theirishtimes--2020-11-24--Hospital and HSE apologise over young woman’s death from brain bleed

The HSE and Sligo University Hospital have apologised at the High Court to the family of a 19-year-old woman who died of a bleed to the brain three days after collapsing and being rushed to the hospital .
The apology was read as part of a confidential settlement of cases by the family of Lisa Niland against the hospital .
Ms Niland was taken to the Sligo hospital after collapsing in a fast food restaurant with severe head pain and dizziness..
Counsel for her family , Eoin McCullough SC , told the High Court there were three cases before the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought by her parents , Gerry and Angela and sister , Amy .
All cases were settled on confidential terms .
The family contended that had Lisa undergone a CT scan earlier at the hospital and been transferred urgently for treatment in Dublin , she would , on the balance of probabilities , have survived .
The brain scan was carried out more than 10 hours after she was reviewed in the Sligo hospital following her collapse .
In a letter to the Niland family read to the High Court , the hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sincerely apologise for the fact the care provided at the hospital “ did not reach the standard expected ” .
The letter acknowledged the experience was “ devastating ” for the Niland family and has had “ a profound and lasting effect ” on them .
Ms Niland , from Drimbane in Curry , was taken to the hospital at about 9.20pm on January 17th , 2017 after collapsing in the restaurant .
It was noted that she had a headache , dizziness and was vomiting .
It was claimed that she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ECG was done and diagnoses of pancreatitis and meningitis were recorded .
It is claimed that despite the sudden onset of headache , brain haemorrhage was not suggested as a diagnosis .
In the early hours of January 18th , the plan was to admit the young woman and she would have a CT scan later .
A diagnosis of meningitis was again mooted at around 9am and the need for a CT scan was repeated .
It was further claimed that Ms Niland was belatedly taken for a CT scan at 9.51am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large haemorrhage .
Treating doctors discussed the findings with Ms Niland ’ s family and contact was made with the neurosurgery department at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin .
Shortly afterwards Ms Niland suffered a cardiac arrest and a second arrest at around 11.50oam .
She was transferred Beaumont , where emergency surgery took place and a haematoma was removed .
Ms Niland was later put on a ventilator and her family was advised there was a poor prognosis .
Her situation deteriorated further later and she was pronounced dead at 3.25pm on January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HSE over the death of his daughter on January 20th , 2017 .
Amy Niland sued over nervous shock .
Approving the settlements , Mr Justice Kevin Cross extended his sympathy to the family on their loss .

Portraits of Lisa Niland being held by her sister Amy and parents Angela and Gerry Niland from Sligo outside the High Court following a settlement related to her death. Photograph: Collins Courts
The HSE and Sligo University Hospital have apologised at the High Court to the family of a 19-year-old woman who died of a bleed to the brain three days after collapsing and being rushed to the hospital.
The apology was read as part of a confidential settlement of cases by the family of Lisa Niland against the hospital.
Ms Niland was taken to the Sligo hospital after collapsing in a fast food restaurant with severe head pain and dizziness..
Counsel for her family, Eoin McCullough SC, told the High Court there were three cases before the court relating to her tragic death, brought by her parents, Gerry and Angela and sister, Amy. All cases were settled on confidential terms.
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The family contended that had Lisa undergone a CT scan earlier at the hospital and been transferred urgently for treatment in Dublin, she would, on the balance of probabilities, have survived. The brain scan was carried out more than 10 hours after she was reviewed in the Sligo hospital following her collapse.
In a letter to the Niland family read to the High Court, the hospital and the HSE said it would like to sincerely apologise for the fact the care provided at the hospital “did not reach the standard expected”.
The letter acknowledged the experience was “devastating” for the Niland family and has had “ a profound and lasting effect” on them.
Collapse
Ms Niland, from Drimbane in Curry, was taken to the hospital at about 9.20pm on January 17th, 2017 after collapsing in the restaurant. It was noted that she had a headache, dizziness and was vomiting.
It was claimed that she was only seen at 11.15pm and an ECG was done and diagnoses of pancreatitis and meningitis were recorded. It is claimed that despite the sudden onset of headache, brain haemorrhage was not suggested as a diagnosis. In the early hours of January 18th, the plan was to admit the young woman and she would have a CT scan later.
A diagnosis of meningitis was again mooted at around 9am and the need for a CT scan was repeated. It was further claimed that Ms Niland was belatedly taken for a CT scan at 9.51am on January 18th, which showed a large haemorrhage.
Treating doctors discussed the findings with Ms Niland’s family and contact was made with the neurosurgery department at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin.
Shortly afterwards Ms Niland suffered a cardiac arrest and a second arrest at around 11.50am. She was transferred Beaumont, where emergency surgery took place and a haematoma was removed.
Ms Niland was later put on a ventilator and her family was advised there was a poor prognosis. Her situation deteriorated further later and she was pronounced dead at 3.25pm on January 20th, 2017.
Mr Niland sued the HSE over the death of his daughter on January 20th, 2017. Amy Niland sued over nervous shock.
Approving the settlements, Mr Justice Kevin Cross extended his sympathy to the family on their loss.


theirishtimes--2020-11-24--Appeal court orders drink driver to pay €20,000 fine by New Year’s Eve

A drink driver has been given until New Year ’ s Eve to pay a €20,000 fine as part of his sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm .
The Court of Appeal heard that Muiris Flynn crashed his car into two cyclists while four times over the limit , leaving both with life-changing injuries .
The court previously found that the 18-month jail term originally imposed on the 31-year-old was unduly lenient .
However , as he had already been released from prison and found a new job by the time of his appeal , the three-judge court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his sentence but to impose a “ substantial fine ” instead .
The court previously heard that the electrician had been drinking the night before he lost control and crashed into the triathletes , who were on a morning training cycle in Co Roscommon .
Flynn , of Meadow Bank , Geevagh , Co Sligo , pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm , drink driving , and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24th , 2017 .
Roscommon Circuit Court heard that sisters Aoife and Áine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friend , Catherine Carey , at around 9.30am that Sunday .
They were all wearing fluorescent clothing and cycling in single file close to the verge of the road .
They were on a straight stretch when Aoife O ’ Connor , who was at the back , heard the sound of car tyres behind her .
She saw Flynn ’ s car skidding uncontrollably and warned the others .
The car then struck her sister and friend , who were flung into the air .
Both had to be rushed to hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother of three , suffered spinal fractures , a dislocated hip and other injuries .
She was unable to withstand the pain of the journey home from hospital for four months and had to recover in her mother ’ s home , meaning she was separated from her children for much of this time .
Due to the effect of her injuries , the secondary school teacher was unable to return to work , lost financial independence and could no longer engage in physical activities with her children .
Áine O ’ Connor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other fractures and injuries .
She was confined to a wheelchair for 10 weeks .
The physiotherapist gave evidence that she ’ d had a baby 11 weeks before the collision .
Her husband had to stop working for four months while he and her family cared for Ms O ’ Connor and their baby , who she was unable to feed or hold her for any length of time .
She returned to work a year later but in a less physical position and on limited hours .
She continued to experience @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , negative emotions and physical scars .
Judge Francis Comerford sentenced Flynn to four years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm , with the final 2½ years suspended .
He also disqualified him from driving for eight years .
The maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm is 10 years in prison , and the Director of Public Prosecutions ( DPP ) appealed against the leniency of Flynn ’ s sentence last month .
Flynn , who was released from prison in August , attended the Court of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , for the DPP , submitted that the sentencing judge had erred in fixing the headline indication at too low a point , had applied insufficient weight to the aggravating factors and undue weight to the mitigating factors .
Desmond Dockery SC , on behalf of Flynn , said he accepted that “ the judge was lenient on Mr Flynn , maybe even very lenient ” .
However , he submitted that the judge had to fix his sentence in the mid-range for that offence and , because he did so , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m acknowledging that he chose the lower end of the mid-range , ” he added .
He informed the court that his client , who had lost his job of 11 years with Irish Rail , had found a new job since his release .
Prison had a marked effect on him , he said .
In their judgment , Mr Justice John Edwards , presiding with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly , ruled that Flynn ’ s sentence had been unduly lenient .
They nominated a headline sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four years nominated by the sentencing judge .
They reduced this by half after considering mitigation .
They then imposed a fine of €20,000 on Flynn , having heard that he had offered his victims €12,000 in compensation , which they declined .
The said said Flynn ’ s conduct since his release from prison was relevant and he had found a job with an employer who spoke highly of him .
“ We believe that the interests of justice and the promotion and incentivisation of his continued reform would best be served @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison , ” they said , suspending the unserved balance of the sentence .
Mr Dockery said that his client was in a position to pay the fine in one instalment , as a result of receiving some family assistance .
He explained that he would pay his family back a third of his wage every week until the loan was repaid , which would take him about three years .
Mr Justice Edwards noted that this was a matter for Flynn and his family , but explained that he had to put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December 31st next .

A drink driver has been given until New Year’s Eve to pay a €20,000 fine as part of his sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm. File photograph: John Giles/PA Wire.
A drink driver has been given until New Year’s Eve to pay a €20,000 fine as part of his sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm.
The Court of Appeal heard that Muiris Flynn crashed his car into two cyclists while four times over the limit, leaving both with life-changing injuries.
The court previously found that the 18-month jail term originally imposed on the 31-year-old was unduly lenient.
However, as he had already been released from prison and found a new job by the time of his appeal, the three-judge court decided not to increase the custodial element of his sentence but to impose a “substantial fine” instead.
READ MORE
The court previously heard that the electrician had been drinking the night before he lost control and crashed into the triathletes, who were on a morning training cycle in Co Roscommon.
Flynn, of Meadow Bank, Geevagh, Co Sligo, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, drink driving, and driving without insurance at Doon near Boyle on September 24th, 2017.
Roscommon Circuit Court heard that sisters Aoife and Áine O’Connor were cycling with their friend, Catherine Carey, at around 9.30am that Sunday. They were all wearing fluorescent clothing and cycling in single file close to the verge of the road.
Flung into the air
They were on a straight stretch when Aoife O’Connor, who was at the back, heard the sound of car tyres behind her. She saw Flynn’s car skidding uncontrollably and warned the others. The car then struck her sister and friend, who were flung into the air. Both had to be rushed to hospital in Sligo.
Ms Carey, a mother of three, suffered spinal fractures, a dislocated hip and other injuries. She was unable to withstand the pain of the journey home from hospital for four months and had to recover in her mother’s home, meaning she was separated from her children for much of this time.
Due to the effect of her injuries, the secondary school teacher was unable to return to work, lost financial independence and could no longer engage in physical activities with her children.
Áine O’Connor suffered significant pelvic fractures, along with other fractures and injuries. She was confined to a wheelchair for 10 weeks.
The physiotherapist gave evidence that she’d had a baby 11 weeks before the collision. Her husband had to stop working for four months while he and her family cared for Ms O’Connor and their baby, who she was unable to feed or hold her for any length of time.
She returned to work a year later but in a less physical position and on limited hours. She continued to experience pain, altered sensation, physical limitations, negative emotions and physical scars.
Judge Francis Comerford sentenced Flynn to four years in prison for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm, with the final 2½ years suspended. He also disqualified him from driving for eight years.
Leniency
The maximum sentence for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm is 10 years in prison, and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed against the leniency of Flynn’s sentence last month.
Flynn, who was released from prison in August, attended the Court of Appeal remotely.
Cathal Ó Braonáin BL, for the DPP, submitted that the sentencing judge had erred in fixing the headline indication at too low a point, had applied insufficient weight to the aggravating factors and undue weight to the mitigating factors.
Desmond Dockery SC, on behalf of Flynn, said he accepted that “the judge was lenient on Mr Flynn, maybe even very lenient”. However, he submitted that the judge had to fix his sentence in the mid-range for that offence and, because he did so, there was no error.
“I’m acknowledging that he chose the lower end of the mid-range,” he added.
He informed the court that his client, who had lost his job of 11 years with Irish Rail, had found a new job since his release. Prison had a marked effect on him, he said.
In their judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards, presiding with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly, ruled that Flynn’s sentence had been unduly lenient.
They nominated a headline sentence of six years imprisonment rather than the four years nominated by the sentencing judge. They reduced this by half after considering mitigation.
Compensation offer
They then imposed a fine of €20,000 on Flynn, having heard that he had offered his victims €12,000 in compensation, which they declined.
The said said Flynn’s conduct since his release from prison was relevant and he had found a job with an employer who spoke highly of him.
“We believe that the interests of justice and the promotion and incentivisation of his continued reform would best be served by not requiring him to return to prison,” they said, suspending the unserved balance of the sentence.
Mr Dockery said that his client was in a position to pay the fine in one instalment, as a result of receiving some family assistance.
He explained that he would pay his family back a third of his wage every week until the loan was repaid, which would take him about three years.
Mr Justice Edwards noted that this was a matter for Flynn and his family, but explained that he had to put a date on it, and selected December 31st next.


theirishtimes--2020-11-24--Covid-19 vaccine: ‘I’ll be first in line,’ says Luke O’Neill

People should take the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available , immunologist Luke O ’ Neill has said , adding that he would be ‘ first in line ’ when it comes out .
Prof O ’ Neill said the development of four vaccines to combat Covid-19 would lead to new approaches for other infectious diseases .
“ This will galvanise the drug companies.
” When asked if he would get the vaccine himself , he said he would be “ the first in line.
” “ We should all line up , ” he added .
Prof O ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anxious or were hesitant but he said vaccine was very low risk .
“ This is a very dangerous virus , we need to remember that all the time.
” Ministers will on Tuesday push for the “ greatest possible ” easing of coronavirus restrictions across the Irish economy and society next week as the Government deliberates on how to exit Level 5 restrictions .
Cabinet sources across all three parties say Ministers will push for the reopening of shops , restaurants and churches from next week onwards , alongside an easing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December .
Prof O ’ Neill advised people to keep family hugs to a minimum this Christmas .
“ It sounds draconian ” he admitted , but if families are to gather he recommended they hug briefly , while wearing a mask and out of doors .
Speaking on RTÉ radio ’ s Today with Claire Byrne show , he said that distancing , ventilation and hand hygiene would be very important .
“ Have a good breeze blowing through the house and put grandpa by the window , ” he recommended .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that restrictions will be lifted to allow three to four households to meet , but he also suggested that people should bring their own dinner ware , only one person should be in the kitchen serving food and seating should be staggered around the table .
“ It ’ s going to be tough , ” he acknowledged .
“ We can ’ t have people together for 10 hours in a room playing games .
This will be a different Christmas.
” Prof O ’ Neill said that mask wearing remained an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus .
“ Mask wearing is key to picking up a low dose which will lead to better outcomes .
”

If you must hug this Christmas, keep it brief, wear a facemask and do it outside, Prof Luke O’Neill advised.
People should take the coronavirus vaccine when it becomes available, immunologist Luke O’Neill has said, adding that he would be ‘first in line’ when it comes out.
Prof O’Neill said the development of four vaccines to combat Covid-19 would lead to new approaches for other infectious diseases. “This will galvanise the drug companies.”
When asked if he would get the vaccine himself, he said he would be “the first in line.”
“We should all line up,” he added. Prof O’Neill said he understood that people were anxious or were hesitant but he said vaccine was very low risk. “This is a very dangerous virus, we need to remember that all the time.”
READ MORE
Ministers will on Tuesday push for the “greatest possible” easing of coronavirus restrictions across the Irish economy and society next week as the Government deliberates on how to exit Level 5 restrictions.
Cabinet sources across all three parties say Ministers will push for the reopening of shops, restaurants and churches from next week onwards, alongside an easing of travel restrictions at a later stage in December.
Prof O’Neill advised people to keep family hugs to a minimum this Christmas. “It sounds draconian” he admitted, but if families are to gather he recommended they hug briefly, while wearing a mask and out of doors.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Today with Claire Byrne show, he said that distancing, ventilation and hand hygiene would be very important.
“Have a good breeze blowing through the house and put grandpa by the window,” he recommended.
Prof O’Neill said he hoped that restrictions will be lifted to allow three to four households to meet, but he also suggested that people should bring their own dinner ware, only one person should be in the kitchen serving food and seating should be staggered around the table.
“It’s going to be tough,” he acknowledged. “We can’t have people together for 10 hours in a room playing games. This will be a different Christmas.”
Prof O’Neill said that mask wearing remained an important factor in the suppression of the virus. “Mask wearing is key to picking up a low dose which will lead to better outcomes.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-24--An Taisce seeks to overturn permission for Co Kilkenny cheese plant

An Taisce has taken a legal action against An Bord Pleanála and the State aimed at overturning planning permission for a continental cheese manufacturing plant in Co Kilkenny .
The grounds of challenge include claims the environmental effects of the milk inputs for the cheese plant were not properly taken into account for the purposes of the Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ) and Habitats Directives .
An EIA report submitted by the developer , Kilkenny Cheese Ltd , had noted the dairy herd is expected to increase from 1.4 million to 1.7 million cows by 2025 and that each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in that time , giving a projected increase of about 1.6 billion litres of milk by 2025 , An Taisce , the National Trust for Ireland , says .
The report also noted , of the 450 million litres of milk required each year for the proposed plant from 2022 , about 20 per cent is already in circulation and it will equate in total to about 4.5 per cent of the milk pool projected to be available in Ireland in 2025 .
It is claimed the environmental effects of the milk production @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a “ direct or indirect ” effect of the plant with the terms of the EIA Directive and that it also requires assessment for the purposes of the Habitats Directive .
The waste effluent generated by the plant , An Taisce claims , was not adequately assessed for the purpose of those two directives and the Water Framework Directive .
Other claims include that the ammonia generated by the milk production is inconsistent with the statutory “ National Emissions Reduction Commitment ” set down by the EU .
Ireland , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under EU law to limit annual emissions of ammonia to set figures for the years up to 2030 and beyond .
The limit up to December 2019 was 116 kilotonnes annually and Ireland ’ s annual emissions for 2018 were 119.339kt , the group says .
At the High Court on Monday , Mr Justice Garrett Simons granted an ex parte ( one side only represented ) application by An Taisce , represented by Neil Steen SC and John Kenny BL , instructed by FP Logue Solicitors , for leave to bring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aimed at overturning a seven year planning permission granted by the board last June for a continental cheese manufacturing plant and other works at Belview Science and Technology Park , Gorteens , Slieverue , Co Kilkenny .
It is against the board , the Minister for Communications , Climate Action and the Environment , Ireland and the Attorney General with the developer as a notice party .
A hearing date will be fixed at a later stage .

The grounds of challenge include claims the environmental effects of the milk inputs for the cheese plant were not properly taken into account. Photograph: iStock
An Taisce has taken a legal action against An Bord Pleanála and the State aimed at overturning planning permission for a continental cheese manufacturing plant in Co Kilkenny.
The grounds of challenge include claims the environmental effects of the milk inputs for the cheese plant were not properly taken into account for the purposes of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Habitats Directives.
An EIA report submitted by the developer, Kilkenny Cheese Ltd, had noted the dairy herd is expected to increase from 1.4 million to 1.7 million cows by 2025 and that each cow was projected to produce more milk in that time, giving a projected increase of about 1.6 billion litres of milk by 2025, An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, says.
The report also noted, of the 450 million litres of milk required each year for the proposed plant from 2022, about 20 per cent is already in circulation and it will equate in total to about 4.5 per cent of the milk pool projected to be available in Ireland in 2025.
READ MORE
It is claimed the environmental effects of the milk production necessary for the plant’s operation is a “direct or indirect” effect of the plant with the terms of the EIA Directive and that it also requires assessment for the purposes of the Habitats Directive.
The waste effluent generated by the plant, An Taisce claims, was not adequately assessed for the purpose of those two directives and the Water Framework Directive.
Other claims include that the ammonia generated by the milk production is inconsistent with the statutory “National Emissions Reduction Commitment” set down by the EU.
Ireland, it is claimed, has a legally binding obligation under EU law to limit annual emissions of ammonia to set figures for the years up to 2030 and beyond. The limit up to December 2019 was 116 kilotonnes annually and Ireland’s annual emissions for 2018 were 119.339kt, the group says.
At the High Court on Monday, Mr Justice Garrett Simons granted an ex parte (one side only represented) application by An Taisce, represented by Neil Steen SC and John Kenny BL, instructed by FP Logue Solicitors, for leave to bring the judicial review proceedings.
The case is aimed at overturning a seven year planning permission granted by the board last June for a continental cheese manufacturing plant and other works at Belview Science and Technology Park, Gorteens, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny.
It is against the board, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, Ireland and the Attorney General with the developer as a notice party. A hearing date will be fixed at a later stage.


theirishtimes--2020-11-24--Brexit: Rush for last-minute deal to let sausages into North

European Union and British officials are locked in intense discussions to try to reach arrangements that would prevent certain meat products such as unfrozen mince and sausages being blocked for export from Britain into Northern Ireland .
Certain kinds of foods such as unfrozen mince from outside the EU are considered so high risk that there is a defacto ban on importing them - a rule that will apply to Britain from January 1st .
The EU currently has no provision such as export health certificates to allow for the import of such produce from outside the bloc .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the EU ’ s Single Market and applying its customs rules while Britain diverges , this poses serious problems for supermarkets in the North that fill their shelves with produce such as unfrozen sausages and mince from England .
“ The problem is that there is no export health certificate in existence to do these things , ” said Nick Allen of the British Meat Processors Association , adding that the industry was “ lobbying hard ” for one to be created .
There is speculation that the British government could threaten to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an export health certificate for unfrozen produce by also blocking such imports from the EU , including Ireland , which would cut off a major market .
However , such a move would create a shortfall in Britain as it is a significant net importer of meat , and the idea was played down by sources close to the talks .
“ People could argue if you ’ re not going to let us have one , we ’ re not going to let you have one , ” said Mr Allen .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ work going on to try to resolve these things , and you just have to hope that the politicians will come up with some kind of a grace period to sort this out because we ’ re running out of time.
” Minister for Agriculture , Charlie McConalogue has said negotiators will work hard to ensure there is no ban on a wide range of foods moving between the UK and Ireland .
Speaking on RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland , Mr McConalogue said the necessity for such talks was a reflection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and highlighted how complicated the whole issue was .
Mr McConalogue said it was important that there be strong engagement to see how the issue can be resolved .
He denied that this was an example of “ brinksmanship ” .
There was no doubt that the Northern Ireland protocol was the best possible outcome , but it did not resolve all the issues , he said .
“ Across the board from January 1st there are going to be significant changes.
” Director Northern Ireland Retail Consortium Aodhán Connolly said the issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol that he had long raised concerns about for its implications for imports into the North .
“ We have brought this up with the UK government and the EU from the start of the year .
It ’ s one of many things that there still needs to be clarity on , ” Mr Connolly said .
“ Consumers in Northern Ireland will be adversely affected because this will reduce the choice on the shelves.
” Earlier this month the Democratic Unionist Party first minister Arlene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michelle O ’ Neill wrote a rare joint appeal to the European Commission to ask for a solution to avoid the risk of a threat to food supplies .
Discussions are ongoing on how to resolve the issue , with industry figures calling for a grace period in which the implementation of rules would be phased in , something the EU side is thought to be considering .
Long term however , it may be unlikely that the EU will change its rules to cater for Britain , meaning that retailers in Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ routes .
For less high-risk meats such as frozen produce , the non-EU country of origin must be authorised for imports into the EU , and establishments that produce the meat must also be approved to follow EU standards .
The UK has yet to be listed as such a country , which is also a cause of concern to British meat producers , some of which are heavily reliant on exports to the EU .

Under EU rules there are restrictions on certain meat products, such as sausages, from outside the European Union.
European Union and UK negotiators are locked in tense negotiations to seek agreement to prevent certain meat products such as unfrozen mince and sausages being blocked for export from Britain into Northern Ireland.
Certain kinds of foods such as unfrozen mince from outside the EU are considered so high risk that there is a defacto ban on importing them - a rule that will apply to Britain from January 1st.
The EU currently has no provision such as export health certificates to allow for the import of such produce from outside the bloc.
As Northern Ireland is staying in line with the EU's Single Market and applying its customs rules while Britain diverges, this poses serious problems for supermarkets in the North that fill their shelves with produce such as unfrozen sausages and mince from England.
READ MORE
“The problem is that there is no export health certificate in existence to do these things,” said Nick Allen of the British Meat Processors Association, adding that the industry was “lobbying hard” for one to be created.
There is speculation that the British government could threaten to retaliate if the EU does not create an export health certificate for unfrozen produce by also blocking such imports from the EU, including Ireland, which would cut off a major market.
However, such a move would create a shortfall in Britain as it is a significant net importer of meat, and the idea was played down by sources close to the talks.
“People could argue if you’re not going to let us have one, we’re not going to let you have one,” said Mr Allen. “There’s a lot of work going on to try to resolve these things, and you just have to hope that the politicians will come up with some kind of a grace period to sort this out because we’re running out of time.”
In a statement, Meat Industry Ireland, who represent Irish meat plants, said food producers were eager to get clarity on the export issue “without any further delay”.
The group said there were "significant concerns that, even at this late stage, there are a wide range of certification issues that need to be resolved to ensure orderly trade post Brexit. "
“The certification of chilled meat preparations is a particular issue that has arisen that could be disruptive to trade if not addressed. It is an issue which we believe can be resolved in the overall conclusion of export certification requirements between both sides,” the group said.
Minister for Agriculture, Charlie McConalogue has said negotiators will work hard to ensure there is no ban on a wide range of foods moving between the UK and Ireland.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland, Mr McConalogue said the necessity for such talks was a reflection of the challenges that Brexit presented, and highlighted how complicated the whole issue was.
Mr McConalogue said it was important that there be strong engagement to see how the issue can be resolved. He denied that this was an example of “brinksmanship”.
There was no doubt that the Northern Ireland protocol was the best possible outcome, but it did not resolve all the issues, he said. “Across the board from January 1st there are going to be significant changes.”
Director Northern Ireland Retail Consortium Aodhán Connolly said the issue was one of many unsolved questions in the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol that he had long raised concerns about for its implications for imports into the North.
“We have brought this up with the UK government and the EU from the start of the year. It’s one of many things that there still needs to be clarity on,” Mr Connolly said.
“Consumers in Northern Ireland will be adversely affected because this will reduce the choice on the shelves.”
Earlier this month the Democratic Unionist Party first minister Arlene Foster and Sinn Féin deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill wrote a rare joint appeal to the European Commission to ask for a solution to avoid the risk of a threat to food supplies.
Discussions are ongoing on how to resolve the issue, with industry figures calling for a grace period in which the implementation of rules would be phased in, something the EU side is thought to be considering.
Long term however, it may be unlikely that the EU will change its rules to cater for Britain, meaning that retailers in Northern Ireland may have to find alternative supply routes.
For less high-risk meats such as frozen produce, the non-EU country of origin must be authorised for imports into the EU, and establishments that produce the meat must also be approved to follow EU standards.
The UK has yet to be listed as such a country, which is also a cause of concern to British meat producers, some of which are heavily reliant on exports to the EU.


theirishtimes--2020-11-24--Nursing home residents expected to be allowed one visit a week

Restrictions on nursing homes are expected to be eased to allow residents have one scheduled visit a week in the run-up to Christmas , under new guidelines due to be published in the coming days .
Public health officials are in the process of finalising updated Covid-19 guidelines for visits to the homes following calls for residents to be permitted visits during the Christmas period .
Under the Government ’ s current five-phase Living with Covid-19 plan , routine visits to nursing homes would remain suspended if the country moved to a modified version of Level 3 restrictions as expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the visiting restrictions for critical and compassionate circumstances .
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre ( HPSC ) has been working on new guidelines , which sources expect will permit nursing home residents one scheduled visit a week .
The new guidance is expected to be circulated to nursing homes and other long term residential care centres in the coming days .
Tadhg Daly , chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland , which represent private and voluntary providers , said the group had been engaging with the HPSC to draw up “ practicable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He said the guidance would “ ensure visits are managed safely in the context of Christmas being an important time for families ” .
Providers were conscious of the need to balance “ the threat of Covid with the safety of residents , and that is something nursing homes have been doing since day one , ” he said .
Following a ban on visits during the first national lockdown , nursing homes were permitted to allow residents to see family and friends in person again from mid-June , with protective measures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officials have steadily increased limits on nursing home visitors , as the number of Covid-19 cases increased .
The sector was devastated during the first wave of the coronavirus , with residents accounting for around half of the State ’ s total deaths from the virus to date .
There are currently 105 outbreaks in residential care facilities , and 51 in nursing homes , , with health officials confident the majority are currently being kept under control .

Restrictions on nursing homes are expected to be eased to allow residents have one scheduled visit a week in the run-up to Christmas, under new guidelines due to be published in the coming days. File image: Dara Mac Dónaill/The Irish Times.
Restrictions on nursing homes are expected to be eased to allow residents have one scheduled visit a week in the run-up to Christmas, under new guidelines due to be published in the coming days.
Public health officials are in the process of finalising updated Covid-19 guidelines for visits to the homes following calls for residents to be permitted visits during the Christmas period.
Under the Government’s current five-phase Living with Covid-19 plan, routine visits to nursing homes would remain suspended if the country moved to a modified version of Level 3 restrictions as expected next week.
There are currently exceptions to the visiting restrictions for critical and compassionate circumstances.
READ MORE
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has been working on new guidelines, which sources expect will permit nursing home residents one scheduled visit a week. The new guidance is expected to be circulated to nursing homes and other long term residential care centres in the coming days.
Tadhg Daly, chief executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, which represent private and voluntary providers, said the group had been engaging with the HPSC to draw up "practicable and implementable guidelines for visits".
Managed safely
He said the guidance would “ensure visits are managed safely in the context of Christmas being an important time for families”.
Providers were conscious of the need to balance “the threat of Covid with the safety of residents, and that is something nursing homes have been doing since day one,” he said.
Following a ban on visits during the first national lockdown, nursing homes were permitted to allow residents to see family and friends in person again from mid-June, with protective measures in place.
Since late August public health officials have steadily increased limits on nursing home visitors, as the number of Covid-19 cases increased.
The sector was devastated during the first wave of the coronavirus, with residents accounting for around half of the State’s total deaths from the virus to date. There are currently 105 outbreaks in residential care facilities, and 51 in nursing homes,, with health officials confident the majority are currently being kept under control.


theirishtimes--2020-11-24--Vicky Phelan considers move to US for experimental drug trial

The CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan is considering a six month move to the US to take part in an experimental drug trial .
Ms Phelan , who recently discussed having found a new tumour on her lung , said she wished to seek out an alternative drug treatment to chemotherapy , given the toll it takes on cancer patients .
“ I don ’ t really have other options other than chemotherapy .
And for me once I go on chemotherapy that ’ s the end of the road because I know how sick I ’ m going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down this road , ” she said in an interview on RTÉ ’ s Claire Byrne Live on Monday , explaining that she might get between seven and 12 months at best from chemotherapy .
“ I think you look like a cancer patient once you lose your hair.
” She did not say what drug is currently being tested in the US clinical trial but that it is now in its second phase , focusing on dosage , and has had some promising outcomes for patients including herself who have been on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving there for at least six months .
“ It looks like that could be where I ’ m going next year.
” The Limerick mother who has been at the centre of the CervicalCheck controversy has been battling with her campaign group 221+ for what she believes is a fair tribunal approach to help those affected .
The group recently ended negotiations with the Government and on Monday night Ms Phelan said they were now “ done talking ” unless major reforms on the tribunal structure and approach could be offered .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ motivated her to get behind People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny ’ s push for assisted dying legislation .
Her form of cancer can lead to complications and pain in patients .
“ I know unfortunately what is facing me and that is quite frightening .
Nobody wants to die in pain , ” she said .
“ I believe strongly that when you ’ re terminally ill , when you ’ re at a stage where you know there ’ s no coming back , you should be allowed to die with @ @ @ @ @ @

The CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan is considering a six month move to the US to take part in an experimental drug trial.
Ms Phelan, who recently discussed having found a new tumour on her lung, said she wished to seek out an alternative drug treatment to chemotherapy, given the toll it takes on cancer patients.
"I don't really have other options other than chemotherapy. And for me once I go on chemotherapy that's the end of the road because I know how sick I'm going to be; I have seen enough women go down this road," she said in an interview on RTÉ's Claire Byrne Live on Monday, explaining that she might get between seven and 12 months at best from chemotherapy.
“I think you look like a cancer patient once you lose your hair.”
READ MORE
She did not say what drug is currently being tested in the US clinical trial but that it is now in its second phase, focusing on dosage, and has had some promising outcomes for patients including herself who have been on the Pembro drug.
Participation would involve moving there for at least six months. “It looks like that could be where I’m going next year.”
The Limerick mother who has been at the centre of the CervicalCheck controversy has been battling with her campaign group 221+ for what she believes is a fair tribunal approach to help those affected.
The group recently ended negotiations with the Government and on Monday night Ms Phelan said they were now “done talking” unless major reforms on the tribunal structure and approach could be offered.
She also said her personal health had motivated her to get behind People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny’s push for assisted dying legislation. Her form of cancer can lead to complications and pain in patients.
“I know unfortunately what is facing me and that is quite frightening. Nobody wants to die in pain,” she said.
“I believe strongly that when you’re terminally ill, when you’re at a stage where you know there’s no coming back, you should be allowed to die with dignity and not suffering.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-24--‘Shatter the glass ceiling’: First woman university chief in Ireland after 428 years

Earlier this year Prof Kerstin Mey shattered one of the highest and hardest glass ceilings there is in Ireland .
Her appointment as president of University of Limerick in July ended a 428-year tradition of men only running Irish universities .
By her own admission , the full significance of it only sank in later .
“ I was really surprised when I was being stopped in Limerick , on the street or in the shops , by women who I had never met before who were congratulating me and saying how fantastic it is and how important it was… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate how big a deal it was.
” Part of that , she thinks now , was down to wanting to avoid over-thinking the enormous responsibility of the position as a role model for women .
“ The expectations are huge that as a woman you will do things differently , you will change things… it ’ s a very symbolic role , and you serve as a role model in your own institution and in the sector and beyond . ''
Prof Mey was born and raised in East Germany ( what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Equality for women was rooted – officially , at least – in the doctrines of the eastern bloc state .
In reality , she says , it was a flawed model which relied on near full participation of women in employment to make up its low industrial productivity .
However , she says , being the first member of her family to obtain a PhD instilled a strong belief in her that it was “ possible to knock at and shatter the glass ceiling ” .
Ireland , she says , is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women at senior levels of academia .
While about half of all lecturers in Irish universities are female , these numbers fall dramatically at higher grades such as associate professor – one in three are women – and professor – one in four are women .
Prof Mey says promotional pathways don ’ t always take account of women ’ s rounded experience ; the socialisation of women and expectations in society may also lead to greater hesitation among women to put their head above the parapet .
“ That needs to develop @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on , and support them to realise their talent and aspirations , ” she says .
She is a strong supporter of an initiative , spearheaded by previous minister for higher education Mary Mitchell O ’ Connor , which is resulting in the appointment of dozens of women-only professorships aimed at tackling gender inequality .
“ It ’ s not about promoting women who haven ’ t got the capability to contribute to the positions .
The process [ for appointing women-only professors ] is highly competitive , and there are many talented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the helm of UL at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the traditional college experience beyond recognition .
She accepts students are losing out by not having a campus experience and taking part in clubs and societies .
They also have to contend with mental health pressures and patchy access to technology .
But , she says , positives may also emerge from the experience such as an ease with technology among graduates which will prepare them for a world where digital disruption will be a way of life .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ takes place in future , she says , with a greater emphasis on blended learning , combining in-class with online learning .
Quite apart from gender , Prof May ’ s appointment is also unusual for her background in the arts and humanities .
Most college presidents are steeped in Stem ( science , technology and engineering ) , where the most lucrative research funding is .
She studied for a master ’ s degree in art and German language and literature at Humboldt University in Berlin , followed by a PhD in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she says , will be integral to our economic success .
The future of research and work will focus on the intersection of a range of different disciplines .
At a time when many say higher education faces a crossroads and there are questions over how it will be funded , Prof Mey is not a supporter of student loans or privatisation .
“ I am of the view that education is a public good .
So I would not speak for privatisation of tuition , tuition fees , but of continued State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be needed , she says , in future .
Higher education won ’ t stop at graduation ; lifelong learning will become more of a reality for all .
“ I think we have to think about that , look at what ’ s already there and look at the debates about allowances for every citizen towards a lifelong education .
”

Earlier this year Prof Kerstin Mey shattered one of the highest and hardest glass ceilings there is in Ireland.
Her appointment as president of University of Limerick in July ended a 428-year tradition of men only running Irish universities.
By her own admission, the full significance of it only sank in later.
“I was really surprised when I was being stopped in Limerick, on the street or in the shops, by women who I had never met before who were congratulating me and saying how fantastic it is and how important it was… So, I didn’t fully appreciate how big a deal it was.”
READ MORE
Part of that, she thinks now, was down to wanting to avoid over-thinking the enormous responsibility of the position as a role model for women.
“The expectations are huge that as a woman you will do things differently, you will change things… it’s a very symbolic role, and you serve as a role model in your own institution and in the sector and beyond."
Prof Mey was born and raised in East Germany (what was then the German Democratic Republic).
Equality for women was rooted – officially, at least – in the doctrines of the eastern bloc state.
Flawed model
In reality, she says, it was a flawed model which relied on near full participation of women in employment to make up its low industrial productivity.
However, she says, being the first member of her family to obtain a PhD instilled a strong belief in her that it was “possible to knock at and shatter the glass ceiling”.
Ireland, she says, is not unusual with its huge under-representation of women at senior levels of academia.
While about half of all lecturers in Irish universities are female, these numbers fall dramatically at higher grades such as associate professor – one in three are women – and professor – one in four are women.
Prof Mey says promotional pathways don’t always take account of women’s rounded experience; the socialisation of women and expectations in society may also lead to greater hesitation among women to put their head above the parapet.
“That needs to develop by bringing women into leadership training early on, and support them to realise their talent and aspirations,” she says.
Gender inequality
She is a strong supporter of an initiative, spearheaded by previous minister for higher education Mary Mitchell O’Connor, which is resulting in the appointment of dozens of women-only professorships aimed at tackling gender inequality.
“It’s not about promoting women who haven’t got the capability to contribute to the positions. The process [for appointing women-only professors] is highly competitive, and there are many talented women around...”
Prof Mey is at the helm of UL at a time when the Covid-19 pandemic has changed the traditional college experience beyond recognition.
University of Limerick: “The president of UL has also been on the record in acknowledging that suspending employees for over two years is not acceptable management practice”
She accepts students are losing out by not having a campus experience and taking part in clubs and societies. They also have to contend with mental health pressures and patchy access to technology.
But, she says, positives may also emerge from the experience such as an ease with technology among graduates which will prepare them for a world where digital disruption will be a way of life.
It may also change the way learning takes place in future, she says, with a greater emphasis on blended learning, combining in-class with online learning.
Quite apart from gender, Prof May’s appointment is also unusual for her background in the arts and humanities.
Most college presidents are steeped in Stem (science, technology and engineering), where the most lucrative research funding is.
The arts
She studied for a master's degree in art and German language and literature at Humboldt University in Berlin, followed by a PhD in art theory and aesthetics.
Arts, she says, will be integral to our economic success. The future of research and work will focus on the intersection of a range of different disciplines.
At a time when many say higher education faces a crossroads and there are questions over how it will be funded, Prof Mey is not a supporter of student loans or privatisation.
“I am of the view that education is a public good. So I would not speak for privatisation of tuition, tuition fees, but of continued State funding… “ she says.
Major changes will be needed, she says, in future. Higher education won’t stop at graduation; lifelong learning will become more of a reality for all.
“I think we have to think about that, look at what’s already there and look at the debates about allowances for every citizen towards a lifelong education.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Brown dwarf stars: What’s the weather like up there?

You work at at American Museum of Natural History in New York , which sounds amazing – what do you do there ?
It is pretty much a dream job , doing scientific research at the museum .
I work in astrophysics .
The museum is home to the Hayden Planetarium , and we have a research programme here , too .
Within that , I work on a type of star called a brown dwarf .
What exactly are brown dwarf stars ?
Brown dwarfs are stars that are somewhere between a star like our sun and a planet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in “ stellar nurseries ” in space , where dust accumulates and collapses in on itself .
If there is not enough dust to form a star like our sun , which releases energy and shines , then you get a brown dwarf star that gets cooler and cooler .
In other cases , a brown dwarf may form more like a planet does , around a star , but the brown dwarf gets ejected from the normal route the planets take around the star and it floats more freely in space .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ these stars ?
They are interesting because they can have atmospheres , like planets do , but they are easier to examine because they are not close to shining stars that interfere with our view .
So our research looks at the weather systems on brown dwarf stars .
What have you been finding ?
We collect information from telescopes in space and on Earth , and we measure the rotation of the core of the brown dwarf and compare it with the rotation of its atmosphere .
From that we have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of wind speed , which we published in Science .
It was about 650m per second , so that is pretty wild weather .
That ’ s impressive .
Have you been able to continue the work during the pandemic ?
Yes , this kind of astronomy is probably the ultimate in remote working .
We were able to book time on telescopes to collect data , and then we could analyse the results .
A lot of my research is on the computer , writing proposals and code and doing analysis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ here in New York .
How did you get interested in astrophysics ?
When I was growing up in Clontarf in Dublin , at school in Holy Faith , I was interested in chemistry and I went to Trinity College Dublin to study natural sciences .
I found out fairly quickly , though , that I didn ’ t really enjoy lab work , and I was drawn to astronomy and astrophysics .
The big turning point for me was in my final year when we went on a class trip to La @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent the days working on solar physics and then at night we got to visit the telescopes there .
That was a big moment of “ wow ” for me .
What has it been like living in New York this year ?
It has been a rollercoaster and it was especially tough and scary earlier this year when New York was so badly affected by Covid-19 .
One of the things that has helped me to cope in the last few months is exercise .
Before Covid-19 I was getting to practise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now I am mainly doing yoga and working out on my exercise bike .
It has been tough missing my colleagues in person , and I ’ m looking forward to being able to get back to the museum to work .

You work at at American Museum of Natural History in New York, which sounds amazing – what do you do there?
It is pretty much a dream job, doing scientific research at the museum. I work in astrophysics. The museum is home to the Hayden Planetarium, and we have a research programme here, too. Within that, I work on a type of star called a brown dwarf.
What exactly are brown dwarf stars?
Brown dwarfs are stars that are somewhere between a star like our sun and a planet. One way they can form is in "stellar nurseries" in space, where dust accumulates and collapses in on itself. If there is not enough dust to form a star like our sun, which releases energy and shines, then you get a brown dwarf star that gets cooler and cooler.
In other cases, a brown dwarf may form more like a planet does, around a star, but the brown dwarf gets ejected from the normal route the planets take around the star and it floats more freely in space.
Why do you want to look at these stars?
They are interesting because they can have atmospheres, like planets do, but they are easier to examine because they are not close to shining stars that interfere with our view. So our research looks at the weather systems on brown dwarf stars.
READ MORE
What have you been finding?
We collect information from telescopes in space and on Earth, and we measure the rotation of the core of the brown dwarf and compare it with the rotation of its atmosphere.
From that we have been able to provide the first direct measurement of wind speed, which we published in Science. It was about 650m per second, so that is pretty wild weather.
Artist’s conception of a brown dwarf and its magnetic field. Image: Bill Saxton, NRAO/AUI/NSF
That's impressive. Have you been able to continue the work during the pandemic?
Yes, this kind of astronomy is probably the ultimate in remote working. We were able to book time on telescopes to collect data, and then we could analyse the results. A lot of my research is on the computer, writing proposals and code and doing analysis. So I could keep working from home here in New York.
How did you get interested in astrophysics?
When I was growing up in Clontarf in Dublin, at school in Holy Faith, I was interested in chemistry and I went to Trinity College Dublin to study natural sciences. I found out fairly quickly, though, that I didn't really enjoy lab work, and I was drawn to astronomy and astrophysics.
The big turning point for me was in my final year when we went on a class trip to La Palma on the Canary islands. We spent the days working on solar physics and then at night we got to visit the telescopes there. That was a big moment of "wow" for me.
What has it been like living in New York this year?
It has been a rollercoaster and it was especially tough and scary earlier this year when New York was so badly affected by Covid-19. One of the things that has helped me to cope in the last few months is exercise.
Before Covid-19 I was getting to practise ballet at amazing studios here, but now I am mainly doing yoga and working out on my exercise bike. It has been tough missing my colleagues in person, and I’m looking forward to being able to get back to the museum to work.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Metro South may be back on table as transport plans for Dublin are reviewed

Transport plans covering the entire Dublin region for the next 20 years are to be reviewed to take into account new Government policies and the potential long-term impacts of Covid-19 .
The €10.3 billion Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy published by the National Transport Authority ( NTA ) in 2016 included the development of Luas lines to Bray , Finglas , Lucan and the Poolbeg peninsula , as well as the Metro North line from the city centre to Dublin Airport and Swords , and the Metro South from the city to Sandyford .
The NTA will on Thursday begin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the progress made on these major infrastructural projects and will establish the priority projects up to 2042 .
The review will reflect updated national policies on sustainability in climate action plans and legislation , as well as the 10-year National Development Plan published in 2018 , the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy finalised earlier this year .
It is understood the review will also take into account the potential impacts of the pandemic , beyond the short-term .
It is expected to take a year to complete , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reconsideration of the immediate plans for the metro , an application for which is expected to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála next April .
The Metro South project was last year shelved with the NTA announcing that the renamed Metrolink line would terminate at Charlemont at the Grand Canal near Ranelagh where it meets the Luas Green line .
However , the NTA at the time said it would tunnel past the Charlemont stop to allow the conversion of the Luas to metro “ to occur at an appropriate point in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be required “ for some time , perhaps 20 years or so ” .
It is likely these long-term plans for a southside element of the Metro will be a major focus of the review .
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan is on record as favouring re-routing the southside line to Rathfarnham .
Writing in The Irish Times last year , prior to the general election and his appointment as Minister , the Green Party leader said the NTA needed to “ switch tracks ” and extend the metro to the southwest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rathfarnham .
It is understood that a potential metro line to University College Dublin will also be considered as part of the review .
The mothballed Dart underground plan could also make a reappearance as part of the process .
In 2010 Irish Rail applied to An Bord Pleanála for a railway order for the €4.5 billion project to link Heuston station to the Dart line , with underground stations at Spencer Dock , Pearse Station , St Stephen ’ s Green , Christ Church and Heuston , In November 2011 the project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The following month the board granted the railway order .
The underground , while included in the 2016 strategy , was not included in the National Development Plan .
The NTA will also publish an “ issues paper ” , asking the public to provide their views and objectives as part of a preliminary consultation process .
A second consultation process will take place around the middle of next year following the development of draft strategy proposals .

Transport plans covering the entire Dublin region for the next 20 years are to be reviewed to take into account new Government policies and the potential long-term impacts of Covid-19.
The €10.3 billion Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy published by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in 2016 included the development of Luas lines to Bray, Finglas, Lucan and the Poolbeg peninsula, as well as the Metro North line from the city centre to Dublin Airport and Swords, and the Metro South from the city to Sandyford.
The NTA will on Thursday begin a review of the strategy to assess the progress made on these major infrastructural projects and will establish the priority projects up to 2042.
The review will reflect updated national policies on sustainability in climate action plans and legislation, as well as the 10-year National Development Plan published in 2018, the National Planning Framework and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy finalised earlier this year.
READ MORE
It is understood the review will also take into account the potential impacts of the pandemic, beyond the short-term. It is expected to take a year to complete, and so is unlikely to involve a reconsideration of the immediate plans for the metro, an application for which is expected to be submitted to An Bord Pleanála next April.
The Metro South project was last year shelved with the NTA announcing that the renamed Metrolink line would terminate at Charlemont at the Grand Canal near Ranelagh where it meets the Luas Green line.
However, the NTA at the time said it would tunnel past the Charlemont stop to allow the conversion of the Luas to metro “to occur at an appropriate point in the future” but the upgrade would not be required “for some time, perhaps 20 years or so”.
It is likely these long-term plans for a southside element of the Metro will be a major focus of the review. Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan is on record as favouring re-routing the southside line to Rathfarnham. Writing in The Irish Times last year, prior to the general election and his appointment as Minister, the Green Party leader said the NTA needed to "switch tracks" and extend the metro to the southwest, with stations in Rathmines, Terenure and Rathfarnham.
It is understood that a potential metro line to University College Dublin will also be considered as part of the review.
The mothballed Dart underground plan could also make a reappearance as part of the process. In 2010 Irish Rail applied to An Bord Pleanála for a railway order for the €4.5 billion project to link Heuston station to the Dart line, with underground stations at Spencer Dock, Pearse Station, St Stephen's Green, Christ Church and Heuston,
In November 2011 the project was shelved by the Fine Gael-Labour government. The following month the board granted the railway order.
The underground, while included in the 2016 strategy, was not included in the National Development Plan.
The NTA will also publish an “issues paper”, asking the public to provide their views and objectives as part of a preliminary consultation process. A second consultation process will take place around the middle of next year following the development of draft strategy proposals.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--‘Being in Ireland feels like winning the lottery’: Syrians arrive after delay due to Covid

Some 160 Syrians , including more than 90 children , have arrived in Ireland in the past week as part of the State ’ s commitment to welcome refugees in Lebanon and Jordan .
The group was scheduled to come to Ireland in the early summer under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme but was unable to travel because of coronavirus restrictions .
They are currently quarantining in a north Dublin hotel before they move into the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres in Ballaghaderreen in Co Roscommon and Clonea Strand in Co Waterford .
They will spend about four to five @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rental accommodation around the country .
Jihad ( 13 ) described the flight to Ireland as “ awesome ” and says he is excited to start school as soon as possible .
The teenager ’ s family left the Syrian capital of Damascus four years ago and they have been living in Gaza since .
His memories of Syria are vague , he just remembers it as a dangerous time .
Jihad is one of the few members of the group who already speaks English .
He has never attended language classes but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ video game and watching YouTube videos .
Jihad replies to each question with ease and enthusiasm .
“ Life in Gaza was hard , everything was so expensive .
My dad worked in building and my mum worked with women in communities .
I used to want to go back to Syria but now I want to stay here .
We were told Ireland is popular for fishing and hunting and my dad and I love fishing and hunting .
It ’ s the perfect choice for us.
” Nearby , Firas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ salad lunch with their three young children .
The young couple left Syria in 2014 and moved to Lebanon .
Life has been “ complicated and difficult ” , says Firas ( 24 ) .
He used to work as a farmer but a medical condition in his leg made it difficult to find employment in Lebanon .
“ Since I had a very low income it was difficult for me to provide for my family , ” he explains through a translator .
“ We only had the bare minimum .
Up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve been living in a very deep well .
Throughout my teenage years there was war , the most important thing was finding bread and being able to survive.
” Before leaving Syria , the couple , who are Kurdish , only spoke a few words of Arabic .
They are confident , given their ability to learn Arabic in the past few years , that they can learn English .
“ We ’ re very happy to live in a new culture and want to learn the language as quickly as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re happy now .
We feel we have security here , that we ’ re protected and can really see a future now , ” adds Firas .
“ Being in Ireland feels like winning the lottery.
” When Government representatives travelled to Beirut in early March they were scheduled to interview some 400 people with a view to bringing them here in the early summer .
However , when the virus broke out , the resettlement project was put on hold .
In the end , because of an inability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a smaller number than originally anticipated has been accepted for now , says the programme ’ s director Eibhlin Byrne .
“ We were very conscious of how difficult the situation was for these people , particularly with the explosion in Beirut .
The Government chooses refugees under vulnerability criteria , these people are very high risk and often it ’ s single women or young children who have been living on the streets .
The longer we leave them the more dangerous it becomes.
” Ms Byrne says she would like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the programme but that “ we ’ re a small country so we bring in the number we feel we can manage .
It ’ s not just about bringing them here , it ’ s about supporting their integration ” .
The goal is to house people around the country so that no one community is overwhelmed , she adds .
“ We don ’ t want ghettos of refugees , we want real integration.
” Ms Byrne believes the pandemic may have given the Irish public a small insight into the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s like to be vulnerable and for the future to be unpredictable ” .
The International Organisation For Migration ( IOM ) , which chartered the flight bringing most of the new arrivals from Beirut last Thursday , carried out pre-departure medical assessments and continues to provide support during the two-week quarantine period .
The group was tested for the virus before travelling to Ireland and again this week .
IOM ’ s Irish chief of mission Lalini Veerassamy commended the Government for supporting the scheme and cautioned against any potential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
“ These people are not bringing the disease here , Covid-19 is already pretty much everywhere and passing through local transmission .
It ’ s always the same with every conflict , the narrative is the migrants bring the disease be it cholera or Covid .
But all mitigating factors have been taken to ensure it ’ s safe.
” Dr Margaret Fitzgerald , HSE public health lead for vulnerable groups , says no Syrian refugee accepted under the programme is ever stopped from coming here on medical grounds and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before travel last week will be brought to Ireland at a later date .
Those quarantining in Dublin will be assessed and supported by nurses and doctors from the Safetynet primary care charity so that local GPs in Roscommon and Waterford are not overwhelmed , she said .
Focus is also needed on longer term supports around mental health and linguistic supports , she added .

Some 160 Syrians, including more than 90 children, have arrived in Ireland from Beirut, their arrival was delayed due to COVID and further complicated due to the explosion and financial collapse in Beirut. Video: Enda O'Dowd
Some 160 Syrians, including more than 90 children, have arrived in Ireland in the past week as part of the State's commitment to welcome refugees in Lebanon and Jordan.
The group was scheduled to come to Ireland in the early summer under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme but was unable to travel because of coronavirus restrictions. They are currently quarantining in a north Dublin hotel before they move into the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres in Ballaghaderreen in Co Roscommon and Clonea Strand in Co Waterford. They will spend about four to five months in these centres before moving into rental accommodation around the country.
Dangerous
Jihad (13) described the flight to Ireland as "awesome" and says he is excited to start school as soon as possible. The teenager's family left the Syrian capital of Damascus four years ago and they have been living in Ghazze since, a Lebanese region outside Beirut. His memories of Syria are vague, he just remembers it as a dangerous time.
Jihad is one of the few members of the group who already speaks English. He has never attended language classes but picked it up through playing the Minecraft video game and watching YouTube videos. Jihad replies to each question with ease and enthusiasm.
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Jihad Mesto (13): ‘We were told Ireland is popular for fishing and hunting and my dad and I love fishing and hunting. It’s the perfect choice for us.’ Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
“Life in Ghazze was hard, everything was so expensive. My dad worked in building and my mum worked with women in communities. I used to want to go back to Syria but now I want to stay here. We were told Ireland is popular for fishing and hunting and my dad and I love fishing and hunting. It’s the perfect choice for us.”
Nearby, Firas and Hasna are tucking into a soup and salad lunch with their three young children. The young couple left Syria in 2014 and moved to Lebanon. Life has been “complicated and difficult”, says Firas (24). He used to work as a farmer but a medical condition in his leg made it difficult to find employment in Lebanon.
“Since I had a very low income it was difficult for me to provide for my family,” he explains through a translator. “We only had the bare minimum. Up until now it feels like I’ve been living in a very deep well. Throughout my teenage years there was war, the most important thing was finding bread and being able to survive.”
Before leaving Syria, the couple, who are Kurdish, only spoke a few words of Arabic. They are confident, given their ability to learn Arabic in the past few years, that they can learn English.
“We’re very happy to live in a new culture and want to learn the language as quickly as possible,” says Hasna. “We’re happy now. We feel we have security here, that we’re protected and can really see a future now,” adds Firas. “Being in Ireland feels like winning the lottery.”
When Government representatives travelled to Beirut in early March they were scheduled to interview some 400 people with a view to bringing them here in the early summer. However, when the virus broke out, the resettlement project was put on hold . In the end, because of an inability to carry out further interviews during the pandemic, a smaller number than originally anticipated has been accepted for now, says the programme's director Eibhlin Byrne.
“We were very conscious of how difficult the situation was for these people, particularly with the explosion in Beirut. The Government chooses refugees under vulnerability criteria, these people are very high risk and often it’s single women or young children who have been living on the streets. The longer we leave them the more dangerous it becomes.”
Ms Byrne says she would like to bring more people to Ireland through the programme but that “we’re a small country so we bring in the number we feel we can manage. It’s not just about bringing them here, it’s about supporting their integration”.
The goal is to house people around the country so that no one community is overwhelmed, she adds. “We don’t want ghettos of refugees, we want real integration.”
Ms Byrne believes the pandemic may have given the Irish public a small insight into the refugee experience by teaching them “what it’s like to be vulnerable and for the future to be unpredictable”.
Arrivals
The International Organisation For Migration (IOM), which chartered the flight bringing most of the new arrivals from Beirut last Thursday, carried out pre-departure medical assessments and continues to provide support during the two-week quarantine period. The group was tested for the virus before travelling to Ireland and again this week.
IOM’s Irish chief of mission Lalini Veerassamy commended the Government for supporting the scheme and cautioned against any potential public backlash over accepting refugees during a pandemic.
“These people are not bringing the disease here, Covid-19 is already pretty much everywhere and passing through local transmission. It’s always the same with every conflict, the narrative is the migrants bring the disease be it cholera or Covid. But all mitigating factors have been taken to ensure it’s safe.”
Dr Margaret Fitzgerald, HSE public health lead for vulnerable groups, says no Syrian refugee accepted under the programme is ever stopped from coming here on medical grounds and that those who tested positive for the virus before travel last week will be brought to Ireland at a later date.
Those quarantining in Dublin will be assessed and supported by nurses and doctors from the Safetynet primary care charity so that local GPs in Roscommon and Waterford are not overwhelmed, she said. Focus is also needed on longer term supports around mental health and linguistic supports, she added.


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--An evolving situation: How humans force plants and animals to change

Charles Darwin was obsessed with pigeons .
To be fair , he was also obsessed with barnacles , earthworms and plants that move and climb about .
But pigeons were close to his heart .
He owned them , bred them , experimented with them and painstakingly documented them .
Darwin ’ s correspondence shows that pigeons were mentioned in more than 400 letters to and from him over the years .
Darwin does not discuss only his observations on pigeons in this correspondence , but also has some choice commentary on pigeon fanciers , the men he met at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he describes as “ a queer little fish ” , while another was an “ odd little man ( NB all Pigeons Fanciers are little men , I begin to think ) ” .
It is not recorded what the pigeon fanciers made of Charles Darwin .
In any case , he goes on to describe pigeon fancying as “ a noble & majestic pursuit , & beats moths [ and ] butterflies ” .
Darwin travelled widely , collected many wild specimens and thought deeply about a huge diversity of animals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him ?
Darwin ’ s theory of natural selection , and the beginning of modern evolutionary biology , was rooted in his observations and experiments with artificial selection .
Every animal and plant breeder , before Darwin ’ s time as well as now , understands clearly the importance of inheritance and the role that inherited variation plays in the development and maintenance of breeds .
It is clear to see the role of human preference in purposefully bred varieties and breeds of pigeons , chickens , daffodils , dogs and cows .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ earliest-flowering or fastest made it into the next generation .
Darwin ’ s great breakthrough proposed that a parallel mechanism to artificial selection was natural selection .
While human preference was critical for determining which individuals got to pass their inherited characteristics on to the next generation of a breed , the environment played that role in the evolution of species by natural selection in the wild .
There is an interesting middle ground between artificial selection and natural selection , which is those animals , plants , fungi and micro-organisms that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have become attached to our way of life and evolve in concert with our habits .
Weeds are a brilliant group of plants that have adapted to our gardens , farms and streets .
There is a well-known saying that weeds are just plants in the wrong place .
And by wrong , we mean undesirable to a particular human , in a particular place at a particular time .
Bright blue cornflowers ( Centaurea cyanus ) were once very common weeds of arable fields , but the advent of modern herbicides pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ground .
Some of these weeds of old agricultural systems are now highly endangered themselves and the British plant conservation charity PlantLife lists many of them .
The future of the cornflower , which is not native to Ireland , now seems to be as a component of wildflower seed mixes scattered on roadsides , meadows and gardens .
It has a past , and a future , very much tied to human activities and preferences .
To survive in modern times you need modern evolutionary solutions .
Our most troublesome agricultural weeds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to multiple herbicides and are often grasses that are weeds of barley , wheat and oats .
Even those almost invisible weeds that live in the cracks of our pavements have been busy evolving strategies for survival in the urban jungle .
One of my favourite examples of city evolution is the delicate little dandelion-like Holy Hawksbeard ( Crepis sancta ) , which produces large and small seeds .
Plants that live in the little scrapes of soil around street trees in a sea of concrete mostly produce the larger seed types that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that grow in continuous open ground produce the smaller type .
Smaller seeds have the ability to disperse farther to find suitable patches .
Like weeds , pigeons have become accustomed to human habitats , and the wild cliffs of the original rock dove species have turned into the steep city canyons and junk food diet of feral pigeons .
Look around you and notice the incredible selection pressures that our way of life is exerting on the natural world .
What does the future hold for weeds , pigeons and us ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Research Council laureate and professor of zoology at Trinity College Dublin

Charles Darwin was obsessed with pigeons. To be fair, he was also obsessed with barnacles, earthworms and plants that move and climb about. But pigeons were close to his heart. He owned them, bred them, experimented with them and painstakingly documented them. Darwin's correspondence shows that pigeons were mentioned in more than 400 letters to and from him over the years.
Darwin does not discuss only his observations on pigeons in this correspondence, but also has some choice commentary on pigeon fanciers, the men he met at the “Columbarian Society”. One he describes as “a queer little fish”, while another was an “odd little man (NB all Pigeons Fanciers are little men, I begin to think)”. It is not recorded what the pigeon fanciers made of Charles Darwin. In any case, he goes on to describe pigeon fancying as “a noble & majestic pursuit, & beats moths [and] butterflies”.
Darwin travelled widely, collected many wild specimens and thought deeply about a huge diversity of animals and plants. So why did pigeons intrigue him? Darwin’s theory of natural selection, and the beginning of modern evolutionary biology, was rooted in his observations and experiments with artificial selection.
Every animal and plant breeder, before Darwin’s time as well as now, understands clearly the importance of inheritance and the role that inherited variation plays in the development and maintenance of breeds.
READ MORE
It is clear to see the role of human preference in purposefully bred varieties and breeds of pigeons, chickens, daffodils, dogs and cows. The prettiest, strongest, tastiest, earliest-flowering or fastest made it into the next generation.
Darwin’s great breakthrough proposed that a parallel mechanism to artificial selection was natural selection. While human preference was critical for determining which individuals got to pass their inherited characteristics on to the next generation of a breed, the environment played that role in the evolution of species by natural selection in the wild.
Middle ground
There is an interesting middle ground between artificial selection and natural selection, which is those animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms that are unconsciously selected by humans, or which have become attached to our way of life and evolve in concert with our habits. Weeds are a brilliant group of plants that have adapted to our gardens, farms and streets. There is a well-known saying that weeds are just plants in the wrong place. And by wrong, we mean undesirable to a particular human, in a particular place at a particular time.
Bright blue cornflowers (Centaurea cyanus) were once very common weeds of arable fields, but the advent of modern herbicides pushed these plants to field edges and disturbed ground. Some of these weeds of old agricultural systems are now highly endangered themselves and the British plant conservation charity PlantLife lists many of them. The future of the cornflower, which is not native to Ireland, now seems to be as a component of wildflower seed mixes scattered on roadsides, meadows and gardens. It has a past, and a future, very much tied to human activities and preferences.
To survive in modern times you need modern evolutionary solutions. Our most troublesome agricultural weeds are now those that have evolved resistance to multiple herbicides and are often grasses that are weeds of barley, wheat and oats. Even those almost invisible weeds that live in the cracks of our pavements have been busy evolving strategies for survival in the urban jungle.
Exerting pressure
One of my favourite examples of city evolution is the delicate little dandelion-like Holy Hawksbeard (Crepis sancta), which produces large and small seeds. Plants that live in the little scrapes of soil around street trees in a sea of concrete mostly produce the larger seed types that stay within that patch, whereas those that grow in continuous open ground produce the smaller type. Smaller seeds have the ability to disperse farther to find suitable patches.
Like weeds, pigeons have become accustomed to human habitats, and the wild cliffs of the original rock dove species have turned into the steep city canyons and junk food diet of feral pigeons. Look around you and notice the incredible selection pressures that our way of life is exerting on the natural world. What does the future hold for weeds, pigeons and us?
Yvonne Buckley is an ecologist, Irish Research Council laureate and professor of zoology at Trinity College Dublin


theirishtimes--2020-11-26--Covid-19: Decision time on reopening plan as Varadkar questions cross-Border travel

Ministers and senior officials will finalise the plan to exit the lockdown and manage the pandemic over the Christmas period today in advance of a Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow and announcements to the country afterwards .
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last night introduced a new issue into the discussions when he raised the question of travel across the Border during the Christmas period .
Mr Varadkar told his parliamentary party that cross-border travel would have to be looked at by the Government given the high level of cases in the North .
Mr Varadkar is understood to have requested data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ levels in the North .
A Government spokeswoman confirmed that the issue would be discussed by ministers today , though there is a strong view in Fianna Fáil that telling people not to cross the Border would be politically impossible .
A meeting of the Cabinet Covid sub-committee is scheduled for this evening , and is likely to be crucial in finalising the plan for reopening commercial and social life next week and managing the pandemic over the Christmas season .
With increasing signs that restaurants and pubs which serve food will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that pubs which do not serve food will remain closed , both the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meetings last night heard calls for the pubs which do not serve food to be allowed open too .
There has been fierce lobbying from the hospitality industry in recent days , but several senior sources across Government said last night that pubs which do not serve food are “ very unlikely ” to open .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( Nphet ) met yesterday and is understood to have urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher level of infections at present than when the first lockdown was lifted at the start of the summer .
One source said Nphet was pointing out that the country was starting from “ a higher level ” on this occasion , but it is understood that Nphet is not strongly opposing a lifting of the restrictions next week .
Earlier yesterday , Mr Varadkar said it is likely that people will be allowed to visit the homes of their friends and family over a two-week period next month .
Meanwhile Taoiseach Micheál @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meeting that “ gardaí won ’ t be calling to people ’ s homes ” over the Christmas period and that it was expected people would be sensible .
He also said there was no reason to believe that the country would automatically go back into lockdown in January as long as numbers are kept low .
Six further deaths and 269 new Covid-19 cases were reported last night , an increase in daily case numbers since yesterday though the general trend remains downwards .
There have now been a total of 2,033 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 71,187 confirmed coronavirus cases in the State .
The North ’ s Health Minister Robin Swann has warned of a crisis in the new year if there is a “ festive free-for-all ” ignoring restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus over the coming weeks .
As seven more deaths of people with Covid-19 were reported in the North , Mr Swann said new guidelines allowing people from three households to meet indoors for five days over Christmas did not mean it was “ time to relax our guard ” .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ togetherness , but the greatest gift we can give our loved ones this year is to look after them , ” he said .

Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last night introduced a new issue into the discussions when he raised the question of travel across the Border during the Christmas period. Photograph: PA Photo
Ministers and senior officials will finalise the plan to exit the lockdown and manage the pandemic over the Christmas period today in advance of a Cabinet meeting scheduled for tomorrow and announcements to the country afterwards.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar last night introduced a new issue into the discussions when he raised the question of travel across the Border during the Christmas period.
Mr Varadkar told his parliamentary party that cross-border travel would have to be looked at by the Government given the high level of cases in the North. Mr Varadkar is understood to have requested data from the Department of Health on infection levels in the North.
Hospital Report
A Government spokeswoman confirmed that the issue would be discussed by ministers today, though there is a strong view in Fianna Fáil that telling people not to cross the Border would be politically impossible.
READ MORE
A meeting of the Cabinet Covid sub-committee is scheduled for this evening, and is likely to be crucial in finalising the plan for reopening commercial and social life next week and managing the pandemic over the Christmas season.
With increasing signs that restaurants and pubs which serve food will be allowed to open later in December but that pubs which do not serve food will remain closed, both the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meetings last night heard calls for the pubs which do not serve food to be allowed open too.
There has been fierce lobbying from the hospitality industry in recent days, but several senior sources across Government said last night that pubs which do not serve food are “very unlikely” to open.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) met yesterday and is understood to have urged caution on the Government, citing the higher level of infections at present than when the first lockdown was lifted at the start of the summer.
One source said Nphet was pointing out that the country was starting from “a higher level” on this occasion, but it is understood that Nphet is not strongly opposing a lifting of the restrictions next week.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Varadkar said it is likely that people will be allowed to visit the homes of their friends and family over a two-week period next month.
Meanwhile Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party meeting that “gardaí won’t be calling to people’s homes” over the Christmas period and that it was expected people would be sensible.
He also said there was no reason to believe that the country would automatically go back into lockdown in January as long as numbers are kept low.
Six further deaths and 269 new Covid-19 cases were reported last night, an increase in daily case numbers since yesterday though the general trend remains downwards.
There have now been a total of 2,033 Covid-19 related deaths and a total of 71,187 confirmed coronavirus cases in the State.
The North’s Health Minister Robin Swann has warned of a crisis in the new year if there is a “festive free-for-all” ignoring restrictions to curb the spread of the coronavirus over the coming weeks.
As seven more deaths of people with Covid-19 were reported in the North, Mr Swann said new guidelines allowing people from three households to meet indoors for five days over Christmas did not mean it was “time to relax our guard”.
“Christmas is a time of hope and togetherness, but the greatest gift we can give our loved ones this year is to look after them,” he said.