theirishtimes--2020-08-05--John Hume laid to rest by family and friends in town he loved and served so well

On first thoughts it all seemed so wrong that so few were in St Eugene ’ s Cathedral in Derry for John Hume ’ s funeral .
Yet on just a little bit more reflection it was clearly right .
This was always the way that John and his wife , Pat , and the family did business ; it was about respecting your neighbour , about self-denial and prioritising the needs of others above your own .
That was John Hume ’ s life in a nutshell .
This was a time of Covid-19 and that threat must and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line taken by Pat .
No exception was made even for one of her own sons , Aidan , living and working in Boston , although his reflection about his father , read by his sister Mo , carried a transatlantic impact .
It was a day for the Hume family and also for the SDLP , particularly for some of its veterans from the late 1960s and 1970s .
There was something poignant about the likes of Bríd Rodgers , Joe Hendron , Alban Maginness , Gerry Cosgrove , Austin Currie , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Farren reminiscing outside the cathedral about past battles on the long road to political resolution .
They and Hume created the idea of how to escape from what seemed to be an endless cycle of bloodshed and violence , and in the end succeeded in their ambition , only to see the political prize handed to Sinn Féin .
Denis Haughey , who is retired now but for years worked in Europe with Hume when the latter was an MEP , and who himself served for a period as a junior minister at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ F Kennedy containing an anecdote about someone saying at his funeral , “ I don ’ t think I will ever laugh again.
” A colleague responded , “ Oh yes , we will laugh again but it is sad to think we will never be young again.
” For Haughey it was the loss of a great friend , the end of an era , a sense of vibrant , exciting days fading into the past .
“ He was the big figure in all our young lives , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thought it oddly comforting that the funeral was taking place the day after Ireland had a sensational one-day cricket victory over England , both teams wearing black armbands in Hume ’ s honour .
“ John would have enjoyed that ; he was a mean left-hand spin bowler , you know , ” said Farren .
And then adjusting their face coverings , they all trooped into the cathedral behind the Hume family , the President , the Taoiseach , First Minister , Deputy First Minister and other political leaders .
Hume would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michelle O ’ Neill , who have had their differences over Bobby Storey ’ s funeral and other issues , sat together , socially distanced , in the same pew , and left the cathedral together .
On the altar were chief celebrant Fr Paul Farren ; Fr Dinny McGettigan , a cousin of Pat ; Catholic primate Archbishop Eamon Martin ; and Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown .
Hume , a bridge builder and reconciler , would have been glad too that in the sanctuary of the cathedral were Church of Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster .
The Hume children and grandchildren participated in the readings and prayers of the faithful , with Pat looking on proudly .
In his tribute John Hume jnr was mindful to say how “ eternally grateful ” the family were for how people looked out for his father when his great intellect was taken over by dementia .
“ The kindness shown to him by the people of Derry and Donegal , who stopped to talk to him in the street every day , guided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ received him with gentleness if he was agitated , was a profound gift to all of us.
” And had his dad been alive and in the fullness of his health , and considering the tensions of the world , John jnr knew how “ he wouldn ’ t waste the opportunity to say a few words ” .
“ He ’ d talk about our common humanity , the need to respect diversity and difference , to protect and deepen democracy , to value education and to place non-violence at the absolute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his father ’ s social justice concerns , he added : “ He might also stress the right to a living wage and a roof over your head , to decent healthcare and education .
If he were here now , he might quote his friend , Congressman John Lewis , who sadly passed away a few weeks ago , appealing to the ‘ goodness of every human being and never giving up ’ .
” John jnr provided a glimpse too of how Hume engaged with his fellow residents when he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Derry two years ago .
“ He continued to sing songs every day , to teach them all a wee bit of French , to tell his jokes , to demand more buns , and to question everyone daily about where they came from , their origins and their families.
” He also spoke about how his dad “ kept the Irish chocolate industry in healthy profits for many years ” and how he made the family “ laugh , dream , think , and sometimes look at him and scratch our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occasions bewilderment ” .
Tributes were read from Pope Francis , the Dalai Lama , Bill Clinton , Boris Johnson and Bono , who more than 22 years ago campaigned with Hume and David Trimble to get the Belfast Agreement referendum over the line in 1998 .
“ We were looking for a negotiator who understood that no one wins unless everyone wins ... and that peace is the only victory , ” wrote the U2 frontman .
“ We were looking for joy and heard it in the song of a man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his missus even more .
We were looking for a great leader and found a great servant .
We found John Hume .
” Mo Hume read her brother Aidan ’ s poem To Da , which outlined in reference to his great friend Seamus Heaney how Hume managed to make “ hope and history rhyme ” .
She held it together but her voice quavered with emotion when she came to the last four most personal lines , I don ’ t ever think I have said aloud How you made us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted was to make the world a better place And in that goal you found your ace .
At the end of the Mass , Phil Coulter played The Town I Loved So Well .
As the family cortege left the cathedral grounds for Derry City Cemetery , there was loud applause from the few hundred people who had gathered quietly outside the cathedral .
“ You could feel it as well as hear it , ” one colleague said of the applause .
Bishop McKeown put it well when he said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can face the future ” , but probably the strongest lines of the day came from Fr Farren , who in his homily captured both the power and the latter-stage vulnerability of the Nobel laureate .
He described how the cathedral was something of a haven for Hume towards the end of his life , how he would attend , often arriving late , daily evening Mass , sitting and praying quietly at the back of the cathedral .
Fr Farren told the congregation how the Gospel reading of the Good Samaritan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brigands , as others passed by , was Hume ’ s favourite reading .
Neither did Hume pass by , said Fr Farren .
“ Even in the darkest moments , when people would have been forgiven for having no hope , John made peace visible for others , ” he said .
He had a message too for the academics : “ When the history of Ireland is written , if Pat Hume ’ s name is not beside John ’ s , it will be an incomplete history.
” And Fr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to see a man who gave his life for his country , and his health , that man is John Hume .
The world knows it .
”

On first thoughts it all seemed so wrong that so few were in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry for John Hume’s funeral.
Yet on just a little bit more reflection it was clearly right. This was always the way that John and his wife, Pat, and the family did business; it was about respecting your neighbour, about self-denial and prioritising the needs of others above your own.
That was John Hume’s life in a nutshell.
This was a time of Covid-19 and that threat must and would be respected, was the insistent line taken by Pat. No exception was made even for one of her own sons, Aidan, living and working in Boston, although his reflection about his father, read by his sister Mo, carried a transatlantic impact.
READ MORE
It was a day for the Hume family and also for the SDLP, particularly for some of its veterans from the late 1960s and 1970s.
There was something poignant about the likes of Bríd Rodgers, Joe Hendron, Alban Maginness, Gerry Cosgrove, Austin Currie, Tommy Gallagher, Joe Byrne and Sean Farren reminiscing outside the cathedral about past battles on the long road to political resolution.
They and Hume created the idea of how to escape from what seemed to be an endless cycle of bloodshed and violence, and in the end succeeded in their ambition, only to see the political prize handed to Sinn Féin.
Denis Haughey, who is retired now but for years worked in Europe with Hume when the latter was an MEP, and who himself served for a period as a junior minister at Stormont, recalled a book about John F Kennedy containing an anecdote about someone saying at his funeral, "I don't think I will ever laugh again."
A colleague responded, “Oh yes, we will laugh again but it is sad to think we will never be young again.”
Hume would have been happy that Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill sat together, socially distanced, in the same pew, and left the cathedral together
For Haughey it was the loss of a great friend, the end of an era, a sense of vibrant, exciting days fading into the past. “He was the big figure in all our young lives,” he said.
More cheerfully Sean Farren beside him thought it oddly comforting that the funeral was taking place the day after Ireland had a sensational one-day cricket victory over England, both teams wearing black armbands in Hume's honour.
“John would have enjoyed that; he was a mean left-hand spin bowler, you know,” said Farren.
And then adjusting their face coverings, they all trooped into the cathedral behind the Hume family, the President, the Taoiseach, First Minister, Deputy First Minister and other political leaders.
Hume would have been happy that Arlene Foster and Michelle O'Neill, who have had their differences over Bobby Storey's funeral and other issues, sat together, socially distanced, in the same pew, and left the cathedral together.
Bridge builder
On the altar were chief celebrant Fr Paul Farren; Fr Dinny McGettigan, a cousin of Pat; Catholic primate Archbishop Eamon Martin; and Bishop of Derry Donal McKeown. Hume, a bridge builder and reconciler, would have been glad too that in the sanctuary of the cathedral were Church of Ireland representatives, Archbishop of Armagh John McDowell and Bishop of Derry and Raphoe Andrew Forster.
The Hume children and grandchildren participated in the readings and prayers of the faithful, with Pat looking on proudly.
In his tribute John Hume jnr was mindful to say how "eternally grateful" the family were for how people looked out for his father when his great intellect was taken over by dementia. "The kindness shown to him by the people of Derry and Donegal, who stopped to talk to him in the street every day, guided him to protect his independence, and received him with gentleness if he was agitated, was a profound gift to all of us."
And had his dad been alive and in the fullness of his health, and considering the tensions of the world, John jnr knew how “he wouldn’t waste the opportunity to say a few words”.
“He’d talk about our common humanity, the need to respect diversity and difference, to protect and deepen democracy, to value education and to place non-violence at the absolute centre.”
John jnr provided a glimpse too of how Hume engaged with his fellow residents when he was admitted to the Owen Mor nursing home in Derry two years ago
And, inheriting some of his father’s social justice concerns, he added: “He might also stress the right to a living wage and a roof over your head, to decent healthcare and education. If he were here now, he might quote his friend, Congressman John Lewis, who sadly passed away a few weeks ago, appealing to the ‘goodness of every human being and never giving up’.”
John jnr provided a glimpse too of how Hume engaged with his fellow residents when he was admitted to the Owen Mor nursing home in Derry two years ago. “He continued to sing songs every day, to teach them all a wee bit of French, to tell his jokes, to demand more buns, and to question everyone daily about where they came from, their origins and their families.”
He also spoke about how his dad “kept the Irish chocolate industry in healthy profits for many years” and how he made the family “laugh, dream, think, and sometimes look at him and scratch our heads in amazement, and on rare occasions bewilderment”.
Trembling voice
Tributes were read from Pope Francis, the Dalai Lama, Bill Clinton, Boris Johnson and Bono, who more than 22 years ago campaigned with Hume and David Trimble to get the Belfast Agreement referendum over the line in 1998.
“We were looking for a negotiator who understood that no one wins unless everyone wins ... and that peace is the only victory,” wrote the U2 frontman.
"We were looking for joy and heard it in the song of a man who loved his town so well and his missus even more. We were looking for a great leader and found a great servant. We found John Hume. "
Mo Hume read her brother Aidan's poem To Da, which outlined in reference to his great friend Seamus Heaney how Hume managed to make "hope and history rhyme".
She held it together but her voice quavered with emotion when she came to the last four most personal lines,
I don't ever think I have said aloud
How you made us all so incredibly proud
All you ever wanted was to make the world a better place
And in that goal you found your ace.
At the end of the Mass, Phil Coulter played The Town I Loved So Well. As the family cortege left the cathedral grounds for Derry City Cemetery, there was loud applause from the few hundred people who had gathered quietly outside the cathedral. "You could feel it as well as hear it," one colleague said of the applause.
Bishop McKeown put it well when he said of Hume, “because of his past we can face the future”, but probably the strongest lines of the day came from Fr Farren, who in his homily captured both the power and the latter-stage vulnerability of the Nobel laureate.
He described how the cathedral was something of a haven for Hume towards the end of his life, how he would attend, often arriving late, daily evening Mass, sitting and praying quietly at the back of the cathedral.
"When the history of Ireland is written, if Pat Hume's name is not beside John's, it will be an incomplete history"
Fr Farren told the congregation how the Gospel reading of the Good Samaritan stopping to assist the man attacked by brigands, as others passed by, was Hume’s favourite reading.
Neither did Hume pass by, said Fr Farren. “Even in the darkest moments, when people would have been forgiven for having no hope, John made peace visible for others,” he said.
He had a message too for the academics: “When the history of Ireland is written, if Pat Hume’s name is not beside John’s, it will be an incomplete history.”
And Fr Farren added: “If ever you want to see a man who gave his life for his country, and his health, that man is John Hume. The world knows it.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-07--Officials refuse to rule out ‘Midlands lockdown’ following Covid-19 surge

Public health officials have refused to rule out a “ Midlands lockdown ” in response to a big surge in Covid-19 cases in counties Kildare , Laois and Offaly .
People living in the three counties have been warned to “ double down ” on following public health advice in order to minimise their risk of being infected , and older people have been advised to limit their social networks , “ stay distant ” and avoid public transport if possible .
The National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) said it would provide further “ guidance ” and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contact tracing for the latest batch of cases from the area .
It has also written to local GPs to outline its concerns .
The surge in cases in the region is largely linked to outbreaks in food processing plants and , to a lesser extent , clusters in three direct provision centres .
The three counties accounted for 226 new cases in the past 14 days , or 48 per cent of the national total , with another 60 provisional cases expected to be confirmed in Friday ’ s official figures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ transmission as of yet , the Midlands cases constitute a “ very large reservoir ” of disease and there is a “ real risk ” of community spread from them in the coming weeks , according to Prof Philip Nolan , chairman of the NPHET Irish epidemiological modelling advisory group .
More than 60 per cent of recent cases involve the close contacts of confirmed cases and were picked up during testing during outbreaks , officials said .
The proportion of cases involving community transmission , where the cause of infection is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent , while travel-related cases have declined .
As a result , the reproduction number – a measure of the number of people infected by a case – has risen from 1.3 last week to about 1.8 now .
Prof Nolan said a reproduction number of almost two was a “ serious concern ” and posed a “ real risk ” of an increase in community transmission in the coming weeks .
The trend “ emphasises the need for us to be extraordinarily cautious ” , he told the NPHET briefing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks are in Tullamore , Co Offaly , Kildare town and Timahoe , Co Laois .
In a statement on Thursday night , a spokeswoman for O ’ Brien ’ s Fine Foods in Timahoe confirmed that 80 of its employees had tested positive for the virus and testing continues on dozens more .
Production has been shut down at the family-run Brady ’ s Ham plant , and management said it was “ difficult to comprehend ” the sudden spike given the “ level of rigour and our comparatively low level of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Five Covid-19 deaths were reported by NPHET on Thursday , four of them delayed notifications .
Another 69 new cases were also reported , only two of which involved community transmission .
Reporting a general worsening of the situation , Prof Nolan said the average number of new cases per day more than doubled in the past week , while the number of people hospitalised stopped declining .
Chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn warned on Thursday night that where cases lived was as important as the location of facilities where outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties “ need to be careful ” .
Asked whether NPHET might introduce a lockdown in the Midlands , he said nothing could be ruled out but he did not want to pre-judge the latest cases before the results of contact tracing had been properly examined .
Dr Glynn called on residents of the three counties to pay particular heed to possible symptoms of Covid-19 , and to self-isolate quickly and contact their GP if these occur .
People should “ double down ” on their public health behaviour by adhering to 2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , washing their hands and using face-coverings where necessary .
People in the three counties who are aged over 70 or are medically vulnerable are being advised to limit the number of people they meet to a very small network , for short periods of time , and to remain physically distant .
If taking exercise outdoors , they should maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others and wash their hands immediately once they return home , Dr Glynn recommended .
Officials said they were concerned about four “ significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , in the facilities .
There are also clusters in three direct provision centres in the Midlands but Dr Glynn said he was “ not unduly concerned ” about these as they appeared to be under control .
Many of the cases , and their contacts , have been transferred to the isolation centre at Citywest in recent days .

Dr Ronan Glynn has asked people living in Kildare, Laois and Offaly to "double down" on basic public health behaviours following a spike in Covid-19 cases in the region. Video: RTÉ
Public health officials have refused to rule out a “Midlands lockdown” in response to a big surge in Covid-19 cases in counties Kildare, Laois and Offaly.
People living in the three counties have been warned to “double down” on following public health advice in order to minimise their risk of being infected, and older people have been advised to limit their social networks, “stay distant” and avoid public transport if possible.
The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) said it would provide further “guidance” and information, once it has information on contact tracing for the latest batch of cases from the area. It has also written to local GPs to outline its concerns.
The surge in cases in the region is largely linked to outbreaks in food processing plants and, to a lesser extent, clusters in three direct provision centres.
READ MORE
The three counties accounted for 226 new cases in the past 14 days, or 48 per cent of the national total, with another 60 provisional cases expected to be confirmed in Friday’s official figures.
While there is little evidence of community transmission as of yet, the Midlands cases constitute a “very large reservoir” of disease and there is a “real risk” of community spread from them in the coming weeks, according to Prof Philip Nolan, chairman of the NPHET Irish epidemiological modelling advisory group.
More than 60 per cent of recent cases involve the close contacts of confirmed cases and were picked up during testing during outbreaks, officials said. The proportion of cases involving community transmission, where the cause of infection is not known, has remained constant at 20 per cent, while travel-related cases have declined.
As a result, the reproduction number – a measure of the number of people infected by a case – has risen from 1.3 last week to about 1.8 now.
‘Serious concern’
Prof Nolan said a reproduction number of almost two was a “serious concern” and posed a “real risk” of an increase in community transmission in the coming weeks.
The trend “emphasises the need for us to be extraordinarily cautious”, he told the NPHET briefing on Thursday evening.
The plants affected by outbreaks are in Tullamore, Co Offaly; Kildare town; and Timahoe, Co Kildare.* In a statement on Thursday night, a spokeswoman for O’Brien’s Fine Foods in Timahoe confirmed that 80 of its employees had tested positive for the virus and testing continues on dozens more.
Production has been shut down at the family-run Brady’s Ham plant, and management said it was “difficult to comprehend” the sudden spike given the “level of rigour and our comparatively low level of confirmed cases up to this point”.
Five Covid-19 deaths were reported by NPHET on Thursday, four of them delayed notifications. Another 69 new cases were also reported, only two of which involved community transmission.
Doubling of cases
Reporting a general worsening of the situation, Prof Nolan said the average number of new cases per day more than doubled in the past week, while the number of people hospitalised stopped declining.
Chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn warned on Thursday night that where cases lived was as important as the location of facilities where outbreaks occurred, and people across the three counties “need to be careful”. Asked whether NPHET might introduce a lockdown in the Midlands, he said nothing could be ruled out but he did not want to pre-judge the latest cases before the results of contact tracing had been properly examined.
Dr Glynn called on residents of the three counties to pay particular heed to possible symptoms of Covid-19, and to self-isolate quickly and contact their GP if these occur.
People should “double down” on their public health behaviour by adhering to 2 metres social distance, avoiding crowded spaces, washing their hands and using face-coverings where necessary.
People in the three counties who are aged over 70 or are medically vulnerable are being advised to limit the number of people they meet to a very small network, for short periods of time, and to remain physically distant.
If taking exercise outdoors, they should maintain a distance of at least 2 metres from others and wash their hands immediately once they return home, Dr Glynn recommended.
Officials said they were concerned about four “significant” outbreaks, involving more than 150 cases, in the facilities. There are also clusters in three direct provision centres in the Midlands but Dr Glynn said he was “not unduly concerned” about these as they appeared to be under control.
Many of the cases, and their contacts, have been transferred to the isolation centre at Citywest in recent days.
*This article was amended on August 7th, 2020


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Gardaí make 160 arrests for drink- and drug-driving over weekend

Four people died in road crashes over the bank holiday weekend and 10 suffered serious injuries , gardaí said on Thursday .
Last year there were no deaths over the same weekend although an increase in traffic activity had been expected this month with more people holidaying domestically due to Covid-19 ’ s impact on travel .
A man in his 40s and a teenager died in a crash in Glengarriff , Co Cork , a motorcyclist in his 30s died in Co Wexford , and a 94-year-old woman suffered fatal injuries in a three-car collision in Burgess , Co @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Road Safety Authority ( RSA ) launched a major awareness campaign , appealing for safe driving with a particular focus on the dangers of intoxication .
There were 160 arrests for driving under the influence – 105 for alcohol and 55 for drugs .
There were also 2,624 instances of speeding with some motorists recorded travelling more than 100km/h over the limit .
“ The level of endangerment we encountered over the weekend is not acceptable , ” said assistant commissioner for roads policing Paula Hilman .
“ Despite our best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too many are still taking chances and putting people ’ s lives at risk.
” In the Tipperary Garda division , 11 drivers were arrested on suspicion of drug-driving .
In Cavan/Monaghan , nine people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant , including five for drug-driving .
Gardaí in Carrickmacross stopped a vehicle whose driver tested positive for cocaine and who was subsequently found to have been disqualified .
In Dublin , there were seven arrests for intoxicated driving offences at a mandatory checkpoint on the N81 which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Co Carlow .
Overall , there were 60 road traffic collisions , including eight serious cases , over the bank holiday .
In August , 2019 , there were nine road deaths and the figure already this year is at three ( one of the four over the bank holiday occurred following a crash on Friday , July 31st ) .
“ Many people are on staycations in August and we urge all road users to be extra vigilant in order to avoid further road deaths and serious injury , ” gardaí said @

An Garda Síochána said there were 10 serious injuries suffered on the roads over the August bank holiday weekend. File photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Four people died in road crashes over the bank holiday weekend and 10 suffered serious injuries, gardaí said on Thursday.
Last year there were no deaths over the same weekend although an increase in traffic activity had been expected this month with more people holidaying domestically due to Covid-19’s impact on travel.
A man in his 40s and a teenager died in a crash in Glengarriff, Co Cork, a motorcyclist in his 30s died in Co Wexford, and a 94-year-old woman suffered fatal injuries in a three-car collision in Burgess, Co Cork.
In the build-up, gardaí and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) launched a major awareness campaign, appealing for safe driving with a particular focus on the dangers of intoxication.
READ MORE
There were 160 arrests for driving under the influence – 105 for alcohol and 55 for drugs. There were also 2,624 instances of speeding with some motorists recorded travelling more than 100km/h over the limit.
"The level of endangerment we encountered over the weekend is not acceptable," said assistant commissioner for roads policing Paula Hilman. "Despite our best efforts to proactively engage and educate drivers, too many are still taking chances and putting people's lives at risk."
In the Tipperary Garda division, 11 drivers were arrested on suspicion of drug-driving.
In Cavan/Monaghan, nine people were arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicant, including five for drug-driving.
Gardaí in Carrickmacross stopped a vehicle whose driver tested positive for cocaine and who was subsequently found to have been disqualified.
In Dublin, there were seven arrests for intoxicated driving offences at a mandatory checkpoint on the N81 which runs from the M50 to Tullow, Co Carlow.
Overall, there were 60 road traffic collisions, including eight serious cases, over the bank holiday.
In August, 2019, there were nine road deaths and the figure already this year is at three (one of the four over the bank holiday occurred following a crash on Friday, July 31st).
“Many people are on staycations in August and we urge all road users to be extra vigilant in order to avoid further road deaths and serious injury,” gardaí said.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Meat plants Q&A: The lingering coronavirus threat

Why are meat plants so problematic when it comes to Covid-19 spread ?
Hard lessons of the coronavirus pandemic strongly indicate spread of the virus has been most pronounced within care homes , meat-processing plants and anywhere people gather in close proximity indoors .
This is especially so where alcohol is consumed – hence concerns about pubs and nightclubs .
There is a particular set of circumstances giving rise to risk in relation to meat plants and many food-production companies .
The combination of high moisture , cold temperature , inevitable close proximity of workers , physical exertion and noisy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each other are frequently in the mix .
Rigid production lines often involving , for example , working alongside a conveyor belt of animal carcasses on hooks passing along a factory ’ s kill line , means work is at close quarters involving repeated activity by staff standing shoulder to shoulder .
As an essential industry producing food , meat plants were not closed during the pandemic lockdown .
The work is physically demanding but low paid .
This means positions are often filled by migrant workers , many of whom live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilities close to plants – posing additional risk of transmission .
What is the latest incidence of outbreaks in meat plants ?
At the height of the pandemic , it became clear meat-plant case clusters were a big problem .
It prompted an investigation of working practices , scale-up of monitoring processing units and tightening up protocols by health authorities and the Department of Agriculture and Food .
Up to the beginning of July , there were 1,115 cases at meat and poultry plants with the first case recorded on St Patrick ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and have fallen dramatically since .
The problem , however , is meat plants are mirroring a resurgence of Covid-19 in many countries including Ireland .
Earlier this week , the National Public Health Emergency Team said there were four outbreaks ongoing in meat plants , associated with 94 cases .
This was before the discovery of a further 80 cases at Brady ’ s Ham plant in Co Kildare .
What new controls were introduced ?
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre produced detailed advice in response to outbreaks , with measures which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a hospital setting .
The advice sets out requirements for frequent deep cleaning of equipment , sanitising of workers , wearing of personal protection equipment and allowing for physical distancing to be put in place .
If 2m of space between work stations can not be attained , Perspex screens should be installed between each person .
Workers should be organised into pods or groups , where possible .
Pod members work together , take their breaks together , change together and as far as possible even travel to work together .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed case only members of their pod are “ contacts ” , and the pod can be excluded together .
This is to allow the appropriate skill mix to always be available and facilitate the smoother running of the facility preventing key workers being excluded together .
Self-isolation at home is not recommended if vulnerable people such as those with chronic medical conditions live in the same property .
In such instances , people who are able to self-care are offered a place in the State ’ s isolation facilities , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they can self-isolate away from family and unaffected house-mates .
What have investigation of meat plants uncovered ?
An estimated half of Covid-positive workers in a single large Irish meat plant were found to be asymptomatic following mass testing , according to briefing documents given to the public health emergency team in early June .
It suggested asymptomatic workers could have been a significant driver of infection in meat plants .
“ Where mass testing has been undertaken , it is noted that there are high numbers of asymptomatic cases , ” one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one large facility , it is estimated that 50 per cent of positive workers were asymptomatic .
[ This ] could be an important factor in meat processing plants.
” The briefing documents show there were almost 300 cases of Covid-19 associated with an outbreak in a single meat processing plant in the State , more than twice the figure associated with the next largest outbreak .
Risk factors in plants were found to include poor language skills , crowded accommodation , and the potential for spread to spouses or house-mates who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nursing homes , supermarkets , etc ” .
The vulnerability of foreign workers in such circumstances has been highlighted by the Migrant Rights Centre , which has claimed there are 15 , 338 workers in the meat sector of which 58 per cent are migrant workers .
Last month , appearing before the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee , it criticised the practice whereby the Health and Safety Authority ( HSA ) gives advance notice to meat plants before making coronavirus inspections to check standards .
What has been the response of the meat sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Meat Industry Ireland said the situation with regard to Covid-19 in the sector had improved significantly .
There were no active cases of the virus and 97 per cent of people who had Covid-19 had recovered and were back at work .
It confirmed 30 per cent of workers in the sector were Irish , with the remainder being either non-European Union or EU citizens .
With near full employment , finding labour was often difficult , it added .
The industry group said it had no issue with unannounced inspections from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Covid-19 was virtually eliminated in Irish meat plants just a few weeks , the curve is rising again – albeit from a low base .
But it serves to underline the threat from an insidious virus capable of resurging when given the opportunity .
Great vigilance is still needed , just as it was when cases were steeply rising in April-May .

The Migrant Rights Centre claims there are more than 15, 300 workers in the meat sector, of which 58% are migrant workers. File photograph: Getty
Why are meat plants so problematic when it comes to Covid-19 spread?
Hard lessons of the coronavirus pandemic strongly indicate spread of the virus has been most pronounced within care homes, meat-processing plants and anywhere people gather in close proximity indoors. This is especially so where alcohol is consumed – hence concerns about pubs and nightclubs.
There is a particular set of circumstances giving rise to risk in relation to meat plants and many food-production companies. The combination of high moisture, cold temperature, inevitable close proximity of workers, physical exertion and noisy workplaces which force people to shout at each other are frequently in the mix.
Rigid production lines often involving, for example, working alongside a conveyor belt of animal carcasses on hooks passing along a factory’s kill line, means work is at close quarters involving repeated activity by staff standing shoulder to shoulder. As an essential industry producing food, meat plants were not closed during the pandemic lockdown.
The work is physically demanding but low paid. This means positions are often filled by migrant workers, many of whom live in close proximity to one another in basic facilities close to plants – posing additional risk of transmission.
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What is the latest incidence of outbreaks in meat plants?
At the height of the pandemic, it became clear meat-plant case clusters were a big problem. It prompted an investigation of working practices, scale-up of monitoring processing units and tightening up protocols by health authorities and the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Up to the beginning of July, there were 1,115 cases at meat and poultry plants with the first case recorded on St Patrick's Day. Cases peaked in May and have fallen dramatically since. The problem, however, is meat plants are mirroring a resurgence of Covid-19 in many countries including Ireland.
Earlier this week, the National Public Health Emergency Team said there were four outbreaks ongoing in meat plants, associated with 94 cases. This was before the discovery of a further 80 cases at Brady's Ham plant in Co Kildare.
What new controls were introduced?
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre produced detailed advice in response to outbreaks, with measures which are almost as rigorous as those in a hospital setting. The advice sets out requirements for frequent deep cleaning of equipment, sanitising of workers, wearing of personal protection equipment and allowing for physical distancing to be put in place. If 2m of space between work stations cannot be attained, Perspex screens should be installed between each person.
Workers should be organised into pods or groups, where possible. Pod members work together, take their breaks together, change together and as far as possible even travel to work together.
If one person then becomes a suspected or confirmed case only members of their pod are “contacts”, and the pod can be excluded together. This is to allow the appropriate skill mix to always be available and facilitate the smoother running of the facility preventing key workers being excluded together.
Self-isolation at home is not recommended if vulnerable people such as those with chronic medical conditions live in the same property. In such instances, people who are able to self-care are offered a place in the State’s isolation facilities, such as the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, so they can self-isolate away from family and unaffected house-mates.
What have investigation of meat plants uncovered?
An estimated half of Covid-positive workers in a single large Irish meat plant were found to be asymptomatic following mass testing, according to briefing documents given to the public health emergency team in early June.
It suggested asymptomatic workers could have been a significant driver of infection in meat plants.
“Where mass testing has been undertaken, it is noted that there are high numbers of asymptomatic cases,” one report noted.
“Following mass testing in one large facility, it is estimated that 50 per cent of positive workers were asymptomatic. [This] could be an important factor in meat processing plants.”
The briefing documents show there were almost 300 cases of Covid-19 associated with an outbreak in a single meat processing plant in the State, more than twice the figure associated with the next largest outbreak.
Risk factors in plants were found to include poor language skills, crowded accommodation, and the potential for spread to spouses or house-mates who “are often similarly vulnerable workers in nursing homes, supermarkets, etc”.
The vulnerability of foreign workers in such circumstances has been highlighted by the Migrant Rights Centre, which has claimed there are 15, 338 workers in the meat sector of which 58 per cent are migrant workers.
Last month, appearing before the Oireachtas Covid-19 committee, it criticised the practice whereby the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) gives advance notice to meat plants before making coronavirus inspections to check standards.
What has been the response of the meat sector?
At that committee hearing in mid-July, Meat Industry Ireland said the situation with regard to Covid-19 in the sector had improved significantly. There were no active cases of the virus and 97 per cent of people who had Covid-19 had recovered and were back at work.
It confirmed 30 per cent of workers in the sector were Irish, with the remainder being either non-European Union or EU citizens. With near full employment, finding labour was often difficult, it added.
The industry group said it had no issue with unannounced inspections from the HSA.
Are current cases just a temporary blip?
From a situation, where Covid-19 was virtually eliminated in Irish meat plants just a few weeks, the curve is rising again – albeit from a low base. But it serves to underline the threat from an insidious virus capable of resurging when given the opportunity. Great vigilance is still needed, just as it was when cases were steeply rising in April-May.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Revealed: the international evidence NPHET relied on to keep pubs closed

The State ’ s public health team was told of increases in Covid-19 outbreaks associated with the reopening of bars in Australia , the UK , Spain , the USA , Canada and Korea , it has been revealed .
The team has come under pressure to publish advice it was given before its decision to recommend that pubs within the State that do not serve food remain closed until at least the end of the month .
In a briefing given on international evidence around the reopening of bars given to the NPHET , and seen by The Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pubs and bars represented “ a unique risk due to the consumption of alcohol and the challenge that represents when trying to encourage patrons to maintain social distancing and practise hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.
” The briefing goes through a number of locations and examples of increased Covid-19 cases linked to re-opened bars , including in Australia .
“ Australia ’ s most populous state , New South Wales , yesterday reported 14 new cases of Covid-19 , with a growing cluster at a pub used by freight drivers travelling the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the virus .
The bulk of these community transmission cases were people who recently visited a pub in southwest Sydney , the Crossroads Hotel , taking the cluster to 13 in all.
” In the UK , it was noted that at least four pubs in England that had reopened at the time the briefing paper was being drafted had been “ forced to close again after customers or staff tested positive for Covid-19.
” In Spain , officials were told that the northwestern Spanish region of Galicia had imposed restrictions on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ People living in A Marina along Spain ’ s northern coast in the province of Lugo will not be able to leave the area from midnight until Friday , two days before regional elections in Galicia on July 12th .
Regional health minister Jesus Vazquez Almuina told a news conference the biggest outbreaks were linked to several bars in the area.
” The document listed several examples of outbreaks in the United States .
In Texas , governor Greg Abbott allowed his stay at home order to expire on April 30th @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all businesses including bars and restaurants operating to at least 50 per cent capacity by early June .
“ Last week , amid the surge , the governor shut down all bars and ordered restaurants to cut down capacity from 75 to 50 per cent .
“ If I could go back and redo anything , it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars , ” Mr Abbott said to El Paso station KVIA-TV .
A “ bar setting , in reality , just doesn ’ t work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ note says .
In Jacksonville Beach , Florida , “ a group of 16 friends went to a pub to celebrate a birthday and within days all 16 tested positive for Covid-19 .
The Orlando Pride women ’ s soccer team was forced to withdraw from the upcoming National Women ’ s Soccer League tournament after six players and four staff members tested positive for Covid-19 , reportedly after younger players visited bars and nightclubs in the area that had reopened.
” The document says in Louisiana at least 100 people tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tigerland district , a popular destination for Louisiana State University students .
And in Idaho “ health officials shut down bars in Ada County after reporting clusters of infections among young adults who had visited several bars in downtown Boise .
” In Ingham County , Michigan the briefing note says health officials said a total of 185 coronavirus cases were tied outbreak at a bar .
“ On June 23rd , officials said more than a dozen people who visited Harper ’ s Restaurant and Brew Pub between June 12-20th had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over two weeks , that number has ballooned by more than 180 confirmed cases .
Of the 185 people who have tested positive , 143 of them visited Harper ’ s. ” The team was also told of an outbreak at a suburban Montreal pub .
“ Dr David Buckeridge , a McGill University epidemiologist , said bars should not have reopened .
“ From an epidemiological perspective , there ’ s no question about it - I would not open bars , ” he told the Montreal Gazette.
” There was also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases linked to a Seoul party district area in Korea .
“ Officials attributed the new cluster to at least one person who visited several clubs and bars in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon last week , potentially coming into contact with as many as 1,500 other partygoers .
”

There were 185 coronavirus cases linked to the reopening of Harper’s Restaurant and Brew Pub in Ingham County, Michigan in June. Image via Google Maps
The State's public health team was told of increases in Covid-19 outbreaks associated with the reopening of bars in Australia, the UK, Spain, the USA, Canada and Korea, it has been revealed.
The team has come under pressure to publish advice it was given before its decision to recommend that pubs within the State that do not serve food remain closed until at least the end of the month.
In a briefing given on international evidence around the reopening of bars given to the NPHET, and seen by The Irish Times, the NPHET was told reopening pubs and bars represented “a unique risk due to the consumption of alcohol and the challenge that represents when trying to encourage patrons to maintain social distancing and practise hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.”
The briefing goes through a number of locations and examples of increased Covid-19 cases linked to re-opened bars, including in Australia.
READ MORE
"Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, yesterday reported 14 new cases of Covid-19, with a growing cluster at a pub used by freight drivers travelling the country adding to fears of a second wave of the virus. The bulk of these community transmission cases were people who recently visited a pub in southwest Sydney, the Crossroads Hotel, taking the cluster to 13 in all."
In the UK, it was noted that at least four pubs in England that had reopened at the time the briefing paper was being drafted had been "forced to close again after customers or staff tested positive for Covid-19."
A bar setting, in reality, just doesn't work with a pandemic
In Spain, officials were told that the northwestern Spanish region of Galicia had imposed restrictions on about 70,000 people following a Covid-19 outbreak.
“People living in A Marina along Spain’s northern coast in the province of Lugo will not be able to leave the area from midnight until Friday, two days before regional elections in Galicia on July 12th.
Regional health minister Jesus Vazquez Almuina told a news conference the biggest outbreaks were linked to several bars in the area."
The document listed several examples of outbreaks in the United States.
In Texas, governor Greg Abbott allowed his stay at home order to expire on April 30th, the note says, with almost all businesses including bars and restaurants operating to at least 50 per cent capacity by early June.
“Last week, amid the surge, the governor shut down all bars and ordered restaurants to cut down capacity from 75 to 50 per cent.
“If I could go back and redo anything, it probably would have been to slow down the opening of bars,” Mr Abbott said to El Paso station KVIA-TV. A “bar setting, in reality, just doesn’t work with a pandemic”,” the briefing note says.
In Jacksonville Beach, Florida, "a group of 16 friends went to a pub to celebrate a birthday and within days all 16 tested positive for Covid-19. The Orlando Pride women's soccer team was forced to withdraw from the upcoming National Women's Soccer League tournament after six players and four staff members tested positive for Covid-19, reportedly after younger players visited bars and nightclubs in the area that had reopened."
The document says in Louisiana at least 100 people tested positive for the virus after visiting bars in the Tigerland district, a popular destination for Louisiana State University students.
And in Idaho "health officials shut down bars in Ada County after reporting clusters of infections among young adults who had visited several bars in downtown Boise. "
In Ingham County, Michigan the briefing note says health officials said a total of 185 coronavirus cases were tied outbreak at a bar.
“On June 23rd, officials said more than a dozen people who visited Harper’s Restaurant and Brew Pub between June 12-20th had tested positive for Covid-19. In just over two weeks, that number has ballooned by more than 180 confirmed cases. Of the 185 people who have tested positive, 143 of them visited Harper’s.”
The team was also told of an outbreak at a suburban Montreal pub. "Dr David Buckeridge, a McGill University epidemiologist, said bars should not have reopened.
“From an epidemiological perspective, there’s no question about it - I would not open bars,” he told the Montreal Gazette.”
There was also a cluster of new cluster of coronavirus cases linked to a Seoul party district area in Korea.
“Officials attributed the new cluster to at least one person who visited several clubs and bars in the popular nightlife district of Itaewon last week, potentially coming into contact with as many as 1,500 other partygoers.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Production at Brady’s Ham plant in Kildare stops after 80 staff test positive for Covid-19

More than one-quarter of staff working for one of the country ’ s best known cooked ham brands have tested positive for Covid-19 in a huge outbreak that bosses say has left them mystified .
Production has been shut down at the family-run Brady ’ s Ham plant in Timahoe , Co Kildare , after the virus spread and infected at least 80 employees .
Testing continues on dozens more .
Management said it is “ difficult to comprehend ” the sudden spike given the “ level of rigour and our comparatively low level of confirmed cases up to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases in May .
Mass testing of the 300-strong staff was ordered on Tuesday , Wednesday and Thursday following a decision by management and the Health Service Executive over the weekend .
The first confirmed case of the cluster was on Thursday last week .
Some 243 tests have been completed since and 42 are ongoing .
The company said a “ very high ” number of positive cases were asymptomatic .
Outsourced testers were hired in to help accelerate the response .
A spokeswoman for O ’ Brien ’ s Fine Foods @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all close contacts of those infected have been asked to self-isolate and the factory was undergoing a deep clean .
“ Since the first cases of Covid-19 were identified in Ireland last February , we have operated with an abundance of caution and safety , ” she said , adding that the plant had been “ fully audited by the relevant inspectors ” in recent months with “ no issues identified ” .
The outbreak is the latest in a number of clusters centred at meat factories in Co Kildare , provoking concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the public .
The Kildare Chilling Company meat plant in Kildare town , which employs 350 people , confirmed a “ number of Covid-19 cases ” at the factory , but declined to disclose the exact figure .
Irish Dog Foods , in Naas , remains closed for a second week after between 30 and 40 cases were confirmed at the plant .
A company spokesman refused to disclose the total number of staff who have tested positive to date for the virus .
Allan Shine , chief executive of the County Kildare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the hardest businesses to control mainly due to their nature of business and the number of people employed ” .
“ Our hope is [ that O ’ Brien Fine Foods ] can reopen as soon as the authorities allow as the O ’ Brien family are a huge employer in Kildare , ” he said .
The spokeswoman for O ’ Brien ’ s Fine Foods said staff at the company “ receive full pay for any Covid-related illness or absence ” .
Dr Brendan O ’ Shea , a Newbridge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Irish College of General Practitioners , said doctors “ are concerned ” but “ not surprised or panicked ” at the spike in cases .
“ Clearly the rise in cases is a concern , but we are now in quite a different position than we were in March , ” he added .
Dr Cathal Berry , Independent TD for Kildare South , linked the clusters to an “ almost invisible cohort of workers in our society , mostly in low-paid and unskilled jobs , who may also be foreign nationals , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cramped accommodation due to the cost or renting or buying property ” .
An ongoing poll has found nine in 10 migrant meat factory workers do not get sick pay .
Bríd McKeown , workplace relations co-ordinator at Migrant Rights Centre Ireland ( MRCI ) , said it is “ outrageous ” workers are worried about losing wages if they fall ill or ring in sick during the pandemic .
Almost six in 10 of the more than 15,000-strong workforce in the meat processing industry are migrants , according to MRCI .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a continuing study into their conditions .
Workers in some plants say they still do not feel safe as employers – some of whom “ have a poor health and safety record ” – are being trusted to “ completely manage ” the response to the crisis , said Ms McKeown .
“ Ultimately money seems to be the bottom line here and a lot of workers feel like the meat is treated better than they are .
One said if the infection was in the meat , plants would close , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 advice was not being properly communicated to some migrant workers , who are mostly Polish , Lithuanian , Romanian , Latvian , Moldovan , Slovakian , Brazilian , South African , Botswanan and Filipino .
Another concern is losing their immigration status – which is tied to their work permit – if they raise concerns about working conditions , said Ms McKeown .
“ Workers tell us that if they say anything their employer says they ’ ll send you back to Brazil or wherever .
Employers know full well the power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ permits can technically change employer it is “ extremely difficult and costly to do so .
And even if they do , it is within the same sector.
” Ms McKeown criticised the Health and Safety Authority ( HSA ) – which is responsible for oversight of workplaces – for forewarning employers about inspections .
“ Workers say they can see when a workplace is getting ready for an inspection , with some staff given the day off , and signage being put up in the 48 hours prior to inspectors arriving , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there has been no easing in production during the crisis , with staff at some plants worried about a “ backslide ” in coronavirus measures – particularly around distancing , wearing masks and congregating in common areas .
Almost half ( 48 per cent ) felt measures were not being fully implemented , while nearly six in 10 ( 59 per cent ) didn ’ t feel safe at work .
Meat Industry Ireland ( MII ) , which represents the industry , said protocols for factories are “ robust and every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members ’ processing facilities .
.
.
Assertions to the contrary are misleading , ” it said .
Outbreaks in factories are a “ stark reminder of the persistent threat of Covid-19 and the relentless effort and focus that has to be maintained to keep it out of processing plants , protect staff , and at the same time , keep the food supply chain in operation ” .
MII senior director Cormac Healy has previously told an Oireachtas committee some companies offer sick pay and some do not .
“ I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the industry , ” he said .
The HSA said it has carried out 2,731 Covid-related workplace inspections between May 18th and July 31st .
The vast majority are unannounced “ but there are circumstances where advance notification may be required ” , said a spokeswoman .
“ For example , where it is essential for inspectors to meet with specific individuals at the place of work or to ensure a particular activity is active so as to allow inspectors to observe.
” The HSA said it is working with the National Outbreak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meat factories .
The Government ’ s decision to further postpone an easing of lockdown restrictions this week followed a warning by acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn about “ significant and growing ” concern over how the disease is spreading .
The Department of Health and the HSE were asked to comment on the findings .
“ Multiple significant outbreaks ” in workplaces , particularly food factories and construction sites , as well as direct provision centres , are driving a shift in its transmission away from Dublin to other counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outbreaks in workplaces , almost half ( 24 ) were in meat factories .
Nine are ongoing , including four at meat plants , involving 94 cases .
Of four new workplace clusters over the last week , half were at meat plants , which accounted for 47 of the 57 overall cases .
Community transmission remains “ reasonably low ” with a majority of cases accounted for within known outbreaks and close contacts , but Dr Glynn told the Government there is a continued and heightened risk that rising numbers of cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weeks .

Dr Ronan Glynn has asked people living in Kildare, Laois and Offaly to "double down" on basic public health behaviours following a spike in Covid-19 cases in the region. Video: RTÉ
More than one-quarter of staff working for one of the country’s best known cooked ham brands have tested positive for Covid-19 in a huge outbreak that bosses say has left them mystified.
Production has been shut down at the family-run Brady’s Ham plant in Timahoe, Co Kildare, after the virus spread and infected at least 80 employees. Testing continues on dozens more.
Management said it is “difficult to comprehend” the sudden spike given the “level of rigour and our comparatively low level of confirmed cases up to this point”. There were two isolated cases in May.
The Kildare Chilling Company meat plant in Kildare town, which employs 350 people. Photograph: Laura Hutton/The Irish Times
The Brady’s Ham plant in Timahoe, Co Kildare where production has stopped after one quarter of the staff tested positive for coronavirus. Photograph: Laura Hutton/The Irish Times.
Mass testing of the 300-strong staff was ordered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday following a decision by management and the Health Service Executive over the weekend.
READ MORE
The first confirmed case of the cluster was on Thursday last week. Some 243 tests have been completed since and 42 are ongoing. The company said a “very high” number of positive cases were asymptomatic.
Outsourced testers were hired in to help accelerate the response.
A spokeswoman for O’Brien’s Fine Foods, which runs the plant, said all close contacts of those infected have been asked to self-isolate and the factory was undergoing a deep clean.
“Since the first cases of Covid-19 were identified in Ireland last February, we have operated with an abundance of caution and safety,” she said, adding that the plant had been “fully audited by the relevant inspectors” in recent months with “no issues identified”.
The outbreak is the latest in a number of clusters centred at meat factories in Co Kildare, provoking concerns among local family doctors, politicians and the public.
The Kildare Chilling Company meat plant in Kildare town, which employs 350 people, confirmed a "number of Covid-19 cases" at the factory, but declined to disclose the exact figure.
Irish Dog Foods, in Naas, remains closed for a second week after between 30 and 40 cases were confirmed at the plant. A company spokesman refused to disclose the total number of staff who have tested positive to date for the virus.
Local reaction
Allan Shine, chief executive of the County Kildare Chamber, said meat factories were among “the hardest businesses to control mainly due to their nature of business and the number of people employed”.
“Our hope is [that O’Brien Fine Foods] can reopen as soon as the authorities allow as the O’Brien family are a huge employer in Kildare,” he said.
The spokeswoman for O’Brien’s Fine Foods said staff at the company “receive full pay for any Covid-related illness or absence”.
Dr Brendan O’ Shea, a Newbridge GP who represents the county in The Irish College of General Practitioners, said doctors “are concerned” but “not surprised or panicked” at the spike in cases.
“Clearly the rise in cases is a concern, but we are now in quite a different position than we were in March,” he added.
Dr Cathal Berry, Independent TD for Kildare South, linked the clusters to an “almost invisible cohort of workers in our society, mostly in low-paid and unskilled jobs, who may also be foreign nationals, who are living with others often in cramped accommodation due to the cost or renting or buying property”.
An ongoing poll has found nine in 10 migrant meat factory workers do not get sick pay.
Bríd McKeown, workplace relations co-ordinator at Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), said it is “outrageous” workers are worried about losing wages if they fall ill or ring in sick during the pandemic.
Almost six in 10 of the more than 15,000-strong workforce in the meat processing industry are migrants, according to MRCI. It has polled almost 100 in recent weeks in a continuing study into their conditions.
Workers in some plants say they still do not feel safe as employers – some of whom “have a poor health and safety record” – are being trusted to “completely manage” the response to the crisis, said Ms McKeown.
“Ultimately money seems to be the bottom line here and a lot of workers feel like the meat is treated better than they are. One said if the infection was in the meat, plants would close,” she said.
Language barriers meant Covid-19 advice was not being properly communicated to some migrant workers, who are mostly Polish, Lithuanian, Romanian, Latvian, Moldovan, Slovakian, Brazilian, South African, Botswanan and Filipino.
Another concern is losing their immigration status – which is tied to their work permit – if they raise concerns about working conditions, said Ms McKeown.
“Workers tell us that if they say anything their employer says they’ll send you back to Brazil or wherever. Employers know full well the power they have.”
While those on work permits can technically change employer it is “extremely difficult and costly to do so. And even if they do, it is within the same sector.”
Ms McKeown criticised the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) – which is responsible for oversight of workplaces – for forewarning employers about inspections.
“Workers say they can see when a workplace is getting ready for an inspection, with some staff given the day off, and signage being put up in the 48 hours prior to inspectors arriving,” she added.
Workers also complained that there has been no easing in production during the crisis, with staff at some plants worried about a “backslide” in coronavirus measures – particularly around distancing, wearing masks and congregating in common areas.
Almost half (48 per cent) felt measures were not being fully implemented, while nearly six in 10 (59 per cent) didn’t feel safe at work.
Meat Industry Ireland (MII), which represents the industry, said protocols for factories are “robust and every possible measure is being deployed in our members’ processing facilities . . . Assertions to the contrary are misleading,” it said.
Outbreaks in factories are a “stark reminder of the persistent threat of Covid-19 and the relentless effort and focus that has to be maintained to keep it out of processing plants, protect staff, and at the same time, keep the food supply chain in operation”.
MII senior director Cormac Healy has previously told an Oireachtas committee some companies offer sick pay and some do not. “I don’t know the overall position across the industry,” he said.
Concern over spread
The HSA said it has carried out 2,731 Covid-related workplace inspections between May 18th and July 31st. The vast majority are unannounced “but there are circumstances where advance notification may be required”, said a spokeswoman.
“For example, where it is essential for inspectors to meet with specific individuals at the place of work or to ensure a particular activity is active so as to allow inspectors to observe.”
The HSA said it is working with the National Outbreak Control Team to address ongoing flare-ups in meat factories.
The Government’s decision to further postpone an easing of lockdown restrictions this week followed a warning by acting chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn about “significant and growing” concern over how the disease is spreading.
The Department of Health and the HSE were asked to comment on the findings.
“Multiple significant outbreaks” in workplaces, particularly food factories and construction sites, as well as direct provision centres, are driving a shift in its transmission away from Dublin to other counties, Dr Glynn cautioned.
Of 51 outbreaks in workplaces, almost half (24) were in meat factories. Nine are ongoing, including four at meat plants, involving 94 cases.
Of four new workplace clusters over the last week, half were at meat plants, which accounted for 47 of the 57 overall cases.
Community transmission remains “reasonably low” with a majority of cases accounted for within known outbreaks and close contacts, but Dr Glynn told the Government there is a continued and heightened risk that rising numbers of cases could mean community transmission surges in coming weeks.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Suspect arrested as gardaí allege ‘corrupt practices’ at statutory body

Gardaí investigating alleged “ corrupt practices ” at the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board ( ETB ) have arrested a suspect for questioning .
Garda Headquarters issued a statement confirming it had arrested a man as part of an investigation into alleged “ corrupt practices at an office of a statutory body ” .
While it did not identify the statutory body under investigation , The Irish Times has learned it is the Kildare and Wicklow ETB .
The suspect , who is in his 50s , was arrested on Thursday by members of the Garda National Economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The arrest operation was conducted as part of Operation Lakefront by detectives attached to the Anti-Corruption Unit , GNECB , in Co Kildare this morning , ” the Garda statement said .
“ The man was arrested for offences contrary to the Prevention of Corruption Acts and was conveyed to Leixlip Garda station , where he is currently detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act , 1984 .
Investigations are ongoing.
” The man arrested was never a direct employee of Kildare and Wicklow ETB but he worked for another organisation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A litany of issues about the Kildare and Wicklow ETB were raised in a Department of Education investigation and a Comptroller and Auditor General report last year .
The audit found the ETB repeatedly broke public contract rules and indulged in “ excessive ” spending on five-star hotels .
Its then chief executive , Seán Ashe , also failed to declare ties to family members with interests in two companies that received contracts from the ETB , the audit found .
The report was referred to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy last year told a hearing of the Public Accounts Committee that concerns about Kildare and Wicklow ETB arose during a routine audit of the body ’ s 2015 financial accounts .
The concerns led the State auditor to prepare a supplementary report into the financial issues , a move that would be “ very unusual ” , he told the committee .
When concerning financial practices were brought to the chair and vice-chair of the ETB ’ s board , Mr McCarthy said they were both “ surprised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mr McCarthy said in his opinion ETB boards were “ heavily dependent ” on the executives they were supposed to provide oversight to , and needed more “ operational independence ” .

The suspect, who is in his 50s, was arrested on Thursday by members of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau. Photograph: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos
Gardaí investigating alleged "corrupt practices" at the Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board (ETB) have arrested a suspect for questioning.
Garda Headquarters issued a statement confirming it had arrested a man as part of an investigation into alleged “corrupt practices at an office of a statutory body”. While it did not identify the statutory body under investigation, The Irish Times has learned it is the Kildare and Wicklow ETB.
The suspect, who is in his 50s, was arrested on Thursday by members of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB).
“The arrest operation was conducted as part of Operation Lakefront by detectives attached to the Anti-Corruption Unit, GNECB, in Co Kildare this morning,” the Garda statement said.
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"The man was arrested for offences contrary to the Prevention of Corruption Acts and was conveyed to Leixlip Garda station, where he is currently detained under section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. Investigations are ongoing."
Another organisation
The man arrested was never a direct employee of Kildare and Wicklow ETB but he worked for another organisation that had a relationship with the board.
A litany of issues about the Kildare and Wicklow ETB were raised in a Department of Education investigation and a Comptroller and Auditor General report last year.
The audit found the ETB repeatedly broke public contract rules and indulged in “excessive” spending on five-star hotels.
Its then chief executive, Seán Ashe, also failed to declare ties to family members with interests in two companies that received contracts from the ETB, the audit found. The report was referred to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau, which commenced an investigation.
‘Very unusual’
Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy last year told a hearing of the Public Accounts Committee that concerns about Kildare and Wicklow ETB arose during a routine audit of the body’s 2015 financial accounts.
The concerns led the State auditor to prepare a supplementary report into the financial issues, a move that would be “very unusual”, he told the committee.
When concerning financial practices were brought to the chair and vice-chair of the ETB’s board, Mr McCarthy said they were both “surprised and shocked” to learn the information.
Mr McCarthy said in his opinion ETB boards were “heavily dependent” on the executives they were supposed to provide oversight to, and needed more “operational independence”.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Problematic aspects of Belfast rape trial could not happen in Republic – review

The Belfast rape trial in 2018 gave rise to concerns about how the complainant was treated and her identity apparently being widely leaked .
Some members of the public appeared to attend the case to see the complainant and two of the accused , and subsequently acquitted , men – rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding .
However , the Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences group has now concluded some of those problematic features with the trial could not arise in a rape case in the Republic .
Unlike Northern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to attend rape cases in the Republic , the group noted in its report to the Government and published on Wednesday .
But the expert group has still set out a series of recommendations that would make the investigation and trial process in sex crime cases easier for victims and vulnerable witness .
The group , chaired by barrister and legal academic Tom O ’ Malley , has said when victims first go to the Garda to report a sex crime they should be immediately provided with legal advice about the process and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to them for years , if necessary .
It says while the Garda ’ s teams of specialist sex crime investigators ( Divisional Protective Services Units or DPSUs ) are trained to deal with complainants in sex crime cases , all Garda members should undergo training in how to deal with victims .
While new Garda interview suites , where victims can be interviewed in comfort , have been established in some parts of the Republic , more are needed .
If all regions had interview suites , it would mean victims and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very large distances to suites .
The group also said it was taking far too long for DPSUs to be established in all Garda divisions .
Again , this means specialist investigators and the expertise and facilities they offer are readily available only to those victims who happen to live in regions where the units are operating .
At present , while there are 28 Garda divisions , only 16 units are operating .
The expert group believes newly proposed pretrial hearings would ensure many of the matters that cause trial delays , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses , could be tackled and resolved before a trial begins .
Under the group ’ s recommendations , a complainant could still be questioned by lawyers for the accused about their previous sexual history .
However , if that line of questioning was planned , the defence lawyers would be obliged to declare that at a pretrial hearing , explaining why such questions were warranted and applying for permission from the court for such a line of questioning .
The complainant would be legally represented at pretrial hearings , meaning they could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put to them .
And the cost of the legal representation could be covered by legal aid .
In all sex crime trials , and not only rapes or other very serious cases , the expert group has proposed the court would be cleared of the public to ensure dignity and anonymity for the complainant .
The existing ban on the media publishing the complainant ’ s – or accused person ’ s – identity would be extended to members of the public posting on social media , the expert group proposes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ witnesses to give evidence via video link , meaning they do not have to appear in court , and it should be installed in all courthouses , the group said .
At present many witnesses are denied that facility because many courthouses do not have the technology required .
This means some witnesses find it impossible to give evidence , thus undermining the justice process .
The group also recommends special training for judges , solicitors , barristers and others involved in the trial process to ensure they understand the trauma sex crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with that .
With this report the Government has been presented with the perfect opportunity to help victims , vulnerable witnesses and innocent accused .

Paddy Jackson (left) and Stuart Olding were acquitted of rape following a trial in Belfast. The expert group has concluded some of the problematic features with that trial could not arise in a rape case here. Photograph: Niall Carson/PA Wire
The Belfast rape trial in 2018 gave rise to concerns about how the complainant was treated and her identity apparently being widely leaked.
Some members of the public appeared to attend the case to see the complainant and two of the accused, and subsequently acquitted, men – rugby players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding.
However, the Review of Protections for Vulnerable Witnesses in the Investigation and Prosecution of Sexual Offences group has now concluded some of those problematic features with the trial could not arise in a rape case in the Republic.
Unlike Northern Ireland, the public are not permitted to attend rape cases in the Republic, the group noted in its report to the Government and published on Wednesday.
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But the expert group has still set out a series of recommendations that would make the investigation and trial process in sex crime cases easier for victims and vulnerable witness.
Garda investigation
The group, chaired by barrister and legal academic Tom O’Malley, has said when victims first go to the Garda to report a sex crime they should be immediately provided with legal advice about the process and that advice should continue to be available to them for years, if necessary.
It says while the Garda’s teams of specialist sex crime investigators (Divisional Protective Services Units or DPSUs) are trained to deal with complainants in sex crime cases, all Garda members should undergo training in how to deal with victims.
While new Garda interview suites, where victims can be interviewed in comfort, have been established in some parts of the Republic, more are needed. If all regions had interview suites, it would mean victims and vulnerable witnesses would not need to travel very large distances to suites.
The group also said it was taking far too long for DPSUs to be established in all Garda divisions. Again, this means specialist investigators and the expertise and facilities they offer are readily available only to those victims who happen to live in regions where the units are operating. At present, while there are 28 Garda divisions, only 16 units are operating.
Pretrial hearings
The expert group believes newly proposed pretrial hearings would ensure many of the matters that cause trial delays, resulting in stress for complainants or vulnerable witnesses, could be tackled and resolved before a trial begins.
Under the group’s recommendations, a complainant could still be questioned by lawyers for the accused about their previous sexual history. However, if that line of questioning was planned, the defence lawyers would be obliged to declare that at a pretrial hearing, explaining why such questions were warranted and applying for permission from the court for such a line of questioning.
The complainant would be legally represented at pretrial hearings, meaning they could make arguments against sexual history questions being put to them. And the cost of the legal representation could be covered by legal aid.
Trials
In all sex crime trials, and not only rapes or other very serious cases, the expert group has proposed the court would be cleared of the public to ensure dignity and anonymity for the complainant.
The existing ban on the media publishing the complainant’s – or accused person’s – identity would be extended to members of the public posting on social media, the expert group proposes. Modern telecommunication systems in some courthouses allow witnesses to give evidence via video link, meaning they do not have to appear in court, and it should be installed in all courthouses, the group said. At present many witnesses are denied that facility because many courthouses do not have the technology required. This means some witnesses find it impossible to give evidence, thus undermining the justice process.
The group also recommends special training for judges, solicitors, barristers and others involved in the trial process to ensure they understand the trauma sex crime victims endure and are equipped to deal with that.
With this report the Government has been presented with the perfect opportunity to help victims, vulnerable witnesses and innocent accused.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Death of pioneer in advocacy for survivors of residential child abuse

Mick Waters , the founder of Survivors of Child Abuse ( Soca ) , one of the oldest groups advocating for former residents of industrial schools , has died in Coventry , England .
Mr Waters died on July 24th after a long illness with cancer , aged 76 .
He was born in Dublin and , aged 10 , he was picked up for mitching school .
He was sent to Artane Industrial School in Dublin .
On release at 16 he went to England where , as a labourer he met and married Catherine ( Anne ) Farrington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does his son William who said , “ We are all extremely saddened by his passing but also very happy and proud to have loved him and been a part of his life.
” In the late 1980s/early 1990s Mr Waters was teaching trades in painting and decorating to troubled young men when he began to meet former residents of Artane .
It became an informal Artane old boys group .
The documentary Dear Daughter , broadcast on RTÉ in 1996 and detailing the abuse of girls at Dublin ’ s Goldenbridge , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 1998 Mick Waters called a meeting of former Artane residents in Coventry ; more than 100 attended .
More meetings followed and numbers were at 500 when they set up Soca in June 1999 .
Soca evolved into two organisations , Soca UK and Irish Soca , and both played a major role in securing services for former residents of the institutions .
Mr Waters ’ funeral will take place on August 14th .
“ It will be a humanist funeral even though he prayed to God every single day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ organised religion , ” said William .
“ He also wanted his ashes scattered from the Ha ’ penny Bridge , if we can do that .
He wanted to go back home to Dublin .
”

Mick Waters died after a long illness with cancer at the age of 76.
Mick Waters, the founder of Survivors of Child Abuse (Soca), one of the oldest groups advocating for former residents of industrial schools, has died in Coventry, England.
Mr Waters died on July 24th after a long illness with cancer, aged 76.
He was born in Dublin and, aged 10, he was picked up for mitching school. He was sent to Artane Industrial School in Dublin.
On release at 16 he went to England where, as a labourer he met and married Catherine (Anne) Farrington from Ballinteer. She survives him as does his son William who said, "We are all extremely saddened by his passing but also very happy and proud to have loved him and been a part of his life."
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In the late 1980s/early 1990s Mr Waters was teaching trades in painting and decorating to troubled young men when he began to meet former residents of Artane. It became an informal Artane old boys group.
The documentary Dear Daughter, broadcast on RTÉ in 1996 and detailing the abuse of girls at Dublin's Goldenbridge, had a galvanising effect on the group.
In 1998 Mick Waters called a meeting of former Artane residents in Coventry; more than 100 attended. More meetings followed and numbers were at 500 when they set up Soca in June 1999.
Soca evolved into two organisations, Soca UK and Irish Soca, and both played a major role in securing services for former residents of the institutions.
Mr Waters’ funeral will take place on August 14th.
“It will be a humanist funeral even though he prayed to God every single day. He just didn’t believe in organised religion,” said William. “He also wanted his ashes scattered from the Ha’penny Bridge, if we can do that. He wanted to go back home to Dublin.”


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Cancer services operating as low as half pre-Covid levels

Cancer services are operating as low as half of pre-Covid levels , Department of Health officials have indicated .
Medical oncology is at 70 per cent of previous figures , radiation oncology is at 80 per cent and surgery is at about 50 per cent , they say in a briefing document prepared for Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly .
“ We are advised that it will not be possible to get the numbers back to where they were while implementing physical distancing and associated precautionary measures , without further space and resources .
“ The challenges arising will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would normally have presented earlier coming forward in the next few months , on top of the increasing numbers arising more generally in line with an increasing and ageing population.
” Officials say a “ key concern ” is the significant number of people waiting more than 52 weeks to access core therapy services , many of them children .
They include 7,400 people waiting over one year for occupational therapy assessment , almost 3,500 people waiting for physiotherapy and 750 people waiting for speech and language therapy assessment .
On the proposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ St Vincent ’ s hospital , officials say “ the legal framework is proving very complex as we seek to ensure that a hospital built with public funds , on lands not publicly owned , and operated by a voluntary hospital , is retained for public ownership ” .
“ To date St Vincent ’ s Healthcare Group has agreed to provide the State with a 99-year lease of the land upon which the new hospital will be built , and this will allow the State to retain ownership of the new hospital.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ unequivocally copperfasten the principle that care in the new hospital will be delivered without religious , ethnic or other distinction and that any medical procedure , which is in accordance with the laws of the land , will be available there.
” The number of maternity units providing abortion services remains at 10 ( out of 19 ) , 18 months after termination of pregnancy legislation came into force , officials have told the Minister .
Conscientious objection and staff recruitment are “ significant challenges ” .
The department is very concerned at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hospital is to close and wants to see it supported , strengthened and expanded , the document says .
Ministerial licences to prescribe medical cannabis have been issued for 31 patients in Ireland and almost all travel to the Netherlands to procure their prescribed cannabis products , the document says .
However , a planned pilot programme giving wider access to medical cannabis for certain conditions , may be delayed because no funding had been provided for it this year .
The Department of Health has for years been in breach of national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the retention of bloodspot screening cards of newborns , according to the briefing document , which was prepared in June .
“ The office of the data protection commissioner holds that the continued retention of the screening cards and the further processing of the data of identifiable living individuals for the purposes of DNA analysis , without the explicit consent of the individual concerned , is unlawful .
This matter has been under consideration by the department for 10 years.
” There are no issues with the bloodspot card from 2011 onwards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been obtained .

The legal framework for the proposed move of the National Maternity Hospital to St Vincent’s hospital is proving ‘very complex’, officials at the Department of Health have said. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
Cancer services are operating as low as half of pre-Covid levels, Department of Health officials have indicated.
Medical oncology is at 70 per cent of previous figures, radiation oncology is at 80 per cent and surgery is at about 50 per cent, they say in a briefing document prepared for Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
“We are advised that it will not be possible to get the numbers back to where they were while implementing physical distancing and associated precautionary measures, without further space and resources.
“The challenges arising will be exacerbated by the number of patients who would normally have presented earlier coming forward in the next few months, on top of the increasing numbers arising more generally in line with an increasing and ageing population.”
READ MORE
Officials say a “key concern” is the significant number of people waiting more than 52 weeks to access core therapy services, many of them children. They include 7,400 people waiting over one year for occupational therapy assessment, almost 3,500 people waiting for physiotherapy and 750 people waiting for speech and language therapy assessment.
On the proposed move of the National Maternity Hospital to St Vincent's hospital, officials say "the legal framework is proving very complex as we seek to ensure that a hospital built with public funds, on lands not publicly owned, and operated by a voluntary hospital, is retained for public ownership".
"To date St Vincent's Healthcare Group has agreed to provide the State with a 99-year lease of the land upon which the new hospital will be built, and this will allow the State to retain ownership of the new hospital."
“The framework is intended to unequivocally copperfasten the principle that care in the new hospital will be delivered without religious, ethnic or other distinction and that any medical procedure, which is in accordance with the laws of the land, will be available there.”
Abortion services
The number of maternity units providing abortion services remains at 10 (out of 19), 18 months after termination of pregnancy legislation came into force, officials have told the Minister. Conscientious objection and staff recruitment are “significant challenges”.
The department is very concerned at reports the midwifery-led unit at Cavan General Hospital is to close and wants to see it supported, strengthened and expanded, the document says.
Ministerial licences to prescribe medical cannabis have been issued for 31 patients in Ireland and almost all travel to the Netherlands to procure their prescribed cannabis products, the document says.
However, a planned pilot programme giving wider access to medical cannabis for certain conditions, may be delayed because no funding had been provided for it this year.
The Department of Health has for years been in breach of national and EU data protection regulations in relation to the retention of bloodspot screening cards of newborns, according to the briefing document, which was prepared in June.
“The office of the data protection commissioner holds that the continued retention of the screening cards and the further processing of the data of identifiable living individuals for the purposes of DNA analysis, without the explicit consent of the individual concerned, is unlawful. This matter has been under consideration by the department for 10 years.”
There are no issues with the bloodspot card from 2011 onwards, because since then parental consent has been obtained.


theirishtimes--2020-08-06--Ireland faces ‘recurring waves’ of Covid-19, Minister warned

Ireland is likely to face “ recurring epidemic waves ” of Covid-19 infections into the future , though predicting the trajectory of the disease is impossible , according to a briefing document prepared for Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly .
“ This means that over the coming months , Ireland and other countries are likely to experience periods of time when the numbers of people infected increases [ waves ] and periods when the number of people infected decreases , ” the document prepared by Department of Health officials states .
It is impossible to predict with certainty the future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , stricter restrictions may have to be reintroduced “ if a strong upsurge of infection were to occur at some point in the future ” , they warn .
The document was prepared in June , before the recent uptick in cases , so much of the detail around case numbers has dated .
Covid-19 has provided a “ massive shock ” to the health service , the document says , but this has meant positive changes such as e-working and electronic prescribing happening “ at speed ” .
The pandemic also demonstrated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relating to real-time information and data ; a lack of agreed care pathways between GPs , the community and voluntary sector and hospitals ; and a lack of infrastructural capacity .
Opportunities arising from the crisis include a “ track record of the wider determinants of health working together well , renewed trust in the public health system and the experience of introducing ‘ one-tier care ’ and the ‘ universalism ’ of the response to Covid-19 .
Examples cited include the removal of GP fees for phone consultations , the take-over of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an increased understanding by citizens of why universal access to care is important .
The document lists threats from the current situation such as a difficult economic situation , a “ shocked population ” , a tired health workforce and uncertainty about a return of the virus .
The new context provides opportunities for implementing Sláintecare “ at pace ” , officials suggest .
New ways should be found to use community services and to create partnerships with the private hospitals to avoid increased pressure on the public system .
The need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning of the pandemic response , according to the document .
“ Notwithstanding the success in flattening the curve , ICU occupancy easily exceeded base capacity of 255 , with 280 critical care beds occupied at the peak.
” Additional demand was met from surge capacity and the redeployment of staff from other hospital services .
However , officials warn that should numbers go beyond the base and surge capacity of 350 , and redeployed staff were unavailable , there would be “ major impacts on quality of care delivered ” with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unacceptable ” clinical risk .
About 10-15 cases of an acute , Covid-related syndrome affecting children are expected each year on the island of Ireland , according to the document .
The disease , also related to the rare Kawasaki disease , typically affects children aged from six months to four years .

The documents were prepared for new Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly. File photograph: Stephen Collins /Collins Photos Dublin
Ireland is likely to face "recurring epidemic waves" of Covid-19 infections into the future, though predicting the trajectory of the disease is impossible, according to a briefing document prepared for Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.
"This means that over the coming months, Ireland and other countries are likely to experience periods of time when the numbers of people infected increases [waves] and periods when the number of people infected decreases," the document prepared by Department of Health officials states.
It is impossible to predict with certainty the future course of the disease and, therefore, stricter restrictions may have to be reintroduced “if a strong upsurge of infection were to occur at some point in the future”, they warn.
The document was prepared in June, before the recent uptick in cases, so much of the detail around case numbers has dated.
READ MORE
Covid-19 has provided a “massive shock” to the health service, the document says, but this has meant positive changes such as e-working and electronic prescribing happening “at speed”.
The pandemic also demonstrated weakness in the system, in particular relating to real-time information and data; a lack of agreed care pathways between GPs, the community and voluntary sector and hospitals; and a lack of infrastructural capacity.
Opportunities arising from the crisis include a “track record of the wider determinants of health working together well, renewed trust in the public health system and the experience of introducing ‘one-tier care’ and the ‘universalism’ of the response to Covid-19. Examples cited include the removal of GP fees for phone consultations, the take-over of private hospitals for public patients, and an increased understanding by citizens of why universal access to care is important.
The document lists threats from the current situation such as a difficult economic situation, a “shocked population”, a tired health workforce and uncertainty about a return of the virus.
Opportunities
The new context provides opportunities for implementing Sláintecare “at pace”, officials suggest. New ways should be found to use community services and to create partnerships with the private hospitals to avoid increased pressure on the public system.
The need to increase critical care capacity was a key learning of the pandemic response, according to the document. “Notwithstanding the success in flattening the curve, ICU occupancy easily exceeded base capacity of 255, with 280 critical care beds occupied at the peak.”
Additional demand was met from surge capacity and the redeployment of staff from other hospital services.
However, officials warn that should numbers go beyond the base and surge capacity of 350, and redeployed staff were unavailable, there would be “major impacts on quality of care delivered” with “unmanageable or overwhelmed” clinical activity and “unacceptable” clinical risk.
About 10-15 cases of an acute, Covid-related syndrome affecting children are expected each year on the island of Ireland, according to the document.
The disease, also related to the rare Kawasaki disease, typically affects children aged from six months to four years.