Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG update

Shane Ross says ‘we won’t negotiate with Fine Gael 

Under the threat of another election?

     

Shane Ross (left) of the Independent Alliance.

Shane Ross said the Independent Alliance would not negotiate with Fine Gael “under threat” of another General Election.

The Dublin Rathdown TD criticised Health Minister Leo Varadkar after he posted a picture of his Election posters and wrote they were “ready to be deployed” again on Twitter.

Mr Ross said his group of Independents “would certainly not take that threat” of a second vote “seriously” ahead of talks with Fine Gael.

“We’re not going to negotiate under threat. We’re not going to take that sort of nonsense from Varadkar or anybody else…that there’s a General Election threatened to us, he said.

“We won’t regard that as something we’ll respond to positively. We’re certainly not going to take that threat seriously.”

Mr Ross denied that it was “inevitable” there would be another election as TDs prepare to vote for a Taoiseach again on Wednesday, when a clear result is not expected.

He and other Independent TDs said they shared the public’s frustration as government-forming negotiations continue more than a month after polling day.

“You’d need the patience of Saint Job to put up with what’s going on (with Fine Gael and Fianna Fail) and their refusal to meet until next Wednesday,” he added.

Waterford TD John Halligan said the Independent Alliance would not shy away from another General Election this year if it came about.

“We’re not afraid of another election,” he said.

“The people have already spoken. It is unfair to go back to the people and say, ‘we don’t like how you voted’ but if we have to face the electorate, we’re prepared to face them.”

Euro zone unemployment rate at lowest level since 2011

JOBLESS RATE IN 19-NATION EURO ZONE FELL TO 10.3% IN FEBRUARY, NEW FIGURES SHOW

  

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE 19 COUNTRIES THAT USE THE EURO INCHED DOWN TO 10.3% IN FEBRUARY IN ANOTHER TOKEN OF THE CURRENCY UNION’S MODEST RECOVERY.

The rate fell from 10.4 per cent in January, the European Union’s statistics agency Eurostat said Monday. January’s figure was revised up from 10.3%.

The job numbers underlined that Europe’s recovery remains only moderate. The number of jobless people fell by only 39,000 in February, compared to a drop of 118,000 in January. Still, there are 1.3 million fewer people without work compared to the same month a year earlier, and the jobless rate is the lowest since August 2011.

“Fewer Eurozone jobless, together with deflation-negligible inflation, should be supportive to consumer spending,” wrote Howard Archer, chief European and UK economist at IHS Economics, in an emailed note. “Consumer spending will likely be key if Eurozone growth can regain momentum over the coming months after stuttering recently.”

Archer said he expected the jobless rate to dip under 10% later this year.

Germany had the lowest jobless rate at 4.3% thanks to a strong domestic economy and its traditional export strength in machines and auto.

But the rate remains painfully high in Spain at 20.4% and Greece at 24.0%.

The European Central Bank last month increased its stimulus measures to boost the recovery and raise weak inflation. Those steps include pumping newly printed money into the banking system through bond purchases in an attempt to expand credit to companies.

Irish income tax and VAT fall below target for March 2016

EXCHEQUER FIGURES SHOW HEALTH OVERSPENDING LAST MONTH BUT CORPORATE TAX PAYMENTS PUSH OVERALL RETURNS AHEAD OF TARGET

   

Income tax and VAT collections dropped below target in March but another surge in corporate tax payments helped bring the overall monthly return ahead of target. New figures also point to health overspending in March.

Exchequer data for March presents a mixed picture, as the overall tax return in the first three months of the year was ahead of target and ahead of the return in the same period in 2015.

Tax collection reached €11.14 billion to End-March. “This represents a year-on-year increase of €667 million (6.4%) and is €119 million (1.1%) above profile,” said the Department of Finance.

“However, allowing for €108 million of tax receipts delayed until April 1st due to a payment related timing issue, tax revenue is up €775 million (7.4%) year-on-year and €227million (2.1%) above profile.”

As talks continue on the formation of the next government, however, the data shows income tax collections were 12% behind target in March and that VAT collections were 4% behind target.

Income tax receipts, including the universal social charge, reached €1.22 billion in March, €165 million less than the €1.38 billion forecast by the department. The return in March was €136 million or 10.1% less than the same month in 2015.

Income tax receipts reached €4.36 billion in the first three months of the year, up €114 million or 2.7% on a year-on-year basis. This was €153 million or 3.4% below target, which the department attributed to “an underperformance across a range of income tax components.”

VAT returns in March came in at €1.49 billion, €62 million or 4% behind target. In the first three months the total VAT return was €3.89 billion, €193 million or 4.7% below target.

“When consideration is made for[circa] €75 million of VAT receipts delayed from March into early April, receipts for the month are actually up €13 million or 0.8 per cent against target,” the department said.

“Looking at the cumulative performance, VAT receipts are actually up €173 million year-on-year, an increase of 4.5% but down €118 million or 2.9% against profile. This is in line with the positive data from February with retail sales up year-on-year, both in volume and value terms.”

In the terms of the overall return for the first three months, the income tax and VAT underperformance was masked a sharp rise in corporate tax receipts and a big rise in excise duties.

The figures show the State collected €407 million in corporate tax in March, €304 million or 296% more than forecast for the month. Corporate tax payments in the first three months were €654 million, €305 million or 87% ahead of target.

The surge represents a continuation of trends seen in 2015 when corporate tax returns came in well ahead of target.

Excise duties in March reached €575 million, €117 million ahead of target for the months. Collections in for the first three months reached €1.52 billion, €114 million or 8.1% ahead of target.

The Exchequer deficit at the end of March was €1.17 billion, compared to a €197 million surplus in the same period in 2015.

The dis-improvement in the Exchequer balance was “primarily due” to the base effect of the transfer last year of €1.63 billion from the National Pension Reserve Fund to the Exchequer.

“Excluding the impact of this significant one-off transaction, there was an underlying year-on-year improvement in Q1 2016 of €267 million driven by increased tax revenue,” the department said.

Total net voted expenditure reached €10.18 billion, €15 million or 0.2% below profile and €71 million lower on a year-on-year basis.

Net voted current expenditure at €9.73 million to End-March was “marginally above” profile by €11 million. “The largest overspend of €38 million was recorded in the Department of Health, up 1.1% on profile.”

Nearly half (42%) of Irish workers inactive during the day

NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXERCISING THE RECOMMENDED AMOUNT IN DECLINE, NEW RESEARCH SHOWS

    

JUST OVER A QUARTER (26%) OF IRELAND’S WORKFORCE EXERCISE AT THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF OVER 150 MINUTES OF MODERATE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY EVERY WEEK, ACCORDING TO NEW RESEARCH.

42% of Irish workers have said they are either “totally” or “extremely” inactive during their working day.

Fewer people are exercising at the recommended weekly levels than they were 15 months ago, according to new research from the Nutrition and Health Foundation (NHF).

Just over a quarter (26%) of Ireland’s workforce exercise at the recommended level of over 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week, the research found.

The survey was conducted online by Behaviour & Attitudes on a nationally representative sample of 18-65 year olds employed in the Republic.

The fieldwork was carried out from 25th January to 2nd February 2016 and a total of 996 employees participated in the survey.

The research was commissioned to mark Ireland’s second National Workplace Wellbeing Day on Friday, 8th April.

Hundreds of organisations across the public and private sector are expected to participate in the campaign which aims to improve employee health by promoting better nutrition and exercise in the workplace.

As part of this year’s activities, employers are also being encouraged to arrange a “Lunchtime Mile” – a one-mile cycle, jog, run, or walk for employees in the vicinity of their workplace.

Dr Muireann Cullen of the Nutrition & Health Foundation said: “A healthier workforce is in everyone’s interest. Four out of five employees believe there is a positive link between their health and wellbeing and their company’s productivity.

“Seven in ten (69 per cent) also say they are more likely to stay longer with employers who show an interest in their health and wellbeing.”

Ireland’s public health nurses under severe strain,

INMO ISSUES CALL FOR COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE ROLE OF NURSES IN PRIMARY CARE SYSTEM

  

FOUR OUT OF FIVE NURSES REPORTED NOT HAVING THE TIME TO UPDATE CASE NOTES.

The community and public health nursing system is under severe strain due to rising demand and falling staff numbers, a new report says.

Over half the nurses surveyed for the report said patients had missed out on care over the preceding week because of pressures on staff.

The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), which commissioned the report, has called for the establishment of a commission to investigate the sector. It says the group should report back within a year on the role nurses should play in the primary care system and on the resourcing of their work.

The report found the main area of “missed care” was in health promotion, particularly in relation to older people and the management of chronic diseases. Nurses tended to prioritise clinical work such as injections or dressings or legislative obligations such as child protection at the expense of health promotion and disease prevention.

The care of older people on the risk register was identified as a particular challenge, with 70% of nurses saying they had been unable to address this work in the preceding week.

Disadvantaged groups such as asylum seekers, the homeless, migrants and Missed care

Travellers were most likely to miss out on care from a community nurse, the study by UCD’s school of nursing found.

Four out of five nurses reported not having the time to update case notes. And a lack of administrative support and inadequate staffing levels were identified as having a significant impact on the problem of missed care.

Co-author Dr Amanda Phelan said that while the population had increased and eligibility for public health nursing services was expanding with the rising allocation of medical cards, staff levels were falling. The INMO says there are 200 fewer community nurses compared to 2009.

“We’re going off a cliff,” said public health nurse Mary Leahy. “There has been a phenomenal loss of workforce, just as primary care is being sold as the panacea for everything in health.”

INMO general secretary Liam Doran said it was “no coincidence” that attendances to hospital emergency departments were up 9% this year, given the strain the community nursing sector was under.

One in six community nurses said they were dealing with a population of more than 10,000. The INMO says it was originally intended that each nurse would serve a population of just 2,500.

NUIG begins research on black widow spider venom to treat cancer?

   

THE FALSE BLACK WIDOW SPIDER KNOWN AS THE STEATODA NOBILIS.

NUI Galway is at the forefront of research into the venom from false black widow spiders which may have anti-cancer properties.

An NUI Galway scientist has begun the research on venom variations from the false black widow spider and its therapeutic potential for anti-cancer properties.

This is the first time the research is being carried out at NUI Galway.

The venom will be tested on different lines of human cancerous cells. This is the first time that an Irish bug is being investigated for its potent bio-activity and the first time that venom from this particular spider is being investigated.

Dr Michel Dugon, an Irish Research Council Fellow in Botany and an Adjunct Lecturer in Zoology at the School of Natural Sciences in NUI Galway, is carrying out the research on the rapid evolution of spider venom and its potential therapeutic applications.

Mr Dugon will use the venom from a local invasive spider, the false black widow, known as the Steatoda nobilis, which arrived in Ireland in 1997 and is well known in the British Isles as ‘the most venomous spider in the UK’. There is evidence of people having fairly serious effects from the bite of this spider, which result in symptoms similar to a wasp or bee sting, but until now the venom has never been studied.

In his research Dr Dugon is using the false black widow spider as a model to determine: if there is some truth regarding the potency of their venom; if the venom is in fact different between populations, which would explain why this spider has such a bad reputation in Ireland and the UK but not in its native range in Madeira and the Canary Islands; and if the venom has potential anticancer properties.

Commenting on the new study, Dr Michel Dugon said: “These toxins, once rearranged, can become powerful tools for the treatment of diseases. It is already asserted that each species of spider possesses its own cocktail of toxins, giving unique properties to its venom. Worldwide, this represents at least 40,000 toxic blends that might hold treatments for diseases crippling millions of people.”

Scientists have now figured out how to program living cells

    

IMAGINE A FUTURE WHERE YOU CAN BE INJECTED WITH BACTERIA CARRYING DESIGNER DNA THAT RELEASES CANCER-FIGHTING DRUGS WHEN IT FINDS A TUMOR IN YOUR BODY.

A team of biological engineers at MIT have taken a big step toward this future with the development of a new programming language that allows for the quick design of complex functions for DNA sequences that can be put into living cells.

These functions can include detecting or responding to specific issues, like a high temperature or a tumor.

Christopher Voigt, a biological engineering professor at MIT, explained how it works.

“You use a text-based language, just like you’re programming a computer,” said Voigt. “Then you take that text and you compile it and it turns it into a DNA sequence that you put into the cell, and the circuit runs inside the cell.”

Until now, building a biological circuit could take as long as a year, however the new program means “you just hit the button and immediately get a DNA sequence to test,” said Voigt.

Computers to cells

The language is based on the hardware description language Verilog, which has been more commonly used to design digital circuits.

To make it work for living cells, the researchers designed computing elements, such as sensors, that can be encoded into a DNA sequence.   

Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG update

France stress the urgency of saving the Earth in climate change issue

Struggles against climate change and terrorism two greatest issues of the 21st century,

   

The COP21 United Nations conference on climate change which begins today is being presented by French media as “two weeks to save the Earth”.

The gathering of 150 heads of state and government is the largest ever hosted by France. “Their presence en masse shows the necessity and urgency of action,” said the French foreign minister and president of COP21, Laurent Fabius.

President François Hollande will begin greeting the heads of state and government in the Le Bourget exhibition park – usually the site of an air show – at 8am today.

The conference will formally open at 11.00am, with a minute of silence in homage to the victims of the November 13th attacks.

After the “family photo,” the heads of state and government have been asked to limit their speeches to three minutes each. Because their number is so great, they will speak in two different conference rooms.

The speeches will be interrupted for an all-organic lunch prepared by five leading French chefs.

Mr Fabius said the meal “will reflect environmental and French excellence, since diplomacy does not exclude conviviality – au contraire. We wanted to promote our gastronomy.”

All this week, the 1,500 negotiators who have hammered out a 50-page draft agreement will meet in groups and spin-off groups, behind closed doors. Their text will be finalised by Mr Fabius and the heads of 195 delegations between December 5th and 11th.

At the same time, leaders will stage symbolic media events to launch initiatives intended to curb global warming.

The three most important events today will be “Mission Innovation” led byBill Gates and President Barack Obama. It will commit the 19 developed countries who represented 80 per cent of clean energy research to double their research and development budgets.

The White House is uneasy about security within the UN zone and has chosen to hold events involving Mr Obama off site. He will be the guest of honour at dinner at the Élysée Palace tonight.

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi will launch a “solar alliance” of countries lying between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn.

More than 100 countries enjoy more than 300 days of sunshine annually, and believe they can lower the cost of solar energy through economies of scale.

Finally, the World Bank will host a press conference with Mr Hollande and the heads of state of Canada, Chile, Ethiopia, Germany and Mexico to emphasise the importance of setting a price on carbon pollution.

Mr Fabius has said “the struggle against climate change and the struggle against terrorism are the two greatest challenges of the 21st century”.

France has been called upon to play a role in both,” he added. “Is it an accident of history?”

Ireland’s restaurants to hit diners with €1 charge for glass of tap water

    

Diners set to be charged for tap water.

A glass of tap water with your carvery lunch will cost €1 next year – as restaurant owners pass on massive commercial rate increases to diners, Restaurant industry experts say a tap water charge is likely to be introduced in line with anticipated hikes in water charges for businesses next year.

Adrian Cummins, CEO of the Restaurants’ Association of Ireland, says a reasonable charge on tap water is “only fair” as he claims Irish Water has repeatedly “flagged” plans to increase commercial water rates.

“They have flagged the issue to us and it’s my opinion that they are softening us up. They are getting us ready for a rise in rates and it’s going to have a major knock-on affect on our industry,” he said.

“Businesses are going to get hit with the cost so we need to look at how to recoup that cost and we feel a small charge on good quality tap water is a fair and equitable way of doing it,” he said. Mr Cummins expects many restaurants, pubs and coffees shops, that already pay hefty water bills to local authorities, to apply a €1 tariff on filtered tap water.

He says some restaurants will be looking at it more seriously than others.

“Some will say they’ll provide filtered water at a charge of €1 for a bottle, and that’s it – customers can have as much water as they want throughout the night,” he said, adding that sparkling and still water will be made available.

“From a logical perspective, if you invest in equipment that provides good quality, filtered, good-tasting drinking water then restaurants will probably add a charge to the bill,” he said.

“Some people think it’s carte blanche but we’re not a public service – it’s a business and people need to respect that,” he said.

However, he said it’s unlikely a uniform system will be implemented for all establishments.

“Those who feel they should be charging for tap water will be on a case-to-case basis. A lot of restaurants are already putting in that type of a system,” he said.

According to Irish Water, there are approximately 500 separate tariffs for non-domestic water customers around the country.

A spokeswoman for Irish Water described the current system as “a legacy of the historic provision of water services by more than 30 separate local authorities”.

These tariffs were carried forward to Irish Water and will remain in place until a new tariff structure is approved by the regulator, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER).

“The CER will undertake a process to define and agree the appropriate and enduring tariff arrangements for non-domestic customers of Irish Water in the future. This process is likely to take a number of years and will involve extensive public consultation,” said the spokeswoman.

However, the Restaurants’ Association of Ireland is concerned the new system will be introduced sooner rather than later and will have lasting ramifications for the industry.

“We are being softened up now for all of this,” said Mr Cummins, adding that consumers need to be aware of the situation.

“We’re not like the households where you pay a flat fee, you pay per consumption so the more you consume the more you pay. We have to educate consumers,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Consumers’ Association of Ireland says diners won’t appreciate a charge on tap water.

Dermott Jewell, policy advisor at the consumer body, said: “Tap water is viewed by customers as part of the standard charge of provision of service.

“It’s a bad charge, it’s poorly thought out and it’s going to hurt them.

“Even if it’s filtered, not all water is of the same quality from every tap and that needs to be considered.

“We understand a rise in rates is a cost to business but tap water has always been deemed part of general service and a move away from that will indirectly backfire,” he said.

ICMSA members told low interest 15-year loans for farmers ‘in pipeline’

    

Irish Farmers may be able to avail of low-interest 15-year loans backed by the European Investment Bank by mid-2016, ICMSA members have heard at its AGM in Limerick.

In a week dominated by salary issues at its IFA rivals, the ICMSA event also featured news of a possible softening in the Russian embargo on EU food imports, and talk that EU may support food producers in their battles with retailers.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and EU agriculture commissioner Phil Hogan told the ICMSA’s members that market indicators pointed to an improvement in the milk price towards the end of 2016. Both would continue to seek EU supports such as storage aid and measures to improve volatility controls.

They also told dairy farmers the proposed EIB loans would give farmers more competitive options than those available with the two main Irish commercial banks.

Mr Hogan said: “I want to make it possible for people to have access to 15-year or even 20-year money rather than the present three-year loan arrangements.”

Dairy farmer Lorcan McCabe said farmers are paying 4.5% or 5% interest on loans versus the 0.5% being paid by farmers in Austria.

“Irish farmers are paying too much to banks in terms of interest rates on short term loans,” said Mr Coveney.

“We are trying to intervene. The banks see farmers as a good bet.”

As to why fertiliser prices have stayed stubbornly high despite falling fuel costs, Mr Hogan urged farmer groups to gather any data indicative of a cartel among fertiliser companies. He said the EU has been successful in stamping out anti-competitive practices in the past.

Mr Hogan also offered some support for ICMSA calls for EU measures to ensure greater fairness in the food supply chain, a matter which is up for review in 2016.

IMCSA president John Comer said the farm gate milk price has fallen up to 40%, while EU retail prices have only fallen by 2% this year.

Mr Comer said: “Whenever the supply situation permits them, retailers just wipe out the margins of everyone behind them all the way back to the cow. And they’re allowed to do it.

“No-one seems to find anything wrong with this grotesque abuse of their dominance. Control of indigen-ous EU food production has got to be taken back from the greedy clutches of multinational retail corporations.”

Mr Comer welcomed Mr Hogan’s commitments to address the multiple retailer power. He said retailers would use their dominant position to sell below-cost vegetables over Christmas. He called for a floor of 28c per litre payable to milk producers, noting the current 24cpl price from processors is below the cost of prodction.

However, while very much a side issue on the day, the ICMSA did address the controversy on salary scales at the IFA. While the ICMSA’s annual wage bill for its 11 Limerick staff comes to about €577,000, members still called for transparency.

My toughest fight of all?

BOXING CHAMPION FRANK BRUNO ON HIS LIFELONG BATTLE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

    

FORMER HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER FRANK BRUNO (CENTRE & WITH DAUGHTER RACHEL RIGHT PIC.)

Frank Bruno is making a recovery, with the support of his friends and family – has spoken out about his relapse for the first time since being hospitalised this autumn.

FRANK Bruno has spoken out about his bipolar disorder relapse for the first time since being hospitalised this autumn.

Now making a recovery, with the support of his friends and family, the former world boxing champion said: “I know I’ll have this illness for the rest of my life. But I’ll never, ever, let it beat me.

“Bipolar is not nice to live with. But I’ve work to do, money to make, bills to pay, four kids to raise.”

Bruno has been sectioned under the mental health act three times since quitting boxing in 1996.

But when he suffered a relapse in September after the Great North Run, he asked to be ¬admitted to ¬hospital.

He said: “I tried doing six months work in one month and I hit a brick wall. I started to get irritated, grumpy, I needed to rest. But I chose to go back into hospital.”

His comments came as figures from watchdog Equality and Human Rights Commission show a 40 per cent rise in male suicides since 2008. Charities say rising numbers of men suffer from depression and ¬bipolar in silence.

Frank said: “I can ¬understand that. It is a big issue for a man to talk about. Many think they have to be the king – so it’s hard for them to say they are struggling. It shouldn’t be that way.

“Bipolar is there for life. In boxing at least you can see your opponent. They hit you, you hit them back. But with mental illness you can’t always see it. It comes from the shadows and, all of a sudden, bang, you are down.”

Thousands brave storm for climate marches around Ireland

About 5,000 people march through Dublin to pressure leaders ahead of COP21 summit

     

Protesters watch during the climate change march in Dublin as a steam train hoots its way across the Liffey on Sunday. 

About 5,000 people marched in a good-natured but determined fashion through Dublin on Sunday in a bid to put pressure on the Government and world leaders ahead of the COP21 climate change summit in Paris.

Hundreds of people joined other marches in Belfast, Cork and Galway as part of a global day of action.

The Dublin march was organised by Stop Climate Chaos – a coalition of 28 organisations including Friends of the Earth, Oxfam and Trócaire – and the crowds braved some harsh and stormy conditions to make their presence felt as they made their way from Custom House Quay to Dáil Éireann.

The march was led by a dozen or so members of the Dublin Cycling Campaign. Just before it got under way, a coal-burning steam train thundered over the protesters on the Loop Line Bridge – to hoots of derision from the crowd.

“I’m here for my little boy,” said broadcaster Jonathan McCrea, nodding in the direction of his four-year-old son sitting on a bench waiting for the march to start.

“I turn 40 next year and when he turns 40 the world will be a much different place. There is very little I can do. I feel useless – but at least by marching we can show our Government this is an issue we care about.”

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said climate change was an issue the Government “doesn’t care about” . He accused the Coalition of “shaming our country” and paying lip service to the will of the people who want real action to be taken to curb emissions.

“I think there will be a deal in Paris,” he said. “Everyone is moving in the right direction in lowering their emissions, except us. Ours are actually increasing. We are becoming a pariah in Europe. ”

Friends of the Earth director Oisin Coghlan was similarly scathing of the official response to the climate change crisis, but not as upbeat as Mr Ryan about the prospects of a deal being struck in Paris.

He said people had come onto the streets of cities all over the world because they “no longer trust our leaders to grasp the urgency of climate change or the opportunities of action”.

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He told the crowd that the central issue was “our future, us, our friends and family, and the human family around the world, where climate change is already intensifying storms, floods and droughts, undermining livelihoods, exacerbating conflict and creating refugees”.

Cork

In Cork, a teenager who won the BT Young Scientist of the year competition for her research on solving the global food crisis was among close to 400 people who attended the climate change rally in Cork city centre on Sunday.

Sophie Healy Thow (17) from Kinsale, Co Cork, who was named by Timemagazine as one the most influential teenagers in the world, said it was important to build momentum prior to the meeting in Paris.

“My particular area of interest is food security. To make sure the world is food secure, we need 50 per cent more food by 2015 – and that is a crazy amount.

“We need everybody to get together to achieve these goals,” she said.

Attendees at the rally on Grand Parade held placards with slogans such as System Change not Climate Change, Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground and There is No Planet B.

Organisers and supporters of the march in Cork included Cork Environmental Forum, Trócaire, the Social Health & Education Project, People’s Climate Ireland, UCC Green Campus, Transition Town Kinsale and UCC Environmental Society. There was also a strong turnout from members of the Quaker movement.

Belfast

In Belfast, the threat of Storm Clodagh was not enough to keep about 300 protesters from gathering at Writers’ Square.

Amandine Chesnel (8), from Belfast, was among the young activists. Carrying an Act Now – There Is No Plan B banner made with the help of friends, she explained her motivation for joining the day of action. “I don’t think that the world should be overheating,” she said.

Demonstration organiser Niall Bakewell, from Friends of the Earth, said: “It is a very important gathering of world leaders and we need around the world to give a message that they now are running out of time to get the right deal.”

Green Party leader in Northern Ireland, Steven Agnew MLA, said Stormont had a responsibility to take part in the international effort to tackle climate change.

“We have had mixed messages from the government in terms of investment in renewables, and that is disincentivising investment – but there are real actions we can take.

“We have got fantastic wind, wave and tidal power, we can retrofit our housing and really make a difference for people’s lives in Northern Ireland and climate change globally.”

Galway

In Galway, several hundred people including performers and drummers braved heavy downpours of rain and a southwesterly gale to take part in Sunday’s Carnival for the Climate.

Chanting reworked lyrics to the tune of the Italian civil war anthem Bella Ciao, the participants set off from Eyre Square to the Spanish Arch.

The event was organised by Transition Galway, and was supported by representatives of a number of groups including NUI Galway’s Irish Centre for Human Rights and Amnesty International.