(755,'Sex Trafficking and China’s One Child Policy','<p>\r\n	Among the consequences of China&rsquo;s one child policy: a growing market for trafficked women.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Trafficking of women has been an issue in China for many centuries, thanks to a long history of gender ratio imbalance and male preference.&nbsp; Traditional patriarchal structures reinforce gender inequality, especially in rural areas where women are often times not afforded the same opportunities as men and are forced to submit to male authority. This inequality leaves women increasingly marginalized and vulnerable to trafficking. In the last several decades, sex trafficking has been exacerbated even further by the one child policy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Chinese Criminal Law defines trafficking as &ldquo;the abduction, kidnapping, trading, and transporting of women and children for the purpose of selling.&rdquo; Forced labor and other trafficking-related crimes are punished as other crimes and not as trafficking offenses.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Despite the ambiguity of its laws, China is not blind to the horrific violation of human dignity and rights that befalls victims of sex trafficking. It has recognized that crimes of trafficking in women and children seriously violate the individual rights of women and children and greatly harm the physical and psychological health of trafficking victims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As such, China has ratified numerous international conventions aimed at reducing the rate of sex trafficking worldwide, including the Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and the Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.&nbsp; Moreover, China has developed its own Plan of Action on Combating Trafficking in Women and Children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Despite all of its good intentions, China continues to have a severe sex trafficking problem. This is due, in no small part, to China&rsquo;s notorious one child policy. China&rsquo;s gender imbalance has grown increasingly wide since 1979, when the policy was implemented &mdash; estimates indicate that by 2020 there will be 30 million men unable to find wives in China.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	China&rsquo;s one child policy is possibly the most controversial population planning policy in the world. Despite criticisms from human rights organizations, the Chinese government claims the policy has successfully prevented over 400 million births and has helped China achieve its impressive economic growth. When Beijing announced in November 2013 that it was relaxing the policy (to allow couples in which one of the partners is an only child to have more than one child), human rights activists across the world celebrated while journalists and scholars immediately began speculating why the CCP had suddenly changed its notorious policy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In trying to understand Beijing&rsquo;s decision to loosen the one child policy, journalists and scholars repeatedly pointed to two main factors. First, the one child policy has led to extreme imbalances in the male to female ratio. Second, a rapidly aging labor force will increasingly strain China&rsquo;s welfare safety nets. Many experts argue that because of the one child policy, China will get old before it gets rich.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is clear that the one child policy has wreaked havoc on China&rsquo;s demographics. What often goes overlooked, however, is how the one child policy has contributed significantly to the rate of sex trafficking within China and across its borders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 2014 Trafficking in Persons Report published by the U.S. Department of State&rsquo;s Trafficking in Person (TIP) office, stated that women and children from countries like Burma, Vietnam, Laos, Mongolia and North Korea, as well other countries in Africa and the Americas, are subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking in China.&nbsp; Many of these women are recruited through marriage brokers and transported to China, where some are subsequently forced into prostitution or labor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Moreover, the TIP report explicitly links sex trafficking in China to the one child policy. &ldquo;The Chinese government&rsquo;s birth limitation policy and a cultural preference for sons creates a skewed sex ratio&hellip; which may serve to increase the demand for prostitution and for foreign women as brides for Chinese men &mdash; both of which may be procured by force or coercion.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In other words, the demand for trafficked women in China is directly related to a shortage of available women.&nbsp; This problem is especially notable in the more rural, poorer areas of China where large numbers of young women migrate to&nbsp; urban areas in search of better economic opportunities. This leaves whole villages with very few women. As a result, many men use marriage brokers to find them wives, whether from other parts of China or from neighboring countries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One such neighboring country is Myanmar, which serves as one prime source for women trafficked into China.&nbsp; According to a report issued by Myanmar&rsquo;s Ministry of Home Affairs, 85 out of the 155 trafficking cases in 2009 involved forced marriages, and the largest number of these cases were between Myanmar and China. An analysis of a total of 641 trafficking cases between January 2006 and December 2010 shows that 69.7 percent were for forced marriage, and that China was the destination country for 80 percent of those cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mara Hvistendahl, Pulitzer Prize nominee and author of Unnatural Selection: Choosing Boys Over Girls and the Consequences of a World Full of Men, explained to The Diplomat via e-mail how China&rsquo;s rising economic power also affects this issue. &ldquo;Now that China has a bit more spending power, its impact on neighboring countries is even more acute, and women are trafficked internationally as well as domestic[ally],&rdquo; Mara said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Recently, the trafficking issue in China has caught the eye of several U.S. Congress members. At a Heritage Foundation event on October 9, Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) gave a speech listing several reasons why he believes China&rsquo;s one child policy is the &ldquo;most egregious act against women ever.&rdquo; Among those reasons, Smith passionately argued, &ldquo;Because of the missing girls, China has become the human sex trafficking magnet of the world. Women and young girls from outside the country are being sold as commodities throughout China &mdash; a direct consequence of the one child policy.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Similarly, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently wrote an article arguing that the lack of birth registration rights available to children born in violation of the one child policy leaves children vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Thus, it is clear that there is a direct relationship between the one child policy and sex trafficking within China and across its borders. This begs the question: Will the recent changes made to the one child policy reduce the rate of sex trafficking in China?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The U.S. TIP office seems to think it will. In 2014 the TIP promoted China from a &ldquo;Tier 3&rdquo; to a &ldquo;Tier 2 Watch List&rdquo; country in its ranking of governments based on their perceived efforts to acknowledge and combat human trafficking. The report attributes this upgrade to the modification of the one child policy: &ldquo;In November 2013, the government modified its birth limitation policy to allow families with one single-child parents to have a second child, a change that may affect future demand for prostitution and for foreign women as brides for Chinese men &mdash; both of which may be procured by force or coercion.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Others, however, remain unconvinced. Reggie Littlejohn, the founder and president of Women&rsquo;s Rights Without Frontiers, told The Diplomat through e-mail, &ldquo;The fact that the PRC government tweaked the one child policy does not signify that it &lsquo;maintained efforts to prevent trafficking in persons.&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Furthermore, according to Littlejohn, &ldquo;Allowing a relatively small number of families to have a second child will not end gendercide or sexual slavery in China.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although the relaxation of the one child policy may help to close the gender gap in China, the havoc it has already wreaked on Chinese demographics will not be easily fixed. Until China resolves the problem of the sex ratio imbalance, there will continue to be a black market where women are sold into marriage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Michelle Clark, an internationally recognized expert on human trafficking and an adjunct professor at George Washington University in Washington, DC, told The Diplomat that China&rsquo;s sex trafficking problem will not be solved easily.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It will take at least a generation for the population to begin to stabilize, so for the foreseeable future, Chinese men will go looking for wives in a variety of ways,&rdquo; Clark said. &ldquo;Trafficking will certainly be part of the means of provision of brides.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Unfortunately, despite all of the commotion and celebration surrounding the relaxation of the one child policy last November, sex trafficking will continue to lead to significant issues in China. Perhaps if there was greater discussion on the issue of trafficking of women, in tandem with increased international pressure, China would be incentivized not only to admit the connection between the one child policy and sex trafficking, but also to make a greater effort to combat the problem. Until then, sex trafficking, much like the women affected by it, will remain hidden in the shadows.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Madeline Fetterly is a MA Candidate in Asian Studies and International Development at the Elliott School at the George Washington University in Washington D.C.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://thediplomat.com/2014/11/sex-trafficking-and-chinas-one-child-policy/\">http://thediplomat.com/2014/11/sex-trafficking-and-chinas-one-child-policy/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-07 11:54:03',NULL,'sex-trafficking-and-china’s-one-child-policy'),(756,'Son of Jean McConville tells of abuse by Fr Brendan Smyth','<p>\r\n	Would have escaped &lsquo;nightmare&rsquo; of abuse if IRA had not killed his mother, says Billy McConville</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of Jean McConville&rsquo;s sons has told the North&rsquo;s Historical Institutional Abuse inquiry that he was sexually abused while in care by the notorious paedophile priest Fr Brendan Smyth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Billy McConville, who today waived his right to anonymity, also told the inquiry that he was sexually and physically abused by some De La Salle brothers and also physically abused by a lay teacher in Rubane House in Co Down.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McConville with other members of his family was put into care after his mother was abducted, murdered and secretly buried by the IRA in 1972. One of the &lsquo;Disappeared&rsquo; her remains were discovered on a beach in Co Louth in 2003.<br />\r\n	Billy McConville said the IRA must also bear responsibility for the &ldquo;nightmare&rdquo; of abuse he said he suffered. He told the BBC that if &ldquo;the IRA hadn&rsquo;t killed our mother&rdquo; he wouldn&rsquo;t have ended up in care and subjected to abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said that Fr Smyth &ldquo;was one of the most devious people&rdquo; he had ever encountered.The lay teacher in a statement read to the inquiry denied the allegations against him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/son-of-jean-mcconville-tells-of-abuse-by-fr-brendan-smyth-1.1991361\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/son-of-jean-mcconville-tells-of-abuse-by-fr-brendan-smyth-1.1991361</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-07 11:55:14',NULL,'son-of-jean-mcconville-tells-of-abuse-by-fr-brendan-smyth'),(757,'Alarm over use of security staff to restrain patients','<p>\r\n	Inspector&rsquo;s report says restraint should only be carried out by health professionals</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors have expressed alarm that a mental health unit has been using security staff to physically restrain residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	In a report into the acute psychiatric unit of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Ennis, Co Clare, the Inspector of Mental Health Services found two security staff were engaged in ordering and initiating the restraint of patients in some instances.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	While this practice was originally introduced for the management of one individual, the 39-bed unit had since used security personnel in restraint of other residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Inspectors said it was alarming that in some instances these staff were the only people involved in restraint of residents without the oversight of nurses or doctors. This signified a &ldquo;serious lack of knowledge by the service in respect of the code of practice on the use of physical restraint&rdquo;, the report found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Refurbishment</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There did not appear to be a policy on the use of security personnel, inspectors found, and management was urged to ensure the centre complied with rules on restraint and seclusion.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Physical restraint must only be initiated and ordered by registered medical practitioners, registered nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary care team,&rdquo; it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The inspection took place last July but was only recently published by the Mental Heath Commission, the State&rsquo;s watchdog for psychiatric services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Overall, the report found the unit was in need of repainting and refurbishment of showers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The interior decoration of the unit was in need of attention, with evidence of peeling paint, missing floor tiles and stained and grubby shower areas,&rdquo; the report found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	However, it was reported that a programme of refurbishment of showers and painting was due to begin in the near future.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The unit was also found to be in breach of a condition requiring all residents to have an individual care plan. The report said this was a &ldquo;serious breach&rdquo; which needed to be rectified in order for the unit to continue to be designated as an approved centre. In addition, the provision of therapeutic services was not always linked to a resident&rsquo;s individual care plan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	However, inspectors said there was evidence that the service had made a significant effort to improve the use of care plans, which it welcomed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A more positive finding was that residents had access to a programme of activities including relaxation, exercise, art therapy and discussion groups, as well as to individual social worker sessions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	In addition there were three garden areas which were attractive and well maintained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Conditions satisfied<br />\r\n	Two other conditions attached to the continued operation of the unit in previous years were addressed to the satisfaction of inspectors.<br />\r\n	These conditions included a requirement that all residents be accommodated in suitable sleeping quarters and a prohibition on the transfer of residents to another approved centre to alleviate bed shortages.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/alarm-over-use-of-security-staff-to-restrain-patients-1.1991470\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/alarm-over-use-of-security-staff-to-restrain-patients-1.1991470</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-07 11:58:00',NULL,'alarm-over-use-of-security-staff-to-restrain-patients'),(758,'Evidence of far more extensive Tuam burial site, says historian','<p>\r\n	Documents given to James Reilly show Galway City Council were aware of burials</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Evidence on the Tuam mother and babies home recently presented to Minister for Children James Reilly points to a far more extensive burial site, local historian Catherine Corless has said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Corless, who is due to speak at a conference at the Irish Centre for Human Rights in NUI Galway (NUIG) this evening, has obtained maps and minutes of meetings from Galway County Council which confirm that the local authority was aware of the burials.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Corless, who conducted the research into the deaths of 796 infants at the Bon Secours home in Tuam between 1925 and 1961, says that minutes of a Galway County Council meeting of December 11th 1979 refer to a proposal to build a children&rsquo;s playground close to new local authority housing on the Dublin Road.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The motion refers to a &ldquo;children&rsquo;s burial ground&rdquo; on the site and the &ldquo;sensitive nature of the area&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The maps from the Galway County Council archive show the irregular nature of back gardens attached to the local authority housing, built after the home was demolished.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The maps suggest that the gardens were designed to limit the impact on the burial site, she told The Irish Times.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Corless says she presented all this material to Dr Reilly at a recent meeting with him, and he recorded it and took photographs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She will outline details at a public seminar at NUIG this evening, hosted by the Irish Centre for Human Rights.<br />\r\n	The seminar, entitled &lsquo;Investigating the Tuam Mothers and Babies Home: A Question of Human Rights&rsquo;, will also be addressed by solicitor Kevin Higgins, Prof Michael O&rsquo;Flaherty of the Irish Centre for Human Rights and Tanya Ward of the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Corless says that Dr Reilly told her that witnesses would be compelled to appear before the Government&rsquo;s commission of inquiry into mother and babies homes, which is to be chaired by Ms Justice Yvonne Murphy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesman for Dr Reilly said that the legislation allowed for compellability of witnesses at such commissions. The spokesman said that the meeting with Ms Corless had been &ldquo;very informative&rdquo;, and was one of a series of meetings which Dr Reilly has held, and is continuing to hold, with groups, individuals and political parties on the issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Reilly&rsquo;s spokesman said that an &ldquo;enormous amount of work&rdquo; had already been carried out on preparing the terms of reference for the commission of inquiry, the Attorney General&rsquo;s office was closely involved, and the terms were &ldquo;close&rdquo; to completion.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This evening&rsquo;s seminar at NUIG will be chaired by Mark Kelly of the Irish Council for Civil Liberties. It is open to the public will run from 5-7pm in room MRA201 in the MRI Annex, NUIG.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/evidence-of-far-more-extensive-tuam-burial-site-says-historian-1.1994949\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/evidence-of-far-more-extensive-tuam-burial-site-says-historian-1.1994949</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-10 14:17:17',NULL,'evidence-of-far-more-extensive-tuam-burial-site-says-historian'),(759,'‘Paediatric home-care crisis’ emerging in north Dublin','<p>\r\n	Jack and Jill foundation seeks homecare packages for terminally ill children</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A &ldquo;paediatric homecare crisis&rdquo; is emerging in north Dublin as an increasing number of children with life-limiting conditions are being left without homecare, a charity advocating for such families has warned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Jack and Jill foundation, which provides nursing care to such children in their homes up to the age of four, say the problems they are encountering in north Dublin, when seeking to arrange HSE nursing hours to replace the hours they provide, are not replicated elsewhere.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The charity is reiterating its call, first made over a decade ago, for a national ring-fenced budget for home-care packages for terminally ill children and for a protocol on transferring them to home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	It is also calling for an urgent intervention to resolve issues in north Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Among the families affected are those of Tom O&rsquo;Leary (4) from Swords, who has trisomy 7p and cannot speak, feed himself, walk or toilet himself; of Freya Doyle (4) from Donaghmede, who has ohtahara syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy and who has a limited life expectancy, and of Cillian Fotrell (3) from Rush, who has West syndrome and a chromonsonal abnormality. He cannot walk, talk, or feed himself.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	All three are completely dependent on the care of others for their basic needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Homecare hours</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tom&rsquo;s mother, Catherine, said he has had 48 hours&rsquo; nursing care a month from Jack and Jill since infancy, but aware this would end on his fourth birthday on October 28th, she and her husband, John &ndash; a former goalie with the Dublin football team &ndash; began applying to the HSE in April for homecare hours. &ldquo;The HSE sent someone out to do an assessment and she said there wouldn&rsquo;t be a problem.&rdquo; They had no news however over the summer and towards the end of August it emerged their application was not on file. They began the process of applying again in September. They have had no further news from the HSE. Jack and Jill have sanctioned nursing hours until the end of November.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Freya&rsquo;s mother, Ciara, began applying for HSE hours in the spring, in anticipation of Freya&rsquo;s fourth birthday on August 4th. In June a home assessment was carried out. &ldquo;I was told we&rsquo;d get news within a fortnight about when the hours would start. There was nothing . . . We have heard nothing since June.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;We have been left completely in the dark. I have emailed and called and it just feels like we are being ignored.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Given the experienced of Tom&rsquo;s and Freya&rsquo;s families, Sinead Moran, senior nursing manager with Jack and Jill, is &ldquo;very concerned now&rdquo; about whether nursing hours will be provided for Cillian when he reaches his fourth birthday, on 16th November. Currently in receipt of 44 nursing hours a month from Jack and Jill, he has been assessed by the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A fortnight ago his mother, Imelda, was contacted by the HSE with an offer of carer hours, who could not give medication. &ldquo;That just would not be any use,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;He needs a lot of medication and I couldn&rsquo;t leave him alone with a carer.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Nursing support<br />\r\n	All these children have siblings, who their parents say would be severely affected if they don&rsquo;t get nursing support to allow them attend to their other children&rsquo;s needs. They worry for their ability to cope, if they get no help. They want to keep their ill children at home where they can best thrive. &ldquo;There seems to be a particular issue in north Dublin,&rdquo; said Ms Moran. &ldquo;In all other areas I meet HSE care managers, discuss cases and plan for these children. It is an ongoing issue in north Dublin.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A spokeswoman for the HSE said: &ldquo;A number of children in HSE North Dublin have reached the age of four and therefore no longer have access to the services of nurses from the Jack &amp; Jill foundation ... The health needs of these children have now been assessed by nursing staff.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She continued: &ldquo;A decision on this matter will be made in the coming weeks and all families will be notified of the outcome in writing.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/paediatric-home-care-crisis-emerging-in-north-dublin-1.1994300\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/paediatric-home-care-crisis-emerging-in-north-dublin-1.1994300</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-10 14:18:57',NULL,'‘paediatric-home-care-crisis’-emerging-in-north-dublin'),(760,'First step in blocking access to child sex abuse material on web','<p>\r\n	The first decisive step has been taken to block access to child pornography sites on the internet.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the biggest broadband service providers, UPC, has signed an agreement with the Garda authorities to restrict access to domain names containing child sexual abuse material. It comes into effect immediately.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It took seven months to complete the memo of understanding because of the legal complexities involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Gardai hope the other service providers will follow UPC&#39;s example.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If an user tries to access child sexual abuse material, either deliberately or mistakenly, a garda advisory message will be displayed, outlining the reasons why access is being blocked.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	UPC Ireland chief executive officer Magnus Ternsjo said his company adhered fully to data protection legislation but stressed the agreement did not provide for any transfer of user data to the authorities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the IP address and identity of a person trying to access domains was not stored when the blocking notice appeared.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;UPC does not make user data available to any external parties, except where required to do so by law,&quot; Mr Ternsjo said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Acting Garda Commissioner Noirin O&#39;Sullivan said legislation existed that allowed the force to require data from the service providers if gardai were investigating a possible criminal offence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said gardai welcomed UPC putting this valuable restriction in place and said other providers had indicated they wanted to sign up to a similar measure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This initiative will play an important role in tackling the use of child sexual abuse material online and dissuade some people from accessing it. However, we fully recognise that others, who wish to view, distribute and make this vile material will use different means to access and spread it online,&quot; she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&#39;Sullivan pointed out that this is only one of a range of measures used by the Garda to combat the production, distribution and possession of child sexual abuse material on the internet.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald described child abuse as a heinous crime and said its depiction on the internet compounded the offence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The close co-operation with law enforcement will reduce the amount of child abuse material, available on the internet in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It will also reinforce the message that the viewing, possession of, or trading in, child abuse material is simply not acceptable,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New legislation was being introduced in the Dail, resulting in the child pornography law being strengthened.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/first-step-in-blocking-access-to-child-sex-abuse-material-on-web-30734708.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/first-step-in-blocking-access-to-child-sex-abuse-material-on-web-30734708.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-11 10:17:13',NULL,'first-step-in-blocking-access-to-child-sex-abuse-material-on-web'),(761,'Woman who weighs 5st 6lb to be force-fed','<p>\r\n	A 21-year old student whose weight has dropped to 36kg is to be force-fed through a tube by order of the High Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns made the order to allow the woman, now weighing 5st 6lb and just turned 21, to be fed through a tube over the next 48 hours. He heard the anorexia nervosa sufferer began refusing food at the weekend and is now in &quot;danger of losing her life.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The woman, who cannot be identified, is significantly underweight and suffers from severe psychotic depression, hears a critical voice saying she is obese, and believes she does not deserve to live, the court heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Peter Finlay SC, for the HSE, said the woman&#39;s father, who was in court, supported the HSE application.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Finlay said she was a very intelligent lady but when admitted to hospital in September told staff how in previous weigh-ins she concealed weights in her clothing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A consultant psychiatrist said the woman had lost 17pc of her body weight in just three weeks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The case will come before the court again next week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/woman-who-weighs-5st-6lb-to-be-forcefed-30734698.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/woman-who-weighs-5st-6lb-to-be-forcefed-30734698.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-11 10:43:40',NULL,'woman-who-weighs-5st-6lb-to-be-force-fed'),(762,'Paramilitaries abused over 500 children - report','<p>\r\n	More than 500 children were abused by paramilitary organisations in Northern Ireland between 1990 and 2013, according to a report published today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report was written by Professor Liam Kennedy from Queen&#39;s University in Belfast.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report reviewed official statistics from the PSNI on &quot;punishment&quot; beatings and shootings meted out following investigations by the paramilitaries themselves.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prof Kennedy said more than 500 children were punished with improvised weapons, including iron bars, cudgels, hammers, and hurleys.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report found 94 children were shot by loyalists, while 73 were shot by republicans.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It found that 166 were beaten by loyalists, while republicans were responsible for 178 beatings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Prof Kennedy has urged TDs to support a Fianna F&aacute;il proposal to go before the D&aacute;il this week to establish a cross-border commission to investigate the sexual abuse of children by paramilitaries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna F&aacute;il sources told RT&Eacute; News the party accepts Prof Kennedy&#39;s call for cases of physical and emotional abuse to be examined by such a commission as well, but in a separate strand of its work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1110/658203-abuse/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1110/658203-abuse/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-11 10:50:28',NULL,'paramilitaries-abused-over-500-children-report'),(763,'10 things you should know before posting pictures of your children on social media','<p>\r\n	We see it every day on our social media accounts. Friends posting pictures or video of the latest milestone in their toddler&rsquo;s life, such as their first steps, their first trip to the swimming pool or a joyous family holiday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It&rsquo;s understandable that proud and well-meaning parents want to record all the pertinent moments in their child&rsquo;s formative and teenage years, but using social media sites to share these moments with friends and family on even &lsquo;Private&rsquo; accounts opens up a myriad of possibilities for your child to be exposed to people you have never met.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Often, your circles are more widespread than you think.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	You have little control over your friend&rsquo;s likes and shares of your content or whose timelines they end up on.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ownership of your content is a legal grey area and social media sites are well equipped to expose holes in copyright law, an area which struggles to keep up with the ever changing nature and usage of the internet.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Here are some things you should consider before you press the post button on an image of your child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Your metadata and copyright are not assured</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Data recorded by smartphones, cameras and other devices, such as the location, date, time, and the type of device used are automatically deleted upon upload to Facebook and Twitter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Facebook also asks you to tag the location and enter a description of the photograph.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is a tactic for social media sites to encourage you to use them as your preferred way of storing photographs through creating new metadata specific to their website.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also whittles down your copyright claim on the content, which makes it easier for social media sites to use your photographs for other, revenue generating purposes such as sponsored stories.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Facebook and Twitter, according to the legal jargon in the terms and conditions, basically retain the right to use your content and photos for any purposes they deem necessary - so you need to be very wary of your rights.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>The &lsquo;Save As&rsquo; and screenshot options on every computer are very dangerous tools</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2012 it was reported in the Boston media that pictures of a number of local teenage girls, originally from their personal Facebook accounts, &nbsp;were re-posted on pornographic websites.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Unfortunately this is more common than we think. The ability to save and screenshot pictures is a simple tool available to all who have access to your account, meaning they can copy and store your family photographs if they so wish.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>You can unwittingly identify your children</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Your children can be exposed to people you have difficulties with, such as estranged family members, dangerous individuals/groups or those you may have conflicts with by essentially identifying your children to them via your social media accounts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Children cannot decide for themselves</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some decisions you have to make for your children but their privacy is not something you should treat lightly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Your kids may come to resent you in later life for posting intimate family moments when they get older. Once you post something on Facebook, it remains there forever, even if you delete your account.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The only way for it to disappear is if everyone who has interacted with the post also deletes their account. This is assuming it has not been saved as a file or screenshot by someone else and shared elsewhere.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	You must consider that your child may want to start off their own social media journey when they get older and the trail of information you have left behind may not be appreciated by them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Social media sites can be hacked</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Facebook, Twitter and all social media sites are just as vulnerable to hacking as other websites.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	You should regularly check who has accessed your account by checking your privacy settings and log-in details. Most websites will tell you when and where your account has been accessed from.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Make sure you use unique and hack-safe passwords to make your log-in as safe as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Algorithms are more far-reaching than you think</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	You must be aware of websites&rsquo; ability to collate information and determine user&rsquo;s circles on social media - Facebook in particular are extremely good at this.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	What you may think is private or shared between a few friends may be circulating in much wider patterns then you believe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pictures of you children can be exposed to outsiders by the likes and shares of your well-intended friends, leaving you in little control of where they end up.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>You are open to prosecution test cases</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Posting pictures of your children naked in the bathtub might seem funny or cute to you, but legal experts are eagerly awaiting a test case where parents or guardians are subjected to the mercy of the law for sharing what could be deemed as illegal or indecent imagery.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>You may expose your child to cyberbullying</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children and teenagers are becoming more and more internet savvy and most are more up-to-speed on the newest social media platforms than their adult counterparts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Posting what you might think is a cute, funny or happy image of your child, may leave them exposed to cyberbullying by their peers or even people from further afield that they have never even met.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cyberbullying is becoming an issue that is increasingly forcing governments to consider legislation due to how widespread it is.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Your personal info is vulnerable</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pictures of your house, what car you drive and personal information in your biog are particularly vulnerable to outside users who are fishing for information about your private life and movements.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	You should avoid posting details of your address or whereabouts on Facebook, especially if you have posted images of your children on your timeline.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Check your privacy settings regularly</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If you still feel like the need to post pictures of your children online to share with distant family members or friends, then you should be aware of your privacy settings and who can access the photos.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Read the terms and conditions of your social media accounts at regular intervals and check how your profile appears to different users (this is an option setting on Facebook and can also be accessed on most social media sites)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/real-life/10-things-you-should-know-before-posting-pictures-of-your-children-on-social-media-297698.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/real-life/10-things-you-should-know-before-posting-pictures-of-your-children-on-social-media-297698.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-14 11:41:42',NULL,'10-things-you-should-know-before-posting-pictures-of-your-children-on-social-media'),(764,'Teen given deferred sentence because detention centres full','<p>\r\n	Judge imposed detention order as last resort because boy showed &lsquo;no remorse&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A 16-year-old burglar has been given a &ldquo;deferred sentence&rdquo; after a court heard detention centres were full.<br />\r\n	The teenage boy had been convicted at the Dublin Children&rsquo;s Court on a number of charges including assault and burglary, but was told to come back in December to see if his six-month term can be activated then.<br />\r\n	The boy told the court he wanted his case finalised even though that meant a custodial sentence and he said he did not want to engage with the Probation Service which had been trying to assist him.<br />\r\n	Judge John O&rsquo;Connor told defence counsel Damian McKeone that imposing a detention order was a last resort but the boy had shown no remorse.<br />\r\n	Bravado The judge said that as a result of the boy&rsquo;s lack of engagement with the Probation Service, there was be no point in imposing a suspended sentence.<br />\r\n	He told the teenager that custodial sentence meant his freedom would be curtailed and asked him: &ldquo;Are you sure you want that?&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Sighing, the teen replied: &ldquo;Yeah.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	When the judge asked the boy&rsquo;s mother to talk to him, she shook her head and said: &ldquo;He won&rsquo;t listen.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	The judge said bravado was involved and when he asked the boy if he would change his mind and agree to an adjournment, the boy sitting with his arms folded sternly answered, &ldquo;finalise it&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	However, at the point of passing sentence, the judge was told that detention centres for the boy&rsquo;s age-group were full.<br />\r\n	Deferred detention Judge O&rsquo;Connor said he had to make a deferred detention order under section 144 of the Children Act and imposed a six-month sentence.<br />\r\n	Despite getting a custodial sentence, the teen was let go and told he will have to come back in four weeks to see if there will then be a space available in either the Trinity House or Oberstown detention centres, in north Dublin.<br />\r\n	The youth&rsquo;s offences were committed in north and west Dublin earlier this year. They included a burglary at a community resource centre in March, a motor theft in June, theft of baby food worth &euro;85 and a public order incident in June.<br />\r\n	The court also heard that the boy assaulted a shop worker in August.<br />\r\n	While waiting for a place in the detention centre, the teen must abide by conditions including a curfew and attend a training course.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/teen-given-deferred-sentence-because-detention-centres-full-1.1999742\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/teen-given-deferred-sentence-because-detention-centres-full-1.1999742</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-14 11:46:41',NULL,'teen-given-deferred-sentence-because-detention-centres-full'),(765,'Tackling the scourge of gambling addiction','<p>\r\n	The Kilkenny-based centre, Aislinn, which has for years treated people for alcohol and drug addiction, will be part of a new service to tackle a scourge which is wreaking havoc in local communities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Gambling addiction can be a silent menace, often going unnoticed by loved ones as it tears apart someone&rsquo;s life. Unlike drug or alcohol addiction, often there is little sign that somebody has a gambling problem until they have run into massive debt. The issue recently came to national attention following the tragic deaths in Carlow of Eoghan and Ruairi Chada, who were murdered by their father, Sanjeev. He had accumulated huge gambling debts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A three-year internal study by Ais&eacute;ir&iacute; Addiction Treatment Services has revealed gaps in the services available to problem gamblers nationally, and a lack of specific, tailored rehab programmes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	From this month, new programmes to treat gambling addiction and those affected are being piloted by Ais&eacute;ir&iacute;. Paul Mullins of Ais&eacute;ir&iacute;, based at the Aislinn Centre in Ballyragget, recently spoke to the Kilkenny People to discuss the issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There are similarities across all addictions, but there are also differences,&rdquo; he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;While gamblers don&rsquo;t require methadone programmes or they don&rsquo;t require hospitalisations, they do require very specific programmes, which we&rsquo;ve now developed.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Gambling addiction is a problem he thinks is growing. An internal study carried out by him and his team found that 10% of Aiseiri residents over three years were actually there for gambling.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Anecdotally, when I&rsquo;m meeting other counsellors, they are saying &lsquo;look, there seems to be an increase in gamblers coming in, problem gamblers,&rdquo; he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;But it&rsquo;s anecdotal evidence &ndash; you can&rsquo;t go to the minister and say &lsquo;we all think there&rsquo;s an increase&rsquo;. They want empirical evidence.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Paul and his team then did something that has never been done before. They began a three-year study of problem gambling within the existing Aiseiri service &ndash; how many gamblers were presenting, and so on.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	What they found were gaps in their own services. For example, a 28-day residential treatment programme is not suitable for many people; they may be working full time, they can&rsquo;t afford it, and so on.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In some cases, gamblers were having to effectively &lsquo;sit in&rsquo; on treatment programmes for other addictions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Gamblers need specific services,&rdquo; says Paul.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It won&rsquo;t be good enough just to put them into a programme where they&rsquo;ll just be treated the same as people who are in there for other addictions. And they sit in on lectures for people with alcohol and drugs problems, where they won&rsquo;t get anything from them, because they don&rsquo;t have that problem &ndash; they have a gambling problem.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Unlike addictions such as substance misuse, the financial problems tend to be greater with problem gamblers. In the economic climate, it is hard to get money, hard to get credit to pay off a debt.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Historically, gamblers don&rsquo;t come until they are in dire straits,&rdquo; says Paul.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If someone comes into us, any of our centres, for an alcohol or drug problem, they will have short to medium term financial problems. With the gamblers, it is always long term.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inside the treatment centre, vigilance is needed. You can stop people watching racing or reading the sports pages, but some gamblers can still find a way.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;At treatment centres, alcohol and drugs are absolutely banned &ndash; you can&rsquo;t bring them in,&rdquo; he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;But gamblers can come in and do what we call &lsquo;mind gambling&rsquo;. They can actually continue to gamble inside.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He gives me a recent example. In this case, it was another resident who was able to point to counsellors what was happening.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Residents sit in one room, which has a connecting door to the coffee room, where counsellors come and go at frequent intervals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This resident was trying to get a bet going with others as to which counsellor was going to walk out first,&rdquo; says Paul.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For some people, the idea of a problem gambler remains the unfortunate oul fella in a dark corner of the bookies, with a form sheet tucked under one arm. It&rsquo;s an outdated stereotype, and as the nature of gambling has changed, so too has the punter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When I say across the board, I mean across the board,&rdquo; says Paul.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;People from every single walk of life, from every single employment category you can think of.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The latest television ads, from Ladbrokes, for example, feature a group of go-getting young men, who like to kick around a ball and have great banter. At the end of the ad, the viewer is urged to live &lsquo;the Ladbrokes life&rsquo;. It&rsquo;s an effective marketing strategy used for years by the drinks industry, selling a lifestyle image to young people and those who have bought into the dubious phenomenon of &lsquo;lad culture&rsquo;. And there is no shortage of bookmakers in our Medieval city.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Paul says the solution to confronting the issue of advertising lies with the Gambling Bill &ndash; perhaps something to address standards for the industry.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It needs to be looked at, some kind of a watershed,&rdquo; he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s really important, I think, that the Gambling Bill is brought into law. I don&rsquo;t know why it&rsquo;s languishing around or what the hold up is. Everyone seems to be in favour of it, but it&rsquo;s lying in the Department of Justice.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New technologies have made it easier than ever to access gambling or make a bet. There is no need to be in a bookmakers or a casino &ndash; all you need is a mobile phone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Often, the enticement of a free bet is what makes an otherwise unassuming, casual gambler sign up. Depending how that goes, people can end up either having a small taste of success, or chasing money they never had. The danger of a phone app.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It lies first of all in the solitary nature,&rdquo; says Paul.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;And you don&rsquo;t have the cash on you. If you had your wallet and you were down to your last, something inside you might go &lsquo;Jesus&rsquo;. But if you go &euro;50 on this, I&rsquo;ve lost, so now I&rsquo;ll chase it. Just want to break even.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The fact that a gambling addiction can remain undetected means it can lie behind myriad other problems in peoples&rsquo; lives &ndash; the loss of a job, divorce or relationship break-up. Gamblers can keep a problem from loved ones, often with the misguided notion they are protecting them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Paul contends there is a much higher rate of suicide among problem gamblers than with other addictions and in general populations. He also wonders aloud how many people have ended up in prison as a result of a gambling problem.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Following on from their three-year study, Paul and his team came up with three programmes. One is a one-week programme for gamblers at Aislinn, run in a separate bungalow away from the main centre. Costing &euro;1,000, it will involve small numbers &ndash; a maximum of eight people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Then, there is a programme for the families involving counselling and group therapy. Again, it is the first of its kind in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The families need education around it, because if someone is going back and they relapse, there are no physical signs,&rdquo; says Paul.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If you or I take a drink or drugs, you&rsquo;ll smell it off your breath, you&rsquo;ll fall down, you&rsquo;ll stagger, slur your speech. Gambling, you won&rsquo;t know. So they could be spending the mortgage in six months, could be in dire trouble.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Finally, there is the outpatient programme. It is run from Waterford over the course of eight weeks, one-to-one counselling one night a week, and then another session on Saturday mornings. This allows people to continue their normal lives, they don&rsquo;t have to take time off work or from the community.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Another thing Paul hopes to roll out in the medium-term future is an educational programme for schools &ndash; something to mirror the deterrents and warnings already in place for things like drugs and alcohol. Gambling hasn&rsquo;t yet become part of this debate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ais&eacute;ir&iacute; is clearly trying to respond with the resources it has, but there is an acknowledgment that the service needs funding. They need the HSE or one of the agencies to get behind it. Gambling, says Paul, needs to be dealt with as a public health issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This cohort have, so far in this country, been missed out in relation to a specific programme,&rdquo; he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They are not getting the treatments they deserve. It&rsquo;s a public health issue, we need to be responding to it, and it needs funding.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If there is anybody else out there interested in sponsoring the programmes, Paul would be glad to hear from them. For more information, contact Aiseiri on 056-8833777 or email pmullins@aiseiri.ie.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/tackling-the-scourge-of-gambling-addiction-1-6416488\">http://www.kilkennypeople.ie/news/kilkenny-news/tackling-the-scourge-of-gambling-addiction-1-6416488</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-14 11:50:35',NULL,'tackling-the-scourge-of-gambling-addiction'),(766,'Child to have access to parents six weeks on, six weeks off','<p>\r\n	Judge says psychologist&rsquo;s report &lsquo;so inexact&rsquo; it was impossible to rely on it</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A father who claimed access to his son in care was reduced after the boy made allegations of malpractice against his care home, has been granted fortnightly access until the new year followed by a period of no access at all by a judge at the Dublin District Family Court.<br />\r\n	The Child and Family Agency had sought to allow access once a fortnight and wanted to reduce the father&rsquo;s access to once every eight weeks. The parents had sought weekly access. The boy has been in care for almost two years after incidents of physical punishment and domestic violence at home. He had no access for a time. Access resumed earlier this year, initially every two weeks, but was recently reduced.<br />\r\n	A psychologist had produced a report, opened in court last week, tracking the boy&rsquo;s behaviour on graphs which she said showed an association between access and the boy&rsquo;s behavioural problems. She recommended the reduction in access.<br />\r\n	Yesterday, after hearing evidence from both parents and from the child&rsquo;s court-appointed guardian, Judge Brendan Toale said the methodology of the psychologist&rsquo;s report was &ldquo;so inexact&rdquo; it was &ldquo;impossible to rely on it one way or the other&rdquo; and he would discount it.<br />\r\n	He noted neither the social worker nor the guardian believed weekly access would be right for the boy, although he was conscious the boy had come to court and asked for more access.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The only way to ascertain cause and effect is to bring about change in access,&rdquo; he said. He ordered fortnightly access for two hours for six weeks followed by none at all for six weeks. The matter could then come back to court and data could be provided.<br />\r\n	Separately, in a review of the care of a young teenager, the court heard the girl&rsquo;s placement broke down after a series of violent incidents at her residential care home, including kicking, punching and pulling out the hair of staff.<br />\r\n	One of the incidents resulted in staff barricading themselves in a room and the girl attempting to reach them with the use of a saw. The girl has so far been in seven placements over five years. She is currently in a short-term placement.<br />\r\n	The girl&rsquo;s guardian believed the agency should consider a secure care placement for her.<br />\r\n	But the social worker said the girl had not met the threshold for secure care and because of her young age it would be wrong for her. She identified a unit that was close to a family model and was exploring whether she could be placed there. &ldquo;She wants to be normal and talk about family in the way all her friends talk about family,&rdquo; the social worker said.<br />\r\n	Judge Toale noted concerns about the girl&rsquo;s behaviour at a series of court hearings. He said the agency needed to &ldquo;seriously examine&rdquo; what was the appropriate placement for the girl and why. He adjourned the case to next month.<br />\r\n	Judge Toale also made an interim care order for a child with disabilities after hearing his parents could not be contacted. The parents had agreed to voluntary care for the young child in a special needs residential unit. However since August, the social worker had been unable to contact them and they had stopped visiting.<br />\r\n	The agency needed an interim care order so that it could ensure the child&rsquo;s medical and other needs were met.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/child-to-have-access-to-parents-six-weeks-on-six-weeks-off-1.2004581\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/child-to-have-access-to-parents-six-weeks-on-six-weeks-off-1.2004581</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-18 10:00:45',NULL,'child-to-have-access-to-parents-six-weeks-on-six-weeks-off'),(767,'Minister: Report into child\'s death unavailable until Gardaí finish investigation','<p>\r\n	The Children&#39;s Minister James Reilly says a report into the death of a two-year-old boy is unlikely to be available until the criminal investigation is complete.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hassan Khan was found dead in his South Dublin home last month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The investigation for the Child and Family Agency, T&uacute;sla, will examine how various agencies interacted with Hassan Khan and his family from early August, when he was the subject of a Garda Child Rescue Ireland alert.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister James Reilly says it could be some time before it&#39;s made public.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said: &quot;It does need time to do its work and this must be unhindered by our desire for answers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I wish to ensure the house that the panel worls independently of the Child and Family Agency and indeed any other State agency and there&#39;s neither fear nor favour in coming to its conclusions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The report is not likely to be available to us before the outcome of the criminal investigation.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/minister-report-into-childs-death-unavailable-until-gardai-finish-investigation-651574.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/minister-report-into-childs-death-unavailable-until-gardai-finish-investigation-651574.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-19 14:09:27',NULL,'minister-report-into-childs-death-unavailable-until-gardaã­-finish-investigation'),(768,'Over 140 children ‘at risk’ of sexual exploitation in Northern Ireland','<p>\r\n	Inquiry also told paramilitaries may have been involved in sexual exploitation</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Up to 145 children in Northern Ireland are currently at risk of child sexual exploitation while the actual figure may be &ldquo;significantly higher&rdquo;, a new inquiry has found.<br />\r\n	The inquiry, which was carried out by Professor Kathleen Marshall, was also told that paramilitaries may have been involved in sexual exploitation of vulnerable young people.<br />\r\n	The North&rsquo;s health minister Jim Wells, in presenting the inquiry to the Northern Assembly, stressed the level of abuse was not on the same scale as in Rotherham and Rochdale in England.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;While we do not know the full extent of child sexual abuse in Northern Ireland, we can say there are no findings in this inquiry that point to the type of organised exploitation seen in Rotherham or Rochdale; nor does it have the same ethnic minority dimension,&rdquo; he said.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;There is no evidence in the report to suggest cover-up, corruption or lack of commitment on the part of agencies or individuals,&rdquo; added Mr Wells.<br />\r\n	Prof Marshall, a former commissioner for children and young people in Scotland, was commissioned to carry out the inquiry by the former health minister Edwin Poots after it emerged in September last year that the PSNI was investigating allegations of sexual exploitation of 22 young people, aged 13 to 18, in Northern Ireland.<br />\r\n	As part of Operation Owl, police had identified these children and young people who were in residential care in homes in Northern Ireland. It was alleged the children were going missing from their care homes and ending up at organised parties where they were plied with drinks and drunks and made susceptible to sexual exploitation.<br />\r\n	Prof Marshall examined allegations of exploitation both of children and young people in care and in domestic situations. In her report she said that between 100 and 145 children were currently identified as at significant risk of sexual exploitation. &ldquo;However, the number actually experiencing child sexual abuse is likely to be significantly higher,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;In discussions about the extent of child sexual exploitation in Northern Ireland with various stakeholders, including the education sector, the most common response was that what is known is likely to be the tip of the iceberg,&rdquo; added Prof Marshall.<br />\r\n	She also addressed the concerns raised last September that paramilitaries could be heavily involved in the exploitation.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The particular Northern Ireland dimension reported to the inquiry was the involvement of powerful individuals with purported links to paramilitary organizations,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Reports about this came from individuals, organisations and professionals. No one suggested that child sexual exploitation was a targeted activity of paramilitary groups,&rdquo; added Prof Marshall.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;It was a case of individuals using the authority of their paramilitary links and the fear it engendered, to exploit children and young people,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The inquiry was told that there were bars dominated by members of paramilitary groups, where there were lock-ins after hours and sexual exploitation took place. It is important to state that no one identified names or locations in relation to these events. Some told us that they feared for their lives if they were suspected of having done so,&rdquo; she added.<br />\r\n	Prof Marshall made 17 key recommendations to try to address the problem. These included launching a public health campaign on CSE (child sexual exploitation) issues; strengthening standards of inspection of care homes; greater focus from the PSNI to deal with the problem; strategic, long-term and sustained funding of services for prevention and early intervention of CSE; and an inter-agency approach to achieving more prosecutions of perpetrators of CSE.<br />\r\n	Welcoming the report, Mr Wells said: &ldquo;All forms of child abuse, including CSE are totally unacceptable.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I want Northern Ireland to be a safer place for children and young people and the most hostile of environments for those who abuse or exploit children and young people.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/over-140-children-at-risk-of-sexual-exploitation-in-northern-ireland-1.2005588\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/over-140-children-at-risk-of-sexual-exploitation-in-northern-ireland-1.2005588</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-19 14:11:24',NULL,'over-140-children-‘at-risk’-of-sexual-exploitation-in-northern-ireland'),(769,'Dublin crèche in RTÉ probe gets three weeks to decide plea','<p>\r\n	Defence has demanded to see &lsquo;vital evidence&rsquo; allegedly held by &lsquo;star witness&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Dublin cr&egrave;che facing trial for breaking child protection laws following a RT&Eacute; investigation has demanded 160 hours of video footage allegedly held by a prosecution &ldquo;star witness&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	The Links Cr&eacute;che and Montessori Ltd, at Abington Wood, Swords Road, Malahide, Co Dublin, and its director Deirdre Kelly, from Saint Olaves, Kinsealy, Co Dublin are accused of breaking the Childcare Act and pre-school services regulations.<br />\r\n	The prosecution brought by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, is as a result of the TV documentary &ldquo;Breach of Trust&rdquo;, by RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s investigations unit, which aired last year.<br />\r\n	On Tuesday at Dublin District Court, defence lawyers said they still needed to be furnished with &ldquo;vital evidence&rdquo; which the prosecution said they do not intend to rely on.<br />\r\n	Judge John O&rsquo;Neil adjourned the case for three weeks when, he said, the defendants will have to enter pleas and he added that lawyers for both sides could resolve outstanding issues.<br />\r\n	The producers of the programme provided the Child and Family Agency with 40 hours of secretly filmed footage which is to form a major part of the prosecution&rsquo;s case.<br />\r\n	Yesterday defence counsel Cara Jane Walsh told Judge O&rsquo;Neill that the 40 hours of video evidence had been received however vital pieces of evidence remained absent.<br />\r\n	She said that a &ldquo;star witness&rdquo; had reported to Paul Maguire, the head of RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s investigations unit and the defence wanted that documentation as well as Garda statements to be made available.<br />\r\n	Ms Walsh BL also said the key witness mentioned in her statement that she had collected 200 hours of footage. The barrister asked for an order for the remaining 160 hours to be furnished adding that without this the defendant would be prejudiced.<br />\r\n	She also said the defence wanted statements from five prosecution witnesses.<br />\r\n	In reply, prosecution solicitor David McCoy told Judge O&rsquo;Neill that disclosure has been complied with and &ldquo;anything we have received has been given over to them&rdquo;. He also said the prosecution was not relying on the video footage sought by the defence.<br />\r\n	He told the judge that the Child and Family Agency conducted its own investigation. They had not sought documentation given to Paul Maguire and did not have control over that.<br />\r\n	Judge O&rsquo;Neill said he would not make an order in relation to the 160 hours of video evidence.<br />\r\n	Ms Kelly was present for the proceedings but did not address the court.<br />\r\n	The Child and Family Agency alleges that the cr&egrave;che breached regulations by not preventing practices that were &ldquo;disrespectful, degrading or exploitative&rdquo;, Judge O&rsquo;Neill has already heard.<br />\r\n	On conviction, the court can impose fines of up to &euro;1,300 as well as an order suspending a person from running a childcare facility.<br />\r\n	Ms Kelly and the company face four charges for not having staff, students and volunteers with access to children vetted by garda&iacute;, and it is also alleged she and the cr&egrave;che breached record keeping regulations from October 7th until October 14th last year.<br />\r\n	Furthermore the company itself faces another 20 charges including claims that on March 5th, March 6th, March 13th, March 19th, March 20th, March 21st, May 30th and February 27th, 2013 it failed to: &ldquo;ensure that no practices that are disrespectful, degrading, exploitative, intimidating, emotionally or physically harmful or neglectful were carried out in respect of any child&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	It is claimed that the company did not &ldquo;take all reasonable measures to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of a pre-school child attending the service&rdquo; on the same dates.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/dublin-cr%C3%A8che-in-rt%C3%A9-probe-gets-three-weeks-to-decide-plea-1.2005555\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/dublin-cr%C3%A8che-in-rt%C3%A9-probe-gets-three-weeks-to-decide-plea-1.2005555</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-19 14:13:01',NULL,'dublin-crã¨che-in-rtã‰-probe-gets-three-weeks-to-decide-plea'),(770,'An unhappy marriage can (literally) break your heart','<p>\r\n	Years of being trapped in a bad marriage can literally break your heart, scientists have discovered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A study found that people who have experienced decades of conflict with their spouse are more likely to develop heart disease than those in good marriages.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The finding was especially true for wives - possibly because women tend to internalise negative feelings more than men. It suggests that counselling should be directed at older couples as well as those starting out on the marital journey, say the US researchers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sociologist Hui Lui, from Michigan State University, said: &quot;Marriage counselling is focused largely on younger couples. But these results show that marital quality is just as important at older ages, even when the couple has been married 40 or 50 years.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Lui&#39;s team analysed five years of data from around 1,200 married men and women who were aged 57 to 85 at the start of the study.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All were participants in a major US investigation, the National Social Life Health and Aging Project which included questions on marital quality and looked at rates of heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study, published online in the &#39;Journal Of Health And Social Behavior&#39;, found that bad marriages tainted by rows, criticism and demands were more harmful to the heart than good supportive ones were beneficial.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also showed that the effect of marital quality on heart and artery disease risk became much stronger at older ages. Over time, stress from a bad marriage may become more harmful because of declining immune function and frailty, the researchers believe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Women, but not men, also appeared to experience a decline in marital quality as a result of suffering heart disease. This may reflect the fact that wives are more likely to provide support and care to sick husbands than the other way round, said the scientists.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;In this way, a wife&#39;s poor health may affect how she assesses her marital quality, but a husband&#39;s poor health doesn&#39;t hurt his view of marriage,&quot; said Dr Liu.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/an-unhappy-marriage-can-literally-break-your-heart-30759272.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/an-unhappy-marriage-can-literally-break-your-heart-30759272.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-20 10:13:50',NULL,'an-unhappy-marriage-can-literally-break-your-heart'),(771,'Government will not oppose adoption birth cert Bill','<p>\r\n	Philomena Lee backs law which would help women separated from sons and daughters by adoption</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Government will not oppose a new adoption Bill which seeks to give adoptees a right to their birth certificates, listing their original names and their birth parents&rsquo; names. The legislation was produced by Senator Averil Power, who was adopted from a mother-and-baby home, and is co-sponsored by Senators Jillian van Turnhout, a children&rsquo;s rights campaigner, and Fidelma Healy Eames, an adoptive mother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	In theory, the draft legislation would provide up to 50,000 adopted people with the right to their birth certificates for the first time. However, while the Government will not oppose the legislation, it is likely to be amended significantly before any new law is enacted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A spokesman for Minister for Children Dr James Reilly said he had &ldquo;no difficulty in principle&rdquo; with the Bill. However, following legal advice, he said there may be constitutional issues in relation to the provision which allows for the sharing of information without the requirement of consent from the birth parent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The Minister feels the Bill would benefit from wider consultation,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The Government agrees with him that it should be referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children for further discussion,&rdquo; he said&rdquo; The department was drawing up its own legislation and it might be that parts of the Senators&rsquo; bill could be incorporated into this legislation, the Minister&rsquo;s spokesman added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Legislation to enhance the rights of adopted people has been promised by the Government for the past three years. Under the terms of Senator Power&rsquo;s Bill &ndash; which would apply retrospectively &ndash; every adopted person would have a right to their birth cert listing their original name and their birth parents&rsquo; names.<br />\r\n	In addition, adoptees and the birth parents could choose whether they were happy to have their contact details shared with each other. However, parents would still have a right to prevent the release of their contact details.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Ms Power said she felt her legislation was not in breach of the Constitution, given that it sought to balance the adoptee&rsquo;s right to identity with a birth parent&rsquo;s right to privacy. &ldquo;I welcome the Government&rsquo;s decision not to oppose the Bill and look forward to working with them to get it enacted into law as soon as possible,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I would very much welcome the [health and children] committee&rsquo;s input as the bill goes through the Oireachtas. However, it is vital that the legislation is not delayed. &ldquo;Too many people are relying on us to make this change.&rdquo;Philomena Lee, whose search for her son brought worldwide attention and an Oscar-nominated film, has thrown her support behind the Bill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;If this legislation had been in place years ago, Anthony and I would have been reunited with each other before he died,&rdquo; she said earlier this week.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Instead, he died believing I had rejected him. It is too late for us, but would be a big help to other women who were separated from their sons and daughters by adoption. I hope every Senator will do what&rsquo;s right and support it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/government-will-not-oppose-adoption-birth-cert-bill-1.2007518\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/government-will-not-oppose-adoption-birth-cert-bill-1.2007518</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-20 10:32:05',NULL,'government-will-not-oppose-adoption-birth-cert-bill'),(772,'The rights of the children of asylum seekers ‘not being upheld’','<p>\r\n	Protesters to call for abolition of direct provision to mark Universal Children&rsquo;s Day</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Protesters are to mark Universal Children&rsquo;s Day by a demonstration calling for the end of direct provision , which they say is inappropriate for the 1,500 children living in the State&rsquo;s asylum seeker accommodation system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One person planning to attend today&rsquo;s demonstration is Sylvia Mbasinge who remains living in direct provision with her Irish-born son despite being granted residency in September due to a lack of affordable housing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I think the system is unjust not only for my son but for all children living in direct provision,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Their rights are not being upheld. . . our children are not entitled to child benefit. . .Children are children &ndash; it shouldn&rsquo;t matter if they are born to an Irish person or an asylum seeker,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Reuben Hambakachere, a former asylum seeker from Zimbabwe now works as a community worker for the Cult&uacute;r Migrant Centre in Navan having received leave to remain in Ireland on humanitarian grounds in October.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His three children were all born into the Irish direct provision system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We need a system to be put in place which has children&rsquo;s rights at its core and that is dignified for everyone. . . the current system does not support that,&rdquo; he said.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;There is a stigma for these children when they go to school; they are known as &lsquo;hostel kids&rsquo;. . . they experience a lot of poverty through no fault of their own so they can&rsquo;t take part in extracurricular activities that other children are involved in&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	He said it was also unfair that young asylum seekers were excluded from attaining a free third-level education.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Reception and Integration Agency figures from June show there were 4,296 people living in direct provision, more than a third or 1,527 of who were under 18.<br />\r\n	Today&rsquo;s demonstration, which is due to begin at the D&aacute;il at 1pm , follows a series of protests at direct provision centres in recent months including protests in Athlone, Limerick, and Waterford.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last week the High Court Ruled that a systemic challenge to the direct provision system taken by an asylum seeker and her son had failed to establish that direct provision breached their human rights. However, the judge found that certain &ldquo;house rules&rdquo; were unlawful and highlighted the lack of an independent complaints mechanism for individuals living in direct provision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Minister of State Aodh&aacute;n &Oacute; R&iacute;ord&aacute;in said the Department of Justice was considering the ruling and that a working group was examining a number of options which could improve conditions for asylum seekers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/the-rights-of-the-children-of-asylum-seekers-not-being-upheld-1.2007544\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/the-rights-of-the-children-of-asylum-seekers-not-being-upheld-1.2007544</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-20 10:33:49',NULL,'the-rights-of-the-children-of-asylum-seekers-‘not-being-upheld’'),(773,'Social services unable to guarantee safe foster care','<p>\r\n	Hiqa report finds vulnerable children going without visits from professionals</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social services were unable to guarantee a safe and effective service was being delivered to children in foster care in parts of the State, an inspection report has found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) found up to a fifth of children in foster care in parts of Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow did not have a social worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In addition, inspectors found a number of foster care households had not had any visits from professionals to check if children were safe and their needs were being addressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There were not enough foster carers in the area and assessments had not been undertaken in a timely manner.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Hiqa inspectors identified a &ldquo;significant risk&rdquo; where a small number of foster carers had children placed with them since 2012, but no assessment had started.<br />\r\n	Some allegations of mistreatment against foster carers were not investigated in a timely manner. For example, the garda had not been alerted to concerns in one case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Overall, out of the 19 standards the services were measured against, Hiqa found that foster care services in the Dublin southwest, Kildare and west Wicklow area met just two of them fully.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Responding to the findings, the Child and Family Agency&rsquo;s head of operations Mary Hargaden said the report has also found that outcomes for many of the children were positive in the context of limited resources</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She said there have been many improvements since the inspection such as an increase in staffing and more regular visits to children, in line with statutory requirements.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Ms Hargaden said outstanding care plans have since been prioritised and outstanding assessments for relative foster carers will be completed.<br />\r\n	Of the 429 children in foster care at the time of the inspection, the Hiqa report shows that:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	- 26 per cent (111) children did not have an allocated social worker.<br />\r\n	- 62 per cent (192) of foster carers had not had a review for more than three years, contrary to regulatory requirements<br />\r\n	- 46 relative foster carers were caring for children who had not yet been approved by the foster care committee</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The authority inspected services last June and July and has provided an action plan to the Child and Family Agency to ensure the identified failings are addressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/social-services-unable-to-guarantee-safe-foster-care-1.2009235\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/social-services-unable-to-guarantee-safe-foster-care-1.2009235</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-21 09:40:04',NULL,'social-services-unable-to-guarantee-safe-foster-care'),(774,'Government may appoint officer for child protection','<p>\r\n	The Government is to consider appointing a nationally recognised, go-to figure that children around the country could contact in confidence with complaints of abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The suggestion was made by the abuse survivor Louise O&rsquo;Keeffe in her first meeting with Taoiseach Enda Kenny since she won a landmark case earlier this year following a 15-year legal battle against the State.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Taoiseach issued a public apology to her in January after the European Court of Human Rights ruled the State was negligent in failing to protect her from abuse by her national school principal in the 1970s.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Cork mother of two had initially lost a High Court action, and then a Supreme Court appeal, and at times feared she would lose her home to pay for the legal costs. It was eventually heard in Europe despite vehement opposition from the State.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She told the Irish Examiner last night she would now like to see an apology issued to all those abused in national day-schools, similar to that made to victims of clerical sex abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Taoiseach had issued an apology to me back in January. He did not reiterate the apology today. But he did congratulate me on staying the course and keeping going with the case because of my principles,&rdquo; she said after the meeting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;He said &lsquo;well done&rsquo; to me. So, fingers-crossed that, because he appreciated the length of time it took, and the success at the end of it, for children, they will take that on board and we will have a positive outcome.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During the meeting, which included Minister for Children James Reilly, and Minister for Education Jan O&rsquo;Sullivan, Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe was promised that 135 other victims of abuse in national schools would get a response from the Government before Christmas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 44 of these people still have pending cases against the State, but the remainder dropped their cases when, just a month after Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe lost her Supreme Court case, the State wrote to them urging them to do so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&rsquo;Sullivan told her yesterday that she would bring proposals to cabinet by the end of the year on how to respond to all those who had been abused in the national school system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I would be hopeful it would be done on friendly terms and that an apology will come to all of the people involved in those cases, and all of the children who have been abused in our schools,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;It should have been brought to cabinet sooner, it has taken ten months up to now.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;But we now have a commitment that we&rsquo;ll know what decision will be made before Christmas. It&rsquo;s a positive outcome that will end the waiting. It&rsquo;s a long waiting game and for those who have been involved in those cases, so it&rsquo;s vital that they will finally get an end and know where they stand.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the child protection measures in place were still not adequate and called for a child protection officer to be put in place in each province, who would be independent of schools, the department of Education or the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This person must be a person the child knows they can contact, they can talk to, and they will be believed by,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It must be communicated, published, advertised, anything and everything must be done in terms of letting children know that this person is there and is at the other end of the phone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is vitally important that they are overly familiar with this person who will listen to them.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that when the child is making that phone call, &ldquo;they&rsquo;re already extremely vulnerable, they have no self-confidence at all, regardless of their age&rdquo;. She said: &ldquo;It can just take a split second to make that phone call. When they make that phone call, they need to have confidence in the fact that that person will listen.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Reilly gave her a commitment to pursue this idea and invited her to give a presentation to TDs and senators at an Oireachtas Committee when the Children First Bill is debated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/government-may-appoint-officer-for-child-protection-298885.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/government-may-appoint-officer-for-child-protection-298885.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-21 09:46:58',NULL,'government-may-appoint-officer-for-child-protection'),(775,'High failure of standards by area of child agency','<p>\r\n	Inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority found that 62% of foster carers in the Dublin southwest/Kildare/west Wicklow area had not been reviewed by the Child and Family Agency for more than three years, contrary to regulations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The area has failed to meet 17 out of 19 standards it was inspected against by HIQA.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The independent watchdog identified a risk associated with children who had no allocated social worker, living with a foster carer, who had no allocated link worker because no professional was regularly visiting the house.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However the risk had not been assessed in the area&#39;s risk register.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today&#39;s HIQA report is based on a HIQA inspection&nbsp;carried out in late June and early July.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It found that the service was not fulfilling all of its statutory requirements in relation to children in foster care and the Child and Family Agency&#39;s area managers could not be assured that a safe and effective service was being delivered for all the local children in foster care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report says that over one quarter - or 111 of the 429 children concerned - did not have an allocated social worker and&nbsp;that a number of these children had not been visited in line with the frequency outlined in the regulations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For example, in one of the case files reviewed, there was no record of a statutory visit in over four years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	43% of the foster carers did not have a link worker allocated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors found that some of these 133 carers did not receive regular visits in line with the standards and one case file they reviewed did not record any monitoring visit since 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors identified a significant risk where no assessment had commenced of a small number of relative foster carers who had children placed with them since 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HIQA report says that some allegations against foster carers were not managed and investigated in line with the Children First National Guidance for child protection.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said&nbsp;three allegations had been made and reported to the area&#39;s foster care committee within the past 12 months.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors found that the management and investigation of a number of the cases had not been timely, for example, the garda&iacute;&nbsp;had not been notified in one case and the completion of initial and child protection assessments had not been timely.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Finally, HIQA reports that not all foster carers in the Dublin southwest/Kildare/west Wicklow&nbsp;area had been fully vetted by garda&iacute;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response Tusla said this evening that a range of measures have been taken to ensure that all children are visited in line with the statutory requirements.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The agency&rsquo;s acting Chief of Operations, Mary Hargaden, said that outstanding care plans have been prioritised for attention.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Since the inspections, the services staffing complement has been increased by eight to cover maternity leave in the areas, which Ms Hargaden said is in addition to the filling of permanent vacancies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1120/661023-hiqa/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2014/1120/661023-hiqa/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-21 09:48:48',NULL,'high-failure-of-standards-by-area-of-child-agency'),(776,'A homeless family will be housed in this shipping container in time for Christmas','<p>\r\n	The shipping container refurbishment will take place at the end of the month in the Irish Museum of Modern Art.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ireland&#39;s first shipping container home is set to be displayed of the grounds of the Irish Museum of Modern Arts.<br />\r\n	This will take place from November 27 to November 30 after which the unit will be donated to Saint Vincent de Paul.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It will then be moved to Cork, where it will hopefully be used to house a family in time for Christmas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The project has seen the 40 sq. ft container undergo extensive refurbishment and is aimed at raising awareness around the issue of homelessness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over the past two years more than 40 professionals and trades people have contributed to the build. Most of these have been members of BNI Ireland &ndash; the Irish branch of an international networking organisation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In anticipation of the refurbishment, volunteers involved have had to overcome a number of obstacles, including the Irish climate and restrictive building regulations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Organisers<br />\r\n	The project has been coordinated by Carol Tallon and and Derek Trenaman of Ceardean Architects. Speaking about the project, Tallon explained how these homes could offer a solution in a difficult-to-access housing market.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Up to now, Ireland has been left some distance behind the changing global trends for housing, namely the departure from the notion of permanency or lifetime debt which has given rise to a more movable society that needs flexibility in terms of home ownership,&rdquo; said Tallon.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A low cost model of housing was inevitable after the property market crash, and this container project shows that there are new housing solutions available to accommodate different lifestyle choices for Irish people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Broader solution<br />\r\n	In September, a proposal for use of the shipping containers was put forward by D&aacute;ithi Downey, the head of policy and service delivery at Dublin City Council&rsquo;s Dublin Region Homeless Executive, at a meeting on homelessness organised by IMPACT trade union.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proposal centered on the container&rsquo;s ability to provide low cost, modern, modular housing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Projects involving the conversion of shipping containers into housing units have previously been carried out successfully in the Netherlands &ndash; with the purpose of housing students.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/shipping-container-home-christmas-1792018-Nov2014/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/shipping-container-home-christmas-1792018-Nov2014/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-24 09:33:13',NULL,'a-homeless-family-will-be-housed-in-this-shipping-container-in-time-for-christmas'),(777,'Research reveals divorce can drive children to drink and drugs','<p>\r\n	Children and teenagers whose parents have divorced say their exam grades suffer and they are driven to drink or drugs or feel pressure to get involved in the break-up, according to new research released in the UK.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Around one in five young people surveyed in a ComRes poll commissioned by family lawyers&rsquo; association Resolution said their exam results suffered as a result of a family breakdown.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two-thirds said their GCSE results were affected and 44% struggled with their A-Levels as a result, while 15% were disrupted by having to move schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Many even said their health was affected, as 28% said they changed their eating habits in the wake of a split. around 14% said they had started to drink alcohol, while 13% admitted experimenting with drugs</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The figures, released to mark the start of Family Dispute Resolution Week, also show more than one in 4 said their parents tried to involve them in the dispute.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Jo Edwards, chairman of Resolution, which represents 6,500 family law professionals in England and Wales said 100,000 children a year saw their parents divorce.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said: &ldquo;These new findings show the wide-ranging impact of divorce and separation on young people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It underlines just how important it is that parents going through a split manage their separation in a way that minimises the stress and impact on the entire family, especially children, otherwise their exam results could suffer. Divorce and separation is always traumatic, but there is a better way to deal with it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Molly Baker, 16, from Sheffield, was seven when her parents decided to split up, although their divorce was not finalised until three years ago.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said: &ldquo;The divorce affected my primary education because I would get taken out of lessons to talk to teachers about how I was feeling or about what was happening now in the proceedings, which meant I missed out on time in class.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;As I got older it became easier to focus just on school work and receive the correct support and understanding in secondary education.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ComRes surveyed 4,031 UK adults and 500 young people with experience of parental separation or divorce aged between 14 and 22.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Resolution pointed to a variety of ways to solve divorce disputes, including mediation or arbitration, which, aided by solicitors, could be &ldquo;quick and cost effective&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/research-reveals-divorce-can-drive-children-to-drink-and-drugs-652122.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/research-reveals-divorce-can-drive-children-to-drink-and-drugs-652122.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-24 09:34:00',NULL,'research-reveals-divorce-can-drive-children-to-drink-and-drugs'),(778,'Priest to visit asylum centre despite being asked not to attend','<p>\r\n	Minister Aodhain O&rsquo;Riordain will go to Montague Hotel in Emo today</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A parish priest has said he will visit an asylum seeker centre this morning despite being asked not to attend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Monsignor John Byrne, the parish priest of Portlaoise, is to visit the Montague Hotel centre in Emo this morning with Minister of State for Equality and New Communities Aodhain O&rsquo;Riordain.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Monsignor Byrne said yesterday that he had received a phone call from the owner of the Montague Hotel, Se&aacute;n Lyons telling him he would be refused entry to the centre because of comments he had made about the centre.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	However Msgr Byrne today said he intends to accompany the minister to the event, he told RTE Radio .</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The centre currently houses 160 asylum seekers, about 100 adults and 60 children. The residents recently held protests to highlight the conditions in which they live in and the time they must wait before they get a decision on their asylum application.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Many are waiting over five years for a final determination on their application to remain in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Yesterday Monsignor Byrne said he had spoken about the unfairness of the system of direct provision, but stressed that he had never made any specific comments about the Emo centre.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Referring to his phone conversation with Mr Lyons, Mgr Byrne told Midlands 103 Radio: &ldquo;He told me he had a problem about that and I wasn&rsquo;t welcome to the Monatgue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I asked him why and he said it was because of comments I had made about the Montague. I did say to him that I never actually addressed conditions in the Montague in any interview or in any forum.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;He had said I preached about it, which I didn&rsquo;t preach about the Montague. I did address the direct provision system</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t seem to accept that.. But He didn&rsquo;t seem to accept that, so he effectively barred me form his property&rdquo;, Msgr Byrne added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Previous efforts by voluntary groups to meet with asylum seekers at the Emo centre failed when they were refused permission to enter the building. Meetings have taken place with residents, but at venues outside the Montague Hotel.<br />\r\n	In September asylum seekers living at the Montague Hotel refused food in a protest over living conditions and delays in processing their applications. It was one of a number of similar protests at direct provision centres across the country in recent months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Many of the residents the Montague Hotel stressed that their frustration was not directed at the management of the hotel itself, but at the system, which had left many waiting up to a decade or more for their applications to be resolved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Their protest drew support from Msgr Byrne who insisted that there was little awareness of the conditions in which people lived.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Children are growing up in an institution that in some ways is like an open prison,&rdquo; he said at the time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I see young people who aren&rsquo;t able to be involved in any recreation or activity outside school. People are isolated and they&rsquo;re caught in a limbo. It&rsquo;s inhumane to treat people this way for years on end&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	It was not possible to contact Mr Lyons for comment yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/priest-to-visit-asylum-centre-despite-being-asked-not-to-attend-1.2012945\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/priest-to-visit-asylum-centre-despite-being-asked-not-to-attend-1.2012945</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-24 09:44:32',NULL,'priest-to-visit-asylum-centre-despite-being-asked-not-to-attend'),(779,'How some teenagers are forced from foster care into direct provision once they turn 18','<p>\r\n	The ESRI has published a report into the care given to unaccompanied minors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Teenagers from outside of Ireland who don&rsquo;t have a parent or guardian are being forced to move from foster care into the direct provision system after they turn 18.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The finding is one the key challenges identified by the ESRI as part of a new report into the care of unaccompanied minors from outside the EU in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An unaccompanied minor is a child who is not in the care of, or accompanied by, a responsible adult when presenting to the State, either through the garda&iacute; or another agency.<br />\r\n	Children in the company of a responsible adult, who may not necessarily be their parent or legal guardian are not designated as such.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report found that there has been a significant improvement in the care of such children but point to several challenges that remain.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the challenges relates to the aftercare children receive when they turn 18, something report author Emma Quinn says has &ldquo;huge regional variations&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The access (to aftercare) in general depends on a discretionary decision about vulnerability,&rdquo; said Quinn, adding that it would be the opinion of many social workers and any child in such situations are vulnerable.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In Dublin, for example, there are initiatives in place so that minors in education may stay on in care until they complete their education.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s important to note that there is no clear immigration status for unaccompanied minors,&rdquo; says Quinn. &ldquo;If they want to normalise their immigration status then they may have to make an asylum application.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It follows that they may then have to enter the direct provision system,&rdquo; she adds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Decrease<br />\r\n	The ESRI report found that there was a dramatic decrease in the number of unaccompanied minors going missing from State care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2007, 41 children went missing from the care of the Dublin social work team of whom 12 were found. In 2013, four children went missing and two were found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Much of this reduction is due to the ending of the hostel-based care for unaccompanied minors which was phased out over 2009 and 2010.&nbsp; The system was widely criticised for exposing already vulnerable children to harm.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of unaccompanied minors going missing from State care has also decreased in large part because the overall numbers presenting has declined sharply.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A non-EU child without a parent, guardian or responsible adult is now the responsibility of Tusla and are treated equally to Irish children. In practice this means that they are provided with foster care, supported lodgings or residential placements, most are also provided with a social worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/minors-direct-provision-1796525-Nov2014/?utm_source=shortlink\">http://www.thejournal.ie/minors-direct-provision-1796525-Nov2014/?utm_source=shortlink</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-25 09:51:28',NULL,'how-some-teenagers-are-forced-from-foster-care-into-direct-provision-once-they-turn-18'),(780,'Ask the Expert: My son’s assessment for autism was inconclusive. So, what’s next?','<p>\r\n	Q My six-year-old son is having problems at school and at home. He finds any change to routine really hard and can throw a tantrum at the slightest change to something he expected to happen. He seems to have trouble making friends at school and is often quite stressed about going. The teacher says he is doing okay academically but she finds him easily distracted and says he can, at times, be challenging in the classroom.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	We brought him to be assessed at a mental health service and they said he had some autistic traits and that he also suffered from anxiety, with a tendency to be obsessive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	They could not decide whether the anxiety or the autistic traits were his main problem. One of the team also suggested that he could have some symptoms of attention-deficit disorder because he can be distracted in school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	To be honest, I found the assessment process very confusing and I feel as if I still don&rsquo;t know what is wrong with my son. What should I do to help him?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A Your question highlights the complexity of assessing emotional/behavioural and developmental problems in children. While there can be an emphasis on seeking a diagnosis for a child, many children with specific special needs don&rsquo;t fit into any neat diagnostic category.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Frequently, children can have a range of difficulties that could be representative of a range of different diagnoses. For example, a child may have symptoms of attention and impulsivity that could be characterised by attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or have problems in social communication that are a feature of an autistic-spectrum disorder, or display worries and obsessions that could indicate a specific anxiety disorder.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Focus on getting an individual picture of your child&rsquo;s difficulties<br />\r\n	Rather than trying to find out &ldquo;what is wrong&rdquo; or seeking a specific diagnosis, I think a more useful approach can be to seek a full and rich picture of your child&rsquo;s difficulties and needs so that you can learn how to help him. If you are unclear about the advice you received, I would suggest you consider returning to the team where you got the original assessment (and/or contact other services if required).<br />\r\n	I suggest you try to get a multidisciplinary assessment from a range of health professionals such as speech and language therapy, psychology and occupational therapy, as this will give you a multidimensional picture of your son&rsquo;s difficulties and needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A good assessment from a skilled professional will give you a sense of how your son functions in a range of domains and identify what resources and supports he might need at school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Crucially, a good assessment should give you a clear plan of how to help your son progress and provide similar guidance to the teacher on how to help him in the classroom.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Understand your child&rsquo;s strengths and abilities<br />\r\n	When working with families I find it important to appreciate that each child is unique, whatever diagnoses they might receive: each child has his or her own individual personality that comes with its strengths and weaknesses. As well as getting a detailed picture of the problems, try to build a holistic picture of your son&rsquo;s abilities and areas of strength. What does he like doing? In what areas is he at his strongest? When is he at his happiest?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	By identifying areas of strength you can discover ways to help him compensate for the problems he has and even find ways of overcoming them. For example, when he is doing something he really enjoys, this will help him manage his anxiety. Taking up an interest or activity that he likes and is good at will provide the best context for him to make friends.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Communicate assertively to get the help your son needs<br />\r\n	Sadly, parents often report very mixed experiences of getting the assessment and supports they need for children with special needs, especially when these are complex and not easily specified. Unfortunately, they can feel they are being shuffled around between services and/ or experience long waiting lists.<br />\r\n	As a parent you have to be assertive and clued in to get the supports your child might need. Go back to the professionals and assertively ask the questions you need to ask.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	If you are dealing with specific issues and problems, ask for practical help and intervention. In addition, you may find it beneficial to contact the many parent organisations that help children with special needs such as aspireireland.ie (for autism/Asperger syndrome) or hadd.ie (for ADHD).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Tackle problems one by one<br />\r\n	Whatever diagnosis you receive for your son, at the end of the day, as a parent you still have to decide how best to help him and to deal with the day-to-day challenges you experience.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A good approach is simply to tackle the behavioural problems that emerge one by one, while being sensitive to your son&rsquo;s needs. If you are having problems with helping your son manage a change to a routine, perhaps you could make sure to prepare him for that change by doing up a clear picture schedule.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	For example, as well as verbally reminding him of what is going to happen, you could draw out the steps of the new routine on a chart. Visual pictures and reminders work very well with children with attention- or autistic-type difficulties.<br />\r\n	Also, if the most challenging problem you have to deal with is your son&rsquo;s tantrums, take time to coach him in positive strategies for dealing with frustration. Once again a pictorial &ldquo;when I feel frustrated&rdquo; chart might work well with picture lists of options such as &ldquo;taking a break&rdquo;, &ldquo;going out on the trampoline&rdquo; or &ldquo;counting breaths&rdquo; could help him understand.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Dr John Sharry is founder of the charity Parents Plus. He will present a morning workshop on work-life balance this Saturday, November 29th, in Dublin. See solutiontalk.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/ask-the-expert-my-son-s-assessment-for-autism-was-inconclusive-so-what-s-next-1.2004337?page=2\">https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/ask-the-expert-my-son-s-assessment-for-autism-was-inconclusive-so-what-s-next-1.2004337?page=2</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-25 09:55:37',NULL,'ask-the-expert-my-son’s-assessment-for-autism-was-inconclusive-so-what’s-next'),(781,'Teenager missing while in care of State','<p>\r\n	Boy &lsquo;discharged&rsquo; from unit after threatening and frightening elderly neighbour</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A teenager in the care of the State has been missing since last week, the Dublin District Family Court has been told.<br />\r\n	The boy was put out of his most recent placement and refused to stay in out-of-hours emergency accommodation.<br />\r\n	Judge Brendan Toale heard the boy had been in care for more than three years, initially with a relative and then in residential units. His social worker said the teenager was most settled in a unit outside Dublin. He had good relationships with staff there but the unit closed and he was moved again.<br />\r\n	The social worker said the boy felt very let down by the closure and his negative behaviour &ldquo;escalated dramatically&rdquo; at the new unit. It included absconding, stealing and property damage. He was &ldquo;discharged&rdquo; from there and spent three weeks alone in &ldquo;a holiday home&rdquo; with care workers.<br />\r\n	He was then brought to a unit made up of apartments for teenagers in care, overseen by care workers. While there he threatened and frightened an elderly man who lived nearby, and also drank alcohol and smoked cannabis.<br />\r\n	No missing-person alert<br />\r\n	Management at that unit &ldquo;discharged him&rdquo; last week and the Child and Family Agency does not know where he is, though the social worker has spoken to him by phone.<br />\r\n	The social worker said he had been in contact with garda&iacute; but there had been no missing-person alert issued for the boy.<br />\r\n	The court was also told the teenager had fathered a child and was seeking access to the infant through the courts.<br />\r\n	The boy&rsquo;s court-appointed guardian said the agency needed to source appropriate accommodation for the teenager as a matter of urgency.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The out-of-hours is not an appropriate place . . . or for any child in my view,&rdquo; she said.<br />\r\n	The judge adjourned the case for a week to allow a strategy meeting to take place.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;It remains a crisis situation; he remains missing in care,&rdquo; the judge said.<br />\r\n	Art therapy<br />\r\n	In a separate case, a boy in care with severe anxiety following sexual abuse has been receiving help through art therapy, the court was told.<br />\r\n	In a review of the boy&rsquo;s case, the judge was told the boy had allegedly been abused by a group of men who were minding him while his mother went to the pub.<br />\r\n	The young teenager, in care for more than five years, found art therapy was &ldquo;a lifeline&rdquo;, his social worker said. He was doing well in a residential unit but wanted to be placed with a family.<br />\r\n	His court-appointed guardian said he would like a garda to be his foster father because of the role garda&iacute; play in keeping children safe. He has been giving statements about what happened to him to garda&iacute;, the court heard.<br />\r\n	His parents denied he had been abused.<br />\r\n	In his placement, the team was &ldquo;very nurturing&rdquo;, the guardian said, but there were concerns if more children were moved into the unit it could destabilise the boy. The agency could not guarantee this would not happen.<br />\r\n	Completing the review, the judge said the case should return to court if there was any threat to the boy&rsquo;s placement.<br />\r\n	In another case, the judge heard a mother had gone to a Garda station to complain people were monitoring her, interfering in her life and hacking her phone and computer.<br />\r\n	Garda&iacute; were concerned and called a doctor. She was taken to hospital and her son was taken into care.<br />\r\n	She has since been released, and in court she said she wanted her son back. She also wanted someone to investigate the computer hacking.<br />\r\n	The judge extended the interim care order for her son for three weeks pending further medical reports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/teenager-missing-while-in-care-of-state-1.2013626\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/teenager-missing-while-in-care-of-state-1.2013626</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-25 09:59:33',NULL,'teenager-missing-while-in-care-of-state'),(782,'Department of Health seeks cuts in Child and Family Agency','<p>\r\n	Tusla is struggling to respond to needs of thousands of children at risk of abuse and neglect</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Health has privately lobbied for staffing numbers at the Child and Family Agency to be cut, internal documents show.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Staff transferred from the Health Service Executive to the new agency when it was formally established on January 1st of this year. But records show officials at the department were surprised at the large number of full-time staff &ndash; slightly more than 3,700 &ndash; that were due to be transferred to the body at the end of last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	In correspondence with the Department of Public Expenditure earlier this summer, officials at the Department of Health said it had not voiced its objections as a result of &ldquo;a number of miscommunications&rdquo; as well as &ldquo;severe staff shortages and pressure of work&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	Ultimately, the department has estimated that just fewer 3,400 staff ended up being transferred to the new body. However, the HSE had been told to reduce its employment ceiling &ndash; or staffing levels &ndash; by the earlier 3,700 figure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;It is already clear that the ceiling transferred from the HSE to the Child and Family Agency is too high and needs to be revised downwards, even on a provisional basis,&rdquo; an official at the Department of Health&rsquo;s human resources unit wrote.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	&lsquo;Substantial recruitment&rsquo;<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The numbers which have transferred indicate that the Child and Family Agency are carrying a ceiling which is substantially higher than their actual numbers, paving the way for substantial recruitment into the agency.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	By contrast, it added, the HSE had been allocated an &ldquo;unachievable&rdquo; employment ceiling.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The department would also argue that the new agency must bear a proportionate share of the unmet ceiling reduction for 2013 and the ceiling reduction envisaged for the HSE in 2014.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The records were released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Any proposal to seek staffing cuts at the Child and Family Agency would be highly controversial given the pressures facing the organisation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Campaigners say frontline services and child protection staff are often operating against a backdrop of scarce resources, staff shortages and dangerously heavy caseloads.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	More than 9,000 cases of abuse, neglect or welfare concerns over children at risk were waiting to be allocated a social worker. More than 3,000 of these cases are classified as &ldquo;high priority&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	In advance of the most recent budget, the Child and Family Agency&rsquo;s chief executive Gordon Jeyes said an additional &euro;45 million was required next year just to keep services at a standstill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	He said that services had been cut to the bone and there was little scope for further cost savings.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	Additional funding<br />\r\n	However, the agency was allocated just over half that amount in additional funding in last month&rsquo;s budget.<br />\r\n	<br />\r\n	The failure to increase the budget significantly may result in cuts to family support services, vital prevention work and other frontline services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Overall, the agency has a budget of just more than &euro;600 million. Under a legal agreement with the HSE and other services, it has inherited liabilities of about &euro;25 million.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/department-of-health-seeks-cuts-in-child-and-family-agency-1.2015024\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/department-of-health-seeks-cuts-in-child-and-family-agency-1.2015024</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-26 11:28:44',NULL,'department-of-health-seeks-cuts-in-child-and-family-agency'),(783,'Majority of undocumented migrants are long-term residents','<p>\r\n	Migrants Rights Centre estimates there are up to 26,000 undocumented living in Ireland</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One in five undocumented people have lived in the State for more than 10 years, according to new research.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study for the Migrants Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) estimates there are between 20,000 and 26,000 undocumented migrants living here at present.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The overwhelming majority (81 per cent) have been in Ireland for five years or more and 21 per cent have been in the country for more than 10 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 86.5 per cent entered the country legally and subsequently became undocumented.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A similar percentage (87 per cent) are working and more than half have a third-level education.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The five most common nationalities among undocumented people living here are:<br />\r\n	Filipino, Chinese, Mauritian, Brazilian and Pakistani.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research is the first of its kind and involved 540 responses from undocumented migrants.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	MRCI spokeswoman Helen Lowry said the survey was the first of its kind and provided an accurate picture of undocumented migrants in the country.<br />\r\n	She said it was clear most undocumented migrants were long-term residents in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added: &ldquo;Given that one third of those surveyed have children living in Ireland, the Government simply cannot continue to ignore this population and hope they will all just leave.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Undocumented migrants are part of our communities, they have put down roots, made Ireland their home - and for many of these children, Ireland is the only home they have known.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a case study published as part of the research one undocumented person living here, referred to as Abdullah, compared the experience of undocumented migrants living in the State with undocumented Irish in the United States.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;This research shows that most undocumented people are like me: young, hard-working, educated and committed to Ireland both financially and emotionally,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Last year my father passed away; it was so hard for me not being there. All we&rsquo;re asking for is a chance to come forward and regularise our situations - to be able to visit our families, to move on with our lives and to stop constantly looking over our shoulders.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The research will published by John Douglas, president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, this morning.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/majority-of-undocumented-migrants-are-long-term-residents-1.2015535\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/majority-of-undocumented-migrants-are-long-term-residents-1.2015535</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-26 11:32:55',NULL,'majority-of-undocumented-migrants-are-long-term-residents'),(784,'Garda reach out to crime victims with new ‘support centres’','<p>\r\n	Specially trained garda&iacute; will help people traumatised from violent and sexual crimes</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Garda is to roll out new victim support centres across the State as part of a major drive to improve its treatment of those impacted by violent crime, including sexual offences.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move comes just three weeks after the Garda Inspectorate criticised the force&rsquo;s approach to sex crimes and domestic violence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Its two year review of how the Garda investigates crime found victims were rarely kept informed of progress in their cases and suspects for domestic violence were very rarely arrested.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report concluded the Garda often minimised domestic violence and some in the force believed investigating such cases was a waste of time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking at an event in Dublin to mark White Ribbon Day, which highlights violence by men against women, Garda Commissioner Noirin O&rsquo;Sullivan said two new victim support service centres had been trialled in Dublin and Waterford.<br />\r\n	Garda&iacute; working in them had been trained by non-government organisations, who deal with victims of crime and had also received feedback and guidance from victims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They had learned how to deal with the fallout for victims and their families after a traumatic crime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Commissioner O&rsquo;Sullivan said centres would now be introduced into each of the Garda&rsquo;s 25 divisions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;(They) will be able to deal with victims of all types of crime, particularly sexual crimes and crimes of violence,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Any crime that&rsquo;s perpetrated against any person and brought to the attention of An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na, will be taken seriously.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We will listen to the victim. They will be heard and they will be understood. And their crime will be properly and thoroughly investigated.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the new approach would see victims supported through the legal process, with many cases that went to court often protracted, and &ldquo;troubling and bewildering&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s very important that we look beyond the statistics. Beyond every single victim there is an individual.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And with one in five Irish women the victim of abuse at some time during their lives, there was a pressing need to provide the best policing response possible.<br />\r\n	Tom Meagher, the husband of Irish woman Jill Meagher who was raped and murdered in Australia, said at the same event in Dublin there should be no tolerance in any parts of society for the abuse of women.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was disappointed to see a group representing professional footballers had been linked to a message of support for the professional soccer player and convicted rapist Ched Evans. The Welsh international was released from prison last month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Meagher said some of the same people who would have condemned his wife&rsquo;s killer as a &ldquo;monster&rdquo; had supported Evans &ldquo;saying he&rsquo;s a great guy and deserves a chance&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When asked his reaction to the criticisms of the Garda&rsquo;s approach to domestic violence outlined in the Garda Inspectorate&rsquo;s report, he said: &ldquo;There&rsquo;s often an impunity that goes with this kind of violence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Historically, (victims of sex crimes reporting to garda&iacute;) have been massively viewed with suspicion and I think it&rsquo;s time we started to listen to victims and to believe victims. And really (we need to) stamp this out legally and socially.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In this country there&rsquo;s such a lurid history, particularly in relation to the abuse cases that have come out in recent times that thrived in that silence, and thrived in that legal impunity as well. I think we really have to look at ourselves.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	He said violence against women could be ignored or marginalised depending on who the victim or perpetrator was, with class and race often informing that process.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda-reach-out-to-crime-victims-with-new-support-centres-1.2014705\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda-reach-out-to-crime-victims-with-new-support-centres-1.2014705</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-26 11:34:21',NULL,'garda-reach-out-to-crime-victims-with-new-‘support-centres’'),(785,'Sexual predators who groom children on the internet will face up to 14 years in jail under new laws being published today.','<p>\r\n	nd sex abusers who continue to harass their victims will be jailed for up to five years if prosecuted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The sex offences legislation will also allow for electronic tagging of certain high-risk offenders who are subject to post-release supervision orders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald&#39;s new legislation will also make it illegal to pay for sex - but prostitutes will not be criminalised.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2014 is aimed at clamping down on sex abusers who use the internet to lure in their victims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move is intended at assuaging the fears of parents that their children are being stalked by sexual predators.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The legislation adds a range of provisions to make it a criminal offence to target children through technology and communications.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The bill says where an adult uses the web to contact a child &quot;for the purpose of facilitating sexual exploitation&quot; they can be jailed for up to 14 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Those who assist sex offenders in exploiting a child can also be jailed for up to five years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A specific offence of inviting a child to engage in sexual touching also carries a penalty of up to 14 years in prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The legislation allows for an harassment order to be imposed by the courts on offenders convicted of sexual offences preventing contact with the victim or their family or friends.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court can issue the harassment order at the request of a garda above the rank of inspector or a probation officer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The measure is an attempt at protecting victims from being contacted again by their abuser.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The penalty for contravening the harassment order will be a term in prison of up to a year on summary conviction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But on conviction on indictment this rises to a fine of &euro;10,000 or imprisonment for up to five years - or both.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In total, there are 62 different measures in the legislation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Paying for a prostitute will be made illegal under the new laws approved by Cabinet this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But the proposed legislation will not criminalise prostitutes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proposed legislation will follow the Scandinavian example of penalising the &#39;buyer&#39;, but not the &#39;seller&#39;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Purchasing sexual services will be liable to a fine of &euro;500 on the first offence and &euro;1,000 for a subsequent conviction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Knowingly purchasing sex for a trafficked person will be an offence carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The legislation will allow sex offenders to be electronically tagged in exceptional circumstances.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The bill will result in a major expansion of the Irish Prison Service&#39;s capacity to roll out electronic tagging.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the proposals, probation officers attached to the prison service will make an application in court for a prisoner to be tagged.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Immigrant Council of Ireland says sexual exploitation lies behind most human trafficking in Ireland, with a UN report identifying 132 victims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/predators-to-get-14-years-jail-for-child-grooming-30778331.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/predators-to-get-14-years-jail-for-child-grooming-30778331.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-27 09:52:59',NULL,'sexual-predators-who-groom-children-on-the-internet-will-face-up-to-14-years-in-jail-under-new-laws-being-published-today'),(786,'Reforms may make 2,000 children eligible for adoption','<p>\r\n	Legal obstacles saw only 17 Irish children adopted from foster care last year</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Planned changes to adoption laws are likely to mean that up to 2,000 children would be eligible for domestic adoption.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Major legal obstacles mean domestic adoptions of children in State care are rare. Just 17 children were adopted from foster care here last year. However, new legislation would make it much easier to adopt children if they have been in &ldquo;long-term&rdquo; foster care for three years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are more than 6,500 children in foster care and up to one-third of them have been there for three or more years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The planned changes will give fresh hope to would-be parents who have found that intercountry adoptions are increasingly difficult to arrange as a result of new legal restrictions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	However, they may prove controversial among some campaigners who regard it as an encroachment on parents&rsquo; rights.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Parental rights<br />\r\n	At present, a child in the State may be placed for adoption from foster care only if there has been a total abandonment of parental rights and duties, or with the consent of the birth parents. In practice, this means adoptions are rare, even in cases where parents have been prosecuted for neglecting their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Legislation paving the way for a more flexible adoption regime has been drafted by the Government and is due to be enacted, if the result of the children&rsquo;s rights referendum is formally ratified. The outcome of a legal challenge to the 2012 result is expected next month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A Supreme Court judge recently ruled authorities were free to reform adoption laws regardless of the outcome of the referendum.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The impact of proposed changes will be discussed at a conference today to be held by the Adoption Authority of Ireland. Authority chairman Geoffrey Shannon said if the referendum result is formally ratified, a significant number of children in foster care would be eligible for adoption from the long-term foster care system.<br />\r\n	This would give more children a &ldquo;second chance&rdquo; at a safe and secure childhood, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Adoption is not the answer in every situation, but where a child is in foster care without a realistic hope of returning home, adoption can allow the child a secure family that has legal permanence,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The authority has set up an implementation group to ensure it is in a position to deliver any changes likely to result from new laws.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More flexible system</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Legislation was drafted at the time of the referendum to allow for a more flexible system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Child and Family Agency will tell the conference it estimates about 2,000 children in the foster care system would be eligible for adoption under planned changes. The State&rsquo;s low domestic rate is unusual in international terms. In the UK, most adoptions are drawn from its long-term foster care system. By contrast, there were 13 domestic adoptions from foster care here in 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Wayne Dignam of the Irish Care Leavers&rsquo; Network said he welcomed the measure as a &ldquo;good option&rdquo;, as long as there was accountability and the best interests of the child applied.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/reforms-may-make-2-000-children-eligible-for-adoption-1.2016450\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/reforms-may-make-2-000-children-eligible-for-adoption-1.2016450</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-27 09:54:58',NULL,'reforms-may-make-2000-children-eligible-for-adoption'),(787,'Sexually confused young people more vulnerable','<p>\r\n	Report finds those with concerns are 14 times more likely to attempt suicide</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Young people with concerns about their sexual orientation experience significantly higher rates of victimisation and social difficulties than their peers, a new study suggests.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They are also far more likely to be sexually active and to abuse alcohol and drugs, according to the study published in the Irish Medical Journal.<br />\r\n	They are 14 times more like to attempt suicide, five times more likely to have been physically assaulted and 16 times more likely to have been sexually assaulted than the rest of their age-group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over 1,100 students with an average age of 14 years attending schools in Cork and Kerry, were surveyed for the research led by staff from the National Suicide Research Foundation in Cork.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Attempted suicide<br />\r\n	Five per cent reported having concerns about their sexual orientation. Some 29 per cent of this group had attempted suicide, compared with 2 per cent overall.<br />\r\n	A total of 40 per cent had experienced physical assault, against an average of 8 per cent, and 16 per cent reported sexual assault, compared with 1 per cent in the overall group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 90 per cent of those with sexual orientation concerns had had sex compared with 4 per cent of their peers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The authors say it highlights the significant difficulties associated with sexual orientation concerns among adolescents, and the need for early and targeted interventions to address their needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Alcohol consumption<br />\r\n	One-fifth of this group drank alcohol frequently compared with 1 per cent of the others. Only 36 per cent said they had never been drunk, compared with 91 per cent of their peers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Three-quarters were smokers, as against one-fifth in the wider group and marijuana use was 41 per cent as against 2 per cent generally.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;The group with sexuality concerns had higher levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, emotional and behavioural problems, suicidal behaviour and lower levels of wellbeing.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The report says it is likely some of the adverse experiences identified are associated with being a lesbian, gay or bisexual youth in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/sexually-confused-young-people-more-vulnerable-1.2016377\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/sexually-confused-young-people-more-vulnerable-1.2016377</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-27 10:05:39',NULL,'sexually-confused-young-people-more-vulnerable'),(788,'Interim care order granted for infant with disabilities whose parents “disengagedâ€','<p>\r\n	Relative foster carers went &ldquo;above and beyond&rdquo; to take ill infant home from hospital</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An interim care order has been granted at the Dublin District Family Court for an infant with complex disabilities whose parents &ldquo;disengaged&rdquo; from his care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Judge Marie Quirke was told a relative and her husband had stepped in when the parents stopped visiting the boy in hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	They had since gone &ldquo;above and beyond&rdquo; for the child, a social worker with the Child and Family Agency said, and though the child had not been expected to live beyond his first birthday, he was still alive more than two years after it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The baby had been resuscitated at birth and his mother had missed follow-up appointments for him, the court was told. He subsequently had seizures, was rushed to hospital and spent a year there. He has complex physical and mental disabilities, including limited hearing and sight, and needs to be fed through a tube, the social worker said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She told Judge Quirke, when the child was in hospital, his parents &ldquo;disengaged&rdquo; and stopped visiting him. They were unavailable to sign medical consents and so the child had to be taken into care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Foster care<br />\r\n	A relative and her husband began visiting him regularly and learned how to take care of him. When he was due for release, they took him home, becoming his foster carers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	They were receiving nursing support at home and also getting some weekly overnight respite care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The social worker said the father was uncontactable. The child&rsquo;s mother had moved away from Dublin, and was aware of the court case but did not attend.<br />\r\n	The boy was well cared for and presented as a happy child, the social worker said. He was &ldquo;as responsive as he could be&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I witnessed his response to carers when he hears their voices and when they pick him up . . . they have gone above and beyond really,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Making the order, Judge Quirke commended the foster carers for doing &ldquo;an excellent job&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a separate case, the judge criticised the agency after an interim care order hearing uncovered evidence that contradicted some of what was presented at an emergency care order hearing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The case involved an infant who was taken into care, initially by garda&iacute;, and then on foot of a court order made last week. There were concerns about drug-taking and neglect of the child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Access refused<br />\r\n	Giving evidence last week, the garda said the boy&rsquo;s parents had refused to allow a social worker and Garda access to their home, though they&rsquo;d agreed to a supervision order allowing access. She also said the couple had refused access to a public health nurse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	But yesterday, the public health nurse said she had rearranged the appointment with the parents for another day. She also said the couple had attended 23 appointments with her since the birth of their child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Judge Quirke said it was essential in emergency orders that the &ldquo;full facts&rdquo; were put before the court and &ldquo;not the half facts to suit one side&rsquo;s case&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;It is entirely unfair to parents if half of a story is given,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The parents, who were both present in court yesterday, agreed to the extension of the interim care order.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	An application by the agency to reduce access for the parents, from five days a week to two, was rejected by the judge, though the duration was cut from three to two hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/interim-care-order-granted-for-infant-with-disabilities-whose-parents-disengaged-1.2018086\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/interim-care-order-granted-for-infant-with-disabilities-whose-parents-disengaged-1.2018086</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-28 09:54:47',NULL,'interim-care-order-granted-for-infant-with-disabilities-whose-parents-“disengagedâ€'),(789,'Government report to propose sweeping changes to child protection system','<p>\r\n	Scale of proposed reform suggest existing laws are not longer fit for purpose</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Government report is to recommend a major overhaul of the child protection system to help prevent vulnerable children from being failed by the State.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The advisory report by the Government&rsquo;s special rapporteur on child protection, Dr Geoffrey Shannon, says sweeping reforms are needed following controversies such as the removal of two Roma children from their homes last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In all, it contains more than 50 proposed changes to our childcare laws, raising questions about whether our existing structures are fit for purpose. The measures include:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A new emphasis on preventing children being admitted into State care unnecessarily through a new emphasis on &ldquo;supervision orders&rdquo; for parents</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Amending legislation to ensure specialised supports are in place earlier to meet the needs of high-risk families and prevent crisis cases emerging</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Introducing a legal right to counselling and support for children with mental health problems</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Major reforms to the direct provision system to ensure young asylum seekers do not spend longer than six months in communal accommodation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proposals come at a time when campaigners say frontline services and child protection staff are operating against a backdrop of scarce resources, staff shortages and dangerously heavy caseloads. More than 9,000 cases of abuse, neglect or welfare concerns over children at risk were waiting to be allocated a social worker. More than 3,000 of these cases are classified as &ldquo;high priority&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Acute concern<br />\r\n	Homelessness is identified as an area of acute concern, given the growing number of families who have lost their homes as a result of rising rents and caps on State-funded rent support.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report says judicial scrutiny is required to help ensure supports are available to children living in homeless families. It also addresses areas such as the growing demand for help among young people with mental health problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A legal right to support is proposed, as are reforms to allow children aged 16 or more to seek counselling without the need for parental consent. At present, hundreds of children often wait long periods of time to get assessments for suspected mental health problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social services, too, find they are unable to get speedy access to these kinds of services for young people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Much of Dr Shannon&rsquo;s report focuses on the need for changes to the direct provision system for asylum seekers given its impact on children. In all, more than 1,600 young people are growing up in the system. The report says these children should be moved out of often unsuitable, communal accommodation after a six-month period into more appropriate and family friendly settings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/government-report-to-propose-sweeping-changes-to-child-protection-system-1.2018078\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/government-report-to-propose-sweeping-changes-to-child-protection-system-1.2018078</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-28 09:57:31',NULL,'government-report-to-propose-sweeping-changes-to-child-protection-system'),(790,'The High Court has ordered 17 children be detained in special care units','<p>\r\n	There are 17 children detained in special care units around the country, the government has revealed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Answering a parliamentary question, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs James Reilly said that ten children are in Ballydowd, Dublin, four are in Gleann Alainn, Cork, and three in Coovagh House, Limerick.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At the end of September, the Child and Family Agency Tulsa reported that there was a total of 6,470 children in care, indicating that 0.26% of those in care were in a special care placement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Detention</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister explained that special care involves the detention of a child for his or her own welfare and protection on order of the High Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Special Care Units (SCUs) differ from ordinary residential care in that the units offer higher staff ratios, on-site education as well as specialised input such as child psychiatric services. The child is detained as a result of a High Court Order, and not on the basis of any criminal activity.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Special care has operated under the High Court&rsquo;s inherent jurisdiction since the 1990s. Under the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 the High Court can deal with special care cases instead of employing its inherent jurisdiction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister Reilly said:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Work is currently underway to commence the Act. Section 23 (c) and (b) defines special care as the provision of care to a child which addresses &ldquo;his or her behaviour and the risk of harm it poses to his or her life, health, safety, development or welfare and his or her care requirements and includes medical and psychiatric assessment, examination and treatment, and educational supervision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister said that county level data is not available, but the table above is the most recent information from July 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For a child to be placed in a special care unit, an application has to be made by the child&rsquo;s social worker to the Special Care Referrals Committee.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The minister said that membership of the committee comprises an independent chairperson, two area managers from the Child and Family Agency and a unit manager from one of the special care units.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Where necessary, other professionals, psychiatrists for example, may be consulted in the review. The referring social worker attends the Committee meeting and is notified of the Committee&rsquo;s final decision within 24 hours of the meeting,&rdquo; he explained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/special-care-units-children-1803512-Nov2014/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/special-care-units-children-1803512-Nov2014/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-11-28 10:03:55',NULL,'the-high-court-has-ordered-17-children-be-detained-in-special-care-units'),(791,'Victims of sexual crime may confront their attacker','<p>\r\n	New study on restorative justice calls for an agency to facilitate meetings with offenders</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Victims of sexual crime who want to confront their perpetrators should be supported by the State in doing so, according to a new study on sexual abuse and restorative justice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Restorative justice, which deals with victims and offenders by focusing on the harm arising from crime and resolving the underlying problems which caused it, has previously been ruled out for cases of sexual assault.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But the new study, which interviewed victims, offenders and their families - as well as judges - has called for a new agency and pilot project to be established as a &quot;matter of urgency&quot; to facilitate meetings between victims and offenders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The victim-centred pilot project would be confined to cases where convictions have been secured for crimes including rape and familial abuse amid concerns that Ireland&#39;s adversarial criminal justice system is &quot;inherently ill-equipped&quot; to address the psychological impact of sexual crime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The collaborative study was carried out by Dr Marie Keenan of UCD&#39;S School of Applied Social Science, Facing Forward - a restorative justice organisation - and counselling psychologist Bernadette Fahy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Barbara Walshe, chairperson of Facing Forward, said restorative justice has the potential to meet the needs of victims, the vast majority of whom do not see their perpetrator convicted because of under-reporting and only a small proportion of cases being prosecuted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This ground-breaking report highlights the need for &#39;an additional justice system&#39; for sexual crime, one that is not adversarial; where the victim is central to the process and where the offender is held accountable for the harm caused,&quot; said Ms Walshe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Sexual Trauma and Abuse: Restorative and Transformative Possibilities study found that many victims who had never experienced restorative justice or who knew little about it had been thinking, imagining and even &quot;fantasising&quot; about questions they wanted answered by the offender.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although fearful of how the actual event might be, victims had &quot;a deep need to understand the motivation behind the crime and to confront the offender&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study says that restorative justice is not for everyone, but victims should have a choice on whether it is part of the criminal justice system or runs alongside it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda Commissioner Noirin O&#39;Sullivan will attend a conference today where the report will be launched by Aodhan O&#39;Riordan, Minister of State for New Communities, Equality &amp; Culture.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report is based on 149 interviews, including 30 victims of sexual crime, 23 sexual offenders, families of victims and offenders as well as members of the judiciary and others involved in the operation of the criminal justice system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It says that victims recognise &quot;very quickly&quot; that an adversarial criminal justice system reduces them - and the harm caused to them - to being a witness for the State.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They also experienced huge difficulties with long delays following reporting; lack of information, not knowing how to navigate the system and their &quot;heartbreak&quot; when high evidentiary requirements resulted in only a very small proportion of cases being prosecuted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The offenders interviewed were unanimously supportive of the creation of a restorative justice programme for cases of sexual violence and said if they were asked to participate in a restorative meeting with their victim or victims, they would do so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study backs previous calls for mandatory training for the judiciary and lawyers in the dynamics of sexual crime and victim trauma.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/victims-of-sexual-crime-may-confront-their-attacker-30786879.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/victims-of-sexual-crime-may-confront-their-attacker-30786879.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-01 11:01:45',NULL,'victims-of-sexual-crime-may-confront-their-attacker'),(792,'Inquiry ordered into slapping, force-feeding allegations at Mayo centre','<p>\r\n	Nine staff placed &lsquo;off-duty&rsquo; at &Aacute;ras Attracta facility for adults with intellectual disabilities</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Allegations of serious mistreatment of residents at a Co Mayo centre for adults with intellectual disabilities have prompted the Health Service Executive to order an independently led investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The HSE, which runs the unit, has also notified the Garda about the allegations, which have resulted in nine staff at &Aacute;ras Attracta residential facility being placed &ldquo;off-duty&rdquo;. The investigation will examine serious allegations of slapping and force-feeding of patients, HSE national director for social care Pat Healy told The Irish Times.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Actions such as this, should they be prove to be founded, are wholly unacceptable in any facility that provides care to vulnerable people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Consequently, these allegations will be investigated promptly and thoroughly in order to establish the full facts, having due regard to the principles of fairness and natural justice&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	An HSE spokesman added: &ldquo;The matter is being treated extremely seriously by the HSE at both local and national level. A number of immediate and objective actions have already taken place at the &Aacute;ras Attracta facility. Other actions are already under way.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Safeguards prioritised<br />\r\n	The spokesman said the most immediate priority was to guarantee a safe and caring environment for the residents of the centre. Measures had been put in place in line with new national policies for safeguarding vulnerable people at risk of abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;In this regard, and in line with HSE procedures, staff against whom allegations have been made have been put &lsquo;off-duty&rsquo;&rsquo; he said. &ldquo;This action is a protective measure, both for the residents and the staff concerned, and is done without prejudice to the staff members until the results of the investigation are known.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Action had been taken to maintain staffing levels, he said. The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), which has responsibility for monitoring standards at centres such as &Aacute;ras Attracta, has also been notified.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The centre accommodates almost 100 people with intellectual disabilities. Last July, it emerged that garda&iacute; were investigating the sudden death of a patient at the facility in 2012. This followed a Hiqa report which found non-compliance with care standards and said some patients went 15 hours without being fed. During an inspection in February, inspectors described the treatment of residents as distressing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/inquiry-ordered-into-slapping-force-feeding-allegations-at-mayo-centre-1.2020794\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/inquiry-ordered-into-slapping-force-feeding-allegations-at-mayo-centre-1.2020794</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-01 11:02:56',NULL,'inquiry-ordered-into-slapping-force-feeding-allegations-at-mayo-centre'),(793,'Roma boy\'s family seek €100,000 in damages from State','<p>\r\n	The family of a Roma child taken into State care are seeking over &euro;100,000 in compensation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Independent has learned that a court action, likely to be heard next April, will bring a number of claims against the authorities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The action is on behalf of two-year-old Iancu Muntean who was controversially removed from his home by Gardai in Athlone in October last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His father and mother are bringing separate actions, it has emerged. The family is claiming a breach of their constitutional and human rights, false arrest, and possibly defamation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood claims relating to false imprisonment and assault will also be brought against the state.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Paul Connellan, the family&#39;s solicitor, said he&#39;s waiting for the state to file their defences in each of the cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Well-placed sources say the claim of assault stems from the manner in which family members were brought to the police station and detained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child&#39;s father, Iancu Snr, said the family &quot;are still getting over everything that happened. to us.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;My son is not too bad now, but for a few months after everything he was always crying and he couldn&#39;t sleep at night time,&quot; he told the Irish Independent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;If somebody knocks on the door he&#39;s very scared. If he doesn&#39;t know their face he gets very nervous, particularly with guards in uniform, who visited for the investigation afterwards.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added: &quot;I had to go to the GP because I wasn&#39;t sleeping at all for a long time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I was so scared and anxious he gave me tablets which helped me to calm down and sleep. I kept thinking bad things would happen, and I didn&#39;t know why all this had happened to me. My wife couldn&#39;t take tablets because she was pregnant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We got an apology but that is not enough. I want to know why the guards did this to me and my family.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Connellan would not be drawn on how much the family are seeking, but conceded it is for &quot;significant damages.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A seven-year-old blonde-haired, blue-eyed Roma girl was also removed from her family in Tallaght, south Dublin, in the same month last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Waheed Mudah, solicitor for the family, said &quot;work is in progress&quot; regarding possible legal action.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We will have a better indication how things are going in early January,&quot; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/roma-boys-family-seek-100000-in-damages-from-state-30786882.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/roma-boys-family-seek-100000-in-damages-from-state-30786882.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-01 11:04:07',NULL,'roma-boys-family-seek-€100000-in-damages-from-state'),(794,'Drinking when pregnant - harmless or an act of denial?','<p>\r\n	With 80 per cent of women in Ireland admitting to drinking alcohol when pregnant, Aoife Stuart Madge asks if we are ignoring the risks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As a doctor and first-time mother, Maria 35, from County Down, wants to do everything in her power to give her 18-month-old son the best start in life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While pregnant, she read up on all the childcare and pregnancy manuals, baby-proofed her home and made sure the nursery was decked out in the very best baby gear. Controversially, she also drank - not excessively - but just a couple of glasses a week over dinner. &quot;I enjoy unwinding with a glass of wine and didn&#39;t see why I had to sacrifice that just because I was pregnant,&quot; she says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And Maria is not alone. Increasingly Irish women are breaking the biggest pregnancy taboo and partaking in a drink or two - and it&#39;s educated women like Maria who are leading the charge.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last year, a study funded by the Health Research Board found that 80pc of Irish women drank at some point during their pregnancy; while a separate study in 2010, titled Growing Up in Ireland, found that women with the highest levels of education are most likely to consume alcohol during pregnancy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Maria is quick to point out that it is not a case of choosing to ignore official health warnings (earlier this year, the country&#39;s three largest maternity hospitals, The National Maternity Hospital, The Rotunda Hospital and the Coombe Women &amp; Infants University Hospital, joined forces with Alcohol Action Ireland to launch a campaign in an attempt to tackle the problem), which advocate avoiding alcohol during pregnancy. Rather, it&#39;s an informed choice, she insists, and one she is capable of making. &quot;I&#39;m a GP, so I am well-placed to know what is responsible drinking. I&#39;ve done my research, and I know that a unit a day or the odd glass of wine does no harm to an unborn baby.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As a health care professional, Maria may be well-placed to know what constitutes a safe level of alcohol for her to consume during pregnancy, but Dr Aoife Mullally, a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist at the Coombe Women &amp; Infants University Hospital says that for most expectant women, the facts are blurred. &quot;There is a lot of confusion out there because women are getting conflicting advice from their health care professionals and even from their peers and their family,&quot; she says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Part of the problem is that at the same time as Irish health officials are issuing warnings to pregnant women to abstain from drinking altogether, conflicting reports emerge which claim that low levels of alcohol during pregnancy are safe. Take the 2012 Danish study of 1,628 pregnant women, published in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, which found that a small alcoholic drink a day had no affect on a growing baby. A previous study by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists concluded that low to moderate drinking (10.5 units or seven glasses of wine a week) showed no adverse affects on a baby&#39;s development.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There have even been studies to suggest that the children of mothers who drank moderately throughout pregnancy had a higher IQ than those that abstained. It&#39;s hardly surprising then that women - especially those going through such an emotionally exhausting and anxious time as pregnancy - are reaching for a glass of wine to relax.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, Dr Mullally warns that what is regarded as moderate levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a grey area, especially in the age of three-unit wine measures (not to mention generous home measures). With so much conflicting information out there, it&#39;s easy to get misled (am I allowed two or three units? And was it once or twice a week?)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There is no good evidence to suggest that having the occasional drink or even drinking continually at low levels during pregnancy is harmful,&quot; explains Dr Mullally. &quot;But the problem is there is no known &#39;safe&#39; level. Women also under-report how much they drink, and one person&#39;s idea of a unit, glass or measure of alcohol may vary. There are some babies that are more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than others, and there is no way of telling if your baby will be affected.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And when you consider the potentially devastating effects of alcohol misuse during pregnancy, there is little room for error. Most women who have considered drinking in pregnancy are aware of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), which is characterised by distinctive features: small and narrow eyes, a small head, a smooth area between the nose and the lips and a thin upper lip.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to Dublin-based alcohol abuse charity the Hanly Centre, between 177 and 354 babies are born each year in Ireland with FAS, while the number of babies being born with FAS in the UK has risen 40pc in the last three years. But while the recorded incidences of FAS are relatively rare, the figures may be deceptive. It&#39;s estimated by the Hanly Centre that the number of cases in Ireland increases to 1,770 annually, if you factor in all alcohol-related neurological disorders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Alcohol has a spectrum of effects on pregnancy, explains Mary Brosnan, Director of Midwifery and Nursing at The National Maternity Hospital. &quot;The term Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) describes the range of alcohol effects on a child. The problems range from mild to severe. Alcohol can cause a child to have physical or mental problems that may last all of his or her life,&quot; she says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Aside from distinctive facial features, a child may have growth problems and there are linkages with impairment of brain development and behavioural and learning problems with children as they grow older.&quot; These can include more subtle behavioural and neurological problems, such as attention deficit disorder, problems with decision-making and problems with socialising.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The spotlight was firmly on FAS last month with the news that a local authority in the north west of England is seeking criminal injuries compensation for a six-year-old girl in care who has &#39;growth retardation&#39; caused by her mother&#39;s alcohol consumption during pregnancy. If the Court of Appeal agrees that the mother committed a crime, the ruling could lead to the criminalisation of alcohol consumption during pregnancy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It&#39;s worth noting that it&#39;s not just pregnant women who are drinking more - we are drinking more as a country. According to Alcohol Ireland, 14,000 people are admitted to hospital for treatment for alcohol dependency every year while St Vincent&#39;s Hospital in Dublin has reported a 335pc increase in admissions with alcoholic liver disease between 1995 and 2010. Let&#39;s face it, most Irish women drink habitually, but do pregnant women need to pay more attention to that large glass of pinot with lunch or that warming glass of red at Christmas time?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the US, only 22pc of women drink during pregnancy, almost a quarter of the percentage of Irish women, perhaps because drinking is not so culturally widespread in America, but also because our US cousins hammer home the affects of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome in hard-hitting public service announcements, with a similar shock value to our drink-driving adverts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A recent USA anti-prenatal drink campaign shows a small girl taking a bar stool beside a 30-something woman, telling the barman, &quot;I&#39;ll have what she&#39;s having.&quot; This is followed by a solemn reminder from the voiceover that, &quot;Pregnant women never drink alone.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Mullally sees these campaigns as a more effective way of educating women, rather than criminalisation. &quot;In the UK and Ireland we haven&#39;t been very good at getting the message out there about the kind of problems drinking in pregnancy can cause, whereas in the US, they have been much better at naming the specific problems. If we did have more targeted messages like that, I think that would be more helpful than criminalising drinking in pregnancy,&quot; says Dr Mullally.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Let&#39;s face it, no mother wants to deliberately harm her child, and the majority of Irish mothers who are drinking during pregnancy are not reckless or uninformed. In fact, according to Growing Up In Ireland, the demographic most likely to drink during pregnancy are university-educated mothers in their 30s - the same group most likely to breastfeed and to give up smoking when pregnant. They know the effects binge-drinking can have on an unborn baby. But do they need a wake-up call when it comes to moderate drinking during pregnancy too? Mary seems to think so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She warns: &quot;Due to the emerging evidence of even small amounts of alcohol having a negative effect, we always advise abstinence as the best option. What is very clear is that there are no benefits for the unborn child from exposure to alcohol, just risks.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As far as Anna is concerned, she would like more trust given to women to judge what is right for them, and that they know how to drink responsibly. &quot;Making pregnant women feel guilty, scaremongering them or patronising them is not the answer. We need to educate mums and give them access to all the information so they can do their own research and make their own informed choice.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&#39;I enjoyed a glass (or three) when I was pregnant&#39;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Clare Reilly, 35, a freelance writer, is mum to Eddie, 10, Sammy, 6 and Annie, 3. She drank moderately throughout all her pregnancies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I&#39;m not some selfish woman who doesn&#39;t care about the health of her children. In fact, you&#39;ll struggle to find anyone who isn&#39;t a doctor who knows more about drinking during pregnancy than me. I&#39;m a proud mother of three wonderfully healthy, happy and smart children. I drank through each of their pregnancies, mostly one glass of wine in the evening after dinner but, sometimes - if it was a special occasion - I would have two or three over the course of a meal. I&#39;m not advocating that pregnant women get drunk, just that they be allowed to drink responsibly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I&#39;ve read practically every piece of literature and study on the effects of drinking during pregnancy and have come to the educated conclusion that my alcohol intake during each of my three pregnancies has not adversely affected any of my three children. Like most mothers, I&#39;m aware of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, but the studies used to scare us away from alcohol are all based on results from heavy drinkers and alcoholic mothers-to-be.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Pregnant women aren&#39;t trusted to know when light-to-moderate drinking stops and heavy drinking begins. I&#39;ve been fortunate enough to have all three doctors I&#39;ve seen through each of my pregnancies tell me the truth; the current medical advice to abstain entirely comes from the medical profession&#39;s distrust for the public.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Allison Keating is a psychologist at the Bwell Clinic in Dublin</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She says: &quot;We have a dysfunctional relationship with alcohol in general Ireland. Women as a whole are drinking more, and it&#39;s an issue for 30-something women in particular. Stressed working mothers are struggling, and feeling anxious and overwhelmed trying to balance careers with family life. Pregnancy is an anxious time anyway. You can feel very tired and you are having massive hormonal surges up and down, so you can understand why someone wants to sit down at the end of the day, have a glass of wine and watch some TV. That becomes their only out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There is also a lot of pressure that comes from other people. Drinking alcohol is considered so normal that it is nearly unacceptable to not have a drink. It makes other people uncomfortable. There is a lot of projection going on, so if one pregnant woman sees another pregnant woman not drinking, it makes them feel uncomfortable.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Middle class, educated pregnant women tend to get a lot of their information from their peers. It&#39;s common to hear people say, &#39;Well, my consultant said it was fine to have one.&#39; Then that anecdotal evidence becomes fact. People then think, &#39;Sure I&#39;ll only have one.&#39; Most women know the effects of serious drinking and about FAS, and that is very much frowned upon, but perhaps we need to sit back and think, &#39;Do I really need that glass?&#39; It&#39;s important to open your mind and make sure you are not just taking information from your peer group when it comes to the good health of your baby.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Being pregnant is a big sacrifice and it takes a lot of effort. We are living in a society where people are harried and stressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Pregnant women need something else to relax. The best thing is to go out for a 20-minute walk to clear your brain completely. Learn techniques to use your five senses to soothe yourself: the taste of a cup of tea, the texture of a body lotion, the scent of a candle...</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;These are simple things you can do at home. Women will always put family first, and that&#39;s where alcohol creeps in and has a negative effect. Instead, consciously take 10 minutes to half an hour at the end of the day for yourself, to wind down and reconnect with yourself.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&#39;Drinking while pregnant is not worth the risk&#39;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eleanor McAlister, 33, a teacher, is mum to Cara, 2, and Ben, 10 months. She didn&rsquo;t drink at all throughout any of her pregnancies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, it impressed on me the fragility of pregnancy &mdash; sometimes it goes away for no known reason and leaves you feeling shattered and empty. So when I found out I was pregnant again with Cara I was willing to make sacrifices to ensure the health of my baby.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Any risk, no matter how small, is too big a risk for me. In the same way I cut out blue unpasteurised cheeses, shell fish, eggs with runny yolks to name a few, I also cut out alcohol. To be honest it didn&rsquo;t seem like that big a deal for me. I think I&rsquo;ll have plenty of time to enjoy a glass of wine in my life and only a short time to be pregnant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I am aware that a lot of women have a glass or two of wine during pregnancy and that is their choice. In fact, everyone insisted on reminding me when I refused a drink at social occasions that &lsquo;you&rsquo;re allowed one!&rsquo; Some people seemed to think that by my refusing to drink I was judging their choice to have a glass of wine.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;To be clear, I&rsquo;m not. I made my own choice. When I fell pregnant with my second child, Ben, I made the same choice again. While there is a lot of conflicting information and arguments around this subject, I felt that an unknown risk wasn&rsquo;t one I was willing to take.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/life/family/mothers-babies/drinking-when-pregnant-harmless-or-an-act-of-denial-30782747.html\">http://www.independent.ie/life/family/mothers-babies/drinking-when-pregnant-harmless-or-an-act-of-denial-30782747.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-02 09:28:32',NULL,'drinking-when-pregnant-harmless-or-an-act-of-denial'),(795,'Mother successfully challenges plan to cut access to son in care','<p>\r\n	Judge rules boy should see mother weekly</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The mother of a child in State care has successfully prevented the Child and Family Agency from reducing her access to her son.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The agency wanted to reduce access to once a fortnight, but the mother, her son and his court-appointed guardian believed once a week access should continue.<br />\r\n	The boy has been in care for more than two years, Judge Colin Daly at the Dublin District Family Court was told.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	There was a history of domestic violence and he was &ldquo;traumatised and sexualised&rdquo; while his mother was his custodial parent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	On coming into care, the boy had demonstrated aggressive and oppositional behaviours. But since he moved foster placement to live with relative foster carers, the behaviours had reduced. He has weekly access with his mother at a supervised access house, the judge was told.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Under childcare legislation, the agency is required to give parents &ldquo;reasonable&rdquo; access to a child and a parent can make an application to the court to challenge that access.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The boy&rsquo;s social care worker, who supervises access, said the boy tried to control and dominate his mother and was &ldquo;hypervigilant&rdquo; around her.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She said only 45 minutes of the two hours access was &ldquo;quality&rdquo;. She had tried to support the mother when the boy became aggressive, but she had told her to &ldquo;back off&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Quoting a clinical psychologist, the boy&rsquo;s social worker described the mother and son relationship as &ldquo;toxic&rdquo;. He said the &ldquo;habitual pattern&rdquo; of weekly access needed to be broken and if there was fortnightly access, the boy might look forward to it more and there would be less negative behaviour. Under cross-examination, he agreed the boy had said he would like access weekly &ldquo;because he&rsquo;d miss his mum&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The boy&rsquo;s guardian said there was no evidence the current arrangement was harmful, no indications it jeopardised the placement, the boy&rsquo;s mental health or his education. She told the judge he was very happy with his relative foster carers and wanted to see his mother every week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She was disappointed the agency was relying on an access report written in June.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Different location<br />\r\n	The boy&rsquo;s mother said she wanted access at a different location and for longer and wanted to assist her son in taking part in a dance class. She acknowledged her son did try to &ldquo;push out the boundaries&rdquo;, but said he was easier to control than in the past.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She also asked how anyone could keep a child happy &ldquo;sitting in a room just looking at each other and the social worker looking at us and writing everything down&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Judge Daly said the boy was doing &ldquo;remarkably well&rdquo; in his placement and appeared to be managing access well. He changed access to once a week at the dance class for three hours; when the class was not taking place, access should revert to two hours at the access house.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	He also said the agency should continue to support and supervise access, including working with the mother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/supreme-court-urged-to-re-run-children-s-referendum-1.2021479\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/supreme-court-urged-to-re-run-children-s-referendum-1.2021479</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-02 09:48:13',NULL,'mother-successfully-challenges-plan-to-cut-access-to-son-in-care'),(796,'Supreme Court urged to re-run Children’s Referendum','<p>\r\n	Court found Government &lsquo;clearly and unequivocally&rsquo; breached constitutional process</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A seven judge Supreme Court has been urged to order a re-running of the Children&rsquo;s Referendum on grounds of the court&rsquo;s own finding that the Government&rsquo;s information campaign in the referendum breached the Constitution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although the Government maintains re-running the referendum is an &ldquo;awesome&rdquo; task, it would be &ldquo;less awesome&rdquo; than previous Government decisions to re-run the Lisbon and Nice Treaty referendums after a majority rejected both, Paul Sreenan SC argued.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A fresh referendum must be held in light of the Supreme Court finding, made two days before the November 2012 referendum, that the Government &ldquo;clearly and unequivocally&rdquo; breached the constitutional process governing the conduct of referendums, he submitted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Constitution requires an effective remedy for wrong.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	This was about upholding the constitutional rights of all of the electorate &ldquo;to vote freely, to a fair and democratic process, to equality and to fair procedures&rdquo;. The entire electorate, not just No voters, were affected by this unconstitutional conduct and this case was about &ldquo;upholding popular democracy&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	It is &ldquo;imperative&rdquo;, when the process of direct decision making by the people is used, that is done in accordance with the Constitution and the law but the unconstitutional conduct in this referendum continued until two days before the people voted, counsel said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Sreenan, with Niamh Hyland SC, was opening the appeal by Joanna Jordan against the High Court&rsquo;s rejection of her challenge to the constitutionality of laws governing the bringing of petitions disputing the results of referendums.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Jordan&rsquo;s case arises from the conduct by the Government of its information campaign for the Children&rsquo;s Referendum. The referendum was passed by a majority of 58 to 42 per cent based on a 33.49 per cent turnout.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The key issue for the court to determine is what test should be applied when a petition challenging a referendum result is brought where there has been an established breach of the McKenna Principles, as determined by the Supreme Court, governing the conduct of referendum campaigns.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Jordan, Glenageary Road Upper, Dun Laoghaire, who campaigned against the Children&rsquo;s Referendum, previously obtained leave to bring a petition aimed at overturning the result.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The High Court rejected her petition on grounds she failed to prove, on the civil standard of balance of probabilities, the Government&rsquo;s information campaign materially affected the outcome. Last June the High Court also dismissed her claim the provisions of the 1994 Referendum Act requiring such a &ldquo;material&rdquo; effect be proven was unconstitutional.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She has appealed both decisions to a seven judge Supreme Court, presided over by Chief Justice, Ms Justice Susan Denham. The appeals are listed to last four days.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Supreme Court urged to re-run Children&rsquo;s Referendum<br />\r\n	Court found Government &lsquo;clearly and unequivocally&rsquo; breached constitutional process</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In her appeals, Ms Jordan relies on the Supreme Court finding that the Government spend of &euro;1.1m public monies on a one-sided information campaign favouring the referendum amounted to a &ldquo;clear disregard &ldquo;of the limits imposed by the Constitution on what the State may do in a referendum. That finding, issued two days before the referendum, was made in a case brought by Dublin engineer Mark McCrystal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Jordan also relies on Supreme Court decisions in proceedings by former Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna to the effect the State is prohibited by the Constitution in spending public monies to advocate support for a particular side in a referendum. Those decisions established what is known as the McKenna Principles, to be adhered to in the conduct of referendum campaigns.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today, Mr Sreenan said a core issue for the court to determine is the test to be applied when a petition challenging a referendum result is brought where there has been an established breach of the McKenna Principles. A second key issue was the application of that test to this case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The requirement in the 1994 Act that a petitioner challenging a referendum result must show the established unlawful conduct had a &ldquo;material&rdquo; effect on the result is unconstitutional because it is impossible to prove, he argued.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The breach of the McKenna Principles in this referendum was clear and unequivocal and the Supreme Court judgments in the McCrsytal forensically examined the nature of what happened, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There was an interference with the Constitutional process for the amendment of the Constitution, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the State, in opposing the appeal, seemed to be arguing there should be no interference with the will of the electorate but the McKenna Principles were &ldquo;there for everyone&rdquo;. This was not a question of Ms Jordan&rsquo;s rights but the rights of all members of the electorate to participate in a fair process conducted in accordance with law.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 1994 Act also specifically envisaged the retaking of a referendum, he said. This referendum should have been postponed because the polling day was too close to the Supreme Court McCrystal ruling, which stopped the Government&rsquo;s unconstitutional conduct, and because the Supreme Court judgments were not available for consideration until after the referendum.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Those judgments were relevant to a consideration of what was the unconstitutional conduct, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The hearing continues.<br />\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/supreme-court-urged-to-re-run-children-s-referendum-1.2021479?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/supreme-court-urged-to-re-run-children-s-referendum-1.2021479?page=1</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-02 10:03:04',NULL,'supreme-court-urged-to-re-run-children’s-referendum'),(797,'Teen died from drugs in care unit weeks after mother admitted him','<p>\r\n	A teenage boy was found dead from drugs at a residential unit three weeks after his mother signed him into HSE care, an inquest heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 16-year-old was found dead at Focus Ireland&rsquo;s Off the Streets residential unit in Dublin 7 on February 19 last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dublin Coroner&rsquo;s Court heard he was not a known drug user, but spent the day before taking tablets at his mother&rsquo;s house nearby.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He had been living at Off the Streets for the previous three weeks. A representative for child and family agency Tusla, speaking from the body of the court, said he was accepted into their care in December 2012, having presented to emergency services. He was placed in an emergency hostel but then returned to his mother&rsquo;s home. &ldquo;He was continuously returning home to care for his mother because he felt that she was under threat,&rdquo; he told the court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This happened several times until his mother voluntarily signed him into the care of the HSE in February 2013. A social worker had been assigned to him since 2007. The court heard the boy wanted to be taken into care, because he could &ldquo;no longer tolerate&rdquo; the situation at home. He was described as &ldquo;one of the nicest young people&rdquo; Tusla workers engaged with.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was placed in Off the Streets on February 4. Focus Ireland services manager Neil Forsyth said he was a &ldquo;sweet boy&rdquo; and they &ldquo;thought he would do quite well&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The depositions of two other Off the Streets residents were read into the record in their absence. One told garda&iacute; they were drinking and smoking cannabis in the dead boy&rsquo;s mother&rsquo;s house but she was not involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the other boy told garda&iacute; they were taking sleeping tablets in the house which they bought from the mother&rsquo;s partner. He also claimed the boy&rsquo;s mother took some of the tablets with them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda Killian Murphy told the inquest that on taking a statement from the mother, who was not present in court, she reacted &ldquo;extremely aggressively&rdquo; when asked about drug use and refused to continue. The partner was also questioned and denied selling drugs to the boys.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When the deceased and his friends returned to Off the Streets, they were arguing. Relief worker Shane Browne was not present to give evidence but in his deposition read into the record, he said that when they arrived back, their &ldquo;eyes were pinned like dots&rdquo; and the deceased seemed &ldquo;very affected&rdquo;. After the deceased went to bed at around 7.30pm, he was checked on every 30 minutes, but he was asleep and workers did not enter the room. Mr Browne told garda&iacute; he was sleeping in the next room and heard him snoring until 3am. He found him dead the following morning..</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cause of death was multi-drug toxicity with methadone, sleeping tablets and sedatives found in his system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The jury returned a verdict of death by misadventure and recommended Off the Streets carry out regular, documented, visual checks where a minor is perceived to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/teen-died-from-drugs-in-care-unit-weeks-after-mother-admitted-him-300606.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/teen-died-from-drugs-in-care-unit-weeks-after-mother-admitted-him-300606.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-03 10:03:15',NULL,'teen-died-from-drugs-in-care-unit-weeks-after-mother-admitted-him'),(798,'SIDS warning over sleeping with babies','<p>\r\n	Parents who sleep alongside their baby in bed or on the sofa could be putting the newborn at risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the health advisory body has warned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) stopped short of telling parents to stop the practice, admitting that health professionals are &quot;stuck between a rock and a hard place&quot; because of conflicts over breastfeeding.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Instead, updated guidance published today intends only to make parents aware of an association between co-sleeping with their baby in a bed, on a sofa or on a chair - even occasionally - and an increased risk of SIDS up to the age of one year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The link is greater when a parent, including a partner, smokes, drinks alcohol or take drugs prior to co-sleeping or if the baby was born prematurely or with a low birthweight.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than 200 babies in England and Wales die unexpectedly in their sleep every year for no apparent reason, most commonly between the ages of four weeks and 12 weeks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Professor Mark Baker, Nice&#39;s clinical practice director, said he understood the new guidance could be confusing but believed it was better for parents to make individual decisions about co-sleeping.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We&#39;re not telling people not to co-sleep with their babies, we know that could get in the way with breastfeeding, but there is an association with SIDS and it&#39;s better that parents should know and make their own judgments,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It&#39;s quite a confusing message, it is not clear.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We are between a rock and hard place. The only recommendation we could have made would be to avoid co-sleeping but it would be seen as incompatible with breastfeeding guidelines.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We&#39;ve got good guidance about breastfeeding but there are these statistics indicating an association with SIDS that parents should be aware of.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Elaine McInnes, a professional development officer from the Institute of Health Visiting who helped to develop the new Nice co-sleeping recommendations, said health professionals should discuss safe sleeping arrangements with parents before the baby is born.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Being a new parent is exhausting. We know that many new mothers and fathers will, at some point or another, fall asleep with their newborn and parents should not feel guilty or embarrassed,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Sharing a bed with your baby at night can aid breastfeeding and in some cultures, co-sleeping is seen as perfectly normal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;However, the Department of Health advises that the safest place for a baby to sleep is in a cot, and if that cot is beside the bed, it need not interfere with breastfeeding.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The conversation about co-sleeping and the factors that may make SIDS more likely should begin before the baby is even born and discussed at every visit, up until the child reaches its first birthday.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Health continues to advise that the safest way for a baby to sleep is on its back, in its own cot or Moses basket in the parents&#39; room for the first six months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Rosemary Dodds, senior policy adviser at the National Childbirth Trust, said: &quot;We welcome Nice&#39;s guidance that all parents should have more information about sleeping safely with their babies but we are concerned that Nice has not distinguished between co-sleeping on sofas or chairs and bed-sharing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There is evidence that it is more dangerous to fall asleep with a baby on a sofa or chair so this is a missed opportunity to point this out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We know that more than half of parents sleep with their babies in the first few months so it&#39;s disappointing that Nice guidance fails to reflect this reality. We&#39;re worried that the mixed messages in these guidelines will increase parents&#39; anxiety or lead to them into riskier sleeping situations with their babies.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/sids-warning-over-sleeping-with-babies-30793789.html\">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/sids-warning-over-sleeping-with-babies-30793789.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-03 10:04:11',NULL,'sids-warning-over-sleeping-with-babies'),(799,'Elderly brothers hospitalised after gang\'s attack on their home','<p>\r\n	Two elderly brothers have been hospitalised after they were assaulted in their home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Kevin and Joe Gannon, who are in their 70s, were set on by a gang at their rural home near Cortoon, Tuam, Co Galway.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The incident is believed to have occurred in the early hours of Monday morning. It did not come to light until yesterday afternoon. It&#39;s understood that up to three intruders entered their home and assaulted the two men while they were in their beds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The gang demanded money and caused a significant amount of damage to the house before leaving around an hour later.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The brothers have since been taken by ambulance to University Hospital Galway where they are being treated for their injuries and for shock.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna Fail councillor Michael Connolly said the brothers, described as quiet and friendly, appeared to have been deliberately targeted by the gang. &quot;They didn&#39;t have much money, what they had they lived on, really just their pension.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/elderly-brothers-hospitalised-after-gangs-attack-on-their-home-30794240.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/elderly-brothers-hospitalised-after-gangs-attack-on-their-home-30794240.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-03 10:05:13',NULL,'elderly-brothers-hospitalised-after-gangs-attack-on-their-home'),(800,'Hiqa to have new role overseeing reports into deaths of children in care','<p>\r\n	Decision a result of concern about serious incidents involving vulnerable young people</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The State&rsquo;s social services watchdog will have a new role overseeing reports into deaths or serious incidents involving children in contact with the care system.<br />\r\n	At present a National Review Panel panel commissioned by Child and Family Agency examines the circumstances of these cases. The group is independently chaired by Dr Helen Buckley of Trinity College Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Under new changes, the Health Information and Quality Authority will have an audit and oversight role regarding these reports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	In addition, investigations into the State&rsquo;s handling of these cases will be submitted to the Oireachtas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Other changes aimed at bolstering the independence of the review panel include:<br />\r\n	* A provision to ensure that serving officials from the HSE or the Child and Family Agency cannot take part in review unless it is at least two years since they left the organisation<br />\r\n	* The review panel will report in future to the board of the Child and Family Agency in accordance with best practice, and not directly to line management<br />\r\n	* Commitments from the Child and Family Agency to a more timely schedule in terms of the production of reports and required responses to any recommendations made by the panel</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Minister for Children Dr James Reilly welcomed the changes which he said would strengthen the integrity of the panel&rsquo;s work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;We have few greater responsibilities than to learn from the mistakes of the past. The importance of the work of the National Review Panel cannot be over-stated.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;We must learn lessons from the examination of serious incidents or deaths relating to children who receive care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Dr Reilly said the independence of the panel would now be enhanced with Hiqa playing a key role in auditing the independence of the process and for the first time reports will have to be laid before the Oireachtas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The panel was first established by the HSE following concerns over the State&rsquo;s handling of cases involving young people who died while in care or in contact with the care system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	An independent report subsequently commissioned by the State &ndash; described by its authors as a &ldquo;devastating indictment&rdquo; of social services &ndash; found that 196 children died between 2000 and 2010.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Of these, 112 died of overdoses, suicide, unlawful killings and other non-natural causes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hiqa-to-have-new-role-overseeing-reports-into-deaths-of-children-in-care-1.2024879\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hiqa-to-have-new-role-overseeing-reports-into-deaths-of-children-in-care-1.2024879</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-04 10:33:46',NULL,'hiqa-to-have-new-role-overseeing-reports-into-deaths-of-children-in-care'),(801,'Homelessness policy based on shelter alone will not suffice','<p>\r\n	When the results of the annual &ldquo;winter rough sleeper count&rdquo;were published, two weeks ago, there was barely a political murmur in response. Conducted on November 11th, the count found 168 people sleeping out &ndash; the highest number since records began in 2007.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Jonathan Corrie (43), who died this week in a Dublin doorway, was almost certainly among those 168 people. He was almost certainly passed by politicians and advisers the following morning, as he slept in a Molesworth Street doorway and they made their way to Leinster House.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	That a relatively young man could die in such circumstances has been called a &ldquo;national disgrace&rdquo;. There has been a candle-lit vigil, a round of summits, forums and emergency debates.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Today Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly will chair an all-day summit on homelessness. Tomorrow, Lord Mayor of Dublin Christy Burke will hold his own summit on the subject.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Commitment<br />\r\n	Chief executive of Dublin Simon Sam McGuinness says that although things have never been as bad, there has never been such concerted commitment to do something about it. &ldquo;This is positive, but something has to come out of all this. There aren&rsquo;t enough emergency beds in Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;People have given up calling the emergency number because they are told night after night there&rsquo;s no room. What happened a few nights ago to Mr Corrie, could happen to someone else tonight.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Up to 40 more emergency beds are to be made available by Focus Ireland and the Peter McVerry Trust on Monday, while the Dublin Region Homeless Executive promises a further 86 by the end of the month. These had been planned anyway.<br />\r\n	The concern among some is that the response may simply be to provide more emergency beds. A policy based on shelter alone will not suffice. What is needed now, says Mike Allen, head of advocacy with Focus Ireland, is a &ldquo;persistent response, not a panic response&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Complex case<br />\r\n	Take Mr Corrie as an example. His needs were complex. He had addiction issues. More recently his mental and physical health had deteriorated to a point where, it appears, he had not the wherewithal to take up offers of emergency accommodation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Addressing his needs would have been difficult, but not impossible. It is telling that in a recent interview he said homelessness had &ldquo;become a way of life&rdquo;. He would, however, have liked a bedsit of his own &ldquo;but it just doesn&rsquo;t happen&rdquo;. He needed more than an emergency bed to leave the streets and perhaps an offer of more long-term housing would have persuaded him to engage. Or perhaps it would not.<br />\r\n	At the same time, making more emergency beds available will do nothing to stop the flow of people into homelessness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	If the Government is serious about stemming that flow, legislative, policy and cultural changes are needed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Intervention is necessary to address escalating rents in Dublin. There have been calls to deepen tenants&rsquo; rights, by lengthening the notice period landlords must give when increasing rents, from one month to three, and when giving notice to quit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Widespread calls to increase rent supplement caps are growing louder. Hospitals and prisons must stop discharging people into homelessness, and must start working with local authorities on this. Young people leaving care must have a plan in place that includes long-term accommodation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Such measures could help. Whether they would have been sufficient to help Mr Corrie will remain unknown.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/homelessness-policy-based-on-shelter-alone-will-not-suffice-1.2024859\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/homelessness-policy-based-on-shelter-alone-will-not-suffice-1.2024859</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-04 10:38:17',NULL,'homelessness-policy-based-on-shelter-alone-will-not-suffice'),(802,'Health ‘has no data’ on fifth child vaccine trial','<p>\r\n	The Department of Health has said it has &quot;no information&quot; on where, or in what institution, a previously undisclosed fifth vaccine trial on children here in the 1960s took place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The trial, revealed by the Irish Examiner on Monday, was carried out in 1965 on 34 infants by Glaxo Laboratories &mdash; a legacy company of pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	GSK has previously only admitted to four vaccine trials having ever been carried out in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Uncovered by Michael Dwyer of UCC&rsquo;s School of History in an article in The Lancet in August of 1965, the measles trial was conducted by Irene Hillary and Patrick Meenan of UCD&rsquo;s microbiology department and AJ Beale of Glaxo Laboratories.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although the report does not specify where the trial took place, the reference to the reaction to the vaccines being monitored by &ldquo;the adults looking after the children&rdquo; and the fact that follow-ups were done on all the children from day six to day 14 at 6pm, seem to indicate that the children were in a group setting. There is no mention of parental consent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	GSK said it did not agree that the above references were evidence that the trial was carried out on children in care, but did not state where or in what institution the trial may have occurred.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, the Department of Health said it had &ldquo;no information&rdquo; regarding this latest trial and said any information it had was summarised into the interdepartmental committee to inquire into Mother and Baby Homes published in July which covered &ldquo;known vaccine trials in institutions&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Interdepartmental Group on Mother and Baby Homes Report contains a summary of Dr Kiely&rsquo;s report and subsequent developments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The department has not sourced any information regarding the &lsquo;fifth vaccine trial&rsquo;,&rdquo; said the statement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the interdepartmental report only refers to three trials &mdash; despite GSK publicly admitting a fourth in 2011 and UCC&rsquo;s Michael Dwyer uncovering evidence in June of 1930-1935 trials of a Burroughs Wellcome vaccine for diphtheria carried out on 2,000 children in residential institutions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking yesterday, Mr Dwyer said the latest revelations about the scale of the vaccine trials should be of interest to children&rsquo;s minister Dr James Reilly, but have yet to be acknowledged by any official source.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The political response to these revelations must now be regarded as faux political outrage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It would seem that the furore was little more that an appropriation of the very real concerns of vaccine trial survivors for political gain.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;No official acknowledgement of the vaccine trials surely equates to no official interest. And this is not solely a government issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is a cross-party effort to minimise the significance of the findings, to sideline the concerns of vaccine trial survivors, in a bid to prioritise political, professional and commercial concerns,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Former head of the Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance and now Senator Jillian van Turnhout said that the upcoming inquiry now needed to get the full truth behind the trials and not a partial one.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/health-has-no-data-on-fifth-child-vaccine-trial-300767.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/health-has-no-data-on-fifth-child-vaccine-trial-300767.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-04 10:39:57',NULL,'health-‘has-no-data’-on-fifth-child-vaccine-trial'),(803,'Care leavers so at risk of homelessness they move home — charity','<p>\r\n	Some young people leaving care are at such a high risk of homelessness that they are returning to the family settings which led to them being placed in care in the first place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The claim was made by Dublin-based Don Bosco Teenage Care Housing Association, which said it knew of at least four young people who had moved home on leaving care at 18.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The CEO of Don Bosco Care, Brian Hogan, said the situation highlighted the need for more after-care support for care-leavers, who previous studies have found are at an increased risk of becoming homeless.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Hogan said the current situation had been exacerbated by the phasing out of bed-sit type accommodation in parts of Dublin City and by climbing rents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Our outreach workers are saying it is damn nigh impossible to find accommodation for them,&rdquo; he said of the teenage clients leaving care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We know of four young people who are back living at home, which we would prefer would not happen.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said some of the young people affected had an intellectual disability and like many care-leavers, were at risk of loneliness and isolation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Hogan also said that returning back to fractious family setting was also &ldquo;precarious&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added: &ldquo;It takes very, very little for these young people to be out of their homes again. We need to catch them as they are exiting the care system.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Previous studies, such as those carried out by Dr Paula Mayock of Trinity College Dublin, have highlighted the increased risk for care-leavers have of becoming homeless.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking earlier this year to the Irish Examiner, the Minister for Justice, who was then Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, said she wanted to see an element of positive discrimination applied in the cases of care-leavers, so that it would be easier for them to access accommodation and benefits.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Hogan said this was &ldquo;laudable&rdquo; but that while efforts had been made, that system was not in place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesperson for EPIC (Empowering People In Care) said the organisation was also aware of recent care leavers struggling to secure accommodation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Karla Charles said EPIC was aware of a 20-year-old woman who, while in need of some support, had been capable of looking after her two children until she became homeless, prompting her to place the children in care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	EPIC has called for the provision of step-down accommodation for care-leavers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday, researchers from Queen&rsquo;s University Belfast released details of a study which showed that on one day in 2009, 8% of &lsquo;Looked After&rsquo; children were living with their birth parents but still subject to a care order, despite the fact that care orders were issued where children were found to have suffered harm, or are likely to suffer harm, at home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/care-leavers-so-at-risk-of-homelessness-they-move-home-charity-301008.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/care-leavers-so-at-risk-of-homelessness-they-move-home-charity-301008.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-05 10:20:28',NULL,'care-leavers-so-at-risk-of-homelessness-they-move-home-—-charity'),(804,'Child born with foetal alcohol syndrome loses UK compensation case','<p>\r\n	A young child is not entitled to criminal injuries compensation after her mother drank excessively while pregnant, the British Court of Appeal has ruled.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Three appeal judges unanimously ruled: &ldquo;The central reason is that we have held that a mother who is pregnant and who drinks to excess despite knowledge of the potential harmful consequence to the child of doing so is not guilty of a criminal offence under our law if her child is subsequently born damaged as a result.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ruling was a blow to a local authority which had fought the compensation battle on behalf of CP, now aged seven, who suffers with learning, development, memory and behaviour problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If the appeal had succeeded it could have paved the way for pregnant women&#39;s behaviour to be criminalised, according to the British Pregnancy Advisory Service (Bpas) and Birthrights.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Lawyers for the child say that view was &quot;misplaced speculation&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ann Furedi, chief executive of the Bpas, and Rebecca Schiller, co-chair of Birthrights, welcomed the court&#39;s unanimous decision, saying: &quot;This is an extremely important ruling for women everywhere.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The UK&#39;s highest courts have recognised that women must be able to make their own decisions about their pregnancies.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The appeal judges heard that a large number of similar claims for compensation by children allegedly harmed by alcohol in the womb were awaiting the outcome of CP&#39;s appeal, with solicitors already instructed in around 80 cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Lord Dyson, the Master of the Rolls, sitting with Lord Justice Treacy and Lady Justice King, considered the case recently at a one-day hearing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judges were told that the mother was drinking &quot;an enormous amount&quot; while pregnant with CP, including a half-bottle of vodka and eight cans of strong lager a day, and the child was born with an alcohol-related disease.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	John Foy QC, appearing for CP, said that was the equivalent of 40-57 units of alcohol a day. Guidelines issued by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) were that 7.5 units might damage a foetus.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Foy was representing a council in the North West of England which now has responsibility for CP and was seeking an award on her behalf under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the mother &quot;was aware of the dangers to her baby of her excessive consumption during pregnancy&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added: &quot;She was reckless as to whether there would be harm to the foetus. She foresaw that harm might be caused but went on to take the risk.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CP was born in June 2007 with foetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), also referred to as foetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). It can cause retarded growth, facial abnormalities and intellectual impairment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her compensation claim was based on the assertion that her mother had committed an offence against her as defined under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 by drinking excessively during pregnancy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ben Collins, appearing for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA), asked the court to reject CP&#39;s legal challenge.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He told the judges: &quot;There is a conflict of ideas about what is or is not dangerous, not only in terms of drink but also in terms of smoking and food.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Collins asked whether &quot;a pregnant mother who eats unpasteurised cheese or a soft boiled egg knowing there is a risk that it could give rise to a risk of harm to the foetus&quot; might also find herself accused of a crime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	FASD was diagnosed 252 times in England in 2012 to 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CP&#39;s compensation application was initially rejected by the CICA in November 2009 on the grounds that she had not sustained an injury &quot;directly attributable to a crime of violence&quot;, as required by the Offences Against the Person Act.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A first-tier tribunal allowed her initial appeal but the Upper Tribunal of the Administrative Appeals Chamber ruled last December that the law required a crime to be committed against an individual &quot;person&quot; - and a child did not become a person until birth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Upper Tribunal concluded: &#39;&#39;If (the girl) was not a person while her mother was engaging in the relevant actions then, as a matter of law, her mother could not have committed a criminal offence.&#39;&#39;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Asking the appeal judges to quash the Upper Tribunal decision, Mr Foy argued CP had been a person entitled to compensation while still a foetus and the crime committed against had similar ingredients to manslaughter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Alternatively, she became entitled to an award when she was born and was suffering the continuing consequences of her alcoholic mother&#39;s drinking.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Foy said CP was the young mother&#39;s second pregnancy and the woman was well aware of the risks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But she had recklessly &quot;administered a noxious thing - a destructive thing&quot; to her unborn daughter and inflicted grievous bodily harm for which the child should be compensated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dismissing CP&#39;s appeal, Lord Justice Treacy said an &quot;essential ingredient&quot; for a crime to be committed &quot;is the infliction of grievous bodily harm on a person - grievous bodily harm on a foetus will not suffice&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said CP was born with limited growth potential. He added: &quot;All the suffering that CP has endured and will continue to endure during her life is the consequence of the harm that was inflicted on her when she was in her mother&#39;s womb.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any further harm she suffered after her birth was a result of what had occurred while she was still a foetus.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said Mr Foy&#39;s argument &quot;breaks down&quot; because Parliament had not expressly said a foetus was &quot;a person&quot; against whom a criminal offence could be committed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said: &quot;Parliament has identified certain circumstances where criminal liability arises if a mother causes injury to her foetus.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Thus the offence of a pregnant woman using poison, with intent to procure her own miscarriage (section 58 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861), specifically provides for circumstances in which a woman administers poison or a noxious thing to herself.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This offence does not apply to the circumstances of the present case because it requires intent (to harm).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Section 1 of the Infant Life (Preservation) Act 1929 provides that it is an offence to destroy the life of a child capable of being born alive before it is born.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Parliament could have legislated to criminalise the excessive drinking of a pregnant woman, but it has not done so outside these offences.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Since the relationship between a pregnant woman and her foetus is an area in which Parliament has made a (limited) intervention, I consider that the court should be slow to interpret general criminal legislation as applying to it.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge added that, in English law, women did owe a duty of care to their unborn child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But &quot;a competent woman cannot be forced to have a caesarean section or other medical treatment to prevent potential risk to the foetus during childbirth.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If a third party inflicted harm on an unborn child, they could be liable for damages if the child was born with disabilities under the Congenital Disabilities (Civil Liability) Act 1976.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But claims could not be brought against the child&#39;s mother unless the harm was caused by her when she was driving a motor vehicle.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said: &quot;The law would be incoherent if a child were unable to claim compensation from her mother for breach of a duty of care owed during pregnancy, but the mother was criminally liable for causing the harm which gave rise to damage and a right to compensation under the 1995 Criminal Injuries Compensation Act.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added: &quot;In my view, the role of the state in these circumstances should be to provide care and support for the child who has suffered harm to the extent that this is necessary.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It should not be to pay compensation on the basis that the child is the victim of a crime by her mother.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Lawyers for CP expressed &quot;disappointment&quot; with the ruling and said they were now considering their options.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The only legal avenue left open is to seek to go to the Supreme Court, the highest court in the land.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Neil Sugarman, managing partner of GLP Solicitors of Bury, Greater Manchester, who represented CP, said: &quot;This is an extremely complex and challenging case, but it was undertaken with the best interests of the child at heart.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Everyone involved with the case is disappointed with the outcome and will need time to digest the judgment and consider their options.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Before the ruling, Mr Sugarman had commented: &quot;There has been a great deal of speculation about whether this will lead to the criminalisation of women, but that is misplaced.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added: &quot;Whatever the outcome, I am pleased that this case has raised awareness of the dangers of drinking during pregnancy both in this country and round the world.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I have been contacted by many people who have adopted or care for children damaged by FAS and a number of charities who support them. It has raised the profile of the damage that can be done.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/child-born-with-foetal-alcohol-syndrome-loses-uk-compensation-case-653403.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/child-born-with-foetal-alcohol-syndrome-loses-uk-compensation-case-653403.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-05 10:22:26',NULL,'child-born-with-foetal-alcohol-syndrome-loses-uk-compensation-case'),(805,'Adults who seek to groom children online face 14-year term','<p>\r\n	Proposed new criminal offence aims to stop grooming before it gets to physical contact</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Adults who attempt to groom young people online for the purpose of sexual exploitation could face up to 14 years in jail under proposed new legislation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Sexual Offences Bill will criminalise adults who contact children either online or through mobile phones even if the initial contact is not explicitly sexual.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It will be an offence even if there was no physical contact or meeting between the adult and child in question.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It will also be an offence to send sexually explicit material to a child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said RT&Eacute; Prime Time investigation to be broadcast tonight on the use of social media to target young people for sexual exploitation demonstrated the risks involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement she said the legislation is meant at the earliest stage to target those intent on grooming children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I believe these provisions are the necessary steps to ensure that children are protected from inappropriate contact and do so by recognising that today such contact is through modern communication technologies.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She stated the new offences &ldquo;also reflect the reality that predatory sexual activity to target children now takes place online, for example, via social media.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prime Time created a profile of a fictitious 14-year-old called Amy. She joined a social media account at the beginning of October.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Within a month she had accumulated more than 1,000 friends. Some were teenage boys but others were adults who attempted to groom her for sexual purposes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cyber psychologist Mary Aiken told the programme social media can be a perfect hunting ground for paedophiles.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;You can have children, or young adolescents, expressing vulnerability online: &lsquo;I hate my family, I hate my friends, I want to runaway, my life is miserable,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The sort of things most teenagers at some stage think or articulate, but those sentiments are readily available online, and the point is that there are people who are predatory, for whatever motive, who will focus and hone in on that vulnerability and that effectively is the risk.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The State rapporteur on child protection Dr Geoffrey Shannon described RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s findings as &ldquo;deeply disturbing&rdquo; and called on the Minister for Justice to immediately enact laws to outlaw online grooming.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I have been calling for the offence of grooming to be dealt with in a comprehensive fashion since appointed to the role in 2007,&rdquo; he told the programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I would hope that the Minister, given her track record in this area, will fast track this legislation. After all, our houses of parliament met in emergency session to give bankers a bailout - surely we should ensure our children are safeguarded by treating this bill in a similar manner to the bailout bill.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna F&aacute;il&rsquo;s spokesman on children Robert Troy called on the Minister for Children James Reilly to engage with the Office for Internet Safety.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Troy said it was time to devise an education and information programme for parents and children to advise them on privacy issues and advise them on how best to stay safe online.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/adults-who-seek-to-groom-children-online-face-14-year-term-1.2026134\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/adults-who-seek-to-groom-children-online-face-14-year-term-1.2026134</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-05 10:30:00',NULL,'adults-who-seek-to-groom-children-online-face-14-year-term'),(806,'Bullying features ‘hugely’ in addicts’ childhoods','<p>\r\n	Being bullied as a child has emerged as a significant factor in why people who subsequently become alcoholics or drug addicts took their first drink or drug, research has found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Counsellor Helen Murphy, who examined the link between childhood bullying and substance misuse for her thesis, said &ldquo;bullying featured hugely&rdquo; among the men she interviewed where her focus was on &ldquo;what really caused them to pick up that first drink or drug&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As part of her research, Ms Murphy, who previously worked for three years at Fellowship House, an extended treatment programme for men that forms part of the Tabor Group addiction treatment service, interviewed men who had been residents in the house and were now in recovery.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The overwhelming result was that childhood experiences were the significant factor in leading them to addiction and bullying featured hugely,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The types of bullying the 11 participants were exposed to included being bullied in school by peers and/or teachers and/or being bullied at home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said some of the men had been subjected to serious physical abuse as children, including one having a tooth pulled out at age 7.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;He was beaten up and had his teeth broken and one guy stood on him and pulled his tooth out. He was seven years old. He was on his way home from school and the guy who did it was his peer,&rdquo; Ms Murphy said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some of the men had been subjected to verbal abuse and emotional bullying and in most cases, the bullying was prolonged.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;A lot of them started drinking or using to escape from the emotional pain that the bullying caused,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Murphy said the traumatising effect of bullying on children and the potentially life-destroying consequences highlighted the need for schools to not only have anti-bullying policies, but to ensure those policies were enforced and that staff were adequately trained to do so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We would also be calling for greater awareness about the long-term effects of bullying,&rdquo; Ms Murphy said. Too often efforts to deal with bullying ended when the bullying stopped, but Ms Murphy said what people didn&rsquo;t always realise was that the child often needed long-term support.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Their self-esteem is battered, the emotional impact can be devastating. Often a lot of work needs to be done alone with the child,&rdquo; Ms Murphy said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Murphy said there also needed to be greater recognition of the contribution addiction treatment centres make to helping people deal with the underlying lifelong emotional issues that contributed to their becoming addicts in the first place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said of the 11 men interviewed for her research who had all been residents of Fellowship House, three were in third level education &ldquo;and what they have to contribute to society is huge, given their experiences&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Finbarr Cassidy, treatment manager at Fellowship House, said Ms Murphy&rsquo;s research was very significant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the first piece of research of its kind done in Ireland. It&rsquo;s very important in terms of understanding the causes of addiction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In simple terms, it shows those who were bullied as children turn to a substance to kill the pain, which in turn fuels the addiction,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bullying-features-hugely-in-addicts-childhoods-301393.html</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-08 12:14:02',NULL,'bullying-features-‘hugely’-in-addicts’-childhoods'),(807,'Watchdog fears over safety risks at children’s hostel','<p>\r\n	The public health watchdog has expressed concern about significant safety risks identified during an inspection of an emergency hostel for homeless children in Cork.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) were informed that there was a high rate of unauthorised absence from the facility, with 610 such incidents recorded over the previous two years. A total of 87 absences were recorded as serious incidents, while garda&iacute; were called to the centre on 95 occasions over the same period.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa officials claimed policies, procedures and practical measures to promote the safety of young people at the hostel were ineffective. However, they praised the vital and supportive service provided by a resilient staff to vulnerable young people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The unnamed centre does not function as a mainstream children&rsquo;s residential centre but as an emergency hostel for up to five young people at any one time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Hiqa inspection was carried out with the agreement of Tusla, the child and family agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although such a facility is not governed by childcare legislation, its staff told Hiqa inspectors they aspired to adhere to the national standards for residential care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa inspectors blamed the significant risk on a combination of factors, including the profile of the young people admitted and its admissions policy and lack of exclusion criteria. They also believed the hostel, which is located in a two-storey house adjacent to a busy road in a residential area, is unsuitable for its purpose.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health officials noted many of the boys aged betwee 15 and 17 who stayed in the hostel had a history of challenging behaviour including substance misuse and engaging in crime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the months before the Hiqa inspection last June, there were several incidents of disturbance which had resulted in significant damage to property in the centre.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the previous two years, 10 young people had been taken into custody on foot of court orders. The facility had recorded 92 admissions over the same period.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa said staff could not ensure the centre operated in a stable environment because its admissions policy was not to exclude any homeless young person, regardless of whether they had any history of substance abuse or criminal behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The hostel also had no risk management policy or risk register. Managers complained about the lack of clerical support which meant they had to undertake duties such as payroll and invoicing, meaning less time to supervise staff and oversee the care of young people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/watchdog-fears-over-safety-risks-at-childrens-hostel-301474.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/watchdog-fears-over-safety-risks-at-childrens-hostel-301474.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-08 12:15:16',NULL,'watchdog-fears-over-safety-risks-at-children’s-hostel'),(808,'McVerry: Homelessness crisis needs more than emergency beds','<p>\r\n	The first 31 emergency beds are to be made available today to help get homeless people off the streets of Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last week the Government promised 200 beds would be provided before Christmas, so no one has to sleep rough unless they want to.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new accommodation will be provided in Dublin&#39;s south inner city, in a building supplied by Focus Ireland and staffed by the Fr Peter McVerry Trust.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The funding is to be agreed at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting this afternoon, which is also expected to sign off on dozens of extra beds around the city over the coming weeks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Father Peter McVerry has welcomed the Government&#39;s help, but says they have yet to provide a permanent solution to the crisis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fr McVerry said: &quot;There is a commitment to over 200 beds, I do believe those will happen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;However, providing an emergency bed is not the answer to homelessness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;People are being evicted from the private rented sector at a huge rate and going into homelessness. Unless we address that problem, we&#39;re going to need another 200 emergency beds in January and maybe another 200 in February.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/mcverry-homelessness-crisis-needs-more-than-emergency-beds-653750.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/mcverry-homelessness-crisis-needs-more-than-emergency-beds-653750.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-08 12:17:52',NULL,'mcverry-homelessness-crisis-needs-more-than-emergency-beds'),(809,'Emotional abuse case study: ‘If I had stayed longer, I probably would have ended up dead’','<p>\r\n	The most important thing a victim of emotional abuse can do is talk about the problem, in order to make sense of it. Their self-esteem isn&rsquo;t actually gone; they&rsquo;ve just lost contact with it</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If you feel you can&rsquo;t be yourself in a relationship, it may be a sign of something more serious than just being with the wrong person.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It might be emotional abuse, also referred to as psychological abuse, which erodes a victim&rsquo;s confidence and builds up a power imbalance in a relationship.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It wears a person down over time. Eventually, it can cause anxiety, panic attacks, depression, substance abuse, insomnia, asthma or an inability to trust people. Despite the possible symptoms, many people don&rsquo;t realise they are in an abusive relationship.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It goes under the radar because it&rsquo;s not physical,&rdquo; says Bernadette Ryan, a psychotherapist with Relationships Ireland. &ldquo;But the scars can run really deep and be hugely damaging. Maybe they&rsquo;re not in danger of physical harm, but they live in torture.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When a client comes into counselling, Ryan has to be a detective because victims rarely understand what is happening to them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The victims can feel so confused. We all think our lives are what passes for normal, particularly with relationships and families,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;On the outside, a couple can look successful, with great careers, but the victim is going home to hell.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eventually, the victim loses all sense of who they are. &ldquo;Their abuser&rsquo;s voice takes over, and they can&rsquo;t speak with their own voice anymore,&rdquo; says Ryan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It can happen to anyone<br />\r\n	Two in five women have experienced some form of psychological violence by a current or previous partner, according to a recent report by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights. The findings were based on interviews with 42,000 women across 28 member states.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In this case, &ldquo;psychological violence&rdquo; includes controlling behaviour (for example, trying to keep a victim from seeing friends or visiting family), economic violence (such as forbidding a victim to work outside the home) and blackmail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of the 17,000-plus calls answered by domestic violence support service Women&rsquo;s Aid in 2013, two-thirds related to emotional abuse. Although the majority of victims are women, emotional abuse can happen to anyone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Margaret Martin, director of Women&rsquo;s Aid, says: &ldquo;Domestic violence, in any of its forms, cuts across any category you use to divide people up: age, culture, educational background, social class.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Emotional abuse can make shadows of the most intelligent women,&rdquo; she says. &ldquo;Women in very senior positions at work will feel like frauds because they&rsquo;ll come home and be treated so poorly.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to Don Hennessy of the Cork Marriage Counselling Centre and author of the book How He Gets into Her Head, the one thing all victims have in common is kindness. &ldquo;They have to be the type of person willing to put another person&rsquo;s needs before their own.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The first thing Hennessy asks someone seeking support at the counselling centre is: are you being blamed for things in your relationship? &ldquo;And the usual response is, &lsquo;Yes, I&rsquo;m blamed for everything.&rsquo; &rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He says abusers groom their partners to meet their needs from the start of a relationship. They usually have a sense of entitlement, a lack of empathy and the ability to manipulate.<br />\r\n	Something else abusers tend to be, according to Ryan, is charming. &ldquo;Friends and family will say, &lsquo;Wow, what an amazing partner.&rsquo; When everyone&rsquo;s telling you he&rsquo;s fantastic, you think he must be.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	How it starts<br />\r\n	Ryan says the relationship usually begins on a high note. &ldquo;It will start with charm, gifts, putting the person on a pedestal, wanting to know all about them.&rdquo; But things slowly change.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to Martin, one of the key facets of emotional abuse is isolation from friends and family. The abuser might also criticise what the victim is especially proud of, such as her parenting. &ldquo;That, combined with isolation from people who treat you with respect, will erode confidence. Then it becomes part of your normal.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the hallmark signs of a relationship like this is the feeling of walking on eggshells around the abuser.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Most victims will be forced to take responsibility for the emotional temperature of the relationship. If anything is slightly askew, she will take responsibility and he will blame her. The abuser makes his own behaviour her fault,&rdquo; Hennessy says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All of this is to gain control of a victim&rsquo;s instincts and intuition.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Getting help<br />\r\n	Victims often stay in broken relationships because they think they can make it better and hope the abusive behaviour will change.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The most important thing a victim can do initially, according to Martin, is talk to people. &ldquo;What gets them through it is the support of friends and family. When they begin to talk about it, they start making sense of it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And once a woman is safe, &ldquo;she is more than capable of recovering and living her own life&rdquo;, says Hennessy. &ldquo;Their self-esteem isn&rsquo;t actually gone; they&rsquo;ve just lost contact with it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Women&rsquo;s Aid national freephone helpline: 1-800-341900. helpline@womensaid.ie Amen confidential helpline for male victims of domestic abuse: 046-9023718.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/emotional-abuse-damage-despair-and-self-doubt-1.2021382?page=1\">https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/emotional-abuse-damage-despair-and-self-doubt-1.2021382?page=1</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-09 10:48:42',NULL,'emotional-abuse-case-study-‘if-i-had-stayed-longer-i-probably-would-have-ended-up-dead’'),(810,'How direct provision became a profitable business','<p>\r\n	Private firms have been the real beneficiaries of asylum system</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was introduced to meet the needs of vulnerable asylum seekers. But private firms, rather than those seeking refugee status, appear to have been the main beneficiaries of the direct provision system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In April 2000, the State decided to pay private contractors to provide accommodation for asylum seekers in hostels, hotels, convents, bed and breakfasts and mobile homes.<br />\r\n	Many of the companies providing food and shelter are large firms involved in the property, hospitality or catering business.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In all, there are 17 firms which receive about &euro;50 million a year to run 34 accommodation centres across the State, providing for about 4,000 asylum seekers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A glimpse inside their accounts show that many are highly profitable and have recorded six or even seven-figure pre-tax profits.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some larger companies have moved to shield their accounts from public scrutiny by creating unlimited companies, often with parent firms in off-shore jurisdictions. This means it is impossible to calculate how much money they are making from the system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But it is possible to paint a picture of the profitability of the companies that have not registered themselves as unlimited firms by combing through accounts filed with the Companies Office.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of companies with published accounts, Fazyard Ltd has the biggest accumulated profits: &euro;10.8 million.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is linked to three centres which provide accommodation for 500 asylum seekers in Emo, Co Laois, Clondalkin in Dublin and Georgian Court in Dublin&rsquo;s north inner city. The firm, owned by Co Wicklow businessman Sean Lyons, made a profit of almost &euro;800,000 in the year to the end of November last.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mosney Holidays<br />\r\n	The biggest recipient of public funding is Mosney Holidays plc, which has been paid more than &euro;100 million for accommodating up to 800 asylum seekers at the former Butlin&rsquo;s holiday resort in Co Meath.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Its last published accounts, in 2009, show accumulated profits at the end of the year of &euro;5.4 million. The following year it became an unlimited company and so does not publish its accounts. It is owned by an Isle of Man company called Sonning Unlimited.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During 2009, Mosney made a &euro;4,050 contribution to Fianna F&aacute;il, according to the accounts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One source involved in tendering for work said many of the contracts make significant sums of money because they are &ldquo;wrap around&rdquo; arrangements, where the service provider prices for a range of services under a single contact.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any firms contacted by The Irish Times have declined to comment. They are required to direct all media inquiries to the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA), a division of the Department of Justice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The agency insists that centres are obliged to meet high standards and are inspected regularly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All firms are required to go through a tendering process and are contractually obliged to have valid, current tax clearance certificates. The agency says it cannot provide details of individual contracts for commercial reasons.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, last year it provided figures which showed the average daily rate per person paid to private contractors ranges from &euro;15.50 in State-owned centres to &euro;29.49 at commercially- owned centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The direct provision rate for private operators is a single all-inclusive figure, which includes energy, maintenance, transport and Vat costs. By contrast, the State-owned rate does not include any of these costs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, the agency said it took a number of steps to ensure accommodation is of a high standard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;RIA constantly engages with its contractors to ensure that value for money is being achieved and that the contractor is complying with standards of accommodation, bed-usage, health and safety etc, as set out in contracts and in other legal provisions.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Complaints system<br />\r\n	The agency, however, says it has a complaints system across all centres to address concerns by residents. It says there are a minimum of three inspections per year, carried out by the agency or by a commercial firm, QTS Ltd, under contract to the agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The agency has acknowledged that inspection can only be a &ldquo;snapshot&rdquo; of the physical conditions in the building, but added that all issues brought to RIA&rsquo;s attention were investigated and remedied.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the small number of complaints suggest residents have little faith in a complaints process which is not independent of the State body providing accommodation in the first place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Many of the centres have been at the centre of high-profile protests by residents frustrated at both the conditions and length of stay in these centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/how-direct-provision-became-a-profitable-business-1.2030519\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/how-direct-provision-became-a-profitable-business-1.2030519</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-09 10:50:55',NULL,'how-direct-provision-became-a-profitable-business'),(811,'Undercover inspectors may be sent to care homes and creches','<p>\r\n	HSE chief Tony O&rsquo;Brien urges staff to &lsquo;blow the whistle&rsquo; on any instances of abuse</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Health Service Executive is considering sending undercover inspectors into creches and care homes to root out abuses by staff, according to its director general.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HSE staff who stood by while residents of a Co Mayo home for adults with intellectual disabilities were abused by their colleagues may be disciplined, Tony O&rsquo;Brien has also indicated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a letter to senior staff about the allegations of abuse at &Aacute;ras Attracta in Swinford, Mr O&rsquo;Brien said he was seriously considering disciplinary procedures against such staff over their apparent inaction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Brien said it appeared a number of staff members, who were not directly involved in the alleged abuse but were present throughout, &ldquo;merely stood by, said nothing and did nothing&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Worrying</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This was a worrying aspect of culture that he thought had been long left behind in the health service. Mr O&rsquo;Brien said the footage taken by an undercover reporter with RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s Investigations Unit had shocked and distressed senior HSE personnel to whom it was shown. &ldquo;While not wishing to pre-empt the outcome of any investigation, I have been told that the footage portrays practices, behaviours and attitudes that are simply not acceptable in the health services and should not and will not be tolerated.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Viewers who see the programme on Prime Time tonight would be shocked, he said, and families of the residents involved would be deeply concerned and upset. &ldquo;Staff members throughout the health service I have no doubt will, like me, feel utterly disappointed and betrayed by what they will see.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;While I may not always agree with the balance brought to health-related programmes by Primetime Investigates, it is clear that sending undercover workers/reporters into care settings has a certain value in exposing practices that otherwise may have continued for longer than it should. I have asked for the Social Care Division to discuss with me how the HSE can incorporate such an approach into our safeguarding and quality assurance process for settings where vulnerable adults and children are cared for.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Brien said it was even more disappointing that &Aacute;ras Attracta was the subject of a recent inspection report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa). All the recommendations had been implemented and the facility received favourable reports from the authority on subsequent inspection.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;And yet the footage to be shown by RT&Eacute; seems to indicate that unacceptable behaviour and attitudes towards residents in a unit within &Aacute;ras Attracta still continued.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Suspended</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Nine staff at the home have been suspended since the allegations came to light and an investigation under an independent chairman has been ordered. The garda&iacute; are also investigating.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Brien urged staff to &ldquo;blow the whistle&rdquo; on any instance of misconduct, disrespect or abuse towards residents they might witness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&Aacute;ras Attracta accommodates almost 100 people with intellectual disabilities. This followed a Hiqa report which found non-compliance with care standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/undercover-inspectors-may-be-sent-to-care-homes-and-creches-1.2030552\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/undercover-inspectors-may-be-sent-to-care-homes-and-creches-1.2030552</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-09 10:58:49',NULL,'undercover-inspectors-may-be-sent-to-care-homes-and-creches'),(812,'Varadkar backs use of undercover abuse investigations','<p>\r\n	&Aacute;ras Attracta patient abuse responsibility goes &lsquo;to top&rsquo; of HSE</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Health Leo Varadkar has backed the use of undercover investigations to identify possible abuse of patients in care units.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the &Aacute;ras Attracta facility in Co Mayo, which is at the centre of controversy over the treatment of residents, had been inspected by the health and safety watchdog Hiqa.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said recommendations made by Hiqa on the unit had been implemented.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;So obviously the existing systems are not good enough. It is sad that we have to do it, but the only way to satisfy ourselves that this is not happening in other places is to have our own undercover inspections.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister said that some staff groups may not like this idea but he thought &ldquo;it has to be done&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Responsibility for the mistreatment of residents at a Co Mayo home for people with intellectual disabilities goes &ldquo;right up&rdquo; to the top of the Health Service Executive, according to a special needs group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think the HSE at higher levels can abdicate responsibility and just put full blame on those staff. The buck does not stop with the people on the ground,&rdquo; says Lorraine Dempsey of the Special Needs Parents Association, who has viewed the footage of an RT&Eacute; documentary on &Aacute;ras Attracta to be aired tonight.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;People with disabilities in these institutional settings have been hidden. For decades, this is one of these historic legacies which is a scandal that Ireland yet again is choosing to just keep down.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The programme, to be broadcast on Prime Time tonight, shows scenes of residents at the Swinford home being slapped, force-fed, roughly handled and abused.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Nine staff have been suspended over the allegations, which are being investigated by garda&iacute;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other experts contributing to the programme unequivocally describe the secretly filmed scenes from the home as abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve seen footage like this before but to be frank, it&rsquo;s from Eastern Europe, not Ireland and I feel ashamed about this,&rdquo; says Prof Gerard Quinn, director of the centre for disability law in NUI Galway.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s a relationship of threats and physical force. . . What a horrible environment. It&rsquo;s as if the person&rsquo;s being treated as invisible, as a non-person and when she tries to become visible is pushed back. It&rsquo;s very, very troubling footage.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prof Quinn describes footage of a resident being slapped as &ldquo;mind-boggling in this day and age.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I am absolutely stuck for words,&rdquo; says Prof Owen Barr, head of the school of nursing, University of Ulster.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s entirely unacceptable that individual members of staff behave in this way, equally unacceptable that an organisation could have a facility that behaves like this, and them not know about it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the programme, relatives of the three women express their shock and disbelief that such treatment could be meted out to their own &ldquo;flesh and blood&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/varadkar-backs-use-of-undercover-abuse-investigations-1.2031151\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/varadkar-backs-use-of-undercover-abuse-investigations-1.2031151</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-10 10:08:04',NULL,'varadkar-backs-use-of-undercover-abuse-investigations'),(813,'Hiqa chief says Ãras Attracta documentary depicts ‘evil acts’','<p>\r\n	Minister of State Kathleen Lynch &lsquo;shocked and distressed&rsquo; by poor standards of care</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A documentary showing staff mistreating residents at a Co Mayo centre for adults with intellectual disabilities depicts &ldquo;evil acts&rdquo;, the chief executive of the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) has said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Phelim Quinn denied Hiqa, which is responsible for monitoring standards in such facilities, had failed in the case of &Aacute;ras Attracta but said he was &ldquo;appalled&rdquo; such behaviour could occur in a centre housing &ldquo;probably some of the most vulnerable in our society&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The RT&Eacute; documentary about the centre in Swinford, Co Mayo, shows scenes of vulnerable female residents being force-fed, slapped, roughly handled, abused and compelled to stay in a chair for hours on end.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Nine staff at the home have been suspended as a result of the conduct, which was secretly filmed by an undercover journalist for the RT&Eacute; Investigations Unit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Mr Quinn said Hiqa had in February raised concerns about the standard of care at the home and described it as &ldquo;verging on abusive&rdquo; in a report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	He said the HSE, the primary care provider, subsequently put in new management arrangements and convinced Hiqa the systems in place ensured better protection for residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	There might have been an initial response by HSE but it was not &ldquo;sustained&rdquo; and did necessarily extend to &ldquo;all elements of that service&rdquo;, Mr Quinn told RT&Eacute; Morning Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The training for staff was in place but he believed adequate assessment of the impact of that training was not.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Mr Quinn added: &ldquo;The key issue for us as an inspectorate is that we when we are there will never see staff behaving like that. The way in which those sorts of things can be detected is when good systems are in place - supervision systems, good training and the assessment of the impact of that training.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	He said the documentary showed &ldquo;evil acts behind closed doors&rdquo; that no inspector would be able to see.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I believe there were people there who probably witnessed these sorts of behaviours and we need to encourage people absolutely to tell others about what it is they are witnessing so that these sorts of behaviours can be stopped.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	HSE director general Tony O&rsquo;Brien has proposed sending inspectors undercover into creches and care homes to root out abuses by staff. Minister for Health Leo Varadkar backed the idea but said &ldquo;it is sad that we have to do it&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Mr Quinn said he would not rule out such a move and said he agreed with the practice if it was done in a dignified manner.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Minister of State for Primary Care Kathleen Lynch said she was &ldquo;shocked and distressed&rdquo; by the &ldquo;extremely poor and unacceptable standards of care and mistreatment of vulnerable residents in &Aacute;ras Attracta&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;Every person who uses disability services is entitled to expect and receive supports of the highest standard and to live in an atmosphere of safety and care,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Ms Lynch said the allegations were very disturbing and needed to be fully investigated. She welcomed the immediate response of the HSE to alert garda&iacute; and Hiqa and the decision to put a number of staff off-duty while the allegations are being investigated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She said she had been fully briefed by the HSE and requested &ldquo;all appropriate resources should be put in place to ensure that the safety and care of residents at &Aacute;ras Attracta is maintained at the highest possible standard&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation described the programme as harrowing and said members of its registered nurse in intellectual disability section were meeting for professional development and training in Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hiqa-chief-says-%C3%A1ras-attracta-documentary-depicts-evil-acts-1.2032552\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/hiqa-chief-says-%C3%A1ras-attracta-documentary-depicts-evil-acts-1.2032552</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-10 10:17:33',NULL,'hiqa-chief-says-ãras-attracta-documentary-depicts-‘evil-acts’'),(814,'Ãras Attracta scandal due to ‘accepted culture of abuse’','<p>\r\n	The sister of a woman who suffered sustained verbal and physical threats at &Aacute;ras Attracta says the scandal has nothing to do with cutbacks and everything to do with &quot;an accepted culture&quot; of abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sheila Ryan, whose 65-year-old sister, Mary Garvan, featured prominently in last night&rsquo;s Prime Time on RT&Eacute;, hit out at any excuses put forward by officials after being faced with what her sister has had to endure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking on RT&Eacute; Radio&rsquo;s Today with Sean O&rsquo;Rourke after she asked to be interviewed in response to clams the issues are due to staff shortages, Ms Ryan said regardless of worker numbers her relative was treated like she &ldquo;didn&rsquo;t have any rights&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said her sister had been at the home for 20 years and in institutional care since the age of seven because, &ldquo;in those days, there were no services&rdquo; for people with intellectual disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Ryan said her family believed Mary was receiving the care she needed at &Aacute;ras Attracta, even after the death of another relative in 2012 in circumstances now being investigated by garda&iacute;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the covert footage of the abuse Mary suffered &mdash; which included being kicked, threatened, and prevented from going to the bathroom &mdash; was something Ms Ryan said never expected to see &ldquo;in the 21st century&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This is about an accepted culture of abuse,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We heard about institutional abuse in the past, you&rsquo;d think we&rsquo;d have learned from it. These are people from the 21st century. It&rsquo;s inexcusable, absolutely inexcusable.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the days since the HSE became aware of the RT&Eacute; expose, Ms Ryan said she has been contacted by &ldquo;various managers assuring us they will do this, that, and the other&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, she said that until less emphasis was put on cutbacks and more on &ldquo;setting out a culture&rdquo; of care for vulnerable people, she was not confident changes would take hold.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The &Aacute;ras Attracta website says now that &euro;1.2m has been put aside for a national action plan for no abuse,&rdquo; said Ms Ryan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Why only now, what have the managers done? The buck stops at management level.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking on last night&rsquo;s programme, NUI Galway&rsquo;s director of the centre for disability law and policy, Gerard Quinn, mirrored Ms Ryan&rsquo;s anger, saying: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s a relationship of threats and physical force. I&rsquo;ve seen footage like this before but, to be frank, it&rsquo;s from eastern Europe, it&rsquo;s not from Ireland, and I feel ashamed about this.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Covert inspections of facilities possible</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health Minister Leo Varadkar may send in undercover inspectors to find out the true scale of institutional abuse in health facilities, after admitting the current system is failing to protect those in care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking as RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s shocking expose into what is happening at the &Aacute;ras Attracta home for people with intellectual disabilities was broadcast last night, the minister said the footage showed serious problems were being missed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In July, state watchdog the Health Information Quality Authority (Hiqa) gave the HSE-run facility in Swinford, Co Mayo, a clean bill of health after previously raising concerns over its care. However, in 200 hours of covert footage by an undercover RT&Eacute; reporter and a secret camera in late October and early November, the broadcaster found:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	- Women aged 53 to 75 with severe intellectual disabilities kicked, hit with keys, dragged across the floor and sat on by a senior male manager;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	- The same residents being told &ldquo;nobody wants you&rdquo;, kicked when they needed to go to the bathroom, and threatened when they didn&rsquo;t sit in a seat properly, which involved pointing their head down and facing the wall;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	- And staff joking about a former colleague who &ldquo;you&rsquo;d be afraid of&rdquo; because she &ldquo;reported everything&rdquo;. They said it &ldquo;worked against her&rdquo; as &ldquo;she&rsquo;s not here&rdquo; any more.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The incidents &mdash; which have caused outrage nationwide and led to separate HSE, Hiqa, and Garda investigations into the scandal &mdash; were confined to one of four units in the facility.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, Mr Varadkar said the clear inference from the footage and the fact it was not uncovered by Hiqa inspections was that the existing system was not ensuring the safety of vulnerable people and that undercover inspectors may now be needed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Obviously the existing systems are not good enough. It is sad that we have to do it, but the only way to satisfy ourselves that this is not happening in other places is to have our own undercover inspections,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the potential move appeared to be backed by HSE director general, Tony O&rsquo;Brien, Hiqa&rsquo;s chief executive, Phelim Quinn, said it may pose more problems than it solves.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The senior official said such covert operations may prevent successful cases being taken in court against perpetrators, and could impact on the &ldquo;dignity and privacy&rdquo; of residents at facilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under existing checks, just 2% of the country&rsquo;s facilities for people with intellectual disabilities are meeting clearly set out standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, despite the HSE launching its own investigation and Mr O&rsquo;Brien explaining he and others should feel &ldquo;betrayed&rdquo; by the abuse in an email to all HSE workers, patient group Inclusion Ireland has said the HSE cannot be trusted to oversee the inquiry.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Psychiatric Nurses Association&rsquo;s national secretary, Noel Giblin, who worked at Aras Attracta from 2005 to 2010, said he was &ldquo;shocked and appalled&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, he claimed the problems were &ldquo;management&rdquo; who told him residents were &ldquo;the dregs of society&rdquo; and staff shortages, despite RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s footage showing adequate staff levels.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Enda Kenny told the D&aacute;il that criminal charges could follow the RT&Eacute; expose of the care home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kenny said the idea that people with intellectual disabilities could be slapped or sat on is &ldquo;utterly intolerable and unacceptable to us.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Taoiseach said he greeted the news about the care home with a feeling of &ldquo;dread and anger&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kenny was responding to questioning from Sinn F&eacute;in&rsquo;s Caoimhgh&iacute;n &Oacute; Caol&aacute;in, who said he had a family member with an intellectual disability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This behaviour has got to be rooted out once and for all. It isn&rsquo;t only about &Aacute;ras Attracta. This is not an isolated incident,&rdquo; Mr &Oacute; Caol&aacute;in said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/aras-attracta-scandal-due-to-accepted-culture-of-abuse-301751.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/aras-attracta-scandal-due-to-accepted-culture-of-abuse-301751.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-10 10:19:39',NULL,'ãras-attracta-scandal-due-to-‘accepted-culture-of-abuse’'),(815,'Qualified nurses among Ãras Attracta staff taken off duty','<p>\r\n	Staff include clinical nurse manager who sat on resident in Prime Time footage</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most of the staff who have been taken off duty at the Co Mayo disability centre featured in this week&rsquo;s Prime Time television programme are qualified nurses and care assistants.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The RT&Eacute; programme showed undercover footage of residents at &Aacute;ras Attracta in Swinford being mistreated by staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eleven individuals are &ldquo;no longer on duty&rdquo;, but are being paid as a result of the footage recorded in the centre for adults with intellectual disabilities within the past month and a half. Nine are Health Service Executive staff who have worked at &Aacute;ras Attracta for a minimum of eight years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Force-feeding<br />\r\n	The Prime Time programme, which focused on the treatment of three women living in the residential facility, included footage of a staff member pinning down and force-feeding a resident, as well as instances of staff members slapping and kicking residents and pushing them into chairs and to the ground.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The most senior person taken off duty after the footage had been collected, but before the programme aired, was a clinical nurse manager seen sitting on one of the residents in the RT&Eacute; programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The individual was in charge of Bungalow 3, where the bulk of the footage was recorded, and another bungalow at the facility.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to pay scales published on the HSE website, the position of clinical nurse manager attracts a salary of between &euro;43,288 and &euro;61,491, depending on grade and length of service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Trained staff<br />\r\n	Four of the other individuals taken off duty are trained staff nurses, three of whom are understood to be registered nurses in intellectual disability nursing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the nurses who featured in the footage was based in bungalow 3 over a period of years, while two other nurses also worked in other units in the facility. It is understood the fourth staff nurse, who did not work in bungalow 3, was taken off duty as a result of footage recorded in a separate unit, bungalow 4, although this footage did not appear in the final programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the HSE&rsquo;s published pay scales, the role of registered intellectual disability nurse has salaries of between &euro;27,211 and &euro;43,800, depending on length of service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood the remaining staff taken off duty were acting as care assistants.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokeswoman for the HSE said one care assistant holds a masters degree while three others are Fetac Level 5 trained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The spokeswoman said an investigation was under way which would inform what disciplinary action, if any, would be taken against the 11 individuals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo; Disciplinary action cannot be taken in advance of an investigation being completed,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/qualified-nurses-among-%C3%A1ras-attracta-staff-taken-off-duty-1.2033254\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/qualified-nurses-among-%C3%A1ras-attracta-staff-taken-off-duty-1.2033254</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-11 09:57:46',NULL,'qualified-nurses-among-ãras-attracta-staff-taken-off-duty'),(816,'State watchdog: move asylum-seeking families from direct provision','<p>\r\n	Commission says system fails to safeguard rights of children and parents</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Asylum-seeking families should be moved out of the direct provision system and allowed to access self-catering accommodation as soon as possible, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission has urged.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a new policy paper, the State body tasked with protecting human rights has expressed alarm at the length of time people seeking refugee status are spending in the asylum system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than 4,000 asylum seekers &ndash; including 1,600 children &ndash; have spent an average of four years living in direct provision. Many have challenged refusals to recognise them as refugees and are waiting for their cases to be heard in the courts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The commission has issued 10 recommendations aimed at informing the work of a new Government working group which is reviewing the direct provision system. Among its key proposals are:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	l Asylum seekers who have not yet received a decision on their status &ndash; on either first instance or appeal &ndash; should be allowed work and access regular social welfare benefits if they have been living in direct provision for a period of between six and nine months;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	l The State should consider giving leave to remain to asylum seekers whose deportation orders cannot be implemented, while it should give &ldquo;serious consideration&rdquo; to settling legal cases which are subject to long delays;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	l Residents should have the right to prepare and cook food appropriate to their culture, diet and individual needs during time spent in the direct provision system;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	l The weekly allowance for asylum seekers &ndash; now &euro;19.10 for adults and &euro;9.60 for children &ndash; should be increased to a &ldquo;realistic amount&rdquo; that ensures dignity, respect and autonomy for individuals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Many of the commission&rsquo;s proposals are at odds with the views of Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Right to work<br />\r\n	While she has acknowledged the need for reforms to the wider system, Ms Fitzgerald has ruled out providing employment rights for asylum seekers or an amnesty for those in the system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald&rsquo;s colleague Aodh&aacute;n &Oacute; Riord&aacute;in, Minister of State at the Department of Justice, however, supports extending employment rights to asylum seekers after a period of time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ireland is one of two EU states that prohibits asylum seekers from working, regardless of how long then spend in the asylum system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Emily Logan, chief commissioner, said the aim of the commission&rsquo;s policy statement was to add the voice of the commission to the existing body of evidence around people living within the direct provision system for long periods of time.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;It is the commission&rsquo;s view that the system of direct provision is not in the best interests of children, has a significant impact on the right to family life and has failed to adequately protect the rights of those seeking protection in Ireland,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If the current system continues to be used, it should be only for the shortest possible time, in keeping with human dignity and autonomy and in accordance with the highest safeguards of rights.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Even though private companies operate the accommodation centres for asylum seekers, she said the commission&rsquo;s recommendations focused on the &ldquo;State&rsquo;s accountability as duty bearer, answerable for the observance of human rights&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	A Government working group chaired by former High Court judge Bryan McMahon is reviewing the operation of the direct provision system. It is due to issue a report by next Easter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Mr &Oacute; R&iacute;ord&aacute;in said the group&rsquo;s proposals offered the possibility of creating a more humane and efficient system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/state-watchdog-move-asylum-seeking-families-from-direct-provision-1.2033227\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/state-watchdog-move-asylum-seeking-families-from-direct-provision-1.2033227</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-11 11:17:08',NULL,'state-watchdog-move-asylum-seeking-families-from-direct-provision'),(817,'Reilly ‘confident’ over mother and baby home inquiry','<p>\r\n	Children&rsquo;s minister James Reilly has said he is &ldquo;confident&rdquo; the planned mother and baby home inquiry will have the support of &ldquo;those most centrally involved&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking to the select sub-committee on health and children yesterday, Mr Reilly said &ldquo;good progress&rdquo; was being made towards establishing the inquiry and that the terms of reference should be ready for publication before Christmas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The children&rsquo;s minister said the inter-departmental group on mother and baby homes had met again recently and has considered a number of specific issues which have been raised by a range of advocacy groups.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Reilly said that while some of the issues raised were beyond the main focus of the inquiry, it would be as &ldquo;inclusive as possible&rdquo; in a &ldquo;timely and cost-effective way&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I am confident we can establish an effective inquiry which has the support of those most centrally involved. My priority remains the establishment of a commission that can deliver on public expectations by providing a full account of what happened in these homes,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The children&rsquo;s minister acknowledged the &ldquo;potential scale of this investigation&rdquo; and said he had already signalled to government that &ldquo;significant additional resources&rdquo; would be required by the commission and a range of departments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A range of advocacy groups have met with Dr Reilly in recent weeks, with most describing the talks as positive, but warning that the inquiry needed to be as wide as possible to achieve any degree of support.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Co-founder of the Adoption Rights Alliance, Claire McGettrick said any inquiry which ignored the wider issues of illegal and forced adoptions and which did not include all of the institutions involved in such practices was &ldquo;destined for failure&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Paul Redmond, of the Coalition of Mother And Baby Home Survivors, said the inquiry must include all institutions and must address the criminality of illegal adoptions and associated practices.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Bethany Survivors&rsquo; Campaign have expressed concern that while the Bethany Home will be included in the inquiry, it was clear to them the experiences of children &mdash; while in these institutions and after they left &mdash; would be excluded.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The department has refused to be drawn on whether or not the inquiry will investigate the scale of vaccine trials carried out on children in mother and baby homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This comes after the Irish Examiner revealed a previously unknown fifth trial was carried out on children here in the 1960s. The Department of Health has said it has &ldquo;no information&rdquo; on where, or in what institution, the trial took place, while Minister Reilly has not made contact with GlaxoSmithKline in relation to the revelations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/reilly-confident-over-mother-and-baby-home-inquiry-301943.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/reilly-confident-over-mother-and-baby-home-inquiry-301943.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-11 11:18:23',NULL,'reilly-‘confident’-over-mother-and-baby-home-inquiry'),(818,'Child sexual abuse searches cut by Google changes','<p>\r\n	Looking for images of abuse down five-fold after search engine alterations, conference told</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Changes to Google&rsquo;s search engine has led to a five-fold reduction in searches for images of child sexual abuse, a major London conference has been told.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ministers, including Ireland&rsquo;s Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald, police forces and internet giants signed an undertaking on Thursday to co-operate to remove images from the internet and identify and protect victims. Images identified by the Internet Watch Foundation will be blocked by major technology companies, including Facebook, Microsoft, Google, Twitter and Yahoo.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Blocking restrictions<br />\r\n	Meanwhile, Microsoft, Google and Mozilla are investigating &ldquo;browser-level blocking restrictions&rdquo; to prevent users accessing weblinks of known child abuse material via Internet Explorer, Chrome and Firefox.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Google changes were introduced a year ago and have been rolled out to all of its language services. People who put in any of 100,000 search permutations for abuse images face warnings that they are breaking the law, and are encouraged to get help.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although the fall in search numbers is welcomed, the majority of searches for child abuse occur on &ldquo;the Dark Web&rdquo;, which hosts thousands of websites that use anonymity tools to hide their address.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald welcomed the internet companies&rsquo; cooperation.&ldquo;Nobody wants these vile images,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/child-sexual-abuse-searches-cut-by-google-changes-1.2034980\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/child-sexual-abuse-searches-cut-by-google-changes-1.2034980</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-12 10:08:24',NULL,'child-sexual-abuse-searches-cut-by-google-changes'),(819,'\'We pray for suspended staff of Aras Attracta who have received death threats\'','<p>\r\n	Family of abused resident Mary Garvan issue statement to say everyone is innocent until proven guilty</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Family members of a resident in a care home at the centre of a Prime Time investigation have spoken out in defence of staff who have been suspended - and who have since received death threats.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE-run Aras Attracta in Swinford, Co Mayo was the subject of an undercover investigation which made allegations of appalling treatment of residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sheila Ryan, sister of 65-year-old Mary Garvan, who moved to the centre 20 years ago, released a statement today on behalf of her family.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We heard that there were headlines in the papers that death threats had been made on those suspended from the Aras Attracta home in Co Mayo,&quot; read the statement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We want due process, we want the investigation including a garda investigation to proceed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We want those suspended allowed due process and the opportunity to tell their side of the story and explain their actions. We want them to be given the time and space to do that.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We want to thank very sincerely the may carers and professionals who are today and have been in the past working quietly and professionally in Aras Attracta. They deserve our support our encouragement our appreciation and our thanks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We want them to know that they are doing a good job in a difficult profession.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and we believe that that those suspended should be afforded the time to tell their side of the story.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Finally, and most importantly, our thoughts and prayers are with all of those on suspension. They have families and relatives too and we know they are all suffering.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We want them treated fairly and with respect.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The Garvan family believe that forgiveness is the way forward.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/we-pray-for-suspended-staff-of-aras-attracta-who-have-received-death-threats-30822705.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/we-pray-for-suspended-staff-of-aras-attracta-who-have-received-death-threats-30822705.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-12 10:10:58',NULL,'we-pray-for-suspended-staff-of-aras-attracta-who-have-received-death-threats'),(820,'Health watchdog under pressure over detention units for children','<p>\r\n	The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) has said that HIQA needs to be more prompt in the publishing of reports into child detention centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Deirdre Malone, the executive director of the IPRT, said that the last report they saw from the watchdog was 13 months ago, in November 2013. She added that the inspection which that particular report was based upon had been carried out months earlier, in July 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was speaking yesterday after the &#39;Children&#39;s Rights Behind Bars: Where are we now?&#39; conference in Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;An important point about the HIQA report is that those reports on child detention schools are supposed to be annual.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;And the last HIQA report we saw, the inspection took place in June 2013, and the report was published in November 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We have seen no published report since then,&quot; Ms Malone said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that while they are satisfied that the watchdog is in place and is active, the reports they produce need to be issued more promptly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There is a watchdog and it is HIQA, but unless HIQA publishes their report and tells us what they found, then we don&#39;t know what is happening,&quot; she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Malone also said that the standards of inspection at the child detention centres were set over a decade ago, and they believe that they need to be revisited and revised.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;What we are saying is that those standards were formulated in 2004, so we would say that it is time for them to be reviewed to ensure that they reflect current best practice.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The current Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald announced over two years ago that the practice of the imprisonment of children would end.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are currently three children&#39;s detention centres in Ireland - Oberstown Girls School, Oberstown Boys School and Trinity House School, all located on the same campus in Lusk, north Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the latest figures released on Tuesday reveal that there are currently 21 boys aged 17-years-old being held in prison. Eight of these boys are on remand in St Patrick&#39;s Institution and 13 are being held under sentence in Wheatfield Place of detention.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The IPRT have described these settings as &quot;an environment and regime wholly inappropriate for their needs&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A report from the European &#39;Children&#39;s Rights Behind Bars&#39; organisation was also discussed at yesterday&#39;s forum, which also raised concerns about the suitability of detention centres for children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/health-watchdog-under-pressure-over-detention-units-for-children-30825756.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/health-watchdog-under-pressure-over-detention-units-for-children-30825756.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-12 10:17:19',NULL,'health-watchdog-under-pressure-over-detention-units-for-children'),(821,'Summit to discuss abuse allegations at Aras Attracta','<p>\r\n	The HSE will host a &quot;national summit for disabilities&quot; today, at which senior personnel will outline the measures that have been taken to address the evidence of alleged abuse at Aras Attracta in Swinford, Co Mayo.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister of State with responsibility for Primary and Social Care Kathleen Lynch will also address the summit at Dublin&#39;s Aviva Stadium along with representatives from Department of Health and the Health Information and Quality Authority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This evening, senior HSE officials are appearing before a D&aacute;il Committee to discuss the treatment of people with intellectual disabilities in care centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Chairman of the Oireachtas Health Committee, Jerry Buttimer, says it is important to restore trust in care services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We must ensure that changes will be made to ensure that the required standards of care can be given to people,</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Secondly that steps are taken to restore the trust amongst the wider public, and the families and those who need and use the facilities, and thirdly with wider society in how services are being provided in residential care settings.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added: &quot;Our committee are looking at the whole issue of intellectual disability; the meeting today is a first step on our discussion and on our piece of work around the issue of intellectual disability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We very much welcome the fact that the HSE have issued an apology and have promised an investigation [will] take place - but we as the committee&hellip; [are] charged with holding the HSE to account believe it&#39;s the first of a focused review of the treatment in congregated settings that will take place.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/summit-to-discuss-abuse-allegations-at-aras-attracta-654733.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/summit-to-discuss-abuse-allegations-at-aras-attracta-654733.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-16 10:58:44',NULL,'summit-to-discuss-abuse-allegations-at-aras-attracta'),(822,'Two deaths a day linked to drugs','<p>\r\n	The number of drug users who have died by hanging has more than doubled over the last nine years, official figures show.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than half of all such hangings and other trauma deaths, including drownings and falls, involved people with a mental illness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A report by the Health Research Board shows that more than a third of addicts who died directly from the toxic effects of drugs (poisonings) also had a history of mental illness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HRB chief executive Graham Love said there were 633 drug-related deaths in 2012, averaging out at almost two per day. He said this was four times the number of road deaths in 2012 (162).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The National Drug-Related Deaths Index 2012 figures show there were 350 poisonings and 283 non-poisoning deaths, including trauma and medical causes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The index, for the first time, highlighted the relationship between drug deaths and mental health.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Our data shows that one in three people who died had a history of mental illness and this rose to one in every two deaths when you look at trauma alone,&rdquo; said Ena Lynn, HRB researcher.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Figures show:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	- More than half of 138 trauma deaths (52%) involved people with a mental illness;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	- 72 of the deaths were hangings, up from 53 in 2010 and 30 in 2004;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	- Half of all trauma deaths were people aged 29 or younger (13 aged between 15-19 and 17 aged 20-24);</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	- Of the 350 poisoning deaths, 129 (37%) involved people with a history of mental illness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Lynn said cannabis and cocaine were the most common drugs used by those who hanged themselves. Colleague Suzi Lyons said it was rare that cannabis was implicated by coroners in leading to the deaths.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;One thing that strikes me is the preponderance of mental health problems in these deaths,&rdquo; said Eamon Keenan, consultant psychiatrist in substance misuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the 2006 mental health blueprint, Vision for Change, had recommended placing addiction services outside mental health.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;That is being revisited and should be revisited, because this shows that mental health problems are significantly associated with substance misuse,&rdquo; said Dr Keenan. &ldquo;The Government needs to recognise that.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Citywide Drugs Crisis Campaign said the findings were &ldquo;stark evidence&rdquo; of the need for greater co-ordination between mental health and addiction services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There&rsquo;s a huge chasm between mental health services and addiction services,&rdquo; said Citywide co-ordinator Joan Byrne. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s extremely difficult to access mental health services if you have an addiction issue.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A HSE spokeswoman said suicide preventative strategies included &ldquo;encouraging those experiencing emotional difficulties to seek help, ensuring that appropriate help is available in a timely and appropriate manner and empowering communities to support those who are experiencing emotional difficulties&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the National Office for Suicide Prevention&rsquo;s campaign, Little Things, signposts people to a one-stop-shop for mental health, www.yourmentalhealth.ie and the Samaritans freephone number 116123.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/two-deaths-a-day-linked-to-drugs-302735.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/two-deaths-a-day-linked-to-drugs-302735.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-16 11:00:10',NULL,'two-deaths-a-day-linked-to-drugs'),(823,'Ms Y in legal challenge to HSE inquiry into her care','<p>\r\n	The woman at the centre of a recent abortion controversy wants to halt a Health Services Executive (HSE) inquiry into the care provided to her by state agencies, the High Court has heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The woman - who can only be referred to as Ms Y for legal reasons - is an asylum seeker who suffers from a medical condition and has been described as being &quot;extremely vulnerable&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Y arrived in Ireland last March. Shortly afterwards she discovered she was pregnant after being raped in her home country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She sought an abortion, on the grounds of feeling suicidal, under the 2013 Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But despite seeing a number of agencies, the pregnancy was well advanced by the time her case was assessed by a three-doctor panel.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Y&#39;s baby was delivered, against her initial wishes, at around 26 weeks by Caesarean section and the infant is now in state care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday, High Court judge Mr Justice Seamus Noonan granted a temporary stay on an inquiry set up by the HSE until January next, when the matter returns to the High Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE inquiry was set up to examine the response of the State and other agencies and determine why her case under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act was delayed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Y&#39;s lawyers yesterday told Judge Noonan the manner in which the HSE inquiry has been conducted - which she has been unable to participate in due to her ill health - has breached her rights to fair procedures and constitutional justice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In proceedings against the HSE, she wants an order halting the inquiry, which commenced last August.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She has also sought an order quashing a draft report concerning her case, which it is claimed was &quot;leaked to media&quot; last September.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her senior counsel, Richard Kean, said the draft order was put together in the absence of his client being interviewed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Due to her vulnerable condition she was unable to be interviewed. She should have been interviewed to ascertain her version of events before any report was compiled, it has been argued.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kean said the leak of the draft report, the contents of which were featured in both print and broadcast media, had &quot;compounded her illness,&quot; and had breached her rights, including her right to privacy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The lawyer said Ms Y was also unhappy that the four-person inquiry team appointed by the HSE was composed of individuals who were or had been in the past employees of the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This gave rise to an apprehension of &quot;bias&quot;, said Mr Kean.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Permission to bring the case was granted, on an ex parte (one-side only represented).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The matter will return to the High Court next month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/ms-y-in-legal-challenge-to-hse-inquiry-into-her-care-30839853.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/ms-y-in-legal-challenge-to-hse-inquiry-into-her-care-30839853.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-16 11:07:14',NULL,'ms-y-in-legal-challenge-to-hse-inquiry-into-her-care'),(824,'Domestic abuse increases at Christmas, warns charity','<p>\r\n	Christmas is a time of intimidation, cruelty, and &ldquo;sudden flashes of violence&rdquo; for many women, according to a leading domestic violence support agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Women&rsquo;s Aid also said children are used as &ldquo;pawns&rdquo; by abusive men during what should be a time of joy for them and their mothers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said it had already received calls saying the extra stress of Christmas was triggering more frequent and more severe domestic abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it urged women in such situations to make contact via its 24-hour helpline and asked the public for donations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Margaret Martin, the director of Woman&rsquo;s Aid, said: &ldquo;For most of us, Christmas is a time for celebration and for making happy memories. It is about reconnecting with friends and family and above all taking time out to relax at home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;But for many women contacting us recently, the reality of Christmas is far from what it should be. It is a time of hurt, fear, intimidation, intentional cruelty and sudden flashes of violence directed at them and their children.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said women ringing Women&rsquo;s Aid&rsquo;s helpline were also disclosing that children were being directly abused and were witnessing the abuse at home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that often the abusive man deliberately targeted the children and their hopes for Christmas in order to hurt them and their mother. She added that abuse by ex-partners was also very prevalent during the festive period.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Abusive men can use the holidays to threaten the well-being of children, using them as pawns in control and intimidation during what should be a time of joy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Just because it is the festive season, it doesn&rsquo;t mean that physical, emotional, sexual, and financial abuse goes away.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Many women will work very hard to maintain the status quo, to keep some semblance of normality for their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is often in the aftermath of December 25 that we receive more calls from women, who are living in fear of assault or having taking steps to leave the relationship, suddenly find themselves and their children homeless and without means.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Martin said the helpline received, on average, 47 calls each day.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We hear from women throughout the year who face a constant threat to their physical and emotional well-being,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Our response is vital and we are committed to answering as many calls as we can. We need to continue to give women the support they need, when they need it, to escape abusive relationships.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	You can donate at www.womensaid.ie/donate or by sending donations to 5 Wilton Place, Dublin 2.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	National freephone helpline: 1800 341 900, 10am to 10pm, seven days a week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/domestic-abuse-increases-at-christmas-warns-charity-302869.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/domestic-abuse-increases-at-christmas-warns-charity-302869.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-17 10:18:58',NULL,'domestic-abuse-increases-at-christmas-warns-charity'),(825,'HSE appoints disability activist to hear abuse claims','<p>\r\n	Kathleen Lynch announces creation of body, separate to Hiqa, to examine care centres</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Health Service Executive has appointed a prominent disability rights campaigner to act as a confidential recipient of abuse allegations in care homes.<br />\r\n	HSE director general Tony O&rsquo;Brien said Leigh Gath had agreed to take up the post, which is being created in the wake of the &Aacute;ras Attracta scandal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Gath, who describes herself as disability activist and Thalidomide survivor, will act as a confidential recipient for whistleblowers, staff and residents, in relation to safeguarding issues and allegations of abuse, negligence or other mistreatment in HSE-funded services for vulnerable people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE is also tendering for advice on how covert surveillance could be carried out in residential home environments in order to guard against the type of abuse uncovered at the Co Mayo home for people with intellectual disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Separately, Minister for Primary and Social Care Kathleen Lynch has announced the creation of a body to examine residential care centres for people with intellectual disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The body, to be established immediately, will act separately from the Health Information and Quality Authority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Both Minister Lynch and Mr O&rsquo;Brien this morning addressed a meeting of more than 200 people from the residential care sector, convened by the HSE to discuss what action to take on foot of the &Aacute;ras Attracta scandal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Brien said that without the undercover reporter and covert filming carried out for the RT&Eacute; documentary on &Aacute;ras Attracta, no-one would know what was going on there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Thirteen staff have been suspended after the programme showed nurses and care assistants slapping, force-feeding and manhandling three residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Brien pointed out that the undercover reporter had difficulty observing negative behaviour by staff and it was only when a hidden camera was placed inside a rucksack in Bungalow 3 that this was recorded.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the HSE would be opening its doors to advocates to ensure a repeat occurrence was avoided.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He defended the appointment of Christy Lynch of Kare to investigate the disciplinary aspects of the affair, against criticism that Mr Lynch&rsquo;s business is largely funded by the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Brien said this investigation was examining the disciplinary implications alone and was separate from the wider review which has been commissioned.<br />\r\n	Ms Lynch told the meeting she could not guarantee similar behaviour was not going on in other areas but expressed the hope that proposals would emerge from it to strengthen oversight in the sector.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/hse-appoints-disability-activist-to-hear-abuse-claims-1.2039578\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/hse-appoints-disability-activist-to-hear-abuse-claims-1.2039578</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-17 10:27:29',NULL,'hse-appoints-disability-activist-to-hear-abuse-claims'),(826,'Call for medical injection centres for drug users','<p>\r\n	Draft legislation may be brought before Government in second quarter of next year</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Draft legislation to introduce medical injection centres for users of opiates such as heroin may be put to Government early next year, according to Ana Liffey Drug Project director Tony Duffin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Addressing the audience at Ana Liffey&rsquo;s 2015-2017 strategy launch in Dublin City Hall, Mr Duffin said that measures are needed to combat the &ldquo;phenomenal&rdquo; amount of public injecting going on around Dublin in particular.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We&rsquo;re currently working with a voluntary assistance scheme of the Bar Council because it would be illegal to deliver a service like that at the moment,&rdquo; he told The Irish Times prior to the event.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They&rsquo;re working on draft legislation, with a senior counsel heading that up. We hope to have draft legislation to bring to Government in the second quarter of next year,&rdquo; added Mr Duffin, whose organisation is also recommending the implementation of naloxone use in Ireland- a drug that reverses the effects of drug overdoses.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We&rsquo;re working with the HSE at the moment on a naloxone pilot, that is part of our strategy. We want to reduce incidents of overdoses as a goal, but within that there&rsquo;s actions, and one of those actions will be naloxone,&rdquo; he said of the drug, which has successfully reduced the number of overdose deaths in Scotland since its introduction in 2010.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As part of its new strategy, the Ana Liffey Project, which is based in Dublin but also offers services in the midlands and mid-west regions, has also committed to introducing residential stabilisation services nationwide aimed at helping existing drug users to overcome their addictions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although a stated goal of the new plan is to reduce the amount of overdoses occurring in Ireland over the next three years, Mr Duffin was keen to stress that the total elimination of problem drug use just isn&rsquo;t a realistic prospect.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We need to accept, as a society, that it is not realistic to expect to be able to stop all drugs entering the country, or to be able to eliminate problem drug use,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The introduction of new &ldquo;designer drugs&rdquo;, some of which are known to contain highly toxic chemical constituents, into the market also remains an ongoing problem for organisations like the Ana Liffey Project according to Mr Duffin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Those drugs were sold through headshops previously. We&rsquo;ve clamped down through legislation&hellip; however, it&rsquo;s pushed the problem underground and there is a black market,&rdquo; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an ongoing issue. We have an increasing and diversifying drug problem in Ireland.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The launch of the 2015-2017 strategy coincided with the release of the Ana Liffey Project&rsquo;s 2013 annual report, which outlined key figures from the organisation&rsquo;s actions last year including the 2,750 clients it worked with, and nearly 2,000 needle and syringe programme interventions which it oversaw.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	George O&rsquo;Mahony is one such person who has felt the benefits of services offered by the Ana Liffey Project. A former homeless drug user of five years, 24 year-old O&rsquo;Mahony became involved with the group after his release from prison earlier this year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s done a lot for me. If I didn&rsquo;t have the programme I&rsquo;m currently on I would have been dead. If I didn&rsquo;t meet the Ana Liffey, and for them to pick up the phone and ring me and just ask would you like to come for a cup of tea, or ask &lsquo;are you alright?&rsquo;- that phone call is something that makes a big change to someone&rsquo;s life,&rdquo; said Limerick native O&rsquo;Mahony.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We need more of these Ana Liffey people, and we need this to go on for years so that people like me can get help,&rdquo; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/call-for-medical-injection-centres-for-drug-users-1.2039554\">https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/call-for-medical-injection-centres-for-drug-users-1.2039554</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-17 10:29:21',NULL,'call-for-medical-injection-centres-for-drug-users'),(827,'Almost 500,000 calls to Samaritans in busiest year','<p>\r\n	Charity says callers starting to see contact as first port of call rather than last resort</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mental health charity Samaritans recorded its busiest ever year in 2014 after it introduced a free phone service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The organisation answered more than 470,000 phone calls, 12,000 emails and 8,000 text messages over the past 12 months, according to its Impact Report for Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Executive director of Samaritans Ireland Catherine Brogan said there is no longer a barrier to contacting the charity. &ldquo;Since we removed the significant cost of a phone call . . . there is no longer a barrier for anyone who is struggling to cope to contact us any time of the day or night.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The organisation previously operated a low-cost number but a deal negotiated with the telecommunications industry, the Government and the National Office for Suicide Prevention now enables people to get in touch for free. The charity experienced a 52 per cent increase in calls since the switch in March.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Samaritans received an average of 1,310 contacts a day in the 12 months from October 2013 to September 2014, an increase of 266 calls a day on average compared to the previous year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Ms Brogan said callers are also starting to contact the charity sooner. &ldquo;People are beginning to see us as their first port of call,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;People don&rsquo;t have to be suicidal to contact us.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	About 70 per cent of the calls come from mobile phones and the issues raised have remained consistent over the years: financial issues, family problems, loneliness and anxiety.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	One volunteer said they receive a lot of calls from elderly people in particular around Christmas time. &ldquo;They could be waiting for their children to get in touch with them but they don&rsquo;t &ndash; so they feel lonely,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Minister of State with responsibility for mental health Kathleen Lynch said the benefits of switching to a free phone number were clear. &ldquo;I hope that the telecoms industry now recognise the benefit of that partnership,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The increase in calls to the charity also highlights &ldquo;the great need that is out there&rdquo; for mental health support, she said. Samaritans can be contacted over the phone on 116 123 or at www.samaritans.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/almost-500-000-calls-to-samaritans-in-busiest-year-1.2041078\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/almost-500-000-calls-to-samaritans-in-busiest-year-1.2041078</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-18 10:22:25',NULL,'almost-500000-calls-to-samaritans-in-busiest-year'),(828,'€27.5m dementia care plan to focus on home support','<p>\r\n	Intensive home care packages and supports will come on stream next year for more people suffering from dementia, it emerged yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move is part of &euro;27.5m in funding - &euro;12m of which is being given by Atlantic Philanthropies - which will kick-start the first Irish National Dementia Strategy launched by Taoiseach Enda Kenny.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The long-awaited plan is aimed at providing better diagnosis and care for people with dementia, the majority of whom suffer from Alzheimer&#39;s disease.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Around 50,000 people have dementia but as the population ages the numbers will soar. The Taoiseach described the disease as a &quot;gradual leave-taking&quot; and a &quot;vindictive loss&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tanaiste Joan Burton, who also attended the launch, named famous political leaders who had the disease, such as Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social Care Minister Kathleen Lynch told the gathering that the three priority areas for the &euro;27.5m initial funding include the roll-out of intensive home packages. It will also cover more education of GPs, who are crucial to ensuring a patient gets an early diagnosis and are not told their symptoms are due to other conditions. Part of the funding will also go towards addressing stigma, she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Older people want to stay at home and we try to enable them to do so for as long as possible.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the waiting list of more than 2,000 people waiting for Fair Deal funding for a nursing home place had now been reduced to around 1,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The strategy, which has yet to be subject to an implementation plan, points out that the average annual cost per person with dementia is &euro;40,500. But the bulk of this is provided free of charge by family caregivers. The value of this informal care is around &euro;807m annually.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although it is usually associated with people over the age of 65, it is also affecting those in their 30s, 40s and 50s.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The diagnosis of younger onset dementia with symptoms is often confused with other disorders and disabilities, such as depression and other mental health problems,&quot; the strategy pointed out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;People with early onset dementia usually experience greater difficulty accessing a diagnosis and fitting into existing dementia service provision, which is generally tailored to the needs of older people.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	GPs are usually the first contact when someone has problems with memory. However they may have difficulty differentiating normal ageing from signs of dementia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/275m-dementia-care-plan-to-focus-on-home-support-30846267.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/275m-dementia-care-plan-to-focus-on-home-support-30846267.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-18 10:33:22',NULL,'€275m-dementia-care-plan-to-focus-on-home-support'),(829,'Dublin Rape Crisis Centre risks losing home in Nama sale','<p>\r\n	Centre has raised &euro;1m to buy Leeson Street headquarters but estate agent is seeking &euro;1.8m</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre is at risk of losing the Leeson Street premises that has been its home for the past 28 years, as it is being sold by a Nama debtor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The centre had hoped to use donations to buy the Georgian house at 70 Lower Leeson Street, where it runs its helpline and provides counselling to more than 3,000 victims of rape and sexual assault and abuse every year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It had managed to gather &euro;1 million to buy the building, but the centre&rsquo;s chief executive Ellen O&rsquo;Malley-Dunlop said she learned two weeks ago it was to be sold on the open market with a price of &euro;1.8 million.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We are dependent on a State grant that has diminished since 2008, and we can&rsquo;t get State funding for rent, so we have to fund-raise to make up the difference.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve been lucky to secure donations to make our &euro;1 million bid to buy the building, but we would never have enough to compete in the open market.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The centre has nine years left on its lease and so cannot be evicted if it continues to pay rent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, its current rent is almost 40 per cent below that set for the building and, Ms O&rsquo;Malley-Dunlop said, any new landlord would be unlikely to keep the rent so low.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We had very good relations with the landlord, who very generously reduced the rent to &euro;58,000, but any new landlord could very quickly put that back up to being in the &euro;80,000s and maybe more, and that would scupper us entirely.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The centre has sought alternative premises to rent, but has been unable to find anything it can afford of the size it needs, she said. Its current building accommodates 33 staff and 70 volunteers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It would also be unable to meet new set-up costs, including establishing its 24-hour helpline (1800-778888).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Therapist<br />\r\n	If the centre&rsquo;s offer for the building was accepted, it would free up the money it spends on rent to employ another badly needed therapist, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I would appeal for our offer to be accepted. But if it&rsquo;s not, I would urge anybody who could support us and help us to buy the building &ndash; so we can provide continuity of care to victims &ndash; to come forward.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;And I would ask anyone thinking of bidding against us, to please reconsider.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The building is being sold by Nama debtor Sean Mulryan though CBRE. A spokesman for Nama said it didn&rsquo;t comment on individual cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/dublin-rape-crisis-centre-risks-losing-home-in-nama-sale-1.2041507\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/dublin-rape-crisis-centre-risks-losing-home-in-nama-sale-1.2041507</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-18 10:34:57',NULL,'dublin-rape-crisis-centre-risks-losing-home-in-nama-sale'),(830,'Obesity is a disability rules court','<p>\r\n	Obese people can be considered as disabled, according to a top EU court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it stopped short of saying that obesity was a condition that needed specific protection under European anti-discrimination laws.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The landmark decision will be closely read by European employers and means that companies might have to provide greater support to obese staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The case was instigated by a Danish court, which wanted guidance over a complaint of unfair dismissal brought by a child-minder who was sacked by a local authority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Karsten Kaltoft, who never weighed less than 160kg (352 pounds) during his employment, argued that his obesity was one of the reasons he lost his job and that this amounted to unlawful discrimination - an allegation the council denied.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Court of Justice of the European Union (EJC) ruled that EU employment law did not specifically prohibit discrimination on the grounds of obesity, and said the law should not be extended to make it a protected category.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the Luxembourg-based court said that if an employee&#39;s obesity hindered &quot;full and effective participation of that person in professional life on an equal basis with other workers&quot; then it could be considered a disability. This, in turn, is covered by anti-discrimination legislation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Classifying obesity as a protected characteristic - such as sex, race or age - would have required employers to take measures to ensure obese workers could perform their duties on an equal footing with others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	WORMS</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It would have opened a can of worms,&quot; said Crowley Woodford, employment partner at law firm Ashurst.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the nuanced ruling still leaves companies open to potential discrimination suits.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;If you consider the obese disabled, all of a sudden it triggers certain protections for employees,&quot; said Jacob Sand, a partner at Danish law firm Gorrissen Federspiel which represented Kaltoft.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Considering obesity a disability also reverses the burden of proof in workplace disputes over discrimination, Sand added, meaning it will be easier for employees to argue they had been discriminated against.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;That makes it a whole lot easier for employees in that it is easier to win the case,&quot; Sand said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it does not mean that employers cannot fire someone whose size means that they are unable to do their job, rather that they must consider whether any adjustments need to be made to help the employee perform their role first, said Stefan Martin, employment partner at law firm Mayer Brown.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), based on 2008 estimates, roughly 23pc of European women and 20pc of European men were obese.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The issue of whether obesity is a disability has also been dealt with in US courts, where almost one in three adults is obese, according to WHO data.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Danish court must now decide whether Kaltoft&#39;s obesity represented a disability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is expected to reach a decision before the end of next year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.herald.ie/news/obesity-is-a-disability-rules-court-30848173.html\">http://www.herald.ie/news/obesity-is-a-disability-rules-court-30848173.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-19 12:56:23',NULL,'obesity-is-a-disability-rules-court'),(831,'New allegations of mistreatment at Co Tipperary disability centre','<p>\r\n	Ten staff placed on leave as HSE investigates complaints at Daughters of Charity centre</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ten staff members at a centre for people with intellectual disabilities in Co Tipperary have been placed on leave followed allegations of mistreatment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	It follows complaints by members of the public and issues raised as part of an investigation by the State watchdog for care standards into the Daughters of Charity residential centre in Roscrea.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	In a statement, the Health Service Executive &ndash; which funds the facility &ndash; confirmed staff had been placed &ldquo;off duty&rdquo; as a protective measure pending an investigation of the allegations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Garda&iacute; have also been notified of the allegations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The HSE said it was conducting a detailed examination of the claims and has established a safeguarding team to help support the Daughters of Charity to deal with concerns.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The investigation comes to light just a week after the HSE announced a separate investigation into care standards at Aras Atttracta, a disability centre in Co Mayo.<br />\r\n	It was prompted by shocking footage broadcast by RT&Eacute; last week which showed residents being manhandled and shouted at repeatedly by a number of staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	These latest allegations relate to care practices at two residential units in Roscrea. The Daughters of Charity provides care for more than 130 people with disabilities across a range of houses and group homes in the wider community.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Hiqa has also been conducting a follow-up inspection in recent times on foot of a number of complaints.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Responding to reports of the investigation, Minister of State with responsibility for disability Kathleen Lynch said that while the details of the allegations were worrying, she was encouraged that poor standards of care were being investigated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She said she anticipated that more concerns of this nature will emerge following the revelations on RT&Eacute; last week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;While it is worrying for all of us that this has happened, it is also encouraging that the service being carried out by HIQA is uncovering concerns of poor and unacceptable standards of care,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;It is only through exposing these practices that we can start to effect improvements in care for the most vulnerable people in our society,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The HSE, meanwhile, has urged staff and clients to make complaints where they are aware of abuse or bad practices towards any vulnerable people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The executive says it will respond to all such complaints in an appropriate and expeditious manner.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Earlier this week it announced that disability campaigner Leigh Gath had been appointed as a &ldquo;confidential recipient&rdquo; and would handle any complaints where a whistleblower has concerns about being identified.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	It said other complaints can be made directly to the HSE through its &ldquo;your service your say&rdquo; e-mail address, yoursay@hse.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	This move followed calls by organisations representing people with intellectual disabilities who called on the Government to appoint a confidential recipient to deal with abuse allegations in residential disability centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Groups such as Inclusion Ireland and the Special Needs Parents Association say they received extensive allegations of neglect and abuse in a number of residential centres in recent days.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The HSE last week apologised to residents at Aras Attracta and their families over their mistreatment at the hands of staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	All the recommendations from a recent Health Information and Quality Authority report into &Aacute;ras Attracta in Swinford had been implemented, it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/new-allegations-of-mistreatment-at-co-tipperary-disability-centre-1.2043084\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/new-allegations-of-mistreatment-at-co-tipperary-disability-centre-1.2043084</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-19 12:57:58',NULL,'new-allegations-of-mistreatment-at-co-tipperary-disability-centre'),(832,'Ban on sex offenders’ early release criticised','<p>\r\n	The Inspector of Prisons has strongly criticised the blanket ban on early release for sex offenders following the death of a severely ill elderly offender in prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Doctors and prison bosses had repeatedly recommended the 82-year-old be released on health grounds, but this was turned down because of an unwritten policy refusing temporary release to sex offenders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspector, Judge Michael Reilly, also heavily criticised garda&iacute;, saying there was &ldquo;no foundation whatsoever&rdquo; to their submission to prison officials that the man presented a risk if released.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He urged the minister for justice to consider referring the matter to a Garda oversight body for investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last night, the Irish Penal Reform Trust said the case &ldquo;amounted to a failure by the State to prevent torture or inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment&rdquo; and called for a review of temporary release policies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report was into the circumstances surrounding the death of Prisoner C in the Midlands Prison on January 30, 2012. The married man, from Munster, was committed on October 15, 2010.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inspector said the man was &ldquo;unfit for imprisonment&rdquo; and &ldquo;should not have died in prison&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the report does not specify the man&rsquo;s conviction, the Irish Examiner has learned it was for a sexual offence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Reilly said the man&rsquo;s medical conditions gave rise for concern from October 19, 2010. In the six months prior to his death he was admitted to hospital six times.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inspector said it was &ldquo;inhumane&rdquo; that other prisoners had to assist the man with his personal hygiene.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Prison doctors, on four occasions, brought their concerns to the attention of appropriate prison governors,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The governor in Midlands Prison contacted the Prison Service and made his concerns known&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Reilly said that the Operations Directorate prepared submissions for the director general who gave them to the department.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The director general refused temporary release, but the inspector said this &ldquo;was in reality a decision not of his making&rdquo; but &ldquo;reflected the unwritten policy of the department and the long- standing practice that offenders such as the deceased would not be released early&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inspector recommended that decisions to grant temporary release on health grounds &ldquo;should be based on the particular circumstances of each case and not be influenced by policy&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said there was &ldquo;no foundation whatsoever&rdquo; for the Garda view the deceased presented a risk if released.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The minister should consider, in the public interest, whether she should refer this report to an appropriate body charged with oversight of An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na and in order to establish if an investigation into this alleged assertion should be undertaken,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ban-on-sex-offenders-early-release-criticised-303374.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ban-on-sex-offenders-early-release-criticised-303374.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2014-12-19 13:13:58',NULL,'ban-on-sex-offenders’-early-release-criticised'),(833,'Age Action calls on communities to look after elderly members in cold snap','<p>\r\n	Age Action is calling on communities to look after older peoples in their homes as the cold weather continues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The organisation is also encouraging older people to stay in contact with friends, family and other older people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Age Action said medical research showed that colder weather can cause blood to thicken and lead to a increased risk of stroke or heart attack.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Temperatures dropped to as low as -6C in some parts of the country overnight.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Spokesperson for Age Action Gerard Scully said elderly people should wear hats and shoes with good grips and that anyone who knows an elderly person living alone should drop in to see the person is alright.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/2014/12/29/age-action-calls-on-communities-to-look-after-elderly-members-in-cold-snap/\">http://www.carlow-nationalist.ie/2014/12/29/age-action-calls-on-communities-to-look-after-elderly-members-in-cold-snap/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-02 10:34:38',NULL,'age-action-calls-on-communities-to-look-after-elderly-members-in-cold-snap'),(834,'Lack of services ‘puts kids at risk’','<p>\r\n	A group of social workers has warned the child and family agency&rsquo;s chief executive that the lack of services to meet the needs of children and families &ldquo;will place children at risk&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The warning is contained in a letter written by the Tusla social work team in Co Clare, who told Gordon Jeyes that ongoing changes to their work practices &ldquo;are putting children at risk&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the letter, the social workers warn &ldquo;scarce resources cannot be used creatively anymore to ensure that the service is tailored to the needs of child/family. The lack of services which meet their needs will place children at risk&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The existence of the letter emerged during family law proceedings in Ennis last June.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla has released the letter written last April by the social workers in response to an FOI request.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla was established at the start of 2014 and in the letter, the social workers state: &ldquo;Our concern is that the sheer number of fundamental changes, new rules and work practices lead to workers being overwhelmed, confused, afraid and stressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Good social work practice cannot take place under these conditions. The public is not getting the service they need.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Decisions are made by those removed from the reality of work on the ground. Social workers do not feel supported or listened to.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The introduction of the new agency has led to a high level of confusion and frustration experienced by staff. This leads to workers wasting much time unnecessarily.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The introduction of different managers over different sections can mean up to three managers are involved in a child&rsquo;s case, all viewing the case from the perspective of their team. Our experience is that work is being duplicated, no professional is getting to know the child properly. Contradictory decisions are being made. This is not safe practice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We, the social workers, meet and see the children and families. We know what they need and we know when our system is not serving them.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We urge you to listen to our concerns and observations. We ask you to take the necessary steps to address these concerns and engage with workers on the ground so that the vulnerable children and families reliant on us receive the service and protection required.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response to the letter, a spokeswoman for Tusla said yesterday: &ldquo;The transfer of Child and family services from the HSE to the new Child and Family Agency represented a significant change for staff&hellip; Tusla is engaged in implementing a variety of reforms aimed at improving service delivery and outcomes for children and families.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Tusla recognised that these reforms and new systems present a challenge to staff. Chief executive Gordon Jeyes has been conducting visits to area offices on an ongoing basis in order to listen to and address any concerns. Mr Jeyes met with the Clare social work department to discuss service delivery during the summer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In its first year of operations, Tusla has begun to put in place structures which will improve service delivery and provide additional supports for staff. A review of administration staff, permission to fill posts vacant through maternity leave, plans to improve technology, etc, are continuing to impact both on service delivery and support to staff.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/lack-of-services-puts-kids-at-risk-304733.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/lack-of-services-puts-kids-at-risk-304733.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-02 10:40:31',NULL,'lack-of-services-‘puts-kids-at-risk’'),(835,'Child protection chief on ‘walking the talk’','<p>\r\n	Tusla chief executive Gordon Jeyes outlines the challenges as &lsquo;year zero&rsquo; draws to a close</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Standing in the gym of Dunblane Primary School on March 13th, 1996, where a lone gunman had opened fire on a class of five- and six-year-old children, killing 16 and their teacher, was a defining experience for Gordon Jeyes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The children&rsquo;s world in the small Scottish town was invaded in the cruellest way that day. It transpired afterwards that the killer, Thomas Hamilton (43), who shot himself at the scene, had both fought and evaded officialdom for 20 years, since being dismissed as a Scout leader in Stirling.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;My passion for children&rsquo;s services was reinforced that day,&rdquo; says Jeyes who, as director of education services with Stirling Council, led the authority&rsquo;s &ldquo;critical incidence&rdquo; response to the school massacre.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost two decades later, his management of children&rsquo;s services is being tested in a very different way here in Ireland, as chief executive of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, which is just completing its first year &ndash; or &ldquo;year zero&rdquo; as Jeyes likes to call it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The establishment of this standalone, national agency for child protection on January 1st, 2014, was heralded by the then minister for children, Frances Fitzgerald, as Ireland moving &ldquo;beyond a ritual dance of shock and dismay at recurring expos&eacute;s of child neglect to practical action&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One year on, can Tusla stand up to that claim of it being a new era for at-risk children?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I think we can,&rdquo; says Jeyes, pointing out that its work has to be put in the context of reform that has been going on for the past few years. &ldquo;I think we have picked up the pace. I think there is greater coherence.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	With more than 500 recommendations from an astonishing total of 29 major inquiries and reviews into child-protection failings since 1980 in its &ldquo;in tray&rdquo;, the agency has drawn up a three-year corporate plan that is due to go before the D&aacute;il.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;We have made a start against a background of austerity. The progress might be slower than impatient people like myself want but we&rsquo;ve got momentum now. I meet many critics, including internal ones &ndash; I mean that in a good sense, I need people to tell me and to keep it real &ndash; but I rarely, rarely meet anyone who says it is not improving.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	With the agency&rsquo;s staff of 4,000, mostly hived off from the HSE, a cynic might say you can take the staff out of the HSE but can you take the HSE out of the staff? Jeyes himself, shortly after he came over from Cambridge four years ago to become HSE national director for children and family services, described the organisation&rsquo;s culture as &ldquo;appalling&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Infelicitous Sitting in his fourth floor office in St Stephen&rsquo;s Green House, in Dublin, with pink-lidded grey storage boxes stacked in the corner in preparation for a January move to Brunel House in Heuston South Quarter, Jeyes drops the steady gaze of his grey-blue eyes when those comments are raised. They were recorded and passed on to RT&Eacute; without his knowledge, he says, but &ldquo;it was infelicitous &ndash; I shouldn&rsquo;t have spoken that way&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Laying that aside, it is &ldquo;certainly the case and extremely challenging that I want to have a particular culture in the Child and Family Agency based on values&rdquo;. Its three-year corporate plan has a clear statement of values, he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Getting people to agree values is not difficult; getting people to behave in a respectful, or courageous or compassionate way reflecting these values is very hard. I know it&rsquo;s a terrible cliche but I want us to walk the talk; I want us to be judged by how I behave &ndash; being authentic to the press, being responsive to people who inquire to us.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Within the HSE, child-protection services had &ldquo;issues of credibility, capacity and capability&rdquo;, he says. &ldquo;I think we have restored some credibility. I see confidence back in high-quality workers.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He refers several times to the high calibre of the frontline workers &ndash; social workers and social care and educational welfare staff &ndash; and suggests that how they were managed and led was the issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla still has a long way to go, he says, having inherited three very different cultures from the HSE, the Family Support Agency and the National Education Welfare Board.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They all had distinct identities so creating a single culture is challenging &ndash; particularly when there is one predominant one, because people had learned in the HSE to behave in a certain way.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	What does he mean by &ldquo;a certain way&rdquo;?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The HSE is being reformed under Tony O&rsquo;Brien because it didn&rsquo;t work &ndash; it should have worked,&rdquo; he continues, his tone a tad tetchier. &ldquo;But as soon as it began to not work, it became a broken brand, and the communications and management culture became overly defensive.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla&rsquo;s executive manager, Eibhlin Byrne, who is sitting in on the interview, interjects to remind him: &ldquo;You often talk about practice without fear and that sense of a supportive environment . . .&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Yes &ndash; able to practise without fear,&rdquo; agrees Jeyes, who likes to sum up his contribution to staff as one of high challenge and high support.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If people are clear about their boundaries, are doing their best, know their role and how it complements the next role, they will have my unconditional support.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Child-protection services fall under scrutiny when there is a tragedy, such as the death of two-year-old Hassan Khan, who was known to social services, in Ballybrack, Co Dublin last October. There is an ongoing independent review of how the various agencies interacted with the family before his death.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 9,000 cases of reported concerns about the welfare of a child were waiting to be allocated a social worker, a D&aacute;il committee heard last July. The figure came from Tusla after Jeyes introduced what he calls a &ldquo;measure the pressure&rdquo; report.<br />\r\n	He won&rsquo;t let staff use the term &ldquo;waiting list&rdquo; but this back-up of cases is not static, he says. &ldquo;They will have been reviewed and triaged and anything that is vital will have been passed on.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Indeed, he says they are looked at weekly by team leaders or others and that some referrals should be closed but others will get worse before they get to them.<br />\r\n	Inevitably, resources are an issue. Tusla was set up with an annual budget of more than &euro;600 million but Jeyes said ahead of Budget 2015, that the agency would need an extra &euro;45 million just to stand still. The agency was allocated half of that.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It means we have to look to further efficiencies in the ways we engage with partners.&rdquo; While still under discussion with the board, its budget will reflect the priorities of child protection, of educational attainment, of domestic violence and of family centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Insufficiently funded</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There will be further trimming because we need to create a sustainable budget so that we are ready to live within our means.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The agency is not sufficiently funded and does not have a wide enough range of services, he argues, but at least it is no longer the Cinderella service of a large health service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ireland should recognise and celebrate where many of the children&rsquo;s services are first class, he says, such as foster care (accounting for about 93 per cent of children in State care). &ldquo;The fact that we have less than 400 young people in residential accommodation.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While he promises an announcement in the new year about a more formal aftercare system, better integrated services for domestic violence and the appointment of specialists to work with children who exhibit sexually abusive behaviour, Jeyes would like to see the agency being able to do more in areas such as mental health and on alternatives to placement in care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He talks about the importance of children, families and communities being well-informed and supported to make good decisions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The big threats to teenage health are bad decision-making about drugs, about alcohol, about sex, about diet, about fitness and about their attitude to learning and sticking at it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla also needs to be a firmer advocate for children with the Government, he suggests, when it comes to issues of housing, health and education. &ldquo;We can&rsquo;t do everything.&rdquo; For the mammoth task of organisational change that Jeyes is driving, 12 months is nothing. But a year in the lives of the children on whose behalf Tusla is making decisions all the time can be a very long time. At the risk of sounding pejorative, how does he sleep at night?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;What some people don&rsquo;t understand is that every judgment we make is about risk. Leaving a child with the parents can be risky; removing a child from a home can be risky; challenging a judge who doesn&rsquo;t give access is risky; challenging a judge who does is risky.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Corporate things</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He continues: &ldquo;What keeps me awake at night is corporate things &ndash; like irrational discussions about budgets. In other words, I can stand criticism as well as the next person, I am very experienced in that &ndash; I think I have proved that by staying here four years. A lot of people might have expected me to give up by now.&rdquo;<br />\r\n	Is it that bad? &ldquo;Absolutely. This is pretty demanding.&rdquo; The children&rsquo;s services in Ireland, he says, have been like a neglected child &ndash; and then shown the door when it became a truculent teenager.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We need to stand up for ourselves and make sure children are seen and are heard.&rdquo; To ensure it doesn&rsquo;t become the &ldquo;well that&rsquo;s where we put the naughty children and move on&rdquo; service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In what little spare time he has, Jeyes, who grew up in Gourock on the west coast of Scotland, relaxes at home with his wife in Howth, Co Dublin. Coincidentally, their only child married a woman from Dublin, 18 months ago and also lives here.<br />\r\n	&ldquo;I go for what passes as running on the beach. I sit and stare at my nine-month-old grandchild. I read voraciously.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He had never read John McGahern before he came here. &ldquo;What a find he was for me. I know some Irish people think he is too truthful and too dark . . . but for me it&rsquo;s the beauty of the writing.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today&rsquo;s Ireland, adds Jeyes, is an &ldquo;outstanding place&rdquo; for a child to grow up. &ldquo;We just have to make sure that high-quality, Irish childhood is accessed by everyone.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For more information, see tusla.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Calls for single inspection service<br />\r\n	Pre-school inspections is one of the roles that Tusla took over and Gordon Jeyes questions the wisdom of the Department of Education now recruiting its own inspectors for early years services, as announced by Minister for Education Jan O&rsquo;Sullivan last September.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While these services, he says, are about learning as well as care, there should be a single inspection service covering the S&iacute;olta and Aistear curriculum guidelines and the care standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The decision to have separate inspections is &ldquo;not particularly strategic&rdquo;, he suggests, choosing his words carefully.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I presume, it is an interim stage. I don&rsquo;t think it makes much sense to have the Pobal improvement and advice service separate as well. The bits of that jigsaw are there but they are not necessarily joined up and in the right place.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For its part, Tusla is very clear about its role as a regulator and is in the process of recruiting more inspectors, bringing it up to 48 (from about 38 at the start of the year) as well as having appointed four regional managers and an interim national manager.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As a result he promises more frequent inspections of the country&rsquo;s pre-school services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, he argues that what the Prime Time creche expos&eacute; of May 2013 showed, was &ldquo;not so much a failure of inspections as a failure of service&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There is still a need for the Government to pull together an early years strategy, which is not the business of Tusla.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is not for me to say but Ireland has got to make up its mind on early years services &ndash; is early years a public good, is it an expansion of education or is it just somewhere that families can leave their children as a private transaction so that they can go to work? Or is it a combination of all of those?&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	To the mention of the sector&rsquo;s complaints that the inspection service is &ldquo;unsatisfactory&rdquo;, he responds: &ldquo;Well, I find Hiqa [Health Information and Quality Authority] very unsatisfactory. We&rsquo;re the Hiqa in this situation.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla is also moving towards a registration system of pre-school services once the Government gives it the green light.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I believe the Government has agreed a registration fee, which is very modest,&rdquo; he adds, but one he&rsquo;s not going to disclose prematurely.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Jeyes on:<br />\r\n	Changing the culture: &ldquo;Getting people to agree values is not difficult; getting people to behave in a respectful, or courageous or compassionate way reflecting these values is very hard.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Decision-making: &ldquo;What some people don&rsquo;t understand is that every judgment we make is about risk.&rdquo; Backing staff: &ldquo;If people are clear about their boundaries, are doing their best, know their role and how it complements the next role, they will have my unconditional support.&rdquo; Sleepless nights: &ldquo;What keeps me awake at night is corporate things &ndash; like irrational discussions about budgets.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Staying the course: &ldquo;A lot of people might have expected me to give up by now.&rdquo; Critics: &ldquo;I have never found my Irish colleagues shy of telling me what&rsquo;s wrong and what we are not doing enough of.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Combating negativity: &ldquo;Biggest responsibility is turning critics into contributors.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/child-protection-chief-on-walking-the-talk-1.2040970?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/child-protection-chief-on-walking-the-talk-1.2040970?page=1</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-02 10:45:16',NULL,'child-protection-chief-on-‘walking-the-talk’'),(836,'Girl had so much lice it looked as if head was moving','<p>\r\n	A school principal became emotional describing two severely neglected young sisters &mdash; one of whom had so much head lice that it looked as if her whole head was moving.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The district court granted full care orders for both girls until they were 18. The case is among 26 reported on the website of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, published today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The principal said one of the girls had hundreds of head lice moving down her neck where she had an inch-long scab, and bites on her back.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It looked like her whole head was moving. I could see spider-like creatures moving; I could see hundreds of them moving down her neck,&rdquo; she told the court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;She was very aware that she was not the way she should be, she was very embarrassed. I tried to reassure her.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The principal said the sister&rsquo;s head lice were not as bad and that the older girl tended to look after her. Both were socially isolated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The mother, who had left the country and could not be contacted, did not attend the hearing. The father, who had only heard that his children were in care two weeks before the hearing, consented to the full care order and did not attend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A medical addiction specialist from a methadone clinic said the mother&rsquo;s substance abuse problem had never gone away and had become progressively more unstable before she left the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In another case, an emergency care order was granted for a teenager who went to a Garda station by herself to complain about her mother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the girl was sent away by the garda&iacute; and told to come back with an adult.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On hearing that the garda&iacute; had sent the girl away, the judge told the Child and Family Agency to write to them pointing out the difficulty they had put her in.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/girl-had-so-much-lice-it-looked-as-if-head-was-moving-305207.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/girl-had-so-much-lice-it-looked-as-if-head-was-moving-305207.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-05 10:29:29',NULL,'girl-had-so-much-lice-it-looked-as-if-head-was-moving'),(837,'State handling of childcare cases under scrutiny','<p>\r\n	Implications for Tusla over refusal of care order after &lsquo;inexcusable&rsquo; delay</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A District Court judge has asked for an inquiry by the Ombudsman for Children into the delays in a childcare case where two children were in temporary care from their birth for five and three years respectively following their parents&rsquo; arrival in Ireland from another jurisdiction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a judgment delivered in November, the judge refused full care orders until the children were 18 and ordered they be returned to their parents. He described the delay in the case as &ldquo;inordinate, inexcusable and entirely unacceptable&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	This judgment will have implications for the Child and Family Agency (Tusla), especially in cases where children are born in Ireland days after their mothers arrive here from other jurisdictions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Recent years have seen dozens of cases in which mothers, mainly from the United Kingdom, come to Ireland in late pregnancy when they have been informed care proceedings will be brought to take their child into care at birth. Care proceedings in the UK can lead to the child being adopted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Usually the Irish authorities are informed the child is at risk and the child is taken into care. This does not lead to adoption here, and the parents remain in contact with the child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In many cases Tusla obtains an order in the High Court under EU law that the child be returned to his or her country of origin, on the basis that the child has no connection with Ireland and the courts there are best placed to judge what is in the child&rsquo;s best interests.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Care proceedings<br />\r\n	In this case the parents arrived in Ireland more than five years ago from the other jurisdiction three days before the birth of the first child. Two of their children had already been taken into care following evidence that one had been sexually abused. The parents denied responsibility, no one was prosecuted and no perpetrator has been identified. The parents had been informed that their unborn child would also be the subject of care proceedings, leading to their flight to Ireland.<br />\r\n	Two years later another child was born, who was also taken into care. The parents had married a month before the birth. The parents had supervised access with both children and the judge said that, from the evidence given to the court, the access had been positive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said the failure of Tusla (which took over the case from the Health Service Executive) to call evidence from the other jurisdiction relating to the serious allegations against the parents was fundamental to his determination of the case. To decide the case in the absence of such evidence would violate the respondents&rsquo; constitutional right to a fair hearing, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Serious allegations<br />\r\n	The judge said the Tusla case was based primarily on the events relating to proceedings in the other jurisdiction and the court orders made there. He said no evidence had been called by the agency to seek to substantiate the serious allegations of child sexual abuse against the respondents or their alleged involvement in such abuse or their alleged failure to protect their child from such abuse while in the other jurisdiction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the judge directed that, if necessary, contact be established between the two governments to ensure appropriate protocols are in place in such cases in future so there are reciprocal arrangements for witnesses to give evidence in each other&rsquo;s jurisdiction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proceedings for full care orders began in May and continued over 19 days. In his judgment the judge outlined the background to the case and discussed a range of legal issues, including the constitutional position of the family and the child; the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights on the rights of the family; the interpretation of the childcare legislation; the different thresholds for various child protection orders; the admissibility of evidence where witnesses are not called to support it; and the role of a guardian ad litem in childcare cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While all of these matters will be studied carefully by Tusla, the judgment holds little comfort for those fleeing their homes to come to Ireland seeking to escape child protection proceedings. The judge criticised the agency for not seeking an order sending the family back to their own jurisdiction and directed an inquiry into why this had not been done in this case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Decisions of the District Court do not set precedent, butjudges are increasingly writing judgments that are read by their colleagues and shape the conduct of childcare cases. This will inevitably affect the practice of the Child and Family Agency, which has been directed to improve the training of social workers in awareness of the law, to ensure all relevant information is included in reports, to ensure allegations against parents are supported by evidence that can be tested in court and to ensure all childcare applications are processed speedily.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The full report on this case is contained in volume 4 of the reports of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, published today. Carol Coulter is director of the CCLRP and former legal affairs editor of The Irish Times</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/state-handling-of-childcare-cases-under-scrutiny-1.2054485?page=2\">http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/state-handling-of-childcare-cases-under-scrutiny-1.2054485?page=</a>1</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-05 10:32:40',NULL,'state-handling-of-childcare-cases-under-scrutiny'),(838,'Overweight people ‘face taunts and ridicule’','<p>\r\n	As we face into the first full week of 2015, and with many already struggling with our new year&rsquo;s resolutions to get fit, a study has revealed the most frequent humiliations faced by overweight people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Being insulted by shop assistants, ignored by bar staff, mocked by passers-by, ridiculed by the opposite sex, and photographed by teenagers are part of the frequent taunts overweight people face, according to research in Britain.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Up to 40% of the 2,573 slimmers questioned in the Slimming World study said they faced judgment, criticism, or humiliation at least once a week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It included people winding down car windows to shout abuse, passengers refusing to share a seat on public transport, men in nightclubs feigning romantic interest, and teenagers taking pictures or videos on their phones.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Even being a paying customer did not stop comments on food choices from supermarket staff, laughter from shop assistants when asked for clothes in a bigger size, and feeling humiliated as bar staff serving slimmer customers first.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, weight discrimination does not motivate people to lose weight, the study found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/overweight-people-face-taunts-and-ridicule-305197.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/overweight-people-face-taunts-and-ridicule-305197.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-05 10:37:34',NULL,'overweight-people-‘face-taunts-and-ridicule’'),(839,'Parents of girl who missed 381 days of school facing jail','<p>\r\n	The parents of a young girl who missed 381 days of school since 2012 have been given a chance to avoid jail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The 14-year-old has gone to school on just 26 dates since September 2012 and should be preparing to sit the Junior Certificate exams this year. However, she missed so many days she is now &quot;anti-school&quot;, Dublin District Court heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court also heard the girl&#39;s mother once claimed to a school attendance official that her truant daughter had moved to the UK and was living with a relative there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Education and welfare officer Jennifer Redmond told Judge John O&#39;Neill that the woman said her daughter, &quot;is a Traveller girl and she would not be attending any school in England or at home&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Child and Family Agency (CFA) brought the prosecution against the parents because the girl consistently missed school since she made the transition to secondary level education.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They could each be fined up to &euro;1,000 and jailed for a month after pleading guilty to breaking section 25 of the Education (Welfare) Act for not complying with an official warning to ensure their daughter went to school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge O&#39;Neill agreed it was an &quot;appalling&quot; situation and adjourned the case for four weeks warning them: &quot;I have explained what is facing you if you do not co-operate.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The teen started secondary school in September 2012 and over the next year was absent on 156 out of 167 days.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In second year, 2013 - 2014, she missed school on 152 days out of 167 and since the beginning of her third year, in September, she has not gone to school at all, missing 73 days.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She has missed almost 94pc of school days since she enrolled in a secondary school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Redmond told a solicitor for the CFA that the girl&#39;s parents had not co-operated or responded to the agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	BULLYING</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the only way she could speak to them was by calling to their home unannounced as they would not return phone calls or letters.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The CFA told the court the family had also made claims the girl had not gone to school because of a bullying problem. However, it emerged it was online bullying not connected to her school, and the problem had been resolved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The girl had also told the education and welfare officer that there was not a bullying issue. The CFA also accepted that there had been a family tragedy in recent years which had affected the girl.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The parents later told the CFA they wanted the girl to move to another school. In September 2014, they were given application forms but &quot;to date they have not returned that form to the school&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They had also been warned that in the meantime the teenager would have to keep going to her existing school placement but she did not attend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Adjourning the case, Judge O&#39;Neill said there was no excuse and he was concerned the parents had not responded to the CFA. He also said that if necessary he will speak to the girl to explain her mother and father could be sent to jail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/parents-of-girl-who-missed-381-days-of-school-facing-jail-30885232.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/parents-of-girl-who-missed-381-days-of-school-facing-jail-30885232.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-06 09:31:28',NULL,'parents-of-girl-who-missed-381-days-of-school-facing-jail'),(840,'Child and Family Agency told to find therapy for teenage girl','<p>\r\n	A judge has directed the Child and Family Agency to find suitable therapeutic services for a young teenager who has requested counselling since October.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Colin Daly said the agency was to identify appropriate therapeutic support within 28 days for the girl, who is in foster care with a relative.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He made the direction as part of an application by the agency to extend an interim care order for the girl, whose mother has been a voluntary patient at a psychiatric unit for more than five months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child&rsquo;s court-appointed guardian said the girl had very little insight into her mother&rsquo;s difficulties and it was very hard for her to understand what was happening. In October, the teenager had requested group therapy with teenagers whose parents also had psychiatric problems. The therapy needed to be provided as soon as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;She needs some information around this for her own mental health,&rdquo; the guardian said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social worker</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The girl&rsquo;s social worker said she was aware of the girl&rsquo;s request for therapy. &ldquo;I&rsquo;m in the process of trying to liaise with the mental-health team,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She also said the girl had been in and out of her mother&rsquo;s care over the years and needed a long-term plan. The agency intended seeking a full care order, which could last up to the age of 18, in the coming year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker said the agency was happy with the care being provided to the girl by her relative foster carer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Also giving evidence with the support of an advocate, the child&rsquo;s mother opposed the application, but acknowledged she could not look after her daughter while in hospital. She said she would not like the child to live permanently with her relative and was alarmed that the agency would seek a full care order.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Daly said he was satisfied to extend the interim care order for 28 days.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Also at the Dublin District Family Court, Judge Gerard Furlong granted three protection orders to women who said they were afraid of the respective fathers of their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The short-term, emergency orders were granted on the basis of ex-parte applications, with only the applicants present in court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Violence</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The orders required the men not to use violence, threaten to use violence, or put in fear the women involved, ahead of full hearings of the cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In one case, a woman told the judge she had a 10-year on-off relationship with the father of her two children. They did not live together, but he kept coming over to her house, she said. At the weekend, he came to her home to take the children and said he would kill her and smash up the house.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said they were out together on St Stephen&rsquo;s night and when he came back to her house he &ldquo;turned&rdquo; on her and told her to leave.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He smashed the television, wrecked the house and threw the Christmas tree out the door, she said. She said she went to her mother&rsquo;s.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;He&rsquo;s bullying me and my kids, the kids are terrified of him,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This has been going on for too long; he&rsquo;s an alcoholic.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Furlong said he would grant the protection order, but told the woman she would also have to consider her circumstances for the sake of her children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/child-and-family-agency-told-to-find-therapy-for-teenage-girl-1.2055758\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/child-and-family-agency-told-to-find-therapy-for-teenage-girl-1.2055758</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-06 10:10:50',NULL,'child-and-family-agency-told-to-find-therapy-for-teenage-girl'),(841,'Preventing domestic violence tops women’s 2015 wishlist - poll','<p>\r\n	National Women&rsquo;s Council of Ireland: Government must prioritise equality</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Protecting women from domestic and sexual violence, ensuring access to safe and legal abortions and affordable childcare have topped a wishlist for women in 2015, according to the results of a National Women&rsquo;s Council of Ireland (NWCI) poll.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Nollaig na mBan or Women&rsquo;s Christmas, which falls on Tuesday, is the ideal time to look at what women want for 2015, said Orla O&rsquo;Connor, NWCI director .</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Government needs to prioritise and invest in women&rsquo;s equality in 2015, so that we have something to celebrate on January 6th, 2016,&rdquo; Ms O&rsquo;Connor said after results of the organisation&rsquo;s poll were released.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the lead-up to the New Year, NWCI conducted a poll among members asking them about their hopes for the Government&rsquo;s priorities in 2015. The poll consisted of 10 issue-based questions. It was on social media over 10 days and received 600 responses.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;That the three most prominent issues were violence against women, abortion and affordable childcare was no big shock,&rdquo; Ms O&rsquo;Connor said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Male violence is still an inescapable backdrop in the lives of one in five women in Ireland. Equally, the issue of safe and legal abortion is one which has affected hundreds of thousands of women since the Eighth Amendment was inserted into the Constitution in 1983 and was rarely out of the headlines last year, while the lack of affordable, accessible childcare is a massive barrier to women&rsquo;s equal participation in the workforce.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Nollaig na mBan</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The director of Ireland&rsquo;s national women&rsquo;s membership organisation said that today is the perfect day to assess the state of play for women here.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Nollaig na mBan is a day where traditionally men took over the housekeeping duties, something which in 2015 still predominantly falls to women. Women are paid less for the work we do, we continue to provide the majority of the care work and as of yet, women are not close to being equally represented in a representative democracy.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&rsquo;Connor said &ldquo;there can be no real equality between women and men if women experience gender-based violence on this large-scale.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Reproductive rights were also a concern to poll respondents, who placed this second in a list of 10 concerns for women in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Doctors are restricted from exercising their best clinical judgment, maternity services are affected and the wishes of a woman&rsquo;s next of kin after she has died can possibly be ignored,&rdquo; said Ms O&rsquo;Connor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Caring for children is also high on most women&rsquo;s list of priorities and women think the Government could do better, the survey found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Public spending on childcare in Ireland as a percentage of GDP is low and childcare costs are among the highest in Europe &ldquo;averaging &euro;800 to &euro;1,000 a month for a full-time place,&rdquo; Ms O&rsquo;Connor said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The NWCI is calling on the Government to introduce a second free pre-school year and to make sure paternity leave is introduced &ldquo;to send the message that fathers also have an important role to play when it comes to care.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/preventing-domestic-violence-tops-women-s-2015-wishlist-poll-1.2056296\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/preventing-domestic-violence-tops-women-s-2015-wishlist-poll-1.2056296</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-06 10:12:22',NULL,'preventing-domestic-violence-tops-women’s-2015-wishlist-poll'),(842,'Care home complaints \'very disturbing\', says standards watchdog','<p>\r\n	The nursing standards body has described as &quot;very disturbing&quot; a dossier of complaints relating to residential care homes which is currently being investigated by garda&iacute;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) was commenting after reviewing 700 complaints received by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) over the past two years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The body, which can conduct fitness to practice hearings in cases of alleged misconduct by registered nurses, said it could not investigate the individual complaints as they had been anonymised.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it pledged to use the information in future revisions of standards for its education programmes and professional guidance documents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The NMBI was supplied with the dossier by Fine Gael TD Fergus O&#39;Dowd, who obtained details of the complaints under freedom of information rules.Under these rules, the names of residents, their care homes and the identity of care staff could not be disclosed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Gardai began investigating the contents of the dossier last month. Officers are now seeking unredacted documentation from HIQA so the complaints can be examined further.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The file contains alleged incidents of physical, mental, sexual and financial abuse in homes for the elderly and people with intellectual disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a letter to Mr O&#39;Dowd, the NMBI&#39;s acting director of regulation, Ursula Byrne, said the complaints &quot;make for very disturbing reading&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the board was not in a position to respond to the complaints as individual nurses and healthcare facilities were not identified in the dossier.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, she said it may well be the case that some of the complaints had already been brought to the NMBI&#39;s attention.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Byrne said the board had taken a proactive approach in relation to guiding nurses and members of the public on standards of care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This included the recent publication of a new code of professional conduct and ethics.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The complaints were made to HIQA by a variety of people, including care home workers, residents and their relatives.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, HIQA does not have the power to investigate each complaint individually and can only consider them as part of overall inspections.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Health said last night it was considering a legislative amendment tabled by Mr O&#39;Dowd which would give HIQA the power to launch investigations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The description of these complaints as &#39;very disturbing&#39; by the nursing board is yet another indication of how serious this situation is,&quot; said Mr O&#39;Dowd.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It is imperative that this issue is dealt with quickly by the Government. The current situation is not acceptable.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The adequacy of HIQA&#39;s powers came under the spotlight last month when it emerged two inspections of the Aras Attracta care home in Swinford, Co Mayo, had failed to uncover the scale of the abuse occurring at a unit there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At present people with grievances are urged to bring them to the care home in the first instance. However, in many of the complaints to HIQA, people were unhappy with how homes dealt with their concerns.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Complaints can be made to Ombudsman if someone is unhappy with the care home&#39;s response, but only in the case of state-run homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/care-home-complaints-very-disturbing-says-standards-watchdog-30888418.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/care-home-complaints-very-disturbing-says-standards-watchdog-30888418.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-07 10:41:13',NULL,'care-home-complaints-very-disturbing-says-standards-watchdog'),(843,'New Government Bill to speed up asylum process','<p>\r\n	Requests for refugee status and other protection being streamlined in one procedure</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Government is to publish a Bill in the coming weeks that aims to speed up the asylum process and reduce the amount of time people spend in the direct provision system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The International Protection Bill, a general scheme of which is likely to be approved by Cabinet by the end of the month, will provide for a single procedure where asylum seekers have their requests for refugee status and other forms of protection dealt with at the same time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The current fragmented system, where applications for different forms of protection are made sequentially, is partly blamed for chronic delays that have kept some people in direct provision housing for up to seven years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Plans for a single procedure have circulated for almost a decade and were first included in the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill by then minister for justice Brian Lenihan in 2008. That draft law has gone through several revisions but has yet to be enacted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Due to persistent delays in the system and pressure on Government over direct provision, however, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has split the asylum reforms from the main immigration overhaul and plans to publish them in a shorter, dedicated Bill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other EU states</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All other EU member states have a single application procedure for asylum seekers, and the Government has been urged by the United Nations high commissioner for refugees to follow suit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the current system, an asylum seeker is interviewed by the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner to determine whether he might be persecuted on grounds such as race, religion, nationality or political opinion if sent back to his country of origin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If the answer is yes, the applicant is recognised as a refugee. Some 18 per cent of asylum seekers were granted refugee status in 2013, close to the EU average and a significant rise on the 1.2 per cent in 2010.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If the refugee application is rejected, the decision can be appealed to the Refugee Appeals Tribunal and/or reviewed by the High Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is only after this process is completed that the authorities decide if an individual qualifies for &ldquo;subsidiary protection&rdquo;, a status introduced by the EU in 2003 for people who don&rsquo;t meet the strict refugee definition but who would be subject to serious human rights violations if returned home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Waiting times</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The average waiting time as of late last year was four years, but some people have been in the system for up to seven years. While awaiting a decision, asylum seekers are housed in &ldquo;direct provision&rdquo; accommodation, where they are given meals and an allowance of &euro;19.10 a week, but are prohibited from taking up paid work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new Bill is designed to simplify and speed up the process. It will mean that all types of protection, including refugee status and subsidiary protection, as well as any other grounds that may prevent the Minister from deporting an individual, will be investigated and decided on at the same time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Discussions are continuing in the Department of Justice on ways in which the Bill can be framed so as to also benefit people whose applications are already in the system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The volume of judicial review cases taken by asylum seekers has caused a bottleneck in the High Court, where about 1,000 cases are waiting to be heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/new-government-bill-to-speed-up-asylum-process-1.2056888\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/new-government-bill-to-speed-up-asylum-process-1.2056888</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-07 11:05:01',NULL,'new-government-bill-to-speed-up-asylum-process'),(844,'Mental health charities welcome HSE service extensions','<p>\r\n	Mental Health Reform director says move will reduce unnecessary and costly hospital visits</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An umbrella group representing mental health charities in Ireland has welcomed the HSE&rsquo;s decision to introduce full-time supports for those experiencing mental health difficulties.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the HSE Mental Health Division Operational Plan 2015, support services for people who have undergone treatment for mental health difficulties in the past will be extended to include Saturdays and Sundays.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The plan also included a commitment to equip emergency departments so they can deal with people experiencing a crisis on a 24/7 basis, a move which has been welcomed by Mental Health Reform director Dr Shari McDaid.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Capacity</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We welcome the HSE&rsquo;s commitment to build capacity within A&amp;E departments for a 24/7 response to people in a crisis. This will make it easier for people to get support when they need it,&rdquo; said Dr McDaid, whose organisation represents 49 mental health-related charities throughout the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Ensuring that people are well supported in their local community will reduce unnecessary and more costly hospital stays, and will help people to recover their wellbeing. It is important that both of these initiatives are funded and adequately resourced to ensure that people get timely support in their local community,&rdquo; she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although still some way short of pre-recessionary figures, the implementation of the 2015 plan will bring the total budget allocation for mental health up to &euro;791.8 million, a 5 per cent rise on 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/mental-health-charities-welcome-hse-service-extensions-1.2057077\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/mental-health-charities-welcome-hse-service-extensions-1.2057077</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-07 11:07:07',NULL,'mental-health-charities-welcome-hse-service-extensions'),(845,'Angry teen banned from his own home by judge at Dublin Children\'s Court','<p>\r\n	A troubled teenage boy has pleaded guilty to damaging his family home after his upset mother got him prosecuted in an effort to get him help.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy, who is in his mid-teens, was temporarily ordered to remain away from his family home, after he pleaded guilty at the Dublin Children&#39;s Court to a criminal damage charge.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge John O&#39;Connor ordered the boy to reside with another relative and adjourned the case for a pre-sentence probation report to be obtained. He also ordered the Child and Family Agency to hold a family welfare conference.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge O&#39;Connor said the teenager fell into a familiar category which involved cannabis abuse, an inappropriate peer group and dropping out of education.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda Edward Walsh told Judge O&#39;Connor the boy&#39;s mother reported that her son had been damaging their home on numerous occasions over previous months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There was &ldquo;extensive damage&rdquo; to walls and doors, &ldquo;done by hand and by an instrument we have not identified yet,&rdquo; said Gda Walsh who agreed that the boy has no prior criminal convictions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Defence solicitor Michelle Finan said social services have already been involved with boy who had previously spent time in care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There had been difficulties in the family and the mother didn&#39;t take the decision lightly to have her son prosecuted. Ms Finan also said the boy is &ldquo;hurting over a lot of issues&rdquo; and another family member was willing to take him in.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The teenager had completed the Junior Certificate but there were issues with his school and afterwards he enrolled onto a training course but &ldquo;ran out of steam&rdquo; and left, Ms Finan said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the boy wants to get back into the course, she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His mother and another relative were in court for the hearing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The defence lawyer explained that the boy&#39;s parents had split up in recent years and &ldquo;he has taken it very hard to handle&rdquo;. He has not spoken to his father in a long time, the solicitor also said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It got so bad at home that his mother was not able to manage him. There were concerns over who he was hanging around with,&rdquo; the lawyer said, &ldquo;his mother is looking for help for him and for herself&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Finan said the teenager found it hard to handle his anger and at one point he was placed in care but later went missing and was staying in hostels in Dublin. &ldquo;His mother did not know where he was&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was also &ldquo;red-starred&rdquo; by the Garda juvenile liaison office meaning he is no longer eligible to being let off with a caution and must face court. The teen remains angry that his mother has had him prosecuted, the court heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge was also told the boy has one other theft related charge before the courts and that it was suspected he has been using cannabis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The prosecuting garda also succeeded in getting a bail condition banning the teenager from hanging around with nine other youths.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy spoke once during the case to clarify what people he has been barred from associating with and the judge explained the bail conditions to him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The teen was told that for the time being he will have to stay away from his mother&#39;s home. He must reside with another family member and obey a curfew at their address.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge warned him bail would be revoked if the conditions were blatantly broken but he also explained that they could be relaxed at a later stage if there has been compliance with the court order.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.sundayworld.com/top-stories/crime-desk/courts/angry-teen-banned-from-his-own-home-by-judge-at-childrens-court\">http://www.sundayworld.com/top-stories/crime-desk/courts/angry-teen-banned-from-his-own-home-by-judge-at-childrens-court</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-08 10:14:23',NULL,'angry-teen-banned-from-his-own-home-by-judge-at-dublin-childrens-court'),(846,'Vatican refuses to take back priest acquitted of child sexual abuse','<p>\r\n	The Vatican has rejected an appeal by a former-priest in the diocese of Cloyne against dismissal from the priesthood over child sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dan Duane from Mallow, Co Cork was defrocked in 2013, following a Canonical trial for abusing teenagers and minors, and he appealed that decision to Rome.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Duane was previously acquitted of indecent assault at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on two occasions in 2011.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Bishop of Cloyne, William Crean said he was grateful to the survivors of abuse who had the courage to tell their stories, and he again apologised to the victims of abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/vatican-refuses-to-take-back-priest-acquitted-of-child-sexual-abuse-657121.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/vatican-refuses-to-take-back-priest-acquitted-of-child-sexual-abuse-657121.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-08 10:15:38',NULL,'vatican-refuses-to-take-back-priest-acquitted-of-child-sexual-abuse'),(847,'‘Mental health professionals should be on the spot, in the schools where students are','<p>\r\n	A week in my guidance counsellor&rsquo;s room</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Monday</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was a busy day. A colleague made me aware of two students who were self-harming.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is more common than you might think, but the culture in this school allows students who are worried about a friend to approach any of the teachers, usually myself or the other staff psychotherapist, Marie Nolan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Family issues came up with more than one student today. I see four or five cases a year where parents are separated but for financial reasons still live in the same house. There may not be huge fights but the constant snide remarks, dirty looks and little put-downs can get kids down. Some vulnerable teenagers in that situation self-harm.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These kids can be afraid to say anything to parents in case it makes things worse. Teenagers often don&rsquo;t tell their parents what is going on because they don&rsquo;t want to worry them. Sometimes, they don&rsquo;t know how to put it into words and want someone else to tell for them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When I offer to speak to parents, I am often struck by the relief on the student&rsquo;s face. Occasionally, a kid will beg me not to contact their parents so in a situation like that I ask if I can talk to an aunt or an older sibling.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I see a lot of second- and third-year students. Kids in that 14 to 16 age group seem particularly vulnerable &ndash; more so than Leaving Cert students, which is probably surprising.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Girls tend to cut themselves more than boys. Girls internalise their problems, they cry, get stomach aches and cut themselves, sometimes very badly, where nobody can see the marks. Fellas will get into a fight, or they might start hitting walls.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Financial worries are causing stress in families and we see the effects in school where students are worried, insecure and really anxious about their parents. Eviction has become an issue. Families get evicted, maybe end up staying with a relative, their kids feel in the way, they don&rsquo;t have space, nowhere to study. They can&rsquo;t sleep, so some come into school exhausted and frustrated because they can&rsquo;t get their homework done.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I spent a long time today liaising with a social worker about a student who has been referred to the Child &amp; Adult Mental Health Service (CAMHS). Confidentiality is crucial in my dealings with students but they understand that if they harm themselves or others, parents will be notified and referrals made to a GP or CAMHS. A lot could be done to improve communication between schools and social services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tuesday</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A parent rang me today because her child is worried about friends who are writing on Facebook that they want to die. Students often worry about what friends put up on Facebook. Sometimes students start to self-harm because of worry over what someone is threatening on social media. They don&rsquo;t know who to tell and they are terrified to go back online in case their friend has suddenly stopped posting. It could be a friend whose family has emigrated, or a kid they met on holidays, or maybe someone they met online.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I had a situation where a group of six friends were cutting themselves. It started out with a small group trying to support a friend who was self-harming. They couldn&rsquo;t help and out of frustration or as a way of relieving the worry, they started to cut themselves. A parent spotted something on Facebook and alerted the school. Having trained counsellors on site in a school takes a lot of stress off students, parents and other teachers when these problems arise.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I spent four periods today teaching transition-year students. I also spent part of the day touching base with students who were seen last year, to check if further counselling was needed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	We have &ldquo;peer mentors&rdquo; in every year, students who alert a teacher if they spot anyone in difficulty. It&rsquo;s a great system &ndash; they have no qualms about telling me or another teacher if someone has a problem. There is also a culture in the school where it is okay to go to the counsellor for a chat. There is no stigma. Last year, myself and the other counsellor saw 119 kids out of a student population of 950. The gender breakdown is about 50:50 but there are slightly more girls.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A peer mentor came to me today after noticing something worrying on Instagram so I will check that out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was a very depressing post.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A lot of meetings today, including one with Marie, the other school counsellor, to discuss students and treatment plans. The school &ldquo;care team&rdquo; meets every two weeks. It&rsquo;s a chance for the principal, careers guidance teacher, chaplain, year heads and counsellors to catch up.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Wednesday</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A student has been writing on Facebook about being depressed so I will follow up.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A lot of the kids I see are self-referrals. The counselling service has been in place at St Peter&rsquo;s for about 14 years. Between the two of us we provide about 35 hours of counselling a week. We are both accredited by the IACP (Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Teachers have a golden opportunity to spot a student in difficulty, so it&rsquo;s not surprising that 41 per cent of referrals come from other staff and 38 per cent from students themselves. About one in five is referred by parents. A counselling session lasts for 40 minutes. Students come to my room. Some keep coming every week throughout the school year and some just see me a few times.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In recent weeks I have been meeting first-year classes, explaining that we regard &ldquo;seeking help&rdquo; as a subject on the curriculum.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Thursday</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I met a child who has an eating disorder and does not want to go to the CAMHS. I could write a book about this. In my view the mental health professionals are good at dealing with under-12s and over-18s but there is a big gap there for teenagers. That&rsquo;s why Jigsaw was needed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A lot of the students tell me they find the professionals patronising. They always take the parents&rsquo; side. I tell them they have a right to demand that their mother or father is kicked out of the room when they are speaking to a counsellor. A 16 year old may not say what is really on her mind if her mother is there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I often discover when a troubled student sees me that it is actually the parent who has the problem. Children describe things &ndash; odd behaviour, irrational screaming matches, a parent who drinks all night. A child who has to clean up their mother&rsquo;s vomit before coming into school is not going to be able to concentrate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are kids who go home to a cold house where there is no dinner, no food in the fridge. Sometimes a kid tells you their mother hates them and if you probe it might be obvious that the mother is depressed. You can at least tell the kid &ldquo;it&rsquo;s not your fault&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I can advise students how to not escalate the situation at home by, for example, not shouting back. A 15-year-old child is sometimes the only adult in a house.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Friday</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I had a meeting with the principal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A student approached me on the corridor and said she needed to talk. These chats can be about anything from self-loathing because of poor body image to someone who is being bullied. Usually it&rsquo;s enough to call in the perpetrator and point out &ldquo;that&rsquo;s bullying&rdquo; and they will stop. Girls are told &ldquo;you&rsquo;re fat&rdquo; or are called &ldquo;a fat bitch&rdquo; and guys are told &ldquo;you are gay&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sometimes a boy who is gay is isolated because the other guys don&rsquo;t want anyone to think they are gay. We are very supportive of LGBT in this school and don&rsquo;t tolerate discrimination.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I see students who have ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) or ADD (attention deficit disorder). A kid with ADHD can be disruptive in class. I find parents are often very resistant to medication but it can really help. A child who is bright can get a huge kick out of suddenly realising that they are actually good at a subject.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The issue raised most by students who see me is &ldquo;parent/family conflict&rdquo; (60 per cent). Other big ones are problems with authority, drug abuse, bullying, parental depression and student depression. Nine per cent of those who receive counselling are self-harming, and 2 per cent are sexually abused.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Not surprisingly, some students have a number of stressors. A kid who is acting up in class may have problems at home. Five students one year had 10 stressors. It is probably a good indication of why mental health professionals should be on the spot in schools, where the students are.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/mental-health-professionals-should-be-on-the-spot-in-the-schools-where-students-are-1.2038558?page=1\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/mental-health-professionals-should-be-on-the-spot-in-the-schools-where-students-are-1.2038558?page=1</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-08 10:19:41',NULL,'‘mental-health-professionals-should-be-on-the-spot-in-the-schools-where-students-are'),(848,'Social workers resigning at rate of one a week','<p>\r\n	Social workers are resigning from their jobs at a rate of one a week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New figures on staff turnover obtained by RT&Eacute;&#39;s Morning Ireland indicate that social workers are almost twice as likely to resign their positions when compared to management and administrative staff in the Health Service Executive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Latest figures show 326 social workers left their positions between 2010 and 2013, which represents a turnover rate of more than 15%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	208 resigned, 50 retired, 28 reached the end of their contracts, two died, one left because of permanent infirmity, and 37 joined another health board or agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While staff numbers have reduced in most areas of the health service following the introduction of a recruitment moratorium in 2009, the number of social workers increased by 190 to 2,329 at the end of 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The figures indicate that while the State is continuing to recruit social workers, particularly in the area of child and family support, a large number of staff are simultaneously walking away from the profession.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Campaigners say social workers are leaving the job because of stress levels, lack of managerial support and burnout.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They add that continuity of care and the formation of lasting relationships is crucial to effective social work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the chief operating officer with TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, has said since the organisation&#39;s inception at the start of last year turnover rates have reduced.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fred McBride said 102 social workers left the agency in 2014, representing a turnover rate of 6.7%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;In comparative terms with other jurisdictions that compares extremely well,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We&#39;re looking at a caseload management system to ensure caseloads are kept within a manageable level and we&#39;re looking at ways of keeping frontline staff in practice rather than moving them into management grades.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McBride said TUSLA would consider introducing an &quot;exit interview&quot; to assess why social workers are leaving their jobs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We&#39;re looking at ways of ensuring that social workers coming into the job spend as much time working directly with children and spending less time behind computers.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Former social worker highlights stress levels</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One former social worker who spoke on condition of anonymity said staffing levels and high caseloads were causing unsustainable levels of stress for social workers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She described how agency social workers were brought in at short notice to cover gaps in staffing levels ahead of inspections by the Health Information and Quality Authority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When the inspectors left, the source said, the agency staff were let go.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I started to feel that instead of helping these children and families I was now part of a system that was causing them further harm and stress.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Every social worker I speak to has an exit strategy because it&rsquo;s impossible. It&#39;s not something you can stay in beyond a certain length of time,&quot; she explained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, Mr McBride denied that such a practice could occur under the new agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I can tell you in the last year we have never used agency staff simply to cover and inspection period,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Our priority is ensuring that safe service is provided to children and families.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2009, the Ryan Report identified the retention of social workers in Irish child care as problematic, with higher turnover rates than other areas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Irish Association of Social Workers chairman D&oacute;nal O&#39;Malley said while some progress has been made since the publication of the report, more was required.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The big factor is the pressure of the job and the high caseloads. I think that&#39;s reflected in the number of people who have chosen to unfortunately get out of the child and family agency,&quot; Mr O&#39;Malley said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This has been a problem for quite some time even pre-dating the formation of the new TUSLA agency, so it&#39;s no surprise this continues to be a problem.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While resignation rates can be higher in other areas of the health service, the Health Service Executive has been actively trying to reduce numbers in certain sectors and most are subject to a recruitment embargo.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social work is exempt from the embargo and the State is committed to maintaining staffing levels.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0109/671332-social-workers/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0109/671332-social-workers/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-09 10:00:18',NULL,'social-workers-resigning-at-rate-of-one-a-week'),(849,'Self-harming girl, 13, on streets with alleged abuser due to lack of secure unit','<p>\r\n	The Child and Family Agency has told the High Court there is currently no secure placement available to meet the needs of a volatile and disruptive 13-year-old girl in care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The girl, who has self-harmed, assaulted staff and engaged in property damage, was approved for special care last month but remains on a waiting list with seven other children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the girl&#39;s guardian ad litem, the 13-year-old was taken into secure care last year after exhibiting very extreme behaviour including self-harm and fire setting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court heard she responded well to the secure environment but reverted to her old behaviour and even assaulted staff when she was transferred to a step down unit last October.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Things deteriorated further and she ended up in emergency hostel accommodation two nights this week which meant she was on the streets by day &ndash; and in the company of a man who allegedly sexually abused her.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, agrees the girl should be in secure care but unfortunately there is currently no place for the teenager - and they don&#39;t know when one will become available.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the meantime, the teenager will stay in a care unit overseen by a psychologist and social worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/self-harming-girl-13-on-streets-with-alleged-abuser-due-to-lack-of-secure-unit-657316.html\">http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/self-harming-girl-13-on-streets-with-alleged-abuser-due-to-lack-of-secure-unit-657316.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-09 10:01:53',NULL,'self-harming-girl-13-on-streets-with-alleged-abuser-due-to-lack-of-secure-unit'),(850,'Warning after girl, 2, choked by blind cord','<p>\r\n	Mother calls for parents to be &lsquo;extra vigilant&rsquo; after daughter dies</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A mother whose daughter died after being choked by a blind cord has called for parents to be &ldquo;extra vigilant&rdquo; around their homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An emotional Lynda Redmond, from Graiguenamanagh, Co Kilkenny, appealed to parents, saying: &ldquo;If this can happen to me, this can happen to anyone.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her two-year-old daughter Roisin was rushed to Waterford General Hospital after she got caught up in the cord while playing in her grandmother&rsquo;s house on December 16 last.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Despite efforts by medics to save her, in her grandmother&rsquo;s house and in the hospital, she was pronounced dead later that day. Her parents, David and Lynda, have been left devastated and in a state of shock at the loss of their youngest child. The couple have one other child, Killian.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Since 2010, 18 children have died in similar incidents here and in Britain.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s our job as parents to tie them [cords] up. We&rsquo;ve learned the harsh lesson. Go and look at your blinds to check that they are tied up. It takes 10 seconds to double-check them. Just take the time out and do that, because you can&rsquo;t go back, and I should have,&rdquo; said Lynda, who was speaking on Joe Duffy&rsquo;s Liveline show.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Make it a new year&rsquo;s resolution. Maybe I can save someone&rsquo;s life by talking about this. Well, if 10 people check their blinds, then I&rsquo;ve made a difference. Kids get in to all sorts and Rois&iacute;n was no different. She was full of beans. My father always made sure the blinds were tied up, but she still got to them. They weren&rsquo;t old blinds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;My days now are long, lonely and hard. We will get through this and there will be light at the end of the tunnel. We&rsquo;ve got to get up in the morning and dressed for Killian. We have to keep going for him, too. Life goes on and we have an amazing family and friends.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Roisin&rsquo;s comments come as Amanda O&rsquo;Halloran, the founder of organisation Ban Looped Blind Cords in the UK (Sophia&rsquo;s Cause), which was set up when Ms O&rsquo;Halloran&rsquo;s daughter died in 2013 after also becoming caught in a cord, called for manufacturing standards to be changed before another life is lost. Ms O&rsquo;Halloran&rsquo;s daughter Sophia Lily Parslow was aged just 17 months when she died.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Without awareness being spread, more and more children will die. With so many blinds in our homes it&rsquo;s only a matter of time before another family is left devastated. I don&rsquo;t want that to happen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Manufacturers have pushed the blame onto the consumer, safety devices have rarely outlived the life of the blind and have been proven time and time again to be useless. Children have still died and been seriously injured from blinds fitted with cleats or chain breakers. The standards for blinds need to change, the government needs to realise the dangers. Blinds do not need cords. The only safe blind to have is a cordless design.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It takes seven seconds for a child to fall unconscious and less than one minute to die. Blinds are silent killers, some children have even died in close proximity to their carers. Do not take the risk. Remove your corded blind and replace it with a cordless design.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Amanda set up a Facebook page highlighting her call for a ban to blind cords. There are almost 11,000 likes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/warning-after-girl-2-choked-by-blind-cord-305952.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/warning-after-girl-2-choked-by-blind-cord-305952.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-09 10:02:56',NULL,'warning-after-girl-2-choked-by-blind-cord'),(851,'Immigrant Council of Ireland appoints new chief executive','<p>\r\n	Brian Killoran to succeed Denise Charlton as head of organisation in March</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Immigrant Council of Ireland has appointed Brian Killoran as its chief executive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Killoran, who has worked with the organisation for more than 10 years, is to succeed Denise Charlton in the role in March.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said his key challenges would be working towards the delivery of a Sexual Offences Bill, which is expected to include laws to end demand for prostitution and trafficking; completing a review of Irish hate crime legislation; and campaigning for immigration reform.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I look forward to working with our team, the board and our many supporters to progress towards these goals in 2015 and into the future,&rdquo; said Mr Killoran, a native of Roscrea, Co Tipperary.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Founded by Sr Stanislaus Kennedy, the Immigrant Council of Ireland campaigns for rights and protections which benefit Irish citizens, migrants and their families.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Charlton, who has been the council&rsquo;s chief executive for 13 years, is leaving to start a new business but will continue to work with the council on policy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/immigrant-council-of-ireland-appoints-new-chief-executive-1.2062812\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/immigrant-council-of-ireland-appoints-new-chief-executive-1.2062812</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-12 10:40:02',NULL,'immigrant-council-of-ireland-appoints-new-chief-executive'),(852,'Study recommends measures for reducing child pedestrian deaths','<p>\r\n	Of 45 child pedestrian deaths from 2006-2011, 13 were caused by low-speed vehicle rollovers, mainly in residential driveways</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Greater preventive measures are needed to reduce the number of &ldquo;rollover&rdquo; deaths of toddlers by vehicles reversing in domestic driveways, according to a new study. Of 45 child pedestrian deaths that occurred between 2006 and 2011, 13 were caused by low-speed vehicle rollovers, mainly in residential driveways, according to researchers from Temple Street Children&rsquo;s University Hospital.<br />\r\n	The study says education of parents and caregivers, the separation of driveways from play areas, adequate supervision of children and the installation of &ldquo;object vicinity sensors&rdquo; on cars could all play a part in reducing this death toll.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Rollover deaths were most likely to involve toddlers under the age of three and to occur in the summer months and at weekends.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	More than half of the drivers were family members and all were reversing at the time of the collision. These occurred in driveways in more than 60 per cent of cases and in farmyards in more than 30 per cent. For low-speed vehicle rollovers, the average age of the child was just over 21 months. In all cases, the cause of death was head injuries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The study, published in the Irish Medical Journal, notes a &ldquo;striking male preponderance&rdquo; among the 45 fatalities over the five-year period. &ldquo;In older children this sex discrepancy may be due to a higher incidence in males of unsafe road-crossing behaviour and playing on roads.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	In terms of age, the majority of deaths occurred in the one- to four-year-old age group, in keeping with the findings of other studies. While injuries from road crashes are a leading cause of death among children worldwide, the number of children dying on the roads here has actually fallen in recent years, the study notes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Almost half of deaths took place at the weekend, while 44 per cent occurred in the summer months and 35 per cent in the evening time. The study says environmental features, such as increased traffic levels and a lack of playgrounds, are significant risk factors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/study-recommends-measures-for-reducing-child-pedestrian-deaths-1.2062291\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/study-recommends-measures-for-reducing-child-pedestrian-deaths-1.2062291</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-12 10:41:14',NULL,'study-recommends-measures-for-reducing-child-pedestrian-deaths'),(853,'Guardian appointed for mother of child in State care','<p>\r\n	Mother did not have capacity to apply for legal aid, Dublin District Family Court told</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Dublin District Family Court judge has appointed a guardian for the mother of a child in State care after hearing that the woman did not have the capacity to apply for legal aid.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Judge Colin Daly made the appointment as part of an application to extend an interim care order for a young teenager.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The girl, taken into care months before her mother was admitted involuntarily to a psychiatric unit, had been &ldquo;rejected and neglected&rdquo; by her mother, who had not spoken to her for a year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The mother had made some improvement since being admitted to hospital more than eight weeks ago, but her psychiatrist had said she did not have the capacity to appoint a solicitor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&lsquo;Frustrating&rsquo;<br />\r\n	A solicitor for the Child and Family Agency said it was &ldquo;frustrating&rdquo; that the Legal Aid Board &ldquo;would not be more proactive&rdquo; in circumstances where the mother could not apply for the certificate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	But a Legal Aid Board solicitor, representing the girl&rsquo;s father, said the board did not have &ldquo;a paternalistic function&rdquo; and couldn&rsquo;t appoint a solicitor without an application.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Giving evidence, the child&rsquo;s social worker told the court of therapeutic supports being created for the child. She also said the mother had told her recently she was open to an access visit from her daughter. She intended to organise access &ldquo;at the child&rsquo;s pace&rdquo;, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The teenager&rsquo;s court-appointed guardian urged caution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;This is a child who has been rejected and neglected by her mum over an extended period of time,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	She said before the mother was admitted to hospital, she would not speak to her daughter on access visits. The child was now worried about what it would be like if her mother did begin talking to her again.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The girl&rsquo;s father was also represented in court. His solicitor said he was consenting to an interim care order. His &ldquo;understanding of his paternity&rdquo; was very recent, she said, and he &ldquo;has his own wife and family&rdquo;. He was having access visits with his daughter that were going well, but did not envisage being able to give her a home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Judge Daly said a court-appointed guardian could &ldquo;step into the shoes of the mother&rdquo; and one of her first actions should be to apply for legal aid for the mother.<br />\r\n	Extending the interim care order for 28 days, he also asked the agency to &ldquo;give due weight&rdquo; to the guardian&rsquo;s recommendations around access.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&lsquo;Chaotic lifestyle&rsquo;<br />\r\n	In a separate case, the judge extended interim care orders for a group of siblings whose parents lived in homeless accommodation in a hotel.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	The young children&rsquo;s social worker said the couple, who were not in court, &ldquo;continued to present a chaotic lifestyle&rdquo;. They &ldquo;struggled to manage their own lives&rdquo; and were not capable of looking after their children. The court was told an additional child had been born to the couple just before Christmas and taken into care. The children were introduced to the baby for the first time this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Judge Daly also reviewed the case of a teenager who had absconded from care at Christmas. He was told the boy was now back in his rural residential unit and was allowed to stay with a relative in his home area at weekends.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	He had also been assigned a Garda case manager. The boy&rsquo;s court-appointed guardian said the child was now at least &ldquo;on the radar&rdquo;. The judge asked that the agency consider a &ldquo;pedagogical model&rdquo; of care involving a residential placement with two full-time carers. He adjourned the review to February.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/guardian-appointed-for-mother-of-child-in-state-care-1.2062305\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/guardian-appointed-for-mother-of-child-in-state-care-1.2062305</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-12 10:44:10',NULL,'guardian-appointed-for-mother-of-child-in-state-care'),(854,'Plans for cameras at care homes are ruled out','<p>\r\n	The health service has abandoned plans for placing surveillance cameras and undercover workers in care homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The U-turn comes just a month after both ideas were floated by HSE director general Tony O&#39;Brien, amid the fall out from the Aras Attracta affair.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE suspended a dozen staff at the home for people with disabilities in Swinford, Co Mayo pending an investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Abusive practices such as force feeding, slapping, physical restraint and psychological abuse were exposed after an undercover researcher working for RTE secretly filmed at the facility.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a letter to staff ahead of the footage being broadcast, Mr O&#39;Brien said sending undercover workers into care settings &quot;has a certain value&quot; and revealed he had asked the HSE&#39;s social care division to examine how the approach could be used.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He later said the HSE would also investigate the possibility of using covert cameras, an idea backed by Junior Health Minister Kathleen Lynch.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it now appears neither initiative will be coming into force.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement to the Irish Independent, the HSE said: &quot;Currently it is the view that the installation of cameras in residential facilities would impinge on the privacy of residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Therefore the HSE has not progressed the suggestions that cameras or undercover reporters be used in care homes.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The statement added that the suggestions would be kept &quot;under review&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The footage shot at Aras Attracta is being examined as part of a garda investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although the covert camera and undercover worker initiatives are not happening, the HSE said it had moved ahead with other measures to safeguard residents in care homes for the elderly and the disabled.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under national policy procedures introduced last month, all service providers have to appoint a &quot;designated officer&quot; to receive complaints.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They have responsibility for ensuring appropriate managers are informed and necessary actions are taken in response to a complaint.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They must also ensure that all reporting obligations are met.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The alleged failure of care homes to properly respond to complaints has been a feature of concerns raised by care workers, residents and their relations in recent years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Health said it was currently examining proposed legislation drafted by Fine Gael TD Fergus O&#39;Dowd, which would expand the role of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and allow it to conduct investigations of specific complaints.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although HIQA has the power to take complaints into consideration when carrying out inspections, it is not allowed to investigate specific complaints.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Around 700 complaints about care homes received by HIQA over the past two years are currently being examined by gardai.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/plans-for-cameras-at-care-homes-are-ruled-out-30902578.html</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-13 10:26:17',NULL,'plans-for-cameras-at-care-homes-are-ruled-out'),(855,'Dublin man jailed for nine years for sexual abuse of sister','<p>\r\n	Brother repeatedly assaulted his sibling, 13 years his junior, in family home</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Dublin man has been jailed for nine years for repeatedly sexually abusing his younger sister over 30 years ago.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 52-year-old man, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the now 39-year-old woman, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury last December following a trial.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He had pleaded not guilty to 16 counts of indecent assault at the family home on dates between March 1st, 1983 and March 1st, 1987 when the victim was aged between seven and 11 years old.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court heard that the abuse came to an end when the girl had sex education in school and told her brother what he had been doing was wrong. She disclosed the abuse to their mother 13 years later but did not report it to the garda&iacute; until June 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The man met garda&iacute; by appointment the following August but told them it was &ldquo;lies&rdquo; and suggested that his sister needed help.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Defence counsel Tara Burns SC, told Judge Martin Nolan her client is a father of two children who has a good work history. She handed in testimonials which described him as &ldquo;a loyal and trustworthy employee&rdquo;, a good-natured person and a loyal family man.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Nolan noted that the maximum penalty available was a prison sentence of 10 years. He said what made the offence &ldquo;incredibly serious&rdquo; was the number of times the man had sexually assaulted his younger sister, which he estimated was in excess of a couple of hundred times.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;You were an adult and she was a child. You must have known what you were doing was wrong and you continued to do it,&rdquo; Judge Nolan said before he sentenced the man to nine years in prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda Daniel Connell told Roisin Lacey BL, prosecuting, that the woman later told garda&iacute; her brother first abused her in the bedroom they shared around the time of her First Holy Communion. She said it continued four or five times a week for two years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She later moved into a different bedroom with her sisters and the abuse started again during which time her brother tried to have sex with her but she stopped him, telling him it was too painful. She told garda&iacute; that her brother told her it was their secret to keep between themselves and he would often give her sweets and money.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was in fear of him and still looked up to him as her older brother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Gda Connell said that no abuse occurred for about six months during the four years as the man was serving a prison sentence at the time and was not living in the family home. The woman outlined in her victim impact statement that as an adult she drank excessively and took painkillers to zone out from the abuse she suffered. She later started to self harm and went for counselling at Pieta House when suicide became &ldquo;an everyday thought&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I cannot change my past. It will always be part of me. All I ever wanted to do was get justice,&rdquo; the woman said before she added that she hoped to start the healing process now and become a better wife and mother.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The woman read from her victim impact statement. She said she blocked out the abuse from the time she was 11 to allow her to function every day. &ldquo;I buried it. I was a fairly good child because I didn&rsquo;t want to draw attention to myself in case my dirty secret came out,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said in later years she was shocked by the flashbacks she would get of the abuse. She described it as mental torture. She said she felt like damaged goods and she couldn&rsquo;t cope with every day reality. She felt both her marriage and her relationship with her children were affected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;My husband threatened to leave because he didn&rsquo;t know the person I had become,&rdquo; the woman said before she outlined a history of excessive drinking and taking painkillers to allow her to &ldquo;zone out the abuse&rdquo;. She also began to self-harm and described cutting her legs in the same spot over and over.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I used to see him driving around and doing everyday things. I would think how dare he go around as normal when I struggled to get out of bed everyday,&rdquo; the woman continued.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said she eventually disclosed the abuse to her husband and later to her children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/circuit-court/dublin-man-jailed-for-nine-years-for-sexual-abuse-of-sister-1.2063160\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/circuit-court/dublin-man-jailed-for-nine-years-for-sexual-abuse-of-sister-1.2063160</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-13 10:28:10',NULL,'dublin-man-jailed-for-nine-years-for-sexual-abuse-of-sister'),(856,'Signs that a child is being bullied','<p>\r\n	Modern-day child bullies are increasingly using the internet or mobile phone to inflict distress on their victims - and parents can miss the signs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Forensic psychologist Dr Maureen Griffin who specialises in the area of internet safety for schools advises that parents be alert for any tell-tale signs that their child being cyberbullied.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child appears stressed/upset when online or using their phone</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They may appear withdrawn from family and friends</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Reluctance to attend school and social activities</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They are exhibiting signs of low self-esteem, frustration, anger, or even a sense of hopelessness, depression or fear</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The chid can feel suspicious of others. This is particularly true in cases of anonymous cyberbullying</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In some cases your child may stop eating or have difficulty sleeping and/or be engaging in self-harm</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/life/family/parenting/signs-that-a-child-is-being-bullied-30895151.html\">http://www.independent.ie/life/family/parenting/signs-that-a-child-is-being-bullied-30895151.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-13 10:31:47',NULL,'signs-that-a-child-is-being-bullied'),(857,'Rehabilitation a must for depraved serial sex offender - campaigner','<p>\r\n	A depraved serial sex offender jailed for threatening to kill a woman he locked in a hotel room should be forced on a rehabilitation programme behind bars, campaigners said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Robert Melia, of Shangan Gardens in Ballymun, was yesterday sentenced to eight years after telling his victims he&rsquo;d take her &ldquo;up to the mountains and chop her up&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Martin Nolan suspended the end of a ten year sentence on condition that Melia - who has a history of violent sexual offences against women - be of &ldquo;good behaviour&rdquo; for three years after his release.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is believed that at the time of this latest offence in May 2013 Melia was causing huge concern for gardai after he fled from the Finglas apartment in which he had been staying and detectives could not locate him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 48-year-old had had previously vanished on gardai when he moved after he walked free from prison in 2007 following a nine year sentence for a string of sex attacks on prostitutes. He has also jailed for six years for raping a woman in the late 1980s.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ellen O&#39;Malley-Dunlop, the head of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, questioned if the serial offender had ever taken part in any sex offenders treatment courses while locked up.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;You wonder if somebody like him has ever been on one of the rehabilitation programmes within the prison system,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We would really want to see his 25pc remission automatically linked with a programme. For somebody like him, a serial sex offender, it should be imposed as part of his sentence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I know all the research says a person must be motivated to go on one of these programmes for them to work, but I think the public can only benefit if he&rsquo;s forced to take part.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Nolan &ndash; who said Melia had previously demonstrated extreme hostility and violence towards women - sparked anger when imposing sentences on sex offenders in the past.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He suspended a four-year prison sentence on Louth man Graham Griffith for a sex attack on a teenager on condition he pay his victim &euro;15,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Former civil servant Patrick Corcoran, who was caught with over 7,000 images and 21 videos of child pornography, also avoided jail when Judge Nolan handed down a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And a man who sexually assaulted his neighbour while her eight-year-old son lay in bed beside her has had his two-year was also handed a two year suspended sentence by the judge, which was increased to four years on appeal the Director of Public Prosecutions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Melia&rsquo;s sex crimes started in 1989 when he raped a woman in the UK. He was later jailed for six years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His latest victim, a vulnerable drug addict, fractured her ankle when she was forced to jump out of the first floor window of a Dublin hotel room in May 2013 because she believed he was going to kill her.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Melia &ndash; who told the women &lsquo;I&rsquo;m going to bring you up the mountains and I&rsquo;m going to chop you up&rdquo; &ndash; later admitted charges of false imprisonment, assault causing harm and making threats to kill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At one point, Melia took two shoe laces from his pocket and said he was going to use them, and a neck tie he was wearing, to tie the woman up.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;How brave this woman was to escape and report it and to follow through with gardai and the court criminal justice system, which is a huge ordeal for any woman, is incredible,&quot; Ms O&#39;Malley-Dunlop added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I hope she gets all the support that she needs.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The attack happened less than a year after the sex beast was sentenced to two years - with 18 months suspended - for failing to notify gardai of his address after his release from prison on serious sex offences.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He had walked free from prison in 2007 after a nine year sentence, imposed in 1999, for falsely imprisoning four women in October 1997 and sexually assaulting three of them. Three of his victims were working as prostitutes at the time of his attacks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Melia had posed variously as an English visitor and as a football fan in Dublin for an All-Ireland semi-final when he approached the women.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At the time Melia &ndash; who more than 20 previous convictions including robbery, burglary and criminal damage - also pleaded guilty to having a knife with intent to cause injury on November 1, 1997, and with hijacking a car, kidnapping the driver and robbing property from her on the same date.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Anyone affected by this report can called the rape crisis centre national 24 hour helpline on 1800 77 88 88.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/rehabilitation-a-must-for-depraved-serial-sex-offender-campaigner-30904303.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/rehabilitation-a-must-for-depraved-serial-sex-offender-campaigner-30904303.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-14 10:16:55',NULL,'rehabilitation-a-must-for-depraved-serial-sex-offender-campaigner'),(858,'Cameras in care homes not ruled out','<p>\r\n	Minister for Social Care Kathleen Lynch says concerns arise over potential intrusion</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Government has not ruled out the possibility of introducing cameras and other forms of monitoring in certain care homes but are concerned about a potential &ldquo;intrusion on dignity&rdquo; that might arise in some facilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister of State for Social Care Kathleen Lynch said cameras may be employed in some situations but that no definitive, overall decision has been reached.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was responding to reports of a U-turn on previously mooted plans to have such measures introduced following allegations of abuse at the Aras Attracta facility in Swinford, Co Mayo.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I am not certain that they would be appropriate in all homes,&rdquo; said Ms Lynch, who has responsibility for primary and social care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Where it is their home since birth, I think we do have to put increased monitoring into places like that. I am sure we will find nothing but just in case; I would be very worried that the lack of monitoring could leave it open to suggestions that maybe behaviour is not appropriate.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, she qualified the position for people with intellectual disabilities, who are capable of communicating, saying such measures may potentially lead to an &ldquo;intrusion on their dignity&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The same could be said of elderly residences, she said, adding the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) had a role in oversight and residents are often in receipt of regular visits from family members.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Lynch was speaking at the launch of new HSE guidelines on providing accessible services to patients with disabilities, launched at the Mater hospital in Dublin on Tuesday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Concerns in relation to care homes have come into focus following an RT&Eacute; Prime Time investigation into alleged mistreatment of residents at Aras Attracta last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response HSE director general Tony O&rsquo;Brien flagged a potential for under cover inspections saying such a move would have &ldquo;certain values&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Health Leo Varadkar also voiced his support.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/cameras-in-care-homes-not-ruled-out-1.2064728\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/cameras-in-care-homes-not-ruled-out-1.2064728</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-14 10:18:29',NULL,'cameras-in-care-homes-not-ruled-out'),(859,'Disability service guidelines ‘to make real difference’','<p>\r\n	New HSE guidelines on providing accessible services to patients with disabilities that took more than two years to prepare were launched in Dublin&rsquo;s Mater Hospital yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Director of the National Disability Authority, Siobh&aacute;n Barron, said the guidelines provided clear directions to staff on what actions could make a tangible difference to a person.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;These guidelines provide a lot of practical advice that, when implemented, will make accessing health and social care services a positive experience for everyone,&rdquo; said Ms Barron.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Having the right attitude and understanding the needs of someone with a disability goes a long way in improving access to services,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The guidelines were developed by the HSE together with the authority and with input from an advisory group established in 2011.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HSE national director for quality and improvement, Dr Philip Crowley, said there was a commitment in the guidelines to training people to attend to the access needs of people with disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Crowley said they had 70 access officers and hoped to train 140 more.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Disability advocate and campaigner for disability equality, Martin Naughton, said full and equal access was far more than just being able to navigate the physical environment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	People with disabilities should be able to get user-friendly information, communicate their needs and have any processes or treatments explained in a positive and stress-reducing way.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is crucial that everyone in the health services plays their part in ensuring that this happens and these guidelines, when implemented fully, represent an important step forward in creating an open and inclusive health service for all.&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HSE director general, Tony O&rsquo;Brien, said work was ongoing in making services accessible and appointing access officers throughout the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Brien said accessibility was more than having wheelchairs and automated doors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It does, of course, include access to buildings but it also includes how consent is obtained; how medication is explained; how appointments are managed and assigned and how bad news is broken.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is critical that all of us who work in health and social care services accept that disability is something that can affect us all and that we build this reality into our everyday practice.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Brien said he had the full backing of the Minister with responsibility for Primary and Social Care, Kathleen Lynch, in calling for the full implementation of the guidelines across the health and social care system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Lynch said the guidelines were a &ldquo;charter for decency&rdquo;. &ldquo;I have spent a considerable amount of my time in hospital and it is never an experience that I look forward to,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Whether it is through accident and emergency or through a planned admission, how you are treated when you walk through the door is hugely important,&rdquo; she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Lynch said the guidelines would ensure that everyone as they grew older would be treated with dignity and respect.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/disability-service-guidelines-to-make-real-difference-306833.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/disability-service-guidelines-to-make-real-difference-306833.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-14 10:20:03',NULL,'disability-service-guidelines-‘to-make-real-difference’'),(860,'Department of Children announces new secretary general','<p>\r\n	James Reilly confirms Fergal Lynch&rsquo;s appointment to top position within department</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Fergal Lynch has been appointed as secretary general of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, it has been announced. *</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, Minister for Children Dr James Reilly confirmed the appointment of Dr Lynch to the top position within the department. Dr Lynch will replace the previous secretary general Jim Breslin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The appointment was officially confirmed at a Cabinet meeting this morning [WEDNESDAY].</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Dr Lynch has been deputy secretary general of the Department of Health since 2012. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, policy, evaluation of policy . . . service delivery and project management,&rdquo; the statement said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Lynch holds a BA in public management, as well as a masters degree and doctorate in governance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Breslin was appointed secretary general of the Department of Health last September.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/department-of-children-announces-new-secretary-general-1.2065883\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/department-of-children-announces-new-secretary-general-1.2065883</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-15 10:15:09',NULL,'department-of-children-announces-new-secretary-general'),(861,'Alright ‘not to feel okay’, Cycle Against Suicide student told','<p>\r\n	Secondary school event at RDS hears from Bressie, Sonia O&rsquo;Sullivan and Alan Quinlan</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The predominating message for the 3,500 secondary school students at a charity Cycle Against Suicide event today, was that it is alright not to feel okay, and help is always at hand no matter how dark things may appear.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The student leaders&rsquo; congress at the RDS in Dublin heard from public figures including singer Bressie (Niall Breslin), runner and Olympian Sonia O&rsquo;Sullivan and former Ireland rugby player Alan Quinlan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Having founded Cycle Against Suicide in 2012, Kerry-based entrepreneur Jim Breen was eager to include Ireland&rsquo;s teenagers in a national conversation about suicide and depression. He began a journey to raise greater awareness of the isolation that people can feel and explaining how such feelings can be combatted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The reason the cycle element came in is because men, when they&rsquo;re shoulder-to-shoulder on bikes, they don&rsquo;t do anything but talk. Whereas face-to-face it&rsquo;s much more difficult to talk, particularly about their feelings,&rdquo; Mr Breen said. He will be running the 1,400km route of this year&rsquo;s cycle before participating in April&rsquo;s main event.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The word suicide hadn&rsquo;t been mentioned in schools, but we knew coming from international best practice that it was good to have these conversations,&rdquo; Mr Breen said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The beauty of targeting this demographic is that today, these students will go home to their brothers, sisters, parents and friends, and it&rsquo;s a way of spreading the message out into the local community.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Suicide rates among under-24s in Ireland are among the highest in Europe, with young men particularly at risk.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	After speaking publicly last year on his personal struggles with anxiety, Bressie stressed that positive mental health is not about comparing your situation to that of &ldquo;starving children in Africa&rdquo; and considering how privileged you are, but mentally reaffirming that &ldquo;you will always be okay&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also called on the education system to provide classes and information services on mental health issues in order to adequately equip young people for such problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Students have the sincere power to tell teachers, to tell educational authorities: &lsquo;we want this on the curriculum&rsquo;,&rdquo; he told a captivated audience of orange-clad attendees, volunteers and organisers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She may be more known as a runner, but Sonia O&rsquo;Sullivan hopes to make it home from Melbourne to partake in the 2015 Cycle Against Suicide. Speaking during the event, she recounted some trying experiences of her own over the course of her career.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I remember being in Florida one time when I was injured.You go over there to a physio who you think has all the answers&hellip; and they tell you that you can&rsquo;t run, and you&rsquo;ve got to stop right now,&rdquo; the Olympic silver medallist said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the worst feeling in the world, and you&rsquo;re sitting there upset, crying, bothered; and then you think: &lsquo;it&rsquo;s okay to be upset&rsquo;, because it means that much to you</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;You just need somebody to guide you in the right way,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The event, which was organised in conjunction with students&rsquo; suggestions, encouraged them to make a change in local communities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s good for once to have something that&rsquo;s so student organised. I&rsquo;m a student volunteer here today, and I feel like we&rsquo;re being heard, and what we want to say is being put up on a platform for us,&rdquo; said 17-year-old Kellie Gregan from St Mary&rsquo;s Holy Faith school in Killester, Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I think events like this bring you back down. Especially when you&rsquo;re in sixth year; when your head&rsquo;s everywhere, you don&rsquo;t know where you&rsquo;re going, and you can get so stressed. Having this calms you and puts these things into perspective,&rdquo; said Toni Scurry from St Michael&rsquo;s school in Finglas, Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cycle Against Suicide takes place between April 27th and May 10th. Cycleagainstsuicide.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/alright-not-to-feel-okay-cycle-against-suicide-student-told-1.2065734\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/alright-not-to-feel-okay-cycle-against-suicide-student-told-1.2065734</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-15 10:30:32',NULL,'alright-‘not-to-feel-okay’-cycle-against-suicide-student-told'),(862,'Warning over pregnant smokers','<p>\r\n	More than one in 10 mothers-to-be smoke all through their pregnancy, the latest report on Irish children has revealed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the amount of expectant mothers who kept up the habit fell from 28% to 17% from 1999 to 2007, some 13% remained full-time smokers during the pregnancy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Growing Up in Ireland study found women who experience a great deal of stress are much more likely to continue the habit while poverty and poor education are also factors in women who smoke while expecting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The opposite was found for women who drink during pregnancy, the report said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Irish mothers are significantly less likely to report drinking during a pregnancy but those who were regarded as better off and better educated were more likely to drink while expecting a child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The researchers also warned that due to the drinking culture in Ireland babies are more often exposed to high levels of alcohol until a woman&#39;s pregnancy is confirmed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They called for more focus on reducing alcohol consumption among younger women for the benefit of themselves and their children&#39;s health.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Professor Richard Layte of Trinity College Dublin and the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), who wrote the report with Dr Cathal McCrory, said children could suffer for the rest of their lives due to the decisions their mothers make during pregnancy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Poor child and maternal environment during pregnancy and infancy contributes to early ill health and may have life-long consequences,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Research internationally shows that Investment in maternity services and community health services saves money both in the short and long run.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report focused on smoking, drinking and breastfeeding in the prenatal and antenatal period and their affect on a child&#39;s birth weight and subsequent growth and development from birth to nine months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It will be published today by Health Minister Dr James Reilly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other findings from the study include:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	:: If the woman&#39;s partner continues to smoke during the pregnancy, the mother is 70% less likely to quit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	:: Irish mothers-to-be are significantly less likely to report drinking during pregnancy compared to women in the UK, but those who do consume alcohol are more likely to drink more heavily.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	:: There is a steady relationship between number of cigarettes smoked in pregnancy and birth weight: smoking 11+ cigarettes daily decreases birth weight by a third of a kilo on average.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	:: Almost half of children were weaned onto solid foods before the guideline age of six months, although the reasons for early weaning were unclear.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	:: Less breastfeeding and earlier weaning onto solid foods was associated with an unhealthy pattern of weight gain in infancy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The researchers urged the Government to make the prevention of smoking in pregnancy a priority with cessation campaigns designed to target the woman&#39;s partner.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They also urged maternity units to set up assessment and intervention initiatives to tackle stress and anxiety in expectant mothers from the first appointment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health chiefs were also encouraged to increase resources to promote breastfeeding.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study warned that the prevalence of early weaning in Ireland - before a baby reaches six months - suggests parents in Ireland are not aware of the health consequences.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Reilly said: &quot;This report and its findings are a clear reminder that the prenatal period and the early years of a child&#39;s life provide a unique window of opportunity to establish lifelong health and well-being patterns.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We must do what we can to protect children from harmful exposure to smoking in the prenatal and early childhood period and re-establish breastfeeding as the cultural norm in Ireland, thereby making it the natural choice for parents.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Growing Up In Ireland study is following the progress of almost 20,000 children and their families - 11,134 children participating at nine months, three years and five years of age and another 8,568 children interviewed at nine and 13.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/warning-over-pregnant-smokers-30909336.html\">http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/warning-over-pregnant-smokers-30909336.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-15 10:32:25',NULL,'warning-over-pregnant-smokers'),(863,'Ireland has \'world\'s lowest rate for breastfeeding\'','<p>\r\n	Ireland has &quot;the lowest rate of breastfeeding in the world,&quot; and most Irish maternity hospitals are not enforcing national Breastfeeding Policy guidelines, according to the authors of a new report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They also warned that &quot;urgent action&quot; must be taken to warn Irish parents about the risks of early weaning, with evidence that half of Irish babies are being put on to solid food at four months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Medical advice is to hold off on solids until the child is six months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Growing Up in Ireland study found that just 56pc of respondents reported that their child was ever breastfed, as against a European norm of around 90pc.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	By six months, the number of mothers still exclusively breastfeeding was down to just 6pc.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Irish women were &#39;less likely to breastfeed compared to all other nationalities&#39;, the report found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An industry expert told the Irish Independent that the Government is spending less than &euro;100,000 a year on promoting breastfeeding, with just one breastfeeding co-ordinator employed on a national basis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cost of treating acute infections in infants nationally stands at around &euro;12m to &euro;15m each year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Co-author of the report, Richard Layte of the ESRI, said that if &quot;a fraction&quot; of this money was spent in promoting breastfeeding, it would save money even in the short-term, since breastfeeding prevents such infections in the first place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, Professor Layte expressed concern that half of Irish children are being weaned far too early, at four months, and said health professionals need to communicate a clearer message about the consequences.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earning weaning sparks rapid weight gain and, while some Irish parents consider this to be a positive thing, Prof Layte warned that this can lead to metabolic disorders later in life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/ireland-has-worlds-lowest-rate-for-breastfeeding-30912066.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/ireland-has-worlds-lowest-rate-for-breastfeeding-30912066.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-16 10:22:26',NULL,'ireland-has-worlds-lowest-rate-for-breastfeeding'),(864,'Horror as little boy jabbed by syringe needle on city bus','<p>\r\n	A six year old boy has been jabbed by a used syringe needle that was left on the seat of a city bus.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The terrified youngster was pricked by the dirty needle on the 66B bus which goes to Maynooth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The child was taken off at Lucan Road and rushed to Tallaght Hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The other passengers were also removed and quickly transferred to a different bus while emergency services dealt with the incident.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The bus was travelling from the city centre towards Maynooth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It&#39;s a nightmare for any parent to go through. My thoughts are with the parents of the child and what they are going through now,&quot; said Lucan councillor Liona O&#39;Toole, the deputy mayor of South Dublin County Council.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Dublin Bus spokeswoman confirmed that the incident had occurred on January 9 at 5.10pm and involved a young passenger.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Emergency services attended the scene and the passenger was taken to Tallaght Hospital,&quot; said the spokeswoman.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The incident is curr- ently under internal investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	rare</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There are very strict protocols in place when dealing with incidents such as this, which the driver followed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There are also strict maintenance and cleaning procedures in place.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The spokeswoman said incidents of this nature are &quot;a rare occurrence&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the overall level of anti-social behaviour is low and has decreased over the past several years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added that the reduction in anti-social incidents was the result of a series of initia- tives that were designed to improve safety for customers and employees.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Whoever left the syringe on the bus was a very irresponsible person,&quot; said Ms O&#39;Toole.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I would like to think the CCTV cameras were in good working order to get evidence. As a mother of three children myself, I&#39;m very concerned. I hope the child is all right.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is not the first time a passenger on the city&#39;s public transport network has been hurt by a syringe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2012, an incident on a Luas tram was reported when a child picked up a used needle and syringe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The young boy was travelling with his mother between Goldenbridge and Blackhorse on the Red Line.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In February 2005, a 15-year-old schoolboy sat on a bloody syringe hidden in the back seat of a bus.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He told a court in a compensation case that he felt a jab in his leg when he sat down on the 78A at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre terminus.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He told the driver who called an ambulance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy underwent innoculation and blood tests, but it was three years before he received the all-clear regarding potential Hep C and Hep B infection.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Joseph Mathews, dealing with the case in 2010, recommended that the crevices in back seats be probed with some sort of steel claw for needles and syringes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.herald.ie/news/horror-as-little-boy-jabbed-by-syringe-needle-on-city-bus-30911791.html\">http://www.herald.ie/news/horror-as-little-boy-jabbed-by-syringe-needle-on-city-bus-30911791.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-16 10:24:42',NULL,'horror-as-little-boy-jabbed-by-syringe-needle-on-city-bus'),(865,'Over 2,500 nursing home beds may close due to failed standards','<p>\r\n	Knock-on effect on hospital overcrowding possible through lack of step-down care</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than 2,500 beds in public nursing homes may have to be closed from July because they fail to meet strict new accommodation standards set by the State&rsquo;s public health watchdog.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Such closures would have a severe knock-on effect on hospital overcrowding through increasing the number of older patients needlessly occupying hospital beds because of a lack of step-down care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A surge in the number of delayed discharges in hospitals was a major contributory factor behind this month&rsquo;s record figures for patients on trolleys.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HSE director general Tony O&rsquo;Brien has warned there is currently insufficient funding to bring accommodation standards in 30 large public nursing homes up to the levels required by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The challenge of re-registering public long-stay beds with Hiqa was a significant issue to be dealt with over the coming months, he told the Oireachtas health committee.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New standards</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new standards essentially require nursing homes to move from providing multi-occupancy wards with shared toilets to single and double rooms with en-suites. However, many public nursing homes are located in older institutional building that are expensive to convert.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister of State for Primary Care Kathleen Lynch said this week Hiqa had agreed to extend the deadline for closures by up to three years, provided there was a commitment to a timeframe for the works.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesman for Hiqa denied any blanket guarantee had been given, but said the standards provided by each nursing home would be considered on a case-by-case basis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said a lot of private operators had spent considerable sums upgrading their premises, and public nursing homes could not be treated any differently.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Where a home fails to meet the new standards, Hiqa can attach conditions to its operation. This could involve a temporary or permanent reduction in the number of residents, or more extreme &ldquo;restrictive actions&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Demographic factors are increasing the pressures on the nursing home sector.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As Mr O&rsquo;Brien pointed out to the committee, the over-65s population is growing by about 20,000 a year, while over-80s are increasing by 4 per cent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/over-2-500-nursing-home-beds-may-close-due-to-failed-standards-1.2067608\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/over-2-500-nursing-home-beds-may-close-due-to-failed-standards-1.2067608</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-16 10:28:26',NULL,'over-2500-nursing-home-beds-may-close-due-to-failed-standards'),(866,'Asylum agency got just four complaints last year','<p>\r\n	Level of grievances &lsquo;in stark contrast with what we are hearing about the conditions&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Just four written complaints were received by the agency responsible for asylum seekers&rsquo; accommodation needs in the first 11 months of 2014, leading to further calls for the abolition of the current complaints mechanism.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of written complaints received by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) has fallen in recent years from 20 in 2011 to six complaints in the full year of 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although full-year figures for 2014 are not yet available, figures provided to The Irish Times under a Freedom of Information request showed that just four complaints had been recorded by the agency to November 27th, 2014, a year in which protests took place at a number of direct provision centres around the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The release of the figures follows a High Court ruling in November which found the current complaints handling procedure to be &ldquo;deficient&rdquo; and &ldquo;unlawful&rdquo;.<br />\r\n	A representative for Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre, said that the low number of complaints was a clear indication that the current complaints system was &ldquo;defunct&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Stark contrast<br />\r\n	Jennifer DeWan said the level of complaints was &ldquo;in stark contrast with what we are hearing about the conditions in direct provision&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If people are not using [the complaints mechanism] then clearly there is something wrong with the system,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;We have been calling for the introduction of an independent complaints mechanism for years, but there is an urgency to that call now following the High Court ruling.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She repeated the organisation&rsquo;s call for the remits of both the Ombudsman and the Ombudsman for Children to be extended to include the direct provision system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	Aideen Roche, of the Limerick-based Doras Luimni, which last year supported residents protesting at living conditions in the Mount Trenchard centre in Foynes, Co Limerick, said it was not appropriate for the RIA to handle complaints made about it and its agents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;You are complaining to the organisation which is responsible for the accommodation you are complaining about.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	&ldquo;A lot of residents don&rsquo;t feel there is any point because it&rsquo;s not going to someone who is going to look objectively at the issues raised.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<br />\r\n	A spokesman for the Department of Justice said that a working group on the asylum process was considering a number of issues raised in the judgment, including the complaints process.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/asylum-agency-got-just-four-complaints-last-year-1.2070534\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/asylum-agency-got-just-four-complaints-last-year-1.2070534</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-19 10:28:03',NULL,'asylum-agency-got-just-four-complaints-last-year'),(867,'Figures show fall in care allowance refusals','<p>\r\n	There has been a dramatic fall in the number of applications for Domiciliary Care Allowance rejected by the Department of Social Protection.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, families receiving the payment for their children have said they are concerned about the possibility of future reviews.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The DCA payment worth &euro;309 to a family every month is made to the carer of a child with a severe disability who lives at home. In recent years, dozens of families have brought High Court cases against the Department over claims that the decision to refuse the payment was unfair, with more than half of all applications rejected at the initial stage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, new figures from the department show that, last year, 5,166 DCA applications were processed, with 1,369 refused on initial assessment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That compares with 4,404 applications processed in 2013, of which 2,527 &mdash; more than half &mdash; were turned down. In percentage terms, the rate of refusal last year was 26.5%, compared with 57% in 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the High Court last year, Mr Justice Max Barrett demanded the Department review its decision to deny a woman a domiciliary care allowance for her autistic son after finding there was &ldquo;an abdication of statutory duty&rdquo; by the deciding officer in the case, with the department ultimately stopping reviews of existing payments. The High Court decision is being appealed to the Supreme Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The solicitor for the woman in the case, Gareth Noble, has also brought a number of other cases on behalf of people in the Facebook group &lsquo;DCA Warriors&rsquo;, which now numbers more than 4,000 people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Noble said the fall in the rate of refusal perhaps indicated that with no reviews of existing payments being carried out, greater resources were allocated to deciding new applications.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said: &ldquo;I think we have seen substantial progress around a host of areas through the efforts of a lot of people, demanding better accountability and better decision making.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A long-standing criticism of DCA decisions, in addition to the high rate of refusal, was the large proportion of refusals then overturned on appeal and the length of the appeals process.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Figures for last year show that of the 1,193 DCA appeals received, 701 were allowed and another 25 partially allowed. Mr Noble said this &ldquo;fully vindicated&rdquo; the decision of parents to bring appeals, even though it can take up to 29 weeks for the process to be completed, on top of the initial 10 weeks for the initial DCA application to be heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Noble, who works with KOD Lyons, said a number of people associated with the DCA Warriors group were concerned at the prospect &mdash; pending any future decision in the Supreme Court &mdash; of reviews resuming, with some parents fearing they may have to &ldquo;go back to the start of the process&rdquo;. He said that, because of a lack of State intervention in some cases, even at review stage, many families had to spend money on accessing private services to ensure they maintain the payment on behalf of their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Noble said the criteria to secure a DCA payment was &ldquo;onerous&rdquo; and waiting times for basic services so lengthy that parents often had little option but to pay for private assessments and support. He said any future reviews of cases that, for example, involved children with autism, would strike fear in parents who worried over &ldquo;having to go through the entire process again&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/figures-show-fall-in-care-allowance-refusals-307646.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/figures-show-fall-in-care-allowance-refusals-307646.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-19 10:28:49',NULL,'figures-show-fall-in-care-allowance-refusals'),(868,'HSE moves to allay fears of nursing home closures','<p>\r\n	The Health Service Executive has moved to allay fears of widespread closure of nursing homes that do not meet the standards set out by the health watchdog.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A report in The Sunday Business Post highlights a number of homes, including six in the Cork area, where the Health Information and Quality Authority identified areas of &ldquo;major&rdquo; non-compliance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These included St Finbarr&rsquo;s Hospital on Douglas Rd, Bandon Community Hospital, Macroom Community Hospital, St Joseph&rsquo;s Ward, Bantry General Hospital, St Joseph&rsquo;s Community Hospital, Millstreet, and Castletownbere Community Hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other nursing homes in breach of standards include St Joseph&rsquo;s Community Hospital in Ennis, Co Clare, St Patrick&rsquo;s Hospital, John&rsquo;s Hill, Waterford, and Tralee Community Nursing Unit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement yesterday, the HSE said it was &ldquo;currently working with HIQA around our public units which are currently registered but will be up for re-registration during 2015&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE said each unit will be inspected by HIQA and a decision made about re-registration on a unit-by-unit basis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE conceded that HIQA has indicated &ldquo;there will be issues with some of our units around full compliance under infrastructural standards&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, they said it would be &ldquo;pre-emptive of the HSE to identify what the outcome of the inspection process will be&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE said it had, &ldquo;within available resources&rdquo;, upgraded some public long-stay units &ldquo;to full infrastructural standards&rdquo; but that &ldquo;a major capital investment would be required to bring all these units to full infrastructural compliance, particularly those that are in excess of 100 years old&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the HSE said it recognises that the units in question &ldquo;provide a significant number of long-stay beds in areas of high demand&rdquo; and with that in mind, they have been &ldquo;working closely with HIQA over the past number of months to meet the re-registration requirements of these units&rdquo; to facilitate continued delivery of these services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HIQA has said if a centre is not in compliance by July 1, 2015, and if no realistic time-bound costed/funded plan has been agreed with the authority, then appropriate conditions will be attached to any renewal of registration.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are more than 100 publicly-run nursing homes catering for more than 7,000 residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-moves-to-allay-fears-of-nursing-home-closures-307640.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-moves-to-allay-fears-of-nursing-home-closures-307640.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-19 10:29:40',NULL,'hse-moves-to-allay-fears-of-nursing-home-closures'),(869,'Homeless man admits sex attack on boy, 14','<p>\r\n	A convicted sex offender will be sentenced next week for molesting a 14-year-old boy in a Kerry town over two years ago.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	John Prendiville, aged 49, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at the Central Criminal Court to sexually assaulting the child, who had been in a residential care at the time, on May 12, 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court heard that Prendiville&rsquo;s 33 previous convictions include five for sexual assault and four for failing to notify garda&iacute; under the Sex Offender&rsquo;s Act.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He had just been released from Castlerea Prison, having served a six-year term for sex assault, when he took the teenager to his B&amp;B and performed oral sex on him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded him in custody until Monday for sentencing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A local detective garda told Fiona Murphy, prosecuting, that the child had been out past curfew and was reported missing from the care centre at 11.45pm.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The teenager was found 30 minutes later slumped against a door at the centre. He was drunk and said he had been sexually assaulted. It was reported to the garda&iacute; and Prendiville was arrested the following day.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He told garda&iacute; he had got the bus into the town that day, having been released from prison, and had gone drinking. He met the teenager outside a pub and later bought him vodka while he drank pints of beer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prendiville then brought the teenager back to his B&amp;B where he kissed him and performed oral sex on him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said during interview &ldquo;I am very sorry over this, didn&rsquo;t know he was 15, very very sorry&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prendiville later said he knew the victim was underage and referred to him as &ldquo;a kid&rdquo; and &ldquo;a young fella&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A victim impact report from the teenager stated that he felt very bad about it and finds it hard to trust people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A report from his social worker stated he was a vulnerable child who has since been moved to a new care centre for his own safety.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prendiville accepted that his convictions for breaching the requirements of the Sex Offender&rsquo;s Register arose because he was unable to give garda&iacute; a permanent address.</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-20 10:15:46',NULL,'homeless-man-admits-sex-attack-on-boy-14'),(870,'Increase in more lethal methods of self-harm in recession','<p>\r\n	People who self-harm have been using more lethal methods since the beginning of the recession, research shows.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the level of self-harm continues to fall since then, the use of lethal methods has risen by more than half for women and by more than one third for men, according to the National Suicide Research Foundation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2013, the age-standardised rate of individuals presenting to hospital following self-harm was 199 per 100,000, a 6% decrease on the rate in 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This decrease is the third successive fall in the rate of self-harm in Ireland, which was down 4% in 2011 and 2% in 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the rate of self-harm in 2013 was still 6% higher than 2007, before the economic recession. During the period 2007 to 2013, there was variation in the methods of self-harm recorded by the NSRF&rsquo;s Registry.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While methods of low lethality remained relatively stable during this time, highly lethal methods have steadily increased since 2007 for both men and women and across all age groups, and in particular among 25-44-year- olds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While relatively rare, the number of presentations involving highly lethal methods has increased by 32% for men and 53% for women since 2007.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This is particularly worrying as there is a significant association between the use of highly lethal methods of self-harm and subsequent suicide, especially among men,&rdquo; said Professor Ella Arensman, of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at UCC.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research also found the increase in rates of self-harm associated with the economic recession varied according to age.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During the period 2010-2013, the increase in male self-harm was highest among those aged 25-44 years, the study reveals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For women, the most significant increase was observed for those aged 15 to 24.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, the suicide prevention organisaton Pieta House has announced the appointment of Brian J Higgins as its new chief executive officer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Higgins takes over from Pieta House founder Joan Freeman, who will now focus her efforts on expanding Pieta House&rsquo;s services abroad, beginning initially in the United States.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Higgins said he is looking forward to &ldquo;continuing the admirable work conducted by Joan Freeman since 2006.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/increase-in-more-lethal-methods-of-self-harm-in-recession-307860.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/increase-in-more-lethal-methods-of-self-harm-in-recession-307860.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-20 10:19:04',NULL,'increase-in-more-lethal-methods-of-self-harm-in-recession'),(871,'Bessborough to become a suicide support centre','<p>\r\n	One of the country&rsquo;s most notorious mother and baby homes is set to get a new lease of life as a specialist suicide support and prevention centre.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Suicide charity Console has acquired Bessborough House in Cork City and plans to convert the Georgian mansion into its largest support, training and education facility.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Bessborough House has such a sad history but we hope to turn it into something positive and life-giving &mdash; this is a positive story,&rdquo; Console founder Paul Kelly said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some leading Cork businesses have agreed to help with the facelift, but Mr Kelly appealed last night for others, and for tradesmen, to get involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The house needs a lot of cosmetic work before Console can use it to provide counselling, support and helpline services for people in suicidal crisis and to those bereaved or affected by suicide, or for education and training courses in suicide prevention and mental health projects.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Console&rsquo;s other Cork centre, on Perrott Ave, will continue to operate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, the order of Catholic nuns which owns the house, was not available for comment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today, the Bessoborough estate houses several healthcare and social support services, but while the congregation owns the property, it does not run the services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The house was built around 1760, and was owned by several prominent families over the years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At the invitation of Bishop of Cork, Dr Daniel Coholan, it was taken over in 1922 by the nuns and was one of three Mother and Baby homes run by the order across the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The late Dr James Deeny, a former chief medical officer for the Department of Health, found mortality rates at Bessborough by the late 1940s were over 55%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mother and Baby home campaigners fear the remains of up 3,000 infants could be buried in mass unmarked graves on its grounds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kelly said Console is acutely aware of the dark history of the building.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Hopefully, this will be a new chapter in its history, a new beginning. This will be about saving lives,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kelly, whose younger sister, Sharon, died by suicide, founded Console in 2002. He said he understands that the grief after the suicide of a loved one is protracted and complicated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We hope this centre will provide a lifeline for families as we walk the journey with them, through the grief and terrible loss,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Recent figures show more than 500 people died by suicide here last year, with around 12,000 incidents of deliberate self-harm and attempted suicide. Console&rsquo;s 24-helpline deals with almost 3,000 calls every month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If you&rsquo;d like to get involved in Console&rsquo;s Bessborough project, contact 01-6102638.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Console&rsquo;s 24-hour helpline 1800-247 247, by email on info@console.ie, or log on to www.console.ie.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bessborough-to-become-a-suicide-support-centre-307844.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bessborough-to-become-a-suicide-support-centre-307844.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-20 10:20:10',NULL,'bessborough-to-become-a-suicide-support-centre'),(872,'Calls to free suicide helpline rose by almost a third over lonely Christmas period','<p>\r\n	Calls to a national free suicide helpline rose by almost a third over the Christmas period, Irish charity Console has said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The national suicide prevention and bereavement charity received an average of 165 calls per day over Christmas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some calls were high-risk calls from people &quot;in a suicide crisis&quot; while some followed a death by suicide, Console said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There was a notable increase in calls following deaths by suicide nationwide, combined with very high-risk, low-risk and moderate-risk calls from people in suicidal crisis,&quot; said Console founder and CEO Paul Kelly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The increase in calls illustrates a huge demand for the Console freephone 1800 247 247 suicide prevention helpline with over 3,250 calls now received per month, quite apart from the spike that we experienced at Christmas which brought our December numbers to 3,924.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The Christmas period tends to be a very difficult time for some people who can feel very lonely and isolated, and this, combined with their own personal circumstances can lead some people to be very vulnerable at this time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost 4,000 people rang the helpline throughout December. And during the ten-day holiday period, calls rose by a third when compared with the same period last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Although a joyful time for many, Christmas can tend to magnify life&#39;s pressures for people who may be vulnerable emotionally or psychologically.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;These pressures might be added financial worries, or perhaps it is the first Christmas since a significant event such as a death or a divorce.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We took a lot of calls from people who felt the added pressure of disconnection from family and society, which can often lead to despair.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Console can be reached at any time on freephone 1800 247 247, and useful information can be found on www.console.ie.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Callers to the helpline may be about to take their own lives or at the stage of having it planned down to the fine details with a firm intent on following through with it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Console helpline staff are trained to make an intervention if needed and we have seen a marked increase in our outgoing contact with the frontline emergency services such as the Gardai, ambulance or hospitals on behalf of callers.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/calls-to-free-suicide-helpline-rose-by-almost-a-third-over-lonely-christmas-period-30922323.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/calls-to-free-suicide-helpline-rose-by-almost-a-third-over-lonely-christmas-period-30922323.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-21 11:22:54',NULL,'calls-to-free-suicide-helpline-rose-by-almost-a-third-over-lonely-christmas-period'),(873,'Social workers and therapists may face fitness-to-practise inquiries','<p>\r\n	Sanctions against those found guilty of misconduct to include ban on practising</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health and social care professionals accused of misconduct or poor performance may face a public fitness-to-practise hearing for the first time from today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A State regulator has been given authority to issue sanctions and investigate complaints against a range of registered professionals, including social workers, speech and language therapists, dieticians, radiographers and radiation therapists.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any person can make a complaint to Coru, the regulator for health and social care professionals in Ireland for an event which occurred since December 31st, 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fitness-to-practise hearings will be similar to those held for other professionals such as doctors, pharmacists and nurses and will examine a person&rsquo;s ability to practise both their job and profession. The potential sanctions range from formal censure to prohibiting a registered professional from practising.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other professions</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A range of other professions are due to become subject to these rules next year, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, optometrists and dispensing opticians.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ginny Hanrahan, chief executive of Coru, said if a registered professional was unfit to practise, they put the safety of the public at risk. &ldquo;Protecting the public is our primary remit and, while the majority of practitioners operate to the highest standards, we will not hesitate to take action if and when necessary,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under-resourcing</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The measure may well prove controversial among social workers, for example, who argue in some cases that under- resourcing and heavy caseloads means they are unable to provide a safe service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Hanrahan, however, said professionals who met standards set out in their profession&rsquo;s code of conduct should not have any reason to feel worried.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All registered professionals have been issued with these codes and all complaints will be measured against them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Coru was set up in recent years following decades of pledges to promote higher standards by regulating health professionals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/social-workers-and-therapists-may-face-fitness-to-practise-inquiries-1.2073193\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/social-workers-and-therapists-may-face-fitness-to-practise-inquiries-1.2073193</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-21 11:24:19',NULL,'social-workers-and-therapists-may-face-fitness-to-practise-inquiries'),(874,'Regulator powerless to probe criticised charities','<p>\r\n	A new regulator has already received two dozen complaints about charities, but says it does not yet have the powers or resources to investigate them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) revealed 24 complaints had been made to it about the operation of various charities since it was set up last October.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it told the Irish Independent it was not yet resourced to launch inquiries - and does not know when it will be given the power to do so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said that all it could do at this stage was log the complaints received.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The long-awaited regulator was set up by the Government amid mounting concern over transparency in the charitable sector.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These concerns were exacerbated by the revelations of &quot;top-ups&quot; at disability organisations, such as the Central Remedial Clinic, and high salaries and bonuses at the Rehab Group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, the regulator - which is headed up by former Department of Justice official &Uacute;na N&iacute; Dhubhghaill - explained it was not yet operating a full service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is currently focussed on compiling a register of charities and now has registration details for 8,500 organisations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Charities have been given a deadline of April 16 to register, with the regulator warning of stiff penalties for those which don&#39;t.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Charities Act allows for fines of up to &euro;300,000 and jail terms for serious contraventions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The regulator also said it was seeking a range of information from registered charities, which it plans to publish. This includes details of the activities and beneficiaries of the charity, gross income, expenditure, and the identities of trustees and directors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it is intended that from the autumn an even more comprehensive set of annual returns will be published.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the exact level of information which will be required has yet to decided, it is expected to be along the lines of the SORP (Statement of Recommended Practice) standard used in Britain.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This includes requirements to disclose salaries in bands.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the regulator said no date had yet been identified for when it would be in a position to begin investigating complaints against charities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The current focus of the CRA is on the development of the register of charities, which underpins the new system of charity regulation,&quot; the statement said. &quot;Once the current work has been advanced sufficiently, the CRA will be focussing on active monitoring and investigative work.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The regulator said that when it was fully operational it would primarily consider complaints where there is the potential for serious abuse of a charity, its assets, or its beneficiaries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it will not become involved in internal disagreements, employment or unfair dismissals issues, or contracts and legal actions involving charities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/regulator-powerless-to-probe-criticised-charities-30924656.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/regulator-powerless-to-probe-criticised-charities-30924656.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-21 11:26:47',NULL,'regulator-powerless-to-probe-criticised-charities'),(875,'Teenager (17) missing from home for a week','<p>\r\n	A 17-year-old has been missing from her home in New Ross, Wexford for a week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Letisha Murphy was last seen at approximately 8.30pm on January 14 in New Ross.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Gardai are appealing to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of the teenager.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Letisha is described as 5&#39;4&quot; in height, of average build with long blond hair extensions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When last seen, she was wearing a dark jacket with fur on the hood and white runners.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is believed Letisha may be in the Cork city area.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Anyone with information is asked to contact New Ross Garda Station 051 - 426030, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/teenager-17-missing-from-home-for-a-week-30925723.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/teenager-17-missing-from-home-for-a-week-30925723.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-21 14:30:45',NULL,'teenager-17-missing-from-home-for-a-week'),(876,'Children with anti-social siblings struggle to read emotion as well','<p>\r\n	Teenagers with brothers and sisters who show severe anti-social behaviour share a similar impairment in recognising emotions as their siblings, according to a new study.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings, by researchers at the University of Southampton, suggest difficulties in recognising emotions could be a factor that increases a child&rsquo;s risk of developing conduct disorder &ndash; a condition characterised by pathological aggression and anti-social behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Previous studies have shown that children and adolescents with conduct disorder (CD) find it difficult to identify facial emotions in others such as anger, fear and happiness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But the new research, published in the journal Psychological Medicine, reveals that the siblings of children with conduct disorder, who display no symptoms themselves, also struggle to recognise certain emotions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As the brothers and sisters of those with CD are significantly more likely to develop anti-social behaviour themselves, the research suggests that similar difficulties in facial emotion recognition could be a factor that contributes to this increased risk.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Graeme Fairchild said: &ldquo;Young people with conduct disorder place a greater burden on legal, healthcare and educational services than their typically developing peers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is vital to understand the underlying factors behind this condition that might explain why anti-social behaviour sometimes runs in families.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The ability to recognise emotions in others is vital for successful non-verbal communication and social interaction. Our findings suggest that difficulties in reading emotions in others could be a risk factor in the development of CD.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The researchers studied facial emotion recognition in 107 teenagers, divided into three groups: 39 healthy control subjects, 44 adolescents diagnosed with conduct disorder, and 24 unaffected siblings with a brother or sister who has conduct disorder but who have no history of anti-social behaviour themselves.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The teenagers with conduct disorder struggled to recognise anger, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise in facial expressions, in line with findings from previous studies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The non-anti-social siblings of those with conduct disorder also showed impaired recognition of anger, happiness, and to a lesser extent fear, when compared with the control group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Fairchild said: &ldquo;If impaired facial emotion recognition is a risk factor for conduct disorder, further research is needed to determine why some relatives with similar genetic and environmental risk factors might develop conduct disorder while others remain unaffected, despite exhibiting similar problems in emotion recognition.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/children-with-anti-social-siblings-struggle-to-read-emotion-as-well-659091.html\">http://www.breakingnews.ie/world/children-with-anti-social-siblings-struggle-to-read-emotion-as-well-659091.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-22 10:32:29',NULL,'children-with-anti-social-siblings-struggle-to-read-emotion-as-well'),(877,'Top tips for dealing with social media abuse','<p>\r\n	What should students do if they are being bullied, harassed or attacked by someone on Facebook? Facebook offers a number of tools to help victims deal with bullying and harassment. The best protection against bullying is to learn how to recognise it and how to stop it. Here are some tips about what you should - and shouldn&#39;t - do:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* UNFRIEND</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Only your Facebook friends can contact you through Facebook chat or post messages on your Timeline</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* BLOCK</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This will prevent the person from starting chats and messages with you, adding you as a friend and viewing things you share on your Timeline</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* REPORT</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Use Facebook to report the person or any abusive things they post</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* DON&#39;T RESPOND</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Typically, bullies want to get a response - don&#39;t give them one</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* DON&#39;T KEEP IT A SECRET</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Use Facebook&#39;s Trusted Friend tool to send a copy of the abusive content to someone you trust who can help you deal with the bullying. This will also generate a report to Facebook</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	* DOCUMENT AND SAVE</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If the attacks persist, you may need to report the activity to an internet service provider and they will want to see the messages</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/top-tips-for-dealing-with-social-media-abuse-30923737.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/education/top-tips-for-dealing-with-social-media-abuse-30923737.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-22 10:33:45',NULL,'top-tips-for-dealing-with-social-media-abuse'),(878,'Ms Y plans legal action against HSE and other agencies','<p>\r\n	Asylum seeker who was refused abortion in Ireland to take personal injuries actions</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Y, the asylum seeker who last summer unsuccessfully sought an abortion after arriving in Ireland pregnant as a result of alleged rape, is planning legal action against a number of bodies, including the Heath Service Executive, the Department of Justice, the Reception and Integration Agency and the Garda National Immigration Bureau.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She is also planning legal action against the hospital where she was a maternity patient for a number of weeks until after her baby was delivered prematurely by Caesarean section in her third trimester.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All of the organisations against whom she plans proceedings were asked to comment last night. None of the organisations in question would comment on the development.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The young woman alleges personal injury as a result of the treatment she received while in the care of these agencies. She alleges the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 should have been invoked in her case far earlier than it was and that her pregnancy should have been terminated in the first or second trimester.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Suicidal thoughts</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She alleges she clearly expressed suicidal thoughts to a number of agencies before she was referred for psychiatric assessment under the terms of the Act, at about 22/23 weeks gestation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Y arrived in the State at the end of March last year and found out she was pregnant soon after. She said she had been raped before she came here and immediately said she wanted an abortion.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Abortion costs</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She says she was at that stage informed of the costs of travelling for an abortion as well as the need for an exit and re-entry visa. She was later seen by a doctor at Spirasi, an NGO which works with survivors of torture. The organisation is not implicated in any planned legal action by Ms Y.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In June a doctor there, in a report for Ms Y&rsquo;s asylum application, documented she was &ldquo;very distressed and had a strong death wish&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She came to the attention of HSE psychiatric services five weeks later at about 22/23 weeks&rsquo; gestation. She was assessed by three experts - two psychiatrists and an obstetrician - under the terms of the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act. They agreed she was suicidal. She was refused an abortion, however, and her baby was delivered by Caesarean section at about 26 weeks, on August 6th.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Y&rsquo;s solicitor, Caoimhe Haughey, confirmed personal injuries actions were planned against these statutory and non-statutory agencies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is clear my client was legally entitled to an abortion under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act as soon as she expressed suicidal thoughts.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/ms-y-plans-legal-action-against-hse-and-other-agencies-1.2074504\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/ms-y-plans-legal-action-against-hse-and-other-agencies-1.2074504</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-22 10:37:29',NULL,'ms-y-plans-legal-action-against-hse-and-other-agencies'),(879,'Bulk of social housing to come from private sector','<p>\r\n	Minister says 7,400 &lsquo;new social housing units will be provided&rsquo; this year</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fewer than a third of the 7,400 new social housing units promised this year in the Government&rsquo;s social housing strategy will be provided by public bodies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	About 5,000 of the units will come from the private sector through long-term leasing arrangements with private property owners or shorter-term arrangements with private landlords under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The figures were provided in response to a D&aacute;il question from Dessie Ellis of Sinn F&eacute;in.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social housing strategy published last November promised 110,000 units by 2020, of which 75,000 would be through the transfer of households receiving rent supplement and living in the private rented sector on to a new housing assistance payment. The remaining 35,000 units would be &ldquo;new social housing units&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of the 35,000 new units, about 22,500 would be built or bought by local authorities or housing associations, 11,000 would be leased and 2,300 so-called &ldquo;voids&rdquo; &ndash; local authority properties that have been vacated &ndash; would be brought back into use.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Replying to Mr Ellis, Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly said 7,400 &ldquo;new social housing units will be provided&rdquo; this year. He said 3,000 would be provided through long-term leasing arrangements with private property owners and 2,000 new RAS units would be provided in agreements with private landlords.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	About 1,000 local authority &ldquo;voids&rdquo; would be refurbished and 1,400 units would be &ldquo;built or acquired by local authorities and approved housing bodies&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/bulk-of-social-housing-to-come-from-private-sector-1.2076194\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/bulk-of-social-housing-to-come-from-private-sector-1.2076194</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-23 10:17:05',NULL,'bulk-of-social-housing-to-come-from-private-sector'),(880,'HSE working to ensure homes are compliant','<p>\r\n	With the vast majority of HSE public long stay nursing home units built prior to HIQA infrastructural standards, it will take a massive capital investment to ensure that all units are fully compliant with new regulations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New standards for nursing homes are being brought in on July 1 this year and the HSE has acknowledged that it will be a major challenge to ensure that all units are compliant, especially for those housed in buildings which are over 100 years old.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement issued to the Leitrim Observer this week, the HSE noted: &ldquo;Over the last number of years the HSE&rsquo;s capital investment programme has, within the available resources, brought a number of its public long stay units to full HIQA infrastructural standards and will continue to invest in long-stay units over the next number of years.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2014 &euro;36m was allocated in the Capital Plan for the continued upgrade of public residential facilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;As part of this process a comprehensive review of all public units was undertaken in 2012/2013 which is informing capital funding allocations to bring as many units as possible to full compliance,&rdquo; noted the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo; This is an ongoing process and &euro;122.34m in total is indented over the multi-annual period 2014 to 2018 for this purpose.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It has been recognised that the majority of HSE public long stay units were built prior to HIQA Regulation in 2009 and as such there are a number of units that do not comply fully with infrastructure standards admitted the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;A major capital investment would be required to bring all these units to full infrastructural compliance particularly those that are in excess of 100 years old.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;These units however, provide a significant number of long stay beds in areas of high demand and the HSE has been working closely with HIQA over the past number of months to meet the re-registration requirements of these units in 2015 to facilitate the continued delivery of these services.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Local politicians have stressed that there is a real need for the HSE to tackle the problem of compliance with nursing home facilities, especially in relation to Mohill&rsquo;s Aras Carolan, which was identified this week as being one of 21 nursing homes at risk of closure once new standards are brought into place in July.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Aras Carolan has excellent staff and has had substantial investment over the past few years, it would be ridiculous to see such a facility under threat,&rdquo; Sinn F&eacute;in councillor, Martin Kenny told the Leitrim Observer this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This is a much valued part of our local community and major investment must be secured to ensure that it meets all standards going forward,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna F&aacute;il councillor, Sean McGowan, acknowledged the vital role played by units such as Aras Carolan and also St Patrick&rsquo;s Hospital in Carrick-on-Shannon.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He stressed that it was vital that the HSE sort all outstanding issues by July 1.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Tremendous work has been done over the past decade on Aras Carolan but I do recognise that some areas of the unit need to be modified. I just hope that HIQA give the HSE the space and time to carry out the modifications as Aras Carolan provide an excellent and vital service to many, many families in this locality,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/local-news/hse-working-to-ensure-homes-are-compliant-1-6534345\">http://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/local-news/hse-working-to-ensure-homes-are-compliant-1-6534345</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-23 10:18:17',NULL,'hse-working-to-ensure-homes-are-compliant'),(881,'Schools and hospitals to lose right to sack gay staff','<p>\r\n	Religious-run schools and hospitals will be stripped of the ability to sack staff for being gay, divorced, or unmarried parents by Easter, Equality Minister Aodh&aacute;n &Oacute; R&iacute;ord&aacute;in says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move will see Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act changed, as the minister says it puts a &ldquo;chill&rdquo; into workers who fear being fired for private lives that go against the ethos of church-run institutions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They can be sacked, technically, if a board manager felt that someone was actively undermining the ethos of their school by their private life,&rdquo; Mr &Oacute; R&iacute;ord&aacute;in told the Irish Examiner.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It has a chilling effect when people feel they can&rsquo;t be themselves. In the staff room they have to hide their private lives; they have to hide the fact that they&rsquo;re gay, or that they are divorced, or in a second relationship, or that they&rsquo;re an unmarried parent.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr &Oacute; R&iacute;ord&aacute;in, who said he aims to have the changes through by Easter, said people had the right to be open about themselves at work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Members of the LGBT community and divorcees and unmarried parents will not have a fear of being themselves and being open about their private lives if they are working in schools and hospitals,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He accused Alan Shatter of dragging his feet over the reform when he was in office, stating: &ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t a priority for the previous minister of justice.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna F&aacute;il senator Averil Power, whose 2012 bill to end the discriminatory elements of Section 37 was blocked by Government, expressed doubt about Mr &Oacute; R&iacute;ord&aacute;in&rsquo;s plans.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;ll believe it when I see it,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;The Bill that Labour brought out last year kept in discrimination; it just moved the onus on to employers to be able to justify that discrimination.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sandra Irwin-Gowran of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network warned the section adds to a homophobic culture in schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Teachers can&rsquo;t be open about being gay or lesbian because of the impact it could have on their job security,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;This can mean they are fearful of addressing homophobic bullying in schools, for fear it would bring attention to themselves.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is the same with civil partnerships, as some people are concerned if they have one it will mean coming out as gay or lesbian.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, plans to lift the ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood is a significant step in addressing stigma, campaigners claim.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health Minister Leo Varadkar, who a week ago announced he is gay, has referred recommendations to revise the restrictions to the State&rsquo;s Chief Medical Officer and senior officials in the Department of Health.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/schools-and-hospitals-to-lose-right-to-sack-gay-staff-308937.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/schools-and-hospitals-to-lose-right-to-sack-gay-staff-308937.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-26 10:54:52',NULL,'schools-and-hospitals-to-lose-right-to-sack-gay-staff'),(882,'There are 844 people under the age of 25 in Irish prisons','<p>\r\n	Just 20 of them are female.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Recently released figures show there are 844 people in Irish prisons under the age of 25.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost 50 of them are aged 18 or under and 20 of them are female. Out of a total of 3,612 prisoners, this level of under 25s is actually encouraging, according to former Mountjoy Governor John Lonergan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking to TheJournal.ie this week, Lonergan described the figure of 844 as &ldquo;very progressive&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It shows that things are progressing in Ireland, we&rsquo;ve started to put a huge emphasis on diversion, on family support, on community support and so on&rdquo;, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The courts, in particular, deserve credit for that. They&rsquo;re obviously making a real effort to improve things and I think in the long-term it will be of immense value.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the mid-nineties, when he was governor at Mounjoy, around two thirds of the prison population were under 27. In the 1960s, he said there were up to 260 boys in St Patrick&rsquo;s Institution alone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;72% eventually graduated down to Mountjoy and that was an appalling figure.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	My experience is that once a young person came into the prison system, the vast majority continued to commit crime. Once you have a criminal record and a prison record, the chances of getting work are slip and you can get pushed into that culture. Once you&rsquo;ve been in once, the deterrent is gone.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The single biggest factor in crimes for young offenders is still drugs, whether directly or indirectly as Lonergan said many were caught after robberies or shoplifting to support their drug habit</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	What we need to do now, is support community programmes that are doing great work to keep troubled teens on the straight and narrow, according to Lonergan and ensure the Children First Bill is fully enacted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;All indicators and research show that early intervention and diversion is far more beneficial than prison time.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/young-offenders-1894674-Jan2015/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/young-offenders-1894674-Jan2015/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2015-01-26 10:58:08',NULL,'there-are-844-people-under-the-age-of-25-in-irish-prisons'),