(344,'School advises not buying GTA for the children this year','<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	A Mullingar School has taken the dramatic step of sending home a letter to all its parents telling them Grand Theft Auto V is not a suitable Christmas present for children.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	Caroline Mhic R&oacute;ib&iacute;n, pr&iacute;omhoide at Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, said: &ldquo;We had started hearing in the playground from children that they were getting this game for Christmas. This game, where players can go into a strip club and get a lap dance, pick up prostitutes, where women are lured up alleys and beaten up. This game where part of the play is fondling near naked and naked women &ndash; this is a horrible, horrible thing.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	The teachers in the 252-pupil school then made enquiries in the classroom to discover that children as young as those in third class had played Grand Theft Auto, either at home or in other people&rsquo;s homes, that they were aware of the nature of the content and older children were hoping to get it for Christmas.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&ldquo;We sent home a letter to all parents, signed by myself and the 13 staff teachers, saying that this is not a suitable present and should not be bought.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&ldquo;Parents have to say no to their children and protect them from unsuitable programmes on TV, graphic and violent video games,&rdquo; Caroline told the Examiner.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&ldquo;It has come to our attention that many children in our school are accessing unsuitable material, in particular, video games, TV programmes and DVD&rsquo;s, all of which are having a negative impact upon them in school, be it in behaviour, attitudes to other people, language and levels of concentration,&rdquo; the letter began.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&ldquo;We, the teachers in the school are deeply concerned. We know that many of the children in our school are watching TV programmes such as CSI, Criminal Minds, South Park, Family Guy, Reality TV shows and the like. These are not suitable viewing for any primary school child,&rdquo; it continued.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	With Christmas just around the corner, the school principal took the bold step of expressing her concerns with the full support of her staff and since the letter went to homes, has been contacted by other school principals saying they had been considering taking the same action. To further reinforce their concern, they enclosed graphic stills from the computer game in case some parents were unaware what the content was in the fastest selling entertainment product in history, (it grossed $1 billion in its first three days).</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&ldquo;We have grave concerns about certain video games that children have access to, for example, Grand Theft Auto (which, we hear, is on several Santa wish lists this year.) This series of games (there are 5) has been at the forefront of the video game controversy. The general public have been shocked at the level of violence and explicit graphic content in them. There has been much written about the effect of these games on our youth from mental health issues to incidents of extreme acts of violence. We enclose a print-out of the review of Grand-Theft Auto 5 from the IMDb (Internet Movie Database), which we are sure will shock you,&rdquo; the letter stated.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&lsquo;Gone are the days when children wanted the latest Barbie, Star Wars Lego or Mr Freeze the snowman who made slush puppies. I am sure the elves in Santa&rsquo;s workshop are still working on wooden trains and baby dolls. Parents face the difficult task of saying &lsquo;no&rsquo; to their children and knowing that in this world that innocence is a fragile thing and that kids now, more than ever, are facing a sophisticated world of information and technology at a much earlier age&rsquo; according to the reviewer.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&ldquo;We understand that it is a rare occurrence for a school staff to send a letter of this nature out to its parents but we feel it is necessary. We can never be too vigilant when it comes to the safety of our children&rdquo;, the letter stated.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&ldquo;We can&rsquo;t control what goes on in people&rsquo;s homes,&rdquo; said Caroline, &ldquo;but we can be concerned and hope that our concern is shared by parents and they act on it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Myriad, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 12px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(68, 68, 68);\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/roundup/articles/2013/11/27/4018586-school-advises-not-buying-gta-for-the-children-this-year/\">http://www.westmeathexaminer.ie/news/roundup/articles/2013/11/27/4018586-school-advises-not-buying-gta-for-the-children-this-year/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-27 10:45:00',NULL,'school-advises-not-buying-gta-for-the-children-this-year'),(345,'Garda cancels Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) alert over missing mother and children','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;Fiona Gregg from Roscommon and three children located &lsquo;safe and well&rsquo; in Enniskillen</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda&iacute; have cancelled an urgent alert in relation to a woman and her three children, after they had last been seen at their Roscommon home at about 3pm yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fiona Gregg (41), of Hawthorn Avenue, Ballyforan, Co Roscommon and her children Killian (8), Elisha (6) and Derbhla (2) &ldquo;have been located safe and well by the Police Service of Northern Ireland in the Enniskillen area&rdquo;, the Garda said in a statement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Garda sought to thank the public and media for their assistance during the Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) alert.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We also wish to thank and acknowledge co-operation received from the Police Service of Northern Ireland during this investigation,&rdquo; the statement said, adding: &ldquo;This is a sensitive matter and we would ask the media to respect the privacy of the Gregg family at this difficult time.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier a Garda spokesman had said they were asking the public &ldquo;to ring immediately&rdquo; with any information they might have on the family&rsquo;s whereabouts. They were asked to dial emergency services numbers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda Supt David Taylor had said any information from the public could help trace the children. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re also making a particular appeal due to the tender age of Fiona&rsquo;s children, in particular Derbhla is only two years of age,&rdquo; he told RT&Eacute; Radio this morning.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said garda&iacute; use CRI alerts when they need to spread their message quickly when seeking assistance from the public in tracing children believed to be at &ldquo;immediate risk&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Such alerts will only be launched where the child is under the age of 18, where there is a reasonable belief that the child has been abducted, where there is a reasonable belief that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of a child and where there is sufficient information available to enable the public to assist garda&iacute; in locating the child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/garda-cancels-alert-over-missing-mother-and-children-1.1610286\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/garda-cancels-alert-over-missing-mother-and-children-1.1610286</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-28 09:36:14',NULL,'garda-cancels-child-rescue-ireland-cri-alert-over-missing-mother-and-children'),(346,'Judge overturns order putting two children into care','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Justice Gerard Hogan directs District Court to reconsider case</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">An order directing two young children should be put in temporary care has been overturned by a&nbsp;High Court&nbsp;judge on grounds the District Court had no power to impose certain obligations on the parents in a supervision order, including to undergo parenting assessments.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Justice&nbsp;Gerard Hogan&nbsp;has directed the District Court should reconsider the matter in light of his findings and to decide how best to safeguard the children. The parents initiated High Court proceedings just hours before armed garda&iacute; and social workers came to their home seeking to put the children into care. Because of the proceedings, the children were not taken into care.&nbsp;<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Emotional abuse</strong><br />\r\n		The District Court made the temporary&nbsp;care order&nbsp;last month after finding the parents engaged in emotional abuse by falsely alleging one of their children was abused by an older child and also failed to comply with a supervision order.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The action was brought by a couple concerning four children subject of complex childcare proceedings since 2012.</span></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The couple are parents of the two youngest children while the older two are the mother&rsquo;s children.</span></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/judge-overturns-order-putting-two-children-into-care-1.1609677\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/judge-overturns-order-putting-two-children-into-care-1.1609677</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-28 10:23:31',NULL,'judge-overturns-order-putting-two-children-into-care'),(347,'Toddlers and tiaras -- is it time to ban child pageants?','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The American organisers of September&#39;s Universal Royalty Beauty Pageant seem undeterred by their farcical staging of an event in Ireland.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">They were turned down by 50 hotels on their last visit. At one point they surveyed a scrapyard in an industrial estate in Meath as a possible venue, but ended up holding their top secret pageant in a pub&#39;s beer garden.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Now, they have indicated that young girls with fake tan and make-up will again sashay across the stage in glittering outfits at a Christmas-themed child beauty pageant in Cork on December 14.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">After the screening of a documentary about the controversial child pageant on RT&eacute; on Monday, Senator Jillian van Turnhout has reaffirmed her call for these events to be banned.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">If she manages to win the backing of government parties ,there will be no more toddlers dolled up to the nines in lipstick and tiaras competing against one another.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;It was gratifying to see that so many hotels refused to host the Irish pageant two months ago,&quot; says Senator van Turnhout. &quot;If more of these events go ahead I would be prepared to table legislation to make them illegal.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;I think they are exploitative. Monday&#39;s documentary was horrible to watch. There was a girl dancing in a provocative manner.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The programme also featured Eden Wood, the now retired eight-year-old child pageant star of the American programme Toddlers and Tiaras.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">On one of her videos, which has attracted over one million views, the pink-clad pageant queen sings and dances, surrounded by fans: &quot;I&#39;m a cutie. Patootie.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Jillian Van Turnhout says: &quot;In the Irish documentary, she was shown doing a&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Mar</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ilyn Monroe</span>-type pose. That is just not appropriate for a young girl.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In France, measures to ban child pageants involving those under 16 are now going through parliament in what is seen as a bid to stop the &quot;hyper-sexualisation of young girls&quot;.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">If the legislation is approved, organisers of child pageants could face up two years in jail or a &euro;30,000 fine.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Concern about sexualisation of children in France was prompted by a fashion-shoot in&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Frenc</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">h Vogue</span>&nbsp;that showed three young girls posing in heavy make-up, jewellery and tight outfits.</span></p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Pageants are now run-of-the-mill events in the US and are part of a multimillion-dollar kiddie beauty industry.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Typical contests have a formal evening wear round were children as young as two toddle along a catwalk in taffeta and sequins. There is a themed round with perhaps a circus or cowgirl outfit, and even a swimwear round.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The contests may be routine in the US, but Annette Hill, the&nbsp;</span><a href=\"http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Texas\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63);\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Texas</span></a><span style=\"color:#000000;\">-based organiser of Universal Royalty Beauty Pageants, had great difficulty finding a venue for her event in Ireland in September. It was due to be staged in the Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan, Co&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Du</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">blin</span>, but the hotel pulled out just two days before the event.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">There were then frantic efforts to find a venue, and at one stage Ms Hill found herself directed to a scrapyard in Duleek Industrial Estate in Co Meath.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Corrigan&#39;s Kitchen, a pub and restaurant in Castleblayney, eventually allowed the pageant to go ahead in its beer garden.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In the end, no more than 30 girls attended the event.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Despite the occasionally chaotic staging, Ms Hill seems determined to press ahead with further pageants.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She said in an interview earlier this month: &quot;It hasn&#39;t put me off. In fact, it&#39;s made me want to return even more. I&#39;m coming back because Irish parents want us back.&quot;</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A Cork psychologist Dr Gillian Moore-Groarke believes that we should follow the example of France and introduce a ban.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Dr Moore-Groarke says: &quot;Parents really need to consider the pressure they are putting their kids under at these events.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;In Monday&#39;s documentary, there did not seem to be much attention on the effects on the children at all. There was one girl gyrating on the stage. That was awful.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;As a psychologist, I would be concerned that these pageants make kids much more focused on their body image. I saw some of the sashes they were wearing with &#39;most beautiful&#39;. That is a lot of pressure to put on a young child.&quot;</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Dr Moore Groarke believes some parents who are drawn to these pageants may be using their children to fulfil their own dreams.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/toddlers-and-tiaras-is-it-time-to-ban-child-pageants-29787367.html\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/toddlers-and-tiaras-is-it-time-to-ban-child-pageants-29787367.html</span></a></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-28 10:27:58',NULL,'toddlers-and-tiaras-is-it-time-to-ban-child-pageants'),(348,'Belgium moves a step closer to granting terminally ill children the right to euthanasia','<p>\r\n	Belgium came a step closer on Wednesday to introducing the right to grant euthanasia for terminally ill children, breaking what is an almost universal taboo, when a parliamentary committee voted it through by a large majority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The law, which still has to go to a vote of the full parliament that analysts say is likely to pass, would make Belgium the first country in the world to remove the age limit for the procedure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Safeguards would, however, exist, insisting that parents approve their child&#39;s decision to die.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This is an important step, not just for the minors themselves, but also for the doctors which are confronted with such situations,&quot; said senator Jean-Jacques De Gucht from the Flemish liberals, one of the backers of the law.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Netherlands, a neighbouring country, already allows euthanasia for children as young as 12 years, although only five cases have been recorded since 2002. Belgium would go further by removing any reference in its law to the age of the child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Belgian law instead requires that a psychologist evaluate the child&#39;s ability to choose to die.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Opponents have said it is impossible to determine whether a child is able to take such a decision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They sometimes say that age limits are arbitrary but trying to judge whether a minor is able to make such a decision is even more arbitrary,&quot; said senator Els Van Hoof, of the Flemish Christian Democrats.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The vote caused a rift in the coalition of Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, as the Christian Democrats voted against the law.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Flemish separatists and greens, both in opposition, voted in favour together with the socialists and liberals who are in government, giving ample backing for the law.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Analysts expect the full parliament to pass the law as the committee represents the proportion of seats in the chamber.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Belgium is already one of the world&#39;s most liberal countries when it comes to euthanasia, making it available to adults who are not terminally ill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/incoming/belgium-moves-a-step-closer-to-granting-terminally-ill-children-the-right-to-euthanasia-29792814.html\">http://www.independent.ie/incoming/belgium-moves-a-step-closer-to-granting-terminally-ill-children-the-right-to-euthanasia-29792814.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-29 10:18:22',NULL,'belgium-moves-a-step-closer-to-granting-terminally-ill-children-the-right-to-euthanasia');
INSERT INTO `news` VALUES (349,'Calling all those losing the free phone allowance -- shop around','<p>\r\n	The axing of subsidy will hit 400,000, including the most vulnerable, but there are options, writes Aideen Sheehan</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost 400,000 people are facing a massive hike in their phone bills this January after the Government decided to axe the free phone allowance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pensioners and carers had been getting a &euro;9.50 a month subsidy towards the costs of keeping in touch -- so their annual bills will soar by &euro;114 a year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Organisations representing the elderly have reported a flood of calls from people worried about the hike in costs they face.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Active Retirement Ireland (ARI) says it has received many calls from worried pensioners and urged them to shop around and register their dissatisfaction with their local politicians.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While some were considering giving up their landline altogether in favour of a mobile to reduce costs, they should consider very carefully whether that would work, says ARI spokesman Peter Kavanagh.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We&#39;d love to be able to recommend that they rely on mobiles instead, but poor coverage in some areas and a need for landlines to operate most Senior Alert alarms mean that they&#39;re not an option for everyone,&quot; he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Age Action Ireland says many people were extremely worried about the impact of the cut on already tight budgets.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Spokesman Eamon Timmins urges adult children to assist their parents with shopping around as the plethora of offers and deals bundled with broadband and/or TV services made it highly confusing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The reality is many elderly people aren&#39;t online which makes it a lot harder to shop around,&quot; he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Smart Consumer looked at some of the options for elderly people looking to minimise their costs while staying in touch with family, friends, and -- just in case -- emergency services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Callcosts.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The regulator Comreg has a website which allows you compare the cost of different phone and phone/broadband services including many smaller providers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eircom</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eircom has a quarter of a million customers on the free phone allowance who will lose out but it does have cheaper packages available.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The company says its cheapest deal for &quot;vulnerable&quot; customers -- ie those on the free phone allowance who don&#39;t make many calls -- is Talktime Control which costs &euro;19.50 per month including &euro;5 worth of free calls.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the regulator Comreg puts a cap of 25,000 subscribers on this offer -- already 22,000 people have taken up the offer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Its best mainstream package is Eircom Talk Weekend for &euro;25 a month, which includes 6,000 minutes of weekend local and national calls. Eircom says that, in general, this was better value than Talktime Control for anyone making more than an hour&#39;s worth of calls a month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also offers a bundled service of landline, broadband and mobile for &euro;45 a month which includes 150 minutes of mobile calls to any network and 150 texts. Customers can also avail of a new TV service offering around 30 channels for &euro;10 per month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Digiweb</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Digiweb has said it will give elderly people about to lose their phone allowance a free credit for the same amount of &euro;9.50 per month or &euro;114 a year if they switch to them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The phone and broadband firm has a network covering around half a million phones in Cork, Donegal, Sligo, Dublin, Galway, Laois, Louth, Limerick and Waterford.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Digiweb&#39;s Talk Off-Peak package, which includes calls to all national, local, and UK fixed lines in the evenings and weekends, costs &euro;29.47 a month, while their Talk Anytime package with the same free calls available 24/7 is &euro;35.57, but pensioners would get &euro;9.50 a month off these.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The switch can be carried out remotely and you can call them at 1800 285828 to find out if your line is covered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	UPC</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	UPC offers phones for as little as &euro;6.50 per month -- but you have to have a TV or broadband contract with them to avail of it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Their cheapest monthly deal is &euro;6.50, which is the basic cost before you make any calls, or you could opt for the Anywhere 100 package for &euro;14 a month which includes 100 minutes to landlines, mobiles or selected international destinations or Anywhere 200 which includes 200 minutes for &euro;19 a month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	UPC also offers broadband and phone packages from &euro;37 a month including free offpeak calls and 400 minutes of international calls.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Its TV, broadband and phone packages start from &euro;53 a month, though new customers can get a six-month introductory price of &euro;50 a month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	********************</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Alarm Services</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One concern about the phone allowance cut is that it will make it difficult for those relying on an emergency alarm service operated via their landline.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Irish company Tunstall Emergency Response says it has a new emergency alert system that works via a mobile phone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This allows people to carry an alarm around their neck which uses a SIM rather than a landline to call for help in the case of an emergency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This Lifeline Dual mobile system costs &euro;246 per year compared to &euro;344 for their landline system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/business/personal-finance/latest-news/calling-all-those-losing-the-free-phone-allowance-shop-around-29790607.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-29 10:29:38',NULL,'calling-all-those-losing-the-free-phone-allowance-shop-around'),(350,'Concerns over aftercare for Cork foster children in Hiqa report','<p>\r\n	Authors note majority of children in &lsquo;stable placements where they received a high level of care&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children in foster care in Cork receive a good service from the HSE but there is still room for improvement in the service including more consistent aftercare for those going into independent living and a better match with foster families, a Hiqa report has found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report on HSE Fostering Services in the Cork area was generally positive, with the report authors noting the majority of children were in &ldquo;safe, stable placements where they received a high level of care&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the Hiqa report did express concern regarding the level of aftercare support being offered to young people who were preparing to move into independent living, describing the provision of aftercare as &ldquo;inequitable&rdquo;, with many children not receiving dedicated aftercare.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report was based on an inspection carried out this year which found there were 881 children living in foster care in the Cork area who were being cared for by 358 foster carers and 207 relative carers. Of these, 90 per cent of children had an allocated social worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There had been some significant improvements in the delivery of the service since the previous inspection in September 2009 while some required improvements at that time continued not to be fully implemented,&rdquo; said the Hiqa report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the HSE prioritised the placement of children with relatives where appropriate, children were not always living with families from their own own cultural, ethnic and religious background - and this had the potential to adversely impact on a child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Hiqa report also noted that the needs of children with a disability were not consistently met in the Cork area, which includes the four Local Health Areas of North Lee, South Lee, North Cork and West Cork.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents interviewed by the Hiqa inspectors were generally very happy with the care their child received and children generally received a good level of support from professionally qualified social worker, although a small number did not have a dedicated social worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Managers and social work personnel were found to be committed and dedicated professionals. They demonstrated a good working knowledge of the individual children allocated to them,&rdquo; said the report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Foster carers were similarly found to be committed to the children in their care and they demonstrated positive interactions with the children and provided stable, safe and nurturing environments which promoted the welfare of the children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Not all foster carers had an allocated link worker. However, the majority of foster carers reported that social workers responded to them when needed,&rdquo; said the Hiqa report, which did note that the uptake of training by foster carers was &ldquo;poor&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report also expressed concern at the length of time it was taking to carry out a comprehensive assessment and approval process to ensure the suitable of foster carers and improvements were required in terms of recruitment, assessment and training of foster carers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/concerns-over-aftercare-for-cork-foster-children-in-hiqa-report-1.1611699</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-11-29 10:37:30',NULL,'concerns-over-aftercare-for-cork-foster-children-in-hiqa-report'),(351,'Social Services in England condemned for forcibly removing unborn child from woman','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The case of a woman whose baby daughter was forcibly removed from her womb by social services was described by human-rights groups on Sunday night as &ldquo;the stuff of nightmares&rdquo;.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The Italian woman was sedated and her baby delivered against her will, after Essex social services obtained a court order in August 2012 for the birth &ldquo;to be enforced by way of caesarean section&rdquo;.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The case, described by the woman&rsquo;s lawyers as &ldquo;unprecedented&rdquo;, has further highlighted the controversial decisions made by the Court of Protection, which authorised the forced removal of the baby, as well as the powers afforded to social workers.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was visiting&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Brita</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">in</span>&nbsp;in July last year to attend a Ryanair training course at Stansted airport in Essex when she suffered a panic attack after failing to take medication for her bipolar disorder.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Despite the woman&rsquo;s mother explaining her daughter&rsquo;s condition to police over the telephone from Italy, she was taken to a psychiatric hospital and sectioned under the Mental Health Act. Five weeks later, her daughter was removed from her womb without her consent.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">John Hemm</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ing</span>&nbsp;MP, who is campaigning for greater openness in the family courts, is set to raise the issue in Parliament this week and said he hoped the incident would &ldquo;shock people out of their complacency about the corrupt practices in the family court&rdquo;. He told The Independent: &ldquo;I think this has a fair chance of being the worst case of human-rights abuse I&rsquo;ve ever seen. She wasn&rsquo;t treated as a human being.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">After the C-section, the woman, who has two other children and is divorced, was sent back to Italy without her daughter. She returned to Britain in February to request the return of her daughter, who is now 15 months old, but was told at Chelmsford Crown Court that she was to be put up for adoption in case her mother suffered a relapse.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Shami Ch</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">akrabarti</span>, the director of Liberty, said: &ldquo;At first blush this is dystopian science-fiction unworthy of a democracy like ours. Forced surgery and separation of mother and infant is the stuff of nightmares.&rdquo;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A spokesman for Essex County Council said he&nbsp; could not comment on ongoing cases.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		http://www.independent.ie/world-news/social-services-condemned-for-forcibly-removing-unborn-child-from-woman-29799935.html</p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-02 10:13:54',NULL,'social-services-in-england-condemned-for-forcibly-removing-unborn-child-from-woman'),(352,'Poorest 10pc \'have lost a fifth of their incomes since crash\'','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The poorest 10pc of people in Ireland have lost almost a fifth of their disposal income since the crash, it has been claimed.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Social Justice Ireland said the gap between the rich and poor has widened, as those with most money only lost 11.4pc of their spare cash.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The organisation&#39;s director, Dr Sean Healy, said low and middle-income Ireland had borne the major brunt of adjustments over the past five years.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The situation would be even worse if cuts in services and increased charges were included in calculations,&quot; he warned.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		The think-tank&#39;s study claimed budgets introduced under the troika programme were regressive, taking more as a percentage of income from those who have the least.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		It also stated the real impact was more regressive because its calculations do not include the impacts of reductions in services and increased charges, which impact disproportionately on the most vulnerable.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Ireland&#39;s poorest 10pc lost 18.4pc of their real disposable income since the start of the crash in 2008,&quot; said Dr Healy.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;By contrast the richest 10pc lost 11.4pc.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;The richest 20pc of the population were the only ones whose share of the total disposable income grew significantly in this period.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">WIDENING</strong></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;This confirms the widening gap between low and middle-income Ireland on the one hand, and the richest 20pc on the other.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Michelle Murphy, research and policy analyst with Social Justice Ireland, said Government did have choices and could have introduced fairer budgets.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;Ireland had to reduce its budget deficit in recent years but research by the IMF shows that how Ireland&#39;s Government chose to do this was always likely to produce greater inequality and higher levels of unemployment,&quot; she added.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/poorest-10pc-have-lost-a-fifth-of-their-incomes-since-crash-29800742.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/poorest-10pc-have-lost-a-fifth-of-their-incomes-since-crash-29800742.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-02 10:19:44',NULL,'poorest-10pc-have-lost-a-fifth-of-their-incomes-since-crash'),(353,'Light in the dark: families of suicide victims gather to honour loved ones','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Up to 1,000 people who had lost loved ones to suicide joined a moving ceremony yesterday to highlight the devastating impact it has on families.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">People travelled from towns and villages throughout the country to attend the 10th annual Christmas Celebration of Light organised by the national suicide and bereavement charity, Console, at St Patrick&#39;s College, Maynooth.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">With music from Rebecca Storm, Liam Lawton and Niamh Kavanagh &ndash; and many others &ndash; and words from RTE newsreader Eileen Dunne and veteran broadcaster Christy Keneally, the ceremony acknowledged the pain that suicide causes, but also looked at how the bereaved can get their lives back together.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The moving, two-hour event begun in the dimly lit environs of the College Chapel before being bathed in the light of candles given to each attendee.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Despite its location in a bastion of Catholic Ireland, the event was informed by a general sense of spiritualism rather than conventional religion. It was one of six Celebration of Light events held throughout the country, with smaller events being held in Galway, Limerick, Wexford, Tipperary and Mayo.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Suicide is not like any other death,&quot; Console chief executive Paul Kelly told the&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Irish Inde</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">pendent</span>.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;It has the element of choice that makes it so difficult for their families to accept. People are left asking themselves if they could have done more. It tears lives apart.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Mr K</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">elly</span>&nbsp;was inspired to launch Console following the suicide of his sister.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Preventing suicide is crucialbut so too is providing support for those who are left behind and have so many questions that can never be answered. The Celebration of Light tries to let people know that they are not alone, especially at Christmas which can be the toughest time of year to cope. There are so many others who know how they are feeling and are experiencing a similar sort of pain,&quot; he said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">More than 500 people reportedly took their own lives in Ireland last year, but Console says the actual figure is much higher.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Cases come before the Coroners&#39; Court all the time that are not recorded as suicide, but are in reality,&quot; Mr Kelly said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A further Celebration of Light will be held in Cork on Sunday.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/light-in-the-dark-families-of-suicide-victims-gather-to-honour-loved-ones-29800729.html\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/light-in-the-dark-families-of-suicide-victims-gather-to-honour-loved-ones-29800729.html</span></a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-02 10:20:59',NULL,'light-in-the-dark-families-of-suicide-victims-gather-to-honour-loved-ones'),(354,'Ten children in State care based abroad due to lack of places at home','<p>\r\n	16 vulnerable children waiting for special care places due to support shortages</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ten children in State care have been placed in facilities abroad at a cost of &euro;3.5 million due to a lack of specialised care places here.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The practice has been criticised by campaigners, who say these services should be available in Ireland. Health authorities however say children placed abroad represent a tiny proportion of more than 6,000 in care, the vast majority of whom are in foster care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In addition, a further 16 highly vulnerable young people who require special care places in Ireland do not have access to this kind of intensive support they require because there are not enough places to meet demand.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These special care places are designated for young people whose serious emotional and behavioural problems pose a major risk to their health, safety or welfare.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Figures released by the Health Service Executive to The Irish Times show these young people are waiting, on average, 65 days for a place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Jillian van Turnhout, a Senator and children&rsquo;s rights campaigner, warned yesterday that these delays placed vulnerable children at real risk.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;These are the types of cases we read in the child death reports and surely we have learned by now,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms van Turnhout also suggested that as many as 40 children who required special care may also need such places, as official waiting lists only included those formally identified as being in need of intensive support.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Given the lengthy process and appropriate safeguards to actually get on the list, I would have felt that the HSE had plenty of advance notice of each case and so I still do not understand why there is such a long waiting time.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, the HSE said any children waiting for special care places were in receipt of other forms of therapeutic support. It added that all referrals were reviewed by a multi-disciplinary and independent referral group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Decisions are made based on objective criteria and legal principles underpinning special care provision. The management of the number of places available is not undertaken by the referral group. The governance of the special care units, including capacity issues, is managed separately by the national management team for special care services.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE also said it was implementing a major programme of reform in preparation for the establishment of the new Child and Family Agency, which is due to take over responsibility for most children&rsquo;s services early next year. The reform programme includes increasing the number of special care places.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eight young people in care abroad are St Andrew&rsquo;s, Northampton, a specialist service which provides care and support to people with conditions ranging from mental health problems to autism. The cost for each child is about &euro;375,000 a year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Another child has been placed in St Mary&rsquo;s in Scotland, a residential service for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. The cost is &euro;414,000 year. Boystown in Nebraska, US, is another centre which has been used by social services in Ireland. One child is currently there, at a cost of &euro;133,000 a year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE has pledged to develop services to ensure that no Irish child should need to be sent overseas for a general care placement. However, figures show authorities are still required look abroad to find specialised treatment programmes for some children with difficult or challenging behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/ten-children-in-state-care-based-abroad-due-to-lack-of-places-at-home-1.1613593\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/ten-children-in-state-care-based-abroad-due-to-lack-of-places-at-home-1.1613593</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-02 05:00:00',NULL,'ten-children-in-state-care-based-abroad-due-to-lack-of-places-at-home'),(355,'Suicide prevention poster campaign launched in Galway by parents of late Donal Walsh','<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	A new suicide prevention poster campaign for the west was initiated in east&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_location=Galway&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer !important; outline: none !important;\">Galway</a>&nbsp;last night by Elma and Fionbarr Walsh, parents of the Kerry teenager&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Donal%20Walsh&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer !important; outline: none !important;\">Donal Walsh</a>&nbsp;who died after a long illness earlier this year.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Donal Walsh &ldquo;gave inspiration and hope to young people battling with depression and thoughts of suicide&rdquo;, the Galway East Life Support (GELS) group has said, paying tribute to his family for their support in publishing its new poster in Ballinasloe, Co Galway.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	<strong>Support organisations</strong><br />\r\n	The poster lists seven organisations which offer support to people, including the Samaritans, Console and Pieta House, which has opened its new premises in Tuam, Co Galway.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	Sporting organisations including the GAA, FAI and IRFU, along with agriculture bodies IFA and&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Teagasc&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer !important; outline: none !important;\">Teagasc</a>, have endorsed the prevention, awareness and education campaign by the east Galway group, which is chaired by Supt&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Gerry%20Roche&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer !important; outline: none !important;\">Gerry Roche</a>&nbsp;of Ballinasloe Garda station.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<br />\r\n	GELS is at 085 1237878 and gelifesupport.com.</p>\r\n<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/suicide-prevention-poster-campaign-launched-in-galway-by-parents-of-late-donal-walsh-1.1614693\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/suicide-prevention-poster-campaign-launched-in-galway-by-parents-of-late-donal-walsh-1.1614693</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-03 10:08:05',NULL,'suicide-prevention-poster-campaign-launched-in-galway-by-parents-of-late-donal-walsh'),(356,'Council claims concern over risk to mother and child led to forced Caesarean','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Concerns about &quot;risks to mother and child&quot; led a health trust to apply for permission to deliver an unborn child by Caesarean section, a local authority said today.</span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Essex County Council social services gave its side of the story for the first time after reports that the child was &quot;forcibly removed&quot; from a mentally-ill Italian woman made headlines.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Lawyers for the health trust obtained a High Court order that allowed the woman to be forcibly sedated and her child to be taken from her womb, according to the Sunday Telegraph.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The baby girl, now 15-months old, is still in the care of social services, which is refusing to give her back to the mother, even though she claims to have made a full recovery.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In February, the mother, who had gone back to Italy, returned to&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Brita</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">in</span>&nbsp;to request the return of her daughter, but a judge ruled that the child should be placed for adoption because of the risk that the woman might suffer a relapse.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The council said in a statement: &quot;The long-term safety and wellbeing of children is always Essex County Council&#39;s priority. Adoption is never considered until we have exhausted all other options and is never pursued lightly.&quot;</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The health trust had been looking after the mother since June 13 2012 under the mental health act. Because of its concerns it contacted Essex social services. Five weeks later it was the trust&#39;s clinical decision to apply to the High Court for permission to deliver the unborn child by Caesarean section &quot;because of concerns about risk to mother and child&quot;, the council said.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Newspapers reported the woman came to Britain to attend a training course with an airline at Stansted Airport in Essex.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She had a panic attack, which her relations believe was due to her failure to take regular medication for an existing bipolar condition.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">She was taken to a psychiatric facility and was restrained and sectioned.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The county council said the mother was able to see her daughter on the day of birth and the following day.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Social services obtained an interim care order from the county court in August 2012 &quot;because the mother was too unwell to care for her child&quot;.</span></p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The mother had taken part in further care proceedings that ended in February this year with the ruling that the girl should be placed for adoption.</span></p>\r\n	<div class=\"more\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-height: 12px;\">\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The mother applied to the Italian courts for the return of her child in May, but the Italian judiciary ruled she should remain in England.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&nbsp;County court permission to place her for adoption was obtained in October, said the council.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Historically, the mother has two other children which she is unable to care for due to orders made by the Italian authorities.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;In accordance with Essex County Council&#39;s Social Services practice social workers liaised extensively with the extended family before and after the birth of the baby, to establish if anyone could care for the child.&quot;</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Liberal Democrat MP&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">John He</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">mming</span>&nbsp;has taken up the mother&#39;s case and said today that members of his team &quot;have been contacting the Italian embassy to find out what their position is on this issue&quot;.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Hemming said he intended to raise the case in Parliament and had contacted the mother this morning.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">A spokesman for the Judiciary said later Sir James Munby, the President of the Family Division, has ordered the case transferred to the High Court.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The spokesman said: &quot;The proceedings are not yet concluded. The President has ordered that the matter be transferred to the High Court and any further applications in respect of the child are to be heard by him.&quot;</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Mr Hemming said: &quot;I welcome the transfer of the case from Chelmsford County Court to the High Court in front of the president of the family division.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;The appointment of the president of the family division was a very positive step and I am certain that any applications to him will be heard justly.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;I remain concerned that many decisions taken by the family courts are taken by the magistrates&#39; court (the family proceedings court) and are then appealed to the county court.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;This means that domestic proceedings can be exhausted without a case getting out of the area in which it is considered.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;This means that there is never any public judgment and the case in the UK has come to an end. All that people can then do is to take their case to&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Stra</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">sbourg</span>.&quot;</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">He also criticised Essex council for failing &quot;to follow proper proceedings&quot;.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">He said: &quot;The rules are straightforward when it comes to foreign nationals and care proceedings.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;The foreign country concerned should be contacted through their central authority (in Italy&#39;s case part of the Justice Ministry). This clearly did not happen and for this Essex County Council are clearly in the wrong.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Essex have not managed to explain why no-one in the wider extended family was competent to look after the baby when they were already looking after two of her siblings.</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<span style=\"color:#000000;\">&quot;Additionally Essex have not explained why this baby was in their control to get adopted when the mother always intended to return to Italy.&quot;</span></p>\r\n		<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;\">\r\n			<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/world-news/council-claims-concern-over-risk-to-mother-and-child-led-to-forced-caesarean-29802592.html\">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/council-claims-concern-over-risk-to-mother-and-child-led-to-forced-caesarean-29802592.html</a></p>\r\n	</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-03 10:14:20',NULL,'council-claims-concern-over-risk-to-mother-and-child-led-to-forced-caesarean'),(357,'David Coleman: Think twice before giving an iPad this Christmas','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; font-size: 2em; line-height: 1.2; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span style=\"font-size:14px;\">Today&#39;s digital natives need more than just the odd break from technology, writes David Coleman</span></span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I&#39;m sitting in my office trying to write this article, and am also, supposedly in charge of my three children. Thankfully they are older (from nine up to 15) and so they are pretty good at keeping themselves amused.</span></h2>\r\n</div>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span class=\"CTXempty\" style=\"margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; text-decoration: inherit !important; float: none !important;\">If I venture out of my office, however, I am sure that I will find they are amused with some form of digital device, computer game or the tv. Today I am being pragmatic and staying in my office, rather than going to argue with them about doing something else to pass the time.</span></span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">But on other days I do take the argument forward with them about the amount of digital media they want to consume. As they get older it is becoming an increasingly difficult argument.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">There is pressure from them directly, as well as a social pressure from their peers to be switched on to a screen somewhere, be it on their phone, a tablet, a laptop, the TV or the computer monitor.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I am sure that I am not alone in bemoaning the amount of time that they want to spend stuck behind a screen. I think there are very many parents who worry about just how digitally dependent their children seem to be.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">But, for all of our worry about their time spent looking at screens, we also recognise that it is important for children to become computer literate as part of their overall development.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">We are also realistic about the fact that sometimes it just works to let our children tune in to the TV while we try to achieve one of the many jobs that need to be done in the house.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Increasingly schools are considering digital learning, using texts contained on tablet devices rather than school books. This too, if it becomes the norm, will increase both the prevalence of tablets and the number of hours our children will need to be in front of a screen.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">So we have a dilemma.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The screens are not going away any time soon. We need to work with our children and teenagers as they find their way in an increasingly digital world. But at the same time, we also need to be able to balance that usage so that it stays healthy and productive.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\"><span class=\"CTXempty\" style=\"margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; text-decoration: inherit !important; float: none !important;\">For most parents, that will probably mean reducing the amount of time that children spend in front of the TV, the games console or the iPad.</span></span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">US research estimates that children and teenagers spend an average of six hours per day watching TV or other screen-based media.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">That is about 40 hours of screen time every week! Taking computer gaming alone, research shows that between 93pc and 98pc of children and teenagers play video games.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The amount that they play varies according to different studies but children and teenagers will play, on average, between 14 and 20 hours of computer or video games per week.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">In practice, then, our children seem to be doing little else but watching something on a screen when they are not in school. It is a worrying trend.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">There is increasing evidence to show that this amount of time in front of a screen is not good for children&#39;s health. We need to return to the old adage of &quot;all things in moderation&quot;.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Let&#39;s start at the beginning and look at the under-threes. All of the advice is to keep children away from technology entirely.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The American Academy of Paediatrics has concluded that media, both in the foreground and the background, have potentially negative effects and no known positive effects for children under two.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">There is no data to support an argument that very young children will be at a disadvantage when they start school if they are prevented from using technology before this time.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I read that pre-school institutions in&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Belg</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ium</span>&nbsp;display warnings that TV for toddlers encourages passivity, slows language acquisition, develops over-excitedness, hinders concentration and sleep and fosters dependence.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Other research looking specifically at the area of sleep has shown that the amount of screen time children have is associated with their production of melatonin. Melatonin is the hormone that we need to produce to sleep well.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">The study, which looked at children aged between six and 12, found that when these children&#39;s screen time was reduced their melatonin levels increased by 30pc.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Watching television has been linked to greater obesity levels in children and to the increase in Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Some of the research shows that eating food in front of the TV changes our appetites and can lead to &#39;mindless&#39; eating.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">When we eat in this way we don&#39;t pay attention to the amount of food we eat as we are distracted by what we are watching. Consequently we are always at risk of eating more because we don&#39;t get, or heed, the messages from our stomachs that we are full.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">One study in Cornell University in the US demonstrated that simply reducing the amount of time children were allowed to spend in front of a screen led to an increase in their physical activity.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Sometimes we think we will have to invest our time in activating children. But this study showed that parents didn&#39;t even have to do anything to encourage them to be more active. Children simply find more active things to do when they are not stuck at a screen.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I hear all of this evidence and I am tempted to ban all screens all of the time. But I am a realist too and I recognise this is an impractical and curmudgeonly reaction.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I love watching TV. I use a laptop every day. I use my phone to access the internet and at times to play games. I would be a total hypocrite to prevent my children from using all digital media.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">But what I do have are some good reasons to negotiate and argue with them about why I hold my view that there is such a thing as too much TV.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">You may also have made your own observations about your children, that they become lethargic, grumpy, fractious or aggressive after an extended period of time playing computer games or watching TV.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">This too adds weight to your rationale for restricting their screen time.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">I often get asked what is the &#39;right&#39; amount of time to let children watch TV for, or play computer games for. I often fudge my answer with a politically correct response that each family must make up its own mind.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">But today I&#39;m going to nail my colours to the mast, so to speak, and give you my guidelines for how much screen time I think is enough for different aged children. At each age level, the amount of time constitutes what I believe to be a healthy maximum, not a minimum!</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">If you choose to let your children use screen-based media less than I suggest that is fine too.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">My advice is based on a summary of some research and doesn&#39;t mean you have to take it on board. But your children may be healthier, and happier in the long run, if you do.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">If your child is aged under three don&#39;t let them near a screen at all. Keep your TV covered with a cloth until after they are gone to bed. Keep your phone out of reach and tell their auntie to keep her iPad to herself when you visit.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Between the ages of three and seven you could let them have a maximum of a half hour a day, or maybe a weekly movie.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">From eight to 12 years of age you could increase it to an hour a day and maybe two at the weekend.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">For teenagers you can still limit it to two hours a day, including&nbsp;<span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Fac</span><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">ebook</span>, with extra time, perhaps, at the weekends.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">If your house is one where the TV is a constant background buzz, or where you find yourself and your offspring drifting for hours on the internet or social media then you have a bit of an uphill battle.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">It is always easier to proactively create screen time as a treat for a child who has rarely had access to it. It is much harder to pull it back where children see it as their right and have a fair expectation to be allowed unlimited access.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Ultimately, we do need to make sure that our children have balance in their lives. Too much of anything is a bad thing. These are choices we must make on their behalf.</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"color:#000000;\">Which reminds me, I have three of them who have not had paternal influence for some time. A good row about now being the time to switch off should set us all up for a lovely dinner ... not!</span></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/david-coleman-think-twice-before-giving-an-ipad-this-christmas-29800120.html\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/david-coleman-think-twice-before-giving-an-ipad-this-christmas-29800120.html</span></a></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-03 10:18:00',NULL,'david-coleman-think-twice-before-giving-an-ipad-this-christmas'),(358,'Living in fear of your child','<h2 style=\"clear: none; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	When teenage strops turn into violence, it&rsquo;s time to look for help</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		It&rsquo;s domestic violence but you won&rsquo;t find it recorded in Ireland, nor mentioned in legislation. Yet professionals working with families report that child-to-parent violence is a growing problem.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		We&rsquo;re not talking about normal teenage tantrums &ndash; the slamming of doors, outbursts about how you are ruining their lives, rants about curfews. Most families live through that; the behaviour may be annoying but it is to be expected of teenagers testing the boundaries.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		However, in extreme cases, &ldquo;Parents are living in fear or terror and are either experiencing physical harm to themselves, or having property damaged, or the child is using threats of self-harm &ndash; and that is increasing,&rdquo; says&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Declan%20Coogan&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Declan Coogan</a>, a lecturer in social work at&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=NUI%20Galway&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">NUI Galway</a>.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Some youngsters resort to self-harm because they are finding life tough and have no other way to cope, but he is hearing of more cases where the threat of self-harm is used, &ldquo;not because they are distressed but as a way of saying give me this, or let me do that, or else . . .&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Coogan, a family therapist, first encountered child-to-parent violence as a social worker with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in Dublin.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;Parents were coming to us with referrals from GPs to investigate &lsquo;possible attention deficit hyperactivity disorder&rsquo; or &lsquo;depression problems in the child&rsquo;,&rdquo; he says. &ldquo;Sometimes those parents would talk about how terrified they were of the child.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>False impression</strong><br />\r\n		We have a broad policy on domestic violence in this country, covering various types of relationships, &ldquo;but it doesn&rsquo;t talk anywhere about children using violence at home. That gives a false impression that it doesn&rsquo;t exist.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Coogan is now the leader in Ireland for an EU-funded project, Responding to Child-to-Parent Violence, which is being conducted here and in the UK, Sweden, Spain and Bulgaria. It started last February and has two aspects &ndash; research and intervention.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		There are no figures yet for this type of violence in Ireland. &ldquo;I think the most useful thing any service could do is find a way of recording this as a referral issue,&rdquo; he says.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Research in the US found that 18 per cent of two-parent families and 29 per cent of one-parent families experience assault by their children. Coogan also quotes the findings of a Canadian longitudinal study of children, which took almost 800 adolescents aged 15-16 and asked them had they been physically aggressive towards their fathers in the previous six months. Some 12.3 per cent of the boys and 9.5 per cent of the girls said they had.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;You can imagine how much higher that would have been if they had asked about mothers,&rdquo; he remarks.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Pilot schemes</strong><br />\r\n		Coogan has developed the&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Non%20Violent%20Resistance%20Programme&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Non Violent Resistance Programme</a>&nbsp;(NVRP), based on the work of psychologist&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Haim%20Omer&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Haim Omer</a>&nbsp;in Israel, which is one of two initiatives being rolled out in pilot schemes across the five countries involved in the EU project. The other programme is Break4Change, which was developed in Brighton.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The two-year project aims to evaluate these interventions, as well as try to determine the extent of child-to-parent violence.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Coogan will be talking about how the NVRP (see panel) empowers parents at a conference on dealing with adolescent anger and aggression, to be held by&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_organisation=Parentline&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Parentline</a>&nbsp;in Dublin this Friday.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Teenage issues are the most common reason people ring Parentline, with anger/aggression coming close behind, says its manager, Rita O&rsquo;Reilly. &ldquo;And we would also feel a lot of those teenage issues are anger and aggression.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The problems callers talk about having with their teenager, &ldquo;range from banging the door, not wanting to get up for school, wearing the wrong clothes, wanting to go to a disco &ndash; right up to experimenting with drugs, with alcohol and with sex&rdquo;, she says.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		A lot of it is &ldquo;stroppy&rdquo; teenagers, &ldquo;facing up to the parents; shouting and being quite demanding; responding to parental control with anger and aggression&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The definition of aggression varies from family to family &ndash; some families roar and shout regularly, she points out, whereas in a quiet family, shouting is going to mean much more. But, generally, when do you need to start worrying?</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;If you feel threatened,&rdquo; she replies.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Coogan says that what helps parents and professionals draw a line between what might be challenging but not unusual teenage behaviour and what is unacceptable is &ldquo;when the child tries to control, coerce or intimidate parents &ndash; that is when you go into the territory of child-to-parent violence. When the parent or carer feels afraid &ndash; feels their child has power over them.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Although he is convinced, from what he hears from professionals working on the ground, that child-to-parent violence is on the increase, Coogan declines to speculate on the reasons until he has researched it more thoroughly.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Instead he refers to the work of&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=Eddie%20Gallagher&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">Eddie Gallagher</a>&nbsp;in Australia, who has more than 30 years&rsquo; experience in this field and will be addressing an international conference on the topic to be held in Galway, on June 12th-13th next year.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Family types</strong><br />\r\n		Gallagher, a social worker, family therapist and creator of the Who&rsquo;s in Charge? programme in Melbourne, has identified three types of families in which child-to-parent violence is more likely to occur:&nbsp;<br />\r\n		Families who have built up a habit of interaction that is aggressive &ndash; &ldquo;for some that is not a problem, they just argue a lot&rdquo;, says Coogan. &ldquo;But as the child gets taller and stronger, that can move into physical aggression.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Two-parent families, middle income or higher with, what Gallagher terms as, &ldquo;over-entitled&rdquo; children, who have grown up accustomed to getting everything they want.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		But when they start to insist on staying out all night, or using drink and drugs, the parents draw the line and these children can&rsquo;t deal with being told no.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Where a mother has left a domestic violence situation and starts a new life but her child then turns on her.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		Parents who have become victims at the hands of their own children usually feel ashamed and guilty but Coogan stresses that it is not their fault and they should look for help.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;I would like parents to know it is okay to talk about it &ndash; they will not be blamed; people will listen to them. Also, importantly, that there are ways of dealing with this problem effectively.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The Non Violence Resistance Programme (see panel) is not the only one, but it is the one Coogan will be focusing on at the conference. Over the coming months he will also be teaching it to Parentline facilitators, who will then run support groups and training for parents &ndash; in groups or individually &ndash; on an ongoing basis.<br />\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Sense of competence</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		&ldquo;The strongest thing about the NVRP is that it restores parents&rsquo; sense of competence and confidence in their ability to parent,&rdquo; he says. When they come in on day one, they usually feel tearful, fearful and despondent.</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		&ldquo;After they come through the programme, they say they still have fights at home &ndash; they don&rsquo;t have a perfect child &ndash; but they can manage it and they are no longer afraid. That is wonderful to see.&rdquo;</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		The Parentline conference on&nbsp;<em>Dealing with Adolescent Anger and Aggression</em>&nbsp;is on this Friday, December 6th, in Wynn&rsquo;s Hotel, Abbey Street, Dublin 1, 10am-1pm. Cost &euro;30. See parentline.ie or tel 01 878 7230. For more information about the EU project, see rcpv.eu</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		swayman@irishtimes.com</p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>The golden rule of respect</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Parents need to be able to enforce the &ldquo;golden rule of respect&rdquo; with teenagers, without becoming angry themselves, says&nbsp;<a class=\"search\" href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/search/search-7.1213540?tag_person=John%20Sharry&amp;article=true\" style=\"color: rgb(0, 51, 153); text-decoration: none; outline: none !important;\">John Sharry</a>, who will also be speaking at the Parentline conference this Friday.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>&ldquo;They often initially put up with the abuse and then eventually give as good as they get. They need to break that cycle and find a calmer, more effective way of dealing with things.&rdquo;</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Acknowledging that aggression and disrespect is one of the most common and challenging issues parents face, he will be looking at &ldquo;positive discipline&rdquo; for teenagers.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>It&rsquo;s a judgment call within each family about where banter and grumpiness stop</strong><strong>&nbsp;and disrespect begins. But Sharry, founding director of the Parents Plus charity and Irish Times columnist, advises: &ldquo;If you feel quite deeply you are disrespected,&nbsp;</strong><strong>you have a problem.&rdquo;</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Every parent of a teenager is going to face challenging behaviour, he says, and everybody needs support &ndash; be it talking it over with their partner, another family member or friend, or through contacting Parentline or seeing a professional.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>&ldquo;You can&rsquo;t parent in a vacuum. If it&rsquo;s not working for you and you are stressed out about it ,</strong><strong>&nbsp;get more support,&rdquo; says Sharry, author of&nbsp;</strong><strong>Parenting Teenagers: A Guide to Solving Problems, Building Relationships and Creating Harmony in the Family</strong><strong>, an updated version of which has been published by Veritas.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>It is also important to nip things in the bud. &ldquo;If behaviour problems get into a pattern of coercing and disrespecting, they can do long-term damage because they can really erode the relationship of parent and child.&rdquo;</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Parents of teenagers who have shown signs of self-harming worry that confrontation will exacerbate this problem.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>While an angry, critical exchange could be higher risk for such a teenager, it is not a reason to give up rules, he stresses. &ldquo;You need to be warm and connected and be firm about rules in a respectful way: &lsquo;you can&rsquo;t talk to me like that . . .&rsquo;; &lsquo;we need to talk about this in a more polite way . . &rsquo;; &lsquo;let&rsquo;s take a break here . . .&rsquo; &ndash; that sort of approach.&rdquo;</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>In fact, teenagers feel more secure when parents maintain such boundaries,</strong><strong>&nbsp;as long as it is done, he adds, with compassion and warmth.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>The Non Violent Resistance Programme: Key points</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Declan Coogan of NUI Galway has developed the training programme for use in Ireland, based on the work of psychologist Haim Omer in Israel. It is a short-term intervention, backed up by research, that:</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<br />\r\n		<strong>Is designed to enable parents to respond effectively to violent behaviour; the programme requires them to commit to attending 10 sessions.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Asks parents to agree to be non-violent themselves, no matter what the provocation, both in action and how they communicate with their child.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Teaches &ldquo;non-escalation&rdquo; skills, to avoid adding fuel to the fire in a row with the child.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Externalises the problem of violence: they look at what violence does in the family, rather than what Mary or Tom does in the family.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Directs parents to ask key individuals outside the immediate family to become part of their support network; this may involve being there to listen</strong><strong>&nbsp;or telling the son or daughter that they know about the violence and want to support the family in stopping it.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Prepares parents for making the &ldquo;announcement&rdquo; to their children that they are no longer tolerating violence in the home &ndash; specifying the particular behaviours that are going on such as kicking, punching or shouting.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>They will also explain that they have told A, B and C about it, who will be there to help stop the violence.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Supports parents, from this stage on, to tackle the child&rsquo;s troubling behaviours, one by one.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>This programme is not intended for the most severe cases of child-to-parent violence, says Coogan, but rather where violence is &ldquo;worrying&rdquo;.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>And it is not necessary to pin down all the reasons for the behaviour.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>&ldquo;This is what is attractive about this approach. The whole idea is you don&rsquo;t necessarily need to know everything about the cause of a problem in order to help stop it,&rdquo; he explains.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>Parents are told, at the outset,&nbsp;</strong><strong>that if the problem is resolved after 10 weeks as expected, they will help them look back at the reasons it arose if they want.</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<strong>&ldquo;The amazing thing,&rdquo; adds Coogan, &ldquo;is no parent has ever said to me &lsquo;Okay, now we have done that &ndash; why was he doing it?&rsquo; because they are happy the problem has gone.&rdquo;</strong></p>\r\n	<p class=\"no_name\" style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.5em; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); font-family: Georgia, \'Times New Roman\', Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/living-in-fear-of-your-child-1.1614474?page=3\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/living-in-fear-of-your-child-1.1614474?page=</a>1</p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-03 10:26:33',NULL,'living-in-fear-of-your-child'),(359,'Gardai in appeal for missing teen Rebekah Burnett (15)','<p>\r\n	Gardai are seeking assistance in locating a missing teenager.</p>\r\n<div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		Rebekah Burnett (15) was last seen on Thursday, November 28, at 12.30pm in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. She was last seen wearing her school uniform, a black jumper and a blue skirt but Rebekah may have changed her clothes.</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		&nbsp;</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		The teenager is described as being 5&rdquo;2 in height, slim build and as having long blonde hair.</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		&nbsp;</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		Her Facebook profile states that she is originally from Blanchardstown but it&#39;s believed she had recently moved from the Dublin suburb.</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		&nbsp;</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		Garda&iacute; are appealing for anyone with information to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 6667000, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		&nbsp;</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		This is the second teen to be reported missing this week. On Monday night Gardai issued an appeal for Leon Quirke, 17, who was last seen in the Fairview area of Dublin.</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		&nbsp;</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		The teenage boy was still missing last night and was wearing a grey hoody and blue jeans at the last sighting of him on November 27 at 12.30am.</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		&nbsp;</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		He&rsquo;s described as being six foot tall, slim build with brown hair and blue eyes.</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		&nbsp;</div>\r\n	<div>\r\n		Gardai have asked anyone with information to contact Clontarf Garda Station on 01-666 4800.</div>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-in-appeal-for-missing-teen-rebekah-burnett-15-29808994.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-in-appeal-for-missing-teen-rebekah-burnett-15-29808994.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-04 11:21:30',NULL,'gardai-in-appeal-for-missing-teen-rebekah-burnett-15'),(360,'Hard-hitting ISPCC video highlights dangers facing missing children','<p style=\"border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(71, 73, 76); line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) today release a new short film to raise awareness for its 116 000 Missing Children&#39;s Hotline.</p>\r\n<p style=\"border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(71, 73, 76); line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	You can watch it below.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-weight: 700;\">Warning: Some viewers may find it distressing</span>.</p>\r\n<p style=\"border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(71, 73, 76); line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The Hotline officially launched in June of this year and its aim is to provide advice and support to both young people and adults regarding the issue of missing children 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.</p>\r\n<p style=\"border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(71, 73, 76); line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	&quot;This powerful short movie highlights just one scenario that could occur when a child goes missing,&quot; the ISPCC said.</p>\r\n<p style=\"border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(71, 73, 76); line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	&ldquo;Since 2008 there have been over 30,000 missing children reports in Ireland so it is vital that the public is aware that the 116 000 service is in operation,&quot; said Ashley Balbirnie, CEO of the ISPCC.</p>\r\n<p style=\"border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(71, 73, 76); line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	&quot;The short movie shows a tragic scenario of a young girl who has run away and the key message behind the video is that when you think you have nowhere left to run, you still have somewhere left to turn.&quot;</p>\r\n<p style=\"border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(71, 73, 76); line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	The video was launched today to coincide with Ireland&rsquo;s inaugural Missing Persons Day, which commemorate those who have gone missing and recognise the lasting trauma for their families and friends.</p>\r\n<p style=\"border: 0px; font-family: Lato, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 10px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(71, 73, 76); line-height: 20px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/hard-hitting-ispcc-video-highlights-dangers-facing-missing-children-616189.html\">http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/hard-hitting-ispcc-video-highlights-dangers-facing-missing-children-616189.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-05 10:57:22',NULL,'hard-hitting-ispcc-video-highlights-dangers-facing-missing-children'),(361,'Help to build your child’s self-esteem','<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	<b>Self-esteem is how we feel about ourselves. How we behave often reflects these feelings.</b></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	The development of good self-esteem is important to the happiness, security and success of children and teenagers.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	For example, a child or teenager with high self-esteem will:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Act independently</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Assume responsibility</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Handle peer pressure appropriately</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Attempt new tasks and challenges</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Handle positive and negative emotions</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Take pride in his/her accomplishments</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	On the other hand, those with low self-esteem will:</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Avoid trying new things</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Feel unloved and unwanted</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Blame others for his/her own shortcomings</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Be unable to tolerate a normal level of frustration</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Not recognise his own talents and abilities</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&bull; Be easily influenced</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Parents, guardians, grandparents, uncles &amp; aunts can play an important role in helping a child to develop greater confidence. Your words have a great impact on how the child or teenfeels about himself.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	7 tips to Improving Children&rsquo;s Self Esteem</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Be generous with praise</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Let your child know when he is doing something well eg. &ldquo; I really like the way you tidied your room&rdquo;, &ldquo;You are really good at playing soccer&rdquo;, &ldquo;You are very kind and caring&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Help your child to focus on their strengths by pointing out to them all the things they can do. Praise the small steps and the effort made.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Teach positive self-statements</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Self-talk is very important. What we think influences how we feel, and in turn how we behave. So it is important to teach your child to be positive about how they talk to themselves. ie &ldquo;I can solve this problem, if I just keep trying&rdquo; &ldquo;It&rsquo;s OK that I didn&rsquo;t win the game today, I tried my best&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Avoid criticism</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Give feedback so something is learned. e.g. &ldquo;Please speak quietly&rdquo; rather than &ldquo;Stop shouting&rdquo; It is important to learn to use &ldquo;I statements&rdquo; rather then &ldquo;You statements&rdquo;. For example, &ldquo;I would really like if you made your bed&rdquo;, rather than &ldquo;You never make your bed&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Encourage assertiveness</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Encourage your child to ask for what they want assertively, pointing out that there is no guarantee that they will get it. e.g &ldquo;Mom, I don&rsquo;t like it when Tom scribbles on my copy when I am trying to do my homework. Can you please ask him to stop?&rdquo; Praise them for being assertive. Let children settle their own disputes between siblings and friends alike.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Taking responsibility for feelings</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Let your child know that they are responsible for their own feelings, and that they are not responsible for others&rsquo; feelings.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Avoid blaming children for how you feel.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Encourage hobbies</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Support your child in developing hobbies/interests which they enjoy.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Encourage them to take part in a number of interests, so that they will have something for each season and will develop a wider network of skills and friends.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Show children that you can laugh at yourself</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Show them that life doesn&rsquo;t need to be serious all the time. Your sense of humour is important for their well-being.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	Finally, enjoy your children. Hang out with them. Do things together as a family but also ensure that each parent has &ldquo;one to one&rdquo; time with each child regularly.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 20px; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/features/help-to-build-your-child-s-self-esteem-1-5724407\">http://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/features/help-to-build-your-child-s-self-esteem-1-5724407</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-05 11:03:59',NULL,'help-to-build-your-child’s-self-esteem'),(362,'Ten care workers suspended over allegations of abusive or neglectful care','<p>\r\n	Ten staff at a Dublin care facility for people with intellectual disabilities have been suspended while an investigation into allegations of abusive or neglectful care takes place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A source confirmed to Independent.ie that an investigation is taking place into practises at the Stewarts Care organisation in Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood that Trinity College students &ndash; who were on placement at Stewarts Care organisation in Dublin- made the claim that some nurses and care staff were not closing doors when clients were showering.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The students also claimed some clients were locked out of their bungalows; and some were being spoken about as if they were not present.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Stewarts Care Ltd cares for 300 residents with intellectual disabilities, and provides services for some 600 other clients, including children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ten-care-workers-suspended-over-allegations-of-abusive-or-neglectful-care-29825444.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-10 10:01:56',NULL,'ten-care-workers-suspended-over-allegations-of-abusive-or-neglectful-care'),(363,'Increase in number of children trafficked into North','<p>\r\n	Law Centre says 31 children and adults have been smuggled in since April</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of children trafficked into Northern Ireland has increased, a report found today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most were intended for sexual exploitation and a specialist legal support network is to be established to provide advice, the Law Centre Northern Ireland said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Seventeen potential child victims have been identified since April.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Law Centre project worker Fidelma O&rsquo;Hagan said: &ldquo;Children and young people who are trafficked into Northern Ireland face real hurdles in getting the support they need to navigate a complex system and enjoy their legal rights.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Since April, 31 children and adults from within and outside the UK are believed to have been smuggled into Northern Ireland, many for sexual or labour exploitation, Justice Department figures showed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Seventeen were children, including nine sexual abuse victims from within the UK. Some of the young people were trafficked for an unknown purpose.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the 2012/13 financial year 16 potential trafficking victims were rescued, including two children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&rsquo;Hagan added: &ldquo;This project is the first of its kind in Northern Ireland. It allows the Law Centre NI to work to ensure that every young person who is a victim of trafficking in Northern Ireland receives the guidance and assistance they need.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This new service allows us to provide specialist legal advice and representation to children, young people and other victims of trafficking.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Comic Relief is supporting the new service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children&rsquo;s commissioner Patricia Lewsley-Mooney said: &ldquo;The process that every trafficked child goes through must seek to protect them when they are facing a very frightening time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Anti-Trafficking Children and Young People Project at the Law Centre (NI) will support this vulnerable and often invisible group of young people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It offers skills and expertise to listen to, advise and support trafficked children to help them enjoy the rights they are entitled to through the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/increase-in-number-of-children-trafficked-into-north-1.1619417\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/increase-in-number-of-children-trafficked-into-north-1.1619417</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-10 10:32:50',NULL,'increase-in-number-of-children-trafficked-into-north'),(364,'Irish urged to take stand against rise in racism','<p>\r\n	Irish people have been urged to follow the path of Nelson Mandela and stand against a rise in racist incidents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The South African Ambassador to Ireland Azwindini Jeremiah Ndou has called on the Irish people to embrace Mr Mandela&#39;s legacy of equality.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I think that there are a lot of people in Ireland who don&#39;t believe that racism should exist,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I think that these are forces that need to be mobilised against those that want to entrench racist tendencies in Ireland.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was speaking in response to figures released by the Immigrant Council of Ireland last week, which revealed that reports of racism and hate crimes increased by 85pc in 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ambassador said that Mandela&#39;s vital work must be continued.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	PASSIONATE</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Both as South Africans and together with the rest of the world, we have to look at what it is we can do to work towards creating this better world that Mandela has always been passionate about,&quot; he told the Irish Independent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pastor Gerard Chimbganda, who led an ANC event to mark the former president&#39;s passing, said that while Irish people were generally welcoming, there was always more work to be done.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I think the key issue is that even those who wronged him, he simply forgave them,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I suppose it goes both ways -- the Irish people should treat the immigrants with equality and know that some of us are now naturalised Irish and we came here to help build Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The reports of racism recorded in Ireland during 2013, which included incidents of harassment, discrimination and physical violence, peaked over the summer months with 31 in July alone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Since January, 142 incidents have been reported, compared to 77 over the same period last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In most cases, racist incidents were found to have occurred in a person&#39;s local community or workplace.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;These figures are very poignant considering Nelson Mandela&#39;s passing this week and how he challenged all levels of racism and racism in the very extreme,&quot; said Denise Charlton, chief executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The problem in Ireland is that we haven&#39;t known the level of racism out there until now and that&#39;s why it was so important to have a reporting system,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-urged-to-take-stand-against-rise-in-racism-29823515.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-10 10:44:03',NULL,'irish-urged-to-take-stand-against-rise-in-racism'),(365,'New asylum regulations ‘will speed up application process’','<p>\r\n	Move affects 3,800 people seeking subsidiary protection</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Government has introduced new procedures aimed at speeding up the processing of 3,800 asylum seekers &rsquo; cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Regulations came into force today that govern the determination of applications for subsidiary protection, a status given to people who do not meet the legal definition of a refugee, but face a risk of serious harm if deported.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said the new interim procedures for dealing with applications had the potential to reduce the length of time people were waiting for decisions on their applications.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the regulations would address an area of &ldquo;immediate difficulty&rdquo; ahead of a new streamlined applications process expected to come into force next year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;Missed opportunity&rsquo;<br />\r\n	The move was welcomed by the UN&rsquo;s refugee agency, the UNHCR, but criticised by some asylum campaigners as a &ldquo;missed opportunity&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Many people seeking refugee status or subsidiary protection have spent years waiting for their applications to be fully processed.The average length of time that residents have spent in the State&rsquo;s much-criticised direct provision system is around three years and eight months.This is because applications for subsidiary protection may only be lodged after a person had been refused refugee status.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new regulations provide for applicants to be interviewed as part of the first instance investigation of their application. In the event of a rejection following the first instance investigation of their case, applicants will have the opportunity of an appeal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the regulations, responsibility for the processing of applications for subsidiary protection &ndash; both new and existing &ndash; will transfer from the Minister for Justice to the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Appeals process<br />\r\n	Appeals will be dealt with by the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. Both of these offices are statutorily independent in their functions and have substantial experience in the area of asylum applications investigations and appeals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Shatter said he hoped the procedures would ensure that new applications for subsidiary protection could be processed within eight months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the processing of applications for international protection was a &ldquo;solemn and complex task&rdquo; that did not always lend itself to achieving speedy outcomes. However, once the new arrangements have bedded down, Mr Shatter said he anticipated that &ldquo;very significant inroads&rdquo; would be made into caseloads by the end of next year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sophie Magennis, the UNHCR&rsquo;s head of office in Ireland, said the development had the potential to &ldquo;significantly improve&rdquo; the situation of many people who have been waiting long periods to have their applications processed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But Fiona Finn of Nasc, an Irish immigrant support centre, said the move was a lost opportunity to introduce a more streamlined and efficient asylum and protection system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This creates further and costly delays in an already overburdened system that results in families waiting for years on end in totally unsuitable conditions,&rdquo; she added.</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-10 10:46:37',NULL,'new-asylum-regulations-‘will-speed-up-application-process’'),(366,'Some schools actively discourage children with special needs from enroling','<h2 style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; color: rgb(81, 81, 81); line-height: 1.3em; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	<span style=\"font-size:12px;\"><span style=\"color:#000000;\">Preference for children of past pupils a &lsquo;significant&rsquo; obstacle to Travellers&rsquo; education</span></span></h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	Parents of children with special needs are often encouraged by the principals of mainstream schools to send their children to &lsquo;special&rsquo; schools instead, with the excuse that they would get &ldquo;better therapeutic supports in the special school&rdquo; an Oireachtas Committee has been told.\r\n	<p>\r\n		Mark O&rsquo;Connor, speaking on behalf of Inclusion Ireland, Down Syndrome Ireland, Irish Autism Action and the Special Needs Parents Association, was addressing the Committee on Education and Social Protection. The Committee was hearing submissions on proposed new legislation on schools&rsquo; admissions.</p>\r\n	The Department of Education in September published a &lsquo;general scheme&rsquo; of the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill.\r\n	<p>\r\n		Mr O&rsquo;Connor said the unofficial practise of some mainstream schools, of arguing lack of resources to support children with special needs, &ldquo;flies in the face of inclusion&rdquo;. He said a lack of resources &ldquo;should never be used to force a child to go to a special school&rdquo;.</p>\r\n	Hilary Harmon, education officer with the Traveller support organisation, Pavee Point, called for the removal from the &lsquo;scheme&rsquo; of the right of schools to give preferential access to children of past pupils. &ldquo;The enrolment policies of some schools present a significant obstacle to Travellers in accessing and progressing&rdquo; in education, she said.\r\n	<p>\r\n		She said 55 per cent of Travellers left school before the age of 15; Traveller and immigrant children were significantly more likely to be bullied in schools and cuts to Traveller education supports such as the elimination of the Traveller school liaison scheme, since 2011 had had a worrying impact on Traveller children, she said.</p>\r\n	She called for all schools&rsquo; enrolment policies and application forms to be written &ldquo;in plain English&rdquo;. She said the principal of every primary school should be responsible for ensuring every 6th class child was enrolled in a secondary school, adding currently no person or body was responsible for ensuring the successful transfer of primary school pupils to second level.\r\n	<p>\r\n		Jane Donnelly of Atheism Ireland, said the human rights of children from non-religious families were being breached, both in enrolment policies and within the school setting. She said 96 per cent of primary schools were denominational and so secular parents usually had no choice but to send their children to such schools.</p>\r\n	She called for an end to enrolment policies which discriminate against children from non-religious households.\r\n	<p>\r\n		&ldquo;No school can call itself inclusive if at the starting point it discriminates on religious grounds. That is not inclusion, diversity or a welcome,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-13 05:00:00',NULL,'some-schools-actively-discourage-children-with-special-needs-from-enroling'),(367,'In the charity sector, let’s not punish the many for the sins of the few','<p>\r\n	Opinion: If charities are to raise money successfully, they need to professionalise</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the book Connected: the Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives, Nick Christakis and James Fowler trace the fascinating ways in which we are influenced by others. For example, a &ldquo;knocking on doors&rdquo; project urging people to vote for a recycling initiative was likely to win the support of 10 per cent of those who answered the door. Interestingly, the partner who did not answer the door was 6 per cent more likely to support the recycling initiative, simply from chatting to the other partner about it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Perhaps that&rsquo;s not so surprising. The authors conclude that, far from being atomised individuals, we are more like flocks of birds who, without any apparent central controller, swoop and climb in unison. That&rsquo;s why something like the salary top-ups and the controversy surrounding the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) are so damaging: they ripple out to all charities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is not logical, because only a tiny minority of charities are so big that they function almost as arms of the State in providing services. On a logical level, people also know that if they curtly refuse to buy the Santa bears sold to support the CRC&rsquo;s work it is children and adults with disabilities who will suffer.<br />\r\n	However, people give to charities primarily because of emotional reactions, particularly empathy. But just as positive emotions spur giving, negative emotions such as disgust or dislike block it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Lack of resources<br />\r\n	Tom Clonan argued passionately on RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s Prime Time last Tuesday that there is a political element to this scandal, because just as hospitals were saying that they can&rsquo;t cope with any more cuts, these revelations about top-ups were leaked, and meant that all attention was deflected from the lack of resources.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a similar way, he argued that the culture of politically influenced appointments to boards and elsewhere is toxic. All of this may be true but it leaves the problem of how to mend the damage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ironically, after numerous attempts over decades to frame legislation, Minister for Justice Alan Shatter decided last July, long before this controversy, to begin a phased introduction of a charities regulatory authority. Charities want regulation. They had been to the forefront in demanding it. While waiting for legislation to commence, a voluntary code for charity fundraising was framed by ICTR, the representative body for Irish charities. The code came from a coalition of charity fundraising practitioners, donors, auditors and lawyers, along with support from the Government.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The core principles in the statement of guiding principles for fundraising are respect, openness and honesty. In a sector that depends completely on securing public trust, these values are vital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That is also why it is so important that the regulatory authority works well. It was initially delayed because of the recession and because of the Government&rsquo;s obsession with getting rid of quangos. The compromise is that the authority will be staffed by 20 civil servants. It is essential that this body has appropriate expertise and resources, because if it fails to restore public confidence, it will be disastrous.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	People also need to become more realistic about charities. There is often a sense that all work for charity should be done on a voluntary basis. Of course, much of it is and the sector could not survive without the input of more than 560,000 volunteers and some 50,000 people serving on nonprofit boards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the need to employ staff is a sign of success. Just like businesses, many charities are set up and fade away rapidly. Those that thrive need to professionalise, however, and part of that is paying fair wages.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The public tends to want every cent donated to go directly to the cause, but if you give someone &euro;5 for your favourite cause you should know how that money is spent, and that costs money. Some administrative costs are inescapable.<br />\r\n	The key point about expenditure on salaries and administration is that they should be transparent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If all charities followed the example of organisations such as Concern and the Jack and Jill Children&rsquo;s Foundation, and were absolutely open about their finances, the public could judge whether they wanted to donate or volunteer to any particular charity.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While some would prefer to see all such services delivered by the State, that attitude ignores the social capital generated by small groups of passionate people coming together to find solutions to difficulties.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Charities often do something unique: they connect relatively privileged volunteers with the reality of life for people facing poverty, illness, disability and many other challenges. That experience softens people and makes them more supportive of social justice. So you see charities such as the Society of St Vincent de Paul not only helping people out of immediate difficulties, but also lobbying for structural change to create a more equitable society.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cynic believes everyone is corrupt and motivated by selfishness, but that corrosive attitude is no more realistic than naivety, and has far greater negative consequences. Realism rather than cynicism should prevail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Let&rsquo;s not punish the many for the sins of the few. Dig deep this Christmas. Your charity needs you.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/in-the-charity-sector-let-s-not-punish-the-many-for-the-sins-of-the-few-1.1627236?page=1<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-16 10:09:19',NULL,'in-the-charity-sector-let’s-not-punish-the-many-for-the-sins-of-the-few'),(368,'Child rapporteur warns of impact of High Court ruling on detention','<p>\r\n	Ruling found all young offenders entitled to same remission as adults</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A High Court judgment that found all young offenders have the same remission rights as adults will have major implications and must be carefully handled, the Government&rsquo;s rapporteur on child protection has said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All young offenders who have served three-quarters of their sentences with good behaviour will be released after Mr Justice Gerard Hogan this week ruled that they had the same right to remission as other prisoners. The judgment was given in a case taken by a 17-year-old at the Oberstown centre in Lusk, Co Dublin, who argued that his continued detention was unconstitutional.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Commenting on the judgment, rapporteur Dr Geoffrey Shannon said it was &ldquo;very significant&rdquo; and would have an impact far beyond the specific case heard in the High Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Caution urged<br />\r\n	He urged a cautious response and said that if the Children Act 2001 &ndash; the main legislation governing the juvenile justice system &ndash; was to be amended, it should be done with a view to prioritising the interests of the child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Given the fact that the Act focused on rehabilitation, there needs to be some sort of differentiation between that approach and the approach in the adult world,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;What I am suggesting is that a different regime should apply in respect of minors.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Shannon said there were significant differences between Oberstown, which had individualised education and care plans for each child, and St Patrick&rsquo;s Institution, a prison-type environment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There is a limited window to bring children back from the brink and I think there&rsquo;s a real opportunity there,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Oberstown provides that limited window.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was speaking at an event organised by the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance to mark the publication of its new guide to children&rsquo;s EU rights in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy at the centre of this week&rsquo;s High Court case was 14 years old when he committed an attempted robbery in 2011 for which he received a sentence totalling 15 months in Oberstown. Another 12 months was suspended on condition he undergo post-release supervision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy brought an application to the High Court seeking his release on the grounds his continued detention was unconstitutional. It was claimed prison rules, applicable in all prisons including St Patrick&rsquo;s Institution for young offenders, also applied to Oberstown.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Right to protection<br />\r\n	Remission is applied to prisoners of good behaviour and can account for a quarter or a third of a sentence. The director of Oberstown school opposed the application brought on behalf of the boy under article 40.4.2 of the Constitution.<br />\r\n	Dr Shannon said that, in considering how to respond to the judgment, there was a need to reconcile the rights and welfare of a child. &ldquo;Surely one of the key rights a child has is the right to be protected. It&rsquo;s important that we look at that broader issue,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He stressed that once a child had been released from a detention facility, it was important to invest significantly in supporting that child&rsquo;s rehabilitation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The chief executive of the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance, Tanya Ward, said last year&rsquo;s referendum showed that Irish people wanted to strengthen children&rsquo;s rights in the Constitution.<br />\r\n	She noted, however, that the Supreme Court had yet to rule on a challenge to the referendum result &ldquo;and we still await the children&rsquo;s amendment in our Constitution.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/child-rapporteur-warns-of-impact-of-high-court-ruling-on-detention-1.1627701</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-16 10:12:24',NULL,'child-rapporteur-warns-of-impact-of-high-court-ruling-on-detention'),(369,'Fostered teen found sleeping rough, 48 hours after going into HSE care','<p>\r\n	The case has sparked concern after it emerged that the vulnerable teen had gone missing before</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Gardai and the HSE are investigating how a troubled European teen was placed by a private agency with an Irish foster family which had not undergone any child safety vetting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The controversy came to light when the teenage boy went missing for almost 48 hours last week from his foster home. He was eventually found sleeping rough on the street by gardai.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While he was uninjured but hungry, officials believe he was very fortunate to escape hypothermia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health officials were immediately concerned for his welfare after they learned it was not the first time he had gone missing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A number of European agencies have been placing troubled teens in Irish foster care since 1995, the Irish Independent has learned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Gardai and the HSE are now investigating the placement of all European teens in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy, who cannot be identified, is being cared for by the HSE and his case is being handled in consultation with a European embassy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Relatives of the teen have flown to Ireland and it remains unclear whether the boy will remain here or return to his home country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The case has sparked concern after it emerged that the youngster had gone missing before -- although gardai had been unaware of this.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The foster family involved have claimed they were instructed only to report the youngster missing if he was out of contact for 48 hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The couple, who have a teenage child themselves, had not been vetted by the gardai for fostering.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Such garda and HSE vetting is required for all families taking part in Irish fostering programmes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At any one time, up to 50 foreign youngsters can be on placement in Ireland. One agency primarily places youngsters with their own native-speaking families who are resident here.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the private firm at the centre of the probe, based in another European country, often uses Irish families.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The programme aims is to get troubled teens away from the source of their problems and offer them a fresh start in a new environment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	DRUGS</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In many cases the teens come from major European cities where they have encountered problems with youth gangs, drugs, bullying and even violent homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The European health agencies involved provide generous grant aid in support of these emergency foster placements of up to &euro;3,500 per month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Independent understands that, in many cases, the Irish foster families who accept these children are paid around &euro;2,000 per month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna Fail health spokesman Billy Kelleher expressed concern at the revelations and said urgent clarification is required as to precisely who was responsible for supervising such placements of vulnerable children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I find it incredible in this day and age to hear that any one child could be placed with a foster family who have no garda vetting clearance,&quot; Mr Kelleher said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;You can&#39;t even carry a water bottle for youngsters on a juvenile GAA team without having garda vetting clearance.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE said that it does not comment on individual child care cases. But it confirmed that the placement of children in foster care in another EU member state is governed by Article 55/56 of the International Instrument (2003).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;All placements of children in foster care in Ireland are subject to Irish legislation, in particular the Child Care Act (1991) and the Children&#39;s Act (2001), and related regulations,&quot; a spokesman said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE also stressed that the act provides that authorities in countries where childcare placements are being made must first be consulted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	www.independent.ie/irish-news/fostered-teen-found-sleeping-rough-48-hours-after-going-into-hse-care-29841023.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-16 10:21:18',NULL,'fostered-teen-found-sleeping-rough-48-hours-after-going-into-hse-care'),(370,'Gardaí objected to return of Roma child due to ‘flight risk’','<p>\r\n	District Court told child appeared to be registered under two different names</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda&iacute; and social services objected to a blonde-haired Roma girl being returned to her family due to concerns over her real identity and because they feared she was a &ldquo;flight risk&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Details of the case - which attracted international headlines last October - are contained in the latest report of the Child Law Reporting Project, which examines childcare proceedings which typically take place in private.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The fair-haired, blue-eyed seven year old was later returned to her family after DNA tests proved she was biologically related to her parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child law report contains new details heard in court regarding the handling of the case by both garda&iacute; and social services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It states that concerns over the child&rsquo;s identity were first made to garda&iacute; by an Estonian woman, who reported that a local Roma family had a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A garda told the District Court that after making inquiries at the girl&rsquo;s home, the child appeared to be registered under two different names in official documents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Further inquiries at Dublin&rsquo;s Coombe hospital - where her parents said she was born - did not yield a record of her birth, though later checks showed they did, in fact, have a record.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The garda told the court he also spoke to a consultant at a children&rsquo;s hospital who said it would be &ldquo;highly unlikely&rdquo; that a child of Roma ethnicity would have blond hair and blue eyes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The garda added that he believed she was a flight risk given that children in the Roma community often lived apart from their parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child was taken into foster care by garda&iacute; using emergency powers available under the Child Care Act and. A total of nine garda&iacute; were involved in the operation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report also states that the child&rsquo;s parents were prepared to have a DNA test carried out on their daughter and had offered the chid&rsquo;s passport, on the basis that she not be taken away from the family.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The garda, however, said that handing in a passport would not prevent the family travelling to the UK.<br />\r\n	A social worker with the HSE said authorities had a responsibility to act on foot of the Garda report and agreed with the&nbsp;Garda that there was a flight risk.<br />\r\n	The social worker confirmed there had been child welfare concerns regarding other children in the family in the past which had been resolved, however, these were separate issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the girl at the centre of the case was scared when she had met her first and became upset at being taken away from her family, before settling down.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child&rsquo;s mother said she presented a passport with her child&rsquo;s photo to the garda&iacute; and pointed out that her youngest son also had blue eyes .</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child&rsquo;s father added that he was prepared to have social workers drop in to their home at any time to make sure their daughter was with them while DNA tests were being carried out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The parents&rsquo; barrister said way the case had been handled were signs of a &ldquo;draconian jurisdiction&rdquo; where a phone call could lead to a child being removed from her parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When you analyse the evidence of the case, it comes down to the claim she doesn&rsquo;t look like the rest of the family and she can&rsquo;t return home because Roma are mobile and the Garda doesn&rsquo;t believe the parents can be trusted,&rdquo; the parents&rsquo; barrister said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The parents later consented to their child remaining in foster care for another night to allow for DNA tests to be completed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The following day, they confirmed that the child was related to her parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge agreed to lift the in camera rule on a request from the family that they be allowed to issue a statement to the media, in the interests of balance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This case, and one involving a Roma child from the midlands who was taken into care in similar circumstances, are being investigated by the Ombudsman for Children Emily Logan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The childcare law project was established last year to examine and report on childcare proceedings which are typically held in private.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The case is one of a number published today as part of the&nbsp;Child Care Law Reporting Project.&nbsp;Directed by Dr Carol Coulter, the project receives funding from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, as well as philanthropic funding from Atlantic Philanthropies and the One Foundation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The themes of alcohol and drug abuse feature prominently in the latest volume of cases, as do conflicts between parents and the HSE over matters like access.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Emotional abuse and how parenting capacity is assessed are also key themes, along with reviews of existing orders where the courts examine certain aspects of the care being given the children in question.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/garda%C3%AD-objected-to-return-of-roma-child-due-to-flight-risk-1.1629948</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-17 10:35:11',NULL,'gardaã­-objected-to-return-of-roma-child-due-to-‘flight-risk’'),(371,'19,044 referrals about child abuse concerns were received in 2012','<p>\r\n	Minister Frances Fitzgerald said figures for 2013 indicate will be similar to previous years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2012, there were 19,044 received refferals received to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs where there was a concern of child abuse.<br />\r\n	In a response to a parliamentary question from Fine Gael&rsquo;s Bernard Durkan about the extent to which instances of child mental, physical or sex abuse or child prostitution are reported to her Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said that in 2011 there were 15,808 referrals where there was a concern of child abuse and in 2012 there were 19,044 received.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	<strong>Categories</strong><br />\r\n	She said that child abuse referrals are broken down into four categories: sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect and although child prostitution is recorded as sexual abuse, it is not broken down according to the type of sexual abuse reported.<br />\r\n	Figures to date for 2013 indicate that the level of referrals will be similar to the number of reports made to Social Work Services in 2012.<br />\r\n	The minister said that the HSE was ultimately responsible for the delivery of child welfare and protection services but said occasionally her department received calls from individuals concerned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	<strong>Referrals</strong><br />\r\n	She added that the HSE have advised that all referrals received an initial assessment to determine what further action is required in accordance with Children First Guidance (2011).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She added:<br />\r\n	Any immediate protective action which may be required is taken in accordance with the HSE&rsquo;s statutory duty under the Child Care Act 1991.<br />\r\n	Intervention is provided as appropriate ensuring at all times that&nbsp; it is proportionate and in accordance with an assessment of the child&rsquo;s needs.<br />\r\n	Where it is not possible to deal immediately with a referral of abuse, those which are assessed as highest priority are dealt with in the first instance by social work teams.<br />\r\n	All referrals received are reviewed and responses monitored.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/child-abuse-referrals-hse-1231741-Dec2013/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/child-abuse-referrals-hse-1231741-Dec2013/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-20 05:00:00',NULL,'19044-referrals-about-child-abuse-concerns-were-received-in-2012'),(372,'One-parent families singled out by society, report claims','<p>\r\n	One-parent families have been unfairly &ldquo;scapegoated&rdquo; by society, according to a new report into the impact of family structure on child development.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Growing Up in a One-Parent Family report says children from lone-parent families fare similarly to those in married families - if faced with the same conditions growing up.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It has found that the apparent benefits of marriage on child are more to do with background characteristics, like education and wealth, rather than marriage itself.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Research lead Dr Carmel Hannan of the University of Limerick said it is clear that one-parent homes have been unfairly singled out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They were an easy group to target at times,&quot; she said. &quot;They were blamed for the moral collapse of British society, whereas any collapse in society is related to poor education [and] lack of employment opportunities.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We noticed that lone parents are much more likely to have chronic illness or depression before the birth of their child.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/one-parent-families-singled-out-by-society-report-claims-617746.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/one-parent-families-singled-out-by-society-report-claims-617746.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-20 11:22:37',NULL,'one-parent-families-singled-out-by-society-report-claims'),(373,'Visiting an elderly neighbour can be the best gift','<p>\r\n	I like many people I was deeply touched to read of the advert placed in a newspaper by pensioner James Gray.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 85-year-old has lived in London for most of his long life and took out the ad so he could find someone to have dinner with on Christmas Day.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said that after 10 years, he couldn&#39;t bear to spend another Christmas alone. &quot;This time of year is so hard if you are old and alone because it feels like everybody else around you is enjoying themselves,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>TOUCHING</strong><br />\r\n	There was something touching and sad about this lonely old man&#39;s plea. I can&#39;t think of anything worse than to be on your own on December 25.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Thankfully James Gray got a great response. People have reached out and offered to spend time with him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But his story highlights a very important issue. For every James Gray there are hundreds of elderly people in this country who will be alone this Christmas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Many of them might be too proud to ask for company and many may not have anyone to ask. But you can rest assured that the vast majority would love to have someone call to them or even call them on the phone, this Christmas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If you can reach out to an elderly neighbour in the coming days do so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It may not take much time but it would be one of the best things you&#39;ll do all year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.herald.ie/opinion/columnists/gerry-ocarroll/visiting-an-elderly-neighbour-can-be-the-best-gift-29850019.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2013-12-20 11:27:18',NULL,'visiting-an-elderly-neighbour-can-be-the-best-gift'),(374,'Child referrals to Garda for begging rise','<p>\r\n	Some 12,246 children involved in a total of 24,069 offences were referred</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of children referred to the Garda Diversion Programme for crimes including begging, theft from the person, homicide and sexual offences increased last year.<br />\r\n	A new report published yesterday found that while the number of children referred to the programme fell for the sixth year in a row in 2012, the number of under 18s put in touch with the scheme for begging increased from 12 in 2011 to 59 cases last year (up 392 per cent), the number of referrals for homicide rose from 2 to 6 (up 200 per cent), the number of referrals for alleged sexual offences was up 16 per cent from 250 to 291 and the referrals for theft from the person increased by 48 per cent from 174 to 257.<br />\r\n	Overall, some 12,246 children involved in a total of 24,069 offences were referred to the scheme in 2012, down by 536 compared to 2011.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Offence categories</strong><br />\r\n	The top three offence categories for which under 18s were referred to the Garda programme in 2012 were public order and social code offences (6,976 or 29 per cent), theft and related offences (5,996 or 25 per cent) and damage to property and the environment (2,511 or 10 per cent). These offence categories percentages are almost identical with the year before.<br />\r\n	The programme is described by the Department of Justice as an effort to &ldquo;find alternative means to court to deal with offending and to prevent future offending&rdquo;. It involves an element of restorative justice, where the young person who has committed the crime meets the victim. Minister for Justice Alan Shatter welcomed the 15 per cent increase in this practice in 2012.<br />\r\n	Children involved in the programme are cautioned and spend a period of time under the supervision of a Garda juvenile liaison officer to deter them from reoffending. Before a young person can be considered suitable, they must take responsibility for the offending behaviour, agree to be cautioned and, where appropriate, agree to terms of supervision.<br />\r\n	Some of those referred to the programme last year were as young as 12. The Annual Report of the Committee Appointed to Monitor the Effectiveness of the Diversion Programme 2012 said 4 per cent were 12, 8 per cent were 13, 12 per cent were 14, 21 per cent were 16 and 35 per cent were 17 years of age .</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Repeat offenders</strong><br />\r\n	About 80 per cent of children referred to the programme were admitted. The majority of children involved in the programme were 17, and 30 per cent were repeat offenders. One-quarter were female.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The committee formed to oversee the diversion programme, made up of two members of An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na and two civilians, found the majority of youngsters admitted were either first-time offenders or had repeated a minor offence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Some 6,265 youngsters were given an informal caution in such cases. About 2,840 children were given a formal caution, which includes a period of supervision under a special juvenile liaison officer. A further 1,850 young offenders were deemed unsuitable for the diversion programme and had their files returned to their local superintendent for possible prosecution.<br />\r\n	Three areas saw a rise in the number of children being referred. These were the Southern Dublin Metropolitan Region (1 per cent), Louth (11 per cent) and Kerry (9 per cent), while Wicklow saw no change in figures from 2011.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Shatter&rsquo;s pledge</strong><br />\r\n	Mr Shatter acknowledged the key role of the nationwide network of Garda Youth Diversion Projects in supporting the programme and committed to continue to protect, &ldquo;as far as possible&rdquo; the resources available for these projects.<br />\r\n	He added that the work of the Garda Analysis Service to provide the local and national picture of youth crime will enable more effective planning and service delivery to deal with youth crime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/child-referrals-to-garda-for-begging-rise-1.1640917</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-02 09:54:27',NULL,'child-referrals-to-garda-for-begging-rise'),(375,'Minister welcomes industry concerns over children’s clothing and sexualisation','<p>\r\n	Frances Fitzgerald recently invited Irish fashion retailers to prepare a set of guidelines aimed at addressing &ldquo;increasing concerns over the sexualisation of childhood and issues such as body-image&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has welcomed the &ldquo;very determined interest and initiative&rdquo; shown by retailers which have taken steps to adopt a new code regarding children&rsquo;s clothing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Frances Fitzgerald recently invited Irish fashion retailers to prepare a set of guidelines aimed at addressing &ldquo;increasing concerns over the sexualisation of childhood and issues such as body-image&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister told TheJournal.ie that the industry-led guidelines include a number of key points:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Slogans and imagery must be age appropriate and not sexually suggestive, demeaning or derogative;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The choice of fabrics and cut in childrenswear should provide for modesty;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Great care should be shown when it comes to the design of children&rsquo;s underwear, to differentiate it from adult lingerie;<br />\r\n	Swimwear should provide for modesty, and should be age appropriate;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Footwear for everyday use should provide a stable, supporting shoe with a heel pitch (angle of foot) of generally not more than 2.5 cm or one inch;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The marketing of childrenswear should be targeted at adult purchasers, not children;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The use of child models is only appropriate within defined parameters.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The guidelines have been taken up by Retail Ireland and its member stores, with signatories including Arnotts, Brown Thomas, Clerys, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Marks &amp; Spencers, Next, Pennys, Tesco and TK Maxx.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While Dunnes Stores is not a signatory, it has responded directly to Minister</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fitzgerald indicating that it is &ldquo;in compliance with best practice&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today, the Minister repeated her call for all Irish childrenswear retailers, not just those in Retail Ireland membership, to sign-up to the guidelines.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Irish childhood has changed and continues to change. We all have a responsibility to make sure that those changes are positive for our children,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I believe this code will play an important and constructive role in informing future decision-making by retailers, for example on the appropriateness of new and emerging fashion trends for children while further providing a framework within which retailers can responsibly consider and respond to growing concerns over body-image among children.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.thejournal.ie/childrens-clothing-and-sexualisation-1243873-Dec2013/</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-02 09:56:47',NULL,'minister-welcomes-industry-concerns-over-children’s-clothing-and-sexualisation'),(376,'Second Opinion: Domestic violence isn’t just for festive season','<p>\r\n	Domestic violence occurs all year round and worsens during the festive season of Christmas and New Year when perpetrators exert more control over finances and family gatherings. The increase in violence is often mistakenly attributed to stress, alcohol consumption, money worries and household bills.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While these family challenges do not help, they do not cause domestic violence. Recessions do not cause domestic violence. All domestic violence happens because perpetrators want to control every aspect of their victims&rsquo; lives and for no other reason.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There is more violence during the holiday season because families are at home more. Men and women who are normally at work or engaged in other business, are now around the house and each other, sometimes all day, over the festive period.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	School-going children are also on a break and can be victims of violence or are witnesses to it. A holiday means more opportunities to commit these crimes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Good awareness<br />\r\n	There is a high level of awareness about domestic violence. A 2013 Safe Ireland survey on male attitudes found that over half of all men think domestic violence is common and three-quarters think it is on the increase.<br />\r\n	A majority of men are aware of the impact of domestic violence on women, with 95 per cent believing women in abusive relationships and their children suffer from depression and anxiety.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two-thirds of men think women in domestic violence situations may need hospitalisation and nearly half of men believe these women could be killed.<br />\r\n	Statistics show that, despite high levels of awareness and the best efforts of almost 100 different organisations around the country, and Cosc, The National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence, domestic violence is increasing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Courts Service Annual Report 2012 shows that applications to the District Court for safety, protection and barring orders increased by 19 per cent, to 12,655.<br />\r\n	Women&rsquo;s support services received nearly 50,000 calls in 2012 and Amen, which provides supports to male victims, over 5,000 contacts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The vast majority of perpetrators are men. Services were unable to accommodate many women and their children because refuges were full or there was no refuge in the area.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence 2010-2014 has made some progress but, although it is an excellent strategy, its 59 different actions are not preventing domestic violence. So what is going wrong?<br />\r\n	A mid-term progress review of the strategy carried out by the Institute of Public Administration and published in July 2012 highlighted some major problems.<br />\r\n	First, support services for victims of domestic violence are generally provided by the voluntary sector and are funded by the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Unfortunately, &ldquo;There is little evidence of an improvement in relationships between the statutory and voluntary sectors . . . this has the potential to impact adversely on strategy implementation.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Secondly, there has been an overemphasis on awareness-raising and not enough on better laws to protect victims and punish perpetrators.<br />\r\n	The June 2013 progress report from Cosc says that &ldquo;consolidation and reform of domestic violence legislation&rdquo; will be brought to Government by the end of 2014, if &ldquo;time and resources permit&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Not a serious offence<br />\r\n	The Law Reform Commission (LRC) has just published a report, Aspects of Domestic Violence, which, unbelievably, recommends that breaches of domestic violence orders should not be made a serious offence because this would affect the rights of perpetrators in a disproportionate manner, including refusal of bail.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Many breaches of domestic violence orders are, in relative terms, minor, and are suitable to be tried summarily as minor offences.&rdquo; The authors obviously did not take victims&rsquo; fear into consideration.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Despite the opinion of the LRC there is some hope that things may improve for victims of domestic violence. The National Strategy has another year to run and a lot can be achieved in a year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will hold public hearings on domestic and sexual violence early in 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The committee received 400 pages of submissions from organisations and individuals all of whom want legislative changes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also known as the Istanbul convention) might be ratified by the 10 countries needed to bring it into force.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Thirty two countries have already signed the convention and eight member states have ratified it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Irish State, which has neither signed nor ratified the convention, will have to comply, like it or not.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Dr Jacky Jones is a former HSE regional manager of health promotion.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	drjackyjones@gmail.com</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/second-opinion-domestic-violence-isn-t-just-for-festive-season-1.1640609\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/second-opinion-domestic-violence-isn-t-just-for-festive-season-1.1640609</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-02 09:58:45',NULL,'second-opinion-domestic-violence-isn’t-just-for-festive-season'),(377,'Donal\'s parents urge young to remember his message as they face first Christmas without him','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	The family of Donal Walsh have called on the youth of Ireland to remember their son&#39;s message against suicide as they face their first Christmas without the inspiring teenager.</h2>\r\n<div>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Donal&#39;s parents, Elma and Fionnbar, and his sister, Jema, will this year spend December 25 without the 16-year-old, who passed away on May 12 following a lengthy battle with cancer.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		In a statement released by the family to thank the public for their ongoing support, they stressed the importance of remembering Donal&#39;s message.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		They added that their &quot;dearest wish&quot; is for young people to cherish life and to seek help rather than suffer in silence.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Donal (16), from Blennerville, Co Kerry, used his final few months to raise awareness about youth suicide and the conditions for terminally ill children and teenagers at Crumlin Children&#39;s Hospital.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		His message to young people was simple -- that suicide was never an option and there was help out there and not to be afraid to ask for it.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Thousands of mourners attended his funeral in Tralee where his coffin was carried by members of his beloved Munster Squad.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Remembering Donal yesterday, his family said: &quot;This time last year we had Donal with us. He was demanding that the tree and crib should be in place. He wanted all the presents perfectly wrapped and was busy organising outings with his friends.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;But this year we are facing into a very different Christmas. The words of &#39;Silent Night&#39; will strike a chord like never before.&quot;</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Last year, the Walsh family organised a surprise party for Donal with 20 of his friends and an appearance by Santa Claus.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		Recalling that special time with her brother, Jema said they are moments she will cherish forever. &quot;Donal and I always had a tradition, on Christmas Eve, that we could open one present each. So, on Christmas Eve, we opened the presents that we got for each other.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&quot;He got me a bracelet -- on the outside it was engraved with my name, and he had his name engraved on the inside. I&#39;ll always treasure that,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		&#39;Donal Walsh -- My Story&#39; will air on New Year&#39;s Day, RTE Two, 9.30pm.</p>\r\n	<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n		<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/donals-parents-urge-young-to-remember-his-message-as-they-face-first-christmas-without-him-29860580.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/donals-parents-urge-young-to-remember-his-message-as-they-face-first-christmas-without-him-29860580.html</a></p>\r\n</div>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-02 10:02:42',NULL,'donals-parents-urge-young-to-remember-his-message-as-they-face-first-christmas-without-him'),(378,'Racist advertisements cause fury online and council urges justice to be brought','<p>\r\n	The Immigrant Council of Ireland has criticised two incidents of racism which have caused fury online.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In one incident, a poster was placed on a telephone pole in Tyrone to tell landlords not to lease their properties to foreign nationals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Attention landlords: Leasing property to foreign nationals will not be tolerated,&rdquo; the poster read.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Limerick advertiser on Donedeal.ie, whose ad for a car has now been removed, warned that he won&rsquo;t sell his car to &lsquo;foreigners&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;No Polish. I will not sell this car to a foreigner. They want everything for nothing so they can sell it for twice what they paid, so don&rsquo;t ring. Irish people only.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesperson for the Immigrant Council of Ireland said such advertisements and racist campaigns are appearing at an alarming rate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;These incidents are completely unacceptable. Unfortunately they&rsquo;re coming at the end of a 12-month period where the ICI reported an 85 per cent increase in the reports of racism during 2013.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They show we need to be vigilant and ensure all of our laws and regulations are robust enough to respond to these crimes.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said 12 per cent of all racist incidents relate to cyber racism, such as the ad placed on Donedeal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The poster in Tyrone is a matter for the PSNI to investigate and prosecute.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It follows similar postering&nbsp; incidents in Limerick and Dublin last summer, and it&rsquo;s vital that these are brought to justice.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Posters appeared in Dublin claiming that &#39;ethnic-cleansing&#39; of Irish people is underway. And a series of anti-Semitic and hate posters were attached to a bridge in the Sugar Hill area of Limerick.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The most offensive posters in Limerick targeted Justice Minister Alan Shatter and had an anti-Semitic undertone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ICI spokesperson said: &ldquo;these incidents are occurring at an alarming regularity&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s vital that laws are used to their full to bring these [perpetrators] to justice.&rdquo;<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/incoming/racist-advertisements-cause-fury-online-and-council-urges-justice-to-be-brought-29883320.html\">http://www.independent.ie/incoming/racist-advertisements-cause-fury-online-and-council-urges-justice-to-be-brought-29883320.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-03 10:09:11',NULL,'racist-advertisements-cause-fury-online-and-council-urges-justice-to-be-brought'),(379,'A vital line of communication for elderly has been cut','<p>\r\n	It&#39;s good to talk &mdash; or so we are told by the marketing executives.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But as of this year, the cost of having a conversation may be too high for many elderly people who have always relied on their phone line as a means of keeping in touch with the outside world.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The telephone allowance cut announced in Budget 2014 is likely to affect almost 400,000 people and has created huge anxiety amongst family carers, people with disabilities and the elderly who were receiving a grant which allowed them peace of mind when it came to the cost of their phone bill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Christina Collins is a 71-year-old widow from Limerick who, despite relying on her phone as a cost-effective means of keeping in touch with people, is planning to disconnect her landline as she can no longer afford to pay the line rental. &ldquo;First our free electricity units went, then the fuel allowance and the Christmas bonus, and now it&rsquo;s the telephone allowance &mdash; our welfare is just being cut back all the time,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I live on my own as my children are reared and have families of their own, so the phone has always been a lifeline to me. But I am going to have to get rid of it because I simply can&rsquo;t afford it. Luckily, I have a mobile but I can&rsquo;t use it to chat for very long as it is too expensive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I know people who live in the back-of-beyond and this is going to be very difficult for them. They may get in an alarm system for emergencies but what about the loneliness?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;A mobile phone can cost a lot and by removing the landline, it takes away their opportunity for having a conversation with someone else to help brighten up their day.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The mother-of-six has always made a point of using her vote during an election. But now she says she no longer has any faith in our politicians.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We have taken so many cuts in the last few years and now we are having our phone line allowance cut &mdash; so it is the final straw for me,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When the current crowd were campaigning, they promised us that they wouldn&rsquo;t touch the old age pension and now they are taking all sorts of things from us.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The last bunch caused the problem and none of them are affected by these cuts &mdash; I think it&rsquo;s a shocking way to treat people of our age &mdash; it isn&rsquo;t right that we should suffer for the mess they created while nothing happens to them at all.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;d like to see any of our politicians hand their wives &euro;240 a week and expect them to pay all the rental, fuel and medical bills, as well as buying food and keeping mobile. They won&rsquo;t do it, of course, but once again it&rsquo;s the richer people who get away and the poorer section of society who take the brunt of the hardship. It&rsquo;s a total disgrace.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mary Walsh, 78, from Dungarvan, Co Waterford, is also a widow who lives alone and is dreading the day when she has to remove her phone because she simply can&rsquo;t afford to pay for it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;My three children are grown up and although my two sons live close by and call in as much as they can, they have their own families to look after,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I have Parkinson&rsquo;s Disease so am quite feeble so, although I will have to get rid of the phone, I am going to need to install an emergency button which will alert my doctor and family if I have a fall.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Things have been getting more and more difficult over the years as everything becomes more expensive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I have learned to just do without things and I do feel sorry for younger people who have families to rear, but I wish the Government would be kinder to old people as we have put a lot into the country over the years and now it is quite difficult to make ends meet.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/a-vital-line-of-communication-for-elderly-has-been-cut-254055.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-03 10:12:12',NULL,'a-vital-line-of-communication-for-elderly-has-been-cut'),(380,'Thousands of parents never help children with homework','<p>\r\n	Thousands of primary school children never receive help from their parents with homework.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the majority of parents help their children every day, 4pc of all primary school children, and 28pc of those in post-primary schools, do the homework by themselves.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are 526,000 primary school children in the country, and the figures suggest more than 21,000 receive no help. There are another 362,800 in post-primary, with 102,000 getting no help, according to the Central Statistics Office.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Its Quarterly National Household survey is aimed at determining how parents involve themselves in their children&#39;s education and targeted households with children aged between three and 18 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The parents and guardians of 12,131 children were asked a range of questions on their involvement, and the figures show:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Some 69pc of primary school children and 13pc of secondary students are helped with homework on a daily basis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Overall, 59pc of parents feel very confident about helping. This rises to 72pc where parents have a third-level degree or higher.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Most parents (93pc) read to their children aged between three and seven years, with 71pc doing so on a daily basis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Overall, 61pc of parents whose first language was English or Irish felt &quot;very confident&quot; about helping, compared with 47pc of those who were more comfortable with other languages. Organisation Youth Work Ireland, a federation of 22 local voluntary services, said that greater assistance for parents, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, could help children remain longer in school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Youth Work Ireland provides help to early school leavers, and said it was well established that parental support was &quot;critical&quot; to young people&#39;s educational performance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It appears from the survey that we are doing well at primary level but less so at second level,&quot; spokesman Michael McLoughlin said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This may be because parents see the curriculum as more challenging.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Supporting a young person&#39;s learning can be done without having a full understanding of the subject matter and schools should be facilitating this,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Parental support for young people can be a holy grail for educational attainment and can be facilitated at limited cost with huge benefit.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/thousands-of-parents-never-help-children-with-homework-29884498.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-03 10:16:28',NULL,'thousands-of-parents-never-help-children-with-homework'),(381,'Medical assessment in the \'drunk tank\' for children turning up intoxicated at youth disco','<p>\r\n	A decision by a popular under-age disco to set up a &quot;wet zone&quot; for inebriated children has been described as &quot;pro-active&quot; by a leading campaigner for responsible alcohol consumption.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Old Wesley disco in Dublin has recently introduced a &quot;drunk tank&quot; where teenagers -- mostly aged 16 and under -- found to have consumed alcohol, are supervised and medically assessed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The well-known venue said that the Red Cross workers at the Donnybrook venue often found themselves looking after up to six schoolchildren at a time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fionnuala Sheehan, chief executive of the Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS) group, said that organisers of the disco at the Old Wesley Rugby Football Club were to be commended for taking a &quot;pro-active&quot; approach. She said that while anecdotal evidence suggested a decline in underage drinking, it remained a serious problem.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I think it&#39;s an effort (by the disco organisers) and that there is a plan in place to address it. I think it&#39;s a good thing,&quot; she told the Irish Independent. &quot;They&#39;re seeking to address a situation, it&#39;s a pro-active measure.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, Don Myers, president of the National Parents Council, representing parents of post-primary students, said that the disco shouldn&#39;t have to provide such facilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They&#39;re under the care of their parents and parents need to be aware of what they&#39;re up to,&quot; he told the Irish Independent. &quot;It shouldn&#39;t have come to this. We are parents and we need to be more alert and tuned in to what is going on around us,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>RED CROSS</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Organisers of the disco stressed that it was an alcohol-free event but they could not control the actions of young people before they arrived.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Promoter Donie Bolger said: &quot;The kids call it the drunk room, but we call it a medical room. They&#39;re checked by the Red Cross, assessed, and then the parents are phoned immediately.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They&#39;re not allowed out of the medical room until parents arrive. Many parents thank us profusely,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	www.independent.ie/irish-news/drunk-tank-for-children-turning-up-intoxicated-at-youth-disco-29890749.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-06 10:14:58',NULL,'medical-assessment-in-the-drunk-tank-for-children-turning-up-intoxicated-at-youth-disco'),(382,'McNamee: I lost €200k gambling','<p>\r\n	Offaly footballer Niall McNamee has opened up further on the gambling addiction that almost destroyed his life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Rhode forward penned his fifth blog on the eve of the O&rsquo;Byrne Cup since announcing his battle with gambling and admitted he has lost &euro;200,000 to the illness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This time five years ago I was in Australia for the O&rsquo;Byrne cup,&rdquo; he wrote on http://niallmcnamee7.blogspot.ie.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We had lost the Leinster club final to Kilmacud Crokes in December and myself, my brother and a friend of ours headed out to Australia for a couple of months. I&rsquo;m going to share a story about that time to highlight how bad gambling was for me even at that stage. Not a lot of people know this story. A lot of people won&rsquo;t understand it, a lot of people will understand it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We had arrived in Melbourne a couple of days and were out having a few drinks. It was around half 12 in the morning and I was wrecked so I decided to go home and leave the boys to it. We were staying in a hostel a stones throw away from the Crown Casino in Melbourne. I was never a man for casinos, I never really saw the point of them, but this particular night in Australia I decided to call in on my way home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I was wandering around for a while and eventually I sat down at a roulette table. I took $100 from my wallet because that&rsquo;s all the money I had on me and exchanged it for chips. I didn&rsquo;t really understand the game so I sat and watched for a few minutes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;After a short while I started to notice a pattern. If a black coloured number came up three or four times in a row, a red coloured number would usually follow. So I would wait till three or four of the same colour would come up and then I would gamble on the other colour coming up next. If I put on $50 I would get my $50 back plus $50 from the casino. It sounded so simple in my head.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Now bear in mind I had a few drinks on board as well so the logic was pretty unstable. I sat there patiently for a couple of spins and eventually took the plunge and won. There were a couple sitting beside me and I could see they were intrigued by what I was doing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;About an hour passed and was up a few hundred dollars but that didn&rsquo;t really excite me. I was ordering more drink from the bar and was, as I thought at the time, enjoying myself. I kept playing away to my strategy and it was working pretty well. As I started to win more money I then started to take more risks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;That&rsquo;s what gambling does, it&rsquo;s progressive. The first bet might start out low but it will always get higher to get a bigger adrenaline rush. Before I knew it, after guessing around 12 spins in a row correctly, I had turned my $100 into $6000. I got my chips and walked to the cashiers desk and cashed them in. I was stuffing wads of cash into every available pocket in my jeans and jacket. I was over the moon.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	McNamee&rsquo;s joy would not last, though.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We still had two months of this holiday to go, just think of the fun I could have with all this money. I went to the most expensive restaurant in the casino and ordered the most expensive steak on the menu. I sat back while I ate, dreaming of all the brilliant things I could do with this money on this holiday of a lifetime. I finished my food, left a massive tip trying to be the big shot and headed for the exit. I was going home and I couldn&rsquo;t wait to tell the boys.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I was roughly 15 metres from the exit, I looked to my right and there was another roulette table. Will I won&rsquo;t I? One more won&rsquo;t do any harm. In one hour I was still there. After turning $100 into $6000 earlier that night, I was now after turning $6000 into -$1000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I lost the $6000 I had won, I took $1000 from the bank machine, and I lost that as well. This resulted in me having to ring both my parents to send me money because I had none left.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If only I could have just walked out of the casino that night everything would have been perfect. Actually, no it wouldn&rsquo;t. I would have gone back in the next day and lost it all. That&rsquo;s how us compulsive gamblers work, we can&rsquo;t stop. And that&rsquo;s why we don&rsquo;t talk about how much money we lose.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;m doing it now to prove a point. If I had of left there with $100,000 I still would have lost it all eventually. It&rsquo;s the emotions we go through in everyday life that put us through this turmoil. Gambling was my escape. Everything I did back then was an escape. Even the holiday was an escape. Maybe it&rsquo;s Ireland, maybe I won&rsquo;t be a compulsive gambler in another country. But I was just as bad, probably worse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I would estimate that I lost around &euro;200,000 through gambling, but if I had access to &euro;1,000,000 I would have lost all that as well. If someone can&rsquo;t afford to lose &euro;10 in a bookies but places the bet anyway, well then they have the same problem I had. The money isn&rsquo;t the issue, the fact that we can&rsquo;t walk those extra 15 metres to get out of the casino, that&rsquo;s the issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not doing this to try and have sensational stories for people. Anyone who suffers from this addiction will tell the exact same story, the time and place will be different but that sense of suffering and helplessness will be the same. So take strength from the fact that you&rsquo;re not alone.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/mcnamee-i-lost-200k-gambling-254407.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-06 10:35:35',NULL,'mcnamee-i-lost-€200k-gambling'),(383,'More than 9,000 calls made to Console helpline for farmers since late 2012','<p>\r\n	Suicide had been attempted in more than half of cases</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A helpline for farmers and rural dwellers under stress has seen a big increase in callers since last spring and more than half of those needing help said they had attempted suicide in the past.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 24-hour helpline run by suicide prevention charity Console on behalf of the Health Service Executive received 9,244 calls between September 2012, when Console began to operate the line, and last November.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Figures are not yet available for December but Console chief executive Paul Kelly said the helpline was extremely busy at the end of the year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I know that the helpline was particularly busy during the Christmas period, especially New Year&rsquo;s Eve and New Year&rsquo;s Day,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 893 people called the helpline in November.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kelly said the helpline received 133 calls in September 2012 but last March, when the fodder crisis began in earnest, some 644 people called the helpline. In May, the number of calls increased to 998, and numbers continued to remain high.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;At the time of the fodder crisis the type of calls we were getting were about farmers struggling, trying to look after their animals and get financial support from the banks, which was often being declined,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The stress of that, combined with the sense of feeling isolated from the community, left many of them feeling unable to cope.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kelly said this sense of isolation and loneliness was a major factor for farmers contacting the helpline, particularly single farmers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There&rsquo;s also a heightened anxiety for their own personal safety where people live in very remote areas. A lot of the cohesion that was there is gone, with post offices and Garda stations closed and the drink-driving law, which has put them off going down to the local pub to link in with their friends.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Private<br />\r\n	He said farmers were very private people, &ldquo;so for them to come to a helpline like this takes great courage. But the good news is that the word is getting out about the service.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 52 per cent of callers said they or the person they were calling about had attempted suicide in the past. A further 15 per cent of calls involved someone who had attempted suicide in the past six months. And 52 per cent of calls involved a person who had attempted self-harm on numerous occasions, while 16 per cent had tried to harm themselves in the past six months. Mr Kelly said more than half of callers were women and many were calling on behalf of a husband, son or brother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Farm and rural stress helpline: 1800 742 645</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/more-than-9-000-calls-made-to-console-helpline-for-farmers-since-late-2012-1.1645204</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-06 10:38:41',NULL,'more-than-9000-calls-made-to-console-helpline-for-farmers-since-late-2012'),(384,'HSE and GAA join forces to offer ‘practical ways’ to deal with stress','<p>\r\n	Organisers say it is Ireland&rsquo;s first sport and health partnership to help combat stress in the local community</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Health Service Executive (HSE) and the GAA will launch a joint initiative aimed at helping people cope with stress without having to visit their doctor later this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mental Health Minister Kathleen Lynch will launch the joint initiative on Wednesday with GAA clubs in Midleton and St Finbarr&rsquo;s in Cork who will run &lsquo;Stress Control&rsquo; courses over the course of six weeks from the end of January.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Organisers say it is Ireland&rsquo;s first sport and health partnership to help combat stress in the community with the aim of bringing information to people through their GAA Club, rather than them having to go to their doctor or local healthcare facility.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The free course is open to anyone over 18 and interested in learning how to manage stress.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;Stress Control&rsquo; is a technique designed by Jim White, a clinical psychologist based in Scotland, and has been run in England and Ireland in recent years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Classes will deal with a different topic each week and will teach skills to control stress and anxiety and offer solutions to sleep problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When stress gets a grip it can affect how we think and feel, what we do or don&rsquo;t do, it can affect our sleep and it can interfere with home life, work life and with our social lives,&rdquo; Dr Jennifer Hayes, a principal psychologist with the HSE South, said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This course is open to anybody who is currently experiencing stress or interested in learning how to manage stress better and therefore improve their quality of life.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pearse McCarthy, project leader of the Midleton GAA Healthy Club, said that the GAA has identified a significant need for a practical course such as &lsquo;Stress Control&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The course is also beneficial in instances where people are not sure what the cause of their stress is, which is a common experience for many,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The benefits of sports and exercise are evident in many research studies; hence the GAA can play an important role in tackling stress.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.thejournal.ie/hse-gaa-stress-1250083-Jan2014/</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-06 10:48:03',NULL,'hse-and-gaa-join-forces-to-offer-‘practical-ways’-to-deal-with-stress'),(385,'Cries for help to Teen-Line increase 54pc','<p>\r\n	Teen-Line Ireland had a 54pc increase in calls throughout the year as more young people struggled with mental health issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The service is hoping to increase its helpline capacity this year, after a massive surge in demand saw the figure of 8,300 calls in 2012 rise to 12,785 calls during 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of the teens who made contact with the helpline, 107 had suicidal feelings, 36 had made a suicide attempt and 47 of the calls related to self-harm.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The organisation also reported that the caller was crying or silent in 2,643 of the calls logged by the service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Teen-Line Ireland figures show that the average age of callers during the year increased slightly from 16.6 years to 17.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The charity said that in 2013, there were more new callers accessing the service than previous years, and this was a positive development as teenagers are &quot;reaching out for support and someone to listen to them&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Its founder Maureen Bolger (55) said that it wants to expand the services that are currently available.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We are always looking to improve the service we offer, so next year, we hope to increase the helpline capacity by 25pc and extend the opening hours,&quot; she told the Herald.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	BUSY</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Our helpline is staffed by volunteers so to achieve this we need more volunteers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We&#39;re asking people who would like to get involved to contact us on volunteer@teenline.ie.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The body said that people call the helpline with a myriad of issues &ndash; &quot;everything from problems with friends in school to quite complex family issues&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, the helpline reported being particularly busy over the Christmas season and received a large number of calls from teens who are regulars.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The charity started out with a handful of volunteers, but over the years the numbers giving up their time to help teens has increased.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Its volunteer base has increased to around 60 people, meaning it has more lines available each night to cater for the rise in demand for the service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said that the increase in the number of calls to the helpline shows that there is a greater awareness of the service</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Teen-Line Ireland is a free-phone service which is open every day of the week from 8pm to 11pm.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is also open early on Wednesday from 4pm to 11pm. All calls to the service are confidential.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The helpline is there to answer calls from teenagers from the ages of 13 to 19, however it does not refuse any calls it receives.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.herald.ie/news/cries-for-help-to-teenline-increase-54pc-29896003.html\">http://www.herald.ie/news/cries-for-help-to-teenline-increase-54pc-29896003.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-08 11:44:50',NULL,'cries-for-help-to-teen-line-increase-54pc'),(386,'More than 2,200 deported or turned back at ports in 2013','<p>\r\n	More than 2,200 people were deported from Ireland or turned back at the country&rsquo;s sea and airports last year, new figures reveal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Applications for asylum stood at 946 in 2013, just below the previous year&rsquo;s tally, but well down on the peak of 11,600 recorded in 2002.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A total of 1,890 people were refused entry at sea and airports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 210 failed asylum seekers and illegal migrants were also deported from the State in 2013, with Nigeria, China, Mauritius, Albania, and Pakistan representing the countries to which most were returned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A further 84 asylum seekers were transferred to the EU member state in which they first made their application, and 63 EU nationals were returned to their countries of origin on foot of a removal order.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There were 166,000 new applications for visas, residence, citizenship, and protection last year, with Indian nationals making up the largest proportion of applicants, followed by Russian nationals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Migration, mainly from the EU, saw the non-Irish population of the country rise to 544,000 people, or 12% of the total.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Shatter said migration was a key to sustaining economic recovery. &ldquo;I made it my priority to take steps to harness the previously untapped potential of the immigration system to aid economic activity as part of our national recovery,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;As these figures demonstrate the initiatives and reforms being pursued are working.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Inward investment and enterprise is being encouraged. Visa applications to visit Ireland for tourism and business reasons are now higher than they have ever been in the history of the State and many thousands more are visiting Ireland under the terms of the Irish visa waiver programme.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 4,370 people seeking international protection were held in direct provision centres, marking a drop of 470 on 2012, and well down on the 2010 figure of 6,100.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Shatter estimated the number of people allowed to remain in the State from outside the European Economic Area stood at 120,000 last year, down from 133,200 in 2010.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Shatter said the majority of these people were working or studying here, with the most represented nationalities being Indian (11%), Brazilian (10%), Chinese (9%), Nigerian (8%), and American (6%).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Shatter said speeding up the application process was a key aim for the coming year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Huge improvements have been made in the citizenship area, visa applications are being processed in a matter of days in the great majority of cases and in the asylum area new applications are processed to completion within months,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/more-than-2200-deported-or-turned-back-at-ports-in-2013-254469.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-08 11:45:40',NULL,'more-than-2200-deported-or-turned-back-at-ports-in-2013'),(387,'Cuts to grants to hit elderly and disabled','<p>\r\n	New rules drawn up by the Department of the Environment will reduce the amount paid in grants to the elderly and disabled for work on their homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new rules will also make it harder for many people to qualify for the home improvement grants &ndash; which help them to buy things like stairlifts and ramps or renovate their homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The department is also considering the introduction of a &ldquo;claw-back&rdquo; &ndash; where the homeowner will have to repay the State if they sell their house.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Those receiving grants over &euro;15,000 may be forced to repay the entire amount on a &ldquo;sliding scale&rdquo; over five years if they sell their house.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The raft of changes came into effect on January 1.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Elderly and disabled people will see cuts of more than 40 per cent to certain payments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There will also be significant reductions in thresholds and changes to eligibility rules that will see some elderly people lose their grants entirely.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a new move, officials will assess the incomes of the entire family before determining how much a person will get in grants.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister Jan O&#39;Sullivan told RTE&#39;s Morning Ireland today that the government&#39;s allocation for the grants have been increased from &euro;35million last year to &euro;38million this year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There have always been a very large number of people applying for the grant and that&#39;s one of the reasons for doing the review, to make sure that the money goes to those who most need it.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new changes will apply to new applicants for the grants. There will be a reduction to the maximum grant in the older person&#39;s grant, the Minister said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the maximum grant for people with disability remains at &euro;30,000. The older person&#39;s grant has been reduced from &euro;10,000 to &euro;8,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister said the average amount given to older people around the country was &euro;5,000, and this was the reason why the grant was reduced.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She stressed that older people under 66 years will still be able to apply for grants under the mobility aid grants and the disability grants.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If a person&#39;s income is less than &euro;30,000 per year, they will be asked to make a five per cent contribution, Minister O&#39;Sullivan said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And if an income is &euro;60,000, the person will be asked to make a 30 per cent contribution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eamon Timmins, Head of Advocacy at Age Action Ireland said the cuts to the grants will affect three schemes - the home adaptation grant for disabled people, the housing adaptation grant for the elderly, and mobility aid grant scheme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the cuts will affect people who are terminally ill, and people who are &quot;hanging in there trying not to go to hospital or to a nursing home&quot; - some of &quot;the most vulnerable people in society&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the government has &quot;moved the goalposts&quot; without officially announcing the changes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The age category has been moved from 60 up to 66 years, and even the lowest wage category will have to pay some contribution to the cost of the works on their homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said &quot;in the end some of the poorest people may lose out&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/cuts-to-grants-to-hit-elderly-and-disabled-29901645.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/cuts-to-grants-to-hit-elderly-and-disabled-29901645.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-09 11:41:33',NULL,'cuts-to-grants-to-hit-elderly-and-disabled'),(388,'Dismay for young rape victim at refusal to prosecute','<p>\r\n	The mother of a teenage rape victim has expressed outrage at discovering from a third party that her daughter&#39;s alleged attacker will not be prosecuted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The mother and daughter were at the centre of a hard-hitting Ombudsman for Children (OFC) report last year that criticised the HSE for its handling of an abuse case involving the girl, who was aged 10 at the time of the offence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The girl had complained of being raped at knifepoint by a middle-aged neighbour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier this week, the woman&#39;s solicitor received a letter from a garda superintendent confirming that the DPP had directed no prosecution should be taken.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She told the Irish Independent that, despite all they have gone through, they were devastated to have learned of the decision first from a third party.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The parent also said she believed gardai should have contacted her directly, rather than her solicitor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It is like a never-ending nightmare for us. I am so, so angry. They wonder why victims are so reluctant to come forward and report abuse. This is exactly why,&quot; the distraught mother said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;After all we have been through, we didn&#39;t even receive a phone call to say that there wouldn&#39;t be a prosecution or an explanation as to why not.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The girl, who is now 18, said she feels betrayed by the agencies that were supposed to have protected her.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I think the way I have been treated ... is almost worse than the abuse. I&#39;m so angry I could cry,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Not being believed was the worst of all... it was almost worse than the abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I want an apology. After what the Ombudsman found I want someone to say &#39;sorry&#39; for how I was treated and for what happened.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The girl and her mother will meet with the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) officials in two weeks to discuss the case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The decision not to prosecute came just three months after the OFC was scathing of how the girl and her mother were treated by the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	SHOCKINGLY</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That report warned the HSE handling of the complaint had &quot;adversely affected the child&quot; and left the victim with little or no trust in state services</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The review concluded that the HSE did not consider the best interests of the child and shockingly contributed to &quot;a lack of trust felt by the child in the HSE&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The mother and child fear that the handling of the case by state agencies was instrumental in the DPP opting not to sanction any prosecution against the man involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The mother said: &quot;We thought that these services were there to help and support us.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dismay-for-young-rape-victim-at-refusal-to-prosecute-29903625.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dismay-for-young-rape-victim-at-refusal-to-prosecute-29903625.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-10 10:44:59',NULL,'dismay-for-young-rape-victim-at-refusal-to-prosecute'),(389,'Autistic children locked in unsupervised ‘isolation rooms’ for hours','<p>\r\n	One child was locked into a small, converted bathroom, for 90 minutes for falling behind on work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Autistic children as young as eight-years-old are being locked in so-called &lsquo;withdrawal rooms&rsquo; for hours without supervision, TheJournal.ie can reveal.<br />\r\n	Parents have blamed insufficient training for teachers and a lack of cohesive national regulation for the incidents.<br />\r\n	The rooms, present in some schools which have an Autistic Spectrum Disorder unit, are intended for brief use as a last resort when a child with autism is having a meltdown, and is at risk of injuring themselves or others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Withdrawal rooms, sometimes referred to as isolation, seclusion, or quiet rooms, may contain padding to protect the child from injury, but others are left bare. A small observation window is required.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, guidelines for their use are set by the Board of Management of&nbsp; individual schools, rather than at national level, which may have contributed to their misuse.<br />\r\n	The rooms have been banned in some parts of the United States, and now parents in Ireland want a similar move here.<br />\r\n	The Canadian province of British Columbia is considering an outright ban on the use of the rooms, following the publication of a survey which raised concerns that they may be in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Three days in a row<br />\r\n	In one case, which TheJournal.ie understands to be the subject of an investigation by the Child and Family Agency, an 11-year-old child with autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) was locked into a &lsquo;withdrawal room&rsquo; three days in a row, for hours at a time during a week in January of last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child was first locked into the room, a 1.8 by 2.5 metre converted bathroom, for an hour and a half for becoming agitated after falling behind on classwork.<br />\r\n	This had become a regular occurrence since the child lost their Special Need Assistant in September 2013.<br />\r\n	The following two days, they were locked into the room for five hours each day, leaving the child in an extremely distressed state.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Bleeding<br />\r\n	Out of frustration caused by being forced into the room, the child attempted to smash through the room&rsquo;s only window. When one of the child&rsquo;s parent arrived to the school, the child was found still locked in the room, surrounded by broken glass and bleeding from the feet, as his shoes had been removed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The image above, taken by the parent on arriving to the school on one of these occasions, shows the child attempting to dismantle the light fixing at the top of the room after being kept in the room for five hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking to TheJournal.ie, the parent described the school&rsquo;s use of the room as &ldquo;barbaric&rdquo;, and that her child has been left traumatised by the incident, with the effects still felt almost a year later:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It wasn&rsquo;t until November that my child laughed again. They don&rsquo;t trust strangers any more, and assumes all teachers will treat them like before.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesperson for the Child and Family Agency said they do not comment on individual cases, but that &ldquo;if there are concerns regarding a child, these should be brought to the attention of the nearest Social Work Dept for investigation and follow up when necessary&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An eight-year-old child in a separate school was found by its parents &ndash; at the end of the school day &ndash; screaming after being kept in a withdrawal room for an extended period of time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A third school with access to a withdrawal room is understood to have rarely used it. On two occasions that it was needed, the child was taken out of the room after a maximum of 15 minutes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Petitioning<br />\r\n	Fearing for their childrens&rsquo; safety, a group of concerned parents are petitioning the Department of Education to ban the use of the rooms.<br />\r\n	The petition, launched by Parents Against Isolation Rooms Ireland, is close to its aim of 2,500 signatures.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Spokesperson for the group, Niamh Deane, says that they want to see the use of these rooms banned completely.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Children can see these rooms as a punishment,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;and it can have a lasting psychological effect on them.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been contacted by dozens of families who are frightened by them. They are also frightened by what other methods of restraint are being used by teachers to calm down their children.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that children are at risk due to a lack of training that teachers receive, not only in the use of withdrawal rooms but in other situations too.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Deane is in the process of setting up a registered charity, Tabor Children&rsquo;s Trust, with the aim of opening a small Montessori primary school in September 2014 for children aged from 3 to 12 years old with learning difficulties.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The school, which will require &euro;150,000 in funding, would cater for 6 children in each classroom, with one fully trained Montessori teacher and one to two support staff, varying on the children&rsquo;s needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Small safe space&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Withdrawal rooms are described by the Department of Education as a &ldquo;Small Safe Space&rdquo;, with funding provided for their construction, and designed for use in a different manner to sensory rooms, which are designed to calm the child under supervision rather than contain the child during a meltdown.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a School Design Guide, published by the Department, the intended use of a withdrawal room is as &ldquo;a safe area that a pupil, under the supervision of a staff member, can access for a short period of time&rdquo;, and in line with &ldquo;a clearly documented staged approach to the management of pupils&rsquo; behaviour&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	An observation window is required.<br />\r\n	However, there are no national guidelines in place for the use of these rooms and schools do not have to report on how often or for what reasons they are used.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Each school is required to prepare their own code of behaviour in accordance with Section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000&Prime;, the Department said in a statement.<br />\r\n	Codes of Behaviour</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;To assist schools in formulating a code of behaviour, the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) has developed guidelines for schools on Codes of Behaviour.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	However, situations where &ldquo;specialised behaviour management strategies, such as the use of restraint&rdquo; are needed are described in the report as &ldquo;outside the scope of these Guidelines&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Joseph R McAllister Jr, an award-winning expert in the area of autism who is based in Pennsylvania in the United States, told TheJournal.ie that they are generally considered to be used a last resort, and for only a brief period of time.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;When it is used, it should be used briefly. The theme should be looking to get an individual out of there as soon as it is no longer necessary&rdquo;, he said, and that training should focus on preventative measures to stop the situation from escalating.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Highly regulated&rdquo;<br />\r\n	The use of the rooms is &ldquo;highly regulated&rdquo; in the United States, he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added that young children experiencing a meltdown do have the potential to cause injury.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This website is currently awaiting a response from the Department of Education as to whether or not the government intends to draw up a set of national guidelines. It is understood that such guidelines are planned for 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The identity of the child pictured, their parents, and the school involved are known to TheJournal.ie.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/withdrawal-room-seclusion-isolation-autism-ireland-1255870-Jan2014/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/withdrawal-room-seclusion-isolation-autism-ireland-1255870-Jan2014/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-13 10:30:29',NULL,'autistic-children-locked-in-unsupervised-‘isolation-rooms’-for-hours'),(390,'Pupils left without vital help as counselling hours cut even further','<p>\r\n	Teenage pupils are suffering an even greater loss of school counselling services as the impact of a budget cutback bites deeper.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The hours spent on guidance and other counselling are continuing to fall drastically, as a result of a cost-saving measure introduced in September 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On average, guidance counsellors are now spending only 41pc of the time on one-to-one counselling of pupils that they did two years ago.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That is a further deterioration from last year when it had dropped to 49pc of the pre-2012 level, according to a new survey by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC), the results of which have been seen exclusively by the Irish Independent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Overall, the time that counsellors are devoting to their specialist area compared with two years ago has dropped to 76pc -- a further slip from 79pc last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The revelation comes as thousands of Leaving Certificate candidates prepare to fill in CAO forms indicating their college preferences.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Counsellors provide not only crucial advice on careers and college courses, but also play a vital role supporting pupils experiencing personal difficulties.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As well as working with class groups, an important part of a counsellor&#39;s work is one-to-one sessions with pupils.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The overall reduction in hours translates into the equivalent of one in five counsellors -- a total of 168 -- back in the classroom full-time, in a traditional teaching role.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the brunt of the cut was felt in 2012/13, a new IGC audit of schools and colleges of further education shows there has been a further erosion this year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The survey results paint a picture of an uneven and disjointed service with the most disadvantaged pupils suffering the greatest loss, while pupils of fee-paying schools are least affected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The stark reduction in service is very evident when a comparison is done on the actual number of hours spent on this specialist work in schools between 2011/12 and the current year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two years ago, the total amount of hours devoted to guidance counselling in 191 schools that responded to the survey was 24,541 -- and that is down 24pc to 18,716.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the same year, 2011/12, guidance counsellors in those schools spent 12,023 hours in one-to-one sessions with pupils, which is now down 59pc, to 4,956 hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For every hour spent on guidance/counselling two years ago, the average guidance counsellor is now spending 47 minutes; and for every hour devoted to one-to-one counselling, the average guidance counsellor is now spending only 25 minutes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	BULLYING</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cuts arise from the removal of the ex-quota allocation for guidance counselling, which means that schools must provide the service from within their general allocation of teaching hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The continuing deterioration in the service is tracked in an audit conducted for the IGC since September. It follows a similar audit last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Counsellors deal with issues such as bullying, self-harm and low self-esteem on a daily basis and, according to the IGC, many students are unable to access the assistance of a guidance counsellor when most needed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Guidance counsellors will be lobbying their parents&#39; councils and politicians nationally to seek a reversal of the cuts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/pupils-left-without-vital-help-as-counselling-hours-cut-even-further-29910016.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/pupils-left-without-vital-help-as-counselling-hours-cut-even-further-29910016.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-13 10:41:27',NULL,'pupils-left-without-vital-help-as-counselling-hours-cut-even-further'),(391,'Inquiry into institutional child abuse in North opens','<p>\r\n	Treatment of children in care homes over seven decades under investigation</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A judicial inquiry into child abuse in Northern Ireland residential care homes over more than seven decades opens today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under investigation is the treatment of children in a range of children&rsquo;s homes, borstals, training schools, juvenile justice centres, hospitals and orphanages between 1922 and 1995.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sir Anthony Hart QC will chair proceedings which, under the terms of the inquiry, must end by mid-2015 and report by January the following year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inquiry, ordered by the Stormont Executive in January last year, will sit in Banbridge courthouse in Co Down.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A total of 13 institutions are under investigation by the inquiry in relation to allegations of historical institutional abuse and/or neglect. The inquiry has the power to decide to investigate other institutions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under investigation by the inquiry are residential homes run by the North&rsquo;s local authorities, juvenile justice institutions, secular residential centres in the voluntary sector, and other voluntary homes run by the Catholic Church.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The scale of its work is vast, with more than 300 witnesses expected to appear in public.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most of these witnesses will give their testimony in person before the tribunal, while a few will appear via a video-link and the remainder will give their evidence in a written statement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A total of 435 individuals have applied to speak to the inquiry, 20 of whom are from the Republic. More than 60 of those applications are from those now resident in Australia. This is as a result of a policy of sending children from institutions in Northern Ireland to Australia under British government child migration policy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inquiry falls into two parts. The first takes the form of an Acknowledgment Forum to which victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse can talk in private about what happened to them when they were children living in these institutions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Describe experiences<br />\r\n	The inquiry&rsquo;s Acknowledgment Forum has already met 263 applicants.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The other part includes a statutory inquiry which offers victims and survivors an opportunity, if they prefer, to describe their experiences directly to the statutory inquiry through its legal team and, if required, at public hearings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today&rsquo;s proceedings will begin with a short opening address from the inquiry&rsquo;s chairman. He will be followed by an opening address from senior counsel to the inquiry, Christine Smith.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She is expected to provide a general overview of the structure of the inquiry, and the issues and questions which it will address. Her opening remarks will conclude, it is expected, tomorrow afternoon.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Legal representatives for any of the &ldquo;core participants&rdquo; who wish to deliver a short opening address will be given the opportunity to do so by Sir Anthony.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Provision has been made for this section of the inquiry to continue until Wednesday. After that, the inquiry will reconvene in public in Banbridge on Monday, January 27th, with the commencement of what the inquiry refers to as the first &ldquo;thematic module&rdquo; of evidence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sisters of Nazareth<br />\r\n	This will focus on two former institutions in Derry, both of which were run by the Sisters of Nazareth. They are St Joseph&rsquo;s Home, Termonbacca, and Nazareth House Children&rsquo;s Home on Bishop Street in the city.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As heads of the Stormont Executive, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have already ordered the provision of drop-in centres for victims and survivors of historical institutional abuse in Northern Ireland. RelateNI and the Wave Trauma Centre provide professional help at both centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The PSNI also has established specialist units which are investigating all reports of institutional abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/inquiry-into-institutional-child-abuse-in-north-opens-1.1652991\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/inquiry-into-institutional-child-abuse-in-north-opens-1.1652991</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-13 10:44:45',NULL,'inquiry-into-institutional-child-abuse-in-north-opens'),(392,'Mental health crisis looms for gay teenagers - report','<p>\r\n	More than half of young gay people have suffered mental health issues, and 40pc have considered suicide, according to a major report, to be published tomorrow.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It warns that a generation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people face a mental health crisis and that the neglect of LGBT issues by schools contributes to a climate of hostility and fear.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings from the Youth Chances project &ndash; the biggest social research study into young LGBT people undertaken in England &ndash; also shows that 50 per cent have self-harmed and 42 per cent had sought medical help for anxiety or depression.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The project, led by the charity Metro, involved interviews with more than 7,000 16- to 25-year-olds that asked about their experiences of education, employment and health services, as well as relationships.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Greg Ussher, Metro&#39;s acting chief executive, said: &quot;We are failing LGBTQ [Q refers to people questioning their sexuality] young people. The clear message is that they are badly served. What they want most is emotional support and they are not getting it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;By the age of 13 most are already sure or are questioning their sexuality or gender identity, so we need to ensure all families and schools are equipped to give that support.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One in five LGBT pupils reported being the victim of physical attacks at school, but the majority did not report them and only a small proportion of those who did felt that their concerns were resolved. And only a quarter said they had learnt anything at school about safer sex with a same-sex partner.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Ussher warned that if schools failed to act it would lead to a &quot;hugely increased risk of bullying and abuse; isolation and rejection &ndash; all leading to significantly increased levels of depression, self-harm and suicide&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added, &quot;We must acknowledge we are facing a crisis. Schools have a key role to play in providing inclusive environments for all young people with zero tolerance of bullying and discrimination and by eliminating the fear of it through education and support.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When Taz Gibbins-Klein came out aged 14 she was the only openly gay student in her London school. Soon the target of bullying, she sought out specific mental health services and says she has been &quot;receiving different forms of treatment for low mood and anxiety&quot; ever since.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added: &quot;Dealing with homophobic bullying and putting actions in place means you have to admit it exists and I think that&#39;s something that school don&#39;t want to do.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Lottery-funded project plans to survey 15,000 young adults by 2015. Its early findings echo the recent Stonewall Schools report which found that 55 per cent of LGBT pupils have experienced bullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Stonewall&#39;s Luke Tryl said the culture of homophobic bullying could &quot;in a large part&quot; be blamed on Section 28 of the Local Government Act, which was introduced in 1988 and repealed in 2003. It banned teachers from &quot;intentionally promoting homosexuality&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Many schools are improving, but teacher training on dealing with homophobia needs to improve before the legacy is eliminated,&quot; said Mr Tryl.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	LGBT campaigner Peter Tatchell said the project&#39;s findings &quot;should be a wake-up call for the Education Secretary, Michael Gove&quot;. &quot;Every school should be required to teach sex and relationship education that addresses LGBT issues.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/world-news/mental-health-crisis-looms-for-gay-teenagers-report-29908937.html\">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/mental-health-crisis-looms-for-gay-teenagers-report-29908937.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-13 10:53:43',NULL,'mental-health-crisis-looms-for-gay-teenagers-report'),(393,'Foreign diplomat may face probe over slave labour claims','<p>\r\n	Criminal complaint after allegations that an embassy official trafficked a servant into Ireland to work 17 hours each day</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A foreign diplomat living in Ireland is facing a garda investigation over slave labour allegations amid claims he forced a private servant to work a 17-hour day for just &euro;1.66 an hour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The woman has lodged a complaint with Labour Relations Commission about her treatment, which was only uncovered after she was hospitalised.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A formal criminal complaint is also being prepared for the gardai.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is the eighth case in recent years where a foreign diplomat living in Ireland has been implicated in human trafficking and domestic slavery.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The man at the centre of the case is the second diplomat from his country against whom a complaint has been made.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As yet gardai have been unable to prosecute any of the alleged offenders. In some cases diplomatic immunity was invoked, while other alleged offenders left the country before they could be questioned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The woman in this case came to Ireland in 2012 to work in the private residence of a mid-ranking diplomat, doing household chores and looking after his children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the complaint, she was promised a regular wage and regular working hours -- but she soon found herself working 17-hour days, with no time off.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The plight of the woman, who doesn&#39;t speak English, only emerged after she was hospitalised last summer. At the time, efforts were made by the diplomat&#39;s embassy to repatriate her, but she resisted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Foreign Affairs was informed of the case and the woman was subsequently given accommodation in a direct provision hostel, which are generally used to house asylum seekers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If a formal garda inquiry is opened, she will be able to remain here for its duration.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The diplomat at the centre of the case has remained in Ireland. His embassy did not respond to a request from the Sunday Independent for comment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Details of the case have emerged as the department finalises new rules that foreign diplomats must abide by when they employ domestic workers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Measures being considered include a charter compelling diplomats to provide staff with written contracts and to pay wages by electronic transfer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood a clause was also being considered, which would allow a diplomat&#39;s visa to be cancelled if they fail to abide by these conditions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokeswoman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said it was still consulting officials at the Department of Justice and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to &quot;finalise strengthened criteria for employment of private domestic workers&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;That process is nearing completion and will be finalised as early as possible in 2014,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The spokeswoman said the department would assist in any investigation being undertaken into labour exploitation claims. She said it was not possible for Irish authorities to override diplomatic immunity, which can only be waived by the sending state.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Migrant Rights Centre of Ireland, which provides support to victims of labour trafficking, said measures to protect employees of diplomats were long overdue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Young women are being trafficked to Ireland by diplomatic employees and made to work in exploitative and even abusive conditions,&quot; said spokeswoman Grainne O&#39;Toole. &quot;This abuse goes unchallenged as diplomats are hiding behind diplomatic immunity and not held to account for their crimes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;These workers should be treated in accordance with Irish employment law and standards and norms upheld.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The Government needs to act and bring in measures to ensure these workers have proper conditions of employment with rights enforced by the National Employment Rights Authority.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The MRCI said it had dealt with over 120 cases of labour trafficking in the past six years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cases included people who ended up working in slave-like conditions as domestic staff, in restaurants, circuses and on farms.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/foreign-diplomat-may-face-probe-over-slave-labour-claims-29908543.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/foreign-diplomat-may-face-probe-over-slave-labour-claims-29908543.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-14 10:41:50',NULL,'foreign-diplomat-may-face-probe-over-slave-labour-claims'),(394,'More than 20,000 people using garda child alert system','<h2 class=\"p\" style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; font-family: \'Trebuchet MS\', \'Helvetica Neue\', Helvetica, sans-serif;\">\r\n	More than 20,000 people have downloaded the garda Child Rescue Ireland alert smartphone application since it was launched last month.<a href=\"http://www.herald.ie/news/20000-using-garda-child-alert-system-29911872.html\">http://www.herald.ie/news/20000-using-garda-child-alert-system-29911872.html</a></h2>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The CRI alert system (right) was introduced in May 2012, and there have only ever been two alerts of its kind.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The CRI alert enables gardai to seek the assistance of the public through the media, where a child has been abducted, and &quot;there is reasonable belief that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health and/or welfare of a child&quot;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">DISAPPEARED</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Gardai launched the alert on July 29 last, when Sanjeev Chada disappeared with his sons Ruairi and Eoghan. The boys were later found dead in the boot of their father&#39;s car, and he has since been charged with their murder.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The second alert was issued on November 28, when a Roscommon woman went missing with her three children. However, gardai later cancelled that alert when they were located safe and well in Fermanagh. Now thousands of smartphone users have downloaded the free app since it was launched on December 4, by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Justice Minister Alan Shatter.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	Made with assistance from Vodafone, the CRI app allows users to receive free CRI alerts direct to their phone.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	<strong style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;\">PUBLIC</strong></p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The CRI alert asks the public to assist the gardai as much as they can. During the CRI alert, as much information is issued about the children concerned as possible, including photographs and a car registration number if applicable.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	The phone app also allows users to build a profile on their own children, &quot;should the need arise&quot;.</p>\r\n<p style=\"margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;\">\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.herald.ie/news/20000-using-garda-child-alert-system-29911872.html\">http://www.herald.ie/news/20000-using-garda-child-alert-system-29911872.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-14 10:45:02',NULL,'more-than-20000-people-using-garda-child-alert-system'),(395,'UN to question Vatican officials on child abuse','<p>\r\n	Vatican officials are to face questions over clerical abuse of children at a hearing of a UN children&#39;s rights committee in Geneva.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The committee will publicly question members of the Holy See at the hearing in Geneva.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It faces allegations that it enabled the sexual abuse of thousands of children by protecting paedophile priests at the expense of victims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Vatican says it continues to receive around 600 claims against abusive priests every year, many dating back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Victims of child sexual abuse by Catholic priests said they hoped the UN scrutiny of the Vatican would finally help to hold perpetrators to account and halt future violations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Over the years, we&#39;ve struggled to understand why church officials continue to support and cover up for sexual predators,&quot; said Barbara Blaine, President of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAP).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We&#39;re hoping that finally the truth will be exposed and, more importantly, the church officials will change what they are doing and that Pope Francis will take action that will actually protect children.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0116/498179-vatican-abuse-un/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0116/498179-vatican-abuse-un/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-16 10:29:17',NULL,'un-to-question-vatican-officials-on-child-abuse'),(396,'International inquiry breaks up Philippines child sex operation','<p>\r\n	An international investigation has broken up a paedophile operation that streamed live sexual abuse of Filipino children over the internet, leading to numerous arrests in the Philippines, Britain and Australia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under Operation Endeavour, which spanned a dozen nations, 29 people have been arrested, including 11 in the Philippines.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Britain&#39;s National Crime Agency said three other ongoing inquiries have identified 733 suspects.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said 15 child victims aged between six and 15 have been rescued.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This is part of our intensified efforts to end this scourge ... of live streaming of child sexual abuse,&quot; said Senior Superintendent Gilbert Sosa, head of the Philippine police&#39;s anti-cybercrime unit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This has become a major problem in the Philippines, where in some cases even the parents are involved,&quot; he said, declining to give specific details that could compromise ongoing operations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Sosa said severe poverty had forced many youngsters into prostitution or into working in &quot;cybersex dens&quot;, a booming business believed to be focused on the central island of Cebu.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Britain&#39;s crime agency said Operation Endeavour began in 2012 with the discovery of obscene videos on a British paedophile&#39;s computer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The British man, Timothy Ford, was sentenced in March last year to eight-and-a-half years in prison while an associate, Thomas Owens, was convicted four months later.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Both men were said to have paid for live abuse of children on the internet and had at one point planned to travel to the Philippines to carry out &quot;contact abuse&quot; of minors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Authorities in 12 countries were involved in the arrest of 29 suspects, the British crime agency said. Of 17 British suspects, five have been convicted and nine investigations are ongoing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Extreme poverty, the increasing availability of high-speed internet and the existence of a vast and comparatively wealthy overseas customer base has led to organised crime groups exploiting children for financial gain,&quot; the agency said in a statement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The agency called abuse in developing countries &quot;a significant and emerging threat&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This investigation has identified some extremely dangerous child sexual offenders who believed paying for children to be abused to order was something they could get away with,&quot; said Andy Baker, deputy director of the agency&#39;s child exploitation and online protection command.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Protecting the victims of abuse is our priority and that means attacking every link in the chain, from dismantling the organised groups who are motivated by profit through to targeting their customers.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Australian Federal Police said it had executed six search warrants under the international operation that had led to the arrest of three Australians.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Two of the men were arrested in Western Australia and one Sydney man was arrested by the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok,&quot; it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Hundreds of thousands of images and videos depicting online child sexual exploitation, including children as young as five years old, were found during the warrants.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Australian offenders allegedly financed and ordered child abuse &quot;shows&quot; from the Philippines.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Police operations in the Philippines have focused in the impoverished village of Ibabao on Cebu island.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In September last year, a Filipino couple in their 30s were arrested in Ibabao for forcing their three young children to engage in sex acts and charging clients up to $100 (&euro;73) each to watch using webcams.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Twelve other children were subsequently rescued, also in Ibabao, and put in the care of government social workers, according to official police records.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Britain&#39;s crime agency said three other investigations into live streaming of child abuse have netted 733 suspects globally, including 139 in Britain and 594 overseas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0116/498163-philippines-child-abuse/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0116/498163-philippines-child-abuse/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-16 10:30:22',NULL,'international-inquiry-breaks-up-philippines-child-sex-operation'),(397,'Survivors of abuse hit out at church support service','<p>\r\n	Clerical abuse survivors claim that they have been excluded from consultations over the establishment of a Catholic Church support service aimed at catering for their spiritual needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Forensic psychologist Dr Maureen Griffin says one in four children in this country send or receive these sexually explicit photograph and text messages, and children as young as 10 are involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Education has confirmed it is developing a programme for junior and senior second-level students on &quot;personal safety&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Now Dr Griffin wants to ensure that sexting is included in the programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She says it is extremely important that this issue is covered in the lesson plan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her call follows moves in the UK, where Education Secretary Michael Gove has bowed to pressure from teachers, parents and sexual health experts to update sex education in schools to include the dangers of online pornography and sexting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Griffin stressed that while parents have a primary role in monitoring their children&#39;s phone use, schools are increasingly being faced with the problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sexting, along with phone and internet pornography, is &quot;rife among school children from third class upwards and sometimes even younger,&quot; said Dr Griffin, whose company, Internet Safety for Schools, delivers programmes covering the whole area of cyber-bullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that children and teenagers using social media like Snapchat &quot;don&#39;t understand the wider implications of what they are doing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They think once they send the picture it&#39;s gone and don&#39;t understand that someone can take a screenshot ... and send it on.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CONSEQUENCES</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They are distanced from sending these pictures because they are only pushing buttons on their phone and it removes them from thinking about the consequences&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added: &quot;Everyone knows what to do if a man with a bag of sweets comes up and asks you to get into his car -- but we need to break down the distance technology creates.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The psychologist emphasises that &quot;education is key&quot; in helping young people to deal with peer pressure, giving them the tools to block and deal with sexting when it happens, but also reassuring them that they have the right to say &quot;No&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/tablet/technology/one-in-four-irish-children-has-taken-part-in-sexting-29931190.html\">http://www.independent.ie/tablet/technology/one-in-four-irish-children-has-taken-part-in-sexting-29931190.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-20 09:58:33',NULL,'survivors-of-abuse-hit-out-at-church-support-service'),(398,'One in four Irish children has taken part in \'sexting\'','<p>\r\n	The spiralling problem of children &quot;sexting&quot; has prompted a leading psychologist to call for guidance on this issue in a new sex education programme planned for schools next autumn.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Forensic psychologist Dr Maureen Griffin says one in four children in this country send or receive these sexually explicit photograph and text messages, and children as young as 10 are involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Education has confirmed it is developing a programme for junior and senior second-level students on &quot;personal safety&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Now Dr Griffin wants to ensure that sexting is included in the programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She says it is extremely important that this issue is covered in the lesson plan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her call follows moves in the UK, where Education Secretary Michael Gove has bowed to pressure from teachers, parents and sexual health experts to update sex education in schools to include the dangers of online pornography and sexting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Griffin stressed that while parents have a primary role in monitoring their children&#39;s phone use, schools are increasingly being faced with the problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sexting, along with phone and internet pornography, is &quot;rife among school children from third class upwards and sometimes even younger,&quot; said Dr Griffin, whose company, Internet Safety for Schools, delivers programmes covering the whole area of cyber-bullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that children and teenagers using social media like Snapchat &quot;don&#39;t understand the wider implications of what they are doing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They think once they send the picture it&#39;s gone and don&#39;t understand that someone can take a screenshot ... and send it on.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CONSEQUENCES</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They are distanced from sending these pictures because they are only pushing buttons on their phone and it removes them from thinking about the consequences&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added: &quot;Everyone knows what to do if a man with a bag of sweets comes up and asks you to get into his car -- but we need to break down the distance technology creates.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The psychologist emphasises that &quot;education is key&quot; in helping young people to deal with peer pressure, giving them the tools to block and deal with sexting when it happens, but also reassuring them that they have the right to say &quot;No&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/tablet/technology/one-in-four-irish-children-has-taken-part-in-sexting-29931190.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-20 10:01:49',NULL,'one-in-four-irish-children-has-taken-part-in-sexting'),(399,'Life-saving drugs 14 times dearer here than in North','<p>\r\n	Life-saving drugs can still cost up to 14 times more in the Republic than they do in the North.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A survey by the Irish Independent has shown that there are still huge discrepancies in the price of medicines at different pharmacies -- both inside and outside the State.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cancer drug Exemestane is the most glaring example as this costs just &euro;6 a month in the North compared with a price tag of up to &euro;86 in the Republic.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As this drug is often prescribed for several years to women who have had breast cancer, the price difference can add up to thousands of euro per patient.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Boots had the highest price tag we found for Exemestane, at &euro;86.30, while Tesco pharmacies charge &euro;81.06.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New pharmacy Healthwave in Dundrum is charging substantially less at &euro;29.95 per month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the drug remains far cheaper across the Border in Newry, where the price is just &pound;5 (&euro;6) for the generic version at McKeevers Chemist.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	GENERIC</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Manager Adrian Woods said that a cheap generic version of Exemestane had been available in the UK since last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The case of Exemestane is probably one of the largest differences between brand and generic, and you could be talking a saving of nearly &euro;1,000 over the year,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Woods said that the number of customers from the Republic buying medicines had nearly doubled in the last six months since the Irish Independent highlighted savings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That flood of custom north comes as the latest CSO figures show that prescription drug prices in Ireland rose 7.7pc last year -- nearly 40 times as fast as general inflation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These spiralling costs came despite attempts by the HSE to cut prices and make it easier to buy generic medicines -- though unfortunately we found there was often little difference in price between the two down south.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, our survey shows that it is not always cheaper to travel north to buy medicine, as in some cases drugs are cheaper down south, making it vital to check before incurring travel costs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some branded medications such as depression medication Cymbalta and heart drugs Rosuvastatin and Exforge were cheaper in all outlets surveyed in the Republic.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New entrant to the Irish pharmacy market Healthwave in Dundrum gained hundreds of customers last week after it slashed prices to patients who sign up for its Healthpass subscription service, which costs &euro;25 a year to join.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Its prices are often a fraction of those in other pharmacies -- for example, Sildenafil -- the generic version of Viagra -- costs &euro;4.95, one-fifth of the &euro;25 price tag in some other chemists.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is achieved by cutting overheads, making strong use of technology and taking sharply reduced profit margins in the hope of getting a high volume of repeat business and preventing the need to travel north to buy affordable medicine, said its owner Shane O&#39;Sullivan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tesco prices also came out cheaper than some of its competitors for many medicines and it said it was opening its sixth pharmacy in Ireland in Gorey, Co Wexford, today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Boots Ireland said it was &quot;committed to offering affordable medicines to customers and our pricing on prescription medicines is competitive within the Irish marketplace&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Pharmacy Union, which represents pharmacists, said: &quot;The Irish pharmacy market is one of the most liberal and competitive in all of Europe and competition on pricing is nothing new to Irish pharmacists.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ongoing rollout of reference pricing by the HSE -- setting maximum prices for specified drugs -- would result in the prices of off-patent and generic medicines falling considerably further, said spokesman Jim Curran.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/lifesaving-drugs-14-times-dearer-here-than-in-north-29931278.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-20 10:04:43',NULL,'life-saving-drugs-14-times-dearer-here-than-in-north'),(400,'Pensioner who cycled 30 miles in terror has never returned home','<p>\r\n	A pensioner living in isolation fled his home in terror, cycling 30 miles in darkness in fear of thieves who had vowed to rob him a third time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Bachelor Michael McMahon (68) packed up his few belongings and abandoned his home in rural Cree near Doonbeg, West Clare, after being terrorised by thugs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He set off on his bike to cycle the eight hours to Ennis where he checked himself into a nursing home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a terrifying ordeal, robbers had taken a substantial sum of money from him on two separate occasions - using the metal rung of a fence in the guise of a gun - and threatened to come back for &euro;50,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McMahon lived alone in a remote location two miles from the village of Cooraclare in a house without electricity or running water.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, since the attack two years ago, Mr McMahon has been too frightened to return home and has been living in a nursing home ever since, despite good health.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He had received an inheritance from a relative in America and had been in the habit of visiting his bank in Kilrush two or three times a year to withdraw &euro;3,000 in cash.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He would live on that for three to five months, storing the money in jars at his home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At 10pm on February 21, 2012, Mr McMahon heard banging outside his home and could see three torches in the darkness outside.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The gang smashed three windows of Mr McMahon&#39;s home and he saw three hooded people outside who demanded &euro;500.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a state of &quot;absolute fear&quot; he handed them three jars containing roughly &euro;4,000 in cash.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the robbers told Mr McMahon: &quot;No gardai. We won&#39;t be back. We won&#39;t get mad.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Afterwards, Mr McMahon felt weak and fearful but made no complaint to gardai.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The following day, he went to the AIB in Kilrush to withdraw &euro;3,000 from his bank account since he had no cash left in the house, and blocked up the broken windows with blocks and turf.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But four nights later on February 25, the robbers returned. Removing blocks from one of his broken windows, they pushed through the rung of a gate, resembling a gun.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McMahon heard one of the robbers say: &quot;You f****n&#39; bastard. You must have a gun and I&#39;ll shoot you if you go into the other room.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He opened the door and saw four people outside. One of these brought Mr McMahon out to the rear of the house while the others searched the house.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They requested Mr McMahon&#39;s assistance to locate money in the house as they had only found a small amount in a jar.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McMahon retrieved the remainder of the money - around &euro;3,000 - and gave it to the robbers who then demanded his bank books. Seeing a substantial sum of money listed, they instructed him to go to the bank the following Monday to withdraw &euro;50,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If he contacted the gardai, they would come back and &quot;burn his house down,&quot; they said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Later that night, Mr McMahon gathered up his belongings and cycled all the way to Ennis, checking himself into St Joseph&#39;s nursing home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	COMPLAINT</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On arrival, he made a complaint to gardai and remained at St Joseph&#39;s for two days before being transferred to St Theresa&#39;s nursing home in Kilrush where he lives today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Three men have pleaded guilty to robbing Mr McMahon.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Joseph Lernihan (21), of Finnanon Park, Mullagh, pleaded guilty to robbing Mr McMahon at Drumellihy West, Cree, on February 21 and 25, 2012, with Shane Donnellan (20), of Clohanbeg, Cree, Kilrush, and Noel Garry (20), of Tullycrine, Kilrush, pleading guilty to the robbery of Mr McMahon on February 25, 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sentencing at Ennis Circuit Court was adjourned until March 3 to await probation reports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eamon Timmins, of Age Action, said the robbery reflected the graphic impact crime could have on victims, particularly older people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said in instances where older people were robbed, it created many more victims in the community as other older people in the area lived in fear.<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/pensioner-who-cycled-30-miles-in-terror-has-never-returned-home-29933922.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/pensioner-who-cycled-30-miles-in-terror-has-never-returned-home-29933922.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-21 11:24:34',NULL,'pensioner-who-cycled-30-miles-in-terror-has-never-returned-home'),(401,'Admissions to mental health units plummet','<p>\r\n	The number of patients in psychiatric units and hospitals has dropped from 19,801 to 2,407 in the past 50 years, according to a new report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The fall amounts to a reduction of 88pc and shows the shift away from in-patient care to more community-based treatment for people with a psychiatric illness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings are revealed in a new census carried out by the Health Research Board and they give an insight into social changes in the half-century since 1963.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 2013 census shows:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Men make up 55pc of patients in psychiatric units and hospitals. The gender breakdown of in-patients has not changed over the last 50 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* One-third of in-patients on census night were aged 65 years and over and 5pc were under 25 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Single people accounted for 59pc of in-patients on census night and those who were married made up 20.5pc. The widowed had the highest rate of hospitalisation, followed by people who were divorced.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* The unskilled occupational group had the highest rate of hospitalisation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Almost one-third of residents on census night had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and 17pc had depression.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Around 15pc were involuntary patients who were detained against their will. Over the last 50 years there has been a decline in the proportion of involuntary patients, from 79pc in 1963. The rate of involuntary hospitalisation was highest in Dublin North-East followed by HSE-West.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* More than a third of all in-patients were long-stay -- they had been in hospital for one year or longer on census night. Twenty-two per cent were long-stay and had been there for five years or more.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Half of those who had been hospitalised for five years or more on census night were aged 65 years and over. Thirty-six per cent of those who were aged 75 years or over had been in hospital for five years or more on census night.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report reflects the changes brought about by the closure of the old Victorian hospitals that were condemned for their grim surroundings in inspection reports over the decades.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proportion of patients resident in psychiatric units attached to general hospitals has increased from 3pc in 1981 to 30pc in 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There were 64 patients who were under 18 years of age on census night. This is an increase in the number of under-18s resident -- 43 -- since the last census in 2010.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report said this may be due to the increased need to provide in-patient care for young people in that time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Just more than one-third (34pc) of child and adolescent patients were 17 years old on census night and 28pc were 16 years old. Fourteen per cent were 15 years old but 5pc were just 13 years old.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report found that 41pc of child and adolescent residents had a diagnosis of depressive disorders, 14pc had schizophrenia, 11pc suffered eating disorders, and 5pc had neurosis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/mental-health/admissions-to-mental-health-units-plummet-29928346.html\">http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/mental-health/admissions-to-mental-health-units-plummet-29928346.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-21 11:42:50',NULL,'admissions-to-mental-health-units-plummet'),(402,'Baby of drug addicts to remain in care until aged 18','<p>\r\n	Older children were neglected and abused, says Judge Colin Daly at Family Court</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An infant girl taken into care by the Child and Family Agency as soon as she was born will remain in care until she is 18, a judge at Dublin&rsquo;s District Family Court ruled yesterday.<br />\r\n	Judge Colin Daly said given the history of abuse and neglect of the couple&rsquo;s older children, it was in the best interests of the infant that she remain in care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The infant at the centre of the full care order &ndash; to age 18 &ndash; had been the subject of interim care orders since she was born. Her social worker said the infant&rsquo;s &ldquo;health, development and welfare&rdquo; would be detrimentally affected if she were returned to her parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her parents were known to the Child and Family Agency, formerly the HSE, for a number of years, the social worker said. They both had &ldquo;significant drug problems&rdquo; and had older children, all of whom also had full care orders made for them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They had opportunities to address their habit, she said, but had not done so, though they were currently in a drug stabilisation programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Relapse<br />\r\n	A previous attempt at reunification with some of the older children did not succeed. Though the parents were drug-free for some time, they relapsed and the children were neglected, hungry and physically abused and had been sexually abused by an acquaintance. There was also a history of domestic violence against the mother. &ldquo;They always put their need for drugs before their children,&rdquo; the social worker said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The parents were living in bed and breakfast accommodation, having been evicted from two local authority houses due to antisocial behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker conceded the couple got regular supervised access visits and were both &ldquo;very good&rdquo; with their daughter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Giving evidence, the mother, in her 30s, said she had decided it was in the best interests of her daughter for the child to be in care until she was in a better position to provide for her.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The mother had been drug- free &ldquo;for a good while&rdquo; during pregnancy and had thought &ldquo;everything would be great&rdquo;, but then relapsed. She hoped she might be able to bring up her daughter if she could &ldquo;just get a year&rdquo; to address her addictions and her housing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;Abusive and violent&rsquo;<br />\r\n	The infant&rsquo;s father, who was unrepresented, also accepted the need for a care order. He acknowledged he had been &ldquo;abusive and violent&rdquo; in the past, but said he felt they were &ldquo;getting punished for past mistakes&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Daly said he believed it was in the best interests of the infant that she be placed in care until her 18th birthday. It was probable the infant would experience abuse and neglect and witness domestic violence if she were returned to her parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He acknowledged the parents had made some progress towards recovery and had also put their daughter&rsquo;s needs ahead of their own in consenting to the care order. &ldquo;It is clear both of you care for and very much love your daughter,&rdquo; he said.<br />\r\n	He listed the case for 12 months&rsquo; time to review the progress of the parents and the infant. He also ordered that the process to match the infant with long-term foster parents be completed in 16 weeks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The case was among a dozen childcare proceedings listed at the Dublin District Family Court in Dolphin House yesterday. Legislation allowing the reporting of childcare and family law cases came into force last week. Parties involved cannot be identified.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/baby-of-drug-addicts-to-remain-in-care-until-aged-18-1.1662173\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/baby-of-drug-addicts-to-remain-in-care-until-aged-18-1.1662173</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-21 11:45:29',NULL,'baby-of-drug-addicts-to-remain-in-care-until-aged-18'),(403,'Campaign on forced adoption records','<p>\r\n	The woman who inspired Oscar nominated film Philomena is to lead a campaign aimed at shaming the Irish State into opening secret records on 60,000 forced adoptions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Philomena Lee&#39;s extraordinary story of her 50 year search for her late son Anthony has become the catalyst for a renewed battle to get access to birth certificates held by churches, religious orders, private agencies and health authorities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sixty years after the Irish Government legalised forced adoption for unmarried mothers, files still remain closed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Philomena&#39;s harrowing story is one of tens of thousands from stolen generations hidden from society in Ireland&#39;s erroneously named Mother and Baby Homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They told Anthony I had left him at two weeks old, that I had abandoned him. I reared him to three and a half years, he was a lovely little boy,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;But I never got any answers to anything. I never knew anything about him at all. It was very sad to find out he had passed away but at last I had found him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I did feel very sad and I still do, if only I had met him once more, put my arms around him and given him a hug. I do feel sad about that, but it was circumstance. I pray to him every day, I talk to him.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Philomena became pregnant aged 18 and gave birth to a son in July 1952 in the Sean Ross Abbey in Roscrea, Co Tipperary. Aged three the mother and son were forcibly separated and he was sold for adoption to the US.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One compassionate nun secretly took 12 pictures of Anthony as a baby for her.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	With her daughter Jane Libberton they have founded the Philomena Project, a campaign spun out of her story and the success of the award-winning film, to lobby Irish, UK and US politicians and the United Nations to force the release of birth records.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The film tells Philomena&#39;s tragic search for her son who she finds out has died but been buried in the home in Roscrea where he visited several times to try and find his birth mother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She is planning to attend the Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles where the film is in the running for four awards including best picture, and best actress for Dame Judi Dench.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The film does really relate to my story. I seriously hope that Judi will get an Oscar for it, she played me so well. Lots of funny bits in the film, laughter and tears,&quot; Philomena said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We found out we had a lot of things in common - a sense of humour and a few other things, but she was a lovely lady.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The scandal of forced adoptions in Ireland has been put on a par with the Magdalene laundries - Catholic and state sanctioned workhouses for poor, disabled or &quot;fallen&quot; women or others convicted of petty crimes. Women received a state apology last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The conditions in the Mother and Baby Homes have been described by campaigners as beyond inhumane with some mothers only allowed to see their children for one hour a day. Women were forced to give up their birth names and take a saint&#39;s name and were given no records of what happened to their child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is also alleged that some children were used in illegal vaccine trials.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Philomena, who worked as a psychiatric nurse in England for 30 years after fleeing Ireland after Anthony&#39;s forced adoption, said she does not want any other mother or child to face a wall of silence when searching for records.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She also said she does not bear any malice against the nuns.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I saw so much hurt and pain caused through anger. I thought &#39;why am I angry? I have to let it go, let it fade away&#39;. My anger left me and of course I forgive them,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I have still got my faith and I still believe.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Government continues to refuse to act on the issue over access to records citing the Constitution and a court ruling stating that no-one who was adopted has an automatic right to information on their birth parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Susan Lohan, co-founder of Adoption Rights Alliance, said Ireland&#39;s politicians will now be held to account at home and abroad thanks to the film&#39;s success and the new campaign.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Philomena has acted as a touchstone now to give this more publicity. We think the vast, vast majority of children were taken without their mother&#39;s consent and we need to talk about forced adoption. This is about people&#39;s own identity,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The burden of shame has to be transferred away from the women.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Martin Sixsmith, author of The Lost Child of Philomena Lee which led to the film, said: &quot;Philomena&#39;s story is not a story about the past but it continues today with many women who went through this forced adoption, legal but forced adoption, in the the 1950s, &#39;60s and early &#39;70s.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Philomena spoke out about illicit adoption in Ireland at the Golden Globes awards in Los Angeles earlier this month and warned thousands of mothers and children were still waiting for justice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/campaign-on-forced-adoption-records-29947923.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-27 11:50:18',NULL,'campaign-on-forced-adoption-records'),(404,'European Court of Human Rights finds State liable for sexual abuse','<p>\r\n	The European Court of Human Rights has found in favour of Cork woman Louise O&#39;Keeffe, who was seeking to have the State held liable for sexual abuse she suffered while a pupil of a primary school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&#39;Keeffe took the case to Europe after the Supreme Court ruled the State could not be held responsible because the national school in question had been run by an independent board at the time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Reacting to the ruling where judges voted by 11 to six, Ms O&#39;Keeffe said it was a victory for all children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&#39;Keeffe was nine years old when she was abused by teacher Leo Hickey at Dunderrow National School in Co Cork in 1973.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Decades later, Hickey was charged with 386 criminal offences involving 21 former Dunderrow pupils.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was sentenced to three years in prison in 1998, after pleading guilty to 21 sample charges.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&#39;Keeffe subsequently took legal action against the Department of Education, arguing that the State had failed to put in place appropriate protection measures to prevent and stop systematic sexual abuse at her school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the High Court dismissed her claim that the State was liable.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Supreme Court subsequently upheld that ruling, finding that while the State funded the education system, the management role of the Catholic Church was such that the State could not be held vicariously liable for the criminal acts of the teacher.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The European Court of Human Rights was Ms O&#39;Keeffe&#39;s final legal opportunity to have the Irish State held liable for the sexual abuse she suffered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ruling could have significant implications for other victims of abuse in Irish schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&#39;Keeffe said today what drove her on for the last number of years was knowing that the Supreme Court was wrong and that no child should be abused in school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her solicitor Ernest Cantillon said a wrong had been done to Ms O&#39;Keeffe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Cantillon said the State has 135 cases pending this judgment and they should be dealt with by the State as soon as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also said Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe should not have to ask for an apology from the State. She should be given one, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0128/500568-louise-okeeffe/\" style=\"font-size: 12px;\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0128/500568-louise-okeeffe/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-28 11:26:59',NULL,'european-court-of-human-rights-finds-state-liable-for-sexual-abuse'),(405,'Nuns \'forced children to eat their own vomit and put soiled bedsheets on their heads as punishment at care homes\'','<ul>\r\n	<li>\r\n		Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry will examine allegations of abuse at 16 church and state-run care homes across Northern Ireland</li>\r\n	<li>\r\n		Children allegedly humiliated, sexually abused and physically assaulted</li>\r\n	<li>\r\n		They were &#39;assaulted with sticks, straps and kettle flexes, forced to bathe in disinfectant, beaten for wetting the bed and locked in cupboards&#39;</li>\r\n</ul>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children were forced to eat their own vomit and put soiled bedsheets on their heads as punishment at care homes run by nuns, the largest public inquiry into institutional child abuse was told.<br />\r\n	The investigation into the behaviour of Catholic nuns from the Sisters of Nazareth children&#39;s homes in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, heard children were also forced to bathe in disinfectant and were beaten for wetting the bed.<br />\r\n	In a harsh regime where the youngsters were known by numbers rather than their names, many were subjected to humiliation, threats and physical abuse, counsel to the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry, Christine Smith QC said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Forty-nine former residents of the Nazareth House Children&#39;s Home and St Joseph&#39;s Home, Termonbacca in Derry, have given evidence, describing their treatment at the hands of the nuns to the inquiry sitting at Banbridge courthouse.<br />\r\n	A total of 16 church and state-run care homes are being investigated as part of the inquiry presided over by retired judge Sir Anthony Hart, and is expected to run until June next year.<br />\r\n	Outlining the details of the alleged abuse, Ms Smith told the inquiry children were assaulted with sticks, straps and kettle flexes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is said siblings were separated and not told where their brothers or sisters were living, children were bullied by their peers, locked in cupboards and humiliated for bed wetting, and forced to stand with the soiled sheets on their heads as punishment.<br />\r\n	Youngsters were allegedly forced to work on farms or in the laundry instead of going to school and Christmas presents and other personal items were confiscated.<br />\r\n	Ms Smith said those giving testimony accused the nuns of leaving them without food and added that when they were ill they were allegedly forced to eat their own vomit.<br />\r\n	She said the accusations also included allegations of sexual abuse by older children, visiting priests, employees and in one instance a nun.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A senior member of the order made a submission to the inquiry acknowledging that an individual sister or common staff member, having worked long hours with children from troubled backgrounds, may have lost her temper and acted inappropriately.<br />\r\n	She accepted there was scope for bullying because they could not keep eyes on all the children.<br />\r\n	&#39;The sisters always tried to provide the best care with the staff and resources available to them,&#39; she added.<br />\r\n	She said they had little information to give the inquiry about sexual assaults but were extremely upset about them.<br />\r\n	At Nazareth House in 1996, a sexual abuse allegation was raised with police.<br />\r\n	&#39;Police advised the home in 1997 that a prosecution would not be made,&#39; Ms Smith said.<br />\r\n	In August 1997, a further allegation of abuse against the same person was made by two people. The individual was subsequently dismissed.<br />\r\n	Ms Smith said delays by the order in submitting evidence caused considerable difficulties. Material was not properly ordered and was still being received up to last week, despite hearings being planned for many months.<br />\r\n	She said: &#39;This less than whole-hearted and rapid response on the part of the congregation has caused considerable difficulties to the work of the inquiry.<br />\r\n	&#39;The congregation is not the only body whose approach has produced problems. We do appreciate that this is not always avoidable, but we hoped that such late delivery could have been avoided - given the difficulties which it causes for the inquiry.&#39;<br />\r\n	She added: &#39;Until recently the cooperation by the congregation of the sisters of Nazareth in the provision of material has not been as complete or rapid as the inquiry would have hoped.&#39;<br />\r\n	The order was asked to cooperate voluntarily and produce documents in 2012.<br />\r\n	Ms Smith acknowledged that the information was old and not stored in a single orderly archive.<br />\r\n	&#39;A considerable amount of material was provided. However, the information which the inquiry received has been provided in a haphazard and piecemeal fashion.&#39;<br />\r\n	The inquiry team spent a considerable amount of time trying to work out which nuns were which and when they were involved in the homes.<br />\r\n	A significant volume of information has been provided in recent days. On Friday they received two further witness statements.<br />\r\n	Public hearings are due to finish in June 2015, with the inquiry team to report to Stormont&#39;s power-sharing Executive by the start of 2016.<a href=\"http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547145/Nuns-forced-children-eat-vomit-soiled-bedsheets-heads-punishment-care-homes-largest-inquiry-institutional-child-abuse-told.html\">http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2547145/Nuns-forced-children-eat-vomit-soiled-bedsheets-heads-punishment-care-homes-largest-inquiry-institutional-child-abuse-told.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-28 11:31:46',NULL,'nuns-forced-children-to-eat-their-own-vomit-and-put-soiled-bedsheets-on-their-heads-as-punishment-at-care-homes'),(406,'Teenage Traveller asks Supreme Court to uphold challenge to school’s admission policy','<p>\r\n	Family&rsquo;s lawyer says if John Stokes wins he could be awarded compensation</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A teenage Traveller has asked the Supreme Court to uphold a challenge to a secondary school&rsquo;s admission policy of giving priority to sons of past pupils.<br />\r\n	If John Stokes, now 16 and attending another school, wins in the Supreme Court, he could be awarded compensation over the refusal by the Christian Brothers High School in Clonmel to admit him, and get a review of the school&rsquo;s admissions policy, the family&rsquo;s lawyer said.<br />\r\n	The Clonmel school&rsquo;s decision to refuse John a place in 2010 resulted in a number of legal challenges, but his claims were ultimately dismissed by the Circuit and High courts.<br />\r\n	Ms Stokes, a mother of seven, now wants the five-judge Supreme Court to set aside the High Court decision.<br />\r\n	Cormac &Oacute; D&uacute;lach&aacute;in SC, for the Stokes, yesterday argued that compensation, while limited to &euro;6,350 under equality legislation, is one of the reliefs the Supreme Court could grant at this stage, plus an order that the admissions policy be reviewed for future cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;Parental&rsquo; places<br />\r\n	After John was refused a place in 2010, his mother lodged a complaint under the Equal Status Act over a policy of the school to give priority to those whose fathers were past pupils. Those &ldquo;parental&rdquo; places were allocated after brothers of pupils were first given priority, with most remaining places dealt with by way of lottery. John&rsquo;s name was in the lottery but he was not picked. It was claimed the &ldquo;parental rule&rdquo; policy contravened equality legislation because members of the Traveller community were statistically less likely to have a father who attended the school.<br />\r\n	His mother appealed the initial refusal, without success, directly to the school board. Another appeal was lodged with an independent committee appointed by the Department of Education and this too was rejected. She then brought a discrimination complaint to an Equality Tribunal which found in John&rsquo;s favour and awarded him a place at the end of 2010.<br />\r\n	The school appealed that decision to the Circuit Court which found that, while the parental rule was indirectly discriminatory against Travellers, it was objectively justified within the provisions of the equality legislation.<br />\r\n	Ms Stokes, who was represented by the Irish Traveller Movement Law Centre, appealed to the High Court on a point of law and this was also rejected. The Equality Authority is supporting her appeal.<br />\r\n	Having initially heard arguments over whether an appeal could, under the relevant legislation, be brought at all to the Supreme Court, the five judges ruled they would proceed with the main hearing without deciding that issue at this point.<br />\r\n	The hearing continues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/teenage-traveller-asks-court-to-uphold-challenge-to-school-s-admission-policy-1.1671139\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/teenage-traveller-asks-court-to-uphold-challenge-to-school-s-admission-policy-1.1671139</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-29 10:45:46',NULL,'teenage-traveller-asks-supreme-court-to-uphold-challenge-to-school’s-admission-policy'),(407,'Children’s emergency centres to open at Tallaght, Blanchardstown','<p>\r\n	New facilities will act as satellite centres for new national children&rsquo;s hospital</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two emergency/ urgent care centres for children are to be developed at Tallaght and Connolly hospitals in Dublin at a combined cost of around &euro;50 million.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Minister for Health James Reilly said the new facilities would act as satellite centres of the planned new national children&rsquo;s hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	It said both centres were scheduled to be completed by mid 2016, in advance of the planned opening of the new hospital which will be located on the campus of St James&rsquo;s Hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Minister said the design of the national children&rsquo;s hospital would go out to tender shortly. He said it was planned that planning permission would be sought around September and it was hoped this would be secured by spring next year and that construction could commenced shortly afterwards. He said the aim was to commence the transition of services to the new hospital at the end of 2018.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Dr Reilly said the satellite centres would be an integral part of the new children&rsquo;s hospital. He said they would have the same governance, the same management and the same clinical standards. He said staff would rotate between the satellite centres and the new hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Minister said the new satellite centres would not carry out day surgery as was originally envisaged in earlier plans.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	He said it had been decided that surgeons should prioritise their support for hospitals around the country &ldquo;to assist them in doing as much paediatric surgery locally as possibly&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I makes sense to do surgery in just one Dublin location, the main national children&rsquo;s hospital, so that all children can be treated as close to home as possible.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Department of Health said the new centres were being developed to enhance access to emergency/urgent care facilities for children in the greater Dublin area.<br />\r\n	It said that as well as urgent care, the new centres would also provide acute out-patient services, including rapid access general paediatric clinics.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Minister said the satellite centres were necessary as it was projected by 2021 there would be approximately 122,000 emergency/urgent care attendances by children in the greater Dublin area and that this was considered too large for a single emergency department to deal with.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Department of Health said that the satellite centres were projected to provide 41 per cent of urgent/emergency care in the greater Dublin area, the equivalent of around 50,000 attendances annually.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	He said the announcement of the new urgent care centres marked &ldquo;another key milestone in the development of the national children&rsquo;s hospital&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Department of Health said each of the new centres would provide consultant-delivered urgent care and would have around six beds where staff could observe children for up to six hours. The new centres would also have &ldquo;appropriate diagnostics&rdquo; such as X ray and laboratory equipment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Department of Health said it was anticipated the satellite centres would be open from 7.30am to 10.00 pm.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	It said it was envisaged that the majority of patients attending the centres would be treated and discharged.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Department of Health said that Tallaght and Connolly hospitals had been chosen as locations for the new facilities as they had advantages over other options considered on the basis of paediatric population data, access, site suitability and timescale for development.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/children-s-emergency-centres-to-open-at-tallaght-blanchardstown-1.1670742</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-30 10:49:33',NULL,'children’s-emergency-centres-to-open-at-tallaght-blanchardstown'),(408,'Stay-at-home father’s child maintenance doubled','<p>\r\n	Man has full custody of two teenage children while ex-wife earns net pay of &euro;620 a week</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A stay-at-home father of two teenagers had his child maintenance doubled at the Family High Court yesterday after his ex-wife applied to alter their divorce order.<br />\r\n	The man had full custody of his daughters and their mother&rsquo;s only access was through letters to them.<br />\r\n	The mother&rsquo;s counsel told Mr Justice Henry Abbott she was not seeking to change access as she hoped it would &ldquo;grow organically&rdquo; as the children got older. But she was seeking to change elements of the divorce order including the father&rsquo;s sole right to the family home.<br />\r\n	Mr Justice Henry Abbott heard the father was on lone parent&rsquo;s allowance and had income of less than &euro;390 a week, including maintenance of &euro;100 a week for his children from his ex-wife, a public servant.<br />\r\n	The mother, from whom he divorced in 2012, earned net pay of &euro;620 a week. The couple had separated some years earlier. Asked by counsel for his ex-wife why he &ldquo;chose not to work outside the home&rdquo;, the man said the question was laughable. &ldquo;You&rsquo;re saying that because I&rsquo;m a man and at home looking after my children; if I was a housewife you wouldn&rsquo;t be saying that to me,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Self-employed<br />\r\n	He had been self-employed but went out of business in 2008. The children had initially been in the custody of their mother. The father said for the 3&frac12; years his children lived with their mother &ldquo;they were subjected to horrific things&rdquo;. He subsequently got sole custody. The father said the children were now happy and content, but he was finding it financially difficult and had &ldquo;zero&rdquo; in his bank account at Christmas. He needed more maintenance, he said. He also had plans to start his own business.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ex-wife had custody<br />\r\n	His ex-wife had custody of the children initially, though, he said, they were with him more than half of the time. He said she had given them &ldquo;a horrific time&rdquo; for more than three years. At one point the children had called garda&iacute; and asked to be removed from the home. A psychologist&rsquo;s report had issued and the children chose to live with their father.<br />\r\n	The father said he would &ldquo;love to see a situation&rdquo; where his daughters had contact with their mother and &ldquo;that they have enough confidence for forgiveness&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	The mother told the court she had to pay rent for her one-bedroom home, and was also making additional pension payments. She believed her ex-husband had &ldquo;some influence&rdquo; over the children&rsquo;s opinion of her, the court heard.<br />\r\n	Mr Justice Abbott ordered that the weekly maintenance payment be increased to &euro;200. The mother was in part-time employment when the order was made but was now working full time, he said, and there had to be some sense of &ldquo;celebration and socialisation&rdquo; for the teenagers, not just &ldquo;survival&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	He also ordered the family home be sold when the younger child reached 21 and divided 60/40 in favour of the father.<br />\r\n	He should also be awarded 25 per cent of the mother&rsquo;s pension.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/stay-at-home-father-s-child-maintenance-doubled-1.1672739</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-30 11:04:34',NULL,'stay-at-home-father’s-child-maintenance-doubled'),(409,'State may have to compensate school abuse victims, says children’s watchdog','<p>\r\n	Working group needed after landmark Louise O&rsquo;Keeffe judgment, says Special Rapporteur on Child Protection Geoffrey Shannon</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The State may need to consider a financial redress scheme for victims of child abuse in schools following this week&rsquo;s landmark ruling in the European Court of Human Rights, the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection has said.<br />\r\n	Dr Geoffrey Shannon said the judgment on Tuesday was complex and that the Government should now consider establishing a working group to assess its options before issuing any response.<br />\r\n	The European Court of Human Rights ruled that in the case of Louise O&rsquo;Keeffe, who was abused in primary school in the 1970s, the State had failed to meet its obligation to protect her. Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe had brought a failed action to the High Court and in 2009 the Supreme Court also ruled against her, finding the State could not be held liable for the abuse she suffered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Abuse cases<br />\r\n	Dr Shannon said it was not necessarily the case that the State would be held accountable for all abuse cases on foot of the ruling but consideration of what action the Government should take was essential, particularly given that an estimated 130 similar cases were withdrawn following Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe&rsquo;s failed Supreme Court challenge.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;One size fits all isn&rsquo;t something that exists here,&rdquo; he said.<br />\r\n	In terms of potential redress, he said the State must now decide whether it felt it should be limited to the 130 previous cases, now withdrawn, or if it has a potentially wider application.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;In terms of expense in the long run, if you look at it in pure monetary terms it is a balancing act that now needs to be taken into account,&rdquo; he said.<br />\r\n	Whatever the outcome in terms of further legal action, Dr Shannon said what was certain is that the ruling has raised the bar in terms of the expected protective measures. It would also redraw the lines in the relationship between school patrons, boards of management and the Department of Education, in that the latter could no longer delegate liability. &ldquo;The implications are risk assessment in all areas and where risk emerges, limiting or eliminating risk, [the State] needs to be far more vigilant. This is significant in legal terms,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;Hear no evil&rsquo;<br />\r\n	&ldquo;If you plead that you were not aware of the abuse, the question is should you have made yourself aware? &lsquo;Hear no evil, see no evil&rsquo; seems to be the case that we have taken in the past and now the European Court of Human Rights has said that that can no longer be the case.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Dr Shannon said a central piece of evidence, the Ryan report, showed through historical record that it could not have been the case that the State was not aware of risk.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/state-may-have-to-compensate-school-abuse-victims-says-children-s-watchdog-1.1672799\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/state-may-have-to-compensate-school-abuse-victims-says-children-s-watchdog-1.1672799</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-01-30 11:08:00',NULL,'state-may-have-to-compensate-school-abuse-victims-says-children’s-watchdog'),(410,'Bereaved family urges people to boycott ‘neknominations’','<p>\r\n	Widespread condemnation of social media-based drinking challenge</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There has been widespread condemnation of the &ldquo;Neknominations&rdquo;drinking challenge following the death of a young Carlow man who took part in the activity on Saturday and died s<br />\r\n	oon after.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It involves people filming themselves drinking, or &ldquo;necking&rdquo;, large quantities of alcohol, posting the video online and then nominating two others to do the same within 24 hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The body of Jonny Byrne (19) was taken from the river Barrow in Carlow yesterday morning. He had been seen going into the water near Milford Bridge on Saturday evening and a search was mounted. From Tomard, Leighlinbridge, he was a well-known hurler and footballer and was a member of the Naomh Br&iacute;d Hurling Club and Leighlinbridge GFC.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His father Joe Byrne urged people to keep away from the drinking challenge. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m pleading to every youngster to think of the things they are doing. It has cost my son his life. The whole family is devastated. Our lives will never be the same again. I hope this message is heeded because for us life is virtually over.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Jonny&rsquo;s brother Patrick posted a message on his Facebook page on Saturday night, urging people to stop the challenge. &ldquo;Everyone across the world please like and share,&rdquo; he wrote. &ldquo;This neck nomination s**t has to stop right now. My young 19-year-old brother Jonny Byrne from Carlow died tonight in the middle of his nomination.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;He thought he had to try and beat the competition and after he necked his pint he jumped into the river. After five hours of searching he is still not found. If people have any decency and respect, they will refrain from any more of this neck nomination s**t&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, garda&iacute; at Pearse Street in Dublin are investigating the death of Ross Cummins (22) from Ringsend, whose body was found in a house in nearby Macken Street in the early hours of Saturday morning. A Garda spokesman said the death was not believed to be suspicious. Media reports yesterday linked his death with the drinking activity, but an acquaintance rejected these reports on Twitter, saying they were &ldquo;very untrue&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Garda spokesman said he could not comment on suggestions that the death was linked to Neknominations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Frances Fitzgerald condemned the activity, saying it was a highly dangerous and potentially lethal phenomenon, where an inappropriate peer pressure element added to the risks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Above all, it represents further evidence that we still have a long way to go in denormalising binge-drinking among Irish youth. Young people take their cues from our broader society&rsquo;s general attitude to drinking, and the popularity of Neknominations shows we still have a long way to go in developing a healthy societal attitude to the consumption of alcohol.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Alcohol Action Ireland had issued a warning about the activity last week and yesterday its chief executive Suzanne Costello expressed concern at the apparent escalation in the activity. &ldquo;I just hope that this puts a stop to it,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n	Meas, the alcohol industry-funded body, also warned people to avoid the activity. &ldquo;I am asking young people to consider both the risk to their own health and also if they would really want to be the nominator of a friend who takes up their challenge and, in doing so, harms themselves,&rdquo; its chief executive Fionnuala Sheehan said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last week Galway City Tribune reported that people were attempting Jackass-style stunts such as like standing on the roof of a moving car while drinking alcohol. In one video, a student is seen somersaulting off Quincentenary Bridge to catch a can of cider before swimming ashore and drinking it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/bereaved-family-urges-people-to-boycott-neknominations-1.1676943</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-03 12:39:52',NULL,'bereaved-family-urges-people-to-boycott-‘neknominations’'),(411,'Video launched for separating parents and their children','<p>\r\n	Collaboration between Children&rsquo;s Ombudsman and Court Services</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A new information campaign aimed at the teenage children and their separating or divorcing parents has been launched.<br />\r\n	The eight-minute video entitled Finding Your Way features two teenagers, &ldquo;Keith&rdquo; and &ldquo;Kathy&rdquo;, addressing what happens to children when their parents separate. It urges children not to blame themselves if their parents split up.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The video goes through the legal ramifications of what might happen after parents go their separate ways. It provides a guide to the district family law courts and family mediation, as well as information, advice and support services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Agreement<br />\r\n	A separate video has been made for parents who are splitting up that addresses the rights and entitlements of children and also the role of family mediators.<br />\r\n	The video says mediators can draw up an agreement that can be signed by a court. Some mediators are available free but there are waiting lists.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents are urged to go to a solicitor if they wish to go to court or to get free legal advice if they cannot afford to engage a solicitor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It urges parents to bear in mind the wishes of the children in making decisions about issues such as custody.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This campaign is the result of a collaboration between the Ombudsman for Children&rsquo;s Office and the Courts Service. The video can be viewed at www.oco.ie.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/video-launched-for-separating-parents-and-their-children-1.1678465</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-04 11:26:36',NULL,'video-launched-for-separating-parents-and-their-children'),(412,'No social workers for 550 children','<p>\r\n	Hundreds of children in residential or foster care have no allocated social worker</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An average of 546 children in HSE care did not have a social worker assigned to them in the year to November, figures prepared for the HSE&rsquo;s monthly performance reports show .<br />\r\n	The number of children without a social worker fell from a high of 600 in October to 569 in November, meaning 91.2 per cent of all children in HSE care had a social worker assigned to them at that time.<br />\r\n	However, this falls short of the HSE&rsquo;s own target that 100 per cent of children in its care should have a social worker assigned to them. Regional figures from September show large variations in the level of children with allocated social workers.<br />\r\n	In three HSE health office areas &ndash; Cavan/Monaghan, Kildare/West Wicklow and Tipperary North &ndash; more than a quarter of children had no assigned social worker in September.<br />\r\n	In five local health offices &ndash; Galway and four areas in Dublin (southeast, northwest, north central and southwest) &ndash; the level of children with an assigned social worker was below 90 per cent.<br />\r\n	Of the 34 local health offices nationwide, 10 recorded that all children in either residential or foster care had a social worker assigned to their case.<br />\r\n	The chairwoman of the Irish Association of Social Workers Ineke Durville said it was important every child in the care of the HSE had an assigned social worker to ensure the child&rsquo;s needs were met, to act as the HSE&rsquo;s link between the child and parents and to support foster families. However, given staffing levels, &ldquo;the task is huge&rdquo; for social workers to provide comprehensive care to the 6,000-plus children in HSE care. She said social workers around the country were experiencing caseloads &ldquo;way over and above&rdquo; the norm in other jurisdictions as well as an &ldquo;overwhelming amount of new referrals&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	A spokesman for the Child and Family Agency said there were a number of circumstances in which such children could be temporarily without an allocated social worker.<br />\r\n	These included those recently placed in care with an assessment of needs being carried out; those in short-term placements and children awaiting transfer to a new social worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/no-social-workers-for-550-children-1.1678126</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-04 11:32:30',NULL,'no-social-workers-for-550-children'),(413,'Study finds parents of disabled children more at risk of depression & illness','<p>\r\n	15% of parents of children with disabilities were classified as depressed</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents of children with disabilities are at a higher risk of depression and other chronic health conditions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That is according to a study from the University of Limerick which shows 15% of parents who have children with disabilities were classified as &#39;depressed&#39; - and less than half of those were treated for the problem.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Experts behind the study are pointing out that providing more support to these parents would not only benefit them but would indirectly benefit the whole family.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Study co-author, Dr. Stephen Gallagher said &quot;Providing care to a child with a disability can often be very stressful. When parents lack the resources to manage the difficult situations they are experiencing their health is likely to suffer&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Moreover, if their condition goes untreated the ill-effects can extend beyond the parent to influence the whole family&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Using data and information from the &#39;Growing Up in Ireland&#39; study, a nationally representative sample of over 8,500 9-year-old children in Ireland was used.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study found higher rates of depression and a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions - such as respiratory and metabolic diseases - in parents caring for children with learning and developmental disabilities when compared to parents of typically developing children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Professor Ailish Hannigan, study co-author, commented &quot;The study took into account differences in demographics and pre-existing ill health before the birth of the child between the two groups of parents but found that one of the main contributing factors to the increased risk of depression was parental reports of child problem behaviours such as hyperactivity&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study has been published in the international journal &#39;Research in Developmental Disabilities&#39;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.newstalk.ie/Study-finds-parents-of-disabled-children-more-at-risk-of-depression--illness</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-04 11:37:16',NULL,'study-finds-parents-of-disabled-children-more-at-risk-of-depression-illness'),(414,'Study finds parents of disabled children more at risk of depression & illness','<p>\r\n	15% of parents of children with disabilities were classified as depressed</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents of children with disabilities are at a higher risk of depression and other chronic health conditions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That is according to a study from the University of Limerick which shows 15% of parents who have children with disabilities were classified as &#39;depressed&#39; - and less than half of those were treated for the problem.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Experts behind the study are pointing out that providing more support to these parents would not only benefit them but would indirectly benefit the whole family.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Study co-author, Dr. Stephen Gallagher said &quot;Providing care to a child with a disability can often be very stressful. When parents lack the resources to manage the difficult situations they are experiencing their health is likely to suffer&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Moreover, if their condition goes untreated the ill-effects can extend beyond the parent to influence the whole family&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Using data and information from the &#39;Growing Up in Ireland&#39; study, a nationally representative sample of over 8,500 9-year-old children in Ireland was used.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study found higher rates of depression and a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions - such as respiratory and metabolic diseases - in parents caring for children with learning and developmental disabilities when compared to parents of typically developing children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Professor Ailish Hannigan, study co-author, commented &quot;The study took into account differences in demographics and pre-existing ill health before the birth of the child between the two groups of parents but found that one of the main contributing factors to the increased risk of depression was parental reports of child problem behaviours such as hyperactivity&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study has been published in the international journal &#39;Research in Developmental Disabilities&#39;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.newstalk.ie/Study-finds-parents-of-disabled-children-more-at-risk-of-depression--illness</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-04 11:37:17',NULL,'study-finds-parents-of-disabled-children-more-at-risk-of-depression-illness'),(415,'Relative sold girl (15) for €3k to Dublin city brothel','<p>\r\n	A woman sex trafficked into Ireland at just 15 years of age has revealed her brutal experience about being forced to work in Dublin brothels.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The young woman &ndash; identified only as Hannah &ndash; was brought from her native Moldova where she was sold to traffickers by her brother-in-law for &euro;3,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hannah, not her real name, revealed how she was sexually and physically abused for at least seven years after she was tricked into prostitution</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I had no one, I had just a mum that no one was afraid of, so she asked my brother-in-law if he knew someone I could get married to and he say, &lsquo;Oh yeah, I have a good friend who lives in Ireland&rsquo;,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We met and he was like &lsquo;I have a good job there and I&#39;d like you to come with me&rsquo;.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On her arrival in Ireland, Hannah was forced to work as a prostitute in brothels in Rathmines and Temple Bar.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When I came here he [the man she thought she was to marry] was talking about the work and I was shocked and started crying and screaming,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I was 15 and it went on for six or seven years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The receptionist that was answering on the phone used to describe me as a 23-year-old Italian girl. It was very obvious I wasn&#39;t that age.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I used to work from 12pm until 6am the next day. There was a guy that would come in and say, &lsquo;I want the youngest girl that you have here&rsquo; &ndash; and he was really old. To them that was fine. You would have up to 15 guys a day,&rdquo; Hannah added, who said she was once sent to an old people&rsquo;s home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hannah eventually escaped and managed to confront her pimp. She now lives in Ireland with her daughter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her story is being released as part of a project by the Immigrant Council of Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The council and 67 other members of the Turn Off the Red Light Campaign will today stage a day of action and lobby politicians for laws targeting the buyers of prostitution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This recording makes for uncomfortable and disturbing listening.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Yet, it is a reality which is happening in our communities which we cannot ignore,&rdquo; said Immigrant Council chief Denise Charlton.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;For the first time ever the public and our policy makers will hear the truth about sex-trafficking, and not the &#39;Pretty Woman&#39; fiction being peddled by vested interests in a &euro;250m trade.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/relative-sold-girl-15-for-3k-to-dublin-city-brothel-29982172.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-05 12:03:40',NULL,'relative-sold-girl-15-for-€3k-to-dublin-city-brothel'),(416,'Reputation of church ‘placed above children’s best interests’','<p>\r\n	UN report accuses Catholic Church of failing to acknowledge extent of abuse committed</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Holy See&rsquo;s handling of the clerical sex abuse crisis that has rocked the Catholic Church for much of the last 20 years has come in for unprecedented criticism from the UN&rsquo;s Geneva based Committee on the Rights of the Child.<br />\r\n	In a report released today, following on a Vatican deposition in Geneva two weeks ago, the UN body says that the Church has failed to &ldquo;acknowledge the extent of the crimes committed&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	Attempts to silence victims of abuse, the regular transferring of abuser priests from parish to parish and the &ldquo;code of silence&rdquo; imposed on clergy all form part of a corporate church culture which leads the committee to conclude:<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The Committee is particularly concerned that in dealing with allegations of child sexual abuse, the Holy See has consistently placed the preservation of the reputation of the Church and the protection of the perpetrators above children&rsquo;s best interests, as observed by several national commissions of inquiry.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	The church&rsquo;s code of silence has meant that those nuns and priests who dared to denounce cases of child sex abuse were regularly &ldquo;ostracised, demoted and fired&rdquo;. Worse still, the Holy See encouraged an atmosphere where the non-reporting of paedophile crime was seen as a positive value.<br />\r\n	In that context, the report quotes the infamous case of Colombian Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, head of the Vatican&rsquo;s Congregation For the Clergy, who in 2001 wrote a letter to French Bishop Pierre Pican praising him for not denouncing an abuser priest his diocese, a priest who was later given an 18 year jail sentence for the abuse of 11 boys.<br />\r\n	Inevitably, the Irish state, via the Ryan, Murphy and Magdalene reports, has provided the largest bulk of evidence in the above-named &ldquo;national commissions of inquiry&rdquo;. In relation to the Magdalene Laundries, for example, the committee argues that the Holy See did not protect or ensure justice for girls &ldquo;arbitrarily placed there by their families, State institutions and churches&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	Saying the girls were &ldquo;forced to work in slavery like conditions&rdquo; where they were &ldquo;deprived of their identity, of education and often of food and essential medicines&rdquo;, the report concludes:<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Although the four Catholic congregations concerned function under the authority of the Holy See, no action has been taken to investigate the conduct of the sisters who ran the laundries and to cooperate with law enforcement authorities in holding accountable those who were responsible for the abuse as well as all those who organised and knowingly profited from the girls&rsquo; unpaid work.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although the Holy See has always argued that responsibility, especially legal responsibility for clerical sex abuse crime rests with the local Church and not with Rome, the report suggests clearly that the Catholic Church must assume a moral responsibility for the criminal conduct of priests, saying:<br />\r\n	&ldquo;While being fully conscious that bishops and major superiors of religious institutes do not act as representatives or delegates of the Roman Pontiff, the Committee nevertheless notes that subordinates in Catholic religious orders are bound by obedience to the Pope in accordance with Canons 331 and 590&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	With regard to the Magdalene Laundries, the committee concludes that the Holy See should undertake an internal investigation into the &ldquo;religious personnel&rdquo; who ran the laundries, whilst it should ensure that &ldquo;full compensation be paid to victims and their families&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In relation to the question of corporal punishment, the committee quotes the Ryan report, saying:<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The Committee is concerned that while corporal punishment, including ritual beatings of children, has been and remains widespread in some Catholic institutions and reached endemic levels in certain countries, as revealed notably by the Ryan Commission in Ireland, the Holy See still does not consider corporal punishment as being prohibited by the Convention (for Rights Of The Child) and has therefore not enacted guidelines and rules clearly banning corporal punishment of children in Catholic schools, in all Catholic institutions working with and for children, as well as in the home.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	The UN body&rsquo;s report is by no mean exclusively concentrated on the question of clerical sex abuse. In relation to other child protection issues, the committee is highly critical of basic Catholic teaching on sexual mores. For example, it points out that the &ldquo;discriminatory expression illegitimate children&rdquo; can still be found in Canon law whilst it argues that the Holy See &ldquo;should undertake a comprehensive review of its normative framework, in particular Canon Law&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	Nor does Church teaching on the LGBT communities escape criticism even if the report acknowledges the seemingly more open attitude of Pope Francis to gays, as expressed on the papal plane on the way back from Brazil last summer, commenting:<br />\r\n	&ldquo;While also noting as positive the progressive statement delivered in July 2013 by Pope Francis, the Committee is concerned about the Holy See&rsquo;s past statements and declarations on homosexuality which contribute to the social stigmatization of and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender adolescents and children raised by same sex couples&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/reputation-of-church-placed-above-children-s-best-interests-1.1680285?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/reputation-of-church-placed-above-children-s-best-interests-1.1680285?page=1</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-06 11:20:07',NULL,'reputation-of-church-‘placed-above-children’s-best-interests’'),(417,'Dozens of teenagers treated for effects of alcohol at Belfast gig','<p>\r\n	Emergency services declare a major incident at Odyssey Arena concert</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Emergency services in Belfast were tonight dealing with what they term &ldquo;a major incident&rdquo; at the Odyssey Arena, the city&rsquo;s largest entertainment venue.<br />\r\n	The Ambulance Service and the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, with other Belfast hospitals in support, treated dozens of young people, understood to be mostly teenagers, for the effects of alcohol and drugs.<br />\r\n	Some were in varying stages of unconsciousness.<br />\r\n	One early and unofficial report suggested that up to 20 had been taken to hospitals across the city, while more than 50 were being treated at the venue by paramedics who arrived in a fleet of emergency vehicles and ambulances.<br />\r\n	The &ldquo;major incident&rdquo; was declared, it is understood, because of the scale of the response by emergency services and not because of the numbers affected at the incident.<br />\r\n	According to UTV, a spokesperson for the local health trust said it was aware of an incident involving a bus at the Odyssey, where internationally renowned DJ Hardwell was scheduled to perform.<br />\r\n	It is thought the bulk of those affected were linked to a bus arriving at the venue and that many of them were already under the effects of drugs and/or alcohol.<br />\r\n	The Dutch DJ is a huge hit with teenagers and the gig was open to ticket holders from 6.30pm. Only those over 16 were allowed in. More than 7,000 were in attendance at the venue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	News spread<br />\r\n	Many worried parents began arriving at the Odyssey in cars as news of the incident spread quickly.<br />\r\n	The Ambulance Service told BBC Northern Ireland the problem in the majority of cases was intoxication.<br />\r\n	A spokesman said many of those were already intoxicated when they arrived at the venue.<br />\r\n	John McPoland said: &ldquo;We believe the majority arrived suffering from too much alcohol. We declared a major incident because of the number of resources we had to deploy to the scene.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Adrian Doyle, a spokesman for the Odyssey Arena, said: &ldquo;It is our understanding that a number of patrons arriving to attend a concert by Dutch DJ act Hardwell have required medical attention, having already been intoxicated on their arrival at the complex.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;These patrons were not granted entry to the Odyssey Arena, and were treated by the Ambulance Service outside.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Belfast city councillor Niall &Oacute; Donghaille of Sinn F&eacute;in, who represents the nearby Short Strand area, said he believed that about 20 young people had been taken to the Ulster hospital at Dundonald about 5km away from the venue. Other Belfast hospitals, the Mater and the Royal Victoria, were acting in support.<br />\r\n	Mr &Oacute; Donghaille later tweeted that the emergency services had the situation under control.<br />\r\n	East Belfast councillor and former lord mayor Gavin Robinson of the DUP said he believed none of those affected had life-threatening conditions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/dozens-of-teenagers-treated-for-effects-of-alcohol-at-belfast-gig-1.1682862</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-07 10:31:11',NULL,'dozens-of-teenagers-treated-for-effects-of-alcohol-at-belfast-gig'),(418,'Asylum-seekers waiting up to seven years for decision','<p>\r\n	A study of Ireland&#39;s asylum seekers process has found applicants can be waiting up to seven years for a decision on their application.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	AN ESRI report published today has also found that the accommodation is often unsuitable, with people living in overcrowded facilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than 4,800 asylum applicants were being accommodated in 35 reception facilities at the end of 2012, down from just over 5,400 residents accommodated in 39 centres in 2011.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 59% of asylum seekers were living in the temporary accommodation for more than three years, 31% for more than five years, and 9% for more than seven years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Emma Quinn of the European Migration Network said children in particular were suffering.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The system is having a negative impact on children. (Some) 38% of residents were aged 18 and under, and 18% were aged five and under.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report found insufficient homework and play areas for children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Quinn went on to say: &quot;There are serious problems in how long it takes to process a protection application in Ireland at the moment. A lot of EU member states would have what&#39;s known as a single protection procedure which would be much faster than the current Irish system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/asylum-seekers-waiting-up-to-seven-years-for-decision-621970.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/asylum-seekers-waiting-up-to-seven-years-for-decision-621970.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-07 05:00:00',NULL,'asylum-seekers-waiting-up-to-seven-years-for-decision'),(419,'Child welfare groups want slapping outlawed','<p>\r\n	Child welfare groups have called for slapping to be outlawed after a survey found two in five parents admit to hitting their child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The survey also found parents are largely at sea when it comes to the best way to discipline a child &mdash; two-thirds believe there is not enough information available to them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Carried out on behalf of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) and the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance, the survey also found:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Two in five adults do not support a blanket ban on slapping;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Almost three-quarters of parents (73%) view slapping as an ineffective disciplinary tool;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* The most popular method of discipline is incentives for good behaviour, with four in five parents subscribing to this;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Grounding was the least popular, with less than half of parents resorting to this method.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of the two in five adults who admitted to hitting their child, just 1% said they did it often.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ISPCC director of services, Caroline O&rsquo;Sullivan, said there was overwhelming evidence that slapping is ineffective in changing a child&rsquo;s behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We know that slapping children is harmful, it is ineffective and has innumerable negative effects such as increased aggression in children, increased anti-social behaviour and damage to the parent-child relationship,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said it was time for the Government to implement a ban on slapping in all settings without delay.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Corporal punishment has been banned in schools since 1982 but not in the home, despite the fact that Ireland has been found in breach of the European Social Charter &mdash; which guarantees social and economic human rights &mdash; because of the lack of an explicit prohibition. There is no ban on physical punishment of children by parents/caregivers despite the fact teachers who administer corporal punishment are liable to be charged with assault.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ireland is in a minority of 11 EU member states not to have outlawed corporal punishment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance chief, Tanya Ward, said they were calling on the Government &ldquo;to remove the common law defence of &lsquo;reasonable chastisement&rsquo;, and legislate for an outright ban on violence against children in all settings&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This is not only a child protection concern but a key human rights issue,&rdquo; Ms Ward said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ISPCC regional services manager Tracey Monson said previous surveys of children&rsquo;s views on slapping had shown &ldquo;the hurt, upset and confusion it causes&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A large-scale positive parenting programme was needed, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Responding to the findings, the Department of Children said research it commissioned (Growing up in Ireland) shows that the great majority of parents do not use smacking as a form of discipline and that the most frequently used method was &ldquo;discussing/explaining&rdquo; why the behaviour was wrong.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The statement said there was &ldquo;a balance to be found between supporting parents in effective parenting, in particular, in use of non-violent forms of discipline, and the use of criminal law to impose criminal sanctions on parents who do not adhere to best practice in parenting&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also said parents were increasingly avoiding physical punishment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Slapping ban</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Just under a quarter of adults believe corporal punishment is an effective way to discipline a child. This belief is stronger among males.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Of the three in five who support an outright ban, support is higher among the working class, those living in Leinster, the under-35s and those with children aged under five.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Older generations were found more likely to have disciplined their children by slapping.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* The survey found slapping appears to be more common outside of Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/child-welfare-groups-want-slapping-outlawed-258025.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-07 10:51:16',NULL,'child-welfare-groups-want-slapping-outlawed'),(420,'Suicide deaths in Northern Ireland since 1998 almost equal to Troubles killings','<p>\r\n	The highest number of deaths registered between 1998 and 2012 was in Belfast</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost as many people have died from suicide in Northern Ireland since the signing of the Good Friday agreement as were killed during the entire Troubles.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Detail, an investigative news website based in Belfast, has examined 15 years of suicide data as part of its Legacy series which examines issues linked to the Northern Ireland conflict. The Legacy reports were carried out with the support of the North&rsquo;s Community Relations Council and the series is being published in partnership with The Irish Times .</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It has been estimated that around 3,600 people were killed in Northern Ireland&rsquo;s bloody conflict between 1969 and 1997.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Northern Ireland Statistic and Research Agency (NISRA) figures show that a total of 3,288 suicides were registered in Northern Ireland from the beginning of 1998 to the end of 2012 - 77% were men. The 2012 figures are provisional.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The highest number of deaths registered between 1998 and 2012 was in Belfast where 718 people took their own lives over the 15 year period. The lowest number was in Moyle District Council area where 31 people died from suicide.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The highest suicide rate over the last three years was in the most deprived council area (Belfast) and the lowest was in the least deprived area (Magherafelt).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The average annual suicide rate per 100,000 of the population based on the last three years&rsquo; data (2010-12) was 24 deaths in Belfast compared to seven in Magherafelt.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All suspected suicides are referred to the coroner and take time to be investigated. This means that there can be a substantial period of time between a death occurring and it being registered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For example, of the 313 suicides registered in 2010, only 141 actually occurred in 2010 with the remainder taking place in earlier years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The impact of the Troubles<br />\r\n	Research by Professor Mike Tomlinson at Queen&rsquo;s University Belfast published in 2012 concluded that the conflict in Northern Ireland had a profound effect on suicide rates. He said that the steep increase in recent years may be accounted for by those who grew up in the 1970s during the worst years of the violence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He examined 40 years of death registration data and found that the highest suicide rate was for men aged 35-44.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New research carried out by a team at the University of Ulster confirms that people in Northern Ireland who experienced a conflict-related traumatic event are even more likely than those who experienced other types of trauma to have suicidal thoughts and plans.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research team from the Bamford Centre for Mental Health and Well-Being at the University of Ulster has examined the link between conflict-related events and suicide attempts in Northern Ireland.<br />\r\n	Their analysis of data from over 4,000 people - collected in 2008 for a World Mental Health Survey initiative - backs the suggestion that traumatic events associated with the Northern Ireland conflict are associated with suicidal thoughts and plans.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The results are due to be officially published later this year.<br />\r\n	Professor Siobhan O&rsquo;Neill, who is leading the research, said: &ldquo;Suicidal ideation (thoughts) and behaviour are important public health issues, not least because they give us an insight into the factors associated with death by suicide.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There are many causes of suicide and it is a complex issue. Mental disorders are an important risk factor with the majority of those who die by suicide having a mental disorder.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;However, most people with a mental disorder do not go on to die by suicide and many people who die by suicide have no recorded mental health disorder.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is therefore important that the associations between suicide and other factors, such as trauma, are examined.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The World Mental Health Survey Initiative found high rates of mental disorders in Northern Ireland with the rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in the north the highest of all the countries involved in the initiative.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Health&rsquo;s view<br />\r\n	A spokeswoman for the Department of Health in the north said that reduction in the suicide rate continues to be a major priority for the department.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said: &ldquo;Over &pound;7 million is allocated annually to suicide prevention in Northern Ireland. This is more per head of population than any other UK country.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Suicide is a very complex societal issue and the reasons for the relatively high rate of suicide in Northern Ireland are not known.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;However, it is clear that poverty, recession, deprivation, the legacy of the conflict, exposure to violence, and higher levels of mental health needs are all influencing factors.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	The Samaritans can be contacted on 1850 609090 or email jo@samaritans.org</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Legacy project on the impact of the Troubles can be explored further on the Belfast-based investigative journalism website www.thedetail.tv</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/suicide-deaths-since-1998-almost-equal-to-troubles-killings-1.1685549</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-10 12:18:02',NULL,'suicide-deaths-in-northern-ireland-since-1998-almost-equal-to-troubles-killings'),(421,'Ireland is continuing to fail its gay teachers in the classroom','<p>\r\n	&lsquo;Gay community in Ireland has suffered enormously&rsquo; - Archbishop Martin</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is to be hoped that following their impassioned speeches in the D&aacute;il last week about the cruel realities of life as gay men in Ireland that TDs Jerry Buttimer and John Lyons will hold their seats at the next election.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	What they said prompted the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, to say on RT&Eacute; Radio 1&rsquo;s This Week programme last Sunday that &ldquo;the gay community in Ireland has suffered enormously. When I heard the debates in the D&aacute;il . . . what do I say when I hear somebody spat at them? That&rsquo;s a horrendous thing to happen to anybody.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added: &ldquo;When I meet with young people at the age of 15, 16 one of the questions they inevitably ask me is why is the church against the gays? The difficulty that a young man or woman feels as they come to grips with their own sexuality . . . there&rsquo;s a huge challenge there to be with them and to support them . . .&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But if Jerry Buttimer and/or John Lyons do lose their seats at the next election it is not certain that either would be able to go back to their teaching jobs at church-run schools, Catholic or Protestant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Both are secondary school teachers but now that their being gay is such public knowledge, not even the questions of sympathetic 15- and 16-year-old students would guarantee them jobs at a church-run school, where they could be seen as a threat to its ethos. And this is entirely legal in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Exemption<br />\r\n	In 2000, then minister for justice John O&rsquo;Donoghue applied to the European Union for an exemption to the European Equality Directive, which would have prevented this situation, on the grounds that such exemption would preserve the right of denominational schools to uphold their religious ethos when recruiting staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The exemption was granted. It is a State-sponsored licence to discriminate against gay people, funded by the taxpayer. It is unjust and it is wrong.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish National Teachers&rsquo; Organisation (INTO) has a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) support group since 2004. A spokesman for the group spoke to this newspaper then using the pseudonym &ldquo;David&rdquo;. He would not use his real name or he feared losing his job.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said: &ldquo;When a child is being bullied for coming from a broken home I can intervene and talk to the bullies about the realities of family break-up. In my experience no child is &lsquo;bad&rsquo; and most can be brought around to a reasonable way of thinking if someone takes the time to explain issues. When a child is being bullied on the grounds of his sexuality, however, I am not in a position to intervene in the same way. I am not allowed to explain the reality of homosexuality to students.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	And homophobic bullying in schools has got worse. &ldquo;The problem now is that young children have the language of homophobia. When I was in school no one slagged you, using this kind of language and homophobic bullying was negligible,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But &ldquo;gay&rdquo; is now a favoured word of abuse among schoolchildren.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Discrimination<br />\r\n	At the INTO annual conference last April, Minister for Education Ruair&iacute; Quinn pledged to repeal section 37 of the Employment Equality Act 1998, allowed continue in Irish law by that exemption to the EU Equality Directive of 2000. He looked &ldquo;forward to seeing an end to this discrimination and I pay tribute to the INTO for ensuring that this matter remains on the political agenda&rdquo;, he said. He should get on with it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Marriage is not the only area where it is no longer tolerable that there should be one law for the general population and another for gay people. Gay people are full citizens of this State and as such are entitled to exercise fully all the rights that go with being Irishmen and Irishwomen living in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is beyond time that this was the reality and that those who insist otherwise, while remaining free to live by their own beliefs, accepted that others be allowed the same right.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For too long minorities on this island have been forced into compliance with the beliefs of others. It is violence and no more acceptable than agreement achieved at the point of a gun.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/religion-and-beliefs/ireland-is-continuing-to-fail-its-gay-teachers-in-the-classroom-1.1687355</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-11 10:45:12',NULL,'ireland-is-continuing-to-fail-its-gay-teachers-in-the-classroom'),(422,'Make tackling childhood obesity a family affair','<p>\r\n	Parents must lead by example and show their children that healthy food and exercise are an essential part of life, writes David Coleman</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	We know from research that most overweight children will go on to remain overweight adults, especially if one or more of their parents is overweight. There is still further research that demonstrates that the majority of mothers of overweight or obese children think that their children&#39;s weight is fine for their age. Which means that they are less likely to do anything to help their child lose weight.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sometimes we can be reluctant to think about changing aspects of our children&#39;s diet or exercise because we recognise that we might have to lead by example! However, rather than seeing this as an impediment, we can think of it as a really positive challenge. Making a healthier lifestyle a family challenge can mean lots more support for each other.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The basic causes behind childhood obesity are not that complex. Essentially, overweight and obesity are caused, over time, by a child taking in an excess of calories from foodstuff that is not used up by the body. There is an energy imbalance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some of the other factors that will influence a child&#39;s energy balance include their behaviour (eg, whether a child eats breakfast or not), the environment (eg, the increased availability of high-fat foods) and genetic factors. Another difficulty is that parents who may realise that there is a problem feel overwhelmed by it and think the challenge is too great to tackle.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	So what can parents do?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If your habit is to serve sugary drinks to your children then this is a really simple place to begin changing. You can start by just adding more water to squashes and cordials to let your children get used to a less sugary taste.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Perhaps you could aim to limit sugary drinks to the weekends with a view to eventually replacing them with water altogether. If you are starting out with your family, then just give them water from the outset.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Similarly, we all know that exercise is important, not just for weight control, but for overall health too. Sedentary activities like watching TV, surfing the internet and computer gaming now match the amount of time children spend, on average, in physical activity.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	From an early age we can include our children in walks and going to playgrounds. As they get older we can encourage participation in sports. You can check out www.getirelandactive.ie for lots more great ideas that are available in your area.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Activities that the whole family are engaged in are not only good for increasing exercise, but will also give your family shared memories and interests that will strengthen your sense of togetherness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Reducing children&#39;s screen-time will also help with their activity levels. There is little point in being too draconian and bringing in radical new rules banning screens, but gradual reductions that limit TV or gaming time by 30 minutes a day, for example, give 30 extra minutes that could be spent outside, moving.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of equal interest to me are the factors involved in how much and where children eat. We parents still regularly misjudge the portion sizes that children need. So when in doubt give your child less and let them ask for a second helping if they are not full.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If you use plates and cutlery that match their size, not yours, it will give you a better indication of how much food to start with.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The recession has also increased the numbers of &quot;cheap&quot; or &quot;free&quot; offers that mean we tend to buy more of a food because we perceive value even if we don&#39;t actually need that extra food.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It can be harder to change your shopping habits if the children are in tow. So, if you can, leave them behind to avoid the &quot;pester-power&quot;. If you have to bring them then make sure they have eaten and had fresh air before you go. They are less likely to be giddy and demanding if they aren&#39;t hungry or having a version of cabin fever.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	By cooking more of our own food, we can not only learn for ourselves, but teach our children too, about healthy-sized portions that reflect the recommended serving guides.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most of us still expect and even insist that our children clear their plates despite the fact that they are the best judges of when they are full. Just under half of us make this situation even worse by rewarding our children for eating all of their dinner, irrespective of the portion size.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Treats need to remain exactly that &ndash; treats. That is, something that is occasional and small rather than a regular part of the family diet. Rewards of more of your individual time and attention are always going to be better for children than food rewards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Not only is &quot;what&quot; children eat important, but &quot;where&quot; they eat is important too. American research shows increasing trends to eat out of home, at fast food restaurants. Fast food restaurants, other food outlets and even the popcorn at cinemas are all, also, experiencing a super-sizing trend in recent years. Even when we eat at home, however, we know that about half of all children don&#39;t eat with their parents or any adult role-model. This is very significant in two respects.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Firstly, children don&#39;t get any role-modelling from adults about how to eat. They don&#39;t see, for example, how much food to include in a &quot;mouthful&quot;, or how much to chew a food to make it easily digestible. Now perhaps the instinctive habits they will develop will be ideal but, unless we eat with our children, there is no opportunity to moderate those by other, adult, examples.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The second thing that children miss out on, when they don&#39;t eat with adults, is the social aspect of food and eating. Eating, while chatting, laughing and interacting, means that we typically eat slower and more thoughtfully than when we are just eating to consume food.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also builds stronger family connections and relationships, increasing communication within the family.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Don&#39;t panic if you are working full time and family meals are just impossible during the week. Eating together at the weekend, or even one night a week, is better than never eating with your children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As a final point, another issue with &quot;where&quot; children eat relates to eating in front of the TV. According to research, about one child out of every five eats in front of the TV. Eating when distracted often means we don&#39;t recognise the signs that we are full and so continue to eat beyond what we need.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Bearing in mind the influence that we parents have, we must be the leaders in our family&#39;s habits about eating, drinking and exercise. If we want to keep our children healthy, and help them avoid overweight and obesity, we need to make the changes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/make-tackling-childhood-obesity-a-family-affair-29991584.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-11 10:47:04',NULL,'make-tackling-childhood-obesity-a-family-affair'),(423,'20 families a-month made homeless','<p>\r\n	As shocking new figures show that as many as 20 Dublin families are being made homeless every month, campaigners are warning that it could be the thin end of the wedge as a series of economic and social factors have come together to create the &quot;perfect storm&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An average of 15 to 20 families are presenting as homeless in the capital each month, part of a dramatic rise in numbers in a trend that Housing Minister Jan O&#39;Sullivan has described as increasingly worrying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Anecdotal evidence suggests that the most common reason for such an increase is rent arrears for families residing in private rented accommodation,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Families are served with notices to quit and I understand that the families leave the accommodation immediately and present to homeless services.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The evidence shows that demand for accommodation in the private rental sector has been rising steadily in the city in recent years, which is driving average rent prices upwards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	DEMAND</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, there isn&#39;t enough social housing available to meet the demand, pushing more people into the private rented sector.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is a problem that charities working at the coalface of the problem are familiar with.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The homeless support service run by Threshold, the national housing charity, recorded its busiest ever year in 2013. Its Access Housing Unit in Dublin received 800 referrals, an increase of 77pc on the previous year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The unit provides support to people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, and assists them in sourcing accommodation in the private rented sector.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fionnughla McLoughlin, assistant manager of the unit, said that there are many reasons why people find themselves homeless or facing the threat of homelessness. In about 50pc of cases last year, the landlord was selling the property, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said repossessions of houses, or landlords having to sell properties due to owing the bank money, meaning the tenant has to move out, were all factors that can lead to people seeking its assistance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The changes in the bedsit regulations kicked in last February, resulting in a lot of landlords who didn&#39;t have the finance to do up the property to required standards, selling instead, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Others who have addiction issues, or had a relationship breakdown can also find themselves in need of help to find accommodation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.herald.ie/news/20-families-amonth-made-homeless-29995778.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-11 10:59:37',NULL,'20-families-a-month-made-homeless'),(424,'Sleep is one of the pillars of mental health','<p>\r\n	Insufficient sleep can have a great impact on our daytime functioning &ndash; in particular in vital areas such as driving</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Each of us spends approximately one-third of our life asleep. In the same way that eating a healthy diet is vital for maintaining good physical health, getting enough sleep is essential for the maintenance of good mental health.<br />\r\n	The amount of sleep that we need changes across the lifespan and varies from person to person.<br />\r\n	Although we can identify sleep problems in others, it&rsquo;s not so easy to identify those problems that exist in ourselves. How can you know whether you have a sleep problem or not? Answer this question: Do you sleep well and feel wide awake and energetic all day? If the answer is no, you might be a poor sleeper. But why is it so crucial? It appears that the main purpose of sleep is to allow our brains to restore and regenerate.<br />\r\n	Research shows that an area of the brain called the prefrontal cortex &ndash; the region that plays a key role in memory and attention &ndash; is particularly sensitive to sleep. Not getting enough sleep is associated with a reduced ability to sustain attention, strengthen new memories, and regulate our emotions.<br />\r\n	Insufficient sleep can significantly affect our daytime functioning. It reduces vigilance and the speed at which we process information, which results in slower reaction times. This impairs our ability to perform attention-based activities such as driving.<br />\r\n	The Road Safety Authority reports that driver fatigue could be a factor in between one and five driver deaths in Ireland. Furthermore, people who don&rsquo;t sleep enough are more likely to report difficulty in performing workplace duties, and report a higher incidence of work-related accidents.<br />\r\n	Sleep disturbances can also affect our mood. Difficulties with sleeping have traditionally been viewed by experts as a symptom of a mental-health problem such as depression or anxiety. However, it is now recognised that consistent sub-optimal levels of sleep may also directly contribute to the development and recurrence of these disorders.<br />\r\n	In some cases medication may help to treat the symptoms of insomnia &ndash; the most common sleep complaint &ndash; but this is generally only recommended for short-term use and does little to address the underlying cause of the problem.<br />\r\n	Psychological and behavioural treatments for insomnia can help patients to change negative expectations, and build more confidence that they can have a good night&rsquo;s sleep. For example, there is consistent evidence that cognitive behavioural therapy is associated with improvements in 70 per cent of patients with insomnia.<br />\r\n	There are some &ldquo;sleep hygiene&rdquo; tips that can teach us to sleep better. These include maintaining a regular sleep and wake schedule, using the bedroom only for sleep, and keeping the room dark and free of distractions.<br />\r\n	Most importantly, make sleep a priority. It&rsquo;s time to wake up and recognise that sleep is one of the pillars of maintaining good mental health. In order to reflect this, it&rsquo;s vital that we ensure to schedule sleep in to our daily routine, just like we would schedule any other daily activity.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Olga Lee is a research assistant working in Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience and with Health Founders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/sleep-is-one-of-the-pillars-of-mental-health-1.1686588\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/sleep-is-one-of-the-pillars-of-mental-health-1.1686588</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-12 11:10:13',NULL,'sleep-is-one-of-the-pillars-of-mental-health'),(425,'Belgium on verge of giving children right-to-die in controversial vote','<p>\r\n	We are talking about children that are really at the end of their life. It&#39;s not that they have months or years to go</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Belgium, one of the very few countries where euthanasia is legal, is expected to abolish age restrictions on who can ask to be put to death &ndash; extending the right to children for the first time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The legislation appears to have wide support in the largely liberal country. But it has also aroused intense opposition from foes &ndash; including a list of paediatricians &ndash; and people who have staged noisy street protests, fearing that vulnerable children will be talked into making a final, irreversible choice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Backers like Dr Gerland van Berlaer, a prominent Brussels paediatrician, believe it is the merciful thing to do. The law will be specific enough that it will only apply to the handful of teenage boys and girls who are in advanced stages of terminal illnesses and suffering unbearable pain, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under current law, they must let nature take its course &ndash; or wait until they turn 18 and can ask for euthanasia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We are talking about children that are really at the end of their life. It&#39;s not that they have months or years to go. Their life will end anyway,&quot; said Dr Van Berlaer, chief of clinic in the paediatric critical care unit of University Hospital Brussels.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The question they ask us is: &#39;Don&#39;t make me go in a terrible, horrifying way, let me go now while I am still a human being and while I still have my dignity.&quot;&#39;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Belgian Senate voted 50-17 last December 12 to amend the country&#39;s 2002 law on euthanasia so that it would apply to minors, but only under certain additional conditions. Those include parental consent and a requirement that any minor desiring euthanasia must demonstrate a &quot;capacity for discernment&quot; to a psychiatrist and psychologist.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The House of Representatives, the other chamber of parliament, is to debate today whether to agree to the changes, and vote on them tomorrow.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	King Philippe, Belgium&#39;s constitutional head of state, must sign the legislation for it to go into effect. So far, the 53-year-old monarch and father of four has not taken a public position, but spokesman Pierre De Bauw said that was not unusual. &quot;We never give any comment on any piece of legislation being discussed,&quot; Mr De Bauw said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Though one poll found 75pc of Belgians in favour, there has been a vocal opposition.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We are opening a door that nobody will be able to close,&quot; said Andre Leonard, the archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels and chairman of the Episcopal Conference of Belgium.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There is a risk of very serious consequences in the long term for society and the meaning we give to life, death and the freedom of human beings.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This week, an &quot;open letter&quot; carrying the names of 160 Belgian paediatrician&#39;s was issued to argue against the new law, claiming there was no urgent need for it and that modern medicine is capable of soothing the pain of even the sickest children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Besides Belgium, the only other countries to have legalised euthanasia are the Netherlands and Luxembourg, said Kenneth Chambaere, a sociologist and member of the End-of-Life Care research group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In Luxembourg, a patient must be 18. In the Netherlands, children between 12 and 15 may be euthanised with parents&#39; permission, while those who are 16 or 17 must notify their parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/belgium-on-verge-of-giving-children-righttodie-in-controversial-vote-30000854.html\">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/belgium-on-verge-of-giving-children-righttodie-in-controversial-vote-30000854.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-12 11:11:44',NULL,'belgium-on-verge-of-giving-children-right-to-die-in-controversial-vote'),(426,'Average age of children with anorexia falls to 13','<p>\r\n	Children barely into their teens are developing a potentially fatal eating disorder, with new research showing the average age for developing anorexia nervosa is now 13 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The authors express concern about the potential effects of orthodontic treatment on eating patterns &mdash; that dental work resulting in oral pain may have a bearing on the development of an eating disorder. They say this needed further study.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The researchers at Temple Street Children&rsquo;s Hospital in Dublin note that a number of children had commenced orthodontic treatment prior to the onset of anorexia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When braces are fitted and frequently adjusted, the teeth loosen and move causing pain. Oral pain must be considered in cases of unintentional weight loss which could later precipitate disordered eating,&rdquo; the report states.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It says dental professionals may sometimes discourage certain foods if they interfere with treatment, &ldquo;which the &lsquo;perfectionist&rsquo; child may over-interpret&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Future research should explore the relationship of orthodontics to weight loss.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The young age at which children with the mental illness are being admitted to hospital has dropped six months in the last decade, from age 14 in 2002 to 13-and-a-half.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	With an estimated six-month delay between onset of symptoms and seeking treatment for the illness, the researchers warn that &ldquo;without prompt intervention&rdquo;, the prognosis can get worse. It can also make weight restoration &ldquo;more challenging as energy requirements can be greater at low weight&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Study of Anorexia Nervosa in Inpatients at a Children&rsquo;s Hospital (2005-11) found that girls admitted to Temple Street were more underweight than boys, even though they showed up sooner for treatment following onset of symptoms.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Aside from low weight, over-exercising and food restricting were the most common presenting features.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On admission, it was noted that 25% of patients were known to have been vomiting and 65% over-exercising. All patients were restricting food intake. All the girls who had reached menarche (had their first period) had stopped menstruating.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Between 2005 and 2011, 20 children were admitted to Temple Street with anorexia nervosa, which the researchers said represented a 130% increase.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of those hospitalised, the average length of stay was 38 days. While girls accounted for the majority of inpatients, 30% were boys, which the authors say indicates increasing prevalence of anorexia nervosa in males.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study says while anorexia nervosa is best treated in the community, it is most successful when treated in the early stage. In this respect, the study says awareness at a community level of signs and symptoms may facilitate earlier treatment and negate the need for hospitalisation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The authors or the report warn that anorexia nervosa &ldquo;may look different nowadays and we must be ahead of the curve given its&rsquo; high mortality rate&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They conclude that provisions will need to be made in the planning of the new paediatric hospital for dedicated beds and specialist medical, nursing, and dietetic posts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/average-age-of-children-with-anorexia-falls-to-13-258450.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/average-age-of-children-with-anorexia-falls-to-13-258450.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-12 11:20:03',NULL,'average-age-of-children-with-anorexia-falls-to-13'),(427,'Child rescue alert cancelled for Co Cavan girl (3)','<p>\r\n	Saoirse Carr and her mother Rachel McDonald Carr (45) have been found safe and well</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Child Rescue Ireland (CRI) alert issued earlier this evening concerning the whereabouts of three-year-old Saoirse Carr from Holburn Hill in Belturbet, Co Cavan has been cancelled.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Saoirse and her mother Rachel McDonald Carr have both been found safe and well.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda&iacute; have expressed their gratitude to the public and the media for their assistance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/child-rescue-alert-cancelled-for-co-cavan-girl-3-1.1693847</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-17 10:00:06',NULL,'child-rescue-alert-cancelled-for-co-cavan-girl-3'),(428,'Students taped together by wrists in sex education talk by Catholic group','<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We were told how &lsquo;god loves sex&rsquo;,&rdquo; one student said. &ldquo;However it was implied that is only after marriage.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Catholic youth group which has been travelling around the country, giving talks on chastity to students, taped teens at one school together by the wrist in front of their classmates as a way of demonstrating what happens when a person has multiple sexual partners.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A student at the Dublin school told The Journal.ie that the group, Pure in Heart Ireland, spent two hours talking about how abstinence was &ldquo;god&rsquo;s way and how we should seek to live by this. &rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We were told how &lsquo;god loves sex&rsquo;,&rdquo; they said. &ldquo;However it was implied that is only after marriage.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This talk was given by a man and two women, all in their twenties. The student gave details of a role play game students were asked to take part in, which he said made the majority of them feel &ldquo;uncomfortable&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Towards the end of the talk four girls and one guy were asked to &lsquo;volunteer&rsquo; to come up to the front,&rdquo;they said. &ldquo;A piece of Sellotape was put around the wrists of one of the girls and the guy.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The girl was in a sexual relationship with the guy. But they break up. This was demonstrated by one of the speakers ripping the Sellotape off their wrists, in what must have been somewhat painful. The process was repeated with the three other girls (and the same guy, with the same piece of Sellotape). This was supposed to demonstrate the effect of having sex before marriage. The Sellotape collects hair and is no longer useful.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On the topic of pornography, the student also said one of the speakers &ldquo;casually equated serial killers with the watching of&rdquo; it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pure in Heart, which has its Irish headquarters in Dublin, in the same building as the Iona Institute, describes itself as an &lsquo;international Catholic movement of young adults, who through prayer and friendship, strive to learn, live and share the truth, beauty and meaning of human sexuality&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On its Facebook page, the group mentions trips to schools all around the country and posts pictures and messages promoting chastity:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Promoting safe sex<br />\r\n	Speaking to TheJournal.ie, Director of youth outreach service SpunOut.ie said that while groups are entitled to advocate abstinence, &ldquo;it is not an effective, nor is it a comprehensive way to promote safe sex among young people&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It&rsquo;s up to each individual &ndash; the choice to have sex or not and that needs to be at the forefront of sexual education. Also, having respect for your partner, that&rsquo;s the message that needs to be gotten across and it&rsquo;s much more empowering than saying &lsquo;don&rsquo;t do something&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Power said there is a vital need in this country for standardised sex educations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;No one is overseeing how often they&rsquo;re doing it, what schools are delivering in full, what is in line with their ethos,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Some government oversight is needed on groups that go into schools delivering talks without parental knowledge or consent.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Ellen O&rsquo;Malley-Dunlop of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said her organisation&rsquo;s talks in schools have an emphasis on exploring the area of consent and what it means.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The idea is to get into schools to facilitate this conversation and rather than give a lecture we prefer to work with people in groups,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I think it&rsquo;s terribly important that young people get appropriate input on what it means to have a healthy relationship.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Frustrated<br />\r\n	The student said that some classmates were open to the group&rsquo;s ideas and agreed with what they were saying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;For many others, myself included, we were somewhat frustrated by the content of the presentation. If we had any questions to challenge what they were saying it was dismissed or glossed over. There was no real engagement on issues outside of their PowerPoint slide.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Education&rsquo;s best practice guidelines cite research which has consistently shown that the &ldquo;qualified classroom teacher is the best placed professional to work sensitively and consistently with students and that s/he can have a powerful impact on influencing students&rsquo; attitudes, values and behaviour in all aspects of health education&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was announced last month that reforms in the new Junior Cycle will include a course on relationships and sexuality as part of Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), with the aim of making sex education more consistent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pure in Heart Ireland did not respond to multiple requests for comment on the talks it gives in schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For more information on the topics discussed in this article, go to Spunout.ie or the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre website.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.thejournal.ie/sex-education-sellotape-1310906-Feb2014/</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-17 10:18:28',NULL,'students-taped-together-by-wrists-in-sex-education-talk-by-catholic-group'),(429,'16-year-old Tammy Duggan missing since Valentine’s Day','<p>\r\n	Gardai in Macroom, County Cork are seeking information on the whereabouts of a 16-year-old girl, last seen yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tammy Duggan (pictured), is described as 5&prime; 2&Prime; tall, of a slim build with brown shoulder length hair and brown/green eyes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was last seen wearing faded blue jeans and a black jacket.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Anyone who has seen Tammy, or who can assist in locating her, is asked to contact Macroom Garda station on 026 20590, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.thejournal.ie/tammy-duggan-missing-person-cork-1317840-Feb2014/</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-17 10:19:52',NULL,'16-year-old-tammy-duggan-missing-since-valentine’s-day'),(430,'Plan to help children in care access supports','<p>\r\n	Plans could be in place by the end of the year that would make it easier for children who have been in care to secure access to housing and education, the minister for children said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Frances Fitzgerald said a &ldquo;cross-departmental protocol&rdquo; would mean a greater &ldquo;sensitivity&rdquo; to the needs of children who have spent time in the care system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The &ldquo;charter&rdquo; would mean possible preferential treatment when it comes to securing local authority housing or rent relief, as well as easier access to medical cards and educational supports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I think what we could do is have a cross-departmental protocol in education, environment, in all the different departments about recognising the particular position of children in care, and that includes some of those children who have been in England,&rdquo; Ms Fitzgerald said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;So you would have housing, there could be extra points to help you, to go through the departments. These young people probably should have a medical card. They probably deserve it, they probably are eligible anyway; access to disability services, whatever is needed.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Asked if the plan could be in place by the end of 2014, she said: &ldquo;I would hope so.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Michele Clark, head of policy development in the minister&rsquo;s department, said the supports would not be limited to those who &lsquo;age out&rsquo; and reach 18 while in care, but could be open to anyone who had spent time in the care system growing up. She also said plans are in place to build a forensic adolescent unit as part of the new mental health facility development in Portrane, and that this is at planning stage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the minister: &ldquo;If we don&rsquo;t intervene properly these are the future residents of either mental health facilities or prisons, so it&rsquo;s that serious, it deserves this attention and it&rsquo;s getting it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald admitted some young people who may have spent time overseas in a different care setting and who on turning 18, decide to return to that area, may not be availing of aftercare packages that could support them there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Can they be theoretically supported in the UK? Yes. Does it happen often enough? Probably not.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On the issue of overseas placements, she said: &ldquo;These are Irish children, I want to see Irish services respond to them, but I have to be realistic.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In terms of misgivings, what I would say is I want to be the minister who oversees growth in number of places [in Ireland] so we can more readily meet the very complex needs of young people who have serious problems.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/plan-to-help-children-in-care-access-supports-259072.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-18 10:24:26',NULL,'plan-to-help-children-in-care-access-supports'),(431,'Loneliness is a health risk for the elderly','<p>\r\n	Loneliness has twice the impact of obesity on premature death.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Feeling extreme loneliness can increase an older person&rsquo;s chances of premature death by 14 per cent&rdquo; according to research by psychologist John Cacioppo.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A 2010 meta-analysis showed that loneliness has twice the impact on early death as obesity does.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The consequences to health are dramatic, as feeling isolated from others can disrupt sleep, elevate blood pressure, increase morning rises in the stress hormone cortisol, alter gene expression in immune cells, increase depression and lower overall subjective well-being.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Research</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cacioppo joined other scholars at a seminar &ldquo;The Science of Resilient Ageing&rdquo; in Chicago over the past week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The researchers looked at dramatic differences in the rate of decline in physical and mental health as people age.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They examined the role of satisfying relationships on older people to develop their resilience, the ability to bounce back after adversity and grow from stresses in life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cacioppo said:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Retiring to Florida to live in a warmer climate among strangers isn&rsquo;t necessarily a good idea if it means you are disconnected from the people who mean the most to you.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although some people are happy to be alone, most people thrive from social situations in which they provide mutual support and develop strong rapport.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Silver Demographic</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cacioppo says we are &ldquo;experiencing a silver tsunami demographically. The baby boomers are reaching retirement age&rdquo;. Speaking about America, he said:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Each day between 2011 and 2030, an average of 10,000 people will turn 65.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The researchers identified three core dimensions to healthy relationships:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Intimate connectedness &ndash; which comes from having someone in your life you feel affirms who you are</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Relational connectedness &ndash; which comes from having face-to-face contacts that are mutually rewarding</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Collective connectedness -which comes from feeling that you&rsquo;re part of a group or collective beyond individual existence</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cacioppo said older people living alone are not necessary lonely if they remain socially engaged and enjoy the company of those around them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However some aspects of ageing, such as blindness and loss of hearing place people at a special risk for becoming isolated and lonely.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.thejournal.ie/loneliness-health-risk-for-elderly-1319160-Feb2014/</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-18 10:29:14',NULL,'loneliness-is-a-health-risk-for-the-elderly'),(432,'High Court orders Christian Brothers to pay €370,000 to victim of child abuse','<p>\r\n	Judge finds congregation took no steps &lsquo;whatsoever&rsquo; to supervise abusive brother</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In what is believed to be the highest court settlement in a child abuse case in Ireland, a High Court judge has ordered the Christian Brothers congregation to pay &euro;370,000 damages following sexual abuse of the &ldquo;most extreme&rdquo; kind inflicted on a young boy over a five-year period in the 1980s by a since deceased brother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Justice Kevin Cross found negligent failure by the congregation in taking no steps &ldquo;whatsoever&rdquo; to supervise the brother or prevent him getting access to a vulnerable child, despite having &ldquo;full knowledge&rdquo; the brother had previously abused other young boys.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Even by the standards of the 1980s, the congregation ought to have put in place a system to watch and monitor the brother to ensure he did not have access to this boy or any others, the judge said. There was no evidence of any system put in place or any treatment of this brother that differentiated him from a vast majority of non-abusive brothers, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Warning<br />\r\n	Despite the brother having been given a canonical warning in 1960 relating to abuse, it seemed clear the congregation proceeded to treat him in precisely the same manner as every other member of their congregation, the judge said.<br />\r\n	This negligence resulted in the boy being grievously assaulted over a prolonged period of time with significant adverse consequences to him, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The abuse suffered was among the most extreme he had seen in his legal career and had caused severe injury affecting the man throughout his life, the judge added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In evidence to the court, the man, now 42, said the abuse began when he was eight in a Christian Brothers premises in Artane, Dublin, after he had volunteered to help out with gardening. The abuse happened in a store room, a basement and a room overlooking rose beds between three to five times a week in the early 1980s, he said. The brother had also fondled him when he visited him in a convalescent home before his death in 1986.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In his proceedings, he alleged the congregation was responsible for the management and control of the brother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Historical knowledge<br />\r\n	The congregation, he alleged, failed to implement any or any suitable or adequate code of ethics or rules of good practice for Christian Brothers in relation to contact with children despite their historical knowledge of the sexual abuse perpetrated by members of the congregation. He alleged the congregation had breached a duty of care on grounds they were aware or ought to have been aware on December 8th, 1960 that the brother had been given a formal canonical warning by his superiors on account of him &ldquo;interfering incorrectly with boys&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The congregation did not dispute that the man had been sexually abused but it denied negligence and liability and also pleaded the claim was brought outside the legal time limits.<br />\r\n	In his judgment, the judge said he wanted to make clear he accepted the man&rsquo;s evidence and that he was a truthful witness who had been &ldquo;severely abused&rdquo; in a manner that caused him &ldquo;significant trauma&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court-orders-christian-brothers-to-pay-370-000-to-victim-of-child-abuse-1.1696489</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-19 11:23:06',NULL,'high-court-orders-christian-brothers-to-pay-€370000-to-victim-of-child-abuse'),(433,'HSE warning over use of \'unvetted\' suicide counselling services','<p>\r\n	&#39;Counselling is relatively unregulated and that is the problem. People should go to trusted sources&#39;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A warning has been issued about some services offering suicide and mental health counselling which are not vetted and may be unsafe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE&#39;s National Office for Suicide Prevention said people in distress should avoid these services, because counsellors may not be fully trained or not basing their counselling on best evidence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Director Gerry Raleigh advised people to check out a service in advance, and only attend the organisations and agencies which were endorsed by his office.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said a list of these services was available at GP surgeries, and would also be featured on a new information website to be set up later this year. It comes as stark statistics show that 10 people a week are dying as a result of suicide, leaving families and communities in devastation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The budget for the National Office for Suicide Prevention has risen by 8pc, giving it &euro;8.8m this year. &quot;Counselling is relatively unregulated and that is the problem. People should go to trusted sources and have a healthy scepticism,&quot; Dr Raleigh said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was unable to name any of the questionable services, but said that some were advertising and the office was aware of them anecdotally.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There are around 300 to 400 organisations involved in the suicide-prevention sector. Small groups can come together locally in response to a tragedy. They provide a network of support to one another and I don&#39;t dismiss them &ndash; they have a role.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CAMPAIGN</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The organisation is to launch a free-call Connect number next month in partnership with the Samaritans which people can call and always be answered by somebody at the other end.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new number will &quot;simplify the signposting to services for people who may be going through tough times,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A new marketing campaign will also be launched in the autumn, which will aim to provide information on who and where people can get information.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The office provides training for health service staff and people in communities on how to respond to those at risk of suicidal behaviour. The recruitment of 34 nurses &ndash; who will be assigned to hospital emergency departments to help people who have engaged in self harm or made suicide attempts &ndash; will also be completed by June.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, these nurses will not be available around the clock, he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The most recent reliable figures the office has on suicide relate to 2011 showing that 550 people took their own lives, a rise on the 2010 statistics. They do not take into account unexplained deaths.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There has been an increase in the number of middle-aged men taking their own lives and analysis has indicated factors such as unemployment, alcohol use and relationship breakdown may have a role.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Asked about teenage suicides, he said the gap between a young person suffering emotional distress and carrying out an act of self harm can be very short.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It can be spontaneous and this makes it difficult to address. It leaves unanswered questions,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Further information on funded agencies is available at www.nosp.ie/html/funding.html.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hse-warning-over-use-of-unvetted-suicide-counselling-services-30025653.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hse-warning-over-use-of-unvetted-suicide-counselling-services-30025653.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-20 10:59:20',NULL,'hse-warning-over-use-of-unvetted-suicide-counselling-services'),(434,'‘No exceptional legal issues’ in case of baby in emergency care','<p>\r\n	The Supreme Court has ruled there are no exceptional legal issues to be decided arising from the case of a baby placed in emergency care at one day old but later given back to his parents under supervision of the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda&iacute; had taken the baby from a house on September 26th on foot of an Emergency Care Order (ECO) granted by the District Court to the HSE under Section 13 of the 1991 Child Care Act.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The following day, lawyers for the child&rsquo;s mother sought an inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution into the legality of the child&rsquo;s detention.&nbsp;<br />\r\n	After the High Court refused to order the child&rsquo;s release, an appeal was brought to the Supreme Court which adjourned the matter on being told the matter was to come before the District Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On October 3rd, the District Court refused to make an interim care order (ICO) and released the child back into the custody of his parents, subject to HSE supervision.<br />\r\n	A five judge Supreme Court on October 30th heard arguments on behalf of the child, his parents and HSE whether the appeal was moot or pointless because the child was back with his parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Michael O&rsquo;Higgins SC, for the child, accepted the appeal was moot but argued the court should, in the public interest, still rule on two &ldquo;exceptionally important&rdquo; legal issues relating to the rights of parents, children and HSE when applications for ECOs are made.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The first issue related to fair procedures as the High Court ruling meant an innocent mother&rsquo;s voice need not be heard until the matter reached the stage where an ICO was being sought, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The second issue was whether the High Court must inquire whether it was feasible for an innocent child to remain with his innocent mother and whether the removal of a child from an innocent parent was justified, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This case involved a one day old breast-feeding child being taken away from his mother against whom there was no allegation of wrongdoing but the High Court effectively found, because of an &ldquo;artificial&rdquo; distinction between the mother and child as separate legal entities, she could not speak or reply until the next stage of child care proceedings, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tim O&rsquo;Leary SC, for the HSE, argued, because the child was reunited with his mother, the appeal raised no sufficiently important issue requiring determination by the Supreme Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There was often a natural conflict between the rights of children and parents when ECOs were sought and, while the HSE sought the ECO ex parte (one side only represented) as it was entitled to do, it put the mother and child on notice, he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Giving the Supreme Court&rsquo;s reserved judgment, the Chief Justice, Ms Justice Susan Denham, said this case involved an inquiry under Article 40 of the Constitution on foot of a complaint of unlawful detention.&nbsp; The relief in such proceedings was the release of a person if they were found to be in unlawful custody.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In this case, the child was back with his parents, had been released from the disputed ECO and that order had been superseded by the ICO. The issue was therefore pointless and the general rule is the courts do not hear appeals on moot points, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court was satisfied the general rule applied in this case and there were no exceptional circumstances requiring the court to decide the issues raised, she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The High Court judgment was fact based, that court was hearing an urgent matter concerning the welfare of a child and its ruling did not raise or apply any new principles of law, the Chief Justice said. The case was also neither argued nor determined by the High Court as a test case and nor was there any issue raised concerning the constitutionality of Secction 13 of the 1991 Act.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/no-exceptional-legal-issues-in-case-of-baby-in-emergency-care-1.1697603\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/no-exceptional-legal-issues-in-case-of-baby-in-emergency-care-1.1697603</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-20 11:08:57',NULL,'‘no-exceptional-legal-issues’-in-case-of-baby-in-emergency-care'),(435,'Tea prescribed by High Court judge for warring parents in an effort to avoid future litigation','<p>\r\n	A man and woman who became embroiled in years of legal action over their children following a split have reached a consensus after a High Court judge suggested they should &quot;sit down around the kitchen table&quot; and have a cup of tea together.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mrs Justice Pauffley said she made &quot;some practical proposals&quot; after a &quot;dismal decade of litigation&quot; and each parent had &quot;reacted positively&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said they had agreed to &quot;share&quot; the 12-year-old twin boys at the centre of the dispute and had accepted that a return to litigation would be a &quot;profoundly retrograde step&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the case showed that protracted legal proceedings over children are &quot;profoundly harmful to everyone concerned&quot;, and added that letters written by the youngsters &quot;made me sad&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Detail emerged in a written analysis of the case by the judge following the latest hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The very sad reality is that for more than 10 years there has been court conflict between the parents,&quot; said Mrs Justice Pauffley, who did not name anyone involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Various issues have arisen - parental responsibility, contact (how much, how often, staying or visiting, the arrangements for collection and delivery), the children&#39;s last names - but overall the battle has been about the role which their father should properly occupy in the children&#39;s lives.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said the dispute demonstrated that &quot;protracted litigation over children is profoundly harmful to everyone concerned&quot; and she said she had &quot;talked tough&quot; to both parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I also made some practical proposals as to how the parents might interact with one another in their sons&#39; presence so as to make their transitions from one home to the other a less tense and a more enjoyable experience,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;In particular, I suggested that when the boys were dropped off and picked up, each parent should be made welcome in the home of the other, invited to sit down around the kitchen table and offered a cup of tea (or similar).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Pleasingly, very pleasingly, against the background of the last 10 years, each parent reacted positively to that idea and it&#39;s been good for the boys.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said that at the latest hearing there had been a sense of &quot;everyone being exhausted&quot; and wanting the &quot;process to end&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And she said a consensus had been reached.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It gives me great pleasure to approve the draft consensus which provides that henceforward there is to be a shared residence order in favour of both parents,&quot; said the judge.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The boys&#39; weekends will alternate between the homes of their mother and father. School holidays and half-terms will be divided more or less equally.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The details will be worked out by the parents. They welcome without hesitation the firm message that this is the final order, that there is no need for any further court involvement, and that any return to litigation would be a profoundly retrograde step.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/tea-prescribed-for-warring-parents-30023699.html\">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/tea-prescribed-for-warring-parents-30023699.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-20 05:00:00',NULL,'tea-prescribed-by-high-court-judge-for-warring-parents-in-an-effort-to-avoid-future-litigation'),(436,'Warnings about children using sunbeds in weeks before First Holy Communion','<p>\r\n	Legislation controlling tanning salons moves through Oireachtas</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents have been urged not to bring their children to tanning salons in preparation for their First Holy Communion.<br />\r\n	The Environmental Health Association of Ireland reiterated warnings about melanoma skin cancer and sunbed use this morning.<br />\r\n	Speaking at the organisation&rsquo;s &lsquo;sunbed information day&rsquo;, its chair Catriona Stack said some children as young as seven years were using tanning salons, a practice which she warned could lead to long term use.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Using sun beds before their first holy communion could be the start of a lifelong habit,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n	The conference comes as legislation to restrict the use of sunbeds goes through the Oireachtas. Under the Public Health (Sunbeds) Bill, children under the age of 18 will be banned from using tanning salons and operators who allow anyone underage to use their facilities will face severe penalties including prison. The legislation will also ban salons from claiming sunbed use leads to health benefits .<br />\r\n	Addressing the conference, Minister for Health James Reilly said melanoma is the most common type of skin cancer in Ireland and its rate is expected to increase.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;If people feel that [the new legislation] is more of the nanny state, then I point to the statistics,&rdquo; he said, noting that more than 850 new cases of the cancer are diagnosed each year while it accounts for some 150 deaths annually. In 2011 more than 7,000 people suffered skin cancer.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;While many people with this skin condition are winning the fight, too many are losing it,&rdquo; Dr Reilly said.<br />\r\n	He added that education was &ldquo;empowerment&rdquo; and children should be made aware in school of the dangers of sunbed use. &ldquo;When they are over 18 they can make their own decisions,&rdquo; he said.<br />\r\n	Earlier this month Fianna F&aacute;il health spokesman Billy Kelleher welcomed the introduction of stricter controls around sunbed use and said the legislation should be passed before the start of First Holy Communion season.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/warnings-about-children-using-sunbeds-in-weeks-before-first-holy-communion-1.1702821</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-25 10:55:30',NULL,'warnings-about-children-using-sunbeds-in-weeks-before-first-holy-communion'),(437,'Bullying drove Chloe to consider taking her life','<p>\r\n	After six years of bullying, Chloe Callaghan considered ending it all last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The then 15-year-old said she had a &ldquo;horrible life&rdquo; in school where she had let schoolyard bullies &ldquo;get into&rdquo; her head.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And despite having a good family and circle of friends, she felt isolated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If you saw me a few years ago you would not recognise me,&rdquo; said the 16-year-old at the annual ISPCC anti-bullying campaign, where a new online reporting tool for schools was revealed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I was really quiet, a lot bigger and during school I had a horrible life really.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said school bullies target people who were &ldquo;different&rdquo;, but not a specific type of person. They could be taller, smaller, bigger, outgoing, into sport &mdash; all types, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This time last year was a worrying stage,&rdquo; said the west Dublin girl. &ldquo;I was thinking of taking my own life. That&rsquo;s how much it got to me. I let people get to me, I let people get into my head.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said they said things to her that were &ldquo;beyond imagination&rdquo;, often putting down her dreams.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Clondalkin girl said she was &ldquo;willing to throw it all away&rdquo;, adding: &ldquo;I had family beside me and friends I didn&rsquo;t see. I still felt isolated. I knew something was wrong, I went to get help. I&rsquo;m glad I did.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A student at nearby Collinstown Park Community College, she got involved with ISPCC and said staff there gave her confidence. She soon became a member of the charity&rsquo;s children&rsquo;s advisory council.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Addressing a packed conference room yesterday, she said Irish people, including adults, had &ldquo;a tendency to say I&rsquo;m only having a laugh&rdquo;, but said words affected people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said adults often &ldquo;turn away at the sight of bullying&rdquo; and said there needed to be a focus on how adults, as well as children, dealt with it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ISPCC chief executive Ashley Balbirnie said recent details of a survey conducted by the country&rsquo;s school principals had highlighted the scale of the problem. That survey reported a 33% rise in cyber-bullying incidents, with an 80% jump in people who had engaged in online bullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the ISPCC had launched their Anti-Bullying Shield Campaign three years ago, marked yesterday by the unveiling of a building wrap featuring rugby legend Brian O&rsquo;Driscoll at Dublin&rsquo;s Liberty Hall.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The list of celebrities who have backed their campaign include actor Colin Farrell, singer Niall Horan, actress Saoirse Ronan, band The Script and comedian Brendan O&rsquo;Carroll.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ISPCC national anti-bullying officer Andrew Jackson said 100 schools were now using their Shield My School toolkit, which allows schools to evaluate their own bullying policy. He said they were launching this year an online bullying reporting tool, which can attach to a school&rsquo;s website or facebook page.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	David Ruddy, principal of Talbot Senior National School in Clondalkin, said children &ldquo;live in a world of celebrities&rdquo; and that the involvement of celebrities enabled schools to engage with children on bullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	www.ispcc.ie/flag or text Bully to 50101 for text messaging support service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bullying-drove-chloe-to-consider-taking-her-life-259975.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-25 10:56:52',NULL,'bullying-drove-chloe-to-consider-taking-her-life'),(438,'Children caught in net as addiction to online video games increases','<p>\r\n	Amsterdam Letter: more adolescents and preteens in the Netherlands are seeking help for gaming addiction</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Here is a piece of information for parents who do not have enough to worry about: when it comes to video game addiction, one definition of an &ldquo;extreme player&rdquo; is a teenager who is glued to his or her screen or console for an average of 45 hours a week.<br />\r\n	That, however, is just an average. It gets much worse. At the outer fringes of &ldquo;extreme&rdquo; are youngsters who are gaming for up to 18 hours a day, who won&rsquo;t to go to school because it doesn&rsquo;t engage them, but who use artificial highs of various kinds to keep mentally alert for the gaming challenge.<br />\r\n	So all-consuming and compelling is the fantasy world they inhabit that addicts typically neglect themselves and those around them, &ldquo;forget&rdquo; to eat or to wash, sometimes refuse to leave their bedrooms or even to engage with friends who are not similarly enthralled.<br />\r\n	No matter how they look at it, real life just doesn&rsquo;t compare with the buzz of what&rsquo;s on offer online.<br />\r\n	Most frightening of all, says a new report in the Netherlands, is the age group that&rsquo;s increasingly becoming caught up in the complexity of massive, multiplayer online role-playing games, otherwise known as MMORPGs &ndash; games such as World of Warcraft (often known by initiates as World of Warcrack ) or EverQuest (also known as Never Rest ).<br />\r\n	Up to three years ago it used to be predominantly teenagers of 15 or older who were seeking psychological help but now it&rsquo;s often preteens as well, says Jan Willem Poot, director of the Yes We Can group of clinics, which helps adolescent gamers and their families to fight addiction.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Some of the children coming to us for treatment are just 10, 11 or 12, and even at that young age are pretty extreme in their obsession &ndash; so that it&rsquo;s a positive development when either they or their parents finally realise they are just not coping with the rest of their lives.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Socially isolated<br />\r\n	What&rsquo;s happening to these 10- and 11-year-olds is that they are becoming socially isolated just when they should be learning to cope with the challenges of everyday life in the company of their peers.<br />\r\n	This is no flash in the pan.<br />\r\n	Last May, video game addiction was added to the psychiatrists&rsquo; bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders .<br />\r\n	While only a tiny percentage of enthusiastic teenage gamers are addicts, if left untreated that social isolation can lead to mood swings, diminished imagination and a &ldquo;hyper-focus&rdquo; on gaming to the exclusion of everything else.<br />\r\n	Gamers say it&rsquo;s not just the intricacy of the games or the role-playing element that makes them potentially addictive, it is also because there is regularly no ultimate goal, no finish line, the games are essentially impossible to win &ndash; so the adrenaline-fuelled challenge is never-ending.<br />\r\n	Reaching the highest level of the games requires hundreds of hours of play and, just when you think you&rsquo;ve reached your maximum capability in a certain role, the game changes &ndash; which is why some players have several games on the go at once, playing with a different character in each.<br />\r\n	The Netherlands &ndash; no stranger to leading the way on difficult social issues &ndash; opened the first residential clinic in Europe for the treatment of compulsive young online gamers in Amsterdam in 2006.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Increase<br />\r\n	The latest Dutch report has collated statistics from eight addiction clinics nationwide and finds that while the number of youngsters being treated for computer game addiction was 256 in 2011, that figure rose to 426 the following year &ndash; an increase of 66 per cent.<br />\r\n	At the same time, research by Erasmus University teaching hospital in Rotterdam suggests about 1.5 per cent of boys between 13 and 16 are addicts. That&rsquo;s about 12,000 children who play for an average of about eight hours a day &ndash; in the Netherlands alone.<br />\r\n	Girls can become addicted too, of course, but researchers at Stanford School of Medicine have demonstrated that the part of the brain that generates rewarding feelings is more activated in men than in women during video-game play.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Part of the problem is that parents and teachers are not well enough informed and don&rsquo;t take this seriously enough,&rdquo; said Marius Naaburs, a team coach at a youth clinic that tackles the problem.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;They think it&rsquo;s just a phase the kids are going through and that when you tell them to pull the plug out and put it away the problem is gone.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;But it&rsquo;s not that simple: this is a problem on a par with alcohol or drug addiction &ndash; but with a much, much, younger age profile.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/children-caught-in-net-as-addiction-to-online-video-games-increases-1.1702995</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-25 10:58:33',NULL,'children-caught-in-net-as-addiction-to-online-video-games-increases'),(439,'Witness claims priest sexually assaulted her several times','<p>\r\n	Priest&rsquo;s statement to abuse inquiry denies allegations</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A witness has told the North&rsquo;s historical institutional abuse inquiry she was sexually abused on several occasions by a young priest she thought wanted to help her. The priest has denied the allegation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 44-year-old witness, who was aged 10 at the time, recounted how she spent four days in the Sisters of Nazareth Termonbacca care home in Derry in 1980, after she had been discovered sleeping rough in a church in Co Tyrone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The caretaker brought her to the parochial house, where a young priest was kind to her and expressed concern about injuries she had sustained as a result of physical abuse by her father, she told the inquiry in Banbridge, Co Down, yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, when he took her into a room, ostensibly to check on her injuries, she said the priest sexually assaulted her. Later in Termonbacca, where she was in temporary care from her parents, both of whom were alcoholics, she said she was sexually abused on two occasions by the same priest.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Subsequently she ended up at the Fort James care home in Derry. By chance the young priest saw her outside the home. He later called regularly to see her at the home and over a two- to three-month period in that home he sexually assaulted her &ldquo;two or three times&rdquo; a week, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Overdose attempt<br />\r\n	The witness also described how in 1986 she tried to end her life by taking an overdose of tablets.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A statement from the priest, who has anonymity, was read where he denied assaulting the witness. The priest said he was only in Termonbacca once in his life, while to his recollection he had never visited the Fort James home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Asked about this denial the witness said: &ldquo;I know who it was that did do what they did on me. I can&rsquo;t pluck another name from thin air because I know it was him.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier yesterday a nun who has been mentioned a number of times in the course of the Northern Ireland historical institutional abuse inquiry rejected a claim she severely physically beat boys when they were residents of Termonbacca.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Details of her denial came during evidence by a 54-year- old man who was in care in Termonbacca from 1961 to 1972.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Losing temper<br />\r\n	The witness said one nun, who has anonymity, used to say he was her &ldquo;pet&rdquo;, but then would beat him, losing &ldquo;her temper for no reason&rdquo;. She would strike him with a brush pole or electric cable of a kettle, with the result that he ended up with about 20 scars on his head, which he still has. The scars were confirmed through medical examination.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Christine Smith, QC, for the inquiry, then read a statement from the nun in which she said she was &ldquo;extremely surprised&rdquo; about the witness&rsquo;s statement. &ldquo;It is possible, and I would have to accept, that the children would have been smacked but it would never have been with sticks or straps,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Smith also read from a number of friendly letters the witness sent from another care home to the nun in 1976 in which he inquired after her health and also sent her handkerchiefs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There was also a conflict in evidence over a visit the witness made to the nun at a &ldquo;care village&rdquo; for elderly nuns in Belfast a &ldquo;couple of years ago&rdquo;. The witness said he accused her directly of having beaten him and that she walked out of the room in the face of the allegation. The nun, however, said there was no &ldquo;animosity&rdquo; between them during the meeting. The witness said she was a &ldquo;liar&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The witness also said Termonbacca &ldquo;probably was a good place compared to the rest&rdquo; of the institutions he was in.<br />\r\n	He added that compared to other institutions it might have been &ldquo;heaven&rdquo;, but that did &ldquo;not mean things did not happen in Termonbacca&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/witness-claims-priest-sexually-assaulted-her-several-times-1.1704267\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/witness-claims-priest-sexually-assaulted-her-several-times-1.1704267</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-26 10:56:34',NULL,'witness-claims-priest-sexually-assaulted-her-several-times'),(440,'Supports to be strengthened for those leaving State care','<p>\r\n	1093 young adults received aftercare support at end of December last year</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Cabinet has given approval for legislation obliging the Child and Family Agency to prepare an aftercare plan for young adults when they leave formal State care at age 18.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald, who sought approval for the main points or Heads of Bill, welcomed the decision, which she said would deliver on her long-standing commitment to strengthen the legislative provisions governing aftercare.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Aftercare is the support put in place for a person leaving statutory care at 18 to assist them in making the transition to independent living and at the end of last year there were 1,093 people receiving aftercare services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proposed legislation would, she said, strengthen the legislative provisions for aftercare by amending the Child Care Act 1991. The change would place a statutory duty on the Child and Family Agency to prepare an aftercare plan for each eligible child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald said: &ldquo;It is crucial that an aftercare plan is prepared to identify the support that young people need leaving care as they transition to adulthood.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I believe the Heads of Bill approved by Government will strengthen existing practice and improve the outcomes for young people, especially those who are more vulnerable.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the 1991 legislation the Child and Family Agency has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children up to 18 years of age.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While care has improved in recent years, there is a need to strengthen the legislative provisions on aftercare, which is for young people of 18 to 21. According to the Department the Bill will oblige the agency to prepare a specific plan that identifies a child&rsquo;s needs for aftercare supports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The most important requirements for young people leaving care are for continuity of relationships, secure, suitable accommodation as well as further education, training or employment and aftercare includes advice, guidance and practical support including financial help.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Focus Ireland has welcomed the approval and publication of the heads of the aftercare Bill and described it as a &ldquo;really positive and historic development&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The agency stressed the importance of staff and resources being in place to make sure assessments for children in care took place promptly and that the aftercare support and accommodation required were in place for each young person who needed this support on leaving care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Focus Ireland director of advocacy Mike Allen said &ldquo;this new development will mean that all children in care have a legal right to be assessed to see if they will need aftercare when they leave once they reach 18. It is a really positive and historic development.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Allen said the crucial next step was for the Government to ensure the Minister&rsquo;s department had the essential resources to guarantee that the aftercare support and accommodation was provided for assessed young people and &ldquo;crucially, where it&rsquo;s confirmed they require this support to ensure that they don&rsquo;t fall through the gaps when they leave care&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/supports-to-be-strengthened-for-those-leaving-state-care-1.1704447\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/supports-to-be-strengthened-for-those-leaving-state-care-1.1704447</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-26 10:58:42',NULL,'supports-to-be-strengthened-for-those-leaving-state-care'),(441,'Child poverty rates \'unacceptably high\' - Children\'s Rights Alliance','<p>\r\n	The Children&#39;s Rights Alliance has said a high percentage of separated migrant children continue to go missing and overall child poverty rates are unacceptably high.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also says infant mortality rates for Traveller children are three-and-a-half times those for the rest of the population.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The alliance is made up of over 100 of Ireland&#39;s non-governmental children&#39;s organisations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In its annual report card it evaluates the Government on last year&#39;s progress in meeting the Programme for Government&#39;s commitments to minors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It awards ministers B grades in the areas of constitutional rights, education and protection from abuse and neglect.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it fails them when it comes to child poverty, mental health, travellers and migrants.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It reserves its lowest mark for the treatment of migrant children, especially in the State&#39;s widely-criticised direct provision hostels for asylum seekers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report warns that a high percentage of migrant children arriving in Ireland without parent figures continue to go missing despite the decline in new arrivals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The alliance said almost one in ten children are doing without necessities such as a meat, fish or vegetarian dinner every second day.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report warns that there has been little meaningful action to improve the lives of Traveller children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/0225/506513-children/</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-26 11:02:17',NULL,'child-poverty-rates-unacceptably-high-childrens-rights-alliance'),(442,'Growth in Snapchat use sparks cyberbullying and sexting fears','<p>\r\n	An anti-bullying organisation has said it is concerned about the boom in the use of the Snapchat app among teenagers over fears it could be used for cyberbullying and &ldquo;sexting&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Bully4u said in its most recent survey of 1,020 children aged between 13 and 15; 80% of 13-year-olds and 90% of 15-year-olds were using the smartphone app.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The rapid uptake of users has pushed the way the app works into the spotlight, particularly in light of some legal cases in other countries where young people have been investigated for alleged distribution of child pornography.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Users can take photos or videos and send them to a controlled list of recipients, while setting a time limit for how long the recipients can view their &ldquo;Snaps&rdquo;, from one second to 10 seconds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Then the image is hidden and deleted from the server. However, recipients can preserve it by taking a screen grab of it on their device.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The director of Bully4u, Jim Harding, said: &ldquo;We are aware that Snapchat is being used for both cyber-bullying and sexting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Sexting is a highly dangerous practice, and illegal where children are concerned as it constitutes the manufacture and distribution of child pornography.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Snapchat gives the illusion that the image will dissolve after a certain time limit, whereas in reality recipients can take a &lsquo;screen shot&rsquo; or use other apps to save the image. Sexting and cyber bullying using &lsquo;photo messaging&rsquo; apps is not receiving the focus or attention that it needs.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He cited one case from last November in Quebec, in which 10 boys aged 13 to 15 were arrested on child pornography charges, after they allegedly captured and shared explicit photos of teenage girls sent through Snapchat as screen shots.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said there had been another case in Canada in which a 17-year-old girl was found guilty in January this year of distributing child pornography for &ldquo;sexting&rdquo; pictures of her boyfriend&rsquo;s ex-girlfriend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One student told Bully4u they were sent an image of a knife in a bullying case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They should be more aware but they need more education about it because they operate in their own world, a digital playground as such,&rdquo; Mr Harding said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They don&rsquo;t realise they are leaving a digital footprint. It&rsquo;s a two-pronged approach &mdash; [informing] the parents and, more importantly, it is communicating with the children and letting them know.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/growth-in-snapchat-use-sparks-cyberbullying-and-sexting-fears-260205.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/growth-in-snapchat-use-sparks-cyberbullying-and-sexting-fears-260205.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-27 10:51:32',NULL,'growth-in-snapchat-use-sparks-cyberbullying-and-sexting-fears'),(443,'Prostitution should be classified as gender based violence, commitee told','<p>\r\n	Personal cross-examination of complainant by accused risks &lsquo;retraumatisation&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The classification of prostitution as gender based violence is fundamental to achieving an effective response to sexual violence, an Oireachtas committee was told today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ruhama chief executive Sarah Benson noted that the European Parliament today passed a resolution which recognises prostitution as a breach of women&rsquo;s fundamental human rights and called for states to implement the Nordic model (criminalising the client).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was among several groups speaking to the Joint Committee on Justice about recommendations to deal with domestic and sexual violence.<br />\r\n	Criminalisation of buyers has not worked in Sweden and makes women targets of those who want to beat up sex workers, Dr Theresa Whitaker of the Sex Workers Alliance of Ireland said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Labour Senator Ivana Bacik said the justice committee had a report on the matter which recommended a change to the Irish law on prostitution to a Nordic approach.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An online safety scheme for sex workers, received reports of over 4,500 incidents against sex workers, over half of which were crimes such as robbery and assault, Lucy Smith of Ugly Mugs said. Stigma was the main cause of violence against sex workers and said many were fearful of being judged by garda&iacute; , she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A call for investigations of sexual crimes to be carried out dedicated specialist garda&iacute; and judges with access to information and education on sexual violence, was made by the Rape Crisis Network of Ireland (Rcni).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Legal director of the Rcni Caroline Counihan also recommended an increased strictness on bail conditions before sexual assault hearings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Personal cross-examination of the complainant by the accused should not be allowed as there was a risk of &ldquo;retraumatisation&rdquo;, Ms Counihan said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A memorandum of understanding which the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre has with the Director of Public Prosecutions means disclosures of counselling records have to include informed consent, Ellen O&rsquo;Malley-Dunlop said. However this was not satisfactory as a long term solution, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Traveller and Roma women were more vulnerable to violence because of high poverty, low education and poor accommodation, Laura Pohjolainen of Paveee Point said. Improvement in their socioeconomic station was &ldquo;key&rdquo; to protection from violence, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The provision of interpreters for women seeking safety orders, not required at present, should be provided by courts as a &ldquo;bare minimum&rdquo;, Sarah Hurley legal officer of immigrant support centre Nasc told the committee.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Commitee chairman David Stanton said the hearings would help the committee to bring forward recommendations to Government.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/prostitution-should-be-classified-as-gender-based-violence-commitee-told-1.1705745\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/prostitution-should-be-classified-as-gender-based-violence-commitee-told-1.1705745</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-02-27 11:12:59',NULL,'prostitution-should-be-classified-as-gender-based-violence-commitee-told'),(444,'Untangling the vexed question of anonymity in sex cases','<p>\r\n	Should the practice of automatic non-naming of accused come to an end?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The recent prosecutions of British celebrities for sex offences have highlighted the differences between UK anonymity laws and those in Ireland, which prohibit the identification of rape accused before conviction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The failed prosecutions of two Coronation Street actors have reignited a debate in the UK about whether rape accused should continue to be named pre-conviction. And while Ireland shows little desire to adopt the UK system, our anonymity laws are not without their problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Irish law states that those accused of rape can only be identified publicly if convicted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However data shows that even after conviction, the majority of rapists are never named publicly, due to our strict rules protecting complainant&rsquo;s identities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An analysis of data from 2011 to present shows that 59 per cent of those convicted of sex crimes in the Central Criminal Court are not named in the media after conviction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is because identifying such people could lead to the identification of the victim, either because the offender was a relative, or could be easily linked to the victim in the mind of the public.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is a feature of Irish sex crime that a huge proportion of sex offences occur within the family. In the data studied, 34 per cent of victims were abused by family members. In other words, naming the abuser in the media could very easily lead to victim identification.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, sometimes victims will allow their abuser to be named even if it might identify them; the data shows that 15 per cent of those abused by a family member consented to their abuser being identified after conviction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Irish law has a long established practice of demanding complete anonymity in rape cases before conviction. On the face of it, it appears to be an uncontroversial system; someone is only named if guilty and then only if it doesn&rsquo;t identify the victim.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However an examination of the UK debate shows there are arguments to be made for removing automatic anonymity for accused. Victim campaigners claim that naming an alleged offender can lead to other complainants coming forward, as shown in the case of Jimmy Saville. They also see the granting of anonymity for accused rapists as perpetuating the myth that many women make false rape claims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These arguments are curiously absent from the Irish debate; in fact there is little debate at all. One reason for this could be the size of our population.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Caroline Counihan of Rape Crisis Network Ireland (RCNI) feels that pre-trial anonymity for accused is vital in this country because Ireland is so small and many rape cases come from small rural communities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It can be difficult enough for the complainant who finally plucks up enough courage to go to the guards. It&rsquo;s a nightmare, and it&rsquo;s just not going to help if their rapist is named and shamed in the local or national press even before conviction,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Counihan also believes our Constitution is a factor. The right to a citizen&rsquo;s good name means that stripping anonymity pre-conviction &ldquo;is simply not a runner here&rdquo;. The Rape Crisis Centre takes the same position, while even Fiona Doyle, who was raped by her father for 10 years and went public after his conviction, is conflicted on the issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;m kind of for it and against it, I think my father was protected too much,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;But I actually think it would be unfair to name them, because mistakes do happen and people have been accused in the wrong and I think it would be very unfair to label them as a rapist or paedophile.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While it appears there isn&rsquo;t much appetite for naming rape accused here, there are other issues in our anonymity laws which many would like to see changed, such as the seemingly arbitrary granting of anonymity for some sex crimes and not others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Rape, defilement and incest offences are the only sex crimes that carry automatic pre-conviction immunity. There is no doubting rape is one of the most damaging crimes on the statute book, however in terms of violence and depravity it is often matched by the supposedly lesser offence of sexual assault.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This leaves us with the strange situation where a man accused of violently sexually assaulting a woman can be named while a man accused of raping her retains his anonymity. Surely both crimes are just as damaging to the good name of a person who is innocent until proven guilty.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Barrister and legal academic Tom O&rsquo;Malley believes that when the law was introduced, the thinking was that sexual assault was seen as a more minor offence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The reasoning at the time was that in the hierarchy of sexual cases, it was seen as less serious, as reflected in the fact that at the time the sentence was five years,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In recent years they&rsquo;ve ratcheted up the seriousness of it and the penalties but they still haven&rsquo;t seen fit to include the anonymity for the accused,&rdquo; Mr O&rsquo;Malley, of NUI Galway School of Law, added. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s something that could be looked at in future in any review of the sexual offences law.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Senior counsel Sean Gillane has acted in many such cases and believes the current system &ldquo;makes no sense at all&rdquo;. &ldquo;It just seems to be something that was overlooked,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They extended the protection for complainants from rape to include sexual offences generally but they never extended that protection for accused. There are many sexual assault cases which are, for want of a better phrase, worse than some of the rape cases you see.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A second area for possible examination concerns the misconception that rape victims have a legal right to go public after their attacker is convicted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although the phrase &ldquo;the victim waived their right to anonymity&rdquo; is often seen in news reports, it is not entirely accurate. The Criminal Law (Rape) Act 1981 and its amendments grant no right to a victim to allow themselves be identified.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to a document from the Law Reform Commission there are two reasons the law doesn&rsquo;t include this provision. Firstly, it was thought that adding it could &ldquo;sow confusion in the minds of complainants generally as to whether they could protect their identities in a rape prosecution&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Secondly, it was thought that giving victims the option to go public might leave them open to &ldquo;pressure or inducement to allow their identity to be revealed&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of course victims can, and often do, go public. A practice has arisen where a barrister for the DPP will tell the court at conviction that the victim wishes to &ldquo;waive their right&rdquo; and the judge consents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking from experience, Ms Doyle believes the decision shouldn&rsquo;t be made by the judge.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a very personal choice,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I was quite annoyed and angered that I didn&rsquo;t have the right to make the decision; it was put in someone else&rsquo;s hands.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Gillane agrees that it shouldn&rsquo;t be a decision for the court: &ldquo;The odd feature of it is that it tends to be indicated in open court by counsel for the DPP. What has counsel for the DPP got to do with it?&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Or indeed what has the court got to do with it? It&rsquo;s just one of those practices that have grown up.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Counihan believes the system should be examined but points out that judges don&rsquo;t tend to interfere with victim&rsquo;s decisions. She said it would be better if the right was explicitly granted to the complainant and that the upcoming Victim&rsquo;s Charter and the new Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill might provide the opportunities to do that.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Rape Crisis Centre operate a 24-hour confidential support service on 1800 77 88 88.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In numbers: Sex crime convictions at Central Criminal Court from 2011 to February 7, 2014</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	150<br />\r\n	Number of cases in total</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	59%<br />\r\n	of those convicted (88) were not named</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	41%<br />\r\n	of those convicted (62) were named</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	3%<br />\r\n	of victims (5) consented to themselves being named</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	34%<br />\r\n	of rapists (52) were related to the victim</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/untangling-the-vexed-question-of-anonymity-in-sex-cases-1.1708235?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/untangling-the-vexed-question-of-anonymity-in-sex-cases-1.1708235?page=1</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-03 09:56:39',NULL,'untangling-the-vexed-question-of-anonymity-in-sex-cases'),(445,'Bishop wins High Court case to halt actions by three clerical child sex abuse survivors','<p>\r\n	High Court grants application by Bishop of Kilmore on grounds of previous settlements in North</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Catholic Bishop has won a High Court court halting three actions for damages brought against him in a representative capacity by a man, his sister and another woman who previously settled Northern Ireland court actions for stg &pound;25,000 each over sexual abuse by paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	President of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, today granted an application by Bishop of Kilmore, Dr Leo O&rsquo;Reilly, for orders halting, on grounds of the previous settlements, the actions brought against him in his representative capacity as Bishop of the Kilmore diocese.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cases by the three were also brought against Cardinal Sean Brady, who is being sued in his personal capacity arising from his role as part-time secretary to former Bishop of Kilmore, Francis McKiernan, during a church investigation in 1975 into complaints about Smyth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cardinal Brady had not made any similar application to that of Bishop O&rsquo;Reilly and the proceedings against him remain in being.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In separate cases, the man, his sister and a cousin alleged negligence and breach of duty of care arising from failure by representatives of the Catholic Church over years to monitor and supervise Brendan Smyth and failure to stop his abuse or report it to garda&iacute;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The man was abused by Smyth between 1968 and 1976 and claimed he was unaware, when he settled his Northern Ireland case in 1998, Bishop McKiernan and then Fr Brady had been made aware in 1975 that Smyth was abusing children including himself but failed to alert either gardai or the man&rsquo;s parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In opposing the application, Rossa Fanning, for Bishop O&rsquo;Reilly, produced media reports from October 1995 which stated Bishop McKiernan had said he was aware in 1975 that Smyth was abusing children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Counsel for the man said he was unaware when he settled his case in the North that he himself had in 1975 been named to Catholic priests as one of Smyth&rsquo;s victims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All three initiated their proceedings in the Irish High Court in 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today, Mr Justice Kearns said the real issue arising from Bishop O&rsquo;Reilly&rsquo;s application was whether the revelation or discovery of the 1975 meetings concerning church investigations into the allegations against Smyth constituted a fresh cause of action and a new and separate injury to the plaintiffs not addressed in the settlements of their Northern Ireland cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was &ldquo;undeniable&rdquo; the same physical and psychological injuries occasioned by Smyth&rsquo;s conduct constituted the damage pleaded in the plaintiffs Northern Ireland cases and the damage pleaded in these proceedings, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The allegations of negligence were also essentially the same and both sets of procedings claimed aggravated damages on the basis the defendants ought to have taken Smyth &ldquo;out of circulation&rdquo; when his &ldquo;proclivities&rdquo; became known to them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said he was satisfied a mere exacerbation of existing damage, arising from the discovery of details of the 1975 meetings, did not alter the substance or nature of the damage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also ruled lawyers for the plaintiffs were mistaken in suggesting some new cause of action came into being with the revelations of the 1975 meeting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was &ldquo;a matter of utmost importance&rdquo; that the integrity of settlements of cases, once arrived at and with the benefit of proper legal advice, be upheld, he stressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In any event, he considered the &ldquo;new&rdquo; or &ldquo;additional&rdquo; facts being relied upon were already in the public domain when the case was settled, the judge said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Media reports made &ldquo;abundantly clear&rdquo; that the information concering the 1975 meetings had been in the public domain for some time before the man&rsquo;s case settled in 1998.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It followed the man and his lawyers were aware, or should have been aware, of all material facts when the settlement was reached. The further detail that the man was identified at a 1975 meeting as being a victim of Smyth was not relevant to the issue as to whether the settlement was properly reached.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On the adequacy of the compensation, he would not second guess a quantification of damages made in a different jurisdiction some time ago, especially when that was made with legal advice and not in ignorance of any material fact, given that matters now relied on as &ldquo;revelations&rdquo; were in fact in the public domain at the time, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge concluded the whole settlement was properly reached, the man&rsquo;s claim has been the subject of &ldquo;an accord and satisfaction&rdquo; and Bishop O&rsquo;Reilly was entitled to the orders sought. His ruling applied to the other two cases, the judge added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The three NI cases had been taken against Smyth himself, the Norbertine order and then Cardinal Cahal Daly as representative of the Catholic Church, the court heard. The Stg&pound;25,000 payments were made by the Norbertines.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/bishop-wins-court-case-to-halt-actions-by-three-abuse-survivors-1.1708320</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-03 09:58:53',NULL,'bishop-wins-high-court-case-to-halt-actions-by-three-clerical-child-sex-abuse-survivors'),(446,'10% of parents owing maintenance are untraceable','<p>\r\n	One out of 10 parents legally obliged to pay maintenance have either left the country or can&rsquo;t be traced, according to reviews carried out by a special unit of the Department of Social Protection.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One out of 10 parents legally obliged to pay maintenance have either left the country or can&rsquo;t be traced, according to reviews carried out by a special unit of the Department of Social Protection.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In cases where parents have been tracked down and forced to pay maintenance they have saved the State more than &euro;3m.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Figures provided by the Department of Social Protection on the work of their specialised Maintenance Recovery Unit (MRU) last year revealed that 10,709 cases were reviewed and 1,098 liable relatives were either living overseas or could not be traced. In another 539 cases the liable relative could not be identified.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Following a review by the MRU, 3,263 determination orders were issued to relatives due to their apparent ability to make payments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	By year&rsquo;s end 590 relatives had begun making payments, while another 51 relatives had begun paying the department directly. In the first instance the additional payments to the lone parent was, on average, &euro;54.45 a week, while in cases where the money was paid to the department the average weekly payment was &euro;61.85.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The department said as a result of MRU work last year almost &euro;3.3m was saved &mdash; more than &euro;390,000 in direct cash payments, and the remainder in projected savings through either disallowing One Family Payments (OFP) as a result of the maintenance being provided, or reduced OFP being paid.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A department spokesman said: &ldquo;When assessing a One Parent Family recipient&rsquo;s weekly entitlement housing costs, such as rent or mortgage repayments, up to a maximum of &euro;95.23 per week, may be offset against maintenance payments. In 2013 One Parent Family recipients were an average of &euro;37.68 better off as a result of liable relatives commencing or increasing payments to the lone parent.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The department said the MRU had pursued an increased number of liable relatives in 2013 including, in some cases those receiving a social welfare payment where there may be additional additional/alternate income. However, use of further evidence or an appeal might result in some people being found to have no liability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Director of Policy at One Family, Stuart Duffin, said it was time for &ldquo;an intelligent debate&rdquo; on the issue of maintenance payments and recovery, as in some cases the MRU was &ldquo;another sledgehammer to crack a nut&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the MRU was a &ldquo;reactive&rdquo; tool whereas an overhaul of the system could allow for payments to be set earlier in many cases, such as a Nordic model where maintenance can be recovered from wages.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As for the cases in which the relative was living elsewhere or could not be traced or identified, he said there were cases where domestic violence may have occurred, or there were reasons why the lone parent did not want the liable relative&rsquo;s involvement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Similarly, he said in many cases the liable relative&rsquo;s economic circumstances may have changed, making it more difficult for them to adhere to previous arrangements made either formally or informally.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/10-of-parents-owing-maintenance-are-untraceable-260582.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/10-of-parents-owing-maintenance-are-untraceable-260582.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-03 11:13:05',NULL,'10%-of-parents-owing-maintenance-are-untraceable'),(447,'Two life sentences for man guilty of raping two children','<p>\r\n	An unemployed man who raped two young girls and threatened to cut their parents&#39; throats during a twenty minute ordeal has been sentenced to two life sentences.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 30-year-old man was sentenced to by trial judge Mr Justice Paul Carney.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Carney said that he would find it &quot;too upsetting to recite the facts&quot; adduced this morning at the Central Criminal Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Carney said that in the normal course of events, the accused would be entitled to a substantial discount because he had signed guilty pleas prior to the trial, and because of his early plea and co-operation with gardai.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But Judge Carney said that this case was too serious for these concessions to be given effect to.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;For the past twenty years I have refrained from saying this is the worst case ever,&quot; said Judge Carney, handing down the two life terms.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier today, the mother of the 9-year-old girl raped three times by the &quot;animalistic&quot; man, told the Central Criminal Court: &quot;Inside, I am slowly dying&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The father of a second child, aged 6, who was anally and orally raped by the same man, addressed the Central Criminal Court in person this afternoon.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The father of the 6-year-old told trial judge Mr Justice Paul Carney that the man had engaged in acts of depravity not fit for a society where a 6-year-old exists.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It was like a bomb going off in our ears&quot;, said the man as he fought back tears, describing to the court questions posed to him by his young daughter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Where do we start with this?&quot; he asked, adding that he hoped that, in time, the ordeal would become a faint memory for the child who &quot;sees creepy men&quot; every day, leading her to freeze and panic.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court heard that the child cannot be on her own at any time and has a &quot;worry box&quot; by her bed to dispense her daily worries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We live daily and nightly with this new world created by this man, it&#39;s so unfair,&quot; said the 39-year-old father.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We have all been touched by evil,&quot; said the father, who broke down during his testimony.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It is a living fear now that life could get worse,&quot; he said, adding that he and his wife have had to teach his now 7-year-old child the difference between secret and private.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The father wrote a poem, called &quot;Petals Plucked, What Will Bloom&quot; and he read this poem into the court record for his &quot;princess&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The sentenced man raped the two young girls and threatened to cut their parents&#39; throats during a twenty minute ordeal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This afternoon, he appeared at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin dressed in a black suit and white shirt.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier this year he had admitted a total of five charges, three of raping one little girl and two of raping a second.<br />\r\n	When asked today if he wanted to change his guilty plea, the man - who has an extensive criminal record including prison terms for robbery and assault - nodded his head from side to side and said &quot;no&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The children, aged 6 and 9, were raped at a house last year after straying away from another child&rsquo;s birthday party in a housing estate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Both girls were anally and orally raped by the man and received what was described as a &quot;cocktail of medication&quot; to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Family members, including the children&#39;s parents, wept as the charges and details of the offences were read out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;You bitch, take them [the child&#39;s clothes] off or I&#39;ll cut your parents throats one and then yours,&quot; the man told the children prior to the assaults.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When one of the girls cried, he said &quot;shut it&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This afternoon Inspector Aidan Minnock confirmed that the man &quot;effectively lured&quot; the girls to his flat from a green outside where they had been playing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The man lured them to his flat under the pretence that he had a six-year-old daughter who was shy. He invited them to play with the child, who did not exist.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Carney heard that the man made full admissions to the assault during a fifth interview by gardai.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He told the authorities he had been drinking cider and vodka from 7am on the day of the rapes. He was also taking Valium.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He bought the alcohol with monies given to him by a priest.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He admitted trapping the girls in the room and raping them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said he had been screened for sexually transmitted diseases six months previously in Castlerea Prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	After making full admissions to gardai, the statement of the girls was put to the accused and he confirmed their statements, including the lie about a 6-year-old girl to earn their trust and &quot;get what he wanted&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two victim impact statements were prepared for today&#39;s hearing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One was read into the court record and another was read by one of the girls&#39; fathers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a victim impact statement (VIS) the mother of the 9-year-old child said her daughter was traumatised and terrified by the assault.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Our lives changed forever that day,&quot; she said in the VIS.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I feel I am living a nightmare I can&#39;t wake up from....Inside, I am slowly dying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;She doesn&#39;t feel safe anymore,&quot; said the mother, who added that she fears for her daughters future.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The girl&#39;s father said that he was not seeking revenge, adding that his daughter&#39;s &quot;dignity and bravery takes my breath away&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The case was fast-tracked through the courts after the man made it known through his solicitor, Gearoid Geraghty, that he was pleading guilty to all charges and waiving his right to the book of evidence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The man has been in custody at Castlerea Prison since he was initially remanded there last October.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He appeared at Athlone District Court earlier this year where he signed pleas of guilty before Judge Seamus Hughes in respect of each of the five charges.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Hughes returned him for sentencing to the Central Criminal Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prior to today&#39;s sentencing hearing, Judge Carney, listing judge of the Central Criminal Court, ordered that victim impact reports be prepared.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/two-life-sentences-for-man-guilty-of-raping-two-children-30057595.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-04 11:18:02',NULL,'two-life-sentences-for-man-guilty-of-raping-two-children'),(448,'Victims’ groups welcome life sentences for child rapist','<p>\r\n	Sentence sends &lsquo;very powerful societal message&rsquo; says Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) has said the two life sentences yesterday handed down to a man for five counts of rape against two children reflects the depravity of the crime committed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ISPCC director of services Caroline O&rsquo;Sullivan said the organisation welcomed the term. &ldquo;This . . . sends a very clear message that this crime is unacceptable and will be punished,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added that there was a need to introduce sentencing guidelines for such cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;While we welcome this particular sentence, the ISPCC recommends that sentencing guidelines are put in place as soon as possible so that we as a society are not relying on a particular judge&rsquo;s discretion when delivering sentences &ndash; but rather there is a clear pathway . . . determining an appropriate sentence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When it comes to the protection and safeguarding of children from abuse, the child must be . . . the primary consideration at all times. This also applies to the treatment, handling and sentencing of the perpetrators of abuse, to ensure the safety of all children is considered, and the message of complete intolerance . . . is reinforced.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dublin Rape Crisis Centre chief executive Ellen O&rsquo;Malley Dunlop said the sentence represented a &ldquo;very powerful societal message&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/victims-groups-welcome-life-sentences-for-child-rapist-1.1711500</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-04 11:19:58',NULL,'victims’-groups-welcome-life-sentences-for-child-rapist'),(449,'Davy Fitzgerald says he was severely bullied as a child','<p>\r\n	Manager says some Clare senior hurlers were previously taking illicit drugs</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Clare hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has opened up about how he was severely bullied when he was a child.<br />\r\n	The All-Ireland winning manager &ndash; who addressed hundreds of students at a mental and physical health seminar at Limerick Institute of Technology today &ndash; encouraged them to have dreams and goals and to avoid the pitfalls of alcohol and drugs.<br />\r\n	He also revealed how some Clare hurlers were taking illicit drugs before he and his backroom team weeded out the problem when Fitzgerald became manager in 2011.<br />\r\n	In a inspirational speech, the former Clare goalkeeper gave a remarkably frank account of how sport saved his life when he was the victim of bullies while he attended secondary school in Clare.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;At an early age I had a dream. I believe you should have dreams and you should have goals, no matter what your story is. It doesn&rsquo;t matter whether it&rsquo;s sport or if it&rsquo;s a profession that you want. My dream from about four or five years of age was to play in goal for Clare. I didn&rsquo;t care about anything else. That was my focus. That was my goal. It was one of the biggest things I&rsquo;ve ever had in my life; having that goal in front of me and having that belief that I wanted to do something,&rdquo; the former three-time GAA All Star told students.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I got bullied badly when I was in secondary school. It was probably the toughest time in my life. I used to dread getting up in the mornings and going out on the bus, absolutely dread it. I used to sit on the second seat from the front nearly all the time. There was seven or eight guys who used to be laughing at me.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;They&rsquo;d hit me on the back of the head. They would pull my hair. They put egg on my head. They would pull me back to the back seat &ndash; the bus driver wouldn&rsquo;t know anything about it &ndash; they&rsquo;d open my shirt and start painting on my body. I got my shoes thrown out the bus window. I felt absolutely so low and I tried to figure out what this was all about.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I went home with a black eye and bruised ribs. I never told my mam or dad anything. To this day, I don&rsquo;t understand bullying. I cannot understand how people are so insensitive. I cannot understand how you would single someone out and do that. It just doesn&rsquo;t make sense.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Addressing anyone involved in bullying, the manager &ndash; who last year brought Clare to All-Ireland victory after a 16-year gap &ndash; said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s something I cannot tolerate. If you ever have done something like that, just look within yourself and say: &lsquo;Listen, I&rsquo;m not going there again and I&rsquo;m not going to make someone feel like that again.&rsquo; None of us are perfect. Trust me, I have a lot of things that I make mistakes on. I&rsquo;m not perfect but I will try to be the best person and not make you feel bad.&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve often looked at smart arses that think they know it all. To me, I go through them for shortcut, if I see someone make fun of someone, because you&rsquo;re not as smart as you let on, you&rsquo;re not as tough as you let on.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Did they (bullies) make me stronger? They did, without any shadow of a doubt. People often ask me why I have an attitude on the sideline. I have an attitude because I won&rsquo;t let anyone walk down on top of me. 100 per cent not.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Fitzgerald, who won two All-Ireland medals as a Clare player, said sport was the &ldquo;one thing that kept me going through the bullying&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll be honest about it, when I was feeling low. I just kept thinking, I have a dream. I used to get my hurley and go out and play hurling. I used to do something I love straight away. I would encourage anyone that comes across being made feel that low, go to that place where you know that you have something you love doing.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	He said he was proud of the Clare hurlers for effectively giving up drink in order to win an All-Ireland last year. He told the gathering they did not need alcohol and drugs to feel better about themselves or to succeed in life.<br />\r\n	He also revealed when he became Clare manager he was aware players were drinking alcohol and taking drugs. &ldquo;We brought in a code of discipline. From the mid-2000s, in Clare, my feeling was that Clare was a social team. I know some of them were even taking harder stuff than drink. I couldn&rsquo;t understand this. To me I play to win, and if you are doing stuff like that, you&rsquo;re wasting your time.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	He said he and the team rooted out the problem during a three-hour meeting after he became manager. &ldquo;I questioned them and I said do we really need alcohol and do you need to take substances that will make you feel better. We teased it out, we spent three hours out in Bunratty teasing it out. We decided we were going to stand up and draw a line under it and say: &lsquo;No.&rsquo; We decided we were going to come to training and enjoy ourselves and were going to communicate with each other. We want to enjoy what we do.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	However, he also told the students sport could deliver deep lows as well as massive highs. He described how he collapsed with grief when his team Waterford were thrashed by Kilkenny in the 2008 All-Ireland hurling final.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;There are 85,000 people there. I&rsquo;m on the sideline. We&rsquo;re getting beaten 30 points by Kilkenny, absolutely hammering us. You can&rsquo;t (hide) any place. I&rsquo;ll never forget coming up to the dressingroom afterwards, the boys were gone. I actually fell to my knees. My dad and my best friend Liam were there. I just fell down. I balled out crying. I was in a bad way after it. I couldn&rsquo;t believe, that, one minute I was up so high and the next minute I was down (so low).&rdquo;<br />\r\n	He also revealed how he was assaulted by Waterford supporters when the team came off the back of another severe beating at the hands of Tipperary in 2011. &ldquo;I remember getting hit by two or three supporters after a game. We lost 7-21 to 21 points to Tipperary. A few of the Waterford supporters hit me on the way in (to the dressingroom) and they tried to get in the dressingroom door. It was my fault the team played badly.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;In sport there will be ups and downs in a big way. While last year was unbelievable for me, I never forget what it was like to be low, and there is low points you have to deal with. &rdquo;<br />\r\n	He told the students that exercise &ldquo;sharpens the mind&rdquo; and alcohol sends you &ldquo;down a road of unhappiness&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	Reiterating his advice to those gathered before him to have dreams and goals and hobbies &ldquo;and fun&rdquo; he added: &ldquo;I&rsquo;ll give you an example of a dream I had, to win the long puck (competition) in Ireland. It took me nine years to win it. I used to come home every year and my dad would say to me, &lsquo;Well, how&rsquo;d you get on&rsquo;, and I&rsquo;d say, &lsquo;I didn&rsquo;t get there&rsquo;. I remember that, after the sixth year he said, &lsquo;Well, are you ever going to do it?&rsquo;, and I said: &lsquo;I&rsquo;ll get there, I&rsquo;ll get there.&rsquo;<br />\r\n	&ldquo;After the ninth year when I did (win) it. Jesus...what a feeling! The message I&rsquo;m trying to give to you is, it pays to be persistent. It&rsquo;s like my dream with Clare last year. Everyone said for four or five years that Kilkenny would be unbeatable. In my head I kept saying, and in every interview I did, &lsquo;they&rsquo;re time is coming to an end &ndash; we will get there&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&rdquo;<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/davy-fitzgerald-says-he-was-severely-bullied-as-a-child-1.1712285?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/davy-fitzgerald-says-he-was-severely-bullied-as-a-child-1.1712285?page=1</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-05 10:42:11',NULL,'davy-fitzgerald-says-he-was-severely-bullied-as-a-child'),(450,'Abuse inquiry hears series of allegations of rape, beatings and verbal abuse','<p>\r\n	Statements from those implicated strenuously deny claims by former care home residents</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Allegations of rapes, beatings and other abuses made by former residents of Derry care homes run by the Sisters of Nazareth have been heard by the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry. Statements submitted to the inquiry from those implicated strongly deny all claims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The allegations and subsequent denials dominated evidence on the 15th day of the inquiry into alleged abuses in residential institutions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One witness, who alleged she was repeatedly physically abused at St Joseph&rsquo;s Home, Termonbacca, in Derry, said she was also raped while in care outside the institution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The woman, who is now herself a foster parent, told the inquiry panel she and her husband provided homes for children in care because she &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t want them to go through what I went through&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The witness, who cannot be identified, cited regular beatings from a named nun who also showed alleged bias against children who &ldquo;did not tell her things&rdquo;. The inquiry heard this nun also force-fed children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This was one &ldquo;evil nun&rdquo;, she said, &ldquo;who would have knuckled you when she seen you&rdquo;. Other nuns and most lay members of staff were good, &ldquo;but this one sticks out the most&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Another witness alleged that she suffered sexual abuse by boys who were residents at Termonbacca. She claimed that the older boys regularly came into the bedroom at night and abused her. This happened about 10 times and possibly every two or three weeks, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She told the inquiry she was terrified but could not tell the nun what had happened to her as it was &ldquo;dirty&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Another witness also told the inquiry she was repeatedly sexually abused by another resident. This happened nearly every other night for weeks, she said. This was reported to a nun in the presence of a lay staff member, but she said her complaints were not taken seriously.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A statement made by the boy against whom allegations were made denied all the claims. He suggested that compensation may be behind the allegations.<br />\r\n	The witness said this was not true and said she had not spoken to a solicitor about any abuse.<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/abuse-inquiry-hears-series-of-allegations-of-rape-beatings-and-verbal-abuse-1.1712774\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/abuse-inquiry-hears-series-of-allegations-of-rape-beatings-and-verbal-abuse-1.1712774</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-05 10:47:21',NULL,'abuse-inquiry-hears-series-of-allegations-of-rape-beatings-and-verbal-abuse'),(451,'State repeatedly failing children in care, in same ways, says ombudsman’s office','<p>\r\n	Report calls on new agency to finally sort out ongoing problems</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Repeated failures to protect children in care who are at risk of sexual exploitation, and continuous failures to allocate social workers to children, are highlighted in a new report from the Ombudsman for Children, Emily Logan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also draws attention to other problems including children being put in multiple placements over short periods and young people often being forced to stay too long in justice facilities because there is nowhere for them to go afterwards.<br />\r\n	Ms Logan, who is laying the report before the Oireachtas this morning, says her office should not have to investigate these issues over and over again and now that the new Child and Family Agency has been established, these problems must be addressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Systemic difficulties<br />\r\n	&ldquo;It is clear that many problems identified are manifestations of recurring and systemic difficulties . . . It is hoped that the findings of this report and the recommendations it contains will contribute positively to the ongoing reform of Ireland&rsquo;s child and family support services, and that the root causes identified in the investigations underpinning the report cease to be the subject of examination by this office save in exceptional circumstances.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children in care have had difficult childhoods and most have experienced periods of instability and insecurity, had their education disrupted and their health needs neglected. They needed &ldquo;the full support of services to enable them to achieve where possible a good education, emotional stability and security in their placement. They are entitled to the right to prepare for a successful adult life.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the Meta-analysis of Repetitive Root Cause Issues Regarding the Provision of Services for Children in Care report , the ombudsman has taken 10 sample cases her office has investigated, to highlight the repetitive nature of problems. Though there are more than 6,000 children in care, Ms Logan says these 10 cases are &ldquo;representative&rdquo; of ongoing issues for the cohort of children in care coming to her attention.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report says the previous experiences of many of these children have exposed them to increased risk of abuse and exploitation. Safeguarding them requires staff to be aware of the need to provide robust protection. More than half the children in care who made complaints to the ombudsman, or had complaints made on their behalf, had protection issues. These were not dealt with adequately &ldquo;in that the national guidance contained in Children First was not implemented&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	An example cited was a case where an allegation of abuse by a child in care, about a parent, took two years to investigate. &ldquo;This child&rsquo;s case was marked by lengthy delays, compounded by a lack of oversight from the HSE, poor record- keeping and a lack of effective communication and co-operation between HSE staff . . . &rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/state-repeatedly-failing-children-in-care-in-same-ways-says-ombudsman-s-office-1.1712760</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-05 10:55:55',NULL,'state-repeatedly-failing-children-in-care-in-same-ways-says-ombudsman’s-office'),(452,'Frances Fitzgerald: Child beauty pageants are theft of childhood','<p>\r\n	Children&rsquo;s Minister Frances Fitzgerald has condemned child beauty pageants as &ldquo;the theft of childhood&rdquo;, as a senator warned she would seek an outright ban if the events continue to be staged.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Senator Jillian van Turnhout&rsquo;s motion condemning the holding of child beauty pageants in Ireland received a unanimous backing when it went before the Seanad, where Ms Fitzgerald said she wanted Ireland to be &ldquo;a cold house for child pageants&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald said she hoped legislation banning pageants would not be necessary, but stressed her opposition to them. Texan company Universal Royalty staged a beauty pageant in Co Monaghan last year and has pledged to hold three more in this country in 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The very words &lsquo;child beauty pageant&rsquo; leave a coppery taste in the mouth,&rdquo; the minister said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Most of us believe that it is totally wrong to promote participation, for financial gain, in a contest where little children are judged and turned into winners or losers based, not on skill they have learned or ability they can prove, but on how &lsquo;glammed up&rsquo; their parents can make them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Catapulting little girls and boys into a sexuality for which they are neither physically nor cognitively ready is a form of theft. It is the theft of childhood. And for the theft of childhood, no form of restorative justice exists. Once stolen, it is gone forever.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Van Turnhout&rsquo;s private member&rsquo;s motion contained a call &ldquo;on all stakeholders to be resolute in opposing child beauty pageants in Ireland&rdquo;. She alsoinvited the D&aacute;il to pass a similar motion.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It follows the French Senate passing an amendment last September banning the organising of beauty pageants for children under 16, with penalties for breaking the law resulting in up to two years in prison and up to &euro;30,000 in fines.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In her speech Ms Fitzgerald said: &ldquo;It is noted that legislative proposals in France on banning pageants ran into difficulties in light of criticisms regarding the vagueness around the specifics of what types of events were addressed. I hope we won&rsquo;t have to go there in Ireland.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Van Turnhout said: &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s hope common sense will prevail&rdquo;, adding that she had received more correspondence from parents on this issue than any other.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is a really important time for us to protect childhood,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The minister also said the Centre for Effective Services will carry out a review of other countries&rsquo; responses to issues such as the staging of child beauty pageants and sale of age-inappropriate clothing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said another research project being conducted by University College Cork looking at the impact of commercialisation and sexualisation of children in Ireland would be published before summer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/fitzgerald-child-beauty-pageants-are-theft-of-childhood-261024.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-06 10:51:25',NULL,'frances-fitzgerald-child-beauty-pageants-are-theft-of-childhood'),(453,'Child and Family Agency must act as ‘good parent’, according to Children’s Ombudsman','<p>\r\n	The Ombudsman for Children has said the Child and Family Agency will have to tackle &ldquo;systematic problems&rdquo; in providing services for children &mdash; including those in care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Emily Logan made the comments as she provided a copy of a new report conducted by her office, A Meta-analysis of Repetitive Root Cause Issues Regarding Children in Care, to the Oireachtas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Logan said 10% of the 900 complaints dealt with by her office in the past decade related to children in the care system and that some issues raised years ago still existed in parts of the system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report highlighted areas of concern, such as protection of children in care, where concerns included taking two years to investigate a sexual abuse allegation and the Children First guidelines not being implemented in one area until late 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other areas of concern included poor quality of information, the accuracy of information, file management, and accessibility of files, all of which, according to the report, &ldquo;impacts retrieval of information therefore social workers and the Child and Family Agency are left exposed&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report also highlighted the number of cases in which no social worker was allocated for long periods of time and where there were difficulties with case transfers, &ldquo;as well as irregular supervision [for example a child without a local social work service for seven years&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report also stated: &ldquo;In both this analysis and through other cases OCO [Office of the Children&rsquo;s Ombudsman] have investigated a number of concerns about multi-agency responsibilities for children in care. These include issues in relation to mental health provision, education provision, and housing difficulties.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There needs to be a recognition of corporate parenting role across all government departments and state agencies and all relevant service providers.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Echoing the view, Ms Logan said: &ldquo;Where systemic problems have been identified with the operation of legislation or provision of services to children, it should not be necessary for quasi-judicial bodies such as the Ombudsman for Children&rsquo;s Office to investigate the same problems repeatedly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In preparing this meta-analysis and laying it before the Houses of the Oireachtas, we have alerted the responsible body, the Child and Family Agency, to the issues which must be addressed. While the agency is still in its infancy, the response to my recommendations has been positive to date.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* Read the full report at www.oco.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/child-and-family-agency-must-act-as-good-parent-according-to-childrens-ombudsman-261014.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-06 10:56:26',NULL,'child-and-family-agency-must-act-as-‘good-parent’-according-to-children’s-ombudsman'),(454,'FG TD calls for counselling and psychotherapy services to be regulated','<p>\r\n	Department of Health committed to extending existing legislation, D&aacute;il told</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Anybody in the Republic can be a practising counsellor or psychotherapist without training, Fine Gael TD Dan Neville has said. &ldquo;Any person can put up a sign and say he or she is a counsellor or psychotherapist and charge &euro;80 an hour. It is extremely dangerous for such untrained people to do so.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	One course of which he was aware ran for eight weekends, leading to a counselling diploma in eating disorders. Another course covering a number of weekends led to a higher diploma in suicide studies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is highly dangerous for people to counsel those who have suicidal ideation after such a short course when they are not fully trained. It takes four years plus of supervised practice to qualify as a psychotherapist.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Neville said the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 provided for the registration of persons qualifying under the title of a designated profession, but psychotherapy and counselling were not included as the various organisations involved could not agree. It only required a ministerial directive to include them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister of State for Health Kathleen Lynch said the professions currently designated under the 2005 Act were clinical biochemists, dieticians, medical scientists, occupational therapists, orthoptists, physiotherapists, podiatrists, psychologists, radiographers, social care workers and speech and language therapists.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said while the immediate priority was to proceed with the establishment of the registration boards for those professions, the department was committed to bringing counsellors and psychotherapists within the Act&rsquo;s ambit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/fg-td-calls-for-counselling-and-psychotherapy-services-to-be-regulated-1.1713934</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-06 10:59:03',NULL,'fg-td-calls-for-counselling-and-psychotherapy-services-to-be-regulated'),(455,'TD bids for new law on abusers','<p>\r\n	Gardai will be able to disclose information about high-risk sex offenders to parents &ndash; if a child is in danger &ndash; under legislation due before the Dail shortly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proposed legislation is modelled on Sarah&#39;s Law, enacted in the UK following the murder of seven-year-old Sarah Payne in 2000 at the hands of a convicted sex offender.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In an opinion piece in today&#39;s Irish Independent, Roscommon-Leitrim Independent TD Denis Naughten &ndash; who has put forward the bill &ndash; warned that we need to act to avoid a tragedy like the murder of Sarah Payne happening to an Irish girl.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Child Sex Offenders Information and Monitoring Bill was introduced last October by the Reform Alliance TD as a private members&#39; bill, with the Government saying it would not oppose it at second stage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Justice Minister Alan Shatter said then that the bill provided &quot;a valuable opportunity to discuss in the Dail, risks posed to children by paedophiles&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The reform would see Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan liaise with the Department of Justice to draft rules on how gardai might release information on a known sex offender.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/td-bids-for-new-law-on-abusers-30077349.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-10 11:27:08',NULL,'td-bids-for-new-law-on-abusers'),(456,'Funding axed but Teen-Line will continue','<p>\r\n	Teen-Line Ireland, which provides a vital service for teenagers in distress, has seen its State funding axed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It comes at a time when demand for the service has increased dramatically &ndash; it received more than 2,500 calls from teens since the start of the year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Tallaght-based charity received confirmation earlier this week that the HSE&#39;s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), would not be providing further funding to the free-phone helpline service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Bronagh Walsh, the manager of Teen-Line, told the Herald that the body was &quot;very disappointed&quot; at the decision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But she said that she wanted to reassure their service users and their volunteers that the service will continue and that fundraising efforts will increase in the coming months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We will have to stand on our own two feet, but we have to go on,&quot; said Bronagh.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that the HSE funding had amounted to around &euro;60,000 a year, while the service costs between &euro;100,000 to &euro;120,000 annually to run, so it is a significant loss.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last month alone, Teen-Line received 1,300 calls. The number of calls rose by 32pc to the helpline last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	EVALUATION</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We know the type of calls we get, and there really is a need for it,&quot; Bronagh said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The NOSP said that following many months of robust engagement with Teen-Line, which included an independent evaluation, the NOSP has determined that it will not be providing funding to the charity. It said that the decision to cease funding was primarily down to Teen-Line&#39;s &quot;governance and service provision&quot; and its &quot;limited capacity to provide a national, quality assured helpline and multimedia service to young people&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood that the HSE, which has been providing funding to Teen-Line since 2006, has recommended that the listening service aligns itself with one of the larger, national helplines, due to the HSE&#39;s focus on non-replication of services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, there are no plans to do that on the part of Teen-Line as it is a distinct service, and it does operate as a national helpline, said Bronagh.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We have good patrons and we have a good board,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.herald.ie/news/funding-axed-but-teenline-will-continue-30079040.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-11 10:24:11',NULL,'funding-axed-but-teen-line-will-continue'),(457,'Adoption rights bill \'challenging\', says Fitzgerald','<p>\r\n	Drawing up new legislation on adoption information and tracing is proving complex, according to Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said her department was continuing to work on the Heads of Bill for the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill and she hoped to be in a position to seek Government approval to publish the Heads of Bill as soon as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;As I have stated on a number of occasions, it is important to note that complex legal and constitutional issues have arisen in the drafting of the Bill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;A particular challenge has arisen in the attempt to reconcile an adopted person&#39;s request for information about his or her identity with the right to privacy of his or her birth parent where consent has not been provided.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;My department is continuing to consult with the Office of the Attorney General on this and on a number of related issues,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald said in a parliamentary reply to Deputy Ann Ferris that &quot;one reason for the discussions with the Attorney General was to continue to tease out precisely how this can be done in the context of what I must state is extremely strong legal advice about the constitutional protection of the rights of the natural mother to privacy.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A number of European court cases also have addressed this issue and highly complex legal and constitutional issues have arisen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I continue to explore how far the Government can go in building into legislation that right of the adopted person to get access to information without breaching the Constitution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This is the reason that it is taking this length of time to draft the Heads of Bill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I intend to submit the Heads of Bill for Government approval as soon as these issues have been addressed,&quot; Ms Fitzgerald said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added: &quot;I am not in a position to give a comprehensive account of the provisions of the proposed legislation until the Heads of Bill have been agreed by Government.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Once approved by Government, the Heads of Bill will be sent to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for its detailed consideration.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The process of sending the Heads of Bill to that committee will ensure that the provisions of the proposed legislation will be subject to public scrutiny and it is of course open to that committee to invite and encourage submissions from all interested parties,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;In the meantime, I am open to any proposals or suggestions in relation to policy on this matter that assists in achieving as much access as possible in a manner that is legally and constitutionally sound.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/health/adoption-rights-bill-challenging-says-fitzgerald-30074824.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-11 10:27:54',NULL,'adoption-rights-bill-challenging-says-fitzgerald'),(458,'Two units of alcohol a week risks foetus','<p>\r\n	Just two alcoholic drinks a week in early pregnancy may increase the risk of having a premature or small baby, and it is middle-class women who are most likely to drink more than this.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Women who drank more than two weekly alcohol units were twice as likely to give birth to an unexpectedly small or premature baby than women who abstained completely, a study has found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pregnant women who drank more than two weekly units during the first three months were more likely to be older, educated to degree level, of white ethnicity, and more likely to live in well-off areas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings, published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health and based on responses to food questionnaires by 1,264 pregnant women in Britain, reinforces the abstinence- only message.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All of the women at low- risk of birth complications were part of the Caffeine and Reproductive Health study which examined links between diet and birth outcomes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Alcohol consumption was significantly higher before conception and during the first three months of pregnancy than during the subsequent two trimesters, averaging 11, four, and just under two units a week respectively.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than half (53%) of the women drank more than the recommended maximum two units a week during the first three months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost four out of 10 said they drank more than 10 units a week shortly before becoming pregnant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study found that 13% of the babies were underweight when born; 4.4% were smaller than would be expected and 4.3% were born prematurely.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Drinking during the first three months of pregnancy was most strongly linked to the outcomes. Even pregnant women who did not exceed the maximum recommended alcohol intake in the first three months were still at an increased risk of a premature birth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Drinking in the lead up to conception was also linked to higher risk of restricted foetal growth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Our results highlight the need for endorsing the abstinence-only message and further illuminate how timing of exposure is important in the association of alcohol with birth outcomes, with the first trimester being the most vulnerable period,&rdquo; the study authors wrote.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Health and Children recommends that women refrain from drinking alcohol during their pregnancy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The department says alcohol offers no benefits to pregnancy outcomes, and it is in the child&rsquo;s best interest that it is avoided.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, another study has found that girls born small or underweight are twice as likely to be infertile in adulthood.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings of the study, published in the online only British Medical Journal Open, are based on 1,206 women who were born in Sweden from 1973 onwards. Just under 4% of the women had been born prematurely; a similar proportion were underweight at birth, while just under 6% were unexpectedly small babies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Women with fertility problems were almost three times as likely to have been born unexpectedly small as those whose main cause of infertility was unexplained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, as it is the first research of its kind, they say further studies will be needed before definitive conclusions can be drawn.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/cwgbkfojkfid/rss2/</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-11 10:39:37',NULL,'two-units-of-alcohol-a-week-risks-foetus'),(459,'Christine Buckley helped shift cultural axis on child abuse','<p>\r\n	She persisted &lsquo;through denial, denunciation and obfuscation to expose the rotten story&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Those who insist that history is about movements not individuals might reflect on the achievements of Christine Buckley.<br />\r\n	Her story is history as driven by one person. She was an original, a pioneer in exposing how badly this State &ldquo;cherished&rdquo; many of its children, whatever their age, throughout most of the 20th century, up to 1996 when the last Magdalene laundry closed. If a high point of much of her work was then YTaoiseach Bertie Ahern&rsquo;s 1999 apology on behalf of the State to all who had been in residential institutions as children, as well as his announcement then of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (Ryan Commission) and the setting up of the Residential Institutions Redress Board, it was not all.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is no exaggeration to claim that such huge shift in the cultural axis of Ireland, made possible by Christine Buckley, paved the way for the Murphy Commission which investigated the handling of clerical sexual abuse allegations in Dublin and Cloyne dioceses, as well as the McAleese committee which investigated the Magdalene laundries. All were of piece</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was not alone in bringing these about but she was among the very first, the most consistent and most persistent in her determination that such truths should out so that survivors be helped. She ploughed through denial, denunciation and obfuscation to expose the rotten story of what went on in this State&rsquo;s residential institutions for children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her own story, as we now know, was in many ways typical. Through its telling she liberated others to do likewise, and not just from an institutional context. Writing in this newspaper in 1997 she recalled: &ldquo;My mother lived within 20 minutes of the orphanage where I was placed as a child. I never knew it. Nobody seemed to know it. After a two-year courtship she took the baby boat to England in 1946 to hide, to wait and to give birth to her dark secret.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo; She forgot to tell my father that she was separated from her husband. She forgot to tell him she already had children, one of them in an institution. Two weeks after my birth we returned to Ireland. My father refused to support her. The following day she placed me with, an adoption agency, vehemently refusing to sign the adoption papers and nobody asked her why.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Guilt ridden, my father tracked me down six months later in a baby home. For six years he was the pivot of my life until one Saturday he never came back.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Campaign<br />\r\n	Her campaign began after she met her birth mother for the first time in 1985. Three years later she travelled to Nigeria to meet her father. She &ldquo;told him about my life in Goldenbridge . . . and how I intended to go public about the horrors of that place once he returned to Ireland to meet my children.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 1992 her father arrived in Ireland where Gay Byrne invited both to tell their story on RT&Eacute; Radio One. After that &ldquo;the phones hopped,&rdquo; then little more happened. &ldquo;Those following years of delay, exacerbated by the denials or dismissals by the religious and their apologists in the lay world, as well as elements in the media . . . meant that further, more telling evidence was required. For this reason I agreed to Louis Lentin&rsquo;s invitation to participate in his 1996 TV documentary Dear Daughter . . . I persuaded him to incorporate the harrowing tales of other brave women in Goldenbridge.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In early 1999, out of frustration at repeated &ldquo;one-liner&rdquo; replies from politicians, she, Bernadette Fahy, and Carmel McDonnell Byrne who had also been in Goldenbridge, went directly to see the minister for education Miche&aacute;l Martin. They met him again with then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A series of meetings with both men followed with Mr Ahern telling them of his plans for a public apology, between 10 to 14 days before it happened.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They were also told in advance about plans for a commission of investiagtion and a redress scheme, she recalled. At the same time Mary Raftery&rsquo;s States of Fear series on institutional abuse and with which Christine Buckley assisted, was being broadcast on RT&Eacute;. The rest, as they say, is history.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was devoted to the Aislinn Centre, which she and Carmel McDonnell Byrne opened to help survivors in 1999, and blessed with a happy family life. But behind the public persona was a light-hearted woman who, for instance, when asked by this newspaper in 2012 whether she had a healthy lifestyle, responded: &ldquo;Absolutely not. I enjoy what&rsquo;s not good for me too much. I&rsquo;m still addicted to nicotine. I have made attempts to stop, but sadly the battle continues.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It has ended.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/christine-buckley-helped-shift-cultural-axis-on-child-abuse-1.1721794</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-12 12:25:45',NULL,'christine-buckley-helped-shift-cultural-axis-on-child-abuse'),(460,'Heroin addicts move in on city neighbourhood','<p>\r\n	Heroin addicts are shooting up in a city neighbourhood leaving local residents deeply concerned after a child was almost jabbed by a used needle last week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Residents on O&rsquo;Curry Street cannot explain why drug addicts have been drawn to their area over the past three weeks but after a child fell and narrowly missed a discarded needle, they feel they have genuine cause for concern.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On a visit to the area last week the Limerick Post found syringes and other drug paraphernalia scattered across the street and shoved into a drain pipe. Residents were especially concerned about the health implications this had for young children. They also fear that it will also lead to an escalation in crime in the area.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They are openly shooting up in the mornings and the middle of the day. We are getting no satisfaction from the Garda&iacute; and when we called them last week, they told us they were too busy dealing with students and rag week to do anything,&rdquo; said one elderly resident.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;People are very angry. Kids use this street on their way to and from school and something needs to be done urgently,&rdquo; he insisted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Another resident commented: &ldquo;We are finding needles and syringes and morphine bottles on our doorsteps, on the side of the road and all over the place. In the last few weeks, heroin addicts have begun to pull up in their cars and started to shoot up for all to see at all hours of day and night.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;One child was out playing on the street last week when she fell and just narrowly escaped landing on a dirty needle. People are very upset about this.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Local councillor Maria Byrne (FG) who is involved in an ongoing community clean-up in the St Joseph&rsquo;s Parish area said they had found between 30 and 35 syringes on the streets in the last seven or eight weeks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Heroin addiction is no more of an issue in Limerick than it is in any other major town or city. It is a serious issue but at the last Joint Policing Committee meeting we learned that heroin use in the city is actually on the decrease,&rdquo; claimed Cllr Byrne.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Our community clean-up goes out every Saturday and Sunday morning from the Dock Road to O&rsquo;Connell Avenue and we are finding syringes and the very odd needle. We are seeing the problem at ground level and I have been in touch with Garda&iacute; about it. Plain clothes detectives are monitoring the situation so as not to tip off the dealers and users. People might not be aware of their presence but they are out there and well aware of the issue,&rdquo; she explained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.limerickpost.ie/2014/03/13/heroin-addicts-move-in-on-city-neighbourhood/</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-13 11:09:11',NULL,'heroin-addicts-move-in-on-city-neighbourhood'),(461,'Religious schools to join campaign on homophobia','<p>\r\n	Children&#39;s classrooms will have posters urging an end to bullying based upon sexual identity</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Catholic and Protestant schools are to take the landmark step of displaying LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) posters in classrooms as part of an all-out drive to stamp out homophobic bullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In an historic departure for some schools with a religious ethos, it is planned to implement radical new guidelines set down by the Department of Education.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The department&#39;s action plan contains specific proposals to clamp down on the bullying of students because of their sexual orientation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, some teachers are privately concerned that the display of LGBT posters in a very public fashion could upset certain traditionally minded parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An INTO spokesperson confirmed that the department&#39;s anti-bullying procedures must be implemented by Easter. He said 90 members of the union currently described themselves as LGBT.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We believe this falls far short of the actual number of LGBT teachers in classrooms all over the country,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An ASTI spokesperson said the union takes a &quot;pro-active approach&quot; in the prevention of homophobic school bullying and backs the proposal to have the LGBT posters displayed in all schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also supports &#39;Stand Up! Awareness Week&#39;, which starts tomorrow. This annual event is organised by the pressure group &#39;BeLonG To&#39;, which promotes the interests of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The organisation also backs the department&#39;s proposals and says they will be &quot;very useful&quot; in helping schools cope with bullying of this kind.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It has been confirmed that resource packs, which include LGBT posters, have been distributed to schools as part of the Stand Up! week programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A TUI spokesperson said the union supported the display of the posters, adding that a motion adopted at last year&#39;s annual congress also called for an end to discrimination against gay and lesbian teachers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The department is also anxious for schools to come up with &quot;specific education and prevention strategies&quot; to cope with &quot;identity-based bullying&#39;&#39;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the guidelines, these must zone in on bullying of a &quot;homophobic and transphobic&quot; nature. It also recommends discussion with parents about &quot;specific statements of welcome and respect&quot; for pupils who have a particular sexual orientation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This should also be included in the teaching of the Social, Personal, Health Education (SPHE) resource, &#39;Growing Up LGBT&#39; module. Schools should also participate in LGBT &quot;awareness events&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ferdia Kelly, general secretary of the Joint Managerial Body (JMB), which represents almost 400 second-level schools, says he expects full implementation of the department proposals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Schools are very much aware of the issues of bullying in all its facets,&#39;&#39; he told the Sunday Independent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also said he &quot;didn&#39;t expect any backlash or negative comment&quot; from more conservative elements within the Catholic and Protestant churches.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The latest initiative follows the publication of a study which showed that an alarming number of victims of homophobic school bullying became suicidal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the book, Bullying In Irish Education, published in the run-up to Christmas, the topic was for many years taboo in Irish schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was reported that almost six in 10 LGBT people, and more than half of current schoolgoers, suffered homophobic bullying in school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over 50 per cent said they had been called names because of their sexual orientation and a startling eight per cent were even taunted by members of school staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Research reported high levels of depression and self-harm, with increasing risks of suicide among those who were affected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A leading researcher has warned that the absence of teaching about sexual orientation has contributed &quot;to homophobic bullying among students in Irish schools&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sex education had been mainly based on the heterosexual model, according to Dr James O&#39;Higgins Norman, a leading researcher on bullying at Dublin City University.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;But that is now changing. Students are now being taught about growing up LGBT as part of Social, Personal and Health Education,&#39;&#39; he said</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Ten years ago, even to ask questions about homophobic bullying in schools was very difficult.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Although things have changed, there are still a lot of teachers uncomfortable about LGBT issues, particularly men in all-boys schools,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/lifestyle/education/religious-schools-to-join-campaign-on-homophobia-30075722.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-13 11:23:22',NULL,'religious-schools-to-join-campaign-on-homophobia'),(462,'‘‘A place where people live without hope’','<p>\r\n	The Chief Executive of children&rsquo;s charity Barnados has described a halting site on the outskirts of the city as &lsquo;a ghetto&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He made the remarks at the official launch of a report on the living conditions of children at St Catherine&rsquo;s Halting Site.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Today I visited a ghetto on the edge of the town. The site bears all the characteristics of a ghetto - a place where people live on the margin or the edge of the city.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is a place where there is only one way in and one way out that there is an ugly stone wall built up around it. It is a place where people live without hope,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This unique report was conducted from a human rights perspective and the perspective of children. The report calls for new beginnings that can only be formed from the coming together of state agencies and the families who live at the site.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If the United Nations visited St Catherine&rsquo;s it would be a black mark not only against Kilkenny but against Ireland. We have to make a fresh start, this report is not acceptable. I commend the report and in particular the families who have co operated and shared the true and sometimes painful stories of their lives in the hope that it will help them to make a fresh start.&rdquo; added Mr Finlay.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Director of Services at the Father McGrath Centre, Stephen Murphy thanked Peter Kieran who compiled the report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I want to thank Peter for completing this challenging work and thank the families at the site. There have been issues at the site for thirty years and they are many and complex. It is clear from this report that human rights are being violated and that 31 children are experiencing substandard environmental conditions,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Peter Kieran, who wrote the report said that the report does not &lsquo;measure up well&rsquo; to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. He thanked the families involved for welcoming them into their homes and added that he hoped the report was &lsquo;an accurate reflection of their experiences&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings of the report are currently being examined by a number of state agencies including the HSE and the local authority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mayor Martin Brett said that he hoped people would find the &lsquo;courage to work together to make a difference&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/a-place-where-people-live-without-hope-1-5934563\">http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/a-place-where-people-live-without-hope-1-5934563</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-14 11:24:28',NULL,'‘‘a-place-where-people-live-without-hope’'),(463,'Alcohol Forum says alcohol is wreaking havoc on communities around Ireland','<p>\r\n	Alcohol&rsquo;s harm to others will be discussed at Alcohol Awareness Week at the end of the month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Alcohol Awareness Week officially launched this morning.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The week will take place from 31 March&nbsp; - 4 April.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over the week communities throughout Ireland will get involved with activities to raise awareness of issues surrounding alcohol such as family problems, assaults, crime and anti-social behavior.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Community Mobilisation Officer at Alcohol Forum, Anne Timony Meehan said,</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The recent &lsquo;Neknominate&rsquo; craze highlighted very publicly and widely exactly how harmful alcohol can be.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In every-day life alcohol is wreaking havoc on communities throughout Ireland, leading to the break-up of families, anti-social behavior, ill-health and loss of productivity in the workplace.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We need to realize how our own drinking habits impact on the people around us, in the home, in school and workplace and on our roads&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Alcohol Forum&rsquo;s annual conference on 2 April will be a focal point of the week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Key national and international speakers will discuss alcohol related issues at the &ldquo;Alcohol&rsquo;s Harm to Others&rdquo; conference which will be opened by Minister Alex White.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The conference will have a &lsquo;Soapbox&rsquo; section where key speakers give their perspective on alcohol&rsquo;s harm to others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Singer and founder of The Rise Foundation Frances Black and former Leitrim footballer and GAA Community and Health Promotion Manager Colin Regan are among the speakers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Alcohol Awareness Week is an initiative of Donegal based charity, The Alcohol Forum and is supported by the HSE, Alcohol Action Ireland, Drugs.ie, Greater Blanchardstown Response to Drugs and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland.</p>\r\n<div>\r\n	&nbsp;</div>\r\n<div>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/alcohol-awareness-week-launched-1360019-Mar2014/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/alcohol-awareness-week-launched-1360019-Mar2014/</a></div>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-14 11:39:46',NULL,'alcohol-forum-says-alcohol-is-wreaking-havoc-on-communities-around-ireland'),(464,'HSE put girl in care of uncle suspected of abuse','<p>\r\n	Health officials placed a girl in the care of an uncle who was suspected of sexual abuse, according to details of a court case which have just emerged.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proceedings took place in a district court in a rural town where a judge refused to grant the Health Service Executive (HSE) an interim care order (ICO) for a newborn baby.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;During the case the court heard that the mother&#39;s older child had been placed by the HSE with the mother&#39;s brother against whom credible allegations of sexual abuse had been made,&quot; a synopsis published by the Child Care Law Reporting Project (CCLRP) states.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The mother had alleged this man had sexually abused her and had reported the matter to the gardai but nothing had happened,&quot; it adds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	REMOVED</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood the older child was eventually removed from her uncle&#39;s home and placed in the care of a non-relative.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The baby in the case before the court had been the subject of an emergency care order and was taken by gardai and the HSE when the mother left hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When the emergency order expired, an ICO was sought but the judge refused to grant it, inviting the HSE to seek a supervision order instead.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was felt the mother deserved a chance to bond with the newborn.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The details were included in the latest volume of cases published by the CCLRP, which is precluded from revealing any details which might identify the families involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Carol Coulter, director of the CCLRP, told the Irish Independent: &quot;I hope that the availability of these reports will remove a lot of the uncertainty and confusion that the public has about the nature of care proceedings and how decisions are reached.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The latest volume is the first of 2014 and the fifth overall, bringing to 130 the number of cases that have been published by the project.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It outlines how the Child and Family Agency (CFA) &ndash; which has taken over the HSE&#39;s child welfare functions &ndash; failed in applications for care orders in three &quot;lengthy and hard-fought cases&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two cases concerned new-born babies, while the other concerned two younger half-siblings of children who had earlier been taken into care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In an overview, the CCLRP states: &quot;The themes apparent in earlier volumes &ndash; the risks posed to children by poverty, drug and alcohol abuse, the social isolation of the parents, cognitive impairment or mental health issues on their part &ndash; continue to feature in these reports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;However, they show that it is by no means inevitable that, once the Child and Family Agency seeks a care order, it will be granted by the courts.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This volume contains reports on four cases where the application was strongly contested by the parents and their lawyers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In three of these cases, the CFA applications were refused by the court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cases highlight the chaos in the lives of some families which leads to them coming to the attention of social services, the CCLRP adds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;One hearing was interrupted three times by the collapse and hospitalisation of the father during the proceedings, followed by the collapse and recovery of the mother, only for her to collapse again,&quot; the CCLRP says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	STRETCHED</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It says the cases show that the secure care system for children with acute problems remains severely stretched.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children in need of secure care are being put in non-secure residential units where their out-of-control behaviour leads to criminal charges, the CCLRP adds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This results in their &quot;incarceration in juvenile detention centres, rather than secure care with therapeutic supports&quot;, it says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In addition, 60 cases were on the list in one family law day in a rural town, highlighting the pressure on family law courts, especially outside of Dublin, the CCLRP adds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The CCLRP was set up in November 2012 to report on child care proceedings taken by the HSE and to analyse data drawn from the proceedings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	FURTHER DETAILS OF THE CASES CAN BE FOUND AT WWW.CHILDLAWPROJECT.IE</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hse-put-girl-in-care-of-uncle-suspected-of-abuse-30100711.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/hse-put-girl-in-care-of-uncle-suspected-of-abuse-30100711.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-18 14:27:33',NULL,'hse-put-girl-in-care-of-uncle-suspected-of-abuse'),(465,'Elderly people warned of fraudsters posing as post office or bank staff','<p>\r\n	Elderly people are being warned to be vigilant for scam artists claiming to be post office or bank officials wanting to replace fraudulent notes mistakenly handed out to pensioners.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	fraudsters, who work as a pair, note where the vulnerable person collects their pension and call to their home afterwards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A similar hoax was recorded by garda&iacute; in Co Tipperary last month and in Headford, Co Kerry, as well as Skibbereen and Terelton, Co Cork, this month, says West Cork crime prevention officer Ian O&rsquo;Callaghan. A number of the victims handed over their pension.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Age Action said older people need to be wary of strangers as conmen are &ldquo;deliberately targeting elderly people as they may question their credentials less&rdquo;. His comments were seconded by Cork city crime prevention officer, Sergeant Tony Davis, who said bogus traders, who cold call to homes offering to fix guttering, to paint or to lay tarmac, are one of the biggest threats.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eleanor Bermingham runs Senior Security, a Cork-based firm that provides low-cost security for elderly people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s not always the elderly themselves that call us. It can be family who live away and they are nervous about their mother or father,&rdquo; she says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the company&rsquo;s most popular systems is a digital door viewer which lets a householder view a caller via a screen in their hall. A mini CCTV system which is linked to a laptop or an iPad is also popular.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;With the CCTV, they can just keep an eye on what is happening on their laptop. These systems give people the choice about whether they want to answer the door or not,&rdquo; says Ms Bermingham who will speak at the Over 50s show at Cork City Hall this weekend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sgt Ian O&rsquo;Callaghan said older people should not be too afraid. He said there hasn&rsquo;t been a burglary-related assault on an old person in West Cork in years and that their community text alert system has proven very effective.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	West Cork garda&iacute; will hold meetings in Bandon, Macroom, Clonakilty and Bantry soon to update the text alert system and the list of vulnerable people in the communities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/elderly-people-warned-of-fraudsters-posing-as-post-office-or-bank-staff-260528.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-03-19 11:19:34',NULL,'elderly-people-warned-of-fraudsters-posing-as-post-office-or-bank-staff'),