theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Covid-19: Varadkar ‘optimistic’ most vulnerable will be vaccinated in early 2021

The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has expressed confidence that many of the groups most vulnerable to Covid-19 will be in a position to be vaccinated in the first quarter of next year and said it would have a profound impact on the nature of the illness .
Speaking to the Select Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment on Wednesday night he said it was “ really encouraging to see so many companies developing a vaccine ” .
He stressed that people in nursing homes , health care workers and people in congregated settings such as prisons would be first in line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cautioned that the vaccines being developed were new and he stressed that it was not yet clear how the processes involved in administration will work .
“ We will see how it goes but I would be very optimistic we will be able to vaccinate the most at risk in the first quarter of the new year .
Science will save the day , as they say , ” he said .
Mr Varadkar also told the hearing that he did not believe a large number of employers were pressurising their staff to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Level 5 restrictions , which mandate that people should work from home where possible .
He did acknowledge that the numbers travelling to and from workplaces in the second lockdown were higher than in the first one last spring but expressed the view that there there were multiple reasons for that .
Responding to a question from Sinn Féin ’ s Louise O ’ Reilly , he said that the definition of essential workers had been made considerably broader in the second lockdown and now included teachers , childcare workers , construction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said there were people “ who wanted to be let back into their offices ” for many reasons including cramped conditions and home and for mental health reasons .
He suggested to Ms O ’ Reilly that people who felt they were being unduly pressurised into returning to workplaces could lodge a complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission ( WRC ) .
In response the Sinn Féin TD pointed out that the time lag between lodging a complaint with the WRC and it being heard could be as long as a year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ making contact with the commission to establish how many complaints had been lodged with it by people who had felt like they were being forced into workplaces by their employers .
Mr Varadkar also told the Committee people were “ statistically safer at work than at home ” .
However when pressed by Solidariity/People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy on the comment he conceded that while he had said it was “ probably not correct ” .
The clarification was accepted by Mr Murphy .
Over the course of the session , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do more to ready themselves for Brexit no matter what shape it takes .
“ Free trade agreement or no free trade agreement , business is going to change on January 1st , ” he said .
And he told the select committee that 85 Enterprise Centres across the State would be in line for grants of between €10,000 and €150,000 to make them “ Covid ready ” and he said “ all parts of the country will benefit from that ” .

The Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has expressed confidence that many of the groups most vulnerable to Covid-19 will be in a position to be vaccinated in the first quarter of next year and said it would have a profound impact on the nature of the illness.
Speaking to the Select Committee on Enterprise Trade and Employment on Wednesday night he said it was "really encouraging to see so many companies developing a vaccine".
He stressed that people in nursing homes, health care workers and people in congregated settings such as prisons would be first in line when they were being administered.
Hospital Report
He cautioned that the vaccines being developed were new and he stressed that it was not yet clear how the processes involved in administration will work.
READ MORE
“We will see how it goes but I would be very optimistic we will be able to vaccinate the most at risk in the first quarter of the new year. Science will save the day, as they say,” he said.
Mr Varadkar also told the hearing that he did not believe a large number of employers were pressurising their staff to return to their workplaces in the face of Level 5 restrictions, which mandate that people should work from home where possible.
He did acknowledge that the numbers travelling to and from workplaces in the second lockdown were higher than in the first one last spring but expressed the view that there there were multiple reasons for that.
Essential workers
Responding to a question from Sinn Féin’s Louise O’Reilly, he said that the definition of essential workers had been made considerably broader in the second lockdown and now included teachers, childcare workers, construction workers amongst other sectors.
He also said there were people “who wanted to be let back into their offices” for many reasons including cramped conditions and home and for mental health reasons.
He suggested to Ms O'Reilly that people who felt they were being unduly pressurised into returning to workplaces could lodge a complaint with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).
In response the Sinn Féin TD pointed out that the time lag between lodging a complaint with the WRC and it being heard could be as long as a year.
Under further questioning Mr Varadkar committed to making contact with the commission to establish how many complaints had been lodged with it by people who had felt like they were being forced into workplaces by their employers.
Mr Varadkar also told the Committee people were "statistically safer at work than at home". However when pressed by Solidariity/People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy on the comment he conceded that while he had said it was "probably not correct". The clarification was accepted by Mr Murphy.
Over the course of the session, the Tánaiste also warned businesses that they needed to do more to ready themselves for Brexit no matter what shape it takes.
“Free trade agreement or no free trade agreement, business is going to change on January 1st,” he said.
And he told the select committee that 85 Enterprise Centres across the State would be in line for grants of between €10,000 and €150,000 to make them “Covid ready” and he said “all parts of the country will benefit from that”.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Lockdown exit plan to see ‘enjoyable and safe’ Christmas - Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government will make a decision on exiting lockdown next week , and that there will be a Dáil debate on the issue beforehand to hear different views on strategy .
He told Wednesday evening ’ s meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party that he wanted Christmas to be “ meaningful , enjoyable and safe ” and that it would be about “ trusting the public with their personal behaviour ” .
He also argued that the Republic was doing well on controlling the disease in comparison to most European countries .
The party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Fianna Fáil general election campaign with some members critical of the party ’ s “ air war ” and how its Dublin headquarters ran election strategy .
A review of the election is underway , steered by Minister of State Seán Fleming , who gave a update at the parliamentary party meeting , as well as Minister of State Mary Butler and Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown TD Cormac Devlin .
Barry Cowen , the former minister for agriculture , told the meeting that the review should look at the campaign run by headquarters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fáil was generally seen to have underperformed expectations in the general election .
James Lawless , the Kildare North TD , told the meeting that the ground war had been fought well at constituency level , but that candidates had been “ let down ” by the air war from headquarters .
Anne Rabitte , the Minister of State in the Department of Health , suggested that the review should examine whether Fianna Fáil members did enough for candidates on the ground .
The meeting also heard calls for Minister for Justice Helen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ answer questions on the appointment of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court .
Marc MacSharry , the Sligo-Leitrim TD , said the Taoiseach had done the right thing in deciding not to seek an impeachment .
However , he told his party colleagues that Ms McEntee should answer questions to ensure the process is clear , and that the party shouldn ’ t block Opposition attempts to seek time for that to take place .
The meeting heard a variety of contributions on pubs , with Mr Cowen calling for clarity on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the meeting was also that there should be no differentiation between wet pubs and dry pubs .
Senator Lisa Chambers said that pubs were coming under pressure to order kegs from Diageo in time for Christmas if they were to open , but expressed the belief they would not be able to do so , and that the public may not want to go to a pub even if they were open .
Ms Chambers also said the party should support Labour ’ s bill on citizenship , which would ensure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here .
Clare TD Cathal Crowe also said that pubs needed clarity on the issue of Christmas opening , and said the impact on families working in the hospitality sector should be considered .
Mr MacSharry said he hoped that hospitality would be allowed open for Christmas .
He spoke about Donegal , where infection rates are stubbornly high , arguing that given its size , if the Government is going to have a different approach to Donegal it should acknowledge that the problem is localised to certain Broder areas mainly in east @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t penalise the south or west of the county , where infection is lower .
Mr MacSharry also criticised the handling of the proposed ban on takeaway pints , which was diluted earlier in the week to a ban on gathering outside to drink alcohol , before being withdrawn at Cabinet .
He said its introduction was a knee-jerk reaction and that the Cabinet memo was “ ill thought out ” , arguing that the parliamentary party should have been used as a sounding board before anything else took place .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ CervicalCheck , arguing that compassion for the women impacted needed to trump financial considerations on this occasion , and said that the women who found themselves outside the statute of limitations on the matter should be admitted to the tribunal .
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly gave an update on his work on the CervicalCheck issue , saying that there are three substantive issues left which his Department are currently working through , and assured colleagues that “ no woman will be left outside the door ” .
He assured colleagues that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 221 Plus advocacy group to deal with outstanding aspects .
The meeting also heard a contribution about concerns about pylons along the border from Cavan-Monaghan deputy Niamh Smyth , and updates from two policy groups , one on sports , arts , culture and media , and another on Brexit preparedness .
Elsewhere , former Minister for Health Simon Harris called for greater use of the Army in contact tracing amid concerns about frontline healthcare staff being taken away from providing vital services for children .
At a private meeting of the Fine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Higher Education said it was vital that as many additional people as possible were hired to work on contact tracing and that he understood there was work underway on this .
A source said that Mr Harris said the country got a lot of support from the army and he questioned whether the Government could seek further assistance .
He also said the Government needs to provide clarity next week on the country ’ s plan for leaving Level 5 .
Up to 80 cadets from the Defence Forces were assisting contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HSE , along with environmental health officers and other public servants .
Dublin Mid West TD Emer Higgins told the meeting that speech and language therapists were being redeployed for Covid 19 tracing and she outlined the impact this had on families who need those resources .
She also raised the need for public health nurses to resume conducting developmental checks when Level 5 ends , rather than Covid 19 contact tracing .
Fine Gael TDs also called on the Cabinet to begin consulting with churches on the plan for Christmas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ advance planning was essential and should include “ celebrating the festival of Christmas through Christian worship ” .
He said that the State must work with churches , which are the biggest buildings in most neighbourhoods , to facilitate Christmas services .
He was supported by similar contributions from Carlow Kilkenny TD JP Phelan .
The meeting also heard calls for a full Dáil debate on exiting the lockdown .
The Cabinet is due to meet next Tuesday and potentially again at the end of the week to decide on the plan for @ @ @ @ @ @

Mia Greally (1) with motherJodi Carroll-Greally enjoying the turning on of Christmas lights in Dublin on Tuesday night. Photograph Nick Bradshaw / The Irish Times
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said the Government will make a decision on exiting lockdown next week, and that there will be a Dáil debate on the issue beforehand to hear different views on strategy.
He told Wednesday evening's meeting of the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party that he wanted Christmas to be "meaningful, enjoyable and safe" and that it would be about "trusting the public with their personal behaviour".
He also argued that the Republic was doing well on controlling the disease in comparison to most European countries.
Hospital Report
The party’s meeting also heard recriminations over the Fianna Fáil general election campaign with some members critical of the party’s “air war” and how its Dublin headquarters ran election strategy.
READ MORE
A review of the election is underway, steered by Minister of State Seán Fleming, who gave a update at the parliamentary party meeting, as well as Minister of State Mary Butler and Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown TD Cormac Devlin.
Barry Cowen, the former minister for agriculture, told the meeting that the review should look at the campaign run by headquarters, and examine what went wrong. Fianna Fáil was generally seen to have underperformed expectations in the general election.
James Lawless, the Kildare North TD, told the meeting that the ground war had been fought well at constituency level, but that candidates had been "let down" by the air war from headquarters.
Anne Rabitte, the Minister of State in the Department of Health, suggested that the review should examine whether Fianna Fáil members did enough for candidates on the ground.
The meeting also heard calls for Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to come before the Dáil to answer questions on the appointment of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court.
Marc MacSharry, the Sligo-Leitrim TD, said the Taoiseach had done the right thing in deciding not to seek an impeachment. However, he told his party colleagues that Ms McEntee should answer questions to ensure the process is clear, and that the party shouldn’t block Opposition attempts to seek time for that to take place.
Pub closures
The meeting heard a variety of contributions on pubs, with Mr Cowen calling for clarity on the situation. Sources said the general view at the meeting was also that there should be no differentiation between wet pubs and dry pubs.
Senator Lisa Chambers said that pubs were coming under pressure to order kegs from Diageo in time for Christmas if they were to open, but expressed the belief they would not be able to do so, and that the public may not want to go to a pub even if they were open.
Ms Chambers also said the party should support Labour’s bill on citizenship, which would ensure that children born in the State get citizenship here.
Clare TD Cathal Crowe also said that pubs needed clarity on the issue of Christmas opening, and said the impact on families working in the hospitality sector should be considered.
Mr MacSharry said he hoped that hospitality would be allowed open for Christmas. He spoke about Donegal, where infection rates are stubbornly high, arguing that given its size, if the Government is going to have a different approach to Donegal it should acknowledge that the problem is localised to certain Broder areas mainly in east or north east. He warned Government shouldn't penalise the south or west of the county, where infection is lower.
Mr MacSharry also criticised the handling of the proposed ban on takeaway pints, which was diluted earlier in the week to a ban on gathering outside to drink alcohol, before being withdrawn at Cabinet. He said its introduction was a knee-jerk reaction and that the Cabinet memo was “ill thought out”, arguing that the parliamentary party should have been used as a sounding board before anything else took place.
Mr MacSharry also raised the issue of CervicalCheck, arguing that compassion for the women impacted needed to trump financial considerations on this occasion, and said that the women who found themselves outside the statute of limitations on the matter should be admitted to the tribunal.
Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly gave an update on his work on the CervicalCheck issue, saying that there are three substantive issues left which his Department are currently working through, and assured colleagues that "no woman will be left outside the door". He assured colleagues that he will continue to work closely with the 221 Plus advocacy group to deal with outstanding aspects.
The meeting also heard a contribution about concerns about pylons along the border from Cavan-Monaghan deputy Niamh Smyth, and updates from two policy groups, one on sports, arts, culture and media, and another on Brexit preparedness.
Fine Gael meeting
Elsewhere, former Minister for Health Simon Harris called for greater use of the Army in contact tracing amid concerns about frontline healthcare staff being taken away from providing vital services for children.
At a private meeting of the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, the Minister for Higher Education said it was vital that as many additional people as possible were hired to work on contact tracing and that he understood there was work underway on this.
A source said that Mr Harris said the country got a lot of support from the army and he questioned whether the Government could seek further assistance.
He also said the Government needs to provide clarity next week on the country’s plan for leaving Level 5.
Up to 80 cadets from the Defence Forces were assisting contact tracing efforts last month, according to the HSE, along with environmental health officers and other public servants.
Dublin Mid West TD Emer Higgins told the meeting that speech and language therapists were being redeployed for Covid 19 tracing and she outlined the impact this had on families who need those resources. She also raised the need for public health nurses to resume conducting developmental checks when Level 5 ends, rather than Covid 19 contact tracing.
Fine Gael TDs also called on the Cabinet to begin consulting with churches on the plan for Christmas.
Former minister for justice Charlie Flanagan said advance planning was essential and should include "celebrating the festival of Christmas through Christian worship".
He said that the State must work with churches, which are the biggest buildings in most neighbourhoods, to facilitate Christmas services.
He was supported by similar contributions from Carlow Kilkenny TD JP Phelan.
The meeting also heard calls for a full Dáil debate on exiting the lockdown. The Cabinet is due to meet next Tuesday and potentially again at the end of the week to decide on the plan for moving out of Level 5.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Decision to allow new house within 400 metres of Cork Airport runway reversed

An Bord Pleanála has reversed a decision of Cork County Council to grant planning permission for a new house less than 400 metres from the end of the main runway at Cork Airport .
The airport ’ s operator , DAA , had appealed the council ’ s ruling to approve the construction of a single-storey house with a converted attic close to the airport ’ s perimeter at Rathdermot , Lios Cross , Ballygarvan , Co Cork .
Given its proximity to the main airport runway , An Bord Pleanála said the proposed house would interfere with the efficient @ @ @ @ @ @ @ representing an incompatible land use and would give rise to “ an unacceptable level of residential amenity for future residents ” , notwithstanding plans for sound-proofing the property .
“ The proposed development would also establish an undesirable precedent for similar developments in the area , ” the board added .
It noted the house would have been located within the outer Airport Noise Zone and outer Public Safety Zone at Cork Airport .
The distance of the proposed dwelling from the end of the main runway was 380 metres .
The planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ farmer who is currently residing in an unauthorised mobile home at the rear of his parents ’ house which adjoins the proposed site of the development .
He claimed he had lived in the vicinity of Cork Airport all his life and had lived in the mobile home with his wife for the past three and a half years to save money to build his new home .
The man said he had fully addressed concerns raised by the airport in relation to noise insulation for the development .
He also argued that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even closer to the runway in the past decade which had not been the subject of any issue with the airport authorities .
The council ’ s decision had been sharply criticised by DAA which claimed it was “ contrary to good planning and simple common sense ” as well as showing disregard for the importance of Cork Airport for the regional economy and could compromise the safe and efficient operation of the airport .

Given its proximity to the main airport runway, An Bord Pleanála said the proposed house would interfere with the efficient operation of the airport as well as representing an incompatible land use and would give rise to “an unacceptable level of residential amenity for future residents”, notwithstanding plans for sound-proofing the property.
An Bord Pleanála has reversed a decision of Cork County Council to grant planning permission for a new house less than 400 metres from the end of the main runway at Cork Airport.
The airport’s operator, DAA, had appealed the council’s ruling to approve the construction of a single-storey house with a converted attic close to the airport’s perimeter at Rathdermot, Lios Cross, Ballygarvan, Co Cork.
Given its proximity to the main airport runway, An Bord Pleanála said the proposed house would interfere with the efficient operation of the airport as well as representing an incompatible land use and would give rise to “an unacceptable level of residential amenity for future residents”, notwithstanding plans for sound-proofing the property.
“The proposed development would also establish an undesirable precedent for similar developments in the area,” the board added.
READ MORE
It noted the house would have been located within the outer Airport Noise Zone and outer Public Safety Zone at Cork Airport.
The distance of the proposed dwelling from the end of the main runway was 380 metres.
The planning application was made by a local part-time farmer who is currently residing in an unauthorised mobile home at the rear of his parents’ house which adjoins the proposed site of the development.
He claimed he had lived in the vicinity of Cork Airport all his life and had lived in the mobile home with his wife for the past three and a half years to save money to build his new home.
The man said he had fully addressed concerns raised by the airport in relation to noise insulation for the development.
He also argued that a number of houses had been constructed even closer to the runway in the past decade which had not been the subject of any issue with the airport authorities.
The council’s decision had been sharply criticised by DAA which claimed it was “contrary to good planning and simple common sense” as well as showing disregard for the importance of Cork Airport for the regional economy and could compromise the safe and efficient operation of the airport.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--One of the ‘most difficult’ Christmases in years in store for many families – SVP

One of the “ most difficult ” Christmases in many years lies ahead for thousands of families , the Society of St Vincent de Paul ( SVP ) has warned .
Announcing its annual Christmas appeal the charity said it expected requests for help to exceed numbers in any year in the recent past , adding they came at a time when church gate collections had had to stop and the society ’ s charity shops had had to close , dramatically reducing its fundraising capacity .
In addition bringing help to people has become more difficult as home visits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose McGowan , said since January there had been almost 112,000 requests for help .
“ With Christmas approaching we expect that number to increase substantially and exceed 160,000 .
“ When Christmas comes around , we all have to make lots of choices : ‘ What presents to buy ?
’ ; ’ What food for the Christmas dinner ?
’ but for those who struggle to make ends meet there are additional , sometimes impossible , choices : ‘ Do I borrow or go without ?
’ ; How can I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and pay the bills ?
’ ; ‘ Do I buy essentials or heat the house ?
’ “ Low income families are struggling to keep their heads above water with an unstable housing market , high childcare , energy and education costs , ” she said .
Announcing its regional appeal , the charity ’ s south west branch based in Cork , said it was getting a “ staggering ” 200 calls a day for help .
Regional President Paddy O ’ Flynn said it was “ more important than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to , supported its work .
Rather than donating at church gates , people are being asked to donate online , by post or over the phone and will be able to direct their donations to a specific locality should they wish .
“ This will enable those who may previously have donated to their local SVP conference / [ /branch/ ] / at a church-gate collection to donate online or over the phone to that conference instead , ” said Ms McGowan .
There will be SVP insert-envelopes , coloured blue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes , making donating easier .
Donations can be made online at svp.ie ; by phone on 0818 176 176 ( Republic of Ireland ) or 028 9075 0161 ( Northern Ireland ) and by post to SVP , PO Box 1234 , Dublin 1 or directly to regional offices with addresses found on www.svp.ie .
Cheques should be made payable to : Society of St Vincent de Paul .
The charity is appealing also for vouchers which can be exchanged for food or gifts including toys , book , music or clothing @

One of the “most difficult” Christmases in many years lies ahead for thousands of families, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has warned. Photograph: Getty
One of the “most difficult” Christmases in many years lies ahead for thousands of families, the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) has warned.
Announcing its annual Christmas appeal the charity said it expected requests for help to exceed numbers in any year in the recent past, adding they came at a time when church gate collections had had to stop and the society’s charity shops had had to close, dramatically reducing its fundraising capacity.
In addition bringing help to people has become more difficult as home visits must be restricted.
National president, Rose McGowan, said since January there had been almost 112,000 requests for help. “With Christmas approaching we expect that number to increase substantially and exceed 160,000.
READ MORE
“When Christmas comes around, we all have to make lots of choices: ‘What presents to buy?’; ’What food for the Christmas dinner?’ but for those who struggle to make ends meet there are additional, sometimes impossible, choices: ‘Do I borrow or go without?’; How can I make Christmas a happy time for my children and pay the bills?’; ‘Do I buy essentials or heat the house?’
“Low income families are struggling to keep their heads above water with an unstable housing market, high childcare, energy and education costs,” she said.
Announcing its regional appeal, the charity’s south west branch based in Cork, said it was getting a “staggering” 200 calls a day for help.
Regional President Paddy O’Flynn said it was “more important than ever” that people who could afford to, supported its work.
Rather than donating at church gates, people are being asked to donate online, by post or over the phone and will be able to direct their donations to a specific locality should they wish.
“This will enable those who may previously have donated to their local SVP conference /[/branch/]/ at a church-gate collection to donate online or over the phone to that conference instead,” said Ms McGowan.
There will be SVP insert-envelopes, coloured blue, in newspapers, churches and delivered to homes, making donating easier.
Donations can be made online at svp.ie; by phone on 0818 176 176 (Republic of Ireland) or 028 9075 0161 (Northern Ireland) and by post to SVP, PO Box 1234, Dublin 1 or directly to regional offices with addresses found on www.svp.ie. Cheques should be made payable to: Society of St Vincent de Paul.
The charity is appealing also for vouchers which can be exchanged for food or gifts including toys, book, music or clothing.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Number of TDs feel McEntee should answer questions on Woulfe in Dáil

A number of Government TDs have indicated that Minister for Justice Helen McEntee should answer questions in the Dáil on the appointment of former attorney general Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court .
Speaking privately , some coalition TDs indicated Ms McEntee should answer questions in the Dáil , if only to attempt to draw a line under the ongoing controversy .
“ I honestly think she should , she ’ d get over it , ” said a senior Fianna Fáil TD .
“ It would be easier if she just went in , ” the TD added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , she ’ ll be asked that question.
” The Government has resisted taking such a step , arguing that it risks endangering the separation of powers , and could potentially contaminate any impeachment proceedings that could still be brought through the Oireachtas .
However , the opposition and legal academics have criticised this view , arguing that the appointment of judges is a Government function for which it is accountable to the house .
The Ceann Comhairle , Sean O Fearghail , has indicated that he would allow a debate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process and didn ’ t discuss the merits of appointing individuals .
A Fine Gael TD said : “ It would just be more straightforward to answer a few questions on it and move it on .
It seems that ’ s where most colleagues believe it ’ s at.
” Another Fianna Fáil TD said : “ I think she should .
Otherwise it will follow her around as an issue .
She ’ s well able to face the opposition.
” The opposition has insisted that Ms McEntee should have told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put their names forward .
The same Fianna Fáil TD agreed this was an issue : “ The only difficult question for her is why she didn ’ t tell the Taoiseach , Tánaiste , Minister Ryan and Attorney General that three serving judges had applied .
Aside from that there ’ s no other issue .
Government was entitled to nominate Woulfe irrespective of who else applied.
” Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has argued that under the cabinet handbook , Ms McEntee should have informed senior colleagues of the names of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bringing a recommendation to cabinet .
The cabinet handbook states that these parties “ should be informed in advance of proposals to make [ judicial appointments ] ” .
Several sources with knowledge of the process have indicated normal practice would be to indicate other interest in the role , beyond suggestions from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Body .
On Monday , former Labour Party leader and Tánaiste Joan Burton said that when she was in office , she “ would have expected to be briefed , to broadly have known and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I just find it odd the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General would not have taken both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste of the day through any appointments.
” Another Fianna Fáil TD said “ there should be no issue with her going into the Dáil to answer questions about it .
Tell us how many applications there were , tell us the criteria you employ when taking a decision .
I don ’ t see the issue.
” Ms McEntee has defended the appointment of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very clear process ” before bringing his name to Cabinet earlier this month .
She said that when she was appointed as Minister , she looked at the recommendation that had been made by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board – JAAB – which supported the former Attorney General ’ s application for the role , as well as other expressions of interest .
Ms McEntee said that following these considerations , “ I spoke with the Taoiseach , the Tánaiste , Minister Ryan and the [ Attorney General ] ; on foot of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a name was given to cabinet.
” A Green Party TD said that while they had concerns over the possibility of prejudicing other issues , “ if the Ceann Comhairle believes it ’ s possible , then I thik the Minister should take it into consideration ” .
Not all Government sources agreed that she should take questions .
One Fine Gael TD said : “ I don ’ t care how well you try to chair it , you ’ re going to cross lines.
” Another Fine Gael source said : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this – but there is troublemaking .
”

A number of Government TDs have indicated that Minister for Justice Helen McEntee should answer questions in the Dáil on the appointment of former attorney general Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court.
Speaking privately, some coalition TDs indicated Ms McEntee should answer questions in the Dáil, if only to attempt to draw a line under the ongoing controversy. "I honestly think she should, she'd get over it," said a senior Fianna Fáil TD. "It would be easier if she just went in," the TD added. "Every time a judicial appointment comes up, she'll be asked that question."
The Government has resisted taking such a step, arguing that it risks endangering the separation of powers, and could potentially contaminate any impeachment proceedings that could still be brought through the Oireachtas.
However, the opposition and legal academics have criticised this view, arguing that the appointment of judges is a Government function for which it is accountable to the house. The Ceann Comhairle, Sean O Fearghail, has indicated that he would allow a debate to proceed if it focused narrowly on the process and didn't discuss the merits of appointing individuals.
READ MORE
A Fine Gael TD said: "It would just be more straightforward to answer a few questions on it and move it on. It seems that's where most colleagues believe it's at." Another Fianna Fáil TD said: "I think she should. Otherwise it will follow her around as an issue. She's well able to face the opposition."
The opposition has insisted that Ms McEntee should have told the three leaders that three judges had put their names forward. The same Fianna Fáil TD agreed this was an issue: “The only difficult question for her is why she didn’t tell the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister Ryan and Attorney General that three serving judges had applied. Aside from that there’s no other issue. Government was entitled to nominate Woulfe irrespective of who else applied.”
Labour Party leader Alan Kelly has argued that under the cabinet handbook, Ms McEntee should have informed senior colleagues of the names of those who had applied, in advance of bringing a recommendation to cabinet. The cabinet handbook states that these parties "should be informed in advance of proposals to make [judicial appointments]".
‘Very clear process’
Several sources with knowledge of the process have indicated normal practice would be to indicate other interest in the role, beyond suggestions from the Judicial Appointments Advisory Body. On Monday, former Labour Party leader and Tánaiste Joan Burton said that when she was in office, she “would have expected to be briefed, to broadly have known and been aware of the names.
“I just find it odd the Minister for Justice and the Attorney General would not have taken both the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste of the day through any appointments.”
Another Fianna Fáil TD said “there should be no issue with her going into the Dáil to answer questions about it. Tell us how many applications there were, tell us the criteria you employ when taking a decision. I don’t see the issue.”
Ms McEntee has defended the appointment of Séamus Woulfe to the Supreme Court, saying she adhered to “a very clear process” before bringing his name to Cabinet earlier this month.
She said that when she was appointed as Minister, she looked at the recommendation that had been made by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board – JAAB – which supported the former Attorney General's application for the role, as well as other expressions of interest.
Ms McEntee said that following these considerations, “I spoke with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Minister Ryan and the [Attorney General]; on foot of that, a recommendation was made and a name was given to cabinet.”
A Green Party TD said that while they had concerns over the possibility of prejudicing other issues, “if the Ceann Comhairle believes it’s possible, then I thik the Minister should take it into consideration”.
Not all Government sources agreed that she should take questions. One Fine Gael TD said: “I don’t care how well you try to chair it, you’re going to cross lines.” Another Fine Gael source said: “There’s no issue around this – but there is troublemaking.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Thousands of third-level students to receive €250 before Christmas

Almost 200,000 full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students are to receive refunds or credit notes worth up to €250 each before Christmas .
The once-off payments – worth a total €50 million – are aimed at compensating students for the upheaval they have experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the emphasis on online learning this year .
All domestic and EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students will be eligible for this financial assistance .
Under the scheme , students who avail of the Susi grant will receive a €250 top-up in their grant before Christmas .
Students who do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ €50 any outstanding contribution fee payment or receive a €250 credit note for their institution .
In a number of cases , alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to students .
The funding is in addition to the €15 million secured for IT supports such as laptops for students who can not afford them .
The funding , which was provided in Budget 2021 , was announced last month by the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris , though details of how the funds would be transferred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Non-EU students , however , will not be eligible for the payments .
Fees for many of these students can rise to €25,000 for international students or €55,000 for medical students from abroad .
Hundreds of international students at UCD are campaigning for a 30 per cent cut in their fees due to the lack of on-campus lectures this year .
Almost 500 international students at UCD ’ s Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School have signed a petition stating they they gave been “ treated as a source of finance , used only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The cost of the main master ’ s finance course at the school is just over €18,000 for EU citizens and almost €24,000 for non-EU students .
In addition , more than 70 per cent of graduate entry medicine students at UCD say they are withholding fees in protest over fees and disruption to learning .
Their fees stand at €16,290 for Irish students and €55,140 for non-EU students .
In a statement , UCD said it had no plans to provide refunds for courses .
“ The costs of delivering UCD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcomes of the programmes will not be diminished and the value of the UCD qualification to the students after graduation will also not be impacted , and so the university will not be rebating tuition fees , ” a spokeswoman said .
She said students who have paid for campus accommodation but who decide to go home are rebated their rent on a pro-rata basis .
The spokeswoman added that the university announced that it plans to commence the spring trimester on the assumption that at least Level 3 of the Government restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national situation improves , schools will be supported in providing face-to-face on-campus activities where they consider it “ educationally appropriate ” to do so , subject to health and safety guidelines for students who can avail of it .

Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris announced refunds for college students in Budget 2021 to compensate for the shift towards online learning. Photograph: Crispin Rodwell
Almost 200,000 full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students are to receive refunds or credit notes worth up to €250 each before Christmas.
The once-off payments – worth a total €50 million – are aimed at compensating students for the upheaval they have experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the emphasis on online learning this year.
All domestic and EU full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students will be eligible for this financial assistance.
Under the scheme, students who avail of the Susi grant will receive a €250 top-up in their grant before Christmas.
READ MORE
Students who do not avail of the grant can reduce by €50 any outstanding contribution fee payment or receive a €250 credit note for their institution.
In a number of cases, alternative arrangements will be made for the payment of the monies to students.
The funding is in addition to the €15 million secured for IT supports such as laptops for students who cannot afford them.
The funding, which was provided in Budget 2021, was announced last month by the Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris, though details of how the funds would be transferred to students have only just been confirmed.
Non-EU students, however, will not be eligible for the payments. Fees for many of these students can rise to €25,000 for international students or €55,000 for medical students from abroad.
Campaign to reduce fees
Hundreds of international students at UCD are campaigning for a 30 per cent cut in their fees due to the lack of on-campus lectures this year.
Almost 500 international students at UCD's Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School have signed a petition stating they they gave been "treated as a source of finance, used only to pump money into the economy".
The cost of the main master’s finance course at the school is just over €18,000 for EU citizens and almost €24,000 for non-EU students.
In addition, more than 70 per cent of graduate entry medicine students at UCD say they are withholding fees in protest over fees and disruption to learning. Their fees stand at €16,290 for Irish students and €55,140 for non-EU students.
In a statement, UCD said it had no plans to provide refunds for courses.
“The costs of delivering UCD programmes have not reduced, the learning outcomes of the programmes will not be diminished and the value of the UCD qualification to the students after graduation will also not be impacted, and so the university will not be rebating tuition fees,” a spokeswoman said.
She said students who have paid for campus accommodation but who decide to go home are rebated their rent on a pro-rata basis.
The spokeswoman added that the university announced that it plans to commence the spring trimester on the assumption that at least Level 3 of the Government restrictions will apply.
However, if the national situation improves, schools will be supported in providing face-to-face on-campus activities where they consider it “educationally appropriate” to do so, subject to health and safety guidelines for students who can avail of it.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Man tells court he did not put diazepam tablets into murder accused’s mouth

The brother of a man charged with murdering their father has denied putting diazepam tablets into the accused man ’ s mouth earlier in the day .
Gerard Lambe was being cross examined by the defence on Wednesday on the second day of his half-brother ’ s trial at the Central Criminal Court .
Gerard ( Gerry ) Fortune was stabbed in the neck on August 19th , 2018 , after watching the All-Ireland final in his living room .
David Fortune ( 33 ) of Rutland Grove in Crumlin has pleaded not guilty to his murder at that address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ earlier told the court that the accused was hallucinating just before the stabbing , after consuming a number of tablets .
She broke down in tears when she recalled her father trying to calm down the accused , who thought someone wanted to kill him , by saying : “ Nobody ’ s going to die today.
” The 35-year-old told Seán Gillane SC that she arrived to the house very early that morning , and that the accused , his friend and her other brother , Gerard , were in the shed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them for a beer and cocaine .
She said that the accused was also taking tablets .
“ He was after putting a lot of them in his mouth , ” she recalled .
She said that they ran out of drink at one stage and that she and the accused ’ s friend went to the shop for more .
“ On and off , David was getting paranoid , and he was arguing , ” she said .
“ He was saying : ‘ Get that fella from behind the telly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him , ’ ” she testified , explaining that there was nobody behind the television .
“ It was like as if he wasn ’ t in his own body , ” she added .
She said that their father , who had come in from work in St James ’ s Hospital that morning , called him into the house for dinner and tea to try to calm him down .
The accused went into the living room of the house , but wouldn ’ t accept the meal .
She said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she heard her father screaming at her brother , Gerard , to get out of the room .
“ I saw Gerard running out to the back garden , ” she said .
“ Da was telling him to get out before David hit him.
” She said that the accused was shouting at their father : “ Da , I ’ m going to die.
” Ms Lambe became emotional as she recalled their father ’ s reply : “ You ’ re not going to die , son .
No-one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said that the accused had a knife , and that she stood between him and their father .
“ He wasn ’ t in his body , ” she said of the accused .
“ He was blank .
His eyes were black.
” She said that the accused swung his arm , knife in hand .
“ I just turned around and seen my Da fall , ” she said .
“ I screamed .
My Da jumped up and ran , holding his neck .
He ran to the front door @ @ @ @ @ @ @ already heard that he was taken by ambulance to hospital , but died a short time later .
She agreed that the accused and the deceased had loved and idolised each other .
She also agreed that she had told gardaí that the accused was paranoid , hallucinating , “ possessed ” and frothing at the mouth that day .
She said this was “ probably ” as a result of the drugs he had taken .
She agreed that the accused appeared not to have any understanding of what was going on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never harm my Da , ” she said .
She said that the accused had begun hallucinating again just before the incident .
Mr Bowman put it to her “ We wouldn ’ t be here today ” were it not for the tablets the accused had taken .
The jury also heard from their younger brother , Gerard Lambe .
He , too , described the accused as being paranoid and hallucinating that day .
He agreed with Mr Bowman that the blue tablets taken by the accused belonged to him ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he had no prescription for them , that they were not bona fide diazepam tablets made in a factory .
“ They are known to have violently hallucinogenic reactions , ” suggested Mr Bowman .
“ They were in the press .
I took them to try and relax him , to take him down of the coke , ” he said .
“ I didn ’ t put them down his throat.
” “ How do you know I ’ m suggesting you put them in his mouth ?
” asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestion , ” confirmed the barrister .
“ They ’ re made on the streets and can have anything in them , ” remarked counsel , suggesting that his client had not gone to any press to get them .
“ Ok , I gave him the tablets , ” said Mr Lambe , who also agreed that ‘ maybe , yes ’ , this was why his brother had been hallucinating .
However , he couldn ’ t say that ‘ but for the blue tablets , we wouldn ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggest that he didn ’ t know what they were , ” said counsel .
“ You told him to shut up , take them and put them in his mouth.
” Mr Lambe said that did not happen .
Mr Gillane re-examined the witness , who confirmed that the accused had also consumed cocaine and beer .
“ Did anyone force him to take cocaine ?
” he asked .
“ Did anyone force him to drink beer ?
” he asked .

Gerard Lambe was cross examined by the defence on Wednesday on the second day of his half-brother’s trial at the Central Criminal Court. Photograph: Collins Courts
The brother of a man charged with murdering their father has denied putting diazepam tablets into the accused man’s mouth earlier in the day.
Gerard Lambe was being cross examined by the defence on Wednesday on the second day of his half-brother’s trial at the Central Criminal Court.
Gerard (Gerry) Fortune was stabbed in the neck on August 19th, 2018, after watching the All-Ireland final in his living room.
Laura Lambe, leaving the Central Criminal Court, Dublin, on Wednesday after she gave evidence in the trial of David Fortune. Photograph: Collins Courts
David Fortune (33) of Rutland Grove in Crumlin has pleaded not guilty to his murder at that address.
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Their sister, Laura Lambe, earlier told the court that the accused was hallucinating just before the stabbing, after consuming a number of tablets.
She broke down in tears when she recalled her father trying to calm down the accused, who thought someone wanted to kill him, by saying: “Nobody’s going to die today.”
The 35-year-old told Seán Gillane SC that she arrived to the house very early that morning, and that the accused, his friend and her other brother, Gerard, were in the shed, having a drink. She joined them for a beer and cocaine.
She said that the accused was also taking tablets.
“He was after putting a lot of them in his mouth,” she recalled.
She said that they ran out of drink at one stage and that she and the accused’s friend went to the shop for more.
“On and off, David was getting paranoid, and he was arguing,” she said.
“He was saying: ‘Get that fella from behind the telly. I’m going to kill him,’” she testified, explaining that there was nobody behind the television.
“It was like as if he wasn’t in his own body,” she added.
She said that their father, who had come in from work in St James’s Hospital that morning, called him into the house for dinner and tea to try to calm him down. The accused went into the living room of the house, but wouldn’t accept the meal.
She said that she was in the adjoining kitchen when she heard her father screaming at her brother, Gerard, to get out of the room.
“I saw Gerard running out to the back garden,” she said. “Da was telling him to get out before David hit him.”
She said that the accused was shouting at their father: “Da, I’m going to die.”
Ms Lambe became emotional as she recalled their father’s reply: “You’re not going to die, son. No-one is going to die today.”
She said that the accused had a knife, and that she stood between him and their father.
“He wasn’t in his body,” she said of the accused. “He was blank. His eyes were black.”
She said that the accused swung his arm, knife in hand.
“I just turned around and seen my Da fall,” she said. “I screamed. My Da jumped up and ran, holding his neck. He ran to the front door and collapsed again.”
The court has already heard that he was taken by ambulance to hospital, but died a short time later.
Ms Lambe was cross examined by Michael Bowman SC, defending.
She agreed that the accused and the deceased had loved and idolised each other.
She also agreed that she had told gardaí that the accused was paranoid, hallucinating, “possessed” and frothing at the mouth that day. She said this was “probably” as a result of the drugs he had taken.
She agreed that the accused appeared not to have any understanding of what was going on around him.
“He’d never harm my Da,” she said.
She said that the accused had begun hallucinating again just before the incident.
Mr Bowman put it to her “We wouldn’t be here today” were it not for the tablets the accused had taken.
“Yeah, definitely,” she replied.
The jury also heard from their younger brother, Gerard Lambe. He, too, described the accused as being paranoid and hallucinating that day.
He agreed with Mr Bowman that the blue tablets taken by the accused belonged to him (the witness).
He also agreed that he had no prescription for them, that they were not bona fide diazepam tablets made in a factory.
“They are known to have violently hallucinogenic reactions,” suggested Mr Bowman.
“Yes,” he replied.
“They were in the press. I took them to try and relax him, to take him down of the coke,” he said. “I didn’t put them down his throat.”
“How do you know I’m suggesting you put them in his mouth?” asked Mr Bowman.
“That is the suggestion,” confirmed the barrister.
“They’re made on the streets and can have anything in them,” remarked counsel, suggesting that his client had not gone to any press to get them.
“Ok, I gave him the tablets,” said Mr Lambe, who also agreed that ‘maybe, yes’, this was why his brother had been hallucinating.
However, he couldn’t say that ‘but for the blue tablets, we wouldn’t be here today’.
“Can I suggest that he didn’t know what they were,” said counsel. “You told him to shut up, take them and put them in his mouth.”
Mr Lambe said that did not happen.
Mr Gillane re-examined the witness, who confirmed that the accused had also consumed cocaine and beer.
“Did anyone force him to take cocaine?” he asked.
“No,” replied Mr Lambe.
“Did anyone force him to drink beer?” he asked.
“No,” he replied.
The trial continues.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Abuse survivor in ‘Cinderella’ case urges others to speak out

A young woman , who this week saw her stepmother jailed for a 10-year campaign of physical abuse and psychological torment , has urged anyone suffering domestic violence or mental torture not to be afraid to speak out as help is available and people will believe them .
Cora Desmond ( 21 ) had been physically assaulted and mentally tortured by her stepmother , Bridget Kenneally ( 49 ) from the age of six until she turned 16 at their home in Youghal in Co Cork .
This week Kenneally was jailed for two years for assaulting Ms Desmond in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Court how she was not only physically beaten with a poker , brush handle , hoover hand and other items by Kenneally but was also forced to eat food laced with salt , pepper , chilli powder , mustard and vinegar as punishment .
And she also told how Kenneally , who had three children from a previous relationship before she began living with Ms Desmond ’ s father , Cliff in 2004 , used to get her and her older sister , Chelsea to clean up after her own children who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends while they were not .
“ Bridget gave me the name Cora-Ella and told me I was just like Cinderella because I was the one that was not wanted or loved and that I should be treated like her , ” said Ms Desmond as she told Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin that for 10 years she lived in fear of the next beating or punishment .
Speaking after the court case , Ms Desmond told The Irish Times that she would urge anyone who found themselves in any similar situation to speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years she was terrified as a child to speak out as she feared further beatings and abuse from Kenneally .
“ I know there are people out there going through what I went through or worse and it ’ s horrible but I would urge anyone in that situation to speak out as soon as possible – tell someone whether it ’ s a friend or work colleague or a teacher because you will be believed and people will help .
“ And if , by speaking out now about my experience , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ torture and be free , then it will be worth it and I will be happy .
It ’ s a hard thing to do to speak up but I would encourage people to speak out and get the justice they deserve.
” Ms Desmond said it was the constant fear of further beatings and punishment from Kenneally that prevented her from reporting the abuse but she pointed out that Kenneally was always telling her she would never be believed so she always covered up her injuries as Kenneally ordered her to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her hands so tightly one day that she broke her thumb , she told doctors it resulted from a fall in the garden and she later told doctors at a Cork hospital that bruises to her face were caused by a fall at Funderland , just as Kenneally ordered her to tell them .
Similarly , although her teachers at Gaeilscoil Chorain logged her injuries and raised their concerns with Tusla as did doctors at the hospital she attended , the Tusla investigation never went anywhere as she always denied there was ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constant fear of Kenneally .
“ She would make me lie about the injuries – there was always an excuse for every single injury and I followed whatever I was told to say .
I knew that if I spoke up , it would not end well for me because she would always threaten I would be taken away from Chelsea [ Cora ’ s sister ] and my dad and put in foster care.
” Ms Desmond said that Kenneally began beating her within months of entering the relationship with her father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and she believed comparing her to Cinderella was a deliberate tactic to cause her as much upset as possible .
“ I think the reason that she started calling me Cora-Ella was all about control – I was more or less constantly slaving around after her and her children but she took enjoyment in calling me Cora-Ella because she knew I hated it and it tormented me – it was just a kind of power thing for her.
” The Cinderella comparison was apposite in that Kenneally would make herself and Chelsea scrub @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before going to school whereas Kenneally would never ask her own children to do any house work but instead let them out to socialise with their friends .
Meanwhile , the beatings continued , triggered by nothing at all – making a noise , failing to respond immediately if Kenneally called her – and every beating was justified on the grounds that it was her own fault and she fully deserved it for failing to do what she was told .
“ The beatings got worse as I got older – she would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wooden spoons , metal spatulas , belts , the hoover pipe … I did plead with her for a while to stop but then I realised it was just useless , because the more I cried and begged her to stop , the more she beat me.
” Ms Desmond said the beatings were so frequent and regular that she came to view them as normal and was shocked to learn when talking with a friend in primary school that her parents did not beat her .
“ I thought it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t know any different , ” she said .
Finally , she could take no more and after turning 16 , she broke down one evening when talking with her mother and her mother brought her to the gardaí in Youghal where she made a formal statement of complaint about Kenneally to Sgt Mark Ward .
“ I wasn ’ t living with my mum so she didn ’ t know about this – she will say to this day that she had an idea something was wrong – she would ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ always deny it to the point that she began to think that she was mistaken.
” A week after she made the complaint to gardaí on April 13th , 2016 , her father , Cliff learned of the abuse when gardaí contacted him and asked him to make a statement as part of their investigation .
Within a week of learning of what had happened to his daughter , he separated from Kenneally .
“ I didn ’ t tell my dad – he heard it from the guards – he was utterly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – he was absolutely distraught and it still kills him to this day that he could have done something but he couldn ’ t have known as it was so well hidden.
” Ms Desmond said she was scared after finally going to the gardaí and after the gardaí contacted her father she knew Kenneally would learn the gardai had been notified about the abuse and she didn ’ t know how she would react .
“ I didn ’ t know what she was capable of and I wondered could she beat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me that I would die ... so I grabbed a few things and ran straight to my mum ’ s. ” Ms Desmond is full in her praise of Sgt Ward , not just for the thorough manner in which he investigated the case including obtaining records of her injuries from schools and doctors , but also for the support he gave during the protracted court process that took almost four years to finalise .
“ I gave my initial statement to Sgt Mark Ward and he ’ s been an amazing help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s always been just a phone call away – he ’ s been remarkable.
” In court , Kenneally ’ s barrister , Patrick O ’ Riordan BL proffered an apology on behalf of his client whom he said was deeply remorseful for her actions , but Ms Desmond rejected the apology – a rejection that was acknowledged and respected by Judge O Donnabhain .
“ It might sound selfish of me not to accept her apology but at the end of the day , l lived with her for 11 years and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the mind games she can play - she was only apologising because of the situation she was in – it was an apology just for show.
” Ms Desmond said she was still somewhat in a state of shock at the fact that Kenneally was actually jailed as she fully expected her to get either a suspended sentence or a community service order given the case had taken so long to come to a conclusion .
“ I was shocked to be honest in the court .
I asked Sgt Ward what was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s going away , you ’ ve done it ’ .
I still can ’ t believe it .
I didn ’ t expect her to get any time to be honest , I expected her to walk free because it ’ s been so long coming .
“ I don ’ t know if I feel relieved , I ’ m still processing it , I think .
Going to court was nerve-wracking and it ’ s taken so long – I just thought this is it , I ’ ve wasted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get away with it , but thankfully she didn ’ t and I finally got some bit of justice.
” Anyone affected by any of the issues raised in this piece can contact The Samaritans on 116 123 , Childline on 1800 666 666 and Barnados on 1800 910 123 .
Tusla is at www.tusla.ie

Cora Desmond: ‘I know there are people out there going through what I went through or worse and it’s horrible but I would urge anyone in that situation to speak out as soon as possible.’ Photograph: Daragh Mc Sweeney/ Cork Courts Limited
A young woman, who this week saw her stepmother jailed for a 10-year campaign of physical abuse and psychological torment, has urged anyone suffering domestic violence or mental torture not to be afraid to speak out as help is available and people will believe them.
Cora Desmond (21) had been physically assaulted and mentally tortured by her stepmother, Bridget Kenneally (49) from the age of six until she turned 16 at their home in Youghal in Co Cork. This week Kenneally was jailed for two years for assaulting Ms Desmond in 2009.
Bridget Kenneally (49), of The Green, Duncoran, Youghal, Co Cork, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to Cora Desmond. Photograph: Cork Courts
Ms Desmond told Cork Circuit Criminal Court how she was not only physically beaten with a poker, brush handle, hoover hand and other items by Kenneally but was also forced to eat food laced with salt, pepper, chilli powder, mustard and vinegar as punishment.
And she also told how Kenneally, who had three children from a previous relationship before she began living with Ms Desmond's father, Cliff in 2004, used to get her and her older sister, Chelsea to clean up after her own children who were allowed go out and mix with friends while they were not.
READ MORE
“Bridget gave me the name Cora-Ella and told me I was just like Cinderella because I was the one that was not wanted or loved and that I should be treated like her,” said Ms Desmond as she told Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin that for 10 years she lived in fear of the next beating or punishment.
Speaking after the court case, Ms Desmond told The Irish Times that she would urge anyone who found themselves in any similar situation to speak out even though she admitted that for years she was terrified as a child to speak out as she feared further beatings and abuse from Kenneally.
“I know there are people out there going through what I went through or worse and it’s horrible but I would urge anyone in that situation to speak out as soon as possible – tell someone whether it’s a friend or work colleague or a teacher because you will be believed and people will help.
“And if, by speaking out now about my experience, I can help one person escape the torture and be free, then it will be worth it and I will be happy. It’s a hard thing to do to speak up but I would encourage people to speak out and get the justice they deserve.”
Fear of beatings
Ms Desmond said it was the constant fear of further beatings and punishment from Kenneally that prevented her from reporting the abuse but she pointed out that Kenneally was always telling her she would never be believed so she always covered up her injuries as Kenneally ordered her to do.
She said that when Kenneally squeezed her hands so tightly one day that she broke her thumb, she told doctors it resulted from a fall in the garden and she later told doctors at a Cork hospital that bruises to her face were caused by a fall at Funderland, just as Kenneally ordered her to tell them.
Similarly, although her teachers at Gaeilscoil Chorain logged her injuries and raised their concerns with Tusla as did doctors at the hospital she attended, the Tusla investigation never went anywhere as she always denied there was ever any physical abuse as she lived in constant fear of Kenneally.
“She would make me lie about the injuries – there was always an excuse for every single injury and I followed whatever I was told to say. I knew that if I spoke up, it would not end well for me because she would always threaten I would be taken away from Chelsea [Cora’s sister] and my dad and put in foster care.”
Ms Desmond said that Kenneally began beating her within months of entering the relationship with her father and she quickly became controlling and manipulative and she believed comparing her to Cinderella was a deliberate tactic to cause her as much upset as possible.
“I think the reason that she started calling me Cora-Ella was all about control – I was more or less constantly slaving around after her and her children but she took enjoyment in calling me Cora-Ella because she knew I hated it and it tormented me – it was just a kind of power thing for her.”
The Cinderella comparison was apposite in that Kenneally would make herself and Chelsea scrub the floors in the kitchen and bathrooms before going to school whereas Kenneally would never ask her own children to do any house work but instead let them out to socialise with their friends.
Meanwhile, the beatings continued, triggered by nothing at all – making a noise, failing to respond immediately if Kenneally called her – and every beating was justified on the grounds that it was her own fault and she fully deserved it for failing to do what she was told.
“The beatings got worse as I got older – she would use the sweeping brush, the poker, wooden spoons, metal spatulas, belts, the hoover pipe … I did plead with her for a while to stop but then I realised it was just useless, because the more I cried and begged her to stop, the more she beat me.”
Ms Desmond said the beatings were so frequent and regular that she came to view them as normal and was shocked to learn when talking with a friend in primary school that her parents did not beat her. “I thought it was completely and utterly normal because I didn’t know any different,” she said.
Garda report
Finally, she could take no more and after turning 16, she broke down one evening when talking with her mother and her mother brought her to the gardaí in Youghal where she made a formal statement of complaint about Kenneally to Sgt Mark Ward.
“I wasn’t living with my mum so she didn’t know about this – she will say to this day that she had an idea something was wrong – she would ask me was everything okay but I would always deny it to the point that she began to think that she was mistaken.”
A week after she made the complaint to gardaí on April 13th, 2016, her father, Cliff learned of the abuse when gardaí contacted him and asked him to make a statement as part of their investigation. Within a week of learning of what had happened to his daughter, he separated from Kenneally.
“I didn’t tell my dad – he heard it from the guards – he was utterly in the dark about the whole situation – he was absolutely distraught and it still kills him to this day that he could have done something but he couldn’t have known as it was so well hidden.”
Ms Desmond said she was scared after finally going to the gardaí and after the gardaí contacted her father she knew Kenneally would learn the gardai had been notified about the abuse and she didn’t know how she would react.
“I didn’t know what she was capable of and I wondered could she beat me and do so much damage to me that I would die ... so I grabbed a few things and ran straight to my mum’s.”
Ms Desmond is full in her praise of Sgt Ward, not just for the thorough manner in which he investigated the case including obtaining records of her injuries from schools and doctors, but also for the support he gave during the protracted court process that took almost four years to finalise.
“I gave my initial statement to Sgt Mark Ward and he’s been an amazing help to me . . . he’s always been just a phone call away – he’s been remarkable.”
In court, Kenneally's barrister, Patrick O'Riordan BL proffered an apology on behalf of his client whom he said was deeply remorseful for her actions, but Ms Desmond rejected the apology – a rejection that was acknowledged and respected by Judge O Donnabhain.
“It might sound selfish of me not to accept her apology but at the end of the day, l lived with her for 11 years and I know the way she is and the mind games she can play - she was only apologising because of the situation she was in – it was an apology just for show.”
Ms Desmond said she was still somewhat in a state of shock at the fact that Kenneally was actually jailed as she fully expected her to get either a suspended sentence or a community service order given the case had taken so long to come to a conclusion.
“I was shocked to be honest in the court. I asked Sgt Ward what was happening and he said ‘She’s going away, you’ve done it’. I still can’t believe it. I didn’t expect her to get any time to be honest, I expected her to walk free because it’s been so long coming.
“I don’t know if I feel relieved, I’m still processing it, I think. Going to court was nerve-wracking and it’s taken so long – I just thought this is it, I’ve wasted my time again, she is going to get away with it, but thankfully she didn’t and I finally got some bit of justice.”
Anyone affected by any of the issues raised in this piece can contact The Samaritans on 116 123, Childline on 1800 666 666 and Barnados on 1800 910 123. Tusla is at www.tusla.ie


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--EU recommends use of rapid Covid-19 antigen tests

The European Union ’ s executive body has recommended the widespread adoption of quick antigen testing by member states to help curb an autumn surge of Covid-19 across the continent .
The tests can give results in minutes , but are less accurate than the standard PCR or polymerase chain reaction tests .
Slovakia recently used the tests to conduct a mass screening of two-thirds of its population over a single weekend in a bid to root out the virus , an experiment set to be copied by Austria .
“ Testing tells us what the extent of the spread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how it develops .
It is a decisive tool to slow down the spread of Covid-19 , ” said health commissioner Stella Kyriakides .
The recommendation is that rapid tests should be used in circumstances where fast detection is required to contain an outbreak , or for regular screening of high-risk groups , such as medical personnel and in care homes .
The tests could also be used to separate out positive Covid-19 cases among patients in healthcare facilities , the Commission said .
Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher called on the Irish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obviously , the RT-PCR testing should be used where possible .
However , due to the time taken to get a result using PCR testing , there may be benefit in looking for a testing system that delivers quicker results especially in emergency or in point-of-care scenarios .
There are clearly many scenarios where a rapid , antigen test could be used , ” Kelleher said .
Funding of €100 million is to be allocated by the Commission for the purchasing of rapid antigen tests for EU member states .
The Commission had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of the antigen tests to screen travellers before flying as a way to ease travel between EU states , a change strongly supported by the struggling aviation industry .
But the proposal was blocked by many member states that opposed the use of the tests in those circumstances .
Instead , the Commission ’ s advice calls for the use of the tests for travellers to be “ further considered ” as more evidence comes to light and the pandemic evolves .
Antigen tests have been divisive among health experts because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which mistakenly clear people for Covid-19 who have the virus , something some experts fear is counterproductive as it may give false confidence to people who go on to spread the virus to others .

The European Union’s executive body has recommended the widespread adoption of quick antigen testing by member states to help curb an autumn surge of Covid-19 across the continent.
The tests can give results in minutes, but are less accurate than the standard PCR or polymerase chain reaction tests. Slovakia recently used the tests to conduct a mass screening of two-thirds of its population over a single weekend in a bid to root out the virus, an experiment set to be copied by Austria.
“Testing tells us what the extent of the spread is, where it is, and how it develops. It is a decisive tool to slow down the spread of Covid-19,” said health commissioner Stella Kyriakides.
The recommendation is that rapid tests should be used in circumstances where fast detection is required to contain an outbreak, or for regular screening of high-risk groups, such as medical personnel and in care homes.
READ MORE
The tests could also be used to separate out positive Covid-19 cases among patients in healthcare facilities, the Commission said.
Fianna Fáil MEP Billy Kelleher called on the Irish government to adopt the recommendation.
“Obviously, the RT-PCR testing should be used where possible. However, due to the time taken to get a result using PCR testing, there may be benefit in looking for a testing system that delivers quicker results especially in emergency or in point-of-care scenarios. There are clearly many scenarios where a rapid, antigen test could be used,” Kelleher said.
People queue to get the coronavirus Covid-19 Rapid Antigen tests in Nicosia, Cyprus. Photograph: Katia Christodoulou/EPA
Funding of €100 million is to be allocated by the Commission for the purchasing of rapid antigen tests for EU member states.
The Commission had wanted to go further and recommend the use of the antigen tests to screen travellers before flying as a way to ease travel between EU states, a change strongly supported by the struggling aviation industry.
But the proposal was blocked by many member states that opposed the use of the tests in those circumstances.
Instead, the Commission’s advice calls for the use of the tests for travellers to be “further considered” as more evidence comes to light and the pandemic evolves.
Antigen tests have been divisive among health experts because of their comparatively high rate of false negatives, which mistakenly clear people for Covid-19 who have the virus, something some experts fear is counterproductive as it may give false confidence to people who go on to spread the virus to others.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--GP representative added to coronavirus vaccination body

There was initially no GP representative on a new body tasked with planning for widespread coronavirus vaccination , even though they are likely to play a major role in its distribution .
It is understood the matter was remedied after being raised with Department of Health officials at a recent liaison meeting between it , the HSE , the Irish Medical Organisation ( IMO ) and the Irish College of General Practitioners ( ICGP ) .
The recently formed Immunisation Strategy Group is currently working on a Covid-19 vaccination programme which the HSE said it will implement “ in due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chair of the IMO ’ s GP Committee , said they had been left “ somewhat surprised that the early group doesn ’ t have [ a GP ] and we would expect one ” .
As he explained , Ireland ’ s network of community doctors could play a key role in vaccination – not only through the possible use of surgeries to administer vaccines , but because the GP database is almost certain to be used in identifying those patients most in need of first round or early vaccinations .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GP representative would be added to the group .
The Department of Health did not respond to request for comment .
Although a strategy has yet to be confirmed , the medical community appears to be unanimous on which sections of society would be targeted first – health care workers and carers , as well as those in a specific “ vulnerable ” category .
Dr McCauley said after healthcare workers , it is likely that those in nursing homes and care settings would receive the vaccines as priority , and could potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for instance with those aged over 85 .
Then others in the community would follow , specifically those with chronic health conditions who could be identified through the GP database .
He also said the demand/supply ratio would be such that delivery would be very tightly controlled .
Professor Mary Horgan , an expert in infectious disease and president of the Royal College of Physicians said a 70 per cent vaccination rate would be required in the population to achieve results , although how long that will take remains impossible to tell .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to look at who is most likely to get Covid and end up in hospital , or indeed dying .
We all have that knowledge now , ” she said of the process in identifying priority recipients .
“ You want getting a vaccination to do two things , it might achieve both : one [ reducing ] the severity of the disease so that people don ’ t end up in hospital and two , to reduce transmissibility.
” She said achieving the first of these goals would help protect hospital services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken in tandem with other ongoing measures such as personal behaviour , test and tracing and treatment .
Dr Gerald Barry , a virologist at University College Dublin ( UCD ) , said the successful vaccination of older and vulnerable cohorts of society would have major impact , including a possible end to the fixation on daily case rates , a defining aspect of the pandemic experience .
“ If you take away the problem of those above 65/70 years olds getting [ infected ] , that ’ s the vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ younger population aren ’ t vaccinated [ immediately ] the risk is massively reduced , ” he said .
“ If you can protect the vulnerable groups then you don ’ t necessarily have to worry as much about cases numbers going crazy .
“ You would be in a situation where we could start to open up society to an extent while maintaining caution .
”

Dr Gerald Barry said the successful vaccination of older and vulnerable cohorts of society would have major impact. Photograph: Joel Saget/AFP via Getty
There was initially no GP representative on a new body tasked with planning for widespread coronavirus vaccination, even though they are likely to play a major role in its distribution.
It is understood the matter was remedied after being raised with Department of Health officials at a recent liaison meeting between it, the HSE, the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).
The recently formed Immunisation Strategy Group is currently working on a Covid-19 vaccination programme which the HSE said it will implement "in due course".
Dr Denis McCauley, chair of the IMO’s GP Committee, said they had been left “somewhat surprised that the early group doesn’t have [a GP] and we would expect one”.
READ MORE
As he explained, Ireland’s network of community doctors could play a key role in vaccination – not only through the possible use of surgeries to administer vaccines, but because the GP database is almost certain to be used in identifying those patients most in need of first round or early vaccinations.
The ICGP said it received confirmation that a GP representative would be added to the group. The Department of Health did not respond to request for comment.
Although a strategy has yet to be confirmed, the medical community appears to be unanimous on which sections of society would be targeted first – health care workers and carers, as well as those in a specific “vulnerable” category.
Dr McCauley said after healthcare workers, it is likely that those in nursing homes and care settings would receive the vaccines as priority, and could potentially be divided by age category, beginning for instance with those aged over 85.
Then others in the community would follow, specifically those with chronic health conditions who could be identified through the GP database. He also said the demand/supply ratio would be such that delivery would be very tightly controlled.
Vaccine
Professor Mary Horgan, an expert in infectious disease and president of the Royal College of Physicians said a 70 per cent vaccination rate would be required in the population to achieve results, although how long that will take remains impossible to tell.
“What’s important now is to look at who is most likely to get Covid and end up in hospital, or indeed dying. We all have that knowledge now,” she said of the process in identifying priority recipients.
“You want getting a vaccination to do two things, it might achieve both: one [reducing] the severity of the disease so that people don’t end up in hospital and two, to reduce transmissibility.”
She said achieving the first of these goals would help protect hospital services , but the vaccine should only be taken in tandem with other ongoing measures such as personal behaviour, test and tracing and treatment.
Dr Gerald Barry, a virologist at University College Dublin (UCD), said the successful vaccination of older and vulnerable cohorts of society would have major impact, including a possible end to the fixation on daily case rates, a defining aspect of the pandemic experience.
“If you take away the problem of those above 65/70 years olds getting [infected], that’s the vast majority of severe cases. So even if the younger population aren’t vaccinated [immediately] the risk is massively reduced,” he said.
“If you can protect the vulnerable groups then you don’t necessarily have to worry as much about cases numbers going crazy.
“You would be in a situation where we could start to open up society to an extent while maintaining caution.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Cannabis worth €620,000 seized in Co Meath

A man has been arrested after cannabis with an estimated street value of €620,000 was seized by gardaí and Revenue @ @ @ @ @ seizure was part of an ongoing investigation targeting serious organised criminal activity and involved personnel @ @ @ @ @ Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau , supported by Revenue ’ s customs service .
The @ @ @ @ @ , were discovered after gardaí intercepted a vehicle in the Co Meath area .
A @ @ @ @ @ arrested and is currently detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal @ @ @ @ @ Act 1996 at Ashbourne Garda Station .
A spokesman for Revenue said the operation was @ @ @ @ @ investigations targeting organised crime groups and the importation , sale and supply of illegal drugs @ @ @ @ @ members of the public have any information regarding drug smuggling , they can contact Revenue @ @ @ @ @ number 1800 295 295 , ” he added .

The drugs, which weighed 31kgs, were discovered after gardaí intercepted a vehicle in the Co Meath area.
A man has been arrested after cannabis with an estimated street value of €620,000 was seized by gardaí and Revenue officials on Tuesday.
The seizure was part of an ongoing investigation targeting serious organised criminal activity and involved personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, supported by Revenue’s customs service.
The drugs, which weighed 31kgs, were discovered after gardaí intercepted a vehicle in the Co Meath area.
A man (32) was arrested and is currently detained pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996 at Ashbourne Garda Station.
READ MORE
A spokesman for Revenue said the operation was part of its ongoing joint investigations targeting organised crime groups and the importation, sale and supply of illegal drugs.
“If businesses or members of the public have any information regarding drug smuggling, they can contact Revenue in confidence on confidential phone number 1800 295 295,” he added.


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Government urged to establish new social dialogue structure

Ireland would greatly benefit from the establishment of a new social dialogue structure that would engage all sectors at a national level , the head of Social Justice Ireland , Fr Sean Healy has said .
Addressing the organisation ’ s annual social policy conference on Thursday he said in the post-Covid world , the Government should have confidence , that the general public would welcome new thinking in how our economy and society was structured .
“ Ireland , and indeed the planet , face several crises ranging from pandemic to pollution to poverty ; a situation where ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social and environmental catastrophe .
We have reached a point where adoption of a new social contract is surely a necessity.
” Fr Healy said Ireland faces significant challenges in the coming decades , including the housing and health situations , an increasing older population and the transition to a cleaner , greener economy .
“ If Ireland is to succeed in addressing the challenges we face , the pathway to doing so must be founded on consensus , must be well-managed , and must be properly evaluated.
” Unions and employer representatives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ favour returning to a system of centralised pay bargaining that was one of the main features of the old social partnership structure that collapsed a decade ago .
The director general of the employers ’ group Ibec Danny McCoy said his organisation backed the establishment of a more extensive social dialogue model .
He said it urged the Government to reset Ireland ’ s engagement with employers and other stakeholders in a more structured consultation and engagement model which could support recovery , address Ireland ’ s long-term societal issues with inclusive and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be addressed by a social dialogue model are now more about collective or public goods and services , specifically access to affordable housing , childcare , transportation and concerns for sustainability ” .
“ A new compact can be delivered not through centralised wage bargaining as it relates to the individual ’ s disposable income but now must reflect a more diversified set of factors by negotiating on the social welfare model financed through the social insurance scheme.
” “ A future dialogue will ultimately revolve around the level of Pay Related Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and employers on their behalf rather than limited to direct wage rates .
If PRSI becomes the instrument of change to address social welfare provisions , it will need to be agreed between the representative agents of employers and employees.
” The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Patricia King said it supported a new social contract .
She said unions wanted an income-related social security system and that it would have to resolve issues such as sick pay and pensions .
She said unions wanted a single tier universal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public housing .
Ms King said unions did not have any interest in usurping the role of the political system or policy makers as part of a social dialogue process .
She said social dialogue must involve all those who have a stake in the outcome of economic and social policies and these representative organisations must have an opportunity to influence and shape current and future policies .
“ We do not want a system of centralised pay bargaining that was attached to the previous social partnership model .
”

Ireland would greatly benefit from the establishment of a new social dialogue structure that would engage all sectors at a national level, the head of Social Justice Ireland, Fr Sean Healy has said.
Addressing the organisation’s annual social policy conference on Thursday he said in the post-Covid world, the Government should have confidence, that the general public would welcome new thinking in how our economy and society was structured.
“Ireland, and indeed the planet, face several crises ranging from pandemic to pollution to poverty; a situation where ‘business as usual’ can mean only social and environmental catastrophe. We have reached a point where adoption of a new social contract is surely a necessity.”
Fr Healy said Ireland faces significant challenges in the coming decades, including the housing and health situations, an increasing older population and the transition to a cleaner, greener economy.
READ MORE
“If Ireland is to succeed in addressing the challenges we face, the pathway to doing so must be founded on consensus, must be well-managed, and must be properly evaluated.”
Unions and employer representatives told the conference that they did not favour returning to a system of centralised pay bargaining that was one of the main features of the old social partnership structure that collapsed a decade ago.
Engagement model
The director general of the employers’ group Ibec Danny McCoy said his organisation backed the establishment of a more extensive social dialogue model. He said it urged the Government to reset Ireland’s engagement with employers and other stakeholders in a more structured consultation and engagement model which could support recovery, address Ireland’s long-term societal issues with inclusive and sustainable outcomes”.
“Issues to be addressed by a social dialogue model are now more about collective or public goods and services, specifically access to affordable housing, childcare, transportation and concerns for sustainability”.
“A new compact can be delivered not through centralised wage bargaining as it relates to the individual’s disposable income but now must reflect a more diversified set of factors by negotiating on the social welfare model financed through the social insurance scheme.”
“A future dialogue will ultimately revolve around the level of Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) paid by employees and employers on their behalf rather than limited to direct wage rates. If PRSI becomes the instrument of change to address social welfare provisions, it will need to be agreed between the representative agents of employers and employees.”
The general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions Patricia King said it supported a new social contract. She said unions wanted an income-related social security system and that it would have to resolve issues such as sick pay and pensions. She said unions wanted a single tier universal health system and an investment programme in public housing.
Ms King said unions did not have any interest in usurping the role of the political system or policy makers as part of a social dialogue process.
She said social dialogue must involve all those who have a stake in the outcome of economic and social policies and these representative organisations must have an opportunity to influence and shape current and future policies.
“We do not want a system of centralised pay bargaining that was attached to the previous social partnership model.”


theirishtimes--2020-11-18--Court issues warrant for arrest of brothel keeper over failure to pay State €243,000

The High Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of a convicted brothel keeper over his failure to pay some €243,000 to the State from profiting from his criminal activity .
Martin Morgan ( 55 ) , who operated the brothel in a Dublin apartment and now has an address in Highbury Road , London , previously claimed he had spent the benefits of his criminal activity on business expenses .
He denied organising prostitution and running the brothel in the Bachelor ’ s Walk flat between August and October 2005 .
He was found guilty by a jury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three years in 2008 .
Subsequently , the Circuit Criminal Court granted an order to confiscate some €252,000 in assets based on a calculation of what the net profit of the business was likely to have been during the offending period .
The figure was based on testimony from those working in the brothel about the number of shifts they did and their hourly rates .
Morgan appealed the confiscation order and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision .
The Court of Appeal heard in 2018 the State at one stage alleged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every year .
On Wednesday , the Criminal Assets Bureau ( Cab ) applied to Mr Justice Paul Coffey in the High Court to enforce the confiscation order .
The judge was told while the original confiscation order had been €252,583 , that sum had been reduced by €9,000 in cash which had been seized by gardaí from Morgan and forfeited to the State .
Cab ’ s counsel argued that section 19.2 of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act provides for jail of up to three years for non-compliance , with a confiscation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to €250,000 .
As Morgan was no longer in the jurisdiction , Cab believed the best approach was to first secure his attendance at court through an arrest warrant which could be used to extradite him .
He was aware of the application but had chosen not to attend court .
Counsel for Morgan said his client had filed an affidavit a year ago explaining his position and there had been no attempt to investigate what he said other than the State side saying it was not accepted .
The Morgan side also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being used by the State to seek his attachment and committal to prison .
This can often be achieved by an order giving the State first call on his earnings or other sources of income ( garnishee order ) , counsel said .
A bench warrant for someone ’ s arrest was ordinarily used for failure to answer bail .
Mr Morgan was not on bail and had been convicted , imprisoned and served his sentence , he said .
Mr Justice Coffey said he would accede to the application to issue a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This was in circumstances where he was on notice of the application and where he was represented by legal advisers .
The State was entitled , on the face of it , to bring enforcement proceedings and it seemed to the judge the court should endeavour to secure his attendance before going further .

The High Court has issued a warrant for the arrest of a convicted brothel keeper over his failure to pay some €243,000 to the State from profiting from his criminal activity.
Martin Morgan (55), who operated the brothel in a Dublin apartment and now has an address in Highbury Road, London, previously claimed he had spent the benefits of his criminal activity on business expenses.
He denied organising prostitution and running the brothel in the Bachelor’s Walk flat between August and October 2005. He was found guilty by a jury following a 19-day trial and jailed for three years in 2008.
Subsequently, the Circuit Criminal Court granted an order to confiscate some €252,000 in assets based on a calculation of what the net profit of the business was likely to have been during the offending period. The figure was based on testimony from those working in the brothel about the number of shifts they did and their hourly rates.
READ MORE
Morgan appealed the confiscation order and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision.
The Court of Appeal heard in 2018 the State at one stage alleged the brothel was generating millions of euro every year.
On Wednesday, the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab) applied to Mr Justice Paul Coffey in the High Court to enforce the confiscation order. The judge was told while the original confiscation order had been €252,583, that sum had been reduced by €9,000 in cash which had been seized by gardaí from Morgan and forfeited to the State.
Cab’s counsel argued that section 19.2 of the 1994 Criminal Justice Act provides for jail of up to three years for non-compliance, with a confiscation order requiring a defendant to pay up to €250,000.
As Morgan was no longer in the jurisdiction, Cab believed the best approach was to first secure his attendance at court through an arrest warrant which could be used to extradite him. He was aware of the application but had chosen not to attend court.
Counsel for Morgan said his client had filed an affidavit a year ago explaining his position and there had been no attempt to investigate what he said other than the State side saying it was not accepted.
The Morgan side also took issue with the process which was being used by the State to seek his attachment and committal to prison. This can often be achieved by an order giving the State first call on his earnings or other sources of income (garnishee order), counsel said.
A bench warrant for someone’s arrest was ordinarily used for failure to answer bail. Mr Morgan was not on bail and had been convicted, imprisoned and served his sentence, he said.
Mr Justice Coffey said he would accede to the application to issue a bench warrant to secure his attendance. This was in circumstances where he was on notice of the application and where he was represented by legal advisers.
The State was entitled, on the face of it, to bring enforcement proceedings and it seemed to the judge the court should endeavour to secure his attendance before going further.