theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Teachers cast doubt on school reopening time frame

Teachers have cast doubt over whether schools will be able to reopen next month .
The Association of Secondary Teachers , Ireland ( Asti ) said it has a “ mighty task ” ahead of it to get students back within weeks .
Deirdre Mac Donald , Asti president , said on RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland she was “ not confident ” the Government ’ s plan for reopening schools can be put in place within the time frame outlined .
“ It is the logistics of it , ” she said .
“ Some schools will need more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ maybe have to get in extra portacabins or space that is available in a nearby hall or something like that.
” Ms Mac Donald also warned that getting the 1,000 promised extra teachers , as well as panels of supply teachers in place , “ is no small task either ” .
Minister for Education Norma Foley said the recruits would be drawn from a “ variety of pools or strands ” including from 1,300 teachers who were already job-sharing in secondary schools .
Limits on the number of hours a job-sharing teacher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schools will also be looking to more than 2,000 secondary teachers registered but not teaching “ for a variety of reasons ” and more than 300 teachers newly qualified and trained this year in the UK , Ms Foley said .
“ I have every confidence they can be in place in time , in the next number of weeks.
” More than 1,000 additional secondary school teachers are to be hired as part of plans announced by the Government to reopen schools at the end of August .
A significant funding package @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools reopening was signed off at a Cabinet meeting on Monday .
Under the plans , extra teachers will be hired to allow some schools to split larger classes to adhere to physical distancing rules of one metre between desks .
While she expected significant numbers to be drawn from existing part-time teachers , the Asti president said few would be encouraged to come out of retirement .
Ms Mac Donald also suggested a staggered return to schools would be better than everyone arriving back “ in big bang theory on one day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used to this new regime , ” she said .
“ Everybody will need their day to get in , see the place , how it works — it is a very different place from September of any other year.
” Supply teachers need to be assigned to a school , rather than several schools , she added , to keep “ as closed a school regime ” as possible .
Ms Foley has urged smaller schools around the country to “ reimagine ” their space so pupils and staff can safely return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the roadmap for reopening schools , every primary school class is a “ bubble ” and smaller groupings or “ pods ” within the bubble will be distanced one metre apart .
Pupils within the pods will also have to stay one metre apart .
Ms Foley said €75 million is available as part of a minor works programme to help schools “ declutter classrooms , remove all unnecessary furniture and maximise space ” .
Schools should look at “ general purpose areas , assembly areas and reimagine how those spaces can be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a given time , ” she added .
“ I have confidence that schools will have the potential and certainly have the financial resources to reimagine and to reconfigure spaces where required.
” On the plan to roll out piloted substitute teacher panels nationwide , Ms Foley said supply teachers on a year-long contract “ will be shared among a small number of schools within a particular location ” .
On concerns that supply teachers switching between schools risks spreading coronavirus , Ms Foley said : “ It will be on a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools have “ autonomy ” to meet their own needs , the Minister said they should all be open “ as normal at the end of August , early September as it was in the past.
” “ There is always within schools a latitude to decide what exactly will be their opening day – whether it is the 27th of August or the 25th of August or the 1st September , ” she said .
“ That latitude within a couple of days remains , but in the main what I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of August , early September.
” Some schools may be hit with weeks-long delays in reopening , John McGowan , general secretary of Teachers Union of Ireland ( TUI ) , has said .
While every effort will be made to adhere to the Government ’ s timeline for opening school gates next month or early September at the latest , it is likely “ for local reasons that simply won ’ t be possible ” for some schools , he said .
“ Schools may still be in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In those circumstances , pragmatism has to win out , the school has to be given time to get itself ready.
” Some schools may consider a staggered return of students , such as taking in first-year pupils for a short induction period , or incoming sixth years to reintegrate them , according to Mr McGowan .
“ Hard and fast statements and hard and fast rules on this are unhelpful in the current circumstances , ” he said .
Mr McGowan suggested schools where work is needed to allow for social distancing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contractors .
“ If schools are not made ready on the button , pragmatism has to apply , “ he added .
Mr McGowan said he would be surprised if there were weeks-long delays for most schools “ but in some local circumstances that can ’ t be ruled out.
” On plans to hire more than 1,000 new teaching staff , Mr McGowan told RTÉ ’ s Today with Sarah McInerney it will be “ very difficult ” but he added it is “ necessary ” .
While part-time staff and those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upped , he suggested there were several hundred students in their second year of professional master of education qualification , who are Garda vetted and registered with the Teaching Council , who could also be targeted .
Also , those on a career break , whose plans may have gone awry because of the crisis , might be interested in returning to work .
It was “ wistful and nostalgic ” to suggest teachers working overseas might return to Ireland , he said , adding that those abroad were there because of pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home-loan deposit or because they have a permanent full-time post .

A ‘staggered return’ to schools would be better than everyone arriving back ‘in big bang theory on one day’, says Deirdre Mac Donald. Photograph: iStock
Teachers have cast doubt over whether schools will be able to reopen next month.
The Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (Asti) said it has a "mighty task" ahead of it to get students back within weeks.
Deirdre Mac Donald, Asti president, said on RTÉ's Morning Ireland she was "not confident" the Government's plan for reopening schools can be put in place within the time frame outlined.
“It is the logistics of it,” she said. “Some schools will need more changes to the school infrastructure, or maybe have to get in extra portacabins or space that is available in a nearby hall or something like that.”
READ MORE
Ms Mac Donald also warned that getting the 1,000 promised extra teachers, as well as panels of supply teachers in place, “is no small task either”.
Minister for Education Norma Foley said the recruits would be drawn from a “variety of pools or strands” including from 1,300 teachers who were already job-sharing in secondary schools. Limits on the number of hours a job-sharing teacher can work are to be lifted.
Schools will also be looking to more than 2,000 secondary teachers registered but not teaching “for a variety of reasons” and more than 300 teachers newly qualified and trained this year in the UK, Ms Foley said.
“I have every confidence they can be in place in time, in the next number of weeks.”
More than 1,000 additional secondary school teachers are to be hired as part of plans announced by the Government to reopen schools at the end of August.
A significant funding package of more than €375 million to support schools reopening was signed off at a Cabinet meeting on Monday.
Under the plans, extra teachers will be hired to allow some schools to split larger classes to adhere to physical distancing rules of one metre between desks.
While she expected significant numbers to be drawn from existing part-time teachers, the Asti president said few would be encouraged to come out of retirement.
Ms Mac Donald also suggested a staggered return to schools would be better than everyone arriving back “in big bang theory on one day”.
“Everyone has to get used to this new regime,” she said. “Everybody will need their day to get in, see the place, how it works — it is a very different place from September of any other year.”
Supply teachers need to be assigned to a school, rather than several schools, she added, to keep “as closed a school regime” as possible.
Smaller schools
Ms Foley has urged smaller schools around the country to “reimagine” their space so pupils and staff can safely return under Government guidelines within weeks.
Under the roadmap for reopening schools, every primary school class is a “bubble”and smaller groupings or “pods” within the bubble will be distanced one metre apart. Pupils within the pods will also have to stay one metre apart.
Ms Foley said €75 million is available as part of a minor works programme to help schools “declutter classrooms, remove all unnecessary furniture and maximise space”.
Schools should look at “general purpose areas, assembly areas and reimagine how those spaces can be used to meet the needs of classes at a given time,” she added.
“I have confidence that schools will have the potential and certainly have the financial resources to reimagine and to reconfigure spaces where required.”
On the plan to roll out piloted substitute teacher panels nationwide, Ms Foley said supply teachers on a year-long contract “will be shared among a small number of schools within a particular location”.
On concerns that supply teachers switching between schools risks spreading coronavirus, Ms Foley said: “It will be on a very, very limited basis.”
While schools have “autonomy” to meet their own needs, the Minister said they should all be open “as normal at the end of August, early September as it was in the past.”
“There is always within schools a latitude to decide what exactly will be their opening day – whether it is the 27th of August or the 25th of August or the 1st September,” she said.
“That latitude within a couple of days remains, but in the main what I am saying is schools will open as normal at the end of August, early September.”
Weeks-long delays
Some schools may be hit with weeks-long delays in reopening, John McGowan, general secretary of Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI), has said.
While every effort will be made to adhere to the Government’s timeline for opening school gates next month or early September at the latest, it is likely “for local reasons that simply won’t be possible” for some schools, he said.
“Schools may still be in the business of getting ready to return. In those circumstances, pragmatism has to win out, the school has to be given time to get itself ready.”
Some schools may consider a staggered return of students, such as taking in first-year pupils for a short induction period, or incoming sixth years to reintegrate them, according to Mr McGowan.
“Hard and fast statements and hard and fast rules on this are unhelpful in the current circumstances,” he said.
Mr McGowan suggested schools where work is needed to allow for social distancing could suffer setbacks with delays in getting contractors.
“If schools are not made ready on the button, pragmatism has to apply, “ he added.
Mr McGowan said he would be surprised if there were weeks-long delays for most schools “but in some local circumstances that can’t be ruled out.”
On plans to hire more than 1,000 new teaching staff, Mr McGowan told RTÉ’s Today with Sarah McInerney it will be “very difficult” but he added it is “necessary”.
While part-time staff and those on job shares could have their hours upped, he suggested there were several hundred students in their second year of professional master of education qualification, who are Garda vetted and registered with the Teaching Council, who could also be targeted.
Also, those on a career break, whose plans may have gone awry because of the crisis, might be interested in returning to work.
It was “wistful and nostalgic” to suggest teachers working overseas might return to Ireland, he said, adding that those abroad were there because of pay disparity at home, saving for a home-loan deposit or because they have a permanent full-time post.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Plans to extend Luas to Finglas ‘to bring 30,000 within 1km’ of Green line

Plans for the extension of the Luas Green line to Finglas , which will put the north Dublin suburb within 30 minutes travel time of the city centre , have been released for public consultation .
The proposed route will see the Green line extended from Broombridge in Cabra to Charlestown north of Finglas Village with four additional stops and two new bridges .
The 4km extension will bring an additional 30,000 people within 1km of the Luas line , the National Transport Authority ( NTA ) said .
However , it is likely to be another decade before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cross-city Luas line – the extension of the Green line from St Stephen ’ s Green to Broombridge – was designed a decade ago to allow a future extension to Finglas .
Luas lines to Bray , Lucan , the Poolbeg peninsula , and Finglas were included in the 2016 NTA transport strategy for the greater Dublin area , but the Finglas line is the only route to reach the selection stage .
The route , starting at the current Broombridge terminus , would require the construction of a new bridge across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ashtown , followed by second bridge just 300m later at Tolka Valley Park to cross the Tolka River .
The first stop would be at St Helena ’ s Road south of Finglas Village .
The next stop would be in Finglas Village , the third stop would be at Mellowes Park north of Finglas , with the new terminus at St Margaret ’ s Road at the Charlestown shopping centre .
The route was chosen from a short list of four options and is the most direct alignment from the Broombridge to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pass through parklands , but “ some acquisition of private land will be required ” , the NTA said .
The route will run along an “ attractive grass track ” through the parks the NTA said and a new cyclepath will be built alongside the tram line .
A park-and-ride facility will be developed at Charlestown and passengers can change to the Maynooth and docklands rail services at Broombridge where the railway station and Luas stops are co-located .
The NTA plans a three-year statutory public consultation and design process beginning this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in 2023 .
Once approval is secured from the board , the NTA plans a one-year construction tender process , followed by a three- to four-year construction programme .

Plans for the extension of the Luas Green line to Finglas, which will put the north Dublin suburb within 30 minutes travel time of the city centre, have been released for public consultation.
The proposed route will see the Green line extended from Broombridge in Cabra to Charlestown north of Finglas Village with four additional stops and two new bridges.
The 4km extension will bring an additional 30,000 people within 1km of the Luas line, the National Transport Authority (NTA) said. However, it is likely to be another decade before the new line opens to passengers.
The cross-city Luas line – the extension of the Green line from St Stephen’s Green to Broombridge – was designed a decade ago to allow a future extension to Finglas. Luas lines to Bray, Lucan, the Poolbeg peninsula, and Finglas were included in the 2016 NTA transport strategy for the greater Dublin area, but the Finglas line is the only route to reach the selection stage.
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Map of proposed Luas Green line route. Photograph: National Transport Authority
The route, starting at the current Broombridge terminus, would require the construction of a new bridge across the Royal Canal and existing rail line at Ashtown, followed by second bridge just 300m later at Tolka Valley Park to cross the Tolka River. The first stop would be at St Helena's Road south of Finglas Village. The next stop would be in Finglas Village, the third stop would be at Mellowes Park north of Finglas, with the new terminus at St Margaret's Road at the Charlestown shopping centre.
The route was chosen from a short list of four options and is the most direct alignment from the Broombridge to Finglas. Much of the route will pass through parklands, but “some acquisition of private land will be required”, the NTA said. The route will run along an “attractive grass track” through the parks the NTA said and a new cyclepath will be built alongside the tram line.
A park-and-ride facility will be developed at Charlestown and passengers can change to the Maynooth and docklands rail services at Broombridge where the railway station and Luas stops are co-located.
The NTA plans a three-year statutory public consultation and design process beginning this year. A railway order application will be submitted to An Bord Pleanála in 2023. Once approval is secured from the board, the NTA plans a one-year construction tender process, followed by a three- to four-year construction programme.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Two critically endangered lemurs born at ‘delighted’ Fota Wildlife Park

Two critically endangered lemurs have been born at Fota Wildlife Park in Co Cork .
There are fewer than 250 black and white ruffed lemurs found in the wild today .
The species is native to the tropical forests of eastern Madagascar .
The lemurs were born on June 6th after a gestation period of 102 days to mother Cloud who is 18 and father Paraic , who was born in Fota Wildlife Park , and is 10 years her junior .
They successfully mated last year and share their island habitat with older twin brothers Nimbus and Cumulus who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The species has been classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) due to hunting and habitat loss and fragmentation .
The species is characterised by a number of unique behaviour patterns .
These lemurs are born in nests and are unable to cling to their mother .
The female will therefore carry her offspring in her mouth for the first three to four weeks .
After this period , the young can cling to the mother while she moves through the forest .
Lead ranger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” with the births especially as the new arrivals get on great with their twin brothers who love playing with them .
“ At first , Cloud was very protective of the new babies , moving them from one nesting area to another as she would do in the wild , but in recent weeks they are getting much more active and are beginning to climb trees and jump about by themselves , ” Ms Power said .
“ When the rangers go across the lake to their island to feed them twice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ discovered sitting in their food dishes which is really cute , ” she said .
“ We have also noticed that dad Paraic has been helping Cloud with babysitting duties , standing guard over the twins while she gets something to eat giving her a well-earned break .
We won ’ t know for a while yet whether the babies are male or female.
” The Primate Islands and the Palm Walk at Fota has recently undergone a regeneration .
This area now features the Madagascan Village , which was officially opened last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open-windowed houses with red-bellied lemurs , black and white lemurs and a new group of ring-tailed lemurs .
The ring-tailed lemurs here will shortly be introduced to the free-roaming group of ring-tailed lemurs .
Fota Wildlife Park is now operating a prebooking online system to help comply with social distancing requirements .

Two critically endangered lemurs have been born at Fota Wildlife Park in Co Cork.
There are fewer than 250 black and white ruffed lemurs found in the wild today. The species is native to the tropical forests of eastern Madagascar.
The lemurs were born on June 6th after a gestation period of 102 days to mother Cloud who is 18 and father Paraic, who was born in Fota Wildlife Park, and is 10 years her junior.
The two newly arrived black and white ruffed lemurs. Photograph: Fota Wildlife Park
The two newly arrived black and white ruffed lemurs. Photograph: Fota Wildlife Park
They successfully mated last year and share their island habitat with older twin brothers Nimbus and Cumulus who were born in May last year.
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The species has been classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) due to hunting and habitat loss and fragmentation.
The species is characterised by a number of unique behaviour patterns. These lemurs are born in nests and are unable to cling to their mother. The female will therefore carry her offspring in her mouth for the first three to four weeks. After this period, the young can cling to the mother while she moves through the forest.
Lead ranger Teresa Power said they are "delighted" with the births especially as the new arrivals get on great with their twin brothers who love playing with them.
“At first, Cloud was very protective of the new babies, moving them from one nesting area to another as she would do in the wild, but in recent weeks they are getting much more active and are beginning to climb trees and jump about by themselves,” Ms Power said.
“When the rangers go across the lake to their island to feed them twice a day, the babies are sometimes discovered sitting in their food dishes which is really cute,” she said.
The two newly arrived black and white ruffed lemurs. Photograph: Fota Wildlife Park
“We have also noticed that dad Paraic has been helping Cloud with babysitting duties, standing guard over the twins while she gets something to eat giving her a well-earned break. We won’t know for a while yet whether the babies are male or female.”
The Primate Islands and the Palm Walk at Fota has recently undergone a regeneration. This area now features the Madagascan Village, which was officially opened last December and includes a courtyard surrounded by open-windowed houses with red-bellied lemurs, black and white lemurs and a new group of ring-tailed lemurs. The ring-tailed lemurs here will shortly be introduced to the free-roaming group of ring-tailed lemurs.
Fota Wildlife Park is now operating a prebooking online system to help comply with social distancing requirements.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Most who had PUP cut off were leaving country permanently, says Government

The “ vast majority ” of people who had their €350 pandemic unemployment payment ( PUP ) stopped as a result of travelling abroad , were “ leaving the country permanently , ” according to the Department of Social Protection .
“ The PUP is not paid to people who are leaving the country to reside elsewhere or who go on holidays abroad.
” The PUP is the €350 a week enhanced social welfare benefit for anyone who lost their job due to the Covid-19 pandemic .
Some 104 individuals had the payment stopped in the past two weeks following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had benefits such as jobseeker ’ s allowance cut off .
But in a statement last night the department said the eligibility criteria have always been clear .
“ A recipient must be living in the State in order to receive a Pandemic Unemployment Payment and can not be absent from the State .
Neither is the payment paid to individuals during a 14-day quarantine period , ” it said .
Read Q & A on the PUP rules here These rules also apply to jobseeker ’ s payments and the department “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for jobseekers ” .
In the wake of controversy over the withdrawal of the payment following airport checks , the department said that “ in cases whereby people need to travel overseas for essential reasons , the Department of Social Protection will continue to pay the Pandemic Unemployment Payment ( PUP ) to these recipients ” .
This included travelling abroad due to bereavement or to care for a sick family relative .
But the statement points out that airport compliance checks “ involve inspectors speaking directly with passengers ” and “ any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ purpose for which it is gathered ” .
“ The vast majority of PUP cases stopped as a result of the compliance checks relate to individuals leaving the country permanently .
If a person returns to Ireland it is open to them to re-apply for the PUP , ” the department statement added .
It said that “ in normal circumstances , there is flexibility ” where someone on jobseeker ’ s benefit “ can leave the country for up to two weeks without this affecting their payment , provided they notify their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ However we are not living in normal circumstances .
Given that the clear public health advice is not to travel abroad except for essential reasons , the department temporarily suspended this flexibility on July 10th.
” The scheme has been extended until April but the Government will cut the payment from September , close it to new applicants and taper the payments depending on what recipients earned pre-Covid-19 .
It is being paid to more than a quarter of a million people .
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has questioned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ airports to identify travellers in receipt of the PUP .
The organisation ’ s executive director , Liam Herrick , claimed the checks on passengers to establish if they were in receipt of the PUP weekly payment of up to €350 were discriminatory without any real justification being offered by the Government for their use Barrister William Quill has argued that because the advisory “ has no legal basis..
It would be open to legal challenge [ by ] someone affected , someone who had their payments removed from them during that period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr Quill also argues that the Government did not do enough to inform people of the change when it was introduced on July 10th , that could also weaken their case for enforcing the rule , as people would have formed a legitimate expectation they could travel and the normal rules , ie that they could do so for two weeks without their payment being impacted .

Some 104 individuals had the payment stopped in the past two weeks following checks at airports. Photograph: Kate Geraghty
The "vast majority" of people who had their €350 pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) stopped as a result of travelling abroad, were "leaving the country permanently," according to the Department of Social Protection.
“The PUP is not paid to people who are leaving the country to reside elsewhere or who go on holidays abroad.”
The PUP is the €350 a week enhanced social welfare benefit for anyone who lost their job due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some 104 individuals had the payment stopped in the past two weeks following checks at airports and a further 44 had benefits such as jobseeker’s allowance cut off. But in a statement last night the department said the eligibility criteria have always been clear.
READ MORE
“A recipient must be living in the State in order to receive a Pandemic Unemployment Payment and cannot be absent from the State. Neither is the payment paid to individuals during a 14-day quarantine period,” it said.
[ here ]
These rules also apply to jobseeker’s payments and the department “temporarily suspended the normal two-week holiday period for jobseekers”.
In the wake of controversy over the withdrawal of the payment following airport checks, the department said that “in cases whereby people need to travel overseas for essential reasons, the Department of Social Protection will continue to pay the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) to these recipients”.
This included travelling abroad due to bereavement or to care for a sick family relative.
But the statement points out that airport compliance checks “involve inspectors speaking directly with passengers” and “any information gathered is only used for the purpose for which it is gathered”.
"The vast majority of PUP cases stopped as a result of the compliance checks relate to individuals leaving the country permanently. If a person returns to Ireland it is open to them to re-apply for the PUP," the department statement added.
It said that “in normal circumstances, there is flexibility” where someone on jobseeker’s benefit “can leave the country for up to two weeks without this affecting their payment, provided they notify their local Social Protection Office in advance.
“However we are not living in normal circumstances. Given that the clear public health advice is not to travel abroad except for essential reasons, the department temporarily suspended this flexibility on July 10th.”
Payment cut
The scheme has been extended until April but the Government will cut the payment from September, close it to new applicants and taper the payments depending on what recipients earned pre-Covid-19. It is being paid to more than a quarter of a million people.
The Irish Council for Civil Liberties has questioned the legality of checks being carried out at airports to identify travellers in receipt of the PUP.
The organisation's executive director, Liam Herrick, claimed the checks on passengers to establish if they were in receipt of the PUP weekly payment of up to €350 were discriminatory without any real justification being offered by the Government for their use
Barrister William Quill has argued that because the advisory "has no legal basis.. It would be open to legal challenge [by] someone affected, someone who had their payments removed from them during that period because of having gone on holiday".
Mr Quill also argues that the Government did not do enough to inform people of the change when it was introduced on July 10th, that could also weaken their case for enforcing the rule, as people would have formed a legitimate expectation they could travel and the normal rules, ie that they could do so for two weeks without their payment being impacted.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Ballyfermot murder: Victim only home for a week from UK

Gardaí are investigating if a man who was shot dead in Ballyfermot on Monday morning was killed in a case of mistaken identity .
Confusion surrounds the murder of Thomas McCarthy ( 55 ) who had been living in the United Kingdom for a number of years and had arrived home about a week ago .
He was staying in the home of his elderly mother in Croftwood Park , Ballyfermot , Dublin 10 when he was killed .
The victim was not known to gardaí and is not thought to have been involved in gangland crime either here or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few leads as to why he was targeted .
However , given the carefully planned nature of the murder , gardaí are satisfied organised criminals were behind the murder .
One person close to Mr McCarthy is believed to be associated with a local criminal gang whose leader has been a target of the Criminal Assets Bureau in recent years .
This raises the possibility Mr McCarthy was either mistakenly targeted or killed because he knew this person , a source said .
At 11am on Monday , Mr McCarthy opened the front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and was shot a number of times by a gunman with either a handgun or small calibre machine gun .
He managed to retreat into the house where he was shot several more times .
The gunman fled in a Ford Fiesta .
He drove it to another part of the large residential development where he set it on fire shortly after 11am , completely gutting the vehicle .
He then got in a Skoda Octavia which he drove to the Monksfield Lawns area of Clondalkin about 10 minutes away .
This vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before he fled on foot towards a green area near Monksfield Walk .
On Monday afternoon , residents gathered in their front gardens as gardaí moved in and out of the victim ’ s semi-detached house .
Most said they knew little of the family .
“ They ’ re decent people .
They were well liked , ” said one woman .

Two gunmen fired at least six shots at a man in his 50s after calling to the door of his house at Croftwood Park in the west Dublin suburb of Ballyfermot. Video: Tom Honan
Gardaí are investigating if a man who was shot dead in Ballyfermot on Monday morning was killed in a case of mistaken identity.
Confusion surrounds the murder of Thomas McCarthy (55) who had been living in the United Kingdom for a number of years and had arrived home about a week ago. He was staying in the home of his elderly mother in Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10 when he was killed.
The victim was not known to gardaí and is not thought to have been involved in gangland crime either here or in the UK, leaving investigators with few leads as to why he was targeted. However, given the carefully planned nature of the murder, gardaí are satisfied organised criminals were behind the murder.
One person close to Mr McCarthy is believed to be associated with a local criminal gang whose leader has been a target of the Criminal Assets Bureau in recent years. This raises the possibility Mr McCarthy was either mistakenly targeted or killed because he knew this person, a source said.
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Gunman
At 11am on Monday, Mr McCarthy opened the front door of his mother’s house and was shot a number of times by a gunman with either a handgun or small calibre machine gun. He managed to retreat into the house where he was shot several more times.
The gunman fled in a Ford Fiesta. He drove it to another part of the large residential development where he set it on fire shortly after 11am, completely gutting the vehicle.
He then got in a Skoda Octavia which he drove to the Monksfield Lawns area of Clondalkin about 10 minutes away. This vehicle was also set alight by the man before he fled on foot towards a green area near Monksfield Walk.
On Monday afternoon, residents gathered in their front gardens as gardaí moved in and out of the victim’s semi-detached house. Most said they knew little of the family. “They’re decent people. They were well liked,” said one woman.


theirishtimes--2020-07-29--University teachers seek clarity on process for re-opening third level education

University teachers have said that certainty is required urgently on the re-opening process for higher education institutions .
The Irish Federation of University Teachers ( Ifut ) said an official guidance document issued last week said that the response to Covid-19 involved “ a rapid move to emergency remote teaching and assessment of programmes , without impacting on the integrity of qualifications ” “ It will not be possible to sustain such an ‘ emergency ’ mode approach for a full academic year ” , Ifut said .
Speaking ahead of a meeting with the Minister for Higher Education Simon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donegan said with college reopening now less than two months away , ” clarity on the ‘ new normal ’ of higher education must be provided without delay ” .
However a spokeswoman for Mr Harris said he had met with representative organisations of the third level institutions last week and they had confirmed that they “ would welcome first year students on campus from September 28th ” .
The Minister ’ s spokeswoman said Mr Harris had last week published public health guidance for the reopening of college as well as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their reopening plans .
Ms Donegan said clarification was needed on whether there was a one metre or two metre rule for classroom attendance , guidance from the National Public health Emergency Team on how staff and students with health vulnerabilities , would be accommodated in any new arrangements as well as clear protocols for online class delivery , including student contact and mentoring , tutorial participation , etc .
Ifut said timely agreement was required on college physical attendance and expectations for lecturers and students and on the impact of cancellation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivery and standards Ms Donegan said the budget in October needed to reverse a decade of underfunding as a separate measure to the recent stimulus package , “ which itself addressed only a portion of the loss in colleges ’ income due to the impact of Covid-19 ” .

University teachers have said that certainty is required urgently on the re-opening process for higher education institutions.
The Irish Federation of University Teachers (Ifut) said an official guidance document issued last week said that the response to Covid-19 involved "a rapid move to emergency remote teaching and assessment of programmes, without impacting on the integrity of qualifications"
“It will not be possible to sustain such an ‘emergency’ mode approach for a full academic year”, Ifut said.
Speaking ahead of a meeting with the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris on Wednesday Ifut general secretary Joan Donegan said with college reopening now less than two months away," clarity on the 'new normal' of higher education must be provided without delay".
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However a spokeswoman for Mr Harris said he had met with representative organisations of the third level institutions last week and they had confirmed that they “would welcome first year students on campus from September 28th”.
The Minister’s spokeswoman said Mr Harris had last week published public health guidance for the reopening of college as well as a €168 million package to assist colleges with their reopening plans.
Ms Donegan said clarification was needed on whether there was a one metre or two metre rule for classroom attendance, guidance from the National Public health Emergency Team on how staff and students with health vulnerabilities, would be accommodated in any new arrangements as well as clear protocols for online class delivery, including student contact and mentoring, tutorial participation, etc.
Ifut said timely agreement was required on college physical attendance and expectations for lecturers and students and on the impact of cancellation of temporary and short-term lecturing contracts on education delivery and standards
Ms Donegan said the budget in October needed to reverse a decade of underfunding as a separate measure to the recent stimulus package, “which itself addressed only a portion of the loss in colleges’ income due to the impact of Covid-19”.


theirishtimes--2020-07-29--Prison diaries give insight into bleak conditions during pandemic

Keeping Covid-19 out of Irish prisons came at a significant cost to the mental and physical wellbeing of prisoners , with elderly inmates being kept in cells for 30 hours at a time .
Prisoners reported feeling suicidal or like “ lepers ” and “ pariahs ” as a result of quarantine measures , according to an analysis of prison life during the height of the pandemic found .
The extracts from the prison journals have been presented to the Government along with recommendations for more compassionate and flexible quarantine measures should there be a resurgence of the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Justice Helen McEntee said on Tuesday said she would work closely with prison and health authorities to address them .
“ This is an important issue for me , ” she said .
The Irish Prison Service ( IPS ) kept Covid-19 out of its 11 jails with strict infection-control measures including a total visitors ’ ban and mandatory “ cocooning ” of prisoners aged 70 or older and those with medical conditions .
The restrictions ended in late June .
At one point in June , 263 prisoners were in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus , including 120 “ cocooners ” who were strictly isolated from the rest of the general population .
Inspector of prisons Patricia Gilheaney , working with academics from Maynooth University ’ s law department , issued diaries to 86 vulnerable prisoners to record their experiences .
“ Yesterday we were let out to the yard at approx 10.30am [ and ] today we are out at 6.30pm .
That is a long time to be left in a small cell .
.
.
30 hrs in cell [ is ] very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote .
“ There is only a few times in my life when I felt suicidal and this is one of them , ” another prisoner wrote in his journal .
“ Certainly my sleep is affected by lack of activity.
” Many prisoners found the 30-hour gap between periods in the exercise yard “ very challenging ” .
Meanwhile prisoners found it “ dehumanising ” to deal constantly with prison warders through speaking holes in cell doors .
“ Many prisoners expressed that this and other practices made them feel like they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ , a ‘ pariah ’ or as sources of disease , ” said the prisons inspector .
Older or sick prisoners felt that cocooning was solitary confinement in all but name , where they were punished for being old or sick .
This led to a deterioration in mental health , Ms Gilheaney said .
“ My punishment by the courts was prison , now doing my punishment cocooning is like doing my time in solitary confinement , ” said one .
Another found cocooning “ very , very depressing ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lockdown : “ This virus has sucked the life out of everything , even this prison.
” Some prisoners expressed understanding that the restrictions were necessary to keep them safe and gratitude for the actions of IPS staff .
“ I am grateful for the staff who care + who help , without them I could see a lot more problems .
For staff members who don ’ t care – ah well – fact of life I guess but very hard to stomach at times.
” Others expressed “ confusion , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the merits and practices of cocooning , and difficulties with its indeterminate nature ” , the inspector said .
The inspector applauded the IPS ’ s achievement in keeping facilities virus-free but added it “ came at a significant cost to the mental health and wellbeing of the people subject to special measures ” .
The briefing urged prison authorities to consider allowing groups of vulnerable prisoners to cocoon in “ pods ” in the future and to allow masked face-to-face contact with staff .
It also urged officials to considering widening the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the crisis returns .

Keeping Covid-19 out of Irish prisons came at a significant cost to the mental and physical wellbeing of prisoners, with elderly inmates being kept in cells for 30 hours at a time.
Prisoners reported feeling suicidal or like “lepers” and “pariahs” as a result of quarantine measures, according to an analysis of prison life during the height of the pandemic found.
The extracts from the prison journals have been presented to the Government along with recommendations for more compassionate and flexible quarantine measures should there be a resurgence of the virus.
Saying she shared the concerns, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said on Tuesday said she would work closely with prison and health authorities to address them. “This is an important issue for me,” she said.
READ MORE
The Irish Prison Service (IPS) kept Covid-19 out of its 11 jails with strict infection-control measures including a total visitors’ ban and mandatory “cocooning” of prisoners aged 70 or older and those with medical conditions.
The restrictions ended in late June. At one point in June, 263 prisoners were in some form of isolation as a result of the virus, including 120 “cocooners” who were strictly isolated from the rest of the general population.
Inspector of prisons Patricia Gilheaney, working with academics from Maynooth University's law department, issued diaries to 86 vulnerable prisoners to record their experiences.
‘Dehumanising’ cocoons
“Yesterday we were let out to the yard at approx 10.30am [and] today we are out at 6.30pm. That is a long time to be left in a small cell . . . 30 hrs in cell [is] very hard to do,” one prisoner wrote.
“There is only a few times in my life when I felt suicidal and this is one of them,” another prisoner wrote in his journal. “Certainly my sleep is affected by lack of activity.”
Many prisoners found the 30-hour gap between periods in the exercise yard “very challenging”. Meanwhile prisoners found it “dehumanising” to deal constantly with prison warders through speaking holes in cell doors.
“Many prisoners expressed that this and other practices made them feel like they were being seen as a ‘leper’, a ‘pariah’ or as sources of disease,” said the prisons inspector.
Older or sick prisoners felt that cocooning was solitary confinement in all but name, where they were punished for being old or sick. This led to a deterioration in mental health, Ms Gilheaney said.
“My punishment by the courts was prison, now doing my punishment cocooning is like doing my time in solitary confinement,” said one. Another found cocooning “very, very depressing”.
‘Hard to stomach’
Others spoke of the bleak atmosphere during the lockdown: “This virus has sucked the life out of everything, even this prison.”
Some prisoners expressed understanding that the restrictions were necessary to keep them safe and gratitude for the actions of IPS staff.
“I am grateful for the staff who care + who help, without them I could see a lot more problems. For staff members who don’t care – ah well – fact of life I guess but very hard to stomach at times.”
Others expressed “confusion, fatigue and a loss of faith in the merits and practices of cocooning, and difficulties with its indeterminate nature”, the inspector said.
The inspector applauded the IPS’s achievement in keeping facilities virus-free but added it “came at a significant cost to the mental health and wellbeing of the people subject to special measures”.
The briefing urged prison authorities to consider allowing groups of vulnerable prisoners to cocoon in “pods” in the future and to allow masked face-to-face contact with staff.
It also urged officials to considering widening the criteria for temporary release in future if the crisis returns.


theirishtimes--2020-07-29--Cork to be reimagined as haven for cyclists and pedestrians under new plan

Plans to pedestrianise significant parts of Cork City ’ s centre and create 4km of new cycle lanes are to be launched on Wednesday under a “ Reimagine Cork ” plan from Cork City Council .
Fourteen city-centre streets will be fully or partly pedestrianised to add to long-established thoroughfares such as Princes Street , Winthrop Street , Paul Street , French Church Street and Carey ’ s Lane , sources say .
The plan , which will cost €2 million for the cycle lanes alone , will be launched by the lord mayor of Cork , Cllr Joe Kavanagh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doherty at Cork City Hall .
The cycle lanes will run on several important arteries , such as Horgan ’ s Quay , Centre Park Road , Monaghan Road and Victoria Road as well as the South Mall , The Irish Times was told .
The Cork Cycling Campaign ’ s spokeswoman , Majo Rivas , said the lockdown highlighted how many people were happy to use bicycles to get around the city once proper facilities were in place .
“ Now that more people are returning to their usual activities , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and coherent cycling infrastructure to give them a viable alternative to public transport and private cars , ” said Ms Rivas .
Saying the plan is a positive start , she said : “ We want to re-imagine Cork as an equitable city where more people of all ages , genders , abilities and ethnicities can enjoy moving around our city safely and sustainably .
Justine Looney , the chair of the Douglas Street Business Association , hoped that the city council would back the locals ’ call for Douglas Street to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South .
Following a survey , Ms Looney said “ people are ready for change on Douglas Street ” and want more green areas , seating for outside restaurants and planters with trees , complete with attached bike parking .
Publican Paul Montgomery , who runs Clancy ’ s Bar on Lower Princes Street , hoped that local pubs and restaurant will be able to have street space for outdoor dining .
“ There ’ s a huge difference between that and pedestrianisation .
It ’ s a different concept , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well in many cities in France and Italy , in particular .
”

Pembroke Street in Cork, which has recently been pedestrianised as part of the Reimagining Cork City Programme. Photograph: Clare Keogh
Plans to pedestrianise significant parts of Cork City's centre and create 4km of new cycle lanes are to be launched on Wednesday under a "Reimagine Cork" plan from Cork City Council.
Fourteen city-centre streets will be fully or partly pedestrianised to add to long-established thoroughfares such as Princes Street, Winthrop Street, Paul Street, French Church Street and Carey's Lane, sources say.
The plan, which will cost €2 million for the cycle lanes alone, will be launched by the lord mayor of Cork, Cllr Joe Kavanagh, and Cork City Council CEO Ann Doherty at Cork City Hall.
The cycle lanes will run on several important arteries, such as Horgan's Quay, Centre Park Road, Monaghan Road and Victoria Road as well as the South Mall, The Irish Times was told.
READ MORE
The Cork Cycling Campaign's spokeswoman, Majo Rivas, said the lockdown highlighted how many people were happy to use bicycles to get around the city once proper facilities were in place.
"Now that more people are returning to their usual activities, it is vital that we have good connected and coherent cycling infrastructure to give them a viable alternative to public transport and private cars," said Ms Rivas.
Positive start
Saying the plan is a positive start, she said: “We want to re-imagine Cork as an equitable city where more people of all ages, genders, abilities and ethnicities can enjoy moving around our city safely and sustainably.
Justine Looney, the chair of the Douglas Street Business Association, hoped that the city council would back the locals' call for Douglas Street to be made one-way from Evergreen Street to Summerhill South.
Following a survey, Ms Looney said “people are ready for change on Douglas Street” and want more green areas, seating for outside restaurants and planters with trees, complete with attached bike parking.
Publican Paul Montgomery, who runs Clancy's Bar on Lower Princes Street, hoped that local pubs and restaurant will be able to have street space for outdoor dining.
"There's a huge difference between that and pedestrianisation. It's a different concept," said Mr Montgomery. "It works very well in many cities in France and Italy, in particular."


theirishtimes--2020-07-29--Convicted IRA bomber charged with historic child sex offences

A convicted IRA bomber , Darcy Gearoid McMenamin , deported last week from the United States , where he was @ @ @ @ @ , has appeared in court in Northern Ireland charged with historic sexual offences .
McMenamin @ @ @ @ @ an address given as Glen Road , Drumquin , is accused of indecently assaulting two @ @ @ @ @ of gross indecency on one on dates between January 1992 and December 1993 .
Addressing @ @ @ @ @ Dungannon , a Police Service of Northern Ireland officer said the charges could be connected @ @ @ @ @ them , McMenamin replied : “ Yes I do , but I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ An attempt to seek reporting restrictions banning the publication of McMenamin ’ s identity was @ @ @ @ @ Meehan : “ It ’ s a serious matter and I don ’ t feel @ @ @ @ @ freedom.
” McMenamin was remanded until next month .

A convicted IRA bomber, Darcy Gearoid McMenamin, deported last week from the United States, where he was living as an undocumented migrant, has appeared in court in Northern Ireland charged with historic sexual offences.
McMenamin, aged 44 and with an address given as Glen Road, Drumquin, is accused of indecently assaulting two children and committing an act of gross indecency on one on dates between January 1992 and December 1993.
Addressing Omagh Magistrates Court sitting in Dungannon, a Police Service of Northern Ireland officer said the charges could be connected. Asked if he understood them, McMenamin replied: "Yes I do, but I don't know what they are."
An attempt to seek reporting restrictions banning the publication of McMenamin's identity was rejected by district judge John Meehan: "It's a serious matter and I don't feel I can intrude upon press freedom."
READ MORE
McMenamin was remanded until next month.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--‘Digital divide’: Subsidise internet access for older people, say experts

Experts in geriatric health have called for a State subsidy and provisions to close the “ digital divide ” among older people after a UK study found frequent internet use can improve mental health .
The study , carried out by researchers in the University College London , and published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research , found links between more frequent internet use and increases in wellbeing in older adults , particularly those who are wealthy and more educated .
Measured from 5 ( lowest satisfaction ) to 35 ( highest satisfaction ) , respondents who used the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 26.12 , compared to 24.44 for those who used the internet monthly or less .
Those who used the internet daily also had a lower average depression score of 1.02 , compared to 1.76 for those who had never used the internet , measured on a scale from 0 to 8 , where 0 represents no depressive symptoms .
However , the impact on mental wellbeing was found to vary by internet use type , with people using the internet for communication being more likely to report lower levels of depression and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not .
Desmond O ’ Neill , a consultant geriatrician , said the results were “ contaminated ” by the influence of socio-economic factors .
“ It raises issues about equality , about resources , about getting user-friendly tablets and wifi set up .
It does suggest that there is a market for older people to get access , perhaps a subsidy , ” he said .
“ I think one of the things that the Irish State gave support to later in life such as free travel , TV licences , telephone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extend to digital communication.
” A recent report by The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing ( Tilda ) found that about 71 per cent of people over 50 have access to the internet in their homes .
However , some 30 per cent of adults over 50 who live alone did not have access to the internet , the study found .
Prof Rose Anne Kenny , who leads the Tilda study , said internet access is “ very beneficial for this age group ” .
“ We need to encourage use , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that people are constantly updated on how to use it .
It has to be a multi-pronged approach .
Facilitating access through subsidy is one solution but you have to have systems in place , ” Prof Kenny said .
Age Action , a charity for older people , called for learner-led one-on-one tuition supports for older people to improve their digital literacy skills , while Sage Advocacy , another charity , said this highlights the need for high-speed broadband to be rolled out nationwide .
Sean Moynihan , chief executive of Alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ older people are willing to engage with the internet if they are provided with the correct tools .
“ There was so many negatives about the pandemic for older people , but one of the big outcomes is this engagement .
I think the genie is out of the bottle now that older people have the most to gain from the internet , ” he added .

“I think one of the things that the Irish State gave support to later in life such as free travel, TV licences, telephone, those sort of things, could extend to digital communication.” File photograph: Getty
Experts in geriatric health have called for a State subsidy and provisions to close the “digital divide” among older people after a UK study found frequent internet use can improve mental health.
The study, carried out by researchers in the University College London, and published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, found links between more frequent internet use and increases in wellbeing in older adults, particularly those who are wealthy and more educated.
Measured from 5 (lowest satisfaction) to 35 (highest satisfaction), respondents who used the internet daily reported average life satisfaction scores of 26.12, compared to 24.44 for those who used the internet monthly or less.
Those who used the internet daily also had a lower average depression score of 1.02, compared to 1.76 for those who had never used the internet, measured on a scale from 0 to 8, where 0 represents no depressive symptoms.
READ MORE
However, the impact on mental wellbeing was found to vary by internet use type, with people using the internet for communication being more likely to report lower levels of depression and better life satisfaction than those who did not.
Socio-economic factors
Desmond O’Neill, a consultant geriatrician, said the results were “contaminated” by the influence of socio-economic factors.
“It raises issues about equality, about resources, about getting user-friendly tablets and wifi set up. It does suggest that there is a market for older people to get access, perhaps a subsidy,” he said.
“I think one of the things that the Irish State gave support to later in life such as free travel, TV licences, telephone, those sort of things, could extend to digital communication.”
A recent report by The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (Tilda) found that about 71 per cent of people over 50 have access to the internet in their homes.
However, some 30 per cent of adults over 50 who live alone did not have access to the internet, the study found.
Prof Rose Anne Kenny, who leads the Tilda study, said internet access is "very beneficial for this age group".
“We need to encourage use, but also to enable use, such that people are constantly updated on how to use it. It has to be a multi-pronged approach. Facilitating access through subsidy is one solution but you have to have systems in place,” Prof Kenny said.
Age Action, a charity for older people, called for learner-led one-on-one tuition supports for older people to improve their digital literacy skills, while Sage Advocacy, another charity, said this highlights the need for high-speed broadband to be rolled out nationwide.
Sean Moynihan, chief executive of Alone, added that Covid-19 has showed that older people are willing to engage with the internet if they are provided with the correct tools.
“There was so many negatives about the pandemic for older people, but one of the big outcomes is this engagement. I think the genie is out of the bottle now that older people have the most to gain from the internet,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Highly educated people more likely to conceal racist views – study

People who hold racist views or negative attitudes towards minorities are more likely to conceal them if they are more highly educated , a new study suggests .
Among people with third-level education , more than a quarter ( 27 per cent ) concealed negative attitudes towards black people coming to Ireland , according to the survey , which is published on Wednesday by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Economic and Social Research Institute ( ESRI ) .
Just under one fifth ( 22 per cent ) of those in this education bracket hid negativity towards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the those classified as lower educated ( completed Leaving Certificate or less ) , 8.5 per cent concealed negative attitudes towards black people coming to Ireland , while there was no evidence this group concealed negative attitudes towards Muslim immigration .
More than 1,600 people were surveyed for the study , called “ Hidden versus revealed attitudes : A list experiment on support for minorities in Ireland ” .
The study found the extent to which people conceal their negative views on immigration depends on the group being asked about , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ educational background of the respondents .
Social pressures to exhibit tolerance are much greater when people are asked about black people than when asked about Muslim people coming to Ireland .
Whereas 66 per cent of people openly supported more black people coming to Ireland , this dropped to 51 per cent when respondents could conceal their attitude .
Fewer people openly supported more Muslim immigration , with no evidence that people concealed their attitudes .
While previous surveys have shown that people with higher educational attainment are more positive towards minorities in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this is largely because highly educated people who hold negative attitudes are more likely to conceal them , the authors say .
In terms of declared views , 19 per cent of the higher-educated group openly held negative views towards black immigration and 33 per cent regarding Muslim immigration .
In contrast , 43 per cent of the lower-educated group held openly negative views towards black immigration , and 45 per cent towards Muslim immigration .
Concealing negative views is almost twice ( 19 per cent ) as prevalent among those aged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over ( 11 per cent ) regarding the question of black immigration .
However , the younger group are more supportive than the older group even when asked anonymously ( 59 per cent versus 40 per cent ) .
There are no age differences in anonymously expressed support for Muslims coming to Ireland – more than half ( about 53 per cent ) of each age group support this .
In terms of gender , 21 per cent of men conceal negative opinions towards more black people coming to Ireland , compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conceal negativity towards Muslims to a much greater extent than men .
About one fifth ( 21 per cent ) of women hold but conceal lack of support for more Muslim people coming to Ireland , but there is no evidence that men conceal negative attitudes towards Muslims in this survey .

The study found that whereas 66 per cent of people openly supported more black people coming to Ireland, this dropped to 51 per cent when respondents could conceal their attitude. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
People who hold racist views or negative attitudes towards minorities are more likely to conceal them if they are more highly educated, a new study suggests.
Among people with third-level education, more than a quarter (27 per cent) concealed negative attitudes towards black people coming to Ireland, according to the survey, which is published on Wednesday by the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
Just under one fifth (22 per cent) of those in this education bracket hid negativity towards Muslims coming to Ireland.
In terms of the those classified as lower educated (completed Leaving Certificate or less), 8.5 per cent concealed negative attitudes towards black people coming to Ireland, while there was no evidence this group concealed negative attitudes towards Muslim immigration.
READ MORE
More than 1,600 people were surveyed for the study, called “Hidden versus revealed attitudes: A list experiment on support for minorities in Ireland”.
The study found the extent to which people conceal their negative views on immigration depends on the group being asked about, as well as the gender, age and educational background of the respondents.
Social pressures to exhibit tolerance are much greater when people are asked about black people than when asked about Muslim people coming to Ireland.
Whereas 66 per cent of people openly supported more black people coming to Ireland, this dropped to 51 per cent when respondents could conceal their attitude.
Fewer people openly supported more Muslim immigration, with no evidence that people concealed their attitudes.
While previous surveys have shown that people with higher educational attainment are more positive towards minorities in Ireland and elsewhere, this report reveals that this is largely because highly educated people who hold negative attitudes are more likely to conceal them, the authors say.
In terms of declared views, 19 per cent of the higher-educated group openly held negative views towards black immigration and 33 per cent regarding Muslim immigration. In contrast, 43 per cent of the lower-educated group held openly negative views towards black immigration, and 45 per cent towards Muslim immigration.
Age and gender
Concealing negative views is almost twice (19 per cent) as prevalent among those aged 18-49 compared to those aged 50 or over (11 per cent) regarding the question of black immigration.
However, the younger group are more supportive than the older group even when asked anonymously (59 per cent versus 40 per cent).
There are no age differences in anonymously expressed support for Muslims coming to Ireland – more than half (about 53 per cent) of each age group support this.
In terms of gender, 21 per cent of men conceal negative opinions towards more black people coming to Ireland, compared to 10 per cent of women.
Women conceal negativity towards Muslims to a much greater extent than men. About one fifth (21 per cent) of women hold but conceal lack of support for more Muslim people coming to Ireland, but there is no evidence that men conceal negative attitudes towards Muslims in this survey.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Visa renewal backlog as Covid ‘overwhelms’ migrant system

Thousands of renewal applications from those needing visas to live in Ireland are building up due to the immigration system being overwhelmed by Covid-19 , the Immigrant Council of Ireland has said .
A new online system covering registrations and renewals in the Dublin region that went live this month has led to a stream of calls to the council ’ s helpline from those who say it is not working .
Although the Government issued blanket rolling visa renewals since immigration offices closed in March , a lack of physical documentation means people are having trouble with employment and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affect their ability to return from travel outside the State .
Those living on visas in Ireland usually renew them at designated Garda stations outside Dublin and at the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service ( Inis ) office on Burgh Quay in the capital .
However , as part of the country ’ s response to the coronavirus outbreak in March , all of those offices were closed down and the system ground to a halt .
The Department of Justice announced rolling short-term renewals to all visas requiring renewal , at first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into July and August .
It recently issued guidance on the reopening of some services outside the capital and in Burgh Quay , as well as the launch of a new online system for those living in Dublin in a bid to reboot immigration procedures .
However , the council , which assists applicants with various problems , says the disruption to the system has caused various knock-on problems as well as clogging the system with thousands of backlogged applications .
Colin Lenihan , information services co-ordinator , said the issues have led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those reliant on the system and “ a whole new level of stress to the already problematic process ” .
He explained that even though people were granted automatic renewals in recent months , these did not result in the issuing of updated paperwork .
Serena Margherita and her Egyptian partner , Mohamed Hemida , are among those feeling anxious about the current situation .
Although Serena is Irish , her partner arrived in 2006 and spent 10 undocumented years in the country working in the fishing industry .
When the couple had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 , they decided to begin the process of formalising his status.Even though he was a father to two Irish children ( Amaya arrived in 2017 ) , it took the couple six months to navigate the heavily bureaucratic process and secure a one-year resident ’ s visa .
Their real difficulties began in 2018 with the Inis ’ s online appointment system which seemed permanently oversubscribed – a problem they believe will be worse in the Covid-19 era .
“ Every time you click in , it comes up as ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Serena .
“ You can ’ t imagine what it ’ s like just sitting [ endlessly ] in front of a laptop.
” Serena ultimately ended up paying an anonymous third party €20 and €30 over social media for internet bots used to secure her an online appointment .
As their October deadline approaches again , she is worried this route may not even be available given the demand .
“ I can feel the anxiety , ” she says .
“ Why do I have to feel like this .
.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reason to be here .
“ I am dreading October .
I lie awake at night thinking , am I going to get an appointment ?
” Mr Lenihan said : “ People who don ’ t have resident permit cards or stamps on their passports find it extremely difficult to engage with services outside of immigration , ” he said , noting in particular the ability to hold on to jobs or to apply for social welfare payments , education grants or drivers ’ licences .
“ There wasn ’ t any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid.
” In a statement , the Department of Justice said “ Like all public services we have had to adapt to the new circumstances occasioned by the pandemic .
We will continue to do so as resources permit ” .
Regarding its online renewal service , it said to date the department had approximately 10,000 applications submitted “ with only a very small number of issues since the launch of the online system which were quickly resolved ” .

Serena Di Murro and her partner Mohammed Hemida with Elysia (4) and Amaya (2): “Every time you click in, it comes up as ‘no appointment available’.” Photograph Nick Bradshaw
Thousands of renewal applications from those needing visas to live in Ireland are building up due to the immigration system being overwhelmed by Covid-19, the Immigrant Council of Ireland has said.
A new online system covering registrations and renewals in the Dublin region that went live this month has led to a stream of calls to the council’s helpline from those who say it is not working.
Although the Government issued blanket rolling visa renewals since immigration offices closed in March, a lack of physical documentation means people are having trouble with employment and securing driving licences. It can also affect their ability to return from travel outside the State.
Those living on visas in Ireland usually renew them at designated Garda stations outside Dublin and at the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (Inis) office on Burgh Quay in the capital.
READ MORE
However, as part of the country’s response to the coronavirus outbreak in March, all of those offices were closed down and the system ground to a halt.
The Department of Justice announced rolling short-term renewals to all visas requiring renewal, at first to May 20th, and then extended into July and August.
Knock-on problems
It recently issued guidance on the reopening of some services outside the capital and in Burgh Quay, as well as the launch of a new online system for those living in Dublin in a bid to reboot immigration procedures.
However, the council, which assists applicants with various problems, says the disruption to the system has caused various knock-on problems as well as clogging the system with thousands of backlogged applications.
Colin Lenihan, information services co-ordinator, said the issues have led to a drip-feeding of last-minute information for those reliant on the system and "a whole new level of stress to the already problematic process".
He explained that even though people were granted automatic renewals in recent months, these did not result in the issuing of updated paperwork.
Serena Margherita and her Egyptian partner, Mohamed Hemida, are among those feeling anxious about the current situation.
Although Serena is Irish, her partner arrived in 2006 and spent 10 undocumented years in the country working in the fishing industry.
When the couple had their first child Elysia (4) in 2016, they decided to begin the process of formalising his status.Even though he was a father to two Irish children (Amaya arrived in 2017), it took the couple six months to navigate the heavily bureaucratic process and secure a one-year resident’s visa.
‘Awake at night’
Their real difficulties began in 2018 with the Inis’s online appointment system which seemed permanently oversubscribed – a problem they believe will be worse in the Covid-19 era.
“Every time you click in, it comes up as ‘no appointment available’,” explains Serena. “You can’t imagine what it’s like just sitting [endlessly] in front of a laptop.”
Serena ultimately ended up paying an anonymous third party €20 and €30 over social media for internet bots used to secure her an online appointment. As their October deadline approaches again, she is worried this route may not even be available given the demand.
“I can feel the anxiety,” she says. “Why do I have to feel like this . . . [Mohamed] has a legitimate reason to be here.
“I am dreading October. I lie awake at night thinking, am I going to get an appointment?”
Mr Lenihan said: “People who don’t have resident permit cards or stamps on their passports find it extremely difficult to engage with services outside of immigration,” he said, noting in particular the ability to hold on to jobs or to apply for social welfare payments, education grants or drivers’ licences.
“There wasn’t any long-term view on how to deal with Covid.”
In a statement, the Department of Justice said “Like all public services we have had to adapt to the new circumstances occasioned by the pandemic. We will continue to do so as resources permit”.
Regarding its online renewal service, it said to date the department had approximately 10,000 applications submitted “with only a very small number of issues since the launch of the online system which were quickly resolved”.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Gardaí warn of AIB bank card ‘smishing’ scam by fraudsters

Gardai have warned the public of a ‘ smishing ’ scam whereby people are being contacted by text message by individuals purporting to be from Allied Irish Bank ( AIB ) and claiming their bank card has been compromised .
The individual is contacted by text message asking them to log onto a website in order to receive a new card .
As part of the process they are requested to insert their pin number and other personal data .
Once this is completed they are requested to send the compromised card to one of the following addresses , none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The addresses are : Security Centre , 164 New Seskin Court , Arena , Whitestown Way , Dublin 24 , D24 A260 ; Security Centre , 31 Rathmines Road Lower , Dublin 6 , D06 V4Y1 and Security Centre , 50 North Circular Road , Dublin 7 , D07 V0FY .
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau ( GNECB ) are working very closely with AIB and other financial institutions , to identify those behind this fraud and those who receive , or use the stolen data/cards .
An Garda Síochána are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such text messages , but instead to take a screenshot of the message , delete it and report to your local Garda station .
Superintendent Michael Cryan said on Tuesday “ I would encourage members of the public never to give out personal or sensitive information online unless you are sure of the source ” .
“ Financial institutions will never contact you in this way and a bank will never request you to return your card in this manner , ” he said .
“ I would encourage anyone who receives these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the text , delete the text and to report it to their bank and local Garda station.
” The GNECB has provided the following advice : - Never click a link in an unsolicited text - Never give away personal data like your PIN , card numbers and passwords - A financial institution would never request a customer to return a card to the bank in such circumstances

The individual is contacted by text message asking them to log onto a website in order to receive a new card. Photograph:iStock
Gardai have warned the public of a ‘smishing’ scam whereby people are being contacted by text message by individuals purporting to be from Allied Irish Bank (AIB) and claiming their bank card has been compromised.
The individual is contacted by text message asking them to log onto a website in order to receive a new card. As part of the process they are requested to insert their pin number and other personal data.
Once this is completed they are requested to send the compromised card to one of the following addresses, none of which are linked to AIB. The addresses are: Security Centre, 164 New Seskin Court, Arena, Whitestown Way, Dublin 24, D24 A260; Security Centre, 31 Rathmines Road Lower, Dublin 6 , D06 V4Y1 and Security Centre, 50 North Circular Road, Dublin 7, D07 V0FY.
The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) are working very closely with AIB and other financial institutions, to identify those behind this fraud and those who receive, or use the stolen data/cards.
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An Garda Síochána are also urging all persons not to respond to such text messages, but instead to take a screenshot of the message, delete it and report to your local Garda station.
Superintendent Michael Cryan said on Tuesday "I would encourage members of the public never to give out personal or sensitive information online unless you are sure of the source". "Financial institutions will never contact you in this way and a bank will never request you to return your card in this manner," he said.
“I would encourage anyone who receives these text messages to take a screenshot of the text, delete the text and to report it to their bank and local Garda station.”
The GNECB has provided the following advice:
- Never click a link in an unsolicited text
- Never give away personal data like your PIN, card numbers and passwords
- A financial institution would never request a customer to return a card to the bank in such circumstances


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--More than 2,500 pandemic payments stopped, says Minister

Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has said that more than 2,500 pandemic unemployment claims have been closed as a result of checks carried out at ports and airports .
According to her department , “ over 90 per cent ” of the individuals were leaving the country permanently rather than holidaymakers , with 2,000 of the cases relating to Dublin Airport .
The cessation of the payments had saved the state €20.5 million so far , she said .
Ms Humphreys told the Dáil that social welfare inspectors had been carrying out increased checks at ports and airports since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powers to request PPS ( Personal Public Service ) numbers .
The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the prohibition on receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment ( PUP ) was set out in primary legislation , and that the flexibility which traditionally applied to other welfare payments – allowing them two weeks ’ foreign travel – never applied to the PUP .
“ The PUP is only payable to people who are living in the State and it was never paid to people who travel abroad.
” She was speaking after Taoiseach Micheál Martin told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a review of cases of welfare recipients whose PUP was stopped because of overseas travel , and who were unaware of the rules about going abroad .
The Dáil on Tuesday night heard contributions on the second stage of the Social Welfare ( Covid-19 ) ( Amendment ) Bill 2020 , which will put the PUP on a legislative footing .
The Government ’ s approach to restricting PUPs to only those who did not travel was broadly criticised by the Opposition as well as civil liberties groups .
Sinn Féin leader @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ blatant discrimination ” against one section of society for travelling overseas and called for regulations on the issue to be rescinded .
The Free Legal Advice Centres ( Flac ) criticised the Government ’ s decision to stop the payment , saying it was “ not legal ” .
In a statement on Tuesday evening , the organisation said “ there is no clear legal basis to sanction Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment claimants holidaying abroad ” .
In a letter to Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys , Flac chief executive Eilis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to suspend payments to people resident in Ireland who take holidays abroad would be “ open to challenge ” .
The body also raised concerns about the suspension of the scheme for those undergoing a period of quarantine after returning from overseas travel .
“ It is highly doubtful that all social welfare claimants who have to self-isolate for a period can be automatically deemed to be unavailable for work or not to be genuinely seeking employment , ” the letter states .
Ms Barry ’ s letter also raised the issue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that while they have the power to question persons at airports under certain circumstances , “ such powers can only be exercised where the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe the person in question has breached the act ” .
Earlier on Tuesday , a senior DAA executive told TDs and Senators he was not personally aware that welfare inspectors were quizzing people at the airport .

Social welfare inspectors had been carrying out increased checks at ports and airports since mid-March, said Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys, and had powers to request PPS numbers. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys has said that more than 2,500 pandemic unemployment claims have been closed as a result of checks carried out at ports and airports.
According to her department, “over 90 per cent” of the individuals were leaving the country permanently rather than holidaymakers, with 2,000 of the cases relating to Dublin Airport.
The cessation of the payments had saved the state €20.5 million so far, she said.
Ms Humphreys told the Dáil that social welfare inspectors had been carrying out increased checks at ports and airports since mid-March, and that the inspectors had powers to request PPS (Personal Public Service) numbers.
READ MORE
The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the prohibition on receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) was set out in primary legislation, and that the flexibility which traditionally applied to other welfare payments – allowing them two weeks’ foreign travel – never applied to the PUP.
“The PUP is only payable to people who are living in the State and it was never paid to people who travel abroad.”
She was speaking after Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil that he believed there should be a review of cases of welfare recipients whose PUP was stopped because of overseas travel, and who were unaware of the rules about going abroad.
Second stage
The Dáil on Tuesday night heard contributions on the second stage of the Social Welfare (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2020, which will put the PUP on a legislative footing. The Government’s approach to restricting PUPs to only those who did not travel was broadly criticised by the Opposition as well as civil liberties groups.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald accused the Government of “blatant discrimination” against one section of society for travelling overseas and called for regulations on the issue to be rescinded.
The Free Legal Advice Centres (Flac) criticised the Government’s decision to stop the payment, saying it was “not legal”. In a statement on Tuesday evening, the organisation said “there is no clear legal basis to sanction Covid Pandemic Unemployment Payment claimants holidaying abroad”.
In a letter to Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys, Flac chief executive Eilis Barry said the decision by the Department to suspend payments to people resident in Ireland who take holidays abroad would be "open to challenge".
Quarantine
The body also raised concerns about the suspension of the scheme for those undergoing a period of quarantine after returning from overseas travel. “It is highly doubtful that all social welfare claimants who have to self-isolate for a period can be automatically deemed to be unavailable for work or not to be genuinely seeking employment,” the letter states.
Ms Barry’s letter also raised the issue of social welfare inspectors at airports, pointing out that while they have the power to question persons at airports under certain circumstances, “such powers can only be exercised where the inspector has reasonable grounds to believe the person in question has breached the act”.
Earlier on Tuesday, a senior DAA executive told TDs and Senators he was not personally aware that welfare inspectors were quizzing people at the airport.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Coronavirus threat to schools ‘overstated’ , Seanad told

The threat of coronavirus outbreaks occurring in schools when they reopen has been “ overstated , ” Senator Rónán Mullen has told a Seanad debate on the issue .
Mr Mullen said it was understandable teachers were concerned about potential exposure to Covid-19 when schools reopened , but said “ there is a danger of that threat being overstated in the media and elsewhere.
” Minister for Education Norma Foley was responding to questions on the Government plan to reopen schools in the Seanad on Tuesday .
The €375 million financial support package to reopen schools includes plans to hire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and funding for substitute teachers at primary level .
The measures also include funding for schools to carry out minor works to reconfigure classrooms and refurbish toilet facilities .
Responding to concerns some schools would be unable to open despite the supports , Ms Foley said “ there are no guarantees in anything at this point.
” “ I can guarantee that there is absolute determination and absolute goodwill from all the partners in education to ensure school opens fully and school opens safely , ” she said .
Senator Annie Hoey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said the coronavirus crisis had exposed the country ’ s “ outrageous student-teacher ratios and crumbling state of our school buildings.
” Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O ’ Loughlin said there were some schools which would have “ huge problems ” maintaining physical distancing between pupils .
One boy ’ s school in her Co Kildare area had 175 pupils and only two toilets , which she said posed a “ huge concern.
” Sinn Féin Senator Fintan Warfield said the roadmap to reopen schools had come “ so late in day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be expected to return to classes .
The guidance contained some “ worrying omissions , ” and had no plan for pupils over the age of 16 who had disengaged from education during the lockdown .
Mr Warfield said there was concern many of those older pupils “ may never get back ” to education .
Independent Senator Eileen Flynn said children from marginalised backgrounds , such as migrants , Travellers , or those living in homelessness , “ get left behind during normal times , let alone during Covid-19 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about children who couldn ’ t complete their work at home , due to not having laptops ... or a safe place to call home , ” she said .
The Government should see the current crisis as “ an opportunity to fix what has been broken in our education system for far too long , ” she said .
Senator Gerard Craughwell said he “ very much doubted ” targets to recruit an extra 1,080 teachers would be met , due to the “ gross inequality ” in pay for younger teachers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and brightest of our educators to places like Dubai , to London , to Birmingham , Manchester , ” he said .
Independent Senator Lynn Ruane , who only had 30 seconds speaking time , criticised the large “ undemocratic ” allocation of speaking time to Government party Senators in the debate .
Ms Ruane said “ if there wasn ’ t politicians in here using up the time to get back into the Dáil by talking about local politics then maybe actually those who actually cared about the Seanad would have a @ @ @

Minister for Education Norma Foley was responding to questions on the Government plan to reopen schools in the Seanad on Tuesday. Photograph: Alan Betson
The threat of coronavirus outbreaks occurring in schools when they reopen has been "overstated," Senator Rónán Mullen has told a Seanad debate on the issue.
Mr Mullen said it was understandable teachers were concerned about potential exposure to Covid-19 when schools reopened, but said “there is a danger of that threat being overstated in the media and elsewhere.”
Minister for Education Norma Foley was responding to questions on the Government plan to reopen schools in the Seanad on Tuesday.
The €375 million financial support package to reopen schools includes plans to hire an additional 1,080 secondary school teachers, and funding for substitute teachers at primary level. The measures also include funding for schools to carry out minor works to reconfigure classrooms and refurbish toilet facilities.
READ MORE
Responding to concerns some schools would be unable to open despite the supports, Ms Foley said “there are no guarantees in anything at this point.”
“I can guarantee that there is absolute determination and absolute goodwill from all the partners in education to ensure school opens fully and school opens safely,” she said.
Senator Annie Hoey, Labour's Seanad spokeswoman on education, said the coronavirus crisis had exposed the country's "outrageous student-teacher ratios and crumbling state of our school buildings."
Fianna Fáil Senator Fiona O’Loughlin said there were some schools which would have “huge problems” maintaining physical distancing between pupils.
One boy’s school in her Co Kildare area had 175 pupils and only two toilets, which she said posed a “huge concern.”
Sinn Féin Senator Fintan Warfield said the roadmap to reopen schools had come “so late in day,” some four weeks before pupils would be expected to return to classes.
The guidance contained some “worrying omissions,” and had no plan for pupils over the age of 16 who had disengaged from education during the lockdown.
Mr Warfield said there was concern many of those older pupils “may never get back” to education.
Independent Senator Eileen Flynn said children from marginalised backgrounds, such as migrants, Travellers, or those living in homelessness, "get left behind during normal times, let alone during Covid-19.
“Since March I’ve been hearing about children who couldn’t complete their work at home, due to not having laptops ... or a safe place to call home,” she said.
The Government should see the current crisis as “an opportunity to fix what has been broken in our education system for far too long,” she said.
Senator Gerard Craughwell said he "very much doubted" targets to recruit an extra 1,080 teachers would be met, due to the "gross inequality" in pay for younger teachers.
“We have lost the best and brightest of our educators to places like Dubai, to London, to Birmingham, Manchester,” he said.
Independent Senator Lynn Ruane, who only had 30 seconds speaking time, criticised the large "undemocratic" allocation of speaking time to Government party Senators in the debate.
Ms Ruane said “if there wasn’t politicians in here using up the time to get back into the Dáil by talking about local politics then maybe actually those who actually cared about the Seanad would have a voice.”


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Rise in use of firearms and tasers by gardaí during Covid-19 lockdown

The Garda use of firearms and stun-guns increased significantly during the Covid-19 lockdown period .
While the use of batons and pepper remained steady following the imposition of lockdown measures in mid-March , the use of guns and Tasers increased .
The proportion of instances of use of force which occurred inside houses also increased , from 12 per cent in the first quarter of the year to 23 per cent in quarter two .
In the first three months of the year gardaí used Tasers , non-lethal electrical stun guns , just once .
In the second three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect , they used them 10 times .
The use of firearms increased from one instance in quarter one to six in quarter two .
This includes four uses of the “ 40mm launcher ” , which fires a less-than-lethal foam bullet at high velocity , and one instance where a garda firearm was fired .
It also includes one instance where a firearm was drawn but not used .
There were 234 uses of pepper spray in quarter two of 2020 , down eight from the first quarter .
There were also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , down eight compared to quarter one .
There was no significant change in the use of force by Garda division , the report states .

The Garda use of firearms and stun-guns increased significantly during the Covid-19 lockdown period.
While the use of batons and pepper remained steady following the imposition of lockdown measures in mid-March, the use of guns and Tasers increased.
The proportion of instances of use of force which occurred inside houses also increased, from 12 per cent in the first quarter of the year to 23 per cent in quarter two.
In the first three months of the year gardaí used Tasers, non-lethal electrical stun guns, just once. In the second three months, when lockdown measures were fully in effect, they used them 10 times.
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The use of firearms increased from one instance in quarter one to six in quarter two. This includes four uses of the “40mm launcher”, which fires a less-than-lethal foam bullet at high velocity, and one instance where a garda firearm was fired. It also includes one instance where a firearm was drawn but not used.
There were 234 uses of pepper spray in quarter two of 2020, down eight from the first quarter. There were also 70 uses of the Asp extendable baton, down eight compared to quarter one.
There was no significant change in the use of force by Garda division, the report states.


theirishtimes--2020-07-28--Gardaí identify chief suspect in Ballyfermot murder investigation

A young Ballyfermot man has been identified by gardaí as a leading suspect in the murder of Thomas McCarthy who was shot dead in his mother ’ s home on Monday .
The suspect , who is in his 20s , lived at one stage near the McCarthy family home in Croftwood Park .
He is believed to have murdered Mr McCarthy ( 55 ) as part of a dispute involving a family member of the victim .
The suspect has several previous convictions , and is believed to have ties to organised crime .
However , most of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ less serious offences , including a long list of car thefts .
Gardaí believe Mr McCarthy returned to Ireland from the United Kingdom , where he lives with his wife and children , in response to an attack on a female family member by another male .
It is thought Mr McCarthy had made it known he intended to confront this male , and that this may have led to his murder .
However , the man who attacked his female relative is not believed by gardaí to have been the killer .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gardaí are keeping an open mind , sources stress .
Investigators have not ruled out the possibility Mr McCarthy was killed in a case of mistaken identity , or that his killer acted alone .
The suspect , who no longer lives in Ballyfermot , is closely aligned with a local organised criminal who has been involved in drug dealing and extortion rackets and has been recently targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau .
Mr McCarthy was shot at least three times when he opened the front door to a masked gunman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to retreat back inside , but the gunman followed and shot him several more times .
The victim ’ s house is still occupied by Mr McCarthy ’ s elderly mother .
She was in the house at the time of the murder , along with some of the dead man ’ s siblings .
The victim was pronounced dead a short time later despite efforts to resuscitate him .
Neighbours described hearing up to 10 shots being fired in rapid succession .
The gunman escaped in a Ford Fiesta which was found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into a Skoda Octavia and drove to Monksfield Walk in Clondalkin .
This car was also burnt out with the suspect fleeing on foot .
Gardaí believe he then got into a waiting Toyota Avensis , 10-D-123251 .
This car was spotted on CCTV between 10.57am and 11.06am at Woodford Lawns , a five minutes ’ walk from Monksfield Walk .
The Avensis was found burnt out on Peamount Road , a quiet country road located about 15 minutes away , in Newcastle , Co Dublin .
“ Gardaí are appealing to anyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hours of 10am and 9.30pm yesterday , Monday 27th , July 2020 , or who may have any information in relation to this vehicle , to contact them at Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01 666 7200 , the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station , ” the gardaí said in a statement .

Thomas McCarthy was shot dead when he opened the door of his elderly mother’s house in Croftwood Park, Ballyfermot. Photograph: Colin Keegan/Collins Dublin
A young Ballyfermot man has been identified by gardaí as a leading suspect in the murder of Thomas McCarthy who was shot dead in his mother's home on Monday.
The suspect, who is in his 20s, lived at one stage near the McCarthy family home in Croftwood Park. He is believed to have murdered Mr McCarthy (55) as part of a dispute involving a family member of the victim.
The suspect has several previous convictions, and is believed to have ties to organised crime. However, most of the suspected gunman’s convictions are for less serious offences, including a long list of car thefts.
Gardaí believe Mr McCarthy returned to Ireland from the United Kingdom, where he lives with his wife and children, in response to an attack on a female family member by another male.
READ MORE
It is thought Mr McCarthy had made it known he intended to confront this male, and that this may have led to his murder. However, the man who attacked his female relative is not believed by gardaí to have been the killer.
Open mind
The investigation is at an early stage and gardaí are keeping an open mind, sources stress. Investigators have not ruled out the possibility Mr McCarthy was killed in a case of mistaken identity, or that his killer acted alone.
The suspect, who no longer lives in Ballyfermot, is closely aligned with a local organised criminal who has been involved in drug dealing and extortion rackets and has been recently targeted by the Criminal Assets Bureau.
Mr McCarthy was shot at least three times when he opened the front door to a masked gunman at 11am on Monday. He managed to retreat back inside, but the gunman followed and shot him several more times.
The victim’s house is still occupied by Mr McCarthy’s elderly mother. She was in the house at the time of the murder, along with some of the dead man’s siblings.
The victim was pronounced dead a short time later despite efforts to resuscitate him. Neighbours described hearing up to 10 shots being fired in rapid succession.
The gunman escaped in a Ford Fiesta which was found burnt out nearby. He then got into a Skoda Octavia and drove to Monksfield Walk in Clondalkin. This car was also burnt out with the suspect fleeing on foot.
Burnt out
Gardaí believe he then got into a waiting Toyota Avensis, 10-D-123251. This car was spotted on CCTV between 10.57am and 11.06am at Woodford Lawns, a five minutes' walk from Monksfield Walk.
The Avensis was found burnt out on Peamount Road, a quiet country road located about 15 minutes away, in Newcastle, Co Dublin.
“Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have observed this vehicle between the hours of 10am and 9.30pm yesterday, Monday 27th, July 2020, or who may have any information in relation to this vehicle, to contact them at Ballyfermot Garda Station on 01 666 7200, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station,” the gardaí said in a statement.