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INSERT INTO `faqs` VALUES (1,'Can I book training online?','<p>Certainly! Please visit our website and chose the course you would like to book.  If it is not listed, contact mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</p>',1,'2017-06-16 07:11:49','2018-12-12 12:39:25'),(2,'Where can I find training in Ireland?','<p>Training courses can be found all across Ireland. We have public courses scheduled in a number of locations each month and we will travel to a venue of your choice if you have a group of people.</p>',1,'2017-06-16 07:12:11','2018-12-12 12:28:03'),(3,'What are the requirements to work in a social career?','The professional qualification is currently a 3-year Ordinary Degree. Many qualified practitioners go on to complete an Honours Degree in the field, and some may progress to postgraduate qualifications. Diploma and degree courses in social care are offered at the Institutes of Technology in Athlone, Blanchardstown, Cork, Dublin, Dundalk, Limerick, Sligo, Tralee, Waterford, and at the Carlow College, and through the Open Training College (based in Goatstown, Co. Dublin).',1,'2017-06-16 07:12:29','2017-06-16 07:12:29'),(4,'What if I can’t find a training course I am looking for?','<p>Can\'t find what you\'re looking for? We\'re really sorry to hear that. Contact <a href=\"mailto:info@socialcaretraining.ie\">info@socialcaretraining.ie</a> with details of the training course you seek and we\'ll get back to you, promise.  We can tailor any of our existing courses to suit the needs of your organisation.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:22:16','2018-12-12 12:34:53'),(5,'Can I cancel a booked training course?','<p>Booked a training course by mistake? No problem. Please contact our Training Coordinator and we\'ll help you with course cancellation <a href=\"mailto:mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie\">mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</a></p><p>Courses cancelled 48 hours out will receive a full refund, within the 48 hours there will be no refund.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:22:55','2018-12-12 13:51:42'),(6,'What are the different types of training courses available?','<p>There are a multitude of training courses available online at Social Care Training Ireland, you will find a list in the about us section of our website.  We can tailor any of our existing training courses to meet the needs of your organisation.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:23:34','2018-12-12 12:35:32'),(7,'Do you have any other services on offer?','<p>Other Services available include:</p><ul><li>​External Auditing of Residential Care (Full or Themed Audit)</li><li>External Supervision</li><li>Training Audit Management</li><li>Group Facilitation</li><li>Group Debriefing</li></ul><p>Contact Mary for further details, mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</p><p><br/></p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:23:48','2018-12-12 12:37:49'),(8,'Where can I get directions to the training venue?','<p>Our training co-ordinator will provide you with all venue details and assist you with any other questions you might have, email mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:02','2018-12-12 12:32:04'),(9,'What are our courses about?','<p>Social Care Training is a form of learning which focuses on developing awareness on the part of service provider to delivering acceptance, interest, affection, empathy and warmth towards people we are caring for.  Please contact <a href=\"mailto:mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie\">mary.hutton@socialcaretraining.ie</a></p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:16','2018-12-12 12:33:20'),(10,'Do I need to bring anything with me on the day?','Be fresh! Besides an eager-to-learn attitude, kindly get in touch with our Training Coordinator Mary for course material email info@socialcaretraining.ie',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:30','2017-11-13 15:44:22'),(11,'What accreditation does each course offer?','<p>Each training course offers an accreditation of its own. Kindly refer to the course details for training course accreditation.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:43','2018-12-12 12:40:52'),(12,'Can I reschedule a training course once booked?','<p>This shouldn\'t be a problem.  Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information for course rescheduling.</p>',1,'2017-07-07 04:24:57','2018-12-12 12:38:27'),(13,'Will I receive a Certificate for attending the training?','<p>Yes, each individual is certified upon completion of a training course.</p>',1,'2018-12-12 12:41:56','2018-12-12 12:41:56');

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INSERT INTO `info_boxes` VALUES (1,'Learn from the Experts','Social Care Training Ireland have got an excellent team of trainers who have many years experience in the social care field and are qualified instructors in many areas.','experts_learn',1,'2017-08-23 07:00:09','2018-12-19 14:58:57'),(2,'Let us do the travelling','Our training can be delivered nationwide, we can travel to your preferred location anywhere in Ireland.  We also have a public schedule with courses scheduled in different locations each month.','career_growth',1,'2017-08-23 07:00:41','2018-12-12 16:46:07'),(3,'Accredited curriculum','Participants will receive a Social Care Training Ireland Certification or an External Accredited Certificate upon successful completion of a training course.','accredited_curriculum',1,'2017-08-23 07:01:07','2018-12-19 15:01:45');

--
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INSERT INTO `instructors` VALUES (1,'Bryan','bryan@scti.com','Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque sapien risus, tristique at sagittis et, condimentum at purus. Phasellus elementum massa accumsan ipsum volutpat, vitae dignissim lacus aliquam. Vivamus non odio est. Fusce id enim in eros luctus mollis. Mauris sagittis, mi nec convallis pretium, enim purus lobortis metus, et fringilla augue nisl et dolor. Proin quis eleifend eros, nec laoreet diam. Vivamus sollicitudin odio eget quam mollis tempus.',NULL,'353 7445455455','3','MBA','2017-06-07 07:02:21','2017-06-07 07:02:21',NULL),(2,'Carol','Carol.mythen@socialcaretraining.ie','Carol Mythen BA (Hons) is a graduate of Waterford Institute of Technology with a Degree in Applied Social Studies in Social Care. Her background is in Social Care with over 20 years’ experience managing Child Protection units and working with adults with Intellectual and physical disabilities. Carol was a Service manager and was involved in the setting up special care units and overseeing several outreach and homecare projects. Carol also has a Certificate in Counselling skills from the University of Ulster. Carol is an Instructor in Manual handling, Fire Safety, First Aid Response and CFR and TCI, while also delivering many of our other individually tailored courses.',NULL,'0818220261','na','na','2018-02-19 13:19:41','2018-02-19 13:19:41',NULL),(3,'Jennifer','jennifer.hayes@socialcaretraining.ie','Jennifer Hayes B.A. (Hons) is a graduate of Waterford Institute of Technology with an Level 8 Honours Degree in Applied Social Studies in Social Care. Jennifer also received a National Certificate in Business Studies from Carlow Institute of Technology. Jennifer\'s background is in residential care. She has been a trainer with Social Care Training Ireland since 2011, delivering Therapeutic Crisis Intervention in an associate trainer capacity and Occupational First Aid along with many other of our individually tailored courses',NULL,'0818220261','see above','see above','2018-02-19 13:20:58','2018-02-19 13:20:58',NULL);

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--







INSERT INTO `news` VALUES (1440,'Gardaí called to school as girl (11) threatened to have classmates shot','<p>\r\n	A primary school has called garda&iacute; on a number of occasions to help contain an &quot;out of control&quot; 11-year-old girl.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At a district court sitting of the Family Law Court, a solicitor for the Child and Family Agency (CFA) said the child has threatened to have classmates shot and killed by others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A senior social worker with the CFA said the girl&#39;s behaviour has deteriorated in the last six months and on two occasions the girl&#39;s school was unable to manage her and called garda&iacute;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker said on a more recent occasion, the school contacted garda&iacute; after an outburst at school by the child &quot;where the girl was completely out of control&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker said the girl has assaulted and threatened classmates and assaulted her mother and a sister in the presence of the school principal. She added there was a &quot;very volatile atmosphere&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It is very significant that a school like the one in this case are relying on garda assistance to deal with the behaviour,&quot; she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker said that earlier this year, the girl took an overdose of her mother&#39;s prescription drugs and was rushed to hospital by ambulance. An assessment carried out on the girl found there was no intention to self-harm in the episode.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The girl had another outburst at the hospital resulting in the hospital calling on the assistance of a security guard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The solicitor for the CFA told the court: &quot;Parents of other sick children were going to take their children out of the hospital because of the trouble the girl was causing.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker said the girl had two huge outbursts at school last autumn &quot;when both myself and garda&iacute; were asked to attend. She was beyond the control of her parents and no adult around her was able to manage her at that time&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker said that the girl &quot;is completely out of control&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The CFA was seeking to put the child into care on an interim basis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Both the child&#39;s mother and father, who is the girl&#39;s primary carer, opposed the application with the father stating that he was agreeable to respite care Monday to Friday only and would look after his daughter at weekends.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A solicitor for the mother said there has been no further episode of note at the school over the past two months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, after hearing evidence from the senior social worker, mother and father, the judge in the case placed the girl into care for the next 29 days.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	After hearing the judge&#39;s ruling, the girl&#39;s distressed mother left the court in tears.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The solicitor for the CFA told the father while he was in the witness box: &quot;This is not a punishment of you or your wife. The sole purpose of this is to safeguard your child from now and into the future.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker said: &quot;Her behaviour tells me that she is crying out for help.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The girl&#39;s behavioural issues are so concerning that, down the line, I just see a very bleak future for the girl unless we do something very different and very intensive,&quot; she added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I am aware that the girl is a much loved child but that her parents&#39; and family situation is very difficult and stressful. I would have great admiration for efforts the father has made over the years and while her mother loves her children she doesn&#39;t have the capacity to meet the girl&#39;s needs at this time.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In his ruling, the judge described the father as &quot;an unsung hero&quot; in bringing up the girl by himself for the last number of years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 24th May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/garda-called-to-school-as-girl-11-threatened-to-have-classmates-shot-34741053.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/garda-called-to-school-as-girl-11-threatened-to-have-classmates-shot-34741053.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-24 04:00:00',NULL,'gardaã­-called-to-school-as-girl-11-threatened-to-have-classmates-shot'),(1441,'Childminding Ireland staff to strike over redundancies','<p>\r\n	Staff at Childminding Ireland are set to begin indefinite strike action from next month unless management withdraws compulsory redundancy notices, according to trade union representatives.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Impact union is also calling on management at the organisation to engage with staff over proposed restructuring plans.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Five of the six staff at Childminding Ireland were issued with individual redundancy notices approximately six weeks ago, even though Impact says the State-funded body &ldquo;is not experiencing financial difficulties and has produced no business plan to justify redundancies&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement last night, Bernadette Burke, Childminding Ireland CEO, said they were &ldquo;undergoing a restructuring&rdquo; and that all staff have been invited to apply for roles in the new structure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However the total number of new posts &ldquo;is less than the current staffing numbers, so unfortunately there will be some redundancies&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Burke said Childminding &ldquo;remains committed to resolving this dispute through agreement if possible&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Impact official Barry Cunningham said the union believes Childminding Ireland is illegally threatening redundancies to force staff out of their jobs before replacing them with others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said while management claims the staff will be able to apply for &ldquo;as-yet-unspecified&rdquo; new roles in a restructured organisation, the union believes the new roles will be constructed to exclude them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Childminding Ireland is a representative body, not a childcare provider. Yet it has indicated that it will, in future, insist that administrative, communications, and accounts staff have childcare qualifications,&rdquo; said Mr Cunningham.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There is no objective reason for this. The real rationale is simply to get rid of the well-qualified and loyal staff they currently have.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Impact has issued Childminding Ireland with notice that the industrial action will commence on June 7.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It says this allows management a final opportunity to resolve the issue through negotiations in the Workplace Relations Commission.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 24th May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/childminding-ireland-staff-to-strike-over-redundancies-401222.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/childminding-ireland-staff-to-strike-over-redundancies-401222.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-24 08:35:42',NULL,'childminding-ireland-staff-to-strike-over-redundancies'),(1442,'Hospital patients given baby wipes to clean themselves','<p>\r\n	Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda has apologised to patients and their families after water leaked through the ceilings of some of its wards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The apology came as one staff member revealed that a patient was given baby wipes to clean themselves last week due to another problem with the water supply which meant some toilets could not be used.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The staff member, who did not want to be named, said a patient came from one section of the hospital to another and used the toilet there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The patient said the toilets were not working on their ward and headed straight for our bathroom,&quot; the staff member explained. &quot;Afterwards, the patient told us that baby wipes were being handed out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We have signs everywhere in the hospital reminding us about the importance of hand hygiene and then there is no water. There can be C Diff and contagious diseases in any hospital including the Lourdes. This isn&#39;t good enough.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) representative Tony Fitzpatrick confirmed water leaked through the ceiling of the third floor of the hospital this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is believed there was also a leak on the first floor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are no reports of water having a direct effect on patients in beds; it appears to have leaked through a pipe running above a corridor running past the wards. Some floor tiles were also affected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Leaks</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The two incidents come as the INMO attends a hearing at the Workplace Relations Commission today in regard to the dispute over inadequate staffing levels at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. There are more than 100 vacant posts at the hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, the hospital apologised to patients and families affected by the leaks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda can confirm that there was an issue on Monday 23, May 2016 with a blocked pipe,&quot; it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The blockage at the hospital is a result of a piece of metal becoming lodged in a pipe.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In relation to a patient being offered baby wipes to clean themselves, the hospital confirmed &quot;there was an issue in relation to water services to the east and west wings of the hospital from midnight on Friday evening to Saturday morning.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Water services were disconnected in order to facilitate the installation of isolation valves on the water system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The planned works were routine and were undertaken at a time of least disruption to patients. Water supply was fully restored to the hospital on Saturday morning.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said this was not connected to the water leaks on Monday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The hospital anticipates full services will be restored by mid-afternoon on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda regrets any inconvenience caused to patients,&quot; the statement added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Fitzpatrick witnessed the leak while he was in the hospital to speak to INMO members about the union&#39;s work-to-rule action.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 25th May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/hospital-patients-given-baby-wipes-to-clean-themselves-34744514.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/hospital-patients-given-baby-wipes-to-clean-themselves-34744514.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-25 04:00:00',NULL,'hospital-patients-given-baby-wipes-to-clean-themselves'),(1443,'Eight families with children in adult shelters','<p>\r\n	Eight families with children have been provided with shelter in adult emergency accommodation in May as the homelessness crisis continues to escalate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the practice - which Dublin City Council says happens only as a last resort - was unacceptable.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was responding to questions from Fianna F&aacute;il leader Miche&aacute;l Martin, who called the latest homelessness figures, showing more than 2,000 children in emergency accommodation, &quot;truly appalling and worrying&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kenny told the D&aacute;il: &quot;It is not acceptable to anybody that you have big numbers of children, or any children, in bed and breakfasts or hotel rooms or having to go into adult accommodation late at night when there&#39;s no other accommodation available.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Kenny said Housing Minister Simon Coveney &quot;is working and will work flat out to see how we can best deal with this because it is an emergency situation that applies nationally&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier, Mr Coveney said he was &quot;not happy&quot; about adult shelters being used to accommodate homeless children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Of course I&#39;m not happy about it. But I mean there&#39;s a lot of things linked to homelessness I&#39;m very unhappy about which is why there&#39;s a sense of urgency now to change and improve the outcomes for many people who are relying on the State to find a home.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Dublin City Council statement confirmed that eight families with children have availed of a one-night-only placement into emergency accommodation for homeless adults so far this month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said the measure was a &quot;last resort&quot; to &quot;avoid the risk of the family sleeping rough&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Families were accommodated in secure and defined areas that were separate from other adult service users, the council said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Each family was contacted the next morning by a member of the Family Homeless Action Team. The team then works with Dublin City Council&#39;s Homeless Central Placement Service to provide more suitable, alternative accommodation,&quot; the statement added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Coveney spoke of the latest homelessness numbers, saying: &quot;It is not acceptable that families are living in hotel rooms. It&#39;s not acceptable, to be honest, that we&#39;re spending nearly &euro;50m on hotel rooms this year to accommodate families in totally unsuitable accommodation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It&#39;s not acceptable that many of them will be there for more than six months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This is a product of a failed housing market that government has a responsibility to address directly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;And that is my number one focus for the lifetime of this government, however long it lasts,&quot; Mr Coveney added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 25/05/2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/eight-families-with-children-in-adult-shelters-34744533.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/eight-families-with-children-in-adult-shelters-34744533.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-25 04:00:00',NULL,'eight-families-with-children-in-adult-shelters'),(1444,'\'I told my doctor I was against antidepressants but that prescription saved my life\'','<p>\r\n	The number of Irish people taking antidepressants is at an all-time high. This is no bad thing, says Tanya Sweeney</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last week, I had a proud moment. After taking antidepressants for a year, I found myself sitting in my therapist&#39;s office. She leaned back, exhaled and said: &quot;you know something? I actually think you don&#39;t need me at all anymore.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Well, I couldn&#39;t have been prouder of myself if I&#39;d completed a PhD. I&#39;d put the spadework in. After a year of antidepressants and therapy, I&#39;d finally gone into remission with the condition they call &#39;cancer of the soul&#39;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A year previously, it was a much different story. Unable to get out of bed, unable to write&hellip; things were starting to spiral out of control again. I was high-functioning, still meeting friends and hitting deadlines, but I felt unnaturally tired. And no amount of sleep could shift the feeling.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	My doctor suggested a return to medication. I baulked. It meant, for me, weight gain and a low libido, but it also meant that the thoughts and feelings that were razoring my mind to ribbons would, if not recede completely, at least soften around the edges.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	People hear the word &#39;antidepressants&#39; and think a number of things, just as I&#39;d once done. They hear &#39;zombie&#39;. &#39;Mental case&#39;. Someone failing at keeping themselves on an even keel.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The truth is, a person on antidepressants is someone with enough clarity (or at least has someone around them with enough clarity) to ask for a helping hand with a condition, just as they might with diabetes or asthma. Like me, they just want to get better, and are often afraid of having a condition so powerful, consuming and possessive that it can prompt you to commit a murder. On yourself.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A significant number of people I know have been prescribed anti-depressant medication - 300,000 Irish people are, in fact. New data suggests that &euro;50million was spent on antidepressants and mood stabilisers in the State in 2002, up &euro;42 million since 1993. I&#39;d wager this figure will be even higher for this decade.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some professionals have been damning in their appraisal, saying that counselling services are inadequate (they are, not least for non-private patients). RTE&#39;s &#39;Prime Time&#39; this week looked at whether Irish doctors were prescribing antidepressants too readily and whether they did so at the behest of drug companies, which regularly pay for them to attend conferences abroad.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This may sound like we&#39;re a nation of casual pill-poppers. Well, if doctors really are over-prescribing, I for one am glad. Anti-depressants have probably saved my life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Life&#39;s hard in Ireland. Things are expensive here. We&#39;ve a Government who moves significant funding away from mental health expenditure without looking back. Don&#39;t think this doesn&#39;t affect people&#39;s state of mind. Hate the game, not the player.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The very first time I was prescribed medication, my doctor asked me a seemingly innocuous list of questions. Turned out that, unbeknownst even to me, I was at a sky-high risk of self-harm. This scared the life out of me: to feel that I didn&#39;t have control over my mind, supposedly, my most private and safe place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I told my doctor I was &#39;against&#39; medication. &quot;It would be irresponsible of me and at worst, negligent of me to allow you out of here without a prescription,&quot; my doctor said. A half-hour later, I was in Boots, shamed, embarrassed, awaiting judgement from behind the counter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Four weeks later, I was getting worse: I rang my doctor and we switched brands. Just like the other pill, it can sometimes be a case of trial and error.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A few weeks later, I was finally on my way to recovery. Add counselling, walking and other lifestyle tweaks to the mix and things evened out. It was like a full-time job, schlepping to therapy and walking about, but it was better than the alternative: sitting in bed and having my mind spiral out of control like Charlie Sheen: The #winning Years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For now, things are great; work is steady, I&#39;m in a happy relationship after years of singledom, I&#39;m out of bed early without too much griping. I&#39;m planning holidays, picnics and parties. It may not last forever, but it&#39;ll do for now. A year ago, I genuinely thought these moments would never again be for me.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Antidepressants aren&#39;t for everyone. My doctor suggests counselling, meditation or plain exercise to others, with nary a pill in sight, because the condition varies in all of us. That&#39;s why keeping in touch with a good, understanding GP is paramount.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Depression can manifest in countless guises, and there are no hard and fast rules. Medication isn&#39;t the quick fix. The only solution, really, is to acknowledge the condition for what it is. Only then can you start to look for your right way forward.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 25/05/2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/mental-health/i-told-my-doctor-i-was-against-antidepressants-but-that-prescription-saved-my-life-34743727.html\">http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/mental-health/i-told-my-doctor-i-was-against-antidepressants-but-that-prescription-saved-my-life-34743727.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-25 04:00:00',NULL,'i-told-my-doctor-i-was-against-antidepressants-but-that-prescription-saved-my-life'),(1445,'Indonesia approves death penalty for child rapists','<p>\r\n	Indonesia has toughened its punishments for child rapists to include the death penalty and chemical castration.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It follows outrage over several recent violent crimes, including the gang-rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	President Joko Widodo said the regulation was &quot;intended to overcome the crisis caused by sexual violence against children&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Previously, the maximum sentence for rape, of either an adult or a child, was 14 years in jail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	People jailed for sexual offences against children may also now be made to wear electronic monitoring devices after their release.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Analysis: Rebecca Henschke, BBC News, Indonesian service editor</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The gang rape of 14-year-old Yuyun on her way home from school and the rape and brutal murder of a 18-year-old factory worker this month have sparked national outrage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In polls and on social media there is widespread support for tougher punishments including castration and the death penalty for perpetrators, particularly when children are the victims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But a number of leading rights activists have voiced their dissent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mariana Aminudi from the National Commission on Violence Against Women said on Twitter: &quot;The castration law is evidence that the government does not view sexual assaults as act of violence but merely as a matter of controlling sexual urges.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While Sandra Moniaga from the National Commission on Human Rights wrote: &quot;Violence will not be stopped by violent punishments.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Introduced by emergency presidential decree, the new rules are in effect immediately but could be overturned by parliament at a later date.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;An extraordinary crime deserves an exceptional response&quot;, Mr Widodo said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by BBC.com on the 26/05/2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36385909\">http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36385909</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-26 04:00:00',NULL,'indonesia-approves-death-penalty-for-child-rapists'),(1446,'Grandparents\' hopes in foster case dashed','<p>\r\n	The grandparents of a young boy, who was removed from their foster care on grounds which included their age, have failed in their bid to get the Children&#39;s Minister, Katherine Zappone, to intervene.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The couple, from a county in the mid-west, who are in their mid-60s, are distraught at losing the nine-year-old following an assessment by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They cared for the young boy for several years at the request of their daughter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokeswoman for the minister said yesterday that she did not believe it would be &quot;appropriate&quot; to intervene.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy is now in the care of a grand-aunt and her husband, who are of a similar age to the grandparents. Their home is in a county in the south-west.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Independent TD Mattie McGrath had asked Ms Zappone to look at the case after the heartbroken grandparents turned to him for help.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla defended its decision to transfer the child to other relatives, saying it was in the best interests of the child. It accepted the emotional ties with the grandparents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 26/05/2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/grandparents-hopes-in-foster-case-dashed-34747600.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/grandparents-hopes-in-foster-case-dashed-34747600.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-26 08:47:30',NULL,'grandparents-hopes-in-foster-case-dashed'),(1447,'Schools forcing ‘voluntary contributions’ on parents face scrutiny','<p>\r\n	Bruton: No &lsquo;obligatory&rsquo; charge and schools to be prohibited from charging enrolment fees</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any school which forces parents to pay &ldquo;voluntary contributions&rdquo; will face investigation, Minister for Education Richard Bruton has warned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said financial contributions may only be sought from parents on the basis that a child&rsquo;s place in a school is not dependent on making a contribution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The warning comes amid ongoing reports that some schools are making donations mandatory for children&rsquo;s participation in class and other core activities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A key requirement of the free education scheme &ndash; first introduced in the 1960s &ndash; is that contributions may only be sought on a voluntary basis. The rules do not apply to fee-paying schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Bruton said officials at the department will investigate any allegations where contributions are said to be compulsory in nature.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is very clear there cannot be a charge which is obligatory,&rdquo; Mr Bruton told RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s Today with Sean O&rsquo;Rourke show.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Voluntary contributions have to be voluntary, or for an added extra which students can opt out of if they so choose.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister also said schools will be banned from charging fees as part of the enrolment process under legislation due to come into force next year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This provision will form part of a wider plan to make admissions procedures fairer and more transparent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of these measures includes the phasing out of waiting lists, which are seen to discriminate against immigrants or parents who have relocated within Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesman for Mr Bruton said no decision has been made on whether admissions legislation will limit the number of places that can be set aside for children of past-pupils.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Teacher unrest</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His predecessor Jan O&rsquo;Sullivan had planned to force schools to set aside a maximum of 10 per cent of places for children of past-pupils, though the legislation was never enacted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The proposed move faced resistance from a number of Fine Gael TDs in the last D&aacute;il.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Bruton also said his &ldquo;door is open&rdquo; to holding talks with members of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) who last week voted to reject working additional hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move raises the prospect of pay cuts and school closures in the autumn, unless these issues are resolved in the meantime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister warned, however, that additional hours were important to delivering a better education service and any move to cease working the hours will &ldquo;have consequences&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Lansdowne Road agreement is designed to give benefits to people at work in the public service; it provides additional pay, access to increments and payment in the case of teaching supervision, and so on,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If the ASTI decides to opt out, it has consequences.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The department&rsquo;s secretary general said earlier this month that teachers who withdraw these hours risk losing out on thousands of euro in pay increments and other sources of income over the coming years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On the issue of third-level funding, Mr Bruton acknowledged that the sector had been hit worse than some others over recent years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said he recently received a report on funding options for the third-level sector and hoped the D&aacute;il could reach a consensus on a way forward.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any moves to reform the funding model, he said, will need to ensure that they do not disadvantage students from less well-off backgrounds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 25/05/2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/schools-forcing-voluntary-contributions-on-parents-face-scrutiny-1.2660436\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/schools-forcing-voluntary-contributions-on-parents-face-scrutiny-1.2660436</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-26 08:50:40',NULL,'schools-forcing-‘voluntary-contributions’-on-parents-face-scrutiny'),(1448,'Nine children admitted to psychiatric unit for adults','<p>\r\n	The admission of nine children to an adult psychiatric unit in Kilkenny in breach of regulation has been criticised by the Mental Health Commission (MHC).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When MHC inspectors visited the department of psychiatry at St Luke&rsquo;s Hospital in November 2015, they found nine children had been admitted since a previous inspection in March 2014. They were in the care of staff who did not appear to have any training in Children First, the national guidance for safeguarding children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the inspectors were informed the children had been looked after in single rooms with a nurse allocated solely for their care. All staff in the approved centre had been Garda vetted. None of the children was in the unit for more than nine days.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Responding to the criticism, the HSE said training in Children First would be provided and that &ldquo;every effort is made to source age- appropriate facilities for all children requiring admission&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There were 44 residents in the unit at the time of inspection, none of whom were children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A child was also admitted to Lakeview acute unit in Naas, Co Kildare.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The MHC report said the child&rsquo;s clinical file &ldquo;obtained signed consent from the child&rsquo;s parent&rdquo;. One-to-one nursing was not facilitated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors were also critical of the use of security personnel in two episodes of seclusion at Lakeview over a six-month period in 2015 when it should have been medical or nursing personnel only.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The MHC also conducted the first ever inspection of a new &euro;15m acute unit on Cork University Hospital campus. While it was largely positive, there was an issue around record-keeping vis-a-vis controlled drugs. Inspectors said as the record of the quantity of controlled drugs had been altered in a number of cases, without adequate documentation, and doctors did not record their Medical Council numbers in all instances of prescribing, the centre was not compliant with this regulation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This was regarded as a serious breach of the requirements relating to the handling of controlled drugs and was brought to the attention of a senior nurse during the course of the inspection,&rdquo; the report said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The issue of leaks was also raised by the inspectors who said that in the weeks prior to inspection last October, &ldquo;some leaks had occurred; these had been corrected with the exception of two leaks which had resulted in the decommissioning of one bedroom and the exercise room&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On privacy, inspectors said 46 residents were accommodated in single rooms &ldquo;which afforded excellent privacy&rdquo;, but that there was a clear view of the rear garden and its occupants from two nearby houses. The HSE said screening will be provided later this year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 27th May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/nine-children-admitted-to-psychiatric-unit-for-adults-401856.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/nine-children-admitted-to-psychiatric-unit-for-adults-401856.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-27 04:00:00',NULL,'nine-children-admitted-to-psychiatric-unit-for-adults'),(1449,'Homeless boy in emergency accommodation barred from hotel garden','<p>\r\n	Homeless children put up in a hotel are banned from playing in the garden but dogs are allowed, a parliamentary watchdog has heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fr Peter McVerry revealed a seven-year-old boy in the emergency accommodation asked his mother why animals could go into the space on a sunny day but his family could not.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I heard the story of one family, they were living in an hotel bedroom, they are not allowed to mix with other residents, they are not allowed to eat in the restaurant,&rdquo; said Fr McVerry.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They have to come in the back door, [they&rsquo;re] not allowed in the front door.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They weren&rsquo;t allowed to sit in the garden. It was a lovely sunny day and all the paying residents were in this garden and the parent decided to bring the kids for a walk.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;While walking through the garden the seven-year-old boy saw a bowl on the ground with water and says to his mammy, &lsquo;Mammy why is the dog allowed in the garden and we&rsquo;re not?&rsquo;&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The campaigning priest detailed the impact of homelessness after telling a parliamentary watchdog that Taoiseach Enda Kenny should declare a national emergency over chronic housing shortages.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;He would do if we had a foot and mouth disease in the morning,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than 6,100 men, women, and children were homeless at the end of April and living in emergency accommodation such as B&amp;Bs, hostels, and two and three-star hotels &mdash; an unprecedented crisis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The trust told the special Oireachtas committee on housing and homelessness that councils should be using compulsory purchase orders to buy vacant properties which could be turned into units for homeless families.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know what the local authorities&rsquo; problem is,&rdquo; said Fr McVerry.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The National Roads Authority had no difficulty compulsorily purchasing houses and land when it wanted to build motorways. There was no constitutional problem.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Why can&rsquo;t we compulsorily purchase houses for the far more important issue of providing people with homes.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fr McVerry estimated that at least 2,000 families people have been made homeless as a result of the Department of Social Protection not increasing rent supplement payments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The trust called for another 1,500 modular units to be built in the greater Dublin area and for the rapid builds also to be used for student accommodation to free up 5,000 housing units in the rental sector.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fr McVerry said he expected 100,000 people or families to be on social housing waiting lists this year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Also at the committee hearing, Social Justice Ireland said &euro;10bn was needed to solve the housing and homeless crisis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said about a third of the money needed is lying in reserves controlled by bad bank Nama and half of it could be raised through credit unions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Michelle Murphy, research and policy analyst with the group, said there was no explanation for the slow pace of work to complete the country&rsquo;s 668 unfinished housing estates.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I suppose the issue here is the scale of the problem,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;If you are going to eliminate waiting lists and build the units required you are looking at about &euro;10bn worth of expenditure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It will be very difficult to raise your revenue over the lifetime of this government to that amount just to fund the social housing issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The issue we have here is that there has been, for want of a better word, inertia in terms of dealing with the problem.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There is funding there, there are reserves which should be used because we have a funding crisis.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 27th May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/homeless-boy-in-emergency-accommodation-barred-from-hotel-garden-401848.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/homeless-boy-in-emergency-accommodation-barred-from-hotel-garden-401848.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-27 09:28:06',NULL,'homeless-boy-in-emergency-accommodation-barred-from-hotel-garden'),(1450,'\"I helped the quietest child in class break her silence on abuse\"','<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s easy to dismiss quiet behaviour as good behaviour &ndash; but it could be a warning sign of a child at risk. I&rsquo;ve learned always to trust my intuition</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When I helped out at a children&rsquo;s activity centre we were trained relentlessly to spot the signs of child abuse. Often the signs are subtle &ndash; shoes too small with toes clenched inside or callouses on young feet; regular complaints of a sore stomach when actually no breakfast or dinner was provided; handwriting never good enough, or lies told to avoid being reprimanded.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But life is far more a series of little events that could be mistaken for anything and passed off as day to day. Warning signs for children at risk can be well hidden not only from our view but also from theirs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A quiet child &ndash; the most significant pointer of something going wrong &ndash; is often overlooked. Quiet means good. A room full of quiet children allows you to be in charge. So I was unprepared when one of the quietest children finally couldn&rsquo;t keep quiet any longer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was written all over her face. All the spark had gone out of her eyes. She looked tired, as if she hadn&rsquo;t had any sleep. As I passed her table I casually asked if she was OK. A tear rolled down her cheek. I invited her to come outside where she could have some privacy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I remember her looking down at the floor. I asked if there was anything I could help with. She shook her head and in fact she was correct. In that moment, I sensed whatever it was would not be revealed to me, so I gently said: &ldquo;It&rsquo;s OK. You don&rsquo;t have to tell me anything. I&rsquo;m not nosy. But is there someone you do trust who you would like to talk to?&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Here eyes shot up and met mine for the first time. I&rsquo;ll never forget that look &ndash; it was a gaze of total empowerment. This was her chance to make it stop, once and for all and she took it. &ldquo;Yes. I&rsquo;d like to speak to a social worker.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two days before he died, I helped a very sick child swim again</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They talked for hours. She didn&rsquo;t go home that night. That was some years ago now. I saw her in town laughing with her friends the other day. I&rsquo;m so glad she found her happiness and sparkle again.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	After that, I realised the importance of never ignoring my intuition. I could easily have overlooked that inward reticence or given up enquiring when she declined my help. I&rsquo;m often reminded of the motto of the group that trained me &ndash; &ldquo;we will be and do for these children as we would for our own&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It moves me every time. I have no children of my own, but you can count on me to protect their wellbeing as if they were. A society with no tolerance for abuse looks like this: everyone&rsquo;s children are your children.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by The Guardian on the 26th May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2016/may/26/quiet-child-class-abuse-at-risk\">http://www.theguardian.com/voluntary-sector-network/2016/may/26/quiet-child-class-abuse-at-risk</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-27 09:46:39',NULL,'i-helped-the-quietest-child-in-class-break-her-silence-on-abuse'),(1451,'You are not alone with Dyspraxia','<p>\r\n	Dyspraxia may be relatively unknown but it is a common, if undetected, condition, as Jessica Casey finds out</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I type during exams, and when people ask me why I&rsquo;m typing, I say &lsquo;I&rsquo;m dyspraxic&rsquo; and they will usually be like &lsquo;Oh you mean dyslexic?&rsquo; and I&rsquo;ll have to tell them &lsquo;No it&rsquo;s different&rsquo;, Not a lot of people understand,&rdquo; Sarahann Mooney, 15, Co Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Dyspraxia Association of Ireland estimates that there is more than one child in every classroom with dyspraxia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They describe it as difficulty with planning, thinking and motor coordination.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dyspraxia is a commonly used term to describe these difficulties, and this falls under the umbrella term of Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Problems with coordination can have a negative impact on an individual&rsquo;s life-Children can have difficulty dressing themselves and teenagers may experience problems with organisation at school. Adults can struggle with driving or within the workplace.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And despite famous dyspraxics such as actor Daniel Radcliffe and Florence Welch of the band, Florence and the Machine, levels of awareness remain low and dyspraxia can often go undetected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dyspraxia in Ireland</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mark Daly, 42, from Dublin was told he has dyspraxia in 2005. He says that despite being educationally assessed, there was little awareness about dyspraxia during his school years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In the 1980s there was no Dyspraxia association, there was no awareness, and there was no help. The only person who supported me, at least after school anyway, was my mum.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t have found out about dyspraxia had my mother not read an article in the Sunday Tribune. I was diagnosed after she died, two months after she passed away.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Asked what advice he would give to someone with dyspraxia, Mark said: &ldquo;I would just say-you&rsquo;re not alone, There are people with dyspraxia who don&rsquo;t know it,&rdquo; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Jasper Hampton, 45, living in West-Cork was also diagnosed as an adult.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It was something I had to fish for, and pay for privately. It&rsquo;s not something the doctors recognised and put me in the right direction of, it was quite difficult actually,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;My daughter was diagnosed so I was lucky enough to meet an occupational therapist and I said &lsquo;Can you diagnose me?&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is very difficult for school teachers [to recognise], it&rsquo;s known as the hidden disability because you can&rsquo;t always see it,&rdquo; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;People with dyspraxia &mdash; it&rsquo;s very varied. Hardly any two are the same. There&rsquo;s a list of symptoms and one person might have five from the list, another person might have another five &mdash; so it&rsquo;s very hard to speak in a common sense.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Although people with dyspraxia might be different, they are probably some of the hardest working people out there when they&rsquo;re on a roll.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fay Dunn, 23, remembers working extra hard on her schoolwork in secondary school, but this effort didn&rsquo;t show in her results when she was sitting exams. &ldquo;It was extremely frustrating because I was putting so much effort in and I could see that my friends could go home, do their homework and then be done. And I would be there working 20 times harder and not getting the results.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I had one teacher who just didn&rsquo;t get me or my dyspraxia at all. I was failing the subject all the time. Then I got a new teacher who worked with me and I ended up getting an A1 in my Leaving Cert, The potential with people with dyspraxia is there. It just needs to be brought out in a different way,&rdquo; Fay added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Frankie Farrell, 19, from Dublin loves football and has played all his life &mdash; his father is Dessie Farrell of the Gaelic Players Association. He recalls as a child, he experienced problems tying his shoelaces and he didn&rsquo;t walk until he was three.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Frankie says that speaking to teachers is crucial to spread awareness about dyspraxia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Make them aware if there is a kid with these symptoms, it&rsquo;s not a case of them being lazy or just not putting in the work, they are trying 20 times harder than the person who doesn&rsquo;t have dyspraxia &mdash; give them credit, don&rsquo;t be as tough on them.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Margaret Duffy, from Limerick spoke about her eight-year-old son P&aacute;draig&rsquo;s experience.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Margaret advised that the assessment process for dyspraxia needs to be made clearer &ldquo;because unless you know what you&rsquo;re looking for, you don&rsquo;t get it, When his teacher said to get him assessed we had no idea who to go to.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mary-Kate Mooney, 17, from Co Dublin is a fifth year student, who was identified as dyspraxic when she was 15. Her younger sister Sarahann, 15, found out she also has dyspraxia when she was 12.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mary-Kate was inspired to blog about her experiences. &ldquo;I just want people to know we&rsquo;re all in it together. It&rsquo;s not just them on their own&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Dyspraxia Association of Ireland provides information and a national support network for parents, teenagers and adults. For more information phone 01-8747085 or email info@dyspraxia.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Developmental Coordination Disorder Ireland also offers support for conditions such as ADHD, Dyslexia, ASD and Language Impairments if they overlap with movement difficulties. For more visit dcdireland.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 30<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/you-are-not-alone-with-dyspraxia-402163.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/features/you-are-not-alone-with-dyspraxia-402163.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-30 04:00:00',NULL,'you-are-not-alone-with-dyspraxia'),(1452,'Varadkar may give child benefit to young adults in school','<p>\r\n	Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar is looking at extending child benefit to students who have reached their 18th birthday but are still in full-time education.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Varadkar said the issue had been raised by newly elected Fianna F&aacute;il TD Frank O&rsquo;Rourke, who had pointed out that it was quite common for students aged 18 and older to be still at school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a D&aacute;il response last week, the minister told Mr O&rsquo;Rourke that the child benefit scheme was introduced at a time when few children completed transition year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Varadkar said he would look at the possibility of extending child benefit to 18- and 19-year-olds who were still in 6th year, but it would have to be looked at in the context of everything else.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking on RT&Eacute; radio yesterday, Mr Varadkar said he would also consider other areas of social protection to see if the &euro;60m needed for child benefit for all 18-year-olds could be better spent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also announced that the carer&rsquo;s support grant, formerly known as the respite care grant, is to be paid to 86,000 carers on Thursday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The grant is automatically paid to some carers, but the minister urged all carers to apply for the grant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Varadkar said carers who provided full-time care for more than one person might also be entitled to &euro;1,700 for each person they cared for.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The estimated expenditure on the carer&rsquo;s&rsquo; support grant this year is &euro;157.6m. Mr Varadkar said that the payment had been reduced by &euro;325 because of the economic crisis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The head of communications at Family Carers Ireland, Catherine Cox, welcomed the restoration of the payment that had been cut by 19% three years ago.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Cox said there were more than 200,000 carers in the country, and she believed a significant number did not realise that they were entitled to claim the payment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was also concerned that cuts in home help hours by the HSE was having a huge impact on family carers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is very difficult for carers to take a respite break if they are not getting the support to allow them to do that,&rdquo; said Ms Cox.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner&nbsp;on the 30th May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/varadkar-may-give-child-benefit-to-young-adults-in-school-402226.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/varadkar-may-give-child-benefit-to-young-adults-in-school-402226.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-30 08:51:23',NULL,'varadkar-may-give-child-benefit-to-young-adults-in-school'),(1453,'More than 130 children missing from State care units in 2015','<p>\r\n	All children identified as missing in 2014 and 2015 accounted for, says Tusla</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than 130 children went missing from State care facilities last year, child and family agency Tusla figures show.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last year, 137 children went missing from State care; 42 from the western region, 78 in Dublin mid-Leinster and 32 in the southern region of the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2014, 163 children went missing &ndash; 53 in the western region, 78 in Dublin mid-Leinster and 32 in the southern region.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Tusla spokeswoman said all children identified as missing in 2014 and 2015 were accounted for and none remained missing</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response to a freedom of information (FoI) request by The Irish Times for records from all regions, Tusla said it did not have information on the numbers in Dublin northeast because &ldquo;this information is not collected or recorded&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tusla said the figures for Dublin northeast were not available as &ldquo;they are currently not collected at a regional level.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;However each area within that region has systems and information regarding missing children. This information is used for care planning and supporting young people at an individual level. For the purpose of the Fo</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I request no new files can be created and therefore cannot be provided for that region,&rdquo; the spokeswoman said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The spokeswoman said Tusla was currently developing a national system to collect this data on a routine basis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This information will routinely be publicised as part of Tusla&rsquo;s regular activity and performance reports,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children who are reported missing from care are recognised as being among the most vulnerable in society and the Garda and Tusla work together on such cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A child in care is considered missing when their whereabouts are unknown and an absence management plan indicates concerns for the child&rsquo;s safety.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is distinct from children in care who return late and do not inform their staff or carers, or children who walk out without permission.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When a child in care is missing, a missing-child-from-care Garda report form is completed and sent to an Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Reports of this nature are treated by garda&iacute; as a high-risk missing person incident.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children&rsquo;s Rights Alliance chief executive Tanya Ward said it was &ldquo;surprising&rdquo; this information was not collected or recorded on children who go missing from State care in the Dublin northeast region.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Such children are extremely vulnerable and the joint protocol for missing children in care says that social workers, carers and the garda&iacute; must keep a record of actions when a child goes missing. It may be that the information is collected by area and not regionally in this part of the country. Record keeping is normally looked at by Hiqa,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 30<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/more-than-130-children-missing-from-state-care-units-in-2015-1.2665247\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/more-than-130-children-missing-from-state-care-units-in-2015-1.2665247</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-30 08:52:44',NULL,'more-than-130-children-missing-from-state-care-units-in-2015'),(1454,'Oberstown staff have ‘no basis’ to strike, says Zappone ','<p>\r\n	Unions say there are an increasing number of campus assaults and poor safety measures</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There is &ldquo;no basis&rdquo; for staff at Oberstown youth detention centre in north Dublin to start strike action on Tuesday, the Minister for Children Katherine Zappone has said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Care workers and other employees began industrial action at 8am over what they say are poor safety measures and an increasing number of assaults on the campus.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Trade unions Impact and Siptu said full emergency cover was in place, and that there would be no disruption of State exams at the facility.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Zappone said she regretted the decision of the staff to strike but welcomed their agreement to go ahead with talks with Oberstown management at the Workplace Relations Commission on Wednesday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;However, the fact that this engagement is happening means that, having regard to normal industrial relations practice and the Lansdowne Road Agreement, there is no basis for this industrial action to take place,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Zappone said she was concerned the interruption would affect the normal routines of the children, in particular school attendance on campus.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The campus caters for 48 teenagers under 18, including what the unions described as a mix of &ldquo;vulnerable young offenders and violent criminals with multiple convictions for serious offences&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is the only youth detention centre in the State that facilitates the transfer of offenders from the prison service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The unions said more than 100 violent incidents occurred at Oberstown last year, almost half of which were classed as &ldquo;critical&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Critical assaults and injuries necessitated a total of 3,005 employee sick days, involving 65 staff members.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The industrial action will see residents confined to their rooms between 8am and midday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Further four-hour stoppages are planned for each Tuesday in June.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Impact official Tom Hoare said a series of policy decisions had left Oberstown care workers &ldquo;doing the work of prison staff with the facilities and equipment of a residential care home&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo; The campus is badly designed, with inadequate safety equipment to deal with a mix of vulnerable young people and violent offenders,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo; The result is a daily risk of serious assault, which leaves many of the staff literally in fear of their lives as they leave for work each day.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 31<sup><font size=\"2\">st</font></sup> May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/oberstown-staff-have-no-basis-to-strike-says-zappone-1.2667017\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/oberstown-staff-have-no-basis-to-strike-says-zappone-1.2667017</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-31 08:35:13',NULL,'oberstown-staff-have-‘no-basis’-to-strike-says-zappone'),(1455,'Under the covers with men’s sexual health issues','<p>\r\n	New treatments on offer for many problems men may perceive as being embarrassing or distressing</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Do a quick Google search for women&rsquo;s health. You&rsquo;ll receive approximately 152 million results. Do the same for men&rsquo;s health and you will get 22.3 million. Is this sexism in another guise, or is it purely indicative of male reluctance to discuss their health issues, even with Dr Google?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Consultant urologist and andrologist at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) Ivor Cullen says men should be aware that there is a wide range of solutions to many problems they may perceive as being embarrassing or distressing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cullen trained in several ground-breaking techniques during his time working in the leading urology centre at University College London Hospital. Many of these have not been available in Ireland until now.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Breakthroughs in fertility medicine have not just been confined to female fertility issues; the area of male infertility has seen a revolution in recent times, says Cullen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sexual dysfunction has also moved on from the &ldquo;little blue pill&rdquo;. When Viagra doesn&rsquo;t work, there are many other options for men struggling with erectile dysfunction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The important thing to remember is that no worrying or &ldquo;embarrassing&rdquo; health problem can be addressed if a man doesn&rsquo;t approach his GP or health professional about it, Cullen says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Erectile dysfunction</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Erectile dysfunction affects about half of all men at some point in their lives. For some it may just be temporary, but for others it can be a persistent problem. For some this can be treated with physiotherapy and muscle re-education exercises. It can also be treated with medications &ndash; the phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (such as Viagra).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, for those men who do not respond to these treatments, there is now the surgical option of an inflatable penile prosthesis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As part of this procedure, hydraulic pumps are inserted so that men with erectile dysfunction can have functioning erections and have sex normally.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although this procedure has been offered in Ireland before, in Cullen&rsquo;s opinion, the uptake has been quite poor, mainly owing to a lack of knowledge in the area among both patients and the health profession at large.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Penis implant surgery is just not requested or desired by patients as they are unaware of the option,&rdquo; says Cullen, contrasting this with his experience in London where a significant proportion of men with ED are aware of and will choose the implant surgery as an option when the medications fail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It has been offered to a limited number of patients in one or two centres. There is very little knowledge about penis implant surgery. No one talks about it here, but in other parts of the world that&rsquo;s not the case, it&rsquo;s quite commonplace.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to Cullen, common candidates for this procedure are younger men with type 1 diabetes who often ultimately get erectile dysfunction early in life, often starting after the age of 40 and medication eventually does not work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In addition, men who have had their prostates removed or had radiation or hormonal treatment, usually as a result of prostate cancer, would also benefit from this surgery, as the majority of these will lose the ability to have an erection and often will not respond to the usual medications.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The procedure can be carried out by Cullen and his team at UHW. A three-piece hydraulic inflatable implant is inserted, which isn&rsquo;t visible externally. A small pump sits in the scrotum, much like a third testicle, explains Cullen. The two-piece prosthesis is implanted in the penis, while a reservoir is laced in the lower abdomen. When the pump is squeezed, the fluid goes from the reservoir into the prosthesis and makes it erect.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This ensures a rigid erection every time, satisfactory for penetrative intercourse and dispensing with the need for expensive medications or injections.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Obviously that&rsquo;s not for everyone but it is a fantastic addition to our options. Satisfaction rates with penile implant surgery are always remarkably high &ndash; 90-95 per cent. In a well-chosen patient who is properly counselled, it can be a wonderful option for erectile dysfunction,&rdquo; Cullen says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Curved penis</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A curved penis, also known as Peyronie&rsquo;s disease, affects 4-8 per cent of men, and can make normal intercourse impossible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Peyronie&rsquo;s disease does not refer to a mild curve,&rdquo; explains Cullen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Every man&rsquo;s penis has a minor degree of curvature, but problems arise when there is over a 30-45 degrees of curvature, making penetrative sex impossible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The curve develops because of abnormal deposition of scar tissue &ndash; &ldquo;plaque&rdquo; in the erectile bodies within the penis &ndash; which shortens the affected side and results in curve development.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Men cannot have a satisfactory sex life due to the shape of their penis, which can resemble a boomerang.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Several surgical options exist for patients, whereby the penis can be straightened. One possible option to correct the curvature is the Nesbit procedure, which involves plication (suturing) of a section of the penis opposite the problematic plaque or scar. This operation will usually ensure a straight penis albeit with a minor loss of length.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other potential approaches range from injections of a digesting enzyme (collagenase) into the scar tissue to break it down, grafting procedures and potentially implant surgery, if the co-existing erectile dysfunction is significant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Again Cullen says that in most cases men are not forthcoming about what they might see as an embarrassing problem.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Men are often very bashful and shy and don&rsquo;t talk about these problems with their partners or friends, much less see their doctors about them,&rdquo; says Cullen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It can often be slowly destroying their relationship or marriage, and they need to understand that this is a recognised and correctable phenomenon, and easily fixable surgically.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Male factor infertility</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Male factor infertility contributes to approximately 50 per cent of cases of infertility and for men whose semen analysis is suboptimal, there are more treatment options than ever before.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There is a plethora of reasons as to why someone might have what is deemed an &ldquo;abnormal&rdquo; semen analysis, says Cullen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;They may have a low count, poor motility, or a low number of normal sperm forms. We evaluate them and investigate them and, in many cases, we have medical, surgical options or lifestyle interventions that can improve the quality of their sperm. It could be something as simple as stopping them from using daily saunas and Jacuzzis, to putting them on zinc and folic acid supplements.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the more common reasons for a subnormal semen analysis is a varicose vein of the spermatic cord, known as a varicocoele. This condition can raise the temperature of the testicle and impair sperm production.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Lots of men have a minor degree varicocele, which is of no clinical significance, but when we find a significant varicocoele in a gentleman with an abnormal semen analysis, simply tying off the extra varicose veins will typically improve that man&rsquo;s sperm analysis.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Unfortunately, there are also men with no sperm at all in their semen, a condition known as azoospermia. Cullen says these are the most c&rsquo;hallenging patients he will treat with respect to male infertility.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It is a devastating diagnosis for a man; they will usually have been trying for a family for 12-18 months before someone says, let&rsquo;s get checked. To find out there is no sperm at all is just a disaster for them.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tests are carried out to determine if the condition is due to an obstruction in the transport of sperm cells from the testicle to the ejaculate, or if there is a fundamental problem with sperm production within the testis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The obstructive type could be due to scarring of the vas deferens or epididymis, sometimes as a result of chlamydia or gonorrhoea.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A hernia repair or undescended testicle repair may also be the culprit. This can often be treated with a procedure that is much like a vasectomy reversal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;With this scenario, it really isn&rsquo;t the end of the world, because even if you can&rsquo;t fix it, their testes are still full of sperm,&rdquo; explains Cullen. If this is the case, an option is a intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), where the sperm is injected directly into the egg. This treatment is offered in a number of clinics in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;That works so well now that all we need is sperm.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In cases of non-obstructive azoospermia, a man will have no sperm at all in his semen. Recent advances in treatment have meant that at last these men have therapeutic options.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the past, these couples had no choice other than using donor sperm or going down the route of adoption. In particular, a technique known as microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE), has revolutionised the approach to finding small numbers of hidden sperm for use in the ICSI procedure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The technique is another Cullen learned during his time in London; he now offers the procedure in conjunction with the Cork Fertility Centre. He warns, however, that there is only a 50/50 chance of &ldquo;success&rdquo;; small numbers of sperm will be located in approximately half of the men he treats, while no sperm will be found in the other 50 per cent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;What I am trying to do is find their sperm for use in ICSI or as part of an IVF regime. But before I carry out the procedure I like to make sure that couples have had a chance to discuss and develop a back-up plan and perhaps speak to the sperm donor service if they so wish.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When there is no success, it can be devastating for a couple, and anticipating and discussing the implications of not finding sperm in advance of the operation often helps tremendously.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Andrology</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Andrology (from Ancient Greek, Andros, meaning man) is the medical specialty that deals exclusively with male genital, reproductive and sexual health.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is the counterpart to gynaecology, which deals with medical issues specific to the female reproductive system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is a recognised subspecialty of urological surgery. Although andrology is a well-established subspecialty in mainland Europe and also the UK, thus far Ireland has had low numbers of specialists trained in this field.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cullen suspects this is because of the well-recognised need for prostate, bladder and kidney specialists in Ireland, with the majority of his contemporaries instead choosing these routes for subspecialisation. The area remains under-served in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Andrology is a fascinating subspecialty, which offers tremendous medical and surgical options to gentlemen with a variety of male specific ailments,&rdquo; says Cullen, who has spent 13 years training in this area.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	With men living longer and our increasingly elderly demographic, he says there is a need for particular focus to be paid to late onset hypogonadism &ndash; often termed the &ldquo;male menopause&rdquo; &ndash; in older men.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Symptoms range from sexual, such as erectile dysfunction, physical, with a loss of vigour and frailty, as well as having significant psychological impact.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This can be successfully treated with testosterone replacement therapy, although lifestyle modification, weight reduction and appropriate treatment of comorbid diseases is the first step, Cullen is keen to emphasise.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Symptoms of low testosterone are well recognised and correctable in the hands of a specialist, which can lead to tremendous improvement in cardiovascular, sexual, mental and metabolic health.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 30<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/under-the-covers-with-men-s-sexual-health-issues-1.2660563\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/under-the-covers-with-men-s-sexual-health-issues-1.2660563</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-31 08:40:22',NULL,'under-the-covers-with-men’s-sexual-health-issues'),(1456,'HSE probes deaths of two babies at Cavan General','<p>\r\n	A HSE investigation is under way after two babies died in Cavan General Hospital within five days of each other.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One baby died on Sunday morning and the other died last Wednesday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood that Caesarean sections were required in both cases. Autopsy results are imminent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The baby who died last Wednesday was just one day old. The newborn died unexpectedly and the cause of death is being investigated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The second baby died before delivery on Sunday. It is understood that an emergency C-section was being carried out in an attempt to save both the life of the mother and the baby.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A consultant is required to be in the hospital for the surgery to take place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is believed that part of the inquiry will examine whether there was any delay in contacting the on-call obstetrician to carry out the operation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE is investigating both cases and awaiting their autopsy results.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cavan General is part of the new Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland hospital group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The RCSI Hospitals Group can confirm that two investigations have commenced directly in regard to Cavan General Hospital. It is not the policy of Cavan General Hospital to comment on individual cases,&rdquo; a spokesman told the Irish Examiner last night.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE classifies the death of a newborn as a serious reportable event where an investigation is needed to ascertain whether the death was a preventable incident or not.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some deaths may be a result of natural causes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cavan General Hospital has been subject to several investigations when four newborns died within a two-and-a-half year period, between late 2012 and May 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The hospital has one of the smallest maternity units in the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The State&rsquo;s 19 maternity hospitals and units are required to publish statements each month on patient safety. The most up-to-date for Cavan is from last December.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There were 120 births recorded in that month and the figures adjusted per 1,000 births, similar to the rate in the UK. More than one third of births involved a Caesarean, the statement said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 31<sup><font size=\"2\">st</font></sup> May 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-probes-deaths-of-two-babies-at-cavan-general-402398.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-probes-deaths-of-two-babies-at-cavan-general-402398.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-05-31 08:41:50',NULL,'hse-probes-deaths-of-two-babies-at-cavan-general'),(1457,'Claim of Oberstown\'s 3,000 days\' sick leave \'not realistic\' - director','<p>\r\n	The director of the Oberstown young offenders&#39; centre has slammed claims that staff assaults resulted in 3,000 sick days last year as &quot;not realistic&quot;. Staff claim that these sick days were taken as a result of 65 attacks on them last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday, workers at the secure education and accommodation unit held their first in a series of planned four-hour work stoppages.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They are protesting at what they say are dangerous working conditions that leave them exposed to violence. But Oberstown campus director Pat Bergin disputed the figures, which equate to 46 days in sick leave per attack.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said: &quot;Those figures are totally incorrect. They are not realistic as they include days a staff member would not have worked anyway, because nobody works seven days out of seven and they also include people on long-term sick leave.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We have actually reduced staff sick leave from 15pc to 7pc in the last nine months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;A significant amount of injuries previously related to methods used in restraining people, which have now been changed.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish&nbsp;Independent on the 1st June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/claim-of-oberstowns-3000-days-sick-leave-not-realistic-director-34763244.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/claim-of-oberstowns-3000-days-sick-leave-not-realistic-director-34763244.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-01 08:38:58',NULL,'claim-of-oberstowns-3000-days-sick-leave-not-realistic-director'),(1458,'45m are living in slavery worldwide','<p>\r\n	Campaigners revise estimate of trafficking and debt bondage level.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than 45m people around the world are trapped in modern slavery, a third more than previously thought, a report has found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They are being trafficked and forced to work as prostitutes or domestic servants or enslaved in debt bondage and compelled to toil away in factories and farms, according to the study.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Global Slavery Index for 2016 found that every corner of the globe is affected by slavery, but Asia is the worst offender.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	North Korea had the highest prevalence with 4.37% of its population enslaved, followed by Uzbekistan at 3.97% and Cambodia with 1.65%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	India has the highest number of modern slaves with an estimated 18.35m, followed by China with 3.39m and Pakistan with 2.13m.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report said the UK &ldquo;led the world&rdquo; in its anti-slavery strategy. Its 2015 Modern Slavery Act toughened up laws and increased the sentence for the worst offenders to life imprisonment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Andrew Forrest, chairman and founder of the Walk Free Foundation, which compiled the report, urged world leaders to follow Britain&rsquo;s example.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking ahead of the report&rsquo;s launch in London yesterday, he said: &ldquo;One of the reasons why we chose to launch the Global Slavery Index 2016 in London was because of the leadership which Britain has made on the modern slavery issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Modern Slavery Act 2015 led the world and we are seeing this having a real impact in how companies and countries behave. We feel very strongly that if this leadership is adopted by the nine other major economies of the world then the world would be a much safer place.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report found that 45.8m men, women, and children are modern slaves &mdash; 10m more than the last survey in 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Forrest said the rise was down to better and more data, although he said he also believes the number of those enslaved is increasing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said: &ldquo;It isn&rsquo;t necessarily that fact that slavery has increased, we can&rsquo;t prove that, what we can prove is that the metrics of visibility, the hard data, is better.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Although my gut feeling is that it is actually increasing still and it will be a year or two before it turns around. But it is going to turn around, the way the world is waking up to it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The British Home Office estimates that around 13,000 are in modern slavery in Britain. Of these people, the largest proportion is from Albania, followed by Nigeria and Vietnam, but many are British nationals, often teenage girls groomed and then forced into sex work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the report praises Britain, it warned that conviction rates remain low and immigration rules tying migrant domestic workers to their employers make them vulnerable to exploitation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 1st June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/45m-are-living-in-slavery-worldwide-402546.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/45m-are-living-in-slavery-worldwide-402546.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-01 08:49:47',NULL,'45m-are-living-in-slavery-worldwide'),(1459,'Please don\'t drink and drive this weekend: it\'s a proven killer','<p>\r\n	Our Road Safety Authority expert reveals how a new report shows drink is a big factor in deaths</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Today the RSA launches its joint road safety appeal ahead of the June Bank Holiday weekend with the gardai. It&#39;s a weekend that over the past nine years has resulted in 35 deaths and 85 serious injuries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A worrying backdrop to this year&#39;s appeal is the fact that there have been more deaths on the road this year compared with the corresponding period for 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This bank holiday period road-users are being urged to be aware of the dangers of alcohol and road-use.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At today&#39;s launch the RSA will publish the results of its Pre-Crash Report on Alcohol. This is the third landmark report published this year which follows a detailed analysis of data contained in Garda Forensic Fatal Collision Investigation Files between the years 2008 and 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This new report will look in detail at the role alcohol played in fatal collisions in the five-year period.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The results are concerning. They point to the fact that there has been an increase in the number of alcohol-related fatal crashes. It will show that the presence of alcohol is a significant factor in driver, motorcyclist, passenger, pedestrian and cyclist deaths.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A number of findings stand out. The most significant is that nearly two-in-every-five fatal crashes are alcohol related.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of motorcyclists killed and found to have alcohol in their system is a concern. The forensic files indicate that there was a spike in alcohol related motorcycle crashes on a Sunday afternoon, something we hadn&#39;t seen before.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Another finding was the fact that Cork tops the league table for alcohol-related fatal crashes. This follows a similar finding in our Vehicle Factors and Speeding reports. Co Cork has a serious road safety issue that needs to be addressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It will require all the authorities and stakeholders in Cork coming together to develop a comprehensive strategy to improve road safety in the county.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost 10pc of drink driving related fatalities occurred the morning after - between 8am and 11am. This confirms that the morning after remains a danger zone for drink driving.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Our advice for people heading out for a few drinks over the weekend is to plan ahead. Make sure you know how you&#39;re getting home, whether by taxi, with a friend or public transport.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Don&#39;t walk home if you&#39;re drunk. The report also indicates that a large proportion of pedestrians killed on our roads have consumed alcohol. It&#39;s a risk you shouldn&#39;t take.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any amount of alcohol impairs your driving, so either leave the car at home and arrange alternative transport, or stick to the soft drinks. Whatever you do never, ever drink and drive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Don&#39;t forget that you could still be over the limit the next morning, so take the necessary precautions. It takes roughly one hour for your body to get rid of one unit of alcohol which is a half pint or a standard glass of wine, so if you are drinking late into the night and getting to bed late the next morning, you may not be fit to drive until after lunchtime the next day.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It its worth remembering too that if you didn&#39;t get a good night&#39;s sleep, the impairing effects of the alcohol will be magnified.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It can be easy to make the wrong choice when you&#39;re out for a few drinks with your friends. So make the right choice before you head out for the night.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	We want everyone to enjoy the long weekend without fear of meeting a drunk driver or pedestrian on the roads.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An average of 150 people are arrested each week for driving under the influence of an intoxicant.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The gardai have said they will be out on the roads over this weekend to monitor high-risk behaviour including drink driving. Don&#39;t be in next week&#39;s statistics.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 1st June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/please-dont-drink-and-drive-this-weekend-its-a-proven-killer-34761382.html\">http://independent.ie/life/motoring/car-news/please-dont-drink-and-drive-this-weekend-its-a-proven-killer-34761382.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-01 04:00:00',NULL,'please-dont-drink-and-drive-this-weekend-its-a-proven-killer'),(1460,'HSE warns of a measles outbreak','<p>\r\n	The HSE has warned of a measles outbreak in various parts of the country and which is particularly affecting those who had not received the MMR vaccine.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	To date 19 measles cases have been linked to the outbreak, of which the HSE said 13 are confirmed and six are probable. The fear is that it could be passed on to vulnerable people such as young babies and those with a weakened immune system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A number of the infected people were identified as having been in Kerry, Dublin and Limerick. &ldquo;All cases have occurred in individuals under 30 years of age, with most cases occurring in the 15-19 year age group,&rdquo; the HSE said in a statement. &ldquo;It is believed that the source of infection most likely came from another European country where measles outbreaks are occurring.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Outbreak control teams have been convened in HSE East, South and Midwest.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Kevin Kelleher, consultant in public health, said the HSE wanted to raise public awareness around the symptoms of the condition to ensure that anyone with concerns addresses them immediately in order to receive a rapid diagnosis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Symptoms include high fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and a red rash that starts on the head and spreads down the body.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Kelleher said measles is highly infectious, and if cases are isolated early, the risk of transmission to vulnerable individuals decreases. &ldquo;The time between exposure to the virus and developing measles rash is normally 14 days (range 7-21 days). People are infectious from four days before rash starts until four days after.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	People who are fully vaccinated with two doses of MMR vaccine are normally protected. Those most at risk are those who have not been fully vaccinated, babies younger than 12 months so too young to be vaccinated, and those with weakened immune systems if exposed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE has identified a number of areas where individuals confirmed with measles have been while infectious in the past month. Dublin in the last week in April; Dingle in Kerry over the May Bank holiday weekend; Tralee in Kerry in mid-April-May; West Limerick in early to mid-May; Dublin Airport on the evening of May 16; Ryanair flight FR7313 from Zadar to Dublin on May 16; Dublin Coach on the Dublin to Tralee route on May 16 at 7.30pm and May 18 in the early morning.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 2nd June&nbsp;2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-warns-of-a-measles-outbreak-402774.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-warns-of-a-measles-outbreak-402774.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-02 08:56:16',NULL,'hse-warns-of-a-measles-outbreak'),(1461,'Dáil sets up committee to produce all-party health plan ','<p>\r\n	Ro&iacute;s&iacute;n Shortall calls for NHS-type model</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social Democrat TD R&oacute;is&iacute;n Shortall has called for all-party agreement on a long-term plan for health services along the lines of the British national health service (NHS).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Shortall, a former minister of state for health, said the essential problem with the Irish health service was the absence of an overall, coherent plan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She compared it to what happened in Britain after the second World War when the Labour and Tory parties agreed on the NHS. &ldquo;While there have been ups and downs with that service over the years, I think, by and large, people in the United Kingdom are very proud of the NHS and they would not for a moment contemplate its abolition. That applies in the political arena as well.&rsquo;&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Long-term vision</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was speaking during a D&aacute;il debate on the setting up of an Oireachtas committee on the future of healthcare, which will be asked to devise an all-party long-term vision for the health services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Health Simon Harris said the health services faced many challenges.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Moreover, the programme for partnership government acknowledges that we have an ageing population who are living longer and whose needs will become greater and more diverse. We also have the highest birth rate in Europe. &rsquo;&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Harris said the work of the new committee would mean members of the public and those working in the service could have a sense of certainty that there was a long- term strategy agreed by a political and, he hoped, societal consensus that would not change irrespective of the make-up of the next D&aacute;il.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna F&aacute;il health spokesman Billy Kelleher said the constant obsession with structural reforms had undermined confidence and morale among those who provided healthcare services across the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Fianna F&aacute;il is committed to a national public health system,&rsquo;&rsquo; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two-tier system</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sinn F&eacute;in health spokeswoman Louise O&rsquo;Reilly said there was currently a two-tier system in which individuals and families faced years, if not months, of waiting for treatment or diagnosis. The people who depended on the mental health services and the men and women who delivered them had reached breaking point.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Labour TD Se&aacute;n Sherlock said his party had a positive attitude on the committee&rsquo;s potential and would work productively with it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If we are honest, we can reasonably assume there is much common ground between all of us on the needs of citizens,&rsquo;&rsquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Independent TD Michael Harty said the Irish health service needed a long-term vision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It needs a framework that can build an efficient, effective and functioning health service.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 1st June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/d%C3%A1il-sets-up-committee-to-produce-all-party-health-plan-1.2669230\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/d%C3%A1il-sets-up-committee-to-produce-all-party-health-plan-1.2669230</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-02 08:58:42',NULL,'dã¡il-sets-up-committee-to-produce-all-party-health-plan'),(1462,'\'I thought I was curvaceous, but I\'m obese\' - minister','<p>\r\n	A new junior health minister has revealed that she used think she was &quot;curvaceous&quot; but now realises she is actually obese.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Marcella Corcoran Kennedy, who has responsibility for health promotion, also told the D&aacute;il of death threats she received during the election.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She described it as a &quot;sad fact&quot; that one in four children are obese and more than half of adults are overweight. &quot;It&#39;s something that I&#39;m going to have to look into my heart about. I used to think I was curvaceous, but now I&#39;m told I&#39;m actually obese so I better do something about it,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Corcoran Kennedy said she would encourage people to eat better food and cut down on alcohol and tobacco.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a separate contribution to a debate on mental health, the first-time minister warned that the word &#39;bullying&#39; was losing its impact because some people were using it in a &quot;facetious&quot; way.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Offaly TD went on to describe how her life was threatened on social media.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I don&#39;t believe that the person who threatened me had any intention of carrying anything out, but at the same time it wasn&#39;t a very nice thing to think that there was a man somewhere in the country that thought the world would be a better place without me in it.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added: &quot;That&#39;s actually just a horrible thing to take in as a public representative and as a citizen of this country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It&#39;s entirely wrong that that type of behaviour from adults is tolerated because we wouldn&#39;t tolerate it from children in the playground.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by Irish Independent on the 2nd June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/i-thought-i-was-curvaceous-but-im-obese-minister-34766477.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/i-thought-i-was-curvaceous-but-im-obese-minister-34766477.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-02 09:02:51',NULL,'i-thought-i-was-curvaceous-but-im-obese-minister'),(1463,'Criticism of Kilkenny care unit taken over by HSE','<p>\r\n	A Co Kilkenny residential centre taken over by the HSE on court orders last year has failed to ensure adequate improvements.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An inspection by health and social services watchdog HIQA has revealed that Our Lady&#39;s unit at Saint Patrick&#39;s Centre has significant noncompliance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The centre, home to 28 residents with complex medical needs, was non-compliant in areas such as &quot;healthcare, premises and governance&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over a year ago, HIQA deemed the unit at the privately-run centre outside Kilkenny city unfit for purpose and went to the district court which ordered the HSE to take it over.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is noted that under the HSE staff numbers had increased and instances of peer to peer aggression had decreased.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, today&#39;s report detailing February&#39;s unannounced inspection noted that overall inspectors were not satisfied that &quot;sufficient progress&quot; had been made since last autumn.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors had significant concerns regarding the lack of suitable governance and management arrangements to oversee the quality and safety of care provided to residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HIQA say that, as a result, there were direct negative outcomes for residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Despite providing significant additional resources, the HSE had not put sufficient arrangements in place to ensure sufficient improvements in residents&#39; health care, social care, and other outcomes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report adds that the physical environment was poor and did not meet the needs of residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors also had concerns regarding fire safety, the management of risk and arrangements for healthcare provision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 2nd June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/exposed-geography-not-need-is-deciding-who-gets-home-care-in-ireland-growing-numbers-of-older-people-forced-to-enter-nursing-homes-34769641.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/exposed-geography-not-need-is-deciding-who-gets-home-care-in-ireland-growing-numbers-of-older-people-forced-to-enter-nursing-homes-34769641.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-03 04:00:00',NULL,'criticism-of-kilkenny-care-unit-taken-over-by-hse'),(1464,'Children with disabilities: Over 70 claims of abuse received by health watchdog','<p>\r\n	Health and social care watchdog Hiqa also received notifications about serious injuries and misconduct by staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last year there were more than 70 notifications of alleged abuse against disabled children in care, Ireland&rsquo;s health watchdog has said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa, the independent body responsible for monitoring the quality of health and social services in Ireland, received 175 notifications from centres with responsibility for disabled children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Out of these, 72 were allegations of suspected or confirmed abuse &ndash; making it the largest category for notifications against centres responsible for disabled children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There were also complaints about serious injuries to residents (38), allegations of misconduct by the registered provider or by staff (11), and one unexpected death of a resident after being transferred to hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	How are notifications made to Hiqa?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The information that Hiqa has released today are notifications &ndash; not complaints.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The difference is that the centres themselves are legally required to report certain types of incidents within three working days of the alleged incident.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Besides the ones listed above, other incidents that centres have to report include:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The outbreak of certain diseases</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The unexplained absence of a resident</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any incident where the centre become aware that a member of staff is subject to a review by a professional body</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Across Ireland there are 62 centres with responsibility for children with disabilities, and around half of these provide full-time residential care for children with disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa does not give an exact number for children being cared for in these centres, as only 32 of these centres have completed registration &ndash; and a complete set of figures for the unregistered centres isn&rsquo;t available.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, among the centres that are fully registered, many look after only a handful of residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Breaking down the 32 centres registered with Hiqa it works out that 20 them had five or fewer residents, 11 had between 6 and 10 residents and the rest of the centres had just one resident.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In total the Hiqa carried out 78 inspections on centres for children with a disability last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	What else was found in today&rsquo;s report?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It has also been found in today&rsquo;s report that 7% of children in foster care last year had no social worker to support them &ndash; something that Hiqa says leaves them exposed to unnecessary risks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also found that there was a disparity in meeting standards depending on the geographical location of the centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In total Hiqa has 27 standards for child protection and welfare services that it inspects against.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The watchdog judges these standards in the following categories: &lsquo;standards met&rsquo;, &lsquo;standards requiring improvement&rsquo;, or &lsquo;standards against which significant risk was identified&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Looking at areas was risk identified, geographically it broke down like this:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dublin North, 2</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dublin South East/ Wicklow, 1</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Louth/ Meath, 8</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Journal.ie on the 2nd June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/allegations-abuse-children-disability-2801908-Jun2016/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/allegations-abuse-children-disability-2801908-Jun2016/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-03 08:47:35',NULL,'children-with-disabilities-over-70-claims-of-abuse-received-by-health-watchdog'),(1465,'\'Geography, not need, is deciding who gets home care in Ireland\' - growing numbers of older people forced to enter nursing homes','<p>\r\n	Growing numbers of older people have no choice but to enter nursing homes because of a lack of home help and other supports to allow them remain in their own family houses, a new report warned today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is estimated that more than half of older people could remain in their own homes instead of going into long term care if more home support services were available.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It exposes serious problems in Ireland&rsquo;s home care services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The service is &ldquo; disorganised, fragmented and underfunded&rdquo;, the report&nbsp; jointly produced by the Irish Association of Social Workers, Age Action, the Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the School of Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice in UCD.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Sarah Donnelly, of the School of Social Policy in UCD, and one of the authors of the report, warned: &ldquo;Home care in Ireland is in crisis. Acute hospitals and nursing homes are being prioritised over the kinds of community services that enable older people to stay home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Waiting lists for home helps and home care packages are growing. Community care is grossly underfunded and people are simply not getting the care they need.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This means more people in acute hospitals who don&rsquo;t need to be there. It means more people in nursing homes who don&rsquo;t need to be there.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	John Brennan, of the Irish Association of Social Workers, said: &ldquo;All of the evidence and the feedback from the social workers that spoke to us confirm that older people, including those with dementia, want to stay at home as long as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Many of these people could be at home, where they want to be, where their families want them to be and where Government policy says they should be, but we are simply not providing the supports they need.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The social workers we spoke with estimated that more than half of the older people they work with who have gone into nursing homes or are on the waiting lists for a place could be at home if the supports were there.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report also highlights that each of the nine Community Health Organisations (CHOs) has its own system for providing home care services and its own criteria for deciding what older people are entitled to.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;You might be able to get a home help in one place but be refused ten miles down the road because you&rsquo;re the other side of line on a HSE map, even though your circumstances are exactly the same,&rdquo; said Dr Emer Begley, Advocacy Officer with the Alzheimer Society of Ireland, explained</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Another issue is in some areas older people have to be in receipt of a medical card to access community-based support services while in other areas they don&rsquo;t.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Even when older people can get home help services, many home helps are not allowed help with simple domestic tasks such as cooking and have very little time to spend with their clients.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Family carers were identified as key providers of care to older people. However, social workers reported that routinely older people were less likely to get services where family members are providing care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Geography, not need, is deciding who gets home care in Ireland.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Colette Kelleher, CEO of The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, added: &ldquo;As 63pc of people with dementia live in the community, home care is a vital support.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The majority of people with dementia receive care through older person&#39;s services and it is clear from our research that their preference for receiving care and support in their home and community is not being realised.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The present social care approach has not been resourced adequately to meet the individual needs of older people.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The authors of the report are calling for immediate investment and reform of community care services and for the Government to implement a fair and equitable way of allocating care and support services underpinned by legislation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Marita O&rsquo;Brien, Policy Officer with Age Action, said: &ldquo;It has been Government policy since the 1960s to support older people to stay at home as long as possible but this simply isn&rsquo;t happening.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Right now, the priority must be increased investment in community care services and putting in place a transparent, nationwide, system to provide home care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This requires ring-fenced, centralised, annual budgets. Need, not your address, should be used to allocate care services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;But if, as a society, we are serious about supporting people to stay at home, with their families, in their communities, we need to go further. The Government should start examining how we can bring in a right to community care for all older people in this country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;People have a right to a nursing home bed; it&rsquo;s time they had a right to stay home.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 3rd&nbsp;June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/exposed-geography-not-need-is-deciding-who-gets-home-care-in-ireland-growing-numbers-of-older-people-forced-to-enter-nursing-homes-34769641.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/exposed-geography-not-need-is-deciding-who-gets-home-care-in-ireland-growing-numbers-of-older-people-forced-to-enter-nursing-homes-34769641.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-03 08:50:42',NULL,'geography-not-need-is-deciding-who-gets-home-care-in-ireland-growing-numbers-of-older-people-forced-to-enter-nursing-homes'),(1466,'Minister \'wants to push ahead with plan to link child benefit to school attendance\'','<p>\r\n	A senior Minister reportedly intends to push ahead with plans to link child benefit to school attendance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Programme for Government seemed to suggest that the minority Government may bring in new laws in this area.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It stated: &quot;We will reform the monitoring of child benefit payments by amalgamating the two existing school attendance monitoring systems, currently run by the Department of Education and Tusla, to address poor attendance within some families.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Daily Mail reported this morning that Denis Naughten believes that he has strong support for the motion, despite the Government appearing to row back on it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister Naughten said that teachers and Fine Gael TDs have encouraged him to stick with the plan.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar has recently said that teachers do not need another tool like this to combat truancy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The common view that we have as three Ministers is that those who are involved in education welfare and involved in monitoring truancy do not believe that giving them a further tool in which to enforce good attendance by withholding child benefit &hellip; would be useful,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by BreakingNews.ie on the 7th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/minister-wants-to-push-ahead-with-plan-to-link-child-benefit-to-school-attendance-738771.html\">http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/minister-wants-to-push-ahead-with-plan-to-link-child-benefit-to-school-attendance-738771.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-07 12:57:24',NULL,'minister-wants-to-push-ahead-with-plan-to-link-child-benefit-to-school-attendance'),(1467,'Parents underestimating obese children\'s weight','<p>\r\n	More than eight in 10 parents of overweight or obese children underestimate their size.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A study presented at the European Obesity Summit looked at how parents perceive the weight of their overweight children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents of 2,845 children aged five to six years received a questionnaire and were asked to score their perception of their child&#39;s weight on a five-point scale, ranging from &#39;too light&#39; to &#39;too heavy&#39;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children&#39;s height and weight were measured during their routine visit to youth healthcare clinics. Parents and siblings&#39; height and weight were self-reported.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In total, 2,203 (77.4pc) children were included in the analysis. A total of 14.5pc of children were overweight and 3.3pc obese.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 82pc of parents underestimated their child&#39;s weight. The prevalence of overweight in children is rising, with one in four children overweight or obese.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Being overweight in childhood is a risk factor for diseases in adulthood.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	To prevent and treat children who are overweight, it is important that parents recognise the weight status of their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents from families with more than 50pc overweight members, including parents and siblings, underestimated their overweight and obese children more, the study found.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 7th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/parents-underestimating-obese-childrens-weight-34773995.html\">http://www.independent.ie/life/health-wellbeing/parents-underestimating-obese-childrens-weight-34773995.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-07 13:02:25',NULL,'parents-underestimating-obese-childrens-weight'),(1468,'Two-thirds of patients with serious mental health issues re-admitted within a year','<p>\r\n	Figures released by the Health Service Executive show that two-thirds of patients presenting for hospital treatment for serious mental health issues last year were re-admitted to hospital within the year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There were almost 13,100 admissions in 2015 - with the readmission rate at 66%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mental health groups have raised concerns about the numbers of patients accessing crisis services through emergency departments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last year more than 13,000 adults presented either at emergency departments or directly at acute psychiatric units in need of hospital treatment for serious mental health issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE said none of its community mental health services provide 24-hour cover and patients seeking to access acute mental health services out-of-hours must go to hospital emergency departments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE also said that just under one-third of vacancies remain unfilled for clinical nurse specialists who treat patients presenting to emergency departments with suicidal ideation or self harm.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The group Mental Health Reform has raised concerns about the high numbers of people attending emergency departments with mental health difficulties.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said that emergency departments are not appropriate places to treat people suffering distress with mental health issues, and it called for investment in 24-hour community-based services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 7th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0607/793722-mental-health/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0607/793722-mental-health/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-07 13:06:15',NULL,'two-thirds-of-patients-with-serious-mental-health-issues-re-admitted-within-a-year'),(1469,'GAA players more susceptible to mental illness','<p>\r\n	GAA inter-county players are significantly susceptible to common mental disorders (CMD), an international study has revealed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Findings from a representative sample of the sport&rsquo;s elite footballers and hurlers showed a high incidence of CMD symptoms. A total of 48% of respondents were found to suffer from anxiety/depression, while 23% were deemed to be using alcohol adversely. Over 38% were discovered to have experienced distress and 33% sleep disturbance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was discovered the percentage of players with the alcohol symptoms was 4%-14% higher than among professional footballers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Players who had suffered from one or more severe musculoskeletal injuries were two to nearly four times more likely to report CMD symptoms. Those footballers and hurlers who admitted a lack of satisfaction in their sport career were found to be almost six times more likely to report stress than those players who were satisfied.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	With the assistance of the GPA, the study was conducted by a Dutch-based group of academics over a six-month period between the end of 2014 and the start of 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 8th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gaa-players-more-susceptible-to-mental-illness-403719.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gaa-players-more-susceptible-to-mental-illness-403719.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-08 08:28:55',NULL,'gaa-players-more-susceptible-to-mental-illness'),(1470,'‘Prioritise’ assisted death laws for terminally ill, says John Halligan','<p>\r\n	Laws giving terminally ill people the right to assisted death need to be a D&aacute;il priority, Junior Minister John Halligan says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Halligan, who introduced the Dying With Dignity Bill last December, said he would be pushing to have it debated as soon as possible but warned that religious beliefs needed to be left out of the discussions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Our elderly populations are living longer, with the result that the rate of chronic illnesses is also on the rise,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The need to legislate for dying with dignity, as proposed by this Bill, is also being widely debated across Irish society and opinion polls during the last D&aacute;il estimated that around seven out of 10 Irish voters would be in favour of assisted suicide for people suffering from a terminal illness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	D&aacute;il &Eacute;ireann needs to enter this debate and, when we do, we need to do leave religious dogma at the door.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Independent TD was responding to disclosures in this newspaper by Tom Curran, partner of the late right-to-die campaigner, Marie Fleming, that he assisted her death and also helped others make plans to enable them end their lives if they choose.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Assisting a suicide is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in jail but Mr Curran said his promise to Marie that he would assist her took precedence over the risk of prosecution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Curran told the Irish Examiner that, two-and-a- half years on from Marie&rsquo;s death, he remained fearful of a Garda investigation, and he made a plea to the Government to act so that people like him and their loved ones do not have to make plans in secret and in fear.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Halligan, who worked with Mr Curran and legal experts to draft the bill, said in a statement last night that his position had not changed since his inclusion in the Government and promotion to minister of state.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I remain fully committed to the Dying with Dignity Bill, which proposes the introduction of legislation recognising the right of clearly consenting adults who are enduring intolerable physical suffering to seek medical help to end their lives and includes clear safeguards that the terminally ill person has reached their decision on an informed basis and without coercion or duress. It is my intention to introduce the Bill and have it debated in the D&aacute;il at the earliest available opportunity,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier, he told RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s Drivetime he was motivated by the &ldquo;intolerable suffering&rdquo; inflicted on Marie and Tom. &ldquo;We don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen to us in a few days or a few months or a few years&rsquo; time. We may reach a stage where we&rsquo;re suffering intolerably,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It would be my wish that if I was suffering and it was a progressive illness with no treatment and I was destined to die within about six months, if there wasn&rsquo;t somebody from the medical profession to help me, I would hope my loved ones would do it for me and not have me in agony so we shouldn&rsquo;t rush to judgement on people who might help.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 8th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/prioritise-assisted-death-laws-for-terminally-ill-says-john-halligan-403700.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/prioritise-assisted-death-laws-for-terminally-ill-says-john-halligan-403700.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-08 08:30:58',NULL,'‘prioritise’-assisted-death-laws-for-terminally-ill-says-john-halligan'),(1471,'80% of victims do not report domestic abuse, says charity','<p>\r\n	Almost 80% of women who suffer abuse in the home never report it, according to Safe Ireland, the charity that supports women and children experiencing domestic violence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Women are being subjected to extraordinary and barbaric acts of violence every day in this country,&rdquo; said CEO Sharon O&rsquo;Halloran last night in the wake of the jailing of a man who attacked his girlfriend with sugar-laced boiling water.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This low level of reporting means that thousands of women are living with a serious threat to their lives, in silence and alone.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Victim Tara Byrd warned women yesterday to end relationships with violent and possessive men as her former partner, Michael Lynch, was jailed for two and half years &mdash; a sentence she regards as too lenient.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If they feel any man is controlling them or being paranoid, get away from them, it will only get worse,&rdquo; she said as watched Lynch being led away to prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Rape Crisis Network Ireland praised her courage for speaking out.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We see the levels of control, intimidation, and entitlement that this man held over Tara Byrd,&rdquo; said Cliona Saidlear of RCNI. &ldquo;We commend Tara&rsquo;s statement warning about controlling behaviour in relationships.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Byrd, of Old Youghal Rd in Cork City, received third-degree burns after Lynch poured boiling water and sugar on her left leg. She had to have a skin graft as a result of her injuries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She gave the jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court a harrowing account of her ordeal which began after he became jealous of a mutual male friend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;He put the sugar in the kettle and boiled it. He said if I screamed he would hit me over the head with an iron bar,&rdquo; she recalled, adding that Lynch refused to call an ambulance which left her in agony all night.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Safe Ireland said more resources are needed to combat this kind of crime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Safe Ireland wants to make Ireland the safest country in the world for women and children,&rdquo; said Ms O&rsquo;Halloran.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This can be done, but not without serious leadership and the resources required to meet women&rsquo;s needs when they are brave enough to speak out.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 8th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/80-of-victims-do-not-report-domestic-abuse-says-charity-403713.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/80-of-victims-do-not-report-domestic-abuse-says-charity-403713.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-08 08:32:38',NULL,'80%-of-victims-do-not-report-domestic-abuse-says-charity'),(1472,'Most antidepressants aren\'t helping young people with their mental health, say experts','<p>\r\n	Most available antidepressants do not help children and teenagers with serious mental health problems and some may be unsafe, experts have warned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A review of clinical trial evidence found that of 14 antidepressant drugs only one, fluoxetine &ndash; marketed as Prozac &ndash; was better than a &ldquo;dummy&rdquo; placebo at relieving the symptoms of young people with major depression.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The researchers conducted a systematic review of all published and unpublished trials looking at the effects of 14 antidepressants in young people with major depression up to the end of May 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Analysis of 34 trials involving 5,260 participants aged nine to 18 found that only in the case of fluoxetine did benefits outweigh risks in terms of efficacy and tolerability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Nortriptyline was less effective than seven other drugs and placebo, while imipramine, venlafaxine and duloxetine were the least well tolerated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Compared with placebo and five other drugs, venlafaxine was linked to an increased risk of suicidal attempts or thoughts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But the authors, writing in The Lancet medical journal, stressed that the true effectiveness, safety and &ldquo;suicidility risk&rdquo; of antidepressants taken by children and teenagers remained unclear because of a lack of reliable data.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Pharmaceutical companies funded 65% of the trials and 10 were judged to have shown a high risk of bias. The overall quality of evidence for primary outcomes was &ldquo;very low&rdquo;, the researchers concluded.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They recommended close monitoring of young people on antidepressants, regardless of what drugs they were prescribed, especially at the start of treatment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Major depressive disorder affects around 3% of children aged six to 12 and 6% of teenagers aged 13 to 18.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 2004 the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning against the use of antidepressants in young people up to the age of 24 because of concerns about suicide risk &ndash; yet the number of young people taking the drugs increased between 2005 and 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the UK, the proportion of children and teenagers aged 19 and under taking antidepressants rose from 0.7% to 1.1%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 9th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/science-world/most-antidepressants-arent-helping-young-people-with-their-mental-health-say-experts-403967.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/examviral/science-world/most-antidepressants-arent-helping-young-people-with-their-mental-health-say-experts-403967.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-09 08:23:51',NULL,'most-antidepressants-arent-helping-young-people-with-their-mental-health-say-experts'),(1473,'25% of teens admit to sexting others','<p>\r\n	Ireland has been found to have one of the highest rates of &ldquo;sexting&rdquo; among young people in Europe with at least a quarter of teenagers admitting they send sexually graphic messages.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The high rate of sexting here has been blamed on a lack of relevant and coherent education on the topic in the country&rsquo;s schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Irish teenagers were found to be the fourth highest in the EU for sending explicit messages, images or video, according to Dr Sheri Bauman, an expert in peer victimisation and cyberbullying and a professor of counselling at the University of Arizona.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Bauman, who will address the Anti-Bullying Research Centre&rsquo;s conference later today, found sexting was more frequent among 14-17 year olds and that over 25% of students, from a survey of 300 post-primary Irish schools, acknowledged sending the graphic messages. The research found 4.4% of boys and 1.6% of girls aged 11-16 engaged in the behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And according to James O&rsquo;Higgins Norman, director of the Anti-Bullying Research Centre, his own organisation&rsquo;s research has found that as many as 42% of teenagers will admit to having sent some form of sexual image by text.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;One of the reasons why Irish youth score so high in terms of sexting is related to a lack of a coherent relationships and sexualities education (RSE) programme in schools,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It is estimated that up to 50% of schools in Ireland do not deliver appropriate RSE and when it is delivered it can be formal and focus too much on disease, crisis pregnancy and other negatives instead of emotions and other complexities related to sex.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A 2012 Department of Education survey of second-level schools found that nearly one-in-five stop teaching RSE between the time students sit the Junior Certificate and when they finish school. More than one-third of senior cycle students met by school inspectors in focus groups at over 60 schools in 2011 wanted a broader RSE programme provided.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr O&rsquo;Higgins Norman said young people &ldquo;don&rsquo;t really seem to connect with the possible negative effects of sending a sexual image by text&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Bauman explained what those effects can be and the devastating long-term impact they can have.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Once they become available in the cyber universe they can be misappropriated,&rdquo; she told RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s Sean O&rsquo;Rourke programme. &ldquo;Someone can take them and forward them onto a very large number of viewers other than the intended recipient. They can be altered. In many cases both individuals, both the original person who sent it to perhaps an intimate partner and that person who forwards it on can be guilty of child pornography. So there are legal implications which could affect the rest of their lives if they were prosecuted.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the biggest impact which can occur is on the person whose image has been taken and sent on to others and who now has no control over it. &ldquo;They see &lsquo;I&rsquo;m flawed, I&rsquo;ve done something terrible, the universe is not accepting of this behaviour, I&rsquo;ve been labeled some very uncomplimentary terms. My future is hopeless because I have been told this is going to haunt me for the rest of my life&rsquo;.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That, she said, frightens people to such an extent that they think their life is over.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Bauman also addressed how teenagers should be addressed by adults about sexting. She said there should be a frank discussion of sexuality in the context of relationships. She pointed out that it is normal to become curious and to experiment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr O&rsquo;Higgins Norman said there is a lot of ignorance and silence about the issue of sexting and a lot of parents and teachers wring their hands, stand back from it and say &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t want to know about that&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Schools have to get involved. Under the National Action Plan on Bullying 2013, schools are obliged to participate and support parents in relation to anything which affects how a child is getting on in school.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 9th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/25-of-teens-admit-to-sexting-others-403907.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/25-of-teens-admit-to-sexting-others-403907.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-09 08:26:29',NULL,'25%-of-teens-admit-to-sexting-others'),(1474,'\'He\'s going to struggle\': Teenager with learning disability denied Leaving Cert support','<p>\r\n	Hundreds of students each year are denied supports like readers and scribes and advocates say the SEC needs to widen eligibility criteria.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	THE PARENTS OF a Leaving Certificate student who has a learning disability have criticised the State Examinations Commission (SEC) for denying their son the help they say he needs to do his best in the exams over the next couple of weeks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The teenager had applied for a reader &ndash; an exam supervisor who would read exam questions to the student to help them comprehend them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His request was denied, despite the fact that he had been assigned a reader for his Junior Certificate two years ago. His parents had appealed the decision and even brought a case in the High Court against the State Examinations Commission (SEC) but were informed after he had left for his first exam yesterday that he would not be getting the help he asked for.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s disappointing,&rdquo; his father told TheJournal.ie. &ldquo;I know my child. We were delighted when he had a reader for the Junior Cert because we knew he needed assistance. Nothing changed in those two years, he&rsquo;s still going to struggle.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;You can study all you want &ndash; and he has &ndash; but you&rsquo;re still going to struggle.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His son&rsquo;s main difficulty is in comprehending the questions on the exam papers, he explained.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When it&rsquo;s spoken to him, it makes sense, but when he reads it himself he has a problem. To give you an example, in his pre-Leaving Cert tests, there was a question that said you could answer either a or b and he answered the two of them. That then put him under time pressure in the exam.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The teenager recently did a specially designed test to measure his ability to read words, understand sentences, spell and compute solutions to math problems. He failed the test and his parents believed this would qualify him for assistance.&nbsp; The SEC was also provided with an assessment by a clinical psychologist who described him as having &lsquo;Specific Learning Disability&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;He did his best&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The teen&rsquo;s father said his son told him he had &ldquo;done his best and tried&rdquo; in his first exam yesterday, but the English paper was &ldquo;a tough one&rdquo; for him to get through without a reader to help him understand what he was being asked to do.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sinn F&eacute;in TD Jonathan O&rsquo;Brien, who made submissions to the Department of Education and the SEC on the boy&rsquo;s behalf, said he is contacted every year by parents and students who have been refused readers or scribes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;These are always students who have received these accommodations during their Junior Cert exams and have reasonably expected to have the same facility during their final school exams,&rdquo; O&rsquo;Brien said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Figures released by the commission last year showed almost 1,000 Leaving Cert students in 2014 were denied support measures. A number of students with learning difficulties brought court actions this year to appeal the decision of the SEC.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ann Heelan, executive director of&nbsp; the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability (Ahead), said she believes there is a problem with the commission&rsquo;s system for assessing the applications.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The SEC hasn&rsquo;t reviewed what they call the Race scheme in 10 years. The Ombudsman for Children actually made recommendations some time ago that their governance was a problem,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of biggest problems was that they were not being transparent in communication to parents about their decisions. People didn&rsquo;t know in the first case why they were turned down and didn&rsquo;t know why their appeal was turned down either.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Following a large number of complaints last year to the Ombudsman, the SEC had committed to providing explanations for refusals in this year&rsquo;s exams. In one case brought against the SEC this year, however, the judge overturned the refusal of a reader on grounds including the appeals committee&rsquo;s failure to specify reasons for the refusal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Heelan said the &ldquo;rigid criteria&rdquo; often means children &ldquo;fall through the cracks&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;You might have a kid who has had a lot of support and has improved a little. Suddenly, they&rsquo;re not eligible anymore, but in a test environment they will actually need the support. You&rsquo;re dealing with kids here, doing a very important exam and there has to be some level of interpretation or humanity to it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Nobody out there is pretending, kids don&rsquo;t want these things &ndash; they don&rsquo;t want to be different.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;More humane&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	O&rsquo;Brien said it was &ldquo;totally unacceptable&rdquo; that the appeals process takes so long &ldquo;and students are left even more stressed&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I would urge the new Minister for Education to take note of these concerns and move to ensure that students who have genuine needs get these exam accommodations in the future and are notified of this as soon as possible,&rdquo; the TD added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I&rsquo;d also urge the SEC to deal with children and young people sitting these exams in a more humane manner and process the cases properly. No parent should have to take legal action to get their child the support they need.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;Reasons of equity and fairness&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The SEC told TheJournal.ie it could not comment on individual cases but said accommodations are provided to students who meet the eligibility criteria.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Depending on the accommodation applied for, there may be a number of criteria all of which must be met in order to establish eligibility. Where the eligibility criteria are not met, it is not possible to provide accommodations. This is for reasons of equity and fairness to the general body of students and to safeguard the integrity of the examinations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The commission said the scheme is &ldquo;demand led&rdquo; and has not been subject to any budgetary cutbacks in recent years. Some 16,194 candidates sitting exams in 2015 had some form of support provided to them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by The Journal.ie on the 9th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/leaving-cert-learning-difficulty-2811926-Jun2016/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/leaving-cert-learning-difficulty-2811926-Jun2016/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-09 08:28:49',NULL,'hes-going-to-struggle-teenager-with-learning-disability-denied-leaving-cert-support'),(1475,'Anti-bullying programme focused on changing bystander behaviour should be in Irish schools','<p>\r\n	A national anti-bullying programme focusing on changing bystander behaviour should be rolled out immediately in Irish schools, a leading expert urges.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Director of the Anti-Bullying Research Centre at Dublin City University, James O&rsquo;Higgins Norman, said they developed an anti-bullying programme based on a highly successful Finnish model.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Called Kiva (meaning nice), it includes role-playing exercises to increase the empathy of bystanders, and computer simulations to encourage students to think about how they would intervene to reduce bullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A study of more than 7,000 students in Finnish schools published earlier this year found that the programme greatly benefitted the mental health of students experiencing the most bullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was found that the most tormented children &mdash; those facing bullying several times a week &mdash; could be helped by teaching bystanders to be more supportive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Christina Salmivalli, a professor of psychology at the University of Turku who developed Kiva, currently in more than 2,300 Finnish schools, outlined its benefits at the annual Anti-Bullying Centre Conference at DCU yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Kiva is now Finland&rsquo;s national anti-bullying programme, and has been tested and used in several other European countries and New Zealand. It is currently being evaluated in the US.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Higgins Norman said the Anti-Bullying Centre has piloted a whole school approach that could be rolled out nationally if funding and resources to train teachers were made available.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Kiva has been very successful because bystanders become advocates for a safer environment &mdash;&mdash; they know when to intervene when they see bullying behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In Ireland schools have been allowed to develop their own programmes according to their own needs, but we have found that means that some schools don&rsquo;t develop programmes and they are not as pro-active as they should be.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If there was a national programme, it would mean that every school would have to reach certain standards and maintain a focus on bullying within the school environment.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ireland has had a National Anti-Bullying Action Plan since 2013, but has not implemented a national programme across all schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 10th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/anti-bullying-programme-focused-on-changing-bystander-behaviour-should-be-in-irish-schools-404099.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/anti-bullying-programme-focused-on-changing-bystander-behaviour-should-be-in-irish-schools-404099.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-10 09:08:54',NULL,'anti-bullying-programme-focused-on-changing-bystander-behaviour-should-be-in-irish-schools'),(1476,'HSE criticised for admitting 21 children to adult acute psychiatric unit','<p>\r\n	The HSE has been criticised for admitting 21 children to an adult acute psychiatric unit where more than half the staff did not have up-to-date training in Children First, the national guidance for safeguarding children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The high volume of child admissions to the unit at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise occurred between June 2014 and December 2015, contrary to the code of practice relating to the admission of children under mental health legislation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A report published last month by the Mental Health Commission found that nine children had been admitted to the Department of Psychiatry at St Luke&rsquo;s Hospital between March 2014 and November 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The most recent commission inspection in relation to Portlaoise found that 18 of 35 staff who potentially had care of the children had not received up-to-date training in Children First.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response, the HSE said it would &ldquo;seek training for staff who have not received training in Children First policy&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE also said children &ldquo;are only admitted on an emergency basis and we seek appropriate facilities in suitable centres as soon as possible&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The commission was also critical of some aspects of the use of electro convulsive therapy (ECT), sometimes called &ldquo;shock therapy&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors found that there was &ldquo;no record of separate cognitive assessment being undertaken prior to each administration of ECT&rdquo; and that in the case of one patient, there was no signed consent for anaesthesia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response, the HSE said there would be an audit of ECT compliance every three months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There was additional criticism from the commission in relation to &ldquo;a number of errors and uncertainties in the prescription and administration of medication&rdquo; and failure to address risks highlighted in a 2014 ligature audit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday, the commission said the unit&rsquo;s shortcomings had been highlighted to the HSE national directorate on a &ldquo;number of occasions&rdquo; and that it is expecting a lengthy report this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The commission said that if the report is inadequate, it would &ldquo;escalate its enforcement further&rdquo;, including prosecution or removing the unit from the register of approved centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 10th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-criticised-for-admitting-21-children-to-adult-acute-psychiatric-unit-404150.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hse-criticised-for-admitting-21-children-to-adult-acute-psychiatric-unit-404150.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-10 09:10:32',NULL,'hse-criticised-for-admitting-21-children-to-adult-acute-psychiatric-unit'),(1477,'€31m additional funding for disability services','<p>\r\n	An additional &euro;31m in funding for disability services has been approved by the Government.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister Finian McGrath, a member of the Independent Alliance, insisted that this was new money he had secured from the health budget as part of the negotiations that led to the Alliance joining the Government.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The spending will cover the provision of emergency residential places for the disabled,&nbsp; and bringing existing facilities into compliance with residential standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, Minister McGrath said that &euro;28m of the funding will be used for disability services to address existing financial pressures arising from on-going service improvement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&euro;3 million has been set aside for new initiatives this year including a provision for school leavers with disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McGrath said a priority for him would be the situation of adults with disabilities whose parents were elderly or deceased who faced particular problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the government wanted to empower those with disabilities to live independent lives and to enhance their ability to access the services they chose for themselves.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The minister said: &quot;The Government is committed to providing improved services and supports for people with disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Service providers also need to be able to respond effectively and sensitively when people experience crisis points in their lives and require immediate support. This much needed additional funding will enhance the HSE&rsquo;s ability to provide supports in these circumstances.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Disability campaigner and activist Martin Naughton has welcomed the extra funding, but said the mental health sector is going from one crisis to another.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Naughton told RT&Eacute;&#39;s Six One News that it is his understanding that the new money will be allocated to supporting residential centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, he argued that patients in institutional settings do not need to be there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Naughton said people would like to live in their own communities and the Government needs to support them through individual direct payments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While he paid tribute to Mr McGrath, he reiterated that &quot;the solution is not institution&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on RTE.ie on the 10th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0609/794394-additional-funding-disability-services/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0609/794394-additional-funding-disability-services/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-10 09:12:26',NULL,'€31m-additional-funding-for-disability-services'),(1478,'HSE under pressure to reveal nursing home fees','<p>\r\n	The weekly fees charged to residents in HSE-run nursing homes have not been published in five years, despite demands for public accountability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Owners of private nursing homes, which must disclose their fees, have said they are being put at a disadvantage and that the HSE&#39;s secrecy is fuelling allegations of price-fixing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Tadhg Daly of Nursing Homes Ireland, which represents private homes, said it was taking legal advice on the lack of clarity around fees.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The association will be raising the issue with the Comptroller and Auditor General in an attempt to examine the use of public money.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Daly said information on two HSE-run nursing homes showed that they were charging between &euro;2,340 and &euro;2,472 a week, a substantial increase of up to 88pc since the last published figures in 2011.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health Minister Simon Harris recently said that a value-for-money review of costs in public nursing homes was under way. But in a reply to a parliamentary question by Fianna F&aacute;il TD Jack Chambers, he confirmed that the prices were not disclosed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday, Mr Daly asked: &quot;Are we ever to become aware of what the HSE weekly fees are for their own nursing homes?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We are extremely concerned that the HSE and the Department of Health are involved in some anti-competitive practice to disguise public nursing home costs, so there can be no transparency or accountability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Previously published but dated research provides some indication as to the realities of the cost of nursing home care in HSE nursing homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The Department of Health&#39;s own review of the Fair Deal Scheme stated that the headline price differential in the average cost of care between public and private nursing homes was approximately 58pc.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;What are the public not being informed of? Is it because if they were published, private and voluntary homes would have a legal case about the unsustainably low level of payments by the State?&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Around three-quarters of the nursing home beds in the country are provided by private nursing homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The majority of nursing home residents are now in the Fair Deal scheme, which subsidises their care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Others have their care paid for by the State and the residents then pay 80pc of their pension towards the cost.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are currently around 22,000 people in nursing homes but this is set to grow as the population ages.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 13th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/hse-under-pressure-to-reveal-nursing-home-fees-34795072.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/hse-under-pressure-to-reveal-nursing-home-fees-34795072.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-13 08:57:23',NULL,'hse-under-pressure-to-reveal-nursing-home-fees'),(1479,'Finian McGrath to receive ‘Grace’ inquiry terms','<p>\r\n	The provisional terms of reference for an imminent State inquiry into the &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; foster home abuse scandal are set to be given to Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Examiner understands the terms are focussed on current child- safety procedures and the risk of another incident occurring, the actions officials responsible for Grace&rsquo;s care did and did not take, and when these professionals first became aware of the abuse claims.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The provisional terms for the inquiry were first announced just days before the February general election was called. The terms are based on the views of an independent report by senior counsel Conor Dignam, who has been examining the scandal for more than a year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While they may be altered at this stage, it is expected the Government will back the scale of examination being sought before seeking a D&aacute;il vote on setting up a commission of investigation later this month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The case involves claims that a woman with severe intellectual disabilities, given the pseudonym &lsquo;Grace&rsquo;, suffered severe sexual abuse at the south- east foster home between the late 1980s and 2009.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While all placements with the family were meant to end in 1995, &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; continued to stay at the home until 2009 while a second woman, called &lsquo;Anne&rsquo;, stayed for respite care until 2013. Several senior child-protection staff who were responsible for overseeing care standards in the region at that time remain in their positions in the HSE and child protection watchdog Tusla.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McGrath confirmed the Dignam report recommendations were due to be submitted two weeks ago, before a short extension was sought until this week for all of them to be finalised.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 13th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/finian-mcgrath-to-receive-grace-inquiry-terms-404549.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/finian-mcgrath-to-receive-grace-inquiry-terms-404549.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-13 08:58:39',NULL,'finian-mcgrath-to-receive-‘grace’-inquiry-terms'),(1480,'Poverty ‘impacting’ children’s ability to learn','<p>\r\n	Money does matter when it comes to children&rsquo;s learning and if the household is poor, a child is likely to be less successful in the classroom, with potential lifelong consequences.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That is according to economic sociologist Professor Richard Layte whose research has found some of the more challenging classroom behaviours and lower ability of many working class children can be traced back to the resources families have available to them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prof Layte of Trinity College Dublin and the ESRI, is one of the keynote speakers at a conference which gets under way in Co Louth tomorrow, said lower income reduces parents&rsquo; ability to buy educationally stimulating materials for the home and for the child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also curtails their ability to expose children to the kind of events that help expand their horizons.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s harder to be a good parent when you don&rsquo;t have enough money. Even well-educated professional parents get worse at parenting when they come under economic strain,&rdquo; Prof Layte said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The stress leads to parents becoming &ldquo;harsher, more inconsistent and more distant&rdquo;. Economic pressures led to psychological distress and depression, both of which were &ldquo;toxic to good parenting&rdquo;. Prof Layte, a researcher in the Government-funded Growing up in Ireland longitudinal study, said the family psycho-social environment had a significant impact on a child&rsquo;s learning and behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 13th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/poverty-impacting-childrens-ability-to-learn-404538.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/poverty-impacting-childrens-ability-to-learn-404538.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-13 08:59:51',NULL,'poverty-‘impacting’-children’s-ability-to-learn'),(1481,'Tusla and Garda group look at sex abuse claims in care','<p>\r\n	Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na have stepped up efforts to deal with any alleged abuse or sexual exploitation of children in the care system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The news follows various reports of abuse, including the Irish Examiner&rsquo;s coverage of the &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; case, where a woman with severe intellectual disabilities suffered sexual abuse in a foster home between the late 1980s and 2009.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesperson from Tusla confirmed the establishment of the working group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Tusla can confirm that a sub-group of the Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na/Tusla strategic liaison committee has been established to review matters concerning alleged exploitation of children in care,&rdquo; said the spokesperson.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The subgroup is committed to reviewing current practice in this area and to develop joint working guidelines for staff from both organisations where there are concerns that children may be at risk of organised abuse or sexual exploitation. Terms of reference for the sub-group are being finalised currently.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The press office of An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na also confirmed the establishment of the group. &ldquo;A sub-group of the Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na/Tusla strategic liaison committee has been established to review procedures and issues concerning alleged exploitation of children in care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The purpose of the sub-group is to look at all aspects of the exploitation of children in care to ensure that best practice and joint working is developed to respond adequately and promptly to such incidents,&rdquo; said the Garda spokesperson.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Any finding will be notified to senior management in both An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na and Tusla.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are approximately 6,000 children in care in Ireland in 2016.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 14th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/tusla-and-garda-group-look-at-sex-abuse-claims-in-care-404703.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/tusla-and-garda-group-look-at-sex-abuse-claims-in-care-404703.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-14 09:11:39',NULL,'tusla-and-garda-group-look-at-sex-abuse-claims-in-care'),(1482,'David Coleman: As a father, my children are learning from my actions','<p>\r\n	As dads are celebrated all around the world next Sunday for Father&#39;s Day, clinical psychologist David Coleman outlines the importance of the role of a father figure in shaping children&#39;s lives and future relationships</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I&#39;m a father. Instinctively, I know I am important to my children. But what exactly is it that I, and other fathers, do that makes us so important? I&#39;ve carried babies in a sling, letting them snuggle into me to sleep. I&#39;ve bathed them, fed them and changed the dirty nappies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I&#39;ve trailed after two-year-olds who just want to explore everything and I&#39;ve cleaned up the spills and the scraped knees as pre-schoolers try to do it all. I&#39;ve read to them, exhaustively, to the point I could almost recite some books.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I&#39;ve watched three children move through primary school, navigating friends, teachers, class plays and school trips. I&#39;ve driven to teenage discos, negotiated social media, talked about sex, drugs and alcohol, and supported my kids through State exams.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The only bit of fathering I have yet to try is the adult-to-adult friendship that I hope blooms in the next five to 10 years, as they move out of the house and fully into their own futures.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Like any good psychologist, I&#39;ve read the research. I know there is strong evidence that having fathers who are around and active in their children&#39;s lives is good for their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For example, a number of research studies suggest that fathers who are involved, nurturing and playful with their infants, have children with higher IQs, as well as better linguistic and cognitive capacities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The evidence also shows that toddlers with involved fathers have higher levels of academic readiness and seem to handle the stress and frustrations of schooling better than children with less-involved fathers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	By the time children get to adolescence, an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning and academic achievement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Socially and emotionally children do better when they have a father who is involved in their lives. The research shows that children with fathers who are actively interested in them get on better with friends and are less likely to be in trouble at home or in school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The way in which fathers interact with their children, which tends to be physical and playful, gives children the skills to regulate their feelings and behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It seems that fathers are more likely to promote independence and an orientation to the outside world. Fathers tend to push achievement, which balances with the way mothers tend to place more importance on nurturing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Taking all of the research, then, fathers have an undoubtedly positive and powerful impact on the healthy and balanced development of their children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I&#39;d like to think that my children will accrue all of these benefits. I&#39;d like to think that I have been a &#39;good enough&#39; father. Knowing the research is one thing, but being a dad doesn&#39;t feel like something that can be &#39;done by the book&#39;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When I think about the things I have done, though, that make me good enough, there is no stand-out factor, no single critical ingredient that has been the key.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Rather, I think it is the quality of the relationships that I have built up with them, over the years. So, all of those things that I mentioned at the start of the article have been important.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The hours walking around the house with one or other baby in my arms, the times running after their bikes as they learned to ride, the times we play-wrestled on the bed, the movies we watched together snuggled up, the hours spent on the sidelines, or court-side, as they did their thing with their team-mates.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But, aside from the fun times, I also know that I have set strict limits, firm boundaries and consistent rules for them. Like I always preach, I have tried to impose those rules fairly and kindly. I try not to lose the head too often.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I push my children when it comes to education, as I really do believe that it will create opportunities for them in their lives. I know that so much of what my children have learned about how to interact with others, and about what a man is, has come from their observation of me.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Research shows that girls, as they grow up, will look for men who hold similar interpersonal characteristics as their father. It is almost as if they have learned how to handle those personality traits in their dad and so think they can handle them in other relationships.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Boys look for their father&#39;s approval in everything they do, and try to emulate what they see to be familiar and successful behaviours. In practice they copy the good and the bad, so it is better for them if the behaviour we display is mostly good.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	So, even when I am not interacting with them directly, but am on the phone, or with my friends, they are learning from my actions. So I have to try to live the values that I preach to them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	My relationship with my wife is especially important as a model for my children. The levels of respect, love and kindness that I show my wife give my children a guide to how to relate to others, and what they can expect from other men in their relationships with women.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	How effectively or not I deal with conflict in my close and intimate relationships also gives them a script for how they can try to resolve problems too.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I, like you, only get this one chance to influence them so powerfully. I really hadn&#39;t a clue, when I started this fathering business, just how precious an experience it would be to watch and nurture my children as they grew.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	We fathers are important people. Children need us if they are to grow and thrive in a balanced, healthy way. They need to see us, touch us, play with us and talk with us.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	To achieve that we have to be present and we have to give them our time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I love my children and I hope that is what shows in how I am with them&hellip; most of the time!</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 14th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/life/family/family-features/david-coleman-as-a-father-my-children-are-learning-from-my-actions-34789834.html\">http://www.independent.ie/life/family/family-features/david-coleman-as-a-father-my-children-are-learning-from-my-actions-34789834.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-14 09:14:25',NULL,'david-coleman-as-a-father-my-children-are-learning-from-my-actions'),(1483,'Playground smoking ban now almost countrywide','<p>\r\n	Smokers are running out of places to indulge their habit with almost all the country&rsquo;s playgrounds now formally declared tobacco-free zones.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Research collated by the Institute of Public Health (IPH) shows 26 of the 31 city and county councils have implemented or agreed to implement smoke-free playground policies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It means 82% of the country&rsquo;s playgrounds should be no-go areas for parents and guardians with a cigarette in hand.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The IPH says the move reinforces the trend towards turning all public places into smoke-free zones with growing numbers of public bodies &mdash; particular those in the health and social care sectors &mdash; now also extending smoking bans to their outdoor grounds and campuses.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Director of policy Helen McAvoy said: &ldquo;The findings in the report show that considerable progress is being made in the implementation of smoke-free spaces and places across a range of different settings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This helps to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke and to denormalise tobacco use for future generations.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Challenges remain, however, and while Ireland may have been first in the world to introduce the workplace smoking ban, the North is ahead when it comes to compliance rates.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A report on the North earlier this year showed that 98.9% of businesses inspected there were compliant with the ban, but the most recent report on compliance in the Republic, taken from 2014, showed 80% were completely smoke-free.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Another report last year found 13% of adults in the Republic reported being exposed to second-hand smoke in the workplace, while 5% reported tobacco smoke in bars and 4% in restaurants.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The IPH said it was not yet known what effect the new ban on smoking in cars carrying children, and the replacement of cigarettes with vaping, was having on exposure to second-hand smoke, although it was hoped both would help reduce the amount of smoke lingering around children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More difficult to police was what happens in the home and the IPH said there was still concern one in six children reported that adults are allowed smoke sometimes or always at home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the IPH: &ldquo;The frequency, intensity, and duration of exposure to second-hand smoke are significant in determining health outcomes for infants and children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Babies exposed to second- hand smoke are at a greater risk of sudden infant death syndrome and children who regularly breathe second- hand smoke are more likely to experience asthma, ear infections, and respiratory tract infections.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Health&rsquo;s Tobacco-Free Ireland strategy aims to reduce smoking prevalence to less than 5% by 2025.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 14th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/playground-smoking-ban-now-almost-countrywide-404708.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/playground-smoking-ban-now-almost-countrywide-404708.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-14 09:15:53',NULL,'playground-smoking-ban-now-almost-countrywide'),(1484,'Child welfare logging system confirmed','<p>\r\n	The Child and Family Agency has confirmed that the long-awaited Pulse-style system for logging child welfare and protection concerns will be in operation nationwide by the end of 2018.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	By the time the NCCIS (National Child Care Information System) is fully rolled out, it will by the most of a decade since the plan was first mooted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The new system will allow Tusla to monitor the progress of notifications and referrals across the system and across the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	With the current paper-based system, for example, Tusla can only search for referrals by the identity of the person who made the referral or by the nature of the concern. It cannot say how many child welfare concerns have been raised in a given period regarding children living in homeless accommodation such as hotels, whereas such information would be easily accessible under NCCIS.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A Tusla spokesperson said the NCCIS includes a case management system to record operational data and clinical information for social workers, is currently operational in the Mid West, and its effectiveness is constantly monitored through a Project Advisory Group who review the system and handle escalated user issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Donal O&rsquo;Malley, chair of the Irish Association of Social Workers, said the news the system would be fully operational was welcome, but added it needed to be backed by the necessary personnel. &ldquo;We welcome the fact that it&rsquo;s coming in, but it is disappointing, to say least, that it has taken this long and that it is going to take another 18 months,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 15<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/child-welfare-logging-system-confirmed-404936.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/child-welfare-logging-system-confirmed-404936.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-15 09:34:21',NULL,'child-welfare-logging-system-confirmed'),(1485,'Reliance on private sector to build homes ‘must end’','<p>\r\n	Society of St Vincent de Paul says 70:30 split between private and public housing should be reversed</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Government must reverse the direction it is taking in its social housing strategy, according to the Society of St Vincent de Paul.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In its pre-budget submission the charity says the Government remains over-reliant on the private sector in tackling the housing crisis. It is &ldquo;adamant&rdquo; the only real and lasting way out of the crisis is a massive return to public house building.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In its Social Housing 2020 strategy, the Government says 110,000 units of social housing will be provided over the next four years, 70 per cent of which will be through supports to households in the private-rented sector, such as rent supplement and the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). The other 30 per cent will be units of housing built or acquired by local authorities and housing bodies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The society says this 70:30 split between private and public must be switched around.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;SVP views the reliance on the private-rented sector to meet social housing over the past two decades as an abject failure and direct cause of the increase in family homelessness.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;While the society believes there is a role for a well-regulated and affordable private-rented sector in meeting social housing need in the short-term . . . SVP is adamant the provision of social housing units is the only real and lasting solution to the housing and homelessness crisis.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Disagreement</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At the submission publication on Tuesday, there was disagreement from the floor, between Dublin City councillor, John Lyons (People Before Profit) and Graham Stull, semester officer with the European Commission in Dublin, as to whether European Fiscal compact rules &ndash; which stipulate Government spending should not be &ldquo;off balance sheet&rdquo; &ndash; should be broken to allow greater spending on public housing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While Cllr Lyons called the rules &ldquo;arbitrary&rdquo; arguing they came at &ldquo;huge social cost to our people&rdquo;, Mr Stull argued the rules were not arbitrary and were in place to protect people, particularly the most vulnerable, from the adverse impact of boom-bust economics.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The society makes 18 recommendations in its submission, focused on housing, income adequacy, childcare and after-school care, and fuel poverty. It urges the Government to prioritise investment in services over tax cuts in October&rsquo;s budget.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	John Mark McCafferty, the charity&rsquo;s head of social justice, said while there were positive signs, including falling unemployment and projected economic growth, there remained 140,000 children in consistent poverty and 59 per cent of households headed by single parents experienced material deprivation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The charity calls for a particular focus on lone-parent households, saying they were a &ldquo;special case&rdquo; in the fight against child poverty. These households had been badly affected by changes to the One Parent Family Payment introduced by the last government. They also figure disproportionately in the family homelessness figures.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Measures targeting this group should allow lone parents in employment, whose children are aged between seven and 14, receive both the Jobseekers&rsquo; Transition payment and the Family Income Supplement if they meet the criteria.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They also called for any increase in Child Benefit to be targeted at children aged 12 and over.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 14<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/reliance-on-private-sector-to-build-homes-must-end-1.2684320\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/reliance-on-private-sector-to-build-homes-must-end-1.2684320</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-15 00:00:00',NULL,'reliance-on-private-sector-to-build-homes-‘must-end’'),(1486,'Children face beatings, rape, death trying to reach Europe – Unicef','<p>\r\n	More than nine out of 10 refugee and migrant children are travelling alone</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than nine out of 10 refugee and migrant children arriving in Europe through Italy this year are travelling alone, the UN children&rsquo;s agency Unicef said on Tuesday, warning of &ldquo;appalling&rdquo; risks children face while escaping conflict and poverty.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the first five months of 2016, more than 7,000 unaccompanied children made the crossing from North Africa to Italy, following a route that in recent weeks has become the busiest and the deadliest for migrants to Europe, Unicef said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The children rely on human smugglers, often under a &ldquo;pay as you go system&rdquo;, making them prone to exploitation and abuse including rape, forced labour, beatings and death, Unicef said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said Italian social workers told the agency some boys and girls were sexually assaulted and forced into prostitution in Libya, while some of the girls arriving in Italy were pregnant as a result of rape.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If you try to run they shoot you and you die. If you stop working, they beat you. It was just like the slave trade,&rdquo; 16-year-old Aimamo told Unicef.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Once I was just resting for five minutes, and a man beat me with a cane. After working, they lock you inside,&rdquo; he said, describing conditions on the farm in Libya where he worked for two months with his brother to pay the smugglers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The number of unaccompanied children travelling from North Africa to Italy so far in 2016 was more than double that of the same period in 2015, Unicef said, adding that it could not pinpoint one reason why the numbers had spiked.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Christopher Tidey, a Unicef spokesman, said girls from Nigeria told him they fled to Europe to escape early marriage, while a boy from Somalia said his family sent him away after militant group al-Shabaab threatened to recruit him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Extreme poverty is a major motivator as well,&rdquo; Mr Tidey told the Reuters by phone from Germany.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I met a number of boys from countries like Gambia who made the trip basically because their families were so poor that the older ones were being sent to Europe effectively to try and earn money to send back home.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As calmer summer weather begins, European officials who struck a deal with Turkey to block crossings to Greece have been scrambling for ways to shut down flows on the other major sea route into the EU from Libya.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Between January 1st and June 5th this year, more than 2,800 deaths were recorded in the whole of the Mediterranean, the vast majority on the dangerous central Mediterranean route from North Africa, compared with 3,770 in 2015, said Unicef.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said 235,000 migrants were currently in Libya, tens of thousands of them lone children, many trying to make it to Northern France in hope of eventually reaching Britain.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Unicef said many children had fallen between the cracks of overstretched asylum systems and their cases should be a priority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;All too often children are held behind bars - in detention facilities or in police custody - because of a lack of space in child protection centres and limited capacity for identifying alternative solutions,&rdquo; it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	UN human rights chief Zeid Ra&rsquo;ad Al Hussein has decried a &ldquo;worrying rise&rdquo; in detentions of migrants in Greece and Italy and urged authorities to find alternatives to confining children while asylum requests are processed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Authorities in some countries take up to two years to evaluate a child&rsquo;s request for asylum, and processes to reunify families can be equally slow, Unicef said. Once in Europe, migrants and refugees are often housed in sports halls, former military barracks or other temporary shelters, sometimes without access to schooling and psychological support, it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some have faced xenophobic attacks, hate speech and stigmatisation, it said, citing 45 arson attacks on refugee shelters in Germany during the first half of this year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 14th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/children-face-beatings-rape-death-trying-to-reach-europe-unicef-1.2684258\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/children-face-beatings-rape-death-trying-to-reach-europe-unicef-1.2684258</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-15 09:37:59',NULL,'children-face-beatings-rape-death-trying-to-reach-europe-–-unicef'),(1487,'New system for assessing children in emergency departments','<p>\r\n	A new system to prioritise children who attend emergency departments has been launched by the Health Service Executive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Children&#39;s Triage System has been developed from the experience of doctors and nurses.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Up to now children who attend general hospital emergency departments have been assessed using an adult scoring system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is no longer seen as best practice, given the age-related physiological differences with children, their specific presenting signs and symptoms and paediatric diagnoses.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE&#39;s national medicine emergency programme says the new system will ensure safer, more effective and timely care for children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It should also result in more children being admitted where necessary and not being discharged.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are over 20 hospitals where acutely-ill or injured children are seen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children account for around a quarter of all attendances at regional emergency departments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In addition, over 110,000 children attend the three paediatric-only emergency departments in Dublin each year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The system has been piloted in six hospitals and will become the national standard for all children who present to emergency departments .</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 16th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0616/796002-children-emergency-departments/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0616/796002-children-emergency-departments/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-16 10:54:35',NULL,'new-system-for-assessing-children-in-emergency-departments'),(1488,'Supervision order granted for girl haunted by ghoulish visions ','<p>\r\n	A girl who suffered hallucinations and nightmares involving a fictional internet character had a supervision order made for her at the Dublin District Family Court this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The order was granted to the Child and Family Agency for the primary school child, after the court was told she had been exhibiting symptoms of extreme anxiety at home and at school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A social worker told Judge Brendan Toale the agency was concerned the girl was emotionally abused by her brother and emotionally neglected by her parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social worker said the girl told her she had seen a supernatural fictional character in the corner of the room while awake and alone, and also in her nightmares. She described seeing the ghoul, which cannot be named by court order, telling her to set the house on fire and hurt herself. She did not want to do this and was very frightened by it, said the social worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Poor self-esteem</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The principal of the child&rsquo;s school said the girl was capable, with good attendance, but had very poor self-esteem. There were very serious concerns about her progress, though she had resource hours. The principal outlined some of the very distressing symptoms of anxiety displayed by the girl, which cannot be reported by order of the court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A second social worker said the girl had witnessed an extreme level of violence perpetrated by her brother against her parents. There had also been break-ins at the family&rsquo;s home by individuals seeking repayment of her brother&rsquo;s drug debt. She said the girl had trouble sleeping and worried constantly that someone in her family would be hurt.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A psychological assessment of the child ruled out mental illness and said her difficulties were due to environmental stressors. A psychologist had said her problems and phobias could abate in time, as long as there were no more stressors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Both parents were present in court and neither objected to the supervision order. The social worker said the parents were co-operating with the agency, but she feared if a supervision order was not given, that could cease, as it had in the past. The child had missed mental health appointments and social workers had been refused access to the house, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said he did not doubt the situation was difficult for all of the family. The level of distress and behaviours displayed by the child were at the upper end of the scale seen in court and if not dealt with, could cause serious difficulty in the future. He said he was absolutely satisfied a supervision order was needed for six months, to allow social workers visit the child and provide support.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Foster mother</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a separate case, a foster carer applied to the court for guardianship of her teenage charge.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court heard the teenager had been living with the foster carer for nine years. He had been in Ireland all his life. His mother had died and his father had returned to his home country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The foster mother said she wanted guardianship because she had applied for an Irish passport for the boy three times and had been refused. She said without the passport, the boy, currently sitting his leaving certificate, would be unable to go to college. He was very intelligent, she said, and a very good boy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A social worker said the agency supported the application and was aware of efforts made to obtain citizenship and the obstacles in the boy&rsquo;s way. She said all foster allowance payments would continue once the foster carer became guardian. The judge granted the application.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 16th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/supervision-order-granted-for-girl-haunted-by-ghoulish-visions-1.2686010\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/district-court/supervision-order-granted-for-girl-haunted-by-ghoulish-visions-1.2686010</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-16 11:02:42',NULL,'supervision-order-granted-for-girl-haunted-by-ghoulish-visions'),(1489,'School forced to withdraw disability services over funding cuts','<p>\r\n	St John of Gods has blamed a &quot;significant reduction in funding&quot; for its decision to withdraw services that it currently provides to teenagers with intellectual disabilities in south Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Health Service Executive-funded programmes include vocational training for older teenagers as well as an after school life skills service for 14 to 16 year olds.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The services are attached to St Augustine&#39;s School in Blackrock, which caters for 162 students with conditions such as profound autism.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents and students were informed recently of the decision to withdraw the life skills programme from the end of June, and to phase out the vocational training programme over the next two years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The vocational training programme teaches skills such as car valeting, carpentry and horticulture. Students often do job placements after the course.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Both programmes are aimed at helping students to live independent lives as adults.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The life skills programme teaches students social skills as well as how to do basic household and other tasks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement St John of God Community Services said the withdrawal of the programmes was necessitated by a significant reduction in funding and by a requirement to prioritise resources in Adult Residential and Respite Services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also said the decision was informed by a need &quot;to respond to emergency and crisis situations&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said the 26 staff affected would be redeployed elsewhere within St John of God Community Services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The parent of a child attending the life skills programme has told RTE News that parents are &quot;devastated&quot; by the news.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	James McDonnell, whose son has autism and a range of other intellectual disabilities said the services were vital for his son&#39;s future, and for his ability to be independent of his parents, like any other young person, by his mid-20s.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said parents had been told when their children joined the school that they would have these services and now felt &quot;let down&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McDonnell said without such programmes his son and others were more likely to be &quot;a burden&quot; on the State in their adult years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	St John of God&#39;s said the decision to withdraw the services &quot;was not taken lightly&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE, which funds the services, has said the decision to withdraw them was made by the board of St John of Gods.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesperson said the HSE was aware of the decision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said St John of Gods would be aware of national policy in the provision of services to young people with intellectual disabilities. That policy was, she said, to ensure an equitable service to all children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the RTE News on the 16th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0616/796027-st-john-of-god/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0616/796027-st-john-of-god/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-16 11:13:54',NULL,'school-forced-to-withdraw-disability-services-over-funding-cuts'),(1490,'Rights body urges action on direct provision reform ','<p>\r\n	Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission seeks quick action on asylum seeker cases</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) has called on the Government to &ldquo;move without delay&rdquo; in implementing in full the recommendations of a steering group on direct provision reform.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report was chaired by retired High Court judge Dr Bryan McMahon and published in June last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On Thursday, the Department of Justice published an update saying 91 of the 173 recommendations contained in the report have been implemented.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A further 49 have been partially introduced, while the remaining 33 &ldquo;remain under consideration&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Commenting on the update, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said several of the recommendations would be provided for in the International Protection Act 2015 which will be commenced later this year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This &ldquo;can be expected to positively address the crucial issue of the length of time that applicants spend in the process and the direct provision system&rdquo;, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Justice said over two-thirds of those identified as being in the system for more than five years have now had their cases completed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Communal kitchens</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other work undertaken to improve the conditions of asylum seekers has included an increase in the direct provision allowance for children and an increase in the number of communal kitchens for asylum seeking residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, despite these updates, the IHREC - a statutory body created to safeguard human rights - has said all recommendations must be implemented in line with international standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Chief commissioner Emily Logan said Mr McMahon had &ldquo;brought considerable expertise and insight&rdquo; to his review of the system, and it was important all of his recommendations be adopted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We recommend the Government now move to ensure the remaining measures to give effect to the recommendations are implemented so that people seeking asylum in Ireland can live with a greater degree of respect and dignity,&rdquo; she said in a statement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 16th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/rights-body-urges-action-on-direct-provision-reform-1.2687980\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/rights-body-urges-action-on-direct-provision-reform-1.2687980</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-17 09:29:32',NULL,'rights-body-urges-action-on-direct-provision-reform'),(1491,'Do We Assume That Disabled People Don’t Have Sex?','<p>\r\n	Sex is considered to be an inaugural part of our human existence, yet when it comes to those who suffer from a physical or mental impairment we assume that they don&rsquo;t want to, or can&rsquo;t, participate in sex. I spoke to Paddy Smyth &ndash; a young, positive, disability advocate from Dublin &ndash; who aim&rsquo;s to transform societies&rsquo; perception of disability. Paddy suffers from Cerebral Palsy in his legs which means that he needs to use an aid for moving. As an outgoing young person, Paddy doesn&rsquo;t let his disability impair his relationships; and rightly so. It&rsquo;s time to disable the sex stigma.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Our perception is long-standing, and rather presumptuous, that those who we see to have a disability are unable to perform intimately or are unable to conceive. I&rsquo;m shamefully responsible for it and I&rsquo;m trying to think of valid reasons for my thought-process. Currently, these are some common myths surrounding disability as reported by The Irish Family Planning Association:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull;All disabled people have the same needs</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull; All disabled people are heterosexual</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull; All disabled people are asexual or hyper-sexual</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull; Information and education about sex will encourage &ldquo;inappropriate&rdquo; sexual behaviour</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull; Intellectually disabled people are incapable of understanding sexuality</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull; Physically disabled people are unable to have sex</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull; Disabled people cannot/should not be parents</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull;Disabled people should be grateful for any type of sexual relationship</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ultimately it boils down to how we have created stereotypes within our communities; which is something that Paddy feels strongly against:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s the way society automatically feels &lsquo;sorry&rsquo; for anyone with a disability which then snowballs into &ldquo;I couldn&rsquo;t be attracted to someone with a disability because in some weird way it feels wrong&rdquo;. Now I&rsquo;m not saying everyone is like this because they&rsquo;re not, But a lot of people are. Whether they will admit that or not is a different story&rdquo;, he says. Paddy also puts it down to what he calls &ldquo;innocent ignorance&rdquo;, and explains that it&rsquo;s natural for people to react differently to a disabled person, but says that social media has helped him to reach out to wider audiences to initiate change, and allow people to get used to the idea that people with disabilities live normal and happy lives:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;People don&rsquo;t mean to treat us differently, it&rsquo;s just human nature because they&rsquo;ve never been in contact with a disabled person before so it&rsquo;s the &lsquo;unknown&rsquo; for many. This is one of the main reasons I started my Snapchat to try and shed light on the topic and try change people&rsquo;s preconception of what a disabled person lives like. Since I started my Snapchat #Mydisabledlife I&rsquo;ve been asked on numerous dates and have been intimate with more people now than ever before. Which is mad because sometimes I honestly think I&rsquo;m being punked!!&rdquo; he joked.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He continued: &ldquo;when people understand your condition they end up not seeing it anymore because the initial shock has passed, and probably from my Snapchat people have gotten to know me and gotten used to my condition from watching me.&nbsp; The biggest thing in this is being open and honest and just keep slowly changing peoples perception. But ideally, try your best to own what you are and not hide what you are! This is something I&rsquo;m always working on because insecurity creeps in every day and it&rsquo;s my job and no one else&rsquo;s to fight that feeling of insecurity&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social media has given Paddy an innate power to educate people all over the country on the challenges that he and thousand others like him face every day as a disabled person, and he has since become an ambassador for Disable Inequality, which is an organisation that aims to end discrimination for people living with disabilities in Ireland. I asked him straightforwardly: how can we change our attitudes towards those with physical or mental impairment when it comes to intimacy? Naturally his response was not straightforward:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This is going to be a slow movement but it&rsquo;s one that I&rsquo;m very passionate about. When I get chatted up by guys they ask me can I have sex: I&rsquo;ve come to realise that this is not their fault, but they&rsquo;re just curious because they&rsquo;ve never had to socialize or be intimate with a disabled person before. The first thing they see is the disability. I think the biggest thing is for people with disabilities &ndash; both physical and mental &ndash; is to be open about it and talk about your condition with honesty and clarity; which from experience is very hard to do because you feel very vulnerable&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;While Paddy promotes disability in a positive light and with a brave face, the harsh reality of if is that he does experience discrimination; like many others. He shared some of his negative experiences dating with me:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve been told before online that the person didn&rsquo;t want to even go on date with me after I told them I was disabled. One person even said &ldquo;whats the point of going on date? You can&rsquo;t have sex&rdquo;. This can have a really negative effect on your confidence and you can end up not telling people about your disability because you can&rsquo;t take any more rejection. I try my best to be honest and just put it out there because they&rsquo;re gonna find out eventually. I&rsquo;ve never had anyone who I&rsquo;ve been with ask me to do anything too weird, but hey, I&rsquo;m still young, ha!&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	So yes: people with disabilities are very capable of having sex. Sexual orientation, intimacy, pleasure, reproduction, experimentation, desire, love, and fantasy are part-and-parcel of a healthy existence and we would be wrong to think otherwise. Sexualityanddisability.org is a wonderful and informative website that answers common misconceptions and myths surrounding disability and covers a wide and diverse range of topics &ndash; definitely worth a read. As someone with a disability I&rsquo;ve had brief stints after major surgeries &ndash; usually 6-8 months at a time &ndash; were sex was not permitted; which was tough on my partner at the time. What I will say is: where there&rsquo;s a will, there&rsquo;s a way.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Keep up to date with Paddy and his #DisabledLife on his Snapchat at @Paddyysmyth.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by IMAGE.ie on the 16th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://image.ie/entertainment/article/do-we-assume-that-disabled-people-dont-have-sex/\">http://image.ie/entertainment/article/do-we-assume-that-disabled-people-dont-have-sex/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-17 09:31:46',NULL,'do-we-assume-that-disabled-people-don’t-have-sex'),(1492,'Unacceptable practices at Tipperary hospital criticised','<p>\r\n	South Tipperary General Hospital has been accused of putting patients at high risk because of unacceptable practices and overcrowding.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The hospital had patients on trolleys in a reception area which inspectors say did not provide an acceptable level of safety, privacy or dignity for patients.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Health Information and Quality Authority compiled a number of reports on the hospital following three inspections over the past few months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HIQA inspectors carried out an unannounced inspection on the morning of 2 March and saw five in-patients being looked after in a non-clinical reception area and corridor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inspectors said these patients did not have proper access to oxygen ports, monitoring equipment or other facilities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inspectors were so disturbed by what they saw that they immediately contacted the CEO of the regional hospital group and called off their inspection until the safety of patients was addressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hospital management acknowledged overcrowding was an issue but immediate action was taken, with patients on wards fit to be sent home being discharged at lunchtime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The patients on the corridors were then moved to wards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Follow up inspections did not find a repeat of the problem.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On another inspection, on 16 March, HIQA inspectors found a number of risks relating to infection prevention and hygiene, with very poor cleaning of equipment and around some patient areas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most rubbish bins were stained, dusty and rusty on some of the surgical wards and the standard of hygiene in some of the toilets was particularly poor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The paediatric ward was also not clean in places to acceptable standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inspectors went back six weeks later and found the situation had improved considerably but that further improvement in cleaning, management and maintenance was still required.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	South Tipperary Hospital has been experiencing high occupancy rates since January and HIQA also noted that management there should review how they monitor ways of making sure infections such as Legionella do not occur.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Overall HIQA found the hospital is working towards compliance with national standards and is committed to improving standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&#39;Poor&#39; hygiene in ward of Cork University Hospital</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Elsewhere, HIQA described the standard of environmental and equipment hygiene at a neurosurgery ward at Cork University Hospital as &quot;poor&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The authority conducted an unannounced inspection at the hospital in May.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a report issued this morning, HIQA said it inspected three areas of Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital. It said that while equipment in two of these areas was generally clean and well maintained, the standard in the GA Neurosurgery Ward was poor, not in line with national infection control standards or national guidelines for hospital cleaning.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HIQA found that some equipment was unclean, with cleaning carried out on a weekly basis, instead of after every use.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HIQA also said improvements are required in the management of cleanliness of the physical environment in Neurosurgery GA Ward.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The authority said it is apparent that Cork University Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital are actively endeavouring to address deficiencies which were identified in previous HIQA inspections.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Staff at Tipperary overworked - McGrath</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Independent TD Mattie McGrath said the problems at South Tipperary General Hospital are not the fault of staff as they are overworked.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the increase in the numbers of people waiting on trolleys is &quot;truly disturbing&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking during Leaders&#39; Questions in the D&aacute;il, the Tipperary deputy said people are being asked to see their GP rather than go to emergency departments, but GP services are overwhelmed because of the free GP scheme for under-sixes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He described the HIQA report as damning to patient safety.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	T&aacute;naiste Frances Fitzgerald said the report was extremely disturbing, but noted that there were improvements when the inspectors returned to the hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said there are clearly management and accountability issues that need to be addressed but the Minister for Health has signalled an investment in the sector and investments are being made.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald also said there will be a capital review in the near future where the issues raised can be considered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 16th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0616/795984-hiqa-cork/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0616/795984-hiqa-cork/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-17 09:37:19',NULL,'unacceptable-practices-at-tipperary-hospital-criticised'),(1493,'Ireland lifts lifetime ban on gay men donating blood','<p>\r\n	Ireland is lifting the lifetime ban on gay men donating blood.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health Minister Simon Harris revealed the decision days after the reform was recommended in a report by the board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move will allow men who have sex with men to donate blood a year after being sexually active or five years after they have been cleared of a sexually transmitted infection.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ireland&#39;s lifetime ban on blood donations from gay men was put in place in the 1980s when Aids became a major sexual health risk but the reform now brings the Republic into line with Northern Ireland, which commences its new policy in September.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Harris said he welcomed the move.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I would like to thank the chair of the IBTS, Professor Anthony Staines for their work and I have asked that they continue to engage with my officials on the development of a robust implementation plan to support this change in blood donation policy so that the policy change, its rationale and its implications can be well implemented and clearly explained to all potential blood donors, recipients of blood products and the general public,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Once this is in place it will be possible to set a date from which this policy change will commence.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published&nbsp; by the Irish Independent on the 27th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/ireland-lifts-lifetime-ban-on-gay-men-donating-blood-34835552.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/ireland-lifts-lifetime-ban-on-gay-men-donating-blood-34835552.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-27 10:22:56',NULL,'ireland-lifts-lifetime-ban-on-gay-men-donating-blood'),(1494,'Enda Kenny ‘must intervene’ as abuse probe delayed','<p>\r\n	Taoiseach Enda Kenny has been called upon to intervene directly to explain the &ldquo;shocking&rdquo; delay to a commission of investigation into the sexual abuse at a foster home in Waterford.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A scoping report into the abuse allegations relating to the foster home was due back last month, but will not now be delivered until the day after the D&aacute;il rises for the summer break in July.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Following a series of Irish Examiner reports this year, the previous government announced that a commission would be established to examine allegations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it has now emerged that it will be autumn at least before the commission is formally established, as the HSE has sought more time to respond to a preliminary report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The previous government relented to mounting pressure after this newspaper&rsquo;s reports, which centred on the neglect and abuse of a woman given the name Grace, revealing that she was left in the home until 2009, 16 years after abuse allegations first surfaced.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Oireachtas finance committee chairman John McGuinness, who drove the bid to expose the abuse scandal, called on the Taoiseach to intervene to establish the commission as soon as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I am amazed, shocked, and disappointed at the news that this is going to be delayed,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;After so long, it is disappointing that this is being kicked to touch. The Taoiseach now has to do something about this; he has to intervene.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At the weekend, former junior health minister and Labour TD Kathleen Lynch expressed her concern at the &ldquo;disturbing&rdquo; delay.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last December, Ms Lynch appointed senior counsel Conor Dignam to conduct a scoping report of available information about the foster home and its relationship with the 47 former residents who were sent there between the early 1980s and 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Among the documents under his consideration are two HSE-sponsored reports &mdash; the 2012 Conal Devine Report and the 2015 Transparency Ireland Report &mdash; neither of which have been published.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is because the abuse allegations are under Garda investigation and the HSE has insisted it wants to see the reports in the public domain, but it must adhere to the Garda request.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood that Mr Dignam submitted a draft report three weeks ago, but the HSE sought an extension to respond, so the full report is not due back until July 22, the day after the D&aacute;il rises for the summer recess.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, the HSE said: &ldquo;We were given a draft report to consider in terms of factual accuracy. This would involve us talking to quite a few staff in different parts of the country.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The minister responsible for overseeing this matter, Finian McGrath, was not in a position to comment, but is known to be somewhat frustrated at the lack of progress.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The matter will not now go to Cabinet this week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Our reports revealed how, following a letter from the foster father to the minister of health in 1996, a decision to remove Grace from the foster home was overturned and she remained in the home until 2009.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 27th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/enda-kenny-must-intervene-as-abuse-probe-delayed-407065.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/enda-kenny-must-intervene-as-abuse-probe-delayed-407065.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-27 10:24:20',NULL,'enda-kenny-‘must-intervene’-as-abuse-probe-delayed'),(1495,'Why and how to talk to children about pornography ','<p>\r\n	Porn can&rsquo;t be ignored when it comes to teaching what is healthy and safe about sex</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The internet and social media are now a normal part of established culture for young people growing up. For parents, this can bring a whole new level of concern as even with safety filters on devices, having access to the internet and the social media world makes it more likely that young people may come across and gain access to content that is sexually explicit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Internet access and social media has changed the landscape for parents in many ways. When it comes to teaching young people about what is healthy and safe in relationships, as well as the issue of supporting young people&rsquo;s individual sexual development, these aspects of parenting now point to the need for discussion around the issue of pornography.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Young people can accidently encounter sexually explicit material online or they can actively seek it out. And while secondary schools have an obligation to teach on the topic of relationships and sexuality, according to Mairead McNally of Loreto Secondary School, Balbriggan, there is no part of the curriculum that addresses pornography. It is useful for parents to think ahead about how to talk with young people about pornography.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Here are some reasons why young people could benefit from such talk:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	1 Social media as a sexualised environment</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The social media world and the internet</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	in general can become a sexualised environment quite quickly for some young people. For example, the young person may follow a celebrity online who posts sexually explicit selfies or content of themselves. This selfie culture can contribute to normalising the uploading of material that is sexually provocative or explicit, and it can inadvertently give young people the message that they must present themselves in a certain &ldquo;sexual&rdquo; way in order to be deemed of worth. The trend towards the sexualisation of the self can tend to glamorise the area of pornography.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	2 Interest in sex</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Wanting information about sex is normal and if young people are not getting</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	the message at home that they can ask questions and talk openly about sex, they may feel more inclined to access such information and pornography in order to find out for themselves what sex is about. Pornography is not real and yet young people viewing it can often think it is.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	3 Pornography and beliefs about sex</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A study in 2009 by Braun-Courville and Rojas found that the more frequently an adolescent is exposed to sexually explicit material, the more sexually permissive their attitude becomes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	With a more sexually permissive attitude, the young person becomes more likely to engage in sexual activity that is not safe. One important aspect of this relates to beliefs about consent. As pornography does not give a clear message about the necessity of consent, young people can end up confused or misinformed about the importance of this issue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity (2012), the authors refer to this vast level of change adolescents are experiencing &ndash; at a cognitive, physical, emotional and sexual level &ndash; as a factor which makes young people more vulnerable to being harmed by exposure to pornography.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	4 Body image</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sexual objectification can do a lot of harm to the sense of self worth. Pornography viewed without full understanding can misinform young people about how men and women &ldquo;should&rdquo; look as well as being portrayed only as sexual objects. This can be countered by providing young people with information about the process of objectification and about the fact that porn is not real life. This gives them a context for developing a good relationship with their own body and their own developing sexuality.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	5 Expectations around sex</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Exposure to pornography can be confusing and can unconsciously influence young people&rsquo;s expectations about what sexual activity will entail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They can believe girlfriends and boyfriends they have physical or sexual contact with are right to expect certain things from them in terms of their performance. This can put the young person at risk of feeling pressure to do things or act in a certain way.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This can have an impact on what expectations people have about what they and others will do sexually and how they should look. These types of expectations can be damaging as they are counter to the formation of relationships that are emotionally stable, safe and healthy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Here are some tips to help get the conversations about pornography started:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	1 View talking about pornography as an extension of talking about sex. Once young people know about sex, parents can say that if the young person has any further questions about sex as time goes on, they would be delighted to answer them. This openness to answering questions can be repeated again and again.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	2 Be upfront and acknowledge your child might want to go online to try to find out information about sex and that they can then end up seeing sexual content and pornography.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Give them adequate warnings about accessing adult sites and offer to explain any questions they might have.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	3 It is important to communicate the following messages: Porn is not real, it is a performance. If a person is not clear about this fact, their confidence can be knocked and their expectations and ideas about sexual relationships can be negatively impacted. Consent is crucial before any sexual contact can take place between people. This message, which is usually not included in pornography, should be clearly explained. People are not sexual objects and you should not treat someone as if they were an object.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	4 Do not assume that a young person who is not keen to ask questions about sex or pornography has no curiosity about it. They may be embarrassed or self-conscious. Normalise these feelings by saying, &ldquo;It might feel embarrassing or hard to talk about sex with me but I think it&rsquo;s important that we talk. The more we do, the easier it will get as it will just become normal conversation.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	5 Do not feel under pressure to answer questions straight away. Parents can say, &ldquo;That is a really important question and we will put time aside later to talk, when it&rsquo;s quiet.&rdquo; That way, parents have a chance to think about how they wish to respond to a particular question.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	6 Don&rsquo;t feel under pressure to give lots of information in one conversation. Like conversations about how to manage friendships, or how to manage peer pressure, conversations about sex and pornography can take place intermittently over time. Opportunities arise or can be created as young people grow and develop.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Anne McCormack is a family psychotherapist registered with ICP and FTAI.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 26th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/why-and-how-to-talk-to-children-about-pornography-1.2692131\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/why-and-how-to-talk-to-children-about-pornography-1.2692131</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-27 00:00:00',NULL,'why-and-how-to-talk-to-children-about-pornography'),(1496,'View from a prison doctor: ‘A humane death is a very reasonable expectation’','<p>\r\n	Dr Des Crowley, GP, addiction specialist and medical officer in charge of the drug treatment programme in Mountjoy Prison in Dublin, has been working as a doctor in the Irish prison service for more than 20 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over the past five years in particular Crowley has noticed that prisoners are getting older, resulting in an increase of complex medical needs, such as long-term respiratory conditions due to heavy smoking as well as chronic conditions such as cancer and arthritis.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A number of older prisoners who were injecting drug users in the past are now also suffering from health conditions due to complications from Hepatitis C, he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to Crowley, prisoners are suffering from chronic conditions up to 20 years earlier than their counterparts in the general population.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;A 50-year-old drug user probably has a lot of the conditions that a 70-year-old non drug user has . . . . just in terms of lifestyle, adverse living and social conditions, health inequality and disparity as well access to services, access to medical care, all confounding to have them a lot sicker than they, in theory should be, compared to their population cohorts,&rdquo; he explains.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This phenomenon is also seen in the drug services where patients are also getting older, he says. The increasing age profile of prisoners and the resulting complex medical conditions have a number of implications for prisoner healthcare, such as the need for trained staff to assist older frail prisoners with tasks such as personal care. The infrastructure in prisons is also a challenge as older prisoners need access to wheelchair-friendly areas and disability toilets and showers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Crowley says other issues, such as the provision of palliative care for the terminally ill, can also arise. There is the provision of the healthcare itself to patients so you have the skilled trained staff, resources and funding to do it, he says.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I think as a society how we treat people who are dying is a reflection of what we are as a society and the values that we hold and I think a humane death is &hellip; a very reasonable expectation, no matter what has gone before that.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He suggests carrying out a healthcare needs assessment among the older prisoner population which would also look at their specific needs in five or 10 years&rsquo; time. He is also in favour of developing a specially adapted older prisoners&rsquo; unit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Crowley also says there is a need for an increased emphasis on health prevention and promotion generally within prisons, including advice on diet, exercise, smoking cessation, early treatment for Hepatitis C, health screening and diabetic checks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This, he says, would allow the service to &ldquo;embed a screening and prevention element to the care of all our prisoners.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Crowley is also a specialist in addiction treatment and says the issue of ageing prisoners is also seen in the drug services where people have been maintained on treatment for a years and are now suffering from complications of old age at a much younger age.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 28<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/view-from-a-prison-doctor-a-humane-death-is-a-very-reasonable-expectation-1.2698886\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/view-from-a-prison-doctor-a-humane-death-is-a-very-reasonable-expectation-1.2698886</a></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-28 10:05:13',NULL,'view-from-a-prison-doctor-‘a-humane-death-is-a-very-reasonable-expectation’'),(1497,'327 cases of online abuse of children last year','<p>\r\n	Almost 330 cases of online child abuse were confirmed last year by the expert monitoring group Hotline.ie.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In its annual report, to be published today, the internet safety watchdog says it dealt with a total of 3,153 reports of online child abuse imagery &mdash; the second-largest number of reports received in a year since its establishment in 1999.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Despite a 35% decrease in overall reporting when compared to 2014, the proportion of confirmed cases of child sexual abuse imagery to suspected cases reported was 4% higher last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of the 327 confirmed cases, 70% of the content assessed depicted boys. Hotline.ie says it has seen a constant increase in child abuse imagery depicting boys over the past three years. Some 70% of the content it assessed in 2015 featured boys compared to 44% in 2013 and 42% in 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While international figures for 2015 have not yet been published, historically the content depicting boys has been around 15%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hotline.ie says there is no explanation for such a high level being reported here other than the sheer volume of specific sites that are being reported constantly and which are captured statistically as a result.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report notes that Ireland continues to remain virtually free of hosting child sex abuse imagery. There was one report of child abuse imagery hosted here last year and only 28 since 1999.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hotline.ie forwarded 146 reports of child sex abuse imagery to eight Hotline counterparts around the world and three more to the China and Singapore through law-enforcement channels.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 28th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://irishexaminer.com/ireland/327-cases-of-online-abuse-of-children-last-year-407286.html\">http://irishexaminer.com/ireland/327-cases-of-online-abuse-of-children-last-year-407286.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-28 10:08:29',NULL,'327-cases-of-online-abuse-of-children-last-year'),(1498,'69 million children to die from mostly preventable causes by 2030 - UNICEF','<p>\r\n	Battling such poverty and equality and promoting education for children, particularly girls, were among the UN&#39;s Sustainable Development Goals, a set of 17 goals adopted last year to tackle an array of global woes by 2030.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Educating children is particularly critical given the global conflicts fueled by decimalisation, Mr Forsyth added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There is a direct link between children for many, many years missing out on education and then the ability of more extremist elements to organise,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 28th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0628/798633-unicef-children/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0628/798633-unicef-children/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-28 10:10:25',NULL,'69-million-children-to-die-from-mostly-preventable-causes-by-2030-unicef'),(1499,'Boy\'s foster parents say State should pay for orthodontic treatment \'because he was been bullied over his protruding teeth\', High Court hears','<p>\r\n	The foster parents of a 14-year-old boy say the State should pay for orthodontic treatment which the foster mother says he needs because he was been bullied over his protruding teeth, the High Court heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two orthodontists said he needed the treatment with one saying if it was left until he is older, the treatment would be more complex, the court heard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The foster parents went ahead and paid for treatment out of their own pockets and the mother claims they should be reimbursed by the Child and Family Agency (CFA) which oversees and pays for the placement of children in foster care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court heard there is a &euro;1,400 per month tax-free payment to foster parents for children under 11 and, it had been argued, the treatment could be funded from this.&nbsp;&nbsp; The treatment cost &euro;4,750.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The foster parents have looked after the boy for the last ten years along with the boy&#39;s older brother and another younger child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The foster mother brought him to a HSE dentist after she became concerned about him being bullied at school over his teeth which he was self-conscious about, her counsel Ciaran Craven said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She was told to bring him back when he was older but she went to a private orthodontist who recommended treatment as soon as possible, counsel said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy&#39;s CFA social workers suggested she bring him to another private orthodontist who also recommended early treatment saying it would be more complex when he got older and would require some jaw surgery.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She went ahead with the treatment but&nbsp; when she became aware funding for the treatment would not be forthcoming, she applied to the District Court to make a decision.&nbsp; This was done under a provision of the 1991 Child Care Act which allows for the District Court to direct or make orders on any question affecting the welfare of a child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was accepted in the District Court the treatment was in the child&#39;s interests, Mr Craven said.&nbsp; However, it was also accepted he did not meet the criteria under which he could avail of public orthodontic treatment, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The District Court declined to make an order on the basis of separation of powers between the judiciary and State bodies and therefore did not have the jurisdiction to do so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In her High Court challenge to that decision, the foster mother says the District Court erred in its decision.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eoin Carolan BL, for the CFA, said his client appreciated the valuable work the foster parents did and it was a matter of regret the issue was before the court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The CFA, he said, was entitled to form policies and deal with all children equally.&nbsp; For the District Court to exercise the power it has under the welfare provision of the Child Care Act (Section 47), it must be satisfied some threshold has been met, counsel said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The District Judge found the threshold criteria had not been met, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The case continues before Ms Justice Marie Baker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 28<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/boys-foster-parents-say-state-should-pay-for-orthodontic-treatment-because-he-was-been-bullied-over-his-protruding-teeth-high-court-hears-34841140.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/boys-foster-parents-say-state-should-pay-for-orthodontic-treatment-because-he-was-been-bullied-over-his-protruding-teeth-high-court-hears-34841140.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-29 11:12:50',NULL,'boys-foster-parents-say-state-should-pay-for-orthodontic-treatment-because-he-was-been-bullied-over-his-protruding-teeth-high-court-hears'),(1500,'Rent supplement and housing assistance payments increased by as much as 35%','<p>\r\n	The Government has approved an increase in rent supplement and housing assistance payments by as much as 35%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It will cost up to &euro;55m extra in a full year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move has been welcomed by Sinn F&eacute;in but the party has said they want to see rent certainty alongside the measure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar and Housing Minister Simon Coveney brought the proposals to Cabinet this morning.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	55,000 people get rent supplement and a further 10,000 are in receipt of housing assistance payment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Every part of the country will see increases with examples of a 15% increase in Cavan and Donegal, a 21% rise in Cork city, Longford, Leitrim and Galway city,</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dublin, except Fingal will see a 29% rise.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister Simon Coveney said there will be substantial increases: &ldquo;For a single mother in Cork for example, with one child, the housing assistance payment is not going from &euro;700 - &euro;900 a month. That is a significant increase.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There&#39;s been a fear that such a move would drive up rents, especially for others.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister Leo Varadkar says the two year freeze on rents imposed by the last Government allows for this: &ldquo;That brings the rent supplement limit above the level where it was in 2007 when it peaked.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It won&rsquo;t in itself create any additional houses, it is not a silver bullet, it is just part of the Government&rsquo;s response.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sinn F&eacute;in&#39;s welcomed the moved but the party&#39;s housing spokesperson Eoin O&#39;Broin says more needs to happen: &ldquo;We would like to see it increased and more flexibility to local authorities and community welfare officers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;But we have to have rent certainty along with this.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by BreakingNews.ie on the 29<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/rent-supplement-and-housing-assistance-payments-increased-by-as-much-as-35-742232.html\">http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/rent-supplement-and-housing-assistance-payments-increased-by-as-much-as-35-742232.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-29 11:15:30',NULL,'rent-supplement-and-housing-assistance-payments-increased-by-as-much-as-35%'),(1501,'Watchdog warning on exam support for children with literacy problems','<p>\r\n	A watchdog has warned exam chiefs not to repeat the same mistakes when refusing support for children with dyslexia, poor eyesight or literacy problems.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children&rsquo;s Ombudsman Niall Muldoon said his office dealt with 132 complaints about the State Examinations Commission&rsquo;s handling of pleas for help in 2014 and 2015, and another 55 this year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Issues such as communication, fairness, and oversight were raised in many reports, but the watchdog said the fundamental concern was that exam chiefs did not explain why applications were refused.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Parents and students were put in a position where they had to appeal decisions without knowing the reason why that decision was made,&rdquo; said Mr Muldoon.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations scheme, children who need help during exams can apply for test papers with large print or in Braille or a reader or scribe to help them complete answers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Teachers normally support the applications by supplying evidence of past test results, while psychologist&rsquo;s reports are also filed and pupils are asked to complete attainment assessments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Muldoon said many students who qualified for the scheme for Junior Certificate were refused for the Leaving Certificate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Although the process for decision-making is different, the scheme states that the eligibility criteria for both exams is the same. This resulted in confusion and frustration for both students and parents,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Muldoon also said children being refused supports were often not told until late in the year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This year, the commission provided 19,806 reasonable accommodations for Leaving and Junior Certificate pupils.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ombudsman&rsquo;s office reviewed 40 of the complaints and found 38 related to refusal for exam support for Leaving Cert pupils with a specific learning disability such as dyslexia. After submissions from the watchdog, eight of those pupils were given exam supports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 29<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/watchdog-warning-on-exam-support-for-children-with-literacy-problems-407442.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/watchdog-warning-on-exam-support-for-children-with-literacy-problems-407442.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-29 11:17:34',NULL,'watchdog-warning-on-exam-support-for-children-with-literacy-problems'),(1502,'Irish Muslim community invites LGBT community to share Ramadan celebrations this weekend','<p>\r\n	Members of the LGBT community are invited to share Ramadan celebrations with the Muslim community on Saturday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Muslim Peace &amp; Integration Council said they are inviting the LGBT community to &ldquo;share in their blessings of Ramadan&rdquo; which focuses on abstinence and sharing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Ramadan inspired and motivated us to reach out. People think that Muslims can&rsquo;t reach out to the LGBT community, but that&rsquo;s wrong. We can open our hearts and doors to anyone,&rdquo; said a spokesperson for the Islamic council.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ramadan is the annual month during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and sex between dawn and sunset.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The LGBT community are invited to share in the &lsquo;Iftar&rsquo;, a meal that ends Ramadan, in the Al-Mustafa Islamic Centre at Blanchardstown on Saturday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Last year we extended the invitation to the Jewish community and this year we thought it would be nice to extend the invitation to the LGBT community because they have been marginalised and suffered as a result of the Orlando shooting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;As more than one billion Muslims worldwide celebrate Ramadan by fasting and appreciating the blessings given to us, it is important for the Irish Muslim community to reach out to our neighbours as an example of true Islamic ideals.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 30th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-muslim-community-invites-lgbt-community-to-share-ramadan-celebrations-this-weekend-34846049.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/irish-muslim-community-invites-lgbt-community-to-share-ramadan-celebrations-this-weekend-34846049.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-30 12:58:46',NULL,'irish-muslim-community-invites-lgbt-community-to-share-ramadan-celebrations-this-weekend'),(1503,'56 people killed in workplace accidents last year','<p>\r\n	A total of 56 people were killed in workplace accidents reported to the Health and Safety Authority last year, according to new reports.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSA yesterday published its annual report for 2015 and Statistic Summary for 2014-2015, and revealed that there was one workplace death more reported to the authority last year compared to 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report has shown that the number of inspections and investigations carried out by the HSA has fallen more than 40% since its peak in 2009, a decline its chairman has attributed to &ldquo;resource issues&rdquo;. Last year the HSA carried out 10,880 inspections and investigations, compared to the 18,451 it conducted in 2009.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Over recent years our ability to complete some of our programmes has been restricted due to resource issues,&rdquo; Michael Horgan, chairman of the HSA, said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We have made &lsquo;efficiencies&rsquo; in how we carry out inspection field work and are now moving into a period where we can further improve our service to the working people of the country,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSA Statistic Summary found that the self- employed are most at risk of dying as a result of an accident in the workplace.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In the case of fatal injuries, those most at risk continue to be the self- employed, particularly in the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries,&rdquo; the report read.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Statistical analysis has shown that between 2004 and 2013, the fatality rate increased for workers in agriculture, decreased for those in the service sector, and did not significantly change for those in construction or industry,&rdquo; it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSA said the highest number of workplace fatalities occurred in the agriculture sector, where 18 people lost their lives, a decrease on 2014. &ldquo;Agriculture-related fatalities decreased from 30 in 2014 to 18 in 2015 and that is welcome,&rdquo; Martin O&rsquo;Halloran, HSA chief executive said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Another positive development has been the increased level of engagement from within the sector. I have always believed that the best people to implement change are farmers themselves, we saw evidence of that last year and we will be looking to build on it into the future,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSA said its national programme of farm inspections found that 82% of farms had a safe play area for children, 80% addressed the involvement of elderly farmers in farming activity, 58% had safe facilities for calving, 57% had safe slurry handling facilities, and tractor handbrakes were serviced in 57% of cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Furthermore, there were 7,775 non-fatal injuries reported to the HSA last year, 7,443 (96%) of which involved workers, while the remaining 332 involved members of the public, including family members.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The total number is an increase of 344 on 2014&rsquo;s injuries, and the largest number of non-fatal injury reports to the HSA last year came from the health and social work sector (1,490).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The annual report also found there were &ldquo;key issues of concern&rdquo; arising from the 207 inspections and 25 investigations carried out at mines under occupational safety and health legislation in these sectors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Officials noted inadequate guarding of conveyors, crushers and screeners, no emergency stop/pull-wire on conveyors, no visual aids on front-end loader or dumper, poor brake testing or tyre maintenance, no QSCS cards for plant operators and no or inadequate safety statements as areas for concern.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 30th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/56-people-killed-in-workplace-accidents-last-year-407624.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/56-people-killed-in-workplace-accidents-last-year-407624.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-30 13:00:43',NULL,'56-people-killed-in-workplace-accidents-last-year'),(1504,'State ‘dallying’ on funding for in danger disability schemes ','<p>\r\n	T&aacute;naiste rejects Gerry Adams&rsquo;s criticism over 14 programmes that have lost public funding</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	T&aacute;naiste Frances Fitzgerald has rejected Sinn F&eacute;in claims the Government is &ldquo;batting back and forth&rdquo; on funding for a work scheme for people with disabilities when it could make an immediate decision to provide &ldquo;stop gap&rdquo; money and prevent its closure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sinn F&eacute;in leader Gerry Adams said 119 people were availing of a programme in Co Louth which helped them to plot out their own future, and most were now in further education or working.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The work peer scheme forged vital links in the community and was one of 14 disability activation schemes funded by the EU and the Government but their funding was withdrawn.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Co Louth scheme remained open because of funding from Ulster Bank but this was now coming to an end and the scheme would close very soon without intervention.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said &ldquo;it makes no sense that any group should have to shut its doors because of a failure of the Government&rdquo;. The funding was &euro;350,000 and it should be urgently provided to give vital support, he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Equality</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Louth TD highlighted the commitment in the programme for government to provide equality of opportunity for those with disabilities. But he said no funding had been ring-fenced for this and about 600,000 people in Ireland lived with disability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald insisted however the Government and Minister of State for Disabilities Finian McGrath intended to &ldquo;get a solution so that people will not be left without this project&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Rejecting claims that the issue was being &ldquo;batted back and forth&rdquo; rather than decided on, Ms Fitzgerald pointed out that the Government had committed &euro;31 million to helping those with disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said 14 disability activation projects were funded until April 2015 and private funding had been found since then but was coming to an end.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the implementation group for employment strategy was working for a solution on how mainstream funding could be provided for the schemes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald added that there was longer-term work to be done about developing more mainstream work for people with disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 29th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/state-dallying-on-funding-for-in-danger-disability-schemes-1.2704085\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/state-dallying-on-funding-for-in-danger-disability-schemes-1.2704085</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-06-30 13:07:09',NULL,'state-‘dallying’-on-funding-for-in-danger-disability-schemes'),(1505,'Living with mental illness: Meeting a psychiatrist for the first time','<p>\r\n	Fiona Kennedy shares her experiences as a public patient in the Galway Adult Mental Health Services</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	No more than meeting a therapist for the first time, meeting a psychiatrist can seem overwhelmingly daunting, not least because we&rsquo;re conditioned to believe a number of things about psychiatry:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull;It&rsquo;s only for crazy people</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull;All they&rsquo;ll do is prescribe drugs</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull;They&rsquo;re in league with big pharma</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&bull;They&rsquo;re quacks</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And on and on it goes. When psychiatry was first mentioned to me I nearly lost my life, primarily because I firmly believed it must have meant there was something seriously wrong with my mind.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Four years ago I reached the point where I had no choice but to attend, and so began my adventures with the Galway Adult Mental Health Services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As with every aspect of our health service, there is a gaping chasm in terms of provision between public and private. As I attend Galway as a public patient, and have done since my first admission in 2012, I can only comment on the public side of things.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The world of psychiatry for a public patient is a confusing one. As I understand it (and I&rsquo;m open to correction on this) each patient is assigned to a team, with the team consisting of a consultant, registrars on rotation, psychologists, clinical nurse specialists, community mental health nurses and social workers. There may be others, but these are who I have encountered over the years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During the time that I&rsquo;ve been engaged with psychiatric services, I&rsquo;ve lost count of the number of doctors I&rsquo;ve met, albeit all under the management of one consultant. The majority I only saw once or twice before they rotated elsewhere.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the biggest challenges this created was that I believed every time I met a new doctor they knew nothing about me. It never occurred to me that my case may already have been discussed at team meetings, that they had the background necessary, and were simply trying to gauge how I was on any given day.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, with hindsight I can appreciate that this perception was probably more than a little skewed. One of the many difficulties of being mentally unwell is that we tend to see the world through a very distorted filter. What I mean by this is I was hearing a group of words but interpreting it according to how I felt at the time, if I even managed to take anything from it at all.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If I wanted to believe they didn&rsquo;t care and knew nothing about me, there&rsquo;s not a force on this earth could have convinced me otherwise.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There&rsquo;s one thing I cannot recommend highly enough &ndash; if at all possible take someone with you to these appointments, particularly the first one. When we&rsquo;re feeling vulnerable, particularly in a crisis, it is really really hard to articulate what the problem is, especially as it&rsquo;s most likely quite a complex situation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It&rsquo;s equally hard to comprehend what is being said to us, and having someone there who can ask questions, and maybe fill in any blanks we&rsquo;ve left, can be invaluable. I know that I certainly came away from appointments with one version of events in my head, while my husband had another entirely. The reality was usually somewhere in the middle.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As for medication? Yes, psychiatrists tend to prescribe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They&rsquo;re doctors, and that&rsquo;s what doctors do when the situation requires it. If I went to my GP with a strep throat, I&rsquo;d expect to come away with a prescription for antibiotics. The only difference.. well ok, one of many, with psychiatric medication is that it&rsquo;s long term and it can take a while to settle on something that works.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Medication is by no means a cure though. It simply gets us to a point where we can start to address the underlying issues that are the root cause of our distress. Insulin doesn&rsquo;t cure diabetes, but it stabilises diabetics so that they can make the necessary lifestyle changes to minimise the impact of their condition. This is the same.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It has taken a long time, and certainly the nature of the public mental health service hasn&rsquo;t helped, but I finally trust my consultant, and I do believe she has my best interests at heart.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For a long time, I fought and railed against medication, but now I understand that she knows a hell of a lot more about this than I do, and I trust her judgement. As long as I feel I&rsquo;m being heard, I&rsquo;m willing to listen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Whether you meet a psychiatrist publicly or privately, being able to trust that person is absolutely crucial.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Try to leave preconceived ideas about what they&rsquo;re going to say or do at the door. Take someone with you. Make notes ahead of time if you&rsquo;re afraid you&rsquo;ll forget something, and don&rsquo;t be afraid to take notes either. Ask questions, as many as you need.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This is their job, but it&rsquo;s completely alien to most of us. Having a good understanding of why they&rsquo;re treating us with a particular medication or therapy will make a huge difference in accepting and hopefully improving the situation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last but not least &ndash; psychiatry, like therapy, is not a quick fix. It&rsquo;s a stepping stone - one the vast majority will hopefully never need to use - but if you do, there&rsquo;s no shame in it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They are simply doctors trained to work with a specific area of the body, in this case, our mind. It will be ok.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	***</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fiona Kennedy writes regularly about mental health issues on her blog sunnyspellsandscatteredshowers.org</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article you can contact Samaritans free any time from any phone on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.ie to find details of your nearest branch. You can also find online information at www.yourmentalhealth.ie</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by Newstalk.com on the 30th June 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.newstalk.com/Living-with-mental-illness:-Meeting-a-psychiatrist-for-the-first-time\">http://www.newstalk.com/Living-with-mental-illness:-Meeting-a-psychiatrist-for-the-first-time</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-01 00:00:00',NULL,'living-with-mental-illness-meeting-a-psychiatrist-for-the-first-time'),(1506,'New plan to make drink drivers re-sit test after ban','<p>\r\n	Drink drivers will need to re-sit their test, and novices could be banned from carrying more than one passenger, in an effort to reduce the death toll on our roads.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Road Safety Authority (RSA) says the Government should introduce tough new restrictions to help combat driver distraction amid growing concern about young drivers&#39; behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Chief executive Moyagh Murdock revealed the RSA is reviewing the driver theory test to include a targeted focus on alcohol.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A hard-hitting public awareness campaign is also planned, and work is underway to change the law and oblige drink drivers to re-sit the driving test entirely.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Murdock said that &quot;peer pressure&quot; could result in some passengers refusing to buckle up, which could have devastating consequence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;In the North, they have limited the number of young people in a car and I think that has to be looked at (here),&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;With four or five young people in a car, there&#39;s a risk of driver distraction. They may not drink and drive, but they&#39;ll sit with their backs up against the windscreen to chat with the ones in the back.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Peer pressure</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Peer pressure for young people may (suggest) it&#39;s not cool to be seen with a belt on. You know when you hear a report about (a collision) with three people with minor injuries and one killed, that the one killed was unlikely to be wearing a seatbelt.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Northern Assembly passed legislation in this area earlier this year. Under the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, drivers under 24 years of age cannot carry more than one young passenger aged 14 to 20 between 11pm and 6am for the first six months after passing their test.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The restriction does not apply to immediate family members, nor to passengers who are 21 years or older, have a full licence for three years, or where the car is being used for &#39;emergency purposes&#39; such as taking somebody to hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This initiative is something I believe we could consider to address the worrying number of deaths and serious injuries among young drives as evidenced in our recent pre-crash reports on alcohol and speeding,&quot; Ms Murdock said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added that additional measures were needed to reduce the carnage on our roads, including an increase in the number of speed cameras and regulations around reconditioned tyres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 4th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/new-plan-to-make-drink-drivers-resit-test-after-ban-34854098.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/new-plan-to-make-drink-drivers-resit-test-after-ban-34854098.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-04 08:43:01',NULL,'new-plan-to-make-drink-drivers-re-sit-test-after-ban'),(1507,'Is it wrong to holiday in a country with a poor human rights record?','<p>\r\n	Poverty is not a spectacle to be viewed on your holidays to Thailand, Dubai or Morocco</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over the next two months thousands of Irish families will travel abroad. This time last year we took 1,515,000 outbound trips. About two-thirds of these were, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), for holiday, leisure and recreation purposes. Most trips were to Europe and North America but many people visited Asia, the Middle East and other far-flung parts of the world. Travel agencies are advertising holidays in places such as Bali, Dubai and Thailand.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most people booking holidays check out prices, hotels, health and tourist sights, but how many check the politics of the country and how citizens are treated by the ruling regimes? How many travellers check out inequality levels before deciding where to spend their hard earned savings? Most people do not, and visit places that seem interesting, even exotic, without knowing anything about the living conditions of citizens in those countries.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Freedom House (freedomehouse.org) is an independent watchdog that has measured freedom in the world since 1941. It scores countries from one (free) to seven (not free) by assessing the real-world rights and freedoms enjoyed by citizens in 195 countries and 15 territories.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, is a favourite destination of Irish travellers but is classified as not free by Freedom House. Out of a possible score of 100, it scores a miserable 20 points. Broken down into the categories of political rights, civil liberties and personal autonomy, it scores six (not free) for each. Visitors to Dubai, staying in luxury hotels, do not realise they are being sold an illusion.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Russia, which is regarded as increasingly aggressive by Freedom House, scores only 22. Thailand, another favourite with Irish holidaymakers, is regarded as not free, scoring 32. Morocco is classified as partly free, scoring 41. Those who visit these countries need to do so with their eyes wide open.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 2016 Freedom in the World report from Freedom House &ndash; <em>Anxious Dictators, Wavering Democracies: Global Freedom Under Pressure</em> &ndash; shows that the number of countries designated as free now stands at 86, representing 40 per cent of the global population. This number has decreased by three since 2015. &ldquo;The world was battered by overlapping crises that fuelled xenophobic sentiment in democratic countries and led authoritarian regimes to crack down harder on dissent. These unsettling developments contributed to the 10th consecutive year of decline in global freedom.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The migration crisis in Europe has put unprecedented pressure on the EU&rsquo;s fundamental principles of liberty, solidarity, and respect for human rights. A number of EU countries, such as Hungary and Poland, are now less free than they used to be. In addition, there are strong associations between country-level freedom and health outcomes, affecting citizens and visitors alike.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the Freedom House report, many countries are on a negative freedom trajectory, including the US, Turkey, Thailand and the Maldives. Global problems that affect safe and enjoyable travel include rampant corruption, a surge in terrorism and huge inequalities. Despite austerity policies the number of millionaires has grown rapidly in all countries, including Ireland, which now has 12,000 more millionaires than in 2005. Wealth inequality is the biggest issue facing politicians as they try to address the dissatisfaction levels of those who feel disenfranchised. Brexit is the latest manifestation of feelings of social, economic and political inequality, adding to the uncertainty experienced by travellers. Choosing holiday destinations is now more difficult for those who care about freedom and civil liberties.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	What are the best holiday options if we prefer to contribute to the economies of nations that respect civil liberties? Several EU and European Economic Area (EEA) countries such as Finland, Sweden and Norway score the maximum 100 points on the Freedom House indicators. So, although expensive in comparison to southern Europe, there is the satisfaction of knowing our cash is not propping up corrupt or authoritarian regimes. Most southern European countries such as France (Freedom House score 91), Spain (95) and Portugal (97) respect citizens&rsquo; rights.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some travellers prefer more exotic locations and Europe can, mistakenly, seem bland and boring. Is it possible for a country to be exciting, and treat its citizens fairly and equally at the same time? Of course it is. More importantly, can we justify taking holidays at the expense of other people, such as seeing poverty as an interesting spectacle?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Freedom and human rights are under threat throughout the world and we must not contribute to it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Jacky Jones is a former HSE regional manager of health promotion and a member of Healthy Ireland Council. drjackyjones@gmail.com</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 3rd July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/is-it-wrong-to-holiday-in-a-country-with-a-poor-human-rights-record-1.2704102\">http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/is-it-wrong-to-holiday-in-a-country-with-a-poor-human-rights-record-1.2704102</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-04 08:53:21',NULL,'is-it-wrong-to-holiday-in-a-country-with-a-poor-human-rights-record'),(1508,'HSE spent nearly half its €226m agency staff budget for the whole of 2016 by the end of April','<p>\r\n	Major concern for patient care has emerged as new figures reveal the huge reliance on agency staff to maintain services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE spent nearly half its &euro;226m agency staff budget for the whole of 2016 by the end of April, figures obtained by Fianna Fail Dublin West TD Jack Chambers revealed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He warned that relying on agency staff to fill the gaps is not serving the best interests of patients.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Filling staff vacancies must be made a priority for senior managers and Minister for Health Simon Harris must ensure that this is done in a timely manner.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Not only would this lead to better continuity for patients and staff, it would cut down on agency costs.&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Until this issue is properly addressed, we are unlikely to see these substantial agency charges reduced&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said that overall the figures&nbsp; make for &ldquo;worrying reading&rdquo; and mean the HSE could see its&nbsp; budget for agency staff spiral out of control before the end of the year.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response the HSE said that use of agency staff is closely monitored and only used&nbsp; when &ldquo;strictly necessary&rdquo; to avoid service disruption.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Around 95pc of staff costs relate to directly employed staff and the largest element of the extra cost for agency staff is the 23pc in VAT which goes to the exchequer.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 3rd July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/hse-spent-nearly-half-its-226m-agency-staff-budget-for-the-whole-of-2016-by-the-end-of-april-34853141.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/hse-spent-nearly-half-its-226m-agency-staff-budget-for-the-whole-of-2016-by-the-end-of-april-34853141.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-04 08:55:34',NULL,'hse-spent-nearly-half-its-€226m-agency-staff-budget-for-the-whole-of-2016-by-the-end-of-april'),(1509,'Console controversy: Criminal investigation opens into charity','<p>\r\n	Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement launches inquiry into charity</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has launched a criminal investigation into the suicide prevention charity Console.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The office has wide-ranging powers to search for and seize documents where breaches of company law are suspected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Criminal prosecutions are undertaken in the District Court by the office&rsquo;s staff, while more serious cases are referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for potential prosecution on indictment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesman said it was not the policy of the office to comment on ongoing enforcement activities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It has also emerged the Health Service Executive has given Console more than &euro;320,000 so far this year &ndash; after its own internal audit raised serious issues with spending and governance at the charity.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister of State at the Department of Health Helen McEntee, who had previously said no HSE funding was given to the charity this year, yesterday corrected this in a letter to Social Democrat TD Catherine Murphy. Ms McEntee said Console has received &euro;321,498 in HSE funding in 2016.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Highly critical</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Funding has continued in spite of the fact the highly critical internal audit into Console was substantially completed by the end of last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Since then, drafts were sent to Console founder Paul Kelly for his responses and there was engagement between the HSE&rsquo;s mental health division and Mr Kelly.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most of the funding by the HSE goes to support the helplines and counselling services. The cost of the two helplines in 2014 was &euro;347,000, of which the HSE provided &euro;294,000 and Console &euro;53,000, Mr Kelly told the HSE auditors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The interim chief executive of Console, David Hall, said the services provided must be protected and he hoped to meet Ms McEntee to discuss this.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Hall, drafted in a week ago to take over after the resignation of Mr Kelly and two other board members, said he hoped to be able to exit his position by leaving the running of the organisation in the hands of the trustees.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, five new trustees appointed by the Charities Regulator to join the Console board will not be able to take up positions until August.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Hall said his job was to &ldquo;steady the ship, amid absolute chaos&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not Inspector Clouseau and my job is not to be Elliot Ness, &rdquo; he told RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s Drivetime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	No knowledge</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The High Court heard yesterday close to &euro;63,000 was spent in Console through credit cards in the name of Sr Margaret Joyce, who had left the organisation six years previously.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement, Sr Joyce&rsquo;s order, the Daughters of Charity, said it were shocked to learn of this.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said she left Console in 2009 and had no knowledge of this activity. &ldquo;As these matters are the subject of investigation, we will not be making further comment at this time.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	T&aacute;naiste Frances Fitzgerald told the Seanad implementation of charity regulatory reforms would be delayed until September 5th to allow for recruitment of staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 6th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/console-controversy-criminal-investigation-opens-into-charity-1.2711679\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/console-controversy-criminal-investigation-opens-into-charity-1.2711679</a></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-06 10:02:42',NULL,'console-controversy-criminal-investigation-opens-into-charity'),(1510,'Kieren Fallon’s retirement puts spotlight on mental health ','<p>\r\n	Champion jockey had been suffering from &lsquo;profound depression&rsquo; for several years</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Kieren Fallon&rsquo;s retirement from the saddle due to his battle with depression not only brings one of sport&rsquo;s most successful and simultaneously turbulent careers to an end but also ensures renewed focus on mental health issues within racing generally.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During a meteoric career, Fallon was a six-time champion jockey in Britain, won the Epsom Derby on three occasions, the Prix de l&rsquo;Arc de Triomphe twice, and earned international acclaim as one of the world&rsquo;s great riders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If there was glory for the 51-year-old originally from Crusheen in Co Clare, there was also some forensic examination of his actions both in and out of the saddle which often served to reinforce very black-and-white verdicts on a man whose everyday reality has clearly been a lot more complex than any headlines may have suggested.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Kieren Fallon&rsquo;s retirement from the saddle due to his battle with depression not only brings one of sport&rsquo;s most successful and simultaneously turbulent careers to an end but also ensures renewed focus on mental health issues within racing generally.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During a meteoric career, Fallon was a six-time champion jockey in Britain, won the Epsom Derby on three occasions, the Prix de l&rsquo;Arc de Triomphe twice, and earned international acclaim as one of the world&rsquo;s great riders.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If there was glory for the 51-year-old originally from Crusheen in Co Clare, there was also some forensic examination of his actions both in and out of the saddle which often served to reinforce very black-and-white verdicts on a man whose everyday reality has clearly been a lot more complex than any headlines may have suggested.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Second Captains</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Within racing as a whole, however, Fallon is hardly a singular figure for having to fight depression, even if he is easily the most high-profile.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last year the National Hunt jockey Mark Enright returned to race-riding after conceding he had been receiving therapy for depression. Fallon is retiring but his fight for health appears to be reflective of a struggle many others within the racing industry also undergo.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was the Turf Club&rsquo;s medical officer, Dr Adrian McGoldrick, who helped Fallon in the release of his retirement statement on Monday, and McGoldrick points to indications of an alarming rate of mental health issues among riders in particular.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Online study</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;After Mark Enright came out and openly talked about his depression, an online study was undertaken to which 122 riders responded, and 49 per cent of them indicated symptoms of depression,&rdquo; McGoldrick said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Among the national population, the rate is 24 to 26 per cent. Among elite athletes in other sports it is 26 to 28 per cent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There are many reasons for such a high percentage among jockeys. It is a very tough profession generally, with wasting a reality, and there is a lot of insecurity to it for some riders. I wasn&rsquo;t surprised with the figures. Depression is an illness but unfortunately there remains a stigma to it and people don&rsquo;t like to talk about it,&rdquo; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On the back of that survey, contracts have recently been signed with a company which will work with the Turf Club and the Irish Jockeys&rsquo; Trust to provide a 24-hour emergency line to help anyone involved in the racing industry, not just jockeys, who are worried about their mental health.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is expected to be operational by the end of this month and will be funded by Horse Racing Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It will be for trainers, stable staff, jockeys, everyone: it is along the lines of what is in place for the GPA [Gaelic Players&rsquo; Association] and it is a massive boost in helping anyone who is experiencing any psychological problems,&rdquo; McGoldrick said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also gave an upbeat prognosis on Fallon&rsquo;s long-term outlook now that he has hung up his riding boots, although conceding that the former champion jockey has been suffering from &ldquo;quite profound depression&rdquo; for over three years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Kieren&rsquo;s problems with depression, which has gone undiagnosed in England and America, have been ongoing for at least three years. I first became aware of it when he came to see me for his licence earlier this year. It got worse and I met with him on Sunday and have arranged to have it managed. Depression is very responsive to management, though, and Kieren will do very well in the longer term,&rdquo; added McGoldrick.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Bounce back</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Throughout his controversial riding career Fallon showed a remarkable ability to bounce back from adversity. In 1994 he was banned for six months for pulling a rival jockey off a horse. A day after winning the 2007 Arc on Dylan Thomas he appeared at a high-profile race-fixing trial in the Old Bailey; after the case against him and others collapsed he was banned for 18 months for a positive drugs test in France. Earlier in 2006 he had also been suspended for six months after testing positive for cocaine. He has also admitted to problems with alcohol.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Throughout, what was never in doubt was a supreme talent that led to Fallon being employed by those giants of British racing, Sir Michael Stoute and Sir Henry Cecil, as well as a short but hugely successful period as number one jockey to Aidan O&rsquo;Brien. The master of Ballydoyle once described Fallon as the finest horseman of all the jockeys that have ridden for him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There were times in the saddle when Fallon&rsquo;s ability could seem out of this world. Off a horse he conceded to often feeling unsure of himself. The man known as &ldquo;King Kieren&rdquo; to many punters is now facing a fight familiar to so many.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is his willingness to acknowledge the illness which encourages hope Fallon can once again bounce back from adversity.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 5th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/racing/kieren-fallon-s-retirement-puts-spotlight-on-mental-health-1.2710250\">http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/racing/kieren-fallon-s-retirement-puts-spotlight-on-mental-health-1.2710250</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-06 10:08:04',NULL,'kieren-fallon’s-retirement-puts-spotlight-on-mental-health'),(1511,'Mary Boyle case: Documentary alleges political interference ','<p>\r\n	Former garda&iacute; say phone call stopped them securing confession from chief suspect</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two retired detectives have alleged there was political interference in the investigation of the missing child Mary Boyle.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Retired sergeant Martin Collins and former detective sergeant Aidan Murray said the chief suspect could have been prosecuted had a phone call from a Fianna F&aacute;il politician not been been made to Ballyshannon Garda station during the investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The allegations are made in Mary Boyle: The Untold Story, a documentary currently being broadcast on YouTube about the disappearance of Mary Boyle on March 18th, 1977.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The full documentary has been uploaded to YouTube and to date has been viewed 21,000 times. It was made by the investigative journalist Gemma O&rsquo;Doherty.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The documentary alleges that the politician involved knew the chief suspect and also the now deceased superintendent Dominic Murray, the man who was in charge of the case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mary was last seen alive in the afternoon of March 18th, 1977. She was playing outside her grandparent&rsquo;s home in Cashelard, Co Donegal, when she disappeared.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Aidan Murray said he and another garda interviewed the chief suspect in Ballyshannon Garda station. The suspect was known both to Mary Boyle and her identical twin sister Ann Doherty.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Murray recalled that he felt he would have been able to have secured a confession had he not been ordered to row back on the investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He told the documentary: &ldquo;At one stage when I was interviewing him, I said to him, &lsquo;just tell us where the child is&rsquo;. He started crying and roaring. I got a little nudge from the inspector at the time to ease off a little bit and I did.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I went out to get him a glass of water at the instruction of the inspector. When I got back, I felt in my own heart that he had a guilty look. I felt if he had that extra wee push he would have admitted it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When you interview a person, particularly a strong suspect, you know in their eyes if they are really telling their truth. I felt that I had him. I felt if we had that wee bit of pressure we wouldn&rsquo;t be here now.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Murray said: &ldquo;The result of that phone call is that certain people weren&rsquo;t allowed to be interviewed and it was all hands off. The sting went out of the whole investigation after that.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Collins, who was in Ballyshannon Garda station, when the phone call came through confirmed: &ldquo;The gist of it [the phone call] was that none of a particular family should be made suspect for Mary&rsquo;s interference.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Doherty said the killer was a sex abuser who wanted to cover up his activities. &ldquo;Mary had a secret and because Mary was feisty, Mary would have told. Mary had to be killed to stop her from telling. I believe that Mary was sexually assaulted. That was the secret.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Collins said he had come to the same impression after years of thinking about the case. &ldquo;Looking back on it over the years, I would say yes.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also warned that the chief suspect, who is still alive, remains a danger to other children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Doherty is preparing a legal action to take to the European Convention on Human Rights alleging malpractice by An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na and the government.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 5th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mary-boyle-case-documentary-alleges-political-interference-1.2711542\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mary-boyle-case-documentary-alleges-political-interference-1.2711542</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-06 10:10:58',NULL,'mary-boyle-case-documentary-alleges-political-interference'),(1512,'Children of heavy drinkers ‘suffer in silence’','<p>\r\n	Many children whose parents are heavy drinkers grow up worrying about their siblings&rsquo; health and safety, while others report being unable to sleep at night because of parents&rsquo; partying or recount being verbally and physically abused by drunk parents, according to the Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking at a Leinster House briefing outlining how harmful drinking affects children, chair of the Oireachtas cross-party group on alcohol harm, senator Frances Black, said children living with parents who drink excessively often &ldquo;suffer in silence&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The wide range of harms that are caused to children as a result of harmful drinking in the home is known as &lsquo;hidden harm&rsquo;, as the harm is not often visible in public and largely kept behind closed doors,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;These vulnerable children do not know where to turn for help, and the impact of harmful parental drinking has a deep and long-lasting impact.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Barnardos head of advocacy June Tinsely said the &ldquo;negative impact alcohol has on family functioning&rdquo; is too often underestimated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Alcohol Action Ireland previously revealed that a national audit of child neglect cases showed alcohol misuse by parents was a factor in 62% of neglect cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cross-party group is backing the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill, which aims to reduce our high levels of alcohol consumption in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ISPCC CEO Grania Long said the organisation sees the bill as a &ldquo;key step in helping to change our attitude to, and relationship with, alcohol,&rdquo; and said: &ldquo;Children and young people have repeatedly told us they want their exposure to alcohol reduced &mdash; it is our responsibility to deliver on their aspirations.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ISPCC said regular heavy drinking by parents damages the child&rsquo;s relationship with their parent, causes a child to live with undue stress, and, if the addiction is severe, can lead to child neglect.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Barnardos also reported how parental alcohol abuse can place an undue burden on older children who have to get their younger siblings up in the morning, for example, as their parents are too unwell to care for them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Barnardos said that while the impact of heavy drinking on children varies depending on the frequency and severity of the alcohol misuse, it can result in children feeling confused and rejected by a cycle of broken promises.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Tinsley said children living with parents with an alcohol addiction experience irregular and inconsistent parenting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It can affect their school life with children of parents with chronic alcohol problems more likely to have problems at school in terms of learning difficulties, reading problems, poor concentration, and generally low performance,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Long warned: &ldquo;Parental behaviour influences that of a child and no more so than in relation to alcohol. ISPCC support workers particularly point to occasion-related drinking as affecting children, such as around Communion and Confirmation time.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Government&rsquo;s Public Health (Alcohol) Bill proposes minimum unit pricing which would mean most cans of beer would cost &euro;2 while a bottle of wine with 11.5% volume of alcohol would cost over &euro;8.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the bill, alcohol advertising would be banned near schools, playgrounds, and at bus and train stations. A broadcasting watershed is also planned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 7th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/children-of-heavy-drinkers-suffer-in-silence-408861.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/children-of-heavy-drinkers-suffer-in-silence-408861.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-08 09:05:04',NULL,'children-of-heavy-drinkers-‘suffer-in-silence’'),(1513,'Troubled suicide charity Console is to be wound down','<p>\r\n	The troubled suicide bereavement charity Console is to be wound down.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The charity&#39;s services, which included counselling and a helpline, are expected to be transferred to other support organisations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement today the HSE said that on the request of Minister Simon Harris, a very constructive meeting took place this morning involving David Hall, the Charities Regulator, representatives from the Charities sector, the HSE and Department of Health officials.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the ongoing issues regarding Console and how services currently being provided by Console and funded by the HSE can be continued. These services are the 24/7 Suicide Helpline, the Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service, and the Suicide Bereavement Counselling Service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All parties at the meeting reiterated that the over-riding priority is the continuation of services to clients who are currently availing of them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE has been considering arrangements for a transition of the three services in the past number of weeks. A major part of today&#39;s meeting was to discuss with David Hall a specific proposal for the continuation of the three services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These discussions will continue today. It would be inappropriate to the discussions and unhelpful to the vulnerable users of the three services to make any further comment at this time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	David Hall was installed last week to try to rescue the charity.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He had warned Console would have to close its doors shortly if it did not get additional funding by the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said it was costing &euro;100,000 a month to run Console and the HSE funding amounts to just &euro;70,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some &euro;70,000 is owed to the Revenue Commisioners and there are also unknown legacy debts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He has found no secret stash of funds which would help bail out the charity.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Former chief executive Paul Kelly, who is in a psychiatric hospital, spent lavish amounts of donations and HSE funding on his salary, cars and travel.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Console enjoyed an income of over &euro;5m in recent years. But much of the cash was squandered using credit cards. Around &euro;53,000 which was deposited by the HSE is all that was left in the bank account.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Another &pound;100,000 is in the Console account in the UK.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The government has pledged to ensure the continued delivery of Console&#39;s services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During Leaders&rsquo; Questions at the D&aacute;il on Thursday, Fianna F&aacute;il&rsquo;s finance spokesperson Michael McGrath asked Education Minister Richard Bruton for a guarantee that Console&rsquo;s staff and services would be protected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Minister, can you give a commitment that the essential services Console has been providing, and continues to provide under extraordinarily difficult circumstances, will be protected and will continue to be provided?&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response, Mr Bruton said that progress had been made to ensure the protection of those services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I can assure you that there has been a meeting with Console, the primary motivation behind that meeting is to protect those services as the deputy said and to make sure that the workers in this service continued to be treated properly and that the service continues to be delivered.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added that Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald had signed a commencement order for Part Four of the Charities Act (2009) to give the charity regulator additional investigative powers and the staffing necessary to carry out a thorough investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When asked whether the troubled charity has a future, Mr Bruton said: &ldquo;There isn&rsquo;t a member of the house who hasn&rsquo;t been touched by some family who has suffered a suicide and the dramatic impact that has on all around them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The support services of organisations like Console are absolutely central.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;As to whether the services will be protected within Console or within some other organisation, I think that is really the subject of discussion that I can&rsquo;t give an authoritative answer on. But the core commitment and objective is to ensure that the services are protected.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 7th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/troubled-suicide-charity-console-is-to-be-wound-down-34864750.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/troubled-suicide-charity-console-is-to-be-wound-down-34864750.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-08 09:07:01',NULL,'troubled-suicide-charity-console-is-to-be-wound-down'),(1514,'Alleged sexual abusers could read a child’s therapy files, says psychologist','<p>\r\n	Head of abuse unit highlights increase in requests for records of children</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Requests for child therapy records, from the legal teams of those accused of sexual abuse, could lead to a breach of children&rsquo;s privacy and alleged abusers reading victims&rsquo; files, the head of the child sexual abuse unit at Temple Street hospital has said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Clinical psychologist Keith O&rsquo;Reilly, interim director of St Clare&rsquo;s Unit, said that over the last couple of years, there has been an increase in requests for children&rsquo;s therapy records, ahead of criminal trials for child sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;A legal team will seek, through the DPP, access to all information, including therapy records,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It could go to the accused&rsquo;s legal team, but also the accused does have a right, as far as I understand it, to read the therapy records.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Assessments</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said there was a difference between therapy records and assessment records; assessments look at the factual issues of the sexual abuse allegation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Therapy is around exploring feelings, around talking to a child about their fears and their hopes, and not about obtaining more information about the sexual abuse,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t have an issue with people having relevant information, but our view is, most therapy records aren&rsquo;t relevant for that purpose.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said that requests for such files had raised dilemmas and &ldquo;difficult and upsetting issues&rdquo; for parents, young people and children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Therapy</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Parents might be in a very invidious situation where they are advised that if they [therapy records] are not released, it might potentially mean the trial doesn&rsquo;t proceed,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Reilly said people also need to be aware that therapy is offered within a confidential space. &ldquo;The concern is that when people begin to hear about this [access to records] it might deter them from accessing therapy,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Reilly said the unit had engaged with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and with the Department of Justice and legislators about concerns around children&rsquo;s privacy. They also had some input into the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill, which is awaiting progression in the D&aacute;il.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the proposed legislation, if passed, would help regulate the issue and it would be up to the trial judge to examine, more closely, what records should be released, rather than everything being released.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The primary role of St Clare&rsquo;s Unit is to form an opinion on the credibility of allegations of child sexual abuse made by children referred to them by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The unit also provides therapeutic services to those children and their families.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On the issue of children being interviewed by multiple State organisations, including Tusla and garda&iacute;, Mr O&rsquo;Reilly said if garda&iacute; interview a child and it is DVD-recorded, there is a protocol for providing the information to Tusla.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There have been cases where we received a referral and also received a Garda DVD for us to review, and what that means is, it leaves open the possibility that the child doesn&rsquo;t have to be interviewed by ourselves and we can provide an opinion based on what the child said to garda&iacute;,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Criminal prosecution</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But results can be &ldquo;mixed&rdquo; and &ldquo;not always consistent&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Part of the difficulty is that the Garda interview is very much with the criminal prosecution in mind and may not look at the therapeutic aspects of it,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;What&rsquo;s very important is, if a child is interviewed more than once, whether it&rsquo;s by one person, or by different professionals &ndash; but hopefully not &ndash; it&rsquo;s important appropriate guidelines are followed in terms of interviewing, to try to minimise the fact that children are interviewed more than once.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Asked if all three organisations could work together, he said that wasn&rsquo;t possible currently, but he understood Tusla was giving some social workers additional interview training so that they could work alongside garda&iacute;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;d see that as a positive step,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&rsquo;Reilly also said he, and the head of St Louisa&rsquo;s Unit at Crumlin Children&rsquo;s Hospital, are to meet Minister for Children Katherine Zappone to address resource issues in Dublin, including waiting times to access sexual abuse assessment, currently running at four weeks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said it was important that children who made allegations were seen as promptly as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 8th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/alleged-sexual-abusers-could-read-a-child-s-therapy-files-says-psychologist-1.2714267\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/alleged-sexual-abusers-could-read-a-child-s-therapy-files-says-psychologist-1.2714267</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-08 09:08:33',NULL,'alleged-sexual-abusers-could-read-a-child’s-therapy-files-says-psychologist'),(1515,'Sending child to primary school costs €1,000, study finds','<p>\r\n	Credit union survey finds 25% of parents likely to struggle with bills in coming months</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As many as one in eight parents say they will have to sacrifice spending on food in the weeks ahead to cover the cost of sending their children back to school in September, according to a new survey.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research from the Irish League of Credit Unions also shows rising education costs will mean one in four households with school-going children are likely to struggle to pay bills on time over the coming months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The average cost of sending a child to a non-fee-paying primary school in the coming year will be just under &euro;1,000, while the cost of a &ldquo;free&rdquo; education in any of the State&rsquo;s secondary schools will climb to almost &euro;1,500.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When the cost of uniforms, books, lunches, extracurricular activities, school trips, &ldquo;voluntary&rdquo; contributions, transport and sports gear are totted up, parents of children in the primary system will spend an average of &euro;967 per child, according to the research. Parents of secondary school children will spend an average of &euro;1,474 per child.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The survey of 1,000 nationally representative adults found extracurricular activities to be the most expensive element for primary school children, having jumped sharply year on year. The cost of uniforms remains the most costly item for secondary school children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Extracurricular activities</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The parents of primary school children said they would spend an average of &euro;189 on extracurricular activities per child this year, up from &euro;131 in 2015. Secondary school parents said they expected to spend an average of &euro;180, up from &euro;137 last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cost of uniforms for younger children has fallen slightly, with parents saying they will spend &euro;145 this year compared with &euro;166 last year. Uniforms in secondary school, meanwhile, will cost an average of &euro;234 this year, down from the &euro;258 they cost last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Books were the next most expensive item, with primary school parents saying they would spend &euro;94, down slightly from the &euro;106 spent last year. Secondary school parents said they would spend &euro;214, up &euro;1 on last year&rsquo;s figure. In 2014, the cost of secondary school books was put at &euro;166.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	School lunches will cost &euro;129, up from &euro;116 in 2015, while the cost of lunches for secondary school children is put at &euro;166 per child, up from &euro;147.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Controversial &ldquo;voluntary&rdquo; contributions will be made by 79 per cent of parents, with the average amount sought by schools coming in at &euro;118 per child, up from &euro;112 in 2015</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Overall, 81 per cent of parents of school-going children said the costs were a significant burden with 31 per cent likely to get themselves into debt.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 13th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/sending-child-to-primary-school-costs-1-000-study-finds-1.2719583\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/sending-child-to-primary-school-costs-1-000-study-finds-1.2719583</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-13 09:31:13',NULL,'sending-child-to-primary-school-costs-€1000-study-finds'),(1516,'Amount of funds going to charities \'immense\', Dáil hears','<p>\r\n	A motion by the Social Democrats and the Green Party calling for greater accountability and transparency into the charity sector has been carried without a vote in the D&aacute;il this evening.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Introducing the bill, joint leader of the Social Democrats Catherine Murphy said the motion intends to add to the existing regulation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that many people do not realise the size of the charity sector, emphasising the point by holding up a print out of the 21,000 registered charities with Revenue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Deputy Murphy said the amount of public funds going to charities is &quot;immense&quot; and would be better utilised in a streamlined sector more accurately targetted against needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ultimately, she said the Social Democrats motion is the party&#39;s contribution for greater accountability and transparency into the charity sector in addition to part four of the legislation being enabled in September.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social Democrat Stephen Donnelly told the chamber that a company that bought distressed assets was using trusts with charitable status to avoid paying millions in tax.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said charitable status should not be available to hedge funds or debt collectors, adding the specific aim was to avoid paying taxes in this country and the three trusts in question should not have charitable status.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald acknowledged that the proposal was motivated to enhance how a broad range of wrongdoing is addressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said it was not clear how the amalgamation of a wide range of agencies with widely varying functions would enhance the capacity of the State to fight corruption, however, said she would accept the proposals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fitzgerald said there was a responsibility on many different bodies, on charities themselves and on those who see wrongdoing, to report it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The minister said the points raised by Mr Donnelly were important and she offered to give them to the Charity Regulator, if he had not done so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna F&aacute;il&#39;s Jim O&#39;Callaghan said charities were set up historically because governments of the day did not provide for the needy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said many charities had become like businesses and as a consequence individuals were being paid high salaries. There had to be transparency around staff costs, he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sinn F&eacute;in TDs supported the motion, with party leader Gerry Adams saying Console and St John of Gods needed to be subject to the full rigours of the law.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His party colleague Pearse Doherty said white collar crime laws in Ireland are not strong enough and this needed to be dealt with.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Jan O&#39;Sullivan said the Labour Party would also be supporting the Social Democrats motion.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said it was &quot;obscene and unacceptable&quot; to contemplate the idea that public money allocated for the provision of support services for grief stricken families could end up paying for fast cars, designer clothes and exotic foreign holidays for a clique at the top of a charitable organisation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the central message was that enhanced regulation was needed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also said regulation would add to the strength of charities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Ryan said it made sense for the State, who was funding them, to spend more on regulation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On the issue of pay, he said there had to be an incentive to get good people into organisations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister of State Helen McEntee said the regulator was engaging with 12,500 charities and the regulation model should be continually honed to deliver better services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The revelations around Console, she said, were a massive breach of trust and went against the ethos and spirit of who we are as a people and a nation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She welcomed the external review of Section 38 agencies and said it would be extended to Section 39 agencies in November, of which there are 2,393 agencies funded.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier, Social Democrat TD R&oacute;is&iacute;n Shortall said that a new model of dealing with corruption is needed; a proper mechanism to investigate and prosecute areas where there is corruption.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking on RT&Eacute;&#39;s Six One News, she said there is little or no accountability because there are no consequences for people engaged in wrong-doing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The motion was prompted by events at Console, she said, as further scandals surrounding the charity sector emerged.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two Console cars auctioned for &euro;23,000</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two company cars which had belonged to suicide prevention charity Console were auctioned in Dublin this evening for &euro;23,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A 2009 Mercedes CLS sold for &euro;11,000 while a 2010 Audi Q5 sold for &euro;12,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cars had cost the charity &euro;87,000.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They were handed over to Console&#39;s interim chief executive, David Hall,&nbsp;11 days ago.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile,&nbsp;Mr Hall has said he has secured pay for staff at the charity for the past two weeks.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He is meeting again with the Health Service Executive tonight where pay and transfer of services will be on the agenda.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All matters relating to pay and business liabilities will be discussed at a board meeting of Console tomorrow.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 12th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0712/802006-charity-sector-dail/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0712/802006-charity-sector-dail/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-13 09:33:15',NULL,'amount-of-funds-going-to-charities-immense-dã¡il-hears'),(1517,'Hundreds of adults and children \'disappeared and tortured by Egyptian authorities\'','<p>\r\n	A new report shows that hundreds of students, political activists and protesters have vanished.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Egypt&rsquo;s National Security Agency (NSA) is abducting, torturing and forcibly disappearing people in an effort to intimidate opponents and wipe out peaceful dissent, according to a new Amnesty International report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Egypt: Officially, you do not exist: Disappeared and tortured in the name of counter-terrorism highlights a spike in enforced disappearances since early 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report shows a trend which has seen hundreds of students, political activists and protesters, including children as young as 14, vanish without trace.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On average, three to four people per day are seized according to local NGOs, usually when heavily-armed security forces led by NSA officers storm their homes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Amnesty said many of these people are held for months at a time and often kept blindfolded and handcuffed for the entire period.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Colm O&rsquo;Gorman, executive director of Amnesty International Ireland, said the report &ldquo;reveals the shocking and ruthless tactics that the Egyptian authorities are prepared to employ in their efforts to terrify protesters and dissidents into silence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Enforced disappearance has become a key instrument of state policy in Egypt. Anyone who dares to speak out is at risk, with counter-terrorism being used as an excuse to abduct, interrogate and torture people who challenge the authorities.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Egyptian authorities have repeatedly denied that enforced disappearances exist in the country, but the cases featured in this report provide strong evidence to the contrary,&rdquo; O&rsquo;Gorman said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report features details of 17 people subjected to enforced disappearance, who were held for periods ranging from several days to seven months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Amnesty said these people were &ldquo;cut off from the outside world and denied access to their lawyers, families or any independent judicial oversight&rdquo;, as well as many being tortured &ndash; including children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&lsquo;Horrendous abuse&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report states that Mazen Mohamed Abdallah was subjected to enforced disappearance in September 2015, when he was just 14. He &ldquo;suffered horrendous abuse including being repeatedly raped with a wooden stick in order to extract a false confession&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report continues:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Aser Mohamed, who was also 14 at the time of his arrest, was beaten, given electric shocks all over his body and suspended from his limbs in order to extract a false confession when he was forcibly disappeared for 34 days in January 2016.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Amnesty said he was eventually brought before a state security prosecutor who warned him that he would face further electric shocks when he tried to retract his &lsquo;confessions&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The two boys are among five children forcibly disappeared for up to 50 days whose cases are documented in the report. In some situations, even after the child&rsquo;s release was ordered by the public prosecutor, the report states that security forces would subject them to enforced disappearance for a second time before bringing fresh charges against them.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In other cases, family members were arrested in order to pressure the principal target into giving a forced confession.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In July 2015, Atef Farag was arrested alongside his 22-year-old son, Yehia. Their family believe Atef was arrested for participating in a sit-in and his son, who has a disability, was arrested to pressure him to &lsquo;confess&rsquo; to serious offences. Both were held for 159 days and now have been charged with belonging to the banned Muslim Brotherhood.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report notes that there has been a spike in the use of enforced disappearances in Egypt since Magdy Abd el-Ghaffar was appointed Minister of Interior in March 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He previously served in the State Security Investigations (SSI), the secret police force known for human rights violations under former president Hosni Mubarak&rsquo;s rule, which was dismantled after the 2011 uprising and renamed as the NSA.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Trade links</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	O&rsquo;Gorman said Egypt is &ldquo;regarded by many Western powers as a key counter-terrorism partner in the region and many states have used this justification to supply Egypt with arms and related equipment despite evidence of its use to commit serious human rights violations&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He noted that many countries &ldquo;continue to maintain close diplomatic, trade and other ties with the country without prioritising human rights&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	O&rsquo;Gorman called on all states, particularly EU member states and the USA, to &ldquo;use their influence to pressure Egypt to end these appalling violations, which are being committed under the false pretext of security and counter-terrorism&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Instead of continuing to blindly supply security and police equipment to Egypt they should cease all transfers of arms and equipment that have been used to commit serious human rights violations in Egypt until effective safeguards against misuse are established, thorough and independent investigations are conducted and those responsible are brought to justice,&rdquo; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by TheJournal.ie on the 13th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/amnesty-report-torture-egypt-2875340-Jul2016/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/amnesty-report-torture-egypt-2875340-Jul2016/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-13 09:37:52',NULL,'hundreds-of-adults-and-children-disappeared-and-tortured-by-egyptian-authorities'),(1518,'Kidnapped Romania ‘slaves’ rescued','<p>\r\n	Dozens of vulnerable men and boys were kidnapped, chained up, whipped, fed scraps of food, and forced into manual labour or fighting for entertainment over an eight-year period in rural southern Romania, prosecutors said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Three men and two boys aged 10 to 12 were found chained up and were rescued by police in the mountain town of Berevoiesti during searches yesterday at the homes of suspects &mdash; members of an extended Roma family. Some 160 police and prosecutors took part in the raid.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Organised crime prosecutors said the investigation involved 90 suspects who they say exploited around 40 people with physical and mental disabilities or who were very poor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A statement said some victims were snatched from railway and bus stations, outside churches or even from their own homes and transported to private homes by members of the group.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some of them performed domestic chores while others were made to transport and sell wood that was the product of illegal logging.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It said the captives were sometimes held in chains, whipped, beaten and threatened, refused food or made to eat off the ground, and coerced into fighting each other.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They were locked up overnight to prevent them escaping. Some were stripped naked and doused with hot or cold water.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are suspicions some were raped or sexually abused. Police are questioning about 30 people, including women</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published in the Irish Examiner on the 14th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/kidnapped-romania-slaves-rescued-410262.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/kidnapped-romania-slaves-rescued-410262.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-14 08:54:18',NULL,'kidnapped-romania-‘slaves’-rescued'),(1519,'Dáil passes bill on paid paternity leave','<p>\r\n	The D&aacute;il has passed the Paternity Leave and Benefit Bill, clearing the way for paid parental leave from 1 September next.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cabinet earlier agreed to amend the bill so that the parents of babies born on or after that date can benefit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The scheme provides for paid parental leave and for paid paternity leave on top of existing maternity benefit.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Cabinet had also approved a tightening up of the rules governing &quot;write-offs&quot; to tackle the problem of cars involved in serious crashes being traded.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Current arrangements involving the insurance companies are voluntary and the amendment will put the regime on a statutory footing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are to be amendments to the Road Traffic Act to allow those in receipt of summonses after ignoring a fixed payment notice another chance to avoid court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As things stand, once the summons is issued there is no alternative to a court appearance, but the change will allow another chance to offenders to pay a fine.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Cabinet also heard details of amendments to the bill establishing the Cregan inquiry, which will examine loans written down by IBRC, some of which relate to businessman Denis O&#39;Brien.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Taoiseach will brief members of the Opposition on the narrowing down of the terms of reference of the inquiry tomorrow.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Brian Cregan, who will chair the commission, had raised some fundamental doubts over whether the original terms were workable and officials have been trying to refine them for some time now.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, Don Thornhill is to be the chair of the new Legal Services Regulation Authority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dr Thornhill is the nominee of the Higher Education Authority where he was previously executive chair.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The authority will regulate the legal profession and will legally commence on 1 October.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published on the 13th July 2016 on the 13th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0713/802226-cabinet-parental-leave/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0713/802226-cabinet-parental-leave/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-14 08:57:31',NULL,'dã¡il-passes-bill-on-paid-paternity-leave'),(1520,'Signs of Alzheimer\'s can be seen from age of three','<p>\r\n	The Alzheimer&#39;s gene, which seriously raises the risk of developing dementia, is already affecting carriers by the age of three, shrinking their brains and lowering cognition, a study suggests.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Children who carry the APOEe4 gene mutation, which raises the chance of dementia fifteen-fold, were found to do less well in memory, attention and function tests. Areas of the brain affected by Alzheimer&#39;s disease, such as the hippocampus and parietal gyri, were also found to be up to 22pc smaller in volume.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Around 14pc of people carry the APOEe4 mutation. The research is the first to show that genetic changes which can lead to Alzheimer&#39;s are affecting the brain very early in life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Scientists from the University of Hawaii, Yale and Harvard say screening for the gene could help doctors identify which children could benefit from early interventions, such as educational help, preventative treatments, health monitoring and increased exercise.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The study involved 1,187 people aged between three and 20 who took part in genetic tests and brain scans, as well as undertaking a series of tests to measure their thinking and memory skills.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Lead author Dr Linda Chang said: &quot;The APOEe4 carriers show the strongest effects, with negative influences on brain structures and cognition mirroring those in elderly participants and patients with Alzheimer&#39;s disease.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer&#39;s disease. But scientists are still struggling to determine what causes the condition, and despite 412 drug trials, nothing has been shown to combat the disease so far. The researchers think the APOEe4 gene slows brain development and could be a target for future medication. APOEe4 is also known to make people susceptible to disease, so some scientists believe Alzheimer&#39;s could be triggered by an infection and may be fought with antibiotics.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ian Le Guillou, research officer at Alzheimer&#39;s Society in the UK, said: &quot;These interesting findings suggest that people with the APOEe4 gene have differences in their brains from childhood.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added: &quot;Although people with the gene are at an increased risk of dementia, there are still things they can do to lower their chances of developing the condition. This includes taking regular exercise, not smoking and keeping their blood pressure in check.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research was published in the journal Neurology.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 14th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/signs-of-alzheimers-can-be-seen-from-age-of-three-34882924.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/signs-of-alzheimers-can-be-seen-from-age-of-three-34882924.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-14 09:00:12',NULL,'signs-of-alzheimers-can-be-seen-from-age-of-three'),(1521,'Hiqa: 1,800 abuse claims in one year','<p>\r\n	Almost 1,800 allegations of suspected or confirmed abuse of people living in centres for adults and children with disabilities were reported last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In its annual overview report for 2015 on the regulation of such centres, the Health and Information Quality Authority (Hiqa) said regulation has brought a cultural change to the sector and has &ldquo;steadily led to improvements&rdquo; in the standard of care provided to residents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa said that, in 2014, initial inspections showed a lack of understanding within the sector on how to meet the requirements of the regulations and the standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In particular, it found that residents living in many large congregated settings were not being &ldquo;adequately protected or kept safe&rdquo;. These institutionalised care practices that had been ongoing for years were having an adverse impact on the quality of life for residents, it reported.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, Hiqa said the inspection process had contributed to a greater understanding of the poor standard of care and support in some large, congregated settings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This has been recognised by the Government, and in 2016 there was a commitment of resources to escalate the movement of residents from inappropriate, congregated setting to more appropriate living arrangements,&rdquo; said the report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa inspected 561 of the 937 designated centres for adults and mixed centres for adults and children with disabilities in 2015. There were 741 inspections in total.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Overall, Hiqa inspectors found evidence of a high standard of care in 2015, with some providers found to provide an excellent standard of care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of inspection reports published in 2015, 49 inspections did not identify any actions required while a further 208 inspections required less than 10 actions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, Hiqa pointed out that it was forced to take formal enforcement procedures in respect of four centres during 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In one of the centres, it applied to the court to cancel the registration of the centre. The HSE then became responsible for the operation of the centre.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa applied to the court to have additional restrictive conditions on the registration of three other centres.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	During 2015, providers submitted 10,422 notifications to Hiqa relating to incidents and concerns about centres for adults and mixed adults and children with disabilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of these, 1,799 related to any allegation, suspected or confirmed, of abuse of any resident with 1,310 referring to any serious injury to a resident which required immediate medical or hospital treatment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna F&aacute;il spokeswoman on disability, Margaret Murphy O&rsquo;Mahony, said the report highlighted that speedier action was needed in relation to people with disabilities living in a congregated settings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The recommendations made through the 2011 HSE report on congregated settings are yet to be implemented. This Hiqa report again recommends that &lsquo;congregated settings&rsquo;, or institutions with 10 residents or more, should be replaced with supported placements in the community,&rdquo; said the Cork South West TD.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It&rsquo;s estimated that approximately 3,000 people with a disability were living in congregated settings as of December 2014. Not much has been achieved in moving people into a community-based environment since then.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 15th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hiqa-1800-abuse-claims-in-one-year-410412.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/hiqa-1800-abuse-claims-in-one-year-410412.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-15 09:58:04',NULL,'hiqa-1800-abuse-claims-in-one-year'),(1522,'Only 19 out of 60 sex offenders engaging with treatment programme','<p>\r\n	Only 19 of the 60 sex offenders to be released from Irish jails for the remainder of this year are engaged in the Irish Prison Service&#39;s dedicated treatment programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Prison Service (IPS) confirmed it was extending the National Treatment Programme in order to tackle the low numbers of prisoners availing of the service&#39;s Building Better Lives (BBL) programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are about 400 individuals convicted of sexual violence in the Irish prison system at any one time, with 300 in the Midlands Prison and 100 in Arbour Hill.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Until now, there has been no dedicated sex offenders&#39; treatment programme at the Midlands Prison. However, this was about to change, the IPS confirmed yesterday. The capacity of the IPS to treat large numbers of prisons on the BBL is constrained by the programme having capacity for only eight prisoners at any one time at each prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The low numbers of sex offenders being treated is underlined with figures from the IPS showing that of the 67 sex offenders released to date in 2016, only 25 have engaged in the BBL programme across the Irish prison system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In addition, the Probation Service has engaged or is currently engaging in offence related work including risk management work with 25 men in the Midlands Prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A statement from the IPS also confirmed that only those men convicted of sexual violence who admitted their offence were accepted on to the programme.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 15<sup><font size=\"2\">th</font></sup> July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/only-19-out-of-60-sex-offenders-engaging-with-treatment-programme-34885813.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/only-19-out-of-60-sex-offenders-engaging-with-treatment-programme-34885813.html</a></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-15 10:02:04',NULL,'only-19-out-of-60-sex-offenders-engaging-with-treatment-programme'),(1523,'McGrath to meet HSE officials after revelations over disability care','<p>\r\n	Minister of State with responsibility for disability Finian McGrath has requested an urgent meeting with Health Service Executive officials following last night&#39;s report by the RT&Eacute; Investigations Unit revealing details of a leaked review on the care of adults with intellectual disabilities in one region of the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McGrath said he was &quot;appalled&quot; by the findings that revealed hundreds of vulnerable adults were left at serious risk because of a failure to properly monitor various care services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The leaked internal HSE report reveals the executive did not have files for almost 200 adults with intellectual disabilities in State care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In other cases files only consisted of a single page while others had not been updated in over 25 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The systematic failures left vulnerable individuals at serious risk of abuse, including sexual abuse because concerns were not properly identified or acted on.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report, which dates from 2013, was written by a senior social worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It warns of a series of concerns related to hundreds of vulnerable adults in care in the same region as the &#39;Grace&#39; case - the young woman with profound intellectual disabilities left in a foster home for 20 years despite allegations of sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE said the care and safety needs of all the individuals identified are being met and there are no current safeguarding issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But this morning there have been calls for immediate action with Sinn F&eacute;in&#39;s Caoimhg&iacute;n &Oacute; Caol&aacute;in describing the revelations as &quot;utterly scandalous&quot; saying on those who presided over the failures should be replaced with immediate effect.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 15th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0715/802532-hse-disability-care/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0715/802532-hse-disability-care/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-15 10:03:10',NULL,'mcgrath-to-meet-hse-officials-after-revelations-over-disability-care'),(1524,'HSE aware of \'Mary\' case much earlier than admitted','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	New records uncovered by RT&Eacute;&#39;s This Week reveal the HSE was involved in the case of a young woman with intellectual disabilities deemed to be at risk much earlier than it previously admitted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The woman, known as Mary, was left in a foster home for 18 months after abuse allegations were raised about a carer there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to minutes of an internal meeting in September 2014, the teenager&#39;s local HSE Disability Service concluded that the intellectually disabled 19-year-old should be removed from the foster care setting at the centre of the sexual abuse allegations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, it was not until February 2016 - almost 18 months later - that the woman was finally removed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In previous statements to This Week in May, the HSE said it took action to make Mary safe in February 2016 within a week of its safeguarding team being notified of a risk of abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However the HSE files, seen by the programme, show that the Executive&#39;s Disability Services were aware of the risk to the woman 18 months earlier.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Allegations made against foster parent</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The abuse allegations were made against one of the foster parents by a member of their extended family.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are no allegations of abuse of any foster children in the home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The allegations were first raised by Tusla with Mary&#39;s service provider and the HSE in June and July 2014 respectively.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Two other foster children were removed from the home by Tusla who ceased to use the family as foster carers after deeming the allegations to be credible in June 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On 19 September 2014, a note from an internal meeting in Mary&#39;s local HSE Disability Service records that &quot;&#39;Mary&#39; has to be removed&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An entry in the Intellectual Disability Database from three days earlier also records that Mary requires an emergency placement. Despite this conclusion, the young woman remained in the home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to HSE files, in late 2014 local Tusla staff in Mary&#39;s area advised the HSE that it no longer thought there was a specific risk to the vulnerable young woman.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A further Tusla risk assessment arrived at the same conclusion in 2015 and a local Tusla report in January 2016 also recommended that Mary should remain in the foster home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	That assessment was reversed following the controversy in the media over Grace - a similar case in the southeast involving a young woman left in a foster home after abuse allegations were made.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The relative of the foster family who made the original 2014 abuse allegation also made contact with Tusla expressing concern that Mary still resided in the foster home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A senior manager in Tusla told the HSE in February 2016 that &quot;with hindsight... this advice (to leave her in the home) was incorrect&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Correspondence from a lawyer advising the HSE in February 2016 in the lead-up to Mary&#39;s removal makes reference to the late 2014 period when the young woman was left in the foster home, despite a HSE belief that she should be removed: &quot;As I understand it ... the view 18 months ago, at the time of the assessment of the allegations of sexual abuse, was to the effect that there was no mechanism by which the HSE could remove her from the placement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I would like to have precise details of the decision making process at that stage&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Confusion over responsibility for Mary</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other documents show there was considerable confusion and disagreement within the State agencies and a local service provider as to who was responsible for Mary&#39;s care.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Following the abuse allegations, both Tusla and the HSE called on the local provider of the young woman&#39;s day service to carry out a risk assessment on the safety of her placement.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The service provider informed both the Tusla and the HSE it had no legal mandate to do so.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a letter to Tusla in July 2014, the service provider wrote: &quot;No arrangements have been made for (the service provider) to be legally responsible for Mary&#39;s future ... We are concerned that Mary is safe in her home ... responsibility for Mary&#39;s future lies with the HSE&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HSE records also show that it received a letter from the service provider on 8 September 2014 advising it that &quot;(the service provider) have (sic) no mandate to risk assess&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An email from a senior local HSE Manager in 2014 also raised concerns about HSE staff putting the onus on the service provider to carry out a risk assessment: &quot;I don&#39;t think it is enough to put this back on (the service provider)&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In response, the HSE official who had asked the service provider to do the risk assessment wrote: &quot;I was putting it back on (the service provider) while we were working on a solution&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minutes of a care planning meeting in March 2013 outline the division of responsibility for the vulnerable teenager&#39;s care between the HSE Child and Family Service (later Tusla), HSE Adult Disability Services and the local service provider after she turned 18 years of age.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At this meeting, Tusla, which was then still part of the HSE, stated that it could not provide adequate supports to Mary due to her complex needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The minutes note that: &quot;&#39;Mary&#39; will not receive support from Aftercare Services of Child and Family Services (later Tusla). Disability (HSE Disability Services) is best placed to offer this support due to her complex needs&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A report on the case prepared in May 2016, following coverage of the case on This Week, notes that there are &quot;clearly questions in relation to the effectiveness of the collaboration between Tusla and the HSE&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Removal from home &#39;traumatic&#39; for Mary</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When Mary was ultimately removed from the foster home in February 2016, the effects of the overnight change of care setting, as opposed to a more gradual transition, left her &quot;heartbroken&quot; according to minutes of one meeting and were described as &quot;particularly traumatic&quot; in another.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A letter to the HSE dated 3 March 2016 from Mary&#39;s service provider also complained about the manner of her removal, describing it as &quot;thoughtless and cruel&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The letter also states that a more gradual transition should have been considered: &quot;On the day she was abruptly removed, no evidence or new information regarding Mary&#39;s placement was presented ... the same knowledge has been known to a number of professionals for over two years, a few more weeks to make a person centred transition should have been allowed.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A gradual transition for Mary was discussed at several HSE meetings as a sudden move would be &quot;detrimental to her well being&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A number of documents seen by This Week also record that a &quot;directive&quot; was issued by the HSE&#39;s National Director of Social Care Pat Healy not to allow the young woman return to the foster home after her day service on 15 February 2016, a move that Mary was not expecting.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In statement to This Week as to why the National Director had issued this directive, the HSE said the decision to remove Mary from the foster care setting in February was made by local HSE staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Documents also note that there is no evidence that Mary was a victim of sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE, Tusla and the local service provider all told This Week that they would not comment until an ongoing inter agency review of the case was completed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 17th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0717/802966-hse/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0717/802966-hse/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-18 08:33:36',NULL,'hse-aware-of-mary-case-much-earlier-than-admitted'),(1525,'‘Saudi women’s lives dictated by guardianship’','<p>\r\n	Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s guardianship system remains the most significant impediment to realising women&rsquo;s rights in the kingdom, according to a new report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the system, women are barred from travelling abroad, obtaining a passport, marrying or exiting prison without the consent of a male relative.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Human Rights Watch (HRW) study comes as the kingdom works to implement its &lsquo;Vision 2030&rsquo; and &lsquo;National Transformation Plan&rsquo; to wean it off its dependence on oil, including government targets to boost women&rsquo;s participation in the workforce.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report was published just seven months after Saudi women were allowed the right to run and vote for the first time in the country&rsquo;s only local elections, for municipal council seats.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It found that even with these greater opportunities, a woman&rsquo;s life in Saudi Arabia rests largely on &ldquo;the good will&rdquo; of her male guardian &mdash; often a father, husband, brother, or in some cases her son.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A 25-year-old referred to as Zahra in the report said her father used to beat her so severely that at one point she temporarily lost her vision and had to be hospitalised.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Although her parents divorced and she lived with her mother, her father remained her legal guardian. He refused to allow her to study abroad on scholarship and she cannot travel abroad for work without his permission.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HRW, which interviewed 61 Saudis inside and outside the kingdom over the past nine months, said it used pseudonyms for its interviewees for security reasons.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Guardianship really creates a system that is ripe for abuse,&rdquo; said the report&rsquo;s author Kristine Beckerle, a fellow in HRW&rsquo;s Mideast division.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s legal system and social norms are underpinned by an ultraconservative Islamic ideology widely known as Wahhabism.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Powerful Wahhabi clerics support the imposition of male guardianship based on a verse in the Koran that states men are the protectors and maintainers of women.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Other Islamic scholars argue this misinterprets fundamental Koranic concepts like equality and respect between the sexes. Other Muslim-majority countries, even those with Sharia courts, do not have similarly restrictive male guardianship laws.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	HRW says the Saudi system effectively renders adult women as legal minors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the kingdom&rsquo;s ambitious economic reform plans, women are encouraged to enter the workforce and companies are given incentives to boost female employment.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, penalties are not imposed on employers who refuse to hire women without the permission of male relatives. Some universities also require guardianship permission to enrol.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 18th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/saudi-womens-lives-dictated-by-guardianship-410915.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/world/saudi-womens-lives-dictated-by-guardianship-410915.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-18 08:35:19',NULL,'‘saudi-women’s-lives-dictated-by-guardianship’'),(1526,'There is no easy way to escape poverty as a single parent','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Being single can suck at the best of times, but single parenthood is even less enjoyable.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Financial security is not enjoyed by the majority of single parent households in Ireland, 58% of whom live in poverty. The reasons for this are easily surmised from my personal experience: lack of affordable childcare, housing and family-friendly jobs that pay a living wage.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Recently, I&rsquo;ve come across a number of feel-good stories about hard-working single-parents who managed to access third-level education in order to lift themselves and their family out of poverty.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I don&rsquo;t like those stories much, because I tried to live that dream myself, and failed (call me bitter). I&rsquo;ve also seen a good few of my closest friends try to live the dream and fail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The truth is, education is only part of the solution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Trying to live the dream</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is sometimes suggested that poor people simply should not procreate. I&rsquo;m not going to go into just how much sense that makes in a country where abortion is illegal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In my defence, I&rsquo;ll just say that I wasn&rsquo;t poor when I first made the decision to have my baby. I was young, granted, but in a four-year-long relationship, doing well at college, and looking ahead to a bright, stable future of well-paid employment and domestic bliss.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	After that bubble burst, I decided to take my fortune into my own hands and invested my modest savings into a Masters at the prestigious, family-unfriendly Trinity College. I was going to work hard, get the postgrad, get the job, get the financial independence.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Juggling college and family life</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I was only there for a year (what an expensive year) and I don&rsquo;t think I would have lasted much longer. The rent remained stable at almost &euro;1,500 per month, the discounted cr&egrave;che fees exceeded &euro;500 per month, and the little one still needed to be fed. All of those lectures and hours spent in the library didn&rsquo;t make paying those bills any easier.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Dragging shopping bags home on the 39 bus, along with a cranky 3-year-old and a backpack full of books and homework, while my class were chilling at the bar, didn&rsquo;t much lift the spirits either.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	My attempts at finding creative solutions, like bringing my 3-year-old along to an evening seminar, didn&rsquo;t work out too well. She used the chocolate I had bought as a bribe to draw monsters all over the desk. I decided to skip those seminars for the rest of the term.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I was one of the lucky ones. I already had a bachelors degree under my belt. The wonderful single-parents I made friends with at Trinity&rsquo;s tiny student parent group had signed up for four-year degrees. Guess what? Not one of them successfully escaped the poverty trap.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	No easy solution</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Calls for the absent parent to foot the bills are difficult. It&rsquo;s soul-destroying to drag someone, whom you might have once loved, through the family courts to make them cover half of your weekly Lidl bill. Even if you succeed, the money you get from the other parent is then taken straight out of your social welfare payments (if you&rsquo;re poor enough to qualify).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	We might not have any money but the absent parents, in many cases, don&rsquo;t have much money either.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Relying on our families for free childcare and/or handouts isn&rsquo;t the solution either, though half of my granny&rsquo;s pension went straight into my private landlord&rsquo;s bank account for several years before then she died. My full-time working mother still spends almost her entire annual leave child-minding each year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Trying to find a job</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I spent the summer after my graduation cleaning the on-campus accommodation my fellow students had occupied. I made a nice friend from Slovakia, who gave me a free duvet and recommended me, I suspect, for a part-time job that was going at Trinity Housekeeping. I was delighted when I got the job offer, cleaning the campus, 6am to 10am every Saturday morning. But childcare for those ungodly hours was impossible to find. So I had to turn it down.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Soon after, I landed a different part-time, zero-hour-contract job, working mostly evenings. It meant paying the extra childcare.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I later moved on to my current family-friendly part-time job. 54% of my income goes on the rent which is now about 400 per month below market rate (please don&rsquo;t tell my landlord).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Childcare is still a cost, even with the part-time job. What&rsquo;s left over, I use to feed, clothe and pay bills for two people.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Trying to win the lottery</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While single parents generally aren&rsquo;t much revered in public opinion, I&rsquo;ve encountered very little ill-will over the years. My landlord is a gentleman. All of my bosses and lecturers have been supportive and kind. I&rsquo;ll make an exception for the lady at the social welfare office who asked me why my daughter&rsquo;s father had left me.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For all their good will, none of these individuals were able to provide me with the living-wage job, affordable childcare and secure accommodation that I so desperately needed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Putting yourself through college is by no means a bad idea. It&rsquo;s expensive, it&rsquo;s hard work, but there are good times, and undeniably better job-prospects at the end. But it&rsquo;s not a magic solution for struggling single parents who are caught between a rock and a tiny apartment they can&rsquo;t afford.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There are three reliable ways in which a single parent in need can lift themselves and their child(ren) out of poverty, though they will remain permanently elusive to most: landing a 45k/year family-friendly job, finding a rich and generous spouse, or winning the lottery.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In their absence, we&rsquo;re left with three, fundamentally un-sexy, long-term solutions: decent jobs, affordable childcare and secure, long-term housing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The author has chosen to remain anonymous. She is a Masters graduate from Trinity College Dublin and a member of SPARK (Single Parents Acting for the Rights of Kids).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by TheJournal.ie on the 18th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/poverty-single-parent-education-2876717-Jul2016/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/poverty-single-parent-education-2876717-Jul2016/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-18 08:42:20',NULL,'there-is-no-easy-way-to-escape-poverty-as-a-single-parent'),(1527,'Ask the expert (David Coleman): Should I let my 11-year-old daughter use Snapchat?','<p>\r\n	Ask the expert (David Coleman): Should I let my 11-year-old daughter use Snapchat?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Q:</strong> My daughter keeps asking can she get Snapchat on her iPod. She has just turned 11 and says that she&#39;s the only one in her class that doesn&#39;t have it (which is not the case). However, all her close friends have it and they keep asking her when she will get it too.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I&#39;m just wary of giving in and letting her have it. I suppose my main problem with it is that I think she&#39;s too young to have access to social media.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	My dilemma, though, is that I don&#39;t want her to feel left out either. What do you think about her having Snapchat at her age?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>David replies:</strong> I think it is a really bad idea for her to get Snapchat. In fact, it is a really bad idea for her friends to have it too. There seems to be a cohort of parents who don&#39;t really think too much about the implications of their actions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Letting their pre-teens slip into the world of social media, seems, to me, to be an example of careless parenting. Even with teenagers we need to be very conscious and thought-through in our decisions to allow them access to social media.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But with the pre-teens, there is absolutely no reason why they need to be engaged in online socialising of any kind.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of course, if every parent said &quot;no&quot; definitively, and didn&#39;t cave in to the moans and whinges of their child regarding social media or internet access, we&#39;d have no issue with pre-teens making demands for phones, Snapchat, Facebook messenger, WhatsApp and the rest.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The slide happens early, though. When you have parents giving their toddlers the use of phones or tablets to watch cartoons, YouTube clips and so on, to keep them occupied, it is no wonder that those same children are the precocious social media users at age eight, nine, 10 or 11.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents need to be more thoughtful about engaging their young children rather than relying on a digital babysitter. When children are bored, they become creative. Boredom can be a good thing - we don&#39;t have to fill their every waking minute with some activity or distraction.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I believe that parents need a little more backbone. Your query is a good example of the dilemma that so many parents face, and of the uncertainty that many feel.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	You have a clear opinion that you think your daughter is too young for Snapchat, and yet you are second-guessing yourself in case you do her some harm by being firm and authoritative about that opinion.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If you know what you think is best for your child, then go with your gut. Who cares what her friends are doing? What they do is the responsibility of their parents (at this age). What your daughter does is your responsibility.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If her friends are real friends then the strength of their relationship should be able to withstand the lack of a digital means of staying in touch.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Out of interest, I posed your dilemma to those folks that follow me on Facebook. In the space of about two hours, over 300 people had responded to say an overwhelming &quot;No!&quot; to the notion of giving an 11-year-old access to social media of any kind, and Snapchat in particular.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The fact that Snapchat involves taking a picture, usually a selfie of some kind, and adding some text, makes it an attractive way for youngsters to communicate. In theory, the picture erases itself after a number of seconds, but in practice, the image can be screenshot if the recipient wants to keep the photo.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Teenagers use Snapchat to send naked pictures, or sexually suggestive pictures, of themselves to a friend, alongside the more innocent selfies and quick updates/chats.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some youngsters can feel under huge pressure to share these kinds of snaps, despite the fact that once they are shared, they are around, somewhere in cyberspace, forever, with the potential to be harmfully shared further.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Young children need to socialise face-to-face, not online.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Don&#39;t let your daughter&#39;s potential disappointment dissuade you from your own core view that she is just too young. She is just too young.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Let her wait until she is 13, or in secondary school. Then you can start the process of guiding her and supporting her in her social media world, but not until then.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Our daughter wants to make her Communion next year, but we are staunch non-believers. Help!</strong></p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>Q. </strong>Our seven-year-old daughter is not baptised, but goes to a Catholic school. We are not believers. The multi-denominational schools were oversubscribed when she started school so we put her into the Catholic school. We find that she talks about God, Jesus, says prayers and talks about Mass. She has already pleaded to make her Holy Communion with the rest of the class next year, but we are saying &quot;no&quot;. Are we being selfish by not baptising her, even though that may make it hard for her to fit in? How can we help her live with our choices for her?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<strong>David replies:</strong> I could easily imagine that you are not alone in your struggle with balancing your own religious beliefs (or non-beliefs) with the religious beliefs that your child is learning in school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I take it from your query that you would have much preferred a multi-denominational school, where no particular doctrine is taught. The choices we have to make, sometimes, as parents, are hard.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I wonder why you settled on a Catholic-ethos school as your second best? Is Catholicism the religion that you yourself have moved away from, or were you brought up with no particular religious faith?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	How much influence did your school, and/or your parents, play in your decisions not to believe in a religious doctrine?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I ask these questions because I think the answers may guide you in your decisions in relation to your daughter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If it is the case that you were brought up with a religious influence from your family and school that you later chose to question and reject, then you could feel confident to let your daughter make similar choices in due course. In other words, while school and family influences may be very significant when we are young, they don&#39;t have to be defining throughout our lives.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Just like you, your daughter may be able to absorb the Catholic ethos while she is a young child, even consciously joining the Catholic faith in order to make her Communion, and still, as she gets older, choose to question it and reject it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, I would imagine that if you and your husband&#39;s non-belief is because you were brought up that way, then you may find it more difficult to accept that your daughter may be absorbing a faith that you have never agreed with.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Perhaps you don&#39;t want to seem hypocritical by endorsing beliefs and doctrines that she is learning in school, which you don&#39;t agree with. But then, the responsibility to ensure that there is harmony between beliefs at home and school is yours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	By your choice of school, you have actually given her a mixed message. On the one hand, you don&#39;t believe in the Catholic teachings, but by sending her to a Catholic school, you are still endorsing those teachings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I am all in favour of children fitting in, primarily, with the religious (or non-religious) views and beliefs of their parents. It is right that their parents most heavily influence children&#39;s perspectives.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But, as parents, we must then ensure that, as much as possible, the other influential environments that our children grow in, namely schools, also fit, or are congruent, with what we believe (or don&#39;t believe).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At her age, she is unlikely to have the capacity to challenge either your views or the school&#39;s views, and so it would be much easier for her if she had just one value and belief system to come to terms with.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	I think, therefore, that you either need to let her conform fully to the religious doctrine of her school, even if it doesn&#39;t fit for you, confident in the knowledge that she will question it appropriately as she gets older, or you need to remove the pressure of that doctrine so that yours is the only belief system that she is exposed to.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	If you truly hold to your own beliefs (or really can&#39;t accept the Catholic beliefs), then it would seem better for you to take her out of the Catholic school, home educate her temporarily if needs be, and then place her in a multi-denominational school when a place becomes available.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 19th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/life/family/parenting/ask-the-expert-should-i-let-my-11yearold-daughter-use-snapchat-34887193.html\">http://www.independent.ie/life/family/parenting/ask-the-expert-should-i-let-my-11yearold-daughter-use-snapchat-34887193.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-19 09:21:28',NULL,'ask-the-expert-david-coleman-should-i-let-my-11-year-old-daughter-use-snapchat'),(1528,'Laws blocked Leo Varadkar disclosing foster abuse cases','<p>\r\n	Former health minister Leo Varadkar knew of widescale foster care abuses in the south east more than a year and a half ago, but did not make the issue public because of strict whistle-blower laws.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The now Social Protection Minister confirmed the situation amid fresh controversy over care standards in the region caused by a previously hidden report into the crisis obtained by RT&Eacute; last week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking after the Prime Time programme last Thursday revealed a series of previously unknown cases of State neglect of vulnerable children and young adults allegedly abused while in foster care similar to the &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; case, Mr Varadkar said he was made aware of the situation in late 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, while stressing actions were taken at that point to ensure no one remained at risk of abuse, the minister said he and then disabilities minister Kathleen Lynch were prevented from making the concerns public because of strict &ldquo;protective disclosure&rdquo; laws.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It wasn&rsquo;t January or February, it was earlier than that,&rdquo; Mr Varadkar confirmed when asked at a pensions press conference yesterday when he was first informed of the cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When something comes into a government department as a protective disclosure under the whistle-blowers act it has to be treated in a particular way. And, in particular what you can&rsquo;t do is give out any information that might identify the person [whistle-blower] involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It [the allegations] was certainly followed up on. The first thing that was done was to make sure nobody was at risk and everybody was safe-guarded.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;[Independent senior counsel] Conor Dignam is examining all of the issues in that region, and I understand that report is near completion,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A series of horrific cases were outlined in the document from a HSE worker.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They include claims some vulnerable people were not adequately checked up on for almost two decades, that officials believed sexual abuse allegations made by a child in school about a relative simply &ldquo;went away&rdquo; when they continued for years, and other allegations involving care standards.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cases are similar to the &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; case , where a woman with severe disabilities was left in an abusive foster home for decades without any follow-up care. This is the subject of an independent report by Mr Dignam due later this month, and which is expected to recommend a State inquiry.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A spokesperson for Health Minister Simon Harris last night said the minister will not express a view on whether a wider scale inquiry is needed until he receives Mr Dignam&rsquo;s report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, in a statement after a two and a half hour meeting between Mr Harris, Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath, and HSE officials yesterday, Mr McGrath re-iterated the fact there have been &ldquo;significant service and management failings&rdquo; across the region which must be answered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 19th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/laws-blocked-leo-varadkar-disclosing-foster-abuse-cases-411064.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/laws-blocked-leo-varadkar-disclosing-foster-abuse-cases-411064.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-19 09:25:33',NULL,'laws-blocked-leo-varadkar-disclosing-foster-abuse-cases'),(1529,'Ministers meet with HSE over care service reports','<p>\r\n	Ministers Finian McGrath and Simon Harris have met with senior officials from the HSE in the wake of recent reports about services for people with a disability provided by or funded by the executive.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Serious failings in care services for the intellectually disabled were uncovered by the RT&Eacute; Investigations Unit last week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ministers spoke with HSE officials about the serious concerns they have regarding both recent and historical issues about the care by the State of vulnerable people with a disability.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE reiterated their previous public statements to the Public Accounts Committee acknowledging significant service and management failings over a number of years in respect of citizens with a disability and their families who trusted the State to prioritise their additional needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ministers discussed with the HSE the range of measures which are being implemented and progressed in recent years to improve these matters.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They also emphasised the need for the public to be made more aware of the independent bodies to whom they can bring their concerns.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Earlier, the HSE&#39;s Chief Officer of the Community Health Organisation said any cases of neglect or abuse are not acceptable and the HSE takes all avenues to follow up on these issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking on RT&Eacute;&#39;s News at One Aileen Colley said she was reacting to reports that several people under the care of the Health Service Executive had been allegedly abused and were not adequately followed up on for nearly 20 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Colly insisted that there were files on all clients and if there were issues, they were addressed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I can assure you and your listeners that people have been followed up and those issues of historical abuse have been actioned.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;And they were actioned throughout those intervening years. So it hasn&#39;t just happened in the last short while.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We have learned lessons in terms of coming away with a safeguarding policy and looking at lessons brought into today&#39;s world into how we work and follow up on these issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I guess in the context of 30 years ago files will be kept appropriate to that time.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She also said it was important to look at what happened after the file review.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;From the file review report, actions were looked at, there was a screening from an administration point of view.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I can tell you we have addressed those issues. That there is a comprehensive tracking of people within agencies, that we have a proactive follow up and that we can map and track those placed within agencies.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her remarks come following the latest revelations from a leaked internal Health Service Executive report show clients who had long histories of &quot;shocking alleged abuse&quot; known to the services for up to 20 years were not adequately followed up on.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The author of the leaked report says that because of clients lack of capacity they were unable to escape abuse situations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	To illustrate this point the social worker refers to one particular woman who in her 30s disclosed in recent years that she was being sexually abused by a local man.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Her substantial case files showed that she had first made the allegations when she had been at secondary school but it would appear that an assumption was made that the abuse had somehow stopped, when this was not the case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In fact the report says the woman had been continually abused since childhood, with her father allegedly taking payment from the abuser.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A woman was found to be living in a HSE-funded placement in a residential centre but at the time of the report&#39;s completion, the social worker had yet to visit her because he had only realised that she existed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Despite the fact he had previously visited another client living at the same centre, he knew &quot;almost nothing&quot; about her.Once again the social worker refers to another client who he and his colleagues only identified at the end of the review.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They found this client was also living in a HSE-funded service - yet the social worker says they knew &quot;nothing&quot; about the person or the service in which the individual was living.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Lastly, the report states that on three occasions children in care remained with foster carers in the region without any official oversight of those placements and the social worker says on one occasion this led to a client being abused and neglected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, senior HSE management were not the only people aware of this report. Government ministers were previously made aware of the report&#39;s existence as early as January 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood the author of the report met then minister for health Leo Varadkar and then minister of state with responsibility for disability Kathleen Lynch and during that meeting a copy of this report was handed over.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Department of Health says any information obtained by the ministers at the meeting was received as part of a protected disclosure and was brought to the attention of relevant bodies as appropriate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The RT&Eacute; Investigations Unit has already revealed a catalogue of issues, including one case where a woman was returned regularly unsupervised to her family, despite it being known she had been sexually abused as a child by a family member.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In another case, one residential care client had not been visited by the HSE for 16 years - the cost of the placement to the HSE was &euro;88,000 a year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Details of the leaked report on adults with intellectual disabilities in various care settings showed how hundreds of vulnerable adults were failed by the State&#39;s care services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was revealed that the File Review Report was completed by a senior social worker in 2013, having taken 18 months to complete, and which examined 1,080 files spanning a 30-year period.It relates to adults with intellectual disabilities, all of whom come from the same region as the &#39;Grace&#39; foster home case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report contains a number of key findings, including that the HSE had little or no knowledge about most of the clients in the disability services that it funded and opportunities to stop abuse from occurring were frequently missed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This meant that vulnerable people were left at serious risk of abuse including sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report also describes case files that had not been updated in over 25 years, while other files only consisted of a single page, and at various stages throughout the report the author uses phrases like &quot;chaotic&quot;, &quot;haphazard&quot; and &quot;a complete mystery&quot; to describe their nature.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It also makes reference to over 30 case studies, including the case of a number of individuals in care who had not been visited by the health board or HSE in almost 20 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The HSE says the care and safety needs of all the individuals identified in the report are being met and there are no current safeguarding issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It says it highlighted 47 cases for priority follow up. However, the report itself only references 31 case studies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	So subsequent investigations by the HSE seem to have led to the discovery of a further 16 cases of concern.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar has said he met the whistleblower who highlighted problems with the care of the intellectually disabled in the South East.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Vardkar said as health minister he go the report written by the individual, which was given to him as a protected disclosure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said he and junior minister Kathlen Lynch met the author of the document, as did senior officials in his department and in the HSE.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the allegations were fully followed up, safeguards were put in place to ensure no one remained at risk, and Senior Counsel Conor Dignam was appointed to investigate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His work was still under way according to the minister who said he was limited in what more he could say by whistleblower legislation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 18th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0718/803076-hse-disability-care/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0718/803076-hse-disability-care/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-19 09:27:57',NULL,'ministers-meet-with-hse-over-care-service-reports'),(1530,'Turkey bans academics from travelling abroad','<p>\r\n	Turkey&#39;s higher education council has banned academics from work trips abroad and urged those overseas to quickly return home, the state-run Anadolu news agency has reported.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Turkey has widened its massive post-coup purge from the military and police to the education sector to root out supporters of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom it accuses of orchestrating last Friday&#39;s failed bid.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The cleric, who lives in Pennsylvania, has denied the accusation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday, the government suspended 15,200 state education employees and demanded the resignation of almost 1,600 deans from private and state universities over alleged links to Mr Gulen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Gulen retains vast interests in Turkey ranging from media to finance to schools and wields influence in various apparatus including the judiciary and police.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is to chair meetings of his national security council and cabinet in Ankara.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He has returned to the capital for the first time since the failed coup aimed at ousting him from power.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Erdogan, who was in the Aegean resort of Marmaris when the coup struck late on Friday, flew to Istanbul where he had stayed since, appearing before supporters each night.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But the president returned to the capital last night for the first time since the coup attempt, a Turkish official said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also held his first international bilateral meeting, hosting Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili for talks at his presidential palace in Ankara.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The president will later chair a meeting of his national security council for the first time since the coup at his presidential palace, his office said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The council is composed of top military figures and security ministers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Erdogan will then chair a meeting of the cabinet, also at the palace, whose immediate vicinity was bombed during the botched coup bid.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He told supporters in Istanbul this week that &quot;an important decision&quot; would be announced after the national security council meeting, without specifying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The crunch meetings come as controversy grows over the scope of the legal crackdown against those behind the coup plot.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Yesterday, the government suspended 15,200 state education employees allegedly linked to US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen who Ankara blames for the coup.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	About 9,300 people have also been detained, including top generals accused of treason for allegedly masterminding the plot as well as soldiers, police and judges.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 20th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0720/803549-turkey-erdogan/?google_editors_picks=true\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0720/803549-turkey-erdogan/?google_editors_picks=true</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-20 11:24:52',NULL,'turkey-bans-academics-from-travelling-abroad'),(1531,'Minister promises Commission of Investigation into residential care of disabled','<p>\r\n	The Minister for Disabilities has promised to set up a Commission of Investigation into the care of people with disabilities in residential settings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Finian McGrath&#39;s told the D&aacute;il that the cases exposed in recent weeks have given him &quot;cause for concern&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He was speaking while putting through legislation that will give residential centres an extra two years to reach the standards demanded by the Health Information and Quality Authority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister McGrath said that he hopes the investigation into residential care centres will be given all-party support in the D&aacute;il.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I&#39;m expecting to receive the report from Conor Dignam, senior counsel, very shortly, which will feed into the terms of reference for a statutory Commission of Investigation,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;This will be established as a priority, following agreement on the terms of reference, and with the approval of the Oireachtas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I will be looking for support, cross-party support for this, in relation to the Commission of Inquiry and also in relation to the terms of reference.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published on by the Irish Examiner on&nbsp;the 20th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/minister-promises-commission-of-investigation-into-residential-care-of-disabled-745702.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/minister-promises-commission-of-investigation-into-residential-care-of-disabled-745702.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-20 12:38:44',NULL,'minister-promises-commission-of-investigation-into-residential-care-of-disabled'),(1532,'New purpose-built community that people with dementia can call home','<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of Ireland&rsquo;s leading providers of homecare has taken inspiration from Holland to create this country&rsquo;s first purpose-built dementia community, writes Evelyn Ring</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Building has started on Ireland&rsquo;s first purpose-built dementia community.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Called CareBright Community and costing almost &euro;5.5m, it is being constructed on a four-acre site in the heart of Bruff, County Limerick.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	There will be 18 homes, and each will have a living room, bedroom, bathroom and private garden.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The CareBright Community and day care centre will offer a range of amenities, including a cafe, beauty salon, gym, men&rsquo;s sheds, and gardens.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The project is partly funded by the Department of Health &mdash; which provided &euro;1.5m through the Health Service Executive (HSE) &mdash; and with &euro;1.2m from the J P McManus Benevolent Fund and Pro-Am.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CareBright general manager, Colette Ryan, said the organisation had also provided money from its reserves to fund the project.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An additional &euro;980,000 is needed to complete the project, and that money is expected to come from fundraising activities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Ryan said the project is based on a Dutch model, and it took six years to bring it to fruition.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It will be a person-centred model of care based on the very successful dementia community developed at De Hogeweyk, Holland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CareBright, a non-profit, social economy business with a staff of 250, found that small-scale household models had a positive impact on the quality of life of people living with dementia.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Currently, more than 48,000 people are living with dementia in Ireland, and the number is expected to increase to more than 141,000 by 2041.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, dementia is not a solely age-related disease &mdash; there are more than 4,000 people under the age of 65 living with dementia in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We want people with dementia, who are physically active, to be able to get up in the morning and do the usual things that most of us take for granted,&rdquo; said Ms Ryan. &ldquo;What we realised from the Dutch model is that activity is critical for someone in the early or mid-stage of dementia.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Ryan said they want to use the model so people could continue to do everyday activities with some assistance for as long as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The complex will be built within a village so people can go down to the church, shop, or have a drink in the pub if they want to.&rdquo; It is expected that people who will live in the centre will receive support from the Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Fair Deal).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Residents in this community will feel safe and included. It will be a place where they will flourish,&rdquo; said Ms Ryan. &ldquo;Imagine having your new home, where you will be surrounded by all the things you love and cherish &mdash; that favourite chair, family photos, music you love and enjoy, a comfy bed with no alarm buzzing at 6am, and making choices which suit you. You can sit in your private garden and enjoy the sunshine or, if you enjoy gardening, you can just potter around there, or you can take a stroll, stretch your legs and garden in our expansive working and sensory gardens.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When family and friends come to visit, you can prepare lunch in the kitchen and enjoy afternoon tea at the community caf&eacute;. If they wish to stay over, they can do so in your home or our overnight accommodation on-site.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	CareBright, formerly known as Rural Community Care Network, has a team of around 250 carers. It was established in 1998 and is a leading provider of homecare in Munster.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It began in Co Limerick when Ballyhoura Development and Limerick Enterprise Board came together to provide home care for older persons and individuals with disabilities in Hospital, Co Limerick and Churchtown, Co Cork.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Ryan said nearly 80% of their clients who have home care have some form of dementia, and that is where they saw the need to help them continue to live independently for as long as possible.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If home care is not available for someone with dementia, there is nowhere for them to go other than a nursing home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We need to look at a different model of care for people with dementia who can no longer remain in their home. Our new community will open in September 2017, and I hope it will be replicated around the country.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Ryan, who has been general manager with CareBright since 2007 previously worked in managerial roles in the hotel and catering sector.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 20th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/new-purpose-built-community-that-people-with-dementia-can-call-home-411219.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/new-purpose-built-community-that-people-with-dementia-can-call-home-411219.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-20 12:46:15',NULL,'new-purpose-built-community-that-people-with-dementia-can-call-home'),(1533,'Report due on foster home abuse','<p>\r\n	A long-awaited independent report to decide on whether a state commission of inquiry is needed due to the alleged cover-up of serious foster care abuse in the South-East is expected to be given to Government before the weekend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Irish Examiner understands the report into the HSE&rsquo;s reaction to claims officials covered-up how a woman with severe intellectual disabilities was left at an abusive home is due to be handed to Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath in the next 48 hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report, drawn up by senior counsel Conor Dignam, is specifically examining two unpublished HSE-commissioned reports into the scandal and questions over why former health service managers were considered independent enough to examine the matter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is also examining whether a vulnerable woman given the pseudonym &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; in media reports suffered severe sexual abuse at the South-East foster home between the late 1980s and 2009, a full 14 years after the family in question were meant to have been barred from taking in individuals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The file was first sought by then disabilities minister Kathleen Lynch early last summer before a number of extensions were sought due to the scale of the work involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is widely expected the report will recommend a commission of inquiry be set up into what happened to &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; and a second woman given the pseudonym &lsquo;Anne&rsquo; who also continued to be placed with the family after &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; left the home.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, while all government and opposition parties have said they are in favour of such an inquiry, the move cannot occur before the report &mdash; and recommended terms of reference for a wider inquiry &mdash; are provided to Mr McGrath.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is to date unclear whether any likely commission of inquiry will be limited to examining the &lsquo;Grace&rsquo; case by itself or examines wider abuse claims involving other cases in the same region in recent decades after the issues were highlighted by RT&Eacute;&rsquo;s Prime Time programme last week.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, speaking during a D&aacute;il debate on giving extra powers to state watchdog the Health Information Quality Authority to ensure care standards in residential settings are met, Mr McGrath said he wants to see a full inquiry set up into the scandals.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I&rsquo;m expecting to receive the report from Conor Dignam, senior counsel, very shortly, which will feed into the terms of reference for a statutory commission of investigation,&rdquo; the Independent Alliance TD said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This will be established as a priority, following agreement on the terms of reference, and with the approval of the Oireachtas.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I will be looking for support, cross-party support for this, in relation to the commission of inquiry and also in relation to the terms of reference,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 21st July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/report-due-on-foster-home-abuse-411487.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/report-due-on-foster-home-abuse-411487.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-21 08:02:56',NULL,'report-due-on-foster-home-abuse'),(1534,'Over 11,000 children with severe disability to get medical cards next year','<p>\r\n	More than 11,000 children with a severe disability, who are covered by the Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA), are to get medical cards next year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Health Minister Simon Harris said currently around one third of children whose family gets this allowance are without a medical card.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In future all 33,000 DCA children will automatically qualify for a medical card. Therefore, these children will not be subject to the medical card means-test.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The allowance is a monthly payment for a child with a severe disability, aged under 16 years, who requires ongoing care and attention substantially over and above the care and attention usually required by a child of the same age.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Currently, there are over 1.7 million people registered with a medical card and a further 450,000 people have a GP visit card.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This is a key Programme for Government commitment,&quot; he told the Dail.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Read more:&nbsp; New deal on drugs prices will save taxpayer &euro;785m over next four years - Health Minister</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This commitment is a priority for me in the upcoming discussions on Budget 2017. I am privileged to have become Minister for Health at a time when we are in a period of reinvestment in the health services, which gives me the opportunity to address some immediate issues facing patients as well as meeting Programme for Government commitments.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;However, as Minister for Health, I also recognised that there are enormous demands and cost pressures on our health service.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Health care demand continues to rise due to our growing and ageing population, the increasing incidence of chronic conditions and advances in medical technologies and treatments. We have secured a substantial increase in funding for the health services for 2016 but I do not underestimate the challenges involved in the delivery of a safe efficient health service for Irish patients.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Health systems all around the world are struggling with the issue of rising costs &ndash; Ireland is in no way unique in this, and maintaining the pace of reform is fundamental. We must maintain our focus on improving the way services are organised and delivered and reducing costs in order to maximise service provision,&rdquo; he added.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 20th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/over-11000-children-with-severe-disability-to-get-medical-cards-next-year-34899536.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/over-11000-children-with-severe-disability-to-get-medical-cards-next-year-34899536.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-21 08:06:47',NULL,'over-11000-children-with-severe-disability-to-get-medical-cards-next-year'),(1535,'Disability centres get until 2018 to register with HIQA','<p>\r\n	The deadline by which all centres for people with disabilities must be registered with the Health Information and Quality Authority has been extended by over two years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The decision was passed as part of the Health Amendment Bill brought forward by Minister of State with responsibility for Disability Finian McGrath in the D&aacute;il this morning.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As of June 2016, approximately just half of all residential facilities for people with disabilities around the country were registered to ensure they are fully compliant with the health watchdog&#39;s regulations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McGrath told the D&aacute;il that HIQA had requested the time extension in order to complete its work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In all there are just over 1,000 residential facilities for people with disabilities around the country but as of June 2016 just 556 were registered to ensure they are fully compliant with HIQA regulations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The registration process is now expected to conclude by the end of 2018; it began in November 2013.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Advocacy groups have expressed concern at news of the delay.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inclusion Ireland CEO Paddy Connolly said the urgency with which the registration process has been carried out to date must continue.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said it would be a matter of concern if the delay meant residential facilities that have not yet reached basic standards would continue to operate.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added that the Government should use the opportunity of the extended timeline to reduce the number of people with disabilities living in congregated settings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sinn F&eacute;in spokesperson on disability rights Caoimhgh&iacute;n &Oacute; Caol&aacute;in said while his party wished that all centres had been registered at this stage, he understood the difficulties involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But he queried if there were &quot;any other factors leading to the delay&quot;, such as resource constraints.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The same point was also raised by Independent TD Catherine Connolly, who asked if the &quot;bottom line&quot; was that there was a failure to allocate enough resources to HIQA.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added that while the Government has committed to ratifying the European Convention on Human Rights this year, it has also &quot;dragged its heel&quot; on this issue and has failed to be &quot;proactive&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ministers also raised revelations by RT&Eacute; Investigates in the last week from a leaked internal HSE report showing that hundreds of people with intellectual disabilities in the southeast were failed by State care services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McGrath said the cases revealed gave him &quot;cause for concern&quot; and the report had detailed &quot;unacceptable events&quot; both historical and recent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He committed that during his tenure people with disabilities in the care of the State will be given full protection and all historical issues will be investigated.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The minister said a meeting he and Minister for Health Simon Harris had with the Health Service Executive on Monday was &quot;tough and difficult&quot;. He said they made clear their concerns regarding the revelations exposed by RT&Eacute; Investigates.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added that while changes cannot happen overnight, improvements in services were under way.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fianna F&aacute;il spokesperson on disability Margaret Murphy O&#39;Mahony described the revelations as &quot;shocking&quot; and &quot;shameful&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said that many people who had watched the Lost in Care report had &quot;reacted with anger but were not surprised&quot; by the findings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The people at the centre of the revelations had essentially been seen as &quot;non-persons&quot;, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the public needed to know if other similar deficiencies or reports as highlighted by RT&Eacute; existed around the country and what reassurances Government had received to ensure this was not the case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over five months after a Commission of Investigation was promised to examine the circumstances of the Grace foster home case, she said it had yet to be set up and she questioned if its terms of reference will now be broadened.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The public needed &quot;to be confident that there won&#39;t be any more revelations&quot;, she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Murphy O&#39;Mahony added that Minister McGrath and his department needed to &quot;step up the campaign&quot; to bring congregated settings for people with disabilities to an end, saying the fact that &quot;not much had been achieved&quot; since the RT&Eacute; Investigates programme on &Aacute;ras Attracta was &quot;wholly inadequate&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Independent TD Maureen O&#39;Sullivan also said she found the stories revealed by RT&Eacute; to be &quot;horrific&quot;, adding that she thought the stories that came from the industrial schools and the Magdalene Laundries were bad but the latest revelations had amounted to more of the same.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She urged the Government to be more proactive so that these stories are not always heard through the media first.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&#39;Sullivan said it was pointless registering facilities for the disabled if there was no follow up and she said she was disappointed that the HIQA registration deadline had not been met.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Reacting, Minister McGrath said he shared the TDs &quot;deep concerns&quot; about the care of people with disabilities and that the mindset towards these people would have to change, but said getting this issue to the top of the political agenda can sometimes be difficult.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He admitted that disability services have been &quot;devastated&quot; for the last ten years and that &quot;we need to up our game&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister McGrath said he &quot;hoped to God we have learned lessons&quot; as he too felt very frustrated by the recent revelations.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He added that the report by Senior Counsel Conor Dignam on the Grace case, which will inform the terms of reference for the upcoming Commission of Investigation, is expected very shortly, as is the inter-agency review into the Mary case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 20th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0720/803643-hiqa-disability-centres/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0720/803643-hiqa-disability-centres/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-21 08:08:22',NULL,'disability-centres-get-until-2018-to-register-with-hiqa'),(1536,'Lack of mental health resources harms children, says ISPCC','<p>\r\n	Thousands of children are struggling to cope with mental health problems due to the failure to properly resource emergency and acute services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In its annual report for 2015, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said the lack of investment in prevention and early intervention for at-risk children meant demand for services were reaching &ldquo;crisis point&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We can point to many examples of children being adversely affected by a lack of 24-hour social work services. Demand for emergency and acute services means that, as a nation, we continue to under-resource prevention and early-intervention &mdash; so with each passing week, children in need of support are having those needs ignored. We are rapidly reaching crisis point,&rdquo; said the report.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The society said that, in some cases, children are waiting as long as 18 months for referral to a child psychologist.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report pointed out that, in 2015, the ISPCC&rsquo;s Childhood Support Service experienced &ldquo;huge demand&rdquo; and worked with 439 individual clients.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The service provides a one-to-one child-centred service for children and young people in their own home or place of the child&rsquo;s choosing, and has been running for 20 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The primary reasons for referral to the service were for behavioural support (24%) and parental separation (13%).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The main source of referral was from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency (32%), the educational sector (30%), and parents (23%).</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of the primary reasons for referral to the service was issues arising for children as a result of parental separation. The report noted that the processes surrounding this separation were increasingly emerging as a source of anxiety for children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The system of mediation, the courts and legal process, and the lack of the voice of the child in this system, were all issues identified.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	ISPCC chief executive Grainia Long said these services were not child-centred, despite legislation arising from the children&rsquo;s rights referendum now being in place.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The family courts system, custody and access processes and even mediation process are not child-centred, the voice of the child is often not heard in these situations and children&rsquo;s emotional well-being can be affected. There is no early-stage intervention, and so referrals often occur late in the process when cases are at extreme stages,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There is a clear need to address the deficiencies in the process, in the support systems available and in the courts systems that do not enable the voice of the child to be heard in these situations,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Long said the goal of its support services was to increase the child&rsquo;s psychological resilience so they can cope with any issues they encounter.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Issues in children&rsquo;s lives such as bullying, parental separation etc, can upset a child&rsquo;s world; we help them to pick up the pieces and support them with putting them back together again,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 22nd July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/lack-of-mental-health-resources-harms-children-says-ispcc-411714.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/lack-of-mental-health-resources-harms-children-says-ispcc-411714.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-22 09:11:16',NULL,'lack-of-mental-health-resources-harms-children-says-ispcc'),(1537,'Serious risks found in child protection service in Midlands ','<p>\r\n	Priority child protection cases that were unallocated were known about &lsquo;for years&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	High priority child protection cases in the Midlands, that were not allocated to social workers, were known about &ldquo;for years&rdquo; by services, according to a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hiqa has said it identified serious risks in the Midlands child protection and welfare services, which covers Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford, including one team predominantly made up of agency social workers with two years or less experience.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The team had no direct line manager and a principal social worker who was due to leave in January. The matter was subsequently rectified by Tusla, the Child and Family Agency.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspections of the Midlands services were carried out by Hiqa in January and March. They followed concerns about services after hundreds of unallocated child protection case files, for Laois and Offaly, were found in a Portlaoise office.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When inspections commenced, Hiqa inspectors found a fifth of 53 child protection cases sampled by them, had to be escalated to the duty intake principal social worker for review, because of concerns about the prioritisation they were assigned, or because of a lack of timeliness or appropriate action.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And inspectors identified a small number of children in care who did not have an allocated social worker for extended periods ranging from two to nine years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A number of these children had not received a social worker visit for a prolonged period, for example, over three years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If there was no referral made to the duty system regarding these children, then contacts such as safeguarding visits were not made,&rdquo; the report said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This presented a significant risk &hellip; overall, inspectors found that the level of social work monitoring of the unallocated cases was not acceptable.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Inspectors also found interagency links were not consistently in place and there were gaps in inter-professional contact in unallocated cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It was not always clear how staff communicated the outcome of their assessment of notifications of An Garda S&iacute;och&aacute;na,&rdquo; it said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the reports, published by the authority, it said of 27 standards, required of a child protection service, one was met, 22 required improvement and four standards were seen as &ldquo;a significant risk&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These risks included that the national policy Children First was not consistently implemented and information systems in place to support the delivery of the service were &ldquo;not fit for purpose&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The authority found overall, once children were allocated to a member of staff in the service, the majority of children and their families received an adequate service. However, children experienced delays in being allocated to a social worker and in their needs being assessed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Responding to the reports, Tusla said significant progress had been made throughout the child protection and welfare services over the last 12 months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Jim Gibson, chief operations officer, said Tusla was committed to improving child protection and welfare services and will continue to build on the significant progress that has been made in the past 12 months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;A range of measures have been implemented, including strengthening the management structure, allocating additional staff to reduce backlogs and activating a robust action plan to address key areas for improvement,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 21st July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"https://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&amp;gl=ie&amp;tbm=nws&amp;authuser=0&amp;q=child&amp;oq=child&amp;gs_l=news-cc.3..43j0l10j43i53.6359.7444.0.7526.6.6.0.0.0.0.84.371.5.5.0...0.0...1ac.1.zZpdMKxZsFM#\">https://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&amp;gl=ie&amp;tbm=nws&amp;authuser=0&amp;q=child&amp;oq=child&amp;gs_l=news-cc.3..43j0l10j43i53.6359.7444.0.7526.6.6.0.0.0.0.84.371.5.5.0...0.0...1ac.1.zZpdMKxZsFM#</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-22 00:00:00',NULL,'serious-risks-found-in-child-protection-service-in-midlands'),(1538,'Year-on-year dole hikes - as Varadkar wants payments \'linked to inflation\'','<p>\r\n	Modest year-on-year increases in dole payments and the State pension are on the cards after Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar announced plans to link welfare rates to inflation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move, which took some of Mr Varadkar&#39;s Cabinet colleagues by surprise, is set to cost in the region of &euro;250m per year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under Mr Varadkar&#39;s plan, a legal mechanism would be put in place whereby welfare rates increase in line with inflation or average earnings.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In practical terms, it would result in an increase of around &euro;3 per week for the average person on the dole.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But Mr Varadkar told the MacGill Summer School that he was not inclined to increase child benefit by &euro;5 - and instead would prefer that &euro;60m be used to lift the burden of back-to-school costs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Dublin West TD also wants the index-linked mechanism to apply to other payments such as the carer&#39;s benefit and disability allowance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It is obviously not something that is going to be in the Budget in a few weeks&#39; time, but it is something that I would like to legislate for next year and I&#39;ll be seeking cross-party support,&quot; Mr Varadkar told reporters.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Like all these things, it can go up or down, though it rarely happens, every once in a generation where you have deflation and average incomes go down.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;But I think it&#39;s reasonable to conclude that [the] economy is recovering and over the next few years we will have a return to pay increases and inflation and I don&#39;t want pensioners, carers or people with disabilities to fall behind.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Varadkar said it was not an issue that the measure was not contained in the Programme for Government.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	And he dismissed suggestions that the move was to do with his leadership ambitions. &quot;Just because something isn&#39;t in the Programme for Government doesn&#39;t mean we can&#39;t do it. It is not that it is rejected in the talks. No doubt anything I do or say is linked to leadership. If we make this change, it will be there for decades, I hope. It will be a big change for the better.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fine Gael sources yesterday said they were surprised by the move, given the measure was not discussed in the Programme for Government negotiations. But Mr Varadkar was handed a boost last night after both Fianna F&aacute;il and Sinn F&eacute;in welcomed the proposals. &quot;Fianna F&aacute;il has long called for new mechanisms to be put in place to safeguard people&#39;s living standards into the future. The Government now appears to be examining such proposals,&quot; said Fianna F&aacute;il&#39;s social protection spokesman Willie O&#39;Dea.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;However, we should not forget that many people are still suffering the effects of the previous five regressive budgets.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;These people have felt no benefit from the economic recovery. The upcoming Budget offers an opportunity to address this.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sinn F&eacute;in&#39;s social protection spokesman John Brady added: &quot;Every person in receipt of social welfare should receive a payment that provides them with a basic standard of living. The minister&#39;s proposals are just one step in the right direction.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar has said he believes a Border poll would be &quot;divisive&quot; and &quot;unsuccessful&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Varadkar said such a referendum could &quot;undermine relations&quot; with unionist parties in particular. But he says he does believe he will see a united Ireland in his lifetime.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I would like to see a united Ireland and I do believe there will be a united Ireland in my lifetime, although I don&#39;t know at what point in my lifetime,&quot; Mr Varadkar said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;However, I don&#39;t feel a Border poll would be a good idea at this time. I think it would be unsuccessful and divisive and could undermine relations between the two communities there. We need to achieve a unity of purpose before that time.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 22nd July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/yearonyear-dole-hikes-as-varadkar-wants-payments-linked-to-inflation-34903250.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/yearonyear-dole-hikes-as-varadkar-wants-payments-linked-to-inflation-34903250.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-22 09:26:23',NULL,'year-on-year-dole-hikes-as-varadkar-wants-payments-linked-to-inflation'),(1539,'Alleged discovery of illegal drugs in ambulance investigated','<p>\r\n	An investigation is under way into the alleged discovery of illegal drugs in a Health Service Executive ambulance in Dublin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It is understood that a number of staff at the National Ambulance Service in Dublin have been placed on protective leave following the incident.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A garda spokesperson said the National Ambulance Service reported &quot;a number of matters&quot; to Blanchardstown Garda Station and confirmed that an investigation is under way.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, garda&iacute; said nobody has been arrested in relation to the incident.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In a statement to RT&Eacute; News, the HSE&#39;s National Ambulance Service said &quot;it is not in a position to comment as investigations are ongoing&quot;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 25th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0724/804453-ambulance/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0724/804453-ambulance/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-25 08:37:38',NULL,'alleged-discovery-of-illegal-drugs-in-ambulance-investigated'),(1540,'How bad teachers now face being struck off','<p>\r\n	Up to 30 teachers a year are expected to face public disciplinary hearings getting under way in Ireland for the first time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The inquiries, similar to those conducted for doctors and nurses, will investigate cases of underperformance and serious misconduct.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In extreme cases, teachers may be &quot;struck off&quot; the professional register, losing their licence to work in a State-funded position in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The disciplinary panel may also apply lesser penalties, such as suspension, admonishment or an offer of support to improve performance.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The first &quot;fitness to teach&quot; hearings are expected to take place early next year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The hearings were envisaged in legislation that led to the establishment of the Teaching Council a decade ago.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, the legal order giving effect to this provision comes into effect today, after being signed off by Education Minister Richard Bruton.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Hearings will be conducted by a panel appointed by the Teaching Council, which is the professional standards body.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Any person may now apply to the Teaching Council for an inquiry into a teacher&#39;s fitness to practise - where there are serious grounds for concern.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents and, in some cases, pupils may be called as witnesses - although children&#39;s evidence will be given in private.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Bruton said the process would affirm confidence in the teaching profession in the long run.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Part of being a member of any modern profession is that the public can be assured that when these high professional standards are not upheld, it is possible for a citizen to seek redress by bringing their complaint forward and see it dealt with in a proper way,&quot; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The minister said that teachers would also be protected under the new arrangements - sanctions could be appealed to the High Court.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Teaching Council director Tomas O&#39;Ruairc told the Irish Independent that the council had a number of complaints in hand and they would now deal with these.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr O&#39;Ruairc said that, judging by the experience in Scotland and Wales, up to 30 cases a year could go to hearing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the new procedures, once a complaint is made to the Teaching Council, it will appoint an Investigation Committee to decide whether it merits being put forward to a Disciplinary Committee.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Complaints that are considered frivolous or vexatious will not progress to a formal hearing. The Disciplinary Committee will establish a panel, made up mainly of teachers, to conduct the hearings. The Disciplinary Committee will have its own legal advice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Teachers have to be registered with the Teaching Council to work in State-funded positions. There are about 91,000 currently on the register.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 25th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/how-bad-teachers-now-face-being-struck-off-34908793.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/how-bad-teachers-now-face-being-struck-off-34908793.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-25 08:42:20',NULL,'how-bad-teachers-now-face-being-struck-off'),(1541,'19 killed in Japan\'s worst mass killing in decades','<p>\r\n	The suspect in a fatal stabbing spree that saw 19 people killed in Japan had been hospitalised early this year after expressing a willingness to kill disabled people if the government approved, a city official has said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Police in the town of Tsukui near Tokyo contacted the suspect, Satoshi Uematsu, and he was involuntarily committed to hospital on 19 February after he had tried to present a letter to the speaker of the lower house of Japan&#39;s parliament, said an official from nearby Sagamihara city.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Uematsu told police he would kill many severely disabled people if the national government approved such an action, the official told Reuters.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Uematsu was discharged on 2 March after a doctor deemed his condition had improved, the official said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Nineteen people were stabbed and killed in their sleep and at least 25 wounded at a facility for the disabled in Sagamiharain the early hours of this morning, local time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Uematsu, a former employee at the facility in Sagamihara town, about 40km southwest of Tokyo, handed himself into police.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Kyodo news agency said the dead ranged in age from 19 to 70 and included nine men and 10 women.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 7.6 acre facility, established by the local government and nestled on the wooded bank of the Sagami River, cares for people with a wide range of disabilities, public broadcaster NHK said, quoting an unidentified employee.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Residents of the small town of Sagamihara said the last murder in the area was ten years ago.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A woman who said she used to work at the facility said many patients were profoundly disabled.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Police had recovered a bag with several knives, at least one stained with blood, the Kanagawa prefecture official said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The facility&#39;s website said the centre had a maximum capacity of 160 people, including staff.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Such mass killings are extremely rare in Japan and typically involve stabbings. Japan has strict gun laws and possession of firearms by the public is rare.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Eight children were stabbed to death at their school in Osaka by a former janitor in 2001.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Seven people died in 2008 when a man drove a truck into a crowd and began stabbing people in Tokyo&#39;s popular electronics and &quot;anime&quot; district of Akihabara.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A revision to Japan&#39;s Swords and Firearms Control Law was introduced in 2009 in the wake of that attack, banning the possession of double-edged knives and further tightening gun-ownership rules.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Members of a doomsday cult killed 12 people and made thousands ill in 1995 in simultaneous attacks with sarin nerve gas on five Tokyo rush-hour subway trains.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by RTE.ie on the 26th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0726/804871-japan-killing/\">http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0726/804871-japan-killing/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-26 08:11:48',NULL,'19-killed-in-japans-worst-mass-killing-in-decades'),(1542,'64% of parents leave venues over baby facilities','<p>\r\n	Almost two thirds of parents have left a venue here because of poor baby-changing facilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Furthermore, more than 80% of fathers have encountered great difficulties in changing a baby&rsquo;s nappy due to lack of facilities in a male bathroom.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These findings are from a survey by Eumom this month.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The findings showed that 64% of parents in Ireland were forced to leave a public venue due to a lack of baby- changing room amenities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They also showed that more than 30% of parents have had to change a baby&rsquo;s nappy on a bathroom floor.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost 1,000 parents were queried in the survey and they rated baby hygiene facilities nationality at a 5.5 out of 10.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At 85% (the survey&rsquo;s highest finding), parents said that poor changing amenities for their children will strongly impact on their decision to return to a venue or not.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research was commissioned by Sudocrem to coincide with the launch of Baby Changing Room Awards, which is aimed at rewarding places such as hotels, cafes, and shopping centres for providing clean and safe facilities for parents and children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Actor Simon Delaney is the award&rsquo;s ambassador. He and wife Lisa Muddiman had their fourth child, Lewis, last month, and Delaney said they always think ahead when having a family outing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;As a parent, I know firsthand how important good baby changing facilities really are,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I soon realised that when we were planning a trip out that one of the first things to consider was whether the venue had good baby changing facilities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If they didn&rsquo;t, we&rsquo;d choose somewhere that did.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Parents who were surveyed said that when it came to baby changing facilities the most important things were that they were &ldquo;clean&rdquo;, &ldquo;warm&rdquo;, and &ldquo;safe&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Enough space for a buggy was also important to parents.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Last year, actor Ashton Kutcher took to Facebook to complain about the lack of baby changing facilities in men&rsquo;s bathrooms, and began a petition to lobby two American shopping stores for universally accessible changing tables in their premises.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on 26th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/64-of-parents-leave-venues-over-baby-facilities-412318.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/64-of-parents-leave-venues-over-baby-facilities-412318.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-26 08:13:33',NULL,'64%-of-parents-leave-venues-over-baby-facilities'),(1543,'Teen suicide helpline reports 44pc rise in calls and texts this year','<p>\r\n	An Irish helpline for teenagers received more than 23,000 calls and texts in the first half of 2016.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	TeenLine, a helpline founded in 2006 for teenagers with suicidal thoughts said this was an increase of 44pc from the same period last year where the helpline received approximately 16,000 calls and texts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	So far this year the helpline received 14,000 texts alone between January and June compared to 12,000 texts in total for 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Around 15pc of calls are made by teenagers with suicidal thoughts while another 15pc are from young people suffering abuse or self-harming.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	TeenLine&rsquo;s clinical director Niamh Hannan said teenagers from all walks of life were experiencing high levels of anxiety and low mood or depression.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The three main areas of a young person&rsquo;s life are home, school, and friend. They can cope if only one area is going wrong at a time, but where they are experiencing difficulty in two or three areas at a time, they are more at risk. TeenLine provides a vital support service for teenagers so encourage your teens to reach out and talk,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The voluntary organisation has no paid staff and does not receive government funding.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The helpline was founded by Maureen Bolger after her son Darren took his own life. Maureen wanted to provide a helpline especially for teenagers so they could talk to someone when they were going through difficult times.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The TeenLine helpline number is 1800 833 634 and the text service can be contacted by texting &ldquo;teen&rdquo; to 50015. They are available between 8pm and 11pm Monday-Sunday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 26th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/teen-suicide-helpline-reports-44pc-rise-in-calls-and-texts-this-year-34912847.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/news/teen-suicide-helpline-reports-44pc-rise-in-calls-and-texts-this-year-34912847.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-26 08:14:49',NULL,'teen-suicide-helpline-reports-44pc-rise-in-calls-and-texts-this-year'),(1544,'Adults seeking help for childhood sex abuse','<p>\r\n	More adults in midlife are seeking help for childhood sexual abuse, and some have never been able to talk about it before.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre&rsquo;s incoming chief executive, Noeline Blackwell, said there was a resurgence in calls last year relating to sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Some of the people who are disclosing childhood sexual abuse have never been able to talk about it and have gone through their lives with that burden,&rdquo; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The DRCC wants the D&aacute;il to implement the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill when it returns in the autumn.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The legislation, given priority status when reintroduced by the Government, is aimed at protecting children from sexual exploitation, child pornography, and online grooming.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The fact that about half of the counselling and therapeutic work of the centre is with adults who have suffered abuse as children makes our call for better protection for today&rsquo;s children even more urgent,&rdquo; said Ms Blackwell.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The Sexual Offences Bill that tackles internet abuse, which is still not illegal in Ireland, will give today&rsquo;s children a much better chance of staying safe than they have right now.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At the launch of the DRCC&rsquo;s 2015 annual report today, head of clinical services Angela McCarthy will give an overview of the centre&rsquo;s therapy and counselling work.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Compared with 2014, 2015 saw a resurgence in calls relating to childhood sexual abuse, with a small decrease in calls relating to adult sexual violence,&rdquo; said Ms McCarthy.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We have seen an increase in adults in midlife looking for therapy for childhood sexual abuse, often after many years of suffering and silence.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 21% of all incidents of childhood sexual abuse, additional violence was disclosed, predominately psychological abuse, harassment, or intimidation and physical abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms McCarthy said a 16% increase in the number of people contacting the national 24-hour helpline for the first time last year had resulted in growing pressure for face-to-face therapy, to a point where demand exceeded available resources.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Figures released by the DRCC show that last year, almost 12,000 people contacted the organisation&rsquo;s national helpline and over half were calling it for the first time about rape or sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Blackwell said while the number of calls made to the helpline last year had been similar to 2014, they were becoming more complex.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Volunteers staffing the helpline, particularly at night and during the weekend, had noticed a sense of hopelessness, with callers also struggling to access housing and other services.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Just over half of calls were about adult sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, with the remainder (49%) relating to childhood sexual abuse, including ritual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Most callers (95%) were Irish, and the remainder represented 57 other nationalities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In 24% of all incidents of adult rape or sexual assault, there was additional violence, predominantly physical abuse, psychological abuse, and harassment or intimidation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Among the 318 cases where the reporting status was known, 113 were reported to garda&iacute;, a reporting rate of 36%.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	More than a third related to childhood sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 27th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/adults-seeking-help-for-childhood-sex-abuse-412515.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/adults-seeking-help-for-childhood-sex-abuse-412515.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-27 09:24:53',NULL,'adults-seeking-help-for-childhood-sex-abuse'),(1545,'Taskforce for youth mental health to get green light','<p>\r\n	A new youth mental health task force is to be signed off on at the Cabinet breaks for the summer today.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cabinet is also expected to rubber-stamp plans for a separate taskforce to ensure people with disabilities are given a say in how money is spent on services they use.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The taskforce on youth mental health will include high-profile celebrity advocates and representatives of social media and broadcast media and will be chaired by Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Helen McEntee.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said: &ldquo;It will be very much tasked with being an action group, so it&rsquo;s not going to put together a report that is going to sit on a shelf &mdash; it will put together actual physical actions that can be implemented within communities.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;It will be made up of a variety from the Department of Children, Department of Education, Department of Health, you will also have a separate non-political element to it, you will have people who are leading in the particular fields.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Disabilities Minister Finian McGrath will also bring forward plans which were first outlined in the programme for government.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr McGrath wants to introduce a &ldquo;personalised budget&rdquo; system which will give people with disabilities control over how money is spent to best suit their needs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move will be overseen by a new task force led by current KARE disability services chief executive Christy Lynch who has repeatedly campaigned for the de-institutionalisation of people with disabilities and may result in an official state agency being set up to address the issue within five years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Separately, Government ministers will also be told today that they cannot ban any TD convicted of corruption from running again for a D&aacute;il seat as such a block would be unconstitutional.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Due to advice from attorney general M&aacute;ire Whelan, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will advise Cabinet to abandon a previous initiative to ban any corrupt TDs for up to a decade.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 27th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/taskforce-for-youth-mental-health-to-get-green-light-412534.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/taskforce-for-youth-mental-health-to-get-green-light-412534.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-27 09:28:17',NULL,'taskforce-for-youth-mental-health-to-get-green-light'),(1546,'Australia \'deeply shocked and appalled\' as video emerges of mistreatment of children at detention centre','<p>\r\n	Australia&#39;s prime minister has ordered a sweeping investigation into claims that teenagers were abused at a juvenile detention centre in the country&#39;s north.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Malcolm Turnbull said he would launch the royal commission, Australia&#39;s highest form of inquiry, after graphic footage emerged of teenage detainees being tear-gassed and stripped naked.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In one instance, one of the teens was shackled to a restraint chair with a hood placed over his head before being left alone for hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The footage, shown on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation&#39;s investigative programme Four Corners yesterday, was filmed largely at a youth detention centre in the Northern Territory city of Darwin between 2010 and 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Like all Australians, we have been deeply shocked - shocked and appalled - by the images of mistreatment of children,&quot; Mr Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We will get to the bottom of what happened here.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Australia&#39;s prime minister has ordered a sweeping investigation into claims that teenagers were abused at a juvenile detention centre in the country&#39;s north.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Malcolm Turnbull said he would launch the royal commission, Australia&#39;s highest form of inquiry, after graphic footage emerged of teenage detainees being tear-gassed and stripped naked.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In one instance, one of the teens was shackled to a restraint chair with a hood placed over his head before being left alone for hours.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The footage, shown on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation&#39;s investigative programme Four Corners yesterday, was filmed largely at a youth detention centre in the Northern Territory city of Darwin between 2010 and 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Like all Australians, we have been deeply shocked - shocked and appalled - by the images of mistreatment of children,&quot; Mr Turnbull told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We will get to the bottom of what happened here.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Human rights activists accused the government of ignoring the issue until it became public because the teenagers involved were indigenous.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Northern Territory has the highest rate of youth detention in the country, and 97% of detainees are Aboriginal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Amnesty International has repeatedly raised concerns of abuse of children being held in youth detention centres in the Northern Territory,&quot; Julian Cleary, indigenous rights campaigner at Amnesty International Australia, said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;As this programme shows, these are not isolated incidents. The (Northern Territory) government has failed to deal with systemic issues with the treatment of children in its youth detention system.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When the tear gas incident occurred in 2014, officials said guards had used the chemical to subdue six teenagers who had staged a riot.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	But CCTV and video footage filmed by staff at the centre appears to show that the tear gas was used after just one youth escaped from his cell, while the other five remained locked in their cells.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The guards are heard laughing as the teens cough and cry after multiple shots of tear gas were fired into the isolation wing where they were housed. One of the detainees can be heard saying he cannot breathe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In another video, a guard is seen picking up a 13-year-old boy and hurling him across the room on to his bed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The same boy is also seen in footage from a different Northern Territory detention centre being stripped naked and held face-down on his bed by three guards after he apparently threatened to hurt himself.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Northern Territory chief minister Adam Giles said he had never seen the footage before it last night and blamed a &quot;culture of cover-up&quot; within the corrections system for the government&#39;s lack of action until now.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I sat and watched the footage and recognised horror through my eyes,&quot; Mr Giles told reporters in Darwin.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Giles said he had removed Northern Territory corrections minister John Elferink from his position in the wake of the scandal.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The royal commission is expected to begin holding hearings as early as September, with a final report due to be released early next year, Mr Giles said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Indigenous affairs minister Nigel Scullion said the footage was particularly shocking because the guards involved appeared cavalier about their actions.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the officers should face criminal charges.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;They knew ... that their behaviour was clearly not right, it was evil, but they also knew they had absolutely no chance of that being a problem to anyone,&quot; he said in Canberra, the capital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Such was the culture of cover-up, such was the culture of brutality.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 26th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/australia-deeply-shocked-and-appalled-as-video-emerges-of-mistreatment-of-children-at-detention-centre-746621.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/australia-deeply-shocked-and-appalled-as-video-emerges-of-mistreatment-of-children-at-detention-centre-746621.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-27 09:38:28',NULL,'australia-deeply-shocked-and-appalled-as-video-emerges-of-mistreatment-of-children-at-detention-centre'),(1547,'Rape Crisis Centre warns of dangers from online dating','<p>\r\n	Growing numbers of people are suffering sexual abuse carried out by people they met online.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The head of clinical services at the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, Angela McCarthy, said the organisation may start compiling statistics on this area in the future as it is a &quot;theme&quot; that it has encountered.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The centre published its annual report for 2015 yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Almost 12,000 people contacted its helpline last year.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Over half of the contacts were from those calling for the first time about rape or sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking at the launch, Ms McCarthy said the centre had recognised sexual abuse from online dates as an issue in recent times.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;It is certainly a theme but not one we have data on yet, although we could start looking into it,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms McCarthy added that although dating sites could have positive outcomes, there could often be a danger with meeting up with strangers.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Some people meet their partners online but unfortunately others may meet predators on such sites.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The report revealed that just 23.8pc of adults who experienced rape or sexual assault did so at the hands of a stranger.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Out of those who reported abuse, 24.4pc had been raped or assaulted by a boyfriend or partner, while in almost 40pc of cases the attack was carried out by another known person.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The centre commended third-level institutions for the work they had done in the past year in raising awareness about the issue of sexual consent.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	At the launch, rape survivor Bernie Adufe D&#39;Arcy, from Wicklow, spoke of the help she received from the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;Rape is the total destruction and invasion of a person by a person but with the right help the victim can become the victor over rape,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;On arrival to the Rotunda Hospital (following the rape), I was met by a lady from the Rape Crisis Centre, which was a blessing.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;She was there for me and explained every procedure, every step. It was a long road that I strolled, but with the help of the Rape Crisis Centre I got here.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She added: &quot;I don&#39;t call myself a victim of rape because I am now a victor.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In addition to the 24-hour national telephone line service (1800 778888), last year the centre provided face-to-face therapy to 499 people and accompanied victims of sexual violence to the Rotunda Sexual Assault Treatment Unit, as well as to court and Garda stations in the Dublin area.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In view of the centre&#39;s findings, its incoming CEO, Noeline Blackwell, has called for urgent enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2015 when the D&aacute;il resumes.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The fact that about half of the counselling and therapeutic work of the centre is with adults who have suffered abuse as children makes our call for better protection for today&#39;s children more urgent,&quot; she said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The Sexual Offences Bill, tackling internet abuse - which is still not illegal in Ireland - will give today&#39;s children a much better chance of staying safe than they have right now.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Minister for Children and Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone said it was &quot;absolutely a priority&quot; for the Government to enact the legislation soon.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said: &quot;It is obviously deeply disturbing to hear of the rise in reporting. On the other hand, it is a good thing and it also represents the success of the work of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre and other centres around the country.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;I want to say how vital the work is that goes on here, especially for the many volunteers who provided the services to victims of rape and sexual abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;The centre has made an enormous contribution. If it weren&#39;t for them, the taboo subject of rape would not be spoken about so openly.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 28th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rape-crisis-centre-warns-of-dangers-from-online-dating-34918623.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rape-crisis-centre-warns-of-dangers-from-online-dating-34918623.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-28 08:31:25',NULL,'rape-crisis-centre-warns-of-dangers-from-online-dating'),(1548,'Professionals acting for children to remain with them throughout cases','<p>\r\n	Professionals who represent children and vulnerable teenagers in the family court or social services system will be legally obliged to stay with their clients throughout the cases under new rules.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Cabinet agreed the move to a new statutory guardian ad litem service at its last meeting until September yesterday, saying that it is needed to ensure people in the systems have their rights fully protected.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under current rules, while a vulnerable child or teenager is given an independent representative to look after their needs in hearings, this person is not obliged to look after their client until cases conclude.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As a result, they are at risk of being left without the vital support or having to change guardian midway through a court or social service process.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, under new rules agreed by cabinet yesterday, a statutory guardian ad litem service is set to be introduced making it mandatory that the person&rsquo;s original guardian continues to represent their client throughout their journey through the system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The move will also mean that unlike the current ad hoc approach where a guardian can be appointed by a private group involved in the cases such as Barnardos or another organisation, in future they must be agreed through a statutory appointments process.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Barnardos, which operates the largest and most established national guardian ad litem service in the country, represented more than 800 children in the court and social services systems in 2014.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It currently employees more than 30 guardians, who are selected after a thorough interview process, Garda vetting, training, and presentation of full references.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A guardian ad litem &mdash; Latin for &ldquo;appointed to act&rdquo; &mdash; is only allowed to represent a child in an official capacity upon a judge&rsquo;s ruling.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The decisions are most often limited to incidents where the national child and family agency, Tusla, has applied to the court for a care order, an interim care order or a supervision order, or where the child has been in long-term care for a substantial period of time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Rulings seeking the representation can also be made in special care application cases, when a parent is unwilling or unable to fully take part in court or social services hearings, or when there are significant language or cultural issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, Cabinet also agreed yesterday to re-appoint Geoffrey Shannon as the State&rsquo;s special rapporteur for child protection. Mr Shannon was originally appointed on July 9, 2013, for three years and has been to the forefront of raising child protection issues.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 28th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/professionals-acting-for-children-to-remain-with-them-throughout-cases-412778.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/professionals-acting-for-children-to-remain-with-them-throughout-cases-412778.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-28 08:32:56',NULL,'professionals-acting-for-children-to-remain-with-them-throughout-cases'),(1549,'DPP prevents media from reporting on a childcare case for the first time','<p>\r\n	An application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for an extension to an order prohibiting reporting was granted yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Dublin District Family Court has prevented the media from publishing details relating to a specific childcare case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An application by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was submitted on Tuesday seeking an extension to an order which was granted on 22 February 2016.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This was the first time the DPP made such an application under the law which allows journalists to report on cases in the family courts.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	For a number of years, family courts were shrouded in mystery. Only judges, lawyers and the families affected were allowed to attend.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Three years ago, the then-Minister for Justice Alan Shatter changed the law to allow journalists attend and report on proceedings (with strict regulations about anonymity). With the introduction of the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2013 the public got an insight into what happened behind these previously shut doors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However included in this law is a provision that allows the court to restrict or prohibit the publication or broadcasting of evidence given or referred to during the proceedings, if the court deems it necessary.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Application for extension</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This week the DPP sought to extend the order which prevented reporting until a decision had been made whether or not to prosecute individuals involved in the case.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The application was supported by the gardai and the Child and Family Agency. Lawyers representing The Irish Times newspaper were seeking the restrictions to be lifted.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Brendan Toale said: &ldquo;It is a balancing exercise each time this comes before the court.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said there were a &ldquo;number of interests at play in relation to this application&rdquo;, stating there is a &ldquo;public interest&rdquo; in the publication of family court proceedings to inspire confidence in the administration of the justice system in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, he said this had to be balanced with children&rsquo;s rights to successful prosecution.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Toale said on previous occasions the DPP said reporting on the case might be prejudicial to any criminal proceedings and and could impact on a jury member, hindering the right to a fair trial.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He also said any dissemination of information relating to the case would raise the possibility that any people accused in the case may intimidate or coerce witnesses. &ldquo;There might be a danger of that happening,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Risk of prejudice</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These were arguments put forward by the DPP in submissions which asked the court to assess the risk of prejudice to any future case that might be brought.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Acting on behalf of the DPP, Anne-Marie Lawlor BL said the right to a fair trial takes precedent over the right for the media to publish.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Lawyers acting on behalf of the Irish Times said any curtailment of the legislation allowing for the publication of family court proceedings could have &ldquo;far reaching repercussions&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Relying on those submissions by the DPP, Judge Toale said the interest of balance favours the restrictions to be extended.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Judge Toale said he would continue to require updates on the progress of the investigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He made an order prohibiting publication of the case until the end of October. The DPP can then return to the Dublin District Court if another extension of the order is sought.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by TheJournal.ie on the 28th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/dpp-family-court-media-2898489-Jul2016/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/dpp-family-court-media-2898489-Jul2016/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-28 08:37:01',NULL,'dpp-prevents-media-from-reporting-on-a-childcare-case-for-the-first-time'),(1550,'Joint action will seek damages for victims of sex abuse in schools','<p>\r\n	A group of solicitors from around the country are coming together to win damages against the State, for people sexually abused in Irish primary schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	They will represent a group of 75 survivors who were abused as children in Irish primary schools.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This action comes on foot of a High Court ruling in May, when five victims were refused the right to sue the Department of Education and the State for failing to protect them as children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We are going to appeal this and we are also in discussion with many lawyers throughout the country, with a view for all people affected by this judgement, to appeal it.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We are not criticising the judge but it&rsquo;s the vindication of our clients&rsquo; rights that we have in mind,&rdquo; David Coleman of Coleman Legal Partners told the Irish Examiner yesterday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	This case could see a repeat of the landmark European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling in 2014 in favour of Cork woman Louise O&rsquo;Keeffe.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe was abused by school principal Leo Hickey while she was an eight-year-old pupil at Dunderrow NS in Kinsale in 1973.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe went as far as the ECHR to seek justice, arguing that the State was liable, as the Department of Education had failed to put in place appropriate protection measures.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The ECHR found that the State was in breach of its obligation to protect schoolchildren from sexual abuse and to be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;If necessary we will find ourselves in Europe, so be it, but it is wrong to put these people through this ringer when there&rsquo;s a simple solution that can be had,&rdquo; said Mr Coleman.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	One of his clients, Cork man John Allen, 53, was in the High Court yesterday to hear whether the State was going to pursue him for costs in relation to the May ruling. Lawyers for the State said they were not seeking costs.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe lost her case in the Irish Supreme Court in 2008, the State Claims Agency wrote to all similar victims asking them to cease litigation or else face being pursued for hundreds of thousands of euro in legal fees. Mr Allen was one of these victims who signed a &lsquo;notice of discontinuance&rsquo; to cease litigation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	However, when Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe won in Europe, Mr Allen and four other victims tried to have their notices of discontinuance set aside. They failed in this attempt in May.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There are other areas that people can deal with this in a satisfactory manner and I would ask that the State engage with the finite number of people, who are old in years,&rdquo; said Mr Coleman. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve been at this case for years, seeking to vindicate their rights.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking to the Irish Examiner yesterday, Ms O&rsquo;Keeffe praised the survivors and solicitors for their joint action.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;I commend them,&rdquo; she said. &ldquo;I believe they shouldn&rsquo;t have to do it because the judgment from Europe is there.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The State did not have a system in place [to protect children in primary schools] and that&rsquo;s why we were abused. In the Ryan Report [The Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, published in May 2009], it says the State were aware that abuse was happening in our primary schools from the 1940s.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 29th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://Joint action will seek damages for victims of sex abuse in schools\">http://Joint action will seek damages for victims of sex abuse in schools</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-29 08:45:24',NULL,'joint-action-will-seek-damages-for-victims-of-sex-abuse-in-schools'),(1551,'Gardaí and health officials brace for more deaths from synthetic heroin','<p>\r\n	Garda&iacute; and health officials fear more drug-related deaths from a super-strong form of synthetic heroin after five deaths in the last three months.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Three deaths in Dublin and two in Cork linked to fentanyl have been recorded.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	All five victims are believed to be aged in their 20s and 30s. The first death occurred in Cork on April 27, followed by three in Dublin at the end of May and a fifth in Cork on July 25. Three of the deceased are thought to have been intravenous heroin users.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A senior source told the Irish Examiner the drug is &ldquo;so toxic that 2mg is enough to kill&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Fentanyl has for many years caused significant numbers of drug deaths in the Baltic States and Russia and more recent times has spread to other parts of Europe, including Germany, Sweden, and the UK. Garda&iacute; and health officials had been fearing its arrival in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A report into the death of music star Prince earlier this year stated the singer died as a result of &ldquo;decadent self- administered fentanyl&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the three cases in Dublin, garda&iacute; and health officials were unable to locate the product the victims took and had to depend on pathology results, which indicated fentanyl. In the last case in Cork, they found the product the user took &mdash; and it too was fentanyl.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sources said it was &ldquo;really important to get on top of this as quickly as possible&rdquo; given the potential of the drug to cause more deaths.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Garda&iacute; are investigating how the drug is getting into the country. While it is possible it is being brought in in very small quantities, perhaps through the Darknet, it is also possible it could be coming in through an organised crime gang.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The fact that the drug has been found in two different parts of the country, spread out over a span of three months, may suggest it is coming in through a traditional drug smuggling route.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Sources said the latter would be a far worse prospect for garda&iacute; and health authorities given the potential scale involved.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;This is the first time we have seen fentanyl in this country, &ldquo; Dr Eamon Keenan, HSE national clinical lead for addiction, told RT&Eacute; last night. &ldquo;It has been reported in other countries across Europe, particularly eastern Europe in Estonia. It has also been reported in the United States and Canada. Its emergence now in this country is a big worry for healthcare services.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	His advice was: &ldquo;Don&rsquo;t take this drug. It is extremely dangerous in terms of overdose and we would say to anyone who is using the drug or who is aware their family member is using this drug that they should present to their local addiction service for treatment.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Figures show there were 650 deaths linked to fentanyl in Estonia between 2005 and 2012, 160 in Germany, mostly since 2008, and 50 in the UK.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 29th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gardai-and-health-officials-brace-for-more-deaths-from-synthetic-heroin-413054.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gardai-and-health-officials-brace-for-more-deaths-from-synthetic-heroin-413054.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-29 08:52:31',NULL,'gardaã­-and-health-officials-brace-for-more-deaths-from-synthetic-heroin'),(1552,'Locking mental health patients into wards \'does not reduce suicide risk\'','<p>\r\n	German research carried out over a 14-year period has cast doubts over the practice.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	An extensive new study has shown that there could be a significant misunderstanding in the treatment of mental health patients.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The 14-year project, which looked at the prevalence of suicide among residents of mental health facilities in Germany, found a lower rate among those on wards with open-door policies, than those on wards with locked-door policies.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Allowing residents to come and go was more likely to create a better therapeutic atmosphere and facilitate better outcomes, the study said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Irish mental health facilities</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	While the results only apply to Germany, they have a bearing on how things are done in the Irish system.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mental health inpatient facilities in this country have become increasingly open over the past decades, but locked wards are still used in some cases for patients that are categorised as &lsquo;difficult to manage&rsquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In the study, the authors warn that further research with different groups of patients is required to understand how universally applicable the results are &ndash; but that it is possible that the study &ldquo;could challenge medical practice in many countries&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	What exactly did it find?</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research looked at 145,000 patients between 1998 and 2012.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Three measures were looked at as part of the study: suicides, suicide attempts and patients absconding.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The different mental health conditions of those included in the study were taken into account as a variable.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	It was found that patients being treated on open wards were less likely to attempt suicide than those being treated on a locked ward, although there was no difference in the rate of patients completing suicide.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Patients were also no more likely to abscond from open wards than from locked ones.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Speaking about the findings, one of the authors Dr Christian Huber said:</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;These findings suggest that locked-door policies may not help to improve the safety of patients in psychiatric hospitals, and are not generally successful in preventing people from absconding.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;In fact, a locked-door policy probably imposes a more oppressive atmosphere, which could reduce the effectiveness of treatments, resulting in longer stays in hospital. The practice may even lend motivation for patients to abscond.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by TheJournal.ie on the 29th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.thejournal.ie/mental-health-facility-patients-wards-2900490-Jul2016/\">http://www.thejournal.ie/mental-health-facility-patients-wards-2900490-Jul2016/</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-07-29 08:54:09',NULL,'locking-mental-health-patients-into-wards-does-not-reduce-suicide-risk'),(1553,'Families have a duty to report sex abuse, says judge','<p>\r\n	Decision by grandparents not to alert garda&iacute; or social services to abuse &lsquo;was a grave error&rsquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A judge has said the message must go out that people are responsible for reporting sexual abuse within the family as soon as they learn of it.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Justice Robert Eagar made the remarks in the Central Criminal Court as he jailed a man for 18 months for raping and sexually abusing his cousin from when he was 12 and she was 6. The judge noted the girl&rsquo;s family and extended family became aware of the abuse in 2007 when she was eight years old.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the decision of the family, and particularly her grandparents, not to alert the garda&iacute;&shy; or social services &ldquo;was a grave error.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The court heard the accused&rsquo;s father had rung a family recourse centre for &ldquo;advice&rdquo; on how to make his son stop abusing the girl but this was never followed up on.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Justice Eager said the family would have to take responsibility for the girls suffering, including self-harm and suicide attempts, which became particularly bad when she hit puberty. The court heard she eventually went to garda&iacute;&shy; herself when she was 14.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge said the family&rsquo;s failure to report the abuse at the time meant the accused was being dealt with as an adult and faced the full rigour of the law.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The loud message needs to be sent out that families in these situations must report these matters to the Child and Family Agency and garda&iacute;&shy; so they can be dealt with at the time,&rdquo; he said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Justice Eager said the offences were very serious and if the accused, who is now 23, committed them as an adult he would be facing at least ten years in prison. He also noted that while the man admitted sexual misconduct, he didn&rsquo;t admit rape.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The judge imposed a five year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended on the condition the accused undergo a sex offenders treatment programme in prison.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The accused wept loudly and clutched rosary beads after the sentence was handed down. He said he wasn&rsquo;t able to go to prison and threatened to take his own life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He previously pleaded guilty on the morning of his trial at the Central Criminal Court to sample counts including two charges of sex assault, two charges of rape and two charges of oral rape in Dublin on dates between October 10th 2004 and March 31st 2007.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The now 17-year-old girl took the stand to read her victim impact statement. She said she didn&rsquo;t realise until she reached puberty how badly he had damaged her.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said she had scars that would be there forever and she would never finish school.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A local garda told Patrick Gageby SC, prosecuting, that the accused first abused the girl after telling her he wanted to play doctor and instructing her to take of her clothes. They were together in an upstairs bedroom in their grandmother&rsquo;s house at the time.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The abuse continued on a regular basis when they both visited their grandmother with their extended family every Thursday.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The boy first raped her after crawling under the covers while the girl was in bed pretending to be asleep. The investigating garda said the girl was extremely distressed and &ldquo;cried silently&rdquo; during the attack.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	She said the accused abused the girl &ldquo;every opportunity he got&rdquo; for almost two and half years. She began to realise what was happening was wrong and tried to avoid him.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When she was eight years old she told an older cousin that she had a secret to tell her. This girl then reported the abuse to her own mother, the victim&rsquo;s aunt, and her parents were informed.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The garda said the abuse was not reported to garda&iacute;&shy; and the family tried to deal with it themselves.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The victim herself reported it to garda&iacute;&shy; in June 2013 when she 14 years old.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Blaise O&rsquo;Carroll SC, defending, said the accused had a sense of shame and guilt. He was now on medication and a probation report stated he was at a low risk of re-offending.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;He is extraordinarily remorseful, deeply regrets that it happened and wishes that it had not happened. He is sorry for the destruction of the family relationships and the suffering he has imposed on his own family,&rdquo; Mr O&rsquo;Carroll said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 29th July 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/families-have-a-duty-to-report-sex-abuse-says-judge-1.2739154\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/criminal-court/families-have-a-duty-to-report-sex-abuse-says-judge-1.2739154</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-08-02 08:29:09',NULL,'families-have-a-duty-to-report-sex-abuse-says-judge'),(1554,'‘Unborn child’ has significant legal rights, judge rules ','<p>\r\n	High Court justice finds the rights of the &lsquo;unborn&rsquo; extend beyond the right to life</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	A High Court judge has said the word &ldquo;unborn&rdquo; in the Constitution means an &ldquo;unborn child&rdquo; with rights beyond the right to life, which &ldquo;must be taken seriously&rdquo; by the State.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The unborn child, including the unborn child of a parent facing deportation, enjoys &ldquo;significant&rdquo; rights and legal position at common law, by statute, and under the Constitution, &ldquo;going well beyond the right to life alone&rdquo;, Mr Justice Richard Humphreys said.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Many of those rights were &ldquo;actually effective&rdquo; rather than merely prospective.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said article 42a of the Constitution, inserted as a result of the 2012 Children&rsquo;s Referendum, provides the State must protect &ldquo;all&rdquo; children.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Because an &ldquo;unborn&rdquo; is &ldquo;clearly a child&rdquo;, article 42a means all children &ldquo;both before and after birth&rdquo;.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said while neither article 42a nor article 40.3.3 (requiring the State to vindicate the right to life of the unborn) were intended to confer immigration rights, that did not displace any legal consequences flowing from the prospective position of an unborn child with a parent facing deportation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said fundamental shifts in society and various constitutional amendments, including providing for same-sex marriage, also required the State to recognise unmarried parents enjoy wider inherent constitutional rights in relation to their children and each other.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He made the findings when granting leave to a Nigerian man, his Irish partner and their now almost one-year-old child &ndash; who was born after the case was initiated &ndash; for judicial review over the man&rsquo;s intended deportation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Legal rights</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	When considering the application to revoke a 2008 order for the man&rsquo;s deportation, the Minister for Justice must consider not just the right to life of the unborn but also the legal rights the child will acquire on birth, insofar as those were relevant to deportation, the judge held.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Minister must consider the constitutional, statutory, EU and European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) rights of the man, his partner and the child, including their family rights under article 8 of the ECHR, he ruled.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He dismissed the State&rsquo;s arguments the couple have no family rights under the Constitution due to not being married, no rights under article 8 because their situation is &ldquo;precarious&rdquo; and the only right their unborn child had was to life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The State&rsquo;s submissions were &ldquo;mired in the middle of the last century&rdquo; while its citizens &ldquo;are voting with their feet&rdquo; and engaging in a much wider variety of family relationships than the State was prepared to acknowledge as having constitutional rights.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Deportation order</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He stressed his findings did not mean a person in the position of this man, unlawfully in the State, was automatically entitled to remain here.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The Nigerian man came here in 2007, was refused asylum and subsidiary protection, and a deportation order was made in 2008.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He remained working here, had a short-lived marriage to an EU national and failed to get residency based on marriage to an EU citizen.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He later had a child with a non-EU national before starting a relationship with an Irish woman.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In July 2015 the man and his then pregnant Irish partner sought leave for judicial review and got an interim injunction restraining deportation.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Their child was born in August 2015.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In his decision Mr Justice Humphreys dismissed as &ldquo;entirely without merit&rdquo; the Minister&rsquo;s argument that, when considering the man&rsquo;s application, the only relevant right of his unborn child was a right to life.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the Minister&rsquo;s undertaking not to deport the man should continue pending a decision on his application for residency based on parentage of an unborn child, with liberty to apply should the Minister seek to withdraw the undertaking.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Times on the 2nd August 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/unborn-child-has-significant-legal-rights-judge-rules-1.2741697\">http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/unborn-child-has-significant-legal-rights-judge-rules-1.2741697</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-08-02 08:32:56',NULL,'‘unborn-child’-has-significant-legal-rights-judge-rules'),(1555,'‘Alcohol kills three people every day’','<p>\r\n	Three people are dying every day in Ireland due to alcohol, according to one of the country&rsquo;s top doctors.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Liver specialist, Professor Frank Murray, said the rise in the number of alcohol-related cases of liver disease in young women has become tragically high and people are unaware or reckless about risks of alcohol abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The President of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland said it is a silent disease which often shows little or no symptoms until the liver has gone into failure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said: &ldquo;About three-quarters of people with liver failure have no symptoms attributable to their liver until their liver fails or the damage is irreversible. Sometimes people get a warning and get an abnormal liver test or go yellow. But once you go yellow you are in terrible trouble.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;Liver disease has approximately doubled in Ireland in the last 20 years for both men and women. It&rsquo;s a pattern of drinking which over years and decades leads to cirrhosis. We&rsquo;re seeing people in their early 30s dying from liver failure. Before it was 40s and 50s mainly.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Murray, who is a consultant physician and gastroenterologist at Beaumont Hospital, said alcohol &ldquo;has become a much more equal opportunities destroyer. The pattern has changed from mainly men drinking in pubs to both men and women drinking at home, vast amounts of cheap alcohol. One patient told me she drank half a bottle of wine, Monday to Thursday every day and a bottle of wine every day of the weekend. She was a professional woman, lived a normal family life. She didn&rsquo;t think it was a problem because she never missed a day&rsquo;s work, she had no symptoms, she was a very sociable person but she got liver failure.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;The effects are insidious and pernicious and under recognised. You see it on the wards every day.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said three deaths every day are related to alcohol in Ireland: &ldquo;It is shocking and horrifying. Three people are dying every day in Ireland from alcohol &mdash; liver disease, brain damage, overdoses, accidents, incidence, falls. (Deaths) that wouldn&rsquo;t have happened without alcohol. Liver disease is about a third of that.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	He said the country needs to take steps to address the alcohol crisis claiming so many lives every day: &ldquo;There is no healthy way of doing the 12 pubs of Christmas. Alcohol is very enjoyable but it&rsquo;s very dangerous.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Prof Murray said part of the solution is to reduce that availability and increase the cost of all the cheap alcohol consumed by young people in Ireland. &ldquo;Everyone knows tobacco is harmful. Nobody is ambivalent about it. It&rsquo;s the same with drugs but with alcohol we&rsquo;re ambivalent about because we all like a few drinks and because alcohol is part of everything we do in Ireland. But what we need to do in Ireland is learn how to drink in a sensible way.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;When President Kennedy came in the 1960s Irish people drank about five litres per person and now it&rsquo;s about 11 litres. It peaked at around 13 or 14 litres in 2000. The reason for that is Ireland went from a nation of relatively low alcohol consumption of mainly in men to being a nation of very heavy alcohol consumers of both men and women in the last 40 years.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 2nd August 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/alcohol-kills-three-people-every-day-413604.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/alcohol-kills-three-people-every-day-413604.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-08-02 08:35:25',NULL,'‘alcohol-kills-three-people-every-day’'),(1556,'20% of children have suffered cyberbullying','<p>\r\n	One in five Irish children has been bullied online, according to research.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of these children who experienced cyberbullying, one third also reported feelings of depression related to the abuse.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research shows gross inconsistencies between parents&rsquo; reporting of child cyberbullying, as only one in ten adults said their son or daughter had been a victim of cyberbullying.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	According to the research, 51% of the online bullying happens to children on Facebook; some 14% said they had been bullied on Instagram.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Approximately 29% of girls said they had been bullied on Snapchat, while 16% of boys reported being harassed on this platform.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	These reports are despite all three social media platforms claiming to have robust reporting procedures in place to deal with this type of behaviour.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	As well as surveying 186 children, the survey took information from 1,000 adults.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Of the adults surveyed, one in ten said they had been bullied online.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The bullying of women is more prevalent, with one in four reporting having been body-shamed online.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The online bullying related to numerous behaviours, with one third of people saying that someone had spread lies or rumours about them on the internet.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Some 18% of respondents said an embarrassing photograph of them had been posted online and 35% reported receiving threatening text messages or emails.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	In terms of the platforms that adults experienced abuse on, 68% of respondents said the bullying happened on Facebook.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	People were also asked how they dealt with the harassment &mdash; &ldquo;unfollowing&rdquo; or &ldquo;unfriending&rdquo; was the main action taken that victims had taken.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	The research, carried out by ZenithOptimedia, was conducted to examine the safety of the internet and the prevalence of online bullying and body-shaming in Ireland.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;We are seeing significant decreases in levels of empathy in adolescent-aged young people,&rdquo; said clinical psychotherapist Joanna Fortune.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;There are a number of factors that contribute to this, ranging from short-circuited early play stages to an immersion in a virtual and online world where nothing feels real.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Ms Fortune, who works with children and adolescents in her practice, Solamh, said: &ldquo;What this means is that I see a photo you post of yourself online and I comment that you look like a troll. Then I log off and go about my life and I do not pause to consider that when you log on and read what I wrote that you will have an emotional response that I am, at least in part, responsible for.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&ldquo;As a result of decreasing empathy and reflective functioning we are seeing higher incidences of online bullying and lower self-esteem in this demographic than ever before.&rdquo;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Examiner on the 3rd August 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/20-of-children-have-suffered-cyberbullying-413817.html\">http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/20-of-children-have-suffered-cyberbullying-413817.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-08-03 08:25:45',NULL,'20%-of-children-have-suffered-cyberbullying'),(1557,'Paternity bill is signed into law','<p>\r\n	New fathers are being encouraged to avail of two weeks paid paternity leave from September.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Under the measures, signed into law yesterday, fathers will be entitled to a guaranteed income of &euro;230 for each of two weeks that they take as leave.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Those who wish to avail of the paternity leave must give their employers four weeks&#39; notice and hold in their possession a public service card.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar said that in some countries, paternity benefit is drawn down in fewer than 50pc of cases.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;We&#39;d be disappointed if that were the case,&quot; he told reporters at Holles Street Maternity Hospital.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar brushed over suggestions that he openly angling for the leadership of Fine Gael.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Mr Varadkar was asked why he chose to open a constituency office for Cork South West backbencher Jim Daly and whether this was connected to his ambitions to succeed Enda Kenny.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&quot;There is no vacancy therefore I am not involved in any campaign,&quot; he said, adding: &quot;I look forward to opening many other constituency offices.&quot;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	On the issue of the budget, Mr Varadkar said there is &quot;limited&quot; scope available for increases in welfare.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	Details of the scheme can be found at www.welfare.ie/paternitybenefit or by calling 1890-662244.</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	&nbsp;</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	(Published by the Irish Independent on the 3rd August 2016)</p>\r\n<p>\r\n	<a href=\"http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/paternity-bill-is-signed-into-law-34934070.html\">http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/health/paternity-bill-is-signed-into-law-34934070.html</a></p>\r\n','public','',1,'2016-08-03 08:27:30',NULL,'paternity-bill-is-signed-into-law'),