theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Covid-19 vaccine distribution could start early in new year, says Donnelly

Distribution of a vaccine for Covid-19 could start in the first weeks of the new year , Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has indicated .
The European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) is due to complete a final review of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on December 29th at the latest .
Mr Donnelly said that if the EMA approves the treatment , Irish regulatory approval would follow soon after , with distribution beginning in early January .
The EMA may approve a second vaccine , from Moderna , at a further meeting on January 12th , after which distribution would also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Department of Health said yesterday that supplies of the vaccines under development were being procured by the European Commission on behalf of member states .
Advance purchase agreements have been negotiated by the commission with vaccine supplier , which also cover issues relating to liability or indemnity .
“ Member states may decide to opt in/opt out , but do not have the scope to recast the provisions of any advance purchase agreement.
” On Wednesday the UK became the first country in Europe to approve a Covid-19 vaccine after its Medicines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s vaccine for use .
The development has put pressure on the EU approval process led by the EMA , which yesterday criticised the UK for making a decision on limited data .
A spokesman for the European Commission said the EMA ’ s procedure was “ the most effective regulatory mechanism to grant all EU citizens ’ access to a safe and effective vaccine ” , as it was based on more evidence .
However , the UK health minister Matt Hancock claimed Brexit had helped it move faster .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its regulator had been able to move faster than the EMA while carrying out “ the same safety checks ” .
This was disputed by the EU sources , who pointed out that the UK was still subject to EU rules and that it had used an emergency procedure available to all member states that allows it to distribute a vaccine for temporary use .
Mr Donnelly , speaking on RTÉ , described the UK development as good news , but pointed out that the EMA is also reviewing vaccines developed by AstroZeneca/Oxford @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Dáil the infrastructure to store the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at -70C was already being set up in Ireland .
This equipment would be commissioned by the middle of next week , he said .
Referring to the “ huge ” responsibility on the EMA for recommending the vaccine as being safe and effective , he said “ we shouldn ’ t create a pressure zone on the regulatory authority to do the right thing ” .
The work of the taskforce on vaccine rollout , which is due to publish a plan at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” proceeding at pace , ” he told Labour leader Alan Kelly .
Mr Kelly said Finland , France , Denmark and the UK had advanced plans for the provision of the vaccine .
Ireland needs “ to have equal pace and equal thought put into this ” as he repeated a call for a dedicated minister for vaccines to be appointed .
Mr Martin also defended the EU decision that national governments will indemnify companies producing the Covid-19 vaccine amid concerns that it could potentially expose the State to millions of euro @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that getting the vaccine “ would simply not have happened ” without pre-purchase agreements .
Mr Donnelly confirmed on Wednesday that securing Covid-19 will cost the State €117.6 million .
The Minister told the Oireachtas select committee on health on that the country had agreements in place to purchase 15.6 million doses of vaccines manufactured by a number of different pharmaceutical companies .
Mr Donnelly said while there had not been a Government decision as of yet , it was his “ unambiguous view ” that the Covid-19 vaccine should be provided free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party last night the vaccine will not be compulsory but that the Government will need to find a way to provide people with proof or evidence that they have had the vaccine .
Mr Varadkar also said that a single IT system would be needed , something which does not currently exist .

European Medicines Agency may approve a second vaccine, from Moderna, at a further meeting on January 12th, after which distribution would also begin in Ireland. Photograph: BioNTech SE 2020/PA Wire
Distribution of a vaccine for Covid-19 could start in the first weeks of the new year, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has indicated.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is due to complete a final review of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on December 29th at the latest. Mr Donnelly said that if the EMA approves the treatment, Irish regulatory approval would follow soon after, with distribution beginning in early January.
The EMA may approve a second vaccine, from Moderna, at a further meeting on January 12th, after which distribution would also begin in Ireland, he said.
The Department of Health said yesterday that supplies of the vaccines under development were being procured by the European Commission on behalf of member states. Advance purchase agreements have been negotiated by the commission with vaccine supplier, which also cover issues relating to liability or indemnity.
READ MORE
“Member states may decide to opt in/opt out, but do not have the scope to recast the provisions of any advance purchase agreement.”
On Wednesday the UK became the first country in Europe to approve a Covid-19 vaccine after its Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency approved Pfizer/BioNTech's vaccine for use.
The development has put pressure on the EU approval process led by the EMA, which yesterday criticised the UK for making a decision on limited data.
A spokesman for the European Commission said the EMA’s procedure was “the most effective regulatory mechanism to grant all EU citizens’ access to a safe and effective vaccine”, as it was based on more evidence.
Brexit
However, the UK health minister Matt Hancock claimed Brexit had helped it move faster. He said that "because of Brexit" its regulator had been able to move faster than the EMA while carrying out "the same safety checks".
This was disputed by the EU sources, who pointed out that the UK was still subject to EU rules and that it had used an emergency procedure available to all member states that allows it to distribute a vaccine for temporary use.
Mr Donnelly, speaking on RTÉ, described the UK development as good news, but pointed out that the EMA is also reviewing vaccines developed by AstroZeneca/Oxford and Janssen.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil the infrastructure to store the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at -70C was already being set up in Ireland. This equipment would be commissioned by the middle of next week, he said.
Referring to the “huge” responsibility on the EMA for recommending the vaccine as being safe and effective, he said “we shouldn’t create a pressure zone on the regulatory authority to do the right thing”.
The work of the taskforce on vaccine rollout, which is due to publish a plan at the end of next week, was"proceeding at pace," he told Labour leader Alan Kelly. Mr Kelly said Finland, France, Denmark and the UK had advanced plans for the provision of the vaccine. Ireland needs "to have equal pace and equal thought put into this" as he repeated a call for a dedicated minister for vaccines to be appointed.
Free of charge
Mr Martin also defended the EU decision that national governments will indemnify companies producing the Covid-19 vaccine amid concerns that it could potentially expose the State to millions of euro in future costs. Mr Martin insisted that getting the vaccine "would simply not have happened" without pre-purchase agreements.
Mr Donnelly confirmed on Wednesday that securing Covid-19 will cost the State €117.6 million. The Minister told the Oireachtas select committee on health on that the country had agreements in place to purchase 15.6 million doses of vaccines manufactured by a number of different pharmaceutical companies.
Mr Donnelly said while there had not been a Government decision as of yet, it was his “unambiguous view” that the Covid-19 vaccine should be provided free of charge.
Elsewhere Tánaiste Leo Varadkar told a meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party last night the vaccine will not be compulsory but that the Government will need to find a way to provide people with proof or evidence that they have had the vaccine. Mr Varadkar also said that a single IT system would be needed, something which does not currently exist.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Leaving Cert: Use of historical data would allow ‘good calculations’ of grades

The use of data on schools ’ past Leaving Cert performance would have allowed for “ good calculations ” to be made for students ’ calculated grades , according to internal briefing papers prepared for the Minister for Education .
The documents were prepared last June for Norma Foley prior to the Government ’ s decision on September 1st to remove school-by-school historical records on Leaving Cert achievement in determining students ’ calculated grades .
This decision sparked controversy over whether students from schools with a strong academic track record were unfairly penalised .
It has also triggered a wave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Education .
The briefing papers state that a combination of teachers ’ estimated grades and historical examination data would ensure standards are “ properly aligned across schools ” .
“ Each school ’ s expected distributions will be arrived at from the statistical analysis of all the historic Department data sets .
These data sets allow for the production of good calculations of the distribution of marks to be expected for each school and nationally , ” it states .
It added that the use of this information would ensure “ all candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it would not “ impose any predetermined score ” on an individual or class .
However , following an outcry over predicted-grade results in the UK , Ms Foley announced on September 1st that the Government had dropped the use of school-by-school historical data .
Ms Foley said at the time she was taking the step to remove any risk that a Leaving Cert student ’ s results would be impacted upon by the performances of previous classes .
She said there was no concern about students being unfairly disadvantaged by removing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the fairest approach and the right approach ” .
The only school-based historical data used by the Department in the final calculated grades process were Junior Cert results for classes across schools .
It used this to help predict the likely Leaving Cert performance of the class of 2020 in each school .
The briefing papers also show a more challenging Irish exam is being considered in the Leaving Cert for students who attend all-Irish schools or who are native speakers .
This is due to concerns that the existing exam paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been strong criticism that the present syllabus for Leaving Certificate Irish is unchallenging for those whose home language is Irish and those who attend Irish medium education… ” the documents state .
While the treatment of student achievement in terms of entry requirements or CAO points is not a matter for curriculum developers , it says “ it is likely this will emerge as an issue ” .
The document also warns that a sharp decrease in primary school enrolments over the coming years will pose major issues for small schools in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education will shift significantly over the coming years , with decreased enrolment at primary level and increased enrolment at second level .
The decline in enrolment at primary level raises “ sensitive and complex ” issues such as “ sustainability challenges for small schools , particularly in rural areas ” , the documents states .
Ireland has the highest proportion of small schools in Europe and more than 500 of these school have just one or two teachers .

Following an outcry over predicted-grade results in the UK, Minister for Education Norma Foley announced on September 1st that the Government had dropped the use of school-by-school historical data. File photograph: Getty
The use of data on schools’ past Leaving Cert performance would have allowed for “good calculations” to be made for students’ calculated grades, according to internal briefing papers prepared for the Minister for Education.
The documents were prepared last June for Norma Foley prior to the Government’s decision on September 1st to remove school-by-school historical records on Leaving Cert achievement in determining students’ calculated grades.
This decision sparked controversy over whether students from schools with a strong academic track record were unfairly penalised. It has also triggered a wave of legal actions against the Department of Education.
The briefing papers state that a combination of teachers’ estimated grades and historical examination data would ensure standards are “properly aligned across schools”.
READ MORE
“Each school’s expected distributions will be arrived at from the statistical analysis of all the historic Department data sets. These data sets allow for the production of good calculations of the distribution of marks to be expected for each school and nationally,” it states.
It added that the use of this information would ensure “all candidates across the country are treated fairly” and it would not “impose any predetermined score” on an individual or class.
Outcry in UK
However, following an outcry over predicted-grade results in the UK, Ms Foley announced on September 1st that the Government had dropped the use of school-by-school historical data.
Ms Foley said at the time she was taking the step to remove any risk that a Leaving Cert student’s results would be impacted upon by the performances of previous classes.
She said there was no concern about students being unfairly disadvantaged by removing historical data, and that this was “the fairest approach and the right approach”.
The only school-based historical data used by the Department in the final calculated grades process were Junior Cert results for classes across schools. It used this to help predict the likely Leaving Cert performance of the class of 2020 in each school.
Leaving Cert, pre-Covid: The only school-based historical data used by the Department in the final calculated grades process were Junior Cert results for classes across schools. It used this to help predict the likely Leaving Cert performance of the class of 2020 in each school.
The briefing papers also show a more challenging Irish exam is being considered in the Leaving Cert for students who attend all-Irish schools or who are native speakers.
This is due to concerns that the existing exam paper is not challenging enough.
“There has been strong criticism that the present syllabus for Leaving Certificate Irish is unchallenging for those whose home language is Irish and those who attend Irish medium education…” the documents state.
Entry requirements
While the treatment of student achievement in terms of entry requirements or CAO points is not a matter for curriculum developers, it says “it is likely this will emerge as an issue”.
The document also warns that a sharp decrease in primary school enrolments over the coming years will pose major issues for small schools in rural areas.
The demographic landscape in education will shift significantly over the coming years, with decreased enrolment at primary level and increased enrolment at second level.
The decline in enrolment at primary level raises “sensitive and complex” issues such as “sustainability challenges for small schools, particularly in rural areas”, the documents states.
Ireland has the highest proportion of small schools in Europe and more than 500 of these school have just one or two teachers.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Q&A: Covid vaccines – so what’s going to happen, and when?

I hear a Covid-19 vaccine is coming .
How soon ?
The UK ’ s drugs regulator yesterday approved Pfizer/BioNTech ’ s treatment for the virus , and promised the first doses would be delivered in the coming days .
Northern Ireland says it will vaccinate 12,000 people before Christmas .
In the Republic , it is unlikely a vaccine will be available before January .
Why are things taking longer here ?
The European Medicines Agency ( EMA ) has been operating rolling reviews of various late stage vaccine candidates as part of an effort to fast-track approval for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatments , member states can use an emergency procedure that allows them to distribute a vaccine for temporary use where there is urgent public need .
Britain has invoked this procedure and gone its own way in terms of authorisation ; Ireland will wait for the EMA ’ s assessment before making a decision .
So Brexit is having an effect ?
Britain ’ s health minister , Matt Hancock , claimed yesterday that “ because of Brexit ” the UK was able to base its decision on its own regulator and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europeans ” .
In fact , the UK is still subject to EU rules until it fully leaves at the end of this year , but was able to invoke the emergency authorisation option .
But why is the EMA taking longer ?
Britain ’ s Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency , which began its rolling review of the Pfizer vaccine three weeks after the EMA , made its decision on less data .
That made the process quicker .
Too soon to say , but the EMA , and some MEPs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine for Covid-19 is already on track to be developed at record speed .
It normally takes regulatory bodies at least seven months before authorising a treatment .
So when will the EMA make a decision ?
Pfizer ( and Moderna , with another vaccine it has developed ) only formally applied for approval in Europe ( and the US ) earlier this week .
The EMA has said it will decide on that “ conditional marketing approval ” by December 29th for Pfizer , and by January 12th for Moderna .
How @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plan developed by the Government ’ s taskforce on vaccine rollout , due to be published next Friday , will set out how many doses are to be distributed , how and where , and who will get them first .
There are a lot of variables at play because the different vaccines likely to get the nod have different storage requirements .
Some require ultra-cold storage , while others can be kept in a fridge .
It is likely jabs will be administered in hospitals , special centres and , for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Can anything go wrong ?
Lots of things .
Up to now , all we know about the results of trials comes from company press releases .
Little safety data is available .
We don ’ t know how well the vaccines work on older people , for instance .
We don ’ t know whether they prevent transmission or just protect against illness .
We don ’ t know for how long they will remain effective .
The EMA ’ s deliberations should shed light on many of these issues , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been developed , some questions will remain .
Vaccines can cause very rare reactions , which may only be evident when large numbers have received a jab .
Based on what we know , the most likely contenders are highly effective , have no safety issues and can make a major contribution to reducing the threat posed by Covid-19 .
So can we go back to normal soon ?
Not quite .
It takes a month after the first of two doses before Pfizer ’ s jab is effective .
The process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the population will take much of 2021 – so no-one should be dropping their guard any time soon .

I hear a Covid-19 vaccine is coming. How soon?
The UK's drugs regulator yesterday approved Pfizer/BioNTech's treatment for the virus, and promised the first doses would be delivered in the coming days. Northern Ireland says it will vaccinate 12,000 people before Christmas.
In the Republic, it is unlikely a vaccine will be available before January.
Hospital Report
Why are things taking longer here?
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has been operating rolling reviews of various late stage vaccine candidates as part of an effort to fast-track approval for effective vaccines.
While the EMA authorises treatments, member states can use an emergency procedure that allows them to distribute a vaccine for temporary use where there is urgent public need.
READ MORE
Britain has invoked this procedure and gone its own way in terms of authorisation; Ireland will wait for the EMA’s assessment before making a decision.
So Brexit is having an effect?
Britain’s health minister, Matt Hancock, claimed yesterday that “because of Brexit” the UK was able to base its decision on its own regulator and “not go at the pace of the Europeans”. In fact, the UK is still subject to EU rules until it fully leaves at the end of this year, but was able to invoke the emergency authorisation option.
But why is the EMA taking longer?
Britain's Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency, which began its rolling review of the Pfizer vaccine three weeks after the EMA, made its decision on less data. That made the process quicker.
Does that raise safety concerns?
Too soon to say, but the EMA, and some MEPs, have criticised the UK approach. A vaccine for Covid-19 is already on track to be developed at record speed. It normally takes regulatory bodies at least seven months before authorising a treatment.
So when will the EMA make a decision?
Pfizer (and Moderna, with another vaccine it has developed) only formally applied for approval in Europe (and the US) earlier this week. The EMA has said it will decide on that "conditional marketing approval" by December 29th for Pfizer, and by January 12th for Moderna.
How will distribution be carried out?
A plan developed by the Government’s taskforce on vaccine rollout, due to be published next Friday, will set out how many doses are to be distributed, how and where, and who will get them first. There are a lot of variables at play because the different vaccines likely to get the nod have different storage requirements. Some require ultra-cold storage, while others can be kept in a fridge. It is likely jabs will be administered in hospitals, special centres and, for some vaccines, by GPs and pharmacies.
Can anything go wrong?
Lots of things. Up to now, all we know about the results of trials comes from company press releases. Little safety data is available. We don’t know how well the vaccines work on older people, for instance. We don’t know whether they prevent transmission or just protect against illness. We don’t know for how long they will remain effective.
The EMA’s deliberations should shed light on many of these issues, but given the speed with which the vaccines have been developed, some questions will remain. Vaccines can cause very rare reactions, which may only be evident when large numbers have received a jab.
Based on what we know, the most likely contenders are highly effective, have no safety issues and can make a major contribution to reducing the threat posed by Covid-19.
So can we go back to normal soon?
Not quite. It takes a month after the first of two doses before Pfizer’s jab is effective. The process of rolling out the vaccine to most of the population will take much of 2021 – so no-one should be dropping their guard any time soon.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Almost 300,000 essential therapy appointments missed in first half of year

Almost 300,000 patients missed out on essential therapy appointments in the first half of the year , according to a new report that reveals the extent of disruption to normal health services caused by Covid-19 .
There were 101,000 fewer physiotherapy appointments than targeted in the year to June , and 70,000 fewer speech and language therapy visits , the HSE ’ s latest performance report shows .
Occupational therapy appointments were 52,000 below target and thousands more appointments for podiatry , ophthalmics , audiology , dietetics and psychology were also lost .
Though almost every baby is supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , only a quarter was getting one by the end of June .
And despite a promise that no child would have to wait more than 12 months for access to mental health services , 224 were by mid-year .
By mid-year , the HSE had recorded a deficit of €1.2 billion , or more than 14 per cent of its total budget , according to the report .
Spending on Covid-19 came to almost €1.3 billion , including €670 million on support services such as procurement , €294 million on private hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 38,000 fewer woman than expected had a mammogram , and 99,000 fewer had a smear test .
Even the BowelScreen programme , which does not require physical interaction , was affected , with just 22,000 tests completed out of a target of 65,000 .
Another 30,000 fewer than expected patients were screened for the diabetic retinopathy programme .
Almost three out of four colonoscopy patients had to wait more than the 13-week target time for the procedure .
Outpatient waiting lists grew by 24,000 in the first six months of the year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 108,000 fewer daycare procedures were carried out .
The number of people waiting over 15 months for inpatient or daycase treatment increased by almost half in the year to mid-June .
However , attendances at hospital emergency departments and admissions from them were down by about a fifth as patients sought to minimise exposure to the virus .
Work absence is also significantly up in the health service , almost entirely due to the disease .
Virus-related absence accounted for almost a third of the 7 per cent absence rate recorded in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April , as the virus peaked in spring , one in 10 healthcare workers was off work .

There were 101,000 fewer physiotherapy appointments than targeted in the year to June. Photograph: iStock
Almost 300,000 patients missed out on essential therapy appointments in the first half of the year, according to a new report that reveals the extent of disruption to normal health services caused by Covid-19.
There were 101,000 fewer physiotherapy appointments than targeted in the year to June, and 70,000 fewer speech and language therapy visits, the HSE’s latest performance report shows.
Occupational therapy appointments were 52,000 below target and thousands more appointments for podiatry, ophthalmics, audiology, dietetics and psychology were also lost.
Though almost every baby is supposed to have a development check at 10 months, only a quarter was getting one by the end of June. And despite a promise that no child would have to wait more than 12 months for access to mental health services, 224 were by mid-year.
READ MORE
By mid-year, the HSE had recorded a deficit of €1.2 billion, or more than 14 per cent of its total budget, according to the report.
Spending on Covid-19 came to almost €1.3 billion, including €670 million on support services such as procurement, €294 million on private hospitals and €137 million on hospitals.
Procedures
Over 38,000 fewer woman than expected had a mammogram, and 99,000 fewer had a smear test. Even the BowelScreen programme, which does not require physical interaction, was affected, with just 22,000 tests completed out of a target of 65,000.
Another 30,000 fewer than expected patients were screened for the diabetic retinopathy programme.
Almost three out of four colonoscopy patients had to wait more than the 13-week target time for the procedure.
Outpatient waiting lists grew by 24,000 in the first six months of the year, inpatient discharges were down by 17,000 and 108,000 fewer daycare procedures were carried out.
The number of people waiting over 15 months for inpatient or daycase treatment increased by almost half in the year to mid-June.
However, attendances at hospital emergency departments and admissions from them were down by about a fifth as patients sought to minimise exposure to the virus.
Work absence is also significantly up in the health service, almost entirely due to the disease. Virus-related absence accounted for almost a third of the 7 per cent absence rate recorded in the first half of the year. In April, as the virus peaked in spring, one in 10 healthcare workers was off work.


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Domestic violence is worsening amid Covid-19 pandemic, Garda figures show

Domestic violence is worsening as the coronavirus pandemic has continued , with women now coming forward to seek help in record numbers and reporting that they have been beaten , burned and raped , with prosecutions of abusers also increasing .
Garda sources told The Irish Times violence appeared to have “ moved indoors ” since the pandemic began , with street assaults plummeting but attacks in the home on the increase .
The same sources said victims were now trapped in their homes for much longer periods as many people had lost their jobs or were working from home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed for such lengthy periods , abusers were drinking at home which often worsened the violence they were inflicting on their spouse or partner .
Information supplied by Garda Headquarters , Phoenix Park , Dublin , to the Policing Authority reveals assaults in the home have increased by 12 per cent since March , though assaults in public places have dropped by a third during that same period .
Under Operation Faoiseamh , a dedicated operation targeting violence in the home during the pandemic , gardaí received 22,540 reports of domestic violence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3rd , up almost 17 per cent on the same period last year .
The number of domestic violence incidents resulting in a charge or summons during that March to November period has increased by almost 13 per cent ; up to 3,899 charges or summonses compared to 3,464 during the same period last year .
The offences suspects were charged with , or summonsed to court for , included breaching interim or emergency barring orders , protection orders , safety orders or barring orders or any other crime type , including assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Women ’ s Aid said it was “ not surprised ” by the trends .
Calls to its hotline increased by 43 per cent between March and July , from 4,563 to 6,561 .
More recently there had been an even larger increase , with calls per month up from about 1,400 to 2,400 .
“ Women are disclosing increased levels and severity of violence as they are at home more with their abuser , ” said Sarah Benson , Women ’ s Aid chief executive .
The women coming forward for help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abuse they were being subjected to and had disclosed being “ beaten , strangled , burned , raped ” and had their life threatened .
“ They told us about being denied access to the family income to feed and clothe themselves and their children and being stalked and humiliated online , ” Ms Benson added .
As well as the Women ’ s Aid hotline , the organisation has also developed an online chat facility on its site .
It has reported how women effectively trapped in their home with an abuser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ car , or were using the online chat facility , to ensure their abuser could not hear them making calls seeking help .
Garda sources described a marked level of fear among many women , adding in some cases children had also been exposed for the first time to their mother being attacked or had witnessed the incidents more frequently because of the lockdown .
“ You are finding cases where there may have been a history of violence but it ’ s now gone into overdrive because of the pandemic , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have people living on top of each other , spending far more time with each other .
And then heap money issues and drinking at home on top of that , and with children also in the home ; it ’ s been a deadly combination .
”

The number of domestic violence incidents resulting in a charge or summons during that March to November period has increased by almost 13 per cent. Photograph: Dave Meehan
Domestic violence is worsening as the coronavirus pandemic has continued, with women now coming forward to seek help in record numbers and reporting that they have been beaten, burned and raped, with prosecutions of abusers also increasing.
Garda sources told The Irish Times violence appeared to have “moved indoors” since the pandemic began, with street assaults plummeting but attacks in the home on the increase.
The same sources said victims were now trapped in their homes for much longer periods as many people had lost their jobs or were working from home. Furthermore, because pubs had been closed for such lengthy periods, abusers were drinking at home which often worsened the violence they were inflicting on their spouse or partner.
Assaults
Information supplied by Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, to the Policing Authority reveals assaults in the home have increased by 12 per cent since March, though assaults in public places have dropped by a third during that same period.
READ MORE
Under Operation Faoiseamh, a dedicated operation targeting violence in the home during the pandemic, gardaí received 22,540 reports of domestic violence and related crimes from March 12th to November 3rd, up almost 17 per cent on the same period last year.
The number of domestic violence incidents resulting in a charge or summons during that March to November period has increased by almost 13 per cent; up to 3,899 charges or summonses compared to 3,464 during the same period last year.
The offences suspects were charged with, or summonsed to court for, included breaching interim or emergency barring orders, protection orders, safety orders or barring orders or any other crime type, including assault, with a domestic violence motive.
Women’s Aid said it was “not surprised” by the trends. Calls to its hotline increased by 43 per cent between March and July, from 4,563 to 6,561. More recently there had been an even larger increase, with calls per month up from about 1,400 to 2,400.
"Women are disclosing increased levels and severity of violence as they are at home more with their abuser," said Sarah Benson, Women's Aid chief executive.
The women coming forward for help have been “devastated” by the abuse they were being subjected to and had disclosed being “beaten, strangled, burned, raped” and had their life threatened.
Humiliated online
“They told us about being denied access to the family income to feed and clothe themselves and their children and being stalked and humiliated online,” Ms Benson added.
As well as the Women’s Aid hotline, the organisation has also developed an online chat facility on its site. It has reported how women effectively trapped in their home with an abuser were contacting them by phone from their car, or were using the online chat facility, to ensure their abuser could not hear them making calls seeking help.
Garda sources described a marked level of fear among many women, adding in some cases children had also been exposed for the first time to their mother being attacked or had witnessed the incidents more frequently because of the lockdown.
“You are finding cases where there may have been a history of violence but it’s now gone into overdrive because of the pandemic,” said one Garda source. “You have people living on top of each other, spending far more time with each other. And then heap money issues and drinking at home on top of that, and with children also in the home; it’s been a deadly combination.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-03--Fostering inventiveness is critical for society

Innovation is clearly of critical importance for progress .
It depends on invention , which in turn depends on ideas .
Only a tiny minority of people produce ideas and follow through to inventions .
How this minority is to be fostered and promoted is the subject of an interesting article by Marian Tupy in National Review , November 16th , 2020 .
The importance of inventions is readily appreciated when one considers lists of the top 10 inventions since the Middle Ages .
Daniel Stone , for example , proposed the following list in National Geographic ( June 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , airplane , personal computer , vaccines , automobile , clock , telephone , refrigeration , camera .
Just imagine what our world would look like today without these inventions .
Although human achievement is now measured largely in terms of technological advancement , Tupy points out that societal improvement over the ages depended on the evolution of social innovation , for example , the division of labour that enabled the fabrication and improvement of tools and the co-operation necessary to successfully hunt large animals .
Human success depends on our ability to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other hand , makes life easier .
Because natural selection has shaped us to co-operate with others , when we confront problems most of us tend to choose social solutions rather than technical solutions , for example , your car is off the road for repair so you ask your neighbour for a lift to work in his/her car rather than cycling 15km to the office .
On the other hand , you will opt to cycle if you have a personality trait that makes it particularly difficult for you to ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who prefer to solve problems by themselves are more likely to invent things .
Autism is a neural developmental disorder characterised by impaired social interaction and communication and by restricted and repetitive behaviours .
Autism is one of several conditions classified as “ autism spectrum disorders ” ( ASD ) , including Asperger Syndrome , a high-performance variety of autism .
Simon Baron-Cohen and colleagues at Cambridge University presented evidence that socially-awkward individuals with an ASD tend to have unusually intense focus , gravitating toward interests governed by rules , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things apart , studying the components and systematically putting them together in a new way and are drawn to fields like science , engineering or mathematics .
Engineers and physical scientists have higher levels of autistic traits than people in the humanities , and are much more likely to hold patents .
Silicon Valley in California and Eindhoven in the Netherlands , foci of technical innovation , also have unusual concentrations of people on the autism spectrum .
Also , some think that famous scientists Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton , inventors Thomas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mathematician Éamon de Valera had mild Asperger Syndrome .
In his latest book The Pattern Seekers : How Autism Drives Human Invention ( Allen Lane 2020 ) , Simon Baron-Cohen argues cogently that autistic people , through their inventiveness , played a key role in human progress over the past 70,000 years .
He also points out that these abilities exact a great cost on autistic people in terms of social and often medical challenges .
It follows therefore that , if societies are not to become technologically stagnant , autistic people must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tupy points out that free societies have been good at this but are now becoming less tolerant , for example , insisting on rigid politically-correct codes of speech and behaviour .
Tupy quotes Matt Ridley from his 2020 book How Innovation Works : “ Innovation is not usually choreographed , planned or managed .
It can not easily be predicted .
.
.
It runs mostly on trial and error .
.
.
and it usually stumbles on great breakthroughs when looking for something else .
It is heavily serendipitous.
” It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programmes to stimulate innovation .
However , we can be reasonably sure that the greater the population numbers the more likely that innovators/inventors will arise .
One disadvantage of declining population in the West is declining numbers of inventors .
Governments could help here by incentivising moderately increased birth-rates in addition to encouraging the talents of our less socially adept people .
William Reville is an emeritus professor of biochemistry at UCC

People who prefer to solve problems by themselves are more likely to invent things. Photograph: iStock
Innovation is clearly of critical importance for progress. It depends on invention, which in turn depends on ideas. Only a tiny minority of people produce ideas and follow through to inventions. How this minority is to be fostered and promoted is the subject of an interesting article by Marian Tupy in National Review, November 16th, 2020.
The importance of inventions is readily appreciated when one considers lists of the top 10 inventions since the Middle Ages. Daniel Stone, for example, proposed the following list in National Geographic (June 2017): printing press, light bulb, airplane, personal computer, vaccines, automobile, clock, telephone, refrigeration, camera. Just imagine what our world would look like today without these inventions.
Although human achievement is now measured largely in terms of technological advancement, Tupy points out that societal improvement over the ages depended on the evolution of social innovation, for example, the division of labour that enabled the fabrication and improvement of tools and the co-operation necessary to successfully hunt large animals.
Human success depends on our ability to co-operate and organise while technology, on the other hand, makes life easier.
READ MORE
Because natural selection has shaped us to co-operate with others, when we confront problems most of us tend to choose social solutions rather than technical solutions, for example, your car is off the road for repair so you ask your neighbour for a lift to work in his/her car rather than cycling 15km to the office.
On the other hand, you will opt to cycle if you have a personality trait that makes it particularly difficult for you to ask others for help. Interestingly, people who prefer to solve problems by themselves are more likely to invent things.
Impaired social interaction
Autism is a neural developmental disorder characterised by impaired social interaction and communication and by restricted and repetitive behaviours. Autism is one of several conditions classified as “autism spectrum disorders” (ASD), including Asperger Syndrome, a high-performance variety of autism.
Simon Baron-Cohen and colleagues at Cambridge University presented evidence that socially-awkward individuals with an ASD tend to have unusually intense focus, gravitating toward interests governed by rules, for example, logic or mathematics.
Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen argues that autistic people, through their inventiveness, played a key role in human progress.
They love taking things apart, studying the components and systematically putting them together in a new way and are drawn to fields like science, engineering or mathematics.
Engineers and physical scientists have higher levels of autistic traits than people in the humanities, and are much more likely to hold patents. Silicon Valley in California and Eindhoven in the Netherlands, foci of technical innovation, also have unusual concentrations of people on the autism spectrum.
Also, some think that famous scientists Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton, inventors Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla and politician and mathematician Éamon de Valera had mild Asperger Syndrome.
In his latest book The Pattern Seekers: How Autism Drives Human Invention (Allen Lane 2020), Simon Baron-Cohen argues cogently that autistic people, through their inventiveness, played a key role in human progress over the past 70,000 years. He also points out that these abilities exact a great cost on autistic people in terms of social and often medical challenges.
Technologically stagnant
It follows therefore that, if societies are not to become technologically stagnant, autistic people must be valued, supported and cherished. Tupy points out that free societies have been good at this but are now becoming less tolerant, for example, insisting on rigid politically-correct codes of speech and behaviour.
Tupy quotes Matt Ridley from his 2020 book How Innovation Works: "Innovation is not usually choreographed, planned or managed. It cannot easily be predicted . . . It runs mostly on trial and error . . . and it usually stumbles on great breakthroughs when looking for something else. It is heavily serendipitous."
It is therefore very difficult for governments to design programmes to stimulate innovation. However, we can be reasonably sure that the greater the population numbers the more likely that innovators/inventors will arise.
One disadvantage of declining population in the West is declining numbers of inventors. Governments could help here by incentivising moderately increased birth-rates in addition to encouraging the talents of our less socially adept people.
William Reville is an emeritus professor of biochemistry at UCC


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Extended working week for public service proposed in pay talks

The Government has proposed that staff in the public service could be rostered to work over an extended week , including weekends , as part of a new overall agreement on pay for State employees .
The proposals put forward by the Department of Public Expenditure in recent days also suggest there should be “ maximum flexible service delivery options ” – which some groups believe could lead to greater outsourcing of services .
The Department of Public Expenditure proposals – which were set out as modernisation reforms – in the current public service pay talks , maintain that employees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ to provide better services for the public ” and that this could include Saturday and Sunday .
Union sources have indicated that proposals such as five-over-seven-day rostering , extended days or any outsourcing would absolutely not be accepted as part of any final deal .
Unions , as part of a new accord , are seeking what they describe as an “ acceptable ” pay award as well as a the reversal of the requirement for staff to work additional unpaid hours , which were first introduced under the Haddington Road agreement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new public service agreement are understood to be facing significant difficulties after trade unions learned that proposals drawn up by the Government side in the talks had also been shared with other staff associations that are outside the Irish Congress of Trade Unions ( Ictu ) .
A core group of negotiators representing the Public Service Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions had been in talks with the Department of Public Expenditure over the past week or so on the outline of a potential new agreement .
It was understood the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not been circulated to other trade unions .
However , following strong representations by non-Ictu organisations representing gardaí , military personnel , hospital consultants and psychiatric nurses and dentists in recent days , these bodies are understood to have been given copies of the Government proposals .
Union sources said on Wednesday that by circulating what they described as “ early proposals ” , the Department of Public Expenditure had created difficulties for the entire talks process .
A meeting of the full Public Service Committee of Ictu is expected to consider the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Public Expenditure said on Wednesday that it did not intend to comment on the specifics relating to its discussions with public service organisations on a potential new deal , “ which are confidential to the parties ” .
The Government proposals involve new sectoral bargaining bodies , which would be aimed at dealing with all outstanding claims and awards involving particular groups of State employees .
A set amount of money would be allocated for dealing with these issues and these sectoral processes would commence in February or March and operate in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposals .
There would also be a dispute resolution mechanism involving a new public service agreement group with an independent chairman .
It is understood that no overall quantum of money has yet been tabled for either sectoral negotiations or any across-the-board awards .
The Government is understood to want a pay pause for staff for much or all of next year as part of an agreement running between 24 and 30 months .
It is also seeking to retain many of the work flexibilities introduced as emergency measures to deal with the @ @ @

The Government has proposed that staff in the public service could be rostered to work over an extended week, including weekends, as part of a new overall agreement on pay for State employees.
The proposals put forward by the Department of Public Expenditure in recent days also suggest there should be “maximum flexible service delivery options” – which some groups believe could lead to greater outsourcing of services.
The Department of Public Expenditure proposals – which were set out as modernisation reforms – in the current public service pay talks, maintain that employees should be available over an entire week “to provide better services for the public” and that this could include Saturday and Sunday.
Union sources have indicated that proposals such as five-over-seven-day rostering, extended days or any outsourcing would absolutely not be accepted as part of any final deal.
READ MORE
Unions, as part of a new accord, are seeking what they describe as an “acceptable” pay award as well as a the reversal of the requirement for staff to work additional unpaid hours, which were first introduced under the Haddington Road agreement in 2013.
The talks on a new public service agreement are understood to be facing significant difficulties after trade unions learned that proposals drawn up by the Government side in the talks had also been shared with other staff associations that are outside the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu).
Other unions
A core group of negotiators representing the Public Service Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions had been in talks with the Department of Public Expenditure over the past week or so on the outline of a potential new agreement. It was understood the details of the Government side proposals had not been circulated to other trade unions.
However, following strong representations by non-Ictu organisations representing gardaí, military personnel, hospital consultants and psychiatric nurses and dentists in recent days, these bodies are understood to have been given copies of the Government proposals.
Union sources said on Wednesday that by circulating what they described as “early proposals”, the Department of Public Expenditure had created difficulties for the entire talks process.
A meeting of the full Public Service Committee of Ictu is expected to consider the issue on Thursday.
The Department of Public Expenditure said on Wednesday that it did not intend to comment on the specifics relating to its discussions with public service organisations on a potential new deal, “which are confidential to the parties”.
Bargaining bodies
The Government proposals involve new sectoral bargaining bodies, which would be aimed at dealing with all outstanding claims and awards involving particular groups of State employees. A set amount of money would be allocated for dealing with these issues and these sectoral processes would commence in February or March and operate in the first half of the year under the proposals.
There would also be a dispute resolution mechanism involving a new public service agreement group with an independent chairman.
It is understood that no overall quantum of money has yet been tabled for either sectoral negotiations or any across-the-board awards.
The Government is understood to want a pay pause for staff for much or all of next year as part of an agreement running between 24 and 30 months.
It is also seeking to retain many of the work flexibilities introduced as emergency measures to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Publicans accuse Government of using misleading data to keep them closed

Publicans have accused the Government of using misleading data to prevent wet pubs from opening on Friday , alongside their industry counterparts which serve food .
The Licensed Vintners Association which largely represents publicans in Dublin and the Vintners Federation of Ireland jointly highlighted 14 “ flaws ” and what they termed incomplete considerations which they claim was included in a study from consultants EY .
The study published by Government last weekend showed counties where wet pubs reopened at the end of September experienced an increase in the 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 ten days later .
The survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seen to the same extent in Dublin , where wet pubs remained closed .
Now the publicans have dismissed the study and called on the Government to change its mind on the issue .
In particular , the publicans claim there is no evidence to suggest wet pubs pose a greater risk than outlets serving food .
They say the EY report deliberately highlights wet pubs when the evidence was just as relevant to the reopening of universities and specific sporting events .
They say it does not account for Dublin being placed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the country .
The publicans also say the study offered no comparison or evidence on the rate of infection risk in wet pubs , compared with outlets serving food .
They said opening wet pubs outside Dublin coincided with the reopening of sporting fixtures .
“ It is absolutely astounding that Government is using a flimsy , misleading document to keep the wet pubs closed , ” said VFI chief executive Padraig Cribben .
“ How any serious decision maker could use this deeply inadequate report as a rationale for decimating half @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the levels of consideration shown by this Government towards the pubs of Ireland , ” he said .
Donall O ’ Keeffe , chief executive of the LVA said “ when you consider the impact this is having on tens of thousands of people working in pubs across Ireland , the people who supply those pubs and all the various families involved it is a shameful approach that is being adopted by Government .
Given the obvious defects in their report , the Government must now reverse their decision and allow the wet @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the rest of the hospitality sector .
Any other decision will rightly be regarded as malice towards the wet pubs , ” Mr O ’ Keeffe said .
Confirming wet pubs would remain closed when he announced the country was moving out of Level 5 restrictions last Friday the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said : “ Unfortunately , nothing in the research available to Government supports any further reopening of so-called ‘ wet pubs ’ at this stage .
I know how deeply frustrating this will be for business owners in this sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respecting guidelines - but the reality is that reopening indoor hospitality carries risks and there is only so far we can safely go .
“ I want to reassure them that additional supports , over and above what is currently in place , will be made available to owners to help them into the new year and prepare for their eventual reopening ” .

The Licensed Vintners Association said the approach being adopted by Government is shameful.
Publicans have accused the Government of using misleading data to prevent wet pubs from opening on Friday, alongside their industry counterparts which serve food.
The Licensed Vintners Association which largely represents publicans in Dublin and the Vintners Federation of Ireland jointly highlighted 14 “flaws” and what they termed incomplete considerations which they claim was included in a study from consultants EY.
The study published by Government last weekend showed counties where wet pubs reopened at the end of September experienced an increase in the 14-day incidence rate of Covid-19 ten days later.
The survey claimed this level of increase was not seen to the same extent in Dublin, where wet pubs remained closed.
READ MORE
Now the publicans have dismissed the study and called on the Government to change its mind on the issue.
In particular, the publicans claim there is no evidence to suggest wet pubs pose a greater risk than outlets serving food.
They say the EY report deliberately highlights wet pubs when the evidence was just as relevant to the reopening of universities and specific sporting events.
They say it does not account for Dublin being placed in Level 3+ long before the rest of the country.
The publicans also say the study offered no comparison or evidence on the rate of infection risk in wet pubs, compared with outlets serving food. They said opening wet pubs outside Dublin coincided with the reopening of sporting fixtures.
“It is absolutely astounding that Government is using a flimsy, misleading document to keep the wet pubs closed,” said VFI chief executive Padraig Cribben. “How any serious decision maker could use this deeply inadequate report as a rationale for decimating half the industry tells us a lot about the levels of consideration shown by this Government towards the pubs of Ireland,” he said.
Donall O’Keeffe, chief executive of the LVA said “when you consider the impact this is having on tens of thousands of people working in pubs across Ireland, the people who supply those pubs and all the various families involved it is a shameful approach that is being adopted by Government.
Given the obvious defects in their report, the Government must now reverse their decision and allow the wet pubs to reopen at the same time as the rest of the hospitality sector. Any other decision will rightly be regarded as malice towards the wet pubs,” Mr O’Keeffe said.
Confirming wet pubs would remain closed when he announced the country was moving out of Level 5 restrictions last Friday the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “Unfortunately, nothing in the research available to Government supports any further reopening of so-called ‘wet pubs’ at this stage. I know how deeply frustrating this will be for business owners in this sector. I fully accept their goodwill about respecting guidelines - but the reality is that reopening indoor hospitality carries risks and there is only so far we can safely go.
“I want to reassure them that additional supports, over and above what is currently in place, will be made available to owners to help them into the new year and prepare for their eventual reopening”.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Many tourism, hospitality sector businesses ‘teetering on brink’ of collapse

Many businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector are now “ teetering on the brink ” of collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic , officials from Fáilte Ireland told an Oireachtas committee .
Paul Kelly , chief executive of the State tourism authority , said it had seen “ a small number of insolvencies to date ” in the industry , which has been shut or curtailed due to Covid-19 restrictions for much of this year .
The tourism official warned the sector faced a sharp increase in the number of businesses closing from the start of next year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more of those businesses are teetering on the brink , ” he told the Oireachtas committee on media , arts , and tourism on Wednesday .
Due to the national lockdown hotel occupancy rates in November had expectedly been “ way way below ” levels needed to cover other fixed costs , Mr Kelly said .
The hotel and hospitality sector ’ s expectation heading into January and February was “ very grim , ” he said .
From the 6th January the Government has signalled it intends to reintroduce restrictions on non-essential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifted for a two-week period around Christmas .
Those travel restrictions , coupled with the start of the year being a traditionally quiet period for the tourism sector , is likely to heap further pressure on businesses .
“ That is always the worst time of the year anyway until the season gets going after St Patrick ’ s Day , ” Mr Kelly said .
Hotel owners and other hospitality services would now be facing into the difficult period with “ nothing left in reserve , ” he told politicians .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and flexible ” with businesses in the tourism industry , Mr Kelly said .
Yet in other cases lenders were expecting businesses to make full payments as normal , which he said was “ clearly unsustainable when businesses can ’ t trade and can ’ t get any revenue.
” Niall Gibbons , chief executive of Tourism Ireland , which promotes Ireland as a tourist destination abroad , said inbound tourism from “ long haul ” markets was unlikely to return until “ 2022 and beyond ” .
There was still a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ” when it came to the return of international tourism , he told the committee .
The capacity of Ireland ’ s regional airports , like Knock and Shannon , to recover after the huge downturn in the aviation industry would be crucial , he said .
Fáilte Ireland is currently running four grant schemes for businesses in the tourism sector , for general Covid-19 adaptation costs , and others aimed at bed and breakfasts , inbound travel agents , and coach tourism .
Officials said it was hoped €54 million would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the schemes .
Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne told the committee hearing that golf tourism had been “ significantly hit ” during the pandemic .
Mr Kelly said the State body was keenly aware that it needed to support travel agents who organised golfing trips bringing tourists from abroad to Ireland .
“ There are some golf courses , not all , for whom that international revenue is absolutely the mainstay of their finances , ” he said .
“ They are really struggling at the moment and they will need some form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want those trophy courses going out of business , ” he said .

Paul Kelly, chief executive of the State tourism authority, said it had seen ‘a small number of insolvencies to date’ in the industry, which has been shut or curtailed due to Covid-19 restrictions for much of this year. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw/The Irish Times
Many businesses in the tourism and hospitality sector are now "teetering on the brink" of collapse due to the coronavirus pandemic, officials from Fáilte Ireland told an Oireachtas committee.
Paul Kelly, chief executive of the State tourism authority, said it had seen "a small number of insolvencies to date" in the industry, which has been shut or curtailed due to Covid-19 restrictions for much of this year.
The tourism official warned the sector faced a sharp increase in the number of businesses closing from the start of next year. “We are seeing that more and more of those businesses are teetering on the brink,” he told the Oireachtas committee on media, arts, and tourism on Wednesday.
Due to the national lockdown hotel occupancy rates in November had expectedly been “way way below” levels needed to cover other fixed costs, Mr Kelly said. The hotel and hospitality sector’s expectation heading into January and February was “very grim,” he said.
READ MORE
From the 6th January the Government has signalled it intends to reintroduce restrictions on non-essential travel between counties, due to be lifted for a two-week period around Christmas.
Those travel restrictions, coupled with the start of the year being a traditionally quiet period for the tourism sector, is likely to heap further pressure on businesses.
“That is always the worst time of the year anyway until the season gets going after St Patrick’s Day,” Mr Kelly said. Hotel owners and other hospitality services would now be facing into the difficult period with “nothing left in reserve,” he told politicians.
In some cases banks had been “supportive and flexible” with businesses in the tourism industry, Mr Kelly said. Yet in other cases lenders were expecting businesses to make full payments as normal, which he said was “clearly unsustainable when businesses can’t trade and can’t get any revenue.”
‘Cloud of uncertainty’
Niall Gibbons, chief executive of Tourism Ireland, which promotes Ireland as a tourist destination abroad, said inbound tourism from "long haul" markets was unlikely to return until "2022 and beyond".
There was still a “big cloud of uncertainty that is out there” when it came to the return of international tourism, he told the committee. The capacity of Ireland’s regional airports, like Knock and Shannon, to recover after the huge downturn in the aviation industry would be crucial, he said.
Fáilte Ireland is currently running four grant schemes for businesses in the tourism sector, for general Covid-19 adaptation costs, and others aimed at bed and breakfasts, inbound travel agents, and coach tourism. Officials said it was hoped €54 million would be distributed to over 12,000 businesses under the schemes.
Fianna Fáil Senator Malcolm Byrne told the committee hearing that golf tourism had been "significantly hit" during the pandemic.
Mr Kelly said the State body was keenly aware that it needed to support travel agents who organised golfing trips bringing tourists from abroad to Ireland. “There are some golf courses, not all, for whom that international revenue is absolutely the mainstay of their finances,” he said.
“They are really struggling at the moment and they will need some form of support. We don’t want those trophy courses going out of business,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Covid-19: Central Mental Hospital to test all patients and staff as outbreak confirmed

All patients and staff at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum , south Dublin are to be tested for Covid-19 following an outbreak at the facility .
The HSE said there are no concerns at this time for any staff or patients ’ health associated with the outbreak and that all relevant family members are being contacted .
Any staff identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases have been asked to restrict their movements .
The CMH is the State ’ s only facility for holding and treating severely mentally ill offenders and provides care to over 80 people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital was scheduled to take place in line with public health recommendations of long-term residential facilities .
“ This process has been brought forward and all patients and staff will be included in this Covid-19 testing programme due to an outbreak , ” a statement from the HSE said on Wednesday evening .
“ It is not appropriate to comment further on individual cases except to state there are no concerns at this time for any staff or patients ’ health associated with this outbreak .
“ In accordance with HPSC ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an outbreak control team has been convened and continues to work with public health and occupational health to manage the response to any Covid-19 outbreaks at the Central Mental Hospital.
” The HSE said patients are being supported individually by the staff to “ understand the situation ” .
“ Covid-19 testing and contact tracing of both staff and patients is undertaken to ensure the protection of public health .
Any staff identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases are asked to restrict their movements , ” it added .
“ Plans have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and guide senior management to identify the level of impact on service and staff .
The protection of public health is of the utmost importance and every effort is taken to reduce the risk of spread of Covid-19 .
”

The HSE said there are no concerns at this time for any staff or patients’ health associated with the outbreak at the Central Mental Hospital. File photograph: Dara MacDónaill
All patients and staff at the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum, south Dublin are to be tested for Covid-19 following an outbreak at the facility.
The HSE said there are no concerns at this time for any staff or patients’ health associated with the outbreak and that all relevant family members are being contacted.
Any staff identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases have been asked to restrict their movements.
The CMH is the State’s only facility for holding and treating severely mentally ill offenders and provides care to over 80 people.
READ MORE
A testing programme of all staff at the hospital was scheduled to take place in line with public health recommendations of long-term residential facilities.
“This process has been brought forward and all patients and staff will be included in this Covid-19 testing programme due to an outbreak,” a statement from the HSE said on Wednesday evening.
“It is not appropriate to comment further on individual cases except to state there are no concerns at this time for any staff or patients’ health associated with this outbreak.
“In accordance with HPSC (Health Protection Surveillance Centre) guidelines, an outbreak control team has been convened and continues to work with public health and occupational health to manage the response to any Covid-19 outbreaks at the Central Mental Hospital.”
The HSE said patients are being supported individually by the staff to “understand the situation”.
“Covid-19 testing and contact tracing of both staff and patients is undertaken to ensure the protection of public health. Any staff identified as close contacts of Covid-19 cases are asked to restrict their movements,” it added.
“Plans have been developed to support continuity of services and guide senior management to identify the level of impact on service and staff. The protection of public health is of the utmost importance and every effort is taken to reduce the risk of spread of Covid-19.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Children in need of MRI under general anaesthesia waiting 4-7 years

The waiting list for a child to receive an MRI scan under a general anaesethetic at the children ’ s hospital in Crumlin is now so long that it effectively means there is no service available , the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said .
He told the Oireachtas select committee on health on Wednesday that the waiting time for child needing an urgent MRI under general anaesethesia at Crumlin was now four years , while a child considered to be a non-urgent case had to wait for seven years .
He said no one could defend the current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another MRI machine as well as the associated staff .
He said he was working to put in place temporary measures to deal with this situation as quickly as possible to make sure that paediatric MRI scans under general anaesethetic could be carried out .
“ I have spoken to the team in Crumlin about exactly what is needed .
Nobody can stand over that [ waiting time ] .
It is just not fair , we are failing these children and we are failing their parents .
It is just wrong.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was “ well disposed ” towards waiving the €100 annual registration fee for nurses which they had to be pay to their regulatory body , the NMBI , this year .
He said it would cost about €3 million and the move would require a Government decision .
However he said he would be very open to considering the issue and would look at it very carefully .
“ Nurses in this country have done an extraordinary job , this year more than ever .
I would be very well disposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I can not give a commitment as it would require additional spending and would require a Government decision but I would look at it very closely.
” Mr Donnelly said sorting out pay equality for hospital consultants appointed after autumn 2012 was a very high priority for him and he had every intention of asking Government to resolve this issue urgently .
However said it was “ an all-of-Government decision ” , as there were other groups in the public service also affected by this issue .
“ If it was up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ the pay cuts for recent -entrants consultants ] last July .
I would have done it in the first week I was appointed .
I looked into it straight away .
It is an all-of-Government decision as there are wider pay considerations with upcoming pay talks it was not possible to do it.
” Mr Donnelly sought the approval of the committee for a supplementary spending estimate of €514.5 million for the health service this year.The Minster said that the HSE would spend €920 million on personal protective equipment for the health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was an ongoing perception that Ireland spent more than other countries on healthcare .
However he said a recent had shown that “ when measured per capita , Ireland ’ s total expenditure on healthcare ranks 9th among the EU 15 countries and drops to 10th when you consider solely the public aspect of healthcare expenditure ” .

Children not considered in urgent need of an MRI under general anaesthesia at Crumlin Hospital can wait up to 7 years. Photograph: iStock
The waiting list for a child to receive an MRI scan under a general anaesethetic at the children's hospital in Crumlin is now so long that it effectively means there is no service available, the Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said.
He told the Oireachtas select committee on health on Wednesday that the waiting time for child needing an urgent MRI under general anaesethesia at Crumlin was now four years, while a child considered to be a non-urgent case had to wait for seven years.
He said no one could defend the current situation.
The Minister said Crumlin needed another MRI machine as well as the associated staff.
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He said he was working to put in place temporary measures to deal with this situation as quickly as possible to make sure that paediatric MRI scans under general anaesethetic could be carried out.
“I have spoken to the team in Crumlin about exactly what is needed. Nobody can stand over that [waiting time]. It is just not fair, we are failing these children and we are failing their parents. It is just wrong.”
Mr Donnelly also told the committee that he was “well disposed” towards waiving the €100 annual registration fee for nurses which they had to be pay to their regulatory body, the NMBI, this year. He said it would cost about €3 million and the move would require a Government decision. However he said he would be very open to considering the issue and would look at it very carefully.
“Nurses in this country have done an extraordinary job, this year more than ever. I would be very well disposed to try and do something to recognise that. I cannot give a commitment as it would require additional spending and would require a Government decision but I would look at it very closely.”
Mr Donnelly said sorting out pay equality for hospital consultants appointed after autumn 2012 was a very high priority for him and he had every intention of asking Government to resolve this issue urgently.
However said it was “an all-of-Government decision”, as there were other groups in the public service also affected by this issue.
“If it was up to me I would have unilaterally reversed [the pay cuts for recent -entrants consultants] last July. I would have done it in the first week I was appointed. I looked into it straight away. It is an all-of-Government decision as there are wider pay considerations with upcoming pay talks it was not possible to do it.”
Mr Donnelly sought the approval of the committee for a supplementary spending estimate of €514.5 million for the health service this year.The Minster said that the HSE would spend €920 million on personal protective equipment for the health service this year.
The Minister said there was an ongoing perception that Ireland spent more than other countries on healthcare. However he said a recent had shown that "when measured per capita, Ireland's total expenditure on healthcare ranks 9th among the EU 15 countries and drops to 10th when you consider solely the public aspect of healthcare expenditure".


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--One ticket scoops €10.7 million Lotto jackpot

One lucky ticket holder has scooped more than €10.7 million in Wednesday night ’ s Lotto draw .
The winning @ @ @ @ @ , 22 , 28 , 35 and 47 .
The bonus number was 37 .
@ @ @ @ @ ticket was sold have not yet been released by the National Lottery .

One lucky ticket holder has scooped more than €10.7 million in Wednesday night’s Lotto draw.
The winning numbers were 9, 12, 22, 28, 35 and 47. The bonus number was 37.
Details of where the winning ticket was sold have not yet been released by the National Lottery.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Covid 19: Universities warn of ‘devastating’ financial losses this year

Universities are due to run a combined deficit of more than €100 million this year due to a “ devastating ” drop-off in commercial income and vacant student accommodation .
The Irish Universities Association will the Oireachtas education committee on Thursday that emergency funding will be needed next year to cover unavoidable losses in the sector .
It is also working to provide more on-campus activities for students in the new year to protect their welfare and mental health .
In a submission to the committee , Prof Patrick Prendergast , Trinity College Dublin ’ s Provost and chair of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and commercial revenues have been devastated by Covid-19 and will likely remain that way for much of next year .
Student accommodation revenues have reduced significantly with average occupancy rates reduced to 65 per cent .
At the same time , he said costs have increased with greater online and digital investment and substantial public health measures .
In addition , the interruption of research work has resulted in the provision of cost extensions to research contracts .
The most recent estimate by the association is that its seven member universities will run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last academic year of €102million .
Prof Prendergast said the provision of extra Government funding and support from Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris in recent months has been warmly welcomed .
However , the funding only extends to the end of this year and he said the sector will require additional funds in 2021 through a supplementary budget package to cover additional costs and revenue losses .
Prof Prendergast also said the university sector and the student population is ready to provide more on-campus activity in the new year in line with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Minister and his officials that we can safely provide some more on-campus activity and we would ask that , in support of overall student wellbeing , public health guidance facilitate us in providing that in the new year , ” he said .
“ This includes , not just classroom activity , but also some additional extracurricular activities to enable students to have at least some limited level of on-campus experience in order to protect their welfare and mental health.
” The representative body for the institutes of technology sector is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impact Covid-19 has had on student life .
In a submission , Dr Joseph Ryan , chief executive of the Technological Higher Education Association , said increasing isolation and the reduction of the student experience have posed challenges for students .
He said institutes of technology should be allowed to participate in sport and activity on campus in a safe and controlled way .
Dr Ryan also said the sector was aiming to build up the capacity of new technological universities .
The institutes of technology have inherited an anachronistic system based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work with partners to arrive at an alternative lecturing contract that can better reflect the advanced mission of technological universities .

Prof Patrick Prendergast, Trinity College Dublin’s Provost said commercial revenues have been devastated by Covid-19. File photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Universities are due to run a combined deficit of more than €100 million this year due to a “devastating” drop-off in commercial income and vacant student accommodation.
The Irish Universities Association will the Oireachtas education committee on Thursday that emergency funding will be needed next year to cover unavoidable losses in the sector.
It is also working to provide more on-campus activities for students in the new year to protect their welfare and mental health.
In a submission to the committee, Prof Patrick Prendergast, Trinity College Dublin's Provost and chair of the Irish Universities Association, said ancillary and commercial revenues have been devastated by Covid-19 and will likely remain that way for much of next year.
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Student accommodation revenues have reduced significantly with average occupancy rates reduced to 65 per cent.
At the same time, he said costs have increased with greater online and digital investment and substantial public health measures.
In addition, the interruption of research work has resulted in the provision of cost extensions to research contracts.
The most recent estimate by the association is that its seven member universities will run a combined deficit between this and the last academic year of €102million.
Prof Prendergast said the provision of extra Government funding and support from Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris in recent months has been warmly welcomed.
However, the funding only extends to the end of this year and he said the sector will require additional funds in 2021 through a supplementary budget package to cover additional costs and revenue losses.
Prof Prendergast also said the university sector and the student population is ready to provide more on-campus activity in the new year in line with health advice.
“We have outlined to the Minister and his officials that we can safely provide some more on-campus activity and we would ask that, in support of overall student wellbeing, public health guidance facilitate us in providing that in the new year,” he said.
“This includes, not just classroom activity, but also some additional extracurricular activities to enable students to have at least some limited level of on-campus experience in order to protect their welfare and mental health.”
The representative body for the institutes of technology sector is also due to tell the committee of the impact Covid-19 has had on student life.
In a submission, Dr Joseph Ryan, chief executive of the Technological Higher Education Association, said increasing isolation and the reduction of the student experience have posed challenges for students.
He said institutes of technology should be allowed to participate in sport and activity on campus in a safe and controlled way.
Dr Ryan also said the sector was aiming to build up the capacity of new technological universities.
The institutes of technology have inherited an anachronistic system based on input hours and its goal is to work with partners to arrive at an alternative lecturing contract that can better reflect the advanced mission of technological universities.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Coroners nationwide facing backlog of inquests due to Covid-19 restrictions

Coroners nationwide are facing a backlog of inquests due to Covid-19 restrictions as well as the fact that additional court sittings are being facilitated outside of Dublin .
Half of the country ’ s 34 coroners are now under pressure to meet the demand of hearing inquests due to many being postponed over the past nine months .
This will result in dozens of inquests piling up well into next year .
The coroners ’ primary function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a certificate can be issued .
Pat O ’ Connor , the county coroner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Society of Ireland said that inquests requiring juries and witnesses have not taken place since pandemic restrictions last March .
“ Additionally many inquests have been impacted by the court services moving cases normally held in Dublin around the country such as the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork , Kilkenny and Castlebar in Mayo .
Thankfully the coroner ’ s court in Mayo has been able to be facilitated in Ballina.
” Mr O ’ Connor pointed out that while inquests do not have to be held in court settings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ best practice ” .
Mr O ’ Connor said it is “ not likely ” that virtual inquests will be held nationwide to ease the backlog .
Zoom sittings have been taking place for the Dublin Coroner ’ s Court at Store Street .
Kilkenny ’ s county coroner Tim Kiely , said several inquests have been doubly impacted due the restrictions and have because of the Central Criminal Court sitting in the city .

Pat O’Connor said it is “not likely” that virtual inquests will be held nationwide to ease the backlog. Zoom sittings have been taking place for the Dublin Coroner’s Court at Store Street. Photograph: Cyril Byrne / THE IRISH TIMES
Coroners nationwide are facing a backlog of inquests due to Covid-19 restrictions as well as the fact that additional court sittings are being facilitated outside of Dublin.
Half of the country’s 34 coroners are now under pressure to meet the demand of hearing inquests due to many being postponed over the past nine months. This will result in dozens of inquests piling up well into next year.
The coroners’ primary function is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a certificate can be issued.
Pat O’Connor, the county coroner for Mayo and spokesperson for the Coroner’s Society of Ireland said that inquests requiring juries and witnesses have not taken place since pandemic restrictions last March.
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“Additionally many inquests have been impacted by the court services moving cases normally held in Dublin around the country such as the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork, Kilkenny and Castlebar in Mayo. Thankfully the coroner’s court in Mayo has been able to be facilitated in Ballina.”
Mr O’Connor pointed out that while inquests do not have to be held in court settings it is viewed by the society as “best practice”.
Mr O’Connor said it is “not likely” that virtual inquests will be held nationwide to ease the backlog. Zoom sittings have been taking place for the Dublin Coroner’s Court at Store Street.
Kilkenny’s county coroner Tim Kiely, said several inquests have been doubly impacted due the restrictions and have because of the Central Criminal Court sitting in the city.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Wait for immigration renewals drops to 2-3 weeks – Minister for Justice

The waiting period for non-EU foreign nationals applying to renew their immigration permission to live in Ireland has dropped to 2-3 weeks , less than half the time it used to take , the Minister for Justice has said .
Helen McEntee said on Wednesday the average waiting time for people to renew their stamp permission through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service ( INIS ) had fallen from around 6-7 weeks to an average of 2-3 weeks following the introduction of a new website and additional resources .
Her announcement came as Dublin ’ s immigration office on Burgh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ six weeks during the level 5 restrictions .
The closure put first-time registrations on hold as finger prints are needed to complete the process .
Ms McEntee said new appointment slots would be added daily , to meet the heightened demand , and priority would be give to those who had their first-time registrations cancelled during the second lockdown .
This drop in waiting times for processing applications follows the launch of a new online booking system which , for the first time , allows foreign nationals renewing their stamps to complete the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially opened to students in June before being expanded to include all foreign nationals living in Dublin in July .
Non-EU foreign nationals living outside the capital must still appear in person at their local Garda station to renew their immigration status , while first-time registrations nationwide must also be done in person .
The Minister also announced that foreign nationals would no longer have to send in their original passport for stamping when renewing their permission .
Instead , renewal applicants can upload and submit a scanned colour copy of the biometrics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ms McEntee .
Once the renewal process is successfully completed , the applicant ’ s Irish Residence Permit ( IRP ) card is sent out by registered post within 10 working days , she added .
More than 40,000 applications for permission to live in Ireland have been processed since the new online system launched in mid-July , 18 months after the Department of Justice first committed to replacing the old system .
Previously , non-EU foreign nationals had to secure an appointment online and present in person at the Burgh Quay immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Government was repeatedly criticised for this poorly run online appointment system , which saw numerous unregulated operators block-booking slots , which they then sold on at a profit .
Before the pandemic , applicants said it had become nearly impossible to secure a slot on the Government website with many handing over sensitive personal data to third parties in order to get an appointment before their visa expired .
Despite the introduction of the new Government booking website this summer , some of these operators continue to charge people up to €40 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ receive Facebook requests from members of the public seeking support .

Large queues at the National Immigration Bureau office on Burgh Quay in 2016, when the old system was in place. File photograph: David Sleator/The Irish Times
The waiting period for non-EU foreign nationals applying to renew their immigration permission to live in Ireland has dropped to 2-3 weeks, less than half the time it used to take, the Minister for Justice has said.
Helen McEntee said on Wednesday the average waiting time for people to renew their stamp permission through the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) had fallen from around 6-7 weeks to an average of 2-3 weeks following the introduction of a new website and additional resources.
Her announcement came as Dublin’s immigration office on Burgh Quay re-opened its doors after closing for six weeks during the level 5 restrictions. The closure put first-time registrations on hold as finger prints are needed to complete the process.
Ms McEntee said new appointment slots would be added daily, to meet the heightened demand, and priority would be give to those who had their first-time registrations cancelled during the second lockdown.
READ MORE
This drop in waiting times for processing applications follows the launch of a new online booking system which, for the first time, allows foreign nationals renewing their stamps to complete the entire process online. The website was initially opened to students in June before being expanded to include all foreign nationals living in Dublin in July.
Non-EU foreign nationals living outside the capital must still appear in person at their local Garda station to renew their immigration status, while first-time registrations nationwide must also be done in person.
The Minister also announced that foreign nationals would no longer have to send in their original passport for stamping when renewing their permission. Instead, renewal applicants can upload and submit a scanned colour copy of the biometrics page of their passport instead, said Ms McEntee. Once the renewal process is successfully completed, the applicant’s Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card is sent out by registered post within 10 working days, she added.
More than 40,000 applications for permission to live in Ireland have been processed since the new online system launched in mid-July, 18 months after the Department of Justice first committed to replacing the old system.
Previously, non-EU foreign nationals had to secure an appointment online and present in person at the Burgh Quay immigration office to renew their stamp permission. The Government was repeatedly criticised for this poorly run online appointment system, which saw numerous unregulated operators block-booking slots, which they then sold on at a profit.
Before the pandemic, applicants said it had become nearly impossible to secure a slot on the Government website with many handing over sensitive personal data to third parties in order to get an appointment before their visa expired.
Despite the introduction of the new Government booking website this summer, some of these operators continue to charge people up to €40 to secure an appointment slot and still receive Facebook requests from members of the public seeking support.


theirishtimes--2020-12-02--Court to overturn permission for 660 dwellings near Battle of the Boyne site

The High Court has said it will make orders overturning An Bord Pleanála ’ s decision to grant planning permission for a development including 661 housing units close to the site of the historic Battle of the Boyne .
Mr Justice Denis McDonald found the board ’ s decision last January permitting Trailford Ltd to develop 661 dwelling units , a neighbourhood centre and creche at Rathmullen , Drogheda , Co Meath was “ wrong in law , ” and should be set aside .
The decision was made under legislation providing for a fast-track planning procedure where developers can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directly to the board for permission for developments which can be defined as strategic housing development .
The judge found the board erred by not properly taking into account the potential effects of the proposed development on bird species in the Boyne Estuary Special Protection Area ( SPA ) in line with the requirements of the Habitats Directive .
The board also erred by screening out the possibility of significant effects on four other important ecological Natura 2000 sites nearby , including effects from the mobilisation of silt and pollutants from the development @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representing residents living close to the site of the proposed development , and Protect East Meath Ltd , a local environmental group , had challenged the decision .
Represented by John Kenny BL , instructed by solicitor Fred Logue , they claimed the board ’ s decision was flawed on several grounds including the board had failed to properly consider the potential effects of the development on four European sites identified as core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species of animals .
They also alleged the board had failed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have on the site of the 1690 battle .
The judicial review proceedings were against An Bord Pleanála , the Minister for Culture , Heritage and the Gaeltacht , Ireland and the Attorney General .
Trailford and Meath County Council were notice parties .
In his judgment on Wednesday , Mr Justice McDonald said a proper survey to see if the proposed development site was used as ex-situ , or offsite locations , for rare birds from the Boyne Estuary SAC more than4km away , particularly at high tide , had not been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a requirement under the EU Habitats directive , the judge said .
A key requirement was that any survey in respect of this site should have been done at high tide , when some of the bird species in the SAC move to off-site habitats , he said .
The screening exercise carried out by the board did not comply with the directive or the 2000 Planning and Development Act , he said .
The judge also held the board had wrongly taken certain mitigation matters into account when the site was being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision was further flawed due to a lack of a proper survey on local bat populations .
Final orders will be made on a later date after the sides have considered the judgment .

The High Court has said it will make orders overturning An Bord Pleanála’s decision to grant planning permission for a development including 661 housing units close to the site of the historic Battle of the Boyne.
Mr Justice Denis McDonald found the board’s decision last January permitting Trailford Ltd to develop 661 dwelling units, a neighbourhood centre and creche at Rathmullen, Drogheda, Co Meath was “wrong in law,” and should be set aside.
The decision was made under legislation providing for a fast-track planning procedure where developers can bypass the local planning authority and apply directly to the board for permission for developments which can be defined as strategic housing development.
The judge found the board erred by not properly taking into account the potential effects of the proposed development on bird species in the Boyne Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) in line with the requirements of the Habitats Directive.
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The board also erred by screening out the possibility of significant effects on four other important ecological Natura 2000 sites nearby, including effects from the mobilisation of silt and pollutants from the development site.
The Highland Residents Association, representing residents living close to the site of the proposed development, and Protect East Meath Ltd, a local environmental group, had challenged the decision. Represented by John Kenny BL, instructed by solicitor Fred Logue, they claimed the board’s decision was flawed on several grounds including the board had failed to properly consider the potential effects of the development on four European sites identified as core breeding and resting sites for rare and threatened species of animals.
They also alleged the board had failed to consider the impact the proposed development would have on the site of the 1690 battle.
The judicial review proceedings were against An Bord Pleanála, the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Ireland and the Attorney General. Trailford and Meath County Council were notice parties. In his judgment on Wednesday, Mr Justice McDonald said a proper survey to see if the proposed development site was used as ex-situ, or offsite locations, for rare birds from the Boyne Estuary SAC more than4km away, particularly at high tide, had not been put before the board. This is a requirement under the EU Habitats directive, the judge said.
A key requirement was that any survey in respect of this site should have been done at high tide, when some of the bird species in the SAC move to off-site habitats, he said.
The screening exercise carried out by the board did not comply with the directive or the 2000 Planning and Development Act, he said. The judge also held the board had wrongly taken certain mitigation matters into account when the site was being screened. He rejected arguments the board’s decision was further flawed due to a lack of a proper survey on local bat populations. Final orders will be made on a later date after the sides have considered the judgment.