theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Applications for asylum in Ireland decrease significantly

The number of applications for international protection , or asylum , in Ireland decreased significantly in the first two months of the year as applications from Georgians and Albanians dropped .
In January and February a total of 552 migrants from a large number of countries claimed international protection in the Republic , down 27 per cent on the first two months of last year and a reversal of increasing numbers since 2015 .
Justice sources said they were hopeful a drop in the numbers would be sustained and would decrease pressure on the direct provision system , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been strongly criticised by human rights campaigners .
Garda and other sources noted the drop in numbers in the first two months of the year had occurred before Ireland and most other countries were significantly impacted by coronavirus .
Instead , the sources said , the fall in numbers had occurred because the large number of Albanians and Georgians coming to Ireland to apply for international protection had been slowed to a trickle by a Garda-led operation .
Last November , Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said many Albanians and Georgians were entering Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming in such numbers , he said , they were driving the overall increase in the number of people of all nationalities applying for international protection .
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said some new arrivals at Dublin Airport were destroying false documents before presenting themselves at immigration checks .
Before either Mr Varadkar or Mr Flanagan made their comments , some immigration checks at Dublin Airport were moved out onto the tarmac .
When disembarking passengers were found without the proper travel documents they were refused entry .
Airlines were also obliged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dublin Airport .
Gardaí said this had resulted in airlines more closely checking passengers when they boarded flights for Dublin .
Together with investigations in the Republic into people aiding people smuggling , gardaí said , applications for international protection from Albanians and Georgians had plummeted .
Last September 191 applications for protection were made by Albanians and 117 were made by Georgians ; the highest monthly totals for both nationalities .
By the end of the year , that was reduced to low single digits ; just four applications from Albanians and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news of the operation targeting Albanians and Georgians emerged in The Irish Times late last year , it was soon discontinued though the number of applications for protection from people of either nationality has been very low .
In January and February last year , Albanians and Georgians made 224 applications ; more people than from any other country .
However , they do not feature in the top five countries for applications made in January and February of this year .
The Immigrant Council of Ireland has said the Irish authorities could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone who wished to apply for international protection .
“ This is one of the most fundamental rights set out in the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees , as well as Irish and European Law , ” Colin Lenihan , the council ’ s information and support service co-ordinator , previously said in reply to queries .
When asked by The Irish Times about the performing of immigration checks at the steps of aircraft , the European Asylum Support Office nations were permitted to carry out such actions “ as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for international protection have the opportunity to do ” .
A response to queries about whether every Albanian and Georgian was given the opportunity to apply for international protection before being refused entry into the Republic was last night awaited from Garda Headquarters .
However , Garda sources pointed out that applications , though much smaller in number , were still being made by Georgians and Albanians .
They said this was proof that no one nationality was being singled out and refused permission to apply .

Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said some new arrivals at Dublin Airport were destroying false documents before presenting themselves at immigration checks. Photograph: Nick Bradshaw
The number of applications for international protection, or asylum, in Ireland decreased significantly in the first two months of the year as applications from Georgians and Albanians dropped.
In January and February a total of 552 migrants from a large number of countries claimed international protection in the Republic, down 27 per cent on the first two months of last year and a reversal of increasing numbers since 2015.
Justice sources said they were hopeful a drop in the numbers would be sustained and would decrease pressure on the direct provision system, which has become crowded. Conditions in direct provision have been strongly criticised by human rights campaigners.
Garda-led operation
Garda and other sources noted the drop in numbers in the first two months of the year had occurred before Ireland and most other countries were significantly impacted by coronavirus. Instead, the sources said, the fall in numbers had occurred because the large number of Albanians and Georgians coming to Ireland to apply for international protection had been slowed to a trickle by a Garda-led operation.
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Last November, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said many Albanians and Georgians were entering Ireland using false travel documents. They were coming in such numbers, he said, they were driving the overall increase in the number of people of all nationalities applying for international protection.
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan said some new arrivals at Dublin Airport were destroying false documents before presenting themselves at immigration checks.
Before either Mr Varadkar or Mr Flanagan made their comments, some immigration checks at Dublin Airport were moved out onto the tarmac. When disembarking passengers were found without the proper travel documents they were refused entry. Airlines were also obliged to fly those people back out of Dublin Airport.
Gardaí said this had resulted in airlines more closely checking passengers when they boarded flights for Dublin. Together with investigations in the Republic into people aiding people smuggling, gardaí said, applications for international protection from Albanians and Georgians had plummeted.
Last September 191 applications for protection were made by Albanians and 117 were made by Georgians; the highest monthly totals for both nationalities. By the end of the year, that was reduced to low single digits; just four applications from Albanians and four from Georgians last December.
After news of the operation targeting Albanians and Georgians emerged in The Irish Times late last year, it was soon discontinued though the number of applications for protection from people of either nationality has been very low.
In January and February last year, Albanians and Georgians made 224 applications; more people than from any other country. However, they do not feature in the top five countries for applications made in January and February of this year.
Immigration checks
The Immigrant Council of Ireland has said the Irish authorities could not refuse entry into the Republic to anyone who wished to apply for international protection.
“This is one of the most fundamental rights set out in the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, as well as Irish and European Law,” Colin Lenihan, the council’s information and support service co-ordinator, previously said in reply to queries.
When asked by The Irish Times about the performing of immigration checks at the steps of aircraft, the European Asylum Support Office nations were permitted to carry out such actions “as long as those who wish to apply for international protection have the opportunity to do”.
A response to queries about whether every Albanian and Georgian was given the opportunity to apply for international protection before being refused entry into the Republic was last night awaited from Garda Headquarters.
However, Garda sources pointed out that applications, though much smaller in number, were still being made by Georgians and Albanians. They said this was proof that no one nationality was being singled out and refused permission to apply.


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Northside People and Southside People close down with loss of 17 jobs

North Dublin Publications Ltd , which has been publishing free newspapers in the Dublin area for 33 years , has announced its closure .
The company , which published the Northside People and Southside People newspapers , as well as the digital DublinPeople.com , was founded in 1987 by Robin and Sylvia Webb .
In recent years the Celtic Media Group , which publishes five regional papers , including the Meath Chronicle , took a controlling interest in the company .
Publication was suspended by the company in recent weeks due to the outbreak of Covid-19 , which has severely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Southside People have launched or supported the careers of some of the State ’ s best-known writers , broadcasters and authors , including Seán Moncrieff , Lorcan Roche , Paul Howard , Tony McCullagh , Neil Fetherstonhaugh and Sinéad Crowley .
Irish Times journalists who have worked there include Tim O ’ Brien , Joe Humphreys , and Fiona Gartland .
Other alumni include Nicola Tallant of the Sunday World , Geraldine Comiskey , Keith Falkiner of the Irish Daily Star and Brian Whelan of Joe.ie , among others .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 17 staff at both publications were informed of the decision on Friday .
A meeting of creditors is taking place on May 19th , where a liquidator is expected to be appointed .

North Dublin Publications Ltd, which has been publishing free newspapers in the Dublin area for 33 years, has announced its closure. File photograph: Getty Images
North Dublin Publications Ltd, which has been publishing free newspapers in the Dublin area for 33 years, has announced its closure.
The company, which published the Northside People and Southside People newspapers, as well as the digital DublinPeople.com, was founded in 1987 by Robin and Sylvia Webb.
In recent years the Celtic Media Group, which publishes five regional papers, including the Meath Chronicle, took a controlling interest in the company. Publication was suspended by the company in recent weeks due to the outbreak of Covid-19, which has severely hit advertising revenues .
The Northside People and the Southside People have launched or supported the careers of some of the State's best-known writers, broadcasters and authors, including Seán Moncrieff, Lorcan Roche, Paul Howard, Tony McCullagh, Neil Fetherstonhaugh and Sinéad Crowley.
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Irish Times journalists who have worked there include Tim O'Brien, Joe Humphreys, and Fiona Gartland. Other alumni include Nicola Tallant of the Sunday World,Geraldine Comiskey, Keith Falkiner of the Irish Daily Star and Brian Whelan of Joe.ie, among others.
In a statement, the company said that the 17 staff at both publications were informed of the decision on Friday.
A meeting of creditors is taking place on May 19th, where a liquidator is expected to be appointed.


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Nursing home residents: ‘If they don’t die of Covid they’re going to die of loneliness’

It may seem premature to be considering a plan to reopen nursing homes to visitors with the daily Covid-19 death toll – mostly involving nursing home residents – still in double figures , but the sector ’ s regulator thinks this discussion needs to begin .
The Health Information and Quality Authority ( HIQA ) , which inspects nursing homes , has raised the issue with Minister for Health Simon Harris and on the State ’ s National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) .
HIQA chief executive Phelim Quinn is a NPHET member .
“ It is time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not saying that it is happening today or tomorrow , ” said Susan Cliff , deputy chief inspector at HIQA .
The topic has come up during the regulator ’ s 93 on-site assessments of nursing homes since mid-April , reviews aimed at assessing the preparedness of homes to manage an outbreak .
One HIQA inspector was told of the toll the lockdown was taking on elderly residents who had not had a visit in two months .
“ The provider said that if they don ’ t die of Covid they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a genuine concern , ” said Cliff .
There had to be a discussion around “ how are we going to open the centres safely to visiting , however limited that is ” .
She said among the solutions being considered was the installation of Perspex glass and “ prison-type visiting scenarios ” .
“ What we want is a coherent approach to this that is risk-assessed , safe for the provider , safe for the residents , and safe for the relatives who are coming into the visit , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it had completed the mass testing of 28,000 residents and 30,000 staff across all 577 nursing homes in the State , and it had found confirmed or suspected coronavirus outbreaks in 371 or 64 per cent of nursing homes , far higher than previously thought .
However , the crisis in nursing homes – the worst-hit sector – appears to have peaked ; the HSE said the number of nursing homes “ of significant concern ” had fallen to 56 from 90 in a week .
During the pandemic HIQA has escalated concerns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teams about outbreaks and testing delays ( or no testing ) , along with shortages of staff , personal protective equipment ( PPE ) and oxygen at the worst-hit homes .
Cliff says HIQA has received “ a few snipey comments – ‘ too little , too late ’ is a common one ” – but she could count the criticisms on “ one hand ” .
It listened “ to the panic out there ” without having “ assets or the ability to sort problems , and can only look to pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cliff talked about the “ blind panic and the pandemonium ” that gripped some homes as they fought outbreaks and managed multiple deaths after the first nursing home case of Covid was reported to HIQA on Monday , March 16th .
She believes the initial response was hampered by there being no relationship between the HSE and the 80 per cent of the homes that are privately owned .
She said some homes had a higher expectation of how the State would help and that State officials initially saw homes as independent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that these residential centres were “ homes ” and “ never established to work as acute healthcare facilities ” .
There was “ an acceptance ” within the HSE – around the start of the last week in March – that “ the capacity just wasn ’ t there ” to manage the deepening crisis , and she remembers a call from one Dublin home that was struggling to cope .
“ That nursing home was probably the third or fourth in the Dublin area that had significant deaths , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the overall residents is very high , ” she said .
Cliff expressed surprise at the large number of asymptomatic Covid-19 positive cases found in the mass testing , based on anecdotal reports .
One home , which thought it was Covid-free , had 27 asymptomatic cases .
In another all but four of the 40 residents were positive and asymptomatic .
Now HIQA believes there needs to be “ an articulated plan ” for retesting to get staff confirmed negative and back to work as nursing homes were still experiencing details in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move to a situation where centres have the capacity to do their own test , have access to a lab to send those tests , and have a coherent pathway to get those tests back in a timely fashion – I mean in 24 or 36 hours ; I don ’ t mean five or six days , ” said Cliff .

“What we want is a coherent approach to this that is risk-assessed; safe for the provider, safe for the residents, and safe for the relatives who are coming into the visit.” Photograph: Getty Images
It may seem premature to be considering a plan to reopen nursing homes to visitors with the daily Covid-19 death toll – mostly involving nursing home residents – still in double figures, but the sector’s regulator thinks this discussion needs to begin.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), which inspects nursing homes, has raised the issue with Minister for Health Simon Harris and on the State's National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). HIQA chief executive Phelim Quinn is a NPHET member.
"It is time to start the conversation; we are not saying that it is happening today or tomorrow," said Susan Cliffe, deputy chief inspector at HIQA.
The topic has come up during the regulator’s 93 on-site assessments of nursing homes since mid-April, reviews aimed at assessing the preparedness of homes to manage an outbreak.
READ MORE
One HIQA inspector was told of the toll the lockdown was taking on elderly residents who had not had a visit in two months.
“The provider said that if they don’t die of Covid they are going to die of loneliness. That was a genuine concern,” said Cliffe.
There had to be a discussion around “how are we going to open the centres safely to visiting, however limited that is”.
She said among the solutions being considered was the installation of Perspex glass and “prison-type visiting scenarios”.
“What we want is a coherent approach to this that is risk-assessed, safe for the provider, safe for the residents, and safe for the relatives who are coming into the visit,” said Cliffe.
Mass testing
The HSE said on Sunday it had completed the mass testing of 28,000 residents and 30,000 staff across all 577 nursing homes in the State, and it had found confirmed or suspected coronavirus outbreaks in 371 or 64 per cent of nursing homes, far higher than previously thought.
However, the crisis in nursing homes – the worst-hit sector – appears to have peaked; the HSE said the number of nursing homes “of significant concern” had fallen to 56 from 90 in a week.
During the pandemic HIQA has escalated concerns to the HSE’s crisis management teams about outbreaks and testing delays (or no testing), along with shortages of staff, personal protective equipment (PPE) and oxygen at the worst-hit homes.
Cliffe says HIQA has received “a few snipey comments – ‘too little, too late’ is a common one” – but she could count the criticisms on “one hand”.
It listened “to the panic out there” without having “assets or the ability to sort problems, and can only look to pass the information on”, she said.
Cliffe talked about the “blind panic and the pandemonium” that gripped some homes as they fought outbreaks and managed multiple deaths after the first nursing home case of Covid was reported to HIQA on Monday, March 16th.
She believes the initial response was hampered by there being no relationship between the HSE and the 80 per cent of the homes that are privately owned.
She said some homes had a higher expectation of how the State would help and that State officials initially saw homes as independent legal entities.
She stressed, however, that these residential centres were “homes” and “never established to work as acute healthcare facilities”.
There was “an acceptance” within the HSE – around the start of the last week in March – that “the capacity just wasn’t there” to manage the deepening crisis, and she remembers a call from one Dublin home that was struggling to cope.
Significant deaths
“That nursing home was probably the third or fourth in the Dublin area that had significant deaths, but the number of deaths as a proportion of the overall residents is very high,” she said.
Cliffe expressed surprise at the large number of asymptomatic Covid-19 positive cases found in the mass testing, based on anecdotal reports. One home, which thought it was Covid-free, had 27 asymptomatic cases. In another all but four of the 40 residents were positive and asymptomatic.
Now HIQA believes there needs to be “an articulated plan” for retesting to get staff confirmed negative and back to work as nursing homes were still experiencing details in getting results.
“We need to move to a situation where centres have the capacity to do their own test, have access to a lab to send those tests, and have a coherent pathway to get those tests back in a timely fashion – I mean in 24 or 36 hours; I don’t mean five or six days,” said Cliffe.


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Firefighters battle blaze at Bord na Móna plant

A number of units of the Co Kildare fire service are at the scene of a major blaze at the Drehid Bord Na Móna waste management plant near Carbury .
The fire initially broke out on Friday night and was brought under control with the aid of the fire service and Air Corps helicopters which were called in to help fight the blaze .
However , black smoke was seen emerging from the plant again on Sunday , prompting a renewed fire-fighting operation , locals said .
Two units of the Co Kildare fire brigade have entered the Bord Na @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stationed at the perimeter as a preventative measure to stop the fire spreading to the hundreds of hectares of bogland in the area .
The Drehid landfill plant extracts gas from municipal waste and can produce up to 5.6 megawatts of renewable power – enough to power 8,500 homes .
Drehid is one of the State ’ s largest landfill sites in the country , with a 120,000 tonnes per annum capacity and a 25,000 tonnes per annum composting facility .
In July 2018 the Kildare Fire Service tackled a blaze at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which produced horticultural products .

A number of units of the Co Kildare fire service are at the scene of a major blaze at the Drehid Bord Na Móna waste management plant. File photograph: The Irish Times
A number of units of the Co Kildare fire service are at the scene of a major blaze at the Drehid Bord Na Móna waste management plant near Carbury.
The fire initially broke out on Friday night and was brought under control with the aid of the fire service and Air Corps helicopters which were called in to help fight the blaze.
However, black smoke was seen emerging from the plant again on Sunday, prompting a renewed fire-fighting operation, locals said.
Two units of the Co Kildare fire brigade have entered the Bord Na Móna compound, while two more are stationed at the perimeter as a preventative measure to stop the fire spreading to the hundreds of hectares of bogland in the area.
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The Drehid landfill plant extracts gas from municipal waste and can produce up to 5.6 megawatts of renewable power – enough to power 8,500 homes.
Drehid is one of the State’s largest landfill sites in the country, with a 120,000 tonnes per annum capacity and a 25,000 tonnes per annum composting facility.
In July 2018 the Kildare Fire Service tackled a blaze at the Bord na Móna Kilberry plant near Athy, which produced horticultural products.


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Nursing union warns of potential shortfall of 1,500 personnel

Nurse staffing levels in the health service are facing a “ cliff edge ” in the weeks and months ahead with a potential shortfall of more than 1,500 personnel , their trade union has maintained .
The Irish Nurses ’ and Midwives ’ Organisation ( INMO ) said the recruitment of nurses and midwives from overseas – on which the Irish health system relied heavily – was likely to “ slow to a trickle ” .
The union said the staffing difficulties could be exacerbated when the number of nurses who are out of work as a result of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the additional demand for staff due to the establishment of new health facilities during the current crisis and what it described as the “ poor pick-up ” from the Government ’ s “ Be On Call For Ireland ” recruitment campaign .
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the recruitment embargo over recent years had left the health service in a poor state so there were staffing difficulties even before the pandemic hit .
“ Not only are there now greater demands on nurses and midwives , but sources of new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ INMO said that last year 62 per cent of newly registered nurses and midwives trained outside of Ireland .
“ Some of these may be Irish nurses who will return , but many would be international nursing staff .
Given Covid-19 , it is likely that this migration of nurses and midwives will slow to a trickle .
Our nursing workforce is thus heavily dependent on recruiting overseas staff .
This leaves Ireland with a potential shortfall of over 1,500 this year alone .
This is 4 per cent of the public sector @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The INMO said 1,819 or just under 50 per cent of all nurses and midwives who registered for the first time with the regulatory body , the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland ( NMBI ) , in 2019 had trained outside the EU .
It said the figure up to March this year was 72 per cent .
The INMO also said that health service staffing levels were already stretched as a result of the effects of Covid -19 .
“ The latest figures [ up to May 4th ] show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 positive .
This is 29.2 per cent of all Covid-19 cases .
This , combined with those who are self-isolating as a precaution , means the already understaffed services are depleted .
Previous HSE figures showed that 31 per cent of these healthcare worker cases were nurses , indicating over 1,900 nurses who have tested Covid-19 positive.
” The INMO said it understood the Government ’ s “ Be On Call For Ireland ” recruitment campaign had secured 300 applications from nurses which were currently being processed .
“ Some are retired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term only and not in the clinical area , instead they would be available for contact tracing .
Approximately 30 nurses have started working from this process .
Roughly estimating 330 nurses from this scheme ( 300 processing and 30 working ) , the scheme will add less than 1 per cent to the nursing workforce .
“ Additional work locations have now been introduced into the health services , such as clinical community hubs ( 20 ) , operating seven days a week with 12 hours a day , with an average @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shift and the [ HSE ] facility at City West averaging 10 [ nurses ] per day .
“ A lack of childcare arrangements and nurses with pre-existing conditions also means that many are not able to attend work .
”

INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha: “Not only are there now greater demands on nurses and midwives, but sources of new staff are likely drying up.” Photograph: Dara Mac Donaill
Nurse staffing levels in the health service are facing a “cliff edge” in the weeks and months ahead with a potential shortfall of more than 1,500 personnel, their trade union has maintained.
The Irish Nurses’ and Midwives’ Organisation (INMO) said the recruitment of nurses and midwives from overseas – on which the Irish health system relied heavily – was likely to “slow to a trickle”.
The union said the staffing difficulties could be exacerbated when the number of nurses who are out of work as a result of the Covid-19 was taken into account as well as the additional demand for staff due to the establishment of new health facilities during the current crisis and what it described as the “poor pick-up” from the Government’s “Be On Call For Ireland” recruitment campaign.
INMO general secretary Phil Ní Sheaghdha said the recruitment embargo over recent years had left the health service in a poor state so there were staffing difficulties even before the pandemic hit.
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“Not only are there now greater demands on nurses and midwives, but sources of new staff are likely drying up.”
Training abroad
The INMO said that last year 62 per cent of newly registered nurses and midwives trained outside of Ireland.
“Some of these may be Irish nurses who will return, but many would be international nursing staff. Given Covid-19, it is likely that this migration of nurses and midwives will slow to a trickle. Our nursing workforce is thus heavily dependent on recruiting overseas staff. This leaves Ireland with a potential shortfall of over 1,500 this year alone. This is 4 per cent of the public sector nursing workforce – currently 38,824 whole-time equivalents.”
The INMO said 1,819 or just under 50 per cent of all nurses and midwives who registered for the first time with the regulatory body, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), in 2019 had trained outside the EU. It said the figure up to March this year was 72 per cent.
The INMO also said that health service staffing levels were already stretched as a result of the effects of Covid -19.
Already understaffed
“The latest figures [up to May 4th] show at least 6,393 healthcare workers have tested Covid-19 positive. This is 29.2 per cent of all Covid-19 cases. This, combined with those who are self-isolating as a precaution, means the already understaffed services are depleted. Previous HSE figures showed that 31 per cent of these healthcare worker cases were nurses, indicating over 1,900 nurses who have tested Covid-19 positive.”
The INMO said it understood the Government’s “Be On Call For Ireland” recruitment campaign had secured 300 applications from nurses which were currently being processed.
“Some are retired nurses willing to work in the short term only and not in the clinical area, instead they would be available for contact tracing. Approximately 30 nurses have started working from this process. Roughly estimating 330 nurses from this scheme (300 processing and 30 working), the scheme will add less than 1 per cent to the nursing workforce.
“Additional work locations have now been introduced into the health services, such as clinical community hubs (20), operating seven days a week with 12 hours a day, with an average four registered nurses on each 12 hour shift and the [HSE] facility at City West averaging 10 [nurses] per day.
“A lack of childcare arrangements and nurses with pre-existing conditions also means that many are not able to attend work.”


theirishtimes--2020-05-10--Two arrested after suspected firearm is found in bin in Dublin city centre

Two people have been arrested following the seizure of a suspected firearm and ammunition in Dublin city centre in the @ @ @ @ @ The two were detained after gardaí on patrol observed an altercation between a number of @ @ @ @ @ When gardaí approached the individuals involved , they observed a man discarding an object into @ @ @ @ @ Street .
The bin was inspected by gardaí and a suspected firearm and ammunition was @ @ @ @ @ man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s were arrested at the scene @ @ @ @ @ detained at Store Street Garda station under section 30 of the Offences Against the State @ @ @ @ @ firearm and ammunition have been taken for analysis .

Two people have been arrested following the seizure of a suspected firearm and ammunition in Dublin city centre. File photograph: Frank Miller/The Irish Times
Two people have been arrested following the seizure of a suspected firearm and ammunition in Dublin city centre in the early hours of Sunday.
The two were detained after gardaí on patrol observed an altercation between a number of individuals at Abbey Street. When gardaí approached the individuals involved, they observed a man discarding an object into a nearby bin on Liffey Street.
The bin was inspected by gardaí and a suspected firearm and ammunition was recovered from it.
A man in his 30s and a woman in her 20s were arrested at the scene. They are currently being detained at Store Street Garda station under section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
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The firearm and ammunition have been taken for analysis.
Investigations are ongoing.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Loyalist paramilitaries threaten politicians in North

Loyalist paramilitaries have issued threats to Assembly members in the SDLP , the Ulster Unionist Party ( UUP ) and Alliance .
Following on threats issued against journalists in the Belfast offices of the Sunday World and the Sunday Life , the UUP leader Steve Aiken and his MLA colleague Doug Beattie , Northern Assembly SDLP deputy speaker Patsy McGlone and North Down Alliance MP Stephen Farry have been warned by the Police Service of Northern Ireland ( PSNI ) that they are being targeted by loyalist paramilitaries .
The threats , according to senior sources , were issued by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ UDA ) in south east Antrim .
It is believed the four Assembly members were targeted after they were vocal in condemning the threats against the journalists .
These threats , it is understood , are linked to the Sunday Life and Sunday World coverage of the murder of 47-year-old Glenn Quinn in Carrickfergus in Co Antrim in January - a killing for which the south east Antrim UDA was blamed - and other drugs and criminal activities by that group .
Mr McGlone said that neither he nor journalists who have received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silenced or censored .
The Mid-Ulster MLA said police informed him of the threat on Sunday night .
“ This is not the first time I ’ ve been threatened by paramilitaries but I can assure those responsible , I will not be silenced , censored or intimidated by faceless thugs , ” he said .
“ In the week of VE commemorations , it is ironic and deeply sinister that they have chosen to mimic fascist attacks on journalists and elected representatives .
“ This threat , and the threats made against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an attack on the democratic tradition on this island .
It must be resisted and those responsible must understand that they will never win , ” said Mr McGlone .
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood said those responsible for the threat obviously didn ’ t know Mr McGlone .
“ He will not be broken or silenced by those intent on intimidating him and others , ” he said .
“ These thugs need to understand that every threat against an elected representative or a journalist or anyone else is an attack on our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will of the people of this island .
It is a fight they will never win .
“ The threats made against Patsy and a number of journalists in the last week should be lifted immediately .
Everyone on this island should be able to live and work free from the threat of violence , ” said Mr Eastwood .

Alliance deputy leader Stephen Farry was among the politicians in the North to be threatened. Photograph: File/AFP via Getty Images
Loyalist paramilitaries have issued threats to Assembly members in the SDLP, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) and Alliance.
Following on threats issued against journalists in the Belfast offices of the Sunday World and the Sunday Life, the UUP leader Steve Aiken and his MLA colleague Doug Beattie, Northern Assembly SDLP deputy speaker Patsy McGlone and North Down Alliance MP Stephen Farry have been warned by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) that they are being targeted by loyalist paramilitaries.
The threats, according to senior sources, were issued by elements of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) in south east Antrim.
It is believed the four Assembly members were targeted after they were vocal in condemning the threats against the journalists.
READ MORE
These threats, it is understood, are linked to the Sunday Life and Sunday World coverage of the murder of 47-year-old Glenn Quinn in Carrickfergus in Co Antrim in January - a killing for which the south east Antrim UDA was blamed - and other drugs and criminal activities by that group.
Mr McGlone said that neither he nor journalists who have received threats in the past week will be silenced or censored. The Mid-Ulster MLA said police informed him of the threat on Sunday night.
“This is not the first time I’ve been threatened by paramilitaries but I can assure those responsible, I will not be silenced, censored or intimidated by faceless thugs,” he said.
“In the week of VE commemorations, it is ironic and deeply sinister that they have chosen to mimic fascist attacks on journalists and elected representatives.
“This threat, and the threats made against journalists in the last week, are an attack on the democratic tradition on this island. It must be resisted and those responsible must understand that they will never win,” said Mr McGlone.
SDLP Leader Colum Eastwood said those responsible for the threat obviously didn't know Mr McGlone. "He will not be broken or silenced by those intent on intimidating him and others," he said.
“These thugs need to understand that every threat against an elected representative or a journalist or anyone else is an attack on our peace and an attack on the democratic will of the people of this island. It is a fight they will never win.
“The threats made against Patsy and a number of journalists in the last week should be lifted immediately. Everyone on this island should be able to live and work free from the threat of violence,” said Mr Eastwood.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Man (20s) charged after seizure of cocaine worth €33,000

A man in his 20s has been arrested and charged following the seizure of more than €33,000 worth of cocaine @ @ @ @ @ weekend .
On the Sunday evening , gardaí stopped and searched a man in his @ @ @ @ @ of Dundalk , Co Louth .
During the course of the search , gardaí recovered @ @ @ @ @ value of €2,000 , pending analysis .
The man was arrested and detained at Dundalk @ @ @ @ @ number of follow-up searches related to this incident , gardaí seized a further quantity of @ @ @ @ @ value of €31,500 .
The man has since been charged and is appearing at Ardee @ @ @ @ @

The drugs seized by gardaí in Dundalk on Sunday. Photograph: An Garda Siochána
A man in his 20s has been arrested and charged following the seizure of more than €33,000 worth of cocaine in Co Louth at the weekend.
On the Sunday evening, gardaí stopped and searched a man in his 20s in the Muirhevnamore area of Dundalk, Co Louth.
During the course of the search, gardaí recovered suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €2,000, pending analysis.
The man was arrested and detained at Dundalk Garda Station.
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During a number of follow-up searches related to this incident, gardaí seized a further quantity of suspected cocaine with an estimated value of €31,500.
The man has since been charged and is appearing at Ardee District Court this morning.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Coronavirus: Slight fall in number receiving emergency payment

There has been a slight fall in the number of people receiving the emergency pandemic payment of €350 per week .
The number who received the payment in the past week was 589,000 , a decrease of 9,000 on the previous week .
The figure reflects the first signs of restrictions being eased for certain categories of worker and this figure is expected to drop sharply after May 18th when the Government ’ s back to work protocols begin to take effect .
At the daily briefing in Government buildings , it was disclosed that the weekly cost to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million .
The briefing also heard that 53,200 employers have registered for the temporary wage subsidy scheme , with a total of 456,200 employees being assisted .
The cumulative value of the scheme is creeping towards €1 billion .
It now stands at €878 million and Revenue will generate €13 million in payments .
Elizabeth Canavan of the Department of the Taoiseach also warned of a fraud scam where people were receiving texts purporting to come from the Department of Social Protection .
She said the message related to Covid-19 payments and recipients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to apply .
However , she said this text did not come from Government and warned people not to click on the link .
Meanwhile , Minister for Business Heather Humphreys has indicated businesses in Irelandcould reopen more quickly than expected under the roadmap set out in the Government , if the spread of Covid-19 continues to slow .
In an interview on Monday on The Irish Times Confronting Coronavirus podcast , Ms Humphreys said figures showing a slower spread of the illness were encouraging and could expedite the roadmap setting out the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if the trend continues .
“ We saw from the figures this week that we are continuing flattening the curve , ” said Ms Humphreys .
“ If that trend continues we can begin to reopen the economy in line with the roadmap , if not more quickly.
” However , she said : “ If the figures go against us and they go up again we may have to reintroduce restrictions.
” Pressed by presenter Deirdre Veldon on the reopening schedule , especially for small businesses like hairdressers and public houses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen , Ms Humphreys said : “ If we do well on the figures and if we manage to reduce the amount of people who are contracting the virus there is flexibility in the roadmap to allow them open more quickly .
“ Again , we will have to be guided by public health advice but certainly the flexibility is there in the public health road map , ” she said .
The number of people who have died of coronavirus in the State increased by 12 on Sunday , bringing the total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of confirmed cases in the republic increased by 236 , to 22,996 .
The latest figure from the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) indicate the rate of growth in infected cases is holding steady at about 1 per cent per day , with Sunday ’ s growth slightly above that level .
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said testing capacity in the State is now at 15,000 per day .
He said the turnaround time for tests is 2.4 days on average , and that there are 3,010 healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Monday , the Government also announced the details of a new tie-up scheme for the fishing fleet arising from the collapse of markets for the industry .
Under the scheme both inshore trawlers and larger fishing boats will be given the option of tying up for one or two months starting from June 1st .
Ms Canavan said the scheme was in response to the closure of many markets to the Irish fishing industries and disruption to normal distribution channels , particularly of restaurants in Ireland and abroad .
That has led @ @ @ @ @ @ @ demand and also in a drop in sale prices .
“ The scheme gives ( fishermen ) an option to match supply ( with demand ) .
There is a voluntary option to tie up for one or two of the next three months .
It will be operational from June 1st , ” she said .

A memo for the Cabinet meeting says the temporary wage subsidy scheme and the unemployment payment will remain in place until the end of August. File photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
There has been a slight fall in the number of people receiving the emergency pandemic payment of €350 per week.
The number who received the payment in the past week was 589,000, a decrease of 9,000 on the previous week.
The figure reflects the first signs of restrictions being eased for certain categories of worker and this figure is expected to drop sharply after May 18th when the Government’s back to work protocols begin to take effect.
At the daily briefing in Government buildings, it was disclosed that the weekly cost to the State of the emergency payment is €206 million.
READ MORE
The briefing also heard that 53,200 employers have registered for the temporary wage subsidy scheme, with a total of 456,200 employees being assisted.
The cumulative value of the scheme is creeping towards €1 billion. It now stands at €878 million and Revenue will generate €13 million in payments.
Elizabeth Canavan of the Department of the Taoiseach also warned of a fraud scam where people were receiving texts purporting to come from the Department of Social Protection.
She said the message related to Covid-19 payments and recipients were asked to click on a link to apply.
However, she said this text did not come from Government and warned people not to click on the link.
Meanwhile, Minister for Business Heather Humphreys has indicated businesses in Irelandcould reopen more quickly than expected under the roadmap set out in the Government, if the spread of Covid-19 continues to slow.
In an interview on Monday on The Irish Times Confronting Coronavirus podcast, Ms Humphreys said figures showing a slower spread of the illness were encouraging and could expedite the roadmap setting out the timetable for the reopening of the economy, if the trend continues.
“We saw from the figures this week that we are continuing flattening the curve,” said Ms Humphreys.
“If that trend continues we can begin to reopen the economy in line with the roadmap, if not more quickly.”
However, she said: “If the figures go against us and they go up again we may have to reintroduce restrictions.”
Flexibility
Pressed by presenter Deirdre Veldon on the reopening schedule, especially for small businesses like hairdressers and public houses, which will among the last to reopen, Ms Humphreys said: “If we do well on the figures and if we manage to reduce the amount of people who are contracting the virus there is flexibility in the roadmap to allow them open more quickly.
“Again, we will have to be guided by public health advice but certainly the flexibility is there in the public health road map,” she said.
The number of people who have died of coronavirus in the State increased by 12 on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,458. The number of confirmed cases in the republic increased by 236, to 22,996.
Figures released by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) show that as of midnight on Friday, females account for 57.3 per cent of the cases and males 42.5 per cent, with the remainder unknown.
Of the hospitalised cases, 383 have been admitted to intensive care. A total of 6,771 cases are associated with healthcare workers. Dublin has the highest number of cases at 11,068 (49 per cent of the total), followed by Kildare, with 6 per cent (1,324) and then Cork, with 1,207 cases (5 per cent).
For cases where transmission status is known, community transmission accounts for 61 per cent, close contact accounts for 36 per cent and travel abroad for 3 per cent.
The latest figure from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) indicate the rate of growth in infected cases is holding steady at about 1 per cent per day, with Sunday’s growth slightly above that level.
HSE chief executive Paul Reid said testing capacity in the State is now at 15,000 per day. He said the turnaround time for tests is 2.4 days on average, and that there are 3,010 healthcare workers currently on Covid-19 related leave.
Tie-up scheme
On Monday, the Government also announced the details of a new tie-up scheme for the fishing fleet arising from the collapse of markets for the industry.
Under the scheme both inshore trawlers and larger fishing boats will be given the option of tying up for one or two months starting from June 1st.
Ms Canavan said the scheme was in response to the closure of many markets to the Irish fishing industries and disruption to normal distribution channels, particularly of restaurants in Ireland and abroad.
That has led to a sharp fall in both market demand and also in a drop in sale prices.
“The scheme gives (fishermen) an option to match supply (with demand). There is a voluntary option to tie up for one or two of the next three months. It will be operational from June 1st,” she said.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Cold nights ahead with frost forecast next few days

Temperatures will continue to be cool for the next few days but will warm as the week progresses , Met Éireann has said .
The national forecaster added that there will be a number of cold nights ahead with grass frost and patches of mist .
The cooler weather comes following the hottest day this year so far being recorded on Saturday last , with temperatures reaching up to 23.6 degrees in Co Mayo .
Monday will be dry and sunny , with a few cloudy spells throughout the country .
It will turn cold at night , with patchy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counties .
Lowest temperatures will be between -1 and 3 degrees , with grass frost emerging later .
Tuesday will be a cloudier day generally with a few light showers – mainly across the north and northwest .
There will be some sunny spells too with the mildest and brightest conditions across southern counties and highest temperatures of 10 to 16 degrees .
Wednesday will start off rather cool , dry and cloudy with some drizzle in places at first .
It will brighten up during the day with some sunny spells and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cold overnight with temperatures dropping to 0 to 3 degrees and grass frost in places .
Thursday will be mostly dry but cloud will push in from the northeast and becoming mostly cloudy with the best of the sunshine in the west and south .
Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees and lows overnight of 3 to 7 degrees .
The dry weather will continue on Friday , with temperatures becoming milder over the weekend .
It will be cloudy at times but with good sunny spells also and maximum temperatures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weather has been unseasonably dry since March , with absolute and partial drought conditions being recorded in areas around the country over the past two months , the forecaster added .

It will turn cold at night, with patchy drizzle moving into the north and northwest counties. Photograph: Dara Mac Dónaill
Temperatures will continue to be cool for the next few days but will warm as the week progresses, Met Éireann has said.
The national forecaster added that there will be a number of cold nights ahead with grass frost and patches of mist.
The cooler weather comes following the hottest day this year so far being recorded on Saturday last, with temperatures reaching up to 23.6 degrees in Co Mayo.
Monday will be dry and sunny, with a few cloudy spells throughout the country. It will turn cold at night, with patchy drizzle moving into the north and northwest counties.
READ MORE
Lowest temperatures will be between -1 and 3 degrees, with grass frost emerging later.
Tuesday will be a cloudier day generally with a few light showers – mainly across the north and northwest.
There will be some sunny spells too with the mildest and brightest conditions across southern counties and highest temperatures of 10 to 16 degrees.
Wednesday will start off rather cool, dry and cloudy with some drizzle in places at first.
It will brighten up during the day with some sunny spells and highs of 10 to 13 degrees but cold overnight with temperatures dropping to 0 to 3 degrees and grass frost in places.
Thursday will be mostly dry but cloud will push in from the northeast and becoming mostly cloudy with the best of the sunshine in the west and south. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees and lows overnight of 3 to 7 degrees.
The dry weather will continue on Friday, with temperatures becoming milder over the weekend.
It will be cloudy at times but with good sunny spells also and maximum temperatures in the mid to high teens.
The weather has been unseasonably dry since March, with absolute and partial drought conditions being recorded in areas around the country over the past two months, the forecaster added.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Businesses could reopen sooner if Covid-19 spread continues to slow, says Humphreys

Businesses in Ireland could reopen more quickly than set out in the Government ’ s roadmap if the spread of coronavirus continues to slow , Minister for Business Heather Humphreys has indicated .
In an interview on Monday on the Irish Times Confronting Coronavirus podcast , Ms Humphreys said figures showing a slower spread of the illness , also known as Covid-19 , were encouraging and could expedite the roadmap setting out the timetable for the reopening of the economy , if the trend continues .
“ We saw from the figures this week that we are continuing flattening the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ If that trend continues we can begin to reopen the economy in line with the roadmap , if not more quickly.
” However , she said : “ If the figures go against us and they go up again we may have to reintroduce restrictions.
” The five-phase roadmap currently starts on May 18th , with the return of outdoor workers and primarily outdoor retailers .
The second phase , due to start on June 8th , will see marts and small retail outlets reopen .
Schools and colleges will reopen in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the next academic year .
Cafes and restaurants will reopen on June 29th and pubs will reopen on August 10th .
Pressed by presenter Deirdre Veldon on the reopening schedule , especially for small businesses like hairdressers and public houses , which will among the last to reopen , Ms Humphreys said : “ If we do well on the figures and if we manage to reduce the amount of people who are contracting the virus there is flexibility in the roadmap to allow them open more quickly .
“ Again , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health advice but certainly the flexibility is there in the public health road map , ” she said .
The Minister also indicated that the Government may consider lowering the VAT rate on the hospitality sector from 13 per cent to 9 per cent .
This rate was reduced by the 2011 coalition government during the last recession to assist the sector but was returned to its 13 per cent in last October ’ s budget by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe .
She said this change would require legislation and that can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has taken office .
“ Bespoke supports for the hospitality sector will be needed and that will be an absolute priority for an incoming government , ” she said .
Ms Humphreys also outlined some of the protocols that will be in place for employers , as employees return to work .
They will include staggered lunchbreaks and coffee breaks , and solutions for arriving in work and for using toilet facilities .
She said the solutions would be different for a small shop compared to a large factory but she trusted businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ She said there would not be significant costs attached and also pointed out the supports available for businesses reopening after the crisis .
“ It is not going to cost anything to tell employees not to shake hands , ” she said .
On the issue of wearing face masks in workplaces , she said there was no requirement to do so at present but the National Public Health Emergency Team was looking at the issue .
She said the Government would be guided by its advice .

Businesses in Ireland could reopen more quickly than set out in the Government's roadmap if the spread of coronavirus continues to slow, Minister for Business Heather Humphreys has indicated.
In an interview on Monday on the Irish Times Confronting Coronavirus podcast, Ms Humphreys said figures showing a slower spread of the illness, also known as Covid-19, were encouraging and could expedite the roadmap setting out the timetable for the reopening of the economy, if the trend continues.
“We saw from the figures this week that we are continuing flattening the curve,” said Ms Humphreys.
“If that trend continues we can begin to reopen the economy in line with the roadmap, if not more quickly.”
READ MORE
However, she said: “If the figures go against us and they go up again we may have to reintroduce restrictions.”
The five-phase roadmap currently starts on May 18th, with the return of outdoor workers and primarily outdoor retailers. The second phase, due to start on June 8th, will see marts and small retail outlets reopen. Schools and colleges will reopen in September and October at the beginning of the next academic year. Cafes and restaurants will reopen on June 29th and pubs will reopen on August 10th.
Pressed by presenter Deirdre Veldon on the reopening schedule, especially for small businesses like hairdressers and public houses, which will among the last to reopen, Ms Humphreys said: "If we do well on the figures and if we manage to reduce the amount of people who are contracting the virus there is flexibility in the roadmap to allow them open more quickly.
“Again, we will have to be guided by public health advice but certainly the flexibility is there in the public health road map,” she said.
The Minister also indicated that the Government may consider lowering the VAT rate on the hospitality sector from 13 per cent to 9 per cent.
This rate was reduced by the 2011 coalition government during the last recession to assist the sector but was returned to its 13 per cent in last October's budget by Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe.
She said this change would require legislation and that cannot be passed until a new government has taken office.
“Bespoke supports for the hospitality sector will be needed and that will be an absolute priority for an incoming government,” she said.
Ms Humphreys also outlined some of the protocols that will be in place for employers, as employees return to work. They will include staggered lunchbreaks and coffee breaks, and solutions for arriving in work and for using toilet facilities.
She said the solutions would be different for a small shop compared to a large factory but she trusted businesses to come up with good solutions.
She said there would not be significant costs attached and also pointed out the supports available for businesses reopening after the crisis.
“It is not going to cost anything to tell employees not to shake hands,” she said.
On the issue of wearing face masks in workplaces, she said there was no requirement to do so at present but the National Public Health Emergency Team was looking at the issue.
She said the Government would be guided by its advice.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Coronavirus: Delays remain after tests collected, says ICGP head

While there is significant capacity for testing for coronavirus in Ireland , there appear to be difficulties after testing , according to Dr Mary Favier , president of the Irish College of General Practitioners ( ICGP ) .
On Sunday , HSE chief executive Paul Reid said testing capacity in the State is now at 15,000 per day .
He said the turnaround time for tests is 2.4 days on average , and that there are 3,010 healthcare workers currently on Covid-19 related leave .
Speaking on Monday , Dr Favier said robust testing and speedy contact tracing are necessary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There are a variety of reasons for delays , but in general the testing service had improved with results , on average , coming back quickly , Dr Favier told RTÉ ’ s Morning Ireland .
Dr Favier said a week ago it was taking seven days for results , now it was three days for her patients .
She described the change as “ a definite improvement.
” The ICGP has launched a helpline for GPs addressing problems , which should be of assistance , she said .
Getting results within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but there were then further delays with contact tracing which could take a further two days .
That makes the service less effective , especially if contacts had to be chased .
There is a good baseline service , she said , but it was necessary to find out why in some cases it was difficult to get results more quickly .
“ There is significant capacity to perform tests , the difficulty appears to be after the tests are collected , ” she said .
Dr Favier said that she thought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was possible , if it was necessary to carry out so many .
The number of people who have died of coronavirus in the State increased by 12 on Sunday , bringing the total number of deaths to 1,458 .
The number of confirmed cases in the republic increased by 236 , to 22,996 .
The latest figure from the National Public Health Emergency Team ( NPHET ) indicate the rate of growth in infected cases is holding steady at about 1 per cent per day , with Sunday ’ s growth slightly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Friday , 57 per cent of cases in Ireland are female , while 43 per cent are male .
The median age of confirmed cases is 49 years , and 2,986 cases - or 13 per cent - have been hospitalised .

There is significant capacity for testing for coronavirus in Ireland, said the president of the ICGP. Photograph: Bing Guan/Bloomberg/File
While there is significant capacity for testing for coronavirus in Ireland, there appear to be difficulties after testing, according to Dr Mary Favier, president of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP).
On Sunday, HSE chief executive Paul Reid said testing capacity in the State is now at 15,000 per day. He said the turnaround time for tests is 2.4 days on average, and that there are 3,010 healthcare workers currently on Covid-19 related leave.
Speaking on Monday, Dr Favier said robust testing and speedy contact tracing are necessary if restrictions are going to be lifted.
There are a variety of reasons for delays, but in general the testing service had improved with results, on average, coming back quickly, Dr Favier told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
READ MORE
Dr Favier said a week ago it was taking seven days for results, now it was three days for her patients. She described the change as “a definite improvement.”
The ICGP has launched a helpline for GPs addressing problems, which should be of assistance, she said.
Getting results within three days was good, she said, but there were then further delays with contact tracing which could take a further two days. That makes the service less effective, especially if contacts had to be chased.
There is a good baseline service, she said, but it was necessary to find out why in some cases it was difficult to get results more quickly.
“There is significant capacity to perform tests, the difficulty appears to be after the tests are collected,” she said.
Dr Favier said that she thought the target of 15,000 tests per day was possible, if it was necessary to carry out so many.
The number of people who have died of coronavirus in the State increased by 12 on Sunday, bringing the total number of deaths to 1,458. The number of confirmed cases in the republic increased by 236, to 22,996.
The latest figure from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) indicate the rate of growth in infected cases is holding steady at about 1 per cent per day, with Sunday’s growth slightly above that level.
As of midnight on Friday, 57 per cent of cases in Ireland are female, while 43 per cent are male. The median age of confirmed cases is 49 years, and 2,986 cases - or 13 per cent - have been hospitalised.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Two women arrested in connection with Wexford assault released

Two women arrested in connection with a serious assault in Co Wexford at the weekend have been released without charge @ @ @ @ @ early 40s was discovered with apparent stab wounds at a residence in Clonard , Co @ @ @ @ @ on Sunday .
The man was taken to Wexford General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries @ @ @ @ @ aged in their 30s , were arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 @ @ @ @ @ 1984 .
They have since been released without charge and files are being prepared for @ @ @ @ @ .
Gardaí are continuing to appeal for anyone with information in relation to this incident @ @ @ @ @ on 053 9165200 , the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda @ @

Two women arrested in connection with a serious assault in Co Wexford at the weekend have been released without charge.
A man in his early 40s was discovered with apparent stab wounds at a residence in Clonard, Co Wexford, at about 1.10am on Sunday. The man was taken to Wexford General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The two women, aged in their 30s, were arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. They have since been released without charge and files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.
A Garda spokesman said investigations are ongoing.
READ MORE
Gardaí are continuing to appeal for anyone with information in relation to this incident to contact Wexford Garda station on 053 9165200, the Garda confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--Dublin city councillors asked to approve €34m loan plan

Dublin city councillors will on Monday night be asked to approve €34 million in borrowing to fund the construction of facility in Ballymun for outdoor staff and equipment , following a €20 million overrun in the cost of the project .
In June 2018 the council estimated cost of the new operations depot at €54 million .
However , council chief executive Owen Keegan said , following a “ difficult tender process ” the cost has risen to €74 million .
The council had planned to cover the costs of the project by selling smaller depot sites , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large depot in Ballymun , with any shortfall being funded through the council ’ s revenues .
The council has now devised a plan to lease nine sites to approved housing bodies ( AHBs ) who will develop the land for social housing .
However , Mr Keegan said it is anticipated this will only generate €40 million for the council .
“ On this basis , I am recommending that the balance of the required €74million funding , ie €34 million be borrowed.
” If councillors approve the plan Mr Keegan will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finance Agency , which will cost some €1.5 million annually to repay .
However , councillors have yet to approve the lease of the nine depot sites to housing bodies .
The council said at least 745 social homes could be built at the sites in Rathmines , the Liberties , and the Tenters , on the southside of the city , and Portland Row , Stoneybatter , Cabra , Ballybough , Coolock and Collins Avenue on the northside .
Where previously the council transferred land to housing organisations for free , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ AHBs at a reduction on the market value .
Councillors have previously stated they are not prepared to approve the sale of council land .
However , the council ’ s head of housing Brendan Kenny said he hoped councillors would “ have no issue ” with the proposal .
“ AHBs are essentially the same as the local authority .
We are all providing social housing , it is not the same as selling land to a private developer.
” The meeting on Monday night will be the first monthly city council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions .
However , all 63 councillors will not attend and instead a representative group of 17 will meet in Dublin Castle instead of City Hall .
No city council meeting was held in April .
Councillors will also be presented with plans to close College Green to traffic , and pedestrianise a significant number of streets , as part of a strategy to reopen the city centre as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted .
The “ temporary mobility plan ” will be introduced over the next three to six months , with measures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least 12 to 18 months , with some retained on a permanent basis .

Dublin city councillors will on Monday night be asked to approve €34 million in borrowing to fund the construction of facility in Ballymun for outdoor staff and equipment, following a €20 million overrun in the cost of the project.
In June 2018 the council estimated cost of the new operations depot at €54 million. However, council chief executive Owen Keegan said, following a "difficult tender process" the cost has risen to €74 million.
The council had planned to cover the costs of the project by selling smaller depot sites, with the workers and equipment redeployed to the new large depot in Ballymun, with any shortfall being funded through the council’s revenues.
The council has now devised a plan to lease nine sites to approved housing bodies (AHBs) who will develop the land for social housing. However, Mr Keegan said it is anticipated this will only generate €40 million for the council.
READ MORE
"On this basis, I am recommending that the balance of the required €74million funding, ie €34 million be borrowed." If councillors approve the plan Mr Keegan will seek a 30-year loan from the Housing Finance Agency, which will cost some €1.5 million annually to repay.
However, councillors have yet to approve the lease of the nine depot sites to housing bodies.
Social homes
The council said at least 745 social homes could be built at the sites in Rathmines, the Liberties, and the Tenters, on the southside of the city, and Portland Row, Stoneybatter, Cabra, Ballybough, Coolock and Collins Avenue on the northside.
Where previously the council transferred land to housing organisations for free, it plans to lease the sites to the AHBs at a reduction on the market value.
Councillors have previously stated they are not prepared to approve the sale of council land. However, the council's head of housing Brendan Kenny said he hoped councillors would "have no issue" with the proposal.
“AHBs are essentially the same as the local authority. We are all providing social housing, it is not the same as selling land to a private developer.”
The meeting on Monday night will be the first monthly city council meeting held since the introduction of Covid-19 restrictions. However, all 63 councillors will not attend and instead a representative group of 17 will meet in Dublin Castle instead of City Hall. No city council meeting was held in April.
Councillors will also be presented with plans to close College Green to traffic, and pedestrianise a significant number of streets, as part of a strategy to reopen the city centre as Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
The “temporary mobility plan” will be introduced over the next three to six months, with measures likely to remain in place for at least 12 to 18 months, with some retained on a permanent basis.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--'Salads are rotting from the bottom up': Allotment holders eager to salvage crop

Lettuces rotting in the ground , tomatoes burning in polytunnels and cucumbers breaking from their stems and mouldering into the soil will be among the scenes to greet allotment holders when they eventually return to their neglected plots .
Local authority allotments were shut following the tightened Covid-19 restrictions at the end of March .
The Government ’ s road map for reopening society lists “ people working on allotments ” among the “ outdoor workers ” who can return to work from May 18th .
Three Dublin local authorities say they intend to reopen their allotments from that date @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government says it has not yet been decided if this “ work ” provision should include local authority allotments , as opposed to those used commercially to provide produce for farmer ’ s markets or other retail outlets .
Derek Oman , secretary of Dublin Community Growers , says the uncertainty is causing stress for allotment holders , who are eager to try to salvage this year ’ s crop .
“ We ’ re hearing one thing from the Department of Local Government , and another thing from the local councils .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ details of how the reopening will be facilitated , but they haven ’ t been able to tell us anything yet.
” However , Oman believes allotments should not have been closed in the first place .
“ People have always socially distanced in allotments .
They aren ’ t places you go to congregate .
In a true sense allotments are community farms and they should be treated in the same way farms have been.
” The inability to access allotments , particularly during the recent long spell of dry weather in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ devastation ” , Oman says .
“ Salads are rotting from the bottom up .
In hot weather people would come and open the doors of their polytunnel , but now everything inside is burning .
Peas and beans need to be staked – that hasn ’ t happened , so they ’ re gone .
Cucumbers and marrows will have broken from their stems .
Early potatoes come up through the clay and need to be earthed or else they turn green and are poisonous , so that ’ s the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ waste , the impact on the mental health of growers is significant he says .
“ A lot of people go to their allotments for their mental stability , something that is really important at this time , as well as for their physical health .
Not being able to go , and what they will find when they come back … It ’ s catastrophic for them.
” Niamh Brennan , who is on the committee of the De Courcy Square community garden in Glasnevin , agrees that being able to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mental health of gardeners .
“ We have people who have been cocooning , and they ’ d give anything to be able to come back in and look at their plants growing and just make sure they ’ re okay.
” The De Courcy gardeners have been lucky , she says , as an allotment holder has been allowed to go in periodically to water the plots , but she says everyone has been anxious to get back to their own patches .
Gardeners have been “ losing the plot ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been so good and so patient .
These small plots mean the world to people ” .
She says the committee does not yet know if the gates will reopen .
“ We haven ’ t been told yet , but everyone is hoping that come May 18th the restrictions will be lifted to some extent.
” Dublin City Council , which owns the De Courcy Square gardens , says it will be reopening its allotments on May 18th , having “ reviewed the recommendations under the Government road map ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reopen allotments .
“ However , people using them will need to adhere to social distancing requirements , ” it adds .
South Dublin County Council says it is reopening them as well and also references social distancing measures .
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council did not respond to queries .
The department says it is “ engaging with the relevant bodies ” to consider the reopening of local authority allotments but a decision has not yet been made .

Allotment holders are hoping restrictions are lifted and they are allowed to return to their plots on May 18th. Video: Enda O'Dowd
Lettuces rotting in the ground, tomatoes burning in polytunnels and cucumbers breaking from their stems and mouldering into the soil will be among the scenes to greet allotment holders when they eventually return to their neglected plots.
Local authority allotments were shut following the tightened Covid-19 restrictions at the end of March. The Government’s road map for reopening society lists “people working on allotments” among the “outdoor workers” who can return to work from May 18th.
Three Dublin local authorities say they intend to reopen their allotments from that date. However, the Department of Local Government says it has not yet been decided if this “work” provision should include local authority allotments, as opposed to those used commercially to provide produce for farmer’s markets or other retail outlets.
The inability to access allotments, particularly during the recent long spell of dry weather in the east, will have caused "devastation"
Derek Oman, secretary of Dublin Community Growers, says the uncertainty is causing stress for allotment holders, who are eager to try to salvage this year’s crop.
READ MORE
“We’re hearing one thing from the Department of Local Government, and another thing from the local councils. We’ve asked the councils for details of how the reopening will be facilitated, but they haven’t been able to tell us anything yet.”
However, Oman believes allotments should not have been closed in the first place.
“People have always socially distanced in allotments. They aren’t places you go to congregate. In a true sense allotments are community farms and they should be treated in the same way farms have been.”
The inability to access allotments, particularly during the recent long spell of dry weather in the east, will have caused “devastation”, Oman says.
“Salads are rotting from the bottom up. In hot weather people would come and open the doors of their polytunnel, but now everything inside is burning. Peas and beans need to be staked – that hasn’t happened, so they’re gone. Cucumbers and marrows will have broken from their stems. Early potatoes come up through the clay and need to be earthed or else they turn green and are poisonous, so that’s the end of them.”
Mental health
In addition to the waste, the impact on the mental health of growers is significant he says.
“A lot of people go to their allotments for their mental stability, something that is really important at this time, as well as for their physical health. Not being able to go, and what they will find when they come back … It’s catastrophic for them.”
Niamh Brennan, who is on the committee of the De Courcy Square community garden in Glasnevin, agrees that being able to return to their plots is essential for the mental health of gardeners.
“We have people who have been cocooning, and they’d give anything to be able to come back in and look at their plants growing and just make sure they’re okay.”
The De Courcy gardeners have been lucky, she says, as an allotment holder has been allowed to go in periodically to water the plots, but she says everyone has been anxious to get back to their own patches.
"Everyone is hoping that come May 18th the restrictions will be lifted to some extent"
Gardeners have been “losing the plot”, she laughs, “but really everyone has been so good and so patient. These small plots mean the world to people”.
She says the committee does not yet know if the gates will reopen. “We haven’t been told yet, but everyone is hoping that come May 18th the restrictions will be lifted to some extent.”
Dublin City Council, which owns the De Courcy Square gardens, says it will be reopening its allotments on May 18th, having "reviewed the recommendations under the Government road map". Fingal County Council says it will also reopen allotments. "However, people using them will need to adhere to social distancing requirements," it adds.
South Dublin County Council says it is reopening them as well and also references social distancing measures. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council did not respond to queries.
The department says it is “engaging with the relevant bodies” to consider the reopening of local authority allotments but a decision has not yet been made.


theirishtimes--2020-05-11--PPE decontamination methods under scrutiny as shortage persists

Widespread shortages of personal protective equipment ( PPE ) for healthcare workers persist and are being exacerbated by continuing problems with global supplies .
Uncertainty , even for those front-line medical and nursing staff treating Covid-19 patients , has increased pressure on the HSE to urgently approve use of decontamination technology being rolled out in other countries .
Lack of a clear national policy on decontamination , especially on reusing face masks – normally disposed of after single use – has prompted some hospitals to seek their own solutions to ease pressures .
Nursing homes and other residential care facilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplies beyond a few days .
The amount supplied in some cases was 30 per cent of what was needed .
In one instance , a hospital seeking to relocate a recovering Covid patient to a nursing home for “ stepdown ” purposes was told a place would be provided if a significant amount of PPE was supplied .
There are also indications some healthcare staff have not been able to see patients because of a lack of face masks .
Although this is not arising with treatment of Covid-19 patients in hospitals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other hospitals .
The Irish Times is aware of instances where GPs were getting a handful of masks , rotating them by placing them in a bag and reusing them after the fifth day , hoping that , were the virus present , it would by then be inactive .
Serious PPE shortages persist in many healthcare facilities , says public health nurse Mary Leahy , who founded not-for-profit Heroes Aid to raise funds to provide supports , including PPE and other resources , “ to keep healthcare workers safe ” .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MMA fighter Conor McGregor , much of which was used to send PPE – face masks , visors and gowns – to hospitals across the country .
The charity , which emerged from a WhatsApp group of nurses highlighting PPE shortages , has separately raised €145,000 .
“ This is a global pandemic and we ’ re in a global market , which makes it difficult – it ’ s a seller ’ s market , ” Leahy says .
She strongly favours decontaminating PPE because the supply crisis “ is costing us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blaming the HSE and speaking in a personal capacity , she believes the current scenario is unsustainable .
Vast amounts of PPE are worn only once and then disposed of – mostly to landfill .
The cost of weekly delivery of PPE “ is conservatively estimated at approximately €9 million ” , the HSE confirmed .
Globally , Leahy says , it is extremely challenging for every country as freight costs escalate .
“ We can not allow [ ourselves ] to be ever exposed like this again.
” If there is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it will cause devastation .
Heroes Aid continues to supply PPE on an emergency basis .
“ It ’ s a stop-gap approach when supplies are running short in between deliveries.
” She supports the use of Bioquell vaporised hydrogen peroxide ( VH2O2 ) resteriliser , deployed in Canada and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration .
It enables N95 and FFP2 medical masks to be reused up to 20 times without alteration .
“ They ’ re higher-grade masks .
They ’ re expensive and like gold dust at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to import masks but will reduce reliance on international supply chains .
There is also a need to create an indigenous supply , to deploy decontamination and to make recyclable PPE to eliminate financial exposure .
Another WhatsApp group including up to 70 medics , virologists and medical device experts is trying to work on ways to resterilise PPE in the absence of a national policy .
Leahy understands the HSE at a high level is looking at how best to proceed .
She is aware of an Irish hospital that brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infections and is investigating its potential with PPE .
“ It ’ s about being innovative and creative and moving forward at a time of crisis.
” Cork-based respiratory consultant and former Irish Hospital Consultants Association vice-president Dr Oisín O ’ Connell says in normal circumstances a single-use approach would be deployed and the concept of PPE resterilisation would not be considered , which he would agree with .
“ But if it means staff are short , which they 100 per cent are around the country , then it ’ s back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the good ’ .
If there is an option to resterilise a mask to allow up to 20 uses using a vaporised hydrogen peroxide resteriliser , then I would be all for it , especially given FDA approval , ” he adds .
He fears , however , the main desteriliser on the market will be bought up quickly by Canada , the US and the UK .
“ If not approved in Ireland soon , we are going to be at the back end of the queue.
” Dr O ’ Connell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scale of PPE needed in Ireland .
“ This is going to go on for 12 months minimum , and we will not be able to maintain supply lines for PPE , especially if one patient could easily require 15 masks a day.
” Dr O ’ Connell says he is aware of anecdotal reports of hospitals running short of masks and “ literally borrowing off each other ; nursing homes bartering for them and HSE procurement community teams saying they are getting less than 30 per cent of their orders ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of supply issues , usage patterns and implications of week-by-week Covid caseloads , underpinned by clarity on resource allocation and reuse of PPE , he believes .
“ Many of us on the front line would much rather a mask reprocessed with FDA-approved techniques rather than running out of masks or using a lower-standard mask.
” Normally PPE is carefully removed and disposed of after each use , says Prof Neil Rowan , director of Athlone IT ’ s Bioscience Research Institute .
Due to its composition , it is extremely heat sensitive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the virus is responsive to sterilisation .
With professor of anaesthesia and intensive care medicine at NUI Galway John Laffey he is exploring decontamination solutions that reprocess PPE without destroying it .
Their research is likely to inform any update to national policy .
After validation to ensure safety and efficacy , reprocessing PPE using novel decontamination approaches is essential to protecting front-line workers and addressing shortages , he believes .
Success elsewhere in harnessing VH2O2 to decontaminate N95 masks means a similar authorised approach is likely to be deployed in Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at NUIG school of medicine .
Their review of best evidence suggests VH2O2 and possibly UV irradiation within healthcare environments “ can be used to fill this gap and will be paramount to ensuring the safety of healthcare workers ” .
Ireland has been ahead of many countries in evaluating the best technology but Rowan accepts that delays in changing tack will lead to supply problems .
The HSE says it is aware of developments on decontamination and reuse of face masks and is exploring options to ensure continued supply of PPE .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ face masks for reuse is not practised.
” It declined to comment on use of VH2O2 and Bioquell resterilisers .
Decontamination and reuse has been considered as an option in emergency situations where new masks are unavailable , but it is “ not aware of any decontamination of faces masks for reuse occurring within the HSE to date ” .
On PPE shortages , it says “ the challenge Ireland faces in sourcing PPE in what is an exceptionally competitive and highly volatile global market is unprecedented ” .
The major supply line @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production of certain elements of PPE are essential to ensuring supply , the HSE adds .
“ Every effort is being taken to ensure available PPE is targeted at the areas of highest priority .
Distribution of PPE continues on a daily basis right across the wider health service , including home care , residential and primary care services .
”

Mary Leahy of Heroes Aid demonstrates a fitting of a mask and visor at home on her son. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
Widespread shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers persist and are being exacerbated by continuing problems with global supplies.
Uncertainty, even for those front-line medical and nursing staff treating Covid-19 patients, has increased pressure on the HSE to urgently approve use of decontamination technology being rolled out in other countries.
Lack of a clear national policy on decontamination, especially on reusing face masks – normally disposed of after single use – has prompted some hospitals to seek their own solutions to ease pressures.
Nursing homes and other residential care facilities in particular have no certainty on PPE supplies beyond a few days. The amount supplied in some cases was 30 per cent of what was needed. In one instance, a hospital seeking to relocate a recovering Covid patient to a nursing home for “stepdown” purposes was told a place would be provided if a significant amount of PPE was supplied.
READ MORE
The Irish Times is aware of instances where GPs were getting a handful of masks, rotating them by placing them in a bag and reusing them after the fifth day
There are also indications some healthcare staff have not been able to see patients because of a lack of face masks. Although this is not arising with treatment of Covid-19 patients in hospitals, some are borrowing face masks from other hospitals.
The Irish Times is aware of instances where GPs were getting a handful of masks, rotating them by placing them in a bag and reusing them after the fifth day, hoping that, were the virus present, it would by then be inactive.
Serious PPE shortages persist in many healthcare facilities, says public health nurse Mary Leahy, who founded not-for-profit Heroes Aid to raise funds to provide supports, including PPE and other resources, "to keep healthcare workers safe".
It received a donation of €1 million from MMA fighter Conor McGregor, much of which was used to send PPE – face masks, visors and gowns – to hospitals across the country. The charity, which emerged from a WhatsApp group of nurses highlighting PPE shortages, has separately raised €145,000.
“This is a global pandemic and we’re in a global market, which makes it difficult – it’s a seller’s market,” Leahy says.
Unsustainable situation
She strongly favours decontaminating PPE because the supply crisis “is costing us dearly”. Stressing she is not blaming the HSE and speaking in a personal capacity, she believes the current scenario is unsustainable. Vast amounts of PPE are worn only once and then disposed of – mostly to landfill.
The cost of weekly delivery of PPE “is conservatively estimated at approximately €9 million”, the HSE confirmed.
Globally, Leahy says, it is extremely challenging for every country as freight costs escalate. “We cannot allow [ourselves] to be ever exposed like this again.” If there is a second wave of coronavirus, she predicts it will cause devastation.
Heroes Aid continues to supply PPE on an emergency basis. “It’s a stop-gap approach when supplies are running short in between deliveries.”
She supports the use of Bioquell vaporised hydrogen peroxide (VH2O2) resteriliser, deployed in Canada and approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It enables N95 and FFP2 medical masks to be reused up to 20 times without alteration. "They're higher-grade masks. They're expensive and like gold dust at the moment."
Mary Leahy, who founded Heroes Aid, displaying masks, visors and goggles at her home in Maree, Co Galway. Photograph: Joe O’Shaughnessy
This will not eliminate the need to import masks but will reduce reliance on international supply chains. There is also a need to create an indigenous supply, to deploy decontamination and to make recyclable PPE to eliminate financial exposure.
Another WhatsApp group including up to 70 medics, virologists and medical device experts is trying to work on ways to resterilise PPE in the absence of a national policy.
Leahy understands the HSE at a high level is looking at how best to proceed.
She is aware of an Irish hospital that brought in a device to deal with hospital-acquired infections and is investigating its potential with PPE. “It’s about being innovative and creative and moving forward at a time of crisis.”
Desperate times
Cork-based respiratory consultant and former Irish Hospital Consultants Association vice-president Dr Oisín O’Connell says in normal circumstances a single-use approach would be deployed and the concept of PPE resterilisation would not be considered, which he would agree with.
“But if it means staff are short, which they 100 per cent are around the country, then it’s back to ‘perfection is the enemy of the good’. If there is an option to resterilise a mask to allow up to 20 uses using a vaporised hydrogen peroxide resteriliser, then I would be all for it, especially given FDA approval,” he adds.
He fears, however, the main desteriliser on the market will be bought up quickly by Canada, the US and the UK. "If not approved in Ireland soon, we are going to be at the back end of the queue."
Dr O’Connell says there is insufficient realisation of the scale of PPE needed in Ireland. “This is going to go on for 12 months minimum, and we will not be able to maintain supply lines for PPE, especially if one patient could easily require 15 masks a day.”
"Many of us on the front line would much rather a mask reprocessed with FDA-approved techniques rather than running out of masks or using a lower-standard mask"
Dr O’Connell says he is aware of anecdotal reports of hospitals running short of masks and “literally borrowing off each other; nursing homes bartering for them and HSE procurement community teams saying they are getting less than 30 per cent of their orders”.
A revised national strategy must take account of supply issues, usage patterns and implications of week-by-week Covid caseloads, underpinned by clarity on resource allocation and reuse of PPE, he believes.
“Many of us on the front line would much rather a mask reprocessed with FDA-approved techniques rather than running out of masks or using a lower-standard mask.”
Normally PPE is carefully removed and disposed of after each use, says Prof Neil Rowan, director of Athlone IT's Bioscience Research Institute. Due to its composition, it is extremely heat sensitive and not intended for reprocessing. However, the virus is responsive to sterilisation.
With professor of anaesthesia and intensive care medicine at NUI Galway John Laffey he is exploring decontamination solutions that reprocess PPE without destroying it. Their research is likely to inform any update to national policy.
Filling the gap
After validation to ensure safety and efficacy, reprocessing PPE using novel decontamination approaches is essential to protecting front-line workers and addressing shortages, he believes.
Success elsewhere in harnessing VH2O2 to decontaminate N95 masks means a similar authorised approach is likely to be deployed in Ireland, adds Rowan, an adjunct professor at NUIG school of medicine.
Their review of best evidence suggests VH2O2 and possibly UV irradiation within healthcare environments “can be used to fill this gap and will be paramount to ensuring the safety of healthcare workers”.
The HSE declined to comment on use of VH2O2 and Bioquell resterilisers
Ireland has been ahead of many countries in evaluating the best technology but Rowan accepts that delays in changing tack will lead to supply problems.
The HSE says it is aware of developments on decontamination and reuse of face masks and is exploring options to ensure continued supply of PPE. “However, at present decontamination of face masks for reuse is not practised.” It declined to comment on use of VH2O2 and Bioquell resterilisers.
Decontamination and reuse has been considered as an option in emergency situations where new masks are unavailable, but it is “not aware of any decontamination of faces masks for reuse occurring within the HSE to date”.
On PPE shortages, it says “the challenge Ireland faces in sourcing PPE in what is an exceptionally competitive and highly volatile global market is unprecedented”.
The major supply line established with China combined with increased domestic production of certain elements of PPE are essential to ensuring supply, the HSE adds. "Every effort is being taken to ensure available PPE is targeted at the areas of highest priority. Distribution of PPE continues on a daily basis right across the wider health service, including home care, residential and primary care services."