theirishtimes--2020-02-06--Woman repeatedly raped by boyfriend while sleeping awarded €1m

A woman who was raped and sexually assaulted by her then boyfriend multiple times while she slept has been awarded a total €1 million damages by a High Court jury .
Niamh Ní Dhomhnaill told the jury in evidence she “ felt unsafe everywhere ” as a result of the actions of Magnus Meyer Hustveit .
She was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder , had been unable to continue her much loved teaching job , left Ireland for several years , and had tried at one stage to take her own life .
Becoming tearful during her evidence , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been a part of me that has not been profoundly impacted.
” The impact of the assaults on Ms Ní Dhomhnaill was about nine to 9½ out of 10 on a scale on severity , a psychiatrist told the jury .
Ms Ní Dhomhnaill , with an address in Dublin , took High Court civil proceedings seeking damages against Hustveit , with an address at Jens Bjelkes Gate Apartments , Oslo , Norway .
He was given a 15-month prison sentence following a finding by the Court of Appeal in 2016 that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unduly lenient ” .
Hustveit had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault committed against Ms Ní Dhomhnaill between 2011 and 2012 .
The offences happened when both were in their twenties .
In imposing a 15-month prison term , the COA said the combination of factors including Hustveit ’ s co-operation , voluntary return to Ireland to be charged , previous good character and positive life he was now leading in Norway – justified and required a sentence appreciably less than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapes .
In her civil proceedings , Ms Ní Dhomnhnaill , represented by Niall Buckley , sought damages for multiple acts of sexual assault on dates unknown between May 2011 to the end April 2012 at an apartment in Belvedere Place , Dublin .
She sought damages for personal injuries , loss and damage caused by the assault , battery , rape , sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional harm on his part .
Judgment was entered in default of defence and the jury was told by Mr Justice Max Barrett on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only .
Having heard evidence from Ms Ní Dhomhnaill , her mother and a psychiatrist , the jury assessed damages in a total sum of €1 million , comprising €350,000 general damages , €400,000 aggravated damages and €250,000 punitive damages .
In her action , Ms Ní Dhomhnaill said she was in a sexual relationship with Hustveit from May 2011 and they had moved in together into the Belvedere Place flat around September 2011 until the relationship ended around April , 29th 2012 .
She said Hustveit had repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Hustveit had admitted on April 29th 2012 he had raped her and this had been going on for some period of time .
She received an email from him on May 27th , 2012 admitting he penetrated her with his penis and/or hands , touched her and kissed her while she was asleep over a prolonged period and used her body for his own gratification .
Receiving the email was “ extremely shocking ” and disturbing as it detained in a clinical manner how she had been repeatedly violated in her sleep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” detail demonstrated his “ absolute awareness of what he was doing ” .
During the relevant period of time , she also discovered a large fist sized bruise on the inside of her upper thigh which took about a week to heal .
She attempted in September 2013 to take her own life by taking an overdose of sleeping tablets prescribed for her in the aftermath of the rapes and sexual assaults .
She had attended weekly therapy sessions and a psychotherapist , had issues around food and excessive exercising and abusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to leave her bedroom and home .
All her relationships and friendships had been affected and she continues to feel frightened about trusting people , including her parents .
Unable to continue in her much-loved teaching job , she left Ireland for London where she sought to lose herself in studying psychology .
She was concerned she began overachieving “ to compensate ” for what had happened .
She continues to have disturbing nightmares and could not say how she would be in 10 years .
Her mother Josephine McDonald said she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period in question .
From being independent , active and very articulate , she had become distant and withdrawn .
“ I could feel an anxiety about her.
” Her concerns were confirmed when her daughter told her in August 2012 she had been raped , she said .
While she has achieved a lot since , she “ is not back to my Niamh yet ” , she said .

A woman who was raped and sexually assaulted by her then boyfriend multiple times while she slept has been awarded a total €1 million damages by a High Court jury.
Niamh Ní Dhomhnaill told the jury in evidence she “felt unsafe everywhere” as a result of the actions of Magnus Meyer Hustveit.
She was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, had been unable to continue her much loved teaching job, left Ireland for several years, and had tried at one stage to take her own life.
Becoming tearful during her evidence, she said: “There has never been a part of me that has not been profoundly impacted.”
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The impact of the assaults on Ms Ní Dhomhnaill was about nine to 9½ out of 10 on a scale on severity, a psychiatrist told the jury.
Ms Ní Dhomhnaill, with an address in Dublin, took High Court civil proceedings seeking damages against Hustveit, with an address at Jens Bjelkes Gate Apartments, Oslo, Norway.
He was given a 15-month prison sentence following a finding by the Court of Appeal in 2016 that his original wholly suspended seven-year sentence was “unduly lenient”.
Niamh Ní Dhomhnaill: She had attended a psychotherapist after the sex assaults, had issues around food and excessive exercising and had at times struggled to leave her bedroom and home. All her relationships and friendships had been affected and she continues to feel frightened about trusting people. Photograph: Collins
Hustveit had pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to one count of rape and one count of sexual assault committed against Ms Ní Dhomhnaill between 2011 and 2012. The offences happened when both were in their twenties.
In imposing a 15-month prison term, the COA said the combination of factors including Hustveit’s co-operation, voluntary return to Ireland to be charged, previous good character and positive life he was now leading in Norway – justified and required a sentence appreciably less than would be normal in cases of multiple rapes.
In her civil proceedings, Ms Ní Dhomnhnaill, represented by Niall Buckley, sought damages for multiple acts of sexual assault on dates unknown between May 2011 to the end April 2012 at an apartment in Belvedere Place, Dublin.
She sought damages for personal injuries, loss and damage caused by the assault, battery, rape, sexual assault and intentional infliction of emotional harm on his part.
Judgment was entered in default of defence and the jury was told by Mr Justice Max Barrett on Thursday their task was to assess damages only.
Having heard evidence from Ms Ní Dhomhnaill, her mother and a psychiatrist, the jury assessed damages in a total sum of €1 million, comprising €350,000 general damages, €400,000 aggravated damages and €250,000 punitive damages.
In her action, Ms Ní Dhomhnaill said she was in a sexual relationship with Hustveit from May 2011 and they had moved in together into the Belvedere Place flat around September 2011 until the relationship ended around April, 29th 2012.
She said Hustveit had repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted her while she was asleep. She said Hustveit had admitted on April 29th 2012 he had raped her and this had been going on for some period of time.
She received an email from him on May 27th, 2012 admitting he penetrated her with his penis and/or hands, touched her and kissed her while she was asleep over a prolonged period and used her body for his own gratification.
‘Extremely shocking’
Receiving the email was “extremely shocking” and disturbing as it detained in a clinical manner how she had been repeatedly violated in her sleep by him. The “quite chilling” detail demonstrated his “absolute awareness of what he was doing”.
During the relevant period of time, she also discovered a large fist sized bruise on the inside of her upper thigh which took about a week to heal. She attempted in September 2013 to take her own life by taking an overdose of sleeping tablets prescribed for her in the aftermath of the rapes and sexual assaults.
She had attended weekly therapy sessions and a psychotherapist, had issues around food and excessive exercising and abusing laxative tablets and had at times struggled to leave her bedroom and home. All her relationships and friendships had been affected and she continues to feel frightened about trusting people, including her parents.
Unable to continue in her much-loved teaching job, she left Ireland for London where she sought to lose herself in studying psychology. She was concerned she began overachieving “to compensate” for what had happened. She continues to have disturbing nightmares and could not say how she would be in 10 years.
Her mother Josephine McDonald said she had noticed changes in her daughter over the period in question. From being independent, active and very articulate, she had become distant and withdrawn. “I could feel an anxiety about her.”
Her concerns were confirmed when her daughter told her in August 2012 she had been raped, she said. While she has achieved a lot since, she “is not back to my Niamh yet”, she said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-06--Woman fails in changing ‘incorrect’ date of birth on citizenship certificate

A woman who got Irish citizenship after giving a 1975 date of birth in line with the calendar of her native Ethiopia has failed to get court orders aimed at securing a new certificate with a 1982 birth date in line with the western Gregorian calendar .
In a letter accompanying her original application for naturalisation , the woman stated there was a seven-year difference between the two calendars .
In judgments this week , the Court of Appeal found personal identity rights under the Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights are engaged in the case .
It held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he has power to cancel an existing certificate of naturalisation over an error and to simultaneously issue a new , corrected one .
However , it also held the Minister was entitled to initiate a certificate revocation inquiry procedure under Section 19 of the Irish Citizenship and Nationality Act 1956 and that procedure was not unconstitutional or unlawful .
The Minister must consider any submissions the woman wishes to make during that process , it said .
The case concerned a married mother of two living and working here since 2003 who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said she initially assumed the Irish system required the birth date on her Ethiopian passport should be used .
In August 2016 , when seeking a driving licence and car insurance , she said she became concerned she needed to have the 1982 date of birth on her documents .
Represented by Mark Harty SC and Julie Maher BL , she took legal proceedings after the Minister refused to issue a new certificate of naturalisation with the 1982 birth date , arguing that would effectively render her “ stateless ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act , he had no power to amend the certificate and he instead initiated the revocation inquiry procedure under section 19 , arguing he must do so when made aware a certificate has incorrect identifying information .
The High Court ’ s Mr Justice Richard Humphreys , in decisions on two sets of proceedings , found the Minister has power to issue a fresh certificate when a certificate contains a material error or fact but was also entitled to invoke the section 19 procedure .
That was without prejudice to the woman ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presumably be given due weight and consideration , including it was she who drew attention to the certificate error and nothing in her immigration history suggested any abuse of the immigration system , Mr Justice Humphreys held .
The woman and the Minister , represented by Siobhán Stack SC , with Alex Caffrey BL , both appealed aspects of the High Court findings .
In the main COA judgment this week , Mr Justice Brian Murray upheld the High Court findings .
He remarked there are “ significant unanswered questions ” surrounding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and context for the admitted misrepresentation of the date of birth are “ plainly relevant ” to the question of what the Minister would have done had he known all the facts when the certificate was originally applied for .
For those and other reasons , it was “ not appropriate ” for the court to grant the woman an order declaring her date of birth or quashing the Minister ’ s refusal to amend the certificate , he held .
In a concurring judgment , Ms Justice Ann Power said the woman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the certificate , it had not been established her naturalisation had been based on deception or material misrepresentation and the matter was for the Minister to determine in line with the relevant statutory processes .
Dismissing the Minister ’ s appeal over a High Court finding that personal identity rights are engaged , the judge said recognition by the State of a person ’ s date of birth is engaged both as an unenumerated constitutional right and under the private life limb of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights .

Ms Justice Ann Power said the case was for the Minister for Justice to determine in line with the relevant statutory processes.
A woman who got Irish citizenship after giving a 1975 date of birth in line with the calendar of her native Ethiopia has failed to get court orders aimed at securing a new certificate with a 1982 birth date in line with the western Gregorian calendar.
In a letter accompanying her original application for naturalisation, the woman stated there was a seven-year difference between the two calendars.
In judgments this week, the Court of Appeal found personal identity rights under the Constitution and European Convention on Human Rights are engaged in the case.
It held, contrary to what the Minister argued, he has power to cancel an existing certificate of naturalisation over an error and to simultaneously issue a new, corrected one.
READ MORE
However, it also held the Minister was entitled to initiate a certificate revocation inquiry procedure under Section 19 of the Irish Citizenship and Nationality Act 1956 and that procedure was not unconstitutional or unlawful. The Minister must consider any submissions the woman wishes to make during that process, it said.
The case concerned a married mother of two living and working here since 2003 who got a certification of naturalisation in 2015. She said she initially assumed the Irish system required the birth date on her Ethiopian passport should be used.
No power
In August 2016, when seeking a driving licence and car insurance, she said she became concerned she needed to have the 1982 date of birth on her documents. Represented by Mark Harty SC and Julie Maher BL, she took legal proceedings after the Minister refused to issue a new certificate of naturalisation with the 1982 birth date, arguing that would effectively render her “stateless”.
The Minister argued, under the 1956 Act, he had no power to amend the certificate and he instead initiated the revocation inquiry procedure under section 19, arguing he must do so when made aware a certificate has incorrect identifying information.
The High Court’s Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, in decisions on two sets of proceedings, found the Minister has power to issue a fresh certificate when a certificate contains a material error or fact but was also entitled to invoke the section 19 procedure. That was without prejudice to the woman’s right to highlight matters which would presumably be given due weight and consideration, including it was she who drew attention to the certificate error and nothing in her immigration history suggested any abuse of the immigration system, Mr Justice Humphreys held.
The woman and the Minister, represented by Siobhán Stack SC, with Alex Caffrey BL, both appealed aspects of the High Court findings. In the main COA judgment this week, Mr Justice Brian Murray upheld the High Court findings.
He remarked there are “significant unanswered questions” surrounding the date of birth issue.
‘Not appropriate’
The reason and context for the admitted misrepresentation of the date of birth are “plainly relevant” to the question of what the Minister would have done had he known all the facts when the certificate was originally applied for. For those and other reasons, it was “not appropriate” for the court to grant the woman an order declaring her date of birth or quashing the Minister’s refusal to amend the certificate, he held.
In a concurring judgment, Ms Justice Ann Power said the woman herself drew attention to the error in the certificate, it had not been established her naturalisation had been based on deception or material misrepresentation and the matter was for the Minister to determine in line with the relevant statutory processes.
Dismissing the Minister’s appeal over a High Court finding that personal identity rights are engaged, the judge said recognition by the State of a person’s date of birth is engaged both as an unenumerated constitutional right and under the private life limb of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.


theirishtimes--2020-02-06--Student climate change strike to go ahead in Dublin despite Garda concerns

A student climate change strike looks set to proceed in Dublin city centre on Friday despite the Garda expressing serious reservations about plans for the event .
Garda Headquarters said it had not refused the organisers permission to hold the strike but had instead advised them of crushing risks and other safety concerns .
On Thursday evening contact was continuing between the Fridays for Future Dublin group and the Garda about the event .
The planned protest is the latest in a series of student-led events to urge action in Ireland on climate change .
The Dublin events , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of a global protest movement started by Swedish climate-change activist Greta Thunberg .
Previous events have been attended by tens of thousands of students around the country , with the largest turn-out witnessed in Dublin .
However , gardaí say because of the numbers that attended in Dublin last year and the fact that many were unsupervised , safety concerns have now emerged .
Garda officers are also worried about the proposed route for Friday ’ s march and say the route and the numbers expected could lead to safety issues such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garda Síochána respects the right for anyone to exercise their right to protest and facilitates such protests as long as they do not create a public hazard or a health and safety risk , ” the Garda said in a statement .
“ In the last few weeks alone , An Garda Síochána has facilitated large-scale protests by different groups in the city centre .
“ In relation to this specific request , An Garda Síochána liaised with the group in question and An Garda Síochána has not refused the group from protesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has expressed significant concerns about the protest as currently planned from a health and safety perspective.
” It was intended the students would gather near Grafton Street in Dublin ’ s south inner city before marching to Kildare Street via Nassau Street and that up to 2,000 would attend .
However , gardaí were concerned about the route and meeting point .
Gardaí believe that asking what could be several thousand people to meet at the bottom of Grafton Street at lunchtime on a Friday would lead to unsafe volumes of people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardaí were also concerned that while teachers were present at previous events , they were unable to control students .
This resulted in some young people climbing onto scaffolding and even the apparatus holding the Luas cables .
Fridays for Future Dublin issued a short statement on Thursday confirming the event would take place despite saying the Garda would not sanction it .
“ The strike will take place at the statue of William Conyngham Plunkett on Kildare Street – between National Museum and Department of Agriculture – from 1-2pm .
See @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
A stage is expected to be erected outside Leinster House where those in attendance would hear from speakers .

Gardaí were concerned that while teachers were present at previous events, they were unable to control students. This resulted in some young people climbing onto scaffolding and even the apparatus holding the Luas cables. Photograph Nick Bradshaw
A student climate change strike looks set to proceed in Dublin city centre on Friday despite the Garda expressing serious reservations about plans for the event.
Garda Headquarters said it had not refused the organisers permission to hold the strike but had instead advised them of crushing risks and other safety concerns. On Thursday evening contact was continuing between the Fridays for Future Dublin group and the Garda about the event.
The planned protest is the latest in a series of student-led events to urge action in Ireland on climate change. The Dublin events, and others around the country, have been part of a global protest movement started by Swedish climate-change activist Greta Thunberg.
Previous events have been attended by tens of thousands of students around the country, with the largest turn-out witnessed in Dublin. However, gardaí say because of the numbers that attended in Dublin last year and the fact that many were unsupervised, safety concerns have now emerged.
READ MORE
Gardaí believe that asking what could be several thousand people to meet at the bottom of Grafton Street at lunchtime on a Friday would lead to unsafe volumes of people in the area that could lead to crushing
Garda officers are also worried about the proposed route for Friday’s march and say the route and the numbers expected could lead to safety issues such as crushing and disorder.
‘Right to protest’
"An Garda Síochána respects the right for anyone to exercise their right to protest and facilitates such protests as long as they do not create a public hazard or a health and safety risk," the Garda said in a statement.
“In the last few weeks alone, An Garda Síochána has facilitated large-scale protests by different groups in the city centre.
“In relation to this specific request, An Garda Síochána liaised with the group in question and An Garda Síochána has not refused the group from protesting.
“Instead, An Garda Síochána has expressed significant concerns about the protest as currently planned from a health and safety perspective.”
It was intended the students would gather near Grafton Street in Dublin's south inner city before marching to Kildare Street via Nassau Street and that up to 2,000 would attend.
Concerned about the route
However, gardaí were concerned about the route and meeting point. Gardaí believe that asking what could be several thousand people to meet at the bottom of Grafton Street at lunchtime on a Friday would lead to unsafe volumes of people in the area that could lead to crushing.
Gardaí were also concerned that while teachers were present at previous events, they were unable to control students. This resulted in some young people climbing onto scaffolding and even the apparatus holding the Luas cables.
Fridays for Future Dublin issued a short statement on Thursday confirming the event would take place despite saying the Garda would not sanction it.
"The strike will take place at the statue of William Conyngham Plunkett on Kildare Street – between National Museum and Department of Agriculture – from 1-2pm. See you on the streets," it said.
A stage is expected to be erected outside Leinster House where those in attendance would hear from speakers.


theirishtimes--2020-02-06--Election 2020 fact check: Do carbon taxes reduce emissions?

Do carbon taxes reduce emissions , and have they done so in Ireland ?
Who is making the claim ?
On Tuesday night ’ s RTÉ leaders ’ debate , Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald made a series of claims about carbon taxes .
She said that “ carbon taxes in and of themselves do not reduce emissions ” and then that “ we have carbon taxes already , they haven ’ t shifted behaviour and they haven ’ t reduced emissions .
In fact all of the evidence moves in the other direction ” .
Upon what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Féin did not respond to a request for evidence for these claims .
The party ’ s manifesto is slightly more nuanced , stating that it is against “ carbon tax increases in the absence of viable alternatives ” .
However , we can ’ t assume that a viewer who heard the claim would also have read the manifesto , therefore we will focus only on the claim made during the debate .
The first part of the claim – that “ carbon taxes in and of themselves do not reduce emissions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course , it is true that there is nothing written in the laws of physics which means increasing a tax will automatically result in a reduction in emissions .
However , that ’ s not how many taxes work .
From cigarettes and alcohol to the plastic bag tax to targeted stamp duty reforms aimed at encouraging homebuilding , taxes are introduced all the time based on their anticipated behavioural outcome .
Carbon taxes aim to make more polluting options more expensive , and encourage investment by businesses and households in cleaner options @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council to the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight last year .
Dr Muireann Lynch , an ESRI researcher who has examined carbon taxes alongside her colleague Miguel Angel Tovar , says that from an economic point of view , as prices adjust , so does demand .
“ What we clearly observe in the data is that goods and services follow the law of demand , ” she says .
This is the principle underpinning carbon taxes .
“ If you increase the price , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” explains Lynch .
So , that ’ s the theory , but does a carbon tax reduce emissions ?
In the UK , a carbon tax has been credited with reduced usage of coal and reductions in C02 emissions .
C02 emissions in the UK have dropped significantly since then , according to climate science and energy policy website Carbon Brief , resulting in the lowest C02 emissions since 1890 .
One of the first countries in the world to introduce such a tax was Sweden , in 1991 .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from 1990-2005 , specifically focusing on the transport sector as it provides the vast majority of carbon tax revenue in Sweden .
Comparing actual results with anticipated emissions from a “ synthetic Sweden ” , she estimated a reduction in 2005 of 2.4 million metric tons of C02 arising from the carbon tax , and found that “ C02 emissions from transport declined almost 11 per cent in an average year , with 6 per cent from the carbon tax alone ” .
The author has argued that her research methods produce more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found little or no impact on emissions from carbon taxes .
From the available evidence , it is clear that recent research supports the thesis that carbon taxes reduce emissions .
The second part of McDonald ’ s claim relates to Ireland specifically .
Ireland introduced a small carbon tax in 2010 , and it is true that our greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing in recent years .
The Environmental Protection Agency reported that Ireland had emissions of 60.74 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent in 2017 , up from 57.1 million in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is due to a variety of factors .
“ It ’ s true we have carbon taxes and it ’ s true our emissions have increased ; it ’ s not true we can therefore conclude carbon taxes haven ’ t reduced our emissions .
Lots of things apart from prices drive emissions ; economic growth , technological change , the weather – [ these all ] drive emissions , ” Lynch says .
There is also widespread dissatisfaction among experts over the price charged for carbon in Ireland .
Cara @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UCD , says that “ the current carbon tax in Ireland of €26/tonne is too low to influence behavioural change ” .
Prof John Sweeney , professor emeritus of geography at Maynooth University says the current tax equates to five cents per litre of diesel or petrol , “ and this is unlikely to dissuade drivers from driving as usual to any significant degree ” .
He says that a price of €200 per tonne should be the aim for 2050 .
“ This would be a challenge , but a dose of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ research suggests that a heavier tax of €80 per tonne would reduce emissions by 10.24 per cent in Ireland .
Sinn Féin also has well-founded concerns about how regressive the tax is , although the ESRI suggests the effects can be managed .
Prof Sweeney has warned that the debate on climate change has become too focused on carbon taxes because “ politicians feel comfortable talking about taxes rather than more fundamental social and economic changes ” , which is a wider debate .
Our verdict on Mary Lou McDonald ’ s claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partially true and partially untrue .
It is not true to say that carbon taxes do not reduce emissions when there is recent evidence , as cited above , from the UK and Sweden that they can be effective .
Neither is it totally fair to say the carbon tax has had no impact on Ireland , although it is difficult to say exactly how much of an impact it has had , and certainly the tax has been part of a policy response that has been ineffective at reducing emissions so far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicates that an effective carbon tax would have an impact in driving down emissions , and experts agree that while the Irish carbon tax has not been part of a successful response so far , they remain largely supportive of carbon taxes in principle .

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald takes part in the final TV leaders’ debate at the RTÉ studios in Dublin. Photograph: Niall Carson/AFP via Getty Images
Question:
Do carbon taxes reduce emissions, and have they done so in Ireland?
Who is making the claim?
On Tuesday night's RTÉ leaders' debate, Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald made a series of claims about carbon taxes. She said that "carbon taxes in and of themselves do not reduce emissions" and then that "we have carbon taxes already, they haven't shifted behaviour and they haven't reduced emissions. In fact all of the evidence moves in the other direction".
Upon what is Sinn Féin basing its claims?
Sinn Féin did not respond to a request for evidence for these claims. The party’s manifesto is slightly more nuanced, stating that it is against “carbon tax increases in the absence of viable alternatives”. However, we can’t assume that a viewer who heard the claim would also have read the manifesto, therefore we will focus only on the claim made during the debate.
READ MORE
The analysis
The first part of the claim – that “carbon taxes in and of themselves do not reduce emissions” – is slightly ambiguous. Of course, it is true that there is nothing written in the laws of physics which means increasing a tax will automatically result in a reduction in emissions.
However, that’s not how many taxes work. From cigarettes and alcohol to the plastic bag tax to targeted stamp duty reforms aimed at encouraging homebuilding, taxes are introduced all the time based on their anticipated behavioural outcome.
Carbon taxes aim to make more polluting options more expensive, and encourage investment by businesses and households in cleaner options. This was outlined by John FitzGerald, the chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council to the Oireachtas Committee on Budgetary Oversight last year.
Dr Muireann Lynch, an ESRI researcher who has examined carbon taxes alongside her colleague Miguel Angel Tovar, says that from an economic point of view, as prices adjust, so does demand.
“What we clearly observe in the data is that goods and services follow the law of demand,” she says. This is the principle underpinning carbon taxes. “If you increase the price, demand will reduce and emissions will reduce,” explains Lynch.
So, that’s the theory, but does a carbon tax reduce emissions?
In the UK, a carbon tax has been credited with reduced usage of coal and reductions in C02 emissions. C02 emissions in the UK have dropped significantly since then, according to climate science and energy policy website Carbon Brief, resulting in the lowest C02 emissions since 1890.
One of the first countries in the world to introduce such a tax was Sweden, in 1991. A study last year looked at the period from 1990-2005, specifically focusing on the transport sector as it provides the vast majority of carbon tax revenue in Sweden.
Politicians feel comfortable talking about taxes rather than more fundamental social and economic changes
Comparing actual results with anticipated emissions from a “synthetic Sweden”, she estimated a reduction in 2005 of 2.4 million metric tons of C02 arising from the carbon tax, and found that “C02 emissions from transport declined almost 11 per cent in an average year, with 6 per cent from the carbon tax alone”.
The author has argued that her research methods produce more reliable results than previous studies which have found little or no impact on emissions from carbon taxes.
From the available evidence, it is clear that recent research supports the thesis that carbon taxes reduce emissions.
The second part of McDonald's claim relates to Ireland specifically. Ireland introduced a small carbon tax in 2010, and it is true that our greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing in recent years. The Environmental Protection Agency reported that Ireland had emissions of 60.74 million tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent in 2017, up from 57.1 million in 2014. However, most experts agree that this is due to a variety of factors.
“It’s true we have carbon taxes and it’s true our emissions have increased; it’s not true we can therefore conclude carbon taxes haven’t reduced our emissions. Lots of things apart from prices drive emissions; economic growth, technological change, the weather – [these all] drive emissions,” Lynch says.
There is also widespread dissatisfaction among experts over the price charged for carbon in Ireland. Cara Augustenborg, an Environmental Policy Fellow in UCD, says that "the current carbon tax in Ireland of €26/tonne is too low to influence behavioural change".
Prof John Sweeney, professor emeritus of geography at Maynooth University says the current tax equates to five cents per litre of diesel or petrol, "and this is unlikely to dissuade drivers from driving as usual to any significant degree". He says that a price of €200 per tonne should be the aim for 2050. "This would be a challenge, but a dose of realism is needed."
Lynch’s research suggests that a heavier tax of €80 per tonne would reduce emissions by 10.24 per cent in Ireland.
Sinn Féin also has well-founded concerns about how regressive the tax is, although the ESRI suggests the effects can be managed. Prof Sweeney has warned that the debate on climate change has become too focused on carbon taxes because “politicians feel comfortable talking about taxes rather than more fundamental social and economic changes”, which is a wider debate.
Our verdict
Our verdict on Mary Lou McDonald’s claims is that they are mixed, ie partially true and partially untrue. It is not true to say that carbon taxes do not reduce emissions when there is recent evidence, as cited above, from the UK and Sweden that they can be effective.
Neither is it totally fair to say the carbon tax has had no impact on Ireland, although it is difficult to say exactly how much of an impact it has had, and certainly the tax has been part of a policy response that has been ineffective at reducing emissions so far.
Nonetheless, the most recent research indicates that an effective carbon tax would have an impact in driving down emissions, and experts agree that while the Irish carbon tax has not been part of a successful response so far, they remain largely supportive of carbon taxes in principle.


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Amazon Choice system ‘inherently flawed’, says consumer site

Amazon ’ s product recommendation system is “ inherently flawed ” and “ easily gamed by unscrupulous sellers ” , consumer website Which ?
has claimed .
The website examined the use of the Amazon Choice badge , which its research suggests consumers see as a mark of quality .
A survey of Which ?
users found that four in ten Amazon customers believe the presence of the logo means it has been quality checked by Amazon , and 35 per cent believe it has been checked for safety .
The badge , according to Amazon , recommends highly-rated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ However , Which ?
says that an investigation it undertook shows that online sellers are “ secretly incentivising ” customers to leave five-star reviews , which make it more likely that they will get the Amazon Choice badge .
The website said many unknown brands appeared alongside household names like Apple , Panasonic and Sony , in the top 50 best-sellers for five popular tech categories : dash cams , action cameras , headphones , security camers and smartwatches .
However , it said that it found evidence of products incentivising customers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a particular brand of camera suggested a leaflet which came in the box with the item explained that the company would provide free accessories in exchange for a five star review .
Another reviewer said a company contacted them directly following a review asking them to change their rating to five stars in exchange for a free camera .
The website found several other products which it deemed to have suspicious reviews and high ratings despite many reviewers suggesting incentives were available for good reviews .
Amazon told the website that it had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sellers and products .
It said it used advanced technology and regular human audits to ensure Amazon Choice products were of a high standard .
The Irish Times has also asked Amazon for a comment .

Amazon Choice is a badge that indicates highly-rated, well-priced products available to dispatch immediately, according to the company. Photograph: Bloomberg/File
Jack Horgan-Jones
Amazon’s product recommendation system is “inherently flawed” and “easily gamed by unscrupulous sellers”, consumer website Which? has claimed.
The website examined the use of the Amazon Choice badge, which its research suggests consumers see as a mark of quality. A survey of Which? users found that four in ten Amazon customers believe the presence of the logo means it has been quality checked by Amazon, and 35 per cent believe it has been checked for safety.
The badge, according to Amazon, recommends highly-rated, well-priced products available to dispatch immediately.
READ MORE
However, Which? says that an investigation it undertook shows that online sellers are “secretly incentivising” customers to leave five-star reviews, which make it more likely that they will get the Amazon Choice badge.
The website said many unknown brands appeared alongside household names like Apple, Panasonic and Sony, in the top 50 best-sellers for five popular tech categories: dash cams, action cameras, headphones, security camers and smartwatches.
However, it said that it found evidence of products incentivising customers to boost their score. Negative reviews of a particular brand of camera suggested a leaflet which came in the box with the item explained that the company would provide free accessories in exchange for a five star review.
Another reviewer said a company contacted them directly following a review asking them to change their rating to five stars in exchange for a free camera. The website found several other products which it deemed to have suspicious reviews and high ratings despite many reviewers suggesting incentives were available for good reviews.
Amazon told the website that it had removed the logo from a number of sellers and products. It said it used advanced technology and regular human audits to ensure Amazon Choice products were of a high standard.
The Irish Times has also asked Amazon for a comment.


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Bumblebee populations in ‘drastic’ decline, study finds

When scientist Peter Soroye first saw the figures showing estimated bumblebee populations in North America had fallen by nearly 50 per cent in a single generation , he thought it must be a typo .
He checked the numbers – the result of a long-term analysis of bumblebee populations published in the journal Science on Thursday – seven times to be sure they were accurate .
Rising temperatures are contributing to drastic declines of bumblebees across Europe and North America at rates “ consistent with a mass extinction ” , threatening food cultivation , the study concluded .
The researchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fell by 17 per cent between the two periods the study looked at – from 1901 to 1974 and from 2000 to 2014 – while in North America , the figure was 46 per cent .
“ We couldn ’ t believe that the declines were this severe over such a short time period , ” said Mr Soroye , lead author of the study and a PhD student at University of Ottawa .
“ I reckon I must have gone through , like , seven times to double check that everything was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yes , these declines are really drastic .
They ’ re really severe , ” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone .
Declining bee populations have also been linked to heavy pesticide use and habitat loss caused by changes in land use .
But Mr Soroye said global warming was exacerbating their plight .
“ This paper in no way absolved .
.
.
pesticides or habitat loss .
It ’ s that climate change is another thing that ’ s been added to the mix that ’ s driving this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are larger than honeybees , and while they do not produce honey , they are important pollinators .
“ When they land on flowers , they physically shake these flowers and shake the pollen off , ” said Mr Soroye .
“ A lot of crops like squash , berries , tomatoes need bumblebees to pollinate them , and honeybees or other pollinators just can ’ t do that.
” Bees play a crucial role in producing healthy fruits or seeds for three quarters of the crops that feed people , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pollinator populations have been declining across much of the world .
If the trend continues , nutritious fruits , nuts and many vegetables would have to be substituted by staple crops like rice , corn , and potatoes , leading to an imbalanced diet , the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned in 2019 .
The researchers used a database encompassing 550,000 records of 66 bumblebee species from 1901 to 1974 and from 2000 to 2014 and compared their distribution and diversity to local changes in temperature and precipitation .
Much larger declines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming years ” , the study ’ s co-author Tim Newbold from the University College London said in a statement .
The 10-year period from 2010-2019 is likely to be the hottest decade on record , the Geneva-based World Meteorological Organization said recently .
Warming southern regions such as Spain and Mexico saw the biggest losses , the researchers said.–Reuters

Bumblebee populations are falling in Europe and North America, new research shows. Photograph: iStock
When scientist Peter Soroye first saw the figures showing estimated bumblebee populations in North America had fallen by nearly 50 per cent in a single generation, he thought it must be a typo.
He checked the numbers – the result of a long-term analysis of bumblebee populations published in the journal Science on Thursday – seven times to be sure they were accurate.
Rising temperatures are contributing to drastic declines of bumblebees across Europe and North America at rates “consistent with a mass extinction”, threatening food cultivation, the study concluded.
The researchers estimated that Europe’s bumblebee populations fell by 17 per cent between the two periods the study looked at – from 1901 to 1974 and from 2000 to 2014 – while in North America, the figure was 46 per cent.
READ MORE
“We couldn’t believe that the declines were this severe over such a short time period,” said Mr Soroye, lead author of the study and a PhD student at University of Ottawa.
“I reckon I must have gone through, like, seven times to double check that everything was right and it was. And so yes, these declines are really drastic. They’re really severe,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.
Declining bee populations have also been linked to heavy pesticide use and habitat loss caused by changes in land use. But Mr Soroye said global warming was exacerbating their plight.
“This paper in no way absolved . . . pesticides or habitat loss. It’s that climate change is another thing that’s been added to the mix that’s driving this extinction,” he said.
Bumblebees are larger than honeybees, and while they do not produce honey, they are important pollinators.
“When they land on flowers, they physically shake these flowers and shake the pollen off,” said Mr Soroye.
“A lot of crops like squash, berries, tomatoes need bumblebees to pollinate them, and honeybees or other pollinators just can’t do that.”
Bees play a crucial role in producing healthy fruits or seeds for three quarters of the crops that feed people, according to the United Nations.
Yet studies show pollinator populations have been declining across much of the world.
If the trend continues, nutritious fruits, nuts and many vegetables would have to be substituted by staple crops like rice, corn, and potatoes, leading to an imbalanced diet, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization warned in 2019.
The researchers used a database encompassing 550,000 records of 66 bumblebee species from 1901 to 1974 and from 2000 to 2014 and compared their distribution and diversity to local changes in temperature and precipitation.
Much larger declines are “likely if climate change accelerates in the coming years”, the study’s co-author Tim Newbold from the University College London said in a statement.
The 10-year period from 2010-2019 is likely to be the hottest decade on record, the Geneva-based World Meteorological Organization said recently.
Warming southern regions such as Spain and Mexico saw the biggest losses, the researchers said.–Reuters


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Quinn controversy calls into question way SF is run, says Martin

Sinn Féin ’ s handling of the Paul Quinn issue calls into question the way the party is run , said Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin .
Mr Martin said he fully endorsed the call by Mr Quinn ’ s mother , Breege , for a full retraction by Conor Murphy , the Sinn Féin Minister for Finance in Northern Ireland , of comments he made suggesting Mr Quinn was involved in crime .
Mr Quinn ( 21 ) from Cullyhanna , Co Armagh , was beaten to death by up to ten men in a barn in Co Monaghan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his family have always held the IRA responsible for the killing .
Gardaí believe Mr Quinn clashed with former members of the Provisional IRA who remained in position of control in the local community in South Armagh despite the peace process .
Mr Murphy caused huge upset to the Quinn family when , in the aftermath of the murder , he suggested Mr Quinn was involved in criminality and smuggling .
Earlier this week , however , he contacted the Quinn family and apologised .
However Breege Quinn called on Mr Murphy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late son was not involved in criminality , and Mr Martin said he fully supported her in that call .
Speaking during an early morning canvass in Cork city , Mr Martin said he had met Ms Quinn around five years ago and had been in touch with her again recently .
The Fianna Fáil leader said she had shown huge courage and great determination in challenging Sinn Féin over Mr Murphy ’ s comment about her late son .
“ The Quinn family have suffered an awful lot – the savage murder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Stephen and Breege , and I think there is an obligation on Sinn Féin as a party and as a movement to apologise in a comprehensive way and withdraw any slur on his name .
“ The fact that her son ’ s name was sullied in the way it was has left a deep hurt on the Quinn family , and it ’ s extraordinary that it ’ s taken 13 years for an apology to emerge essentially because of Breege Quinn ’ s courage in consistently pursuing this , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against a big machine ; she had to fight against a big operation and a big machine to have her voice heard .
and she ’ s done it over many , many years .
“ There should be a comprehensive withdrawal of any allegations , but also people need to go to the PSNI and the gardaí and tell the police forces what exactly they know - who they spoke to at the time , how they got assurances around certain issues as to who was responsible and who was not.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer questions over who first put out the suggestion the late Mr Quinn was involved in criminality and that anyone involved in Sinn Féin who has information on the killing needs to contact the gardaí or the PSNI .
“ There can only be one police force in Ireland , there can only be one criminal justice system , there can ’ t be alternative systems , and this issue goes to the very heart of the whole Sinn Féin organisation in terms of how they operate , and that needs to change @ @ @ @ @ @

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin needs to answer questions over who first put out the suggestion the late Paul Quinn was involved in criminality. Photograph: REUTERS/Henry Nicholls
Sinn Féin's handling of the Paul Quinn issue calls into question the way the party is run, said Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin.
Mr Martin said he fully endorsed the call by Mr Quinn's mother, Breege, for a full retraction by Conor Murphy, the Sinn Féin Minister for Finance in Northern Ireland, of comments he made suggesting Mr Quinn was involved in crime.
Mr Quinn (21) from Cullyhanna, Co Armagh, was beaten to death by up to ten men in a barn in Co Monaghan on October 20th, 2007, and his family have always held the IRA responsible for the killing.
Gardaí believe Mr Quinn clashed with former members of the Provisional IRA who remained in position of control in the local community in South Armagh despite the peace process.
READ MORE
Mr Murphy caused huge upset to the Quinn family when, in the aftermath of the murder, he suggested Mr Quinn was involved in criminality and smuggling. Earlier this week, however, he contacted the Quinn family and apologised.
However Breege Quinn called on Mr Murphy to openly and clearly state he accepted her late son was not involved in criminality, and Mr Martin said he fully supported her in that call.
Speaking during an early morning canvass in Cork city, Mr Martin said he had met Ms Quinn around five years ago and had been in touch with her again recently. The Fianna Fáil leader said she had shown huge courage and great determination in challenging Sinn Féin over Mr Murphy's comment about her late son.
“The Quinn family have suffered an awful lot – the savage murder of their son has been so traumatic for Stephen and Breege, and I think there is an obligation on Sinn Féin as a party and as a movement to apologise in a comprehensive way and withdraw any slur on his name.
“The fact that her son’s name was sullied in the way it was has left a deep hurt on the Quinn family, and it’s extraordinary that it’s taken 13 years for an apology to emerge essentially because of Breege Quinn’s courage in consistently pursuing this,” he said.
“And she was against a big machine; she had to fight against a big operation and a big machine to have her voice heard. and she’s done it over many, many years.
“There should be a comprehensive withdrawal of any allegations, but also people need to go to the PSNI and the gardaí and tell the police forces what exactly they know - who they spoke to at the time, how they got assurances around certain issues as to who was responsible and who was not.”
Mr Martin said Sinn Féin needs to answer questions over who first put out the suggestion the late Mr Quinn was involved in criminality and that anyone involved in Sinn Féin who has information on the killing needs to contact the gardaí or the PSNI.
“There can only be one police force in Ireland, there can only be one criminal justice system, there can’t be alternative systems, and this issue goes to the very heart of the whole Sinn Féin organisation in terms of how they operate, and that needs to change,” Mr Martin said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Man (46) dies after being assaulted in Kilkenny on Thursday

A 46-year-old man who was violently assaulted in the early hours of Thursday morning at a house in Kilkenny has @ @ @ @ @ assault occurred at a premises on the Castlecomer Road in the city at about 4am @ @ @ @ @ attention at St Luke ’ s Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly before 11pm on @ @ @ @ @ is due to take place in Dublin on Friday .
A man in his 30s @ @ @ @ @ 20s were arrested in connection with the incident .
The woman was released without charge @ @ @ @ @ will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions .
The man remains in custody @ @ @ @ @ Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , 1984 .
The scene has been preserved @ @ @ @ @ investigations are ongoing , according to gardaí .

Gardaí and forensic officers at the scene of an assault in a house on High Hayes Terrace, near the Castlecomer Road and John’s Green in Kilkenny. Photograph: Dylan Vaughan.
A man suspected of inflicting fatal head injuries on a man in his 40s at a social gathering in a house in Kilkenny City remained in Garda custody on Friday night.
The dead man has been named locally as Liam Edward O’Sullivan, a 46-year-old father of five.
Gardaí said all the resources of a murder investigation have been committed to the case.
Mr O’Sullivan was assaulted at a house at High Hayes Terrace, Castlecomer Road when a dispute flared at about 4am on Thursday.
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He suffered serious injuries and was taken by ambulance to St Luke’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on Thursday night.
A postmortem was completed on Friday. The results have not been released for operational reasons.
A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s were arrested on Thursday by gardaí in Kilkenny under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The woman was released without charge after a short period of questioning but the male suspect remained in custody late on Friday night.
The scene of the attack was sealed off by gardaí in the early hours of Thursday. It has undergone examination by the Garda Technical Bureau and is expected to remain sealed off on Saturday.


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Irish man pleads guilty to child abuse image offences in US court

A 33-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty in federal court in the United States to conspiracy to advertise child pornography .
Eric Eoin Marques , who is a dual US and Irish citizen , and a Dublin resident , operated an anonymous web hosting service between July 2008 and July 2013 .
The service was used to share millions of images of child sexual abuse .
He was extradited to the US by Irish authorities in March of last year .
In a statement , the US Department of Justice said Marques was indicted on four counts , alleging that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distribute the material .
In a plea agreement , he admitted that he conspired to advertise the material .
The plea was made in a Maryland court .
Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski said Marques ’ web service “ hosted dozens of insidious criminal communities dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children and spread millions of images of that abuse ” .
His guilty plea is proof of the deparement ’ s fierce commitment to rooting out those who hide behind anonymous networks to commit serious child exploitation offenses.
” The hosting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ web , part of the internet which can only be accessed by special browsers , which allows users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable .
The dark web has grown into a marketplace for illicit and illegal goods , as well as a repository for abusive material such as that advertised on Marques ’ service .
“ The hosting service hosted website that allowed users to view and share images documenting the sexual abuse of children , including the abuse of prepubescent minors , violent sexual abuse and bestiality , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the US .
The investigation revealed that the service contained over 8.5 million images of child exploitation material , almost 2 million of which were not already known by law enforcement .
Almost all the material depcited children engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults or other children , or posed nude or undressed .
A “ substantial majority ” of images depict prepubescent minors .
The investigation into Marques involved several sections of the FBI , including the violent crime section , the child exploitatoin operational unit and the violent crimes against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assistance ” was provided from An Garda Síochána , Europol and the legal attaché in London , the US Department of Justice said .

A 33-year-old Dublin man has pleaded guilty in federal court in the United States to conspiracy to advertise child pornography.
Eric Eoin Marques, who is a dual US and Irish citizen, and a Dublin resident, operated an anonymous web hosting service between July 2008 and July 2013. The service was used to share millions of images of child sexual abuse. He was extradited to the US by Irish authorities in March of last year.
In a statement, the US Department of Justice said Marques was indicted on four counts, alleging that he conspired to, did advertise and distribute the material. In a plea agreement, he admitted that he conspired to advertise the material.
The plea was made in a Maryland court. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski said Marques’ web service “hosted dozens of insidious criminal communities dedicated to the sexual exploitation of children and spread millions of images of that abuse”.
READ MORE
His guilty plea is proof of the deparement’s fierce commitment to rooting out those who hide behind anonymous networks to commit serious child exploitation offenses.”
The hosting service was located on the so-called dark web, part of the internet which can only be accessed by special browsers, which allows users and website operators to remain anonymous or untraceable. The dark web has grown into a marketplace for illicit and illegal goods, as well as a repository for abusive material such as that advertised on Marques’ service.
“The hosting service hosted website that allowed users to view and share images documenting the sexual abuse of children, including the abuse of prepubescent minors, violent sexual abuse and bestiality,” according to the department of justice in the US. The investigation revealed that the service contained over 8.5 million images of child exploitation material, almost 2 million of which were not already known by law enforcement.
Almost all the material depcited children engaged in sexually explicit conduct with adults or other children, or posed nude or undressed. A “substantial majority” of images depict prepubescent minors.
The investigation into Marques involved several sections of the FBI, including the violent crime section, the child exploitatoin operational unit and the violent crimes against children interational task force. "Significant assistance" was provided from An Garda Síochána, Europol and the legal attaché in London, the US Department of Justice said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Dart expansion project set to cost over €600m more than estimate

One of the Government ’ s key transport projects – the upgrading and electrification of the main commuter rail lines into Dublin – is set to cost at least €600 million more than projected , new figures suggest .
The Dart expansion programme , which involves the provision of electrified rail services from Drogheda , Maynooth and Celbridge to Dublin city centre as well as upgraded signalling systems and junctions , was allocated €2 billion under the National Development Plan to run between 2018 and 2027 .
However , new cost estimates drawn up within Irish Rail suggest the overall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than €2.6 billion .
There are also risks that the cost could rise higher with concerns that relocating the existing Docklands rail station to Spencer Dock , which is under consideration by the National Transport Authority , could add at least €100 million to the final bill .
The cost of expanding the frequency of rail services between Bray and Greystones under the Dart expansion plan could also be significant , given the infrastructural requirements involved .
The Dart expansion programme is still largely at the planning and design stage but the projected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million since last summer .
It is understood the projected cost was estimated at €2.38 billion last May .
However , the purchase of an additional 41 rail carriages announced several months ago by Minister for Transport Shane Ross is expected to cost about €49 million more than originally anticipated .
Estimates for the cost of inflation during the project have also been increased in the new projections .
Last July the board of CIÉ , the overall State-owned transport group , told Mr Ross that “ the amount of money earmarked for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Plan may not be sufficient to fund the full scope of work envisaged on those projects ” .
The amount of the overrun has only emerged now .
A spokesman for CIÉ said : “ Detailed design is being undertaken to inform the full delivery programme for Dart expansion .
“ However , the National Development Plan does provide for a mid-term review , and we will be liaising with the National Transport Authority to advise any Exchequer process of evaluation of options for additional funding at that time.
” The expansion programme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin city to connect the northern line at East Wall to the Kildare line at Inchicore , which has effectively been put on ice .

The Dart expansion programme was allocated €2bn under the National Development Plan. Photograph: David Sleator/The Irish Times
One of the Government’s key transport projects – the upgrading and electrification of the main commuter rail lines into Dublin – is set to cost at least €600 million more than projected, new figures suggest.
The Dart expansion programme, which involves the provision of electrified rail services from Drogheda, Maynooth and Celbridge to Dublin city centre as well as upgraded signalling systems and junctions, was allocated €2 billion under the National Development Plan to run between 2018 and 2027.
However, new cost estimates drawn up within Irish Rail suggest the overall bill for the project could be more than €2.6 billion.
There are also risks that the cost could rise higher with concerns that relocating the existing Docklands rail station to Spencer Dock, which is under consideration by the National Transport Authority, could add at least €100 million to the final bill.
READ MORE
Cost of inflation
The cost of expanding the frequency of rail services between Bray and Greystones under the Dart expansion plan could also be significant, given the infrastructural requirements involved.
The Dart expansion programme is still largely at the planning and design stage but the projected costs have risen by more than €200 million since last summer.
It is understood the projected cost was estimated at €2.38 billion last May.
However, the purchase of an additional 41 rail carriages announced several months ago by Minister for Transport Shane Ross is expected to cost about €49 million more than originally anticipated.
Estimates for the cost of inflation during the project have also been increased in the new projections.
Not sufficient
Last July the board of CIÉ, the overall State-owned transport group, told Mr Ross that “the amount of money earmarked for public transport initiatives in the National Development Plan may not be sufficient to fund the full scope of work envisaged on those projects”.
The amount of the overrun has only emerged now.
A spokesman for CIÉ said: “Detailed design is being undertaken to inform the full delivery programme for Dart expansion.
“However, the National Development Plan does provide for a mid-term review, and we will be liaising with the National Transport Authority to advise any Exchequer process of evaluation of options for additional funding at that time.”
The expansion programme does not include the long-planned tunnel underneath Dublin city to connect the northern line at East Wall to the Kildare line at Inchicore, which has effectively been put on ice.


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Hundreds of students to begin this year's Leaving Cert exams early

Hundreds of students are set to begin their final Leaving Cert exams in May after authorities decided to schedule the new computer science exam in advance of the traditional exams .
The first-ever computer science exam will be held on May 27th , a week before the main written exams begin on June 3rd .
A pilot group of 40 schools are undertaking the exam and the subject will be rolled out nationally for all schools commencing in September 2020 , for examination in 2022 .
In another first , the subject will be the first main exam where all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computers .
It involves a practical coursework project to be completed on a computer – under the supervision of the class teacher – which is worth 30 per cent of the total marks .
This will be followed by a final exam on May 27th which will include a paper-based and a computer-based element , together worth 70 per cent of the total marks .
All components will be assessed externally by the State Examinations Commission ( SEC ) .
The roll-out of computer science nationally is likely to pose challenges for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ computers or poor access to broadband .
All participating schools in the first phase of the roll-out of computer science , for example , have been selected on the basis that they have the equipment or infrastructure to allow students complete their exams .
This includes laptops with at least a 1GHz processor for each student with access to 100Mbit/s broadband .
Participating schools have each received €3,000 towards the purchase of computer equipment .
The move to introduce computer science to the Leaving Cert followed pressure from employers , who have warned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ science , technology , engineering and maths ) sector .
The new subject requires students to focus on how programming and computational thinking can be applied to the solution of problems , and how computing technology impacts the world around us .
The move towards holding the computer science exam in May is also a sign of the pressure facing exam authorities to try to accommodate a growing number of exams within a short window .
Last year , the SEC added two days to the traditional Leaving Cert written exam timetable .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exams to the Leaving Cert , which have led to a growing number of subject clashes and students being forced to take up to three exams in a single day .
This year , most exams will take place over 15 days , beginning on Wednesday , June 3rd and finishing on Tuesday , June 23rd .
The final exam will be physical education ( PE ) , which is being examined for the first time this year .
A total of 80 secondary schools are piloting the PE exam this year and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from next September .
Students who take the new PE exam will have to submit videos of themselves demonstrating their skills in a chosen physical activity – such as athletics , rugby or ballet – for examiners to grade .
This will account for 30 per cent of marks .
The remainder of marks will be given for a physical activity project ( 20 per cent ) and a traditional written exam ( 50 per cent ) .

Hundreds of students are set to begin their final Leaving Cert exams in May after authorities decided to schedule the new computer science exam in advance of the traditional exams.
The first-ever computer science exam will be held on May 27th, a week before the main written exams begin on June 3rd.
A pilot group of 40 schools are undertaking the exam and the subject will be rolled out nationally for all schools commencing in September 2020, for examination in 2022.
In another first, the subject will be the first main exam where all students are required to complete it using computers.
READ MORE
It involves a practical coursework project to be completed on a computer – under the supervision of the class teacher – which is worth 30 per cent of the total marks.
This will be followed by a final exam on May 27th which will include a paper-based and a computer-based element, together worth 70 per cent of the total marks.
All components will be assessed externally by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).
The roll-out of computer science nationally is likely to pose challenges for some schools, especially those struggling with outdated computers or poor access to broadband.
All participating schools in the first phase of the roll-out of computer science, for example, have been selected on the basis that they have the equipment or infrastructure to allow students complete their exams.
This includes laptops with at least a 1GHz processor for each student with access to 100Mbit/s broadband.
Skill shortages
Participating schools have each received €3,000 towards the purchase of computer equipment.
The move to introduce computer science to the Leaving Cert followed pressure from employers, who have warned about skill shortages in the Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) sector.
The new subject requires students to focus on how programming and computational thinking can be applied to the solution of problems, and how computing technology impacts the world around us.
The move towards holding the computer science exam in May is also a sign of the pressure facing exam authorities to try to accommodate a growing number of exams within a short window.
Last year, the SEC added two days to the traditional Leaving Cert written exam timetable.
This move followed the introduction of new exams to the Leaving Cert, which have led to a growing number of subject clashes and students being forced to take up to three exams in a single day.
This year, most exams will take place over 15 days, beginning on Wednesday, June 3rd and finishing on Tuesday, June 23rd.
The final exam will be physical education (PE), which is being examined for the first time this year.
A total of 80 secondary schools are piloting the PE exam this year and it is due to rolled out nationally from next September.
Students who take the new PE exam will have to submit videos of themselves demonstrating their skills in a chosen physical activity – such as athletics, rugby or ballet – for examiners to grade. This will account for 30 per cent of marks.
The remainder of marks will be given for a physical activity project (20 per cent) and a traditional written exam (50 per cent).


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Courts Service breached data law by publishing man’s name

The Courts Service was guilty of a data protection breach when it published a man ’ s name in a High Court judgment contrary to an order made by the judge who both made the order and wrote the judgment .
The High Court case concerned matters linked to an investigation into sexual abuse .
The judge ordered that the identity of a man who was a notice party to the proceedings , should not be revealed .
However , in his subsequent judgment , the judge included the man ’ s name in both the title and content of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then published by the Courts Service on its website , and circulated to libraries that keep judgment databases .
The man ’ s name ended up appearing in the Irish Medical Times .
When the mistake was brought to the attention of the service , the ruling was taken down .
The High Court judge then supplied a new version of the judgment , which did not include the man ’ s name in the title .
However this second version still contained the man ’ s name in the content of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted on the Court Service website .
A final version of the judgment was eventually published some months later , with the process being delayed by the judge ’ s retirement .
The man complained to the Courts Service and the Data Protection Commissioner about what had happened , and the Data Protection Commissioner ruled that there had been a breach of the data protection laws .
The Courts Service then appealed this decision to the Circuit Court .
Earlier this week Judge Francis Comerford found in favour of the Data Protection Commissioner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the man in the case , said his client was now considering the ruling .

The man complained to the Courts Service and the Data Protection Commissioner about what had happened.
The Courts Service was guilty of a data protection breach when it published a man’s name in a High Court judgment contrary to an order made by the judge who both made the order and wrote the judgment.
The High Court case concerned matters linked to an investigation into sexual abuse. The judge ordered that the identity of a man who was a notice party to the proceedings, should not be revealed.
However, in his subsequent judgment, the judge included the man’s name in both the title and content of his ruling.
The 2014 ruling was then published by the Courts Service on its website, and circulated to libraries that keep judgment databases. The man’s name ended up appearing in the Irish Medical Times.
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When the mistake was brought to the attention of the service, the ruling was taken down.
The High Court judge then supplied a new version of the judgment, which did not include the man’s name in the title. However this second version still contained the man’s name in the content of the ruling.
This second version was not posted on the Court Service website. A final version of the judgment was eventually published some months later, with the process being delayed by the judge’s retirement.
The man complained to the Courts Service and the Data Protection Commissioner about what had happened, and the Data Protection Commissioner ruled that there had been a breach of the data protection laws. The Courts Service then appealed this decision to the Circuit Court.
Earlier this week Judge Francis Comerford found in favour of the Data Protection Commissioner. Solicitor Fred Logue, who represented the man in the case, said his client was now considering the ruling.


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--NCT centre inspections failed to uncover any serious lift defects

Inspections of all 47 national car test ( NCT ) centres last year failed to uncover any serious defects in lift mechanisms , where cracks detected in the equipment in recent days has led to the suspension of part of NCT checks over safety fears .
Following the suspension of vehicle underbody tests last week , the full tests are due to be restored as older inspection lifts are replaced in each centre .
Inspection reports conducted on the lift equipment in the 47 NCT centres last year , seen by The Irish Times , failed to uncover any defects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conducted annually by engineers on all lifting equipment on behalf of the insurers Zurich .
At the start of last week Applus , the company contracted to run the National Car Test Service ( NCTS ) , asked staff to conduct visual checks on lift equipment following a warning from the manufacturer over cracks identified in similar lifts in Northern Ireland test centres .
On January 28th the company “ received reports from staff in centres identifying a potential , similar defect ” in NCT centres , a spokeswoman said .
The following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifts were suspended as a precaution .
Drivers are advised to book and attend their NCT as normal , and that checks , apart from the underbody inspection , would be conducted .
Drivers will have to return to have the underbody checked when the lifts are operational .
There is no charge for the second test to inspect the vehicle ’ s underbody as long as the vehicle passed all other elements of the NCT during the initial test .
It is understood the current defect is a hairline fracture along the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The inspection reports of some centres noted minor issues to be addressed , such as bolts on equipment needing to be tightened .
The lifts were installed in NCT centres in late 2010 and early 2011 , and enter a “ defective life age range ” when they are between seven and 10 years old , an NCTS spokeswoman said .
However , the spokeswoman said the main steel structure of the lift “ would be expected to operate well in excess of 10 years with regular maintenance ” .
She said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the supplier , to conduct “ all regular maintenance and repairs , ” as well as condition surveys of the lifts .
One engineer who conducted annual inspections of NCT lifts at several centres last year , who did not wish to be named , said the type of hairline cracks causing the current concern were “ difficult to spot ” .
He said it was possible inspectors had failed to identify the small cracks , which were difficult to notice unless specifically looked for during the inspections .
The NCTS took the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safety fears over the presence of cracks , and the equipment was already due to be replaced in the near future , the NCTS spokeswoman said .
The cracks in the equipment would pose a safety risk given NCTS staff would be under the vehicle during the underbody inspection .
However , the spokeswoman confirmed there had been no reported incidents of staff being injured “ as a result of the defect on the lifts ” .
She said the NCTS had commissioned a condition survey of all vehicle lifts by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the problem last week .
This assessment was “ ongoing ” and was expected to be completed by the end of this week .

Full NCT tests are due to be restored as older inspection lifts are replaced in each centre
Inspections of all 47 national car test (NCT) centres last year failed to uncover any serious defects in lift mechanisms, where cracks detected in the equipment in recent days has led to the suspension of part of NCT checks over safety fears.
Following the suspension of vehicle underbody tests last week, the full tests are due to be restored as older inspection lifts are replaced in each centre.
Inspection reports conducted on the lift equipment in the 47 NCT centres last year, seen by The Irish Times, failed to uncover any defects such as cracking. The inspections are conducted annually by engineers on all lifting equipment on behalf of the insurers Zurich.
At the start of last week Applus, the company contracted to run the National Car Test Service (NCTS), asked staff to conduct visual checks on lift equipment following a warning from the manufacturer over cracks identified in similar lifts in Northern Ireland test centres.
READ MORE
On January 28th the company “received reports from staff in centres identifying a potential, similar defect” in NCT centres, a spokeswoman said. The following day the use of all vehicle inspection lifts were suspended as a precaution.
Drivers are advised to book and attend their NCT as normal, and that checks, apart from the underbody inspection, would be conducted. Drivers will have to return to have the underbody checked when the lifts are operational.
There is no charge for the second test to inspect the vehicle’s underbody as long as the vehicle passed all other elements of the NCT during the initial test.
It is understood the current defect is a hairline fracture along the scissor arm of the lift equipment.
The inspection reports of some centres noted minor issues to be addressed, such as bolts on equipment needing to be tightened.
The lifts were installed in NCT centres in late 2010 and early 2011, and enter a “defective life age range” when they are between seven and 10 years old, an NCTS spokeswoman said.
However, the spokeswoman said the main steel structure of the lift “would be expected to operate well in excess of 10 years with regular maintenance”.
She said the company has a contract with MAHA, the supplier, to conduct “all regular maintenance and repairs,” as well as condition surveys of the lifts.
Engineer
One engineer who conducted annual inspections of NCT lifts at several centres last year, who did not wish to be named, said the type of hairline cracks causing the current concern were “difficult to spot”.
He said it was possible inspectors had failed to identify the small cracks, which were difficult to notice unless specifically looked for during the inspections.
The NCTS took the decision to replace the lift equipment following the safety fears over the presence of cracks, and the equipment was already due to be replaced in the near future, the NCTS spokeswoman said.
The cracks in the equipment would pose a safety risk given NCTS staff would be under the vehicle during the underbody inspection. However, the spokeswoman confirmed there had been no reported incidents of staff being injured “as a result of the defect on the lifts”.
She said the NCTS had commissioned a condition survey of all vehicle lifts by the manufacturers when it was first made aware of the problem last week. This assessment was “ongoing” and was expected to be completed by the end of this week.


theirishtimes--2020-02-07--Quinns seek stronger statement from SF’s Murphy

Sinn Féin is under renewed pressure over the murder of Paul Quinn after his mother told party leader Mary Lou McDonald she wants a further statement from Conor Murphy .
Mr Murphy , the Sinn Féin Minister for Finance in Stormont , has retracted and apologised for comments he made claiming Paul Quinn had been involved in criminality and smuggling .
The issue of Sinn Féin ’ s response to Mr Quinn ’ s murder has dominated the last few days of the election campaign as the parties made their final pitches to the electorate ahead of tomorrow ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from Cullyhanna , Co Armagh , was beaten to death by up to 10 men in a barn in Co Monaghan on October 20th , 2007 .
His family has always held the IRA responsible .
His mother Breege Quinn spoke with Ms McDonald by telephone yesterday evening and told her she did not believe the apology went far enough .
“ I told her that Conor Murphy has not clearly said that Paul was not a criminal .
She said she would speak to him , ” Ms Quinn said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Every day I am waiting .
She said she would speak to him but she didn ’ t say if he would do this .
“ I said to her , Mary Lou , you are a parent , wouldn ’ t you want justice ?
and she said she would.
” Clarify remarks Ms Quinn said the matter will not be settled until Mr Murphy clarifies his comments .
She has also called on Mr Murphy to go to the PSNI with the names of people in the IRA he spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardaí believe Mr Quinn clashed with former members of the Provisional IRA who remained in positions of control in the local community despite the peace process .
They ordered him to leave south Armagh and when he refused , he was murdered .
Detectives believe the same former IRA members still control crime in the area and residents are too fearful of them to speak to the PSNI or Garda about Mr Quinn ’ s killing .
Gardaí said the murder investigation remains live and that a Serious Crime Review Team and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out a cold case review of the killing .
Gardaí are expected to revisit witnesses from the initial murder inquiry , including Mr Murphy , in a bid to see if they have any new information .
Mr Murphy has said he spoke to the PSNI after the killing and would be willing to make himself available again if requested .
Meanwhile , Fianna Fáil ’ s justice spokesman Jim O ’ Callaghan has called on Mr Murphy to resign over the controversy .
“ If his apology was genuine he would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 years ago .
But the apology was really designed to protect and promote the interests of Sinn Féin in the run-up to a general election .
“ What it reveals is that whenever there is a conflict between the interests of a family seeking justice on the one hand , and the interests of the Provisional IRA or people involved in crime on the other hand , Sinn Féin will always opt for the latter , ” Mr O ’ Callaghan said .

Stephen and Breege Quinn at the graveside of their murdered son Paul Quinn in Cullyhanna, Co Armagh. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA
Sinn Féin is under renewed pressure over the murder of Paul Quinn after his mother told party leader Mary Lou McDonald she wants a further statement from Conor Murphy.
Mr Murphy, the Sinn Féin Minister for Finance in Stormont, has retracted and apologised for comments he made claiming Paul Quinn had been involved in criminality and smuggling.
The issue of Sinn Féin’s response to Mr Quinn’s murder has dominated the last few days of the election campaign as the parties made their final pitches to the electorate ahead of tomorrow’s poll.
Mr Quinn (21), from Cullyhanna, Co Armagh, was beaten to death by up to 10 men in a barn in Co Monaghan on October 20th, 2007. His family has always held the IRA responsible.
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His mother Breege Quinn spoke with Ms McDonald by telephone yesterday evening and told her she did not believe the apology went far enough. "I told her that Conor Murphy has not clearly said that Paul was not a criminal. She said she would speak to him," Ms Quinn said.
“It is only a few words. Every day I am waiting. She said she would speak to him but she didn’t say if he would do this.
“I said to her, Mary Lou, you are a parent, wouldn’t you want justice? and she said she would.”
Clarify remarks
Ms Quinn said the matter will not be settled until Mr Murphy clarifies his comments. She has also called on Mr Murphy to go to the PSNI with the names of people in the IRA he spoke to in the aftermath of the killing.
Gardaí believe Mr Quinn clashed with former members of the Provisional IRA who remained in positions of control in the local community despite the peace process.
They ordered him to leave south Armagh and when he refused, he was murdered.
Detectives believe the same former IRA members still control crime in the area and residents are too fearful of them to speak to the PSNI or Garda about Mr Quinn’s killing.
Murder investigation
Gardaí said the murder investigation remains live and that a Serious Crime Review Team and officers based at Carrickmacross have been carrying out a cold case review of the killing. Gardaí are expected to revisit witnesses from the initial murder inquiry, including Mr Murphy, in a bid to see if they have any new information.
Mr Murphy has said he spoke to the PSNI after the killing and would be willing to make himself available again if requested.
Meanwhile, Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman Jim O’Callaghan has called on Mr Murphy to resign over the controversy.
“If his apology was genuine he would have issued that apology to the Quinn family 13 years ago. But the apology was really designed to protect and promote the interests of Sinn Féin in the run-up to a general election.
“What it reveals is that whenever there is a conflict between the interests of a family seeking justice on the one hand, and the interests of the Provisional IRA or people involved in crime on the other hand, Sinn Féin will always opt for the latter,” Mr O’Callaghan said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-06--HSE warns against ‘prejudice’ of associating coronavirus with Chinese people

Coronavirus is not a “ Chinese disease ” and should not be used as such to label people from China , HSE assistant national director Dr Kevin Kelleher has said .
At a briefing in Dublin on Thursday on the HSE ’ s response to the global threat , Dr Kelleher stressed the virus – which originated in the city of Wuhan– did not affect only Chinese people .
It follows comments on RTÉ ’ s Liveline programme by a Chinese restaurant owner in Dublin who said his business was “ going down deeply ” since the virus scare started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general Tong Zhang said there was a “ huge impact ” from a tabloid newspaper headline last Sunday stating : “ China virus at Dublin Airport.
” A Dublin Chinese restaurant owner added : “ Our business is dead since that article came out.
” Thus far there are 24,554 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus , of which 24,363 ( 99.2 per cent ) have been reported from China .
There have been 491 deaths in China .
The latest high-profile victim was Dr Li Wenliang , who first warned about the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital said on its social media account that the 34-year-old ophthalmologist , was “ unfortunately infected during the fight against the pneumonia epidemic of the new coronavirus infection ” .
Mr Li was reprimanded by local police for “ spreading rumours ” about the illness in late December , according to news reports .
The World Health Organisation tweeted : “ We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Li Wenliang .
We all need to celebrate work that he did ” on the virus .
The coronavirus has now killed more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
The other 191 confirmed cases have been found outside China and there has been one fatality .
Speaking at the latest HSE briefing for the flu season on Thursday , Dr Kelleher criticised the way the virus was being presented in some parts of the media .
“ There is no rationale for that whatsoever for what is being talked about in some media channels , ” he said .
“ This is not a Chinese disease .
It is very inappropriate to use that in a derogatory way .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China .
“ It causes great difficulties and it has the potential to make people not come forward as a consequence if that degree of prejudice exists.
” Dr Kelleher said there are still no reported cases in Ireland and he remained hopeful that the disease could b emostly confined to China .
There were 15 suspected cases of the virus tested here as of last Monday .
Some 3,000 medical professionals , including GPs and public health doctors are being given protection packs as a precaution against the disease .
Speaking at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory Dr Cillian de Gascun said the current mortality rate from novel coronavirus is 2-2.5 per cent .
This was significantly higher than seasonal influenza , but not as high as Sars at 10 per cent or Mers at 35 per cent , he said .
Dr Kelleher said : “ We are being strong in our message that people who have returned from China in the last 14 days need to be very aware of it and particularly if they get the symptoms of shortness of breath @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspects they have novel coronavirus should report to a doctor first and not go to an emergency department .
He also stated that , while the disease was infectious , the level of transmission from person to person was low compared with diseases such as Ebola and that isolation rooms had been identified in all the major hospitals .
“ We have procedures in place to make sure our hospitals can deal with this issue .
You don ’ t need a very high degree of isolation .
We are making every effort @ @ @ @ @ @

Coronavirus is not a “Chinese disease” and should not be used as such to label people from China, HSE assistant national director Dr Kevin Kelleher has said.
At a briefing in Dublin on Thursday on the HSE’s response to the global threat, Dr Kelleher stressed the virus – which originated in the city of Wuhan– did not affect only Chinese people.
It follows comments on RTÉ’s Liveline programme by a Chinese restaurant owner in Dublin who said his business was “going down deeply” since the virus scare started.
Chinese Restaurant Association in Ireland secretary general Tong Zhang said there was a “huge impact” from a tabloid newspaper headline last Sunday stating: “China virus at Dublin Airport.”
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A Dublin Chinese restaurant owner added: “Our business is dead since that article came out.”
Thus far there are 24,554 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus, of which 24,363 (99.2 per cent) have been reported from China. There have been 491 deaths in China.
The latest high-profile victim was Dr Li Wenliang, who first warned about the virus on December 30th.
The Wuhan Central Hospital said on its social media account that the 34-year-old ophthalmologist, was “unfortunately infected during the fight against the pneumonia epidemic of the new coronavirus infection”.
“We deeply regret and mourn this,” it added.
Mr Li was reprimanded by local police for “spreading rumours” about the illness in late December, according to news reports.
The World Health Organisation tweeted: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr Li Wenliang. We all need to celebrate work that he did” on the virus.
The coronavirus has now killed more than 560 people and infected 28,000 in China.
The other 191 confirmed cases have been found outside China and there has been one fatality.
Speaking at the latest HSE briefing for the flu season on Thursday, Dr Kelleher criticised the way the virus was being presented in some parts of the media.
“There is no rationale for that whatsoever for what is being talked about in some media channels,” he said.
“This is not a Chinese disease. It is very inappropriate to use that in a derogatory way. It is about people who have returned from China.
“It causes great difficulties and it has the potential to make people not come forward as a consequence if that degree of prejudice exists.”
Dr Kelleher said there are still no reported cases in Ireland and he remained hopeful that the disease could b emostly confined to China.
There were 15 suspected cases of the virus tested here as of last Monday.
Some 3,000 medical professionals, including GPs and public health doctors are being given protection packs as a precaution against the disease.
Mortality rate
Speaking at the HSE briefing, the director of the UCD National Virus Reference Laboratory Dr Cillian de Gascun said the current mortality rate from novel coronavirus is 2-2.5 per cent.
This was significantly higher than seasonal influenza, but not as high as Sars at 10 per cent or Mers at 35 per cent, he said.
Dr Kelleher said: “We are being strong in our message that people who have returned from China in the last 14 days need to be very aware of it and particularly if they get the symptoms of shortness of breath and coughs.”
He said anybody who suspects they have novel coronavirus should report to a doctor first and not go to an emergency department.
He also stated that, while the disease was infectious, the level of transmission from person to person was low compared with diseases such as Ebola and that isolation rooms had been identified in all the major hospitals.
“We have procedures in place to make sure our hospitals can deal with this issue. You don’t need a very high degree of isolation. We are making every effort to make that happen.”