theirishtimes--2020-12-23--Covid-19 logjams in UK are an ugly dress rehearsal for Brexit chaos

Everyone was expecting it but many were surprised that it was Covid-19 and not Brexit that delivered the nightmare before Christmas .
The long queues of lorries clogging up English roads to ports on Britain ’ s southern coast had long been threatened , but they arose not as a result of Brexit but because of France ’ s ban on road freight on ferries across the English Channel to stop a more contagious coronavirus variant .
It could not have happened at a worse time .
It fell in a short week ending with Christmas as pre-Brexit stockpiling and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ busy transit routes , choked shipping lines and filled up warehouses in anticipation of this mess happening later .
There have been lots of lessons learned since Sunday ’ s ban and plenty of “ I told you so ” mutterings from industry groups that had warned that Ireland , as an island off an island , was not ready if our neighbour became snarled by road traffic stuck at British ports .
This has been an ugly dress rehearsal for the January 1st introduction of a deluge of customs paperwork , complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , courtesy of Brexit .
The prospect of Covid-19 testing for lorry drivers heading into France as a solution to the ban , regardless of how long test results take , will add another obstacle on the already heavily congested “ landbridge ” transport route through Britain between Ireland and mainland Europe .
The Irish haulage industry wants exemptions from testing for Irish drivers “ transiting ” through the UK on their way to mainland Europe .
“ It would cause too much grief , ” said Eugene Drennan , president of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Irish lorry driver with a transit document should be waved through without the requirement for a test .
Hauliers say their lorry cabs act as “ bubbles ” from the virus .
The European Commission said on Tuesday that , as essential transport workers , lorry drivers should be exempted from Covid-19 testing and quarantine .
“ This whole episode raises an awful lot of question marks about the viability about the landbridge , ” said Simon McKeever , chief executive of the Irish Exporters ’ Association .
While many companies had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were taken by surprise at the very sudden shutdown of the landbridge by Covid-19 .
“ I don ’ t know if the landbridge is dead yet but it certainly isn ’ t working very effectively at the moment for roll-on , roll-off freight , ” said Mr McKeever .
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has gone so far as to tell businesses not to rely on the route over the coming weeks as post-Brexit border controls , paperwork and complicated sanitary checks come into effect .
If they want certainty , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The haulage industry has been up in arms for several weeks now , complaining that there was not enough capacity on direct ferries to take the 170,000 lorries that cross the landbridge every year , and rubbishing an Irish Maritime Development Office report saying that there was .
They have pointed to the chaos at British ports and the scramble by Irish companies to re-book onto direct routes that still do not yet offer a daily service as proof of their claims .
“ Never in all my born days I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inefficiency and lack of preparation – there is no plan , ” said Independent TD Verona Murphy , a haulage firm boss and former representative of her industry , at the lack of preparation for what landed this week .
Mr Coveney has said that if the traffic can not pass through Britain , the ferries companies will be ready to move the lorry-carrying ships to the direct routes : to Cherbourg , Roscoff and Dunkirk .
Stena bringing forward its doubling of ferry capacity on its existing Rosslare-Cherbourg route at just 24 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lines could react , Ministers said .
With Brexit disruption on the horizon , Irish companies relying on quick deliveries of fresh fish , meat and other food will need more people to react just as quickly .

Trucks parked near the Port of Dover in southern England on Tuesday. The Irish haulage industry wants exemptions from Covid testing for Irish drivers ‘transiting’ through the UK on their way to mainland Europe. Photograph: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg
Everyone was expecting it but many were surprised that it was Covid-19 and not Brexit that delivered the nightmare before Christmas.
The long queues of lorries clogging up English roads to ports on Britain’s southern coast had long been threatened, but they arose not as a result of Brexit but because of France’s ban on road freight on ferries across the English Channel to stop a more contagious coronavirus variant.
It could not have happened at a worse time. It fell in a short week ending with Christmas as pre-Brexit stockpiling and end-of-year supply chains had already clogged up busy transit routes, choked shipping lines and filled up warehouses in anticipation of this mess happening later.
There have been lots of lessons learned since Sunday's ban and plenty of "I told you so" mutterings from industry groups that had warned that Ireland, as an island off an island, was not ready if our neighbour became snarled by road traffic stuck at British ports.
READ MORE
This has been an ugly dress rehearsal for the January 1st introduction of a deluge of customs paperwork, complex health checks and heavy levels of bureaucracy, courtesy of Brexit.
The prospect of Covid-19 testing for lorry drivers heading into France as a solution to the ban, regardless of how long test results take, will add another obstacle on the already heavily congested "landbridge" transport route through Britain between Ireland and mainland Europe.
Exemptions
The Irish haulage industry wants exemptions from testing for Irish drivers “transiting” through the UK on their way to mainland Europe.
"It would cause too much grief," said Eugene Drennan, president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, arguing that an Irish lorry driver with a transit document should be waved through without the requirement for a test.
Hauliers say their lorry cabs act as “bubbles” from the virus.
The European Commission said on Tuesday that, as essential transport workers, lorry drivers should be exempted from Covid-19 testing and quarantine.
“This whole episode raises an awful lot of question marks about the viability about the landbridge,” said Simon McKeever, chief executive of the Irish Exporters’ Association.
While many companies had been preparing for December 31st, they were taken by surprise at the very sudden shutdown of the landbridge by Covid-19.
“I don’t know if the landbridge is dead yet but it certainly isn’t working very effectively at the moment for roll-on, roll-off freight,” said Mr McKeever.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has gone so far as to tell businesses not to rely on the route over the coming weeks as post-Brexit border controls, paperwork and complicated sanitary checks come into effect. If they want certainty, take the direct ferry, he said.
The haulage industry has been up in arms for several weeks now, complaining that there was not enough capacity on direct ferries to take the 170,000 lorries that cross the landbridge every year, and rubbishing an Irish Maritime Development Office report saying that there was.
Direct routes
They have pointed to the chaos at British ports and the scramble by Irish companies to re-book onto direct routes that still do not yet offer a daily service as proof of their claims.
“Never in all my born days I have seen anything like the inconsistency, the inefficiency and lack of preparation – there is no plan,” said Independent TD Verona Murphy, a haulage firm boss and former representative of her industry, at the lack of preparation for what landed this week.
Mr Coveney has said that if the traffic cannot pass through Britain, the ferries companies will be ready to move the lorry-carrying ships to the direct routes: to Cherbourg, Roscoff and Dunkirk.
Stena bringing forward its doubling of ferry capacity on its existing Rosslare-Cherbourg route at just 24 hours’ notice showed how quickly shipping lines could react, Ministers said.
With Brexit disruption on the horizon, Irish companies relying on quick deliveries of fresh fish, meat and other food will need more people to react just as quickly.


theirishtimes--2020-12-22--No fairytale Christmas for Irish forced to remain in New York

For Molly Thompson-Tubridy , the journey home to family in Dublin last Christmas “ was like a scene from the film Love Actually , filled with expectation ” .
This year , Christmas in New York will be on screen , too , but this time it is Zoom , not the movies .
With her roommates gone from their Brooklyn apartment , she will be on her own on Christmas Day .
Nevertheless , traditions will be kept : “ I ’ m putting a tree up , just as I would be at home , ” she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but I will try and cook up a whole Christmas meal .
I ’ m going to have my laptop set up and Zoom and FaceTime will be open all day , ” said Thompson-Tubridy , who has been living in New York since April .
Like many other young Irish people in New York on temporary visas , the 25-year-old , whose half-brother is RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy , long abandoned any thoughts of Christmas in Ireland .
That decision was taken following president Donald Trump ’ s move to ban @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who left .
Having studied art history in Dublin , she arrived in New York on a graduate visa and worked for an art gallery in Chelsea .
Quickly promoted , she was sent to work in Miami on an exhibition .
Everything , she said , “ was going great ” .
Then , Covid-19 hit New York : “ The whole plan was to stay on ; they were going to sponsor a work visa , but with Covid it all went downhill from the start of 2020 , ” she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduate visa until next summer , she is now on a B2 visitor visa and living off savings while she looks for work .
With that , hopefully , will come a new sponsored work visa .
Leaving now for Christmas at home would scupper her chances of finding work in New York , said the art history graduate , where opportunities in her field are far better than back in Dublin , no matter how much she is missing family .
“ I have never missed Christmas .
It is heartbreaking ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ll be able to see them next .
It is sad , but I look at it like I would be so much more sad if I had to go home permanently.
” The New York Irish Center , which has put most of its events online for months , is now hosting a Christmas concert live on Youtube to bring the Irish in the city together , said Stephen Long , director of cultural programmes .
Earlier this month , its front window on Jackson Avenue in Long Island was transformed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children on the other side of the glass had the opportunity to tell the great man what they hoped for on the 25th .
The pandemic has left the Irish in New York feeling “ unsettled ” , said Sandra Feeney-Charles , executive director of the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers .
“ Christmas away from home is always more difficult.
” A “ significant number ” of recently arrived Irish emigrants returned home earlier in the year , when they could – driven away by an inability to get work as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ With all the restrictions Covid imposes , along with being so far removed from family , and being advised not to congregate in larger groups as one would typically do at this time of year , this Christmas will likely be more difficult for most , ” she said .
Dubliner John Bowden , who has lived in New York since December 2014 , will depend on video calls this year to keep in touch with family back in Ireland – it will be only his second time to be away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be frank , a good portion of [ the reason not to leave ] was the ability to get back in to the US , ” he said .
“ My life is here , I have a girlfriend here ; I was worried about getting back in.
” An only child , his decision to stay has been difficult for his parents .
who are , however , understanding : “ Mum is emotional and sad I won ’ t be coming home .
I have to explain it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two of them.
” “ But I also know the Christmas I dream of in Ireland won ’ t be there ; I wouldn ’ t be going into the Millhouse [ pub in Stillorgan ] for pints on Christmas Eve ; I wouldn ’ t be at the races on Stephen ’ s Day , ” he added .
The pandemic , though , has offered a perspective on home he did not have before ; that perhaps can only come in the face of challenges , absence and longing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
New York got found out this year ; the things I loved disappeared very quickly .
In Dublin you can go to the mountains and on hikes .
Things I took for granted .
Things you can ’ t do here as easily .
”

Dubliner Molly Thompson-Tubridy, 25, in Brooklyn. The art history graduate will be spending Christmas Day on her own in the New York.
For Molly Thompson-Tubridy, the journey home to family in Dublin last Christmas “was like a scene from the film Love Actually, filled with expectation”. This year, Christmas in New York will be on screen, too, but this time it is Zoom, not the movies.
With her roommates gone from their Brooklyn apartment, she will be on her own on Christmas Day. Nevertheless, traditions will be kept: "I'm putting a tree up, just as I would be at home," she said.
“It will just be me, but I will try and cook up a whole Christmas meal. I’m going to have my laptop set up and Zoom and FaceTime will be open all day,” said Thompson-Tubridy, who has been living in New York since April.
Like many other young Irish people in New York on temporary visas, the 25-year-old, whose half-brother is RTÉ presenter Ryan Tubridy, long abandoned any thoughts of Christmas in Ireland.
READ MORE
That decision was taken following president Donald Trump’s move to ban a return by any such visa holders who left.
Having studied art history in Dublin, she arrived in New York on a graduate visa and worked for an art gallery in Chelsea. Quickly promoted, she was sent to work in Miami on an exhibition. Everything, she said, "was going great".
Then, Covid-19 hit New York: “The whole plan was to stay on; they were going to sponsor a work visa, but with Covid it all went downhill from the start of 2020,” she says.
With an extension to her graduate visa until next summer, she is now on a B2 visitor visa and living off savings while she looks for work. With that, hopefully, will come a new sponsored work visa.
Leaving now for Christmas at home would scupper her chances of finding work in New York, said the art history graduate, where opportunities in her field are far better than back in Dublin, no matter how much she is missing family.
“I have never missed Christmas. It is heartbreaking; I don’t know when I’ll be able to see them next. It is sad, but I look at it like I would be so much more sad if I had to go home permanently.”
‘Unsettled’ Irish
The New York Irish Center, which has put most of its events online for months, is now hosting a Christmas concert live on Youtube to bring the Irish in the city together, said Stephen Long, director of cultural programmes.
Earlier this month, its front window on Jackson Avenue in Long Island was transformed into Santa's den, where children on the other side of the glass had the opportunity to tell the great man what they hoped for on the 25th.
The pandemic has left the Irish in New York feeling "unsettled", said Sandra Feeney-Charles, executive director of the Aisling Irish Community Center in Yonkers. "Christmas away from home is always more difficult."
A “significant number” of recently arrived Irish emigrants returned home earlier in the year, when they could – driven away by an inability to get work as bars, restaurants and buildings sites closed.
“With all the restrictions Covid imposes, along with being so far removed from family, and being advised not to congregate in larger groups as one would typically do at this time of year, this Christmas will likely be more difficult for most,” she said.
Dubliner John Bowden, who has lived in New York since December 2014, will depend on video calls this year to keep in touch with family back in Ireland – it will be only his second time to be away from them for Christmas.
“To be frank, a good portion of [the reason not to leave] was the ability to get back in to the US,” he said. “My life is here, I have a girlfriend here; I was worried about getting back in.”
An only child, his decision to stay has been difficult for his parents. who are, however, understanding: “Mum is emotional and sad I won’t be coming home. I have to explain it’s not by choice. It will just be the two of them.”
“But I also know the Christmas I dream of in Ireland won’t be there; I wouldn’t be going into the Millhouse [pub in Stillorgan] for pints on Christmas Eve; I wouldn’t be at the races on Stephen’s Day,” he added.
The pandemic, though, has offered a perspective on home he did not have before; that perhaps can only come in the face of challenges, absence and longing. “Dublin has so much to offer. New York got found out this year; the things I loved disappeared very quickly. In Dublin you can go to the mountains and on hikes. Things I took for granted. Things you can’t do here as easily.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-22--‘I buried my son on December 21st’: Flights bring 350 Irish residents home from UK

Some 350 Irish residents were repatriated on flights from the UK on Tuesday , two days after a travel ban came into effect to prevent a new mutation of coronavirus from spreading .
Among them was Sherron St Clair , who had buried her son .
Her son Ysra ( 28 ) died recently , and she had been to London for his funeral .
“ I buried my son on December 21st , ” she said , after arriving at Terminal 1 on a Ryanair repatriation flight .
“ He lived in London so we went to bury him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s so good to be home.
” She was returning to Greystones , Co Wicklow , to quarantine .
Mick Morrissey from Kilmeaden , Co Waterford , was also in London for a funeral .
“ I flew over on Saturday , and the funeral was yesterday .
There were no flights so a Waterford TD got us here on the repatriation flight.
” Mr Morrissey said his car was at the airport and he would drive home to Waterford for the Christmas period .
“ It ’ s great to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family in London , this is home.
” Some 1,000 people contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs helpline set up to assist those left stranded in the UK since Monday .
Two flights were arranged for Tuesday , one landed after 7pm and another was due after 9pm .
Saphron Werfelli went to London to visit her brother with her mother Caroline and son Alex ( 7 ) .
“ We went over with the best of intentions for Christmas , intending to stay for four or five days .
But we got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Ms Werfelli said .
“ It ’ s a bit of a disaster so close to Christmas .
My seven-year-old was with us so we didn ’ t know if Santa would know where we were .
We were trying to organise contact with the elves to make sure they knew where to bring the presents.
” Ms Werfelli fiancee , father and sister were waiting at home in Limerick , and would have been “ heartbroken ” if the family did not make it home .
“ We were hoping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Foreign Affairs said our flights wouldn ’ t be guaranteed .
The admin was a bit messy because we weren ’ t on the official list , but we did all the paperwork and stayed up for 24 hours to sort it.
” She added that she and her family would be arranging a Covid-19 test after their drive home to Limerick , but did not specify whether they would also isolate for two weeks .
Two sisters who were living in the UK for university returned home to visit their parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them up at the airport to take them back to Drogheda , Tosin Darmola , who studies public health in Essex , and her sister Tobi , who studies law , said they were “ worried ” about the new strain of the Covid-19 virus , but , Tobi said , “ it ’ s still the same virus , and the same restrictions , so we are going to quarantine for two weeks ” .
The initial 48-hour ban on travel to and from Britain has been extended until December 31st .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ work with the Department of Foreign Affairs to organise repatriation flights for Irish residents .
A smaller number are being accommodated on ferry routes .

Some 350 Irish residents were repatriated on flights from the UK on Tuesday, two days after a travel ban came into effect to prevent a new mutation of coronavirus from spreading.
Among them was Sherron St Clair, who had buried her son. Her son Ysra (28) died recently, and she had been to London for his funeral.
"I buried my son on December 21st," she said, after arriving at Terminal 1 on a Ryanair repatriation flight. "He lived in London so we went to bury him. We are just coming back. It's so good to be home."
She was returning to Greystones, Co Wicklow, to quarantine.
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Mick Morrissey from Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, at Dublin airport following his return. Photograph Nick Bradshaw
Mick Morrissey from Kilmeaden, Co Waterford, was also in London for a funeral. "I flew over on Saturday, and the funeral was yesterday. There were no flights so a Waterford TD got us here on the repatriation flight."
Mr Morrissey said his car was at the airport and he would drive home to Waterford for the Christmas period. “It’s great to be back. Even though I have family in London, this is home.”
Some 1,000 people contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs helpline set up to assist those left stranded in the UK since Monday. Two flights were arranged for Tuesday, one landed after 7pm and another was due after 9pm.
Saphron Werfelli went to London to visit her brother with her mother Caroline and son Alex (7).
"We went over with the best of intentions for Christmas, intending to stay for four or five days. But we got an awful shock when everything was cancelled," Ms Werfelli said. "It's a bit of a disaster so close to Christmas. My seven-year-old was with us so we didn't know if Santa would know where we were. We were trying to organise contact with the elves to make sure they knew where to bring the presents."
Waiting at home
Ms Werfelli fiancee, father and sister were waiting at home in Limerick, and would have been "heartbroken" if the family did not make it home.
“We were hoping to go home tomorrow but the Department of Foreign Affairs said our flights wouldn’t be guaranteed. The admin was a bit messy because we weren’t on the official list, but we did all the paperwork and stayed up for 24 hours to sort it.”
She added that she and her family would be arranging a Covid-19 test after their drive home to Limerick, but did not specify whether they would also isolate for two weeks.
Two sisters who were living in the UK for university returned home to visit their parents after months apart. Their mother picked them up at the airport to take them back to Drogheda,
Tosin Darmola, who studies public health in Essex, and her sister Tobi, who studies law, said they were "worried" about the new strain of the Covid-19 virus, but, Tobi said, "it's still the same virus, and the same restrictions, so we are going to quarantine for two weeks".
The initial 48-hour ban on travel to and from Britain has been extended until December 31st.
Ryanair and Aer Lingus are continuing to work with the Department of Foreign Affairs to organise repatriation flights for Irish residents. A smaller number are being accommodated on ferry routes.


theirishtimes--2020-12-22--‘Exhausted’ hairdresser working until midnight ahead of lockdown

Cork hairdresser Joseph Byrne normally fits in a special day of appointments for the long-term homeless during Christmas week .
Instead he is handing out vouchers which now may not be used until closer to spring .
Byrne , who runs a salon on Glasheen Road in Cork city , says he is exhausted from stop-start restrictions as he faces into another lockdown on Christmas Eve .
He says another closure is “ a disastrous ” outcome for the industry .
“ People who can ’ t get in for Christmas were calling us about New Year ’ s Eve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I am working until 12am tonight and again tomorrow clearing appointments trying to fit everybody in .
We started here at 8.15am today .
“ We would have people who are [ medically ] vulnerable so that is why they are coming late at night so that they have the salon to themselves .
“ We are exhausted from it .
Christmas is a stressful time in any salon because you are trying to fit people in .
But this really stressful.
” Byrne says that the year has been particularly tough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around chatting after they got their hair cut .
Joseph and his husband Darren collected items of clothing and selection boxes as is the tradition at the salon over Christmas .
They donated the goods to Penny Dinners and to women ’ s shelters Cuan Lee and Edel House .
Joseph and the team at the salon helped out a lot of their elderly clients during lockdown .
“ I am dying to offer the older ladies a minced pie and a cup of tea in the salon at Christmas because we would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had the bit of craic .
You can ’ t do that anymore .
The banter is gone.
” In recent years , Joseph has spent a day every Christmas cutting the hair of the homeless .
He has seen people get visibly upset during the cutting process .
Many times they are living a life devoid of touch .
“ I had an experience with a man last year where he got very emotional because he got his hair shampooed .
It wasn ’ t the fact that he was getting his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact .
He was saying , ‘ I haven ’ t had this for so long.
’ The warmth of the place and the girl washing his hair .
I didn ’ t comprehend all that before.
” Byrne says ultimately in life , we all crave “ a bit of TLC ” .
“ When you are doing hair it is therapeutic .
I am chatting away .
People often tell their story .
I get lost with them .
They get lost with me and we forget everything for 20 to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me that people feel safe .
”

Cork hairdresser Joseph Byrne normally fits in a special day of appointments for the long-term homeless during Christmas week.
Instead he is handing out vouchers which now may not be used until closer to spring.
Byrne, who runs a salon on Glasheen Road in Cork city, says he is exhausted from stop-start restrictions as he faces into another lockdown on Christmas Eve.
He says another closure is “a disastrous” outcome for the industry.
READ MORE
“People who can’t get in for Christmas were calling us about New Year’s Eve appointments.
“Our book is full. I am working until 12am tonight and again tomorrow clearing appointments trying to fit everybody in. We started here at 8.15am today.
“We would have people who are [medically] vulnerable so that is why they are coming late at night so that they have the salon to themselves.
“We are exhausted from it. Christmas is a stressful time in any salon because you are trying to fit people in. But this really stressful.”
Byrne says that the year has been particularly tough on elderly clientele who used to sit around chatting after they got their hair cut.
Joseph and his husband Darren collected items of clothing and selection boxes as is the tradition at the salon over Christmas. They donated the goods to Penny Dinners and to women's shelters Cuan Lee and Edel House.
Joseph and the team at the salon helped out a lot of their elderly clients during lockdown.
“I am dying to offer the older ladies a minced pie and a cup of tea in the salon at Christmas because we would always have done that. We always had the bit of craic. You can’t do that anymore. The banter is gone.”
In recent years, Joseph has spent a day every Christmas cutting the hair of the homeless.
He has seen people get visibly upset during the cutting process. Many times they are living a life devoid of touch.
“I had an experience with a man last year where he got very emotional because he got his hair shampooed. It wasn’t the fact that he was getting his hair cut. It was the physical contact. He was saying, ‘I haven’t had this for so long.’ The warmth of the place and the girl washing his hair. I didn’t comprehend all that before.”
Byrne says ultimately in life, we all crave “a bit of TLC”.
“When you are doing hair it is therapeutic. I am chatting away. People often tell their story. I get lost with them. They get lost with me and we forget everything for 20 to 25 minutes. It is important for me that people feel safe.”


theirishtimes--2020-12-22--Covid-19 vaccination rollout: timeline, priority listing and vaccine availability

The first Covid-19 vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech will be administered in Ireland on December 30th , with an initial shipment of almost 10,000 doses due in the country on St Stephen ’ s Day , Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed .
Frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents will be vaccinated first , he confirmed .
“ My focus in the first instance is getting our frontline healthcare workers protected ; getting into nursing homes , getting those most vulnerable protected because ... then we can have a different conversation about opening up , ” he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of thousands of doses ” – is due in the first week of January , and will be followed by similar shipments every week after that , he said .
It is envisaged by the HSE that frontline healthcare workers and 30,000 nursing home residents will be vaccinated , having received the required two doses , by the end of January .
Beyond that , Mr Donnelly said it was intended to have an accelerated rollout using a range of vaccines procured by the European Union , by working through the priority list @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Committee ( NIAC ) as quickly as possible .
There were an additional four vaccines in the pipeline though they have to secure approval by the European Medicines Agency .
Under a national plan , the State is due to acquire 14 million doses of at least five different vaccines during 2021 .
The likely initial vaccine range is : Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine : It is already being administered in the United Kingdom and United States .
More than 128,000 people were administered the jab this week in the US , though the FDA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people showing allergic reactions to the shot .
This prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to warn anyone who had a severe reaction to a Covid-19 vaccine not to get the second dose – the vaccine is already confirmed as safe for the vast majority of people .
Moderna vaccine : The EU has ordered a further 80 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and brought forward plans to assess the shot for approval in Europe .
The EMA is to issue its verdict on conditional marketing authorisation on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donnelly confirmed Ireland would move quickly to deploy that vaccine immediately .
Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine : This is likely to get approval in the UK this month with rollout there from early 2021 .
It is understood Irish health authorities expect it will get EU approval in January .
More like a standard vaccine , it will be considerably easier to administer as it does not require very cold storage as is the case with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs , which are new mRNA vaccines .
It is expected that approval for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in phase 3 clinical trials involving 45,000 people will be sought in the first half of 2021 .
After frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents are vaccinated , people over 70 ; other healthcare workers not in direct patient contact , people aged 65 to 69 and other “ key workers ” will be vaccinated in that order .
This will be followed by people aged 18 to 64 years with certain medical conditions ; who are residents of long-term care facilities , and living or working in crowded settings .
Next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in essential jobs who can not avoid a high risk of exposure ; people working in education , people aged 55 to 64 , other workers in occupations important to the functioning of society and those aged between 18 and 54 .
It is expected that young people under 18 and pregnant women will be allowed to get the vaccine as there is some evidence showing “ safety and efficacy ” .
This will be closely monitored as rollout accelerates around the world .
NIAC is due to issue vaccination guidelines tomorrow for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recommend only those that have shown a strong allergic reaction should not receive a vaccine .
HSE chief Paul Reid welcomed the EMA ’ s decision to give conditional marketing authorisation to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Monday , which enabled rollout of a national vaccination programme in Ireland .
“ Our health service teams , staff , experts and suppliers will be playing a central role in many aspects of rolling out this national programme , ” he said .
“ While this development is very positive and offers some hope at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tough year for many people , it is really important that all of us keep in mind that the vaccine is not our first line of defence against Covid-19 for now , nor will it be for some time to come , ” he underlined .
He added : We ’ ve seen how quickly an increase in cases can translate to illness , to pressures in our hospitals and to pressures in Intensive Care Units .
For now everyone in Ireland should focus on maintaining the prevention and protective actions that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working and living.
” The priority list is available on the Government website .

Indications are that Moderna’s vaccine may be approved as early as January 6th, so there could be extra supplies coming into the State shortly after that happens. File photograph: Getty
The first Covid-19 vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech will be administered in Ireland on December 30th, with an initial shipment of almost 10,000 doses due in the country on St Stephen's Day, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has confirmed.
Frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents will be vaccinated first, he confirmed. “My focus in the first instance is getting our frontline healthcare workers protected; getting into nursing homes, getting those most vulnerable protected because...then we can have a different conversation about opening up,” he said.
The next shipment – of “tens of thousands of doses” – is due in the first week of January, and will be followed by similar shipments every week after that, he said.
It is envisaged by the HSE that frontline healthcare workers and 30,000 nursing home residents will be vaccinated, having received the required two doses, by the end of January.
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Beyond that, Mr Donnelly said it was intended to have an accelerated rollout using a range of vaccines procured by the European Union, by working through the priority list drawn up by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) as quickly as possible.
There were an additional four vaccines in the pipeline though they have to secure approval by the European Medicines Agency. Under a national plan, the State is due to acquire 14 million doses of at least five different vaccines during 2021.
The likely initial vaccine range is:
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine: It is already being administered in the United Kingdom and United States. More than 128,000 people were administered the jab this week in the US, though the FDA is investigating reasons behind a small number of people showing allergic reactions to the shot. This prompted the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to warn anyone who had a severe reaction to a Covid-19 vaccine not to get the second dose – the vaccine is already confirmed as safe for the vast majority of people.
Moderna vaccine: The EU has ordered a further 80 million doses of the Moderna vaccine and brought forward plans to assess the shot for approval in Europe. The EMA is to issue its verdict on conditional marketing authorisation on January 6th. Once approved, Mr Donnelly confirmed Ireland would move quickly to deploy that vaccine immediately.
Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine: This is likely to get approval in the UK this month with rollout there from early 2021. It is understood Irish health authorities expect it will get EU approval in January. More like a standard vaccine, it will be considerably easier to administer as it does not require very cold storage as is the case with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna jabs, which are new mRNA vaccines.
It is expected that approval for the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine currently in phase 3 clinical trials involving 45,000 people will be sought in the first half of 2021.
Priority list
After frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents are vaccinated, people over 70; other healthcare workers not in direct patient contact, people aged 65 to 69 and other “key workers” will be vaccinated in that order.
This will be followed by people aged 18 to 64 years with certain medical conditions; who are residents of long-term care facilities, and living or working in crowded settings.
Next to be immunised will be key workers in essential jobs who cannot avoid a high risk of exposure; people working in education, people aged 55 to 64, other workers in occupations important to the functioning of society and those aged between 18 and 54.
It is expected that young people under 18 and pregnant women will be allowed to get the vaccine as there is some evidence showing “safety and efficacy”. This will be closely monitored as rollout accelerates around the world.
NIAC is due to issue vaccination guidelines tomorrow for health professionals, and is likely to recommend only those that have shown a strong allergic reaction should not receive a vaccine.
HSE chief Paul Reid welcomed the EMA’s decision to give conditional marketing authorisation to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine on Monday, which enabled rollout of a national vaccination programme in Ireland.
“Our health service teams, staff, experts and suppliers will be playing a central role in many aspects of rolling out this national programme,” he said.
“While this development is very positive and offers some hope at the end of what has been a very tough year for many people, it is really important that all of us keep in mind that the vaccine is not our first line of defence against Covid-19 for now, nor will it be for some time to come,” he underlined.
He added: We’ve seen how quickly an increase in cases can translate to illness, to pressures in our hospitals and to pressures in Intensive Care Units. For now everyone in Ireland should focus on maintaining the prevention and protective actions that have become part of how we are all working and living.”
The priority list is available on the Government website.


theirishtimes--2020-12-22--Minister praises Garda efforts to combat organised crime in north east inner city

Gardaí have done “ an incredible job ” in Dublin ’ s north east inner city in responding to the huge threat of organised crime faced by the community , Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said .
Gardaí had been successful in bringing crime gang members to justice over the past four years and in preventing further crime and threats to local residents in the city centre .
And without their work the North East Inner City ( NIEC ) project would not have had the success it achieved in developing the community in the wake of the crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Mr Donohoe was speaking as he launched the 2020 NIEC report , based on the initiative spearheaded by then taoiseach Enda Kenny following the Regency Hotel attack in 2016 and the eruption of the Kinahan-Hutch crime gangs murder feud .
Speaking outside St Mary ’ s Mansions off Sean McDermott Street where 180 residents moved into 80 new homes in the past six months , Mr Donohoe said that from where he was standing “ you could go in two directions .
.
.to the locations of terrible murders that happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gardaí had contributed to the success of the project to improve the lives of people in this disadvantaged community but the response was always “ about more than security ” .
New initiatives were undertaken in housing and extra resources were put in place in 10 primary schools through the City Connects pilot project with three co-ordinators offering individualised supports to each child .
In one project youth workers “ spend more time out and about and engaging with young teenagers , near their homes ” in complexes like St Mary ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ night and early in the morning meeting children who are not at home and the Minister said that had made a real difference .
The NIEC project is chaired by Michael Stone who said the €6.5 million in funding this year allowed them to continue a wide range of programmes as they worked to achieve the goals of the Mulvey report on the north inner city “ Towards a Brighter Future ” .
Drug addiction treatment , homeless initiatives , enhanced community policing are among the initiatives underway which also include late night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , boys and young men .

Paschal Donohoe was speaking as he launched the 2020 NIEC report, based on the initiative spearheaded by then taoiseach Enda Kenny following the Regency Hotel attack in 2016. Photograph: Julien Behal Photography
Gardaí have done "an incredible job" in Dublin's north east inner city in responding to the huge threat of organised crime faced by the community, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said.
Gardaí had been successful in bringing crime gang members to justice over the past four years and in preventing further crime and threats to local residents in the city centre.
And without their work the North East Inner City (NIEC) project would not have had the success it achieved in developing the community in the wake of the crime gang attacks the community faced, he said.
Mr Donohoe was speaking as he launched the 2020 NIEC report, based on the initiative spearheaded by then taoiseach Enda Kenny following the Regency Hotel attack in 2016 and the eruption of the Kinahan-Hutch crime gangs murder feud.
READ MORE
Speaking outside St Mary’s Mansions off Sean McDermott Street where 180 residents moved into 80 new homes in the past six months, Mr Donohoe said that from where he was standing “you could go in two directions . . .to the locations of terrible murders that happened, nearly four years ago”.
Gardaí had contributed to the success of the project to improve the lives of people in this disadvantaged community but the response was always “about more than security”.
New initiatives were undertaken in housing and extra resources were put in place in 10 primary schools through the City Connects pilot project with three co-ordinators offering individualised supports to each child.
In one project youth workers “spend more time out and about and engaging with young teenagers, near their homes” in complexes like St Mary’s. They also go out late at night and early in the morning meeting children who are not at home and the Minister said that had made a real difference.
The NIEC project is chaired by Michael Stone who said the €6.5 million in funding this year allowed them to continue a wide range of programmes as they worked to achieve the goals of the Mulvey report on the north inner city "Towards a Brighter Future".
Drug addiction treatment, homeless initiatives, enhanced community policing are among the initiatives underway which also include late night football catering for groups of teenage girls, boys and young men.


theirishtimes--2020-12-24--Q&A: I’ve arrived home from the UK for Christmas – what do I do now?

Finally home for Christmas – but hold on , I have to self-isolate now ?
Unfortunately , for those coming from England , Scotland and Wales , yes .
It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas but then came a rapid rise in cases and a new strain of Covid-19 infecting increasing numbers of people in the UK and threatening us .
The HSE has taken action and , while it puts even more of a strain on festivities this year ( as if that were possible ) , it is considered essential in preventing the virus from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so exactly what does it mean I can and can ’ t do ?
Isolation means isolation .
This is a step up from simply restricting your movements ; you must stay locked away from everyone in your own room for two weeks except for essential , unavoidable reasons .
That is open to interpretation , but the message is , nevertheless , clear .
Keep a window open , use a separate bathroom with your own towel , keep your room clean and , of course , keep away from everyone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t sound like much fun on Christmas Day No it does not and , as the HSE ’ s chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said , it does unfortunately mean many of the thousands of people who have arrived from Britain since December 11th will have to eat their turkey alone .
On that note , the official year-round HSE isolation advice is to ask someone to drop the food outside and “ if they stand back from the door , you can speak with them ” .
Surely people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have other ideas Well , even though it is everyone ’ s duty to follow public health rules as the pandemic surges , it is almost certain , unfortunately , that some will not .
Particularly given the time of the year and , as you say , those long-awaited reunions .
That not only sets the stage for health concerns but adds further unwanted fuel for traditional tensions .
Families may worry about asking someone to stay behind the door , or pleading with them to come out .
Either way , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more sanguine .
Gary Donohoe , professor of psychology at NUI Galway , says “ families are very understanding of restrictions but , if you have a large family and there is a difference in how people are approaching the level of care , particularly where elderly parents are involved , that can be a source of conflict .
But , by and large , families have managed that extremely well.
” Seems easy to fix , though – just get a test to rule it out , right ?
That might seem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The HSE is adamant : the requirement to self-isolate covers those who have received a negative test , but who still may develop symptoms and be a risk to others .
So while tests are required within five days of arrival , anyone who receives a “ virus not detected ” result must self-isolate for the full two weeks .
Negative test results are a relief , but , frankly , they are not of much help .
Okay , well , it ’ s bad news , but surely it won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since it is believed that more than 30,000 people have come from Britain since December 8th .
Even on a crude calculation , that is one person for every 40 families in the country ( based on 2016 Census numbers ) .
Health officials do not know many of them have the virus , but everyone is being traced through information they gave , or should have given , in passenger locator forms .
“ We are actively following up all cases now , ” Dr Henry said on Wednesday .
But why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we have learned how to be safe and deal with the virus by now Well , there are a number of factors at play , not least the rapidly rising case numbers at a rate that has confounded even the experts and their modelling .
Christmas has a knack for getting people to mingle .
We are now into our third wave of Covid-19 .
Even with vaccines on the way , the critical concern is to ensure that hospitals can cope , even if that does mean some lonely Christmas dinners behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new UK-discovered strain , still under the microscope , seems to be far , far faster to spread .
“ At this moment our hospital system is stable , ” Dr Henry said .
“ But we only have to look at the experience of our friends and neighbours in Europe and across the water to see how fragile even well-developed healthcare systems are in the face of this virus .
”

Finally home for Christmas – but hold on, I have to self-isolate now?
Unfortunately, for those coming from England, Scotland and Wales, yes. It was beginning to look a lot like Christmas but then came a rapid rise in cases and a new strain of Covid-19 infecting increasing numbers of people in the UK and threatening us. The HSE has taken action and, while it puts even more of a strain on festivities this year (as if that were possible), it is considered essential in preventing the virus from spiralling out of control.
Well okay, so exactly what does it mean I can and can't do?
Isolation means isolation. This is a step up from simply restricting your movements; you must stay locked away from everyone in your own room for two weeks except for essential, unavoidable reasons. That is open to interpretation, but the message is, nevertheless, clear. Keep a window open, use a separate bathroom with your own towel, keep your room clean and, of course, keep away from everyone. Isolate.
Well, that doesn't sound like much fun on Christmas Day
No it does not and, as the HSE's chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said, it does unfortunately mean many of the thousands of people who have arrived from Britain since December 11th will have to eat their turkey alone. On that note, the official year-round HSE isolation advice is to ask someone to drop the food outside and "if they stand back from the door, you can speak with them".
Hospital Report
Surely people who have waited months to come home will have other ideas
Well, even though it is everyone's duty to follow public health rules as the pandemic surges, it is almost certain, unfortunately, that some will not. Particularly given the time of the year and, as you say, those long-awaited reunions. That not only sets the stage for health concerns but adds further unwanted fuel for traditional tensions. Families may worry about asking someone to stay behind the door, or pleading with them to come out. Either way, friction is surely inevitable. Some are more sanguine.
READ MORE
Gary Donohoe, professor of psychology at NUI Galway, says "families are very understanding of restrictions but, if you have a large family and there is a difference in how people are approaching the level of care, particularly where elderly parents are involved, that can be a source of conflict. But, by and large, families have managed that extremely well."
Seems easy to fix, though – just get a test to rule it out, right?
That might seem obvious but, alas, no. The HSE is adamant: the requirement to self-isolate covers those who have received a negative test, but who still may develop symptoms and be a risk to others. So while tests are required within five days of arrival, anyone who receives a "virus not detected" result must self-isolate for the full two weeks. Negative test results are a relief, but, frankly, they are not of much help.
Okay, well, it's bad news, but surely it won't affect many people
Not so, since it is believed that more than 30,000 people have come from Britain since December 8th. Even on a crude calculation, that is one person for every 40 families in the country (based on 2016 Census numbers). Health officials do not know many of them have the virus, but everyone is being traced through information they gave, or should have given, in passenger locator forms. "We are actively following up all cases now," Dr Henry said on Wednesday.
But why all the fuss at Christmas? Surely we have learned how to be safe and deal with the virus by now
Well, there are a number of factors at play, not least the rapidly rising case numbers at a rate that has confounded even the experts and their modelling. Christmas has a knack for getting people to mingle.
We are now into our third wave of Covid-19. Even with vaccines on the way, the critical concern is to ensure that hospitals can cope, even if that does mean some lonely Christmas dinners behind closed doors.
And of course the new UK-discovered strain, still under the microscope, seems to be far, far faster to spread. “At this moment our hospital system is stable,” Dr Henry said.
"But we only have to look at the experience of our friends and neighbours in Europe and across the water to see how fragile even well-developed healthcare systems are in the face of this virus."


theirishtimes--2020-12-24--Childline reports surge in contacts during ‘very difficult year’

There was a “ significant surge ” in the number of children contacting a support service during periods of stringent Covid-19 restrictions , the chief executive of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children ( ISPCC ) has said .
The welfare charity , which operates the Childline service , said all three methods used to contact it – calls , texts and web chat – had seen increased engagement over the past nine months .
Between March 12th and December 12th , there were 53,722 web users , compared with 40,086 during the same period last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent .
However , the charity reported “ peaks ” when schools were closed , as children were isolated from friends and other trusted adults .
It recorded an almost 20 per cent rise in the number of contacts to its text service on the week of March 15th , which was when schools were closed and pandemic restrictions were first introduced , over the previous week .
Between March 12th and the end of June , the traditional end of the primary school term , the charity had an increase of more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its website .
John Church , the ISPCC chief executive , said schoolchildren had “ a very difficult year ” .
“ We saw the increase start immediately upon lockdown .
Children were out of the schools and we saw a 25 per cent increase [ in calls ] when we went into our first lockdown , ” he said .
The biggest increase was seen in its web chat and text messaging services .
“ Children found while they didn ’ t want to be overheard on a phone call , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confidential chat , ” he said .
“ We saw a significant amount of visits to various sections of our website as well , so this was all telling us that the environment within an unhappy home like that , the last thing you want to do is be overheard because that could exacerbate the abuse.
” By the end of the year , the charity expects it will have had almost 15,000 conversations through its web chat facility .
Mr Church believes this increase in calls for help highlights the importance of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not relatives .
“ It really highlighted the part that teachers , sports , mentors , even referees play for children .
The school can be a real refuge for these children , ” he said .
“ Tusla at the time said that the referrals to them had decreased , which is absolutely the case , and that would be logical because a lot of children issues are picked up by your local GAA coach , rugby coach or your teacher .
When the child doesn ’ t have those allies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day is normally one of the busiest days of the year for Childline , but Mr Church believes this year will surpass any previous numbers .
Last year , there were 865 contacts on Christmas Day .
“ We are probably expecting more this time around because of the restrictions , because families won ’ t have as much contact with people ’ s aunts , uncles , grandmothers , grandads .
We are expecting a busy Christmas for the children.
” Charities have reported funding issues as a result of a decline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on foot of the coronavirus crisis .
Mr Church said the ISPCC got out early for a “ really successful ” emergency appeal in March , but the cancellation of its annual Christmas concert could lead to “ a difficult year next year ” in financial terms .

Between March 12th and December 12th, Childline recorded 53,722 web users, an increase of 34% on the same period last year. Photograph: iStock
There was a "significant surge" in the number of children contacting a support service during periods of stringent Covid-19 restrictions, the chief executive of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) has said.
The welfare charity, which operates the Childline service, said all three methods used to contact it – calls, texts and web chat – had seen increased engagement over the past nine months.
Between March 12th and December 12th, there were 53,722 web users, compared with 40,086 during the same period last year, an increase of 34 per cent.
However, the charity reported “peaks” when schools were closed, as children were isolated from friends and other trusted adults.
READ MORE
It recorded an almost 20 per cent rise in the number of contacts to its text service on the week of March 15th, which was when schools were closed and pandemic restrictions were first introduced, over the previous week.
Biggest increase
Between March 12th and the end of June, the traditional end of the primary school term, the charity had an increase of more than 100 per cent in users on its website.
John Church, the ISPCC chief executive, said schoolchildren had "a very difficult year".
“We saw the increase start immediately upon lockdown. Children were out of the schools and we saw a 25 per cent increase [in calls] when we went into our first lockdown,” he said.
The biggest increase was seen in its web chat and text messaging services.
“Children found while they didn’t want to be overheard on a phone call, they could actually go online and have a confidential chat,” he said.
“We saw a significant amount of visits to various sections of our website as well, so this was all telling us that the environment within an unhappy home like that, the last thing you want to do is be overheard because that could exacerbate the abuse.”
By the end of the year, the charity expects it will have had almost 15,000 conversations through its web chat facility.
Mr Church believes this increase in calls for help highlights the importance of children having adults in their lives who are not relatives.
Funding issues
“It really highlighted the part that teachers, sports, mentors, even referees play for children. The school can be a real refuge for these children,” he said.
“Tusla at the time said that the referrals to them had decreased, which is absolutely the case, and that would be logical because a lot of children issues are picked up by your local GAA coach, rugby coach or your teacher. When the child doesn’t have those allies [referrals decrease].”
Christmas Day is normally one of the busiest days of the year for Childline, but Mr Church believes this year will surpass any previous numbers. Last year, there were 865 contacts on Christmas Day.
“We are probably expecting more this time around because of the restrictions, because families won’t have as much contact with people’s aunts, uncles, grandmothers, grandads. We are expecting a busy Christmas for the children.”
Charities have reported funding issues as a result of a decline in donations and the cancellation of fundraisers on foot of the coronavirus crisis.
Mr Church said the ISPCC got out early for a “really successful” emergency appeal in March, but the cancellation of its annual Christmas concert could lead to “a difficult year next year” in financial terms.


theirishtimes--2020-12-24--Man threatened to break wife’s neck, family court hears

A woman has been granted an interim barring order against her husband after she told a court he is “ forcing me to have sexual relations with him ” and threatened to kill her .
The woman told Dublin District Family Court on Wednesday that after she finishes work she stays in her car and waits for her husband to go to sleep in order to avoid him .
The woman was granted an interim barring order on an ex-parte ( one side represented only ) basis , which excludes her husband from the family home for eight days and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threats of violence , and from watching or being near the home .
In a sworn statement to the court , the woman said she had previously tried to separate from her husband but decided to stay with him for the sake of their children .
The woman said her husband also threatened to kill her if she left him and that he would “ break my neck like a duck or a chicken ” .
She said she has been kicked by the man in front of their children and had her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also threatened people close to her .
The woman said her husband had accused her of sleeping with other men and that “ he is forcing me to have sexual relations with him ” .
“ I am in fear of my life because of the threats to break my neck , ” the woman told the court .
Judge Gerard Furlong granted the woman an interim barring order .
A full hearing , which the woman ’ s husband is expected to attend , was set for early in the new year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman secured a three-year barring order against her husband after she told the court he got her out of bed and pushed her down the stairs .
In a sworn statement to the court , the woman said they had two children together and that sometimes the man drinks “ a lot of alcohol ” .
She said last month her husband had “ drank a lot ” and got her out of bed where she was sleeping .
The woman said he pushed her down the stairs and smashed her phone when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The woman said she could not walk properly after two days and was undergoing medical treatment .
“ I still feel very bad , ” the woman told the court .
She said sometimes her husband hits her and pulls her hair in front of their children and when he is drunk “ he threatens me with death ” .
“ I feel I am not safe .
The kids are very scared of him , ” she added .
The man did not attend the hearing .
The judge said he would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given the “ very serious evidence ” presented and included a recommendation that the man attend a course for perpetrators of domestic violence as well as addiction services .
The judge said the woman ’ s husband could only contact her via text message in relation to access arrangements for their children .
Emergency applications will continue to be heard at Dublin District Family Court at Dolphin House in Temple Bar on Christmas Eve and on December 29th , 30th and 31st .

The woman told Dublin District Family Court on Wednesday that after she finishes work she stays in her car and waits for her husband to go to sleep in order to avoid him. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins
A woman has been granted an interim barring order against her husband after she told a court he is “forcing me to have sexual relations with him” and threatened to kill her.
The woman told Dublin District Family Court on Wednesday that after she finishes work she stays in her car and waits for her husband to go to sleep in order to avoid him.
The woman was granted an interim barring order on an ex-parte (one side represented only) basis, which excludes her husband from the family home for eight days and from carrying out any further violence or threats of violence, and from watching or being near the home.
In a sworn statement to the court, the woman said she had previously tried to separate from her husband but decided to stay with him for the sake of their children.
READ MORE
The woman said her husband also threatened to kill her if she left him and that he would “break my neck like a duck or a chicken”.
She said she has been kicked by the man in front of their children and had her hair pulled. She said he had also threatened people close to her.
The woman said her husband had accused her of sleeping with other men and that “he is forcing me to have sexual relations with him”.
“I am in fear of my life because of the threats to break my neck,” the woman told the court.
Judge Gerard Furlong granted the woman an interim barring order. A full hearing, which the woman's husband is expected to attend, was set for early in the new year.
‘Drank a lot’
In a separate case, a woman secured a three-year barring order against her husband after she told the court he got her out of bed and pushed her down the stairs.
In a sworn statement to the court, the woman said they had two children together and that sometimes the man drinks “a lot of alcohol”.
She said last month her husband had “drank a lot” and got her out of bed where she was sleeping.
The woman said he pushed her down the stairs and smashed her phone when she tried to call an ambulance. The woman said she could not walk properly after two days and was undergoing medical treatment. “I still feel very bad,” the woman told the court.
She said sometimes her husband hits her and pulls her hair in front of their children and when he is drunk “he threatens me with death”.
“I feel I am not safe. The kids are very scared of him,” she added. The man did not attend the hearing.
The judge said he would grant the woman a three-year barring order given the “very serious evidence” presented and included a recommendation that the man attend a course for perpetrators of domestic violence as well as addiction services.
The judge said the woman’s husband could only contact her via text message in relation to access arrangements for their children.
Emergency applications will continue to be heard at Dublin District Family Court at Dolphin House in Temple Bar on Christmas Eve and on December 29th, 30th and 31st.


theirishtimes--2020-12-24--Mother of Irish man held in China ‘terribly disappointed with Government’

The marks , good and bad , left by the State ’ s history on one family line are traced through the household of Catherine O ’ Halloran , near the foothills of the Dublin mountains .
Her uncle was the late taoiseach , Garret FitzGerald .
Her grandfather , Desmond FitzGerald was the first minister for external affairs in the newly formed Irish Free State in 1922 .
Growing up , Mrs O ’ Halloran , who is a reluctant interviewee with The Irish Times , says she saw impact of her grandfather ’ s periods in jail before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own father .
Today , she is dealing with her own troubles since her son , Richard , has been prevented from leaving China since March 2019 , after he went there for five days to meet investors in his then-employer ’ s company .
Urgently appealing to the Irish Government to do more to get the Chinese authorities to free him , she says : “ We have to get him back .
I just worry about him .
I ’ m so worried about his health .
“ I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Foreign Affairs , because they ’ ve done so little for a citizen in another country , ” she goes on .
In her home near the foothills of the Dublin mountains , at a dining table which has played host to countless happy Christmas dinners , Mrs O ’ Halloran takes out notes she prepared earlier .
She is a private person , who would evidently prefer not to have to invite a journalist into her home .
“ I ’ m not a public person .
And I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of thing .
But for my son , I would do anything to get him out , ” she says .
“ We really want to get Richard home .
And we would beg the Department of Foreign Affairs to become a bit more proactive and interested in the health of my son.
” She is worried about his mental health as well .
“ He is very depressed.
” Mr O ’ Halloran , from Foxrock , travelled to China for what was supposed to be a brief visit in February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the affairs of his employers , the Dublin-based China International Aviation Leasing Service , whose owner was serving a jail sentence .
As he attempted to leave , he was issued with an exit ban .
Though he has never been personally accused of any wrongdoing , his former company ’ s owner , Min Jiedong , went on trial related to a crowd-funding scheme which was accused of illegally collected money from Chinese investors .
The money was used to buy an aircraft which is now leased to a European airline .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ aircraft , something Mr O ’ Halloran has said he can ’ t do .
He is free to travel anywhere in China , but can not leave the country , and is effectively a commercial hostage .
Over recent weeks , the family have become increasingly concerned about Mr O ’ Halloran ’ s physical and psychological welfare .
His mother spoke to him within the last few days .
“ He sounds so distressed , ” she says .
She has avoided talking about efforts to get him home , because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will only make him more despondent .
Instead , she has been focusing on talking “ about the children and what they ’ re up to ” .
“ He is a terrific dad ” to his four children , Ben ( 13 ) , Amber ( 11 ) , Isabella ( 9 ) and Scarlett ( 7 ) , speaking to them every day over FaceTime until recently , when contact has become more sporadic .
Scarlett had been going to bed at night with a photograph of her father .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ What would you like for Christmas ?
’ And she said , ‘ Dad to come home ’ .
.
.
We need the Government to realise that four children ’ s lives can not be ruined.
” A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said Minister Simon Coveney “ remains actively and personally engaged ” in Mr O ’ Halloran ’ s case .
“ Minister Coveney spoke to his Chinese counterpart recently about a number of important issues .
Trade was not part of their discussion .
The case of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this discussion which is the latest in a series of engagements with the Chinese authorities , both by the Minister personally and by officials over the past several months , ” the spokesperson said .
The spokesperson added that this was “ an extremely complicated case ” and that “ our officials in Dublin , Beijing and Shanghai place the utmost importance on Mr O ’ Halloran ’ s welfare .
We are continuing to do everything possible to help resolve the case and bring Mr O ’ Halloran home ” .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun to give up hope of that happening , and is increasingly worried for her son ’ s wellbeing .
The Chinese government has been continually “ moving the goalposts ” in terms of what Mr O ’ Halloran needs to do in order to be allowed to return home .
He has resigned from the company , as requested , but is not in a position to have the aircraft returned to the Chinese , as it is currently leased to a European airline .
She was horrified to learn recently that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The housekeeper found him collapsed on the floor .
The hospital told him that he actually was dead at one stage .
They brought him back because he wasn ’ t able to breathe.
” He has a hereditary lung condition which was diagnosed at the age of 18 .
Previous surgeries mean his lungs are held together with staples , and he also has asthma .
He is , his mother says , extremely vulnerable to coronavirus and other infections .
In the last two weeks , he moved from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to a hotel where , his family hopes , he won ’ t be left alone if he becomes ill again .
In a room surrounded by photographs of Mr O ’ Halloran and her other children , Catherine O ’ Halloran makes plans for the family ’ s second Christmas without him .
They will make contact over FaceTime , but not when they ’ re all together , in case that exacerbates his loneliness and distress .
Recently , he tried to record a birthday wish for his sister , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it , because he was so emotional .
“ He ’ s kind of lost hope , ” she adds .
“ We need to get him out of there as quickly as possible .
.
.
Our feeling is he is not going to be the same person when he comes home .
.
.
It ’ s so sad not having Richard here with us.
” Proud of her family ’ s lineage , she says : “ The current Government has really not done what I would have expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grandfather gave up a lot of his life for the State .
He was in prison for three years due to his part in the Rising.
” Visibly distressed , she says that her own grandchildren are suffering because of enforced separation from their father .
Her uncle , Garret , she says finally , “ would have moved heaven and earth ” to get her son home .

Catherine O’Halloran says she is so worried about her son Richard’s health, who has been unable to leave China since February 2019. Photograph: Tom Honan
The marks, good and bad, left by the State’s history on one family line are traced through the household of Catherine O’Halloran, near the foothills of the Dublin mountains.
Her uncle was the late taoiseach, Garret FitzGerald. Her grandfather, Desmond FitzGerald was the first minister for external affairs in the newly formed Irish Free State in 1922.
Growing up, Mrs O’Halloran, who is a reluctant interviewee with The Irish Times, says she saw impact of her grandfather’s periods in jail before and after the Easter Rising on her own father.
Today, she is dealing with her own troubles since her son, Richard, has been prevented from leaving China since March 2019, after he went there for five days to meet investors in his then-employer's company.
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Urgently appealing to the Irish Government to do more to get the Chinese authorities to free him, she says: "We have to get him back. I just worry about him. I'm so worried about his health.
“I’m terribly disappointed with the Government and the Department of Foreign Affairs, because they’ve done so little for a citizen in another country,” she goes on.
Very depressed
In her home near the foothills of the Dublin mountains, at a dining table which has played host to countless happy Christmas dinners, Mrs O’Halloran takes out notes she prepared earlier.
She is a private person, who would evidently prefer not to have to invite a journalist into her home. “I’m not a public person. And I don’t really do any of this sort of thing. But for my son, I would do anything to get him out,” she says.
“We really want to get Richard home. And we would beg the Department of Foreign Affairs to become a bit more proactive and interested in the health of my son.” She is worried about his mental health as well. “He is very depressed.”
Mr O'Halloran, from Foxrock, travelled to China for what was supposed to be a brief visit in February 2019, to try to sort out the affairs of his employers, the Dublin-based China International Aviation Leasing Service, whose owner was serving a jail sentence. As he attempted to leave, he was issued with an exit ban.
Richard O’Halloran’s wedding photograph. Photograph: Tom Honan
Though he has never been personally accused of any wrongdoing, his former company's owner, Min Jiedong, went on trial related to a crowd-funding scheme which was accused of illegally collected money from Chinese investors. The money was used to buy an aircraft which is now leased to a European airline. China is demanding the return of the aircraft, something Mr O'Halloran has said he can't do. He is free to travel anywhere in China, but cannot leave the country, and is effectively a commercial hostage.
Over recent weeks, the family have become increasingly concerned about Mr O’Halloran’s physical and psychological welfare. His mother spoke to him within the last few days. “He sounds so distressed,” she says. She has avoided talking about efforts to get him home, because he is so fragile, she fears it will only make him more despondent. Instead, she has been focusing on talking “about the children and what they’re up to”.
“He is a terrific dad” to his four children, Ben (13), Amber (11), Isabella (9) and Scarlett (7), speaking to them every day over FaceTime until recently, when contact has become more sporadic.
Scarlett had been going to bed at night with a photograph of her father. “I asked her yesterday, ‘What would you like for Christmas?’ And she said, ‘Dad to come home’ . . . We need the Government to realise that four children’s lives cannot be ruined.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs said Minister Simon Coveney "remains actively and personally engaged" in Mr O'Halloran's case.
“Minister Coveney spoke to his Chinese counterpart recently about a number of important issues. Trade was not part of their discussion. The case of Mr O’Halloran featured prominently in this discussion which is the latest in a series of engagements with the Chinese authorities, both by the Minister personally and by officials over the past several months,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that this was "an extremely complicated case" and that "our officials in Dublin, Beijing and Shanghai place the utmost importance on Mr O'Halloran's welfare. We are continuing to do everything possible to help resolve the case and bring Mr O'Halloran home".
But Mrs O’Halloran says she has begun to give up hope of that happening, and is increasingly worried for her son’s wellbeing. The Chinese government has been continually “moving the goalposts” in terms of what Mr O’Halloran needs to do in order to be allowed to return home. He has resigned from the company, as requested, but is not in a position to have the aircraft returned to the Chinese, as it is currently leased to a European airline.
Physical collapses
She was horrified to learn recently that he had suffered two recent physical collapses. “The housekeeper found him collapsed on the floor. The hospital told him that he actually was dead at one stage. They brought him back because he wasn’t able to breathe.” He has a hereditary lung condition which was diagnosed at the age of 18. Previous surgeries mean his lungs are held together with staples, and he also has asthma. He is, his mother says, extremely vulnerable to coronavirus and other infections.
In the last two weeks, he moved from an apartment he had been living in back to a hotel where, his family hopes, he won’t be left alone if he becomes ill again.
In a room surrounded by photographs of Mr O’Halloran and her other children, Catherine O’Halloran makes plans for the family’s second Christmas without him. They will make contact over FaceTime, but not when they’re all together, in case that exacerbates his loneliness and distress. Recently, he tried to record a birthday wish for his sister, and it took him 10 attempts to do it, because he was so emotional. “He’s kind of lost hope,” she adds. “We need to get him out of there as quickly as possible . . . Our feeling is he is not going to be the same person when he comes home . . . It’s so sad not having Richard here with us.”
Proud of her family’s lineage, she says: “The current Government has really not done what I would have expected them to do, seeing as my grandfather gave up a lot of his life for the State. He was in prison for three years due to his part in the Rising.”
Visibly distressed, she says that her own grandchildren are suffering because of enforced separation from their father. Her uncle, Garret, she says finally, “would have moved heaven and earth” to get her son home.


theirishtimes--2020-12-24--‘Christmas isn’t all Santa and reindeer for everyone’

This was the year that we were all told to stay home ; that staying in would mean we were safe and protected .
However , for many children in Ireland , that simply was not the case .
Eric O ’ Byrne , a volunteer at Childline ’ s Dublin unit , said the initial surge in calls was from children anxious about Covid-19 , but as households became full , and parents were forced to stay home , new issues arose .
“ You might have a family of two parents and four kids , and because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and work , they were rarely in the house together , ” he says .
“ And then suddenly , you have everyone on top of each other , and then you add in everybody who was out of work , losing their job or in fear of losing their job .
It led to a substantial rise in domestic abuse .
“ We certainly saw a knock-on effect of parents being out of work , or losing work , and then taking that out on kids.
” As the festive period looms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be left under the tree , but for many others it is a difficult time .
Christmas Day is one of the busiest of the year for Childline .
The service believes this year , when financial stress and Covid-19 restrictions are combined , will result in contacts from users increasing “ significantly ” .
“ The resounding message tends to be a reminder that Christmas isn ’ t all Santa and reindeer for everyone .
For some kids , they literally can ’ t wait for it to be over .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plastered everywhere and it ’ s basically the total opposite for them , ” O ’ Byrne says .
“ The home can go from a potentially safe place initially to a very unsafe place or very uncomfortable place as the day progresses .
There ’ s definitely , for some people , domestic violence that tends to be , or can be , alcohol-related.
” Domestic violence against children takes all shapes and forms , according to O ’ Byrne , who highlighted sexual abuse as a particular problem .
“ When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual abuse was a thing of the past .
I ’ ve learned that is not the case at all , ” he says .
“ It ’ s very difficult to deal with a child who is at an age where they don ’ t fully understand what is happening .
They feel that their parent truly loves them , but , unfortunately , they ’ re being raped by that parent.
” While the rise in domestic abuse as a result of public health restrictions has been acknowledged in recent months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overlooked , according to Cork-based volunteer Megan Sarl .
“ People hear domestic abuse , and the child is often left out of that .
The child that calls us , they ’ re being hit or they ’ re being sexually abused .
It happened last night , it happened an hour ago , it ’ ll probably happen tomorrow and that ’ s a real child , ” she says .
“ It ’ s one of those issues that fly under the radar.
” Sarl adds that the child does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the abuse to be affected by it .
“ They ’ re there when there ’ s fights happening , they ’ re there when mom or dad shoves the other one , they ’ re witnesses and they feel so powerless .
They ’ re scared and lonely and , in particular this year , they couldn ’ t really escape anywhere.
” Outside of domestic violence , Sarl says there has been a substantial increase in calls from children with suicidal ideation .
“ At the minute , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this and new that , but kids aren ’ t seeing that light at the end of the tunnel.
” Childline can be contacted by any child or young person by calling 1800 66 66 66 , texting to 50101 or chatting online at Childline.ie 24 hours a day , every day

This was the year that we were all told to stay home; that staying in would mean we were safe and protected. However, for many children in Ireland, that simply was not the case.
Eric O’Byrne, a volunteer at Childline’s Dublin unit, said the initial surge in calls was from children anxious about Covid-19, but as households became full, and parents were forced to stay home, new issues arose.
“You might have a family of two parents and four kids, and because of the age of the kids and school and work, they were rarely in the house together,” he says.
“And then suddenly, you have everyone on top of each other, and then you add in everybody who was out of work, losing their job or in fear of losing their job. It led to a substantial rise in domestic abuse.
READ MORE
“We certainly saw a knock-on effect of parents being out of work, or losing work, and then taking that out on kids.”
As the festive period looms, many are excited about what might be left under the tree, but for many others it is a difficult time.
Christmas Day is one of the busiest of the year for Childline. The service believes this year, when financial stress and Covid-19 restrictions are combined, will result in contacts from users increasing "significantly" .
“The resounding message tends to be a reminder that Christmas isn’t all Santa and reindeer for everyone. For some kids, they literally can’t wait for it to be over. They see what it should be like being plastered everywhere and it’s basically the total opposite for them,” O’Byrne says.
Alcohol and abuse
“The home can go from a potentially safe place initially to a very unsafe place or very uncomfortable place as the day progresses. There’s definitely, for some people, domestic violence that tends to be, or can be, alcohol-related.”
Domestic violence against children takes all shapes and forms, according to O’Byrne, who highlighted sexual abuse as a particular problem.
“When I joined the service, I thought sexual abuse was a thing of the past. I’ve learned that is not the case at all,” he says.
“It’s very difficult to deal with a child who is at an age where they don’t fully understand what is happening. They feel that their parent truly loves them, but, unfortunately, they’re being raped by that parent.”
While the rise in domestic abuse as a result of public health restrictions has been acknowledged in recent months, its impact on children is often overlooked, according to Cork-based volunteer Megan Sarl.
Powerless witnesses
“People hear domestic abuse, and the child is often left out of that. The child that calls us, they’re being hit or they’re being sexually abused. It happened last night, it happened an hour ago, it’ll probably happen tomorrow and that’s a real child,” she says. “It’s one of those issues that fly under the radar.”
Sarl adds that the child does not have to be the victim of the abuse to be affected by it.
“They’re there when there’s fights happening, they’re there when mom or dad shoves the other one, they’re witnesses and they feel so powerless. They’re scared and lonely and, in particular this year, they couldn’t really escape anywhere.”
Outside of domestic violence, Sarl says there has been a substantial increase in calls from children with suicidal ideation.
“At the minute, it’s all about a new year, new this and new that, but kids aren’t seeing that light at the end of the tunnel.”
Childline can be contacted by any child or young person by calling 1800 66 66 66, texting to 50101 or chatting online at Childline.ie 24 hours a day, every day


theirishtimes--2020-12-23--Man (80) killed in Co Cork road crash

Man (80) killed in Co Cork road crash

An 80-year-old man has been killed in a road crash in Co Cork .
The single vehicle incident occurred on @ @ @ @ @ Kilcrohane , in the townland of Ahakista , Bantry just before 6pm on Wednesday .
@ @ @ @ @ the vehicle was found in a ditch and the driver was removed to the Mortuary @ @ @ @ @ A postmortem will follow .
The road will remain closed overnight and a technical examination @ @ @ @ @ take place on Thursday morning .
Local diversions are in place .
Gardaí at Bantry @ @ @ @ @ or for any road users who may have dash-cam footage recorded while travelling in the @ @ @ @ @ .
They can contact Bantry Garda station at 027 20860 or any other Garda station @

An 80-year-old man has been killed in a road crash in Co Cork.
The single vehicle incident occurred on the L4704 from Durrus to Kilcrohane, in the townland of Ahakista, Bantry just before 6pm on Wednesday.
Gardaí attended the scene where the vehicle was found in a ditch and the driver was removed to the Mortuary in Cork University Hospital. A postmortem will follow.
The road will remain closed overnight and a technical examination by forensic collision investigators will take place on Thursday morning. Local diversions are in place.
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Gardaí at Bantry are appealing for any witnesses or for any road users who may have dash-cam footage recorded while travelling in the area to make it available.
They can contact Bantry Garda station at 027 20860 or any other Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-12-23--Coronavirus data from Dublin, Wicklow sewage shows new highs since September

A UCD microbiologist studying the levels of Covid-19 in waste water treatment plants has shown how elevated evidence of the virus has been in the community since early September and particularly since early December .
Prof Wim Meijer and his team at UCD have been studying the levels of markers for Covid-19 called RNA , in sewage .
The marker which can indicate the levels of infections in the community is being studied with a view to developing an early warning system for new waves of infection .
The research project has received Government funding as part of the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Researchers are currently sampling Ringsend and Shanganagh waste water treatment plants in south Dublin and Enniskerry waste water plant in north Co Wicklow .
Prof Meijer previously told the Irish Times the results of his studies would “ provide insight into the prevalence of the virus in the community , and serve as an early warning system for a new wave of infection.
” The project also aims to work out what happens to the virus in nearby rivers , streams and sea , “ including the waters where we swim ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can contain genetic material ( RNA ) from the virus , and that it is possible to detect that viral RNA in sewage , ” he added .
Yesterday Prof Meijer published three graphs showing the results of tests on each of the three waste water plants .
In Ringsend the graphs show sporadic peaks since the end of August , with peaks becoming higher since the end of September , falling in mid-November , but with a sustained rise since December 9th .
In Shanganagh the graph published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a high point in September , another in October and two in September .
The Enniskerry graph however showed a significant decline in the genetic material indicating the presence of the virus , in November .
From then on the graph appears to show evidence of the virus remained low .
Prof Meijer posted his graphs on Twitter with the commentary : “ Increase in SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in the influents of the Ringsend , Dublin , and Shanganagh Bay wastewater treatment plants ( 22 December ) ” .
Attempts to contact Prof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Researchers are currently sampling Ringsend and Shanganagh waste water treatment plants in south Dublin and Enniskerry waste water plant in north Co Wicklow. Photograph: iStock
A UCD microbiologist studying the levels of Covid-19 in waste water treatment plants has shown how elevated evidence of the virus has been in the community since early September and particularly since early December.
Prof Wim Meijer and his team at UCD have been studying the levels of markers for Covid-19 called RNA, in sewage. The marker which can indicate the levels of infections in the community is being studied with a view to developing an early warning system for new waves of infection.
The research project has received Government funding as part of the State’s response to the pandemic. Researchers are currently sampling Ringsend and Shanganagh waste water treatment plants in south Dublin and Enniskerry waste water plant in north Co Wicklow.
Prof Meijer previously told the Irish Times the results of his studies would “provide insight into the prevalence of the virus in the community, and serve as an early warning system for a new wave of infection.”
READ MORE
The project also aims to work out what happens to the virus in nearby rivers, streams and sea, “including the waters where we swim”.
“We know faeces from people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus can contain genetic material (RNA) from the virus, and that it is possible to detect that viral RNA in sewage,” he added.
Yesterday Prof Meijer published three graphs showing the results of tests on each of the three waste water plants.
In Ringsend the graphs show sporadic peaks since the end of August, with peaks becoming higher since the end of September, falling in mid-November, but with a sustained rise since December 9th .
In Shanganagh the graph published by Prof Meijer also showed increase with a high point in September, another in October and two in September.
The Enniskerry graph however showed a significant decline in the genetic material indicating the presence of the virus, in November. From then on the graph appears to show evidence of the virus remained low.
Prof Meijer posted his graphs on Twitter with the commentary: "Increase in SARS-CoV-2 RNA levels in the influents of the Ringsend, Dublin, and Shanganagh Bay wastewater treatment plants (22 December)". Attempts to contact Prof Meijer on Wednesday night were not successful.


theirishtimes--2020-12-23--Many Irish hauliers leave congested Port of Dover

The Irish have already left the Port of Dover and its congested approach roads “ proving again that the Irish know their logistics ” Wexford TD Verona Murphy has said .
More than 4,000 lorries have been stuck on roads and at an emergency lorry park on Manston airfield , after France closed its UK border on Sunday amid concern over a possibly fast-spreading virus variant .
The former president of the Irish Road Haulage Association , rejected notions of “ the luck of the Irish ” saying that drivers and haulage firms would have had a back up plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have switched from Dover to Gillingham , also in Kent , from whether they would get a ferry to the Hook of Holland .
Others had simply been dropping containers at Dover and this would have been allowed , while more would be picking up containers at Dover , which was also allowed , she said .
Ms Murphy said some lorries had turned around and returned to Ireland where their loads were put on board the “ direct route ” from Rosslare , when Stena brought forward the deployment of an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ January .
“ But the Road Haulage Association was close to this throughout and I was staying in touch .
I don ’ t know of any Irish who are still stuck at Kent .
I think we are all out ” , she said .
The French government ’ s ban , introduced on Sunday , has now been eased to allow French citizens , British nationals living in France and hauliers to travel - if they test negative less than 72 hours before departure .
However Ms Murphy said she had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ landbridge ” sailings from Ireland via the UK , set to begin again on December 27th , with one ship from Dublin and another from Rosslare .
David McArdle of DG McArdle International which is based in Dublin and Co Monaghan said the firm had two lorries and two drivers in Dover on Sunday as the French closed access to lorries from Britain .
He said his two lorries were just inside the “ French area ” of the port when the ban came into effect .
“ They were just through the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ side so they were able to drive onto the train for the channel tunnel ” he said .
The company has 90 to 100 lorry movements between Ireland and the Continent each week but in future Mr McArdle said the company would be looking towards the direct route , as opposed to the landbridge through the UK .
He said the introduction of the EU ’ Green Lane ’ initiative was a major incentive to use direct sailings .
Under the Green Lane system , freight , including agri-food produce , moving across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lane to keep checks and disruptions to a maximum of 15 minutes .
The measure particularly references restrictions associated with Covid-19 and Mr McArdle said as “ essential services ” the lorries would not face delays of the kind which happened in Britain , if moving from one EU country to another .
The EU said member states had been requested to – “ without delay ” – designate border-crossing points on the Trans-European Transport Network as ‘ green lanes ’ , which would be open to all freight vehicles , whatever goods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the most important arteries for road , rail and inland waterways , and integrates ports , airports and multi-model terminals

Police officers and lorry drivers congregate at the entrance to the Port of Dover, in Dover in Kent, south east England, as the Covid-19 testing of drivers queueing to depart from the ferry terminal to Europe gets under way. Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images
The Irish have already left the Port of Dover and its congested approach roads “proving again that the Irish know their logistics” Wexford TD Verona Murphy has said.
More than 4,000 lorries have been stuck on roads and at an emergency lorry park on Manston airfield, after France closed its UK border on Sunday amid concern over a possibly fast-spreading virus variant.
The former president of the Irish Road Haulage Association, rejected notions of “the luck of the Irish” saying that drivers and haulage firms would have had a back up plan. She said many of the Irish would have switched from Dover to Gillingham, also in Kent, from whether they would get a ferry to the Hook of Holland.
Others had simply been dropping containers at Dover and this would have been allowed, while more would be picking up containers at Dover, which was also allowed, she said.
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Ms Murphy said some lorries had turned around and returned to Ireland where their loads were put on board the “direct route” from Rosslare, when Stena brought forward the deployment of an additional Ferry originally scheduled for introduction in January.
“But the Road Haulage Association was close to this throughout and I was staying in touch. I don’t know of any Irish who are still stuck at Kent. I think we are all out”, she said.
The French government’s ban, introduced on Sunday, has now been eased to allow French citizens, British nationals living in France and hauliers to travel - if they test negative less than 72 hours before departure.
However Ms Murphy said she had “big fears” for planned “landbridge” sailings from Ireland via the UK, set to begin again on December 27th, with one ship from Dublin and another from Rosslare.
David McArdle of DG McArdle International which is based in Dublin and Co Monaghan said the firm had two lorries and two drivers in Dover on Sunday as the French closed access to lorries from Britain.
He said his two lorries were just inside the “French area” of the port when the ban came into effect. “They were just through the port control and technically on the French side so they were able to drive onto the train for the channel tunnel” he said.
The company has 90 to 100 lorry movements between Ireland and the Continent each week but in future Mr McArdle said the company would be looking towards the direct route, as opposed to the landbridge through the UK.
He said the introduction of the EU ’Green Lane’ initiative was a major incentive to use direct sailings.
Under the Green Lane system, freight, including agri-food produce, moving across borders is able to use the green lane to keep checks and disruptions to a maximum of 15 minutes.
The measure particularly references restrictions associated with Covid-19 and Mr McArdle said as “essential services” the lorries would not face delays of the kind which happened in Britain, if moving from one EU country to another.
The EU said member states had been requested to – “without delay” – designate border-crossing points on the Trans-European Transport Network as ‘green lanes’, which would be open to all freight vehicles, whatever goods they are carrying.
The network consists of the most important arteries for road, rail and inland waterways, and integrates ports, airports and multi-model terminals