theirishtimes--2020-05-01--Pieta House sees dramatic rise in calls to helpline

Mental health charity Pieta House has experienced a “ dramatic change in the volume of calls and texts ” to its helpline since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis , it has said .
The charity , which provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm , with suicidal ideation , or bereaved by suicide , has seen a 49 per cent increase in calls to their helpline and a 46 per cent increase in text messages seeking the service compared to this time last year .
However , it has said it is “ very vulnerable ” in terms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 80 per cent of its funding from public donations and last month had to postpone the annual Darkness Into Light fundraiser , which 250,0000 people were expected to attend and which normally brings in approximately €6 million .
Tom McEvoy , funding and advocacy manager for Pieta House , said the charity has never seen such a large increase in demand for the service before .
“ During the crisis in 2011 , we certainly saw an increase in the numbers of people attending Pieta .
But we didn ’ t have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counselling over the phone , so this is a new dimension of our work , brought on through really unusual circumstances , ” he said .
Counsellors are operating from their homes to support “ a broad spectrum of the community - from under 18s , to people who are middle-aged , to those cocooning at the moment ” , he said .
Mr McEvoy said organisers are “ hopeful ” that the Darkness into Light event will be able to go ahead later in the year .
In the meantime , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scheduled for May 9th , encouraging people to “ come together while remaining apart ” by getting up at 5:30am to watch the sunrise and to “ show community and solidarity with those impacted by suicide ” .
Mr McEvoy said the services at Pieta House are “ needed ever more so than before ” and that the charity “ really needs to be supported to be able to maintain our service .
”

Counsellors are operating from their homes to support a broad spectrum of the community - from under 18s, to people who are middle-aged, to those cocooning.
Mental health charity Pieta House has experienced a “dramatic change in the volume of calls and texts” to its helpline since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, it has said.
The charity, which provides free therapy to those engaging in self-harm, with suicidal ideation, or bereaved by suicide, has seen a 49 per cent increase in calls to their helpline and a 46 per cent increase in text messages seeking the service compared to this time last year.
However, it has said it is “very vulnerable” in terms of its funding. Pieta House receives 80 per cent of its funding from public donations and last month had to postpone the annual Darkness Into Light fundraiser, which 250,0000 people were expected to attend and which normally brings in approximately €6 million.
Tom McEvoy, funding and advocacy manager for Pieta House, said the charity has never seen such a large increase in demand for the service before.
READ MORE
“During the crisis in 2011, we certainly saw an increase in the numbers of people attending Pieta. But we didn’t have a number at that point or offer crisis counselling over the phone, so this is a new dimension of our work, brought on through really unusual circumstances,” he said.
Counsellors are operating from their homes to support “a broad spectrum of the community - from under 18s, to people who are middle-aged, to those cocooning at the moment”, he said.
Mr McEvoy said organisers are “hopeful” that the Darkness into Light event will be able to go ahead later in the year. In the meantime, a separate ‘Sunrise Appeal’ has been scheduled for May 9th, encouraging people to “come together while remaining apart” by getting up at 5:30am to watch the sunrise and to “show community and solidarity with those impacted by suicide”.
Mr McEvoy said the services at Pieta House are “needed ever more so than before” and that the charity “really needs to be supported to be able to maintain our service.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-01--Garda who went viral directing traffic in east Cork expects quiet weekend

What a difference a day – or , in this case , six weeks – makes .
Just ask Garda Mick O ’ Brien , who became an internet sensation when footage of him directing traffic in Ballycotton went viral .
It was March 22nd , the Sunday after St Patrick ’ s Day and before the Government announced a complete lockdown .
The sunny weather sent hundreds heading for the Co Cork coast .
The picture-postcard seaside village of Ballycotton , long popular with daytrippers from Cork city , found itself inundated with visitors , with many intent on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with traffic grinding to a halt , into the breach stepped Ballycotton ’ s lone lawman – Garda Mick as he is known locally – to direct cars out of the cul-de sac village and prevent complete congestion .
“ Ballycotton is a victim of its own success .
It ’ s idyllic , it ’ s scenic , it has nice cafes and pubs , and anything else you would want is there , but what kills it is that there ’ s only one way in and one way out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a busy bank holiday , you have people arriving down and fellows are trying to drive up into the village and they can ’ t see how much traffic is already in ahead and you have residents parking and it becomes a complete bottleneck .
“ I was a bit surprised when that footage of me directing traffic went viral .
It wouldn ’ t really be my sort of thing .
I ’ d be a quiet sort of fellow , ” chuckles Garda O ’ Brien as he recalls even his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Garda O ’ Brien reckons more than 500 cars may have tried to come into Ballycotton that day .
He would normally expect a similar amount to descend on the village for a busy bank holiday weekend but , that was then and this is now .
“ Traffic now is nearly non-existent .
Cork County Council closing off the cliff walk helped , but people aren ’ t travelling since the full lockdown kicked in .
There ’ s still the odd person coming out but it ’ s after calming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to get down from the city at this stage and the caravan parks never turned on the water or the gas or the electricity , so there is no reason for anyone to come down here.
” Although he may be the only garda in Ballycotton , Garda O ’ Brien has got good support from his colleagues in the Midleton district under Supt Adrian Gamble and he ’ s expecting this bank holiday weekend to go off smoothly .
“ People are getting sick of staying in and if the weather @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looking to get out so we could have a small bit of business on the checkpoints but it won ’ t be mad either , ” he says .
“ The fact it ’ s one way in and one way out helps .
But generally , people are good – they just want it to finish and get on with their lives again and they know that the lockdown and the checkpoints are all part of helping to achieve that .
”

Garda Mick O’Brien in Ballycotton, east Cork: ‘Traffic now is nearly non-existent... people aren’t travelling since the full lockdown kicked in.’ Photograph: Daragh McSweeney/Provision
What a difference a day – or, in this case, six weeks – makes. Just ask Garda Mick O'Brien, who became an internet sensation when footage of him directing traffic in Ballycotton went viral.
It was March 22nd, the Sunday after St Patrick's Day and before the Government announced a complete lockdown. The sunny weather sent hundreds heading for the Co Cork coast.
Ballycotton is a victim of its own success. It's idyllic, it's scenic, it has nice cafes and pubs
The picture-postcard seaside village of Ballycotton, long popular with daytrippers from Cork city , found itself inundated with visitors, with many intent on enjoying the spectacular clifftop walk.
But, with traffic grinding to a halt, into the breach stepped Ballycotton’s lone lawman – Garda Mick as he is known locally – to direct cars out of the cul-de sac village and prevent complete congestion.
READ MORE
“Ballycotton is a victim of its own success. It’s idyllic, it’s scenic, it has nice cafes and pubs, and anything else you would want is there, but what kills it is that there’s only one way in and one way out,” he observes.
“On a busy bank holiday, you have people arriving down and fellows are trying to drive up into the village and they can’t see how much traffic is already in ahead and you have residents parking and it becomes a complete bottleneck.
“I was a bit surprised when that footage of me directing traffic went viral. It wouldn’t really be my sort of thing. I’d be a quiet sort of fellow,” chuckles Garda O’Brien as he recalls even his cousins in the UK spotted him online.
Garda O’Brien reckons more than 500 cars may have tried to come into Ballycotton that day. He would normally expect a similar amount to descend on the village for a busy bank holiday weekend but, that was then and this is now.
"Traffic now is nearly non-existent. Cork County Council closing off the cliff walk helped, but people aren't travelling since the full lockdown kicked in. There's still the odd person coming out but it's after calming down hugely.
People are getting sick of staying in and if the weather is good, they'll be looking to get out
“No one is trying to get down from the city at this stage and the caravan parks never turned on the water or the gas or the electricity, so there is no reason for anyone to come down here.”
Although he may be the only garda in Ballycotton, Garda O'Brien has got good support from his colleagues in the Midleton district under Supt Adrian Gamble and he's expecting this bank holiday weekend to go off smoothly.
“People are getting sick of staying in and if the weather is good, they’ll be looking to get out so we could have a small bit of business on the checkpoints but it won’t be mad either,” he says.
“The fact it’s one way in and one way out helps. But generally, people are good – they just want it to finish and get on with their lives again and they know that the lockdown and the checkpoints are all part of helping to achieve that.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-01--Co-ordinated approach to exiting lockdown discussed in North-South talks

A co-ordinated approach to exiting lockdown on the island of Ireland has been discussed between the governments in both jurisdictions , the North ’ s Deputy First Minister has said .
Speaking at the Northern Ireland Executive ’ s daily media briefing on Friday , Michelle O ’ Neill said they had “ talked about exit and recovery and how we can move at similar times given that the disease is obviously spreading at a similar way across the island.
” However the First Minister , Arlene Foster , said there was a need “ not just to have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but also an east-west approach .
“ I ’ ve always believed that the totality of relationships are important in relation to tackling this virus and that will continue to be my view , ” she said .
“ It ’ s not just about north-south but also about east-west.
” Asked by The Irish Times if she would advocate an all-Ireland approach regardless of her own political views , the Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP ) leader said she had always been “ very clear that this is not a political issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lives .
“ That ’ s always been the modus operandi of the Executive , ” she said , “ and certainly for me in terms of the way forward.
” A further 18 coronavirus-related deaths were announced by the North ’ s Department of Health ( DoH ) on Friday , bringing the total number of hospital fatalities to 365 .
The figures include four deaths within the past 24 hours as well as confirmation of a further 14 .
However data released earlier on Friday by the Northern Ireland Statistics and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records deaths in all settings including care homes and hospices , showed that the number of fatalities is at least one-third higher than the figure reported daily by the DoH .
The Northern Executive is to publish its “ pathway to recovery ” next week , which Ms O ’ Neill said would set out a criteria-led rather than calendar-led approach to emerging from lockdown .
It is not yet clear what precisely this might entail , though it is expected to outline a graduated approach to easing restrictions , with Ms O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be no single turning point , there will be no sweeping changes to the regulations , but we also understand that people want to see light at the end of the tunnel.
” The Tánaiste , Simon Coveney , and the Secretary of State , Brandon Lewis , chaired a conference call to discuss the response to the coronavirus pandemic with the North ’ s first and deputy first ministers and both health ministers on Thursday .
In a joint statement afterwards , they said they had been “ agreed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North/South collaborative arrangements and , wherever possible , consistency of approach.
” On Friday , the First Minister , Arlene Foster , said it had been a “ useful conversation ” and they had discussed sharing information , adding that it was “ critically important ” both jurisdictions continued to so .
There have previously been tensions within the Northern Executive over whether to follow London or Dublin in tackling the coronavirus pandemic .
Health is a devolved matter , and Ms Foster has previously said Northern Ireland could exit from lockdown under @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK .
The North ’ s chief medical officer , Dr Michael McBride , said earlier this month there was a “ noticeable difference ” in the way the virus was behaving in the North as compared to other parts of the UK .
Though it was “ early days ” , he said , the behaviour of the virus “ was more similar to that in the Republic of Ireland.
” This was down to a range of factors , including the public ’ s adherence to the social distancing and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In April a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between North and South which recognised a “ compelling case for strong co-operation , including information-sharing and , where appropriate , a common approach to action in both jurisdictions .
”

Speaking at the Northern Ireland Executive’s daily media briefing on Friday, Michelle O’Neill said they had “talked about exit and recovery and how we can move at similar times given that the disease is obviously spreading at a similar way across the island.” Photograph: Kelvin Boyes/Press Eye/PA
A co-ordinated approach to exiting lockdown on the island of Ireland has been discussed between the governments in both jurisdictions, the North's Deputy First Minister has said.
Speaking at the Northern Ireland Executive's daily media briefing on Friday, Michelle O'Neill said they had "talked about exit and recovery and how we can move at similar times given that the disease is obviously spreading at a similar way across the island."
However the First Minister, Arlene Foster, said there was a need "not just to have a north-south approach to what is going on but also an east-west approach.
“I’ve always believed that the totality of relationships are important in relation to tackling this virus and that will continue to be my view,” she said. “It’s not just about north-south but also about east-west.”
READ MORE
Asked by The Irish Times if she would advocate an all-Ireland approach regardless of her own political views, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader said she had always been "very clear that this is not a political issue, this is an issue about saving lives.
“That’s always been the modus operandi of the Executive,” she said, “and certainly for me in terms of the way forward.”
A further 18 coronavirus-related deaths were announced by the North's Department of Health (DoH) on Friday, bringing the total number of hospital fatalities to 365.
The figures include four deaths within the past 24 hours as well as confirmation of a further 14.
However data released earlier on Friday by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), which records deaths in all settings including care homes and hospices, showed that the number of fatalities is at least one-third higher than the figure reported daily by the DoH.
The Northern Executive is to publish its “pathway to recovery” next week, which Ms O’Neill said would set out a criteria-led rather than calendar-led approach to emerging from lockdown.
It is not yet clear what precisely this might entail, though it is expected to outline a graduated approach to easing restrictions, with Ms O’Neill warning on Friday that “there will be no single turning point, there will be no sweeping changes to the regulations, but we also understand that people want to see light at the end of the tunnel.”
The Tánaiste, Simon Coveney, and the Secretary of State, Brandon Lewis, chaired a conference call to discuss the response to the coronavirus pandemic with the North's first and deputy first ministers and both health ministers on Thursday.
In a joint statement afterwards, they said they had been “agreed that it will be essential to maintain strong North/South collaborative arrangements and, wherever possible, consistency of approach.”
On Friday, the First Minister, Arlene Foster, said it had been a “useful conversation” and they had discussed sharing information, adding that it was “critically important” both jurisdictions continued to so.
There have previously been tensions within the Northern Executive over whether to follow London or Dublin in tackling the coronavirus pandemic.
Health is a devolved matter, and Ms Foster has previously said Northern Ireland could exit from lockdown under a different timetable to the rest of the UK.
The North’s chief medical officer, Dr Michael McBride, said earlier this month there was a “noticeable difference” in the way the virus was behaving in the North as compared to other parts of the UK.
Though it was “early days”, he said, the behaviour of the virus “was more similar to that in the Republic of Ireland.”
This was down to a range of factors, including the public’s adherence to the social distancing and public health guidelines and lower population density.
In April a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between North and South which recognised a “compelling case for strong co-operation, including information-sharing and, where appropriate, a common approach to action in both jurisdictions.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-01--Taoiseach’s speech on Covid-19 restrictions in full

I need to speak to you again about the coronavirus .
The last few weeks have changed and transformed our lives in so many different ways .
I know it has been difficult - sometimes dispiriting .
The frustration of having our lives restricted .
The uncertainty about when things will get back to normal .
The fear of the virus itself .
As a nation our physical health has been attacked , our mental health eroded , our economy battered , and our society put to the ultimate test .
Many people are lonely and enduring the pain of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silence .
Many have lost their jobs .
Many fear losing their businesses and many have lost their lives .
I know , for me , the worst part has been the daily text message at around 5.30 every evening with the latest number of notified deaths and newly diagnosed cases .
I yearn for the day when it stops .
Tonight I want to explain to you why we have to extend current restrictions until the 18th May and also to share with you our plan to re-open our economy and society @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanks to you we are making a real difference in the fight against Covid-19 .
The curve has been flattened and it has now plateaued .
Thousands of lives have been saved .
Our hospitals and healthcare staff have not been overwhelmed .
But we have not yet won this fight .
Every day we still have too many new cases .
We still have too many people in hospital and in our intensive care units .
Every day , regrettably , we still have too many deaths .
Our scientists and doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions too soon , we could see , within a matter of days , our ICUs overcrowded , our care homes under renewed pressure , and our healthcare staff overwhelmed .
Everything we have achieved would be lost .
Our best chance of winning this battle would be swept away and we could be back to square one .
So we must go on , for a short time more .
We have a plan to ease restrictions from 18th May .
But before that we need two more weeks of tight restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it doesn ’ t have the strength to make a comeback when we start to interact with each other once again .
During this period we are making some change – we are extending the distance you can leave your home , so from next Tuesday it will be possible to go up to 5km for the purposes of exercise .
For people who are cocooning the public health advice is to continue to do so .
However it will still be possible to go for a walk or a drive within 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all contact with other people .
Our plan is to re-open the country in a slow , staged , phased way .
Five stages , three weeks apart starting on May 18th and , all things going to plan , with the 5th phase commencing on August 10th .
Unfortunately the risk of a second wave of the virus is ever present .
So we can only move from one phase to the next if the virus stays under control between each phase .
And there is a risk that we ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that happens .
In any scenario , at least until we have a vaccine or effective treatment , there will be a long-term need for physical distancing , good hand hygiene , respiratory hygiene , regular cleaning and for people to stay at home and isolate if they are sick .
It will take some time for our lives to get back to normal .
To a new normal .
But it will happen .
So , on the 18th of May , Ireland begins to re-open and begins that journey to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outdoor work like construction and landscaping will resume .
Some retail outlets like garden centres , hardware stores , repair shops will re-open , and some outdoor sporting and fitness activities in small groups will be allowed .
Many regular health services will resume operating .
And it will be possible to meet small groups of friends and family outdoors .
Not long from now , some summer night , we will see our friends again .
In later phases , other workplaces , businesses , childcare , pre-schools , restaurants , cafes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-open .
Schools and colleges will reopen in September/October at the start of the new academic year .
Getting people back to work and re-starting businesses will not be easy .
I know that .
It won ’ t be possible for people to just pick up where they left off .
Businesses are going to need help to get going again .
So , tomorrow , Cabinet will meet again to agree further actions to help our businesses to restart , reconnect and rehire staff who have been laid off or furloughed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being developed by Government , employers and trade unions , with the assistance of the Health and Safety Authority and the HSE .
This will enable a gradual restart of economic activity as restrictions are eased , while protecting the health and safety of workers as they return to work .
We will do everything possible to get enterprises back up and running , so you can get your job back .
While it will take some time before we get to enjoy again the things we are missing – from the comfort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with friends – those days will come again .
Over the last few weeks I have received about 10,000 pieces of correspondence and every day I try to set aside just a little bit of time just to read some of them .
People sharing their hopes as well as their fears .
A letter from Jessica , who is a wheelchair user , who feels an enormous cloud of loneliness around her .
A letter from Anne Marie , a healthcare worker who contracted coronavirus at work and who answered her own @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk .
She said her patients were like family ; she said ‘ they call us their best friends ’ .
A letter from Phil , a pensioner living alone , who admits to struggling with the isolation and lack of human contact and whose mental health is starting to suffer .
Phil says that we have a long road ahead of us , but one worth taking if it means we all stay safe .
Rachel , aged 13 , who is worried about her grandparents and wondering when she will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Someone worried about the future but who ends her letter by asking me to stay safe .
We are doing this for Jessica , for Anne Marie , for Phil , for Rachel and for everyone else who is struggling as best they can to come through this crisis .
We are doing this for each other .
The coronavirus is cruel and inhumane .
However the stories I am hearing every day are stories of human kindness .
The kindness of healthcare , nursing home , hospice and hospital staff who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dying with dignity at the most distressing time .
The tragedy of every death , whether linked to Covid or not , is made far worse by the fact that we have been unable to come together to mourn our loved ones or embrace and comfort each other as families .
But while we are unable to gather , we are still grieving .
And when we come through this we will come together as a nation and grieve together - for everyone who has died over the course of this emergency .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in every village , people have met the demands of this crisis with remarkable courage and a sense of solidarity .
We all know someone who is suffering because of these restrictions , just as we all know someone who is on the frontline or performing an essential service .
The best way of helping them is by staying the course , and continuing this fight .
So , tonight I am thinking of parents juggling work and home-schooling .
The young people deprived of the companionship of their friends and of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The couples who have had to cancel their weddings .
The grandparents who crave the opportunity to hold their newly born grandchild .
We all have our own stories and each one combines to form a tapestry of struggle , and sacrifice , and sorrow .
It has been worthwhile .
It is working .
So let ’ s finish what we started .
Thousands of lives have been saved .
Hundreds of thousands are healthy and untouched by coronavirus because of the sacrifices you have made .
70 per cent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because of the care and attention given to them by our health service .
That figure would have been much lower if we had been overwhelmed .
So while there is still so much we do not know , there is hope .
In the weeks ahead that hope will drive us forward as we plan to emerge safely from this crisis .

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking on the steps of Government Buildings Dublin as he addressing the public on steps to ease the existing Covid-19 restrictions. Photograph: leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland
Good evening,
I need to speak to you again about the coronavirus.
The last few weeks have changed and transformed our lives in so many different ways.
I know it has been difficult - sometimes dispiriting.
READ MORE
The frustration of having our lives restricted. The uncertainty about when things will get back to normal. The fear of the virus itself.
As a nation our physical health has been attacked, our mental health eroded, our economy battered, and our society put to the ultimate test.
Many people are lonely and enduring the pain of isolation. Many people are grieving in silence.
Many have lost their jobs. Many fear losing their businesses and many have lost their lives.
I know, for me, the worst part has been the daily text message at around 5.30 every evening with the latest number of notified deaths and newly diagnosed cases. I yearn for the day when it stops.
Tonight I want to explain to you why we have to extend current restrictions until the 18th May and also to share with you our plan to re-open our economy and society in phases starting on that day.
Thanks to you we are making a real difference in the fight against Covid-19. The curve has been flattened and it has now plateaued. Thousands of lives have been saved. Our hospitals and healthcare staff have not been overwhelmed.
But we have not yet won this fight. Every day we still have too many new cases. We still have too many people in hospital and in our intensive care units. Every day, regrettably, we still have too many deaths.
Going on
Our scientists and doctors tell us that if we relax the restrictions too soon, we could see, within a matter of days, our ICUs overcrowded, our care homes under renewed pressure, and our healthcare staff overwhelmed.
Everything we have achieved would be lost. Our best chance of winning this battle would be swept away and we could be back to square one.
So we must go on, for a short time more.
We have a plan to ease restrictions from 18th May. But before that we need two more weeks of tight restrictions to weaken the virus further, so it doesn’t have the strength to make a comeback when we start to interact with each other once again.
During this period we are making some change – we are extending the distance you can leave your home, so from next Tuesday it will be possible to go up to 5km for the purposes of exercise.
For people who are cocooning the public health advice is to continue to do so. However it will still be possible to go for a walk or a drive within 5 km of your home if you avoid all contact with other people.
Our plan is to re-open the country in a slow, staged, phased way.
Five stages, three weeks apart starting on May 18th and, all things going to plan, with the 5th phase commencing on August 10th.
Unfortunately the risk of a second wave of the virus is ever present. So we can only move from one phase to the next if the virus stays under control between each phase. And there is a risk that we’d have to go back a phase if that happens.
In any scenario, at least until we have a vaccine or effective treatment, there will be a long-term need for physical distancing, good hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, regular cleaning and for people to stay at home and isolate if they are sick.
Normality
It will take some time for our lives to get back to normal. To a new normal. But it will happen.
So, on the 18th of May, Ireland begins to re-open and begins that journey to a new normal.
From that day, outdoor work like construction and landscaping will resume. Some retail outlets like garden centres, hardware stores, repair shops will re-open, and some outdoor sporting and fitness activities in small groups will be allowed.
Many regular health services will resume operating. And it will be possible to meet small groups of friends and family outdoors.
Not long from now, some summer night, we will see our friends again.
In later phases, other workplaces, businesses, childcare, pre-schools, restaurants, cafes and bars, cinemas and gyms will re-open.
Schools and colleges will reopen in September/October at the start of the new academic year.
Getting people back to work and re-starting businesses will not be easy. I know that. It won’t be possible for people to just pick up where they left off. Businesses are going to need help to get going again.
So, tomorrow, Cabinet will meet again to agree further actions to help our businesses to restart, reconnect and rehire staff who have been laid off or furloughed.
Separately, a National Protocol is being developed by Government, employers and trade unions, with the assistance of the Health and Safety Authority and the HSE.
Gradual restart
This will enable a gradual restart of economic activity as restrictions are eased, while protecting the health and safety of workers as they return to work.
We will do everything possible to get enterprises back up and running, so you can get your job back.
While it will take some time before we get to enjoy again the things we are missing – from the comfort of our families to a night out with friends – those days will come again.
Over the last few weeks I have received about 10,000 pieces of correspondence and every day I try to set aside just a little bit of time just to read some of them. People sharing their hopes as well as their fears.
A letter from Jessica, who is a wheelchair user, who feels an enormous cloud of loneliness around her.
A letter from Anne Marie, a healthcare worker who contracted coronavirus at work and who answered her own question about why she put herself at risk.
She said her patients were like family; she said ‘they call us their best friends’.
A letter from Phil, a pensioner living alone, who admits to struggling with the isolation and lack of human contact and whose mental health is starting to suffer. Phil says that we have a long road ahead of us, but one worth taking if it means we all stay safe.
Rachel, aged 13, who is worried about her grandparents and wondering when she will be able to go back to school. Someone worried about the future but who ends her letter by asking me to stay safe.
We are doing this for Jessica, for Anne Marie, for Phil, for Rachel and for everyone else who is struggling as best they can to come through this crisis.
We are doing this for each other.
The coronavirus is cruel and inhumane.
Human kindness
However the stories I am hearing every day are stories of human kindness.
The kindness of healthcare, nursing home, hospice and hospital staff who have comforted and cared for the sick and dying with dignity at the most distressing time.
The tragedy of every death, whether linked to Covid or not, is made far worse by the fact that we have been unable to come together to mourn our loved ones or embrace and comfort each other as families.
But while we are unable to gather, we are still grieving.
And when we come through this we will come together as a nation and grieve together - for everyone who has died over the course of this emergency.
In every city, in every town, in every village, people have met the demands of this crisis with remarkable courage and a sense of solidarity.
We all know someone who is suffering because of these restrictions, just as we all know someone who is on the frontline or performing an essential service.
The best way of helping them is by staying the course, and continuing this fight.
So, tonight I am thinking of parents juggling work and home-schooling. The young people deprived of the companionship of their friends and of their opportunity to take part in sport. The couples who have had to cancel their weddings. The grandparents who crave the opportunity to hold their newly born grandchild. We all have our own stories and each one combines to form a tapestry of struggle, and sacrifice, and sorrow.
It has been worthwhile. It is working. So let’s finish what we started.
Thousands of lives have been saved.
Hundreds of thousands are healthy and untouched by coronavirus because of the sacrifices you have made.
70 per cent of people diagnosed with Covid-19 have fully recovered because of the care and attention given to them by our health service.
That figure would have been much lower if we had been overwhelmed.
So while there is still so much we do not know, there is hope.
In the weeks ahead that hope will drive us forward as we plan to emerge safely from this crisis.


theirishtimes--2020-05-01--Coronavirus: Garda checkpoints on major roads over bank holiday weekend

More than 2,000 Garda members will be on duty on 12-hour shifts as part of Operation Fanacht this bank holiday weekend to ensure compliance with public health restrictions aimed at combating Covid-19 .
The operation began midweek and is set to continue up to midnight on Monday , with checkpoints being put in place on major roads nationwide .
However , despite fears of complacency around compliance with the coronavirus restrictions , Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said several times this week Garda members had found people understood the restrictions and were following them .
Garda sources told The Irish Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday night there had been no noticeable shift towards non-compliance and they had also seen no concerning increase in traffic volume .
Senior officers said while there had been concerns people would drive to holiday homes over the recent Easter weekend , and that could be repeated again for this weekend , no significant evidence of that had emerged in recent days .
Meanwhile , the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors ( AGSI ) has branded as “ unfair ” the actions of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission ( Gsoc ) in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about Garda members not wearing gloves and masks , and then publicising those complaints by releasing statistics about them .
Gsoc , which investigates complaints made about Garda members , said more than 70 complaints had been made since the Covid-19 policing operation began which related specifically to that operation .
These included allegations Garda members had not been wearing face masks and gloves , as well as claims gardaí were rude or abrupt at checkpoints .
However , AGSI general secretary Antoinette Cunningham said her association had always argued gardaí should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ runs contrary to social distancing ” .
Despite the calls by the association for personal protective equipment ( PPE ) , she said , senior Garda management had decided members of the force should not wear the masks or gloves and so none had been made available .
Rather than accepting such complaints from members of the public , Ms Cunningham said Gsoc should explain to those complainants that gardaí are not permitted to wear the items .
She said accepting the complaints and then issuing a statement about them was very unfair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the public .
Ms Cunningham said the other complaints , about rudeness and abruptness by some Garda members , should be investigated by Gsoc if they are deemed worthy of investigation and are admissible .
“ They [ Gsoc ] haven ’ t even decided if they are admissible or not yet , ” she said of the 70 complaints the Garda watchdog issued a public statement about .
“ It would have been better if the validity of the complaints had been established first and then the statistics released afterwards.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of more than 70 complaints in a bid to assist Garda management in “ identifying issues which may be emerging in the enforcement of the restrictions ” .
“ The Ombudsman Commission believes that sharing anonymised details in this way in real time will alert the Garda Síochána to concerns emerging from the public and allow Garda management address issues as they arise , ” Gsoc said .
It added the names of the complainants or the gardaí about whom complaints were made had not been shared with the Garda and the admissibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established .

More than 2,000 gardaí are on duty at checkpoints nationwide until midnight on Monday as part of Operation Fanacht. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins
More than 2,000 Garda members will be on duty on 12-hour shifts as part of Operation Fanacht this bank holiday weekend to ensure compliance with public health restrictions aimed at combating Covid-19.
The operation began midweek and is set to continue up to midnight on Monday, with checkpoints being put in place on major roads nationwide.
However, despite fears of complacency around compliance with the coronavirus restrictions, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said several times this week Garda members had found people understood the restrictions and were following them.
Garda sources told The Irish Times that in the 48-hour period up to Friday night there had been no noticeable shift towards non-compliance and they had also seen no concerning increase in traffic volume.
READ MORE
Senior officers said while there had been concerns people would drive to holiday homes over the recent Easter weekend, and that could be repeated again for this weekend, no significant evidence of that had emerged in recent days.
Complaints
Meanwhile, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has branded as “unfair” the actions of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) in taking complaints from members of the public about Garda members not wearing gloves and masks, and then publicising those complaints by releasing statistics about them.
Gsoc, which investigates complaints made about Garda members, said more than 70 complaints had been made since the Covid-19 policing operation began which related specifically to that operation. These included allegations Garda members had not been wearing face masks and gloves, as well as claims gardaí were rude or abrupt at checkpoints.
However, AGSI general secretary Antoinette Cunningham said her association had always argued gardaí should be wearing facemasks and gloves because policing “runs contrary to social distancing”.
It would have been better if the validity of the complaints had been established first
Despite the calls by the association for personal protective equipment (PPE), she said, senior Garda management had decided members of the force should not wear the masks or gloves and so none had been made available.
Rather than accepting such complaints from members of the public, Ms Cunningham said Gsoc should explain to those complainants that gardaí are not permitted to wear the items. She said accepting the complaints and then issuing a statement about them was very unfair to frontline Garda members and not helpful to the public.
Admissible
Ms Cunningham said the other complaints, about rudeness and abruptness by some Garda members, should be investigated by Gsoc if they are deemed worthy of investigation and are admissible.
“They [Gsoc] haven’t even decided if they are admissible or not yet,” she said of the 70 complaints the Garda watchdog issued a public statement about.
“It would have been better if the validity of the complaints had been established first and then the statistics released afterwards.”
Gsoc said it had notified Garda Headquarters of more than 70 complaints in a bid to assist Garda management in “identifying issues which may be emerging in the enforcement of the restrictions”.
“The Ombudsman Commission believes that sharing anonymised details in this way in real time will alert the Garda Síochána to concerns emerging from the public and allow Garda management address issues as they arise,” Gsoc said.
It added the names of the complainants or the gardaí about whom complaints were made had not been shared with the Garda and the admissibility of the complaints had yet to be established.


theirishtimes--2020-05-01--Man jailed for stealth attacks on ATMs causing nearly €13,000 of damage

A man who has committed thefts in eight European cities has been jailed for a series of stealth attacks on cash machines which caused nearly €13,000 in damage .
Damien Ionut ( 34 ) was part of a group of men who targeted ATMs in counties Louth , Kildare , Wicklow , Meath , Westmeath and Dublin .
The men used a technique known as “ transaction reversal fraud ” , which occurs when requested cash isn ’ t properly dispensed .
Thieves then use an implement to retrieve the cash , thus damaging and shutting down the ATM .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the thieves “ trick ” the ATM into deciding the customer has walked off .
Ionut , with an address of Rayners Lane , Harrow , London appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday and affirmed 25 signed pleas , made at a district court hearing last November .
The charges included 20 of criminal damage to cash machines and 15 of theft from AIB .
The thefts took place on dates in October and November last .
Garda Emmet Cooke told Aideen Collard BL , prosecuting , that the attack involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legitimate “ chip and pin ” card to make a small cash withdrawal .
When the cash drawer opens to give out this cash , the thief puts an implement like a clip into the shutter of the cash drawer .
In the second stage the thief uses the same card to request a much larger cash withdrawal , averaging €500 .
The machine places this cash into the drawer but behind the shutter , in anticipation of giving it to the customer .
Before the cash is given out the ATM presents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At this stage the thief quickly switches this card for a dummy card , tricking the machine into deciding that the customer has walked off without their card , Gda Cooke told Judge Martin Nolan .
The machine accordingly does not debit the bank account of the customer and attempts to recover the cash from the dispenser drum .
Gda Cooke said the clip placed into the shutter prevents this from happening and the thieves then simply use a chisel to break into the drawer and take the cash .
Gda Cooke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the five-week period was €5,980 .
Some of the attacks did not succeed but the total amount of damage caused was €12,881 .
A statement from AIB said these crimes render cash machines unavailable and impact on its customers and on the ATM operations team .
Ionut has 30 previous convictions for similar offending .
These offences took place in London , Copenhagen , Madrid , Paris , Brussels as well as in cities in Italy , the Czech Republic and Romania .
The court heard that the men were identified on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks , they used credit cards in their own name to begin the transactions .
They later switched to using pre-paid chip cards .
Judge Martin Nolan backdated a three-year prison sentence to November 5th last when Ionut went into custody .
He noted that a custodial sentence will be harder on the Romanian national because of his foreign nationality .
The court heard that Ionut damaged cash machines in Drogheda , Co Louth , Bray in Co Wicklow , Mullingar in Co Westmeath , Rathoath in Co. Meath , Leixlip in Co @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hit machines in Portmarnock , Skerries and Donabate .

Damien Ionut (34) was part of a group of men who targeted ATMs in counties Louth, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Westmeath and Dublin. The men used a technique known as “transaction reversal fraud”, which occurs when requested cash isn’t properly dispensed. Photograph: Matt Kavanagh
A man who has committed thefts in eight European cities has been jailed for a series of stealth attacks on cash machines which caused nearly €13,000 in damage.
Damien Ionut (34) was part of a group of men who targeted ATMs in counties Louth, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath, Westmeath and Dublin. The men used a technique known as “transaction reversal fraud”, which occurs when requested cash isn’t properly dispensed.
Thieves then use an implement to retrieve the cash, thus damaging and shutting down the ATM. The bank account is not debited because the thieves “trick” the ATM into deciding the customer has walked off.
Ionut, with an address of Rayners Lane, Harrow, London appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday and affirmed 25 signed pleas, made at a district court hearing last November. The charges included 20 of criminal damage to cash machines and 15 of theft from AIB.
READ MORE
The thefts took place on dates in October and November last.
Garda Emmet Cooke told Aideen Collard BL, prosecuting, that the attack involved two stages, the first using a legitimate “chip and pin” card to make a small cash withdrawal. When the cash drawer opens to give out this cash, the thief puts an implement like a clip into the shutter of the cash drawer.
In the second stage the thief uses the same card to request a much larger cash withdrawal, averaging €500. The machine places this cash into the drawer but behind the shutter, in anticipation of giving it to the customer.
Before the cash is given out the ATM presents the bank card back to the user. At this stage the thief quickly switches this card for a dummy card, tricking the machine into deciding that the customer has walked off without their card, Gda Cooke told Judge Martin Nolan.
The machine accordingly does not debit the bank account of the customer and attempts to recover the cash from the dispenser drum. Gda Cooke said the clip placed into the shutter prevents this from happening and the thieves then simply use a chisel to break into the drawer and take the cash.
Gda Cooke said the total amount taken by Ionut in the five-week period was €5,980. Some of the attacks did not succeed but the total amount of damage caused was €12,881.
A statement from AIB said these crimes render cash machines unavailable and impact on its customers and on the ATM operations team.
Ionut has 30 previous convictions for similar offending. These offences took place in London, Copenhagen, Madrid, Paris, Brussels as well as in cities in Italy, the Czech Republic and Romania.
The court heard that the men were identified on CCTV footage and that during the earlier attacks, they used credit cards in their own name to begin the transactions. They later switched to using pre-paid chip cards.
Judge Martin Nolan backdated a three-year prison sentence to November 5th last when Ionut went into custody. He noted that a custodial sentence will be harder on the Romanian national because of his foreign nationality.
The court heard that Ionut damaged cash machines in Drogheda, Co Louth, Bray in Co Wicklow, Mullingar in Co Westmeath, Rathoath in Co. Meath, Leixlip in Co Kildare. In Co Dublin the gang hit machines in Portmarnock, Skerries and Donabate.


theirishtimes--2020-05-02--‘Cancel the Leaving Cert’ - Fianna Fáil says uncertainty causing stress

The Leaving Cert must be cancelled and “ fair alternatives ” to the State exams must be worked on , Fianna Fáil has said .
Speaking following the publication on Friday night of the Government ’ s plan for exiting the coronavirus lockdown , the party ’ s education spokesman Thomas Byrne said it had added to the “ already heightened anxiety ” among students .
During his television address unveiling the plan Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said schools and colleges would not reopen until September/October for the start of the new academic year .
Q & A : Will the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not offer additional details , but education sources say this likely means a later start to the academic year in most cases .
On the Late Late Show , Mr Varadkar said it was still “ the plan ” to start the Leaving Cert on July 29th .
The absence of a reference to the exams in the Government ’ s roadmap for easing restrictions has been interpreted in some quarters as a sign of fresh uncertainty over whether they will go ahead .
However , a spokesman for the Department of Education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proceed with two weeks of school in July for Leaving Cert students , ahead of the scheduled start of the exams on July 29th .
“ Planning for the Leaving Cert is still being discussed , including through the advisory group set up by the department involving education stakeholders .
It is still hoped to bring just Leaving Cert students back in July , subject to adequate planning and public health advice , ” the spokesman said .
However , Mr Byrne said in a statement on Saturday : “ This document contains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sectors and industry , and sets out dates for the proposed lifting of certain restrictions but not once is the Leaving Cert mentioned .
I believe this is a huge oversight and it has added to the already heightened anxiety among Leaving Cert students .
“ Under this roadmap primary and secondary schools are not set to open until autumn , yet in an announcement made by the education minister [ Joe McHugh ] a few weeks ago , the Leaving Cert was earmarked to begin at the end of July .
Leaving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March – unsure what the situation is , and whether the exams will be going ahead.
” He said it was unfair to underestimate the stress students are feeling as the uncertainty about their exams .
“ I believe the Government can not continue to adopt this wait and see approach with the Leaving Cert .
It is becoming clearer with every week that passes that it is simply not tenable for it to proceed.
” Mr Byrne said he had discussed alternatives with some universities and with Mr McHugh , adding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must now switch our focus to them .
The current situation is unacceptable and unfair and is causing untold psychological damage to these students .
”

The Leaving Cert must be cancelled and "fair alternatives" to the State exams must be worked on, Fianna Fáil has said.
Speaking following the publication on Friday night of the Government's plan for exiting the coronavirus lockdown, the party's education spokesman Thomas Byrne said it had added to the "already heightened anxiety" among students.
During his television address unveiling the plan Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said schools and colleges would not reopen until September/October for the start of the new academic year.
Q&A: Will the Leaving Cert go ahead?
READ MORE
He did not offer additional details, but education sources say this likely means a later start to the academic year in most cases. On the Late Late Show, Mr Varadkar said it was still “the plan” to start the Leaving Cert on July 29th.
The absence of a reference to the exams in the Government’s roadmap for easing restrictions has been interpreted in some quarters as a sign of fresh uncertainty over whether they will go ahead.
However, a spokesman for the Department of Education said the Government is still planning to proceed with two weeks of school in July for Leaving Cert students, ahead of the scheduled start of the exams on July 29th.
“Planning for the Leaving Cert is still being discussed, including through the advisory group set up by the department involving education stakeholders. It is still hoped to bring just Leaving Cert students back in July, subject to adequate planning and public health advice,” the spokesman said.
However, Mr Byrne said in a statement on Saturday: “This document contains details about the phased reopening of certain sectors and industry, and sets out dates for the proposed lifting of certain restrictions but not once is the Leaving Cert mentioned. I believe this is a huge oversight and it has added to the already heightened anxiety among Leaving Cert students.
“Under this roadmap primary and secondary schools are not set to open until autumn, yet in an announcement made by the education minister [Joe McHugh] a few weeks ago, the Leaving Cert was earmarked to begin at the end of July. Leaving Certs are essentially back where they started in March – unsure what the situation is, and whether the exams will be going ahead.”
He said it was unfair to underestimate the stress students are feeling as the uncertainty about their exams.
“I believe the Government cannot continue to adopt this wait and see approach with the Leaving Cert. It is becoming clearer with every week that passes that it is simply not tenable for it to proceed.”
Mr Byrne said he had discussed alternatives with some universities and with Mr McHugh, adding: “They do exist and we must now switch our focus to them. The current situation is unacceptable and unfair and is causing untold psychological damage to these students.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-02--Boy (15) missing from Co Louth home since Wednesday

A 15-year-old boy is missing from his home in Co Louth since Wednesday .
Gardaí are looking for the public @ @ @ @ @ Reece Atkinson who is from “ He is described as being approximately six foot , @ @ @ @ @ , of slim build with blue eyes , ” a Garda statement said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and a blue rain jacket.
” Anyone with information on his @ @ @ @ @ gardaí in Drogheda on 041 987 4200 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 @ @

A 15-year-old boy missing from his home in Co Louth since Wednesday has been located.
Gardaí on Sunday night said Reece Atkinson (15), who was missing from the Monasterboice area, had been located safe and well.


theirishtimes--2020-05-02--Man due in court after cannabis worth €200,000 seized in Dublin

Gardaí uncovered a quantity of cannabis herb worth €200,000 when they stopped a motorist in north Dublin on Friday .
@ @ @ @ @ 6.15pm in Raheny as a result of ongoing investigations targeting serious organised crime activity in @ @ @ @ @ man in his 40s was arrested and detained under the provisions of Section 2 of @ @ @ @ @ Trafficking ) Act 1996 at Swords Garda Station .
The operation was carried out by @ @ @ @ @ Task Force of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by officers from @ @ @ @ @ man has since been charged and will appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on @ @ @

One man was arrested after gardaí seized a quantity of cannabis in Dublin 5 on Friday evening. Photograph: An Garda Síochána
Gardaí uncovered a quantity of cannabis herb worth €200,000 when they stopped a motorist in north Dublin on Friday.
The discovery was made at 6.15pm in Raheny as a result of ongoing investigations targeting serious organised crime activity in the Dublin region.
A man in his 40s was arrested and detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Swords Garda Station.
The operation was carried out by officers from the Special Crime Task Force of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau supported by officers from the Dublin region.
READ MORE
The man has since been charged and will appear before the Criminal Courts of Justice on Saturday morning.


theirishtimes--2020-05-02--Meet Ireland’s unofficial Covid-19 essential workforce

There ’ s a hidden line of workers in the Covid-19 crisis .
The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland ( MRCI ) estimates that there are between 15,000 and 17,000 undocumented migrants in Ireland and a recent survey suggests 29 per cent of these people work as carers .
This is essential work .
Currently , there are undocumented carers working in nursing homes , cocooning with older people they care for and looking after the children of intensive care nurses and other healthcare workers .
There is currently no safe way for them to regularise their status .
Irish politicians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the undocumented Irish people in the US , but they ’ ve been slower to help people in a similar situation in Ireland .
There is apparently cross-party support for some sort of pathway to residency for the undocumented in Ireland , but whether the new government takes any initiative on this remains to be seen .
Undocumented workers – those outside the work permit system – work in difficult jobs at risk of exploitation by employers and landlords .
Many resist seeking necessary medical or Garda help for fear of drawing attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to for this article are in their 50s and 60s , caring for Irish people in the midst of a pandemic while being in very insecure situations themselves .
Debra is from the Philippines and has been cocooning with her 85-year-old client in that woman ’ s home in Galway .
In the normal course of events she would live in Galway from Monday to Saturday , at which point she would return to her house-share in Dublin for one night .
That all ended on March 16th .
She is stoical about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For my safety and the safety of the lady I look after .
I bring my lady to walk around the garden , but we can ’ t go out.
” Debra came here on a tourist visa 14 years ago to visit a friend but she stayed to work as a cleaner .
Over time she began working as a carer for older people .
She started with a doctor in Dublin 4 and then , after he died , went to work for his sister-in-law in Dalkey .
After this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to live in a nursing home , the family asked Debra to keep going to help her every day until she died .
“ Only I could feed her , ” she explains .
Debra has two grown-up daughters at home in the Philippines .
Her husband died a long time , ago so she raised them alone .
As an undocumented person , she has been unable to attend their graduations , and one daughter ’ s wedding , for fear she would be refused re-entry to Ireland .
“ My grandson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Mammy , when will you go home ?
’ I say , ‘ I can not go home because I have no papers ’ and he says , ‘ There ’ s lots of paper here .
I ’ ll send you some paper.
’ ” Debra , like many Irish migrants in the past , sends a lot of her money home .
She can earn more as a cleaner and carer in Ireland than she could in her former job as an elementary teacher in the Philippines .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He is 87 and he had a heart problem .
.
.
My niece and my nephew , I pay for their school .
Everything here , I send to my family.
” In Dublin she lives with three housemates , two of whom are also undocumented .
She has been lucky , she says , to have had kind employers but she knows other undocumented people who have been exploited and mistreated .
She fears getting sick .
She fears being a victim of robbery “ because you can ’ t go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me about a time gardaí got onto her bus to arrest someone , and she was so terrified of discovery , sitting upstairs in the bus , that she planned to jump out of the window .
“ I thought , Maybe this was my last time on a bus , maybe I have to go home tomorrow.
” Debra is 61 .
She would like some security for her future .
She would like to be able to visit her family and then return here .
She gets on very well with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ client ’ s family ensure they have food , she says .
They visit but have to talk from outside the door .
“ They say she looks stronger now than before [ I came here ] .
I really love this kind of work , and the people I work with .
It feels like I ’ m looking after my own mother or father .
I don ’ t feel anxious [ about the virus ] because I have loads of things to do .
“ You just do things to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ music in the kitchen and say , ‘ We have nothing to do , Kathleen , but we can dance and that will make us happy.
’ And the lady laughs and dances as well.
” Mel works as a live-in childminder for the children of two intensive care nurses working at the coalface of the pandemic .
They need to be very careful how they interact with their children for fear of contagion , so having another loving adult in the house to care for them is very important right now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when her son was just 11 .
She had a retail job , and a qualification in computer engineering , but she knew she could never afford to pay to send her son to university on the money she was earning at home .
So her son was raised by his grandmother with a big close-knit family nearby while she worked in Ireland .
He ’ s 25 now .
“ I was able to put him through a dentistry course .
He is already working as a dentist.
” So it worked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a sacrifice .
I haven ’ t seen him for half of his life .
I wasn ’ t there for him , for important milestones .
.
.
I don ’ t really regret it , because I could give him a bright future , but I wasn ’ t there .
I was absent .
And that ’ s heartbreaking.
” Later she says , “ I don ’ t even know my son very well now.
” Mel has done a number of different jobs since coming to Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which closed during the last the recession .
She worked at a dry cleaners .
There was no longer a job for her back in the Philippines at this point , she says , so it was important she kept working here .
For undocumented people there ’ s a constant anxiety .
“ There ’ s always the fear of being found out .
I don ’ t want to be sick .
I worry about whether I can access medical services .
Now during the pandemic we ’ re being supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s no pandemic , am I allowed to go out and claim for medical services ?
” Once , when she worked at the dry cleaners , she was held up at knifepoint .
Afterwards she and her boss decided it was better not to call the Garda in case it highlighted her undocumented status .
“ I was scared for a long time afterwards.
” At the outset of the pandemic , Mel ’ s current employers explained that there was a risk that she might catch the virus from them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hospital .
They said they understood if she didn ’ t want to stay .
“ I thought , ‘ This is the time when everything needs to give a bit of contribution and this is a time they need me.
’ And I love the kids .
I mind them like they are my own .
They ’ re nine and seven and I ’ ve been with them for seven years.
” Now , in lockdown , she and the children bake and play in the garden .
She helps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ started cooking for their parents .
“ They ’ re in danger and they ’ re working very hard , so I make sure they have something to eat , ” she says .
In her spare time , she reads books by Patricia Scanlan and Sebastian Barry and watches devotional videos that she likes on YouTube .
Mel would love to have her status regularised so she could visit her son and lose the sense of ongoing anxiety she feels .
Undocumented people are not a burden , she says .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working here for years , taking nothing from the State in return .
She knows many skilled undocumented people who would love to apply for new HSE jobs that have suddenly been required to battle against Covid 19 .
“ Ireland is our second home .
I think it benefits from us being here .
A lot of undocumented people are already doing essential work and are helping society during this pandemic .
We ’ re helping out to the best of our abilities and doing the best we can.
” Shaleen is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks after a woman in her 90s , and they are both cocooning in that woman ’ s house in Dublin with the help of the woman ’ s family .
“ She can not understand fully what ’ s going on .
She is always asking , ‘ Why is no-one coming to see me ?
’ She can not understand it fully .
I explain that her family would really like to come but they can not because of this situation.
” The family talk to her on the phone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properly .
Twelve years ago , Shaleen came to Ireland to see her younger sister , who worked in Ireland as a physiotherapist and had just had a baby .
At the time there was a lot of political upheaval in Zimbabwe .
She decided to stay for a while but by the time she felt it was safe to return , her daughter and son had moved to South Africa and there was no home for her to return to .
She took up work as a cleaner and a childminder .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ employer has been to her .
She started working for her as a cleaner , and her employer would recommend her to other people .
Four years ago , when she became more frail , her family asked if Shaleen would be willing to move in to look after her .
“ I look after her , but she also looks after me .
.
.
She knows I am undocumented and she says , ‘ Thank you very much for being there for me ’ .
.
.
And I always say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little , “ ‘ Thank you to you also ’ .
.
.
We are good friends.
” Shaleen helps the woman to dress and wash , and she prepares her meals .
Before she was cocooned , home help and other family members would come to the house and she could go to meet her sister and her friends .
She was very active in a church community and would attend services and meetings there .
She prays every day .
“ It gives me peace , ” she says .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At one point she gets upset .
She modulates her voice to a whisper because she doesn ’ t want the sound of her crying to be distressing for the older woman in the next room .
Shaleen finds telling her story and talking about her children very difficult ( “ I have wept for them ” ) but she thinks it ’ s important that her voice is heard for other undocumented people .
“ I can ’ t go see my children .
I can not be open about anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am on the edges .
.
.
If I am regularised , I can go see my family and then come back and look after the old lady.
” Without papers she fears for her future as a 60-year-old woman with no real home to return to .
“ I ’ ve made a life here .
I have spent 12 years in the one place .
.
.
I am working and doing my little things here.
” She doesn ’ t know many people in Zimbabwe any more , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ my sister , I have friends .
.
.
Where am I going to end up ?
” For information about MRCI ’ s campaign for undocumented people , see https : //www.mrci.ie/justice-for-the-undocumented/

There’s a hidden line of workers in the Covid-19 crisis. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) estimates that there are between 15,000 and 17,000 undocumented migrants in Ireland and a recent survey suggests 29 per cent of these people work as carers.
This is essential work. Currently, there are undocumented carers working in nursing homes, cocooning with older people they care for and looking after the children of intensive care nurses and other healthcare workers. There is currently no safe way for them to regularise their status.
Irish politicians are regularly vocal in their support for the undocumented Irish people in the US, but they’ve been slower to help people in a similar situation in Ireland. There is apparently cross-party support for some sort of pathway to residency for the undocumented in Ireland, but whether the new government takes any initiative on this remains to be seen.
Undocumented workers – those outside the work permit system – work in difficult jobs at risk of exploitation by employers and landlords. Many resist seeking necessary medical or Garda help for fear of drawing attention to themselves. The women I speak to for this article are in their 50s and 60s, caring for Irish people in the midst of a pandemic while being in very insecure situations themselves.
READ MORE
Debra
Debra is from the Philippines and has been cocooning with her 85-year-old client in that woman's home in Galway. In the normal course of events she would live in Galway from Monday to Saturday, at which point she would return to her house-share in Dublin for one night.
That all ended on March 16th. She is stoical about this, “We have no choice. For my safety and the safety of the lady I look after. I bring my lady to walk around the garden, but we can’t go out.”
Debra came here on a tourist visa 14 years ago to visit a friend but she stayed to work as a cleaner. Over time she began working as a carer for older people. She started with a doctor in Dublin 4 and then, after he died, went to work for his sister-in-law in Dalkey.
After this woman was diagnosed with dementia and brought to live in a nursing home, the family asked Debra to keep going to help her every day until she died. “Only I could feed her,” she explains.
Debra has two grown-up daughters at home in the Philippines. Her husband died a long time ago so she raised them alone. As an undocumented person, she has been unable to attend their graduations, and one daughter’s wedding, for fear she would be refused re-entry to Ireland. “My grandson says to me [on Skype] ‘Mammy, when will you go home?’ I say, ‘I cannot go home because I have no papers’ and he says, ‘There’s lots of paper here. I’ll send you some paper.’ ”
Debra, like many Irish migrants in the past, sends a lot of her money home. She can earn more as a cleaner and carer in Ireland than she could in her former job as an elementary teacher in the Philippines. “I support the medication of my father. He is 87 and he had a heart problem . . . My niece and my nephew, I pay for their school. Everything here, I send to my family.”
In Dublin she lives with three housemates, two of whom are also undocumented. She has been lucky, she says, to have had kind employers but she knows other undocumented people who have been exploited and mistreated.
She fears getting sick. She fears being a victim of robbery “because you can’t go to the authorities”. She tells me about a time gardaí got onto her bus to arrest someone, and she was so terrified of discovery, sitting upstairs in the bus, that she planned to jump out of the window. “I thought, Maybe this was my last time on a bus, maybe I have to go home tomorrow.”
Debra is 61. She would like some security for her future. She would like to be able to visit her family and then return here. She gets on very well with the woman she looks after. Her client’s family ensure they have food, she says. They visit but have to talk from outside the door.
“They say she looks stronger now than before [I came here]. I really love this kind of work, and the people I work with. It feels like I’m looking after my own mother or father. I don’t feel anxious [about the virus] because I have loads of things to do.
“You just do things to make yourself happy. I dance to music in the kitchen and say, ‘We have nothing to do, Kathleen, but we can dance and that will make us happy.’ And the lady laughs and dances as well.”
Mel
Mel works as a live-in childminder for the children of two intensive care nurses working at the coalface of the pandemic. They need to be very careful how they interact with their children for fear of contagion, so having another loving adult in the house to care for them is very important right now.
Mel is 50 and left the Philippines when her son was just 11. She had a retail job, and a qualification in computer engineering, but she knew she could never afford to pay to send her son to university on the money she was earning at home. So her son was raised by his grandmother with a big close-knit family nearby while she worked in Ireland. He’s 25 now. “I was able to put him through a dentistry course. He is already working as a dentist.”
So it worked? “It worked, but it was a sacrifice. I haven’t seen him for half of his life. I wasn’t there for him, for important milestones . . . I don’t really regret it, because I could give him a bright future, but I wasn’t there. I was absent. And that’s heartbreaking.” Later she says, “I don’t even know my son very well now.”
Mel has done a number of different jobs since coming to Ireland. She worked in a creche, which closed during the last the recession. She worked at a dry cleaners. There was no longer a job for her back in the Philippines at this point, she says, so it was important she kept working here.
For undocumented people there’s a constant anxiety. “There’s always the fear of being found out. I don’t want to be sick. I worry about whether I can access medical services. Now during the pandemic we’re being supported by the government, but if there’s no pandemic, am I allowed to go out and claim for medical services?”
Once, when she worked at the dry cleaners, she was held up at knifepoint. Afterwards she and her boss decided it was better not to call the Garda in case it highlighted her undocumented status. “I was scared for a long time afterwards.”
At the outset of the pandemic, Mel’s current employers explained that there was a risk that she might catch the virus from them if they were working every day in the hospital. They said they understood if she didn’t want to stay.
“I thought, ‘This is the time when everything needs to give a bit of contribution and this is a time they need me.’ And I love the kids. I mind them like they are my own. They’re nine and seven and I’ve been with them for seven years.”
Now, in lockdown, she and the children bake and play in the garden. She helps to home-school them, and she has started cooking for their parents. “They’re in danger and they’re working very hard, so I make sure they have something to eat,” she says.
In her spare time, she reads books by Patricia Scanlan and Sebastian Barry and watches devotional videos that she likes on YouTube.
Mel would love to have her status regularised so she could visit her son and lose the sense of ongoing anxiety she feels.
Undocumented people are not a burden, she says. They have, in most cases, been working here for years, taking nothing from the State in return. She knows many skilled undocumented people who would love to apply for new HSE jobs that have suddenly been required to battle against Covid 19.
“Ireland is our second home. I think it benefits from us being here. A lot of undocumented people are already doing essential work and are helping society during this pandemic. We’re helping out to the best of our abilities and doing the best we can.”
Shaleen
Shaleen is 60 and comes from Zimbabwe. She looks after a woman in her 90s, and they are both cocooning in that woman's house in Dublin with the help of the woman's family.
“She cannot understand fully what’s going on. She is always asking, ‘Why is no-one coming to see me?’ She cannot understand it fully. I explain that her family would really like to come but they cannot because of this situation.” The family talk to her on the phone, she says, but cannot visit properly.
Twelve years ago, Shaleen came to Ireland to see her younger sister, who worked in Ireland as a physiotherapist and had just had a baby. At the time there was a lot of political upheaval in Zimbabwe. She decided to stay for a while but by the time she felt it was safe to return, her daughter and son had moved to South Africa and there was no home for her to return to. She took up work as a cleaner and a childminder.
She talks about how good her elderly employer has been to her. She started working for her as a cleaner, and her employer would recommend her to other people. Four years ago, when she became more frail, her family asked if Shaleen would be willing to move in to look after her.
“I look after her, but she also looks after me . . . She knows I am undocumented and she says, ‘Thank you very much for being there for me’ . . . And I always say . . .” her voice cracks a little, “ ‘Thank you to you also’ . . . We are good friends.”
Shaleen helps the woman to dress and wash, and she prepares her meals. Before she was cocooned, home help and other family members would come to the house and she could go to meet her sister and her friends. She was very active in a church community and would attend services and meetings there. She prays every day. “It gives me peace,” she says.
She clearly cares deeply for her employer. At one point she gets upset. She modulates her voice to a whisper because she doesn’t want the sound of her crying to be distressing for the older woman in the next room. Shaleen finds telling her story and talking about her children very difficult (“I have wept for them”) but she thinks it’s important that her voice is heard for other undocumented people.
“I can’t go see my children. I cannot be open about anything. I cannot go anywhere. I am on the edges . . . If I am regularised, I can go see my family and then come back and look after the old lady.”
Without papers she fears for her future as a 60-year-old woman with no real home to return to. “I’ve made a life here. I have spent 12 years in the one place . . . I am working and doing my little things here.”
She doesn’t know many people in Zimbabwe any more, she says. “But here I have my sister, I have friends . . . Where am I going to end up?”
For information about MRCI's campaign for undocumented people, see https://www.mrci.ie/justice-for-the-undocumented/


theirishtimes--2020-05-02--David Attenborough gives humankind one last chance

Rocking in my rocking chair – which is what they ’ re for – I looked out through the branches of the big willow tree and there , framed in a distant triangle of twigs , our neighbour ’ s children were out-rocking me on their garden swings .
On the television in the corner , Andrew Marr was quizzing David Attenborough about his latest , perhaps his last , and undoubtedly his most passionate film , A Life on Our Planet .
It frames his view of humankind ’ s “ last chance ” at living on Earth .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 93 ) , “ are finished anyway .
“ It ’ s up to the young to do things better.
” “ Some people , ” Marr offered , “ think that Covid-19 could be the reckoning the human world deserves.
” Attenborough backed off from anything so biblical .
He countered merely that a densely living , overpopulated species was much more susceptible to plagues .
His film , soon for Netflix , is apparently a properly terrifying catalogue of what we ’ ve been doing to the natural world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exploring and celebrating nature , he or his producers were slow to invite much public outrage about the darker destructions .
Attenborough ’ s recent Blue Planet II , with its nightmare of plastic in the ocean , was the one that really touched some anger .
What , Marr asked , was the one bit of change that ordinary people could effect .
“ Waste !
” was Attenborough ’ s explosive reply .
A breeze stirred the willow twigs and their first fringe of green .
As the old tree drops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I ’ ll lose the playing children , along with the view of the mountain and the rising of the moon .
It ’ s quite a veteran as willows go , couched in the stream ’ s ravine , its elbows propped on the banks .
Nowhere else on the hillside could it possibly exist , so safe from people , from sheep and the worst of storms .
But willows are everywhere on this soggy island – at least 18 kinds that botanists can divine , often with some difficulty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in perhaps six or seven forms has been added to by garden introductions and multiple hybridisations .
If we had to choose one as the national tree ( as I think it richly deserves ) , it should probably be the common “ goat ” or “ pussy ’ willow , Salix caprea .
Like the one in my painting , it is ablaze with yellow catkins in early spring .
The “ goat ” stems from an early role as fodder , and the flowers still offer nectar to bumblebee queens fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of little cameo captured by many readers alert to events in their gardens , Paul Dunne , of Lettermore in Co Galway , sent a photograph of ants perched on willow catkins and wondered how unusual this was .
They had climbed the tree , he surmised , for pollen or nectar .
But the ascent of ants on willows , in particular , is a well-known phenomenon .
The ants ’ attraction is more usually for aphids , or rather , the sweet liquid known as “ honeydew ” exuding from their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the aphids ’ extraction of sap in the willow ’ s youngest , most tender , shoots .
Googling “ ants on willows ” offers a graphic Flickr close-up of ants in close attendance .
No aphids appear on Dunne ’ s catkins , but bluetits I see foraging along flowering twigs of our own willow confirm that they abound .
A score or more of different species suck at the shoots of sallies in these islands , and since the salicin in willows converts to salicylic acid , a natural aspirin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ants are seeking to be spaced out .
Of far more urgent consequence in the appetite of aphids is that of the grain aphid , Sitobion avanae .
It sucks at the sap of spring-sown barley seedlings , barely greening the field , and flies around to spread the dreaded “ yellow dwarf virus ” .
It is also evolving resistance to pyrethroids , the chemical ingredients of most modern pesticides .
Teagasc , the farmers ’ oracle , has long encouraged “ integrated pest management ” .
Its advice at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sow early and spray once “ if warranted ” .
For better news , my recent column on the reported decline of urban house sparrows brought many reassuring emails from readers with abundant chirping residents .
This ties in well with the latest Big Garden Watch survey of the UK ’ s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds .
From returns by nearly half a million people in late January , the house sparrow was the most commonly seen ( or , perhaps , readily recognised ) garden bird .
With new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society hopes “ that at least a partial recovery may be happening ” .

Rocking in my rocking chair – which is what they’re for – I looked out through the branches of the big willow tree and there, framed in a distant triangle of twigs, our neighbour’s children were out-rocking me on their garden swings.
On the television in the corner, Andrew Marr was quizzing David Attenborough about his latest, perhaps his last, and undoubtedly his most passionate film, A Life on Our Planet. It frames his view of humankind's "last chance" at living on Earth.
“Our lot,” said Attenborough (93), “are finished anyway. “It’s up to the young to do things better.”
“Some people,” Marr offered, “think that Covid-19 could be the reckoning the human world deserves.”
READ MORE
Attenborough backed off from anything so biblical. He countered merely that a densely living, overpopulated species was much more susceptible to plagues.
His film, soon for Netflix, is apparently a properly terrifying catalogue of what we’ve been doing to the natural world. For all the years of brilliant films exploring and celebrating nature, he or his producers were slow to invite much public outrage about the darker destructions.
Attenborough’s recent Blue Planet II, with its nightmare of plastic in the ocean, was the one that really touched some anger. What, Marr asked, was the one bit of change that ordinary people could effect. “Waste!” was Attenborough’s explosive reply.
Veteran willow
A breeze stirred the willow twigs and their first fringe of green. As the old tree drops her catkins, flushing fully into life, I’ll lose the playing children, along with the view of the mountain and the rising of the moon.
It’s quite a veteran as willows go, couched in the stream’s ravine, its elbows propped on the banks. Nowhere else on the hillside could it possibly exist, so safe from people, from sheep and the worst of storms.
But willows are everywhere on this soggy island – at least 18 kinds that botanists can divine, often with some difficulty. A tree that reached here naturally in perhaps six or seven forms has been added to by garden introductions and multiple hybridisations.
If we had to choose one as the national tree (as I think it richly deserves), it should probably be the common “goat” or “pussy’ willow, Salix caprea. Like the one in my painting, it is ablaze with yellow catkins in early spring. The “goat” stems from an early role as fodder, and the flowers still offer nectar to bumblebee queens fresh out from hibernation.
In the sort of little cameo captured by many readers alert to events in their gardens, Paul Dunne, of Lettermore in Co Galway, sent a photograph of ants perched on willow catkins and wondered how unusual this was.
They had climbed the tree, he surmised, for pollen or nectar. But the ascent of ants on willows, in particular, is a well-known phenomenon. The ants’ attraction is more usually for aphids, or rather, the sweet liquid known as “honeydew” exuding from their fundaments.
This sugary waste is extruded from the aphids’ extraction of sap in the willow’s youngest, most tender, shoots. Googling “ants on willows” offers a graphic Flickr close-up of ants in close attendance.
No aphids appear on Dunne’s catkins, but bluetits I see foraging along flowering twigs of our own willow confirm that they abound. A score or more of different species suck at the shoots of sallies in these islands, and since the salicin in willows converts to salicylic acid, a natural aspirin, one may wonder if both aphids and ants are seeking to be spaced out.
Of far more urgent consequence in the appetite of aphids is that of the grain aphid, Sitobion avanae. It sucks at the sap of spring-sown barley seedlings, barely greening the field, and flies around to spread the dreaded “yellow dwarf virus”. It is also evolving resistance to pyrethroids, the chemical ingredients of most modern pesticides.
Teagasc, the farmers' oracle, has long encouraged "integrated pest management". Its advice at the national tillage conference in January was to sow early and spray once "if warranted".
Several sparrows
For better news, my recent column on the reported decline of urban house sparrows brought many reassuring emails from readers with abundant chirping residents. This ties in well with the latest Big Garden Watch survey of the UK's Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
From returns by nearly half a million people in late January, the house sparrow was the most commonly seen (or, perhaps, readily recognised) garden bird. With new mild winters to help survival, the society hopes “that at least a partial recovery may be happening”.


theirishtimes--2020-05-02--What is this strange slug-like creature? Readers’ nature queries

I found this slug-like creature under some wood .
– Ger Thong , Cappagh , Co Limerick It ’ s the dreaded New Zealand flatworm , an invasive alien that decimates earthworms .
Destroy it and any black eggs .
They arrive in pot plants .
I found these orange-coloured creatures under a board in my garden .
They look and feel a bit like flatworms , but not the New Zealand ones .
– Paul O ’ Donovan , Cork city They are Australian flatworms and just as pernicious as the New Zealand ones .
On my arm is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Carton , Maynooth .
– Joe Bruton , Maynooth , Co Kildare I saw this well-camouflaged mother and 12 ducklings on the Royal Canal .
– Miriam Dollard , Glasnevin , Dublin 3 A proud mallard .
his little fellow landed on my husband .
Is it a beetle or a type of grasshopper ?
– Geraldine O ’ Brien , Painestown , Co Kildare It ’ s a hawthorn shield bug .
This little chap was on our bathroom window .
A slow walker but a quick flyer .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gill , Firhouse , Dublin 24 It ’ s the varied carpet beetle , much magnified , which lives in the garden sipping nectar from flowers and comes indoors to lay its eggs in carpets and clothes .
This is one of two birds that crashed into our conservatory , but recovered and flew away .
What is their breed ?
– Kevin Brady , Dunshaughlin , Co Meath It ’ s a bullfinch .
Sharing is caring .
This is a regular visitor to our garden .
Sometimes there are two mice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Co Dublin The delightful little field or wood mouse , Apodemus sylvaticus .
A mallard has nested in the herb bed under my window .
When leaving she covers the eggs with body fluff and dead leaves .
– Aidan Ryan , Brownswood , Co Wexford Caimin Coyne heard the first corncrake of the season on Inishbofin on April 16th .
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn , Louisburgh , Co Mayo , F28 F978 , or by email at viney @ anu.ie .
Include a postal address

I found this slug-like creature under some wood. – Ger Thong, Cappagh, Co Limerick
It's the dreaded New Zealand flatworm, an invasive alien that decimates earthworms. Destroy it and any black eggs. They arrive in pot plants.
Australian flatworm
I found these orange-coloured creatures under a board in my garden. They look and feel a bit like flatworms, but not the New Zealand ones. – Paul O'Donovan, Cork city
They are Australian flatworms and just as pernicious as the New Zealand ones.
Ladybird
On my arm is a 22-spot ladybird, which I found at Carton, Maynooth. – Joe Bruton, Maynooth, Co Kildare
Mallard and ducklings
I saw this well-camouflaged mother and 12 ducklings on the Royal Canal. – Miriam Dollard, Glasnevin, Dublin 3
A proud mallard.
READ MORE
Hawthorn shield bug
his little fellow landed on my husband. Is it a beetle or a type of grasshopper? – Geraldine O'Brien, Painestown, Co Kildare
It's a hawthorn shield bug.
Varied carpet beetle
This little chap was on our bathroom window. A slow walker but a quick flyer. It was about 2mm in length. – Eric Gill, Firhouse, Dublin 24
It's the varied carpet beetle, much magnified, which lives in the garden sipping nectar from flowers and comes indoors to lay its eggs in carpets and clothes.
Bullfinch
This is one of two birds that crashed into our conservatory, but recovered and flew away. What is their breed? – Kevin Brady, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath
It's a bullfinch.
Wood mouse
Sharing is caring. This is a regular visitor to our garden. Sometimes there are two mice. – Ruth Sweetman, Shankill, Co Dublin
The delightful little field or wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus.
Mallard and ducklings
A mallard has nested in the herb bed under my window. When leaving she covers the eggs with body fluff and dead leaves. – Aidan Ryan, Brownswood, Co Wexford
Caimin Coyne heard the first corncrake of the season on Inishbofin on April 16th.
Ethna Viney welcomes observations and photographs at Thallabawn, Louisburgh, Co Mayo, F28 F978, or by email at viney@anu.ie. Include a postal address