Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG

Why ‘Brexit’ really matters to the half a million Irish living in Britain

    

IRISH PEOPLE ‘HAVE A GOOD THING GOING’ IN LONDON AND ARE ‘BETTER OFF IN A CONNECTED WORLD’, ACCORDING TO A DUBLINER WHO WAS RECENTLY VOTED CHEF OF THE YEAR AND RUNS FOUR OF THE HOTTEST RESTAURANTS IN THE BRITISH CAPITAL.

Chef Robin Gill and his wife Sarah – who works with him in their restaurants – believe a ‘Leave’ vote in Brexit could seriously affect their business.

‘Why we’re voting to remain’ – ‘Chef of The Year’ Irishman and owner of four London restaurants

“It looks like the economy could take a big hit if the vote is for leave. But more importantly for us, we employ over 60 people and a lot of them are from all over the EU,” Robin told Independent.ie.

“What happens if Britain votes to leave? Will they need work visas? Will they have to go home? London needs talented people to come here from all over the world, I really hope the vote is for staying in.

“We’ve lost really good people with the visa situation in Australia and Canada. I can’t imagine what it would do to our business,” he continued.

“We’re doing well, the economy is doing well, we’re better off in a connected, globalised world. We’re voting Remain”.

Brexit is the biggest political decision to face the UK in four decades – should they stay or should they go?

Upwards of half a million Irish citizens could have a big say on the referendum – on whether Britain should remain in the European Union – on June 23rd.

The Irish living in the UK are in a virtually unique position – they are the second biggest migrant group, standing at around 500,000 and only outnumbered by the 800,000 Poles.

And, due to the historical quirk which sees us still counted amongst former commonwealth or Empire dominions, only the Irish, Cypriots and Maltese get to vote in the referendum.

Irish economists, businessmen and politicians have already had their say, with Enda Kenny causing a bit of a stir when he arrived in London for a Mayo GAA game recently and took the chance to remind the Irish in the UK to vote ‘Remain’.

Bob Geldof and Michael O’Leary of Ryanair have also been loud pro-EU voices.

‘We don’t have a negative view of the EU like the Brits do’ – Irishman and owner of London pop-up bar Six Yard Box5

The Irish in London today are different from their parents and grandparents generation, those who came in the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, often with low skills and low expectations.

The New London Irish are typically young, very well-educated and making the most of the city’s booming, globalised economy.

For Irish entrepreneurs like Seb O’Driscoll, a 35-year-old Corkman who runs The Six Yard Box, a hip, pop-up sports bar in Elephant & Castle, there’s no doubt how most Irish will vote.

“The Irish are everywhere in London, and most love it for being a multi-cultural city with huge diversity and a real international feel,” says Seb.

“The sense I get, from guys coming into the bar here, from my friends and the Irish you meet, they’ll all be voting remain. We don’t have a negative view of the EU in the way a lot of Brits do. And we don’t know what’s going to the happen to the economy if we leave”.

UK Chef of The Year Robin reiterated Seb’s comments and said the opportunities for Irish in London are endless.

“I’ve tried to leave eight or nine times and then another opportunity comes across. From that point, it’s just uncontrollable,” he said.

Brexit: The issues Ireland faces if Britain leaves the EU

If Brexit is the result of the referendum, there will be many unknowns for Ireland both economic and geopolitical.

One of the big issues for Ireland will be how the Republic and North of the country interact with the re-establishment of borders a possibility that has already been highlighted by British chancellor George Osborne.

Not since the long-fought for peace process has this issue arisen and we don’t know what the outcome would be.

From an economic perspective, while Ireland’s dependence on the UK as a trade partner has waned in the most recent past, depending on what kind of trade deal Britain would establish with the EU then that could have repercussions here.

Currently the UK, like other member states, has access to 500m people through the single market.

However, the remain side argues that there’s no guarantees that any kind of free trade agreement between the UK and the EU would be an option if Brexit were the outcome.

One of the upsides of a Brexit, of course, would be a likely influx of foreign direct investment with our low 12.5pc corporation tax rate already attractive for multinationals.

On the flip side, the spotlight is on Ireland’s tax treatment of many of these firms and if, for example, Donald Trump was elected US president he has already warned that countries like Ireland are outsmarting the US and taking jobs by attracting American firms here and he has vowed to stop this.

Investigation under way into discovery of ‘angel dust’ in cattle

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE CONFIRMS POSITIVE TEST RESULT FOR ILLEGAL GROWTH HORMONE CLENBUTEROL

    

THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE IS INVESTIGATING A CASE OF ALLEGED UNAUTHORISED USE OF THE ILLEGAL GROWTH-PROMOTING DRUG CLENBUTEROL, OR ANGEL DUST, IN CATTLE.

The Department of Agriculture is investigating a case of alleged unauthorised use of the illegal growth-promoting drug clenbuterol, or angel dust, in cattle.

It confirmed the investigation followed a positive test result for one animal in a random sample but would not identify the location of the farm from which it had come.

The Sunday Times reported that a farm in Monaghan was under investigation and that the animal had been slaughtered at a meat processing plant.

Investigators are understood to be attempting to identify and trace products in which meat from the animal had been used.

In a statement, the department said the random sample was taken as part of the National Residue Control Programme, which tests sheep, pigs, cattle and poultry across the State to ensure they have not been given drugs that may be dangerous if consumed.

The department said it had placed all animals on the farm under restriction pending the completion of the investigation.

“The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is fully aware of the case and has concluded that there is no risk to public health from meat that is on the market.”

Isolated

A single isolated incidence of the use of clenbuterol was uncovered during sampling in 2011 – the first time it had been found since 1999.

On that occasion, two beef cattle tested positive for the banned hormone during an investigation on a farm in Co Monaghan.

The farm was being investigated by customs officials looking into alleged diesel laundering when evidence of the substance was discovered.

The National Residue Control Programme is a component of the State’s food safety controls and is implemented under a service contract with the FSAI.

More than 19,000 samples were tested in 2014, across all eight food-producing species as well as milk, eggs and honey.

Just 42 (0.2%) out of 19,095 samples tested in 2014 were positive. The results were comparable to those returned in 2013, 2012 and 2011.

Last year the department said the “consistently low levels” of positive samples reflected the responsible approach adopted by the vast majority of farmers.

“The extensive testing under the NRCP indicates the absence of illegal administration of banned growth promoting hormones and other banned substances to food-producing animals in Ireland, ” it said publishing figures for the NRCP last year.

“Overall the small number of positives detected related mainly to residues of authorised medicines.”

Big upsurge in judgments and repossessions feared as ‘vulture funds’ close in on debtors

     

More than €4bn worth of court-ordered debts have been registered against 3,243 borrowers since 2010, with Danske Bank obtaining the largest value in judgments once non-bank entities such as Nama and the former Anglo Irish Bank are excluded.

Danske tops the league of banks pursuing Irish debtors in the courts.

Danske obtained almost €56m in registered judgments against 110 debtors in the first five months of the year alone according to credit agency Stubbs Gazette.

Danske was followed by Allied Irish Bank which obtained judgments valued at just over €38m against 34 debtors in the same period.

Since 2010, toxic loans agency Nama, which last week reported profits of €1.8bn in 2015, obtained just under €1bn judgments against 34 borrowers.

The agency’s annual report shows that it generated €9.1bn in cash during 2015, with €8.5bn coming from asset disposals.

It has registered judgments of almost €682m against 814 borrowers since 2010.

Bank of Ireland has pursued a larger number of borrowers (957) during that time, although the value of judgments is significantly less, at some €377.42m

State-owned AIB has pursued 523 borrowers since 2010, securing judgments valued at €422.43m, followed by Ulster Bank which secured judgments valued at some €344m against 211 debtors.

James Treacy, CEO of Stubbs Gazette, said that he anticipates a “huge upsurge” in judgments and repossessions over the coming years as vulture funds move on distressed borrowers whose loans it has bought.

The so-called “vulture funds” own over 40,000 principal homes and investment properties here in Ireland.

It is understood that a fifth of mortgages sold to ‘non-bank’entities are in arrears.

To date, only two judgments valued at 1.8m were secured by one such fund, Goldman Sachs, through Ennis Property Finance, one of its special purpose vehicles, according to Stubbs data.

However, this is expected to rise now that loans are being actively managed.

“The funds have a reputation for being very tough but pragmatic when it comes to doing deals,” said Mr Treacy.

“Presently it would appear that their preferred approach is to negotiate deals outside the courts but that is not to say that this will not change if they are not achieving their forecasted return on investment.

“If their pre-legal strategies are not profitable I would expect to see a huge upsurge in both judgments and repossessions over the coming years.”

David Hall, Director of the Irish Mortgage Holders Association, said that borrowers including professionals such as lawyers, doctors and accountants whose loans have been transferred to vulture funds have been operating under a “false sense of security” for the last 18 months.

“It will be carnage,” said Mr Hall, who said dealing with vulture funds will be a “nightmare” for many borrowers.

“It’s like fighting with Conor McGregor with your hands tied behind your back”.

As much as 4,500 diagnosed with diabetes every week, warns a charity

      

Every week 4,500 people are diagnosed with diabetes across the UK, the charity Diabetes UK has said.  it said that in the last year 235,000 people have been diagnosed with the condition.

The figures, released to mark Diabetes Week, highlight the scale of the “crisis” surrounding the illness, charity chief executive Chris Askew said.

He warned that many people are not aware of the seriousness of the condition.

“This Diabetes Week we are setting the record straight and focusing on the realities of living with the condition,” said Mr Askew.

“There is still a lack of understanding when it comes to people being aware of the seriousness of diabetes and this worries us at Diabetes UK.

“There are over four million people living with the condition in the UK. The fact that 4,500 people will discover they have diabetes over the next seven days is deeply concerning, and highlights the current scale of the crisis.

“Diabetes Week is a time to share our concerns about the scale and seriousness of diabetes, but it is also a fantastic opportunity to highlight that with the right healthcare, support and management, diabetes doesn’t have to hold anyone back.”

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. There are two forms of the condition – Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce insulin. Around one in 10 people with diabetes have Type 1 and it usually affects children or young adults.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin or the insulin produced does not work properly. Type 2 diabetes is linked to lifestyle factors such as being overweight.

If diabetes is not properly managed it can lead to serious consequences such as sight loss, limb amputation , kidney failure and stroke.

This is how Nasa thought we would be living in 2100

     

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT DREAMS OF MOVING TO ANOTHER PLANET TO ESCAPE TO IMPENDING DOOM OF OUR DYING EARTH IS SOMETHING KNEW, THEN YOU’RE WRONG.

NASA THOUGHT WE WOULD BE LIVING IN OUTER SPACE BY 2100

RECENTLY RESURFACED IMAGES SHOWS HOW IN 1975, SPACE AGENCY NASA THOUGHT WE WOULD BE LIVING IN 2100.

ILLUSTRATIONS COMMISSIONED BY THE US AGENCY, AND CARRIED OUT BY DON DAVIS AND RICK GUIDICETO, SHOW SEVERAL DIFFERENT CONCEPTS OF HOW HUMANS MIGHT LIVE IN THE NOW-NEAR FUTURE.

FOLLOWING 10 WEEKS OF RESEARCH, LED BY PRINCETON PROFESSOR GERARD O’NEILL, THE TEAM CAME UP WITH THREE POSSIBLE SCENARIOS AS TO HOW WE MIGHT BE LIVING AT THE END OF THE CENTURY.

ONE IDEA IS THE CYLINDRICAL COLONY WHICH WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THAT SHOWN IN THE 2014 CHRISTOPHER NOLAN MOVIE INTERSTELLAR COULD BE HOME FOR UP TO ONE MILLION PEOPLE.

• NASA launches spacecraft to STOP Earth-bound KILLER asteroid
• Hubble telescope captures baby star BURNING through gas cloud

ANOTHER IDEA IS THE BERNAL SPHERE WHICH WOULD BE A STRUCTURE ROTATING AROUND A LARGE SPACECRAFT AND FINALLY THE TOROIDAL COLONY.

ALL THREE OF THE DESIGNS HAD ARTIFICIAL GRAVITY THAT WAS CREATED FROM CENTRIFUGAL FORCE, AND POWERED BY SOLAR ENERGY.

PROFESSOR O’NEILL HAD HOPED THAT WORK ON THESE STRUCTURES WOULD BEGIN IN THE 1990S, BUT THAT TIME HAS PASSED WITHOUT IT HAPPENING, AND HE HAS SINCE PASSED AWAY.

1. Artificial greenery was also a concept
2. The colony might have looked cylindrical
3. A circular tunnel may have revolved around Earth

HOWEVER, NASA CONTRACTOR AND SPACE SETTLEMENT EXPERT DR AL GLOBUS SAID THAT IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO DO SO IN THE FUTURE.

HE SAID: “WHETHER IT WILL HAPPEN OR NOT IS REALLY HARD TO SAY. WHETHER IT CAN HAPPEN, ABSOLUTELY.

“IF WE AS A PEOPLE DECIDE TO DO IT, WE CAN DO IT. WE HAVE THE SCIENTIFIC CAPABILITY, FINANCIAL CAPABILITY, THERE IS SIMPLY NO QUESTION WE CAN DO IT.

“IN TWO OR THREE DECADES WE MIGHT HAVE A COUPLE OF SMALL HOTELS [IN ORBIT], AND PEOPLE MOVING IN ON A REGULAR BASIS.

“ALL THAT IS ON A TIME SCALE MEASURED IN DECADES, OR IN THE WORST CASE CENTURIES.”   

Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG update

The Garda is not a broken organisation says Noirin O’Sullivan

 

Left Pic. Noirin O’Sullivan (left) with Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald at the Department of Justice recently & right pic.  Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan with School director Joe Mulholland pictured at MacGill Summer school in Glenties.

Acting Commissioner says the force is committed to ‘explosive’ change

The Garda is not a broken organisation, but it has been damaged and is hurting, the acting Commissioner said today.

Noirin O’Sullivan told the MacGill summer school in Co Donegal she was impatient for reform and strongly supports Government plans for independent oversight of the force.

“Recent controversies have focused the public mind on instances where we have not lived up to our own standards,” she said.

“In some cases we’ve badly failed those standards. But when we’re good, we’re very, very good.”

Committing the force to “explosive” change she insisted Gardaí at every level were impatient for reform and change.

“As an organisation we’ve been pretty good at development and change,” she said .

“Sometimes that development and change comes gradually and sometimes as right now, it happens explosively. When it happens explosively then the task is to be out in front of reform, to drive change from within, not just accept it under duress.”

In a key part of her address she committed the Garda to the Government’s reform plans including independent oversight.

She said the Garda must commit itself to “taking control of our future, while welcoming stronger oversight from the proposed Independent Authority, as well as GSOC and the Garda Inspectorate”.

“Equally important it means remaining accountable to the communities we serve,” she said.

“We are proud of what we do and where we have come from. We are ready to step up to becoming a human rights-centred world class police service.”

The results of a survey of Gardaí across the State and a meeting involving six officers with Ms Fitzgerald at Farmleigh were “painful, illuminating, exciting and exhilarating,” she said.

Garda reforms introduced in 2005 “ brought clarity to the management and oversight of policing,” she said.

“But it is legislation that’s approaching its 10th anniversary. Ireland has changed utterly in those 10 years.”

The bottom line, she said, is “the Act needs revising and a key element of that revision is the establishment of an Independent Policing Authority. ”

On the question of intelligence handling, she added: “On national security the Commissioner will report to the Minister [for Justice], the Oireachtas and the Government.”

Ms O’Sullivan, who is only the second head or acting head of the Garda to address the MacGill summer school, said management within the force “must drive Government policy into understood standards and lived behaviours within the police service”.

This reform must be incorporated into what she called the “culture” of An Garda Síochána.

“Culture is how any organisation does its business,” she said.

“For as long as I serve in this role, I’ll drive ahead on all of those objectives. We cannot afford to stand still.”

Public confidence in the police would be grown one public contact at a time, one incident at a time, she said.

“Our mission is to stand between the citizen and chaos, guarding the peace that is essential to civilised living.”

She insisted police officers and senior ranks are learning from policing failures.

“We have the positive impetus provided by negative events,” she said.

“None of us would want recent controversies to have happened, but the fact that they happened means that we have been forced to stand back from what the Minister [Frances Fitzgerald] called the ‘accretion of habits’ and re-examine ourselves and our organisation in a brutally honest way.”

Taking questions from the floor, Ms O’Sullivan countered fears of under-staffing by saying Garda recruitment would recommence in the autumn.

Asked about the whistle-blowers she insisted: “Dissent should not be seen as disloyalty.”

She stressed the importance of Garda oversight and said the relationship between the Garda and GSOC “is improving, it’s going in the right direction”.

Blood donations in Ireland fell by 4% last year

 

THE BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE SAYS REDUCED USAGE OF BLOOD BY HOSPITALS IS FORCING IT TO CUT COSTS

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service said it needs to collect 3,000 donations a week and has called on people to make a particular effort to give blood during the summer.

Blood donations fell by 4 per cent last year compared to the previous year, according to figures contained in the Irish Blood Transfusion Service’s annual report.

The organisation also said less wastage, improved surgical techniques, and a review at hospital level of transfusion practices may have contributed to a decline in the use of blood and platelets which has had a knock-on effect on income for the service.

“The use of blood and platelets has continued to decline which has serious impact on our income,” said transfusion service chief executive Andy Kelly.

“In 2013, 82,697 donors gave 135,547 donations.

This compares to 85,762 donors giving 141,350 donations in 2012, a drop of just over 4 per cent.”

He said the decline in usage has occurred more quickly than expected, especially in the case of red blood cells; a trend which has been noticed throughout Europe.

“It is unclear what the exact reasons are but undoubtedly some of them are less wastage, improved surgical techniques, reviewing at hospital level of transfusion practice and less elective surgery taking place due to the cutbacks in health spending,” he said.

Mr Kelly said it looked like the trend would continue over the next few years and will force the service to reduce costs further.

He warned that although “there may be some scope for further reduction in costs, this will not be sufficient to meet the expected reduction in income”.

As part of cost-saving and reform measures, the transfusion service moved to single-site testing in 2012.

The next step in this programme is to move to single site processing of blood and blood products in the National Blood Centre in Dublin.

The service needs to collect 3,000 donations a week and has called on people to make a particular effort to give blood during the summer months.

Health service’s pressures puts diabetes patients in Ireland at risk

   

The long-term health of thousands of diabetes sufferers is being put at risk after a leading hospital pushed out their annual check-ups to 18 months due to pressures on the service.

Patient advocacy group Diabetes Ireland issued the warning after St Vincent’s University Hospital confirmed it has been forced to lengthen the wait for the routine examination as a result of junior doctor workload issues and surging patient numbers.

Under best-care plans, anyone with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes should still undergo regular check-ups to ensure their condition is not worsening.

While this form of diabetes — which affects almost 200,000 Irish people — can be tackled by exercise and dietary changes, if it is not addressed it can ultimately cause stroke, heart attack, eyesight problems, and kidney failure.

Although the St Vincent’s annual check-up system did not reach international best practice guidelines that those affected should be examined every four to six months, it was believed the service would pick up any worrying developments in a person’s condition.

However, after the decision to stretch the check-up system out to 18 months, Diabetes Ireland has warned patients are now potentially being put at risk.

“You should be concerned if you are not getting a regular type 2 diabetes check-up to review your control of [the condition],” said Dr Anna Clarke, the group’s health promotion and research officer.

“It should really be a four-month check-up, because otherwise complications can arise.

 “Over 60% of the health budget on diabetes is spent on complications [caused by a person’s condition deteriorating], so there is a real need for people to review their condition regularly,” she said.

While Dr Clarke advised anybody affected by the St Vincent’s change to go to their GP for a regular blood check, she said this may not be possible for everyone due to the €50-€60 charge to attend a GP clinic — meaning some people’s health may deteriorate to dangerous levels before it is flagged by medics.

The concern was raised after consultant endocrinologist at St Vincent’s, Dr Ronan Canavan, said the decision to stretch out the check-up system means diabetes sufferers will receive “less than ideal care” from the service.

Speaking to trade newspaper Irish Medical News, Dr Canavan said that due to attempts to reduce the shift length of junior doctors under the European Working Time Directive, and patient numbers surging by 200% in 20 years, there has been a 30% reduction in the number of junior doctors attending diabetes clinics at the hospital.

“I think it is stretched to where we are trying to provide what might be just about minimal care,” he said.

In a statement, the hospital said: “Earlier this year, it was decided by the diabetes multi-disciplinary team that routine, uncomplicated reviews would be moved from 12 months to 18 months.

“This decision was taken in order to help clinics operate efficiently while dealing with increasing patient numbers. Non-routine reviews have not been affected.”

Leo Varadkar tells health lobby to stop attacking him and weakening his position

 

The Health Minister has said he will consider proposals from an expert panel on medical card eligibility.

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar has admitted you would need the“wisdom of Solomon” to decide which illnesses should automatically entitle a person to a medical card.

Varadkar warned last week that plans to grant medical cards on the grounds of medical condition may be unworkable and result in nearly everyone qualifying for a card.

This has drawn a concerned response from groups such as the Jack and Jill Foundation which says it has been inundated with complaints and worries from concerned parents following Vardkar’s comments.

But a spokesperson for the minister insisted today that Varadkar’s sole priority is to ensure cards are allocated “in the fairest and most equitable manner possible”.

Speaking at the MacGill Summer School this evening, Varadkar appealed to the health lobby groups to stop attacking him as he faces into “very difficult budget negotiations” in the coming months.

He said: “I am going into very difficult budget negotiations in the next few months to try and secure the biggest budget possible for health and having health interest groups attack me and weaken me is not good for health or people who need to use our health services.”

Wisdom of Solomon

On discretionary medical cards that have been restored to some 15,000 people in recent weeks, he said: “There is no question of them being revoked, no question whatsoever.

“I am happy to reassure anyone who is worried about that that the medical cards that were withdrawn and given back will not now be revoked,” he insisted.

Varadkar also said that an expert medical panel will have a “very difficult job” and are going to need “remarkable wisdom” to carry out a study of what criteria will apply to granting medical cards based on medical need

“No decisions will be made until they make their report and certainly no promises or commitments could possibly be made until they produce their report.”

The panel, made up of doctors and patient groups, is to make recommendations in the autumn setting out the conditions and criteria to be used in deciding who should be automatically entitled to a full medical card.

This follows a change in government policy in May when the controversial review of discretionary medical cards was stopped and the coalition announced plans to grant cards on the basis of medical need for the first time.

Varadkar has indicated such plans could be troublesome, but insisted earlier today that he will consider the proposals of the expert group if they are “fair and affordable”.

He said: “You would need to have the wisdom of Solomon to decide which illnesses should entitle you automatically to medical cards and which ones should not but if the Expert Panel can come up with proposals that are fair and affordable I’ll consider them in depth.”

Also speaking at the MacGill Summer School today, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said that the government should fully reinstate the discretionary medical card system as it had worked effectively since its inception in the 1970s.

The missing emu was stolen said Carlow wildlife park owner

 

GARDAÍ INVESTIGATE MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF FLIGHTLESS BIRD

The owner of a Co Carlow wildlife park is reeling after one of his emus went missing last week.

Gardaí have said they are investigating the case of the missing flightless bird.

The owner, Patrick Foley owns the Southern County Fishing Resort and Wildlife Park in Garryhill. He used to have three emus. Now he has two, and a mystery.

The 25-acre park has a 1.8 meter perimeter fence. According to Mr Foley, “nothing can get in or out” and there is no sign of damage to the fence.

He says while emus are fast runners they cannot jump.

He thinks an emu thief could have entered the park through a gate at the main entrance, which is sometimes left unlocked until late at night.

“They’re quite easy to catch. They’re very curious birds, and it’d be easy enough to grab one of them,” he said. He fears the animal will not survive on its own or in the care of its captors.

Mr Foley bought the missing emu and two others from a breeder in Cork a year ago. They were “little chicks” at the time. Now the bird is about one metre tall and could reach two metres when fully grown. He said no license was required to buy the bird.

This is not the first time an exotic bird has gone missing from the park under mysterious circumstances.

Mr Foley believes three pheasants were stolen several years ago.

According to Gillian Bird from the DSPCA (Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), emus are considered exotic animals, but there is no limitation as to what you can have as a pet under Irish law.

People can own any kind of animal without a license. “You can have an elephant out the back of your house in Dublin 16 if you want,” she said.

Visitors flock to White Tailed Sea Eagles viewing point in Clare

  

More than 2500 visitors have so far flocked to see the White Tailed Sea Eagles Viewing & Information Point on the shores of Lough Derg in Co. Clare since it was officially opened on July 4th.

 Located at Mountshannon Pier and funded by Clare County Council, the new tourism development features telescopes and information displays about Ireland’s largest and most spectacular breeding birds, including the first of the species to be born in the country in 110 years.

The facility is being operated by the Mountshannon Eagle Group, Mountshannon Community Council and the Golden Eagle Trust, and will remain open until the end of September.

  Congella McGuire, Clare Heritage Officer, said the introduction of the Viewing Point “has further increased public interest in the local White Tailed Sea Eagle population without disturbing them in their natural habitat.”

She added: “Since the birds first arrived in Mountshannon three years ago, the Council has worked closely with the Golden Eagle Trust and the local community to ensure they are afforded every opportunity to thrive. The delivery of this Viewing & Information Point further safeguards these impressive birds and their nesting activities, as well as promotes their ecology and conservation. It’s also an excellent addition to the local tourism infrastructure.”

The Mountshannon breeding pair, a six-year-old male and five-year-old female, were originally collected as chicks on the island of Frøya off the west coast of Norway by the Golden Eagle Trust. The birds were released in Killarney National Park before relocating to Lough Derg in 2011. The pair, named Saoirse and Caimin, created history in 2013 when they reared the first chicks to fly from a nest in Ireland in 110 years. The pair successfully hatched another chick in late April of this year.