Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG update

More people in Ireland at risk of losing their family home are "now seeking advice"

 

As much as 3,588 people has sought advice from Focus Ireland in the first eight months of this year.

Focus Ireland says there has been a 43% increase in the number of people seeking advice and information so far this year because they are homeless or at serious risk of losing their home.

The latest figures released today shows that 3,588 people had sought advice and information in the first eight months of this year, compared to 2,500 people over the same period last year.

Focus Ireland said this significant rise is a reflection of the reality that more people are now at risk of losing their family home. The charity says it has had to expand its advice and information services to meet this growing need.

Fundraising for the expansion of services to meet the growing demand, Focus Ireland is preparing for a charity event taking place next Friday night, which involves nearly 100 business leaders and community leaders, who are all going to sleep rough in Dublin’s Iveagh Gardens and Cork’s City Gaol.

Head of Fundraising Lisa-Nicole Dunne said that the charity has to raise one-third of its income from fundraising so events like the Shine a Light Night are critical to allow Focus Ireland to continue to support families and single people struggling to keep a roof over their heads.

Focus Ireland stressed that early access to advice and information can help to prevent a housing problem from becoming a homeless crisis and appealed to anyone worried about their housing situation to contact the charity as soon as possible.

The charity is also putting out a final call to business leaders who would like to get involved in next week’s event.

To register for Shine A Light or to nominate your boss, see the Focus Ireland website.

Once again “Over 50,000 march in Dublin” to protest against Irish water charges

 

GROUPS FROM ALL OVER COUNTRY CONVERGE ON ireland's CAPITAL TO OPPOSE the austerity NEW MEASURES

People taking part in the anti-water charges protest march in O’Connell Street, Dublin this afternoon.

Upwards of 50,000 people marched against water charges in Dublin today in one of the largest demonstrations seen in the capital in years.

The marchers took one hour and twenty minutes to pass the Spire in O’Connell Street as they made their way from Parnell Square, around the city finishing at the GPO in O’Connell Street.

While the Garda press office could not give a figure for the numbers in attendance, one garda observing the march estimated they could be as high as 100,000.

Banners could be seen from communities across Dublin, including Crumlin, Ayrfield, Clarehall, Brookvale, Donaghmede, Ballyogan, Finglas, Ballymun, Edenmore, Coolock, Tallaght, Clondalkin while others from outside Dublin came included ones from Carlow, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Offaly, Wicklow, Athlone, Ballyphehane, Co Cork, Letterkenny, Leitrim and Mayo.

There were also banners from trade unions Mandate, Unite, the CPSU, the Communication Workers Union and the plasterers’ union,

There was huge anger directed at Taoiseach Enda Kenny, as well as the Labour Party and at Tánaiste Joan Burton in particular for her comments during the week that anti-water charges protesters all seemed to have expensive mobile phones. A number of people carried placards with pairs of tin cans strung together attached, with slogans such as “My little phoney, Joaney” while one man was dressed as an iPhone. Other placards said:“Sold out by our own Government”; “Stick your water meters up your arse” and “Can’t pay, won’t pay”.

A number who spoke to The Irish Times, said the water charge was “the last straw”.

“Enough is enough,” said Kathleen McWilliams, a woman in her 50s from Artane.

“The property tax was bad enough but I have nothing left to give.”

There was also anger directed at the media which many protesters said had been agnoring anti-water meter protests around the country.

Among the chants were, “Enda in your ivory tower, this is called people power” and “From the rivers to the sea, Irish water will be free”.

One man was distributing plastic water meter hub caps which he said could be used to ensure a household’s water supply while others were handing out leaflets advising people that Irish Water did not have a legal right to force people to sign a contract with them, could not pursue money from people’s wages and could not cut off people’s water supply.

The Garda presence was low key, with small numbers standing some distance back from the march mainly on streets adjacent to the route.

Before the main speakers, the Resistance Choir sang from the platform and performed their song Now Is The Time For Rage.

Among the speakers was Audrey Clancy, of the Edenmore Says No campaign who urged people neither to fill in their ‘welcome packs’ from Irish Water nor to pay bills when they start arriving.

“We have to have mass non-compliance when these bills start coming in January. No contract, no consent.. We can beat this. We have to stick together. The power of the people is greater than the people in power. Stand up to them,” she said to enormous cheers.

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett urged everyone to take selfies and email their photo to Tánaiste Joan Burton.

“Let her wallpaper her office with all the photos of people here. Will we pay the water charges?,” he asked, to which the crowd responded loudly, “No, no, no.” He urged people to take part in planned demonstrations around the State on November 1st.

“Today we brought Dublin to a standstill. On November 1st we will bring the country to a standstill.”

Independent TD Clare Daly said there were historic days from which point nothing would be the same, and this was one of them.

“The people are here with our mobile phones and our tablets and we’re saying, ‘You are not getting any more blood from these stones’.”

Older peoples mental health in Ireland is linked to deprivation

  

OLDER PEOPLE LIVING IN DISADVANTAGED AREAS OF IRELAND ARE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE POOR MENTAL HEALTH, A NEW STUDY HAS FOUND.

The results are based on an analysis of data collected as part of the TUDA Ageing study – a study involving over 5,000 older people living in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

The researchers acknowledged that cognitive functioning generally decreases as people age. However, they found that older people living in disadvantaged areas had a greater risk of developing cognitive dysfunction, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to dementia, than those living in less deprived areas.

They also found that those living in the most deprived areas were more likely to be anxious or depressed and had three years less education. They also exercised less, weighed more and smoked more.

“The overall results of our study suggest that older people living in the most deprived areas in Ireland, North and South, are at higher risk of poor mental health and developing cognitive impairment. We should target resources and strategies at this group to reduce the risk of developing cognitive impairment,” commented Prof Helene McNulty of the University of Ulster.

The findings were presented at the recent annual Scientific Meeting of the Irish Gerontological Society in Galway.

Leo Varadkar health Minister says the cycle of cuts in healthcare is now over

 

Minister for Health says spending savings will go back into services and not to pay debt any more?

The Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has said the cycle of cuts in health care is now over.

It was revealed yesterday that Mr Varadkar will receive a €500 million supplementary budget estimate this year, with some €300 million to be rolled over into 2015.

The two-year budget deal his department has struck is designed to ensure it can adhere to spending limits without the need for repeated financial bailouts.

“The good news is, the cycle of cuts in health care is over,” he told a conference in Dublin earlier today but cautioned that “we’re not flush with cash”.

“Our spending ceiling is now rising again so it means any savings or efficiencies we do make in our health services will go back into our health services and not into deficits or to pay down debt,” he said.

Mr Varadkar was speaking at the International Street Medicine symposium hosted by Safetynet Ireland and The Street Medicine Institute which looks at health of homeless people and rough sleepers.

He said the number of drug-related deaths was a matter of serious concern and was “surprised” by data from 2011 which showed that there were 60 poisoning deaths from heroin compared to 113 from methadone.

In order to respond to the problem of drug related deaths and overdoses the health service has developed an overdose prevention strategy which recommends making Naloxone routinely available in Ireland, he said.

Naloxone is an antidote to heroin which temporarily reverses the effects of an opiate overdose.

Naloxone is a prescription-only medication in Ireland and an amendment to current legislation would be required for it to be made available to opiate users .

“It is intended that Naloxone can be administered by non medical staff such as care workers, family members and addicts themselves and other people trained in the use of it,” he said.

“There’s no doubt the scale and nature of the drug problem in Ireland is constantly evolving. The emergence new pscyho active substances, the increased strength of cannabis and the prevalence of poly drug use represents serious challenges for our services,” he said.

Mr Varadkar said the area of drug use and deprivation and how it impacts on health is one he will take a personal interest in under his tenure as Minister for Health.

“Under the previous minister, the whole position – and this isn’t a bad thing – was delegated to the Minister for State.”

Mr Varadkar said that responsibility for drugs and drug policy will now full under his remit.

He said the “ social problems left untackled” were a burden on emergency departments and health services and “the cost of not dealing with these things is phenomenal”.

A robot Snake teaches Scientists how sidewinders move into sand dunes

  

ELIZABETH THE ROBOT SNAKE GAVE SCIENTISTS an INSIGHT INTO SAND DUNE TRAVEL.

Scientists have finally figured out how sidewinder snakes work their way up sand dunes — thanks to the help of a robot snake (yes, a robot snake) named Elizabeth.

For a study published recently in Science, researchers observed that sidewinding rattlesnakes flattened themselves on steep dunes to maximize body contact with sand, rather than dig their bodies deeper into the dune, the BBC reports.

Researchers took their observations and contacted a lab that develops robot sidewinders to further explore the movement. After a robot snake named Elizabeth was unable to scale a desert dune in Egypt, they brought Elizabeth to a fake dune in Atlanta, where “she” ultimately found more success after researchers applied the flattening technique to her movements.

Following that breakthrough, playing with Elizabeth’s settings gave the scientists insight into how sidewinders move so effortlessly. As it turns out, an out-of-sync combination of left-and-right motions and up-and-down movements working their way down the body helps keep the sand stable underneath the snake, to avoid slipping. The flattening motion helps keep the snake’s contact with the sand at the ideal, moderate amount. Too much contact and the snake can slip; too little, and it can’t successfully scale.  

Donie's Ireland daily news BLOG Update

The Irish Government ought to make water charges fair, equitable and affordable for Irish people

 

DECISIONS ENSURE SECURITY OF QUALITY WATER SUPPLY FOR THE DECADES AHEAD?

The debate on water charges has filled airwaves and newspaper columns in recent weeks and rightly so. It is good the public is debating issues around water as a precious national resource. But there has been a lot of misinformation about the Government’s water reforms.

It’s important to remember why domestic consumers will soon pay for water. Water just like other utilities such as gas and electricity, is costly to deliver, so the “user-pays” principle must apply. And we also need to radically reform the way we deliver water services.

The public water and waste water systems are not fit for purpose and need fixing. We are dealing with the consequences of years of under investment: 40 per cent of water is lost through leakage; almost one million people have drinking water supplies at risk; 23,500 people are on “boil water” notices; and our waste water infrastructure – vital to keeping coasts, rivers and lakes free from pollution – is inadequate.

Water services can no longer be primarily funded by the exchequer with no link between usage and funding. If we want to protect public health, our environment and provide for sustainable economic growth, we need a secure, long-term funding model to provide investment in water infrastructure into the future.

Water funds ring-fenced: Domestic water charges are a necessary component of our reforms. Charging will commence in October, with households receiving their first water bills from January 2015. Water charges will be ring-fenced for water services and will contribute significantly towards increasing infrastructural investment to the levels needed. Last week, Irish Water published its proposed 2014-2016 capital investment plan.

The establishment of Irish Water means services are now delivered through one national utility rather than 34 separate local authorities, resulting in greater efficiencies and economies. Critically, the transition will be seamless, as the partnership with local authorities allows local operations’ experience to be combined with Irish Water’s strategic network and asset management expertise.

There will be independent, economic regulation of the new utility. Protecting consumer interests is the primary responsibility of the Commission for Energy Regulation. The CER will critically examine Irish Water’s operational costs and capital plans, take decisions on a “water charges plan” and exercise its powers regarding Irish Water codes of practice on customer engagement.

The Government has sought to make water charges fair, equitable and affordable and to protect the most vulnerable. Charging will be based on metering, which the OECD says is the fairest form of charging. The assessed charge for those households which won’t have a meter right away, will be based on occupancy and will be a strong proxy for usage.

Fair prices: To increase affordability, the Government is providing a free allowance for every household. It is also providing further supports for groups highlighted as potentially vulnerable: the absence of a standing charge will benefit those living alone; the additional free allowance for children under 18 effectively means children’s consumption will be free; people with high water usage due to medical conditions will have their bills capped; and pensioners, people with disabilities and carers who receive the households benefits package will receive €100 a year to assist with bill payment.

The policy decisions taken by Government mean the average charge should be €240; a person living alone will have approximately 40 per cent of their water needs provided and will pay about €138 per annum; and a family of two adults and two children will have over half their water needs provided, and pay about €248 per annum. Irish Water will have flexible payment options.

I have also secured Government agreement to fund a free first fix on leaks identified on the customer side as a major water conservation measure.

Politicians are often accused of short-termism. The objective of the Government’s water reforms is to deliver sustainable investment and long-term improvements to our water and waste water systems.

The difficult decisions we have taken will ensure security of quality water supply for communities and businesses and the protection of our environment in the decades ahead.

We are confident that security of good quality supply will attract more inward investment to Ireland from water-intensive industries such as in the pharmachem, ICT and agrifood sectors.

Ireland needs more than MEPs in the European Union

  

Irish politicians have played a staunch role at the heart of Europe, but their influence is waning and work is needed to address an impending fall-off in top jobs, 

Between May 22 and 25, European citizens from 28 member states will democratically choose 751 MEPs to take their seats in the European Parliament. We should not underestimate the task we face as voters in choosing who will represent and communicate our best interests at the heart of the EU. But nor should we be blinded to the fact that in Europe’s heartland, Ireland needs more than its MEPs.

We are all familiar with the presence of high-profile Irish political figures in Brussels. Most Irish European commissioners have been drawn from the ranks of the Irish cabinet. It is likely Ireland’s next nominee for the commission will share that background.

Many of us are also at least cursorily acquainted with the names and profiles of incumbents and candidates for seats in the parliament. However, the Irish presence in Brussels (the headquarters of the EU) is more substantial and more numerous than this.

For a small state like Ireland’s record in securing high-profile and powerful positions within the administrative ranks of the EU institutions is singularly impressive. Former ombudsman Emily O’Reilly currently occupies the position of European ombudsman. Catherine Day, from Dublin is secretary general of the European Commission and the highest-ranked EU official in Brussels.

She succeeded another Irish person, David O’Sullivan, who has since had a distinguished career as chief operations officer of the European External Action Service and was recently appointed EU ambassador to the US. This highest of EU ambassadorial roles was previously held by John Bruton, a former taoiseach.

It is clear that throughout 40-plus years of membership of the EU, Ireland has been disproportionately represented at senior administrative levels in the EU’s major institutions. This pattern is less pronounced at lower administrative levels, but here, again, Irish officials are present. All of these officials, and many more since 1973, have dedicated their professional careers to serving the EU.

Their nationality is important, but not overwhelmingly so. What is important are the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values they bring to their roles. However, as the retirement of senior Irish Brussels-based officials looms, the prospect of a lesser Irish presence is becoming very real.

There are fewer younger Irish available to replace their more senior colleagues, and furthermore, today’s Irish graduates are not qualifying in sufficient numbers for EU positions or internships.

This trend is likely being affected by the diminishing range and choice of European studies programmes and modules in Irish universities, and by low fluency levels in a second language. It may also reflect a broader public disinterest in the EU and the limited (or maybe discredited) appeal of public service. Collectively, these developments mitigate against a strong Irish presence within the various EU administrations.

The absence of Irish officials is troublesome. It is not political figures alone who influence the EU landscape. We need knowledgeable and skilled administrators, too. We need leaders and innovators, problem-solvers and pioneers, thinkers and trailblazers.

We need a new generation of Irish men and women who are interested in the EU and who are qualified and equipped to work there. In serving the EU, these officials serve Ireland, too, by positively influencing the European environment within which we all live and work.

The factors which disallow a strong Irish presence in Brussels can be overcome but it will require some reorientation in how we protect and project the interests of the State. Knowledge and understanding is key, and so, rolling out an enhanced civic education to all Irish schoolchildren is imperative. In addition, there is value in embedding the study of the EU across a diverse range of university programmes, and in determinedly encouraging the study of international languages.

Elevating the quality of political and public debate on the EU and placing worth on public service are similarly vital. Then can we hope to produce a new and strong generation of skilled and competent Irish-EU officials. Amid the hype of the European election campaigns, we would do well to remember that in serving Ireland, we need more than MEPs at the heart of the EU. And therein lie some important challenges and choices for this and future Irish generations.

Irish State pays out millions to treat mental health patients abroad

“FIGURES REVEALED BY SENATOR RONAN MULLEN MEP CANDIDATE FOR EUROPE” WHO DEMANDS ACTION FROM HEALTH MINISTER REILLY

  

Irish psychiatric patients are being sent abroad for treatment, at a time when the health service locally closed a mental health unit in Ballinasloe, 

The cost to the Health Service Executive (HSE) of sending patients abroad for treatment for mental health problems could be as much as €3.1 million annually, as it costs an average of €13,000 per month per patient.

Payments of hundreds of thousands of Euros to private foreign hospitals comes despite the HSE West having spent a whopping €2.9 million refurbishing the 22-bed mental health unit in St Brigid’s Hospital in Ballinasloe, which is now controversially closed. Independent Senator Rónán Mullen, who obtained the figures, says it is an outrageous waste of taxpayers’ money.

The European election candidate in the new Midlands-North-West constituency, from Ahascragh, has demanded action from Health Minister Dr James Reilly. He said it was a matter of grave concern relating to the human dignity of the patient but also to their family and loved ones who are forced to travel abroad also.

“It is scandalous that we are closing top facilities in Ireland, and in particular admissions units situated in therapeutic locations like St Brigid’s in Ballinasloe while at the same time sending people out of the country for treatment.

We are training doctors and nurses who are much sought after around the world for their skills and expertise, and it is a nonsense for the HSE to suggest that Irish people cannot be treated by skilled Irish clinicians on Irish soil, ” Senator Mullen said.

The HSE has confirmed that twelve children with mental health problems are currently being treated abroad, and eight adults are being treated in private hospitals in Europe. It is understood that some of the patients have received mental health treatment abroad for several years.

Ronan Mullen takes Miriam O’Callaghan and RTE to task on selection bias of MEP’s debate panel of speakers

  

Senator Ronan Mullen with his fellow candidates Ben Gilroy, of Direct Democracy Ireland; Thomas Byrne, of Fianna Fáil; Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Independent; Mark Dearey, of the Green Party and TJ Fay and Mark Fitzsmons, both Independents, on RTE Prime Time’s debate of Midlands-North-West MEP candidates last night. 

You may have seen Senator Ronan Mullen on Prime Time’s second panel debate of the Midlands-North-West MEP candidates on Monday night last.

During Senator Mullen’s appearance, he took host Miriam O’Callaghan to task, accusing RTE of bias, censorship and of being too cosy with Government parties – an outburst that earned vocal approval and agreement from Mr Flanagan.

Senator Mullen’s claims came on foot of Senator Mullen and Mr Flanagan’s annoyance over their exclusion from the first panel debate.

This morning, the RTE Player had the debates from last night posted but it stopped short in the second panel’s debate, just before Ms O’Callaghan turns to speak to Mr Mullen and when Mr Flanagan is in mid-sentence – therefore those looking back this morning cannot see  Senator Mullen’s outburst.

In total, of the 44-minute video posted, 37.15 minutes consisted of the first panel’s debate, with the remaining seven or so minutes consisting of the second panel’s debate – with the seven or so minutes consisting only of contributions from Thomas Byrne, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Mark Deary.

The two debates in total were actually approximately an hour and 15 minutes.

Now, in the last few minutes, it appears the Prime Time debate has been removed from the RTE Player entirely.

Prior to the the second panel’s debate, an earlier panel consisted of Senator Lorraine Higgins, from Labour; Cllr Matt Carthy, of Sinn Féin; Mairead McGuinness, Fine Gael MEP; Jim Higgins, Fine Gael MEP; Marian Harkin, Independent MEP; and Pat ‘The Cope’ Gallagher, Fianna Fail MEP.

The first panel consisted of sitting MEPs and those candidates whose parties, or Independents, who won 10% support or more at the last election – a set-up which prompted complaints from both Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan and Senator Mullen.

Online medical card campaign kicked off by nine-year-old girl receives over 25,000 signatures in just one day

 

The ‘Our Childrens Health’ online petition has received over 25,000 signatures in less than one day.

The campaign was launched this afternoon in Dublin by nine-year-old Louise Shortall who was just recently granted a one year medical card, despite the fact that she was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.

A spokesperson for the campaign, which was initiated by little Louise’s family, said this evening that the volume of support was so great that the site has temporarily crashed.

However, they are asking people to remain patient and supportive as they hope it will be repaired soon.

“There were over 25,000 during the day but as soon as the evening news bulletins carried the story of the campaign launch the site couldn’t cope with the volume of traffic,” Kevin Shortall said.

“We were taken by surprise by the huge numbers wanting to sign the petition, but we’re working to fix the problem and design the site to be able to carry a much larger number of people at any time,” he added.

The ‘Our Children’s Health’ campaign is calling upon the government to amend the 1970 Health Act so that all children who are seriously ill or suffer from a congenital condition receive a medical card for the duration of their treatment.

Peter Fitzpatrick, cofounder of the campaign, said today that it has been received positively and that they will remain in action for as long as they need to.

He was inspired to start the campaign after he seen his family become embroiled in the medical card fiasco with the HSE, as his brave niece was consistently being issued with temporary medical cards, despite the fact that she is due to undergo treatment until next year.

Scientists track great white shark Katharin off the coast of the US

 

An enormous great 4.3-metre white shark that is being tracked during her swimming along the US coast has eager scientists and fans following her every move.

The 4.3-metre shark, named Katharine, surfaced near Key Largo, Florida on Monday night, announcing her presence with a ping from a tracking device placed on her dorsal fin last year.

Weighing one tonne, Katharine is being followed by the website Ocearch, which is run by a group that tracks a number of sharks to learn more about their habits.

Researchers follow Katharine’s migratory movements with the help of the tracking device Ocearch attached to her in August 2013, which “pings” the researchers whenever it comes to the surface.

In the past month, Katharine has appeared off the coast of Georgia before swimming south to Florida, coming within a few kilometres of Miami Beach on Saturday, according to the website.

Although the website is updated every half hour, Katharine doesn’t surface nearly so often.

With almost 4000 Twitter followers, the great white’s @Shark. Katharine account, managed by Ocearch, is dedicated to answering questions about the life of sharks and debunking myths.

Tagging their posts #GoKatGo, followers have cheered on the great white as “Katharine” weighs in on subjects like eating humans.

“What makes anyone think we’d really want to eat them #notmyflavor”, she “tweeted” on Tuesday.

Through Katharine’s movements, scientists hope to gain much more information about sharks than just her whereabouts.