to exceed €33 million next year.
By the end of this year the pandemic will have hit the council’s coffers to the tune of just under €42 million.
The council is not expecting a rapid turn around in its fortunes in 2021, with costs associated with managing the pandemic in the city projected to top €11 million and the loss of income, largely due to the reduction in business activity in the city, both office and retail, to reach almost €22 million.
The largest losses are expected to be in parking meter collections which are expected to drop by more than €12 million. Tolls from the East Link bridge, are expected to be down €1.9 million, leisure centre charges down almost €1.6 million, clamping charges €1 million and planning application fees down €500,000.
Mr Keegan said the pandemic was “having a disproportionate impact on the economy of Dublin,” and particularly the city centre because of its reliance on retail, tourism, hospitality and transport .
“The pandemic has also provided an extraordinary boost to remote working and encouraged the wholesale relocation of what were previously city centre-based employees to the detriment of its economy and a boost to online retail activity, again to the detriment of physical retail activity,” he said.
“Dublin faces a very difficult year ahead given the likelihood that Covid restrictions will remain in operation well into 2021.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Reopening cultural centres ‘must be a priority’, says Arts Council

Galleries and arts centres should be allowed to reopen next week when Level 5 lockdown ends , the Arts Council has said .
Its chairman Prof Kevin Rafter said cultural institutions were “ well run , safe spaces , with an ability to professionally manage numbers ” .
He was making his plea following media speculation that museums and cinemas would to be allowed open , subject to social distancing .
Mr Rafter told an Oireachtas Committee on Wednesday : “ In moving from Level 5 restrictions , the value and importance of in-person engagement with the arts must be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a priority.
” .
He said having attended indoor performances at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August and the Dublin Theatre Festival in September – “ which operated under strict safety procedures ” - he was asking Government on behalf of theatres : “ please open their doors ” .
Earlier , the Oireachtas Committee held a discussion on the impact of Covid-19 with representatives from An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha , teachers of Irish Dance .
Dance teacher Carol Carberrry told the committee dance helped developed good behaviour and self discipline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said classes should be allowed once schools were back .
Also on Wednesday , the Irish Federation of Yoga Teachers said it was seeking to have Yoga deemed as an essential service during the next phase of Covid-19 restrictions .
The federation said while many independent yoga teachers and studios went online , many have not been in a position to do so .
Irish Yoga , teachers , studio and yoga business owners had now come together with a shared voice expressing the value and importance of yoga at this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee , Mr Rafter was supported by the new Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly who said Arts Council staff had been making sustained efforts to process funding for individual artists , particularly freelances .
The call to reopen arts venues was supported by a number of members of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts , including Senator Malcolm Byrne ( FF ) who is involved with community drama groups ; Ciarán Cannon TD ( FG ) who operates a small theatre in east Galway and Johnny Mythen TD ( SF ) from Wexford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shown how it was possible .
Mr Byrne told the committee he would also like to see performers treated like elite sportspeople and allowed to travel .
He said people should be allowed to open galleries as conditions would be more crowded “ in a supermarket ” .
Mr Cannon said “ there is something really special ” happening in community arts from Clifden to the Shorelines Festival in Portumna and the State needed to nurture “ that eco-system at local level ” .
Mr Mythen said Denmark had shown that theatres could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested authorities looked to other countries to see how this was done .
Cork TD Christopher O ’ Sullivan ( FF ) welcomed Prof Rafter ’ s presentation to the committee but said he was aware of many local artists who had applied to the Arts Council for funding without success .
Senator Fintan Warfield ( SF ) said the extra funding assigned to the Arts Council this year and an additional €50million promised for next year was making a difference to artists whose work had disappeared overnight .
He said “ many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ door for many years had received funding for the first time this year ” .

Galleries and arts centres should be allowed to reopen next week when Level 5 lockdown ends, the Arts Council has said.
Its chairman Prof Kevin Rafter said cultural institutions were “well run, safe spaces, with an ability to professionally manage numbers”.
He was making his plea following media speculation that museums and cinemas would to be allowed open, subject to social distancing.
Mr Rafter told an Oireachtas Committee on Wednesday: “In moving from Level 5 restrictions, the value and importance of in-person engagement with the arts must be recognised. And keeping doors open must be a priority.”.
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He said having attended indoor performances at the Kilkenny Arts Festival in August and the Dublin Theatre Festival in September – “which operated under strict safety procedures” - he was asking Government on behalf of theatres: “please open their doors”.
Earlier, the Oireachtas Committee held a discussion on the impact of Covid-19 with representatives from An Coimisiún Le Rincí Gaelacha, teachers of Irish Dance.
Dance teacher Carol Carberrry told the committee dance helped developed good behaviour and self discipline and good mental health in children. She said classes should be allowed once schools were back.
Also on Wednesday, the Irish Federation of Yoga Teachers said it was seeking to have Yoga deemed as an essential service during the next phase of Covid-19 restrictions.
The federation said while many independent yoga teachers and studios went online, many have not been in a position to do so. Irish Yoga, teachers, studio and yoga business owners had now come together with a shared voice expressing the value and importance of yoga at this time, the federation said,
In addressing the committee, Mr Rafter was supported by the new Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly who said Arts Council staff had been making sustained efforts to process funding for individual artists, particularly freelances.
The call to reopen arts venues was supported by a number of members of the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, including Senator Malcolm Byrne (FF) who is involved with community drama groups; Ciarán Cannon TD (FG) who operates a small theatre in east Galway and Johnny Mythen TD (SF) from Wexford who said other countries including Denmark had shown how it was possible.
Mr Byrne told the committee he would also like to see performers treated like elite sportspeople and allowed to travel. He said people should be allowed to open galleries as conditions would be more crowded “in a supermarket”.
Mr Cannon said “there is something really special” happening in community arts from Clifden to the Shorelines Festival in Portumna and the State needed to nurture “that eco-system at local level”.
Mr Mythen said Denmark had shown that theatres could be kept open with testing and he suggested authorities looked to other countries to see how this was done.
Cork TD Christopher O’Sullivan (FF) welcomed Prof Rafter’s presentation to the committee but said he was aware of many local artists who had applied to the Arts Council for funding without success.
Senator Fintan Warfield (SF) said the extra funding assigned to the Arts Council this year and an additional €50million promised for next year was making a difference to artists whose work had disappeared overnight. He said “many people who had been knocking on the door for many years had received funding for the first time this year”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Judges must be seen to be able to ‘speak truth to power’, North’s Chief Justice says

It was important that judges are seen to be able to “ speak truth to power ” , Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland Sir Declan Morgan has told Assembly members , when questioned about the public ’ s view of the judiciary .
Sir Declan , who was speaking to an Assembly committee on a proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland on Thursday , was asked by Ulster Unionist Party MLA Mike Nesbitt for his take on the public ’ s view of the impartiality and independence of the judiciary .
Referring to a Daily Mail front page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Enemies of the People ” as it criticised an English high court decision that the British government needed the consent of the Westminster parliament before it could trigger article 50 to quit the EU , Mr Nesbitt said there was evidence that when judgments were taken on political matters the “ judiciary takes a hit ” .
Sir Declan said there was no doubt that such headlines could be “ damaging to public confidence ” but what was clear was the judgment by the court was correct .
“ It is maybe more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be able to speak truth to power , ” he told the members of the ad-hoc committee on a Bill of Rights .
“ Nobody really disputes now that the decision which was the subject of that headline was absolutely right , that parliament should be in control and that it ’ s not for the executive to go off and start changing the law on its own , ” he added .
The Lord Chief Justice said that the courts in Northern Ireland had had a lot of social issues to deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years which in the previous 10 years would not have been a feature of the courts .
“ They have made life difficult for the courts from time to time .
But I don ’ t think in this jurisdiction anyway that there has been a material impact upon public confidence on the independence and integrity of the judiciary as a result , ” he said .
He agreed with Mr Nesbitt that such headlines had no actual impact on how judges performed their functions .
“ At the end of the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that come in front of us and apply the law to them .
We don ’ t make the law up.
” On Brexit , Sir Declan said issues such as the future of the European Arrest Warrant and data protection were arising .
It was too early to say how these and other matters would be resolved , he said .
“ Some of these things will give rise to problems and the matter will come before the courts .
I think there is an expectation that if Brexit comes to pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fore and that the court will be asked to deal with them.
” Sir Declan said the impact of Brexit on the law was yet to be seen , but in terms of any impact on political rights it seems this would be limited .
“ Whether or not that turns out to be right , who knows ?
Anybody who can predict any of this I think is just way ahead of the posse.
” “ I can see the force of saying that we are changing our relationship with Europe in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take a look and see what the pluses and minuses from the point of view of all sorts of rights are , ” he added .
Sir Declan said judges would expect to be consulted on the details of any Bill of Rights .

It was important that judges are seen to be able to "speak truth to power", Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland Sir Declan Morgan has told Assembly members, when questioned about the public's view of the judiciary.
Sir Declan, who was speaking to an Assembly committee on a proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland on Thursday, was asked by Ulster Unionist Party MLA Mike Nesbitt for his take on the public's view of the impartiality and independence of the judiciary.
Referring to a Daily Mail front page of 2016 that used the headline “Enemies of the People” as it criticised an English high court decision that the British government needed the consent of the Westminster parliament before it could trigger article 50 to quit the EU, Mr Nesbitt said there was evidence that when judgments were taken on political matters the “judiciary takes a hit”.
Sir Declan said there was no doubt that such headlines could be “damaging to public confidence” but what was clear was the judgment by the court was correct.
READ MORE
“It is maybe more important that the judiciary are seen to be able to speak truth to power,” he told the members of the ad-hoc committee on a Bill of Rights.
“Nobody really disputes now that the decision which was the subject of that headline was absolutely right, that parliament should be in control and that it’s not for the executive to go off and start changing the law on its own,” he added.
Social issues
The Lord Chief Justice said that the courts in Northern Ireland had had a lot of social issues to deal with in the past 10 or 11 years which in the previous 10 years would not have been a feature of the courts.
“They have made life difficult for the courts from time to time. But I don’t think in this jurisdiction anyway that there has been a material impact upon public confidence on the independence and integrity of the judiciary as a result,” he said.
He agreed with Mr Nesbitt that such headlines had no actual impact on how judges performed their functions. “At the end of the day, we have to deal with cases that come in front of us and apply the law to them. We don’t make the law up.”
On Brexit, Sir Declan said issues such as the future of the European Arrest Warrant and data protection were arising.
It was too early to say how these and other matters would be resolved, he said. “Some of these things will give rise to problems and the matter will come before the courts. I think there is an expectation that if Brexit comes to pass that the problems will come to the fore and that the court will be asked to deal with them.”
Sir Declan said the impact of Brexit on the law was yet to be seen, but in terms of any impact on political rights it seems this would be limited. “Whether or not that turns out to be right, who knows? Anybody who can predict any of this I think is just way ahead of the posse.”
"I can see the force of saying that we are changing our relationship with Europe in a meaningful way. It makes sense to take a look and see what the pluses and minuses from the point of view of all sorts of rights are," he added.
Sir Declan said judges would expect to be consulted on the details of any Bill of Rights.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Third-level colleges aim to resume more face-to-face teaching early next year

Third-level colleges may be able to increase face-to-face teaching for first year students and resume sports activity on campus early next year in line with an easing of Covid-19 restrictions , according to Government sources .
A formal announcement is due on Friday afternoon and follows discussions between the Department of Higher Education and representatives of third-level colleges over options to boost on-campus activity .
While most learning will continue to take place online next year , Government sources say there is a shared intention that face-to-face learning on campus will increase for “ priority groups ” along with more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sporting activities such as training and opening gym facilities are also being examined .
All these activities would be subject to social distancing and limits on congregation .
The representative group for the State ’ s institutes of technology on Thursday night confirmed that its members will seek to enhance face-to-face learning on a “ phased and incremental basis ” , as public health conditions permit .
Dr Joseph Ryan , chief executive of the Technological Higher Education Association , said that while blended learning will continue , there will be capacity to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and groups ” on campus until the summer of 2021 .
It said this will take place based on advice from public health and will be kept under review , with discretion to adjust the amount of on-campus activity as circumstances allow .
University sources say they are planning measures such as allowing a resumption in sporting activity and small group learning .
Some have signalled that resuming face-to-face lectures for first years , in addition to lab work and practicals , could prove highly challenging .
Separately , Trinity College Dublin is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at modernising teaching and learning at the campus .
The ideas are contained in an internal discussion paper drafted by the Trinity Futures Group , which was established earlier this year to “ consider the opportunities that are triggered by Covid and have longer-term value for Trinity ” .
The suggestions outlined in the paper include transforming large lecture theatres to facilitate “ collaborative learning ” spaces ; establishing an off-campus hub ; reducing the number of people working on campus ; and selling off a number of properties .
The paper suggests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 100 students be moved to online delivery , so that large lecture theatres can be reconfigured to facilitate collaborative learning .
The Trinity Futures Group says technology should be used to enhance and support teaching and learning , such as “ provision of online content , lecture capture , collaborative group activities , online polling and student-led discussions , and online assessments ” .
Funds from selling off buildings could be reinvested into refurbishment projects or creating an off-campus hub .
It also states that campus buildings could be re-purposed as “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or for other purposes .
It states that smart working could improve effective use of the Trinity estate and “ prompt the transition from a traditional campus to a connected campus.
” The idea behind a hub would lessen the need for dedicated offices for staff engaged in “ hybrid working ” , a mixture between remote and in-person work .
The document says that the move to “ smart working ” could reduce the number of staff based full-time on campus .
Trinity declined to comment on the paper , but a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a number of committees within the college before any decisions are made .
“ It is premature to talk of plans , but naturally Trinity needs to ask the sort of questions that every other business and institution is asking in the wake of the pandemic , ” the source said .
“ Right now , the priority is restoring in-person teaching next term as soon as is safe to do so .
”

Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris has said every effort should be made to resume more on-campus activity for first year and final year students. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Third-level colleges may be able to increase face-to-face teaching for first year students and resume sports activity on campus early next year in line with an easing of Covid-19 restrictions, according to Government sources.
A formal announcement is due on Friday afternoon and follows discussions between the Department of Higher Education and representatives of third-level colleges over options to boost on-campus activity.
While most learning will continue to take place online next year, Government sources say there is a shared intention that face-to-face learning on campus will increase for “priority groups” along with more “small group learning”.
Restarting sporting activities such as training and opening gym facilities are also being examined. All these activities would be subject to social distancing and limits on congregation.
READ MORE
The representative group for the State’s institutes of technology on Thursday night confirmed that its members will seek to enhance face-to-face learning on a “phased and incremental basis”, as public health conditions permit.
Dr Joseph Ryan, chief executive of the Technological Higher Education Association, said that while blended learning will continue, there will be capacity to increase the attendance of "designated individuals and groups" on campus until the summer of 2021.
It said this will take place based on advice from public health and will be kept under review, with discretion to adjust the amount of on-campus activity as circumstances allow.
University sources say they are planning measures such as allowing a resumption in sporting activity and small group learning.
Some have signalled that resuming face-to-face lectures for first years , in addition to lab work and practicals, could prove highly challenging.
Separately, Trinity College Dublin is considering a number of major changes aimed at modernising teaching and learning at the campus.
The ideas are contained in an internal discussion paper drafted by the Trinity Futures Group, which was established earlier this year to "consider the opportunities that are triggered by Covid and have longer-term value for Trinity".
The suggestions outlined in the paper include transforming large lecture theatres to facilitate “collaborative learning” spaces; establishing an off-campus hub; reducing the number of people working on campus; and selling off a number of properties.
The paper suggests that all large class lectures with more than 100 students be moved to online delivery, so that large lecture theatres can be reconfigured to facilitate collaborative learning.
The Trinity Futures Group says technology should be used to enhance and support teaching and learning, such as “provision of online content, lecture capture, collaborative group activities, online polling and student-led discussions, and online assessments”.
Funds from selling off buildings could be reinvested into refurbishment projects or creating an off-campus hub.
It also states that campus buildings could be re-purposed as “residential units, meeting room hubs” or for other purposes.
It states that smart working could improve effective use of the Trinity estate and “prompt the transition from a traditional campus to a connected campus.”
The idea behind a hub would lessen the need for dedicated offices for staff engaged in “hybrid working”, a mixture between remote and in-person work.
The document says that the move to “smart working” could reduce the number of staff based full-time on campus.
Trinity declined to comment on the paper, but a source said the contents will be discussed at a number of committees within the college before any decisions are made.
“It is premature to talk of plans, but naturally Trinity needs to ask the sort of questions that every other business and institution is asking in the wake of the pandemic,” the source said.
“Right now, the priority is restoring in-person teaching next term as soon as is safe to do so.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Government moves to seek reforms as part of new public service accord

The Government has begun moves to seek new reforms and productivity measures among State employees as part of talks on a new overall public service agreement .
It is understood that the Department of Public Expenditure on Thursday tabled initial draft proposals on reforms and modernisation which will be considered by union representatives , with further talks on the issue to take place in the days ahead .
The Government is understood to be seeking to retain some of the reforms and work practice changes agreed by public service staff as an emergency measure during the Covid-19 crisis .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials regarding updated dispute resolution measures to avoid strikes and industrial unrest in the public service .
This is another key goal for the Government side in the current talks .
The Government is expected to seek a pay pause for public service staff – potentially for much or all of next year – as part of any new accord .
This has not been accepted by unions which argue that an “ acceptable approach ” to pay must form part of any new deal .
It is understood that unions were informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general across-the-board pay element of any new agreement , there could also be a separate sum earmarked for sectoral bargaining to deal with outstanding past and current issues and grievances involving particular areas of the public service .
Unions , for their part , have contended that issues such as the additional working hours introduced for staff without extra pay following the Haddington Road public service agreement in 2013 must be addressed as part of the talks on a new agreement .
The current public service accord is scheduled to expire at the @ @ @ @

Industry Correspondent
The Government has begun moves to seek new reforms and productivity measures among State employees as part of talks on a new overall public service agreement.
It is understood that the Department of Public Expenditure on Thursday tabled initial draft proposals on reforms and modernisation which will be considered by union representatives, with further talks on the issue to take place in the days ahead.
The Government is understood to be seeking to retain some of the reforms and work practice changes agreed by public service staff as an emergency measure during the Covid-19 crisis.
READ MORE
There were also talks between unions and department officials regarding updated dispute resolution measures to avoid strikes and industrial unrest in the public service. This is another key goal for the Government side in the current talks.
The Government is expected to seek a pay pause for public service staff – potentially for much or all of next year – as part of any new accord.
This has not been accepted by unions which argue that an “acceptable approach” to pay must form part of any new deal. It is understood that unions were informed earlier this week that apart from a general across-the-board pay element of any new agreement, there could also be a separate sum earmarked for sectoral bargaining to deal with outstanding past and current issues and grievances involving particular areas of the public service.
Unions, for their part, have contended that issues such as the additional working hours introduced for staff without extra pay following the Haddington Road public service agreement in 2013 must be addressed as part of the talks on a new agreement.
The current public service accord is scheduled to expire at the end of December.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Death toll from coronavirus reaches 2,036 after latest fatalities

A further 335 Covid-19 cases and three deaths from the disease have been reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team .
This brings to 2,036 the total number of deaths in the State linked to the coronavirus and the total number of confirmed cases to 71,494 .
Of the new cases , there were in 119 in Dublin , 29 in Kilkenny , 23 in Limerick , 20 in Donegal , 19 in Tipperary and 19 in Cork , with the remainder spread across 19 counties .
The median age of the new cases was 35 years and 64 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aged under 45 .
The 14-day incidence of the disease in the State now stands at 103.9 cases per 100,000 people .
Donegal has the highest incidence at 218 cases per 100,000 , followed by Louth at 201.7 , while Wexford had the lowest incidence at 36.7 .
The reproductive number stands at 0.7-0.9 , HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry told a briefing on Thursday .
Northern Ireland ’ s Department of Health reported eight Covid-19 related deaths and 442 cases in the previous 24 hours .
The death toll in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there have been 51,118 confirmed cases to date .
The overall seven-day Covid incidence for the North is 130 cases per 100,000 of population and the number of cases linked to each confirmed infection stands at just below one .
First Minister Arlene Foster said a special taskforce is planning a mass vaccination of the population against Covid-19 .
Ahead of an intensified two-week period of lockdown , Ms Foster said the North , which has a population of about 1.8 million , would receive about 4 million doses of the vaccines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be over several phases , starting with care-home residents and staff , health and social care workers and people aged over 80 .
Minister for Health Robin Swann added : “ While I am cautious by nature , I am optimistic that vaccination will increasingly do the heavy lifting for us in 2021 in the battle against coronavirus .
”

The median age of the new cases was 35 years and 64% of infections were in people aged under 45. File photograph: The Irish Times
A further 335 Covid-19 cases and three deaths from the disease have been reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team.
This brings to 2,036 the total number of deaths in the State linked to the coronavirus and the total number of confirmed cases to 71,494.
Of the new cases, there were in 119 in Dublin, 29 in Kilkenny, 23 in Limerick, 20 in Donegal, 19 in Tipperary and 19 in Cork, with the remainder spread across 19 counties.
The median age of the new cases was 35 years and 64 per cent of infections were in people aged under 45.
READ MORE
The 14-day incidence of the disease in the State now stands at 103.9 cases per 100,000 people. Donegal has the highest incidence at 218 cases per 100,000, followed by Louth at 201.7, while Wexford had the lowest incidence at 36.7.
The reproductive number stands at 0.7-0.9, HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry told a briefing on Thursday.
Situations in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland’s Department of Health reported eight Covid-19 related deaths and 442 cases in the previous 24 hours. The death toll in the North now stands at 962 and there have been 51,118 confirmed cases to date.
The overall seven-day Covid incidence for the North is 130 cases per 100,000 of population and the number of cases linked to each confirmed infection stands at just below one.
First Minister Arlene Foster said a special taskforce is planning a mass vaccination of the population against Covid-19.
Ahead of an intensified two-week period of lockdown, Ms Foster said the North, which has a population of about 1.8 million, would receive about 4 million doses of the vaccines, when they are authorised.
Roll-out would be over several phases, starting with care-home residents and staff, health and social care workers and people aged over 80.
Minister for Health Robin Swann added: “While I am cautious by nature, I am optimistic that vaccination will increasingly do the heavy lifting for us in 2021 in the battle against coronavirus.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Changes in services needed to encourage homeless women to avail of them – report

It is easier for homeless men who are fathers to access homelessness and addiction services than it is for women who are mothers , a landmark report published on Thursday finds .
The report from Merchants Quay Ireland ( MQI ) , the largest non-statutory homelessness and addiction treatment service in the State , and the UCD Community Drugs Programme , says women experience particular shame and stigma about their circumstances .
This results in many not seeking help until they are in extreme crisis .
Factors exacerbating their shame and fear include domestic violence , involvement in sex work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maintain good personal hygiene .
Mothers , says , the report , fear losing contact with children if they become “ visible ” to services , while those in recovery may find maintaining contact with services challenging where there is no childcare .
“ Women often present to services at a crisis point , with complex needs coinciding with deteriorating physical and mental health , ” it says .
A practitioner interviewed for the report is quoted as saying : “ Why are we not seeing women before they get to these levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hugely under-represented at the start of their difficulties , they present when something drastic has happened , a hospitalisation , an overdose , the loss of children .
Why are they not asking for help way before that ?
” Many women require greater time to trust services having “ often been at the receiving end of so much hurt ” in their lives .
Women with children felt “ the stigmatisation of homeless or substance-using women [ and being seen ] as ‘ bad mothers ’ .
” Of the 11,600 people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were women , though women account for 42 per cent of homeless adults .
Many of these however are mothers with children .
The average age at death of women who are homeless in Ireland is 38 years , while for men it was 44 , the report states .
It says greater gender-sensitivity in services , taking account of such issues as domestic violence and motherhood , was needed to attract women earlier into services .
Concerns are raised about the high number of pregnant women attending the MQI night cafe ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The report recommends women-only days or half-days in services , woman-only spaces in services and emergency accommodation , and , the provision of childcare and child-friendly spaces .
“ We need to look at how we are communicating and promoting services .
You don ’ t see women coming to drug services that much , especially not for alcohol or prescribed drugs .
There is something out there in the messaging that is putting them off , something in how services are promoted that is not speaking to women or inviting them in @ @ @ @ @ @

It is easier for homeless men who are fathers to access homelessness and addiction services than it is for women who are mothers, a landmark report published on Thursday finds.
The report from Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI), the largest non-statutory homelessness and addiction treatment service in the State, and the UCD Community Drugs Programme, says women experience particular shame and stigma about their circumstances. This results in many not seeking help until they are in extreme crisis.
Factors exacerbating their shame and fear include domestic violence, involvement in sex work, coercive control, and inability to maintain good personal hygiene. Mothers, says, the report, fear losing contact with children if they become “visible” to services, while those in recovery may find maintaining contact with services challenging where there is no childcare.
“Women often present to services at a crisis point, with complex needs coinciding with deteriorating physical and mental health,” it says.
READ MORE
A practitioner interviewed for the report is quoted as saying: “Why are we not seeing women before they get to these levels of trauma and trouble? Women are hugely under-represented at the start of their difficulties, they present when something drastic has happened, a hospitalisation, an overdose, the loss of children. Why are they not asking for help way before that?”
Many women require greater time to trust services having “often been at the receiving end of so much hurt” in their lives.
Women with children felt “the stigmatisation of homeless or substance-using women [and being seen] as ‘bad mothers’.”
Of the 11,600 people supported by MQI last year, 1,904 were women, though women account for 42 per cent of homeless adults. Many of these however are mothers with children.
The average age at death of women who are homeless in Ireland is 38 years, while for men it was 44, the report states.
It says greater gender-sensitivity in services, taking account of such issues as domestic violence and motherhood, was needed to attract women earlier into services.
Concerns are raised about the high number of pregnant women attending the MQI night cafe (currently closed die to Covid-19). The report recommends women-only days or half-days in services, woman-only spaces in services and emergency accommodation, and, the provision of childcare and child-friendly spaces.
“We need to look at how we are communicating and promoting services. You don’t see women coming to drug services that much, especially not for alcohol or prescribed drugs. There is something out there in the messaging that is putting them off, something in how services are promoted that is not speaking to women or inviting them in,” said one practitioner.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Coronavirus: HSE departure from Kerry nursing home of ‘serious concern’

The HSE ’ s decision to cease overseeing a Co Kerry nursing home at the centre of a severe Covid-19 outbreak was a cause for “ very significant concern ” , the State ’ s health service regulator has said .
The HSE initially took over the clinical operation and governance of the privately run Oaklands Nursing Home in Listowel on November 4th , but indicated it intended to cease running the home on November 16th , while still providing some staffing support .
Following this decision , the Health Information and Quality Authority ( Hiqa ) applied to Listowel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s registration cancelled , and to direct the HSE to take over the management of the home .
Hiqa outlined its response to concerns about the management of Oaklands Nursing Home in a letter to Fine Gael TD Fergus O ’ Dowd , who criticised the regulator for what he said was a five-month delay in taking action over the home .
The HSE has since said it is seeking to close the facility , which has been affected by an outbreak of Covid-19 that infected all but one of the residents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the outbreak have died .
Hiqa had raised concerns about poor clinical governance and management at the home , particularly since May , including over the poor infection controls in place during the pandemic .
The regulator told Mr O ’ Dowd in a letter sent on Wednesday that it had asked the nursing home in July to cease admissions of residents until it was appropriately managed and staffed .
The HSE took over the clinical operation and governance of the nursing home on November 4th in response to the outbreak .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it intended to leave the nursing home on November 16th .
A subsequent inspection found that the position on the ground was “ critical ” and that the facility could not sustainably provide adequate safe care to residents , and was reliant on the HSE .
Hiqa told Mr O ’ Dowd that the HSE ’ s departure was a source of major concern and that after the November 16th and 17th inspections it applied to Listowel District Court to have the nursing home ’ s registration cancelled , and to direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the home .
The regulator said the threshold for a section 59 cancellation of a nursing home ’ s registration was “ very high ” and “ can only be taken where there is a serious risk to life , or a serious risk to the health or welfare of the persons resident ” in Oaklands because of failure to act or negligence .
Some residents have now been moved to a community nursing home in Kenmare .
The remaining 23 residents in the home are to be relocated to HSE-run or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said “ no resident will move from Oaklands without extensive consultation and support .
However , the HSE is anxious to ensure that all current residents would be settled into their new homes in advance of the Christmas period.
” It was “ not sustainable ” for the HSE to run the nursing home as it did not own the facility , the spokeswoman said .
The HSE is currently providing intensive support to seven nursing homes facing “ significant risk ” over outbreaks , chief operations officer Anne O ’ Connor said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the red category of the HSE ’ s traffic-light system for monitoring where supports are needed in the sector .
A further 29 nursing homes are in the amber category , also in receipt of significant support .
At present there are Covid-19 outbreaks in 50 nursing homes .

The HSE’s decision to cease overseeing a Co Kerry nursing home at the centre of a severe Covid-19 outbreak was a cause for “very significant concern”, the State’s health service regulator has said.
The HSE initially took over the clinical operation and governance of the privately run Oaklands Nursing Home in Listowel on November 4th, but indicated it intended to cease running the home on November 16th, while still providing some staffing support.
Following this decision, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) applied to Listowel District Court to have the nursing home's registration cancelled, and to direct the HSE to take over the management of the home.
Hiqa outlined its response to concerns about the management of Oaklands Nursing Home in a letter to Fine Gael TD Fergus O'Dowd, who criticised the regulator for what he said was a five-month delay in taking action over the home.
READ MORE
The HSE has since said it is seeking to close the facility, which has been affected by an outbreak of Covid-19 that infected all but one of the residents. Eight residents who contracted the disease during the outbreak have died.
Hiqa had raised concerns about poor clinical governance and management at the home, particularly since May, including over the poor infection controls in place during the pandemic.
The regulator told Mr O’Dowd in a letter sent on Wednesday that it had asked the nursing home in July to cease admissions of residents until it was appropriately managed and staffed.
‘Critical’ position
The HSE took over the clinical operation and governance of the nursing home on November 4th in response to the outbreak.
The regulator said the HSE told it that it intended to leave the nursing home on November 16th. A subsequent inspection found that the position on the ground was “critical” and that the facility could not sustainably provide adequate safe care to residents, and was reliant on the HSE.
Hiqa told Mr O’Dowd that the HSE’s departure was a source of major concern and that after the November 16th and 17th inspections it applied to Listowel District Court to have the nursing home’s registration cancelled, and to direct the HSE to take over the running of the home.
The regulator said the threshold for a section 59 cancellation of a nursing home’s registration was “very high” and “can only be taken where there is a serious risk to life, or a serious risk to the health or welfare of the persons resident” in Oaklands because of failure to act or negligence.
Some residents have now been moved to a community nursing home in Kenmare. The remaining 23 residents in the home are to be relocated to HSE-run or private nursing homes.
‘Not sustainable’
A HSE spokeswoman said “no resident will move from Oaklands without extensive consultation and support. However, the HSE is anxious to ensure that all current residents would be settled into their new homes in advance of the Christmas period.”
It was “not sustainable” for the HSE to run the nursing home as it did not own the facility, the spokeswoman said.
The HSE is currently providing intensive support to seven nursing homes facing “significant risk” over outbreaks, chief operations officer Anne O’Connor said on Thursday.
The homes are listed in the red category of the HSE’s traffic-light system for monitoring where supports are needed in the sector.
A further 29 nursing homes are in the amber category, also in receipt of significant support. At present there are Covid-19 outbreaks in 50 nursing homes.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Credit card details seized by police in cross-Border fraud investigation

Potentially hundreds of fraudulent credit card details have been seized by police in a cross-Border investigation after four men were refused bail at Banbridge magistrates court .
The allegations were made at a hearing in Newry court house on Thursday .
A PSNI detective , objecting to a bail application , said he could connect the co-accused to the charges .
He told the court five mobile phones had been seized from the co-accused with over 85 images of individual credit card details discovered on two of them and three outstanding .
Co-accused Owen Haughan ( 19 ) , Coolcullen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 19 ) of Haydens Lane , Dublin , Martin O ’ Donnell ( 19 ) of Cuthsbert Meadow , Dublin and William O ’ Donnell ( 22 ) of Broad Meadow , Ashburne are all charged with fraud by false representation and possession of articles in connection with fraud on November 24th .
The magistrates heard the four men attempted to obtain £500 worth of goods from the Timberland store at the Boulevard shopping outlet , Banbridge using images of credit cards on a mobile phone .
Prosecution stated that staff at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempted fraud when the co-accused presented at the till with items , only having images of credit card numbers on their phones to enter , without a physical card .
When confronted by staff , the four men were said to have left the scene in a Vauxhall Astra .
The registration of the car was noted and given to the PSNI along with descriptions of the males from CCTV footage .
Later in the day , the police stopped the vehicle on the Armagh Road , Newry with the four men in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The co-accused were arrested and either provided with a no comment interview or stayed in silence .
An Garda Síochána had also provided further information on the defendants , with the PSNI stating that a number of other shops could have been targeted in the Banbridge area by the alleged fraudsters .
District judge Paul Copeland refused bail noting that there were ongoing inquires .
The four co-accused were remanded into custody with the case adjourned to December 17 .

A PSNI detective, objecting to a bail application, said he could connect the co-accused to the charges.
Potentially hundreds of fraudulent credit card details have been seized by police in a cross-Border investigation after four men were refused bail at Banbridge magistrates court.
The allegations were made at a hearing in Newry court house on Thursday.
A PSNI detective, objecting to a bail application, said he could connect the co-accused to the charges.
He told the court five mobile phones had been seized from the co-accused with over 85 images of individual credit card details discovered on two of them and three outstanding.
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Co-accused Owen Haughan (19), Coolcullen Meadow, Enniskillen, Eddie Mongan (19) of Haydens Lane, Dublin, Martin O’Donnell (19) of Cuthsbert Meadow, Dublin and William O’Donnell (22) of Broad Meadow, Ashburne are all charged with fraud by false representation and possession of articles in connection with fraud on November 24th.
The magistrates heard the four men attempted to obtain £500 worth of goods from the Timberland store at the Boulevard shopping outlet, Banbridge using images of credit cards on a mobile phone.
Prosecution stated that staff at the store had been alerted to the alleged attempted fraud when the co-accused presented at the till with items, only having images of credit card numbers on their phones to enter, without a physical card.
When confronted by staff, the four men were said to have left the scene in a Vauxhall Astra.
The registration of the car was noted and given to the PSNI along with descriptions of the males from CCTV footage.
Later in the day, the police stopped the vehicle on the Armagh Road, Newry with the four men in the car matching the identities given.
The co-accused were arrested and either provided with a no comment interview or stayed in silence.
An Garda Síochána had also provided further information on the defendants, with the PSNI stating that a number of other shops could have been targeted in the Banbridge area by the alleged fraudsters.
District judge Paul Copeland refused bail noting that there were ongoing inquires .
The four co-accused were remanded into custody with the case adjourned to December 17.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Man on firearms charges is in special protection unit in prison, court told

One of three Brazilian men on firearms possession charges in Co Offaly is in a special protection unit in prison , Tullamore Circuit Court was told .
Judge Keenan Johnson heard that Hugo Henrique Rodrigues ( 23 ) , of Inny Court , Ballymahon , feared for himself after becoming a “ rat ” and giving information about why a submachine gun and shotgun were found in the car he was driving in Clara on May 27th last .
A sentencing hearing was told Rodrigues informed gardaí that he and two others were involved in a plan to threaten someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was not intended to commit murder .
Rodrigues , along with Jefferson Dos Santos ( 35 ) , with the same address in Ballymahon , and Ildomar Canrar Da Silva ( 29 ) , whose address could not be established by gardaí , were in a car stopped at River Street , Clara shortly after midnight on May 27th last .
Gardaí found a 9mm submachine gun and 17 rounds of ammunition , along with a sawn off shotgun and cartridges .
They also found phones in the vehicle , one of which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ search of an address in Tullamore .
Det Sgt Caroline Lyng told the court Rodrigues was the driver of the car and all three were wearing plastic gloves .
Gardaí established the car had come from Dublin , passing through the toll plaza at Kilcock a few hours earlier and then stopping at the Applegreen in Enfield for fuel , which was paid for by Mr Da Silva .
Examination of the guns by a Garda ballistics expert indicated both were in working order though the submachine gun was in poor condition and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Det Sgt Lyng said Rodrigues told the gardaí he lived in Ballymahon with his partner and he had been aware for a week that a “ job ” had been discussed and detailed how he and Dos Santos went to meet Da Silva at a car .
He put on gloves and a mask and drove to Kilbeggan , getting lost twice on the way to where they were to pick up the guns .
He said the plan was not to murder someone but was to threaten them and shoot at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Det Sgt Lyng said Da Silva had been in Ireland for five years and had evaded a deportation order since July 2019 .
He had 24 previous convictions and various prison sentences of between three and four months , including a number for theft and one for drink-driving .
Judge Johnson was told Dos Santos had no previous convictions in Ireland and had a flight booked to return to Brazil the day after the Clara incident .
All three men had entered guilty pleas on November 17th to possession of the guns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions .
They have been in custody since their arrest .
Garnet Orange , SC , prosecuting , said the maximum sentence for the firearms offences was 14 years and the minimum was five .
The DPP had indicated the offending was at the upper range of offending for potential sentencing .
Dos Santos read a letter of apology to the judge and the people of Ireland and said he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time .
He said his family in Brazil was suffering because of his absence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who had lost her job because of Covid-19 , and his father , who was ill and could not work .
Adjourning sentencing to a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court on December 21st , Judge Johnson said the charges were very serious and he would have to take time to consider the matter .

Gardaí found a 9mm submachine gun and 17 rounds of ammunition, along with a sawn off shotgun and cartridges. Photograph: Eric Luke / The Irish Times
One of three Brazilian men on firearms possession charges in Co Offaly is in a special protection unit in prison, Tullamore Circuit Court was told.
Judge Keenan Johnson heard that Hugo Henrique Rodrigues (23), of Inny Court, Ballymahon, feared for himself after becoming a “rat” and giving information about why a submachine gun and shotgun were found in the car he was driving in Clara on May 27th last.
A sentencing hearing was told Rodrigues informed gardaí that he and two others were involved in a plan to threaten someone and shoot at their house but it was not intended to commit murder.
Rodrigues, along with Jefferson Dos Santos (35), with the same address in Ballymahon, and Ildomar Canrar Da Silva (29), whose address could not be established by gardaí, were in a car stopped at River Street, Clara shortly after midnight on May 27th last.
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Gardaí found a 9mm submachine gun and 17 rounds of ammunition, along with a sawn off shotgun and cartridges.
They also found phones in the vehicle, one of which had been used for a Google maps search of an address in Tullamore.
Det Sgt Caroline Lyng told the court Rodrigues was the driver of the car and all three were wearing plastic gloves.
Gardaí established the car had come from Dublin, passing through the toll plaza at Kilcock a few hours earlier and then stopping at the Applegreen in Enfield for fuel, which was paid for by Mr Da Silva.
Examination of the guns by a Garda ballistics expert indicated both were in working order though the submachine gun was in poor condition and its serial number had been deliberately erased.
Det Sgt Lyng said Rodrigues told the gardaí he lived in Ballymahon with his partner and he had been aware for a week that a “job” had been discussed and detailed how he and Dos Santos went to meet Da Silva at a car.
He put on gloves and a mask and drove to Kilbeggan, getting lost twice on the way to where they were to pick up the guns.
He said the plan was not to murder someone but was to threaten them and shoot at their house and then burn the car.
Det Sgt Lyng said Da Silva had been in Ireland for five years and had evaded a deportation order since July 2019.
He had 24 previous convictions and various prison sentences of between three and four months, including a number for theft and one for drink-driving.
Judge Johnson was told Dos Santos had no previous convictions in Ireland and had a flight booked to return to Brazil the day after the Clara incident.
All three men had entered guilty pleas on November 17th to possession of the guns and ammunition and breaches of Covid-19 travel restrictions. They have been in custody since their arrest.
Garnet Orange, SC, prosecuting, said the maximum sentence for the firearms offences was 14 years and the minimum was five.
The DPP had indicated the offending was at the upper range of offending for potential sentencing.
Dos Santos read a letter of apology to the judge and the people of Ireland and said he had been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
He said his family in Brazil was suffering because of his absence and he wished to help his wife, who had lost her job because of Covid-19, and his father, who was ill and could not work.
Adjourning sentencing to a sitting of Mullingar Circuit Court on December 21st, Judge Johnson said the charges were very serious and he would have to take time to consider the matter.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--View that Woulfe appointment a perfectly legal ready-up remains intact

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee came under sustained pressure in the Dáil on Thursday over the Government ’ s nomination of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court , but no blows that could imperil her future in office were landed .
She relayed an account of the selection of the former attorney general to fill the vacancy earlier this year that may have been implausible , but was not – so far , anyway – disprovable .
The most significant piece of new information McEntee conveyed during the two-hour session was about the role of her party leader , Tánaiste @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up his her proposing Woulfe for the job .
She revealed that in a conversation a few days after her appointment , and before she had considered candidates for the job , Varadkar told her that Woulfe had applied , come through the appointments board process , and – in his view – would “ make a good judge ” .
He did not , she stressed , “ tell me that this was to be the case ” .
He was just offering his view .
This was , by Varadkar ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after he had told Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan that there was a vacancy on the court and that Woulfe had been recommended as suitable .
Ryan and Martin understood from this that Woulfe would be appointed by the new Government .
But McEntee did not share that view .
She still had to go through the other candidates , remember .
She duly considered them all ( five , it transpires ; The Irish Times reported “ at least three ” ) .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She did not consult with anyone else on Woulfe ’ s suitability , his legal record , the requirements of the job or the merits of the other candidates .
She had a good think about it , and decided he was the man .
McEntee was , of course , within her rights to act this way .
Just as when Varadkar made his view known , it was open to McEntee to make a different recommendation .
But in reality that immediately became a lot less likely .
But as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced justice spokesman explained , this is not the way any of the three governments in which he served had treated Supreme Court appointments .
Because of the importance of the decision , governments have consulted and deliberated extensively about such appointments .
But not this time – just McEntee ’ s thoughts and half a conversation with Varadkar .
Howlin plainly found the whole thing unbelievable .
The silence of Fianna Fáil and the Greens – basically saying “ sure , go on , appoint who you like ” – remains remarkable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , most people in and around Leinster House and Government Buildings have assumed that the Woulfe appointment was a ready-up – a perfectly legal and constitutional one , but a ready-up nonetheless – for the former Fine Gael attorney general by his former taoiseach .
That interpretation is likely to remain intact after this session .

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee: The most significant piece of new information McEntee conveyed during the two-hour session was about the role of her party leader, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, in the events leading up his her proposing Séamus Woulfe for the job. Photograph Nick Bradshaw
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee came under sustained pressure in the Dáil on Thursday over the Government’s nomination of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court, but no blows that could imperil her future in office were landed.
She relayed an account of the selection of the former attorney general to fill the vacancy earlier this year that may have been implausible, but was not – so far, anyway – disprovable.
The most significant piece of new information McEntee conveyed during the two-hour session was about the role of her party leader, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, in the events leading up his her proposing Woulfe for the job.
She revealed that in a conversation a few days after her appointment, and before she had considered candidates for the job, Varadkar told her that Woulfe had applied, come through the appointments board process, and – in his view – would “make a good judge”. He did not, she stressed, “tell me that this was to be the case”. He was just offering his view.
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Vacancy on the court
This was, by Varadkar’s own account, a few days after he had told Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan that there was a vacancy on the court and that Woulfe had been recommended as suitable. Ryan and Martin understood from this that Woulfe would be appointed by the new Government.
But McEntee did not share that view. She still had to go through the other candidates, remember.
She duly considered them all (five, it transpires; The Irish Times reported “at least three”). And then decided that Woulfe should be appointed.
She did not consult with anyone else on Woulfe’s suitability, his legal record, the requirements of the job or the merits of the other candidates. She had a good think about it, and decided he was the man.
McEntee was, of course, within her rights to act this way. Just as when Varadkar made his view known, it was open to McEntee to make a different recommendation. But in reality that immediately became a lot less likely.
But as Brendan Howlin, Labour’s vastly experienced justice spokesman explained, this is not the way any of the three governments in which he served had treated Supreme Court appointments.
Because of the importance of the decision, governments have consulted and deliberated extensively about such appointments. But not this time – just McEntee’s thoughts and half a conversation with Varadkar.
Howlin plainly found the whole thing unbelievable. The silence of Fianna Fáil and the Greens – basically saying “sure, go on, appoint who you like” – remains remarkable.
Since the beginning of this controversy, most people in and around Leinster House and Government Buildings have assumed that the Woulfe appointment was a ready-up – a perfectly legal and constitutional one, but a ready-up nonetheless – for the former Fine Gael attorney general by his former taoiseach.
That interpretation is likely to remain intact after this session.