theirishtimes--2020-04-28--Man jailed for eight years over ‘tsunami’ of crimes in Tallaght

A father-of-two who crashed a van into the front of a petrol station during “ a tsunami of criminality ” has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years .
William Nolan ( 30 ) caused €68,000 in damage to the store front and then endangered the lives of two gardaí  while attempting to flee the scene .
Nolan of Kiltalown Path , Jobstown , Tallaght , Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to counts of burglary , criminal damage and endangerment at various locations in Tallaght on May 4th , 2019 .
He also pleaded guilty to burglary at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 29th , 2019 .
Nolan was on bail for this offence when he committed all subsequent offences in May .
The court heard that in the early hours of the morning on the date in March , Nolan entered the employee area of Allied Foods with a hatchet and damaged two vending machines .
Garda Robert Witty told Pieter Le Vert BL , prosecuting , that in the early hours of the date in April , Nolan first attempted to break into a Circle K petrol station at Blessington Road , Tallaght .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the back door which had to be replaced .
Garda Witty said Nolan then stole a van from an address at Belfry Court , Tallaght .
The van was equipped with GPS by its owner ’ s employer and they were able to track its movements throughout the day .
Nolan then broke into a Spar shop in Priors Gate , Tallaght , by smashing a side window .
He stole two bottles of spirits , €100 in scratch cards and €800 in cash .
Gardaí  investigating the Spar burglary were informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outside during the break-in and they tracked it to the forecourt of a Maxol petrol station at North Tymon Road , Tallaght .
The van had been driven into the garage , destroying the front entrance and causing €68,000 in damage .
Gardaí spotted Nolan and shouted at him to stop what he was doing , but he instead ran back to the stolen van .
Garda Dylan McGrath climbed into the van after Nolan and tried to reach for the keys , but the defendant put his foot on the accelerator .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the van as it began to move and was forced to exit the vehicle .
Garda Aisling Conway had been standing in front of the van and had to jump out of the way as it drove off .
Gardaí  attempted to follow the van but were unsuccessful .
Later the same morning , Nolan burgled a home at Kingswood Heights , Tallaght .
Nolan stole numerous items including jewellery , cameras and a watch that belonged to the deceased son of the residents .
Nolan also stole a van that belonged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendant was arrested at The Square Shopping Centre , Tallaght , after stealing a vape machine from a shop and damaging a basketball machine in a casino .
Several items , including a wedding ring , were recovered upon his arrest .
Nolan has 127 previous convictions .
He has been married since he was aged 19 and has two children .
Garda Witty agreed with Sarah-Jane O ’ Callaghan BL , defending , that there appeared to have been no planning or premeditation by her client for any of the offences .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was “ off his head ” on drugs .
Ms O ’ Callaghan described her client as being a man with a significant gambling and drug debt who “ could not control himself ” .
She said her client does not have a recollection of the crimes or of the location of the stolen items which have not been recovered .
Judge Pauline Codd said the offences seemed to be “ a tsunami of criminality ” which all occurred in one spree .
She said the gardaí must be commended for their bravery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Codd sentenced Nolan to one year imprisonment for the burglary in March .
She imposed a sentence of eight years imprisonment for the offences in May which she ordered to run consecutively to the one year sentence .
She suspended the final six months of the sentence on strict conditions , including that Nolan follow all directions of the Probation Service for one year post release .

William Nolan was described in court as a a man with a significant gambling and drug debt who ‘could not control himself’.
A father-of-two who crashed a van into the front of a petrol station during “a tsunami of criminality” has been jailed for eight-and-a-half years.
William Nolan (30) caused €68,000 in damage to the store front and then endangered the lives of two gardaí  while attempting to flee the scene.
Nolan of Kiltalown Path, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to counts of burglary, criminal damage and endangerment at various locations in Tallaght on May 4th, 2019.
He also pleaded guilty to burglary at Allied Foods, Tallaght, on March 29th, 2019. Nolan was on bail for this offence when he committed all subsequent offences in May.
READ MORE
The court heard that in the early hours of the morning on the date in March, Nolan entered the employee area of Allied Foods with a hatchet and damaged two vending machines.
Garda Robert Witty told Pieter Le Vert BL, prosecuting, that in the early hours of the date in April, Nolan first attempted to break into a Circle K petrol station at Blessington Road, Tallaght. He caused damaging to electoral wiring and the back door which had to be replaced.
Garda Witty said Nolan then stole a van from an address at Belfry Court, Tallaght. The van was equipped with GPS by its owner’s employer and they were able to track its movements throughout the day.
Nolan then broke into a Spar shop in Priors Gate, Tallaght, by smashing a side window. He stole two bottles of spirits, €100 in scratch cards and €800 in cash.
Destroyed
Gardaí  investigating the Spar burglary were informed that a white van had been parked outside during the break-in and they tracked it to the forecourt of a Maxol petrol station at North Tymon Road, Tallaght.
The van had been driven into the garage, destroying the front entrance and causing €68,000 in damage. Gardaí spotted Nolan and shouted at him to stop what he was doing, but he instead ran back to the stolen van.
Garda Dylan McGrath climbed into the van after Nolan and tried to reach for the keys, but the defendant put his foot on the accelerator. Garda McGrath was left hanging out of the van as it began to move and was forced to exit the vehicle.
Garda Aisling Conway had been standing in front of the van and had to jump out of the way as it drove off. Gardaí  attempted to follow the van but were unsuccessful.
Later the same morning, Nolan burgled a home at Kingswood Heights, Tallaght. Nolan stole numerous items including jewellery, cameras and a watch that belonged to the deceased son of the residents.
Nolan also stole a van that belonged to one of the occupants. The defendant was arrested at The Square Shopping Centre, Tallaght, after stealing a vape machine from a shop and damaging a basketball machine in a casino. Several items, including a wedding ring, were recovered upon his arrest.
No premeditation
Nolan has 127 previous convictions. He has been married since he was aged 19 and has two children.
Garda Witty agreed with Sarah-Jane O’Callaghan BL, defending, that there appeared to have been no planning or premeditation by her client for any of the offences. He agreed that when arrested, Nolan was “off his head” on drugs.
Ms O’Callaghan described her client as being a man with a significant gambling and drug debt who “could not control himself”. She said her client does not have a recollection of the crimes or of the location of the stolen items which have not been recovered.
Judge Pauline Codd said the offences seemed to be "a tsunami of criminality" which all occurred in one spree. She said the gardaí must be commended for their bravery when trying to apprehend Nolan.
Judge Codd sentenced Nolan to one year imprisonment for the burglary in March. She imposed a sentence of eight years imprisonment for the offences in May which she ordered to run consecutively to the one year sentence.
She suspended the final six months of the sentence on strict conditions, including that Nolan follow all directions of the Probation Service for one year post release.


theirishtimes--2020-04-28--Anthony Stokes charged with head-butting man in Dublin pub

Professional footballer Anthony Stokes has appeared in court accused of head-butting a man in a Temple Bar pub during the St Patrick ’ s festival last year .
The 31-year-old former Celtic striker and Republic of Ireland star from Dublin , who has just finished a six-month stint with Iranian club Persepolis , claims he acted in self-defence .
He is accused of assault causing harm to a named man at Fitzgerald ’ s pub on Aston Quay , Dublin 2 , on March 16th , 2019 .
The charge is under section three of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an address at Wyckham Point , in Dundrum , Dublin 14 , made no reply when he was charged on Tuesday afternoon at Pearse Street Garda station , Garda Donal O ’ Neill told Judge Anthony Halpin at the late sitting of Dublin District Court .
Garda O ’ Neill said it was alleged Mr Stokes headbutted the complainant once , “ knocking him to the ground and temporarily losing consciousness ” .
However , the man did not suffer lasting injuries , the court was told .
The complainant was not in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hearing and wore a protective face mask .
Defence solicitor Peter Corrigan , of Belfast-based firm Phoenix Law , told Judge Halpin his client denies the charge .
He told the court on the night in question Mr Stokes had been at the bar with his girlfriend “ and says he acted at all times in self-defence , proportionately ” .
Judge Halpin accepted jurisdiction for the case to be dealt with in the district court which can , on conviction , impose a 12-month sentence .
There was no objection to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ordered to appear again on July 27th for a plea to be formally entered and a hearing date set .

Anthony Stokes leaving the Criminal Courts of Justice on Parkgate Street in Dublin after a District Court hearing. Photograph: Collins Courts
Professional footballer Anthony Stokes has appeared in court accused of head-butting a man in a Temple Bar pub during the St Patrick's festival last year.
The 31-year-old former Celtic striker and Republic of Ireland star from Dublin, who has just finished a six-month stint with Iranian club Persepolis, claims he acted in self-defence.
He is accused of assault causing harm to a named man at Fitzgerald’s pub on Aston Quay, Dublin 2, on March 16th, 2019.
The charge is under section three of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act
READ MORE
Mr Stokes, who has an address at Wyckham Point, in Dundrum, Dublin 14, made no reply when he was charged on Tuesday afternoon at Pearse Street Garda station, Garda Donal O'Neill told Judge Anthony Halpin at the late sitting of Dublin District Court.
Garda O’Neill said it was alleged Mr Stokes headbutted the complainant once, “knocking him to the ground and temporarily losing consciousness”.
However, the man did not suffer lasting injuries, the court was told. The complainant was not in court.
Mr Stokes remained silent throughout the hearing and wore a protective face mask.
Defence solicitor Peter Corrigan, of Belfast-based firm Phoenix Law, told Judge Halpin his client denies the charge.
He told the court on the night in question Mr Stokes had been at the bar with his girlfriend “and says he acted at all times in self-defence, proportionately”.
Judge Halpin accepted jurisdiction for the case to be dealt with in the district court which can, on conviction, impose a 12-month sentence.
There was no objection to bail with conditions.
Mr Stokes was ordered to appear again on July 27th for a plea to be formally entered and a hearing date set.


theirishtimes--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: People will have to get used to ‘new normal’, Holohan warns

People will have to get used to a “ new normal ” in behaviours as society comes to terms with Covid-19 in the long term , chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned .
Society will have to develop new behaviours “ that are not part of how we used to do things ” , he told the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) briefing on Tuesday .
It will become “ socially unacceptable ” for people to go to work or school with cold or flu symptoms , he said .
“ The message will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is something we don ’ t do anymore .
We have to get used to a new normal.
” The deaths of another 59 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by NPHET at its briefing , of which 45 were laboratory-confirmed .
The deaths occurred on 10 different days in the past fortnight , though most were in the last three days .
There have now been 1,159 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic .
NPHET also reported 229 new confirmed cases .
The total number of confirmed cases now stands at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests for the disease had been carried out .
Over the past week , 41,470 tests were performed and of these 5,335 were positive , giving a positivity rate of 12.9 per cent .
An analysis of deaths shows 47 per cent occurred in hospital , including 5.8 per cent in intensive care , while 86 per cent had underlying conditions .
Men accounted for 53 per cent of deaths ; the median age of fatalities was 83 years and the mean was 81 .
An analysis of 19,383 cases up to last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 42 per cent male .
The median age of confirmed cases was 49 years .
Some 2,638 cases ( 14 per cent ) were hospitalised and , of these , 358 were admitted to ICU .
The number of healthcare worker cases now stands at 5,414 .
Dublin accounts for half of all cases , followed by Kildare and Cork , which each account for 6 per cent .
Community transmission accounts for 63 per cent of cases , close contacts for 33 per cent and foreign travel for 4 per cent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ currently in intensive care , while 162 confirmed cases had been discharged from ICU .
Some 83 per cent of admissions to ICU had underlying conditions and the median age of patients was 60 years .
Dr Holohan said there was still “ a long way to go ” in terms of improved numbers of cases , ICU admissions and deaths before restrictions could be eased .
He urged the public to “ stay the course ” while adding that he understood that some people ’ s patience was “ wearing thin ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closures .
Rejecting any suggestion NPHET was “ blaming ” people for breaking the restrictions , he said there has been a “ huge level ” of compliance but it was important to “ keep that up ” .
There were still more than 140 people in ICU and large numbers in hospital with Covid-19 , while high numbers of people were being diagnosed with the disease , he said .
“ We ’ re not down to a low enough level yet.
” Asked why the incidence of the virus is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said there were a number of factors including an outbreak in the hospital and cases in residential facilities and congregated settings .
“ It doesn ’ t appear to be directly related to it being a border county.
” Dr Holohan said recommendations on the wearing of masks was one of the measures under consideration by NPHET this week .
If such a recommendation were to be made , efforts would be made to ensure the supply of healthcare-grade masks for health staff and patients was protected .

The Chief Medical Officer of the HSE Tony Holohan has said keeping restrictions in place is required before making any changes on May 5th. Video: RTE
People will have to get used to a “new normal” in behaviours as society comes to terms with Covid-19 in the long term, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan has warned.
Society will have to develop new behaviours "that are not part of how we used to do things", he told the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) briefing on Tuesday.
It will become “socially unacceptable” for people to go to work or school with cold or flu symptoms, he said.
“The message will be, almost like smoking in company, this is something we don’t do anymore. We have to get used to a new normal.”
READ MORE
The deaths of another 59 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by NPHET at its briefing, of which 45 were laboratory-confirmed.
The deaths occurred on 10 different days in the past fortnight, though most were in the last three days.
There have now been 1,159 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic.
NPHET also reported 229 new confirmed cases. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 19,877.
As of Monday, 153,054 tests for the disease had been carried out. Over the past week, 41,470 tests were performed and of these 5,335 were positive, giving a positivity rate of 12.9 per cent.
An analysis of deaths shows 47 per cent occurred in hospital, including 5.8 per cent in intensive care, while 86 per cent had underlying conditions.
Men accounted for 53 per cent of deaths; the median age of fatalities was 83 years and the mean was 81.
An analysis of 19,383 cases up to last Sunday shows 58 per cent were female and 42 per cent male. The median age of confirmed cases was 49 years.
ICU
Some 2,638 cases (14 per cent) were hospitalised and, of these, 358 were admitted to ICU.
The number of healthcare worker cases now stands at 5,414.
Dublin accounts for half of all cases, followed by Kildare and Cork, which each account for 6 per cent.
Community transmission accounts for 63 per cent of cases, close contacts for 33 per cent and foreign travel for 4 per cent.
Dr Holohan said 141 patients are currently in intensive care, while 162 confirmed cases had been discharged from ICU. Some 83 per cent of admissions to ICU had underlying conditions and the median age of patients was 60 years.
Dr Holohan said there was still “a long way to go” in terms of improved numbers of cases, ICU admissions and deaths before restrictions could be eased.
Recommendations on the wearing of masks was one of the measures under consideration by NPHET this week
He urged the public to “stay the course” while adding that he understood that some people’s patience was “wearing thin” with the Government-imposed restrictions on movement and closures.
Rejecting any suggestion NPHET was “blaming” people for breaking the restrictions, he said there has been a “huge level” of compliance but it was important to “keep that up”.
There were still more than 140 people in ICU and large numbers in hospital with Covid-19, while high numbers of people were being diagnosed with the disease, he said. “We’re not down to a low enough level yet.”
Asked why the incidence of the virus is so high in Co Cavan, HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said there were a number of factors including an outbreak in the hospital and cases in residential facilities and congregated settings. “It doesn’t appear to be directly related to it being a border county.”
Dr Holohan said recommendations on the wearing of masks was one of the measures under consideration by NPHET this week. If such a recommendation were to be made, efforts would be made to ensure the supply of healthcare-grade masks for health staff and patients was protected.


theirishtimes--2020-04-28--Coronavirus: Deaths in Northern Ireland rise by 20 to 329

Twenty more people have died in Northern Ireland from coronavirus , the North ’ s Department of Health reported on Tuesday afternoon .
This brings the total number of Covid-19 deaths in the North to 329 .
These figures do not include deaths in Northern Ireland care homes and hospices which are expected to increase the figure by at least a third .
There were 34 new confirmed cases of coronavirus , according to the latest figures , which leaves the total number of cases in the North at 3,408 .
Meanwhile police in the North said they have received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a three-week period during the coronavirus lockdown .
They released these figures as the Northern Assembly debated how to strengthen domestic abuse laws .
In the first three weeks of April 1,919 domestic abuse calls were made to police , said Detective Superintendent Anthony McNally from the PSNI ’ s public protection branch .
This represents an increase of more than ten per cent on the usual weekly figures for such abuse .
The officer disclosed the figures as the Northern Assembly discussed new legislation that would see domestic abusers facing up to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious offences .
The proposed new law also would introduce a new bullying offence in Northern Ireland known as coercive control .
“ During these unprecedented times of the Covid-19 pandemic people are spending more time at home , which can create potentially stressful situations , ” said Detective Superintendent McNally .
“ As a police service we want victims of domestic abuse to know ‘ we are still here to help you , despite the pandemic .
You are not alone and we have not forgotten you ’ , ” he added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from 15th-21st April , there were 611 calls .
This compares to 585 domestic abuse calls during the week of 1st-7th April - an additional 26 calls .
During the week of the 8th-14th April , there were 723 domestic abuse calls made to us , ” he said .
“ While these figures tell us that victims are finding the courage to pick up the phone and call us , we must never forget that behind each of these calls is a victim who is experiencing a harrowing ordeal at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Detective Superintendent McNally .
Introducing the new legislation which could take about a year to become law , the North ’ s justice Minister Naomi Long hoped the proposals would provide some assurance to those at risk .
“ It is important that our response is not temporary or fleeting as domestic abuse is neither , ” she told the Assembly .
“ Help is available and while you may be socially distancing you are definitely not alone , ” said Ms Long .
Meanwhile , the PSNI and the North ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement to try to provide clarification about the law on social distancing .
Against concern that more people are both breaching and challenging the legality of the social distancing regulations the police and the health department admitted to “ some shades of grey ” about the rules but insisted that people should “ stay home and only leave home when it is essential ” .
In the period between March 30th and April 24th the PSNI issued more than 350 fines for people breaching the rules , with the first fine starting at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 14 days .
“ We are deeply concerned that the current discourse may serve to undermine public confidence in the overall regulations , and encourage some people to ignore the strong guidance from the NI Executive with potentially devastating consequences , ” they said in the statement .
The PSNI and health department said that “ in an ideal world ” the social distancing rules would have received detailed scrutiny at the Assembly before becoming law .
“ However , we are not living in an ideal world at present .
The overriding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ life .
Regulations to enforce and encourage social distancing have a vital role to play in that regard , ” they added .
They said , “ Regulations are never going to cover all potential aspects of human interaction and behaviour in a modern society .
There will inevitably be some shades of grey .
That ’ s the reality of life .
The police have rightly made clear that officers will apply a ‘ reasonableness ’ test on occasions when deciding if some behaviours may breach the regulations .
“ Whilst understanding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what constitutes an offence under the regulations , it is not always possible to give individual answers for the countless hypothetical scenarios which may arise , ” they added .
The department and PSNI said that “ officers applying discretion are a regular feature of modern day policing ” and that “ discretion is by its nature case specific .
“ Ultimately , any decisions can be challenged through the courts , ” they added .

Photo issued by PSNI showing a PSNI officer on patrol in Belfast city centre during the Coronavirus pandemic restriction period. Photograph: Stephen Davison/PSNI/PA Wire
Twenty more people have died in Northern Ireland from coronavirus, the North's Department of Health reported on Tuesday afternoon.
This brings the total number of Covid-19 deaths in the North to 329. These figures do not include deaths in Northern Ireland care homes and hospices which are expected to increase the figure by at least a third.
There were 34 new confirmed cases of coronavirus, according to the latest figures, which leaves the total number of cases in the North at 3,408.
Meanwhile police in the North said they have received close to 2,000 domestic abuse calls over a three-week period during the coronavirus lockdown.
READ MORE
They released these figures as the Northern Assembly debated how to strengthen domestic abuse laws.
In the first three weeks of April 1,919 domestic abuse calls were made to police, said Detective Superintendent Anthony McNally from the PSNI’s public protection branch. This represents an increase of more than ten per cent on the usual weekly figures for such abuse.
The officer disclosed the figures as the Northern Assembly discussed new legislation that would see domestic abusers facing up to 14 years in prison for the most serious offences.
The proposed new law also would introduce a new bullying offence in Northern Ireland known as coercive control.
“During these unprecedented times of the Covid-19 pandemic people are spending more time at home, which can create potentially stressful situations,” said Detective Superintendent McNally.
“As a police service we want victims of domestic abuse to know ‘we are still here to help you, despite the pandemic. You are not alone and we have not forgotten you’,” he added.
“In the last week alone, from 15th-21st April, there were 611 calls. This compares to 585 domestic abuse calls during the week of 1st-7th April - an additional 26 calls. During the week of the 8th-14th April, there were 723 domestic abuse calls made to us,” he said.
“While these figures tell us that victims are finding the courage to pick up the phone and call us, we must never forget that behind each of these calls is a victim who is experiencing a harrowing ordeal at the hands of their perpetrators,” added Detective Superintendent McNally.
Introducing the new legislation which could take about a year to become law, the North's justice Minister Naomi Long hoped the proposals would provide some assurance to those at risk. "It is important that our response is not temporary or fleeting as domestic abuse is neither," she told the Assembly.
“Help is available and while you may be socially distancing you are definitely not alone,” said Ms Long.
Meanwhile, the PSNI and the North’s Department of Health have issued a joint statement to try to provide clarification about the law on social distancing.
Against concern that more people are both breaching and challenging the legality of the social distancing regulations the police and the health department admitted to “some shades of grey” about the rules but insisted that people should “stay home and only leave home when it is essential”.
In the period between March 30th and April 24th the PSNI issued more than 350 fines for people breaching the rules, with the first fine starting at £60 – or £30 if paid within 14 days.
“We are deeply concerned that the current discourse may serve to undermine public confidence in the overall regulations, and encourage some people to ignore the strong guidance from the NI Executive with potentially devastating consequences,” they said in the statement.
The PSNI and health department said that “in an ideal world” the social distancing rules would have received detailed scrutiny at the Assembly before becoming law.
“However, we are not living in an ideal world at present. The overriding priority at this time is protection of life. Regulations to enforce and encourage social distancing have a vital role to play in that regard,” they added.
They said, “Regulations are never going to cover all potential aspects of human interaction and behaviour in a modern society. There will inevitably be some shades of grey. That’s the reality of life. The police have rightly made clear that officers will apply a ‘reasonableness’ test on occasions when deciding if some behaviours may breach the regulations.
“Whilst understanding people’s desire for clarity in what constitutes an offence under the regulations, it is not always possible to give individual answers for the countless hypothetical scenarios which may arise,” they added.
The department and PSNI said that “officers applying discretion are a regular feature of modern day policing” and that “discretion is by its nature case specific.
“Ultimately, any decisions can be challenged through the courts,” they added.


theirishtimes--2020-04-28--‘We will no longer serve rude or impatient customers’ – Dublin butcher

An upmarket butcher ’ s shop in a leafy south Dublin suburb is probably the last place you would expect to find customers behaving badly during the Covid-19 lockdown .
The Village Butcher shop in Ranelagh displays its McKenna Guide plaques in a neat row beside the front door .
It has won a plaque every year since 2015 and it has been open only seven years .
The shop dry-ages its own beef , which is hung on display in a fridge .
It sells free-range chicken livers , olive-fed pork , organic Irish rose veal , rare cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s available , wagyu beef from Japan , which retails at €220 a kilo .
Yet , the notice outside the front door is a jarring reminder of the extraordinary times we live in .
“ Please do not complain to staff about the length of the time you have que ’ d [ sic ] for .
We will no longer serve rude or impatient customers.
” The Village Butcher shop is a family business , owned by Michael Madden and his wife , Sarah Kelly .
During the Celtic Tiger crash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shop in Dorset Street and started selling meat by delivery only before they got back on their feet again .
Their daughter Jessica ( 25 ) came home from Melbourne at the start of the pandemic to help out .
The staff have already been acquainted with the devastating impact of Covid-19 .
Their butcher , Chris Murphy , lost his mother to the disease in March .
Covid-19 presents a different scenario to the Celtic Tiger crash .
Business is booming .
It was up 100 per cent in the first two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per cent up week on week since then .
By the time the shop opens at 10am , there is already a steady queue of socially distanced customers outside , but this presents its own challenge , says Kelly .
“ It ’ s like this all day .
It ’ s a different stress .
This is physical , not mental .
It ’ s exhausting .
It ’ s like your busiest day every day for seven weeks .
We are lucky if we get a 10 -minute break.
” Weariness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extended to the behaviour of a small , but vocal number of their customers .
One banged loudly on the window last week , and another customer recounted the amount of minutes she had to queue to be served .
Others complain about having to queue .
“ People were very panicked at the beginning .
Then it settled down , but in the past week people are getting very fed up and very restless and that ’ s projected on to us , ” Kelly explains .
“ We are listening to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You could be 40 minutes queuing at weekends .
It [ gets ] to you after a while .
People are saying ‘ hurry up ’ .
It is starting to wear us down.
” Bob Johnston , the proprietor of The Gutter Bookshop in Temple Bar , is also noticing the public ’ s impatience .
He has tweeted some of the responses he has been getting from customers : “ I want to buy a book from you but I need you to post it today ” .
“ I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need the books in the UK by the weekend ” .
“ Can I just come down and pick a book up because I don ’ t want to wait ?
” “ I ordered a book yesterday , have you sent it yet ?
# Monday ” .
Joe Mannion , who owns a Daybreak store in Clondalkin , said the majority of customers are well-behaved , but it is the ones who misbehave that stand out .
“ In general , about 90 per cent are following the rules , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t apply to them .
There ’ s tension in the shop all the time .
It leaves a bad taste for a few hours afterwards , ” he says .
There is increasing anecdotal evidence that the public is becoming tired of the seemingly interminable lockdown , with the assistant secretary to the Department of the Taoiseach , Liz Canavan , admitting that support for the restrictions is “ waning ” .
Yet it seems likely the public is in for several more weeks of restrictions , even if it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Convenience Store and Newsagents Association ( CSNA ) chief executive Vincent Jennings believes that instances of customer misbehaviour are “ very limited ” .
Indeed , he suggests that , generally speaking , people are better behaved and more understanding .
“ By and large most shop owners and staff will agree that the majority of people are behaving exceptionally well and are possibly even better mannered than in ‘ pre-Covid ’ times , understanding the strain and stress that everybody is under .
”

The Village Butcher in Ranelagh is one of several businesses that have said in recent days that customers are becoming impatient with queues and are abusing staff. Video: Kathleen Harris
An upmarket butcher’s shop in a leafy south Dublin suburb is probably the last place you would expect to find customers behaving badly during the Covid-19 lockdown.
The Village Butcher shop in Ranelagh displays its McKenna Guide plaques in a neat row beside the front door. It has won a plaque every year since 2015 and it has been open only seven years.
The shop dry-ages its own beef, which is hung on display in a fridge. It sells free-range chicken livers, olive-fed pork, organic Irish rose veal, rare cuts of meat and, when it's available, wagyu beef from Japan, which retails at €220 a kilo.
Notice in the window of The Village Butcher, Ranelagh, Dublin. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Yet, the notice outside the front door is a jarring reminder of the extraordinary times we live in. “Please do not complain to staff about the length of the time you have que’d [sic] for. We will no longer serve rude or impatient customers.”
READ MORE
The Village Butcher shop is a family business, owned by Michael Madden and his wife, Sarah Kelly.
During the Celtic Tiger crash, they lost their butcher's shop in Dorset Street and started selling meat by delivery only before they got back on their feet again.
Their daughter Jessica (25) came home from Melbourne at the start of the pandemic to help out.
The staff have already been acquainted with the devastating impact of Covid-19. Their butcher, Chris Murphy, lost his mother to the disease in March.
Booming
Covid-19 presents a different scenario to the Celtic Tiger crash. Business is booming. It was up 100 per cent in the first two weeks in the lockdown and consistently 70 per cent up week on week since then.
By the time the shop opens at 10am, there is already a steady queue of socially distanced customers outside, but this presents its own challenge, says Kelly.
“It’s like this all day. It’s a different stress. This is physical, not mental. It’s exhausting. It’s like your busiest day every day for seven weeks. We are lucky if we get a 10 -minute break.”
Weariness has set in, and that has extended to the behaviour of a small, but vocal number of their customers. One banged loudly on the window last week, and another customer recounted the amount of minutes she had to queue to be served. Others complain about having to queue.
“People were very panicked at the beginning. Then it settled down, but in the past week people are getting very fed up and very restless and that’s projected on to us,” Kelly explains.
“We are listening to people complaining every day about queuing. You could be 40 minutes queuing at weekends. It [gets] to you after a while. People are saying ‘hurry up’. It is starting to wear us down.”
Impatience
Bob Johnston, the proprietor of The Gutter Bookshop in Temple Bar, is also noticing the public's impatience. He has tweeted some of the responses he has been getting from customers: "I want to buy a book from you but I need you to post it today". "I'd like to support you but I need the books in the UK by the weekend". "Can I just come down and pick a book up because I don't want to wait?" "I ordered a book yesterday, have you sent it yet? #Monday".
Joe Mannion, who owns a Daybreak store in Clondalkin, said the majority of customers are well-behaved, but it is the ones who misbehave that stand out.
“In general, about 90 per cent are following the rules, but some of the younger crowd think it doesn’t apply to them. There’s tension in the shop all the time. It leaves a bad taste for a few hours afterwards,” he says.
There is increasing anecdotal evidence that the public is becoming tired of the seemingly interminable lockdown, with the assistant secretary to the Department of the Taoiseach, Liz Canavan, admitting that support for the restrictions is "waning".
Yet it seems likely the public is in for several more weeks of restrictions, even if it happens that some are loosened next week.
Convenience Store and Newsagents Association (CSNA) chief executive Vincent Jennings believes that instances of customer misbehaviour are "very limited". Indeed, he suggests that, generally speaking, people are better behaved and more understanding.
“By and large most shop owners and staff will agree that the majority of people are behaving exceptionally well and are possibly even better mannered than in ‘pre-Covid’ times, understanding the strain and stress that everybody is under.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-28--Third Tullamore death may be linked to fake online drugs

Gardaí are reexamining the death of a man in Tullamore last week after two women died in a hostel in the town over the weekend .
Angela Kelly ( 44 ) died at a Clonamore House Hotel on Sunday .
Three other people fell ill soon afterwards and one , identified as 19-year-old Amy Mannix , died on Monday .
The two others , both male , have been hospitalised and one remains in a critical condition .
Gardaí believe the women ’ s deaths may be linked to a batch of fake anti-anxiety drugs which was purchased online .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ purporting to be Xanax was purchased in recent days and distributed to drug users in the town .
However , Garda sources stress they are awaiting the results of postmortems and toxicology tests before coming to a conclusion .
There is now suspicion that the death of a 30-year-old man on April 22nd may be connected to the deaths of the two women .
Emergency services were called when the man , who was residing in a different hostel to the women , became ill .
He died shortly afterwards .
“ A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awaiting toxicology results to determine the course of their investigation .
His death is not thought to be Covid-related , ” a Garda spokesman said .
“ The local coroner has been notified and enquiries are ongoing.
” Gardaí are examining packaging at the scene of the deaths over the weekend which may have contained the drugs .
Gardaí say there has been a significant increase in the purchase of drugs from the internet in recent weeks as coronavirus shuts down more traditional ways of obtaining them .
Difficulties in obtaining drugs have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which they may not be used to , according to drug workers .
Ms Kelly , Ms Mannix and the two people in hospital are known to each other but it is not known if they had any connection to the man who died last Wednesday .
In a statement , gardaí confirmed officers were called to Clonamore House Hotel on Sunday where a 44-year-old woman was in an unresponsive condition .
She was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was removed to Tullamore Hospital for a postmortem examination .
Emergency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat Ms Mannix .
She was also pronounced dead at the scene and removed to hospital .
While Ms Mannix was receiving attention at the hostel , a 23-year-old man became unresponsive and was taken to hospital .
His condition is understood to be critical .
Another man , aged 32 , who had become concerned , attended hospital and his condition is described as non-life threatening .
A report released on Monday by the Health Research Board , the Ana Liffey Drug Project and UCC said increasing numbers of people are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ online from “ pharmacies ” which do not require prescriptions and are not regulated .
These websites are available on the surface web meaning minimal computer knowledge is required to access them .
Analysis of these medications shows many are far too strong or not strong enough compared to the official brands .

Gardaí believe the deaths may be linked to a batch of fake anti-anxiety drugs which was purchased online. File photograph: Cyril Byrne
Gardaí are reexamining the death of a man in Tullamore last week after two women died in a hostel in the town over the weekend.
Angela Kelly (44) died at a Clonamore House Hotel on Sunday. Three other people fell ill soon afterwards and one, identified as 19-year-old Amy Mannix, died on Monday.
The two others, both male, have been hospitalised and one remains in a critical condition.
Gardaí believe the women’s deaths may be linked to a batch of fake anti-anxiety drugs which was purchased online. It is understood a batch of medication purporting to be Xanax was purchased in recent days and distributed to drug users in the town.
READ MORE
However, Garda sources stress they are awaiting the results of postmortems and toxicology tests before coming to a conclusion.
There is now suspicion that the death of a 30-year-old man on April 22nd may be connected to the deaths of the two women.
Emergency services were called when the man, who was residing in a different hostel to the women, became ill. He died shortly afterwards.
“A postmortem was carried out and gardaí are awaiting toxicology results to determine the course of their investigation. His death is not thought to be Covid-related,” a Garda spokesman said. “The local coroner has been notified and enquiries are ongoing.”
Gardaí are examining packaging at the scene of the deaths over the weekend which may have contained the drugs.
Gardaí say there has been a significant increase in the purchase of drugs from the internet in recent weeks as coronavirus shuts down more traditional ways of obtaining them. Difficulties in obtaining drugs have also led users to search for substitutes which they may not be used to, according to drug workers.
Ms Kelly, Ms Mannix and the two people in hospital are known to each other but it is not known if they had any connection to the man who died last Wednesday.
In a statement, gardaí confirmed officers were called to Clonamore House Hotel on Sunday where a 44-year-old woman was in an unresponsive condition. She was pronounced dead at the scene and her body was removed to Tullamore Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Emergency services were then called to the hostel to treat Ms Mannix. She was also pronounced dead at the scene and removed to hospital.
While Ms Mannix was receiving attention at the hostel, a 23-year-old man became unresponsive and was taken to hospital. His condition is understood to be critical. Another man, aged 32, who had become concerned, attended hospital and his condition is described as non-life threatening.
A report released on Monday by the Health Research Board, the Ana Liffey Drug Project and UCC said increasing numbers of people are buying tablets such as Xanax and Valium online from "pharmacies" which do not require prescriptions and are not regulated.
These websites are available on the surface web meaning minimal computer knowledge is required to access them. Analysis of these medications shows many are far too strong or not strong enough compared to the official brands.


theirishtimes--2020-04-29--Coronavirus numbers not good enough to lift restrictions, says Varadkar

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the daily numbers of deaths , new cases and ICU patients associated with coronavirus suggest the conditions are not yet suitable to lift the restrictions on commercial and social life .
Restrictions imposed by the Government in an effort to stem the spread of the virus , also known as Covid-19 , were introduced on March 28th and are due to last until at least May 5th .
According to the latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) , there have now been 1,159 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the State stands at 19,877 .
According to the NPHET , 153,054 tests for the disease have been carried out as of Monday .
Over the past week , 41,470 tests were performed , and of these 5,335 were positive , giving a positivity rate of 12.9 per cent .
Speaking on Wednesday , Mr Varadkar said it was “ totally incorrect ” to say that restrictions were not yet being lifted because the testing capacity is not where it needs to be .
“ In terms of testing we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per capita basis , on a per head basis , we ’ re sixth out of 27 countries in the European Union in terms of testing .
Why we are not reopening at this stage is because of the high number of people in ICU who have Covid , the fact that the number of deaths being reported every day is still very high and the fact that we ’ re still seeing quite a lot of new cases every day , ” he said .
“ And if it were solely a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re sixth out of 27 in the European Union , and other countries that have tested less than us are reopening , then we would be reopening.
” Mr Varadkar said a number of factors had to be taken into account .
He said : “ It is really not the testing – it ’ s the deaths , it ’ s the number of new cases , it ’ s the number of people in ICU that is causing [ Chief Medical Officer ] Dr Tony Holohan and his team to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is too soon , but they are going to review that on Friday .
“ I don ’ t think I ’ d be out of school by saying that those numbers just aren ’ t good enough yet .
Maybe it ’ ll change significantly by Friday .
But as things stand , I don ’ t think we ’ re there yet.
” On emerging Cabinet divisions over the timing of the easing of restrictions , Mr Varadkar said he expected to hear different views from Ministers .
“ Any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the room and ask for their views on something you ’ re going to have different views .
And if I wasn ’ t hearing different views from my Ministers on any issue I would actually be quite worried because that would be a sign of groupthink or a sign that they are somehow afraid to express their opinions , ” he said .
“ So what I did yesterday was something very simple , very straightforward : I asked each of them to give me two or three minutes on what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen the country and reopen the economy , and there was diversity of views and that ’ s what I wanted.
” On Wednesday , Government officials also said there has been a 3.5 per cent increase in the number of passengers using Dublin Bus .
At the Government ’ s morning Covid-19 briefing , Liz Canavan , assistant secretary general at the Department of Taoiseach , said that on Tuesday of this week there were 57,858 journeys , an increase from the average in the previous three weeks where around 55,800 were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ general hospital appointments , Ms Canavan said although there had been an increase in the number of patients attending normal appointments , she reiterated it is “ vital to attend the hospital as directed and to call emergency services in the event of incidents such as a heart attack or stroke ” .
In terms of business , she said more than 50,400 employers are now registered with Revenue ’ s temporary wage subsidy scheme .
The cumulative value of payments made to employers under the scheme is now €652 million .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and head of the department of international health and tropical medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland , has said key financial and political decisions will need to be made by the Government .
Prof McConkey called for a “ look at reallocating staff ” to essential services like healthcare , utilities , distribution networks .
“ We need to find some way of reallocating work , to get people reskilled for the new ways that we ’ re going to be working , ” he said .
“ Our Government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experts and got us into this in a very robust and very effective and very prompt way ; they haven ’ t dallied around waiting , they ’ ve been effective in taking unprecedented action rapidly , ” he told RTÉ radio ’ s Morning Ireland .
“ When we look at the total death rate in Ireland over the last four , six , seven weeks , and compare it to what it was one to five years ago , we find that there ’ s been very little change .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spain , particularly London and shockingly New York , so I feel the last six to eight weeks have been largely a success .
“ That model of listening to technical experts has worked very well to get us into this , I don ’ t feel it will work particularly well to get us out of this because a lot of the key decisions are about getting the economy going again , about asking how do we pay for this , about what businesses do we support , how do we support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , do we do a grant , do we do a guarantee ?
And those are intrinsically financial and political decisions.
” Prof McConkey said he believed the whole of Irish society has been bearing the brunt of the restrictions , not just the over 70s .
When asked if some restrictions should be lifted , he said : “ I think the answer is yes that doing things outside while we ’ re two to three metres away , particularly if wearing masks , is completely safe.
” Prof McConkey said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inevitably the coronavirus is going start spreading again in Ireland either with reintroduction from outside or from small areas where it is still there .
Once it starts up in one area it ’ s particularly important that we detect that really quickly and effectively – when I say quickly , I mean within a few hours.
” When asked if it was a case of “ health versus wealth ” , Prof McConkey replied : “ I don ’ t think it is a case of pitting health against the economy because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ society or any individual or family is really their wealth .
”

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the daily numbers of deaths, new cases and ICU patients associated with coronavirus suggest the conditions are not yet suitable to lift the restrictions on commercial and social life.
Restrictions imposed by the Government in an effort to stem the spread of the virus, also known as Covid-19, were introduced on March 28th and are due to last until at least May 5th.
According to the latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), there have now been 1,159 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic. The total number of confirmed cases in the State stands at 19,877.
According to the NPHET, 153,054 tests for the disease have been carried out as of Monday. Over the past week, 41,470 tests were performed, and of these 5,335 were positive, giving a positivity rate of 12.9 per cent.
READ MORE
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Varadkar said it was “totally incorrect” to say that restrictions were not yet being lifted because the testing capacity is not where it needs to be.
“In terms of testing we’ve done 150,000 tests already. On a per capita basis, on a per head basis, we’re sixth out of 27 countries in the European Union in terms of testing. Why we are not reopening at this stage is because of the high number of people in ICU who have Covid, the fact that the number of deaths being reported every day is still very high and the fact that we’re still seeing quite a lot of new cases every day,” he said.
“And if it were solely a matter of testing, given that we’re sixth out of 27 in the European Union, and other countries that have tested less than us are reopening, then we would be reopening.”
Mr Varadkar said a number of factors had to be taken into account.
He said: "It is really not the testing – it's the deaths, it's the number of new cases, it's the number of people in ICU that is causing [Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan] and his team to tell us that at the moment anyway it is too soon, but they are going to review that on Friday.
“I don’t think I’d be out of school by saying that those numbers just aren’t good enough yet. Maybe it’ll change significantly by Friday. But as things stand, I don’t think we’re there yet.”
On emerging Cabinet divisions over the timing of the easing of restrictions, Mr Varadkar said he expected to hear different views from Ministers.
“Any time you get 15 or 20 people in the room and ask for their views on something you’re going to have different views. And if I wasn’t hearing different views from my Ministers on any issue I would actually be quite worried because that would be a sign of groupthink or a sign that they are somehow afraid to express their opinions,” he said.
“So what I did yesterday was something very simple, very straightforward: I asked each of them to give me two or three minutes on what their individual views were on how to reopen the country and reopen the economy, and there was diversity of views and that’s what I wanted.”
Dublin Bus
On Wednesday, Government officials also said there has been a 3.5 per cent increase in the number of passengers using Dublin Bus.
At the Government's morning Covid-19 briefing, Liz Canavan, assistant secretary general at the Department of Taoiseach, said that on Tuesday of this week there were 57,858 journeys, an increase from the average in the previous three weeks where around 55,800 were using the service.
In terms of general hospital appointments, Ms Canavan said although there had been an increase in the number of patients attending normal appointments, she reiterated it is “vital to attend the hospital as directed and to call emergency services in the event of incidents such as a heart attack or stroke”.
In terms of business, she said more than 50,400 employers are now registered with Revenue’s temporary wage subsidy scheme.
The cumulative value of payments made to employers under the scheme is now €652 million.
Meanwhile, Prof Sam McConkey, associate professor and head of the department of international health and tropical medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, has said key financial and political decisions will need to be made by the Government.
Prof McConkey called for a “look at reallocating staff” to essential services like healthcare, utilities, distribution networks. “We need to find some way of reallocating work, to get people reskilled for the new ways that we’re going to be working,” he said.
“Our Government have listened to public health and medical experts and got us into this in a very robust and very effective and very prompt way; they haven’t dallied around waiting, they’ve been effective in taking unprecedented action rapidly,” he told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland.
"When we look at the total death rate in Ireland over the last four, six, seven weeks, and compare it to what it was one to five years ago, we find that there's been very little change. That's very different from Italy, Spain, particularly London and shockingly New York, so I feel the last six to eight weeks have been largely a success.
“That model of listening to technical experts has worked very well to get us into this, I don’t feel it will work particularly well to get us out of this because a lot of the key decisions are about getting the economy going again, about asking how do we pay for this, about what businesses do we support, how do we support those businesses, do we nationalise them, do we do a grant, do we do a guarantee? And those are intrinsically financial and political decisions.”
Prof McConkey said he believed the whole of Irish society has been bearing the brunt of the restrictions, not just the over 70s. When asked if some restrictions should be lifted, he said: “I think the answer is yes that doing things outside while we’re two to three metres away, particularly if wearing masks, is completely safe.”
Prof McConkey said: “Testing is really key, because inevitably the coronavirus is going start spreading again in Ireland either with reintroduction from outside or from small areas where it is still there. Once it starts up in one area it’s particularly important that we detect that really quickly and effectively – when I say quickly, I mean within a few hours.”
When asked if it was a case of “health versus wealth”, Prof McConkey replied: “I don’t think it is a case of pitting health against the economy because the strongest predictor of health in any society or any individual or family is really their wealth.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-29--Coronavirus: Restaurants and cafes in Ireland would struggle at reduced capacity

Restaurants and cafes will struggle to be profitable when they reopen under social distancing measures , industry sources have said .
According to draft plans by the National Public Health and Emergency Teams ( Nphet ) , cafes and restaurants could reopen by the middle of the summer as one of the first waves of lifting coronavirus restrictions .
However , those working in the sector said while some smaller premises may be able to switch to a takeaway or online business model , many will struggle to adapt their business models to continue to make profit while adhering to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a board member with the speciality coffee association , and who works for Bewleys , said reopening cafes will be difficult because they operate “ on very tight margins ” .
“ To implement social distancing is going to be very difficult .
You make revenue per square metre , so if you have to reduce the footfall , it will massively affect our margins , ” Ms Cassidy said .
“ One of the biggest overheads would be their premises , particularly for those based in city centres .
A lot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sustain it , especially if offices don ’ t reopen at the same time .
There ’ s no point in operators opening at half capacity , they have to be busy to be profitable.
” Oliver Cruise , the owner of Network Cafe on Aungier Street in Dublin , said any move towards re-establishing businesses is good but that difficulties will arise as owners attempt to adapt to new measures .
“ The bigger concerns are around social distancing and how that will impact trade levels and how we can kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facilitate while operating a business , ” Mr Cruise said .
“ It ’ s hard to see how it ’ s feasible , to be honest .
It ’ s almost impossible to see what ’ s the new norm and how are businesses going to operate at reduced capacity when the business model would have been reliant on operating at full capacity to survive.
” Adrian Cummins , chief executive of the Restaurant Association of Ireland , said the move to reopen would be welcome but that there needs to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ We would need to prepare to reopen with regards to training and advice , and if reengineering of restaurants is required for social distancing then we need to know what that would look like , ” Mr Cummins said .
“ The Government also needs to support restaurants .
If the wage subsidy scheme does not continue , then restaurants won ’ t reopen because it wouldn ’ t make financial sense to reopen but lose 40 to 50 per cent of your tables.
” Daniel McCoy , chief executive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ body , has said the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic has been huge economically and efforts must commence for a return to a “ new normal ” .
Mr McCoy called for a “ road map ” for recovery from the government .
He told RTÉ Radio One ’ s Morning Ireland that when the Covid-19 crisis began , everyone believed it to be a temporary situation , but this is “ clearly not the case and we will all be living with this virus for months .
“ We ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adjustment that reflects this reality and we have to be conscious of losing our livelihoods as well as our lives.
” Mr McCoy said that when there is a return to work it would have to involve sharing public space and companies would need to know how this would work .
Workplace safety , the rationing of public space all needed to be planned for , he added .
“ We need joined up thinking to deal with an economic crisis that is going to last a lot longer than we originally @ @ @

Restaurants and cafes are likely to struggle to be profitable when they reopen under social distancing measures. Photograph: Frank Miller
Restaurants and cafes will struggle to be profitable when they reopen under social distancing measures, industry sources have said.
According to draft plans by the National Public Health and Emergency Teams (Nphet), cafes and restaurants could reopen by the middle of the summer as one of the first waves of lifting coronavirus restrictions.
However, those working in the sector said while some smaller premises may be able to switch to a takeaway or online business model, many will struggle to adapt their business models to continue to make profit while adhereing to social distancing measures.
Maria Cassidy, a board member with the speciality coffee association, and who works for Bewleys, said reopening cafes will be difficult because they operate "on very tight margins".
READ MORE
“To implement social distancing is going to be very difficult. You make revenue per square metre, so if you have to reduce the footfall, it will massively affect our margins,” Ms Cassidy said.
“One of the biggest overheads would be their premises, particularly for those based in city centres. A lot of places won’t be able to sustain it, especially if offices don’t reopen at the same time. There’s no point in operators opening at half capacity, they have to be busy to be profitable.”
Oliver Cruise, the owner of Network Cafe on Aungier Street in Dublin, said any move towards re-establishing businesses is good but that difficulties will arise as owners attempt to adapt to new measures.
“The bigger concerns are around social distancing and how that will impact trade levels and how we can kind of manage the reduced capacity that we can facilitate while operating a business,” Mr Cruise said.
“It’s hard to see how it’s feasible, to be honest. It’s almost impossible to see what’s the new norm and how are businesses going to operate at reduced capacity when the business model would have been reliant on operating at full capacity to survive.”
Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurant Association of Ireland, said the move to reopen would be welcome but that there needs to be a preparation phase in advance of that.
“We would need to prepare to reopen with regards to training and advice, and if reengineering of restaurants is required for social distancing then we need to know what that would look like,” Mr Cummins said.
“The Government also needs to support restaurants. If the wage subsidy scheme does not continue, then restaurants won’t reopen because it wouldn’t make financial sense to reopen but lose 40 to 50 per cent of your tables.”
Conor McKenna, of Hugh Jordan Catering Supplies, said restaurants and other businesses will have to decide how to best use their premises while respecting social distancing and other rules that may apply.
He cited the example of transparent barriers that have been used in other countries as a potential solution, as well as the potential use of thermometers to take the temperatures of staff and customers.
“Some of the potential solutions here are about creating barriers,” he said. “If you have two tables with a big divider screen between them, they can be close.
“Each restaurant has to figure out what is the model is going to work.”
Mr McKenna said questions could also arise around cutlery, with takeaway sets an option, as well as sanitisers and respirators.
Daniel McCoy, chief executive of Ibec, the business and employer representative body, has said the cost of the Covid-19 pandemic has been huge economically and efforts must commence for a return to a “new normal”.
Mr McCoy called for a "road map" for recovery from the government. He told RTÉ Radio One's Morning Ireland that when the Covid-19 crisis began, everyone believed it to be a temporary situation, but this is "clearly not the case and we will all be living with this virus for months.
“We’re going to need to have a road map to adjustment that reflects this reality and we have to be conscious of losing our livelihoods as well as our lives.”
Mr McCoy said that when there is a return to work it would have to involve sharing public space and companies would need to know how this would work.
Workplace safety, the rationing of public space all needed to be planned for, he added. “We need joined up thinking to deal with an economic crisis that is going to last a lot longer than we originally thought.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-29--Mile-wide asteroid to pass 3.9m miles from Earth

An asteroid more than a mile wide will skim past Earth on Wednesday while travelling at a speed of around 19,000 miles per hour ( 30,578 km/h ) .
The space rock , known as ( 52768 ) 1998 OR2 , is expected to make its closest approach at 10.56am BST , when it will be just 3.9 million miles ( 6.3m km ) away — around 16 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon .
Although the asteroid is classified as a potentially hazardous object ( PHO ) , scientists have said it will not put the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , an astrophysicist at the Australian National University , said : “ This asteroid poses no danger to the Earth and will not hit — it is one catastrophe we won ’ t have .
“ While it is big , it is still smaller than the asteroid that impacted the Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs.
” He said an asteroid is classed as a PHO if it is bigger than 500ft and comes within five million miles of Earth ’ s orbit .
Dr Anne Virkki , head of Planetary Radar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who has been tracking the 1.2 mile-wide rock , said understanding more about PHOs will help “ improve impact-risk mitigation technologies ” .
At present , there are no known PHOs that pose an immediate danger to the Earth .
The team , who began observations on April 13th , joked that the most recent pictures of the asteroid made it look as though it is wearing a mask .
Dr Virkki said : “ The small-scale topographic features such as hills and ridges on one end of asteroid 1998 OR2 are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are all thinking about Covid-19 , these features make it look like 1998 OR2 remembered to wear a mask.
” Scientists will continue to monitor the asteroid , although the next closest approach is not expected to take place for another 49 years .
Flaviane Venditti , a research scientist at the observatory , said : “ The radar measurements allow us to know more precisely where the asteroid will be in the future , including its future close approaches to Earth .
“ In 2079 , asteroid 1998 OR2 will pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will this year , so it is important to know its orbit precisely .
”

A file photograph dated 18/04/20 of the asteroid known as (52768) 1998 OR2. Photograph: @AreciboRadar/Twitter/PA Wire.
An asteroid more than a mile wide will skim past Earth on Wednesday while travelling at a speed of around 19,000 miles per hour (30,578 km/h).
The space rock, known as (52768) 1998 OR2, is expected to make its closest approach at 10.56am BST, when it will be just 3.9 million miles (6.3m km) away — around 16 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon.
Although the asteroid is classified as a potentially hazardous object (PHO), scientists have said it will not put the planet at risk.
Dr Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist at the Australian National University, said: “This asteroid poses no danger to the Earth and will not hit — it is one catastrophe we won’t have.
READ MORE
“While it is big, it is still smaller than the asteroid that impacted the Earth and wiped out the dinosaurs.”
He said an asteroid is classed as a PHO if it is bigger than 500ft and comes within five million miles of Earth’s orbit.
Dr Anne Virkki, head of Planetary Radar at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, who has been tracking the 1.2 mile-wide rock, said understanding more about PHOs will help “improve impact-risk mitigation technologies”.
At present, there are no known PHOs that pose an immediate danger to the Earth.
The team, who began observations on April 13th, joked that the most recent pictures of the asteroid made it look as though it is wearing a mask.
Dr Virkki said: “The small-scale topographic features such as hills and ridges on one end of asteroid 1998 OR2 are fascinating scientifically.
“But, since we are all thinking about Covid-19, these features make it look like 1998 OR2 remembered to wear a mask.”
Scientists will continue to monitor the asteroid, although the next closest approach is not expected to take place for another 49 years.
Flaviane Venditti, a research scientist at the observatory, said: “The radar measurements allow us to know more precisely where the asteroid will be in the future, including its future close approaches to Earth.
“In 2079, asteroid 1998 OR2 will pass Earth about 3.5 times closer than it will this year, so it is important to know its orbit precisely.”


theirishtimes--2020-04-29--University lecturers warn of ‘enrolment chaos’ in autumn

The Government must begin consulting with colleges , staff and students in order to avoid escalating uncertainty and the threat of “ enrolment chaos ” in the autumn , the Irish Federation of University Teachers has warmed .
The federation ’ s general secretary Joan Donegan said students and university teachers are being left in an “ ongoing limbo ” amid the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
She called for immediate consultations and engagement with the Department of Education to address this .
“ We need clear and detailed discussion on a roadmap from Government on issues like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen , how national restrictions will affect or inhibit class based teaching government [ AND ] funding guarantees to ensure staffing levels and colleges remain viable , ” Ms Donegan said .
“ Over 40,000 students hoping to enter third-level and up to 200,000 students already in the system have currently no idea on when and under what conditions colleges will reopen.
” Education sources say there are consultations taking place between the Department and representative groups for higher education such as the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Higher Education Association @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new academic year is likely to get underway on a staggered basis in September , with students attending classes on campus on certain days .
First year students are likely to be enrolled as late as November due to delays in holding the Leaving Cert .
However , no official decisions have been made or communicated to the sector yet .
Ms Donegal said a process of consultation is urgently required and there is an increasing risk that many students will opt out of or defer college , especially when added to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for their families .
She said “ Government silence to date ” means there is an “ absence of clarity ” on the status of thousands of casually employed and part-time contract staff .
Clarity is also being sought around whether universities will receive emergency support and if funding for research will be included .
This , she said , is “ causing uncertainty for thousands of researchers and postgraduate students.
” She said that a detailed analysis published by the ESRI at the start of the pandemic warned of the need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in dealing with the impact of the public health crisis .
“ IFUT is committed to working with the Department of Education , universities , students and all other stakeholders to find and agree solutions to the issues now facing thousands of staff and tens of thousands of young people .
The process of discussion and clarification needs to occur without further delay , ” she added .
Meanwhile , the Government has been warned that up to 14,500 fixed term researchers working on major research projects are fast running out of funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laboratories are using their grant funding to pay researchers while their labs are closed and their projects paused .
Fianna Fáil ’ s spokesperson on research James Lawless TD said he has written to the Government to warn of an “ imminent crisis ” in the research sector .
“ There are 14,500 fixed term researchers in Ireland , they are the workhorses of the research sector but at the moment they are on shaky ground , ” he said .
“ They can not perform their experiments , work in their laboratories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are not eligible for the wage subsidy scheme.
” He said universities and laboratories were doing the right thing in keeping these people employed but warned that their funds were depleting .
“ The worry is that when the time comes to get moving on projects again the resources simply won ’ t be there .
Projects which have been ongoing for years , some of which are reaching their crescendo are now at risk of being stopped indefinitely , ” he said .
Mr Lawless added that countries which invest heavily in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as South Korea and New Zealand , are “ punching above their weight ” and spending at least 2.5 per cent and more of GNP on research and development It was not a coincidence that these countries have also done well in the fight against Covid-19 .
He called on the Government to consider making the wage subsidy scheme available for fixed term researchers and boost funding for the sector overall .
“ In the longer term an ambitious plan must be put in place to fund the sector , ” he added @

The Government must consult with colleges, staff and students in order to avoid the threat of “enrolment chaos” in the autumn, according to tthe Irish Federation of University Teachers. Photograph: iStock
The Government must begin consulting with colleges, staff and students in order to avoid escalating uncertainty and the threat of "enrolment chaos" in the autumn, the Irish Federation of University Teachers has warmed .
The federation's general secretary Joan Donegan said students and university teachers are being left in an "ongoing limbo" amid the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
She called for immediate consultations and engagement with the Department of Education to address this.
“We need clear and detailed discussion on a roadmap from Government on issues like when and how colleges will be allowed to reopen, how national restrictions will affect or inhibit class based teaching government [AND]funding guarantees to ensure staffing levels and colleges remain viable,” Ms Donegan said.
READ MORE
“Over 40,000 students hoping to enter third-level and up to 200,000 students already in the system have currently no idea on when and under what conditions colleges will reopen.”
Staggered
Education sources say there are consultations taking place between the Department and representative groups for higher education such as the Irish Universities Association and the Technological Higher Education Association.
Sources familiar with discussion says the new academic year is likely to get underway on a staggered basis in September, with students attending classes on campus on certain days.
First year students are likely to be enrolled as late as November due to delays in holding the Leaving Cert.
However, no official decisions have been made or communicated to the sector yet.
Ms Donegal said a process of consultation is urgently required and there is an increasing risk that many students will opt out of or defer college, especially when added to the impact of job losses and financial uncertainty for their families.
She said “Government silence to date” means there is an “absence of clarity” on the status of thousands of casually employed and part-time contract staff.
Clarity is also being sought around whether universities will receive emergency support and if funding for research will be included.
This, she said, is “causing uncertainty for thousands of researchers and postgraduate students.”
She said that a detailed analysis published by the ESRI at the start of the pandemic warned of the need for “clarity and certainty about timelines” in dealing with the impact of the public health crisis.
“IFUT is committed to working with the Department of Education, universities, students and all other stakeholders to find and agree solutions to the issues now facing thousands of staff and tens of thousands of young people. The process of discussion and clarification needs to occur without further delay,” she added.
Funds
Meanwhile, the Government has been warned that up to 14,500 fixed term researchers working on major research projects are fast running out of funds.
In many cases, universities and laboratories are using their grant funding to pay researchers while their labs are closed and their projects paused.
Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson on research James Lawless TD said he has written to the Government to warn of an “imminent crisis” in the research sector.
“There are 14,500 fixed term researchers in Ireland, they are the workhorses of the research sector but at the moment they are on shaky ground,” he said.
“They cannot perform their experiments, work in their laboratories or attend their universities and they also are not eligible for the wage subsidy scheme.”
He said universities and laboratories were doing the right thing in keeping these people employed but warned that their funds were depleting.
“The worry is that when the time comes to get moving on projects again the resources simply won’t be there. Projects which have been ongoing for years, some of which are reaching their crescendo are now at risk of being stopped indefinitely,” he said.
Mr Lawless added that countries which invest heavily in research and development and science, such as South Korea and New Zealand, are “punching above their weight” and spending at least 2.5 per cent and more of GNP on research and development
It was not a coincidence that these countries have also done well in the fight against Covid-19.
He called on the Government to consider making the wage subsidy scheme available for fixed term researchers and boost funding for the sector overall.
“In the longer term an ambitious plan must be put in place to fund the sector,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-04-29--Public may be advised to wear face coverings, says Varadkar

The public may be advised to wear face coverings in places where social distancing guidelines must be adhered to , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has indicated .
Speaking on Wednesday morning , he said that the Government is considering changing its advice to the public on the issue and suggested this may be done by the end of the week .
“ On the issue of face coverings and I ’ m going to say face coverings instead of face masks because we want to make sure that face masks are preserved and protected for our healthcare staff and those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issue of advising people to wear face coverings is under consideration at the moment , ” he said .
“ We are seeing what ’ s happening in other countries , certainly , but the science on this is equivocal .
Some people will say it ’ s a good idea .
Some people say it doesn ’ t make a difference .
Some people say it ’ s a bad idea .
So it ’ s not one of those straightforward decisions where the science tells you it ’ s the right @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do .
“ But there certainly is trend across the developed world to advise the public to wear face coverings in places where social distancing is difficult.
” Mr Varadkar said this may be on public transport or in an enclosed indoor space .
“ We aware of what ’ s happening in Scotland and what ’ s happening in other countries in Europe , so that is another consideration .
I think we will be in a position to offer revised advice the Irish public later in the week .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on this , because there isn ’ t agreement in the scientific community on this , it is not something we ’ d ever make compulsory , but it ’ s something that we may make advisory.
” The deaths of another 59 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) at a briefing on Tuesday , of which 45 were laboratory-confirmed .
The deaths occurred on 10 different days in the past fortnight , though most were in the last three days .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Republic .
NPHET also reported 229 new confirmed cases .
The total number of confirmed cases in the State now stands at 19,877 .

The public may be advised to wear face coverings in places where social distancing guidelines must be adhered to, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has indicated.
Speaking on Wednesday morning, he said that the Government is considering changing its advice to the public on the issue and suggested this may be done by the end of the week.
“On the issue of face coverings and I’m going to say face coverings instead of face masks because we want to make sure that face masks are preserved and protected for our healthcare staff and those who need us the most, but the issue of advising people to wear face coverings is under consideration at the moment,” he said.
“We are seeing what’s happening in other countries, certainly, but the science on this is equivocal. Some people will say it’s a good idea. Some people say it doesn’t make a difference. Some people say it’s a bad idea. So it’s not one of those straightforward decisions where the science tells you it’s the right thing to do or the wrong thing to do.
READ MORE
“But there certainly is trend across the developed world to advise the public to wear face coverings in places where social distancing is difficult.”
Mr Varadkar said this may be on public transport or in an enclosed indoor space.
"We aware of what's happening in Scotland and what's happening in other countries in Europe, so that is another consideration. I think we will be in a position to offer revised advice the Irish public later in the week.
“But because the science is so uncertain on this, because there isn’t agreement in the scientific community on this, it is not something we’d ever make compulsory, but it’s something that we may make advisory.”
The deaths of another 59 patients diagnosed with Covid-19 were reported by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) at a briefing on Tuesday, of which 45 were laboratory-confirmed.
The deaths occurred on 10 different days in the past fortnight, though most were in the last three days. There have now been 1,159 Covid-19 related deaths in the Republic.
NPHET also reported 229 new confirmed cases. The total number of confirmed cases in the State now stands at 19,877.


theirishtimes--2020-04-29--People may be told to stay home to allow over-70s exercise

Restricting the general public from going outside for short periods to allow older people “ cocooning ” to leave their homes for exercise is under consideration by the expert group advising the Government on measures to combat the spread of coronavirus .
Dr Cillian de Gascun , director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory , said the measure was being examined by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) on an ongoing basis in recognition that those over 70 years were the hardest hit by the current restrictions as they had been confined to their homes for more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to let them out for an hour or two hours a day , well then what we may need to look at is that everyone else stays in , ” said Dr de Gascun , who is a member of NPHET .
Speaking on RTÉ Prime Time on Tuesday night , Dr de Gascun said the fundamental message is that NPHET wanted people to stay at home apart from making essential journeys .
On the question of the lifting of current restrictions on movement and gatherings , he said the issues being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new cases , the number of people being hospitalised , the numbers requiring treatment in intensive care units and the number of deaths .
He said the number of people currently in ICUs and receiving treatment in hospital was greater than March 28th , when the latest round of restrictions were imposed .
“ We ’ re probably not yet at a point where we need to be in the context of suppressing this completely , ” he said .
Dr de Gascun said NPHET recognised the stress placed on people ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cocooning and restrictions .
He said the focus on the group was public health , after they had seen the damage caused by the virus , also known as Covid-19 , in countries like Italy and in nursing homes .
“ Nothing we are going to do next Tuesday is going to make us safer .
That is really the bottom line , ” said Dr de Gascun .
Earlier , Dr Tony Holohan , the chief medical officer and NPHET chairman , said he could not currently recommend lifting any of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May 5th .
Dr de Gascun acknowledged the health authorities had still not reached the desired testing level of 100,000 tests per week , but he rejected the suggestion older people were paying the price for such a failure .
The current capacity is 60,000 tests per week , which is expected to increase to 70,000 next week .
Dr de Gascun said it was important not to conflate the two issues .
“ It ’ s not because of testing that we can ’ t lift the restrictions , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection reproduction number in Ireland had fallen from one person infected with coronavirus infecting an average of four others to less than one .
“ The problem is we need to ensure it stays below one for a long period of time , ” he said .
On the possibility that people will be required to wear masks in public as has been introduced in some other countries , Dr de Gascun said the evidence about their usefulness was “ not very strong in any direction ” but “ possibly beneficial ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a role to play where people found it difficult to maintain social distancing .

Restricting the general public from going outside for short periods to allow older people “cocooning” to leave their homes for exercise is under consideration by the expert group advising the Government on measures to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Dr Cillian de Gascun, director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said the measure was being examined by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) on an ongoing basis in recognition that those over 70 years were the hardest hit by the current restrictions as they had been confined to their homes for more than four weeks.
“If we want to let them out for an hour or two hours a day, well then what we may need to look at is that everyone else stays in,” said Dr de Gascun, who is a member of NPHET.
Speaking on RTÉ Prime Time on Tuesday night, Dr de Gascun said the fundamental message is that NPHET wanted people to stay at home apart from making essential journeys.
READ MORE
On the question of the lifting of current restrictions on movement and gatherings, he said the issues being examined by NPHET were the number of new cases, the number of people being hospitalised, the numbers requiring treatment in intensive care units and the number of deaths.
He said the number of people currently in ICUs and receiving treatment in hospital was greater than March 28th, when the latest round of restrictions were imposed.
“We’re probably not yet at a point where we need to be in the context of suppressing this completely,” he said.
Dr de Gascun said NPHET recognised the stress placed on people's mental health by the lengthy period of cocooning and restrictions. He said the focus on the group was public health, after they had seen the damage caused by the virus, also known as Covid-19, in countries like Italy and in nursing homes.
“Nothing we are going to do next Tuesday is going to make us safer. That is really the bottom line,” said Dr de Gascun.
Testing
Earlier, Dr Tony Holohan, the chief medical officer and NPHET chairman, said he could not currently recommend lifting any of the restrictions which are due to lapse on May 5th.
Dr de Gascun acknowledged the health authorities had still not reached the desired testing level of 100,000 tests per week, but he rejected the suggestion older people were paying the price for such a failure.
The current capacity is 60,000 tests per week, which is expected to increase to 70,000 next week.
Dr de Gascun said it was important not to conflate the two issues.
“It’s not because of testing that we can’t lift the restrictions,” he said.
Dr de Gascun said the R0 infection reproduction number in Ireland had fallen from one person infected with coronavirus infecting an average of four others to less than one.
“The problem is we need to ensure it stays below one for a long period of time,” he said.
On the possibility that people will be required to wear masks in public as has been introduced in some other countries, Dr de Gascun said the evidence about their usefulness was “not very strong in any direction” but “possibly beneficial”.
However, he accepted that masks could have a role to play where people found it difficult to maintain social distancing.


theirishtimes--2020-04-29--Revealed: Phased plan to exit coronavirus lockdown in Ireland may see cafes reopen by midsummer

Cafes and restaurants could reopen by the middle of the summer , with people allowed travel within Ireland for holidays by late summer , under plans being discussed to gradually lift the coronavirus lockdown .
The Irish Times understands the early stages of plans being discussed by the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) would see retailers , cafes and restaurants reopen on a limited basis , with the tourist industry also reopening on a limited basis in the mid-stages .
The phases are broken down as : initial phase , early phase stage one , early phase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ phases .
The latter two phases could be broken down into more stages .
Initial drafts of the plan spaced the phases out in periods between early May and September , although no dates are on the latest draft being considered by NPHET .
Any easing of restrictions is entirely dependent on efforts to tackle the virus , and progress through the phases will not happen unless a number of key targets are met .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health Simon Harris told the Cabinet on Tuesday that there are “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to enable any easing of restrictions ” when the current phase of lockdown ends after May 5th .
Officials on Tuesday night conceded delays in ramping up testing capacity for Covid-19 are a factor in the likely decision not to lift lockdown restrictions at the end of this week .
An inability to meet the target of providing 100,000 tests a week “ feeds into ” the stance of officials in relation to the lifting of restrictions , according to the head of the Government ’ s expert advisory group on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The long-promised 100,000 weekly tests target is a critical step to help track infection rates as lockdown measures are relaxed in order to assess whether they are leading to new Covid-19 cases .
The primary parameters influencing NPHET ’ s decision would be trends in case numbers , deaths and intensive care unit admissions , he said .
Current laboratory capacity stands at 60,000 tests a week , but this would increase to 70,000 next week .
Sources stressed that each phase of the plan , expected to be announced later this week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of actions that could be chosen .
Specific actions could also be moved between phases .
Social distancing will continue to apply through all phases .
Under the latest draft , the first phase would allow the over-70s who are cocooning out to walk on a “ no touch ” basis ; allow outdoor workers such as builders and gardeners return to work ; allow a maximum of four people not from the same household gather outside while obeying social distancing ; recommence some restricted classes for Leaving Cert students ; potentially increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home for exercise from 2km to 5km or 10km ; allow retailers such as DIY and garden centres reopen ; and allow retail outlets deemed essential in an earlier round of restrictions – such as banks , repair shops , optometrists and others – open again .
Although flagged by some on NPHET in recent days , the broadening of family units is not seen as likely in the first phase .
Other measures – such as the number of people allowed gather together – are also expected to be scaled up throughout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ early phase stage one ” – would allow small retailers reopen by allowing only a limited number of staff and customers on the premises .
Restrictions on travel away from the home could increase to 20km .
Open marts could also recommence .
“ Early stage phase two ” would see cafes and restaurants reopen , as long as social distancing and strict cleaning rules apply .
The so-called “ middle phases ” would see the tourism industry – hotels , hostels , caravan parks – reopen on a limited occupancy basis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to allow people travel outside their regions .
Any holidays or breaks should be taken by family units only .
The “ later phases ” would see the wider reopening of the economy – such as pubs and offices – again if social distancing is implemented .
Schools would also reopen in September , again complying with social distancing .
Mass gatherings of over 5,000 people have already been effectively cancelled until September .
Guidance around these events is unlikely to be provided until much later in the year , similar to family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also expected to last for the foreseeable future , until vaccines or treatments for Covid-19 are found .

The Chief Medical Officer of the HSE Tony Holohan has said keeping restrictions in place is required before making any changes on May 5th. Video: RTE
Cafes and restaurants could reopen by the middle of the summer, with people allowed travel within Ireland for holidays by late summer, under plans being discussed to gradually lift the coronavirus lockdown.
The Irish Times understands the early stages of plans being discussed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) would see retailers, cafes and restaurants reopen on a limited basis, with the tourist industry also reopening on a limited basis in the mid-stages.
The phases are broken down as: initial phase, early phase stage one, early phase stage two, middle phases and late phases. The latter two phases could be broken down into more stages.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health Simon Harris warn there are “no indications that disease levels are low enough to enable any easing of restrictions” after May 5th. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
Vehicles stop at a Garda checkpoint in Dublin’s city centre as gardaí deploy at checkpoints nationwide to prevent people from travelling across the country for the May bank holiday weekend amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
Initial drafts of the plan spaced the phases out in periods between early May and September, although no dates are on the latest draft being considered by NPHET.
READ MORE
Any easing of restrictions is entirely dependent on efforts to tackle the virus, and progress through the phases will not happen unless a number of key targets are met.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Health Simon Harris told the Cabinet on Tuesday that there are "no indications that disease levels are low enough to enable any easing of restrictions" when the current phase of lockdown ends after May 5th. Officials on Tuesday night conceded delays in ramping up testing capacity for Covid-19 are a factor in the likely decision not to lift lockdown restrictions at the end of this week.
An inability to meet the target of providing 100,000 tests a week “feeds into” the stance of officials in relation to the lifting of restrictions, according to the head of the Government’s expert advisory group on the disease, Dr Cillian de Gascun.
Weekly testing
The long-promised 100,000 weekly tests target is a critical step to help track infection rates as lockdown measures are relaxed in order to assess whether they are leading to new Covid-19 cases.
The primary parameters influencing NPHET’s decision would be trends in case numbers, deaths and intensive care unit admissions, he said. Current laboratory capacity stands at 60,000 tests a week, but this would increase to 70,000 next week.
Sources stressed that each phase of the plan, expected to be announced later this week, would contain a “menu” of actions that could be chosen. Specific actions could also be moved between phases. Social distancing will continue to apply through all phases.
Under the latest draft, the first phase would allow the over-70s who are cocooning out to walk on a “no touch” basis; see the over 70s potentially allowed go to the shops at certain times; allow outdoor workers such as builders and gardeners return to work; allow a maximum of four people not from the same household gather outside while obeying social distancing; recommence some restricted classes for Leaving Cert students; potentially increase the distance people can travel outside their home for exercise from 2km to 5km or 10km; allow retailers such as DIY and garden centres reopen; and allow retail outlets deemed essential in an earlier round of restrictions – such as banks, repair shops, optometrists and others – open again.
Family units
Although flagged by some on NPHET in recent days, the broadening of family units is not seen as likely in the first phase. Other measures – such as the number of people allowed gather together – are also expected to be scaled up throughout the phases.
The next phase – “early phase stage one” – would allow small retailers reopen by allowing only a limited number of staff and customers on the premises. Restrictions on travel away from the home could increase to 20km. Open marts could also recommence.
“Early stage phase two” would see cafes and restaurants reopen, as long as social distancing and strict cleaning rules apply.
The so-called “middle phases” would see the tourism industry – hotels, hostels, caravan parks – reopen on a limited occupancy basis. Travel restrictions would be further eased to allow people travel outside their regions. Any holidays or breaks should be taken by family units only.
The “later phases” would see the wider reopening of the economy – such as pubs and offices – again if social distancing is implemented. Schools would also reopen in September, again complying with social distancing. Mass gatherings of over 5,000 people have already been effectively cancelled until September.
Guidance around these events is unlikely to be provided until much later in the year, similar to family events such as weddings. Cocooning is also expected to last for the foreseeable future, until vaccines or treatments for Covid-19 are found.